Tesco target Booker sees sales growth ease

LONDON, March 30 (Reuters) - Booker, the British wholesaler that in January agreed to be taken over by Tesco (Swiss: TSCO.SW - news) for 3.7 billion pounds ($4.60 billion), said on Thursday sales growth had eased in its fourth quarter, with tobacco sales dented by a display ban and plain packaging restrictions.

The firm, which supplies the Budgens, Londis, Happy Shopper and Premier (BSE: 500540.BO - news) convenience chains and also operates cash and carry business Makro, said group sales rose 0.5 percent in the 12 weeks to March 24, while like-for-like sales were up 0.7 percent.

That compares to like-for-like sales growth of 3.2 percent in the previous quarter.

Booker also faced tougher year-on-year comparative numbers in the fourth quarter, while Easter also falls later this year.

Prior to the update, analysts' average forecast was for a pretax profit of 171.3 million pounds ($212.9 million) for the 2016-17 year, up from 150.8 million pounds in 2015-16, according to Reuters data.

Booker said it is currently going through the competition process relating to Tesco (Frankfurt: 852647 - news) 's offer, announced on Jan. 27.

It said it will not be making forward looking statements for the duration of the offer period. ($1 = 0.8044 pounds) (Reporting by James Davey, editing by David Evans)