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Crescent Point Energy

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FY2014 Annual Report · Crescent Point Energy
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CREATING

OPPORTUNITIES 
FOR GROWTH

Annual Report 2014

COMPASS GROUP PLC PROVIDES 
GREAT FOOD AND SUPPORT SERVICES 
TO MILLIONS OF PEOPLE AROUND 
THE WORLD EVERY DAY. OUR CORE 
STRATEGY IS UNCHANGED AND 
CONTINUES TO DELIVER. WE REMAIN 
POSITIVE ABOUT THE STRUCTURAL 
GROWTH POTENTIAL IN FOOD AND 
SUPPORT SERVICES GLOBALLY.

See this Report and our full Corporate Responsibility 
Report online at www.compass-group.com/ar14

SHAREHOLDER INFORMATION
144   Shareholder information
146    Notice of Annual General Meeting

CONTENTS

STRATEGIC REPORT
2  Chairman’s statement
4   Strategic report overview
6   Sectors and services
8   Our regions
10   Chief Executive’s statement
12   Market perspective
14   Business model
16   Strategy for growth
18   Key performance indicators 
20   Regional reviews
32    Finance Director’s statement
37    Principal risks
40  Our responsibilities
46  Our Board

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
49 
59 

 Governance and Directors’ Report
  Directors’ Remuneration Report

CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
78 
 Directors’ responsibilities
79  Independent auditor’s report
81 
92 

 Consolidated financial statements
 Notes to the consolidated financial 
statements

 PARENT COMPANY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
137  Parent Company financial statements
139   Notes to the Parent Company financial 

statements

50+
50,000+
500,000+
4,000,000,000+

We operate in over 50 countries 

We work in more than 50,000 client locations

We employ more than 500,000 great people

We serve over 4 billion meals a year

REVENUE
(£M)

UNDERLYING OPERATING 
MARGIN
(%)

UNDERLYING BASIC 
EARNINGS PER SHARE
(PENCE)

UNDERLYING OPERATING 
PROFIT
(£M)

REPORTED PROFIT 
BEFORE TAX
(£M)

5
0
9
,
6
1

7
5
5
,
7
1

8
5
0
,
7
1

9
.
6

1
.
7

2
.
7

7
.
7
4

7
.
8
4

6
.
2
4

5
6
2
,
1

5
4
2
,
1

8
7
1
,
1

9
8
7

1
2
7

7
4
1
,
1

DIVIDEND PER ORDINARY 
SHARE
(PENCE)

5
.
6
2

0
.
4
2

3
.
1
2

2012

2013

2014

2012

2013

2014

2012

2013

2014

2012

2013

2014

2012

2013

2014

2012

2013

2014

See page 33 for definitions

Compass Group PLC Annual Report 2014

1

Strategic reportCorporate governanceConsolidated financial statementsParent Company financial statementsShareholder informationCHAIRMAN’S STATEMENT
CREATING VALUE FOR 
OUR SHAREHOLDERS

Compass has had another 
successful year. We remain  
very positive about the attractive 
growth opportunities in our 
markets globally and the 
potential for further revenue  
and margin growth.

28 POSITION IN FTSE 100 INDEX AS  

AT 30 SEPTEMBER 2014 (2013: 30)

OUR VALUES 

OPENNESS, TRUST 
AND INTEGRITY

PASSION FOR  
QUALITY

WIN THROUGH  
TEAMWORK

CAN DO SAFELY

RESPONSIBILITY

COMPASS SHARE  
PRICE PERFORMANCE  
V FTSE 100  
OVER LAST 3 YEARS
(%)

0
2
.
1
6

0
7
.
9
0 2
1
4
1

.

1 YEAR 2 YEARS 3 YEARS

2

COMPASS GROUP SHARE PRICE PERFORMANCE V THE FTSE 100 INDEX  
(PENCE)

2013 

2014

FTSE (REBASED)
COMPASS

1,100

1,050

1,000

950

900

850

800

S

O

N

D

J

F

M

A

M

J

J

A

S

Compass Group PLC Annual Report 2014

 Creating shareholder value is  
a key priority for the Group 

I am very pleased to report, in my first statement as Chairman, that 
Compass has had another successful year with growth in constant 
currency revenue and operating profit. Cash flow has remained strong, 
continuing to underpin our commitment to shareholder value and 
enabling us to make a significant return of cash to shareholders during 
the year.

We have continued to deliver a strong performance in North America 
and in the Fast Growing & Emerging region, where emerging markets 
are growing at a double digit rate. The culture of outsourcing is strong 
in all our regions, but we are seeing particularly robust growth in 
North America, where the already strong trend is accelerating, and  
a structural shift to outsourcing in the emerging economies. Economic 
conditions in Europe & Japan have somewhat improved over the year 
and the investments we have made in the sales and retention teams 
are being reflected in an encouraging pipeline. 

Our Management and Performance (MAP) framework continues to 
have a significant impact on driving growth and margin across the 
business. The focus on efficiencies within the MAP framework is 
ongoing and we believe that we are still only part of the way through 
the journey to drive further productivity in our cost base. As well as 
delivering further progression in the margin, the ongoing generation of 
efficiencies enables us to continue to invest in the growth opportunities 
we see around the Group. 

OUR PEOPLE
The results we have achieved are a testament to our excellent people, 
many of whom I’ve met as I’ve visited our operations during the year. 
I have been particularly encouraged by the positive and consistent 
language that the MAP framework has created and the sharing of 
best practice that our global forums enable. I would like to take this 
opportunity, on behalf of the Board, to thank all our great people for 
the tremendous results they have achieved this year. 

COMMITMENT TO CORPORATE RESPONSIBILITY
Corporate responsibility underpins our business, driving our decisions 
and enabling us to achieve our strategic goals in a responsible and 
sustainable way. The Board is fully committed to the integration of 
broader social, ethical and sustainable practices across our day to day 
business. Our teams around the Group work hard to continuously 
enhance the positive contribution that we make to local communities. 
We focus on the issues that are important to our business and our 
stakeholders, from the way we source our products to how we engage 
with our people and customers. Specifically, our focus includes 
developing our people, the health and wellbeing of our consumers, 
the responsible use of resources and improving the integrity of our 
supply chain. 

We started our corporate responsibility journey in 2007 and have 
delivered continuous performance improvement against our published 
key performance indicators and targets. Details of our progress can be 
found on pages 40 to 45.

SHAREHOLDER RETURNS
Creating shareholder value is a key priority for the Group. Our clear 
and consistent strategy and our financial performance enable us 
to both invest in the business and to grow the dividend broadly in line 

with constant currency earnings. This year, the Board is proposing  
a final dividend of 17.7 pence for payment on 23 February 2015.  
This brings our total dividend for 2014 to 26.5 pence, a year on year 
increase of 10.5%. 

As well as our commitment to a progressive dividend policy,  
the ongoing strength of our business and our cash flows, and our 
confidence in our future performance, mean we have been able  
to make a Return of Cash of £1 billion to shareholders accompanied  
by a Share Consolidation. This was completed in July of this year.  
The £500 million share buyback programme announced in  
November 2013 is ongoing and is expected to complete during 2015. 

LEADERSHIP
During the year, Carol Arrowsmith joined the Board as a non-executive 
director. Carol was appointed Chairman of the Remuneration 
Committee, succeeding Sir Ian Robinson who stepped down from the 
role in June. Sir Ian remains the Group’s Senior Independent Non-
Executive Director. Carol is also a member of the Audit, Nomination 
and Corporate Responsibility Committees. Carol was previously a 
partner at Deloitte LLP and Vice Chairman of their UK business, 
where for many years she led their executive remuneration practice. 
Carol’s experience makes her an excellent addition to our Board and  
I would like to welcome her to the Group.

The Board and the Group’s Executive Board, led by our Group Chief 
Executive Richard Cousins, have worked hard to put in place effective 
succession and development programmes for our strong leadership 
teams across our geographies. The excellent work that has been done 
is reflected in our continued strong results and will continue to be  
a focus for me in my role as Chairman.

SUMMARY AND OUTLOOK
Compass has had a good year, delivering solid organic revenue growth 
and a 10 basis point increase in the Group operating margin. North 
America and Fast Growing & Emerging, which account for two thirds 
of Group revenue, have grown strongly and we are encouraged by the 
improvement seen through the year in Europe & Japan. Looking ahead 
to next year, the pipeline of new contracts is healthy and we expect to 
see further good performances in all of our regions. 

Looking to the longer term, we remain excited about the attractive 
structural growth opportunities in our markets globally and we believe 
we are well placed to capitalise on them. We also expect to deliver 
further cost efficiencies, which will help to support future growth and 
enable us to make further progress in the operating margin. As a result, 
we remain confident in our ability to continue to create significant value 
for our shareholders.

PAUL WALSH
Chairman 
26 November 2014

Compass Group PLC Annual Report 2014

3

Strategic reportCorporate governanceConsolidated financial statementsParent Company financial statementsShareholder information 
 
 
 
STRATEGIC REPORT OVERVIEW
CREATING OPPORTUNITIES 
FOR GROWTH

We deliver great food and support services to millions of people 
around the world every day and we have a clear and consistent 
strategy in place to create value for our stakeholders. Our 
sustainable business model, built on organic revenue growth, 
operating efficiencies, competitive advantage and our people, 
has driven another strong performance this year.

WHAT SECTORS AND REGIONS  
DO WE OPERATE IN?

We have a well balanced and 
diversified business operating 
in five sectors across three 
regions: North America, 
Europe & Japan and Fast 
Growing & Emerging.

REGIONAL REVENUE

3

2

1

HOW DID WE PERFORM IN 2014?

2014 has been another year 
of consistent performance 
with organic revenue growth 
of 4.1% and an increase in 
the operating margin of  
10 basis points.

REVENUE

6

8

1. NORTH AMERICA  ........................48%
2. EUROPE & JAPAN ........................ 34%
3. FAST GROWING & EMERGING ..... 18%

32

>£17bn

WHAT IS OUR BUSINESS MODEL? 

WHAT IS OUR STRATEGY  
FOR GROWTH?

We deliver sustainable value and 
competitive advantage by:

Our principal aim is to 
grow organically and 
efficiently, focusing on 
food and developing a 
targeted support services 
offer across our wide 
geographic base.

ORGANIC REVENUE GROWTH

INNOVATING

SOURCING 
RESPONSIBLY 

PREPARING 
DELICIOUS DISHES 

PROVIDING 
GREAT SERVICE

14

4

16

OPERATIONAL EFFICIENCIES

Compass Group PLC Annual Report 2014

WHAT ARE THE OPPORTUNITIES 
WITHIN OUR MARKETS?

WHAT ARE OUR KEY  
PERFORMANCE INDICATORS?

The growth potential in the 
outsourced food and support 
services markets is a key 
driver and we see exciting 
opportunities across all the 
sectors in which we operate.

FOOD AND SUPPORT SERVICE  
MARKET SIZE

We use a range of financial 
and non-financial KPIs to 
measure our performance, 
which we believe best reflect 
our strategic priorities.

UNDERLYING BASIC 
EARNINGS PER SHARE
(PENCE)
6
2
4

7
7
4

.

.

.

7
8
4

12

>£400bn

12

2012

2013

2014

WHAT ARE OUR RISKS AND HOW  
DO WE MANAGE THEM?

HOW DO WE DEVELOP MORE 
SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS PRACTICES?

We take a proactive approach 
to recognising and mitigating 
risk with the aim of protecting 
our employees and consumers 
and safeguarding the interests 
of the Company and its 
shareholders.

Adopting responsible 
practices across our global 
operations places corporate 
responsibility at the heart  
of our business. Over the  
past year, we have made  
good progress against  
our CR commitments.

37

40

Compass Group PLC Annual Report 2014

5

Strategic reportCorporate governanceConsolidated financial statementsParent Company financial statementsShareholder informationSECTORS AND SERVICES
A WELL BALANCED AND 
DIVERSIFIED BUSINESS

Our sectorised approach is a key differentiator. 
In recognition that each sector has specific 
requirements, we assign specialists to drive 
tailor made solutions and operating efficiency. 

For consumers, this means quicker access  
to sector focused best practices and market 
leading innovations that are delivered by our 
teams, from award winning chefs to service 
practice experts. 

GROUP REVENUE
(%)

1

5

4

3

2

1. BUSINESS & INDUSTRY ................................................... 40%
2. HEALTHCARE & SENIORS .................................................21%
3. EDUCATION ...................................................................... 16%
4. SPORTS & LEISURE ...........................................................11%
5. DEFENCE, OFFSHORE & REMOTE .................................... 12%

HEALTHCARE & SENIORS

SPORTS & LEISURE

EDUCATION

6

Compass Group PLC Annual Report 2014

BUSINESS & INDUSTRY 
We provide a choice of quality, nutritious and 
well balanced food for employees during their 
working day. In addition, where clients seek 
broader service offerings, the Compass Service 
Framework enables us to deliver a range of 
support services to the highest standard, at the 
best value, on an international scale.

EDUCATION 
From kindergarten to college, we provide fun, 
nutritious dining solutions that help support 
academic achievement at the highest levels. 
Our simple set of commitments – Eat, Learn, 
Live – helps us to educate young people about 
how to have a happy, safe and healthy lifestyle 
while contributing to a sustainable world. 

DEFENCE, OFFSHORE & REMOTE
Through our established health and  
safety culture, we are a market leader  
in providing food and support services  
to major companies in the oil and gas  
and mining and construction industries, 
operating in some of the most demanding 
environments in the world. For our defence 
sector clients, we are a partner who  
meets the challenges of running efficient 
operations outside areas of conflict.

HEALTHCARE & SENIORS 
We are specialists in helping hospitals in  
the public and private sectors on their journey 
of managing efficiency and enhancing quality 
across a range of services. With a significant 
presence in the growing senior living market, 
we also provide services to residential homes 
and home meal delivery services.

SPORTS & LEISURE 
Operating at some of the world’s most 
prestigious sporting and leisure venues, 
exhibition centres, visitor attractions and 
major events, we have an enviable reputation 
for providing outstanding hospitality and  
true service excellence.

BUSINESS & INDUSTRY

DEFENCE, OFFSHORE & REMOTE

Compass Group PLC Annual Report 2014

7

Strategic reportCorporate governanceConsolidated financial statementsParent Company financial statementsShareholder informationOUR REGIONS
A BROAD GEOGRAPHIC 
FOOTPRINT

The Group’s management structure brings an incisive focus to the 
differing opportunities and challenges in each geographic region. 

With around 90% of revenue generated outside the UK, Compass 
is a truly international business with operations in over 50 countries. 
The business is managed in three regions, with each comprising 
countries that are at similar stages of development and display 
similar market dynamics.

8

Compass Group PLC Annual Report 2014

NORTH AMERICA
North America is the core growth engine for the Group.  
We have a market leading business there, which delivers 
excellent levels of growth and steady margin expansion.  
Having first established the business in 1994, we are now  
the 11th largest private sector employer in the USA and  
serve around six million meals a day. 

Find out more on page 20

EUROPE & JAPAN
Despite difficult economic conditions in Europe, our teams 
there are doing an excellent job in mitigating the impact  
and we see good medium term growth opportunities across  
the region. We continue to see steady progress in our  
business in Japan.

Find out more on page 24

FAST GROWING & EMERGING
The Fast Growing & Emerging region offers excellent  
growth potential and is likely to become a larger part  
of the Group as we expand our presence in these markets. 
Revenue has doubled and profits quadrupled since 2006  
and we are making significant investment in management 
and infrastructure to support our growth.

Find out more on page 28

REVENUE
(2013: £8,150M)

% OF GROUP
REVENUE
(2013: 47%)

UNDERLYING
OPERATING PROFIT
(2013: £657M)

REVENUE
(2013: £6,039M)

% OF GROUP
REVENUE
(2013: 34%)

UNDERLYING
OPERATING PROFIT
(2013: £420M)

REVENUE
(2013: £3,368M)

% OF GROUP
REVENUE
(2013: 19%)

UNDERLYING
OPERATING PROFIT
(2013: £242M)

£8,199m

48%

£666m

£5,716m

34%

£409m

£3,143m

18%

£226m

Compass Group PLC Annual Report 2014

9

Strategic reportCorporate governanceConsolidated financial statementsParent Company financial statementsShareholder informationCHIEF EXECUTIVE’S STATEMENT
DISCIPLINED GROWTH DELIVERING 
SHAREHOLDER VALUE

Compass has had another good 
year, with strong growth in  
North America and Fast Growing 
& Emerging and further 
improvement in Europe & Japan.

Revenue for the Group increased by 4.1% on a constant currency  
basis in the year to 30 September 2014. Adjusting for the impact of 
acquisitions and disposals, organic revenue growth for the period 
remained strong at 4.1%. However, due to the significant strengthening 
of sterling against many of the Group’s key currencies, reported Group 
revenue declined by 2.8%. 

During the year, we delivered new business growth of 8.5%, driven by 
strong performances in MAP 1 (client sales and marketing) in North 
America and Fast Growing & Emerging and an improving performance 
in Europe & Japan. Our retention rate also remained high at 93.5%, 
despite the effect of our planned exit of certain uneconomic contracts  
in Europe and some site closures associated with the slowdown in the 
Australian resources sector. 

Like for like revenue growth of 2.1% reflects modest price increases 
and slightly positive like for like volume. Like for like volume continues 
to be broadly flat in North America and positive in Fast Growing 
& Emerging. In Europe & Japan, like for like volume, although still 
negative overall, has shown an improving trend over the period. 
We have retained our focus on increasing consumer participation  
and spend through MAP 2 (consumer sales and marketing) initiatives, 
developing innovative and exciting consumer propositions, and 
improving our people’s retailing skills. 

Underlying operating profit increased by 5.9% in the year on a constant 
currency basis, with the underlying operating profit margin increasing 
by 10 basis points to 7.2%. We have continued to drive efficiencies 
across the business using our management and performance framework, 
MAP. We have maintained our focus on MAP 3 (cost of food) initiatives 
such as menu planning and supplier rationalisation, as well as MAP 4 
(labour and in unit costs) and MAP 5 (above unit costs). As well as 
enabling us to deliver further operating margin improvement, these 
efficiencies are helping us to invest to support the exciting growth 
opportunities we see around the world and mitigate negative volumes  
in parts of Europe. 

STRATEGY
FOCUS ON FOOD
Food remains our core business. The structural opportunity in the 
outsourced food service market, estimated at more than £200 billion, 
is a key growth driver. With only around 50% of the market currently 
outsourced, it represents a significant opportunity. We believe the 
benefits of outsourcing will become ever more apparent as economic 
conditions and regulatory changes put increasing pressure on 
organisations’ budgets. As one of the largest providers in all of our 
sectors, we are well placed to benefit from these trends.

GROWING SUPPORT SERVICES
Support services are also an important part of our business and  
we continue to win new contracts and expand the range of services  
we supply to our existing clients. Our largest sector in this market is 
Defence, Offshore & Remote, where the model is almost universally 
food combined with support service. Outside this, we have an excellent 

10

Compass Group PLC Annual Report 2014

support service business in North America and some well established 
operations in other parts of the world. This is a complex market and 
there are significant differences in client buying behaviour across 
countries, sectors and sub sectors. Our approach is therefore low risk 
and incremental, with strategies developed on a country by country 
basis to address the local and international opportunity.

GEOGRAPHIC SPREAD AND EMERGING MARKETS
Our geographic strategy remains unchanged. Over the last ten years 
the Group has evolved significantly from a predominantly European 
based business with just over £11 billion of revenue to the £17 billion 
global business today. During this time we have halved the number  
of countries in which we operate. 

We expect North America (48% of Group revenue) to remain the 
principal growth engine for the Group. We have a market leading 
business with excellent management teams delivering high levels of 
growth and steady margin expansion. The outsourcing culture is 
vibrant and the addressable market is significant. 

The fundamentals of our businesses in Europe & Japan (34% of  
Group revenue) are good and we see many opportunities to drive 
growth in revenue and margin. The actions we have taken to reduce 
cost and make our operations more competitive are enabling us to 
increase investment in MAP 1 sales and retention. This, combined 
with better economic conditions, is delivering an improving trend  
in organic revenue.

Fast Growing & Emerging (18% of Group revenue) is an exciting part 
of our business. We have a strong presence in key markets such as 
Brazil and Turkey, and we are growing rapidly in India and China. 
With the potential they offer, we are investing in opportunities and  
we would hope to see high levels of growth maintained well into 
the future.

Our future looks balanced. Our business in North America is  
in great shape and growing strongly, and we are seeing a clear 
acceleration in the emerging markets. The trends in our European 
business are improving. 

ORGANIC GROWTH, SUPPLEMENTED BY INFILL ACQUISITIONS
Sustainable and quality organic growth is our key priority but we 
continue to seek infill acquisitions where they deliver value to the 
business. Our focus is on small to medium sized infill acquisitions in 
food and support services in our existing geographies, bringing on 
board quality businesses and strong management teams. We continue 
to target financial returns ahead of our cost of capital by the end  
of the second year. 

ONGOING DRIVE FOR EFFICIENCIES
We believe that we are only part of the way through the journey to 
drive further productivity in our cost of food (MAP 3) and our in unit 
costs (MAP 4), as well as being able to leverage the overhead base by 
controlling our above unit costs (MAP 5). The ongoing generation of 
efficiencies enables us to invest in the business and helps underpin our 
expectation of further margin progression. 

USES OF CASH AND BALANCE SHEET PRIORITIES
The Group’s cash flow generation remains strong and it will continue  
to be a key part of the business model. Going forward, our priorities  
for how we use our cash are the same: (i) we will continue to invest  
in capital expenditure to support organic growth where we see good 
returns; (ii) we remain committed to growing the dividend broadly  
in line with constant currency earnings; (iii) we look to make small to 
medium sized infill acquisitions. After making these investments, we 
will maintain an efficient balance sheet through returns to shareholders 
whilst continuing to target strong investment grade credit ratings. 

SUMMARY AND OUTLOOK
Compass has had a good year, delivering solid organic revenue growth 
and a 10 basis point increase in the Group operating margin. North 
America and Fast Growing & Emerging, which account for two thirds 
of Group revenue, have grown strongly and we are encouraged by the 
improvement seen through the year in Europe & Japan. Looking ahead 
to next year, the pipeline of new contracts is healthy and we expect to 
see further good performances in all of our regions. 

Looking to the longer term, we remain excited about the attractive 
structural growth opportunities in our markets globally and we believe 
we are well placed to capitalise on them. We also expect to deliver 
further cost efficiencies, which will help to support future growth and 
enable us to make further progress in the operating margin. As a result, 
we remain confident in our ability to continue to create significant value 
for our shareholders.

RICHARD COUSINS
Group Chief Executive 
26 November 2014

Compass Group PLC Annual Report 2014

11

Strategic reportCorporate governanceConsolidated financial statementsParent Company financial statementsShareholder informationMARKET PERSPECTIVE
OPPORTUNITIES FOR GROWTH 
THROUGH STRONG POSITIONS 
IN ATTRACTIVE MARKETS

The outsourcing proposition remains compelling  
and we are seeing an acceleration in the trend to 
outsourcing in many of our markets. The structural 
growth opportunities that this presents are exciting. 

Compass operates in over 50 countries; countries where we can  
build scale and where the structural growth opportunities are 
attractive. We deliver services in five sectors: Business & Industry, 
Healthcare & Seniors, Education, Defence, Offshore & Remote  
and Sports & Leisure. 

We operate in the food and support services markets, which have an 
estimated combined market value of over £400 billion. These markets 
are highly fragmented and underpenetrated, with the global food 
service market estimated to be less than 50% outsourced. Outsourcing 
rates in some sectors, such as Healthcare & Seniors and Education,  
are significantly lower. Business & Industry, whilst more penetrated  
at around 80%, still offers excellent growth potential as new businesses 
are created, the trend to outsourcing is already vibrant and the market 
large and highly fragmented.

The large international operators make up a small proportion of the 
total market, less than 20%, meaning that around 80% is either self 
operated or operated by small, local providers. We see this as a 
significant opportunity. 

As a large organisation, we are able to benefit from our scale, sharing 
best practice from around the world in areas such as HSE, health  
and wellness, and consumer offers. It also enables us to optimise our 
purchasing, overheads and logistics and we are therefore able to offer 
excellent quality at a lower cost for our clients. The combination of 
enabling an organisation’s management to focus on its core business 
and respond to the growing pressure on budgets has resulted in an 
acceleration in the trend to outsourcing.

Our international presence also enables us to establish partnerships 
with blue chip multinational institutions as they look for consistency 
of service across their operations and can trust in our reputation  
for first class delivery and responsible corporate practices. We have  
a growing presence in the emerging markets where we began by 
partnering with these large multinational organisations and are now 
increasingly serving local businesses as well. Our focus on health and 
safety has been an attractive element of our service in these markets 
and around the world.

12

Compass Group PLC Annual Report 2014

OUTSOURCING PENETRATION RATES FOR ADDRESSABLE  
FOOD AND SUPPORT SERVICES MARKETS

2

2

FOOD 
SERVICE

1

SUPPORT
SERVICES

1

1. OUTSOURCED  2. SELF OPERATED

FOOD AND SUPPORT SERVICES  
MARKET SIZE

>£400bn

Numbers relating to market size and penetration 
rates are based on management estimates and  
a range of external data

Compass Group PLC Annual Report 2014

13

Strategic reportCorporate governanceConsolidated financial statementsParent Company financial statementsShareholder informationBUSINESS MODEL
DELIVERING VALUE

We provide food and support services  
to millions of people around the world. 
Delivering value to our customers, 
employees, our suppliers and ultimately 
to our shareholders is our priority. 

We do this by putting innovation at the 
forefront of everything we do, by sourcing the 
best ingredients responsibly and by making 
health and safety a way of life, giving our 
customers confidence in the hygiene and 
provenance of their food and the safety of 
our working practices. We aim to make a 
positive difference to the communities and 
environments in which we operate, acting 
responsibly to deliver sustainable results. 

OUR 
PEOPLE

Our people are at the 
heart of everything we  
do, delivering world class 
service to our customers 
and working tirelessly to 
achieve our goals.

INNOVATE
Innovation is integral 
to our business. We are 
constantly striving to 
improve what we do, 
from more efficient 
ways of sourcing to 
maintaining and 
enhancing best practice 
standards, delivering 
innovative solutions 
to our clients. 

BENEFITS TO STAKEHOLDERS
This gives our clients 
and consumers greater 
choice and the highest 
level of service and keeps 
Compass at the forefront 
of innovation in the 
food and support 
services industry. 

SOURCE
The suppliers we buy from 
undergo a robust quality 
assurance process. We 
have global supply chain 
standards in place to 
ensure traceability and 
provenance through each 
stage of the chain. 

PREPARE
We are committed to the 
highest standards of food 
hygiene and safe working 
practices. We also look to 
reduce our impact on the 
environment by focusing 
on efficient energy use, 
minimising water 
consumption and waste.

PROVIDE
Our award winning 
chefs create menus from 
the highest quality 
ingredients which are 
served by our highly 
trained teams in the 
most efficient way. Great 
people give great service 
so the development of 
our people is one of our 
top priorities.

BENEFITS TO STAKEHOLDERS
This ensures that we use 
the best ingredients, 
responsibly sourced to 
protect both our suppliers 
and the environment 
and gives our consumers 
confidence in the 
provenance and quality 
of the food we provide. 

BENEFITS TO STAKEHOLDERS
We are reducing the 
impact we have on the 
environment whilst also 
lowering the costs of our 
operations, increasing the 
sustainability of our results 
and supporting the 
communities in which  
we operate. 

BENEFITS TO STAKEHOLDERS
Our consumers get 
great tasting, nutritious 
food that exceeds 
expectations. Our  
people are supported 
through training and 
development, enabling 
them to contribute to and 
share in our success.

14

Compass Group PLC Annual Report 2014

By doing all of this in the most efficient way 
we ensure that we remain competitive which, 
in turn, underpins our core strategic goals 
to grow our business organically and to 
generate efficiencies.

H

T

W

OPER

ATIN

G

E

F

F

I

C

I

E

N
C

I

E
S

VENUE GR O

E
 R
C
I
N
A
G
R

O

COMPETITIVE  A D V

N

A

T A G E

SHAREHOLDER 
VALUE

ORGANIC REVENUE GROWTH
Organic revenue is the foundation 
of our strategy to deliver sustainable 
growth. It is generated from winning 
new contracts, retaining existing 
clients and increasing consumer 
participation and spend in our 
restaurants. As the trend to outsourcing 
accelerates around the world, we see 
exciting opportunities for growth  
in all our regions and sectors.

OPERATING EFFICIENCIES
Our success relies on us delivering 
the highest standards of quality 
and performance, whilst constantly 
striving to be the most efficient 
provider. The drive for efficiencies 
has become an embedded part of our 
culture. As well as delivering good 
levels of margin improvement, it 
enables us to reinvest in the exciting 
growth opportunities around 
the Group. 

COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE
Achieving our goal of being the lowest 
cost, most efficient provider of quality 
food and support services underpins 
our competitiveness and accelerates 
our growth in the global marketplace. 
The increase in organic revenue 
growth and efficiencies means we can 
invest in the business to support future 
performance, therefore completing the 
virtuous circle. 

Compass Group PLC Annual Report 2014

15

Strategic reportCorporate governanceConsolidated financial statementsParent Company financial statementsShareholder information 
STRATEGY FOR GROWTH
A STRATEGY TO DELIVER 
DISCIPLINED GROWTH AND 
OPERATING EFFICIENCIES

We have a consistent and sustainable 
strategy, committed to delivering 
shareholder value from the provision of 
food and support services to a growing 
outsourced market. Our principal aim is 
to grow organically and with discipline. 
We supplement this growth with small 
infill acquisitions where they deliver new 
expertise or help to build scale in our 
existing geographies. 

FOCUS 
ON FOOD

Food is our core business and 
from where we derive three 
quarters of our annual 
revenue. Our teams of award 
winning chefs, nutritional 
and health and safety experts 
allow our clients to focus on 
their own business needs by 
outsourcing this responsibility 
to us, and our size and 
experience allow us to help 
them save money.

PROOF POINTS
We estimate that the global 
food service market is around 
£200 billion, around 80% 
of which is either self operated 
or in the hands of small 
regional providers, presenting 
a significant structural growth 
opportunity (see page 12).

HOW ARE WE DRIVING ORGANIC GROWTH?

MAP 1: CLIENT SALES AND MARKETING
We have increased our investment in sales and retention teams 
across our geographies. In North America we have delivered 
exceptionally strong net new business and in the emerging markets 
we have been able to harness the structural shift to outsourcing, 
growing significantly against a backdrop of tough economic 
conditions. In Europe & Japan we are driving an improved organic 
performance through this increased MAP 1 focus with a pipeline 
of new business which gives us increased confidence in the future. 

MAP 2: CONSUMER SALES AND MARKETING
A contributor to organic revenue growth is like for like volume 
which is heavily influenced by the number of people at a 
client’s site. This reflects macroeconomic conditions and, in 
particular, employment levels. Whilst we continue to see economic 
conditions in some of our markets impact volumes, we are making 
good progress with intelligent marketing programmes and training 
schemes as we work hard to attract and satisfy our customer base 
with strong consumer propositions. 

16

Compass Group PLC Annual Report 2014

GROWING SUPPORT 
SERVICES

GEOGRAPHIC SPREAD,  
FAST GROWING AND 
EMERGING MARKETS

ORGANIC GROWTH, 
SUPPLEMENTED BY  
INFILL ACQUISITIONS

ONGOING DRIVE  
FOR EFFICIENCIES

We also provide a range of  
soft support services such as 
cleaning, reception and some 
building maintenance. Our 
strategy differs by country  
and by sector where attitudes  
to support services vary 
significantly. We are therefore 
increasing our capabilities in  
an incremental and low risk way 
on a country by country basis.

Our international presence  
in over 50 countries gives  
us a good geographical mix  
and diversifies our revenue 
sources. It allows us to serve 
multinational businesses, 
ensuring consistency of quality, 
service and standards across 
their organisations. In the last 
10 years, we have significantly 
grown our presence in those fast 
growing and emerging markets 
where we see sustainable 
growth opportunities. 

The main engine of growth is 
organic and we are investing in 
the business to capture future 
growth opportunities. Organic 
revenue is supplemented with 
small to medium sized infill 
acquisitions in food or support 
services where they add either 
capability or scale in our 
existing markets. We take 
a disciplined approach to our 
acquisition strategy based 
on the returns we expect 
to deliver.

PROOF POINTS
We are a leading provider 
of support services in the Defence, 
Offshore & Remote sector where 
we continue to enjoy excellent 
rates of growth. We also see 
exciting opportunities in 
Healthcare & Seniors, Business  
& Industry and Education.

PROOF POINTS
Our revenue in the Fast Growing 
& Emerging region continues to 
deliver growth above the Group 
average with the emerging 
markets growing at a double digit 
rate in 2014.

PROOF POINTS
We have a strong track record  
of exceeding our acquisition 
financial criteria, with returns 
above our cost of capital by 
the end of the second year 
of ownership.

We generate savings through 
adopting a systematic approach 
to our supply chain and better 
managing our labour and  
above unit overheads. These 
efficiencies enable us to grow 
the margin and to reinvest 
in the significant growth 
opportunities around the 
Group. In addition, the strong 
cash flow this generates 
supports our progressive 
dividend policy and the 
significant shareholder value we 
expect to continue to deliver.

PROOF POINTS
Since our MAP framework  
was introduced in 2006, we  
have increased the Group  
margin by 250 basis points.

HOW ARE WE GENERATING EFFICIENCIES?

MAP 3: COST OF FOOD
Food makes up around one third of 
our costs. In addition to the benefits  
of our purchasing scale, we are able to 
manage the cost of food by careful menu 
management and through rationalising 
the number of products we buy and the 
suppliers we buy from. 

MAP 4: IN UNIT COSTS
In unit costs are made up predominantly 
of labour. We focus on getting the right 
people in the right place at the right time. 
By using labour scheduling techniques 
and improving productivity, we are able 
to deliver the right level of service in the 
most efficient way. 

MAP 5: ABOVE UNIT OVERHEADS
Having reduced costs considerably  
when MAP was first introduced by 
creating a simpler organisational model 
with fewer layers of management and less 
bureaucracy, we now strive to leverage 
those gains by maintaining costs at a 
constant level whilst still growing revenue. 

Compass Group PLC Annual Report 2014

17

Strategic reportCorporate governanceConsolidated financial statementsParent Company financial statementsShareholder informationKEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS

We track our performance  
against a mix of financial and  
non-financial measures, which we 
believe best reflect our strategic 
priorities of growth, efficiency  
and shareholder returns 
underpinned by safe and 
responsible working practices. 

KPI METRICS
Our strategic priorities are driven by our goal to deliver shareholder 
value. We use a number of financial KPIs to measure our progress 
including earnings per share. Growing the business and driving 
ongoing efficiencies are integral to our strategy. Our organic revenue 
performance embodies our success in growing and retaining our 
customer base as well as our ability to drive volumes in our existing 
business and maintain appropriate pricing levels in light of input  
cost inflation. The operating profit margin is an important measure  
of the efficiency of our operations in delivering great food and support 
services to our clients and consumers. 

ORGANIC REVENUE GROWTH
Organic revenue growth compares  
the revenue delivered from continuing 
operations in the current year with that 
from the prior year, adjusting for the 
impact of acquisitions, disposals and 
exchange rate movements. 

UNDERLYING OPERATING MARGIN
Underlying operating margin divides the 
underlying operating profit before share 
of profit of associates from continuing 
operations by the revenue from 
continuing operations. 

UNDERLYING OPERATING 
MARGIN
(%)

.

9
6

1
7

.

2
7

.

ORGANIC REVENUE 
GROWTH
(%)

4
5

.

3
4

.

.

1
4

2012

2013

2014

2012

2013

2014

UNDERLYING FREE CASH FLOW
Underlying free cash flow measures cash 
generated by continuing operations, after 
working capital, capital expenditure, 
interest and tax but before acquisitions, 
disposals, dividends and share 
buybacks. The cash impact of the 
European exceptional costs is excluded 
from underlying free cash flow. 

UNDERLYING FREE  
CASH FLOW
(£M)

4
3
8

0
6
7

1
4
7

RETURN ON CAPITAL EMPLOYED
Return on capital employed divides the 
net operating profit after tax (NOPAT) 
by the 12 month average capital 
employed (CE). NOPAT is calculated  
as underlying operating profit from 
continuing operations less operating 
profit of non-controlling interests, net of 
income tax at the underlying rate of the 
year. CE is calculated as net assets, plus 
net debt, post-employment benefit 
obligations net of deferred tax, impaired 
goodwill, amortised goodwill and 
intangibles arising on acquisition, and 
less net assets of non-controlling interests 
and discontinued operations. 

RETURN ON CAPITAL 
EMPLOYED
(%)

2
.
8
1

1
.
9
1

3
.
9
1

2012

2013

2014

2012

2013

2014

18

Compass Group PLC Annual Report 2014

 
Free cash flow measures the success of the Group in turning profit  
into cash through the careful management of working capital and 
capital expenditure. Maintaining a high level of cash generation is 
important as it supports our progressive dividend policy, while the 
return on capital employed demonstrates how we have delivered 
against the various investments we make in the business, be it 
operational expenditure, capital expenditure or infill acquisitions.

The importance of safety in everything we do is demonstrated by  
three non-financial performance indicators that we use across our 
global business. The Food Safety Incident Rate is key in helping us  
to measure our food safety performance, and we use a universally 
recognised indicator to measure our performance in delivering safe 
working practices, the Lost Time Injury Rate. Since 2008, we have 
been focused on our carbon emissions to increase efficiency and we 
measure greenhouse gas emissions to assess our progress. 

UNDERLYING BASIC EARNINGS 
PER SHARE
Underlying basic earnings per share 
divides the underlying attributable  
profit from continuing operations by  
the weighted average number of shares  
in issue during the year. 

UNDERLYING BASIC 
EARNINGS PER SHARE
(PENCE)

.

7
7
4

.

7
8
4

.

6
2
4

ENVIRONMENT – GHG INTENSITY 
RATIO
GHG intensity ratio relating to the top 
20 countries which represent 93% of total 
Group revenue. 

GHG INTENSITY RATIO
(%)

2
7

.

.

3
3 7
6

.

2012

2013

2014

2012

2013

2014

FOOD SAFETY – FOOD SAFETY 
INCIDENT PERFORMANCE
Cases of substantiated food safety 
incidents, including food borne illnesses.

REDUCTION IN FOOD 
SAFETY INCIDENTS
(%)

HEALTH AND SAFETY – LOST TIME 
INJURY PERFORMANCE
Cases where one of our colleagues is 
away from work for one or more shifts as 
a result of a work related injury or illness.

REDUCTION IN LOST 
TIME INJURIES
(%)

22% REDUCTION

30% REDUCTION

2012

2013

2014

2012

2013

2014

Compass Group PLC Annual Report 2014

19

Strategic reportCorporate governanceConsolidated financial statementsParent Company financial statementsShareholder information 
REGIONAL REVIEW
NORTH AMERICA

GROUP REVENUE

48%

REVENUE BY SECTOR

1. BUSINESS & INDUSTRY  ........................29%
2. HEALTHCARE & SENIORS ......................29%
3. EDUCATION ............................................24%
4. DEFENCE, OFFSHORE & REMOTE  ...........3%
5. SPORTS & LEISURE  ...............................15%

5

4

3

1

2

REVENUE 

ORGANIC REVENUE GROWTH 

UNDERLYING OPERATING PROFIT 

UNDERLYING OPERATING MARGIN 

£8,199m

+6.8%

£666m

8.1%

OPERATING PERFORMANCE

Revenue (£m)

Underlying operating profit (£m)

Underlying operating margin

Region as % of Group revenue

2014

8,199

666

8.1%

48%

2013

8,150

657

8.1%

47%

20

Compass Group PLC Annual Report 2014

We have had another excellent year in our North 
American business. Overall revenue of £8.2 billion 
(2013: £8.2 billion) and organic revenue growth  
of 6.8% have been driven by strong new business 
wins and excellent retention rates. Like for like 
volume has remained broadly flat.

Operating profit increased by £49 million on a constant currency  
basis to £666 million (2013: £617 million). Continued progress on 
efficiencies and leveraging of the overhead base have, in part, been 
reinvested in the business to support the high levels of organic growth. 
Operating profit grew 8% and margin improved by 5 basis points. 

In the Business & Industry sector we have delivered good levels of  
net new business. New wins include contracts with Amazon.com, 
T-Mobile and SAP as well as the provision of support services to 
United Technologies. Like for like volume has remained broadly flat  
in this sector. 

Organic revenue growth in the Healthcare & Seniors sector was  
solid with good levels of new business wins. In the food service business 
we have won new contracts with the Parkland Health & Hospital 
System and Baptist Housing senior living in Canada. New support 
service contracts include NYC Health & Hospital and the CJW 
Medical Centre.

Good organic revenue growth in the Education sector was driven by 
increased participation and strong new business wins, including food 
contracts with McGill University in Canada, Rowan University and the 
Rochester City Schools District. New support service contracts include 
the Sacred Heart University as well as the provision of additional 
services to Texas A&M. 

Our Sports & Leisure business has delivered double digit organic 
revenue growth through good net new business and high attendance 
levels at sporting events. New contract wins include the NHL’s Phoenix 
Coyotes, the Columbus Clippers based at Huntington Field and Texas 
A&M Athletics. 

The ESS business, which provides food and support services in 
Alaska, Canada and the Gulf of Mexico, delivered solid organic 
revenue growth.

 North America remains our core 
growth engine. Our business there 
is large and well diversified, and 
we see exciting structural growth 
opportunities.

Compass Group PLC Annual Report 2014

21

Strategic reportCorporate governanceConsolidated financial statementsParent Company financial statementsShareholder informationBUILDING

ON A STRONG 
FOUNDATION

NORTH AMERICA
BUILDING ON A  
STRONG FOUNDATION

The outsourcing culture in  
North America is vibrant and  
we have market leading positions 
across all sectors.

North America remains our core growth 
engine. Revenue has grown from $6 billion  
in 2004 to $14 billion in 2014, with an average 
organic revenue growth rate of over 6%  
per year, and our margin is now over 8%.  
In addition to organic growth, we’ve acquired 
a range of businesses to expand our capability 
in certain regions and services.

Our business is large and well diversified, 
and we see exciting structural growth 
opportunities. The outsourcing environment 
is healthy and, with less than 60% of the 
estimated $72 billion food service market 
currently outsourced, there is significant 
potential for further progress. 

We have an excellent pipeline of contracts 
across all sectors. Importantly, our largest 
sector, Business & Industry, continues to 
deliver strong growth and the number of  
new businesses being created underpins our 
confidence in the future. For example, in the 
technology sector and the wider Silicon Valley 
area, we have more than doubled the number 
of clients we serve there over the last 10 years 
and now feed around 90,000 people across 
200 sites each day. Food is core to their 
working environment and the quality of  
what we provide is exceptional.

The growth of the business is underpinned  
by the successful sales and retention processes 
we have in place, such as the Strategic 
Alliance Group. This best practice retention 
model, originally developed in the US  
and now widely used across the Group,  
is a semi-independent team that takes a 
pre-emptive approach to retaining contracts 
by engaging with clients early and proactively 
renegotiating contracts. In North America,  
it has resulted in a retention rate above the 
Group average in 2014. We will continue  
to embed these processes further into the 
business globally, helping us to unlock more 
growth opportunities.

6m  We serve six million meals  

a day across the US

Compass Group PLC Annual Report 2014

23

Strategic reportCorporate governanceConsolidated financial statementsParent Company financial statementsShareholder informationREGIONAL REVIEW
EUROPE & JAPAN

GROUP REVENUE

34%

REVENUE BY SECTOR

1. BUSINESS & INDUSTRY  ........................55%
2. HEALTHCARE & SENIORS ......................16%
3. EDUCATION ............................................12%
4. DEFENCE, OFFSHORE & REMOTE  ...........7%
5. SPORTS & LEISURE  ...............................10%

5

4

3

2

1

REVENUE 

ORGANIC REVENUE GROWTH 

UNDERLYING OPERATING PROFIT 

UNDERLYING OPERATING MARGIN 

£5,716m

(1.5)%

£409m

7.2%

OPERATING PERFORMANCE

Revenue (£m)

Underlying operating profit (£m)

Underlying operating margin

Region as % of Group revenue

2014

5,716

409

7.2%

34%

2013

6,039

420

7.0%

34%

24

Compass Group PLC Annual Report 2014

Over the year, we saw steady improvement  
in the economic conditions of certain markets in 
the region, although trading conditions in others 
remain difficult. Overall, revenue in Europe & 
Japan totalled £5.7 billion (2013: £6.0 billion), 
an organic decline of 1.5%, half the rate of 
the previous year.

The investment in, and focus on, MAP 1 sales and retention processes 
are starting to deliver, with good levels of new business seen in the 
UK, Spain and across the Nordics. The exit of certain uneconomic 
contracts is now complete and has, as expected, impacted our  
retention rate during the year. We have won contracts with the  
Ville de Cannes and the Philharmonie de Paris and retained contracts  
with Chelsea Football Club and Somerset House in the UK, ENI 
Group in Italy, Lundbeck in Denmark and The International School 
of Luxembourg.

The rate of like for like volume decline has slowed compared to 2013 
and the decline in organic revenue is now around half the level seen last 
year at 1.5%. We have seen differing trends across the region. In North 
and East Europe, like for like volume is broadly unchanged whereas  
in the UK, Germany, the Netherlands and across Southern Europe 
although volumes remain negative, the trends are improving. We have 
seen some increased pressure on like for like volume in France and Italy 
through the year, whilst trends in Japan remain unchanged. 

Progress on operational efficiencies and cost reduction increased 
constant currency operating profit by £5 million, or 1.2%, to 
£409 million (2013: £404 million). This equates to 20 basis points 
of operating margin progression to 7.2%.

 The fundamentals of our 
business in Europe & Japan  
are good and we see many 
opportunities to drive growth  
in revenue and margin.

Compass Group PLC Annual Report 2014

25

Strategic reportCorporate governanceConsolidated financial statementsParent Company financial statementsShareholder informationFRESH 
THINKING

TAILORING OUR 
MENUS FOR MEDICAL 
DIETARY NEEDS

EUROPE & JAPAN
WORKING WITH CLIENTS  
TO ENSURE CONSISTENT 
DELIVERY

The food service market in Europe & Japan 
is large and underpenetrated. The ongoing 
need for organisations to reduce their costs 
underpins the outsourcing proposition.

The fundamentals of our businesses in  
Europe & Japan are good. Lower costs, an 
improved offer and more effective sales and 
retention processes are making us more 
competitive, building a better business on  
the solid foundations already in place. This 
increased focus on MAP 1, client sales and 
marketing, is starting to deliver with high 
levels of new business, particularly in the UK, 
Spain and the Nordic region, and improving 
underlying retention.

We still see many opportunities to drive 
growth in revenue and margin. The  
potential food service market is estimated at 
approximately £100 billion and is currently 
less than 50% outsourced. In some sectors, 
such as Healthcare & Seniors and Education, 
it is estimated to be less than 35% outsourced. 

The ongoing need for organisations to take 
out costs is a keystone of the outsourcing 
model and we therefore see significant 
structural growth potential. With a lower cost 
base and increased investment in sales and 
retention, we hope to be able to unlock more 
outsourcing opportunities.

Our success relies on us delivering the  
highest standards of quality and performance, 
whilst constantly striving to be the most 
efficient provider. By adopting a more 
systematic approach to our supply chain and 
better managing our labour and above unit 
overheads, we’re able to reinvest savings in  
the Group to drive organic revenue growth. 

<50%Proportion of food service market currently 

outsourced

Compass Group PLC Annual Report 2014

27

Strategic reportCorporate governanceConsolidated financial statementsParent Company financial statementsShareholder informationREGIONAL REVIEW
FAST GROWING & EMERGING

GROUP REVENUE

18%

REVENUE BY SECTOR

1. BUSINESS & INDUSTRY  ........................40%
2. HEALTHCARE & SENIORS ........................8%
3. EDUCATION ..............................................5%
4. DEFENCE, OFFSHORE & REMOTE  .........45%
5. SPORTS & LEISURE  .................................2%

5

4

1

3

2

REVENUE 

ORGANIC REVENUE GROWTH 

UNDERLYING OPERATING PROFIT 

UNDERLYING OPERATING MARGIN 

£3,143m

+8.1%

£226m

7.2%

OPERATING PERFORMANCE

Revenue (£m)

Underlying operating profit (£m)

Underlying operating margin

Region as % of Group revenue

2014

3,143

226

7.2%

18%

2013

3,368

242

7.2%

19%

28

Compass Group PLC Annual Report 2014

We delivered good organic revenue growth throughout 
the year despite softening volumes in some markets. 
Accelerated growth in the emerging markets, with 
strong levels of new business, was somewhat moderated 
by the slowdown in the Australian offshore and remote 
sector. Therefore, the region as a whole delivered 
organic revenue growth of 8.1% with revenue of  
£3.1 billion (2013: £3.4 billion). 

Overall, operating profit increased by £16 million on a constant 
currency basis to £226 million (2013: £210 million). As a result  
of our continued investment to support the many growth opportunities 
in this region, operating margin at 7.2% was flat versus last year.

Strong organic revenue growth in Turkey was driven by new business 
wins and like for like revenue growth. New contracts include the food 
service provision for Aksa, a food and support service contract with BP 
as well as the retention of Phillip Morris International and Bosch. 

In line with expectations, Australia delivered flat organic  
revenue growth due to the slowdown in the offshore and remote  
sector. However, Education and Healthcare continue to see good  
levels of new business with contract wins including a contract  
with Children’s Health Queensland to provide services at the  
Lady Cilento Children’s Hospital.

In Brazil, new business wins remain excellent across all sectors, 
including food service contracts with Usiminas and Vale, and  
the pipeline remains encouraging. Moderate pressure on volumes  
is being compensated by improved retention and an increase in first 
time outsourcing, and as a result, overall organic revenue growth  
is strong. With continued focus on cost efficiencies the business  
is in an excellent position to drive future growth. Elsewhere in 
LATAM we are also seeing good organic growth partly driven  
by several large new offshore and remote site contracts, including 
Bechtel in Chile.

Elsewhere in the region we have further developed our relationship 
with Chevron and have agreed a new international agreement, 
retaining our Angolan business. We have also won a large contract  
in South Africa to provide food to Netcare, a chain of 52 hospitals.

India and China have again delivered good double digit growth, driven 
by strong new business wins. We have won food service contracts with 
Intel and Capgemini in India and with Lenovo and Tencent in China, 
as well as several international schools including the International 
School of Beijing.

 With over 70% of the market 
currently estimated to be self 
operated, the structural growth 
trends are attractive and we’re 
seeing an accelerating trend  
to outsourcing.

Compass Group PLC Annual Report 2014

29

Strategic reportCorporate governanceConsolidated financial statementsParent Company financial statementsShareholder informationMAINTAINING 
HIGH 
STANDARDS

IN DEMANDING
ENVIRONMENTS 

FAST GROWING & EMERGING
MAINTAINING 
HIGH STANDARDS 
IN DEMANDING 
ENVIRONMENTS

We remain committed to maintaining the 
highest standards across the Group. 

Over the coming decades, fast growing and 
emerging economies are expected to see  
a significant increase in their working 
populations, income per capita and 
discretionary spend. Our exposure to these 
markets has almost trebled over the last 
decade and they now represent 18% of Group 
revenue. We have a strong presence in key 
markets such as Brazil and Turkey, and  
we are growing rapidly in India and China. 

Health and safety  
is our number one 
operational priority  
and a clear differentiator  
for our business. 

With over 70% of the market currently 
estimated to be self operated, the structural 
dynamics are attractive and we’re seeing an 
accelerating trend to outsourcing. As this 
continues, we would hope to see high levels  
of growth maintained well into the future. In 
order to maximise these opportunities, we’re 
investing in management and systems with  
a clear focus on quality, sustainable growth.

Given the demanding environments in which 
we operate in parts of this region, maintaining 
the highest standards of health and safety  
is non-negotiable and a clear differentiator  
for our business. A strong safety culture is 
important to our clients and is critical to the 
wellbeing of our colleagues and consumers. 
We operate a global Health, Safety and 
Environmental (HSE) Management System 
supported by policies, standards and metrics. 
This system underpins consistent operating 
standards across all of the diverse markets  
in which we operate. The Corporate 
Responsibility Committee of the Board 
reviews the HSE policies annually, supported 
by our global HSE forum, which brings 
together technical specialists from around 
the Group.

The forum is responsible for defining policies, 
setting standards, measuring compliance  
and sharing best practice. As a result of our 
dedicated focus on health and safety, our 
global Lost Time Injury Rate has improved 
by 51% compared to the 2008 baseline.

31%

We have seen continuous 
improvement in Health & 
Safety performance in this 
region, resulting in a 31% 
reduction in lost time injuries 
during the last 12 months 

Compass Group PLC Annual Report 2014

31

Strategic reportCorporate governanceConsolidated financial statementsParent Company financial statementsShareholder informationFINANCE DIRECTOR’S STATEMENT
BUSINESS REVIEW

2014 has been another year of 
consistent performance with 
organic revenue growth of over 
4% and a 10 basis points increase 
in the operating margin.

FINANCIAL SUMMARY

CONTINUING OPERATIONS
Revenue
Constant currency
Reported
Organic growth
Total operating profit
Constant currency
Underlying
Reported
Operating margin
Constant currency
Underlying
Reported
Profit before tax
Underlying
Reported
Basic earnings per share
Constant currency
Underlying
Reported
Free cash flow
Constant currency
Underlying
Reported

TOTAL GROUP INCLUDING  
DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS
Basic earnings per share
Full year dividend per ordinary share

SEGMENTAL PERFORMANCE

2014

2013

Increase/
(Decrease)

£17,058m £16,380m
£17,058m £17,557m
4.3%

4.1%

£1,245m
£1,245m
£1,217m

£1,176m
£1,265m
£802m

4.1%
(2.8)%

5.9%
(1.6)%
51.7%

7.2%
7.2%
7.1%

+10bps
7.1%
7.1%
+10bps
4.5% +260bps

£1,159m
£1,147m

£1,188m
£721m

(2.4)%
59.1%

48.7p
48.7p
48.8p

£741m
£741m
£683m

44.1p
47.7p
23.3p

£767m
£834m
£762m

10.5%
2.1%
109.4%

(3.4)%
(11.1)%
(10.4)%

49.0p
26.5p

23.5p
 24.0p

108.5%
10.5%

Revenue

Revenue growth

2014
£m

2013

£m   Reported

Constant
currency

Organic

CONTINUING OPERATIONS
North America
Europe & Japan
Fast Growing & Emerging
Total

8,199
5,716 
3,143
17,058

8,150  
6,039  
3,368  
17,557  

0.6%

7.2%
6.8%
(5.3)% (1.6)% (1.5)%
8.1%
7.5%
(6.7)%
4.1%
4.1%
(2.8)%

Total operating profit

Operating margin

2014
£m

2013
£m

2014
%

2013
%

8.1%
7.2%
7.2%
–
7.2%

8.1%
7.0%
7.2%
–
7.1%

CONTINUING OPERATIONS
North America
Europe & Japan
Fast Growing & Emerging
Unallocated overheads
Excluding associates
Associates
Underlying 
Amortisation of intangibles arising 

on acquisitions

Acquisition transaction costs
Adjustment to contingent 

consideration on acquisition

European exceptional
Goodwill impairment
Total

666
409
226
(65)
1,236
9
1,245

(25)
(3)

–
–
–
1,217

657
420
242
(64)
1,255
10
1,265

(25)
(3)

1
(59)
(377)
802

32

Compass Group PLC Annual Report 2014

 
 
 
REVENUE
Overall, organic revenue growth for the year was 4.1%, comprising 
new business of 8.5%, a retention rate of 93.5% and like for like 
growth of 2.1%. The impact from acquisitions less disposals was 
negligible resulting in constant currency revenue growth of 4.1%. 
There was a 6.9% negative impact from currency translation resulting 
in reported revenue decline of 2.8%.

OPERATING PROFIT
Underlying operating profit from continuing operations was 
£1,245 million (2013: £1,265 million), a decrease of 1.6%. 

The impact of currency movements on the results for the year has  
been significant. If we restate 2013’s result at the 2014 average 
exchange rates for the year, revenue would reduce by £1,177 million  
or 6.7% and underlying operating profit would reduce by £89 million, 
or 7.0%. 

On a constant currency basis, underlying operating profit has therefore 
increased by £69 million, an increase of 5.9%. A total of £65 million 
has been delivered from organic growth and £4 million from 
acquisitions less disposals. 

Operating profit, after the European exceptional cost of £nil  
(2013: £59 million), goodwill impairment of £nil (2013: £377 million), 
amortisation of intangibles arising on acquisition of £25 million  
(2013: £25 million), acquisition transaction costs of £3 million  
(2013: £3 million) and adjustment to contingent consideration on 
acquisition of £nil (2013: £1 million credit), was £1,217 million  
(2013: £802 million).

FINANCE COSTS 
The underlying net finance cost was £86 million (2013: £77 million), 
including a £7 million (2013: £11 million) charge relating to the 
pension deficit and a £6 million cost of the additional debt required to 
finance the £1 billion Return of Cash and the ongoing £500 million 
share buyback.

For 2015, we expect an underlying net finance cost of around  
£115 million, reflecting the full year cost of the additional debt.  
This equates to an effective interest rate of around 4% on gross debt.

OTHER GAINS AND LOSSES
Other gains and losses include a £1 million profit (2013: £1 million 
loss) on the disposal of US businesses, a £13 million profit on the 
disposal of an investment in an associate and a £2 million profit 
relating to the change in the fair value of investments.

PROFIT BEFORE TAX
Profit before tax from continuing operations was £1,147 million 
(2013: £721 million). On an underlying basis, profit before tax  
from continuing operations decreased by 2.4% to £1,159 million 
(2013: £1,188 million).

INCOME TAX EXPENSE
Income tax expense from continuing operations was £279 million 
(2013: £287 million).

On an underlying basis, the tax charge on continuing operations was 
£293 million (2013: £309 million), equivalent to an effective tax rate 
of 25% (2013: 26%). We expect the tax rate to continue to average out 
around this level in the short to medium term. 

BASIC EARNINGS PER SHARE 
Basic earnings per share, including discontinued operations, were 
49.0 pence (2013: 23.5 pence). 

On an underlying basis, excluding discontinued operations, the basic 
earnings per share from continuing operations were 48.7 pence 
(2013: 47.7 pence). After adjusting for currency movements, basic 
earnings per share increased by 10.5%.

Reported
Discontinued operations
Other adjustments
Underlying
Currency 
Constant currency

Attributable profit

Basic earnings per share

2014
£m

865
(3)
(2)
860
–
860

2013 
£m

429
(3)
445
871
(65)
806

2014
pence

49.0
 (0.2)
 (0.1)
48.7
–
48.7

2013 
pence

Change
%

23.5 108.5%
–
(0.2)
–
24.4
2.1%
47.7
(3.6)
–
10.5%
44.1

1  Constant currency restates the prior year results to 2014’s average exchange rates.
2  Total operating profit includes share of profit of associates.
3   Underlying operating profit and margin excludes European exceptional cost, 

goodwill impairment, amortisation of intangibles arising on acquisition, acquisition 
transaction costs and adjustment to contingent consideration on acquisition.

4   Operating margin is based on revenue and operating profit excluding share of profit 

of associates.

5   Underlying net finance cost excludes hedge accounting ineffectiveness and the 
change in the fair value of investments and non-controlling interest put options.

6   Underlying profit before tax excludes European exceptional cost, goodwill 

impairment, profit on disposal of US businesses, profit on disposal of interest  
in associates, amortisation of intangibles arising on acquisition, acquisition 
transaction costs, adjustment to contingent consideration on acquisition,  
hedge accounting ineffectiveness and change in the fair value of investments.

7   Underlying basic earnings per share excludes European exceptional cost, goodwill 
impairment, profit on disposal of US businesses, profit on disposal of interest in 
associates, amortisation of intangibles arising on acquisition, acquisition 
transaction costs, adjustment to contingent consideration on acquisition, hedge 
accounting ineffectiveness, change in the fair value of investments, the tax 
attributable to these and the exceptional recognition of tax losses in prior years.
8   Underlying cash flow adjusts for the £58 million of European exceptional cash costs 

(2013: £72 million of European exceptional cash costs).

9   Organic revenue growth is calculated by adjusting for acquisitions (excluding current 

year acquisitions and including a full year in respect of prior year acquisitions), 
disposals (excluded from both periods) and exchange rate movements (translating 
the prior year at current year exchange rates) and compares the current year results 
against the prior year.

Compass Group PLC Annual Report 2014

33

Strategic reportCorporate governanceConsolidated financial statementsParent Company financial statementsShareholder informationFINANCE DIRECTOR’S STATEMENT

DIVIDENDS
It is proposed that a final dividend of 17.7 pence per share will  
be paid on 23 February 2015 to shareholders on the register on  
23 January 2015. This will result in a total dividend for the year of  
26.5 pence per share (2013: 24.0 pence per share), a year on year 
increase of 10.5%. The dividend is covered around 1.8 times on an 
underlying earnings basis. We remain committed to growing the 
dividend in line with constant currency earnings and maintaining  
this level of cover.

FREE CASH FLOW
Free cash flow from continuing operations totalled £683 million 
(2013: £762 million). During the year, we incurred a £58 million 
outflow (2013: £72 million outflow) in respect of the European 
exceptional. Adjusting for this, free cash flow would have been 
£741 million.

Gross capital expenditure of £471 million (2013: £469 million),  
is equivalent to 2.7% of revenues (2013: 2.7% of revenues). We will 
continue to invest to support the growth agenda and expect capital 
expenditure to be around 2.5% of revenues. 

Excluding pensions and provisions, trade working capital has  
increased by £16 million (2013: decrease of £102 million). Looking 
forward, annual trade working capital movements are expected to  
be broadly neutral.

The cash outflow of £45 million (2013: £54 million) on post-employment 
benefit obligations largely reflects payments agreed with Trustees to 
reduce deficits on defined benefit pension schemes. These regular 
deficit repayments are expected to continue going forward. 

The cash tax rate for the year was 23% (2013: 22%), based on 
underlying profit before tax for the continuing operations. The rate 
was slightly lower than the short to medium term expected level  
in the mid-20s but marginally increased on the prior year. 

The net interest outflow for the year was £71 million (2013: £65 million). 

ACQUISITION PAYMENTS
Spend on acquisitions in the year, net of cash acquired, totalled 
£128 million (2013: £104 million). This includes £107 million of 
infill acquisitions, £3 million on acquisition transaction costs and 
£18 million of deferred consideration relating to prior year acquisitions. 

In addition, the Group increased its investments in associates in the 
year, with a gross spend of £48 million which was a net additional 
investment of £16 million after accounting for disposal proceeds 
of £32 million.

DISPOSALS
The Group received £66 million in respect of disposals, including 
the £32 million proceeds from the disposal of an investment in an 
associate, plus the disposal of some other small non-core businesses  
(2013: £8 million). £1 million was paid in the year in respect of 
businesses disposed of or discontinued in prior years (2013: £1 million) 
and £4 million tax was paid (2013: £nil) on profits from sale of 
subsidiary companies.

PURCHASE OF OWN SHARES
During the year, the Group completed the £400 million share 
buyback programme announced in November 2012 and began the 
£500 million share buyback programme announced in November 
2013. In the year, a total of £280 million has been paid, of which 
£175 million relates to the new programme. The Group intends to 
continue with the current £500 million share buyback programme 
and it is on track to complete in the middle of 2015.

PROCEEDS FROM ISSUE OF SHARE CAPITAL
The Group received cash of £5 million in the year (2013: £9 million) 
from the issue of shares following the exercise of employee share options.

RETURN ON CAPITAL EMPLOYED 
Return on capital employed was 19.3% (2013: 19.1%) based on 
underlying operations, net of tax at the effective underlying rate  
of 25% (2013: 26%), and excluding the Group’s non-controlling 
partners’ share of total operating profit. The average capital employed 
used is £4,799 million (2013: £4,878 million), which is based on the  
12 month average balance sheet, adding back the post-employment 
benefit obligations (net of associated deferred tax), impaired goodwill, 
amortised intangibles arising on acquisition and excluding the Group’s  
non-controlling partners’ share of net assets.

RETURN OF CASH
On 11 June 2014, shareholder approval was given at an Extraordinary 
General Meeting of a return of 56 pence per share to shareholders, 
which was equivalent to £1 billion in aggregate and accompanied  
by a Share Consolidation. Shareholders elected to receive their cash 
proceeds as income, capital or a combination of the two, although 
restrictions applied to shareholders resident or located in certain 
territories. The Return of Cash was paid on 29 July 2014 to shareholders 
on the register on 7 July 2014.

PENSIONS 
The Group has continued to review and monitor its pension 
obligations throughout the year, working closely with the Trustees and 
members of schemes around the Group to ensure proper and prudent 
assumptions are used and adequate provision and contributions 
are made. 

The Group’s total pension fund deficit at 30 September 2014, 
calculated on the accounting basis in accordance with IAS 19(R),  
was £176 million (2013: £209 million, as restated), largely due to the 
strong performance of bonds and equities during the year. The total 
pensions charge for defined contribution schemes in the year was 
£85 million (2013: £80 million) and £21 million (2013: £32 million) 
for defined benefit schemes. Included in the defined benefit scheme 
costs was a £7 million charge to net finance cost (2013: £11 million).

34

Compass Group PLC Annual Report 2014

RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
Details of transactions with related parties are set out in note 32. 
These transactions have not had, and are not expected to have, a 
material effect on the financial performance or position of the Group.

FINANCIAL POSITION
The ratio of net debt to market capitalisation of £16,680 million  
as at 30 September 2014 was 14% (2013: 8%).

At the end of the year, net debt was £2,331 million (2013: £1,193 million).

LIQUIDITY RISK
The Group finances its borrowings from a number of sources including 
the bank, the public and the private placement markets. The Group 
has developed long term relationships with a number of financial 
counterparties with the balance sheet strength and credit quality  
to provide credit facilities as required. The Group seeks to avoid  
a concentration of debt maturities in any one period to spread its 
refinancing risk. The maturity profile of the Group’s principal 
borrowings at 30 September 2014 shows that the average period  
to maturity is 6.1 years.

FINANCING – MATURITY PROFILE OF PRINCIPAL BORROWINGS 
AS AT 30 SEPTEMBER 2014 (£M)

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

2021

2022

2023

2024

2025

2026

0

BANK

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

£ PRIVATE PLACEMENT

US$ PRIVATE PLACEMENT

€ BONDS

£ BONDS

1   Based on borrowings and facilities in place as at 30 September 2014, 

maturing in the financial year ending 30 September.

2   The average life of the Group’s principal borrowings is 6.1 years 

(2013: 5.5 years).

The Group’s undrawn committed bank facilities at 30 September 2014 
were £1,000 million (2013: £700 million).

FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT
The Group continues to manage its interest rate and foreign currency 
exposure in accordance with the policies set out below. The Group’s 
financial instruments comprise cash, borrowings, receivables and 
payables that are used to finance the Group’s operations. The Group 
also uses derivatives, principally interest rate swaps, forward currency 
contracts and cross currency swaps, to manage interest rate and 
currency risks arising from the Group’s operations. The Group does 
not trade in financial instruments. The Group’s treasury policies are 
designed to mitigate the impact of fluctuations in interest rates and 
exchange rates and to manage the Group’s financial risks. The Board 
approves any changes to the policies. 

FOREIGN CURRENCY RISK
The Group’s policy is to match as far as possible its principal projected 
cash flows by currency to actual or effective borrowings in the same 
currency. As currency cash flows are generated, they are used to 
service and repay debt in the same currency. Where necessary, to 
implement this policy, forward currency contracts and cross currency 
swaps are taken out which, when applied to the actual currency 
liabilities, convert these to the required currency.

The borrowings in each currency can give rise to foreign exchange 
differences on translation into sterling. Where the borrowings are 
either less than, or equate to, the net investment in overseas operations, 
these exchange rate movements are treated as movements on reserves 
and recorded in the consolidated statement of comprehensive income 
rather than in the income statement.

Non-sterling earnings streams are translated at the average rate of 
exchange for the year. Fluctuations in exchange rates have given and 
will continue to give rise to translation differences. The Group is only 
partially protected from the impact of such differences through the 
matching of cash flows to currency borrowings.

INTEREST RATE RISK
As set out above, the Group has effective borrowings in a number  
of currencies and its policy is to ensure that, in the short term, it  
is not materially exposed to fluctuations in interest rates in its principal 
currencies. The Group implements this policy either by borrowing 
fixed rate debt or by using interest rate swaps so that the interest  
rates on at least 80% of the Group’s projected debt are fixed for one 
year, reducing to 60% fixed for the second year and 40% fixed  
for the third year.

Compass Group PLC Annual Report 2014

35

Strategic reportCorporate governanceConsolidated financial statementsParent Company financial statementsShareholder informationFINANCE DIRECTOR’S STATEMENT

GROUP TAX POLICY
As a Group, we are committed to creating long term shareholder value 
through the responsible, sustainable and efficient delivery of our key 
business objectives. This will enable us to grow the business and make 
significant investments into the Group and its operations.

We therefore adopt an approach to tax that supports this strategy  
and also balances the various interests of our stakeholders including 
shareholders, governments, employees and the communities in which 
we operate. Our aim is to pursue a principled and sustainable tax 
strategy that has strong commercial merit and is aligned with our 
business strategy. We believe this will enhance shareholder value  
whilst protecting Compass’ reputation.

In doing so, we act in compliance with the relevant local and 
international laws and disclosure requirements, and we conduct an 
open and transparent relationship with the relevant tax authorities  
that fully complies with the Group’s Code of Business Conduct and 
Code of Ethics. 

In an increasingly complex international environment, a degree of tax 
risk and uncertainty is however inevitable. We manage and control 
these risks in a proactive manner and in doing so exercise our 
judgement and seek appropriate advice from reputable professional 
firms. Tax risks are assessed as part of the Group’s formal governance 
process and are reviewed by the Board and the Audit Committee  
on a regular basis. 

RISKS AND UNCERTAINTIES
The Board takes a proactive approach to risk management with  
the aim of protecting its employees and customers and safeguarding 
the interests of the Group and its shareholders. The Financial 
Reporting Council has recommended that companies comment on 
their exposure to risks from the eurozone crisis. The Group’s liquidity 
risk (the ability to service short term liabilities) is considered low in all 
scenarios other than a fundamental collapse of the financial markets.

As at 30 September 2014, 4% of the Group’s revenues were generated 
from clients located in Italy, Spain, Portugal and the Republic of 
Ireland. The Group believes that any potential exposure in those 
countries is covered by its existing provisions. No clients or Group 
assets are located in Greece.

As uncertainty over the eurozone economies persists and government 
austerity measures take effect, growth rates and consumer demand  
can be expected to remain under pressure. The Group continues to 
monitor the level of exposures when responding to these risks and 
compiling business forecasts.

The principal risks and uncertainties facing the business and the 
activities the Group undertakes to mitigate these are set out on  
pages 38 and 39.

SHAREHOLDER RETURN
The market price of the Group’s ordinary shares at the close of  
the financial year was 996.5 pence per share (2013: 850.0 pence  
per share).

GOING CONCERN
The Group’s business activities, together with the factors likely to affect 
its future development, performance and position are set out in the 
Strategic Report, as is the financial position of the Group, its cash  
flows, liquidity position, and borrowing facilities. In addition, note 20 
to the consolidated financial statements includes the Group’s objectives, 
policies and processes for managing its capital, its financial risk 
management objectives, details of its financial instruments and 
hedging activities and its exposures to credit risk and liquidity risk.

The Group has considerable financial resources together with longer 
term contracts with a number of clients and suppliers across different 
geographic areas and industries. As a consequence, the directors 
believe that the Group is well placed to manage its business risks 
successfully despite the current uncertain economic outlook.

After making enquiries, the directors have a reasonable expectation 
that the Group has adequate resources to continue in operational 
existence for the foreseeable future. For this reason, they continue to 
adopt the going concern basis in preparing the financial statements.

DOMINIC BLAKEMORE
Group Finance Director 
26 November 2014 

The Strategic Report, as set out on pages 1 to 47, has been approved  
by the Board.

On behalf of the Board

MARK WHITE
General Counsel and Company Secretary 
26 November 2014

36

Compass Group PLC Annual Report 2014

PRINCIPAL RISKS
IDENTIFYING AND MANAGING RISK

The Board continues to take a proactive approach to recognising 
and mitigating risk with the aim of protecting its employees and 
consumers and safeguarding the interests of the Company and its 
shareholders in the constantly changing environment in which 
it operates.

As set out in the Corporate Governance section on pages 48 to 76,  
the Group has policies and procedures in place to ensure that risks are 
properly identified, evaluated and managed at the appropriate level 
within the business.

The identification of risks and opportunities, the development of action 
plans to manage the risks and maximise the opportunities, and the 
continual monitoring of progress against agreed key performance 
indicators (KPIs) are integral parts of the business process, and core 
activities throughout the Group.

The table on pages 38 and 39 sets out the principal risks and 
uncertainties facing the business at the date of this Report. These have 
been subject to robust assessment and review. They do not comprise  
all of the risks that the Group may face and are not listed in any order 
of priority. Additional risks and uncertainties not presently known to 
management or deemed to be less material at the date of this Report 
may also have an adverse effect on the Group.

The Group faces a number of operational risks on an ongoing  
basis such as litigation and financial (including liquidity and credit)  
risk and some wider risks, for example, environmental and 
reputational. Additionally, there are risks (such as those relating  
to the eurozone economy, the international corporate tax environment, 
pensions, and acquisitions and investments) which vary in importance 
depending on changing conditions. All risks disclosed in previous  
years can be found in the Annual Reports available on our website  
at www.compass-group.com. We recognise that these risks remain 
important to the business and they are kept under review. However,  
we have focused the disclosures on pages 38 and 39 on those risks that 
are currently considered to be more significant to the Group.

Compass Group PLC Annual Report 2014

37

Strategic reportCorporate governanceConsolidated financial statementsParent Company financial statementsShareholder informationPRINCIPAL RISKS

HEALTH AND SAFETY
RISK

DESCRIPTION

HEALTH AND SAFETY

Health and safety is our number one operational 
priority. We are focused on protecting people’s 
wellbeing, as well as avoiding serious business 
interruption and potential damage to our reputation. 
Compass feeds millions of consumers and employs 
thousands of people around the world every day. 
Therefore, setting the highest standards for food 
hygiene and safety is paramount.

CLIENTS AND CONSUMERS
RISK

DESCRIPTION

CLIENT AND  
CONSUMER SALES  
AND RETENTION

Our business relies on securing and retaining a diverse 
range of clients.

BIDDING

Each year, the Group could bid for a large number 
of opportunities.

The Group’s operating companies contract with a large 
number of clients. Failure to comply with the terms of 
these contracts, including proper delivery of services, 
could lead to loss of business.

We operate in a competitive marketplace. The level 
of concentration and outsource penetration varies by 
country and by sector. Some markets are relatively 
concentrated with two or three key players. Others are 
highly fragmented and offer significant opportunities 
for consolidation and penetration of the self-operated 
market. Aggressive pricing from our competitors could 
cause a reduction in our revenues and margins.

SERVICE DELIVERY  
AND CONTRACTUAL  
COMPLIANCE

COMPETITION

PEOPLE
RISK

RECRUITMENT

EXAMPLES OF MITIGATION

All management meetings throughout the Group feature 
a health and safety update as their first agenda item.

Health and safety improvement KPIs are included in 
the annual bonus plans for each of the business’ 
management teams.

The Group has policies, procedures and standards in 
place to ensure compliance with legal obligations and 
industry standards.

The safety and quality of our global supply chain are assured 
through compliance against a robust set of standards which 
are regularly reviewed, audited and upgraded as necessary 
to improve supply chain visibility and product integrity.

EXAMPLES OF MITIGATION

We have strategies which strengthen our long term 
relationships with our clients and consumers based on 
quality, value and innovation.

Our business model is structured so that we are not reliant 
on one particular sector, geography or group of clients.

A rigorous tender review process is in place, which includes 
a critical assessment of contracts to identify potential risks 
(including social and ethical risks) and rewards, prior to 
approval at an appropriate level in the organisation.

Processes are in place to ensure that the services delivered 
to clients are of an appropriate standard and comply with the 
required contract terms and conditions.

We aim to minimise this by continuing to promote our 
differentiated propositions and focusing on our points of 
strength, such as flexibility in our cost base, quality and 
value of service and innovation.

DESCRIPTION

EXAMPLES OF MITIGATION

Failure to attract and recruit people with the right 
skills at all levels could limit the success of the Group. 
The Group faces resourcing challenges in some of its 
businesses due to a lack of industry experience amongst 
candidates and appropriately qualified people, and the 
seasonal nature of some of our business.

The Group aims to mitigate this risk by efficient, time critical 
resource management, mobilisation of existing, experienced 
employees within the organisation and through offering 
training and development programmes.

RETENTION AND  
MOTIVATION

Retaining and motivating the best people with the right 
skills, at all levels of the organisation, is key to the long 
term success of the Group.

The Group has established training, development, 
performance management and reward programmes to retain, 
develop and motivate our best people.

The Group has a well established employee engagement 
initiative, Your Voice, which helps us to monitor, understand 
and respond to our employees’ needs.

38

Compass Group PLC Annual Report 2014

ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL ENVIRONMENT
RISK

DESCRIPTION

EXAMPLES OF MITIGATION

ECONOMY

COST INFLATION

Some sectors of our business could be susceptible 
to adverse changes in economic conditions and 
employment levels.

With the variable and flexible nature of our cost base,  
it is generally possible to contain the impact of these  
adverse conditions.

Our objective is always to deliver the right level of 
service in the most efficient way. An increase in the 
cost of labour or food could constitute a risk to our 
ability to do this.

As part of our MAP framework, we seek to manage inflation 
through continuing to drive greater efficiencies through menu 
management, supplier rationalisation, labour scheduling and 
productivity. Cost indexation in our contracts also gives us 
the contractual right to review pricing with our clients.

POLITICAL STABILITY

We are a global business operating in countries and 
regions with diverse economic and political conditions. 
Our operations and earnings may be adversely affected 
by political or economic instability.

The Group remains vigilant to future changes presented by 
emerging markets or fledgling administrations and we try 
to anticipate and contribute to important changes in 
public policy.

COMPLIANCE AND FRAUD
RISK

DESCRIPTION

COMPLIANCE AND FRAUD

Ineffective compliance management with laws and 
regulations, or evidence of fraud, could have an 
adverse effect on the Group’s reputation and could 
result in an adverse impact on the Group’s performance 
if significant financial penalties are levied or a criminal 
action is brought against the Company or its directors.

INFORMATION SYSTEMS AND TECHNOLOGY
RISK

DESCRIPTION

INFORMATION SYSTEMS  
AND TECHNOLOGY

The digital world creates many risks for a global 
business including technology failures, loss of 
confidential data and damage to brand reputation.

EXAMPLES OF MITIGATION

The Group’s zero tolerance based Codes of Business 
Conduct and Ethics govern all aspects of our relationships 
with our stakeholders. All alleged breaches of the Codes, 
including any allegations of fraud, are investigated.

The Group’s procedures include regular operating reviews, 
underpinned by a continual focus on ensuring the 
effectiveness of internal controls. 

Regulation and compliance risk is also considered as part 
of our annual business planning process. 

EXAMPLES OF MITIGATION

We seek to assess and manage the maturity of our enterprise 
risk and security infrastructure and our ability to effectively 
defend against current and future cyber risks by using 
analysis tools and experienced professionals to evaluate and 
mitigate potential impacts.

The Group relies on a variety of IT systems in order to 
manage and deliver services and communicate with our 
clients, consumers, suppliers and employees.

We are focused on the need to maximise the effectiveness 
of our information systems and technology as a business 
enabler and to reduce both cost and exposure as a result.

Compass Group PLC Annual Report 2014

39

Strategic reportCorporate governanceConsolidated financial statementsParent Company financial statementsShareholder informationENSURING 
INTEGRITY

 RIGHT ACROSS  
THE SUPPLY  
 CHAIN

OUR RESPONSIBILITIES
COMMITTING TO OPERATING 
MORE SUSTAINABLY

The Group’s strategy and our corporate responsibility (CR) approach  
are well aligned as we improve the business operating model to reflect 
more sustainable practices. CR is a keystone of our commitment to  
provide the highest quality service to our customers. Within CR, the  
safety of our colleagues and consumers is our number one operational 
priority. Our Safety First programme is built on one powerful idea: 
everyone in our business takes ownership for safety – every day. 

During the year, we revisited our CR strategy with our stakeholders 
to ensure that we continue to address those business impacts that are 
important to them. These insights help us to better understand 
emerging issues and progressively refine our CR strategy so it 

continues to underpin our long term success as a business.  
Our approach is simple; to create alignment, understanding  
and commitment in all our markets around four areas that are 
fundamental to our success.

HEALTH & WELLBEING 
By pursuing our passion for 
wellbeing and nutrition, we 
help our consumers and 
employees adopt a more 
balanced lifestyle. 

We help our clients to deliver 
improved employee 
performance and satisfaction, 
encouraging client retention in 
our business.

RESPONSIBLE SOURCING
Having a responsible supply 
chain is important for us to 
deliver the quality of food 
service that is a key business 
driver for Compass. 

As a result of our actions, we 
are able to build client and 
consumer confidence, reduce 
potential risks and develop 
sustainable relationships.

•  Provide nutritious food
•  Signpost healthy choices
•  Build healthier lives

•  Provide safe food
•  Source responsibly and 

sustainably

OUR PEOPLE 
Our people are fundamental  
to our great service and 
reputation and we recognise 
their positive contribution to 
our performance.

Ensuring our employees are 
well trained, motivated and 
productive is an essential 
component of our business 
model. 

•  Provide a safe workplace
•  Create great career 

opportunities

•  Trade fairly and ethically

•  Offer fair employment

ENVIRONMENT
As a leading food and support 
services provider, we have a 
clear responsibility to protect 
the environment. 

We are reducing our impact  
on the environment by 
implementing programmes 
that focus on the improved use 
of resources, helping us to 
manage our costs and those  
of our clients effectively.

•  Report our environmental 

performance

•  Manage energy use
•  Reduce food waste

PROGRESS
Overall, we have made good progress against our CR commitments, 
including greater visibility of performance data which is helping us to 
better assess our business impacts, control our non-financial risks and 
make more informed decisions.

Increasingly, our customers are seeking assurances that the products 
they consume come from safe, ethical and sustainable sources. Working 
with colleagues from around the world, we have further developed our 
global Supply Chain Standards to include improved controls, designed 
to protect the integrity of our supply chain and the provenance of 

products. Our success as a business is dependent on us having a well 
trained, motivated workforce and, in response to stakeholder feedback, 
we have further developed our approach to measuring and reporting 
our people focused indicators: employment opportunities, engagement, 
diversity and human rights. 

For a summary of our achievements, please go to pages 42 to 45 or  
for a more detailed review of our performance visit our CR site at  
www.compass-group.com/cr14.

INCREASE IN HEALTHY EATING OPTIONS 
OFFERED TO CONSUMERS (SINCE 2011) 

EMPLOYEES SURVEYED WHO BELIEVE THE 
COMPANY IS A GOOD CORPORATE CITIZEN

IMPROVEMENT IN OUR LOST TIME INJURY 
RATE PERFORMANCE (SINCE 2008)

GHG INTENSITY IN 2014
(GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS)

+48%

75%

+51%

7.3%

Compass Group PLC Annual Report 2014

41

Strategic reportCorporate governanceConsolidated financial statementsParent Company financial statementsShareholder information 
 TARGET ACHIEVED

 TARGET IN PROGRESS

2013–2014  
PERFORMANCE

OUR CR COMMITMENTS AND PROGRESS 

BASIS FOR CONSOLIDATION
1  KPI relates to our global performance
2 
 KPI relates to our top 20 countries representing 93% of total Group revenue
3  KPI relates to our top 30 countries representing 97% of total Group revenue
All targets relate to data capture ending 30 September for the year stated.

INNOVATE

WELLBEING2

KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATOR

2013–2014 TARGET

The number of units providing Balanced Choices (or 
equivalent healthy eating programmes) to their 
consumers

Report % improvement 

% of units offering nutritional advice to consumers

Report % of units

% of countries operating a sugar, salt and fat 
reduction programme

Report % of countries

SOURCE

SUPPLY CHAIN 
INTEGRITY1, 2

% of countries adopting our global Supply Chain 
Standards 

100% implementation  
by 2015

% of countries with programmes in place to support:

Report % of countries 

•  sustainable fish/seafood
•  Fairtrade and ethically sourced products
•  locally sourced products

% of contracted approved suppliers who have signed 
the Compass Code of Business Conduct

% of expenditure on tea, coffee, sugar and bananas 
from ethical or Fairtrade sources

100% of contracted approved 
suppliers to sign the Compass 
Code of Business Conduct by 
2014

Report % of expenditure

PREPARE

ENERGY  
EFFICIENCY2

Reduction in total Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions 

20% reduction by 2017 

Report total direct GHG 
emissions – metric tonnes

42

Compass Group PLC Annual Report 2014

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
2013–2014 REVIEW

KPI TARGET

The health and wellbeing of our consumers is important to us. We provide guidance and advice to help them make 
informed choices about how to achieve a healthier lifestyle. 

We are the only food service company to have signed up to all seven of the food service pledges of the UK 
Government’s Responsibility Deal, and we take an active role in the Responsibility Deal Plenary Group.

100% of units providing Balanced 
Choices or similar healthy eating 
programmes to their consumers  
by 2015

We have also implemented improved consumer signposting on allergens, ahead of the new EU Regulations effective 
December 2014.

We have refreshed our global Supply Chain Standards to provide greater emphasis on supplier assurance and product 
traceability. The new standards are being progressively rolled out across all markets.

100% implementation by 2015

Increasingly, our customers are seeking assurances that the products they consume are sourced ethically and 
sustainably. In 2014, we collated and analysed data from countries to form our baseline and we will report on our 
progress in 2015.

We have made good progress this year, and 100% of suppliers approved in 2014 have signed up to the Compass Code 
of Business Conduct.

This year, we collated and analysed data from countries to form our baseline against this KPI. We will report on our 
progress in 2015.

Report % of countries with 
programmes in place to support:

•  sustainable fish/seafood
•  Fairtrade and ethically sourced 

products

•  locally sourced products

100% of suppliers approved in 
2015 will sign up to the Compass 
Code of Business Conduct

Report % of expenditure on tea, 
coffee, sugar and bananas from 
ethical or Fairtrade sources

The trend across our operations is positive and we continue to show improvements in intensity being achieved against 
the 2008 baseline ratio of 7.8.

20% reduction by 2017 (against 
2008 baseline) 

We have calculated our Scope 1 & 2 GHG emissions since 2008 and this year, we further enhanced our environmental 
reporting by implementing a new web-based system which supports greater transparency and accuracy of data.

Report total direct GHG emissions 
– metric tonnes

GHG emissions have been calculated in accordance with the GHG Protocol Corporate Accounting and Reporting 
Standard (revised edition), together with the latest emission factors from recognised public sources including, but not 
limited to, Defra/DECC, the International Energy Agency, the US Energy Information Administration, the US 
Environmental Protection Agency and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.

Compass Group’s disclosure in accordance with the Companies Act 2006 is stated in the table below:

GHG emissions by scope
Scope 1
Scope 2
Scope 1 & 2 intensity

Unit
Tonnes CO2e
Tonnes CO2e
Tonnes CO2e/£m revenue

Quantity 2012-2013
101,703
8,957
6.3

Quantity 2013-2014
115,406
10,256
7.3

GHG intensity has increased by 17% since 2012-2013, as a result of improved reporting of our carbon emissions 
data. Checking of our historical data identified minor errors in the 2012 and 2013 emissions data for the US and UK 
businesses. The corrected absolute emissions and intensity figures are reflected in the data reported above.

The reporting of GHG emissions covered 93% of consolidated Group revenue and we are seeking continuous 
improvement in data entry and completeness in future years.

S
N
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I
S
S
I
M
E
G
H
G

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(
)
e

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O
C
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140

120

100

80

60

40

20

0

08

09

10

11

12

13

14

Y
T
I
S
N
E
T
N
I
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H
G

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E
U
N
E
V
E
R
M
£
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O
C
t
(

9.0
8.5
8.0
7.5
7.0
6.5
6.0
5.5
5.0
4.5
4.0

ORIGINAL SCOPE
ADDITIONAL SCOPE
EMISSIONS INTENSITY

Compass Group PLC Annual Report 2014

43

Strategic reportCorporate governanceConsolidated financial statementsParent Company financial statementsShareholder information 
 
 
 
 
 TARGET ACHIEVED

 TARGET IN PROGRESS

2013–2014  
PERFORMANCE

OUR CR COMMITMENTS AND PROGRESS 

BASIS FOR CONSOLIDATION
1  KPI relates to our global performance
2 
 KPI relates to our top 20 countries representing 93% of total Group revenue
3  KPI relates to our top 30 countries representing 97% of total Group revenue
All targets relate to data capture ending 30 September for the year stated.

KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATOR

2013–2014 TARGET

Water consumption by our corporate offices

20% reduction by 2017

WATER  
EFFICIENCY2

% increase in spend on concentrated chemicals as a 
% of total chemical spend

25% increase in spend on 
concentrated chemicals by 2015

GENERAL  
WASTE 
REPORTING2

% of waste generated by Compass offices diverted 
from landfill

% of units where cooking oil is recovered/recycled

25% improvement by 2017 

Report % of units where cooking 
oil is recovered/recycled

FOOD WASTE3

Implement Trim Trax (or equivalent food waste 
reduction programmes)

100% implementation across our 
top 30 countries by 2015

PROVIDE

FOOD SAFETY1

Global Food Safety Incident Rate (FSIR)

Report % improvement

Global Lost Time Injury Rate (LTIR) 

Report % improvement

OCCUPATIONAL 
HEALTH AND 
SAFETY1

% of employees surveyed in our global Your Voice 
survey who believe the Company places  
a high priority on health and safety

n/a

EMPLOYEE 
RETENTION2

Employee retention rate for all employees:

Report % improvement of:

•  total employees
•  management
•  unit management

•  total employees
•  management
•  unit management

DIVERSITY1

% of women holding global leadership team positions 

Report % increase

% of female representation in the global workforce

Report % representation

% of employees surveyed in our global Your Voice 
survey who believe the Company embraces diversity

n/a

BUSINESS 
ETHICS1

Total number of concerns reported by employees 
globally, via Speak Up

Measure and report concerns 
with 100% follow up

EMPLOYEE 
ENGAGEMENT1

Global Your Voice survey:

•  Participation rate
•  Engagement rate

n/a
n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a
n/a

44

Compass Group PLC Annual Report 2014

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
INTERESTED TO KNOW MORE? 
Find out about our CR activities around  
the world, together with global policies and 
performance statistics on our CR website at 
www.compass-group.com/cr14

2013–2014 REVIEW

We are making good progress in reducing our water consumption and continue to invest in water efficiency equipment 
and practices. In addition, we continue to employ web-based training programmes to improve the environmental 
awareness of our colleagues around the world. We have deployed a new reporting system which provides greater 
functionality to enable countries to extend their scope of reporting. Looking forward, this will include additional 
locations where Compass has direct control, such as laundries and central production units.

This year, we collated and analysed data from countries to form our baseline against this KPI. We will report on our 
progress in 2015.

KPI TARGET

20% reduction by 2017 (against 
2008 baseline)

25% increase in spend on 
concentrated chemicals as a %  
of total chemical spend by 2015

In 2014, we focused on improving the accuracy of data reported by countries, including the composition of our waste  
by collaborating with our waste contractors. This enables us to track progress on the proportion of waste being recycled.

25% improvement by 2017 
(against 2011 baseline) 

This year, we collated and analysed data from countries to form our baseline against this KPI. We will report on our 
progress in 2015.

Report % of units where cooking 
oil is recovered/recycled

This year, we extended the implementation of our food waste reduction programmes from our top 20 to our top  
30 countries.

100% implementation of food 
waste reduction programmes across 
our top 30 countries by 2015

Compared to the 2008 baseline, we have improved our food safety performance on a global basis by 49% through 
strong unit compliance with our global Food Safety Standards.

Report % improvement (against 
2008 baseline)

We achieved further improvement in our global Lost Time Injury Rate, with a reduction of 51% in the number of 
incidents compared to the 2008 baseline. Our ongoing commitment to implement programmes to improve safety 
leadership and culture underpins this success. This year, we introduced our Safety First portal, which enables 
countries to share and implement best practice initiatives more easily, to support employee engagement in the 
reduction of incidents.

Report % improvement (against 
2008 baseline)

We are pleased that so many of our employees (80% of employees surveyed in 2013) believe that health and safety  
is our number one operational priority (2011: 79%). The next survey takes place in 2015. 

Report % improvement (against 
2013 survey)

Sadly, we had two work related employee fatalities as a result of motor vehicle accidents.

This year, we achieved an employee retention rate of 83% (2013: 82%).

23% of our global leadership team positions are held by women (22% in 2013). 

In accordance with the Companies Act 2006, you will find more information on employee diversity on page 58.

Report % improvement (against 
2012 baseline) of employee 
retention:

•  total employees
•  management
•  unit management

Report % increase

Report % of female representation 
in the global workforce

We are pleased that so many of our employees (76% of employees surveyed in 2013) believe that the Company 
embraces diversity. The next survey takes place in 2015. 

Report % improvement (against 
2013 survey)

All our countries have access to the independently operated Speak Up whistleblowing programme, which enables 
employees to report material concerns for review and follow up. There is a clear escalation process in place to consider 
each concern raised. Where appropriate, a full investigation and remedial actions are taken. 

Measure and report concerns with 
100% follow up

We conduct a global Your Voice employee survey every two years – the next survey will take place in 2015.

Report % participation rate

Report % engagement rate

Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil

Compass Group PLC Annual Report 2014

45

Strategic reportCorporate governanceConsolidated financial statementsParent Company financial statementsShareholder information 
 
 
 
 
 
OUR BOARD

  c  
PAUL WALSH 
CHAIRMAN (AGE 59)

RICHARD COUSINS       
GROUP CHIEF EXECUTIVE (AGE 55)

DOMINIC BLAKEMORE   ■    
GROUP FINANCE DIRECTOR (AGE 45)

APPOINTMENT 
Joined as Non-Executive Director in January 2014. 
Appointed Chairman in February 2014.

APPOINTMENT 
Joined the Board in May 2006 and was appointed 
Group Chief Executive in June 2006.

APPOINTMENT 
Joined the Board in February 2012 and was appointed 
as Group Finance Director in April 2012.

SKILLS AND PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE
Former Chief Executive, Diageo plc, from September 
2000 to June 2013 and now an adviser to the Chairman 
and Chief Executive, having originally joined the 
Board in 1997. Formerly Chief Executive Officer  
of the Pillsbury Company and a director of GrandMet. 
Former non-executive director of Centrica plc. Paul is  
a Member of the Business Advisory Group for Britain. 
Business Ambassador on the UK Government’s 
Business Ambassador network and a Member of the 
Council of the Scotch Whisky Association.

CURRENT EXTERNAL APPOINTMENTS
Chairman of Avanti Communications Group plc  
and non-executive director of Unilever PLC, FedEx 
Corporation and United Spirits Limited.

SKILLS AND PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE 
Richard spent six years as Chief Executive Officer  
of BPB plc, having previously held a number of 
positions with that company. His earlier career  
was with Cadbury Schweppes plc and BTR plc.  
He is also a former non-executive director of  
P & O plc, HBOS plc and Reckitt Benckiser  
Group plc.

CURRENT EXTERNAL APPOINTMENTS 
Non-executive director of Tesco PLC (from  
1 November 2014) and a Member of the Advisory 
Board of Lancaster University Business School.

SKILLS AND PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE 
Former Chief Financial Officer of Iglo Foods Group 
Limited, which Dominic joined from Cadbury Plc,  
where he was European Finance & Strategy  
Director, having previously held senior finance roles  
as Corporate Finance Director and Group Financial 
Controller. Prior to joining Cadbury Plc, Dominic  
was a director at PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP.

CURRENT EXTERNAL APPOINTMENTS 
Non-executive director of Shire plc.

JOHN BASON ● c    ◆ 
NON-EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR (AGE 57)

APPOINTMENT 
Appointed to the Board in June 2011.

SUSAN MURRAY ●   c  ◆ 
NON-EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR (AGE 57)

APPOINTMENT 
Appointed to the Board in October 2007.

DON ROBERT ●    ◆ 
NON-EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR (AGE 55)

APPOINTMENT 
Appointed to the Board in May 2009.

SKILLS AND PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE 
Member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants  
in England and Wales. John was previously Finance 
Director of Bunzl plc. 

CURRENT EXTERNAL APPOINTMENTS 
Finance Director of Associated British Foods plc, 
Trustee of Voluntary Service Overseas and Chairman 
of the charity FareShare.

SKILLS AND PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE 
Susan is a former Chairman of Farrow & Ball  
(to 27 November 2014), and a former non-executive 
director of Pernod Ricard S.A. (to 6 November 2014), 
Imperial Tobacco PLC, Enterprise Inns Plc, Aberdeen 
Asset Management PLC, SSL International PLC and 
Wm Morrison Supermarkets PLC, and former Chief 
Executive of Littlewoods Stores Limited. She is also 
former Worldwide President and Chief Executive of 
The Pierre Smirnoff Company, part of Diageo plc,  
and a former Council Member of the Advertising 
Standards Authority. 

SKILLS AND PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE 
Don was formerly the Chief Executive Officer of 
Experian plc and Chairman of the Consumer Data 
Industry Association and previously held positions  
with First American Corporation, Credco, Inc. and 
US Bancorp.

CURRENT EXTERNAL APPOINTMENTS 
Chairman of Experian plc. He is also a Trustee  
of the Education and Employers Taskforce and  
a non-executive director of the Court of the Bank  
of England.

CURRENT EXTERNAL APPOINTMENTS 
Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts.

46

Compass Group PLC Annual Report 2014

GARY GREEN    
GROUP CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER, NORTH 
AMERICA (AGE 57)

ANDREW MARTIN    
GROUP CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER, EUROPE  
& JAPAN (AGE 54)

APPOINTMENT 
Appointed to the Board in April 2007 and became 
Group Chief Operating Officer, North America in 
April 2012.

APPOINTMENT 
Appointed as Group Finance Director in 2004 and 
became Group Chief Operating Officer, Europe & 
Japan in April 2012.

SKILLS AND PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE 
Gary is a Chartered Accountant and in 2001  
received an honorary doctorate from Johnson & Wales 
University in the USA. Gary joined the Group in 1986 
in a senior finance role in the UK and became a UK 
director in 1992. He relocated to the USA in 1994 as 
Chief Finance Officer of the Group’s North American 
business and in 1999 became Chief Executive Officer. 

SKILLS AND PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE 
Associate of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in 
England and Wales and an Associate of the Chartered 
Institute of Taxation. Andrew was formerly Finance 
Director of First Choice Holidays PLC. He also 
previously held senior financial positions with Forte Plc 
and Granada Group PLC and was a partner with 
Arthur Andersen.

CURRENT EXTERNAL APPOINTMENTS 
None.

CURRENT EXTERNAL APPOINTMENTS 
Non-executive director of easyJet plc.

CAROL ARROWSMITH ●    ◆ c 
NON-EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR (AGE 60)

APPOINTMENT 
Appointed to the Board in June 2014. 

SKILLS AND PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE
Former partner in Deloitte LLP, Vice Chairman of the 
UK business and former Director of the Remuneration 
Consultants Group. Carol is a Fellow of the Chartered 
Institute of Personnel and Development.

CURRENT EXTERNAL APPOINTMENTS
Adviser to Deloitte LLP, Member of Advisory Group 
for Spencer Stuart.

SIR IAN ROBINSON ●    ◆ 
SENIOR INDEPENDENT NON-EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR 
(AGE 72)

MARK WHITE ● s   ■    s  s ◆ s 
GENERAL COUNSEL AND COMPANY SECRETARY 
(AGE 54)

APPOINTMENT 
Appointed to the Board in December 2006.

SKILLS AND PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE 
Sir Ian is a former Chairman of Ladbrokes plc, Hilton 
Group plc and Amey plc, and a former Chief Executive 
of Scottish Power plc. He is a former non-executive 
director of ASDA plc, RMC plc, Scottish & Newcastle 
plc and Siemens Holdings plc. 

CURRENT EXTERNAL APPOINTMENTS 
Member of the Takeover Panel and Fellow of the  
Royal Academy of Engineers. 

APPOINTMENT 
Joined the Group as General Counsel and Company 
Secretary in June 2007.

SKILLS AND PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE 
Mark is a Solicitor. He is a Trustee of the Compass 
Pension Plan and the Compass Retirement Income 
Savings Plan. He was previously Group Company 
Secretary and General Counsel of Wolseley plc  
and Company Secretary of Enterprise Oil plc and 
Rotork plc.

CURRENT EXTERNAL APPOINTMENTS 
Member of the Upper Tribunal, Tax and  
Chancery Chamber.

COMMITTEE MEMBERSHIP 
●  Audit 

  Corporate Responsibility 

■  Disclosure 

  Executive Board  
   General Business 
   Nomination 
◆  Remuneration 
 c  Denotes Chairman 
 s  Denotes Secretary

Compass Group PLC Annual Report 2014

47

Strategic reportCorporate governanceConsolidated financial statementsParent Company financial statementsShareholder informationCORPORATE 
GOVERNANCE

CONTENTS

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
49 
59 

 Governance and Directors’ Report
 Directors’ Remuneration Report

48

Compass Group PLC Annual Report 2014

GOVERNANCE AND DIRECTORS’ REPORT

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE REPORT 
The directors present their Annual Report and the audited consolidated 
accounts of the Company and its subsidiaries for the year ended  
30 September 2014. This Corporate Governance Report and other statutory 
disclosures set out on pages 49 to 58 make up the Directors’ Report.

The Chairman, Paul Walsh, joined the Board as an independent 
non-executive director on 1 January 2014 and succeeded Sir Roy Gardner 
who retired as Chairman at the conclusion of the Annual General Meeting 
(AGM) held on 6 February 2014. Carol Arrowsmith joined the Board as an 
independent non-executive director on 1 June 2014. 

This Directors’ Report also contains information required to be disclosed 
under the UK Listing Authority’s Listing Rules and under the Disclosure 
and Transparency Rules. To the extent necessary, certain information is 
incorporated into this Report by reference.

UK CORPORATE GOVERNANCE CODE COMPLIANCE
Responsibility for good governance lies with the Board. The Board is 
accountable to shareholders and is committed to the highest standards  
of corporate governance as set out in the UK Corporate Governance  
Code 2010 and 2012 (the Code). The Code can be found on the Financial 
Reporting Council (FRC) website at www.frc.org.uk. This Corporate 
Governance Report, together with the Directors’ Remuneration Report 
set out on pages 59 to 76, describes how the Board has applied the  
main principles of good governance set out in the Code during the year 
under review. 

The FRC published a revised Code on 17 September 2014, applicable  
to financial reporting periods beginning on or after 1 October 2014. Where 
possible, the Company has sought to reflect these revisions in its practices 
and will aim to comply fully with the revised Code during 2014-2015.

COMPLIANCE STATEMENT
It is the Board’s view that for the year ended 30 September 2014 the 
Company has been fully compliant with all of the principles set out in  
the Code applicable to this reporting period. The Company’s auditor, 
KPMG LLP, is required to review whether the above statement reflects 
the Company’s compliance with the provisions of the Code specified for  
its review by the Listing Rules of the UK Listing Authority and to report  
if it does not reflect such compliance. No such report has been made.

HOW WE GOVERN THE COMPANY
Our governance structure comprises the functions shown below, supported 
by the Group’s standards, policies and controls, which are described over 
the following pages in more detail. 

CHAIRMAN

BOARD

AUDIT 
COMMITTEE

REMUNERATION 
COMMITTEE

NOMINATION  
COMMITTEE

CORPORATE 
RESPONSIBILITY 
COMMITTEE

DISCLOSURE 
COMMITTEE

EXECUTIVE  
BOARD

GENERAL  
BUSINESS 
COMMITTEE

THE BOARD
COMPOSITION
As at 30 September 2014, and as at the date of this Report, the board  
of directors was made up of 10 members, comprising the non-executive 
Chairman, four executive directors and five non-executive directors. 

All of the non-executive directors are considered by the Board to be 
independent of management and free of any relationship which could 
materially interfere with the exercise of their independent judgement.  
The Board considers that each of the non-executive directors brings their 
own senior level of experience, gained in each of their own fields, mainly  
in international operations.

Biographical details of the directors currently in office are shown on  
pages 46 and 47. The Company’s policy relating to the terms of 
appointment and the remuneration of both executive and non-executive 
directors is detailed in the Directors’ Remuneration Report which is on 
pages 59 to 76.

The Board meets regularly during the year as well as on an ad hoc basis,  
as required by business need. The Board met eight times during the year 
and director attendance for each meeting is shown in the table on page 51. 
Each director also attends the AGM to answer shareholder questions.

RESPONSIBILITIES
The Board manages the business of the Company and may, subject  
to the Articles of Association and applicable legislation, borrow money, 
guarantee, indemnify, mortgage or charge the business, property and 
assets (present and future), issue debentures and other securities and  
give security, whether outright or as a collateral security, for any debt, 
liability or obligation of the Company or of any third party. The Board  
has a formal schedule of matters reserved for its decision, although its 
primary role is to provide entrepreneurial leadership and to review the 
overall strategic development of the Group as a whole. In addition, the 
Board sets the Group’s values and standards and ensures that it acts 
ethically and that its obligations to its shareholders are understood and 
met. The Board may delegate any of its powers to any committee 
consisting of one or more directors. 

The Board has delegated day to day operational decisions to the Executive 
Board referred to on page 52. 

The Board has established a procedure for directors, if deemed necessary, 
to take independent professional advice at the Company’s expense in the 
furtherance of their duties. Every director also has access to the General 
Counsel and Company Secretary, who is charged with ensuring that 
Board procedures are followed and that good corporate governance  
and compliance are implemented throughout the Group. Together with 
the Group Chief Executive and the General Counsel and Company 
Secretary, the Chairman ensures that the Board is kept properly informed 
and is consulted on all issues reserved to it. Board papers and other 
information are distributed at times to allow directors to be properly 
briefed in advance of meetings. In accordance with the Company’s 
Articles of Association, directors have been granted an indemnity issued 
by the Company to the extent permitted by law in respect of liabilities 
incurred as a result of their office. The indemnity would not provide  
any coverage where a director is proved to have acted fraudulently or 
dishonestly. The Company has also arranged appropriate insurance cover 
in respect of legal action against its directors and officers.

The roles of Chairman and Group Chief Executive are separate and 
clearly defined, with the division of responsibilities set out in writing and 
agreed by the Board. 

Compass Group PLC Annual Report 2014

49

Strategic reportCorporate governanceConsolidated financial statementsParent Company financial statementsShareholder informationGOVERNANCE AND DIRECTORS’ REPORT

DIRECTOR EFFECTIVENESS AND TRAINING
In accordance with best practice, the Chairman addresses the 
developmental needs of the Board as a whole, with a view to further 
developing its effectiveness as a team, and ensures that each director 
refreshes and updates his or her individual skills, knowledge  
and expertise. 

Meetings between the non-executive directors, both with and without  
the presence of the Group Chief Executive, are scheduled in the Board’s 
annual programme. Board meetings are also held at Group business 
locations to help all Board members to gain a deeper understanding of the 
business. This also provides senior managers from across the Group with 
the opportunity to present to the Board as well as to meet the directors  
on more informal occasions.

Succession planning is a matter for the whole Board, rather than for a 
committee. The Company’s Articles of Association provide that one third 
of the directors retire by rotation each year and that each director will seek 
re-election at the AGM every three years. However, in accordance with 
the Code, all directors submit themselves for annual re-election by 
shareholders. New directors may be appointed by the Board, but are 
subject to election by shareholders at the first opportunity after their 
appointment, as is the case with Carol Arrowsmith who will seek election  
at the AGM on 5 February 2015. The Articles of Association limit the 
number of directors to not less than two and not more than 20 save where 
shareholders decide otherwise. Non-executive directors are normally 
appointed for an initial term of three years which is reviewed and may be 
extended for a further three years. It is Board policy that non-executive 
director appointments should last for no more than nine years.

A formal, comprehensive and tailored induction is given to all  
non-executive directors following their appointment, including visits  
to key locations within the Group and meetings with members of the 
Executive Board and other key senior executives. The induction also  
covers a review of the Group’s governance policies, structures and business, 
including details of the risks and operating issues facing the Group.

Sir Ian Robinson is the Company’s Senior Independent Director. His role 
includes providing a sounding board for the Chairman and acting as an 
intermediary for the non-executive directors, where necessary. The Board 
believes that Sir Ian continues to have the appropriate experience, 
knowledge and independence to continue in this role.

The Chairman ensures that the Board maintains an appropriate dialogue 
with shareholders. Although the non-executive directors are not formally 
required to meet the shareholders of the Company, their attendance at 
presentations of the interim and annual results is encouraged.

BOARD EFFECTIVENESS
A performance evaluation of the Board and of its committees is carried out 
annually to ensure that they continue to be effective and that each of the 
directors demonstrates commitment to his or her respective role and has 
sufficient time to meet his or her commitment to the Company.

Last year, in compliance with the Code, the performance evaluation was 
conducted by independent external facilitators, EquityCommunications 
Limited. 

This year, an internal performance evaluation was conducted, taking into 
account the principal themes which had emerged from the preceding 
external evaluation, notably enhancing the approach to the strategy 
formulation process and continuing to focus on succession planning. 
Having conducted its evaluation, the Board noted that enhancement of 
timetabling and processes had been achieved during 2014, enabling more 
productive use of the Board’s time for discussion of strategic issues, and 

that, following the appointment of Paul Walsh as Chairman, a revised 
approach towards long term succession at Board level was being adopted. 
This has initially seen the appointment of Carol Arrowsmith as both an 
independent non-executive director and Chairman of the Remuneration 
Committee on 1 June 2014.

It was also the view of the Board that each of the non-executive directors 
brings considerable management expertise and an independent perspective 
to the Board’s deliberations and they are considered to be independent of 
management and free from any relationship or circumstance that could 
affect, or appear to affect, the exercise of their independent judgement. 
Overall, the Board considered the performance of each director to be 
effective and concluded that both the Board and its committees continue  
to provide effective leadership and exert the required levels of governance 
and control. The Board will continue to review its procedures, effectiveness 
and development in the year ahead. 

CONFLICTS OF INTEREST
As part of their ongoing development, the executive directors may seek 
one external non-executive role on a non-competitor board, for which 
they may retain the remuneration in respect of the appointment. In 
order to avoid any conflict of interest, all appointments are subject to 
the Board’s approval and the Board monitors the extent of directors’ 
other interests to ensure that its effectiveness is not compromised.

Each director has a duty under the Companies Act 2006 (CA 2006)  
to avoid a situation in which he or she has or can have a direct or 
indirect interest that conflicts or possibly may conflict with the interests 
of the Company. This duty is in addition to the obligation that he or 
she owes to the Company to disclose to the Board any transaction or 
arrangement under consideration by the Company. The Company’s 
Articles of Association authorise the directors to approve such 
situations and to include other provisions to allow conflicts of interest 
to be dealt with. The Board follows an established procedure when 
deciding whether to authorise an actual or potential conflict of interest. 
Only independent directors (i.e. those who have no interest in the 
matter under consideration) will be able to take the relevant decision, 
and in taking the decision the directors must act in good faith and  
in a way they consider will be most likely to promote the Company’s 
success. Furthermore, the directors may, if appropriate, impose limits 
or conditions when granting authorisation. 

Any authorities are reviewed at least every 15 months. The Board 
considered and authorised each director’s reported actual and 
potential conflicts of interest at its July 2014 Board meeting and 
considers changes on an ad hoc basis throughout the year.

COMMITTEES OF THE BOARD
The Board has established a number of committees to assist in the 
discharge of its duties and the formal Terms of Reference for the principal 
committees, approved by the Board and complying with the Code, are 
available from the General Counsel and Company Secretary and can also 
be found on the Company’s website at www.compass-group.com. Their 
Terms of Reference are reviewed annually and updated where necessary. 
Membership and details of the principal committees are shown on pages 
51 and 52. 

The General Counsel and Company Secretary acts as Secretary to all 
Board committees.

50

Compass Group PLC Annual Report 2014

MEETINGS ATTENDANCE
The following table shows the attendance of directors at meetings of the 
Board and of the Audit, Corporate Responsibility (CR), Nomination and 
Remuneration Committees during the year ended 30 September 2014:

Name

Carol Arrowsmith1
John Bason
Dominic Blakemore
Richard Cousins
Sir Roy Gardner2
Gary Green
Andrew Martin
Susan Murray
Don Robert
Sir Ian Robinson
Paul Walsh3

Audit 
Committee

CR
Committee

Nomination
Committee

Remuneration
Committee

Board

3 of 3
8 of 8
7 of 8
8 of 8
3 of 3
8 of 8
8 of 8
8 of 8
8 of 8
8 of 8
6 of 6

1 of 1
4 of 4
–
–
–
–
–
4 of 4
4 of 4
4 of 4
–

1 of 1
3 of 3
3 of 3
3 of 3
1 of 1
–
–
3 of 3
3 of 3
3 of 3
2 of 2 

1 of 1
2 of 2
–
2 of 2
1 of 1
–
–
2 of 2
2 of 2
2 of 2
1 of 1

2 of 2
4 of 4
–
–
–
–
–
4 of 4
4 of 4
4 of 4
–

1  Carol Arrowsmith joined the Board on 1 June 2014
2  Sir Roy Gardner retired from the Board on 6 February 2014
3  Paul Walsh joined the Board on 1 January 2014

The table shows the number of meetings attended out of the number of 
meetings which each director was eligible to attend. Directors who are not 
members of individual Board committees have also been invited to attend 
one or more meetings of those committees during the year.

There was one occasion where a director was unable to attend a meeting 
due to an unforeseen event.

NOMINATION COMMITTEE
The Nomination Committee’s key objective is to ensure that the Board 
comprises individuals with the necessary skills, knowledge and experience 
to ensure that it is effective in discharging its responsibilities.

The Nomination Committee comprises Paul Walsh (Chairman),  
Richard Cousins and all of the non-executive directors in office at the  
date of this Report.

The Nomination Committee meets on an as needed basis. The 
Nomination Committee met two times during the year and members’ 
attendance is set out in the table above.

The Nomination Committee reviews the structure, size and composition  
of the Board and its committees and makes recommendations with regard 
to any changes considered necessary in the identification and nomination 
of new directors, the reappointment of existing directors and appointment 
of members to the Board’s committees. It also assesses the roles of the 
existing directors in office to ensure that there continues to be a balanced 
board in terms of skills, knowledge, experience and diversity. The 
Nomination Committee reviews the senior leadership needs of the Group 
to enable it to compete effectively in the marketplace. The Nomination 
Committee also advises the Board on succession planning for executive 
director appointments, although the Board itself is responsible for 
succession generally.

The Company adopts a formal, rigorous and transparent procedure for  
the appointment of new directors and senior executives with due regard  
to diversity and gender. Prior to making an appointment, the Nomination 
Committee will evaluate the balance of skills, knowledge, independence, 
experience and diversity on the Board and, in the light of this evaluation, 
will prepare a description of the role and capabilities required, with a view 
to appointing the best placed individual for the role. 

In identifying suitable candidates, the Nomination Committee:

• uses open advertising or the services of external advisers to facilitate  

the search

Compass Group PLC Annual Report 2014

• considers candidates from different genders and a wide range of 

backgrounds

• considers candidates on merit and against objective criteria ensuring that 
appointees have sufficient time to devote to the position, in light of other 
significant commitments

During the year, the Nomination Committee retained Egon Zehnder 
International as recruitment consultants in respect of the search for a 
suitable candidate to join the Board as an additional non-executive 
director. Egon Zehnder International is an independent executive search 
firm which has no other connection with the Company. Carol Arrowsmith 
was identified by the Nomination Committee as part of the external search 
process conducted by Egon Zehnder International. She was subsequently 
recommended to the Board for appointment on the basis that she met  
the criteria required, including having sufficient time to discharge the 
requirements of the role. During the year, the Nomination Committee also 
considered (and recommended to the Board) the reappointment of John 
Bason for a further three year term.

In the year ahead, the Nomination Committee will continue to assess  
the Board’s composition and how it may be enhanced and will consider 
diversity (gender and experience) and geographic representation and use 
independent consultants as appropriate to ensure a broad search for 
suitable candidates.

REMUNERATION COMMITTEE
The Remuneration Committee is responsible for making recommendations 
to the Board on remuneration policy for the Chairman, executive directors 
and senior management. 

The Remuneration Committee comprises Carol Arrowsmith (Chairman) 
from 1 June 2014 and all of the other non-executive directors in office  
at the date of this Report. Sir Ian Robinson was Chairman of the 
Remuneration Committee until 1 June 2014. The Remuneration 
Committee met four times during the year and directors’ attendance  
can be found in the table above.

The Directors’ Remuneration Report is set out on pages 59 to 76 and 
details the Remuneration Committee’s activities during the year and the 
policy on remuneration. The Chairman of the Remuneration Committee 
attends the AGM to respond to any shareholder questions that might be 
raised on the Remuneration Committee’s activities.

GENERAL BUSINESS COMMITTEE
The General Business Committee comprises all of the executive directors 
and meets as required to conduct the Company’s business within clearly 
defined limits delegated by the Board and subject to those matters reserved 
to the Board.

CORPORATE RESPONSIBILITY COMMITTEE
The Corporate Responsibility Committee’s primary responsibilities 
include health, safety and environmental practices, ethical business 
conduct, the promotion of employee engagement and diversity and 
community investment. 

The Corporate Responsibility Committee comprises Susan Murray 
(Chairman), Paul Walsh, Dominic Blakemore, Richard Cousins,  
Mark White (General Counsel and Company Secretary), Jane Kingston 
(Group Human Resources Director) and all of the non-executive directors 
in office at the date of this Report. The Corporate Responsibility 
Committee met three times during the year and the director members’ 
attendance is shown in the table above. Our Corporate Responsibility 
Report 2014 is available at www.compass-group.com/cr14 as well as on 
pages 40 to 45 of this Report.

51

Strategic reportCorporate governanceConsolidated financial statementsParent Company financial statementsShareholder informationGOVERNANCE AND DIRECTORS’ REPORT

DISCLOSURE COMMITTEE
The Disclosure Committee ensures accuracy and timeliness of public 
announcements of the Company and monitors the Company’s obligations 
under the Listing Rules and Disclosure and Transparency Rules of the  
UK Listing Authority. 

Meetings are held as required. At the date of this Report, the Disclosure 
Committee comprises Dominic Blakemore, Mark White, the Head of 
Financial Reporting and Control and the Head of Investor Relations. 

EXECUTIVE BOARD
The Executive Board is the key management committee for the Group  
and comprises the executive directors of the Company, Andrew Furlong 
(Regional Managing Director, Central Asia, Middle East, Africa & 
Turkey), Philippe Op de Beeck (Regional Managing Director, Asia 
Pacific), Johnny Thomson (Regional Managing Director, Latin America), 
Mark White and Jane Kingston. 

The Executive Board meets regularly and is responsible for developing  
the Group’s strategy and capital expenditure and investment budgets and 
reporting on these areas to the Board for approval, implementing Group 
policy, monitoring financial, operational and customer quality of service 
performance, health and safety, purchasing and supply chain issues, 
succession planning and day to day management of the Group. 

AUDIT COMMITTEE
OBJECTIVES
The Audit Committee’s key objectives are the provision of effective 
governance over the appropriateness of the Group’s financial reporting, 
including the adequacy of related disclosures, the performance of both the 
internal and external audit functions, and the management of the Group’s 
systems of internal control, business risks and related compliance activities. 

The Audit Committee’s Terms of Reference can be found at  
www.compass-group.com.

COMPOSITION
The Audit Committee comprises all of the non-executive directors in office 
at the date of this Report. Members of the Audit Committee are appointed 
by the Board following recommendations by the Nomination Committee 
and the Audit Committee’s membership is reviewed by the Nomination 
Committee and as part of the annual Board performance evaluation. 

Each member of the Audit Committee brings relevant senior level financial 
experience. The expertise and experience of the members of the Audit 
Committee are summarised on pages 46 and 47. The Board considers that 
each member of the Audit Committee is independent within the definition 
set out in the Code. The Audit Committee’s Chairman, John Bason, is 
considered by the Board to have significant, recent and relevant financial 
experience as Finance Director of Associated British Foods plc. 

All members of the Audit Committee receive an appropriate induction, 
which includes an overview of the business, its financial dynamics and 
risks. Audit Committee members are expected to have an understanding 
of the principles of, and recent developments in, financial reporting, 
including the applicable accounting standards and statements of 
recommended practice, key aspects of the Company’s policies, financing, 
internal control mechanisms, and matters that require the use of 
judgement in the presentation of accounts and key figures as well as the 
role of internal and external auditors. Members of the Audit Committee 
undertake ongoing training as required.

AUDIT COMMITTEE MEETINGS
The Audit Committee meets regularly throughout the year and its agenda 
is linked to events in the Company’s financial calendar. Each member of 

the Audit Committee may require reports on matters of interest in addition 
to the regular items. The Audit Committee met four times during the year 
and members’ attendance at the meetings is set out in the table on page 51. 

The Audit Committee invites Paul Walsh (Chairman), Richard Cousins 
(Group Chief Executive), Dominic Blakemore (Group Finance Director), 
Sarah Sergeant (Head of Financial Reporting and Control) and Trevor 
Gelnar (Director of Group Internal Audit), together with senior 
representatives of the external auditor, to attend each meeting although, 
from time to time, it reserves time for discussions without invitees being 
present. Other senior management are invited to present such reports as 
are required for the Audit Committee to discharge its duties.

The Chairman of the Audit Committee attends the AGM to respond  
to any shareholder questions that might be raised on its activities. The 
remuneration of the members of the Audit Committee and the policy with 
regard to the remuneration of the non-executive directors are set out on 
pages 68 and 74. 

ACTIVITIES DURING THE YEAR
The matters reviewed and evaluated by the Audit Committee during the 
year are set out below: 

FINANCIAL REPORTING
• the appropriateness of the interim and annual financial statements 

(including the announcements thereof to the London Stock Exchange) 
with both management and the external auditor, including:
 – at the Board’s request, whether the Annual Report and Accounts,  

taken as a whole, is fair, balanced and understandable and provides  
the information necessary for shareholders to assess the Company’s 
performance, business model and strategy

 – the clarity of disclosures and compliance with financial reporting 

standards and relevant financial and governance reporting 
requirements

 – discussing the critical accounting policies and use of assumptions and 

estimates, as noted in section B of the accounting policies on page 87 of 
this Annual Report, and concluding that the estimates, judgements and 
assumptions used were reasonable based on the information available 
and had been used appropriately in applying the Company’s 
accounting policies

 – considering the nature and quantum of the purchasing income earned 
by the Group during the financial year. It also assessed the extent to 
which the amounts recognised required estimation and reviewed the 
recoverability of amounts accrued at the year end with reference to 
aged analyses and subsequent cash receipts. Nothing arose during the 
course of this review to indicate that purchasing income had not been 
accounted for in accordance with the Group's accounting policies 
• the material areas in which significant judgements have been applied, 

namely:
 – the consideration of any goodwill impairment assessments and how 

these were addressed. The judgement largely relates to the assumptions 
underlying the calculation of the value in use of the cash generating 
units (CGUs) being tested for impairment, primarily the achievement 
of the three year business plan for the CGUs and the macroeconomic 
assumptions (such as discount rates) underpinning the valuation 
process. The Committee receives reports from management outlining 
the basis for the assumptions used. Business plans are approved by the 
Board. In addition, the external auditor provides detailed written 
assessments to the Audit Committee in this area

 – the level of provisioning for contingent and other liabilities (including 

tax) where management, accounting and legal judgements are 
important. The Committee discusses with management the key 
judgements made, including relevant legal advice. The external auditor 
also reports on all material provisions to the Committee

• Going Concern

52

Compass Group PLC Annual Report 2014

OTHER MATTERS
In addition to its key role in the financial reporting process, the Audit 
Committee also considered the following:

Items discussed

INTERNAL AUDIT

Nov
2013

Jan
2014

May
2014

Sept
2014

•  approval of the Group’s internal audit plan and 
risk controls and the review of internal audit 
activity reports and updates, together with the 
rollout of key financial controls

EXTERNAL AUDIT
•  retendering process for the auditor
•  appointment of KPMG LLP and associated 

terms and fees and handover process between 
Deloitte LLP and KPMG LLP

•  approval and review of proposed audit plan  

and procedures
 – review of auditor effectiveness and 

appointment

 – review of the policy and update of provision 

of non-audit services provided by the 
external auditor

OTHER MATTERS
•  litigation and contingent liabilities
•  operation of the Group’s Speak Up 

whistleblowing policy

•  country specific audit matters
•  the Regional and Group Governance 

Committee structure and the outputs from 
the committee meetings

•  tax matters, including provisioning for potential 
current tax liabilities and the level of deferred 
tax asset recognition as well as compliance 
with statutory tax reporting obligations

●

●

●

●
●

●

●

●

●

●

●

●

●

●

●
●

●
●

●

●

●
●

●
●

●

●

EXTERNAL AUDIT
During the financial year ended 30 September 2014, following a retender 
exercise which complied with best practice guidelines, KPMG LLP 
succeeded Deloitte LLP as the Company’s external auditor (see ‘Appointment 
of auditor’ below). The Audit Committee applied the same rigour towards  
its oversight, monitoring and other duties in respect of successive external 
auditors, as applicable and as set out below, throughout the period. 

The Audit Committee is responsible for the development, implementation 
and monitoring of the Company’s policy on external audit. The Audit 
Committee reserves oversight responsibility for monitoring the auditor’s 
independence, objectivity and compliance with ethical, professional and 
regulatory requirements. The Audit Committee recommends the 
appointment, reappointment and removal of the Company’s external 
auditor, and considers the risks associated with its withdrawal from the 
market in its risk evaluation and planning. The Audit Committee also 
reviews the terms, areas of responsibility and scope of the audit as set out  
in the external auditor’s engagement letter; the overall work plan for the 
forthcoming year, together with the associated fee proposal and cost 
effectiveness of the audit; any major issues which arise during the course  
of the audit and their resolution; key accounting and audit judgements; the 
level of errors identified during the audit; the recommendations made to 
management by the auditor and management’s response; and the auditor’s 
overall performance. 

The Audit Committee also ensures that key partners within the external 
auditor are rotated from time to time in accordance with applicable UK 
rules. The Audit Committee monitors the extent of non-audit work which 
the external auditor can perform, to ensure that the provision of those 
non-audit services that can be undertaken by the external auditor falls 

Compass Group PLC Annual Report 2014

within the agreed policy and does not impair its objectivity or 
independence. Following the change of external auditor, the Audit 
Committee agreed that Deloitte LLP should continue to provide tax 
services to the Group and has amended its policy on the provision of 
non-audit services by the external auditor accordingly, to exclude such 
services. Therefore, unless there is no other competent and available 
provider, the external auditor should be excluded from providing the 
Company with general consultancy and all other non-audit services. 
Engagements for non-audit services that are not prohibited are subject  
to formal approval by the Audit Committee based on the level of fees 
involved. Non-audit services that are pre-approved are either routine in 
nature with a fee that is not significant in the context of the audit or are 
audit related services.

Within the constraints of applicable UK rules, the external auditor has 
traditionally undertaken some due diligence reviews and other pieces  
of non-audit work. The provision of non-audit services within such 
constraints and the agreed policy is assessed on a case by case basis so  
that the best placed adviser is retained. Principal non-audit services 
provided by Deloitte LLP to 14 March 2014 and by KPMG LLP since  
14 March 2014 approved by the Audit Committee during the year ended  
30 September 2014 comprised assistance on tax matters (in the case  
of Deloitte LLP), IT related services and due diligence advice in respect  
of potential acquisitions.

During the year, the Audit Committee reviewed Deloitte LLP’s fees for  
its services during the year ended 30 September 2013, its effectiveness and 
whether the agreed audit plan had been fulfilled and the reasons for any 
variation from the plan. Its fees for non-audit work completed during 
2012-2013 were also reviewed and agreed. The Audit Committee’s usual 
formal evaluation process involving the use of questionnaires completed  
by finance teams around the Group was incorporated within the agreed 
process for retendering the external audit. 

The Audit Committee also considered the robustness of the 2014 audit and 
the degree to which KPMG LLP was able to assess key accounting and 
audit judgements and the content of the management letter issued by the 
external auditor. The Audit Committee concluded that both the audit and 
the audit process were effective. 

The total fees paid to KPMG LLP in the year ended 30 September 2014 
were £6.1 million of which £1.9 million related to non-audit work, much 
of which related to the period prior to their appointment in March 2014. 
The total fees paid to Deloitte LLP in the year ended 30 September 2014 
were £4.6 million (2013: £7.8 million) all of which related to non-audit 
work (2013: £3.5 million). Further disclosure of the non-audit fees paid 
during the year can be found in note 2 to the consolidated financial 
statements on page 96.

To ensure objectivity, key members of the audit team rotate off the 
Company’s audit. To safeguard the independence of the Company’s 
external auditor and the integrity of the audit process, the recruitment of 
senior employees from the Company’s auditor is not permitted for a period 
of at least two years after they cease to be involved in the provision of 
services to the Company.

APPOINTMENT OF AUDITOR
As planned and discussed in last year’s Annual Report, following extensive 
due diligence and agreement of a detailed timetable and step plan, in 2013 
the Audit Committee approved the issue of a formal Request for Proposal 
(RFP) for the appointment of the Company’s external auditor, in 
accordance with the requirement under the Code that the audit should be 
put out to tender at least every 10 years. Responses to the RFP were 
received during December 2013, assessed against agreed criteria and 
presentations were made to the Audit Committee by shortlisted candidates 
in January 2014. The Audit Committee recommended to the Board that 

53

Strategic reportCorporate governanceConsolidated financial statementsParent Company financial statementsShareholder informationGOVERNANCE AND DIRECTORS’ REPORT

KPMG LLP be appointed as the external auditor in succession to  
Deloitte LLP and, following approval by the Board, the appointment was 
duly notified to shareholders and to the Financial Reporting Council and 
became effective on 14 March 2014. KPMG LLP’s fees for the audit for  
the year ending 30 September 2014 were considered and agreed as part  
of the tender process. KPMG LLP is also appointed or is being appointed 
as auditor for the significant subsidiaries of the Group.

KPMG LLP has expressed its willingness to continue as auditor of  
the Company. Separate resolutions proposing its reappointment and 
determination of its remuneration will be proposed at the AGM to be  
held on 5 February 2015. 

DISCLOSURE OF RELEVANT AUDIT INFORMATION
The directors confirm that, so far as they are each aware, there is no 
relevant audit information of which KPMG LLP is unaware and each 
director has taken all the steps that ought to have been taken as a director 
to be aware of any relevant audit information and to establish that  
KPMG LLP is aware of that information. 

OUR STANDARDS
The Company remains committed to the highest standards of business 
conduct and expects all of its employees to act accordingly. The Group’s 
Speak Up policy (an extension of the Code of Ethics now incorporated 
within the Group’s Code of Business Conduct which was launched in 40 
languages during 2011 and is available on the Company’s website) sets out 
arrangements for the receipt, in confidence, of complaints on accounting, 
risk issues, internal controls, auditing issues and related matters which 
would, as appropriate, be reported to the Audit Committee, and Speak 
Up is a standard review item on all internal audit work programmes. 
Copies of the Codes of Business Conduct and Ethics are available on the 
Company’s website at www.compass-group.com. 

The Audit Committee also receives updates on bribery and fraud activity 
in the business, if any, at least twice each year with individual updates 
being given to the Audit Committee, as needed, in more serious cases of 
alleged bribery, fraud or related activities. The Group’s anti-fraud policies 
are a subset of the Code of Business Conduct which does not tolerate any 
activity involving fraud, dishonesty or deception. These policies, for which 
the Audit Committee retains overall responsibility, set out how allegations 
of fraud or bribery are dealt with, such as by the local human resources  
or finance team, and the frequency of local reporting that feeds into the 
regular updates, which are presented to the Audit Committee. Reporting 
of these matters to the Audit Committee is managed and overseen by 
internal audit. The Speak Up policy operates when the complaint is 
received through the whistleblowing channel and that policy will redirect 
the alleged fraud or bribery for investigation at the most appropriate level 
of the organisation which may, for example, be by a member of the local 
human resources team or, on occasion, the Audit Committee itself.

Each year, the Audit Committee critically reviews its own performance 
and considers where improvements can be made.

INTERNAL AUDIT
The Audit Committee reviews the effectiveness of the Group’s internal 
audit function and its relationship with the external auditor, including 
internal audit resources, plans and performance as well as the degree to 
which the function is free of management restrictions. Throughout the 
year, the Audit Committee reviewed the internal audit function’s plans and 
its achievements against those plans. The Audit Committee considered  
the results of the audits undertaken by the internal audit function and 
considered the adequacy of management’s response to matters raised, 
including the time taken to resolve any such matters.

INTERNAL CONTROL
The Audit Committee also reviews the integrity of material financial 
statements made by the Company. The Audit Committee monitors  
and conducts a robust review of the effectiveness of the Group’s internal 
control systems, accounting policies and practices and compliance controls 
(including key financial controls) as well as the Company’s statements  
on internal control before they are agreed by the Board for each year’s 
Annual Report. The Board retains overall responsibility for internal 
control and the identification and management of business risk. The 
internal audit function is involved in the assessment of the quality of risk 
management and internal control and helps to promote and further 
develop effective risk management within the business. Certain internal 
audit assignments (such as those requiring specialist expertise) continue  
to be outsourced by the Director of Group Internal Audit as appropriate.  
The Audit Committee reviews internal audit reports and considers the 
effectiveness of the function.

In a Group where local management have considerable autonomy to run 
and develop their businesses, a well designed system of internal control is 
necessary to safeguard shareholders’ investments and the Company’s 
assets. The directors acknowledge that they have overall responsibility for 
the Group’s systems of internal control and for reviewing the effectiveness 
of those controls. In accordance with the guidance set out in the Turnbull 
Report, ‘Internal Control: Guidance for Directors on the Combined 
Code’, and in the Code itself, an ongoing process has been established for 
identifying, managing and evaluating the risks faced by the Group. This 
process has been in place for the full financial year and up to the date on 
which the financial statements were approved.

The systems are designed to manage rather than eliminate the risk of 
failure to achieve the Group’s strategic objectives, safeguard the Group’s 
assets against material loss, fairly report the Group’s performance and 
position and to ensure compliance with relevant legislation, regulation and 
best practice including that related to social, environmental and ethical 
matters. The systems provide reasonable, but not absolute, assurance 
against material misstatement or loss. Such systems are reviewed by the 
Board to deal with changing circumstances.

A summary of the key financial risks inherent in the Group’s business is 
given on pages 37 to 39. Risk assessment and evaluation are an integral 
part of the annual planning cycle. Each business documents the strategic 
objectives and the effectiveness of the Group’s systems of internal control. 
As part of the review, each significant business and function has been 
required to identify and document each substantial risk, together with  
the mitigating actions implemented to manage, monitor and report to 
management on the effectiveness of these controls. Senior managers are 
also required to sign biannual confirmations of compliance with key 
procedures and to report any breakdowns in, or exceptions to, these 
procedures. Summarised results have been presented to senior 
management (including to the Executive Board) and to the Board.  
These processes have been in place throughout the financial year ended  
30 September 2014 and have continued to the date of this Report. Taken 
together, these processes and the reports they generate, which are 
considered by the Audit Committee, constitute a robust assessment of key 
risks and the internal controls that exist, designed to mitigate these risks. 
The Board has reviewed the effectiveness of the Group’s system of internal 
control for the year under review and a summary of the principal control 
structures and processes in place across the Group is set out in this Report.

CONTROL ENVIRONMENT 
Whilst the Board has overall responsibility for the Group’s system of 
internal control and for reviewing its effectiveness, it has delegated 
responsibility for the operation of the internal control and risk management 
programme to the Executive Board. The detailed review of internal control 
has been delegated to the Audit Committee. The management of each 

54

Compass Group PLC Annual Report 2014

business is responsible for internal control and risk management within its 
own business and for ensuring compliance with the Group’s policies and 
procedures. Each business has appointed a risk champion whose primary 
role in such capacity is to ensure compliance by local management with the 
Group’s risk management and internal control programme. The internal 
and the external independent auditors have reviewed the overall approach 
adopted by the Group towards its risk management activities so as to 
reinforce these internal control requirements.

There is regular dialogue with institutional shareholders and this has  
been extended to include private shareholders through the AGM. Contact 
with institutional shareholders (and with financial analysts, brokers and  
the media) is controlled by written guidelines to ensure the protection of 
share price sensitive information that has not already been made generally 
available to the Company’s shareholders. Contact is also maintained,  
when appropriate, with shareholders to discuss overall remuneration plans 
and policies. 

CONTROL PROCEDURES 
The Board reviews its strategic plans and objectives on an annual basis  
and approves Group budgets and strategies in light of these. Control is 
exercised at Group, regional and business level through the Group’s 
Management and Performance (MAP) framework and monthly 
monitoring of performance by comparison with budgets, forecasts and 
cash targets, and by regular visits to Group businesses by the Group Chief 
Executive and the Group Finance Director.

This is underpinned by a formal major risk assessment process which  
is an integral part of the annual business cycle. Each of the Group’s 
businesses is required to identify and document major risks facing their 
business and appropriate mitigating activities and controls, and monitor 
and report to management on the effectiveness of these controls on a 
biannual basis. These reports, together with reports on internal control 
and departures, if any, from established Group procedures prepared  
by both the internal and external auditors, are reviewed by the Group 
Finance Director and the Audit Committee. Group companies also submit 
biannual risk and internal control assurance letters to the Group Finance 
Director on internal control and risk management issues, with comments 
on the control environment within their operations. The Group Finance 
Director summarises these submissions for the Audit Committee and the 
Chairman of the Audit Committee reports to the Board on any matters 
that have arisen from the Audit Committee’s review of the way in which 
risk management and internal control processes have been applied. 

The Board has formal procedures in place for approval of client contracts, 
capital investment and acquisition projects, with clearly designated levels  
of authority, supported by post investment review processes for selected 
acquisitions and major capital expenditure. The Board considers social, 
environmental and ethical matters in relation to the Group’s business  
and assesses these when reviewing the risks faced by the Group; further 
information regarding environmental and ethical matters is available on 
pages 40 to 45. The Board is conscious of the effect such matters may have 
on the short and long term value of the Company. The external auditor  
of the Company and the Director of Group Internal Audit attend Audit 
Committee meetings and receive its papers. The Report of the Audit 
Committee is set out on pages 52 and 53 and the Audit Committee 
members meet regularly with the Director of Group Internal Audit and  
the external auditor without the presence of executive management.

There were no changes to the Company’s internal control over financial 
reporting that occurred during the year ended 30 September 2014 that 
have affected materially, or are reasonably likely to affect materially, the 
Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

COMMUNICATING WITH SHAREHOLDERS
The Company places considerable importance on communication with  
its shareholders, including its private shareholders. The Group Chief 
Executive and the Group Finance Director are closely involved in investor 
relations and a senior executive has day to day responsibility for such 
matters. The views of the Company’s major shareholders are reported to 
the Board by the Group Chief Executive and the Group Finance Director 
as well as by the Chairman (who remains in contact with our largest 
shareholders) and are discussed at its meetings. 

The primary method of communication with shareholders is by electronic 
means, helping to make the Company more environmentally friendly  
by reducing waste and pollution associated with the printing and posting 
of its Annual Report. The Annual Report and Accounts is available  
to all shareholders and can be accessed via the Company’s website at 
www.compass-group.com. The Group’s annual and interim results are 
also published on the Company’s website, together with all other 
announcements and documents issued to the market, such as trading 
updates, interim management statements, interviews and presentations  
by the Group Chief Executive and Group Finance Director.

The Notice of Annual General Meeting is circulated to all shareholders at 
least 20 working days prior to such meeting and it is Company policy not to 
combine resolutions to be proposed at general meetings. All shareholders 
are invited to the Company’s AGM at which they have the opportunity to 
put questions to the Board and it is standard practice to have the chairmen 
of the Audit, Corporate Responsibility, Nomination and Remuneration 
Committees available to answer questions. The results of proxy voting for 
and against each resolution, as well as abstentions, are announced to the 
London Stock Exchange and are published on the Company’s website 
shortly after the meeting. Further shareholder information is available  
on pages 144 and 145.

OTHER STATUTORY DISCLOSURES 
DIRECTORS
Particulars of the directors in office at the date of this report are listed on 
pages 46 and 47. In accordance with the Code, each director will retire 
and submit himself or herself for election or re-election at the AGM on  
5 February 2015. 

Sir Roy Gardner stepped down as a director and as Chairman at the 
conclusion of the AGM on 6 February 2014. As announced in June 2013, 
Paul Walsh was appointed as a non-executive director from 1 January 2014. 
He became non-executive Chairman at the conclusion of the AGM on  
6 February 2014. As announced on 14 May 2014, Carol Arrowsmith  
joined the Board on 1 June 2014 and will seek election at the AGM on  
5 February 2015.

RESULTS AND DIVIDENDS
In the year ended 30 September 2014, the Group delivered a decrease  
of 2.4% in Group underlying profit before tax from £1,188 million to 
£1,159 million and an increase of 59.1% in Group reported profit before 
tax from £721 million to £1,147 million. An analysis of revenue and 
operating profit is set out in note 1 to the consolidated financial statements 
on pages 92 and 93. 

A Return of Cash, equating to 56 pence per share, was paid to 
shareholders on 29 July 2014. The Return of Cash and associated  
Share Capital Consolidation are described further on page 56.

The Return of Cash is not included in the dividend table on page 56.

Compass Group PLC Annual Report 2014

55

Strategic reportCorporate governanceConsolidated financial statementsParent Company financial statementsShareholder informationGOVERNANCE AND DIRECTORS’ REPORT

A summary of the dividends on ordinary shares for the year ended  
30 September 2014 compared with 2013 is shown below: 

 Year

2013
2013
2013

2014
2014
2014

Dividend

Interim
Final
Total

Pence per share

8.0
16.0
24.0

Interim
Final (recommended)
Total

8.8
17.7 
26.5 (10.5% increase on 2013)

The 2014 interim dividend of 8.8 pence per share (2013: 8.0 pence) was 
paid to shareholders on 26 June 2014. 

Payment of the recommended final dividend, if approved at the AGM 
to be held on 5 February 2015, will be made on 23 February 2015 to 
shareholders registered at the close of business on 23 January 2015. The 
shares will be quoted ex-dividend from 22 January 2015.

During the year, the trustees of each of the employee benefit trusts which 
operate in connection with the Company’s share plans waived their rights 
to receive dividends on any shares held by them. Details of the trusts can 
be found on page 57 of this Report. The amount of dividends waived 
during the year ended 30 September 2014 was £20,677 (2013: £39,643). 

A dividend reinvestment plan is available to eligible shareholders. Details 
can be found on page 144. 

SHARE CAPITAL
GENERAL
At the General Meeting (GM) held on 11 June 2014 members voted in 
favour of the Company’s proposals to return approximately £1 billion  
to shareholders by way of a cash payment of 56 pence per ordinary share 
of 10 pence each held as at the record time of 6.00pm on 7 July 2014.  
The cash return was accompanied by a share consolidation whereby 
shareholders received 16 new ordinary shares of 105⁄8 pence each in the 
Company for every 17 ordinary shares of 10 pence each held at the record 
time. This share capital reorganisation was effective and the new shares 
were admitted to trading on the London Stock Exchange from 8 July 2014. 
Full details of the Return of Cash and Share Capital Consolidation were 
set out in a Circular to shareholders dated 19 May 2014 which is available 
on the Company’s website at www.compass-group.com.

At the date of this Report, 1,667,980,436 new ordinary shares of 105⁄8 pence 
each have been issued, are fully paid up and are quoted on the London 
Stock Exchange. In addition, the Company sponsors a Level I American 
Depositary Receipt programme with BNY Mellon, under which the 
Company’s shares are traded on the over the counter market in the form  
of American Depositary Shares.

During the year ended 30 September 2014, 3,338,288 options were 
exercised and 1,333,578 awards released pursuant to the Company’s share 
option schemes and long term incentive plans, resulting in the allotment 
of 4,671,866 new ordinary shares. A further 394,502 new ordinary shares 
have been allotted under these schemes since the end of the financial year 
to the date of this Report. 

There are no restrictions on the transfer of ordinary shares in the capital of 
the Company other than certain restrictions which may from time to time 
be imposed by law, for example, insider trading law. In accordance with 
the Listing Rules of the Financial Conduct Authority, certain employees 
are required to seek the approval of the Company to deal in its shares.

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

The Company’s Articles of Association may only be amended by special 
resolution at a general meeting of shareholders.

The Company is not aware of any significant agreements to which it is 
party that take effect, alter or terminate upon a change of control of the 
Company following a takeover.

More detailed information relating to the rights and obligations attaching 
to the Company’s ordinary shares, in addition to those conferred by law, 
are set out in the Company’s Articles of Association, which are available on 
the Company’s website as well as on pages 24 and 25 of the Annual Report 
for the year ended 30 September 2007. The 2007 Annual Report is 
available on the Company’s website at www.compass-group.com.

REPURCHASE OF SHARES
On 21 November 2012, the Company announced its intention to 
commence a £400 million share repurchase programme. This 
programme was completed on 9 January 2014. On 27 November 2013,  
the Company announced its intention to commence a £500 million share 
repurchase programme, to be executed over the 12 month period to the 
end of 2014. This programme was temporarily suspended following 
announcement on 14 May 2014 of the £1 billion Return of Cash and 
Share Capital Consolidation until after completion of this transaction on 
29 July 2014. The programme recommenced on 31 July 2014 and is now 
expected to be completed by the end of 2015. 

From 1 October 2013 to 26 March 2014 21,352,881 ordinary shares  
of 10 pence each were purchased and subsequently cancelled for a 
consideration of £196 million (including expenses) (representing 1.18%  
of the ordinary shares in issue on 1 October 2013). From 31 July 2014 to  
30 September 2014 8,200,000 ordinary shares of 105⁄8 pence each were 
purchased and subsequently cancelled for a consideration of £80 million 
(including expenses) representing 0.49% of the ordinary shares in issue  
on 8 July 2014. From 1 October 2014 to the date of this Report a further 
6,100,000 shares of 105⁄8 pence each of the Company (representing  
0.36% of the ordinary shares in issue on 1 October 2014) were purchased 
and subsequently cancelled for a consideration of £60.6 million  
(including expenses).

At the AGM a special resolution will be proposed to renew the directors’ 
limited authority to repurchase ordinary shares in the market, last granted 
at the GM held on 11 June 2014. The directors consider it desirable for 
these general authorisations to be available in order to maintain an 
efficient capital structure whilst at the same time retaining the flexibility  
to fund infill acquisitions. 

The authority sets the minimum and maximum prices which may be  
paid and it will be limited to a maximum of 10% of the Company’s issued 
ordinary share capital calculated at the latest practicable date prior to  
the publication of the Notice of AGM. Any purchases of ordinary shares 
will be by means of market purchases through the London Stock Exchange 
and any shares purchased may be cancelled or placed into treasury  
in accordance with the Companies (Acquisition of Own Shares) (Treasury 
Shares) Regulations 2003. The Company currently holds no shares  
in treasury. 

ISSUE OF SHARES
At the AGM, the directors will ask shareholders to renew the authority  
last granted to them at the GM held in 2014 to allot equity shares 
representing approximately one third of the issued ordinary shares 
calculated at the latest practicable date prior to the publication of the 
Notice of AGM (the section 551 authority) and, in accordance with the 
Investment Management Association Allotment Guidelines, the directors 
again propose to extend this by a further one third of the Company’s 
issued ordinary share capital provided that such amount shall only be used 
in connection with a rights issue. If approved, the authority will expire no 
later than 15 months from the date on which the resolution is passed, or at 
the conclusion of the AGM to be held in 2016, whichever is the sooner.

56

Compass Group PLC Annual Report 2014

The limited power granted to the directors on 11 June 2014 to allot equity 
shares for cash other than pro rata to existing shareholders expires no later 
than 6 May 2015. Subject to the terms of the section 551 authority, the 
directors recommend that this authority should be renewed. If granted, 
this authority will give the directors the ability (until the AGM to be held 
in 2016) to issue ordinary shares for cash, other than pro rata to existing 
shareholders, in connection with a rights issue or up to a limit of 5% of the 
issued ordinary share capital calculated at the latest practicable date prior 
to the publication of the Notice of AGM. In line with best practice, the 
Company has not issued more than 7.5% of its issued ordinary share 
capital on a non prorated basis over the last three years. The directors have 
no present intention to issue ordinary shares, other than pursuant to the 
Company’s employee share schemes, and this authority will maintain the 
Company’s flexibility in relation to future share issues, including any issues 
to finance business opportunities, should appropriate circumstances arise.

Details of issues of new shares made during the year, together with details 
of options granted over unissued capital, are set out in note 24 to the 
consolidated financial statements on pages 124 to 126.

SUBSTANTIAL SHAREHOLDINGS
The following major shareholdings have been notified to the Company as 
at 30 September 2014 and the date of this Report. 

% of issued
capital1

% of Compass Group 
PLC’s voting rights

Blackrock, Inc.
Massachusetts Financial Services Company

9.99

5.92

9.99

5.92

1  At the date of disclosure.

Since the disclosure date, the shareholders’ interests in the Company may 
have changed. 

The number of shares held by the directors as at 30 September 2014 can 
be found on page 75 of the Directors’ Remuneration Report. 

EMPLOYEE SHARE TRUSTS
The Compass Group Employee Share Trust (ESOP) and The Compass 
Group Employee Trust Number 2 (CGET) were established on  
13 January 1992 and 12 April 2001 respectively in connection with the 
Company’s share option plans. The Compass Group Long Term Incentive 
Plan Trust (LTIPT) was established on 5 April 2001 in connection with 
the Company’s long term incentive plans. Details of all incentive plans are  
set out in the Directors’ Remuneration Report on pages 59 to 76. The 
trustees of the ESOP, LTIPT and CGET hold 38,743 (2013: 144,413), 
16,198 (2013: 17,209) and nil (2013: nil) ordinary shares of the  
Company respectively.

The Compass Group Executive Option Share Trust and the  
Compass Group Executive Share Trust were established on 15 and  
22 February 2010 respectively in relation to the operation of share 
incentive plans in Australia. No ordinary shares are held by these trusts  
as at 30 September 2014 (2013: nil).

AWARDS UNDER EMPLOYEE SHARE SCHEMES
Details of awards made during the year and held by executive directors as 
at 30 September 2014 are set out in the Directors’ Remuneration Report 
on pages 59 to 76.

Details of employee share schemes and grants made during the year ended 
30 September 2014 to, and extant awards held by, employees are disclosed 
in note 24 to the consolidated financial statements on pages 124 to 126.

EMPLOYEE POLICIES AND INVOLVEMENT
The Group places particular importance on the involvement of its 
employees, keeping them regularly informed through informal bulletins 
and other in-house publications, meetings and the Company’s internal 
websites, on matters affecting them as employees and on the issues 
affecting their performance. Since 1996 those Group businesses in the 
European Economic Area (EEA) have been represented on the Compass 
European Council (CEC) which provides a forum for exchanging 
information and engaging in consultation on the Group’s performance and 
plans, and relevant transnational issues. The Group’s CEC Agreement 
terminated in December 2012. The Company is currently negotiating a 
new CEC Agreement through a Special Negotiating Body, comprising 
employee representatives from each of the countries in which the Group 
operates within the EEA.

Permanent UK employees are normally invited to join the Company’s 
defined contribution pension scheme, Compass Retirement Income 
Savings Plan (CRISP), on the completion of two years’ service (this 
includes any service that may have transferred across under the Transfer 
of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 2006 (TUPE)). 
CRISP has a corporate trustee. Following the retirement of its independent 
chairman, Tony Allen, on 30 November 2013, Nigel Palmer, a current 
employee of the Group, was appointed chairman of the trustees. The other 
five trustee directors are UK based employees of the Group, two of whom 
have been nominated by CRISP members. As at the date of this Report, 
one further member nominated position is vacant. 

Those UK employees who transferred from the public sector under TUPE 
have been eligible to join the Compass Group Pension Plan (the Plan),  
a defined benefit pension arrangement which is otherwise closed to new 
entrants. However, under the Government’s revised guidance for ‘Fair 
Deal for staff pensions’ the expectation is that the Group will now 
participate in the relevant public sector pension scheme and close the Plan 
to future new entrants. The Plan also has a corporate trustee. Phillip 
Whittome succeeded Peter Morriss as independent chairman on  
11 October 2013. There are a further six trustee directors, five of whom 
are either UK based employees or former employees of the Group (three  
of whom have been nominated by Plan members), and the sixth is an 
independent trustee director. 

The Company became subject to the automatic enrolment regulations  
for its workforce in the UK on 1 November 2012, but deferred its staging 
date for automatic enrolment of eligible employees to 2 January 2013 as 
permitted by the regulations. Both the Plan and CRISP are compliant 
arrangements under these regulations and have been registered as such. 
All new UK employees who meet the statutory requirements, and who  
are not immediately entered into the Plan or CRISP, are automatically 
enrolled into the National Employment Savings Trust (NEST). The 
Group’s compliance with the auto-enrolment regulations, and the 
performance of NEST, are kept under regular review by the Group’s 
Pensions Autoenrolment Governance Committee.

Permanent employees outside of the UK are usually offered membership 
of local pension arrangements if and where they exist and where it is 
appropriate to have Company sponsored arrangements. 

Employees are offered a range of benefits, such as private medical cover, 
depending on the local environment. Priority is given to the training of 
employees and the development of their skills is of prime importance. 
Employment of disabled people is considered on merit with regard only  
to the ability of any applicant to carry out the role. Arrangements to  
enable disabled people to carry out the duties required will be made if  
it is reasonable to do so. An employee becoming disabled would, where 
appropriate, be offered retraining. 

Compass Group PLC Annual Report 2014

57

Strategic reportCorporate governanceConsolidated financial statementsParent Company financial statementsShareholder informationGOVERNANCE AND DIRECTORS’ REPORT

The Group continues to operate on a decentralised basis. This provides the 
maximum encouragement for the development of entrepreneurial flair, 
balanced by a rigorous control framework exercised by a small head office 
team. Local management teams are responsible for maintaining high 
standards of health and safety and for ensuring that there is appropriate 
employee involvement in decision making.

DONATIONS AND POLITICAL EXPENDITURE
Charitable objectives support the Company’s corporate responsibility 
strategy and have primarily focused on improving the environment, 
education, health and wellbeing, community engagement and responsible 
business practice. Donations have included employee involvement through 
fundraising and financial support.

EMPLOYEE DIVERSITY AND HUMAN RIGHTS
Our Code of Ethics was developed in consultation with the CEC and the 
Institute of Business Ethics and sets out clear standards of behaviour that 
we expect all of our people to demonstrate and adhere to. The Code of 
Ethics, which is part of our Code of Business Conduct, underpins our 
social, ethical and environmental commitments and sends a clear message 
to our stakeholders of our commitment to responsible business practice. 
The 10 principles of the United Nations (UN) Global Compact, to which 
we are a signatory, underpin our own Code of Ethics. This UN initiative 
encourages companies to make human rights, labour standards, 
environmental responsibility and anti-corruption part of their business 
agenda. Our annual Communication on Progress can be viewed at www.
unglobalcompact.org.

Our people are instrumental to our success; we respect and value the 
individuality and diversity that every employee brings to the Group.  
We base our relationship with our employees on respect for the dignity  
of the individual and fair treatment for all.

As at 30 September 2014, there were 514,718 (2013: 506,699) people 
employed by the Group (average number of employees including directors 
and part-time employees) of whom 288,242 were female (2013: 280,971) 
and 226,476 were male (2013: 225,728). Of these, 762 were senior 
managers (575 male, 187 female) (2013: 541 male, 182 female) which 
include members of our global leadership team and individuals who are 
statutory directors of the corporate entities whose financial information  
is included in the Group’s consolidated accounts in this Annual Report.  
In terms of the Company’s Board, as at 30 September 2014 there were  
10 directors, eight of whom were male and two female. Prior to any 
appointment to the Board the Nomination Committee gives due regard to 
diversity and gender with a view to appointing the best placed individual 
for the role. 

We seek to create a positive, open working environment wherever we 
operate. Our employee policies are set locally to comply with local law 
within an overall Group framework and we monitor our employee 
satisfaction and engagement through a number of key performance 
indicators, details of which can be found on pages 44 and 45 of the 
Corporate Responsibility section of the Strategic Report. 

We also consider the concerns of wider communities where we operate, 
including national and local interests, utilising our relevant expertise to 
help contribute to the wellbeing of communities which are appropriate  
to our business objectives. Furthermore, the Group supports the rights of 
all people as set out in the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights  
(UN Declaration) and considers carefully before doing any business in 
countries that do not adhere to the UN Declaration.

GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS REPORTING
The Company is required to state the annual quantity of emissions in 
tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent from activities for which the Group  
is responsible, including the combustion of fuel and the operation of any 
facility. Details of our emissions during the year ended 30 September 2014 
are set out within the Corporate Responsibility section of the Strategic 
Report on pages 42 and 43 and form part of the Directors’ Report 
disclosures. Further details of the actions which the Group is taking to 
reduce emissions can also be found in our online Corporate Responsibility 
Report at www.compass-group.com/cr14.

Group charitable donations

2013

2014

£m

6.7

6.5 

Since 2004, shareholders have passed an annual resolution, on a 
precautionary basis, to approve donations to EU political organisations and 
to incur EU political expenditure (as such terms were defined under the 
then relevant legislation) not exceeding a monetary limit approved by 
shareholders. The Board has consistently confirmed that it operates a policy 
of not giving any cash contribution to any political party in the ordinary 
meaning of those words and that it has no intention of changing that policy.

No material amount of corporate funds or paid employee time has been 
utilised during the year for political activities and, in accordance with the 
Company’s Code of Business Conduct, employees must not engage in any 
form of lobbying or have contact with political representatives, government 
employees or public interest groups unless they are doing so legitimately 
and adhering to internal control processes. Further information regarding 
the Code of Business Conduct can be found on page 54 of this Annual 
Report and on the Company’s website at www.compass-group.com.

The directors propose to renew the authority granted at the AGM in 2014 
for the Group to make political donations and incur political expenditure 
(as such terms are defined in sections 362 to 365 of the CA 2006) until the 
Company’s next AGM, which they might otherwise be prohibited from 
making or incurring under the terms of the CA 2006 and which would not 
amount to ‘donations’ in the ordinary sense of the word. It is proposed to 
maintain the limit of such authority at £100,000.

CREST
The Company’s ordinary shares and sterling Eurobonds are in CREST, 
the settlement system for stocks and shares.

DISCLOSURES REQUIRED UNDER UK LISTING RULE 9.8.4
There are no disclosures required to be made under UK Listing Rule 9.8.4.

SHAREHOLDER SERVICES
Details of services provided to shareholders can be found in the Shareholder 
Information section on pages 144 and 145 and on the Company’s website.

AGM
The Notice of Meeting setting out the resolutions to be proposed at the  
AGM to be held on 5 February 2015, together with explanatory notes,  
is set out on pages 146 to 151 of this Annual Report and is also available at  
www.compass-group.com. The directors consider that each of the resolutions 
is in the best interests of the Company and the shareholders as a whole and 
recommend that shareholders vote in favour of all of the resolutions. 

On behalf of the Board

MARK WHITE 
General Counsel and Company Secretary 
26 November 2014

Compass Group PLC 
Registered in England and Wales No. 4083914

58

Compass Group PLC Annual Report 2014

DIRECTORS’ REMUNERATION REPORT

ANNUAL STATEMENT
DEAR SHAREHOLDER
INTRODUCTION
On behalf of the Board, I am pleased to present the 2013-2014 Directors’ 
Remuneration Report.

I was delighted to be appointed to the Compass Group PLC Board and  
as Chairman of the Remuneration Committee in June of this year. My 
thanks go to Sir Ian Robinson, who served as Chairman of the Committee 
from April 2013, for his support when I took over the role.

In my first annual statement to shareholders, I would like to share with  
you both the corporate performance and related incentive outcomes for 
2013-2014 and our thinking on our longer term approach towards 
executive remuneration. We informed shareholders, when we published 
the Company’s first remuneration policy last year, that we would present  
a policy statement designed to operate for three years at the forthcoming 
Annual General Meeting (AGM), once we had reviewed our policy against 
the needs of the business and emerging reporting practice. We believe that 
we have now reached that point and below I have set out the context for the 
changes that you will see in the following Policy Report. 

PERFORMANCE IN 2013-2014
The success of your Company is driven by continued focus on growing 
revenue in a sustainable and profitable manner. Accordingly, revenue and 
profit are key measures in our annual bonus plan. I am pleased to report 
that the Company has continued to perform well against the challenging 
economic environment in some of the Group’s geographies. North 
America and Fast Growing & Emerging have seen further strong growth 
and conditions in Europe & Japan have improved. Organic revenue 
growth is up by 4.1% and operating profit margin increased by  
10 basis points compared with 2012-2013, to 7.2%. We have a healthy 
pipeline of new business across all regions and are well placed to capitalise 
on exciting growth opportunities.

Cash flow generation remains central to the success of the business in terms 
of both returns to shareholders and for investment for future growth and 
therefore is included as a performance measure in both our long and short 
term incentive plans. To add focus on the efficient and targeted investment 
of cash, Return on Capital Employed (ROCE) was added last year as  
a performance measure in the Long Term Incentive Plan (LTIP). The 
inclusion of Health, Safety and Environment (HSE) measures in our 
annual bonus plan for all our leadership team globally has emphasised the 
importance of this key business metric.

During the last 12 months, we have been able to reward shareholders 
through sustained growth in dividends, our ongoing share buyback 
programmes, and the £1 billion Return of Cash in July 2014. 

The incentive outcomes, as presented in the Annual Remuneration  
Report on pages 59 to 76, reflect achievement against these key 
performance factors.

2013-2014 REMUNERATION REVIEW
The Committee has been considering the competitive positioning of 
remuneration for the Company’s executive directors for some time and  
has revisited this during the last 12 months. The executive team is well 
established and under the leadership of Richard Cousins has delivered 
great value to shareholders in the form of outstanding Total Shareholder 
Return (TSR) growth (455% in the eight years since Richard Cousins’ 
appointment as Group Chief Executive), a progressive dividend and the 
Return of Cash. 

This very strong performance means that Compass is now a much bigger 
business and is far more valuable for shareholders. But over the same 
period both bonus opportunities and LTIP awards have remained 
unchanged at a maximum of 150% of salary, other than for Richard 
Cousins who became eligible for an LTIP award at a maximum value  
of 200% of salary in 2010.

The combination of this level of growth and the Company’s disciplined 
and conservative approach to remuneration has meant that our 
remuneration policy now falls significantly short of the market norm – 
most of our executive directors are in the lower quartile against their peers 
when we assess their total remuneration opportunity with companies of 
our size. We are confident that our executives have and will continue to 
deliver great value to shareholders and that our performance measures are 
relevant and appropriate, but the Committee now believes that this gap  
in total opportunity is too great and that an adjustment to address this is 
both in the best interests of shareholders and fair to our executive directors. 

Maintaining our historic modest approach was at the centre of our 
deliberations and featured clearly in our consultation with major 
shareholders. Accordingly, we believe it is appropriate to position our total 
remuneration opportunity at a moderate but more competitive level by:

• increasing the annual incentive opportunity for our Group Chief 

Executive from 150% to 200% of salary, in line with that for other  
FTSE 50 CEOs

• adjusting the LTIP award opportunity for all of our executive directors 

by an increment of 50% of salary

In addition, to reflect emergent best practice and align with shareholder 
interests, any LTIP awards made with this increased opportunity will be 
subject to a two year holding period post vesting. The Committee will also 
be able to decide whether to grant dividend equivalents on LTIP awards 
during the vesting period for future awards and to enable the use of market 
purchased shares for satisfaction of LTIP awards on vesting, to give 
maximum flexibility for the future. 

Finally, we will continue to seek to pay base salaries sensibly against the 
market and to provide shareholders with as much visibility as we can for 
the year ahead. All executive directors’ salaries will be reviewed in January 
going forward and our expectation is that most directors will be eligible for 
pay awards in line with our employees in the relevant market. We have 
typically appointed new executive directors at pay levels below the market 
rate and then moved their pay up to reflect experience and performance  
in the role. Dominic Blakemore was appointed as Group Finance Director 
in February 2012 and this was his first role as a PLC finance director. 
Dominic has performed very well and so his pay was increased by 9.4% in 
January 2014. We anticipate a further increment of 14.3% in his pay will 
be needed in January 2015 to reflect his role and performance and to align 
his pay better with that of his peers. 

Compass Group PLC Annual Report 2014

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CONCLUSION
The principles underlying our executive remuneration philosophy remain 
unchanged, namely a moderate approach, which enables our executives’ 
remuneration to reflect business performance. We believe that the 
proposed changes will align our executives’ total opportunity with the 
FTSE 50, where Compass now clearly sits, but remain in line with our 
overall modest approach, given the size, international reach and 
performance of the business. The Committee’s intent is that this revised 
policy will be in place for at least three years and that shareholders will 
vote on it and the accompanying changes in the LTIP rules at the AGM 
next February.

I have joined Compass at an exciting time. I believe that our modified 
approach to certain elements of executive remuneration will be in the  
long term interests of the Company and shareholders, and I look forward  
to participating in the implementation of our remuneration strategy for  
the future.

I recommend the following Governance Summary, Policy Report and 
Annual Remuneration Report to shareholders.

CAROL ARROWSMITH 
Chairman of the Remuneration Committee 
26 November 2014

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Compass Group PLC Annual Report 2014

GOVERNANCE SUMMARY
THE COMMITTEE
The Board sets the Company’s Remuneration Policy and the 
Remuneration Committee (the Committee) is responsible, within the 
authority delegated by the Board, for determining specific remuneration 
packages and the terms and conditions of employment for the members 
of the Executive Board, which comprises the executive directors and 
other senior executives. The Committee ensures that the members of 
the Executive Board are provided with the appropriate incentives to 
enhance the Group’s performance and to reward them for their 
personal contribution to the success of the business. The Committee 
reviews the remuneration arrangements for Group employees whose 
salaries exceed a specified level and administers the Company’s share 
incentive plans. The Committee also determines the Chairman’s 
remuneration, although the Board itself determines the level of fees paid 
to the non-executive directors. No directors are involved in determining 
their own remuneration. The Committee maintains an active dialogue 
with shareholder representatives and its full Terms of Reference are set 
out on the Company’s website at www.compass-group.com.

The Committee consists entirely of independent non-executive 
directors, as defined in the UK Corporate Governance Code (the 
Code). On 1 June 2014, Carol Arrowsmith succeeded Sir Ian 
Robinson as Chairman of the Committee. During the year, the 
Committee comprised the following non-executive directors:

Carol Arrowsmith (Chairman from 1 June 2014)
John Bason 
Susan Murray
Don Robert 
Sir Ian Robinson (Chairman to 1 June 2014) 

Biographical details of the current members of the Committee are set 
out on pages 46 and 47. The General Counsel and Company Secretary 
acts as the Secretary to the Committee. The Committee met on four 
occasions during the year and attendance details are shown in the table 
on page 51. Details of advisers to the Committee can be found on page 75.

SUMMARY OF COMMITTEE ACTIVITY DURING THE YEAR 
The key activities of the Committee during the year ended  
30 September 2014 were:

•  a review of the draft Directors’ Remuneration Report (DRR) for 
2012-2013 following consultation with major shareholders and a 
review of the 2013 AGM voting results

•  determination of the extent to which the performance measures 

for the long term incentive and bonus plans were achieved 
(including the treatment of the exceptional costs of the European 
restructuring programme) as well as approving the changed 
performance criteria for the LTIP, following consultation with, 
and approval by, shareholders

•  annual review of directors’ share ownership against the 

Company’s agreed policy and guidelines 

•  review of salary proposals for the Executive Board effective from 

1 January 2014

•  determination of proposed bonus targets for 2013-2014
•  determination of proposed targets under the LTIP and other 

incentive schemes operating below executive management level 
for 2013-2014

•  review of the Company’s remuneration practice to ensure that  
the overall remuneration structure continues to promote the 
Company’s long term business strategy

Compass Group PLC Annual Report 2014

•  regular reviews of performance under Group-wide share plans 
and approval of any discretionary matters for individuals below 
executive director level

•  consideration of the treatment of awards under the Company’s 
share schemes in relation to the Return of Cash and Share 
Capital Consolidation which completed in July 2014

•  agreement to the replacement of future option awards to the wider 

leadership team across the Group by grants under the LTIP 
•  approved shareholder engagement programme for 2014 and 

reviewed the draft DRR for 2013-2014 

•  determination of the remuneration packages for the executive 

directors and the Chairman

•  annual review of Terms of Reference for the Committee

STRUCTURE AND CONTENT OF DRR 
As for last year, this DRR has been prepared on behalf of the Board by 
the Committee in accordance with the requirements of the Companies 
Act 2006 and the Large and Medium-sized Companies and Groups 
(Accounts and Reports) (Amendment) Regulations 2013 (Regulations). 
Because our financial reporting period ends on 30 September, we were 
one of the first companies last year to prepare the DRR in accordance 
with the new Regulations, while best practice was still emerging. With 
this in mind we indicated our intention to submit our Remuneration 
Policy for approval again this year, in order to take account of any 
issues emerging from our consultations with shareholders and to reflect 
any changes or developments as necessary, with the intent that the 
Policy should then apply for three years. To the extent that changes 
have been made since last year, these are highlighted clearly in the 
preceding Annual Statement and within the Policy Report itself. The 
next two sections of the DRR cover the following matters:

•  the Company’s intended Remuneration Policy from 5 February 2015 

for the next three years, including each of the components of 
directors’ remuneration (the Policy Report) 

•  how last year’s policy (approved by shareholders at the AGM  
held on 6 February 2014) was implemented in the year ended  
30 September 2014 (the Annual Remuneration Report)

The information set out on pages 59 to 76 of this DRR represents the 
auditable disclosures referred to in the auditor’s report on pages 79 and 
80 as specified by the UK Listing Authority and the Regulations, save 
for the total shareholder return graph, Group Chief Executive’s 
remuneration history and remuneration percentage change tables, 
spend on pay table, details of advice provided to the Committee and 
statement of shareholder voting.

SHAREHOLDER ENGAGEMENT
The voting outcome at the 6 February 2014 AGM in respect of the  
DRR for the year ended 30 September 2013 is set out on page 76 and 
reflected very strong individual and institutional shareholder support. 
During September 2014, major shareholders were consulted regarding 
changes to the Remuneration Policy to take effect following approval  
by shareholders. Shareholders will be invited to approve both our 
Remuneration Policy for the year ending 30 September 2015 and beyond 
(which will be a binding vote) and the Annual Remuneration Report for 
the year ended 30 September 2014 (which will be a non-binding advisory 
vote), at the Company’s AGM on 5 February 2015.

The Committee will continue to be mindful of the concerns of 
shareholders and other stakeholders, and welcomes shareholder 
feedback on any issue related to executive remuneration.

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REMUNERATION POLICY
REMUNERATION POLICY AND COMPONENTS
The Committee reviews the Company’s remuneration philosophy  
and structure to ensure that remuneration supports the Company’s 
strategic objectives, is in line with best practice and can fairly reward 
individuals for the contribution that they make to the business. In 
doing this we have regard to the size and complexity of the Group’s 
operations and the need to motivate and attract employees of the 
highest calibre. 

We have tried to develop our policy to maintain stability in the 
executive team and to ensure appropriate positioning against our 
comparator groups. Overall, we believe that our policy (the Policy) 
is now structured so that the executive directors are fairly rewarded, 
with the aim to keep reward at or around median, in line with 
appropriate benchmarks for the markets in which the Company 
operates. We consider our approach to be moderate and that it will 
stand the test of time. 

The Group has more than 500,000 employees in over 50 different 
jurisdictions which means that formal consultation with employees in 
respect of remuneration is impracticable. However, the Committee 
considers general pay and employment conditions of all employees 

within the Group and is sensitive to these, to prevailing market and 
economic conditions and to governance trends when assessing the level 
of salaries and remuneration packages of executive directors and other 
members of the Executive Board.

The total remuneration package links corporate and individual 
performance with an appropriate balance between short and long term 
elements, and fixed and variable components. The Policy is designed 
to incentivise executives to meet the Company’s key objectives, such 
that a significant portion of total remuneration is performance related, 
based on a mixture of internal targets linked to the Company’s key 
business drivers (which can be measured, understood and accepted 
by both executives and shareholders (with whom we consulted during 
the year)) and appropriate external comparator groups.

The Committee considers that the targets set for the different 
components of performance related remuneration are both appropriate 
and sufficiently demanding in the context of the business environment 
and the challenges with which the Group is faced as well as complying 
with the provisions of the Code.

The Committee has the discretion to amend certain aspects of the Policy 
in exceptional circumstances (as detailed below) when considered to be 
in the best interests of shareholders. Should such discretion be used, this 
will be explained and reported in the DRR for the following year.

COMPONENT PARTS OF THE REMUNERATION PACKAGE
The key components of executive directors’ remuneration for the period from 5 February 2015 and beyond (the Policy Period) are  
summarised below:

Component and link to strategy

Operation of the component

Maximum opportunity

Performance measures

BASE SALARY
Reflects the individual’s 
role, experience and 
contribution. Set at levels to 
attract and retain individuals 
of the calibre required to 
lead the business.

Base salaries are reviewed annually with any 
increases normally taking effect on 1 January 
of each year. Salaries are appropriately 
benchmarked and reflect the role, job size and 
responsibility as well as the performance and 
effectiveness of the individual.

Whilst there is no prescribed 
formulaic maximum, any increases 
will take into account prevailing 
market and economic conditions 
and the approach to employee pay 
throughout the organisation. 

None.

Significant increases may occur 
when an executive director 
progresses in the role; gains 
substantially in experience; there 
is a significant increase in the 
scale of the role; has been 
recruited on a salary below the 
market median. 

Where changes in responsibilities 
or significant variances to the 
market exist, these will be 
appropriately explained.

62

Compass Group PLC Annual Report 2014

Component and link to strategy

Operation of the component

Maximum opportunity

Performance measures

BENEFITS AND PENSION
To provide a competitive 
level of benefits.

ANNUAL BONUS
Incentivise and reward 
the achievement of 
stretching one year key 
performance targets set by 
the Committee at the start 
of each financial year.

Benefits include, but are not limited to, 
healthcare insurance for executive directors and 
their dependants, limited financial advice, life 
assurance and car benefit. 

These are offered to executive directors as part 
of a competitive remuneration package.

Executive directors are invited to participate 
in the Company’s defined contribution pension 
scheme or to take a cash allowance in lieu 
of pension entitlement.

The cost of providing these 
benefits can vary in accordance 
with market conditions, which  
will, therefore, determine the 
maximum value. 

For the Company’s defined 
contribution pension scheme or 
cash allowance, the maximum 
annual contribution is 35% of  
base salary.

None.

The target award for executive 
directors (excluding the Group 
Chief Executive) is 75% of base 
salary, with a further maximum of 
75% of base salary available for 
enhanced performance. 0% of the 
bonus pays out for below threshold 
performance but increases on a 
straight line basis to target payout. 

Following consultation with major 
shareholders in 2014, and subject 
to shareholder approval at the AGM 
to be held on 5 February 2015, it 
is proposed that the target award 
for the Group Chief Executive is 
100% of base salary, with a further 
maximum of 100% for enhanced 
performance. 0% of the bonus 
pays out for below threshold 
performance but increases on a 
straight line basis to target payout.

The annual bonus is earned by the achievement 
of one year performance targets set by the 
Committee at the start of each financial year 
and is delivered in cash. 

The Committee retains the discretion to adjust 
the bonus outcomes to ensure that they reflect 
underlying business performance. In particular, 
adjustments may be made for acquisitions and 
disposals. Bonus measures dependent on 
Adjusted Free Cash Flow (AFCF) are subject to 
the caveat that AFCF should not be affected by 
Board approved capital expenditure or other 
special or irregular timing differences.

A supplementary financial underpin also  
applies such that the amount payable pursuant 
to the achievement of the non-PBIT measures 
may not exceed the on-target payment unless 
the threshold Group PBIT measure has  
been achieved.

The annual bonus is subject to malus and/or 
clawback in the event of discovery of a  
material misstatement in the accounts or in  
the assessment of a relevant performance 
condition or where the action or conduct of  
a participant amounts to fraud or serious 
misconduct or has a detrimental impact on  
the reputation of the Group. 

Performance is measured 
over the financial year. 
Performance measures 
are determined by the 
Committee each year and 
may vary to ensure that they 
promote the Company’s long 
term business strategy and 
shareholder value.

The bonus measures and 
their percentage weightings 
may vary, depending upon 
a director’s area of 
responsibility.

Bonus measures may 
include, but are not limited 
to, profit, revenue and  
cash flow metrics. Strategic 
KPIs may also be chosen. 
However, the overall 
metrics would always be 
substantially weighted to 
financial performance 
measures.

Annual bonus targets are 
set with reference to 
internal budgets and analyst 
consensus forecasts, with 
maximum payout requiring 
performance well ahead  
of budget.

Details of the specific 
measures applying to each 
element of the bonus for the 
year being reported on and 
the following financial year 
are shown in the Annual 
Remuneration Report on 
pages 70 and 71.

Compass Group PLC Annual Report 2014

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Component and link to strategy

Operation of the component

Maximum opportunity

Performance measures

LONG TERM INCENTIVE PLAN (LTIP)
Incentivise and reward 
executive directors for the 
delivery of longer term 
financial performance and 
shareholder value.

Share based to provide 
alignment with shareholder 
interests. 

ADJUSTED FREE CASH FLOW 
(AFCF)
The generation of cash is 
fundamental to the ongoing 
success of the Group and the 
use of AFCF as an LTIP 
performance measure 
directly aligns to this. 

RETURN ON CAPITAL EMPLOYED 
(ROCE)
In parallel, ROCE supports 
the strategic focus on 
growth and margins through 
ensuring that cash is 
reinvested to generate 
appropriate returns. 

RELATIVE TOTAL SHAREHOLDER 
RETURN (TSR)
The third performance 
measure of TSR provides 
direct alignment between 
the interests of executive 
directors and shareholders.

An annual conditional award of ordinary shares 
in the capital of the Company which may be 
earned after a single three year performance 
period, based on the achievement of stretching 
performance conditions.

Calculations of the achievement of the targets 
are independently performed and are approved 
by the Committee. In order to ensure continued 
alignment between executive directors’ and 
shareholders’ interests, the Committee also 
reviews the underlying financial performance 
of the Group and retains its discretion to adjust 
vesting if it considers that performance is 
unsatisfactory.

Subject to shareholder approval at the AGM on 
5 February 2015, in respect of awards made 
from 2014-2015 onwards, executive directors 
will be required to hold vested LTIP shares (net 
of any shares sold to meet tax and social security 
liabilities) for a period of two years post vesting. 

Dividend equivalents may be accrued on the 
shares earned from any awards after the 
2015 AGM. 

Malus and clawback rules operate in respect 
of the LTIP. The Committee may decide at any 
time before an award vests, or for a period of 
three years after an award vests, that any 
participant will be subject to malus and/or 
clawback in the event of discovery of a material 
misstatement in the accounts or in the 
assessment of a relevant performance 
condition, or where the action or conduct 
of a participant amounts to fraud or serious 
misconduct or has a detrimental impact on 
the reputation of the Group.

Awards are delivered in shares. However, the 
rules contain excepted provisions to deliver value 
in cash if necessary (for example, because of 
securities laws), subject to the discretion of the 
Committee, determined at any time up to 
their release.

In the event of a change of control, any 
unvested awards will vest immediately, subject 
to satisfaction of performance conditions and 
reduction on a time apportioned basis. 

Following consultation with major 
shareholders, and subject to 
shareholder approval at the AGM 
to be held on 5 February 2015, 
awards may be made with the 
following maximum levels:

•  Group Chief Executive: 250%
• 

 Other executive directors: 200%

For performance measures 
other than TSR, 0% of the 
award vests for below threshold 
performance, increasing to 50% 
vesting on a straight line basis 
for achievement of on target 
performance, increasing to 
maximum vesting on a straight 
line basis for achievement of 
maximum performance.

The element of an award based on 
relative TSR will vest in full for top 
quartile performance achievement 
and 25% of that element of the 
award will vest if performance is at 
the median. Awards will vest on a 
straight line basis between median 
and top quartile performance 
achievement. No shares will be 
released for this element of an 
award if the Company’s TSR 
performance is below the median.

Performance is measured 
over three financial years. 

Performance measures are 
AFCF, improvement in 
ROCE and TSR, each 
measure applying to one 
third of an award.

Relative TSR is measured 
relative to the companies 
comprising the TSR 
comparator group at the 
start of the period (the 
constituent members of 
the FTSE 100, excluding 
financial services 
companies). 

For awards made prior to  
7 February 2013, 50% of 
any award was based on 
AFCF over the three year 
performance period and 
50% on the Company’s 
TSR over the same period 
relative to the companies 
comprising the TSR 
comparator group at the 
start of the relevant period.

LTIP targets are set with 
reference to internal 
budgets and analysts’ 
consensus forecasts, with 
maximum payment requiring 
performance well ahead  
of budget.

Details of the targets for 
LTIP awards vesting and 
granted are set out as 
required in the Annual 
Remuneration Report 
on pages 72 and 73.

NOTES TO THE REMUNERATION POLICY TABLE – CHANGES FROM PRIOR REMUNERATION POLICY
•  The Group Chief Executive’s annual bonus and LTIP opportunity have been increased to 200% (previously 150%) and 250% (previously 

200%) of base salary respectively

•  LTIP awards for the other executive directors have been increased to 200% (previously 150%) of salary
•  The changes in incentive levels are proposed in order to maintain suitably competitive levels of remuneration for the senior executive 

population and following consultation with our largest shareholders

•  In addition, a two year holding period has been introduced into the LTIP which commences at the end of the three year vesting period. 
This has been introduced to further strengthen the long term alignment of the executives’ remuneration packages with shareholders.  
It also helps facilitate malus and clawback if required

The executive directors’ Remuneration Policy differs from that of other members of the Executive Board solely in respect of quantum of the 
various components and remuneration. Members of the wider leadership team receive each of the components of remuneration awarded  
to the executive directors. The wider employee population of the Group will receive remuneration that is considered to be appropriate in relation 
to their geographic location, level of responsibility and performance.

64

Compass Group PLC Annual Report 2014

SHARE OWNERSHIP GUIDELINES
In order that their interests are linked with those of shareholders, 
directors are expected to build up and maintain a personal 
shareholding in the Company. 

Under the guidelines, the Group Chief Executive is required to hold  
a personal shareholding equal to the value of twice his base salary. 
Other executive directors are required to hold a personal shareholding 
equal to the value of one and a half times their base salary, and 
members of the Executive Board equal to the value of their base salary. 
Non-executive directors are required to hold a personal shareholding 
equal to the value of their base fee. 

For executive directors, the guideline shareholding may be achieved  
by retaining shares received as a result of participating in the 
Company’s share plans. The guidance specifically excludes the need  
to make a personal investment should awards not vest. Non-executive 
directors are expected to purchase shares equating to a minimum value 
of one third of their net of tax fee each year until the guideline is met. 
The required level of shareholding is expected to be achieved within  
a four year period, commencing on 1 October 2010 or on date of 
appointment, if later.

If the guideline is not met within this timeframe, then the Committee 
will discuss with the director a plan to ensure that the guideline is met 
over an acceptable timeframe. The granting of future LTIP awards to 
an executive director will be conditional upon reaching the appropriate 
threshold in the required timeframe.

Details of the interests of directors in shares and equity incentives are 
set out on page 75 together with the extent to which each of the 
directors has complied with the guidelines as at 30 September 2014. 

CLOSED INCENTIVE PLANS 
The LTIP described in the table on page 64 is the primary form of 
equity incentive for executive directors. There are no outstanding 
awards to executive directors made prior to 2010 under the former  
long term incentive plan being The Compass Group Long Term 
Incentive Plan. 

DILUTION LIMITS
All of the Company’s equity based incentive plans incorporate  
the current ABI Guidelines (Guidelines) issued by the Investment 
Management Association on headroom which provide that overall 
dilution under all plans should not exceed 10% over a 10 year period  
in relation to the Company’s issued share capital (or reissue of  
treasury shares), with a further limitation of 5% in any 10 year  
period for executive plans.

The Committee monitors the position regularly and prior to the 
making of any award, to ensure that the Company remains within 
these limits. Any awards which are required to be satisfied by market 
purchased shares are excluded from such calculations. No treasury 
shares were held or utilised in the year ended 30 September 2014.

As at 30 September 2014, the Company’s headroom position, 
which remains within current Guidelines, was as shown in the  
charts below:

10% IN 10 YEARS

5% IN 10 YEARS

4

3

2

1

3

1

2

1. HEADROOM ........................................... 5.49%
2. DISCRETIONARY OPTIONS .................... 2.40%
3. LTIP ........................................................ 1.07%
4. ALL-EMPLOYEE ..................................... 1.04%

1. HEADROOM ........................................... 1.53%
2. DISCRETIONARY OPTIONS .................... 2.40%
3. LTIP ........................................................ 1.07%

Compass Group PLC Annual Report 2014

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Strategic reportCorporate governanceConsolidated financial statementsParent Company financial statementsShareholder informationDIRECTORS’ REMUNERATION REPORT

ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE APPLICATION OF OUR 
REMUNERATION POLICY
The value and composition of the executive directors’ remuneration 
packages for the year ending 30 September 2015 at below threshold, 
threshold (par or target) and maximum scenarios under the Policy to 
be voted upon at the forthcoming AGM are set out in the charts below. 

The graphs show an estimate of the remuneration that could 
be received by executive directors under the Policy set out in 
this Report.  

Each bar gives an indication of the minimum amount of remuneration 
payable, remuneration payable at target performance and 
remuneration payable at maximum performance to each director 
under the Policy.

Each of the bars is broken down to show how the total under each 
scenario is made up of fixed elements of remuneration, the annual 
bonus and the LTIP. 

RICHARD COUSINS
ILLUSTRATION OF PACKAGE

Maximum

Target

24%

37%

DOMINIC BLAKEMORE
ILLUSTRATION OF PACKAGE

34%

42%

TOTAL £5.9M

Maximum

27%

36%

TOTAL £3.7M

Target

28%

43%

31%

41%

TOTAL £2.6M

23%

34%

TOTAL £1.7M

Minimum

100%

TOTAL £1.4M

Minimum

100%

TOTAL £0.7M

0.0

0.5

1.0

1.5

2.0

2.5

3.0

3.5

4.0

4.5

5.0

5.5

6.0

0.0

0.5

1.0

1.5

2.0

2.5

3.0

GARY GREEN1
ILLUSTRATION OF PACKAGE

Maximum

Target

29%

44%

ANDREW MARTIN
ILLUSTRATION OF PACKAGE

30%

41%

TOTAL £3.6M

Maximum

23%

33%

TOTAL £2.3M

Target

29%

44%

30%

41%

TOTAL £3.2M

23%

33%

TOTAL £2.1M

Minimum

100%

TOTAL £1.0M

Minimum

100%

TOTAL £0.9M

0.0

0.5

1.0

1.5

2.0

2.5

3.0

3.5

4.0

0.0

0.5

1.0

1.5

2.0

2.5

3.0

3.5

 FIXED ELEMENTS OF REMUNERATION 

 ANNUAL BONUS 

 LONG TERM INCENTIVE PLAN 

The scenarios in the above graphs are defined as follows:

FIXED ELEMENTS OF REMUNERATION

Minimum

Target performance

Maximum performance

•  Base Salary as at 30 September 2014
•  Estimated value of benefits provided under the remuneration policy
•  Cash supplement in lieu of pension of 35% of basic salary

ANNUAL BONUS 
(payout as a % maximum opportunity)

LONG TERM INCENTIVE PLAN 
(vesting as a % maximum opportunity)

0%

0%

50%

54%2

100%

100%

1  Note that Gary Green’s elements of pay are converted into sterling at an exchange rate of US$1.6579/£1.
2   Based on AFCF and ROCE performance measures vesting at 50% of maximum and the TSR measure paying out at 62.5% of maximum (midway between threshold and 

maximum payout).

66

Compass Group PLC Annual Report 2014

APPROACH TO RECRUITMENT REMUNERATION 
The Committee will apply the same remuneration policy during the 
Policy Period as that which applies to existing executive directors when 
considering the recruitment of a new executive director in respect of all 
elements of remuneration, that is: salary, benefits, pension and short 
term and long term incentives. It is envisaged that the maximum level 
of variable remuneration which may be granted to a new executive 
director would be within plan rules and identical to the intended policy 
maximum opportunity for existing executive directors and the Group 
Chief Executive. If shareholders approve the recommended new 
maximum awards permissible under the LTIP, this would be 200% 
and 250% of base salary in respect of the bonus and LTIP opportunity 
per annum respectively. However, in exceptional circumstances, the 
rules allow for a maximum of 400% of base salary to be utilised for the 
LTIP opportunity.

Other arrangements may be established specifically to facilitate 
recruitment of a particular individual, albeit that any such 
arrangement would be made within the context of minimising the cost 
to the Company. The policy for the recruitment of executive directors 
during the Policy Period includes the opportunity to provide a level of 
compensation for forfeiture of bonus entitlements and/or unvested long 
term incentive awards from an existing employer, if any, and the 
additional provision of benefits in kind, pensions and other allowances, 
such as relocation, education and tax equalisation, as may be required 
in order to achieve a successful recruitment. Any arrangement 
established specifically to facilitate recruitment of a particular 
individual would be intended to be of comparable commercial value 
and capped as appropriate. The quantum, form and structure of any 
buyout arrangement will be determined by the Committee taking into 
account the terms of the previous arrangement being forfeited. The 
buyout may be structured as an award of cash or shares. However, the 
Committee will normally have a preference for replacement awards to 
be made in the form of shares, deliverable no earlier than the previous 
awards. Where an executive director is appointed from either within 
the Company or following corporate activity/reorganisation, the 
normal policy would be to honour any legacy arrangements in line 
with the original terms and conditions.

The policy on the recruitment of new non-executive directors during 
the Policy Period would be to apply the same remuneration elements as 
for the existing non-executive directors. It is not intended that variable 
pay, day rates or benefits in kind be offered, although in exceptional 
circumstances such remuneration may be required in currently 
unforeseen circumstances. 

The Committee will include in future Annual Reports details of the 
implementation of the Policy as utilised during the Policy Period in 
respect of any such recruitment to the Board.

EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS’ SERVICE AGREEMENTS
It is the Company’s policy that executive directors have rolling  
service contracts.

The current executive directors’ service contracts contain the key  
terms shown in the table below:

SERVICE CONTRACT KEY TERMS BY PROVISION

Provision
REMUNERATION

CHANGE OF  
CONTROL

NOTICE PERIOD

TERMINATION 
PAYMENT

RESTRICTIVE 
COVENANTS

Detailed terms
•  Base salary, pension and benefits
•  Company car or cash allowance
•  Private health insurance for director and dependants
•  Life assurance
•  Financial planning advice 
•  25 days’ paid annual leave
•   Participation in annual bonus plan, subject to plan 

rules

•  Participation in LTIP, subject to plan rules
•   No special contractual provisions apply in the event of 

a change of control

•  12 months’ notice from the Company 
•   6 months’ notice from the director (12 months’ from 

Richard Cousins)

Payment in lieu of notice equal to:

•  12 months’ base salary
•  Pension supplement
•  10% of base salary in respect of benefits

All of the above would be paid in monthly instalments, 
subject to an obligation on the part of the director to 
mitigate his loss such that payments will either reduce, 
or cease completely, in the event that the director gains 
new employment/remuneration
•   During employment and for 12 months after leaving

The historic policy on the payment of bonus on termination, which was 
in place prior to June 2008, was the provision of a payment, at par or 
target, of bonus in respect of the notice period, where the Company 
exercised its right to make a payment in lieu of notice. Messrs Cousins, 
Green and Martin’s service contracts are based on this historic policy. 
After careful consideration, the Committee concluded that it would not 
be in shareholders’ interests to migrate such contracts onto the policy  
in place since June 2008. Dominic Blakemore’s service contract fully 
complies with the policy in effect from June 2008. All executive 
directors’ service contracts impose a clear obligation to mitigate such 
payment should departing executive directors take on new employment 
or receive alternative remuneration. The Committee believes the 
obligation to mitigate adequately addresses the issue. 

All of the executive directors’ service contracts were entered into before 
27 June 2012 and have not been modified or renewed on or after that 
date. As such, remuneration payments or payments for loss of office that 
are required to be made under them are not required to be (but are) 
consistent with the Policy. 

Whilst unvested awards will normally lapse, the Committee may  
in its absolute discretion allow for awards to continue until the normal 
vesting date and be satisfied, subject to achievement of the attendant 
performance conditions. In such circumstances, awards vesting will 
normally be prorated on a time apportioned basis, unless the 
Committee determines otherwise. 

Compass Group PLC Annual Report 2014

67

Strategic reportCorporate governanceConsolidated financial statementsParent Company financial statementsShareholder informationDIRECTORS’ REMUNERATION REPORT

Any such discretion in respect of leavers would only be applied by 
the Committee to ‘good leavers’ where it considers that continued 
participation is justified, for example, by reference to prior 
performance to the date of leaving. The malus and clawback 
provisions would continue to apply in the event that such discretion 
was exercised. 

Service contracts outline the components of remuneration paid to the 
individual but do not prescribe how remuneration levels may be 
adjusted from year to year.

The senior executives who are members of the Executive Board, and 
who are referred to in note 3 to the consolidated financial statements 
on page 97, have similar service contracts. 

The executive directors have served on the Board for the periods 
shown below and have service agreements dated as follows:

Dominic Blakemore
Richard Cousins
Gary Green
Andrew Martin

Date of contract

12 December 2011 
22 November 2007
27 November 2007
27 November 2007

Length of Board 
service as at 
30 Sep 2014

2 years, 7 months
8 years, 5 months
7 years, 9 months
10 years, 6 months

CHAIRMAN
The fee for the Chairman is reviewed annually by the Committee with 
any increase taking effect on 1 July. In addition to his annual fee, the 
Chairman is paid a cash sum in lieu of provision by the Company of a 
car and chauffeur for use on Company business. The Chairman is not 
entitled to any benefits in kind and is not eligible for pension scheme 
membership, bonus or incentive arrangements. The Chairman’s 
appointment is terminable without compensation on six months’ notice 
from either side.

NON-EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS’ REMUNERATION
The fees for the non-executive directors are reviewed and determined 
by the Board each year to reflect appropriate market conditions. 
No increase was effected during the year under review. Following  
a benchmarking exercise carried out during the year, it was considered 
that an increase of 3.7% to the level of base fees for non-executive 
directors was appropriate for the year beginning 1 October 2014.  
This is the first increase to non-executive director base fees since  
2010. The fees for the year ending 30 September 2015 now comprise  
a base fee of £84,000 per annum which includes membership  
of the Audit, Corporate Responsibility, Nomination and 
Remuneration Committees.

Subject to a cap on the maximum amount of fees payable to any 
non-executive director of £125,000 per annum, an additional fee of 
£22,000 per annum is payable where a non-executive director acts as 
Chairman of either the Audit or Remuneration Committee and 
£12,000 is payable to the Chairman of the Corporate Responsibility 
Committee. An additional fee of £27,000 per annum is also payable 
for the director nominated as Senior Independent Director. None of 
these additional fees have been increased with effect from 1 October 
2014. Non-executive directors are not eligible for pension scheme 
membership, bonus, incentive arrangements or other benefits, save 
reimbursement of travel costs. 

Non-executive directors have letters of engagement setting out their 
duties and the time commitment expected. They are appointed for an 
initial period of three years, after which the appointment is renewable 
at three year intervals by mutual consent. In accordance with the 
Code, all directors offer themselves for annual re-election by 
shareholders. Details of non-executive directors’ appointments, which 
are terminable without compensation, are set out in the table below, 
together with the dates on which their appointments have been 
formally revised:

Non-executive director

Original date of
appointment

Letter of 
engagement

Carol Arrowsmith

1 Jun 2014

14 May 2014

John Bason

21 Jun 2011

Susan Murray

11 Oct 2007

Don Robert

8 May 2009

Sir Ian Robinson

 1 Dec 2006

10 May 2011
7 May 2014*

11 Oct 2007
16 Mar 2010*
8 May 2013*

8 May 2009
8 May 2012*

1 Dec 2006
21 Sep 2009*
14 Nov 2012*

*  Date on which appointment was formally revised.

Total length of 
service as at 
30 Sep 2014 

4 months

3 years,
3 months

7 years

5 years, 
5 months 

7 years, 
10 months

68

Compass Group PLC Annual Report 2014

PERCENTAGE CHANGE IN REMUNERATION  
OF GROUP CHIEF EXECUTIVE 
In the year ended 30 September 2014, Mr Cousins received 0.41% 
salary and 6.45% bonus more than the equivalent amounts for the year 
ended 30 September 2013. He received 4.55% less in taxable benefits in 
2013-2014 than in the previous year. The average percentage increases 
for all full-time equivalent employees based in the UK were 1.3%, 72% 
and 4.3% respectively. The UK employee workforce was chosen as the 
most suitable comparator group as Mr Cousins is based in the UK and 
pay changes across the Group vary widely depending on local market 
conditions. However, the nature of Mr Cousins’ global role and 
responsibilities makes meaningful comparisons with any group of 
employees difficult and due caution should be exercised in this regard. 

RELATIVE IMPORTANCE OF SPEND ON PAY
The following table sets out the amounts paid in share buybacks, 
dividends and total employee costs for the years ended 30 September 
2013 and 2014.

Dispersals

Share buybacks1
Dividends paid2
Return of Cash3
Total employee costs4

2014
£m 

280
444
1,000
 7,794

2013
£m 

446
404
Nil
8,131

Change
% 

(37.2)
9.9
n/a
 (4.1)

1   56.3 million shares were repurchased during the year ended 30 September 2013  
in completion of the £500 million buyback and under the £400 million buyback 
announced on 21 November 2012. 11.3 million shares were repurchased during  
the year ended 30 September 2014 in completion of the £400 million buyback 
programme announced on 21 November 2012 and 18.2 million shares were 
repurchased during the year ended 30 September 2014 under the £500 million 
buyback announced on 27 November 2013.

2   The total dividend paid during the year ended 30 September 2013 was £404 million 
and share capital in issue on that date was 1,804 million ordinary shares. The total 
dividend paid during the year ended 30 September 2014 was £444 million and 
share capital in issue on that date was 1,674 million ordinary shares. The full year 
dividend per ordinary share for the year ended 30 September 2014 increased  
by 10.5%.

3   The Company returned £1 billion to shareholders in July 2014, accompanied by a 

share capital consolidation, comprising a return of 56 pence per ordinary share prior 
to such consolidation.

4   Total employee costs for continuing and discontinued operations, includes wages 

and salaries, social security costs, share-based payments and pension costs for all 
employees, including directors. The figure for 2013 included £59 million of 
exceptional costs. Total salary costs in Europe & Japan have decreased due to a 
restructuring programme. The average number of employees, including directors 
and part-time employees in continuing and discontinued operations, was 514,718 
(2014) and 506,699 (2013).

ANNUAL REMUNERATION REPORT
REMUNERATION IN DETAIL FOR THE YEAR ENDED  
30 SEPTEMBER 2014
TOTAL SHAREHOLDER RETURN (TSR)
The performance graph below shows the Company’s TSR 
performance against the performance of the FTSE 100 over the six 
year period to 30 September 2014. The FTSE 100 Index has been 
chosen as a broad equity market index of which the Company has been 
a constituent member throughout the period.

TOTAL RETURN INDICES – COMPASS V FTSE 100
(SEPTEMBER)

400

300

200

100

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

——  Compass 

—— 

FTSE 100

PAY FOR PERFORMANCE 
The Committee believes that the current and proposed executive 
director remuneration policy and the supporting reward structure 
provide a clear alignment with the strategic objectives and 
performance of the Company. To maintain this relationship, the 
Committee constantly reviews the business priorities and the 
environment in which the Company operates. The table below shows 
Richard Cousins’ total remuneration over the last six years and his 
achieved annual variable and long term incentive pay awards as a 
percentage of the plan maxima.

Single figure 
of total 
remuneration
£000 

6,2981
5,5322
 4,8673
4,410
5,614
5,268

Annual variable 
element: Award 
payout against 
maximum 
opportunity
%

 87.3
84.5
71.8
75.0
96.0
85.0

LTIP vesting 
rates against
maximum
opportunity
 %

 100
98.05
100
100
100
100

Richard Cousins

2014
2013
2012
2011
2010
2009

1  Includes LTIP indicative vesting amount of £3.643 million.
2   LTIP indicative vesting amount of £2.960 million was disclosed in the 2013 Annual 

Report. Actual gain was £2.928 million.

3   LTIP indicative vesting amount of £2.451 million was disclosed in the 2012 Annual 

Report. Actual gain was £2.507 million.

Compass Group PLC Annual Report 2014

69

Strategic reportCorporate governanceConsolidated financial statementsParent Company financial statementsShareholder informationDIRECTORS’ REMUNERATION REPORT

DIRECTORS’ SINGLE TOTAL FIGURE OF REMUNERATION
The table below sets out in a single figure the total amount of remuneration, including each element, received by each of the executive directors for 
the year ended 30 September 2014. 

SINGLE TOTAL FIGURE TABLE

Director

Dominic Blakemore
Richard Cousins
Gary Green1
Andrew Martin

Total by component

Base Salary2
£000

Taxable 
Benefits3
£000

2014

510
970
721
650

2013

480
966
748
650

2014

2013

16
42
38
43

16
44
45
47

2,851

2,844

139

152

Bonus4
£000

2014

688
1,303
1,090
928

4,009

2013

608
1,224
1,116
878

3,826

LTIP
£000

20145

20136

1,217
3,643
2,062
1,656

8,578

–
2,960
1,708
1,332

6,000

Pension7
£000

2014

179
340
255
228

1,002

Total 
£000

2014

2,610
6,298
4,166
3,505

2013

1,272
5,532
3,879
3,135

16,579

13,818

2013

168
338
262
228

996

1  Gary Green’s salary of US$1.950 million and his other emoluments are shown in sterling at an exchange rate of US$1.6579/£1 (2013: US$1.5652/£1).
2   Salary increases of 3% for Messrs Cousins and Green were implemented on 1 July 2014 and 1 January 2014 respectively. Dominic Blakemore received a salary increase of 

9.4% on 1 January 2014 in recognition of his progression in the role and gain in experience.

3  Taxable benefits comprise healthcare insurance, limited financial advice, life assurance and car benefit.
4  Details of the performance measures and weighting as well as achieved results for the bonus and LTIP components are shown below.
5   LTIP 2014: Amount shown is the vesting value as at 26 November 2014 (the date of vesting) of LTIPs that have become receivable as a result of the achievement of conditions 

relating to performance in the three years ended 30 September 2014, calculated in accordance with the Regulations.

6   LTIP 2013: Amount shown is indicative vesting value on 13 November 2013. The value subsequently received by Messrs Cousins, Green and Martin, based on the closing 

share price on the day prior to release was £2,928,465, £1,689,922 and £1,317,798 respectively, equating to a total combined sum received of £5,936,185, or £64,000 
less than the indicative value reported. 

7  Pension: A supplement of 35% of base salary is paid in monthly instalments in lieu of pension participation.

The annual rate of base salaries of the executive directors for the year ended 30 September 2014 were:

Director

Dominic Blakemore
Richard Cousins
Gary Green
Andrew Martin

Base Salary

Effective Date

£525,000
£994,465
US$1,205,182
£650,000

1 January 2014
1 July 2014
1 January 2014
1 January 2014

The annual rate of base salaries of the executive directors from 1 January 2015 are:

Director

Dominic Blakemore
Richard Cousins
Gary Green
Andrew Martin

Base Salary

Effective Date

£600,000
£1,014,354
US$1,241,337
£669,500

1 January 2015
1 January 2015
1 January 2015
1 January 2015

Increase

9.4%
3%
3%
Nil

Increase

14.3%
2%
3%
3%

Reason

Progression in the role; gain in experience
Benchmarked v comparator group
Benchmarked v comparator group
Benchmarked v comparator group

 Reason

Progression in the role; gain in experience
Benchmarked v comparator group
Benchmarked v comparator group
Benchmarked v comparator group

Non-executive directors receive fees only, which are shown on page 74, together with the Chairman’s fees and benefits. The aggregate total 
amount of remuneration received by all directors during the year ended 30 September 2014 is shown below: 

Executive directors
Chairman and non-executive directors

Total

2014
£000

16,579
1,002

17,581

2013
£000

13,818
940 

14,758

2013-2014 BONUS
PERFORMANCE MEASURE OUTCOMES
The financial targets for the bonus for the year ended 30 September 2014, and the extent to which they were achieved, were as set out below.  
The achievement of targets is calculated on a straight line basis between Minimum and Par (target) and between Par (target) and Maximum.  
As was the case for previous years, the measurement of the achievement of the AFCF and PBIT results is based on the underlying outcome 
achieved in the financial year, so that charges, such as those related to the European exceptional and goodwill impairment, are excluded.

Financial Measures1

PBIT2
AFCF3
Revenue Growth

Minimum

£1,295m
£782m
+2.5%

Par (target)

£1,321m
£798m
+3.5%

Maximum

£1,347m
£814m
+4.5%

Achieved

£1,353m
£806m
+4.2%

1  Financial measures for 2013-2014 bonus purposes are all set at 2014 budget rates, not actuals.
2  PBIT is underlying profit before interest and tax.
3  AFCF is adjusted free cash flow.

HSE Improvement

Lost Time Injury Rate
Food Safety Incident Rate

70

2013-2014 Target

2013-2014 achieved

Target achieved

5.91
0.39

4.95
0.36

Yes
Yes

Compass Group PLC Annual Report 2014

The resultant percentages against each of the bonus measures achieved by each executive director are shown below:

Measure

PBIT
AFCF
MAWC1
ORG2
HSE

Total

Dominic Blakemore

% of performance 
target achieved 

Richard Cousins

% of performance 
target achieved 

Gary Green

% of performance 
target achieved 

Andrew Martin

% of performance 
target achieved 

55/55
11.25/15
–
21.08/25
0/53

87.3/100

55/55
11.25/15
–
21.08/25
0/53

87.3/100

60/60
–
15/15
25/25
–4

100/100

55/55
–
15/15
22.7/25
2.5/5

95.2/100

1  MAWC is 12 months average working capital balance.
2  ORG is organic revenue growth.
3   Messrs Blakemore and Cousins waived their entitlements to any bonus related to the achievement of HSE related targets to recognise that the Group had suffered two fatalities 

during the year, one in South Africa and the other in Mexico, which had occurred whilst each employee had been at work.

4  HSE for the North American business is measured through PBIT.

BONUS PAYOUT
The outcome of the annual bonus for the year ended 30 September 2014 was due to the strong underlying financial performance aligned with the 
delivery of the Group’s long term strategy. The table below shows the resulting payout to each executive director in such capacity:

Dominic Blakemore
Richard Cousins
Gary Green
Andrew Martin

2013-2014 bonus payment 
(as % of base salary)

130.99%
130.99%
150.00%
142.80%

Value of bonus 

£687,724
£1,302,699
US$1,807,773
£928,200

No discretion was applied by the Committee in respect of directors’ bonuses for the year under review. The rules of the current annual bonus plan 
do not include any deferment of payment of any element of the same.

2014-2015 BONUS
PERFORMANCE MEASURES
The annual bonus elements for executive directors for the year ending 30 September 2015 are:

Measure

PBIT
AFCF
MAWC
ORG
HSE

Total

Dominic Blakemore

Richard Cousins

Gary Green

Andrew Martin

60%1
15%
–
20%4
5%

100%

60%1
15%
–
20%4
5%

100%

60%2
–
15%3
25%5
–6

100%

55%2
–
15%3
25%5
5%

100%

1  PBIT on a Group-wide basis.
2   PBIT split between Group PBIT and PBIT for region of responsibility (Mr Green: 5% Group / 55% Regional; Mr Martin: 5% Group / 50% Regional).
3  MAWC for region of responsibility. 
4  ORG on a Group-wide basis.
5  ORG for region of responsibility.
6  HSE for the North American business is measured through PBIT.

The Committee has set the targets for the annual bonus plan for the year ended 30 September 2015 but has chosen not to disclose the details  
in this Report as it is the opinion of the Committee that it may be seriously prejudicial to the interests of the Company to do so, and our major 
competitors do not disclose their targets or projected forecasts. However, the specific targets and the extent to which the targets have been met  
will be disclosed in next year’s Report.

LONG TERM INCENTIVE AWARDS 
During the year ended 30 September 2014, executive directors received a conditional award of shares which may vest after three year 
performance periods which will end on 30 September 2016, based on the achievement of stretching performance conditions. The maximum levels 
achievable under these awards are set out in the table below:

Director

Dominic Blakemore
Richard Cousins
Gary Green
Andrew Martin

1   Face value of award as at the date of grant on 29 November 2013 based on the market price of 921.00 pence per share on that day.

Compass Group PLC Annual Report 2014

LTIP award 
(as a % of base salary)

Face value of award1
£000

150%
200%
150%
150%

719
1,929
1,120
974

71

Strategic reportCorporate governanceConsolidated financial statementsParent Company financial statementsShareholder informationDIRECTORS’ REMUNERATION REPORT

The table below sets out the performance measures for the awards:

Definition of measure

Adjusted FCF Adjusted FCF includes capital expenditure, net interest and net tax spend but excludes discontinued activities, acquisition spend, 
disposal proceeds, and unusual or irregular timing differences. 

ROCE improvement The definition aims to measure the underlying economic performance of the Company. ROCE is calculated using constant 
currency values for the underlying operating profit, net of tax at the underlying rate for the year, and after profit relating to non-controlling 
interests. The capital employed figure excludes the post-employment benefit asset/liability, net of deferred tax, impaired goodwill, amortised 
intangibles arising on acquisitions and the net assets relating to non-controlling interests. 
TSR Performance compared to that of constituent members of the FTSE 100 (excluding financial services companies). TSR is the aggregate of share 
price growth and dividends paid (assuming reinvestment of those dividends in the Company’s shares during the three year performance period).

Weighting

¹⁄³

¹⁄³
¹⁄³

In setting the performance targets, the Committee considers internal budgets and the Group’s strategic plan, market expectations and general 
economic conditions. The table below shows the targets against which performance has been measured to determine the vesting of the grant of 
awards for the year ended 30 September 2014 and forms part of the Policy detailed in the Policy Report on pages 62 to 68.

TARGETS FOR AWARDS VESTED IN RESPECT OF THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2014
AFCF TARGET
Level of performance

Threshold
Maximum

TSR TARGET 

Level of performance

Below Median
Median
Upper Quartile

Vesting % of each component

0%
100%

AFCF

£2,360m
£2,478m

Vesting % of each component

0%
25%
100%

The table below shows the targets against which performance will be measured to determine the vesting of the grant of awards for the year ending 
30 September 2015 and forms part of the Policy detailed in the Policy Report on pages 62 to 68. 

TARGETS FOR AWARDS PROPOSED TO BE MADE IN THE YEAR ENDING 30 SEPTEMBER 2015
AFCF AND ROCE TARGETS

Level of performance

Threshold
Par (target)
Maximum

TSR TARGET

Level of performance

Below Median
Median
Upper Quartile

AFCF

£2,231m
£2,348m
£2,465m

ROCE

19.0%
19.9%
20.4%

Vesting % of each component

0%
50%
100%

Vesting % of each component

0%
25%
100%

Such awards are proposed to be made after the AGM on 5 February 2015.

The vesting of the shares under each performance condition is independent. Therefore, the total vesting amount is based on the relevant percentage 
achievement for each performance measure. 

Awards vest on a straight line basis between threshold and par and between par and maximum. If performance under a component does not reach 
the threshold level, vesting for that component will be nil. At the end of the performance period, the Committee will review the underlying financial 
performance of the Company and retain its discretion to adjust vesting if it considers that financial performance is unsatisfactory.

The Committee will review annually whether the measures and targets described above remain appropriate and challenging. Calculations of the 
achievement of the targets will be independently performed and approved by the Committee. The Committee will retain discretion to adjust for 
material events which occur during the performance period and will make full and clear disclosure of any such adjustments in the DRR, together 
with details of the achieved AFCF, ROCE and TSR performance, as determined by the above definitions, at the end of the performance period.

LONG TERM INCENTIVE PLAN PERFORMANCE
As the AFCF and TSR performance measures were achieved in full at the end of the three year performance period, the LTIP awards made during 
the 2011-2012 financial year vested at 100%. Shares will be delivered to individuals following the release of the preliminary results for the year 
ended 30 September 2014. In this context, the European exceptional charge that was announced in the year ending 30 September 2012 impacted 
the outcome of the AFCF element of the award, as did the interest that was paid on the additional funding that was assumed by the Company in 
connection with the Return of Cash. As these charges were determined to be in the best interests of shareholders, but their impact on AFCF was 
outside the control of management, the Committee decided to adjust the original AFCF targets to exclude the impact of these two matters as they 
both arose well after the award of the 2011-2012 LTIP had been made and each has produced significant returns for shareholders.

72

Compass Group PLC Annual Report 2014

2011-2012 LTIP PERFORMANCE PERIOD ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2014 AND VESTED 26 NOVEMBER 2014

Director

Dominic Blakemore
Richard Cousins
Gary Green
Andrew Martin

1  TSR ranking was 12th in its comparator group.

Performance conditions

TSR % vested
 on maturity1

AFCF % vested
on maturity

Number of 
shares awarded

100%
100%
100%
100%

100%
100%
100%
100%

114,832
343,720
194,516
156,186

Number of 
shares vested

114,832
343,720
194,516
156,186

Value of shares 
on vesting date 
£000

1,217
3,643
2,062
1,656

The table below sets out the percentage of each LTIP award made to executive directors within the last five years which has vested and the 
percentage of each extant award, had it vested on 30 September 2014:

Year of award

2009-2010
2010-2011
2011-2012
2012-2013
2013-2014

Maturity date

Performance conditions

1 Oct 2012
1 Oct 2013
1 Oct 2014
1 Oct 2015
1 Oct 2016

TSR/AFCF
TSR/AFCF
TSR/AFCF
TSR/AFCF/ROCE
TSR/AFCF/ROCE

TSR % vested on maturity or 
indicative vesting percentage

100%
96.1%
100%
100% (after 24 months)
87.5% (after 12 months)

ROCE % vested 
on maturity

AFCF % vested 
on maturity

100%
100%
100% 
55% (after 24 months) 73% (after 24 months)
21% (after 12 months)
50% (after 12 months)

n/a
n/a
n/a

AFCF targets for each of the last three years are shown within note 25 to the consolidated financial statements on pages 126 to 130.

EXTANT EQUITY INCENTIVE AWARDS HELD BY EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS 
Details of all existing equity incentive awards as at the date of this Report, including the awards conditionally made under the long term incentive 
plans to the executive directors in office during the year ended 30 September 2014, are shown in the table below. None of the executive directors 
hold any extant award under any previously operated share option scheme:

LTIP

Director

Dominic Blakemore

Total
Richard Cousins

Total
Gary Green

Total
Andrew Martin

Total

As at 
30 Sep 2013: 
number of 
shares

Awarded during
 the year: 
number of 
shares

Released during 
the year: 
number of 
shares

Lapsed during 
the year: 
number of 
shares

As at 
30 Sep 2014: 
number of 
shares

Market price 
at date 
of award: 
pence

Date of 
award

Maturity 
date

114,832
92,664
–
207,496
 321,678
343,720
248,517 
–
913,915
 185,630
 194,516
142,728
–
522,874
144,754
156,186
125,481
–

426,421

–
–
78,090
78,090
–
–
–
209,436
209,436
–
–
–
121,620
121,620
–
–
–
105,747

105,747

–
–
–
–
315,405
–
–
–
315,405
182,010
–
–
–
182,010
141,931
–
–
–

141,931

 –
–
–
–
6,273
 –
–
–
6,273
3,620
–
–
–
3,620
2,823
–
–
–

2,823

114,832
92,664
78,090
285,586
–
343,720
248,517 
209,436
801,673
–
 194,516
142,728
121,620
458,864
–
156,186
125,481
105,747

387,414

624.50
775.00
926.00

17 May 2012
12 Feb 2013
2 Dec 2013

1 Oct 2014
1 Oct 2015
1 Oct 2016

548.00
551.00
 775.00
926.00

548.00
551.00
 775.00
926.00

548.00
551.00
 775.00
926.00

25 Nov 2010
25 Nov 2011
12 Feb 2013
2 Dec 2013

25 Nov 2010
25 Nov 2011
12 Feb 2013
2 Dec 2013

25 Nov 2010
25 Nov 2011
12 Feb 2013
2 Dec 2013

1 Oct 2013
1 Oct 2014
1 Oct 2015
1 Oct 2016

1 Oct 2013
1 Oct 2014
1 Oct 2015
1 Oct 2016

1 Oct 2013
1 Oct 2014
1 Oct 2015
1 Oct 2016

Notes:
50% of each award granted prior to 7 February 2013 is based on a three year AFCF target, and 50% is based on growth in the Company’s TSR relative to the FTSE 100, excluding 
its financial services constituents. 
One third of each award granted from 7 February 2013 is based on a three year AFCF target, one third on a ROCE improvement target and one third on growth in the Company’s 
TSR relative to the FTSE 100, excluding its financial services constituents. 
Aggregate gross gains realised by Messrs Cousins, Green and Martin were £5,936,185.03 in the year ended 30 September 2014. The share price at the time of release of their 
awards was 919.50 pence per share.
The market price on 26 November 2014, the date of vesting of the award made on 25 November 2011, was 1060.00 pence per share.
All awards were granted for nil consideration. 
The highest mid-market price of the Company’s ordinary shares during the year ended 30 September 2014 was 1049.99 pence per share and the lowest was 822.78 pence per 
share. The year end price was 996.50 pence per share.

Compass Group PLC Annual Report 2014

73

Strategic reportCorporate governanceConsolidated financial statementsParent Company financial statementsShareholder informationDIRECTORS’ REMUNERATION REPORT

PENSIONS
At 30 September 2014, there were no executive directors actively participating in any Compass Group defined benefit pension arrangements and 
none of the executive directors was accruing additional entitlement to benefit under any arrangements that existed prior to their appointment as 
executive directors.

Dominic Blakemore, Richard Cousins and Gary Green each receive a salary supplement equal to 35% of their base salaries in lieu of pension. 
Andrew Martin has, since 6 April 2006, received a salary supplement equal to 35% of his base salary and has waived all rights to his final salary 
pension, money purchase pension and unfunded unapproved pension relating to his employment prior to that date.

EXIT PAYMENTS
No executive directors left the Company during the year ended 30 September 2014 and therefore no payments for compensation for loss of office 
were paid to, or receivable by, any director (30 September 2013: nil). No payments (other than regular pension benefits which were commenced in 
previous years) were made during the year ended 30 September 2014 to any past director of the Company. No payment for compensation for loss 
of office was paid to Sir Roy Gardner when he retired as Chairman and as a director on 6 February 2014.

EXTERNAL APPOINTMENTS
Executive directors may take up one non-executive directorship outside of the Group subject to the Board’s approval, provided that such 
appointment is not likely to lead to a conflict of interest. It is recognised that non-executive duties can broaden experience and knowledge which 
can benefit the Company. Dominic Blakemore, Richard Cousins and Andrew Martin received fees of €100,434, £56,000 and £60,000 during the 
year in respect of their directorships of Shire plc, Reckitt Benckiser Group plc and easyJet plc respectively, which they were permitted to retain. 
Richard Cousins retired as a director of Reckitt Benckiser on 7 May 2014. As at the date of this Report, Richard Cousins had been appointed  
a non-executive director of Tesco PLC with effect from 1 November 2014. Any remuneration received by Richard Cousins in respect of this 
appointment will be reported in next year’s DRR.

NON-EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS’ REMUNERATION
The Chairman, Paul Walsh, who succeeded Sir Roy Gardner as Chairman on 6 February 2014, had a letter of engagement dated 19 June 2013  
in respect of his original appointment as a non-executive director for a period of three years from 1 January 2014. Mr Walsh became Chairman  
at the conclusion of the AGM on 6 February 2014. He received a base fee of £81,000 per annum initially, increasing to £475,000 per annum on 
his appointment as Chairman. In addition, £50,000 plus VAT per annum is being paid in lieu of the provision by the Company of a car and 
chauffeur for use on Company business. Following consideration by the Committee during the year ended 30 September 2014, the Chairman’s  
fee of £475,000 per annum, which was set at the time of his appointment, was determined to be appropriate at the time of review and no increase 
was effected. 

Details of amounts received by Paul Walsh and Sir Roy Gardner during the year ended 30 September 2014 are shown below:

Chairman

Paul Walsh 
Sir Roy Gardner 

Fees
£000

3181
1513

Benefits2
£000

50
51

2014
£000

368
202

1   Non-executive director fee of £81,000 per annum prorated from 1 January 2014 to 6 February 2014 plus Chairmanship fee of £475,000 per annum prorated from  

6 February 2014 to 30 September 2014.

2  Benefits include healthcare insurance, limited financial advice, life assurance and car benefit.
3  Chairmanship fee of £432,806 per annum prorated from 1 October 2013 to 6 February 2014.

Details of the fees paid to each of the non-executive directors in office for the year ended 30 September 2014 are set out below:

Carol Arrowsmith1
John Bason
Susan Murray
Don Robert
Sir Ian Robinson2 

Total

2014
£000

34
103
93
81
121

432

2013
£000

n/a
494

2013
£000

–
103
93
81
103

380

1   Carol Arrowsmith joined the Board as a non-executive director and Chairman of the Remuneration Committee on 1 June 2014.
2   Sir Ian Robinson became the Senior Independent Director and Remuneration Committee Chairman from 10 April 2013. He stepped down as Remuneration Committee 

Chairman on 1 June 2014. 

74

Compass Group PLC Annual Report 2014

SHARE OWNERSHIP GUIDELINES AND DIRECTORS’ INTERESTS IN SHARES
In order that their interests are linked with those of shareholders, directors are expected to build up and maintain a personal shareholding in the 
Company as set out in the share ownership guidelines as described on page 65 of the Policy.

The Committee reviewed and noted that the guidelines were satisfied by all directors during the year. The interests of the directors in office 
during the year ended 30 September 2014 in shares and share incentives are shown in the table below: 

Director

Carol Arrowsmith
John Bason
Dominic Blakemore4
Richard Cousins
Sir Roy Gardner
Gary Green
Andrew Martin
Susan Murray
Don Robert
Sir Ian Robinson
Paul Walsh

Beneficial

Conditional

Shares held 
as at 30 Sep 
20141

4,035
10,714
–
1,515,815
n/a
471,725
611,764
12,234
28,235
14,117
11,411

Shares held 
as at 30 Sep 
2013

n/a
8,454
–
1,527,922
192,678
619,198
650,000
13,000
30,000
15,000
n/a

LTIP holdings 
as at 30 Sep 
2014

LTIP holdings 
as at 30 Sep 
2013

Shareholding 
required2

Compliance with 
Shareholding 
guidelines3

n/a
n/a
285,586
801,673
n/a
458,864
387,414
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a

n/a
n/a
207,496
913,915
n/a
522,874
426,421
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a

1 x
1 x
1.5 x
2 x
1 x
1.5 x
1.5 x
1 x
1 x
1 x
1 x

√
√
√
√
√
√
√
√
√
√
√

1   Following the Return of Cash and associated Share Capital Consolidation of 8 July 2014 whereby 17 ordinary shares of 10 pence each were replaced by 16 new ordinary shares 

of 105⁄8 pence each in the Company.

2  As a multiple of base salary or fee. 
3  Requirement to achieve by 1 October 2014, or within four years of appointment, if later. 
4   Dominic Blakemore was recruited to the Board in 2012 and is intending to build his share ownership in the Company progressively. He is expected to receive approximately 

60,000 shares in the Company following vesting of the 2011-2012 LTIP in November 2014 and after the payment of tax and social security liabilities.

Interests shown include the interests of connected persons.

There were no changes in directors’ interests between 30 September 2014 and 26 November 2014.

REMUNERATION OF OTHER SENIOR EXECUTIVES AND MANAGEMENT
A number of senior executives and the executive directors comprise the Executive Board. These key management roles influence the ability  
of the Group to meet its strategic targets. The Committee has regard to the remuneration level and structure of this group whose total 
remuneration including salary and other short term benefits, target (or par) bonus and the expected value of long term incentives is summarised  
in note 3 to the consolidated financial statements on page 97.

REMUNERATION ADVICE
The Chairman and the Group Chief Executive, together with Jane Kingston (Group Human Resources Director) and Harriet Kemp (Director  
of Group Reward & People Processes), are normally invited to attend each Committee meeting and provide advice and guidance to the Committee 
(other than in respect of their own remuneration) for which they are not paid a fee in addition to their salaries from the Company under their service 
contracts. Details of the members of the Committee who served during the year ended 30 September 2014 are set out on page 61.

The Committee also has access to detailed external information and research on market data and trends from independent consultants. During 
the year, the Company retained PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (PWC) to advise on compensation related matters, including undertaking a 
benchmarking exercise in respect of the remuneration of the Chairman and non-executive directors and of the Executive Board including the 
Group Chief Executive, for which they received total fees (based on hours spent) of £50,350 (2013: £40,650). 

Alithos Limited (Alithos) provided information for the testing of the TSR performance conditions for the Company’s LTIP awards, for which they 
received fixed fees of £24,000 (2013: £24,000). They also provided the TSR performance graph for the Directors’ Remuneration Report, for 
which they received a fixed fee of £500 (2013: £500).

Alithos was appointed by the Company in 2002 and PWC was appointed in 2007 (renewed in 2011). Both appointments were made with the 
approval of the Committee following a selection exercise. Alithos did not provide any other advice or services to the Company during the  
year. PWC provided services globally which comprised pension, expatriate, internal audit, merger and acquisition, due diligence, tax and  
other consultancy advice. The Committee is satisfied that the advice it received during the year was objective and independent, based on the 
experience of its members generally, including Carol Arrowsmith, Chairman of the Committee, who was formerly a remuneration consultant  
with Deloitte LLP and Susan Murray who has recent experience of being a member of the remuneration committees of other quoted companies, 
including one as Chair of the committee.

Compass Group PLC Annual Report 2014

75

Strategic reportCorporate governanceConsolidated financial statementsParent Company financial statementsShareholder informationDIRECTORS’ REMUNERATION REPORT

SHAREHOLDER VOTE ON 2013 DIRECTORS’ REMUNERATION REPORT
The table below shows the voting outcome at the 6 February 2014 AGM for the 2013 Remuneration Policy (binding vote) and Annual 
Remuneration Report (advisory vote):

Remuneration Policy
Annual Remuneration Report

1  A vote withheld is not a vote in law.

Number of votes 
‘For’ & ‘Discretionary’

% of 
votes cast

Number of votes 
‘Against’

1,295,245,629
1,298,778,448

97.79
99.11

29,294,670
11,674,740

% of 
votes cast

2.21
0.89

Total number of 
votes cast

Number of votes 
‘Withheld’1

1,324,540,299
1,310,453,188

20,969,315
35,058,273

97.79% of the binding votes cast were for the approval of the Remuneration Policy, with 2.21% against (with 1.58% of the total number of votes 
cast abstaining). For the advisory votes cast for the Annual Remuneration Report, 99.11% were in approval of the Resolution, with 0.89% against 
(with 2.67% of the total number of votes cast abstaining).

Extensive consultation with shareholder bodies and a number of large institutional investors was conducted during the year in connection with  
the proposed increase to maximum awards under and other changes to the LTIP which are subject to approval by shareholders, as detailed in the 
Annual Statement and the Policy Report on pages 59 to 68. The Committee welcomed the endorsement of these proposals by shareholders and 
took steps, wherever practicable, to understand shareholders’ concerns when withholding their support.

At the AGM on 5 February 2015, shareholders will be invited to vote on the Policy contained in the Policy Report and on the Annual 
Remuneration Report for 2013-2014. 

On behalf of the Board

CAROL ARROWSMITH 
Chairman of the Remuneration Committee 
26 November 2014

76

Compass Group PLC Annual Report 2014

CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL  
STATEMENTS

CONTENTS
78 

 Directors’ responsibilities for 
consolidated and Parent Company 
financial statements

79  Independent auditor’s report

CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
81  Consolidated income statement
81  Analysis of operating profit
82 
 Consolidated statement of 
comprehensive income
 Consolidated statement of  
changes in equity

83 

85  Consolidated balance sheet
86  Consolidated cash flow statement
 Reconciliation of free cash  
86 
flow from continuing operations

87  Accounting policies

 NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL 
STATEMENTS 
92  Segmental reporting 
96  Operating costs
97  Employees 

98 

 Financing income, costs and related 
(gains)/losses 
 US disposals

99 
99  Tax
101  Discontinued operations
102   Earnings per share
104  Dividends
104   Goodwill 
106   Other intangible assets 
107   Property, plant and equipment 
108   Interests in associates 
108   Other investments
109   Joint ventures
109   Trade and other receivables
111   Inventories
111   Cash and cash equivalents
112   Short term and long term borrowings
114   Derivative financial instruments
119   Trade and other payables
119   Provisions
120   Post-employment benefit obligations
124   Share capital

126   Share-based payments
130   Business combinations
131   Reconciliation of operating profit  
to cash generated by operations
131   Reconciliation of net cash flow  

to movement in net debt

132   Contingent liabilities
133   Capital commitments
133   Operating lease and concessions 

commitments

133   Related party transactions
133   Post balance sheet events
134   Exchange rates
135   Details of principal subsidiary 

companies

Compass Group PLC Annual Report 2014

77

Strategic reportCorporate governanceConsolidated financial statementsParent Company financial statementsShareholder informationCONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

DIRECTORS’ RESPONSIBILITIES
The Annual Report and Accounts complies with the Disclosure and 
Transparency Rules (DTR) of the United Kingdom’s Financial Conduct 
Authority and the UK Corporate Governance Code in respect of the 
requirements to produce an annual financial report.

The Annual Report and Accounts is the responsibility of, and has been 
approved by, the directors.

We confirm that to the best of our knowledge:

• the Annual Report and Accounts, taken as a whole, is fair, balanced 

and understandable and provides the information necessary for 
shareholders to assess the Company’s performance, business model 
and strategy

• the consolidated financial statements have been prepared in 

accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards
• the financial statements 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 taken as a whole 

• the Annual Report and Accounts includes a 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

On behalf of the Board

MARK WHITE
General Counsel and Company Secretary 
26 November 2014

STATEMENT OF DIRECTORS’ RESPONSIBILITIES  
IN RESPECT OF THE ANNUAL REPORT AND THE  
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 
The directors are responsible for preparing the Annual Report and 
the Group and Parent Company financial statements in accordance 
with applicable law and regulations. 

Company law requires the directors to prepare Group and Parent 
Company financial statements for each financial year. Under that  
law they are required to prepare the Group financial statements  
in accordance with IFRSs as adopted by the EU and applicable  
law and have elected to prepare the Parent Company financial 
statements in accordance with UK Accounting Standards and 
applicable law (UK Generally Accepted Accounting Practice). 

Under company law the directors must not approve the financial 
statements unless they are satisfied that they give a true and fair view 
of the state of affairs of the Group and Parent Company and of their 
profit or loss for that period. In preparing each of the Group and 
Parent Company 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 
• for the Group financial statements, state whether they have been 

prepared in accordance with IFRSs as adopted by the EU 
• for the Parent Company financial statements, state whether 

applicable UK Accounting Standards have been followed, subject  
to any material departures disclosed and explained in the Parent 
Company financial statements 

• prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless 

it is inappropriate to presume that the Group and the Parent 
Company will continue in business 

The directors are responsible for keeping adequate accounting 
records that are sufficient to show and explain the Parent Company’s 
transactions and disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the 
financial position of the Parent Company and enable them to ensure 
that its financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006. 
They have general responsibility for taking such steps as are 
reasonably open to them to safeguard the assets of the Group and  
to prevent and detect fraud and other irregularities. 

Under applicable law and regulations, the directors are also 
responsible for preparing a Strategic Report, Directors’ Report, 
Directors’ Remuneration Report and Corporate Governance 
Statement that complies with that law and those regulations. The 
directors have permitted the auditor to take whatever steps and 
undertake whatever inspections it considers to be appropriate for  
the purpose of enabling it to give its audit opinion.

The directors are responsible for the maintenance and integrity of 
the corporate and financial information included on the Company’s 
website. Legislation in the UK governing the preparation and 
dissemination of financial statements may differ from legislation  
in other jurisdictions. 

78

Compass Group PLC Annual Report 2014

 
INDEPENDENT AUDITOR’S REPORT TO  
THE MEMBERS OF COMPASS GROUP PLC ONLY

OPINIONS AND CONCLUSIONS ARISING FROM OUR AUDIT
1  OUR OPINION ON THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS IS UNMODIFIED
We have audited the financial statements of Compass Group PLC for the 
year ended 30 September 2014 which comprise the consolidated income 
statement, the consolidated statement of comprehensive income, the 
consolidated and Parent Company balance sheets, the consolidated cash 
flow statement, the consolidated statement of changes in equity, the 
accounting policies and the related notes. In our opinion: 

• the financial statements give a true and fair view of the state of the 

Group’s and of the Parent Company’s affairs as at 30 September 2014 
and of the Group’s profit for the year then ended; 

• the Group financial statements have been properly prepared in 

accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards as 
adopted by the European Union; 

• the Parent Company financial statements have been properly prepared 

in accordance with UK Accounting Standards; and 

• the financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the 
requirements of the Companies Act 2006 and, as regards the Group 
financial statements, Article 4 of the IAS Regulation. 

2  OUR ASSESSMENT OF RISKS OF MATERIAL MISSTATEMENT
In arriving at our audit opinion above on the financial statements the 
risks of material misstatement that had the greatest effect on our audit 
were as follows:

VALUATION OF GOODWILL
Refer to page 52 (Governance and Directors’ Report), page 89 (accounting policy) 
and page 104 (financial disclosures).

• The risk: The Group’s balance sheet includes a significant UK goodwill 

balance relating to historical acquisitions. The risk is that the 
aggregated book value of the goodwill in the UK exceeds its 
recoverable amount and therefore should be written down in value. 
This is due to changes in the discount rate applied and changes in long 
term growth expectations. Due to the inherent uncertainty involved in 
forecasting and discounting future cash flows, which are the basis of 
the assessment of recoverability, this is one of the key judgemental 
areas that our audit is concentrated on.

• Our response: In this area our audit procedures included, among others, 
testing of the Group’s budgeting procedures upon which the forecasts 
are based and the principles and integrity of the UK’s discounted  
cash flow model. We evaluated the assumptions and methodologies 
used by the UK, in particular those relating to the forecast revenue 
growth and working capital, including assessing the reasonableness  
of the forecast revenue growth against historical growth rates.  
We compared the UK’s assumptions to externally derived data as  
well as our own assessments in relation to key inputs such as projected 
economic growth and discount rates, as well as performing a sensitivity 
analysis on the assumptions. We also assessed the adequacy of the 
Group’s disclosures in respect of goodwill by reference to relevant 
accounting standards.

TAXATION
Refer to page 52 (Governance and Directors’ Report), page 89 (accounting policy) 
and page 132 (financial disclosures).

• The risk: Provisions for direct and indirect tax contingencies require 
the directors to make judgements and estimates in relation to tax  
risks and exposures. This is one of the key judgemental areas that  
our audit is concentrated on due to the Group operating in a number 
of tax jurisdictions, the complexities of transfer pricing and other 
international tax legislation, as well as the time taken for tax matters 
to be agreed with the tax authorities.

• Our response: In this area our audit procedures for direct and indirect 
taxes included, among others, the use of internal tax specialists to 
analyse and challenge the assumptions used to determine provisions 
using our knowledge and experience of the application of international 
and local legislation by the relevant authorities and courts, and 
assessing whether the approach applied by the Group is supported  
by custom and practice in the industry. We have examined the 
calculations prepared by the directors and validated that they are 
supported by appropriate underlying data, and that the judgements 
applied are reasonable considering the maximum potential exposure 
and the likelihood of a payment being required. We have inspected 
correspondence with relevant tax authorities to identify tax risk areas 
and assessed third party tax advice received to ascertain whether it 
was reasonable to rely on conclusions drawn in the advice. Transfer 
pricing documentation was critically assessed to determine whether 
the tax positions taken by the Group were reasonable. We also 
considered the adequacy of the Group’s disclosures in respect of tax 
and uncertain tax positions. 

3  OUR APPLICATION OF MATERIALITY AND AN OVERVIEW  
OF THE SCOPE OF OUR AUDIT
The materiality for the Group financial statements as a whole was set at 
£60.0 million. This has been determined with reference to a benchmark 
of Group profit before taxation (of which it represents 5%). 

We report to the Audit Committee any corrected or uncorrected 
identified misstatements exceeding £1.8 million, in addition to other 
identified misstatements below that threshold where in aggregate the 
effect on individual financial statement captions is over £1.8 million  
or which warranted reporting on qualitative grounds.

Of the Group’s reporting components, we subjected the key reporting 
component in the US and 42 other components to audits for Group 
reporting purposes. The components within the scope of our work 
accounted for 95% of the Group’s revenue, 95% of the Group’s profit 
before tax, and 95% of the Group’s total assets.

The Group audit team approved the component materialities which 
ranged from £0.1 million to £46.0 million having regard to the mix  
of size and risk profile of the Group across the components.

The Group audit team instructed component auditors as to the 
significant areas to be covered, including the relevant risks described 
above and the information to be reported back.

The Group audit team visited the US key reporting component and a 
further 18 locations covering 87% of Group revenue. Telephone meetings 
were also held with these component auditors and all other components 
that were not physically visited.

At these visits and meetings, the findings reported to the Group audit 
team were discussed in more detail, and any further work required by  
the Group audit team was then performed by the component auditor.

Compass Group PLC Annual Report 2014

79

Strategic reportCorporate governanceConsolidated financial statementsParent Company financial statementsShareholder information 
   
SCOPE OF REPORT AND RESPONSIBILITIES
As explained more fully in the Directors’ Responsibilities statement  
set out on page 78, the directors are responsible for the preparation  
of the financial statements and for being satisfied that they give a true 
and fair view. A description of the scope of an audit of financial 
statements is provided on the Financial Reporting Council’s website at 
www.frc.org.uk/auditscopeukprivate. This report is made solely to the 
Company’s members as a body and is subject to important explanations 
and disclaimers regarding our responsibilities, published on our website 
at www.kpmg.com/uk/auditscopeukco2014a, which are incorporated 
into this Report as if set out in full and should be read to provide  
an understanding of the purpose of this Report, the work we have 
undertaken and the basis of our opinions.

ANTHONY SYKES 
(Senior Statutory Auditor) 

for and on behalf of KPMG LLP, Statutory Auditor  
Chartered Accountants  
15 Canada Square, London E14 5GL 
26 November 2014

INDEPENDENT AUDITOR’S REPORT TO  
THE MEMBERS OF COMPASS GROUP PLC ONLY

4  OUR OPINION ON OTHER MATTERS PRESCRIBED BY THE COMPANIES ACT 
2006 IS UNMODIFIED
In our opinion: 

• the part of the Directors’ Remuneration Report to be audited has been 
properly prepared in accordance with the Companies Act 2006; and 

• the information given in the Strategic Report and the Directors’ 

Report for the financial year for which the financial statements are 
prepared is consistent with the financial statements. 

5  WE HAVE NOTHING TO REPORT IN RESPECT OF THE MATTERS ON WHICH WE 
ARE REQUIRED TO REPORT BY EXCEPTION 
Under ISAs (UK and Ireland) we are required to report to you if, based 
on the knowledge we acquired during our audit, we have identified other 
information in the Annual Report that contains a material inconsistency 
with either that knowledge or the financial statements, a material 
misstatement of fact, or that is otherwise misleading. 

In particular, we are required to report to you if: 

• we have identified material inconsistencies between the knowledge  
we acquired during our audit and the directors’ statement that they 
consider that the Annual Report and financial statements taken as  
a whole is fair, balanced and understandable and provides the 
information necessary for shareholders to assess the Group’s 
performance, business model and strategy; or

• the Audit Committee Report does not appropriately address matters 

communicated by us to the Audit Committee.

Under the Companies Act 2006 we are required to report to you if, in 
our opinion: 

• adequate accounting records have not been kept by the Parent 

Company, or returns adequate for our audit have not been received 
from branches not visited by us; or 

• the Parent Company financial statements and the part of the 

Directors’ Remuneration Report to be audited are not in agreement 
with the accounting records and returns; or 

• certain disclosures of directors’ remuneration specified by law are not 

made; or 

• we have not received all the information and explanations we require 

for our audit. 

Under the Listing Rules we are required to review: 

• the Directors’ statement, set out on page 36, in relation to going 

concern; and 

• the part of the Corporate Governance Statement on page 49 relating 

to the Company’s compliance with the nine provisions of the 2010 UK 
Corporate Governance Code specified for our review. 

We have nothing to report in respect of the above responsibilities.

80

Compass Group PLC Annual Report 2014

 
 
CONSOLIDATED INCOME STATEMENT
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2014

CONTINUING OPERATIONS
Revenue
Operating costs before goodwill impairment
Goodwill impairment
Operating profit
Share of profit of associates
Total operating profit
Profit/(loss) on disposal of US businesses
Profit on disposal of interest in associates
Finance income
Finance costs
Hedge accounting ineffectiveness
Change in the fair value of investments
Profit before tax
Income tax expense
Profit for the year from continuing operations

DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS
Profit for the year from discontinued operations

CONTINUING AND DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS
Profit for the year

ATTRIBUTABLE TO
Equity shareholders of the Company
Non-controlling interests
Profit for the year

BASIC EARNINGS PER SHARE (PENCE)
From continuing operations
From discontinued operations
From continuing and discontinued operations

DILUTED EARNINGS PER SHARE (PENCE)
From continuing operations
From discontinued operations
From continuing and discontinued operations

1 Exceptional items include European exceptional and goodwill impairment.

ANALYSIS OF OPERATING PROFIT
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2014

CONTINUING OPERATIONS
Underlying operating profit before share of profit of associates
Share of profit of associates
Underlying operating profit1
Amortisation of intangibles arising on acquisition
Acquisition transaction costs
Adjustment to contingent consideration on acquisition
Operating profit after costs relating to acquisitions and before exceptional items 
European exceptional
Goodwill impairment
Total operating profit 

Notes

1
2
2, 10

1
1, 13

1
5
13
4
4
4

6

1

7

8

8
8

8

8
8

8

Before 
exceptional 
items
2013
 £m

Exceptional 
items1
2013
 £m

Total
2014
 £m

17,058
(15,850)
–
1,208
9
1,217
1
13
5
(91)
–
2
1,147
(279)
868

17,557
(16,329)
–
1,228
10
1,238
(1)
–
8
(85)
(3)
–
1,157
(303)
854

–
(59)
(377)
(436)
–
(436)
–
–
–
–
–
–
(436)
16
(420)

Total
2013
 £m

17,557
(16,388)
(377)
792
10
802
(1)
–
8
(85)
(3)
–
721
(287)
434

3

3

–

3

857

849
8
857

(420)

(420)
–
(420)

871

865
6
871

48.8p
0.2p
49.0p

48.7p
0.2p
48.9p

Notes

11
26

2
2, 10

Total
2014
 £m

1,236
9
1,245
(25)
(3)
–
1,217
–
–
1,217

437

429
8
437

23.3p
0.2p
23.5p

23.2p
0.2p
23.4p

Total
2013
 £m

1,255
10
1,265
(25)
(3)
1
1,238
(59)
(377)
802

1   Underlying operating profit excludes European exceptional and goodwill impairment, amortisation of intangibles arising on acquisition, acquisition transaction costs and 

adjustment to contingent consideration on acquisition. 

Compass Group PLC Annual Report 2014

81

Strategic reportCorporate governanceConsolidated financial statementsParent Company financial statementsShareholder informationCONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2014

Profit for the year
Other comprehensive income
Items that are not reclassified subsequently to profit or loss
Remeasurement of post-employment benefit obligations – loss
Return on plan assets, excluding interest income – gain
Tax on items relating to the components of other comprehensive income

Items that may be reclassified subsequently to profit or loss
Currency translation differences

Total other comprehensive income/(loss) for the year
Total comprehensive income for the year

ATTRIBUTABLE TO
Equity shareholders of the Company
Non-controlling interests
Total comprehensive income for the year

Notes

23
6

2014 
£m

871

(148)
137
3
(8)

(103)
(103)
(111)
760

754
6
760

2013 
£m

437

(80)
119
(9)
30

(80)
(80)
(50)
387

379
8
387

82

Compass Group PLC Annual Report 2014

 
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN EQUITY
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2014

Attributable to equity shareholders of the Company

 Share 
premium
 account
 £m 

Capital 
redemption
 reserve 
£m 

Own
 shares 
£m

Other 
reserves 
£m

Retained 
earnings1 

£m

Non- 
controlling
 interests 
£m

At 1 October 2013 as previously reported
Past service cost recognised in accordance  

with IAS 19(R)

At 1 October 2013 as restated

Profit for the year
Other comprehensive income
Currency translation differences
Remeasurement of post-employment benefit 

obligations – loss

Return on plan assets, excluding interest  

income – gain

Tax on items relating to the components of other 

comprehensive income

Total other comprehensive income

Total comprehensive income for the year

Issue of shares (for cash)
Share issue expenses
B and C shares issued through capitalisation  

of share premium

Redemption and cancellation of B shares
Fair value of share-based payments 
Tax on items taken directly to equity (note 6)
Share buyback2
Release of LTIP award settled by issue  

of new shares

Other changes

Return of Cash to Compass shareholders (note 9)
Dividends paid to Compass shareholders (note 9)
Dividends paid to non-controlling interests
At 30 September 2014

Share 
capital 
£m

180

–
180

–

–

–

–

–
–

–

1
–

235
(235)
–
–
(3)

–
–
178
–
–
–
178

400

–
400

–

–

–

–

–
–

–

6
(2)

(235)
–
–
–
–

5
–
174
–
–
–
174

55

–
55

–

–

–

–

–
–

–

–
–

–
235
–
–
3

–
–
293
–
–
–
293

(1)

–
(1)

–

–

–

–

–
–

–

–
–

–
–
–
–
–

–
–
(1)
–
–
–
(1)

1  2013 has been restated for past service cost recognised in accordance with IAS 19(R).
2  Including stamp duty and brokers’ commission.

OTHER RESERVES

At 1 October 2013 

Other comprehensive income
Currency translation differences
Tax on items relating to the components of other comprehensive income (note 6)
Total other comprehensive income
Total comprehensive income for the year

Fair value of share-based payments
Release of LTIP award settled by issue of new shares
Other changes
At 30 September 2014

Share-based
 payment 
reserve 
£m

162

–
–
–
–

13
(5)
–
170

4,374

(2,226)

–
4,374

–

(1)
(2,227)

865

(103)

–

(148)

137

6
(5)

860

–
–

–
–
–
6
(280)

–
3
(1,638)
(1,000)
(444)
–
(3,082)

–

–

(3)
(106)

(106)

–
–

–
–
13
–
–

(5)
1
4,277
–
–
–
4,277

Merger 
reserve
 £m 

4,170

–
–
–
–

–
–
–
4,170

Total 
£m

2,791

(1)
2,790

871

(103)

(148)

137

3
(111)

760

7
(2)

–
–
13
6
(280)

–
3
3,297
(1,000)
(444)
(5)
1,848

9

–
9

6

–

–

–

–
–

6

–
–

–
–
–
–
–

–
(1)
14
–
–
(5)
9

Revaluation 
reserve 
£m

Translation 
reserve 
£m 

Total other 
reserves 
£m

7

–
–
–
–

–
–
–
7

35

4,374

(103)
(3)
(106)
(106)

–
–
1
(70)

(103)
(3)
(106)
(106)

13
(5)
1
4,277

Own shares held by the Group represent 54,941 new ordinary shares in Compass Group PLC (2013: 161,622 ordinary shares). 38,743 shares are  
held by the Compass Group Employee Share Trust (ESOP) and 16,198 shares are held by the Compass Group Long Term Incentive Plan Trust 
(LTIPT). These shares are listed on a recognised stock exchange and their market value at 30 September 2014 was £0.5 million (2013: £1.4 million). 
The nominal value held at 30 September 2014 was £5,837 (2013: £16,162).

ESOP and LTIPT are discretionary trusts for the benefit of employees and the shares held are used to satisfy some of the Group’s liabilities to 
employees for share options, share bonus and long term incentive plans. All of the shares held by the ESOP and LTIPT are required to be made 
available in this way.

The merger reserve arose in 2000 following the demerger from Granada Compass plc.

Compass Group PLC Annual Report 2014

83

Strategic reportCorporate governanceConsolidated financial statementsParent Company financial statementsShareholder informationCONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN EQUITY
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2014

At 1 October 2012 as previously reported
Past service cost recognised in accordance  

with IAS 19(R)

At 1 October 2012 as restated

Profit for the year
Other comprehensive income
Currency translation differences
Remeasurement of post-employment benefit 

obligations – gain/(loss)

Return on plan assets, excluding interest  

income – gain/(loss)

Tax on items relating to the components of other 

comprehensive income

Total other comprehensive income
Total comprehensive income for the year

Issue of shares (for cash)
Fair value of share-based payments 
Tax on items taken directly to equity (note 6)
Share buyback2
Release of LTIP award settled by issue  

of new shares

Other changes

Dividends paid to Compass shareholders (note 9)
Dividends paid to non-controlling interests
At 30 September 2013

Share
capital
£m

186

–
186

–

–

–

–

–
–
–

–
–
–
(6)

–
–
180
–
–
180

Attributable to equity shareholders of the Company

 Share
 premium
 account
 £m

Capital
redemption
 reserve
£m

Own
 shares
£m

Other
reserves
£m

Retained
earnings1
£m

Non-
controlling
 interests
£m

386

–
386

–

–

–

–

–
–
–

9
–
–
–

5
–
400
–
–
400

49

–
49

–

–

–

–

–
–
–

–
–
–
6

–
–
55
–
–
55

(1)

–
(1)

–

–

–

–

–
–
–

–
–
–
–

–
–
(1)
–
–
(1)

4,445

(1,834)

–
4,445

–

(1)
(1,835)

429

(80)

–

–

2
(78)
(78)

–
11
–
–

–

(80)

119

(11)
28
457

–
–
6
(446)

(5)
1
4,374
–
–
4,374

–
(5)
(1,823)
(404)
–
(2,227)

10

–
10

8

–

–

–

–
–
8

–
–
–
–

–
(3)
15
–
(6)
9

Total 
£m

3,241

(1)
3,240

437

(80)

(80)

119

(9)
(50)
387

9
11
6
(446)

–
(7)
3,200
(404)
(6)
2,790

1  2013 has been restated for past service cost recognised in accordance with IAS 19(R).
2  Including stamp duty and brokers’ commission.

OTHER RESERVES

At 1 October 2012

Other comprehensive income
Currency translation differences
Tax on items relating to the components of other comprehensive income
Total other comprehensive income
Total comprehensive income for the year

Fair value of share-based payments
Release of LTIP award settled by issue of new shares
Other changes
At 30 September 2013

Share-based
 payment
reserve
£m

Merger
reserve
 £m 

Revaluation 
reserve
£m

Translation
reserve
£m

Total other
reserves
£m

156

4,170

–
–
–
–

11
(5)
–
162

–
–
–
–

–
–
–
4,170

7

–
–
–
–

–
–
–
7

112

4,445

(80)
2
(78)
(78)

–
–
1
35

(80)
2
(78)
(78)

11
(5)
1
4,374

84

Compass Group PLC Annual Report 2014

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET
AS AT 30 SEPTEMBER 2014

NON-CURRENT ASSETS
Goodwill
Other intangible assets
Property, plant and equipment
Interests in associates
Other investments
Trade and other receivables
Deferred tax assets*
Derivative financial instruments**
Non-current assets

CURRENT ASSETS
Inventories
Trade and other receivables
Tax recoverable*
Cash and cash equivalents**
Derivative financial instruments**
Current assets

Total assets

CURRENT LIABILITIES
Short term borrowings**
Derivative financial instruments**
Provisions
Current tax liabilities*
Trade and other payables
Current liabilities

NON-CURRENT LIABILITIES
Long term borrowings**
Derivative financial instruments**
Post-employment benefit obligations1
Provisions
Deferred tax liabilities*
Trade and other payables
Non-current liabilities

Total liabilities

Net assets

EQUITY
Share capital
Share premium account
Capital redemption reserve
Less: Own shares
Other reserves
Retained earnings
Total equity shareholders’ funds

Non-controlling interests

Total equity

Notes

10
11
12
13
14
16
6
20

17
16

18
20

19
20
22

21

19
20
23
22
6
21

24

2014
£m

3,565
1,010
729
114
36
67
246
50
5,817

270
2,128
32
431
16
2,877

8,694

(297)
(4)
(161)
(148)
(3,139)
(3,749)

(2,526)
(1)
(176)
(277)
(39)
(78)
(3,097)

(6,846)

1,848

178
174
293
(1)
4,277
(3,082)
1,839

9

2013 
Restated1
£m

3,620
886
714
84
41
83
265
63
5,756

255
2,072
32
1,006
7
3,372

9,128

(104)
(3)
(189)
(162)
(3,054)
(3,512)

(2,161)
(1)
(209)
(342)
(38)
(75)
(2,826)

(6,338)

2,790

180
400
55
(1)
4,374
(2,227)
2,781

9

1,848

2,790

* Component of current and deferred taxes. ** Component of net debt.

1   2013 has been restated for past service cost recognised in accordance with IAS 19(R).

Approved by the Board of Directors on 26 November 2014 and signed on their behalf by

RICHARD COUSINS, Director 
DOMINIC BLAKEMORE, Director

Compass Group PLC Annual Report 2014

85

Strategic reportCorporate governanceConsolidated financial statementsParent Company financial statementsShareholder informationCONSOLIDATED CASH FLOW STATEMENT
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2014

CASH FLOW FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES
Cash generated from operations
One-off employer contributions to post-employment benefit obligations
Interest paid
Interest element of finance lease rentals
Tax received
Tax paid
Net cash from operating activities

CASH FLOW FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Purchase of subsidiary companies and investments in associated undertakings1
Proceeds from sale of subsidiary companies and associated undertakings – discontinued activities1
Proceeds from sale of subsidiary companies and associated undertakings – continuing activities1
Tax on profits from sale of subsidiary companies and associated undertakings
Purchase of intangible assets
Purchase of property, plant and equipment2
Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment/intangible assets
Purchase of other investments
Proceeds from sale of other investments
Dividends received from associated undertakings
Interest received
Net cash used in investing activities

CASH FLOW FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES
Proceeds from issue of ordinary share capital
Purchase of own shares3
Net increase in borrowings
Repayment of obligations under finance leases
Return of Cash to Compass shareholders
Equity dividends paid
Dividends paid to non-controlling interests
Net cash used in financing activities

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS
Net (decrease)/increase in cash and cash equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of the year
Currency translation losses on cash and cash equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents at end of the year

1  Net of cash acquired or disposed and payments received or made under warranties and indemnities.
2  Includes property, plant and equipment purchased under client commitments.
3  Includes stamp duty and brokers’ commission.

RECONCILIATION OF FREE CASH FLOW FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2014

Net cash from operating activities of continuing operations
One-off employer contributions to post-employment benefit obligations
Purchase of intangible assets
Purchase of property, plant and equipment
Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment/intangible assets
Purchase of other investments
Proceeds from sale of other investments
Dividends received from associated undertakings
Interest received
Dividends paid to non-controlling interests
Free cash flow from continuing operations
Add back: Cash restructuring costs in the year
Underlying free cash flow

Notes

27

26
7

11
12

14
14
13

28
28
9
9

28
28
28

28

2014 
£m

2013 
£m

1,442
–
(77)
–
24
(268)
1,121

(176)
(1)
66
(4)
(206)
(263)
22
(2)
3
7
6
(548)

5
(280)
597
(5)
(1,000)
(444)
(5)
(1,132)

(559)
1,006
(16)
431

 2014 
£m

1,121
–
(206)
(263)
22
(2)
3
7
6
(5)
683
58
741

1,485
(72)
(71)
(2)
24
(257)
1,107

(104)
(1)
8
–
(191)
(276)
33
–
9
6
8
(508)

9
(446)
554
(9)
–
(404)
(6)
(302)

297
728
(19)
1,006

 2013 
£m

1,107
72
(191)
(276)
33
–
9
6
8
(6)
762
72
834

86

Compass Group PLC Annual Report 2014

ACCOUNTING POLICIES
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2014

INTRODUCTION
The significant accounting policies adopted in the preparation of the 
Group’s financial statements are set out below:

A  ACCOUNTING CONVENTION AND BASIS OF PREPARATION
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with 
International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) and International 
Financial Reporting Interpretations Committee (IFRIC) interpretations 
as adopted by the European Union that are effective for the year ended 
30 September 2014. They have been prepared under the historical cost 
convention as modified by the revaluation of certain financial instruments.

The financial statements have been prepared on a going concern basis. 
This is discussed in the Finance Director’s statement on page 36.

In the current financial year, the Group has adopted:

 • IAS 19 (revised), Employee Benefits. The expected returns on pension 
plan assets, previously calculated based on management’s expectation  
of expected returns has been replaced by a credit on the pension plan 
assets calculated at the liability discount rate. Implementation of  
IAS 19 (revised) has increased the net interest expense for the year by 
£9 million (2013: £nil). The prior year adjustment of £1 million arises 
from the treatment of past service cost which was previously spread over 
the remaining service lives of the related employees, but is recognised in 
full under IAS 19 (revised)

 • IFRS 13 ‘Fair value measurement’ which established a single framework 

for measuring fair value and related disclosures 

 • Amendments to IAS 36 ‘Impairment of assets’

In addition, there have been other minor improvements to existing 
International Financial Reporting Standards and interpretations that are 
effective for the first time in the current financial year which have been 
adopted by the Group with no impact on its consolidated results or 
financial position.

ACCOUNTING STANDARDS, AMENDMENTS AND INTERPRETATIONS TO EXISTING 
STANDARDS THAT ARE NOT YET EFFECTIVE
Certain new standards, amendments and interpretations of existing 
standards have been published that, once they have been endorsed by the 
European Union, will be mandatory for the Group’s accounting period 
beginning on 1 October 2014 or for later periods. The Group has not yet 
adopted these pronouncements and does not currently believe that the 
adoption of these standards, amendments or interpretations would have 
a  material effect on the consolidated results or financial position of the 
Group unless stated otherwise.

IFRS 9 ‘Financial Instruments’ (not yet endorsed by the European 
Union) removes the multiple classification and measurement models for 
financial assets required by IAS 39 and introduces a model that has only 
two classification categories: amortised cost and fair value. Classification 
is driven by the business model for managing the financial assets and the 
contractual cash flow characteristics of those assets. The accounting and 
presentation for financial liabilities and for derecognising financial 
instruments is relocated from IAS 39 without any significant changes. 
The Group is currently assessing the impact this standard would have  
on its consolidated results and financial position.

IFRS 10 ‘Consolidated financial statements’ replaces the guidance of 
control and consolidation in IAS 27 ‘Consolidated and separate financial 
statements’ and SIC 12 ‘Consolidation – special purpose entities’.  
The core principle that a consolidated entity presents a parent and its 
subsidiaries as if they were a single entity remains unchanged, as do the 
mechanics of consolidation. 

IFRS 11 ‘Joint arrangements’ requires joint arrangements to be 
accounted for as a joint operation or as a joint venture depending  
upon the rights and obligations of each party to the arrangement. 
Proportionate consolidation for joint ventures will be eliminated and 
equity accounting will be compulsory. It is anticipated that the 
application of the standard (which is effective for the Group in the year 
ending 30 September 2015) will result in a decrease to Group revenues, 
expenses, assets and liabilities but will have no impact on the Group’s net 
profit or net assets. Details of the Group’s joint venture arrangements are 
set out in note 15. 

IFRS 12 ‘Disclosure of interests in other entities’ requires enhanced 
disclosures of the nature, risks and financial effects associated with the 
Group’s interests in subsidiaries, associates and joint ventures.

IFRS 15 ‘Revenue from Contracts with Customers’ (not yet endorsed  
by the European Union). The standard introduces a new revenue 
recognition model that recognises revenue either at a point in time or 
over time. The model features a contract based five step analysis of 
transactions to determine whether, how much and when revenue is 
recognised. The Group is currently assessing the impact this standard 
would have on its consolidated results and financial position.

IAS 27 (revised) ‘Separate financial statements’

IAS 28 (revised) ‘Associates and joint ventures’

Amendments to IAS 32 ‘Financial instruments’ 

Amendments to IAS 39 ‘Financial instruments: Recognition and 
measurement – Novation of derivatives and continuation of hedge 
accounting’

Amendments to IFRS 7 ‘Offsetting financial assets and liabilities’

Improvements to IFRS 2009-2011 Cycle 

Improvements to IFRS 2010-2012 Cycle 

Improvements to IFRS 2011-2013 Cycle 

B  CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES AND USE OF 
ASSUMPTIONS AND ESTIMATES
The preparation of the consolidated financial statements requires 
management to make judgements, estimates and assumptions that affect 
the application of policies and reported amounts of assets and liabilities, 
income and expenses. These estimates and assumptions are based on 
historical experience and other factors that are believed to be reasonable 
under the circumstances. Actual results may differ from these estimates. 
The estimates and assumptions that have a significant risk of causing a 
material adjustment to the carrying value of assets and liabilities in the 
next financial year are discussed below.

TAXES
The Group is subject to direct and indirect taxes in numerous 
jurisdictions. Significant judgement is required in determining the 
worldwide provision for taxes as there are many transactions and 
calculations for which the ultimate tax determination is uncertain during 
the ordinary course of business. The Group recognises liabilities based 
on estimates of whether additional taxes will be due. Where the final tax 
outcome of these matters is different from the amounts that were initially 
recorded, such differences will impact the results for the year and the 
respective tax and deferred tax provisions in the year in which such 
determination is made.

Compass Group PLC Annual Report 2014

87

Strategic reportCorporate governanceConsolidated financial statementsParent Company financial statementsShareholder informationACCOUNTING POLICIES
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2014

GOODWILL
The Group tests annually whether goodwill has suffered any impairment 
in accordance with the accounting policy set out in section M on page 89. 
The recoverable amounts of cash generating units have been determined 
based on value in use calculations. These calculations require the use of 
estimates and assumptions consistent with the most up to date budgets 
and plans that have been formally approved by management. The key 
assumptions used for the value in use calculations are set out in note 10 
to the financial statements.

POST-EMPLOYMENT BENEFITS
Defined benefit schemes are reappraised annually by independent 
actuaries based on actuarial assumptions. Significant judgement is 
required in determining these actuarial assumptions. The principal 
assumptions used are described in note 23 to the financial statements.

INTRA-GROUP TRANSACTIONS
All intra-group transactions, balances, income and expenses are 
eliminated on consolidation. Where a Group subsidiary transacts with  
a joint venture of the Group, profits or losses are eliminated to the extent 
of the Group’s interest in the relevant joint venture.

E  ACQUISITIONS
The acquisition of subsidiaries is accounted for using the purchase 
method. The cost of acquisition is measured at the aggregate of the fair 
values, at the date of exchange, of assets given, liabilities incurred or 
assumed, and equity instruments issued.

Identifiable assets acquired and liabilities and contingent liabilities 
assumed are recognised at the fair values at the acquisition date, except 
for non-current assets (or disposal groups) that are classified as held for 
sale which are recognised and measured at fair value less costs to sell.

C  BASIS OF CONSOLIDATION
The consolidated financial statements consist of the financial statements 
of the Company, entities controlled by the Company (its subsidiaries) and 
the Group’s share of interests in joint ventures and associates made up to 
30 September each year.

The cost of the acquisition in excess of the Group’s interest in the net fair 
value of the identifiable net assets acquired is recorded as goodwill. If the 
cost of the acquisition is less than the fair value of the net assets of the 
subsidiary acquired, the difference is recognised directly in the income 
statement.

D  SUBSIDIARIES, ASSOCIATES AND JOINT VENTURES

SUBSIDIARIES
Subsidiaries are entities over which the Group has the power to govern 
the financial and operating policies. The existence and effect of potential 
voting rights that are currently exercisable or convertible are considered 
when assessing control.

ASSOCIATES
Associates are undertakings that are not subsidiaries or joint ventures 
over which the Group has significant influence and can participate in 
financial and operating policy decisions. Investments in associated 
undertakings are accounted for using the equity method. The 
consolidated income statement includes the Group’s share of the profit 
after tax of the associated undertakings. Investments in associates include 
goodwill identified on acquisition and are carried in the Group balance 
sheet at cost plus post-acquisition changes in the Group’s share of the net 
assets of the associate, less any impairment in value.

JOINT VENTURES
Joint ventures are entities in which the Group holds an interest on a  
long term basis and which are jointly controlled by the Group and  
other venturers under a contractual agreement. The Group’s share  
is accounted for using the proportionate consolidation method. The 
consolidated income statement and balance sheet include the Group’s 
share of the income, expenses, assets and liabilities.

ADJUSTMENTS
Where necessary, adjustments are made to the financial statements of 
subsidiaries, associates and joint ventures to bring the accounting policies 
used in line with those used by the Group.

ACQUISITIONS AND DISPOSALS
The results of subsidiaries, associates or joint ventures acquired or 
disposed of during the period are included in the consolidated income 
statement from the effective date of acquisition or up to the effective date 
of disposal, as appropriate.

F  FOREIGN CURRENCY
The consolidated financial statements are prepared in sterling, which  
is the functional currency of the Company.

In preparing the financial statements of individual companies within the 
Group, transactions in currencies other than the companies’ functional 
currency are recorded at the rates of exchange on the dates of the 
transaction. At each balance sheet date, monetary assets and liabilities 
that are denominated in foreign currencies are retranslated at the rates 
on the balance sheet date. Gains and losses arising on retranslation are 
included in the income statement for the period, except for where they 
arise on items taken directly to other comprehensive income, in which 
case they are also recognised in the consolidated statement of 
comprehensive income.

In order to hedge its exposure to certain foreign exchange risks the 
Group enters into forward currency contracts (see section Q on page 90  
for the Group’s accounting policies in respect of derivative financial 
instruments).

On consolidation, the assets and liabilities of the Group’s overseas 
operations (expressed in their functional currencies, being the currency 
of the primary economic environment in which each entity operates)  
are translated at the exchange rates on the balance sheet date. Income 
and expense items are translated at the average exchange rates for the  
period. Exchange differences arising, if any, are classified as equity  
and transferred to the Group’s translation reserve. Such translation 
differences are recognised as income or expense in the period in which 
the operation is disposed of.

Goodwill and fair value adjustments arising on the acquisition of a 
foreign entity are treated as assets and liabilities of the foreign entity  
and translated at the closing rate.

G  REVENUE
Revenue is recognised in the period in which services are provided in 
accordance with the terms of the contractual relationships with third 
parties. Revenue represents the fair value of the consideration received  
or receivable for goods and services provided in the normal course  
of business, excluding trade discounts, value added tax and similar  
sales taxes.

88

Compass Group PLC Annual Report 2014

MANAGEMENT FEE CONTRACTS
Revenue from management fee contracts comprises the total of sales 
made to consumers, the subsidy charged to clients, together with the 
management fee charged to clients.

FIXED PRICE CONTRACTS
Revenue from fixed price contracts is recognised in proportion to the 
volume of services that the Group is contracted to supply in each period.

PROFIT AND LOSS CONTRACTS
Revenue from profit and loss contracts comprises the total of sales made 
to consumers, typically with little or no subsidy charged to clients.

INTER-SEGMENT TRANSACTIONS
There is little or no intra-group trading between the reported business 
segments. Where such trading does take place it is on similar terms and 
conditions to those available to third parties.

H  REBATES AND OTHER AMOUNTS RECEIVED FROM 
SUPPLIERS
Rebates and other amounts received from suppliers include agreed 
discounts from suppliers’ list prices and value and volume related rebates.

Income from value and volume related rebates is recognised based on 
actual purchases in the period as a proportion of total purchases made or 
forecast to be made over the rebate period.

Rebates received in respect of plant and equipment are deducted from 
the costs capitalised and are recognised in the income statement in line 
with depreciation.

Agreed discounts relating to inventories are credited to the income 
statement within cost of sales as the goods are consumed.

Rebates relating to items purchased but still held at the balance sheet 
date are deducted from the carrying value of these items so that the cost 
of inventories is recorded net of applicable rebates.

I  BORROWING COSTS
Borrowing costs which are directly attributable to the acquisition, 
construction or production of a qualifying asset are capitalised as part  
of the cost of that asset.

J  OPERATING PROFIT
Operating profit is stated before the share of results of associates, 
investment revenue and finance costs.

K  EXCEPTIONAL ITEMS
Exceptional items are disclosed and described separately in the financial 
statements where it is necessary to do so to provide further understanding 
of the financial performance of the Group. They are material items of 
income or expense that have been shown separately due to the 
significance of their nature or amount.

L  TAX
Income tax expense comprises current and deferred tax. Tax is 
recognised in the income statement except where it relates to items taken 
directly to the consolidated statement of comprehensive income or equity, 
in which case it is recognised in the consolidated statement of 
comprehensive income or equity as appropriate.

Current tax is the expected tax payable on the taxable income for the 
period, using tax rates that have been enacted or substantively enacted  
in respect of that period by the balance sheet date.

Deferred tax is provided using the balance sheet liability method, 
providing for temporary differences between the carrying amounts of 
assets and liabilities for financial reporting purposes and the amounts 
used for tax purposes. Deferred tax liabilities are generally recognised for 
all taxable temporary differences and deferred tax assets are recognised 
to the extent that it is probable that taxable profits will be available 
against which deductible temporary differences can be utilised. Such 
assets and liabilities are not recognised if the temporary difference arises 
from goodwill or from the initial recognition (other than in a business 
combination) of other assets and liabilities in a transaction that affects 
neither the taxable profit nor the accounting profit.

Deferred tax liabilities are recognised for taxable temporary differences 
arising on investments in subsidiaries and associates, and interest in joint 
ventures, except where the Group is able to control the reversal of the 
temporary difference and it is probable that the temporary difference 
will not reverse in the foreseeable future.

The carrying amount of deferred tax assets is reviewed at each balance 
sheet date and reduced to the extent that it is no longer probable that 
sufficient taxable profits will be available to allow all or part of the asset 
to be recovered.

Deferred tax is calculated at the enacted or substantially enacted tax 
rates that are expected to apply in the period when the liability is settled 
or the asset realised.

Deferred tax assets and liabilities are offset against each other when they 
relate to income taxes levied by the same tax jurisdiction and the Group 
intends to settle its current tax assets and liabilities on a net basis.

M  INTANGIBLE ASSETS

GOODWILL
Goodwill arising on consolidation represents the excess of the cost of 
acquisition over the fair value of the Group’s share of the identifiable 
assets and liabilities of the acquired subsidiary, associate or joint venture 
at the date of acquisition. Goodwill is tested annually for impairment and 
is carried at cost less any accumulated impairment losses.

Goodwill is allocated to cash generating units (CGU) for the purpose  
of impairment testing. A CGU is identified at the lowest aggregation of 
assets that generate largely independent cash inflows, and that which is 
looked at by management for monitoring and managing the business. 
This is generally the total business for a country. However, in some 
instances, where there are distinct separately managed business activities 
within a country, particularly if they fall within different secondary 
business segments, the CGU is identified at this lower level.

If the recoverable amount of the CGU is less than the carrying amount, 
an impairment loss is allocated first to reduce the carrying amount of any 
goodwill allocated to the unit and then to the other assets of the unit pro 
rata on the basis of the carrying amount of each asset in the unit. Any 
impairment is immediately recognised in the income statement and an 
impairment loss recognised for goodwill is not subsequently reversed.

On disposal, the attributable amount of goodwill is included in the 
determination of the gain or loss on disposal.

Goodwill arising on acquisitions before the date of transition to IFRS 
has been retained at the previous UK GAAP amounts subject to being 
tested for impairment at that date. Goodwill written off to reserves under 
UK GAAP prior to 1998 has not been reinstated and is not included in 
determining any subsequent gain or loss on disposal.

Compass Group PLC Annual Report 2014

89

Strategic reportCorporate governanceConsolidated financial statementsParent Company financial statementsShareholder informationACCOUNTING POLICIES
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2014

OTHER INTANGIBLE ASSETS
Intangible assets acquired separately are capitalised at cost or, if acquired 
as part of a business combination, are capitalised at fair value as at the 
date of the acquisition. Internally generated intangible assets are not 
capitalised. Amortisation is charged on a straight line basis over the 
expected useful lives of the assets.

The following rates applied for the Group:

 • Contract related intangible assets: the life of the contract 
 • Computer software: 6% to 33% per annum

The typical life of contract related intangibles is 2 to 20 years.

Contract related intangible assets arising on acquisition of a business  
are recognised at fair value and amortised over the life of the contract. 
Underlying operating profit and underlying earnings per share exclude 
the amortisation of contract related intangible assets arising on 
acquisition of a business as it is not considered to be relevant to the 
underlying trading performance of the Group.

N  PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT
All tangible fixed assets are reviewed for impairment when there are 
indications that the carrying value may not be recoverable. Freehold 
land is not depreciated. All other property, plant and equipment assets 
are carried at cost less accumulated depreciation and any recognised 
impairment in value.

Depreciation is provided on a straight line basis over the anticipated 
useful lives of the assets.

The following rates applied for the Group: 

 • Freehold buildings and long term leasehold property: 2% per annum
 • Short term leasehold property: the life of the lease
 • Plant and machinery: 8% to 33% per annum
 • Fixtures and fittings: 8% to 33% per annum

When assets are sold, the difference between sales proceeds and the 
carrying amount of the assets is dealt with in the income statement.

O  ASSETS HELD FOR SALE
Non-current assets and disposal groups are classified as held for sale if 
the carrying amount will be recovered through a sale transaction rather 
than through continuing use. This condition is regarded as met only 
when the sale is highly probable, management is committed to a sale 
plan, the asset is available for immediate sale in its present condition and 
the sale is expected to be completed within one year from the date of 
classification. These assets are measured at the lower of carrying value 
and fair value less costs to sell.

P  INVENTORIES
Inventories are valued at the lower of cost and net realisable value.  
Cost is calculated using either the weighted average price or the first in, 
first out method as appropriate to the circumstances. Net realisable value 
is the estimated selling price in the ordinary course of business, less 
applicable variable selling expenses.

Q  FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS
Financial assets and financial liabilities are recognised on the Group’s 
balance sheet when the Group becomes a party to the contractual 
provisions of the instrument. Financial assets and liabilities, including 
derivative financial instruments, denominated in foreign currencies are 
translated into sterling at period end exchange rates. Gains and losses  
are dealt with through the income statement, unless hedge accounting 
treatment is available.

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS
Cash and cash equivalents comprise cash at bank and in hand and short 
term deposits with an original maturity of three months or less.

BORROWINGS
Borrowings are recognised initially at the proceeds received, net of direct 
issue costs. Borrowings are subsequently stated at amortised cost; any 
difference between the proceeds (net of direct issue costs) and the 
redemption value is recognised in the income statement over the period 
of the borrowings using the effective interest method, unless included in  
a fair value hedge.

EQUITY INSTRUMENTS
Equity instruments issued by the Company are recorded at the proceeds 
received, net of direct issue costs.

DERIVATIVE FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS AND HEDGE ACCOUNTING
The Group uses derivative financial instruments such as forward 
currency contracts and interest rate swaps to hedge the risks associated 
with changes in foreign exchange rates and interest rates. Such derivative 
financial instruments are initially measured at fair value on the contract 
date, and are remeasured to fair value at subsequent reporting dates.

The use of financial derivatives is governed by the Group’s policies 
approved by the Board that provide written principles on the use of 
financial derivatives consistent with the Group’s risk management 
strategy. The Group does not use derivative financial instruments  
for speculative purposes.

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 swaps is determined by reference 
to market values for similar instruments.

For the purpose of hedge accounting, hedges are classified as either fair 
value hedges when they hedge the exposure to changes in the fair value 
of a recognised asset or liability; or cash flow hedges where they hedge 
the exposure to variability in cash flows that is either attributable to  
a particular risk associated with a recognised asset or liability or a 
forecasted transaction.

In relation to fair value hedges (interest rate swaps) which meet the 
conditions for hedge accounting, any gain or loss from remeasuring the 
hedging instrument at fair value is recognised immediately in the income 
statement. Any gain or loss on the hedged item attributable to the hedged 
risk is adjusted against the carrying amount of the hedged item and 
recognised in the income statement. Where the adjustment is to the 
carrying amount of a hedged interest bearing financial instrument, the 
adjustment is amortised to the net profit and loss such that it is fully 
amortised by maturity.

90

Compass Group PLC Annual Report 2014

When fair value hedge accounting is discontinued, any adjustment  
to the carrying amount of the hedged item for the designated risk for 
interest bearing financial instruments is amortised to profit or loss, with 
amortisation commencing no later than when the hedged item ceases  
to be adjusted.

The Group’s policy is to convert a proportion of its floating rate debt  
to fixed rates, using floating to fixed interest rate swaps. The Group 
designates these as cash flow hedges of interest rate risk.

In relation to cash flow hedges (forward currency contracts) to hedge 
firm commitments which meet the conditions for hedge accounting, the 
portion of the gain or loss on the hedging instrument that is determined 
to be an effective hedge is recognised directly in equity and the 
ineffective portion is recognised in the income statement.

When the hedged firm commitment results in the recognition of an asset 
or liability, then at the time the asset or liability is recognised, the 
associated gains or losses that had previously been recognised in equity 
are included in the initial measurement of the acquisition cost and 
carrying amount of the asset or liability. For all other cash flow hedges, 
the gains or losses that are recognised in equity are transferred to the 
income statement in the same period in which the hedged firm 
commitment affects the net profit and loss, for example when the future 
sale actually occurs.

For derivative financial instruments that do not qualify for hedge 
accounting, any gains or losses arising from changes in fair value are 
taken directly to the income statement in the period.

Hedge accounting is discontinued when the hedging instrument expires 
or is sold, terminated or exercised, or no longer qualifies for hedge 
accounting. At that point in time, any cumulative gain or loss on the 
hedging instrument recognised in equity is kept in equity until the 
forecasted transaction occurs. If a hedged transaction is no longer 
expected to occur, the net cumulative gain or loss recognised in equity  
is transferred to the income statement in the period.

R  LEASES
Leases are classified as finance leases whenever the terms of the lease 
transfer substantially all the risks and rewards of ownership to the lessee. 
All other leases are classified as operating leases.

Assets held under finance leases are recognised as assets of the Group  
at their fair value or, if lower, at the present value of the minimum  
lease payments, each determined at the inception of the lease. The 
corresponding liability to the lessor is included in the balance sheet  
as a finance lease obligation. Lease payments are apportioned between 
finance charges and reduction of the lease obligation so as to achieve  
a constant rate of interest on the remaining balance of the liability. 
Finance charges are charged directly against income.

Payments made under operating leases are charged to income on a 
straight line basis over the period of the lease. Any incentives to enter 
into an operating lease are also spread on a straight line basis over the 
lease term.

S  PROVISIONS
Provisions are recognised when the Group has a present obligation as  
a result of a past event and it is probable that the Group will be required 
to settle that obligation. Provisions are measured at the directors’ best 
estimate of the cost of settling these liabilities and are discounted to 
present value where the effect is material.

T  EMPLOYEE BENEFITS

PENSION OBLIGATIONS
Payments made to defined contribution pension schemes are charged  
as an expense when they fall due. Payments made to state managed 
schemes are dealt with as payments to defined contribution schemes 
where the Group’s obligations under the schemes are equivalent to those 
arising in a defined contribution pension scheme.

For defined benefit pension schemes, the cost of providing benefits is 
determined using the Projected Unit Credit Method, with actuarial 
valuations being carried out at each balance sheet date. Actuarial gains 
and losses are recognised immediately in the consolidated statement of 
comprehensive income.

Past service cost is recognised immediately.

The pension obligation recognised in the balance sheet represents  
the present value of the defined benefit obligation, and as reduced by the 
fair value of scheme assets. Any asset resulting from this calculation is 
limited to the present value of available refunds and reductions in future 
contributions to the plan.

OTHER POST-EMPLOYMENT OBLIGATIONS
Some Group companies provide other post-employment benefits.  
The expected costs of these benefits are accrued over the period of 
employment using a similar basis to that used for defined benefit pension 
schemes. Actuarial gains and losses are recognised immediately in the 
consolidated statement of comprehensive income.

SHARE-BASED PAYMENTS
The Group issues equity-settled and cash-settled share-based payments 
to certain employees. In accordance with the requirements of IFRS 2 
‘Share-based Payments’, the Group has applied IFRS 2 to all equity-
settled share options granted after 7 November 2002 that had vested 
before 1 January 2005. Equity-settled share-based payments are 
measured at fair value (excluding the effect of non-market based vesting 
conditions) at the date of grant. The fair value determined at the grant 
date of the equity-settled share-based payments is expensed on a straight 
line basis over the vesting period, based on the Group’s estimate of the 
shares that will eventually vest and adjusted for the effect of non-market 
based vesting conditions.

Fair value is measured using either the binomial distribution or 
Black-Scholes pricing models as is most appropriate for each scheme. 
The expected life used in the models has been adjusted, based on 
management’s best estimate, for the effects of exercise restrictions and 
behavioural considerations.

For cash-settled share-based payments, a liability equal to the portion  
of the goods or services received is recognised at the current fair value 
determined at each balance sheet date.

HOLIDAY PAY 
Paid holidays and similar entitlements are regarded as an employee 
benefit and are charged to the income statement as the benefits are 
earned. An accrual is made at the balance sheet date to reflect the fair 
value of holidays earned but not taken.

Compass Group PLC Annual Report 2014

91

Strategic reportCorporate governanceConsolidated financial statementsParent Company financial statementsShareholder information 
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2014

1  SEGMENTAL REPORTING
The management of the Group’s operations, excluding Central activities, is organised within three segments: North America, the more  
developed markets of Europe & Japan and our Fast Growing & Emerging markets. These, together with Central activities, comprise the Group’s 
reportable segments. These segments comprise countries which are at similar stages of development and demonstrate similar economic characteristics. 
Each segment derives revenue from delivery of food and support services. 

REVENUES1

YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2014
External revenue2

YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2013
External revenue2

REVENUES1

YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2014
External revenue2

YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2013
External revenue2

Geographical segments

North
America
£m

Europe &
Japan
£m

Fast 
Growing &
Emerging
£m

Total 
£m

8,199

5,716

3,143

17,058

8,150

6,039

3,368

17,557

Sectors

Business
& Industry
£m

Education
£m

Healthcare
& Seniors
£m

Sports
& Leisure
£m

Defence,
Offshore
& Remote
£m

Total 
£m

6,783

2,815

3,515

1,857

2,088

17,058

7,121

2,820

3,559

1,784

2,273

17,557

1  There is no inter-segmental trading.
2   Continuing revenue from external customers arising in the UK, the Group’s country of domicile, was £1,787 million (2013: £1,813 million). Continuing revenue from external 

customers arising in the US was £7,413 million (2013: £7,311 million). Continuing revenue from external customers arising in all foreign countries from which the Group derives 
revenue was £15,271 million (2013: £15,744 million).

92

Compass Group PLC Annual Report 2014

1  SEGMENTAL REPORTING CONTINUED

RESULT

YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2014
Operating profit before associates, exceptional items and costs  

relating to acquisitions1

European exceptional
Goodwill impairment
Operating profit before associates and costs relating to acquisitions
Less: Amortisation of intangibles arising on acquisition
Less: Acquisition transaction costs
Add: Adjustment to contingent consideration on acquisition
Operating profit before associates – continuing
Add: Share of profit of associates 
Total operating profit – continuing

Profit on disposal of US businesses
Profit on disposal of interest in associates
Finance income
Finance costs
Hedge accounting ineffectiveness
Change in the fair value of investments

Profit before tax

Income tax expense

Profit for the year from continuing operations

YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2013
Operating profit before associates, exceptional items and costs  

relating to acquisitions1

European exceptional
Goodwill impairment
Operating profit before associates and costs relating to acquisitions
Less: Amortisation of intangibles arising on acquisition
Less: Acquisition transaction costs
Add: Adjustment to contingent consideration on acquisition
Operating profit before associates – continuing
Add: Share of profit of associates 
Total operating profit – continuing

Loss on disposal of US businesses
Finance income
Finance costs
Hedge accounting ineffectiveness

Profit before tax

Income tax expense

Profit for the year from continuing operations

Geographical segments

North
America
£m

Europe &
Japan
£m

Fast 
Growing &
Emerging
£m

Central
activities
£m

666
–
–
666
(12)
(2)
1
653
6
659

657
–
–
657
(10)
(1)
1
647
6
653

409
–
–
409
(5)
(1)
–
403
3
406

420
(59)
(377)
(16)
(6)
(1)
–
(23)
4
(19)

226
–
–
226
(8)
–
(1)
217
–
217

242
–
–
242
(9)
(1)
–
232
–
232

(65)
–
–
(65)
–
–
–
(65)
–
(65)

(64)
–
–
(64)
–
–
–
(64)
–
(64)

Total 
£m

1,236
–
–
1,236
(25)
(3)
–
1,208
9
1,217

1
13
5
(91)
–
2

1,147

(279)

868

1,255
(59)
(377)
819
(25)
(3)
1
792
10
802

(1)
8
(85)
(3)

721

(287)

434

1  Operating profit before associates, exceptional items and costs relating to acquisitions is the profit measure considered by the chief operating decision maker.   

Compass Group PLC Annual Report 2014

93

Strategic reportCorporate governanceConsolidated financial statementsParent Company financial statementsShareholder information 
 
 
 
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2014

1  SEGMENTAL REPORTING CONTINUED

BALANCE SHEET

AS AT 30 SEPTEMBER 2014
Total assets
Total liabilities 
Net assets/(liabilities)1

Total assets include:
Interests in associates
Non-current assets

AS AT 30 SEPTEMBER 2013
Total assets
Total liabilities2 
Net assets/(liabilities)

Total assets include:
Interests in associates
Non-current assets1

Geographical segments

Unallocated

North
America
£m

Europe &
Japan
£m

Fast 
Growing & 
Emerging
£m

Central
activities
£m

Current and
deferred tax
£m

Net
debt
£m

3,423
(1,613)
1,810

3,215
(1,284)
1,931

50
2,488

64
2,408

3,188
(1,459)
1,729

3,242
(1,456)
1,786

51
2,359

33
2,371

1,276
(675)
601

–
625

1,317
(705)
612

–
693

6
(260)
(254)

–
–

8
(248)
(240)

–
5

278
(187)
91

–
246

297
(200)
97

–
265

Total 
£m

8,694
(6,846)
1,848

496
(2,827)
(2,331)

–
50

114
5,817

1,076
(2,270)
(1,194)

9,128
(6,338)
2,790

–
63

84
5,756

1   Non-current assets located in the UK, the Group’s country of domicile, were £1,786 million (2013: £1,730 million). Non-current assets located in the US were £2,921 million 

(2013: £2,766 million). Non-current assets located in all foreign countries in which the Group holds assets were £4,048 million (2013: £4,026 million).

2  2013 has been restated for past service cost recognised in accordance with IAS 19(R).

94

Compass Group PLC Annual Report 2014

1  SEGMENTAL REPORTING CONTINUED 

ADDITIONS TO OTHER INTANGIBLE ASSETS

YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2014
Total additions to other intangible assets

YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2013
Total additions to other intangible assets

ADDITIONS TO PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT

YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2014
Total additions to property, plant and equipment1

YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2013
Total additions to property, plant and equipment1

AMORTISATION OF OTHER INTANGIBLE ASSETS

YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2014
Total amortisation of other intangible assets2

YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2013
Total amortisation of other intangible assets2

DEPRECIATION OF PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT

YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2014
Total depreciation of property, plant and equipment

YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2013
Total depreciation of property, plant and equipment 

OTHER NON-CASH EXPENSES

YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2014
Total other non-cash expenses3

YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2013
Total other non-cash expenses3

Geographical segments

North
America
£m

Europe &
Japan
£m

Fast 
Growing & 
Emerging
£m

Central 
activities 
£m

171

158

24

24

11

9

–

–

Geographical segments

North
America
£m

Europe &
Japan
£m

Fast 
Growing & 
Emerging
£m

Central 
activities 
£m

86

85

110

82

53

111

1

–

Geographical segments

North
America
£m

Europe &
Japan
£m

Fast 
Growing & 
Emerging
£m

Central 
activities 
£m

115

104

25

25

13

13

–

1

Geographical segments

North
America
£m

Europe &
Japan
£m

Fast 
Growing & 
Emerging
£m

Central 
activities 
£m

71

71

75

73

44

37

1

–

Geographical segments

North
America
£m

Europe &
Japan
£m

Fast 
Growing & 
Emerging
£m

Central 
activities 
£m

3

3

4

3

4

2

2

3

1  Includes leased assets of £2 million (2013: £2 million) and creditor for capital creditors of £1 million (2013: £2 million).
2  Including the amortisation of intangibles arising on acquisition.
3  Other non-cash expenses are mainly comprised of share-based payments.

Compass Group PLC Annual Report 2014

Total 
£m

206

191

Total 
£m

250

278

Total 
£m

153

143

Total 
£m

191

181

Total 
£m

13

11

95

Strategic reportCorporate governanceConsolidated financial statementsParent Company financial statementsShareholder informationNOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2014

2  OPERATING COSTS 

TOTAL OPERATING COSTS

OPERATING COSTS

Cost of food and materials:
Cost of inventories consumed

Labour costs:
Employee remuneration (note 3)

Overheads:
Depreciation – owned property, plant and equipment 
Depreciation – leased property, plant and equipment
Amortisation – owned intangible assets 
Impairment of goodwill in subsidiaries1

Property lease rentals
Other occupancy rentals – minimum guaranteed rent
Other occupancy rentals – rent in excess of minimum guaranteed rent
Other asset rentals

Audit and non-audit services (see below)
Other expenses 

Operating costs before costs relating to acquisitions

Amortisation – intangible assets arising on acquisition
Acquisition transaction costs
Adjustment to contingent consideration on acquisition
Total continuing operations

Before 
exceptional 
items
2013
£m

Exceptional
items1
2013
£m

Total
2014
£m

5,101

5,289

7,794

8,072

187
4
128
–

85
62
13
76

6
2,366

15,822

25
3
–
15,850

176
5
118
–

88
74
13
88

8
2,371

16,302

25
3
(1)
16,329

–

59

–
–
–
377

–
–
–
–

–
–

436

–
–
–
436

Total
2013
£m

5,289

8,131

176
5
118
377

88
74
13
88

8
2,371

16,738

25
3
(1)
16,765

1  Impairment of goodwill recorded in the consolidated income statement £nil (2013: £377 million included in ‘Other Expenses’ related to European exceptional).

AUDIT AND NON-AUDIT SERVICES1

AUDIT SERVICES
Fees payable to the Company’s auditor for the audit of the Company’s annual financial statements
Fees payable to the Company’s auditor and their associates for other services to the Group:
  The audit of the Company’s subsidiaries and joint ventures pursuant to legislation
Total audit fees

NON-AUDIT SERVICES
Audit related assurance
Taxation compliance
Other tax advisory
Corporate finance services
Services relating to information technology
Other services
Total non-audit fees

TOTAL AUDIT AND NON-AUDIT SERVICES
Total audit and non-audit services

1  The 2014 fees represent fees payable to the current auditor. The 2013 comparative represents fees payable to the previous auditor.

2014
£m

2013
£m

0.5

3.7
4.2

0.3
0.3
0.2
0.1
0.8
0.2
1.9

6.1

0.4

3.9
4.3

0.2
0.2
2.7
0.1
0.1
0.2
3.5

7.8

96

Compass Group PLC Annual Report 2014

2  OPERATING COSTS CONTINUED

EXCEPTIONAL ITEMS
In the years ended 30 September 2013 and 2014, the following exceptional items were recorded:

EUROPEAN EXCEPTIONAL
Accelerated efficiencies
Total European exceptional

Goodwill impairment (note 10)
Total exceptional items

2014
£m

–
–

–
–

2013
£m

59
59

377
436

In 2013, we continued with our actions to improve the operational efficiency of our operations in Europe which we had started in 2012 and took an 
additional £59 million exceptional cost.

3  EMPLOYEES 

AVERAGE NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES, INCLUDING DIRECTORS AND PART-TIME EMPLOYEES

North America
Europe & Japan
Fast Growing & Emerging
Total continuing operations

AGGREGATE REMUNERATION OF ALL EMPLOYEES INCLUDING DIRECTORS

Wages and salaries 
Social security costs 
Share-based payments
Pension costs – defined contribution plans
Pension costs – defined benefit plans
Total continuing operations

2014
Number 

2013
Number 

214,511
150,847
149,360
514,718

205,969
153,915
146,815
506,699

2014 
£m

6,515
1,165
15
85
14
7,794

2013 
£m

6,713
1,304
13
80
21
8,131

In addition to the pension cost shown in operating costs above, there is a pensions related net charge within finance costs of £7 million  
(2013: net charge of £11 million).

The remuneration of directors and key management personnel1 is set out below. Additional information on directors’ and key management 
remuneration, share options, long term incentive plans, pension contributions and entitlements can be found in the audited section of the Directors’ 
Remuneration Report on pages 59 to 76 and forms part of these accounts. 

REMUNERATION OF KEY MANAGEMENT PERSONNEL

Salaries 
Other short term employee remuneration
Share-based payments 
Pension salary supplement
Total

2014 
£m

5.5
6.4
4.9
1.5
18.3

2013 
£m

5.2
5.8
4.3
1.5
16.8

1   Key management personnel is defined as the Board of Directors and five additional individuals making up the Executive Board. In 2013, 14 individuals were included in the table 

which comprised the Board of Directors and four additional individuals who were part of the Executive Board.

Compass Group PLC Annual Report 2014

97

Strategic reportCorporate governanceConsolidated financial statementsParent Company financial statementsShareholder informationNOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2014

4  FINANCING INCOME, COSTS AND RELATED (GAINS)/LOSSES
Finance income and costs are recognised in the income statement in the period in which they are earned or incurred.

FINANCE INCOME AND COSTS

FINANCE INCOME
Bank interest
Total finance income

FINANCE COSTS
Interest on bank loans and overdrafts 
Interest on other loans
Finance lease interest 
Interest on bank loans, overdrafts, other loans and finance leases
Unwinding of discount on provisions
Interest on net post-employment benefit obligations (note 23)
Total finance costs

ANALYSIS OF FINANCE COSTS BY DEFINED IAS 391 CATEGORY
Fair value through profit or loss (unhedged derivatives)
Derivatives in a fair value hedge relationship
Derivatives in a net investment hedge relationship
Other financial liabilities
Interest on bank loans, overdrafts, other loans and finance leases
Fair value through profit or loss (unwinding of discount on provisions)
Outside of the scope of IAS 39 (net pension scheme charge)
Total finance costs

1  IAS 39 ‘Financial Instruments: Recognition and Measurement’.

2014
 £m 

2013
 £m

5
5

11
69
1
81
3
7
91

4
(28)
3
102
81
3
7
91

8
8

8
60
2
70
4
11
85

2
(24)
5
87
70
4
11
85

The Group uses derivative financial instruments such as forward currency contracts, cross currency swaps and interest rate swaps to hedge the risks 
associated with changes in foreign currency exchange rates and interest rates. As explained in section Q of the Group’s accounting policies, such 
derivative financial instruments are initially measured at fair value on the contract date, and are remeasured to fair value at subsequent reporting dates. 
For derivative financial instruments that do not qualify for hedge accounting, any gains or losses arising from changes in fair value are taken directly to 
the income statement in the period.

FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENT
All derivative financial instruments are shown at fair value in the balance sheet. All the derivatives held by the Group at fair value are considered to 
have fair values determined by Level 2 inputs as defined by the fair value hierarchy of IFRS 13 ‘Fair value measurement’. The fair values of derivative 
financial instruments represent the maximum credit exposure.

FINANCING RELATED (GAINS)/LOSSES

HEDGE ACCOUNTING INEFFECTIVENESS 
Unrealised net (gains)/losses on derivative financial instruments in a designated fair value hedge1
Unrealised net losses/(gains) on the hedged item in a designated fair value hedge
Total hedge accounting ineffectiveness – losses

CHANGE IN THE FAIR VALUE OF INVESTMENTS
Gain from the changes in the fair value of investments2, 3

1  Categorised as derivatives that are designated and effective as hedging instruments carried at fair value (IAS 39). 
2  Categorised as ‘fair value through profit or loss’ (IAS 39). 
3  Life insurance policies used by overseas companies to meet the cost of unfunded post-employment benefit obligations included in note 23. 

2014 
£m 

2013 
£m

(23)
23
–

2

47
(44)
3

–

98

Compass Group PLC Annual Report 2014

 
 
 
5   US DISPOSALS
On 27 May 2014, the Group disposed of its retail cleaning business in the United States. Total consideration for the transaction was £31 million,  
of which £24 million was received at closing in cash. There was a loss of £1 million on the transaction and a gain of £2 million from other small  
US disposals. 

In 2012 the Group disposed of the assets related to its food and support services business in correctional facilities located in the United States. In the year 
ended 30 September 2013 a loss of £1 million was recognised in relation to this transaction.

GAIN/(LOSS) ON DISPOSAL OF US BUSINESSES

Gain/(loss) on disposal of US businesses

6  TAX

RECOGNISED IN THE INCOME STATEMENT: 
INCOME TAX EXPENSE ON CONTINUING OPERATIONS

CURRENT TAX
Current year
Adjustment in respect of prior years
Current tax expense

DEFERRED TAX 
Current year 
Impact of changes in statutory tax rates
Adjustment in respect of prior years
Deferred tax expense

Income tax expense on continuing operations excluding exceptional recognition  

of tax losses arising in prior years

Deferred tax expense on exceptional recognition of tax losses arising in prior years

TOTAL INCOME TAX
Income tax expense/(credit) on continuing operations 

Total
2014
£m

271
1
272

10
1
(4)
7

279
–

279

Before 
exceptional 
items
2013
£m

Exceptional
items
2013
£m

2014
£m

1

2013
£m

(1)

Total
2013
£m

273
(3)
270

11
5
(1)
15

285
2

(26)
–
(26)

10
–
–
10

(16)
–

(16)

287

299
(3)
296

1
5
(1)
5

301
2

303

The income tax expense for the year is based on the effective United Kingdom statutory rate of corporation tax for the period of 22% (2013: 23.5%). 
Overseas tax is calculated at the rates prevailing in the respective jurisdictions. The impact of changes in statutory rates in the prior year related 
principally to the reduction of the UK corporation tax rate from 24% to 23% from 1 April 2013, 21% from 1 April 2014, and 20% from 1 April 2015. 
These changes resulted in a deferred tax charge arising from the reduction in the balance sheet carrying value of deferred tax assets to reflect the 
anticipated rate of tax at which those assets were expected to reverse.

Compass Group PLC Annual Report 2014

99

Strategic reportCorporate governanceConsolidated financial statementsParent Company financial statementsShareholder informationNOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2014

6  TAX CONTINUED

Profit before tax from continuing operations

Notional income tax expense at the effective UK statutory rate of 22% (2013: 23.5%)  

on profit before tax

Effect of different tax rates of subsidiaries operating in other jurisdictions
Impact of changes in statutory tax rates
Permanent differences
Impact of share-based payments
Tax on profit of associates
Losses and other temporary differences not previously recognised
Unrelieved current year tax losses 
Prior year items
Income tax expense on continuing operations excluding exceptional recognition of tax losses 

arising in prior years

Exceptional recognition of tax losses arising in prior years
Income tax expense on continuing operations

Before 
exceptional 
items
2013
£m

Exceptional
items
2013
£m

Total
2014
£m

1,147

1,157

(436)

252
116
1
(83)
1
(1)
(7)
3
(3)

279
–
279

272
99
5
(71)
(1)
(1)
(1)
3
(4)

301
2
303

(103)
(3)
–
90
–
–
–
–
–

(16)
–
(16)

2014 
£m

6
(3)
3

2014 
£m

6
6

Total
2013
£m

721

169
96
5
19
(1)
(1)
(1)
3
(4)

285
2
287

2013 
£m

(11)
2
(9)

2013 
£m

6
6

Total
£m

256
(17)
(7)
(2)
(1)
(2)
227

227
(7)
(5)
(5)
1
(4)
207

TAX CREDITED/(CHARGED) TO OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

Current and deferred tax credits/(charges) on actuarial and other movements on post-employment benefits
Current and deferred tax (charges)/credits on foreign exchange movements
Tax credit/(charge) on items recognised in other comprehensive income

TAX CREDITED TO EQUITY

Current and deferred tax credits in respect of share-based payments
Tax credit on items recognised in equity

MOVEMENT IN NET DEFERRED TAX ASSET/(LIABILITY)

At 1 October 2012
(Charge)/credit to income
(Charge)/credit to equity/other comprehensive income
Business acquisitions
Other movements
Exchange adjustment
At 30 September 2013

At 1 October 2013
Credit/(charge) to income
(Charge)/credit to equity/other comprehensive income
Business acquisitions
Other movements
Exchange adjustment
At 30 September 2014

Tax
 depreciation 
£m

Intangibles
 £m

Pensions
and post-
employment
benefits
£m

Self-funded
insurance
 provisions
£m

Net
short term
temporary
differences
£m

Tax losses
£m

12
(4)
–
(1)
2
–
9

9
4
–
–
–
–
13

(176)
(10)
–
(1)
–
4
(183)

(183)
(7)
–
(6)
–
5
(191)

160
(13)
(11)
–
–
–
136

136
7
(6)
–
–
(1)
136

21
(1)
1
–
–
–
21

21
1
–
–
1
(2)
21

58
6
–
–
–
–
64

64
3
–
–
–
–
67

181
5
3
–
(3)
(6)
180

180
(15)
1
1
–
(6)
161

Net short term temporary differences relate principally to provisions and other liabilities of overseas subsidiaries. 

100

Compass Group PLC Annual Report 2014

6  TAX CONTINUED
After netting off balances within countries, the following are the deferred tax assets and liabilities recognised in the consolidated balance sheet:  

NET DEFERRED TAX BALANCE

Deferred tax assets
Deferred tax liabilities
Net deferred tax asset

2014
 £m 

246
(39)
207

2013
 £m

265
(38)
227

Unrecognised deferred tax assets in respect of tax losses and other temporary differences amount to £42 million (2013: £50 million). Of the total, tax 
losses of £27 million will expire at various dates between 2014 and 2022. These deferred tax assets have not been recognised as the timing of recovery 
is uncertain.

The Group does not recognise any deferred tax liability on temporary differences relating to potentially taxable unremitted earnings of overseas 
subsidiaries totalling £448 million (2013: £401 million) because it is able to control the timing of reversal of these differences. It is probable that no 
reversal will take place in the foreseeable future.

7  DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS

YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2014
The profit for the year from discontinued operations was £3 million (2013: £3 million) relating to a release of surplus tax provisions in respect of prior 
year disposals. 

FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE OF DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS

TRADING ACTIVITIES OF DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS
Operating costs 
Loss before tax
Income tax credit
Profit after tax

DISPOSAL OF NET ASSETS AND OTHER ADJUSTMENTS RELATING TO DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS
Income tax credit
Total profit after tax

PROFIT FOR THE YEAR FROM DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS
Profit for the year from discontinued operations

2014
 £m 

2013
 £m

–
–
3
3

–
–

3

–
–
2
2

1
1

3

Compass Group PLC Annual Report 2014

101

Strategic reportCorporate governanceConsolidated financial statementsParent Company financial statementsShareholder informationNOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2014

7  DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS CONTINUED
INCOME TAX FROM DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS

INCOME TAX ON TRADING ACTIVITIES OF DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS AND ON DISPOSAL  
OF NET ASSETS AND OTHER ADJUSTMENTS RELATING TO DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS
Current tax 
Deferred tax
Income tax credit on discontinued operations

NET ASSETS DISPOSED AND DISPOSAL PROCEEDS

Decrease in retained liabilities1
Consideration (net of costs)
Cash outflow from disposals

2014
 £m 

2013
 £m

3
–
3

2014
 £m 

(1)
(1)
(1)

3
–
3

2013
 £m

(1)
(1)
(1)

1  Includes the utilisation of disposal provisions of £1 million in the year ended 30 September 2014 (2013: £1 million).

8  EARNINGS PER SHARE
The calculation of earnings per share is based on earnings after tax and the weighted average number of shares in issue during the year. The adjusted 
earnings per share figures have been calculated based on earnings excluding the effect of discontinued operations, the amortisation of intangible assets 
arising on acquisition, acquisition transaction costs, adjustment to contingent consideration on acquisition, European exceptional, goodwill impairment, 
profits and losses on disposal of businesses, hedge accounting ineffectiveness, the change in the fair value of investments, the tax attributable to these 
amounts and the exceptional recognition of tax losses in prior years. These items are excluded in order to show the underlying trading performance of 
the Group.

ATTRIBUTABLE PROFIT

Profit for the year attributable to equity shareholders of the Company
Less: Profit for the year from discontinued operations
Attributable profit for the year from continuing operations
Amortisation of intangible assets arising on acquisition (net of tax)
Acquisition transaction costs (net of tax)
Adjustment to contingent consideration on acquisition (net of tax)
European exceptional (net of tax)
Goodwill impairment
(Profit)/loss on disposal of US businesses (net of tax)
Profit on disposal of interest in associate (net of tax)
Hedge accounting ineffectiveness (net of tax)
Profit from change in the fair value of investments (net of tax)
Exceptional recognition of tax losses
Underlying attributable profit for the year from continuing operations

2014
Attributable
profit
£m

2013
Attributable
profit
£m

865
(3)
862
18
2
1
(7)
–
(1)
(13)
–
(2)
–
860

429
(3)
426
18
3
(1)
43
377
1
–
2
–
2
871

102

Compass Group PLC Annual Report 2014

8  EARNINGS PER SHARE CONTINUED

AVERAGE NUMBER OF SHARES (MILLIONS OF ORDINARY SHARES)

Average number of shares for basic earnings per share
Dilutive share options
Average number of shares for diluted earnings per share

BASIC EARNINGS PER SHARE (PENCE)
From continuing and discontinued operations
From discontinued operations
From continuing operations 
Amortisation of intangible assets arising on acquisition (net of tax)
Acquisition transaction costs (net of tax)
Adjustment to contingent consideration on acquisition (net of tax)
European exceptional (net of tax)
Goodwill impairment
(Profit)/loss on disposal of US businesses (net of tax)
Profit on disposal of interest in associate (net of tax)
Hedge accounting ineffectiveness (net of tax)
Profit from change in the fair value of investments (net of tax)
Exceptional recognition of tax losses
From underlying continuing operations

DILUTED EARNINGS PER SHARE (PENCE)
From continuing and discontinued operations
From discontinued operations
From continuing operations
Amortisation of intangible assets arising on acquisition (net of tax)
Acquisition transaction costs (net of tax)
Adjustment to contingent consideration on acquisition (net of tax)
European exceptional (net of tax)
Goodwill impairment
(Profit)/loss on disposal of US Corrections business (net of tax)
Profit on disposal of interest in associate (net of tax)
Hedge accounting ineffectiveness (net of tax)
Profit from change in the fair value of investments (net of tax)
Exceptional recognition of tax losses
From underlying continuing operations

2014
Ordinary
shares of
105⁄8p each
millions

1,766
5
1,771

2014
Earnings
per share
pence

2013
Ordinary
shares of
10p each
millions

1,827
8
1,835

2013
Earnings
per share
pence

49.0
(0.2)
48.8
1.0
0.1
0.1
(0.4)
–
(0.1)
(0.7)
–
(0.1)
–
48.7

48.9
(0.2)
48.7
1.0
0.1
0.1
(0.4)
–
(0.1)
(0.7)
–
(0.1)
–
48.6

23.5
(0.2)
23.3
1.0
0.2
(0.1)
2.4
20.6
0.1
–
0.1
–
0.1
47.7

23.4
(0.2)
23.2
1.0
0.2
(0.1)
2.4
20.5
0.1
–
0.1
–
0.1
47.5

Compass Group PLC Annual Report 2014

103

Strategic reportCorporate governanceConsolidated financial statementsParent Company financial statementsShareholder informationNOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2014

9  DIVIDENDS
A final dividend in respect of 2014 of 17.7 pence per share, £296 million in aggregate1, has been proposed, giving a total dividend in respect of 2014  
of 26.5 pence per share (2013: 24.0 pence per share). The proposed final dividend is subject to approval by shareholders at the Annual General Meeting 
on 5 February 2015 and has not been included as a liability in these financial statements.

DIVIDENDS ON ORDINARY SHARES

Amounts recognised as distributions to equity shareholders during the year:
Final dividend for the prior year 
Interim dividend for the current year
Total dividends

1  Based on the number of shares in issue at 30 September 2014 (1,674 million shares).

2014

2013

Dividends 
per share 
pence

16.0p
8.8p
24.8p

Dividends 
per share 
pence

14.1p
8.0p
22.1p

£m

287
157
444

£m

259
145
404

In addition, a Return of Cash of £1 billion was paid to shareholders in the year and is described in more detail in note 24.

10  GOODWILL 
During the year the Group made a number of acquisitions. See note 26 for more details.

GOODWILL

COST
At 1 October 2012
Additions 
Disposals 
Currency adjustment
At 30 September 2013

At 1 October 2013
Additions 
Disposals
Currency adjustment
At 30 September 2014

IMPAIRMENT
At 1 October 2012
Disposals
Impairment charge recognised in the year
At 30 September 2013

At 1 October 2013
Currency adjustment
Impairment charge recognised in the year
At 30 September 2014

NET BOOK VALUE
At 30 September 2013
At 30 September 2014

£m

4,151
39
(5)
(77)
4,108

4,108
39
(13)
(87)
4,047

114
(3)
377
488

488
(6)
–
482

3,620
3,565

104

Compass Group PLC Annual Report 2014

10  GOODWILL CONTINUED
Goodwill acquired in a business combination is allocated at acquisition to each cash generating unit (CGU) that is expected to benefit from that 
business combination. A summary of goodwill allocation by business segment is shown below: 

GOODWILL BY BUSINESS SEGMENT
USA
Canada
Total North America

UK
Japan
Rest of Europe & Japan
Total Europe & Japan

Turkey
Rest of Fast Growing & Emerging
Total 

2014 
£m
1,211
138
1,349

1,433
127
296
1,856

87
273
3,565

2013 
£m
1,202
151
1,353

1,426
142
318
1,886

98
283
3,620

The Group tests goodwill annually for impairment, or more frequently if there are indications that goodwill might be impaired. The recoverable 
amount of a CGU is determined from value in use calculations. The key assumptions for these calculations are long term growth rates and pre-tax 
discount rates and use cash flow forecasts derived from the most recent financial budgets and forecasts approved by management covering a five year 
period. Budgets and Forecasts are based on expectations of future outcomes taking into account past experience, adjusted for anticipated revenue 
growth, from both new business and organic growth and taking into consideration external economic factors. Cash flows beyond the five year period 
are extrapolated using estimated growth rates based on local expected economic conditions and do not exceed the long term average growth rate for 
that country. The pre-tax discount rates are based on the Group’s weighted average cost of capital adjusted for specific risks relating to the country in 
which the CGU operates.

2014

2013

GROWTH AND DISCOUNT RATES

USA
Rest of North America
UK
Rest of Europe & Japan
Fast Growing & Emerging

Residual 
growth 
rates

2.5%
2.0%
2.0%
1.3-2.8%
1.9-7.8%

Pre-tax 
discount 
rates

Residual 
growth 
rates

Pre-tax 
discount 
rates

8.5%
7.9%
8.0%

11.4%
10.4%
10.6%
7.4-16.5% 0.9%-3.1% 8.9-15.0%
7.8-17.5% 2.1%-7.8% 9.7-18.3%

2.2%
2.0%
2.0%

During the year ended 30 September 2013, a goodwill impairment charge of £377 million was reported in relation to the Group’s business in the UK.  
The impairment charge was primarily driven by an increase in the discount rate applied as a result of increases in UK gilt rates and reflecting the 
normal year end review of the long term growth expectations. 

Given the current economic climate, a sensitivity analysis has been performed in assessing recoverable amounts of goodwill for all CGUs. This has 
been based on changes in key assumptions considered to be reasonably possible by management. There are no CGUs that are sensitive to reasonably 
possible changes in key assumptions.

Compass Group PLC Annual Report 2014

105

Strategic reportCorporate governanceConsolidated financial statementsParent Company financial statementsShareholder informationNOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2014

11  OTHER INTANGIBLE ASSETS

COST
At 1 October 2012
Additions 
Disposals
Business acquisitions
Business disposals
Reclassified
Currency adjustment 
At 30 September 2013

At 1 October 2013
Additions 
Disposals
Business acquisitions
Business disposals
Reclassified
Currency adjustment 
At 30 September 2014

AMORTISATION
At 1 October 2012
Charge for the year 
Disposals 
Business disposals
Reclassified
Currency adjustment 
At 30 September 2013

At 1 October 2013
Charge for the year 
Disposals 
Business disposals
Reclassified
Currency adjustment 
At 30 September 2014

NET BOOK VALUE
At 30 September 2013
At 30 September 2014

Contract and  
other intangibles1

Computer 
software
 £m 

Arising on
 acquisition 
£m

Other 
£m

Total 
£m

222
21
(15)
–
(3)
3
(4)
224

224
22
(5)
–
–
(2)
(7)
232

152
21
(15)
(2)
2
(3)
155

155
21
(4)
–
–
(5)
167

69
65

354
–
(1)
68
(2)
(2)
(16)
401

401
–
–
89
(3)
3
(17)
473

43
25
–
–
(2)
(4)
62

62
25
–
–
–
(3)
84

339
389

744
170
(67)
–
–
(1)
(4)
842

842
184
(59)
9
–
4
(7)
973

321
97
(54)
–
–
–
364

364
107
(54)
2
3
(5)
417

478
556

1,320
191
(83)
68
(5)
–
(24)
1,467

1,467
206
(64)
98
(3)
5
(31)
1,678

516
143
(69)
(2)
–
(7)
581

581
153
(58)
2
3
(13)
668

886
1,010

1   Contract related intangible assets, other than those arising on acquisition, result from payments made by the Group in respect of client contracts and generally arise where  
it is economically more efficient for a client to purchase assets used in the performance of the contract and the Group funds these purchases. The intangible assets arising  
on acquisition are all contract related.

106

Compass Group PLC Annual Report 2014

12  PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT

PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT

COST
At 1 October 2012
Additions1
Disposals
Business disposals – other activities
Business acquisitions 
Reclassified
Currency adjustment 
At 30 September 2013

At 1 October 2013
Additions1
Disposals
Business disposals – other activities
Business acquisitions 
Reclassified
Currency adjustment 
At 30 September 2014

DEPRECIATION
At 1 October 2012
Charge for the year 
Disposals
Business disposals – other activities
Reclassified 
Currency adjustment
At 30 September 2013

At 1 October 2013
Charge for the year 
Disposals
Business disposals – other activities
Reclassified 
Currency adjustment
At 30 September 2014

NET BOOK VALUE
At 30 September 2013
At 30 September 2014

Land and
buildings
£m

Plant and
 machinery
£m

Fixtures 
and
 fittings
£m

301
86
(12)
(2)
1
4
(18)
360

360
29
(17)
–
2
–
(16)
358

174
21
(9)
(2)
–
(9)
175

175
25
(16)
–
(1)
(7)
176

185
182

994
125
(75)
(4)
5
(5)
(11)
1,029

1,029
141
(81)
(12)
4
8
(39)
1,050

632
112
(63)
(3)
3
(6)
675

675
113
(71)
(9)
8
(26)
690

354
360

519
67
(44)
(3)
–
4
(7)
536

536
80
(38)
(1)
1
(3)
(26)
549

356
48
(38)
(3)
2
(4)
361

361
53
(33)
–
(2)
(17)
362

175
187

1  Includes leased assets at a net book value of £2 million (2013: £2 million).

The net book amount of the Group’s property, plant and equipment includes assets held under finance leases as follows:

PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT HELD UNDER FINANCE LEASES

At 30 September 2013

At 30 September 2014

Land and
buildings
£m

Plant and
machinery
£m

7

7

8

6

Fixtures 
and
 fittings 
£m

1

1

Total 
£m

1,814
278
(131)
(9)
6
3
(36)
1,925

1,925
250
(136)
(13)
7
5
(81)
1,957

1,162
181
(110)
(8)
5
(19)
1,211

1,211
191
(120)
(9)
5
(50)
1,228

714
729

Total 
£m

16

14

Compass Group PLC Annual Report 2014

107

Strategic reportCorporate governanceConsolidated financial statementsParent Company financial statementsShareholder informationNOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2014

13  INTERESTS IN ASSOCIATES 
Significant interests in associates are:

Twickenham Experience Limited
Oval Events Limited
AEG Facilities, LLC
Thompson Hospitality Services LLC

1  % ownership is of the ordinary share capital.

INTERESTS IN ASSOCIATES

NET BOOK VALUE
At 1 October 
Additions
Disposals
Share of profits less losses (net of tax)
Dividends received 
Currency and other adjustments 
At 30 September 

The Group’s share of revenues and profits is included below:

ASSOCIATES

SHARE OF REVENUE AND PROFITS
Revenue
Expenses/taxation1
Profit after tax for the year 

SHARE OF NET ASSETS
Non-current assets
Current assets
Non-current liabilities
Current liabilities
Net assets

SHARE OF CONTINGENT LIABILITIES
Contingent liabilities

1  Expenses include the relevant portion of income tax recorded by associates.

14  OTHER INVESTMENTS

NET BOOK VALUE
At 1 October
Additions
Disposals
Currency and other adjustments
At 30 September

COMPRISED OF
Investment in Au Bon Pain1, 3
Other investments1, 3
Life insurance policies and mutual fund investments1, 2, 3
Total

Country of incorporation

2014
 ownership1

2013
ownership1

England & Wales
England & Wales
USA
USA

40%
25%
49%
49%

40%
25%
49%
49%

2014 
£m

2013 
£m

84
48
(19)
9
(7)
(1)
114

82
–
–
10
(6)
(2)
84

2014 
£m

2013 
£m

46
(37)
9

121
106
(11)
(102)
114

(2)

49
(39)
10

91
98
(9)
(96)
84

(2)

2014 
£m

2013 
£m

41
2
(10)
3
36

–
9
27
36

46
–
(9)
4
41

7
10
24
41

1  Categorised as ‘available for sale’ financial assets (IAS 39). 
2  Life insurance policies used by overseas companies to meet the cost of unfunded post-employment benefit obligations as set out in note 23.
3  As per the fair value hierarchies explained in note 20, the investment in Au Bon Pain was Level 3, other investments are Level 1 and the life insurance policies are Level 2.

108

Compass Group PLC Annual Report 2014

15  JOINT VENTURES
PRINCIPAL JOINT VENTURES

Quadrant Catering Limited1
ADNH-Compass Middle East LLC
Express Support Services Limitada

Country of incorporation

England & Wales
United Arab Emirates
Angola

2014
 ownership

2013
 ownership

49%
50%
50%

49%
50%
50%

1  49% ownership in Quadrant Catering Limited entitles Compass Group to 50% of voting rights. 

None of these investments is held directly by the ultimate Parent Company. All joint ventures provide food and/or support services in their respective 
countries of incorporation and make their accounts up to 30 September. All holdings are in the ordinary shares of the respective joint venture company.

The share of the revenue, profits, assets and liabilities of the joint ventures included in the consolidated financial statements is as follows: 

JOINT VENTURES

SHARE OF REVENUE AND PROFITS
Revenue
Expenses
Profit after tax for the year 

SHARE OF NET ASSETS
Non-current assets
Current assets
Non-current liabilities
Current liabilities
Net assets

SHARE OF CONTINGENT LIABILITIES
Contingent liabilities

2014 
£m

217
(195)
22

7
84
(7)
(47)
37

21

The share of capital commitments, contracted but not provided for, at 30 September 2014 was £nil (2013: £nil). 

16  TRADE AND OTHER RECEIVABLES 

TRADE AND OTHER RECEIVABLES

NET BOOK VALUE
At 1 October
Net movement
Currency adjustment
At 30 September

COMPRISED OF
Trade receivables 
Less: Provision for impairment of trade receivables
Net trade receivables1

Other receivables 
Less: Provision for impairment of other receivables
Net other receivables 

Accrued income 
Prepayments

Trade and other receivables

1  Categorised as ‘loans and receivables’ financial assets (IAS 39).

2014

 Non-
current 
£m 

Total 
£m

Current 
£m

2013

 Non-
current 
£m 

83
(12)
(4)
67

–
–
–

75
(16)
59

–
8

67

2,155
141
(101)
2,195

1,821
(75)
1,746

157
(27)
130

189
130

2,114
9
(51)
2,072

1,862
(101)
1,761

58
(11)
47

166
98

2,195

2,072

90
(2)
(5)
83

4
–
4

69
–
69

–
10

83

Current 
£m

2,072
153
(97)
2,128

1,821
(75)
1,746

82
(11)
71

189
122

2,128

Compass Group PLC Annual Report 2014

2013 
£m

196
(175)
21

6
78
(6)
(44)
34

20

Total 
£m

2,204
7
(56)
2,155

1,866
(101)
1,765

127
(11)
116

166
108

2,155

109

Strategic reportCorporate governanceConsolidated financial statementsParent Company financial statementsShareholder informationNOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2014

16  TRADE AND OTHER RECEIVABLES CONTINUED

TRADE RECEIVABLES
The book value of trade and other receivables approximates to their fair value due to the short term nature of the majority of the receivables.

Credit sales are only made after credit approval procedures have been completed satisfactorily. The policy for making provisions for bad and doubtful 
debts varies from country to country as different countries and markets have different payment practices, but various factors are considered, including 
how overdue the debt is, the type of receivable and its past history, and current market and trading conditions. Full provision is made for debts that are 
not considered to be recoverable.

There is limited concentration of credit risk with respect to trade receivables due to the diverse and unrelated nature of the Group’s client base. 
Accordingly, the directors believe that there is no further credit provision required in excess of the provision for the impairment of receivables.  
The book value of trade and other receivables represents the Group’s maximum exposure to credit risk.

Trade receivable days for the continuing business at 30 September 2014 were 45 days (2013: 44 days). 

The ageing of gross trade receivables and of the provision for impairment is as follows:

TRADE RECEIVABLES

Gross trade receivables
Less: Provision for impairment of trade receivables
Net trade receivables

TRADE RECEIVABLES

Gross trade receivables
Less: Provision for impairment of trade receivables
Net trade receivables

Not yet
due
£m

1,474
(4)
1,470

Not yet 
due 
£m

1,442
(7)
1,435

Movements in the provision for impairment of trade and other receivables are as follows:

PROVISION FOR IMPAIRMENT OF TRADE AND OTHER RECEIVABLES

At 1 October
Charged to income statement
Credited to income statement
Utilised
Reclassified
Currency adjustment
At 30 September

Trade 
£m

101
20
(27)
(14)
(2)
(3)
75

0-3 
months
overdue
£m

266
(15)
251

0-3 
months 
overdue 
£m

312
(10)
302

2014

Other 
£m

11
1
(5)
–
21
(1)
27

2014

3-6
months
overdue
£m

33
(18)
15

2013

3-6 
months 
overdue 
£m

53
(30)
23

Total 
£m

112
21
(32)
(14)
19
(4)
102

6-12
months
overdue
£m

15
(10)
5

6-12 
months 
overdue 
£m

22
(19)
3

Trade
£m

99
38
(15)
(12)
(8)
(1)
101

Over 12
months
overdue
£m

33
(28)
5

Over 12 
months 
overdue 
£m

37
(35)
2

2013

Other 
£m

8
1
(1)
–
3
–
11

Total 
£m

1,821
(75)
1,746

Total 
£m

1,866
(101)
1,765

Total 
£m

107
39
(16)
(12)
(5)
(1)
112

At 30 September 2014, trade receivables of £276 million (2013: £330 million) were past due but not impaired. The Group has made a provision based 
on a number of factors, including past history of the debtor, and all amounts not provided for are considered to be recoverable.

110

Compass Group PLC Annual Report 2014

17  INVENTORIES 
INVENTORIES

NET BOOK VALUE
At 1 October
Net movement
Currency adjustment
At 30 September

18  CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS

Cash at bank and in hand
Short term bank deposits
Cash and cash equivalents1

1  Categorised as ‘loans and receivables’ financial assets (IAS 39).

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS BY CURRENCY

Sterling
US Dollar
Euro
Japanese Yen
Other
Cash and cash equivalents

2014 
£m 

255
25
(10)
270

2014 
£m 

274
157
431

2014 
£m

132
85
39
12
163
431

2013 
£m

261
1
(7)
255

2013 
£m

316
690
1,006

2013 
£m

541
218
71
16
160
1,006

The Group’s policy to manage the credit risk associated with cash and cash equivalents is set out in note 20. The book value of cash and cash 
equivalents represents the maximum credit exposure.

MASTER NETTING OR SIMILAR AGREEMENTS
The Group has master netting agreements for its cash and bank overdrafts and the following balances are offset within the consolidated balance sheet: 

Cash and cash equivalents
Bank overdrafts

Cash and cash equivalents
Bank overdrafts

Gross
£m

602
(208)

Gross
£m

1,225
(239)

2014

Offset
£m

(171)
171

2013

Offset
£m

(219)
219

Net
£m

431
(37)

Net
£m

1,006
(20)

Compass Group PLC Annual Report 2014

111

Strategic reportCorporate governanceConsolidated financial statementsParent Company financial statementsShareholder informationNOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2014

19  SHORT TERM AND LONG TERM BORROWINGS 

SHORT TERM AND LONG TERM BORROWINGS

Bank overdrafts
Bank loans
Loan notes
Bonds
Borrowings (excluding finance leases)
Finance leases
Borrowings (including finance leases)1

1 Categorised as ‘other financial liabilities’ (IAS 39).

2014

2013

Current 
£m

 Non-current 
£m 

Total 
£m

Current 
£m

 Non-current 
£m 

37
4
–
251
292
5
297

–
302
1,076
1,136
2,514
12
2,526

37
306
1,076
1,387
2,806
17
2,823

20
4
74
–
98
6
104

–
301
1,073
772
2,146
15
2,161

Total 
£m

20
305
1,147
772
2,244
21
2,265

Bank overdrafts principally arise as a result of uncleared transactions. Interest on bank overdrafts is at the relevant money market rates. 

All amounts due under bonds, loan notes and bank facilities are shown net of unamortised issue costs. Additionally, the Group adjusts the carrying 
values of the bonds and loan notes that are designated in effective fair value hedge relationships, for fair value gains and losses (based on observable 
market inputs) attributable to the risk being hedged.  

The Group has fixed term, fixed interest private placements denominated in US dollar and sterling.

LOAN NOTES

US$ private placement
US$ private placement
US$ private placement
Sterling private placement
US$ private placement
US$ private placement
US$ private placement
US$ private placement
US$ private placement

Nominal value Redeemable

$105m Oct 2013
$15m Nov 2013
$162m Oct 2015
£35m Oct 2016
$250m Oct 2018
$200m Sep 2020
$398m Oct 2021
$352m Oct 2023
$300m Sep 2025

Interest

6.45%
5.67%
6.72%
7.55%
3.31%
3.09%
3.98%
4.12%
3.81%

2014
Carrying 
value
£m

2013
Carrying 
value
£m

–
–
102
36
157
123
245
223
190
1,076

65
9
104
36
159
123
245
220
186
1,147

The €500 million 2023 bond and the £250 million 2026 bond were issued during the year. The £250 million 2014 bond is recorded at its fair value to 
the Group on acquisition.

BONDS

Sterling Eurobond
Euro Eurobond
Euro Eurobond
Sterling Eurobond

Nominal value

Redeemable

£250m
€600m
€500m
£250m

Dec 2014
Feb 2019
Jan 2023
Jun 2026

Interest

7.00%
3.13%
1.88%
3.85%

The maturity profile of borrowings (excluding finance leases) is as follows:

MATURITY PROFILE OF BORROWINGS (EXCLUDING FINANCE LEASES)

Within 1 year, or on demand
Between 1 and 2 years
Between 2 and 3 years
Between 3 and 4 years
Between 4 and 5 years
In more than 5 years 
Borrowings (excluding finance leases)

2014
Carrying
 value
£m

251
485
402
249
1,387

2014
 £m

292
154
286
–
642
1,432
2,806

2013
Carrying
 value
£m

262
510
–
–
772

2013
£m

98
264
153
286
–
1,443
2,244

112

Compass Group PLC Annual Report 2014

19  SHORT TERM AND LONG TERM BORROWINGS CONTINUED
The fair value of the Group’s borrowings is calculated by discounting future cash flows to net present values at current market rates for similar 
financial instruments. The fair values have been determined by reference to Level 2 inputs as defined by the fair value hierarchy of IFRS 13 ‘Fair value 
measurement’. The table below shows the fair value of borrowings excluding accrued interest:

CARRYING VALUE AND FAIR VALUE OF BORROWINGS (EXCLUDING FINANCE LEASES)

Bank overdrafts

Bank loans

Loan notes

£250m Eurobond Dec 2014
€600m Eurobond Feb 2019
€500m Eurobond Jan 2023
£250m Eurobond Jun 2026
Bonds
Borrowings (excluding finance leases)

GROSS AND PRESENT VALUE OF FINANCE LEASE LIABILITIES

Finance lease payments falling due:
Within 1 year
In 2 to 5 years
In more than 5 years

Less: Future finance charges
Gross and present value of finance lease liabilities

BORROWINGS BY CURRENCY

Sterling
US Dollar
Euro
Japanese Yen
Other
Total

2014

2013 

Carrying
value
£m

37

306

1,076

251
485
402
249
1,387
2,806

Fair
value
£m 

37

306

1,095

253
517
403
259
1,432
2,870

Carrying
value
£m

20

305

1,147

262
510
–
–
772
2,244

Fair
value
£m

20

305

1,170

267
534
–
–
801
2,296

2014

2013 

Gross
£m

Present 
value 
£m

Gross
£m

Present 
value
 £m

5
9
5
19
(2)
17

5
8
4
17
–
17

2014

Finance 
leases 
£m

Total 
£m

Borrowings 
£m

–
1
13
–
3
17

835
1,041
917
–
30
2,823

599
1,111
520
–
14
2,244

Borrowings 
£m

835
1,040
904
–
27
2,806

7
11
4
22
(1)
21

2013

Finance 
leases 
£m

–
2
13
–
6
21

6
11
4
21
–
21

Total 
£m

599
1,113
533
–
20
2,265

The Group had the following undrawn committed facilities available at 30 September, in respect of which all conditions precedent had then been met:

UNDRAWN COMMITTED FACILITIES

Expiring between 1 and 5 years

2014 
£m

1,000

2013
 £m

700

Compass Group PLC Annual Report 2014

113

Strategic reportCorporate governanceConsolidated financial statementsParent Company financial statementsShareholder informationNOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2014

20  DERIVATIVE FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS

CAPITAL RISK MANAGEMENT
The Group manages its capital structure to ensure that it will be able to continue as a going concern. The capital structure of the Group consists of cash 
and cash equivalents as disclosed in note 18; debt, which includes the borrowings disclosed in note 19; and equity attributable to equity shareholders of 
the Parent Company, comprising issued share capital, reserves and retained earnings as disclosed in the consolidated statement of changes in equity.

FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT
The Group continues to manage its interest rate and foreign currency exposure in accordance with the policies set out below. The Group’s financial 
instruments comprise cash, borrowings, receivables and payables that are used to finance the Group’s operations. The Group also uses derivatives, 
principally interest rate swaps, forward currency contracts and cross currency swaps, to manage interest rate and currency risks arising from the 
Group’s operations. The Group does not trade in financial instruments. The Group’s treasury policies are designed to mitigate the impact of 
fluctuations in interest rates and exchange rates and to manage the Group’s financial risks. The Board approves any changes to the policies.

LIQUIDITY RISK
The Group finances its borrowings from a number of sources including the bank, the public and the private placement markets. The Group has 
developed long term relationships with a number of financial counterparties with the balance sheet strength and credit quality to provide credit 
facilities as required. The Group seeks to avoid a concentration of debt maturities in any one period to spread its refinancing risk.

FOREIGN CURRENCY RISK
The Group’s policy is to match as far as possible its principal projected cash flows by currency to actual or effective borrowings in the same currency. 
As currency cash flows are generated, they are used to service and repay debt in the same currency. Where necessary, to implement this policy, 
forward currency contracts and cross currency swaps are executed which, when applied to the actual currency liabilities, convert these to the 
required currency.

The borrowings in each currency can give rise to foreign exchange differences on translation into sterling. Where the borrowings are less than, 
or equate to, the net investment in overseas operations, these exchange rate variances are treated as movements on reserves and recorded in the 
consolidated statement of comprehensive income rather than in the income statement.

Non-sterling earnings streams are translated at the average rate of exchange for the year. Fluctuations in exchange rates have given and will continue 
to give rise to translation differences. The Group is only partially protected from the impact of such differences through the matching of cash flows to 
currency borrowings.

The Group has minimal exposure to the foreign currency risk of trade receivables and payables as operations within individual countries have little 
cross border activity which might give rise to translation risks on trade related balances.

The main currencies to which the Group’s reported sterling financial position is exposed are the US dollar, the euro and the Japanese yen. As set out 
above, the Group seeks to hedge its exposure to currencies by matching debt in currency against the cash flows generated by the Group’s foreign 
operations in such currencies.

The effect on profit after tax and equity of a 10% strengthening of sterling against these currencies on the Group’s financial statements is shown below. 
A 10% weakening would result in an equal and opposite impact on the profit or loss and equity of the Group. This table shows the impact on the 
financial instruments in place on 30 September and has been prepared on the basis that the 10% change in exchange rates occurred on the first day  
of the financial year and applied consistently throughout the year.

FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS: 
IMPACT OF STERLING STRENGTHENING BY 10%

(Decrease)/increase in profit for the year (after tax)
Increase in total equity

2014

Against 
Euro
 £m 

3
21

Against 
US Dollar
 £m 

(2)
150

Against 
Japanese 
Yen
 £m 

–
12

Against 
US Dollar
 £m 

1
80

2013

Against 
Euro
 £m 

4
17

Against 
Japanese 
Yen
 £m 

–
5

INTEREST RATE RISK
As set out above, the Group has effective borrowings in a number of currencies and the policy is to ensure that, in the short term, it is not materially 
exposed to fluctuations in interest rates in its principal currencies. The Group implements this policy either by borrowing fixed rate debt or by using 
interest rate swaps so that the interest rates on at least 80% of the Group’s projected debt are fixed for one year, reducing to 60% fixed for the second 
year and 40% fixed for the third year.

The sensitivity analysis given below has been determined based on the derivative and non-derivative financial instruments the Group had in place at 
the year end date only.

The effect of a 1% increase in interest rates prevailing at the balance sheet date on the Group’s cash and cash equivalents and debt subject to variable 
rates of interest at the balance sheet date would be a loss of £4 million (2013: loss of £1 million) over the course of a year. A similar 1% decrease in 
interest rates would result in an equal and opposite effect over the course of a year. 

114

Compass Group PLC Annual Report 2014

20  DERIVATIVE FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS CONTINUED

INTEREST RATE SENSITIVITY ANALYSIS

Increase in interest rate
Floating rate exposure – cash/(debt)
Increase/(decrease) in profit for the year (after tax)

INTEREST RATE SENSITIVITY ANALYSIS

Increase in interest rate
Floating rate exposure – cash/(debt)
Decrease in profit for the year (after tax)

Sterling
 £m 

US Dollar
 £m 

+1%
211
2

+1%
(681)
(5)

Sterling
 £m 

US Dollar
 £m 

+1%
48
–

+1%
(109)
(1)

2014

Euro
 £m 

+1%
(66)
–

2013

Euro
 £m 

+1%
(43)
–

Japanese
Yen
 £m 

+1%
(26)
–

Japanese
Yen
 £m 

+1%
(53)
–

Other
 £m 

+1%
(78)
(1)

Other
 £m 

+1%
44
–

Total
 £m 

n/a
(640)
(4)

Total
 £m 

n/a
(113)
(1)

These changes are the result of the exposure to interest rates from the Group’s floating rate cash and cash equivalents and debt. The sensitivity gains 
and losses given above may vary because cash flows vary throughout the year and interest rate and currency hedging may be implemented after the 
year end date in order to comply with the treasury policies outlined above.

CREDIT RISK
The Group’s policy is to minimise its exposure to credit risk from the failure of any single financial counterparty by spreading its risk across a portfolio 
of financial counterparties and managing the aggregate exposure to each against certain pre-agreed limits. Exposure to counterparty credit risk 
arising from deposits and derivatives (including forward currency contracts and cross currency swaps) is concentrated at the Group centre where 
possible. Financial counterparty limits are derived from the long and short term credit ratings, and the balance sheet strength of the financial 
counterparty. All financial counterparties are required to have a minimum short term credit rating from Moody’s of P-1 or equivalent from another 
recognised agency.

The Group’s policy to manage the credit risk associated with trade and other receivables is set out in note 16.

HEDGING ACTIVITIES
The following section describes the derivative financial instruments the Group uses to apply the interest rate and foreign currency hedging strategies 
described above. 

FAIR VALUE HEDGES
The Group uses interest rate swaps to hedge the fair value of fixed rate borrowings. These instruments swap the fixed interest payable on the 
borrowings into floating interest rates and hedge the fair value of the borrowings against changes in interest rates. These interest rate swaps all qualify 
for fair value hedge accounting as defined by IAS 39.

CASH FLOW HEDGES
The Group uses interest rate swaps to hedge the cash flows from floating rate borrowings. These instruments swap floating interest payable on these 
borrowings into fixed interest rates and hedge against cash flow changes caused by changing interest rates. The cash flows and income statement 
impact hedged in this manner will occur between one and three years of the balance sheet date.

These interest rate swaps do not qualify for cash flow hedge accounting as defined by IAS 39 because the Group creates synthetic floating rate foreign 
currency borrowings (see net investment hedges below) through the use of forward currency contracts and cross currency swaps which IAS 39 
disallows as being designated as a hedged item.

These interest rate swaps are an effective economic hedge against the exposure of the Group’s floating rate borrowings to interest rate risk.

NET INVESTMENT HEDGES
The Group uses foreign currency denominated debt, forward currency contracts and cross currency swaps to partially hedge against the change in  
the sterling value of its foreign currency denominated net assets due to movements in foreign exchange rates. The fair value of debt in a net investment 
hedge was £2,519 million (2013: £1,464 million). A foreign exchange gain of £41 million (2013: £50 million) relating to the net investment hedges has 
been netted off within currency translation differences as presented in the consolidated statement of comprehensive income.

DERIVATIVES NOT IN A HEDGING RELATIONSHIP
The Group has a number of derivative financial instruments that do not meet the criteria for hedge accounting. These include some interest rate swaps 
and some forward currency contracts.

Compass Group PLC Annual Report 2014

115

Strategic reportCorporate governanceConsolidated financial statementsParent Company financial statementsShareholder informationNOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2014

20  DERIVATIVE FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS CONTINUED
FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENT
All derivative financial instruments are shown at fair value in the balance sheet. The fair values have been determined by reference to Level 2 inputs  
as defined by the fair value hierarchy of IFRS 13 ‘Fair value measurement’. Derivative financial instrument fair values are present values determined 
from future cash flows discounted at rates derived from market sourced data. There were no transfers between levels in either the year ended  
30 September 2014 or 2013. The fair values of derivative financial instruments represent the maximum credit exposure.

DERIVATIVE FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS

Interest rate swaps:

Fair value hedges1
Not in a hedging relationship2

Other derivatives:
Forward currency contracts and  

cross currency swaps

Others
Total

2014

2013

Current 
assets 
£m

Non-current
 assets 
£m 

Current 
liabilities 
£m

Non-current
 liabilities 
£m 

Current
 assets 
£m

 Non-current 
assets 
£m 

Current 
liabilities 
£m

 Non-current
 liabilities 
£m 

11
–

4
1
16

34
–

16
–
50

–
(1)

(3)
–
(4)

–
–

(1)
–
(1)

2
–

5
–
7

41
–

21
1
63

–
(1)

(2)
–
(3)

(1)
–

–
–
(1)

1  Derivatives that are designated and effective as hedging instruments carried at fair value (IAS 39).
2  Derivatives carried at ‘fair value through profit or loss’ (IAS 39).

NOTIONAL AMOUNT OF DERIVATIVE FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS BY CURRENCY

Sterling
US Dollar
Euro
Japanese Yen
Other
Total

EFFECTIVE CURRENCY DENOMINATION OF BORROWINGS 
AFTER THE EFFECT OF DERIVATIVES

Sterling
US Dollar
Euro
Japanese Yen
Other
Total

1  Includes cross currency contracts.

2014

Forward 
currency
contracts1 

£m

(600)
623
(624)
128
482
9

Gross 
borrowings
£m

835
1,041
917
–
30
2,823

2014

2013 

Fair value 
swaps 
£m

Cash flow 
swaps 
£m

Fair value 
swaps 
£m

Cash flow 
swaps 
£m

220
615
741
–
–
1,576

–
472
27
75
248
822

–
395
38
45
124
602

220
680
393
–
–
1,293

2013

Effective
 currency of 
borrowings 
£m

Gross 
borrowings 
£m

Forward 
currency
contracts1
£m

Effective
 currency of 
borrowings 
£m

235
1,664
293
128
512
2,832

599
1,113
533
–
20
2,265

(28)
(75)
(251)
55
275
(24)

571
1,038
282
55
295
2,241

116

Compass Group PLC Annual Report 2014

20  DERIVATIVE FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS CONTINUED

Less than
 1 year 
£m

Between 1 
and 2 years 
£m

Between 2 
and 3 years 
£m

Between 3 
and 4 years 
£m

Between 4 
and 5 years 
£m 

2014

GROSS DEBT MATURITY ANALYSIS

FIXED INTEREST
£250m Eurobond 2026
€500m Eurobond 2023
€600m Eurobond 2019
£250m Eurobond 2014
US private placements
Total fixed interest
Cash flow swaps (fixed leg)
Fair value swaps (fixed leg)
Fixed interest liability

FLOATING INTEREST
Bank loans
Overdrafts
Total floating interest
Cash flow swaps (floating leg)
Fair value swaps (floating leg)
Floating interest (asset)/liability

OTHER
Finance lease obligations 
Fair value adjustments to borrowings1
Other liability

Gross debt excluding derivatives

DERIVATIVE FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS
Derivative financial instruments2
Forward currency contracts1
Gross debt

–
–
–
250
–
250
278
(200)
328

4
37
41
(278)
200
(37)

5
1
6

–
–
–
–
100
100
442
(59)
483

52
–
52
(442)
59
(331)

3
2
5

–
–
–
–
35
35
102
(20)
117

250
–
250
(102)
20
168

2
1
3

297

157

288

(11)
(1)
285

(19)
–
138

(1)
–
287

–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–

–
–
–
–
–
–

2
–
2

2

–
–
2

Over 
5 years 
£m

249
388
–
–
769
1,406
–
(792)
614

–
–
–
–
792
792

4
26
30

Total 
£m

249
388
461
250
1,058
2,406
822
(1,576)
1,652

306
37
343
(822)
1,576
1,097

17
57
74

–
–
461
–
154
615
–
(505)
110

–
–
–
–
505
505

1
27
28

643

1,436

2,823

(13)
–
630

(16)
–
1,420

(60)
(1)
2,762

1  Non-cash item (changes in the value of this non-cash item are reported via the currency translation gains/(losses) caption in note 28).
2  Non-cash item (changes in the value of this non-cash item are reported via the other non-cash movements caption in note 28).

PRINCIPAL AND INTEREST MATURITY ANALYSIS

Gross debt
Less: Overdrafts
Less: Fees and premiums capitalised on issue
Less: Other non-cash items
Repayment of principal 
Interest cash flows on debt and derivatives (settled net)
Settlement of forward currency contracts and cross 

currency swaps – payable leg

Settlement of forward currency contracts and cross 

currency swaps – receivable leg
Repayment of principal and interest 

Less than
 1 year 
£m

Between 1 
and 2 years 
£m

Between 2 
and 3 years 
£m

Between 3 
and 4 years 
£m

Between 4 
and 5 years 
£m 

2014

285
(37)
(1)
11
258
102

(923)

919
356

138
–
(1)
17
154
83

–

–
237

287
–
(1)
–
286
75

–

–
361

2
–
(1)
–
1
68

–

–
69

630
–
(4)
(14)
612
74

(251)

234
669

Over 
5 years 
£m

1,420
–
(3)
(10)
1,407
221

Total 
£m

2,762
(37)
(11)
4
2,718
623

–

(1,174)

–
1,628

1,153
3,320

Compass Group PLC Annual Report 2014

117

Strategic reportCorporate governanceConsolidated financial statementsParent Company financial statementsShareholder informationNOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2014

20  DERIVATIVE FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS CONTINUED

2013

Less than
 1 year 
£m

Between 1 
and 2 years 
£m

Between 2 
and 3 years 
£m

Between 3 
and 4 years 
£m

Between 4 
and 5 years 
£m 

Over 
5 years 
£m

GROSS DEBT MATURITY ANALYSIS

FIXED INTEREST
€600m Eurobond 2019
£250m Eurobond 2014
US private placements
Total fixed interest
Cash flow swaps (fixed leg)
Fair value swaps (fixed leg)
Fixed interest liability

FLOATING INTEREST 
Bank loans
Overdrafts
Total floating interest
Cash flow swaps (floating leg)
Fair value swaps (floating leg)
Floating interest (asset)/liability

OTHER
Finance lease obligations 
Fair value adjustments to borrowings1
Other liability
Gross debt excluding derivatives

DERIVATIVE FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS
Derivative financial instruments2
Forward currency contracts1
Gross debt

–
–
74
74
390
(65)
399

4
20
24
(390)
65
(301)

6
–
6
104

(1)
(3)
100

–
250
–
250
212
(200)
262

2
–
2
(212)
200
(10)

5
12
17
269

(20)
–
249

–
–
100
100
–
(59)
41

49
–
49
–
59
108

3
4
7
156

(17)
–
139

–
–
35
35
–
(20)
15

250
–
250
–
20
270

2
1
3
288

(2)
–
286

–
–
–
–
–
–
–

–
–
–
–
–
–

1
–
1
1

–
–
1

1  Non-cash item (changes in the value of this non-cash item are reported via the currency translation gains/(losses) caption in note 28).
2  Non-cash item (changes in the value of this non-cash item are reported via the other non-cash movements caption in note 28).

PRINCIPAL AND INTEREST MATURITY ANALYSIS

Gross debt
Less: Overdrafts
Less: Fees and premiums capitalised on issue
Less: Other non-cash items
Repayment of principal 
Interest cash flows on debt and derivatives (settled net)
Settlement of forward currency contracts and cross 

currency swaps – payable leg

Settlement of forward currency contracts and cross 

currency swaps – receivable leg
Repayment of principal and interest 

Less than
 1 year 
£m

Between 1 
and 2 years 
£m

Between 2 
and 3 years 
£m

Between 3 
and 4 years 
£m

Between 4 
and 5 years 
£m 

2013

100
(20)
(2)
4
82
88

(140)

142
172

249
–
(1)
8
256
86

–

–
342

139
–
(1)
13
151
65

–

–
216

286
–
(1)
1
286
59

–

–
345

1
–
(1)
–
–
52

–

–
52

Total 
£m

497
250
1,133
1,880
602
(1,293)
1,189

305
20
325
(602)
1,293
1,016

21
39
60
2,265

(63)
(3)
2,199

Total 
£m

2,199
(20)
(9)
27
2,197
524

497
–
924
1,421
–
(949)
472

–
–
–
–
949
949

4
22
26
1,447

(23)
–
1,424

Over 
5 years 
£m

1,424
–
(3)
1
1,422
174

–

(140)

–
1,596

142
2,723

118

Compass Group PLC Annual Report 2014

21  TRADE AND OTHER PAYABLES 

TRADE AND OTHER PAYABLES

NET BOOK VALUE
At 1 October
Net movement
Currency adjustment
At 30 September

COMPRISED OF
Trade payables1
Social security and other taxes
Other payables 
Deferred consideration on acquisitions1
Accruals2
Deferred income
Amounts owed to associates3
Trade and other payables

2014

2013

Current 
£m

 Non-current 
£m 

Total 
£m

Current 
£m

 Non-current 
£m 

Total 
£m

3,054
204
(119)
3,139

1,357
280
185
13
1,041
257
6
3,139

75
6
(3)
78

–
–
23
21
34
–
–
78

3,129
210
(122)
3,217

1,357
280
208
34
1,075
257
6
3,217

3,010
106
(62)
3,054

1,349
279
164
17
990
248
7
3,054

38
42
(5)
75

–
–
22
6
47
–
–
75

3,048
148
(67)
3,129

1,349
279
186
23
1,037
248
7
3,129

1  Categorised as ‘other financial liabilities’ (IAS 39).
2  Of this balance £436 million (2013: £393 million) is categorised as ‘other financial liabilities’ (IAS 39).
3  Categorised as ‘loans and receivables’ financial assets (IAS 39).

The directors consider that the carrying amount of trade and other payables approximates to their fair value. The current trade and other payables 
are payable on demand.

Trade payable days for the continuing business at 30 September 2014 were 72 days (2013: 68 days).

22  PROVISIONS 

PROVISIONS

At 1 October 2012
Reclassified1
Expenditure in the year 
Charged to income statement 
Credited to income statement 
Unwinding of discount on provisions
Currency adjustment 
At 30 September 2013

At 1 October 2013
Reclassified1
Expenditure in the year 
Charged to income statement 
Credited to income statement 
Business acquisitions
Business disposals
Unwinding of discount on provisions
Currency adjustment 
At 30 September 2014

Provisions in
 respect of 
discontinued 
and disposed
businesses
£m

 Insurance 
£m

Onerous 
contracts
 £m

Legal and 
other claims
 £m

Re-
organisation
 £m

Other
£m

217
–
(11)
23
–
–
(1)
228

228
(3)
(2)
9
–
–
–
–
–
232

52
(4)
(1)
–
–
–
–
47

47
–
(1)
–
–
–
–
–
–
46

79
4
(31)
4
(4)
3
1
56

56
(12)
(19)
9
(7)
1
–
3
(2)
29

105
1
(5)
10
(16)
–
(4)
91

91
(20)
(9)
8
(2)
–
–
–
(4)
64

94
(1)
(69)
46
(6)
–
3
67

67
–
(34)
11
(3)
–
(3)
–
(2)
36

Total
 £m

603
(4)
(135)
95
(30)
3
(1)
531

531
(21)
(89)
39
(14)
2
(3)
3
(10)
438

2013 
£m

189
342
531

56
(4)
(18)
12
(4)
–
–
42

42
14
(24)
2
(2)
1
–
–
(2)
31

2014
£m 

161
277
438

1  Including items reclassified between accrued liabilities and other balance sheet captions.

PROVISIONS

Current
Non-current
Total provisions

The provision for insurance relates to the potential settlements in respect of claims under self-funded insurance schemes, primarily workers’ 
compensation schemes in the US, and is essentially long term in nature.

Provisions in respect of discontinued and disposed of businesses relate to estimated amounts payable in connection with onerous contracts and claims 
arising from disposals. The final amount payable remains uncertain as, at the date of approval of these financial statements, there remains a further 
period during which claims may be received. The timing of any settlement will depend upon the nature and extent of claims received. 

Compass Group PLC Annual Report 2014

119

Strategic reportCorporate governanceConsolidated financial statementsParent Company financial statementsShareholder informationNOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2014

22  PROVISIONS CONTINUED
Provisions for onerous contracts represent the liabilities in respect of short term and long term leases on unoccupied properties and other contracts 
lasting under five years.

Provisions for legal and other claims relate principally to provisions for the estimated cost of litigation and other sundry claims. The timing of the 
settlement of these claims is uncertain.

Provisions for reorganisation include provision for redundancy costs and these are expected to be utilised over the next two years. 

Other provisions include environmental provisions. These are in respect of potential liabilities relating to the Group’s responsibility for maintaining  
its operating sites in accordance with statutory requirements and the Group’s aim to have a low impact on the environment. These provisions are 
expected to be utilised as operating sites are disposed of or as environmental matters are resolved. 

Provisions are discounted to present value where the effect is material using the Group’s weighted average cost of capital.

23  POST-EMPLOYMENT BENEFIT OBLIGATIONS

PENSION SCHEMES OPERATED
The Group operates a number of pension arrangements throughout the world which have been developed in accordance with statutory requirements 
and local customs and practices. The majority of schemes are self-administered and the schemes’ assets are held independently of the Group’s assets. 
Pension costs are assessed in accordance with the advice of independent, professionally qualified actuaries. The Group makes employer contributions 
to the various schemes in existence within the range of 1% to 39% of pensionable salaries.

The contributions payable for defined contribution schemes of £85 million (2013: £80 million) have been fully expensed against profits in the current year.

UK SCHEMES
Within the UK there are now three main arrangements. The Compass Retirement Income Savings Plan (CRISP), the Compass Group Pension Plan 
(the Plan) and the Company’s stakeholder pension arrangement.

CRISP was launched on 1 February 2003. This has been the main vehicle for pension provision for new joiners in the UK since that date but existing 
members of the Plan had continued to accrue benefits under those arrangements up until 5 April 2010. CRISP is a contracted-in money purchase 
arrangement whereby the Group will match employee contributions up to 6% of pay (minimum 3%). Within CRISP a new defined contribution 
section was established from April 2006 known as the Compass Higher Income Plan (CHIP). Senior employees who contribute to CRISP will receive 
an additional employer only contribution into CHIP. The amount of contribution and eligibility for CHIP are decided annually at the Company’s 
discretion. The payment towards CHIP may be taken in part, or in whole, as a cash supplement instead of a pension contribution.

CRISP has a Corporate Trustee. The Chairman, Nigel Palmer, is a current employee of the Group and was appointed a Trustee Director on  
30 May 2013. The other five Trustee Directors are UK based employees of the Group, two of whom have been nominated by CRISP members.  
At the date of this Report, there is a vacancy for one further Member-Nominated Trustee Director. 

The Plan is a defined benefit arrangement. Those UK employees who transfer from the public sector under the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection 
of Employment) Regulations 2006 are eligible to join the Plan, which has otherwise been closed to new entrants since 2003. Such transferees enter into 
the GAD sections of the Plan and are known as ‘GAD members’. The Plan closed to future accrual for all existing members, other than GAD 
members, on 5 April 2010. The affected members were offered membership of CRISP from 6 April 2010.

The Plan is operated on a pre-funded basis. The funding policy is to contribute such variable amounts, on the advice of the actuary, as achieves a 
100% funding level on a projected salary basis. The actuarial assessments covering expense and contributions are carried out by independent qualified 
actuaries. A formal actuarial valuation of the Plan is carried out every three years. The most recent valuation of the Plan took place as at 5 April 2013. 
At the valuation date, the total market value of the assets of the Plan was £1,808 million which represented 92% of the benefits that had accrued to 
members after allowing for expected future increases in earnings.

By agreement with the Trustees, the Company has agreed to eliminate the 5 April 2013 deficit over a period of six years and three months  
to 31 December 2019 through monthly payments totalling £26 million per annum. The next triennial valuation is due to be completed as at  
5 April 2016. The Plan is reappraised annually by independent actuaries in accordance with IAS 19(R) ‘Employee Benefits’ requirements.

The Plan has a Corporate Trustee. The Chairman, Peter Morriss to 11 October 2013 and Phillip Whittome from 11 October 2013, and one other 
Trustee Director are independent. There are a further five Trustee Directors who are either UK based employees or former employees of the Group, 
three of whom have been nominated by Plan members. 

The Company became subject to the Pensions Automatic Enrolment Regulations for its workforce in the UK on 1 November 2012 but, in accordance 
with the Regulations, deferred its staging date for automatic enrolment of eligible employees until 2 January 2013 in order to ensure that adequate 
systems were in place and employees were not impacted over the Christmas period. Both the Plan and CRISP are compliant arrangements under 
these Regulations and have been registered as such.

Employees who are not already in one of these registered compliant arrangements have been automatically enrolled into the National Employment 
Savings Trust (NEST). The decision to appoint NEST as the Company’s partner for automatic enrolment was made following a comprehensive 
selection process and the Company considers that NEST provides the right type of service, communication material and investment choice for our 
employees and that it has the capabilities to support a company as large and diverse as Compass.

120

Compass Group PLC Annual Report 2014

23  POST-EMPLOYMENT BENEFIT OBLIGATIONS CONTINUED

OVERSEAS SCHEMES
In the USA, the main plan is a defined benefit plan. The funding policy, in accordance with government guidelines, is to contribute such variable 
amounts, on the advice of the actuary, as achieves a 100% funding level on a projected salary basis. In Canada, Norway and Switzerland, the Group 
also participates in funded defined benefit arrangements.

In other countries, Group employees participate primarily in state arrangements to which the Group makes the appropriate contributions.

Other than where required by local regulation or statute, the defined benefit schemes are closed to new entrants. For these schemes, the current service 
cost will increase under the projected unit credit method as the members of the schemes approach retirement.

In addition, the Group contributes to a number of multi-employer union sponsored pension plans, primarily in the USA. These plans are accounted 
for as defined contribution plans, as the information provided by the plan administrators is insufficient for them to be accounted for as defined benefit 
plans. The Group made total contributions of £10 million in the year (2013: £10 million) to these arrangements.

ALL DEFINED BENEFIT SCHEMES
The Group’s obligations in respect of defined benefit pension schemes are calculated separately for each scheme by estimating the amount of future 
benefit that employees have earned in return for their service in the current and prior years. That benefit is discounted to determine its present value 
and the fair value of scheme assets is then deducted. The discount rate used is the yield at the valuation date on high quality corporate bonds, that 
exactly matches the timing of the expected benefit payments over future years.

The Group takes advice from independent actuaries relating to the appropriateness of the assumptions which include life expectancy of members, 
expected salary and pension increases, and inflation. It is important to note that comparatively small changes in the assumptions used may have  
a significant effect on the income statement and balance sheet.

The liabilities of the defined benefit schemes are measured by discounting the best estimate of future cash flows to be paid using the projected unit 
method. This method is an accrued benefits valuation method that makes allowances for projected earnings. These calculations are performed by  
a qualified actuary.

Disclosures showing the assets and liabilities of the schemes are set out below. These have been calculated on the following assumptions:

Discount rate 
Inflation
CPI inflation
Rate of increase in salaries
Rate of increase for pensions in payment
Rate of increase for deferred pensions*

*  This assumption is now presented as a weighted average.

UK schemes

USA schemes

Other schemes

2014

4.0%
3.2%
2.45%
3.2%
3.1%
2.8%

2013

4.4%
3.4%
2.65%
3.4%
3.3%
3.0%

2014

3.9%
2.3%
n/a
3.0%
2.3%
0.0%

2013

4.3%
2.2%
n/a
3.0%
2.2%
0.0%

2014

2.5%
1.7%
n/a
1.7%
0.3%
0.0%

2013

3.6%
2.0%
n/a
2.1%
0.5%
0.0%

The mortality assumptions used to value the UK pension schemes are derived from the S1NA generational mortality tables with improvements in line 
with the projection model prepared by the Continuous Mortality Investigation of the UK actuarial profession, with no rating for males and +0.6 year 
age adjustment for females, with a long term underpin of 1.25%. These mortality assumptions take account of experience to date, and assumptions for 
further improvements in the life expectancy of scheme members. The Group estimates the average duration of the UK Plan’s liabilities to be 18 years 
(2013: 18 years).

Examples of the resulting life expectancies are as follows:

LIFE EXPECTANCY AT AGE 65 

Member aged 65 in 2014 (2013)
Member aged 65 in 2039 (2038)

2014

2013

Male

22.5
24.8

Female

24.4
26.9

Male

22.4
24.7

Female

24.4
26.8

The other demographic assumptions have been set having regard to the latest trends in scheme experience and other relevant data. The assumptions 
are reviewed and updated as necessary as part of the periodic actuarial valuation of pension schemes.

For the overseas schemes, regionally appropriate assumptions have been used where recommended by local actuaries. The mortality assumptions used 
to value USA schemes are derived from the RP2000 combined healthy table, generational BB2D scale. Examples of the resulting life expectancies are 
as follows:

LIFE EXPECTANCY AT AGE 65 

Member aged 65 in 2014 (2013)
Member aged 65 in 2039 (2038)

Compass Group PLC Annual Report 2014

2014

2013

Male

20.9
22.9

Female

23.3
25.5

Male

19.2
21.0

Female

21.0
22.1

121

Strategic reportCorporate governanceConsolidated financial statementsParent Company financial statementsShareholder information 
 
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2014

23  POST-EMPLOYMENT BENEFIT OBLIGATIONS CONTINUED

SENSITIVITIES OF PRINCIPAL ASSUMPTIONS
Measurement of the Group’s defined benefit obligations is particularly sensitive to changes in key assumptions, including discount rate, life expectancy 
and inflation. The sensitivities of the principal assumptions used to measure the defined benefit obligations of the schemes are set out below:

ASSUMPTION

UK
Discount rate

Inflation

CPI Inflation

Change in assumption

Impact on scheme deficit 2014

Impact on scheme deficit 2013

Increase by 0.5%
Decrease by 0.5%

Increase by 0.5%
Decrease by 0.5%

Increase by 0.5%
Decrease by 0.5%

Decrease by £170 million
Increase by £181 million

Decrease by £159 million
Increase by £169 million

Increase by £104 million
Decrease by £99 million

Increase by £29 million
Decrease by £29 million

Increase by £55 million
Increase by £26 million

Increase by £98 million
Decrease by £94 million

Increase by £27 million
Decrease by £27 million

Increase by £49 million
Increase by £22 million

Life expectations from age 65
Life expectations – annual improvement rate 

Increase by 1 year
Increase by 0.25% per annum

USA AND OTHER
Discount rate

Inflation

Increase by 0.5%
Decrease by 0.5%

Increase by 0.5%
Decrease by 0.5%

Decrease by £18 million
Increase by £19 million

Increase by £4 million
Decrease by £4 million

Decrease by £19 million
Increase by £20 million

Increase by £5 million
Decrease by £5 million

Life expectations from age 65

Increase by 1 year

Increase by £8 million

Increase by £6 million

The sensitivities above consider the impact of the single change shown, with the other assumptions assumed to be unchanged. The sensitivity analyses 
have been determined based on a method that extrapolates the impact on the defined benefit obligations as a result of reasonable changes in key 
assumptions occurring at the end of the reporting period. In practice, changes in one assumption may be accompanied by offsetting changes in 
another assumption, although this is not always the case. The impact of a change in the UK inflation rate shown above includes the impact of a 
change in both the RPI and CPI inflation rates.

The Group’s net pension deficit is the difference between the schemes’ liabilities and the schemes’ assets. Changes in the assumptions may occur at the 
same time as changes in the market value of scheme assets. These may or may not offset the changes in assumptions. For example, a fall in interest 
rates will increase the schemes’ liabilities but may also trigger an offsetting increase in the market value of certain assets so there is no effect on the 
Group’s liability.

ANALYSIS OF THE FAIR VALUE OF PLAN ASSETS
At 30 September 2014, the assets of the various schemes were invested in a diversified portfolio that consisted primarily of equities and debt securities. 
The fair value of these assets is shown below by major category:

2014

2013

FAIR VALUE OF PLAN ASSETS BY MAJOR CATEGORY

EQUITY TYPE ASSETS
Global equities quoted
Global equities unquoted

GOVERNMENT BONDS
UK fixed interest quoted
UK index linked quoted
Overseas quoted
Overseas unquoted

CORPORATE BONDS
Corporate bonds quoted
Corporate bonds unquoted
Diversified securities quoted

OTHER ASSETS
Property funds quoted
Property funds unquoted
Insurance policies unquoted
Other assets
Cash and cash equivalents
At 30 September

UK
£m

541
–

352
625
–
–

278
–
–

145
–
–
–
3
1,944

USA
£m

165
–

–
–
14
–

68
–
9

–
–
–
–
23
279

Other
£m

11
12

–
–
6
20

–
2
–

1
13
11
5
3
84

Total
£m

717
12

352
625
20
20

346
2
9

146
13
11
5
29
2,307

UK
£m

581
–

–
842
–
–

248
–
–

97
–
–
–
4
1,772

USA
£m

110
–

–
–
11
–

129
–
–

–
–
–
–
–
250

Other 
£m

13
10

–
–
3
31

3
2
–

1
14
47
2
1
127

Total
£m

704
10

–
842
14
31

380
2
–

98
14
47
2
5
2,149

122

Compass Group PLC Annual Report 2014

23  POST-EMPLOYMENT BENEFIT OBLIGATIONS CONTINUED
The UK Plan has substantial holdings of diversified global equity type investments, mainly shares in listed companies. The return on these 
investments is variable, and they are generally considered to be ‘riskier’ investments. However, it is generally accepted that the yield on these 
investments will contain a premium to compensate investors for this additional risk. There is significant uncertainty about the likely size of this risk 
premium. In respect of investments held in global equities there is also a risk of unfavourable currency movements. The Trustee manages these risks  
by holding approximately 50% of those investments in funds which are hedged against currency movements.

The Trustee also holds corporate bonds and other fixed interest securities. The risk of default on these is assessed by various rating agencies. Some  
of these bond investments are issued by HM Government. The risk of default on these is lower compared to the risk on corporate bond investments, 
although some risk may remain. The expected yield on bond investments with fixed interest rates can be derived exactly from their market value.

2014

2013

MOVEMENTS IN THE FAIR VALUE  
OF PLAN ASSETS 

At 1 October
Currency adjustment
Interest income on plan assets
Return on plan assets, excluding interest 

income

Employee contributions
Employer contributions
Benefits paid
Administration expenses paid from plan 

assets

Disposals and plan settlements
At 30 September

MOVEMENT IN THE PRESENT VALUE OF DEFINED 
BENEFIT OBLIGATIONS 

At 1 October
Currency adjustment
Current service cost
Past service cost
Interest expense on benefit obligations
Remeasurements – demographic assumptions
Remeasurements – financial assumptions
Remeasurements – experience
Employee contributions
Benefits paid
Disposals and plan settlements
Acquisitions
At 30 September

PRESENT VALUE OF DEFINED 
BENEFIT OBLIGATIONS

Funded obligations
Unfunded obligations
Total obligations

UK 
£m

1,772
–
78

122
–
30
(58)

–
–
1,944

UK 
£m

1,790
–
2
–
78
12
96
–
–
(58)
–
–
1,920

UK 
£m

1,878
42
1,920

USA 
£m

250
–
10

14
15
15
(24)

(1)
–
279

2014

USA 
£m

352
–
7
1
14
9
15
1
15
(24)
–
–
390

2014

USA 
£m

301
89
390

Other 
£m

127
(6)
3

1
2
15
(14)

–
(44)
84

Other 
£m

216
(13)
9
(5)
6
2
11
2
2
(14)
(44)
1
173

Other 
£m

107
66
173

Total 
£m

2,149
(6)
91

137
17
60
(96)

(1)
(44)
2,307

Total 
£m

2,358
(13)
18
(4)
98
23
122
3
17
(96)
(44)
1
2,483

Total 
£m

2,286
197
2,483

UK 
£m

1,546
–
67

109
–
102
(52)

–
–
1,772

UK 
£m

1,678
–
2
–
74
(44)
119
13
–
(52)
–
–
1,790

UK 
£m

1,750
40
1,790

POST-EMPLOYMENT BENEFIT OBLIGATIONS RECOGNISED IN THE BALANCE SHEET

Present value of defined benefit obligations1
Fair value of plan assets
Post-employment benefit obligations recognised in the balance sheet

USA 
£m

224
(1)
14

10
14
16
(20)

–
(7)
250

2013

USA 
£m

342
(1)
7
–
16
–
–
1
14
(20)
(7)
–
352

2013

USA 
£m

273
79
352

Other 
£m

129
(2)
5

–
3
28
(23)

–
(13)
127

Other 
£m

241
(1)
12
–
7
6
(13)
(2)
3
(23)
(14)
–
216

Other 
£m

150
66
216

2014
 £m

2,483
(2,307)
176

Total 
£m

1,899
(3)
86

119
17
146
(95)

–
(20)
2,149

Total 
£m

2,261
(2)
21
–
97
(38)
106
12
17
(95)
(21)
–
2,358

Total 
£m

 2,173 
185
2,358

2013
 £m

2,358
(2,149)
209

1  As disclosed in section A, Accounting convention and basis of preparation, in the Accounting Policies, a past service cost of £1 million has been recognised in the balance sheet 

as at 30 September 2013.

Certain Group companies have taken out life insurance policies and invested in mutual funds which will be used to meet unfunded pension 
obligations. The current value of these policies and other assets, £27 million (2013: £24 million), may not be offset against pension obligations under 
IAS 19(R) and is reported within note 14.

Compass Group PLC Annual Report 2014

123

Strategic reportCorporate governanceConsolidated financial statementsParent Company financial statementsShareholder informationNOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2014

23  POST-EMPLOYMENT BENEFIT OBLIGATIONS CONTINUED

AMOUNTS RECOGNISED THROUGH THE INCOME STATEMENT
The amounts recognised through the consolidated income statement within the various captions are as follows:

Current service cost
Past service cost
Charged to operating expenses

Interest expense on benefit obligations
Interest income on plan assets
Charged to finance costs

Total charged in the consolidated income 

statement

UK 
£m

2
–
2

78
(78)
–

2

2014

USA 
£m

Other 
£m

7
1
8

14
(10)
4

12

9
(5)
4

6
(3)
3

7

Total 
£m

18
(4)
14

98
(91)
7

21

UK 
£m

2
–
2

74
(67)
7

9

2013

USA 
£m

Other 
£m

7
–
7

16
(14)
2

9

12
–
12

7
(5)
2

14

The Group made total contributions to defined benefit schemes of £60 million in the year (2013: £146 million), including exceptional advance 
payments of £nil (2013: £72 million) and expects to make regular ongoing contributions to these schemes of £65 million in 2015.

AMOUNTS RECOGNISED THROUGH THE CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
The amounts recognised through the consolidated statement of comprehensive income are as follows:

Remeasurement of post-employment benefit obligations
  Effect of changes in demographic assumptions
  Effect of changes in financial assumptions
  Effect of experience adjustments
Remeasurement of post-employment benefit obligations – loss
Return on plan assets, excluding interest income – gain
Total recognised in the consolidated statement of comprehensive income

2014 
£m 

(23)
(122)
(3)
(148)
137
(11)

Total 
£m

21
–
21

97
(86)
11

32

2013 
£m

38
(106)
(12)
(80)
119
39

24  SHARE CAPITAL 
During the year, 128,800 options were granted under The Compass Group Share Option Plan 2010. All options were granted over the Company’s 
ordinary shares and the grant price was equivalent to the market value of the Company’s shares at the date of grant. No options were granted under 
any of the Company’s other share option plans.

During the year, the Company completed the on market share buyback programme that commenced on 7 January 2013 and commenced a further 
programme. A total of 21,752,881 ordinary shares of 10 pence each were repurchased for consideration of £200 million and cancelled in the period  
to 26 March 2014.

On 14 May 2014, Compass Group PLC announced a Return of Cash to shareholders of approximately £1 billion. The Return of Cash was 
accompanied by a consolidation of the existing ordinary shares in the ratio of 16 new ordinary shares for every 17 existing ordinary shares held. 
Following approval of the Return of Cash to shareholders on 11 June 2014, 1,366,745,487 C shares of 0.0001 pence each and 419,413,879 B shares  
of 56 pence each were issued on 8 July 2014 following partial capitalisation of the share premium account. On 15 July 2014 a dividend of 56 pence  
per share was declared on the C shares at a cost of £765 million payable on 29 July 2014 and these shares were reclassified as deferred shares. On the 
same day the B shares were redeemed for 56 pence per share at a cost of £235 million, payable on 29 July 2014. The deferred shares were redeemed  
on 15 July 2014. Following redemption, the B shares and deferred shares were cancelled. Costs in relation to the Return of Cash were £2 million.

The on market share buyback programme was resumed on 31 July 2014. During the period to 30 September 2014, a total of 8,000,000 ordinary 
shares of 105⁄8 pence each were repurchased for consideration of £78 million and cancelled. The Company also contracted to repurchase a further 
200,000 ordinary shares of 105⁄8 pence each before 30 September 2014 for consideration of £1.9 million which was settled in October 2014.

124

Compass Group PLC Annual Report 2014

24  SHARE CAPITAL CONTINUED

ALLOTTED SHARE CAPITAL

Allotted and fully paid:
Ordinary shares of 10p each 
New ordinary shares of 105/8p each 

At 1 October
Ordinary and new ordinary shares allotted during the year
Repurchase of ordinary and new ordinary shares
At 30 September

2014

2013

Number of shares

 £m

Number of shares

 £m

–
1,673,886,784
1,673,886,784

–
178
178

180
1
(3)
178

1,804,035,995
–
1,804,035,995

180
–
180

186
–
(6)
180

NUMBER OF SHARES

2014 

2013

B shares of
 56p each

C shares of
 0.0001p each

Deferred shares of
 0.0001p each

Ordinary shares of 
10p each

Ordinary shares of
10p each

1,804,035,995

New ordinary
 shares of 
105/8p each

–

2,542,672

795,616

1,333,578

2

–

–

(21,752,881)

(8,000,000)

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

419,413,879 1,366,745,487

(1,786,159,366) 1,681,091,168
–

–

–
(419,413,879)

–
–

– 1,855,164,098

–

–

–

–

–

–
–

3,419,777

1,788,086

–

(56,335,966)

–

–
–

ALLOTTED SHARE CAPITAL

At 1 October 
Ordinary and new ordinary shares  

allotted during the year on exercise  
of share options 

Ordinary shares allotted during the  
year on release of Long Term  
Incentive Plan awards

Ordinary shares issued to Compass  

Group Employee Share Trust

Repurchase of ordinary and  

new ordinary shares

B and C shares issued through 

capitalisation of share premium 
account

Conversion of 17 ordinary shares  

of 10p each to 16 new ordinary  
shares of 105/8p each

Redemption and cancellation of B shares
Reclassification of C shares to  

deferred shares

Cancellation of deferred shares
At 30 September 

–
–
–
–
– 1,673,886,784

– (1,366,745,487) 1,366,745,487
– (1,366,745,487)
–
–
–

–
–
– 1,804,035,995

At 30 September 2014, employees held options over a total of 15,296,670 new ordinary shares under the Group’s Executive and Management Share 
Option Plans as follows:

EXECUTIVE AND MANAGEMENT 
SHARE OPTION PLANS

Exercisable

Number of shares

Option price 
per share 
pence

Date of grant:
1 December 2004
14 December 2005
12 June 2006
30 March 2007
28 September 2007
28 March 2008
31 March 2009
30 September 2009
13 May 2010
25 November 2010
19 May 2011
25 November 2011
17 May 2012
22 November 2012
16 May 2013
29 November 2013

Compass Group PLC Annual Report 2014

1 December 2007 – 30 November 2014
14 December 2008 – 13 December 2015
12 June 2009 – 11 June 2016
30 March 2010 – 29 March 2017
28 September 2010 – 27 September 2017
28 March 2011 – 27 March 2018
31 March 2012 – 30 March 2019
30 September 2012 – 29 September 2019
13 May 2013 – 12 May 2020
25 November 2013 – 24 November 2020
19 May 2014 – 18 May 2021
25 November 2014 – 24 November 2021
17 May 2015 – 16 May 2022
22 November 2015 – 21 November 2022
16 May 2016 – 15 May 2023
29 November 2016 – 28 November 2023

593,425
278,690
5,000
387,392
28,660
539,771
1,032,399
7,635
1,175,188
44,554
2,025,476
135,337
4,521,834
216,300
4,182,609
122,400
15,296,670

229.25
210.00
234.50
335.75
310.75
321.50
319.00
372.40
557.50
566.00
575.00
545.50
627.00
699.50
878.00
922.00

125

Strategic reportCorporate governanceConsolidated financial statementsParent Company financial statementsShareholder informationNOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2014

24  SHARE CAPITAL CONTINUED
Options granted after 3 February 2011 under the terms of The Compass Group Share Option Plan 2010 may be net settled at the discretion of the 
Company on exercise by the option holders, sufficient new ordinary shares being issued to satisfy the profit realised during the period of the option.

In addition, shares have also been awarded under the Compass Group PLC Long Term Incentive Plan 2010 (LTIP 2010):

Date of award:
25 November 2011
17 May 2012
12 February 2013
18 February 2013
29 November 2013
29 November 2013
9 July 2014

Vesting date

Number of shares

Performance target

1 October 2014
1 October 2014
1 October 2015
1 October 2015
1 October 2016
1 October 2016
9 July 2017

1,517,092
114,832
1,159,860
18,717
868,422
13,556
1,484,092
5,176,571

50% TSR/50% AFCF
50% TSR/50% AFCF
33% TSR/33% AFCF/33% ROCE
33% TSR/33% AFCF/33% ROCE
33% TSR/33% AFCF/33% ROCE
50% AFCF/50% ROCE
50% AFCF/50% ROCE

The performance and vesting conditions are described in more detail in note 25.

25  SHARE-BASED PAYMENTS

SHARE OPTIONS
Full details of The Compass Group Share Option Plan 2010 (CSOP 2010), the Compass Group Share Option Plan (CSOP 2000), the Compass Group 
Management Share Option Plan (Management Plan) (collectively the Executive and Management Share Option Plans) and the UK Sharesave Plan are 
set out in prior years’ Annual Reports which are available on the Company’s website.

The consolidation of Compass Group PLC shares that took place during the year had no impact on the number of options outstanding under these 
plans or on the other terms and conditions that apply to them other than consideration by the Remuneration Committee of the impact on the 
performance targets that relate to these awards. 

The following tables illustrate the number and weighted average exercise prices of, and movements in, share options during the year:

EXECUTIVE AND MANAGEMENT SHARE OPTION PLANS

Outstanding at 1 October
Granted 
Exercised 
Lapsed (following net settlement)
Expired
Lapsed
Outstanding at 30 September 

Exercisable at 30 September

UK SHARESAVE PLAN

Outstanding at 1 October
Lapsed
Outstanding at 30 September 

2014

2013 

Number of 
share 
options

21,107,790
128,800
(3,338,288)
(1,604,825)
(381,300)
(615,507)
15,296,670

Weighted 
average 
exercise
 price 
pence

 Number of 
share 
options

577.50 21,774,335
922.00 4,650,560
397.11 (3,419,777)
(860,654)
570.53
(323,450)
342.91
(713,224)
658.71
623.07 21,107,790

6,118,190

438.93 7,632,895

2014

2013 

Number of 
share 
options

–
–
–

Weighted 
average 
exercise
 price 
pence

–
–
–

 Number of 
share 
options

12,965
(12,965)
–

Weighted 
average 
exercise 
price 
pence

469.17
869.56
342.63
557.50
317.20
443.15
577.50

371.03

Weighted 
average 
exercise 
price 
pence

179.20
179.20
–

126

Compass Group PLC Annual Report 2014

25  SHARE-BASED PAYMENTS CONTINUED

INFORMATION RELATING TO ALL OPTION SCHEMES
The weighted average share price at the date of exercise for share options exercised during the year was 951.30 pence (2013: 826.94 pence).

The executive and management options outstanding at the end of the year have a weighted average remaining contractual life of 6.7 years  
(2013: 7.0 years).

In the year, options were granted on 29 November 2013 under the terms of the CSOP 2010. The estimated fair value of options granted on these dates 
was 98.06 pence. In 2013, options were granted on 22 November 2012 and 16 May 2013. The estimated fair value of these options was 95.82 pence and 
99.88 pence respectively.

Fair values for the executive and management schemes were calculated using a binomial distribution option pricing model so that proper allowance is 
made for the presence of performance conditions and the possibility of early exercise. In addition, a Monte Carlo simulation model was used to estimate 
the probability of performance conditions being met. The inputs to the option pricing models are reassessed for each grant.

The expected volatility is calculated with reference to weekly movements in the Compass share price over the three years prior to the grant date.

The following assumptions were used in calculating the fair value of options granted under the CSOP 2010:

ASSUMPTIONS – OPTIONS

Expected volatility
Risk free interest rate
Dividend yield
Expected life
Weighted average share price at date of grant
Weighted average option exercise price

2014 

2013 

15.3%
1.8%
2.6%
6.0 years
921.00p
922.00p

17.4%
1.0%
2.5%
6.0 years
875.49p
869.56p

Vesting of options awarded from October 2005 onwards depends on the achievement of the Adjusted Free Cash Flow (AFCF) target. For options 
granted after 30 September 2006, 100% of the options will vest if the maximum target is met and a proportion of the awards will vest if the threshold 
target is met, as set out in the table shown below. Awards vest on a straight line basis for AFCF between these two points.

EXECUTIVE AND MANAGEMENT 
SHARE OPTION PLANS

Granted on:
25 November 2011 and 17 May 2012
22 November 2012 and 16 May 2013
29 November 2013

Target

Threshold

AFCF 

Maximum

AFCF 

Performance period

£m % of award

£m % of award 

1 October 2011 – 30 September 2014
1 October 2012 – 30 September 2015
1 October 2013 – 30 September 2016

2,360
2,246
2,423

25%
0%
0%

2,478
2,482
2,679

100%
100%
100%

Performance targets applying to earlier grants under the Executive and Management Share Option Plans have been met in full.

LONG TERM INCENTIVE PLANS
Full details of The Compass Group PLC Long Term Incentive Plan 2010 (2010 LTIP) can be found in the Directors’ Remuneration Report on  
pages 59 to 76.

The consolidation of Compass Group PLC shares that took place during the year had no impact on the number of awards outstanding under these plans 
or on the other terms and conditions that apply to them other than consideration by the Remuneration Committee of the impact on the performance 
targets that relate to these awards.

The following table shows the movement in share awards during the year:

LONG TERM INCENTIVE PLANS

Outstanding at 1 October
Awarded 
Released
Lapsed 
Outstanding at 30 September 

Available for release at 30 September

2014 
Number
of shares 

4,170,607
2,381,464
(1,333,578)
(41,922)
5,176,571

2013 
Number
of shares

4,780,116
1,178,577
(1,788,086)
–
4,170,607

–

–

Compass Group PLC Annual Report 2014

127

Strategic reportCorporate governanceConsolidated financial statementsParent Company financial statementsShareholder informationNOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2014

25  SHARE-BASED PAYMENTS CONTINUED

PERFORMANCE TARGETS – LONG TERM INCENTIVE PLANS

Total shareholder return (TSR)
Cumulative three year adjusted free cash flow (AFCF)
Improvement in return on capital employed (ROCE)
Outstanding at 30 September 

2014 
Number
of shares 

1,498,295
2,247,119
1,431,157
5,176,571

2013 
Number
of shares

1,888,874
1,888,874
392,859
4,170,607

Vesting of a proportion of LTIP awards is dependent on the Group’s total shareholder return (TSR) performance relative to a comparator group of 
non-financial companies included within the FTSE 100 Index. This performance condition is treated as a market based condition for valuation 
purposes and an assessment of the vesting probability is built into the grant date fair value calculations. This assessment was calculated using a Monte 
Carlo simulation option pricing model.

Vesting of a proportion of LTIP awards is dependent on the achievement of the cumulative three year AFCF target. 100% of that element of the award 
will vest if the maximum AFCF target is met, and a proportion of the award will vest if the threshold AFCF target is met, as set out in the table below. 
Awards vest on a straight line basis between these two points.

LONG TERM INCENTIVE PLANS

Performance period

Target

Threshold

AFCF 

Maximum

AFCF

£m % of award

£m % of award 

Awarded during the year commencing:
1 October 2011
1 October 2012
1 October 2013

1 October 2011 – 30 September 2014
1 October 2012 – 30 September 2015
1 October 2013 – 30 September 2016

2,360
2,246
2,423

25%
0%
0%

2,478
2,482
2,679

100%
100%
100%

Vesting of a proportion of LTIP awards is dependent on the achievement of the ROCE improvement target over the performance period. 100% of that 
element of the award will vest if the maximum ROCE improvement target is met, and a proportion of the award will vest if the threshold growth 
target is met, as set out in the table below. Awards vest on a straight line basis between these two points.

Target

Threshold

ROCE 

Maximum

ROCE

LONG TERM INCENTIVE PLANS

Awarded year commencing:
1 October 2012
1 October 2013

Performance period

%  % of award

%  % of award 

1 October 2012 – 30 September 2015
1 October 2013 – 30 September 2016

17.9%
18.4%

25%
0%

19.6%
20.1%

100%
100%

The fair value of awards subject to AFCF and ROCE improvement performance targets was calculated using the Black-Scholes option pricing model. 
The vesting probability of each element has been assessed based on a simulation model of the AFCF and ROCE improvement forecasts. The AFCF 
performance targets relating to LTIP awards made in the years commencing 1 October 2009 and 1 October 2010 were met in full and the maximum 
number of shares available were released to the participants.

The element of awards made in the year commencing 1 October 2009 dependent upon TSR performance targets also vested in full and the maximum 
number of shares available were released to participants as the Company’s TSR performance was within the top quartile of the comparator group. For 
awards made in the year commencing 1 October 2010, the Company’s TSR performance fell just outside the top quartile of the comparator group and 
as a result 96.1% of that element of the award vested. The weighted average share price at the date of release for LTIP awards released during 2014 
was 938.50 pence (2013: 720.51 pence).

The LTIP awards outstanding at the end of the year have a weighted average remaining contractual life of 1.5 years (2013: 1.1 years).

For the year ended 30 September 2014, LTIP awards were made on 29 November 2013 and 9 July 2014 for which the estimated fair value was  
582.03 pence and 653.22 pence respectively. For year ended 30 September 2013, LTIP awards were made on 12 February 2013 and 18 February 2013 
for which the estimated fair value was 601.42 pence and 608.28 pence respectively. These awards were all made under the terms of the 2010 LTIP.

The inputs to the option pricing model are reassessed for each award. The following assumptions were used in calculating the fair value of LTIP 
awards made during the year:

ASSUMPTIONS – LONG TERM INCENTIVE PLANS

Expected volatility
Risk free interest rate
Dividend yield
Expected life
Weighted average share price at date of grant

2014 

2013

15.5%
0.7%
2.4%
2.9 years
986.23p

19.4%
0.5%
2.8%
2.6 years
775.13p

128

Compass Group PLC Annual Report 2014

25  SHARE-BASED PAYMENTS CONTINUED

RESTRICTED SHARES
The following table shows the movement in restricted share awards during the year:

RESTRICTED SHARES

Outstanding at 1 October
Awarded 
Vested and released
Outstanding at 30 September 

Vested and available for release at 30 September

RESTRICTED SHARES (PHANTOM AWARDS)

Outstanding at 1 October
Outstanding at 30 September 

Vested and available for release at 30 September

2014
Number 
of shares 

118,353
264,770
(35,853)
347,270

2013
Number 
of shares 

119,206
35,000
(35,853)
118,353

–

–

2014
Number 
of shares 

52,460
52,460

2013
Number 
of shares 

52,460
52,460

–

–

The phantom restricted shares were awarded on 25 November 2011 and will vest on 25 November 2014 subject to the achievement of a period of 
service performance conditions. These awards are cash-settled and the fair value is reassessed at each balance sheet date. The carrying amount as  
at 30 September 2014 is £0.5 million (2013: £0.3 million).

The fair value of restricted shares awarded in the year, including phantom awards, was calculated using the Black-Scholes option pricing model, using 
the following assumptions:

ASSUMPTIONS – RESTRICTED SHARES

Expected volatility
Risk free interest rate
Dividend yield
Expected life
Weighted average share price at date of grant

2014

2013

15.3%
0.7%
2.6%
2.4 years
923.08p

16.8%
0.5%
2.6%
1.6 years
863.00p

The weighted average share price at the date of release for restricted share awards released during 2014 was 997.93 pence (2013: 806.36 pence).

DEFERRED ANNUAL BONUS PLAN
Certain senior executives participate in the Deferred Annual Bonus Plan. Awards made before 30 September 2013 comprised two elements. Payment 
of a portion of the annual bonus awarded to these executives is deferred for three years. The amount released on expiry of the deferral period may be 
increased subject to achievement of organic revenue growth, profit growth and personal performance targets. Any amount paid in cash must be 
immediately reinvested in ordinary shares of the Company which must then be held for a qualifying period. 

The second element of the award reflects the growth in the Company’s share price over the deferral period assuming that the deferred element of the 
annual bonus had been invested in ordinary shares of the Company at the start of the deferral period. The fair value of the awards is determined by 
using the Black-Scholes option pricing model. Any sum payable at the end of the deferral period is paid in cash. The Group has recorded a liability  
of £2.5 million (2013: £1.2 million) in respect of awards made before 30 September 2013 under this plan.

The terms of the plan were revised in 2014. Payment of a portion of the annual bonus awarded to certain executives is converted into shares. Subject  
to the achievement of organic revenue growth, cumulative PBIT and personal performance targets over the three year deferral period, the number of 
deferred shares may be increased. Deferred shares are only released to the participants if minimum threshold performance levels are met. A total of 
285,040 deferred shares have been awarded which will vest in full if the maximum performance targets are met. 75% of the awards will vest if 
minimum threshold performance levels are met. Awards vest on a straight line basis between these two points.

The fair value of these awards has been calculated using the Black-Scholes option pricing model, using the following assumptions:

ASSUMPTIONS – DEFERRED ANNUAL BONUS PLAN

Expected volatility
Risk free interest rate
Dividend yield
Expected life
Weighted average share price at date of grant

Compass Group PLC Annual Report 2014

2014

2013

15.3%
0.7%
2.6%
3.0 years
921.00p

–
–
–
–
–

129

Strategic reportCorporate governanceConsolidated financial statementsParent Company financial statementsShareholder informationNOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2014

25  SHARE-BASED PAYMENTS CONTINUED

ACCELERATED GROWTH PLAN
Contingent share awards under this plan have been awarded to the leadership team in certain countries in order to reward and encourage the growth  
of those businesses. Vesting of these awards is subject to the achievement of local organic revenue growth, cumulative PBIT and personal performance 
targets over the three year period. A total of 605,564 contingent shares were awarded in the year to 30 September 2014 of which 42,494 have subsequently 
lapsed. The remaining 563,070 contingent shares will vest in full if the maximum performance targets are met. 50% of the awards will vest if minimum 
threshold performance levels are met. Awards vest on a straight line basis between these two points. No further awards were made in the year to 
30 September 2014.

The fair value of these awards has been calculated using the Black-Scholes option pricing model.

LONG TERM BONUS PLAN
Certain executives participating in the Long Term Bonus Plan in prior years received an award of deferred Compass Group PLC shares. The award  
of bonus shares is subject to performance conditions and matching shares may be released by the Company following the completion of a further period 
of service. The terms of the Plan require that these shares are purchased in the market, rather than being issued by the Company. The shares are 
purchased and distributed by the ESOP and LTIPT.

The following table illustrates the movement in the number of awards during the year:

LONG TERM BONUS PLAN

Outstanding at 1 October
Released
Lapsed
Outstanding at 30 September

2014
Number of
shares

352,953
(67,685)
(7,802)
277,466

2013
Number of
shares

352,953
–
–
352,953

The fair value of bonus shares awarded is calculated using the Black-Scholes option pricing model; however, no new awards were made in either 2014 or 2013.

The weighted average share price at the date of release for share bonus awards released during 2014 was 966.00 pence. No awards were released during 
2013. The share bonus awards have all vested, although certain executives have elected to defer taking their entitlements for a further period of up to  
3.3 years (2013: 4.3 years), the weighted average deferral period being 1.3 years (2013: 1.8 years). 

INCOME STATEMENT EXPENSE
The Group recognised an expense of £13 million (2013: £11 million) for continuing operations in respect of equity-settled share-based payment 
transactions and £2 million (2013: £2 million) in respect of cash-settled share-based payment transactions.

26  BUSINESS COMBINATIONS
The Group has completed a number of small infill acquisitions in several countries for total consideration of £138 million, of which £107 million was 
paid in the year. In addition, the Group paid a further £18 million deferred consideration relating to prior years and increased its investments in 
associates in the year with a gross spend of £48 million.

Acquisition transaction costs expensed in the year to 30 September 2014 were £3 million (2013: £3 million). 

In the period from acquisition to 30 September 2014, the acquisitions contributed revenue of £76 million and operating profit of £3 million to the 
Group’s results.

If the acquisitions had occurred on 1 October 2013, it is estimated that Group revenue for the period would have been £17,121 million and total Group 
operating profit (including associates) would have been £1,225 million.

130

Compass Group PLC Annual Report 2014

27  RECONCILIATION OF OPERATING PROFIT TO CASH GENERATED BY OPERATIONS

RECONCILIATION OF OPERATING PROFIT TO CASH GENERATED BY CONTINUING OPERATIONS

Operating profit from continuing operations

Adjustments for:

Acquisition transaction costs
Amortisation of intangible assets
Amortisation of intangible assets arising on acquisition
Depreciation of property, plant and equipment 
Profit on disposal of property, plant and equipment/intangible assets
Goodwill impairment
Decrease in provisions
Decrease in post-employment benefit obligations
Share-based payments – charged to profits 
Operating cash flows before movement in working capital

(Increase)/decrease in inventories
(Increase)/decrease in receivables
Increase in payables

Cash generated by continuing operations

2014
£m

1,208

3
128
25
191
(1)
–
(64)
(45)
13
1,458

(18)
(154)
156

2013
£m

792

3
118
25
181
–
377
(71)
(54)
12
1,383

1
3
98

1,442

1,485

28  RECONCILIATION OF NET CASH FLOW TO MOVEMENT IN NET DEBT
This table is presented as additional information to show movement in net debt, defined as overdrafts, bank and other borrowings, finance leases and 
derivative financial instruments, net of cash and cash equivalents.

NET DEBT

At 1 October 2012
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents
Cash inflow from issue of bonds
Cash outflow/(inflow) from other changes in 

gross debt

Cash outflow from repayment of obligations 

under finance leases

Increase in net debt as a result of new 

finance leases taken out

Currency translation (losses)/gains
Other non-cash movements
At 30 September 2013

At 1 October 2013
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents
Cash inflow from issue of bonds
Cash outflow from repayment of loan notes
Cash inflow from other changes in gross debt
Cash outflow from repayment of obligations 

under finance leases

Increase in net debt as a result of new 

finance leases taken out

Currency translation (losses)/gains
Other non-cash movements

At 30 September 2014

728
297
–

–

–

–
(19)
–
1,006

1,006
(559)
–
–
–

–

–
(16)
–

431

Cash and 
cash 
equivalents 
£m

Bank 
overdrafts 
£m

Finance 
leases 
£m

Derivative 
financial 
instruments 
£m

Gross debt

Bank and 
other 
borrowings 
£m

(1,699)
–
(563)

Total 
overdrafts
and 
borrowings 
£m

(1,757)
–
(563)

11

–

–
(19)
46
(2,224)

(2,224)
–
(646)
74
(3)

–

–
51
(21)

51

–

–
(21)
46
(2,244)

(2,244)
–
(646)
74
(21)

–

–
52
(21)

(58)
–
–

40

–

–
(2)
–
(20)

(20)
–
–
–
(18)

–

–
1
–

(28)
–
–

–

9

(2)
–
–
(21)

(21)
–
–
–
–

5

(2)
1
–

(37)

(2,769)

(2,806)

(17)

Total 
gross 
debt 
£m

(1,701)
–
(563)

9

9

(2)
51
(2)
(2,199)

(2,199)
–
(646)
74
(25)

5

(2)
29
2

Net 
debt 
£m

(973)
297
(563)

9

9

(2)
32
(2)
(1,193)

(1,193)
(559)
(646)
74
(25)

5

(2)
13
2

(2,762)

(2,331)

84
–
–

(42)

–

–
72
(48)
66

66
–
–
–
(4)

–

–
(24)
23

61

Compass Group PLC Annual Report 2014

131

Strategic reportCorporate governanceConsolidated financial statementsParent Company financial statementsShareholder informationNOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2014

28  RECONCILIATION OF NET CASH FLOW TO MOVEMENT IN NET DEBT CONTINUED
Other non-cash movements are comprised as follows:

OTHER NON-CASH MOVEMENTS IN NET DEBT

Amortisation of fees and discount on issuance
Amortisation of the fair value adjustment in respect of the £250 million Sterling Eurobond redeemable in 2014 
Changes in the fair value of bank and other borrowings in a designated fair value hedge

Bank and other borrowings

Changes in the value of derivative financial instruments including accrued income 

Other non-cash movements

29  CONTINGENT LIABILITIES 
PERFORMANCE BONDS, GUARANTEES AND INDEMNITIES

Performance bonds, guarantees and indemnities (including those of associated undertakings)1

2014 
£m

2013 
£m

(2)
4
(23)

(21)

23

2

(2)
4
44

46

(48)

(2)

2014
£m

392

2013
£m

414

1   Excludes bonds, guarantees and indemnities in respect of self-insurance liabilities, post-employment obligations and borrowings (including finance and operating leases) 

recorded on the balance sheet or disclosed in note 31.

PERFORMANCE BONDS, GUARANTEES AND INDEMNITIES
The Company and certain subsidiary undertakings have, in the normal course of business, given guarantees and entered into counter-indemnities  
in respect of such guarantees relating to the Group’s own contracts and/or the Group’s share of certain contractual obligations of joint ventures and 
associates. Where the Group enters into such arrangements, it does so in order to provide assurance to the beneficiary that it will fulfil its existing 
contractual obligations. The issue of such guarantees and indemnities does not therefore increase the Group’s overall exposure and the disclosure  
of such performance bonds, guarantees and indemnities is given for information purposes only.

EUREST SUPPORT SERVICES
On 21 October 2005, the Company announced that it had instructed Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer to conduct an investigation into the relationships 
between Eurest Support Services (ESS) (a member of the Group), IHC Services Inc. (IHC) and the United Nations (UN). Ernst & Young assisted 
Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer in this investigation. On 1 February 2006, it was announced that the investigation had concluded.

The investigation established serious irregularities in connection with contracts awarded to ESS by the UN. The work undertaken by Freshfields 
Bruckhaus Deringer and Ernst & Young gave no reason to believe that these issues extended beyond a few individuals within ESS to other parts  
of ESS or the wider Compass Group of companies.

The Group settled all outstanding civil litigation against it in relation to this matter in October 2006, but litigation continues between competitors  
of ESS, IHC and other parties involved in UN procurement.

IHC’s relationship with the UN and ESS was part of a wider investigation into UN procurement activity being conducted by the United States 
Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York, and with which the Group co-operated fully. The current status of that investigation is 
uncertain and a matter for the US authorities. Those investigators could have had access to sources unavailable to the Group, Freshfields Bruckhaus 
Deringer or Ernst & Young, and further information may yet emerge which is inconsistent with, or additional to, the findings of the Freshfields 
Bruckhaus Deringer investigation, which could have an adverse impact on the Group. The Group has, however, not been contacted by, or received 
further requests for information from, the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York in connection with these matters since 
January 2006. The Group has co-operated fully with the UN throughout. 

OTHER LITIGATION AND CLAIMS
The Group is also involved in various other legal proceedings incidental to the nature of its business and maintains insurance cover to reduce financial 
risk associated with claims related to these proceedings. Where appropriate, provisions are made to cover any potential uninsured losses.

In addition, the Group is subject to periodic tax audits and challenges with/by various fiscal authorities covering corporate, employee and sales taxes  
in the various jurisdictions in which it operates. None of these are currently expected to have a material impact on the Group’s financial position. 

OUTCOME
Although it is not possible to predict the outcome or quantify the financial effect of these proceedings, or any claim against the Group related thereto,  
in the opinion of the directors, any uninsured losses resulting from the ultimate resolution of these matters will not have a material effect on the financial 
position of the Group. The timing of the settlement of these proceedings or claims is uncertain.

132

Compass Group PLC Annual Report 2014

30  CAPITAL COMMITMENTS
CAPITAL COMMITMENTS

Contracted for but not provided for 

The majority of capital commitments are for intangible assets.

2014
£m

187

2013
£m

151

31  OPERATING LEASE AND CONCESSIONS COMMITMENTS
The Group leases offices and other premises under non-cancellable operating leases. The leases have varying terms, purchase options, escalation clauses 
and renewal rights. The Group has some leases that include revenue related rental payments that are contingent on future levels of revenue.

Future minimum rentals payable under non-cancellable operating leases and concessions agreements are as follows:

OPERATING LEASE AND CONCESSIONS COMMITMENTS

Falling due within 1 year 
Falling due between 2 and 5 years 
Falling due in more than 5 years 
Total

2014

Operating leases

Land and 
buildings 
£m

53
141
76
270

Other 
assets
 £m

46
63
6
115

Other 
occupancy
rentals
 £m

55
74
53
182

2013

Operating leases

Land and 
buildings
 £m

49
128
84
261

Other 
assets
 £m 

46
61
6
113

Other 
occupancy
rentals 
£m

55
73
44
172

32  RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
The following transactions were carried out with related parties of Compass Group PLC:

SUBSIDIARIES
Transactions between the ultimate Parent Company and its subsidiaries, and between subsidiaries, have been eliminated on consolidation.

JOINT VENTURES
There were no significant transactions between joint ventures or joint venture partners and the rest of the Group during the year.

ASSOCIATES
The balances with associated undertakings are shown in note 21. There were no significant transactions with associated undertakings during the year.

KEY MANAGEMENT PERSONNEL
The remuneration of directors and key management personnel is set out in note 3. During the year, there were no other material transactions or 
balances between the Group and its key management personnel or members of their close families.

33  POST BALANCE SHEET EVENTS
On 10 November 2014, Compass Group acquired East Coast Catering LLC (ECC), a Canadian company that provides accommodation, food  
and support services for remote sites in the energy and mining sectors. For the year ended 28 February 2014, ECC generated revenues of  
51 million Canadian dollars (£28 million). 

Compass Group PLC Annual Report 2014

133

Strategic reportCorporate governanceConsolidated financial statementsParent Company financial statementsShareholder informationNOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2014

34  EXCHANGE RATES

AVERAGE EXCHANGE RATE FOR YEAR1
Australian Dollar
Brazilian Real
Canadian Dollar
Euro
Japanese Yen
Norwegian Krone
South African Rand
Swedish Krona
Swiss Franc
Turkish Lira
UAE Dirham
US Dollar

CLOSING EXCHANGE RATE AS AT 30 SEPTEMBER1
Australian Dollar
Brazilian Real
Canadian Dollar
Euro
Japanese Yen
Norwegian Krone
South African Rand
Swedish Krona
Swiss Franc
Turkish Lira
UAE Dirham
US Dollar

2014

2013

1.81
3.80
1.79
1.23
169.92
10.12
17.54
11.00
1.49
3.53
6.09
1.66

1.85
3.97
1.81
1.28
177.83
10.41
18.32
11.69
1.55
3.70
5.95
1.62

1.58
3.30
1.59
1.19
143.83
9.09
14.50
10.25
1.46
2.90
5.75
1.57

1.73
3.60
1.66
1.20
158.90
9.74
16.30
10.40
1.46
3.28
5.95
1.62

1   Average rates are used to translate the income statement and cash flow statement. Closing rates are used to translate the balance sheet. Only the most significant currencies  

are shown.

134

Compass Group PLC Annual Report 2014

35  DETAILS OF PRINCIPAL SUBSIDIARY COMPANIES
All companies listed below are wholly owned by the Group, except where otherwise indicated. All interests are in the ordinary share capital and all 
subsidiaries have been consolidated. All companies operate principally in their country of incorporation. A full list of the Group’s operating subsidiary 
undertakings will be annexed to the next annual return.

PRINCIPAL SUBSIDIARIES

NORTH AMERICA
Compass Group Canada Ltd
Bon Appétit Management Co
Compass Group USA Investments Inc
Compass Group USA, Inc.
Crothall Services Group
Flik International Corp
Foodbuy LLC
Levy Restaurants LP
Morrison Management Specialists, Inc.
Restaurant Associates Corp
Wolfgang Puck Catering & Events, LLC (90%)

EUROPE & JAPAN
Compass Contract Services (UK) Ltd
Compass Group Holdings PLC
Compass Group, UK & Ireland Ltd
Compass Group Procurement Ltd
Compass Purchasing Ltd
Compass Services UK Ltd
Hospitality Holdings Ltd1
Letheby & Christopher Ltd
Scolarest Ltd
VSG Group Ltd
Compass Group France Holdings SAS
Compass Group France 
Compass Group Deutschland GmbH
Medirest GmbH & Co OHG 
Eurest Deutschland GmbH
Eurest Services GmbH
Eurest Sports & Food GmbH
Compass Group Italia S.P.A
Seiyo Food – Compass Group, Inc
Compass Group International BV 
Compass Group Nederland BV 
Compass Group Nederland Holding BV 
Eurest Services BV
Compass Group Holdings Spain, S.L. 
Eurest Colectividades S.L.
Compass Group (Schweiz) AG
Restorama AG

Country of  
incorporation

Principal activities

Canada
USA
USA
USA
USA
USA
USA
USA
USA
USA
USA

Food and support services
Food service
Holding company 
Food and support services
Support services to the healthcare market
Fine dining facilities
Purchasing services in North America
Fine dining and food service at sports and entertainment facilities
Food service to the healthcare and senior living market
Fine dining facilities
Fine dining facilities

England & Wales
England & Wales
England & Wales
England & Wales
England & Wales
England & Wales
England & Wales
England & Wales
England & Wales
England & Wales
France
France
Germany
Germany
Germany
Germany
Germany
Italy
Japan
Netherlands
Netherlands
Netherlands
Netherlands
Spain
Spain
Switzerland
Switzerland

Food and support services
Holding company and corporate activities
Holding company 
Purchasing services throughout the world
Purchasing services in the UK and Ireland
Food and support services
Intermediate holding company
Food service for the UK sports and events market
Food service for the UK education market
Security and support services
Holding company 
Food and support services
Holding company 
Food service to the healthcare and senior living market
Food service to business and industry
Support services to business and industry
Food service to the sports and leisure market
Food service, support services and prepaid meal vouchers
Food and support services
Holding company 
Food and support services
Holding company 
Food and support services
Holding company 
Food and support services
Food and support services
Food service

FAST GROWING & EMERGING
Compass Group (Australia) Pty Ltd
GR SA 
Compass Group Southern Africa (Pty) Ltd (97.5%)
Supercare Services Group (Proprietary) Limited (97.5%)
Sofra Yemek Üretim Ve Hizmet A.S.

Australia
Brazil
South Africa
South Africa
Turkey

Food and support services
Food and support services
Food and support services
Support services
Food and support services

1  Held directly by the Parent Company.

Compass Group PLC Annual Report 2014

135

Strategic reportCorporate governanceConsolidated financial statementsParent Company financial statementsShareholder informationPARENT COMPANY 
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

CONTENTS

PARENT COMPANY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
137  Parent Company balance sheet
138   Parent Company accounting policies

NOTES TO THE PARENT COMPANY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
139  Profit and loss account disclosures
139  Investments in subsidiary undertakings
139  Debtors
140  Creditors 
141  Provisions for liabilities and charges
141   Maturity of financial liabilities, other creditors and 

derivative financial instruments
141  Derivative financial instruments
141  Share capital
142  Capital and reserves
142  Contingent liabilities

136

Compass Group PLC Annual Report 2014

PARENT COMPANY BALANCE SHEET
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2014

COMPASS GROUP PLC

FIXED ASSETS
Investments

CURRENT ASSETS
Debtors: Amounts falling due within one year
Debtors: Amounts falling due after more than one year
Cash at bank and in hand

Current assets

CREDITORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR
Creditors: Amounts falling due within one year

NET CURRENT ASSETS
Net current assets 

TOTAL ASSETS LESS CURRENT LIABILITIES
Total assets less current liabilities 

CREDITORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE AFTER MORE THAN ONE YEAR
Creditors: Amounts falling due after more than one year
Provisions for liabilities and charges

NET ASSETS
Net assets

CAPITAL AND RESERVES
Share capital
Share premium account
Capital redemption reserve
Share-based payment reserve
Profit and loss reserve

Total equity 

Approved by the Board of Directors on 26 November 2014 and signed on their behalf by 

RICHARD COUSINS, Director
DOMINIC BLAKEMORE, Director

Notes

2014
£m

2013
£m

2

3
3

4

4
5

8, 9
9
9
9
9

985

976

9,830
50
118

9,998

8,992
62
672

9,726

(6,492)

(6,425)

3,506

3,301

4,491

4,277

(2,513)
(28)

(2,142)
(28)

1,950

2,107

178
174
293
170
1,135

1,950

180
400
55
162
1,310

2,107

Compass Group PLC Annual Report 2014

137

Strategic reportCorporate governanceConsolidated financial statementsParent Company financial statementsShareholder informationPARENT COMPANY ACCOUNTING POLICIES
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2014

INTRODUCTION
The significant accounting policies adopted in the preparation of the 
separate financial statements of the Company are set out below:

A  ACCOUNTING CONVENTION AND BASIS OF PREPARATION
These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with 
applicable UK Generally Accepted Accounting Practice (UK GAAP) 
and the Companies Act 2006 using the historical cost convention 
modified for the revaluation of certain financial instruments.

These financial statements have been prepared on a going concern basis. 
This is discussed in the Finance Director’s statement on page 36.

B  EXEMPTIONS
The Company’s financial statements are included in the Compass Group PLC 
consolidated financial statements for the year ended 30 September 2014. 
As permitted by section 408 of the Companies Act 2006, the Company 
has not presented its own profit and loss account. The Company has also 
taken advantage of the exemption from presenting a cash flow statement 
under the terms of FRS 1 ‘Cash Flow Statements’. The Company is also 
exempt under the terms of FRS 8 ‘Related Party Disclosures’ from 
disclosing transactions with other members of Compass Group.

The Compass Group PLC consolidated financial statements for the year 
ended 30 September 2014 contain financial instrument disclosures which 
comply with FRS 29 ‘Financial Instruments: Disclosures’. Consequently, 
the Company has taken advantage of the exemption in FRS 29 not to 
present separate financial instrument disclosures for the Company.

C  CHANGE IN ACCOUNTING POLICIES
The Company has not applied any accounting standards for the first 
time in the year ended 30 September 2014.

D  INVESTMENTS IN SUBSIDIARY UNDERTAKINGS
Investments are stated at cost less provision for any impairment. In the 
opinion of the directors the value of such investments are not less than 
shown at the balance sheet date. 

E  FOREIGN CURRENCY
Assets and liabilities in foreign currencies are translated into sterling at 
the rates of exchange ruling at the year end. Gains and losses arising on 
retranslation are included in the income statement for the period.

F  BORROWINGS
Borrowings are recognised initially at fair value, net of transaction costs 
incurred. Borrowings are subsequently stated at amortised cost unless 
they are part of a fair value hedge accounting relationship. Borrowings 
that are part of a fair value hedge accounting relationship are measured 
at amortised cost plus or minus the fair value attributable to the risk 
being hedged.

G  DERIVATIVES AND OTHER FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS
The Company uses derivative financial instruments to manage its 
exposure to fluctuations in foreign exchange rates and interest rates. 
Derivative instruments utilised include interest rate swaps, currency 
swaps and forward currency contracts. The Company and Group policy 
is disclosed in the accounting policies to the consolidated financial 
statements.

H  DIVIDENDS
Dividends are recognised in the Company’s financial statements in the 
year in which they are approved in general meeting by the Company’s 
shareholders. Interim dividends are recognised when paid.

I  DEFERRED TAX
Deferred tax is provided at the anticipated rates on timing differences 
arising from the inclusion of items of income and expenditure in tax 
computations in periods different from those in which they are included 
in the financial statements. Deferred tax assets are recognised to the 
extent that it is regarded as more likely than not that they will be 
recovered.

J  SHARE-BASED PAYMENTS
The Group issues equity-settled and cash-settled share-based payments 
to certain employees. Equity-settled share-based payments are measured 
at fair value (excluding the effect of non-market based vesting conditions) 
at the date of grant. The fair value determined at the grant date of the 
equity-settled share-based payments is expensed on a straight line basis 
over the vesting period, based on the Group’s estimate of the shares that 
will eventually vest and adjusted for the effect of non-market based 
vesting conditions.

Fair value is measured using either the binomial distribution or 
Black-Scholes pricing models as is most appropriate for each scheme. 
The expected life used in the models has been adjusted, based on 
management’s best estimate, for the effects of exercise restrictions and 
behavioural considerations.

For cash-settled share-based payments, a liability equal to the portion of 
the goods or services received is recognised at the current fair value 
determined at each balance sheet date.

The issue of share incentives by the Company to employees of its 
subsidiaries represents additional capital contributions. An addition to 
the Company’s investment in Group undertakings is reported with a 
corresponding increase in shareholders’ funds. For details of the charge 
see note 25 to the consolidated financial statements.

138

Compass Group PLC Annual Report 2014

NOTES TO THE PARENT COMPANY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2014

1  PROFIT AND LOSS ACCOUNT DISCLOSURES
The Company profit on ordinary activities after tax was £1,549 million (2013: £892 million).

The fee for the audit of the Company’s annual financial statements was £0.5 million (2013: £0.4 million).

The Company had no direct employees in the course of the year (2013: none).

2  INVESTMENTS IN SUBSIDIARY UNDERTAKINGS
INVESTMENTS IN SUBSIDIARY UNDERTAKINGS

COST
At 1 October
Additions
Share-based payments to employees of subsidiaries
Recharged to subsidiaries during the year
At 30 September

PROVISIONS
At 1 October
Additions
At 30 September

NET BOOK VALUE
At 30 September

2014
£m

2013
£m

977
–
15
(6)
986

1
–
1

969
–
13
(5)
977

1
–
1

985

976

The principal subsidiary undertakings are listed in note 35 to the consolidated financial statements.

3  DEBTORS 

DEBTORS

Amounts owed by subsidiary undertakings
Other debtors
Derivative financial instruments (note 7)
Current taxation
Total

MOVEMENT IN DEFERRED TAX ASSET

At 1 October
Charged to profit and loss account
At 30 September

Falling due
within
1 year
£m

2014

Falling due
after more
than 1 year
£m

9,813
1
16
–
9,830

–
–
50
–
50

Falling due
within
1 year
£m

2013

Falling due
after more
than 1 year
£m

8,984
–
7
1
8,992

–
–
62
–
62

Total
£m

9,813
1
66
–
9,880

Total
£m

8,984
–
69
1
9,054

2014
Net 
short term
temporary
differences
£m

2013
Net 
short term
temporary
differences
£m

–
–
–

1
(1)
–

The deferred taxation asset arises on certain derivative financial instruments and will be recovered no later than the maturity dates of these instruments. 

Compass Group PLC Annual Report 2014

139

Strategic reportCorporate governanceConsolidated financial statementsParent Company financial statementsShareholder information 
 
 
 
 
NOTES TO THE PARENT COMPANY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2014

4  CREDITORS 

CREDITORS

Bank overdrafts
Bank loans

Bank overdrafts and loans (note 6)

Loan notes
Bonds

Loan notes and bonds (note 6)

Derivative financial instruments (note 7)
Accruals and deferred income
Current taxation
Amounts owed to subsidiary undertakings

Total

Falling due
within
1 year
£m

2014

Falling due
after more
than 1 year
£m

172
–

172

–
251

251

4
60
3
6,002

6,492

–
300

300

1,076
1,136

2,212

1
–
–
–

2,513

Total
£m

172
300

472

1,076
1,387

2,463

5
60
3
6,002

9,005

The Company has fixed term, fixed interest private placements denominated in US dollar and sterling. 

LOAN NOTES

US$ private placement
US$ private placement
US$ private placement
Sterling private placement
US$ private placement
US$ private placement
US$ private placement
US$ private placement
US$ private placement
Total

Nominal value Redeemable

$105m Oct 2013
$15m Nov 2013
$162m Oct 2015
£35m Oct 2016
$250m Oct 2018
$200m Sep 2020
$398m Oct 2021
$352m Oct 2023
$300m Sep 2025

Falling due
within
1 year
£m

2013

Falling due
after more
than 1 year
£m

229
–

229

74
–

74

3
50
–
6,069

6,425

Interest

6.45%
5.67%
6.72%
7.55%
3.31%
3.09%
3.98%
4.12%
3.81%

Total
£m

229
298

527

1,148
769

1,917

4
50
–
6,069

8,567

–
298

298

1,074
769

1,843

1
–
–
–

2,142

2014
Carrying 
value 
£m

2013
Carrying
 value 
£m

–
–
102
36
157
123
245
223
190
1,076

65
9
104
36
159
123
245
220
186
1,147

The Company also has sterling and euro denominated Eurobonds. The €500 million 2023 bond and the £250 million 2026 bond were issued during 
the year. 

. 

BONDS

Sterling Eurobond
Euro Eurobond
Euro Eurobond
Sterling Eurobond
Total

Nominal value Redeemable

£250m
€600m
€500m
£250m

Dec 2014
Feb 2019
Jan 2023
Jun 2026

Interest

7.00%
3.13%
1.88%
3.85%

2014
Carrying
 value
£m

251
485
402
249
1,387

2013
Carrying
 value
£m

259
–
–
510
769

140

Compass Group PLC Annual Report 2014

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
5  PROVISIONS FOR LIABILITIES AND CHARGES

PROVISIONS

At 1 October 2012
Charged to profit and loss account
At 30 September 2013

At 1 October 2013
Charged to profit and loss account
At 30 September 2014

Legal and
other claims
£m

28
–
28

28
–
28

Provisions for legal and other claims relates to provisions for the estimated cost of litigation and other sundry claims. The timing of the settlement of 
these claims is uncertain. 

6  MATURITY OF FINANCIAL LIABILITIES, OTHER CREDITORS AND DERIVATIVE FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS
The maturity of financial liabilities, other creditors and derivative financial instruments as at 30 September is as follows:

MATURITY

Between 1 and 2 years
Between 2 and 5 years
In more than 5 years

In more than 1 year 
Within 1 year, or on demand
Total

2014

Bank
overdrafts
and loans
(note 4)
£m

Loan notes
and bonds
(note 4)
£m

50
250
–

300
172
472

102
678
1,432

2,212
251
2,463

Other1
(note 7)
£m

(19)
(14)
(16)

(49)
(12)
(61)

2013

Bank
overdrafts
and loans
(note 4)
£m

Loan notes
and bonds
(note 4)
£m

–
298
–

298
229
527

259
140
1,444

1,843
74
1,917

Total 
£m

133
914
1,416

2,463
411
2,874

Other1
(note 7)
£m

(18)
(19)
(24)

(61)
(4)
(65)

Total 
£m

241
419
1,420

2,080
299
2,379

1  Other includes the debtor and creditor amounts associated with derivative financial instruments (note 7). 

7  DERIVATIVE FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS

DERIVATIVE FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS

INTEREST RATE SWAPS
Fair value hedges
Not in a hedging relationship

OTHER
Forward currency contracts and cross currency swaps

Derivative financial instruments

2014

2013

Financial
assets
(note 3)
£m

Financial
liabilities
(note 4)
£m

Financial
assets
(note 3)
£m

Financial
liabilities
(note 4)
£m

45
–

21

66

–
(1)

(4)

(5)

43
–

26

69

(1)
(1)

(2)

(4)

8  SHARE CAPITAL
Details of the share capital, share option schemes and share-based payments of Compass Group PLC are shown in notes 24 and 25 to the consolidated 
financial statements.

Compass Group PLC Annual Report 2014

141

Strategic reportCorporate governanceConsolidated financial statementsParent Company financial statementsShareholder information 
 
 
 
 
NOTES TO THE PARENT COMPANY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2014

9  CAPITAL AND RESERVES

CAPITAL AND RESERVES

At 1 October 2012
Issue of shares (for cash)
Repurchase of ordinary share capital
Fair value of share-based payments
Release of LTIP award settled by issue of new shares
Dividends paid to Compass shareholders
Profit for the financial year
At 30 September 2013

At 1 October 2013
Issue of shares (for cash)
Share issue expenses
Repurchase of ordinary and new ordinary share capital
B and C shares issued through capitalisation of share premium
Redemption and cancellation of B shares
Fair value of share-based payments
Release of LTIP award settled by issue of new shares
Return of Cash to Compass shareholders
Dividends paid to Compass shareholders
Profit for the financial year
At 30 September 2014

Share
capital
£m

Share
 premium
 account
 £m 

Capital
redemption
 reserve
£m

Share-based
payment
reserve
£m

Profit
and loss
reserve
£m

186
–
(6)
–
–
–
–
180

180
1
–
(3)
235
(235)
–
–
–
–
–
178

386
9
–
–
5
–
–
400

400
6
(2)
–
(235)
–
–
5
–
–
–
174

49
–
6
–
–
–
–
55

55
–
–
3
–
235
–
–
–
–
–
293

156
–
–
11
(5)
–
–
162

162
–
–
–
–
–
13
(5)
–
–
–
170

1,268
–
(446)
–
–
(404)
892
1,310

1,310
–
–
(280)
–
–
–
–
(1,000)
(444)
1,549
1,135

Total
 £m

2,045
9
(446)
11
–
(404)
892
2,107

2,107
7
(2)
(280)
–
–
13
–
(1,000)
(444)
1,549
1,950

10  CONTINGENT LIABILITIES
CONTINGENT LIABILITIES

Guarantees and indemnities (including subsidiary undertakings’ overdrafts)

2014
£m

356

2013
£m

399

Details regarding certain contingent liabilities which involve the Company are set out in note 29 to the consolidated financial statements.

142

Compass Group PLC Annual Report 2014

SHAREHOLDER 
INFORMATION

CONTENTS

SHAREHOLDER INFORMATION
144  Shareholder information
146  Notice of Annual General Meeting

Compass Group PLC Annual Report 2014

143

Strategic reportCorporate governanceFinancial statementsParent Company financial statementsShareholder informationSHAREHOLDER INFORMATION

REGISTRAR 
All matters relating to the administration of shareholdings in the 
Company should be directed to Capita Asset Services, The Registry,  
34 Beckenham Road, Beckenham, Kent BR3 4TU; telephone within the 
UK: Freephone 0800 280 2545 and from overseas: +44 333 300 1568; 
email: shareholderenquiries@capita.co.uk.

Shareholders can register online to view their Compass Group PLC 
shareholding details using the Share Portal, a service offered by  
Capita Asset Services (the registrar), at www.capitashareportal.com. 
Shareholders registering for the Share Portal will require their investor 
code which is shown on share certificates. The service enables 
shareholders to:

 • check their shareholdings in Compass Group PLC 24 hours a day
 • gain easy access to a range of shareholder information including 

indicative valuation and payment instruction details 

 • appoint a proxy to attend general meetings of Compass Group PLC

ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATIONS
The Company’s Annual Report and all other shareholder 
communications can be found on our website. The Company can, at 
shareholders’ request, send shareholders an email notification each time 
a new shareholder report or other shareholder communication is placed 
on our website. This enables shareholders to read and/or download  
the information at their leisure. There are no particular software 
requirements to view these documents, other than those described on  
our website.

The provision of a facility to communicate with shareholders 
electronically does not discriminate between registered shareholders of 
the same class. The facility is available to all registered shareholders on 
equal terms and participation is made as simple as possible. Please note 
that it is the shareholder’s responsibility to notify the registrar (through 
www.capitashareportal.com or by post) of any change to their email 
address. Before electing for electronic communication, shareholders 
should ensure that they have the appropriate computer capabilities.  
The Company takes all reasonable precautions to ensure no viruses  
are present in any communication it sends out, but cannot accept any 
responsibility for loss or damage arising from the opening or use of  
any email or attachments from the Company and recommends that 
shareholders subject all messages to virus checking procedures prior  
to use. Please note that any electronic communication sent by a 
shareholder to the Company or the registrar containing a computer  
virus will not be accepted.

The Company’s obligation is satisfied when it transmits an electronic 
message. It cannot be held responsible for a failure in transmission 
beyond its control. In the event that the Company becomes aware that 
an electronic transmission is not successful, a paper notification will be 
sent to the shareholder at their registered address. Shareholders wishing 
to continue to receive shareholder information in the traditional paper 
format should confirm this via www.capitashareportal.com or write to 
Capita Asset Services.

PUBLISHED INFORMATION
If you would like to receive a hard copy of this Report or a copy in an 
alternative format such as large print, Braille or an audio version on CD, 
please contact the Group Company Secretariat at the Company’s 
registered office. A copy can also be downloaded from our website at 
www.compass-group.com/ar14.

CASH DIVIDENDS
The Company normally pays a dividend twice each year. We encourage 
UK resident ordinary shareholders to elect to have their dividends paid 
directly into their bank or building society account. This is a more  
secure method of payment and avoids delays or the cheques being lost. 
Ordinary shareholders resident outside the UK can also have any 
dividends in excess of £10 paid into their bank account directly via 
Capita Asset Services’ global payments service. Details and terms and 
conditions may be viewed at http://international.capitaregistrars.com.

DIVIDEND REINVESTMENT PLAN (DRIP)
A DRIP service is provided by Capita IRG Trustees Limited. The DRIP 
allows eligible shareholders to use the whole of their cash dividend to buy 
additional shares in the Company, thereby increasing their shareholding. 
Additional information, including details of how to sign up, can be 
obtained from the Company’s website at www.compass-group.com and 
from Capita IRG Trustees Limited; telephone within the UK:  
Freephone 0800 280 2545 and from overseas: +44 333 300 1568;  
email: shares@capita.co.uk.

The latest date for receipt of new applications to participate in 
respect of the 2014 final dividend is 29 January 2015.

SHARE PRICE INFORMATION
The current price of the Company’s shares is available on the Company’s 
website at www.compass-group.com. This is supplied with a 15 minute 
delay to real time. 

SHARE DEALING
The Company’s shares can be traded through most banks, building 
societies, stockbrokers or ‘share shops’. In addition, the Company’s 
registrar, Capita Asset Services, offers online and telephone dealing 
services to buy or sell Compass Group PLC shares. The service is only 
available to private shareholders aged 18 or over, resident in the UK, 
EEA, Channel Islands or the Isle of Man. Full details can be obtained 
from www.capitadeal.com or by telephoning within the UK:  
Freephone 0800 280 2545. 

SHAREGIFT
ShareGift, the charity share donation scheme, is a free service for 
shareholders wishing to give shares to charitable causes. It is particularly 
useful for those shareholders who may wish to dispose of a small quantity 
of shares where the market value makes it uneconomic to sell on a 
commission basis. Further information can be obtained from ShareGift’s 
website at www.sharegift.org; telephone within the UK: 020 7930 3737 
and from overseas: +44 20 7930 3737, or from the registrar.

AMERICAN DEPOSITARY RECEIPTS
BNY Mellon (BNY) maintains the Company’s American Depositary 
Receipt register. If you have any enquiries about your holding of 
Compass American Depositary Shares, you should contact BNY Mellon, 
Shareowner Services, Computershare, P.O. Box 30170, College Station 
TX 77842-3170, USA. Further information can be found on BNY’s 
website at www.adrbnymellon.com using the symbol CMPGY and on 
the Company’s website at www.compass-group.com.

144

Compass Group PLC Annual Report 2014

UNSOLICITED MAIL
We are legally obliged to make our register of members available to the 
public, subject to a proper purpose test. As a consequence of this, some 
shareholders might receive unsolicited mail. Shareholders wishing to 
limit the amount of such mail should write to the Mailing Preference 
Service, FREEPOST 29 LON20771, London W1E 0ZT. Shareholders 
can also register online at www.mpsonline.org.uk or request an 
application form by calling from within the UK: 0845 703 4599 or  
by email to mps@dma.org.uk.

IDENTITY THEFT
Advice on protecting your Compass Group PLC shares:

 • Keep all Compass correspondence in a safe place, or destroy 

correspondence by shredding 

 • When changing address, inform the registrar, Capita Asset Services. 
If a letter from Capita Asset Services is received regarding a change 
of address and you have not moved, contact the registrar immediately 
 • Consider having your dividends paid directly into your bank or building 
society account. This will reduce the risk of the cheque being intercepted 
or lost in the post. You can complete a Request for Payment of Interest 
or Dividends Form available from www.compass-group.com and send 
it to the registrar or register online at www.capitashareportal.com using 
the Share Portal service. Additional information can be obtained from 
the registrar 

 • On changing your bank or building society account, inform the 

registrar of the details of the new account and respond to any letters 
Capita Asset Services send you about this 

 • When buying or selling shares, deal only with brokers registered in your 

country of residence or the UK 

WARNING ABOUT SHARE FRAUD
Fraudsters use persuasive and high pressure tactics to lure investors  
into scams. They may offer to sell shares that turn out to be worthless  
or non-existent, or to buy shares at an inflated price in return for an 
upfront payment.

Whilst high profits are promised, if you buy or sell shares in this way, you 
will probably lose your money.

REPORT A SCAM
If you are approached by fraudsters, please tell the FCA using the share 
fraud reporting form at www.fca.org.uk/scams, where you can find out 
more about investment scams, or call the FCA Consumer Helpline on 
0800 111 6768.

If you have already paid money to share fraudsters, you should contact 
Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040.

RETURN OF CASH AND SHARE CAPITAL CONSOLIDATION – 
BASE COST APPORTIONMENT FOR UK TAX PURPOSES
On 11 June 2014, shareholders approved a Return of Cash of  
56 pence per Existing Ordinary Share, which resulted in 
approximately £1 billion being returned through the issue of one  
B or C Share to shareholders for each Existing Ordinary Share held 
at 6.00pm on 7 July 2014. The Return of Cash was accompanied  
by a consolidation of the Existing Ordinary Shares in the ratio  
of 16 New Ordinary Shares for every 17 Existing Ordinary Shares. 
The New Ordinary Shares were admitted to trading on 8 July 2014. 
The B and C shares were not admitted to trading.

The Base Cost Apportionment is in general terms based on 
respective market values on the first day after the reorganisation  
on which a price for the New Ordinary Shares was quoted on the 
London Stock Exchange. Based on the New Ordinary Share price  
of 1,024.50 pence and the market value of a B Share and of a  
C Share of 56 pence, and calculated using the ratio of 16 New 
Ordinary Shares and 17 B or 17 C Shares for every 17 Existing 
Ordinary Shares previously held, 94.51% of the base cost of the 
Existing Ordinary Shares is apportioned to the New Ordinary 
Shares and 5.49% to the B and/or C Shares.

The information provided above is only intended to provide general guidance to 
UK shareholders and is not intended to be, and should not be construed to be, 
legal or taxation advice to any particular UK shareholder. It states the position  
as of 9 July 2014. If you are in any doubt as to your tax position, you are 
recommended to seek your own tax advice from an independent professional 
adviser. This note must be read in conjunction with the Circular to Shareholders 
dated 19 May 2014, where certain terms are defined.

HOW TO AVOID SHARE FRAUD
1. 

 Keep in mind that firms authorised by the Financial Conduct 
Authority (FCA) are unlikely to contact you out of the blue with an 
offer to buy or sell shares. 
 Do not get into a conversation. Note the name of the person and firm 
contacting you and then end the call. 
 Check the Financial Services Register at www.fca.org.uk to see if the 
person and firm contacting you is authorised by the FCA. 
 Beware of fraudsters claiming to be from an authorised firm, copying 
its website or giving you false contact details. 
 Use the firm’s contact details listed on the Register if you want to call  
it back. 
 Call the FCA on 0800 111 6768 if the firm does not have contact 
details on the Register or if you are told they are out of date. 
 Search the list of unauthorised firms to avoid at www.fca.org.uk/scams.
 Consider that if you buy or sell shares from an unauthorised firm you 
will not have access to the Financial Ombudsman Service or the 
Financial Services Compensation Scheme.
 Think about getting independent financial and professional advice 
before you hand over any money. 

2. 

3. 

4. 

5. 

6. 

7. 
8. 

9. 

10.  Remember: if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is!

FINANCIAL CALENDAR

EX-DIVIDEND DATE FOR 2014 FINAL DIVIDEND
22 January 2015

RECORD DATE FOR 2014 FINAL DIVIDEND
23 January 2015

2015 ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
5 February 2015

2014 FINAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT 
23 February 2015

HALF YEAR FINANCIAL RESULTS
13 May 2015*

EX-DIVIDEND DATE FOR 2015 INTERIM DIVIDEND
25 June 2015*

RECORD DATE FOR 2015 INTERIM DIVIDEND
26 June 2015*

2015 INTERIM DIVIDEND PAYMENT
27 July 2015*

*  Provisional dates

Compass Group PLC Annual Report 2014

145

Strategic reportCorporate governanceFinancial statementsParent Company financial statementsShareholder informationNOTICE OF ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

THIS DOCUMENT IS IMPORTANT AND REQUIRES YOUR 
IMMEDIATE ATTENTION 
If you are in any doubt as to the action you should take, you should 
immediately consult your stockbroker, bank manager, solicitor, 
accountant or other independent financial adviser authorised under 
the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000. If you have sold or 
otherwise transferred all your shares in Compass Group PLC, please 
send this Notice and the accompanying documents to the purchaser 
or transferee, or to the stockbroker, bank or other agent through 
whom the sale or transfer was effected for transmission to the 
purchaser or transferee.

13.  To re-elect Sir Ian Robinson as a director of the Company.

14.  To re-elect Paul Walsh as a director of the Company.

15.   To reappoint KPMG LLP as the Company’s auditor until the 

conclusion of the next Annual General Meeting of the Company.

16.   To authorise the directors to agree the auditor’s remuneration.

17.   To authorise the Company and any company which is, or becomes, 

a subsidiary of the Company during the period to which this 
Resolution relates to:

17.1   make donations to political parties or independent election 

candidates; 

17.2   make donations to political organisations other than political 

parties; and

17.3  incur political expenditure, 

Notice is hereby given that the fourteenth Annual General 
Meeting of Compass Group PLC (the Company) will be held  
in the Churchill Auditorium at The Queen Elizabeth II 
Conference Centre, Broad Sanctuary, Westminster, London 
SW1P 3EE on Thursday 5 February 2015 at 12 noon in order  
to transact the following business:

 during the period commencing on the date of this Resolution and 
ending on the date of the Company’s next Annual General Meeting, 
provided that any such donations and expenditure made by the 
Company, or by any such subsidiary, shall not exceed £100,000 per 
company and, together with those made by any such subsidiary and 
the Company, shall not exceed in aggregate £100,000.

To consider and, if thought fit, to pass the following Resolutions, of 
which Resolutions 20 to 22 will be proposed as special resolutions and 
all other Resolutions will be proposed as ordinary resolutions.

 Any terms used in this Resolution which are defined in Part 14 of 
the Companies Act 2006 shall bear the same meaning for the 
purposes of this Resolution 17.

1. 

2. 

3. 

 To receive and adopt the Directors’ Annual Report and Accounts 
and the Auditor’s Report thereon for the financial year ended  
30 September 2014.

 To receive and adopt the Remuneration Policy set out on pages  
62 to 68 of the Directors’ Remuneration Report contained within 
the Annual Report and Accounts for the financial year ended  
30 September 2014, such Remuneration Policy to take effect from  
the date on which this Resolution is passed. 

 To receive and adopt the Directors’ Remuneration Report (other 
than the Remuneration Policy referred to in Resolution 2 above) 
contained within the Annual Report and Accounts for the financial 
year ended 30 September 2014.

4. 

 To declare a final dividend of 17.7 pence per ordinary share 
in respect of the financial year ended 30 September 2014.

5. 

 To elect Carol Arrowsmith as a director of the Company.

6.  To re-elect Dominic Blakemore as a director of the Company.

7.  To re-elect Richard Cousins as a director of the Company.

8.  To re-elect Gary Green as a director of the Company.

9.  To re-elect Andrew Martin as a director of the Company.

10.  To re-elect John Bason as a director of the Company.

11.  To re-elect Susan Murray as a director of the Company.

12.  To re-elect Don Robert as a director of the Company.

18.   To approve the amendments to the rules of the Compass Group PLC 
Long Term Incentive Plan 2010 (LTIP) produced in draft to this 
meeting and for the purposes of identification initialled by the 
Chairman and to authorise the directors to adopt the changes to  
the LTIP and to do all things necessary to implement the changes. 

19.   19.1  To renew the power conferred on the directors by Article 12 of 
the Company’s Articles of Association for a period expiring at 
the end of the next Annual General Meeting of the Company 
after the date on which this Resolution is passed or, if earlier,  
4 May 2016; and for that period the section 551 amount shall 
be £59,128,125.

       19.2   In addition, the section 551 amount shall be increased by 
£59,128,125, for a period expiring at the end of the next 
Annual General Meeting of the Company after the date on 
which this Resolution is passed, provided that the directors’ 
power in respect of such latter amount shall only be used in 
connection with a rights issue: 

                19.2.1  to holders of ordinary shares in proportion (as nearly as 

may be practicable) to their existing holdings; and

                19.2.2  to holders of other equity securities as required by the 

rights of those securities or as the Board otherwise 
considers necessary,

 and that the directors may impose any limits or restrictions and 
make any arrangements which they consider necessary to deal with  
fractional entitlements, legal or practical problems under the laws 
of, or the requirements of, any relevant regulatory body or stock 
exchange, any territory, or any matter whatsoever.

See this Report and our full Corporate Responsibility  
Report online at www.compass-group.com/ar14

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SPECIAL RESOLUTIONS
20.   To renew, subject to the passing of Resolution 19 above, the power 

conferred on the directors by Article 13 of the Company’s Articles of 
Association, such authority to apply until the conclusion of the next 
Annual General Meeting of the Company after the date on which 
this Resolution is passed or, if earlier, 4 May 2016 and for that period 
the section 561 amount is £8,868,688.

21.   To generally and unconditionally authorise the Company, pursuant 

to and in accordance with section 701 of the Companies Act 2006, to 
make market purchases (within the meaning of section 693(4) of that 
Act) of ordinary shares of 105⁄8 pence each in the capital of the 
Company subject to the following conditions:

21.1   the maximum aggregate number of ordinary shares hereby 

authorised to be purchased is 166,950,000;

21.2  the minimum price (excluding expenses) which may be paid  

for each ordinary share is 105⁄8 pence; 

21.3  the maximum price (excluding expenses) which may be paid  
for each ordinary share in respect of a share contracted to be 
purchased on any day, does not exceed the higher of (1) an 
amount equal to 105% of the average of the middle market 
quotations for an ordinary share as derived from the London 
Stock Exchange Daily Official List for the five business days 
immediately preceding the day on which the purchase is made 
and (2) the higher of the price of the last independent trade and 
the highest current independent bid for an ordinary share as 
derived from the London Stock Exchange Trading System; and
21.4   this authority shall expire, unless previously renewed, varied or 
revoked by the Company, at the conclusion of the next Annual 
General Meeting of the Company or 4 August 2016, whichever 
is the earlier (except in relation to the purchase of ordinary 
shares, the contract for which was concluded prior to the expiry 
of this authority and which will or may be executed wholly or 
partly after the expiry of this authority).

22.   To authorise the directors to call a general meeting of the Company, 
other than an Annual General Meeting, on not less than 14 clear 
working days’ notice, provided that this authority shall expire at the 
conclusion of the next Annual General Meeting of the Company 
after the date of the passing of this Resolution.

Voting on all Resolutions will be by way of a poll. 

By Order of the Board

MARK WHITE
General Counsel and Company Secretary
19 December 2014
Registered Office:
Compass House 
Guildford Street
Chertsey 
Surrey KT16 9BQ

Registered in England and Wales No. 4083914

EXPLANATORY NOTES TO THE RESOLUTIONS

RESOLUTION 1 – ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS
The directors are required to present to the Annual General Meeting 
(AGM) (the Meeting) the audited accounts and the Directors’ and 
Auditor’s Reports for the financial year ended 30 September 2014.

RESOLUTION 2 – REMUNERATION POLICY
Shareholders are requested to approve the Remuneration Policy. 
The Remuneration Policy is set out on pages 62 to 68 of the Directors’ 
Remuneration Report contained within the 2014 Annual Report 
and Accounts. 

In accordance with section 439A of the Companies Act (the CA 2006), 
a separate Resolution on the Remuneration Policy part of the Directors’ 
Remuneration Report is required to be put to a vote by shareholders. 
The vote is binding which means that payments cannot be made under 
the Policy until it has been approved by shareholders. 

The Policy Report must be put to shareholders at least every three years, 
unless during that time it is to be changed. The Company currently 
intends to submit the Policy for approval by shareholders every 
three years. 

RESOLUTION 3 – DIRECTORS’ REMUNERATION REPORT
In accordance with section 439 of the CA 2006, shareholders are 
requested to approve the Directors’ Remuneration Report. The 
Directors’ Remuneration Report is set out on pages 59 to 76 of the  
2014 Annual Report and Accounts. The vote is advisory.

RESOLUTION 4 – FINAL DIVIDEND
The final dividend for the year ended 30 September 2014 will be paid on 
23 February 2015 to shareholders on the register at the close of business 
on 23 January 2015, subject to shareholder approval.

RESOLUTIONS 5 TO 14 – ELECTION AND RE-ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
Biographical details of all the directors standing for election or  
re-election appear on pages 46 and 47 of the 2014 Annual Report.

In line with the provisions of the Company’s Articles of Association, 
Carol Arrowsmith, who was appointed by the Board since the date of  
the last AGM, will submit herself for election by shareholders. Details  
of Mrs Arrowsmith’s appointment are given on page 50.

The Company’s Articles of Association require one third of the directors 
to retire by rotation each year and no director may serve for more than 
three years without being re-elected by shareholders. However, in 
accordance with the UK Corporate Governance Code (the Code), all the 
directors will submit themselves for annual re-election by shareholders. 

Having conducted an evaluation during the year, it is the view of the 
Chairman that the performance of each of the directors continues to be 
effective and that each director demonstrates commitment to the role 
and has sufficient time to meet his or her commitment to the Company.

RESOLUTIONS 15 AND 16 – AUDITOR
During the year, following a competitive tender process, the Audit 
Committee recommended to the Board that KPMG LLP be appointed 
as the external auditor and to fill the casual vacancy in the office of 
auditor. The auditor is appointed at every general meeting at which 
accounts are presented to shareholders. The current appointment of 
KPMG LLP as the Company’s auditor will end at the conclusion of the 
AGM and it has advised of its willingness to stand for reappointment.  
It is normal practice for a company’s directors to be authorised to agree 
how much the auditor should be paid and Resolution 16 grants this 
authority to the directors.

Compass Group PLC Annual Report 2014

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NOTICE OF ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

RESOLUTION 17 – DONATIONS TO POLITICAL PARTIES
It is not Group policy to make donations to political parties. However, it  
is possible that certain routine activities undertaken by the Company and 
its subsidiaries might unintentionally fall within the wide definition of 
matters constituting political donations and expenditure in the CA 2006. 
Any expenditure that is regulated under the CA 2006 must first be 
approved by shareholders and will be disclosed in next year’s Annual 
Report. This Resolution, if passed, will renew the directors’ authority 
until the AGM to be held in 2016 (when the directors intend to renew  
this authority) to make donations and incur expenditure which might 
otherwise be caught by the terms of the CA 2006, up to an aggregate 
amount of £100,000 for the Company and for subsidiary companies. 

RESOLUTION 18 – AMENDMENT TO LONG TERM INCENTIVE PLAN 
This Resolution seeks approval for the following changes to the Compass 
Group PLC Long Term Incentive Plan 2010 (LTIP) to reflect the 
Directors’ Remuneration Policy as set out in the Directors’ Remuneration 
Report (see Resolution 2 above):

 • To increase the individual limit for the market value of shares subject to 
awards which can be granted to executive directors in a financial year 
from 200% to a maximum of 400% of annual basic salary (the latter 
multiplier to be used only in exceptional circumstances) with the normal 
percentage being 250% of annual basic salary in the case of the Group 
Chief Executive and 200% for the other executive directors;

 • To renew and extend the circumstances in which malus or clawback can 
be applied to awards made under the LTIP so that the provisions apply 
both before an award vests and for the three years after vesting and apply 
in various circumstances, such as serious misconduct of a participant, 
including where the facts arise after termination of employment, with the 
intention that the remedies are widened to include lapsing awards which 
have not vested and forfeiting of vested awards with the right to reclaim 
amounts from the affected participant; 

 • To permit awards to be made which increase in line with dividends paid 

by the Company on its ordinary shares; 

 • To clarify the rules in respect of the use of existing rather than new issue 

shares to satisfy awards; and

 • To enable the Remuneration Committee to impose a holding period 

requirement of up to five years on participants whose awards have vested, 
subject to the realisation of vested awards to discharge tax and social 
security requirements.

The rules of the LTIP showing the proposed amendments are available 
for inspection before and during the AGM, as noted on page 146 of this 
Notice of Meeting.

RESOLUTION 19 – DIRECTORS’ AUTHORITY TO ALLOT SHARES 
The purpose of Resolution 19 is to renew the directors’ power to  
allot shares. Resolution 19.1 seeks to grant the directors authority to  
allot, pursuant to Article 12 of the Company’s Articles of Association  
and section 551 of the CA 2006, relevant securities with a maximum 
nominal amount of £59,128,125. This represents 556,500,000 ordinary 
shares of 105⁄8 pence each in the capital of the Company, which is 
approximately one third of the Company’s issued ordinary share capital  
as at 1 December 2014 (being the last practicable date prior to the 
publication of this Notice). The Company does not currently hold  
any shares as treasury shares. The authority would, unless previously 
renewed, revoked or varied by shareholders, remain in force up to  
the conclusion of the AGM of the Company to be held in 2016, or  
4 May 2016, whichever is earlier.

In accordance with the Investment Management Association Allotment 
Guidelines (the Guidelines), Resolution 19.2 seeks to grant the directors 
authority to allot approximately a further one third of the Company’s 

issued ordinary share capital in connection with a rights issue in favour 
of ordinary shareholders with a nominal value of up to £59,128,125 
(representing 556,500,000 ordinary shares of 105⁄8 pence each). Such 
additional authority will be valid until the conclusion of the 2016 AGM. 

If the Company uses any of the additional one third authority permitted 
by the Guidelines, the Company will ensure that all directors stand for 
re-election. The Company’s current practice is that all directors submit 
themselves for re-election each year in accordance with the Code, 
notwithstanding the provisions set out in the Guidelines. 

The total authorisation sought by Resolution 19 is equal to 
approximately two thirds of the issued ordinary share capital of the 
Company as at 1 December 2014, being the last practicable date prior  
to publication of this Notice. 

Resolutions 1 to 19 will be proposed as ordinary resolutions and require that more 
than half of the votes cast must be in favour of a resolution for it to be passed. 

RESOLUTION 20 – DISAPPLICATION OF PRE-EMPTION RIGHTS
If the Company issues new shares, or sells treasury shares, for cash 
(other than in connection with an employee share scheme), it must first 
offer them to existing shareholders in proportion to their existing 
holdings. In accordance with investor guidelines, approval is sought  
by the directors to issue a limited number of ordinary shares for cash 
without offering them to existing shareholders.

Resolution 20 seeks to renew the directors’ authority to issue equity 
securities of the Company for cash without application of pre-emption 
rights pursuant to Article 13 of the Company’s Articles of Association 
and section 561 of the CA 2006. Other than in connection with a rights, 
scrip dividend, or other similar issue, the authority contained in this 
Resolution would be limited to a maximum nominal amount of 
£8,868,688. 

This represents 83,470,000 ordinary shares of 105⁄8 pence each in the 
capital of the Company, which is approximately 5% of the Company’s 
issued ordinary share capital as at 1 December 2014 (being the last 
practicable date prior to the publication of this Notice). The authority 
would, unless previously renewed, revoked or varied by shareholders, 
expire at the conclusion of the AGM of the Company to be held in 2016 
or on 4 May 2016, if earlier.

Save for issues of shares in respect of various employee share schemes 
and any share dividend alternatives, the directors have no current plans 
to utilise either of the authorities sought by Resolutions 19 and 20, 
although they consider their renewal appropriate in order to retain 
maximum flexibility to take advantage of business opportunities as they 
arise. In addition, and in line with best practice, the Company has not 
issued more than 7.5% of its issued share capital on a non-pro rata basis 
over the last three years and the Board confirms its intention to follow 
best practice set out in the Pre-emption Group’s Statement of Principles 
which provides that usage of this authority in excess of 7.5% of the 
Company’s issued share capital in a rolling three year period would not 
take place without prior consultation with shareholders.

RESOLUTION 21 – PURCHASE OF OWN SHARES
This Resolution authorises the directors to make limited on market 
purchases of the Company’s ordinary shares. The power is limited to a 
maximum of 166,950,000 shares (just under 10% of the issued ordinary 
share capital as at 1 December 2014, being the last practicable date 
prior to the publication of this Notice) and details the minimum and 
maximum prices that can be paid, exclusive of expenses. The authority 
conferred by this Resolution will expire at the conclusion of the 
Company’s next AGM or 18 months from the passing of this Resolution, 
whichever is the earlier.

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Compass Group PLC Annual Report 2014

The CA 2006 permits the Company to hold shares repurchased as 
treasury shares. Treasury shares may be cancelled, sold for cash or used 
for the purpose of employee share schemes. The authority to be sought 
by this Resolution is intended to apply equally to shares to be held by the 
Company as treasury shares. No dividends will be paid on shares which 
are held as treasury shares and no voting rights will be attached to them. 
Shares held as treasury shares will be treated as if cancelled.

On 27 November 2013, the Company announced its intention to 
commence a £500 million share repurchase programme, to be executed 
over the 12 month period to the end of 2014. The programme was 
temporarily suspended following announcement on 14 May 2014 of the 
£1 billion Return of Cash to shareholders and associated Share Capital 
Consolidation until after completion of this transaction on 29 July 2014. 
The £500 million share repurchase programme recommenced on  
31 July 2014 and is now expected to be completed during 2015.

Beyond this programme, the directors have no present intention of 
exercising the authority to purchase the Company’s ordinary shares but 
they consider it desirable to provide maximum flexibility in the management 
of the Company’s capital resources. The directors would only purchase 
shares if, in their opinion, the expected effect would be to result in an 
increase in earnings per share and would benefit shareholders generally.

As at 1 December 2014 (being the last practicable date prior to the 
publication of this Notice), there were options to subscribe for ordinary 
shares issued by the Company outstanding over approximately 
19,724,400 shares which represent 1.18% of the Company’s issued 
ordinary share capital (excluding treasury shares) at that date. If the 
authority to purchase the Company’s ordinary shares was exercised  
in full, these options would represent 1.31% of the Company’s issued 
ordinary share capital (excluding treasury shares).

RESOLUTION 22 – NOTICE OF MEETINGS OTHER THAN ANNUAL GENERAL MEETINGS
The Company’s Articles of Association allow the directors to call general 
meetings other than annual general meetings on 14 working days’ notice. 
However, under the Companies (Shareholders’ Rights) Regulations 2009 
(the Regulations), all general meetings must be held on 21 days’ notice, 
unless shareholders agree to a shorter notice period, and the Company 
has met the requirements for electronic voting under the Regulations. 
This Resolution seeks to renew the authority granted by shareholders at 
last year’s AGM which preserved the Company’s ability to call general 
meetings, other than AGMs, on 14 working days’ notice, such authority 
to be effective until the Company’s next AGM, when a similar resolution 
will be proposed. The directors confirm that the shorter notice period 
would not be used as a matter of routine, but only where flexibility is 
merited by the business of the meeting and it is thought to be to the 
advantage of shareholders as a whole. An electronic voting facility will be 
made available to all shareholders for any meeting held on such notice. 

Resolutions 20 to 22 will be proposed as special resolutions and require that at least 
three quarters of the votes cast must be in favour of a resolution for it to be passed.

RECOMMENDATION
The directors consider that each of the Resolutions is in the best interests 
of the Company and the shareholders as a whole and, accordingly, 
recommend that all shareholders vote in favour of all Resolutions, as the 
directors intend to do in respect of their own holdings.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

PROXIES 
(i) 

 A shareholder entitled to attend and vote at the AGM may appoint a 
proxy or proxies (who need not be a shareholder of the Company) to 
exercise all or any of his or her rights to attend, speak and vote at the 
AGM. Where more than one proxy is appointed, each proxy must be 
appointed for different shares. 

Proxies may only be appointed by:

 •   completing and returning the Form of Proxy enclosed with  

this Notice to PXS1, 34 Beckenham Road, Beckenham, Kent  
BR3 4ZF;

 •   going to www.capitashareportal.com and following the instructions 

for electronic submission provided there; or

 •   having an appropriate CREST message transmitted, if you are a 

user of the CREST system (including CREST personal members). 
Please refer to the CREST manual on the Euroclear website  
(www.euroclear.com/CREST) for further information. 

 Return of the Form of Proxy will not prevent a shareholder from 
attending the Meeting and voting in person. However, if you do attend 
the Meeting, any proxy appointment will be treated as revoked. 

 The electronic addresses provided in this Notice are provided solely 
for the purpose of enabling shareholders to register the appointment 
of a proxy or proxies for the Meeting or to submit their voting 
directions electronically. You may not use any electronic address 
provided in the Notice of this Meeting to communicate with the 
Company for any purposes other than those expressly stated.

(ii)   To be effective, the Form of Proxy must be completed in accordance 
with the instructions and received by the Company’s registrar by 
12 noon on Tuesday 3 February 2015.

 To appoint a proxy or to give an instruction to a previously 
appointed proxy via the CREST system, the CREST message must 
be received by the issuer’s agent (ID RA10) by 12 noon on Tuesday 
3 February 2015. Please note, however, that proxy messages cannot 
be sent through CREST on weekends, public holidays or after  
8.00pm on any other day. For the purpose of this deadline, the  
time of receipt will be taken to be the time (as determined by the 
timestamp applied to the message by the CREST Applications Host) 
from which the issuer’s agent is able to retrieve the message. CREST 
personal members or other CREST sponsored members and those 
CREST members that have appointed voting service provider(s) 
should contact their CREST sponsor or voting service provider(s) for 
assistance with appointing proxies via CREST.

 For further information on CREST procedures, limitations and 
system timings, please refer to the CREST manual. We may treat as 
invalid a proxy appointment sent by CREST in the circumstances 
set out in Regulation 35(5)(a) of the Uncertificated Securities 
Regulations 2001, as amended.

(iii)   Pursuant to Regulation 41 of the Uncertificated Securities 

Regulations 2001 and section 360B(2) of the CA 2006, the Company 
specifies that only those shareholders registered in the Register of 
Members of the Company as at 6.00pm on Tuesday 3 February 2015 
or, in the event that the Meeting is adjourned, in the Register of 
Members 48 hours before the time of any adjourned meeting, shall be 
entitled to attend or vote at the Meeting in respect of the number of 
shares registered in their name at the relevant time. Changes to 
entries on the Register of Members after 6.00pm on 3 February 2015 
or, in the event that the Meeting is adjourned, less than 48 hours 
before the time of any adjourned meeting, shall be disregarded in 
determining the rights of any person to attend or vote at the Meeting. 

Compass Group PLC Annual Report 2014

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NOTICE OF ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

NOMINATED PERSONS
Any person to whom a copy of this Notice is sent who is a person 
nominated under section 146 of the CA 2006 to enjoy information rights 
(Nominated Person) may, under an agreement between him or her and 
the shareholder by whom he or she was nominated, have a right to be 
appointed (or to have someone else appointed) as a proxy for the AGM.  
If a Nominated Person has no such proxy appointment right or does not 
wish to exercise it, he or she may, under any such agreement, have a right 
to give instructions to the shareholder as to the exercise of voting rights.

The statement of the rights of shareholders in relation to the appointment 
of proxies in note (i) above does not apply to Nominated Persons. 
The rights described in that note can only be exercised by shareholders 
of the Company.

DOCUMENTS AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION
Copies of the rules of the LTIP as prospectively amended, service 
agreements of the executive directors, the letters of appointment of the 
non-executive directors, the directors’ deeds of indemnity and the Register 
of Directors’ Interests will be available for inspection during normal 
business hours from the date of dispatch of this Notice until the date of the 
AGM (Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays excepted) at the registered 
office of the Company, Compass House, Guildford Street, Chertsey  
KT16 9BQ, and will also be made available at the Meeting for a period  
of 15 minutes prior to and during the continuance of the Meeting.

A copy of the rules of the LTIP as prospectively amended will also be 
available during normal business hours at the offices of Freshfields 
Bruckhaus Deringer LLP, 65 Fleet Street, London EC4Y 1HS.

SHAREHOLDER RIGHTS AND AGM BUSINESS
Under sections 338 and section 338A of the CA 2006, shareholders 
meeting the threshold requirements which, broadly, requires a minimum 
of 100 shareholders holding an average of 1,000 ordinary shares each or 
shareholders holding at least 5% of the Company’s issued share capital, 
have the right to require the Company (i) to give to shareholders of the 
Company entitled to receive notice of the AGM, notice of a resolution 
which may properly be moved and is intended to be moved at the AGM 
and/or (ii) to include in the business to be dealt with at the AGM any 
matter (other than a proposed resolution) which may be properly 
included in the business. A resolution may properly be moved or a matter 
may properly be included in the business unless (a) (in the case of a 
resolution only) it would, if passed, be ineffective (whether by reason of 
inconsistency with any enactment or the Company’s constitution or 
otherwise), (b) it is defamatory, or (c) it is frivolous or vexatious. Such a 
request may be in hard copy or electronic form and must identify the 
resolution of which notice is to be given or the matter to be included in 
the business, must be authorised by the person or persons making it, must 
be received by the Company not later than 26 December 2014, being the 
date six clear weeks before the AGM, and (in the case of a matter to be 
included in the business only) must be accompanied by a statement 
setting out the grounds for the request.

RIGHT TO ASK QUESTIONS
Under section 319A of the CA 2006, shareholders have the right to ask 
questions at the AGM relating to the business of the Meeting and for 
these to be answered, unless such answer would interfere unduly with the 
business of the Meeting, involve the disclosure of confidential information, 
if the answer has already been published on the Company’s website or if 
it is not in the interests of the Company or the good order of the Meeting 
that the question be answered.

WEBSITE PUBLICATION OF AUDIT CONCERNS
Under section 527 of the CA 2006, shareholders have a right to request 
publication of any concerns that they propose to raise at the AGM relating 
to the audit of the Company’s accounts (including the Auditor’s Report 
and the conduct of the audit) that are to be submitted to the Meeting or 
any circumstances connected to the Company’s auditor who ceased to hold 
office since the last AGM. The Company will publish the statement if 
sufficient requests have been received in accordance with section 527(2) 
of the CA 2006 which, broadly, requires a minimum of 100 shareholders 
holding an average of 1,000 ordinary shares each or shareholders holding 
at least 5% of the Company’s issued ordinary share capital to make the 
request. The Company may not require the members requesting any such 
website publication to pay its expenses in complying with such request. 
Where a statement is published, the Company will forward the statement 
to the Company’s auditor not later than the time when it makes the 
statement available on the website. The business which may be dealt with 
at the AGM includes any statement that the Company has been required 
under section 527 of the CA 2006 to publish on its website.

TOTAL VOTING RIGHTS 
As at 1 December 2014 (being the last practicable date prior to the 
publication of this Notice) the Company’s issued share capital comprised 
1,669,582,918 ordinary shares. The holders of ordinary shares are 
entitled to attend and vote at general meetings of the Company. On a vote 
by show of hands, every ordinary shareholder who is present has one vote 
and every proxy present who has been duly appointed by a shareholder 
entitled to vote has one vote. On a vote by poll every ordinary shareholder 
who is present in person or by proxy has one vote for every ordinary share 
held. It is proposed that all votes on the Resolutions at the AGM will be 
taken by way of a poll.

The total voting rights in the Company as at 1 December 2014 were 
1,669,582,918.

INFORMATION AVAILABLE ON WEBSITE
The following information is available on the Company’s website at  
www.compass-group.com:

the matters set out in this Notice of Meeting; 

(i) 
(ii)   the total voting rights and number of shares of each class in respect of 
which shareholders are entitled to exercise voting rights at the AGM;
(iii)   shareholders’ rights to include business to be dealt with at the AGM; 

and

(iv)   shareholders’ statements, resolutions and matters of business received 

by the Company after 19 December 2014.

THE AGM
The doors of The Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre will open at 
10.30am and the AGM will start promptly at 12 noon.

If you are planning to attend the AGM, The Queen Elizabeth II 
Conference Centre is located in the City of Westminster. Please see  
the map opposite. Details of how to get to the venue may be found  
at www.qeiicentre.london.

ATTENDING THE AGM
If you are coming to the AGM, please bring your attendance card with 
you. It authenticates your right to attend, speak and vote at the AGM  
and will speed your admission. You may also find it useful to bring this 
Notice of AGM and the Annual Report 2014 so that you can refer to  
them at the AGM. All joint shareholders may attend and speak at the 
AGM. However, only the first shareholder listed on the Register of 
Members is entitled to vote. At the discretion of the Company, and subject 
to sufficient seating capacity, a shareholder may enter with one guest, 
provided that the shareholder and their guest register to enter the AGM  
at the same time.

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QUESTIONS
All shareholders or their proxies will have the opportunity to ask 
questions at the AGM. When invited by the Chairman, if you wish  
to ask a question, please wait for a Company representative to bring you 
a microphone. It would be helpful if you could state your name before 
you ask your question. A question may not be answered at the Meeting  
if it is not considered to be in the interests of the Company or the good 
order of the Meeting or if it would involve the disclosure of sensitive 
information. The Chairman may also nominate a representative to 
answer a specific question after the Meeting or refer the questioner to the 
Company’s website.

There is wheelchair access. Anyone accompanying a shareholder in need 
of assistance will be admitted to the AGM. If any shareholder with a 
disability has any questions regarding attendance at the AGM, please 
contact the Group Company Secretariat at Compass Group PLC, 
Compass House, Guildford Street, Chertsey, Surrey KT16 9BQ by 
31 January 2015.

Security staff will be on duty to assist shareholders. The Company will 
not permit behaviour that may interfere with another person’s security, 
safety or the good order of the AGM.

Please ensure that mobile phones are switched off throughout the AGM.

VOTING AT THE AGM
The Company proposes that all Resolutions to be proposed at the AGM 
will be put to the vote on a poll. This will result in a more accurate 
reflection of the views of all of the Company’s shareholders by ensuring 
that every vote is recognised, including the votes of shareholders who are 
unable to attend the Meeting but who have appointed a proxy for the 
Meeting. On a poll, each shareholder has one vote for each share held.

After each Resolution is put to the Meeting, you will be asked to cast 
your vote. All of the votes of the shareholders present will be counted, 
and added to those received by proxy, and the provisional final votes will 
be displayed at the Meeting. 

The voting results, which will include all votes cast for and against each 
Resolution at the Meeting, and all proxies lodged prior to the Meeting, 
will be announced at the Meeting and published on the Company’s 
website as soon as practicable after the Meeting. The Company will also 
disclose the number of votes withheld.

If you have already voted by proxy, you will still be able to vote at the 
Meeting and your vote on the day will replace your previously lodged 
proxy vote. 

Whomever you appoint as a proxy can vote or abstain from voting as he 
or she decides on any other business, which may validly come before the 
AGM. This includes proxies appointed using the CREST service. Details 
of how to complete the appointment of a proxy either electronically or on 
paper are given in the notes to this Notice.

VENUE ARRANGEMENTS
For your personal safety and security, all hand baggage may be subject to 
examination. Please note that electronic devices such as cameras and 
recording equipment may not be brought into the AGM. A cloakroom 
will be available to deposit coats and bulky items.

A sign language interpreter will attend the AGM and a sound 
amplification/hearing loop will be available in the meeting room. 

Tea and coffee will be available before the Meeting and light refreshments 
will be served afterwards.

SHAREHOLDER ENQUIRIES
Capita Asset Services maintain the Company’s share register. If you have 
any enquiries about the AGM or about your shareholding, you should 
contact Capita Asset Services, The Registry, 34 Beckenham Road, 
Beckenham, Kent BR3 4TU.

AMERICAN DEPOSITARY RECEIPT ENQUIRIES
BNY Mellon maintains the Company’s American Depositary Receipt 
register. If you have any enquiries about your holding of Compass 
American Depositary Shares, you should contact BNY Mellon, 
Shareowner Services, Computershare, P.O. Box 30170, College Station 
TX 77842-3170, USA.

DATA PROTECTION STATEMENT
Your personal data includes all data provided by you, or on your behalf, 
which relates to you as a shareholder, including your name and contact 
details, the votes you cast and your Reference Number (attributed to you 
by the Company). The Company determines the purposes for which and 
the manner in which your personal data is to be processed. The Company 
and any third party to which it discloses the data (including the 
Company’s Registrar) may process your personal data for the purposes 
of compiling and updating the Company’s records, fulfilling its legal 
obligations and processing the shareholder rights you exercise.

PUBLISHED INFORMATION
If you would like to receive this Notice and/or a copy of the Annual 
Report 2014 in an appropriate alternative format, such as large print, 
Braille or an audio version on CD, please contact the Group Company 
Secretariat at Compass Group PLC, Compass House, Guildford Street, 
Chertsey, Surrey KT16 9BQ. 

Our 2014 Annual Report is available at www.compass-group.com/ar14. 
The Annual Report including this Notice, can be downloaded in 
PDF format. 

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Strategic reportCorporate governanceFinancial statementsParent Company financial statementsShareholder information 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS

Certain information included in this Annual Report and Accounts  
is forward looking and involves risks, assumptions and uncertainties that 
could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or 
implied by forward looking statements. 

Forward looking statements cover all matters which are not historical 
facts and include, without limitation, projections relating to results of 
operations and financial conditions and the Company’s plans and 
objectives for future operations, including, without limitation, discussions 
of expected future revenues, financing plans, expected expenditures and 
divestments, risks associated with changes in economic conditions, the 
strength of the food and support services markets in the jurisdictions in 
which the Group operates, fluctuations in food and other product costs 
and prices and changes in exchange and interest rates. Forward looking 
statements can be identified by the use of forward looking terminology, 
including terms such as ‘believes’, ‘estimates’, ‘anticipates’, ‘expects’, 
‘forecasts’, ‘intends’, ‘plans’, ‘projects’, ‘goal’, ‘target’, ‘aim’, ‘may’, ‘will’, 
‘would’, ‘could’ or ‘should’ or, in each case, their negative or other 
variations or comparable terminology. Forward looking statements  
in this Annual Report and Accounts are not guarantees of future 
performance. All forward looking statements in this Annual Report and 
Accounts are based upon information known to the Company on the 
date of this Annual Report and Accounts. Accordingly, no assurance  
can be given that any particular expectation will be met and readers are 
cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward looking statements, 
which speak only at their respective dates. 

Additionally, forward looking statements regarding past trends or 
activities should not be taken as a representation that such trends or 
activities will continue in the future. Other than in accordance with its 
legal or regulatory obligations (including under the UK Listing Rules  
and the Disclosure and Transparency Rules of the Financial Conduct 
Authority), the Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update  
or revise any forward looking statement, whether as a result of new 
information, future events or otherwise. 

Nothing in this Annual Report and Accounts shall exclude any liability 
under applicable laws that cannot be excluded in accordance with 
such laws.

152

Compass Group PLC Annual Report 2014

This Report is printed on a combination of Revive 100 
White Silk and Revive 100 Premium White Uncoated. 
Revive 100 White Silk is produced using 100% recycled 
waste, the pulp is bleached using a Totally Chlorine Free 
(TCF) process. Revive 100 Premium White Uncoated is 
produced using 100% post-consumer waste, the pulp  
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Printed in the UK by Pureprint Group using vegetable inks 
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The images in this document are representative of the 
services provided by Compass Group PLC and its 
subsidiaries and partners.

Designed and produced by

COMPASS GROUP PLC
Compass House 
Guildford Street 
Chertsey 
Surrey KT16 9BQ 
United Kingdom

Registered in England and Wales No. 4083914

T +44 1932 573 000 
F +44 1932 569 956 

Find this Report online at 
www.compass-group.com/ar14