Revenue up at ABI, Primark dividend halts

The UK operating entity of the fast-fashion retailer recorded a flat top line of £3.86bn, with operating profit holding steady at £180.5m. A £17.2m exceptional charge impacted the bottom line, with net profit falling 23%. In capital allocation, the prior year's £450m dividend distribution to its parent was not repeated.

A steady period for the builders' merchant's principal operating subsidiary. Turnover climbed from £1.53bn to £1.63bn, while further down the P&L, operating profit surged from £30.4m to £48.2m. The period also saw an increase in board pay, with total directors' remuneration rising to £8.3m.

A return to profit for the offshore driller's British arm. Turnover more than doubled to $373.6m, as the operating line moved from a $55.9m loss into a $6.2m profit. The bottom line followed suit, returning to the black after last year's $13.9m net loss. The going-concern note references the continued support of its listed parent.

The East Yorkshire holiday home manufacturer saw turnover grow 13% to £129.3m, while average headcount fell by 11%. With total staff costs holding flat, profit before tax recorded a 39% jump. The period also saw an increase in board pay, with the highest-paid director receiving £436k, a 40% increase.

A challenging period for the coffee producer. A 5% increase in turnover to £69.0m was accompanied by a margin contraction, as the operating line swung from a £3.0m profit to a £2.0m loss. The cash balance fell from £1.17m to £14k over the year. The accounts are prepared on a going-concern basis dependent on the assumption that its parent does not recall intercompany loans.