Langton Capital – 2021-03-04 – PREMIUM – Reduced VAT, suspended business rates & extended furlough etc.:
Reduced VAT, suspended business rates & extended furlough etc.:PREMIUM EMAIL – PLEASE DO NOT FORWARD: A DAY IN THE LIFE: We got some ‘mini-apples’ the other week. Advertised as ‘ideal for packed lunches’, they were aggressively bland, leading me to comment, as I am wont to do, that ‘they may be small but at least they taste bad.’ And that raised a few quizzical eyebrows as it’s a jarring statement that doesn’t end the way it’s ‘meant to’ but, if you move on quickly to the next topic, you can layer the confusion quite nicely. Say that you bought them at the delicate essence, you would take them back but it’s only March and they would taste better if you warm them up but your fridge is on the blink and then, if you can scoot off quickly enough, your discombobulated companion will wonder if you are bonkers or if they are. On to the news: BUDGET – INTERPRETATION: Introduction: • For the facts in brief and for industry and company reaction, see below. Here we consider some of the implications. • The aid has been a) broadly welcomed but b) there is plenty of detail to be thrashed out and c) the aid is selective across industries and within industries. The big three: • The extension of the furlough was leaked but is nonetheless welcome. • The VAT reduced rate extension and the business rates suspension were also both strongly rumoured. Taking these in turn The 5% VAT rate: • There is a phenomenon known as WYSIATI (what you see, is all there is). It means that you concentrate on what is there, not what isn’t • With that in mind, the 5% rate was not extended to alcohol – but those that hoped it would be, were perhaps in the minority • But what there is, is quite good. • We had thought an extension to June was the most likely. Therefore, an extension to end-September with no return to 20% for a full six months thereafter, has to register as ‘better than expected’ • Wet led pubs feel able to complain but, as a whole, the industry is perhaps rightly pleased with this one The business rates suspension: • WYSIATI allows some disappointment that this was not extended to breweries and other, non-retail premises • But that wasn’t likely and the extension of the total suspension to June (which is what we had hoped for in our internal, Langton, ‘whisper’ market) is good news • The news that up to 2/3 of the cost will be mitigated for a further 9mths is better than expected • But this is subject to a maximum of £2m for ‘closed businesses’ and will be a lesser amount for businesses that are able to trade • Hence, is the £2m per site or per Company? • And what does ‘able to trade’ mean? Will the 2/3 reduction by time-apportioned for periods of closure? And if the £2m max is per Company, which it is looking as though it may not be, then what about the Company with some units open and some closed? • If the £2m is per site, then they must be monster sites. Perhaps only the food retailers will qualify – and they won’t be shut in any case. Those with grounds to complain: • No businesses, arguably, have much of a right to complain when they are being given money. • The complaints, such that there have been, have concerned reopening dates (not the Chancellor’s remit) and the unrequited desire that the 5% be made permanent, that business rates be abolished, or the reduction be extended to other premises etc. • Wet-led operators do have some grounds perhaps to at least mention that the 5% hasn’t helped them (indeed it will help no operators whilst they are shut) • There was no beer duty reduction (it was frozen) and there are some observers who suggest that the extension of the furlough could provide wiggle room should the we be derailed during the path to reopening • The brewers (without pubs) had to enjoy the Budget vicariously, through help granted to their customers. • SIBA says ‘breweries will still be paying full business rates, VAT and duty and will not receive specific grant support – and whilst freezing beer duty is welcome, the Chancellor is still intending to increase the tax bill for at least 150 small breweries from next January with ruinous changes to small breweries’ relief, putting jobs and the recovery at risk.’ • The BBPA speaks for most when it says ‘overall, this is a good Budget for pubs and breweries in the short term, reflecting just how vital they are to the social, cultural and economic fabric of our communities.’ • It says: ‘this is just the start of the journey on the hard road to long-term recovery for our sector.’ WYSIATI matters: • There was no talk of an additional summer bank holiday (not the Chancellor’s business) • Nothing on evictions • Nothing on the growing debt mountain owed to banks and the tax authorities • Nothing on inter-company (e.g., landlord vs tenant) debt and growing pressures • Nothing on spending, the NHS, social care, Brexit and a whole host of other important topics ADVERTISE WITH US: Langton’s free email now carries adverts. See front page of website for today’s copy & contact us for further details. CHANGED EMAIL FORMAT: The Premium Email is unchanged. The Free Email is now written and pre-sent the evening before. It should include much of the news but not any breaking stories from the morning that it is sent such as company releases, nor Langton comment. See Twitter for in-day comment. THE BUDGET: Introduction: • There’s no getting away from it, yesterday’s Budget was the most important for years and, by and large, it delivered the goods for Hospitality. • Here we look at a) the facts, b) the reaction and c) our interpretation The Facts: • This has been done to death, so we’ll keep it brief. The ‘Big Three’ are at the top. • One. Furlough extended to end-September with companies providing 10% of the wage bill for pay not worked in July and 20% each in August & September. • Two. Business rates remain suspended until June. Then they are cut by 2/3 for the nine months to end-March next year subject to a maximum cut of £2m – with reduced levels of support where businesses have been able to trade (Devil in the Detail alert) • Three. The 5% rate of VAT on food & soft drinks remains in place to end-September. Thereafter, it moves for 6mths to 12.5% till next March & then back to 20%. • Other points are markedly less material but nonetheless important. • The National Minimum Wage rises to £8.91 from April. • There are £5bn worth of ‘restart grants’ to be made available to non-essential shops (up to £6k per unit) and hospitality venues (up to £18k) • Beer, spirits & wine duties will be frozen & £700m will be spent on sport & the arts. The reaction: • UKH says ‘the Chancellor has listened to the concerns of the hospitality sector. Details are yet to be pored over but it looks like crucial support will help businesses at a critical time.’ • It says ‘now it is vital that the Government sticks to its date of June 21st for a full reopening of the sector. Delay would see more businesses fail, more jobs lost and undo much of the good work the Chancellor has done to date.’ • UKH adds ‘a permanent reduced rate of VAT for hospitality would redress the unfair tax imbalance that our businesses have faced for too long and make us internationally competitive.’ • The BBPA says ‘we welcome the Chancellor’s announcement of continued support for the devastated pub sector in the form of additional grants, as well as extensions to the job retention scheme, 5% hospitality VAT rate and business rates holiday.’ • It says ‘extending the 5% VAT hospitality rate until September and at 12.5% thereafter is most welcome. We calculate it is worth £485 million to pubs.’ The BBPA adds ‘a beer duty freeze will be seen as much needed short-term relief for the sector. However, the Chancellor has only partially listened to the 500,000 campaign supporters who signed the petition calling for a cut in beer duty.’ • The BBPA notes ‘this is just the start of the journey on the hard road to long-term recovery for our sector. The Chancellor has made it clear today he recognises the vital role local pubs play in their communities. Now he must continue that commitment by ensuring Britain’s pubs and breweries are supported in the long term.’ • The BII says that the ‘Budget provides key foundations on which the Great British pub can begin to rebuild.’ It says ‘critical to our pubs’ recovery is the ability to trade free of restrictions at the earliest opportunity and no later than the 21st June. Only through full trading over the next 12 months will many of our pubs be able to recover their businesses, after a year of minimal trading which left many pubs deep in debt and teetering on the edge of collapse.’ • BII CEO Steven Alton says ‘I have no doubt that customers will return to their local pubs at the earliest opportunity and once again be given a fantastic hospitality experience. Our members have shown throughout this crisis their commitment to their local communities, and their ability to keep customers and staff safe. They will need all of our support over the coming weeks and months, as we all return to the Great British pub.’ • CEO of Admiral Taverns Chris Jowsey says the measures ‘will provide a vital lifeline for our licensees as we move closer to re-opening but it is crucial that local authorities pay these grants as quickly as possible to ensure that pubs are able to open in good shape.’ • Mark Davies, CEO of Hawthorn, comments ‘while the Budget will provide some much-needed support for pubs until reopening, it falls far short of the measures we were hoping for, particularly on Business Rates and VAT, and this will put some Community Pubs at risk of closure. Also the Budget statement was silent on State Aid and Business Rate reform, which was a disappointment.’ • Michael Saunders, CEO of Bibendum, comments ‘we are pleased that the government has decided to freeze duty on wine and spirits. It’s fantastic to see support from the government especially for pubs, restaurants, hotels and their suppliers in what has been an extremely difficult year for our industry. Also we pay tribute to the WSTA team for their tireless work on our industry’s behalf in getting our message to Government, benefiting all consumers of wines and spirits.’ • Oakman Inns’ Peter Borg Neal tweets ‘all in all a positive budget for hospitality. Concern remains for those industry colleagues who are badly exposed to rent debt. We also need the VAT cut to be made permanent.’ • Manchester’s Night Time economy advisor Sacha Lord tweets ‘overall, I’m pleased today. Recovery will be slow and steady so the furlough extension is a welcome move and will save thousands of jobs. Business rate and hospitality VAT measures will also be a lifeline too many. Operators will be waking up tomorrow with renewed hope.’ • Loungers’ Alex Reilley tweets that the VAT cut ‘is very welcome’ but adds that ‘business rates after June sounds murky.’ He adds ‘grants are also very welcome but without confirmation of revised (or abolished) State Aid limits we don’t know whether we can claim these grants.’ • Quoted in the Morning Advertiser, Greene King CEO Neil Mackenzie says ‘while the business rates extension will help our tenants and smaller businesses, the £2m cap from the end of June, just nine days after planned full reopening, means larger businesses will be denied millions of pounds in vital relief at a critical time. This makes it more important than ever that the government sticks to the timetable for reopening.’ The disgruntled few: • See travel below. Within pubs & restaurants, wet-led operators were perhaps a little disappointed. • Chris Jowsey of Admiral says ‘it remains the case however that community wet-led pubs across the UK have suffered immensely during the pandemic and these grants alone are insufficient to ensure they have a longer term future.’ • He says ‘community pubs receive no benefit from VAT cuts on food alone and will now be expected to pay business rates from the moment restrictions are lifted. I would urge the Chancellor to’ level up’ and further support pubs by reducing the beer tax we pay, which is 11 times higher than the rate currently paid across Europe.’ • Small Brewers’ organisation SIBA says the chancellor’s promise to spend ‘does nothing for the nation’s struggling independent breweries, who desperately needed direct tax cuts and targeted grant support to help them survive until the economy re-opens.’ It says ‘as a result of today’s announcements more Breweries are now more than likely than ever to close, just as there is light at the end of the tunnel.’ • The Campaign for Pubs has responded to the “disappointing” budget for pubs, saying it ‘is not enough nor properly targeted to save many pubs and discriminates against the classic community local.’ It calls for a VAT cut on all pub sales, including alcoholic drinks. Interpretation: • See premium email. PUBS & RESTAURANTS: • The limit on contactless card payments will rise to £100 later this year, says the Treasury. This will see the current £45 limit more than doubled. • Markit reports on the UK Services PMI for February saying that the ‘data indicated that a degree of stability returned to the UK service sector after the sharp downturn in output at the start of 2021.’ It says ‘restrictions on travel, leisure and hospitality due to the national lockdown continued to curtail overall activity, but there were some pockets of growth in technology and business services.’ • The Services PMI for the month was 49.5 in February, up from 39.5 in January. Markit says ‘while customer-facing businesses continued to report severe constraints on activity due to the pandemic, there were signs of growth in technology and some business services after a disappointing start to 2021.’ • The Low2NoBev conference planned for 9 and 10 June at The Old Truman Brewery is scheduled to go ahead. • Revolution Bars Group has updated on trading saying that the announcements regarding reopening ‘enables us to fully prepare and manage the expectations of our colleagues. Initially, on 12 April 2021, the Company intends to open 20 bars, and with the opening of indoor hospitality on 17 May 2021, all 66 bars will reopen.’ • RBG says ‘the subsequent additional support announced for the hospitality sector by the Chancellor in the Spring Budget on 3 March 2021, particularly the restart grants, continued reduction in business rates, low VAT on food and non-alcoholic drinks and other measures are also welcome. This support will give further certainty to all our stakeholders and allow the Company, together with the wider hospitality industry, to regain a financial position from which it can again develop and thrive.’ • The group had expected to burn £0.4m to £0.45m per week and now says it ‘has more than sufficient liquidity resources available to take the Company well through 17 May 2021, the date that its estate will be able to commence trading indoors in line with the Government’s phased release of current lockdown measures. This assumes no tightening of Government restrictions over that period.’ • CEO Rob Pitcher says ‘notwithstanding that good news, our industry remains on the critical list and the continued support announced by the Government is required to ensure that we can be in a position to return to growth and be a driver of national job creation once again particularly for young people who are the lifeblood of our industry and who have been severely impacted over the last year.’ He concludes ‘we are excited at the prospect of welcoming back our colleagues and guests and providing fun and memorable experiences for them as lockdown restrictions ease.’ HOTELS & LEISURE TRAVEL: • ABTA has welcomed certain budget measures, for example, the aid offered to travel companies with retail outlets, but it believes it has not been targeted for help. • ABTA boss Mark Tanzer says ‘we’re pleased to see the government has responded to many of our calls to extend furlough, business rates relief and VAT reductions. This will help to support jobs and businesses over the coming months.’ He adds ‘however, the chancellor must move beyond the government’s blind spot concerning the impacts of international travel restrictions, and make support available to all travel companies whose business has been effectively closed by public health policy.’ • Tanzer says ‘the chancellor said there are extra grants for struggling businesses, yet many travel companies remain excluded from this critical support, despite not being able to generate income over the last 12 months.’ • Travel Weekly reports Jet2holidays’ as saying that it had seen a 1000% increase in bookings (admittedly over a short time period) since the PM’s roadmap out of lockdown. • Jet2 CEO Steve Heapy says ‘you’ve probably had people with big percentages to manipulate numbers, but the numbers we put out were true. They have to be because we’re a public limited company.’ • Pontins is to desist from using surnames to screen out would-be customers that it does not want to see visit its sites. MORE LEISURE SNIPPETS: • Kantar has told Drinks Business that more UK consumers bought spirits on at least one occasion than they did wine. • Cadbury has teamed with Goose Island Brewery to create a beer tasting of Creme Eggs. It isn’t April 1st. • Sainsbury has put 1,150 jobs at risk. • JD Wetherspoon is to start work on its pub, The Stick or Twist, in Merrion Way, Leeds. The company says ‘Wetherspoon has always enjoyed great success in Leeds and this investment in the new pub highlights our commitment to the city.’ • Amazon will open its first till-less grocery store in London later today. • Yorkshire-based restaurant chain Fazenda has been purchased in a pre-pack administration. • Carnival-owned Princess Cruises says it is extending the pause of its UK-based cruise vacations to at least 25 September • Carnival-owned Princess Cruises is to offer ex-UK cruises only available to British passengers this summer. • STR reports US hotel profitability improved slightly in January. OTHER LEISURE: • Entain plc (formerly Ladbrokes, GVC etc.) has announced full year numbers saying that it turned in a ‘strong performance driven by a diversified business and an exceptional online offering.’ It says it is ‘well positioned for further growth across international markets.’ The group recently attracted a bid approach from MGM. • Entain reports Group EBITDA up 11% at £843.1m, at the top end of recently increased expectations. CEO Jette Nygaard-Andersen says ‘we are a digital entertainment company with a clear strategic focus on growth and sustainability. As such, we have a fantastic platform from which to use our proprietary technology to expand into new markets and reach new audiences around the world.’ • Entain concludes ‘the strong underlying momentum within our business, the rapid growth of our US joint-venture, and our continuing international expansion mean that we are as confident as ever in the long-term prospects for Entain.’ • Wm Hill, which is being acquired by Caesars, has reported full year numbers saying that it has seen a ‘strong finish to a challenging year which we met head-on.’ The company reports net revenues down by 16% at £1.3bn with a PBT down 91% at £9.1m. EPS is 2.3p vs 10.7p last year and there is no dividend. • CEO Ulrik Bengtsson says ‘we began the year well and finished the year even stronger.’ The middle wasn’t perhaps so good. The company says ‘we put our strategic plans firmly into action, diversifying our geographical footprint, expanding our team’s capabilities and rebuilding our technology.’ • Mr Bengtsson says ‘as William Hill embarks on a new chapter, we will continue to prioritise the protection of our customers. The UK Government has commenced the gambling review and we will engage with the relevant stakeholders to encourage evidence-led legislation that finds the right balance to keep our customers safe within a well-regulated ecosystem, to secure the tax base and to secure the industry. The William Hill brand remains highly regarded and is well-positioned for its future under new ownership.’ • Las Vegas Sands is selling its Venetian casino in Las Vegas in a $6.25bn deal to invest the money in its Asian businesses. • The Entertainment Retailers Association says that a record amount was spent on music, videos and gaming last year in the UK. ERA CEO Kim Bayley comments ‘the entertainment market was already growing without coronavirus, but with much of the leisure sector shuttered due to lockdown, music, video and games were in the right place at the right time.’ • Video sales in particular were strong given the sustained growth of subscription services such as Netflix, Disney+ and Amazon Prime Video. The ERA says spending on gaming was up by 17.7% compared with 2019, while video was up 25.6% and music by 6.8%. FINANCE & MARKETS: • More on Budget, sorry. The chancellor says the UK will recover more rapidly than previously calculated. The OBS says the economy should be back to its 2019 size by mid-2022. • The OBS says the economy will grow by 4%, 7.2%, 1.7%, 1.6% and 1.7% in the years 2021 to 2025 respectively. • Unemployment will top out at 6.5% not the earlier 11.9%. This is good news but it is partly because the furlough scheme will be continued for longer than envisaged. • The taxpayer will face a £407bn Covid support bill, with more to come. Borrowing will be £355bn this year and £234bn next. Tax allowances will be frozen for 5yrs and Corporation Tax will rise from 19% to 25% in 2023. More would-be consumers will be pushed into tax and consumption may come under pressure. • The stamp duty holiday on some properties has been extended to June. • The NIESR says that it ‘welcomes the extension of Covid-19 support measures’ but adds there was ‘little sign…of the required support through the transition to a post-Covid economy.’ It says ‘there is significant uncertainty regarding the long-term effects of Covid-19 with estimates of long-term scarring between 3-4 per cent. Given the extent of uncertainty, pre-committing to a fiscal tightening could add to the uncertainty and increase the chances of a costly U-turn if some of the downside risks materialize.’ • Sterling stronger at $1.3958 and €1.1573. Oil higher at $64.35. UK 10yr gilt yield up 9bps at 0.78%. World markets mixed yesterday with London set to open around 24pts lower (as at 7.15am). RETAIL WITH NICK BUBB:
Today’s News: Sainsbury was the first big supermarket out of the traps yesterday afternoon after the Budget, to flag that it would be returning the extra Business Rates relief provided by the Chancellor for the new financial year, but none of the others have followed it yet and it may be that it wanted to get a “good news” story out to offset the “bad news” about 500 HQ job cuts and the closure of one of its “dark store” Online picking warehouses, in East London. Interestingly, Asda is also closing two of its “dark stores”, but Waitrose is going in the other direction, and has announced today the opening of its third “dark store” in Greenford, in West London. Laura Burbedge, Waitrose.com Director, says in the statement that “Waitrose.com now accounts for a fifth of our total business, compared to six percent a year ago. But despite this huge growth we know there are still more people who FTSE Index Watch: As expected, the quarterly FTSE Index review yesterday evening saw poor old Morrisons ejected from the FTSE 100 index, but the recently floated Dr Martens failed to win promotion to the premier league, perhaps because of the “free float” strictures, although it did get into the FTSE 250 index. But the recently floated Moonpig failed to make the FTSE 250 index cut. |
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