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Britvic

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Employees 1001-5000
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FY2008 Annual Report · Britvic
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Britvic plc
Britvic House 
Broomfield Road 
Chelmsford 
Essex 
CM1 1TU

Telephone 01245 261871 
Fax 01245 267147

www.britvic.com

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Britvic plc
Annual Report 2008

 
 
 
 
Who We Are
Britvic is one of the two leading branded soft drinks 
businesses in the UK and the Republic of Ireland. Many 
of our brands are either first or second in their respective 
categories. We have a strong track record of innovation 
in products, packaging and marketing activity. In 2007 
we expanded into Ireland with a significant acquisition 
and we have a long-standing bottling agreement 
with PepsiCo for key brands such as Pepsi, 7UP and 
Gatorade in UK and Ireland. 

Our Investment Proposition
The Company has a track record of growth. Since 
flotation in 2005 it has delivered compound annual 
growth rates in revenue of 4.1%*, EBIT of 6.9%* and 
EPS of 16.1%. In addition over this timeframe it has 
delivered underlying free cash flow in excess of £180m.

* GB and International.

Business Overview

Business Review

Financial Statements

Electronic communications
Shareholders can elect to receive shareholder documents electronically by registering with Shareview at www.shareview.co.uk  
This will save on printing and distribution costs, creating environmental benefits. When you register, you will be sent an email 
notification to say when shareholder documents are available on our website and you will be provided with a link to that information. 
When registering, you will need your shareholder reference number which can be found on your share certificate or proxy form. 
Please contact Equiniti if you require any assistance or further information. 

Contacts
The Company Secretary is John Price and the registered office is Britvic House, Broomfield Road, Chelmsford CM1 1TU,  
telephone 01245 504482, fax 01245 504435, website www.britvic.com

The Company’s Registrar is Equiniti, Aspect House, Spencer Road, Lancing, West Sussex BN99 6DA, telephone 0871 384 2520*  
(UK callers) +44 121 415 7047 (non-UK callers).

* For those with hearing difficulties, a textphone is available on 0871 384 2255 for UK callers with compatible equipment.

Further copies of this report are available from the Company’s registered office (address as above) and may be accessed through  
the Company’s website, www.britvic.com

Cautionary note regarding forward-looking statements
This announcement includes statements that are forward-looking in nature. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown 
risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be 
materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. 
Except as required by the Listing Rules and applicable law, Britvic undertakes no obligation to update or change any forward-looking 
statements to reflect events occurring after the date such statements are published.

Definitions
1.  EBITDA is defined as operating profit before exceptional items, depreciation, amortisation and any impairment of or gain/loss  

on disposal of fixed assets.

2.  Adjusted net Group debt is defined as net Group debt, adding back the net benefit of debt hedging instruments that pass  

through Reserves.

3.  Free cash flow is defined as net cash flow excluding movements in borrowings, dividend payments and non-cash exceptional  
items. The 2007 figure excludes both the impact of the acquisition of Britvic Ireland and a sale of property in the UK for £9.8m. 

The effect of the transfer of Irish trade from Britvic International to Britvic Ireland in March 2008 has been taken account of in the  
financial performance of both entities, and both 2007 and 2008 numbers reflect this transfer. 

All numbers in this announcement other than those included within the Financial Statements are disclosed before exceptional items.  
Stills and carbonates are defined as per the recategorisation described at the Britvic March 2008 investor seminar.

The auditors have reported on the 2008 and 2007 accounts. Their reports for both years were unqualified and did not contain 
statements under section 237 (2) or (3) of the Companies Act 1985.

01/  Our Performance at a Glance
02/  Britvic at a Glance
04/  The Market at a Glance
 Our Strategy for Growth
05/ 
06/ 
 Growing the Core in GB
08/  Sowing the Seeds in GB
10/  Britvic International
11/  Britvic Ireland

12/  Chairman’s Statement
13/  Chief Executive’s Review
18/  Financial and Business Review
24/  Business Resources
25/  Risks and Uncertainties 

Corporate Responsibility

26/  Corporate Responsibility

Management

30/  Board of Directors

33/  Directors’ Report
38/  Corporate Governance Statement
42/  Directors’ Remuneration Report 
50/ 
 Independent Auditor’s Report
51/  Consolidated Income Statement
52/  Consolidated Balance Sheet
53/  Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows
54/ 

 Consolidated Statement of  
Recognised Income and Expense
 Notes to the Consolidated Financial 
Statements

55/ 

100/   Independent Auditor’s Report to the 

Members of Britvic plc

101/  Company Balance Sheet
102/   Notes to the Company Financial 

Statements

108/   Shareholder Information

Printed on Take 2 Offset which is made  
from 100% recycled fibres sourced only 
from post consumer waste. Take 2 Offset  
is certified according to the rules for the 
Forest Stewardship Council.

Designed by www.luminous.co.uk

 
Business Overview
Business Overview

Business Review
Business Review

Corporate Responsibility
Corporate Responsibility

Management
Management

Financial Statements
Financial Statements

Our Performance at a Glance

Group
Total Branded Revenue

2006

2007

2008

+29.3%
Full Year Dividend

2006

2007

2008

+14.5%
Free Cash Flow

2006

2007

2008

+1.4%

Operating Profit

£677.7m

£716.3m

2006

2007

£73.7m

£80.0m

£926.5m

2008

£96.7m

+20.9%
Earnings Per Share

10.0p

11.0p

2006

2007

2008

12.6p

18.4p

20.4p

24.8p

+21.6%

£48.9m

£65.3m

£66.2m

GB and International
Revenue

2006

2007

2008

+4.8%

Note: All numbers pre-exceptionals.

EBIT

2006

2007

£669.6m

£692.5m

£725.8m

2008

+7.6%

£71.8m

£76.2m

£82.0m

Britvic plc Annual Report 2008  1

 
Britvic at a Glance

Group Facts
– 1.68bn litres sold annually
–  Second largest supplier of branded  

soft drinks in UK and Ireland

–  Number one supplier in on-premise  

in UK and Ireland

–  Number two supplier in take-home  

in UK and Ireland

Key Brand Facts
–  Robinsons is the UK’s seventh most 

valuable grocery brand

–  J2O is the number one premium juice 

drinks brand

–  Fruit Shoot is the number one kids’  

consumer brand

Source: Canadean Soft Drinks Report 2008; Nielsen On Premise Service MAT  
to September 2008; Nielsen Scantrack 52 MAT to 1 November 2008.

Highlights in 2007/8
– Fruit Shoot exceeds £100m in retail sales
–  Pepsi Raw launched, the UK’s first natural 

cola and winner of 2008 Beverage 
Innovation awards

–  Lime Grove, a pressed lime and  

sparkling water combination, introduced  
to on-premise

–  Gatorade, the world’s best selling sports 

drink, rolled out across all channels

–  Apple and Blueberry flavour of  

J2O introduced

–  Pomegranate Britvic mixer introduced,  

a first in on-trade 

– Successful pilot launch of H2OH! in Ireland 
–  Successful full launch of Fruit Shoot and 

J2O in Ireland

GB Portfolio
Squash

Pure juice

Juice drinks

Plain water Water plus

Cold hot  
drinks*

Cola

Fruit carbonates

Non fruit 
carbonates

Lemonade Glucose Mixers Sports

2  Britvic plc Annual Report 2008

* From early 2009.

 
Business Overview

Business Review

Corporate Responsibility

Management

Financial Statements

Where We Are
We have production facilities located  
across GB, with our headquarters in 
Chelmsford, where Britvic first originated. 
We also have bases overseas through  
Britvic Ireland.

Dublin

Ballygowan

Cork

Ireland

We will close factories in Cork and Hartlepool in 2009 and relocate their production  
to other existing sites. 

GB Take-Home Market

Total market

Carbonates

Stills

Total sales £6.1bn

Britvic 11%

Coca-Cola Enterprises 27%

GlaxoSmithKline 8%

Danone 6%

Tropicana 5%

All other 43%

Total sales £2.6bn

Britvic 12%

Coca-Cola Enterprises 53%

GlaxoSmithKline 9%

Red Bull 7%

AG Barr 5%

All other 14%

GB Licensed On-Trade Market

Total market

Carbonates

Stills

Office

Factory

Distribution 
centre

Overseas
operations

Hartlepool

Leeds

Huddersfield

Solihull

Lutterworth

Rugby

Norwich

Chelmsford
Widford

Beckton

International

Total sales £3.5bn

Britvic 10%

Danone 10%

Tropicana 9%

Coca-Cola Enterprises 7%

GlaxoSmithKline 7%

Innocent 3%

All other 54%

Total sales £2.3bn

Britvic 45%

Total sales £1.5bn

Britvic 40%

Total sales £0.8bn

Britvic 52%

Coca-Cola Enterprises 35%

Coca-Cola Enterprises 41%

Coca-Cola Enterprises 23%

Red Bull 4%

All other 16%

Red Bull 7%

All other 12%

Hartridge 2%

All other 23%

Source: AC Nielsen Scantrack Total Coverage MAT 27 September 2008 and AC Nielsen licensed on-trade MAT July 2008.

Britvic plc Annual Report 2008  3

 
The Market at a Glance

GB Market Volume

120

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100

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80

60

40

Oct

2005/6

2006/7

2007/8

The GB soft drinks take-home 
market declined by 0.8% 
versus the previous year, 
though excluding plain water, 
the market was marginally up.

Nov

Dec

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Source: AC Nielsen Scantrack September 2008: Take Home.

Relative Size and Growth of GB Market Categories

Cola

2.0%

Fruit carbs

(11.6%)

Lemonade

(2.7%)

Glucose/
stimulant

16.7%

16.3%

16.3%

s
b
r
a
C

Non fruit carbs

15.3%

(8.4%)

(2.4%)

Traditional
mixers

(0.9%)

(3.6%)

(2.5%)

(1.7%)

(4.9%)

(0.6%)

(1.6%)

Pure juice

15.5%

Plain water

Squash

(2.5%)

(4.1%)

(3.0%)

(1.7%)

(1.3%)

(5.9%)

Juice drinks

1.7%)

2.1%

2.0%

Water plus

(14.1%)

(1.8%)

(5.4%)

s
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S

Dairy

Sports

(4.4%)

15.3%

Smoothies

(6.9%)

Cold/hot drinks

(6.0%)

5.6%

3.7%

Diet/low calorie

Regular/full sugar

0

400,000

800,000

Volume (‘000s litres)

Source: AC Neilsen Scantrack Take Home 52 weeks to 27 September 2008.

1,200,000

1,600,000

4  Britvic plc Annual Report 2008

 
 
 
Business Overview
Business Overview
Business Overview

Business Review
Business Review
Business Review

Corporate Responsibility
Corporate Responsibility
Corporate Responsibility

Management
Management
Management

Financial Statements
Financial Statements
Financial Statements

Our Strategy for Growth

Britvic has a clear and focused strategy  
for growth: 
Supporting and growing our core brands 
Pepsi, 7UP, Robinsons squash, Tango,  
Fruit Shoot and J2O
Innovating and developing our seed brands
Drench, Gatorade, Raw, V Water and  
Lipton Iced Tea
Managing efficiency 
By improving margins and free cash flow
Expanding into Europe 
Britvic International and the first full year  
of Britvic Ireland

Britvic plc Annual Report 2008  5

 
Growing the Core in GB
Our key profit drivers

Pepsi – A great year

–  Market share at a five-year high,  

up 0.9%/1.2% (volume/value) and  
category in growth, up 3.7%/4.6%

–  Distribution gains in convenience and 

impulse and licensed on-premise

–  Successful Max Kicks promotion and  

in-store activity

Fruit Shoot – Breaks through £100m retail sales

–  UK’s number one kids’ consumer brand  

now worth more than £100m

–   The number one kids’ water and number  

two branded pure juice 

–  Growing penetration with over 1m  

new consumers

– A major refocus of Tango underway

–  Ongoing communication in 2009

– We’re going to make Tango famous again! 

Tango – Big plans for the brand

6  Britvic plc Annual Report 2008

 
Business Overview

Business Review

Corporate Responsibility

Management

Financial Statements

Robinsons – Strengthening market leadership

–  UK’s seventh most valuable grocery brand

–  4.1% value growth against a relatively flat 
squash category performance (+0.4%)

–  Consumed in 1.2m more households  

than last year

J2O – The number one packaged drink

–  83% share of the premium juice drinks 

category

–  New flavour and packaging innovations 

contribute to strong performance

–  New PET 330ml format and large multi-packs 

serving different occasions

7UP – Another year of share growth

–  Market share up 0.3%/0.4%  

(volume/value) and category in growth,  
up 3.5%/6.5% 

–  Strong brand credentials and awareness

–  An additive-free formulation that engages 

health-conscious consumers

Britvic plc Annual Report 2008  7

 
Sowing the Seeds in GB
Nurturing the brands of tomorrow

Drench – The number five water brand

–  170% volume growth in 2007/8 with success 

of unique mental hydration proposition

–  Scale launch into grocery multiples 

supported by aggressive brand launch 
programme of £5.5m

–  Significantly expanded range of pack formats

Gatorade – Strong start in launch year

®

–  4% value share from a standing start for  

the world’s number one sports drink

–  Achieved distribution levels of 79%  

in take-home grocery in 12 weeks to  
27 September 2008

–  Available in over 2,400 ‘points of sweat’

Pepsi Raw – Genuine cola innovation

–  Early strong performance of this natural cola 

–  Already available in over 3,000 bars

–  Moving into take-home grocery in both 
250ml cans and 300ml glass bottles

8  Britvic plc Annual Report 2008

 
Business Overview

Business Review

Corporate Responsibility

Management

Financial Statements

V Water – Key player in potential growth category

–  Functional waters are a small category  

with the potential for growth

–  Fourth bottling agreement, reinforcing  

our relationship with PepsiCo

–  Account wins already in WH Smith, ESSO  

and MOTO

Lipton Iced Tea – Fills portfolio gap

–  Intention to sign another bottling agreement 

with PepsiCo 

–  Ready-to-drink tea showing European market 

volume growth of 43% since 2001

–  Available in immediate and deferred packs 

Britvic plc Annual Report 2008  9

 
Britvic International 
Geographic and brand expansion

–  Further wins in the air with renewal of 
the Easyjet contract and extension of  
the Ryanair business into more markets

–  Increased investment with new natural 
premium squash launched in Denmark

–  Fruit Shoot in double digit growth in 
Holland, with 70% distribution, 24% 
year-on-year volume growth and a new 
tropical flavour launched in April

–  Strong revenue growth of 94% in the 

Nordic region

–  Robinsons at 75% distribution across  

the region

10  Britvic plc Annual Report 2008

 
Business Overview

Business Review

Corporate Responsibility

Management

Financial Statements

Britvic Ireland
A template for acquisitions

€21m of synergies by 2011

–  50% increase on previously announced 

synergies. €5m delivered in 2008

Strong market positions that continue  
to accelerate the Group’s growth

–  Number one in ROI licensed on-premise

–  Number two in ROI take-home 

(Canadean)

Opportunities being leveraged with 
cross-territory brands – Robinsons, 
Fruit Shoot and J2O

Britvic plc Annual Report 2008  11

 
Chairman’s Statement

Gerald Corbett 
Independent Non-Executive 
Chairman

Britvic’s profit before tax, in its third 
year as a public company rose 14.4% 
to £70.1m, before exceptional items on 
the back of revenue growth of 29.3% 
to £926.5m. Earnings per share rose 
21.6% to 24.8p per share, and cash 
flow was again strong with free cash 
flow generation of £66.2m, before 
exceptional items. We are proposing a 
final dividend of 8.8p per share, which 
will make a full year divided of 12.6p per 
share, an increase of 14.5%. This was 
another creditable set of results given 
the consumer environment, record 
commodity price rises, another poor 
summer and the downturn in the on-
trade. Britvic is developing a solid track 
record of growth in all key measures – 
financial and market. Our objective is to 
make steady progress on all measures 
every year.

Financial results are outputs, and reflect 
actions taken and strategies pursued by 
the management. In sales terms, we again 
outperformed the British soft drinks market, 
building on the strength of our brands, 
and our innovation and product launch 
programme. We either gained market share 

12  Britvic plc Annual Report 2008

or maintained market share in every market 
in which we compete. The launches of 
Gatorade and Drench were delivered in line 
with our expectations. Price realisation in the 
on-trade is higher than in the off-trade, but 
our overall average realised price improved in 
spite of the decline in the on-trade, reflecting 
the improvement in our business processes. 
Our approach is to keep costs tight, whilst 
maximising margins and cash. As the 
impact of the adverse trading environment 
became clear, management was again 
able to configure the business to deliver an 
improving underlying operating profit margin, 
whilst continuing to invest in our brands.

In Great Britain, the performance of the core 
brands, mostly notably Pepsi, Robinsons and 
Fruit Shoot has been strong, and we have 
driven revenue growth through continuing 
to take volume and value share. The signing 
of three further bottling agreements with 
PepsiCo, our major commercial partner, is 
a demonstration of the strong and growing 
relationship that now goes back over 20 
years. We are committed to their success, 
and they to ours.

Britvic Ireland, in its first full year as part of 
the Britvic Group, is now fully integrated 
with the rest of our operations. The market 
in Ireland, particularly in the licensed on-
premise channel, suffered from the sharp 
decline in the Irish economy. Importantly 
the business held or grew share across key 
categories. The market position, together 
with a well-invested sales and supply chain 
infrastructure, mean that Britvic Ireland is  
well placed to take advantage of future 
recovery in the market. The upgrade to  
the synergies, now totalling €21m by 2011,  
is a positive sign for the future. Indeed our 

experience in Ireland and the value we 
have been able to add to the business give 
us encouragement to continue, albeit at a 
prudent rate, our international expansion. 

The strength of our market positions, 
our portfolio of leading brands, and our 
innovation and product launch programme 
give us confidence as we approach the full 
effects of the consumer downturn in 2009. 
This confidence and our cash flow underpin 
the Board’s decision to propose the strong 
final dividend. The new year has begun 
satisfactorily for Britvic in a tough market 
and we fully expect to be able to yet again 
demonstrate the resilience of our business.

During the year, Chris Bulmer, the Chairman 
of our Remuneration Committee, stepped 
down. Chris made a great contribution to our 
affairs since the flotation and we wish her 
well in her new life in Australia. Ben Gordon, 
the Chief Executive of Mothercare plc, has 
joined the Board, and our Senior Independent 
Director, Bob Ivell, has taken over as 
Chairman of the Remuneration Committee. 

It has been three years since we floated 
and became a public company. The time has 
passed quickly, but after an early set back 
our executive team has demonstrated what 
a sound and robust business we have. On 
behalf of the Board I would like to thank 
them and all Britvic employees for their hard 
work and commitment during the year. This 
strong result is to their credit, and gives us  
all confidence in a positive future.

 
Business Overview

Business Review

Corporate Responsibility

Management

Financial Statements

Chief Executive’s  
Review

Paul Moody 
Chief Executive

29.3%

Growth in revenue

In the 52 weeks ended 28 September 
2008, Britvic’s brands have performed 
extremely well, growing market volume 
and value share in key categories, despite 
the tough trading conditions that have 
been driven by the downturn in the 
economy. The continued outperformance 
of the market has delivered strong 
revenue growth of 29.3% to £926.5m 
including a first full 52-week contribution 
from Britvic Ireland of £200.7m. GB 
and International revenues of £725.8m 
showed good growth of 4.8% in the  
52-week period. 

We have continued to deliver on our point-
of-purchase and innovation strategies, 
delivering healthy growth in revenue whilst 
proactively managing the cost base. Group 
operating profit is up 20.9%, while profit 
after tax (‘PAT’) and earnings per share 
(‘EPS’) are both up by more than 20%. These 
strong results showed resilience and were 
delivered despite repeated poor summer 
weather and tougher trading conditions, 
combined with the toughest raw material 
and energy cost pricing environment for 
many years.

Free cash flow was £66.2m, £0.9m ahead 
of the underlying prior year number, driven 
by the ongoing focus on disciplined cash and 
capital expenditure management. Return 
on Invested Capital (‘ROIC’) including Britvic 
Ireland has increased by 70 basis points 
reflecting the strong management  
of the Group’s asset and cost base. The 
Board is proposing a final dividend per share 
of 8.8p bringing the full year dividend per 
share to 12.6p, an increase of nearly 15%  
on the prior year. 

The soft drinks market 
The UK soft drinks market fell by 0.8% in 
volume over the period. This was mainly due 
to the impact of the consumer slowdown 
and a second consecutive year of adverse 
summer weather. 

Though relatively resilient, the soft drinks 
market has not been immune to the 
slowdown in consumer spending in 2008. 
In context, food and soft drinks currently 
account for only 9% of UK household 
expenditure. Within that less than 40% 
of dry grocery spend is on soft drinks. 
Consumers this year traded from premium 
into value soft drinks categories, such as into 
cola and juice drinks and away from more 
expensive price-point categories such as 
smoothies and pure juice. Squash has seen 
an increase in penetration, suggesting that 
some people are moving away from the 
more expensive soft drink categories and 
back towards more ‘staple’ offerings. 

The move out of carbonates by UK 
consumers experienced in the first half 
of 2006, was again countered in 2008 
by the gradual return into carbonates by 
consumers taking a rational and balanced 
approach to their soft drinks repertoire. This 
was accentuated by consumers looking for 
value propositions, particularly in large-pack 
carbonates and resulted in the carbonates 
market increasing in volume terms by  
1.4%, driven by the cola and glucose/
stimulant categories.

Britvic plc Annual Report 2008  13

 
“ We have continued to deliver on 
our innovation, point-of-purchase 
and innovation strategies, delivering 
healthy growth in revenue whilst 
proactively managing the cost base.”

The stills category declined by 2.7% 
this year. A notable sub-category in 
material decline was plain water, which 
was adversely impacted by the poor 
summer weather, the environmental and 
sustainability debate and by the downturn 
in consumer spending. However, there was 
notable growth within ambient juice and 
sports drinks, whilst dairy and smoothies 
accelerated their declines over the course of 
the year.

Against this general market background, 
Britvic has outperformed the market in its 
key categories during the period:

•	

The cola market was up by 3.7% in 
volume, while Pepsi outperformed this 
with an 8.1% market volume increase 
resulting in a 0.9 percentage point  
increase in market volume share and a  
1.2 percentage point increase in market 
value share.

•	

The squash market was down 3.0% 
in volume terms. Robinsons squash 
outperformed this with a 6.5% market 
volume increase resulting in a 3.8 
percentage point increase in market 
volume share and a 1.5 percentage point 
increase in market value share.

•	

The children’s on-the-go market was up by 
just 0.3% in volumes terms, while core 
Fruit Shoot outperformed this with a 14.7% 
market volume increase resulting in a 3.9 
percentage point increase in market volume 
share and a 3.2 percentage point increase in 
market value share.

During the period Britvic GB stills volumes 
were up 8.1%, and GB carbonates volumes 
were up 4.2%.

Britvic’s strategy
Management action has focused on four 
main areas:

Supporting and growing our core brands
Britvic GB’s six core brands are Pepsi, 7UP, 
Robinsons squash, Tango, Fruit Shoot and 
J2O. They are the key profit drivers of our 
current business and therefore the brands  
to which we allocate greatest resource. 
Other supporting brands help to leverage 
customer relationships with scale and 
account wins. We continue to invest in our 
strong total portfolio of brands through both 
innovation and media, to ensure that they 
are preferred by consumers. Examples of 
our successful core GB brand performances 
are shown below:

The Pepsi brand has continued its volume 
and value share gains of the cola market, 
an increase of 0.9 and 1.2 percentage 
points on last year respectively. The success 
enjoyed by the brand in the period reflects 
strong promotional execution across all key 
customers and the highly successful Pepsi 
Max Kicks campaign that, in conjunction with 
the successful investment in trade-ready 
display units, has led to real success for the 
brand this year. The growth in market share 
was also achieved against a background of 
continued competitor activity and with no 
adverse impact on average realised price 
(‘ARP’) despite our growing presence  
in the discounters sector. Our close  
working relationship with the brand  
owner, PepsiCo, has been instrumental  
in achieving this performance. 

8.1%

Increase in Britvic GB 
stills volume

14  Britvic plc Annual Report 2008

 
Business Overview

Business Review

Corporate Responsibility

Management

Financial Statements

21%

Overall increase in 
International revenue

Our International business has again 
achieved high-growth results, with overall 
revenue growth of 21%, and an improved 
ARP, up 4.9%. During the year Robinsons 
increased its revenue by 94% in the Nordic 
region driven by increased distribution, a 
strong advertising campaign in Denmark 
and Finland, heavyweight in-store sampling 
campaigns in all three markets, and the 
launch of Robinsons premium squash. In 
the Netherlands Fruit Shoot has established 
itself as the fastest growing kids’ juice brand, 
and the ‘Go Explore’ advertising campaign 
received a prestigious industry EFFIE award. 
Beyond these successes we have continued 
to expand Britvic’s footprint in the key tourist 
areas of Spain and the Mediterranean, and 
have achieved early success in the Middle 
East and India. These markets represent a 
strong opportunity for future development 
and growth.

Robinsons squash has consolidated its 
number one position even further with 
volume and value share gains in the 
squash market, an increase of 3.8 and 1.5 
percentage points on last year respectively. 
Robinsons’ best ever Wimbledon, plus 
excellent brand equity programmes and in-
store execution mean that the seventh most 
valuable grocery brand in the UK goes from 
strength to strength and is very well-placed 
for what could be a tougher year ahead. 
Share gains are a continuing consequence 
of the large-pack production facility which 
has unlocked our ability to drive large-pack 
performance through increased promotional 
competitiveness. In the tail-end of 2007 
Robinsons also launched the re-designed ‘no 
artificial colours and flavours’ family squash 
range with the ‘Raise them on Robinsons’ 
campaign, aimed at ensuring that the brand 
retains its authoritative category-leading 
position. This year the brand sponsors the 
BBC Sports Personality of the Year event for 
the second time, after a very successful first 
year. Again, the sponsorship is supported 
by an on-pack promotion across everyday 
squash in the first quarter of the year.

In Ireland, core brands have played a 
significant part in the robust performance 
of the business in a challenging trading 
environment. 7UP retains its position as the 
number two soft drinks brand in the market, 
whilst core brands such as Club, Miwadi and 
Ballygowan have been complemented this 
year by the full integration into the portfolio 
of Robinsons squash, Fruit Shoot and J2O. 

Britvic plc Annual Report 2008  15

 
“ The two major new innovation 
launches this year were Gatorade and 
Drench, and both have performed 
extremely well.”

Innovating/developing new products
A number of new brands, brand extensions 
and new packaging concepts were launched 
in the year in Britain, with the aim of 
establishing Britvic in the growth segments 
of the GB market. All were launched as 
planned and all are performing in line with 
our high expectations. 

The two major new innovation launches this 
year were Gatorade and Drench, and both 
have performed extremely well.

In the 12 weeks to 8 October 2008, 
Gatorade achieved distribution levels of:

•	

79% in take-home including all  
major multiples.

•	

45% distribution in convenience  
and impulse.

•	

Availability in over 2,400 ‘points of sweat’ 
(gyms, leisure centres, sports clubs) 
including Esporta and Total Fitness.

Continued investment in high profile 
platforms and the introduction of a new 
blackcurrant flavour are set to further 
entrench Gatorade’s position in the  
market in 2009.

Drench also had a strong start as it moved 
into the take-home grocery sector: 

•	

Awareness from 8% to 35% in  
four weeks.

•	

Huge internet interest (2.5m YouTube hits).

•	

Distribution steadily building in both  
take-home grocery and convenience  
and impulse.

There were a number of other smaller 
supporting launches during the year, such  
as Pepsi Raw and Lime Grove. Again  
these successful launches helped build  
both momentum and Britvic’s record of  
great innovation.

Britvic has agreed to sign a further Exclusive 
Bottling Agreement (‘EBA’) in Great Britain 
with PepsiCo for the Lipton Iced Tea brand, 
which will follow similar business model 
dynamics to other EBAs.

Managing efficiency – improving margins 
and free cash flow 
Despite the tough cost environment in 2008, 
we continued to drive costs out  
of the business.

We continue to drive our Product Value 
Optimisation (‘PVO’) programme and have 
delivered a further £2m of savings in the year 
in GB, in addition to the £2m delivered in 
each of 2006 and 2007.

Added to this we realised initial 
incremental annualised savings of £3m as 
a consequence of the outsourcing of the 
secondary distribution network and vending 
and chiller re-manufacturing operations. We 
anticipate a total saving of £5-6m by the end 
of financial year 2009. We have also realised 
the early planned cost savings programme 
in Ireland. This includes the closure of the 
Cork factory in early 2009 and the production 
of Robinsons squash for the Irish market in 
Dublin from the same time.

We also continued to underpin our Group 
performance by an effective management 
response to the difficult trading conditions by 
flexing our operations and spend.

79%

Gatorade take-home 
distribution level

16  Britvic plc Annual Report 2008

 
Business Overview

Business Review

Corporate Responsibility

Management

Financial Statements

“ Our focus on managing costs and 
driving efficiency has been relentless.” 

30

Basis point increase in 
GB and International 
operating profit margin*

* Numbers pre-exceptionals.

Expansion into Europe – the first full year  
of Britvic Ireland
Britvic Ireland was acquired in August 2007 
on the rationale of strong potential top-line 
growth and an exceptional synergies case. 

During 2008 the sharp downturn in the 
Irish economy has adversely impacted on 
revenue growth. 

Though Britvic Ireland continues to hold or 
maintain share in key categories, the effect 
of the Irish recession has had adverse 
impacts on both the take-home and licensed 
on-premise markets, and therefore on 
Britvic Ireland’s performance. However, 
with the strong management team, refined 
infrastructure and exceptional brands, Britvic 
Ireland produced a robust performance and 
is well placed to capture future growth in the 
market. In euro terms, this business made 
EBITA of €19m in 2007. Despite the very 
difficult trading conditions in Ireland, this 
business has contributed EBITA of €21m 
in 2008, a growth very much facilitated by 
the synergy benefits now available to Britvic 
Ireland as part of the larger Group.

We recently upgraded the synergies case to 
€15m by the end of financial year 2009, with 
a new target of €21m by the end of financial 
year 2011. These additional synergies were 
based largely off the implementation of  
SAP in Ireland from the second quarter  
of financial year 2009.

Despite the unprecedented economic 
conditions in Ireland, the business 
fundamentals remain strong: 

•	

Enhanced post-acquisition market share 
(value): number one in the licensed trade 
and number two in grocery.

•	

Enhanced PepsiCo relationship – 
successful pilot launch of H2OH!

•	

Successfully leveraging cross  
territory brands:

 −

Robinsons takes Britvic Ireland  
squash share to over 70%.

 −

Successful full launch of Fruit Shoot  
and J2O.

 −

Alignment of business model and 
systems with Britvic GB.

•	

€7.6m investment completed at the 
Kylemore production facility in Dublin. 

Summary
We have grown market share across 
all of our key categories with a strong 
performance from our core and seed 
brands despite difficult trading conditions 
throughout the year. 

Our focus on managing costs and driving 
efficiency has been relentless, and in 
addition to the positive contributions 
from our Business Transformation and 
PVO programmes, the outsourcing of our 
secondary retail distribution network has 
been implemented in line with our plan 
and expectations. Consequently we have 
delivered a 30 basis point increase in GB and 
International operating profit margin, more 
than double that of our annual ambition. 

Britvic plc Annual Report 2008  17

 
Financial and  
Business Review

2.5m 

views of the Drench 
‘Brains’ advert  
on YouTube

Note: Numbers shown reflect the transfer of trade through 
Britvic Ireland and the reclassification of carbonates and stills  
(see March 2008 investor seminar). 

18  Britvic plc Annual Report 2008

The following discussion is based  
on Britvic’s results for the 52 weeks  
ended 28 September 2008 (‘the period’) 
compared with the same period  
last year, and all numbers exclude  
exceptional items. 

Key performance indicators 
The principal key performance indicators 
that management uses to assess the 
performance of the Group in addition 
to income statement measures of 
performance are as follows:

•	

Volume growth – 
increase in number of 
litres sold by the Group relative to prior 
period.

•	

•	

•	

Average Realised Price (‘ARP’) – 
revenue per litre sold.

average 

Revenue growth – 
achieved by the Group relative to  
prior period.

increase in sales 

revenue 

Brand contribution margin – 
less material costs and all other marginal 
costs that management considers to 
be directly attributable to the sale of a 
given product, divided by revenue. Such 
costs include brand specific advertising 
and promotion costs, raw materials, 
and marginal production and distribution 
costs. Management uses the brand 
contribution margin to analyse Britvic’s 
financial performance, because it provides 
a measure of contribution at brand level.

•	

Operating profit margin – 
operating profit 
before exceptional items and before the 
deduction of interest and taxation divided 
by revenue.

•	

Free cash flow – 
movements in borrowings, dividend 
payments and non-cash exceptional items.

net cash flow excluding 

•	

Return on invested capital (‘ROIC’) – 
ROIC is a performance indicator used by 
management and defined as operating 
profit after tax before exceptional items as 
a percentage of invested capital. Invested 
capital is defined as non-current assets 
plus current assets less current liabilities, 
excluding all balances relating to interest 
bearing liabilities and all other assets or 
liabilities associated with the financing 
and capital structure of the Group and 
excluding any deferred tax balances.

Overview
In the period, Britvic outperformed the soft 
drinks market in all of its key categories 
with strong revenue growth up 29.3% to 
£926.5m, including the 52-week contribution 
from Britvic Ireland. GB and International 
revenue growth was 4.8% to £725.8m with 
total volumes up 5.7%.

Operating profit before exceptional items for 
the period was up 20.9% to £96.7m with 
Group operating profit margin down 0.8% 
due to the diluting effect of the full 52-week 
contribution of Britvic Ireland. However GB 
and International operating profit was up 
7.6% at £82.0m with operating profit margin 
up to 11.3%, increasing strongly by 30 basis 
points on the prior year. Pre-exceptional  
profit after tax (PAT) for the period was 
£53.0m, up 20.5% on the prior period,  
with EPS up 21.6%. 

 
Business Overview

Business Review

Corporate Responsibility

Management

Financial Statements

8.1%

Increase in GB stills 
volume against a 
market which was 
down 2.7%

“ In GB stills we have seen an 
outstanding outperformance against 
the market across all key categories 
during the period, with revenue growth 
of 4.8% to £331.4m.” 

GB stills 

52 weeks ended  
28 September  
2008 
£m 

52 weeks ended 
30 September 
2007 
£m 

Volume (millions litres) 
ARP per litre 
Revenue 
Brand contribution 
Brand contribution margin 

479.6 

69.1p 
331.4 
146.7 
44.3% 

443.5 

71.3p 

316.3 
145.7 
46.1% 

% change

8.1
(3.1)
4.8
0.7
(1.8)%pts

Brand contribution margin is down 1.8%pts 
to 44.3% due to:

•	

The shift of fixed costs into marginal costs 
as part of the outsourcing of secondary 
retail distribution.

•	

The continued strategic decision to focus 
an increasing proportion of advertising and 
promotional (‘A&P’) spend on stills in the 
year, e.g. Gatorade and Drench.

•	

The increase in raw material costs.

However, we continue to minimise costs 
using a variety of tools including the PVO 
programme where product cost is reduced 
with no detriment to the brand quality or 
equity. PVO saved around £1.0m in 2008 
stills, on top of the previous cumulative total 
across carbonates and stills over 2006 and 
2007 of £4m.

In stills we have seen an outstanding 
outperformance against the market across 
all key categories during the period with 
revenue growth of 4.8% to £331.4m. 
Volumes were up 8.1% against a market 
which was down 2.7%, having been 
impacted by the downturns in consumer 
spending and the plain water category.

This strong performance in Britvic’s stills 
portfolio was driven by:

•	

The core brands of Fruit Shoot and 
Robinsons squash consolidating their 
positions as market leading brands.

•	

H2O, our kids’ water brand continuing  
to grow strongly with a 9.9% market 
volume growth.

•	

The major launches of the seed brands 
Drench and Gatorade.

ARP was down 3.1% to 69.1p. The decline 
has been primarily driven by an unfavourable 
channel mix with a decline in volumes in the 
licensed on-premise market reflecting the 
market dynamics. Our sales in this channel 
are predominantly ‘single serve’ where  
the ARP is therefore inherently higher.  
The growth of our water volumes, where 
ARP is lower, also causes a diluting effect  
on stills ARP. 

Britvic plc Annual Report 2008  19

 
 
 
 
 
4.1%

Increase in GB 
carbonates revenue

GB carbonates 

52 weeks ended  
28 September  
2008 
£m 

52 weeks ended 
30 September 
2007 
£m 

Volume (millions litres) 
ARP per litre 
Revenue 
Brand contribution 
Brand contribution margin 

922.8 

40.7p 

375.5 
143.6 
38.2% 

885.2 

40.7p 

360.6 
145.4 
40.3% 

% change

4.2
0.0
4.1
(1.2)
(2.1)%pts

Carbonates have delivered another 
strong performance over the period with 
revenue growth of 4.1% to £375.5m. This 
performance has been driven by further 
market share gains by brand Pepsi. Revenue 
also benefited from the further distribution 
gains in the increasingly important 
discounters sector made in the period which 
shows a similar ARP and margin profile to 
the rest of the business.

ARP was flat, although we continued 
to focus on promotional effectiveness, 
especially with well-executed in-store  
point of sale delivery.

Brand contribution margin decreased by 
2.1%pts due to the effects of:

•	

The shift of fixed costs into marginal costs 
as part of the outsourcing of secondary 
retail distribution.

•	

The increase in raw material costs.

Again, we continue to minimise costs 
using a variety of tools including the PVO 
programme, which in itself saved around 
£1.0m in 2008 carbonates on top of the 
previous cumulative total across carbonates 
and stills over 2006 and 2007 of £4m.

International 

52 weeks ended  
28 September  
2008 
£m 

52 weeks ended 
30 September 
2007 
£m 

Volume (millions litres) 
ARP per litre 
Revenue 
Brand contribution 
Brand contribution margin 

26.1 
72.4p 
18.9 
4.9 
25.9% 

22.6 
69.0p 
15.6 
3.8 
24.4% 

% change

15.5
4.9
21.2
28.9
1.5%pts

Our International business continues to 
deliver a strong performance with revenue 
growth of 21.2% to £18.9m. Although the 
export business in Ireland was transferred 
to Britvic Ireland in March, the remaining 
International business goes from strength to 
strength. The performance has been driven 
by the consolidation of our strong market 

position in the Netherlands, Denmark, 
Sweden and Finland as well as significant 
account wins in the Middle East and India.

The increase in brand contribution margin 
of 1.5%pts can be explained by the growing 
contribution from major country launches  
in 2006 which attracted high launch costs 
that year.

21.2%

Revenue growth in 
International business

* Numbers pre-exceptionals.

20  Britvic plc Annual Report 2008

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Business Overview

Business Review

Corporate Responsibility

Management

Financial Statements

“ Britvic Ireland, acquired in August 
2007, delivered a robust performance 
in light of tough trading conditions.” 

7.3%

Britvic Ireland  
EBIT margin – which 
improved in a difficult 
trading environment

*  Volumes and ARP include own-brand soft drinks sales  

and do not include third party drink sales included within  
total revenue.

Ireland 

Volume (millions litres)* 
ARP per litre* 
Revenue 
Brand contribution 
Brand contribution margin 
EBIT 
EBIT margin 

52 weeks ended 28 September  
2008 
£m

253.1

56.9p

200.7
70.2
35.0%
14.7

7.3%

Britvic Ireland, acquired in August 2007, 
delivered a robust performance in light  
of tough trading conditions in both the 
licensed on-premise and take-home 
channels. Revenue was up 6.2% on a 
like-for-like basis, due to exchange rate 

movements. However, underlying euro 
revenues were down 6.4%, though volume 
decline was restricted to 3.4%. We see  
a continued tough trading environment in 
licensed on-premise, although the take-
home market has recently stabilised. 

GB and International 
costs and overheads 

52 weeks ended  
28 September  
2008 
£m 

52 weeks ended 
30 September 
2007 
£m 

Non-brand A&P 
Fixed supply chain 
Selling costs 
Overheads and other 

Total 

Total A&P spend 
A&P as a % of net revenue 

(7.7) 
(60.2) 
(87.3) 
(58.0) 

(213.2) 

(45.4) 

6.3% 

(7.0) 
(66.2) 
(85.0) 
(60.5) 

(218.7) 

(46.1) 

6.7% 

% change

(10.0)
9.1
(2.7)
4.1

2.5

(1.5)
(40bps)

GB and International A&P spend was 6.3% 
of branded revenue, below our long-term 
ambition of 7%. This was driven by a tactical 
decision to reduce spend in the latter part 
of the year in light of the poor weather 
conditions, as was the case in financial year 
2007. However, combined with PepsiCo’s 
contribution to A&P, gross spend as a 
percentage of sales was maintained at 7.7%.

The reduction in fixed supply chain costs of 
around £6m is due to the outsourcing of the 
secondary distribution network, outlined in 
March 2008, where fixed supply chain 

costs now become variable costs. This 
programme is expected to save £5-6m in 
total operating cost by the end of financial 
year 2009. Overall, therefore, we have 
maintained very strong and disciplined 
control over our cost base in response to 
challenging trading conditions.

Selling costs are marginally higher due to 
the filling of sales-based vacancies in the 
year. Overheads and other costs were lower 
principally due to a lower bonus provision 
compared to that of the prior year.

Britvic plc Annual Report 2008  21

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
21.6%

Increase in basic 
earnings per share

22  Britvic plc Annual Report 2008

Exceptional items
During the period, Britvic incurred pre-tax 
exceptional operating costs and profits which 
net to £18.3m in total. The main elements of 
this comprised:

•	

Cash items, namely restructuring costs 
which relate mainly to the closure of the 
Cork factory in Ireland, as well as the 
termination of the third party distribution 
relationship as part of the synergies case.

•	

Transitional share awards – this represents 
the final year of the three-year scheme we 
announced in 2006 to aid the transition 
from long-term incentive plans which 
terminated on separation from IHG. 

Non-cash items relate not only to the 
move from returnable to non-returnable 
bottles in the on-trade, but also a required 
reconfiguration of our IT platform to 
accommodate the Britvic Ireland business. 

In addition, we have included an impairment 
of £3.0m, this relates to both the Cork 
factory site and the Hartlepool site, whose 
closure in early 2009 we announced earlier 
this year.

Interest
The net finance charge before exceptional 
items for the period for the Group was 
£26.6m compared with £18.7m in the same 
period in the prior year. The impact of debt 
incurred to finance the acquisition of Britvic 
Ireland was approximately £10.4m versus 
£0.9m in the previous year. Though the 
Group had a €100m loan in place through the 
year, the average weighted coupon on the 
remaining sterling-based debt was 6.3%.

Taxation
The tax charge of £17.1m before exceptional 
items represents an effective tax charge of 
24.4%. The effective tax rate as reported 

in the accounts for the previous year was 
28.2%. Including the effect of exceptional 
items, the effective tax rate was 38.6%, 
which is higher than last year’s rate of 
23.6% primarily due to the impact of the 
abolishment of IBAs. 

Earnings per share
Basic EPS for the period, excluding 
exceptional items, was 24.8p, up 21.6% on 
the same period last year of 20.4p. Basic 
EPS (after exceptional items) for the period 
was 14.9p compared with 19.7p for the 
same period last year. 

Dividends 
The Board is recommending a final dividend 
for 2008 of 8.8p per share. Together with the 
interim dividend of 3.8p per share paid on  
4 July 2008, this gives a total dividend for  
the year of 12.6p per share, an increase of 
14.5% on the dividend paid last year. Subject 
to approval at the AGM, the total cost of  
the dividend for the financial year will be 
£26.9m and the final dividend will be paid  
on 13 February 2009 to shareholders on 
record as at 5 December 2008.

Cash flow and net debt
Free cash flow was £66.2m, £0.9m ahead 
of the underlying prior year number, driven 
by a continued focus on cash and capital 
expenditure management. Additional 
contributions were made to the defined 
benefit pension scheme of £10m in the year 
as part of the ongoing programme agreed 
with trustees. At 28 September 2008, the 
Group’s net debt was £401.4m compared 
to £403.6m at 30 September 2007, a minor 
improvement on last year but impacted by 
a £28.8m adverse movement due to the 
revaluation of foreign currency-denominated 
debt. However, this accounting treatment 
is offset to the tune of £19.4m through 
reserves due to the effective hedging in 

 
Business Overview

Business Review

Corporate Responsibility

Management

Financial Statements

“ Free cash flow was £66.2m,  
£0.9m ahead of the underlying  
prior year number, driven by a 
continued focus on cash and capital 
expenditure management.” 

Defined contribution section:
•	

The Company contribution rate for  
future service was increased to  
1.5 times employee contributions  
for employee members.

•	

A proportionate increase for  
Executive members.

The changes have not had a material  
effect on Britvic’s future pension  
scheme obligations.

The latest formal actuarial valuation for 
contribution purposes was carried out as  
at 31 March 2007 under the Scheme 
Specific Requirements and, as a result, 
annual contributions of £10m in respect  
of the funding shortfall outlined in the 
Recovery Plan will continue to be made  
by 31 December in each of the years 2008-
2010 in order to eliminate the funding deficit 
in the Plan.

The amount recognised as an expense in 
relation to the BPP defined contribution 
scheme in the income statement for 2008 
was £2.0m (2007: £1.4m).

place on our US dollar denominated  
debt. At constant exchange rates from  
year-end 2007, 2008 net debt would have 
been £379m.

Capital employed
Non-current assets increased in the year from 
£488.2m to £519.1m due in the main to the 
retranslation of euro-based intangible assets 
recognised on the acquisition of Britvic Ireland 
and the fair value of derivatives.

Depreciation decreased in the year by  
£1.4m to £35.4m. The reduction on the  
prior year reflects the level of disposals  
made in the year.

Current assets also increased from  
£203.6m to £216.3m.

At the same time current liabilities increased 
from £223.2m to £266.5m, driven principally 
by an increase in trade and other payables. 

ROIC, including Britvic Ireland, has improved 
to 15.5% from 14.8% in 2007 reflecting  
the continued focus on costs, cash flow  
and the proactive management of the 
Group’s asset base.

Share price and market capitalisation
At 28 September 2008 the closing share 
price for Britvic plc was 214p. The Group 
is a member of the FTSE 250 index with 
a market capitalisation of approximately 
£462m at the period end.

Treasury management
The financial risks faced by the Group are 
identified and managed by a central Treasury 
department. The activities of the Treasury 
department are carried out in accordance 
with Board approved policies and are subject 
to regular Audit and Treasury Committee 
reviews. The department does not operate 
as a profit centre.

Key financial risks faced by the Group include 
exposures to movement in:

•	
•	
•	

Interest rates.
Foreign exchange.
Commodity prices.

The Treasury department is also responsible 
for the management of the Group’s debt and 
liquidity, currency risk and cash management. 

At 28 September 2008, the Group’s net debt 
of £401.4m consisted of £172.3m drawn 
under the Group’s committed bank facility 
and £243m of private placement notes.  
This was netted off with around £12.9m  
of surplus cash and £1.0m of issue costs  
of loans.

Pensions
The GB business operates a pension 
scheme, the Britvic Pension Plan (‘BPP’), 
which has both a defined benefit and a 
defined contribution section. The defined 
benefit section of the BPP was closed on 
1 August 2002, and since this date new 
employees have been eligible to join the 
defined contribution section of the BPP. 

Following a 60 day employee consultation 
period that started on 4 February 2008, the 
BPP changed with effect from 1 July 2008. 
The key changes are detailed below.

Defined benefit section:
•	

The pension accrual rate reduced from 
1/60 to 1/90 for each year of future service 
membership for employee members.

•	

The pension accrual rate for Executive 
members was reduced proportionately by 
one third reduction for each year of future 
service membership.

•	

Increases to pensions in payment for 
pension earned for membership from  
1 July 2008 are in line with the Retail  
Price Index, up to 2.5% each year.

Britvic plc Annual Report 2008  23

 
Business Resources

to distribute the Pepsi and 7UP brands 
in Great Britain and Ireland, access to 
all new carbonated drinks developed by 
PepsiCo for distribution in Great Britain and 
Ireland and, to support the development 
of its carbonates offering, access to 
PepsiCo’s consumer and customer insight, 
competitor intelligence, marketing best 
practice, brand and product development 
expertise and technological know-how. 
Britvic in 2008 also signed further PepsiCo 
EBA’s for Gatorade and V Water.

•	

A strong customer base. In take-home, 
Britvic’s customers include the ‘Big four’ 
supermarkets (Tesco, J Sainsbury, Asda 
and Wm Morrison) together with a number 
of other important grocery retailers. The 
Group has significant supply arrangements 
with a number of key players in the 
GB pub sector and leisure and catering 
channels. Through Britvic International, 
the Group has built on the success of 
the Robinsons and Fruit Shoot brands by 
introducing these products into markets 
outside GB.

•	

Britvic also has a well-invested and flexible 
production capability and a recently 
outsourced distribution network that, 
according to AC Nielsen, enabled its soft 
drinks to be made available to consumers 
at over 96% of the points of sale (on  
a sterling-weighted value basis) in the  
GB take-home and over 90% of the  
points of sale of the licensed on-trade 
channels in 2008.

Britvic is one of the two leading branded 
soft drinks businesses in GB and Ireland. 
It is one of the top two soft drinks 
businesses in the GB take-home channel, 
is the leading soft drinks supplier to the 
GB licensed on-trade and is a significant 
player with a growing presence in the 
leisure and catering channel.

The main resources the Group uses to 
achieve its results are:

•	

An extensive and balanced portfolio of 
stills and carbonates brands, including 
Robinsons, Pepsi, 7UP, Tango, J2O and 
Fruit Shoot. The breadth and depth of 
Britvic’s portfolio enables it to target 
consumer demand across a wide 
range of consumption occasions, in all 
the major soft drinks categories and 
across all relevant routes to market. The 
strength of Britvic’s brand portfolio is 
underpinned by its consumer insight and 
product development capability which 
has consistently enabled it to produce 
innovative products, packaging formats 
and promotional activity designed to 
meet evolving consumer tastes and 
preferences. Britvic Ireland owns a number 
of leading brands in the Republic of Ireland 
and Northern Ireland, including Club, 
Ballygowan, Britvic, Cidona, MiWadi, and 
Energise Sport, as well as the rights to the 
Pepsi and 7UP brands.

•	

A successful long-standing relationship 
with PepsiCo that resulted in the Exclusive 
Bottling Agreement (‘EBA’) being renewed 
in Great Britain in 2004 for a further 15 
years, with an extension to 2023 on 
Admission to the London Stock Exchange. 
The acquisition of Britvic Ireland has further 
strengthened this relationship with the 
EBA for Ireland lasting until 2015. This 
relationship gives Britvic the exclusive right 

24  Britvic plc Annual Report 2008

 
Business Overview

Business Review

Corporate Responsibility

Management

Financial Statements

Risks and Uncertainties

Risks relating to the market
•	

A change in consumer preferences, 
perception and/or spending. 

•	

Poor economic conditions and weather.

•	

Potential impact of regulatory 
developments.

•	

Actions taken by competition authorities 
or private actions in respect of supply or 
customer arrangements.

•	

Actions by the Group’s competitors.

Risks relating to the ordinary shares
There are risks arising out of an investment 
in ordinary shares because of:

•	

Actions by the Group’s competitors.

•	

US Holders potentially not being able  
to exercise pre-emptive rights.

•	

Potential share price volatility. 

•	

Sterling dividend payments giving rise to 
currency exposure for investors whose 
principal currency is not sterling.

•	

PepsiCo’s right to terminate the EBAs on 
a change of control which may affect the 
ability of a third party to make a general 
offer for the ordinary shares. 

The Group’s results of operations could 
be materially adversely affected by:

Risks relating to the Group
•	

A decline in certain key brands.

•	

A termination or variation of its bottling and 
distribution arrangements with PepsiCo or 
an adverse development in the PepsiCo 
relationship.

•	

A further consolidation in its customer 
base. 

•	

Any interruption in, or change in the terms 
of, the Group’s supply of packaging and 
raw materials.

•	

Any failure in the processes or the IT 
systems implemented as part of the 
Business Transformation Programme.

•	

Any inability to protect the intellectual 
property rights associated with its current 
and future brands.

•	

Contamination of its raw materials or 
finished products. 

•	

Litigation, complaints or adverse publicity 
in relation to its products.

•	

Loss of key employees.

•	

Any increase in the Group’s funding  
needs or obligations in respect of its 
pension scheme.

•	

Any failure or unavailability of the  
Group’s operational infrastructure.

•	

Changes in accounting principles  
or standards.

Britvic plc Annual Report 2008  25

 
Corporate Responsibility

John Gibney 
Finance Director

It has been a busy year and our Corporate 
Responsibility programme has moved  
on considerably. 

Our Corporate Responsibility (CR) strategy 
was launched in 2006 shortly after our 
flotation. It was designed to create internal 
management structures, identify gaps in our 
activities and bring together existing work in 
a coordinated fashion. 

The strategy has achieved its purpose, 
establishing firm foundations for our work 
and setting off activity relevant to our 
business and our stakeholders. We are 
proud of our achievements to date, many of 
which are set out in our first comprehensive 
CR report, published in May 2008. 

Moving forward
We have now evolved our strategic thinking 
and our approach. We have worked with 
stakeholders inside and outside our 
business to establish our vision for corporate 
responsibility at Britvic. ‘Progressive brands 
– responsible business – dedicated people’ 
reflects our values now and going forward, 
and focuses on our three key audiences: 
consumers, customers and employees. 

Our vision is underpinned by four strategic 
goals, each one indicating an area of material 
relevance to Britvic. These goals are to: 

•	

•	

Optimise the environmental performance 
of our packaging.

•	

Increase the efficiency of our operations.

•	

Support our local and global communities.

•	

Support healthy lifestyles and employee 
well-being.

Each of these strategic goals is supported 
by short and longer term targets. Some of 
these have already been announced, such 
as our zero waste to landfill commitment 

26  Britvic plc Annual Report 2008

by 2015, while others will be confirmed 
as the programme unfolds into 2009. The 
programme ensures a robust response to 
the environmental and social challenges  
of today and tomorrow. 

Achievements since May 2008
It has been a busy six months and our 
programme has continued to progress well. 
Here are some of the highlights: 

•	

Reducing packaging waste: our 
commitment to reducing the 
environmental impacts from our packaging 
is long-standing. This year we redesigned 
our Robinsons 1 litre bottle, reducing the 
weight by 2gms. This alone saved 330 
tonnes of PET per year and built on a 
previous redesign in 2007 that also saved 
another 250 tonnes annually. 

•	

Cutting roadmiles: our logistics team 
have been hard at work maximising the 
efficiency of our fleet. This year we have 
saved 500,000 road miles through better 
planning and we have also started using 
the rail network for some shipments to 
Scotland. We have just committed to 
upgrading our primary haulage fleet to  
the latest Euro [5] standard, which will  
be fully implemented in due course.

Reducing emissions: our factory teams 
have worked for many years to reduce 
our energy consumption. They have had 
many successes, and despite our business 
growing by 45% over the past 11 years, 
our energy consumption is almost back 
to 1997 levels. This is a considerable 
achievement, particularly considering that 
in that time we acquired two additional 
factories and brought all of our bottle-
blowing in-house. 

 
Business Overview

Business Review

Corporate Responsibility

Management

Financial Statements

“ Despite our business 
growing by 45% over the 
past 11 years, our energy 
consumption is almost back 
to 1997 levels.”

We have been looking at ways to reclaim 
water and convert it back into the production 
processes at our factory in Widford.

By using these new methods we have saved 
around 1,000kg of steam per hour, reduced 
our water usage by 62%, and cut our CO2 
emissions by 19 tonnes per annum.

We have similar water saving initiatives at our 
other production sites. For example, a team at 
our Leeds factory managed to save 25m litres 
of water each year on just one production 
line. They identified two ways of adapting the 
existing machinery with some simple devices, 
at a cost of just £750. 

Not all opportunities are so straightforward 
but our teams continue to investigate 
improvements wherever they can be found. 

Britvic plc Annual Report 2008  27

 
Corporate Responsibility 
continued

Target 

2008 Target 

2008 Result 

2007 Result

Energy 
kWh per tonne produced 

Effluent 
M3 per tonne produced 

Water 
M3 per tonne produced 

Landfill solid waste 
Kg per tonne produced 

Accidents frequency rate 
Per 100,000 hours worked 

(2%) 

(2%) 

(2%) 

(7%) 

(1.5%) 

(15.8%) 

(3.6%) 

(9.4%)

(7.2%)

(6.0%)

(19.5%) 

(15.7%)

(10%) 

(23.2%) 

(27.9%)

On a commercial level, we have started 
working with some of our suppliers to 
better use our fleets. We have found several 
instances where suppliers making deliveries 
to our sites return home via a location where 
we too wish to make a delivery. By making 
use of empty lorries on return journeys we 
are both maximising our fleets and reducing 
emissions. 

Strong performance
You will see from the table above our 
performance against our key environmental 
targets. I am pleased that we are delivering 
well against these, and have done so 
for many years. Our supply chain teams 
work relentlessly to drive improvements, 
evaluating and investing in new systems and 
technologies as appropriate. 

At our Interim Results in 2008 we published 
our first Corporate Responsibility report as 
an independent company. The document is a 
transparent explanation of our achievements 
and our ongoing work. An update to this 
report will be published at the time of our 
Interim Results in 2009. 

In the meantime please check our website 
periodically for news or to view our CR 
polices, and do not hesitate to get in touch. 

•	

Flexible tools for employees: anyone 
at Britvic can now connect their laptop 
from home or on the move via wireless 
broadband, and use IT systems just as if 
they were working at one of our sites.

•	

 Increased giving: our commitment to 
employee supported causes remains 
strong. We have increased donations  
in cash and product, plus actively 
encouraged employee volunteering  
during working hours. 

•	

Enhancing safety: our Accident Frequency 
Rate, already well below the industry 
benchmark, has continued to improve with 
further reductions in 2007/8.

•	

Working with suppliers: we continue to 
implement our Ethical Trading Policy with 
suppliers of ingredients and packaging, 
including priority areas within our fruit 
supply chain.

Commitment to partnership
Central to our strategy is a commitment to 
partnership with likeminded organisations 
– be they suppliers, charities, regulators or 
customers. We recognise that we can often 
be more effective when working together 
with skilled partners. 

We have already committed to various 
industry initiatives via our sector trade 
associations (BSDA and FDF) and non-
governmental organisations such as  
WRAP and Envirowise. We have set up 
a small community fund with the Essex 
Community Foundation and have recently 
joined forces with the food and drink 
redistribution charity, Fareshare, who take 
short-dated food and drink products and give 
them to those in need. 

28  Britvic plc Annual Report 2008

 
Business Overview

Business Review

Corporate Responsibility

Management

Financial Statements

In 2007 we kicked-off a project to improve 
the environmental performance of our 
packaging. We have already made our 
packaging fully recyclable and now we  
also aim to:

•  Increase the use of recycled materials in  

our packaging.

•  Remove a total of 5,000 tonnes of packaging 

(primary and secondary) by December 
2010 based on 2007/8 volumes.

•  Investigate relevant alternative bioplastics 
for quality and suitability of packaged soft 
drinks by December 2009.

•  Develop relationships with key customers 
and identify brand opportunities to work 
together on packaging waste reduction.

•  Standardise our on-pack consumer 

communication for the recyclability and 
recycled content of our packaging by 
December 2009.

•  Provide WRAP with an annual report in line 
with our Courtauld Commitment obligations.

Britvic plc Annual Report 2008  29

 
Board of Directors

2

5

3

6

1

4

7

30  Britvic plc Annual Report 2008

 
Business Overview

Business Review

Corporate Responsibility

Management

Financial Statements

1 Gerald Corbett (57) 
Independent Non-Executive  
Chairman

Gerald Corbett has been Non-Executive 
Chairman of the Company since 24 
November 2005. He chairs the Nomination 
Committee and is a member of the 
Remuneration Committee. Gerald is also 
Chairman of SSL International plc and 
Moneysupermarket.com Group Limited  
and is a Non-Executive Director of Greencore 
Group plc based in Dublin. He was Chairman 
of the Woolworths Group plc from 2001 to 
2007, Chief Executive of Railtrack plc from 
1997 to 2000, Group Finance Director of 
Grand Metropolitan plc from 1994 to 1997 
and was Group Finance Director of Redland 
plc between 1987 and 1994. He was  
a Non-Executive Director of the property  
group MEPC plc from 1995 to 1998 and 
Burmah Castrol plc from 1998 to 2000.

2 Paul Moody (51) 
Chief Executive

Paul Moody became Chief Executive upon 
the Company’s flotation in December 2005 
and is responsible for the day-to-day running 
of the business. Prior to that he had held a 
number of senior roles including Managing 
Director and Chief Operating Officer. Paul 
Moody joined Britvic in 1996 as Director of 
Sales for grocery multiples (supermarkets) 
having previously worked for Golden Wonder 
and Pedigree Pet Foods. Paul Moody is also 
currently the President of the British Soft 
Drinks Association.

3 John Gibney (48) 
Finance Director

John Gibney was appointed Finance Director 
in 1999 and is responsible for finance, 
IT, legal, estates, risk management and 
business transformation. Prior to joining 
Britvic, John Gibney was Senior Corporate 
Finance & Planning Manager for Bass PLC 
and, prior to that role, Finance Director and 
subsequently Deputy Managing Director  
of Gala Clubs.

4 Ben Gordon (49)
Independent Non-Executive Director

Ben Gordon was appointed a Non-Executive 
Director on 15 April 2008. He is also a 
member of the Audit, Nomination and 
Remuneration Committees. Ben is currently 
the Chief Executive of Mothercare plc and 
was formerly Senior Vice President and 
Managing Director, Disney Store, Europe 
and Asia Pacific. He has also held senior 
management positions with WH Smith  
group in Europe and the USA and L’Oréal 
S.A., Paris and has an MBA from INSEAD.

5 Joanne Averiss (45) 
Non-Executive Director 

Joanne Averiss was appointed a Non-
Executive Director on 18 November 2005 
and is the PepsiCo Nominee Director. 
Joanne Averiss has been a member of 
the PepsiCo legal department since 1990, 
holding a series of positions in the UK and 
the US and most recently acting as the 
Head of Legal (UK and Europe) for PepsiCo 
International’s food and snack beverages 
division. She is also a Trustee and Chair of 
the Mesen Educational Trust.

6 Michael Shallow (54) 
Independent Non-Executive  
Director

Michael Shallow was appointed a Non-
Executive Director on 24 November 
2005 and chairs the Audit Committee. 
He is also a member of the Nomination 
and Remuneration Committees. He is, 
in addition, a Non-Executive Director of 
Domino’s Pizza UK & IRL plc and Spice plc. 
Michael was Finance Director of Greene 
King plc from 1991 to 2005 and, prior to that, 
he was an associate partner with Accenture.

7 Bob Ivell (56) 
Senior Independent  
Non-Executive Director 

Bob Ivell was appointed a Non-Executive 
Director on 24 November 2005 and is the 
Company’s Senior Independent Director.  
He chairs the Remuneration Committee and 
is a member of the Audit and Nomination 
Committees. Bob is currently the Chairman 
of David Lloyd Leisure. During the 1980s  
Bob was the Managing Director of 
Beefeater. He was also on the board of 
Scottish & Newcastle plc as Chairman of  
the Retail Division between 1999 and 2004 
and was Executive Chairman of Regent Inns 
PLC between 2004 and 2008.

Britvic plc Annual Report 2008  31

 
Business Overview

Business Review

Corporate Responsibility

Management

Financial Statements

Financial Statements
Contents

Independent Auditor’s Report to the Members of Britvic plc

33/  Directors’ Report
38/  Corporate Governance Statement
42/  Directors’ Remuneration Report
50/ 
51/  Consolidated Income Statement
52/  Consolidated Balance Sheet
53/  Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows
54/  Consolidated Statement of Recognised Income and Expense
55/  Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
100/  Independent Auditor’s Report to the Members of Britvic plc
101/  Company Balance Sheet
102/  Notes to the Company Financial Statements
108/  Shareholder Information

32  Britvic plc Annual Report 2008

 
 
Directors’ Report 
For the 52 weeks ended 28 September 2008 

PThe Directors are pleased to present their report and the consolidated financial statements of the Company and its subsidiaries  
for the 52 weeks ended 28 September 2008. 

Principal activities  
The Group trades principally as a manufacturer and distributor of soft drinks. 

Business Review  
A detailed review of the Group’s activities and of future plans is contained within the Chairman’s Statement on page 12 and  
the Chief Executive’s Review and the Business Review on pages 13 to 25. The information contained in those sections fulfils  
the requirements of the Business Review, as required by Section 417 of the Companies Act 2006 and should be treated as 
forming part of this report. 

Results and dividends  
The Group’s profit for the financial year before taxation attributable to the equity shareholders amounted to £51.8m  
(2007: £55.6m) and the profit after taxation amounted to £31.8m (2007: £42.5m). 

An interim dividend for the current year of 3.8p per ordinary share was paid on 4 July 2008.  

The Directors are proposing a final dividend for the current year of 8.8p per share. This will be paid on 13 February 2009  
to shareholders on the register at close of business on 5 December 2008, subject to shareholder approval.  

Directors  
The following were Directors of the Company during the financial year ended 28 September 2008: Gerald Corbett, Paul Moody, 
Joanne Averiss, John Gibney, Ben Gordon, Bob Ivell and Michael Shallow. Chris Bulmer stepped down from the Board on  
15 April 2008. 

The Company’s Articles of Association (the ‘Articles’) give the Directors power to appoint and replace Directors. Under the terms 
of reference of the Nomination Committee, any appointment must be recommended by the Nomination Committee for approval 
by the Board. The Articles also require Directors to retire and submit themselves for election to the first AGM following 
appointment and to retire at the AGM held in the third calendar year after election or last re-election. 

In accordance with Article 82 of the Company’s Articles, Ben Gordon, who was appointed to the Board on 15 April 2008, will retire 
at the AGM and, being eligible, will offer himself for election. His biographical details are set out on page 31 of this report. 

Directors’ interests  
The Directors’ interests in ordinary shares of the Company are shown within the Directors’ Remuneration Report on pages 42  
to 49. No Director has any other interest in any shares or loan stock of any Group company.  

Other than Joanne Averiss, who is a director of a number of PepsiCo’s subsidiaries, no Director was or is materially interested in 
any contract other than their service contract, subsisting during or existing at the end of the financial year which was significant  
in relation to the Group’s business. Further details of Joanne Averiss’ appointment are set out on page 38 in the Corporate 
Governance section of the Annual Report. 

As at the date of this report, indemnities are in force under which the Company has agreed, to the extent permitted by law and  
the Company’s Articles, to indemnify: 
• 

The Directors, in respect of all losses arising out of, or in connection with, the execution of their powers, duties and 
responsibilities as directors of the Company or any of its subsidiaries. 

•  Directors of companies which are corporate trustees of the Group’s pension schemes against liability incurred in connection 

with those companies’ activities as trustees of such schemes. 

Directors’ remuneration 
The Remuneration Committee, on behalf of the Board, has adopted a policy that aims to attract and retain the Directors needed  
to run the Group successfully. The Directors’ Remuneration Report is shown on pages 42 to 49.  

Annual General Meeting 
Details of the Company’s forthcoming AGM are set out in a separate circular which has been sent to all shareholders with  
this report. 

Britvic plc Annual Report 2008  33 

Directors’ Report continued 

Employee involvement  
The Group uses a number of ways to engage employees on matters that impact them and the performance of the Group. These 
include annual roadshows at key sites by members of the Executive Committee, regular team meetings, the publication of a  
bi-monthly internal newsletter, ‘The Mag’, together with the ‘b.link+’ intranet site containing easy access to the latest Company 
information as well as Company policies and vacancies. The Company organises quarterly formal business performance updates 
for employees, which are cascaded by line managers. An Employee Involvement Forum was established in 2004 through which 
nominated representatives ensure that employees’ views are taken into account regarding issues that are likely to affect them.  
In addition, where the Group has entered into a recognition agreement with a Trade Union, it fulfils its obligations to consult and 
negotiate accordingly. The Group approaches these relationships from a partnership perspective. A robust employee opinion 
survey process is also in place to ensure that employees are given a voice in the organisation and that the Group can take action 
based on employee feedback. 

All eligible employees are able to participate in the Britvic Share Incentive Plan which gives them the opportunity to purchase 
ordinary shares in the Company using money deducted from their pre-tax salary, and to receive matching shares from the 
Company, up to a maximum of £75 per four-week pay period. 

Equal opportunities 
The Group is committed to providing equality of opportunity to all employees without discrimination and applies fair and equitable 
employment policies which ensure entry into and progression within the Group. Appointments are determined solely by 
application of job criteria and competency. 

Disabled persons 
Disabled persons, whether registered or not, have equal opportunities when applying for vacancies, with due regard to their 
aptitudes and abilities. In addition to complying with legislative requirements, procedures ensure that disabled employees are  
fairly treated in respect of training and career development. For those employees becoming disabled during the course of their 
employment, the Group is supportive, whether through retraining or redeployment, so as to provide an opportunity for them  
to remain with the Group, wherever reasonably practicable. 

In the opinion of the Directors, all employee policies are deemed to be effective and in accordance with their intended aims. 

Supplier payment policy 
It is Group policy to agree terms and conditions for its business transactions with all suppliers. Payment is made in accordance 
with these terms provided the supplier meets its obligations. The average number of days of payments outstanding for the  
Group at the financial year end was 36 (2007: 30). 

Political contributions 
During the year the Group and its subsidiaries made no political contributions. 

Charitable donations  
The Company is a member of the London Benchmarking Group (LBG) whose benchmarking model is used to assess the 
Company’s total contributions to communities in the UK. During the year, the Company’s direct donations for charitable purposes 
(cash donations to charity) was £83,032 (2007: £17,187). The Group invested a further £49,532 (2007: £42,111) in support of 
community programmes, including product donations and employee volunteering.  

Major shareholders  
As at 25 November 2008, the Company had been notified under Rule 5 of the Financial Services Authority’s Disclosure and 
Transparency Rules of the following significant holdings of voting rights in its shares. 

Snowdon Acquisitions Limited 
AXA, S.A. 
Standard Life Investments Ltd. 
Newton Investment Management Limited 
PepsiCo, Inc 
Legal & General Group Plc 
Aviva plc and subsidiaries 

34  Britvic plc Annual Report 2008 

Number of  
ordinary shares 
30,207,082 
13,734,563 
13,231,558 
12,923,215 
10,739,120 
8,633,246 
6,484,618 

Per cent  
13.98% 

Nature of holding 
Direct 
6.36%  Direct and Indirect 
6.12%  Direct and Indirect 
Indirect 
5.98% 
Direct 
4.97% 
Direct 
3.99% 
Direct 
3.00% 

 
 
 
Takeovers directive 
The following provides the additional information required for shareholders as a result of the implementation of the Takeovers 
Directive into English law. 

As at 28 September 2008, the Company’s issued share capital comprised a single class of shares referred to as ordinary shares. 
Details of the ordinary share capital can be found in Note 22 to the financial statements which should be treated as forming part  
of this report. 

On a show of hands at a general meeting of the Company every holder of ordinary shares present in person and entitled to vote 
shall have one vote and, on a poll, every member present in person or by proxy and entitled to vote shall have one vote for every 
ordinary share held. The Notice of AGM specifies deadlines for exercising voting rights and appointing a proxy or proxies to vote  
in relation to resolutions to be passed at the AGM. All proxy votes are counted and the numbers for, against or withheld in relation 
to each resolution are announced at the AGM and published on the Company’s website after the meeting.  

There are no restrictions on the transfer of ordinary shares in the Company other than: 
•  Certain restrictions may from time to time be imposed by laws and regulations (for example, insider trading laws). 
•  Pursuant to the Listing Rules of the Financial Services Authority whereby certain Directors, officers and employees of the 

Company require the approval of the Company to deal in the Company’s ordinary shares. 

Resolution 10, which will be proposed as a Special Resolution at the 2009 AGM, will give the Company authority to use its 
available cash resources to acquire up to 21,600,000 of its own shares in the market for either cancellation or to hold them as 
treasury shares. The Directors will only use this power after careful consideration, taking into account market conditions prevailing 
at the time, other investment opportunities, appropriate gearing levels, and the overall position of the Company. The Directors will 
only purchase such shares after taking into account the effects on earnings per share and the benefits for shareholders. 

IFG Trust (Jersey) Limited, as Trustee of the Britvic Employee Benefit Trust, holds 0.92% of the issued share capital of the 
Company, as at 25 November 2008, in trust for the benefit of the Executive Directors, senior executives and managers of the 
Group. A dividend waiver is in place in respect of the Trustees’ holding. The voting rights in relation to these shares are exercised 
by the Trustee. The Trustee may vote or abstain from voting the shares or accept or reject any offer relating to shares, in any way 
it sees fit, without incurring any liability and without being required to give reasons for its decision. It may take all or any of the 
following matters into account: 
• 

The long-term interests of beneficiaries. 

• 

• 

• 

Interests of beneficiaries other than financial interests. 

Interests of beneficiaries in their capacity as employees or former employees or their dependants. 

Interests of persons (whether or not identified) who may become beneficiaries in the future. 

•  Considerations of a local, moral, ethical, environmental or social nature. 

The Trustee may not accept any offer relating to the shares without the prior written consent of the Company. 

Under the rules of the Britvic Share Incentive Plan (the ‘Plan’) eligible employees are entitled to acquire shares in the Company. 
Plan shares are held in trust for participants by Equiniti Share Plan Trustees Limited (the ‘Trustees’). Voting rights are exercised  
by the Trustees on receipt of participants’ instructions. If a participant does not submit an instruction to the Trustees no vote  
is registered. In addition, the Trustees do not vote on any unawarded shares held under the Plan as surplus assets. As at  
25 November 2008, Equiniti Share Plan Trustees Limited held 2.32% of the issued share capital of the Company. 

The Company is not aware of any agreements between shareholders that may result in restrictions on the transfer of securities 
and/or voting rights. 

There are no agreements between the Company and its Directors or employees providing for compensation for loss of office  
or employment (whether through resignation, purported redundancy or otherwise) that occurs because of a takeover bid. The 
Company’s banking arrangements are terminable upon a change of control of the Company. Certain other indebtedness becomes 
repayable if a change of control leads to a downgrade in the credit rating of the Company. The Company’s agreements with 
PepsiCo are terminable upon a change of control, details of which are included on page 25. 

The Company’s Articles may only be amended by a Special Resolution at a general meeting of shareholders. At the 2009 AGM  
a Special Resolution will be put to shareholders proposing amendments to the Company’s existing Articles as described in the 
Notice of Meeting and in Note 34 of the Financial Statements. 

Britvic plc Annual Report 2008  35 

Directors’ Report continued 

Financial risk management 
It is the Group’s objective to manage its financial risk so as to minimise the adverse fluctuations in the financial markets on the 
Group’s reported profitability and cash flows. The specific policies for managing each of the Group’s main financial risk areas are 
detailed in the Treasury Management section of the Business Review on page 23. 

Post balance sheet event 
Details are set out in Note 34 of the Financial Statements. 

Statement of Directors’ responsibilities in relation to the Financial Statements  
The Directors have chosen to prepare the Financial Statements for the Group in accordance with International Financial Reporting 
Standards (‘IFRS’) as adopted by the European Union, and for the Company in accordance with United Kingdom Generally 
Accepted Accounting Practice (‘UK GAAP’). 

In the case of UK GAAP financial statements, under English company law it is the Directors’ responsibility to prepare Financial 
Statements for each financial period, which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the Company as at the end of the 
financial period and of the profit or loss of the Company for that period. In preparing those financial statements, the Directors  
are required to: 
•  Select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently. 
•  Make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent. 
•  State whether applicable accounting standards have been followed. 
•  Prepare the Financial Statements on a going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the Company will  

continue in business. 

In the case of IFRS financial statements, IAS 1 requires that the Financial Statements present fairly for each financial period  
the Group’s financial position, financial performance and cash flows. This requires the faithful representation of the effects of 
transactions, other events and conditions in accordance with the definitions and recognition criteria for assets, liabilities, income 
and expenses set out in the International Accounting Standards Board’s ‘Framework for the preparation and presentation of 
financial statements’. In virtually all circumstances, a fair presentation will be achieved by compliance with all applicable IFRS. 
Directors are also required to: 
•  Properly select and apply accounting policies consistently. 
•  Present information, including accounting policies, in a manner that provides relevant, reliable, comparable and  

understandable information. 

•  Provide additional disclosures when compliance with the specific requirements in IFRS is insufficient to enable users  
to understand the impact of particular transactions, other events and conditions on the Group’s financial position and  
financial performance. 

The Directors are responsible for keeping proper accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the 
financial position of the Group and to enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 1985. 
They are also responsible for the system of internal controls, for safeguarding the assets of the Group and hence for taking 
reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities. 

Directors’ statement as to disclosure of information to auditors 
So far as each Director is aware, there is no relevant audit information (as defined by the Companies Act 1985) of which the 
auditors are unaware. Each Director has taken all steps that ought to be taken by a Director to make themselves aware of and  
to establish that the auditors are aware of any relevant audit information. 

A copy of the financial statements is placed on the Company’s website www.britvic.com. The maintenance and integrity of this 
website is the responsibility of the Directors. The work carried out by the auditors does not involve consideration of these matters 
and accordingly, the auditors accept no responsibility for any changes that may have occurred to the financial statements since  
they were initially presented on the website. 

Legislation in the United Kingdom governing the preparation and dissemination of financial statements may differ from legislation 
in other jurisdictions. 

36  Britvic plc Annual Report 2008 

Financial statements  
After making appropriate enquiries, the Directors have a reasonable expectation that the Company and the Group overall have 
adequate resources to continue operating for the foreseeable future. Accordingly, these financial statements have been prepared 
on a going concern basis.  

Auditors 
Ernst & Young LLP have indicated their willingness to accept reappointment as auditors of the Company and a resolution 
proposing their reappointment is contained in the Notice of AGM and will be put to the shareholders at the AGM. 

By Order of the Board 

John Price 
Company Secretary 
25 November 2008 

Britvic plc Annual Report 2008  37 

 
Corporate Governance 

Introduction 
The Company is committed to high standards of corporate governance and supports the principles laid down in the revised 
Combined Code on Corporate Governance as issued by the Financial Reporting Council in June 2006 (‘the Code’). This statement 
describes how the principles of the Code are applied and reports on the Company’s compliance with the Code’s provisions.  

The Directors consider that the Company has been in compliance with the provisions of the Code throughout the 52 weeks ended 
28 September 2008 and to the date of this report.  

Board of Directors  
The Board of Directors (‘the Board’) currently has seven members, comprising the Non-Executive Chairman, Chief Executive, 
Finance Director, three further independent Non-Executive Directors and the PepsiCo nominated Non-Executive Director. All of  
the Directors bring strong judgement to the Board’s deliberations. The Board is of sufficient size and diversity that the balance of 
skills and experience is considered to be appropriate for the requirements of the business. With the exception of the PepsiCo 
nominated Non-Executive Director, Joanne Averiss, the Non-Executive Directors are all independent of management and free from 
any business or other relationship, including those relationships and circumstances referred to in provision A.3.1 of the Code that 
could materially interfere with the exercise of independent and objective judgement. In addition to her fiduciary obligations to act  
in the best interests of the Company, Joanne Averiss is required under her letter of appointment to discharge her duties in the 
interests of the Company notwithstanding her connection with PepsiCo. The Company considers that, on appointment, the 
Chairman was independent for the purposes of provision A.3.1 of the Code. The Non-Executive Directors have all been appointed 
for a three-year term. The Senior Independent Non-Executive Director, Bob Ivell, is available to shareholders if they have concerns 
which are not resolved through the normal channels of Chairman, Chief Executive or Finance Director; or for which such contact  
is inappropriate.  

At all times since listing there has been a majority of independent Non-Executive Directors on the Board, in compliance with Code 
provision A.3.2. 

The biographical details of the Board members are set out on pages 30 and 31. The Directors have all occupied, or occupy, senior 
positions in UK and/or non-UK listed companies and have substantial experience in business. The Non-Executive Directors do not 
participate in any of the Group’s pension schemes or in any of the Group’s bonus, share option or other incentive schemes. All 
Directors must stand for election at the first AGM after they are appointed. The Articles of Association (‘Articles’) provide that all 
Directors will stand for re-election at least every three years. 

The Board is collectively responsible for the proper management of the Company. The Board normally meets ten times each 
financial year and has a formal schedule of matters reserved to it for decision making, including the approval of annual and interim 
results, annual budgets, material acquisitions and disposals, material agreements and major capital commitments. The Company 
Secretary maintains a record of attendance at Board meetings and Committee meetings, further details of which are set out on 
page 40. During the year the Chairman met with the Non-Executive Directors without the Executive Directors present.  

Board members are given appropriate documentation in advance of each Board or Committee meeting. This normally includes  
a detailed report on current trading and full papers on matters where the Board will be required to make a decision or give its 
approval. Specific business-related presentations are given when appropriate. 

There is an established procedure for the preparation and review, at least annually, by the Board of medium-term plans and the 
annual budget. The business reports monthly on its performance against its agreed budget. The Board receives a monthly update 
on performance and reviews any significant variances on a monthly basis. All major investment decisions are subject to post-
completion reviews. 

In line with agreed procedures, the Chairman has conducted interviews with each Director and assessed their individual 
performance. The Chairman has carried out an evaluation of the performance of the Board as a whole and of each Committee  
and, led by the Senior Independent Non-Executive Director, the Non-Executive Directors have assessed the performance of the 
Chairman taking into account the views of the Executive Directors. The conclusions of those assessments have been presented  
to the Board by the Chairman and the senior independent Non-Executive Director. The evaluation process is designed to cover 
Board processes, the structure and capability of the Board, strategic alignment, Board dynamics and the skills brought to the  
Board by each Director.  

The Board has approved a procedure for Directors to take independent professional advice at the Company’s expense, if 
necessary. In addition, the Directors have direct access to the advice and services of the Company Secretary, who is responsible 
for ensuring that Board procedures are followed. Both the appointment and removal of the Company Secretary are matters for  
the Board as a whole. The Company Secretary is responsible for preparing and implementing an induction programme for Board 
appointees, including guidance as to their duties, responsibilities and liabilities as a Director of the Company and business 
familiarisation. Business familiarisation involves Directors visiting sites in the UK and Ireland and giving the Directors the 
opportunity to meet senior managers from around the business. During the year under review, the Directors carried out visits of 
the Norwich and Dublin sites. They also have the opportunity to discuss organisational, operational and administrative matters. 
Every Director has access to appropriate training as required subsequent to appointment. The Company provides Directors’ and 
Officers’ insurance cover, in line with normal market practice, for the benefit of Directors in respect of claims arising in the 
performance of their duties.  

38  Britvic plc Annual Report 2008 

The different roles of the Chairman and Chief Executive are acknowledged. A responsibility statement for each of those roles  
has been agreed with the Chairman and Chief Executive, respectively, and adopted by the Board. The Chairman is primarily 
responsible for the workings of the Board and ensuring that its strategic and supervisory role is achieved and for ensuring effective 
communication with shareholders. The Board has delegated appropriate responsibilities to the Executive Committee (which 
comprises in addition to the Executive Directors, the Marketing Director, Customer Management Director, Supply Chain Director, 
Strategy Director and Human Resources Director) who are responsible for the day-to-day running of the business, carrying out 
agreed strategy and implementing specific Board decisions relating to the operation of the Group.  

Conflicts of interest  
Following the changes made to the Company’s Articles at the 2008 AGM and the subsequent introduction of Section 175 of the 
Companies Act, 2006 on 1 October 2008 which gave boards the statutory power to authorise conflicts of interest, formal conflict 
management procedures have been prepared and approved by the Board. Going forward, the Nomination Committee will be 
responsible for reviewing annually any conflict authorisations granted by the Board and will make recommendations to the Board 
as to their continuation, and any changes to any terms or conditions or other limitations which may have been applied. It is the 
Board’s intention to report annually on the Company’s procedures for ensuring that the Board’s powers of authorisation of 
conflicts are operated effectively and that the procedures have been followed. 

Board Committees  
There are a number of standing Committees of the Board to which various matters are delegated. The Committees all have formal 
Terms of Reference that have been approved by the Board which are available on the Group’s website (www.britvic.com). Details 
are set out below: 

The Nomination Committee  
The Nomination Committee comprises Ben Gordon (and prior to his appointment, Chris Bulmer), Bob Ivell and Michael Shallow 
and is chaired by Gerald Corbett. The Committee meets as necessary and is responsible for considering and recommending to  
the Board persons who are appropriate for appointment as Executive and Non-Executive Directors. There is a formal, rigorous  
and transparent procedure for the appointment of new Directors to the Board. This process involves the Nomination Committee 
interviewing suitable candidates who are proposed by either existing Board members or by an external search company. Careful 
consideration is given to ensure appointees have enough time available to devote to the role and that the balance of skills, 
knowledge and experience on the Board is maintained. When dealing with the appointment of a successor to the Chairman, the 
Senior Independent Non-Executive Director will chair the Committee instead of the Chairman. When the Committee has found  
a suitable candidate, the Chairman of the Committee will make a proposal to the whole Board and the appointment is the 
responsibility of the whole Board following recommendation from the Committee. 

During the year the Committee met to consider the appointment of a replacement for Chris Bulmer who stepped down as a  
Non-Executive Director with effect from 15 April 2008. In order to ensure that an appropriate balance of skills and knowledge  
was maintained on the Board, a description of the role and capabilities required was prepared and an external search consultancy 
engaged to identify suitable candidates. Following compilation of a shortlist of candidates and after meeting with Committee 
members, Ben Gordon was appointed to the Board as a Non-Executive Director on 15 April 2008. This appointment brings 
significant experience of the retail sector to the existing range of skills and experience on the Board. 

The Remuneration Committee  
The Remuneration Committee comprises Gerald Corbett, Ben Gordon (and prior to his appointment, Chris Bulmer) and Michael 
Shallow, and is chaired by Bob Ivell. It is responsible for: (i) making recommendations to the Board on the Group’s policy on the 
remuneration of the Company’s Chief Executive, Chairman, the Executive Directors, the Company Secretary and other members 
of the Executive Committee; (ii) the determination, within agreed terms of reference, of the remuneration of the Chairman and of 
specific remuneration packages for each of the Executive Directors and other members of the Executive Committee, including 
pension rights, any compensation payments and benefits; and (iii) the determination of awards under the Company’s employee 
share plans to the Executive Directors, the Company Secretary and other members of the Executive Committee. It meets at least 
three times a year. Full details of its activities and of Directors’ remuneration are set out in the Directors’ Remuneration Report on 
pages 42 to 49. Those pages detail compliance with the legal requirements with regard to remuneration matters. The Chairman of 
the Committee reports the outcome of meetings to the Board.  

Britvic plc Annual Report 2008  39 

Corporate Governance continued 

The Audit Committee  
The Audit Committee comprises Ben Gordon (and prior to his appointment, Chris Bulmer) and Bob Ivell and is chaired by Michael 
Shallow. The Board is satisfied that Michael Shallow, who is a Chartered Accountant and was formerly Finance Director of Greene 
King plc, has recent and relevant financial experience as required by the Code.  

The role of the Audit Committee is to monitor the integrity of the Group’s interim and annual financial statements prior to their 
submission to the Board. It is also responsible for reviewing the Group’s internal financial control and risk management systems, 
advising the Board on the appointment of external auditors, overseeing the relationship with the external auditors, approving 
auditor remuneration, reviewing the Group’s whistle-blowing procedures, reviewing accounting policies and compliance and 
monitoring and reviewing the effectiveness of the Group’s full internal audit function. 

The Committee had three meetings in the year during which it discharged it responsibilities as set out in its terms of reference and 
schedule of business for the year. On each occasion the Finance Director and the Head of Internal Audit and Risk attended through 
invitation. The external auditors attended all three of the meetings. 

Significant areas of review during the year included the review and improvement of Britvic Ireland’s internal control framework  
to align it with the existing framework within Great Britain. Outputs from this process were also reviewed at each of the 
Committee’s meetings. The Committee also received comprehensive reports from the Head of Internal Audit and Risk on the 
results and progress of the internal audit plan.  

The Audit Committee regularly monitors the relationship with the auditors and assesses their performance, cost-effectiveness, 
objectivity and independence. It agrees the scope of the audit work and discusses the results of the full year audit and interim 
review each year. At each Audit Committee meeting the external auditors were able to meet with the Committee without 
management being present. 

It is a specific responsibility of the Audit Committee to ensure that an appropriate relationship is maintained between the Group 
and its auditors. The Group has a policy of controlling the provision of non-audit services by the external auditors in order to 
maintain their independence and ensure that their objectivity and independence are safeguarded. This control is exercised by 
ensuring non-audit projects, where fees are expected to exceed £50,000, are subject to the prior approval of the Chairman of  
the Audit Committee and the Finance Director. If non-audit project fees are expected to exceed £150,000 the prior approval of  
the Audit Committee is required. The Committee has scrutinised the internal procedures of Ernst & Young LLP and satisfied  
itself that the independence and objectivity of the auditors are not affected by the non-audit work undertaken. 

Attendance at meetings 
The attendance of Directors at Board and Committee meetings during the 52 weeks ended 28 September 2008 was as follows: 

Gerald Corbett** 
Paul Moody  
Joanne Averiss 
Chris Bulmer* 
John Gibney 
Bob Ivell 
Michael Shallow  
Ben Gordon* 
Total number of meetings  

Board 
9 
9 
9 
5 
9 
9 
8 
3 
9 

Nomination 
Committee 
3 
– 
– 
2 
– 
3 
2 
1 
3 

Remuneration 
Committee 
2 
– 
– 
3 
– 
5 
4 
2 
5 

Audit  
Committee 
– 
– 
– 
1 
– 
3 
3 
1 
3 

*   Chris Bulmer resigned on 15 April 2008. Ben Gordon was appointed on the same date. 

**  Appointed as a member of the Remuneration Committee on 18 June 2008. 

40  Britvic plc Annual Report 2008 

 
Shareholder relations  
The Company is committed to maintaining good communications with shareholders. Senior executives, including the Chairman, 
Chief Executive and Finance Director, have dialogue with individual institutional shareholders in order to develop an understanding 
of their views which is fed back to the Board. General presentations are given to analysts and investors covering the annual and 
interim results. The Business Review set out on pages 12 to 25 details the financial performance of the Company as well as 
setting out the risks it faces and plans for the future. The Company Secretary generally deals with questions from individual 
shareholders. All shareholders will have the opportunity to ask questions at the Company’s AGM on 28 January 2009. At the AGM, 
the Chairman will give a statement on current trading conditions. The Chairmen of the Nomination, Remuneration and Audit 
Committees will be available to answer questions at the AGM. The Chairman will advise shareholders on proxy voting details.  
In addition, the Group’s website containing published information and press releases can be found at www.britvic.com 

Internal control 
The Board has overall responsibility for the Group’s system of internal control and risk management and for reviewing its 
effectiveness. In discharging that responsibility, the Board confirms that it has established the procedures necessary to apply the 
Code, including clear operating procedures, lines of responsibility and delegated authority. These procedures have been in place 
since the Company listed and are regularly reviewed by the Board.  

Business performance is managed closely and the Board and the Executive Committee have established processes, as part of  
the normal good management of the business, to monitor: 
•  Strategic plan achievement, through a regular review of progress towards strategic objectives. 
• 

Financial performance, within a comprehensive financial planning and accounting framework, including budgeting and 
forecasting, financial reporting, analysing variances against plan and taking appropriate management action. 

•  Capital investment and asset management performance, with detailed appraisal, authorisation and post investment reviews.  
•  Principal risks and risk management processes, which accords with the Turnbull guidance and is supported by reports from the 
Head of Internal Audit and Risk that the significant risks faced by the Group are being identified, evaluated and appropriately 
managed, having regard to the balance of risk, cost and opportunity. The Executive Committee review the Group risk register 
on at least a quarterly basis, with the Board reviewing on at least a semi-annual basis. 

In addition, the Audit Committee received: 
•  Reports from the Head of Internal Audit and Risk on the work carried out under the annual internal audit plan. 
•  Reports from the external auditors. 

Through the monitoring processes set out above, the Board conducted a review of the effectiveness of the system of internal 
control during the 52 weeks ended 28 September 2008. The system of internal control is designed to manage, rather than 
eliminate, the risk of failure to achieve business objectives and it must be recognised that it can only provide reasonable and not 
absolute assurance against material misstatement or loss. In that context, the review, in the opinion of the Board, did not indicate 
that the system was ineffective or unsatisfactory and the Board is not aware of any change to this status up to the approval of  
this report.  

Statement of Directors’ responsibilities pursuant to DTR 4.1.12 
The Directors confirm that, to the best of their knowledge:  

(a)  The Financial Statements, which are prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards as adopted by the 
European Commission, give a true and fair view of the assets, liabilities, financial position and profit or loss of the Company and 
the undertakings included in the consolidation as a whole; and  

(b)  The Business Review includes a fair review of the development and performance of the business and the position of the 

Company and the undertakings included in the consolidation taken as a whole, together with a description of the principal risks 
and uncertainties that they face.  

Neither the Company nor the Directors accept any liability to any person in relation to the Annual Report and Financial Statements 
except to the extent that such liability could arise under English law. Accordingly, any liability to a person who has demonstrated 
reliance on any untrue or misleading statement or omission shall be determined in accordance with section 90A of the Financial 
Services and Markets Act 2000. 

The names and functions of the Directors of the Company are listed on page 31 of this document. 

Britvic plc Annual Report 2008  41 

 
Directors’ Remuneration Report 
For the 52 weeks ended 28 September 2008 

The following is a report by the Remuneration Committee (the ‘Committee’) which has been approved by the Board of Britvic plc 
for submission to shareholders. This report has been prepared in accordance with the Companies Act 1985. It provides the 
Company’s statement of how it has applied the principles of good governance relating to Directors’ remuneration and is  
intended to communicate Britvic’s policies and practices on executive remuneration to the Company’s major shareholders  
and relevant institutions. 

In accordance with the Companies Act 1985, a resolution will be submitted to the AGM to approve the Directors’  
Remuneration Report. 

Membership of Remuneration Committee  
During the 52 weeks ended 28 September 2008, the Committee consisted wholly of independent Non-Executive Directors: 

Chris Bulmer – Chairman of the Committee – resigned 15 April 2008 
Bob Ivell – appointed Chairman of the Committee 15 April 2008 
Michael Shallow 
Ben Gordon – appointed 15 April 2008 
Gerald Corbett – appointed 18 June 2008 

At the invitation of the Chairman of the Committee, the Chairman of the Board (prior to his appointment to the Committee), the 
Chief Executive and Human Resources Director attend the meetings of the Committee except when their own remuneration  
is under consideration. Details of the attendance by Committee Members at Committee Meetings are shown in the Corporate 
Governance Report on page 40. 

Composition and terms of reference  
The Committee’s composition and terms of reference are in line with the Combined Code and are available on the Company’s 
website or on request. Following a recent change, the Combined Code on Corporate Governance provides that the Chairman of 
the Board may be a member of (although not chair) a remuneration committee if considered to be independent. In the light of the 
significant contribution which can be made by the Chairman of the Board, and his independence, the Company decided that he 
should be appointed as a member of the Committee on 18 June 2008. However, the Chairman of the Board absents himself from 
discussions when his own remuneration is under discussion. 

The Committee meets not less than three times a year and has responsibility for: (i) making recommendations to the Board on the 
Group’s policy on the remuneration of the Company’s Chief Executive, Chairman, the Executive Directors, the Company Secretary 
and other members of the Executive Committee; (ii) the determination, within agreed terms of reference, of the remuneration of 
the Chairman and of specific remuneration packages for each of the Executive Directors and other members of the Executive 
Committee, including pension rights, any compensation payments and benefits; and (iii) the determination of awards under the 
Company’s employee share plans to the Executive Directors, the Company Secretary and other members of the Executive 
Committee. The Committee also ensures compliance with the Combined Code in this respect. 

Advisors  
The Committee has appointed an external consultant, Towers Perrin, to advise on executive compensation issues and in 
developing its performance-related remuneration policy. From time to time the Company is also advised by Towers Perrin on 
remuneration-related issues. The following individuals also provided material advice or services to the Committee during the  
52 weeks ended 28 September 2008: 
•  Paul Moody (Chief Executive). 
•  Doug Frost (Human Resources Director).  
•  Michael Mountford (Head of Compensation and Benefits).  

Remuneration policy  
To date, the remuneration policy with respect to Executive Directors has been designed to provide market competitive 
remuneration relative to UK-listed companies of similar size and scope. 

The Company believes that in order to meet its remuneration objectives, the remuneration of Executive Directors should comprise 
a balance between fixed and variable (performance-related) pay elements with the predominant proportion of potential reward 
being linked to performance. As a result, for superior performance, approximately two thirds of total remuneration is performance-
related. For target performance, approximately half of total remuneration is performance-related. 

The Committee constantly reviews remuneration policy to ensure that it is sufficiently flexible to take account of future changes  
in Britvic’s business operations and environment and recognises key developments in remuneration practice and alignment to 
shareholder interests. Consequently, the policy set out in this report has been applied during 2007/08. However, following the 
Committee’s most recent review a number of changes in policy will be implemented for 2008/09 and are described in more  
detail below. The Committee has explained, in some detail, the rationale for these changes to the Company’s larger shareholders 
and the main institutional shareholder bodies prior to the publication of this Report. In summary, the Committee has decided  
to revise the current incentive arrangements in place to more closely reflect the evolving needs of the business, changing 
competitive market norms and best practice developments since the original policy was implemented on IPO in December 2005. 
42  Britvic plc Annual Report 2008 

The Committee believes that the revisions to Executive Directors’ packages will both strengthen the link between pay and 
performance as well as address the shortfall in overall compensation levels which have developed since IPO. Therefore, in  
respect of 2008/09 superior performance will mean that approximately three quarters of total remuneration will be performance-
related. Similarly, for target performance, approximately three fifths of total remuneration will be performance-related. 

Remuneration objectives  
The principal objective of the policy remains the same and is to provide market competitive levels of remuneration, including 
incentive arrangements, which will reward successful execution of the Company’s short-term and long-term strategy. The 
Committee believes that this requires:  
• 

The provision of mid-market base salaries and incentive levels for the sector, with appropriate leverage to reward sustained 
exceptional performance and support the future growth plans of the Company.  

•  A reward structure that places an appropriate emphasis on short-term and long-term performance to support operating 

performance and to reward sustained longer-term performance.  

•  Competitive incentive arrangements that are underpinned by a balance of operational and long-term performance metrics  

to provide both a focus on business performance and alignment with returns to the Company’s shareholders.  

Components of remuneration  

Base salary  

Short-Term Incentive Plan 

Executive Share Option Plan  
(‘Option plan’) 

Performance Share Plan (‘PSP’) 

Purpose  
•  Positions the role and the individual 
fairly within a competitive market  
range derived from a peer group of 
similar-sized UK-listed companies.  
•  Provides focus on the delivery of  
the financial targets set out in the 
Annual Budget. 

Performance measure  
• 

Individual contribution and sustained 
value in the business. 

•  PBT (50%); net revenue (25%) and  

free cash flow (25%).  

•  Provides focus on longer-term  

•  EPS growth during the three-year 

share price growth.  

•  Reflects sustained delivery of  

earnings growth. 

•  Alignment to shareholder interests. 
•  Provides focus on sustained growth. 

vesting period. 

•  Relative total shareholder return  

(‘TSR’) over a three-year performance 
period against a peer group of similar 
sector companies.  

•  From 2008/9 a three-year performance 
period based on an even split of relative 
TSR against a peer group of similar 
sector companies and average Return 
on Invested Capital (‘ROIC’). 

Remuneration in practice  

Base salary  
Salaries are reviewed annually to take account of market movement, individual contribution and increases elsewhere in the 
Company. Directors’ salaries are benchmarked against a selected peer group of UK companies with similar levels of revenue.  
The salaries of other members of the Executive Committee are benchmarked against a selected group of major companies in the 
Fast Moving Consumer Goods (‘FMCG’) and Retail sectors, where the Committee sees the primary market for talent at this level.  

Short-Term Incentive Plan  
Targets were approved by the Committee at the beginning of the year and were aligned to internal targets and strategic business 
objectives for 2007/8. Up to 60% of salary for the Chief Executive and 50% of salary for the Finance Director is payable for the 
achievement of target PBT, net revenue growth and free cash flow performance on a 50%/25%/25% basis. Up to a maximum of 
120% and 100% of salary is payable for the achievement of exceptional performance targets for the Chief Executive and Finance 
Director, respectively. For 2007/8, a bonus of 69.6% of salary for the Chief Executive and 58.0% of salary for the Finance Director 
was earned for above target performance against PBT and free cash flow but below target performance in net revenue growth. 
Details of PBT and net revenue are shown on page 51 and free cash flow on page 53.  

Britvic plc Annual Report 2008  43 

 
Directors’ Remuneration Report continued 

Following the review of incentive arrangements mentioned above, the Committee decided that the key short-term operational 
drivers of the business for 2008/9 remain appropriate and therefore the same bonus structure as applied in 2007/8 should 
continue. Therefore bonuses will be paid for achievement of performance targets based on PBT, net revenue growth and free 
cash flow and will be set at appropriately stretching levels. The Committee has also decided to increase target and maximum 
bonus opportunity for Executive Directors to more closely align packages with competitive market norms. As a result, target and 
maximum bonus for the Chief Executive will change to 70% and 140% of salary, respectively. Similarly, target and maximum 
bonus opportunity for the Finance Director will change to 60% and 120% of salary, respectively. 

Executive Share Option Plan  
Annual grants of options were made at the discretion of the Board over shares in Britvic plc at the market price at date of grant to 
senior executives (25 in 2007/8). The level of option grant and the performance conditions are determined and reviewed by the 
Committee annually. For 2007/8 the policy was to grant the options over shares worth 200% and 150% of annual salary to the 
Chief Executive and Finance Director, respectively. Options are normally exercisable between three and ten years from the date  
of grant.  

A performance condition is applied such that 40% of the grant vests for the achievement of EPS growth over the three-year 
performance period equivalent to RPI +3% per annum. No awards will vest below this threshold level of performance. For 
achievement of EPS growth equivalent to RPI +7% per annum over the same period, 100% of the grant will vest, with straight-
line vesting between threshold and maximum. Options lapse to the extent that the performance condition is not achieved.  

For 2008/9, the Committee has decided to maintain the same focus on long-term EPS growth and believes the current 
performance range remains sufficiently stretching in the context of the current business outlook and growth strategy of the 
Company. However, in accordance with best practice the Committee has also decided to reduce the proportion of the grant 
vesting at threshold performance from 40% to 25% of the grant. Furthermore, to more closely align long-term incentives with 
competitive market norms, option grants over shares worth 300% of salary will apply for the Chief Executive and 250% of  
salary for the Finance Director. 

Performance Share Plan  
Annual grants of performance shares were made at the discretion of the Board to senior executives and managers (90 in 2007/8). 
The awards normally vest at the end of the three-year performance period, to the extent that the performance condition will have 
been achieved, and lapse to the extent it is not achieved. For 2007/8 the policy was to grant the equivalent of 50% of annual salary 
to Executive Directors, calculated on the basis of the market price at the date of grant. For awards to vest in full under this plan, 
Britvic’s TSR must rank in the top quartile of the peer group of the following similar sector companies over the same period: 

AG BARR 
Associated British Foods 
C&C Group 
Cadbury Schweppes 
Dairy Crest  
Diageo 
Fuller Smith 
Greene King 
Marston’s (formerly Wolverhampton & Dudley) 

Nichols 
Northern Foods  
Premier Foods  
Reckitt Benckiser  
SABMiller 
Smith & Nephew 
SSL International 
Tate & Lyle 
Uniq 

No awards will vest for performance below median, with 40% of the award vesting at median rising to 100% at upper quartile 
on a straight-line basis. 

During 2006/7 and 2007/8 four companies on the original list of comparator companies (RHM, Arla Foods, Scottish & Newcastle 
and IAWS Group) were taken over and subsequently excluded from the list. The Committee considered whether to replace these 
companies and decided that the remaining 18 companies were sufficient for 2007/8. 

The Committee has for 2008/9 decided to revise the structure of the PSP and as a result, vesting of awards under the PSP will  
be determined on an even split according to the ranking of Britvic’s relative TSR and on stretching three-year average ROIC targets 
set at the commencement of each financial year. For the purposes of the PSP, ROIC will be defined as Operating Profit after Tax 
divided by Average Invested Capital including Goodwill, expressed as a percentage. 

The Committee believes that the introduction of a ROIC performance target provides closer alignment with underlying financial 
performance than relative TSR growth alone, as well as introducing an appropriate balance with the EPS growth targets set under 
the Option Plan. In particular, the Committee believes that ROIC directly aligns pay with an appropriate balance between future 
investment and capital spending plans and the need to maintain appropriate margins in an uncertain trading environment over the 
next few years. 

44  Britvic plc Annual Report 2008 

For 2008/9 the Committee has decided to replace the four companies lost from the original TSR comparator group with Greencore 
Group plc, Origin Enterprises plc, Wetherspoon (J D) plc and Glanbia plc thus reinstating a comparator group of 22 companies. 

In accordance with best practice, the Committee has also decided to reduce the proportion of award vesting at threshold performance 
from 40% to 25% of the award in conjunction with an increase in award levels to 100% of salary for Executive Directors.  

Therefore, for 2008/9, 25% of awards will vest at three-year average ROIC of 16.8% rising to full vesting on a straight-line basis at 
ROIC of 18.8%. No award will vest for three-year average ROIC below 16.8%. 

The Committee believes these revisions will both strengthen the effectiveness and competitiveness of the PSP as well as the 
overall compensation packages for Executive Directors. 

Shareholding guidelines  
In accordance with best practice and further to align the interests of Executive Directors and shareholders, a shareholding 
guideline is in place. The guideline requires Executive Directors to acquire a shareholding equal to their annual salary within five 
years from IPO (calculated at the IPO share price). Until this holding is acquired, the Executive Directors may not sell any shares 
other than to finance the cost of exercising options and any tax liabilities arising from the vesting of long-term incentive plans, 
unless approved by the Committee, for example, in cases of financial hardship. 

Retirement benefits  
The Executive Directors currently participate in the defined benefit section of the Britvic Pension Plan (the ‘Plan’). The normal 
retirement age for Executive Directors is 60. Bonus payouts and other incentive awards are not pensionable. 

The Executive Directors also currently participate in the Britvic Executive Top Up Scheme, the Company’s unfunded supplementary 
retirement benefits scheme. Prior to the legislative changes on 6 April 2006 (A-Day), the Top Up Scheme provided pension benefits 
above the previous HM Revenue & Customs (‘HMRC’) earnings cap to which the Plan was subject. Post A-Day, this earnings cap has 
been removed for future service within the Plan. For pre A-Day, service the earnings cap is maintained within the Plan and will be 
indexed by inflation (in line with Treasury notification). The Top Up Scheme is maintained to provide pension benefits above the 
earnings cap for pre A-Day service and to provide benefits above the new lifetime allowance for post A-Day service. 

The defined benefit section of the Plan was originally designed broadly to provide a pension of two-thirds of final salary at normal 
retirement age, along with life assurance, ill health and dependants’ pensions. Following a strategic review of pension policy in 
2007/8 the defined benefit rate of pension accrual for Executive Directors for service from 1 July 2008 onwards was reduced by 
one-third. The cap on the rate of annual increase to pension in payment was also reduced to 2.5%, instead of the previous 5%,  
for pension in payment resulting from the reduced rate of pension accrual. 

The defined benefit section of the Plan is closed to new entrants. All new entrants are offered membership of the defined 
contribution section of the Plan with similar life assurance, ill health and dependants’ pensions. 

Other benefits  
Executive Directors receive an annual car benefit or allowance and membership of the Company’s private medical healthcare plan. 

Service contracts  
The current policy is for Executive Directors’ service contract notice periods to be normally no longer than 12 months. The  
service contracts of the current Executive Directors and the letters of appointment of the Non-Executive Directors include  
the following terms: 

Executive Directors 
Paul Moody  
John Gibney 
Non-Executive Directors 
Gerald Corbett 
Joanne Averiss 
Ben Gordon 
Bob Ivell 
Michael Shallow 

Effective  
date of  
contract 

Unexpired  
term (approx.  
months) 

Notice period  
from Director 
(months) 

Notice period  
from Company 
(months)  

14 December 2005 
14 December 2005 

14 December 2008 
14 December 2008 
15 April 2008 
14 December 2008 
14 December 2008 

12* 
12* 

36** 
36** 
31 
36** 
36** 

6 
6 

12 
3 
3 
3 
3 

12 
12 

12 
3 
3 
3 
3 

*   Executive Directors are appointed on 12-month rolling contracts. 

**  The Non-Executive Directors’ letters of appointment have been extended for a further three-year term to 14 December 2011. 

There are no special provisions for Executive or Non-Executive Directors with regard to compensation in the event of loss of office. 
In the event of the employment of an Executive Director being terminated, the Committee would pay due regard to best practice 
and take account of the individual’s duty to mitigate their loss.  

Britvic plc Annual Report 2008  45 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Directors’ Remuneration Report continued 

Biographical details of all Directors can be found on pages 30 and 31. 

Other appointments  
The Executive Directors have not been engaged by any other companies and are not permitted to do so during the term of their 
appointment without the prior written consent of the Board.  

Non-Executive Directors  

Chairman’s letter of appointment and benefits  
Under his letter of appointment, Gerald Corbett was appointed Chairman of the Company for an initial three-year term to  
14 December 2008. This has been extended until 14 December 2011. From 14 December 2007 the Chairman’s remuneration  
was increased to £175,000 per annum. In addition the Company employed a chauffeur assigned to Mr Corbett. 

Non-Executive Directors  
The Non-Executive Directors do not have service contracts but instead have letters of appointment for a three-year term.  

Remuneration of Non-Executive Directors consists solely of fees. During the 52 weeks ended 28 September 2008 their basic  
fee was £40,000 per annum and an additional fee of £8,000 per annum was paid to the Senior Independent Director and to the 
Chairmen of the Board Committees.  

Non-Executive Directors’ fees are reviewed by the Board annually and they do not participate in any of the Group’s pension 
schemes or in any of the Group’s bonus, share option or other incentive schemes.  

Performance graph – Total Shareholder Return  

Historical TSR Performance
Growth in the value of a hypothetical £100 holding since float. FTSE 250 excluding investment trusts comparison based on spot values.

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1
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FTSE 250 Excluding Investment Trusts

Britvic

£150

£125

£100

£75

£50

14 Dec 2005

1 Oct 2006

30 Sept 2007

26 Sept 2008

Date

Since date of listing: 14 Dec 2005

46  Britvic plc Annual Report 2008 

 
 
 
 
 
The Committee considers the FTSE 250 Excluding Investment Trusts Index is a relevant index for Total Shareholder Return and 
comparison disclosure as it represents a broad equity market index in which the Company is a constituent member. However,  
the Committee also considers that the additional graph below, showing daily returns against the same FTSE 250 index and also 
the FTSE 100 index, provides a more representative picture of the business’ performance. 

Historical TSR Performance
Growth in the Value of a Hypothetical £100 Holding Since Float. FTSE 250 Excluding Investment Trusts and FTSE 100 Comparison.

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FTSE mid-250 

FTSE 100

Britvic

£200

£180

£160

£140

£120

£100

£80

£60

£40

£20

Dec 2005

Dec 2006

Dec 2007

Nov  2008

Date

Since date of listing: 14 Dec 2005

Directors’ interests in shares  

Executive Directors 
Paul Moody  
John Gibney  

Non-Executive Directors  
Gerald Corbett  
Joanne Averiss  
Ben Gordon  
Bob Ivell  
Michael Shallow  

Britvic plc ordinary shares of 20p each  
30 September 
2007  

28 September 
2008  

201,723 
173,969 

65,217 
8,696 
11,393 
10,870 
21,739 

114,527  
108,150  

65,217  
8,696  
–  
10,870  
21,739  

The above shareholdings are all beneficial interests and include shares held on behalf of the Executive Directors by the Trustee 
of the Company’s all-employee Share Incentive Plan which is detailed on page 94.  

In the period 28 September 2008 to 25 November 2008 there has been no change in the Directors’ interests, other than through 
the monthly purchases in October and November of partnership and matching shares under the Share Incentive Plan, resulting in 
an increase in the interests held by Paul Moody and John Gibney of 179 shares each.  

Audited information  
The following information has been audited by the Company’s auditors, as required by Schedule 7A to the Companies Act 1985.  

Britvic plc Annual Report 2008  47 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Directors’ Remuneration Report continued 

Directors’ remuneration  

Executive Directors 
Paul Moody 
John Gibney 

Non-Executive Directors 
Gerald Corbett2 
Joanne Averiss 
Chris Bulmer3 
Ben Gordon 
Bob Ivell 
Michael Shallow 
Total 

Note:  

Basic Salary 
and Fees  
£’000 

Taxable  
Benefits1 
£’000 

Performance 
Related 
Bonuses 
£’000 

447 
288 

173 
39 
24 
18 
49 
45 
1,083 

19 
22 

63 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
104 

311 
167 

– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
478 

Total  
2008 
£’000 

777 
477 

236 
39 
24 
18 
49 
45 
1,665 

Total  
2007 
£’000 

876 
527 

208 
33 
35 
– 
35 
35 
1,749 

1.  Benefits for Paul Moody and John Gibney incorporate all taxable benefits and expense allowances arising from employment 
which relate mainly to the provision of an annual car benefit or allowance and membership of the Company’s private medical 
healthcare plan. Benefits for Mr Corbett relate to the provision of a chauffeur assigned to him; the figure shown being the total 
gross amount before mitigation for business use. 

2.  Under an agreement between the Company and the Chairman, Mr Corbett will be awarded 65,217 ordinary shares by the 

Company, subject to tax (matching those he purchased on the Company’s admission to the Official List and to trading on the 
London Stock Exchange on 14 December 2005 with an investment of £150,000), conditional upon completion of three years’ 
service as Chairman on 13 December 2008 and the continued retention of his original investment.  

3.   Chris Bulmer resigned on 15 April 2008. 

Directors’ interests in share options  
The Executive Directors participate in the Britvic Executive Share Option Plan (on the terms and subject to the EPS growth 
performance condition as described on page 44).  

  Date of grant 
15/12/05 
06/12/06 
05/12/07 

15/12/05 
06/12/06 
05/12/07 

Paul Moody 

Total 
John Gibney 

Total  

At start of 
year/date of 
appointment 
338,776 
338,776 
– 
677,552 
162,245 
162,245 
– 
324,490 

Granted 
during 
financial  
year 
– 
– 
246,369 
246,369 
–  
– 
119,135 
119,135 

Number of options 

Exercised 
during 
financial  
year 
– 
– 
– 

Lapsed 
during 
financial  
year 
– 
– 
– 

–  
– 
– 
– 

–  
– 
– 
– 

At end of 
year/date of 
cessation 
338,776 
338,776 
246,369 
923,921 
162,245 
162,245 
119,135 
443,625 

Option to 
exercise price  
(pence) 
245.0 
245.0 
347.0 

Date from 
which 
exerciseable 
15/12/08 
06/12/09 
05/12/10 

Expiry  
date 
15/12/15 
06/12/16 
05/12/17 

245.0 
245.0 
347.0 

15/12/08 
06/12/09 
05/12/10 

15/12/15 
06/12/16 
05/12/17 

The market price of the Company’s shares on 28 September 2008 was 214.0p and the range of closing prices during the  
52 weeks ended 28 September 2008 was 214.0p to 359.0p. 

48  Britvic plc Annual Report 2008 

 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Directors’ interests in the Performance Share Plan  
The Executive Directors participate in the Britvic Performance Share Plan (as described on page 44). 

Date of 
award 

15/12/05* 
15/12/05**
06/12/06* 
05/12/07* 

15/12/05* 
15/12/05**
06/12/06* 
05/12/07* 

At start of 
year/date of 
appointment 
90,217 
289,856 
84,694 
– 
464,767 
57,609 
217,392 
54,082 
– 
329,083 

Paul Moody  

Total  
John Gibney 

Total  

Number of shares 

Awarded 
during 
financial  
year  
–  
–  
– 
61,592 
61,592 
– 
–  
– 
39,712 
39,712 

Vested during 
financial  
year 
–  
144,928 
– 
– 
144,928 
– 
108,696 
– 
– 
108,696 

Lapsed during 
financial  
year 
–  
– 
– 
– 
–  
– 
–  
– 
– 
–  

At end of 
year/date of 
cessation 
90,217 
144,928 
84,694 
61,592 
381,431 
57,609 
108,696 
54,082 
39,712 
260,099 

Market price 
at date  
of award 
(pence) 
242.0 
242.0 
245.0 
339.0 

Vesting  
date 
15/12/08 
15/12/06/07&08 
06/12/09 
05/12/10 

242.0 
242.0 
245.0 
339.0 

15/12/08 
15/12/06/07&08 
06/12/09 
05/12/10 

*   Annual PSP awards were made to the Executive Directors subject to the TSR performance condition described on page 44.  

**  In addition to the annual PSP awards, a one-off transitional award was made subject to the achievement of targets based on 
average ROIC. The purpose of this award was to compensate the Company’s valued executives for the loss of long-term 
incentive bonuses which were discontinued at IPO and to help retention. The award vests in three equal tranches after the 
first, second and third anniversary of the award subject to achievement of average ROIC performance targets over the three 
financial years 2005/6, 2006/7 and 2007/8. 50% of each tranche vests at threshold performance of 15% average ROIC rising  
to maximum vesting at 17% average ROIC on a straight-line basis. In respect of the third tranche of the transitional award, 
100% of the award will vest after the year end as a result of ROIC performance in 2007/8. These shares are subject to the 
Shareholding Guidelines described above.  

Pensions 
The table below shows, amongst other items, as at the year end, the accrued pension should the Director leave employment;  
the increase in the accrued pension during the 52 weeks ended 28 September 2008; the increase excluding inflation and member 
contributions; the transfer value of accrued pension; and any increase/(decrease) in this value assessed on the transfer value basis 
as under the Britvic Pension Plan. This disclosure is in compliance with both the London Stock Exchange Listing Rules and the 
Companies Act 1985.  

Accumulated 
accrued 
pension at  
28 September 
2008 
£ 
164,000 
151,800 

Increase in 
accrued 
pension 
during the 
financial year 
£ 
21,100 
16,300 

Age at  
28 September 
2008 
51 
48 

Increase, 
before 
inflation, in 
accrued 
pension 
during the 
financial year 
£ 
14,000 
9,500 

Name 
Paul Moody 
John Gibney 

Transfer value 
of increase, 
before 
inflation and 
less Directors’ 
contributions 
£ 

Transfer value 
of accrued 
benefits at  
28 September 
2008 
£ 

Transfer value 
of accrued 
benefits at  
30 September 
2007 
£ 
141,330  1,913,300  1,803,700 
79,600  1,498,800  1,490,500 

Increase in 
transfer value, 
less Directors’ 
contributions 
£ 
87,600 
(5,900)1

1.  The negative increase is due to there being a substantial equity-based market value adjustment made to the transfer value at 

28 September 2008 which has reduced transfer values significantly. 

On behalf of the Board  

Bob Ivell  
Chairman of the Remuneration Committee  
25 November 2008 

Britvic plc Annual Report 2008  49 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Independent Auditor’s Report to the Members of Britvic plc 

We have audited the Group financial statements of Britvic plc for the 52 weeks ended 28 September 2008 which comprise the 
Consolidated Income Statement, the Consolidated Balance Sheet, the Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows, the Consolidated 
Statement of Recognised Income and Expense and the related Notes 1 to 34. These Group financial statements have been 
prepared under the accounting policies set out therein. 

We have reported separately on the parent company financial statements of Britvic plc for the 52 weeks ended 28 September 
2008 and on the information in the Directors’ Remuneration Report that is described as having been audited.  

This report is made solely to the Company’s members, as a body, in accordance with Section 235 of the Companies Act 1985.  
Our audit work has been undertaken so that we might state to the Company’s members those matters we are required to state  
to them in an auditor’s report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent permitted by law, we do not accept or assume 
responsibility to anyone other than the Company and the Company’s members as a body, for our audit work, for this report,  
or for the opinions we have formed. 

Respective responsibilities of Directors and auditors 
The Directors’ responsibilities for preparing the Annual Report and the Group financial statements in accordance with applicable 
United Kingdom law and International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRSs) as adopted by the European Union are set out in the 
Statement of Directors’ Responsibilities. 

Our responsibility is to audit the Group financial statements in accordance with relevant legal and regulatory requirements and 
International Standards on Auditing (UK and Ireland). 

We report to you our opinion as to whether the Group financial statements give a true and fair view and whether the Group 
financial statements have been properly prepared in accordance with the Companies Act 1985 and Article 4 of the IAS Regulation. 
We also report to you whether in our opinion the information given in the Directors’ Report is consistent with the financial 
statements. The information given in the Directors’ Report includes that specific information presented in the Business Review 
that is cross-referred from the Business Review section of the Directors’ Report.  

In addition we report to you if, in our opinion, we have not received all the information and explanations we require for our audit,  
or if information specified by law regarding Director’s remuneration and other transactions is not disclosed. 

We review whether the Corporate Governance Statement reflects the Company’s compliance with the nine provisions of the 2006 
Combined Code specified for our review by the Listing Rules of the Financial Services Authority, and we report if it does not. We 
are not required to consider whether the Board’s statements on internal control cover all risks and controls, or form an opinion on 
the effectiveness of the Group’s corporate governance procedures or its risk and control procedures. 

We read other information contained in the Annual Report and consider whether it is consistent with the audited Group financial 
statements. The other information comprises only the Directors’ Report, the Chairman’s Statement, the Business Review and the 
Corporate Governance Statement and the unaudited part of the Directors’ Remuneration Report. We consider the implications for 
our report if we become aware of any apparent misstatements or material inconsistencies with the Group financial statements. 
Our responsibilities do not extend to any other information. 

Basis of audit opinion 
We conducted our audit in accordance with International Standards on Auditing (UK and Ireland) issued by the Auditing Practices 
Board. An audit includes examination, on a test basis, of evidence relevant to the amounts and disclosures in the Group financial 
statements. It also includes an assessment of the significant estimates and judgements made by the Directors in the preparation 
of the Group financial statements, and of whether the accounting policies are appropriate to the Group’s circumstances, 
consistently applied and adequately disclosed. 

We planned and performed our audit so as to obtain all the information and explanations which we considered necessary in order 
to provide us with sufficient evidence to give reasonable assurance that the Group financial statements are free from material 
misstatement, whether caused by fraud or other irregularity or error. In forming our opinion we also evaluated the overall adequacy 
of the presentation of information in the Group financial statements. 

Opinion 
In our opinion: 
• 

The Group financial statements give a true and fair view, in accordance with IFRSs as adopted by the European Union,  
of the state of the Group’s affairs as at 28 September 2008 and of its profit for the year then ended;  
The Group financial statements have been properly prepared in accordance with the Companies Act 1985 and Article 4  
of the IAS Regulation; and 
The information given in the Directors’ Report is consistent with the Group financial statements. 

• 

• 

Ernst & Young LLP 
Registered auditor 
Birmingham 
25 November 2008 

Note: 
The maintenance and integrity of the Britvic plc website is the responsibility of the Directors; the work carried out by the auditors does not involve consideration  
of these matters and, accordingly, the auditors accept no responsibility for any changes that may have occurred to the financial statements since they were initially 
presented on the website. 

50  Britvic plc Annual Report 2008 

 
Consolidated Income Statement 
For the 52 weeks ended 28 September 2008 

52 Weeks  
Ended 28 September 2008 

52 Weeks  
Ended 30 September 2007 

Before 
Exceptional 
 Items 
£m 
926.5 
(426.1) 
500.4 
(290.8) 
(112.9) 
96.7 
0.4 
(27.0) 
70.1 
(17.1) 

Exceptional  
Items* 
£m 
– 
– 
– 
– 
(18.3) 
(18.3) 
– 
– 
(18.3) 
(2.9) 

Before 
Exceptional  
Items 
£m 
716.3 
(286.0) 
430.3 
(241.4) 
(108.9) 
80.0 
0.9 
(19.6) 
61.3 
(17.3) 

Exceptional  
Items* 
£m 
– 
– 
– 
– 
(5.7) 
(5.7) 
– 
– 
(5.7) 
4.2 

Total 
£m 
926.5 
(426.1) 
500.4 
(290.8) 
(131.2) 
78.4 
0.4 
(27.0) 
51.8 
(20.0) 

Total 
£m 
716.3 
(286.0) 
430.3 
(241.4) 
(114.6) 
74.3 
0.9 
(19.6) 
55.6 
(13.1) 

53.0 

(21.2) 

31.8 

44.0 

(1.5) 

42.5 

24.8p 
24.3p 

(9.9p) 
(9.7p) 

14.9p 
14.6p 

20.4p 
20.2p 

(0.7p) 
(0.7p) 

19.7p 
19.5p 

Revenue 
Cost of sales 
Gross profit 
Selling and distribution costs 
Administration expenses 
Operating profit/(loss) 
Finance income 
Finance costs 
Profit/(loss) before tax 
Taxation 
Profit/(loss) for the period 
attributable to the equity 
shareholders 

Earnings per share 
Basic earnings per share 
Diluted earnings per share 

*See Note 5. 

  Note 

6 
9 
9 

10 

11 
11 

All activities relate to continuing operations. 

Britvic plc Annual Report 2008  51 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Consolidated Balance Sheet 
At 28 September 2008 

Assets 
Non-current assets 
Property, plant and equipment 
Intangible assets 
Trade and other receivables 
Pension surplus 
Other financial assets 
Deferred tax assets 

Current assets 
Inventories 
Trade and other receivables 
Other financial assets 
Cash and cash equivalents 

Non-current assets held for sale 
Total assets 
Current liabilities 
Trade and other payables 
Interest bearing loans and borrowings 
Other financial liabilities 
Current income tax payable 

Non-current liabilities 
Interest bearing loans and borrowings 
Deferred tax liabilities 
Pension liability 
Other financial liabilities 
Other non-current liabilities 

Total liabilities 
Net assets 

Equity and liabilities 
Issued capital 
Share premium 
Own shares 
Share scheme reserve 
Hedging reserve 
Translation reserve 
Retained earnings 
Total equity 

  Note 

2008 
£m 

2007 
£m 
Restated* 

13 
14 
17 
25 
28 
10d 

18 
19 
28 
20 

21 

26 
24 
28 

24 
10d 
25 
28 
29 

22 
23 
23 
23 
23 
23 
23 

228.1 
263.8 
2.4 
– 
22.2 
2.6 
519.1 

49.4 
152.7 
0.3 
13.9 
216.3 
5.9 
741.3 

(244.3) 
(11.6) 
(1.0) 
(9.6) 
(266.5) 

(402.7) 
(37.7) 
(23.9) 
– 
(1.2) 
(465.5) 
(732.0) 
9.3 

43.2 
2.5 
(7.9) 
7.3 
7.0 
17.2 
(60.0) 
9.3 

227.4 
246.1 
2.4 
9.1 
– 
3.2 
488.2 

45.3 
130.9 
0.1 
27.3 
203.6 
4.8 
696.6 

(203.2) 
(13.1) 
(0.3) 
(6.6) 
(223.2) 

(417.8) 
(32.0) 
(14.7) 
(3.4) 
(1.2) 
(469.1) 
(692.3) 
4.3 

43.2 
2.5 
(10.3) 
5.3 
1.9 
2.9 
(41.2) 
4.3 

*   Restated following the completion of the fair value allocation of Britvic Ireland (see Note 15). 

The financial statements were approved by the Board of Directors and authorised for issue on 25 November 2008.  
They were signed on its behalf by: 

Paul Moody 
Chief Executive 

John Gibney 
Finance Director 

52  Britvic plc Annual Report 2008 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows 
For the 52 weeks ended 28 September 2008 

Cash flows from operating activities 
Profit before tax 
Net finance charge 
Impairment of property, plant and equipment 
Depreciation 
Amortisation 
Share-based compensation  
Net pension charge less contributions 
(Increase)/decrease in inventory 
(Increase)/decrease in debtors 
Increase in creditors 
Loss on disposal of tangible assets 
Income tax paid 
Net cash flows from operating activities 

Cash flows from investing activities 
Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment 
Interest received 
Purchases of property, plant and equipment 
Purchases of intangible assets 
Acquisition of subsidiary net of cash acquired 
Net cash flows used in investing activities 

Cash flows from financing activities 
Finance costs 
Interest paid 
Net interest bearing loans (repaid)/received 
Purchase of own shares 
Dividends paid to equity shareholders  
Net cash flows from financing activities 
Net (decrease)/increase in cash and cash equivalents 
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period 
Exchange rate differences 
Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the period 

  Note 

20 

2008 
£m 

51.8 
26.6 
4.8 
35.4 
7.2 
7.8 
(12.4) 
(2.0) 
(15.3) 
44.4 
3.0 
(8.1) 
143.2 

6.1 
0.3 
(45.3) 
(5.9) 
(6.8) 
(51.6) 

(0.2) 
(26.7) 
(45.5) 
(8.1) 
(24.7) 
(105.2) 
(13.6) 
27.3 
(0.8) 
12.9 

2007 
£m 

55.6 
18.7 
– 
36.8 
5.7 
4.7 
(14.9) 
0.6 
1.3 
9.1 
0.4 
(11.8) 
106.2 

9.9 
0.9 
(20.7) 
(5.5) 
(160.6) 
(176.0) 

(0.7) 
(21.2) 
132.2 
(10.2) 
(22.2) 
77.9 
8.1 
19.2 
– 
27.3 

Britvic plc Annual Report 2008  53 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Consolidated Statement of Recognised Income and Expense 
For the 52 weeks ended 28 September 2008 

  Note 

Actuarial (losses)/gains on defined benefit pension scheme 
Current tax on additional pension contributions 
Deferred tax on movement in pension liabilities 
Movement in cash flow hedges net of deferred tax  
Deferred tax on share options granted to employees 
Current tax on share options exercised 
Exchange differences on translation of foreign operations 
Net (expense)/income recognised directly in equity attributable to equity shareholders 
Profit for the period attributable to equity shareholders 
Total recognised income and expense for the period 

25 

2008 
£m 
(29.9) 
2.9 
3.6 
5.1 
(1.4) 
0.5 
14.3 
(4.9) 
31.8 
26.9 

2007 
£m 
61.3 
3.0 
(21.4) 
2.3 
1.1 
1.6 
2.9 
50.8 
42.5 
93.3 

54  Britvic plc Annual Report 2008 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements 

1. General information 
Britvic plc (the ‘Company’) is a company incorporated in the United Kingdom under the Companies Act 1985. It is a public limited 
company domiciled in England & Wales and its ordinary shares are traded on the London Stock Exchange. Britvic plc and its 
subsidiaries (together the ‘Group’) operate in the soft drinks manufacturing and distribution industry, principally in the United 
Kingdom and Republic of Ireland. 

The operating companies of the Group are disclosed within Note 33. 

2. Statement of compliance  
The financial information has been prepared on the basis of applicable International Financial Reporting Standards (‘IFRS’) as 
adopted by the European Union as they apply to the financial statements of the Group.  

3. Accounting policies 

Basis of preparation 
For all periods up to and including the 52 weeks ended 2 October 2005, Britannia Soft Drinks Limited prepared its financial 
statements in accordance with UK generally accepted accounting practice (‘UK GAAP’). As a consequence of the acquisition of 
Britannia Soft Drinks Limited by Britvic plc and of that company’s listing on the London Stock Exchange, from 3 October 2005  
the Group is required to prepare consolidated financial statements in accordance with IFRS as applied in accordance with the 
provisions of the Companies Act 1985. As such the Group took the following exemptions available under IFRS 1 ‘First-time 
Adoption of International Financial Reporting Standards’: 

a)   Not to restate the comparative information disclosed in the 2005 Financial Statements (being the financial statements for  
the 52 weeks ended 2 October 2005) in accordance with IAS 32 ‘Financial Instruments: Disclosure and Presentation’ and  
IAS 39 ‘Financial Instruments: Recognition and Measurement’. 

b)  Not to restate business combinations occurring before 4 October 2004. 

c)   To recognise all actuarial gains and losses on pensions and other post-retirement benefits directly in shareholders’ equity  

at 4 October 2004.  

d)  Not to apply IFRS 2 ‘Share-based Payment’ to grants of equity instruments on or before 7 November 2002 that had vested 

prior to 1 January 2005. 

The consolidated financial statements have been prepared on a historical cost basis except where measurement of balances  
at fair value is required as explained below. The consolidated financial statements are presented in sterling and all values are 
rounded to the nearest million except where otherwise indicated. 

The Group has changed the format of the balance sheet presentation. The principal accounting policies adopted by the Group are 
set out below. 

Basis of consolidation  
The consolidated financial information incorporates the financial information of Britvic plc and the entities controlled by the 
Company (its subsidiaries). 

The Group financial statements consolidate the accounts of Britvic plc and all its subsidiary undertakings drawn up to  
28 September 2008 in accordance with IAS 27 ‘Consolidated and Separate Financial Statements’. 

While the original acquisition of Britannia Soft Drinks Limited was accounted for under the merger method, in subsequent  
financial periods the acquisition method of accounting has been used, under which the results of subsidiary undertakings  
acquired or disposed of in the year are included in the Consolidated Income Statement from the date of acquisition or up to  
the date of disposal. 

On acquisition, the assets, liabilities and contingent liabilities of a subsidiary are measured at their fair values at the date of 
acquisition. Any excess of the cost of acquisition over the fair values of the identifiable net assets acquired is recognised as 
goodwill. Any deficiency of the cost of acquisition below the fair values of the identifiable net assets acquired (discount on 
acquisition) is credited to the income statement in the period of acquisition. 

Control comprises the power to govern the financial and operating policies of the investee so as to obtain benefit from its activities 
and is achieved through direct or indirect ownership of voting rights; currently exercisable or convertible potential voting rights; or 
by way of contractual agreement. The financial statements of subsidiaries are prepared for the same reporting period as the parent 
company, using consistent accounting policies. All intra-group transactions, balances, income and expenses are eliminated on 
consolidation. 

Britvic plc Annual Report 2008  55 

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements continued 

3.  Accounting policies continued 

Changes in accounting policy 
The accounting policies adopted are consistent with those of the previous financial year except as follows: 

IFRS 7 ‘Financial Instruments: Disclosure’ 
This standard requires disclosures that enable users of the financial statements to evaluate the significance of the Group’s financial 
instruments and the nature and extent of risks arising from those financial instruments. The new disclosures are included 
throughout the financial statements. While there has been no effect on the financial position or results, comparative information 
has been updated to take account of the additional disclosures required by the standard. 

Revenue recognition 
Revenue is the value of sales, excluding transactions with or between subsidiaries, and after deduction of sales related discounts, 
value added tax and other sales related taxes. Revenue is recognised when the significant risks and rewards of ownership of the 
goods have passed to the buyer and the amount can be measured reliably. 

Sales related discounts are calculated based on the expected amounts necessary to meet claims by the Group’s customers in 
respect of these discounts and rebates. 

Property, plant and equipment 
Property, plant and equipment are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation and any impairment losses. Depreciation is 
calculated so as to write off the cost of an asset, less its estimated residual value, on a straight-line basis, over the useful 
economic life of that asset as follows: 

Plant and machinery 
Vehicles (included in plant and machinery) 
Equipment in retail outlets (included in fixtures, fittings, tools and equipment) 
Other fixtures and fittings (included in fixtures, fittings, tools and equipment) 

Land is not depreciated. 

Freehold properties are depreciated over 50 years. 

3 – 20 years 
5 – 7 years 
5 – 10 years 
3 – 10 years 

Leasehold properties are depreciated over 50 years, or over the unexpired lease term when this is less than 50 years. 

Gains and losses on disposals are determined by comparing proceeds with carrying amount, and are included in the income 
statement. 

The carrying values of property, plant and equipment are reviewed for impairment when events or changes in circumstances 
indicate the carrying value may not be recoverable. 

Goodwill  
Business combinations on or after 4 October 2004 are accounted for under IFRS 3 using the acquisition method. On acquisition, 
the assets, liabilities and contingent liabilities of a subsidiary are measured at their fair values at the date of acquisition. Any excess 
of the cost of acquisition over the fair values of the identifiable net assets acquired is recognised as goodwill. Any deficiency of the 
cost of acquisition below the fair values of the identifiable net assets acquired (discount on acquisition) is credited to the income 
statement in the period of acquisition. 

Following initial recognition, goodwill is measured at cost less accumulated impairment losses. Goodwill is not amortised. 

Goodwill is reviewed for impairment at least annually. As at the acquisition date, any goodwill acquired is allocated to the Group  
of cash-generating units expected to benefit from the combination’s synergies by management. Impairment is determined by 
assessing the recoverable amount of the group of cash-generating units to which the goodwill relates. Where the recoverable 
amount of the cash-generating unit is less than the carrying amount, an impairment loss is recognised immediately in the income 
statement.  

On disposal of a subsidiary, associate or jointly controlled entity, the attributable amount of goodwill is included in the 
determination of the profit or loss on disposal. 

56  Britvic plc Annual Report 2008 

3. Accounting policies continued 

Intangible assets 
Trademarks, franchise rights and customer lists 
Intangible assets acquired separately from a business are capitalised at cost. An intangible asset acquired as part of a business 
combination is recognised outside goodwill if the asset is separable or arises from contractual or other legal rights and its fair  
value can be measured reliably. 

The useful lives of intangible assets are assessed to be either finite or indefinite. Amortisation is charged on assets with finite  
lives on a straight-line basis over a period appropriate to the asset’s useful life.  

The carrying values of intangible assets with finite and indefinite lives are reviewed for impairment when events or changes in 
circumstances indicate that the carrying value may not be recoverable. 

Intangible assets with indefinite useful lives are tested for impairment annually either individually or at the cash-generating unit 
level. Such intangibles are not amortised. The useful life of an intangible asset with an indefinite life is reviewed annually to 
determine whether indefinite life assessment continues to be supportable. If not, the change in the useful life assessment from 
indefinite to finite is made on a prospective basis. 

Software costs 
Software expenditure is recognised as an intangible asset only after its technical feasibility and commercial viability can be 
demonstrated. Acquired computer software licences and software developed in-house are capitalised on the basis of the  
costs incurred to acquire and bring to use the specific software. These costs are amortised over their estimated useful lives  
of three to seven years. 

Impairment of assets 
The Group assesses at each reporting date whether there is an indication that an asset may be impaired. If any such indication 
exists, or when annual impairment testing for an asset is required, the Group makes an estimate of the asset’s recoverable 
amount. An asset’s recoverable amount is the higher of an asset’s fair value less costs to sell and its value in use and is 
determined for an individual asset, unless the asset does not generate cash inflows that are largely independent of those from 
other assets or groups of assets. Where the carrying amount of an asset exceeds its recoverable amount, the asset is considered 
impaired and is written down to its recoverable amount. In assessing value in use, the estimated future cash flows are discounted 
to their present value using a pre-tax discount rate that reflects senior management’s estimate of the cost of capital. Impairment 
losses of continuing operations are recognised in the income statement in those expense categories consistent with the function 
of the impaired asset. 

An assessment is made at each reporting date as to whether there is any indication that previously recognised impairment losses 
may no longer exist or may have decreased. If such indication exists, the recoverable amount is estimated. A previously 
recognised impairment loss is reversed only if there has been a change in the estimates used to determine the asset’s recoverable 
amount since the last impairment loss was recognised. If that is the case the carrying amount of the asset is increased to its 
recoverable amount. That increased amount cannot exceed the carrying amount that would have been determined, net of 
depreciation, had no impairment loss been recognised for the asset in prior years. Goodwill impairment losses cannot 
subsequently be reversed. 

Inventories and work in progress 
Inventories are stated at the lower of cost and net realisable value. Cost comprises direct materials and, where applicable, direct 
labour costs and those overheads that have been incurred in bringing inventories to their present location and condition. Cost is 
determined using the weighted average cost method. Net realisable value represents the estimated selling price less all estimated 
costs of completion and costs to be incurred in marketing, selling and distribution. 

Financial assets  
The Group determines the classification of its financial assets at initial recognition and re-evaluates this designation at each 
financial period-end. When financial assets are recognised initially, they are measured at fair value, being the transaction price  
plus directly attributable transaction costs.  

The Group has financial assets that are classified as loans and receivables. The Group measures these as follows: 

Loans and receivables 
Loans and receivables are non-derivative financial assets with fixed or determinable payments that are not quoted in an active 
market, do not qualify as trading assets and have not been designated as either fair value through profit or loss or available for  
sale. Such assets are carried at amortised cost using the effective interest method if the time value of money is significant.  
Gains and losses are recognised in income when the loans and receivables are derecognised or impaired, as well as through  
the amortisation process. 

Britvic plc Annual Report 2008  57 

 
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements continued 

3. Accounting policies continued 

Derivative financial instruments and hedging 
The Group uses derivative financial instruments such as forward currency contracts and interest rate swaps to hedge its risks 
associated with foreign currency and interest rate fluctuations. All derivative financial instruments are initially recognised and 
subsequently remeasured at fair value. Derivatives are carried as assets when the fair value is positive and as liabilities when  
the fair value is negative. 

The fair value of forward currency contracts is calculated by reference to current forward exchange rates for contracts with similar 
maturity profiles. The fair value of interest rate swap contracts is determined by reference to market values for similar instruments. 

For those derivatives designated as hedges and for which hedge accounting is appropriate, the hedging relationship is 
documented at its inception. This documentation identifies the hedging instrument, the hedged item or transaction, the nature  
of the risk being hedged and how effectiveness will be measured throughout its duration. Such hedges are expected at inception 
to be highly effective. 

For the purpose of hedge accounting, hedges are classified as cash flow hedges when hedging exposure to variability in cash 
flows that is either attributable to a particular risk associated with a recognised asset or liability or a highly probable forecast 
transaction. 

Any gains or losses arising from changes in the fair value of derivatives that do not qualify for hedge accounting are taken to the 
income statement. The treatment of gains and losses arising from revaluing derivatives designated as hedging instruments 
depends on the nature of the hedging relationship, as follows: 

Cash flow hedges 
For cash flow hedges, the effective portion of the gain or loss on the hedging instrument is recognised directly in equity, while the 
ineffective portion is recognised in the income statement. Amounts taken to equity are transferred to the income statement when 
the hedged transaction affects profit or loss, such as when a forecast sale or purchase occurs.  

If a forecast transaction is no longer expected to occur, amounts previously recognised in equity are transferred to the income 
statement. If the hedging instrument expires or is sold, terminated or exercised without replacement or rollover, or if its 
designation as a hedge is revoked, amounts previously recognised in equity remain in equity until the forecast transaction occurs 
and are transferred to the income statement or to the initial carrying amount of a non-financial asset or liability as above. If the 
related transaction is not expected to occur, the amount is taken to the income statement. 

Net investment hedges 
Financial instruments are classified as net investment hedges when they hedge the Group’s net investment in foreign operations. 
The Group’s foreign currency borrowings qualify as hedging instruments that hedge foreign currency net investment balances. 
Gains or losses on translation of borrowings are recognised in equity. Upon disposal of the associated investment in foreign 
operations cumulative gain or loss is recycled through the income statement. 

Derecognition of financial instruments 
The derecognition of a financial instrument takes place when the Group no longer controls the contractual rights that comprise the 
financial instrument, which is normally the case when the instrument is sold, or all the cash flows attributable to the instrument are 
passed through to an independent third party. 

58  Britvic plc Annual Report 2008 

3. Accounting policies continued 

Share-based payments 
The cost of equity-settled transactions with employees is measured by reference to the fair value at the date at which they are 
granted. Fair value is determined by an external valuer using an appropriate pricing model. In valuing equity-settled transactions,  
no account is taken of any performance conditions, other than conditions linked to the price of the shares (‘market conditions’). 

The cost of equity-settled transactions is recognised, together with a corresponding increase in equity, over the period in which 
the performance conditions are fulfilled, ending on the date on which the relevant employees become fully entitled to the award 
(‘vesting date’). The cumulative expense recognised for equity-settled transactions at each reporting date until the vesting date 
reflects the extent to which the vesting period has expired and the number of equity instruments that, in the opinion of the 
Directors and based on the best available estimate at that date, will ultimately vest (or in the case of an instrument subject to a 
market condition, be treated as vesting as described below). The income statement charge or credit for a period represents the 
movement in cumulative expense recognised as at the beginning and end of that period. 

No expense is recognised for awards that do not ultimately vest, except for awards where vesting is conditional upon a market 
condition, which are treated as vesting irrespective of whether or not the market condition is satisfied, provided that all other 
performance conditions are satisfied. 

The Group has taken advantage of the transitional provisions of IFRS 2 in respect of equity-settled awards and has applied IFRS 2 
only to equity-settled awards granted after 7 November 2002 that had not vested before 1 January 2005. 

Taxation 
The current income tax expense is based on taxable profits for the period, after any adjustments in respect of prior periods.  
It is calculated using taxation rates enacted or substantively enacted by the balance sheet date and is measured at the amount 
expected to be recovered from or paid to the taxation authorities. 

Provision is made for deferred tax liabilities, or credit taken for deferred tax assets, on all material temporary differences between 
the tax base of assets and liabilities and their carrying values in the consolidated financial statements. 

The principal temporary differences arise from accelerated capital allowances, provisions for pensions and other post-retirement 
benefits, provisions for share-based payments and employee profit share schemes and other short-term temporary differences. 

Deferred tax assets are recognised to the extent that it is regarded as probable that future taxable profits will be available against 
which the temporary differences can be utilised. 

Deferred tax is calculated at the tax rates that are expected to apply in the periods in which the asset or liability will be settled 
based on the tax rates enacted or substantively enacted by the balance sheet date. 

Pensions 
The Group operates a number of pension schemes. The Britvic Pension Plan (‘BPP’) has both a defined benefit fund and a defined 
contribution fund. The defined benefit section of the BPP was closed on 1 August 2002, and since this date new employees have 
been eligible to join the defined contribution section of the BPP. 

As a result of the acquisition of Britvic Ireland on 29 August 2007, in Northern Ireland the Group inherited a further pension 
scheme in which its employees (at the date of the transfer) participated, the C&C Pension Fund. The name of this scheme has 
subsequently been changed to the Britvic Northern Ireland Pension Plan (‘BNIPP’). The BNIPP was closed to new members on  
28 February 2006 and since this date new employees have been eligible to join a Stakeholder plan with Legal & General. Since  
1 September 2008, employees in the Republic of Ireland have been able to participate in two newly formed pension plans called 
the Britvic Ireland DC Pension Plan and the Britvic Ireland DB Pension Plan (‘BIPP’).  

Under defined benefit pension plans, plan assets are measured at fair value and plan liabilities are measured on an actuarial basis, 
using the projected unit credit method and discounted at an interest rate equivalent to the current rate of return on a high quality 
corporate bond of equivalent currency and term to the plan liabilities. 

The service cost of providing pension benefits to employees for the period is charged to the income statement. The cost of 
making improvements to pensions is recognised in the income statement on a straight-line basis over the period during which the 
increase in benefits vests. To the extent that the improvements in benefits vest immediately, the cost is recognised immediately. 
These costs are recognised as an expense. 

Past service costs are recognised in profit or loss on a straight-line basis over the vesting period or immediately if the benefits have 
vested. When a settlement (eliminating all obligations for benefits already accrued) or a curtailment (reducing future obligations as 
a result of a material reduction in the scheme membership or a reduction in future entitlement) occurs the obligation and related 
plan assets are re-measured using current actuarial assumptions and the resultant gain or loss is recognised in the income 
statement during the period in which the settlement or curtailment occurs. 

Britvic plc Annual Report 2008  59 

 
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements continued 

3. Accounting policies continued 

Pensions continued 
A charge representing the unwinding of the discount on the plan liabilities during the year is included within administrative 
expenses. 

A credit representing the expected return on the plan assets during the year is included within administrative expenses. This credit 
is based on the market value of the plan assets, and expected rates of return, at the beginning of the year. 

Actuarial gains and losses may result from: differences between the expected return and the actual return on plan assets; 
differences between the actuarial assumptions underlying the plan liabilities and actual experience during the year; or changes  
in the actuarial assumptions used in the valuation of the plan liabilities. Actuarial gains and losses, and taxation thereon, are 
recognised in the consolidated statement of recognised income and expense. 

For defined contribution plans, contributions payable for the year are charged to the income statement as an operating expense. 

Employee benefits 
Wages, salaries, bonuses, paid annual leave and sick leave are accrued in the year in which the associated services are rendered 
by the employees of the Group. 

Leases 
Rentals payable under operating leases are charged to income on a straight-line basis over the term of the relevant lease. 

Lease incentives received are credited to the income statement on a straight-line basis over the term of the leases to which they 
relate. 

Cash and cash equivalents 
Cash and cash equivalents includes cash in hand, deposits held at call with banks and other short-term highly liquid investments 
with original maturities of three months or less, which are readily convertible into known amounts of cash and subject to 
insignificant risk of changes in value. For the purposes of the statement of cash flows, bank overdrafts repayable on demand  
are a component of cash and cash equivalents. 

Trade and other receivables 
Trade receivables, which generally have 30–90 day terms, are recognised at their original amount less an allowance for any 
doubtful accounts. 

An allowance for doubtful accounts is made when collection of the full amount is no longer considered probable. Balances are 
written off when the probability of recovery is assessed as being remote. 

Interest bearing loans and borrowings 
Interest bearing loans and borrowings are initially recognised in the balance sheet at fair value less directly attributable transaction 
costs and are subsequently measured at amortised cost using the effective interest rate method. 

Finance costs arising from the outstanding loan balance and finance charges are charged to the income statement using an 
effective interest rate method. 

Foreign currencies 
Functional and presentation currency 
The consolidated financial information is presented in pounds sterling, which is the Group’s presentational currency. 

Transactions and balances 
Transactions in foreign currencies are recorded at the rate ruling at the date of the transaction. Monetary assets and liabilities 
denominated in foreign currencies are translated at the rate of exchange ruling at the balance sheet date. All differences are taken 
to the income statement other than those differences relating to financial instruments treated as a net investment hedge. 

Foreign operations 
The income statement and statement of cash flows of foreign operations are translated at the average rate of exchange during  
the period. The balance sheet is translated at the rate ruling at the reporting date. Exchange differences arising on opening  
net assets and arising on the translation of results at an average rate compared to a closing rate are both dealt with through 
reserves. On disposal of a foreign operation accumulated exchange differences previously recognised in equity are included in  
the income statement.  

60  Britvic plc Annual Report 2008 

3. Accounting policies continued 

Segmental reporting 
A business segment is a distinguishable component of the Group engaged in providing products and services that are subject  
to risks and returns that are different from those of other business segments. A geographical segment is engaged in providing 
products and services within a particular economic environment that are subject to risks and returns that are different from those 
of segments operating in other economic environments. Segment reporting reflects the internal management structure and the 
way the business is managed. 

Issued share capital 
Ordinary shares are classified as equity. 

Incremental costs directly attributable to the issue of new shares or options are shown in equity as a deduction, net of tax, from 
the proceeds. 

Exceptional items 
The Group presents as exceptional items on the face of the income statement those significant items of income and expense 
which, because of the nature and infrequency of the events giving rise to them, merit separate presentation to allow shareholders 
to understand better the elements of financial performance in the year, so as to facilitate comparison with prior periods and to 
assess trends in financial performance more readily. 

Key sources of estimation uncertainty 
In applying the above accounting policies, management has made appropriate estimates and judgements in a number of areas. 
The key sources of estimation uncertainty at the balance sheet date that have a significant risk of causing material adjustment  
to the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities within the next financial year are: 

Post retirement benefits 
The determination of the pension and other post retirement benefits cost and obligation is based on assumptions determined  
with independent actuarial advice. The assumptions include discount rate, inflation, pension and salary increases, expected  
return on scheme assets, mortality and other demographic assumptions. 

Impairment of goodwill and intangible assets with indefinite lives 
Determining whether goodwill and intangible assets with indefinite lives are impaired requires an estimation of the value in use  
of the cash-generating units to which the goodwill/intangible asset has been allocated. The value in use calculation requires an 
estimate of the future cash flows expected to arise from the cash-generating unit and a suitable discount rate in order to calculate 
present value. 

Deferred tax 
Deferred tax assets and liabilities require management’s judgement in determining the amounts to be recognised. In particular, 
significant judgement is used when assessing the extent to which deferred tax assets should be recognised which is dependent 
on the generation of sufficient future taxable profits. The Group recognises deferred tax assets where it is more likely than not that 
the benefit will be realised. 

Cross currency interest rate swaps 
The Group measures cross currency interest rate swaps at fair value at each balance sheet date. The fair value represents the net 
present value of the difference between the projected cash flows at the swap contract rate and the relevant exchange rate for the 
period from the balance sheet date to the contracted expiry date. The calculation therefore uses estimates of present value, future 
foreign exchange rates and interest rates.  

Britvic plc Annual Report 2008  61 

 
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements continued 

3. Accounting policies continued 

New standards and interpretations not applied 
The Group has not applied the following IFRSs and IFRIC Interpretations, which will be applicable to the Group, that have been 
issued but are not yet effective: 

International Financial Reporting Standards (‘IFRS’) 
Operating Segments 
IFRS 8 
IFRS 2 
Amendment to IFRS 2 – Vesting Conditions & Cancellation 
Annual 
Improvements 
IFRS 3 

Improvements to IFRSs 
Business Combinations (revised January 2008) 

International Accounting Standards (‘IAS’) 
IAS 1 
IAS 23 
IAS 27 
IAS 39 

Amendment – Presentation of Financial Statements (revised September 2007) 
Borrowing Costs (revised March 2007) 
Consolidated and Separate Financial Statements (revised January 2008) 
Amendment – Eligible Hedged Items 

International Financial Reporting Interpretations Committee (‘IFRIC’) 
IFRIC 14 

IAS 19 – The Limit on a Defined Benefit Asset, Minimum Funding  
Requirements and their Interaction 
Hedges of a Net Investment in a Foreign Operation 

IFRIC 16 

Effective date –  
periods commencing 

1 January 2009 
1 January 2009 

1 January 2009 
1 July 2009 

1 January 2009 
1 January 2009 
1 July 2009 
1 July 2009 

1 January 2008 

1 October 2008 

IFRS 8 requires disclosure based on information presented to the Board. Management has not yet determined the potential 
impact of this interpretation. 

The amendment to IFRS 2 restricts the definition of vesting conditions to include only service conditions (requiring a specified 
period of service to be completed) and performance conditions (requiring the other party to achieve a personal goal or contribute  
to achieving a corporate target). All other features are not vesting conditions, and whereas failure to achieve such a condition was 
previously regarded as a forfeiture (giving rise to a reversal of amounts previously charged to profit) it must be reflected in the 
grant date fair value of the award and treated as a cancellation, which results in either an acceleration of the expected charge,  
or a continuation over the remaining vesting period, depending on whether the condition is under the control of the entity or 
counterparty. The amendment is mandatory for periods beginning on or after 1 January 2009 and the Group is currently assessing 
its impact on the financial statements, although it is not expected to be material. 

The Group does not anticipate early adopting the revised IFRS 3 and so will apply it prospectively to all business combinations on 
or after 28 September 2009. Whilst it is not possible to estimate the outcome of adoption, the key features of the revised IFRS 3 
include a requirement for acquisition-related costs to be expensed and not included in the purchase price; and for contingent 
consideration to be recognised at fair value on the acquisition date (with subsequent changes recognised in the income statement 
and not as a change to goodwill). The standard also changes the treatment of non-controlling interests (formerly minority interests) 
with an option to recognise these at full fair value as at the acquisition date and a requirement for previously held non-controlling 
interests to be fair valued as at the date control is obtained, with gains and losses recognised in the income statement. 

Whilst the revised IAS 1 will have no impact on the measurement of the Group’s results or net assets it is likely to result in certain 
changes in the presentation of the Group’s Financial Statements from the 53 weeks ended 3 October 2010 onwards. 

IFRIC 14 provides guidance on assessing the limit in IAS 19 on the amount of the surplus that can be recognised as an asset.  
The Group will apply IFRIC 14 from 29 September 2008 but management has not yet determined the potential effect of this 
interpretation. 

The remaining new standards, interpretations and amendments to published standards that have an effective date of after  
these financial statements detailed above have not been early adopted by the Group and the Directors do not anticipate that  
the adoption of these standards and interpretations will have a material impact on the Group’s reported income or net assets  
in the period of adoption. 

62  Britvic plc Annual Report 2008 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
4. Segmental reporting 
The Directors consider that the Group’s primary reporting segment is geographical, as this is the basis on which the Group is 
organised and managed. The geographical segments are: United Kingdom excluding Northern Ireland (‘GB’) and Republic of Ireland 
and Northern Ireland (‘ROI & NI’). Britvic International is included within the GB segment. 

Analysis by geography: 

ROI & NI 
£m 
Restated* 
13.8 
– 
13.8 

2007 
Total 
£m 
Restated* 
716.3 
– 
716.3 

GB 
£m 
729.5 
(3.7) 
725.8 

425.5 
83.7 
75.5 

29.5 
5.7 

3.3 
8.4 

ROI & NI 
£m 
200.7 
– 
200.7 

74.9 
13.0 
2.9 

5.9 
1.5 

1.5 
– 

474.3 
(15.7) 

278.7 
(12.4) 

213.7 
(12.4) 

83.8 
(15.7) 

2008 
Total 
£m 
930.2 
(3.7) 
926.5 

500.4 
96.7 
78.4 

35.4 
7.2 

4.8 
8.4 

753.0 
(28.1) 
16.4 
741.3 

297.5 
(28.1) 
462.6 
732.0 

GB 
£m 
702.5 
– 
702.5 

427.4 
79.2 
74.7 

36.2 
5.6 

– 
8.1 

2.9 
0.8 
(0.4) 

0.6 
0.1 

– 
– 

449.6 
(21.8) 

238.3 
– 

170.4 
– 

74.2 
(21.8) 

430.3 
80.0 
74.3 

36.8 
5.7 

– 
8.1 

687.9 
(21.8) 
30.5 
696.6 

244.6 
(21.8) 
469.5 
692.3 

Gross revenue 
Inter-segment revenue** 
Segment revenue 

Segment result 
Gross profit 
Operating profit before exceptional items 
Operating profit after exceptional items 

Other non-cash expenses 
Depreciation of property, plant and 
equipment 
Amortisation of intangible assets 
Impairment of property, plant and 
equipment 
Share-based payments 

Segment assets 
Gross assets  
Inter-segment assets 
Unallocated assets 
Total segment assets 

Segment liabilities 
Gross liabilities 
Inter-segment liabilities 
Unallocated liabilities 
Total segment liabilities 

Capital expenditure 
Capital expenditure 

36.5 

15.5 

52.0 

26.7 

0.6 

27.3 

*   Restated following the completion of the fair value allocation of Britvic Ireland (see Note 15). 

**  Inter-segment transactions are performed using arm’s length prices. 

Britvic plc Annual Report 2008  63 

 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements continued 

5. Exceptional items 

Cost of incentive schemes directly associated with the flotation 
Restructuring costs 
Returnable bottle line closure and associated costs 
Profit on sale of property, plant and equipment 
Costs in relation to the purchase of Britvic Ireland 
Pension curtailment gain 
IT equipment impairment 

Note 
(a) 
(b) 
(c) 
(d) 
(e) 
(f) 
(g) 

2008  
£m 
(2.8) 
(11.6) 
(0.7) 
– 
(2.1) 
– 
(1.1) 
(18.3) 

2007  
£m 
(3.3) 
(8.1) 
(2.1) 
3.4 
(1.2) 
5.6 
– 
(5.7) 

a)   Cost of incentive schemes directly associated with the flotation include all-employee share schemes and management 

incentives. The cost relates to a transitional award granted to members of both the senior leadership team and senior 
management team shortly after flotation, the purpose of which was to compensate these individuals for the loss of existing 
long-term incentive bonuses which were discontinued upon flotation. 

b)  Restructuring costs includes the costs of major restructuring programmes undertaken. In the current year these are principally: 
•  Redundancy costs relating to the forthcoming closure of one of the factories in the Britvic Ireland business; 
•  An impairment of property, plant and equipment relating to the forthcoming closure of one of the factories in the Britvic  

Ireland business; and 

•  An impairment of property, plant and equipment relating to the forthcoming closure of one of the factories in the GB segment. 

In the prior year costs principally related to redundancy costs and advisors’ fees incurred in the outsourcing of both the secondary 
distribution network and the delivery and remanufacture of vending and chiller equipment to external providers. 

c)   Returnable bottle line closure and associated costs relates primarily to a write-down of inventories for returnable glass bottle 

stocks which have become redundant due to the move to non-returnable bottles in the GB segment.  

d)  The 2007 number relates to the sale of one of the Group’s depots which was completed in April 2007. 

e)  Costs in relation to the purchase of Britvic Ireland relate to the costs incurred in acquiring the business which cannot be 

included in the cost of the business combination and therefore cannot be capitalised. In the current year these costs principally 
relate to compensation paid to a distributor formerly used in Ireland prior to the acquisition of Britvic Ireland. The 2007 number 
principally relates to the costs associated with setting up the financing structure to facilitate the acquisition and internal staff 
costs such as transaction bonuses. 

f)   The 2007 number represents the pension curtailment gain triggered by the transfer of Group employees under the outsourcing 

arrangements of the secondary distribution network.  

g)  The IT equipment impairment relates to the write down of servers which have now been replaced to accommodate increased 

business requirements following the acquisition of Britvic Ireland. 

Details of the tax implications of exceptional items are given in Note 10a. 

All impairments have been calculated based on fair value less costs to sell. 

64  Britvic plc Annual Report 2008 

 
 
 
 
6. Operating profit 
This is stated after charging: 

Cost of inventories recognised as an expense 
Write-down of inventories recognised as an expense* 
Research and development expenditure written off 
Net foreign currency differences 
Depreciation of property, plant and equipment 
Amortisation of intangible assets 
Operating lease payments – minimum lease payments 

* This excludes the write-down of returnable bottle stocks included in Note 5. 

7. Auditor’s remuneration 

Auditor’s remuneration – audit services  
Other fees to auditors 
– Local statutory audits for subsidiaries 
– Corporate finance services* 

2008 
£m 
426.1 
2.6 
2.0 
0.1 
35.4 
7.2 
15.7 

2008 
£m 
0.2 

0.1 
– 

2007 
£m 
283.3 
1.1 
1.8 
0.5 
36.8 
5.7 
11.0 

2007 
£m 
0.2 

0.1 
0.7 

* In 2007 the corporate finance fees relate to costs incurred in respect of the acquisition of Britvic Ireland. 

Britvic plc Annual Report 2008  65 

 
 
 
 
 
2008 
£m 
108.6 
9.5 
9.0 
8.4 
135.5 

2008 
533 
1,209 
1,007 
404 
3,153 

2008 
£m 

0.3 
0.1 
0.4 

2007 
£m 
94.9 
8.5 
5.0 
8.1 
116.5 

2007 
637 
1,000 
743 
310 
2,690 

2007 
£m 

0.9 
– 
0.9 

(27.0) 
(27.0) 

(19.6) 
(19.6) 

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements continued 

8. Staff costs  

Wages and salaries* 
Social security costs 
Pension costs (Note 25) 
Expense of share-based compensation** 

*   £5.4m (2007: £4.4m) of this is included within ‘restructuring costs’ in exceptional items (Note 5). 

**  £2.8m (2007: £3.3m) of this is included within exceptional items (see Note 5). 

Directors’ emoluments included above are detailed in the Directors’ Remuneration Report. 

The average monthly number of employees during the period was made up as follows: 

Distribution 
Production 
Sales and marketing 
Administration 

9. Finance income/(costs) 

Finance income 
Bank interest receivable 
Other interest receivable  
Total finance income  

Finance costs 
Bank loans, overdrafts and loan notes 
Total finance costs 

66  Britvic plc Annual Report 2008 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
10. Taxation 

a)  Tax on profit on ordinary activities 

Income Statement 
Current income tax 
  Current income tax (charge)/credit 
  Amounts underprovided in previous years 
Total current income tax (charge)/credit 
Deferred income tax 
  Origination and reversal of temporary differences 
Total deferred tax charge 
Total tax charge in the Income Statement 

Statement of Recognised Income and Expense 
Current tax on additional pension contributions 
Deferred tax on movement in pension liabilities 
Deferred tax on movement in cash flow hedges 
Deferred tax on share options granted to employees 
Current tax on share options exercised 
Net tax benefit reported in equity 

Income Statement 
Current income tax 
  Current income tax (charge)/credit 
  Amounts overprovided in previous years 
Total current income tax (charge)/credit 

Deferred income tax 
  Origination and reversal of temporary differences 
Total deferred tax credit 
Total tax (charge)/credit in the Income Statement 

Statement of Recognised Income and Expense 
Current tax on additional pension contributions 
Deferred tax on movement in pension liabilities 
Deferred tax on movement in cash flow hedges 
Deferred tax on share options granted to employees 
Current tax on share options exercised 
Net tax expense reported in equity 

Before  
Exceptional  
Items 
£m 

Exceptional  
Items 
£m 

(17.0) 
(0.1) 
(17.1) 

– 
– 
(17.1) 

2.7 
– 
2.7 

(5.6) 
(5.6) 
(2.9) 

Before  
Exceptional  
Items 
£m 

Exceptional  
Items 
£m 

(19.7) 
0.5 
(19.2) 

1.9 
1.9 
(17.3) 

2.9 
– 
2.9 

1.3 
1.3 
4.2 

2008 

Total 
£m 

(14.3) 
(0.1) 
(14.4) 

(5.6) 
(5.6) 
(20.0) 

2.9 
3.6 
(1.6) 
(1.4) 
0.5 
4.0 

2007 

Total 
£m 

(16.8) 
0.5 
(16.3) 

3.2 
3.2 
(13.1) 

3.0 
(21.4) 
(0.9) 
1.1 
1.6 
(16.6) 

Britvic plc Annual Report 2008  67 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements continued 

10. Taxation continued 

b)  Reconciliation of the total tax charge 
The UK standard rate of corporation tax changed from 30% to 28% from 1 April 2008. The average rate for the period is 29% 
(2007: 30%). The tax expense in the Income Statement is higher (2007: lower) than the average rate of corporation tax in the  
UK of 29% (2007: 30%). The differences are reconciled below: 

Profit/(loss) before tax 
Profit multiplied by the UK average rate of corporation tax of 29% 
Expenditure not deductible for income tax purposes 
Abolition of UK industrial buildings allowance 
Tax relief on share-based payments 
Accounting charge for share-based payments 
Tax underprovided in previous years 
Tax relief on intra-group transactions eliminated on consolidation 
Overseas tax rates 
Impact of foreign exchange translation 

Effective income tax rate  

Profit/(loss) before tax 

Profit multiplied by the UK standard rate of corporation tax of 30% 
Expenditure not deductible for income tax purposes 
Tax relief on share-based payments 
Tax overprovided in previous years 
Non-taxable profit on sale of property 
Overseas tax rates 
Reduction of deferred tax due to reduction of UK corporation tax rate  

Effective income tax rate  

Before  
Exceptional  
Items 
£m 
70.1 
(20.3) 
(0.7) 
– 
– 
(0.4) 
(0.1) 
1.6 
2.7 
0.1 
(17.1) 
24.4%

Exceptional  
Items 
£m 
(18.3) 
5.3 
(0.1) 
(5.9) 
0.8 
(1.1) 
– 
– 
(1.9) 
– 
(2.9) 

Before  
Exceptional  
Items 
£m 
61.3 

Exceptional  
Items 
£m 
(5.7) 

(18.4) 
(0.7) 
0.1 
0.5 
– 
1.2 
– 
(17.3) 
28.2%

1.7 
(0.6) 
(0.1) 
– 
1.9 
(0.1) 
1.4 
4.2 

2008 

Total 
£m 
51.8 
(15.0) 
(0.8) 
(5.9) 
0.8 
(1.5) 
(0.1) 
1.6 
0.8 
0.1 
(20.0) 
38.6%

2007 

Total 
£m 
55.6 

(16.7) 
(1.3) 
– 
0.5 
1.9 
1.1 
1.4 
(13.1) 
23.6%

c) Unrecognised tax items 
The Group has unrecognised capital tax losses which arose in the UK of £1.8m (2007: £1.8m) that are available indefinitely for 
offset against future taxable profits of the companies in which the losses arose. These tax losses can only be offset against future 
capital gains and have not been recognised in these financial statements. 

The Group has unrecognised tax liabilities on unremitted earnings from an overseas subsidiary amounting to £27.5m (2007: 
£14.7m). Deferred tax on these profits has not been recognised as the UK parent controls when the earnings will be remitted  
to the UK. 

68  Britvic plc Annual Report 2008 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
10. Taxation continued 

d) Deferred tax 
The deferred tax included in the balance sheet is as follows: 

Deferred tax liability 
  Accelerated capital allowances  
  Acquisition fair value adjustments 
  Other temporary differences 

Impact of retranslation of opening balance 
Employee incentive plan 
Post employment benefits 

Deferred tax liability 

Deferred tax asset 

Employee incentive plan 
Post employment benefits 
  Other temporary differences 
Deferred tax asset 
Net deferred tax liability 

The net deferred tax liability has been presented on the balance sheet by jurisdiction as follows: 

Net deferred tax assets – overseas 
Net deferred tax liabilities – UK 

The deferred tax included in the income statement is as follows: 

Employee incentive plan 
Accelerated capital allowances 
Acquisition fair value adjustments 
Other temporary differences 
Deferred tax from prior years 
Post employment benefits 
Reduction of deferred tax due to reduction of UK corporation tax rate 
Deferred tax charge/(credit) 

* Restated following the completion of the fair value allocation of Britvic Ireland (see Note 15). 

All of the deferred tax charge in the current year relates to exceptional items (2007: credit of £1.3m). 

2008 
£m 

(25.1) 
(13.1) 
(3.5) 
(0.2) 
– 
– 
(41.9) 

2.4 
4.1 
0.3 
6.8 
(35.1) 

2008 
£m 
2.6 
(37.7) 
(35.1) 

2008 
£m 
(0.1) 
(4.1) 
– 
(0.3) 
(0.4) 
(0.7) 
– 
(5.6) 

2007 
£m 
Restated* 

(20.9) 
(11.6) 
(1.8) 
– 
(0.2) 
(2.1) 
(36.6) 

3.8 
3.9 
0.1 
7.8 
(26.8) 

2007 
£m 
Restated* 
3.2 
(32.0) 
(28.8) 

2007 
£m 
0.9 
2.4 
(0.1) 
– 
0.1 
(1.5) 
1.4 
3.2 

Britvic plc Annual Report 2008  69 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements continued 

11. Earnings per share  
Basic earnings per share amounts are calculated by dividing profit for the period attributable to equity shareholders of the parent  
by the weighted average number of ordinary shares outstanding during the period. 

Diluted earnings per share amounts are calculated by dividing profit for the period attributable to equity shareholders of the parent 
by the weighted average number of ordinary shares outstanding during the period plus the weighted average number of ordinary 
shares that would be issued on the conversion of all the dilutive potential ordinary shares into ordinary shares.  

The following table reflects the income and share data used in the basic and diluted earnings per share computations: 

Basic earnings per share  
Profit for the period attributable to equity shareholders 
Weighted average number of ordinary shares in issue for basic earnings per share  
Basic earnings per share 

Diluted earnings per share  
Profit for the period attributable to equity shareholders 
Weighted average number of ordinary shares in issue for diluted earnings per share 
Diluted earnings per share  

2008 
£m 

31.8 
214.0 
14.9p

31.8 
218.0 
14.6p

2007 
£m 

42.5 
215.5 
19.7p

42.5 
218.1 
19.5p

The Group presents as exceptional items on the face of the Income Statement, those significant items of income and expense 
which, because of the nature and expected infrequency of the events giving rise to them, merit separate presentation to allow 
shareholders to understand better the elements of financial performance in the period, as to facilitate comparison with prior 
periods and to assess trends in financial performance more readily. 

To this end, basic and diluted earnings per share is also presented on this basis using weighted average number of ordinary shares 
for both basic and diluted amounts as per the table below: 

Basic earnings per share before exceptional items 
Profit for the period attributable to equity shareholders 
Add: net impact of exceptional items 
Profit for the period attributable to equity shareholders before exceptional items  
Weighted average number of ordinary shares in issue for basic earnings per share 
Basic earnings per share before exceptional items 

Diluted earnings per share before exceptional items 
Profit for the period attributable to equity shareholders before exceptional items 
Weighted average number of ordinary shares in issue for diluted earnings per share 
Diluted earnings per share before exceptional items 

2008 
£m 

31.8 
21.2 
53.0 
214.0 
24.8p

53.0 
218.0 
24.3p

2007 
£m 

42.5 
1.5 
44.0 
215.5 
20.4p

44.0 
218.1 
20.2p

70  Britvic plc Annual Report 2008 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
12. Dividends paid and proposed 

Declared and paid during the year 
Equity dividends on ordinary shares 

Final dividend for 2006: 7.00p per share 
Interim dividend for 2007: 3.30p per share 
Final dividend for 2007: 7.70p per share 
Interim dividend for 2008: 3.80p per share 

Dividends paid 
Proposed for approval by the shareholders at the AGM 

Final dividend for 2007: 7.70p per share 
Final dividend for 2008: 8.80p per share 

2008 
£m 

2007 
£m 

– 
– 
16.6 
8.1 
24.7 

– 
18.8 

15.1 
7.1 
– 
– 
22.2 

16.6 
– 

Britvic plc Annual Report 2008  71 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements continued 

13. Property, plant and equipment 

At 1 October 2006, net of accumulated depreciation 
Acquisitions† 
Exchange differences  
Additions 
Disposals at cost* 
Depreciation eliminated on disposals 
Non-current assets classified as held for sale – cost** 
Non-current assets classified as held for sale – 
depreciation** 
Depreciation charge for the year 
At 30 September 2007, net of accumulated 
depreciation† 
Exchange differences  
Additions 
Disposals at cost  
Depreciation eliminated on disposals 
Non-current assets classified as held for sale – cost** 
Non-current assets classified as held for sale – 
depreciation** 
Depreciation charge for the year 
Impairment‡ 
At 28 September 2008, net of accumulated  
depreciation and impairment 

At 28 September 2008 
Cost (gross carrying amount) 
Accumulated depreciation and impairment 
Net carrying amount 

At 30 September 2007 
Cost (gross carrying amount)† 
Accumulated depreciation and impairment 
Net carrying amount† 

Freehold 
land and 
buildings 
£m 
46.1 
12.2 
0.4 
0.4 
(5.9) 
0.6 
– 
– 

Leasehold 
land and 
buildings 
£m 
17.1 
11.7 
0.4 
0.2 
– 
– 
– 
– 

Plant and 
machinery 
£m 
74.7 
13.7 
0.3 
13.0 
(11.4) 
10.9 
(9.4) 
5.7 

Fixtures,  
fittings, 
tools and  
equipment 
£m 
80.3 
3.1 
– 
5.8 
(22.1) 
17.5 
(1.7) 
0.6 

(0.9) 
52.9 

1.7 
1.3 
– 
– 
(6.0) 
0.1 

(0.9) 
– 

(0.5) 
28.9 

1.0 
1.7 
– 
– 
– 
– 

(0.6) 
– 

(16.0) 
81.5 

1.7 
28.2 
(6.4) 
4.7 
– 
– 

(17.0) 
(3.0) 

(19.4) 
64.1 

0.3 
15.3 
(22.9) 
20.2 
– 
– 

(16.9) 
(1.8) 

Total 
£m 
218.2 
40.7 
1.1 
19.4 
(39.4) 
29.0 
(11.1) 
6.3 

(36.8) 
227.4 

4.7 
46.5 
(29.3) 
24.9 
(6.0) 
0.1 

(35.4) 
(4.8) 

49.1 

31.0 

89.7 

58.3 

228.1 

55.1 
(6.0) 
49.1 

58.1 
(5.2) 
52.9 

35.1 
(4.1) 
31.0 

32.4 
(3.5) 
28.9 

236.8 
(147.1) 
89.7 

213.3 
(131.8) 
81.5 

181.2 
(122.9) 
58.3 

188.5 
(124.4) 
64.1 

508.2 
(280.1) 
228.1 

492.3 
(264.9) 
227.4 

*  £5.8m of disposals (net of depreciation) relates to the sale and leaseback transaction which occurred in April 2007.  

Further details are given in Note 32. 
**  Further details are given in Note 21. 
†  Restated following the completion of the fair value allocation of Britvic Ireland (see Note 15). 
‡  £4.2m of the impairment is included in exceptional items and is detailed in Note 5. The remaining impairment of £0.6m 
relates to a write down of commercial asset equipment. This impairment has been calculated based on fair value less  
costs to sell.  

72  Britvic plc Annual Report 2008 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
14. Intangible assets 

Cost as at 1 October 2006, net  
of accumulated amortisation 
Acquisitions* 
Exchange differences*  
Additions 
Amortisation charge for the year 
Cost as at 30 September 2007,  
net of accumulated amortisation* 
Exchange differences  
Additions 
Amortisation charge for the year 
At 28 September 2008 

At 28 September 2008 
Cost (gross carrying amount) 
Accumulated amortisation  
Net carrying amount 

At 30 September 2007 
Cost (gross carrying amount)* 
Accumulated amortisation 
Net carrying amount* 

Trademarks 
£m 

Franchise 
rights  
£m 

Customer 
lists  
£m 

Software 
costs  
£m 

Goodwill  
£m 

– 
54.0 
1.6 
– 
– 

55.6 
7.5 
– 
– 
63.1 

63.1 
– 
63.1 

55.6 
– 
55.6 

– 
20.1 
0.6 
– 
– 

20.7 
2.7 
– 
(0.7) 
22.7 

23.4 
(0.7) 
22.7 

20.7 
– 
20.7 

– 
12.5 
0.4 
– 
(0.1) 

12.8 
1.8 
– 
(0.8) 
13.8 

14.7 
(0.9) 
13.8 

12.9 
(0.1) 
12.8 

23.9 
– 
– 
4.9 
(5.6) 

23.2 
– 
5.3 
(5.7) 
22.8 

43.9 
(21.1) 
22.8 

38.6 
(15.4) 
23.2 

71.5 
57.6 
1.7 
3.0 
– 

133.8 
7.4 
0.2 
– 
141.4 

141.4 
– 
141.4 

133.8 
– 
133.8 

Total  
£m 

95.4 
144.2 
4.3 
7.9 
(5.7) 

246.1 
19.4 
5.5 
(7.2) 
263.8 

286.5 
(22.7) 
263.8 

261.6 
(15.5) 
246.1 

* Restated following the completion of the fair value allocation of Britvic Ireland (see Note 15). 

Goodwill  
Goodwill is not amortised. Instead it is subject to an impairment review at each reporting date in accordance with IFRS 3 ‘Business 
Combinations’. These reviews have been and will continue to be carried out at each reporting date or more frequently if there are 
indicators of impairment. 

An agreement was reached in the prior year with the original vendors of Red Devil to pay an additional £3.0m deferred 
consideration. Goodwill has been revised upwards to reflect a change in contingent consideration. Payment will be made in 
instalments between August 2007 and September 2010. 

In the prior year the goodwill arising on the acquisition of Britvic Ireland was provisional. This has now been finalised. Further detail 
on the acquisition can be found in Note 15. The goodwill is valued in euros and translated at the reporting date. 

Trademarks, franchise rights and customer lists 
These are the intangible assets recognised as a result of the acquisition of Britvic Ireland (see Note 15). They are valued in euros 
and translated at the reporting date. 

Trademarks represent those trade names acquired which the Group plans to maintain. All trademarks have been allocated an 
indefinite life by management with the exception of a minor brand that is amortised over five years (net carrying value of £0.1m).  
A list of the trademarks acquired is shown in Note 16. It is expected, and in line with existing well-established trademarks within 
the Group, that the trademarks with indefinite lives will be held and supported for an indefinite period of time and are expected to 
generate economic benefits for an indefinite period of time. The Group is committed to supporting its trademarks by investing  
in significant consumer marketing promotional spend. 

Franchise rights represent the franchise agreements acquired which provide the long-term right to distribute certain soft drinks. 
These agreements have been allocated a 35 year useful economic life. As at 28 September 2008 these intangible assets have  
a remaining useful life of 34 years. 

Customer lists represent those customer relationships acquired and are valued in respect of the grocery and wholesale 
businesses. These customer lists have been allocated useful economic lives of between 10 and 20 years. At 28 September 2008 
these intangible assets have a remaining useful life of between 9 and 19 years. 

Software costs 
Software is capitalised at cost. These intangible assets have been assessed as having finite lives and are amortised under the 
straight-line method over a period of 3 to 7 years. These assets are tested for impairment where an indicator of impairment  
arises. As at 28 September 2008 these intangible assets have a remaining useful life of up to seven years. 

Britvic plc Annual Report 2008  73 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements continued 

15. Business combination 

Acquisition of Britvic Ireland 
On 29 August 2007, the Group acquired 100% of the issued share capital of the companies detailed below for a cash 
consideration of €255.7m (translated at £173.3m using the exchange rate on the date of acquisition). Included in this amount  
are directly attributable costs of €9.3m (translated at £6.3m using the exchange rate on the date of acquisition). 

Principal activity 

Name change effective  
from 1 October 2007 
No change 
No change 
Britvic Ireland Limited 
Britvic Northern Ireland Limited 

Status  
Trading  Manufacture and marketing of natural mineral water 
Trading  Supply of water-coolers and bottled water 
Trading  Manufacture and marketing of soft drinks 
Trading  Marketing and distribution of soft drinks 

Company name 
Ballygowan Limited 
Aquaporte Limited 
C&C (Ireland) Limited 
C&C (Belfast) Limited 
C&C (Wholesale) Limited  Britvic Licensed Wholesale Limited  Trading  Wholesale of soft drinks to the licensed trade 
Trading   Wholesale of soft drinks to the licensed trade 
William J Dwan & Sons 
Limited 
C&C (Logistics) Limited  Britvic Logistics Limited 
Britvic (Munster) Limited 
C&C (Munster) Limited 
No change 
John Mulligan & Sons 
Limited 
C&C Pension Trust (1973) 
Limited 
Britvic Limited 

Trading  Provision of distribution services 
Dormant  n/a 
Dormant  n/a 

Britvic Northern Ireland Pension 
Trust Limited 
No change 

Dormant  n/a 

Dormant  n/a 

No change 

The initial acquisition accounting for Britvic Ireland was determined provisionally in the financial statements for the 52 weeks 
ended 30 September 2007. In accordance with IFRS 3, adjustments to the fair value of assets acquired and liabilities assumed 
can be made during the 12 months from the date of acquisition. The fair value adjustments have now been finalised and are 
shown in the following table. The comparatives for the 52 weeks ended 30 September 2007 have been adjusted in these 
financial statements to reflect these updated fair values accordingly. There has been no impact on the income statement in 
respect of this restatement. 

The difference between the fair value of the consideration paid and the fair value of the identifiable net assets acquired is 
recognised as goodwill. Included in goodwill recognised are certain intangible assets that cannot be individually separated  
and reliably measured due to their nature. These items include the favourable market presence which Britvic Ireland enjoys,  
an assembled workforce and anticipated synergies expected to arise from the combination. 

74  Britvic plc Annual Report 2008 

15. Business combination continued 
The sterling carrying value of the net assets acquired shown in the table below has been calculated using the exchange rate  
on the date of acquisition which was £1: €1.4758. 

Provisional 
fair value  
adjustments* 
€m 
132.9 
(0.2) 
1.8 
(2.4) 
– 
(1.2) 
(5.1) 
(13.0) 
0.5 
113.3 

Change to 
provisional 
fair value  
adjustments  
€m 
(5.1) 
3.2 
– 
1.5 
– 
– 
– 
(2.8) 
– 
(3.2) 

Book value  
€m 
– 
57.0 
18.5 
46.9 
8.8 
(55.0) 
(18.2) 
5.0 
(2.5) 
60.5 

Intangible assets 
Property, plant and equipment 
Inventories 
Trade and other receivables 
Cash and cash equivalents 
Trade and other payables 
Pension liability 
Deferred tax asset/(liability) 
Current taxation liabilities 
Net assets acquired 
Purchased goodwill 
Total cost of investment satisfied by  
cash consideration 

Cash consideration net of cash and cash equivalents acquired  

Cash consideration 
Cash and cash equivalents acquired 

Final fair 
value  
€m 
127.8 
60.0 
20.3 
46.0 
8.8 
(56.2) 
(23.3) 
(10.8) 
(2.0) 
170.6 
85.1 

Final fair 
value  
£m 
86.6 
40.7 
13.8 
31.2 
5.9 
(38.0) 
(15.8) 
(7.3) 
(1.4) 
115.7 
57.6 

255.7 

173.3 

173.3 
(5.9) 
167.4 

* As previously reported in the financial statements for the 52 weeks ended 30 September 2007. 

A description of each of the significant fair value adjustments is given below:  
• 

Intangible assets – an assessment has identified the following classes of intangible assets: franchise arrangements, customer 
lists and trademarks. The valuation of each class, and useful economic lives of the intangibles, have been determined as at the 
date of acquisition based on the Britvic Group’s accounting policies. 

•  Property, plant and equipment – the assets held have been assessed based on market values of land and buildings and an 

impairment review of plant and machinery has been performed.  

• 

Inventories – alignment to Britvic Group’s accounting policies in respect of the basis of inventory provisions and categorisation  
of assets. 

•  Trade and other receivables – alignment with Britvic Group’s accounting policy to write off marketing costs as incurred. 
•  Trade and other payables – alignment with Britvic Group’s accounting policy to recognise a holiday pay accrual in accordance  

with International Accounting Standards (Britvic Ireland previously reported in accordance with Irish GAAP).  

•  Pension liability – a valuation of the pension liabilities in respect of the two schemes relating to the business has been provided  

by a qualified actuary. 

•  Deferred tax liability – recognition of deferred tax assets/liabilities in respect of the fair value adjustments. 

From the date of acquisition to 30 September 2007, the acquired businesses contributed £13.8m to revenue and £0.8m to 
operating profit before tax for the period. It contributed £5.7m to the Group’s net operating cash flow. 

The Britvic Ireland companies that have been acquired in this business combination had not previously been deemed a group and 
therefore had not produced consolidated financial information. As such there are certain costs that are not easily identifiable and it 
is therefore impracticable to state what the contribution to Group revenue and profit before tax would have been had the business 
combination completed on the first day of the financial period in which the combination took place.  

Britvic plc Annual Report 2008  75 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements continued 

16. Impairment testing of goodwill and trademarks with indefinite lives 

Goodwill 
Goodwill acquired through business combinations has been allocated by senior management to seven individual cash-generating 
units for impairment testing as follows: 
•  Red Devil; 
•  Orchid; 
•  Tango; 
•  Robinsons; 
•  Britvic Soft Drinks business (‘BSD’); 
•  Water; and 
•  Britvic Ireland. 

Carrying amount of goodwill  

At 28 September 2008 
At 30 September 2007 

Red 
Devil 
£m 
5.1 
5.1 

Orchid 
£m 
12.4 
12.4 

Tango 
£m 
8.9 
8.9 

Robinsons 
£m 
38.6 
38.6 

BSD 
£m 
7.8 
7.8 

Water 
£m 
1.7 
1.7 

Britvic 
Ireland 
£m 
66.9 
59.3* 

Total 
£m 
141.4 
133.8 

*   Restated following the completion of the fair value allocation of Britvic Ireland (see Note 15). Includes exchange differences 

from date of acquisition to 30 September 2007 of £1.7m. 

The Britvic Ireland goodwill is valued in euros and translated at the reporting date. 

Trademarks with indefinite lives 
As part of the fair value exercise regarding the acquisition of Britvic Ireland (see Note 15), certain trademarks with indefinite lives 
were recognised. These trademarks have been allocated by senior management to six individual cash-generating units for 
impairment testing as follows: 
•  Britvic; 
•  Cidona; 
•  Mi-Wadi; 
•  Ballygowan; 
•  Club; and 
•  TK. 

Carrying amount of trademarks with indefinite lives 

At 28 September 2008 
At 30 September 2007* 

Britvic 
£m 
9.3 
8.2 

Cidona 
£m 
7.5 
6.6 

Mi-Wadi 
£m 
8.1 
7.1 

Ballygowan 
£m 
24.2 
21.3 

Club 
£m 
13.4 
11.8 

TK 
£m 
0.5 
0.4 

*   Restated following the completion of the fair value allocation of Britvic Ireland (see Note 15). 

The trademarks are valued in euros and translated at the reporting date. The movement in the carrying amount from the prior year 
relates to translation movements. 

76  Britvic plc Annual Report 2008 

 
 
16. Impairment testing of goodwill and trademarks with indefinite lives continued 
The recoverable amount of the goodwill and intangible assets allocated to the cash-generating units detailed above has been 
determined based on a value in use calculation. To calculate this, 20 year cash flow projections are based on financial budgets 
approved by senior management. A 20 year cash flow period has been used to reflect the considered longevity of the cash-
generating units. The pre-tax discount rate applied to pre-tax cash flow projections is 11% (2007: 10.6%) and cash flows beyond 
the one-year period are extrapolated based on forecast growth rates in line with senior management expectations of growth.  
No growth in real terms is assumed beyond five years. Senior management expectations are formed in line with historical 
performance and experience as well as available external market data. 

Key assumptions used in value in use calculation 
The following describes each key assumption on which management has based its cash flow projections to undertake impairment 
testing of goodwill. 

Growth rates – reflect senior management expectations of volume growth based on historical growth, current strategy and 
expected market trends. 

Discount rates – reflect senior management’s estimate of the pre-tax cost of capital. The estimated pre-tax cost of capital is the 
benchmark used by management to assess operating performance and to evaluate future capital investment proposals. 

Marginal contribution – being revenue less material costs and all other marginal costs that management considers to be directly 
attributable to the sale of a given product. Marginal contribution is based on financial budgets approved by senior management. 
Key assumptions are made within these budgets about pricing, discounts and costs based on historical data, current strategy and 
expected market trends. 

Advertising and promotional spend – financial budgets approved by senior management are used to determine the value assigned 
to advertising and promotional spend. This is based on the planned spend for year one and strategic intent thereafter. 

Raw materials price, production and distribution costs, selling costs and other overhead inflation – the basis used to determine the 
value assigned to inflation is forecast consumer price indices of 2.5% (2007: 2.5%). 

Sensitivity to changes in assumptions 
There are no reasonably possible changes in key assumptions which would cause the carrying value of these units to exceed their 
recoverable amount.  

17. Operating lease premiums 

Operating lease premiums 

This amount relates to the un-amortised element of lease premiums paid on inception of operating leases. 

18. Inventories 

Raw materials 
Finished goods 
Consumable stores 
Returnable packaging 
Total inventories at lower of cost and net realisable value 

2008 
£m 
2.4 

2008 
£m 
13.0 
27.7 
5.7 
3.0 
49.4 

2007 
£m 
2.4 

2007 
£m 
9.0 
26.2 
5.4 
4.7 
45.3 

Britvic plc Annual Report 2008  77 

 
 
 
 
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements continued 

19. Trade and other receivables (current)  

Trade receivables 
Other receivables* 
Prepayments 

2008 
£m 
132.2 
2.9 
17.6 
152.7 

2007 
£m 
Restated 
113.3 
3.7 
13.9 
130.9 

*   Other receivables for 2007 have been restated following the completion of the fair value allocation of Britvic Ireland  

(see Note 15). 

Trade receivables are non-interest bearing and are generally on credit terms usual for the business in which the Group operates. 
As at 28 September 2008, trade receivables at nominal value of £1.4m (2007: £1.2m) were impaired and fully provided for. 
Movements in the provision for impairment of receivables were as follows: 

At 2 October 2006 
Acquisition of Britvic Ireland 
Charge for year 
Utilised 
Unused amounts reversed 
At 30 September 2007 
Exchange differences 
Charge for year 
Utilised 
Unused amounts reversed 
At 28 September 2008 

Total  
£m 
0.8 
0.3 
0.7 
(0.1) 
(0.5) 
1.2 
0.1 
0.7 
(0.1) 
(0.5) 
1.4 

The Group takes the following factors into account when considering whether a provision for impairment should be made for 
trade receivables: 
•  Payment performance history; and 
•  External information available regarding credit ratings. 

As at 28 September 2008, the ageing analysis of trade receivables is as follows: 

Past due but not impaired 

Neither past 
due nor 
impaired  
£m 
121.4 
102.2 

Total  
£m 
132.2 
113.3 

<30  
days  
£m 
7.4 
8.7 

30–60  
days  
£m 
1.3 
1.4 

60–90  
days  
£m 
1.3 
0.3 

90–120  
days  
£m 
0.6 
0.1 

>120  
days 
£m 
0.2 
0.6 

2008 
2007 

The credit quality of trade receivables that are neither past due nor impaired is considered good. The Group does however 
monitor the credit quality of trade receivables by reference to credit ratings available externally. 

78  Britvic plc Annual Report 2008 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
20. Cash and cash equivalents 

Cash at bank and in hand 

2008 
£m 
13.9 

2007 
£m 
27.3 

During the period short-term deposits are made for varying periods of between one day and one month depending on  
the immediate cash requirements of the Group, and earn interest at the respective short-term deposit rates. The fair  
value of cash and cash equivalents is equal to the book value. 

At 28 September 2008, the Group had available £139.5m (2007: £105.0m) of un-drawn committed borrowing facilities  
in respect of which all conditions precedent are currently being met. 

For the purposes of the consolidated statement of cash flows, cash and cash equivalents comprise the following: 

Cash at bank and in hand 
Bank overdraft included in financial liabilities (see Note 28) 

2008 
£m 
13.9 
(1.0) 
12.9 

2007 
£m 
27.3 
– 
27.3 

Where available, the Group operates cash pooling arrangements whereby the net cash position across a number of accounts  
is recognised for interest purposes. 

21. Non-current assets held for sale 

Net transfer from property, plant and equipment 

2008 
£m 
5.9 

2007 
£m 
4.8 

Non-current assets held for sale relates to those assets which will be sold in relation to the forthcoming closure of one of the 
factories in the Britvic Ireland business. The prior year number relates to assets that had been sold as part of the outsourcing  
of the secondary distribution network. 

22. Issued share capital 
The issued share capital as at 28 September 2008 and 30 September 2007 comprised 216,037,795 ordinary shares of £0.20  
each, totalling £43,207,559.  

The ordinary shares carry voting rights of one vote per share. There are no restrictions placed on the distribution of dividends,  
or the return of capital on a winding up or otherwise. 

Authorised 
327,500,000 ordinary shares of £0.20 each 
Ordinary shares issued, called up and fully paid 
216,037,795 ordinary shares of £0.20 each 

2008 
£m 

65.5 

43.2 

2007 
£m 

65.5 

43.2 

Of the issued, called up and fully paid ordinary shares, 2,376,138 shares (2007: 2,937,767 shares) are own shares held. This 
equates to £475,228 (2007: £587,553) at £0.20 par value of each ordinary share. These shares are held for the purpose of 
satisfying the share schemes detailed in Note 30. 

Britvic plc Annual Report 2008  79 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements continued 

23. Reconciliation of movements in equity 

At 1 October 2006 
Total recognised income and 
expense for the year 
Own shares purchased for 
share schemes 
Own shares issued for share 
schemes 
Movement in share-based 
schemes 
Payment of dividend 
At 30 September 2007 
Total recognised income and 
expense for the year 
Own shares purchased for 
share schemes 
Own shares issued for share 
schemes 
Movement in share-based 
schemes 
Payment of dividend 
At 28 September 2008 

Called 
up share 
capital 
£m 
43.2 
– 

Share 
premium 
account 
£m 
2.5 
– 

– 

– 

– 

– 
43.2 
– 

– 

– 

– 

– 
43.2 

– 

– 

– 

– 
2.5 
– 

– 

– 

– 

– 
2.5 

Own 
shares 
£m 
(0.5) 
– 

Share 
scheme 
reserve 
£m 
4.5 
– 

(13.2) 

– 

3.4 

– 

– 
(10.3) 
– 

(5.0) 

7.4 

– 

– 
(7.9) 

(3.2) 

4.0 

– 
5.3 
– 

– 

(5.8) 

7.8 

– 
7.3 

Hedging 
reserve 
£m 
(0.4) 
2.3 

Translation 
reserve 
£m 
– 
2.9 

Retained  
earnings 
£m 
(107.0) 
88.1 

Total 
£m 
(57.7) 
93.3 

– 

– 

– 

– 
1.9 
5.1 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 
2.9 
14.3 

– 

– 

– 

– 

(13.2) 

(0.2) 

0.1 

(22.2) 
(41.2) 
7.5 

– 

4.1 

(22.2) 
4.3 
26.9 

– 

(5.0) 

(1.6) 

– 

– 

7.8 

– 
7.0 

– 
17.2 

(24.7) 
(60.0) 

(24.7) 
9.3 

Nature and purpose of other reserves 
Share premium 
The share premium account is used to record the excess of proceeds over nominal value on the issue of shares. 

Own shares 
The own shares account is used to record purchases by the Group of its own shares, which will be distributed to employees  
as and when share awards made under the Britvic employee share plans vest. 

Share scheme reserve 
The share scheme reserve is used to record the movements in equity corresponding to the cost recognised in respect of equity-
settled share-based payment transactions and the subsequent settlement of any awards that vest either by issue or purchase  
of the Group’s shares. 

Hedging reserve 
The hedging reserve records movements in the fair value of forward exchange contracts and interest rate and cross  
currency swaps. 

Translation reserve 
The translation reserve includes cumulative net exchange differences on translation into the presentational currency (sterling) of 
items recorded in Group entities with a non-sterling functional currency, net of amounts accounted for as net investment hedges. 

80  Britvic plc Annual Report 2008 

 
24. Interest bearing loans and borrowings 

Current 
Unsecured bank loans 

Non-current 
Unsecured bank loans 
Private placement notes 
Less unamortised issue costs 
Total non-current 

2008 
£m 

2007 
£m 

(11.6) 

(13.1) 

(160.7) 
(243.0) 
1.0 
(402.7) 

(195.3) 
(223.7) 
1.2 
(417.8) 

Private placement notes 
On 20 February 2007, Britvic plc issued US$375m and £38m of Senior Notes (‘the Notes’) in the United States Private Placement 
market. The proceeds of the issue were used to repay and cancel a £150m term loan, with the remainder being used to repay the 
amounts drawn on the Group’s revolving credit facility. The amount, maturity and interest terms of the Notes are shown in the 
table below: 

Series 
A 
B 
C 
D 
E 
F 

Tranche 
7 year 
7 year 
7 year 
10 year 
12 year 
12 year 

Maturity date 
20 February 2014 
20 February 2014 
20 February 2014 
20 February 2017 
20 February 2019 
20 February 2019 

Amount 
US$87m 
US$15m 
£25m  
US$147m 
US$126m 
£13m  

Interest terms 
US$ fixed at 5.80% 
US$ LIBOR + 0.5% 
UK£ fixed at 6.11% 
US$ fixed at 5.90% 
US$ fixed at 6.00% 
UK£ fixed at 5.94% 

Swap  
interest terms 
UK£ fixed at 6.10% 
UK£ fixed at 6.07% 
n/a 
UK£ fixed at 5.98% 
UK£ fixed at 5.98% 
n/a 

Britvic plc makes quarterly and semi-annual interest payments in the currency of issue. The Notes are unsecured and rank pari 
passu in right of repayment with other senior unsecured indebtedness of the Company. In order to manage the risk of foreign 
currency and interest rate fluctuations, the Group has entered into currency swaps whereby fixed/floating US dollar interest  
is swapped for fixed sterling interest. The swap contracts have the same duration and other critical terms as the borrowings 
which they hedge and are considered to be effective. 

Covenants on these Notes include a term which states that Britvic plc must offer to repay the Notes should a change in control 
of the Group occur which results in a credit rating downwards as defined in the Note purchase agreement. 

Bank loans 
The unsecured bank loans classified as current were repayable post year end (2007: October 2007) and were either rolled over 
or repaid. These loans attract interest at a rate of 5.30% for sterling denominated loans (2007: 6.35%) and 4.43% (2007: n/a) 
for euro denominated loans. The unsecured bank loans classified as non-current are repayable in May 2010 (2007: May 2010) 
and attract interest at an average rate of 6.32% (2007: 6.62%) for sterling denominated loans and 5.18% (2007: 4.77%) for 
euro denominated loans. Interest on bank loans is re-priced at regular intervals. For further details, please refer to Note 27. 

Britvic plc Annual Report 2008  81 

 
 
 
 
 
 
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements continued 

24. Interest bearing loans and borrowings continued 

Analysis of changes in interest-bearing loans and borrowings 

Current liabilities 
Non-current liabilities 
At the beginning of the period 
Issue of the Notes 
Issue costs of new loans/Notes 
Amortisation of issue costs 
Net new unsecured loans 
Net translation (loss)/gain  
Accrued interest 
At the end of the period 
Derivatives hedging balance sheet debt* 
Debt translated at contracted rate 

2008 
£m 
(13.1) 
(417.8) 
(430.9) 
– 
– 
(0.2) 
45.5 
(28.8) 
0.1 
(414.3) 
13.0 
(401.3) 

2007 
£m 
(17.5) 
(284.3) 
(301.8) 
(228.5) 
0.8 
(0.3) 
96.3 
4.5 
(1.9) 
(430.9) 
(6.4) 
(437.3) 

*   Represents the element of the fair value of interest rate currency swaps hedging the balance sheet value of the Notes.  

This amount has been disclosed separately to demonstrate the impact of foreign exchange movements which are included  
in interest bearing loans and borrowings. 

82  Britvic plc Annual Report 2008 

 
25. Pensions  
The Group principal pension scheme, the Britvic Pension Plan (‘BPP’), has both a defined benefit and a defined contribution 
section. The defined benefit section of the BPP was closed on 1 August 2002, and since this date new employees have been 
eligible to join the defined contribution section of the BPP.  

Following a 60 day employee consultation period that started on 4 February 2008, the Britvic Pension Plan changed with effect 
from 1 July 2008. The key changes are detailed below. 

Defined benefit section 
1)  The pension accrual rate reduced from 1/60 to 1/90 for each year of future service membership for employee members. 

2)  The pension accrual rate for Executive members was reduced proportionately by one third for each year of future service 

membership. 

3)  Increases to pensions in payment for pension earned for membership from 1 July 2008 are in line with the Retail Price Index 

up to 2.5% each year. 

Defined contribution section 
1)  The Company contribution rate for future service was increased to 1.5 times employee contributions for employee members. 

2)  A proportionate increase for Executive members. 

The changes have not had a material effect on Britvic’s future pension scheme obligations. 

Contributions are paid into the Plan in accordance with the recommendations of an independent actuary and as outlined in the 
Schedule of Contributions. The latest formal actuarial valuation for contribution purposes was carried out as at 31 March 2007 
under the Scheme Specific Requirements and as a result, annual contributions of £10.0m in respect of the funding shortfall 
outlined in the Recovery Plan will continue to be made by 31 December in each of the years 2008–2010 in order to eliminate the 
funding deficit in the Plan. 

The amount recognised as an expense in relation to the BPP defined contribution scheme in the income statement for 2008 was 
£2.0m (2007: £1.4m). 

As a result of the acquisition of Britvic Ireland on 29 August 2007, in Northern Ireland the Group inherited a further pension 
scheme in which its employees (at the date of the transfer) participated, the C&C Pension Fund. The name of this scheme has 
subsequently been changed to the Britvic Northern Ireland Pension Plan (‘BNIPP’), with employees of C&C Group transferring out 
on 30 June 2008. The next actuarial valuation is due on 31 December 2008. At present, the bulk transfer out of assets for the C&C 
employees has still to be finalised.  

The BNIPP was closed to new members on 28 February 2006, and since this date new employees have been eligible to join a 
Stakeholder plan with Legal & General. 

In the Republic of Ireland (‘ROI’), employees continued to participate in a number of C&C Group pension funds following the 
acquisition until transferring into two newly formed pension plans called the Britvic Ireland Defined Contribution Pension Plan and 
the Britvic Ireland Defined Benefit Pension Plan (‘BIPP’) on 1 September 2008. Both Plans are held under trust and operated by the 
Trustees of Britvic Ireland Pension Trust Limited. Since 1 March 2006 under the previous C&C arrangements, and continuing 
under the new BIPP arrangements, new employees are offered membership of the defined contribution plan in the first instance, 
with the ability to transfer into the defined benefit plan after a period of five years. The bulk transfer of assets to these new Plans 
in respect of members past service rights from the C&C arrangements are still to be finalised. The next actuarial valuation will be 
carried out following the receipt of the bulk transfer of assets from the C&C pension arrangement. 

The amount recognised as an expense in relation to the Irish defined contribution schemes in the Income Statement for 2008 was 
£0.1m (2007: £nil). 

All Group pension funds are administered by trustees and are independent of the Group’s finances.  

The assets and liabilities of the pension schemes were valued on an IAS 19 basis at 28 September 2008 by Watson Wyatt (BPP) 
and Mercer (‘BIPP’ and ‘BNIPP’).  

Britvic plc Annual Report 2008  83 

 
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements continued 

25. Pensions continued 

Principal assumptions  
Financial assumptions 

Discount rate 
Rate of compensation increase 
Expected long-term return on plan assets 
Pension increases (‘LPI’) 
Inflation assumption 

2008 
% 
ROI 
6.00 
4.50 
7.00 
3.00 
2.50 

2008 
% 
GB 
6.70 
5.10 
6.60 
2.30–3.60 
3.60 

2007 
% 
ROI 
5.40 
4.10 
7.00 
3.00 
2.25 

2007 
% 
GB 
5.90 
4.90 
6.17 
3.40 
3.40 

To develop the expected long-term rate of return on assets assumption, the Group considered the level of expected returns  
on risk free investments (primarily government bonds), the historical level of the risk premium associated with the other asset 
classes in which the portfolio is invested and the expectations for future returns of each asset class. The expected return for 
each asset class was then weighted based on the target asset allocation to develop the expected long-term rate on assets 
assumption for the portfolio. 

Demographic assumptions 
The most significant non-financial assumption is the assumed rate of longevity. This is based on standard actuarial tables 
known as PA92. An allowance for future improvements in longevity has also been included. The following life expectancy 
assumptions have been used: 

Current pensioners (at age 65) – males 
Current pensioners (at age 65) – females 
Future pensioners currently aged 45 (at age 65) – males 
Future pensioners currently aged 45 (at age 65) – females 

2008 
Years  
ROI 
20.7 
23.8 
21.8 
24.8 

2008 
Years  
GB 
19.9 
22.8 
21.1 
24.0 

2007 
Years  
ROI 
19.0 
21.9 
20.5 
23.4 

2007 
Years  
GB 
19.9 
22.8 
21.1 
24.0 

The mortality assumptions used to calculate the GB pension obligation were revised in 2007 following a mortality investigation 
carried out as part of the actuarial valuation of the Britvic Pension Plan at 31 March 2007. The mortality assumptions for the ROI 
were reviewed by the actuary during the year and updated in light of the improvements experienced. 

Sensitivities 
The value of plan assets is sensitive to market conditions, particularly equity values. Changes in assumptions used for determining 
retirement benefit costs and obligations may have a material impact on the income statement and balance sheet. The main 
assumptions are the discount rate, the rate of inflation and the assumed mortality rate. The following table provides an estimate  
of the potential impact of each of these variables on the principal pension plans. 

Assumption 
Discount rate 
Inflation rate 
Mortality rate 

Change in assumption 
Increase/decrease by 0.1% 
Increase/decrease by 0.1% 
Increase in life expectancy by one year 

Impact on GB plan liabilities 
Decrease/increase by £7.8m 
Increase/decrease by £5.9m 
Increase by £12.1m 

Impact on ROI plan liabilities  
Decrease/increase by £1.0m 
Increase/decrease by £0.8m 
Increase by £0.9m 

84  Britvic plc Annual Report 2008 

 
 
 
25. Pensions continued 

Net benefit expense 

Current service cost 
Interest cost on benefit obligation 
Expected return on plan assets 
Net expense 

Current service cost 
Interest cost on benefit obligation 
Expected return on plan assets 
Curtailment gain 
Net expense 

BIPP 
 £m 
(2.6) 
(2.4) 
2.9 
(2.1) 

BIPP 
 £m 
(0.2) 
(0.2) 
0.2 
– 
(0.2) 

BNIPP  
£m 
(0.3) 
(1.4) 
1.0 
(0.7) 

BNIPP  
£m 
– 
(0.1) 
0.1 
– 
– 

BPP  
£m 
(8.1) 
(24.8) 
28.8 
(4.1) 

BPP  
£m 
(10.7) 
(22.7) 
24.4 
5.6 
(3.4) 

2008 
Total 
 £m 
(11.0) 
(28.6) 
32.7 
(6.9) 

2007 
Total 
 £m 
(10.9) 
(23.0) 
24.7 
5.6 
(3.6) 

The net expense detailed above is all recognised in arriving at net profit from continuing operations before tax and finance  
costs/income, and is included within cost of sales, selling and distribution costs and administration expenses. 

The pension curtailment in the prior year is triggered by the transfer of Group employees under the outsourcing arrangements 
of the secondary distribution network. Those employees that are members of the BPP will no longer accrue future entitlement, 
which gives rise to the curtailment gain. 

Taken to the Statement of Recognised Income and Expense 

Actual return on plan assets 
Less: Expected return on plan assets 

Other actuarial gains  
Actuarial (losses)/gains taken to the Statement  
of Recognised Income and Expense 

Actual return on plan assets 
Less: Expected return on plan assets 

Other actuarial gains  
Actuarial gains taken to the Statement  
of Recognised Income and Expense 

BIPP 
 £m 
(14.2) 
(2.9) 
(17.1) 
8.2 

(8.9) 

BIPP 
 £m 
0.5 
(0.2) 
0.3 
– 

BNIPP  
£m 
(1.6) 
(1.0) 
(2.6) 
4.3 

BPP  
£m 
(50.4) 
(28.8) 
(79.2) 
56.5 

2008 
Total 
 £m 
(66.2) 
(32.7) 
(98.9) 
69.0 

1.7 

(22.7) 

(29.9) 

BNIPP  
£m 
0.6 
(0.1) 
0.5 
0.4 

BPP  
£m 
37.2 
(24.4) 
12.8 
47.3 

2007 
Total 
 £m 
38.3 
(24.7) 
13.6 
47.7 

0.3 

0.9 

60.1 

61.3 

Britvic plc Annual Report 2008  85 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements continued 

25. Pensions continued 

Net (liability)/surplus 

Present value of benefit obligation 
Fair value of plan assets 
Net liability 

Present value of benefit obligation 
Fair value of plan assets 
Net (liability)/surplus 

Movements in the present value of benefit obligation are as follows: 

At 30 September 2007 
Exchange differences 
Current service cost 
Member contributions  
Interest cost on benefit obligation 
Benefits paid 
Actuarial gains  
At 28 September 2008 

At 1 October 2006 
Acquisition at 29 August 2007 
Exchange differences 
Current service cost 
Member contributions  
Interest cost on benefit obligation 
Benefits paid 
Curtailment gain 
Actuarial gains  
At 30 September 2007 

BIPP 
 £m 
(42.5) 
27.2 
(15.3) 

BIPP 
 £m 
(39.7) 
34.3 
(5.4) 

BIPP 
 £m 
(39.7) 
(5.3) 
(2.6) 
(0.7) 
(2.4) 
– 
8.2 
(42.5) 

BIPP 
 £m 
– 
(38.1) 
(1.2) 
(0.2) 
– 
(0.2) 
– 
– 
– 
(39.7) 

BNIPP  
£m 
(20.0) 
13.0 
(7.0) 

BNIPP  
£m 
(23.0) 
13.7 
(9.3) 

BNIPP  
£m 
(23.0) 
– 
(0.3) 
– 
(1.4) 
0.4 
4.3 
(20.0) 

BNIPP  
£m 
– 
(23.3) 
– 
– 
– 
(0.1) 
– 
– 
0.4 
(23.0) 

BPP  
£m 
(385.9) 
384.3 
(1.6) 

BPP  
£m 
(422.2) 
431.3 
9.1 

BPP  
£m 
(422.2) 
– 
(8.1) 
(1.7) 
(24.8) 
14.4 
56.5 
(385.9) 

BPP  
£m 
(454.5) 
– 
– 
(10.7) 
(2.1) 
(22.7) 
14.9 
5.6 
47.3 
(422.2) 

2008 
Total 
 £m 
(448.4) 
424.5 
(23.9) 

2007 
Total 
 £m 
(484.9) 
479.3 
(5.6) 

2008 
Total 
 £m 
(484.9) 
(5.3) 
(11.0) 
(2.4) 
(28.6) 
14.8 
69.0 
(448.4) 

2007 
Total 
 £m 
(454.5) 
(61.4) 
(1.2) 
(10.9) 
(2.1) 
(23.0) 
14.9 
5.6 
47.7 
(484.9) 

The current service cost excludes contributions made by employees of £2.4m (2007: £2.1m). 

86  Britvic plc Annual Report 2008 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
25. Pensions continued 

Movements in the fair value of plan assets are as follows: 

At 30 September 2007 
Exchange differences 
Expected return on plan assets 
Actuarial losses 
Employer contributions 
Member contributions  
Benefits paid 
At 28 September 2008 

At 1 October 2006 
Acquisition at 29 August 2007 
Exchange differences 
Expected return on plan assets 
Actuarial gains  
Employer contributions 
Member contributions  
Benefits paid 
At 30 September 2007 

BIPP 
 £m 
34.3 
4.5 
2.9 
(17.1) 
1.9 
0.7 
– 
27.2 

BIPP 
 £m 
– 
32.6 
1.0 
0.2 
0.3 
0.2 
– 
– 
34.3 

Categories of scheme assets as a percentage of the fair value of total scheme assets 

Equities  
Bonds and gilts 
Cash 
Total 

Equities  
Bonds and gilts 
Cash 
Total 

BIPP 
 £m 
20.4 
3.0 
3.8 
27.2 

BIPP 
 £m 
30.8 
3.5 
– 
34.3 

BNIPP  
£m 
10.0 
1.7 
1.3 
13.0 

BNIPP  
£m 
12.2 
0.8 
0.7 
13.7 

BNIPP  
£m 
13.7 
– 
1.0 
(2.6) 
1.3 
– 
(0.4) 
13.0 

BNIPP  
£m 
– 
13.0 
– 
0.1 
0.5 
0.1 
– 
– 
13.7 

BPP  
£m 
202.5 
181.0 
0.8 
384.3 

BPP  
£m 
246.0 
184.4 
0.9 
431.3 

BPP  
£m 
431.3 
– 
28.8 
(79.2) 
16.1 
1.7 
(14.4) 
384.3 

BPP  
£m 
388.7 
– 
– 
24.4 
12.8 
18.2 
2.1 
(14.9) 
431.3 

Total  
£m 
232.9 
185.7 
5.9 
424.5 

Total  
£m 
289.0 
188.7 
1.6 
479.3 

2008 
Total 
 £m 
479.3 
4.5 
32.7 
(98.9) 
19.3 
2.4 
(14.8) 
424.5 

2007 
Total 
 £m 
388.7 
45.6 
1.0 
24.7 
13.6 
18.5 
2.1 
(14.9) 
479.3 

2008 
Total  
% 
55 
44 
1 
100 

2007 
Total  
% 
60 
40 
– 
100 

Britvic plc Annual Report 2008  87 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements continued 

25. Pensions continued 

Categories of scheme assets as a percentage of the expected return on assets 

Equities  
Bonds and gilts 
Cash 
Total 

Equities  
Bonds and gilts 
Cash 
Total 

History of experience gains and losses 

Fair value of schemes assets 
Present value of defined benefit obligations 
Deficit in the schemes 
Experience adjustments arising on plan liabilities 
Experience adjustments arising on plan assets 

BIPP 
 £m 
2.7 
0.2 
– 
2.9 

BIPP 
 £m 
0.2 
– 
– 
0.2 

BNIPP  
£m 
0.9 
0.1 
– 
1.0 

BNIPP  
£m 
0.1 
– 
– 
0.1 

2008 
£m 
424.5 
(448.4) 
(23.9) 
3.3 
(98.9) 

BPP  
£m 
19.0 
9.7 
0.1 
28.8 

BPP  
£m 
17.2 
7.2 
– 
24.4 

2007 
£m 
479.3 
(484.9) 
(5.6) 
(17.2) 
13.6 

Total  
£m 
22.6 
10.0 
0.1 
32.7 

Total  
£m 
17.5 
7.2 
– 
24.7 

2006 
£m 
388.7 
(454.5) 
(65.8) 
(2.0) 
10.0 

2008 
Total  
% 
69 
31 
– 
100 

2007 
Total  
% 
71 
29 
– 
100 

2005 
£m 
327.6 
(412.2) 
(84.6) 
– 
32.6 

The cumulative amount of actuarial gains and losses recognised since 4 October 2004 in the Group Statement of Recognised 
Income and Expense is an overall gain of £17.5m (2007: gain of £47.4m). The Directors are unable to determine how much of 
the pension scheme deficit recognised on transition to IFRS and taken direct to equity of £1.3m is attributable to actuarial gains 
and losses since the inception of those pension schemes. Consequently, the Directors are unable to determine the amount of 
actuarial gains and losses that would have been recognised in the Group Statement of Recognised Income and Expense before 
4 October 2004. 

Normal contributions of £7.5m and additional contributions of £10.0m are expected to be paid into the pension schemes during 
the 2009 financial year. 

26. Trade and other payables (current)  

Trade payables 
Other payables 
Accruals and deferred income 
Other taxes and social security 

Trade payables are non-interest bearing and are normally settled on 60–90 day terms. 

2008 
£m 
143.7 
9.7 
72.6 
18.3 
244.3 

2007 
£m 
110.8 
14.3 
60.7 
17.4 
203.2 

88  Britvic plc Annual Report 2008 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
27. Financial risk management objectives and policies  

Overview 
The Group’s principal financial instruments comprise derivatives, borrowings and overdrafts, cash and cash equivalents.  
These financial instruments are used to manage interest rate and currency exposures, funding and liquidity requirements.  
Other financial instruments which arise directly from the Group’s operations include trade receivables and payables  
(see Notes 19 and 26 respectively). 

It is, and has been throughout 2008 and 2007, the Group’s policy that no derivative is entered into for trading or  
speculative purposes. 

The main risks arising from the Group’s financial instruments are commodity price risk, interest rate risk, foreign currency risk, 
credit risk and liquidity risk. The Board of Directors review and agree policies for managing these risks as summarised below.  

Commodity price risk 
The main commodity price risk arises in the purchases of prime materials, being PET, sugar, cans and frozen concentrated  
orange juice. Where it is considered commercially advantageous, the Group enters into fixed price contracts with suppliers  
to hedge against unfavourable commodity price changes. 

Interest rate risk 
The Group’s exposure to the risk of changes in market interest rates relates primarily to the Group’s long-term debt obligations 
with floating interest rates. 

The Group’s policy is to manage its interest cost by maintaining a mix of fixed and variable debt. The Group’s policy is to keep 
between 25% and 70% of its borrowings at fixed rates of interest over a three year time horizon. To manage this, the Group 
enters into interest rate and cross currency swaps which are designated to hedge underlying debt obligations. At 28 September 
2008, after taking into account the effect of interest rate swaps, approximately 57% of the Group’s borrowings are at a fixed rate 
of interest (2007: 57%). 

Interest rate risk table 
The following table demonstrates the sensitivity to a reasonably possible change in interest rates, with all other variables  
held constant, of the Group’s profit before tax (through the impact on floating rate borrowings). There is no impact on the  
Group’s equity. 

2008 
Sterling 

Euro 

2007 
Sterling 

Euro 

Increase/(decrease) 
in basis points 

Effect  
on profit 
before tax  
£m 

200 
(200) 

200 
(200) 

200 
(200) 

200 
(200) 

2.6 
(2.6) 

1.6 
(1.6) 

2.6 
(2.6) 

0.2 
(0.2) 

Britvic plc Annual Report 2008  89 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements continued 

27. Financial risk management objectives and policies continued 

Foreign currency risk 
Foreign currency risk is primarily in respect of exposure to fluctuations to the sterling-euro and sterling-US dollar rates of exchange. 
The Group has operations in euro-denominated countries and finances these partly through the use of foreign currency borrowings 
which hedge the net investment in foreign operations. Additionally cash generation from euro-denominated operations can be 
utilised to meet euro payment obligations in sterling denominated companies, providing a natural hedge. 

The Group also has transactional exposures arising from purchases of prime materials and commercial assets in currencies other 
than the functional currency of the individual Group entities. Such purchases are made in the currencies of US dollars and euros. 
As at 28 September 2008, the Group has hedged 71% (2007: 70%) of forecast exposures 12 months in advance using forward 
foreign exchange contracts.  

Where funding is raised in a currency other than the currency ultimately required by the Group, cross currency interest rate swaps 
are used to convert the cash flows to the required currency. These swaps have the same duration and other critical terms as the 
underlying borrowing. 

The following table demonstrates the sensitivity to a reasonably possible change in the US dollar and euro exchange rates, with all 
other variables held constant, of the Group’s profit before tax (due to changes in the fair value of monetary assets and liabilities) 
and the Group’s equity (due to changes in fair value of forward exchange contracts and net investment hedges). 

2008 
Euro 

US dollar 

2007 
Euro 

US dollar 

Increase/(decrease)  
in currency rate  
% 

Effect  
on profit 
before tax  
£m 

Effect on 
equity  
£m 

10 
(10) 

10 
(10) 

10 
(10) 

10 
(10) 

– 
– 

26 
(21) 

– 
– 

(0.6) 
0.5 

0.3 
(0.2) 

0.8 
(0.6) 

0.4 
(0.4) 

0.6 
(0.5) 

Credit risk 
The Group trades only with recognised creditworthy third parties. It is the Group’s policy that all customers who wish to trade on 
credit terms are subject to credit verification procedures. In addition, receivable balances are monitored on an ongoing basis with the 
result that the Group’s exposure to bad debts is not significant. The maximum exposure is the carrying amount disclosed in Note 19. 
For transactions that do not occur in the country of the relevant operating unit, the Group does not offer credit terms without the 
approval of the Head of Finance Shared Services. There are no significant concentrations of credit risk within the Group. 

The Group maintains a policy on counterparty credit exposures with banks and financial institutions arising from the use of 
derivatives and financial instruments. The level of exposure and the credit worthiness of the Group’s banking counterparties is 
reviewed regularly to ensure compliance with this policy. 

90  Britvic plc Annual Report 2008 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
27. Financial risk management objectives and policies continued 

Liquidity risk 
The Group monitors its risk to a shortage of funds using a recurring liquidity planning tool. This tool considers the maturity of  
both its financial investments and financial assets (e.g. accounts receivable, other financial assets) and projected cash flows  
from operations. 

The objective of the Group’s liquidity policy is to maintain a balance between continuity of funds and flexibility through the use  
of bank loans and overdrafts and long-term private placement issuance. The bank loans entered into by the Group are unsecured.  
At 28 September 2008, 3% of the Group’s debt will mature in less than one year at 28 September 2008 (2007: 3%) based on  
the carrying value of borrowings reflected in the financial statements. 

The table below summarises the maturity profile of the Group’s financial liabilities at 28 September 2008 based on contractual 
undiscounted payments: 

Unsecured bank loans 
Private placement notes 
Other non-current liabilities 
Trade and other payables 
Other financial liabilities 

Unsecured bank loans 
Private placement notes 
Other non-current liabilities 
Trade and other payables 
Other financial liabilities 

Less than  
1 year  
£m 
21.4 
14.3 
– 
244.3 
1.0 
281.0 

1 to 5 years  
£m 
169.8 
71.4 
1.2 
– 
– 
242.4 

Less than  
1 year  
£m 
13.1 
14.4 
– 
203.2 
0.3 
231.0 

1 to 5 years  
£m 
195.1 
71.8 
1.2 
– 
– 
268.1 

> 5 years  
£m 
– 
280.0 
– 
– 
– 
280.0 

> 5 years  
£m 
– 
274.9 
– 
– 
3.4 
278.3 

2008 

Total  
£m 
191.2 
365.7 
1.2 
244.3 
1.0 
803.4 

2007 

Total  
£m 
208.2 
361.1 
1.2 
203.2 
3.7 
777.4 

Details with regard to derivative contracts are included in Note 28. 

Capital management 
The Group defines ‘capital’ as being net debt plus equity. 

The Group’s objectives when managing capital are to safeguard the Group’s ability to continue as a going concern and maintain  
a strong credit rating in order to support its business and maximise shareholder value. 

The Group manages its capital structure and makes adjustments to it, in light of changes in economic conditions. To maintain  
or adjust the capital structure, the Group may adjust the dividend payment to shareholders, return capital to shareholders or  
issue new shares.  

Quantitative information on equity and net debt can be found in Notes 23 and 31 respectively. 

Britvic plc Annual Report 2008  91 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements continued 

28. Financial instruments  

Fair values of financial assets and financial liabilities 
Set out below is a comparison by category of carrying amounts and fair values of all of the Group’s financial instruments, except 
trade and other receivables and payables. 

Financial assets  
Cash 
Forward currency contracts 
Cross currency interest rate swap 

Financial liabilities 
Interest-bearing loans and borrowings (bank loans  
and private placement notes): 
Fixed rate borrowings 
Floating rate borrowings 

Bank overdraft 
Forward currency contracts 
Cross currency interest rate swap 

Book value 
2008 
£m 

Fair value 
2008 
£m 

Book value 
2007 
£m 

Fair value 
2007 
£m 

13.9 
0.3 
22.2 
36.4 

13.9 
0.3 
22.2 
36.4 

27.3 
0.1 
– 
27.4 

27.3 
0.1 
– 
27.4 

(242.2) 
(172.1) 
(1.0) 
– 
– 
(415.3) 

(202.6) 
(172.1) 
(1.0) 
– 
– 
(375.7) 

(222.9) 
(208.0) 
– 
(0.3) 
(3.4) 
(434.6) 

(244.9) 
(208.0) 
– 
(0.3) 
(3.4) 
(456.6) 

Non-derivative financial assets are categorised as loans and receivables as defined in IAS 39. Non-derivative financial liabilities 
are all carried at amortised cost. 

The fair value of derivatives has been calculated by discounting the expected future cash flows at prevailing interest rates.  

The fair value of the current trade and other receivables and payables approximate their book value. 

The fair value of fixed rate borrowings has been derived from the sum of future cash flows to maturity discounted back  
to present values at a market rate. 

92  Britvic plc Annual Report 2008 

 
 
  
 
 
 
  
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
28. Financial instruments continued 
Hedging activities 

Cash flow hedges 
At 28 September 2008, the Group held 32 (2007: 27) US dollar and 8 (2007: 21) euro forward exchange contracts designated as 
hedges of expected future purchases from overseas suppliers in US dollars and euros for which the Group believe to be ‘highly 
probable’ transactions. The forward currency contracts are being used to hedge the foreign currency risk of these ‘highly probable’ 
transactions. The terms of these contracts are as follows: 

Maturity range 

Average  
exchange rate 

Forward contracts to hedge expected future purchases 
2008 
US$13,003,417 
€3,045,235 
2007 
US$10,128,000 
€22,881,000 

 October 2008 to September 2009 
 October 2008 to March 2009 

October 2007 to August 2008 
October 2007 to April 2008 

£/US$1.89 
£/€1.27 

£/US$2.00 
£/€1.46 

The terms of the forward currency contracts have been negotiated to match the terms of the commitments.  

The cash flow hedges of the expected future purchases in the 28 weeks to 12 April 2009 have been assessed to be effective 
and a net unrealised gain of £0.3m (2007: unrealised loss of £0.2m), with a related deferred tax liability of £0.1m (2007: related 
deferred tax asset of £0.1m), has been included in equity in respect of these contracts. 

In February 2007, Britvic plc issued US$375m and £38m of Senior Notes in the United States Private Placement market.  
As a result of this transaction further cash flow hedges were entered into. These are detailed in Note 24. 

Hedge of net investments in foreign operations 
Included in unsecured bank loans at 28 September 2008 was a borrowing of €100.0m (2007: €100.0m) which has been 
designated as a hedge of the net investment in Britvic Ireland and is being used to hedge the Group’s exposure to foreign 
exchange risk on this investment. Gains or losses on the retranslation of this borrowing are transferred to equity to offset any 
gains or losses on translation of the net investment in Britvic Ireland. 

29. Other non-current liabilities 

Deferred consideration  

2008 
£m 
1.2 

2007 
£m 
1.2 

This amount relates to the element of additional deferred consideration due to the vendors of Red Devil payable after one year. 
Further detail is given in Note 14. 

Britvic plc Annual Report 2008  93 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements continued 

30. Share-based payments 
The expense recognised for share-based payments in respect of employee services received during the 52 weeks ended 28 
September 2008 is £8.4m (2007: £8.1m). All of that expense arises from transactions which are expected to be equity-settled 
share-based payment transactions.  

The Britvic Share Incentive Plan (‘SIP’) 
The SIP is an all-employee plan approved by HMRC. The plan allows for annual awards of free ordinary shares with a value of 3% 
of salary (subject to HMRC maximum limits) together with an offer of matching shares on the basis of one free matching share for 
each ordinary share purchased with a participant’s savings, up to a maximum of £75 per four week pay period. Employees are 
entitled to receive the annual free share award provided they are employed by the Company on the last day of each financial year 
and on the award date. There are no cash settlement alternatives.  

Awards made during the year are shown in the table below. The fair value of these awards is equivalent to the intrinsic value  
of the shares. 

Annual free shares award 
Matching shares award – one free share for every ordinary share purchased 

Number of shares 
2007 
2008 
582,762 
477,862 
455,349 
422,225 

The Britvic Executive Share Option Plan (‘Option Plan’) 
The Option Plan allows for options to buy ordinary shares to be granted to selected employees. The option price is the average 
market price of Britvic plc’s shares on the three business days before the date of grant. Options become exercisable on the 
satisfaction of the performance condition and remain exercisable until ten years after the date of grant.  

The performance condition requires average growth in EPS of 7% pa over a three year period in excess of the growth in RPI over 
the same period for the options to vest in full. If EPS growth averages 3% per annum in excess of RPI growth, 40% of the options 
will vest. Straight-line apportionment will be applied between these two levels to determine the number of options that vest and 
no options will vest if average EPS growth is below the lower threshold.  

In some circumstances, at the discretion of the Company, an optionholder who exercises his/her option may receive a cash 
payment rather than the ordinary shares under option. The cash payment would be equal to the amount by which the market  
value of the ordinary shares under option exceeds the option price. However, it is expected that this plan will be equity-settled  
and as a consequence has been accounted for as such. 

The following table illustrates the movements in the number of share options during the year. 

Outstanding as at 1 October 2006 
Granted during the year 
Forfeited during the year 
Outstanding at 30 September 2007 
Granted during the year 
Forfeited during the year 
Outstanding at 28 September 2008 

Weighted 
average 
exercise 
price 
(pence) 
245.0 
245.0 
245.0 
245.0 
347.0 
245.0 
273.7 

Number 
of share 
options 
1,582,629 
1,673,929 
(141,426) 
3,115,132 
1,169,621 
(127,211) 
4,157,542 

There were no options exercisable at 28 September 2008 or 30 September 2007. 

The share options outstanding as at 28 September 2008 had a weighted average remaining contractual life of 8.1 years (2007: 8.7 
years) and the range of exercise prices was 245.0p–347.0p.  

The weighted average fair value of options granted during the year was 67.1p (2007: 44.7p).  

The fair value of equity-settled share options granted is estimated as at the date of grant using a binomial model, taking account  
of the terms and conditions upon which the options were granted. 

94  Britvic plc Annual Report 2008 

 
 
 
30. Share-based payments continued 
The following table lists the inputs to the model used for the 52 weeks ended 28 September 2008. 

Dividend yield (%) 
Expected volatility (%) 
Risk-free interest rate (%) 
Expected life of option (years) 
Share price at date of grant (pence) 
Exercise price (pence) 

2008 
2.9 
23.0 
4.5 
5.0 
339.0 
347.0 

2007 
2.9 
20.0 
4.8 
5.0 
242.0 
245.0 

The expected volatility reflects the assumption that the historical volatility is indicative of future trends, which may also not 
necessarily be the actual outcome. 

The Britvic Performance Share Plan (‘PSP’) 
The PSP allows for awards of ordinary shares to be made to selected employees subject to the satisfaction of a performance 
condition. Different performance conditions apply to different groups of employees. 

Awards granted to members of the senior leadership team are subject to a performance condition which measures the 
Company’s total shareholder return (‘TSR’) relative to the TSR of a comparator group (consisting of 18 companies) over a three 
year performance period. The awards will not vest unless the Group’s position in the comparator group is at least median. At 
median 40% will vest, rising on a straight-line basis to 100% vesting at upper quartile. 

Awards granted to members of the senior management team will be subject to a performance condition which requires average 
growth in EPS of 7% pa over a three year period in excess of the growth in RPI over the same period for the awards to vest in full. 
If EPS growth averages 3% pa in excess of RPI growth, 40% of the awards will vest. Straight-line apportionment will be applied 
between these two levels to determine the number of awards that vest and no awards will vest if average EPS growth is below 
the lower threshold. 

In addition, a transitional award has been made to members of both the senior leadership team and the senior management team 
shortly after flotation, at levels varying according to seniority. These awards will vest in tranches over a period of up to three years, 
subject to the satisfaction of a performance condition. The performance condition requires the Company’s Return on Invested 
Capital (‘ROIC’) to be at least 17% over the performance period for the award to vest in full. If ROIC is 15% over the performance 
period, 50% of the award will vest. Straight-line apportionment will be applied between these two levels to determine the 
percentage of awards that vest and no awards will vest if ROIC is below the lower threshold.  

In some circumstances, at the discretion of the Company, vested awards may be satisfied by a cash payment rather than a 
transfer of ordinary shares. However, it is expected that this plan will be equity-settled and as a consequence has been accounted 
for as such. 

Britvic plc Annual Report 2008  95 

 
 
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements continued 

30. Share-based payments continued 
The following table illustrates the movements in the number of shares during the year. 

Outstanding as at 1 October 2006 
Granted during the year 
Vested during the year 
Lapsed during the year 
Outstanding as at 30 September 2007 
Granted during the year 
Vested during the year 
Lapsed during the year 
Outstanding at 28 September 2008 

Weighted average fair value of shares 
granted during the year 

Number of 
shares subject to 
TSR condition  
700,709 
718,673 
– 
(97,348) 
1,322,034 
522,013 
– 
(42,050) 
1,801,997 

Number of 
shares subject to 
EPS condition  
683,491 
644,219 
– 
(167,075) 
1,160,635 
579,125 
– 
(115,309) 
1,624,451 

Number of 
shares subject to 
ROIC condition  
3,664,362 
– 
(1,367,136) 
(158,760) 
2,138,466 
– 

(1,244,804)*
(33,557) 
860,105 

172.1p

311.1p

– 

* The share price on the date of vesting was 346.5p. 

The fair value of equity-settled shares granted is estimated as at the date of grant using separate models as detailed below, 
taking account of the terms and conditions upon which the shares were granted. 

The following table lists the inputs to the models used for the 52 weeks ended 28 September 2008. 

Valuation model used 
Dividend yield (%) 
Expected volatility (%) 
Share price at date of grant (pence) 

Shares subject to  
TSR condition 

Monte Carlo simulation 
2.9 
23.0 
339.0 

The following table lists the inputs to the models used for the year ended 30 September 2007. 

Valuation model used 
Dividend yield (%) 
Expected volatility (%) 
Share price at date of grant (pence) 

Shares subject to  
TSR condition 

Monte Carlo simulation 
2.9 
20.0 
242.0 

Shares subject to  
EPS condition 
Share price at date of 
grant adjusted for 
dividends not received 
during vesting period 
2.9 
n/a 
339.0 

Shares subject to  
EPS condition 
Share price at date of 
grant adjusted for 
dividends not received 
during vesting period 
2.9 
n/a 
242.0 

Share agreement 
In addition to the above schemes, the Company’s Chairman entered into a share agreement with the Company. Further details are 
set out in the Directors’ Remuneration Report. 

96  Britvic plc Annual Report 2008 

 
 
 
 
31. Notes to the consolidated cash flow statement 

Analysis of net debt 

Cash at bank and in hand 
Bank overdrafts 
Net cash 

Debt due within one year 
Debt due after more than one year 
Debt 

Derivatives hedging the balance sheet debt* 
Net debt 

Cash at bank and in hand 
Net cash 

Debt due within one year 
Debt due after more than one year 
Debt 

Derivatives hedging the balance sheet debt* 
Net debt 

2007 
£m 
27.3 
– 
27.3 

Cash flows 
£m 
(12.6) 
(1.0) 
(13.6) 

Exchange 
differences 
£m 
(0.8) 
– 
(0.8) 

Other 
movement 
£m 
– 
– 
– 

(13.1) 
(417.8) 
(430.9) 

(6.4) 
(410.0) 

1.5 
44.0 
45.5 

– 
31.9 

– 
(28.8) 
(28.8) 

19.4 
(10.2) 

– 
(0.1) 
(0.1) 

– 
(0.1) 

2006 
£m 
19.2 
19.2 

Cash flows 
£m 
8.1 
8.1 

Exchange 
differences 
£m 
– 
– 

Other 
movement 
£m 
– 
– 

(17.5) 
(284.3) 
(301.8) 

– 
(282.6) 

4.4 
(136.2) 
(131.8) 

– 
(123.7) 

– 
4.5 
4.5 

(6.4) 
(1.9) 

– 
(1.8) 
(1.8) 

– 
(1.8) 

2008 
£m 
13.9 
(1.0) 
12.9 

(11.6) 
(402.7) 
(414.3) 

13.0 
(388.4) 

2007 
£m 
27.3 
27.3 

(13.1) 
(417.8) 
(430.9) 

(6.4) 
(410.0) 

*   Represents the element of the fair value of interest rate currency swaps hedging the balance sheet value of the Notes.  

This amount has been disclosed separately to demonstrate the impact of foreign exchange movements which are included  
in debt due after more than one year. 

Britvic plc Annual Report 2008  97 

 
 
 
 
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements continued 

32. Commitments and contingencies 

Operating lease commitments 
In April 2007, the Group completed a sale and leaseback transaction with regard to its Tamworth depot. The Group has entered 
into a short-term lease which has no significant arrangements of note. 

Future minimum lease payments under non-cancellable operating leases are as follows: 

Within one year 
After one year but not more than five years 
More than five years 

Within one year 
After one year but not more than five years 
More than five years 

Land and 
buildings 
£m 
4.3 
11.6 
32.0 
47.9 

Land and 
buildings 
£m 
4.0 
10.6 
35.3 
49.9 

Other 
£m 
8.1 
15.5 
1.4 
25.0 

Other 
£m 
6.1 
11.7 
1.9 
19.7 

2008 

Total 
£m 
12.4 
27.1 
33.4 
72.9 

2007 

Total 
£m 
10.1 
22.3 
37.2 
69.6 

Capital commitments 
At 28 September 2008, the Group has commitments of £0.8m (2007: £2.0m) relating to the acquisition of new plant  
and machinery.  

Contingent liabilities  
On 28 April 2008, Britvic plc received a request for information from the Office of Fair Trading (‘OFT’) in connection with the OFT’s 
investigation into potential co-ordination of retail prices between the UK’s major supermarkets in breach of competition law. Britvic 
provided the information requested within a timeframe agreed with the OFT and will continue to cooperate with the OFT. The 
OFT’s investigation is at an early stage. No claim for a fine or penalty has been made against the Company. Britvic’s policy is to 
comply with all laws and regulations including competition law.  

The Group had no material contingent liabilities at 30 September 2007. 

98  Britvic plc Annual Report 2008 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
33. Related party disclosures  
The consolidated financial statements include the financial statements of Britvic plc and the subsidiaries listed in the table below. 
Particulars of dormant and non-trading subsidiaries which do not materially affect the Group results have been excluded. 

Name 
Directly held 
Britannia Soft Drinks Limited 
Indirectly held 
Britvic Holdings Limited 
Britvic International Limited 
Britvic Soft Drinks Limited 
Robinsons Soft Drinks Limited 
Orchid Drinks Limited 
Red Devil Energy Drinks Limited 
Britvic Irish Holdings Limited 
Britvic Ireland Limited 
Britvic Northern Ireland Limited 
Britvic Licensed Wholesale Limited 
Britvic Logistics Limited 
Ballygowan Limited 
Aquaporte Limited 
William J Dwan & Sons Limited 

Country of incorporation 

% ordinary shares 

England and Wales 

England and Wales 
England and Wales 
England and Wales 
England and Wales 
England and Wales 
England and Wales 
Republic of Ireland 
Republic of Ireland 
Republic of Ireland 
Republic of Ireland 
Republic of Ireland 
Republic of Ireland 
Republic of Ireland 
Republic of Ireland 

100 

100 
100 
100 
100 
100 
100 
100 
100 
100 
100 
100 
100 
100 
100 

Key management personnel are deemed to be the Executive and Non-Executive Directors of the Company and members  
of the Executive Committee. The compensation payable to key management in the year is detailed below. 

Short-term employee benefits 
Post-employment benefits 
Share-based payment 

2008 
£m 
3.2 
0.4 
2.3 
5.9 

2007 
£m 
3.7 
0.5 
2.2 
6.4 

There were no other related party transactions requiring disclosure in these financial statements. 

34. Post balance sheet event 
The Directors became aware on 12 November 2008 that, unless the borrowing powers in the Articles of Association of the 
Company were appropriately amended within a three-month period, the Group would not be in compliance with the borrowing  
powers therein. In the opinion of the Directors it is highly probable that a Special Resolution will be passed at the next AGM  
such that there is no impact on the Group’s financial position. 

Britvic plc Annual Report 2008  99 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Independent Auditor’s Report to the Members of Britvic plc 

We have audited the parent company financial statements of Britvic plc for the 52 weeks ended 28 September 2008 which 
comprise the Balance Sheet and the related Notes 1 to 16. These parent company financial statements have been prepared under 
the accounting policies set out therein. We have also audited the information in the Directors’ Remuneration Report that is 
described as having been audited.  

We have reported separately on the Group financial statements of Britvic plc for the 52 weeks ended 28 September 2008. 

This report is made solely to the Company’s members, as a body, in accordance with Section 235 of the Companies Act 1985.  
Our audit work has been undertaken so that we might state to the Company’s members those matters we are required to state  
to them in an auditor’s report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent permitted by law, we do not accept or assume 
responsibility to anyone other than the Company and the Company’s members as a body, for our audit work, for this report,  
or for the opinions we have formed. 

Respective responsibilities of Directors and auditors 
The Directors’ responsibilities for preparing the Annual Report, the Directors’ Remuneration Report and the parent company 
financial statements in accordance with applicable United Kingdom law and Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally 
Accepted Accounting Practice) are set out in the Statement of Directors’ Responsibilities. 

Our responsibility is to audit the parent company financial statements and the part of the Directors’ Remuneration Report to be 
audited in accordance with relevant legal and regulatory requirements and International Standards on Auditing (UK and Ireland). 

We report to you our opinion as to whether the parent company financial statements give a true and fair view and whether the parent 
company financial statements and the part of the Directors’ Remuneration Report to be audited have been properly prepared in 
accordance with the Companies Act 1985. We also report to you whether in our opinion the information given in the Directors’ Report 
is consistent with the parent company financial statements. The information given in the Directors’ Report includes that specific 
information presented in the Business Review that is cross-referred from the Business Review section of the Directors’ Report.  

In addition we report to you if, in our opinion, the Company has not kept proper accounting records, if we have not received all the 
information and explanations we require for our audit, or if information specified by law regarding Directors’ remuneration and 
other transactions is not disclosed. 

We read other information contained in the Annual Report and consider whether it is consistent with the audited parent  
company financial statements. The other information comprises only the Directors’ Report, the unaudited part of the Directors’ 
Remuneration Report, the Chairman’s Statement and the Business Review. We consider the implications for our report if we 
become aware of any apparent misstatements or material inconsistencies with the parent company financial statements. Our 
responsibilities do not extend to any other information. 

Basis of audit opinion 
We conducted our audit in accordance with International Standards on Auditing (UK and Ireland) issued by the Auditing Practices 
Board. An audit includes examination, on a test basis, of evidence relevant to the amounts and disclosures in the parent company 
financial statements and the part of the Directors’ Remuneration Report to be audited. It also includes an assessment of the 
significant estimates and judgements made by the Directors in the preparation of the parent company financial statements, and of 
whether the accounting policies are appropriate to the Company’s circumstances, consistently applied and adequately disclosed. 

We planned and performed our audit so as to obtain all the information and explanations which we considered necessary in order 
to provide us with sufficient evidence to give reasonable assurance that the parent company financial statements and the part  
of the Directors’ Remuneration Report to be audited are free from material misstatement, whether caused by fraud or other 
irregularity or error. In forming our opinion we also evaluated the overall adequacy of the presentation of information in the parent 
company financial statements and the part of the Directors’ Remuneration Report to be audited. 

Opinion 
In our opinion: 
•  The parent company financial statements give a true and fair view, in accordance with United Kingdom Generally Accepted 
Accounting Practice, of the state of the Company’s affairs as at 28 September 2008 and of its loss for the year then ended; 
•  The parent company financial statements and the part of the Directors’ Remuneration Report to be audited have been properly 

prepared in accordance with the Companies Act 1985; and 

•  The information given in the Directors’ Report is consistent with the parent company financial statements. 
Ernst & Young LLP 
Registered auditor  
Birmingham 
25 November 2008 

Notes: 
The maintenance and integrity of the Britvic plc website is the responsibility of the Directors; the work carried out by the auditors does not involve consideration  
of these matters and, accordingly, the auditors accept no responsibility for any changes that may have occurred to the financial statements since they were initially 
presented on the website. 

100  Britvic plc Annual Report 2008 

 
Company Balance Sheet 
At 28 September 2008 

Fixed assets 
Investments in Group undertakings 
Other financial assets 

Current assets 
Trade and other receivables 

Current liabilities 
Trade and other payables 
Interest bearing loans and borrowings 

Net current (liabilities)/assets 
Total assets less current liabilities 

Non-current liabilities 
Interest bearing loans and borrowings 
Other financial liabilities 

Net assets 

Capital and reserves 
Issued capital 
Share premium  
Own shares 
Share scheme reserve 
Hedging reserve 
Retained earnings 
Equity shareholders’ funds 

Notes 

6 
9 

7 

8 
9 

9 
9 

10 
11 
11 
11 
11 
11 

2008  
£m 

626.1 
22.2 
648.3 

2007  
£m  
Restated* 

617.6 
– 
617.6 

41.0 

105.2 

(30.7) 
(17.8) 
(48.5) 
(7.5) 
640.8 

(397.7) 
– 
(397.7) 
243.1 

43.2 
2.5 
(7.9) 
7.3 
9.2 
188.8 
243.1 

(23.7) 
(14.0) 
(37.7) 
67.5 
685.1 

(393.9) 
(3.4) 
(397.3) 
287.8 

43.2 
2.5 
(10.3) 
5.3 
3.0 
244.1 
287.8 

* Restated on adoption of UITF 44 – Group and Treasury Share Transactions (see Note 13). 

The financial statements were approved by the Board of Directors and authorised for issue on 25 November 2008. They were 
signed on its behalf by: 

Paul Moody 
Chief Executive 

John Gibney 
Finance Director 

Britvic plc Annual Report 2008  101 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Notes to the Company Financial Statements 

1. Parent undertaking 
The financial statements are prepared in accordance with the Companies Act 1985 and in accordance with applicable accounting 
standards. 

These accounts present information about the Company as an individual undertaking, under UK Generally Accepted Accounting 
Principles, and not about its Group. 

The Company has taken advantage of the exemption provided under section 230 of the Companies Act 1985 not to publish its 
individual profit and loss account and related notes.  

The Company is exempt from the requirements of Financial Reporting Standard No.1 (Revised) ‘Cash Flow Statements’. 

2. Accounting policies 

Change in accounting policy 
The Company has changed its policy in respect of FRS 20 ‘Share-based payment’ and now records an increase in its investment in 
subsidiaries to reflect the share-based compensation expense recorded by its subsidiaries. This change is a refinement of the 
treatment previously adopted, to reflect current best practice following the issue of UITF 44. 

The comparative information has been restated for this change in accounting policy where applicable. Further, the Company has 
also recognised the impact on intercompany balances relating to the purchase of own shares through Group entities, and impact 
on distributable reserves relating to the granting of shares to satisfy vested share-based awards under PSP and SIP schemes.  
The impact on the Company’s financial statements is explained in Note 13. 

Investments 
The Company recognises its investments in subsidiaries at cost less any provisions made for impairment. 

Interest bearing loans and borrowings 
Interest bearing loans and borrowings are initially recognised at fair value less directly attributable transaction costs and are 
subsequently measured at amortised cost using the effective interest rate method. 

Finance costs arising from the outstanding loan balance and finance charges are charged to the income statement using an 
effective interest rate method. 

Borrowing costs 
After initial recognition, interest bearing loans and borrowings are subsequently measured at amortised cost using the effective 
interest method.  

All borrowing costs are recognised as finance costs in the profit and loss account in the period in which they are incurred. 

Foreign currencies 
Transactions in foreign currencies are recorded at the rate ruling at the date of the transaction. Monetary assets and liabilities 
denominated in foreign currencies are translated at the rate of exchange ruling at the balance sheet date. All differences are taken 
to the profit and loss account. 

Issued share capital 
Ordinary shares are classified as equity. 

Incremental costs directly attributable to the issue of new shares or options are shown in equity as a deduction, net of tax, from 
the proceeds. 

Dividends 
Dividend income is recognised when the Company’s right to receive payment is established. 

Final dividends are recorded in the financial statements in the period in which they are approved by the Company’s shareholders. 
Interim dividends are recorded in the period in which they are approved and paid. 

Taxation 
The current income tax expense is based on taxable profits for the year, after any adjustments in respect of prior years. It is 
calculated using taxation rates enacted or substantively enacted by the balance sheet date and is measured at the amount 
expected to be recovered from or paid to the taxation authorities. 

102  Britvic plc Annual Report 2008 

2. Accounting policies continued 

Derivative financial instruments and hedging  
The Company uses interest rate swaps to hedge its risks associated with foreign currency and interest rate fluctuations classified 
as cash flow hedges (when hedging exposure to variability in cash flows that is either attributable to a particular risk associated 
with a recognised asset or liability or a highly probable forecast transaction). All derivative financial instruments are initially 
recognised and subsequently re-measured at fair value. Derivatives are carried as assets when the fair value is positive and  
as liabilities when the fair value is negative.  

For those derivatives designated as hedges and for which hedge accounting is desired, the hedging relationship is documented  
at its inception. This documentation identifies the hedging instrument, the hedged item or transaction, the nature of the risk  
being hedged and how effectiveness will be measured throughout its duration. Such hedges are expected at inception to be  
highly effective.  

Any gains or losses arising from changes in the fair value of derivatives that do not qualify for hedge accounting are taken to the 
profit and loss account. The treatment of gains and losses arising from revaluing interest rate swaps designated as cash flow 
hedging instruments is as follows:  

For cash flow hedges, the effective portion of the gain or loss on the hedging instrument is recognised directly in equity, while  
the ineffective portion is recognised in the profit and loss account. Amounts taken to equity are transferred to the profit and loss 
account when the hedged transaction affects profit or loss, such as when a forecast sale or purchase occurs.  

If a forecast transaction is no longer expected to occur, amounts previously recognised in equity are transferred to the profit  
and loss account. If the hedging instrument expires or is sold, terminated or exercised without replacement or rollover, or if its 
designation as a hedge is revoked, amounts previously recognised in equity remain in equity until the forecast transaction occurs 
and are transferred to the profit and loss account. If the related transaction is not expected to occur, the amount is taken to the 
profit and loss account.  

3. Auditor’s remuneration 
Auditor’s remuneration has been borne by another Group undertaking. 

4. Loss of the Company 
The Company made a loss of £29.0m in the period (2007: £11.6m). 

5. Directors’ remuneration 
The remuneration of the Directors of the Company is borne by another Group company.  

Directors’ emoluments are disclosed in the Directors’ Remuneration Report. 

Britvic plc Annual Report 2008  103 

 
Notes to the Company Financial Statements continued 

6. Investments in Group undertakings 

Cost and net book value at the beginning of the period 
Prior year restatement (see Note 13) 

Acquisitions 
Disposals 
Capital contribution 
Cost and net book value at the end of the period 

2008 
£m 
617.6 
– 
617.6 
181.0 
(181.0) 
8.5 
626.1 

2007 
£m 
429.6 
10.7 
440.3 
338.8 
(169.4) 
7.9 
617.6 

On 21 August 2008 the Company subscribed for 169,462,800 shares of no par value in Britvic Finance Limited for £181.0m. 

On 21 August 2008 the Company disposed of its holding of 169,462,800 shares in Britvic Finance Limited for a consideration  
of £181.0m. 

On 24 August 2007 the Company acquired 169,472,800 shares of no par value being a 100% shareholding in Britvic Finance 
Limited for £169.4m. 

On 24 August 2007 the Company exchanged its investment in Britvic Finance Limited for an additional investment in Britannia  
Soft Drinks Limited on their issue of a further 169,472,800 shares of £1 each. 

The following is a list of the principal subsidiary undertakings of which Britvic plc is, either directly or through subsidiary companies, 
the beneficial owner of the whole of the equity share capital. 

Principal activity 

Investment holding company 

Name 
Directly held 
Britannia Soft Drinks Limited 
Indirectly held 
Financing company 
Britvic Finance Limited 
 Holding company 
Britvic Holdings Limited 
Manufacture and sale of soft drinks 
Britvic International Limited 
Manufacture and sale of soft drinks 
Britvic Soft Drinks Limited 
Manufacture and sale of soft drinks 
Robinsons Soft Drinks Limited 
Manufacture and sale of soft drinks 
Orchid Drinks Limited 
Manufacture and sale of soft drinks 
Red Devil Energy Drinks Limited 
Investment holding company 
Britvic Irish Holdings Limited 
Manufacture and marketing of soft drinks 
Britvic Ireland Limited 
Marketing and distribution of soft drinks 
Britvic Northern Ireland Limited 
Britvic Licensed Wholesale Limited  Wholesale of soft drinks to the licensed trade 
Britvic Logistics Limited 
Provision of distribution services 
Manufacture and marketing of soft drinks 
Ballygowan Limited 
Supply of water-coolers and bottled water 
Aquaporte Limited 
Wholesale of soft drinks to the licensed trade 
William J Dwan & Sons Limited 

Country of  
incorporation 

% equity 
interest 

England and Wales 

Jersey 
England and Wales 
England and Wales 
England and Wales 
England and Wales 
England and Wales 
England and Wales 
Republic of Ireland 
Republic of Ireland 
Republic of Ireland 
Republic of Ireland 
Republic of Ireland 
Republic of Ireland 
Republic of Ireland 
Republic of Ireland 

100 

100 
100 
100 
100 
100 
100 
100 
100 
100 
100 
100 
100 
100 
100 
100 

104  Britvic plc Annual Report 2008 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
7. Trade and other receivables 

Amounts due from subsidiary undertakings 
UK corporation tax receivable 

8. Trade and other payables 

Amounts due to subsidiary undertakings 
Accruals and deferred income 

9. Interest bearing loans and borrowings 

Current 
Bank overdrafts 

Non-current 
Unsecured bank loans 
Private placement notes 
Less unamortised issue costs 
Total non-current 

2008 
£m 
41.0 
– 
41.0 

2008 
£m 
29.6 
1.1 
30.7 

2007 
£m 
Restated 
98.7 
6.5 
105.2 

2007 
£m 
Restated 
22.9 
0.8 
23.7 

2008 
£m 

2007 
£m 

(17.8) 

(14.0) 

(155.5) 
(242.9) 
0.7  
(397.7) 

(171.1) 
(223.6) 
0.8 
(393.9) 

As a result of applying hedge accounting, the above figures include a translation loss of £13.0m (2007: gain of £6.4m) which 
has been offset by an equivalent change in the fair value of the swap arrangements. 

Private placement notes 
On 20 February 2007, Britvic plc issued US$375m and £38m of Senior Notes (‘the Notes’) in the United States Private 
Placement market. 

In order to manage the risk of foreign currency and interest rate fluctuations, the Company has entered into currency  
swaps whereby fixed/floating US dollar interest is swapped for fixed sterling interest. The fair value of these swaps as  
at 28 September 2008 is £22.2m asset (30 September 2007: £3.4m liability). 

For further details, refer to Notes 24 and 28 to the consolidated financial statements. 

Unsecured bank loans  
These loans attract interest at a rate of 6.33% for sterling denominated loans (2007: 6.52%) and 5.18% for euro denominated 
loans (2007: 4.77%). Interest on bank loans is re-priced at regular intervals. 

Britvic plc Annual Report 2008  105 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Notes to the Company Financial Statements continued 

10. Issued share capital 
The issued share capital as at 28 September 2008 and 30 September 2007 comprised 216,037,795 ordinary shares of £0.20 each, 
totalling £43,207,559. 

The ordinary shares carry voting rights of one vote per share. There are no restrictions placed on the distribution of dividends, or 
the return of capital on a winding up or otherwise. 

Authorised 
327,500,000 ordinary shares of £0.20 each 
Issued and fully paid 
216,037,795 ordinary shares of £0.20 each 

11. Reconciliation of movement in shareholders’ funds 

2008 
£m 

65.5 

43.2 

Called up 
share 
capital  
£m  
43.2 
– 
43.2 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
43.2 

Share 
premium 
account  
£m 
2.5 
– 
2.5 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
2.5 

Own 
shares  
£m 
(10.3) 
– 
(10.3) 
(5.0) 
7.4 
– 
– 
– 
– 
(7.9) 

Share 
scheme 
reserve  
£m 
– 
5.3 
5.3 
– 
(5.8) 
7.8 
– 
– 
– 
7.3 

Hedging 
reserve  
£m 
3.0 
– 
3.0 
– 
– 
– 
6.2 
– 
– 
9.2 

Retained 
earnings  
£m 
244.4 
(0.3) 
244.1 
– 
(1.6) 
– 
– 
(29.0) 
(24.7) 
188.8 

At 30 September 2007 
Prior year restatement (see Note 13) 
At 30 September 2007 restated 
Own shares purchased for share schemes 
Own shares issued for share schemes 
Movement in share-based schemes 
Movement in cash flow hedges 
Loss for the year 
Payment of dividends 
At 28 September 2008 

12. Dividends paid and proposed 

Declared and paid during the year 
Final dividend for 2006: 7.00p per share 
Interim dividend for 2007: 3.30p per share 
Final dividend for 2007: 7.70p per share 
Interim dividend for 2008: 3.80p per share 
Dividends paid 
Proposed for approval by the shareholders at the AGM 
Final dividend for 2007: 7.70p per share 
Final dividend for 2008: 8.80p per share 

2008 
£m 

– 
– 
16.6 
8.1 
24.7 

– 
18.8 

2007 
£m 

65.5 

43.2 

Total  
£m 
282.8 
5.0 
287.8 
 (5.0) 
– 
7.8 
6.2 
(29.0) 
(24.7) 
243.1 

2007 
£m 

15.1 
7.1 
– 
– 
22.2 

16.6 
– 

106  Britvic plc Annual Report 2008 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
13. Prior year restatement 
Further to the change in accounting policy explained in Note 2, the impact on the prior year balance sheet is that Investments  
in Group undertakings have increased by £18.6m reflecting shares issued or acquired in respect of the share entitlements of 
subsidiary employees. Trade and other receivables: Amounts due from subsidiary undertakings have decreased by £12.9m to the 
extent such shares have vested. The share scheme reserve has increased by £5.3m reflecting the shares held which have not 
vested. Trade and other payables: Accruals and deferred income have increased by £0.7m and retained earnings have decreased 
by £0.3m, to correct the remaining differences compared to prior year treatment. There is no impact on the prior year profit and 
loss account. 

14. Contingent liabilities 
The Company is co-guarantor of the Group’s bank loan and overdraft facilities. 

15. Related party transactions 
The Company has taken advantage of the exemption under FRS 8 available to a parent company not to disclose transactions with 
other Group companies within its financial statements. 

16. Post balance sheet event 
The Directors became aware on 12 November 2008 that, unless the borrowing powers in the Articles of Association of the 
Company were appropriately amended within a three month period, the Group would not be in compliance with the borrowing 
powers therein. In the opinion of the Directors it is highly probable that a Special Resolution will be passed at the next AGM such 
that there is no impact on the Group’s financial position. 

Britvic plc Annual Report 2008  107 

 
 
Shareholder Information 

Shareholder profile as at 28 September 2008 

Category of holdings 
Private individuals 
Nominee companies 
Limited and public limited companies 
Other corporate bodies 
Pension funds, insurance companies and banks 

Range of holdings 
1 – 199 
200 – 499 
500 – 999 
1,000 – 4,999 
5,000 – 9,999 
10,000 – 49,999 
50,000 – 99,999 
100,000 – 499,999 
500,000 – 999,999 
1,000,000 plus 

Number of 
shareholders 
1,144 
694 
19 
7 
7 
1,871 

Percentage of total 
shareholders 
61.15 
37.09 
1.02 
0.37 
0.37 
100.00 

Number of 
shareholders 
95 
180 
277 
834 
117 
141 
53 
108 
23 
43 
1,871 

Percentage of total 
shareholders 
5.07 
9.63 
14.80 
44.57 
6.25 
7.54 
2.83 
5.78 
1.23 
2.30 
100.00 

Ordinary shares 
(million) 
2,919,208 
197,894,771 
11,035,627 
820,175 
3,368,014 
216,037,795 

Ordinary shares 
(million) 
6,877 
58,752 
192,519 
1,744,469 
803,809 
3,146,839 
3,942,999 
25,662,086 
16,280,320 
164,199,125 
216,037,795 

Percentage  
of issued  
share capital 
1.35 
91.60 
5.11 
0.38 
1.56 
100.00 

Percentage  
of issued  
share capital 
0.00 
0.03 
0.09 
0.81 
0.37 
1.46 
1.82 
11.88 
7.54 
76.00 
100.00 

Dividend mandates 
Shareholders who wish dividends to be paid directly into a bank or building society account should contact the Registrar for  
a dividend mandate form or the form can be downloaded from the Company’s website http.//Britvic.com/InvDividends.aspx  
This method of payment removes the risk of delay or loss of dividend cheques in the post and ensures that your account is 
credited on the due date. 

Dividend Reinvestment Plan (‘DRIP’) 
Shareholders can now choose to reinvest dividends received to purchase further shares in the Company through a DRIP. A DRIP 
application form is available via the Registrar or for download from the Company’s website http.//Britvic.com/InvDividends.aspx  

Share dealing services 
The Company’s Registrar, Equiniti Financial Services Limited, offer a telephone and internet dealing service, Shareview Dealing, 
which provides a simple and convenient way of buying and selling shares. For telephone dealings call 08456 037 037 between 
8.30am and 4.30pm, Monday to Friday, and for internet dealings log onto www.shareview.co.uk/dealing 

Individual savings accounts (‘ISAs’) 
ISAs in Britvic plc ordinary shares are available through Equiniti Financial Services Limited. Further information may be obtained 
through their ISA Helpline, telephone 0845 300 0430 or online at www.shareview.co.uk/isa 

Financial calendar  

Ex-dividend date 
Record date 
Annual General Meeting 

3 December 2008  
5 December 2008  
28 January 2009 

Payment of final dividend 
Interim results announcement 

13 February 2009 
May 2009 

108  Britvic plc Annual Report 2008 

  
 
  
 
 
 
Who We Are
Britvic is one of the two leading branded soft drinks 
businesses in the UK and the Republic of Ireland. Many 
of our brands are either first or second in their respective 
categories. We have a strong track record of innovation 
in products, packaging and marketing activity. In 2007 
we expanded into Ireland with a significant acquisition 
and we have a long-standing bottling agreement 
with PepsiCo for key brands such as Pepsi, 7UP and 
Gatorade in UK and Ireland. 

Our Investment Proposition
The Company has a track record of growth. Since 
flotation in 2005 it has delivered compound annual 
growth rates in revenue of 4.1%*, EBIT of 6.9%* and 
EPS of 16.1%. In addition over this timeframe it has 
delivered underlying free cash flow in excess of £180m.

* GB and International.

Business Overview

Business Review

Financial Statements

Electronic communications
Shareholders can elect to receive shareholder documents electronically by registering with Shareview at www.shareview.co.uk  
This will save on printing and distribution costs, creating environmental benefits. When you register, you will be sent an email 
notification to say when shareholder documents are available on our website and you will be provided with a link to that information. 
When registering, you will need your shareholder reference number which can be found on your share certificate or proxy form. 
Please contact Equiniti if you require any assistance or further information. 

Contacts
The Company Secretary is John Price and the registered office is Britvic House, Broomfield Road, Chelmsford CM1 1TU,  
telephone 01245 504482, fax 01245 504435, website www.britvic.com

The Company’s Registrar is Equiniti, Aspect House, Spencer Road, Lancing, West Sussex BN99 6DA, telephone 0871 384 2520*  
(UK callers) +44 121 415 7047 (non-UK callers).

* For those with hearing difficulties, a textphone is available on 0871 384 2255 for UK callers with compatible equipment.

Further copies of this report are available from the Company’s registered office (address as above) and may be accessed through  
the Company’s website, www.britvic.com

Cautionary note regarding forward-looking statements
This announcement includes statements that are forward-looking in nature. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown 
risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be 
materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. 
Except as required by the Listing Rules and applicable law, Britvic undertakes no obligation to update or change any forward-looking 
statements to reflect events occurring after the date such statements are published.

Definitions
1.  EBITDA is defined as operating profit before exceptional items, depreciation, amortisation and any impairment of or gain/loss  

on disposal of fixed assets.

2.  Adjusted net Group debt is defined as net Group debt, adding back the net benefit of debt hedging instruments that pass  

through Reserves.

3.  Free cash flow is defined as net cash flow excluding movements in borrowings, dividend payments and non-cash exceptional  
items. The 2007 figure excludes both the impact of the acquisition of Britvic Ireland and a sale of property in the UK for £9.8m. 

The effect of the transfer of Irish trade from Britvic International to Britvic Ireland in March 2008 has been taken account of in the  
financial performance of both entities, and both 2007 and 2008 numbers reflect this transfer. 

All numbers in this announcement other than those included within the Financial Statements are disclosed before exceptional items.  
Stills and carbonates are defined as per the recategorisation described at the Britvic March 2008 investor seminar.

The auditors have reported on the 2008 and 2007 accounts. Their reports for both years were unqualified and did not contain 
statements under section 237 (2) or (3) of the Companies Act 1985.

01/  Our Performance at a Glance
02/  Britvic at a Glance
04/  The Market at a Glance
 Our Strategy for Growth
05/ 
06/ 
 Growing the Core in GB
08/  Sowing the Seeds in GB
10/  Britvic International
11/  Britvic Ireland

12/  Chairman’s Statement
13/  Chief Executive’s Review
18/  Financial and Business Review
24/  Business Resources
25/  Risks and Uncertainties 

Corporate Responsibility

26/  Corporate Responsibility

Management

30/  Board of Directors

33/  Directors’ Report
38/  Corporate Governance Statement
42/  Directors’ Remuneration Report 
50/ 
 Independent Auditor’s Report
51/  Consolidated Income Statement
52/  Consolidated Balance Sheet
53/  Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows
54/ 

 Consolidated Statement of  
Recognised Income and Expense
 Notes to the Consolidated Financial 
Statements

55/ 

100/   Independent Auditor’s Report to the 

Members of Britvic plc

101/  Company Balance Sheet
102/   Notes to the Company Financial 

Statements

108/   Shareholder Information

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Designed by www.luminous.co.uk

 
Britvic plc
Britvic House 
Broomfield Road 
Chelmsford 
Essex 
CM1 1TU

Telephone 01245 261871 
Fax 01245 267147

www.britvic.com

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Britvic plc
Annual Report 2008