Pilkington plc "Remains on track with its strategy and is delivering on its promises", according to Chairman Sir Nigel Rudd on 27 May, as the UK glass major issued full-year results for fiscal 2003 to 31 March 2004. While turnover was unchanged at £2.8BN, operating profit went up to £179M (£175M)p profit before goodwill amortisation, exceptional items and taxation on a like-for-like basis rose to £151M (£145M); earnings per share before amortisation of goodwill and exceptional items increased to £0.074 (£0.065 - plus 14%); basic earnings per share increased to £0.062 (£0.054); free cash flow (before dividends, acquisitions and disposals) increased to £207M (£135M), a record cash performance; net debt decreased by nearly one quarter in the year, from £861M to £664M; the final dividend was £0.0325, maintaining £0.05 in total for the full year.
