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Rolls-Royce cuts dividend by 50% after torrid year | Rolls-Royce cuts dividend by 50% after torrid year |
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Aero-engine giant Rolls-Royce has cut its dividend by 50% after a torrid year. | Aero-engine giant Rolls-Royce has cut its dividend by 50% after a torrid year. |
The company, which has issued a string of profit warnings in recent years, also announced profits in line with the guidance it gave last year, albeit at the lower end of the range it outlined. | |
Rolls made £1.35m before one-off items. | |
The chief executive said it had been a year of considerable change and that there would be further cost cuts on top of the £200m savings already planned. | |
The company said that it had made roughly 50% of those savings. | |
Rolls-Royce employs more than 21,000 people in the UK, with more than 12,000 employed at its Derby aerospace engines and submarines division. | Rolls-Royce employs more than 21,000 people in the UK, with more than 12,000 employed at its Derby aerospace engines and submarines division. |
Last year, the company announced 3,600 job cuts and warned that some of its 2,000 senior managers would depart. | Last year, the company announced 3,600 job cuts and warned that some of its 2,000 senior managers would depart. |
Rolls also said it had cut the two top layers of management by 20% and planned further cuts. | |
It added that the initial exceptional restructuring charge for these changes would be £75m-100m this year. | |
'Challenging' | |
As well as its world-famous plane engines, the company also makes engines for the UK nuclear submarine fleet. | As well as its world-famous plane engines, the company also makes engines for the UK nuclear submarine fleet. |
Its recent troubles have alarmed the government to the extent that the Business Minister, Anna Soubry, said in December that the government was "monitoring the situation carefully". | Its recent troubles have alarmed the government to the extent that the Business Minister, Anna Soubry, said in December that the government was "monitoring the situation carefully". |
The next generation of nuclear submarines, due to be deployed by 2030, is being planned by the government. | The next generation of nuclear submarines, due to be deployed by 2030, is being planned by the government. |
Chief executive Warren East, who joined the company in July, has said an "accounting fog" had developed that had left investors unclear about its direction. | Chief executive Warren East, who joined the company in July, has said an "accounting fog" had developed that had left investors unclear about its direction. |
Mr East said: "In the context of challenging trading conditions, our overall performance for the year was in line with the expectations we set out in July 2015. | Mr East said: "In the context of challenging trading conditions, our overall performance for the year was in line with the expectations we set out in July 2015. |
"It was a year of considerable change for Rolls-Royce: in our management, in some market conditions and in our near-term outlook." | "It was a year of considerable change for Rolls-Royce: in our management, in some market conditions and in our near-term outlook." |
He added that there were some positive notes, including the underlying growth of long-term markets and a growing order book. | He added that there were some positive notes, including the underlying growth of long-term markets and a growing order book. |
To add to the company's problems, it is the subject of an investigation by the Serious Fraud Office. | |
Rolls said it was continuing to co-operate with the authorities in the UK, the US and elsewhere, but was unable to give any further details or a timescale for when the investigation would end. |