Smart science
to improve lives™
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Annual Report and Accounts 2020
Contents
Strategic report
Strategy and operations
Our approach
Chair’s statement
Chief Executive’s review
Megatrends
Business model
Our stakeholder ecosystem
s172 statement
Our stakeholders
A strategy for a changing world
Performance and financials
Sector review
Sustainability: our 2030 Commitment
Task Force on Climate-related
Financial Disclosures
Non-financial information statement
Key Performance Indicators
Finance review
Risk management
Long-term viability statement
Directors’ Report
Corporate governance
Remuneration Report
Directors’ Report
Financial statements
Independent Auditor’s Report to the
Members of Croda International Plc
Group Consolidated Statements
Group Accounting Policies
Notes to the Group Accounts
Company Financial Statements
Notes to the Company Financial
Statements
Other information
Related Undertakings
Shareholder Information
Five Year Record
Glossary
2
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30
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37
38
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76
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168
Highlights
Sales
£1,390.3m
2019: £1,377.7m
Core Business sales growth (constant currency)
+2.3%
2019: -2.3%
IFRS profit before tax (PBT)
£269.5m
2019: £302.3m
Adjusted PBT growth (constant currency)
-4.8%
2019: -3.7%
Ordinary dividend (proposed full year)
+1.1%
2019: +3.4%
NPP % Group sales (constant currency)
27.4%
2019: 28.1%
Energy from non-fossil fuels
25.0%
2019: 22.7%
Safety (Total Recordable Injury Rate*)
0.54
2019: 0.55
* excluding acquisitions and COVID-19.
Croda employees who feature on our front cover:
Siau Hoong Chiew, Lead Quality Control Analyst, Croda Singapore
Marta Dobrowolska-Haywood, Head of Research and Technology, Incotec
Thaddeus Anim-Somuah, Engineering Manager – Projects, Croda Gouda
Some photography used within this report was taken prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Our global operations
North America
operations
10
Employees
816
Sales by sector
Personal Care*
Life Sciences
Performance Technologies
Industrial Chemicals
£475.9m
£401.6m
£416.4m
£96.4m
* Consumer Care from 2021 onwards
Sales by region
Europe, Middle East & Africa
£562.4m
North America
Asia
Latin America
£387.0m
£309.3m
£131.6m
Latin America
operations
11
Employees
381
Western Europe
operations
27
Employees
2,784
Asia
operations
27
Employees
1,484
Eastern Europe,
Middle East & Africa
operations
Key
10
Employees
219
Croda R&D centres and offices
Croda principal manufacturing sites
Iberchem manufacturing sites
Avanti location
Note: some hexagons may represent
multiple site locations. Operation and
employee numbers include Iberchem
and Avanti.
At Croda, we have made it our
Purpose to use our Smart science to
improve lives™. This has been a tough
year for everyone, but this clarity of
Purpose has been our guide, ensuring
our commitment to our customers and
to one another. We have kept our
people safe, while maintaining supplies
for our customers and delivering key
components for the world’s first
approved COVID-19 vaccine.
This year, more than ever, we felt the
value of working closely with partners
and supporting every one of the
stakeholders in our ecosystem.
Our continued success and positive
impact on the world is driven by
the strength of these relationships
with others.
Croda International Plc
Annual Report and Accounts 2020
1
Strategic report Our approach
We use smart science to create high-performance ingredients
and technologies that improve lives.
Smart science
At Croda our Purpose is to use Smart science to improve lives™, enabled by our distinctive values-led
culture that governs how we work with one another and guides our relationships with all of our partners.
We combine our knowledge, passion and entrepreneurial spirit to create, make and sell speciality
ingredients that are relied on by industries and consumers everywhere.
Through our strategy
Our corporate strategy sets out the high-level
themes that will help us to deliver our
Purpose. A focus on growth, innovation and
sustainability means that our smart science
can help our customers to deliver both their
consumer and sustainability commitments,
while we achieve our own, creating
sustainable value for our shareholders.
See page 22
Through the markets
we serve
Our market focus targets Consumer Care,
Life Sciences and Performance Technologies
as we look to extend the reach of our smart
science to consumers everywhere. From
sun protection to pharmaceuticals, crop and
battery technologies, these markets touch our
lives every day.
Consumer Care
From 1 January 2021, Personal Care, Home
Care and Iberchem were combined to create
our new Consumer Care sector.
See pages 24 - 29
Growth
Innovation
Sustainability
Consistent top and
bottom-line growth, with
profit growing ahead of
sales, ahead of volume.
The lifeblood of our
business, we seek to
increase the proportion of
NPP (New & Protected
Products) that we sell.
Aligning our business with
our Purpose and accelerating
our customers’ transition to
sustainable ingredients.
Consumer
Care*
Life
Sciences
Performance
Technologies
Our smart science is
helping our customers,
large and small to create
formulations with improved
environmental profiles for
thousands of personal
and home care products
while delivering clear
benefits to consumers.
* Reported as Personal Care
for 2020.
We reach customers
worldwide with our
ingredients to deliver
health care solutions,
protect crops and enhance
seeds. From our vaccine
technologies to
microplastic-free seed
coatings, we are using our
smart science to improve
lives everywhere.
Our innovative, low-carbon,
sustainable and technology-
rich additives and materials
enable the transition of
industrial markets to new
sustainability-driven
solutions. We work with our
customers to help them to
deliver superior
performance, lower carbon,
and greater circularity in
materials, mobility, energy,
and water industries.
Delivered by our shared values
Our distinctive values-led culture governs how we work and guides our relationships with
others. Our shared values of ‘Responsible’, ‘Innovative’ and ‘Together’ focus our work to
ensure our smart science helps to improve lives. For more information on our values see p16.
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Croda International Plc
Annual Report and Accounts 2020
to improve lives™
Croda was founded on the principle of using
smart science to turn bio-based raw materials
into innovative ingredients that help to
improve lives. Our Commitment is to be
Climate, Land and People Positive by 2030.
Through this, and by being the most
sustainable supplier of innovative ingredients,
we will help provide solutions to some of the
world’s biggest challenges. The United
Nations Sustainable Development Goals
(SDGs) are the foundation of our approach.
Our priority SDGs
te Positiv
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Smart science
to improve livesTM
People Po s i
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Fundame n t a l s
By 2030 we will be...
...Climate Positive
We will help our customers to avoid carbon
emissions through the benefits in use of our
innovative ingredients, whilst continually
reducing our carbon footprint. We will
increase our use of bio-based raw materials,
which absorb carbon from the atmosphere.
By combining these efforts, we will enable
four times more carbon emissions to be
avoided than we emit through our operations
and supply chain.
...Land Positive
The use of our agrochemical technologies
helps farmers to increase yields and improve
crop resilience while protecting biodiversity.
Our continual innovation will help customers
to mitigate the impact of climate change and
land degradation, increasing the availability of
land suitable for growing crops. The use of
our products will enable more land to be
saved than is used to grow our bio-based
raw materials.
...People Positive
We use our smart science to improve the
lives of our own employees and people all
around the world. We will contribute to
SDG 3, developing ingredients to improve
health and wellbeing, provide access to our
smart science through our foundation, and
encourage and promote diversity within our
organisation. We will continue to innovate to
increase our positive impact on society.
See page 32
See page 34
See page 35
How we measure the success of our Purpose
Creating Smart science to improve lives™ drives us all but we do not take this for granted.
For details of the ways we measure the success of our Purpose, and the link to our executive
remuneration, see our strategy on p22, our KPIs on p38 and our Remuneration Report on p76 and 80.
Croda International Plc
Annual Report and Accounts 2020
3
Strategic report
Chair’s statement
2020 will be remembered as the year of the global COVID-19 pandemic.
In everything we have done we have endeavoured to treat all our
stakeholders fairly. Compassion and the agility to respond have
been essential.
Anita Frew
Chair
Delivering for all of our
stakeholders
2020 will be remembered as the year of the
global COVID-19 pandemic which has left its
mark on us all. On behalf of the Board, I
would like to thank all our employees around
the world for their continued commitment to
one another and to our customers, which has
been remarkable amidst these challenges.
I am particularly proud of the role we are
playing delivering critical components of the
first approved COVID-19 vaccine that is
helping to pull us through this crisis. More
generally, the pandemic has demonstrated
the resilience of Croda’s culture and
business model.
I am sure I am not alone in feeling deep
sympathy for everyone touched by the
terrible impact of the virus. In everything we
have done this year we have endeavoured
to treat our stakeholders fairly and live up to
our Purpose of using Smart science to
improve livesTM.
A resilient performance
In the first few months of the pandemic, the
Board met weekly to consider Croda’s
response to the crisis, which has been both
4
Croda International Plc
Annual Report and Accounts 2020
rigorous and compassionate. In line with
investor focus on business continuity, we
undertook extensive scenario testing which
confirmed Croda would remain profitable,
cash generative and have sufficient liquidity to
absorb extended uncertainty.
Croda’s business model has proved to be
even more resilient than the scenarios we
tested. Core Business sales for the year
increased by 2.2% to £1,293.9m (2019:
£1,265.9m). Adjusted profit before tax
reduced by 6.7% to £300.6m (2019:
£322.1m). Life Sciences delivered an
outstanding performance through organic
growth and acquisition, most notably in the
Health Care business. Personal Care and
Performance Technologies were both
significantly affected by lockdowns in
response to COVID-19 but sales recovered
well during the second half year. The benefits
of recovery, together with the full-year impact
of recent acquisitions and the COVID-19
vaccine contract, are expected to support
profitable growth across the business.
COVID-19 has been the focus of 2020 but we
also recognise that the other big crises facing
the planet have not gone away. At the
beginning of this year we outlined our
We recognise that we
operate in an ecosystem
where our success and our
positive impact on the world
are dependent on others.”
Commitment to be Climate, Land and
People Positive by 2030. Despite the
pandemic, we have made a strong start on
the journey to become the most sustainable
supplier of innovative ingredients, helping to
provide solutions to some of the world’s
biggest challenges.
A year for compassion, fairness
and flexibility
We have confidence in our ability to deliver
our Purpose and Commitment because of
the team we have and the way we work.
The Board has an important role to play in
promoting a culture that ensures Croda’s
long-term success. This year, in addition to
the relentless focus on the safety of our
colleagues and promoting diversity across the
business, we have focused on defining the
values that make us different as a company.
Our distinctive values-led culture governs how
we work with one another and guides our
relationship with others. We recognise that
we operate in an ecosystem where our
success and our positive impact on the world
are dependent on how we work with all of
our stakeholders.
This year we knew that the COVID-19 crisis
would create challenges for stakeholders
across our entire ecosystem, from our
employee colleagues to small suppliers, large
customers and the local communities where
we operate. Among other efforts, we have
ensured that our colleagues can work from
home or in COVID-secure workplaces. None
of our colleagues was put on furlough and we
moved quickly to provide reassurance that
we had no plans to reduce numbers or
reduce pay and benefits as a result of the
pandemic. We also recognised that some
employees needed to balance caring
responsibilities and work, so encouraged
everyone to work flexibly.
We worked with our colleagues to support
their local communities and offered struggling
customers and suppliers more flexible
payment terms to help them weather the
financial impacts. We also continued to pay
dividends to shareholders in line with the
Board’s commitment to treat all stakeholders
fairly. This has been a year when compassion,
fairness and agility to respond have all
been essential.
Driving value through our Purpose
and strategy
Our agile approach and resilient business
model also allowed us to look beyond the
immediate pandemic and plan for the long
term. Over the summer, the Board and
Executive defined Group strategic priorities
that will deliver longer-term growth.
Alongside sustainability, the disruptive
impact of digital and the opportunities in
emerging markets are driving our thinking,
and, whilst our long-term strategy has not
changed, we have accelerated the delivery
of some immediate priorities.
Our strong balance sheet, low leverage and
robust liquidity allowed us to invest with
confidence to accelerate delivery of our
strategy of enhancing future sales and profit
in consumer-facing markets. We invested
over £120m in organic capital expansion, with
a particular focus in growing Health Care and
innovation, and over £850m in two
acquisitions into key market adjacencies.
Firstly, in support of our near-term priority to
scale drug delivery, we acquired Avanti Polar
Lipids, whose lipid-based technologies are
key to new patient health applications
including mRNA-based vaccines and drugs
to fight COVID-19. Then, in November, we
acquired Iberchem, a global flavours and
fragrances business, in line with our priority to
deliver fast growth in emerging markets,
particularly China. This acquisition was
part-funded by an equity placing, 75% of
which was taken up by existing shareholders,
whom we would like to thank for their
ongoing support.
Refreshing the Board
Following the retirement of Alan Ferguson at
the Annual General Meeting last April, John
Ramsay has taken over as Chair of the Audit
Committee and Helena Ganczakowski has
become Senior Independent Director. I would
like to thank Alan for his excellent insight and
unfailing support during my time as Chair, and
my fellow Board members for their ongoing
commitment, energy and experience under
extraordinary circumstances in 2020.
By reinforcing Croda’s leading position in
high-growth niches, such as consumer care
and patient health, we are targeting more
consistent organic revenue growth. This
will complement our world-class margins
and strong cash generation as part of our
compelling proposition to shareholders.
This year, our resilient performance,
combined with prudent leverage and
dividend distribution over many years,
enabled us to pay dividends to shareholders
and propose a full year dividend of 91.0p
(2019: 90.0p).
Difficult times often cause us to step back
and look again at our priorities. This year,
when I step back and consider our
performance, I am inspired by the strength of
the Croda culture, the commitment of our
employees pulling in the same direction and
our ecosystem of supportive stakeholders. I
am excited by the potential this promises for
the future.
Anita Frew
Chair
Playing a critical role in the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine
Steve Burgess, Chief Scientific Officer
at Avanti Polar Lipids said: “We are
delighted to be playing a critical role in
the scale-up of the Pfizer-BioNTech
COVID-19 vaccine, achieved in
unprecedented time and now being
delivered at pace. It’s an exciting
moment in the development of lipid
drug delivery systems for next-
generation pharmaceuticals. It’s also a
great example of the benefits of Avanti
and Croda coming together, combining
our expertise in lipids that enable drug
products to be delivered into the body
with Croda’s ability to refine the
complex processes to produce the
volumes necessary for roll out
worldwide. We are proud to be on the
Pfizer-BioNTech team and playing our
part in this pioneering science.”
Drug discovery
and research
Phase I to IV
clinical trials
Regulatory review
and approval
Commercialisation
and scale-up
1.
Before the COVID-19 outbreak,
Avanti supplied R&D
quantities of lipid-based drug
delivery technologies to
pharmaceutical companies
developing mRNA drugs
3.
Prior to Croda’s acquisition
of Avanti in August 2020,
Avanti needed a scale-up
partner and engaged
Croda to access health care
R&D capability and lipid
production capacity
5.
Croda/Avanti secured a
contract to supply delivery
system components to
Pfizer-BioNTech
for the COVID-19 vaccine
2.
With the COVID-19
outbreak, mRNA vaccine
candidates were
fast-tracked to phase II clinical trials.
Avanti became a key
supplier of lipid-based delivery
components to the highest
quality and pharmaceutical
regulatory standards known
as GMP or Good
Manufacturing Practice
4.
Croda rapidly re-designed
the component production
process and scaled-up
GMP-compliant production in four
months to support phase III trials.
This drew on our experience of
manufacturing drug delivery systems
and involved redeploying R&D
and engineering capability as
well as fast-tracking £10m
of capital expenditure
6.
Pfizer-BioNTech
COVID-19 vaccine approved
by regulators initially in the UK
and USA; Croda/Avanti
playing critical role in scale-up
of the vaccine that has been
achieved in unprecedented
time and is now being
delivered at pace
Croda International Plc
Annual Report and Accounts 2020
5
Strategic report Chief Executive’s review
During a year in which we have faced unprecedented challenges, the
response and commitment of all our employees to maintain business
continuity and serve our customers has been outstanding. The strength
and quality of Croda’s business model has been further demonstrated.
There is no better example
to demonstrate how we are
using smart science to
improve lives than our
involvement with COVID-19
vaccines and drugs.”
moment in more than 30 years at Croda
came with our support for the Pfizer-
BioNTech vaccine. We are involved in over 60
projects to deliver COVID-19 vaccines and
therapeutic drugs, putting us at the forefront
of the fight against this devastating virus.
Delivering our strategy
The strength and quality of Croda’s business
model has been further demonstrated this
year. Whilst customer demand in certain end
markets has inevitably been impacted by the
crisis, the strength and breadth of our product
portfolio across consumer and industrial
markets, our global footprint and customer
intimacy, together with our flexible
manufacturing model, have all helped to
reduce its impact on financial performance.
This has allowed us to make almost £1bn
of organic and inorganic investments in
fast growth markets of the future, capitalising
on emerging trends in existing and
adjacent markets.
2020 saw the full launch of our sustainability
strategy, as part of our Purpose. By 2030 we
will be Climate, Land and People Positive,
delivering our part in a global commitment to
limit the planetary temperature rise to 1.5ºC.
The need for sustainable solutions is
disrupting markets, creating significant
opportunities for Croda to create market-
leading products whilst ensuring that we
have a positive effect on the environment
and society.
Our strong balance sheet, low leverage and
robust liquidity allowed us to invest with
confidence to accelerate delivery of our
strategy of enhancing future sales and profit
in life science and consumer markets. We
invested over £120m in organic capital
expansion, with a particular focus in growing
Health Care and innovation, and over £850m
on two acquisitions into key market
adjacencies. In Life Sciences, Avanti Polar
research and PPE provision; and have given
financial assistance to the communities
closest to our sites. We paid final and interim
dividends to shareholders in full during 2020.
The response and commitment of all our
employees to maintain business continuity
and serve our customers has been
outstanding. Everyone has shown remarkable
fortitude in the face of an unprecedented
challenge and I am grateful to all Croda
colleagues around the world. All but two of
our 19 principal manufacturing sites have
operated without material disruption, our
research and development (R&D) teams have
had significant laboratory time, protecting our
customers’ innovation pipelines, and our
sales teams have developed even stronger
bonds with customers, supported by
investment to enhance our digital presence.
There is no better example to demonstrate
how we are using Smart science to improve
livesTM than our involvement with the
COVID-19 vaccines and drugs. My proudest
Definitions are in the Finance review on page 43: alternative performance measures, constant currency results,
underlying results, adjusted results, Core Business, return on sales, net debt, leverage ratio and free cash flow.
Adjusted results are stated before exceptional items, acquisition costs and amortisation of intangible assets arising
on acquisition, and tax thereon. Constant currency results reflect current year performance for existing business
translated at the prior year’s average exchange rates.
Steve Foots
Group Chief Executive
Living our Purpose through
our response to COVID-19
Croda’s Purpose is Smart science to improve
lives™. This sits at the heart of everything we
do, not least in the way we responded to the
COVID-19 crisis.
Our priorities during the pandemic have been
to protect the health and safety of our
employees and balance the needs of all our
stakeholders fairly. Almost all our employees
have been able to work effectively, either
onsite, with strict social distancing measures
in place, or from home. We have not
furloughed any employees, reduced pay or
utilised government liquidity facilities. We have
supported our customers and suppliers;
made supplies of free materials available for
hand sanitiser production, COVID-19 vaccine
The Strategic Report was approved by the
Board on 1 March 2021 and signed on its
behalf by Steve Foots.
Steve Foots
Group Chief Executive
6
Croda International Plc
Annual Report and Accounts 2020
Lipids adds market-leading lipid technology to
Croda’s existing patient health capability,
opening the door to supporting not only
COVID-19 projects but a wide variety of future
mRNA and gene therapy drug and vaccine
applications, a journey which starts with the
Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. We are combining
our Personal Care and Home Care
businesses with our acquisition of Iberchem in
fragrances to create a Consumer Care leader.
Iberchem opens up significant synergies as
we are able to service medium-size and
smaller customers with a ‘one-stop-shop’
combining Croda’s critical ingredients and
Iberchem’s on-trend fragrances in stable
formulations. As a result of these
investments, life science and consumer
markets now represent over 80% of
Croda’s profit generation.
A resilient financial performance
Against the backdrop of the extreme
circumstances experienced globally in 2020,
Croda’s financial performance was resilient.
We experienced only a 2.7% decline in
underlying sales, supplemented by acquisition
sales adding 3.8%, to grow overall by 1.1% in
constant currency. In reported currency, sales
increased by 0.9% to £1,390.3m (2019:
£1,377.7m) with the proportion of sales from
NPP products falling slightly to 27.4% (2019:
28.1%). Sales in the second quarter were
hard hit by the first round of global
lockdowns, with Group constant currency
sales almost 12% lower year-on-year.
However, the second half saw a steady
month-on-month improvement in both
consumer and industrial markets, with
encouraging exit sales rates, as underlying
fourth quarter sales recovered to be in line
with prior year in Personal Care and returned
to growth in Performance Technologies. Life
Sciences also returned to strong underlying
double-digit growth in the second half year
and both in-year acquisitions performed well.
The challenging conditions saw adjusted
operating profit 4.0% lower in constant
currency and 5.9% down in reported
currency at £319.6m (2019: £339.7m). This
reflected an adverse mix in both Personal
Care and Performance Technologies, where
demand for higher value-add products was
most impacted by the pandemic. Return on
sales was 23.0% (2019: 24.7%). Adjusted
profit before tax was £300.6m (2019:
£322.1m) and adjusted basic earnings per
share (EPS) were 175.5p (2019: 185.0p). This
was a creditable performance in challenging
market conditions.
Exceptional items, acquisition costs and
amortisation of intangible assets arising on
acquisition increased to £31.1m (2019:
£19.8m), primarily reflecting the acquisition
activity during the year. Profit before tax on an
IFRS basis was £269.5m (2019: £302.3m).
Robust cash generation supporting
continued investment and
increased dividend
In 2020 we delivered robust free cash flow of
£176.9m (2019: £201.7m). This was after
investing in not only our regular capital
programme but also in three key areas where
we have accelerated our organic investment;
innovation; fast growing our China presence;
and scaling our drug delivery platform.
Although many innovation projects were
temporarily paused during lockdown, we
ensured that our R&D teams were able to
access laboratories, protecting our future
innovation pipeline. Adding to over 40 existing
customer innovation centres, we invested in
new centres in the US, in biotechnology in the
UK and in Shanghai.
China offers significant growth opportunities
as part of our ‘fast grow’ strategy. During
2020, we added over 15% to resourcing of
the Croda China team, and delivered a major
upgrade to our digital presence, including a
locally hosted China website. We are also
introducing our successful French botanical
ingredients business to the China market,
where consumers have long been focused on
plant-based beauty and health products.
Drug delivery offers our strongest global
opportunity for growth and we are investing in
new manufacturing capacity to serve these
patient health care markets. We are currently
commissioning a doubling of our US speciality
excipient plant, serving a market growing by
double-digit percentage annually. We also
reprioritised £10m of investment in 2020 to
support the Pfizer contract and other
opportunities from our Avanti acquisition.
Much of this capacity will come on stream
this year to serve growth in 2021 and beyond.
We have supported this organic investment
with our two key acquisitions in 2020; Avanti,
for an initial consideration of US$185m, and
Iberchem, for a total consideration of €820m.
Supporting acquisition debt financing,
Iberchem was part-funded by an equity
placing, which raised gross proceeds of
£627m and was well supported by existing
institutional shareholders which represented
75% of the placing. Our employees and
private shareholders also participated through
the PrimaryBid platform.
Net debt closed the year just above £800m,
with a leverage ratio of 1.8 times EBITDA.
Coupled with resilient earnings in 2020 and
the prudent leverage and dividend policies we
have adopted for many years, we have
weathered the truly challenging conditions of
2020 and the Board has proposed an
increase in the full year ordinary dividend to
91.0p (2019: 90.0p).
Another record year for Life Sciences;
challenges for Personal Care and
Performance Technologies
The standout performance in 2020 was again
in Life Sciences, with record sales and profit,
driven by a strong performance in both
Health Care and Seed Enhancement. With no
discernible negative impact from COVID-19,
sales grew by nearly 15% to £401.6m
(2019: £350.5m) and adjusted operating
profit increased over 20% to £129.4m
(2019: £107.1m), both in reported currency.
With continued growth in higher value-added
niches, return on sales increased by 160
basis points to 32.2% (2019: 30.6%), in line
with our strategy. In Health Care, continued
growth in speciality excipients and vaccine
adjuvants was complemented by the
acquisition of Avanti, with its pipeline of
development and synergistic scale-up
opportunities, beginning with our contract
to supply vaccine delivery components for
COVID-19. Crop Protection continued to
grow sales, excluding the impact of planned
product withdrawals, and Seed Enhancement
returned to double-digit revenue growth.
Life Sciences is now well established as a
fast-growth, high-value business in
Croda’s model.
Personal Care was significantly affected
by lockdowns in response to COVID-19.
This negatively impacted sales by reducing
consumer demand for products associated
with ‘going out’ and by interrupting sales
channels, particularly for prestige products.
Sales were 1.9% lower at £475.9m
(2019: £485.2m) and 6% lower in underlying
terms pre-Iberchem. However, from a low
point in May, sales recovered month-on-
month and were in line with prior year in the
fourth quarter. With a higher proportion of
sales of ‘at home’ use Beauty Formulation
products and a greater sales reduction in the
higher margin Beauty Actives and Beauty
Effects businesses, the adverse mix saw
adjusted operating profit reduced to £136.5m
(2019: £162.1m) and return on sales of
28.7% (2019: 33.4%). We expect sales and
profit to improve when lockdowns lift, luxury
channels re-open and with the significant
cross-selling opportunities provided by the
Iberchem acquisition.
In Performance Technologies, sales were only
3% lower than prior year at £416.4m (2019:
£430.2m) in challenging industrial markets
globally but profitability reduced significantly.
After a good start to the year, sales
progressively weakened during the second
quarter alongside temporary closures of
automotive and industrial plants. The second
half saw a steady recovery, with fourth quarter
sales encouragingly ahead of prior year.
However, adjusted operating profit reduced
by over 20% to £54.0m (2019: £69.4m) and
return on sales was 13.0% (2019: 16.1%),
Croda International Plc
Annual Report and Accounts 2020
7
Strategic report Chief Executive’s review
continued
due to the sector’s higher operating leverage,
lower production at European sites and
adverse profit mix, as volume was more
resilient in lower margin parts of the business.
With a recovery accompanied by growth
in renewable technologies and sustainable
solutions, the sector should become less
cyclical as sales growth and better
margin return.
Regional growth in North America offset
by slower Europe and Asia markets
Sales in all regions were impacted in the
second quarter by governments’ initial
COVID-19 responses. North America and
Latin America returned to underlying sales
growth in the second half of 2020, with North
America also achieving growth across 2020
as a whole. Lockdowns were more extensive
and impactful in Asia and Europe but both
regions achieved flat underlying sales in the
second half year, compared to 2019. In Asia,
China growth rebounded quickly but the key
manufacturing markets of Japan and Korea
remained soft due to the reduction in
foreign tourists.
The North American biosurfactant plant came
online early in 2020. Following a successful
commissioning phase, the plant produced the
majority of our US feedstock demand, allowing
replacement of traditional petrochemical
surfactants with our ECO range of bio-based
products, which deliver identical performance
from sustainable ingredients for the first time.
COVID-19 has adversely impacted short-term
economics, with sanitiser-grade bioethanol in
short supply, resulting in a high raw material
price. In addition, the plant was unable to
operate from September 2020 after the local
regulator raised a number of deficiencies with
regard to air permit limits, which have
tightened over the last few years in line with
lower emissions at the site (p36). As a result,
the operating loss on the plant increased by
£7m on 2019. We expect the plant to be
operational again during the first half of 2021,
allowing progressive development of the
sustainable product pipeline, a move to a
cheaper feedstock and a steady improvement
in profitability.
Our Purpose
At Croda, we believe that delivering a strong
financial performance is only a part of having a
clear, shared purpose; shared with our
employees, our customers and all our
stakeholders. Our Purpose builds deeper
connections throughout the business and
improves our competitiveness, driving the
long-term success of our Company. Our
Purpose is to use Smart science to improve
livesTM and to deliver this we combine our
knowledge, passion and entrepreneurial spirit
to create, make and sell speciality ingredients
that are relied upon by industries and
consumers everywhere.
Croda was built on a foundation of using
smart science to turn renewable raw
materials into innovative ingredients. This
sustainability focus still sits at the core of
what we do, driving innovation to create
market-leading products and ensuring that
we have a positive effect on the environment
and society. By aligning our smart science
with the United Nations Sustainable
Development Goals (SDGs), our sustainability
Commitment is to be Climate, Land and
People Positive by 2030. The impact that
Croda has in these three key areas of
sustainability will be net positive for the
planet. Our commitment is to become the
most sustainable supplier of innovative
ingredients. It is the right thing to do, but it is
also what our customers want and what their
consumers are increasingly demanding.
COVID-19 may have been the challenge of
2020 but creating a sustainable future
remains our biggest long-term challenge.
In 2020, we have continued to drive our
sustainability agenda, establishing interim
goals against which we measure our progress
towards achieving our Commitment. We have
developed decarbonisation roadmaps for our
top ten carbon-emitting sites. In recognition of
Croda’s leading position, we were awarded a
‘Triple A’ ESG rating by stock market agency,
MSCI. We were again recognised as one of
Britain’s top five ‘Most Admired Companies’
and the most admired British chemical
company by Management Today. Since
2015, we have driven a 33.9% reduction in
waste-to-landfill, a 15.4% reduction in our
Green House Gas emissions, and a 25.0%
improvement in our energy mix. We sustained
our process safety performance in 2020, with
no serious incidents or any with major
accident potential. Personal injury
performance also continued to improve,
ahead of our target of 0.6 per 200,000 hours,
with a Total Recordable Injury Rate (TRIR) of
0.54 (excluding recent acquisitions and
COVID-19 cases).
Our bio-based raw material content is now
67% (2019: 63%). Leveraging our position in
renewable raw materials, Croda enables our
customers to meet their sustainability
commitments, driven by consumer demand
as well as regulatory change. In consumer
care markets, we deliver this through ethical
sourcing, sustainable manufacture, focusing
more of our innovation on sustainable
ingredients and through our ingredient
transparency project. This project is
responding to growing consumer demand for
sustainable ingredients and the ‘clean
beauty’ trend, where consumers want to
know what is in the products they use, as
well as how well they perform. Our ECO
biosurfactant plant enables us to produce
sustainable ingredients that deliver identical
performance to their petrochemical peers,
with customers in both the home care and
personal care markets adopting these
bio-based surfactants during 2020.
A purpose-led consumer-facing
ingredients company
Our overall strategy continues to be to drive:
• Growth – consistent top and bottom line
growth, with profit growing ahead of sales,
ahead of volume;
• Innovation – the lifeblood of our business,
we seek to increase the proportion of New
and Protected Products (NPP) that we sell
and formulate into customers’ products;
and
• Sustainability – aligning our business
with our Purpose and accelerating our
customers’ transition to sustainable
ingredients.
Our strategies for each sector are
described below.
Expand to Grow Life Sciences
With its growing margin and exciting
technologies aligned to global health and crop
sustainability trends, we continue to build our
Life Sciences brand as a high value-add
solution provider to our pharmaceutical and
crop customers. We are deploying more
capital in this sector, having accelerated
investment in Life Sciences with organic
expansion of our speciality excipients
business and the acquisition of adjacent
technologies to build a broad drug delivery
business of global scale. Through the
acquisition of Avanti, we added proprietary
lipid technology to Croda’s capabilities in drug
delivery systems. Alongside urgent demand
to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic, this
unlocks a major pipeline of other
opportunities, including mRNA and gene
therapy drug and vaccine technologies. To
rapidly develop this, 2021 will see us invest a
further £40m to expand the Avanti and UK
scale-up facilities. Alongside improving sales
from our recent vaccine adjuvant acquisition,
Biosector, and strong R&D relationships in
Crop Care, we expect to deliver mid to high
single-digit percentage sales growth at
increased margins over the medium term.
Strengthen to Grow Consumer Care
Already recognised as the leading market
innovator, we will strengthen growth in our
Personal Care business. With the acquisition
of Iberchem, together with unlocking the
high-growth potential of our Home Care
business in hygiene and fabric applications,
2021 will see these three legs consolidated
into a Consumer Care sector. This
combination will enable the cross-selling of
our industry-leading Beauty Actives, Beauty
Effects and heritage Beauty Formulation high
performance ingredients with Iberchem’s
on-trend fragrances to both sets of
8
Croda International Plc
Annual Report and Accounts 2020
customers. Iberchem expands Croda’s
access into emerging markets, while Croda
provides Iberchem access to much of Europe
and North America for the first time. We will
be able to offer improved, stable formulations
containing fragrance and a greater range of
sustainable solutions, including our ECO
range of biosurfactants across Beauty
Formulation and Home Care. Consumer Care
offers the opportunity to selectively deploy
more capital, through organic growth,
geographic expansion and bolt-on
acquisition. With a recovery in prestige
consumer markets when lockdowns are
lifted, Iberchem’s consistent record of growth
and new revenue synergies, we expect over
the medium term to achieve mid single-digit
percentage top-line growth and high margins
that reflect the blend of the three businesses.
Refine to Grow Performance
Technologies
We are refining Performance Technologies
to focus on high-tech markets and reduce
exposure to cyclical business. 2020 saw
progress in meeting demands for sustainable
solutions in advanced technologies, focusing
on fast-growth markets in circular plastics,
electric vehicles and other renewable
technologies, such as wind turbines, and
a continued reduction in oil and gas and
some traditional automotive applications.
We are also expanding our geographic
footprint, creating a new innovation centre
to drive our China growth, in the world’s
biggest and fastest-growing industrial
market. We expect to progressively reduce
the cyclical nature of this business, with sales
growth targeting global GDP and steady
margin improvement towards our 20%
target over the medium term.
Alongside our three sector strategies, we are
pursuing key strategic targets across Croda,
to deliver fast growth in China, through
increased investment in sales, innovation and
manufacturing, as set out above; scaling our
biotechnology investment to drive disruptive
technologies and greater sustainability;
increasing the robustness of our global supply
chain to meet customers’ future needs; and
developing the Croda brand as an employer
of choice to continue to recruit and retain the
best entrepreneurs and innovators.
We are also building our digital capability to
continue to improve customer intimacy and
experience, while improving process
efficiency. Our digital transformation
programme extends across our Create, Make
and Sell model. In Create, we are investing in
knowledge management, to further leverage
our global innovation expertise. In Make, we
have introduced real-time monitoring of
production plant performance and are rolling
out a supply chain programme which will
improve stock availability local to the
customer while reducing working capital. In
Sell, with few in-person customer visits
possible during lockdown, we prioritised the
use of digital for customer engagement and
rolled out our Live Chat functionality in 35
countries. This resulted in a third more
website visitors and leads generated from
digital channels, compared to 2019.
Accelerating strategic delivery
through acquisition
We are also continuing to pro-actively search
for M&A opportunities to accelerate our
strategic delivery in the life science and
consumer markets. 2020 saw two key
milestones in delivering this programme. In
August, we completed the acquisition of
Avanti, a US-headquartered business which
makes lipid-based delivery systems for drugs
and vaccines. The latest technology, lipid
nanoparticle (LNP) systems, are increasingly
attractive for the delivery of complex
therapeutic drugs and in next-generation
mRNA vaccines. The acquisition combined
Avanti’s leading position in early-stage
pharma research with Croda’s manufacturing
scale-up expertise. Previously, Avanti’s scale
had not been able to take clinical trial
quantities of successful drug systems into
commercial manufacture. Despite this, Avanti
delivered double-digit percentage CAGR
sales growth between 2016 and 2019, and
the synergistic combination of Avanti and
Croda should unlock this growth
considerably. The acquisition also more than
doubled our Health Care R&D capability, with
100 scientists joining with Avanti.
During 2020, Avanti saw a dramatic increase
in its project pipeline, driven by potential
COVID-19 treatments; in one of these
projects, pre-acquisition, Avanti and Croda
worked together to develop and scale-up an
LNP delivery system for a vaccine candidate.
This development work led to a five-year
non-exclusive contract to supply lipid
components into the Pfizer-BioNTech
COVID-19 vaccine, which we initially
estimated would generate approximately
US$100m of sales in 2021 if the customers’
publicly indicated volumes were required.
Based on contractual commitments received
to date, we now expect a minimum of
US$125m sales in 2021 for this vaccine.
While this was a proud moment for all at
Croda, the vaccine marks an early use of
innovative mRNA technology which is
expected to drive future excipient growth well
beyond COVID-19 in the prevention of other
infectious diseases and treatments, including
cancer. The acquisition also cements the
position of Health Care and the wider Life
Sciences business as a high growth,
high-value part of Croda’s future success.
The second milestone was achieved in
November, when we completed the
acquisition of Iberchem, a global fragrance
and flavour business. Strategically, Iberchem
further increases our exposure to faster
growing consumer care markets and
geographies, with Iberchem having grown at
14% sales CAGR between 2016 and 2020.
With a highly commercial approach to R&D
and its focus on delivering tailor-made
products at speed, Iberchem is strong in
customer niches such as own-brand, regional
and independent brands, a customer profile
that is similar to much of Croda’s own
Personal Care business. It also has over 80%
of its sales in high-growth emerging markets,
a combination with Croda which creates
significant cross-selling opportunities which
are expected to generate nearly €50m of
annualised revenue synergies within five
years. With our leading position in
sustainability, we are also well placed to help
transition Iberchem’s raw material profile onto
a more sustainable platform, a potential
differentiator in the market.
Outlook
While continued COVID-19 restrictions
make the near-term outlook for elements of
our Consumer Care and Performance
Technologies sectors difficult to predict,
2020 sales exit rates were encouraging with
consumer and industrial end markets
showing signs of recovery. Life Sciences is
expected to remain strong. The benefits of
recovery, together with the full year impact
of Avanti, Iberchem and our Pfizer-
BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine contract, are
expected to support profitable growth
across the business.
Through our Purpose, Smart science to
improve livesTM, we will continue to increase
the positive impact our products deliver
for our customers and their consumers,
whilst also reducing the negative impact
our activities have on our fragile world.
The combination of our differentiated
business model, healthy innovation pipeline
and recent investments is expected to
underpin performance and generate value
for all our stakeholders.
Steve Foots
Group Chief Executive
Croda International Plc
Annual Report and Accounts 2020
9
Strategic report Megatrends
Of the megatrends which will drive growth across Croda, three common
themes are sustainability, emerging markets and digital.
Sustainability
COVID-19 has been the focus of 2020 but the
other big crises facing the planet have not
gone away: population growth, the use of
limited resources, the rise of inequality, the
loss of biodiversity, and climate change.
According to experts,1 2010-2020 was the
hottest decade on record, average
temperatures were 1% higher than the
previous ten years and are likely to be 4%
higher by 2050.
These urgent challenges cannot be addressed
without support from business. It is becoming
widely acknowledged that businesses must
serve the interests of all stakeholders; if they
do, they will make an important contribution to
tackling global challenges.
Sustainability makes good commercial sense.
Consumers want products sourced from
natural ingredients that make a positive
contribution to the environment and local
economies. They want to buy goods and
services from purpose-driven companies.
Growing regulation is also forcing businesses
to be more sustainable to maintain
compliance, which is in turn driving innovation.
How we are responding
With our clear Purpose, we are committed to
serving the interests of all stakeholders.
We have used the United Nations (UN)
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as
a practical framework to evaluate where we
can make a meaningful contribution, and to
provide a common language for discussions
with customers and suppliers. Non-financial
metrics are now monitored alongside financial
ones and are linked to the UN’s specific
targets that sit below the SDGs. By 2030
we are committed to being the most
sustainable supplier of innovative ingredients
and to being climate net zero by 2050.
Sustainability underpins the way we think
commercially, technically and operationally
and is the biggest driver of our strategy,
which recognises that long-term value
creation will be driven by the intersection of
innovation and sustainability. We are
supporting this strategy by investing
in sustainability through acquisitions and
partnerships, as well as organic investment.
There is no doubt that
we will use carbon-based
emissions as the final
decision-making criteria…
as we typically would have
done with the price,
the quality, the reliability
as factors that would
have informed purchasing
decisions. Carbon track
record is becoming a
real currency.”
Thomas Udesen
Chief Procurement Officer, Bayer, speaking at Croda’s
investor seminar on sustainability, 20 October 2020
Emerging markets
In terms of economic importance, emerging
markets are starting from a lower base but
are catching up rapidly. The 20-plus countries
that constitute the MSCI Emerging Market
(EM) index are a diverse group, but all boast
high per capita GDP growth, in addition to
growing populations. This economic growth
is enabled by technology and an opening
up of markets, including to foreign capital.
Growing consumption and an expanding
middle class are increasing demand for
consumer goods and health care in these
countries, particularly for products that
improve living standards. This has been a
notable trend in beauty and personal care
markets, particularly in Asia Pacific which is
now almost 40% of the global beauty
market.2 Premium beauty products are also
growing more quickly than the mass market,
with consumers ‘trading up’ to buy higher-
quality and more sustainable products.
How we are responding
Faster EM growth is resulting in a growing
need for consumer products that use our
ingredients. We are seeing increasing
demand for anti-ageing, beauty and health
products as incomes rise and consumers’
expectations change. Croda is well-placed
to respond due to our global network of
local market teams who are close to
customers and understand their needs.
We also put a particular emphasis on
governance, sustainability and business
ethics in emerging markets, in recognition
that market structures are still developing.
We are investing in local research and
development laboratories in growing regions,
as well as manufacturing assets to reduce
supply chain length and bring supply closer
to our customers. A strategic priority for the
Group is to deliver fast growth in Asia where
we are expanding our sales, marketing,
technical and digital resource, investing in
manufacturing capacity for health and
personal care in Japan, and opening a new
innovation and technical centre in Shanghai.
In November 2020, we announced the
acquisition of Iberchem, a global Flavours
and Fragrances business with a strong EM
presence. 83% of Iberchem’s sales are to
EMs, including 25% to China, 22% to Africa
and 17% to the Middle East. Prior to the
acquisition, Croda generated less than 5%
of sales in the Middle East and Africa, so
the combination significantly increases our
EM footprint and creates new revenue
synergy opportunities to leverage respective
customer networks.
Iberchem 2019 sales by region
Asia
Africa
36%
22%
Middle East
17%
Europe
Latin
America
17%
8%
10
Croda International Plc
Annual Report and Accounts 2020
Digital
Digital is a massive disruptor, driving efficiency
and reshaping customer experience. Almost
60%3 of the world’s population now have
access to the internet and they are generating
more data than ever, which can be turned
into information and knowledge. More than
four billion people worldwide now use social
media each month with two million new users
joining them every day. This is increasing the
speed at which new trends are adopted and
enabling the creation of new, often
independent brands.
Consumers, empowered by digitalisation,
have changing expectations. They expect
greater choice and want to know more about
the products they use and the companies
they purchase from. This supports the
sustainability agenda, favouring companies
that innovate responsibly, are transparent
and demonstrate their purpose in their
actions. Digital technologies are also
driving continued globalisation, enabling
organisations to engage directly with people
anywhere, particularly the young and affluent
who are more likely to be digitally savvy.
Digital advancements provide a great
opportunity to reach customers in a
personalised and targeted way. In China,
for example, the significant growth of
livestreaming on social media has created
a whole new purchase channel. COVID-19
has accelerated the drive to digital,
with online sophistication being a clear
differentiating factor in company performance.
How we are responding
Croda’s digital transformation programme
recognises that digital touches every part of
our business – from R&D to operations and
sales and marketing. Our objective is to
improve the customer experience by ensuring
that we are both well connected with our
customers and easy to do business with.
Intensified use of digital is driving our
innovation programme with data science
and artificial intelligence shortening product
development life cycles. This year we have
focused on the digitalisation of our UK
synthesis labs and investment in knowledge
management so we can leverage our global
R&D expertise.
Suppliers who provide
outstanding digital experiences
to their buyers are more than
twice as likely to be chosen
as a primary B2B supplier.”
McKinsey – B2B Digital Inflection Point4
Digital also has a wide range of applications
across operations, supply chain and
procurement. We are using digital to provide
real-time monitoring of plant performance,
predicting and resolving issues to optimise
site operations. The data generated is then
translated into valuable information for our
customers. In this way digital is supporting
our sustainability agenda, by driving
transparency, minimising waste and
ensuring more efficient supply chains.
Our digital sales and marketing activity is
allowing us to target new and existing
customers. Through digital we are delivering
a more personalised customer experience,
giving them instant access to our expertise
through multiple channels, including Live Chat
and eCommerce.
1. IPCC Special Report on Global Warming. https://www.ipcc.ch/sr15/.
2. HSBC Global Beauty Spotlight December 2020.
3. https://www.statista.com/statistics/617136/digital-population-worldwide.
4. https://www.mckinsey.com/business-functions/marketing-and-sales/our-insights/the-b2b-digital-inflection-point-how-sales-have-changed-during-covid-19.
c.60%
of global population
with internet access
New digital path to China
“I’m excited to be leading the biggest project
of my career, the .CN website transformation
project, creating a totally new web experience
for the Chinese market,” said Aung Phyoe
Lynn, Digital Marketing Lead from
Croda Singapore.
“This project is so important to Croda’s digital
programme. It’s a great example of us
improving the customer experience by giving
them personalised content through local,
relevant channels. We have already started to
deliver new websites, within the .CN domain.
Our first metrics are really positive; we’re
seeing lots of new leads from new and
existing customers, encouraging conversions
and a real buzz from our sales teams as to
what will come next.”
“I am particularly pleased by the level
of investment Croda has committed to digital
marketing in China. We are investing in the
latest digital technologies and exploring
China-based platforms, to enhance our
visibility and engagement with new
prospects. For example, we are investing
heavily in social media campaigns on
WeChat, which operates quite differently
from those platforms elsewhere. We have
also built new expertise locally to adapt our
terminology, language and content to
resonate with the Chinese audience.”
The new website, which started roll out
towards the end of 2020, allows Chinese
customers to self-serve, requesting product
information and samples easily online by
themselves. With this website as a
I believe digital
technology will
continue to shape the
way we work and
interact with our
customers at Croda.”
foundation, we will enhance other digital
applications, improve efficiency further and
stay ahead of competition. We can also
collect data from our Chinese target audience
so that we can share targeted messages and
help them with a smooth user journey.
Phyoe added “We have high aspirations for
our digital marketing programme. The new
websites and supporting campaigns bring
many opportunities to generate leads from
some of our customers in tier three cities in
China which salespeople would find difficult
to visit. With this in mind, I believe digital
technology will continue to shape the way
we work and interact with our customers
at Croda.”
Croda International Plc
Annual Report and Accounts 2020
11
Strategic report Business model
We generate long-term value by engaging with customers, creating,
making and selling sustainable and innovative speciality ingredients,
in line with our Purpose.
Our value
chain
Our
sustainable
business
model
Smart science to improve livesTM
Consumer demand
Population growth, changing demographics, our fragile planet and innovations in digital
technologies continually influence consumer demands.
Customer needs
Our customers seek innovative and sustainable ingredients
that meet consumer demands.
Engage
Working closely with our customers and supply chain partners,
we identify consumer needs around the world.
Create
We create sustainable and innovative ingredients
that meet consumer needs.
Make
Our manufacturing sites all run flexible operations to
consistently high standards and our suppliers share our ethical approach.
Sell
We have a direct selling model with sales, technical resource and
warehousing local to our customers.
Customer product
Customers use our innovative and sustainable ingredients to enhance their
products to meet their sustainability commitments and consumers’ needs.
Consumer benefit
Through our customers’ products, our ingredients improve consumers’ lives
including addressing their needs in sustainable ways.
E
C
M
S
12
Croda International Plc
Annual Report and Accounts 2020
Value from people and Purpose
What makes us different
How we create value
ALL
Purpose-led culture
and our people
• We improve lives worldwide
• Attract and retain talent
ALL
Ambitious
Commitment to be
Climate, Land and
People Positive by
2030
• Doing the right thing for our planet is part of delivering
our Purpose
• We respond to increasing customer demand for
sustainably created ingredients providing sustainable
benefits in use
• We provide our customers with reliable sustainability
data on our products
E
C
C
M
M
M
S
S
Extensive Open
Innovation and Smart
Partnering
Valuable protected
intellectual property
know-how and
innovation pipeline
Exceptional product
performance, claims
validation, quality
testing and
regulatory insight
• Collaboration accelerates and enhances sustainable
product development
• New and protected products grow valuable revenue
streams
• Products with intellectual property and unique
characteristics have higher value-add
• Reliable, high-quality and high-value ingredients build
and maintain customer trust
• Identification of regulatory issues and opportunities
during product development maintains customer
loyalty and trust
• Ingredient transparency (what is in the product) is
increasingly key for consumers
Flexible
manufacturing model
providing resilience
• Production focused on local flexible manufacture
rather than continuous operation, ensuring profitability
at lower utilisation and higher margins than peers
Selective acquisitions
and capital
investments, guided
by our Purpose
Supply chain
transparency and
traceability
• Growing position in high-growth niches augmented by
acquisition of knowledge-based businesses
• Reassurance that our supply chain is ethical,
responsible and sustainable maintains customer trust
Intimate customer
relationships
• Direct-to-customer selling model provides insight to
improve product innovation and positioning
Agile local sales and
R&D teams
• Local market insight and ability to respond quickly to
changing customer needs help us to deliver for our
customers every time
Our business model enables delivery of our strategic objectives of growth,
innovation and sustainability. See page 22
“I know what Croda’s
Purpose is and how it
applies to my role”
92%
of R&D colleagues,
2020 pulse survey
Over
100
current innovation
projects with increased
sustainability focus
NPP sales as a %
of total sales
27.4%
(2019: 28.1%)
Winner: Best
supplier award
2020
from Syngenta
531
innovation partnerships
since 2010
Invested in acquisition of
Avanti and Iberchem
>£850m
Global online Live Chat
use increased by
314%
2019-2020
Croda International Plc
Annual Report and Accounts 2020
13
Strategic report
Our stakeholder ecosystem
This year, more than ever, we felt the value of working
closely with partners and supporting every one of our
stakeholders in our ecosystem. Our continued success
and positive impact on the world will be driven by the
strength of these relationships with others.
Our shareholders
We maintain a two-way
dialogue with our
shareholders, so that they
understand and support
our strategy and can
assess our Environmental,
Social and Governance
(ESG) performance.
See page 21
250
attendees – virtual
investor event
on sustainability
Our shareholders
…our success
and our positive
impact on the
world are
dependent on
how we work
with all of our
stakeholders.”
Anita Frew
Chair
£200k
Croda Acts of
Kindness fund
Our communities
Employees at our sites
worldwide are active members
of their local communities.
Understandably, our
neighbours expect us to
act responsibly, safely and
sustainably. We take our
commitment to our
communities seriously, going
further to make a positive
difference and support them
at times of need.
See page 20
Our
communities
Our customers
We work in partnership with our
customers to provide our
innovative and sustainable
ingredients in a way that meets
their commercial and sustainability
goals whilst delivering on our
Purpose. Selling around 7,000
ingredients to over 17,000
customers gives us significant
exposure to customers ranging
from multinational companies to
regional and independent brands.
See page 17
c7,000
speciality chemical
ingredients
Our customers
c17,000
customers worldwide
14
14
Croda International Plc
Croda International Plc
Annual Report and Accounts 2020
Annual Report and Accounts 2020
75%
average pulse survey
response rate
Our people
Our people
We have over 5,600 employees across 30 manufacturing
sites and many more offices and laboratories worldwide.
Our mix of scientists, engineers, sales, customer services,
production and support function experts work together
with a clear, shared Purpose, to use Smart science to
improve lives™. The Croda culture and our values of
‘Responsible’, ‘Innovative’ and ‘Together’ focus and
enable our work.
See page 16
Non-Governmental
Organisations
NGOs rightly engage with
businesses to encourage
them to take responsibility for
their impacts. Understanding
their perspective helps us
support our consumer-facing
customers, maximise our
positive sustainability impact
and protect our reputation.
Manufacturing
sites processing
99%
of our palm oil
derivatives are
RSPO certified
Non-Governmental
Organisations
(NGOs)
Our ecosystem
220
active memberships
of industry
associations
Regulators
and Trade
Associations
Regulators and Trade Associations
The Regulators and Trade Associations we work
with are an essential part of our ecosystem. We
collaborate and share expertise to ensure that
our ingredients are compliant and aligned with
regulations worldwide while providing a true and
sustainable benefit to consumers.
Section 172(1) Statement
The Board of Directors confirm that
during the year under review, it has
acted to promote the long-term
success of the Company for the benefit
of shareholders, whilst having due
regard to the matters set out in section
172(1)(a) to (f) of the Companies Act
2006, being:
a. the likely consequences of any
decision in the long term
b. the interests of the Company’s
employees
c. the need to foster the Company’s
business relationships with
suppliers, customers and others
d. the impact of the Company’s
operations on the community and
the environment
e. the desirability of the Company
maintaining a reputation for high
standards of business conduct
f. the need to act fairly between
members of the Company
The information on pages 14 to 21 in
the Strategic report should be read in
conjunction with the information
provided in the Corporate governance
report on pages 50 to 105. The
content on these pages constitutes our
s.172 Statement, as required under the
Companies (Miscellaneous Reporting)
Regulations 2018.
199
suppliers completed
EcoVadis survey
Our suppliers
Our innovation
partners
531
innovation
partners
Photo courtesy of
Karène Volpato / UEBT
Our suppliers
Supply chain integrity is critical to delivering a sustainable business.
In addition to the usual criteria of quality and reliability, we choose
suppliers who share our standards for ethics, labour and human
rights, the environment and sustainable sourcing. We work closely
to help them understand and align with our values and standards,
providing them with best practice guidance and tools to measure,
improve and promote their sustainability efforts.
See page 18
Our innovation partners
Our R&D advances are increasingly
driven by our innovation
partnerships. These partners
include leading international
universities, SMEs, biotechnology
companies, research institutes
and our customers. Our Smart
Partnerships and Open Innovation
projects enable collaborations that
focus on our Commitment to
sustainability so that we can
improve lives together.
See page 19
Croda International Plc
Annual Report and Accounts 2020
15
Strategic report Our stakeholders
Our people: We have over 5,600 employees across 30 manufacturing
sites and many more offices and laboratories worldwide. Our mix of
scientists, engineers, sales, customer services, production and
support function experts work together with a clear, shared Purpose,
to use Smart science to improve lives™.
Our people, culture
and values
At Croda, we share a clear sense of Purpose
and are motivated by our Commitment to be
the most sustainable supplier of innovative
ingredients. Our distinctive ‘One Croda’
culture guides the way we work and helps us
to attract and retain the first-class people we
need, by enabling collaboration and skills
development. To ensure our long-term
success, we have defined the values that
make us different as a Company,
encouraging our people to be ‘Responsible’,
‘Innovative’ and to work ‘Together.’
Working together
During the pandemic, our people have been
outstanding. Whether as part of a socially
distanced onsite manufacturing team or from
home while juggling caring commitments,
they have kept delivering for our customers.
We have supported and listened to our
people in many ways including pulse surveys,
newsletters, webcasts, video team meetings,
listening groups and social networks.
Despite the challenges, close to 100% of our
people completed some form of training this
year. We have also added 2,000 online
courses to our learning management system
and introduced a new secondment scheme
to accelerate career development.
In 2020 we ran 11 pulse surveys; five related
to COVID-19, four related to the roll out of our
Purpose and two focused on engagement.
The engagement pulse surveys achieved an
average 75% response rate.
• set out early in the pandemic that we
would not be furloughing staff or making
people redundant;
• applied strict safety protocols for people
working on our sites including PPE, hand
sanitiser, remote handovers and social
distancing procedures;
• supported staff working at home;
• protected pay and benefits so that those
self-isolating, unwell or with caring
responsibilities were supported; and
• provided wellbeing programmes.
Croda Purpose and application to role
100
92
94
s
e
s
n
o
p
s
e
r
%
Director/
Senior Manager
Manager
Team Leaders
Managerial status
Percentage of managers in Global R&T who answered
“agree” or “strongly agree” to the statement “I know
what Croda’s Purpose is and how it applies to my role”.
Facing the COVID-19 challenge
During the global pandemic, our people were
affected by uncertainty and practical impacts.
They were naturally concerned for their safety,
for the health of their loved ones and for their
financial security. To support them we:
Our people and our sustainability
Commitment
As part of our Commitment to be People
Positive by 2030, we are encouraging and
promoting diversity. This year we have
established a programme to understand our
diverse representation in terms of race/
ethnicity, sexuality and disability. We
published flexible working guidance globally
and are running a mentoring programme, as
part of a continued drive to improve gender
diversity, with the aim of doubling the number
of women in senior decision-making roles by
2025 and achieving overall gender balance
by 2030.
For more information on the progress we
are making see the People Positive update
see p35.
Keeping our colleagues safe and feeling
supported through COVID-19
The health and wellbeing of our employees throughout
the COVID-19 pandemic is our primary concern. We
had to swiftly respond to changing needs to keep
employees safe whilst working and continuing to
manufacture our ingredients, many of which are used
in items critical to combating the virus.
Our CEO and leaders at every level of the Company
globally gave regular updates, held town hall meetings,
recorded videos and sent out written communications.
We also published short pulse surveys to provide
employees with a way of sharing anonymous
feedback about how they were feeling and how the
Company was managing the crisis from their
perspective. Local managers also encouraged
feedback and maintained contact with staff working
remotely through online quizzes, digital coffee breaks
and even virtual cocktail hours.
Early in the pandemic, we assured all employees that
there were no plans to reduce employee numbers or
reduce regular salaries and benefits as a result of
COVID-19. We understood some employees needed
to balance caring responsibilities and work, so
encouraged people to work flexibly as required.
For those employees working onsite, we focused on
making life as easy and as safe as possible – with
remote handovers, provision of PPE including hand
sanitiser, and training in new procedures to keep
everyone safe.
Where employees, especially those working shifts,
reported that they were struggling to access essential
food items, which were in short supply at points during
the first wave of the pandemic, we arranged for food
and cleaning items to be made available for home use.
There was an important focus on mental health in all
our regions and we increased the provision of
Employee Assistance Programmes in some countries
and provided direct access to doctors and medical
teams. We delivered online training courses aimed at
the management of safety and health during the
pandemic including mental health. In addition, our
employees recorded podcasts sharing specific tips
and information about safety and wellbeing.
We continued to operate as close to normal as
possible during the pandemic, offering support and
flexibility to our employees whose commitment has
been outstanding in such difficult circumstances.
They continued to work hard for our customers
despite the challenges they faced.
75%
average pulse survey
response rate
16
Croda International Plc
Annual Report and Accounts 2020
Our customers: We work in partnership with our customers to provide our innovative
and sustainable ingredients in a way that meets their commercial and sustainability
goals whilst delivering on our Purpose. Selling around 7,000 ingredients to over
17,000 customers gives us significant exposure to customers ranging from
multinational companies to regional and independent brands.
Our customers, insight
and excellence
We work in partnership with over 17,000
customers, large and small, to provide our
innovative and sustainable ingredients in a
way which meets their commercial and
sustainability goals while delivering on our
Purpose. By selling direct to customers and
collaborating with them at our 46 innovation
centres around the globe, we gain a detailed
insight into their current and future needs,
helping us to identify new opportunities.
With regulations an increasingly important
driver of customer requirements, we also
work closely with Regulators and Trade
Associations to gather intelligence, ensure
that our ingredients are compliant with
regulatory frameworks worldwide, and
advocate for more stringent targets to
improve the sustainability of our industry as a
whole (see p15 of this document or p39 of
our Sustainability Report for more).
Working together
2020 tested and confirmed our levels of
customer intimacy as we were able to
continue delivering for our customers through
our focus on health and safety.
Despite the pandemic, we enhanced our
customer relationships in emerging markets,
more than doubling our footprint in the Middle
East and Africa when we acquired Iberchem,
and enhancing our network in Asia through
investment in sales, digital, technical and
production capabilities.
To help increase our focus on consumer
ingredients for our Home Care and Personal
Care customers, we have created a new
Consumer Care sector. Through the
Iberchem acquisition, we also extended
our full-service offering to customers
by adding fragrances to our range and
formulation capabilities.
314%
increase in online
Live Chat
since 2019
Nicole Schumacher
Global Account
Manager
Recognition for supporting
customers with their
sustainability goals and
good service
This year the Crop Protection
team within our Life Sciences
sector were delighted to win the
Syngenta Supplier Partnership
Award at their 2020 Virtual
Syngenta Supplier Conference.
The event, held every two years,
is an opportunity for Syngenta to
speak directly to its suppliers about
their strategy and direction, and
for them to recognise and celebrate
those suppliers who make the most
significant contributions.
In presenting the Supplier
Partnership Award to Croda,
Marie-Odile Zink, Head of
Co-Formulants Procurement at
Syngenta, highlighted Croda’s
great customer service and
responsiveness, our innovation
and support on multiple projects
around the world, and especially
our support of Syngenta’s
sustainability goals.
Nicole Schumacher, Croda’s
Global Account Manager for
Syngenta also said: “It is
encouraging to see the degree
of alignment between both
companies around innovation and
sustainability. It is great to see our
hard work and commitment being
acknowledged in this way.”
Our customers and our sustainability
Commitment
The strength of our customer partnerships
provides immediate insights and fuels our
continuous innovation. This drives the
creation of ingredients to help these
customers to meet their own sustainability
goals by providing a benefit in use with
reduced environmental impact. In parallel
we are able to continue to align our business
with the United Nations Sustainable
Development Goals (SDGs) and meet our
own Commitment.
Facing the COVID-19 challenge
Across our business, our direct-selling model
and unique level of customer intimacy were
maintained as everyone transitioned into the
‘virtual world’ due to COVID-19. Attendance
numbers for our regular webinars and use of
our Live Chat facility increased. Our continued
investments in our digital capabilities helped
our global selling network to continue to
provide unrivalled customer contact through
instant access to our expertise and a more
personalised digital experience.
With multiple touch points located close to
our customers locally, and our digital
capabilities, we have worked in partnership to
understand changing customer needs and
product demands during this pandemic.
We have also supported customers with
flexible payment terms and have prioritised
manufacture and supply of our ingredients for
applications that are combating COVID-19.
These range from sanitisers to PPE and
crucially our pharmaceutical excipients now
established in a global COVID-19 vaccine.
Croda International Plc
Annual Report and Accounts 2020
17
Strategic report Our stakeholders continued
Our suppliers: Supply chain integrity is critical to deliver a sustainable business.
In addition to the usual criteria of quality and reliability, we choose suppliers who
share our standards for ethics, labour and human rights, the environment and
sustainable sourcing. Our partnership with our suppliers goes beyond acquiring
products and services. We work closely to help them understand and align with
our values and standards, providing them with best practice guidance and tools
to measure, improve and promote their sustainability efforts.
Our suppliers and
shared values
Our suppliers play an integral role in our ability
to create, make and sell our diverse range of
innovative ingredients and, in return, we are
committed to sharing benefits equitably
across the supply chain. Our partnership with
suppliers goes beyond acquiring their
products and services. We source from those
who share our values and help them to
measure and improve their sustainability
credentials. We partner with EcoVadis, a
global supplier audit firm, to ensure suppliers
are operating safely, ethically and responsibly,
and to drive improved practices.
Most of our carbon emissions lie within our
supply chain. To achieve our Science Based
Targets, we collaborate with suppliers and
work with CDP Supply Chain, a not-for-profit
global disclosure charity, to collate data about
their environmental impact.
Working together
In 2020 we appointed a Global Head of
Sustainable Sourcing to strengthen supplier
relationships and to improve product
composition data, enabling us to meet our
commitment to deliver ingredient
transparency to our customers. We issued a
new Code of Conduct to ensure clear
communication of our sustainability standards
to suppliers globally.
We also work closely with Non-Governmental
Organisations representing consumer
interests on issues such as the sustainable
sourcing of palm oil derivatives.
Understanding their perspective on supply
chain management helps us support our
customers, maximise our positive
sustainability impact and protect our
reputation (see p38 of our Sustainability
Report for more).
Facing the COVID-19 challenge
Supply chains have been tested during 2020.
Our strong supplier partnerships enabled us to
maintain the supply of raw materials and
services to our sites with minimal disruption. In
return, we have offered flexible payment terms
to suppliers, so that they can benefit from the
strength of the Croda business model.
Our suppliers and our
sustainability Commitment
Supply chain integrity is critical to deliver a
sustainable business. Our choice of suppliers
will continue to be fundamental in helping us
achieve our 2030 targets. We did not let the
challenges of 2020 distract us from our
Commitment and have continued supplier
engagements through RSPO Certification,
CDP Supply Chain and EcoVadis
assessments. This work will continue into
2021 and beyond until we have full
transparency in all aspects of our
supply chains.
The Union for Ethical BioTrade
(UEBT) is a non-profit
association that promotes
sourcing with respect. This
year, Sederma, our skin actives
business, became a fully
accredited member of the
UEBT. This means Sederma
commits to continuously
develop and integrate ethical
sourcing practices in plant
collection areas, respecting
traditional know-how,
improving the living conditions
of local populations, and
mastering traceability of raw
materials of natural origin.
Photo courtesy of Karène Volpato / UEBT
199
suppliers completed
EcoVadis survey
18
Croda International Plc
Annual Report and Accounts 2020
Our innovation partners: Our R&D advances are increasingly driven by our
innovation partnerships. These partners include leading international universities,
SMEs, biotechnology companies, research institutes and our customers.
Our Smart Partnerships and Open Innovation projects enable collaborations that
focus on our Commitment to sustainability so that we can improve lives together.
Open Innovation partners and initiated projects
600
500
400
300
200
100
455
372
254
191
188
226
129
136
498
531
265
288
40
2010-2014
0
75
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
No of projects initiated
No of partners
Facing the COVID-19 challenge
One third of the 46 innovation centres that
we operate globally remained open
throughout the pandemic and all returned
to operation during the year, providing access
to our R&D teams and protecting our future
innovation pipeline.
Although many of our sponsored PhD
students were sent home as universities
closed, we held meetings online, reviewing
progress and setting priorities, so that work
could continue. We also extended funding
arrangements for PhD students
where necessary.
Our innovation partners and our
sustainability Commitment
Many of our Open Innovation partnerships
focus on improving processes and
ingredients as part of our Commitment to be
Climate, Land and People Positive by 2030.
For example, we work with partners to help
access the latest scientific advances in
biotechnology. Each project aims to either
improve the sustainability of the way we
manufacture our ingredients or create new
ingredients that deliver sustainability benefits
for our customers and their consumers.
Our innovation partners
and NPP
Our innovation strategy combines internal
R&D with external technology investments
and Open Innovation partnerships, which
create unique opportunities to collaborate
with leading scientists in universities and
SMEs. These partnerships enable us to
access world-class expertise and facilities
to drive innovation whilst reducing time-to-
market. They also allow us to share our
know-how about formulations and the
commercial application of science with
our partners.
Together we are finding new ways to develop
ingredients and manufacturing processes
that deliver better results for our customers
with less impact on the planet. Over the
last ten years, the strategic importance of
Open Innovation partnerships has grown
significantly, as has the number of
partnerships we enter and projects we create.
Our partners contribute to the high proportion
of New and Protected Products we sell
and the continued differentiation of our
ingredient portfolio.
Working together
The technology investments we made in
2020 are aligned with our sustainability
strategy, allowing us to offer innovative metal
oxides for sun protection, cellulose powders
made from by-products of the Canadian
forestry industry for skin care, and probiotic
cleaning agents for home care. We currently
run over 100 active Open Innovation projects,
involving our top Croda scientists working
alongside our partners, from world-leading
academics to major international customers,
to develop new products and processes.
531
innovation partners
Croda International Plc
Annual Report and Accounts 2020
19
Strategic report Our stakeholders continued
Our communities: Employees at our sites worldwide are active members of their local
communities. Understandably, our neighbours expect us to act responsibly, safely and
sustainably. We take our commitment to these communities seriously, going further to
make a positive difference and support them in their times of need.
Our communities and
why they matter
We rely on the trust of people in our local
communities to operate effectively and
deliver for our customers. Understandably,
our neighbours expect us to act
responsibly, safely and sustainably, but we
go further and aim to make a positive
difference. Our 1% Club, launched over 15
years ago, enables all employees to give
1% of their working time to charitable
activities, targeting local communities. We
also aim to create educational opportunities
for local students, particularly those
studying “STEM” subjects: Science,
Technology, Engineering and Maths.
We have paid a living wage to all UK
employees since 2018. Through our
partnership with the Fair Wage Network,
and commitment to pay the living wage to
all regularly employed contractors as well
as employees by the end of 2024, we are
helping to provide financial security across
our communities globally.
Working together
This year more than ever we have reached
out to support our local communities in
their time of need. Through our Acts of
Kindness initiative, established to support
our local communities during the COVID-19
pandemic, our employees nominated local
charities and causes where we could make
a difference.
For the longer term we have incorporated
the Croda Foundation, to deliver our People
Positive Commitment of applying our
innovation to increase the positive impact
we make on society. The Foundation is an
independent charitable trust, solely funded
by Croda, but with its own Board of
Adriana Nobre
Operations Head
for Latin America
20
Croda International Plc
Annual Report and Accounts 2020
Trustees and a global reach. Its role is to
oversee the delivery of philanthropic projects
sponsored by Croda, prioritising those that
use our smart science and technologies to
improve the lives of people in the
communities where we operate.
Facing the COVID-19 challenge
Many of our communities worldwide have
been impacted by the pandemic, with
concerns for safety, virus control and financial
insecurity. We have responded through our
Acts of Kindness initiative, providing acute
relief and support to those facing hardships.
Our popular STEM programme has proved
particularly useful during this time of increased
home-schooling for children. Our sites have
kept local communities informed about our
response and used their smart science to
make items such as hand sanitisers available
to local schools, nurseries and residential
homes for the elderly.
Our communities and our sustainability
Commitment
During 2020 we incorporated the Croda
Foundation. We aim to improve the lives of
one million people in the communities in
which we operate by 2030, a key pillar of our
Commitment to be People Positive.
Our Acts of Kindness
initiative helped the
Kayapo tribe in the
forests of the Amazon to
fight COVID-19
Acts of
Kindness fund
£200k
Acts of Kindness reach the Kayapo tribe in
the Amazon forest
In April we offered our employees the opportunity to
nominate local causes and charities to receive a
£10,000 of support from their Croda location. In total,
we set aside a fund of £200,000 for this Acts of
Kindness activity and our teams reacted immediately,
nominating a wide variety of worthwhile causes and
vulnerable groups to help.
In Brazil, our Campinas-based team used their fund to
support several local groups. They donated personal
hygiene items to a local nursing home for the elderly
and provided food boxes for residents of a favela,
helping 200 of the most vulnerable local families. The
food boxes supplied a month’s worth of food and
each family received these boxes for four months.
The Brazilian team also gifted 100,000 soap bars to
the Kayapo, an indigenous tribe living in the
Capoto-Jarina reservation in the Amazon forest.
Increased hand washing with soap is an effective way
to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 and this
donation is helping indigenous peoples in the region to
protect themselves from the pandemic.
Access to soap is difficult for these tribes as they do
not live in a cash economy and together with the
absence of medical assistance, this leaves them
extremely vulnerable to the pandemic and to other
health issues. They often live in remote villages where
access is challenging and resources are limited.
Adriana Nobre, Director and Operations Head for Latin
America said “This is a cause that is very close to the
hearts of my team and they were particularly proud
and happy to be able to step forward and help with a
Croda Acts of Kindness donation. The whole team
was excited to provide this support which made a
difference to the vulnerable but important Kayapo
communities who play a key role in the protection
of our environment.”
Our shareholders: We maintain a two-way dialogue with our
shareholders so that they understand and support our strategy
and can assess our Environmental, Social and Governance
(ESG) performance.
£627m
of new equity to part-fund
the acquisition of
Iberchem
Our shareholders and
open dialogue
We are committed to considering shareholder
interests and maintaining open and
regular dialogue with them as the owners
of our Company and main source of
long-term funding.
Working together
In November we raised gross proceeds of
£627m new equity to part-fund the
acquisition of Iberchem, the largest M&A-
related placing on the London Stock
Exchange in 2020. We followed the principle
of pre-emption, ensuring existing institutional
shareholders received at least their pro-rata
allocation. We also allocated the maximum
permitted number of shares to smaller
shareholders and employees through a
separate retail offer.
Facing the COVID-19 challenge
At the start of the outbreak, in line with
investor focus on business continuity, we
undertook extensive scenario testing which
confirmed Croda had sufficient liquidity to
absorb extended uncertainty.
We provided more regular and detailed
disclosure during the COVID-19 crisis,
publishing trading updates and more detailed
information about our employees and other
stakeholders. We also embraced digital
communications to engage investors at virtual
conferences and events.
Croda’s business model has proven resilient
with all but two of our 19 principal
manufacturing sites operating without material
disruption throughout the pandemic. This
resilient performance, combined with prudent
leverage and dividend distribution over many
years, enabled us to pay dividends to
shareholders in line with the Board’s
commitment to treat all stakeholders fairly.
Equity placing
• £627m (gross proceeds) raised
through institutional and retail offers
• Institutional offer c4x oversubscribed
• Over 100 institutions supported the
institutional offer
• c75% placing allocated to existing
shareholders
• Retail offer c2x oversubscribed
• Maximum retail allocation permitted
under UK regulations
Our shareholders and our sustainability
Commitment
We continue to increase engagement on
ESG topics with both non-holders and
long-standing shareholders and see an
increasing proportion of specialist investors
on our register.
As well as hosting an investor seminar on
sustainability in October which attracted 250
participants, we created a single “sign-
posting” website page and a data pack
collating non-financial information for
investors. Priorities for 2021 are continued
assessment of the carbon benefits of Croda’s
products in use and the application of the EU
taxonomy to Croda.
For more information on our communication
with shareholders see page 60.
Croda International Plc
Annual Report and Accounts 2020
21
Strategic report
A strategy for a changing world
Our corporate strategy and our sector priorities are clearly linked to our Purpose,
to use our Smart science to improve livesTM. They are enabled by our business
model and powered by our people and strong relationships across our entire
stakeholder ecosystem. This long-established strategy delivers value for
shareholders, even in years of change and challenge worldwide.
Group strategic objective
We achieve this through
What we have done in 2020
Our priorities in 2021
KPIs
Risks
Growth
Consistent top and
bottom-line growth, with
profit growing ahead of
sales, ahead of volume.
Innovation
The lifeblood of our
business, we seek to
increase the proportion of
NPP (New & Protected
Products) that we sell.
Sustainability
Aligning our business
with our Purpose and
accelerating our
customers’ transition to
sustainable ingredients
• Sharing a clear Purpose
• Applying a strong and
resilient business model
(p12)
• Using our unrivalled local
selling capability, with local,
direct and digital selling
• Creating a balanced global
manufacturing footprint
• Following a proactive and
targeted M&A programme,
investing in high-return
opportunities
• Applying a disciplined
approach to capital
allocation
• Investing in our own R&D
application and regional
innovation centres
• Working closely with
customers to better
understand their needs
• Identifying disruptive
technologies
• Working with Open
Innovation partners
• Acquired Avanti Polar Lipids LLC, a
US-based business creating delivery
systems for pharmaceutical products,
expanding our portfolio in Life Sciences
(p26)
• Acquired Iberchem, a global Fragrances
and Flavours business, strengthening our
presence in consumer care markets (p24)
• Delivered increased sales despite the
pandemic, driven by second half recovery
and acquisitions
• Invested over £120m in further
manufacturing capability, including
speciality excipients, and opportunities
that leverage Avanti’s expertise
• Increase capability in
sales, marketing,
R&D, digital expertise
and skills in Asia
• Realise the value of a
new full-service
offering for Personal
Care and Home Care
through our new
Consumer Care
sector
• Continue to scale our
drug delivery business
• Integrate our
acquisitions
• Enabled our R&D teams to access
• Scale our
laboratories safely during COVID-19
restrictions, protecting our future
innovation pipeline
• Added proprietary lipid technology to our
capabilities in drug delivery systems
through the acquisition of Avanti
• Upgraded innovation centres in Shanghai,
the UK and USA enabling us to work
more closely with local and global
customers
• Continued to invest in our digital
programme across the create, make and
sell areas of our business model (p12)
biotechnology
expertise, increasing
investment and smart
partnerships to scale
up, in line with sector
and sustainability
goals
• Continue to build our
digital capability in
knowledge
management
• Creating ingredients that
provide a benefit in use
with reduced environmental
impact
• Established interim goals against which
we are measuring our progress towards
meeting our 2030 sustainability
Commitment
• Aligning our business with
• Developed decarbonisation roadmaps for
the United Nations
Sustainable Development
Goals (SDGs)
• Identifying the short,
medium, and long-term
time horizons and specific
climate-related risks and
opportunities which could
have a material financial
impact on us
our top ten carbon-emitting sites
• Continued to increase the positive impact
of our actions and deliver benefits for our
customers and consumers
• Started to replace traditional
petrochemical surfactants with our ECO
range of bio-based products
• Identified impacts to products and our
supply/value chain under various
climate-related scenarios. Identified
adaptation and mitigation activities and
invested in R&D and operations to
increase resilience
• Continue assessment
of the carbon benefits
of Croda’s products
in use
• Begin implementation
of decarbonisation
roadmaps for our top
ten sites
• Develop
decarbonisation
roadmaps for our
other sites
• Continue to monitor
where our strategies
may be affected by
climate-related risks
and opportunities,
extending work
already done for
recent acquisitions
22
Croda International Plc
Annual Report and Accounts 2020
• Revenue generation in
established and
emerging markets
• Our people — culture,
wellbeing, talent
development and
retention
• Core Business
sales growth %
• Return on sales %
• Adjusted basic
earnings per share
(EPS)
• Operating profit,
earnings per share
growth as well as
relative Total
Shareholder Return
are metrics used for
executive
remuneration (p80)
• New and Protected
• Product and technology
Products (NPP) % of
innovation and
Group sales
protection
• An NPP metric is
• Digital technology
used for executive
remuneration (p80)
innovation
• Our people — culture,
wellbeing, talent
development and
retention
• Total Recordable
• Delivering sustainable
Injury Rate
solutions — Climate
• Absolute scope 1 and
Positive
2 emissions and
scope 1 and 2
emissions intensity
• Land area saved
• Number of lives
• Product quality/liability
claims
• Loss of significant
manufacturing site
• Suppliers and raw
improved (through the
material security
use of Croda
ingredients)
• Product stewardship
and chemical regulatory
• KPIs aligned to the
compliance
delivery of our Climate
• Ethics and compliance
and Land Positive
Commitments are
used for executive
remuneration (p80)
Group strategic objective
We achieve this through
What we have done in 2020
Our priorities in 2021
KPIs
Risks
• Sharing a clear Purpose
• Acquired Avanti Polar Lipids LLC, a
• Increase capability in
• Applying a strong and
resilient business model
(p12)
• Using our unrivalled local
selling capability, with local,
direct and digital selling
• Creating a balanced global
manufacturing footprint
• Following a proactive and
targeted M&A programme,
investing in high-return
opportunities
• Applying a disciplined
approach to capital
allocation
US-based business creating delivery
sales, marketing,
systems for pharmaceutical products,
R&D, digital expertise
expanding our portfolio in Life Sciences
and skills in Asia
(p26)
• Realise the value of a
• Acquired Iberchem, a global Fragrances
new full-service
and Flavours business, strengthening our
offering for Personal
presence in consumer care markets (p24)
Care and Home Care
• Delivered increased sales despite the
pandemic, driven by second half recovery
and acquisitions
through our new
Consumer Care
sector
• Invested over £120m in further
manufacturing capability, including
• Continue to scale our
drug delivery business
speciality excipients, and opportunities
• Integrate our
that leverage Avanti’s expertise
acquisitions
• Investing in our own R&D
• Enabled our R&D teams to access
• Scale our
application and regional
laboratories safely during COVID-19
biotechnology
innovation centres
restrictions, protecting our future
• Working closely with
customers to better
understand their needs
• Identifying disruptive
• Working with Open
Innovation partners
innovation pipeline
• Added proprietary lipid technology to our
capabilities in drug delivery systems
through the acquisition of Avanti
the UK and USA enabling us to work
more closely with local and global
customers
• Continued to invest in our digital
programme across the create, make and
sell areas of our business model (p12)
expertise, increasing
investment and smart
partnerships to scale
up, in line with sector
and sustainability
goals
• Continue to build our
digital capability in
knowledge
management
technologies
• Upgraded innovation centres in Shanghai,
Growth
Consistent top and
bottom-line growth, with
profit growing ahead of
sales, ahead of volume.
Innovation
The lifeblood of our
business, we seek to
increase the proportion of
NPP (New & Protected
Products) that we sell.
Sustainability
Aligning our business
with our Purpose and
accelerating our
customers’ transition to
sustainable ingredients
medium, and long-term
time horizons and specific
climate-related risks and
opportunities which could
have a material financial
impact on us
• Creating ingredients that
• Established interim goals against which
• Continue assessment
provide a benefit in use
we are measuring our progress towards
with reduced environmental
meeting our 2030 sustainability
impact
Commitment
of the carbon benefits
of Croda’s products
in use
• Aligning our business with
• Developed decarbonisation roadmaps for
• Begin implementation
the United Nations
Sustainable Development
Goals (SDGs)
our top ten carbon-emitting sites
• Continued to increase the positive impact
of our actions and deliver benefits for our
• Identifying the short,
customers and consumers
• Identified impacts to products and our
• Continue to monitor
• Started to replace traditional
petrochemical surfactants with our ECO
range of bio-based products
supply/value chain under various
climate-related scenarios. Identified
adaptation and mitigation activities and
invested in R&D and operations to
increase resilience
of decarbonisation
roadmaps for our top
ten sites
• Develop
decarbonisation
roadmaps for our
other sites
where our strategies
may be affected by
climate-related risks
and opportunities,
extending work
already done for
recent acquisitions
• Revenue generation in
established and
emerging markets
• Our people — culture,
wellbeing, talent
development and
retention
• Core Business
sales growth %
• Return on sales %
• Adjusted basic
earnings per share
(EPS)
• Operating profit,
earnings per share
growth as well as
relative Total
Shareholder Return
are metrics used for
executive
remuneration (p80)
• New and Protected
Products (NPP) % of
Group sales
• Product and technology
innovation and
protection
• An NPP metric is
• Digital technology
used for executive
remuneration (p80)
innovation
• Our people — culture,
wellbeing, talent
development and
retention
• Delivering sustainable
solutions — Climate
Positive
• Product quality/liability
claims
• Loss of significant
manufacturing site
• Suppliers and raw
material security
• Product stewardship
and chemical regulatory
compliance
• Ethics and compliance
• Total Recordable
Injury Rate
• Absolute scope 1 and
2 emissions and
scope 1 and 2
emissions intensity
• Land area saved
• Number of lives
improved (through the
use of Croda
ingredients)
• KPIs aligned to the
delivery of our Climate
and Land Positive
Commitments are
used for executive
remuneration (p80)
See page 38
See page 46
Strategic priorities
By sectors
Across sectors
Strengthen
to Grow
Consumer Care*
Already recognised as the leading market
innovator, we will strengthen growth in our
Personal Care business. With the acquisition
of Iberchem, together with unlocking the high
growth potential of our Home Care business,
2021 will see these three legs consolidated
into a Consumer Care sector.
* Reported as Personal Care in 2020.
See page 24
Expand to Grow
Life Sciences
With its growing margin and exciting
technologies aligned to global health and
crop sustainability trends, we continue to
build our Life Sciences brand as a high
value-add solution provider to our
pharmaceutical and crop customers.
See page 26
Refine to Grow
Performance
Technologies
We are refining Performance
Technologies to focus on high-tech
markets and reduce exposure to
cyclical business.
See page 28
More
proactive
M&A
Deliver fast
growth
in China
Scale
biotechnology
Build our
digital
capability
Robust
global supply
chain
Employer
of choice
Croda International Plc
Annual Report and Accounts 2020
23
Strategic report
Sector review
Personal Care: Our smart science is helping our customers, large and
small to create formulations with improved environmental profiles for
thousands of personal and home care products while delivering clear
benefits to consumers.
Sector President: Maarten Heybroek
The performance of the Personal
Care sector was significantly
affected by lockdowns initiated
in response to COVID-19
Second half sales recovery but profit
mix impacted by consumer lockdowns
The performance of the Personal Care sector
was significantly affected by lockdowns initiated
in response to COVID-19. This negatively
impacted sales by reducing consumer demand
for products associated with ‘going out’ and by
interrupting sales channels, particularly for
prestige products. In this environment,
consumer products sold in supermarkets or
online performed best. For Croda, this mix
change had a negative impact on the return on
sales, with a higher proportion of sales of ‘at
home’ use Beauty Formulation products and a
greater sales reduction in the higher-margin
Beauty Actives and Beauty Effects businesses.
In Asia, China rebounded quickly during the first
half of the year, but sales remained subdued in the
key regional manufacturing markets of Japan and
South Korea due to less tourism, as well as in
South Asia which experienced extended periods
of lockdown. Europe was also negatively
impacted by lockdowns, with the near-closure of
the French cosmetic industry and luxury shopping
channels for several weeks during the second
quarter. By contrast, sales in North America
remained robust throughout the year and Latin
America also improved in the second half year.
Sales declined by 1.8% and adjusted operating
profit by 15.3%, both in constant currency. The
profit reduction reflected a sales price/mix
decline of 5%, reflecting the weaker business
mix, while volume was just 1% lower and
acquisitions added 4%. In reported currency,
sales were 1.9% lower at £475.9m (2019:
£485.2m) and adjusted operating profit was
£136.5m (2019: £162.1m). Return on sales
reduced to 28.7% (2019: 33.4%). This lower
profitability reflected the adverse mix effect, an
increased share of the ECO plant loss and the
diluting effect of the Iberchem acquisition. IFRS
operating profit was £123.0m (2019: £158.2m).
Excluding the Iberchem acquisition, underlying
sales in Personal Care were 6% lower than
prior year. Sales in Beauty Formulation, with its
portfolio of heritage ingredients, declined by
less than 5%. Sales in Beauty Actives and
Beauty Effects were each down by around
10%, with Beauty Effects impacted through its
exposure to social and travel categories, such
as sun protection and colour cosmetics, and
Beauty Actives by the disruption to consumer
distribution channels for prestige products,
particularly in France and North Asia, where
consumer brands were more impacted by
24
Croda International Plc
Annual Report and Accounts 2020
store closures, having less well developed
on-line presence.
Our performance since lockdowns began has
been consistent with broader published
consumer sales data for Personal Care and
Beauty, which reported declines of 3% in the US
and 8% in Europe. During the year, our sales
reached a low in May, down almost 20% on the
prior year, but then enjoyed month-on-month
recovery, with underlying fourth quarter sales
encouragingly returning to prior year levels and a
relative improvement in Beauty Actives and
Beauty Effects.
‘Strengthen to Grow’ strategy
The drivers behind Personal Care’s ‘Strengthen to
Grow’ strategy remain unchanged – the continued
rise in disposable income especially in emerging
markets, coupled with a desire for improved
wellbeing, an ageing population, greater use of
digitalisation, continued market fragmentation
amongst our customers and accelerating demand
for sustainable consumer products. As the leading
innovator in our sector, we are well placed to
capitalise on these trends through our presence in
every major market, strong innovation pipeline and
sector-leading margin.
In Personal Care our strategy is to:
• Continue to scale our industry-leading Beauty
Actives business which creates our most
valuable claims-based skincare ingredients.
Beauty Actives has continued its industry-
leading innovation, expanding in
biotechnology to create greener active
ingredients. 2020 saw the launch of
SynchrolifeTM from Sederma, which
counteracts the harmful effects of digital
pollution, the development of SilverfreeTM, a
biologically active ingredient to combat the
greying of hair, and expansion of botanical
ingredients from Crodarom. With its sales
more weighted towards ‘masstige’ markets
and toiletries, Crodarom continued to grow in
2020 and we are developing growth plans for
Asia and market adjacencies. We have
recently agreed to acquire botanicals
specialist Alban Muller to expand our portfolio
of natural active ingredients for a total
consideration of €25m;
• Broaden the product portfolio in Beauty
Effects, which offers similar growth and
innovation potential to Beauty Actives,
through organic innovation and partnerships.
Despite its exposure to ‘going out’ products,
Beauty Effects delivered new product
launches in 2020, increasing NPP to 80% of
sales and meeting consumers’ sustainability
and lifestyle needs. New products included
KeramatchTM V, a vegan alternative to keratin
to improve damaged hair; and
• Continue to reinvent Beauty Formulation,
through greater product differentiation and
unmatched formulation expertise for our
customers. 2020 saw our first waterless
formulations and new opportunities for our
ECO range of bio-based ingredients.
As we broaden our Consumer Care strategy, we
are targeting enhanced top-line growth through:
• The acquisition of Iberchem, a strong regional
player in mid-sized and smaller customers. This
accesses a new high-growth adjacency and
creates a ‘one-stop-shop’ for those customers,
combining Croda’s critical ingredients with
Iberchem’s on-trend fragrances in stable
formulations. With over 50% of its sales in Africa
and Asia, including 25% in China, Iberchem has
a strong emerging market presence, providing
significant opportunities for revenue synergies as
we leverage the respective Croda and Iberchem
customer networks. We will further differentiate
Iberchem’s position by driving a transition to
more sustainable fragrance materials; and
• The integration of Croda’s Home Care
business, which is expected to continue to
grow from a strong 2020 performance, driven
by greater hygiene demand, our ECO
household cleaners, and our innovative fabric
conditioner protein technology. This won a
‘Brilliance’ award from Unilever as part of its
Clean Future programme to replace fossil-
based ingredients in its home care products.
This strategy is supported by a robust innovation
pipeline. NPP products represented 41% (2019:
43%) of 2020 sector sales, the slight decline
reflecting the business mix impact. To respond to
growing consumer demand for sustainable
ingredients and the ‘clean beauty’ trend, where
consumers want to know what is in the products
they use, as well as how well they perform, we
are developing our ingredient transparency
platform and helping our customers deliver their
sustainability objectives. Croda’s R&D investment
and capital investment have established our
leadership in helping customers move away from
traditional petrochemical ingredients. This is
complemented by 36 Open Innovation projects
with partners; these include natural cellulose
powders for skin texture application produced
from sustainably harvested pulp, and first sales of
innovative metal oxides for sun protection.
We are also investing in digital to meet
customer needs more quickly and effectively.
2020 saw a focus on customer webinars, roll
out of Live Chat globally and the launch of a
locally hosted and designed website for
Chinese customers resulting in a 350%
increase in website traffic in China.
The Croda
sustainability
Commitment to
become Climate,
Land and People
Positive by 2030 was
a key consideration
in Croda’s acquisition
of Iberchem. We both
share a drive to
advance the
sustainability of
practices in this
sector as well as
improving people
practices
more widely.”
Guillaume Audy
Director of Sustainability
at Iberchem
Iberchem acquisition: stepping
into the fragrance and flavours
market
In November 2020, we announced
our acquisition of Iberchem, an
international fragrances and flavours
business headquartered in Spain.
The deal represents the largest
acquisition in our long history and a
well-timed step into this strongly
aligned market.
At the crossroads of science and
creativity, Iberchem brings a new
range of fragrance and flavour
products to our portfolio, creating a
‘one-stop-shop’ for personal care
and home care customers. An agile
and fast-growing company,
Iberchem generates over 80% of its
revenue in emerging markets and
has delivered a steady double-digit
growth track record of more than
twice the average of its sector.
Iberchem and Croda management
teams have known each other for
many years and there is a great level
of commitment and understanding
between both teams. When
Iberchem began a search for a
long-term partner that would
preserve the identity of the company,
while supporting growth ambitions
over the long term, Croda was a
perfect fit. Iberchem will also benefit
from Croda’s leadership position in
sustainability, transitioning its raw
material portfolio, a potential
differentiator in the market.
Fragrances and flavours embody
very well Croda’s Purpose of using
Smart science to improve lives™.
As sensory considerations become
more important to consumers,
fragrances have been reported as
the primary purchase driver in
various personal care and
household products. They are also
an emotional trigger with the power
to boost wellbeing.
Guillaume Audy, newly appointed
Director of Sustainability at
Iberchem, said “The Croda
sustainability Commitment to
become Climate, Land and People
Positive by 2030 was a key
consideration in this acquisition. We
both share a drive to advance the
sustainability of practices in this
sector as well as improving people
practices more widely.”
An encouraging starting
point on sustainability
• 100% of the water used in
the Iberchem production
plant in Murcia, Spain, is
recycled by an Authorised
Waste Management
Company.
• In November 2020, a
photovoltaic system was
installed that will avoid the
emission of 171.74 tonnes
of CO2 annually.
• In its commitment to
protecting the health and
safety of its employees,
Iberchem’s head office
received ISO 45001
certification in 2020. This is
a first step in our ambition
to certify each of the
Iberchem production
centres.
Croda International Plc
Annual Report and Accounts 2020
25
Strategic report
Sector review continued
Life Sciences: We reach customers worldwide with our ingredients to deliver
health care solutions, protect crops and enhance seeds. From our vaccine
technologies to microplastic-free seed coatings, we are using our smart
science to improve lives everywhere.
Sector President: Nick Challoner
2020 marked another record
year for sales and profit in Life
Sciences, with COVID-19 creating
new Health Care opportunities as
the year developed
Sales
£401.6m
2019: £350.5m
Adjusted operating profit
£129.4m
2019: £107.1m
Record performance driven by move to
patient health care
2020 marked another record year for sales and
profit in Life Sciences, with COVID-19 creating
new Health Care opportunities as the year
developed. In Health Care, continued growth in
speciality excipients and vaccine adjuvants was
complemented by the acquisition of Avanti Polar
Lipids, LLC and a contract to supply Pfizer with
components for their COVID-19 vaccine. Crop
Protection continued to grow sales, net of
planned product withdrawals, and Seed
Enhancement delivered double-digit revenue
growth. Life Sciences is now well established as
a fast-growth, high-value leg of Croda’s
business model.
Sales increased by 14.8% and adjusted
operating profit grew by 25.4%, in constant
currency. This was driven by volume growth of
7% and unchanged price/mix, whilst acquisition
added 8%. In reported currency, sales were up
14.6% at £401.6m (2019: £350.5m), with
adjusted operating profit 20.8% higher at
£129.4m (2019: £107.1m). Return on sales
strengthened to 32.2% (2019: 30.6%), reflecting
the sector’s continued migration to higher
value-add technologies. IFRS operating profit
was £117.2m (2019: £97.7m).
The Health Care business saw constant
currency sales increase by almost 30%, with an
expanded number of technology platforms in
drug and vaccine delivery systems. Speciality
excipients again delivered strong sales growth,
driven by the expansion in parenteral drugs
using biologic actives, with their complex
stabilisation needs. We continued to build on our
leading position in this niche market by launching
new excipients, expanding our sales and
26
Croda International Plc
Annual Report and Accounts 2020
technical capability globally, and through organic
investment to double manufacturing capacity in
the US. Following the acquisition of Biosector in
2018, we are also a leading supplier of vaccine
adjuvants which help trigger the body’s immune
response to vaccines. Our vaccine adjuvant
business delivered strong sales and profit growth
in 2020, benefiting from synergies with the
Croda selling network.
In August we completed the acquisition of Avanti
for an initial consideration of US$185m. Avanti
adds a new drug and vaccine delivery
technology through its industry leadership in
lipid-based systems. In addition to an
established business supporting pharmaceutical
drug development, Avanti’s lipid nanoparticle
(LNP) system is increasingly attractive for use in
complex therapeutic drugs and next-generation
mRNA vaccines, expected to become a
fast-growing part of the market. The acquisition
combines Avanti’s leading position in early-stage
pharmaceutical research with Croda’s expertise
in commercial scale-up, a market in which Avanti
could not previously participate.
Avanti had already been working on COVID-19
vaccine development at the time of acquisition,
with Croda working as its scale-up partner. We
redirected significant resource away from other
projects to focus on supporting this vital global
need. This development work led to a five-year
non-exclusive contract to supply lipid
components into the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19
vaccine, which we initially estimated would
generate approximately US$100m of sales in
2021 if the customers’ publicly indicated
volumes were required. Based on contractual
commitments received to date, we now expect
a minimum of US$125m sales in 2021 for this
vaccine. Croda is also supporting over 60 other
COVID-19 vaccine and therapeutic drug
development projects.
Crop Protection revenue was broadly flat,
despite the headwind from our voluntary
withdrawal from products with a negative
environmental footprint. After a weaker first half
year, sales recovered in the second half,
reflecting phasing because of a later planting
season in Latin America. Sales in North America
recovered from the impact of the 2019 China
trade dispute and Asia grew strongly, thanks to
new resource investment in the key crop
markets of China, part of our ‘fast grow’
strategy, and India. We reinforced our position
as innovation partner to the four largest
agriculture multinationals, providing increasingly
sustainable delivery systems. Syngenta awarded
Croda its Supplier Partnership Award for 2020.
New product innovation included HydravanceTM
200, which retains moisture in the soil, and
AtplusTM DRT-EPS, to reduce pesticide drift.
Beyond the crop majors, sales grew double-digit
percentage with smaller customers. The Plant
Impact biostimulant technology, acquired in
2018, is now fully integrated into the crop
business, and significantly improved its profit
performance in 2020.
Our Seed Enhancement business delivered
double-digit percentage revenue growth in 2020,
following some short-term insourcing by
customers which had adversely impacted 2019.
North America sales were resilient, despite
reduced demand for vegetable crops associated
with restaurant closures due to COVID-19.
Europe, Asia and Latin America all drove the
strong growth. Sustainability remains a key driver
of future opportunity and, in 2020, we launched
our novel patented technology to create
coatings that are free of microplastics for
vegetable and field crop seed treatment. The
business is also working with Plant Impact to
incorporate biostimulants into its seed
treatments.
‘Expand to Grow’ strategy
The Life Sciences ‘Expand to Grow’ strategy is
being delivered both organically and through
acquisition. This reflects the trends for more
valuable patient health treatments and the
environmental and social needs for increased
crop yields delivered sustainably. Our strategic
priorities are to:
• Build the Croda brand in Life Sciences,
becoming the leading solution provider to
global pharma and crop markets, whilst
expanding geographically, particularly in
emerging markets;
• Enhance our product portfolio organically and
create more value by extending our drug and
vaccine delivery and crop adjuvant
technologies; and
• Acquire adjacent businesses and
technologies in health and crop care with
strong growth prospects.
This strategy is driven by innovation and
investment. In 2020, NPP sales accounted for
27% of total sales (2019: 27%). The R&D
pipeline is robust, supported by greater
partnering, particularly in health care. We are
deploying more capital to grow, investing £30m
over three years in the expansion of our
speciality excipient plants in the US and Japan.
We reprioritised £10m of investment in the UK
and US in 2020 to deliver vaccine scale-up
requirements, with a further £40m expected to
be invested in 2021 to more than double our
GMP capacity in lipid technology for COVID-19
and other pipeline products. Across Life
Sciences we are investing in digital capabilities,
including the use of artificial intelligence to
automate processes and improve customer
service in Seed Enhancement.
Global sunflower
seeds market value1
$1.3bn
We are proud
to say that we have
already succeeded
in developing the first
new microplastic-free
seed coatings for key
crops including
sunflower, corn and
vegetable seeds. We
will also ensure that
our full portfolio of
seed coatings is
microplastic free well
before restrictions are
in place in Europe.”
Marta Dobrowolska-
Haywood
Head of Research and
Technology, Incotec
Helping customers reduce the
level of microplastics in the
environment and get ahead of
impending regulations
Our multinational customers in the
agricultural sector are facing a
challenge from customers and
regulators alike. The call is both a
threat and an opportunity; to restrict
the use of microplastics in seed
coatings by 2027.
The use of coatings on seeds is
common practice among growers
worldwide as it retains crop
protection chemicals on the seed
and reduces dust that can lead to
unintended exposure of farmers and
the environment. Coatings also make
seeds easier to sow. However, there
is growing global concern about
microplastics accumulating in the
environment as they are resistant to
normal environmental degradation.
While Europe may be acting on this
area first, our multinational
customers are convinced that it is
likely that similar restrictions will be
adopted elsewhere too.
EU legislation banning intentionally
added microplastics in seed coatings
is expected to become effective
around 2027. For a few years now,
the team at our Seed Enhancement
business Incotec has been leading
the industry response and working
on creating microplastic-free seed
coatings to help their customers to
adapt ahead of this legislation.
Marta Dobrowolska-Haywood, Head
of Research and Technology,
Incotec, said “This has been such a
rewarding project for our whole
team. The initial challenge was
daunting as developing microplastic-
free treatments is easier said than
done. A film coating must not
interfere with seed health, shelf life or
germination and different crops and
plant protection products react
differently to any coating.
“We are proud to say that we have
already succeeded in developing the
first new microplastic-free seed
coatings for key crops including
sunflower, corn and vegetable
seeds. We will also ensure that our
full portfolio of seed coatings is
microplastic free well before
restrictions are in place in Europe,
helping our customers get ahead of
a major regulatory impact. Helping to
see this project through to delivery
with such exciting outcomes for our
environment is a personal career
highlight for me.”
Global
maize/corn seed
market 20182
$24.5bn
1. Market Data Forecast Feb 2020.
2. Global maize/corn seed market report MarketWatch Oct 2020.
Croda International Plc
Annual Report and Accounts 2020
27
Strategic report Sector review continued
Performance Technologies: Our innovative, low-carbon, sustainable and
technology-rich additives and materials enable the transition of industrial
markets to new sustainability-driven solutions. We work with our customers
to help them to deliver superior performance, lower carbon, and greater
circularity in materials, mobility, energy, and water industries.
Sector President: Anthony Fitzpatrick
Sales in Performance
Technologies were resilient
in challenging industrial
markets globally but profitability
reduced significantly
Sales
£416.4m
2019: £430.2m
Adjusted operating profit
£54.0m
2019: £69.4m
Resilient sales in challenging markets
Sales in Performance Technologies were resilient
in challenging industrial markets globally but
profitability reduced significantly. After a good
start to the year as customers initially secured
inventory in the supply chain when COVID-19
took hold, sales progressively weakened during
the second quarter alongside temporary
closures of automotive and industrial plants,
with sales in June almost 20% below prior year.
The second half saw a steady recovery, with
fourth quarter sales encouragingly 5% higher
than prior year.
Sales declined by 3.2% and adjusted operating
profit by 21.3%, in constant currency. Overall
volume ended the year unchanged on the prior
year but with a negative price/mix of 3%,
reflecting a more competitive pricing
environment in difficult market conditions. There
were no acquisitions. In reported currency, sales
also declined by 3.2% to £416.4m (2019:
£430.2m) and adjusted operating profit reduced
by 22.2% to £54.0m (2019: £69.4m). Return on
sales was 13.0% (2019: 16.1%), with the
reduction due to the higher operating leverage in
this sector and lower production in European
sites, a change in profit mix due to a sharp
decline in sales in the higher margin Energy
Technologies business and the sector’s share of
the ECO plant loss in the US. IFRS operating
profit was £50.4m (2019: £63.8m).
There was a marked variation in the performance
of the different businesses. Smart Materials was
resilient, with sales ending slightly up on prior
year, driven by record sales in packaging and
hygiene markets from the need for greater
protection of products from contamination and
the use of polymer additives as a key
component in many COVID-19 applications,
28
Croda International Plc
Annual Report and Accounts 2020
including PPE and medical supplies. Within the
Home, Fabric and Water business, hygiene and
household care applications saw strong
demand, reflecting both COVID-19 stimulated
demand and increased sales of our ECO
sustainable solutions. By contrast, the Energy
Technologies business saw sales down over
15% in constant currency, impacted by sharply
lower lubricant demand in automotive and
reduced flow control additive sales for oil and
gas as underlying production levels fell. By
quarter four, demand had returned to some
industrial and automotive markets, with Energy
Technologies sales back to 2019 exit levels and
Smart Materials remaining in growth, with a
stronger order book by year end.
‘Refine to Grow’ strategy
The strategy for Performance Technologies is to
‘Refine to Grow’. The last two years have shown
that the sector remains exposed to the industrial
cycle. By redeploying capital selectively within
the business, we will reduce exposure to older
cyclical technologies and focus more on
technology-rich markets, to:
• Focus on higher-growth and more valuable
markets where we have technical expertise
and digital capabilities, thereby increasing the
‘knowledge intensity’ of the portfolio and
reducing its capital intensity and operating
leverage;
• Develop the sector’s geographic footprint
beyond its traditional European and US
markets, especially in Asia; and
• Leverage the sector’s strong sustainability
credentials to meet customers’ product
needs and help them deliver their ‘green’
targets.
The Smart Materials business offers sustainable,
low-carbon solutions and speciality effects
primarily to global polymer and adhesive
markets. Global use of polymers continues to
grow but, by refining our portfolio, we are helping
to move away from a linear plastics economy to
a circular one, creating biodegradable and
recyclable polymer solutions. In 2021 we will
complete a £30m expansion project in the UK,
allowing us to offer customers new technologies
in high-value polymers for lightweight and
durable applications. In Energy Technologies,
whilst the internal combustion engine will remain
important for many years to come, we are using
our distinctive technologies to align to the
sustainability-driven transition of industrial
markets, such as renewable energy and mobility.
This focus will see us move up the value chain
and closer to Original Equipment Manufacturers
(OEMs). In the automotive market we are
working with global manufacturers to enhance
drivetrain lubrication of electric vehicles and in
2020 we launched Hypermer Volt 4000TM, a
conductive carbon dispersant that improves
battery capacity to meet electrification
challenges across a range of industries. In Home
Care we secured new sales to customers for our
ECO sustainable surfactants, and delivered
significant growth in Coltide RadianceTM, a
protein-based fabric conditioner technology
that extends the life of fabrics, saving on
textile waste.
Across Performance Technologies, we are
shifting sales and innovation resources towards
higher-growth regions, with encouraging sales
progress in Asia and EEMEA in 2020. We
established a new state-of-the-art applications
laboratory in Shanghai to provide innovation and
technical support to customers in China. Our
innovation pipeline continues to improve, with
NPP as a proportion of sector sales stable at
19% (2019: 19%). We are building on recent
acquisitions and investments which support our
R&D. In Smart Materials, Ionphase, a market-
leading technology in permanent anti-static
additives acquired in 2017, has a strong pipeline
of opportunities in electronics, automotive and
household applications. This follows a record
year for revenue, profit and new applications in
2020, including the launch of an additive which
controls static to avoid contamination of
transparent plastic products. In Energy
Technologies, Rewitec, which we acquired in
2019 and whose lubricant additives repair
damage and extend the life of wind turbines, has
completed several successful trials positioning it
well for growth in 2021. In Home, Fabric and
Water, as part of our innovation in
biotechnology, a smart innovation partnership
developed new probiotic ingredients for the
home care market, using application-specific
bacteria strains to degrade organic matter,
delivering superior cleaning and odour
neutralisation as well as sustainability benefits.
Continued portfolio development in
Industrial Chemicals
Industrial Chemicals activities continue to
support the overall efficiency of Croda’s Core
Business and operating sites.
2020 saw a significant reduction in global
demand for industrial chemicals, coupled with
continued progress to reduce low-value
co-product and tolling business. As a result,
constant currency sales declined by 13.4%.
In reported currency, sales were £96.4m (2019:
£111.8m) with a small operating loss of £0.3m
(2019: £1.1m profit). IFRS operating loss was
£0.6m (2019: £0.2m profit).
Sales of sustainably
packaged consumer
goods grew
7.1x
faster than
those of conventionally
marketed goods1
It feels good to
see that our team
and business can
put our Smart
science to improve
lives™ Purpose into
action by adapting
so quickly to meet
our customers’
needs, even in the
most challenging
circumstances.”
Ducky Tan
Sales Manager for Croda
China
Responding to growing customer
demand with bio-based polymer
additives
Polymers feature in every aspect of
our lives, from food packaging to
medical devices and household
appliances to Personal Protection
Equipment (PPE). This is an industry
which is evolving quickly to respond to
the emerging sustainability demands
of consumers. At Croda we have a
long history of creating bio-based
polymer additives for this diverse
range of polymer applications and this
year we have been particularly agile in
responding to our customers’ needs.
An unprecedented growth in sales in
polymer additives has been driven by
changes in consumer and customer
requirements. Increasing demand for
our sustainable, bio-based polymer
additives and a growing focus on
consumer wellbeing as well as
pandemic-driven medical needs have
combined to drive this growth. From
smart packaging solutions for
medicines and vaccines to hygienic
PPE materials, we have been able to
supply high-quality ingredients to help
our customers to improve lives
worldwide.
Ducky Tan, Sales Manager for Croda
China said “The pace of change at
Croda this year has been so exciting.
2020 was tough on everyone but I
have been astounded and really proud
of how we have responded at Croda.
For the last eight years my work has
focused on our polymer additives
business and it feels good to see that
our team and business can put our
Smart science to improve livesTM
Purpose into action by adapting so
quickly to meet our customers’ needs,
even in the most challenging
circumstances. Together we have
adapted the way we work, as have
our customers. We are engaging with
customers regularly through our digital
capabilities including WeChat and
productive customer webinars.”
Ducky added “Here in China, the
significant growth we have seen this
year is partly due to the pandemic but
also to broader consumer trends in
health, hygiene, wellbeing and of
course, sustainability. We have been
able to respond to these new needs
and shifts in customer demand by
offering safe and durable packaging
ingredients for transporting hygienic
solutions such as hand sanitisers. Our
Ionphase acquisition in 2017 has also
proven to be an excellent addition to
the portfolio, enabling us to offer
permanent anti-static solutions. Our
customers are reassured by our local
manufacturing capabilities which are
supported by my excellent sales
colleagues. I am proud to be part of
this business offering Smart science to
improve livesTM.”
1. 2020 Sustainable Share Market Index.
Croda International Plc
Annual Report and Accounts 2020
29
Strategic report Sustainability: our 2030 Commitment
We will be the most sustainable supplier of innovative ingredients. We will
create, make and sell solutions to tackle some of the biggest challenges the
world is facing. By 2030 we will be Climate, Land and People Positive.
Our strategy is restorative –
we aim to put back more than
we take – and it is balanced
across the needs of climate,
nature and society.”
Stuart Arnott
President Sustainability
We believe the launch of this ambitious and
public commitment to use our Smart science
to improve lives™ in 2020 will both inspire
and encourage changes in employee
behaviour, uniting them in delivering a more
sustainable future. We also have important
KPIs outside these three categories, which
we have classified as Fundamental to the
success of our business. These give us
our social licence to operate and include
critical areas such as environment,
labour and human rights, ethics and
sustainable procurement.
We believe that our planet and society will be
a better place in 2030 when we achieve our
sustainability targets. This positive vision
drives us to do more and faster in this, the
United Nations’ Decade of Action, and we
can imagine exactly how we will have
improved the world if we achieve our targets
across Climate, Land and People Positive.
Our Commitment and 2030 sustainability
targets form part of our long-term approach
to protect and improve the environment and
society by setting demanding SHE
improvement targets. This is set out in our
Group SHE Policy owned by Steve Foots,
CEO, who regularly reviews and updates
statements relating to this policy. Progress
towards our 2030 targets is monitored by the
Sustainability Committee, a formal sub-
committee of the Executive Committee.
While we are enthusiastic about, and
committed to, our 2030 targets, we recognise
there are still nine years to this deadline, and
we need to ensure we deliver and monitor
progress over this time. During 2020 we
developed and approved the intermediate
milestones for most of our 2030 targets.
These are recognised as challenging and
industry-leading in their own right, and we
believe they demonstrate our commitment to
the action and investment needed in the short
term to ensure we are well on the path to
meeting our 2030 targets.
30
Croda International Plc
Annual Report and Accounts 2020
te Positiv
a
m
C
i
l
e
L
a
n
d
P
o
s
i
t
i
v
e
Smart science
to improve livesTM
People Po s i
e
v
t i
Fundame n t a l s
By 2030
• we will be saving 100,000 tonnes
CO2e scope 1 and 2 emissions per
year, equivalent to removing over
21,500 vehicles from the road
• the Croda Foundation will have
improved the lives of 1 million people
by funding philanthropic projects
connected to our smart science
• each day our crop technologies will
deliver land area savings equivalent to
1,000 football pitches
• the use of our products will be
avoiding 3.8 million tonnes CO2e
per year, equivalent to removing
the emissions associated with
one coal-fired power plant for the
whole year
We have achieved so much already in 2020.
The following pages summarise this progress
and the milestones we have set. You can
find more detailed information, including
governance, methodologies, case
studies, impacts and the statistics
behind our targets, in our 2020
Sustainability Report.
We end 2020 with even
greater optimism and
confidence and, above all,
collective pride in our
business, our Purpose and
Commitment to continue to
make a positive impact.”
Steve Foots
Group Chief Executive
For each 2030 Commitment target we have identified the primary SDG to which we are contributing, as well as the specific SDG
target references relating to the KPI and where in our value chain they will be impacted: suppliers, our own operations or through
use of our products and services. We have then identified the additional SDGs significantly impacted by our work to meet this target.
This evaluation aligns with the approach taken by the United Nations Global Compact, with their SDG Ambition initiative for business*.
Material area
Primary
Additional
Value chain
SDG impact
SDG targets by scope
Operations
Products & services
Climate Positive
Carbon Cover
Reducing
Emissions
Sustainable
Innovation
Land Positive
Land Use
Crop Science
Innovation
People Positive
Health and
Wellbeing
Improving
More Lives
Gender
Balance
Fundamentals
Health, Safety
& Wellbeing
Process Safety
Environmental
Stewardship
Fair Income
Supplier
Partnership
Knowledge
Management
Quality
Assurance
Product
Stewardship
Responsible
Business
7.2
7.3
7.2, 9.4, 13.2
13.2
13.2
12.2
15.2, 15.5, 12.2
2.3, 2.4
15.2, 15.3, 13.1
3.3, 3.4
5.5
3.4, 3.9, 8.8
3.9, 8.8
6.3, 6.4, 12.5
8.5
8.5
12.6, 12.7
4.3
12.2, 12.5
12.2
3.9
3.9, 14.1
Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the global partnership for
sustainable development.
The partnerships that form our ecosystem are vital in supporting us to achieve our 2030 Commitment.
* https://unglobalcompact.org/take-action/sdg-ambition.
Croda International Plc
Annual Report and Accounts 2020
31
Strategic report Climate Positive
We will continue to reduce our carbon footprint and increase our use of
bio-based raw materials, whilst the benefits in use of our ingredients will
enable more carbon to be saved than we emit through our operations
and supply chain.
Tackling the climate crisis is our biggest
challenge, but, through decarbonisation,
innovation and customer collaboration, it also
offers us our greatest opportunities.
Reducing emissions
Milestones
• 25% reduction in absolute scope 1
and scope 2 emissions by the end of
2024
• All Croda locations to have a
decarbonisation roadmap by the end
of 2022
We are committed to reducing emissions in
line with the science required to limit global
warming to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels,
and are signed up to the UN Global
Compact’s Business Ambition for 1.5°C.
Early in 2021 we will have our Science Based
Targets validated — to be on track to achieve
our targets, our manufacturing sites need to
reduce emissions by 46.2% by 2030 (using
2018 as the baseline).
In 2020, manufacturing sites representing
90% of our total emissions developed
decarbonisation roadmaps to 2030. This
involved understanding current energy
requirements, identifying opportunities to
reduce and re-use energy, as well as
exploring the feasibility of switching to
renewable sources. These roadmaps have
been collated and the global position
quantified from both financial and
carbon-reduction impact perspectives.
This outstanding work gives us confidence
that our Climate Positive commitment
is achievable.
2020 also saw us confirm and start to
implement an internal carbon price of £50/
tonne CO2e for all capital expenditure
applications. We believe this will continue to
drive the right investment decisions for us to
meet the challenging targets we have set.
The majority of our emissions lie within our
supply chain, embedded in our raw materials.
To reduce these emissions, we will also set a
scope 3 Science Based Target during 2021.
Collaboration, engagement and encouraging
suppliers to set their own emissions reduction
targets will be key to us making progress. As
many of our key customers have also
committed to Science Based Targets, our
Climate Positive commitments will support
them in achieving their own scope 3
reductions, with the cradle-to-gate carbon
footprint of our products significantly reducing
over this critical decade for climate action.
It is an exciting and valuable
experience to be involved in
creating the roadmap, where
we can improve current
processes and explore novel
technologies which may very
soon become the norm for us.”
Shu Ying Tan
Graduate Trainee, Croda Singapore
GHG emissions (TeCO2e)1
GHG emissions intensity (TeCO2e/£m)
2020
2019
2018
2017
2016
2015
147,954
23,065
140,403
33,959
153,211
48,280
134,562
48,055
128,550
67,350
130,492
71,727
2020
2019
2018
2017
2016
2015
274
293
336
319
356
408
Scope 1
Scope 2
Scope 1 and 2 emissions intensity
Since 2015, our baseline year, our total scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions have
reduced by 15.4%. Within this, our scope 1 emissions have increased by 13.3%,
whilst we have seen a greater than 67% reduction in scope 2 emissions. Since
2017 we have been reporting market-based scope 2 emissions, which better
reflect our purchasing of renewable electricity at greater levels than the national
averages in the countries where we operate.
Our chosen measure of GHG emission intensity divides our GHG emissions
(market-based scope 2 emissions) by value added2, a measure of our business
activity. Our 2015 baseline year, along with 2016, were calculated using
location-based scope 2 emissions as a proxy. Since 2015, our GHG emissions
intensity has improved by 33%, illustrating how we are decoupling growth
from our environmental impact.
Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions from our UK operations were 35,277 TeCO2e
in 2020 (2019: 34,932 TeCO2e) representing approximately 20% of our global
GHG emissions.
Our scope 1, 2 and 3 GHG emissions are verified by Avieco.
Their formal independent verification statement is available at:
www.croda.com/carbonverification.
Energy consumption and efficiency improvements
In 2020 we consumed 1,113,064,125 kWh (2019: 1,026,316,451 kWh) of energy across our global operations. This included 223,177,222 kWh (2019: 223,465,355
kWh) consumed by UK operations. As part of our strategy to improve the efficiency of energy consumption, 27 projects were implemented globally, realising
31,642,487 kWh of annualised efficiency improvements, equivalent to 18,500 TeCO2e avoided emissions.
1. Scope 1 emissions are calculated using Defra Government emission
conversion factors for greenhouse gas company reporting. Scope 2
emissions are market-based (location-based by proxy for 2015 and 2016).
2. Value added is defined as operating profit before depreciation and
employee costs at 2015 constant currency.
32
Croda International Plc
Annual Report and Accounts 2020
Carbon cover
Milestones
• 2 million tonnes of CO2e emission
savings delivered through use of our
products by the end of 2024
• 100% of our product portfolio
evaluated for downstream scope 3
impact by the end of 2024
Our ingredients offer many sustainability
benefits in use, including helping our
customers and their consumers reduce or
avoid greenhouse gas emissions. Our aim is
that, by 2030, the use of our products will
avoid four times the carbon emissions
associated with our business, a Carbon
Cover of 4:1. By achieving this target, in 2030
the use of our products will be avoiding 3.8
million tonnes CO2e per year, equivalent to
removing the emissions associated with one
coal-fired power plant for the whole year.
In 2020 we identified several case studies for
existing ingredients, quantifying the avoided
emissions associated with their use. Our
methodology for quantifying and reporting
these avoided emissions is externally verified
by Avieco, a market-leading sustainability
consultancy.
The total avoided emissions in 2020
associated with sales of ingredients attached
to these case studies as well as those
attached to previously verified case studies
was 839,220 TeCo2e. This leads to a carbon
cover ratio of 0.8:1, similar to 2019. Avoided
emissions associated with our sales of our
case studies from 2019 fell, primarily due to a
slowdown in the automotive market, where
our polymeric friction modifiers in engine oils
provide significant emissions avoidance. Our
Carbon Cover working group is building our
case studies to develop a methodology for us
to identify avoided emissions for larger
product/application areas.
Sustainable innovation
Milestones
• 71% (rolling three-year average) of our
organic raw materials to be bio-based
by the end of 2024
In 2020, our use of bio-based organic raw
materials increased to 67% (2019: 63%) as
we commissioned our bio-surfactants plant in
North America. Our 2030 target is for this to
reach 75% which is three times the target of
the European chemical industry. Bio-based
raw materials sequester carbon from the
atmosphere as they grow, so using them to
displace fossil-based materials has a positive
impact on the climate.
Over the past year significant progress has
been made aligning the work of our global
Research and Development (R&D) teams with
the SDGs. Sustainability is now considered
first during new product development and our
R&D teams are challenged to assess the
impact of their projects against our
Commitment to become Climate, Land, and
People Positive. This new approach was
integrated throughout our global R&D
function through 2020. In order to progress
further towards this target, our global R&D
team have begun to build a database of
bio-based raw materials, which will broaden
the range that can be selected during new
product development.
To improve the impact of our
products, sustainability needs
to be built-in during the design
and development of new
products, so we need to
ensure our scientists have the
skills and knowledge to
incorporate sustainability into
the innovation process.”
Sarah Davidson
recently promoted to Global R&D
Sustainability Co-ordinator
Find more information on our progress against
our Climate Positive strategy, including our
detailed 2030 targets in our Sustainability Report
2020, p12-17 and p40-41.
Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD)
Governance
Strategy
Risk
Management
Metrics and
Targets
Our Board is responsible for dealing with risks and opportunities associated with
climate change.
All management positions share the responsibility of assessing and managing relevant
climate-related risks and opportunities.
We have identified a range of short, medium and long-term climate-related risks
and opportunities.
Climate-related risks and opportunities are taken into account within our business,
strategy and financial planning.
We look at a 1.5°C scenario alongside our business strategy and are committed to bold
emissions reduction targets.
Climate-related risks are integrated into our risk assessment process and are assessed
using our risk framework.
Climate-related risks are reviewed by the Board and monitored regularly through our
SHEQ committee.
We have thorough processes in place for assessing and managing climate-related risks,
which are integrated into our overall risk management framework.
We have several climate-related targets in line with a 1.5°C scenario, which have a range
of metrics to ensure we are meeting our targets.
We monitor our scope 1, scope 2 and scope 3 GHG emissions, and the related risks.
We have a range of stretching KPIs to help us manage climate-related risks and opportunities
and performance against targets.
See p57 & p63
See p22
See p45-48
See p30-35,
p39 & p76
Croda International Plc
Annual Report and Accounts 2020
33
Strategic report Land Positive
Our products will enable more land to be saved than is used to grow our
bio-based raw materials. Our innovation will help customers to mitigate the
impact of climate change and land degradation, increasing the availability of
land suitable for growing crops.
At Croda, our commitment to be Land
Positive by 2030 means that we save more
land than we use. We will do this by
increasing agricultural land-use efficiency,
protecting biodiversity, ensuring food security
by sourcing sustainably, and inspiring
innovation through our crop businesses.
Land use
Milestones
• By the end of 2024, the land area
saved through use of our technologies
will be at least 80,000 ha per year
above a 2019 baseline
During 2020 we defined our protocol for
measuring the land area we save. Our range
of biostimulants, adjuvants and seed coatings
save more land than is used to grow all of our
bio-based raw materials. Our ambition for this
decade is to be truly restorative such that the
land we save outpaces the land we use as
our business grows, at a rate of 2 hectares
saved for every additional 1 hectare used.
As our business grows and as we move more
towards bio-based raw materials, we expect
that the amount of land used to grow our raw
materials will increase. We have therefore set
a roadmap towards an absolute Land Positive
target of 300,000 hectares of land saved per
year by 2030.
We, like most businesses in the world, have a
land footprint; requiring land to operate our
factories and source our raw materials.
However, we believe we also need to
understand how our activities may impact
biodiversity, deforestation, food security, soil
health and water consumption. We call this
more holistic view of our land usage our land
budget and we need to understand this for
our entire business, our major manufacturing
sites and individual finished ingredients. We
believe this level of scrutiny will help drive
positive change in our raw material and
supplier selection and, importantly, will shape
our customers’ ingredient and supplier
selection, proactively contributing to their
sustainability goals.
Crop innovation
Milestones
• By the end of 2024, we will have
brought 10 qualifying technological
breakthroughs to market
We will play a key role in innovation projects
and partnerships to mitigate the impact of a
changing climate on land degradation, this
commitment aligns us further with many of
our major Crop Care customers. Identifying
where our technologies and collaborative
partnerships can make the most difference,
we will continue to focus on crops such as
soybean, where increasing demand may be
contributing to deforestation.
Improving yield,
protecting biodiversity
Biostimulants increase crop yields as well
as contributing to a range of other
environmental benefits. One example is
VeritasTM developed by our team at Plant
Impact. Veritas improves nutrient mobility
in soybean plants leading to increased
crop resilience and more robust plant
growth, which increase crop yield.
As a result of this yield improvement, a
greater mass of crop can be produced
per hectare of land. The land area
required to grow one tonne of soybeans
is therefore lower, resulting in lower
energy and water inputs and lower
carbon emissions.
Find more information on our progress against
our Land Positive strategy, including our detailed
2030 targets in our Sustainability Report 2020,
p18-21 and p40-41.
We will play a key role in projects and partnerships to mitigate land degradation, helping prevent deforestation.
34
Croda International Plc
Annual Report and Accounts 2020
People Positive
We will apply our innovation to increase our positive impact on society.
We are improving the lives of our own employees and people around the
world by developing ingredients to improve health and wellbeing as well
as encouraging and promoting diversity.
Health and wellbeing
Milestones
• By the end of 2024 we will protect
one million lives from skin cancer
through the use of novel sun
protection technologies
Skin cancer is the world’s most common
cancer. During 2020 our Beauty Effects
business, responsible for sun protection in
Croda, developed a roadmap for achieving
our 2030 target to help 60 million people
annually protect themselves from skin cancer.
Throughout 2020 many activities were
progressed to align to this roadmap including
creating actives and formulations that are
suitable for all skin tones and formulation
textures that are acceptable globally. To
progress gaps in our current product offering
we have already entered partnerships with
Entekno and Anomera.
Milestones
• By the end of 2024 our technology
will be part of at least 10 clinical phase
III trials across at least 25% of the
WHO-listed pipeline vaccines
Much of the world’s vaccine expertise was
focused on COVID-19 during 2020. Our novel
drug delivery excipients, which leverage the
expertise of the Avanti business acquired in
August, are a critical component of the mRNA
vaccine produced by Pfizer-BioNTech, the
first COVID-19 vaccine to get regulatory
approval. 2020 has seen significant and rapid
investments at manufacturing sites, so we
can meet the scale and delivery requirements
for these important components.
Alongside this work, we have continued
to increase engagement with teams
researching many of the WHO-listed
diseases including malaria, HIV and
Alzheimer’s disease. Our adjuvant
technology is included in several vaccine
candidates that are in clinical trials this year.
Find more information on our progress against
our People Positive strategy, including our
detailed 2030 targets in our Sustainability Report
2020, p22-29 and p40-41
Our adjuvant technology is included in several vaccine candidates that are in clinical trials this year.
Gender balance
Milestones
• 80% of recruitment shortlists will be
gender balanced by the end of 2023
Our target to achieve gender balance across
our leadership roles by 2030 is at the heart of
our values at Croda. Since the end of 2019
we have increased the number of women
across our leadership roles by 19%
supporting our target of doubling the number
of women leaders by 2025. Through
balanced shortlists we have already seen
progress in recruiting women to work in
direct manufacturing operations.
In 2020 we developed a D&I intranet site
giving employees access to D&I policies,
training and awareness programmes, and
updates on Company activity. In September,
we published Flexible Working guidance
aimed at making our workplaces more
inclusive and to help everyone give their best.
Improving one million more lives
by 2030
We are establishing and funding a Croda
Foundation, to act as an independent
philanthropic enterprise supporting projects in
relevant communities. The foundation will be
a charitable trust, administered by an
independent Board of Trustees, and solely
funded by us. In 2020, the Croda Foundation
was formally incorporated as a legal entity
with approved articles of association, and we
identified the goal of the foundation; to
improve at least one million lives by 2030
through the support of meaningful projects.
Diversity and inclusion
We embrace the differences of a multi-
ethnic, multi-geographic and multi-skillset
company. In 2019, we achieved our
objective of women making up at least
one third of the Board. However, we
need to replicate this across the
business, which is part of our ongoing
Diversity and Inclusion programme.
Across the Group*
Female
2,051
Male
3,633
Split: 36.1% female, 63.9% male
Board of Directors
Female
Male
3
5
Split: 37.5% female, 62.5% male
Executive Committee Members
Female
2
Male
8
Split: 20.0% female, 80.0% male
Regional and Business
Board Members and
Senior Functional Heads
Female
12
Male
35
Split: 25.5% female, 74.5% male
*
including Avanti and Iberchem acquisitions
Croda International Plc
Annual Report and Accounts 2020
35
Strategic report
Fundamentals
Our social licence to operate is built on trust and is the foundation
of everything we do. We consider all stakeholders in our
ecosystem and strive to adopt best practices in environment,
labour and human rights, ethics and sustainable procurement.
Health, safety & wellbeing
Milestones
• Achieve OSHA Total Recordable
Injury Rate of 0.3 by the end of 2024
It is a core principle at Croda that all
employees and contractors should expect to
return home at the end of their working day
without having been harmed in the
workplace. Our underlying OSHA total
recordable injury rate (TRIR) improved over
the last five years from 0.8 per 200,000 hours
worked to below 0.6, and we have targeted
to achieve a rate that puts us in the top decile
of the chemical industry by 2030, a
significant step towards our ultimate aim of
zero harm at work.
Careful examination of the causes of our
injuries shows that most are behavioural in
nature. We therefore have three key
improvement areas: focus on leadership,
Company-wide adoption of our SHE
Behaviour Standard, and assisting newly
acquired companies to achieve Group
requirements quickly.
Protecting and enhancing the mental and
physical health of our employees is important
to ensure everyone can give their best and so
that we can create and maintain an inclusive
workplace. It underpins our values of
‘Together’ and ‘Innovative’, the latter being
about creating a fun, lively and stimulating
environment in which to work.
Our metric here is to see an improvement in
employee satisfaction related to wellbeing
questions, through an increase in the
percentage of positive responses. We
implemented a huge number of initiatives
during 2020 in response to the pandemic and
are pleased to have seen an increase in
positive responses to our wellbeing questions
of over five percentage points compared with
the last survey in 2017.
Process safety
Milestones
• Conduct an independent peer review
of our Process Risk Reviews (PRR)
for high-hazard processes by the
end of 2023
• Develop reporting capability against
SASB process safety indicators by the
end of 2021
Robust process safety management is hugely
important to us and is a vital component of
our social licence to operate.
An important component of our process
safety assurance program is the requirement
for sites to conduct Process Risk Reviews
(PRRs) of all hazardous process at regular
36
Croda International Plc
Annual Report and Accounts 2020
intervals. The first five-year cycle of this was
completed at the end of 2018 and we are
now two years into the next cycle. An added
level of assurance is provided by conducting
independent reviews of our high hazard
processes and we are on track to complete
these by the end of 2023. Next year we will
develop the capability to report our process
safety performance in accordance with the
metrics described in the Sustainability
Accounting Standards Board (SASB)
accounting standard.
In September 2020, the ECO plant at Atlas
Point in Delaware, USA, received notices
from a local regulator following higher than
anticipated emissions to air during initial
testing of some plant equipment. We
immediately suspended operations at the
ECO plant while corrective work was
undertaken. Further testing took place in
January 2021 to determine if the issues were
resolved, and we expect to be fully
operational in the first half of 2021.
Environmental stewardship
Milestones
• Develop and implement a
methodology for water impact
assessment by the end of 2021
• Reduce our water use impact by 25%
from 2018 baseline by the end of
2024
• Eliminate process waste to landfill
across our operations by the end
of 2024
It is estimated that, by 2025, two-thirds of the
world’s population may face water shortages,
and ecosystems around the world will be
stressed even more than they currently are.
Our targets are to halve our water impact by
2030 and to reduce it by 25% by the end of
2024. This requires us to move beyond
simply measuring and reducing total water
volume, to conduct in-depth studies of the
impact our activities have, thus prioritising the
action we must take to safeguard this most
precious and fundamental resource.
Over the years we have significantly reduced
our process waste going to landfill and have
targeted to complete that journey by the end
of 2024.
Fair income
Milestones
• All employees, temporary and
permanent, will be paid a living wage
by the end of 2022
• All regularly employed contractors will
be paid a living wage by the end of
2024
An overarching theme of the UN’s Sustainable
Development Goals is improving the lives of the
poorest and most vulnerable, leaving no one
behind. We firmly believe that all employees
and employed contractors at Croda should
receive a wage that enables them to meet their
basic needs and those of their families as a
minimum. In 2018 we gained accreditation in
the UK as a Living Wage Employer and have
since committed to pay a voluntary living wage
that goes beyond the legal minimums at every
location globally. To achieve this, we have
partnered with the Fair Wage Network (FWN)
who provide an independent and economically
rigorous methodology to assess wage
practices and levels.
Supplier partnership and sustainable
sourcing
Milestones
• By the end of 2024, all key suppliers
will be required to achieve an average
score from EcoVadis (or equivalent) or
will have an action plan with timelines
to close gaps
• By the end of 2024, key suppliers
representing at least 50% of our raw
material volumes will be required to
sign up publicly to SBTi or equivalent
carbon reduction targets
• By the end of 2024, suppliers of
crop-based raw materials will be
required to provide supply chain
transparency in a fully traceable and
certified sustainable manner
Sourcing our bio-based raw materials in a truly
sustainable way is a crucial part of what we do
and an increasingly important requirement of
our customers and consumers alike. Using
natural resources brings with it the
responsibility to ensure there are no associated
negative social or environmental impacts, as
well as the opportunity to advocate for, and
contribute to, positive change. This can only be
possible through intimate knowledge of our
supply chains, collaboration with all parties in
them, and with complete transparency and
traceability throughout.
We have partnered with EcoVadis as our
framework for sustainability monitoring, using
their universal scorecard, benchmarks, and
performance improvement tools. We will
continue to work with our suppliers to gain
higher levels of participation in these
assessments and to encourage them to
address any gaps, significantly increasing our
influence in the supply chain.
We reviewed, updated, and issued our
Supplier Code of Conduct during 2020, which
clearly states our sustainability objectives and
fundamental requirements of doing business.
In addition to our own supplier engagements,
we seek third-party certifications to validate the
sustainability credentials of our suppliers and
their raw materials.
Knowledge management
Quality Assurance
Milestones
• 100% of employees will receive a
minimum of one week’s training per
year by the end of 2025
Our target is to ensure that all employees
have a minimum of one week of training per
year. This training can be ‘on the job’,
classroom-based in person or virtually,
self-study, an online programme, professional
training or participating in mentoring or
coaching programmes.
To support this ambition, and in response to
the COVID-19 crisis, we significantly
increased the resources available to our
employees, with over 2,000 online training
courses added to our learning management
system – MyCroda.
Having launched our 2030 Commitment in
last year’s report, we have spent a significant
amount of time engaging with our workforce
at all levels to help them understand the
Company goals and the contribution that
every employee can make towards achieving
them. In particular, we have focused on
training managers around the Group with
the aim of enhancing their knowledge on
technical topics such as the United Nations
Sustainable Development Goals, science-
based targets and scope 1, 2 and 3
emissions, thus increasing their confidence
to lead our efforts and make them
locally relevant.
Milestones
• Achieve a 99% Right First Time (RFT)
rate by the end of 2024
Responsible consumption of resources
requires us to do things right first time, every
time. This is not only good for service levels
and customer experience, but also eliminates
all forms of waste and is thus aligned with the
SDGs. Our target is for our right-first time
measure to reach 99.5% by 2030 and we
expect to be well on that journey by the
middle of the decade with an interim target of
99.0%. Key to success is the systematic
evaluation of all failures, a deep understanding
of the root causes and then the
implementation of enduring corrective
actions. This year we appointed a Business
Process Director to co-ordinate our efforts
globally through a network of local champions
and have seen significant progress towards
our goals as a result.
Product stewardship
Milestones
• Finalise our Life Cycle Assessment
methodology with external input and
verification by the end of 2021
• Complete 40 Life Cycle Assessments
by the end of 2024
Product stewardship to us means going
beyond the minimum requirements for
compliance. It means building upon the
knowledge we gain from regulation and
enhancing it with a full Life Cycle Assessment
(LCA) of our ingredients to fully understand
their impact beyond our factory gate. It
requires a deep understanding of our
products from cradle-to-grave and
necessitates complete transparency up and
down the supply chain. Conducting LCAs
helps markets in which we operate move
towards more environmentally friendly
products through elimination, substitution or
reuse and identifies opportunities to further
reduce the risk to employees and consumers
of being exposed to chemical hazards. We
aim to have completed full LCAs of our top
100 ingredients by 2030 and to have done at
least 40 by the end of 2024.
Responsible business
Milestones
• Achieve an EcoVadis score of at least
85 by the end of 2023
Responsible business to us means
leadership in sustainability and corporate
social responsibility. We use the EcoVadis
sustainability rating as a measure of our
own performance and as a tool for
continual improvement.
This year we are very proud to have
achieved the new Platinum level award with
EcoVadis which places us in the top 1% in
our sector and is a true recognition of
sustainability being at the very heart of our
Company values and practices.
Find more information on our progress against
our Fundamentals strategy, including our detailed
2030 targets in our Sustainability Report 2020,
p30-39 and p40-41.
Non-financial information statement
The table below sets out where more information can be found in our Strategic Report that relates to non-financial matters, as required under the Non-Financial
Reporting Directive.
Reporting requirement
Some of our relevant policies
Environmental matters
Group SHE policy1
Employee matters
Respect for human rights
Group Code of Ethics2
Group Code of Conduct2
Group SHE policy1
Group Policy on Training and
Development2
Group Policy on Discrimination2
Group Code of Conduct2
Where to read more
about our impact
Process Safety
Environmental stewardship
Climate Positive
Our people
People Positive
People Positive
Living wage
Social matters
Group Policy for Managing Diversity2
People Positive
Anti-bribery and corruption issues
Ethics Procedures Manual1
Croda Modern Slavery Statement2
Competition Law Policy1
Croda Fraud Policy1
Whistleblowing Policy2
Business model
Non-financial KPIs
(Environmental, social and ethical
relating to our operations and the
ingredients we make)
Our Purpose2
Our Commitment2
Risk management
Responsible business
Business model
Key Performance Indicators
Sustainability
1. Available to employees via the company intranet (Connect), not published externally.
2. Available to employees via the company intranet (Connect) and published on www.croda.com.
Page Key risks (p46 - 48)
Major safety or environmental incident
Delivering sustainable solutions -
Climate Positive
Our people
Major safety or environmental incident
Our people
Ethics and compliance
Our people
Ethics and compliance
All key risks on pages 46 to 48 link to our
business model
36
36
32
16
35
35
87
35
44
37
12
38
30
Croda International Plc
Annual Report and Accounts 2020
37
Strategic report Key Performance Indicators
We identify targets for, and measure progress towards delivery
of our strategic objectives through our Key Performance
Indicators. Our sustainability KPIs have changed this year
to reflect our 2030 Commitment to be Climate, Land and
People Positive.
Strategic objectives and remuneration
Growth: consistent top and bottom line growth
Innovation: increase the proportion of NPP that we sell
Sustainability: align our business with our Purpose and
accelerate our customers’ transition to sustainable ingredients
Remuneration: KPIs that are reflected in our Remuneration
Policy (see p80)
For more information on our strategy see p22.
How we performed
KPI
Return on sales
(ROS)%
KPI definition: Adjusted
operating profit as a
percentage of sales.
Core Business
sales growth %
KPI definition: Total sales
growth in the Core Business
measured at constant
currency.
New and Protected
Products (NPP)
sales %
KPI definition: Proportion
of sales from NPP (in
constant currency). NPP
products are where sales
are protected by virtue of
being either newly launched,
protected by intellectual
property or by unique quality
characteristics.
Total recordable
Injury rate (TRIR)
KPI definition: The number
of incidents per 200,000
hours worked where a
person has sustained an
injury, including all lost time,
restricted work and medical
treatment cases.
Comment
Group ROS declined to 23.0% in 2020
reflecting the effect of lower sales and
adverse price/mix. Life Sciences had
another standout year, with a record ROS,
now broadly in line with the historical
Personal Care margin target. Personal Care
ROS was significantly impacted by
COVID-19 lockdowns, with the higher-
margin Beauty Actives and Effects
businesses impacted by disruption in
prestige consumer shopping channels and
‘going out’. Performance Technologies saw
lower ROS due to reduced volume in
higher-margin businesses and higher
operational gearing in this sector.
Despite COVID-19, Core Business sales
grew low single-digit in 2020, benefiting from
acquisitions. Sales growth in Life Sciences
reflected a strong performance in Health Care
and Seed Enhancement, supported by the
acquisition of Avanti. COVID-19 adversely
impacted Personal Care and Performance
Technologies sales but both sectors saw
steady sales improvement in the second half
of the year.
NPP and non-NPP sales both declined in
2020 (excluding acquisitions). This reflected
the impact of COVID-19 lockdowns across
many markets, with associated changes in
mix adversely impacting NPP sales.
We continue to strategically invest resources
to enable us to focus technically and
commercially on increasing the proportion
of Group sales from NPP.
Target
Personal Care (PC)
maintain 2018
level.
Behind target
Life Sciences (LS)
grow to equal
Personal Care in
the medium term.
On target
Performance
Technologies (PT)
grow to 20% in the
medium term.
Behind target
Low-to-mid single
digit % growth
(excluding raw
material price
recovery).
On target
NPP sales to be
30% of Group sales
in the medium term.
Behind target
Our performance
Return on sales %
40
35
30
25
20
15
10
5
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
PC 28.7%
LS 32.2%
PT 13.0%
Group Total 23.0%
Core Business sales growth %
2020
2.3%
-2.3%
2019
2018
3.8%
2017
2016
5.6%
4.6%
NPP sales %
2020
2019
2018
2017
2016
27.4%
28.1%
28.2%
27.6%
27.4%
0.3 by the end
of 2024.
On target
On a like-for-like basis our 2020 target was
achieved a year early and was maintained
this year at TRIR 0.54. This shows a positive
trend resulting from our focused attention.
A number of acquisitions made during the
last five years brought with them TRIRs above
the Group average. This, and a small number
of subjective work-related COVID-19 cases,
resets our headline TRIR to 0.86 as we enter
2021. We aim to reduce this to 0.3 by the
end of 2024.
Total Recordable
Injury Rate (TRIR)
1.2
1.0
0.8
0.6
0.4
0.2
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
Employee
Contractor
Combined
38
Croda International Plc
Annual Report and Accounts 2020
Strategic objectives and remuneration
Growth: consistent top and bottom line growth
Innovation: increase the proportion of NPP that we sell
Sustainability: align our business with our Purpose and
accelerate our customers’ transition to sustainable ingredients
Remuneration: KPIs that are reflected in our Remuneration
Policy (see p80)
For more information on our strategy see p22.
KPI
Absolute scope 1 & 2
emissions and scope
1 & 2 emissions intensity
KPI definition: Our operational
emissions (associated with
burning fuels onsite and
purchased electricity), both in
absolute terms as well as
emissions intensity. Our chosen
measure of GHG emission
intensity divides our GHG
emissions (market-based scope
2 emissions) by value added: a
measure of our business activity.
Comment
Since 2018, our emissions have
reduced in line with the absolute
emissions reduction pathway required
by the Science Based Targets initiative
for limiting global warming to no more
than 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels.
These reductions are from our scope 2
emissions, as we have switched to
renewable electricity where possible.
Our emissions intensity has fallen by
16% since 2018, demonstrating how
we continue to decouple economic
growth from environmental impact.
Target
By 2030, we will have
achieved our Science
Based Target, reducing
emissions in line with
limiting global warming
to no more than 1.5°C
above pre-industrial
levels.
On target
Land area saved
(hectares)
KPI definition: Land area
saved since we launched Our
Commitment (2020). This is a
measure of growth compared to
our 2019 baseline year, eg new
product launches or sales to
new customers.
In 2020 the use of our agricultural
ingredients and new technologies saved
an additional 16,455 hectares of land
compared to our 2019 baseline.
More than our target of 8,000 hectares
for 2020, this puts us on track to
achieve our 2030 target that the land
we save outpaces the land we use as
our business grows by at least a factor
of two.
Throughout this decade,
the land saved through
the application of our
crop protection and
seed technologies will
exceed any increase in
land used to grow our
raw materials by at least
a factor of two, and by
2030 we will save
200,000 hectares per
year more than in 2019.
On target
Our performance
)
e
2
O
C
s
e
n
n
o
t
(
i
s
n
o
s
s
m
e
i
2
d
n
a
1
e
p
o
c
S
300000
250000
200000
150000
100000
50000
2018
2019
2020
350
300
250
200
150
100
50
0
i
E
m
s
s
o
n
s
i
i
n
t
e
n
s
i
t
y
(
t
o
n
n
e
s
C
O
2
e
/
£
m
)
Scope 1
Scope 1 and 2 emissions intensity
Scope 2
GHG emission intensity divides our GHG emissions
(market-based scope 2 emissions) by value added,
defined as operating profit before depreciation and
employee costs in reported currency.
16,455
hectares
of land saved over
the baseline in 2020
Number of lives
improved
KPI definition: Number of lives
improved through the use of
Croda components as a critical
part of Pfizer-BioNTech’s
COVID-19 vaccine in 2020.
We delivered critical components to
Pfizer-BioNTech to allow them to meet
their target of supplying 50 million doses
of COVID-19 vaccine, to fully vaccinate
25 million people. Protecting the health
and wellbeing of the most vulnerable in
our society should help us all to begin
to operate more freely in 2021, reduce
the spread of COVID-19, protect more
livelihoods and improve mental health.
We will use our smart
science to promote
healthy lives and
wellbeing through the
development and
application of our
ingredients and
technologies.
On target
25 million
people
will be fully vaccinated against
COVID-19 with doses delivered
in 2020 containing critical Croda
components
Creating shareholder value
Adjusted basic earnings
per share (EPS)
The challenging conditions in 2020 saw
adjusted basic EPS of 175.5p, a
decrease of 5.1% on last year. Over the
last three years, EPS has declined by
an average of just over 0.5% p.a.
5-11% EPS growth per
annum over the last
three years
Behind target
KPI definition: Adjusted profit
after tax divided by the average
number of issued shares.
Return on invested
capital (ROIC) %
KPI definition: Adjusted
operating profit after tax divided
by the average adjusted invested
capital for the year for the Group.
Adjusted invested capital
represents net assets adjusted
for net debt, earlier goodwill
written off to reserves and
accumulated amortisation of
acquired intangible assets.
ROIC fell to 14.6% in 2020, at the lower
end of the target range. This reflects
increased acquisition spend and
continued investment in future organic
growth through targeted capital
expenditure. We expect ROIC to
improve (subject to the impact of any
further acquisitions) as the profit
benefits of recent investments deliver.
Achieving ROIC of two
to three times cost of
capital.
On target
Adjusted basic earnings
per share (EPS)
2020
2019
2018
2017
2016
175.5p
185.0p
190.2p
179.0p
155.8p
Return on invested capital %
2020
2019
2018
2017
2016
14.6%
17.0%
19.2%
21.2%
22.1%
Croda International Plc
Annual Report and Accounts 2020
39
Strategic report
Finance review
The resilience and cash-generative nature of our business model was
demonstrated in 2020, despite the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic
on market demand.
With only a limited reduction in
profit, Croda continued to invest in
future growth, through both
organic expansion and acquisition,
whilst continuing to increase its
dividend.”
Sales
£1,390.3m
2019: £1,377.7m
Adjusted profit before tax
£300.6m
2019: £322.1m
Free cash flow
£176.9m
2019: £201.7m
Jez Maiden
Group Finance Director
Croda investment case
Highly differentiated approach
Flexible, local manufacturing providing resilience,
and direct selling to customers.
Dynamic innovation engine
Open approach to innovation with 500 partners working on
over 100 projects increasingly focused on sustainability.
Focused on faster-growing niches
Strong position in high-growth niches well aligned with
growing consumer demand for sustainability.
High-quality business with superior
financial performance
Highly cash-generative operations with
world-class profit margins.
Strong balance sheet
Clear capital allocation policy prioritising
disciplined investment in growth.
Attractive shareholder returns
Track record of creating shareholder value through high returns
on capital and 29 years of consecutive dividend progression.
40
Croda International Plc
Annual Report and Accounts 2020
Strong cash generation and funding capacity supporting
continued investment
The resilience and cash-generative nature of our business model was
demonstrated in 2020, despite the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic
on market demand. With only a limited reduction in profit, Croda
continued to invest in future growth, through both organic expansion
and acquisition, whilst continuing to increase its dividend.
Currency
The average sterling exchange rates across the Group’s key
currencies in 2020 were broadly unchanged at US$1.285 (2019:
US$1.278) and €1.125 (2019: €1.141), resulting in limited impact of
currency translation on reported sales and operating profit.
Sales
Sales in reported currency increased by 0.9% to £1,390.3m (2019:
£1,377.7m). Constant currency sales increased by 1.1%. Underlying
sales declined by 2.7%, more than offset by acquisition sales adding
£51.8m.
Sales
2019 reported
Underlying growth/(decline)
Impact of acquisitions
2020 constant currency
Impact of currency translation
2020 reported
£m
1,377.7
(37.3)
51.8
1,392.2
(1.9)
1,390.3
%
(2.7)
3.8
1.1
(0.2)
0.9
In the Core Business, constant currency sales increased by 2.3%.
Sales volume increased by 1.2%, driven by growth in Life Sciences.
Price/mix was 3.0% lower, reflecting adverse mix in Personal Care and
Performance Technologies in challenging market conditions.
Acquisitions added 4.1% to Core Business sales growth.
Sales
Personal Care
Life Sciences
Performance
Technologies
Core Business
Industrial Chemicals
Group
2020
reported
currency
£m
475.9
401.6
416.4
1,293.9
96.4
1,390.3
Year on
year
change
(1.9)%
14.6%
(3.2)%
2.2%
0.9%
(13.8)% (13.4)%
(3.2)%
430.2
2.3% 1,265.9
111.8
1.1% 1,377.7
Constant currency sales in Life Sciences grew by nearly 15%, with a
positive impact on demand in Health Care from COVID-19, supported
by the Avanti acquisition in August. Personal Care sales were 2%
lower, due to the impact of COVID-19 lockdowns on consumer
demand, and Performance Technologies fell by 3%, particularly
reflecting weakness in global automotive demand. Overall, the second
half year was notably stronger than the first, as markets recovered and
with the benefit of acquisitions. In particular, the fourth quarter saw
underlying Personal Care sales restored to the prior year level, a return
to sales growth in Performance Technologies and continued strong
demand in Life Sciences.
Constant
currency
change
(1.8)%
14.8%
2019
£m
485.2
350.5
On a constant currency basis, adjusted operating profit fell by 4.0%.
This reflected the impact of the decline in underlying sales, together
with an adverse impact from the lower price/mix, partly offset by
£12.3m of incremental profit from in-year acquisitions. As a result,
return on sales declined to 23.0% (2019: 24.7%).
Adjusted operating profit
2019 reported
Underlying growth
Impact of acquisitions
2020 constant currency
Impact of currency translation
2020 reported
£m
339.7
(26.0)
12.3
326.0
(6.4)
319.6
%
(7.7)
3.7
(4.0)
(1.9)
(5.9)
Constant currency operating profit in Life Sciences increased by over
£27m, reflecting revenue growth and an increase in high value-add
Health Care sales. By contrast, profit fell in Personal Care and
Performance Technologies, the former due to lower sales and adverse
mix, as Beauty Formulation’s ‘at home’ use products held up better
during the pandemic than the higher value-add Beauty Actives and
Effects businesses, and the latter due to lower sales, adverse mix and
higher operating leverage.
2020 sales at constant currency
Personal Care
Life Sciences
Performance Technologies
Core Business
Industrial Chemicals
Group
First Half
%
(9.5)
(1.7)
(5.6)
(6.0)
(17.8)
(6.9)
Second Half
%
6.2
33.2
(0.6)
11.3
(8.9)
9.6
Full Year
%
(1.8)
14.8
(3.2)
2.3
(13.4)
1.1
Adjusted operating profit
Personal Care
Life Sciences
Performance Technologies
Core Business
Industrial Chemicals
Group
2020
Reported
£m
136.5
129.4
54.0
319.9
(0.3)
319.6
2020
Constant
currency
£m
137.3
134.3
54.6
326.2
(0.2)
326.0
2019
Reported
£m
162.1
107.1
69.4
338.6
1.1
339.7
Adjusted profit
Adjusted operating profit decreased by 5.9% in reported currency to
£319.6m (2019: £339.7m). Operating costs benefited from cost
savings delivered at the end of 2019, lower discretionary spend in
2020 (for example, on travel and exhibitions) and no bonus charge.
These savings were offset by the impact of acquisitions and a higher
share-based payments charge, reflecting the strong share price
performance and high levels of employee share plan participation. The
loss from the ECO biosurfactants plant in North America increased by
£7m to £11m, due to higher feedstock prices, caused by COVID-19
demand for sanitiser-grade bioethanol, and the plant only operating for
part of the period whilst carrying a full cost base.
The classification of cost of sales and administrative expenses within
the Income Statement has been revised to align more closely with the
Group’s inventory valuation policy and market practice. As a result,
2019 comparative operating costs have been increased by £119.0m,
with a corresponding reduction in cost of sales.
Income statement
Revenue
Cost of sales
Gross profit
Adjusted operating costs
Adjusted operating profit
Net interest charge
Adjusted profit before tax
2020
£m
1,390.3
(758.2)
632.1
(312.5)
319.6
(19.0)
300.6
2019 restated
£m
1,377.7
(746.5)
631.2
(291.5)
339.7
(17.6)
322.1
In reported currency, the net interest charge increased to £19.0m
(2019: £17.6m), reflecting higher net debt following the Avanti and
Iberchem acquisitions. Adjusted profit before tax reduced to £300.6m
(2019: £322.1m), a creditable performance in the challenging
conditions created by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The effective tax rate reduced to 24.1% (2019: 25.6%). There were no
significant adjustments between the Group’s expected and reported
tax charge based on its accounting profit. Adjusted profit after tax in
reported currency was £228.2m (2019: £239.7m). Adjusted basic
earnings per share (EPS) were 175.5p (2019: 185.0p), reflecting
the lower profit and the share issuance for the Iberchem acquisition
in November.
IFRS profit
IFRS profit is measured after exceptional items, acquisition costs and
amortisation of intangible assets arising on acquisition, whereas the
adjusted results are presented excluding these items. The charge for
these adjusting items before tax was £31.1m (2019: £19.8m).
Acquisition costs were significantly higher in 2020 at £11.7m (2019:
£0.3m), reflecting the activity in the year. The charge for amortisation
of intangible assets was £13.6m (2019: £8.8m), with the increase
reflecting recent acquisitions. The charge for exceptional items was
£5.8m (2019: £10.7m), reflecting the delivery of the cost-saving
actions announced in the 2019 full year results and a discount unwind
in contingent consideration.
Croda International Plc
Annual Report and Accounts 2020
41
Strategic report Finance review continued
These have been presented as exceptional by virtue of their nature
and for consistency across reporting periods. Profit before tax on an
IFRS basis was £269.5m (2019: £302.3m), the profit after tax on an
IFRS basis was £201.6m (2019: £223.8m) and basic EPS were
155.1p (2019: 172.8p).
Income statement
Adjusted profit before tax
Exceptional items, acquisition costs
& intangibles
Profit before tax (IFRS)
Tax
Profit after tax (IFRS)
2020
£m
300.6
(31.1)
269.5
(67.9)
201.6
2019
£m
322.1
(19.8)
302.3
(78.5)
223.8
From Personal Care to Consumer Care
As set out in the Chief Executive’s Review, from 2021 the Group will
report under four sectors – Consumer Care, Life Sciences,
Performance Technologies and Industrial Chemicals. Consumer Care
will comprise the Personal Care sector, including Iberchem and a
customer currently reported within Life Sciences, and the Home Care
business unit from Performance Technologies. In the 2021 accounts,
the 2020 results will be restated for these changes. The table below
sets out the new structure, showing both the actual 2020 result and
the 2020 outcome had Iberchem and Avanti been owned for the full
year (‘pro-forma’). It does not include changes in allocation of central
and indirect costs.
Capital allocation and cash management
The Group’s capital allocation policy remains to:
1. Reinvest for growth – invest in organic capital expenditure to
drive shareholder value creation through new capacity, product
innovation and expansion in attractive geographic markets to drive
sales and profit growth;
2. Provide regular returns to shareholders – pay a regular
dividend to shareholders, representing 40 to 50% of adjusted
earnings over the business cycle;
3. Acquire disruptive technologies – to supplement organic
growth, continue to target a number of exciting technology
acquisitions in existing and adjacent markets, with a focus on our
Consumer and Life Sciences businesses; and
4. Maintain an appropriate balance sheet and return excess
capital – maintaining an appropriate balance sheet to meet future
investment and trading requirements, we are targeting a leverage
ratio of 1 to 2x over the medium-term cycle. We consider returning
excess capital to shareholders when leverage falls below our target
range and sufficient capital is available to meet our investment
opportunities, and last returned over £150m through a special
dividend in 2019.
In 2020, at a time when other companies were cutting back
investment, Croda continued to execute this policy. We invested in
future organic growth, with net capital expenditure accelerating to
£121.0m (2019: £106.8m), targeting our strategic delivery areas. We
have expanded Life Sciences, investing to scale drug delivery,
doubling our US speciality excipient capacity and expanding in Japan,
while reprioritising £10m in 2020 to deliver COVID-19 solutions for our
customers. We have invested to fast-grow in Asia with new labs and
digital presence, expanded capacity in Smart Materials in Performance
Technologies and invested to grow our sustainable product offerings.
Croda has operated for many years with a prudent leverage and
dividend distribution policy. This enabled the Board, after careful
consideration of all stakeholders and treating all groups consistently
and fairly, to pay the final 2019 ordinary dividend of 50.5 pence per
share (£65.0m) in May 2020. In addition, given the resilience of the
business model during the COVID-19 pandemic, Croda maintained
the interim dividend of 39.5p (2019: 39.5p), paid in October 2020.
Given 2020 earnings performance, limited leverage and balance sheet
strength, the Board is recommending a full year ordinary dividend of
91.0p (2019: 90.0p). This is a 1.1% increase on the prior year, a
10.5% increase in cash cost and represents 52% of adjusted EPS,
with the ratio expected to come within the policy range over the
medium term.
2020 saw significant allocation of capital to acquisitions. Building on
our leading position in Health Care, in August we completed the
acquisition of Avanti Polar Lipids, LLC for an initial consideration of
US$185m and a potential earn-out of up to a further US$75m. This
acquisition was funded from a US$200m unsecured, committed
three-year term loan, with financial covenant requirements consistent
with the Group’s facilities. Combined with Avanti’s cash generation,
the acquisition had a limited impact on Croda’s leverage and liquidity.
Consumer Care is also a priority for capital allocation and in November
we acquired Iberchem for a total consideration of €820m. The
acquisition was funded by a combination of the Group’s existing debt
facilities and an equity placing which raised net proceeds of £615m.
Return on invested capital (ROIC) reduced to 14.6% (2019: 17.0%),
primarily due to the significant allocation of capital to acquisitions
during the year. The Economic Value Added (EVA) underpin to
Croda’s Remuneration Policy reinforces the importance of delivering
superior ROIC which is expected to improve as the profit benefits of
recent acquisitions develop.
With working capital broadly flat in the year, free cash flow remained
robust at £176.9m (2019: £201.7m).
2020 reported currency
Consumer Care
Life Sciences
Performance Technologies
Core Business
Industrial Chemicals
Group
42
Croda International Plc
Annual Report and Accounts 2020
As
reported
£m
475.9
401.6
416.4
1,293.9
96.4
1,390.3
Sales
New
structure
£m
527.8
392.5
373.6
1,293.9
96.4
1,390.3
Pro-
forma
£m
666.6
410.5
373.6
1,450.7
96.4
1,547.1
Adjusted operating profit
As
reported
£m
136.5
129.4
54.0
319.9
(0.3)
319.6
New
structure
£m
146.5
124.5
48.9
319.9
(0.3)
319.6
Pro-
forma
£m
171.0
127.5
48.9
347.4
(0.3)
347.1
Cash flow
Adjusted operating profit
Depreciation and amortisation
EBITDA
Working capital
Net capital expenditure
Payment of lease liabilities
Non-cash pension expense
Interest & tax
Free cash flow
Dividends
Issue of new equity
Acquisitions
Other cash movements including
acquisition costs
Net cash flow
Net movement in borrowings
Net movement in cash and cash
equivalents
2020
£m
319.6
68.2
387.8
(2.3)
(121.0)
(7.6)
7.7
(87.7)
176.9
(115.9)
615.5
(869.7)
(26.6)
(219.8)
2019
£m
339.7
57.6
397.3
1.6
(106.8)
(8.8)
2.8
(84.4)
201.7
(266.9)
–
(5.0)
(17.9)
(88.1)
237.3
115.4
17.5
27.3
Net debt and liquidity
After currency translation, net debt increased to £800.5m (31
December 2019: £547.7m). The Group has a strong balance sheet,
having completed its debt refinancing in 2019, with no material debt
maturities falling due before 2023. Aligned with Croda’s commitment
to be Climate Positive by 2030, our ‘green’ banking facility requires
Croda to reduce its carbon use every year by a specified amount to
receive the most favourable rate of interest. As at 31 December 2020,
the Group had committed funding in place of £1,244.3m, with
undrawn long-term committed facilities (net of overdrafts) of £378.3m
and £106.5m in cash. As a result, the leverage ratio was 1.8x
(31 December 2019: 1.4x), well within a covenant maximum of 3.5x,
measured semi-annually.
In the first half year, we reviewed the liquidity and covenant forecasts
for the Group for the potential impact of COVID-19 on trading activities.
We also considered sensitivities in respect of potential downside
scenarios and the mitigating actions available, relative to a base case
scenario. The downside scenarios assumed a significant reduction in
demand, a material increase in working capital and substantial margin
erosion. The evaluation showed that, even in the most pessimistic
downside scenario, the Group would continue to have robust liquidity
and financial covenant headroom. In the event, the full year result was
ahead of the base case scenario. Following the year end, we have
repeated the scenario planning and confirmed that the Group is
expected to continue to maintain robust liquidity and ample headroom.
Brexit update
Through the implementation of detailed contingency plans, we saw
minimal operational impact from the UK’s withdrawal from the
European Union (EU) at the end of 2020. We initiated changes to our
European trading model, temporarily increased inventory levels to
mitigate any risks of delays at borders and ensured that customer
service was maintained. We continue to monitor the post-Brexit
situation, particularly with regard to cross-border shipping and the
proposed UK chemicals regulatory regime.
Retirement benefits
The post-tax deficit on retirement benefit plans at 31 December 2020
on an accounting valuation basis under IAS19 reduced to £25.3m
(2019: £60.1m). Cash funding of the various plans is driven by the
schemes’ ongoing actuarial valuations. While the triennial actuarial
valuation as of 30 September 2020 for the largest pension plan, the UK
Croda Pension Scheme, is not yet complete, the scheme is expected
to be fully funded on a Technical Provisions basis with no deficit
contribution required.
Alternative performance measures
We use a number of alternative performance measures to assist in
presenting information in this Report in an easily analysable and
comprehensible form. We use such measures consistently at the
half year and full year and reconcile them as appropriate. The
measures used in this statement include:
• Constant currency results: these reflect current year performance
for existing business translated at the prior year’s average
exchange rates and include the impact of acquisitions. For
constant currency profit, translation is performed using the entity
reporting currency. For constant currency sales, local currency
sales are translated into the most relevant functional currency of
the destination country of sale (for example, sales in Latin
America are primarily made in US dollars, which is therefore used
as the functional currency). Sales in functional currency are then
translated into Sterling using the prior year’s average rates for the
corresponding period. Constant currency results are reconciled
to reported results in this Finance review;
• Underlying sales and operating profit: these reflect constant
currency values adjusted to exclude the impact of acquisitions.
They are reconciled to reported results in this Finance review;
adjusted presentation (and the columnar format adopted for the
Group income statement) assists shareholders by providing a
meaningful basis upon which to analyse underlying business
performance and make year-on-year comparisons. The same
measures are used by management for planning, budgeting and
reporting purposes and for the internal assessment of operating
performance across the Group. The adjusted presentation is
adopted on a consistent basis for each half year and full year
results;
• Core Business: this comprises Personal Care, Life Sciences and
Performance Technologies;
• Return on sales: this is adjusted operating profit divided by sales,
at reported currency;
• Net debt: comprises cash and cash equivalents (including bank
overdrafts), current and non-current borrowings and lease liabilities;
• Leverage ratio: this is the ratio of net debt to Earnings Before
Interest, Tax, Depreciation and Amortisation (EBITDA) adjusted to
include EBITDA from acquisitions in the last 12-month period.
EBITDA is adjusted operating profit plus depreciation and
amortisation; and
• Adjusted results: these are stated before exceptional items,
acquisition costs and amortisation of intangible assets arising on
acquisition, and tax thereon. The Board believes that the
• Free cash flow: comprises EBITDA less movements in working
capital, net capital expenditure, payment of lease liabilities,
non-cash pension expense, and interest and tax payments.
Croda International Plc
Annual Report and Accounts 2020
43
Strategic report Risk management
Our risk framework enables the business to protect value, helping us to
identify opportunities and minimise threats to the delivery of our strategic
and operational objectives.
How we manage risk
Our Board owns and oversees our risk
management programme, with overall
responsibility for ensuring that our risks are
aligned with our goals and strategic objectives
(p68). The Audit Committee assists the Board
in monitoring the effectiveness of our risk
management and internal control policies,
procedures and systems (p71).
Each of our more than 50 strategic and
operational risks is owned by an Executive
member, and is grouped into 17
subcategories for transparent reporting. Each
risk has a risk appetite, visible to all risk
owners, owned and reviewed by an Executive
member. Risk appetite statements, reviewed
annually by the Executive and the Board
(p56), are defined for groups of risks
(subcategories).
Global visibility of all risks is ensured through
our global risk reporting dashboard, updated
daily from our risk and control system (the
Digital Hive), which enables risk comparison
across regions, operations and sectors.
We use our risk framework (p45) to drive an
integrated and owned approach to risk
management through the culture of the entire
organisation:
• Our first line of defence, our employees,
have a responsibility to manage day-to-day
risk in their own areas guided by Group
policies, procedures and control
frameworks. Local management, and
ultimately the Executive, ensure that risks
are managed, maintained, reviewed and
actioned according to these frameworks.
• The second line of defence is provided by
management team review of each risk
register, culminating in review by the Risk
Management Committee, which meets
quarterly to challenge and monitor current
and emerging risks using a bottom-up and
top-down approach.
• The third line of defence is assurance over
the effectiveness of mitigating controls.
This is provided through internal audits, in
addition to reports from external assurance
providers, which are reviewed by three
Executive Committees and monitored and
challenged by the Audit Committee and
the Board.
We have a Global Crisis Management plan in
place to manage significant risk events,
owned by the Executive, which is tested
based on key risk scenarios at least annually.
Our key risks
The Board has carried out a robust
assessment of emerging and principal risks
(the ‘key’ risks) facing the Group at its
meeting in July (p56), including those that
would threaten its business model, future
performance solvency or liquidity. They
received assurance over the effectiveness of
mitigating controls through quarterly
assurance updates. Our risk heat map (p45)
identifies these key pre-mitigation risks, which
summarise the local risks identified through
the risk framework, and are those that we
consider most impact our business model
(p12) and the delivery of our long-term
strategic goals (p22). They are explained in
further detail in the table on pages 46 to 48.
Key risks also form the basis of our scenario
testing for the assessment of long-term
viability of the Company on page 49.
Changes to our gross risk
environment in 2020
Movements on the risk heat map reflect
changes to the underlying long-term risk
environment that we are facing, not the
shorter-term impacts of COVID-19 and Brexit
(see case studies below). Product quality and
chemical regulatory long-term risks have
increased in 2020 as a result of the strategic
shift towards health care delivery systems.
The acquisition of Iberchem in November
2020 introduces another market and
additional risks to the framework, which
are currently being assessed by a cross
functional team.
Key risk management — COVID-19
Croda declared a class one crisis in February 2020, gathering
together a cross-functional global team to assess the impact on
our key risks, what could compromise strategic delivery,
develop mitigating strategies and manage communications both
internal and external. Initial risks to address were supply chain
(raw material security of supply and maintaining customer
delivery), and maintaining safe manufacturing operations. The
team also assessed the impact on our employee mental health
and wellbeing, and ability to work from home as governments
globally introduced ’lockdowns’ to manage the spread of the
pandemic. Our crisis management team remains in place to
continue to monitor progress. The Board reviewed the key risks
in July 2020 and concluded that they had not changed as a
result of COVID-19, confirming the resilience of the risk
management framework.
Key risk management — Brexit
The hard work and focus of the multi-disciplined Brexit team,
working throughout 2020 to prepare for the end of the Brexit
Transition Period, resulted in a smooth transition for Croda’s
European business on 31 December 2020. Technical changes
to enable a new ‘buy/sell’ trading model in Europe were
completed without issue and risk of supply chain disruption was
mitigated by effective contingency planning, including early cut
off for customer deliveries in December and holding increased
contingency stock in warehouses. Chemical regulatory
re-registration is now underway. The project team remains in
place to work on remaining actions, to mitigate residual risks
and look for further process optimisation opportunities.
44
Croda International Plc
Annual Report and Accounts 2020
Our risk framework
What we monitor
Executive Risk Register
Summary of the key risks facing us prepared by combining key risks identified through the local bottom-up registers
with Group-level risks identified and owned by the Executive Committee
Our risk landscape
Current risks
Risks we are managing now
that could stop us achieving
our strategic objectives
Emerging risks
Risks with a future impact from
external or internal opportunities
or threats. These can be slow
moving, as well as rapid velocity
What we assess
• Risk ownership: each risk has a named owner
• Likelihood and impact: globally applied 6x6
scoring scale
• Gross risk: before mitigating controls
• Mitigating controls: subject to internal audit review
and monitoring
• Net risk: after mitigating controls are applied
• Risk appetite: defined at generic risk and subcategory
level and transparent through our risk dashboard
• Actions: for further mitigation if required
Our identified risks
Six categories, 17 subcategories,
over 50 generic risks, one
framework:
• Strategic
• People and culture
• Process
• External environment
• Business systems and security
• Financial
Our bottom-up registers
The core of our risk assessment. Owned by market sectors, regions, manufacturing sites and functions, they identify local
risks and mitigating controls arising from day-to-day operations in over 30 risk registers globally
How we monitor
Risk Management Committee p63
Meets quarterly to
monitor and review
risks other than SHEQ
and Ethics.
consideration of the
significance of
climate-related risks
and emerging
regulatory
requirements.
Standing agenda item
to monitor business IT
systems and cyber
risks and currently
Brexit and COVID-19
risk. Covers proactive
risk management, risk
monitoring and
mitigation and internal
and external emerging
risks including
Receives an in-depth
presentation of specific
key risks and
mitigating controls
from risk owners at
each meeting.
Considers the results
of internal audit work
for all risks.
Group SHEQ
Steering Committee
p63
Meets quarterly to
review Safety, Health,
Environmental and
Quality (SHEQ) risks.
Monitors against
stretching targets and
agreed KPIs.
Considers the results
of assurance audits
over SHEQ controls.
Group Ethics
Committee p63
Meets quarterly to
review ethics and
compliance risks.
Monitors against
agreed KPIs.
Considers the results
of assurance audits
over Ethics controls.
Board p68
Responsible for the
risk framework and
definition of risk
appetite. Reviews key
risks with an
opportunity for
in-depth discussion of
specific key risks and
mitigating controls
annually. Approves
the Viability
Statement.
Audit Committee
p70
Reviews the
effectiveness of the
Group risk
management process.
Reviews assurance
over mitigating
controls, directing
internal audit to
undertake assurance
reviews for selected
key risks. Reviews
viability scenario
assessments.
Risk heat map
h
g
H
i
d
o
o
h
i
l
e
k
L
i
2
5
10
9
11
1
6
7
3
4
8
12
i
m
u
d
e
M
Medium
Impact
High
Gross risk
increase
Gross risk
no change
Gross risk
decrease
Our principal risks are reported gross
(before mitigating controls)
Strategic risk
1
2
3
4
Revenue generation in established and emerging markets
Product and technology innovation and protection
Digital technology innovation
Delivering sustainable solutions — Climate Positive
People and culture risk
5
Our people — culture, wellbeing, talent development and
retention
Process risk
6
7
8
Product quality/liability claims
Loss of significant manufacturing site
Suppliers and raw material security
External environment risk
9
10
Product stewardship and chemical regulatory compliance
Ethics and compliance
Business systems risk
11
Security of business information and networks
Financial risk
12
Ineffective management of pension fund
Croda International Plc
Annual Report and Accounts 2020
45
Strategic report Risk management continued
Strategic
k
s
i
r
y
e
K
1. Revenue generation
in established and
emerging markets
President Regional Delivery
and Sector Presidents
2. Product and technology
innovation and protection
3. Digital technology
innovation
4. Delivering sustainable
solutions – Climate Positive
5. Our people – culture,
6. Product quality/liability
7. Loss of significant
8. Suppliers and raw
manufacturing site (major
material security
Nick Challoner
Chief Scientific Officer
Jez Maiden
Group Finance Director
Stuart Arnott
President Sustainability
People and culture
Process fundamentals
wellbeing, talent
development and retention
claims
Tracy Sheedy
Group HR Director
Tom Brophy
Group General Counsel
safety or environmental
incident)
Mark Robinson
President Global Operations
Mark Robinson
President Global Operations
V
E
S
V
E
C
C
M
S
V
C
M
V
Why this matters to us
To grow, we need to both keep pace
with our customers as they serve
consumers in emerging markets and
grow revenue in established markets.
Failure to manage these challenges and
the consequences of any geopolitical
tensions will adversely impact delivery of
our strategic objective to deliver
consistent top and bottom-line growth.
How we respond
Through our global sector sales,
marketing and technology teams, we
identify consumer trends and respond
swiftly to satisfy customer needs
through key technologies. Our direct
selling model enables us to get closer to
our customers. Our resilient business
model (p12) and continued focus on
growing profit ahead of revenue ahead
of volume mitigates profit impact in
difficult trading conditions.
What we have done in 2020
• Delivered a proactive M&A
programme, including acquisition of
Avanti, around whose expertise we
built our contribution to the global
COVID-19 vaccine programme (p9),
and Iberchem, adding an attractive
capability to our consumer care
offering, with 80% of sales in
emerging markets (p9)
• Completed a ‘Plan Ahead’ review of
our strategic objectives prioritising
time to think about a post-COVID-19
world and capitalise on emerging
trends in our markets
• Delivered fast growth in our Life
Science sector whilst defending our
position in Personal Care and
Performance Technologies
(pages 24 to 29)
• Our Brexit team delivered a smooth
transition at the end of 2020
(case study p44)
Impact of COVID-19
Whilst customer demand has inevitably
been impacted by the crisis, the
strength and breadth of our business
model have helped to reduce its impact.
Innovation plays a critical role across
our operations; it differentiates us from
the competition, protects sales and
improves our margins. Failure to drive
New and Protected Products through
innovation will impact growth
and margin.
Failure to protect the intellectual
property (IP) in these products in
existing and new markets could
undermine our competitive advantage.
Digital technology is a significant
disruptor, rapidly changing markets that
we operate in, changing the way we
interact with our external partners and
each other. New and established
customers expect a high level of online
service, from researching ingredients to
buying, and failure to meet these ahead
of competitors will impact growth,
hinder R&D knowledge sharing and
create inefficient processes.
Our outstanding technical research and
development (R&D) teams, based in our
customer innovation centres and
application laboratories globally, focus
innovation on customer and market
needs and are embedded across our
business. We invest in: R&D, Open
Innovation and Smart Partnership
programmes, seeking premium niches
and disruptive technology acquisitions.
Our specialist IP team protect new
products and technologies, defending
our IP and challenging third-party IP
where appropriate.
Dedicated centres of excellence focus
on our business model areas of Create,
Make and Sell (p12) and provide global
leadership to take advantage of the fast
evolving digital world. They deliver an
integrated market-facing environment
that encompasses everything from
product development through artificial
intelligence-enabled manufacture, to
customer service. Digital pilot projects
embedded in the organisation support
agile, local trials of innovative ideas,
which can grow into global initiatives.
• Create: invested in building a global
R&D knowledge management
system, to share global R&D expertise
• Make: rolled out a global supply chain
planning solution and implemented
real-time monitoring of production
plant performance (p9)
• Sell: trained sales teams in the use of
new digital CRM tools. Prioritised the
use of digital for customer
engagement, rolling out Live Chat
functionality in 35 countries
• Invested in innovative new technology
platforms with the acquisition of Avanti
and Iberchem (p9)
• Supported rapid COVID-19 vaccine
development through the rapid
progression of Avanti’s lipid
nanoparticle system and other
innovative technologies
• Invested in major new R&D facilities in
Shanghai, the UK and North America
(p7)
• Invested in new technology
partnerships with Entekno and
Anomera, delivering exciting product
development opportunities
• Launched new products in all sectors
(p24 to p29), expanding in
biotechnology to help our customers
move away from traditional
petrochemical ingredients
Increasing global consumer concerns
over climate change have heightened
both our customers’ and our own
focus on our core strategy of turning
bio-based raw materials into innovative
ingredients with sustainable benefits
in use. We also focus on the impact
of climate change on our own ability
to supply.
Sustainability is the biggest driver of
our strategy and failing to remain
ahead will damage our reputation
and compromise growth.
In line with our Purpose, Smart science
to improve livesTM our Commitment to
become the most sustainable supplier
of innovative ingredients remains at the
core of what we do. By aligning our
smart science with United Nations
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
we are committed to being Climate
Positive by 2030 and are well aligned
with the growing requirements of our
customers to move to a low
carbon economy.
Through our sustainability focus, we
make decisions to mitigate, transfer,
accept or control climate-related
transitional and physical risks based
on their impact. See more in our 2020
Sustainability Report.
• Engaged with investors through
seminars (p21)
• Developed decarbonisation roadmaps
for manufacturing sites representing
90% of our total emissions and will
complete for all locations by the end
of 2022 (p32)
• Increased the bio-based content of
our organic raw materials to 67% (p33)
• Met our 2020 environmental targets
including reduction of our greenhouse
gas emissions by over 15% (p32) and
waste to landfill by 34% (p36)
• Implemented an internal carbon price
for all capital expenditure applications
(p32)
• Our leadership was recognised by
achieving the highest EcoVadis
Platinum recognition award and we
are included in FTSE4Good UK 50
• See more on pages 30 to 37 and in
our 2020 Sustainability Report
Why this matters to us
Retaining and developing the
experience and motivation of all our
applications. Non-compliance with our
operation of our manufacturing sites
knowledgeable and diverse employees
customers’ stringent product quality
around the world.
is critical to maintaining our ability to
requirements, global and local regulation
deliver our strategic priorities. Failing to
could expose us to liability claims,
Climate change directly impacting the
We sell into a number of highly regulated
We rely on the continued sustainable
Sourcing from suppliers who do not
share our ethical stance could lead to
reputation damage, especially in the
light of our sustainability commitment.
maintain our distinctive Croda culture
within which people thrive and which
attracts new and diverse talent to join
the Company would significantly
damage our ability to innovate
and grow.
significant reputational damage and
compromise our ability to grow,
especially in light of our commitment to
expand to grow Life Sciences.
location of a site or availability of utilities
Any interruption in the supply of key raw
used, or a major event causing loss of
production and violating safety, health
materials would affect our operations
and financial position. Such a disruption
or environmental regulations, could limit
could arise from market shortages,
our operations. This could also expose
climate change impacting the locations
the Group to liability, cost and reputation
where bio-based raw materials grow or
from new restrictive legislation.
damage, especially in light of our
commitment to sustainability and
customer service.
How we respond
A clear Purpose, strong development
Monitored by our Group SHEQ Steering
Monitored by our Group SHEQ Steering
Professional purchasing teams based in
culture, excellent learning opportunities
Committee (p63), our sites and
Committee (p63), our global network of
our regions develop good relationships
and competitive reward programmes
products are certified to demanding
site-based safety professionals enforce
with our suppliers and proactively
support the retention, engagement and
external quality standards highly valued
compliance with global policies and
career development of the high-quality
by our customers (including ISO 9001,
procedures defined in the Group SHE
teams we need. Global graduate and
GMP and Excipact). Our global network
manual. Assurance is provided by the
monitor supply to identify and manage
potential future shortages. To protect
supply, we agree long-term contracts
management development programmes
of quality professionals enforce
specialist Group SHE internal audit
where appropriate, source from multiple
include stretching and high-profile
compliance with the Group Quality
team, whilst external auditors certify our
suppliers, or build up our own
assignments and provide a pipeline of
manual, assured through internal audits
compliance with international safety
inventories.
delivered by our specialist Group Quality
standards. Our sites are certified to
audit team and external certification
ISO14001 standards.
We ask higher risk suppliers to complete
an EcoVadis self assessment and follow
audits. We work proactively with
relevant trade associations to shape
future regulation.
Risks specific to each site are identified
up results with them.
in ‘bottom-up’ risk registers and local
business continuity plans are in place
which are regularly tested.
internal talent.
Our bi-annual global talent review
process considers resources and
succession plans for critical roles, with
actions monitored by the Executive
Committee and the Board.
What we have done in 2020
• Implemented a global mentoring
• Launched our ‘right first time’ initiative
• Rapid investment in new
• Appointed a new Head of
to help us reach our ambitious target
manufacturing capability to serve the
programme, upgraded our leadership
programmes and increased our online
training courses to support the
development of our employees
of 99.5% by 2030, creating the
position of Business Process Director
to co-ordinate efforts globally
• Articulated and rolled out ‘Our
• Reviewed and updated our product
Difference’, a summary of our cultural
quality policy, template agreements,
aspirations and supporting our
Purpose, including updated values
• Addressed increased risks to
employee wellbeing and mental health
guidance and employee training using
industry best practices. We use these
agreements to formalise our quality
through provision of tailored training
• Undertook a detailed risk assessment
sessions and increased
communications
of the implications of supplying novel
excipients into vaccines
• Regular and focused pulse surveys
• Established a cross-functional team to
enabled employee concerns to be
quickly identified and addressed.
Employee response rates to these
were high c.70%
commence a detailed risk assessment
of our Health Care business, with
particular focus on the growth of this
business in the area of patient health
• See more on page 37 and in our 2020
Sustainability Report
high growth patient health market
increased the risk of major site
incidents. Operational teams
demonstrated flexibility and focus and
we sustained our good process safety
performance despite the increased
risks, with no serious incidents with
major accident potential
standard to help mitigate the
increased risk of loss of focus resulting
from COVID-19
• The North American biosurfactant
plant, which came online in early
2020, was unable to operate from
September 2020 after air permit limit
deficiencies were identified (p36). It is
expected to be operational again in
the first half of 2021
commitments to our customers
• Launched our revised SHE Behaviour
Procurement to provide global
leadership. She will enhance and
refresh our global procurement
framework and processes in 2021
• Communicated a comprehensively
reviewed and updated supplier code
of conduct to all suppliers
• Employed a third party to undertake a
strategic analysis of our raw material
supply chain for critical products
• Assessed suppliers of around 50% of
our total spend against the EcoVadis
platform and worked closely with
them to drive improved processes
• See more on pages 18 and 36 and in
our 2020 Sustainability Report
By providing a COVID-19 secure
environment in which to work, our
R&D teams have had significant
laboratory time, protecting our
future innovation pipeline.
Created enhanced dialogue and route
to customers during lockdown.
Our flexible and agile manufacturing
assets enabled us to swap production
to ensure customer delivery was
not compromised.
Almost all our employees have been
Our quality standards continued to
All but two of our manufacturing sites
Global supply chain and procurement
able to work effectively, either on-site or
operate at all sites, with strict social
have continued to operate without
teams worked together to mitigate
from home. We have not furloughed
distancing measures in place to protect
interruption, with strict social distancing
the impact on customer delivery,
employees or reduced pay.
our people.
measures in place to protect
including relating to short term raw
our people.
material shortages.
Impact of COVID-19
46
Croda International Plc
Annual Report and Accounts 2020
y
e
K
Link to our strategy (p22)
Risk movement
Link to our business model (p12)
Growth: consistent top and bottom line growth
Innovation: increase the proportion of NPP that we sell
Sustainability: align our business with our Purpose and
accelerate our customers’ transition to sustainable ingredients
Risk increase
No change
Risk decrease
V
Included in viability statement
(see page 49)
E
C
M
S
Engage
Create
Make
Sell
Strategic
in established and
emerging markets
1. Revenue generation
2. Product and technology
3. Digital technology
innovation and protection
innovation
4. Delivering sustainable
solutions – Climate Positive
President Regional Delivery
Nick Challoner
Jez Maiden
Stuart Arnott
and Sector Presidents
Chief Scientific Officer
Group Finance Director
President Sustainability
People and culture
Process fundamentals
k
s
i
r
y
e
K
5. Our people – culture,
wellbeing, talent
development and retention
Tracy Sheedy
Group HR Director
6. Product quality/liability
claims
Tom Brophy
Group General Counsel
7. Loss of significant
manufacturing site (major
safety or environmental
incident)
Mark Robinson
President Global Operations
8. Suppliers and raw
material security
Mark Robinson
President Global Operations
E
C M
S
V
M
S
MV
MV
Why this matters to us
To grow, we need to both keep pace
Innovation plays a critical role across
Digital technology is a significant
Increasing global consumer concerns
with our customers as they serve
consumers in emerging markets and
grow revenue in established markets.
our operations; it differentiates us from
disruptor, rapidly changing markets that
over climate change have heightened
the competition, protects sales and
we operate in, changing the way we
both our customers’ and our own
improves our margins. Failure to drive
interact with our external partners and
focus on our core strategy of turning
Failure to manage these challenges and
New and Protected Products through
each other. New and established
bio-based raw materials into innovative
the consequences of any geopolitical
innovation will impact growth
tensions will adversely impact delivery of
and margin.
our strategic objective to deliver
consistent top and bottom-line growth.
customers expect a high level of online
ingredients with sustainable benefits
service, from researching ingredients to
in use. We also focus on the impact
buying, and failure to meet these ahead
of climate change on our own ability
Failure to protect the intellectual
property (IP) in these products in
existing and new markets could
undermine our competitive advantage.
of competitors will impact growth,
hinder R&D knowledge sharing and
create inefficient processes.
to supply.
Sustainability is the biggest driver of
our strategy and failing to remain
ahead will damage our reputation
and compromise growth.
How we respond
Through our global sector sales,
Our outstanding technical research and
Dedicated centres of excellence focus
In line with our Purpose, Smart science
marketing and technology teams, we
development (R&D) teams, based in our
on our business model areas of Create,
to improve livesTM our Commitment to
identify consumer trends and respond
customer innovation centres and
Make and Sell (p12) and provide global
become the most sustainable supplier
swiftly to satisfy customer needs
application laboratories globally, focus
leadership to take advantage of the fast
of innovative ingredients remains at the
through key technologies. Our direct
innovation on customer and market
selling model enables us to get closer to
needs and are embedded across our
our customers. Our resilient business
model (p12) and continued focus on
business. We invest in: R&D, Open
Innovation and Smart Partnership
evolving digital world. They deliver an
integrated market-facing environment
that encompasses everything from
core of what we do. By aligning our
smart science with United Nations
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
product development through artificial
we are committed to being Climate
growing profit ahead of revenue ahead
programmes, seeking premium niches
intelligence-enabled manufacture, to
of volume mitigates profit impact in
and disruptive technology acquisitions.
customer service. Digital pilot projects
Positive by 2030 and are well aligned
with the growing requirements of our
difficult trading conditions.
Our specialist IP team protect new
embedded in the organisation support
customers to move to a low
products and technologies, defending
agile, local trials of innovative ideas,
carbon economy.
our IP and challenging third-party IP
which can grow into global initiatives.
where appropriate.
• Delivered a proactive M&A
• Invested in innovative new technology
• Create: invested in building a global
• Engaged with investors through
platforms with the acquisition of Avanti
R&D knowledge management
seminars (p21)
and Iberchem (p9)
system, to share global R&D expertise
• Developed decarbonisation roadmaps
• Supported rapid COVID-19 vaccine
• Make: rolled out a global supply chain
planning solution and implemented
real-time monitoring of production
plant performance (p9)
for manufacturing sites representing
90% of our total emissions and will
complete for all locations by the end
of 2022 (p32)
development through the rapid
progression of Avanti’s lipid
nanoparticle system and other
innovative technologies
• Invested in major new R&D facilities in
new digital CRM tools. Prioritised the
our organic raw materials to 67% (p33)
• Sell: trained sales teams in the use of
• Increased the bio-based content of
Shanghai, the UK and North America
use of digital for customer
engagement, rolling out Live Chat
functionality in 35 countries
What we have done in 2020
programme, including acquisition of
Avanti, around whose expertise we
built our contribution to the global
COVID-19 vaccine programme (p9),
and Iberchem, adding an attractive
capability to our consumer care
offering, with 80% of sales in
emerging markets (p9)
• Completed a ‘Plan Ahead’ review of
our strategic objectives prioritising
time to think about a post-COVID-19
world and capitalise on emerging
trends in our markets
• Delivered fast growth in our Life
Science sector whilst defending our
position in Personal Care and
Performance Technologies
(pages 24 to 29)
• Our Brexit team delivered a smooth
transition at the end of 2020
(case study p44)
Impact of COVID-19
(p7)
• Invested in new technology
partnerships with Entekno and
Anomera, delivering exciting product
development opportunities
• Launched new products in all sectors
(p24 to p29), expanding in
biotechnology to help our customers
move away from traditional
petrochemical ingredients
Whilst customer demand has inevitably
By providing a COVID-19 secure
Created enhanced dialogue and route
Our flexible and agile manufacturing
been impacted by the crisis, the
environment in which to work, our
to customers during lockdown.
strength and breadth of our business
R&D teams have had significant
model have helped to reduce its impact.
laboratory time, protecting our
future innovation pipeline.
Through our sustainability focus, we
make decisions to mitigate, transfer,
accept or control climate-related
transitional and physical risks based
on their impact. See more in our 2020
Sustainability Report.
• Met our 2020 environmental targets
including reduction of our greenhouse
gas emissions by over 15% (p32) and
waste to landfill by 34% (p36)
• Implemented an internal carbon price
for all capital expenditure applications
(p32)
• Our leadership was recognised by
achieving the highest EcoVadis
Platinum recognition award and we
are included in FTSE4Good UK 50
• See more on pages 30 to 37 and in
our 2020 Sustainability Report
assets enabled us to swap production
to ensure customer delivery was
not compromised.
Why this matters to us
Retaining and developing the
experience and motivation of all our
knowledgeable and diverse employees
is critical to maintaining our ability to
deliver our strategic priorities. Failing to
maintain our distinctive Croda culture
within which people thrive and which
attracts new and diverse talent to join
the Company would significantly
damage our ability to innovate
and grow.
We sell into a number of highly regulated
applications. Non-compliance with our
customers’ stringent product quality
requirements, global and local regulation
could expose us to liability claims,
significant reputational damage and
compromise our ability to grow,
especially in light of our commitment to
expand to grow Life Sciences.
We rely on the continued sustainable
operation of our manufacturing sites
around the world.
Climate change directly impacting the
location of a site or availability of utilities
used, or a major event causing loss of
production and violating safety, health
or environmental regulations, could limit
our operations. This could also expose
the Group to liability, cost and reputation
damage, especially in light of our
commitment to sustainability and
customer service.
Monitored by our Group SHEQ Steering
Committee (p63), our global network of
site-based safety professionals enforce
compliance with global policies and
procedures defined in the Group SHE
manual. Assurance is provided by the
specialist Group SHE internal audit
team, whilst external auditors certify our
compliance with international safety
standards. Our sites are certified to
ISO14001 standards.
Risks specific to each site are identified
in ‘bottom-up’ risk registers and local
business continuity plans are in place
which are regularly tested.
Sourcing from suppliers who do not
share our ethical stance could lead to
reputation damage, especially in the
light of our sustainability commitment.
Any interruption in the supply of key raw
materials would affect our operations
and financial position. Such a disruption
could arise from market shortages,
climate change impacting the locations
where bio-based raw materials grow or
from new restrictive legislation.
Professional purchasing teams based in
our regions develop good relationships
with our suppliers and proactively
monitor supply to identify and manage
potential future shortages. To protect
supply, we agree long-term contracts
where appropriate, source from multiple
suppliers, or build up our own
inventories.
We ask higher risk suppliers to complete
an EcoVadis self assessment and follow
up results with them.
Monitored by our Group SHEQ Steering
Committee (p63), our sites and
products are certified to demanding
external quality standards highly valued
by our customers (including ISO 9001,
GMP and Excipact). Our global network
of quality professionals enforce
compliance with the Group Quality
manual, assured through internal audits
delivered by our specialist Group Quality
audit team and external certification
audits. We work proactively with
relevant trade associations to shape
future regulation.
• Launched our ‘right first time’ initiative
to help us reach our ambitious target
of 99.5% by 2030, creating the
position of Business Process Director
to co-ordinate efforts globally
• Reviewed and updated our product
quality policy, template agreements,
guidance and employee training using
industry best practices. We use these
agreements to formalise our quality
commitments to our customers
• Undertook a detailed risk assessment
of the implications of supplying novel
excipients into vaccines
• Established a cross-functional team to
commence a detailed risk assessment
of our Health Care business, with
particular focus on the growth of this
business in the area of patient health
• See more on page 37 and in our 2020
Sustainability Report
• Rapid investment in new
manufacturing capability to serve the
high growth patient health market
increased the risk of major site
incidents. Operational teams
demonstrated flexibility and focus and
we sustained our good process safety
performance despite the increased
risks, with no serious incidents with
major accident potential
• Launched our revised SHE Behaviour
standard to help mitigate the
increased risk of loss of focus resulting
from COVID-19
• The North American biosurfactant
plant, which came online in early
2020, was unable to operate from
September 2020 after air permit limit
deficiencies were identified (p36). It is
expected to be operational again in
the first half of 2021
• Appointed a new Head of
Procurement to provide global
leadership. She will enhance and
refresh our global procurement
framework and processes in 2021
• Communicated a comprehensively
reviewed and updated supplier code
of conduct to all suppliers
• Employed a third party to undertake a
strategic analysis of our raw material
supply chain for critical products
• Assessed suppliers of around 50% of
our total spend against the EcoVadis
platform and worked closely with
them to drive improved processes
• See more on pages 18 and 36 and in
our 2020 Sustainability Report
Our quality standards continued to
operate at all sites, with strict social
distancing measures in place to protect
our people.
All but two of our manufacturing sites
have continued to operate without
interruption, with strict social distancing
measures in place to protect
our people.
Global supply chain and procurement
teams worked together to mitigate
the impact on customer delivery,
including relating to short term raw
material shortages.
Croda International Plc
Annual Report and Accounts 2020
47
How we respond
A clear Purpose, strong development
culture, excellent learning opportunities
and competitive reward programmes
support the retention, engagement and
career development of the high-quality
teams we need. Global graduate and
management development programmes
include stretching and high-profile
assignments and provide a pipeline of
internal talent.
Our bi-annual global talent review
process considers resources and
succession plans for critical roles, with
actions monitored by the Executive
Committee and the Board.
What we have done in 2020
• Implemented a global mentoring
programme, upgraded our leadership
programmes and increased our online
training courses to support the
development of our employees
• Articulated and rolled out ‘Our
Difference’, a summary of our cultural
aspirations and supporting our
Purpose, including updated values
• Addressed increased risks to
employee wellbeing and mental health
through provision of tailored training
sessions and increased
communications
• Regular and focused pulse surveys
enabled employee concerns to be
quickly identified and addressed.
Employee response rates to these
were high c.70%
Impact of COVID-19
Almost all our employees have been
able to work effectively, either on-site or
from home. We have not furloughed
employees or reduced pay.
Strategic report
Risk management continued
External environment
k
s
i
r
y
e
K
9. Product stewardship
and chemical regulatory
compliance
Stuart Arnott
President Sustainability
Business systems
and security
Financial
10. Ethics and compliance
Tom Brophy
Group General Counsel
11. Security
of business information
and networks
Jez Maiden
Group Finance Director
12. Ineffective
management of pension
fund
Jez Maiden
Group Finance Director
C
M
S
E
C
M S
E
C M S
V
V
Why this matters to us
As a global chemical manufacturer, we
operate in highly regulated markets.
Violation, incomplete knowledge or
unidentified change of any regulation
could limit the markets into which we
can sell, expose the business to
penalties and compromise growth.
Product stewardship for us means
going beyond the minimum
requirements for regulatory compliance,
building upon the knowledge we gain
from regulation and enhancing it to fully
understand our products’ impact
beyond our factory gate.
How we respond
Global regulatory expertise is provided
by our in-house team of specialists, who
have in-depth knowledge of our regional
and market regulatory frameworks. They
work proactively to influence regulation
and are an integral part of our new
product development process. We use
the SAP EHS module to ensure that
regulatory changes are applied to
existing products.
Our global product advisory teams work
closely with customers to identify the
most appropriate product for their
needs.
What we have done in 2020
• Influenced the discussion about the
direction of the UK REACH legislation
and started a programme to deliver
• Successfully transferred EU REACH
registrations to our EU trading
companies and identified and
pre-registered the relevant substances
for both Korea and Turkey’s REACH
equivalent legislation, ensuring
continued service to customers
• Established a Product Stewardship
Working Group consisting of internal
regulatory and technical experts to
progress our product Life Cycle
Assessment work (p37)
• Developed a sustainability impact
assessment (SIA) methodology for
product/application combinations
We are subject to UK legislation which is
far-reaching in terms of global scope
and often more rigorous than local
legislation (for example, the Bribery Act).
Our increased presence in emerging
economies and the increasingly frequent
introduction of new regulation create
an elevated compliance and
reputational risk.
Society and business are subject to
more numerous and increasingly
sophisticated threats to security,
including hackers, viruses and
ransomware attacks, and keeping
our data safe is subject to increasingly
stringent regulatory requirements
globally.
We maintain an open defined benefit
pension scheme in the UK. This faces
similar risks to other such schemes
including future investment returns,
longer life expectancy and regulatory
changes that could result in pension
schemes becoming more of a
financial burden.
We rely heavily on the availability of IT
networks and systems; an extended
interruption of these services may result
in an inability to operate.
Our Group Ethics Committee (p63)
meets quarterly to consider new
legislation requirements and to
promote the importance of ethics
and compliance across our business
and stakeholder ecosystem.
Compliance training and education
programmes are rolled out globally, with
results monitored by the Committee.
We run our key applications in
distributed computing environments
with regular failover testing and
penetration testing being undertaken.
Our information security specialists
monitor our IT services and networks,
oversee cyber protection solutions and
provide cyber awareness education
globally, whilst internal and external
auditors review and report on the
operation of all cyber and system
controls annually.
The Group maintains close dialogue
with the UK Pension Trustee, and the
move to a career average capped salary
basis of calculation in 2016 mitigated
some of the risks. The pension fund
investment strategy (including a triennial
valuation review) is delivered with the
support of professional advisers, and
trained pension fund Trustee Directors
take professional advice and monitor
and review arrangements quarterly.
• Monitored funded status of the largest
pension plan (the UK Croda Pension
Scheme). No deficit funding payments
were required (p43)
• Consulted with Trustee on triennial
scheme valuation and future funding
requirements
• Undertook ethics risk assessment for
• Appointed a new Information Security
the acquisition of Iberchem, given their
footprint in emerging markets with
higher risks
manager and agreed to a rolling
programme of cyber assurance
reviews based on the NIST framework
• Rapidly deployed a secure virtual
desktop infrastructure to support
homeworkers and increased
communication, training and
simulated phishing exercises
• Applied Croda Information Security
standards and controls to acquired
businesses via our IT integration
programme
• Implemented a tool for continuous
penetration testing
• Assessed and monitored our
programme for compliance with
Corporate Criminal Offence legislation
• Developed an ethics procedures
manual in support of our ethics
programme and its procedural
framework. 225 employees
completed ethics training and 135
competition law training. We
undertook over 2,600 third party
reputational screenings
• Republicised our Speak-Up reporting
line, including new branding and
communication materials, an updated
FAQ document and bespoke training
video. We received and investigated
18 Speak-Up reports during the year
Impact of COVID-19
No significant impact
No significant impact
48
Croda International Plc
Annual Report and Accounts 2020
Significant increase of home workers
globally raised the risk of lower
productivity and increased exposure to
cyber-security risk
Government response to lower funding
costs resulting in increased liabilities
Long-term viability statement
Based on their assessment of prospects and viability, the Directors confirm
that they have the expectation that the Company will be able to continue in
operation and meet its liabilities as they fall due over the next three years to
31 December 2023.
Confirmation of viability
Based on their assessment of prospects and
viability, the Directors confirm that they have
an expectation that the Company will be able
to continue in operation and meet its liabilities
as they fall due over the next three years to
31 December 2023. The Directors also
considered it appropriate to prepare the
financial statements on the going concern
basis, as explained in the Group Accounting
Policies (p121).
The viability assessment period
The Directors have assessed the viability of
the Company over the three-year period to 31
December 2023, taking account of the
Company’s current financial position and the
potential impact of our key risks. In assessing
the prospects of the Company and
determining the appropriate viability period,
the Board has taken account of:
• the three-year financial and strategic
planning cycle, supported by detailed
financial modelling which considers
profitability, cash flows, gearing and other
key financial metrics. Given the impact of
COVID-19, additional stress testing has
been undertaken as part of the going
concern review (p121) on the Company’s
ability to operate under extremely
unfavourable operating conditions;
• the three-year investment planning cycle;
the three-year period reflects the typical
maximum lead time involved in developing
new capacity. Both financial and
investment planning are led by the CEO
and reviewed by the Board;
• the Company’s strong cash generation
and its ability to renew and raise debt
facilities in most market conditions (p40);
• the resilient business model (p12) and the
Company’s diversified portfolio of
products, operations and customers,
which reduce exposure to specific
geographies and markets, as well as large
customer/product combinations; and
• the strong, sector-led innovation pipeline
(p24 to p29), which supports the
Company’s business through development
of new sales growth opportunities, protects
sales and margins, differentiates the
Company from competitors and provides
barriers to entry. The Board reviews this
over a period of longer than three years in
line with longer development cycles for new
products, however, it considers that, in
assessing the viability of the Company, its
investment and planning horizon of three
years is the appropriate period.
Assessment of viability
Using the base case model developed for going concern assessment, viability has been assessed by considering the top-down headroom
available under multiple bottom-up worst case risk scenarios, both individually and in combination. This year, top-down headroom is considered
to be more than adequate, and the results of the bottom-up scenario modelling showed that no individual event or plausible combination of
events (the most significant of which was scenario F below) would have a financial impact sufficient to endanger the viability of the Company
in the period assessed.
Top-down headroom
Assesses the Company’s overall funding capacity to withstand catastrophic events.
Bank leverage
covenant
The leverage ratio at the end of 2020 of 1.8x remains substantially below the maximum covenant level under the Group’s
lending facilities of 3.5x, providing significant headroom. EBIT would need to fall by more than 70% before triggering an
event of default. We could also take action to conserve cash.
Debt headroom The current level of committed debt facilities total £1,244m, over 80% of which mature after the end of the viability period.
Our going concern modelling shows that the Group remains cash generative for all bottom-up scenarios considered.
Bottom-up headroom
Considers the potential financial impact of scenarios based on the Company’s key (emerging and principal) risks identified on pages 46 to 48,
both individually and in plausible combination.
Scenario combination modelled
Related risks (p 46 to 48)
Scenario A. New entrants or enhanced competition across multiple
market sectors results in loss of significant business.
Scenario B. Business loss due to regional geopolitical and economic
events and trade changes such as Brexit.
1. Revenue generation in established and emerging markets (p46)
2. Product and technology innovation and protection (p46)
3. Digital technology innovation (p46)
1. Revenue generation in established and emerging markets (p46)
Scenario C. Restriction on use or availability of key raw materials impacts
a key technology platform resulting in significant loss of business.
2. Product and technology innovation and protection (p46)
8. Suppliers and raw material security (p47)
Scenario D. Significant cyber attack results in loss of IT systems for a
prolonged period resulting in inability to operate.
11. Security of business information and networks (p48)
Scenario E. Significant compliance breach, combined with a significant
cyber attack, damages our reputation for sustainable delivery resulting in
loss of business.
4. Delivering sustainable solutions – Climate Positive (p46)
10. Ethics and compliance (p48)
11. Security of business information and networks (p48)
Scenario F. Catastrophic uninsured loss of manufacturing capability
combined with a product recall which damages reputation, enabling
competitors to make significant inroads into our business.
6. Product quality/liability claims (p47)
7. Loss of significant manufacturing site (p47)
Croda International Plc
Annual Report and Accounts 2020
49
Strategic report
Corporate governance
Board leadership
and Company Purpose
Board leadership
At the date of this report, the Board
comprises eight Directors: the Chair; the
Group Chief Executive; the Group Finance
Director; four independent Non-Executive
Directors and one non-independent Non-
Executive Director, who was the Company’s
Chief Technology Officer until his retirement
in 2017. The size of our Board allows time
for full discussion and debate of items and
enables all Directors’ views to be heard.
The Company is led by an effective and
entrepreneurial Board, whose role is to
promote the long-term sustainable success
of the Company, generating value
for shareholders and contributing to
wider society.
The Non-Executive Directors have a broad
range of business, financial and international
skills and experience, which provide
appropriate balance and diversity.
The composition of the Board is subject
to ongoing review and a key consideration
for any new Board appointment will be the
additional breadth a new Director could
bring, including in terms of skills, knowledge,
experience, gender and ethnicity.
Strong transparent
governance, delivered to
the highest standards,
facilitates effective decision
making by the Board.”
Anita Frew
Chair
Directors’ biographical notes appear on
pages 54 and 55 and at www.croda.com.
Role and operation of the Board
The Board has ultimate responsibility for the overall leadership of
the Group. In this role, it oversees the development and delivery of
a clear Group strategy ensuring the long-term sustainable success
of the Company for all stakeholders. It monitors operational and
financial performance against agreed goals and objectives and
Matters reserved for the Board
The matters reserved for the Board fall into four broad areas:
challenges the Executive team. The Board ensures that appropriate
controls and systems exist to manage risk and that there are the
necessary financial resources and people with the necessary skills
to achieve the strategic goals the Board has set.
new Directors and declaring dividends.
to shareholders and other significant communications.
1 Matters required by law to be reserved for the Board’s decision, such as approving the Annual Report and Accounts, appointing
2 The requirements of the UK Listing, Prospectus and Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rules, such as approving circulars
3 UK Corporate Governance Code recommendations, such as ensuring the Group has a sound system of internal
4 Other matters, such as approval of the Group’s strategy and budget, material corporate transactions
control and risk management, and approving the Board and Committees’ terms of reference.
and capital expenditure.
For the full schedule of matters reserved for the Board visit the governance section at www.croda.com.
Contents of corporate governance report
Board leadership and
Company purpose
Effective Board – p50
Composition, succession
and evaluation
Nomination Committee Report – p66
Purposes, values and culture – p51
Appointments to the Board – p66
Governance framework and
Board resources – p62-64
Stakeholder engagement – p58-61
Workforce policies and
practices – p58 & p103
Division of responsibilities
Board roles – p62
Independence – p64
External commitments and conflicts
of interest – p54 and p64
Key activities of the Board in 2020 – p56
50
Croda International Plc
Annual Report and Accounts 2020
Board skills, experience and
knowledge – p54 and p55
Annual Board evaluation – p64
Audit, risk and internal control
Audit Committee Report – p70
Financial reporting – p72
External Auditor & Internal audit – p72
Review of the 2020 Annual Report – p68
Internal financial controls – p68
Risk management – p68
Remuneration
Remuneration Committee Report – p76
Linking remuneration with Purpose
and strategy – p80
Remuneration Policy review – p81
Performance outcomes in 2020 – p79
Strategic targets – p90
Our Purpose:
Smart
science
to improve
lives™
Our 2030 Commitment:
te Positiv
a
m
C
i
l
e
L
a
n
d
P
o
s
i
t
i
v
e
Smart science
to improve livesTM
People Po s i
e
v
t i
Fundame n t a l s
Company Culture
The Board is responsible for assessing,
monitoring and promoting company culture
and ensuring it is aligned with strategy,
purpose and values.
At Croda, we share a clear sense of Purpose
and are motivated by our Commitment to be
the most sustainable supplier of innovative
ingredients. Our distinctive ‘One Croda’
culture guides the way we work and helps us
to attract and retain the first-class people we
need, by enabling collaboration and skills
development. To ensure our long-term
success, we have defined the values that
make us different as a Company,
encouraging our people to be ‘Responsible’,
‘Innovative’ and to work ‘Together.’
Croda’s positive culture was evident
throughout the pandemic through our
commitment to supporting employees,
suppliers, customers and our local
communities (see p16 to p20). During the
year the Board focused on defining the values
that make Croda different as a company and
guide us in everything we do.
During 2020, the Board gained cultural
insights from several sources. These included
reports on significant instances of
inappropriate conduct, whether through the
Company’s Speak-Up line or other grievance
channels. The Board considered reports on
any material systems or control failures, which
may act as an early indication of a drift of
culture away from the Group’s core values.
Safety metrics were regularly reviewed and
challenged – both behavioural and process
safety – to ensure Croda is living up to its core
value that all employees and contractors
return home at the end of the day without
being harmed in the workplace, whether
physically or mentally. Other metrics the
Board used to assess culture related to
diversity and inclusion, employee training and
responsible business. In addition, the Board
discussed the feedback from listening group
and pulse surveys, which enabled
communications and policies to be tailored
and adjusted to ensure employees needs
were being met.
D
i
r
e
c
t
o
r
s
’
R
e
p
o
r
t
Alignment to culture is clearly established in
the Remuneration Policy and embedded in
the Remuneration Committee’s discretion
framework is an assessment of our cultural
performance. In addition one of Croda’s key
sustainability goals is to be People Positive
with clear targets to increase our positive
impact on society and improve the lives or
our employees and people around the world.
During the year we established the Croda
Foundation that will help improve the lives
of local communities supported by our
own technologies.
The Board was satisfied that Croda’s
Purpose, values, strategy and culture are
aligned and will act together to preserve
long-term value.
Section 172(1) disclosures
S172 Factor
The long-term consequences
Disclosures
Purpose – p2
Dividend policy – p42
Megatrends – p10
Business model – p12
Strategy – p22
Employees
Diversity and inclusion – p66
Employee engagement – p16 and 84
Business relationships – suppliers,
customers and others
Modern slavery – p37
Anti-bribery – p37
Customers and suppliers p17 and 18
Community and the environment
Community activity – p20
Sustainability Committee – p63
Sustainability Commitment – p30
High standards of business conduct
Corporate Governance Report – p50
Whistleblowing – p72
Internal controls – p68
Ethics Committee – p48 and 63
Culture and values – p51
Shareholders
Shareholder engagement – p60
AGM – p53
We provide examples of how the Board took account of the interests of our key stakeholders in some significant decisions made during the year on p59.
Gender
Board
Senior management
Rest of employees
Male
62.5%
Female
37.5%
Male
Female
74%
26%
Male
63.9%
Female
36.1%
Croda International Plc
Annual Report and Accounts 2020
51
Chair’s statement on corporate governance
At the heart of our decision-making throughout the year
has been our duty and desire to balance the interests of
our stakeholders.
Anita Frew
Chair
Dear fellow shareholder
We have faced a unique set of circumstances
in 2020 and I am proud of the way that all
our employees and the Board rose to the
challenge of protecting our business whilst
living up to our Purpose. A cornerstone to this
resilient performance is strong transparent
governance, delivered to the highest
standards, which facilitates effective decision
making by the Board. At the heart of our
decision-making throughout the year has
been our duty and our desire to balance
the interests of all our stakeholders in the
decisions and actions we take as a Board,
and to promote the long-term interests
of the Company for our shareholders to
ensure we provide a good return on their
investment in Croda.
This report, together with the Directors’
Remuneration Report, set out on pages 76
to 101, describe how the 2018 UK Corporate
Governance Code (the Code) principles have
been applied by the Company. I am pleased
to report that the Company has complied
with the provisions of the Code for the
period under review. The 2018 UK
Corporate Governance Code is available
at www.frc.org.uk.
52
Croda International Plc
Annual Report and Accounts 2020
Our stakeholders
As a Board we were deeply involved in
assessing the impact of the COVID-19
pandemic on all of our stakeholders. Our
priority was to protect the health and safety of
all our employees and others impacted by our
operations. This has been at the very top of
our agenda at every Board meeting.
We took great care to balance the needs of
all our stakeholders during the crisis. The
response and commitment of all our
employees has been exceptional, with almost
all able to work effectively, either onsite or
from home. We did not furlough employees
or reduce pay. All our principal manufacturing
sites remained in operation, with only two
significantly impacted, and raw material
supply chains were secure. We supported
our customers and suppliers and gave
financial assistance to the communities
closest to our sites. We also sustained our
track record of paying regular dividends to
shareholders and we did not utilise
government liquidity facilities. Through our
actions, we lived up to our Purpose of using
Smart science to improve livesTM.
As a Board we were deeply
involved in assessing the
impact of the COVID-19
pandemic on all of our
stakeholders.”
We describe on page 58 how the Board
engaged with each of our key stakeholders
during 2020 and give some examples of how
we have considered them in some of the
Board’s decisions made during the year.
Strategy
As well as dealing with the immediate crisis
phase of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Board
worked closely with the Executive
management team, with the support of an
external consultant, in considering the impact
that the pandemic would have in the longer
term. From this review the Executive team
produced a roadmap to operationalise and
deliver our 2030 strategic commitments in line
with our Purpose, Smart science to improve
livesTM. More information about this work can
be found in the Strategic report.
In addition to this review, the Board held
a virtual strategy session with the Croda
teams responsible for delivering our strategic
ambition to provide an outstanding customer
experience digitally, complementing
Croda’s successful traditional customer
intimacy model.
Leadership
2020 saw a number of leadership changes at
Board level. Alan Ferguson retired at the AGM
in 2020 having served nine years as a
Director. I extend grateful thanks from myself,
the rest of the Board, the Executive team and
colleagues for the outstanding contribution he
made to the Board and as Chair of the Audit
Committee over the last nine years. His
support, advice and challenge will be missed
and we wish him all the best.
We were pleased to welcome John Ramsay
to the Board. John joined the Board on
1 January 2020, which allowed him to spend
time with Alan before he became Audit
Committee Chair on Alan’s retirement. John
brings with him a wealth of financial,
international and sector experience. The
recent Board evaluation confirmed that John
had transitioned into his role well and as Chair
of the Audit Committee provided high-quality
and thoughtful contributions.
On the recommendation of the Nomination
Committee, the Board agreed to extend
Helena Ganczakowski’s appointment for a
further year. The annual extension is in line
with our policy to review appointments
annually, once six years’ tenure has been
Board meetings in 2020
Throughout the year the Board continued
with the regular scheduled meetings
and programme of business. These
were held face to face when government
regulations allowed.
During the first lockdown, the Board
demonstrated its agility by moving quickly
and effortlessly into video conferencing as
the main method of communication.
The Board had fortnightly calls to receive
updates from across the business.
The COVID-19 crisis management team
reported directly into these meetings
each time. The updates covered safety,
management of the crisis, the situation in
the individual countries and workplaces,
relationships with customers, operational
matters (for example, on matters such as
the supply of raw materials or manufacturing
constraints on our sites), communications,
trading and treasury. Throughout the rest of
the year, additional calls were scheduled, as
required. On occasion, if all Board members
were unable to attend, the Chair and Chief
Executive followed up with a briefing call to
ensure everyone was receiving the same
information on any developing situations.
The move to virtual Board meetings was
supported by the use of the existing and
well-established electronic Board portal for
papers, which included a resource centre to
provide supplemental information and
copies of all key policies. To ensure that the
meetings remained effective, it was essential
that they were well structured and without
unnecessary complexity. The ground rules
were established early on by simplifying
agendas and allowing for sufficient breaks
to reduce fatigue. It was important that
content was concise and that the meetings
allowed for adequate debate and
participation by all Board members. The
Board evaluation showed that the Board
had risen well to the challenge and the Chair
had been extremely adept in her leadership
of the meetings.
completed. Helena has made a significant
contribution to the Board as Remuneration
Committee Chair and she also became
Senior Independent Director on Alan’s
retirement. The recent Board evaluation
showed that the Remuneration Committee
had evolved significantly under her leadership.
The Nomination Committee also extended
the appointment of Keith Layden for a further
three years. Having worked at Croda for 33
years, Keith’s in-depth knowledge of our
products and operations adds valuable
insights and constructive challenge to the
Board discussions.
Some changes were also made to the
Executive Committee, with details of these
changes set out in the Nomination Committee
report on pages 66 and 67.
Board evaluation
The Code requires that an external evaluation
of the Board is undertaken every three years,
and this was conducted during the second
half of 2020. We were assisted by Heidrick
& Struggles who were selected after a
competitive tender process. Formal external
evaluation is a valuable tool for improvement
and helps ensure impartiality and
independence throughout the process.
I am pleased that the report confirmed that
we operate as a very effective Board with a
high level of trust in the boardroom, a track
record of improved effectiveness, and the
ability to adapt and change; strengths that
served us well during this challenging year.
Full details of the evaluation and the
outcomes are included in the report on pages
64 and 65.
Diversity & inclusion
We consider that creating a work environment
where everyone feels safe to be themselves is
essential to enrich the diversity on the Board
and throughout the Company. Research has
shown that greater diversity can foster
innovative thinking and provide businesses
with access to a wider pool of talented
people. We have maintained our position of
having in excess of 30% of women on the
Board, but, as yet, we don’t have any ethnic
diversity on the Board. This will be a focus for
us in the short term.
The Board and the Executive Committee
participated in two development sessions on
inclusion and diversity led by John Amaechi
OBE, an organisational psychologist. The
sessions raised the Board’s awareness and
understanding of inclusion and diversity,
leading to some fundamental discussions on
what we need to do as an organisation if we
are to achieve our People Positive
commitment. It is incumbent on the Board
and the Executive team to create a
psychologically safe place for our employees,
an environment where they feel included.
In doing so, we will enable them to perform
to their best abilities, bringing rewards for
them and for Croda. Our core Value of
‘Together’ will help guide us on
this journey.
Annual general meeting
In light of government guidance relating to
COVID-19 prohibiting public gatherings and
restricting non-essential travel, shareholders
are strongly advised not to attend the Annual
General Meeting (AGM) on 21 May 2021.
Although we do not expect to have the
opportunity to meet with shareholders in
person at our AGM, we are very keen to
engage with all shareholders and will therefore
be holding an online shareholder engagement
event prior to the AGM. More details of this
event are set out in the Notice of Meeting and
I would be delighted to answer any questions
that shareholders may have.
Anita Frew
Chair
Hearing the employee voice in the boardroom
The Board utilises many ways of ensuring that we understand the interests and views of our employees and take them into account when
we make decisions to promote the long term success of Croda.
Board reports
The People Dashboard
Pulse surveys
Employee consultation committees
Remuneration report consultation
Employee voice
Whistleblowing
Site visits
Board presentations
Intranet and Group news
Town Halls
Croda International Plc
Annual Report and Accounts 2020
53
Directors’ Report Our leadership team
We have a Board that is well equipped to provide oversight
and challenge to the Executive Team and has the breadth
of skills, experience and diversity to lead the business in
delivering our ambitious strategic priorities that will deliver
long-term growth.
N
E
F
SHEQ
R
E
F
RM
A N
A
RM
N
Anita Frew, 63
Chair
Steve Foots, 52
Group Chief Executive
Jez Maiden, 59
Group Finance Director
Appointment: March
2015 and Chair since
September 2015
Appointment: July 2010
and Group Chief Executive
since the beginning of 2012
Appointment: January
2015 as Group Finance
Director
Nationality: British
Nationality: British
Nationality: British
Anita has served on Plc
boards in the chemical,
resources, engineering,
water and financial services
industries for over 20 years.
Prior to joining Croda, she
was Chair of Victrex plc
and Senior Independent
Director of Aberdeen Asset
Management PLC, IMI plc
and was Deputy Chair of
Lloyds Banking Group plc.
During her time as a
Director, she chaired main
Boards, Remuneration,
Responsible Business and
Risk Committees. Currently
she is also a Non-Executive
Director of BHP Plc and
BHP Limited. Anita brings
extensive experience as
Chair to the Croda Board
as well as leadership in
strategic management,
mergers and acquisitions
and risk experience from
working internationally
across many sectors.
Steve joined Croda as a
graduate trainee in 1990
and he brings to the Board
a business, strategic and
operational background
gained from a number of
senior leadership roles
across the Group. Having
spent several years leading
many different Croda
businesses, he has also
gathered extensive insight
into the markets served, the
importance of customer
focus and the power of an
innovative culture. Outside
of Croda, Steve’s role as
Industry co-Chair of the UK
Chemistry Council enables
him to work alongside
Government ministers and
industry peers to bring
wider industry knowledge
into the Croda business.
Jez is an experienced
Group Finance Director,
having served in this role on
five UK listed company
Boards. As a chartered
management accountant,
his expertise in all aspects
of finance management,
gained in speciality
chemical, FMCG and other
manufacturing
environments, allows him to
support the Board and
Executive of Croda in
managing the performance
of the business, risk
management and control,
and in capital allocation and
investment evaluation. Jez
acts as business partner to
the Group Chief Executive
and leads the finance, IT
and digital teams globally.
He has also been a
Non-Executive Director and
Audit Committee Chair in
two other UK Plcs.
Helena
Ganczakowski, 58
Non-Executive Director
(Senior Independent
Director)
Appointment: February
2014
Nationality: British
With 23 years of experience
in marketing and corporate
strategy at Unilever and a
further eight as a strategic
consultant for other
multinational businesses,
Helena brings marketing
skill and an end-consumer
perspective to the Croda
boardroom, as well as
challenge and support to
the CEO in strategy
development. Her
academic roots in
engineering, with a PhD
from Cambridge University,
drive her passion and
curiosity for both product
and process innovation.
Helena is also a Non-
Executive Director and
Remuneration Committee
Chair of Greggs Plc.
John Ramsay, 63
Non-Executive
Director
Appointment:
January 2020
Nationality: British
John has over 30 years’
broad-based international
finance background with
Life Science businesses
such as ICI, AstraZeneca
and Syngenta. A large part
of this experience was
gained while working in
Latin American and Asian
countries. John brings
extensive knowledge of
business strategy to the
Croda Board as well as a
keen interest in building on
Croda’s strong culture to
deliver superior business
performance. As the new
Chair of the Croda Audit
Committee he aims to
maintain the high standards
set by his predecessor.
He is also a Director and
Audit Committee Chair
at Koninklijke DSM NV,
RHI Magnesita NV
and G4S plc.
Board and Committee changes
Alan Ferguson stood down on 23 April 2020. His biography is set out in the 2019 Annual Report and Accounts. John Ramsay
was appointed on 1 January 2020 and became Audit Committee Chair on 23 April 2020. Helena Ganczakowski became Senior
Independent Director on 23 April 2020.
54
Croda International Plc
Annual Report and Accounts 2020
Key
Chair of the Committee
Member of the Committee
Secretary of the Committee
Nomination Committee
Remuneration Committee
Audit Committee
Risk Management Committee
Group Executive Committee
Group Ethics Committee
Group Finance Committee
R
E
ET
F
Group SHEQ Committee
SHEQ
N
RM
A
A
RM
N
A
RM
N
N
ET
A
RM
N R E
Roberto Cirillo, 49
Non-Executive
Director
Jacqui Ferguson, 50
Non-Executive
Director
Keith Layden, 61
Non-Executive
Director
Appointment:
April 2018
Appointment:
September 2018
Nationality: Swiss
Nationality: British
With ten years’ experience
as Country and Group CEO
in the Service and Health
Care industries, and many
years spent as a strategy
practitioner in Europe and
Asia, Roberto brings
knowledge of and passion
for growth and operations
to the Croda boardroom.
He can also share lessons
learned from large
transformations and M&A.
Roberto’s engineering
background enables him to
link Croda’s R&D and
production competences
with the evolving demands
of its multinational markets.
Alongside his role as
Non-Executive Director for
Croda, he is CEO of Swiss
Post and he was previously
the Group CEO at Optegra
Eye Health Care Ltd,
France CEO and Group
COO at Sodexo SA and
Associate Partner at
McKinsey & Co.
Jacqui is an experienced
CEO from the technology
industry with general
management and M&A
experience in international
and emerging markets. She
has first-hand insight of
transformational/disruptive
digital, cyber security,
technology and business
process solutions. Jacqui
spent three years in Silicon
Valley as Chief of Staff at
Hewlett Packard, focused
on a new company strategy
and turnaround and she
has chaired the public
services strategy board for
the CBI. Away from Croda,
she is a Non-Executive
Director of John Wood
Group PLC and Tesco
Bank, a fellow of the IET, a
Trustee of Engineering UK,
a member of the Scottish
First Ministers Advisory
Board and a member of the
Advisory Board of
Engie UK.
Appointment:
February 2012 and
Non-Executive Director
since May 2017
Nationality: British
Keith brings to the Croda
Board 33 years’ experience
of working at Croda in a
variety of positions, most
recently leading the Global
Research, Development and
Innovation function and as
President of the Global Life
Sciences business. He also
has an interest and
background in organisational
culture, which is a key
consideration in the decision
making of the Board. In his
roles of Honorary Professor
of Chemistry and Industry at
the University of Nottingham,
member of Council at the
University of Sheffield and a
Fellow of the Royal Society
of Chemistry, he widens his
network of emerging
technology companies and
research institutes to spot
new talent that will aid
Croda’s future success.
Tom Brophy, 47
Group General Counsel
and Company Secretary
Appointment: December
2012 as Board Secretary
Nationality: British
Tom is an experienced
corporate lawyer, having
worked at City law firm
Hogan Lovells and FTSE
100 company Ferguson.
His expertise in public and
private acquisitions
supports Croda’s inorganic
growth plans and his
professional background
and breadth of experience
in insurance, risk and
compliance enable him to
Chair the Ethics Committee.
Tom provides corporate
governance knowhow to
the Board and Croda.
Having spent many years
leading global teams, Tom
leads the Legal and
Company Secretary team
and until recently was
Managing Director of the
Western European Region.
Board age and tenure
Age
Tenure
40-49 years
50-59 years
60-69 years
1
4
3
0-3 years
3-6 years
>6 years
3
3
2
Croda International Plc
Annual Report and Accounts 2020
55
Directors’ Report
Corporate governance continued
Board activity in 2020
There were eight meetings of the Board
during the year. The Board agenda
programme ensures strategic, operational,
financial, human resources and corporate
governance items are discussed at the
appropriate time with additional deep dives
into key strategic areas during the year. The
Board agenda has strong links to the
strategic objectives for the business and is set
via a collaborative process between the Chair,
Group Chief Executive and Company
Secretary. This ensures adequate time is
allocated to allow effective discussion.
An additional strategy day, attended by
members of the Executive Committee, is held
during the year. The strategy day is held in the
first half of the year, followed by the
consideration of the three-year plan in the
autumn and then the approval of the budget
towards the end of the year.
In addition to the formal Board meetings, the
Board had 15 additional update calls via
video conference, to discuss business
performance in the COVID-19 environment
and to ensure additional time was allocated
to review the impact on stakeholders of any
additional strategic opportunities.
Key highlights of the Board’s 2020 activities
and priorities are set out below, along with an
estimate of the proportion of the time that the
Board spent discussing each area.
Strategy (50%)
• Group strategic ambition and priorities
• Group strategic projects and targets
and regular updates on progress
• Sustainability strategy and targets
• Safety, health, environment and quality –
including behavioural safety, safety
leadership and process safety
• Growth priorities and future markets
• Presentations on ‘fast grow China’
by the local management team
• Product innovation programmes
and technology platforms
• Consideration of Avanti, Iberchem
and other acquisition opportunities
• Digital strategy
• Product manufacturing strategies
• Capital expenditure approvals
56
Croda International Plc
Annual Report and Accounts 2020
Board activity breakdown
Strategy
People
Governance
and reporting
50%
15%
10%
Financial, risk
and performance
management
25%
Financial, risk and performance
management (25%)
• Trading performance, including COVID-19
response
• Review of key risks, internal and external
assurance of each risk
• Review of risk appetite statements
• Preparations for Brexit, including the
key risks and mitigating actions
• Dividend policy and dividend approvals
• Long-term viability statement
• The Group’s budget, forecasts and
key performance targets and indicators
• A review of the Company’s tax strategy
• Placing of shares associated with the
Iberchem acquisition
• A post-implementation capital expenditure
review
Standing agenda Items
• A Health and Safety and environmental
update is the first operational matter
considered by the Board at each meeting
• The Group Chief Executive and Group
Finance Director present reports on trading
matters and financial performance
• The Group General Counsel and Company
Secretary updates the Board on changes
to relevant laws, regulations and
governance matters
• Business presentations from all
sector Presidents
• New and Protected Products pipeline
• Review of Sustainability Report
• Responsible business activities
People (15%)
• Croda’s Purpose and developing
a purpose-led culture
• Succession planning and
organisational restructure, including senior
management succession
• Female talent review and mentoring
scheme
• Leadership training and development
• The Board’s engagement with employees
and the employee voice
• Extension of the term of office of Helena
Ganczakowski and Keith Layden
• Diversity – Board diversity policy, diversity
and inclusion of our workforce and the
gender pay gap reporting
• Diversity & Inclusion training
• Modern Slavery reporting
• Health and safety of our employees and
contractors
• All-employee sharesave grants
Governance and reporting (10%)
• Board and Committee effectiveness
evaluation
• Review of Annual Report and Accounts
and other financial statements
• Governance compliance review
• Presentation from the Director of Investor
Relations and Corporate Affairs
• Investor relations review
• Ethical compliance programme
• Group litigation report
• Group insurance programme
Outside the boardroom
The Board undertook a number of site visits in
2020 when Government guidelines allowed.
Roberto Cirillo toured Chocques in France at
the start of the year. He also received a site
presentation and had a separate session with
a number of employees. In September 2020,
three Board members visited the Ditton site
and visited the biotechnology plant, the
biopolymers plant and the laboratories.
They received presentations from local
management and met operational employees.
Three Board members also visited the
Rawcliffe Bridge site and toured the
warehouse, the control room and met the
quality control team. In all cases they received
presentations from local management,
met operational employees and received
briefings on Health and Safety and key risks
at each site. These visits offer an additional
opportunity to discuss areas relevant to
the Board.
The Directors attended two meetings to
review the Group’s strategy, one focusing
on the long-term strategy and the other
the three-year strategic plan.
The Non-Executive Directors have direct
access at any time to the Executive Directors,
senior management teams and employees
across the Group. This provides the
opportunity to develop a deeper
understanding of the Company’s operations
or to request information about specific areas.
These relationships strengthen the ability of
the Non-Executive Directors to constructively
challenge at the Board meetings.
The Chair spends time interacting with the
Chief Executive, Group Finance Director,
Company Secretary and the senior
management team between Board meetings.
During 2020, the Chair had monthly meetings
with the Executive members and the rest of
the Executive management team. This
ensured that she was kept up to date
on significant developments and emerging
issues and opportunities.
The Chair and Non-Executive Directors met
without the Executive Directors present to
allow an additional opportunity to discuss
areas relevant to the operation of the Board.
The Non-Executive Directors also met on
their own, without the Chair.
Looking Ahead to 2021
• Ongoing focus on
safety leadership
• Continue to oversee
delivery of the 2030
strategy, with focus
in 2021 on sustainability,
innovation and our
Consumer Care and Life
Sciences market sectors
• Consider how to further
enhance Board diversity
• Bring more external
and customer
insights into Board
meetings to help shape
thinking and decisions
Progress on focus areas for 2020
Ensure safety leadership
continues to be prioritised
and performance monitored
• The Board held regular calls with the Executive during the COVID-19
pandemic, with safety as the highest priority
• Received updates in safety leadership in all business reports and
presentations, including a presentation from the Global head of SHE
on the implications of the pandemic on safety management across the
business and process safety assurance. The Board assessed the risks
relating to remote SHE audits
• Reviewed and challenged management on the trends in safety
performance, including process safety incident rates and recordable
injury rates
• Approved Croda’s SHE behaviour standard, a framework that covers
behaviours expected across all levels in the organisation and linked
to our values
• Worked with the Executive team to further define and operationalise
the Group’s 2030 strategic priorities
• Strategically targeted M&A, including Avanti and Iberchem which
accelerated our strategic delivery in the Life Sciences and Consumer
Care markets
• Approved several organic capital expansion projects including
investments in the UK and US to deliver drug delivery scale-up
requirements
• Approved a significant contract with Pfizer in support of our fast
growing Health Care business
• Organisation and Executive team reorganisation to refresh talent
and create the optimal structure to deliver the 2030 strategy
• Received presentations on key strategic enablers, including
digital capability and process transformation
• Sustainability Committee established
• Non-financial KPIs developed
• Sustainability performance objectives incorporated into Executive
remuneration
• Investor sustainability day held in October 2020
• Received updates from the Group’s sustainability leaders and team
Focus on the balance
between organic/inorganic
growth and the short
term/2030 strategic plans
Continue to support and
challenge management on the
delivery of the 2030 strategy,
with a focus on organisational
structure and capability
Oversee the embedding
of our sustainability
Commitment to be Climate,
Land and People Positive
by 2030
Croda International Plc
Annual Report and Accounts 2020
57
Directors’ Report Corporate governance continued
Board engagement
with stakeholders
The Section 172(1) statement and the key
stakeholder groups that form part of our
stakeholder ecosystem are on pages 14 to
21 and 58 to 61.
By understanding the interests and needs
of our stakeholders, the Board can take these
into account in boardroom discussions and
decisions. Having consideration for our
stakeholders aligns with our Purpose and our
Values, both of which guide us in our
approach to delivering our strategic
commitments and promoting the long-term
success of Croda for our shareholders.
The Chair and Company Secretary provide
guidance when required at Board meetings
to ensure sufficient consideration is given to
the likely consequences of any decisions in
the long term and to the interests and impact
of such decisions on our stakeholder groups.
The relevance of each stakeholder group
may change depending on the issue under
discussion and the Board always seeks to
understand the priorities and interests of each
stakeholder group during its deliberations and
decision-making process. The Board
continued to enhance its methods of
Board engagement with stakeholders
engagement with the workforce during the
year. With regard to the 2018 Corporate
Governance Code, the Board utilises a variety
of different methods to engage with and
gather the views of the workforce, ranging
from pulse surveys and listening groups to
site visits and Board mentoring programmes.
Details of these engagement mechanisms
can be found throughout this report. These
mechanisms provide the Board with
meaningful and regular dialogue with
employees and are effective in providing the
Board with an understanding of the interests
and views of the workforce, taking them into
account in its decision making. Significant
engagement is also carried out through our
commercial and functional business teams.
The Board engagement table below
describes how the Board seeks to
understand the interests of our key
stakeholders and also shows where further
information is available throughout this report.
In addition, the Board receives information
through the following methods which assists
the Directors in their understanding of
stakeholders and to perform their duties:
• An annual strategy review which
assesses the success in the delivery
of the Group’s strategy
• Annual presentations to the Board from all
the members of the Executive on the
performance across the sectors and
regions. A broad spectrum of employees
from across the business are invited to
present to the Board
• An annual Board presentation on progress
with the Group’s sustainability agenda
from the wider sustainability team
• The CEO regularly updates the Board
on interactions with customers and his
engagement with policy makers and
regulatory bodies
• The Group Finance Director maintains a
regular dialogue with shareholders and
updates Board members between
meetings on any material issues
• Comprehensive reports which cover
• Risk
• Global operations including
customer service
• Innovation
• SHEQ and Sustainability
• IT and Digital operations
• Legal and Company Secretarial
• HR, culture and diversity
• Surveys and reports from brokers
and advisers
Our people – Our success depends on our skilled employees. The Board meets regularly with employees, during site visits
and Board presentations. Although business travel and face-to-face meetings were restricted during 2020, Board members
continued to engage with a wide range of employees through video calls and received and discussed the results of employee
pulse surveys and listening groups that took place throughout the year.
Our
people
See page 16
Our shareholders – Board engagement is primarily through the Group Chief Executive, Group Finance Director and the
recently appointed Investor Relations and Corporate Affairs Director. The Directors attend the AGM to allow shareholders
to ask questions directly, although this was not possible in 2020 due to government restrictions.
Our
shareholders
See page 21
Our customers – Our direct sales model ensures we work closely with customers and allows us to develop a deep
understanding of their needs. The Board receives customer insights and information through Board reports from
the CEO and sector teams, as well as during strategy and business presentations.
Our
customers
See page 17
Local communities – As a responsible business, we believe it is essential that we operate safely and sustainably and that we
understand the impact of our operations on local communities and on the environment. Living our Purpose also means we
are committed to providing a positive impact to society and we nurture the links we have to our communities through our
offices and our sites. Throughout the pandemic our employees have contributed to their local communities though both our
long running 1% Club programme and STEM programme, our community consultation committees and through our Acts of
Kindness initiative. The Board regularly receives information and feedback on these activities.
Local
communities
See page 20
Our suppliers – Supply chain integrity is essential to being a sustainable business and our supplier relationships provide
valuable insights to the Board. Site and purchasing teams engage and partner with suppliers on a wide range of matters,
from product stewardship and ethical sourcing to regulatory compliance and operational improvements. The Board
understands these issues through Board reports and engagement with our operations and functional teams.
Our
suppliers
See page 18
58
Croda International Plc
Annual Report and Accounts 2020
Acquisitions and considering our stakeholders
The Board approved two substantial acquisitions during the year, Avanti and Iberchem. As part of the acquisition processes, the Board was
informed of the interests of a wide range of stakeholders through presentations and detailed papers. The Board considered both acquisitions at
several Board meetings, allowing time to consider and interrogate the information presented and ask for clarification where necessary.
A separate resource centre was available that contained greater detail of all the due diligence information. The governance around these
approval processes enabled the Board to conclude that the acquisitions were likely to promote the success of the Company for the benefit of
shareholders in the long term.
The first was the acquisition of Avanti in August 2020.
Shareholders — The Board considered not only
the strategic fit but also the alignment of the
business with Croda’s Purpose of using Smart
science to improve lives™. The Board also
considered the financial returns of the acquisition
and concluded that it was in the best interest
of the Company and its shareholders to approve
the transaction.
Communities — The Board took account of the
impact of the acquisition on the community.
Croda’s expansion plans for Avanti benefited local
communities given the need to create new jobs to
deliver the growth plans.
Our
shareholders
Our
customers
Avanti
August
2020
Local
communities
Our people
Customers — The Board believed that Avanti’s
expertise in drug delivery technologies for
pharmaceuticals and Croda’s access to global
markets, manufacturing expertise and ability to
scale up Avanti’s technology would bring great
benefits to our customers.
People — The Board felt that the combined
businesses would provide a significant contribution
to Croda’s ambition to become People Positive.
This was later demonstrated when the Board
approved a commercial agreement with Pfizer to
supply novel excipients used in the manufacture of
the critical COVID-19 vaccine candidate.
In November 2020, the Board approved the acquisition of Iberchem, a fragrances and flavours business.
The Board concluded that the acquisition would create a compelling platform from which to grow the combined
business in the long term and was in the best interest of the Company.
Shareholders — The Board decided that the most
appropriate method to finance the acquisition was
via a combination of the Group’s existing debt
facilities and the proceeds of an equity placing. This
structure preserved the Group’s robust financial
flexibility and balance sheet strength. The Board
also took account of the projected financial returns.
The Board took account of the need to treat all
stakeholders fairly and provided retail investors the
opportunity to participate in the equity raise through
an offer for shares on the PrimaryBid platform.
Our
shareholders
Iberchem
November
2020
Our people
Our
customers
Customers — Although an adjacency to
Croda’s existing businesses, the Board
considered that Croda’s formulation capability
would complement Iberchem’s expertise, and
that bringing the two businesses together
would create a new, full-service offering to
meet our customers’ needs.
People — The Board considered the interests of our pension trustees in reaching
their decision on the financing structure. UK employees were informed of and
given guidance on how to participate in the retail offer should they wish to do so.
Payment of dividend
During the year, the Board considered the
recommendation of a final dividend and the
payment of an interim dividend. This was at
a time of great uncertainty about the future
because of the global pandemic.
The Board considered that the balance
sheet strength of the Company and limited
leverage provided reassurance that the
Company could continue to pay dividends
even at a time of great uncertainty. In
reaching this decision the Board carefully
considered the interests of all stakeholders.
It had regard to the fact that no employees
had been furloughed or made redundant
and that the pay and benefits of those
self-isolating, unwell or with caring
responsibilities had continued. The Board
noted that no government liquidity facilities
had been utilised, and took account of the
fact that Croda had supported suppliers
and customers with the offer of flexible
payment terms. Finally, the Board
considered the interests of our local
communities and noted the Acts of
Kindness initiatives, which saw a financial
donation by Croda to support local
communities in their fight against
the pandemic.
Taking all these factors into account,
the Board was reassured that there had
been fair and consistent treatment of all our
key stakeholders during the crisis, and that
payment of the dividends were in the best
interests of the Company.
Croda International Plc
Annual Report and Accounts 2020
59
Directors’ Report Corporate governance continued
Communication
with shareholders
The Board maintains open and regular
dialogue with shareholders to ensure that
they understand our strategy and trading
performance, and to listen to their feedback.
Our investor relations activity is led by a
recently appointed Investor Relations and
Corporate Affairs Director who reports to the
Group Finance Director, with other Directors
and Executives involved as appropriate. We
maintain relationships with existing and
potential investors, and 20 analysts in the US,
UK and other countries in Europe, who
provide an important source of independent
analysis on Croda. We continue to increase
engagement on ESG topics and prioritised
our engagement with ESG rating agencies
this year to focus on those most regularly
used by our shareholders.
The Board engages with shareholders
through the Group Chief Executive, Group
Finance Director, the Chair and the Chair
of the Remuneration Committee/Senior
Independent Director. In 2020 we provided
more regular and detailed disclosure during
the COVID-19 crisis, publishing trading
updates and communicating directly
with shareholders by letter. We undertook
extensive scenario testing in line with investor
focus on business continuity and continued
to pay dividends to shareholders in line with
the Board’s commitment to treat all
stakeholders fairly.
In November, we raised gross proceeds of
£627m in new equity to part-fund the
acquisition of Iberchem, three quarters of
which was allocated to existing shareholders.
We invited our most significant shareholders
to discuss the acquisition in advance and
carefully followed the principle
of pre-emption to ensure the 100 existing
institutional shareholders who supported
the placing received at least their pro-rata
allocation, where requested. We also
allocated the maximum permitted number of
shares to smaller shareholders and
employees through a separate retail offer.
During the year, we met more than
350 investors including two thirds of
institutions on the shareholder register,
with over three quarters of meetings taking
place in a virtual format. We also held
a capital markets seminar to explain our
sustainability strategy which was attended
60
Croda International Plc
Annual Report and Accounts 2020
2020 Sustainability investor seminar
In October 2020 we hosted a virtual
investor seminar on Sustainability. Croda
speakers included Steve Foots, CEO,
Stuart Arnott, President of Sustainability
and members of his team, and leaders of
Croda businesses. External speakers at
the event were customers from Bayer and
Henkel and a Director of the Cambridge
University Institute for Sustainability
Leadership. The live event attracted 250
delegates, with a further 150 viewing the
content on demand in the weeks after
the event. Attendees represented a
cross-section of ESG specialists,
generalist investors and specialists
in the Chemicals sector.
To support investor engagement on
ESG topics, in 2020 we also created
a single ‘sign-posting’ website page
and a data pack collating non-financial
information. Priorities for 2021 are
continued assessment of the carbon
benefits of Croda’s products in use
and the application of the EU
taxonomy to Croda.
Substantial shareholders
As at the date of this Annual Report and
Accounts the Company had received
notification of the following material
shareholdings pursuant to the Disclosure
and Transparency Rules of the UK Listing
Authority:
Number of
shares
12,551,036
% of issued
capital
9.73%
8,534,795
6,438,386
6.62%
4.99%
5,212,886
4.04%
Massachusetts
Financial Services
Company
BlackRock, Inc.
Mawer
Investment
Management
Limited
RBC Global
Asset
Management Inc.
by almost 250 delegates (see above). These
meetings provided an opportunity
to capture shareholders’ views which are
reported regularly to the Board. The Senior
Independent Director and all Non-Executive
Directors are available to attend meetings
if required by shareholders; no such
meetings were requested by shareholders
during the year.
The Board receives a monthly investor
relations report, as well as updates on the
trading environment, including retail sales
information, and on Croda’s performance
in relation to peers. The Investor Relations
and Corporate Affairs Director presented to
the Board in September providing an
opportunity for Board members to discuss
shareholder feedback.
All Company results presentations and events
are webcast and include a live Q&A, so
that all shareholders have an opportunity
to ask questions. The answers to the most
commonly asked shareholder questions and
a calendar of 2020 investor events are
on the opposite page.
In 2021 we plan to combine our successful
digital engagement with the resumption of
face-to-face meetings and site visits when
safe to do so. We look forward to resuming
our governance lunch with shareholders and
expect to continue to increase engagement
on ESG topics.
4. You also acquired Iberchem; why did
you want to enter the Fragrances and
Flavours (F&F) market?
Prior to the acquisition of Iberchem,
fragrances were the one value-add ingredient
of most personal care and home care
formulations that we did not offer. With
Iberchem, we can provide a full formulations
service that is particularly appealing to
regional and independent businesses.
Iberchem has a similar customer profile to
Croda, but 83% of its sales are to emerging
markets so there is an opportunity to leverage
respective customer networks. We can also
drive a more sustainable approach at
Iberchem which is a potential source of
competitive advantage in F&F markets.
5. Revenue growth has been
disappointing in the last two years.
What is your medium-term guidance
for the three core Sectors?
We are well aligned to the megatrends that
will drive future growth, including
sustainability, digital and emerging markets.
Our expectations are to organically grow
Consumer Care at mid single-digit
percentage with continued industry-leading
margins. We expect Life Sciences to grow by
mid to high single-digit percentage with
growing margins. Our priority for Performance
Technologies is an improved portfolio driving
a greater focus on sustainable technologies
and reduced cyclicality. We are targeting
sales growth at global GDP and an improved
return on sales of 20%.
2020 investor calendar
Over three quarters of our meetings
with investors during 2020 were
held virtually.
January
Close Period
February
Full year results
announcement and
roadshows
March
Results roadshows and
investor conferences
April
May
June
July
Annual General Meeting.
COVID-19 announcement and
letter to shareholders
Global roadshows and private
client fund manager
engagement
Investor conferences
Half year results
announcement and
roadshows
August
Investor engagement on
Avanti acquisition
September Virtual seminar on Croda’s
Health Care business
October
Sustainability investor seminar
November
Investor presentation and
meetings on Iberchem
acquisition
December
Investor conferences
Commonly asked
shareholder questions
1. How does the Company manage its
allocation of capital?
With our strong return on invested capital,
we seek opportunities to expand capacity for
existing products and create capacity for new
innovative products through our organic
capital investment programme. This
investment is increasingly focused on our
sustainability strategy, particularly where it
supports innovation for customer benefit. We
also prioritise a regular ordinary dividend in
line with our dividend policy. Surplus capital is
invested in inorganic expansion through
acquisitions or returned to shareholders
where capital is surplus to our medium-term
requirements. Our capital allocation policy
is set out in the Finance review on p42.
2. What are Croda’s priorities in respect
of acquisition activity?
There are a very limited number of large-scale
opportunities, so our focus is primarily on
technologies and mid-scale acquisitions. By
investing in, partnering with or acquiring
businesses with nascent technologies, we
bring advanced research pipelines into Croda
in support of our in-house innovation
programme. We also acquire mid-sized,
knowledge-based businesses, principally in
existing or adjacent consumer care and life
science markets.
3. What is the potential of Avanti Polar
Lipids acquired in August 2020?
Avanti specialises in the development of
high-purity lipids that are increasingly being
used in the delivery of next-generation
pharmaceuticals including mRNA-based
drugs and vaccines. The potential of lipids
as the delivery system for mRNA has been
demonstrated with the Pfizer-BioNTech
vaccine and our contract to supply vaccine
components. mRNA is degraded quickly and
is not stable, so lipids are used to encapsulate
the mRNA and transport it to the immune
cells. The technology has potential beyond
COVID-19 and vaccines, into the treatment
of cancer, infectious diseases and
inherited illnesses.
Croda International Plc
Annual Report and Accounts 2020
61
Directors’ Report Corporate governance continued
Division of
responsibilities
The Board
Chair
The Chair leads the Board and sets the tone from
the top promoting a culture of openness and debate
and effective communication between the Executive
and Non-Executive Directors. She creates an
environment at Board meetings in which all Directors
are able to contribute to discussions and feel
comfortable in engaging in healthy debate and
constructive challenge.
Senior Independent Director
The Senior Independent Director provides a
sounding board for the Chair and acts as an
intermediary for the Non-Executive Directors, where
necessary. She is available to shareholders where
communication through the Chair or Executive
Directors has not been successful or where it may
not seem appropriate.
Independent Non-Executive Directors
The role of independent Non-Executive Director is
central to an effective and accountable Board
structure as they provide strategic and specialist
guidance together with effective governance. They
constructively challenge the Executive Directors and
scrutinise the performance of management
in meeting agreed goals and objectives and ensure
all stakeholder views are considered.
Non-Independent
Non-Executive Director
Having served Croda for 33 years, the latter five
of which were as a member of the Board, Keith
Layden is not considered independent. However,
because of that experience, Keith contributes
strongly to the Board’s culture and personality,
and adds unique and valuable insight and
constructive challenge.
Group Chief Executive
The Group Chief Executive has day-to-day
responsibility for the effective management of the
Group’s business and for ensuring that Board
decisions are implemented. He plays a key role
in devising and reviewing Group strategies for
discussion and approval by the Board. The Group
Chief Executive is tasked with providing regular
reports to the Board.
Group Finance Director
The role of Group Finance Director is to bring
a commercial and financial perspective to the
boardroom. Working with the Chief Executive,
he is responsible for the leadership and
management of the Company according to
the strategic direction set by the Board. He leads
the global finance function and oversees the
relationship with the investment community.
Group General Counsel and
Company Secretary
The Group General Counsel and Company
Secretary is secretary to the Board and its
Committees. He ensures that Board procedures
are complied with and advises on regulatory
compliance and corporate governance.
This role is to support the Chair and the
Non-Executive Directors.
Principal Board Committees
Nomination Committee
Chaired by Anita Frew
Audit Committee
Chaired by John Ramsay
Reviews the structure, size and composition of
the Board and its Committees, identifies and
nominates suitable candidates for appointment
to the Board and has responsibility for Board
and Executive Committee succession planning.
For more information see pages 66 to 67.
Monitors the integrity of the Group’s financial
statements and announcements, the
effectiveness of internal controls and risk
management as well as managing the external
auditor relationship. For more information see
pages 70 to 75.
Remuneration Committee
Chaired by Helena Ganczakowski
Recommends the Company’s remuneration
policy and framework and determines the
remuneration packages for members of senior
management. For more information see pages
76 to 101.
Governance structure
The Board has three main Committees:
the Nomination Committee, the Audit
Committee, and the Remuneration
Committee. The terms of reference for
each Board Committee can be found
at www.croda.com.
The day-to-day operational management of
the Business is delegated by the Board to the
Group Chief Executive, who uses several
Committees to assist him in this task: the
Group Executive Committee; the Group
Finance Committee; the Risk Management
Committee; the Group Safety, Health,
Environment and Quality (SHEQ) Steering
Committee; the Group Ethics Committee and
the Sustainability Committee.
Further information on each of the
Committees and the membership as at year
end is shown on page 63.
62
Croda International Plc
Annual Report and Accounts 2020
Meetings
Membership of the Board and its Committees, and attendance (eligibility) at meetings held during the year ended 31 December 2020.
Chair of the Committee
Anita Frew (Chair)
Roberto Cirillo
Jacqui Ferguson
Steve Foots
Helena Ganczakowski
Keith Layden1
Jez Maiden
John Ramsay
Board
8 (8)
Nomination
Committee
4 (4)
Audit
Committee
Remuneration
Committee
8 (8)
8 (8)
8 (8)
8 (8)
8 (8)
8 (8)
8 (8)
4 (4)
4 (4)
4 (4)
3 (4)
4 (4)
2 (2)
5 (5)
5 (5)
5 (5)
5 (5)
3 (3)
5 (5)
5 (5)
5 (5)
5 (5)
3 (3)
Alan Ferguson2
1. Keith Layden did not attend the meeting where his reappointment was discussed.
2. Alan Ferguson retired from the Board on 23 April 2020.
2 (2)
In addition to the meetings scheduled as part of the Board programme, an additional 15 Board calls were held via video conference to
discuss the Group’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic and additional strategic opportunities.
Group Chief Executive
Group Executive
Committee
Chaired by
Steve Foots
Group Finance
Committee
Chaired by
Steve Foots
Risk Management
Committee
Chaired by
Jez Maiden
The Committee meets
eleven times a year
and is responsible for:
developing and
implementing strategy,
operational plans,
policies, procedures
and budgets; monitoring
operational and financial
performance; assessing
and controlling risk;
and prioritising and
allocating resources.
The Committee meets
eleven times a year to
review monthly operating
results and examine
capital expenditure
projects.
The Finance Director,
President of Global
Operations and Group
Financial Controller
also attend.
The Committee meets
quarterly to evaluate
and propose policies
and monitor processes
to control business,
operational and compliance
risks faced by the
Group, and to assess
emerging risks.
Three Executive Committee
members attend as well
as the Group Financial
Controller and VP Risk
and Assurance.
Group SHEQ
Steering
Committee
Chaired by
Mark Robinson
The Committee meets
quarterly to monitor
progress against
the Group safety, health,
environment and quality
objectives and targets,
review safety
performance and audits,
and determine the
requirement for new or
revised SHEQ policies,
procedures and
objectives.
The Chief Executive and
three Executive
members attend. The
VP Risk and Assurance
also attends.
Group Ethics
Committee
Chaired by
Tom Brophy
Sustainability
Committee
Chaired by
Stuart Arnott
The Committee meets
quarterly in support of
our culture of integrity,
honesty and openness,
and to promote the
importance of ethics and
compliance across the
Group and amongst our
supply chain partners.
It comprises five
Executive Committee
members. The VP
Risk and Assurance
also attends.
The Committee meets
quarterly to further
develop the Group
sustainability strategy, to
embed sustainability
practices throughout the
organisation and to
monitor progress
towards achieving our
Commitment. It
comprises a diverse
group of leaders
representing all aspects
of our business and each
Committee member is
the champion for one
or more of the KPIs in
Our Commitment.
Croda International Plc
Annual Report and Accounts 2020
63
Directors’ Report
Corporate governance continued
Composition, succession
and evaluation
Board support
Each Director has access to the advice and
services of the Company Secretary. Where
necessary, the Directors may take
independent professional advice at the
Company’s expense.
Training and briefings are available to all
Directors taking into account their existing
experience, qualifications and skills. In order
to build and increase the Non-Executive
Directors’ familiarity with, and understanding
of, the Group’s people, businesses and
markets, senior managers regularly make
presentations at Board meetings. As well as
planned training on governance, legal and
regulatory matters. The programme is
sufficiently flexible to capture new and
emerging regulation, development stemming
from evaluation and specific training requests
from Directors. Each Director’s training
programme includes the same online training
on competition law and anti-bribery and
corruption as taken by managers and
selected employees across the Business.
Before each Board meeting, the Company
Secretary makes sure that the meeting
papers are made available electronically one
week in advance, which ensures that each
Director has the time and resources to fulfil
their duties. Directors have the opportunity to
raise questions stemming from the papers
prior to the meeting, should they wish to do
so. A resource centre within the web portal
provides access to useful information about
the Group, including corporate governance
materials, finance and strategy information,
Group policies and procedures, and
information on topics such as risk and
insurance.
Conflicts of interest
The Board has an established process for
declaring and monitoring actual and potential
conflicts. The Articles of Association of the
Company allow the non-conflicted members
of the Board to authorise a conflict or
potential conflict situation.
Details of the professional commitments of
the Chair and the Non-Executive Directors are
included in their biographies on pages 54 and
55. The Board is satisfied that these do not
interfere or conflict with the performance of
their duties for the Company.
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Independence of Non-Executive
Directors
Croda complies with the Financial Reporting
Council’s Reporting Code (the Code) in
having experienced Non-Executive Directors
who represent a source of advice, strong
judgement and challenge to the Executive
Directors. At present there are six such
Directors, including the Chair and the Senior
Independent Director, each of whom has
significant commercial experience. Their
understanding of the Group’s operations is
enhanced by regular business presentations
and site visits.
The independence of the Non-Executive
Directors is kept under review. The Chair was
independent upon her appointment in 2015
but, as Chair, is not classified as independent.
With the exception of Keith Layden, the
Board considers that all Non-Executive
Directors who served during the year are
independent in character and judgement, with
no relationships or circumstances that are
likely to affect, or could appear to affect, their
judgement.
Keith Layden is not considered independent,
having served as the Company’s Chief
Technology Officer prior to retirement from
the Company and appointment as a
Non-Executive Director in May 2017.
Board re-election
The Board has a broad range of skills and
experience from different industries, advisory
roles and from international markets.
These skills support the strategic aims of the
Company. Following individual performance
assessments, the Board is satisfied that each
Director continues to perform effectively,
allocates sufficient time for their duties
and remains fully committed to their role.
Full biographies for the Directors are on
pages 54 and 55.
The terms and conditions of appointment of
Non-Executive Directors can be viewed at
www.croda.com. Contracts for Executive and
Non-Executive Directors can be inspected
during normal business hours at the
Company’s registered office by contacting
the Company Secretary and will also be
available for inspection at the AGM.
Board evaluation
Each year, the Board undertakes an
evaluation of its own effectiveness and
performance and that of its Committees and
individual Directors. Every three years, the
evaluation is externally facilitated.
In 2020, following a competitive tender
process during May and June, Heidrick &
Struggles, an independent party and not
subject to a conflict of interest, were
appointed to undertake an external
evaluation. Heidrick & Struggles have a long
history of working with boards, using a
methodology for evaluation that focuses on
four areas: mobilisation (including board
dynamics, strategy and diversity); execution
(including talent, composition and operating
mechanisms); transformation (including
purpose, succession and disruption);
and agility (including resilience, adaptability
and foresight).
The planning of the Board review started in
July 2020 to ensure the Board agreed with
the proposed approach to be taken and
specific areas of focus. Given the restrictions
on face-to-face meetings and on travel,
careful thought was given as to how to carry
out an effective externally facilitated Board
review virtually using videoconferencing. The
Chair and Company Secretary worked closely
with Heidrick & Struggles to agree the
sequencing and timetable for the review.
Board Effectiveness Review
methodology
Confidential interviews
Structured interviews were undertaken with
each Director and the Company Secretary to
understand the strengths and development
areas for the Board. The discussions were
focused on Board dynamics, composition
and trust in addition to the role and
effectiveness of the three Board Committees;
Audit, Remuneration and Nomination. In
addition to the Board, views were sought
from other invited attendees, for example the
Group Financial Controller and the Vice
President of Risk and Assurance.
Development areas
• Increase challenge and debate – There
is opportunity to increase the level of
challenge at Board meetings, exploring
alternative perspectives.
• Invite more outside-in thinking –The Board
should consider bringing even more
external and customer insights into the
conversations to help shape thinking
and decisions.
• Accelerate diversity and drive inclusion
— Although the Board is a leader in terms
of gender diversity, it could also further
reflect the markets, customers and
segments that the Group serves.
• Learn and make changes – There is room
to improve the embedding of ‘lessons
learned’ and to further challenge the
Executives to drive necessary change.
Quantitative survey
An online survey was completed by all
participants to surface areas of alignment and
misalignment on the Board.
Capability review and benchmarking
A capability review of Croda’s Board was
created against agreed metrics which
included other Boards with a strong
sustainability agenda.
Document review and observation
Documentation and information flows
between Board members were reviewed to
understand what items are being discussed
and considered and with what frequency
over the course of a year. One Board
meeting and the Committee meetings were
observed virtually.
Outcomes of the Review
The evaluation concluded that the Board was
highly effective with many signature strengths.
Strengths
• Trust in the boardroom –The Board is a
transparent, open, inclusive environment.
The Board are engaged and support
and trust each other. The Chair plays
a fundamental role in creating
these dynamics.
• A track record of improvement –The Board
continues to evolve in composition, gender
representation, operating mechanisms and
purposeful focus on strategy.
• Adaptability and agility – The Board is
particularly good at pivoting and adapting
under pressure. The agility and capability
to react to a crisis was tested in 2020 and
the Board responded robustly.
• Purpose that drives decision-making –
The Board has high integrity and
confidence in the strategy, purpose and
values. Board members spend time getting
to know the business, executives and
rising talent. This helps to guide and
anchor decision-making.
• Committees – All Board Committees were
performing well and were effective. They
are led by strong, capable and effective
Chairs that encouraged a supportive
environment and quality conversation.
The flow of information was good and
members were well prepared.
Board review
Sequencing and timetable
2020
July-August
Sept-Early Nov
Mid-Late Nov
December
2021 Onwards
Socialise plan
• Agree outcomes
and timing
• Socialise
approach
with the Board
Diagnose
• Analyse key
documentation
• Measure Board
acceleration potential
through the Board
Accelerator
Questionnaire (BAQ)
• Tailor interview guide;
conduct structured
interviews
• Observe the Board in
action during Board
meeting and Committee
meetings
Look in the mirror
• Prepare draft Board
report; socialise with
key stakeholders
• Facilitate a review of
findings and action
planning with the
Board members
• Refine as required
Action plan
• Prepare a Board
report with
accurate insights
and actionable
recommendations
• Brief the final
Board report to
key audiences
Create change
• Board to lead
the implementation
of improvement
initiatives
Croda International Plc
Annual Report and Accounts 2020
65
Directors’ Report Corporate governance continued
Report of the Nomination Committee
for the year ended 31 December 2020
Nick Challoner continues in his role as President
Life Sciences but in addition has been
appointed to a newly created role of Chief
Scientific Officer. Anthony Fitzpatrick, President
Corporate Development was appointed to the
additional role of President Performance
Technologies and Industrial Chemicals (PTIC).
Our strategic commitment to sustainability is
aligned with delivering superior performance to
stakeholders and at the end of 2019 Stuart
Arnott was appointed to a newly created role of
President of Sustainability. In this role he chairs
the Sustainability Committee, which was
established during the year. Mark Robinson was
appointed President Global Operations, the role
formally held by Stuart Arnott, and during 2020
Mark joined the Executive Committee.
Diversity and Inclusion
The Board supports the recommendations of
the Hampton-Alexander and Parker Reviews in
relation to gender and ethnic diversity. Research
has shown that greater diversity can foster
innovative thinking and provide businesses with
access to a wider pool of talented people. As a
Committee we have worked hard over the last
few years to ensure we have an inclusive and
diverse Board and I am pleased that we have
maintained our position of having in excess of
30% of women on the Board (including female
Directors as Chair and Senior Independent
Director), but as yet we don’t have any ethnic
diversity on the Board. This will be a focus for
the Committee during 2021.
The Committee carried out a review of the size
and composition of the Board and the collective
skills and experiences of the Directors. Diversity
was a key consideration through this process
and the discussion. During 2021 the Committee
will consider the need to add an additional
Director to the Board. When we search for new
Directors we ensure that the longlists and
shortlists of candidates are gender balanced
and candidates are drawn from a wide range of
backgrounds, including ethnically diverse
candidates. We take care not to create a
specification that has the effect of reducing the
diversity of the potential pool of candidates.
A copy of our Board Diversity Policy, which is
regularly reviewed by the Board, is available
in the corporate governance section at
www.croda.com. For more information on
our Board see the Directors Biographies on
pages 54 and 55.
We will be working alongside the Executive
Committee in deciding what we need to do as
an organisation if we are to achieve our People
Positive commitment. It is incumbent upon us
to create a psychologically safe place for our
employees, an environment where they feel
included. In doing so, we will enable them to
perform to their best abilities, bringing rewards
for them and for Croda. Our core value of
‘Togetherness’ will help guide us in this journey.
This applies equally to the Board and Executive
Committee as to the wider organisation.
Anita Frew
Chair
Dear fellow shareholder
I am pleased to present the Nomination
Committee report for the year ended
December 2020.
The Committee endorsed the Chairman’s
recommendation to extend Keith’s term of
office which was then extended for a further
three years to 1 May 2023.
Main activities and priorities in 2020
Board changes and succession planning
John Ramsay was appointed to the Board on
1 January 2020 and became Audit
Committee Chairman on 23 April 2020 when
Alan Ferguson stepped down. At the same
time Helena Ganczakowski became Senior
Independent Director. Helena’s appointment
was considered by the Committee and her
term was extended by another year in line
with the Nomination Committee policy that
once a Non-Executive Director has served six
years, any extension to their term would be
on a year-by-year basis.
Keith Layden’s initial three-year term of office
as a Non-Executive Director expired on
1 May 2020. The Committee performed a
review of his appointment and considered
his contribution to boardroom discussions,
industry knowledge and time commitment
to the appointment.
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Croda International Plc
Annual Report and Accounts 2020
Early in the year, the Committee had an
update on the review of talent and succession
planning within the Group. Succession plans
for sector, region and function had been
updated and the plan to improve female
talent in senior succession plans was in place.
A diverse group of individuals commenced a
programme of mentoring by the Group Board
and Executive management team.
In July 2020, the Committee considered the
proposals to restructure some areas of the
business in line with the 2030 strategy. The
restructuring provided opportunities for
several individuals identified through the
Executive development plans and the review
of talent process.
Some changes were made to the Executive
Committee. Sandra Breene was appointed to
the newly created role of President Regional
Delivery, with all the Regional MDs reporting
to her. With the integration of the Home Care
business into Personal Care to form the new
Consumer Care sector, Maarten Heybroek
was appointed to the role of President
Consumer Care.
The gender balance on Executive Committee
and senior management teams (direct reports
to the Executive Committee) by 31 December
2020 stood at 26% female. We continued to
increase the diversity of our leaders below
Board and Executive Committee level. 26% of
our Top 50 employees are female, with the
Top 50 made up of employees across nine
nationalities. Of particular note in 2020 was
the appointment of female employees to the
Regional Managing Director roles in Europe
and Latin America. We also appointed a
female manufacturing site head and have for
the first time employed female operators at
many of our sites. We know we still have
work to do to create further diversity, but
these are highly visible leadership roles and
will create role models for other female and
ethnically diverse employees to look up to as
they consider their career paths in Croda.
The Directors, together with the Executive
Committee, continued our participation in a
formal mentoring programme, mentoring some
of our most talented employees in their careers
at Croda. This provides opportunities for the
Committee members to get to know our
leaders of the future and provides mentees with
role models and development opportunities.
I will be available at the shareholder
engagement event to respond to any
questions shareholders may raise on the
Committee’s activities.
Anita Frew
Chair of the Nomination Committee
There have been initiatives to improve
diversity throughout the Group and the Board
receives reports from the Group HR Director
on these initiatives throughout the year.
Members of the senior management team are
given the opportunity to present to the Board
whenever the opportunity arises.
Responsibilities
The Committee is responsible for nominating
candidates for appointment to the Board for
approval by the Board, and for succession
planning. It evaluates the balance of skills,
knowledge, experience and diversity on
the Board.
Diversity training is included in all of our
induction and management development
programmes. We have a global Diversity and
Inclusion Committee to promote and inform
improved diversity across our business. The
whole organisation was given access to an
online course on unconscious bias which has
been completed by over 50% of colleagues
to date. Six internal podcasts have been
published discussing various aspects of
inclusion and a website developed with
further resources for colleagues to access.
Last year we set new targets to double the
number of women in leadership positions by
2025 and to achieve gender balanced
shortlists for 80% of our roles by 2023. By the
end of 2020 we had increased the number of
women in leadership positions by 19%.
Other activities of the Committee
During the year the Committee reviewed the
development plans for each Executive
Committee member, and these were taken in
to account as part of the Executive
Committee changes that took place in 2020.
The Committee reviewed the time commitment
of the Non-Executive Directors. It was satisfied
that all the Non-Executive Directors remain
able to commit the required time for the proper
performance of their duties. They also
considered and concluded that, except for
Keith Layden, all Non-Executive Directors
continue to fulfil the criteria of independence.
As Keith was formerly an Executive Director of
the Company, he is not currently considered
to be independent.
Key responsibilities
• To regularly review the structure, size and
composition, including the skills,
knowledge, experience and diversity, of the
Board and make recommendations for any
changes to the Board
• To give full consideration to succession
planning for Directors and other senior
Executives, taking into account
the challenges and opportunities facing the
Company and, consequently, what skills and
expertise the Board will need in the future
• Where a Board vacancy is identified, to
evaluate the balance of skills, knowledge,
experience and diversity on the Board, and
prepare a description of the role and
capabilities required for the respective
appointment
• To identify and nominate candidates to fill
Board vacancies, for the approval of the
Board, as and when openings arise
• To keep the organisation’s leadership
needs, both Executive and Non-Executive,
under review to ensure that the Company
continues to compete effectively in the
marketplace
• To review annually the time required from a
Non-Executive Director and the Chair
• To make recommendations on succession
planning for the Board.
Detailed responsibilities are set out in the
Committee’s terms of reference, which
can be found in the governance section at
www.croda.com.
Members of the Executive management team
attend the meetings on request and details of
attendance at the meetings during the course
of the year can be found on page 63.
Induction
The Company provides new Directors with a
comprehensive and tailored induction process
which includes meeting the members of the
Board and Executive Committee, meetings
with key senior managers and the Group’s
audit partner.
Induction programmes are developed by the
Group’s Company Secretarial department and
discussions start well in advance of the
appointment date to tailor the experience to
the exiting knowledge base of the Director. If
considered appropriate, new Directors are
provided with external training that addresses
their role and duties as a Director of a quoted
public company.
John Ramsay’s induction began during 2019
in advance of his appointment to the Board
from 1 January 2020.
He was given access to our electronic Board
paper system and the Group intranet which
provided easy and immediate access to key
documents including:
• the previous twelve month’s Board and
Committee papers
• recent reports from the external Auditor
• the Group’s risk register and Schedule of
Principal Risks
• the latest budget and strategic plan;
• recent broker reports and feedback from
our stakeholder engagement programmes
• information on our sustainability initiatives;
• Matters reserved for the Board and the
Committee terms of reference and other
key policies.
Given the focus on Health and Safety in all the
Board meetings, John’s first session on
commencing his role was with the Group
Health and Safety Director. In the first few
months John spent significant time with Alan
Ferguson, the outgoing Chair of the Audit
Committee to ensure the transfer of knowledge
and an orderly handover of duties at the AGM
on 23 April 2020. John also spent considerable
time with KPMG, the Group Auditor and our
Vice President Risk and Assurance.
In addition, John had individual meetings with
all the Board members, the Executive
management team and the IT Director. He
also had meetings with all the senior
members of the global finance team. As well
as a tour of the R&D function at Cowick, John
undertook a comprehensive tour of the
Rawcliffe Bridge site which included
presentations by the site senior management
team. A number of other planned visits were
curtailed because of the global pandemic and
these will be rescheduled as soon as they can
go ahead in 2021.
Croda International Plc
Annual Report and Accounts 2020
67
Directors’ Report Corporate governance continued
Audit, risk and
internal control
The Board has established formal and transparent policies
and procedures to ensure the independence and effectiveness
of internal and external audit functions and satisfy itself on
the integrity of financial and narrative statements.
Fair, balanced and understandable
The process of compiling the Annual Report
and Accounts starts early enough to give the
Board time to assess whether it is fair,
balanced and understandable, as required by
the Code. The Board considered whether the
Annual Report and Accounts contained the
necessary information for shareholders to
assess the Company’s position and
performance, business model and strategy.
The key messages in the narrative in the
Strategic Report and Governance sections
of the Annual Report and Accounts were
reviewed to ensure they reflected the
financial reporting contained in the
financial statements.
The Board considered if the Annual Report
and Accounts fully disclosed the successes
and the challenges that had been faced in
the period and that the narrative and analysis
effectively balanced the information
needs and interests of each of our key
stakeholder groups.
The framework and layout were considered to
be clear and coherent, with a consistent tone
throughout and clearly signposted linkage
between all sections, in a manner that
reflected a comprehensive narrative.
Following this assessment, the Board was of
the opinion that the Annual Report and
Accounts are representative of the year and
present a fair, balanced and understandable
overview, providing the necessary information
for shareholders to assess the Group’s
position, performance, business model
and strategy.
A full statement of Directors’ responsibilities
can be found on p105.
Risk management and internal control
The Board acknowledges its responsibility for
ensuring the maintenance of a sound system
of internal controls and risk management. In
accordance with the guidance set out in the
Financial Reporting Council’s (FRC’s)
Guidance on Risk Management, Internal
Control and Related Financial Business
Reporting 2014, and in the Corporate
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Croda International Plc
Annual Report and Accounts 2020
Governance Code itself, an ongoing process
has been established for identifying,
evaluating and managing the emerging and
principal risks faced by the Group (p44). The
Executive management have established an
organisational structure with clear operating
procedures, lines of responsibility and
delegated authority which was reviewed by
the Board.
In particular, there are clear procedures
and defined authorities for the following:
• Financial reporting, with policies and
procedures governing the financial
reporting process and preparation
of the financial statements.
• Internal Controls, with a documented
framework of required internal controls.
Each reporting location prepares an annual
self assessment of compliance with these
controls, which is assured during planned
internal audit visits.
• Business risks, with comprehensive
monitoring and quantification of business
risks, under the direction of the Risk
Management Committee. The Group’s
approach to risk management and the
principal and emerging risks facing the
Group are discussed in more detail in the
Strategic Report on p44 to p48
• Capital investment, through detailed
appraisal, risk analysis, authorisation
and post-investment review procedures.
This process has been in place for the full
financial year and up to the date on which
the financial statements were approved by
the Board.
The Board discharged its responsibility for
monitoring the operational effectiveness of the
internal control and risk management systems
throughout the financial year and up to the
date of approval of the Annual Report and
Accounts, using a process which involved:
• Review of the controls self-assessment
returns in April to ensure internal audit
visits focused on key areas (p73).
• Review of the findings from the internal
audit assurance programme which reports
through the Vice President of Risk and
Assurance, who attends every Audit
Committee meeting alongside the PwC
internal audit partner (p73).
• Review of closure of management
actions to remedy failings and
weaknesses identified through the
internal audit programme.
• Receipt of written confirmations from
relevant senior executives and divisional
directors at the end of the year confirming
the continued operation of those control
elements for which they are responsible.
• Review of the report on significant control
weaknesses from the Vice President
Risk and Assurance, including whistle-
blowing and fraud incidents.
• Annual presentation and review of risk
appetite statements, principal and
emerging risks and mitigating controls,
supported by a quarterly update from the
Risk Management Committee (p56).
• Reports from the external auditors.
This system is designed to mitigate, rather
than eliminate, the risk of failure to achieve
business objectives and provides reasonable,
but not absolute, assurance against material
misstatement or loss.
In order to assess the financial statements,
the Audit Committee (p70 to 75) regularly
reviews reports from members of the finance
team and external Auditors who are invited to
attend the Committee’s meetings. When
conducting its reviews, the Committee
considers:
• The accounting policies and
practices applied.
• The effectiveness and application
of internal financial controls.
• Material accounting assumptions and
estimates made by management.
• Any significant judgements or key audit
matters identified by the external Auditor
(see p107 to p110).
• Compliance with relevant accounting
standards and other regulatory financial
reporting requirements, including the UK
Corporate Governance Code.
Business resilience
As set out on page 6, Croda’s
overriding priority throughout the
COVID-19 pandemic has been to keep
our people safe whilst maintaining
supplies for our customers.
Strategic and stakeholder
considerations
With advance warning of the impact of
COVID-19 from our China offices, in
February 2020 the Executive team set
up a Group-level crisis team. Given the
potential seriousness and impact that
the spread of the virus could have on
Croda, our CEO declared this as a
level 1 crisis (the most severe category)
and notified the Board. A cross
functional global team was assembled
under Executive leadership, to assess
and understand how the crisis could
compromise strategic delivery, to
develop mitigating strategies and
controls and to manage
communications both internal and
external. Critical to this exercise was an
underlying understanding of our key
risks and the operation of the current
control environment, which are
identified through our risk management
framework (p44), supported by
scenario testing. The testing confirmed
that Croda had sufficient liquidity to
absorb extended uncertainty.
Given the severity of the crisis the
Board was regularly apprised at weekly
meetings of the Board and the
Executive members of the crisis team.
Critical initial risks to address were
supply chain (raw material security of
supply and maintaining customer
delivery), maintaining safe operations
and ensuring the safety of our
employees and all those affected by
our operations. The impact on our
employee mental health and wellbeing
became a particular area of focus
when, in March 2020, the World
Health Organization declared the
COVID-19 outbreak a pandemic and
governments globally introduced
lockdowns affecting the way everyone
in the countries lived and worked. Our
IT function immediately developed and
rolled out solutions to all employees
who were able to work from home,
whilst operating sites and laboratories
assessed who could work from home
and who could not. Manufacturing site
heads worked together to share
learning and best practice in making
our sites and laboratories COVID-19
secure, including introducing new
procedures and rules to keep our
teams safe and introducing physical
changes to the work environment and
changes to shift patterns. These
enabled production to continue
globally across all our sites and to date
only two of our locations suffered
temporary shutdowns because of local
government requirements. Regular
communication with employees
through pulse surveys, videos,
Company-wide emails and webinars
ensured that the team was aware of
employee concerns and could respond
quickly to them.
In May the Executive Committee and
the Board completed a ‘plan ahead’
review of strategic objectives to assess
their continued resilience in the light of
the pandemic, concluding that whilst
the underlying strategic direction
remains unchanged, the delivery of
some strategic priorities should be
accelerated.
In July the Board assessed the
Group’s key principal and emerging
risks and concluded that the nature
of the risks had not changed as a
result of COVID-19, although their
relevance had, confirming the
resilience of the Company’s risk
management framework.
Croda International Plc
Annual Report and Accounts 2020
69
Directors’ Report Corporate governance continued
Audit Committee
The Audit Committee assists the Board in ensuring that the Group’s
financial systems provide accurate and up-to-date information on the
Group’s financial position.
John Ramsay
Chair of the Audit Committee
Report of the Audit Committee
for the year ended 31 December 2020
As Chair of the Audit Committee, I am
pleased to present the Audit Committee
report for the year ended 31 December 2020,
which provides detail of the activities carried
out by the Committee during the year.
This is my first year as Chair, and I would like
to thank Alan Ferguson, my predecessor,
who retired from the Board at the AGM.
The COVID-19 pandemic has created a
challenging year for everyone involved in
the control and audit functions of Croda,
and the Committee thanks the executive
management team, the external and internal
audit teams and Croda employees across
the Company for their dedication in securing
the control environment throughout this
difficult year.
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Croda International Plc
Annual Report and Accounts 2020
Committee membership
The Committee consists of four Non-
Executive Directors. I joined the Board and
became a member of the Audit Committee
on the 1 January 2020 and became Chair
of the Audit Committee on the retirement of
Alan Ferguson on 23 April 2020. Having
this time before becoming the Chair of the
Committee allowed me not only to focus on
my induction to the Board and the Group, it
also afforded time for a comprehensive and
structured handover of the Audit Committee
Chair responsibilities.
The experience of each member of the
Committee is summarised on pages 54 and
55. I have over 30 years’ experience from an
international finance background with the Life
Sciences businesses of ICI, AstraZeneca and
Syngenta and extensive experience as an
Audit Committee Chair. The Board considers
each member of the Committee is
independent within the definition of the Code,
has relevant financial experience, as well
as a broad and diverse spread of commercial
experience, including competence in
operating within the chemical industry.
The Committee
thanks the executive
management team,
the external
and internal audit
teams and Croda
employees across
the Company
for their dedication
in securing the
control environment
throughout
this difficult year.”
Such consideration provides the Board
with assurance that the Committee has
the appropriate skills and breadth and depth
of experience to ensure that it can be fully
effective, and that it meets the Code
requirements that at least one member has
significant, recent and relevant financial
experience and that the Committee as a
whole is competent in the sector in which the
Company operates.
The Chair of the Board, Keith Layden (a
Non-Executive Director), the Group Chief
Executive, the Group Finance Director, the
Group Financial Controller, the Vice President
Risk and Assurance, who leads the internal
audit function, and representatives from the
external and internal auditors attend the
meetings by invitation.
Continued controls assurance during the pandemic
When the WHO declared COVID-19 a
pandemic in March 2020 it was clear that
the delivery of planned internal and external
audit work would be impacted as a result of
local government restrictions on both travel
and safe distancing requirements. The
annual business and IT controls self-
assessment was run as normal in March
2020, and at the April meeting the Audit
Committee reviewed the results of the
self-assessment (which indicated minimal
degradation in control environment). At that
same meeting they agreed a revised
approach to internal audit delivery via a
hybrid mixture of local onsite PwC resource
(where this was allowed) and virtual audits,
all managed by a member of the core PwC
internal audit team. The audit programme
delivered the majority of the originally
planned audits alongside new reviews
requested by the Committee. The new
reviews related to the COVID-19 impact on
cyber security on sites and the maintenance
of a control culture during the enforced
changed ways of working away from the
office environment. Feedback from the sites
audited, shared with the Audit Committee in
January 2021, was that although face-to-
face visits were preferred, sites had still
seen the expected benefits from internal
audit visits. At its July meeting, the
Committee discussed the implications of
COVID-19 on the 2020 external audit.
KPMG shared their assessment of the
increased risks (going concern, goodwill
valuation and debtor recoverability), and of
changes to their audit approach due to
travel restrictions. The Committee agreed
that conducting some remote audits and/or
additional procedures at Group level would
be necessary. Additional time for this work
was factored in to the external audit plan to
enable KPMG to obtain sufficient evidence
to support their audit opinion. The changes
to the audit plan were reviewed again in
November, and the Committee continued
to monitor delivery of the audit plan and
its quality throughout the audit period.
The Committee periodically, and I more
regularly, meet or speak separately with the
Vice President Risk and Assurance and
the internal and external auditors without the
Executives being present. I also meet with the
external auditors, the Group Finance Director
and the Group Financial Controller at least
twice each year but typically before each
Audit Committee meeting to discuss
control and compliance issues generally
and specifically the detail of the year end
and half year results, accounting judgements
and disclosures. This helps me to better
understand the key issues, technical
matters and judgements and to make
sure sufficient time is devoted to them
at the subsequent meeting.
Committee evaluation
An external evaluation of the effectiveness of
the Committee was undertaken by Heidrick &
Struggles during the course of the year.
Further details on the process are included in
the Corporate Governance report on pages
64 and 65.
The evaluation concluded that the Committee
was operating effectively. Committee
members were well prepared for meetings,
which were open and inclusive, engendering
excellent quality conversations and
constructive debate. One area for
consideration was to make sure the Board’s
and Committee’s areas of responsibilities in
relation to risk are clearly defined to sharpen
effectiveness and to limit overlap. The
Committee will review this during the course
of its oversight of the Company’s risk
management in 2021.
Responsibilities
The Committee assists the Board in ensuring
that the Group’s financial systems provide
accurate and up-to-date information on its
financial position.
Its key responsibilities are:
• To monitor the integrity of the financial
statements and results announcements
of the Group and to review significant
financial reporting issues and judgements.
• To recommend external auditor
appointment and removal, assess audit
quality, negotiate and approve the audit
fee, assess independence, monitor
non-audit services and be responsible
for audit tendering.
• To review the adequacy and effectiveness
of the Group’s internal controls and risk
management systems, and the adequacy,
effectiveness and output of the internal
audit function.
• To review the adequacy of the Group’s
whistleblowing arrangements and
procedures for detecting fraud.
• In addition to its ‘business as usual’
activities, the Committee selects certain
focus areas each year for detailed review.
• Detailed responsibilities are set out in the
Committee’s terms of reference, which
can be found at www.croda.com.
Croda International Plc
Annual Report and Accounts 2020
71
Directors’ Report Corporate governance continued
Audit Committee continued
Main (‘business as usual’) activities of the Committee since the publication of the 2019 Annual Report and Accounts
The Committee met five times in 2020, of which two were after
publication of the 2019 Annual Report and Accounts, and three
times between the year end and the publication of this Annual
Report. There was full attendance by all Committee members at
each meeting. The key issues covered at the Committee meetings
were reported at the subsequent Board meeting.
The Committee’s main business as usual activities, as well as the
focus areas, and an estimate of the proportion of time spent on
them, are detailed below.
Committee activity in 2020
Financial reporting (25%)
The Committee:
• Monitored the Group’s financial statements
and results announcements, including the
Annual Report and the interim statement.
• With support from the external auditors,
reviewed those items in the Group’s
financial statements that had the potential
to significantly impact reporting.
• Reviewed management’s accounting
judgements and issues, including
alternative performance measures, the
going concern assessment and
exceptional items.
• In conjunction with the Board, reviewed
the financial modelling and stress testing
conducted for the going concern
assessment.
• Reviewed the viability assessment process
undertaken in support of the Viability
Statement, based on plausible scenarios
arising from key risks and their impact on
headroom and bank covenants.
Challenged the assumptions and scenarios
noting the effect they would have during
the viability period with particular attention
this year being given to the potential
impacts on the business from the
consequences of the COVID-19
pandemic.
• Undertook regular reviews of the Group’s
litigation and was satisfied with the
approach to provisioning and disclosure.
• Considered the appropriateness of
accounting policies, critical accounting
judgements and key sources of estimation
of uncertainty.
• Received updates on the progress of the
Global Finance Standardisation project to
improve the quality of product costing
analysis and comparison across the Group
Governance (15%)
The Committee:
• Reviewed the input from a compliance
review to ensure the Committee met its
corporate governance and regulatory
requirements.
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Croda International Plc
Annual Report and Accounts 2020
Audit committee activity breakdown
Financial reporting
25%
Governance
External audit
Internal audit and
risk management
Specific focus
areas for 2020
15%
25%
25%
10%
• Discussed and approved increases to the
audit fee to reflect expansion of the Group
through acquisition and additional work
and use of senior staff arising from recent
changes to the auditing regime, particularly
in the UK.
• Reviewed the impact of changes to the
audit approach resulting from limitations in
the reliance placed on IT controls, following
a period of change in the systems
environment of the Group.
• Discussed the impact of COVID-19 on the
delivery of the external audit plan,
particularly the impact of remote working
on the quality of audit processes
• Met with the external auditors without
management present.
• Considered and confirmed the
independence of KPMG, as further
described on p75.
• Considered the effectiveness of the
external audit process and, in light
of the findings, recommended the
re-appointment of KPMG at the AGM.
• Reviewed candidates for, and agreed
to the appointment of, a new audit
partner for 2021 onwards, which became
necessary following organisational changes
within KPMG.
• Reviewed the effectiveness of the
Group’s anti-bribery and fraud procedures,
including those for whistleblowing.
The Committee received a report on the
independent investigations that had been
conducted in response to concerns raised
under the whistleblowing policy and were
satisfied with the outcome, including follow
up actions.
• Received presentations from senior
members of the finance team, including
the Finance Directors of Western Europe
and Latin America.
• Undertook an external evaluation of the
Committee’s effectiveness. Further details
are set out on page 64.
• Reviewed and took account of the annual
FRC letter to Audit Committee Chairs.
• Reviewed the Committee’s terms of
reference and confirmed that the role and
responsibilities of the Committee are
aligned with the UK Corporate Governance
Code. No changes were made.
• Completed its annual review of the Group’s
tax compliance policy (which can be found
on our website) and risks relating thereto.
External audit (25%)
The Committee:
• Discussed and approved the external audit
plan, including the assessment of
significant audit risks; the engagement risk
profile; the use of data analytics; the scope
of the audit; the materiality level and the de
minimis reporting threshold; the co-
ordination of external audits; and the key
members of the engagement team.
• Reviewed and approved the 2021 internal
audit plan and supported the review of
the digital strategic and global supply
chain initiatives.
• Met with the internal auditors without
management present.
• Conducted its annual review of the
effectiveness of the Group’s internal audit
function see page 75.
Internal audit and
risk management (25%)
The Committee:
• Received a regular report from the Vice
President Risk and Assurance and
monitored compliance with the Group
risk assurance programme.
• Discussed the impact of COVID-19
on the delivery of the internal audit plan,
particularly the impact of remote working
on the quality of audit processes. Whilst
COVID-19 impacted the starting date of
the audit plan, an alternative resourcing
model was employed which enabled the
majority of the agreed programme to be
delivered, alongside continued use of
data analytics.
• Considered the themes arising from the
controls self-assessment process
undertaken in March, discussing themes
arising and the plans to address these.
• Discussed the results of the 2020 controls
assurance internal audits delivered by
PwC, the adequacy of management’s
response to matters raised and the time
taken to resolve such matters.
• Confirmed a reduced scope of Croda
‘peer reviews’ in the light of COVID-19
restrictions, on the understanding that the
programme be reinstated in 2021.
• Considered management action taken with
regard to the IT control environment during
the year and commissioned further internal
audit work to review and recommend
improvements for implementation in 2021.
• Considered additional key risks arising
from acquisitions during the year.
• Assisted the Board in its assessment
of the Group’s emerging and principal risks
through directing and challenging the
results of the 2020 risk assurance activity
carried out by internal audit with reference
to the Group’s principal risks.
Specific focus areas for 2020 (10%)
As highlighted above, the Audit Committee has delivered on our ‘business as usual’ work, as set out in our terms of reference.
In addition, last year we noted three specific focus areas for 2020, which absorbed the balance of the Committee’s time.
Specific focus area
Continue to extend
cyber security capability
Continue to evaluate
the maturity and security
of the approach to
digital development
Review in detail the HR
system implementation
Actions during the year
The Committee reviewed and challenged actions taken by management to
mitigate the heightened cyber risks resulting from COVID-19, with specific focus
on the IT networks, systems and data. A virtual desktop infrastructure was
rapidly deployed to enable employees to work remotely, together with regular
employee awareness communication of heightened threats. The Committee
considered a report from internal audit on this subject summarising further
actions to be undertaken and concluded that this was an area for ongoing
monitoring and attention.
Progress
Ongoing
The appointment of a new Information Security manager was welcomed and
the Committee agreed a rolling annual programme of risk-based cyber internal
audits based on the guidelines identified in the National Institute of Standards
and Technology (NIST) framework, covering cyber security focus areas. Cyber
security controls over key applications and networks are assessed annually as
part of the IT internal audit programme and the results of these assessments
were considered by the Committee.
The Committee evaluated internal assurance reviews of cloud governance and
the SAP/Hana database migration, both of which are foundations of the Group’s
digital programme. The Committee challenged management around the findings
of the reports and encouraged them to focus on completing the actions arising
to reduce the risk exposure.
The new HR system, MyCroda, supports the HR global database, the learning
management system and the performance management system. Internal audit
review of the implementation had been postponed from 2019 until all modules
were implemented and the review took place, virtually, in July 2020. The
Committee discussed the wider learnings arising from the audit encouraging
management to improve project management disciplines taking account of the
recently established Croda Project Management framework.
Ongoing
Completed
Croda International Plc
Annual Report and Accounts 2020
73
Directors’ Report Corporate governance continued
Audit Committee continued
Significant financial statement reporting items
The Committee, with support from the
external auditors, reviewed those items in
the Group’s financial statements that have
the potential to significantly impact
reporting. These are set out below.
Pensions: The Committee monitored the
Group’s pension arrangements, in particular
the funding of the defined benefit plans in
the UK, the US and the Netherlands, which
are sensitive to assumptions made in
respect of discount rates, salary increases
and inflation.
The Group engages external actuarial
specialists. The Committee reviewed the
actuarial assumptions used and compared
them with those used by other companies.
The external auditors also challenged the
benchmark assumptions applied and
conducted sensitivity analysis.
The Committee considered this work and
found the assumptions to be reasonable.
Goodwill: The strategy of the Group
includes acquiring new technologies and
businesses operating in adjacent markets.
2020 saw two important acquisitions for
Croda. As a result, goodwill represents a
significant asset value on the balance sheet
£866.7m out of total net assets of
£1,595.1m at 31 December 2020).
The Committee completed its annual
impairment review of the carrying value
of goodwill, as prepared by management,
including the detailed sensitivity analysis
to a number of underlying assumptions,
including the potential impact of the
COVID-19 pandemic. The Committee
assessed the methodologies used and the
adequacy of the management disclosures.
Particular attention was focused on
Biosector and Sipo, which had the smallest
headroom between their carrying values
and value in use. The Committee reviewed
the methodology adopted to evaluate the
risk of goodwill impairment. After challenge,
the Committee was satisfied that the
assumptions were reasonable and that
no impairments were necessary; however,
enhanced disclosure was agreed to be
appropriate, given the sensitivity of the
calculations to certain assumptions.
Valuation of acquired intangible assets:
The Group acquired Avanti Polar Lipids LLC
(Avanti) on 12 August 2020 and Fragrance
Spanish Topco, S.L. (Iberchem) on 24
November 2020. The identification and
valuation of goodwill, intangibles and
contingent consideration required a
significant degree of judgement including
estimates. The Committee challenged
management in relation to the valuations
and calculations recognised on
acquisition and were satisfied with
the assumptions made.
Recoverability of parent Company’s
intercompany receivables: The
Committee considered the recoverability
of parent Company’s intercompany
receivables of £1,452.2m (2019:
£1,589.6m), which represents 50.9%
of the parent Company’s total assets
(2019: 72.3%).
The recoverability of these balances is
not considered judgemental; however,
they are the most significant component
of the parent Company balance sheet and
therefore require additional consideration
as part of preparing the financial
statements. This included comparing
the carrying amount with the respective
subsidiary’s net asset value or profitability.
After review, the Committee was satisfied
that the recoverability of the intercompany
receivables was acceptable, and no
impairments were necessary.
Provisions: The Committee reviewed
the risks around provisioning, which had
previously been disclosed as a significant
area of judgement, and, in light of
progress made on reducing environmental
risks, and noting the immaterial nature
of new issues arising in the year,
concluded that separate consideration
was no longer required.
Internal audit and risk management
I met with the Vice President Risk and
Assurance several times during the year
outside of the formal meetings to discuss the
performance and output of the internal audit
function and aspects of risk management.
The Vice President Risk and Assurance
attended each Committee meeting and
presented an internal audit report that was
fully reviewed and discussed, highlighting any
major deviations from the annual plan agreed
with the Committee.
At each meeting, the Committee considered
the results of the audits undertaken and the
adequacy of management’s response to
matters raised, including the time taken to
resolve such matters. Particular focus was
addressed to those areas where there was
a major divergence between the outcome
of the internal audit and the scoring of the
self-assessment questionnaire, completed
annually by each business unit. In these
instances, the Committee challenged
management as to what actions it was taking
to minimise the chances of divergences
arising in the future.
In January, the Committee conducted its
annual review of the internal audit function,
including its approach to audit planning and
risk assessment, communication within the
business and with the Committee and its
relationship with the external auditors. Senior
management feedback from sites included in
the 2020 audit programme is gathered by
questionnaire to support this process. These
did not highlight any significant areas for
development. In the light of the changed audit
approach in 2020, the Committee was
pleased with progress, with notable benefits
being seen from virtual audits which will be
retained in the future audit programme.
Details on how the Business implements its
risk management framework and monitors
controls on a Group-wide basis are set out on
pages 44 to 48.
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Croda International Plc
Annual Report and Accounts 2020
Looking ahead to 2021
In addition to our routine business, the
Committee has four focus areas for
2021. We will:
• Maintain our focus on cyber security
with a refreshed rolling annual
assurance programme based on the
NIST security framework.
• Monitor Avanti and Iberchem
integration programmes, including
controls assessment against Croda
risk and control standards.
• Review the major capital projects
assurance programme.
• Assess the impact of anticipated
regulatory changes on Croda’s risk
and control framework.
External auditors’ effectiveness
During the year, the Committee assessed the
effectiveness of KPMG as Group external
auditor. To assist in the assessment, the
Committee considered the quality of reports
from KPMG and the additional insights
provided by the audit team, particularly at
partner level. It took account of the views of
the Group Finance Director and Group
Financial Controller, who had discussed
subsidiary component audits with local audit
partners, to gauge the quality of the team and
knowledge and understanding of the
business. The Committee also considered
how well the auditor assessed key accounting
and audit judgements and the way it applied
constructive challenge and professional
scepticism in dealing with management.
The Committee also reviewed the output
from a questionnaire completed by senior
members of the finance team to obtain
their views on KPMG’s effectiveness
in carrying out the 2020 audit.
The questionnaire covered:
• Quality of planning, delivery and execution
of the audit.
• Quality and knowledge of the audit team.
• Effectiveness of communications between
management and the audit team.
• Robustness of the audit, including the audit
team’s ability to challenge management as
well as demonstrate professional
scepticism and independence.
Following the review, the Committee
concluded that the audit was effective and
overall the Committee was satisfied with the
performance of KPMG.
Croda is in compliance with the Statutory
Audit Services Order 2014. We undertook an
audit tender in 2017 and the Board appointed
KPMG as external auditor, with Chris Hearld
as the Lead Audit Partner. The first year to be
audited by KPMG was the year ended 31
December 2018.
Following an organisational change in KPMG,
Chris Hearld will step down as Lead Audit
Partner and will be succeeded by Ian Griffiths.
After discussing the handover process in
detail with myself and our Group Finance
Director, the Committee are confident that the
transition and handover period will be
efficiently managed.
External auditor’s independence
The Committee and the Board place great
emphasis on the objectivity of the Group’s
external auditors in reporting to shareholders.
Our Group policy on the provision of
non-audit services by external auditors, which
is on our website www.croda.com, sets out
permitted and prohibited non-audit services
and the controls over assignments awarded
to the external auditor to ensure that audit
independence is not compromised. During
the year, the Committee undertook a detailed
review of the provision of non-audit services
by KPMG and compliance with the FRC’s
Revised Ethical Standard for auditors and as
a result updated our policy in this regard.
KPMG already had a policy which was
compliant with the FRC’s Revised Ethical
Standard for auditors. They have not been
required to terminate any services that would
not be permissible under the Standard.
In 2020, non-audit fees were £0.1m,
significantly less than the total audit fees of
£1.5m; the non-audit to audit fees ratio
stands at 0.1:1.
The Committee undertook its annual review
of the Group’s policies relating to external
audit, including the policy that governs how
and when employees and former employees
of the Group’s auditors can be employed
by the Company. No changes were made.
The Committee also reviewed and accepted
KPMG’s Independence letter.
In conclusion, the Committee agreed that
KPMG were independent.
External auditor reappointment
As noted above, the Committee
recommended to the Board that
KPMG be offered for re-election at the
forthcoming AGM.
I will be available at the shareholder
engagement event to respond
to any questions shareholders may raise
on the Committee’s activities in the year.
John Ramsay
Chair of the Audit Committee
Croda International Plc
Annual Report and Accounts 2020
75
Directors’ Report
Corporate governance continued
Remuneration Report
We continue
to seek out
opportunities to
further enhance
the remuneration
approach at
Croda, taking
on board advice
from our
investors
and other
stakeholders.”
Dr Helena Ganczakowski
Chair of the Remuneration Committee
Report of the Remuneration Committee for the year ended
31 December 2020
A. Chair’s letter
On behalf of the Board and the Remuneration Committee, I am
pleased to present Croda’s Directors’ Remuneration Report for the
year ended 31 December 2020. I would like to thank my colleagues
for their engagement throughout the year, and to welcome John
Ramsay as a new member of the Committee.
The Committee believes that Croda’s remuneration approach plays a
key role in the achievement of the Group’s strategic objectives and in
the delivery of sustainable, profitable growth. Last year we reviewed
and updated our policy to ensure ongoing alignment to Croda’s
evolving ambition and were pleased to receive 97% votes in favour.
The Remuneration Committee is not proposing any material changes
to the operation of the policy in 2021, being satisfied with both the
outcome of the review and the changes made in 2020 and having
considered the management of COVID-19 and its impact on the
business.
Continued strong progress despite COVID-19
I am pleased to confirm that, despite the challenges presented by the
COVID-19 pandemic, Croda continues to progress successfully in line
with its strategy, with a strong share price performance. It remains a
highly profitable, cash generative business, with ample liquidity in
place. Croda’s priorities during the pandemic have continued to be to
fairly and equally balance the needs of all our stakeholders, including
employees, customers, investors, suppliers and local communities,
while ensuring the health and safety of our people at all times.
76
Croda International Plc
Annual Report and Accounts 2020
All but two of our 19 principal manufacturing sites globally have
operated without interruption. We have maintained high customer
service levels and demand has remained resilient. In addition, we have
supported our customers and suppliers with flexible payment terms,
where necessary. We have not made anyone redundant or furloughed
any employees due to COVID-19, and have protected pay and
benefits, including for those unable to work normally due to the need
to self-isolate, or because of caring responsibilities.
In April we launched our “Acts of Kindness” initiative and made
£200,000 available to support communities closest to our largest
manufacturing sites globally. In addition, the Croda Foundation, an
independent enterprise that will be funded by Croda to provide a
framework for charitable giving was legally incorporated.
Our shareholders benefited from full payment of dividends as they
were due, and our share price recovered strongly after the initial sharp
COVID-19 related market reduction in March 2020. The PSP awards
to Executive Directors were made after the AGM in May and at a time
when the share price had recovered from this low.
Alignment to strategic objectives
Croda’s strategy continues to focus on consistently delivering
sustainable, profitable growth by providing innovative, sustainable
solutions to our customers consistent with our Purpose: Smart
science to improve livesTM. This sense of purpose aligns strongly with
our business culture and underpins our three business sectors of
Consumer Care, Life Sciences and Performance Technologies.
With its robust business model proven through COVID-19, Croda has
been able to continue to expand and grow at a time when many
companies have been forced to rein in their strategic plans. In August,
we completed the acquisition of Avanti Polar Lipids LLC, a leader in
drug delivery systems for next-generation pharmaceuticals, and in
November we completed the acquisition of Iberchem, a leading global
fragrances and flavours company. These acquisitions represent strong
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alignment to our strategy and both businesses have an excellent
financial record.
Delivering sustainable, profitable growth is directly reflected in our
performance measures and stretching targets. The Group Profit
Incentive Bonus Scheme (senior annual Bonus Plan) is based on a
single operating profit metric with no payout unless the previous year’s
outcome is exceeded.
For the longer-term Performance Share Plan (PSP), 35% of the
award is based on earnings per share (EPS) growth and 35% is
based on relative Total Shareholder Return (TSR) performance
against a bespoke group of our most relevant competitors.
Innovation and sustainability are key to Croda’s success and we
continue to focus management on the delivery of these. 30% of the
2021 award will continue to be based on Sustainability metrics. 15%
will be based on our innovation metric, New and Protected Products
(NPP), those products that will drive our future growth. The remaining
15% will be focused on carefully selected KPIs aligned to the delivery
of our “Climate Positive” and “Land Positive” sustainability
Commitment. We will be continuing with our EVA underpin.
Performance is always considered holistically; each year the
Committee applies a Discretion Framework to satisfy itself that the
outcome in terms of primary performance metrics has not been to the
detriment of other measures of corporate performance. Health and
safety remains a key metric of particular focus in this review.
Alignment of executive reward with the wider workforce
Our ‘One Croda’ culture drives focus on alignment of executive reward
with the wider workforce. To better understand how reward is
perceived across the workforce, the business ran a Global Reward
pulse survey in 2020, covering recognition, pay and wellbeing
activities. This survey was completed by over 3,150 employees, 66%
of our workforce, and the findings were shared with the Board, as well
as management.
In response to these findings, management identified an opportunity to
extend a sense of ownership across the whole employee base and are
therefore proud to be launching the “Ten Share Plan” in 2021 where all
employees globally who are not eligible for the senior annual Bonus
Plan will be gifted up to 10 Croda shares (or cash equivalent) if the
2021 senior annual Bonus Plan pays out.
In 2018 we gained accreditation in the UK as a Living Wage Employer
from the Living Wage Foundation. The business continues to pursue
its Global Living Wage target, one of our sustainability KPIs linked to
the UN SDGs, and has forged a partnership with the Fair Wage
Network to establish a Living Wage in each of the countries in which
we operate.
Workforce reward continues to evolve, and in 2020 we introduced
a new UK car scheme, focused on encouraging use of electric
vehicles and open to all employees, and launched a pilot online
Recognition Programme.
In line with our ‘One Croda’ culture, our senior leaders all share the
same performance metrics for the senior annual Bonus Plan and PSP.
Around 450 employees participate in the senior annual Bonus Plan
and 70 of these are also in the PSP. We believe that this focuses
our leadership on working together globally to deliver the best overall
outcome for our customers and, in turn, our shareholders and
other stakeholders.
Pay for all employees is set in line with the market and closely
monitored, and local bonus schemes are available for those below
senior leader level in most regions. Around 85% of our UK workforce
and 63% globally participate in share plans and therefore benefit from
the rewards enjoyed by all shareholders.
In addition, we are proud to be one of only two FTSE 100 companies
with a career average defined benefit pension scheme that is open to
all new and existing employees. Our pension scheme is a generous
and inclusive benefit for our UK workforce. An important part of the
value to employees is that the level of pension is guaranteed, as the
Company bears all the investment risk. This security for our workforce
is an important part of our ‘One Croda’ culture. In 2020 we aligned
Executive Director pension supplements to the same level as that
paid to all employees who are above the defined benefit pension
scheme cap.
Remuneration out-turn for 2020
We delivered a resilient performance in 2020 with sales growth
driven by a second half recovery and acquisitions, a robust margin
and healthy cash generation. This demonstrates the strength
of the business model in challenging economic conditions
created by the pandemic.
As the bonusable profit did not exceed the outcome for 2019, the
threshold for the senior annual Bonus Plan was not reached and no
annual bonus is therefore payable.
Our longer-term performance in profitable growth and Total
Shareholder Return was more reflective of our long-term growth
trajectory. For PSP, 2020 was the year in which grants made in 2018
concluded their three-year period, and the Committee has reviewed
performance for the targets that were set at that time. Over the period
TSR performance was 58.8%, placing Croda in the top quartile
against our bespoke comparator group, resulting in 100% of this part
of the award vesting. The subdued market conditions experienced in
the last two years has had an adverse impact on EPS growth which,
at -2%, fell short of the target required for this element to vest. NPP
growth also failed to meet the vesting target, reflecting the ambition of
this metric and the slowdown of certain NPP sales.
The PSP award is dependent on satisfactory underlying financial
performance of the Group. The Committee considered this, and a
range of other broader performance criteria using the Discretion
Framework, and concluded that the awards were consistent with, and
reflective of overall financial performance over the time period.
Therefore, after consideration of all factors, an overall PSP vesting of
40% of the total award was agreed.
Salaries for 2021
For 2021, the general increase set for the UK workforce is 1%.
The Committee considered the salaries of the Executive Directors in
the context of positioning against market benchmarks, as well as the
performance of the Company. The Committee determined that the
salary increase for Executive Directors should be in line with that
of the UK workforce.
Looking ahead
We are confident that our Remuneration Policy approved in 2020 will
continue to serve us well over the next two years. Targets for 2021
have been set in line with the approach for 2020, and new
sustainability targets have been set reflecting our ambitious
sustainability agenda.
Going forward, we will continue to seek out opportunities to further
enhance the remuneration approach at Croda, taking on board advice
from our investors and other stakeholders. We remain committed to
ensuring that our remuneration framework reflects the evolving needs
of all of our stakeholders and the communities in which we operate.
Dr Helena Ganczakowski
Chair of the Remuneration Committee
Croda International Plc
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77
Corporate governance continued
Remuneration Report continued
Remuneration
B. Remuneration at a glance
Contents
A Chair’s letter
B 2020 Remuneration at a glance
C Report of the Remuneration Committee
for the year ended 31 December 2020
• How our Remuneration Policy links to strategy
and to reward across our wider workforce
• Remuneration Committee year ended 31 December 2020
• Executive Directors remuneration for the year ending
31 December 2021
D Directors’ remuneration for the year ended
31 December 2020
E Summary of the Remuneration Policy
How we performed in 2020
We remain committed to ensuring
that our remuneration framework
reflects the evolving needs of all of
our stakeholders and the societies
in which we operate.”
Dr Helena Ganczakowski
Chair of the Remuneration Committee
Adjusted Operating Profit
Adjusted EPS
NPP
Total Shareholder Return
-5.9% to
£319.6m
-5.1% to
175.5p
27.4%
of Group sales
58.8%
over the three-year PSP performance
period (1 January 2018 to 31 December
2020)
Croda’s resilience to the impact of the COVID-19
• Early in the pandemic, we assured all employees that there were no
plans to reduce employee numbers, furlough staff or reduce regular
salary and benefits as a result of COVID-19, and we honoured
this pledge.
• We paid final and interim dividends to shareholders in full
during 2020.
• We have not utilised any government liquidity facilities.
• We protected the pay and benefits of those self-isolating, unwell or
with caring responsibilities.
• £200,000 was set aside for our Acts of Kindness initiative, aimed at
helping our local communities.
Linking our reward and business strategy
Our reward policy is designed to link directly to our Group strategic
priorities and how we manage and measure our business
performance.
Growth
Innovation
Sustainability
Values-led culture
Long-term shareholder value
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Annual Report and Accounts 2020
• For employees working onsite, we applied strict safety protocols
and focused on making life as easy as possible, with remote
handovers, provision of PPE including hand sanitiser, social
distancing measures and training in new procedures to keep
everyone safe.
• We understood some employees’ needs to balance caring
responsibilities and work, so encouraged people to work
flexibly as needed.
• There was a focus on mental health and in some countries, we
increased the provision of Employee Assistance Programmes and
provided direct access to doctors and medical teams.
• We issued regular pulse surveys to gauge how employees were
feeling and how best to support them.
Engaging with our workforce on
remuneration
We are committed to both engaging with, and including, our
employees in our remuneration structures. In 2020 we undertook the
following key engagement processes:
• Reward principles: Our Reward Principles guide the way in which we
recognise and remunerate all our global employees.
• Global Employee Pulse Surveys: We launched a series of pulse
surveys in 2020 with one specifically carried out to better understand
how reward is perceived across the workforce.
• Listening groups: Virtual listening groups, attended by the Chair of
the Remuneration Committee, have been arranged with employees
from across our regions.
• Dedicated email to Chair of Committee: A dedicated email
address for employees to send comments or questions to the Chair of
the Remuneration Committee.
• Overview of pay and policy decisions: Committee members are
updated annually on global employees’ terms and conditions.
• Board roadshows: Our Executive Directors and Board regularly hold
roadshows with our global workforce.
Single figure remuneration:
Steve Foots (total £1,549,437)
Jez Maiden (total £942,400)
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80% 90%
100%
Operation of our policy in 2020
Key component
and timeline
Basic salary
Feature
Competitive package
to attract and retain
high-calibre
executives.
Metrics and results
• Pay rise of 2% awarded to Executive Directors.
• UK workforce was awarded a 2% increase.
Salary
Benefits
Pension (incl supplement)
LTIPs
Other
Group Chief
Executive (CEO)
£675,584
Group Finance
Director (GFD)
£465,920
D
i
r
e
c
t
o
r
s
’
R
e
p
o
r
t
Annual bonus
Incentivise delivery of
strategic plan, targets
set in line with Group
KPIs.
Deferred
element
of bonus
PSP
Compulsory deferral of
one third of bonus into
shares with three-year
holding period to align
with long-term
business performance.
Incentivise execution
of the business
strategy over long
term measuring profit,
shareholder value and
innovation.
Pension
Shareholding
requirements
Pension benefits are
either a capped career
average defined
benefit pension
plan with a cash
supplement above
the cap, or a cash
supplement. For 2020,
cash allowance of up
to 20% of salary, in
line with the UK
workforce.
Share ownership
guideline to ensure
material personal
stake in business.
Bonusable Profit
(see page 90 for definition of Bonusable Profit)
Threshold 2019 actual
Maximum 2019 actual plus 10%
Actual
0% of maximum bonus paid
N/A
2019 actual minus 1.2%
–
–
–
–
Vesting of the 2018 PSP award
£698,600
£361,349
EPS*
TSR**
NPP***
Threshold Maximum
11%
Upper
Quartile
5%
Median
NPP sales growth
to be at least twice
non-NPP sales.
Actual
-0.65%
84.2
percentile
Above UQ
Not met
% payout
0%
40.00%
0%
Total payout – 40%
* EPS growth p.a. is calculated on a simple average basis over the
three-year period.
** Actual TSR performance over the performance period was 58.8%.
*** Subject to a minimum average of 5% growth per year and overall
positive Group profit growth.
N/A
£138,492
£93,184
CEO 225% of salary
GFD 175% of salary
>225% of
target
>175% of
target
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Corporate governance continued
Remuneration Report continued
C. Report of the Remuneration Committee for the year ended 31 December 2020
How our Remuneration Policy links to strategy and to reward across our wider workforce
This section of our report provides the broader context of how our Remuneration Policy links to strategy and to reward across our wider
workforce. We hope that it will provide a useful summary of the context of our Reward Policy and will show how our Reward Policy has
and will continue to evolve to meet the needs of the business, our workforce and align with UK corporate governance standards.
How our reward strategy links to our business strategy
Growth
Innovation
Consistent top and bottom line growth, with profit growing ahead of sales, ahead of volume. The
key metric of our senior annual Bonus Plan is profit increase over prior year. Long-term growth is measured
and rewarded through metrics within our long-term incentive, the Performance Share Plan (PSP) which
includes a measure of increased EPS over a three-year period. Both the senior annual Bonus Plan and PSP
are subject to our Discretion Framework which includes financial underpins such as EVA.
The lifeblood of our business, we seek to increase the proportion of New and Protected Products
(NPPs) that we sell. Within our PSP sustainability metrics, is an established NPP metric, measuring growth
of NPP products against non-NPP products. Innovation is also rewarded within the EPS metric as sustained
EPS growth can only come through relentless innovation and the creation of new ingredients for our
customers.
Sustainability
Aligning our business with our Purpose and accelerating our customers’ transition to sustainable
ingredients. Our PSP includes metrics related to reductions in emissions and the reduction of land use.
These are directly linked to our ambitions to be Climate, Land and People positive by 2030.
Values-led
culture
Our Purpose is enabled by our distinctive values that govern how we work with one another and
guides our relationships with all of our partners. Our senior annual Bonus Plan has one common
metric for our top 450 employees ensuring fairness and transparency. The introduction of our Ten Share
Plan is a way of sharing reward throughout our business benefiting our lowest-paid employees the most.
Our PSP and senior annual Bonus Plan underpins include a review of culture measures and ethical
compliance.
Long-term
shareholder
value
We strongly believe that all the various features and metrics of our Remuneration Policy combine
to incentivise long-term shareholder value. Our PSP directly rewards increasing shareholder value
through our TSR metric, and our focus on growth, innovation and sustainability supports long-term
sustainable shareholder value creation.
How our remuneration practices support our strategy
Element of reward
Bonus
LTI (PSP)
Underpins
Other features
Metrics
Profit
EPS
TSR
NPP
Sustainability
Safety, health and environment
EVA
General financial
Culture and ethics
Holding periods
Shareholding requirements
Growth
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓
Innovation
Sustainability
Long-term
shareholder
value
Values-led
culture
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓
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Summary of Remuneration Policy adopted in 2020
An updated Remuneration Policy was presented and approved by
shareholders at the 2020 AGM. This is intended to operate until the
AGM in 2023. In reviewing the Policy and its implementation, the
Remuneration Committee undertook a thorough review of existing
arrangements with a particular focus on alignment to Croda’s strategy
and ambitions. This review was completed with the following principal
objectives in mind:
• achieve the closest possible alignment with the Company’s
strategy;
The Remuneration Committee is not proposing any substantive
changes to the operation of the Policy in 2021, being satisfied with
both the outcome of the review and the changes made in 2020.
These were:
• Reduction of the pension cash supplement for the CEO and Group
Finance Director to align with our UK workforce.
• The introduction of new sustainability metrics, incorporating NPP,
into the PSP to align with our strategy to be industry leaders in
sustainability.
• The introduction of an EVA underpin to further ensure our
• support the Company’s ambition to be a purpose-led organisation
focused on Smart science to improve lives™;
long-term incentive awards are aligned with overall
business performance.
• ensure that business performance is appropriately measured and
rewarded and that the scale of reward is proportionate;
• make certain that the Policy properly reflects the various interests of
all our stakeholders in its structure and metrics;
• An increase in the level of normal PSP awards for Executive
Directors from 200%/150% to 225%/175% for the CEO and
Group Finance Director respectively reflecting the significant
long-term growth of the business.
• ensure that the Policy is fair and competitive and that it also
• An increase in the shareholding guidelines and the introduction
considers reward more broadly in the organisation;
• disclose the Policy in an open and transparent way.
of a post-employment shareholding requirement to ensure
compliance with the UK Corporate Governance Code and
shareholders expectations.
Summary of Policy and its operation
Salary
Annual bonus
Set taking into account an individual’s responsibilities, performance and experience as well as pay and
employment conditions elsewhere in the Group and other external factors.
Maximum annual bonus opportunities:
• Group Chief Executive – 150% of salary
• Group Finance Director – 125% of salary
Bonusable profit growth targets, with no bonus payable until the previous year’s profit is exceeded.
Discretion Framework applies, which includes health, safety and environmental performance.
Performance Share Plan
One third deferred for three years.
Malus and clawback provisions apply.
Normal maximum PSP opportunities:
• Group Chief Executive – 225% of salary
• Group Finance Director – 175% of salary
Pension and benefits
Shareholding guidelines
Awards based on EPS, Relative TSR and sustainability metrics, including NPP with an EVA underpin applying
across the whole of the PSP award. The Discretion Framework also applies, which includes satisfactory
underlying financial performance.
Three-year performance period with an additional two-year holding period.
Malus and clawback provisions apply.
Pension benefits are either a capped career average defined benefit pension plan with a cash supplement
above the cap, or a cash supplement.
Cash allowance for Executive Directors of up to 20% of salary which aligns with our UK workforce.
Typical other benefits include Company car, private fuel allowance, private health insurance and other
insured benefits.
Shareholding guidelines of:
• Group Chief Executive – 225% of salary
• Group Finance Director – 175% of salary
Post-employment shareholding guidelines also apply for two years after leaving employment. These are set
at 100% of the in-employment guideline for the first year after leaving employment, tapering to 0% by the
end of year two. This policy applies to shares from awards that vest in 2020 and beyond. During 2021 the
Committee will be formalising the structures in place to allow it to monitor and enforce the post-employment
shareholding requirement.
Further details about the Policy can be found on pages 100 and 101.
Croda International Plc
Annual Report and Accounts 2020
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Directors’ Report Corporate governance continued
Remuneration Report continued
How our Remuneration Policy links to the UK Corporate Governance Code
When developing the Remuneration Policy, the Committee was mindful of the UK Corporate Governance Code and considers that the executive
remuneration framework appropriately addresses the following factors:
Factors
Clarity
How these are addressed
• Our values of openness and transparency are reflected in our reward principles. The Committee is committed to
providing open and transparent disclosure on executive remuneration for our stakeholders.
• Our arrangements are clearly disclosed and any changes to our Remuneration Policy and its operation are
highlighted in a way that defines their alignment to both our strategic ambitions as well as the provisions of the UK
Corporate Governance Code.
Simplicity
• Our executive remuneration arrangements, as well as those throughout the global organisation, are simple in
nature and well understood by both participants and shareholders.
• Our senior annual Bonus Plan, in which around 450 of our global employees participate, is based on a single profit
metric, with a simple key requirement that no bonus can be paid until the previous year’s profit is exceeded.
Risk
• The Committee considers that the structure of incentive arrangements does not encourage inappropriate
risk-taking. Performance is based on a balance of metrics which also reflect our broader stakeholders, for example
inclusion of sustainability targets and health and safety underpins. We then take a holistic assessment of
performance using our Discretion Framework. A copy of the Discretion Framework is provided on the next page.
• Annual bonus deferral, the PSP holding period and our shareholding guidelines provide a clear link to the ongoing
performance of the business as well as alignment with shareholders. Executives will be rewarded for sustainable
long-term shareholder return.
• Malus and clawback provisions also apply for both the senior annual Bonus Plan and PSP.
Predictability
• Our Remuneration Policy contains details of maximum opportunity levels for each component of pay, with actual
incentive outcomes varying depending on the level of performance achieved against specific measures.
Proportionality
• Our Remuneration Policy directly aligns to our strategy and financial performance. The Committee considers
performance from a range of perspectives. Poor financial performance is not rewarded.
Alignment to culture • Alignment to our ‘One Croda’ culture is clearly established in our Remuneration Policy; our senior annual Bonus
Plan has the same metric for all participants, our PSP metrics reflect our commitment to sustainability and
pensions are aligned across the workforce.
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Our Discretion Framework
In order to enhance the rigour and consistency in the way in which performance is reviewed the Remuneration Committee has adopted a
Discretion Framework which it applies when assessing bonus and long-term incentive plan outcomes:
What is the formulaic result following consideration of the existing underpins?
What is the single figure outcome?
Committee to consider year-on-year change and whether this mirrors
the trend in performance
How does the outcome compare with shareholder experience?
Committee to consider Total Shareholder Return in both relative and absolute terms
over a number of different periods
How does the outcome compare with overall Company performance?
Consider performance against other KPIs, for example
ROIC and EVA
Sales
Profit growth
Sustainability
Culture
Conduct
Health and safety
Systems and control
Culture and conduct
Are there any external headwinds or tailwinds which need to be considered?
Are there any other events that should be factored in?
Other events could be reputational/risk related or a change of accounting standards
As an additional reference point, are the bonus and PSP outcomes consistent?
Input from others?
Draw on input from other Committees as well as other management teams including HR,
Legal, Internal Audit and Risk
Consider shareholder response to results
The Committee may also want to reflect on how the market is
likely to respond to the preliminary results
Compare with historical use of discretion
Does the outcome appear reasonable/fair, or should an adjustment be considered?
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Directors’ Report Corporate governance continued
Remuneration Report continued
Workforce engagement
Engagement with the workforce to explain how executive remuneration aligns to the wider company pay policy is an area where we continue to
make progress. The introduction of regular pulse surveys and a dedicated email address for employees to contact the Chair of the Committee in
2020 helped us to understand how best to consult with our geographically dispersed population and provided useful feedback on a range of
reward topics. We will continue with both of these engagement channels in 2021 and have also arranged virtual listening groups with the Chair of
the Remuneration Committee for employees to discuss and share their thoughts on executive remuneration and reward in the wider business. A
summary of engagement activities undertaken to date is as follows:
Reward principles
Our Reward Principles, which were developed and approved during 2019, guide the way we recognise and
remunerate all our global employees. These principles focus on Total Reward including intangible rewards and
were strongly influenced by the results of our previous Global Employee Survey. These have been shared
across the organisation.
Global Employee
Pulse Survey
In 2020, we launched a pulse survey, translated into 16 languages, to draw employee’s attention to the publication
of the Remuneration Report and to help us understand the level of interest in the report. Over 1,000 employees
responded to the survey with results showing that 90% of employees had an interest in the Annual Report and the
Sustainability Report. We will run this survey again in 2021.
Throughout 2020, a series of pulse surveys covering a range of topics including flexible working, stress in the
workplace and COVID-19 were also undertaken. Completion of these surveys has been consistently strong with
an average of over 60% of employees taking part. Findings were shared with the Board as well as management
and have helped to guide decisions throughout the year including the drafting of new Flexible Working guidance.
One of these pulse surveys was carried out to better understand how reward is perceived across the workforce.
This covered pay and recognition as well as broader topics such as wellbeing activities. This survey was completed
by 66% of our global employees and the findings were shared with the Board as well as management.
Listening groups
During January 2021, Helena Ganczakowski, Chair of the Remuneration Committee held listening groups across a
cross-section of employees in Asia, the Americas and Western Europe.
Throughout the listening groups, Helena presented about the role of the Board and the Remuneration Committee and
also shared an overview of the Elements of Reward at Croda and feedback on the Global Reward pulse survey
conducted in 2020. The sessions were greatly appreciated by those who attended, with a number of participants
noting that they had limited knowledge of the Board and Remuneration Committee before the session.
Useful feedback was provided by the participants on a range of areas that they feel are working and areas that could
be improved. These areas will be reviewed in 2021.
Dedicated email to
Chair of Committee
A dedicated email address has been established for employees to send comments or questions to the Chair of the
Remuneration Committee.
Overview of pay and
policy decisions
Committee members are updated annually on global employees’ terms and conditions and are made aware of any
significant changes to policies and other pay-related matters.
Board roadshows
Our Executive Directors and Board regularly hold roadshows that allow a cross-section of our global workforce to
discuss business issues and provide feedback.
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How our Remuneration Policy relates to reward in the wider employee context
When making decisions about executive remuneration the Committee considers the pay and reward structures across the business. Annually,
the Group Human Resources Director provides the Committee with a review of workforce remuneration, and the Committee is updated
periodically on any feedback received on remuneration practices across the Group.
One of the principles of Croda’s culture is to drive ‘One Croda’, therefore, many of the remuneration structures that apply to Executives also
apply further in the global organisation, as set out in the table below. The key difference between the policy for Executive Directors compared to
other employees, is that remuneration for Executive Directors is more heavily weighted towards variable pay and share ownership.
Remuneration element
Base pay
Who participates?
All employees
Details
Pay is set in line with the market and closely monitored. Any comparator
group used as a reference point is country and/or industry specific.
Our aim is to pay a ‘Living Wage’ globally. We are already a Living Wage
employer in the UK.
Annual bonus
Executive Directors,
Executive Committee,
Senior leaders and
Senior managers
Consistent senior annual Bonus Plan aligned to increase in annual profit.
Operates on a tiered basis from 150% of salary to 20% of salary across the
most senior global grades. Deferral applies for Executive Directors and
members of the Executive Committee.
All other employees
Local schemes apply in many locations.
Performance Share Plan
Executive Directors,
Executive Committee and
Senior leaders
Consistent PSP based on EPS, TSR and sustainability metrics,
including NPP.
Restricted Share Plan
Selected employees not
eligible for PSP
Discretionary awards can be granted annually to selected employees to
reward exemplary performance.
All employee share plans1
All employees
Pension (UK only)2
All employees
Employees can participate in our global Sharesave scheme, subject to
qualifying service, allowing everyone to save monthly and purchase
discounted shares.
Defined benefit plan based on career average salary plus 20% cash
supplement paid for salaries above the cap or to employees who are tax
limited and have opted out of the pension scheme.
1. Sharesave or similar schemes are provided where local social security laws allow.
2. Other pension arrangements, aligned to local practice and legislation are available in many of our locations.
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Directors’ Report Corporate governance continued
Remuneration Report continued
Employee participation in employee share schemes
The Committee believes in wider employee share ownership and promotes this through the operation of a number of all-employee share
schemes. Workforce participation in these plans has remained consistently strong and is driven by our culture of employees feeling a strong
loyalty to the business. We were proud that this performance was recognised at the 2020 ProShare Awards, where Croda were joint winners in
the Best Overall Performance in Fostering Employee Share Ownership (501 – 5,000 employees) category.
%
3
8
%
3
8
%
3
8
%
4
8
%
7
5
%
7
5
%
9
5
%
1
6
%
5
8
%
3
6
90%
80%
70%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
UK
Overseas
Croda’s continued strong share price performance has led to the all-employee share schemes being a strong benefit for employees. The 2017
Sharesave Scheme which was granted in September 2017 at a share price of 3092p could be exercised from November 2020. The price of
Croda shares on 2 November 2020 was 6096p, meaning employees could have made a potential return of c.97% on their savings. For example,
an employee saving £50 a month would have made a profit in excess of £1,700.
Sharing success across the business
In order to share success more broadly and extend share ownership more widely across our employee base, Croda is proud to be launching the
“Ten Share Plan” in 2021. Under this new plan, all employees globally who are not eligible for the senior annual Bonus Plan will be gifted up to 10
Croda shares (or cash equivalent) if the senior annual Bonus Plan pays out.
The “Ten Share Plan” was developed in response to findings from the Global Reward survey undertaken in 2020 and aligns to our
‘One Croda’ culture.
CEO Pay Ratio
The table below sets out the ratio of the CEO’s ‘single figure’ total remuneration to the 25th, 50th and 75th percentile full-time equivalent total
remuneration of the Company’s UK employees. The pay ratios are calculated on a Group-wide basis by reference to UK employees only.
Under the regulations, there are three methodologies that companies can choose to report their pay ratio, known as Option A, B and C. For
2020 we have chosen to continue to use the Government’s preferred option, Option A. Using this methodology, we have determined the
full-time equivalent total remuneration for all UK employees and have ranked this data to identify employees whose remuneration places them at
25th, 50th and 75th percentile. The pay ratios are then calculated by comparing total remuneration for these three employees against our CEO
‘single figure’ total remuneration.
FY 2020
FY 2019*
FY 2018**
Methodology
A
A
C
25th Percentile
49:1
57:1
85:1
50th Percentile
37:1
44:1
67:1
75th Percentile
31:1
37:1
57:1
1. Calculations for the workforce exclude severance pay, notice pay, SIP repayments, fractional share payments, SAR payments and relocation expenses.
2. The calculations for the workforce exclude the value of the defined benefit pension plan due to the difficulty of calculating these figures for our complex historical
pension arrangements.
3. Excludes Non-Executive Directors, contractors and employees who left during the relevant year.
4. New starters, part-time employees and employees on long-term sick and maternity are included; their salary has been amended to reflect a full-time and full-year salary.
* The ratio for 2019 has been restated to reflect the updated CEO ‘single figure’ total remuneration for 2019. This was due to the 2019 PSP award being updated to reflect
the actual share price at vesting.
** The CEO Pay Ratio for 2018 was calculated using Option C, which enabled us to calculate, on an indicative basis, the total remuneration packages of three individual UK
employees at the 25th, 50th and 75th percentile. Option C was used in 2018 because the full administrative process to enable us to calculate the equivalent total
remuneration for UK employees was not in place.
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The CEO Pay Ratio is calculated based on the total remuneration payable to the CEO, which could include payments under the senior annual
Bonus Plan and PSP. The outcomes of these elements are directly linked to performance, with the value of the PSP also incorporating share
price growth. It is therefore expected that the ratios will fluctuate year-on-year to reflect Croda’s performance. In respect of the 2020 figures, the
ratios represent a reduction in PSP payout in comparison to prior year. In 2019, PSP payout was 56.24% of maximum potential compared to
40% in 2020, which has resulted in an decrease in the pay ratio.
Employee total remuneration
75th percentile
50th percentile
25th percentile
Actual base salary 2020
£46,951
Total remuneration 2020
£50,125
£39,078
£27,317
£42,252
£31,869
We believe that our CEO pay ratio is consistent with our pay, reward and progression policies.
Living Wage
We were pleased to announce in 2018 that we gained accreditation in
the UK as a Living Wage Employer from the Living Wage Foundation.
In 2021, we will continue to ensure that all our UK employees and
regular contractors are paid at, or above, the rates advised by the
Living Wage Foundation.
In addition, the business continues to pursue its Global Living Wage
target, one of our sustainability KPIs linked to the UN SDGs, and has
forged a partnership with the Fair Wage Network (FWN) to establish,
using an independent and economically rigorous methodology, Living
Wage levels across the world. We are now in the process of
comparing our global wage levels to Living Wage comparators
provided by the FWN. Once the assessment is complete, any
necessary adjustments will be made to ensure we meet our goal that
all our employees will be paid a Living Wage by end of 2022.
More than just pay
Our employees and our culture remain central to the continued
success of Croda. As outlined on page 78, Croda has been resilient
in its response to COVID-19 and during the pandemic the wellbeing
and safety of our employees was a key priority. In response we
co-ordinated a number of key initiatives, including:
• We issued regular global and regional announcements and
webcasts providing information and reassuring messages.
• We hosted regional and global web-based calls to answer
questions and communicate with employees.
• We conducted various pulse surveys globally to test how we were
managing the crisis and to gauge employee opinions and morale.
• We ran several online training courses specifically aimed at the
management of health and safety, including mental health during
the pandemic.
• We sought to support employee’s wellbeing through the crisis by
setting up mental health and mindfulness programmes.
N E T W O R K
In addition, we continue to enhance our range of other workforce
initiatives, including:
• We further developed our People Dashboard, which provides senior
management with data relating to a range of people topics, by
introducing wellbeing activity content and additional demographics
data such as gender balance by grade and region.
• We published new Flexible Working guidance, which aims to
encourage the use of flexible working arrangements where the
needs of the business and the servicing of internal and external
customer demands can be effectively balanced with employee’s
wishes. Specifically, this policy covers home working, flexible start
and finish times, and implementing a ‘dress for your day’ policy.
• We introduced a new UK car scheme, focused on encouraging the
use of electric vehicles and open to all employees.
• We launched a pilot online Recognition Programme – Croda Stars
– which was positively received by employees. Consideration is
being given to rolling out more broadly across the organisation.
• We launched an internal Diversity & Inclusion site, to inform all
employees at Croda about the Group’s commitment to a Diverse
and Inclusive business, as well as giving insights and the tools to
help drive awareness, understanding and competence. This
included the launch of 40 training modules, webinar sessions with
key speakers and a series of podcasts featuring a cross-section of
Croda’s leadership.
• We are proud of the training and development that we provide for
employees. In 2020 our employees undertook over 85,000
hours of training.
Croda International Plc
Annual Report and Accounts 2020
87
Directors’ Report Corporate governance continued
Remuneration Report continued
Gender pay gap
The table below shows a summary of the Gender Pay Gap for UK employees of Croda Europe Ltd:
Mean pay gap
Median pay gap
Mean bonus gap
Median bonus gap
2018
27.68%
23.10%
63.05%
33.26%
2019
27.06%
23.90%
67.08%
33.36%
2020
18.72%
19.22%
64.36%
0%*
* The senior annual Bonus Plan and Croda Europe Discretionary Bonus Scheme did not pay out for 2019 (payable in 2020). A small number of employees received sales
bonus but the median bonus for both female and male employees was zero giving a median bonus gap of 0%.
We are confident that our gender pay gap is not an equal pay issue
but is a result of a lack of female representation across our business at
senior levels and particularly in production roles which represent the
bulk of the workforce between the 25th and 75th percentile.
Addressing this issue will require a long-term approach but we have
already begun work to increase the number of females working in
production and in senior positions.
Remuneration Committee year ended 31 December 2020
Responsibilities
The Committee determines and agrees with the Board the Company’s
Remuneration Policy and framework. It determines the remuneration
packages for all Executive Directors, members of the Executive
Committee, including the Company Secretary, and the Chair of the
Board and recommends and monitors the level and structure of
remuneration for senior managers.
In the last two years we have increased the number of women in
leadership positions by 19%. In our most senior grade we have
increased the number of women by 67%. We are pleased to report
that we have 41 women working as process operators across 13 of
our global sites.
Key responsibilities of the Committee:
Detailed responsibilities are set out in the Committee’s terms of
reference, which can be found at croda.com/en-gb/investors/
governance/board-committees/remuneration-committee.
Actions taken to address the gender pay gap include:
A summary is provided below:
• Ensuring we have a balanced shortlist for all positions that we are
recruiting for; we have a target of achieving balanced shortlists for
80% of roles by 2023
• Further improving our talent and succession planning processes to
help identify and nurture talent early in their career
• Finding ways to reduce shift work (especially night work) and to
examine the feasibility of part-time and job share arrangements in
our production facilities
• Changing the way we advertise production roles to ensure we
reach a diverse population
• Improving family-friendly policies including flexible working, parental
leave and other benefits; in 2019 we introduced a new Global
Parental Leave Policy and in 2020 we launched new Flexible
Working guidance
• Continuing to invest in our STEM activities to encourage a wide
range of applicants to apply for roles in our business.
More information is available on the Croda website.
Diversity & Inclusion
As a business with innovation at its heart, diversity of thought and
ideas is critical to our long-term success and we are committed to
encouraging and promoting diversity within our organisation. We are
progressing towards being able to report on broader pay gaps,
including our Ethnicity Pay Gap, and despite the challenges, we will
begin to collect this data in 2021.
• Determine and agree with the Board the framework or broad policy
for the remuneration of the Company’s Chair, the Group Chief
Executive, the Executive Directors, the Company Secretary and
other members of senior management
• In determining such policy, take into account factors which it
deems necessary, including relevant legal and regulatory
requirements, the provisions and recommendations of the UK
Corporate Governance Code and associated guidance
• Review workforce remuneration and related policies and the
alignment of incentives and rewards with culture, taking these into
account when setting remuneration policy for Directors
• Feedback to the Board on workforce reward, incentives and
conditions in support of the Board’s monitoring of whether the
workforce policies and practices of the Company are aligned with
its purpose, values and strategy
• Review the ongoing appropriateness and relevance of the
Remuneration Policy
• Establish the selection criteria, select, appoint and set the terms of
reference for any remuneration consultants who advise the
Committee and obtain reliable, up-to-date information about
remuneration in other companies
• Oversee any major changes in employee benefits structures
throughout the Group.
The Company’s remuneration policies and practices should:
• Support the Company’s strategy and promote long-term
sustainable success
• Ensure that the senior management of the Company are provided
with appropriate incentives to encourage enhanced performance
and are, in a fair and responsible manner, rewarded for their
individual contributions to the success of the Company.
88
Croda International Plc
Annual Report and Accounts 2020
Summary of key decisions for 2020
• Considering and agreeing the proposed new Remuneration Policy
• Vesting of 2017 PSP awards; the EPS target representing 40% of the award vested at 40.6%, the TSR target representing 40% of the
award vested at 100%, the NPP target representing 20% of the award was not met therefore the overall award vesting was at 56.24%
• Granting of the 2020 PSP awards based on 35% EPS, 35% TSR and 30% sustainability metrics, including NPP
• Granting of new Restricted Share Plan awards to a small number of selected employees below the Executive Committee
• Establishing the senior annual Bonus Plan and PSP targets for 2020
• The salary of the CEO and Group Finance Director to be increased by 1% effective 1 January 2021, in line with the UK workforce
• The fee of the Chair to also be increased by 1% effective from 1 January 2021.
Summary of Remuneration Committee meetings
January 2020
• Approved Chief Executive and Executive Committee salary increases for 2020
• Approved Chair fee increase for 2020
• Reviewed the draft Directors’ Remuneration Report, including new Remuneration Policy
February 2020
• Reviewed the draft Directors’ Remuneration Report, including new Remuneration Policy
• Approved the calculation for 2019 senior annual Bonus Plan award for payment in March 2020
• Approved the vesting outcome for the 2017 PSP awards
• Approved the senior annual Bonus Plan targets for 2020
• Approved the granting of the Restricted Share Plan awards
• Reviewed the update on ABI headroom limits as they apply to the business
• Reviewed share ownership guidelines
• Reviewed the Committee’s Terms of Reference
April 2020
• Reviewed shareholder feedback on Directors’ Remuneration Report and Policy
• Approved PSP targets for 2020 and the granting of PSP awards to Executive Directors for 2020
• Gave authority for UK employees to join the UK Sharesave scheme and non-UK employees to join the
International Sharesave scheme
• Agreed dividend enhancement to the Deferred Bonus Share Plan
• Approved updated International Sharesave Plan rules
November 2020
• Reviewed forecast outcomes for 2020
• Considered and reviewed remuneration trends
• Discussed remuneration approach for 2021
• Reviewed workforce remuneration
• Agreed dividend enhancement to the Deferred Bonus Share Plan
• Gave authority for the execution of actions in relation to the 2017 Sharesave maturity
December 2020
• Reviewed initial draft of the Chair’s letter for inclusion in the Directors’ Remuneration Report
• Reviewed proposed targets for the 2021 senior annual Bonus Plan and PSP award
• Approved salary increases for Chief Executive and Executive Committee
• Considered the Committee’s effectiveness review
Croda International Plc
Annual Report and Accounts 2020
89
Directors’ Report Corporate governance continued
Remuneration Report continued
Executive Directors’ remuneration for the year ending 31 December 2021
Key component
Implementation in 2021
Basic salary
Executive Directors’ base salaries were reviewed during the final quarter of the financial year ended 31 December 2020. Salaries for 2021 are as
follows:
Steve Foots
Jez Maiden
Commentary
Salary at Jan 2021 Salary at Jan 2020 Increase
£682,340 £675,584 1%
£470,579 £465,920 1%
• The Committee considered each individual’s progression in their role as
• The Committee also considered the wider pay levels and salary
well as their responsibilities, performance, skills and experience.
increases being proposed across the Group as a whole. UK-based
employees will be awarded an increase of 1% in 2021.
Other benefits
• Other benefits such as company cars or car allowances, fuel allowance and health benefits are made available to Executive Directors.
Performance
related senior
annual Bonus
Plan
Performance
share plan
Steve Foots 150% of salary
Jez Maiden 125% of salary
The targets for the awards are set out below:
Level of award
Threshold
Maximum
Bonusable Profit*
% of bonus payable
Equivalent to 2020 actual
2020 actual plus 10%
0%
100%
* Bonusable Profit is the growth in underlying profitability (defined for bonus purposes as Group EBITDA for continuing operations before exceptional
items and any charges or credits under IFRS 2 share-based payments) less a notional interest charge on working capital employed during the year.
Target is measured after providing for the cost of bonuses on a constant currency basis.
Commentary
• No change to maximum award levels or performance measures from
• The Committee remains comfortable that the structure of the senior
last year.
• When determining bonus outcomes, the Committee applies the
Discretion Framework which includes a range of factors, see page 83.
• One third of any bonus paid will be deferred into shares for a
three-year period.
• Malus and clawback provisions apply.
• Full retrospective disclosure of targets and actual performance against
these will be made in next year’s Annual Report on Remuneration.
annual Bonus Plan does not encourage inappropriate risk-taking and
that the mandatory deferral of one third of bonus into shares provides
clear alignment with shareholders and fosters a longer-term link
between annual performance and reward.
• The Committee considers the targets set for 2021 to be at least
as demanding as in previous years and were set after taking due
account of the Company’s commercial circumstances and
inflationary expectations.
Steve Foots 225% of salary
Jez Maiden 175% of salary
The targets for the awards are set out below:
Performance measure (weighting)
EPS1 (35%)
TSR2 (35%)
Threshold vesting
Maximum vesting
5% p.a.
Median
11% p.a.
Upper quartile
Sustainability metrics (30%)
• NPP (15%) – NPP sales to grow at twice the rate of non-NPP, subject to overall positive Group
profit growth and a minimum average of 3% NPP growth per year, with payments being made on
a sliding scale up to 5% growth per year.
• ‘Climate Positive’ (7.5%) – a reduction target specifically aimed at Scope 1 emissions and aligned with our
external commitment to achieve a Science Based Target (SBT) in line with a 1.5°C pathway. Over the
three-year PSP performance period the target is a 12.6% reduction (average of 4.2% per year) compared to
verified emissions3 in 2020 with any award paid in defined ranges between:
- a reduction of 12.6% and above award of 7.5% (maximum)
- a reduction of 6.2% and below no award (0%).
• ‘Land Positive’ (7.5%) – our key target for 2030 is that we will save more land than we use.
For the three-year PSP performance period we have set annual targets for Land Area saved, with a
target in 2023 of 56,750 ha of additional land saved over that in the 2019 baseline year with any award paid
in defined ranges between:
- 56,750 ha or above award of 7.5% (maximum)
- below 35,600 ha no award (0%).
An EVA underpin applies across the whole PSP award, requiring an improvement in EVA over the three-year performance period. In circumstances
where the underpin is not achieved, the Committee would reduce or cancel any vesting of awards. The Committee retains the right to apply discretion
to restrict the impact of the underpin in exceptional circumstances, for example material increases to tax rates or to the cost of capital or a major
acquisition which had a significant effect on the Group’s EVA.
1. EPS growth p.a. is calculated on a simple average basis over the three-year period and therefore growth of 33% or more over three years is
required for maximum vesting.
2. TSR peer group constituents: AzkoNobel, Albermarle, Ashland, BASF, Clariant, Koninklijke DSM, Eastman Chemicals, Elementis, Evonik
Industries, Givaudan, Johnson Matthey, Kemira, Lanxess, Novozymes, Solvay, Symrise, Synthomer, Victrex.
3. Emissions in 2020 have been independently verified by Avieco.
Commentary
• No changes to maximum award levels from last year.
• Re-balancing of sustainability metrics, with NPP and sustainability
targets, now equally weighted at 15% of the total PSP.
• Sustainability targets aligned to key 2030 sustainability ambitions.
• Performance period 01 January 2021 to 31 December 2023.
• When assessing outcomes, the Committee applies the Discretion
Framework which considers, for example, the management of ROIC,
health and safety and sales growth and may adjust awards if it
considers appropriate.
• An additional two-year holding period will apply for any shares vesting.
• Malus and clawback provisions apply.
Pension
Steve Foots
Jez Maiden
• 20% of salary as pension supplement.
Commentary
• The 20% pension supplement aligns to our UK workforce.
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Annual Report and Accounts 2020
D. Directors’ remuneration for the year ended 31 December 2020 (audited information)
In this section
1. Directors’ remuneration for the year ended 31 December 2020
2. Pension
3. Payment for cessation of office
4. Payments to past directors
5. Share interests
6. Performance graph
7. Ten-year remuneration figures for Group Chief Executive
8. Board Chair and other Non-Executive Directors’ fees 2020
and 2021
9. Non-Executive Directors’ remuneration
10. Service contracts and outside interests
11. Remuneration Committee attendance and advisers
12. Other disclosures
13. Statement of voting
1. Directors’ remuneration for the year ended 31 December 2020
Elements of remuneration
Executive Directors’ remuneration
Executive Director
Steve Foots
Jez Maiden
Salaries and fees1
Benefits2
Pension supplement3
Pension4
Total fixed pay
Annual bonus
Long-term incentives5A-B
Other6
Total variable pay
Single total figure of remuneration
2020
£675,584
£33,642
£130,992
£7,500
£847,718
–
£698,600
£3,119
£701,719
£1,549,437
2019
£662,337
£33,476
£156,209
£2,620
£854,642
–
£835,445
£3,155
£838,600
£1,693,242
2020
£465,920
£20,117
£93,184
–
£579,221
–
£361,349
£1,830
£363,179
£942,400
2019
£456,784
£19,667
£114,196
–
£590,647
–
£432,118
£4,051
£436,169
£1,026,816
1. Steve Foots’ salary before salary sacrifice pension contributions of £1,650.
2. Benefits include benefit-in-kind for company car or cash allowance, benefit-in-kind for private medical insurance and private fuel allowance.
3. This represents the 20% of salary supplement for 2020 and 25% of salary for 2019. For Steve Foots the supplement was only in relation to benefits provided above the
salary pension cap.
4. For defined benefit pensions the amount included is the additional value accrued during the year, calculated using HMRC’s methodology for the purposes of income tax
using a multiplier of 20. This methodology can result in year-on-year fluctuations due to underlying inflation inputs. For 2020, the calculation methodology has been
amended to align the revaluation rate that is applied to value Steve Foots’ Croda Pension Scheme benefits to the inflation rate that is allowed for within the calculation of
the disclosable benefit. This reduces the level of volatility in the calculated figure from year to year.
5. A. The PSP awards granted in March 2018 reached the end of their performance period on 31 December 2020. The awards will vest at 40% (see page 92). The values
included in the table above are based on the three-month average price to 31 December 2020 of 6259.3p. Of these values, £184,190 and £95,272 is attributable to share
price growth for Steve Foots and Jez Maiden, respectively. These values will be updated in next year’s Annual Report based on the share price at vesting which will take
place on 15 March 2021.
B. The 2019 PSP award has been updated to reflect the actual share price at vesting of 4259p. Of these values, £133,251 and £68,922 is attributable to share price
growth for Steve Foots and Jez Maiden, respectively.
6. Represents the value received in the year from participation in all-employee share schemes. Steve Foots and Jez Maiden received 33 and 34 matching shares respectively
as part of the Share Incentive Plan (SIP) with a transaction value of £1,775 and £1,830. Steve Foots also participated in the 2020 Sharesave scheme and was granted 112
shares at a discounted rate of 4804p. The share price on the date of grant was 6004p representing a 20% discount.
Annual bonus
The annual bonus for Executive Directors in 2020 was calculated by reference to the amount by which the profit for the year exceeded the profit
for 2019 (the ‘Bonusable Profit’). Bonuses for 2020 are payable against a graduated scale once the Bonusable Profit exceeds the base profit
with bonus targets set, and performance measured, based on constant currency actual exchange rates.
Executive Director
Bonusable Profit
Threshold target
£369.3m
Maximum target
£406.2m
Actual
£365.0m
Bonus outcome
(% of maximum)
0%
While not applicable for 2020, the Remuneration Committee has discretion to reduce (including to zero) the amount of any payment under the
scheme if it considers the safety, health or environment (SHE) performance is in serious non-compliance with the Croda SHE policy statement,
document of minimum standards. In addition, the Committee can also reduce any payment (including to zero) if it considers the underlying
business performance of the Company is not sufficient to support the payment of any bonus. The Committee also applies the Discretion
Framework, a rigorous framework for the application of judgement and discretion, when reviewing awards (see page 83).
Croda International Plc
Annual Report and Accounts 2020
91
Directors’ Report
Corporate governance continued
Remuneration Report continued
PSP
PSP awards vesting in March 2021
The PSP awards granted in March 2018 reached the end of their three-year performance period on 31 December 2020.
Measure
Relative TSR versus bespoke peer group1
Weighting
40%
Adjusted annual average EPS growth over
three years2
NPP
40%
Threshold
Median
(50th percentile)
5% p.a.
Maximum
Upper quartile
(75th percentile)
11% p.a.
20% Target vesting for NPP sales growth to
be at least twice non-NPP sales,
subject to a minimum average of 5%
growth per year and overall positive
Group profit growth.
Actual performance
84.2 percentile
Out-turn (% of max
element)
100%
-0.65% p.a.
Not met
0%
0%
Total out-turn
40%
1. TSR peer group constituents: AkzoNobel, Albemarle, Arkema, Ashland, BASF, Clariant, Koninklijke DSM, Eastman Chemicals, Elementis, Evonik Industries, Givaudan,
Johnson Matthey, Kemira, Lanxess, Novozymes, Solvay, Symrise, Synthomer, Victrex.
2. EPS growth p.a. is calculated on a simple average basis over the three-year period; and therefore growth of 33% or more over three years is required for
maximum vesting.
As well as considering the EPS, TSR and NPP targets, under the rules of the PSP, the Remuneration Committee is obliged to consider the
underlying performance of the Company over the performance period, which it did using the Discretion Framework on page 83. On review, the
Committee considered the outcome of the PSP consistent with overall Company performance over the three-year performance period.
The forecast vesting value of the awards made in March 2018, subject to the above performance targets, is included in the 2020 single figure
table on page 91. Any shares vesting will be subject to a two-year holding period.
Gains made on exercise of share options and PSP
The gains are calculated according to the market price of Croda International Plc ordinary shares on the date of exercise, although the shares
may have been retained.
Executive Director
Steve Foots
Jez Maiden
Exercise date
09-Mar-20
09-Mar-20
08 Nov-19
04 Mar-19
04 Mar-19
09-Mar-20
09-Mar-20
08 Nov-19
04 Mar-19
04 Mar-19
Shares exercised
19,616
7,593
204
41,284
6,855
10,146
4,187
341
21,354
3,799
Scheme
PSP
DBSP
Sharesave
PSP
DBSP
PSP
DBSP
Sharesave
PSP
DBSP
Exercise price
0
0
2639p
0
0
0
0
2639p
0
0
Market price
4259p
4259p
4814p
5055.9p
5055.9p
4259p
4259p
4814p
5055.9p
5055.9p
Gain (before tax)
£835,445
£323,386
£4,437
£2,087,278
£346,582
£432,118
£178,324
£7,417
£1,079,637
£191,062
PSP awards granted in 2020
The PSP awards granted on 29 April 2020 were as follows:
Executive Director
Steve Foots
Jez Maiden
Number of PSP
shares awarded
31,533
16,914
Basis of award granted
(% of salary)
225%
175%
Face/maximum value of
awards at grant date1
1,520,048
815,339
% of award vesting at
threshold (maximum)
25% (100%)
25% (100%)
Performance period
01.01.20 – 31.12.22
01.01.20 – 31.12.22
1. Face value/maximum value is calculated based on a shares price of 4820.5p, being the average mid-market share price of the three dealing days prior to the date of grant.
The 2020 PSP awards are subject to a performance condition which is split into three parts; 35% EPS, 35% TSR, and 30% sustainability
metrics, including NPP. Performance targets were disclosed in full last year, see page 90 of our Annual Report and Accounts 2019. Vesting will
take place on a sliding scale. An EVA underpin applies across the entire award, as detailed on page 90.
Any shares vesting will be subject to a two-year holding period.
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Annual Report and Accounts 2020
All employee share plans
Executive Directors are invited to participate in the HMRC tax-approved UK Sharesave scheme and the Croda Share Incentive Plan (SIP) in line
with, and on the same terms as, the wider UK workforce.
SIP
Details of shares purchased and awarded to Executive Directors under the SIP are shown in the table below. A brief description of the SIP is set
out in note 23 on page 152.
Executive Director
Steve Foots
Jez Maiden
SIP shares held
01.01.20
5,728
355
Partnership shares
acquired in year
33
34
Matching shares
awarded in year
33
34
Total shares
31.12.20*
5,794
429
SIP shares that
became unrestricted in
the year
59
3
Total unrestricted
SIP shares held at
31.12.20
5,462
4
There have been no changes in the interests of any Director between 31 December 2020 and the date of this report, except for the purchase of five SIP shares and five
matching shares by Steve Foots and four SIP shares and four matching shares by Jez Maiden during January and February 2021.
* Jez Maiden also had six additional shares acquired through the Dividend Reinvestment Plan.
Sharesave
Details of awards made under the UK Sharesave scheme are set out below:
Date of grant
Steve Foots
13 September 2017
27 September 2018
12 September 2019
10 September 2020
Jez Maiden
27 September 2018
12 September 2019
Earliest
exercise date
Expiry date
Face value*
01 November 2020
01 November 2021
01 November 2022
01 November 2023
30 April 2021
30 April 2022
30 April 2023
30 April 2024
£6,725
£8,960
£6,723
£6,724
Exercise
price
3092p
4144p
3898p
4804p
01 November 2021
01 November 2022
30 April 2022
30 April 2023
£11,238
£11,206
4144p
3898p
Number at
01.01.20
(10.609756p
shares)
Granted in
year
Exercised in
the year
Number at
31.12.20
(10.609756p
shares)
174
173
138
–
485
217
230
447
–
–
–
112
112
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
174
173
138
112
597
217
230
447
During 2020, the highest mid-market price of the Company’s shares was 6564p and the lowest was 3963p. The year-end closing price was 6596p. The year-end
mid-market price was 6505.25p.
* Face value is calculated using the market value on the day before the date of grant, multiplied by the number of shares awarded.
Croda International Plc
Annual Report and Accounts 2020
93
Directors’ Report Corporate governance continued
Remuneration Report continued
2. Pension
The pension rights that accrued during the year in line with the policy on such benefits as set out in the Policy Report were as follows:
Executive Director
Steve Foots
Jez Maiden
Normal retirement
date under the CPS
14 September 2033
N/A
Accrued
pension 2020
£128,719
–
Single remuneration
figure 2020
£138,492
£93,184
Single remuneration
figure 2019
£158,829
£114,196
Single remuneration figures
excluding supplement
£7,500
–
Note: Members of the CPS have the option to pay voluntary contributions. Neither the contributions nor the resulting benefits are included in this table. During 2020, Steve
Foots was paid £130,992 (2019: £156,209) and Jez Maiden was paid £93,184 (2019: £114,196) in addition to their basic salary to enable them to make independent
provision for their retirement.
Croda has a number of different pension plans in the countries in which we operate. Pension entitlements for Executive Directors are tailored to
local market practice, length of service and the participant’s age. In 2016, a Career Average Revalued Earnings (CARE) scheme was introduced
with a cap applied to pension benefits; at this time the cap was set at £65,000. The cap is increased each year in line with inflation, and from
April 2021 will be £70,772. Employees who earn in excess of the pension cap or who cannot be members of the plan due to tax limitations
receive a pension supplement. For Executive Directors this supplement is up to 20% of salary in line with the wider UK workforce.
Steve Foots’ pension provision
Steve Foots accrues pension benefits under the Croda Pension Scheme (CPS) with a CARE accrual rate of 1/60th and an entitlement to retire at
age 60. From 6 April 2011 onwards, pension benefits accruing are based on a capped salary. This cap was £187,500 until April 2014 at which
point it reduced to £150,000, and due to annual allowance regulations and changes to the pension scheme, reduced to £37,500 in April 2016
(reduced from the scheme cap of £65,650 due to annual allowance regulations) and reduced again in April 2020 to £15,000 following new
Annual Allowance regulations. If Steve Foots retires before the age of 60, a reduction will be applied to the element of his pension accrued before
6 April 2006, unless he is retiring at the Company’s request. In the event of death, a pension equal to two thirds of the Director’s pension would
become payable to the surviving spouse. Steve Foots’ pension in payment is guaranteed to increase in line with the rate of inflation up to a
maximum of 10% per annum for benefits accrued before 6 April 2006, and in line with inflation up to a maximum of 2.5% per annum for benefits
accrued from 6 April 2006 onwards.
Steve Foots is entitled to death-in-service benefits from the CPS. He also received a pension supplement at 20% of salary above his personal
pension benefit cap in 2020 in line with the wider UK workforce.
Steve Foots has elected to opt out of CARE from 2021 and will therefore only receive a pension supplement of 20% of salary.
Jez Maiden’s pension provision
Jez Maiden has elected not to join CARE and was therefore paid a pension supplement of 20% of salary in 2020. He has an agreement with
the Company to provide him with death-in-service benefits outside of the CPS.
3. Payments for cessation of office
There were no payments for loss of office during the year under review.
4. Payments to past directors
There were no payments to past directors during the year under review.
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Croda International Plc
Annual Report and Accounts 2020
5. Share interests
The interests of the Directors who held office at 31 December 2020 are set out in the table below:
Legally owned1
SIP
31.12.19
31.12.20
PSP
(unvested)
DBSP
(unvested)2
Sharesave
(unvested)
Restricted Unrestricted
Total
31.12.20
% of salary
held under
shareholding
guideline3
176,760
27,167
163,912
27,167
86,930
45,568
8,077
4,639
423
447
332
425
5,432
4
265,106
78,250
>225% target
>175% target
0
2,357
76
9,425
361
80,400
0
0
0
76
9,425
361
80,314
2,000
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
652
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
0
0
76
9,425
361
80,966
2,000
–
–
–
–
–
–
Executive Director
Steve Foots
Jez Maiden
Non-Executive
Director
Roberto Cirillo
Alan Ferguson*
Jacqui Ferguson
Anita Frew
Helena Ganczakowski
Keith Layden
John Ramsay**
* Alan Ferguson retired 23 April 2020.
** John Ramsay appointed 1 January 2020, holding on appointment Nil.
1. Including connected persons.
2. Represents DBSP awards and, for Keith Layden, in respect of his 2017 bonus, a deferred share award equivalent to a DBSP award.
3. For 2020, the shareholding guidelines for the Chief Executive Officer and Group Finance Director increased to 225% and 175% of salary, respectively
Post-employment shareholding guidelines also apply for two years after leaving employment. These are set at 100% of the in-employment
guideline for the first year after leaving employment, tapering to 0% by the end of year two. This policy applies to shares from awards that vest in
2020 and beyond. During 2021 the Committee will be formalising the structures in place to allow it to monitor and enforce the post-employment
shareholding requirement.
6. Performance graph (unaudited information)
n
r
u
t
e
R
l
r
e
d
o
h
e
r
a
h
S
l
a
t
o
T
)
d
e
s
a
b
e
R
(
600
500
400
300
200
100
0
Dec 2010
Dec 2011
Dec 2012
Dec 2013
Dec 2014
Dec 2015
Dec 2016
Dec 2017
Dec 2018
Dec 2019
Dec 2020
Croda International
FTSE 100
FTSE 250
FTSE 350
7. Ten-year remuneration figures for Group Chief Executive (unaudited information)
The total remuneration figure includes the annual bonus and long-term incentive awards which vested based on performance in those years. The
annual bonus and long-term incentive award percentages show the payout for each year as a percentage of the maximum.
2011*
2012**
2013**
2014**
2015**
2016**
2017**
2018**
2019**1
2020**
Total
remuneration
(£)
Annual bonus
(%)
Long-term
incentives
vesting (%)
4,142,608 1,364,048 1,427,156
769,414 1,374,046 2,404,441 3,570,251 3,311,700 1,693,242 1,549,437
100%
28%
0%
0%
76.38%
100%
78.36%
36.19%
0%
0%
100%
100%
81.8%
0%
0%
43%
100%
100%
56.2%
40%
* Relates to Mike Humphrey.
** Relates to Steve Foots.
1. The 2019 total remuneration figure has been updated to reflect the value of the 2019 PSP award at vesting.
Croda International Plc
Annual Report and Accounts 2020
95
Directors’ Report
Corporate governance continued
Remuneration Report continued
8. Board Chair and other Non-Executive Directors’ fees 2020 and 2021
(unaudited information)
The fees paid to the Non-Executive Directors (including chairing of Committees) and to the Senior Independent Director were reviewed in
December 2020 and increased by 1%. These changes took effect from 1 January 2021. The revised fee structure for the Board Chair and other
Non-Executive Directors for 2021 is detailed below.
Position
Board Chair (all inclusive fee)
Non-Executive Director base fee
Additional fees
Senior Independent Director
Committee Chairs (Audit and Remuneration)
2020 fee
£
300,900
63,240
10,506
15,300
2021 fee
£
303,909
63,872
10,611
15,453
9. Non-Executive Directors’ remuneration
The remuneration of Non-Executive Directors for the year ended 31 December 2020 payable by Group companies is detailed below, this table
reflects actual payments in 2020.
Anita Frew
Alan Ferguson2
Helena Ganczakowski4
Jacqui Ferguson
Roberto Cirillo
Keith Layden
John Ramsay3,4
Steve Williams5
Non-Executive
Director fees
£
300,900
295,000
28,084
87,300
85,789
77,000
63,240
62,000
63,240
62,000
63,240
62,000
73,793
–
–
20,667
2020
2019
2020
2019
2020
2019
2020
2019
2020
2019
2020
2019
2020
2019
2020
2019
Benefits1
£
–
5,546
–
3,004
–
4,805
–
2,455
–
5,845
–
861
–
–
–
2,787
Total
£
300,900
300,546
28,084
90,304
85,789
81,805
63,240
64,455
63,240
67,845
63,240
62,861
73,793
–
–
23,454
1. The benefits relate to Directors undertaking business travel on behalf of Croda and ensuring the Directors are not out of pocket for related tax.
2. Alan Ferguson retired on 23 April 2020. His fees were pro-rated accordingly.
3. John Ramsay was appointed to the Board on 1 January 2020.
4. Following Alan Ferguson’s retirement, Helena Ganczakowski was appointed as the Senior Independent Director and John Ramsay was appointed as the Chair of the Audit
Committee. Their fees were pro-rated accordingly.
5. Steve Williams retired 24 April 2019.
96
Croda International Plc
Annual Report and Accounts 2020
Non-Executive Directors appointment
The effective dates of the letters of appointment for the Board Chair and each Non-Executive Director who served during 2020, are shown in
the table below:
Non-Executive Director
Anita Frew
Roberto Cirillo
Alan Ferguson1
Jacqui Ferguson
Helena Ganczakowski
Keith Layden
John Ramsay
Original appointment date
05 March 2015
26 April 2018
01 July 2011
01 September 2018
01 February 2014
01 May 2017
01 January 2020
Expiry date of current term
05 March 2022
26 April 2024
30 June 2020
01 September 2021
31 January 2022
01 May 2023
01 January 2023
1. Alan Ferguson retired on 23 April 2020.
10. Service contracts and outside interests (unaudited information)
The Executive Directors have service contracts as follows:
Executive Director
Steve Foots
Jez Maiden
Contract date
16 September 2010
09 October 2014
Termination provision
by the Company 12 months, by the Director 6 months
by the Company 12 months, by the Director 6 months
External directorships
Executive Directors are permitted to accept external appointments with the prior approval of the Board. It is normal practice for Executive
Directors to retain fees provided for Non-Executive Director roles. Jez Maiden was appointed as a Non-Executive Director of PZ Cussons on 16
October 2016. He stepped down from this role on 31 May 2020 and received a fee of £26,291 for his services in 2020.
11. Remuneration Committee attendance and advisers (unaudited information)
The following Directors served as members of the Committee during 2020:
• Helena Ganczakowski (Chair)
• Alan Ferguson (Retired 23 April 2020)
• Roberto Cirillo
• Jacqui Ferguson
• John Ramsay (From 01 January 2020)
See page 63 for details of attendance at meetings during the year.
In addition, the Committee invites individuals to attend meetings to ensure that decisions are informed and take account of pay and conditions in
the wider Group. During 2020, invitees included other Directors and employees of the Group and the Committee’s advisers (see below),
including Anita Frew (Company Chair), Steve Foots (Group Chief Executive), Jez Maiden (Group Finance Director), Keith Layden (Non-Executive
Director), Tracy Sheedy (Group HR Director), Tom Brophy (Group General Counsel and Company Secretary) and Caroline Farbridge (Deputy
Company Secretary).
Attendees at Committee meetings are excluded from discussions that determine their own remuneration.
Remuneration Committee advisers (unaudited information)
Deloitte LLP were retained as the appointed adviser to the Committee for the whole of 2020 having been appointed in October 2017, following a
tender and selection process led by the Chair and including Committee members. As well as providing advice in relation to Executive
remuneration and Non-Executive fees Deloitte LLP also provide advice to the Group in relation to global employer services, global business tax
services, indirect tax and M&A. Deloitte LLP is a signatory to the Remuneration Consultants Group Code of Conduct. The lead engagement
partner has no other connection with the Company or individual Directors. The total fees paid to Deloitte LLP for its services during the year in
relation to Executive remuneration and Non-Executive fees were £72,485 (excluding VAT). The Committee regularly reviews the external
adviser’s relationship and is comfortable that the advice it is receiving remains objective and independent.
Croda International Plc
Annual Report and Accounts 2020
97
Directors’ Report Corporate governance continued
Remuneration Report continued
12. Other disclosures (unaudited information)
Percentage change in remuneration levels
The following chart shows the movement in salary/fees, benefits and annual bonus for each of the Group’s Directors between the current and
previous financial year compared with that of the average employee of the Group’s parent Company. The movement for the average UK
employee is also provided for additional reference given the small number of employees employed by the Group parent Company.
Average employee of the Group’s parent Company3
Average UK employee4
Executive Directors
Steve Foots
Jez Maiden
Non-Executive Directors
Anita Frew
Roberto Cirillo
Alan Ferguson5
Jacqui Ferguson
Helena Ganczakowski6
Keith Layden
John Ramsay6,7
% change in salary / fees1
3.66%
3.43%
% change in benefits2
-0.06%
-3.27%
% change in bonus3
0.00%
27.96%
2.00%
2.00%
2.00%
2.00%
-67.83%
2.00%
11.41%
2.00%
–
0.50%
2.29%
-100.00%
-100.00%
-100.00%
-100.00%
-100.00%
-100.00%
–
0.00%
0.00%
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
1. Employees of the Group’s parent company and UK employees received a 2% pay increase in 2020, in line with both Executive Directors and Non-Executive Directors.
The % increase above this represents individual employee salary reviews, promotions and new hires.
2. The benefits for Non-Executive Directors relate to the undertaking of business travel on behalf of Croda and ensuring the Directors are not out of pocket for related tax. No
taxable business travel expenses were claimed by Non-Executive Directors in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
3. The senior annual Bonus Plan and Croda Europe Discretionary Bonus Scheme did not pay out for 2019 or 2020. This percentage represents a small increase in the
amount of sales bonus received by a small number of employees.
4. Excluding Executive Directors and Non-Executive Directors.
5. Alan Ferguson retired on 23 April 2020.
6. Following Alan Ferguson’s retirement, Helena Ganczakowski was appointed as the Senior Independent Director and John Ramsay was appointed as the Chair of the
Audit Committee. Their fees were pro-rated accordingly.
7. John Ramsay was appointed to the Board on 1 January 2020 and therefore has no comparable remuneration figures for 2019.
98
Croda International Plc
Annual Report and Accounts 2020
Relative importance of the spend on pay
The chart below shows the movement in spend on staff costs versus that in dividends and adjusted profit after tax.
Employee
remuneration
cost1
Dividends2
Adjusted profit
after tax3
+6.9%
2020
2019
+6.0%
-4.8%
0
£m
290
1. Employee remuneration costs, as stated in the notes to the Group accounts on page 133. These comprise all amounts charged against profit in respect of
employee remuneration for the relevant financial year, less redundancy costs and share-based payments, both of which can vary significantly from year to year.
2. Dividends are the amounts payable in respect of the relevant financial year.
3. Adjusted profit after tax is profit for the relevant year adjusted for exceptional items, acquisition costs, amortisation of intangible assets arising on acquisition and
the tax thereon.
13. Statement of voting (unaudited information)
Votes cast in favour
Votes cast against
Total votes cast
Withheld
Remuneration Policy 2020 AGM
Annual Report on Remuneration 2020 AGM
number of votes
97,230,580
2,445,834
99,676,414
152,926
% of votes
97.55%
2.45%
100%
number of votes
96,844,492
2,833,300
99,677,792
151,550
% of votes
97.16%
2.84%
100%
I will be available at the shareholder engagement event to respond to any questions shareholders may raise on the Committee’s activities.
On behalf of the Board
Helena Ganczakowski
Chair of the Remuneration Committee
1 March 2021
Croda International Plc
Annual Report and Accounts 2020
99
Directors’ Report Corporate governance continued
Remuneration Report continued
E. Summary of the Remuneration Policy
An updated Remuneration Policy was presented and approved by shareholders at the 2020 AGM. It is intended that this will operate until the
AGM in 2023. The full Remuneration Policy can be found on pages 77 to 83 of our Annual Report & Accounts 2019.
Main components of the Remuneration Policy
Operation
Maximum opportunity
Framework used to assess performance
and for the recovery of sums paid
Basic salary – to assist in the recruitment and retention of high-calibre Executives
• The Committee considers individual salaries taking due account of
the relevant factors set out in this Policy, which includes individual
performance.
Normally reviewed annually with increases effective
from 1 January. Base salaries will be set by the
Committee, considering:
• The performance and experience of the individual
concerned
• Any change in scope, role and/or responsibilities
• Pay and employment conditions elsewhere in the
Group
• Rates of inflation and market-wide wage increases
across international locations
• The geographical location of the Executive Director
• Rates of pay in international manufacturing and
pan-sector companies of a comparable size
and complexity.
• Salaries may be increased each year
in percentage of salary terms.
• The Committee will be guided by the
salary increase budget set in each
region and across the workforce
generally.
• Increases beyond those linked to the
region of the Executive Director or the
workforce as a whole (in percentage
of salary terms) may be awarded by
the Committee at its discretion. For
example, where there is a change in
responsibility, experience or a
significant increase in the scale of the
role and/or size, value or complexity of
the Group.
• The Committee retains the flexibility to
set the salary of a new hire at a
discount to the market level initially,
and to implement a series of planned
increases in subsequent years, in
order to bring the salary to the desired
positioning, subject to individual
performance.
Benefits – to provide competitive benefits to act as a retention mechanism and reward service
The Group typically provides the following benefits:
• The cost of benefits is not pre-
None.
determined and may vary from year to
year based on the cost to the Group.
• Company car (or cash allowance)
• Private fuel allowance
• Private health insurance and other insured benefits
• Other ancillary benefits, including relocation
expenses/arrangements (including tax thereon)
as required.
Additional benefits might be provided from time to time
(for example in circumstances where an Executive
Director is deployed to, or recruited from overseas).
The Committee will consider whether the payment of
any additional benefits is appropriate and proportionate
when determining whether they are paid.
Performance-related annual bonus – to incentivise and reward delivery of the Group’s key annual objectives and to contribute
to longer-term alignment with shareholders
Normally one third of any bonus paid is compulsorily
deferred into shares for three years through the
Deferred Bonus Share Plan (DBSP).
The Committee has the discretion to permit DBSP
awards to benefit from dividends on shares that vest.
The balance of the bonus is paid in cash.
Group Chief Executive: 150% of salary.
• Bonus will typically be based on challenging financial targets set in
Other Executive Director: 125% of salary.
line with the Group’s KPIs (for example profit growth targets).
• The Committee has the flexibility to include, for a minority of the
bonus, targets related to other Group measures where this is
considered appropriate.
• For a profit measure, bonus normally starts to accrue once the
threshold target is met (0% payable) rising on a graduated scale to
100% for outperformance. Were an additional KPI metric to be
introduced, the threshold would not exceed 25%.
• The Committee applies a Discretion Framework, which includes
health, safety and environmental performance when determining
the actual overall level of individual bonus payments and it may
adjust the bonus awards if it considers it appropriate to do so.
• Bonuses paid are subject to provisions that enable the Committee to
recover value overpaid through the withholding of variable pay
previously earned or granted (malus) or through requesting a
payment from an individual (clawback) in the event of a misstatement
of results, serious misconduct, serious reputational damage or
material corporate failure. The provisions will operate for a three-year
period following the date on which the bonus is paid.
100
Croda International Plc
Annual Report and Accounts 2020
Operation
Maximum opportunity
Framework used to assess performance
and for the recovery of sums paid
Performance Share Plan (PSP) – to incentivise and reward the execution of business strategy over the longer term and to
reward sustained growth in profit and shareholder value
The PSP provides for awards of free shares (i.e., either
conditional shares or nil-cost options) normally made
annually which vest after three years subject to
continued service and the achievement of challenging
performance conditions. Shares are subject to a
two-year post-vesting holding period.
The Committee has the discretion to permit awards to
benefit from the dividends paid on shares that vest.
Normal maximum opportunity of:
• Group Chief Executive: 225% of salary
• Other Executive Director: 175%
of salary.
In exceptional circumstances (eg
recruitment), awards may be granted up
to 300% of salary to compensate for
value forfeited from a previous employer.
• Granted subject to a blend of challenging financial (eg EPS),
shareholder return (eg relative TSR) and strategic targets (eg
sustainability). The performance targets may also include an
additional underpin (eg an EVA underpin).
• Targets will normally be tested over three years.
• In relation to financial targets (eg EPS growth and TSR) 25% of
awards subject to such targets will vest for threshold performance
with a graduated scale operating through to full vesting for
equalling, or exceeding, the maximum performance targets (no
awards vest for performance below threshold). In relation to
strategic targets or underpin targets, the structure of the target will
vary based on the nature of target set (eg for milestone strategic
targets it may not always be practicable to set such targets using a
graduated scale and so vesting may take place in full for strategic
targets if the criteria are met in full).
• Vesting is also dependent on application of the Discretion
Framework, including satisfactory underlying financial
performance of the Group over the performance period and the
Committee may adjust outcomes if it considers it appropriate
to do so.
• There are also provisions that enable the Committee to recover
value overpaid through the withholding of variable pay previously
earned or granted (malus) or through requesting a payment from an
individual (clawback) in the event of a misstatement of results,
serious misconduct, serious reputational damage or material
corporate failure. The provisions will operate for a three-year period
following the date on which the PSP awards vest.
All-employee share plans – to encourage retention and long-term shareholding in the Company and to provide all employees
with the opportunity to become shareholders in the Company on similar terms
• Periodic invitations are made to participate
• In relation to HMRC plans (or
• There are no post-grant targets currently applicable to the Group’s
equivalent) the maximum participation
level is as per HMRC limits. For any
other all-employee plan the maximum
will be equivalent to the maximum
applying to all employees.
Sharesave and Share Incentive Plan.
in the Group’s Sharesave scheme and Share
Incentive Plan.
• Shares acquired through these arrangements have
significant tax benefits in the UK subject to satisfying
certain HMRC requirements.
• The plans can only operate on an all-employee
basis.
• The plans operate on similar terms but on a non
tax-favoured basis outside the UK as appropriate.
• In the event that Croda were to introduce an
all-employee plan similar in nature to the current
Sharesave and Share Incentive Plan, the Committee
retains the discretion to allow Executive Directors to
participate on the same basis as other employees.
Pension – to provide competitive long-term retirement benefits and to act as a retention mechanism and reward service
Pension benefits are typically provided either through (i)
participation in the UK’s defined benefit pension plan
with a cash supplement provided above any pension
salary cap or (ii) a cash supplement provided in lieu
of pension.
• Career average revalued earnings
scheme (CARE) with a maximum
1/60th accrual up to a capped salary
plus cash allowance of 20% of salary
above the cap or cash allowance of
20% of salary.
None.
Only basic salary is pensionable.
Legacy arrangements
For the current CEO, and in line with other employees, there is a legacy capped defined benefit pension scheme. While there are no future accruals, the arrangement
remains inflation-linked.
Croda International Plc
Annual Report and Accounts 2020
101
Directors’ Report Directors’ Report
Other Disclosures
Pages 50 to 105 inclusive, together with the
sections of the Annual Report and Accounts
incorporated by reference, constitute a
Directors’ Report that has been drawn up and
presented in accordance with applicable
English company law; the liabilities of the
Directors in connection with that report are
subject to the limitations and restrictions
provided by that law.
Research and development
Research and development activities are
undertaken with the prospect of gaining
new scientific or technical knowledge
and understanding.
Dividends
The Directors are recommending a final
dividend of 51.5p per share (2019: 50.5p).
If approved by shareholders, total dividends
for the year will amount to 91p per share
(2019: 90p). Details of dividends are shown
in note 8 on page 132; details of the
Company’s Dividend Reinvestment Plan can
be found on page 165. The Company has
established various Employee Benefit Trusts
(EBTs) in connection with the obligation to
satisfy future share awards under employee
share incentive schemes. The trustees of
the EBTs have waived their rights to receive
dividends on certain Ordinary Shares of the
Company held in the EBTs. Such waivers
represent less than 1% of the total dividend
payable on the Company’s Ordinary Shares.
Further details of the EBTs can be found in
note 25 on page 153.
Directors
The Company’s Articles of Association
(Articles) give the Directors power to appoint
and replace Directors. Under the terms of
reference of the Nomination Committee, any
appointment must be recommended by the
Nomination Committee for approval by the
Board of Directors. The present Directors of
the Company are shown on pages 54 and 55.
In line with the 2018 UK Corporate
Governance Code, each Director will
be standing for re-election at the AGM.
Details of the Directors’ service contracts are
given in the Directors’ Remuneration Report
on page 97.
Apart from the share option schemes, long
term incentive schemes and service
contracts, no Director had any beneficial
interest in any contract to which the Company
or a subsidiary was a party during the year. A
statement indicating the beneficial and
non-beneficial interests of the Directors in the
share capital of the Company, including share
options, is shown in the Directors’
Remuneration Report on page 95.
The Directors are responsible for managing
the business of the Company and may
exercise all the powers of the Company
subject to the provisions of relevant statutes,
the Company’s Memorandum and Articles
and any directions given by special resolution.
Directors’ indemnities
The Company maintains Directors’ and
Officers’ liability insurance that gives
appropriate cover for any legal action
brought against its Directors. The Company
has also granted indemnities to each of its
Directors and the Company Secretary,
which represent ‘qualifying third party
indemnity provisions’ (as defined by Section
234 of the Companies Act 2006), in relation
to certain losses and liabilities that the
Directors or Company Secretary may incur
to third parties in the course of acting as
Directors or the Company Secretary or as
employees of the Company or of any
associated company. In addition, such
indemnities have been granted to other
officers of the Company who are Directors
of subsidiary companies within the Group.
Such indemnities were in place during 2020
and at the date of approval of the Group
financial statements.
Share capital
At the date of this Report, 142,536,884
Ordinary Shares of 10.609756p each have
been issued and are fully paid up and quoted
on the London Stock Exchange. At the date
of this Report, the Company has issued and
fully paid up 21,900 7.5% Cumulative
Preference Shares, 498,434 6.6% Cumulative
Preference Shares and 615,562 5.9%
Cumulative Preference Shares, all of £1 each
(the Preference Shares). The rights and
obligations attached to the Company’s
Ordinary Shares and Preference Shares are
set out in the Articles, copies of which can be
obtained from Companies House in the UK or
by writing to the Company Secretary. There
are no restrictions on the voting rights
attached to the Company’s Ordinary Shares
or on the transfer of securities in the
Company. The 7.5% Cumulative Preference
Shares do not confer on the holders any right
to receive notice of or to be present or to vote
at any general meeting of the Company
unless the cumulative preferential dividend on
such shares is more than 12 calendar months
in arrears. The 6.6% and 5.9% Cumulative
Preference Shares do not confer on the
holders any right to receive notice of or to be
present or to vote at any general meeting of
the Company, unless the cumulative
preferential dividend on such shares is more
than six calendar months in arrears or the
business of the general meeting includes the
consideration of a resolution for reducing the
share capital of the Company, to sell the
undertaking of the Company or to alter the
Articles. No person holds securities in the
Company that carry special rights with regard
to control of the Company. The Company is
not aware of any agreements between
holders of securities that may result in
restrictions on the transfer of securities or on
voting rights.
Power to issue or buy back shares
At the 2020 AGM, authority was given to the
Directors to allot unissued shares in the
Company up to a maximum amount
equivalent to approximately one third of the
issued share capital, excluding shares held in
treasury, for general purposes, plus up to a
further one third of the Company’s issued
share capital, excluding shares held in
treasury, but only in the case of a rights issue.
102 Croda International Plc
Annual Report and Accounts 2020
Development and learning: The Company
recognises that the key to future success lies
in the skills and abilities of its dedicated global
workforce. The continuous development of all
of our employees is key to meeting the future
demands of our customers, especially in
relation to enhanced creativity, innovation and
customer service. During 2020, close to
100% of our employees received training.
This included training on home working and
mental health.
Involvement: We are committed to ensuring
that employees share in the success of the
Group. Owning shares in the Company is an
important way of strengthening involvement
in the development of the Business and
bringing together employees and
shareholders’ interests. In 2020, 85% of our
UK employees and 63% of our non-UK
employees participated in one of our
all-employee share plans, indicating
employees’ continued desire to be involved
in the Company.
Employees are kept informed of matters of
interest to them in a variety of ways, including
the Company magazine, Croda Way;
quarterly updates; the Company intranet,
Connect; team briefings, podcasts, webinars,
Yammer and Croda Now email messages.
These communications help achieve a
common awareness of the financial and
economic factors affecting the performance
of Croda and of changes within the Business.
We are committed to providing employees
with opportunities to share their views and
provide feedback on issues that are important
to them. In 2020 we conducted 11 surveys to
gain vital feedback on employee views across
the global organisation during the pandemic.
A further special resolution passed at that
meeting granted authority to the Directors to
allot equity securities in the Company for
cash, without regard to the pre-emption
provisions of the Companies Act 2006. Both
of these authorities expire on the date of the
2021 AGM, that is 21 May 2021, and so
the Directors propose to renew them for a
further year.
On 18 November 2020, the Company
raised gross proceeds of £627m new equity
to part-fund the acquisition of Iberchem.
10,630,003 new Ordinary Shares were
admitted to trading on 20 November 2020
following the placing and retail offer at a
price of 5900 pence. The new shares are
fully paid and rank pari passu in all respects
with each other and with the existing
Ordinary Shares in the capital of Company.
Following the admission, the total number
of Ordinary Shares in issue in Croda is
139,518,681 (excluding shares held
in treasury).
Employees
Diversity: We are committed to the principle of
equal opportunity in employment and to
ensuring that no applicant or employee
receives less favourable treatment on the
grounds of any protected characteristic or is
disadvantaged by conditions or requirements
that cannot be shown to be justified. Group
human resources policies are clearly
communicated to all of our employees and
are available through the Company intranet.
Recruitment and progression: It is
established policy throughout the Business
that decisions on recruitment, career
development, promotion and other
employment related issues are made solely
on the grounds of individual ability,
achievement, expertise and conduct.
We give full and fair consideration to
applications for employment from people with
disabilities, having regard to their particular
aptitudes and abilities. Should an employee
become disabled during their employment
with the Company, they are fully supported by
our Occupational Health provision. Efforts
are made to continue their employment with
reasonable adjustments being made to the
workplace and role where feasible. Retraining
is provided if necessary.
Other disclosures
Certain information that is required to be
included in the Directors’ Report can be
found elsewhere in this document as referred
to below, each of which is incorporated by
reference into the Directors’ Report:
• Information on greenhouse gas emissions
can be found on page 32.
• Information on energy consumption can be
found on page 32.
• Information on energy efficiency can be
found on page 32.
• Information on gas emissions, energy
consumption and energy efficiency - other
disclosures can be found on page 32.
• An indication of likely future developments
in the Group’s business can be found in
the Strategic Report, starting on page one.
• An indication of the Company’s overseas
branches are on pages 162 to 164.
There have been no events affecting the
Company since the financial year end to
report to shareholders in accordance with the
Accounts Regulations and Disclosure
Guidance and Transparency Rules.
For the purposes of Listing Rule (LR) 9.8.4R,
the information required to be disclosed by
LR 9.8.4R can be found on the following
pages of this Annual Report and Accounts as
detailed in the table on page 104.
All the information cross referenced above
is incorporated by reference into the
Directors’ Report.
References in this document to other
documents on the Company’s website, such
as the Sustainability Report, are included as
an aid to their location and are not
incorporated by reference into any section of
the Annual Report and Accounts.
Independent auditors
Our auditors, KPMG, have indicated their
willingness to continue in office and, on the
recommendation of the Audit Committee, a
resolution regarding their reappointment and
remuneration will be submitted to the AGM
on 21 May 2021.
Croda International Plc
Annual Report and Accounts 2020
103
Directors’ Report Directors’ Report continued
Audit information
The Directors confirm that, so far as they are
aware, there is no relevant audit information
of which the Company’s auditors are
unaware, and that they have each taken all
the steps they ought to have taken as a
Director in order to make themselves aware
of any relevant audit information and to
establish that the Company’s auditors are
aware of that information.
Articles of Association
Unless expressly specified to the contrary in
the Articles, the Company’s Articles may be
amended by a special resolution of the
Company’s shareholders.
It is proposed that the Company adopt new
articles of association (the “New Articles”) to
update the Company’s current articles of
association (the “Existing Articles”), which
were last amended in 2013. The proposed
updates reflect developments in market
practice and legal and regulatory
requirements, provide additional flexibility
and clarify certain aspects of the operation
of the Existing Articles where necessary
or appropriate.
The principal changes to the Company’s
Existing Articles are summarised in the Notice
of the AGM to be held on 21 May 2021.
A copy of the New Articles and a copy
of the Existing Articles marked up to show
all proposed changes is available at
www.croda.com/agm.
Significant contracts and
change of control
The Group has borrowing facilities which may
require the immediate repayment of all
outstanding loans together with accrued
interest in the event of a change of control.
The rules of the Company’s employee share
plans set out the consequences of a change
in control of the Company on participants’
rights under the plans. Generally, such rights
will vest and become exercisable on a change
of control subject to the satisfaction
of performance conditions. None of the
Executive Directors’ service contracts
contains provisions that are affected by a
change of control and there are no other
agreements that the Company is party to that
take effect, alter or terminate in the event of a
change of control of the Company, which are
considered to be significant in terms of their
potential impact on the Group. The Company
does not have any contractual or other
arrangements that are essential to the
business of the Group.
Political donations
No donations were made for political
purposes during the year (2019: £nil).
Financial risk management
The Group’s exposure to and management of
capital, liquidity, credit, interest rate and
foreign currency risks are contained in note
20 on pages 147 to 148.
Listing Rule (LR) 9.8.4R information
Section
Topic
(1)
(2)
(3)
(4)
(5) (6)
(7) (8)
(9)
(10)
Capitalised interest
Publication of unaudited financial information
Smaller related party transactions
Waiver of emoluments by a Director
Allotments of equity securities for cash
Participation in a placing of equity securities
Contracts of significance
(11) (14)
Controlling shareholder disclosures
(12) (13)
Dividend waiver
104 Croda International Plc
Annual Report and Accounts 2020
Capitalised interest
The Group’s policy for capitalising borrowing
costs directly attributable to the purchase
or construction of fixed assets is set out
on page 126.
Page reference
Page 104
Not applicable
Not applicable
Not applicable
Page 103
Not applicable
Page 104
Not applicable
Page 102
Details of long term incentive schemes established specifically to recruit or retain a Director
Not applicable
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.
prepared in accordance with international
accounting standards in conformity with
the requirements of the Companies Act
2006 and International Financial Reporting
Standards adopted pursuant to Regulation
(EC) No 1606/2002 as it applies in the
European Union;
Directors’ Remuneration Report and
Corporate Governance Statement
that complies with that law and
those 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 international
accounting standards in conformity with
the requirements of the Companies Act
2006 and applicable law and have
elected to prepare the parent Company
financial statements in accordance with
UK accounting standards and applicable
law, including FRS 101 Reduced
Disclosure Framework. In addition, the
Group financial statements are required
under the UK Disclosure Guidance and
Transparency Rules to be prepared in
accordance with International Financial
Reporting Standards adopted pursuant
to Regulation (EC) No 1606/2002 as it
applies in the European Union.
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
the Group’s 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, relevant and reliable;
• for the Group financial statements,
state whether they have been
• 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;
• assess the Group and parent Company’s
ability to continue as a going concern,
disclosing, as applicable, matters related
to going concern; and
• use the going concern basis of accounting
unless they either intend to liquidate the
Group or the parent Company or to cease
operations, or have no realistic alternative
but to do so.
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
are responsible for such internal control as
they determine is necessary to enable the
preparation of financial statements that are
free from material misstatement, whether due
to fraud or error, and 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,
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.
Responsibility statement of the
directors in respect of the annual
financial report
We confirm that to the best of our
knowledge:
• the financial statements, prepared in
accordance with the applicable set of
accounting standards, 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; and
• the strategic report includes a fair
review of the development and
performance of the business and the
position of the issuer and the
undertakings included in the
consolidation taken as a whole,
together with a description of the
principal risks and uncertainties that
they face.
We consider the annual report and
accounts, taken as a whole, is fair,
balanced and understandable and
provides the information necessary for
shareholders to assess the group’s
position and performance, business
model and strategy.
The Directors’ Report and the Strategic
Report, including the sections of the Annual
Report and Accounts incorporated by
reference, is the ‘management report’ for the
purposes of the Financial Conduct Authority
Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rules
(DTR 4.1.8R). It was approved by the Board on
1 March 2021 and is signed on its behalf by
Tom Brophy
Group General Counsel and
Company Secretary
1 March 2021
Croda International Plc
Annual Report and Accounts 2020
105
Directors’ Report Financial statements
Independent Auditor’s Report to the Members of Croda International Plc
1. Our opinion is unmodified
We have audited the financial statements of Croda International Plc
(“the Company”) for the year ended 31 December 2020 which
comprise the Group Income Statement, the Group Statement of
Comprehensive Income, the Group and Company Balance Sheets, the
Group Statement of Cash Flows, the Group and Company Statements
of Changes in Equity, and the related notes, including the accounting
policies on pages 121 to 127 and on page 157.
Overview
Materiality: Group financial
statements as a whole
Coverage
£15m (2019: £15m)
5.0% (2019: 4.8%) of normalised
Group profit before tax
77% (2019: 79%) of the total of the
profits and losses that made up
Group profit before tax
Key audit matters
Event driven
vs 2019
New: Identification and
valuation of intangible assets
acquired in business
combinations
Recurring risks
Valuation of defined benefit
pension scheme obligation
Goodwill impairment
Recoverability of parent
Company’s intercompany
receivables
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
31 December 2020 and of the Group’s profit for the year
then ended;
• the Group financial statements have been properly prepared
in accordance with international accounting standards in conformity
with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 and International
Financial Reporting Standards adopted pursuant to Regulation (EC)
No 1606/2002 as it applies in the European Union;
• the parent Company financial statements have been properly
prepared in accordance with UK accounting standards,
including FRS 101 Reduced Disclosure Framework; 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 to the extent
applicable.
Basis for opinion
We conducted our audit in accordance with International Standards on
Auditing (UK) (“ISAs (UK)”) and applicable law.
Our responsibilities are described below. We believe that the
audit evidence we have obtained is a sufficient and appropriate basis
for our opinion. Our audit opinion is consistent with our report to the
Audit Committee.
We were first appointed as auditor by the shareholders on 25 April
2018. The period of total uninterrupted engagement is for the three
financial years ended 31 December 2020. We have fulfilled our ethical
responsibilities under, and we remain independent of the Group in
accordance with, UK ethical requirements including the FRC Ethical
Standard as applied to listed public interest entities. No non-audit
services prohibited by that standard were provided.
106 Croda International Plc
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Annual Report and Accounts 2020
2. Key audit matters: our assessment of risks of material misstatement
Key audit matters are those matters that, in our professional judgement, were of most significance in the audit of the financial statements and
include the most significant assessed risks of material misstatement (whether or not due to fraud) identified by us, including those which had the
greatest effect on: the overall audit strategy; the allocation of resources in the audit; and directing the efforts of the engagement team.
We summarise below the key audit matters, in decreasing order of audit significance, in arriving at our audit opinion above, together with our key
audit procedures to address those matters and, as required for public interest entities, our results from those procedures. These matters were
addressed, and our results are based on procedures undertaken, in the context of, and solely for the purpose of, our audit of the financial
statements as a whole, and in forming our opinion thereon, and consequently are incidental to that opinion, and we do not provide a separate
opinion on these matters.
Group
The risk
Our response
Identification of and
valuation of intangible
assets acquired in the
business combinations
(Valuation of intangible
assets acquired of £91.5m
in respect of the Avanti
business combination and
£266.7m in respect of the
Iberchem business
combination)
Refer to page 74 (Audit
Committee Report), page
123 (accounting policy)
and note 28 on pages 153
and 154 (financial
disclosures).
Forecast based assessment:
• On 12 August 2020, the Group
completed the acquisition of Avanti Polar
Lipids LLC (Avanti) and on 24 November
2020, the Group completed the
acquisition of Fragrance Spanish Topco,
S.L. (Iberchem).
Our procedures included:
• Our valuation expertise: we involved our own valuation specialists
to assist us in assessing the appropriateness of the intangible
assets identified, the valuation methodology applied, and to
challenge key assumptions used such as discount rate, royalty
rates, customer growth and attrition rates, and replacement costs.
• Benchmarking assumptions: we evaluated and challenged by
• As a result of the acquisitions, in
comparing to internally and externally derived data.
accordance with IFRS 3 Business
Combinations, the Group has performed
fair value assessments of the identified
acquired intangible assets. The
identification and assessment of fair value
of the intangible assets acquired in each
business combination is dependent on
accurately forecasting the future
performance of the Group on a market
participant basis.
• There was a high degree of subjectivity in
assessing a number of the assumptions
applied by the Group in the discounted
cash flow model used to calculate the
acquisition-date fair value of these assets,
including discount rate, royalty rates,
customer growth and attrition rates, and
replacement costs.
• Historical comparisons: we assessed the accuracy of the
forecasting processes in place for the acquired businesses through
comparison of previous forecasts to actual results and considering
whether the forecasts used are the most appropriate basis upon
which to fair value the acquired intangible assets.
• Sensitivity analysis: we assessed the sensitivity of the fair value of
the intangible assets acquired to changes in certain assumptions.
• Assessing transparency: we considered the adequacy of the
Group’s disclosures in respect of the valuation of acquired
intangible assets.
We performed the tests above rather than seeking to rely on any of
the Group’s controls because the nature of the balance is such that
we would expect to obtain audit evidence primarily through the
detailed procedures described.
Our results
• We found the identification of and valuation of acquired intangible
assets to be acceptable.
Croda International Plc
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Annual Report and Accounts 2020
Annual report and Accounts 2020 107
107
Financial statements
Financial statements continued
Independent Auditor’s Report to the Members of Croda International Plc continued
Group
The risk
Our response
Valuation of defined
benefit pension
scheme obligation
(Gross defined benefit
obligation £1,544.4m;
2019: £1,441.7m)
Refer to page 74 (Audit
Committee Report), page
124 (accounting policy)
and note 11 on pages 134
to 137 (financial
disclosures).
Subjective valuation:
• The Group has three defined benefit pension
schemes that are material in the context of
the overall balance sheet and the results of
the Group.
• Significant estimates, including the discount
rate, the inflation rate and the mortality rate,
are made in valuing the Group’s defined
benefit pension obligations (before deducting
the schemes’ assets). The UK scheme is still
open to future accrual and new members,
and small changes in the assumptions and
estimates with respect to the obligation would
have a significant effect on the financial
position of the Group. The Group engages
external actuarial specialists to assist them in
selecting appropriate assumptions and
calculate the obligations.
• The effect of these matters is that, as part of
our risk assessment, we determined that the
valuation of the defined benefit obligations
has a high degree of estimation uncertainty,
with a potential range of reasonable
outcomes greater than our materiality for the
financial statements as a whole, and possibly
many times that amount. The financial
statements (note 11) disclose the sensitivity
estimated by the Group.
Our procedures included:
• Benchmarking assumptions: we challenged key
assumptions applied (discount rate, inflation rate, and mortality
rate) with the support of our own actuarial specialists, including
a comparison of key assumptions against market data.
• Sensitivity analysis: we assessed the sensitivity of the defined
benefit obligation to changes in certain assumptions.
• Actuary’s credentials: we assessed the competence,
independence and integrity of the Group’s actuarial expert.
• Assessing transparency: we considered adequacy of the
Group’s disclosures in respect of the sensitivity of the net deficit
to changes in key assumptions.
We performed the tests above rather than seeking to rely on any
of the Group’s controls because the nature of the balance is such
that we would expect to obtain audit evidence primarily through
the detailed procedures described.
Our results
• We found the valuation of the defined benefit pension scheme
obligation to be acceptable (2019 result: acceptable).
108 Croda International Plc
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Annual Report and Accounts 2020
Group
The risk
Our response
Goodwill impairment
(Goodwill: £866.7m (2019:
£348.5m), although this
specific risk is only
associated with the Sipo
(£21.3m, 2019: £20.7m)
and Biosector (£26.2m,
2019: £24.9m) Cash
Generating Units).
Forecast based assessment:
• The Group has, over recent years, acquired a
number of companies which has led to a material
increase in the goodwill balance. Some of these
acquisitions, and in particular Biosector, are still at
an early stage of their integration into the Group and
are therefore subject to greater levels of estimation
uncertainty in respect of the underlying impairment
model assumptions.
Refer to page 74 (Audit
Committee Report), page
123 (accounting policy)
and note 12 on pages 138
to 140 (financial
disclosures).
• In addition, the headroom in respect of the
impairment test on Sipo, a historic acquisition and
separate Cash Generating Unit, is relatively small,
and small changes in the assumptions and
estimates applied in the value in use calculations
could impact on management’s conclusions about
the carrying value of goodwill and how this
compares to the recoverable amount.
• The effect of these matters is that, as part of our risk
assessment, we determined that impairment
assessments in respect of the Sipo and Biosector
Cash Generating Units have a high degree of
estimation uncertainty, with a potential range of
reasonable outcomes greater than our materiality for
the financial statements as a whole. The financial
statements (note 12) disclose the sensitivities
estimated by the Group.
Our procedures included:
• Assessing methodology: we obtained the discounted
value in use cash flow models and assessed the
methodology, principles and integrity of each model.
• Our valuation expertise: we involved our own valuation
specialists in respect of the Sipo and Biosector models to
assist us in challenging the appropriateness of the
methodology, key assumptions and cash flow forecasts.
• Benchmark assumptions: we challenged the Group’s
forecast assumptions for cash flow projections, including
the rate of short to medium term growth of sales, the
long-term growth rates and the appropriateness of
discount rates, with reference to internally and externally
derived sources.
• Historical comparisons: we assessed the Group’s
historical forecasting accuracy by comparing forecasts
from prior years with actual results in those years.
• Sensitivity analysis: we performed breakeven analysis
on the key assumptions including the discount rate and
growth rate.
• Assessing transparency: we considered the adequacy
of the Group’s disclosures in respect of impairment
testing and whether disclosures about the sensitivity of
the outcome of the impairment assessment to changes
in key assumptions properly reflect the risks inherent in
the valuations.
We performed the tests above rather than seeking to rely
on any of the Group’s controls because the nature of the
balance is such that we would expect to obtain audit
evidence primarily through the detailed procedures
described.
Our results
• We found the Directors’ conclusion that there is no
impairment of goodwill in the Sipo and Biosector Cash
Generating Units to be acceptable (2019 result:
acceptable).
Croda International Plc
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Annual Report and Accounts 2020
Annual report and Accounts 2020 109
109
Financial statements
Financial statements continued
Independent Auditor’s Report to the Members of Croda International Plc continued
Parent Company
The risk
Our response
Recoverability of
parent Company’s
intercompany
receivables
(£1,452.2m; 2019:
£1,589.6m)
Refer to page 74 (Audit
Committee Report), page
126 (accounting policy)
and note H on page 159
(financial disclosures).
Low risk, high value:
• The carrying amount of the parent Company’s
intercompany receivables, held at cost less
impairment, represents 51% (2019: 72%) of the
parent Company’s total assets.
• We do not consider the recoverable amount of
these receivables to be at a high risk of significant
misstatement, or to be subject to a significant level
of judgement. However, due to their materiality in
the context of the parent Company financial
statements as a whole, this is considered to be the
area which had the greatest effect on our overall
parent Company audit.
Our procedures included:
• Tests of detail: we assessed 100% of Group debtors to
identify, with reference to the relevant debtors’ draft
balance sheet, whether they have a positive net asset
value and therefore coverage of the debt owed, as well
as assessing whether those debtor companies have
historically been profit-making.
• Assessing subsidiary audits: we assessed the work
performed by the subsidiary audit team, and considering
the results of that work, on those net assets, including
assessing the ability of the subsidiary to obtain liquid
funds and therefore the ability of the subsidiary to fund
the repayment of the receivable.
We performed the tests above rather than seeking to rely
on any of the parent Company’s controls because the
nature of the balance meant that detailed testing is
inherently the most effective means of obtaining audit
evidence.
Our results
• We found the Directors’ conclusion that there is no
impairment of the intercompany receivable balance to be
acceptable (2019 result: acceptable).
110 Croda International Plc
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3. Our application of materiality and an overview of the scope of
our audit
Materiality for the Group financial statements as a whole was
set at £15.0m (2019: £15.0m), determined with reference to a
benchmark of normalised Group profit before tax (PBT) of £300.2m
(2019: £311.5m), of which it represents 5.0% (2019: 4.8%).
Normalised Group
profit before tax
£300.2m (2019: Normalised
Group profit before tax
£311.5m)
Group materiality
£15m (2019: £15m)
£15m
Whole financial statements
materiality (2019: £15m)
£11.3m
Whole financial statements
performance materiality (2019: £11.3m)
£8.7m
Range of materiality at 19
components (£0.45m-£8.7m)
(2019: £0.75m to £8.7m)
We normalised PBT by adding back adjustments that do not represent
the normal, continuing operations of the Group and additionally in 2020
by averaging over 3 years. The items we adjusted were exceptional
redundancy costs and the related curtailment gain as disclosed in
notes 3 and 11.
Materiality for the parent Company financial statements as a whole was
set at £8.7m (2019: £8.7m), determined with reference to a benchmark
of parent Company total assets of £2,851.4m (2019: £2,198.5m), of
which it represents 0.3% (2019: 0.4%).
In line with our audit methodology, our procedures on individual
account balances and disclosures were performed to a lower
threshold, performance materiality, so as to reduce to an acceptable
level the risk that individually immaterial misstatements in individual
account balances add up to a material amount across the financial
statements as a whole.
Performance materiality for the Group and the Parent company was
set at 75% (2019: 75%) of materiality for the financial statements as a
whole, which equates to £11.3m (2019: £11.3m) for the Group and
£6.5m (2019: £6.5m) for the Parent company. We applied this
percentage in our determination of performance materiality because we
did not identify any factors indicating an elevated level of risk.
We agreed to report to the Audit Committee any corrected
or uncorrected identified misstatements exceeding £0.75m
(2019: £0.75m) with the exception of reclassification misstatements
greater than or £2.25m (2019: £2.25m) for reclassification
misstatements, in addition to other identified misstatements that
warranted reporting on qualitative grounds.
Of the Group’s 85 (2019: 81) reporting components, we subjected 12
(2019: 9) to full scope audits for Group purposes and 7 (2019: 7) to
specified risk-focused audit procedures. One component (2019: 1) for
which we performed specific risk-focused procedures was not
individually financially significant enough to require a full scope audit for
Group purposes, but did present specific individual risks that needed to
be addressed. The other 6 (2019: 6) components for which we
performed work other than audits for Group reporting purposes were
not individually significant but were included in the scope of our Group
reporting work in order to provide further coverage over the Group’s
results.
The components within the scope of our work accounted for the
percentages illustrated opposite.
Normalised PBT
Group materiality
£0.75m
Misstatements reported to the
Audit Committee (2019: £0.8m)
Group revenue
Total of the profits and
losses that made up
Group profit before tax
78%
(2019 76%)
12 11
65
66
77%
(2019 79%)
79
79
77
Group total assets
1
1
89%
(2019 85%)
84
88
Full scope for Group audit purposes 2020
Specified risk-focused audit procedures 2020
Full scope for Group audit purposes 2019
Specified risk-focused audit procedures 2019
Residual components
Croda International Plc
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Annual Report and Accounts 2020
Annual report and Accounts 2020 111
111
Financial statements
Financial statements continued
Independent Auditor’s Report to the Members of Croda International Plc continued
We also considered less predictable but realistic second order impacts,
such as product quality failures, regulatory incidents and site incidents,
which could result in a rapid reduction of available financial resources.
We considered whether these risks could plausibly affect the liquidity or
covenant compliance in the going concern period by comparing
severe, but plausible downside scenarios that could arise from these
risks individually and collectively against the level of available financial
resources and covenants indicated by the Group’s financial forecasts.
Our procedures also included:
• Critically assessing assumptions in the Directors’ initial downside
scenarios relevant to liquidity and covenant metrics, in particular in
relation to profitability by comparing to historical trends and our
knowledge of the entity and the sector in which it operates.
• Assessing whether downside scenarios applied mutually consistent
assumptions in aggregate, taking into account all reasonably
possible downsides.
• We also compared past budgets to actual results to assess the
Directors’ track record of budgeting accurately.
We considered whether the going concern disclosure on page 121
gives a full and accurate description of the Directors’ assessment of
going concern, including the identified risks and related sensitivities.
Our conclusions based on this work:
• we consider that the Directors’ use of the going concern basis of
accounting in the preparation of the financial statements is
appropriate;
• we have not identified, and concur with the Directors’ assessment
that there is not, a material uncertainty related to events or conditions
that, individually or collectively, may cast significant doubt on the
Group’s or parent Company’s ability to continue as a going concern
for the going concern period;
• we have nothing material to add or draw attention to in relation to the
Directors’ statement on page 121 on the use of the going concern
basis of accounting with no material uncertainties that may cast
significant doubt over the Group and parent Company’s use of that
basis for the going concern period, and we found the going concern
disclosure on page 121 to be acceptable; and
• the same statement is materially consistent with the financial
statements and our audit knowledge.
However, as we cannot predict all future events or conditions and as
subsequent events may result in outcomes that are inconsistent with
judgements that were reasonable at the time they were made, the
above conclusions are not a guarantee that the Group or the parent
Company will continue in operation.
3. Our application of materiality and an overview of the scope
of our audit continued
The remaining 22% (2019: 24%) of total Group revenue, 23% (2019:
21%) of total of the profits and losses that made up the Group profit
before tax and 11% (2019: 15%) of total Group assets is represented
by 66 (2019: 65) reporting components, none of which individually
represented more than 2% (2019: 2%) of any of total Group revenue,
Group profit before tax or total Group assets. For these components,
we performed analysis at an aggregated Group level to re-examine our
assessment that there were no significant risks of material
misstatement within these.
The Group team instructed component auditors as to the significant
areas to be covered, including the relevant risks detailed above and the
information to be reported back. The Group team approved the
component materialities, which ranged from £0.5m to £8.7m (2019:
£0.8m to £8.7m), having regard to the mix of size and risk profile of the
Group across the components. The work on 11 of the 19 components
(2019: 10 of the 16 components) was performed by component
auditors and the rest, including the audit of the parent Company, was
performed by the Group team. The Group team performed procedures
on the items excluded from normalised Group profit before tax.
On account of travel restrictions in place during the performance of the
audit the Group team did not visit the component auditors and instead
senior members of the Group audit team held regular video conference
meetings with all in scope components. These meetings involved
explanation of Group audit instructions, involvement in planning audit
procedures, discussing progress updates and emerging findings,
reviewing outcomes of testing performed and involvement in
discussing audit findings with component management. The Group
audit team reviewed the audit documentation of component audits
through various stages of their audits. The Group team also attended
the component virtual clearance meetings. At these meetings, the
findings reported to the Group team were discussed in more detail,
and any further work required by the Group team was then performed
by the component auditor.
4. Going concern
The Directors have prepared the financial statements on the going
concern basis as they do not intend to liquidate the Group or the
parent Company or to cease their operations, and as they have
concluded that the Group’s and the parent Company’s financial
position means that this is realistic. They have also concluded that
there are no material uncertainties that could have cast significant
doubt over their ability to continue as a going concern for at least
a year from the date of approval of the financial statements
(“the going concern period”).
We used our knowledge of the Group, its industry, and the general
economic environment to identify the inherent risks to its business
model and analysed how those risks might affect the Group’s and
parent Company’s financial resources or ability to continue operations
over the going concern period. The risk that we considered most likely
to adversely affect the Group’s and parent Company’s available
financial resources and/or metrics relevant to debt covenants over this
period was:
• The potential impact on Group revenue of economic uncertainty and
reduced customer confidence.
112 Croda International Plc
112
Croda International Plc
Annual report and Accounts 2020
Annual Report and Accounts 2020
5. Fraud and breaches of laws and regulations – ability to detect
Identifying and responding to risks of material misstatement due
to fraud
To identify risks of material misstatement due to fraud (“fraud risks”) we
assessed events or conditions that could indicate an incentive or
pressure to commit fraud or provide an opportunity to commit fraud.
Our risk assessment procedures included:
• Enquiring of Directors, the Audit Committee, internal audit and
inspection of policy documentation as to the Group’s high-level
policies and procedures to prevent and detect fraud, including the
internal audit function, as well as whether they have knowledge of
any actual, suspected or alleged fraud.
• Reading Board and Audit Committee minutes.
• Considering remuneration incentive schemes (Performance related
annual Bonus Plan and Performance share plan) and performance
targets for management, including the EPS growth target.
• Using our own forensic specialists to assist us in identifying fraud
risks based on discussions of the circumstances of the Group.
We communicated identified fraud risks throughout the audit team and
remained alert to any indications of fraud throughout the audit. This
included communication from the Group audit team to full scope and
specified risk-focused component audit teams of relevant fraud risks
identified at the Group level and request these component audit teams
to report to the Group audit team any instances of fraud that could give
rise to a material misstatement at the Group level.
As required by auditing standards, and taking into account possible
pressures to meet profit targets, we perform procedures to address
the risk of management override of controls and the risk of fraudulent
revenue recognition and the risk that Group and component
management may be in a position to make inappropriate accounting
entries.
We did not identify any additional fraud risks.
We performed procedures including:
• Identifying journal entries to test for all full scope and specified risk-
focused components based on risk criteria and comparing the
identified entries to supporting documentation. These included those
posted by senior finance management or other high-risk users, and
those posted to unusual account combinations.
• Procedures over revenue recognition performed for all full scope and
specified risk-focused components, including testing the operating
effectiveness of manual controls and performing substantive
procedures in respect of in year and post year-end credit notes and
the use of data and analytics to test the matching of revenue to
underlying customer orders and deliveries, with sample testing
performed over outlier populations.
Identifying and responding to risks of material misstatement due
to non-compliance with laws and regulations
We identified areas of laws and regulations that could reasonably be
expected to have a material effect on the financial statements from our
general commercial and sector experience, through discussion with the
Directors and other management (as required by auditing standards),
and from inspection of the Group’s regulatory and legal
correspondence and discussed with the Directors and other
management the policies and procedures regarding compliance with
laws and regulations.
We communicated identified laws and regulations throughout our team
and remained alert to any indications of non-compliance throughout
the audit. This included communication from the Group audit team to
all full scope and specified risk-focused component audit teams of
relevant laws and regulations identified at the Group level, and a
request for these component auditors to report to the Group team any
instances of non-compliance with laws and regulations that could give
rise to a material misstatement at the Group level.
The potential effect of these laws and regulations on the financial
statements varies considerably. Firstly, the Group is subject to laws
and regulations that directly affect the financial statements including
financial reporting legislation (including related companies legislation),
distributable profits legislation, pensions legislation, and taxation
legislation, and we assessed the extent of compliance with these laws
and regulations as part of our procedures on the related financial
statement items.
Secondly, the Group is subject to many other laws and regulations
where the consequences of non-compliance could have a material
effect on amounts or disclosures in the financial statements, for
instance through the imposition of fines or litigation or the loss of the
Group’s licence to operate. We identified the following areas as those
most likely to have such an effect: GDPR compliance, health and safety
and product liability, competition, anti-bribery and corruption,
intellectual property, employment law, tax, export and environmental
legislation, recognising the nature of the Group’s activities. Auditing
standards limit the required audit procedures to identify non-
compliance with these laws and regulations to enquiry of the Directors
and other management and inspection of regulatory and legal
correspondence, if any. Therefore if a breach of operational regulations
is not disclosed to us or evident from relevant correspondence, an
audit will not detect that breach.
We discussed with the Audit Committee environmental matters related
to actual or suspected breaches of laws or regulations, for which
disclosure is not necessary, and considered any implications for our
audit.
Context of the ability of the audit to detect fraud or breaches of
law or regulation
Owing to the inherent limitations of an audit, there is an unavoidable
risk that we may not have detected some material misstatements in the
financial statements, even though we have properly planned and
performed our audit in accordance with auditing standards. For
example, the further removed non-compliance with laws and
regulations is from the events and transactions reflected in the financial
statements, the less likely the inherently limited procedures required by
auditing standards would identify it.
In addition, as with any audit, there remained a higher risk of non-
detection of fraud, as these may involve collusion, forgery, intentional
omissions, misrepresentations, or the override of internal controls. Our
audit procedures are designed to detect material misstatement. We are
not responsible for preventing non-compliance or fraud and cannot be
expected to detect non-compliance with all laws and regulations.
Croda International Plc
Croda International Plc
Annual Report and Accounts 2020
Annual report and Accounts 2020 113
113
Financial statements
Financial statements continued
Independent Auditor’s Report to the Members of Croda International Plc continued
We are also required to review the long-term viability statement, set out
on page 49 under the Listing Rules. Based on the above procedures,
we have concluded that the above disclosures are materially consistent
with the financial statements and our audit knowledge.
Our work is limited to assessing these matters in the context of only the
knowledge acquired during our financial statements audit. As
we cannot predict all future events or conditions and as subsequent
events may result in outcomes that are inconsistent with judgements
that were reasonable at the time they were made, the absence of
anything to report on these statements is not a guarantee as to
the Group’s and parent Company’s longer-term viability.
Corporate governance disclosures
We are required to perform procedures to identify whether there is a
material inconsistency between the Directors’ corporate governance
disclosures and the financial statements and our audit knowledge.
Based on those procedures, we have concluded that each of the
following is materially consistent with the financial statements and our
audit knowledge:
• 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 position and performance,
business model and strategy;
• the section of the Annual Report describing the work of the Audit
Committee, including the significant issues that the Audit Committee
considered in relation to the financial statements, and how these
issues were addressed; and
• the section of the Annual Report that describes the review of the
effectiveness of the Group’s risk management and internal control
systems.
We are required to review the part of Corporate Governance Statement
relating to the Group’s compliance with the provisions of the UK
Corporate Governance Code specified by the Listing Rules for our
review. We have nothing to report in this respect.
6. We have nothing to report on the other information in the
Annual Report
The Directors are responsible for the other information presented in the
Annual Report together with the financial statements. Our opinion on
the financial statements does not cover the other information
and, accordingly, we do not express an audit opinion or, except as
explicitly stated below, any form of assurance conclusion thereon.
Our responsibility is to read the other information and, in doing so,
consider whether, based on our financial statements audit work,
the information therein is materially misstated or inconsistent with
the financial statements or our audit knowledge. Based solely on
that work we have not identified material misstatements in the
other information.
Strategic Report and Directors’ Report
Based solely on our work on the other information:
• we have not identified material misstatements in the Strategic Report
and the Directors’ Report;
• in our opinion the information given in those reports for the financial
year is consistent with the financial statements; and
• in our opinion those reports have been prepared in accordance with
the Companies Act 2006.
Directors’ Remuneration Report
In our opinion the part of the Directors’ Remuneration Report to
be audited has been properly prepared in accordance with the
Companies Act 2006.
Disclosures of emerging and principal risks and longer-term
viability
We are required to perform procedures to identify whether there is a
material inconsistency between the Directors’ disclosures in respect of
emerging and principal risks and the viability statement, and the
financial statements and our audit knowledge.
Based on those procedures, we have nothing material to add or draw
attention to in relation to:
• the Directors’ confirmation within the long-term viability statement on
page 49 that they have carried out a robust assessment of the
emerging and principal risks facing the Group, including those that
would threaten its business model, future performance, solvency
and liquidity;
• the principal risks disclosures describing these risks and how
emerging risks are identified, and explaining how they are being
managed and mitigated; and
• the Directors’ explanation in the long-term viability statement of how
they have assessed the prospects of the Group, over what period
they have done so and why they considered that period to be
appropriate, and their statement as to whether they have a
reasonable expectation that the Group will be able to continue in
operation and meet its liabilities as they fall due over the period of
their assessment, including any related disclosures drawing attention
to any necessary qualifications or assumptions.
114 Croda International Plc
114
Croda International Plc
Annual report and Accounts 2020
Annual Report and Accounts 2020
9. The purpose of our audit work and to whom we owe our
responsibilities
This report is made solely to the Company’s members, as a body,
in accordance with Chapter 3 of Part 16 of the Companies Act 2006
and the terms of our engagement by the Company. Our audit work
has been undertaken so that we might state to the Company’s
members those matters we are required to state to them in an
auditor’s report and the further matters we are required to state to
them in accordance with the terms agreed with the Company, and for
no other purpose. To the fullest extent permitted by law, we do not
accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the Company
and the Company’s members, as a body, for our audit work, for this
report, or for the opinions we have formed.
Chris Hearld (Senior Statutory Auditor)
for and on behalf of KPMG LLP, Statutory Auditor
Chartered Accountants
1 Sovereign Square
Sovereign Street
Leeds
LS1 4DA
1 March 2021
7. We have nothing to report on the other matters on which we
are required to report by exception
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.
We have nothing to report in these respects.
8. Respective responsibilities
Directors’ responsibilities
As explained more fully in their statement set out on page 105,
the Directors are responsible for: the preparation of the financial
statements including being satisfied that they give a true and fair
view; such internal control as they determine is necessary to enable the
preparation of financial statements that are free from material
misstatement, whether due to fraud or error; assessing the Group and
parent Company’s ability to continue as a going concern, disclosing, as
applicable, matters related to going concern; and using the going
concern basis of accounting unless they either intend to liquidate the
Group or the parent Company or to cease operations, or have no
realistic alternative but to do so.
Auditor’s responsibilities
Our objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance about
whether the financial statements as a whole are free from material
misstatement, whether due to fraud or error, and to issue our opinion in
an auditor’s report. Reasonable assurance is a high level of assurance,
but does not guarantee that an audit conducted in accordance with
ISAs (UK) will always detect a material misstatement when it exists.
Misstatements can arise from fraud or error and are considered
material if, individually or in aggregate, they could reasonably be
expected to influence the economic decisions of users taken on the
basis of the financial statements.
A fuller description of our responsibilities is provided on the FRC’s
website at www.frc.org.uk/auditorsresponsibilities.
Croda International Plc
Croda International Plc
Annual Report and Accounts 2020
Annual report and Accounts 2020 115
115
Financial statements
Financial statements continued
Group Consolidated Statements
Group Income Statement
for the year ended 31 December 2020
Revenue
Cost of sales
Gross profit
Operating costs
Operating profit
Financial costs
Financial income
Profit before tax
Tax
Profit after tax for the year
Attributable to:
Non-controlling interests
Owners of the parent
2020
2020
2020
2019
2019
Note
1
2
3
4
4
5
Adjusted
£m
1,390.3
(758.2)
632.1
(312.5)
319.6
(19.5)
0.5
300.6
(72.4)
228.2
Adjustments
£m
–
–
–
(29.6)
(29.6)
(1.5)
–
(31.1)
4.5
(26.6)
Reported
Total
£m
1,390.3
(758.2)
632.1
(342.1)
290.0
(21.0)
0.5
269.5
(67.9)
201.6
–
228.2
228.2
–
(26.6)
(26.6)
–
201.6
201.6
Restated1
Adjusted
£m
1,377.7
(746.5)
631.2
(291.5)
339.7
(18.5)
0.9
322.1
(82.4)
239.7
(0.1)
239.8
239.7
Adjustments
£m
–
–
–
(19.8)
(19.8)
–
–
(19.8)
3.9
(15.9)
–
(15.9)
(15.9)
2019
Restated1
Reported
Total
£m
1,377.7
(746.5)
631.2
(311.3)
319.9
(18.5)
0.9
302.3
(78.5)
223.8
(0.1)
223.9
223.8
Adjustments relate to exceptional items, acquisition costs, amortisation of intangible assets arising on acquisition and the tax thereon. Details are disclosed in note 3.
1. The classification of cost of sales and administrative expenses in the Income Statement has been revised. 2019 comparative operating costs have been increased by £119.0m,
with a corresponding reduction in cost of sales. Details are disclosed on page 122.
Earnings per 10.61p ordinary share
Basic
Diluted
Pence
175.5
175.3
7
7
Pence
Pence
155.1
154.8
185.0
184.6
Group Statement of Comprehensive Income
for the year ended 31 December 2020
Note
11
5
Profit after tax for the year
Other comprehensive income/(expense):
Items that will not be reclassified
subsequently to profit or loss:
Remeasurements of post-retirement
benefit obligations
Tax on items that will not be reclassified
Items that may be reclassified
subsequently to profit or loss:
Currency translation
Other comprehensive income/(expense)
for the year
Total comprehensive income for the year
Attributable to:
Non-controlling interests
Owners of the parent
Arising from:
Continuing operations
2020
£m
201.6
51.3
(9.7)
41.6
(15.0)
26.6
228.2
0.1
228.1
228.2
228.2
228.2
Pence
172.8
172.4
2019
£m
223.8
(56.5)
8.4
(48.1)
(34.7)
(82.8)
141.0
(0.5)
141.5
141.0
141.0
141.0
116
Croda International Plc
Annual Report and Accounts 2020
Croda International Plc
Annual report and Accounts 2020 116
Croda International Plc
Annual Report and Accounts 2020
117
Financial statements Croda InternationalPlcAnnual report and Accounts 2020117 Group Balance Sheet at 31 December 2020 Note 2020 £m2019 £mAssets Non-current assets Intangible assets 12 1,311.7445.3Property, plant and equipment 13 900.8805.2Right of use assets 14 80.146.2Investments 16 5.24.7Deferred tax assets 6 14.511.8Retirement benefit assets 11 17.610.2 2,329.91,323.4Current assets Inventories 17 302.6268.9Trade and other receivables 18 289.9216.8Cash and cash equivalents 20 106.581.9 699.0567.6Liabilities Current liabilities Trade and other payables 19 (240.5)(163.9)Borrowings and other financial liabilities 20 (49.1)(109.5)Lease liabilities 14 (10.7)(7.8)Provisions 21 (6.7)(10.9)Current tax liabilities (38.4)(44.3) (345.4)(336.4)Net current assets 353.6231.2Non-current liabilities Borrowings and other financial liabilities 20 (776.2)(476.6)Lease liabilities 14 (71.0)(35.7)Other payables 19 (27.1)(0.8)Retirement benefit liabilities 11 (49.9)(85.2)Provisions 21 (3.9)(5.3)Deferred tax liabilities 6 (160.3)(82.4) (1,088.4)(686.0)Net assets 1,595.1868.6 Equity Ordinary share capital 22 15.114.0Preference share capital 24 1.11.1Share capital 16.215.1Share premium account 707.793.3Reserves 861.9753.2Equity attributable to owners of the parent 1,585.8861.6Non-controlling interests in equity 26 9.37.0Total equity 1,595.1868.6The financial statements on pages 116 to 154 were signed on behalf of the Board who approved the accounts on 1 March 2021. Anita Frew Chair Jez Maiden Group Finance Director Financial statements continued
Group Consolidated Statements continued
Group Statement of Cash Flows
for the year ended 31 December 2020
Cash generated from operating activities
Cash generated by operations
Interest paid
Tax paid
Net cash generated from operating activities
Cash flows from investing activities
Acquisition of subsidiaries, net of cash acquired
Acquisition of associates and other investments
Purchase of property, plant and equipment
Purchase of other intangible assets
Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment
Cash paid against non-operating provisions
Interest received
Net cash used in investing activities
Cash flows from financing activities
New borrowings
Repayment of borrowings
Payment of lease liabilities
Issue of ordinary shares
Net transactions in own shares
Dividends paid to equity shareholders
Net cash used in financing activities
Net movement in cash and cash equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents brought forward
Exchange differences
Cash and cash equivalents carried forward
Cash and cash equivalents carried forward comprise:
Cash at bank and in hand
Bank overdrafts
Note
ii
28
16
13
12
21
14
8
i,iii
iii
2020
£m
375.2
(17.5)
(70.7)
287.0
(868.2)
(1.5)
(115.0)
(6.2)
0.2
(1.7)
0.5
(991.9)
438.7
(201.4)
(7.6)
615.5
(6.9)
(115.9)
722.4
17.5
63.1
(2.8)
77.8
106.5
(28.7)
77.8
2019
£m
389.2
(17.0)
(68.3)
303.9
(3.7)
(1.3)
(105.2)
(5.8)
4.2
(1.1)
0.9
(112.0)
752.5
(637.1)
(8.8)
–
(4.3)
(266.9)
(164.6)
27.3
40.3
(4.5)
63.1
81.9
(18.8)
63.1
118 Croda International Plc
118
Annual report and Accounts 2020
Croda International Plc
Annual Report and Accounts 2020
Croda International Plc
Annual Report and Accounts 2020
119
Financial statements Croda InternationalPlcAnnual report and Accounts 2020119 Group Cash Flow Notes for the year ended 31 December 2020 (i) Reconciliation to net debt Note 2020 £m2019 £mNet movement in cash and cash equivalents iii 17.527.3Net movement in borrowings and other financial liabilitiesiii (229.7)(106.6)Change in net debt from cash flows (212.2)(79.3)Non-cash movement in lease liabilities (47.8)(52.9)Exchange differences 7.210.0 (252.8)(122.2)Net debt brought forward (547.7)(425.5)Net debt carried forward iii (800.5)(547.7)(ii) Cash generated by operations Note 2020 £m2019 £mAdjusted operating profit 319.6339.7Exceptional items iv (4.3)(10.7)Acquisition costs and amortisation of intangible assets arising on acquisition (25.3)(9.1)Operating profit 290.0319.9Adjustments for: Depreciation and amortisation 81.866.4Impairments 1.41.4Profit on disposal of property, plant and equipment –(3.8)Net provisions charged (note 21) 4.210.5Share-based payments 4.1(5.2)Non-cash pension expense 7.71.6Share of loss of associate 1.10.8Cash paid against operating provisions (note 21) (7.8)(4.0)Movement in inventories (7.0)12.2Movement in receivables (15.6)8.3Movement in payables 15.3(18.9)Cash generated by continuing operations 375.2389.2(iii) Analysis of net debt 2020£mCashflow£mExchange movements £m Othernon-cash£m2019£mCash and cash equivalents 106.527.4(2.8) –81.9Bank overdrafts (28.7)(9.9)– –(18.8)Movement in cash and cash equivalents 17.5(2.8) –Borrowings repayable within one year (20.4)70.9(0.6) –(90.7)Borrowings repayable after more than one year (776.2)(308.2)8.6 –(476.6)Lease liabilities (81.7)7.62.0 (47.8)(43.5)Movement in borrowings and other financial liabilities (229.7)10.0 (47.8)Total net debt (800.5)(212.2)7.2 (47.8)(547.7)Included within other non-cash movements are £43.8m of lease liabilities recognised in the year. (iv) Cash flow on exceptional items The total cash outflow during the year in respect of exceptional items, including those recognised in prior years’ income statements, was £9.4m (2019: £4.5m). Details of exceptional items can be found in note 3 on page 129. Financial statements continued
Group Consolidated Statements continued
Group Statement of Changes in Equity
for the year ended 31 December 2020
At 1 January 2019
Profit after tax for the year
Other comprehensive expense
Total comprehensive (expense)/income for the year
Transactions with owners:
Dividends on equity shares
Share-based payments
Transactions in own shares
Total transactions with owners
Total equity at 31 December 2019
At 1 January 2020
Profit after tax for the year
Other comprehensive (expense)/income
Total comprehensive (expense)/income for the year
Transactions with owners:
Dividends on equity shares
Share-based payments
Issue of ordinary shares
Transactions in own shares
Total transactions with owners
Acquisition of a subsidiary with an NCI
Share
capital
£m
15.1
Share
premium
account
£m
93.3
Other
reserves
£m
68.7
Retained
earnings
£m
813.4
Non-
controlling
interests
£m
7.5
Note
8
8
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
15.1
15.1
–
–
–
–
–
1.1
–
1.1
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
93.3
93.3
–
–
–
–
–
614.4
–
614.4
–
–
(34.3)
(34.3)
–
–
–
–
34.4
34.4
–
(15.1)
(15.1)
–
–
–
–
–
–
223.9
(48.1)
175.8
(266.9)
0.8
(4.3)
(270.4)
718.8
718.8
201.6
41.6
243.2
(115.9)
3.4
–
(6.9)
(119.4)
(0.1)
(0.4)
(0.5)
–
–
–
–
7.0
7.0
–
0.1
0.1
–
–
–
–
–
Total
equity
£m
998.0
223.8
(82.8)
141.0
(266.9)
0.8
(4.3)
(270.4)
868.6
868.6
201.6
26.6
228.2
(115.9)
3.4
615.5
(6.9)
496.1
–
2.2
2.2
Total equity at 31 December 2020
16.2
707.7
19.3
842.6
9.3
1,595.1
Other reserves include the Capital Redemption Reserve of £0.9m (2019: £0.9m) and the Translation Reserve of £18.4m (2019: £33.5m).
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Annual Report and Accounts 2020
Group Accounting Policies
The principal accounting policies adopted in the preparation of these
financial statements are set out below. These policies have been
consistently applied to all the years presented, unless otherwise stated.
Basis of preparation
The consolidated financial statements have been prepared under the
historical cost convention, in accordance with applicable law and
international accounting standards in conformity with the requirements
of the Companies Act 2006 (“Adopted IFRSs”) and prepared in
accordance with international financial reporting standards adopted
pursuant to Regulation (EC) No 1606/2002 as it applies in the European
Union. A summary of the more important Group accounting policies is
set out below.
Going concern
The potential impact of COVID-19 on the Group has been considered in
the preparation of the financial statements including our evaluation of
critical accounting estimates and judgements which are detailed below.
The financial statements on pages 116 to 154 have been prepared on a
going concern basis which the Directors believe to be appropriate for
the following reasons:
In 2019, the Group refinanced its principal bank debt and issued US
private placement bonds at attractive pricing. In October 2020, the
Group extended the existing 2019 Club facility by a further year,
resetting its five-year term and resulting in a maturity date of October
2025. At 31 December 2020 the Group had £1,244m of committed
debt facilities available from its banking group, USPP bondholders and
lease providers, with principal maturities between 2023 and 2030, of
which £378.3m (2019: £459.9m) was undrawn, together with cash
balances of £106.5m (2019: £81.9m).
The Directors have reviewed the liquidity and covenant forecasts for the
Group, which have been updated for the expected impact of COVID-19
on trading activities. The Directors have also considered sensitivities in
respect of potential downside scenarios, and the mitigating actions
available, in concluding that the Group is able to continue in operation
for a period of at least 12 months from the date of approving the
financial statements. These sensitivities include a severe but plausible
downside scenario for the continued impact of COVID-19, which is
materially consistent with the Group’s experience of the crisis to date,
alongside an additional scenario considered to be severe but remote.
Relative to a base case scenario, the sensitivities assume increasingly
pessimistic outlooks for global demand, coupled with slower economic
recoveries. In both downside scenarios, we have assumed that our
principal manufacturing sites continue to operate. In the severe
downside scenario, demand remains below 2019 pre-Covid levels
throughout 2021 and 2022. Furthermore, the downside scenarios also
assume a material increase in working capital, due to inventory build
and higher customer receivables, and substantial margin erosion,
predicated on a further deterioration in the economic conditions. In
considering the suitability of these scenarios, the Directors have
considered, among other factors, the impact of the UK leaving the EU
and the recent trading experience outlined in the Finance Review on
pages 40 to 43.
In both the downside scenarios, the Group continues to have significant
liquidity headroom and good financial covenant headroom under its
debt facilities. The Directors have also considered the impact on the
Group from the agreement to acquire Alban Muller for total
consideration of €25m. This acquisition will be funded from existing debt
facilities but will have no material impact on Croda’s leverage and a
limited impact on its liquidity. The Directors are therefore satisfied that
the Group has sufficient resources to continue in operation for a period
of not less than 12 months from the date of approval of the financial
statements. Accordingly, the consolidated financial statements have
been prepared on a going concern basis.
Critical accounting judgements and key sources of estimation
uncertainty
The Group’s significant accounting policies under Adopted IFRSs have
been set by management with the approval of the Audit Committee.
The application of these policies requires estimates and assumptions to
be made concerning the future and judgements to be made on the
applicability of policies to particular situations. Estimates and
judgements are continually evaluated and are based on historical
experience and other factors, including expectations of future events
that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances.
Under Adopted IFRSs an estimate or judgement may be considered
critical if it involves matters that are highly uncertain or where different
estimation methods could reasonably have been used, or if changes in
the estimate that would have a material impact on the Group’s results
are likely to occur from period to period.
The critical accounting judgement required when preparing the Group’s
accounts is as follows:
(i) Provisions and contingent liabilities – the Group has recognised
potential environmental liabilities and other provisions. The Group’s
assessment of whether a constructive or legal obligation exists at
the reporting date (and can be measured reliably) is a key
judgement in determining whether to recognise a liability or disclose
a contingent liability. A liability is recognised only where, based on
the Group’s legal views and advice, it is considered probable that
an outflow of resources will be required to settle a present obligation
that can be measured reliably. Disclosure of contingent liabilities is
made in note 29 unless the possibility of a loss arising is considered
remote.
The critical accounting estimates and assumptions required when
preparing the Group’s accounts are as follows:
(i) Post-retirement benefits – as disclosed in note 11, the Group’s
principal retirement benefit schemes are of the defined benefit type.
Year end recognition of the liabilities under these schemes and the
valuation of assets held to fund these liabilities require a number of
significant assumptions to be made, relating to key financial market
indicators such as inflation and expectations on future salary growth
and asset returns. These assumptions are made by the Group in
conjunction with the schemes’ actuaries and the Directors are of
the view that any estimation should be appropriate and in line with
consensus opinion.
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Annual report and Accounts 2020 121
121
Financial statements
Financial statements continued
Group Accounting Policies continued
(ii) Goodwill (note 12) – management are required to undertake an
annual test for impairment of indefinite lived assets such as goodwill.
Accordingly, the Group tests annually whether goodwill has suffered
any impairment and the Group’s goodwill value has been supported
by detailed value in use calculations relating to the recoverable
amounts of the underlying Cash Generating Units (‘CGUs’). These
calculations require the use of estimates to enable the calculation of
the net present value of cash flow projections of the relevant CGU.
The critical assumptions are as follows:
• Terminal value growth in EBITDA (calculated as operating profit
before depreciation and amortisation) – estimated at 3% unless
the profile of a particular CGU warrants a different treatment.
• Selection of appropriate market participant discount rates to
reflect the risks specific to the CGU.
Recoverable amounts currently exceed carrying values including
goodwill. Goodwill arising on acquisition is allocated to the CGU
that is expected to benefit from the synergies of the acquisition.
Such goodwill is then incorporated into the Group’s standard
impairment review process as described above.
(iii) Valuation of acquired intangible assets (note 28) – on acquisition,
intangible assets other than goodwill are recognised if they can be
identified through being separable from the acquired entity or arising
from specific contractual or legal rights. Once recognised, such
intangible assets will be initially valued using an appropriate
methodology. The acquisition date fair value of intangible assets
acquired are based on a number of assumptions including discount
rate, royalty rates, growth rates, customer attrition and replacement
cost.
Changes in accounting policy
(i) A number of new amendments to standards and interpretations
effective for annual periods beginning on or after 1 January 2020
and have been applied in preparing these consolidated financial
statements. None of these had a significant effect on the
consolidated financial statements of the Group.
(ii) New standards and interpretations not yet adopted – a number of
new standards and amendments to standards and interpretations
are effective for annual periods beginning on or after 1 January
2021 and have not been applied in preparing these consolidated
financial statements. None of these is expected to have a significant
effect on the consolidated financial statements of the Group.
(iii) The Group has changed the classification of certain costs between
cost of sales and administrative expenses. This change aligns cost
of sales recognised in the income statement more closely with the
Group’s inventory valuation policy and market practice. As a result,
2019 comparative operating costs have been increased by
£119.0m, with a corresponding reduction in cost of sales. There
has been no impact on the 2019 Group balance sheet or opening
Group balance sheet as at 1 January 2019.
Group accounts
General information
Croda International Plc is a public limited company, which is listed on
the London Stock Exchange and incorporated and domiciled in the
United Kingdom. It is registered in England and Wales and the address
of its registered office can be found on page 166.
Subsidiaries
Subsidiaries are all entities over which the Parent Company has control.
The Parent controls an entity when it is exposed to, or has rights to,
variable returns from its involvement with the entity and has the ability to
affect those returns through its power over the entity. Subsidiaries are
fully consolidated from the date on which control is transferred to the
Group. They are deconsolidated from the date that control ceases.
The Group uses the acquisition method of accounting to account for
business combinations. The consideration transferred for the acquisition
of a subsidiary is the fair value of the assets transferred, the liabilities
incurred and the equity interests issued by the Group. Acquisition costs
are expensed as incurred.
Identifiable assets acquired, and liabilities and contingent liabilities
assumed, in a business combination are measured initially at their
fair values at the acquisition date, irrespective of the extent of any
minority interest. The excess of the cost of acquisition over the Group’s
share of identifiable net assets acquired is recorded as goodwill.
Intra-Group transactions, balances and unrealised gains on transactions
between Group companies are eliminated. Unrealised losses are also
eliminated.
Accounting policies of subsidiaries have been changed where
necessary to ensure consistency with the policies adopted by the
Group.
Transactions with non-controlling interests
The Group treats transactions with non-controlling interests as
transactions with the equity owners of the Group. For purchases from
non-controlling interests, the difference between any consideration paid
and the relevant share acquired of the carrying value of net assets of the
subsidiary is recorded as equity. Gains or losses on disposals to non-
controlling interests are also recorded in equity.
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123
Financial statements Croda InternationalPlcAnnual report and Accounts 2020123 Intangible assets Goodwill On acquisition of a business, fair values are attributed to the net assets acquired. Goodwill arises where the fair value of the consideration given for a business exceeds such net assets. Goodwill arising on acquisitions is capitalised and carried at cost less accumulated impairment losses. Goodwill is subject to impairment review, both annually and when there are indications that the carrying value may not be recoverable. For the purpose of impairment testing, assets are grouped at the lowest levels for which there are separately identifiable cash flows, known as CGUs. For goodwill balances where the relevant group of CGUs exceeds the size of the Group’s operating segments, impairment testing is performed at the operating segment level. If the recoverable amount of the CGU is less than the carrying value of the goodwill, an impairment loss is recognised immediately against the goodwill value. The recoverable amount of the CGU is the higher of fair value less costs to sell and value in use. Value in use is estimated with reference to estimated future cash flows discounted to net present value using a market participant discount rate that reflects the risks specific to the CGU. Typically, the Group’s weighted average cost of capital is used as a starting point and then adjusted to reflect the risk profile of a particular CGU if warranted. The Group uses growth estimates that track below the Group’s historical growth rates unless the profile of a particular CGU warrants a different treatment. Other intangible assets arising on acquisition On acquisition, intangible assets other than goodwill are recognised if they can be identified through being separable from the acquired entity or arising from specific contractual or legal rights. Once recognised, such intangible assets will be initially valued using an appropriate methodology. For acquisitions in 2020 the following intangible asset types recognised and valuation methodologies applied were: • Technology processes (relief-from-royalty and replacement cost) • Trade names and brands (relief-from-royalty) • Customer relationships (income approach) Following initial recognition, the asset will be written down on a straight-line basis over its useful life, which range from 7 to 15 years for technology processes and from 6 to 20 years for trade names, brands and customer relationships. Useful lives are regularly reviewed to ensure their continuing relevance. Research and development Research expenditure, undertaken with the prospect of gaining new scientific or technical knowledge and understanding, is charged to the income statement in the year in which it is incurred. Internal development expenditure, whereby research findings are applied to a plan for the production of new or substantially improved products or processes, is charged to the income statement in the year in which it is incurred unless it meets the recognition criteria of IAS 38 ‘Intangible Assets’. Development uncertainties typically mean that such criteria are not met, most commonly because the Group can only demonstrate the existence of a market at a late stage in the product development cycle, at which point the material element of project spend has already been incurred and charged to the income statement. Where, however, the recognition criteria are met, intangible assets are capitalised and amortised over their useful economic lives from product launch. Intangible assets relating to products in development are subject to impairment testing at each balance sheet date or earlier upon indication of impairment. Any impairment losses are written off to the income statement. Computer software Computer software licences covering a period of greater than a year are capitalised on the basis of the costs incurred to acquire and bring to use the specific software. These costs are amortised over their estimated useful lives which range from 3 to 7 years. Revenue recognition Revenue is measured based on the consideration specified in a contract with a customer and excludes intra-Group sales. The Group recognises revenue on completion of contractual performance obligations, generally when it transfers control over a product or service to a customer. Sale of goods The principal activity from which the Group generates revenue is the supply of products to customers from its various manufacturing sites and warehouses, and in some limited instances from consignment inventory held on customer sites. Products are supplied under a variety of standard terms and conditions, and in each case, revenue is recognised when contractual performance obligations between the Group and the customer are satisfied. This will typically be on dispatch or delivery. When sales discount and rebate arrangements result in net variable consideration, appropriate provisions are recognised as a deduction from revenue at the point of sale. The Group typically uses the expected value method for estimating rebates, reflecting that such contracts have similar characteristics and a range of possible outcomes. The Group recognises revenue to the extent that it is highly probable that a significant reversal in the amount of cumulative revenue will not be required. Royalties and profit sharing arrangements Revenues are recognised when performance obligations between the Group and the customer are satisfied in accordance with the substance of the underlying contract. Interest and dividend income Interest income is recognised on a time-proportion basis using the effective interest method. Dividend income is recognised when the right to receive payment is established. Financial statements continued
Group Accounting Policies continued
Segmental reporting
An operating segment is a group of assets and operations engaged in
providing products and services that are subject to risks or returns that
are different from those of other segments. Operating segments
presented in the financial statements are consistent with the internal
reporting provided to the Group’s Chief Operating Decision Maker,
which has been identified as the Group Executive Committee.
Employee benefits
Pension obligations
The Group accounts for pensions and similar benefits under IAS 19
‘Employee Benefits’ (revised). In respect of defined benefit plans
(pension plans that define an amount of pension benefit that an
employee will receive on retirement, usually dependent on one or more
factors such as age, years of service and compensation), obligations are
measured at discounted present value whilst plan assets are recorded
at fair value. The assets and liabilities recognised in the balance sheet in
respect of defined benefit pension plans are the net of plan obligations
and assets. A scheme surplus is only recognised as an asset in the
balance sheet when the Group has the unconditional right to future
economic benefits in the form of a refund or a reduction in future
contributions. For those schemes where an accounting surplus is
currently recognised, the Group expects to recover the value through
reduced future contributions. No allowance is made in the past service
liability in respect of either the future expenses of running the schemes
or for non service-related death in service benefits which may arise in
the future. The operating costs of such plans are charged to operating
profit and the finance costs are recognised as financial income or an
expense as appropriate.
Service costs are spread systematically over the lives of employees and
financing costs are recognised in the periods in which they arise.
Remeasurements are recognised in the statement of comprehensive
income. Payments to defined contribution schemes (pension plans
under which the Group pays fixed contributions into a separate entity)
are charged as an expense as they fall due.
Other post-retirement benefits
Some Group companies provide post-retirement healthcare benefits to
their retirees. The entitlement to these benefits is usually conditional on
the employee remaining in service up to retirement age and the
completion of a minimum service period. The expected costs of these
benefits are accrued over the period of employment using an
accounting methodology similar to that for defined benefit pension
plans. Remeasurements are recognised in the statement of
comprehensive income. These obligations are valued annually
by independent qualified actuaries.
Termination benefits
Termination benefits are payable when employment is terminated by the
Group before the normal retirement date, or whenever an employee
accepts voluntary redundancy in exchange for these benefits. The
Group recognises termination benefits when it is demonstrably
committed to either (i) terminating the employment of current employees
according to a detailed formal plan without possibility of withdrawal or
(ii) providing termination benefits as a result of an offer made to
encourage voluntary redundancy.
Share-based payments
The Group operates a number of cash and equity settled, share-based
incentive schemes. These are accounted for in accordance with IFRS 2
‘Share-based Payments’, which requires an expense to be recognised
in the income statement over the vesting period of the options. The
expense is based on the fair value of each instrument which is
calculated using the Black Scholes or binomial model as appropriate.
Any expense is adjusted to reflect expected and actual levels of options
vesting for non market-based performance criteria.
Currency translations
Functional and presentation currency
Items included in the financial statements of each of the Group’s entities
are measured using the currency of the primary economic environment
in which the entity operates (‘the functional currency’). The consolidated
financial statements are presented in Sterling, which is the Company’s
functional and presentation currency.
Transactions and balances
Monetary assets and liabilities are translated at the exchange rates
ruling at the end of the financial period. Exchange profits or losses on
trading transactions are included in the Group income statement except
when deferred in equity as qualifying cash flow hedges and qualifying
net investment hedges.
Group companies
The results and financial position of all the Group entities that have a
functional currency different from the presentation currency are
translated into the presentation currency as follows:
(i) assets and liabilities for each balance sheet presented are translated
at the closing rate at the date of that balance sheet;
(ii)
income and expenses for each income statement are translated at
average exchange rates (unless this average is not a reasonable
approximation of the cumulative effect of the rates prevailing on the
transaction dates, in which case income and expenses are
translated at the dates of the transactions); and
(iii) all resulting exchange differences are recognised as a separate
component of equity.
On consolidation, exchange differences arising from the translation of
the net investment in foreign entities, and of borrowings and other
currency instruments designated as hedges of such investments, are
taken to shareholders’ equity.
When a foreign operation is sold, such exchange differences are
recognised in the income statement as part of the gain or loss on sale.
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Annual Report and Accounts 2020
125
Financial statements Croda InternationalPlcAnnual report and Accounts 2020125 Taxation The charge for taxation is based on the profit for the year and takes into account taxation deferred because of temporary differences between the treatment of certain items for taxation and for accounting purposes. Temporary differences arise on differences between the carrying value of assets and liabilities in the financial statements and their tax base and primarily relate to the difference between tax allowances on tangible fixed assets and the corresponding depreciation charge, and upon the net pension fund deficit. Full provision is made for the tax effects of these differences. No provision is made for unremitted earnings of foreign subsidiaries where there is no commitment to remit such earnings. Similarly, no provision is made for temporary differences relating to investments in subsidiaries since realisation of such differences can be controlled and is not probable in the foreseeable future. Deferred tax assets are recognised, using the balance sheet liability method, to the extent that it is probable that future taxable profit will be available against which the temporary differences can be utilised. All taxation is calculated on the basis of the tax rates and laws enacted or substantively enacted at the balance sheet date. Exceptional items Exceptional items are those items that in the Directors’ view are required to be separately disclosed by virtue of their size or incidence to enable a full understanding of the Group’s financial performance. In the current year exceptional items relate to the delivery of cost saving actions announced in 2019 and the discount unwind in contingent consideration. Exceptional items in the prior year related to cost saving actions, comprising redundancy and other restructuring costs (including an associated curtailment gain on defined benefit pension schemes and related impairments). Details can be found in note 3 on page 129. Income statement presentation The acquisition of Rewitec GmbH in 2019, Avanti Polar Lipids, LLC and Fragrance Spanish Topco, S.L. (Iberchem) in 2020 increased acquisition costs and amortisation of acquired intangible assets. To avoid distorting the underlying trend in profitability, the Group adopts the definitions ‘Adjusted operating profit’, ‘Adjusted profit before tax’ and ‘Adjusted earnings per share’. In each case acquisition costs, amortisation of intangible assets arising on acquisition and exceptional items, including the respective tax effect, are excluded. The Group income statement has been produced in a columnar format to further aid this analysis. Property, plant and equipment Property, plant and equipment is stated at historical cost less depreciation, with the exception of assets acquired as part of a business combination. Cost includes the original purchase price of the asset and the costs attributable to bringing the asset to its working condition for its intended use. The Group’s policy is to write off the difference between the cost of all property, plant and equipment, except freehold land, and their residual value on a straight-line basis over their estimated useful lives. Reviews are made annually of the estimated remaining lives and residual values of individual productive assets, taking account of commercial and technological obsolescence as well as normal wear and tear, and adjustments are made where appropriate. Under this policy it becomes impractical to calculate average asset lives exactly. However, the total lives range from approximately 15 to 40 years for land and buildings, and 3 to 25 years for plant and equipment. All individual assets are reviewed for impairment when there are indications that the carrying value may not be recoverable. The Group’s ‘plant and equipment’ asset class predominantly relates to the value of plant and equipment at the Group’s manufacturing facilities. Consequently, the Group does not seek to analyse out of this class other items such as motor vehicles and office equipment. Impairment of non-financial assets The Group assesses at each year end whether an asset may be impaired. If any evidence exists of impairment, the estimated recoverable amount is compared to the carrying value of the asset and an impairment loss is recognised where appropriate. The recoverable amount is the higher of an asset’s value in use and fair value less costs to sell. In addition to this, goodwill is tested for impairment at least annually. Non-financial assets other than goodwill which have suffered impairment are reviewed for possible reversal of the impairment at each reporting date. Leases When entering into a new contract, the Group assesses whether it is, or contains, a lease. A lease conveys a right to control the use of an identified asset for a period of time in exchange for consideration. The Group recognises a right of use asset and a lease liability at the lease commencement date. The right of use asset is initially measured at cost, and subsequently at cost less any accumulated depreciation and impairment losses, adjusted for certain remeasurements of the lease liability. The lease liability is initially measured at the present value of the lease payments that are not paid at the commencement date and discounted using the interest rate implicit in the lease or, more typically, the Group’s incremental borrowing rate (when the implicit rate cannot be readily determined). The lease liability is subsequently increased by the interest cost on the lease liability and decreased by lease payments made. It is remeasured when there is a change in future lease payments arising from a change in an index or rate, a change in the estimate of the amount expected to be payable under a residual value guarantee or changes in the Group’s assessment of whether a purchase, extension or termination option is reasonably certain to be exercised. The Group adopts recognition exemptions for short-term (less than 12 months) and low value leases and elects not to separate lease components from any associated fixed non-lease components. The Group classifies payments of lease liabilities (principal and interest portions) as part of financing activities. Payments of short-term, low value and variable lease components are classified within operating activities. Financial statements continued
Group Accounting Policies continued
Derivative financial instruments
The Group uses derivative financial instruments where deemed
appropriate to hedge its exposure to interest rates and short term
currency rate fluctuations. The Group’s accounting policy is set out
below.
Derivative financial instruments are recorded initially at cost. Subsequent
measurement depends on the designation of the instrument as either: (i)
a hedge of the fair value of recognised assets or liabilities or a firm
commitment (fair value hedge); or (ii) a hedge of highly probable forecast
transactions (cash flow hedge).
(i) Fair value hedge
Changes in the fair value of derivatives, for example interest rate swaps
and foreign exchange contracts, that are designated and qualify as fair
value hedges are recorded in the income statement, together with any
changes in the fair value of the hedged asset or liability that are
attributable to the hedged risk.
(ii) Cash flow hedge
The effective portion of changes in the fair value of derivatives that are
designated and qualify as cash flow hedges are recognised in equity.
The gain or loss relating to the ineffective portion is recognised
immediately in the income statement. Amounts accumulated in equity
are recycled in the income statement in the periods when the hedged
item will affect profit or loss (for instance when the forecast sale that is
hedged takes place). However, when the forecast transaction that is
hedged results in the recognition of a non-financial asset (for example
inventory) or a liability, the gains and losses previously deferred in equity
are transferred from equity and included in the initial measurement of
the cost of the asset or liability.
When a hedging instrument expires or is sold, or when a hedge no
longer meets the criteria for hedge accounting, any cumulative gain or
loss existing in equity at that time remains in equity and is recognised
when the forecast transaction is ultimately recognised in the income
statement.
When a forecast transaction is no longer expected to occur, the
cumulative gain or loss that was reported in equity is immediately
transferred to the income statement.
Certain derivative instruments do not qualify for hedge accounting.
Changes in the fair value of any derivative instruments that do not qualify
for hedge accounting are recognised immediately in the income
statement.
Borrowings
Borrowings are recognised initially at fair value, net of transaction costs
incurred. Any difference between the proceeds (net of transaction costs)
and the redemption value is recognised in the income statement over
the period of the borrowings using the effective interest method.
Borrowings are classified as current liabilities unless the Group has an
unconditional right to defer settlement of the liability for at least 12
months after the balance sheet date.
Borrowing costs
General and specific borrowing costs directly attributable to the
acquisition, construction or production of qualifying assets, which are
assets that necessarily take a substantial period of time to get ready for
their intended use or sale, are added to the cost of those assets, until
such time as the assets are substantially ready for their intended use
or sale.
Trade and other payables
Trade and other payables are recognised initially at fair value. With the
exception of contingent consideration, trade and other payables are
subsequently measured at amortised cost using the effective interest
method. Contingent consideration is measured at fair value based on
the present value of the expected future payments, discounted using a
risk-adjusted discount rate. Continent consideration is remeasured at
fair value at each reporting date and subsequent changes in fair value
and associated discount unwind are recognised in the income
statement.
Inventories
Inventories are stated at the lower of cost and net realisable amount on
a first in first out basis. Cost comprises all expenditure, including related
production overheads, incurred in the normal course of business
in bringing the inventory to its location and condition at the balance
sheet date. Net realisable amount is the estimated selling price in the
ordinary course of business less any applicable variable selling costs.
Provision is made for obsolete, slow moving and defective inventory
where appropriate. Profits arising on intra-group sales are eliminated in
so far as the product remains in Group inventory at the year end.
Trade and other receivables
Trade and other receivables are recognised initially at fair value and
subsequently measured at amortised cost, using the effective interest
method, less impairment losses. A provision for impairment of trade
receivables is recognised based on lifetime expected losses, but
principally comprises balances where objective evidence exists that the
amount will not be collectible. Such amounts are written down to their
estimated recoverable amounts, with the charge being made to
operating expenses.
Cash and cash equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents comprise cash balances and short term
deposits. Bank overdrafts that are repayable on demand and form an
integral part of the Group’s cash management are included as a
component of cash and cash equivalents for the purpose of the
statement of cash flows. Cash and bank overdrafts are offset and the
net amount reported in the balance sheet when there is a legally
enforceable right to offset the recognised amounts, there is an intention
to settle on a net basis and interest is charged on a net basis.
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Environmental, restructuring and other provisions
The Group is exposed to environmental liabilities relating to its
operations and liabilities following the acquisition of Uniqema. Provisions
are made immediately where a legal obligation is identified, can be
quantified and it is regarded as more likely than not that an outflow of
resources will be required to settle the obligation. The Group does
consider the impact of discounting when establishing provisions and
provisions are discounted when the impact is material and the timing of
cash flows can be estimated with reasonable certainty.
Share capital
Investment in own shares
(i) Employee share ownership trusts – shares acquired by the trustees
of the employee share ownership trust (the Trustees), funded by the
Company and held for the continuing benefit of the Company are
shown as a reduction in equity attributable to owners of the parent.
Movements in the year arising from additional purchases by the
Trustees of shares or the receipt of funds due to the exercise of
options by employees are accounted for within reserves and shown
as a movement in equity attributable to owners of the parent in the
year. Administration expenses of the trusts are charged
to the Company’s income statement as incurred.
(ii) Treasury shares – where any Group company purchases the
Company’s equity share capital as treasury shares, the
consideration paid, including any directly attributable incremental
costs (net of income taxes) is deducted from equity attributable to
the Company’s equity holders until the shares are cancelled,
reissued or disposed of. Where such shares are subsequently
sold or reissued, any consideration received, net of any directly
attributable incremental transaction costs and the related income
tax effects, is included in equity attributable to the Company’s equity
holders.
Dividends
Dividends on ordinary share capital are recognised as a liability when the
liability is irrevocable. Accordingly, final dividends are recognised when
approved by shareholders and interim dividends
are recognised when paid.
Investments
Investments in equity securities are measured at fair value, with
movements in the fair value being recognised in the income statement
or equity on an instrument by instrument basis. Investments
in associates are initially recorded at cost and subsequently adjusted for
the Group’s share of results. Investments are subject to impairment
testing at each balance sheet date or earlier upon indication of
impairment.
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Annual report and Accounts 2020 127
127
Financial statements
Financial statements continued
Notes to the Group Accounts
1. Segmental analysis
The Group’s sales, marketing and research activities are organised into four global market sectors, being Personal Care, Life Sciences,
Performance Technologies and Industrial Chemicals. These are the segments for which summary management information is presented to
the Group’s Executive Committee, which is deemed to be the Group’s Chief Operating Decision Maker. A review of each sector can be found
within the Strategic Report on pages 24 to 29.
There is no material trade between segments. Segmental results include items directly attributable to a specific segment as well as those that can
be allocated on a reasonable basis. Segment assets consist primarily of property, plant and equipment, intangible assets, inventories and trade and
other receivables.
Income statement
Revenue
Personal Care
Life Sciences
Performance Technologies
Industrial Chemicals
Total Group revenue
Adjusted operating profit
Personal Care
Life Sciences
Performance Technologies
Industrial Chemicals
Total Group operating profit (before exceptional items, acquisition costs and amortisation of intangible assets
arising on acquisition)
Exceptional items, acquisition costs and amortisation of intangible assets arising on acquisition1
Total Group operating profit
2020
£m
2019
£m
475.9
401.6
416.4
96.4
1,390.3
485.2
350.5
430.2
111.8
1,377.7
136.5
129.4
54.0
(0.3)
319.6
(29.6)
290.0
162.1
107.1
69.4
1.1
339.7
(19.8)
319.9
1. Relates to Personal Care £13.5m (2019: £3.9m), Life Sciences £12.2m (2019: £9.4m), Performance Technologies £3.6m (2019: £5.6m) and Industrial Chemicals £0.3m (2019:
£0.9m)
In the following table, revenue has been disaggregated by sector and destination. This is the primary management information that is presented to
the Group’s Executive Committee.
Europe, Middle
East & Africa
£m
North
America
£m
Latin
America
£m
163.1
164.7
192.0
42.6
562.4
168.4
138.1
200.4
52.0
558.9
148.5
122.3
104.5
11.7
387.0
143.1
98.3
112.9
13.1
367.4
49.0
54.5
26.1
2.0
131.6
55.1
58.6
27.6
2.5
143.8
Asia
£m
115.3
60.1
93.8
40.1
309.3
118.6
55.5
89.3
44.2
307.6
2020
£m
1,437.5
833.4
504.5
109.7
2,885.1
14.5
17.6
111.7
3,028.9
Total
£m
475.9
401.6
416.4
96.4
1,390.3
485.2
350.5
430.2
111.8
1,377.7
2019
£m
560.3
568.2
501.0
152.9
1,782.4
11.8
10.2
86.6
1,891.0
Revenue 2020
Personal Care
Life Sciences
Performance Technologies
Industrial Chemicals
Total Group revenue
Revenue 2019
Personal Care
Life Sciences
Performance Technologies
Industrial Chemicals
Total Group revenue
Balance sheet
Total assets
Segment total assets:
Personal Care
Life Sciences
Performance Technologies
Industrial Chemicals
Total segment assets
Tax assets
Retirement benefit assets
Cash and investments
Total Group assets
128 Croda International Plc
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Annual Report and Accounts 2020
Capital expenditure and depreciation
Personal Care
Life Sciences
Performance Technologies
Industrial Chemicals
Total Group
2020
£m
Depreciation
and
amortisation
23.5
29.2
24.3
4.8
81.8
Additions to
non-current
assets
34.5
32.2
45.1
10.8
122.6
2019
£m
Depreciation
and
amortisation
18.4
21.0
21.3
5.7
66.4
Additions to
non-current
assets
46.8
64.1
48.1
6.1
165.1
The Group manages its business segments on a global basis. The operations are based in the following geographical areas: Europe, with
manufacturing sites in the UK, France, the Netherlands, Italy, Spain, Finland and Denmark; North America, with manufacturing sites in the US; Latin
America, with manufacturing sites in Brazil and Argentina; Asia, with manufacturing sites in Singapore, Japan, India, China, Indonesia and Australia;
and South Africa. With the acquisition of Fragrance Spanish Topco, S.L. (‘Iberchem’) the Group now has additional manufacturing sites in
Colombia, Mexico, Malaysia and Tunisia.
The Group’s revenue from external customers in the UK is £46.2m (2019: £58.6m), in Germany is £104.7m (2019: £100.0m), in China is £105.2m
(2019: £91.2m), in the US is £355.4m (2019: £332.9m) and the total revenue from external customers from other countries is £778.8m (2019:
£795.0m). No single external customer represents more than 3% of the total revenue of the Group. The total of non-current assets other than
financial instruments, retirement benefit assets and deferred tax assets located in the UK is £178.9m (2019: £137.0m) and in other countries is
£1,252.2m (2019: £815.9m). Goodwill has not been split by geography as this asset is not attributable to a geographical area.
2. Operating costs
Analysis of net operating expenses by function:
Distribution costs
Administrative expenses
2020
£m
2019 Restated
£m
71.7
270.4
342.1
65.9
245.4
311.3
Additional information on the nature of operating expenses, including depreciation and employee costs, is provided in note 3. The 2019 restatement
is described in the Group Accounting Policies on page 122.
3. Profit for the year
The Group profit for the year is stated after charging:
Depreciation and amortisation (note 12, 13 & 14)
Impairments (exceptional)
Staff costs (note 9)
Redundancy costs (non-exceptional)
Redundancy costs (exceptional)
Inventories – cost recognised as expense in cost of sales
Inventories – provision movement in the year
Research and development
Net foreign exchange
Bad debt charge (note 18)
2020
£m
81.8
1.4
295.5
0.2
1.8
758.2
3.8
38.2
2.1
0.5
2019
£m
66.4
1.4
268.9
0.8
10.4
746.5
3.4
37.6
3.4
0.2
Adjustments (including exceptional items):
Adjustments in the Group income statement of £31.1m (2019: £19.8m) include a £5.8m exceptional cost (2019: £10.7m), acquisition costs of
£11.7m (2019: £0.3m) and amortisation of intangible assets arising on acquisition of £13.6m (2019: £8.8m). The exceptional cost in the current year
reflects a £1.5m discount unwind in contingent consideration and the delivery of the 2019 cost saving actions, comprising £1.8m of redundancy
costs, £1.4m of related impairments and £1.1m of other restructuring costs. The exceptional cost in the prior year comprised £10.4m of
redundancy costs and £0.3m of other restructuring costs (including an associated curtailment gain on defined benefit pension schemes of £1.2m
and related impairments of £1.4m). All items associated with delivering the cost savings have been presented collectively as exceptional by virtue of
their size and nature. The tax impact on all adjustments was £4.5m (2019: £3.9m).
Services provided by the Group’s auditors
Audit services
Fees payable to the Group auditors for the audit of Parent Company and consolidated financial statements
Fees payable to the Group auditors and its associates for the audit of the Company’s subsidiaries
Other audit services
Other non-audit services including fees payable in relation to the Group’s interim review
2020
£m
2019
£m
0.1
1.4
0.1
1.6
0.1
0.9
0.1
1.1
Croda International Plc
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Annual Report and Accounts 2020
Annual report and Accounts 2020 129
129
Financial statements
Financial statements continued
Notes to the Group Accounts continued
4. Net financial costs
Financial costs
US$100m 5.94% fixed rate 10 year note
US$100m 3.75% fixed rate 10 year note
2014 Club facility due 2021
2016 Club facility due 2021
2019 Club facility due 2025
US$200m 3 year term loan due 2023
€30m 1.08% fixed rate 7 year note
€70m 1.43% fixed rate 10 year note
£30m 2.54% fixed rate 7 year note
£70m 2.80% fixed rate 10 year note
€50m 1.18% fixed rate 8 year note
£65m 2.46% fixed rate 8 year note
US$60m 3.70% fixed rate 10 year note
Net interest on retirement benefit liabilities
Interest on lease liabilities
Other bank loans and overdrafts
Unwind of discount on contingent consideration
Financial income
Bank interest receivable and similar income
Net financial costs
5. Tax
(a) Analysis of tax charge for the year
UK current corporate tax
Overseas current corporate taxes
Current tax
Deferred tax (note 6)
(b) Tax on items charged/(credited) to other comprehensive income or equity
Deferred tax on remeasurement of post-retirement benefits (OCI)
Deferred tax on share-based payments (equity)
Deferred tax on provisions (OCI)
(c) Factors affecting the tax charge for the year
Profit before tax
Tax at the standard rate of corporation tax in the UK, 19.0% (2019: 19.0%)
Effect of:
Tax rate changes
Prior year over provisions
Tax cost of remitting overseas income to the UK
Expenses and write-offs not deductible for tax purposes
Utilisation of unrecognised tax losses
Net effect of higher overseas tax rates
2020
£m
0.4
2.7
–
–
4.5
0.2
0.3
0.9
0.8
2.0
0.5
1.6
1.7
1.2
1.5
1.2
1.5
21.0
2019
£m
4.6
–
0.8
0.2
3.3
–
0.3
0.9
0.8
2.0
0.3
0.9
0.9
0.3
1.0
2.2
–
18.5
(0.5)
20.5
(0.9)
17.6
2020
£m
13.2
52.1
65.3
2.6
67.9
9.7
(0.9)
0.3
9.1
2019
£m
15.1
50.5
65.6
12.9
78.5
(8.4)
(0.7)
–
(9.1)
269.5
51.2
302.3
57.4
(1.5)
(3.2)
1.5
1.8
(1.4)
19.5
67.9
–
(2.1)
0.8
1.4
–
21.0
78.5
The effective adjusted corporate tax rate before exceptional items of 24.1% (2019: 25.6%) is significantly higher than the UK’s standard tax rate of
19.0%. The reported corporate tax rate after exceptional items is 25.2% (2019: 26.0%).
Croda operates in many tax jurisdictions other than the UK, both as a manufacturer and distributor, with the majority of those jurisdictions having
rates higher than the UK; considerably so in some cases. It is the exposure to these different tax rates that increases the effective tax rate above the
UK standard rate and also makes it difficult to forecast the Group’s future tax rate with any certainty given the unpredictable nature of exchange
rates, individual economies and tax legislators. Other than the exposure to higher overseas tax rates, there are no significant adjustments between
the Group’s expected and reported tax charge based on its accounting profit. Given the global nature of the Group, and the number of associated
cross-border transactions between connected parties, we are exposed to potential adjustments to the price charged for those transactions by tax
authorities. However, the Group carries appropriate provisions relating to the level of risk.
130 Croda International Plc
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Annual report and Accounts 2020
Annual Report and Accounts 2020
The main rate of UK corporation tax reduced from 20% to 19% from 1 April 2017. A further reduction to the UK tax rate was announced to reduce
the rate to 17% by 1 April 2020 and was substantively enacted on 6 September 2016. In the March 2020 Budget, it was announced that the main
rate of UK corporation tax would be remaining at 19%, and this was substantively enacted on 17 March 2020. These rate changes impacted the
rate at which the deferred tax balances in the UK were carried. Overseas tax is calculated at the rates prevailing in the respective jurisdictions.
6. Deferred tax
The deferred tax balances included in these accounts are attributable to the following:
Deferred tax assets
Retirement benefit liabilities
Provisions
Gross deferred tax asset
Offset with deferred tax liabilities
Net deferred tax asset
Deferred tax liabilities
Accelerated capital allowances
Revaluation gains
Acquired intangibles
Retirement benefit assets
Other
Gross deferred tax liability
Offset with deferred tax assets
Net deferred tax liability
The movement on deferred tax balances during the year is summarised as follows:
Deferred tax (charged)/credited through the income statement
Continuing operations before adjustments
Adjustments and exceptional items
Deferred tax (charged)/credited directly to other comprehensive income or equity (note 5(b))
Acquisitions
Exchange differences
Net balance brought forward
Net balance carried forward
Deferred tax credited/(charged) through the income statement relates to the following:
Retirement benefit obligations
Accelerated capital allowances
Tax losses
Provisions
Other
2020
£m
2019
£m
11.1
25.5
36.6
(22.1)
14.5
93.1
1.9
82.3
4.1
1.0
182.4
(22.1)
160.3
(3.6)
1.0
(9.1)
(64.8)
1.3
(75.2)
(70.6)
(145.8)
1.5
(10.3)
–
4.1
2.1
(2.6)
17.2
21.6
38.8
(27.0)
11.8
86.6
1.9
17.6
2.3
1.0
109.4
(27.0)
82.4
(16.1)
3.2
9.1
(1.1)
2.8
(2.1)
(68.5)
(70.6)
0.8
9.1
(23.2)
(1.4)
1.8
(12.9)
Deferred tax is calculated in full on temporary differences under the balance sheet liability method at rates appropriate to each subsidiary. Deferred
tax expected to reverse in the year to 31 December 2021 and beyond has been measured using the rate due to prevail in the year of reversal.
Deferred tax assets have been recognised in all material cases where such assets arise, as it is probable the assets will be recovered.
Deferred tax is only recognised on the unremitted earnings of overseas subsidiaries to the extent that remittance is expected in the foreseeable
future. If all earnings were remitted, an additional £6.6m (2019: £6.4m) of tax would be payable.
All movements on deferred tax balances have been recognised in the income statement with the exception of the items shown in note 5(b).
Of the gross deferred tax assets, £2.6m are expected to reverse within 12 months of the balance sheet date. No material reversal of any of the
deferred tax liability is expected within 12 months of the balance sheet date based on the Group’s current capital expenditure programme.
Croda International Plc
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Annual Report and Accounts 2020
Annual report and Accounts 2020 131
131
Financial statements
Financial statements continued
Notes to the Group Accounts continued
7. Earnings per share
Adjusted profit after tax for the year attributable to owners of the parent
Exceptional items, acquisition costs and amortisation of intangible assets
Tax impact of exceptional items, acquisition costs and amortisation of intangible assets
Profit after tax for the year attributable to owners of the parent
Weighted average number of 10.61p (2019: 10.61p) ordinary shares in issue for basic calculation
Deemed issue of potentially dilutive shares
Average number of 10.61p (2019: 10.61p) ordinary shares for diluted calculation
Basic earnings per share
Adjusted basic earnings per share
Diluted earnings per share
Adjusted diluted earnings per share
2020
£m
228.2
(31.1)
4.5
201.6
Number
m
130.0
0.2
130.2
Pence
155.1
175.5
154.8
175.3
2019
£m
239.8
(19.8)
3.9
223.9
Number
m
129.6
0.3
129.9
Pence
172.8
185.0
172.4
184.6
Basic earnings per share is calculated by dividing the profit after tax attributable to owners of the parent by the weighted average number
of ordinary shares in issue during the year, excluding those shares held in treasury or employee share trusts (note 25). Shares held in
employee share trusts are treated as cancelled because, except for a nominal amount, dividends have been waived.
For diluted earnings per share, the weighted average number of ordinary shares in issue is adjusted to assume conversion of all potentially dilutive
ordinary shares.
Additional earnings per share calculations are included above to give a better indication of the Group’s underlying performance.
8. Dividends
Ordinary
Interim
2019 interim, paid October 2019
2020 interim, paid October 2020
Final
2018 final, paid May 2019
2018 special, paid May 2019
2019 final, paid May 2020
Preference (paid June and December)
Pence per
share
2020
£m
Pence per
share
2019
£m
–
39.50
–
–
50.50
90.00
39.50
–
49.00
115.00
–
203.50
–
50.8
–
–
65.0
115.8
0.1
115.9
50.7
–
64.6
151.5
–
266.8
0.1
266.9
The Directors are recommending a final dividend of 51.5p per share, amounting to a total of £71.8m, in respect of the financial year ended
31 December 2020.
Subject to shareholder approval, the dividend will be paid on 4 June 2021 to shareholders registered on 7 May 2021 and has not been accrued in
these financial statements. The total dividend for the year ended 31 December 2020 will be 91.0p per share amounting to a total of £122.6m.
132 Croda International Plc
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Annual Report and Accounts 2020
9. Employees
Group employment costs including Directors
Wages and salaries
Share-based payment charges (note 23)
Social security costs
Post-retirement benefit costs
Redundancy costs
Average employee numbers by function
Production
Selling and distribution
Administration
2020
£m
215.7
13.6
36.6
29.6
2.0
297.5
2019
£m
202.1
5.1
36.2
25.5
11.2
280.1
2020
Number
2019
Number
3,044
1,189
689
4,922
2,851
1,134
647
4,632
As required by the Companies Act 2006, the figures disclosed above are the weighted averages based on the number of employees including
Executive Directors. At 31 December 2020, the Group had 5,684 (2019: 4,580) employees in total.
10. Directors’ and key management compensation
Detailed information concerning Directors’ remuneration, interests and options is shown in section D of the Directors’ Remuneration Report,
which is subject to audit, on pages 91 to 99 forming part of the Annual Report and Accounts.
Aggregate compensation for key management, being the Directors and members of the Group Executive Committee, was as follows:
Key management compensation including Directors
Short term employee benefits
Post-retirement benefit costs
Share-based payment charge/(credit)
2020
£m
4.8
0.1
1.2
6.1
2019
£m
4.6
0.1
(0.3)
4.4
Croda International Plc
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Annual Report and Accounts 2020
Annual report and Accounts 2020 133
133
Financial statements
Financial statements continued
Notes to the Group Accounts continued
11. Post-retirement benefits
The table below summarises the Group’s net year end post-retirement benefits balance sheet positions and activity for the year.
Balance sheet:
Retirement benefit assets
Retirement benefit liabilities
Net liability in Group balance sheet
Net balance sheet liabilities for:
Defined pension benefits
Post-employment medical benefits
Income statement charge included in profit before tax for:
Defined pension benefits
Post-employment medical benefits
Remeasurements included in other comprehensive income for:
Defined pension benefits
Post-employment medical benefits
2020
£m
17.6
(49.9)
(32.3)
(17.2)
(15.1)
(32.3)
23.9
0.8
24.7
(52.5)
1.2
(51.3)
2019
£m
10.2
(85.2)
(75.0)
(60.9)
(14.1)
(75.0)
18.2
0.5
18.7
54.7
1.8
56.5
Defined benefit pension schemes
The Group operates defined benefit pension schemes in the UK, US, Netherlands and several other territories under broadly similar regulatory
frameworks. All of the Group’s final salary type pension schemes (which provide benefits to members in the form of a guaranteed level of pension
payable for life based on salary in the final years leading up to retirement) are closed to future service accrual with the exception of a small number of
‘grandfathered’ employees in the US scheme.
The UK scheme operated on a final salary basis until 5 April 2016, following which the scheme changed to a Career Average Revalued Earnings
(CARE) defined benefit scheme, with annual pensionable earnings capped and pensions in payment indexed based on CPI (previously RPI) for
service accrued from 6 April 2016. This change is expected to reduce the future comparable cost and risk attached to the UK scheme. Material
defined benefit pension schemes in other territories, including the Netherlands, operate on a similar basis to the UK, except in the US, which (other
than for ‘grandfathered’ employees) operates a cash balance pension scheme that provides a guaranteed rate of return on pension contributions
until retirement. From 1 October 2017 the US scheme was closed to new joiners, who will receive defined contribution benefits. The US plans also
do not generally receive inflationary increases once in payment. With the exception of this difference in inflationary risk, the Group’s main defined
benefit pension schemes continue to face materially similar risks, as described on page 137.
The majority of benefit payments are from trustee administered funds; however, there are also a number of unfunded plans where the relevant
Group company meets the benefit payment obligation as it falls due.
Plan assets held in trusts are governed by local regulations and practice in each country, as is the nature of the relationship between the Group and
the trustees (or equivalent) and their composition. Responsibility for governance of the schemes, including investment decisions and contribution
schedules, predominantly lies with the particular scheme’s board of trustees with appropriate input from the relevant Group company. The board of
trustees must be composed of representatives in accordance with each scheme’s regulations and any relevant legislation.
During the period the model used to calculate the discount rate for the UK and Netherlands schemes has been changed reflecting a bond
classification adjustment from BICS to BCLASS. The impact of this change as at 31 December 2020 was an increase in the discount rate (UK: 9
basis points, Netherlands: 34 basis points), leading to a £42m combined reduction in the present value of scheme obligations. The UK Government
consultation on the future of RPI reported during the period confirming the UK Statistics Authority’s intention (and legal and practical ability) to align
CPI and RPI by February 2030, the net impact of which was immaterial on the present value of scheme obligations.
134 Croda International Plc
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Annual report and Accounts 2020
Annual Report and Accounts 2020
The amounts recognised in the balance sheet in respect of these schemes are as follows:
Present value of funded obligations
UK pension scheme
US pension scheme
Netherlands pension scheme
Rest of world
Fair value of schemes’ assets
UK pension scheme
US pension scheme
Netherlands pension scheme
Rest of world
Net liability in respect of funded schemes
Present value of unfunded obligations
Net liability in Group balance sheet (excluding post-employment medical benefits)
Movement in present value of retirement benefit obligations in the year:
Opening balance
Current service cost
Past service cost – plan amendments
Past service cost – curtailments
Interest cost
Remeasurements
Change in demographic assumptions
Change in financial assumptions
Experience (losses)/gains
Contributions paid in
Employee
Benefits paid
Exchange differences on overseas schemes
Movement in fair value of schemes’ assets in the year:
Opening balance
Interest income
Remeasurements
Return on scheme assets, excluding amounts included in financial expenses
Contributions paid in
Employee
Employer
Benefits paid out including settlements
Exchange differences on overseas schemes
2020
£m
2019
£m
(1,178.5)
(133.9)
(212.3)
(19.7)
(1,544.4)
1,163.7
150.4
205.7
17.0
1,536.8
(7.6)
(9.6)
(17.2)
2020
£m
1,451.7
23.1
–
–
27.3
(56.4)
149.3
(1.9)
2.9
(46.2)
4.2
1,554.0
1,390.8
26.5
(1,104.2)
(132.3)
(188.2)
(17.0)
(1,441.7)
1,063.5
141.5
171.1
14.7
1,390.8
(50.9)
(10.0)
(60.9)
2019
£m
1,278.7
19.6
(0.3)
(0.9)
33.9
(8.0)
174.0
11.1
2.8
(43.6)
(15.6)
1,451.7
1,272.7
34.1
143.5
122.4
2.9
15.4
(46.2)
3.9
1,536.8
2.8
16.3
(43.6)
(13.9)
1,390.8
As at the balance sheet date, the present value of retirement benefit obligations comprised approximately £486m in respect of active employees,
£399m in respect of deferred members and £669m in relation to members in retirement.
Total employer contributions to the schemes in 2021 are expected to be £13.9m.
The actuarial assumptions were as follows:
Discount rate
Inflation rate – RPI
Inflation rate – CPI
Rate of increase in salaries
Rate of increase for pensions in payment
Duration of liabilities (ie life expectancy) (years)
Remaining working life
2020
UK
1.3%
2.8%
2.4%
4.4%
2.7%
19.6
9.6
2020
US
2.4%
2.5%
n/a
3.5%
n/a
11.2
10.6
2020
Netherlands
0.8%
1.8%
n/a
2.4%
1.3%
22.3
12.4
2019
UK
1.9%
3.0%
2.2%
4.2%
2.8%
20.5
14.7
2019
US
3.2%
2.5%
n/a
3.5%
n/a
11.1
10.1
2019
Netherlands
1.2%
1.8%
n/a
2.4%
1.3%
22.4
12.9
Croda International Plc
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Annual Report and Accounts 2020
Annual report and Accounts 2020 135
135
Financial statements
Financial statements continued
Notes to the Group Accounts continued
11. Post-retirement benefits continued
Mortality assumptions are based on country-specific mortality tables and where appropriate allow for future improvements in life expectancy. Where
credible data exists, actual plan experience is taken into account. Applying the mortality tables adopted, the expected future average lifetime of
members currently at age 65 and members at age 65 in 20 years’ time is as follows:
Male
Female
UK
20.1
23.2
Current age 65
Netherlands
21.0
25.0
US
20.8
22.7
UK
21.4
24.7
US
21.9
23.8
Age 65 in
20 years
Netherlands
22.5
26.3
The sensitivity of the defined benefit obligation to changes in the significant assumptions is as follows:
Impact on retirement benefit obligation
Of decrease
10.4%
Discount rate
-6.4%
Inflation rate
Mortality (assumes a one year change in life expectancy)
-4.7%
The above sensitivity analyses are based on a change in an assumption while holding all other assumptions constant. In practice, this is unlikely to
occur, and changes in some of the assumptions may be correlated. When calculating the sensitivity of the defined benefit obligation to significant
actuarial assumptions, the same method (present value of the defined benefit obligation calculated with the projected unit credit method at the end
of the reporting year) has been applied as when calculating the retirement benefit obligation recognised in the Group balance sheet. The weighted
average duration of the defined benefit obligation is 19.2 years (2019: 19.8 years).
Of increase
-9.0%
6.7%
4.8%
Sensitivity
0.5%
0.5%
1 year
The assets in the schemes comprised:
Quoted
Equities
Government bonds
Corporate bonds
Other quoted securities
Unquoted
Cash and cash equivalents
Real estate
Derivatives
Other
2020
£m
277.9
674.0
124.2
31.3
77.5
56.7
6.4
288.8
1,536.8
2020
%
18%
44%
8%
2%
5%
4%
0%
19%
100%
2019
£m
240.7
584.2
77.9
11.3
127.3
57.5
1.2
290.7
1,390.8
2019
%
17%
42%
6%
1%
9%
4%
0%
21%
100%
Derivatives presented above represent the scheme’s net position on Government bond repurchase agreements and other swap contracts (valued
on a mark-to-market basis) which form part of the scheme’s liability driven investment (LDI) portfolio. The non-derivative assets in the LDI portfolio
have been presented in the relevant asset category.
Post-employment medical benefits
The Group operates an unfunded post-employment medical benefit scheme in the US. The method of accounting, significant assumptions and the
frequency of valuations are similar to those used for defined benefit pension schemes set out above with the addition of actuarial assumptions
relating to the long term increase in health care costs of 5.0% a year (2019: 5.0%).
The amounts recognised in the balance sheet in respect of this scheme are as follows:
Present value of unfunded obligations
US scheme
Movement in present value of retirement benefit obligations in the year:
Opening balance
Current service cost
Past service cost – curtailments
Interest cost
Remeasurements – change in demographic assumptions
Remeasurements – change in financial assumptions
Remeasurements – experience gains
Benefits paid
Exchange differences on overseas schemes
136 Croda International Plc
136
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Annual report and Accounts 2020
Annual Report and Accounts 2020
2020
£m
15.1
2020
£m
14.1
0.4
–
0.4
(0.2)
1.7
(0.3)
(0.4)
(0.6)
15.1
2019
£m
14.1
2019
£m
12.5
0.3
(0.3)
0.5
(0.1)
1.9
–
(0.3)
(0.4)
14.1
Pension and medical benefits – risks and volatility
Through its defined benefit pension schemes and post-employment medical schemes, the Group is exposed to a number of risks, the most
significant of which are detailed below:
Asset volatility
The schemes’ liabilities are calculated using a discount rate set with reference to corporate bond yields; if scheme assets underperform this yield, a
deficit will be created. The schemes hold a significant proportion of equities, which are expected to outperform corporate bonds in the long term
while providing volatility and risk in the short term. As the schemes mature, the Group intends to reduce the level of investment risk by investing
more in assets that better match the liabilities. However, the Group and the pension trustees (Trustees) believe that due to the long term nature of
the scheme liabilities and the strength of the supporting Group, a level of continuing equity investment is an appropriate element of the Group’s long
term strategy to manage the schemes efficiently. See below for more details on the Group’s asset-liability matching strategy.
Changes in bond yields
A decrease in corporate bond yields will increase scheme liabilities, although this will be partially offset by an increase in the value of the schemes’
bond holdings.
Inflation risk
Some of the Group’s pension obligations are linked to inflation, and higher inflation will lead to higher liabilities. However, the level of inflationary
increases are usually capped to protect the scheme against extreme inflation. The majority of the schemes’ assets are either unaffected by inflation
in the case of fixed interest bonds or loosely correlated in the case of equities, meaning that an increase in inflation will thus increase the deficit. In
the US schemes, the pensions in payment are not linked to inflation, so this is a less material risk.
Life expectancy
The majority of the schemes’ obligations are to provide benefits for the life of the member, so increases in life expectancy will result in an increase in
the schemes’ liabilities. This is particularly significant in the UK scheme, where inflationary increases result in higher sensitivity to changes in life
expectancy. In the case of the funded schemes, the Group ensures that the investment positions are managed within an asset-liability matching
(ALM) framework that has been developed to achieve long-term investments that are cognisant of the obligations under the pension schemes.
Within this framework, the Group’s ALM objective is to match a portion of assets to the pension obligations by investing in long-term fixed interest
securities with maturities that match the benefit payments as they fall due and in the appropriate currency. The Group and Trustees actively monitor
how the duration and the expected yield of the investments are matching the expected cash outflows arising from the pension obligations. The
Group has not changed the processes used to manage its risks from previous years.
Investments are well diversified, such that the failure of any single investment would not have a material impact on the overall level of assets. A
significant portion of assets in 2020 consist of equities and bonds, although the schemes also invest in property, cash and infrastructure funds. The
Group believes that equities offer the best returns over the long term with an acceptable level of risk. Both the UK and Dutch schemes make use of
a portfolio of derivative instruments to mitigate interest rate and inflation risk.
The latest triennial valuation of the UK scheme was completed as at 30 September 2017. As a result, no deficit funding payments to this scheme
were required prior to completion of the next triennial valuation (as at 30 September 2020) which is currently ongoing. The funding review of our US
scheme is undertaken annually. As at 1 December 2019 the scheme was 137% funded. The Group’s Dutch scheme is subject to a more rigorous
regulatory environment under the supervision of the Dutch National Bank (DNB). As at 31 December 2020 the scheme was 107% funded on an
actuarial basis relative to the DNB’s required level of 119% and a minimum funding requirement of 104%.
The expected distribution of the timing of benefit payments is as follows:
Pension benefits
Post-employment medical benefits
Defined contribution schemes
Contributions paid charged to operating profit
Less than
a year
£m
42.2
0.6
42.8
Between
1–2 years
£m
41.4
0.6
42.0
Between
2–5 years
£m
133.1
1.7
134.8
Beyond
5 years
£m
1,337.3
12.2
1,349.5
Total
£m
1,554.0
15.1
1,569.1
2020
£m
6.1
2019
£m
5.6
Croda International Plc
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Annual Report and Accounts 2020
Annual report and Accounts 2020 137
137
Financial statements
Financial statements continued
Notes to the Group Accounts continued
12. Intangible assets
Cost
At 1 January 2019
Exchange differences
Additions
Acquisitions
Disposals and write-offs
Reclassifications
At 31 December 2019
At 1 January 2020
Exchange differences
Additions
Acquisitions
Reclassifications
At 31 December 2020
Accumulated amortisation and impairment losses
At 1 January 2019
Exchange differences
Charge for the year (note 3)
Disposals and write-offs
At 31 December 2019
At 1 January 2020
Exchange differences
Charge for the year (note 3)
Reclassifications
At 31 December 2020
Net carrying amount
At 31 December 2020
At 31 December 2019
At 1 January 2019
Goodwill
£m
Software
£m
Technology
processes
£m
Customer
relationships
£m
Other
intangibles
£m
354.0
(7.5)
–
2.1
–
(0.1)
348.5
348.5
3.1
–
515.1
–
866.7
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
866.7
348.5
354.0
25.7
(1.1)
4.7
–
(0.1)
0.3
29.5
29.5
(0.1)
5.3
0.8
0.2
35.7
16.7
(1.0)
1.9
(0.1)
17.5
17.5
0.1
2.0
–
19.6
16.1
12.0
9.0
59.5
(3.2)
–
5.4
–
–
61.7
61.7
1.8
–
90.8
–
154.3
8.4
(0.8)
6.0
–
13.6
13.6
0.7
7.8
0.1
22.2
36.9
(1.9)
1.1
–
–
–
36.1
36.1
(1.0)
–
183.5
–
218.6
4.3
(0.2)
2.3
–
6.4
6.4
0.1
4.4
–
10.9
10.3
(0.4)
–
–
–
(0.2)
9.7
9.7
(0.5)
1.0
83.1
–
93.3
2.1
–
0.6
–
2.7
2.7
0.1
1.5
(0.1)
4.2
Total
£m
486.4
(14.1)
5.8
7.5
(0.1)
–
485.5
485.5
3.3
6.3
873.3
0.2
1,368.6
31.5
(2.0)
10.8
(0.1)
40.2
40.2
1.0
15.7
–
56.9
132.1
48.1
51.1
207.7
29.7
32.6
89.1
7.0
8.2
1,311.7
445.3
454.9
Other intangibles include trade names and brands. Intangible asset amortisation is recorded in operating costs within the income statement on
page 116.
Impairment testing for CGUs containing goodwill
The Group’s goodwill balance predominantly relates to the value of commercial and other synergies arising from the combination of acquired
businesses with Croda’s established global sales, marketing and R&D networks. This goodwill is allocated to the Group’s Cash Generating Units
(CGUs) expected to benefit from that combination based on the smallest identifiable group of assets that generate independent cash inflows.
As discussed in the accounting policies note on page 123, goodwill is tested at each year end for impairment with reference to the relevant CGU’s
recoverable amount compared to the unit’s carrying value including goodwill. Assets are grouped at the lowest level for which there are separately
identifiable cash flows relevant to the acquisition generating the goodwill. The recoverable amount is based on value in use calculations using
discounted cash flow projections with the following key assumptions:
• Terminal value growth rates – set for each CGU with reference to the long-term growth rate for the market and territory in which the CGU
operates
• Discount rate – set using a weighted average cost of capital adjusted for the specific risk profile of each CGU.
The carrying amount of goodwill is allocated to CGUs as follows:
Personal Care
Life Sciences
Performance Technologies
Industrial Chemicals
138 Croda International Plc
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Annual report and Accounts 2020
Annual Report and Accounts 2020
Standalone
CGUs
£m
390.4
156.6
24.3
6.4
577.7
Allocated
Goodwill
£m
214.7
69.8
4.5
–
289.0
2020
Total
£m
605.1
226.4
28.8
6.4
866.7
Standalone
CGUs
£m
–
93.5
23.4
6.2
123.1
Allocated
Goodwill
£m
151.4
69.5
4.5
–
225.4
2019
Total
£m
151.4
163.0
27.9
6.2
348.5
Following the acquisition of Iberchem, £63m of the total acquired goodwill has been identified and allocated to Personal Care as it relates to revenue
synergies with Croda’s existing Personal Care business. The other allocated goodwill primarily relates to £192m (2019: £192m) associated with the
2006 acquisition of Uniqema (with all other balances individually less than £10m). Due to the geographical and operational scale of the Uniqema
acquisition, this goodwill balance is tested for impairment at an operating segment level. Standalone CGUs operate independently of the Group’s
core regional operating assets, are capable of generating largely independent cash inflows and are therefore annually tested separately for
impairment.
For impairment testing performed at an operating segment level, cash flow projections are based on the Group’s current year results and a growth
rate of 3% (an appropriate view based on past experience), discounted using a weighted average cost of capital, which for these purposes has
been calculated to be approximately 8.3% pre-tax (2019: 8.3%). No reasonably possible changes in key assumptions would cause the recoverable
amount of the operating segments to be less than their carrying value. Based on the testing performed, no impairment has been recognised for the
year ended 31 December 2020.
Standalone CGUs
The carrying amount of goodwill is allocated to Standalone CGUs as follows:
Incotec
Biosector
Sipo
Ionphase
Rewitec
Avanti
Iberchem – Fragrances
Iberchem – Flavours
2020
£m
72.1
26.2
21.3
7.0
2.4
58.3
258.5
131.9
577.7
2019
£m
68.6
24.9
20.7
6.6
2.3
–
–
–
123.1
For impairment testing performed at a Standalone CGU level, Incotec cash flow projections have been based on specific estimates for five years,
with other CGUs using 10 year projections to better reflect the industry and territory in which they operate and the period through to when they are
expected to reach a steady state of operation. Unless otherwise stated, these cash flow projections assume an appropriate view of past
experience, specifically that the market share will not change significantly and that gross and operating margins will remain broadly constant. The
terminal value growth rates and discount rates applied in these CGU level calculations are set out below:
Incotec
Biosector
Sipo
Ionphase
Rewitec
Terminal value
growth rate
2019
3.0%
3.0%
4.0%
3.0%
n/a
2020
3.0%
3.0%
3.0%
3.0%
3.0%
Pre-tax
discount rate
2019
8.4%
10.2%
10.8%
10.0%
n/a
2020
8.5%
11.0%
12.7%
9.9%
10.0%
Based on the annual impairment testing performed, no impairment has been recognised for the year ended 31 December 2020, and all Standalone
CGUs remain on track to perform to our long term expectations. In forming this conclusion the Directors have reviewed sensitivity analysis which
considered all reasonably possible downsides on key assumptions, both individually and in combination, and considered whether these would give
rise to an impairment. This analysis concluded that no reasonably possible changes in key assumptions would cause the recoverable amount of the
Standalone CGUs to be less than the carrying value, other than for Biosector and Sipo.
For the Biosector CGU, the assumptions underpinning the cash flow projections used in the value in use calculation reflect an appropriate view of
past experience, specifically that gross margins will be broadly consistent and operating margins will improve as a result of forecast sales growth
(10.5% 5 year cumulative average growth rate ‘CAGR’). The estimated recoverable amount of the CGU exceeded its carrying value by
approximately £21m and therefore the Directors concluded that no impairment was required; however the calculations are sensitive to changes in
key assumptions. The key assumptions considered by the Directors, where a reasonably possible change could give rise to an impairment, were
the terminal value growth rate and discount rate. If the pre-tax discount rate assumption was increased by 2% the CGU’s recoverable amount
would be reduced to a level comparable with its carrying value. If this higher discount rate assumption was combined with a 1% decrease in the
terminal value growth rate, which, although not management’s current expectation is considered to be reasonably possible, this would lead to an
impairment charge of £6m.
Croda International Plc
Croda International Plc
Annual Report and Accounts 2020
Annual report and Accounts 2020 139
139
Financial statements
Financial statements continued
Notes to the Group Accounts continued
12. Intangible assets continued
For the Sipo CGU, the assumptions underpinning the cash flow projections used in the value in use calculation reflect an appropriate view of past
experience, specifically that gross and operating margins will be broadly consistent. Forecasts are adjusted for the scale up of a new plant (fully
operational as at the year end) driving future sales growth (8.6% 5 year CAGR) and improved profitability. The estimated recoverable amount of the
CGU exceeded its carrying value by approximately £16m and therefore the Directors concluded that no impairment was required; however the
calculations are sensitive to changes in key assumptions. The key assumptions considered by the Directors, where a reasonably possible change
could give rise to an impairment, were the terminal value growth rate and discount rate. If the pre-tax discount rate assumption was increased by
2% the CGU’s recoverable amount would be reduced to a level comparable with its carrying value. If this higher discount rate assumption was
combined with a 1% decrease in the terminal value growth rate, which, although not management’s current expectation is considered to be
reasonably possible, this would lead to an impairment charge of £1m.
Goodwill arising in the year will be subject to the same review process commencing the year after initial recognition.
13. Property, plant and equipment
Cost
At 1 January 2019
Exchange differences
Additions
Other disposals and write-offs
Reclassifications to right of use assets
At 31 December 2019
At 1 January 2020
Exchange differences
Additions
Acquisitions
Other disposals and write-offs
Reclassifications to intangible assets
At 31 December 2020
Accumulated depreciation and impairment losses
At 1 January 2019
Exchange differences
Charge for the year (note 3)
Other disposals and write-offs
Reclassifications to right of use assets
Impairments
At 31 December 2019
At 1 January 2020
Exchange differences
Charge for the year (note 3)
Other disposals and write-offs
Reclassifications
Impairments
At 31 December 2020
Net book amount
At 31 December 2020
At 31 December 2019
At 1 January 2019
The value of assets under construction not yet subject to depreciation at 31 December was as follows:
Assets under construction
Land and buildings
Plant and equipment
140 Croda International Plc
140
Croda International Plc
Annual report and Accounts 2020
Annual Report and Accounts 2020
Land and
buildings
£m
Plant and
equipment
£m
205.6
(9.2)
7.3
(0.3)
(4.8)
198.6
198.6
(0.6)
20.2
32.5
(0.1)
6.3
256.9
75.6
(4.3)
6.4
0.1
(1.9)
0.1
76.0
76.0
0.5
6.9
(0.1)
(0.1)
0.7
83.9
173.0
122.6
130.0
1,060.9
(43.5)
97.9
(4.7)
(2.8)
1,107.8
1,107.8
(11.5)
94.8
18.4
(3.3)
(6.5)
1,199.7
410.6
(20.9)
40.4
(4.5)
(1.0)
0.6
425.2
425.2
0.5
48.6
(2.9)
0.1
0.4
471.9
727.8
682.6
650.3
2020
£m
16.9
162.4
179.3
Total
£m
1,266.5
(52.7)
105.2
(5.0)
(7.6)
1,306.4
1,306.4
(12.1)
115.0
50.9
(3.4)
(0.2)
1,456.6
486.2
(25.2)
46.8
(4.4)
(2.9)
0.7
501.2
501.2
1.0
55.5
(3.0)
–
1.1
555.8
900.8
805.2
780.3
2019
£m
6.9
294.7
301.6
14. Leases
Right of use assets
Cost
At 1 January 2019 (on transition)
Exchange differences
Additions
Remeasurements
Other disposals and write-offs
Reclassifications
At 31 December 2019
At 1 January 2020
Exchange differences
Additions
Remeasurements
Acquisitions
Other disposals and write-offs
At 31 December 2020
Accumulated depreciation and impairment losses
At 1 January 2019 (on transition)
Exchange differences
Charge for the year (note 3)
Reclassifications
Impairments
At 31 December 2019
At 1 January 2020
Exchange differences
Charge for the year (note 3)
Other disposals and write-offs
Impairments
At 31 December 2020
Net book amount
At 31 December 2020
At 31 December 2019
At 1 January 2019 (on transition)
Lease liabilities
Lease liabilities included in the Group balance sheet
Current
Non-current
Land and
buildings
£m
Plant and
equipment
£m
43.3
(1.7)
6.1
(5.1)
(0.1)
5.9
48.4
48.4
(2.0)
42.6
0.2
2.4
(0.5)
91.1
–
(0.3)
7.3
2.0
0.1
9.1
9.1
(0.5)
9.0
(0.4)
0.3
17.5
73.6
39.3
43.3
2.7
(0.2)
5.5
(0.3)
(0.1)
1.7
9.3
9.3
(0.3)
1.2
0.2
0.1
(0.5)
10.0
–
–
1.5
0.9
–
2.4
2.4
(0.1)
1.6
(0.4)
–
3.5
6.5
6.9
2.7
2020
£m
10.7
71.0
81.7
Total
£m
46.0
(1.9)
11.6
(5.4)
(0.2)
7.6
57.7
57.7
(2.3)
43.8
0.4
2.5
(1.0)
101.1
–
(0.3)
8.8
2.9
0.1
11.5
11.5
(0.6)
10.6
(0.8)
0.3
21.0
80.1
46.2
46.0
2019
£m
7.8
35.7
43.5
A maturity analysis of contractual undiscounted cash flows relating to lease liabilities is presented within note 20.
In addition to the lease liabilities recognised at 31 December 2020 the Group has committed to new lease contracts, commencing in 2021, with a
total discounted value of £5.0m.
Croda International Plc
Croda International Plc
Annual Report and Accounts 2020
Annual report and Accounts 2020 141
141
Financial statements
Financial statements continued
Notes to the Group Accounts continued
14. Leases continued
Amounts recognised in the Group income statement
Interest on lease liabilities
Expenses relating to short-term leases
Expenses relating to low value leases, excluding short-term leases of low value assets
Expenses relating to variable lease components
Depreciation of right of use assets
Impairment of right of use assets
Profit on disposal of right of use assets
Total cash outflow for leases
Payment of lease liabilities
Payment of short-term, low value and variable lease components
15. Future commitments
Group capital projects
At 31 December the Directors had authorised the following expenditure on capital projects:
Contracted, but not provided for
Property, plant and equipment
Intangible assets
Authorised, but not contracted for
Property, plant and equipment
Intangible assets
16. Investments
The amounts recognised in the balance sheet are as follows:
Associate
Other investments
2020
£m
1.5
0.5
0.1
0.4
10.6
0.3
(0.1)
13.3
2020
£m
7.6
1.0
8.6
2020
£m
41.1
1.8
72.3
3.6
118.8
2020
£m
1.8
3.4
5.2
2019
£m
1.0
0.8
0.1
0.6
8.8
0.1
(0.4)
11.0
2019
£m
8.8
1.5
10.3
2019
£m
32.4
0.6
98.6
3.8
135.4
2019
£m
2.8
1.9
4.7
Other investments of £3.4m (2019: £1.9m) increased during the year as, on 21 August 2020, the Group acquired a 9% minority shareholding in
Entekno Materials, an innovative Turkish company who have invented MicNoTM Zinc Oxide technology for solar protection applications. All assets
recognised as other investments on the Group balance sheet are non-quoted equity securities measured at fair value.
The Directors believe the carrying value of the investments is supported by their underlying net assets.
The amounts recognised within administrative expenses in the income statement are as follows:
Share of loss of associate
Impairment of other investments
2020
£m
1.1
–
1.1
2019
£m
0.8
0.6
1.4
142 Croda International Plc
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Annual report and Accounts 2020
Annual Report and Accounts 2020
17. Inventories
Raw materials
Work in progress
Finished goods
The Group consumed £758.2m (2019: £746.5m) of inventories during the year.
18. Trade and other receivables
Amounts falling due within one year
Trade receivables
Less: provision for impairment of receivables
Trade receivables – net
Other receivables
Prepayments
The ageing of the Group’s year end overdue receivables against which no provision has been made is as follows:
Not impaired
Less than three months
Three to six months
Over six months
2020
£m
63.9
39.8
198.9
302.6
2020
£m
241.0
(2.5)
238.5
41.6
9.8
289.9
2020
£m
29.5
5.2
4.4
39.1
2019
£m
56.7
43.3
168.9
268.9
2019
£m
178.1
(2.2)
175.9
31.9
9.0
216.8
2019
£m
24.3
1.0
1.0
26.3
The provision for impairment of receivables principally relates to customers in unexpectedly difficult economic circumstances. The overdue
receivables against which no provision has been made relate to a number of customers for whom there is no recent history of default, nor any other
indication that settlement will not be forthcoming. The other classes within trade and other receivables do not contain impaired assets and are
considered to be fully recoverable. The movement in the Group’s ageing profile of receivables predominantly reflects new acquisitions in the year.
Overall the impact from COVID-19 on the Group’s provision for impairment of trade receivables has been immaterial.
The carrying amounts of the Group’s receivables are denominated in the following currencies:
Sterling
US Dollar
Euro
Other
Movements on the Group’s provision for impairment of trade receivables are as follows:
At 1 January
Exchange differences
Charged to income statement
Net write-off of uncollectible receivables
At 31 December
Amounts charged to the income statement are included within administrative expenses.
2020
£m
11.9
75.5
105.4
97.1
289.9
2020
£m
2.2
–
0.5
(0.2)
2.5
2019
£m
15.7
63.0
65.0
73.1
216.8
2019
£m
3.0
(0.1)
0.2
(0.9)
2.2
Croda International Plc
Croda International Plc
Annual Report and Accounts 2020
Annual report and Accounts 2020 143
143
Financial statements
Financial statements continued
Notes to the Group Accounts continued
19. Trade and other payables
Trade payables
Taxation and social security
Other payables
Accruals and deferred income
Contingent consideration (note 28)
2020
£m
97.8
10.3
37.6
83.8
38.1
267.6
2019
£m
63.8
8.0
30.1
60.1
2.7
164.7
All trade payables are payable within one year. Included in the above are balances payable after one year of £26.1m contingent consideration and
£1.0m (2019: £0.8m) other payables.
20. Borrowings, other financial liabilities and other financial assets
This note should be read in conjunction with the further liquidity disclosures in our accounting policies note and the Finance Review on pages 40 to
43.
Assets
Non-current assets – Investments
Current assets – Trade and other receivables (excluding prepayments)
Current liabilities
Trade and other payables (excluding taxation, social security, contingent consideration, accruals and deferred income)
US$100m 5.94% fixed rate 10 year note
US$200m 3 year term loan due 2023
Unsecured bank loans and overdrafts due within one year or on demand
Other loans
Lease liabilities
Non-current liabilities
2019 Club facility due 2025
US$200m 3 year term loan due 2023
US$100m 3.75% fixed rate 10 year note
€30m 1.08% fixed rate 7 year note
€70m 1.43% fixed rate 10 year note
£30m 2.54% fixed rate 7 year note
£70m 2.80% fixed rate 10 year note
€50m 1.18% fixed rate 8 year note
£65m 2.46% fixed rate 8 year note
US$60m 3.70% fixed rate 10 year note
Other secured bank loans
Other unsecured bank loans
Lease liabilities
2020
£m
5.2
280.1
285.3
134.4
–
7.0
30.8
11.3
10.7
194.2
218.1
138.5
73.2
26.9
62.7
30.0
70.0
44.8
65.0
43.9
1.8
1.3
71.0
847.2
2019
£m
4.7
207.8
212.5
93.1
76.4
–
21.3
11.8
7.8
210.4
136.2
–
–
25.6
59.7
30.0
70.0
42.6
65.0
45.8
0.1
1.6
35.7
512.3
During October 2020, the Group extended the existing 2019 Club facility by a further year, resetting its five-year term and resulting in a maturity date
of October 2025. Interest is charged on this agreement at a floating rate based on ICE GBP LIBOR, ICE LIBOR or EURIBOR, depending upon the
drawdown currency, plus a variable margin. In July 2020 the Group arranged a three-year amortising term loan for US$200m. Interest is charged
on this agreement at a floating rate based on ICE LIBOR plus a variable margin. The margin the Group pays on this borrowing over and above
standard rates is determined by the Group’s net debt to EBITDA ratio.
144 Croda International Plc
144
Croda International Plc
Annual report and Accounts 2020
Annual Report and Accounts 2020
Maturity profile of financial liabilities
Repayments fall due as follows:
Within one year
Bank loans and overdrafts
Other loans
Lease liabilities
After more than one year
Loans repayable
Within one to two years
Within two to five years
Five years and over
Lease liabilities
The minimum lease payments under lease liabilities fall due as follows:
Within one year
Within one to two years
Within two to five years
Five years and over
Future finance charges on lease liabilities
Present value of lease liabilities
Undiscounted maturity analysis of financial liabilities
Within one year
Bank loans and overdrafts
Other loans
Lease liabilities
After more than one year
Loans repayable
Within one to two years
Within two to five years
Five years and over
Lease liabilities
Within one to two years
Within two to five years
Five years and over
2020
£m
37.8
11.3
49.1
10.7
59.8
30.8
385.4
360.0
776.2
71.0
847.2
12.7
11.8
19.2
55.0
98.7
(17.0)
81.7
2020
£m
38.3
11.8
12.7
62.8
45.3
423.9
391.4
11.8
19.2
55.0
946.6
2019
£m
97.7
11.8
109.5
7.8
117.3
0.2
193.0
283.4
476.6
35.7
512.3
8.4
6.4
10.5
26.0
51.3
(7.8)
43.5
2019
£m
98.5
12.4
8.4
119.3
10.5
225.1
308.5
6.4
10.5
26.0
587.0
The analysis above includes estimated interest payable to maturity on the underlying loans. For the loans due after more than one year £14.3m
(2019: £10.3m) of the interest falls due within one year of the balance sheet date, £14.0m (2019: £10.3m) within one to two years, £34.0m (2019:
£28.5m) within two to five years and £22.1m (2019: £18.4m) beyond five years.
Croda International Plc
Croda International Plc
Annual Report and Accounts 2020
Annual report and Accounts 2020 145
145
Financial statements
Financial statements continued
Notes to the Group Accounts continued
20. Borrowings, other financial liabilities and other financial assets continued
Interest rate and currency profile of Group financial liabilities
Sterling
US Dollar
Euro
Other
At 31 December 2020
Sterling
US Dollar
Euro
Other
At 31 December 2019
Total
£m
254.3
287.0
270.2
95.5
907.0
278.0
175.9
131.2
44.5
629.6
Fixed
£m
165.0
117.1
134.4
–
416.5
165.0
122.2
127.9
–
415.1
Fixed rate
weighted average
Fixed period
Years
5.3
8.9
5.2
–
6.3
Interest rate
%
2.62
3.73
1.28
–
2.50
2.62
5.10
1.28
–
2.94
6.3
3.6
6.2
–
5.5
Floating
£m
89.3
169.9
135.8
95.5
490.5
113.0
53.7
3.3
44.5
214.5
Fair values
Prior to 2016, the Group did not typically utilise complex financial instruments and accordingly the only element of Group borrowings where fair
value differed from book value was the US$100m fixed rate ten-year note that was issued in 2010. In January 2020 the existing US$100m fixed
rate ten-year note matured and was repaid, this was replaced with a new US$100m fixed rate ten-year note (27 January 2020). On 27 June 2016,
the Group issued £100m and €100m of fixed rate notes. On 6 June 2019, the Group issued a further £65m, €50m and US$60m of fixed rate
notes.
The table below details a comparison of the book and fair values of the Group’s financial assets and liabilities. Where there are no readily available
market values to determine fair values, cash flows relating to the various instruments have been discounted at prevailing interest and exchange rates
to give an estimate of fair value.
Cash deposits
Other investments
2019 Club facility due 2025
US$200m 3 year term loan due 2023
US$100m 5.94% fixed rate 10 year note
US$100m 3.75% fixed rate 10 year note
€30m 1.08% fixed rate 7 year note
€70m 1.43% fixed rate 10 year note
£30m 2.54% fixed rate 7 year note
£70m 2.80% fixed rate 10 year note
€50m 1.18% fixed rate 8 year note
£65m 2.46% fixed rate 8 year note
US$60m 3.70% fixed rate 10 year note
Other bank borrowings
Other loans
Contingent consideration
Lease liabilities
Book
value
2020
£m
106.5
5.2
(218.1)
(145.5)
–
(73.2)
(26.9)
(62.7)
(30.0)
(70.0)
(44.8)
(65.0)
(43.9)
(33.9)
(11.3)
(38.1)
(81.7)
Fair
value
2020
£m
106.5
5.2
(218.1)
(145.5)
–
(82.9)
(27.5)
(67.0)
(30.9)
(75.2)
(47.5)
(68.9)
(49.9)
(33.9)
(11.3)
(38.1)
(81.7)
Book
value
2019
£m
81.9
4.7
(136.2)
–
(76.4)
–
(25.6)
(59.7)
(30.0)
(70.0)
(42.6)
(65.0)
(45.8)
(23.0)
(11.8)
(2.7)
(43.5)
Fair
value
2019
£m
81.9
4.7
(136.2)
–
(76.5)
–
(26.2)
(63.1)
(30.6)
(73.2)
(44.4)
(66.4)
(47.7)
(23.0)
(11.8)
(2.7)
(43.5)
For financial instruments with a remaining life of greater than one-year, fair values are based on cash flows discounted at prevailing interest rates.
Accordingly, the fair value of cash deposits and short-term borrowings approximates to the book value due to the short maturity of these
instruments. The same applies to trade and other receivables and payables excluded from the above analysis.
Financial instruments
Financial instruments measured at fair value use the following hierarchy:
• Quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (level 1)
• Inputs other than quoted prices included within level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly (that is, as prices) or indirectly
(that is, derived from prices) (level 2)
• Inputs for the asset or liability that are not based on observable market data (that is, unobservable inputs) (level 3).
All of the Group’s financial instruments are classed as level 2 with the exception of contingent consideration, other investments and lease liabilities,
which are classed as level 3.
146 Croda International Plc
146
Croda International Plc
Annual report and Accounts 2020
Annual Report and Accounts 2020
Borrowing facilities
As at 31 December 2020, the Group had undrawn committed facilities of £378.3m (2019: £459.9m). In addition, the Group had other undrawn
facilities of £50.1m (2019: £65.1m) available. Of the Group’s total committed facilities of £1,244.3m, £1,237.0m expire after 2021. New and repaid
borrowings disclosed in the Group Statement of Cash Flows reflect routine short-term cash management, comprising regular monthly drawdowns
and repayments on the Group’s revolving credit facilities.
Financial risk factors
The Group’s activities expose it to a variety of financial risks: currency risk, interest rate risk, liquidity risk, and credit risk. The Group’s overall risk
management strategy is approved by the Board and implemented and reviewed by the Risk Management Committee. Detailed financial risk
management is then delegated to the Group Finance department which has a specific policy manual that sets out guidelines to manage financial
risk. Regular reports are received from all sectors and regional operating units to enable prompt identification of financial risks so that appropriate
action may be taken. In the management definition of capital the Group includes ordinary and preference share capital and net debt.
Currency risk
The Group operates internationally and is exposed to currency risk arising from various currency exposures, primarily with respect to the US Dollar
and the Euro. Foreign exchange risk arises from future commercial transactions, recognised assets and liabilities and net investments in foreign
operations. Entities in the Group use foreign currency bank balances to manage their foreign exchange risk arising from future commercial
transactions, recognised assets and liabilities. The Group’s risk management policy is to manage transactional risk up to three months forward. The
Group has certain investments in foreign operations, whose net assets are exposed to foreign currency translation risk. Currency exposure arising
from the net assets of the Group’s foreign operations is not specifically hedged but is reduced primarily through borrowings denominated in the
relevant foreign currencies where it is efficient to do so.
For 2020, had the Group’s basket of reporting currencies been 10% weaker/stronger than the actual rates experienced, post-tax profit for the year
would have been £18.9m (2019: £18.2m) lower/higher than reported, primarily as a result of the translation of the profits of the Group’s overseas
entities, and equity would have been £141.5m (2019: £69.9m) lower/higher.
Interest rate risk
The Group has both interest bearing assets and liabilities. In 2016, the Group had a policy of maintaining no more than 60% of its gross borrowings
at fixed interest rates in normal circumstances. During 2016, the Group increased its amount of fixed rate debt following payment of the £136m
special dividend and consequent increase in core debt requirements. Notes were issued in the amounts of £100m and €100m with an average
maturity of 4.6 years and interest rate of 2.06%. During 2017, the policy formally increased the upper limit for fixed rate debt to 75% of gross
borrowings. During 2019, the Group increased its amount of fixed rate debt following payment of the £151.5m special dividend. Notes were issued
in the amounts of £65m, €50m and US$60m with an average maturity of 7.1 years and interest rate of 2.44%. In January 2020 the Group repaid its
US$100m ten-year note carrying a fixed rate of 5.94%, and replaced it with a US$100m ten-year note carrying a fixed rate of 3.75%. At 31
December 2020, approximately 47% of Group borrowings were at fixed rates.
At 31 December 2020, aside from the loan notes referred to above, all Group debt and cash was exposed to repricing within 12 months of the
balance sheet date.
At 31 December 2020, the Group’s fixed rate debt was at a weighted average rate of 2.50% (2019: 2.94%). The Group’s floating rate liabilities are
predominantly based on LIBOR and its overseas equivalents.
Based on the above, had interest rates moved by ten basis points in the territories where the Group has substantial borrowings, post-tax profits
would have moved by £0.4m (2019: £0.2m) due to a change in interest expense on the Group’s floating rate borrowings.
Liquidity risk
The Group actively maintains a mixture of long-term and short-term committed facilities designed to ensure that the Group has sufficient funds
available for operations and planned investments.
On a regular basis, management monitors forecasts of the Group’s cash flows against both internal targets and those targets imposed by external
lenders. The Group has substantial committed, unused facilities and the Directors are confident this situation will remain the case for the foreseeable
future.
Credit risk
The Group has no significant concentrations of credit risk. It has policies in place to ensure that sales of products are made to customers with an
appropriate credit history. Derivative counterparties and cash transactions are limited to high-credit quality financial institutions. The Group has
policies that limit the amount of credit exposure to any individual financial institution.
Croda International Plc
Croda International Plc
Annual Report and Accounts 2020
Annual report and Accounts 2020 147
147
Financial statements
Financial statements continued
Notes to the Group Accounts continued
20. Borrowings, other financial liabilities and other financial assets continued
Capital risk management
The Group’s objectives when managing capital are to safeguard the Group’s ability to continue as a going concern in order to provide returns for
shareholders and benefits for other stakeholders, as well as maintaining an optimal capital structure to reduce overall cost of capital.
In order to maintain this optimal structure, the Group may adjust the amount of dividends paid, issue new shares, return capital to shareholders or
dispose of assets to reduce net debt. Given the Group’s strong balance sheet and sustained trading growth, the Group announced a dividend
policy in 2011 of paying a dividend of between 40% and 50% of sustainable earnings. Further details can be found in the Finance Review on pages
40 to 43.
Underlying growth coupled to Return on Invested Capital (ROIC) is the key perceived driver of shareholder value within the Group. The Group’s
ROIC now stands at 14.6% against a post-tax Weighted Average Cost of Capital (WACC) of 6.2%, thus hitting the Group’s target of maintaining
ROIC at two to three times WACC. In addition, the Group employs two widely used ratios to measure its ability to service its debt. Both net
debt/EBITDA and EBITDA interest cover were well ahead of target in 2020. Further details can be found in the Finance Review on pages 40 to 43.
The Group was in compliance with its covenant requirements throughout the year. Additional information on progress against Key Performance
Indicators can be found on pages 38 and 39.
21. Provisions
At 1 January 2020
Exchange differences
Released to the income statement
Charged to the income statement
Cash paid against provisions and utilised
At 31 December 2020
Analysis of total provisions
Current
Non-current
Environmental
£m
8.1
(0.2)
(0.1)
0.2
(1.7)
6.3
Restructuring
£m
7.7
(0.1)
–
2.8
(7.7)
2.7
Other
£m
0.4
–
–
1.3
(0.1)
1.6
2020
£m
6.7
3.9
10.6
Total
£m
16.2
(0.3)
(0.1)
4.3
(9.5)
10.6
2019
£m
10.9
5.3
16.2
Provisions are made where a constructive or legal obligation has arisen from a past event, can be quantified and where the timing of the transfer of
economic benefits relating to the provisions cannot be ascertained with any degree of certainty.
The environmental provision relates to soil and potential groundwater contamination on a number of sites, both currently in use and previously
occupied, in Europe and the Americas.
In relation to the environmental provision, the Directors expect that the balance will be utilised within ten years. Provisions for remediation costs are
made when there is a present obligation, it is probable that expenditures for remediation work will be required and the cost can be estimated within
a reasonable range of possible outcomes. The costs are based on currently available facts and prior experience. Environmental liabilities are
recorded at the estimated amount at which the liability could be settled at the balance sheet date. Remediation of environmental damage typically
takes a long time to complete due to the substantial amount of planning and regulatory approvals normally required before remediation activities
can begin. In addition, increases in or releases of environmental provisions may be necessary whenever new developments occur or additional
information becomes available. Consequently, environmental provisions can change significantly and the timing and quantum of costs are inherently
uncertain. The level of environmental provision is based on management’s best estimate of the most likely outcome for each individual exposure.
The restructuring provision primarily relates to the Group’s cost saving actions in 2019. This provision is expected to be utilised within one year.
The Group has also considered the impact of discounting on its provisions and has concluded that, as a consequence of the significant utilisation
expected in a relatively short timescale, the impact is not material.
148 Croda International Plc
148
Croda International Plc
Annual report and Accounts 2020
Annual Report and Accounts 2020
22. Ordinary share capital
Ordinary shares of 10.61p (2019: 10.61p)
Allotted, called up and fully paid
At 1 January – 131,906,881 (2019: 131,906,881) ordinary shares
Issued in the year
At 31 December – 142,536,884 (2019: 131,906,881) ordinary shares
2020
£m
14.0
1.1
15.1
2019
£m
14.0
–
14.0
On 20 November 2020, following consultation with shareholders, the Company issued 10,630,003 ordinary shares at a price of 5900p per share,
raising £615.5m net of fees resulting in a share premium of £614.4m.
During 2020 options were granted to employees under the Croda International Plc Sharesave Scheme to subscribe for 74,578 ordinary shares at
an option price of 4804p per share and under the Croda International Plc International Sharesave Plan to subscribe for 226,138 ordinary shares at
an option price of 4804p per share. Conditional awards over 174,312 ordinary shares were granted under the Performance Share Plan during the
year. Also granted in the year were 7,134 shares under the Restricted Share Plan.
During the year consideration of £2.4m was received on the exercise of options over 79,126 shares. The options were satisfied with shares
transferred from the Group’s employee share trusts. Since the year end a further 383 shares have been transferred from the trusts.
The outstanding options to subscribe for ordinary shares were as follows at the balance sheet date:
Croda International Plc Sharesave Scheme
Croda International Plc International Sharesave Plan (2009)
Croda International Plc Performance Share Plan (2014)
Croda International Plc Deferred Bonus Share Plan
Croda International Plc Deferred Bonus Discretionary Arrangement
Croda International Plc Restricted Share Plan
Year
option
granted
2017
2018
2019
2020
2018
2019
2020
2018
2019
2020
2020
2018
2019
2018
2018
2019
2019
2020
Number of
shares
3,745
62,400
90,312
74,318
187,936
270,789
223,031
147,606
142,736
122,216
48,447
19,315
8,812
652
6,751
4,821
582
7,134
Price Options exercisable from
3092p 1 Nov 2020 to 30 Apr 2021
4144p 1 Nov 2021 to 30 Apr 2022
3898p 1 Nov 2022 to 30 Apr 2023
4804p 1 Nov 2023 to 30 Apr 2024
4144p 1 Nov 2021 to 30 Nov 2021
3898p 1 Nov 2022 to 30 Nov 2022
4804p 1 Nov 2023 to 30 Nov 2023
Nil 13 Mar 2021
Nil 12 Mar 2022
Nil 25 Mar 2023
Nil 29 Apr 2023
Nil 13 Mar 2021
Nil 12 Mar 2022
Nil 13 Mar 2021
Nil 20 Mar 2021
Nil 26 Mar 2022
Nil 9 Aug 2022
Nil 25 Mar 2023
23. Share-based payments
The impact of share-based payment transactions on the Group’s financial position is as follows:
Analysis of amounts recognised in the income statement:
Charged in respect of equity settled share-based payment transactions
Charged in respect of cash settled share-based payment transactions
Analysis of amounts recognised in the balance sheet:
Liability in respect of cash settled share-based payment transactions
2020
£m
2.5
11.1
13.6
9.2
2019
£m
0.1
5.0
5.1
7.6
The key elements of each scheme along with the assumptions employed to arrive at the charge in the income statement are set out below. Where
appropriate the expected volatility has been based on historical volatility considering daily share price movements over periods equal to the
expected future life of the awards and the risk free rate is based on the Bank of England’s projected nominal yield curve with appropriate duration.
Croda International Plc
Croda International Plc
Annual Report and Accounts 2020
Annual report and Accounts 2020 149
149
Financial statements
Financial statements continued
Notes to the Group Accounts continued
23. Share-based payments continued
Croda International Plc Sharesave Scheme (‘Sharesave’)
The Sharesave scheme, established in 1983 and renewed in 2013, grants options annually in September to employees of the Group at a
fixed exercise price, being the market price of the Company’s shares at the grant date discounted by up to 20%. Employees then enter into
a savings contract over three to five years and, subject to continued employment, purchase options at the end of the period based on the amount
saved. Options are then exercisable for a six month period following completion of the savings contract. For options granted in the year, the fair
value per option granted and the assumptions used in the calculation of the value are as follows:
Grant date
Share price at grant date
Exercise price
Number of employees
Shares under option
Vesting period
Expected volatility
Option life
Risk free rate
Dividend yield
Possibility of forfeiture
Fair value per option at grant date
Option pricing model
2020
10 Sep
2020
6078p
4804p
692
74,578
2019
12 Sep
2019
4948p
3898p
700
94,433
Three years Three years
20%
Six months Six months
0.5%
1.8%
7.5% p.a.
1103.4p
Black
Scholes
-0.1%
1.5%
7.5% p.a.
1337.2p
Black
Scholes
20%
A reconciliation of option movements over the year is as follows:
Outstanding at 1 January
Granted
Forfeited
Exercised
Outstanding at 31 December
Exercisable at 31 December
For options exercised in year, weighted average share price at date of exercise
Weighted average remaining life at 31 December (years)
2020
Weighted
average
exercise
price
3681p
4804p
3895p
3081p
4243p
3092p
5969p
Number
241,912
74,578
(6,659)
(79,126)
230,705
3,745
2.4
Number
263,111
94,433
(11,363)
(104,269)
241,912
6,067
2.4
2019
Weighted
average
exercise
price
3174p
3898p
3421p
2627p
3681p
2639p
4856p
Croda International Plc International Sharesave Plan 2009 (‘International’)
The International scheme, established in 1999 and renewed in 2009, has the same option pricing model, savings contract and vesting period as the
Sharesave scheme. At exercise, employees are paid a cash equivalent for each option purchased, being the difference between the exercise price
and market price at the exercise date. For options granted in the year, the fair value per option granted and the assumptions used in the calculation
of the value are as follows:
Grant date
Share price at grant date
Exercise price
Number of employees
Shares under option
Vesting period
Expected volatility
Option life
Risk free rate
Dividend yield
Possibility of forfeiture
Fair value per option at 31 December
Option pricing model
150 Croda International Plc
150
Croda International Plc
Annual report and Accounts 2020
Annual Report and Accounts 2020
2020
10 Sep
2020
6078p
4804p
2,287
226,138
2019
12 Sep
2019
4948p
3898p
2,235
299,797
Three years Three years
20%
One month One month
0.5%
1.8%
7.5% p.a.
1239.0p
Black
Scholes
-0.2%
1.4%
7.5% p.a.
1741.3p
Black
Scholes
20%
A reconciliation of option movements over the year is as follows:
Outstanding at 1 January
Granted
Forfeited
Exercised
Outstanding at 31 December
For options exercised in year, weighted average share price at date of exercise
Weighted average remaining life at 31 December (years)
2020
Weighted
average
exercise
price
3704p
4804p
3725p
3106p
4262p
6063p
Number
726,941
226,138
(48,929)
(222,394)
681,756
1.9
Number
810,102
299,797
(67,852)
(315,106)
726,941
1.9
2019
Weighted
average
exercise
price
3197p
3898p
3396p
2653p
3704p
4841p
Croda International Plc Performance Share Plan 2014 (‘PSP’)
The PSP scheme was established in 2014 and replaced the Company’s previous Executive long term incentive plans. The PSP provides for awards
of free shares (ie either conditional shares or nil-cost options) normally made annually which vest after three years dependent upon an EPS
performance related sliding scale (non-market condition), an NPP growth measure (non-market condition), sustainability conditions in relation to
decarbonisation roadmaps and emissions (non-market conditions) and the Group’s total shareholder return (market condition). The PSP is
discussed in detail in the Directors’ Remuneration Report (pages 76 to 101). Shares (on an after tax basis) are subject to a two year post vesting
holding period. For options granted in the year, the fair value per option granted and the assumptions used in the calculation of the value are as
follows:
Grant date
Share price at grant date
Number of employees
Shares under conditional award
Vesting period
Expected volatility
Dividend yield
Possibility of forfeiture
Fair value per option at grant date
Option pricing model
Market
condition
25 Mar
2020
4280p
57
81,812
Three
years
20%
2.1%
Market
condition
29 Apr
2020
4936p
2
31,491
Three
years
20%
1.8%
Non-market
condition
29 Apr
2020
4936p
2
16,956
Three
years
20%
1.8%
2020
Non-market
condition
25 Mar
2020
4280p
57
44,053
Three
years
20%
2.1%
2019
Non-market
condition
12 Mar
2019
4874p
63
90,358
Three
years
20%
1.7%
3.45% p.a. 3.45% p.a. 3.45% p.a. 3.45% p.a. 3.45% p.a. 3.45% p.a.
4623p
Closed
form
valuation
Market
condition
12 Mar
2019
4874p
63
60,239
Three
years
20%
1.7%
4021p
Closed
form
valuation
3022p
Closed
form
valuation
4676p
Closed
form
valuation
3352p
Closed
form
valuation
2315p
Closed
form
valuation
A reconciliation of option movements over the year is as follows:
Outstanding at 1 January
Granted
Forfeited
Exercised
Outstanding at 31 December
For options exercised in year, weighted average share price at date of exercise
Weighted average remaining life at 31 December (years)
2020
Weighted
average
exercise
price
–
–
–
–
–
4259p
Number
513,956
174,312
(112,018)
(115,245)
461,005
1.3
Number
656,684
150,597
(36,553)
(256,772)
513,956
1.0
2019
Weighted
average
exercise
price
–
–
–
–
–
5055p
Croda International Plc Deferred Bonus Share Plan (‘DBSP’)
The DBSP scheme was established in 2014. Under the DBSP, one third of any annual bonuses due to certain senior executives are deferred. The
size of award is determined by the amount of the total bonus divided by one third and converted into a number of Croda shares using the market
value of shares at the time the award is granted. Awards are increased by the number of shares equating to the equivalent value of any dividend
paid during the option period. The awards vest on the third anniversary of the date of grant, unless the recipient has been dismissed for cause.
There are no performance conditions applied to the award. The DBSP is also discussed in the Directors’ Remuneration Report (pages 76 to 101).
Croda International Plc
Croda International Plc
Annual Report and Accounts 2020
Annual report and Accounts 2020 151
151
Financial statements
Financial statements continued
Notes to the Group Accounts continued
23. Share-based payments continued
Grant date
Share price at grant date
Number of employees
Shares under conditional award
Vesting period
A reconciliation of option movements over the year is as follows:
Outstanding at 1 January
Granted
Dividend enhancement
Exercised
Outstanding at 31 December
For options exercised in year, weighted average share price at date of exercise
Weighted average remaining life at 31 December (years)
2020
2019
12 Mar
2019
–
4874p
–
10
–
8,538
–
– Three years
2020
Weighted
average
exercise
price
–
–
–
–
–
4259p
Number
127,588
–
422
(99,883)
28,127
0.5
Number
196,808
8,538
2,143
(79,901)
127,588
0.5
2019
Weighted
average
exercise
price
–
–
–
–
–
5050p
Croda International Plc Deferred Bonus Discretionary Share Arrangement
In addition to the awards under the DBSP, nil cost options over 652 shares have been awarded to similarly defer bonus entitlement where the
DBSP cannot be used due to employment having ceased before the grant date. These options will be deemed to be exercised automatically on the
date falling three years after the date of grant. As of 31 December 2020, the weighted average remaining life was 0.2 years.
Croda International Plc Restricted Share Plan (‘RSP’)
The RSP scheme was established in 2018 and provides for awards of free shares or cash equivalent to a limited number of employees not eligible
for the PSP scheme, based on a percentage of salary. The awards vest on the third anniversary of the date of grant, subject to the condition that
the employee remains employed by the Group. There are no performance conditions applied to the award. On the vesting date, UK employees will
be awarded free shares and non-UK employees will be paid a cash equivalent based on the market price.
Grant date
Share price at grant date
Number of employees
Shares under conditional award
Vesting period
Expected volatility
Dividend yield
Possibility of forfeiture
Fair value per option at grant date
Option pricing model
9 Aug
2019
4744p
2
582
2020
25 Mar
2020
4280p
35
7,134
2019
26 Mar
2019
4946p
32
5,552
Three years Three years Three years
20%
1.8%
3.45% p.a. 3.45% p.a. 3.45% p.a.
4694p
Closed
form
valuation
4021p
Closed
form
valuation
4502p
Closed
form
valuation
20%
2.1%
20%
1.8%
A reconciliation of option movements over the year is as follows:
Outstanding at 1 January
Granted
Forfeited
Exercised
Outstanding at 31 December
For options exercised in year, weighted average share price at date of exercise
Weighted average remaining life at 31 December (years)
2020
Weighted
average
exercise
price
–
–
–
–
–
–
Number
12,393
7,134
(239)
–
19,288
1.3
2019
Weighted
average
exercise
price
–
–
–
–
–
–
Number
6,751
6,134
(492)
–
12,393
1.7
Croda International Plc Share Incentive Plan (‘SIP’)
The SIP was established in 2003 and has similar objectives to the Sharesave scheme in terms of increasing employee retention and share
ownership. Under the SIP scheme, employees enter into an agreement to purchase shares in the Company each month. For each share
purchased by an employee, the Company awards a matching share which passes to the employee after three years’ service. The matching shares
are allocated each month at market value with this fair value charge being recognised in the income statement in full in the year of allocation.
152 Croda International Plc
152
Croda International Plc
Annual report and Accounts 2020
Annual Report and Accounts 2020
24. Preference share capital
The authorised, issued and fully paid preference share capital comprises:
615,562 5.9% preference shares of £1 (2019: 615,562)
498,434 6.6% preference shares of £1 (2019: 498,434)
21,900 7.5% preference shares of £1 (2019: 21,900)
2020
£m
0.6
0.5
–
1.1
2019
£m
0.6
0.5
–
1.1
The preference shares have no redemption rights and carry no voting rights other than in certain circumstances affecting the rights of the preference
shareholders, details of which are set out in the Company’s Articles of Association. The three classes of preference shares rank pari passu with
each other but ahead of the ordinary shares on a winding up. Rights on a winding up are limited to repayment of capital and any arrears of
dividends.
25. Shareholders’ equity
Croda International Plc Qualifying Share Ownership Trust (QUEST), Croda International Plc Employee Benefit Trust (CIPEBT) and Croda International
Plc AESOP Trust (AESOP) each hold shares purchased on the open market or transferred from treasury shares to satisfy the future issue of shares
under the Group’s share option schemes. As at 31 December 2020 the QUEST had a net amount due from the Company of £13.6m (2019:
£11.1m) and held 93,221 (2019: 172,952) shares transferred at a nil cost (2019: nil cost) with a market value of £6.1m (2019: £8.9m). As at 31
December 2020 the CIPEBT was financed by a repayable on demand loan to the Company of £21.9m (2019: £12.6m) and held 910 (2019: 910)
shares transferred at a nil cost (2019: nil cost) with a market value of £0.1m (2019: £0.1m).
As at 31 December 2020 the AESOP had issued all its previously held shares, as financed by the Company, and thus had no residual loan balance
with the Company. All of the shares held by the QUEST and CIPEBT were under option at 31 December 2020 and, except for a nominal amount,
the right to receive dividends has been waived.
As at 31 December 2020 the total number of treasury shares held was 3,018,203 (2019: 3,018,203) with a market value of £199.1m
(2019: £154.5m).
26. Non-controlling interests in equity
At 1 January
Exchange differences
Acquisition of subsidiary with non-controlling interests
Income allocated to non-controlling interests
At 31 December
2020
£m
7.0
0.1
2.2
–
9.3
2019
£m
7.5
(0.4)
–
(0.1)
7.0
27. Related party transactions
The Group has no related party transactions, with the exception of remuneration paid to key management and Directors which is included in note
10.
28. Business combinations
2020 Acquisitions
On 12 August 2020, the Group acquired 100% of the shares and voting interests of Avanti Polar Lipids, LLC, a knowledge-intensive leader in lipid-
based drug delivery technologies for next generation pharmaceuticals. Based in Alabama in the US, Avanti creates and makes high-purity polar
lipids that are increasingly being used as delivery systems for complex therapeutic drugs and in next-generation mRNA vaccines. The acquisition will
continue to operate under its existing brand, led by the current management team, and will form part of our Health Care business (Life Sciences
sector). The acquisition will more than double Croda’s research and development (R&D) capability in drug delivery and also provide a new channel
to market for Croda’s ingredients for early-stage pharmaceutical research.
On 24 November 2020, the Group acquired 100% of the shares and voting interests of Fragrance Spanish Topco, S.L. trading as Iberchem
(‘Iberchem’), a leading global fragrances and flavours (F&F) company. Headquartered in Murcia, Spain, Iberchem has approximately 850
employees, 14 manufacturing facilities, 10 R&D centres and a commercial presence in 120 countries. The acquisition will form part of the new
Consumer Care sector from 2021. The acquisition will create a new full service formulation and fragrance offering for Personal Care and Home Care
as well as providing access to a high growth adjacency in the global F&F market with significant exposure to emerging markets.
Croda International Plc
Croda International Plc
Annual Report and Accounts 2020
Annual report and Accounts 2020 153
153
Financial statements
Financial statements continued
Notes to the Group Accounts continued
28. Business combinations continued
The following table summarises the Directors’ provisional assessment of the consideration paid in respect of the acquisitions, and the fair value of
assets acquired and liabilities assumed.
Consideration (inclusive of contingent consideration)
Fair value of assets and liabilities acquired
Intangible assets
Property, plant & equipment
Right of use assets
Inventories
Trade and other receivables1
Cash and cash equivalents
Trade and other payables
Lease liabilities
Deferred tax
Total identifiable net assets
NCI, based on their proportionate interest in the recognised amounts of the assets and liabilities
Goodwill
Avanti
£m
173.9
91.5
21.5
–
7.7
7.3
1.1
(16.3)
–
–
112.8
–
61.1
Iberchem
£m
756.5
266.7
29.4
2.5
25.7
60.7
28.4
(41.3)
(2.6)
(64.8)
304.7
(2.2)
454.0
1. The fair value of Avanti and Iberchem’s trade and other receivables on acquisition included gross contractual amounts of £7.3m and £67.8m respectively.
Total consideration for Avanti is inclusive of £35.5m contingent consideration, representing the gross fair value at the date of acquisition of £42.1m
before discounting. The contingent consideration is capped at a maximum of £46.0m (undiscounted) excluding a potential maximum payable of
£11.5m in relation to post acquisition employment (which will be charged to the Income Statement). The additional consideration is payable semi-
annually over three years based on the revenue from near-term commercial opportunities using Avanti’s lipid-based solutions which were not
included in the valuation for payment of the initial consideration. Iberchem consideration represents cash only.
Goodwill is attributable to the synergies expected to arise from the combination of the acquired technologies and the Group’s global sales and
marketing network. Avanti goodwill will be tax deductible. Iberchem goodwill will not be deductible for tax purposes.
Acquisition-related costs of £11.7m have been charged to administration expenses in the income statement for the year ended 31 December 2020
(2019: £0.3m). Post acquisition Avanti and Iberchem contributed revenue of £29.5m and £22.1m and adjusted operating profit of £7.9m and
£4.7m, respectively. Had the acquisitions been made on 1 January 2020, the Group’s revenue would have been £1,547.1m with adjusted
operating profit of £347.1m.
2019 Acquisitions
On 16 July 2019, the Group acquired Rewitec® GmbH, a German based technology business specialising in improving the efficiency and longevity
of wind turbines and moving machinery through the application of their patented additives. Rewitec was acquired for consideration of £6.8m, with
identifiable net assets of £4.4m, generating goodwill of £2.4m. During 2020, the Group completed the fair value review relating to its 2019
acquisition. This review did not identify any changes to the asset base or goodwill.
29. Contingent liabilities
The Group is subject to various claims which arise from time to time in the course of its business including, for example, in relation to commercial
matters, product quality or liability, employee matters and tax audits. The Group is also involved in certain environmental legal actions and
proceedings, which relate to our operations in the USA and are a matter of public record. These matters are reviewed on a regular basis and where
possible an estimate is made of the potential financial impact on the Group. In appropriate cases a provision is recognised based on advice, best
estimates and management judgement. Where it is too early to determine the likely outcome of these matters, no provision is made. The Group
also considers it has insurance in place in relation to any significant contingent liabilities. Whilst the Group cannot predict the outcome of any current
or future such matters with any certainty, it currently believes the likelihood of any material liabilities to be remote, and that such liabilities, if any, will
not have a material adverse effect on its consolidated income, financial position or cash flows.
30. Post balance sheet events
Subsequent to 31 December 2020 the Group has agreed to acquire botanicals specialist Alban Muller to expand our portfolio of natural beauty
ingredients for a total consideration of €25m. The acquisition is expected to complete in March 2021.
154 Croda International Plc
154
Croda International Plc
Annual report and Accounts 2020
Annual Report and Accounts 2020
Company Financial Statements
Company Balance Sheet
at 31 December 2020
Fixed assets
Intangible assets
Tangible assets
Investments
Shares in Group undertakings
Other investments other than loans
Current assets
Debtors
Deferred tax asset
Cash and cash equivalents
Current liabilities
Creditors: Amounts falling due within one year
Borrowings
Net current assets
Total assets less current liabilities
Non-current liabilities
Borrowings
Retirement benefit liabilities
Net assets
Capital and reserves
Ordinary share capital
Preference share capital
Called up share capital
Share premium account
Reserves1
Total shareholders’ funds
1. Included within Reserves is profit after tax of £43.0m (2019: £49.6m)
The financial statements on pages 155 to 161 were approved by the Board on 1 March 2021 and signed
on its behalf by
Anita Frew
Chair
Jez Maiden
Group Finance Director
Registered in England number 206132
Note
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
K
L
2020
£m
0.8
1.5
1,369.5
–
1,371.8
1,479.5
0.1
–
1,479.6
(64.9)
(0.4)
(65.3)
1,414.3
2019
£m
0.2
1.7
561.1
–
563.0
1,632.5
0.4
2.6
1,635.5
(52.8)
(12.6)
(65.4)
1,570.1
2,786.1
2,133.1
(495.4)
(0.7)
(496.1)
(389.0)
(2.0)
(391.0)
2,290.0
1,742.1
15.1
1.1
16.2
707.7
1,566.1
2,290.0
14.0
1.1
15.1
93.3
1,633.7
1,742.1
Croda International Plc
Croda International Plc
Annual Report and Accounts 2020
Annual report and Accounts 2020 155
155
Financial statements
Financial statements continued
Company Financial Statements continued
Company Statement of Changes in Equity
for the year ended 31 December 2020
At 1 January 2019
Profit for the year attributable to equity shareholders
Other comprehensive expense
Transactions with owners:
Dividends on equity shares
Share-based payments
Transactions in own shares
Total transactions with owners
Total equity at 31 December 2019
At 1 January 2020
Profit for the year attributable to equity shareholders
Other comprehensive income
Transactions with owners:
Dividends on equity shares
Share-based payments
Issue of ordinary shares
Transactions in own shares
Total transactions with owners
Share
capital
£m
15.1
Share
premium
account
£m
93.3
Capital
redemption
reserve
£m
0.9
Note
Retained
Revaluation
earnings
reserve
£m
£m
2.1 1,853.3
Total
£m
1,964.7
8
8
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
15.1
93.3
15.1
93.3
–
–
–
–
1.1
–
1.1
–
–
–
–
614.4
–
614.4
–
–
–
–
–
–
0.9
0.9
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
49.6
(0.9)
49.6
(0.9)
(266.9)
(0.1)
(4.3)
(271.3)
(266.9)
(0.1)
(4.3)
(271.3)
2.1 1,630.7
1,742.1
2.1 1,630.7
1,742.1
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
43.0
9.7
43.0
9.7
(115.9)
2.5
–
(6.9)
(120.3)
(115.9)
2.5
615.5
(6.9)
495.2
Total equity at 31 December 2020
16.2
707.7
0.9
2.1 1,563.1
2,290.0
On 20 November 2020, following consultation with shareholders, the Company issued 10,630,003 ordinary shares at a price of 5900p per share,
raising £615.5m net of fees resulting in a share premium of £614.4m.
Of the retained earnings, £720.0m (2019: £659.9m) are realised and £843.1m (2019: £970.8m) are unrealised. Details of investments in own shares
are disclosed in note 25 of the Group financial statements.
156 Croda International Plc
156
Croda International Plc
Annual report and Accounts 2020
Annual Report and Accounts 2020
Notes to the Company Financial Statements
The principal accounting policies applied in the preparation of these financial statements are set out below. These policies have been applied
consistently to all years presented, unless otherwise stated.
A. Accounting policies
Basis of accounting
The Company meets the definition of a qualifying entity under Financial Reporting Standard 100 (FRS 100) issued by the Financial Reporting
Council. Accordingly, the Company has adopted FRS 101 ‘Reduced Disclosure Framework’ and has ceased to apply all UK Accounting Standards
issued prior to FRS 100. Therefore the recognition, measurement and disclosure requirements of international accounting standards in conformity
with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 (‘Adopted IFRSs’), with amendments where necessary in order to comply with the requirements
of the Companies Act 2006 (‘the Act’) have been applied. The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention, in
compliance with the provisions of the Act and the requirements of the Listing Rules of the Financial Conduct Authority.
As permitted by FRS 101, the Company has taken advantage of the disclosure exemptions available under the standard in relation to
share-based payments, financial instruments, capital management, presentation of comparative information in respect of certain assets,
presentation of a cash flow statement, standards not yet effective, impairment of assets and related party transactions. Where required, equivalent
disclosures are provided in the Group financial statements of Croda International Plc.
Going concern
The financial statements which appear on pages 155 to 161 have been prepared on a going concern basis as, after making appropriate enquiries,
including a review of forecasts, budgets and banking facilities, the Directors have a reasonable expectation that the Company has adequate
resources to continue in operational existence.
Principal accounting policies
The accounting policies which have been applied by the Company when preparing the financial statements are in accordance with FRS 101. FRS
101 is based on the recognition and measurement requirements of Adopted IFRSs, under which the Group financial statements have been
prepared. As a result, the accounting policies of the Company are consistent with those used by the Group as presented on pages 121 to 127,
except for those relating to the recognition and measurement of goodwill and the recognition of revenue, which are not directly relevant to the
Company financial statements.
The Group accounting policy for financial risk factors is also relevant to the preparation of the Company financial statements and is disclosed on
pages 147 and 148.
B. Profit and loss account
Of the Group’s profit for the year, £43.0m (2019: £49.6m) is included in the profit and loss account of the Company which was approved by the
Board on 1 March 2021 but which is not presented as permitted by Section 408 Companies Act 2006.
Included in the Company profit and loss account is a charge of £0.1m (2019: £0.1m) in respect of the Company’s audit fee.
C. Employees
Company employment costs including Directors
Wages and salaries
Share-based payment charges (note M)
Social security costs
Post-retirement benefit costs
Average employee numbers by function
Production
Administration
2020
£m
6.7
1.2
1.1
0.7
9.7
2019
£m
6.6
0.9
1.1
0.6
9.2
2020
Number
2019
Number
15
39
54
18
39
57
As required by the Companies Act 2006, the figures disclosed above are weighted averages based on the number of employees including
Executive Directors. At 31 December 2020, the Company had 54 (2019: 54) employees in total.
Detailed information concerning Directors’ remuneration, interests and options is shown in section D of the Directors’ Remuneration Report which is
subject to audit on pages 91 to 99 which forms part of the Annual Report and Accounts.
Croda International Plc
Croda International Plc
Annual Report and Accounts 2020
Annual report and Accounts 2020 157
157
Financial statements
Financial statements continued
Notes to the Company Financial Statements continued
D. Intangible assets
Cost
At 1 January 2020
Additions
At 31 December 2020
Accumulated amortisation
At 1 January 2020
Charge for the year
At 31 December 2020
Net carrying amount
At 31 December 2020
At 31 December 2019
E. Tangible assets
Cost
At 1 January 2020
Additions
Disposals
At 31 December 2020
Accumulated depreciation
At 1 January 2020
Charge for the year
Disposals
At 31 December 2020
Net book amount
At 31 December 2020
At 31 December 2019
F. Shares in Group undertakings
Cost
At 1 January 2020
Exchange differences
Additions
Amounts repaid
At 31 December 2020
Impairment
At 1 January 2020
Impairment in the year
At 31 December 2020
Net book value
At 31 December 2020
At 31 December 2019
Computer
software
£m
1.0
0.6
1.6
0.8
–
0.8
0.8
0.2
Total
£m
4.0
0.1
(0.1)
4.0
2.3
0.3
(0.1)
2.5
1.5
1.7
Total
£m
590.4
4.5
875.4
(71.5)
1,398.8
29.3
–
29.3
Land and
buildings
£m
Plant and
equipment
£m
2.2
–
–
2.2
1.4
0.1
–
1.5
0.7
0.8
Shares
£m
339.9
–
771.4
–
1,111.3
27.8
–
27.8
1.8
0.1
(0.1)
1.8
0.9
0.2
(0.1)
1.0
0.8
0.9
Loans
£m
250.5
4.5
104.0
(71.5)
287.5
1.5
–
1.5
1,083.5
312.1
286.0
249.0
1,369.5
561.1
The undertakings which affect the financial statements are listed on pages 162 to 164.
Additions to shares in the year include £770.0m in relation to the acquisition of Fragrance Spanish Topco, S.L. (‘Iberchem’) and £1.4m of capital
contributions in relation to share based payments.
The Directors believe that the carrying value of the investments is supported by their underlying net assets or forecast cash generation.
158 Croda International Plc
158
Croda International Plc
Annual report and Accounts 2020
Annual Report and Accounts 2020
G. Other investments other than loans
At 1 January
Impairment
At 31 December
2020
£m
–
–
–
2019
£m
0.6
(0.6)
–
Other investments decreased during 2019 following a review of their carrying value which resulted in an impairment charge of £0.6m.
H. Debtors
Amounts owed by Group undertakings
Corporation tax
Other receivables
Prepayments
2020
£m
1,452.2
27.0
0.1
0.2
1,479.5
2019
£m
1,589.6
42.1
0.5
0.3
1,632.5
Although the amounts owed by Group undertakings have no fixed date of repayment, £1,450.2m (2019: £1,585.1m) is expected to be collected
after one year. Of the amount at 31 December 2020, £1,449.6m will continue to attract interest from 1 January 2021 at a floating rate based on the
main facility agreement. The remainder will continue to be interest free.
I. Deferred tax
The deferred tax balances included in the balance sheet are attributable to the following:
Retirement benefit obligations
The movement on deferred tax balances during the year is summarised as follows:
At 1 January
Deferred tax charged through the profit and loss account
Deferred tax (charged)/credited to other comprehensive income
At 31 December
2020
£m
0.1
0.4
(0.2)
(0.1)
0.1
Deferred tax assets were recognised in all cases where such assets arose, as it was probable that the assets would be recovered.
J. Creditors: Amounts falling due within one year
Amounts falling due within one year
Trade payables
Taxation and social security
Amounts owed to Group undertakings
Other payables
Accruals and deferred income
The amounts owed to Group undertakings are interest free, unsecured and have no fixed date of repayment.
2020
£m
2.3
1.5
51.0
3.3
6.8
64.9
2019
£m
0.4
(0.2)
–
0.6
0.4
2019
£m
–
1.5
46.8
3.4
1.1
52.8
Croda International Plc
Croda International Plc
Annual Report and Accounts 2020
Annual report and Accounts 2020 159
159
Financial statements
Financial statements continued
Notes to the Company Financial Statements continued
K. Borrowings
The Company’s objectives, policies and strategies in respect of financial instruments are outlined in the accounting policies note on page 126 which
forms part of the Annual Report and Accounts. Short term receivables and payables have been excluded from all of the following disclosures.
Maturity profile of financial liabilities
2019 Club facility due 2025
€30m 1.08% fixed rate 7 year note
€70m 1.43% fixed rate 10 year note
£30m 2.54% fixed rate 7 year note
£70m 2.80% fixed rate 10 year note
€50m 1.18% fixed rate 8 year note
£65m 2.46% fixed rate 8 year note
Bank loans and overdrafts repayable on demand
Repayments fall due as follows:
Within one year
Bank loans and overdrafts
After more than one year
Loans repayable
Within one to five years
After five years
L. Post-retirement benefits
2020
£m
196.1
26.8
62.7
30.0
70.0
44.8
65.0
0.4
495.8
0.4
0.4
252.9
242.5
495.4
2019
£m
96.1
25.6
59.7
30.0
70.0
42.6
65.0
12.6
401.6
12.6
12.6
151.7
237.3
389.0
In line with the requirements of FRS 101, the Company recognises its share of the UK pension scheme assets and liabilities. A full reconciliation of
the Group retirement benefit obligation can be found in note 11 of the Group financial statements on pages 134 to 137. The table below shows the
movement in the obligation during the year.
Opening balance:
Assets
Liabilities
Net opening retirement benefit (liability)/asset
Movements in the year:
Service cost – current
Service cost – past
Interest cost
Contributions
Remeasurements
Closing balance
2020
£m
53.2
(55.2)
(2.0)
(0.7)
–
–
1.4
0.6
(0.7)
2019
£m
48.7
(47.5)
1.2
(0.6)
0.1
0.1
0.5
(3.3)
(2.0)
160 Croda International Plc
160
Croda International Plc
Annual report and Accounts 2020
Annual Report and Accounts 2020
M. Share-based payments
The total charge for the year in respect of share-based remuneration schemes was £1.2m (2019: £0.9m). The grant by the Company of options
over its equity instruments to the employees of subsidiary undertakings in the Group is treated as a capital contribution. The fair value of employee
services received, measured by reference to the grant date fair value, is recognised over the vesting period as an increase to investment in
subsidiary undertakings, with a corresponding credit to equity.
The key elements of each scheme along with the assumptions employed to arrive at the charge in the profit and loss account are set
out in note 23 to the Group financial statements.
N. Contingent liabilities
The Company has guaranteed loan capital and bank overdrafts of subsidiary undertakings amounting to £285.3m (2019: £162.3m).
O. Dividends
Details of dividends are disclosed in note 8 of the Group financial statements.
P. Related party transactions
The Company has taken advantage of the exemption available under FRS 101 from disclosing transactions with other Group undertakings. There
were no other related party transactions during the year. Information on the Group can be found in note 27 on page 153 of the Group financial
statements.
Croda International Plc
Croda International Plc
Annual Report and Accounts 2020
Annual report and Accounts 2020 161
161
Financial statements
Other information
Related Undertakings
Related undertakings of Croda International Plc
All companies listed below are owned by the Group and all interests are in ordinary share capital, except where otherwise indicated.
All subsidiaries have been consolidated. All companies operate principally in their country of incorporation. Unless otherwise indicated,
all shareholdings represent 100% of the issued share capital of the subsidiary.
Wholly owned subsidiaries:
Incorporated in the UK
Cowick Hall, Snaith, Goole, East Yorkshire, DN14 9AA
Bio Futures Limited (vii)
Brookstone Chemicals Limited (viii)
Cowick Hall Trustees Limited (xi)
Croda (Goole) Limited (viii)
Croda Application Chemicals Limited (viii)
Croda Bakery Services Limited (viii)
Croda Bowmans Chemicals Limited (v) (viii)
Croda CE Limited (viii)
Croda Chemicals Limited (viii)
Croda Colloids Limited (viii)
Croda Cosmetics & Toiletries Limited (i) (v) (viii)
Croda Cosmetics (Europe) Limited (iii) (viii)
Croda Distillates Limited (i) (x)
Croda Enterprises Limited (viii)
Croda Europe Limited (i) (vii)
Croda Fire Fighting Chemicals Limited (viii)
Croda Food Services Limited (viii)
Croda Foundation (xiv)
Croda Hydrocarbons Limited (viii)
Croda Investments Limited (ix)
Croda Investments No 2 Limited (ix)
Croda Investments No 3 Limited (ix)
Croda JDH Limited (viii)
Croda Leek Limited (viii)
Croda Limited (viii)
Croda Overseas Holdings Limited (i) (ix)
Croda Pension Trustees Limited (viii)
Croda Polymers International Limited (i) (ix)
Croda Resins Limited (viii)
Croda Solvents Limited (iii) (iv) (viii)
Croda Trustees Limited (viii)
Croda Universal Limited (viii)
Croda World Traders Limited (i) (v) (viii)
P.I. Bioscience Limited (vii)
Plant Impact Limited (ix)
John L Seaton & Co Limited (viii)
Southerton Investments Limited (i) (viii)
Sowerby & Co Limited (viii)
Technical and Analytical Services Limited (i) (viii)
Uniqema Limited (i) (viii)
Uniqema UK Limited (i) (viii)
c/o Cutitronics Limited, Torus Building, Rankine Avenue,
Scottish Enterprise Technology Park, East Kilbride, G75 0QF
Croda (CPI) Limited (ix)
Incorporated in China
Unit BCD, 19 Floor, Urban City Center, No.45,
Nanchang Road, Shanghai
Croda China Trading Company Ltd (vii)
191 Dong Jiang Street, GET Development Zone, 510730
Guangzhou
Guangzhou Iberchem, Co. Ltd. (vii)
2nd Floor, No. 21, Eastern of Yonyou Industrial Park, No. 9
Yongfeng Road, Haidian District, Beijing
Incotec (Beijing) Agricultural Technology Co. Ltd (vii)
No. 2 Plant, No. 1 QuanFeng Road, Wuqing Development Zone,
Wuqing District, Tianjin
Incotec (Tianjin) Agricultural Technology Co. Ltd (vii)
No.3 Plant, No.202, Huashan Road, Modern Industrial Zone, Tianjin
Development Zone, Tianjin
Incotec (Tianjin) Agricultural Science & Technology Co. Ltd (vii)
Room 3010, Guangzhou International Trade Center, No. 1, LinHe
Road West, Guangzhou
IonPhasE (Guangzhou) Special Polymers Co., Ltd (vii)
Incorporated in France
1, rue de Lapugnoy, 62920 Chocques
Croda Chocques SAS (vii)
Futura III, 1, avenue de Westphalie, 78180 Montigny-le-Bretonneux
Croda France SAS (vii)
Croda Holdings France SAS (ix)
Zone artisanale, 48230 Chanac
Crodarom SAS (vii)
29 rue du Chemin Vert, 78610, Le Perray en Yvelines
Sederma SAS (vii)
Incorporated in the Netherlands
Buurtje 1, 2802 BE Gouda
AM Coatings BV (v) (viii)
Croda EU BV (ix)
Croda Nederland B.V. (vii)
Westeinde 107, 1601 BL Enkhuizen
Incotec Europe B.V. (vii)
Incotec Group B.V. (i) (ix)
Incotec Holding B.V. (ix)
162 Croda International Plc
Croda International Plc
Annual report and Accounts 2020
Annual Report and Accounts 2020
162
Incorporated in the USA
700 Industrial Park Drive, Alabaster, AL 35007
Avanti Polar Lipids, LLC (vii)
777 Scudders Mill Road, Building 2, Suite 200, Plainsboro,
NJ 08536
Croda Americas LLC (viii)
Croda Finance Inc (viii)
Croda Inc. (vii)
Croda Inks Corp (viii)
Croda Investments Inc (ix)
Croda Storage Inc (viii)
Croda Synthetic Chemicals Inc (ix)
Mona Industries Inc (viii)
Sederma Inc (vii)
1293 Harkins Road, Salinas, CA 93901
Incotec Integrated Coating and Seed Technology, Inc. (vii)
Incorporated in other overseas countries
Hong Kong – Room 908, East Ocean Centre, No.9 Science
Museum Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, East Kowloon
Croda Hong Kong Company Ltd (vii)
Hong Kong – Kreston CAC CPA Ltd, Rooms 2702-3, 27th Floor,
Bank of East Asia Harbour View Centre, 56 Gloucester Road,
Wan Chai
IonPhaseE (H.K.) Limited (vii)
Hungary – 1117 Budapest XI, Bölcso utca 6. 1. emelet 4.
Croda Magyarorszag Kft (i) (vii)
India – Plot No. 1/1, Part TTC Industrial Area, Thane Belapur Road,
Koparkhairne, Navi Mumbai 400710, Maharashtra
Croda India Company Private Ltd (i) (v) (vii)
India – 38/A, Radhe Industrial Estate, Tajpur Road, Changodar
382213, Ahmedabad
Iberchem India Ltd(vii)
India – 47, Mahagujarat Industrial Estate, Opp. Pharma Lab,
Sarkhej-Bavla Highway, At. Moraiya, Ta. Sanand, Ahmedabad-
382213, Gujarat
Integrated Coating and Seed Technology India Pvt. Ltd (vii)
Argentina – Office Dardo Rocha 2044, 1640, Martinez, Buenos Aires
Croda Argentina SA (vii)
Indonesia – Kawasan Industri Jababeka, Jl. Jababeka IV Blok V
Kav 74-75, Cikarang Bekasi 17530
PT Croda Indonesia (iii) (iv) (vii)
Australia – Suite 2, Level 6, 111 Phillip Street, Parramatta, NSW
2150
Croda Australia (ii) (vii)
Australia – 7 Gateway Drive, Carrum Downs, Victoria 3201
Kriset Pty. Ltd (vii)
Brazil – Rua Croda, 580, Distrito Industrial, Campinas, São Paulo,
CEP 13.074-710
Croda do Brasil Ltda (vii)
Brazil – AFAS Adviser Consultores Associados Ltda, Rua Manuel
de Nóbrega, 1.280, 10º andar, Paraíso, São Paulo, CEP 04001-902
Iberchem Brazil Participaçoes Ltda (viii)
Canada – 1700 Langstaff Road, Suite 1000, Vaughan,
Ontario, L4K 3S3
Croda Canada Ltd (vii)
Chile – Los Militares 4611, 17th Floor – 7560968, Las Condes,
Santiago
Croda Chile Ltda (vi) (vii)
Colombia – Calle 90 # 19-41 Office 601, Bogotá
Croda Colombia (ii) (vii)
Colombia – Aut. Medellín km. 7, Bodega 88-02, Celta Trade Park,
Funza, Cundinamarca
Iberchem Colombia SAS(vii)
Czech Republic – Praha 5, Pekarˇská 603/12, 150 00
Croda Spol. s.r.o (vii)
Denmark – Elsenbakken 23, 3600 Frederikssund
Croda Denmark A/S (vii)
Finland – Hepolamminkatu 29, 33720 Tampere
IonPhasE Oy (vii)
Germany – Herrenpfad Süd 33, 41334 Nettetal
Croda GmbH (vii)
Sederma GmbH (vii)
Germany – Dr.-Hans-Wilhelmi-Weg 1, 35633 Lahnau
Rewitec GmbH (vii)
Guernsey – PO Box 33, Dorey Court, Admiral Park, St Peter Port,
GY1 4AT
Cowick Insurance Services Ltd (i) (xii)
Indonesia – Pusat Niaga Terpadu, JI. Daan Mogot Raya Km 19, 6
Blok GG8N, 15122 Tangerang
PT Scentium Flavours(vii)
Iran – Apt. 305, 3rd Floor, No 14 Golestan Avenue, Alikhani Avenue,
Southern Shiraz Street, Tehran
Croda Pars Trading Co (vii)
Italy – Via P. Grocco 915, 27036 Mortara
Croda Italiana S.p.A. (vii)
Italy – Via del Commercio, 2, Desio (MB)
Iberchem Italia SRL (vii)
Japan – 7-1 Nishi-shinjuku 3-chome, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 163-1001
Croda Japan KK (i) (vii)
Luxembourg – 25C Boulevard Royal, L-2449
Fragrance LuxCo1 S.à.R.L. (ix)
Fragrance LuxCo2 S.à.R.L. (ix)
Malaysia – 6 Jalan Anggerik Mokara 31/54, Kota Kemuning,
Section 31, 40460 Shah Alam, Selangor Darul Ehsan
Flavor Inn Corporation Sdn Bhd (vii)
Malaysia – Unit no. 203, 2nd floor, block C, Damansara Intan no. 1,
Jalan SS20/27, 47400, Petaling Jaya, Selangor
Incotec Malaysia Sdn. Bhd (vii)
Mexico – Hamburgo 213, Piso 10, Colonia Juárez, Delegacion
Cuauhtémoc, D.F., C.P. 06600
Croda México SA de CV (vii)
Mexico – Alfredo Nobel No. 3, 3 y 4, Col. Fraccionamiento Industrial
Los Reyes, Estado de México, 54073 Tlalnepantla
Iberchem Mexico SA de CV (vii)
Nigeria – Landmark Towers, 5B, Water Corporation Road, Victoria
Island, Lagos
Croda SI&T Nigeria Limited (vii)
Peru – Av. Juan de Aliaga 425 Of. 401, Magdalena del Mar
Croda Peruana S.A.C (vii)
Poland – ul. Wadowicka 6, 30-415 Kraków
Croda Poland Sp. z o.o. (i) (vii)
Republic of Korea – Rm. 1201, 12th Floor, 42, Hwang Sae UI-Ro
360 Beon-Gil, Bun Dang-Gu, Seong Nam-Si, Gyeong Gi-Do, 13591
Croda Korea (ii) (vii)
Croda International Plc
Croda International Plc
Annual Report and Accounts 2020
Annual report and Accounts 2020 163
163
Other information
Non-wholly owned subsidiaries and associates:
Incorporated in the UK
Torus Building, Rankine Avenue, Scottish Enterprise Technology
Park, East Kilbride, G75 0QF
Cutitronics Ltd
48.00%
3 Huxley Road, Surrey Research Park, Guildford, GU2 7RE
SiSaf Ltd
3.89%
Incorporated in other overseas countries
Brazil – Rua das Sementes nr. 291, Holambra, State of São Paulo
Incotec America do Sul Tecnologia em Sementes Ltda. (vii) 99.99%
China – No 656 East Tangxun Road Economic and Technological
Development Zone Miangyang Sichuan
Croda Sipo (Sichuan) Co., Ltd (vii)
65.00%
China – 2nd Industrial Road (E), Changleng Foreign Investment
Industrial Park II, Xinjian County, Nanchang City, Jiangxi, 330100
Nanchang Duomei Bio-Tech Co.,Ltd (vii)
70.00%
Indonesia – Pusat Niaga Terpadu, JI. Daan Mogot Raya Km 19, 6
Blok GG8N, 15122 Tangerang
PT Iberchem Indonesia Fragrances (vii)
98.00%
Malaysia – Unit no. 203, 2nd floor, block C, Damansara Intan no. 1,
Jalan SS20/27, Petaling Jaya, Selangor
Incotec Kedah (M) Sdn. Bhd (vii)
51.00%
Spain – Avenida de Holanda, Parcela 12/14, Polígono Industrial Las
Salinas, 30840 Alhama de Murcia, Murcia
Scentium Flavours, S.L. (vii)
98.60%
Sweden – Scheelevägen 22, 22363 Lund
Enza Biotech AB (xiii)
88.00%
Tunisia – 39, rue Jamel Abdennaceur, Z.I. Borj Cédria, Bir El Bey,
BP 69, 2055 Ben Arous
Iberchem Tunisie S.A.R.L. (vii)
63.70%
Turkey – Ye iltepe Mahallesi smetinönü-2 Cad. No:2/57
Tepeba i, Eski ehir
Entekno Industrial, Technological and Nano Materials Corp. 9.00%
Other information continued
Related Undertakings continued
Incorporated in other overseas countries continued
Russian Federation – Office 1333, 16 Raketnyi bulvar, Moscow,
129164
Croda RUS LLC (vii)
Singapore – 30 Seraya Avenue, Singapore 627884
Croda Singapore Pte Ltd (i) (v) (vii)
Singapore – 62 Ubi Road 1, No. 01-36 Oxley BizHub 2, Singapore
408734
Iberchem Far East Pte LTD (vii)
South Africa – Clearwater Estate Office Park, Block G, Corner of
Atlas & Park Road, Parkhaven Ext 8, Boksburg 1459
Croda (SA) (Pty) Ltd (vii)
Incotec South Africa (Pty.) Ltd (vii)
South Africa – 5 Marconi Nook, Hennopspark, Centurion, 0157
Iberchem South Africa (Pty) Ltd (vii)
Spain – Plaza. Francesc Macià, 7, 7ºB, 08029 Barcelona
Croda Ibérica SA (vii)
Spain – Avenida del Descubrimiento, Parcela 9/9, Polígono I,
30820 Alcantarilla, Murcia
Fragrance Spanish Topco, S.L. (ix)
Iberchem SA (vii)
Sweden – Geijersgatan 2B, 216 18 Limhamn
Croda Nordica AB (vii)
MX Adjuvac AB (xiii)
Vietnam – Room # 606A, Floor 6th, Centre Point Building 106
Nguyen Van Troi Street, Ward 8, Phu Nhuan District,
Ho Chi Minh City
The Representative Office of Croda Singapore Pte Ltd in
Ho Chi Minh City (ii) (vii)
Thailand – 319 Chamchuri Square Building, 16th Floor, Unit 13-
14, Payathai Road, Patumwan, Bangkok 10330
Croda (Thailand) Co., Ltd (i) (vii)
Thailand – No. 41/87 Moo 6 Bangna Trad Road Km. 16.5, Bangcha
long-Sub District, Bangplee District, 10540 Bangkok,
Samutprakarn Province
Iberchem Thailand Ltd (vii)
Turkey – Nidakule Göztepe Is¸ Merkezi, Merdivenköy Mahallesi,
Bora Sokak, No: 1 Kat:2/5 Kadıköy 34732, Istanbul
Croda Kimya Ticaret Limited Şirketi (vii)
United Arab Emirates – P. O. BOX 17916, Office 1209, 1210 & 1211,
12th Floor, Jafza One, Tower B, Jebel Ali Free Zone, Dubai
Croda Middle East FZE (vii)
United Arab Emirates – Units 2601 & 2602, Al Manara Tower, Al
Abraj St., Business Bay, P.O. Box 191160, Dubai
The Essence of Nature F&F Trading LLC (vii)
Zimbabwe – 4a Knightsbridge Crescent, Highlands, Harare
Croda Chemicals Zimbabwe Pvt Ltd (viii)
Croda Zimbabwe (Pvt) Ltd (viii)
Classifications Key
Companies owned directly by Croda International Plc
(i).
Branch office
(ii).
(iii).
A Ordinary
(iv). B Ordinary
(v).
(vi). No share capital, share of profits
(vii). Manufacture, sales or distribution of speciality chemicals, or of seed treatment
Preference including cumulative, non-cumulative and redeemable shares
services and products, or fragrances and flavours compositions
Property holding company
Trustee
(viii). Dormant
(ix). Holding company
(x).
(xi).
(xii). Captive insurance company
(xiii). Research enterprise
(xiv). Company limited by Guarantee and not having a Share Capital
164 Croda International Plc
Croda International Plc
Annual report and Accounts 2020
Annual Report and Accounts 2020
164
Shareholder Information
2021 Annual General Meeting
2020 Final ordinary dividend payment
2021 Half year results announcement
21 May 2021
4 June 2021
27 July 2021
2021 Interim ordinary dividend payment
5 October 2021
2021 Preference dividend payments
30 June 2021
2021 Full year results announcement
1 March 2022
31 December 2021
You can choose to receive payment directly
to your local bank account or alternatively
you can be sent a currency draft. You can
sign up to this service on Signal Shares
(www.signalshares.com by clicking on
‘your dividend options’ and following the
on-screen instructions) or by contacting
the Customer Support Centre. For further
information contact Link:
Investor relations
Shareholders can now get up to
date information on Stock Exchange
announcements, key dates in the corporate
calendar, the Croda share price and
brokers’ estimates by visiting our corporate
website at www.croda.com and clicking on
the section called ‘Investors’.
Dividend reinvestment plan
(‘DRIP’)
Ordinary shareholders may wish to know
about this plan, which allows you to use
your dividends to buy further shares in
Croda. The DRIP is offered to UK
shareholders only by Link Group which is
authorised and regulated by the Financial
Conduct Authority.
By phone – UK 0371 664 0300, from
overseas +44 (0)371 664 0300. Calls are
charged at the standard geographic rate
and will vary by provider. Calls outside the
United Kingdom will be charged at the
applicable international rate. Lines are open
9.00am to 5.30pm, Monday to Friday,
excluding public holidays in England
and Wales.
Shareholders can receive shareholder
communications electronically by
registering on the Registrars’ website,
www.signalshares.com and following the
instructions. To register, shareholders will
require their investor code (IVC): this is an
11 digit number starting with five or six
zeros and can be found on your dividend
tax voucher or your share certificate.
Receiving corporate communications by
email has a number of benefits including
being more environmentally friendly,
reducing unnecessary waste, faster
notification of information to shareholders
and eventually leading to a reduction in
company costs.
Shareholders who register on the above
website can also check their shareholding,
view their dividend history, choose their
dividend options, register changes of
address and dividend mandate instructions.
Share price information
The latest ordinary share price is available
on our website at www.croda.com.
The middle market values of the listed
share capital at 31 December 2020, or last
date traded*, were as follows:
Ordinary shares
5.9% preference shares
6.6% preference shares
6505.25p
93.5p*
152p*
For information and an application pack
please call 0371 664 0381. Calls are
charged at the standard geographic rate
and will vary by provider. Calls outside the
United Kingdom will be charged at the
applicable international rate. Lines are open
9.00am to 5.30pm, Monday to Friday,
excluding public holidays in England and
Wales. From outside the UK dial +44 (0)208
639 3402). Alternatively you can email
shares@linkgroup.co.uk or log on to
www.signalshares.com.
Payment of dividends
You can arrange to have your dividends
paid direct to your bank account.
This means that:
• your dividend reaches your bank account
on the payment date;
• it is more secure – cheques can
sometimes get lost in the post;
• you don’t have the inconvenience of
depositing a cheque; and
• helps reduce cheque fraud.
If you have a UK bank account you can
sign up to this service on Signal Shares
(www.signalshares.com by clicking on
‘your dividend options’ and following the
on-screen instructions) or by contacting
the Customer Support Centre.
Overseas shareholders – choose
to receive your next dividend in
your local currency
If you live outside the UK, Link has
partnered with Deutsche Bank to provide
you with a service that will convert Sterling
dividends into your local currency at a
competitive rate.
By email – ips@linkgroup.co.uk
Relating to beneficial owners of
shares with ‘information rights’
Please note that beneficial owners of shares
who have been nominated by the registered
holder of those shares to receive
information rights under section 146 of the
Companies Act 2006 are required to direct
all communications to the registered holder
of their shares rather than to the
Company’s registrar, Link Group, or to the
Company directly.
Share fraud warning
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. While high profits
are promised, if you buy or sell shares in
this way you will probably lose your money.
5,000 people contact the Financial Conduct
Authority (‘FCA’) about share fraud each
year, with victims losing an average
of £20,000.
How to avoid share fraud
• Keep in mind that firms authorised by the
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.
Croda International Plc
Croda International Plc
Annual Report and Accounts 2020
Annual report and Accounts 2020 165
165
Other information
Secretary and Registered Office
Tom Brophy (Company Secretary)
Cowick Hall, Snaith, Goole, East Yorkshire
DN14 9AA
Tel: +44 (0)1405 860551
Fax: +44 (0)1405 861767
Website: www.croda.com
Registered in England number 206132
Registrars
Link Group
10th Floor, Central Square, 29 Wellington
Street, Leeds, LS1 4DL
Tel:
0371 664 0300 (from UK)
+44 (0)371 664 0300 (from overseas)
Calls are charged at the standard geographic
rate and will vary by provider. Calls outside the
United Kingdom will be charged at the
applicable international rate; lines are open
9.00am to 5.30pm, Monday to Friday
excluding public holidays in England and
Wales.
Fax:
Website: www.linkgroup.eu
Email:
enquiries@linkgroup.co.uk
+ 44 (0)1484 601512
Independent Auditors
KPMG LLP
1 Sovereign Street, Sovereign Square,
Leeds, LS1 4DA
Principal Financial Advisers
Morgan Stanley & Co. International plc
Principal Solicitors
Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP
Stockbrokers
Morgan Stanley & Co. International plc
HSBC Bank plc
Financial PR Advisers
Teneo
Other information continued
Shareholder Information continued
• 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 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 Financial
Services Compensation Scheme.
• Think about getting independent financial
and professional advice before you hand
over any money.
Share fraud warning continued
• Remember: if it sounds too good to be
true, it probably is!
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.
You can also 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.
166 Croda International Plc
Croda International Plc
Annual report and Accounts 2020
Annual Report and Accounts 2020
166
Five Year Record
Earnings
Turnover
Covenant EBITDA4
Adjusted operating profit1
Adjusted profit before tax1
Profit after tax
Profit attributable to owners of the parent
Return on sales1 (%)
Effective tax rate1 (%)
Adjusted earnings per share1
Ordinary dividends per share
Net debt/Covenant EBITDA
Covenant EBITDA interest cover2
Summarised Balance Sheet
Intangible assets, property, plant and equipment and investments
Inventories
Trade and other receivables
Trade and other payables
Capital employed
Tax, provisions and other
Retirement benefit liabilities
Shareholders’ funds
Non-controlling interests
Net assets
Net debt
Invested capital
Return on capital
Adjusted operating profit net of tax1
Invested capital
Adjustments for:
Goodwill previously written off to reserves
Accumulated amortisation of acquired intangible assets
Adjusted invested capital
Average adjusted invested capital3
Return on invested capital (ROIC) (%)
Post-tax cost of capital (%)
Charge for invested capital
Economic value added1
2020
£m
1,390.3
433.4
319.6
300.6
201.6
201.6
23.0
24.1
pence
175.5
91.0
times
1.8
22.5
2020
£m
2,297.8
302.6
289.9
(267.6)
2,622.7
(194.8)
(32.3)
2,395.6
1,585.8
9.3
1,595.1
800.5
2,395.6
2019
£m
1,377.7
402.9
339.7
322.1
223.8
223.9
24.7
25.6
pence
185.0
90.0
times
1.4
23.3
2019
£m
1,301.4
268.9
216.8
(164.7)
1,622.4
(131.1)
(75.0)
1,416.3
861.6
7.0
868.6
547.7
1,416.3
2018
£m
1,386.9
408.6
342.5
331.5
238.3
238.5
24.7
24.6
pence
190.2
87.0
times
1.0
29.8
2018
£m
1,240.0
287.2
233.6
(191.3)
1,569.5
(127.5)
(18.5)
1,423.5
990.5
7.5
998.0
425.5
1,423.5
2017
£m
1,373.1
398.1
332.2
320.3
236.7
237.0
24.2
26.8
pence
179.0
81.0
times
1.0
29.9
2017
£m
1,072.5
258.5
202.2
(202.5)
1,330.7
(88.8)
(30.5)
1,211.4
822.3
7.6
829.9
381.5
1,211.4
2020
£m
242.6
2019
£m
252.8
2018
£m
258.2
2017
£m
243.2
2,395.6
1,416.3
1,423.5
1,211.4
50.2
36.3
2,482.1
1,665.6
14.6
6.2
(103.3)
139.3
50.2
22.7
1,489.2
1,488.9
17.0
6.2
(92.3)
160.5
50.2
14.8
1,488.5
1,343.6
19.2
5.1
(68.5)
189.7
50.2
8.2
1,269.8
1,148.6
21.2
4.8
(55.1)
188.1
2016
£m
1,243.6
358.0
298.2
288.3
197.6
196.7
24.0
28.0
pence
155.8
74.0
times
1.0
34.4
2016
£m
954.4
235.7
192.4
(188.8)
1,193.7
(74.3)
(146.5)
972.9
600.6
8.2
608.8
364.1
972.9
2016
£m
214.7
972.9
50.2
4.2
1,027.3
972.1
22.1
5.3
(51.5)
163.2
1. Before exceptional items, acquisition costs, amortisation of intangible assets arising on acquisition and the tax thereon where applicable
2. Interest excludes net interest on retirement benefit liabilities
3. The Group acquired Avanti Polar Lipids, LLC on 12 August 2020 and Fragrance Spanish Topco, S.L. (‘Iberchem’) on 24 November 2020. Given the value of the acquisitions, the
Group’s measure of average adjusted invested capital for 2020 has been adjusted for the related weighted average impact. The Group acquired Brenntag Biosector A/S on 28
December 2018. Given the value of the acquisition and its proximity to the balance sheet date, the Group’s measure of average adjusted invested capital for 2018 has been
adjusted for the related impact
4. Covenant EBITDA is EBITDA as defined in the Finance Review but before share-based payment charges and the loss on associates. Covenant EBITDA is also adjusted to reflect
the annualised impact of acquisitions in the period.
The five year record is presented based on the applicable accounting standards at the relevant reporting date.
Croda International Plc
Croda International Plc
Annual Report and Accounts 2020
Annual report and Accounts 2020 167
167
Other information
Glossary
Adjusted
Before exceptional items, acquisition costs, amortisation of
intangible assets arising on acquisition and the tax thereon
where applicable
AGM
ALM
Annual General Meeting
Asset-Liability Matching
Bio-based
organic
Carbon containing from renewable and non-fossil sources
IFRS
International Financial Reporting Standards
IP
ISO
IT
KPI
LDI
Intellectual Property
International Organization for Standardization
Information Technology
Key Performance Indicator
Liability driven investment
CARE
Career Average Revalued Earnings
M&A
Mergers and acquisitions
CDP
CEO
CGU
Carbon Disclosure Project
Chief Executive Officer
Cash Generating Unit
CIPEBT
Croda International Plc Employee Benefit Trust
Code
CO2
CO2e
Constant
currency
Financial Reporting Council’s 2018 UK Corporate
Governance Code
Carbon dioxide
Carbon dioxide equivalent
Current year results for existing business translated at the
prior year’s average exchange rates
Consumer
Care
New market sector combining Personal Care, Home Care
and Iberchem from 1 January 2021
Core
Business
Personal Care, Life Sciences and Performance
Technologies
CPI
CPS
CSR
DRIP
DBSP
Consumer Price Index
Croda Pension Scheme
Corporate Social Responsibility
Dividend Reinvestment Plan
Deferred Bonus Share Plan
EBITDA
Earnings Before Interest, Taxation, Depreciation
and Amortisation
EBT
EPS
EU
EVA
F&F
FCA
FRC
FRS
Employee Benefit Trust
Earnings per share
European Union
Economic Value Added
Fragrances and flavours
Financial Conduct Authority
Financial Reporting Council
Financial Reporting Standard
FTSE
GDPR
Financial Times Stock Exchange
General Data Protection Regulation
GRASE
Generally Recognised as Safe and Effective
GHG
Greenhouse gas
GHG
emissions
– scope 1
GHG
emissions
– scope 2
GHG
emissions
– scope 3
GMP
HMRC
HR
IAS
Greenhouse gas emissions from sources that we
own or control
Greenhouse gas emissions that are a consequence of our
activities, but occur at sources owned or controlled by
another entity
All other greenhouse gas emissions that occur in
our value chain
Good Manufacturing Practice
HM Revenue & Customs
Human Resources
International Accounting Standards
168
Croda International Plc
Annual Report and Accounts 2020
Market
sectors
Personal Care, Life Sciences, Performance Technologies,
Industrial Chemicals
NCI
Non-controlling interest
Net debt
Borrowings and other financial liabilities less cash
and cash equivalents
NGO
Non-governmental Organisation
NOPAT
Net Operating Profit After Tax
NPP
NRFT
OSHA
PSP
New and protected products
Not right first time
Occupational Safety and Health Administration
Performance Share Plan
QUEST
Croda International Plc Qualifying Share Ownership Trust
R&D
Research and Development
Return on
sales
RFT
ROIC
RPI
RSP
Adjusted operating profit divided by revenue
Right first time
Return on Invested Capital
Retail Price Index
Restricted Share Plan
RSPO
Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil
SAP EHS
Environment Health & Safety module in the SAP
reporting system
SBT
SDGs
SHE
SHEQ
SIP
SMEs
STEM
TCFD
Te
TeCO2e
TRIR
TSR
UEBT
UK
Science Based Targets
United Nations Sustainable Development Goals
Safety, health, environment
Safety, health, environment, quality
Share Incentive Plan
Small and Medium Enterprises
Science, technology, engineering and mathematics
Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosure
Tonnes
Tonnes carbon dioxide equivalent
Total recordable injury rate
Total Shareholder Return
Union of Ethical BioTrade
United Kingdom
Underlying Current year results in local currency translated to
Sterling at the prior year average foreign exchange
rate excluding acquisitions
UV
WACC
WHO
Ultra violet
Weighted Average Cost of Capital
World Health Organization
Cautionary Statement
The information in this publication is believed to be accurate
at the date of its publication and is given in good faith but no
representation or warranty as to its completeness or accuracy
is made. Suggestions in this publication are merely opinions. Some
statements and in particular forward-looking statements, by their
nature, involve risks and uncertainties because they relate to events
and depend on circumstances that will or may occur in the future and
actual results may differ from those expressed in such statements as
they depend on a variety of factors outside the control of Croda
International Plc. No part of this publication should be treated as an
invitation or inducement to invest in the shares of Croda International
Plc and should not be relied upon when making investment decisions.
Designed and produced by
Black Sun Plc.
This Report is printed on
UPM Fine Offset which has
been independently certified
according to the rules of the
Forest Stewardship Council®
(FSC®).
Printed in the UK by Pureprint,
a CarbonNeutral® company.
Both manufacturing paper mill and
the printer are registered to the
Environmental Management
System ISO 14001:2004 and are
Forest Stewardship Council® (FSC)
chain-of-custody certified.
Registered office
Croda International Plc
Cowick Hall
Snaith
Goole
East Yorkshire
DN14 9AA
England
T +44 (0)1405 860551
www.croda.com
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