The Lemon Fool

11 July 2019, Slough ‐ RB today announced it has reached agreements with the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to resolve the long-running investigation into the sales and marketing of Suboxone Film by its former prescription pharmaceuticals business Indivior, a business that was wholly demerged from the Group in 2014.

Dod101 wrote:I am glad to say I have never held RB. Quite a disastrous acquisition of MJN judging by the big write down of goodwill. Even the underlying business is not doing very well.
'Going through a rough patch' to quote ADrunkenMarcus sounds like an understatement. And just to compound the misery, yet another company freezing its dividend.
Actually I actively avoid most of their products as I simply do not like them so I cannot see myself ever buying these shares.
Dod

Highlights

· Exceptional efforts to increase capacity by RB's people, partners, suppliers and customers to meet strong consumer demand due to COVID-19

· Group LFL growth of +13.3%: led by strong demand for many of our hygiene and health products, and compared to a weaker quarter for Health in 2019; improving market share3 trends in both businesses

· Hygiene LFL growth of +12.8%: strong growth in most markets, with double digit growth in North America, Europe / ANZ, and Latin America

· Health LFL growth of +13.6%: strong demand for Dettol, OTC and Other Health in North America, Europe and Australia, partially offset by lower growth in Developing Markets and decline in IFCN in China reflecting retail restocking in 2019

· Strong demand in the first quarter for Dettol, Lysol, Mucinex, Nurofen and VMS as the business sustained supply despite challenging conditions in many markets

· e-Commerce 1 channel net revenues up over 50%, reflecting strong growth in both Hygiene and Health, particularly in March as consumers moved online during 'stay at home'

· Plans to Rejuvenate Sustainable Growth at RB underway with senior management team and new structure expected to be in place by 1 July 2020; some investments now phased to start later in the year; RB Fight for Access Fund has allocated over £40m to benefit communities consistent with the Company's Purpose

· 2020 performance now expected to be better than original expectations, although the outlook for the balance of 2020 remains uncertain, with significant COVID-19 challenges across our markets; fuller update on plans and guidance at the Half Year

Bouleversee wrote:Is it yet known what is happening about RB's dividend?

Bouleversee wrote: RB is one of my biggest successes over a number of years.

ADrunkenMarcus wrote:For me, since purchase in July 2011 it has given me a capital gain of 80.3% (7.6% CAGR) and dividends amounting to 40.3% of my book cost with the dividend growing 4.1% CAGR. (These figures are just for 'an' RB share and ignore the Indivior spin off.) Not great but not disastrous.