Excellent Rebound with Sales and PRO(1) above FY19 Levels(2) and Strong Growth Momentum

SALES
Sales for FY21 totalled €8,824m, with organic growth of +9.7%. Reported Sales growth was +4.5% due to a significant adverse FX impact resulting from USD and Emerging market currency depreciation vs. Euro.
FY21 Sales grew in all regions:

• Americas: +14%, excellent broad-based growth with the USA, Canada and South America offsetting decline in Travel Retail
• Asia-RoW: +11%, very strong growth mainly driven by China, Korea and Turkey, and to a lesser extent India
• Europe: +4%, dynamic rebound with the UK, Germany and Eastern Europe offsetting declines in Spain, Ireland and Travel Retail.

By category:

• Strategic International Brands: +11%, very strong rebound, primarily driven by Martell in China and Jameson in the USA
• Strategic Local Brands: +7%, driven by recovery of Seagram’s Indian whiskies, Kalhua, Passport and Ramazzotti
• Specialty Brands: +28%, continued very strong growth of Lillet, Aberlour, Malfy, American whiskeys, Avion and Redbreast
• Strategic Wines: stable, with Campo Viejo growth offset by decline of Jacob’s Creek and Kenwood.

Innovation grew +22%.
Price/mix was +4% on Strategic brands.
Q4 Sales were €1,883m, +56.5% organic growth, on a low basis of comparison.
FY21 saw very strong and diversified growth driven by domestic Must-wins with the USA and China reaching record Sales above $2bn and €1bn. Premiumisation was strong, thanks to growth of Strategic International Brands and Specialty Brands. Pernod Ricard gained market share in most key markets.
Business transformation momentum is strong, with significant investments behind priority brands and markets, strong progress in digital transformation, strong e-commerce growth (+63%) and acceleration of the sustainability roadmap.

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(1) PRO: Profit from Recurring Operations
(2) At constant FX

RESULTS
FY21 PRO was €2,423m, an organic growth of +18.3% (+7.2% reported) with a very strong organic operating margin expansion of +213bps: 

• Gross margin expanding +64bps driven by: 
  - Stable pricing with fewer price increases in Covid context
  - Better fixed cost absorption from volume growth and operational excellence savings
   
• A&P ratio at c. 16%, resulting from purpose-based investment, with quick response to channel shifts and strong reinvestment in markets and categories returning to growth
• Structure costs: +136bps, reflecting very strict discipline and FY20 reorganisations.  A strong increase is expected in FY22 to support future growth
• PRO includes +€28m from USA drawback
• Significant FX impact on PRO -€255m due to USD and Emerging market currency depreciation vs. Euro.

The FY21 corporate income tax rate on recurring items was 24.3%, in line with that of FY20, with geographical mix offsetting the positive effect of the French tax rate reduction.
Group share of Net PRO was €1,612m, +12% reported vs. FY20.
Group share of Net profit was €1,305m, +297% reported, a significant increase due mainly to non-recurring items in FY20, in particular a €1bn impairment charge.

CASH FLOW AND DEBT
Cash performance was outstanding, with Recurring Free Cash Flow at €1,745m, its historical high.
The average cost of debt stood at 2.8% vs. 3.6% in FY20, thanks to successful bond refinancing. 
Net debt decreased by €972m vs. 30 June 2020 to €7,452m driven primarily by a very significant Free Cash Flow improvement linked to business recovery. The Net Debt/EBITDA ratio at average rates was 2.6x at 30 June 2021.
The return to stakeholders is significant: 

• A dividend of €3.12 is proposed for the Annual General Meeting of 10 November 2021, back to the historical high of FY19
• The remaining c. €0.5bn Share buyback programme will resume in FY22
• A second employee ownership programme will take place in FY22(2).

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1 Based on average EUR/USD rates 1.19 in FY21
2 Subject to AMF approval (and to AGM of 10 November 2021 if launched after that date)

WINNING STRATEGY
The Transform & Accelerate strategy launched in 2018 has driven significant achievements. The fundamental consumer insights driving the strategy are now more compelling than ever.  As a result, Pernod Ricard will continue its transformational journey to become The Conviviality Platform.  This strategy seeks to maximise long-term value creation, with the following medium-term ambition (in a normalised context): 

Embed dynamic growth and deliver operating leverage

• +4 to +7% topline growth, leveraging key competitive advantages and consistent investment behind key priorities
• Focus on pricing and building new operational excellence initiatives
• Significant A&P investment, maintained at c.16% of Sales, with strong arbitration to support must-win brands and markets while stimulating innovation
• Discipline on Structure costs, investing in priorities while maintaining agile organisation, with growth below topline growth rates
• Operating leverage of c.50-60 bps pa, provided topline within +4 to +7% bracket

Financial policy priorities, while retaining Investment grade ratings:

1. Investment in future organic growth, in particular through strategic inventories and capex
2. Continued active portfolio management, including value-creating M&A
3. Dividend distribution at c.50% of Net profit from Recurring Operations
4. Share buy-back programme (to resume in FY22)

A comprehensive strategic update will be provided during a capital market day in FY22.

Alexandre Ricard, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, stated,  
“The business rebounded very strongly during FY21 to exceed FY19 levels. We expect this good Sales momentum to continue in FY22 with, in particular, a very dynamic Q1.  I would like to take this opportunity to praise the exceptional commitment of our teams during this difficult time and express my support to those who have been or continue to be impacted by this pandemic.
We will stay the strategic course, accelerating our digital transformation and our ambitious Sustainability & Responsibility roadmap.  Thanks to our solid fundamentals, our teams and our brand portfolio, we are emerging from this crisis stronger.”

All growth data specified in this press release refers to organic growth (at constant FX and Group structure), unless otherwise stated. Data may be subject to rounding.

A detailed presentation of FY21 Sales and Results can be downloaded from our website: www.pernod-ricard.com 

Audit procedures have been carried out on the financial statements. The Statutory Auditors’ report will be issued after examination of the management report and completion of procedures required for the filing of the Universal registration document.”

Definitions and reconciliation of non-IFRS measures to IFRS measures
Pernod Ricard’s management process is based on the following non-IFRS measures which are chosen for planning and reporting. The Group’s management believes these measures provide valuable additional information for users of the financial statements in understanding the Group’s performance. These non-IFRS measures should be considered as complementary to the comparable IFRS measures and reported movements therein.
 
Organic growth
Organic growth is calculated after excluding the impacts of exchange rate movements and acquisitions and disposals. 
Exchange rates impact is calculated by translating the current year results at the prior year’s exchange rates.
For acquisitions in the current year, the post-acquisition results are excluded from the organic movement calculations. For acquisitions in the prior year, post-acquisition results are included in the prior year but are included in the organic movement calculation from the anniversary of the acquisition date in the current year.
Where a business, brand, brand distribution right or agency agreement was disposed of, or terminated, in the prior year, the Group, in the organic movement calculations, excludes the results for that business from the prior year. For disposals or terminations in the current year, the Group excludes the results for that business from the prior year from the date of the disposal or termination.
This measure enables to focus on the performance of the business which is common to both years and which represents those measures that local managers are most directly able to influence.

Profit from recurring operations 
Profit from recurring operations corresponds to the operating profit excluding other non-current operating income and expenses.