C&C Group plc (LON:CCR) has provided the following trading update ahead of the Group’s Annual General Meeting, which will be held later today. C&C also announces the appointment of Mr Feargal O’Rourke as an independent, Non-Executive Director with effect from the conclusion of today’s AGM.
Trading Update
Group earnings have been in line with expectations in the financial year-to-date, despite the well-documented poor weather in June, more detail of which will be provided in our FY2025 Half Year Trading Update on 9 September 2024. We remain confident of achieving our earnings expectations for the full year, reflecting significant growth relative to FY2024, and reaffirm our commitment to recommence our second €15m tranche of our share buyback programme from 1 September.
The Group previously communicated its intention to deliver at least €150m to shareholders over the next three years ending in February 2025, 2026, and 2027 through an appropriate mix of share buybacks, dividends and special dividends depending on prevailing circumstances. C&C commenced a €15m share buyback programme on 1 March 2024 which has been completed. The Group will commence the second tranche shortly. Subject to shareholder approval today, the Directors have also proposed a final dividend of 3.97 cent per share. An interim dividend of 1.89 cent per share was paid in December, making a full year dividend of 5.86 cent per share.
Directorate Change
Mr Feargal O’Rourke will join the Board as an independent, Non-Executive Director with effect from the conclusion of today’s AGM. Upon his appointment, Mr O’Rourke will also become a member of the Audit Committee. The appointment of Mr O’Rourke follows a rigorous process to recruit a new Non-Executive Director led by the Nomination Committee with the support of an independent executive search firm.
The Board is reviewing the composition of its committees and will announce an update to committee membership in due course.
Ralph Findlay, C&C Group Chair & CEO, commented: “Feargal brings valuable expertise to C&C having advised companies on a broad range of corporate, financial and taxation considerations over a long and esteemed career in PwC. We look forward to the contribution he will make to the C&C Board in the period ahead as we pursue our strategic, financial and ESG ambitions.”
Feargal O’Rourke, added: “With its iconic brands and leading distribution platform, I am delighted to join C&C and support the Board deliver its ambitious medium and long-term targets.”
The appointment of Mr O’Rourke is part of the Board’s ongoing programme of refreshment and renewal. The process pre-dates recent engagement with Engine Capital and does not impact the recently announced agreement to appoint a new non-executive Director to the Board.
Feargal O’Rourke
Feargal O’Rourke retired from professional services firm PwC in October 2023 where he had worked in a variety of roles over a 37 year career with the firm. He served as the PwC Managing Partner in Ireland for his last eight years. During his career at PwC, he advised Irish and international companies on a broad range of financial issues including investment, financing and business structuring. He also led the PwC tax practice and was heavily involved in the OECD BEPS process with companies, officials, governmental bodies and the OECD.
In January 2024, he was appointed by Ireland’s Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment as Chair of IDA Ireland, the semi-state body that promotes foreign direct investment into Ireland. He is also Chair of the Institute of International and European Affairs, the Irish based international think tank.
Feargal is a graduate of University College Dublin, a Fellow of Chartered Accountants Ireland and an Associate of the Irish Tax Institute.
This announcement is made in accordance with Listing Rule 9.6.11 and there is no further information to be disclosed pursuant to Listing Rule 9.6.13.
FY2025 Financial Reporting Calendar
Following a review of the Group’s Financial Reporting Calendar we are proposing to provide market updates in a consistent and timely manner through the FY2025. Our reporting calendar will comprise of four updates to the market as follows:
· First half Trading Update: 9 September 2024
· Interim Results: 29 October 2024
· Pre-Close Year End Trading Update: 3 March 2025
· Preliminary Results: 27 May 2025
It is the C&C Group’s intention to maintain this Financial Reporting Calendar in subsequent financial periods.
