The Group's activities excluding the pet products operations, Just for Pets, are expected to show a better performance for the first half, year-on-year. Trading headwinds for farmers have eased somewhat but the agricultural environment remains challenging, with margin pressures a feature. Just for Pets has continued to experience subdued demand, reflecting general retail trends in the sector, and certain stores in particular have not delivered the expected performance, resulting in losses in this activity during the first half. As a consequence, the Board now expects to book a non-cash goodwill impairment charge for the period although the level of this charge is yet to be finalised. This will result in the Company's reported profits for the first half of the financial year being materially lower than for the same period last year. The Company's adjusted profit before tax (before the goodwill impairment charge) for this period will be marginally below last year, impacted by the Just for Pets performance.
Just for Pets remains a relatively small part of the wider Group and, accordingly, the Board is reviewing the options for the unit and expects to announce restructuring plans in the second half of the year. Any associated exceptional charges would be taken in this period.
The Company will be announcing its results for the six months ended 30 April 2017 on Wednesday, 21 June 2017.