A very optimistic forecast and one that's looking increasingly unlikely given the current environment. Q4, in particular, will quite likely be weaker than is perhaps anticipated as contraction feeds into real economic consumption. More vigirous discounting will quite likely be necessary, affecting Total Revenues.
In the end, the bottom line is the most important component and EI will quite likely have several Exceptional Items for the Full Year.
This investigation by the UK OFT is just another paperwork exercise to justfiy the existence of yet another Quango. No matter what their findings and any subsequent forced implementations, the private/free market will always find a way to override them if they are economically unfeasible.
EI Premier