Quarterlytics / Daily Mail and General Trust plc

Daily Mail and General Trust plc

dmgt · LSE
Claim this profile
Ticker dmgt
Exchange LSE
Sector
Industry
Employees 10,000+
← All annual reports
FY2018 Annual Report · Daily Mail and General Trust plc
Sign in to download
Loading PDF…
Welcome to the  
Annual Report 2018

This interactive PDF allows you to find information  
and navigate around this document easily.  
It also links you to useful information on the  
web that is not part of the Annual Report.

Go to main 
home page

Search 
this PDF

Print  
PDF

Previous  
page

Next  
page

Previous
view

Go to 
specific 
page

Go to 
contents 
page

Full screen mode
This PDF is set up to view in full screen mode. To turn this  
off, e.g. to zoom in or to print, press esc and the full  
toolbar is revealed.

Links
Dynamic links within the text are indicated when the user  
rolls over hyperlinks and the mouse cursor changes to  
a pointed hand.

Satisfying  
the need  
to know

Annual Report 
2018

Daily Mail and General Trust plc

Overview

Financial Highlights

Statutory Results†

Adjusted Measures

Revenue 

Operating profit/(loss)

Revenue 

1,426m

2017: £1,564m

£169m

2017: £(129)m 

£1,426m

2017#: £1,660m 
2017 pro formaΩ: £1,564m

Operating margin*

10%

2017#: 12% 
2017 pro formaΩ: 11%

Profit/(loss) before tax 

Profit for the year 

Profit before tax*

Earnings per share*

£692m

2017: £(112)m

£688m

2017#: £342m 

£182m

2017#: £226m 
2017 pro formaΩ: £216m

42.2p

2017#: 55.6p 
2017 pro formaΩ: 54.8p

Earnings per share 

Dividend per share

Cash operating income*

Net cash/(debt)§:EBITDA

194.7p

2017#: 97.8p 

23.3p

2017: 22.7p

£155m

2017#: £199m 
2017 pro formaΩ: £181m

0.8x

2017: (1.4)x

£ million

Statutory profit/(loss) before tax 

Discontinued operations

Exceptional operating costs

Impairment of plant

Intangible impairment and amortisation

Profit on sale of assets

Pension finance (credit)/charge

Other adjustments

Adjusted profit before tax

For explanations i to vii and more detailed tables please refer to pages 27 and 28. 

† 

 Statutory revenue, operating profit and profit before tax figures are for continuing operations only 
(excluding Euromoney).

FY 2018

692

–

25

–

95

(658)

(2)

30

182

FY 2017

Explanation

(112)

523

50

42

282

(530)

5

(33)

226

i

ii

iii

iv

v

vi

vii

#  From continuing and discontinued operations.
* 

 Before exceptional items, other gains and losses, impairment of goodwill and intangible assets, 
amortisation of intangible assets arising on business combinations, pension finance charges or credits 
and fair value adjustments; see Consolidated Income Statement on page 89 and the reconciliation in 
Note 13 to the Accounts.
 Pro forma FY 2017 figures have been restated to treat Euromoney as a c.49% owned associate for the 
whole year, consistent with the ownership profile during FY 2018. See reconciliation on page 25.
 See Note 16 for details of Net cash. Net cash includes £237 million of short-term deposits maturing 
in December 2018. 

Ω 

§ 

S
t
r
a
t
e
g
i
c
R
e
p
o
r
t

G
o
v
e
r
n
a
n
c
e

F
i

n
a
n
c
i
a
l

S
t
a
t
e
m
e
n
t
s

S
h
a
r
e
h
o

l

d
e
r

I
n
f
o
r
m
a
t
i

o
n

 Go online to www.dmgt.com to find out more

   
 
 
 
Daily Mail and General Trust plc Annual Report 2018

DMGT is an international business 
built on entrepreneurialism 
and innovation.

DMGT manages a diverse, multinational portfolio of companies, 
with total revenues of around £1.4 billion, that provides 
businesses and consumers with compelling information, 
analysis, insight, events, news and entertainment. DMGT is also 
a founding investor and the largest shareholder of Euromoney 
Institutional Investor PLC.

02
Chairman’s Statement 
Maintaining a strong 
portfolio of businesses

10
CEO Review
Delivering against  
clear strategic  
priorities

06
Our Business Model 

16
Operating Business 
Reviews 

Strategic Report
Chairman’s Statement 
DMGT at a Glance 
Our Business Model 
Market Overview 
CEO Review 
Key Performance Indicators 
Operating Business Reviews 

Insurance Risk: RMS 
  Property Information 
  EdTech 
  Energy Information 
  Events and Exhibitions 
  Consumer Media 
  JVs & Associates  
Financial Review 
Our People and Our Stakeholders 
Principal Risks  

02 
05
06
08
10
14 
16
17
17
18
18
19
20
21
22
30
32 

Governance
Board of Directors and Company Secretary  36
38
Chairman’s Statement on Governance 
40
Corporate Governance 
54
Remuneration Report 
77
Statutory Information 
80
Annual General Meeting 2019: Resolutions 

Financial Statements 
Independent Auditor’s Report  
Financial Statements  

Shareholder Information 

82
89

195

1

S
t
r
a
t
e
g
i
c
R
e
p
o
r
t

G
o
v
e
r
n
a
n
c
e

F
i

n
a
n
c
i
a
l

S
t
a
t
e
m
e
n
t
s

S
h
a
r
e
h
o

l

d
e
r

I
n
f
o
r
m
a
t
i

o
n

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Strategic Report

Maintaining a strong portfolio of businesses 
Chairman’s Statement

S
t
r
a
t
e
g
i
c
R
e
p
o
r
t

G
o
v
e
r
n
a
n
c
e

F
i

n
a
n
c
i
a
l

S
t
a
t
e
m
e
n
t
s

S
h
a
r
e
h
o

l

d
e
r

I
n
f
o
r
m
a
t
i

o
n

The Viscount Rothermere
Chairman

DMGT has significantly enhanced its 
financial flexibility and continues to 
benefit from the resilience of its 
diversified portfolio.

The quality of our businesses, 
combined with our balance sheet 
strength, creates opportunities for 
growth and the ability to deliver 
long-term returns to shareholders.”

The strategic decisions that we have 
taken are enhancing our business model 
and underpin our commitment to 
delivering profitable growth across 
a diversified and resilient portfolio. 

As your Chairman, I am proud that we 
have continued to focus on creating 
sustainable value for our shareholders 
and remain confident in our strategy that 
reinforces our long-term approach to 
investment. We back entrepreneurial 
businesses with patient capital. We look for 
opportunities in markets that are undergoing 
rapid change, recognising that there is a 
balance between reward and risk. We seek 
to nurture young companies as they grow 
and develop them into the strong cash 
generators of the future.

2

 
 
 
Daily Mail and General Trust plc Annual Report 2018

Business highlights
I am pleased that FY 2018 provided evidence 
of the merits of this approach. We continued 
to deliver strong cash flows from our 
‘Operating at scale’ businesses, such as the 
Mail Newspapers, and the combination of 
increased revenues and an improving margin 
from our ‘Focused growth’ businesses. We 
also moved into a net cash position following 
the sale of our c.30% stake in ZPG Plc, the 
owner of Zoopla.

These actions, combined with our ongoing 
focus on improving operational execution 
and active portfolio management, give us 
confidence in the long-term outlook for 
the Group.

The Board is pleased to recommend a 3% 
increase in the final dividend per share 
for FY 2018, giving a total dividend for the 
year of 23.3 pence per share, an increase 
of 3%, continuing DMGT’s long-standing 
commitment to delivering sustainable 
annual real dividend growth. 

DMGT received £642 million for its stake in 
ZPG Plc, taking our total cash returns from 
property portals to c.£880 million since 
first investing in 2004, or 14 times our 
total investment. 

The investment, support and exit strategy 
epitomises DMGT’s entrepreneurial and 
long-term approach to developing 
businesses. We were prepared to invest early 
and to increase our exposure as we learned 
more about the scale of the opportunity. We 
combined our Digital Property Group, built 
from the purchases of Find a Property and 
PrimeLocation, with Zoopla as the online 
property market continued to develop. 

We supported Zoopla through its initial 
public offering and acquisition of uSwitch, 
the price comparison site. Finally, we were 
able to create considerable value for 
shareholders when ZPG Plc was acquired by 
Silver Lake earlier this year. That is patient 
capital in action.

The continuing resilient performance 
of the Group’s newspapers, despite the 
long-established challenging industry trends, 
is another tribute to DMGT’s long-term 
approach. We have continued to invest in 
and manage our titles efficiently for the long 
term. Our commitment to popular, high-
quality journalism has allowed our titles to 
outperform the market while continuing to 
deliver strong cash flows, providing capital 
for investment in the future of the Group. 
Alongside this, MailOnline continues to be 
one of the world’s most popular online news 
sites. Even in a tougher year, impacted by 
reduced traffic from search and social 
platforms, MailOnline continued to increase 
its advertising revenues and to improve 
engagement with its audience, increasing the 
total minutes spent on its website and apps. 

The success of dmg media would not have 
been possible without the enormous 
contribution of Paul Dacre, who has retired 
as Editor of the Daily Mail after 26 years. 
Paul is the greatest Fleet Street editor of his 
generation and I am delighted that DMGT 
will continue to benefit from Paul’s 
experience and guidance in his new role 
as Chairman and Editor-in-Chief of 
Associated Newspapers. 

I am confident that the popular high-quality 
journalism that has defined the Daily Mail 
for generations will remain a hallmark 
of the newspaper under Geordie Grieg, 
Paul’s successor.

Our B2B portfolio delivered broad-based 
revenue growth during the year and an 
improved operating margin. DMGT’s 
long-term approach was demonstrated by 
our commitment to continued investment, 
despite some challenging market conditions, 
essential to harnessing today’s technology 
to meet customer needs. 

Strategic focus
Under the leadership of Paul Zwillenberg, 
our CEO, the Group has continued to deliver 
against three strategic priorities: improving 
operational execution; increasing portfolio 
focus, and enhancing financial flexibility.

The financial performance of the B2B 
businesses reflects the increased emphasis 
on operational execution. In addition, 
DMGT’s portfolio focus has been further 
increased by disposals, including the sale 
of EDR.

The proceeds from disposals and continuing 
strong cash flow enabled DMGT to end its 
financial year with net cash of £233 million. 
DMGT’s enhanced financial flexibility will 
enable us to continue with our balanced 
approach to capital allocation, focused on 
driving growth within the business as well as 
providing good levels of shareholder returns. 
The Board will also consider potential 
investment opportunities and will remain 
highly disciplined about the prices we are 
prepared to pay. 

   Read more in CEO Review,  

pages 10 to 13

S
t
r
a
t
e
g
i
c
R
e
p
o
r
t

G
o
v
e
r
n
a
n
c
e

F
i

n
a
n
c
i
a
l

S
t
a
t
e
m
e
n
t
s

S
h
a
r
e
h
o

l

d
e
r

I
n
f
o
r
m
a
t
i

o
n

3

 
 
 
Strategic Report

Maintaining a strong portfolio of businesses 
Chairman’s Statement

Governance
The composition of our Board reflects 
the business and geographic mix of our 
operations, ensuring we continue to seize 
strategic opportunities and manage the 
changes sweeping our markets. The Board’s 
commitment to the high governance 
standards our shareholders expect 
remains paramount.

I would like to thank our Non-Executive 
Directors for their contribution over the past 
year. JP Rangaswami joined DMGT’s Board 
as an Independent Non-Executive Director 
in February 2018. JP brings extensive 
knowledge and experience in the fields 
of data and computer science. 

Paul Dacre stepped down from the Board 
in September 2018, having contributed 
insights and immense media experience 
for over 20 years. 

   Read more in Governance Report,  

pages 40 to 53

People and culture
On behalf of the Board, I would like to 
thank all our employees for their continued 
hard work, dedication and significant 
contribution to the Group, as well as their 
wider communities.

We continue to invest in talent, nurturing 
the next generation of entrepreneurs and 
managers and developing the individuals 
who create the products and distribute the 
content that our audiences value. 

In line with our strategic priority of improving 
operational execution, we continue to invest 
in our innovation and technology talent. 
The Board recognises the importance of 
attracting the talent of the future in all levels 
of the organisation.

   Read more in Our People and  

Our Stakeholders, pages 30 and 31

Remuneration
Remuneration and incentives drive focus 
on performance aligned to our strategic 
priorities. Our value creation metrics 
and related payments are set out in the 
Remuneration Report.

   Read more in Remuneration Report, 

pages 54 to 76

Outlook
The foundations have now been laid 
on which to build. The quality of our 
businesses’ earnings, combined with 
our balance sheet strength, creates 
opportunities for growth and the ability to 
deliver long-term returns to shareholders. 
DMGT benefits from our ownership 
structure, which enshrines a long-term 
perspective on value creation. 

We will continue to focus on our strategic 
priorities, including operational execution, 
enabling us to navigate and take advantage 
of structural and cyclical changes in the 
markets in which we operate.

Your Board remains confident that the 
Group has excellent long-term growth 
prospects to deliver on our potential. In the 
coming year, we will continue to pursue 
growth opportunities through further 
organic investment and, where appropriate, 
through acquisitions that promise to 
strengthen the Group. The outlook for 
DMGT remains positive and we look 
forward to making further good progress.

The Viscount Rothermere
Chairman

4

Revenue by business FY 2018 (%)

  Insurance Risk 
  Property Information 
  EdTech 
  Energy Information 
  Events and Exhibitions 
  Consumer Media 

16
19
5
6
8
46

Dividend per share
The Board’s policy is to grow the 
dividend in real terms and, in the 
medium term, to aim to distribute 
around one-third of the Group’s 
adjusted earnings.

25

20

15

10

5

0

6.5p

1998

Dividend

Inflation

23.3p

9.7p

2018

S
t
r
a
t
e
g
i
c
R
e
p
o
r
t

G
o
v
e
r
n
a
n
c
e

F
i

n
a
n
c
i
a
l

S
t
a
t
e
m
e
n
t
s

S
h
a
r
e
h
o

l

d
e
r

I
n
f
o
r
m
a
t
i

o
n

 
 
 
 
Daily Mail and General Trust plc Annual Report 2018

Who we are
DMGT at a glance

DMGT’s diversified portfolio of companies, operating across B2B and consumer 
markets, has continued to evolve as we position ourselves for long-term growth.

Our sectors

B2B

Insurance Risk
RMS produces risk models and software applications, and provides analytical data services 
used by the global risk and insurance industry to quantify and manage catastrophe risk. 

   Read more, page 17

Property Information
Our Property Information companies provide technology, data and workflow solutions 
to clients involved in commercial and residential property markets as well as risk and 
valuation services to the Commercial Mortgage-Backed Securities (CMBS) market.

   Read more, page 17

EdTech
Hobsons is the leading provider of student success solutions in the US through its 
Naviance, Starfish and Intersect platforms. 

   Read more, page 18

Energy Information
Genscape provides data, workflow tools and predictive analytics to improve market 
transparency and efficiency across several energy and power asset classes to better 
manage volatility and increase supply chain efficiency.

   Read more page 18

Events and Exhibitions
dmg events is an international B2B exhibitions and conference organiser, 
focusing on the energy, construction, interiors, hotel, hospitality and leisure sectors, 
operating across several geographies. 

   Read more, page 19

Consumer

Consumer Media
dmg media is a modern news media company with two of the UK’s most-read paid-for 
newspapers and one of the world’s most popular free newspapers. It includes MailOnline, 
whose readers spend 145 million minutes on the site and apps each day.

   Read more, page 20

JVs and Associates

DMGT holds a significant associate interest in Euromoney (c.49%) and, until July 2018, 
held a c.30% stake in ZPG. Other JVs and Associates include Yopa, which became an 
associate in August 2018, and Real Capital Analytics. DailyMailTV was a joint venture 
but became a wholly-owned subsidiary in October 2018.

   Read more, page 21

   Go online to www.dmgt.com for more information about our businesses

5

S
t
r
a
t
e
g
i
c
R
e
p
o
r
t

G
o
v
e
r
n
a
n
c
e

F
i

n
a
n
c
i
a
l

S
t
a
t
e
m
e
n
t
s

S
h
a
r
e
h
o

l

d
e
r

I
n
f
o
r
m
a
t
i

o
n

 
 
 
Strategic Report

How we create value
Our Business Model

Satisfying the 
need to know

Which we monetise  
through five  
revenue models

DMGT creates first-choice products, 
combining data, technology and 
consumer know-how to connect 
people with intelligent insight and 
engaging content. 

Proprietary 
data

Innovative 
technology

Compelling 
content

Consumer 
know-how

6

Subscription 
Our B2B businesses have a strong subscription revenue 
component with high renewal rates demonstrating the 
strength of our client relationships.

Advertising
Our Consumer Media business generates advertising 
revenue both in print and digital formats. Growth in 
our digital advertising revenues continues to help offset 
structural declines in print advertising. Enhanced user 
engagement drives advertiser interest in increasingly 
sophisticated advertising formats.

Circulation
Circulation revenues are generated from sales of the 
Daily Mail and The Mail on Sunday newspapers, which 
continue to hold strong market-leading positions in the 
context of declining industry volumes. 

Events attendance and sponsorship
Exhibitor fees, delegate fees and sponsorship revenues 
are earned from the growing portfolio of B2B shows 
run by dmg events.

Transactions
Revenues from property information businesses  
are influenced by property transaction volumes. The 
customer base is stable, providing a high degree of repeat 
business, and consequently a large proportion of these 
revenues have subscription-like characteristics.

  Read more in Financial Review, pages 22 to 29

S
t
r
a
t
e
g
i
c
R
e
p
o
r
t

G
o
v
e
r
n
a
n
c
e

F
i

n
a
n
c
i
a
l

S
t
a
t
e
m
e
n
t
s

S
h
a
r
e
h
o

l

d
e
r

I
n
f
o
r
m
a
t
i

o
n

 
 
 
Daily Mail and General Trust plc Annual Report 2018

Supported by  
our values

Enabling us to  
create value for 
our stakeholders

Entrepreneurialism 
As a home for entrepreneurs, working at the cutting 
edge of technology, DMGT fosters constant innovation, 
growth and talent development across our 
international businesses. 

For our shareholders
We have a track record of investing in and supporting 
a diversified portfolio of entrepreneurial businesses. 
Our strategy aims to achieve sustainable long-term 
earnings and dividend growth.

Purpose 
Long-term perspective and businesses with a clear 
sense of purpose for their customers and society. 

Excellence 
Commitment to quality, craftsmanship and 
delivering excellence. We seek the best talent, 
leadership and expertise. 

Total shareholder return FY 2008 – FY 2018

12% CAGR

For our employees
We nurture entrepreneurial talent and encourage our 
people to make their own mark on DMGT, a diverse 
international portfolio with over 120 years of heritage.

Employees worldwide

5,924

For our customers
Our deep understanding of customer needs enables us 
to constantly innovate and create content, products and 
solutions that provide our businesses with a competitive 
edge and make us even more relevant to our customers.

Organic investment as a percentage of revenues FY 2018

8%

For our communities
DMGT businesses have developed strategic partnerships 
with a number of charitable organisations, with a focus on 
making a difference in the communities where our people 
work and live.

Amount donated to charity FY 2018

£1 million

7

S
t
r
a
t
e
g
i
c
R
e
p
o
r
t

G
o
v
e
r
n
a
n
c
e

F
i

n
a
n
c
i
a
l

S
t
a
t
e
m
e
n
t
s

S
h
a
r
e
h
o

l

d
e
r

I
n
f
o
r
m
a
t
i

o
n

 
 
 
Strategic Report

Adapting to continuous change
Market Overview

DMGT comprises a portfolio of businesses working across diverse 
marketplaces. While each has its own individual characteristics, 
some common features exist: 

•  Fast-paced and evolving to adopt new technology and business models
•  Technology-enabled with high degrees of innovation
•  Content and information-driven
•  Enduring and resilient

Increased  
volatility

Political  
uncertainty

Cyber  
security

Context to DMGT
•  Political policy decisions have direct 
and often unexpected impacts on the 
geographies and industries in which 
DMGT operates and will continue to 
shape where and how DMGT pursues 
commercial and strategic opportunities.

Market trend
•  There is still long-term geopolitical 

uncertainty for UK companies’ operations 
abroad. Furthermore, changing 
political landscapes throughout the 
world each add to the climate 
of political uncertainty. 

Our approach
•  DMGT closely follows political changes 
and implications for the geographies 
and industries in which it participates. 
In many instances, the uncertainty 
of changing political and regulatory 
norms presents commercial opportunities, 
as we help our customers anticipate 
implications for their business.

•  We continually review our operations 
against changes to global sanctions 
and diplomatic relations.

Context to DMGT
•  As a provider of business-critical data, 
analytic tools for global industries and 
news media, DMGT is exposed to cyber 
security risks across its operations.

Market trend
•  Cyber security threat is a permanent 

business risk in the digital age. 
Governments and regulatory bodies 
have awakened to the threat posed to 
individuals and society by data breaches.
•  As customer confidence is easily eroded, 
enforcing the highest possible cyber 
security standards is critical for 
maintaining customer and market trust.

Our approach
•  DMGT continues to strengthen its 

information security controls. The Group 
Chief Information Security Officer has led 
the roll-out of revised information security 
standards, compliance roadmaps and 
regular cyber security audits.

•  The CEO-led Information Security Steering 

Committee ensures senior level 
engagement across the Group.
•  RMS has developed a cyber risk 

management tool that seeks to provide 
insurers with a framework to capture 
and report on all cyber exposure and 
facilitate risk transfer in the market.

Context to DMGT
•  As a provider of proprietary, hard-to-

obtain information, DMGT benefits from 
growing uncertainty in the world as its 
customers rely more heavily on data 
and analysis to inform critical decisions.

Market trend
•  Global economic uncertainty, political 
tensions and supply and demand 
disruptions continue to influence our 
customers and their markets. The 
uncertainty while we await confirmation 
of the terms of the UK’s exit from the EU 
continues to unsettle the UK economy.

•  Extreme weather events, commodity 
price fluctuations and continued 
exchange-rate swings have directly 
impacted the economic and social 
environments for both investment 
and business operations.

Our approach
•  Our diversification provides beneficial 

offsets in an increasingly volatile world: 
as one industry may be facing headwinds, 
another may benefit from the forces 
of volatility.

•  In this sustained volatile environment, 
DMGT is providing its customers with 
fundamental data, analytics and insights 
that enable them to move away from 
instinct-driven decision-making and 
to embrace market-relevant data as 
a means to navigate uncertain times.
•  DMGT’s businesses are not dependent on 
trade between the UK and the remaining 
EU members, other than the sourcing 
of newsprint for the Consumer Media 
business. Notwithstanding a period of 
political and macroeconomic uncertainty, 
the future is viewed with confidence.

8

S
t
r
a
t
e
g
i
c
R
e
p
o
r
t

G
o
v
e
r
n
a
n
c
e

F
i

n
a
n
c
i
a
l

S
t
a
t
e
m
e
n
t
s

S
h
a
r
e
h
o

l

d
e
r

I
n
f
o
r
m
a
t
i

o
n

 
 
 
Daily Mail and General Trust plc Annual Report 2018

Our businesses are constantly looking towards the future to identify and manage current and future trends.  
The most significant of these are identified here. 

   Read more on the trends affecting the Group in Principal Risks, pages 32 to 35

Continuous 
innovation

Machine 
learning 

A competitive 
talent pool

Context to DMGT
•  Technological change and customer 

Context to DMGT
•  An ever-growing number of 

adoption rates of new technologies in 
our key markets are accelerating at a 
pace never seen before, irrevocably 
changing and erasing more traditional 
business models. 

Market trend
•  The speed of technology evolution is 
increasing the capital intensity of IT 
investment and product development 
such that business investment horizons 
have changed compared with previous 
economic cycles.

Our approach
•  As an entrepreneurial Group focused 
on digital growth, DMGT stays ahead 
by continually fostering innovation 
and embracing new ideas. This is 
reflected by DMGT’s expectation 
of investing at least 5% of revenue 
in organic initiatives each year. 
•  DMGT has a family heritage which 

encourages long-term thinking and 
the application of patient capital. 
Consequently, the Group can invest 
for the future, seeding, incubating 
and nurturing innovative opportunities. 
Throughout DMGT’s history, innovation 
and diversification have been essential 
elements of how we do business, and 
have given us a wealth of experience 
to draw on in order to adapt to 
market changes. 

machines are producing, using, 
and communicating with virtually 
immeasurable amounts of information. 
Machine learning is what makes 
machines appear ‘intelligent’ by 
enabling them to understand concepts 
in their environment and also to learn. 
Through machine learning, a smart 
machine can change its future 
behaviour. These developments 
create opportunities for DMGT 
and its businesses. 

Market trend
•  Machine learning gives rise to a spectrum 

of smart machine implementations 
helping to unearth insights in discrete 
datasets that were previously impossible 
to see. 

Our approach
•  DMGT’s businesses help their customers 
to identify which information provides 
strategic value, access data from different 
sources and explore how algorithms 
leverage the Internet of Everything to 
fuel new business designs. This area is 
evolving quickly, and DMGT’s businesses 
are embracing the opportunity. 

•  We are developing products and services 

across a number of our businesses, 
including sensing technology at 
Genscape and statistical analytics 
at Hobsons and RMS. 

•  DMGT’s investment approach enables 

•  We have established a central technology 

us to remain close to customers through 
our portfolio of businesses, gaining 
greater insight and understanding 
into exactly what our customers value, 
engage with, and ultimately, want to buy. 

function with expertise in artificial 
intelligence and machine learning, 
which is being leveraged by the 
operating companies.

Context to DMGT
•  Across the global workforce but 
especially with millennials, top 
talent is drawn to companies that 
offer a compelling employee value 
proposition, incorporating purpose 
beyond profit, ongoing learning and 
development opportunities as well 
as competitive remuneration.

Market trend
•  Demand for top talent is always fierce, 

however, in the critical areas of big data 
analytics, artificial intelligence and data 
science, demand in many labour markets 
outstrips supply. 

Our approach
•  In competing for key employees, 

especially critical technology talent, 
DMGT is committed to enhancing its  
Group-wide employee proposition,  
defining the jobs of the future, for  
instance through its work in data science 
and predictive analytics. 

•  DMGT supports training and development 

in order to enhance employees’ capabilities 
and transfer skills throughout the 
businesses. We also provide Group-wide 
initiatives such as our talent development 
programmes to actively encourage rising 
talent within DMGT. 

9

S
t
r
a
t
e
g
i
c
R
e
p
o
r
t

G
o
v
e
r
n
a
n
c
e

F
i

n
a
n
c
i
a
l

S
t
a
t
e
m
e
n
t
s

S
h
a
r
e
h
o

l

d
e
r

I
n
f
o
r
m
a
t
i

o
n

 
 
 
Strategic Report

Delivering against clear strategic priorities 
CEO Review

Overview
Over the past year, we have continued 
to execute against DMGT’s three 
strategic priorities, aimed at delivering 
solid financial results and creating 
sustainable returns.

Those priorities have been to improve 
our operational execution, increase our 
portfolio focus and enhance our financial 
flexibility. I am confident this strategy, 
including our Performance Improvement 
Programme (PIP), will drive the profitable 
growth that is vital to long-term 
value creation.

I am encouraged that actions taken in 
FY 2018 have strengthened our balance 
sheet and the resources with which we 
can continue to transition the Group. 

Business Highlights
The performance during the past year was 
consistent with our expectations. We are 
entering FY 2019 from an improved position 
of financial and operational strength, upon 
which we can build.

That strength was enhanced by a number 
of performance improvement initiatives that 
we undertook across the portfolio in FY 2018. 

The disposals we made during the year, 
including the sale of our stake in ZPG Plc 
(ZPG), have resulted in DMGT now being 
in a net cash position. This has materially 
strengthened our balance sheet and 
provides us with significant additional 
financial flexibility, one of our three key 
strategic priorities.

The disposal of our shareholding in ZPG 
demonstrated DMGT’s successful long-term 
approach to value creation and our ability to 
secure significant financial returns from the 
assets that we have nurtured over the years. 
DMGT originally identified the opportunity 
in online property nearly 20 years ago, as 
property advertising began to migrate from 
traditional media to the internet. The Group 
built, supported and grew the business 
through its evolution, culminating in the 
disposal of its remaining c.30% stake in ZPG 
for £642 million in July 2018, bringing total 
cash returns to c.£880 million, a multiple 
of 14 times our initial investment. 

This is the latest demonstration of DMGT’s 
business model of patient, long-term value 
creation; successfully identifying new 
opportunities, incubating young businesses 
and supporting their growth to create value 

10

Key Strategic Priorities

Delivering on our potential

Improving operational 
execution

Increasing portfolio  
focus

Enhancing/maintaining 
financial flexibility

for shareholders. Other examples of this 
approach include Euromoney Institutional 
Investor PLC (Euromoney) and Wowcher. 
Our balance sheet is now in the strongest 
position it has been for many years. These 
disposals reflect our willingness to exit or 
reduce our holdings in companies where 
we can realise value, generating proceeds 
with which to reinvest.

We have increased our ability to make 
bolt-on acquisitions, while maintaining 
an extremely disciplined and balanced 
approach to capital allocation. 

At the operating level, we delivered a 
resilient performance in many parts of the 
Group. In our B2B businesses, we saw good, 
broad-based underlying revenue growth 
across the portfolio with especially strong 
revenue growth in EdTech, Energy 
Information and Insurance Risk, while 
our Property Information business faced 
challenging market conditions in the UK. 
Our Consumer Media businesses continued 
to outperform their markets. 

Following the 2017 restructuring of Hobsons, 
the EdTech business, the continued growth 
across all three remaining segments and the 
improved cash operating income of the 
retained business during FY 2018 were 
particularly encouraging. Similarly, increased 
operational focus at Genscape, the Energy 
Information business, resulted in cash 
operating income growth. In Events and 
Exhibitions, the commitment to organic 
expansion was demonstrated by the launch 
of five new events. 

I was delighted that Karen White joined as 
CEO of RMS, the Insurance Risk business, 
in March, bringing extensive enterprise 
software experience. RMS’s strategy has 
recently been enhanced to deliver long-term 

growth, reflecting the evolution of 
technology and the insurance sector’s 
acceptance of cloud computing as well as 
demand from RMS’s customer base for a 
broader set of solutions to deliver value 
across more areas of risk. Consequently, the 
decision has been taken to re-architect the 
RMS(one) platform to take advantage of the 
growing benefits of new technology. This 
development is expected to significantly 
reduce the running costs for customers 
while also improving performance. 

Given the decision to re-architect the 
platform, it was appropriate to impair 
the RMS(one) asset, which related to pre 
August 2016 capitalised software.

RMS will be increasing its investment 
in software, data, data analytics and 
applications and I am confident 
that Karen and her team will drive RMS 
to realise its full potential as a core part 
of our B2B portfolio.

The Consumer Media business continued 
to outperform in challenging markets. 
Although revenues decreased, our content 
and high-quality popular journalism 
remains in high demand. This is reflected 
in MailOnline’s traffic and the Mail 
newspaper titles’ significant market share.

In FY 2018, MailOnline was impacted by a 
marked reduction in indirect traffic from 
social media and search platforms, resulting 
in slower revenue growth. The management 
team continues to execute its clear strategy 
of prioritising direct traffic and engagement 
with this core audience continues to grow. 
MailOnline has an excellent long-term track 
record and I remain confident in its future 
growth opportunities. 

S
t
r
a
t
e
g
i
c
R
e
p
o
r
t

G
o
v
e
r
n
a
n
c
e

F
i

n
a
n
c
i
a
l

S
t
a
t
e
m
e
n
t
s

S
h
a
r
e
h
o

l

d
e
r

I
n
f
o
r
m
a
t
i

o
n

 
 
 
Daily Mail and General Trust plc Annual Report 2018

S
t
r
a
t
e
g
i
c
R
e
p
o
r
t

G
o
v
e
r
n
a
n
c
e

F
i

n
a
n
c
i
a
l

S
t
a
t
e
m
e
n
t
s

S
h
a
r
e
h
o

l

d
e
r

I
n
f
o
r
m
a
t
i

o
n

Paul Zwillenberg
CEO

We now have more flexibility to invest behind 
our businesses, both organically and through 
acquisitions, to support DMGT’s long-term 
growth and value creation.

(pages 22 to 29). An update on the 
progression of DMGT’s Key Performance 
Indicators (KPIs), used as a measure of our 
performance at a Group level, can be found 
on pages 14 and 15 of the Strategic Report. 

As part of this effort, we have introduced 
a disciplined approach to portfolio 
management and have established three 
categories for our different businesses, 
each with distinct contribution objectives. 

Strategy update
We have made good progress against our 
goals of driving shareholder returns and 
realising sustainable long-term value. We can 
take satisfaction from the implementation 
to date of our three strategic priorities: 
improving operational execution, 
increasing portfolio focus and enhancing 
financial flexibility.

This effort is ongoing and further action will 
be necessary to realise our full potential. We 
are focused on disciplined capital allocation, 
prioritising fast-growth assets and those 
businesses with the potential to deliver 
long-term predictable profitability at scale. 

Increasing portfolio focus
We have made significant progress in 
increasing the focus of our portfolio over 
the past year. As well as disposing of our 
stake in ZPG, we sold EDR and Hobsons’ 
Solutions business, reduced our ownership 
in SiteCompli, restructured Genscape and 
Xceligent was closed. In September, the 
solar business Locus Energy was merged into 
AlsoEnergy, in which we retain a minority 
stake, driving consolidation in the sector. 

Accordingly, we now have a more focused 
portfolio of businesses with leading market 
positions in large, growing sectors that 
are benefiting from digitisation, such 
as Insurance Risk, EdTech and Energy 
Information. Our emphasis on an efficient 
portfolio positioned in growth sectors will 
be a major theme of the current financial 
year and beyond.

1. 

 Operating at scale: these businesses 
provide strong, predictable cash flow 
that cover our fixed costs, including 
our dividend, and finance investments 
into our early bets. We have several 
businesses in the Operating at scale 
category, including dmg events, 
Landmark and Trepp in the Property 
Information sector, and our Consumer 
newspaper titles. These are strong scale 
businesses that are highly cash 
generative and with a strong presence 
in their respective marketplaces.

2.   Focused growth: we have an 

3. 

opportunity to extract further value and 
growth from businesses that can deliver 
a combination of revenue growth and 
improving profitability. We aim to scale 
them to become the strong cash 
generators of tomorrow. Our Focused 
growth businesses include RMS, Hobsons, 
Genscape and MailOnline; all with 
opportunities to grow revenues and to 
improve their operating profit margins 
over time. 

 Early bets: this is a unique strength of 
DMGT; our ability to grow early stage 
businesses, nurture entrepreneurial 
businesses through the cycle, and expand 
the best ones to scale. BuildFax, in 
the Property Information sector, is an 
example. In addition, dmg ventures, 
our venture and early stage investment 
division, manages a portfolio of minority 
investments with a focus on disruptive 
technology start-ups. It is actively 
exploring additional growth opportunities 
in the converging space between B2B 
and consumer markets. 

11

In the Consumer Media business and 
in large parts of our B2B operations, the 
performance in the past financial year has 
shown the benefits of providing trusted 
content, data and information. We will 
continue to focus on driving sustainable 
returns from our presence in these 
businesses, seizing opportunities for growth 
and maximising value wherever we can. 

Financial Performance 
Group revenues were stable on an 
underlying basis as the growth from our B2B 
portfolio was offset by Consumer Media, 
which continues to face challenging market 
conditions. Operating profit declined by an 
underlying 17%, largely due to Consumer 
Media and increased Corporate costs as we 
focus on transitioning the Group. 

Adjusted profit before tax decreased by 16% 
on a pro forma basis, adjusting the prior year 
for the Euromoney transaction, reflecting 
disposals and the weaker US dollar. Similarly, 
adjusted earnings per share were down a 
pro forma 23% as a result of an increased 
effective tax rate.

The gains on disposals, notably from 
the stake in ZPG, resulted in statutory 
profit before tax improving £804 million, 
to £692 million. Statutory profit for the year 
increased by £346 million to £688 million, 
reflecting the gain on the reduction in our 
Euromoney holding in the prior year, and 
statutory earnings per share grew 99%.

As well as illustrating the challenging 
conditions in many sectors and DMGT’s 
commitment to investing through the cycle, 
these figures reflect the impact of disposals, 
which have considerably strengthened the 
balance sheet to a net cash position.

Tim Collier, Group Chief Financial Officer, 
describes DMGT’s financial performance 
in further detail in the Financial Review 

Strategic Report 
 
 
Strategic Report

Delivering against clear strategic priorities 
CEO Review

The overall shape of the portfolio and the 
role that each business plays in delivering 
the Group’s ambitions is clear within this 
framework. This is important as it informs 
our thinking about the expectations, 
objectives and aspirations for each individual 
business, as well as our decision-making 
regarding capital allocation across the 
whole portfolio.

The shape of our portfolio will combine 
our long-term view of value enhancing 
acquisitions, particularly in adjacent 
business segments to our existing content 
operations and specialist B2B information, 
with a willingness to enter markets that 
are being disrupted by digitisation. 

As we pursue this strategy, we have 
strengthened the management team that 
will help develop our portfolio by appointing 
a Chief Investment Officer, Origination.

Improving operational execution 
The second area of strategic focus is 
improving operational execution. This is 
being driven by our Group-wide Performance 
Improvement Programme (‘PIP’) which 
includes operating initiatives that are aligned 
with each business’s role within the Group. 

The PIP is targeting a variety of initiatives 
implemented across five categories of 
product, commercial, operations, people 
and technology. Good initial progress has 
been made during FY 2018 but we have 
more to do and there is a need for 
continued focus on addressing challenges 
posed by rapid technological change and 
the intense competition seen in some of 
our core markets.

As we execute on the PIP, we are undertaking 
several initiatives that reflect the operational 
focus and determination to expand our 
presence in the right market segments and 
at the right pace. I would like to highlight 
a few examples: 

In Product, Hobsons successfully delivered 
the new Naviance student product. 
In Commercial, at MailOnline we have 
introduced a new format in the US with the 
highly successful DailyMailTV. In Operations, 
Genscape has introduced a new process, 
the Product Launch Pad, for developing 
new products from inception to launch. 
This will ensure a more coordinated launch 
of those opportunities that will really move 
the needle. Encouragingly, other DMGT 

businesses are also looking to incorporate 
the Launch Pad into their innovation 
processes. Lastly, across People and 
Technology, Rob Chandhok joined DMGT 
as our new Group Chief Technology Officer 
and has been appointed to DMGT’s Executive 
Committee. Our businesses are already 
benefiting from his and his team’s expertise 
in new technologies, such as machine 
learning and artificial intelligence, to 
drive innovative product development, 
improve information security and provide 
inputs as they modernise their own 
technology platforms. 

As you would expect, the shift away from 
light touch to performance management has 
resulted in a major cultural change at DMGT. 
I’m very pleased with the way the businesses 
are adapting. Over the past year, I’ve put in 
place a single executive leadership team that 
spans both the B2B and Consumer Media 
businesses to share knowledge. We now 
have the right level of expertise in the centre 
to provide support and also challenge our 
businesses, working with our devolved 
business management teams to 
maximise returns.

Clear portfolio roles
We have established clear roles for each business within the portfolio.  
The expectations and Performance Improvement Programme initiatives for each business reflect their role.

Operating at scale
Predictable performers

Focused growth
Growing and delivering

Early bets
Businesses for the future

Predictable profit and cash to meet 
DMGT’s obligations, fund investment 
and incubate early bets

Revenue growth and margin 
improvement driving value creation

Option value for future, tomorrow’s 
focused growth businesses

•  Innovate and extend core;  

seed early bets

•  Optimise efficient operations
•  Leverage scale

•  Scale breakthrough products
•  Harness operational gearing to 

drive margin

•  Exploit niche opportunities
•  Establish scalable processes 

and infrastructure

•  Prioritise customer retention; 

•  Innovate and act on rapid 

grow market share

market feedback

12

S
t
r
a
t
e
g
i
c
R
e
p
o
r
t

G
o
v
e
r
n
a
n
c
e

F
i

n
a
n
c
i
a
l

S
t
a
t
e
m
e
n
t
s

S
h
a
r
e
h
o

l

d
e
r

I
n
f
o
r
m
a
t
i

o
n

 
 
 
Daily Mail and General Trust plc Annual Report 2018

Delivering sustainable returns over the long term
DMGT’s businesses have market leading positions in growing sectors that are digitising. The strategy is built 
around a long-term vision, applying the expertise learnt from our consumer businesses to our B2B businesses, 
and is comprised of three priorities: increasing portfolio focus, improving operational execution and 
enhancing/maintaining financial flexibility. We expect this position and strategy to drive sustainable revenue, 
profit, cash and EPS growth over the long term.

ortfolio roles

ar p
Cle

Increasing
ortfolio focus

p

Market leading 
positions

Growing, 
digitising  
sectors

Perform

a

n

c
e I

m

p

r

o

v

e

m

e

n

t

operatio

I

m

p

r

o

n

a

l

v

i

e

n

x

g

c

e

l

l

e
n
c
e

Satisfying
the need
to know

P

r

o

g

r

a

m
m
e

(

P

I

P
)

Revenue, profit 
and cash 
growth

Sustained EPS 
and dividend 
growth

Strong balance 
sheet

Enhancing/ma i n t a i n i n
financial flex i b i
y
Enabling balanced and flexib l e   c a p i

i

t

l

g

a tio n

c

a l  a ll o

t

Enhancing financial flexibility
The disposals of EDR and our stake in ZPG, 
combined with continued healthy cash 
generation, have resulted in a significant 
step change in the strength of our balance 
sheet and we are now in a net cash position. 
Accordingly, this strategic priority has been 
revised to Maintaining financial flexibility, 
reflecting our current position and to ensure 
we have sufficient balance sheet strength to 
take advantage of attractive opportunities 
at the right price as they arise. 

We now have more flexibility to invest behind 
our businesses, both organically and through 
acquisitions, to support DMGT’s long-term 
growth and value creation. Organic 
investment was 8% of revenues in FY 2018, 
with increased focus on the return on 
investment from these initiatives, and will 
continue to be a priority within our capital 
allocation framework. Importantly, we will 
remain highly disciplined in our approach 
to any potential acquisitions. We will also 
continue to rigorously apply our five 
investment criteria when assessing potential 
acquisitions: attractive and value creating, 

scalability, long-term competitive advantage, 
affordability, and achievability. 

The dividend remains the primary 
mechanism for delivering returns to 
shareholders and we are committed to real 
dividend growth. We are confident that our 
capital allocation framework, underpinned 
by a strong balance sheet, will drive 
shareholder value.

Outlook
The strategic and operational actions 
undertaken in the past year have improved 
our underlying capabilities despite market 
challenges. We have started FY 2019 with 
the businesses performing in line with our 
expectations, although several operations 
face near-term headwinds in a time of 
geopolitical uncertainty.

As we adjust and manage our portfolio for 
this environment, FY 2019 will be another 
important period of transition for DMGT 
as we continue to lay the necessary 
groundwork for a future characterised 
by increasing portfolio focus and growth.

The businesses within the portfolio, the 
operating initiatives being implemented 
and the optionality created by our balance 
sheet strength give the Board confidence 
that DMGT has good long-term prospects. 
The foundations have now been laid on 
which to build and DMGT’s growth potential 
will be enhanced by our ability to invest in 
the technologies, talent and sectors that 
promise sustainable growth. As we pursue 
those opportunities, we will continue 
to preserve the entrepreneurialism and 
purpose that are so distinctive across DMGT. 

I am confident that our strategy will 
generate long-term sustainable value 
and will help us navigate the near-term 
challenging trading conditions. This will, 
in turn, enable us to maintain our progressive 
dividend policy, with a commitment to 
growing shareholder returns. 

Paul Zwillenberg
CEO

13

S
t
r
a
t
e
g
i
c
R
e
p
o
r
t

G
o
v
e
r
n
a
n
c
e

F
i

n
a
n
c
i
a
l

S
t
a
t
e
m
e
n
t
s

S
h
a
r
e
h
o

l

d
e
r

I
n
f
o
r
m
a
t
i

o
n

Strategic Report 
 
 
 
 
 
Strategic Report

Measuring our performance
Key Performance Indicators

The Board seeks to deliver sustained long-term growth for DMGT’s shareholders. 

Due to DMGT holding a changing portfolio of different companies, many Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) that are targeted by individual 
businesses are not appropriate at a consolidated Group level. Examples include customer numbers, revenue per customer, employee 
productivity and employee engagement. The KPIs shown below, however, are considered to be good indicators of the Group’s overall 
progress against its strategic priorities.

Description

Relevance

Performance

Narrative

Strategic priority

Underlying 
revenue 
growth^

Underlying revenue 
growth compares 
revenues on a like-for-like 
basis and is an important 
indicator of the health 
and trajectory of the 
individual businesses and 
the Group as a whole.

2018 0%

2017

+1%

2016

0%

2015

+1%

2014

Group 
adjusted 
profit  
before tax

DMGT actively manages 
its portfolio and allocates 
capital to increase 
adjusted profit before 
tax over the long term.

Adjusted 
earnings  
per share

Management seeks 
sustained long-term 
growth in adjusted 
earnings per share to 
maximise overall returns 
for DMGT’s shareholders.

Group 
adjusted 
cash 
operating 
income 

This metric adds back 
depreciation and 
amortisation and deducts 
capital expenditure from 
Group adjusted operating 
profit. It reflects the 
cash generation of the 
Group’s businesses.

2018

2017

2016

2015

2014

2018

2017

2016

2015

2014

2018

2017

2016

2015

2014

Underlying revenue growth

0%

2017: +1%

+5%

The stable underlying revenue 
performance reflects broad-based B2B 
growth and a resilient Consumer Media 
performance despite challenging 
market conditions in many sectors. 

£182m

£226m

£260m

£281m

£291m

Group adjusted profit  
before tax*

£182m

2017#: £226m 
2017Ω: £216m

Group adjusted profit before tax 
decreased by £44 million or £34 million 
on a pro formaΩ basis, reflecting B2B 
disposals, the reduced profits from 
Consumer Media and increased 
Corporate costs.

42.2p

Adjusted earnings per share*

55.6p

56.0p

59.7p

55.7p

42.2p

2017#: 55.6p 
2017Ω: 54.8p

Adjusted earnings per share decreased 
by 24% or by 23% on a pro formaΩ basis, 
reflecting the reduction in adjusted 
profit before tax and an increase in the 
effective tax rate. 

£155m

£199m

Group adjusted cash  
operating income*

£155m

2017: £199m 
2017Ω: £181m

£254m

£278m

£267m

Group adjusted cash operating 
income decreased by £26 million 
on a pro formaΩ basis, reflecting the 
improving cash generation from the 
B2B businesses, more than offset 
by reduced cash generation from 
Consumer Media and increased 
Corporate costs.

14

S
t
r
a
t
e
g
i
c
R
e
p
o
r
t

G
o
v
e
r
n
a
n
c
e

F
i

n
a
n
c
i
a
l

S
t
a
t
e
m
e
n
t
s

S
h
a
r
e
h
o

l

d
e
r

I
n
f
o
r
m
a
t
i

o
n

 
 
 
Daily Mail and General Trust plc Annual Report 2018

Key strategic priorities

Improving operational execution

Increasing portfolio focus

Enhancing/maintaining  
financial flexibility

Description

Relevance

Performance

Narrative

Strategic priority

Net cash§/
(debt): 
EBITDA 
ratio

Management aims 
to maintain a strong 
balance sheet and retain 
DMGT’s investment-
grade status and 
consequently targets 
the net (debt):EBITDA 
ratio to be no more than 
(2.0) throughout the year.

(1.4)x

(1.8)x

(1.8)x

(1.5)x

2018

0.8x

Net cash/(debt):EBITDA

2017

2016

2015

2014

0.8x

2017: (1.4)x

Through increasing portfolio focus, 
including the disposal of DMGT's stake 
in ZPG Plc, and strong operational cash 
flows, DMGT is in a net cash position.

Dividend  
per share

The Board’s policy is 
to maintain dividend 
growth in real terms 
and, in the medium-
term, to distribute about 
one-third of the Group’s 
adjusted earnings.

25

20

15

10

5

0

6.5p

1998

Dividend

Inflation

23.3p

9.7p

2018

Dividend per share

23.3p

2017: 22.7p

We have proposed a full-year dividend 
of 23.3 pence, up by 3% from last year, 
continuing our strong track record of 
dividend growth and delivering a 7% 
cumulative annual growth rate over the 
past 20 years.

Organic 
investment¥ 
as a 
percentage 
of revenues

Investing back into the 
businesses to support 
product innovation 
and effective use of 
technology is key to 
delivering DMGT’s 
sustained long-term 
growth. The Board 
expects at least 5% of 
revenues to be used 
for organic investment.

2018

2017

2016

2015

2014

8%

Organic investment  
as a % of revenues

9%

9%

8%

2017: 9%

DMGT continued to reinvest 
in the businesses during the year, 
notably in the B2B portfolio.

7%

7%

^ 

§ 
# 
* 

Ω 
¥ 

 Underlying revenue growth is on a like-for-like basis, adjusted for constant exchange rates, the exclusion of disposals and closures, the inclusion of the year-on-year organic growth from 
acquisitions and for the consistent timing of revenue recognition. For events, the comparisons are between events held in the year and the same events held the previous time. For Consumer 
Media, underlying revenues exclude low-margin newsprint resale activities. See pages 28 and 29. 
 See Note 16 for details of net cash.
 From continuing and discontinued operations. 
  Before exceptional items, other gains and losses, impairment of goodwill and intangible assets, amortisation of intangible assets arising on business combinations, pension finance charges or 
credits and fair value adjustments; see Consolidated Income Statement on page 89 and the reconciliation in Note 13 to the Accounts.
 Pro forma FY 2017 figures have been restated to treat Euromoney as a c.49% owned associate for the whole year, consistent with the ownership profile during FY 2018. See reconciliation on page 25.
 Organic investment is expenditure that is incurred with the objective of delivering long-term growth. It includes expenditure on product development, whether capitalised or expensed directly, 
and the adjusted operating losses of early-stage businesses. 

15

S
t
r
a
t
e
g
i
c
R
e
p
o
r
t

G
o
v
e
r
n
a
n
c
e

F
i

n
a
n
c
i
a
l

S
t
a
t
e
m
e
n
t
s

S
h
a
r
e
h
o

l

d
e
r

I
n
f
o
r
m
a
t
i

o
n

Strategic Report 
 
 
Strategic Report

Operating Business Reviews
B2B

Summary
Our B2B companies operate in five sectors, namely Insurance Risk, 
Property Information, EdTech, Energy Information, and Events and Exhibitions. 

Total B2B

Revenue

Operating profit*

Operating margin*

2018
£m

773
128
17%

2017
Pro formaΩ
£m

881
133
15%

Movement
%

(12)%
(4)%

Underlying^

%

+3%
(1)%

*  Adjusted operating profit and operating margin; see pages 27 and 28 for details.
^ 
Ω 

 Underlying growth rates give a like-for-like comparison; see pages 28 and 29 for details.
 Pro forma FY 2017 figures have been restated to treat Euromoney as a c.49% owned associate for the whole year, consistent 
with the ownership profile during FY 2018.

Performance
Revenues from B2B totalled £773 million, 
up 3% on an underlying basis, with growth 
from EdTech, Energy Information, Insurance 
Risk, and Events and Exhibitions partially 
offset by Property Information, which 
experienced challenging market conditions 
in the UK. Revenues decreased by 12% on 
a pro forma basis, following disposals of 
Property Information and EdTech businesses 
and reflecting the weaker US dollar. 

B2B adjusted operating profits were 
£128 million, down an underlying 1% due 
to growth from Insurance Risk and EdTech 
being largely offset by reductions from 
Property Information and Energy 
Information. The overall B2B operating 
margin increased to 17% and included the 
benefit of a stronger Property Information 
margin following the closure of the loss-
making Xceligent business in December 2017. 

Despite the £5 million pro forma reduction 
in operating profit, B2B cash operating 
income increased £11 million to £131 million, 
reflecting the impact of the Performance 
Improvement Programme (PIP). 

Outlook
The B2B financial performance will be 
affected by the disposal of EDR, which 
occurred in April 2018. FY 2018 revenues, 
restated based on the current portfolio of 
businesses, were £725 million. In FY 2019, 
the B2B businesses are collectively expected 
to deliver underlying revenue growth in the 
low-single digits and the adjusted operating 
margin is expected to be in the mid-teens, 
reflecting the benefits of the PIP offset 
by the continued investment to support 
our long-term growth.

Revenue (%)

  Insurance Risk 
  Property Information 
  EdTech 
  Energy Information  
  Events and Exhibitions 

Operating profit (%)

  Insurance Risk 
  Property Information 
  EdTech 
  Energy Information*  
  Events and Exhibitions 

*   Energy Information delivered a break-even 
adjusted operating profit performance.

30
35
9 
11
15

27
45
6 
0
22

S
t
r
a
t
e
g
i
c
R
e
p
o
r
t

G
o
v
e
r
n
a
n
c
e

F
i

n
a
n
c
i
a
l

S
t
a
t
e
m
e
n
t
s

S
h
a
r
e
h
o

l

d
e
r

I
n
f
o
r
m
a
t
i

o
n

16

 
 
 
Daily Mail and General Trust plc Annual Report 2018

Insurance Risk: RMS

2018
£m

229

35

Move-
ment
%

Under-
lying^
%

2017
£m

233

(2)% +5%

33

+5% +16%

Revenue

Operating profit*

Operating margin*

15% 14%

*   Adjusted operating profit and operating margin;  

see pages 27 and 28 for details.

^   Underlying growth rates give a like-for-like comparison; 

see pages 28 and 29 for details.

The Insurance Risk business, RMS, is 
focused on operational execution and 
investment in its core modelling, data, 
risk and analytical services. During 
FY 2018, RMS continued to improve 
and expand its modelling solutions with 
updates to the US storm surge model, 
new and updated earthquake and 
typhoon models for the Asia Pacific 
region and further expansion into new 
lines of risk with the third release of the 
RMS cyber model. 

Business model
RMS’s solutions help insurers, reinsurers, 
brokers, financial markets and public 
agencies evaluate and manage catastrophe 
risks throughout the world. RMS leads the 
catastrophe risk modelling industry that it 
helped to pioneer, delivering models, data, 
analytical services and software to its 
customers, mainly through multi-year 
subscriptions. RMS also offers a variety 
of managed and hosted services. 

Insurers, reinsurers, brokers and other 
financial institutions trust RMS’s solutions 
to better understand and manage the risks 
of natural and human-made catastrophes, 
including hurricanes, earthquakes, floods, 
terrorism and pandemics. 

Performance highlights 
Insurance Risk revenues increased by 5% 
on an underlying basis, mainly benefiting 
from one-off project revenues as well as 
subscription revenues across the core 
modelling, software and data businesses. 
Reported revenues decreased 2% to 
£229 million due to the weaker US dollar. 
Adjusted operating profit grew by 5%, 
despite the impact of the weaker US dollar, 
and by 16% on an underlying basis, with the 
adjusting operating margin increasing to 15%. 

RMS continues to invest in model 
development, reflecting an ongoing 
commitment to build upon the business’s 
market-leading position. RiskLink18 was 
released in July 2018 and included updates 
to five models including North America 

Hurricane-Storm Surge, Australia Cyclone 
and Earthquake and India Earthquake, as 
well as five new models including India Flood 
and South Korea Earthquake, expanding 
coverage across the Asia Pacific region. The 
third-generation model for the cyber risk 
market was also released in the year. 

In line with the PIP, the management team’s 
collective experience of enterprise software 
was significantly enhanced, notably with the 
appointment of Karen White as RMS CEO 
in March 2018. RMS also strengthened its 
executive team and reorganised its software 
development, sales, account management 
and customer success teams to improve 
delivery of its full suite of products across 
the client base.

RMS has recently made an important change 
to enhance its strategy to deliver long-term 
growth. Earlier investments in the RMS(one) 
platform, dating back to 2011 when 
RMS(one) was conceived, reflected available 
technologies and the market’s attitude to the 
cloud at that time. The platform was also 
relatively narrowly focused on natural 
catastrophe risk management for the 
property insurance sector. Since then, 
technology and the insurance sector’s 
acceptance of cloud computing have evolved 
considerably. There is also demand from 
RMS’s customer base for a broader set of 
solutions to deliver greater strategic value, 
across more areas of risk.

Consequently, the decision has been taken 
to re-architect the RMS(one) platform to 
take advantage of the growing benefits 
of new technology, better matching capacity 
to demand. This development is expected 
to reduce significantly the running costs 
for customers whilst also improving 
performance, facilitating more modular 
delivery and enabling new products and 
solutions starting in 2019. Throughout 2019 
and beyond, RMS will be incorporating 
modern and innovative technologies, such as 
artificial intelligence and machine learning, 
to deliver a platform that will be scalable, 
secure, flexible and extensible, thereby 
addressing the evolving and future market 
for risk.

Since August 2016, all RMS(one) development 
costs have been expensed as incurred. 
Historic development costs prior to then 
were capitalised. Given the decision to 
re-architect the platform, the historically 
capitalised development costs incurred prior 
to August 2016 have been fully impaired, 
resulting in a charge of £58 million.

S
t
r
a
t
e
g
i
c
R
e
p
o
r
t

G
o
v
e
r
n
a
n
c
e

F
i

n
a
n
c
i
a
l

S
t
a
t
e
m
e
n
t
s

S
h
a
r
e
h
o

l

d
e
r

I
n
f
o
r
m
a
t
i

o
n

Priorities in the year ahead 
During FY 2019, as one of DMGT’s Focused 
growth businesses, RMS will be increasing its 
investment in software, data, data analytics 
and applications. The investment will deliver 
new strategic benefits to customers and 
position the business for the long term, by 
opening up adjacent market opportunities 
to catastrophe modelling, such as data 
analytics. Future releases of high-definition 
(HD) models will be made exclusively on 
the new RMS(one) platform, starting with 
US Inland Flood in spring 2019. The model 
pipeline for 2019 covers a wide range of 
perils, including US Inland Flood HD and 
North American Wildfire HD. Revenues 
are expected to grow in FY 2019 and the 
adjusted operating profit margin will reflect 
the absence of RMS(one) amortisation 
charges offset by the increased platform 
investment, with development costs 
continuing to be expensed as incurred. 

Property Information

2018
£m

272

58

Move-
ment
%

Under-
lying^
%

2017
£m

328 (17)% (2)%

52 +12% (8)%

Revenue

Operating profit*

Operating margin*

21% 16%

*   Adjusted operating profit and operating margin;  

see pages 27 and 28 for details.

^   Underlying growth rates give a like-for-like comparison; 

see pages 28 and 29 for details.

The Property Information portfolio 
operates in the US and Europe, primarily 
the UK. The focus of the US portion was 
increased considerably during the year. 
Despite challenging market conditions 
in the UK, the Property Information 
businesses delivered a resilient 
performance and both Trepp and 
Landmark Information Group continue 
to play an important Operating at scale 
role as strong cash generators for DMGT.

Business model
Companies within the portfolio derive their 
revenues from providing services that use 
technology, data and workflow to streamline 
and help reduce the risk associated with 
commercial and residential property 
transactions. In addition, Trepp in the US 
provides risk, valuation and data solutions 
for the commercial mortgage-backed 
securities market as well as robust tools, 
analytics and models for commercial real 
estate investors and lenders. Revenues are 
generated from subscriptions as well as 
volume-related transactions.

17

Strategic Report 
 
 
Strategic Report

Operating Business Reviews
B2B

Performance highlights
The focus within the US element of the 
Property Information portfolio was 
significantly increased during the year. 
Xceligent, which was fully impaired in the 
prior year, ceased trading in December 2017. 
In April 2018, the disposal of EDR was 
completed for US$205 million, better 
enabling that business to pursue growth 
opportunities in managed services. In the 
same month, DMGT reduced its stake in 
SiteCompli to c.49%, with the founding 
management team now holding a majority 
stake; SiteCompli is now classified as an 
associate rather than a DMGT subsidiary. 

The US Property Information portfolio 
now comprises Trepp, a leading provider 
of data, analytics and technology solutions 
to the global securities and investment 
management industries, and one of DMGT’s 
Operating at scale businesses; and BuildFax, 
an early-stage but leading provider of 
property condition and history data. 
The European Property Information portfolio 
continues to consist of the Landmark 
Information Group, including Landmark and 
SearchFlow in the UK and On-geo in Germany. 

Property Information revenues decreased 
by 2% on an underlying basis. Revenue 
growth in the US was more than offset by the 
European business, which continued to face 
challenging conditions in the UK residential 
market where mortgage approval volumes 
were down 4% on the prior year. The 17% 
reported decrease in revenues reflected the 
reduced US portfolio and the weaker US 
dollar. Adjusted operating profit decreased 
by 8% on an underlying basis, including the 
cost of initiatives to extend Trepp’s product 
offering and reflecting the challenges in the 
UK market. The adjusted operating margin 
increased to 21%, benefiting from the 
absence of loss-making Xceligent for nine 
months of the year and from central US 
costs, that were historically allocated to 
dmg information’s cost base, being included 
in Group Corporate costs in FY 2018.

During the year, as part of the PIP, 
SearchFlow launched a new search ordering 
platform that significantly improves the 
customer experience. Trepp continued 
to build-out its TreppLoan platform by 
enhancing portfolio and workflow capabilities 
and expanding the breadth of data. The 
product benefits from the extension of 
Trepp’s existing data and intellectual 
property, making it relevant to a broader 
customer segment. BuildFax, the Early bets 
business, significantly reduced its sales 

18

cycle, better positioning it to grow quickly 
in the future.

Priorities in the year ahead
In the coming year, there will be continued 
product development at the Operating at 
scale businesses, Trepp and Landmark 
Information Group, to enhance their 
market-leading positions and help generate 
future revenue growth. This includes Trepp’s 
development of proprietary analytics for the 
collateralised loan obligations (CLO) market. 
In the UK, the challenging market conditions 
are expected to continue. BuildFax, the Early 
bets business, will continue to focus on 
expanding its client base in its core insurance 
market as well as exploring opportunities to 
monetise its proprietary data in other areas.

EdTech

2018
£m

2017
£m

Move-
ment
%

Under-
lying^
%

Revenue

Operating profit*

68

7

115 (41)% +9%

16 (55)% +205%

Operating margin*

11% 14%

*   Adjusted operating profit and operating margin;  

see pages 27 and 28 for details.

^   Underlying growth rates give a like-for-like comparison; 

see pages 28 and 29 for details.

The EdTech business, Hobsons, is a 
leading provider of college and career 
readiness and student success solutions 
to the North American market. Having 
been restructured during 2017, the 
remaining business delivered underlying 
growth and an improving profit margin 
during the year.

Business model
Hobsons offers college, career and life 
readiness tools to middle and high schools; 
student match and fit solutions for college 
admissions offices; and a student success 
platform for colleges and universities to help 
guide students from enrolment through to 
degree completion. Hobsons’ revenues are 
mainly derived from subscription contracts 
with schools and colleges, with the balance 
from training and consulting services.

Performance highlights
EdTech revenues continued to grow on an 
underlying basis, increasing 9%. There was 
continued growth from each of Hobsons’ 
three product lines: Naviance, the K-12 
college and career readiness solution; 
Intersect, the higher education matching 
business; and Starfish, the higher education 
student retention and success platform. 
The disposal of the Admissions and Solutions 
businesses, in September and October 2017 

respectively, resulted in a decrease in reported 
revenues. Similarly, although there was a 
reduction in adjusted operating profit due 
to the disposals, there was an underlying 
improvement in the business’s profitability, 
reflecting the impact of the PIP. 

During the year, the business delivered a new 
Naviance Student product, which increases 
end-user engagement, by providing students 
and parents with an intuitive mobile-friendly 
experience. Nearly 11 million students now 
have access to Naviance, including over 40% 
of high school students in the US, as the 
product is used by over 13,000 schools. 
Enhancements were also made to the 
Intersect and Starfish product suites during 
the year, including an improved mobile 
experience and the full integration of analytics 
into Starfish. Over 1,000 US colleges and 
universities are now using Hobsons’ higher 
education products, Intersect and Starfish.

Priorities in the year ahead
In the coming year, there will be further 
investment to modernise the core EdTech 
product platforms, improve security and add 
new client-facing features and functionality. 
Hobsons will continue to focus on delivering 
the combination of underlying revenue 
growth and improving cash generation, 
with the PIP helping to support its progress 
as one of DMGT’s Focused growth businesses.

Energy Information

2018
£m

2017
£m

Move-
ment
%

Under-
lying^
%

Revenue

Operating profit*

Operating margin*

86

–

0%

88

(3)% +7%

2 (83)% (64)%

2%

*   Adjusted operating profit and operating margin;  

see pages 27 and 28 for details.

^   Underlying growth rates give a like-for-like comparison; 

see pages 28 and 29 for details.

The Energy Information business, 
Genscape, delivers innovative solutions 
to improve market transparency and 
efficiency across several asset classes 
including oil, power, natural gas, liquid 
natural gas and maritime. The business 
continued to deliver underlying revenue 
growth during the year and improving 
cash generation whilst its focus was 
increased through restructuring and 
the merger of its solar business into 
AlsoEnergy.

Business model
Genscape provides its customers with 
fundamental data, intelligence and real-time 
alerts, workflow tools, and predictive 

S
t
r
a
t
e
g
i
c
R
e
p
o
r
t

G
o
v
e
r
n
a
n
c
e

F
i

n
a
n
c
i
a
l

S
t
a
t
e
m
e
n
t
s

S
h
a
r
e
h
o

l

d
e
r

I
n
f
o
r
m
a
t
i

o
n

 
 
 
Daily Mail and General Trust plc Annual Report 2018

analytics to better manage volatility, 
make complex decisions and increase the 
efficiency of their supply chains. Revenues 
are mainly subscription based through 
annual and multi-year client contracts.

Performance highlights
Energy Information revenues grew by an 
underlying 7%, with continued growth from 
the core businesses operating in the oil, 
power and gas sectors.

The new management team has been 
implementing the PIP to deliver efficiencies 
as well as increasing the focus within the 
business: several sub-scale business lines 
were divested or closed to increase 
leadership focus on growth opportunities; 
the technology team was reorganised to 
bring additional scale and expertise to top 
priorities; a new process, the Product Launch 
Pad, was introduced for developing products 
from concept through to commercial launch, 
to ensure consistent vetting and a more 
co-ordinated approach for opportunities 
that can have a significant impact; and the 
pricing policy was revised to reflect 
customer value.

The elimination of peripheral products 
and the streamlining of support functions 
resulted in some restructuring costs that 
are included in adjusted operating profit. 
In addition, a larger proportion of payroll 
costs were expensed directly, with reduced 
capitalisation. These two factors resulted in 
reduced adjusted operating profit, although 
the cash operating income of the business 
improved by £7 million.

During the year, the business also increased 
the use of automation, notably machine 
learning, to generate its proprietary content.

In September 2018, the solar business Locus 
Energy was merged into AlsoEnergy, a leader 
in renewable energy software solutions in 
which DMGT retains a minority stake. The 
combined business benefits from greater 
scale and an improved ability to innovate 
on behalf of its clients.

Priorities in the year ahead
In the coming year, Genscape will aim to 
accelerate growth in its core power, oil 
and gas businesses by investing in product, 
sales and service. There will also be a focus 
on offering a more seamless customer 
experience across Genscape’s various 
products. As one of DMGT’s Focused 
growth businesses, Genscape is expected 
to continue to deliver underlying revenue 
growth during FY 2019 and is well positioned 
to grow its profits.

Events and Exhibitions

2018
£m

118

28

Move-
ment
%

Under-
lying^
%

+1% +5%

(9)% (8)%

2017
£m

117

31

Revenue

Operating profit*

Operating margin*

24% 26%

*   Adjusted operating profit and operating margin;  

see pages 27 and 28 for details.

^   Underlying growth rates give a like-for-like comparison; 

see pages 28 and 29 for details.

The Events and Exhibitions business, 
dmg events, is an organiser of B2B 
exhibitions and associated conferences 
with industry-leading events in the 
energy, construction, interiors, hotel, 
hospitality and leisure sectors. 
dmg events continues to seek new 
opportunities for customers in emerging 
markets, with five new events launched 
in FY 2018 and six more planned for 
FY 2019. dmg events hosts over 50 events 
per year, attracting over 300,000 visitors 
and exhibitors from more than 100 
different countries.

Business model
dmg events’ strong market and brand 
positions, emerging market experience and 
entrepreneurial culture create opportunities 
for growth through geo-cloning existing 
events into new locations and by creating 
spin-off sections to become stand-alone 
events. The key branded events are Big 5, 
ADIPEC, Gastech, INDEX and The Hotel Show, 
which all provide opportunities to develop 
the spin-off and geo-clone strategy. 
dmg events is one of the Operating at scale 
businesses with revenues being derived from 
exhibitor, sponsorship and delegate fees 
with over half of the revenues generated 
from the top three events. 

Performance highlights  
Events and Exhibitions revenues grew by 5% 
on an underlying basis despite Gastech, one 
of the business’s three large events, moving 
to Barcelona from the larger Japanese 
market where it was held in the prior year. 
Big 5 Dubai and ADIPEC, the two other large 
events, collectively delivered mid-single 
digit underlying growth. Reported revenues 
increased by 1% to £118 million despite 
the impact of the weaker US dollar relative 
to sterling. 

The business continued to geo-clone existing 
shows by launching into new locations, 
including a Big 5 Construct Egypt event, and 
to launch spin-off events, including a Global 
Power & Energy Exhibition event that ran in 

parallel with Gastech. Two small businesses, 
Hypenica and Hi-Design, were also acquired 
in the year, with events in the construction 
and hotel interior design sectors.

During the year, as part of the PIP, dmg 
events strengthened its technology team 
and invested in technology to improve the 
overall experience for attendees, including 
the efficiency of attendee time at events.

The operating profit margin was 24%, 
a reduction compared to the prior year, 
due to expected increased costs for the 
major shows, notably ADIPEC, and holding 
two separate Index events in Dubai to 
accommodate the timing of Ramadan. 
As a result, operating profits decreased 
by 9%, including the adverse effect of the 
weaker US dollar, and by an underlying 8%.

Priorities in the year ahead 
dmg events will remain focused on 
developing its key large-scale market-leading 
events. Gastech is changing to an annual 
format, having previously been held 
approximately every 18 months, and the 
greater frequency is expected to deliver an 
increase in cumulative revenues and profits 
over time. The reduced interval between 
shows is, however, expected to have an 
adverse effect on the absolute revenues and 
operating margin of the individual event 
being held in Houston in September 2019, 
relative to the September 2018 event. 

Big 5 Dubai and ADIPEC, two of the three 
large events of the year, occurred in 
November 2018 and are expected to 
collectively deliver a stable performance, 
reflecting increasingly challenging conditions 
in the Middle East, notably the UAE 
construction market. In addition, the six 
launches planned for FY 2019 in Africa, 
Middle East, South East Asia and Spain 
illustrate DMGT’s willingness to invest to 
support longer term revenue growth.

S
t
r
a
t
e
g
i
c
R
e
p
o
r
t

G
o
v
e
r
n
a
n
c
e

F
i

n
a
n
c
i
a
l

S
t
a
t
e
m
e
n
t
s

S
h
a
r
e
h
o

l

d
e
r

I
n
f
o
r
m
a
t
i

o
n

19

Strategic Report 
 
 
Strategic Report

Operating Business Reviews
Consumer Media

2018
£m

654

64

Move-
ment
%

Under-
lying^
%

(4)% (4)%

2017
£m

683

77

(17)% (22)%

Revenue

Operating profit*

Operating margin*

10% 11%

*   Adjusted operating profit and operating margin;  

see pages 27 and 28 for details.

^   Underlying growth rates give a like-for-like comparison; 

see pages 28 and 29 for details.

The Consumer Media business, dmg media, 
remains resolutely focused on delivering 
high-quality, popular journalism to a large 
global audience. A multi-year investment 
programme, positioning dmg media as a 
modern news company, has ensured that the 
business has prospered in an increasingly 
digital-oriented consumer media market. 
The combined strength of the Mail and Metro 
brands continues to create innovative and 
exciting opportunities for advertisers 
through a sophisticated and targeted 
multi-channel approach. 

Business model
dmg media’s portfolio of news media 
businesses includes two of the UK’s most 
read paid-for newspapers, the Daily Mail 
and The Mail on Sunday; Metro, its free 
newspaper, which is the UK’s highest 
circulation weekday newspaper with the 
largest weekday newspaper readership in 
the UK each month; and MailOnline, whose 
large audience spends 145 million minutes 
engaged with its content each day. 

The Mail news media brand has the largest 
reach of any commercial news media brand 
in the UK and has achieved scale in other 
geographic markets, including the US and 
Australia. Combined, the Mail and Metro 
brands reach c.63% of the UK’s adult 
population each month. 

dmg media’s revenues are generated mainly 
from advertising and circulation revenues. 
While the Operating at scale newspaper 
businesses continue to generate strong 
profits and cash flow, the Focused growth 
digital businesses, MailOnline and  
metro.co.uk, are expected to be the 
driver of dmg media’s future growth.

Performance highlights 
The Consumer Media business’s revenues 
declined by 4% to £654 million, with the 5% 
underlying growth from MailOnline being 
more than offset by a 5% decrease in 
circulation revenues and a 5% decline 
in print advertising revenues. Adjusted 
operating profit for the year decreased by 
17% to £64 million, including the benefit 

20

from disposing of the loss-making Elite Daily 
in April 2017. Profits decreased by 22% on 
an underlying basis, as the reduction in the 
Mail Newspapers’ cost base and improved 
contribution from MailOnline only partially 
offset the adverse effect of decreasing 
circulation and print advertising revenues. 
The operating margin was 10% as expected, 
down from 11% in the prior year.

Mail businesses 
Revenues from the combined newspaper 
and website businesses (the Daily Mail, The 
Mail on Sunday and MailOnline) decreased 
by an underlying 5% to £546 million, 
including £122 million from MailOnline. 
Total advertising revenues across the Mail 
businesses decreased by an underlying 3% 
to £239 million, including a 9% decline in 
print advertising revenues, reflecting the 
continued structural and competitive 
challenges facing the UK national newspaper 
advertising market. MailOnline’s advertising 
revenues grew by an underlying 5% which 
resulted in it accounting for over half of 
total advertising across the combined 
Mail businesses, a significant milestone.

The Mail brands remain strong, which is 
reflected in the growing UK retail market 
shares held by the Daily Mail and The Mail on 
Sunday, averaging 24.8% and 21.9% for the 
year respectively. Circulation revenues 
decreased by 5% to £291 million due to 
declining volumes being only partly offset 
by the benefit of the October 2017 6% cover 
price increase of The Mail on Sunday. In 
September 2018, the cover price of the 
Monday to Friday editions of the Daily Mail 
increased from 65p to 70p.

MailOnline continues to focus on attracting 
traffic directly to its homepages on desktop 
or mobile or its apps. Indirect traffic, notably 
via social media and search platforms, has 
reduced and resulted in total average daily 
global unique browsers during the year 
decreasing by 13% to 12.9 million. 
Engagement with its core target audience 
continued to grow, however, and total 
minutes spent on the site increased 2% to 
a daily average of 145 million, of which 77% 
came from direct traffic compared to 74% 
in the prior year.

MailOnline is one of our Focused growth 
businesses and its growth strategy is 
far-reaching, including providing new 
advertising formats and working with our 
key commercial partners, Snapchat, Google 
and Facebook. It also includes DailyMailTV 
in the US, which is currently in its second 

season and attracts an average of 1.3 million 
viewers a day. It became a wholly-owned 
subsidiary in October 2018 and will therefore 
be included within Consumer Media’s results 
in FY 2019. 

Metro 
Metro delivered a robust revenue 
performance in the context of a declining 
print advertising market, growing revenues 
by an underlying 4% to £71 million, including 
the benefit of taking on four franchises from 
Trinity Mirror (now Reach plc) in January 
2017, a further two in January 2018 and one 
in July 2018. Metro has the largest circulation 
of any weekday newspaper in the UK, read 
by an average of 2.8 million people each day, 
and has the largest Monday to Friday 
advertising market share by volume. During 
the year, as part of the PIP, the advertising 
operations of the Metro and Mail were 
integrated to deliver improved service to 
customers and to take advantage of dmg 
media’s scale to reduce costs.

Priorities in the year ahead 
dmg media will continue to harness the 
value of the Mail brands for both readers 
and advertisers and invest in the quality 
of its popular journalism to drive and engage 
its global audiences. The cost base of the 
newspaper businesses will continue to 
be further reduced, albeit in a measured 
approach that ensures the quality of the 
content is not compromised, consistent with 
DMGT’s strategy of supporting the longevity 
of the newspapers’ strong cash generation.

Outlook 
The Consumer Media business is expected 
to benefit, despite the recent challenging 
market conditions, from digital advertising 
growth and to experience circulation 
volume and print advertising declines, with 
advertising revenues likely to remain volatile. 
FY 2018 revenues, restated for the current 
portfolio of businesses, were £663 million 
and the underlying rate of decline of 
Consumer Media revenues in FY 2019 is 
expected to be in the mid-single digits. 
The operating margin is expected to be in 
the high-single digits in FY 2019. This reflects 
the revenue reduction, increased newsprint 
costs and investment in DailyMailTV being 
partly offset by the benefit of continued 
cost efficiencies within the newspapers and 
by an improving contribution from the rest 
of MailOnline.

S
t
r
a
t
e
g
i
c
R
e
p
o
r
t

G
o
v
e
r
n
a
n
c
e

F
i

n
a
n
c
i
a
l

S
t
a
t
e
m
e
n
t
s

S
h
a
r
e
h
o

l

d
e
r

I
n
f
o
r
m
a
t
i

o
n

 
 
 
Daily Mail and General Trust plc Annual Report 2018

Operating Business Reviews
JVs and Associates

Euromoney 
Institutional 
Investor PLC

ZPG Plc

Other

Total share of 
operating profit

2018
£m

2017Ω
£m

Movement
%

56

23

(5)

74

56

25

(2)

79

0%

(5)%

+130%

(6)%

Ω  Pro forma FY 2017 figures have been restated to treat 
Euromoney as a c.49% associate for the whole year, 
consistent with the ownership profile during FY 2018. 
See reconciliation on page 25.

As well as a diverse portfolio of operating 
companies, DMGT holds a c.49% 
associate interest in Euromoney 
Institutional Investor PLC (Euromoney) 
and, for most of the year, held a c.30% 
interest in ZPG Plc (ZPG). Euromoney 
is a UK listed company and as at 
30 September 2018 had a market value 
to DMGT of £721 million.

Other current JVs and associates include:

•  Insurance Risk – c.26% stake in Praedicat, 

which is dedicated to improving the 
underwriting and management of 
casualty risk;

•  Property Information – c.40% stake in 
Real Capital Analytics, an authority on 
the deals, the players and the trends 
that drive the commercial real estate 
investment markets;

•  Consumer Media – c.24% stake in 

Excalibur, which operates the online 
discount businesses Wowcher and 
LivingSocial UK; and, since August 2018
•  Consumer Media – c.26% stake in Yopa, 

a UK hybrid estate agent.

Also DailyMailTV, which produces the 
eponymous US TV show, was a 50% joint 
venture during the year and became a 
wholly-owned subsidiary within the 
Consumer Media division in October 2018.

In FY 2018, the Group’s share of operating 
profits from its JVs and associates was  
£74 million, a pro forma reduction of 
£5 million compared to FY 2017, reflecting 
the absence of ZPG results for the final three 
and a half months of the year. 

Euromoney – DMGT holding c.49%
Euromoney was founded in 1969 by the 
then City editor of the Daily Mail and has 
grown into a FTSE-250 global multi-brand 
information business that provides critical 
data, price reporting, insight, analysis and 
events. Euromoney operates out of over 
20 offices around the world and its portfolio 
consists of specialist businesses, spread 
across three primary categories:

•  Asset management – provides 

independent research, critical news and 
data and runs networks and conferences 
for the asset management industry 
– e.g. BCA Research, Institutional Investor 
and Ned Davis Research;

•  Pricing, data and market intelligence 
– provides information and analysis 
critical to clients’ business processes 
and workflows across the metals and 
mining, telecoms, insurance, airline, 
banking and forest product industries – 
e.g. Fastmarkets MB, Fastmarkets AMM, 
RISI and Insurance Insider; and

•  Banking and finance – provides market 

intelligence, news, training and 
conferences to the global finance industry 
– e.g. Euromoney, IMN and Global Capital.

During the year, Euromoney grew its 
revenues by an underlying 3%. Adjusted 
profit before tax increased by 3% and results 
were adversely affected by the disposal 
of its Global Markets Intelligence Division, 
which completed in April 2018. DMGT’s share 
of adjusted operating profits were in line 
with the prior year on a pro forma basis. 
Euromoney ended the year with £78 million 
of net cash on its balance sheet.

ZPG – Disposal
DMGT acquired Find a Property and 
PrimeLocation in 2004 and 2006 respectively 
for a total cost of £62 million and grew them 
into the second largest UK property portal 
business, the Digital Property Group. In 2012, 
the business merged with Zoopla to form 
Zoopla Property Group, in which DMGT held 
a c.55% stake. There was a successful IPO 
of the company in 2014 for £2.20 per share, 
when DMGT realised £180 million of 
proceeds, enabling ZPG to pursue a 
growth strategy using its own independent 
balance sheet. 

ZPG was acquired by Silver Lake in July 2018 
for £4.90 per share and DMGT’s proceeds 
from the disposal of its remaining c.30% 
stake were £642 million. The substantial 
return to DMGT from the IPO and subsequent 
disposal is a clear demonstration of DMGT’s 
long-term approach to value creation.

Other JVs and associates
The share of operating profits and losses 
from other joint ventures and associates, 
which are mainly early stage businesses, 
was a net loss of £5 million. The increase, 
from £2 million in the prior year, was largely 
due to investment in DailyMailTV, which is 
currently in its second season following its 
successful launch in September 2017.

Investments
DMGT invests in and develops early-stage 
businesses, including companies in which 
the Group holds smaller stakes. Since the 
percentage holdings are too small for the 
companies to be associates, the Group does 
not recognise a share of profits or losses 
from these investments. Investments are 
in the Consumer Media and B2B sectors, 
primarily through dmg ventures, which backs 
disruptive consumer propositions that need 
to scale and which can leverage the Group’s 
assets to do so. A notable example is Yopa, 
a business in which DMGT previously held 
a c.17% stake and was treated as an 
investment accordingly, but received 
further investment during the year and 
consequently became an associate.

The year ahead
The financial performance in the coming 
year will be affected by the disposal of 
DMGT’s stake in ZPG, by Euromoney’s 
disposal of its Global Markets Intelligence 
division and by the inclusion of DMGT’s share 
of Yopa’s losses. This will be partly offset by 
the absence of DailyMailTV, which is now 
a subsidiary. The total share of operating 
profits from joint ventures and associates 
in FY 2019 is expected to be at least 
£40 million.

S
t
r
a
t
e
g
i
c
R
e
p
o
r
t

G
o
v
e
r
n
a
n
c
e

F
i

n
a
n
c
i
a
l

S
t
a
t
e
m
e
n
t
s

S
h
a
r
e
h
o

l

d
e
r

I
n
f
o
r
m
a
t
i

o
n

21

Strategic Report 
 
 
Strategic Report

Focused on driving long-term shareholder value 
Financial Review

DMGT has a strong balance sheet and 
the foundations in place to deliver  
long-term growth.

Tim Collier
Group Chief Financial Officer 

DMGT’s clear portfolio roles, strong 
balance sheet and clear and disciplined 
approach to value creation position the 
Group well to invest in opportunities 
and to deliver sustained growth over 
the long term.

The Financial Review details DMGT’s 
performance during a year of transition, 
where the Group increased the focus within 
its portfolio and continued its investment 
to drive long-term growth. 

The statutory results include gains on 
disposals and exceptional items. Profit for 
the year was £688 million, a 101% increase 
on the prior year. The year-on-year profit 
growth was primarily due to reduced 
impairment charges with substantial gains 
on disposals being made in both years. 
Statutory earnings per share increased 
by 99%. DMGT’s balance sheet was 
strengthened significantly, with the 
Group ending the year with £233 million of 
net cash and the defined benefit pension 
schemes in an improved net surplus position. 

The recommended final dividend of  
16.2 pence per share gives a total for the year 
of 23.3 pence, up 3% on the prior year. This 
continues DMGT’s track record of delivering 
annual real dividend growth and reflects the 
Board’s confidence in the Group’s ability to 
deliver long-term earnings growth.

The Board and management team use 
adjusted results and measures, rather 
than statutory results, as the primary basis 
for providing insight into the financial 
performance of the Group and the way it 
is managed. Similarly, adjusted results are 
used in setting management remuneration. 
Adjusted results exclude certain items which, 
if included, could distort the understanding 
of comparative performance of the business 
during the year. Consequently, the rest of 
this Financial Review focuses on adjusted 
measures. The explanations for the 
adjustments and the reconciliations to 
statutory results are shown on pages 27 
and 28. 

When assessing revenue and operating profit 
growth, the Board and management focus 
on underlying growth rates as the most 
meaningful like-for-like comparison between 
the current year and the prior year. A more 
detailed explanation and the calculations 
are shown on pages 28 and 29. Our holding 
in Euromoney Institutional Investor PLC 
(Euromoney) was reclassified as an associate 
during the prior year, reflecting the reduction 
in DMGT’s shareholding in December 2016. 
To give a more meaningful year-on-year 
comparison, prior year pro forma figures 
have been prepared treating Euromoney  
as a c.49% associate for the whole year, 
consistent with FY 2018, as shown on 
page 25.

22

Financial highlights:  
statutory results 

Revenue

£1,426m

2017: £1,564m

Operating profit/(loss)

£169m

2017: £(129)m

Profit/(loss) before tax

£692m

2017: £(112)m

Profit for the year

£688m

2017#: £342m

Earnings per share

194.7p

2017#: 97.8p

Dividend per share

23.3p

2017: 22.7p

   Go online to www.dmgt.com  
to read more about our  
Financial highlights  

S
t
r
a
t
e
g
i
c
R
e
p
o
r
t

G
o
v
e
r
n
a
n
c
e

F
i

n
a
n
c
i
a
l

S
t
a
t
e
m
e
n
t
s

S
h
a
r
e
h
o

l

d
e
r

I
n
f
o
r
m
a
t
i

o
n

 
 
 
Daily Mail and General Trust plc Annual Report 2018

Performance highlights
DMGT’s financial performance in the year 
was consistent with our expectations. 
It reflected the impact of disposals and 
challenging market conditions faced by some 
of our businesses, particularly UK Property 
Information and advertising. Nevertheless, 
the Group’s performance demonstrates the 
benefits of our diversified portfolio and the 
strength of our market-leading businesses. 

Group revenue was in line with the prior year 
on an underlying basis. Subscription revenue 
grew by an underlying 4%, with broad-based 
growth across the EdTech, Energy 
Information, Property Information and 
Insurance Risk sectors. Events revenue grew 
by an underlying 5% and digital advertising 
by 6%. Transaction revenues were stable on 
an underlying basis, reflecting increased 
project revenues in the Insurance Risk sector 
and lower transaction volumes in the UK 
residential property market. As expected, 
print advertising revenues continued 
to decline and there was a decrease 
in circulation. 

Adjusted operating profit decreased 19% 
on a pro forma basisΩ and by 17% on 
an underlying basis. The underlying 
performance reflected growth in profits from 
Insurance Risk and EdTech being more than 
offset by the rest of the Group, as expected, 
notably by Consumer Media and increased 
Corporate costs. Group adjusted operating 
margin was 10%, compared to a pro forma 
margin of 11% in the prior year, due to 
Consumer Media and Corporate costs. 
Adjusted profit before tax was £182 million, 
a 16% decrease on a pro forma basis, 
reflecting the decrease in operating profit 
and a reduction in the share of operating 
profits from joint ventures and associates.

The portfolio focus was increased during 
the year, as explained in the CEO Review, 
including the disposals of DMGT’s c.30% 
stake in ZPG Plc (ZPG) and EDR. The 
Group ended the year with net cash§ of 
£233 million and a net cash:EBITDA ratio 
of 0.8, significantly enhancing DMGT’s 
financial flexibility.

Revenue performance
Group revenues in the financial year were 
in line with the prior year on an underlying 
basis. On a pro formaΩ basis, revenues 
decreased 9% to £1,426 million reflecting 
disposals and the weaker US dollar relative 
to sterling. The average exchange rate during 
the year was £1:$1.35 compared with 
£1:$1.27 in the prior year.

Revenues from B2B businesses grew 3% 
on an underlying basis, to £773 million, with 
growth from EdTech, Energy Information, 
Insurance Risk and Events and Exhibitions 
partially offset by Property Information, 
which experienced weakness in the UK. B2B 
revenues decreased by 12% on a pro forma 
basis, following the exit of certain Property 
Information and EdTech businesses and 
reflecting the weaker US dollar. 

Revenues from the Consumer Media 
business, dmg media, were £654 million, 
down 4% on an underlying basis. As 
expected, the growth from MailOnline was 
more than offset by a decrease in circulation 
revenues and a continuing decline in 
print advertising.

The charts on page 24 demonstrate the 
diverse profile of DMGT’s revenues.

   Read more on each operating business’s 

revenue performance, pages 16 to 21

Operating profit performance 
Adjusted operating profit of £145 million 
was down by 17% on an underlying basis 
and by 19% on a pro formaΩ reported basis. 
The reported operating profit was adversely 
affected by disposals and by the weaker 
US dollar. 

The operating profit of the Group’s B2B 
operations decreased by an underlying 1% 
to £128 million, with growth from Insurance 
Risk and EdTech being more than offset 
by reductions elsewhere. The profit from 
Consumer Media decreased by an underlying 
22% to £64 million as the reduction in the 
Mail Newspapers’ cost base and improved 
contribution from MailOnline only partially 
offset the adverse effect of decreasing 
circulation and print advertising revenues. 
As expected, Corporate costs increased 
by an underlying 25% to £47 million, 
reflecting the strengthening of the central 
functions, including strategy and technology, 
to support our revised strategy and assess 
potential capital allocation decisions.

Financial highlights: 
adjusted measures*

Underlying^ revenue growth
0%

2017: +1%

Underlying^ operating profit decline
(17)%

2017: (2)%

Operating margin

10%

2017Ω: 11%

PBT growth 

(16)Ω

2017µ: +4%

Cash operating income growth

(14)%Ω

2017µ: +16%

EPS growth

(23)%Ω

2017µ: +7%

Net cash/(debt)§

£233m

2017: £(464)m

Net cash/(debt)§:EBITDA

0.8x

2017: (1.4)x

Footnotes are defined on the inside front cover with 
the exception of those below.
^ 

 Underlying revenue or profit is revenue or operating 
profit on a like-for-like basis, see pages 28 and 29. 
Underlying results are adjusted for constant 
exchange rates, the exclusion of disposals and 
closures, the inclusion of the year-on-year organic 
growth from acquisitions and for the consistent 
timing of revenue recognition. For events, the 
comparisons are between events held in the year 
and the same events held the previous time. For 
Consumer Media, underlying revenues exclude low 
margin newsprint resale activities. For FY 2017, 
central dmg information costs allocated to Property 
Information, EdTech and Energy Information are 
reclassified to Corporate costs, consistent with all 
US central costs being included in Corporate costs 
in FY 2018.

µ    2017 growth rates based on FY 2017 results but 

pro forma FY 2016 results, treating Euromoney as 
a c.67% subsidiary for the first three months of the 
year and as a c.49% associate for the remaining 
nine months, consistent with the ownership profile 
during FY 2017.

S
t
r
a
t
e
g
i
c
R
e
p
o
r
t

G
o
v
e
r
n
a
n
c
e

F
i

n
a
n
c
i
a
l

S
t
a
t
e
m
e
n
t
s

S
h
a
r
e
h
o

l

d
e
r

I
n
f
o
r
m
a
t
i

o
n

23

Strategic Report 
 
 
Strategic Report

Focused on driving long-term shareholder value 
Financial Review

Revenue profile
By business (%)

By type (%)

By destination (%)

  Insurance Risk 
  Property Information 
  EdTech 
  Energy Information  
  Events and Exhibitions 
  Consumer Media 

16
19
5
6
8
46

  Subscriptions 
  Circulation 
   Events 
  Digital advertising 
  Print advertising 
  Transactions and other 

28
20
8
10
13
21

  UK 
  North America 
  Rest of the World 

54
29 
17

Cash operating income
Cash operating income is a performance 
metric used by DMGT to assess the cash 
generation of its businesses. It is calculated 
by adding back depreciation and 
amortisation expenses, which are non-cash 
items, to adjusted operating profit and 
then deducting capital expenditure. In the 
financial year, cash operating income for 
the Group as a whole was £155 million, 
a decrease of £26 million on a pro formaΩ 

basis, from £181 million in the prior year, 
due to the £34 million pro forma reduction 
in operating profit and £17 million reduction 
in depreciation and amortisation being 
partly offset by a £25 million reduction 
in capital expenditure. There was pleasing 
growth from the B2B portfolio, especially 
from our Focused growth businesses which 
are now all generating positive cash 
operating income.

Joint ventures and associates
The Group’s share of the operating profits* 
of its joint ventures and associates was 
£74 million compared to £69 million in the 
prior year, although there was a decrease 
of 6% on a pro forma basis. DMGT’s c.30% 
stake in ZPG was disposed of during the year 
and consequently the results exclude 
the final three and a half months of 
ZPG’s performance.

Business performance

Revenues (FY 2017 pro formaΩ)

Operating profit* (FY 2017 pro formaΩ)

FY 2018

FY 2017

Growth

FY 2018

FY 2017

Growth

£m

£m

Reported

Underlying^

229
272
68
86
118

773

654

233
328
115
88
117

881

683

(2)%
(17)%
(41)%
(3)%
+1%

(12)%

(4%)

+5%
(2)%
+9%
+7%
+5%

+3%

(4)%

1,426

1,564

(9)%

0%

£m

35
58
7
–
28

128

64
(47)

145

£m

Reported

Underlying^

33
52
16
2
31

133

77
(32)

179

+5%
+12%
(55)%
(83)%
(9)%

(4)%

(17)%
+50%

(19)%

+16%
(8)%
+205%
(64)%
(8)%

(1)%

(22)%
+25%

(17)%

B2B
Insurance Risk
Property Information
EdTech
Energy Information
Events and Exhibitions

Consumer Media
Corporate costs

DMGT

Cash operating income

£ million

Adjusted Group operating profit
Add: Depreciation of tangible fixed assets
Add: Amortisation of intangible fixed assets (e.g. products and software)
Less: Purchase of tangible fixed assets
Less: Expenditure on intangible fixed assets (e.g. products and software)
Add: Proceeds from tangible fixed assets

DMGT Cash operating income

24

Source

Tables on page 28
Note 3
Note 3
Cash flow
Cash flow
Cash flow

FY 2018

FY 2017

FY 2017
pro formaΩ

145
27
33
(30)
(20)
–

155

198
35
44
(21)
(58)
1

199

179
34
43
(18)
(57)
1

181

S
t
r
a
t
e
g
i
c
R
e
p
o
r
t

G
o
v
e
r
n
a
n
c
e

F
i

n
a
n
c
i
a
l

S
t
a
t
e
m
e
n
t
s

S
h
a
r
e
h
o

l

d
e
r

I
n
f
o
r
m
a
t
i

o
n

 
 
 
 
Daily Mail and General Trust plc Annual Report 2018

Further information on our JVs and 
associates’ performance can be found 
on page 21 of this report. 

Financing costs
Adjusted net finance costs, including DMGT’s 
£4 million share of associates’ interest costs, 
were £37 million, an 11% pro forma 
reduction on the prior year. DMGT benefited 
from lower average net debt levels during 
the year.

The pension finance credit, which is excluded 
from adjusted results, was £2 million 
compared to a £5 million charge in the 
prior year. 

Results before taxation
Adjusted profit before tax was £182 million, 
a 16% decrease on a pro forma basis, 
reflecting the pro forma reduction in 
operating profit and the exclusion of the 
share of ZPG’s profits for the last three 
and a half months of the year.

Taxation
The adjusted tax charge for the year, after 
adjusting for the effect of exceptional items, 
was £33 million, see note 11, compared to 
£27 million in the prior year on a pro forma 
basis. As expected, the adjusted tax rate was 
18.2%, an increase on the pro forma basis 
12.6% in FY 2017, due to new legislation 
substantively enacted at the start of the 
year restricting the use of historic UK losses. 
Due to the geographical mix of profits, the 
effective tax rate is expected to increase 
to around 20% in FY 2019 and gradually 
increase further over the next few years.

The statutory tax charge for the year was 
£4 million. This excludes the share of joint 
ventures’ and associates’ tax charges of 
£31 million. 

Profit after tax 
Adjusted Group profit after tax and minority 
interests was £149 million, a decline of 23% 
on a pro forma basis. 

Earnings per share 
Adjusted basic earnings per share were 
42.2 pence, down 23% on a pro forma basis. 
The weighted average number of shares 
in issue during the year was 354.1 million, 
up slightly from 353.1 million in the 
previous year.

Net cash and cash flow
Net cash§ at the end of the year was  
£233 million, an improvement of £697 million 
compared to the £464 million net debt 
position at the start of the year. The net 
cash:EBITDA ratio was 0.8 at the year end. 
The Group’s operating cash flow was 
£117 million, including £50 million of capital 
expenditure. The conversion rate of 
operating profits to operating cash flow 
was 80%, compared to the 87% pro forma 
rate in the prior year. Operating cash flow 
was adversely affected by the timing of 
payments for newsprint.

Net proceeds from disposals, including 
expenditure on acquisitions and 
investments, were £738 million and 
included £642 million gross proceeds from 
the disposal of DMGT’s stake in ZPG and 
£152 million from the disposal of EDR. Cash 
out flows included dividends of £81 million, 
interest payments of £37 million, taxation 
of £22 million and pension funding of  
£13 million. The Group broadly matches 
the profile of its net debt by currency to the 
components of its operating cash flow by 
currency. The stronger US dollar at year end, 
relative to the prior year end, resulted in 
an adverse debt revaluation of £4 million. 

At the year end, the Group’s cash, cash 
equivalents and short term deposits totalled 
£675 million. Bond debt was £424 million, 
with £219 million maturing in December 

2018, £9 million maturing in April 2021 and 
£197 million maturing in June 2027. There 
was also £18 million of net debt in respect 
of loan notes, collateral and derivatives. 
The Group’s committed bank facilities 
were £431 million, which were 
completely unutilised.

In December 2017, Standard & Poor’s 
revised its corporate credit rating for DMGT 
from BBB- to BB+, following the reduction 
in DMGT’s profit margin due to the 
deconsolidation of Euromoney. In January 
2018, Fitch reaffirmed its BBB- investment 
grade rating. The Group’s preferred upper 
limit for gearing remains a net debt to 
adjusted earnings before interest, tax, 
depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) 
ratio of 2.0, below the requirements of the 
Group’s bank covenants.

Capital allocation framework
DMGT prioritises organic investment 
opportunities and takes a long-term 
approach, investing through the cycle. 
DMGT is also committed to its policy of 
delivering dividend growth in excess of 
inflation with the dividend remaining the 
primary mechanism for returning capital 
to shareholders. 

The Group adopts a balanced and flexible 
approach to uses of capital across two 
remaining categories: acquisitions and 
shareholder returns. DMGT is committed 
to its disciplined approach to acquisitions 

Pro formaΩ 
Euromoney ceased to be a c.67% owned subsidiary and became a c.49% owned 
associate in December 2016. As a subsidiary, 100% of Euromoney’s revenue and 
operating profit was included in DMGT’s results whereas as an associate, DMGT 
recognises its share of operating profits. The table below makes revisions to FY 2017 
to treat Euromoney as a c.49% owned associate for the whole year, consistent with 
the ownership profile during FY 2018.

£ million

Revenue

Operating profit
Income from JVs and Associates
Net finance costs

Profit before tax
Tax charge
Minority interests

Group profit

Earnings per share

Revenue: B2B
Operating profit: B2B

FY 2018

Reported

Revision

Pro formaΩ

FY 2017

1,426

1,660

145
74
(37)

182
(33)
–

149

198
69
(42)

226
(29)
(1)

196

(95)

(19)
9
–

(10)
2
5

(3)

1,564

179
79
(41)

216
(27)
4

194

Pro forma
Growth

(9)%

(19)%

(16)%

42.2p

55.6p

(0.8)p

54.8p

(23)%

773
128

976
153

(95)
(19)

881
133

25

S
t
r
a
t
e
g
i
c
R
e
p
o
r
t

G
o
v
e
r
n
a
n
c
e

F
i

n
a
n
c
i
a
l

S
t
a
t
e
m
e
n
t
s

S
h
a
r
e
h
o

l

d
e
r

I
n
f
o
r
m
a
t
i

o
n

Strategic Report 
 
 
Strategic Report

Focused on driving long-term shareholder value 
Financial Review

and will prioritise bolt-on targets to 
complement its existing portfolio of 
businesses. The Group also aims to prioritise 
the allocation of capital towards growth 
opportunities, particularly those that can 
benefit from technological or market 
disruption. Maintaining financial flexibility 
remains a strategic priority, enabling 
DMGT to be acquisitive in the future, 
as opportunities arise. 

Pensions
The Group’s defined benefit pension 
schemes provide retirement benefits for UK 
staff, largely in dmg media. These schemes 
are closed to new entrants. The net surplus 
on the schemes increased from £62 million 
at the start of the year to £244 million at 
30 September 2018, calculated in accordance 
with IAS 19 (Revised). During the year, the 
value of the assets increased and there 
was a reduction in the value of the defined 
benefit obligation. 

Funding payments into the main schemes 
were £13 million in the year and are 
expected to be £13 million in FY 2019, in 
accordance with the existing 2016 funding 
plan, since the schemes remain in deficit on 
an actuarial basis. The funding plan includes 
payments of approximately £16 million p.a. 
from FY 2020 to FY 2027. In addition, a 
contribution equal to 20% of any share 
buy-backs is contributed to the schemes. 
Contributions will be discontinued should 
the schemes’ actuary agree the schemes 
are no longer in deficit. The next actuarial 
valuation is scheduled for 31 March 2019. 

Dividends
The Board aims to deliver sustained dividend 
growth in real terms. The recommended 
final dividend is 16.2 pence which, if 
approved, would make the total dividend for 
the year 23.3 pence, an increase of 3% over 
the prior year. The recommended full year 
dividend is equivalent to 55% of adjusted 
earnings per share and continues DMGT’s 
track record of increasing the dividend in 
excess of inflation. The Board’s decision 
to recommend increasing the dividend, in 
real terms, despite the decline in adjusted 
earnings during the year reflects the Group’s 
dividend policy and the Board’s confidence 
in the Group’s ability to deliver future 
long-term earnings growth. The dividend 
policy is to grow the dividend in real terms 
and, in the medium term, to distribute 
around one-third of the Group’s adjusted 
earnings. This policy reflects the combined 

26

Viability Statement 
In accordance with provision C.2.2 of the 2016 Corporate Governance Code, the 
Directors have assessed the prospects of the Company. The Board adopts a long-term 
approach to portfolio management and performance review and has continued to 
rebalance the business portfolio. This has left the Group with £675 million of cash 
reserves and £431 million of undrawn committed bank facilities at the year end. 
Following repayment of the 2018 bond in December 2018, amounting to £219 million, 
the Company’s only remaining substantial bond maturity occurs in 2027. Whilst the 
net cash and available facilities afford the Group significant headroom for taking a 
long-term view, the viability assessment is intended to stress test a collection of 
potential but extreme scenarios which could have a significant negative impact on 
the Group.

Notwithstanding the significant changes already made to our portfolio, an increasing 
focus on portfolio management remains a short term strategic priority. This priority 
together with the impact of rapid changes in technology on certain of our business and 
the impact of portfolio rebalancing – which will require improved operational execution 
in the short term – indicates that our viability period should consider a shorter time 
frame. Accordingly the Board has chosen a period of three years which is consistent 
with the Group’s business planning cycle and includes the next maturity date for the 
Group’s long-term bond financing, being our 5.75% bonds due December 2018.

The Board’s assessment of the Company’s future prospects and viability determined 
the Group’s overall risk capacity by considering banking and bond covenants, other 
financial commitments, and borrowing capacity to determine the maximum loss from 
risk events that the Group could endure whilst remaining viable. The assessment has 
also been made with reference to the Group’s current position and prospects, the Group 
strategy, the Board’s risk appetite and principal risks, which the Directors review at 
least annually. The key factors affecting the Group’s future prospects and viability are:

•  DMGT manages a portfolio of operating companies with diversity across sector, 

revenue stream and geography. See page 24 in the Financial Review for the Group’s 
revenue profile.

•  Financial flexibility through a strong balance sheet with continued good cash flow 

generation and net debt to EBITDA ratio comfortably below our preferred upper limit.

•  The Group’s ability to restructure quickly through the portfolio management 
of operating company subsidiaries and investments in JVs and associates.

•  The long-term view of the Company afforded by the family shareholding.

Group forecast revenue, operating profit, EBITDA and cash flows were subject to robust 
downside stress testing over the assessment period, which involved modelling the 
impact of a combination of hypothetical and severe adverse scenarios. This was focused 
on the impact of a number of the Group’s principal risks crystallising, including:

•  The impact of successive key product investment failures across the Group.
•  The impact of a significantly accelerated decline in circulation volumes and print 
advertising and lower growth in digital advertising affecting profits from the 
Consumer Media businesses.

•  The impact of a significant decline in UK housing transaction volumes affecting 

profits of the European Property Information businesses.

•  The impact of a severe cyberattack resulting in the loss of high volumes of personal 
data, considering both the reputational impact, recovery costs and regulatory fines.
•  The impact of macroeconomic factors including large foreign exchange fluctuations, 

significant increases in interest rates and corporation tax increases.

Mitigations considered as part of the stress testing included a number of cost reduction 
programmes and disposals of operating company subsidiaries and dilution of the 
Group’s stake in JVs and associates.

Based on the analysis described above, the Directors confirm that they have a 
reasonable expectation that the Group will continue to operate and meet its liabilities 
as they fall due over the next three years.

S
t
r
a
t
e
g
i
c
R
e
p
o
r
t

G
o
v
e
r
n
a
n
c
e

F
i

n
a
n
c
i
a
l

S
t
a
t
e
m
e
n
t
s

S
h
a
r
e
h
o

l

d
e
r

I
n
f
o
r
m
a
t
i

o
n

 
 
 
Daily Mail and General Trust plc Annual Report 2018

objectives of delivering a reliable and 
predictable dividend growth trajectory while 
also being sufficiently prudent to retain the 
flexibility to make significant investments in 
the long-term future growth of the business.

Exceptional items, impairments 
and amortisation
As explained in more detail below, 
certain items, including exceptional costs, 
impairments and some amortisation 
are excluded from adjusted results. The 
exceptional cash costs in the year were 
£3 million, a significant reduction compared 
to £43 million in the prior year, reflecting 
the absence of exceptional severance 
and consultancy costs. Total exceptional 
operating costs, including those of joint 
ventures and associates, were £25 million 
(2017 £50 million).

The charge for amortisation of intangible 
assets arising on business combinations, 
including the share from joint ventures 
and associates, was £32 million 
(2017 £50 million). Following the decision 
to re-architect the RMS(one) platform, the 
carrying value of the RMS(one) asset, which 
related to costs incurred prior to August 
2016, was fully impaired resulting in a charge 
of £58 million. Total impairment charges 
in the year were £63 million, including 
DMGT’s share of associates’ charges. 
This was a significant reduction compared 
to the prior year, when the Group incurred 
£231 million of impairment charges against 
goodwill and intangible assets and 
£42 million of charges for impairment 
of plant.

The Group recorded other net gains on 
disposal of businesses and investments 
of £658 million, including DMGT’s share of 
associates’ gains, compared to a net gain 
of £530 million in the prior year. DMGT 
recognised a £508 million of gain on the 
disposal of its stake in ZPG and a £52m gain 
on the disposal of EDR, the US Property 
Information business. 

Outlook 
In FY 2019, we will continue to invest and 
to deliver further operational efficiencies. 
Expectations are that the B2B portfolio will 
deliver low-single digit underlying revenue 
growth and a mid-teens margin; the 
underlying reduction in Consumer Media 
revenues will be in the mid-single digits 
and the Consumer Media margin will be 
high-single digit; Corporate costs to be less 
than £45 million and to be reduced further in 
FY 2020; the share of operating profits from 
JVs and associates to be at least £40 million; 
net finance charges to be around £15 million 
and the effective tax rate to be around 20%. 

Our strategy, and balanced and flexible 
approach to capital allocation, positions us 
to deliver on the Group’s long-term revenue, 
profit and cash flow potential.

Adjusted results 
The Board and management team use 
adjusted results and measures, rather than 
statutory results, to give greater insight to 
the financial performance of the Group and 
the way it is managed. The tables on page 28 
show the full list of adjustments between 
statutory operating profit and adjusted 
operating profit by business, as well as 
between statutory profit before tax and 
adjusted profit before tax at Group level 
for both FY 2018 and FY 2017.

Note 13 on page 122 shows the full list 
of adjustments between statutory and 
adjusted results. The table on page 28 shows 
a summarised version of the reconciliation 
from statutory profit before tax to adjusted 
profit before tax. 

The explanation for each type of adjustment 
is as follows:

i. 

ii. 

 Discontinued operations: the adjusted 
results for FY 2017 include the pre-
disposal results of discontinued 
operations, namely Euromoney, in which 
DMGT reduced its stake from c.67% 
to c.49% in December 2016, whereas 
statutory results only include 
continuing operations.
 Exceptional operating costs: businesses 
occasionally incur exceptional costs, 
including severance and consultancy 
fees, in respect of a reorganisation that 
is incremental to normal operations. 

Similarly, for the Group’s B2B businesses, 
there may be legal costs in respect of 
litigation that are outside the ordinary 
course of business and sufficiently 
material to be treated as an exceptional 
cost. These are excluded from 
adjusted results.

iii.   Impairment of plant: occasionally the 

carrying value of an asset in the balance 
sheet is considered to be greater than the 
value in use or the fair value less costs 
to sell and it is appropriate to impair it. 
The associated charge is excluded from 
adjusted results since it is unrelated to 
the ongoing cost of doing business. The 
ongoing depreciation and amortisation 
of tangible assets and software, including 
products, is, however, an everyday cost 
of doing business and is included in 
both statutory and adjusted results. 
A reorganisation may also result in the 
write-off of the carrying value of tangible 
fixed assets, as was the case during 
FY 2017 when the Consumer Media 
division closed its Didcot printing plant, 
and this expense is excluded from 
adjusted results.

iv.   Intangible impairment and amortisation: 
when acquiring businesses, the premium 
paid relative to the net assets on the 
balance sheet of the acquired business 
is classified as either goodwill or as an 
intangible asset arising on a business 
combination and is recognised on DMGT’s 
balance sheet. This differs to organically 
developed businesses where assets 
such as employee talent and customer 
relationships are not recognised on 
the balance sheet. Impairment and 
amortisation of intangible assets and 
goodwill arising on acquisitions are 
excluded from adjusted results as they 
relate to historical M&A activity and 
future expectations rather than the 
trading performance of the business 
during the year. An example is the 
impairment in FY 2017 of the goodwill 
and intangible assets associated 
with Xceligent, the US Property 
Information business.

S
t
r
a
t
e
g
i
c
R
e
p
o
r
t

G
o
v
e
r
n
a
n
c
e

F
i

n
a
n
c
i
a
l

S
t
a
t
e
m
e
n
t
s

S
h
a
r
e
h
o

l

d
e
r

I
n
f
o
r
m
a
t
i

o
n

27

Strategic Report 
 
 
Strategic Report

Focused on driving long-term shareholder value 
Financial Review

v. 

 Profit on sale of assets: the Group makes 
gains or losses when disposing of 
businesses, for example on the disposal 
of EDR, the US Property Information 
business. These items are excluded from 
adjusted results as they reflect the value 
created since the business was formed 
or acquired rather than the operating 
performance of the business during the 
year. Similarly, the gains or losses made 
by joint ventures or associates when 
disposing of businesses are excluded 
from adjusted results. 

vi.   Pension finance credit: the finance 
credit or charge on defined benefit 
schemes is a formulaic calculation 
that does not necessarily reflect the 
underlying economics associated with 
the relevant pension assets and liabilities. 
It is effectively a notional charge and 
is excluded from adjusted results. 

vii.  Other adjustments: other items that are 
excluded from adjusted results include 
changes in the fair value of certain 
financial instruments and changes to 
future acquisition payments. They are 
considered to be unrelated to the ongoing 
cost of doing business. The share of joint 
ventures’ and associates’ tax charges is 
included in statutory profit before tax 
but, since it is a tax charge, is excluded 
from adjusted profit before tax. The share 
of joint ventures’ and associates’ interest 
charges is reclassified to financing costs 
in the adjusted results. 

Underlying growth
When assessing the performance of the 
different businesses, the Board considers 
the adjusted results. The year-on-year 
change in adjusted results may not, however, 
be a fair like-for-like comparison as there are 
a number of factors which can influence 
growth rates but which do not reflect 
underlying performance.

When calculating underlying growth, 
adjustments are made to give a like-for-like 
comparison. For example, the adjusted 
results in FY 2018 were adversely affected 
by the weakening of the US dollar relative 
to sterling. To calculate underlying growth, 
the prior year comparatives are restated 
using the FY 2018 exchange rates.

Reconciliation of statutory operating profit to adjusted operating profit: FY 2018

£ million

Statutory operating profit
Exceptional operating costs
Intangible impairment  
and amortisation
Exclude JVs and Associates

Adjusted operating profit

Insurance
Risk

Property
Information

EdTech

Energy
Information

Events and
Exhibitions

Consumer
Media

Corporate
costs

JVs and
Associates

Group Explanation

(24)
–

58

35

48
2

9

58

5
–

3

7

–
(4)

4

–

27
–

1

28

46
18

–

64

118
5

21
144

(52)
5

–

(47)

169
25

95
(144)

145

ii

iv

Reconciliation of statutory operating profit to adjusted operating profit: FY 2017

£ million

Statutory operating profit
Discontinued operations
Exceptional operating costs
Impairment of plant
Intangible impairment  
and amortisation
Exclude JVs and Associates

Adjusted operating profit

Insurance
Risk

Property
Information

EdTech

Energy
Information

Events and
Exhibitions Euromoney

Consumer
Media

Corporate
costs

JVs and
Associates

Group Explanation

30
–
3
–

–

33

(39)
–
12
–

79

52

(3)
–
8
–

12

16

(154)
–
7
–

149

2

28
–
3
–

–

31

–
13
1
–

5

19

26
–
9
42

(33)
–
2
–

1

–

77

(32)

17
(1)
7
–

36
59

(129)
12
50
42

282
(59)

198

i
ii
iii

iv

Pro formaΩ adjusted operating profit of £179 million for Group.

Reconciliation of statutory profit before tax to adjusted profit before tax

£ million

Statutory profit/(loss) before tax 
Discontinued operations
Exceptional operating costs
Impairment of plant
Intangible impairment and amortisation
Profit on sale of assets
Pension finance (credit)/charge
Other adjustments

Adjusted profit before tax

Pro formaΩ FY 2017 adjusted profit before tax of £216 million.

28

FY 2018

FY 2017

Explanation

692
–
25
–
95
(658)
(2)
30

182

(112)
523
50
42
282
(530)
5
(33)

226

i
ii
iii
iv
v
vi
vii

S
t
r
a
t
e
g
i
c
R
e
p
o
r
t

G
o
v
e
r
n
a
n
c
e

F
i

n
a
n
c
i
a
l

S
t
a
t
e
m
e
n
t
s

S
h
a
r
e
h
o

l

d
e
r

I
n
f
o
r
m
a
t
i

o
n

 
 
 
Daily Mail and General Trust plc Annual Report 2018

Similarly, adjustments are made to 
completely exclude disposals from both 
years. When businesses are acquired, the 
prior year comparatives are adjusted to 
include the acquisition.

The timing of events within Events and 
Exhibitions can also be a distortion. To 
give a fair like-for-like comparison when 
calculating underlying growth, the FY 2017 
comparative is amended to include the 
revenues and profits from the previously 
held events for each FY 2018 show.

In FY 2018, DMGT’s revenues decreased by 
9% on a pro formaΩ basis and the adjusted 
operating profit decreased by 19% on the 
same basis. The growth rates were adversely 
affected by disposals and by the weaker 
US dollar. After adjusting for these factors as 
well as others, such as acquisitions and the 
timing of events, the underlying growth rates 
were 0% for revenues and a 17% decrease in 
adjusted operating profit, as shown in the 
table below. 

Tim Collier 
Group Chief Financial Officer 

Underlying performance

FY 2018

£ million

Reported

M&A

Other Underlying

Reported

M&A

FY 2017

Exchange
 rates

Other Underlying

Underlying
growth

Revenue
Insurance Risk
Property Information
EdTech
Energy Information
Events and Exhibitions
Euromoney

B2B
Consumer Media

DMGT

Operating profit
Insurance Risk
Property Information
EdTech
Energy Information
Events and Exhibitions
Euromoney

B2B
Consumer Media
Corporate costs

DMGT

229
272
68
86
118
–

773
654

1,426

35
58
7
–
28
–

128
64
(47)

145

–
(34)
–
(13)
–
–

(48)
–

(48)

–
(1)
–
2
–
–

1
–
–

1

–
–
–
–
–
–

–
(35)

(35)

–
–
–
–
–
–

–
–
–

–

229
237
68
72
118
–

725
619

233
328
115
88
117
95

976
683

1,344

1,660

35
57
7
2
27
–

129
64
(47)

146

33
52
16
2
31
19

153
77
(32)

198

–
(83)
(45)
(17)
1
(95)

(239)
(5)

(244)

–
7
(11)
3
–
(19)

(20)
5
–

(15)

(14)
(3)
(4)
(3)
(5)
–

(30)
(3)

(32)

(3)
(1)
–
–
(2)
–

(6)
–
–

(6)

–
–
(4)
–
–
–

(4)
(34)

(38)

–
5
(3)
1
–
–

3
–
(6)

(3)

219
242
63
68
112
–

704
642

1,346

30
63
2
5
30
–

130
82
(38)

174

+5%
(2)%
+9%
+7%
+5%
N/A

+3%
(4)%

0%

+16%
(8)%
+205%
(64)%
(8)%
N/A

(1)%
(22)%
+25%

(17)%

29

S
t
r
a
t
e
g
i
c
R
e
p
o
r
t

G
o
v
e
r
n
a
n
c
e

F
i

n
a
n
c
i
a
l

S
t
a
t
e
m
e
n
t
s

S
h
a
r
e
h
o

l

d
e
r

I
n
f
o
r
m
a
t
i

o
n

Strategic Report 
 
 
Strategic Report

Entrepreneurialism, Purpose and Excellence 
Our People and Our Stakeholders

DMGT encourages curiosity and 
innovation amongst our people, and 
is built around a set of values that are 
common across our diverse portfolio of 
operating companies – entrepreneurialism, 
purpose and excellence.

Our people are encouraged to be open to 
new thinking and great ideas, embracing 
their company’s purpose: to act with 
compassion and to challenge their own 
limits. In turn, they can expect the 
support of experienced leaders, high-
quality learning and development tools 
and the type of career opportunities 
afforded by working within a diverse, 
international portfolio of businesses.

Our values

The way DMGT thinks about its 
business and its people is embodied 
in our three overarching values: 

Entrepreneurialism

Purpose 

Excellence

Entrepreneurialism
Since brothers Alfred and Harold 
Harmsworth invented popular journalism 
in 1896 with the launch of the Daily Mail, 
entrepreneurs have been a driving force 
for DMGT’s business.

DMGT is dedicated to backing great ideas 
and the people who make them a reality. 
DMGT seeks out entrepreneurs renowned 
in their industries for growing businesses 
and provides them with the backing and 
resources of a multinational public company. 
DMGT’s culture of nurturing and developing 
talented entrepreneurial people remains 
a distinctive strength of the Group. 

Purpose
Alongside our commitment to 
entrepreneurialism, DMGT’s businesses 
and our people operate with a clear sense 
of purpose, beyond profit. 

DMGT is able to invest for long-term 
sustainable growth and quality and in 
businesses that share our ethos, whether 
that’s providing insights that make it possible 
to ‘insure the uninsurable’, driving towards 
ever-greater transparency across property 
markets, enriching connections between 
businesses and communities with industry-
leading exhibitions or holding authority to 
account through high-quality journalism. 

30

DMGT is a responsible business, dedicated 
to its people and communities, and operates 
to a clear set of principles and ethical 
standards. DMGT also supports and 
encourages purpose within our community. 
This is achieved through a range of local 
partnerships within the communities 
our businesses serve and Group-wide 
programmes such as our Corporate 
Responsibility (CR) Champions network. 

   Go online to www.dmgt.com  

to read more about our 
communities programme

Excellence
DMGT is committed to excellence, 
demonstrated through its dedication 
to creating the highest quality content, 
proprietary data and products. 

Our aim is to be at the forefront of 
cutting-edge technology and within new, 
exciting, high-potential growth sectors. 

As a driver in technological innovation, 
DMGT is defining the jobs of the future 
through its work in data science, artificial 
intelligence, machine learning and 
predictive analytics found across businesses 
including Insurance Risk, EdTech and 
Energy Information. 

DMGT holds a wealth of top leadership talent 
and sector expertise at Group level and 
across its operating companies. Our people 
are supported by a range of tailored local 
learning and development programmes. 

In FY 2018, the Group continued its 
programme to leverage our scale and the 
expertise of our people to improve sharing 
best practice across the Group, supporting 
DMGT’s operating companies. 

DMGT established and upgraded a number 
of business functions including technology, 
M&A and performance management, 
building on expert knowledge and best 
practice from around the Group. 

Our people
DMGT’s people play a key role in helping the 
Group deliver against its strategic priorities, 
particularly improving operational execution. 

We believe that talented, motivated people 
are the key to our success and are committed 
to providing a working environment that 
allows people to reach their full potential.

Talent and development 
We have continued to invest in our people 
and develop high-potential leaders at early 
stages in their career. Our Emerging Leaders 
programme was designed to equip talented 

people with stretching experiences to 
accelerate their development and realise their 
potential. Our ambition is to enable people 
to be the best they can be to deliver today 
and build for tomorrow. Our people have the 
chance to develop at DMGT doing meaningful 
and interesting work that will stretch them, 
taking advantage of all the opportunities that 
our diverse group of businesses can offer.

Keeping our people informed 
One of the challenges of a geographically 
diverse organisation is ensuring that we 
can effectively communicate with all of 
our people. 

DMGT is dedicated to enhancing employee 
engagement across the Group by creating 
local brand advocates, embracing best 
practices and driving corporate responsibility.

This year we have enhanced employee 
collaboration by adopting platforms such as 
Slack, and refining our internal newsletters, 
daily email news bulletins, weekly round-ups, 
and Group-wide intranet driven by an 
increased focus on measurement to better 
target and understand our audiences. 

HRIS project
DMGT has invested in a technology upgrade 
to its current HR systems, by implementing 
a common HR information platform across 
the portfolio. The system will empower 
employees, managers and leaders to view 
and manage aspects of their employment 
in a more efficient manner.

Responsible business
DMGT is a responsible business that adheres 
to strong ethical standards with a clear, 
robust Code of Conduct.

In a climate where employees, customers and 
other stakeholders are increasingly interested 
in the way companies do business, the things 
we do to encourage responsible business 
practice and respond to the needs of our 
different stakeholders contribute to the 
credibility and value of DMGT’s reputation 
and employer brand. 

These include:

•  Strong governance and leadership which 
promote responsible business attitudes 
and actions across the Group;

•  Clear and robust Code of Conduct  
and supporting Group policies;

•  Ensuring DMGT employees understand 

key legal and reputational issues;
•  Operating effective risk management 

and internal controls; and

•  Business level participation in CR  

and community support. 

S
t
r
a
t
e
g
i
c
R
e
p
o
r
t

G
o
v
e
r
n
a
n
c
e

F
i

n
a
n
c
i
a
l

S
t
a
t
e
m
e
n
t
s

S
h
a
r
e
h
o

l

d
e
r

I
n
f
o
r
m
a
t
i

o
n

 
 
 
Daily Mail and General Trust plc Annual Report 2018

Code of Conduct and Group Policies 
Our Code of Conduct sets the standards 
for our corporate and individual conduct. 
The Code of Conduct includes standards for 
equal opportunities, anti-bribery, conflicts of 
interest, share dealing and fair competition 
among other topics. The Code of Conduct 
contains clear guidance regarding equality, 
diversity and inclusion. Many of the topics 
in the Code are supported by detailed 
policies and procedures for our employees. 

In addition, policies regarding equal 
opportunities, entertainment and gifts, 
information security, data privacy and health 
and safety apply to DMGT employees. These 
policies, as well as our Code of Conduct, 
safeguard the welfare of our employees. 
All DMGT policies are available for 
employees to access on the Group-wide 
intranet. Where appropriate, certain policies 
are housed on the DMGT website. DMGT’s 
equal opportunities statement can be found 
on the DMGT website and applies to both 
employees and DMGT supervisory bodies. 

We have a rolling review programme to 
update DMGT policies and conduct 
continuous training to reinforce compliance.

Human rights 
The Company believes that our exposure to 
the associated risks in the context of human 
rights frameworks is minimal. DMGT does 
not have a specific human rights policy but 
has a number of policies that cover areas 
such as health and safety, modern slavery, 
bribery and corruption. In addition, new 
suppliers are evaluated with a questionnaire 
to ensure they are ethical and lawful.

Carbon footprint

Whistleblowing
Employees who have concerns regarding 
criminal activity, gross misconduct and/or 
a breach of the DMGT Code of Conduct or 
supporting policies have a duty to report 
such activity. DMGT operates a confidential 
Speak Up facility to aid any such reports. 
The Speak Up facility is managed externally 
by a specialist third party. All incidents are 
tracked to ensure appropriate follow-up. 
The Audit & Risk committee is provided 
with a summary of any incidents.

Gender breakdown of our employees 
The Company upholds equal opportunities 
and does not discriminate. The table below 
sets out the gender breakdown of our 
employees. Our aim is to promote equality 
and diversity in accordance with our Group 
Code of Conduct.

Board Directors
Operating company 
CEOs, and direct 
reports to the 
Group CEO*
All employees* 

Male

Female

At 30 September 2018

10 83%

2 17%

6 50%

6 50%
3,574 60% 2,348 40%

*  Excluding Executive Board Directors.

Gender Pay reporting
For the first time in 2018, two of DMGT’s 
UK-based operating companies with over 
250 employees reported on their Gender 
Pay Gap. Both Landmark and dmg media 
published their data in April 2018 on their 
respected websites. DMGT as an employer 

believes in ‘Equal pay for equal work’ and 
is committed to equal pay and conducts 
ongoing reviews to ensure we have the 
best possible processes in place.

Reporting on Gender Pay will now be 
an ongoing requirement and will be  
overseen by DMGT’s Remuneration & 
Nominations Committee. 

Payments Practices reporting 
Similarly, in April 2018 DMGT’s UK-based 
operating companies Landmark and dmg 
media published their Payment Practices 
data. DMGT is committed to ensuring that 
all of its suppliers are paid within the 
agreed terms. 

Six-monthly reporting on Payment 
Practices will now be an ongoing 
requirement will be overseen by DMGT’s 
Audit & Risk Committee. 

Our communities 
As a diverse, international business, 
DMGT focuses its community efforts on a 
combination of Group-level partnerships 
that allow it to make the most of its scale 
and size, and support for local community 
initiatives and relief efforts, through its 
CR Champions network.

Total charitable donations during the 
year were over £1 million. Funds donated 
include CR initiatives carried out at our 
operating companies.

   Go online to www.dmgt.com/ 

corporate-responsibility

DMGT’s most significant environmental 
impact comes from the printing plants 
in our Consumer Media businesses. The 
majority of the Group’s newspapers are 
produced at plants designed to be as 
efficient as possible; this reduces energy 
usage, vehicle movements and the 
volume of waste generated. There is also 

a considerable effort to maximise the volume 
of waste recycled including newsprint waste, 
water and heat recovery.

DMGT is, and has for many years been, 
committed to comprehensive and 
transparent reporting of its environmental 
performance. The Group has collected CO2 

emissions data from each of its operating 
companies. This data is collated and 
independently reviewed by environmental 
consultancy ICF International, which 
calculates the Group’s emissions following 
the Greenhouse Gas Protocol. The 
reduction in the Group’s carbon footprint 
for FY 2018 can be seen in the table below.

Carbon footprint
The table below shows the evolution of our carbon footprint since 2016:

Year

2018
2017
2016

Tonnes of CO2e

tCO2e/£million revenue

Scope 1:
Combustion of fuel and  
operation of facilities

Scope 2:
Electricity, heat, steam and 
cooling purchased for own use

Scope 3:
Business travel and  
outsourced delivery

Total scope 1, 2 & 3  
emissions/revenue

 1,400 
1,200
1,400

13,000
15,300
17,200

13,300
14,700
14,500

14.4
16.2
17.3

31

S
t
r
a
t
e
g
i
c
R
e
p
o
r
t

G
o
v
e
r
n
a
n
c
e

F
i

n
a
n
c
i
a
l

S
t
a
t
e
m
e
n
t
s

S
h
a
r
e
h
o

l

d
e
r

I
n
f
o
r
m
a
t
i

o
n

Strategic Report 
 
 
Strategic Report

Actively monitoring and managing our risks
Principal Risks

The Directors confirm that they have completed a robust assessment of the 
Group’s principal risks and a thorough review of risk management processes.

The Group’s risks are categorised as either strategic or operational. Strategic risks are linked to the Group’s strategic priorities and impact 
the whole Group. Operational risks are those arising from the execution of the business functions and typically impact on one or more of 
the principal businesses. 

   Further details of the Group’s risk management process, the governance structure surrounding risk and the Audit & Risk Committee 

can be found in the Governance Report on pages 40 to 53

Strategic risks

Description and impact

Market disruption
Market disruption creates opportunities as well as risks. Disruption 
enables us to move into new markets and geographies and encourages 
us to innovate to grow the business. 

Failure to anticipate and respond to market disruption may affect 
demand for our products and services and our ability to drive  
long-term growth. 

Examples

Market disrupters include changes to customer behaviours and demands, new 
technologies, the emergence of competitors or structural changes to markets. 
Examples from the operating companies include: 

•  Consumer Media: decline in print advertising revenue. 
•  Consumer Media: changes in algorithms and strategies of tech giants 
materially impacting traffic and digital advertising revenue across 
properties, demanding constant oversight and agility.

•  Insurance Risk: structural decline in client markets and consolidation in 

insurance industry. Changing consumer expectations of insurers’ utilisation 
of technology.

•  EdTech: declining foreign student enrolment pressuring higher 

education budgets.

Success of new product launches and internal investments 
A lack of innovation or failure to successfully evolve our products 
and services may compromise their appeal.

Some may fail to achieve customer acceptance and yield expected 
benefits. This could result in lower than expected revenue and/or 
impairment losses.

Uncertainty also results from geographic expansion into new and 
emerging markets.

The Group is continually investing in our products and services, developing 
new offerings and enriching existing products and services. Examples include:

•  Consumer Media: increased monetisation of online user base.
•  Insurance Risk: re-architecture of the RMS(one) platform to take advantage 

of the growing benefits of new technology.

•  Property Information: Trepp’s launch and development of Collateralized 

Loan Obligation analytics service.

•  Events and Exhibitions: innovation within and expansion of events 

and launches across new locations.

Portfolio management
Increasing portfolio focus is key to the Group’s strategy. This could be 
compromised by portfolio changes not delivering expected benefits, 
failure to deliver acquisition or operating targets, and/or delay or 
delinquency in divesting from non-core businesses at the right time.

•  Growth opportunities and potential synergies lost through failure 
to identify or succeed with acquisition and investment targets. 

•  Lost acquisitions may allow competitors to gain footholds in key markets.
•  Underperforming acquisitions and investments may lead to reduced return 
on capital and/or impairment losses, as well as diversion of management 
time and bandwidth. 

•  Optimal value may not be achieved from divestments.

Economic and geopolitical uncertainty 
Group performance could be adversely impacted by factors beyond 
our control such as the economic conditions in key markets and sectors 
and political uncertainty.

•  Uncertainty surrounding the conditions of Brexit directly impacts 

the UK macroeconomic climate (Consumer Media) and UK property 
transaction volumes (Property Information).

•  Fluctuations in the global energy and commodity markets could impact 
revenue for both Genscape (Energy Information) and associated trade 
shows (Events and Exhibitions). 

•  Political and economic uncertainty, particularly in the Middle East, 

could negatively impact Genscape’s customers, as well as the exhibitors 
and attendees of events and exhibitions.

•  Sustained global low interest rate environment will continue to impact 
margins for global investors, including in insurance (Insurance Risk) 
and property (Property Information).

32

S
t
r
a
t
e
g
i
c
R
e
p
o
r
t

G
o
v
e
r
n
a
n
c
e

F
i

n
a
n
c
i
a
l

S
t
a
t
e
m
e
n
t
s

S
h
a
r
e
h
o

l

d
e
r

I
n
f
o
r
m
a
t
i

o
n

Mitigation

Trend

•  The Group’s diverse and balanced portfolio of businesses and products reduces the 

overall Group impact of any single market disruption.

•  Organic investment initiatives across the Group to innovate our products and services 

and to remain competitive in the markets we serve. Organic investment was 8% of total 

revenues in FY 2018.

•  The Executive Committee, supported by the Performance Management and Strategy 

function and operating companies’ management teams, monitor markets, the 

competitive landscape and technological developments; regular dialogue and in-person 

meetings ensure proactive, coordinated responses.

•  Performance Improvement Programme sets business-specific priorities and actively 

monitors improvements.

•  Analysis of the performance management dashboard and detailed financial 

management information for each operating company to highlight and react to early 

indicators of market disruption.

•  DMGT executive membership of operating company boards.

•  The autonomous culture of the Group encourages an entrepreneurial approach 

to identifying growth opportunities and new products.

•  Central capital allocation ensures focused investment in quality business cases. 

•  A new innovation or business line is ring-fenced where required, to ensure it receives 

autonomous execution, dedicated talent, budget and undiluted management focus.

•  Direct engagement from DMGT functional leads and DMGT Board Directors contribute 

relevant expertise and guidance. 

•  Performance Management and Strategy team partner with each operating company 

to support achievement of key milestones, KPIs and financial plans. 

•  Significant investments are approved by the Investment & Finance Committee and/or 

the Board.

•  The Executive Committee continues to evaluate the Group’s portfolio in order to 

optimise resource allocation according to portfolio roles, business opportunities and 

•  Investments and divestments are approved by the Investment & Finance Committee 

risk-adjusted execution.

and, where warranted, the Board.

•  Extensive due diligence conducted pre-acquisition and comprehensive integration plans 

implemented post-acquisition by dedicated integration managers.

•  Proactive, detailed divestment roadmaps, including sell-side narrative, seller due 

diligence and talent incentives/retention.

•  The Executive and Investment & Finance Committees supported by the Performance 

Management and Strategy function monitor post-acquisition performance.

•  DMGT executive membership of operating company boards and associate boards 

(e.g. Euromoney, Yopa, Wowcher, WellAware, TreppPort).

•  The Group’s diverse and balanced portfolio of businesses and products reduces the 

overall impact of any single trend. 

•  Quarterly Emerging Risk papers provided to the Audit & Risk Committee ensure both 

DMGT and operating company management consider and remain vigilant regarding 

emerging risks and their potential impact.

This risk increased over FY 2018 due to the uncertainty 

created as a result of Brexit in the UK, as well as the 

challenging political and economic climate in the 

Middle East.

 
 
 
Daily Mail and General Trust plc Annual Report 2018

Examples

Mitigation

Trend

Risk increased

Risk did not change

Risk decreased

•  The Group’s diverse and balanced portfolio of businesses and products reduces the 

overall Group impact of any single market disruption.

•  Organic investment initiatives across the Group to innovate our products and services 

and to remain competitive in the markets we serve. Organic investment was 8% of total 
revenues in FY 2018.

•  The Executive Committee, supported by the Performance Management and Strategy 

function and operating companies’ management teams, monitor markets, the 
competitive landscape and technological developments; regular dialogue and in-person 
meetings ensure proactive, coordinated responses.

•  Performance Improvement Programme sets business-specific priorities and actively 

monitors improvements.

•  Analysis of the performance management dashboard and detailed financial 

management information for each operating company to highlight and react to early 
indicators of market disruption.

•  DMGT executive membership of operating company boards.

•  The autonomous culture of the Group encourages an entrepreneurial approach 

to identifying growth opportunities and new products.

•  Central capital allocation ensures focused investment in quality business cases. 
•  A new innovation or business line is ring-fenced where required, to ensure it receives 
autonomous execution, dedicated talent, budget and undiluted management focus.
•  Direct engagement from DMGT functional leads and DMGT Board Directors contribute 

relevant expertise and guidance. 

•  Performance Management and Strategy team partner with each operating company 

to support achievement of key milestones, KPIs and financial plans. 

•  Significant investments are approved by the Investment & Finance Committee and/or 

the Board.

•  The Executive Committee continues to evaluate the Group’s portfolio in order to 

optimise resource allocation according to portfolio roles, business opportunities and 
risk-adjusted execution.

•  Investments and divestments are approved by the Investment & Finance Committee 

and, where warranted, the Board.

•  Extensive due diligence conducted pre-acquisition and comprehensive integration plans 

implemented post-acquisition by dedicated integration managers.

•  Proactive, detailed divestment roadmaps, including sell-side narrative, seller due 

diligence and talent incentives/retention.

•  The Executive and Investment & Finance Committees supported by the Performance 

Management and Strategy function monitor post-acquisition performance.

•  DMGT executive membership of operating company boards and associate boards 

(e.g. Euromoney, Yopa, Wowcher, WellAware, TreppPort).

•  The Group’s diverse and balanced portfolio of businesses and products reduces the 

overall impact of any single trend. 

•  Quarterly Emerging Risk papers provided to the Audit & Risk Committee ensure both 
DMGT and operating company management consider and remain vigilant regarding 
emerging risks and their potential impact.

This risk increased over FY 2018 due to the uncertainty 
created as a result of Brexit in the UK, as well as the 
challenging political and economic climate in the 
Middle East.

33

Strategic risks

Description and impact

Market disruption

Market disruption creates opportunities as well as risks. Disruption 

enables us to move into new markets and geographies and encourages 

us to innovate to grow the business. 

Failure to anticipate and respond to market disruption may affect 

demand for our products and services and our ability to drive  

long-term growth. 

Market disrupters include changes to customer behaviours and demands, new 

technologies, the emergence of competitors or structural changes to markets. 

Examples from the operating companies include: 

•  Consumer Media: decline in print advertising revenue. 

•  Consumer Media: changes in algorithms and strategies of tech giants 

materially impacting traffic and digital advertising revenue across 

properties, demanding constant oversight and agility.

•  Insurance Risk: structural decline in client markets and consolidation in 

insurance industry. Changing consumer expectations of insurers’ utilisation 

•  EdTech: declining foreign student enrolment pressuring higher 

of technology.

education budgets.

Success of new product launches and internal investments 

A lack of innovation or failure to successfully evolve our products 

The Group is continually investing in our products and services, developing 

new offerings and enriching existing products and services. Examples include:

and services may compromise their appeal.

Some may fail to achieve customer acceptance and yield expected 

benefits. This could result in lower than expected revenue and/or 

impairment losses.

emerging markets.

Uncertainty also results from geographic expansion into new and 

•  Consumer Media: increased monetisation of online user base.

•  Insurance Risk: re-architecture of the RMS(one) platform to take advantage 

of the growing benefits of new technology.

•  Property Information: Trepp’s launch and development of Collateralized 

Loan Obligation analytics service.

•  Events and Exhibitions: innovation within and expansion of events 

and launches across new locations.

Portfolio management

Increasing portfolio focus is key to the Group’s strategy. This could be 

compromised by portfolio changes not delivering expected benefits, 

failure to deliver acquisition or operating targets, and/or delay or 

delinquency in divesting from non-core businesses at the right time.

•  Growth opportunities and potential synergies lost through failure 

to identify or succeed with acquisition and investment targets. 

•  Lost acquisitions may allow competitors to gain footholds in key markets.

•  Underperforming acquisitions and investments may lead to reduced return 

on capital and/or impairment losses, as well as diversion of management 

time and bandwidth. 

•  Optimal value may not be achieved from divestments.

Economic and geopolitical uncertainty 

Group performance could be adversely impacted by factors beyond 

our control such as the economic conditions in key markets and sectors 

and political uncertainty.

•  Uncertainty surrounding the conditions of Brexit directly impacts 

the UK macroeconomic climate (Consumer Media) and UK property 

transaction volumes (Property Information).

•  Fluctuations in the global energy and commodity markets could impact 

revenue for both Genscape (Energy Information) and associated trade 

shows (Events and Exhibitions). 

•  Political and economic uncertainty, particularly in the Middle East, 

could negatively impact Genscape’s customers, as well as the exhibitors 

and attendees of events and exhibitions.

•  Sustained global low interest rate environment will continue to impact 

margins for global investors, including in insurance (Insurance Risk) 

and property (Property Information).

S
t
r
a
t
e
g
i
c
R
e
p
o
r
t

G
o
v
e
r
n
a
n
c
e

F
i

n
a
n
c
i
a
l

S
t
a
t
e
m
e
n
t
s

S
h
a
r
e
h
o

l

d
e
r

I
n
f
o
r
m
a
t
i

o
n

 
 
 
Strategic Report

Actively monitoring and managing our risks
Principal Risks

Strategic risks continued

Description and impact

Talent 
Our ability to identify, attract, retain and develop the right people for 
senior and business-critical roles could impact the Group’s performance. 

Examples

•  Entrepreneurship and leadership skills are a priority for the Group 

and key to the continued success of many of our operating companies. 

•  Technology and software development skills remain crucial to many 
of our businesses where there is significant investment in software 
platforms and technology infrastructure to support next-generation 
product development.

•  The strategy to build out our data analytics capabilities places focus 

on developing and attracting data scientists and specialists in machine 
learning, artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies. These 
skills are in high demand, which makes attracting and retaining people 
with these skills more competitive. 

•  Enterprise sales and operational execution expertise with market and 

product knowledge are vital.

Operational risks
Description and impact

Examples

Information security breach or cyberattack 
An information security breach, including a failure to prevent or detect 
a malicious cyberattack, could cause reputational damage and financial 
loss. The investigation and management of an incident would result in 
remediation costs and the diversion of management time.

A breach of data protection legislation could result in financial penalties 
for the affected business and potentially the Group. 

The risk is relevant to all businesses in the Group due to the nature of products 
and services across the portfolio. Examples which could impact the Group include:

•  Loss or unauthorised access to personal information and sensitive client data.
•  Unavailability or disruption of online products and services. 
•  Integrity of online products, services and data compromised.
•  Disruption to critical systems that support business operations.
•  Theft of intellectual property.

Reliance on key third parties
Certain third parties are critical to the operations of our businesses. 
A failure of one of our critical third parties may cause disruption to 
business operations, impact our ability to deliver products and services 
and result in financial loss. 

The reputation of our businesses may be damaged by poor performance 
or a regulatory breach by critical third parties, particularly outsourced 
service providers.

Key third parties include:

•  Data centre and cloud service providers.
•  Search engine traffic partners.
•  IT development support.
•  Data providers for core product.
•  Newsprint, flexographic plate and ink suppliers.
•  Newspaper distributors and wholesalers. 
•  Event venues.

Compliance with laws and regulations
The Group operates across multiple jurisdictions and sectors. 
Increasing regulation increases the risk that the Group is not compliant 
with all applicable laws and regulations across all of the jurisdictions 
in which it operates, which could result in financial penalties and 
reputational damage. 

Increasing regulation also results in increasing costs of compliance.

Particular areas of focus for DMGT businesses are: 

•  Data protection, including the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) 

and the proposed ePrivacy Regulation.
•  Competition and anti-trust legislation.
•  EU Market Abuse Regulation.
•  Libel legislation.
•  Tax compliance.
•  Trade sanctions.
•  Entering regulated markets or sectors.

Pension scheme deficit 
Defined benefit pension schemes, although now closed to new entrants, 
remain ultimately funded by DMGT, with Pension Fund Trustees (Trustees) 
controlling the investment allocation. 

There is a risk that the funding of the deficit could be greater than expected.

Future pension costs and funding requirements could be increased by:

•  Adverse changes in investment performance.
•  Valuation assumptions and methodology.
•  Inflation and interest rate risks.

S
t
r
a
t
e
g
i
c
R
e
p
o
r
t

G
o
v
e
r
n
a
n
c
e

F
i

n
a
n
c
i
a
l

S
t
a
t
e
m
e
n
t
s

S
h
a
r
e
h
o

l

d
e
r

I
n
f
o
r
m
a
t
i

o
n

34

Mitigation

Trend

•  Local HR specialists focused on recruitment, critical skills planning, identifying and 

developing internal talent combined with central oversight of reward.

•  Central technology function with specialised expertise in artificial intelligence, machine 

learning, data architecture and management, platform development and scaling. 

•  Technology Council oversight of technology hires.

•  Central Strategy and Performance Management function partners with operating 

companies’ management advising on critical skills to improve operational and 

commercial performance, including pricing and packaging strategies, go-to-market 

and sales execution and business case development and planning.

•  Executive management is involved in the recruitment of all operating company 

leadership roles and their ongoing development.

•  Payment of competitive rewards for key senior roles, developed using industry 

benchmarks and external specialist input. 

Mitigation

Trend

•  Information Security Steering Committee led by the DMGT CEO, providing oversight 

of information security initiatives in the Group.

•  The newly appointed Group Chief Information Security Officer is responsible for 

reviewing and recommending actionable roadmaps to improve information security 

procedures and protections at each operating company. 

•  Group information security policy and detailed information security standards with 

regular reviews reported to the Information Security Steering Committee. Periodic 

reviews of the standards themselves are performed to ensure they keep pace with 

best practice.

•  Information security is reviewed as part of every internal audit of an operating company.

•  Cyber insurance policies in place. 

•  Dedicated budget for information security investments. 

•  The Group’s diverse and balanced portfolio of businesses and products reduces 

the overall impact of the failure of an individual third party. 

•  Operational and financial due diligence is undertaken for key suppliers on an 

ongoing basis. 

and outputs. 

•  Close management of key supplier relationships including contracts, service levels 

•  Robust business continuity arrangements for the disruption to key third parties.

•  Event cancellation and business interruption insurance policies.

•  Changes in laws and regulations are monitored and potential impacts discussed 

with the relevant persons, Board, or Committee, or escalated as appropriate. 

•  Developments in the legal and regulatory landscape are reviewed by the  

•  Implementation and monitoring of Group-wide policies to address new legislation 

Audit & Risk Committee. 

and regulation where applicable. 

•  Group-wide working groups for key compliance areas, such as the GDPR.

•  Monitoring and management of tax risks is performed by the DMGT Tax Sub-Committee. 

•  The agreed funding plan gives certainty over the financial commitment until FY 2019. 

•  Monitoring and management of pension risks is performed by the DMGT Pension 

Sub-Committee. 

•  Company-appointed Trustees.

This risk increased over FY 2018 as the inherent threat of 

an information security breach or cyberattack continues 

to increase, as does the sophistication of potential 

cyberattack methods. This is partially offset by 

continuous improvement in information security controls.

This risk has decreased over FY 2018 as the Group’s 

defined benefit schemes’ accounting surplus increased, 

and exposure to future investment and inflation risk was 

further reduced.

 
 
 
Daily Mail and General Trust plc Annual Report 2018

Strategic risks continued

Description and impact

Talent 

Our ability to identify, attract, retain and develop the right people for 

senior and business-critical roles could impact the Group’s performance. 

Examples

Mitigation

Trend

•  Entrepreneurship and leadership skills are a priority for the Group 

and key to the continued success of many of our operating companies. 

•  Technology and software development skills remain crucial to many 

of our businesses where there is significant investment in software 

platforms and technology infrastructure to support next-generation 

product development.

•  The strategy to build out our data analytics capabilities places focus 

on developing and attracting data scientists and specialists in machine 

learning, artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies. These 

skills are in high demand, which makes attracting and retaining people 

with these skills more competitive. 

•  Local HR specialists focused on recruitment, critical skills planning, identifying and 

developing internal talent combined with central oversight of reward.

•  Central technology function with specialised expertise in artificial intelligence, machine 

learning, data architecture and management, platform development and scaling. 

•  Technology Council oversight of technology hires.
•  Central Strategy and Performance Management function partners with operating 
companies’ management advising on critical skills to improve operational and 
commercial performance, including pricing and packaging strategies, go-to-market 
and sales execution and business case development and planning.

•  Executive management is involved in the recruitment of all operating company 

leadership roles and their ongoing development.

•  Enterprise sales and operational execution expertise with market and 

•  Payment of competitive rewards for key senior roles, developed using industry 

product knowledge are vital.

benchmarks and external specialist input. 

Operational risks

Description and impact

Examples

Mitigation

Trend

Information security breach or cyberattack 

An information security breach, including a failure to prevent or detect 

a malicious cyberattack, could cause reputational damage and financial 

loss. The investigation and management of an incident would result in 

remediation costs and the diversion of management time.

A breach of data protection legislation could result in financial penalties 

for the affected business and potentially the Group. 

The risk is relevant to all businesses in the Group due to the nature of products 

and services across the portfolio. Examples which could impact the Group include:

•  Loss or unauthorised access to personal information and sensitive client data.

•  Unavailability or disruption of online products and services. 

•  Integrity of online products, services and data compromised.

•  Disruption to critical systems that support business operations.

•  Theft of intellectual property.

Reliance on key third parties

Key third parties include:

Certain third parties are critical to the operations of our businesses. 

A failure of one of our critical third parties may cause disruption to 

business operations, impact our ability to deliver products and services 

and result in financial loss. 

The reputation of our businesses may be damaged by poor performance 

or a regulatory breach by critical third parties, particularly outsourced 

service providers.

•  Data centre and cloud service providers.

•  Search engine traffic partners.

•  IT development support.

•  Data providers for core product.

•  Newsprint, flexographic plate and ink suppliers.

•  Newspaper distributors and wholesalers. 

•  Event venues.

Compliance with laws and regulations

Particular areas of focus for DMGT businesses are: 

•  Data protection, including the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) 

The Group operates across multiple jurisdictions and sectors. 

Increasing regulation increases the risk that the Group is not compliant 

with all applicable laws and regulations across all of the jurisdictions 

in which it operates, which could result in financial penalties and 

reputational damage. 

Increasing regulation also results in increasing costs of compliance.

and the proposed ePrivacy Regulation.

•  Competition and anti-trust legislation.

•  EU Market Abuse Regulation.

•  Libel legislation.

•  Tax compliance.

•  Trade sanctions.

•  Entering regulated markets or sectors.

Pension scheme deficit 

Future pension costs and funding requirements could be increased by:

Defined benefit pension schemes, although now closed to new entrants, 

remain ultimately funded by DMGT, with Pension Fund Trustees (Trustees) 

controlling the investment allocation. 

•  Adverse changes in investment performance.

•  Valuation assumptions and methodology.

•  Inflation and interest rate risks.

There is a risk that the funding of the deficit could be greater than expected.

•  Information Security Steering Committee led by the DMGT CEO, providing oversight 

of information security initiatives in the Group.

•  The newly appointed Group Chief Information Security Officer is responsible for 

reviewing and recommending actionable roadmaps to improve information security 
procedures and protections at each operating company. 

•  Group information security policy and detailed information security standards with 
regular reviews reported to the Information Security Steering Committee. Periodic 
reviews of the standards themselves are performed to ensure they keep pace with 
best practice.

•  Information security is reviewed as part of every internal audit of an operating company.
•  Cyber insurance policies in place. 
•  Dedicated budget for information security investments. 

•  The Group’s diverse and balanced portfolio of businesses and products reduces 

the overall impact of the failure of an individual third party. 

•  Operational and financial due diligence is undertaken for key suppliers on an 

ongoing basis. 

•  Close management of key supplier relationships including contracts, service levels 

and outputs. 

•  Robust business continuity arrangements for the disruption to key third parties.
•  Event cancellation and business interruption insurance policies.

•  Changes in laws and regulations are monitored and potential impacts discussed 
with the relevant persons, Board, or Committee, or escalated as appropriate. 

•  Developments in the legal and regulatory landscape are reviewed by the  

Audit & Risk Committee. 

•  Implementation and monitoring of Group-wide policies to address new legislation 

and regulation where applicable. 

•  Group-wide working groups for key compliance areas, such as the GDPR.
•  Monitoring and management of tax risks is performed by the DMGT Tax Sub-Committee. 

•  The agreed funding plan gives certainty over the financial commitment until FY 2019. 
•  Monitoring and management of pension risks is performed by the DMGT Pension 

Sub-Committee. 

•  Company-appointed Trustees.

This risk increased over FY 2018 as the inherent threat of 
an information security breach or cyberattack continues 
to increase, as does the sophistication of potential 
cyberattack methods. This is partially offset by 
continuous improvement in information security controls.

This risk has decreased over FY 2018 as the Group’s 
defined benefit schemes’ accounting surplus increased, 
and exposure to future investment and inflation risk was 
further reduced.

The Strategic Report was approved by the Board 
on 28 November 2018 and signed on its behalf by 
the Group Chief Financial Officer.

By order of the Board

Tim Collier 
Group Chief Financial Officer

35

S
t
r
a
t
e
g
i
c
R
e
p
o
r
t

G
o
v
e
r
n
a
n
c
e

F
i

n
a
n
c
i
a
l

S
t
a
t
e
m
e
n
t
s

S
h
a
r
e
h
o

l

d
e
r

I
n
f
o
r
m
a
t
i

o
n

 
 
 
Governance

Governance
Board of Directors  
and Company Secretary

1.

4.

7.

2.

5.

8.

3.

6.

9.

10.

11.

12.

Key to Board and Committees

  Audit & Risk Committee

   Remuneration & Nominations Committee

  Investment & Finance Committee

36

Paul Dacre served on the Board until 
26 September 2018.

S
t
r
a
t
e
g
i
c
R
e
p
o
r
t

G
o
v
e
r
n
a
n
c
e

F
i

n
a
n
c
i
a
l

S
t
a
t
e
m
e
n
t
s

S
h
a
r
e
h
o

l

d
e
r

I
n
f
o
r
m
a
t
i

o
n

 
 
 
Daily Mail and General Trust plc Annual Report 2018

1. The Viscount Rothermere
Chairman   

Appointed to the Board: 1995 
Appointed Chairman: 1998

Skills and experience: 
Lord Rothermere brings significant experience 
of media and newspapers. He worked at the 
International Herald Tribune in Paris and the Mirror 
Group before moving to Northcliffe Newspapers in 
1995. In 1997 he became Managing Director of the 
Evening Standard.
Other appointments: Euromoney Institutional 
Investor PLC Board (until November 2017); ZPG Plc 
(from November 2017 until July 2018) and 
Independent Television News Limited (until 
November 2018).

2. P A Zwillenberg
CEO   

Appointed to the Board and CEO: 2016

Skills and experience: 
Paul Zwillenberg has over 30 years’ experience across 
the media industry. He has a broad knowledge of the 
Group, having set up the digital division of dmg media 
(formerly Associated Newspapers digital) in 1996. 
Prior to joining DMGT, Paul was the Global Leader 
of Media Sector and Senior Partner and Managing 
Director at The Boston Consulting Group. Before 
that he founded an early interactive media company 
and launched a European technology services firm. 
Other appointments: Euromoney Institutional 
Investor PLC Board and its Remuneration and 
Nominations Committees until November 2017.

3. T G Collier
Group Chief Financial Officer   

Appointed to the Board and Group Chief Financial 
Officer: 2017

Skills and experience: 
Prior to joining DMGT, Tim Collier was Chief Financial 
Officer of Thomson Reuters Financial and Risk 
Business where he was responsible for driving 
financial and risk performance, optimising resources 
and enhancing growth through organic and strategic 
investments. Tim’s experience has spanned media 
and business information industries and functions 
including banking, corporate finance, treasury, 
insurance, internal audit, accounting and M&A.
Other appointments: Euromoney Institutional 
Investor PLC Board and its Nominations and Audit 
Committees from November 2017.

4. K J Beatty
Executive Director 

Appointed to the Board: 2004

Skills and experience: 
Kevin Beatty brings many years of media industry 
experience and is now Chief Executive of dmg media. 
Before joining the group he was Managing Director 
of the Scottish Daily Record and Sunday Mail. Kevin 
has been Managing Director of The Mail on Sunday, 
the Evening Standard and London Metro, COO of 
Associated New Media and Managing Director of 
Northcliffe Newspapers.
Other appointments: ZPG Plc (until November 
2017); Euromoney Institutional Investor PLC Board 
and its Remuneration and Nominations Committees 
(from November 2017); PA Group (until November 
2018); Excalibur, which operates the Wowcher and 
Living Social daily deals businesses.

He is a board member of the NMA and Chairman 
of the RFC, the body that funds IPSO (Independent 
Press Standards Organisation).

5. Lady Keswick
Independent Non-Executive Director 

Appointed to the Board: 2013

Skills and experience: 
Lady Keswick’s extensive career is based in public 
policy and international affairs, particularly in Asia. 
She is the former Director of the Centre of Policy 
Studies and was, until recently, its Deputy Chairman. 
She was the Special Policy Adviser to the Rt. Hon. 
Kenneth Clarke QC MP, working at the Departments 
for Health, Education and Science, the Home Office 
and HM Treasury. She previously worked in 
advertising and journalism. In 2013, Lady Keswick 
was elected Chancellor of the University 
of Buckingham.

No other appointments.

6. A H Lane
Non-Executive Director   

Appointed to the Board: 2013

Skills and experience: 
Andrew Lane brings a range of experience of dealing 
in complex legal and regulatory matters. He is a 
partner at Forsters LLP and specialises in private 
client law.

Other appointments: Trustee of the Pension 
Fund of the Royal Agricultural Society of England.

7. F L Morin
Non-Executive Director 
(Canadian) 

Appointed to the Board: 2017

Skills and experience: 
François Morin brings a broad range of 
experience and skills to the Board arising from 
his role as Partner at the Canadian law firm Borden 
Ladner Gervais. He is a qualified lawyer admitted 
to the Québec Bar. In particular, he brings an 
international perspective relevant to the Group’s 
global operations and experience of regulatory 
matters across a range of areas. François also has a 
strong record of community involvement including 
as director on a number of charitable boards.

No other appointments. 

8. D H Nelson
Non-Executive Director   

Appointed to the Board: 2009

Skills and experience: 
David Nelson provides the Board and its Committees 
with relevant financial expertise, gained through a 
career in accounting. He is a Partner at Dixon Wilson, 
Chartered Accountants. He is an adviser to UK-based 
families and their businesses, advising on financial 
and tax matters in the UK and overseas. He is a 
trustee of a number of substantial UK trusts.

Other appointments: Mind Gym plc (Non-Executive 
Director); Dulwich Preparatory Schools Trust 
(a registered charity – Chairman), and The Rye, 
Winchelsea & District Memorial Hospital Limited.

9. K A H Parry OBE
Independent Non-Executive Director   

Appointed to the Board: 2014

Skills and experience: 
Kevin Parry is a chartered accountant who brings 
a broad range of experience and skills to the Board. 
He serves on a number of listed company boards 
and has previously been a Non-Executive Director 
of Schroders plc, Knight Frank LLP and the Homes 
and Communities Agency. He has extensive 

experience chairing companies as well as audit, 
risk and nominations committees. He was CFO 
of Schroders plc, CEO of Management Consulting 
Group PLC and the managing partner of KPMG’s 
information, communications and entertainment 
practice in London.

Other appointments: Intermediate Capital Group 
plc (chairman), Nationwide Building Society, 
Standard Life Aberdeen plc (Senior Independent 
Director) and Royal National Children’s SpringBoard 
Foundation (chairman).

10. JP Rangaswami
Independent Non-Executive Director  

Appointed to the Board: 2017

Skills and experience: 
JP Rangaswami brings extensive knowledge and 
experience in the fields of data and computer 
science. He was the Chief Data Officer and Group 
Head of Innovation at Deutsche Bank until 
September 2018. He is a director and trustee 
of the Web Science Trust and adjunct professor in 
Electronics and Computer Science at the University 
of Southampton.

Other appointments: Allfunds Bank S.A.

11. J H Roizen
Independent Non-Executive Director 
(American)   

Appointed to the Board: 2012

Skills and experience: 
Heidi Roizen provides the Board with experience 
in digital media, entrepreneurial growth and 
business development in both public and private 
companies in the US. She teaches entrepreneurship 
at Stanford University. Heidi was Vice President 
of Worldwide Developer Relations for Apple 
Computers, as well as being CEO and co-founder 
of pioneering consumer software company T Maker. 
She is a Partner at DFJ, a venture capital firm 
in California.

Other appointments: DFJ.

12. D Trempont
Independent Non-Executive Director 
(American)   

Appointed to the Board: 2011

Skills and experience: 
Dominique Trempont brings experience as a 
Chief Executive Officer, Chairman and Independent 
Board Director in large multinational high-tech 
companies and start-ups. He has extensive 
knowledge of software and digital data/content 
businesses, artificial intelligence, machine learning, 
cyber security, online B2C and B2B markets. He is 
currently on the board of companies focusing on 
disruptive innovation and emerging markets. 

Other appointments: Airspan, ON24, Real Networks. 

F L Sallas
Company Secretary

Appointed as Company Secretary: 2017

Skills and experience: 
Fran Sallas is Secretary to the Board, Audit & 
Risk Committee, Remuneration & Nominations 
Committee and the Investment & Finance 
Committee. Fran is a Fellow of the Institute 
of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators.

37

S
t
r
a
t
e
g
i
c
R
e
p
o
r
t

G
o
v
e
r
n
a
n
c
e

F
i

n
a
n
c
i
a
l

S
t
a
t
e
m
e
n
t
s

S
h
a
r
e
h
o

l

d
e
r

I
n
f
o
r
m
a
t
i

o
n

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Governance

Governance
Chairman’s Statement on Governance

Board composition
Our Board was strengthened during the year 
by the appointment of JP Rangaswami as 
Independent Non-Executive in February 2018 
as detailed on page 2. 

In addition to my comments in the 
Chairman’s Statement on page 2 the 
Board would like to thank Paul Dacre for his 
brilliant stewardship of the Daily Mail and 
other titles within the Group over three 
decades and also for his contribution to the 
DMGT Board.

   Go online to www.dmgt.com/
about-us/board-and-governance

The Viscount Rothermere
Chairman

Strong governance is 
essential to the way 
DMGT operates.”

I am pleased to present the Corporate 
Governance Report for FY 2018. Strong 
governance is essential to the way DMGT 
operates; it is promoted by the Board 
and cascades throughout the Group. 
It is a key factor in our ability to achieve 
growth in a profitable, responsible 
and sustainable manner and in how 
we maximise shareholder value over 
the long term. DMGT’s approach to 
governance is distinctive; in addition 
to typical corporate procedures, 
we are able to rely on and utilise the 
significant benefits from the family 
shareholding and the long-term view 
that this engenders.

Our approach to governance
Our governance framework sets out clear 
parameters for decision-making. This is 
achieved through delegated authorities 
which ensures decisions are made by the 
appropriate body and that there is clear 
accountability to the DMGT Board. 

Governance practice continues to evolve. 
The 2018 UK Corporate Governance Code 
will apply to DMGT from FY 2020. As per our 
current approach to the 2016 UK Corporate 
Governance Code (Code), we will voluntarily 
apply the new provisions where appropriate 
and explain when we are not in compliance 
but believe our approach to be better 
aligned with all our shareholders’ needs.

Areas of focus
The Board continues to work closely 
with the executive team, offering support 
and robust challenge in a spirit of openness 
and transparency. Areas of particular 
focus for the Board include our approach 
to our portfolio of businesses and their 
continued growth, as well as divestments, 
rigorous financial management, balanced 
capital allocation and managing a strong 
balance sheet. Additionally, the Board 
has focused on our people agenda and 
leadership capabilities. 

   Read more in CEO Review,  

pages 10 to 13

S
t
r
a
t
e
g
i
c
R
e
p
o
r
t

G
o
v
e
r
n
a
n
c
e

F
i

n
a
n
c
i
a
l

S
t
a
t
e
m
e
n
t
s

S
h
a
r
e
h
o

l

d
e
r

I
n
f
o
r
m
a
t
i

o
n

The Viscount Rothermere
Chairman

In this section
Chairman’s Statement  
on Governance 
Corporate Governance 
Executive Committee Report 
Investment & Finance  
Committee Report 
Audit & Risk Committee Report  
Remuneration & Nominations 
Committee Report 
Remuneration Report 
Statutory Information 
Annual General Meeting 2019: 
Resolutions 

38
40
45

45
46

53
54
77

80

38

 
 
 
Daily Mail and General Trust plc Annual Report 2018

Committee structure 
The Board and Committee structure is set out below:

DMGT

DMGT Board
Collectively responsible for the long-term success of the Company.

Executive Committee
The Executive Committee meets regularly to discuss 
all aspects of the Group’s performance and strategy, 
particularly performance management, capital allocation 
and senior talent considerations. 

Investment & Finance Committee
The Investment & Finance Committee evaluates investment 
opportunities and financing proposals and monitors returns 
on investments made. 

Audit & Risk Committee
The Audit & Risk Committee has responsibility for: 

•  the Company’s financial reporting; 
•  narrative reporting; 
•  the Internal and External Audit processes; and 
•  the signing off of external disclosures.

The Committee also oversees: 

•  the Group’s system of internal controls and risk management; 
•  the Group’s risk register, risk appetite and tolerance, 
including as part of the Viability Statement; and 
•  developments in relevant legislation and regulation. 

Time is allocated at each meeting for both Audit and Risk 
matters, to ensure that all items are adequately addressed.

Remuneration & Nominations Committee
The Remuneration & Nominations Committee ensures that 
remuneration arrangements support the strategic aims of 
the business and enables the recruitment, motivation and 
retention of senior executives in a manner that is aligned 
to shareholder interests, while also complying with the 
requirements of regulation. It also reviews the structure and 
composition of the Board and its Committees, in particular 
the skills, knowledge and experience of Directors. 

Time is allocated at each meeting for both Remuneration 
and Nominations matters, to ensure that all items are 
adequately addressed. 

Family shareholding
Rothermere Continuation Limited (RCL) 
is a holding company incorporated  
in Bermuda. The main asset of RCL is its 
holding of DMGT Ordinary Shares. RCL is 
owned by a trust (Trust) which is held for  
the benefit of Lord Rothermere and his 
immediate family. Both RCL and the Trust 
are administered in Jersey, in the Channel 
Islands. The directors of RCL, of which  
there are seven, included two directors  
of DMGT during the reporting period:  
Lord Rothermere and François Morin.

RCL has controlled the Company for many 
years. RCL maintains that the Company 
should be managed in accordance with high 
standards of corporate governance for the 
benefit of all shareholders; this has been the 
case throughout the period of RCL’s control.

RCL has again indicated to the Company that 
its intentions for the Company’s governance 
are long term in nature and that it will 
discuss with the Board of the Company  
any material change in its intentions. In 
particular, RCL has confirmed its intention 
that the Company will:

•  continue to observe the Listing Principles 

in their current form;

•  continue to maintain a securities dealing 

code for certain of its employees;

•  continue to voluntarily observe the UK 
Code on a ‘comply or explain’ basis; and

•  have an appropriate number of 

Independent Non-Executive Directors 
on its Board.

It is also intended by RCL that the Company’s 
Independent Directors would take decisions 
on behalf of the Company in relation to any 
proposed transaction between the Company 
and RCL, or between the Company and an 
associate of RCL, where any such proposed 
transaction would have been a related  
party transaction under Chapter 11 of the 
Listing Rules. 

S
t
r
a
t
e
g
i
c
R
e
p
o
r
t

G
o
v
e
r
n
a
n
c
e

F
i

n
a
n
c
i
a
l

S
t
a
t
e
m
e
n
t
s

S
h
a
r
e
h
o

l

d
e
r

I
n
f
o
r
m
a
t
i

o
n

39

 
 
 
Governance

Governance
Corporate Governance

UK Corporate Governance Code
The 2016 UK Corporate Governance Code 
(Code) is an important part of how we 
operate. It allows a ‘comply or explain’ 
approach to achieving best governance 
practice. We have chosen to explain our 
governance practices if these do not fully 
meet the provisions of the Code. This allows 
us to recognise our requirements under the 
Code and the benefits of our shareholding 
structure. Our explanations, where we 
deviate from the Code, are set out in 
the relevant sections of this Corporate 
Governance Report. DMGT will report 
on the 2018 UK Corporate Governance  
Code from FY 2020.

Information required under DTR 7.2.6 
is provided on page 77 and forms part 
of this Report. The full Code can be found 
at the Financial Reporting Council website 
https://www.frc.org.uk/.

Leadership
The Board has a duty to promote the 
long-term success of the Company for its 
shareholders. This includes: the review  
and monitoring of strategic objectives; 
approval of major acquisitions, disposals  
and capital expenditure; financial 
performance; reviewing the effectiveness  
of the Group’s systems of internal controls; 
governance; risk management; and training 
and development. 

Persons Discharging Managerial 
Responsibility
As part of the Company’s continuing 
obligation to ensure compliance with the 
Listing Rules and related regulations, we 
have identified that Directors and other 
senior executives who have regular access  
to inside information and the power to make 
managerial decisions affecting the future 
development and business prospects of the 
Company are those on the Board, Executive 
Committee and regular attendees at the 
Investment & Finance Committee.

How the Board operates
There is a schedule of matters reserved to 
the Board. This details key matters in respect 
of the Company’s management that the 
Board does not delegate. This can be seen 
at www.dmgt.com/about-us/board-and-
governance. If any Director had any concerns 
about the way the Board was operating, 
these would be recorded in the minutes. 
No such concerns were raised during the 
reporting period. Day-to-day management 
of the Company is the responsibility of the 
Executive Committee and of the executive 
management of the operating companies.

Delegation of authority
The Board has delegated certain activities 
to Board Committees, under formal terms 
of reference, details of which are set out 
on pages 45 to 53.

   Go online to www.dmgt.com/
about-us/board-and-governance 
for full Terms of Reference

Division of Chairman and CEO 
responsibilities
In accordance with the provision A.2.1 of the 
Code, the roles of Chairman and CEO are 
separate. The Chairman is responsible for 
leading the Board and overseeing operations 
and strategy. The CEO is responsible for the 
execution of the strategy and the day-to-day 
management of the Group and is supported 
by the Executive Committee.

Non-Executive Directors
The Non-Executive Directors, as members 
of the Board and its Committees, are 
responsible for ensuring the Company 
has effective systems of internal controls 
and risk management, and additionally, 
for monitoring financial performance. All 
Committee Chairmen report to the Board on 
Committee activity at each Board meeting.

Senior Independent Director 
The Chairman has an interest in the Shares 
of the Company through the Trust and the 
Board feels that there is no need for a 
Senior Independent Director to represent 
Shareholders. Accordingly the Board has 
not appointed a Senior Independent Director 
as recommended under Code provision 
A.4.1. The Remuneration & Nominations 
Committee (without the Chairman being 
present) annually assesses the Chairman’s 
performance. Other Directors consider that 
they can represent themselves freely to the 
Chairman. However, when a situation arises 
that would best be handled by an individual 
Independent Non-Executive Director, the 
most appropriate person is appointed by 
the Board (with or without the Chairman 
being present, as appropriate). 

Independence
The Board has determined that Lady 
Keswick, Kevin Parry, JP Rangaswami, 
Heidi Roizen and Dominique Trempont are 
independent within the meaning of provision 
B.1.1 of the Code. 

Andrew Lane, François Morin and 
David Nelson are not considered to be 
independent within the meaning of the 
Code. Andrew Lane and David Nelson are 
each advisers to the Chairman and François 
Morin is a Director of RCL. Nevertheless, the 
Board believes that these Non-Executive 
Directors make an important contribution 
to its deliberations and have invaluable 
experience of the Company, its business 
and its employees.

Less than half of the Board are Independent 
Non-Executive Directors, which is not in line 
with provision B.1.2 of the Code. The Board 
believes that its current composition is 
appropriate taking into account the heritage 
of the Group, the interests of our operating 
companies represented on the Board, and 
that a good balance is achieved from the 
Board’s Non-Executive Directors in terms of 
skill and independence. The Board keeps this 
under review. 

S
t
r
a
t
e
g
i
c
R
e
p
o
r
t

G
o
v
e
r
n
a
n
c
e

F
i

n
a
n
c
i
a
l

S
t
a
t
e
m
e
n
t
s

S
h
a
r
e
h
o

l

d
e
r

I
n
f
o
r
m
a
t
i

o
n

40

 
 
 
Daily Mail and General Trust plc Annual Report 2018

Effectiveness
The Board reviewed its effectiveness within 
the context of the provisions of Section B 
of the Code. In addition to its review of 
independence and the Board evaluation 
process, discussed separately, the Board 
discharged its Code duties as follows:

•  Appointments: the Remuneration & 

Nominations Committee is responsible 
for referring potential appointments to 
the Board for approval and is assisted 
by the CEO. Further details are in the 
Remuneration & Nominations Committee 
Report on page 53;

•  Time: the time commitment of each 
Non-Executive Director is set out in  
his/her Letter of Engagement. Each Letter 
of Engagement is renewed annually 
following consideration by the 
Remuneration & Nominations Committee 
and a shareholder vote at the Annual 
General Meeting (AGM);

•  Multiple commitments: the Remuneration 
& Nominations Committee recognises 
that Board members may be directors 
of other companies and that this 
additional experience is likely to enhance 
discussions at the Board. Details of any 
additional directorships are on pages 36 
and 37. Executive Directors are generally 
permitted to hold non-executive 
directorships as long as they do not 
lead to conflicts of interest or time;

•  Development and information: on joining, 

Directors receive a comprehensive, 
tailored induction programme, which 
includes time with the Company Secretary 
and Legal Adviser, the Executive Directors 
and a range of senior managers across the 
Group. During the year, as part of a rolling 
training programme, the Board has 
received updates on key areas of finance 
and governance as well as detailed 
presentations by operating companies; and 

•  Re-election: in line with principle B.7 of 

the Code, all Directors are eligible to stand 
for re-election annually and will do so at 
the 2019 AGM.

Relations with shareholders
Any concerns raised by shareholders in 
relation to the Company and its affairs are 
communicated to the Board through regular 
briefings. Summaries of analysts’ reports 
are circulated to the Board. Feedback 
from institutional shareholder meetings 
held with the executive management,  
or the Investor Relations team is also 
communicated to the Board.

DMGT understands the importance of 
considering a company’s responsibilities to 
a broad stakeholder group. When making 
decisions, the Board considers the impact on 
its employees, customers, the communities 
in which we operate, its shareholders and 
its suppliers, in line with s172 of the 
Companies Act 2006.

The Company’s website, www.dmgt.com, 
provides the latest news, historical financial 
information, details about forthcoming 
events for shareholders and analysts, and 
other information relevant to shareholders 
regarding the Group.

Board evaluation
In FY 2018, the Board undertook a 
review of its own performance and 
those of its Committees, which built 
on the results of the FY 2017 review. 
The review was conducted through 
an internal process facilitated by 
the Company Secretary. An online 
questionnaire was used, focusing on 
the remit and key issues facing the 
Board. In particular, the Board 
considered how it was discharging 
its strategic remit and reviewed 
key issues facing the Group and 
its businesses.

Completed questionnaires were 
submitted and reviewed by the 
Chairman. A summary of findings was 
presented to the Board in a manner 
that did not identify individual specific 
responses, ensuring that the 
follow-up discussion with the entire 
Board was open. The responses 
showed that the Board welcomed the 
process and that overall, the Board 
was content with the progress during 
the year and that the Board and its 
Committees continue to function well.

There was a continuous monitoring 
programme to ensure that items 
addressed in the FY 2017 evaluation 
were also addressed during the year. 

Actions arising from the evaluation 
included ensuring that time on the 
Board agenda was allocated to 
the continued review of Board 
composition in relation to technology 
skills and experience; and oversight 
of operating companies through 
regular strategy updates. 

S
t
r
a
t
e
g
i
c
R
e
p
o
r
t

G
o
v
e
r
n
a
n
c
e

F
i

n
a
n
c
i
a
l

S
t
a
t
e
m
e
n
t
s

S
h
a
r
e
h
o

l

d
e
r

I
n
f
o
r
m
a
t
i

o
n

41

 
 
 
Governance

Governance
Corporate Governance

Board composition and diversity
We have continued to review the composition 
of the Board during FY 2018 to ensure that we 
have the right combination of members to 
contribute effectively to the development of 
our strategy and how we operate. We consider 
diversity in its broadest sense in reviewing 
how the Board operates and its composition. 

JP Rangaswami was appointed to the Board 
on 7 February 2018 to ensure the mix of skills 
and expertise represented complements our 
strategic goals. 

The split of the Group’s profits between our 
US and other businesses, the global nature 
of our operations and the range of activities 
undertaken across the Group has been 
reflected over recent years in our Board 
appointments. Maintaining this broad range 
of appropriate skills, including international 
and specific sector experience will continue to 
be a factor in our Board succession planning.

The Board is aware of and takes into account 
the principles regarding diversity of its senior 
management. This is considered as part  
of the senior management appointment 
process. Further details on our approach are 
included in the Remuneration & Nominations 
Committee Report on page 53. 

DMGT Board – membership

Member

Chairman
The Viscount Rothermere

CEO
P A Zwillenberg

Group Chief Financial Officer
T G Collier

Executive Directors
K J Beatty
P M Dacre

Non-Executive Directors
Lady Keswick
A H Lane
F L Morin
D H Nelson
K A H Parry
JP Rangaswami 

J H Roizen
D Trempont

Member for  
the full period

Meetings held

Meetings attended

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes
No (until 26 
September 2018)

Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No (joined  
01/12/2017)
Yes
Yes

5

5

5

5
5

5
5
5
5
5
4 (after  
01/12/2017)
5
5

5

5

5

5
4

5
5
5
5
5
4

4
5

The Board’s focus in FY 2018
Board members have visited, received presentations and functional area updates from DMGT’s operating companies on a rolling basis. 
During the year, as part of the Directors’ ongoing development and follow-up from the FY 2017 Board evaluation process, these updates 
were a combination of presentations to the whole Board and smaller groups as deemed appropriate and detailed below.

Portfolio management and strategy

People

Governance

•  A strategic review of the portfolio.
•  Future size and shape of the Group.
•  Non-Executive Directors David Nelson 

and Dominique Trempont attended RMS 
Exceedance in Miami in May 2018.

•  Presentations by the operating companies.
•  A visit by Non-Executive Directors 
to Landmark Information Group.

•  The New York Board meeting incorporated 
a site visit to Trepp and demonstration of 
the Trepp CLO product.

   Read more in CEO Review,  

pages 10 to 13

Risk management

•  With the support of the Audit & Risk 
Committee, review of the Group’s 
principal risks, other key risk areas and 
performance against risk appetite.

•  Approval of the Group’s Viability 

Statement and risk appetite for FY 2019.

   Read more in Principal Risks,  

pages 32 to 35

42

•  Approval of the appointment of 

•  Regular updates throughout the year 

JP Rangaswami as an Independent 
Non-Executive Director.

•  Discussions regarding senior 

appointments and succession planning.

•  Updates on talent management.
•  Presentation to Non-Executive Directors 
on succession and senior executives.
•  Non-Executive Directors were given the 
opportunity to meet with emerging 
leaders across the Group.

including on Market Abuse Regulation, 
2018 UK Corporate Governance Code, 
Payments Practices Reporting, Gender 
Pay Gap Reporting, Modern Slavery 
and Human Trafficking, General Data 
Protection Regulation as well as reports 
from the Committee Chairmen.

•  Approval and changes to updated Terms 
of Reference and matters reserved to 
the Board.

•  Review of the quality of the  

Finance and capital

External Audit.

•  Review of ‘DMGT Essentials’, the Group 
internal governance guide for operating 
companies.

•  Assessment and monitoring on a regular 

basis, performance against agreed 
financial targets, budget and returns 
on investment. 

•  Approval of authority limits and process 

for investments.

•  Assessment and monitoring of approach 

to pensions and tax policy.

   Read more in Financial Review,  

pages 22 to 29

S
t
r
a
t
e
g
i
c
R
e
p
o
r
t

G
o
v
e
r
n
a
n
c
e

F
i

n
a
n
c
i
a
l

S
t
a
t
e
m
e
n
t
s

S
h
a
r
e
h
o

l

d
e
r

I
n
f
o
r
m
a
t
i

o
n

 
 
 
Daily Mail and General Trust plc Annual Report 2018

The Board formally evaluated the system 
of risk management and internal control in 
conjunction with the Audit & Risk Committee 
during the year (see pages 45 to 52). This 
evaluation focused on material controls 
relating to principal risks and entity-level 
controls, as well as additional controls 
and processes required to support the 
Company’s Viability Statement (see page 26). 
The evaluation also considered any control 
weaknesses identified by Internal  
or External Audit, or as a result of incidents 
of fraud. Controls over the recording of 
amounts in the Group’s consolidated 
financial statements relating to investments 
have also been assessed and considered  
as appropriate. 

Although DMGT does not have the ability  
to dictate or modify controls at its material 
associates, notably Euromoney Institutional 
Investor PLC (Euromoney), the Directors 
review the effectiveness of the systems of 
risk management and internal control at 
these entities via Board representation.

Monitoring and oversight 
The Group operates a ‘three lines of defence’ 
model. The benefits of this approach are 
shown in the table on page 44. The Board 
delegates day-to-day responsibility for 
internal controls to operational management 
with oversight by the Executive Committee 
and the Audit & Risk Committee.

Board oversight of risk 
management and internal controls
The Board delegates day-to-day oversight  
of management’s operations of internal 
controls and risk management to the Audit 
& Risk Committee. The Board considers 
that the Audit & Risk Committee possesses 
the requisite skills and experience to meet  
its obligations and provide the relevant 
assurance to the Board. Operating and 
investment decisions are delegated to the 
Investment & Finance Committee. Further 
details of the activities of these Committees 
are on pages 45 to 53.

The Board has overall responsibility for 
establishing, monitoring and maintaining 
an effective system of risk management 
and internal controls. This system provides 
reasonable rather than absolute assurance 
that the Group’s business objectives will 
be achieved within the risk tolerance levels 
defined by the Board. 

The Group’s operating companies have 
a level of autonomy regarding the 
establishment of risk management and 
internal control systems, but are overseen 
by a central management team which 
reports to the Board. Certain functions 
are undertaken centrally, including: Group 
Accounting; Investor Relations; Strategy; 
Risk; Internal Audit; Corporate Tax; Treasury; 
and Insurance.

The Board has established an ongoing 
process for identifying, evaluating and 
managing the principal risks faced by the 
Company. This process has continued 
throughout the year and up to the date 
of approval of the financial statements. 
Monitoring is an ongoing process and 
principal risks are formally reviewed 
at half year and year end. 

   Read more in Principal Risks,  

pages 32 to 35

Risk management function
Throughout the year, the Group had 
separate Risk and Internal Audit functions. 
This separation minimises the threat of 
self-review across our ‘three lines of defence’ 
model (see page 44). The Risk function 
provides an increased focus on priority risk 
areas. It is responsible for maintaining the 
Group risk management process, facilitating 
change for selected risks, evolving our 
approach to operational compliance, 
and working with other Group functions. 
The Risk function engages specialist 
external expertise to maintain best practice 
approaches. To ensure an open discussion 
of emerging risks, the Chairman of the 
Audit & Risk Committee met separately with 
the Senior Risk Managers during the year, 
independent of operational management.

Internal Audit
The Internal Audit function undertakes 
an agreed programme of independent 
assurance reviews. The function sources 
external expertise as required from specialist 
suppliers. This mix of internal and specialist 
resource works well. Internal Audit seeks to 
comply with relevant professional standards, 
notably those issued by the Institute of 
Internal Auditors. 

The Internal Audit Charter (the Charter) sets 
out the purpose and objectives of Internal 
Audit. The Charter takes a systematic and 
disciplined approach to the evaluation and 
improvements in control and governance 
processes. It strengthens the function’s 
independence and objectivity by means of 
the function’s reporting lines and access 
to all records, personnel, property and 
operations of the Group. To ensure his 
independence from management, the 
Director of Internal Audit reports directly to 
the Chairman of the Audit & Risk Committee. 
The Charter confirms the high-level 
responsibilities of operational management 
(first line of defence) and ensures that the 
Internal Audit function undertakes its third 
line of defence duties, avoiding any first or 
second line duties. The Charter is reviewed 
annually and updated as required to 
take account of changing practices and 
standards. The Audit & Risk Committee 
is satisfied that the provisions of the 
Charter have been achieved in the year. 

S
t
r
a
t
e
g
i
c
R
e
p
o
r
t

G
o
v
e
r
n
a
n
c
e

F
i

n
a
n
c
i
a
l

S
t
a
t
e
m
e
n
t
s

S
h
a
r
e
h
o

l

d
e
r

I
n
f
o
r
m
a
t
i

o
n

43

 
 
 
Governance

Governance
Corporate Governance

Three lines of defence table

First line of defence

Second line of defence

Third line of defence

Each operating company is responsible for 
the identification and assessment of risks, 
understanding the Group’s risk strategy  
and operating appropriate controls.

Benefits
•  Ownership and responsibility remains  
close to the operating companies and  
their attendant performance.

•  Promotes a strong culture of adhering  
to limits and managing risk exposures  
in accordance with each business’s risk 
appetite and the regulatory environment.

•  Promotes a healthy risk culture and 

long-term approach to risk management.

Key features of the risk management 
and internal controls system
The main features of the system of risk 
management and internal controls in 
relation to the financial reporting process  
are described below:

1. Confirmation of key internal controls, 
and the fraud and bribery assessment
Each operating company confirms the 
operation of key internal controls to 
Internal Audit annually. The purpose of the 
assessment is to confirm the operation of 
a framework of internal controls, including 
anti-fraud controls, which are expected to be 
in place in each business unit. These internal 
controls are intended to provide standards 
against which the control environments of 
DMGT’s business units can be monitored. An 
annual fraud and bribery risk assessment is 
completed simultaneously, detailing risks 
and mitigating controls. In each case, the 
Internal Audit team reviews and follows up 
on these submissions, as appropriate.

Risk, supported as appropriate by other 
functional areas, particularly information 
technology, legal, tax and finance, reviews 
the completeness and accuracy of risk 
assessments, reporting and adequacy 
of mitigation plans.

Benefits
•  Understand aggregated risk positions.
•  Objective oversight and challenge to the 
business areas and internal control and  
risk management framework used in the  
first line.

•  Provide ongoing training and support  
on Group-wide risks to the operating 
companies.

2. Review of relevant and timely  
financial information 
Each of the operating companies and DMGT 
executive management regularly review 
relevant and timely financial information. 
This is produced from a financial information 
system operated across the Group. It is 
supported by a framework of forecasts as 
well as annual budgets that are approved  
by the Executive Committee and confirmed 
by the Investment & Finance Committee.

3. Senior Accounting Officer sign-off
The Group Chief Financial Officer is the 
Senior Accounting Officer and is required, 
by HMRC, to certify that the Company, 
and its subsidiaries, have established and 
maintained appropriate arrangements to 
ensure that tax liabilities are calculated 
accurately in all material respects.

Internal Audit provides independent and 
objective assurance on the robustness of 
the risk management framework and the 
effectiveness of internal controls.

Benefits
•  Independent assurance on the system 

of risk management and internal controls.

•  Assessment of the appropriateness and 

effectiveness of internal controls.

•  Internal Audit provides assurance to the 

Audit & Risk Committee.

Fair, balanced and understandable
One of the key governance requirements  
of a group’s annual report is for it to be  
fair, balanced and understandable. The 
coordination and review of Group-wide input 
into the Annual Report is a specific project, 
with defined time frames, which runs 
alongside the formal audit process 
undertaken by the External Auditor. The 
Audit & Risk Committee’s and the Board’s 
confirmations of satisfaction with the 
process and the statements being made  
is underpinned by:

•  Comprehensive guidance being provided 
to the operating companies in respect of 
each of the requirements for, and each of 
their contributions to, the Annual Report;

•  A verification process in respect of the 

factual context of the submissions made;

•  Comprehensive sign-off process by 
owners of all statements made; and
•  Comprehensive reviews undertaken  
at different levels of the Group with  
the aim of ensuring consistency and 
overall balance.

As a result of this process, the Audit &  
Risk Committee and the Board are satisfied 
with the overall fairness, balance and 
understandability of the Annual Report.

S
t
r
a
t
e
g
i
c
R
e
p
o
r
t

G
o
v
e
r
n
a
n
c
e

F
i

n
a
n
c
i
a
l

S
t
a
t
e
m
e
n
t
s

S
h
a
r
e
h
o

l

d
e
r

I
n
f
o
r
m
a
t
i

o
n

44

 
 
 
Daily Mail and General Trust plc Annual Report 2018

Key activities
•  Reviewing all acquisitions, 

disposals and capital expenditure 
within its remit, including 
presentations made by operating 
companies to request support in 
line with strategic objectives.
•  Reviewing performance against 

budget and plan including 
reviewing debt position, tracking 
performance against the original 
investment case and assumptions 
for acquisitions and investments.
•  Oversight of the Company’s pension 

scheme planning, including 
discussions with the various 
scheme Trustees and their advisers 
and the latest triennial valuations.
•  Reviewing the Company’s dividend 

planning activities.

•  Reviewing and approving the 

Company’s tax strategy.
•  Reviewing the Committee’s 

effectiveness.

Board Committees

Executive Committee
The Executive Committee is 
responsible for the day-to-day 
operation of the Group in line 
with the overall strategic aims 
set by the Board.

Membership

Member

The Viscount Rothermere 
(Chairman)
P A Zwillenberg
T G Collier
K J Beatty
R Chandhok

Member for  
the full period

Yes

Yes
Yes
Yes
No  
Joined 
01/03/2018

The Executive Committee meets regularly.  
It has a broad remit covering strategy  
and its execution, and operational 
performance oversight. 

Key activities
•  Business reviews with all operating 
companies at least twice yearly.
•  Performance management review 

and analysis.

•  Talent acquisition and 

management.

•  Review of key investment and 
divestment opportunities and 
capital allocation decisions.
•  Budget approval and tracking 

against budget.

Governance
The Executive Committee is designed to 
represent key businesses and functions. It 
ensures that there is appropriate support for 
and challenge to the operating companies.

Investment & Finance 
Committee
The Investment & Finance 
Committee evaluates the 
benefits and risks of investment 
opportunities and financing 
proposals up to a value threshold 
with the Board. The Investment 
& Finance Committee provides 
regular updates to the Board 
including monitoring returns on 
investments made and progress 
against agreed targets.

Membership
There were eight meetings held in the year. 

Member

The Viscount Rothermere 
(Chairman)
P A Zwillenberg
T G Collier
A H Lane
D H Nelson
K A H Parry*

* 

Independent. 

Member for 
the full period

Yes

Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes

Governance
•  The Investment & Finance Committee 

reviewed its membership and approved 
that Lord Rothermere continue as  
its Chairman.

•  The Investment & Finance Committee 

reviewed its Terms of Reference and those 
of the Pensions and Tax Sub-Committees 
and these were updated to reflect any 
changes during the year.

•  The Investment & Finance Committee 

confirmed that it and its Sub-Committees 
had complied with their Terms of 
Reference and had been effective 
throughout the year.

S
t
r
a
t
e
g
i
c
R
e
p
o
r
t

G
o
v
e
r
n
a
n
c
e

F
i

n
a
n
c
i
a
l

S
t
a
t
e
m
e
n
t
s

S
h
a
r
e
h
o

l

d
e
r

I
n
f
o
r
m
a
t
i

o
n

45

 
 
 
Governance

Governance
Corporate Governance

Dear Shareholders
I am pleased to present the Audit & Risk 
Committee Report.

We operate as a combined Audit and Risk 
Committee. This year, the external audit in 
respect of the year ended 30 September 2017 
was reviewed by the Financial Reporting 
Council’s Audit Quality Review Team. The 
Committee was pleased with the outcome 
of their assessment with no significant 
issues raised.

During the year we maintained our emphasis 
on threats to cyber security and closely 
monitored and encouraged diligent 
preparations for the General Data Protection 

Regulation (GDPR). We will also continue 
to monitor the potential impact of Brexit 
on DMGT.

The Group has maintained its focus on 
operational effectiveness during the year. 
The Committee focuses on ensuring 
risk management procedures and the 
internal and external audits address 
changing requirements.

Kevin Parry
Audit & Risk Committee Chairman

Membership

Member

K A H Parry (Chairman)*
A H Lane
D H Nelson
D Trempont*

* 

Independent.

Member for  
full period

Meetings 
held

Meetings 
attended

Yes
Yes 
Yes
Yes

6
6
6
6

6
5
6
6

S
t
r
a
t
e
g
i
c
R
e
p
o
r
t

G
o
v
e
r
n
a
n
c
e

F
i

n
a
n
c
i
a
l

S
t
a
t
e
m
e
n
t
s

S
h
a
r
e
h
o

l

d
e
r

I
n
f
o
r
m
a
t
i

o
n

Audit & Risk Committee: 
Chairman’s Introduction
In the context of our changing 
business, we have focused 
our audit work on judgemental 
areas of accounting and 
auditing, and our risk work on 
high-impact possible events.
There is a comprehensive 
process to review significant 
business risks to the Group 
including financial risk, 
operational risk and compliance  
risk that could affect or impact 
the achievement of the Group’s 
strategy and business objectives.

The following pages set out the 
Audit & Risk Committee’s Report 
for the financial year. The report 
is structured in four parts:
• 

 How the Audit & Risk Committee 
operates: membership, key 
responsibilities, governance, 
effectiveness and operating 
practices;
 Review of the year: key activities 
and the significant financial 
reporting and auditing issues 
and other financial matters; 
 Oversight: risk and controls, 
and internal audit; and 
 External Auditor: auditor 
independence; and audit quality 
and materiality.

• 

• 

• 

46

 
 
 
Daily Mail and General Trust plc Annual Report 2018

The Audit & Risk Committee meets at least 
five times a year. This year the Committee 
met six times, reflecting the work associated 
with the implementation of the GDPR and 
ongoing emphasis on cybersecurity. 

All members of the Audit & Risk Committee 
are Non-Executive Directors and two are 
Independent Non-Executive Directors. The 
Committee as a whole has competence 
relevant to the sectors in which DMGT 
operates, providing an effective level of 
challenge to management. Kevin Parry 
is a former senior audit partner, former 
chief financial officer and has extensive 
experience as an audit committee chairman. 
David Nelson is a partner of an accounting 
practice. Dominique Trempont is a former 
chief financial officer and has extensive 
experience as an audit committee chairman 
and member. Consequently Kevin Parry, 
David Nelson and Dominique Trempont 
are designated under provision C.3.1 of 
the Code as the financial experts with 
competence in accounting and auditing.

Key responsibilities
The Audit & Risk Committee’s terms of 
reference are on our website at www.dmgt.
com/about-us/board-and-governance.

Governance
The integrity of the Group’s financial results 
and internal control systems are important 
to the Directors and the shareholders. 
Consequently, the Audit & Risk Committee 
encourages and seeks to safeguard high 
standards of integrity and conduct in 
financial reporting and internal control. 
The Committee tests and challenges the 
results and controls in conjunction with 
management and the Internal and 
External Auditors. 

The Committee has fulfilled its 
responsibilities during the year and confirms 
the Group is in compliance with the Statutory 
Audit Services for Large Companies Market 
Investigation (Mandatory Use of Competitive 
Tender Processes and Audit Committee 
Responsibilities) Order 2014. The Committee 
is permitted to obtain its own external 
advice at the Company’s expense. No such 
advice was sought during the year. 

Andrew Lane and David Nelson are 
advisers to RCL and not Independent 
Directors. This is a deviation from Code 
Provision C.3.1. The Board considers that 
their membership adds to the deliberations 
of the Audit & Risk Committee and the 
Committee Chairman confirmed there was 
no conflict of interest during the year. 

Effectiveness
The Audit & Risk Committee reviews its 
Terms of Reference and effectiveness 
annually. The review confirmed that the 
Committee is effective at meeting its 
objectives, under principle B.6 of the Code 
and the needs of the Group. 

The Committee embraced continued 
emphasis being placed on cyber risks 
and restructurings of businesses 
and management.

Operating practices
During the year the Audit & Risk Committee 
meetings were scheduled to take place just 
prior to Board meetings to maximise the 
efficiency of interactions. Reports are made 
to each Board meeting on the activities 
of the Committee, focusing on matters of 
particular relevance to the Board in the 
conduct of its work.

The Committee has been supported in its 
activities during the year by the CEO, Group 
Chief Financial Officer, Risk team, Director 
of Internal Audit, Group Chief Technology 
Officer and Group Chief Information Security 
Officer, Group Financial Controller and the 
Deputy Finance Director as well as the 
External Auditor. These individuals generally 
sponsor Committee papers, which are 
typically distributed one week prior to 
meetings. The Committee works with all 
contributors to discuss judgemental issues 
at an early and relevant opportunity. 

The Group Chief Financial Officer, the Deputy 
Finance Director, the Group Financial 
Controller, the Director of Internal Audit, 
the Risk team and the External Auditor are 
invited to each meeting but are recused 
when appropriate. This approach results in 
informed decisions based on quality papers 
and discussion which provides a thorough 
understanding of facts and circumstances.

The Committee met regularly and separately 
with the External Auditor, Director of Internal 
Audit, the Group Chief Financial Officer and 
Senior Risk Manager, without other executive 
management being present.

Review of the year
Key activities
Key activities undertaken by the  
Audit & Risk Committee during the  
year included:

Audit 
•  Agreeing the scope of internal 

and external audit work.
•  Challenging management’s 
accounting judgements.

•  Reviewing and discussing Internal 
Audit reports to maintain their 
contribution to improving the  
control environment.

•  Reviewing the basis of alternative 

performance measures.

•  Reviewing the effectiveness of the 

External Audit. 

Risk 
•  Reviewing the 2018 Corporate 

Governance Code DMGT compliance.

•  Reviewing the Group’s risk 

management processes and the  
Group risk register. 

•  Robust challenge to the assumptions 

supporting the Group’s Viability 
Statement.

•  A rolling programme of focused risk 
topics including information security 
and cyber resilience. 

•  Preparing for compliance with GDPR.
•  Reviewing payment practices.
•  Compliance with legislation relating  
to anti-bribery and corruption, trade 
sanctions, health and safety, and 
modern slavery.

•  Business continuity and incident 

management.

•  Reviewing the Group’s 

whistleblowing arrangements 
(which will become a Board matter 
under the new 2018 UK Corporate 
Governance Code).

S
t
r
a
t
e
g
i
c
R
e
p
o
r
t

G
o
v
e
r
n
a
n
c
e

F
i

n
a
n
c
i
a
l

S
t
a
t
e
m
e
n
t
s

S
h
a
r
e
h
o

l

d
e
r

I
n
f
o
r
m
a
t
i

o
n

47

 
 
 
Governance

Governance
Corporate Governance

Financial reporting and auditing issues 
The Audit & Risk Committee considered and discussed the significant matters relating to financial reporting and auditing,  
as set out in the table below.

The issue and its significance

Focus of work 

Comments and conclusion

Financial reporting 
The content of the Annual and 
Half-Year Reports and trading updates 
needs to be appropriate, complying 
with laws and regulation.

We specifically reviewed:

•  All accounting policies for continued 

appropriateness, consistency of application 
and impact of new accounting standards;

•  All sections of the Annual Report having particular 

regard for the Audit & Risk Committee’s 
responsibilities for the financial statements;
•  Reports from financial management, Legal, 
Risk and Internal Audit which confirmed 
compliance with regulations; and 

•  The financial risks and papers to support 
the going concern basis of accounting.

Taken as a whole, the Annual Report 
needs to be fair, balanced and 
understandable so that it is relevant 
to readers.

We continued our practice of comparing our Annual 
Report with those of other relevant companies 
and asked our External Auditor for improvement 
recommendations. 

Drafts of the Annual Report were reviewed by both 
the Audit & Risk Committee and the Board. We used 
the Executive Directors’, the External Auditor’s 
and the Committee’s knowledge to determine the 
overall fairness, balance and understandability of 
the Report, prior to its final approval by the Board.

A materiality threshold of £5 million has 
been set for exceptional items unless there 
was continuation of an activity previously 
disclosed as exceptional.

There were no significant changes to 
accounting policies. Based on our enquiries 
with management and the External Auditor, 
we concluded the policies were being 
properly applied. 

We were satisfied that judgemental matters 
were explained and increased disclosures 
made in respect of sensitivities of 
assumptions to impairment reviews. 
We were satisfied that the Group complied 
with reporting requirements.

We received confirmation that individuals’ 
responsibilities had been fulfilled and 
confirmed that the overall Report was 
consistent with the Directors’ knowledge. 
This allowed the Audit & Risk Committee and 
the Board to be satisfied that the Annual 
Report taken as a whole is fair, balanced 
and understandable. We were satisfied that 
the information presented in the Strategic 
Report was consistent with the performance 
of the business reported in the financial 
statements. In particular, we were satisfied 
that the estimates, outlook and quantified 
risk disclosures in the financial statements 
are consistent with those identified 
in the Strategic Report. The Committee 
concluded that appropriate judgements had 
been applied in determining the estimates 
and that sufficient disclosure has been 
made to allow readers to understand the 
uncertainties surrounding outcomes.

Given a continued focus on portfolio 
management and rapid changes in 
technology we were satisfied that the 
Viability Statement should be over a 
three-year period, which is consistent 
with the Group’s business planning cycle.

We will continue to monitor feedback for 
future enhancements to the Annual Report. 

S
t
r
a
t
e
g
i
c
R
e
p
o
r
t

G
o
v
e
r
n
a
n
c
e

F
i

n
a
n
c
i
a
l

S
t
a
t
e
m
e
n
t
s

S
h
a
r
e
h
o

l

d
e
r

I
n
f
o
r
m
a
t
i

o
n

48

 
 
 
Daily Mail and General Trust plc Annual Report 2018

The issue and its significance

Focus of work 

Comments and conclusion

The Annual Report includes a number 
of non-GAAP measures. See Notes 13 
and 16 on pages 122 and 125.

Accounting judgements
The Group has capitalised software 
development costs, other intangible 
assets and goodwill associated with 
acquisitions. Goodwill and intangible 
assets represent 20% (2017 40%) and 
8% (2017 23%) respectively of net 
assets. The carrying values need to 
be justified by reference to future 
economic benefits to the Group 
(see Notes 21 and 22).

The Group carries deferred tax assets 
in respect of brought-forward losses 
and deferred interest that represent 
3% (2017 7%) of net assets 
(see Note 37).

In addition to the disclosure of operating profit, 
before and after specified adjustments, other 
non-GAAP measures, known as alternative 
performance measures (APMs), are disclosed in the 
Annual Report, e.g. underlying revenue growth and 
net cash to EBITDA ratio. We commissioned Internal 
Audit to review our APMs to ensure whenever 
possible, that they were either sourced from 
third parties or otherwise robustly compiled.

We ensured that equal prominence was given to 
statutory measures and that explanations and 
reconciliations accompanied all alternative 
measures including pro forma figures quoted 
throughout the accounts. 

We decided to continue to adjust operating 
profit for the amortisation of acquired 
intangible assets, as they relate to historic 
M&A activity rather than current trading. 
Additional adjustments have been made 
to exclude the impact of exceptional 
costs, impairments and other fair value 
adjustments. These adjustments assist 
understanding the outcome for the 
reporting period. 

We confirmed the prominence of GAAP 
numbers and reviewed the reconciliation 
of APMs to GAAP.

We determined that the published data was 
of a high quality and helps shareholders 
understand progress (particularly in the 
digital arena). Sources of data are disclosed.

We have ensured that capitalised costs were 
separately identifiable and met the requirements 
of the relevant accounting standards.

We were satisfied that costs that had been 
capitalised were appropriately held on the 
balance sheet. 

Capitalised costs amounted to £20 million in 
the year, much reduced from £58 million in 2017 
following the sale of EDR and SiteCompli, the closure 
of Xceligent and the cessation of capitalisation of 
costs relating to RMS(one).

As part of our review of the carrying values of our 
goodwill and intangible assets, we have considered 
whether there have been any events which triggered 
an impairment and have reviewed reports prepared 
by executive management to determine whether an 
impairment event had taken place. 

In addition we have reviewed value in use 
calculations, based on the Board-approved 
budgets and two-year forecasts, focusing on 
long-term growth rates and discount rates. We have 
received input directly from both operational and 
financial management.

As there was a significant impairment in the second 
half we have specifically assessed the timing of the 
recognition of the impairment charge to ensure that 
this was recorded in the correct period. 

At the year end, the Group held deferred tax assets 
of £57 million (2017 £62 million) in respect of 
brought-forward losses and deferred interest. 

Our reviews embraced sensitivities to 
changes in assumptions which allowed us to 
understand the materiality of conclusions in 
the context of our financial reporting.

We focused on RMS, Genscape and Hobsons. 
We concluded no impairment was 
necessary at Hobsons following significant 
improvements in recent years. RMS 
appointed a new CEO in March 2018 
and has recently enhanced its strategy. 
Consequently, the decision has been taken 
to re-architect the RMS(one) platform to 
take advantage of the growing benefits 
of new technology. This has resulted in 
an impairment charge of £58 million.

The Audit & Risk Committee noted that 
the conclusions were sensitive to future 
outcomes. Some combined downside 
sensitivities could trigger impairments if they 
occur in the future. Appropriate disclosures 
are included in the financial statements.

The assets on the balance sheet were 
recognised following a detailed review of 
how the brought-forward tax losses would 
be utilised and we were satisfied that 
changes to tax laws internationally did not 
adversely impact the carrying value of the 
total assets.

Where required, tax assets were written off 
in the year.

49

S
t
r
a
t
e
g
i
c
R
e
p
o
r
t

G
o
v
e
r
n
a
n
c
e

F
i

n
a
n
c
i
a
l

S
t
a
t
e
m
e
n
t
s

S
h
a
r
e
h
o

l

d
e
r

I
n
f
o
r
m
a
t
i

o
n

 
 
 
Governance

Governance
Corporate Governance

The issue and its significance

Focus of work 

Comments and conclusion

The Group actively manages its 
portfolio of investments and 
consequently is active in making 
acquisitions and disposals. Transactions 
that contain unusual terms and/or 
innovative structures would require 
the accounting treatment to be 
carefully considered.

During the year, £19 million was 
incurred on acquisitions and 
£784 million was realised on disposals, 
of which £642 million related to the 
ZPG Plc disposal (see Notes 8, 17 
and 18). 

The Audit & Risk Committee carefully considers 
judgemental accounting and the carrying value 
of intangible assets and goodwill. 

We reviewed the valuation of the fair value of the 
Group’s stake in Euromoney and AlsoEnergy.

The Internal Audit team audits all significant 
acquisitions within 12 months of the relevant 
acquisition where consideration exceeds 
£10 million. 

The Group has multiple sources of 
revenue, including subscriptions, 
software sales, display and native 
advertising, branded and pre-roll 
videos and licence fees. Consequently 
revenue recognition can be intricate.

We reviewed the accounting policies for  
revenue recognition and determined their 
appropriateness. 

Internal Audit visits all businesses on a rotational 
basis taking account of changed circumstances 
and perceived risk. Their work includes the 
testing of revenue recognition.

Other financial matters
In addition to the significant matters 
addressed above, the Audit & Risk 
Committee maintains a rolling agenda 
of items for its review, including: 
capital strategy; financial and treasury 
management; feedback from analysts 
and investors; reconciliations of reported 
financial results with management accounts; 
tax management; and litigation. Nothing of 
significance arose in respect of those reviews 
during the year. The Audit Quality Review 
(AQR) team of the Financial Reporting 
Council reviewed the External Audit for the 
year ended 30 September 2017. The AQR 
suggested PwC further evidence their review 
of the disclosure made by management on 
the impairment of Genscape, and, if material, 
challenge the sensitivity disclosures made 
within the financial statements. We 
welcomed their independent review and are 
pleased to have discussed both the process, 
best practices identified and the reported 

matters with the External Auditor and have 
embraced the agreed actions. There was 
no interaction with the FRC Corporate 
Reporting team during the year and no 
disagreement over accounting or reporting 
outcomes with management or the External 
Auditor during the reporting period. 

Oversight
The Audit & Risk Committee has oversight 
responsibility for risks and controls and 
direct responsibility for the operation of the 
Internal Audit function.

The Committee approves separate annual 
audit and risk plans that are flexible enough 
to embrace intra-year changes due to 
changed circumstances, such as acquisitions, 
disposals, extensive management change etc. 

At each Committee, the Risk Managers and 
the Director of Internal Audit address key 
matters which have arisen, focusing on the 
most significant findings. Additionally, 
common themes are drawn out so that 

50

The Investment & Finance Committee 
oversees all acquisition and disposal activity. 
There are three common Committee 
members. We were satisfied with the 
judgements made in the year.

We performed a robust review of the 
treatment of disposals during the year and 
were satisfied with the treatments and 
calculations.

We considered the appropriateness of 
the associate accounting treatment for 
Euromoney, the liquidation of Xceligent the 
sale of ZPG Plc, EDR, Hobsons Solutions, 
Locus Energy and dilution of SiteCompli. 
We considered the accounting treatment 
for investments in Yopa.

IFRS 15, the new revenue recognition 
standard, effective for the 2019 fiscal year, 
introduces additional guidance surrounding 
performance obligations within sales 
contracts and the timing of revenue 
recognition. In addition the standard 
introduces changes to the recognition of 
incremental costs incurred when obtaining 
a contract with a customer. Due to the 
complexity of this standard and the number 
of different revenue streams across the 
Group, we commenced a project in 2016 to 
evaluate the impact of IFRS 15. We 
concluded that IFRS 15 will not change the 
cash flows associated with our revenue 
streams and will have an immaterial impact 
on the Group’s reported revenues and net 
asset position.

management can make early enquiries 
of businesses not recently visited by the 
assurance functions with a view to heading 
off potential issues. 

In addition to formal reporting, the Audit & 
Risk Committee Chairman meets with the 
Senior Risk Manager and the Director of 
Internal Audit. 

Risk and controls
During the year a Group-wide risk 
assessment process was managed 
biannually by the Risk function at the 
half year and year end, reviewing risks 
to the achievement of business plans in 
operating companies. This process assisted 
management in identifying internal and 
external threats and prioritising responses 
to them. The results were collated and an 
overall Group-wide risk plan was derived 
from these results and was approved by the 
Audit & Risk Committee. The work evaluated 
whether the system, including reporting and 

S
t
r
a
t
e
g
i
c
R
e
p
o
r
t

G
o
v
e
r
n
a
n
c
e

F
i

n
a
n
c
i
a
l

S
t
a
t
e
m
e
n
t
s

S
h
a
r
e
h
o

l

d
e
r

I
n
f
o
r
m
a
t
i

o
n

 
 
 
Daily Mail and General Trust plc Annual Report 2018

controls, adequately supported the Board 
in its risk oversight. The Audit & Risk 
Committee focused on insights into material 
changes and trends in the risk profile. 
Information security also continues to be 
a focus for the Committee as the threat 
landscape evolves. The principal risks and 
mitigating actions are set out on pages 32 
to 35.

The Committee’s view is that financial risks 
are not the principal risks that the Group 
faces but it places emphasis on the 
maintenance of high standards for 
controlling financial risks. In addition to 
an annual confirmation from financial 
officers that the environment has operated 
effectively, it gains independent assurance 
from internal audits. During the year the 
Committee reviewed the top financial risks 
facing the Group, including: foreign exchange 
and interest rates; liquidity; credit; 
counterparty and capital management.

All operational CFOs report to the Group 
Chief Financial Officer, Tim Collier, directly in 
addition to their CEOs. The Committee was 
satisfied that the direct reporting line of 
operating companies to the central finance 
function aids transparency. The Audit & Risk 
Committee closely monitored changes in 
financial management and reviewed the 
competence and quantity of the financial 
management resource in discussion with 
the Group Chief Financial Officer. The 
Committee was also satisfied that the 
Company remained able to fulfil its first line 
of defence duties and that there is a culture 
of continuous improvement. 

The Committee reviewed the whistleblowing 
arrangements in place, which enable 
employees to raise concerns in confidence. 
The Committee received analysis of the 
types of concerns raised by employees. 
No significant matters were reported in 
the year and the low number of reports 
made was consistent with prior years of 
operation. Further information on the 
Group’s whistleblowing arrangements 
can be found in the Our People and Our 
Stakeholders section of the Strategic Report.

Internal Audit 
The Audit & Risk Committee reviewed and 
approved the Internal Audit Charter. 

The scope of Internal Audit work is 
considered for each operating company 
(including head office) and takes account 
of assessments of risk, input from senior 
management and the Committee, and 

previous findings. Some thematic audits 
are undertaken for the Group as a whole. 
For example, this year there was a further 
Group-wide emphasis on information 
security (including GDPR), cyber crime and 
anti-fraud and bribery procedures. Other 
issues selectively audited included revenue 
recognition and payroll. At each meeting, the 
Committee assesses recommended changes 
to the annual plan to ensure that total 
coverage meets its requirements and that 
the budget and resource levels are adequate. 

Throughout the year, there was a range of 
outcomes from internal audits. The Audit & 
Risk Committee welcomes the identification 
of areas for improvement and places higher 
emphasis on actions taken as a result of 
review points than on particular findings at 
the time of review. Whenever deficiencies 
or opportunities for improvements are 
identified, the Audit & Risk Committee’s 
emphasis is on the appropriateness of the 
reaction to the identified issue. The 
Committee looks to management to take 
timely and proportionate steps to eliminate 
weaknesses. The Audit & Risk Committee 
monitors adherence to agreed timescales. 
The Audit & Risk Committee met directly 
with one management team to ensure an 
acceleration in addressing audit findings. 

An external review, in February 2017, of the 
effectiveness of the Internal Audit function 
was conducted by Deloitte LLP. Their overall 
assessment was that in delivering its remit, 
the Internal Audit function is providing an 
effective service to DMGT. The Internal Audit 
function has acted upon the majority of the 
best practice recommendations made in the 
review. Some of the enhancements made 
include: the function widening its scope to 
include specific procedures reviews; and 
programme assurance. A comprehensive 
‘Risk Assurance mapping’ exercise was 
carried out across the three-lines of defence 
model to understand what level and type 
of assurance should be provided and where 
thematic and trend analysis reporting on 
control deficiencies should be made. The 
function has also increased its use of audit 
technology, including automated workflow 
and compliance solutions.

In accordance with the IIA Standards, 
external assessments are undertaken at a 
minimum of five-year intervals. As a result, 
there will be no effectiveness review 
scheduled for FY 2019, but one will be 
taken into consideration for FY 2020.

S
t
r
a
t
e
g
i
c
R
e
p
o
r
t

G
o
v
e
r
n
a
n
c
e

F
i

n
a
n
c
i
a
l

S
t
a
t
e
m
e
n
t
s

S
h
a
r
e
h
o

l

d
e
r

I
n
f
o
r
m
a
t
i

o
n

External Auditor
PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) is DMGT’s 
External Auditor. The Group lead audit 
partner is Neil Grimes, who has led the audit 
since the beginning of the relationship. Its 
first audit of DMGT was in respect of the year 
ended 30 September 2015, following a 
competitive tender process. The Audit & Risk 
Committee has responsibility for making 
recommendations to the Board on the 
reappointment of the External Auditor, 
for determining its fee and for ensuring 
its independence of the Group and 
management. The External Auditor stands 
for reappointment at the Annual General 
Meeting, but absent concerns over the 
quality of its service or opinion prior to that, 
we anticipate retaining PwC as our External 
Auditor into a second five-year period, albeit 
with the normal rotation of audit partners. 

Auditor independence
The Audit & Risk Committee considered the 
safeguards in place to protect the External 
Auditor’s independence. In particular, 
the Committee has ensured that the 
Company’s policy on the External Auditor’s 
independence is consistent with the Ethical 
Standard set out by the FRC in the UK. PwC 
reviewed its own independence in line with 
this criteria and its own ethical guideline 
standards. PwC confirmed to the Committee 
that following this review it was satisfied that 
it had acted in accordance with relevant 
regulatory and professional requirements 
and that its objectivity is not compromised. 

To ensure no conflicts of independence 
arising from Auditors being responsible for 
non-audit work, the Audit & Risk Committee 
reviewed and approved the policy on 
non-audit services. The review included 
consideration of the process to manage 
the engagement of PwC, regulatory changes 
and good practice. 

The audit fee payable to PwC amounts to 
£3.0 million (2017 £3.0 million). The Audit & 
Risk Committee is satisfied that the fee is 
commensurate with permitting PwC to 
provide a quality audit. In addition to the 
Group’s policy, PwC has confirmed that any 
non-audit work commissioned by the Group 
is reviewed for compliance with its internal 
policy on the provision of non-audit services. 
The cap on non-audit service fees is set 
at 70% of the average audit fees for the 
preceding three years. The total non-audit 
fees paid to PwC amounted to £0.5 million 
(2017 £0.8 million) which is within the 70% of 
audit fees. The Committee is satisfied that 
PwC was selected based on individuals’ 

51

 
 
 
Governance

Governance
Corporate Governance

particular expertise, knowledge and 
experience and that the work did not impair 
PwC’s independence as External Auditor (see 
Note 5 to the accounts). All non-audit work 
undertaken by PwC was approved by the 
Committee unless it was clearly trivial and 
not prohibited under our policy. 

The Committee, having taken account of 
PwC’s confirmations, is satisfied that PwC 
is independent of DMGT and its subsidiaries. 

Audit quality and materiality
The Audit & Risk Committee places great 
importance on ensuring that there are high 
standards of quality and effectiveness in the 
external audit process. 

The Committee has reviewed the quality 
of PwC’s audit by way of interviews and 
completion of a questionnaire by Audit & 
Risk Committee members, by regular 
attendance at Audit & Risk Committees 
and by financial management and by 
reference to the FRC review. The Audit 
& Risk Committee is satisfied that its 
requirements were met with some minor 
improvement actions.

In addition, the Committee reviewed PwC’s 
scope and approved the external audit plan 
to ensure that it is consistent with the scope 
of the external audit engagement. The 
Committee discussed significant and 
elevated risk areas that are most likely to 
give rise to a material financial reporting 
error or those that are perceived to be of 
a higher risk and requiring audit emphasis 
(including those set out in PwC’s report 
on pages 82 to 89). The Committee 
considered the audit scope and materiality 
threshold. This included the Group-wide 
risks and local statutory reporting, enhanced 
by desktop reviews for smaller, low-risk 
entities. 84% (2017 82%) of the revenue and 
70% (2017 76%) of adjusted profit was fully 
audited; 78% (2017 78%) of revenue was 
subjected to specific procedures and the 
balance of revenue and profit was covered 
by desktop reviews. 

We have discussed the accuracy of financial 
reporting (known as materiality) with PwC, 
both as regards to accounting errors that will 
be brought to the Audit & Risk Committee’s 
attention, and as regards to amounts that 
would need to be adjusted so that the 
financial statements give a true and fair view. 
Errors can arise for many reasons, ranging 
from deliberate errors (fraud), to good 
estimates that were made at a point in time 

that, with the benefit of more time, could 
have been more accurately measured. 
Overall audit materiality has been set at 
£7.2 million (2017 £9.0 million). This equates 
to approximately 4% (2017 4%) of adjusted 
pre-tax profit, as reported in the income 
statement. This is within the range that audit 
opinions are conventionally thought to be 
reliable. To manage the risk that aggregate 
uncorrected errors become material, 
we agreed that audit testing would be 
performed to a lower materiality threshold 
of £5.4 million (2017 £6.8 million). PwC has 
drawn the Committee’s attention to all 
identified uncorrected misstatements 
greater than £0.5 million. The aggregate net 
difference between the reported adjusted 
profit before tax and the Auditor’s judgement 
of net adjusted profit before tax was less 
than £0.4 million, which was significantly less 
than audit materiality. The gross differences 
were attributable to various individual 
components of the income statement. 
No audit difference was material to any line 
item in either the income statement or the 
balance sheet. Accordingly, the Committee 
did not require any adjustment to be 
made to the financial statements as a result 
of the audit differences reported by the 
External Auditor. 

We asked PwC to explain how they would 
respond to the findings of the Audit Quality 
Review team of the FRC in its review of our 
audit. Additionally, the Committee Chairman, 
the Group Chief Financial Officer and the 
Group Financial Controller discussed with 
PwC in detail the work it carried out on the 
audit of DMGT’s Annual Report. The Audit & 
Risk Committee was satisfied with the 
specific responses to both sets of enquiries. 

PwC has outlined to the Audit & Risk 
Committee the professional development 
programme applicable to the partners 
and employees engaged on our audit, has 
reviewed key judgements taken during the 
course of the audit, and confirmed the audit 
complies with their internal independent 
review procedures. We have reviewed 
the professional skills, knowledge and 
scepticism of key members of the audit team 
including the Group team and partners 
responsible for the divisional audits. 

We have reviewed PwC’s latest available 
transparency report. The audit of DMGT 
was subject to a quality assurance process 
undertaken externally by the FRC. We have 
reviewed and discussed their findings with 
PwC. There were two matters noted for 

52

limited improvement required, and we were 
satisfied with their response. The Audit & 
Risk Committee met in private with PwC 
at the conclusion of the audit to confirm 
that they had received a high level of 
cooperation from management and to 
receive private feedback on the quality 
of financial management. 

During the year, the Audit & Risk Committee 
reviewed the quality of the FY 2017 audit, 
taking account of PwC’s internal assessment, 
management’s assessment and the 
Committee’s assessment. The Committee 
was satisfied with the robustness of the 
opinion and with the audit service. In 
particular, the Audit & Risk Committee was 
pleased with an overall improvement in 
service scores. Based on the information 
currently available, which draws on the 
enquiries outlined above and informal 
soundings of management, the Audit & Risk 
Committee anticipates it will conclude there 
has been a robust, high-quality audit for the 
year ended 30 September 2018, both in 
respect of PwC’s opinion and service. The 
Committee has consequently recommended 
that PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP be 
reappointed as Auditor at the 2019 AGM.

The Audit Report was approved by 
the Board on 28 November 2018 and 
signed on its behalf by the Audit & Risk 
Committee Chairman.

By order of the Board

Kevin Parry
Audit & Risk Committee Chairman

S
t
r
a
t
e
g
i
c
R
e
p
o
r
t

G
o
v
e
r
n
a
n
c
e

F
i

n
a
n
c
i
a
l

S
t
a
t
e
m
e
n
t
s

S
h
a
r
e
h
o

l

d
e
r

I
n
f
o
r
m
a
t
i

o
n

 
 
 
Daily Mail and General Trust plc Annual Report 2018

Remuneration & Nominations Committee
The Remuneration & Nominations Committee meetings are held together. 
Remuneration items are taken separately to the Nominations items. 

The Remuneration element of the Committee is described within the Remuneration Report 
on pages 54 to 76. 

The Nominations element of the Committee is described below. It keeps under regular 
review the structure and composition of the Board and its Committees, particularly the skills, 
knowledge and experience of the Directors to ensure that these remain aligned with the 
Group’s developing requirements and strategic agenda. 

Membership
The Remuneration & Nominations Committee has been supported in its activities during 
the year by the CEO, the Group Chief Financial Officer, the Reward Director and the Global 
HR Director. Membership and meetings are shown below. 

Member

The Viscount Rothermere (Chairman)
D H Nelson
J H Roizen* 
D Trempont*

Member for  
full period

Yes
Yes
Yes
No (joined  
01/11/2017)

Meetings 
held

8
8
8
6 (after  
01/11/2017)

Meetings 
attended

8
8
8
6 (after  
01/11/2017)

•  In line with Code Provision A.4.2 the 
Non-Executive Directors met with 
the Chairman without the Executive 
Directors present. 

•  The Chairman of the Committee is 

Lord Rothermere and the majority of 
its members are not considered to be 
independent under the Code. Although 
this does not meet Code provision B.2.1, 
as holder of all the Ordinary Shares of the 
Company through the Trust, the Board 
considers that Lord Rothermere’s interests 
are fully aligned with those of other 
shareholders. Additionally, the Committee 
is confident that its membership ensures 
that it carries out all aspects of its role 
with proper and appropriate regard to 
long-term shareholder interests.

* 

Independent.

Governance
•  The combined Remuneration & 

Nominations Committee reviewed its 
Terms of Reference during the year. 
•  The Committee confirmed that it had 
complied with its Terms of Reference 
throughout the year.

•  The Committee paid particular attention  

to extending the term of any Non-Executive 
Director who has served a term in excess 
of six years.

•  The Committee reviewed the 

independence of Non-Executive Directors 
and agreed to recommend that Lady 
Keswick, Kevin Parry, JP Rangaswami, 
Heidi Roizen and Dominique Trempont 
continued to be considered independent 
in accordance with the Code provisions 
B.1.1. Andrew Lane, David Nelson and 
François Morin were not considered 
independent due to their connection 
to Rothermere Continuation Limited. 
•  The process for appointing Directors 
depends on which role is being filled. 
External recruiters and other 
methods have been used to identify 
potential candidates. 

S
t
r
a
t
e
g
i
c
R
e
p
o
r
t

G
o
v
e
r
n
a
n
c
e

F
i

n
a
n
c
i
a
l

S
t
a
t
e
m
e
n
t
s

S
h
a
r
e
h
o

l

d
e
r

I
n
f
o
r
m
a
t
i

o
n

Key activities of the 
Nominations element  
of the Remuneration & 
Nominations Committee
•  Reviewing potential candidates 

for Board appointments resulting in 
the appointment of JP Rangaswami 
during the year.

•  Reviewing the Letter of Engagement 
with each Non-Executive Director 
to ensure the provisions remain in 
line with best practice, following 
shareholder approval at the AGM.

•  Re-engaging the service of Non-
Executive Directors for a further 
period of a minimum of one year.

•  Reviewing time commitments 
required by Non-Executive  
Directors and confirming that it  
was satisfied that the Directors  
had met or exceeded the time 
commitment required.

•  In line with the principle B.7 of 

the Code, recommending that all 
Directors stand for re-election at 
the AGM.

•  Discussing Board and Committee 

composition and longevity of service, 
and Board independence.
•  Reviewing the Committee’s 

effectiveness and governance 
activities against best practice.

Looking ahead, the Committee’s key 
activities for the forthcoming year are:

•  Reviewing the composition of the 

Board to ensure that the right skills 
and experience to support the Group’s 
strategy are represented;

•  Reviewing Committee membership to 
ensure that there is a diverse balance 
of skills and experience reflected; 

•  Continuing to review succession 

planning for the Executive  
Directors; and

•  Reviewing the Committee’s 

effectiveness. 

This Governance Report was approved 
by the Board on 28 November 2018 and 
signed on its behalf by the Chairman.

The Viscount Rothermere
Chairman

53

 
 
 
Governance

Governance
Remuneration Report

The Viscount Rothermere
Chairman

Chairman’s statement  
on remuneration 
Remuneration at a glance 
Annual Report on Remuneration 
Remuneration Policy  
Implementation of Remuneration 
Policy in FY 2019 

54
56
56
68

73

Chairman’s statement  
on remuneration
As Chairman of the Remuneration & 
Nominations Committee (the Committee), 
I am pleased to present the Directors’ 
Remuneration Report.

Pay for performance continues to be a key 
objective for DMGT and we believe that the 
refinements we have made this year to our 
annual bonus and long-term incentives plans 
will ensure we continue to achieve this. 

Our incentive plans across our operating 
companies are designed to reward 
sustainable profitable growth. We focus 
on ensuring that performance measures 
and targets are consistent with business 
objectives and circumstances, the Group’s 
long-term strategy and the creation of 
sustained shareholder value. 

For each operating company, we also 
consider its sector, geography and portfolio 
role within the Group.

Pay review for FY 2019
We regularly review the competitive 
position of remuneration for the Company’s 
Executive Directors by undertaking periodic 
benchmarking as required. The base salaries 
for the Executive Chairman and the CEO of 
dmg media had been frozen since the start 
of FY 2016. Similarly, the CEO and Group 
Chief Financial Officer had not received any 
increase since their date of appointment. 
The Committee (without me present)
therefore decided to award base salary 
increases of 2.5% to each of the Executive 
Directors from the start of FY 2019. This is 
in line with the typical base salary increase 
awarded to employees across the Group 
this year.

Executive Directors’ bonus payments 
for FY 2018
In FY 2018, as disclosed in last year’s 
Directors’ Remuneration Report, we used 
two metrics in the annual Executive Bonus 
Plan, revenue and cash operating income, 
weighted evenly. Cash operating income 
(operating profit plus depreciation and 
amortisation less capital expenditure) 
is a metric that captures both profit and 
underlying cash generation of the Group. 
We will continue to use the same two metrics 
in the annual bonus plan for FY 2019.

The FY 2018 plan included an adjustment, 
to ensure that participants did not benefit 
from, and were not penalised by, short-term 
currency fluctuations beyond management’s 
control. This will also continue in FY 2019.

The purpose of the annual bonus plan, unlike 
the long-term incentive plan, is to focus the 
participants on delivering short-term 
financial expectations. In a year of transition 
where we have continued to rebalance and 
reposition the DMGT portfolio, performance 
against our revenue and cash operating 
income targets for the year has been good 
and the Executive Directors’ annual bonus 
payments for the year reflect this.

The bonus paid to Kevin Beatty, as CEO of 
dmg media, reflects the relatively strong 
performance of the Consumer Media 
business in a challenging environment. 
Paul Dacre did not participate in the annual 
bonus plan.

For the CEO, Group Chief Financial Officer 
and CEO of dmg media, the part of annual 
bonus payable above the target level  
has been deferred into DMGT shares for  
a period of two years in line with our  
stated Remuneration Policy (the Policy).

Details of the Executive Directors’ bonuses 
for FY 2018 performance are shown on 
page 59.

Remuneration Policy
In accordance with the Large and 
Medium-sized Companies and Groups 
(Accounts and Reports) Regulations 
2008 (as amended), shareholders are 
provided with the opportunity to 
endorse the Company’s Remuneration 
Policy through a binding vote. The 
current policy was agreed at the 
Annual General Meeting (AGM) on 
8 February 2017 and the policy 
has been operated, as described, 
from that date.

54

We focus on ensuring that performance 
measures and targets are consistent 
with business objectives and 
circumstances, the Group’s long-term 
strategy and the creation of sustained 
shareholder value.”

S
t
r
a
t
e
g
i
c
R
e
p
o
r
t

G
o
v
e
r
n
a
n
c
e

F
i

n
a
n
c
i
a
l

S
t
a
t
e
m
e
n
t
s

S
h
a
r
e
h
o

l

d
e
r

I
n
f
o
r
m
a
t
i

o
n

 
 
 
Daily Mail and General Trust plc Annual Report 2018

Key Strategic Priorities

Improving operational execution

Increasing portfolio focus

Enhancing/maintaining

financial flexibility

Changes to the Executive Directors
Paul Dacre was paid his normal salary and 
benefits package for the full financial year 
until 30 September 2018 when he retired 
from his role as an Executive Director and 
as Editor in Chief of the Daily Mail. The 
Committee has confirmed that he will be 
treated as a ‘good leaver’ under the rules 
of the Daily Mail and General Trust 2012 
Long Term Incentive Plan and the EIP. 
Paul Dacre’s share awards will therefore vest 
in accordance with the normal timetable. 

Directors’ Remuneration Policy
The current Directors’ Remuneration Policy 
was approved by shareholders at the 
February 2017 AGM and will apply for three 
years including FY 2019. During the next year 
the Committee will review all aspects of the 
Policy before proposing any changes for 
a new Policy which will be submitted for 
approval at the AGM in 2020.

The Viscount Rothermere
Chairman

2017 Long-term incentive award 
The Long-Term Executive Incentive Plan (EIP) 
was introduced in 2017. The performance 
period for the 2017 award will be from 
FY 2018 to the end of FY 2020. 

The EIP is intended to provide a direct link 
between pay and performance of the Group 
– with the opportunity for exceptional levels 
of reward linked to truly exceptional 
business performance. To achieve this 
the 2017 EIP award is based on DMGT’s 
cumulative profits over the period FY 2018 
to FY 2020 inclusive, together with a charge 
for the use of capital. An Executive Director 
is not rewarded unless a minimum 
performance threshold is reached and the 
payment for each participant is subject 
to a cap. 

The outcome of the 2017 EIP award will be 
delivered in shares upon vesting at the end 
of FY 2020. 

The 2018 award will be made in FY 2019 on 
the same basis as the 2017 award with the 
performance period being from FY 2019 to 
FY 2021. 

Long-term incentive awards vesting  
in FY 2018
The vesting of the LTIP award made in 
December 2013 was measured against the 
following priorities:

•  grow the B2B businesses;
•  continue to grow and invest in strong 
brands of digital consumer media – 
particularly MailOnline;

•  grow sustainable earnings and 

• 

dividends; and
increase DMGT’s exposure to growth 
economies and to international 
opportunities.

We have continued to make progress 
against these priorities. Over the last five 
years B2B revenues (excluding Euromoney) 
achieved an average increase of 5% on 
an underlying basis; MailOnline revenues 
have grown from £41 million in FY 2013 to 
£122 million in FY 2018 and profitability has 
been significantly improved; and dividends 
continue to grow in real terms. DMGT’s 
strategy was revised in 2016, following 
the appointment of Paul Zwillenberg as 
CEO. Increasing portfolio focus became 
a strategic priority and growing the share 
of international revenue ceased to be an 
objective. Given the performance, the 
Committee has determined that the award 
should vest in full in December 2018. For 
more information see table 5.1 on page 61.

The LTIP award made to Paul Dacre in 
December 2015 was measured against the 
following priorities:

•  continue to grow and invest in strong 
brands of digital consumer media – 
particularly MailOnline; and

•  ensure the financial stability of the Mail 

businesses by:
 −   reducing editorial costs in line with 

agreed targets to 2018 and 
potentially beyond.

 −  working collaboratively with the 

commercial teams to maximise revenue 
opportunities; whilst continuing to 
ensure that we maintain the highest 
levels of editorial integrity across 
our titles.

We have made good progress against these 
priorities and the Committee has determined 
that the LTIP award made to Paul Dacre 
should vest in full in December 2018. For 
more information see table 5.3 on page 63.

S
t
r
a
t
e
g
i
c
R
e
p
o
r
t

G
o
v
e
r
n
a
n
c
e

F
i

n
a
n
c
i
a
l

S
t
a
t
e
m
e
n
t
s

S
h
a
r
e
h
o

l

d
e
r

I
n
f
o
r
m
a
t
i

o
n

55

 
 
 
Governance

Governance
Remuneration Report

Remuneration at a glance
FY 2018 Remuneration outcomes for the Executive Directors
The table below summarises the remuneration for the Executive Directors in FY 2018:

Salary 2018
Bonus (including deferred amounts)
As a % of salary

Taxable benefits
Pension benefits
LTIP awards vesting in year and dividend equivalents

Total remuneration FY 2018

Total remuneration FY 2017

1.  Partial year as Tim Collier was appointed in May 2017.

The Viscount
Rothermere
£000

P A
Zwillenberg
£000

837
1,229
147%

54
310
–

2,430

1,842

750
856
114%

36
225
–

1,867

1,450

T G 
Collier
£000

500
571
114%

33
125
–

1,229
3891

K J
Beatty
£000

744
303
41%

24
275
663

2,010

2,270

P M
Dacre
£000

1,448
–
–

66
–
1,170

2,684

2,313

Total
£000

4,279
2,959

213
935
1,833

10,219

8,264

Key elements of remuneration for the Executive Directors
The key elements of remuneration applicable for the Executive Directors in FY 2018 are shown below:

The Viscount 
Rothermere

P A 
Zwillenberg

Salary
£837,000  
(including 
Euromoney 
and ITN board 
fees)

£750,000 
(including 
Euromoney 
board fees)

T G Collier

K J Beatty

£500,000 
(including 
Euromoney 
board fees)

£744,000 
(including 
Euromoney 
board fees)

Annual bonus 
opportunity
180% of salary 
maximum

90% of salary 
on target

140% of salary 
maximum

70% of salary 
on target

140% of salary 
maximum

70% of salary 
on target

60% of salary 
maximum

30% of salary 
on target

Annual bonus deferral
None applies

Any amount above target 
deferred into nil cost 
options for two years

Any amount above target 
deferred into nil cost 
options for two years

Any amount above target 
deferred into nil cost 
options for two years

LTIP
Percentage of eligible 
profit with calibrated 
on-target value of 90% 
of salary vesting after 
three years

Percentage of eligible 
profit with calibrated 
on-target value of 100% 
of salary vesting after 
three years

Percentage of eligible 
profit with calibrated 
on-target value of 90% 
of salary vesting after 
three years

Percentage of eligible 
profit with calibrated 
on-target value of 60% 
of salary vesting after 
three years

P M Dacre

£1,448,000

–

–

–

Award with a value 
equivalent to 70% of 
salary vesting after three 
years subject to 
performance conditions

Pension
Allowance of 
37% of salary

Benefits
Car allowance 
and driver

Allowance of 
30% of salary

Allowance of 
25% of salary

Allowance of 
37% of salary

Family medical 
insurance, Life 
assurance
Car allowance 
and driver

Family medical 
insurance, Life 
Assurance, Tax 
assistance
Car allowance 

Family medical 
insurance, Life 
Assurance, Tax 
assistance
Car allowance 
and driver 

Family medical 
insurance, Life 
assurance

Company car and 
driver, car allowance

Fuel benefit

Family medical 
insurance

Annual Report on Remuneration 
The report has been audited in accordance with CA 2006.

Remuneration & Nominations Committee role and activities

The Committee’s responsibilities with respect to remuneration include:

•  Group remuneration policy; and
•  Setting the remuneration, benefits and terms and conditions of employment of the Company’s Executive Directors and other 

senior executives in line with the Committee’s Terms of Reference. 

56

S
t
r
a
t
e
g
i
c
R
e
p
o
r
t

G
o
v
e
r
n
a
n
c
e

F
i

n
a
n
c
i
a
l

S
t
a
t
e
m
e
n
t
s

S
h
a
r
e
h
o

l

d
e
r

I
n
f
o
r
m
a
t
i

o
n

 
 
 
Daily Mail and General Trust plc Annual Report 2018

The Committee’s Terms of Reference are available on the Company’s website. The Committee is chaired by Lord Rothermere with Committee 
members David Nelson, Heidi Roizen and Dominique Trempont.

The 2016 UK Corporate Governance Code (the Code) recommends that a remuneration committee should be composed entirely of 
independent non-executive directors. The Board, however, considers that, as the beneficiary of the Company’s largest shareholder, Lord 
Rothermere’s interests are fully aligned with those of other shareholders. The Committee is confident that its make-up ensures that it carries 
out all aspects of its role with proper and appropriate regard to shareholders’ long-term interests and that this alignment is, in fact, stronger 
as a direct consequence of its membership. The Non-Executive Directors meet regularly and independently outside of the formal meetings.

As part of the transitioning and restructuring of the DMGT portfolio, including leadership changes in dmg media Editorial and RMS, the 
Committee spent considerable time in FY 2018 on remuneration arrangements for new hires and for changes in roles and responsibilities 
as well as severance agreements for executive leavers.

The Committee spends a large portion of its time reviewing the remuneration and incentive plans of the different businesses which are  
diverse both in geography and sector. There are a variety of incentive plans requiring significant consideration and oversight, which are 
designed to reflect each business type and stage of development, the market and locations it operates in and aims to incentivise the delivery 
of the business’ strategic plan. The Committee’s objective is to combine the necessary attention to short-term financial performance, 
through annual bonus plans, with a stronger focus on the fundamentals that drive long-term growth, through LTIPs.

Committee performance and effectiveness
In September 2018, the Committee conducted a formal review of its effectiveness and concluded that it had fulfilled its remit and had been 
effective during the year.

Risk and reward
During the year, the Committee reviewed and confirmed that the plans in operation throughout the Group did not incentivise excessive risk 
and, in particular, that the annual bonus and LTIP’s in the Company are compatible with DMGT’s risk policies and systems.

Advice to the Remuneration & Nominations Committee
The Committee received advice from members of the senior management team during the year. 

Remuneration & Nominations Committee discussion topics

Date

October 2017 

November 2017 

February 2018

May 2018 (2 meetings)

July 2018

September 2018

Agenda items

•  Vesting of FY 2012 DMGT LTIP awards.
•  Vesting of FY 2014 DMGT LTIP award for Paul Dacre.
•  Vesting of FY 2014 dmgi LTIP awards.
•  Operating companies’ compensation and appointments.

•  Vesting of operating company LTIPs.
•  FY 2017 outcome of executive bonus schemes.
•  Approval of FY 2018 executive bonus targets.
•  Review of Board composition and appointment letters.
•  Operating company LTIP awards for FY 2018.

•  Approval of 2017 DMGT EIP participants, awards and targets.
•  Preparation for Gender Pay reporting.
•  Operating companies’ compensation and appointments.

•  Gender Pay reporting update.
•  Operating companies’ compensation and appointments.
•  Editorial changes for FY 2019.

•  Operating companies’ compensation and appointments.
•  Summary of half-year bonus positions.

•  Review of Remuneration & Nominations Committee effectiveness.
•  Annual salary review and Executive Director salary increases.
•  Approval of FY 2019 annual bonus targets.
•  Governance Code update.
•  New long term incentive plans for operating companies.

S
t
r
a
t
e
g
i
c
R
e
p
o
r
t

G
o
v
e
r
n
a
n
c
e

F
i

n
a
n
c
i
a
l

S
t
a
t
e
m
e
n
t
s

S
h
a
r
e
h
o

l

d
e
r

I
n
f
o
r
m
a
t
i

o
n

57

 
 
 
Governance

Governance
Remuneration Report

Table 1: Single figure of remuneration paid to Executive Directors for FY 2018 (Audited)
The table below sets out the single total figure of remuneration and breakdown for each Executive Director in FY 2018 and FY 2017. Details of 
the calculation of the annual bonus figure for FY 2018 can be found in the section variable pay awards vesting in FY 2018, on page 59. 

The Viscount Rothermere

P A Zwillenberg

T G Collier

K J Beatty

P M Dacre

Total

Financial
year

Salary and 
fees1
£000

Taxable
benefits2 
£000

Pension 
benefits
£000

2018
2017

2018
2017

2018
20176
2018
2017

2018
2017

2018
2017

837
837

750
750

500
207

744
744

1,448
1,448

4,279
3,986

54
55

36
29

33
6

24
29

66
68

213
187

310
310

225
225

125
52

275
275
–
–

935
862

Total
fixed
£000

1,201
1,202

1,011
1,004

658
265

1,043
1,048

1,514
1,516

5,427
5,035

Annual
 bonus3
£000

Total annual 
remuneration
£000

LTIP and 
dividend 
equivalents4,5

£000

Total 
remuneration
£000

1,229
640

856
446

571
124

303
304
–
–

2,956
1,514

2,430
1,842

1,867
1,450

1,229
389

1,346
1,352

1,514
1,516

8,386
6,549

–
–
–
–
–
–

663
918

1,170
797

1,833
1,715

2,430
1,842

1,867
1,450

1,229
389

2,009
2,270

2,684
2,313

10,219
8,264

Notes
1. 

 Salary shown for Lord Rothermere and Paul Zwillenberg includes fees of £7,008 as Directors of Euromoney for the period 1 October 2017 to 17 November 2017 and fees of £12,784 for 
Lord Rothermere as Director of ITN for the period 28 March 2018 to 30 September 2018. Salary shown for Tim Collier and Kevin Beatty includes fees of £43,182 as Directors of Euromoney  
for the period 17 November 2017 to 30 September 2018.
 Taxable benefits comprise car or equivalent allowances which are £34,000 p.a. for Lord Rothermere; £18,000 p.a. for Paul Zwillenberg; £16,000 p.a. for Tim Collier; and £16,000 p.a. for 
Kevin Beatty. Paul Dacre had a company car with a taxable value of £32,255 p.a. plus a car allowance of £10,000 p.a.. Paul Dacre also received a fuel benefit of £13,989 p.a.. Lord Rothermere, 
Paul Zwillenberg, Kevin Beatty and Paul Dacre also received benefits in respect of home-to-work travel. Amounts, including tax paid by the company, are £16,994; £1,240; £10,594 and £7,093 
respectively for 2018 and £18,042; £7,371; £9,898 and £6,745 respectively for 2017. Lord Rothermere, Paul Zwillenberg, Kevin Beatty and Paul Dacre received medical benefits with a cost to the 
Company of approximately £3,000 p.a.. Tim Collier received US medical benefits with a cost to the Company of £13,392 (converted at a rate of £1:$1.35). Paul Zwillenberg and Tim Collier received 
£13,450 and £3,308 respectively in relation to their tax compliance requirements paid for by the Company.
 The bonuses shown include amounts that will be deferred into shares but do not have any further performance conditions attached other than continued service during the deferral period. 
Deferrals apply to bonuses above target in FY 2018. Details of the calculation of the bonus and deferral are shown on page 59.
 The award made to Kevin Beatty under the 2012 Long-Term Executive Incentive Plan in December 2013 and the award made to Paul Dacre under the 2012 Long-Term Executive Incentive Plan in 
December 2015 vest in full in December 2018. The value of the awards shown is calculated using the average share price for the fourth quarter of FY 2018 which was £7.47. Under the rules of the 
2012 Long-Term Executive Incentive Plan, participants are entitled to the value of the dividends that they would have received between the award date and the exercise date, the amount shown 
includes accrued payments of £82,554 for Kevin Beatty and £62,883 for Paul Dacre in 2018. 
 In 2017, the award for Kevin Beatty realised at a share price of £6.02 with a cash dividend equivalent payment of £133,242 and for Paul Dacre, the award realised at a share price of £6.01 with 
a cash dividend equivalent payment of £77,283 ( the figures shown have been adjusted from the estimated payments stated in the 2017 report).

2. 

3. 

4. 

5. 

6.  Partial year as Tim Collier was appointed in May 2017.

58

S
t
r
a
t
e
g
i
c
R
e
p
o
r
t

G
o
v
e
r
n
a
n
c
e

F
i

n
a
n
c
i
a
l

S
t
a
t
e
m
e
n
t
s

S
h
a
r
e
h
o

l

d
e
r

I
n
f
o
r
m
a
t
i

o
n

 
 
 
Daily Mail and General Trust plc Annual Report 2018

Variable pay awards vesting in FY 2018
Table 2.1: Annual bonus weightings, opportunity and outcomes (Audited)
The details of the weightings and opportunity relating to the annual bonus paid to Executive Directors for the year ended 30 September 2018 
and included in the single figure on table 1 on page 58 are shown below. The performance measures for FY 2018 are a combination of revenue 
and cash operating income, both equally weighted. The resulting bonus amounts are shown in the table below:

The Viscount Rothermere

P A Zwillenberg

T G Collier
K J Beatty

Weightings

Opportunity as a % of salary

Cash 
operating 
income

50%

50%

50%
 50%

Revenue

50%

50%

50%
50%

Threshold

Target

Maximum

0%

0%

0%
0%

90%

70%

70%
30%

180%

140%

140%
60%

Actual 
outcome 
as a %
of salary

147%

114%

114%
41%

Actual 
outcome 
£000

1,229

856

571
303

Table 2.2: DMGT annual bonus targets (Audited)
The financial measures are split into two categories and weighted evenly (shown in table 2.1). Kevin Beatty’s bonus is weighted 70% against 
targets specific to dmg media and 30% against DMGT targets.

The Board considers the performance targets for the measures to be commercially sensitive, as it would disclose information of value 
to competitors, and they will not be disclosed. The final targets were adjusted to reflect the final US$/£ average exchange rate over the year.

The following tables illustrate performance against DMGT and dmg media bonus targets and the corresponding outcome:

DMGT bonus targets (All)

Revenue
Cash operating income

dmg media bonus targets (Kevin Beatty only)

Revenue
Cash operating income

Below
0%

Threshold
0%

Target
100%

Maximum
200%

Outcome as 
a % of target

127%
200%

Below
0%

Threshold
0%

Target
100%

Maximum
200%

Outcome as 
a % of target

95%
119%

Table 3: Deferred annual bonus (Audited)
The Committee agreed the following deferral requirements would apply to the annual bonus with no further performance conditions except 
for continued employment over the two year deferral period:

The Viscount Rothermere
P A Zwillenberg
T G Collier
K J Beatty

Deferral requirement

Nil
Amounts above target bonus deferred for two years
Amounts above target bonus deferred for two years
Amounts above target bonus deferred for two years

Type of deferral

None
Nil cost options
Nil cost options
Nil cost options

Amount
deferred
FY 2018
£000

Amount
deferred
as a % of
FY 2018 bonus

0
331
221
80

0%
39%
39%
26%

S
t
r
a
t
e
g
i
c
R
e
p
o
r
t

G
o
v
e
r
n
a
n
c
e

F
i

n
a
n
c
i
a
l

S
t
a
t
e
m
e
n
t
s

S
h
a
r
e
h
o

l

d
e
r

I
n
f
o
r
m
a
t
i

o
n

59

 
 
 
Governance

Governance
Remuneration Report

Awards made under share schemes
The Company funds the purchase of shares by an Employee Benefits Trust in order to ensure that its obligations under its share schemes are 
adequately funded and this also ensures that there is no impact on share dilution. Share awards made to Lord Rothermere are settled using 
Treasury Shares. 

Table 4: Nil cost options (Audited)
The table below sets out the details of all outstanding awards of nil cost options as part of the deferred bonus plan. Following the exercise 
of an award, a cash payment with a value equivalent to the sum of all of the dividends declared for the award between the grant date and the 
date of delivery of the shares is made. No further performance conditions are imposed except for continued employment. The January 2018 
award was based on the average price of the first three days of trading after the announcement of the financial results for FY 2017 of £5.63.

A deferral applied to Kevin Beatty’s bonus for FY 2017.

Award date

Award type

Relating to

Exercisable from

Expiry date
Status of awards
Award price

Dec 2011

Nil cost 
options
2011 
Bonus
Dec 2014

Dec 2018
Vested
£3.98

Dec 2012

Nil cost 
options
2012 
Bonus
Dec 2015

Dec 2019
Vested
£5.27

Dec 2013

Nil cost 
options
2013 
Bonus
Dec 2015

Dec 2020
Vested
£9.16

Dec 2014

Nil cost 
options
2014 
Bonus
Dec 2016

Dec 2015

Nil cost 
options
2015 
Bonus
Dec 2017

Jan 2018

Nil cost 
options
2017 
Bonus
Dec 2020

Dec 2021

Dec 2025
Dec 2022
Vested Outstanding Outstanding
£5.63
£7.06

£8.29

Outstanding awards
The Viscount Rothermere
K J Beatty

Total outstanding

  Shaded columns show options that have vested.

110,464
–

110,464

129,635
–

129,635

–
–

–

–
–

–

–
12,804

12,804

–
14,404

14,404

Total
outstanding
 during the year
240,099
27,208

267,307

60

S
t
r
a
t
e
g
i
c
R
e
p
o
r
t

G
o
v
e
r
n
a
n
c
e

F
i

n
a
n
c
i
a
l

S
t
a
t
e
m
e
n
t
s

S
h
a
r
e
h
o

l

d
e
r

I
n
f
o
r
m
a
t
i

o
n

 
 
 
Daily Mail and General Trust plc Annual Report 2018

Table 5.1: Awards made under the 2012 Long-Term Executive Incentive Plan (LTIP) (Audited)
Outstanding awards subject to performance conditions under the LTIP are summarised in the table below. Awards are share based. The Board 
considers the performance targets for the measures to be commercially sensitive, as it would disclose information of value to competitors, 
and they will not be disclosed. 

The 2013 LTIP award made to Kevin Beatty vested in full during the year based on an evaluation by the Committee of the performance against 
the performance measures detailed below. Following the realisation of an award, a cash payment with a value equivalent to the sum of all of 
the dividends declared for the award between the grant date and the date of delivery of the shares is made. No further performance 
conditions are imposed. No further awards are being made under the LTIP. 

Award name

Award date

Performance period ends

Standard award as a % of salary

Award price

Price at vesting

Performance measures 

2012 LTIP
award

Dec 2012

 Sep 2017

100%

£5.27

£6.30

2013 LTIP
award1

Dec 2013

Sep 2018

100%

£9.16

£7.48

2014 LTIP
award

Dec 2014

Sep 2019

100%

£8.29

N/A

2015 LTIP
award

Dec 2015

Sep 2020

100%

£7.06

N/A

•  Grow B2B business.
•  Continue to invest in strong brands of digital consumer media, particularly MailOnline.
•  Grow sustainable earnings and dividends.
• 

Increase the Company’s exposure to growth economies and to international opportunities.

Status of award
Maximum percentage of face value that could vest

Vested
100%

Vested
100%

Outstanding
100%

Outstanding
100%

Outstanding awards

K J Beatty

Total outstanding

Realised during year 
K J Beatty
Total exercised/realised during year2

  Shaded columns show options that have vested.

–

–

77,226

77,226

87,937

87,937

105,382

105,382

130,246

130,246

–
–

–
–

Total
outstanding
 during the year

270,545

270,545

Total 
realised 
during the year
130,246

130,246

Notes
1. 
2. 

  The value of the 2013 LTIP award at vesting was £577,894 for Kevin Beatty calculated using the average share price for the fourth quarter of FY 2018 which was £7.47.
 Under the rules of the LTIP, participants are entitled to the value of the dividends that they would have received between the award date and the exercise date. Kevin Beatty received  
cash dividend equivalent payments of £133,241 in relation to the realisation of the 2012 award made under this plan in FY 2018 and will receive £82,554 in FY 2019 in relation to the 2013 award 
made under this plan. 

S
t
r
a
t
e
g
i
c
R
e
p
o
r
t

G
o
v
e
r
n
a
n
c
e

F
i

n
a
n
c
i
a
l

S
t
a
t
e
m
e
n
t
s

S
h
a
r
e
h
o

l

d
e
r

I
n
f
o
r
m
a
t
i

o
n

61

 
 
 
Governance

Governance
Remuneration Report

Table 5.2: Awards made under the 2017 Executive Incentive Plan (EIP) (Audited) 
Outstanding awards subject to performance conditions under the 2017 Long-Term Executive Incentive Plan (EIP) are summarised in the table 
below. Awards are made annually in line with policy and will be equity settled. Following the realisation of an award, a cash payment with 
a value equivalent to the sum of all of the dividends declared for the award between the grant date and the date of delivery of the shares is 
made. No further performance conditions are imposed. The Board considers the performance targets for the measures to be commercially 
sensitive as it would disclose information of value to competitors, and they will not be disclosed. The 2017 EIP awards were made in June 2018 
based on the average price of the first three days of trading after the announcement of the financial results for FY 2017 of £5.63.

Award name
Award date
Performance period ends
Performance period starts
Award price
Status of award
Basis on which award is made

Percentage receivable if maximum 
performance achieved

2017 EIP
Jun 2018
Sep 2020
Oct 2017
£5.632
Outstanding

2016 EIP
Jun 2017
Sep 2019
Oct 2016
£7.88/£7.171
Outstanding
Percentage share of growth in eligible profit over the performance period, converted at the end of the 
performance period to shares based on share price immediately before start of the performance period.
If the performance level is on target or above, 
Lord Rothermere and Paul Zwillenberg would 
receive 1.25% and Tim Collier and Kevin Beatty 
0.75% of eligible profits. No amounts are payable 
if there are no eligible profits.
There is a cap on the maximum amounts payable 
which is five times base salary at the time the award 
was made with the number of shares being 
calculated by reference to the award price above.

If the performance level is on target or above, 
Lord Rothermere and Paul Zwillenberg would 
receive 2.5% and Tim Collier and Kevin Beatty 
1.25% of eligible profits. No amounts are payable 
if there are no eligible profits.
There is a cap on the maximum amounts payable 
which is five times target at the time the award was 
made with the number of shares being calculated 
by reference to the award price above.

Performance measures

Outcomes are linked to stretching profit targets over a minimum threshold, subject to fair adjustment for 
any change in capital usage.

The Viscount Rothermere
P A Zwillenberg
T G Collier
K J Beatty

Maximum shares
 that could vest
531,091
475,888
280,851
318,655

Shares vesting 
at target
95,178
95,178
62,762
57,107

Maximum shares
 that could vest
666,271
666,271
399,763
399,763

Shares vesting 
at target3
133,254
133,254
79,953
79,953

Notes
1.  The 2016 awards made to Lord Rothermere, Paul Zwillenberg and Kevin Beatty were based on the average share price for the first three days following the release of FY 2016 financial results of  

£7.88. The award made to Tim Collier was based on the closing share price on his employment start date of £7.17. 
 The 2017 awards were based on the average share price for the first three days following the release of FY 2017 financial results of £5.63.

2. 
3.  The value of the 2017 at target EIP awards at issue was £750,000 for Lord Rothermere and Paul Zwillenberg and £450,000 for Tim Collier and Kevin Beatty. 

62

S
t
r
a
t
e
g
i
c
R
e
p
o
r
t

G
o
v
e
r
n
a
n
c
e

F
i

n
a
n
c
i
a
l

S
t
a
t
e
m
e
n
t
s

S
h
a
r
e
h
o

l

d
e
r

I
n
f
o
r
m
a
t
i

o
n

 
 
 
 
Daily Mail and General Trust plc Annual Report 2018

Table 5.3: Long-Term Executive Incentive Plan (LTIP) awards to Paul Dacre (Audited)
The outstanding awards subject to performance conditions made to Paul Dacre are summarised in the table below. Awards were share-based 
and made annually in line with the Policy. The Board considers the performance targets for the measures to be commercially sensitive as it 
would disclose information of value to competitors, and they will not be disclosed. The 2017 EIP award made to Paul Dacre in January 2018 
was based on the average price of the first three days of trading after the announcement of the financial results for FY 2017 of £5.63.

The 2015 LTIP award made to Paul Dacre under the 2012 Long-Term Executive Incentive Plan vested in full during the year based on an 
evaluation by the Committee of the performance against the measures detailed below. Following the realisation of an award, a cash payment 
with a value equivalent to the sum of all of the dividends declared for the award between the grant date and the date of delivery of the shares 
is made. No further performance conditions are imposed.

Award name

Award date
Performance period ends
Standard award as a % of salary
Award price
Price at vesting
Performance measures

2014 LTIP
award

Dec 2014
Sep 2017
70%
£8.29
£6.30

2015 LTIP
award

Dec 2015
 Sep 2018
70%
£7.06
£7.48

2016 EIP
award

Feb 2017
Sep 2019
70%
£7.88
N/A

2017 EIP
award1

Jan 2018
Sep 2020
70%
£5.63
N/A

•  Continue to invest in strong brands of digital consumer media, particularly MailOnline.
•  Ensure the financial sustainability of the Mail Titles.

Status of award
Maximum percentage of face value that could vest

Vested
100%

Vested
100%

Outstanding
100%

Outstanding
100%

Outstanding awards
P M Dacre
Total outstanding

143,5692
143,569

128,629
128,629

180,036
180,036

Realised during the year
P M Dacre
Total realised during the year

  Shaded columns show options that have vested.

119,8193
119,819

Total
outstanding
 during the year
452,234
452,234

Total
outstanding
 during the year
119,819
119,819

Notes
1.  The value of the 2017 EIP awards at issue was £1,013,600 for Paul Dacre. This award was made under the rules of the 2017 EIP.
2. 

 The value of the 2015 LTIP awards at vesting was £1,074,349 for Paul Dacre calculated using the average share price for the fourth quarter FY 2017 which was £7.48 .  
This award was made under the rules of the 2012 LTIP.
 Under the rules of the 2012 LTIP, participants are entitled to the value of the dividends that they would have received between the award date and the exercise date. Paul Dacre received  
cash dividend equivalent payments of £77,283 in relation to the realisation of the 2014 award made under this plan in FY 2018 and will receive £95,760 in FY 2019 in relation to the 2015 award.

3. 

S
t
r
a
t
e
g
i
c
R
e
p
o
r
t

G
o
v
e
r
n
a
n
c
e

F
i

n
a
n
c
i
a
l

S
t
a
t
e
m
e
n
t
s

S
h
a
r
e
h
o

l

d
e
r

I
n
f
o
r
m
a
t
i

o
n

63

 
 
 
Governance

Governance
Remuneration Report

Payments to past Directors (Audited)
Martin Morgan vested share options and awards 
The Committee was satisfied that the performance conditions had been met for the award made to Martin Morgan in December 2013 
of 104,500 shares under the DMGT 2012 Long-Term Incentive Plan.

Martin Morgan received an amount of £1,059,437 in relation to the realisation of the 2012 award made under this DMGT 2012 Long-Term 
Incentive Plan in January 2018 and an amount of £73,528 in relation to the exercise of nil cost options under the deferred bonus plan in 
June 2018.

Table 6: Executive Directors’ accrued entitlements under DMGT Senior Executives’ Pension Fund (Audited) 
The defined benefit scheme is closed for future accrual. It is the Company’s policy that annual bonuses and benefits in kind are not pensionable.

The Company did not make any contributions on behalf of Paul Dacre. No Executive Directors are now accruing further pension in the DMGT 
Senior Executives’ Pension Fund. The normal retirement age under the Fund for the Executive DIrectors is 60. 

The Viscount Rothermere
P A Zwillenberg

T G Collier

K J Beatty
P M Dacre

Defined benefit: accrued annual
 benefit as at 30 September 2018 
based on normal retirement age
 £000

80
N/A

N/A

N/A
735

Defined 
benefit: normal 
retirement age

3 December 2027
–

–

–
14 November 2008

Defined benefit: 
additional value 
of benefits if early 
retirement taken

Weighting of 
pension benefit
 value as shown
in single figure table

–
–

–

–
N/A

Cash allowance: 100%
Cash allowance: 97%;
Defined contribution: 3%
Cash allowance: 97%;
Defined contribution: 3%
Cash allowance: 100%
N/A

Table 7: Single figure of remuneration paid to Non-Executive Directors (Audited)
The table below sets out the single total figure of remuneration for each Non-Executive Director (NED) in FY 2018 and FY 2017. 

During FY 2018, the fees for the two US-based NEDs were reviewed. Heidi Roizen and Dominique Trempont are now both paid a single annual 
fee of $285,000 which covers the base fee, sub-committee membership fees, one set of travel fees to overseas Board meetings, fees for their 
regular project work and fees for ad hoc contributions for DMGT.

Travel allowances of £4,000 are paid for each Board meeting that requires a single (one way) flight of between five and 10 hours and  
£10,000 for each Board meeting that requires a single (one way) flight of more than 10 hours. Additional fees are paid for membership  
and chairmanship of sub-committees and subsidiary boards.

Following a review of fee levels in September 2018, no changes to UK or US NEDs’ fees will be made for FY 2019.

2017

Travel
 allowance
£000
–
–
20
–
–
–
30
50
100

Fees
£000
39
78
20
138
92
–
161
56
648

Total
£000
39
78
40
138
92
–
191
106
748

2018

Travel
 allowance
£000

4
4
16
8
4
–
14
34
84

Fees
£000

50
89
50
149
105
42
211
250
946

Total
£000

54
93
66
157
109
42
255
284
1,030

Lady Keswick
A H Lane
F L Morin
D H Nelson
K A H Parry
JP Rangaswami
J H Roizen
D Trempont
Total

64

S
t
r
a
t
e
g
i
c
R
e
p
o
r
t

G
o
v
e
r
n
a
n
c
e

F
i

n
a
n
c
i
a
l

S
t
a
t
e
m
e
n
t
s

S
h
a
r
e
h
o

l

d
e
r

I
n
f
o
r
m
a
t
i

o
n

 
 
 
Daily Mail and General Trust plc Annual Report 2018

Chart 1: Percentage change in remuneration of the CEO
The chart below sets out the remuneration delivered to the CEO compared to total employee remuneration.

Chief Executive remuneration 
(excluding LTIP)1
£000 

Total employee 
remuneration 
£000

Average 
remuneration2
£000

2018

2017

2018

2017

2018

2017

Notes
1. 
2.  The change in average employee remuneration is partly due to movement in the US$ exchange rate.

 Remuneration includes salaries, wages and incentives, but excludes pension benefits. 

Chart 2: Comparison of overall performance of DMGT vs comparators

£1,450

£446,965

% increase/decrease

£1,867

+29%

£523,300

£71

£63

-15%

+13%

The chart compares the 
Company’s TSR with 
the Media Sector Total 
Return Index and the 
FTSE 100 Index over the 
past 10 financial years, 
assuming an initial 
investment of £100.

The Company is a 
constituent of the Media 
Sector Total Return Index 
and, accordingly, this is 
considered to be the 
most appropriate 
comparison to 
demonstrate the 
Company’s relative 
performance.

Source: Thomson Reuters 
Datastream

DMGT

Media UK

FTSE 100 (all rebased to 100)

£

400

350

300

250

200

150

100

50

0

FY 2008

FY 2009

FY 2010

FY 2011

FY 2012

FY 2013

FY 2014

FY 2015

FY 2016

FY 2017

FY 2018

S
t
r
a
t
e
g
i
c
R
e
p
o
r
t

G
o
v
e
r
n
a
n
c
e

F
i

n
a
n
c
i
a
l

S
t
a
t
e
m
e
n
t
s

S
h
a
r
e
h
o

l

d
e
r

I
n
f
o
r
m
a
t
i

o
n

65

 
 
 
Governance

Governance
Remuneration Report

Table 8: Chief Executive remuneration outcomes FY 2009 to FY 2018

Financial year ending

Total remuneration (single figure)
Annual variable pay1  
(% maximum)
LTIP achieved (% maximum)

Share price at vesting

FY 2009
£000

2,312
63%

FY 2010
£000

2,961
98%

FY 2011
£000

1,722
40%

0%

N/A

25% 25%/100%

£4.14 £5.72/£3.68

FY 2012
£000

2,809
63%

52.5%

£4.82

FY 2013
£000

2,949
88%

37.5%

£7.62

FY 2014
£000

2,021
54%

40%

£8.31

FY 2015
£000

1,944
58%

–

–

FY 20162
£000

3,342
63%

100%

£6.95

FY 20173
£000

1,450
42.5%

FY 20183
£000

1,867
81%

–

–

–

–

Notes
1. 

 In FY 2009 maximum bonus opportunity was 200% of salary. No LTIP awards were made in that year or vested in that year. Maximum bonus opportunity was 100% of salary from FY 2010  
to FY 2017 when it increased to 140%.
 The single figure shown for FY 2016 combines the period of Martin Morgan’s service to 31 May 2016 and his successor Paul Zwillenberg from 1 June 2016. 

2. 
3.  The figure for FY 2017 and FY 2018 is for Paul Zwillenberg.

Chart 3: Relative importance of spend on pay in the financial year

The chart sets out the 
relative importance of 
spend on pay in the 
financial year.

£ millions
£ millions

800

700

600

500

400

300

200

100

0

-13%

604

528

-19%

226

182

4%

78

81

FY 2018

FY 2017

FY 2018

FY 2017

FY 2018

FY 2017

Total employment pay

Buy-back

Dividend

Adjusted profit before tax

66

S
t
r
a
t
e
g
i
c
R
e
p
o
r
t

G
o
v
e
r
n
a
n
c
e

F
i

n
a
n
c
i
a
l

S
t
a
t
e
m
e
n
t
s

S
h
a
r
e
h
o

l

d
e
r

I
n
f
o
r
m
a
t
i

o
n

 
 
 
Daily Mail and General Trust plc Annual Report 2018

Table 9: Statement of Directors’ shareholding and share interests (Audited)
The number of shares of the Company in which Executive and Non-Executive Directors or their families had a beneficial or non-beneficial 
interest during FY 2018 and details of Long-Term Incentive (LTI) interests as at 30 September 2018 are set out in the table below. The 
shareholding guideline for Executive Directors is 5x (500%) of salary for Lord Rothermere and Paul Zwillenberg and 1.5x (150%) of salary 
for Tim Collier and Kevin Beatty. The value as a multiple of salary has been calculated using the 28 September 2018 share price of £7.02.

Beneficial

As at 30 September 2018

The Viscount Rothermere
P A Zwillenberg
T G Collier
K J Beatty
P M Dacre

K A H Parry

Non-beneficial

The Viscount Rothermere
D H Nelson

Ordinary
19,890,3645
–
–
–
–

A Ordinary
 Non-Voting

61,644,654
24,899
14,250
368,351
–

–

23,499

LTI interests
not subject to
performance
conditions1
Vested

LTI interests
not subject to
performance
conditions1
Unvested

240,099
–
–
12,804
–

–

–
109,569
324,965
14,404
–

–

19,890,364

62,075,653

252,903

448,938

Value (as 
a multiple 
of salary)2

Guideline 
met

686
1.3
4.8
3.7
–

N/A

Yes
No
Yes
Yes
–

N/A

LTI interests 
subject to
 performance
 conditions3

 1,197,362 
 1,142,159 
 680,614 
988,963
 452,234 

Total 
outstanding 
interests4

 1,437,461 
 1,251,728 
 1,005,579 
 1,016,171 
 452,234 

N/A

N/A

4,461,332

 5,163,173 

–
–

4,880,000
212,611

5,092,611

Total Directors’ interests
Less duplications

19,890,364
–

67,168,214
(212,611)

19,890,364

66,955,603

Notes
1. 

 The LTI interests not subject to performance conditions (vested and unvested) are the nil cost options awarded as the bonus deferral; full details can be found in table 4 on page 60. The LTI 
interests not subject to performance conditions (unvested) also includes the recruitment awards made to Paul Zwillenberg and Tim Collier of 109,569 and 324,965 shares respectively. These were 
awarded under the EIP as Conditional Share Awards.
 The value as a multiple of salary includes LTI interests not subject to performance conditions.
 The LTI interests subject to performance conditions are detailed in tables 5.1 to 5.3 on pages 61 to 63 and include those shares which have vested but are not realisable as well as those that 
are outstanding. 
 Total outstanding interests are the sum of the LTI interests (both subject to and not subject to performance conditions) and options subject to performance conditions.
 The Company has been notified that under Sections 793 and 824 of the Companies Act 2006, Lord Rothermere was deemed to have been interested as a shareholder in 19,890,364 Ordinary 
Shares at 30 September 2017. 

2. 
3. 

4. 
5. 

None of the other directors held any shares in the Company, either beneficial or non-beneficial.

At 30 September 2018, Lord Rothermere was beneficially interested in 756,700 Ordinary Shares of Rothermere Continuation Limited, the Company’s ultimate holding company. 

For Paul Zwillenberg and Kevin Beatty, purchase of shares were made between 30 September 2018 and 30 November 2018 through the share purchase+ plan. These purchases increased the 
beneficial holdings of these Executive Directors by 43 shares for Paul Zwillenberg and 36 shares for Kevin Beatty.

Voting at general meeting
At the February 2017 AGM, the advisory vote on the Remuneration Report received 19,890,364 (100%) votes for, with no votes against and  
no abstentions. The Committee consults with major shareholders prior to any major changes to remuneration policy and practice.

Non-Executive Directors’ appointment
The Non-Executive Directors are appointed for specified terms under the Company’s Articles of Association and are subject to annual 
re-election at the AGM. Each appointment can be terminated before the end of the one-year period with no notice or fees due. The dates  
of each Non-Executive Director’s original appointment and latest reappointment are set out below:

Non-Executive Director

Appointment commencement date

Latest reappointment date

Lady Keswick
A H Lane
F L Morin
D H Nelson
K A H Parry
JP Rangaswami
J H Roizen
D Trempont

23 September 2013
6 February 2013
8 February 2017
1 July 2009
22 May 2014
7 February 2018
26 September 2012
9 February 2011

7 February 2018
7 February 2018
7 February 2018
7 February 2018
7 February 2018
7 February 2018
7 February 2018
7 February 2018

Directors’ service contracts/letters of appointment are available for inspection at DMGT’s registered office. 

67

S
t
r
a
t
e
g
i
c
R
e
p
o
r
t

G
o
v
e
r
n
a
n
c
e

F
i

n
a
n
c
i
a
l

S
t
a
t
e
m
e
n
t
s

S
h
a
r
e
h
o

l

d
e
r

I
n
f
o
r
m
a
t
i

o
n

 
 
 
Governance

Governance
Remuneration Report

Directors’ Remuneration Policy
This part of the report sets out the Company’s policy for the remuneration of Directors (Policy). The Policy was last approved by shareholders 
at the AGM on 8 February 2017. The Committee has reviewed the Policy and is satisfied that it remains appropriate. The Policy can be found 
on the Company website.

The Policy, as set out on pages 68 to 71 below, is intended to apply for a three-year period from the date of the 2017 AGM. The Committee will 
next submit a new Policy for approval at the 2020 AGM.

Policy overview
The Committee aims to structure remuneration packages which motivate and retain Directors, drive the right behaviours and pay at market 
rates. The Committee considers that a successful Policy needs to be sufficiently flexible to take account of commercial demands, changing 
market practice and shareholder expectations. Our approach is to align base salary with reference to market levels of pay and to ensure that 
a significant part of Executive Director pay is variable and linked to the success of the Group. 

The Long-Term Executive Incentive Plan (EIP) was approved at the AGM in February 2017. The plan directly links payouts to business 
performance by awarding management a share of profits, over and above a minimum threshold, after deducting a charge for additional 
capital. The EIP provides for exceptional pay in cases of truly exceptional performance, while not over-rewarding average performance.

The Committee regularly reviews remuneration structures to ensure they are aligned to business strategy. The Policy incorporates a degree 
of flexibility to allow the Committee to manage remuneration over its three year life.

Policy applied to Executive Directors

Operation

Opportunity

Performance metrics

Not performance related.

Not performance related.

Annual base salary increases, 
where made, are normally 
in line with average UK and 
US-based employees, subject 
to particular circumstances, 
such as changes in roles, 
responsibilities or 
organisation, or as the 
Committee determines 
otherwise based on factors 
listed under ‘Operation’.

The base salary for each 
Executive Director is set at a 
level the Committee considers 
appropriate taking account 
of the individual’s skills, 
experience and performance, 
and the external environment.

Base salaries for FY 2019 are 
set out on page 73.

For Executive Directors who 
previously participated in 
the defined benefit scheme, 
the pension allowance has 
been set at a higher level 
(up to 37% of base salary). 
30% of base salary or less 
for new recruits.

Purpose and link to strategy
Base salary
To recruit, retain and 
reflect responsibilities of 
the Executive Directors 
and be competitive with 
peer companies.

The base salary for each Executive Director 
is reviewed annually for the following 
year taking into account contractual 
agreements, general economic and market 
conditions and the level of increases made 
across the Group as a whole.

Given the location of the Company’s 
principal operations, a particular focus 
is put on US and UK market conditions.

Benchmarking based on media and 
other relevant companies is performed 
periodically and the Committee’s 
intention is to apply judgement 
in evaluating market data.

Pension
To recruit, retain and 
reflect responsibilities of 
the Executive Directors 
and be competitive with 
peer companies.

Executive Directors may participate in a 
defined contribution pension scheme or 
may receive a cash allowance in lieu of 
pension contribution. Any contributions 
paid to the Company pension scheme 
will be offset from the cash allowance.

68

S
t
r
a
t
e
g
i
c
R
e
p
o
r
t

G
o
v
e
r
n
a
n
c
e

F
i

n
a
n
c
i
a
l

S
t
a
t
e
m
e
n
t
s

S
h
a
r
e
h
o

l

d
e
r

I
n
f
o
r
m
a
t
i

o
n

 
 
 
Daily Mail and General Trust plc Annual Report 2018

Purpose and link to strategy

Operation

Opportunity

Performance metrics

Benefits
To recruit, retain and 
reflect responsibilities of 
the Executive Directors 
and be competitive with 
peer companies.

Annual bonus
To focus Executive 
Directors on the delivery 
of financial performance 
and strategic objectives 
which create value for 
the Company and 
shareholders.

To reward individual 
contribution to the 
success of the Company.

Benefits (e.g. car and pension 
allowance) may vary by role 
and individual circumstances.

Benefits, including the DMGT 
SharePurchase+ plan are not 
performance related.

The cost of benefits changes 
periodically and may be 
determined by outside 
providers.

Maximum annual bonus 
opportunity is as follows:

•  for Lord Rothermere, 

180% of salary;

•  for Paul Zwillenberg, 

140% of salary;

•  for Tim Collier, 140% 

of salary; and

•  for Kevin Beatty, 60% 

of salary.

Paul Dacre did not participate 
in the annual bonus plan.

The maximum level for new 
recruits will not exceed 200% 
of salary.

The achievement of stretch 
targets results in maximum 
payout. On-target bonus is 
normally 50% of maximum. 
There is normally no payout 
for performance below 
threshold. Payout between 
threshold and target is on  
a straight-line basis.

The performance range sets 
a balance between upside 
opportunity and downside 
risk and is normally based 
on targets in accordance  
with the annual budget.

Bonuses are subject to the 
achievement of financial 
measures set by the Committee. 
These measures may be varied 
from year to year. The measures 
for determining the annual bonus 
in FY 2018 were revenue and cash 
operating income. 

The performance required for 
a maximum payout is set at a 
stretch performance level that is 
above the level of the Company’s 
forecasts. If performance is in line 
with forecast, then typically an 
on-target level of the annual 
bonus will be paid.

The weightings that were applied 
to the FY 2018 bonus targets 
are as reported in table 2.1 
on page 59.

The Board considers the specific 
targets and relative weightings 
for each measure to be 
commercially sensitive and 
they will not be disclosed. 
Performance against targets in 
the year that bonus awards are 
made will be disclosed along with 
the relevant weightings in the 
Annual Report following 
the payment.

Benefits typically include cash allowances 
and non-cash benefits such as medical 
insurance and life assurance. Where 
appropriate, the Committee may also 
offer allowances for relocation or other 
benefits where it concludes that it is in the 
interest of the Company to do so, having 
regard to the particular circumstances 
and to market practice. 

Allowances do not form part of 
pensionable earnings.

Executive Directors are also eligible to 
participate in the DMGT SharePurchase+ 
plan, an all-employee share incentive plan, 
on the same basis as other employees.

The annual bonus is based on in-year 
performance against financial objectives. 
The performance targets and measures are 
determined annually by the Committee 
and may change from year to year:

•  up to 100% of total bonus opportunity 
is based on financial performance at 
corporate and business unit level; and
•  a proportion of total bonus opportunity 
may be based on performance against 
strategic non-financial objectives.

The bonus weightings applied for each 
of the Executive Directors may vary from 
time to time and may include financial 
measures and targets relating to the Group 
as well as their specific business. The 
weightings that apply to the bonus may 
vary if the Committee determines that 
it is appropriate in order to achieve the 
strategic aims of the business.

Performance is measured separately 
for each item as shown in table 2.2 on 
page 59.

Annual bonus payments do not form part 
of pensionable earnings.

Annual bonus plans are discretionary and 
the Committee reserves the right to make 
adjustments to payments up or down if it 
believes that exceptional circumstances 
warrant doing so.

Annual bonuses are subject to malus prior 
to payment, and to clawback for two years 
after payment, in circumstances including 
a material misstatement in results, an error 
in calculating/assessing satisfaction of any 
condition, the participant causing material 
reputational damage to any member of 
the Group or serious misconduct by the 
participant causing loss to any member 
of the Group.

69

S
t
r
a
t
e
g
i
c
R
e
p
o
r
t

G
o
v
e
r
n
a
n
c
e

F
i

n
a
n
c
i
a
l

S
t
a
t
e
m
e
n
t
s

S
h
a
r
e
h
o

l

d
e
r

I
n
f
o
r
m
a
t
i

o
n

 
 
 
Governance

Governance
Remuneration Report

Purpose and link to strategy

Operation

Opportunity

Performance metrics

Bonus deferral
To provide an element 
of retention and align 
Executive Directors’ 
interests with those 
of shareholders.

Long-term incentives
To focus Executive 
Directors on the delivery 
of strategic priorities 
creating sustainable 
long-term value for 
the Company and 
shareholders, thereby 
aligning Executive 
Directors’ interests 
with the interests of 
the Company and 
shareholders.

Specifically, the key 
objective is to incentivise 
Executive Directors to 
grow Company profits in 
an appropriate manner.

Please see the notes 
to this table for further 
details about the link 
between the Long-Term 
Executive Incentive Plan 
(EIP) and the Group’s 
strategic goals.

Awards are delivered through a grant of nil 
cost options.

A proportion of some Executive Directors’ 
annual bonus is deferred for a period of 
two years. 

Annual bonus deferral requirements are 
reported in detail in table 3 on page 59.

Following the exercise of an option, a cash 
payment with a value equivalent to the sum 
of all of the dividends declared for the 
award between the grant date and the date 
of delivery of the shares will be made.

Clawback of vested and unvested awards 
is possible in the event of material 
misstatement of information or misconduct.

The Company adopted the EIP, following 
shareholder approval at the February 2017 
AGM. The EIP will be used to grant 
long-term incentive awards to 
Executive Directors. 

Awards are made annually, which may 
be in the form of conditional share 
awards, options, restricted shares  
or cash at the discretion of the Committee. 
Awards may vest at the end of a 
performance period of a minimum 
duration of three years, subject to 
achievement of performance targets 
and continued service.

In exceptional cases (e.g. recruitment) 
awards may be made without 
performance conditions if the 
Committee considers this appropriate.

Awards will typically be paid out in 
shares, calculated by reference to the 
share price as at the date of grant, in 
order to ensure further alignment of 
the Executive Directors’ interests with 
those of shareholders. The Committee 
may determine that awards will 
alternatively be settled in cash if 
it considers this appropriate. 

Awards may be granted on terms that 
the value of any dividends paid to 
shareholders on their shares in the period 
between the date of grant and the date 
of vesting (or exercise) is paid to the 
individual following the end of that period.

70

All Executive Directors 
(with the exception of Lord 
Rothermere) are required to 
defer any above-target annual 
bonus into nil cost options for 
two years.

No further performance 
conditions are imposed except 
for continued employment. 

In order to incentivise 
and allow the potential 
to appropriately reward 
Executive Directors for truly 
exceptional performance, 
the maximum annual value 
of shares which can vest 
is capped at 500% of salary.

Performance below threshold 
results in zero payout.

The Committee may set different 
performance measures, in terms 
of type of measure and the 
weighting given to each measure, 
for awards granted on different 
dates, provided the Committee 
considers that such measures 
are aligned with the Company’s 
strategic goals and with the 
interests of its shareholders.

Performance conditions may also 
be set on an individual basis to 
reflect a particular individual’s role.

The performance measures are 
designed to reflect progress 
towards the achievement of key 
strategic goals which may vary 
from year to year.

For awards granted to Executive 
Directors under the EIP, current 
performance measures link 
awards to Group profits over a 
minimum threshold, subject to 
fair adjustment for any change 
in capital usage. The minimum 
threshold feature is designed 
to ensure that the awards are 
appropriately challenging 
and Executive Directors are not 
rewarded unless the Company 
achieves a minimum performance 
threshold. The capital charge/
credit feature is designed to 
ensure that Executive Directors 
use capital efficiently over the 
long term, by requiring higher 
profits to be made if more capital 
is used. 

S
t
r
a
t
e
g
i
c
R
e
p
o
r
t

G
o
v
e
r
n
a
n
c
e

F
i

n
a
n
c
i
a
l

S
t
a
t
e
m
e
n
t
s

S
h
a
r
e
h
o

l

d
e
r

I
n
f
o
r
m
a
t
i

o
n

 
 
 
Daily Mail and General Trust plc Annual Report 2018

Purpose and link to strategy

Operation

Opportunity

Performance metrics

Long-term incentives 
continued

Shareholding 
requirement
To align the interests 
of Executive Directors 
and shareholders. 

The Committee has discretion, within 
the rules of the EIP and the 2012 LTIP, 
to make adjustments taking into 
account exceptional factors that distort 
underlying business performance, such 
as (for example) material M&A activity.

EIP awards are subject to malus prior to 
vesting, and to clawback for three years 
after vesting, in circumstances including a 
material misstatement in results, an error 
in calculating/assessing satisfaction of any 
condition, the participant causing material 
reputational damage to any member of 
the Group or serious misconduct by the 
participant causing loss to any member 
of the Group.

Awards under the 2012 LTIP are subject 
to clawback (whether vested or unvested) 
in the event of material misstatement 
of information or misconduct.

All awards are subject to the rules of 
the relevant plan (as may be amended 
from time to time in accordance with the 
rules) and any other terms and conditions 
applicable to the awards as the Committee 
may determine.

Executive Directors are encouraged 
to build up a substantial shareholding 
in the Company.

Shares which have been awarded subject 
to satisfaction of performance measures 
are not included in the calculation of 
the value of the Executive Director’s 
shareholding.

Hedging by Executive Directors of any 
shares held in the Company is prohibited.

The Committee sets the 
applicable performance targets 
prior to, or at the time the awards 
are made, in accordance with its 
strategic planning. The Board 
considers the specific 
performance targets for each 
measure and the relative 
performance measure weightings 
to be commercially sensitive. 
Performance against targets 
and the relative weightings will 
be disclosed at the time the 
awards vest.

Not performance related.

The Committee recommends 
a minimum shareholding of 
500% of base salary for the 
Chairman and the CEO, 
and 150% for all other 
Executive Directors.

There is no time frame over 
which the guidelines should 
be met.

Notes to the Policy table
Differences in remuneration policy for all employees:
•  Base salary:

Base salary increases elsewhere in the Group are set at a business level, taking into account economic factors, competitive market rates, roles, skills, experience and individual performance. 
The change in wages and salaries for the Company as a whole is reported in chart 1 on page 65.

•  Pension:

 − Employees in the UK are auto-enrolled into the Company defined contribution pension scheme. There are a number of defined contribution schemes in operation across the Group, all of which 

offer levels of employer matching contributions.

 − Employees in the US are typically offered 401(k) retirement plan benefits.

•  Benefits:

Allowances and benefits for employees reflect the local labour market in which they are based.

•  Annual bonus:

 − The majority of employees participate in some form of cash-based annual incentive, bonus or commission plan.
 − The annual bonus plan for the Executive Directors forms the basis of the annual bonus plan for the other head office executives. Plans across the Group are designed and tailored for each 

business, with the purpose of incentivising the achievement of their annual targets.

•  Bonus deferral:
  Most annual bonus plans around the Group do not include a requirement for deferral.
•  Long-term incentives:

 − The EIP for the Executive Directors forms the basis of annual awards for the other head office executives.
 − Plans for executives in other businesses across the Group are considered and approved by the Committee. Plans are designed to be appropriate to the stage of development of the business 

and to incentivise the achievement of the mid- to long-term strategic aims of the business in which they operate.

•  Shareholding requirement:
  There is no shareholding requirement for employees below Executive Director level.

71

S
t
r
a
t
e
g
i
c
R
e
p
o
r
t

G
o
v
e
r
n
a
n
c
e

F
i

n
a
n
c
i
a
l

S
t
a
t
e
m
e
n
t
s

S
h
a
r
e
h
o

l

d
e
r

I
n
f
o
r
m
a
t
i

o
n

 
 
 
Governance

Governance
Remuneration Report

Pay scenario charts 

Chart 4: Illustrations of application of Executive Directors’ remuneration policy
The elements of remuneration have been categorised into three components: (i) Fixed; (ii) Annual variable; and (iii) Multiple reporting period 
variable, which are set out in the future policy table below:

£000s

7,000

6,000

5,000

4,000

3,000

2,000

1,000

0

£000s

7,000

6,000

5,000

4,000

3,000

2,000

1,000

0

6,627
58%

2,766

28%

28%

13%
31%

23%

5%
13%

1,222
30%
70%

4,413
52%

24%

6%
17%

2,337
33%

23%
11%
33%

1,003
25%
75%

Minimum

On-target Maximum

Minimum

On-target Maximum

The Viscount Rothermere

P A Zwillenberg

3,809
60%

12%
8%
20%

1,750
26%
13%
17%
44%

1,063

28%
72%

3,695
62%

19%

5%
14%

671
24%

76%

1,491
31%
24%
11%
34%

Minimum

On-target Maximum

Minimum

On-target Maximum

K J Beatty

T G Collier

Fixed (Salary)

Fixed (Benefits)

Annual variable (Bonus incl deferral)

Multiple reporting variable (LTIP)

Notes
Potential reward opportunities illustrated above are based on this Policy, applied to the latest-known base salaries and incentive opportunities.

Minimum in the graphs above is fixed remuneration only (salary, pension and benefits). On-target assumes that the standard long-term incentive award and target bonus  
have been awarded as stated in the Policy table.

Maximum assumes that the standard long-term incentive award and the maximum bonus have been awarded as stated in the Policy table.

Share awards valued at share price at date of award. No allowance is made for potential share price changes. Future share price changes form a key part of the remuneration  
linkage to performance and alignment of long-term shareholder returns.

S
t
r
a
t
e
g
i
c
R
e
p
o
r
t

G
o
v
e
r
n
a
n
c
e

F
i

n
a
n
c
i
a
l

S
t
a
t
e
m
e
n
t
s

S
h
a
r
e
h
o

l

d
e
r

I
n
f
o
r
m
a
t
i

o
n

72

 
 
 
Daily Mail and General Trust plc Annual Report 2018

Implementation of Remuneration Policy in FY 2019

Executive Directors’ base fees 
and salary

Salary increases for each of the Executive Directors for FY 2019 were approved in line with increases 
across the UK business of 2.5%. Revised annual salaries including Directors’ fees from 1 October 2018 are 
£858,000 for Lord Rothermere, £769,000 for Paul Zwillenberg, £512,500 for Tim Collier and £762,500 for 
Kevin Beatty.

Executive Directors’ pension

No change to prior year. Pension allowances are reported in the single figure table 1 on page 58 with further 
details in the pension entitlements and cash allowances section in table 6 on page 64.

Benefits in kind

Executive Directors’  
annual bonus

No change to nature of benefits since prior year. Allowances and benefits for FY 2018 are reported in detail 
in the notes to the single figure table 1 on page 58.

Annual bonus payments for FY 2018 are reported in detail in tables 2.1 and 2.2 on page 59. 

Awards in FY 2019 will be measured against two metrics: Group level revenue and cash operating income. 

In addition to Group level performance, Kevin Beatty will be measured on the performance of dmg media 
against the same metrics (weighting 30% Group, 70% divisional).

The Board considers the specific targets and relative weightings for each measure to be commercially 
sensitive and they will not be disclosed. 

Bonus deferral

The nil cost options awarded in FY 2018 were for Kevin Beatty and relate to the deferred part of his FY 2017 
bonus. The deferred amounts that apply for the FY 2018 bonus are shown in table 2.1 on page 59.

Executive Directors’  
long-term incentive

Executive Directors’  
service contracts

External appointments

Bonus deferral requirements for FY 2018 remain as stated in table 3 on page 59.

The Long-Term Executive Incentive Plan (EIP) (approved by shareholders at the 2017 AGM), directly links 
pay-outs to business performance by awarding management a share of profit growth, over and above a 
minimum threshold, after deducting a charge for additional capital. The new EIP provides for exceptional 
pay in cases of truly exceptional performance, while not over-rewarding average performance.

Further details of the applicable performance criteria are included in the Policy table on pages 70 and 71.

Individual awards will be determined each year and will be subject to the performance conditions outlined 
in the Policy. 

Outstanding awards will continue to vest according to the rules of the plans they were awarded under. 
Details of outstanding awards and their status are shown in detail in tables 5.1, 5.2 and 5.3 on pages 61 to 63.

The Board considers the specific targets and relative weightings for each measure to be commercially 
sensitive and they will not be disclosed. 

No changes to service contracts are planned for FY 2019.

The Company allows its Executive Directors to take a very limited number of outside directorships. 
Individuals retain the payments from such services since these appointments are not expected to impinge 
on their principal employment. Lord Rothermere is on the Board of ITN; Tim Collier and Kevin Beatty are on 
the Board of Euromoney Institutional Investor PLC (Euromoney).

Executive Directors’ 
shareholding guidelines

The guideline is 500% of base salary for Lord Rothermere and Paul Zwillenberg and 150% of base salary 
for all other Executive Directors.

Executive Directors’ pension

Pension allowances for any new Executive Director will be limited to a maximum of 30%.

Directors’ interests are reported in detail in table 9 on page 67.

Pension allowances are reported in the single figure table 1 on page 58 with further details in the Pension 
entitlements and cash allowances section in table 6 on page 64.

Recruitment award

Exit payments

None.

None.

S
t
r
a
t
e
g
i
c
R
e
p
o
r
t

G
o
v
e
r
n
a
n
c
e

F
i

n
a
n
c
i
a
l

S
t
a
t
e
m
e
n
t
s

S
h
a
r
e
h
o

l

d
e
r

I
n
f
o
r
m
a
t
i

o
n

73

 
 
 
Governance

Governance
Remuneration Report

Executive Directors’ service contracts
The Executive Directors are employed under service contracts, the principal terms of which are summarised below.

Executive Director Position

Effective date 
of contract

Employer

Notice period 
(by either party) 

Compensation on termination by employer 
without notice or cause

The Viscount 
Rothermere

Chairman

17 October 1994

Daily Mail and General 
Trust plc

3 months

P A Zwillenberg CEO

1 June 2016

Daily Mail and General 
Holdings Limited

12 months

T G Collier

Group Chief 
Financial Officer

2 May 2017

Daily Mail and General 
Trust plc

12 months

K J Beatty

Executive Director

19 May 2002

Associated Newspapers 
Limited

12 months

Base salary, benefits, pension 
entitlement and, as appropriate, 
a prorated bonus payment for the 
notice period.

Base salary, pension allowance, car 
allowance and cash equivalent value 
of other benefits for the notice 
period. Compensation is subject to 
mitigation if the Director obtains an 
alternative remunerated position.

Base salary, pension allowance, car 
allowance and cash equivalent value 
of other benefits for the notice 
period. Compensation is subject to 
mitigation if the Director obtains an 
alternative remunerated position.

Base salary, benefits, pension 
entitlement and, as appropriate, 
a prorated bonus payment for the 
notice period.

External appointments
The Company allows its Executive Directors to take a very limited number of outside directorships. Individuals retain the payments received 
from such services since these appointments are not expected to impinge on their principal employment. Tim Collier and Kevin Beatty are 
Directors of Euromoney and receive fees of £50,000 per annum. Lord Rothermere is a Director at ITN and receives fees of £25,000 per annum. 
Fees paid are included in the single figure table shown on page 58. 

Legacy arrangements

For the avoidance of doubt, in approving this Policy, authority is given to the Company to honour any commitments entered into with current 
or former Directors prior to the approval and implementation of this Policy (such as payment of pensions or the vesting/exercise of past share 
awards), provided that such commitments complied with any Policy in effect at the time they were given. 

Approach to recruitment remuneration
When appointing or recruiting a new Executive Director from outside the Company, the Committee will normally aim to set remuneration at 
a level which is consistent with the Remuneration Policy in place for other Executive Directors and in particular the Executive Director who 
previously filled the relevant role, although it is recognised that, in order to secure the best candidate for a role, the Company may need to pay 
a new Executive Director more than it pays its existing Executive Directors. Pre-existing contractual agreements for internal candidates may 
be maintained on promotion to an Executive Director role.

S
t
r
a
t
e
g
i
c
R
e
p
o
r
t

G
o
v
e
r
n
a
n
c
e

F
i

n
a
n
c
i
a
l

S
t
a
t
e
m
e
n
t
s

S
h
a
r
e
h
o

l

d
e
r

I
n
f
o
r
m
a
t
i

o
n

74

 
 
 
Daily Mail and General Trust plc Annual Report 2018

The Committee may make use of any of the below components in the (recruitment) remuneration package.

Component

Approach

Base salary

Base salary will be determined by reference to the individual’s role and responsibilities, 
location of employment, and the salary paid to the previous incumbent.

Maximum annual grant level

Not applicable.

Pension

Benefits

Annual bonus

Long-term 
incentives

Replacement 
awards

The appointed Executive Director will be eligible to participate in the Group’s defined 
contribution pension plan and/or receive a cash pension allowance.

30% of base salary.

New appointments may be eligible to receive benefits in line with the Policy for current 
Executive Directors as well as benefits relating to relocation such as (but not limited to) 
cost of living, housing and tax equalisation support.

Not applicable.

The appointed Executive Director will be eligible to participate in the Company’s annual 
bonus plan in accordance with the Policy for current Executive Directors and may be 
required to defer some or all of any bonus granted in accordance with the Policy.

200% of base salary.

The appointed Executive Director will be eligible to participate in the Executive 
Incentive Plan in accordance with the Policy for current Executive Directors, save that 
the Committee may provide that an initial award under EIP (within the salary multiple 
limits on page 70) is subject to a requirement of continued service over a specified 
period, rather than the usual performance conditions.

If in joining DMGT a new Executive Director would forfeit any existing award under 
variable remuneration arrangements with a previous employer, the Committee will 
consider on a case-by-case basis what replacement awards (if any) are reasonably 
necessary to facilitate that individual’s recruitment, taking into account all relevant 
factors such as performance achieved or likely to be achieved, the proportion of the 
performance period remaining and the form of the award due to be forfeited.

500% of base salary at the time 
the award is made.

Not applicable.

Exit payment policy
The Company normally sets the notice period of Executive Directors as 12 months, but may decide to vary this in circumstances it deems 
appropriate.

On termination, the Company will normally make a payment in lieu of notice (PILON) which is equal to the aggregate of: the base salary at the 
date of termination for the applicable notice period; the pension allowance over the relevant period; the cost to the Company of providing all 
other benefits (excluding pension allowance and annual bonus) or a sum equal to the amount of benefits as specified in the Company’s most 
recent Annual Report; and a bonus payment calculated in accordance with the service contract of the Director. The treatment of awards under 
the Company’s long-term incentive plans on termination will be in accordance with the rules of the plan and, where appropriate, at the 
discretion of the Committee.

The Company may pay the PILON either as a lump sum or in equal monthly instalments from the date on which the employment terminates 
until the end of the relevant period. If alternative employment (paid above a pre-agreed rate) is commenced, for each month that instalments 
of the PILON remain payable, the amounts, in aggregate (excluding the pension payment), may be reduced by half of one month’s base salary 
in excess of the pre-agreed rate.

In the event that a participant’s employment is terminated, treatment of outstanding awards under the Group’s incentive plans will be 
determined based on the relevant plan rules, which are summarised below:

Incentive plan

Treatment of awards

DMGT SharePurchase+

All leavers have to exit DMGT SharePurchase+ and either sell or transfer their shares. If identified as a 
‘good leaver’, under the rules of DMGT SharePurchase+, no tax or National Insurance contributions are paid.

Annual bonus

Deferred bonus plan

Long-term incentive plans 

If identified as a ‘good leaver’ for the purposes of the bonus, the Committee may determine that the leaver’s 
contribution was significant against targets, in which case, it may decide to make a payment which is 
equivalent of up to a full year’s bonus.

If identified as a ‘good leaver’ under the deferred bonus plan rules (including those identified at the discretion 
of the Committee), outstanding awards shall vest in full on the normal vesting date or on such earlier date as 
the Committee may determine.

If identified as a ‘good leaver’ under the rules (including those identified at the discretion of the Committee), 
outstanding awards will vest, either on the normal vesting date or on such earlier date as the Committee 
may determine, to the extent determined by the Committee taking into account the performance conditions, 
the proportion of the performance period which has elapsed at the date of termination and any other factors 
it considers appropriate. If, in the judgement of the Committee, greater progress towards achievement 
of targets has been made as a result of the performance of the leaver, it may, at its absolute discretion, 
decide to vest up to 100% of the outstanding award.

75

S
t
r
a
t
e
g
i
c
R
e
p
o
r
t

G
o
v
e
r
n
a
n
c
e

F
i

n
a
n
c
i
a
l

S
t
a
t
e
m
e
n
t
s

S
h
a
r
e
h
o

l

d
e
r

I
n
f
o
r
m
a
t
i

o
n

 
 
 
Governance

Governance
Remuneration Report

The Committee may make payments it considers reasonable in settlement of potential legal claims, e.g. unfair dismissal or where agreed 
under a settlement agreement. This may include an entitlement to compensation in respect of their statutory rights under employment 
protection legislation and such reasonable reimbursement of fees for legal and/or tax advice in connection with such agreements and/or costs 
of outplacement services.

Where an Executive Director is a ‘good leaver’, the Committee reserves the discretion to approve any or all of the following additional benefits:

•  continuation of private medical insurance or life assurance for a period of time following termination;
•  use of business premises for a period after termination;
•  retention of IT equipment by the Executive Director; and/or
•  use of a company car and/or driver for a period after termination.

Consideration of pay and employment conditions elsewhere across the Group
The Committee considers pay and employment conditions elsewhere in the Group when making decisions on remuneration matters affecting 
the Directors. The Committee receives a report annually on the salary budget for each business. The Committee makes reference, where 
appropriate, to pay and employment conditions elsewhere in the Group (whilst remaining aware of the variety of geographies and sectors 
in which it operates) when determining annual base salary increases and to external benchmarks of remuneration levels in other companies.

The Committee makes reference to data provided by and advice sought from internal and external advisers when making decisions on 
remuneration matters affecting the Directors. It does not specifically consult with employees over the effectiveness and appropriateness 
of the Remuneration Policy and framework. 

Consideration of shareholder views
The Committee receives annual updates on the views and best practices of shareholders and their representative bodies and, notwithstanding 
the Company shareholder structure, takes these into account. The Committee seeks the views of shareholders on matters of remuneration 
where appropriate. 

Implementation of Policy for Non-Executive Directors FY 2019

Non-Executive Directors’ fees

The actual fees paid to Non-Executive Directors in FY 2018 are shown in table 7 on page 64.

A market review of Non-Executive Directors fees was undertaken in July 2018 and a single fee was 
introduced for the US-based Non-Executive Directors of $285,000. This fee covers the base fee, 
Committee membership fees, one set of travel fees to a US Board meeting and fees for project work and 
ad-hoc contributions for DMGT. This is applicable for Heidi Roizen and Dominique Trempont.

This report covers the reporting period to 30 September 2018 and has been prepared in accordance with the relevant requirements of 
the Large and Medium-Sized Companies and Groups (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 and of the Listing Rules of the Financial 
Conduct Authority. 

S
t
r
a
t
e
g
i
c
R
e
p
o
r
t

G
o
v
e
r
n
a
n
c
e

F
i

n
a
n
c
i
a
l

S
t
a
t
e
m
e
n
t
s

S
h
a
r
e
h
o

l

d
e
r

I
n
f
o
r
m
a
t
i

o
n

76

 
 
 
Daily Mail and General Trust plc Annual Report 2018

Statutory Information

Directors’ Report
Other statutory information
Required information can be found in 
the Strategic Report on pages 2 to 35, which 
is incorporated into this report by reference. 
Information on employees, community 
and social issues is given in the Our People 
and Our Stakeholders section on pages 30 
and 31.

In accordance with the Financial Conduct 
Authority’s Listing Rules (LR 9.8.4C), the 
information to be included in the Annual 
Report, where applicable, under LR 9.8.4, 
is set out in the Governance section, with 
the exception of details of transactions with 
controlling shareholders (if any) which are 
set out in Note 44.

Forward-looking statements
This Annual Report contains certain 
forward-looking statements with respect to 
principal risks and uncertainties facing the 
Group. By their nature, these statements 
involve risk and uncertainty because they 
relate to events and depend on circumstances 
that may or may not occur in the future. 
There are a number of factors that could 
cause actual results or developments to 
differ materially from those expressed 
or implied by those forward-looking 
statements. No assurances can be given 
that the forward-looking statements are 
reasonable as they can be affected by 
a wide range of variables. 

The forward-looking statements reflect the 
knowledge and information available at the 
date of preparation of this Annual Report 
and will not be updated during the year. 
Nothing in this Annual Report should be 
construed as a profit forecast.

Tangible fixed assets and investments
The Company’s subsidiaries are set out on 
page 179. Changes to the Group’s tangible 
fixed assets and investments during the year 
are set out in Notes 23 to 26. There was 
no material difference in value between 
the book value and the market value of 
the Group’s land and buildings.

Directors
The names of the Directors, plus brief 
biographical details are given on pages 36 
and 37. Directors held office throughout 
the year with the exception of Paul Dacre 
and JP Rangaswami. In accordance with 
the UK Corporate Governance Code, all 
existing Directors will stand for re-election 
at the Annual General Meeting (AGM) on 
6 February 2019. 

JP Rangaswami was elected at the AGM 
on 7 February 2018. 

Principal activities
A description of the principal activities of the 
Group and likely future developments and 
important events occurring since the end 
of the year are given in the Strategic Report 
on pages 2 to 35.

Results and dividends
The profit for the year of the Group 
amounted to £688 million. After excluding 
the £1 million loss element attributable to 
non-controlling interests, the Group profit 
for the year attributable to owners of the 
Company amounted to £689 million. The 
Board recommends a final dividend of 
16.2 pence per share. If approved at the 
2019 AGM, the final dividend will be paid on 
8 February 2019 to shareholders at the close 
of business on 7 December 2018. Together 
with the interim dividend of 7.1 pence per 
share paid on 29 June 2018, this makes a 
total dividend for the year of 23.3 pence 
per share (2017 22.7 pence).

Directors’ interests
The number of shares of the Company and 
of securities of other Group companies in 
which the Directors, or their families, had 
an interest at the year end, are stated in 
the Remuneration Report on page 67.

Employee Benefit Trust
The Executive Directors of the Company, 
together with other employees of the Group, 
are potential beneficiaries of the DMGT 
Employee Benefit Trust (Employee Trust) 
and, as such, are deemed to be interested 
in any A Shares held by the Employee Trust. 
At 30 September 2018, the Employee Trust’s 
shareholding totalled 2,981,109 A Shares. 

Between 30 September 2018 and 
28 November 2018 the Employee Trust 
transferred nil A Shares to satisfy the 
exercise of awards under employee 
share plans.

Significant shareholdings
As at 28 November 2018, the Company had 
been notified that Rothermere Continuation 
Limited held 100% of the issued Ordinary 
Shares. There has been no movement in 
this position since 30 September 2018.

The Board regards holdings in the 
Company’s securities of greater than 15% 
to be significant. There are no significant 
holdings in the Company’s A Shares other 
than those shown in the Remuneration 
Report on page 67.

S
t
r
a
t
e
g
i
c
R
e
p
o
r
t

G
o
v
e
r
n
a
n
c
e

F
i

n
a
n
c
i
a
l

S
t
a
t
e
m
e
n
t
s

S
h
a
r
e
h
o

l

d
e
r

I
n
f
o
r
m
a
t
i

o
n

Share capital
The Company has two classes of shares. 
Its total share capital is comprised of 5% 
Ordinary Shares and 95% A Shares. Full 
details of the Company’s share capital are 
given in Note 38. 

Holders of Ordinary and A Shares are entitled 
to receive the Company’s Annual Report. 
Holders of Ordinary Shares are entitled to 
attend and speak at general meetings and 
to appoint proxies and exercise voting rights.

During the year, the Company transferred 
2.9 million shares out of Treasury and the 
Employee Benefit Trust, representing 0.9% 
of called-up A Shares, in order to satisfy 
incentive schemes. The Company held 
7,793,528 shares in Treasury and the DMGT 
Employee Benefit Trust with a nominal value 
of £1.0 million at 30 September 2018. The 
maximum number of shares held in Treasury 
and by the DMGT Employee Benefit Trust 
during the year was 8,523,183, which had a 
nominal value of £1.1 million. The Company 
also purchased 2.2 million shares for holding 
in Treasury having a nominal value of 
£0.3 million in order to match obligations 
under various incentive plans. The 
consideration paid for these shares was 
£14.3 million. Shares purchased during 
the year represented 0.6% of the called-up 
A Share capital as at 30 September 2018. 

On 28 November 2018 the Company held 
4,812,419 Treasury Shares.

Details of allotments of share capital which 
arose solely from the exercise of options are 
given at Note 39.

Authority to purchase shares
At the Company’s AGM on 7 February 2018, 
the Company was authorised to make 
market purchases of up to 34,216,678 
A Shares representing approximately 10% 
of the total number of A Shares in issue. 
During the period from 29 November 2017 
to 30 September 2018, the Company 
purchased nil shares into Treasury,  
at a total cost of £nil (see Note 39).

External Auditor and disclosure of 
information to the External Auditor
So far as the Directors are aware, there is 
no relevant audit information of which the 
Company’s External Auditor is unaware. 
The Directors have taken all the steps that 
they ought to have taken as Directors in 
order to make themselves aware of any 
relevant audit information and to establish 
that the Company’s External Auditor is aware 
of that information. The Company’s External 
Auditor, PwC, has indicated its willingness to 

77

 
 
 
Governance

Governance
Statutory Information

serve and, in accordance with Section 489 
of the Companies Act 2006, a resolution 
proposing the reappointment of PwC will 
be put to the AGM on 6 February 2019.

Directors’ indemnity
A qualifying third-party indemnity (QTPI), 
as permitted by the Company’s Articles of 
Association and Sections 232 and 234 of the 
Companies Act 2006, has been granted by 
the Company to each of the Directors of the 
Company. Under the provisions of the QTPI, 
the Company undertakes to indemnify each 
Director against liability to third parties 
(excluding criminal and regulatory penalties) 
and to pay Directors’ defence costs as 
incurred, provided that they are reimbursed 
to the Company if the Director is found guilty 
or, in an action brought by the Company, 
judgment is given against the Director.

Going concern
A full description of the Group’s business 
activities, financial position, cash flows, 
liquidity position, committed facilities and 
borrowing position, together with the factors 
likely to affect its future development and 
performance, is set out in the Strategic 
Report, particularly the Financial Review 
on pages 22 to 29 and in the Notes to the 
accounts on page 95.

The Group has significant financial resources 
and the Directors, having reviewed the 
Group’s operating budgets, investment plans 
and financing arrangements, have assessed 
the future funding requirements of the Group 
and compared this to the level of committed 
facilities and cash resources. The Directors 
have a reasonable expectation that the 
Company and the Group have adequate 
resources to continue in operation for the 
foreseeable future. Accordingly, the Directors 
are satisfied that it is appropriate to adopt 
the going concern basis in preparing the 
Annual Report.

Viability Statement
A Viability Statement in respect of the 
Company can be found on page 26.

Directors’ responsibilities
The Directors are responsible for preparing 
the Annual Report, the Directors’ 
Remuneration Report and the Financial 
Statements in accordance with applicable 
law and regulations.

Company law requires the Directors to 
prepare Financial Statements for each 
financial year. Under that law, the Directors 
have prepared the Group Financial 
Statements in accordance with International 
Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) as 
adopted by the European Union, and the 
parent Company Financial Statements  
in accordance with applicable law and 
United Kingdom Accounting Standards 
(United Kingdom Generally Accepted 
Accounting Practice).

Under company law, the Directors must not 
approve the Financial Statements unless 
they are satisfied that they give a true and 
fair view of the state of affairs of the Group 
and the Company and of the profit or loss of 
the Group for that period. In preparing these 
Financial Statements, the Directors are 
required to:

•  select suitable accounting policies and 

then apply them consistently;
•  make judgements and accounting 
estimates that are reasonable and 
prudent;

•  state whether IFRS as adopted by the 

European Union and applicable United 
Kingdom Accounting Standards have 
been followed, subject to any material 
departures disclosed and explained in 
the Group and parent Company Financial 
Statements respectively; and

•  prepare the Financial Statements on 
the going concern basis unless it is 
inappropriate to presume that the 
Company will continue in business.

The Directors are responsible for keeping 
adequate accounting records that are 
sufficient to show and explain the Company’s 
transactions and disclose with reasonable 
accuracy at any time the financial position 
of the Company and the Group and enable 
them to ensure that the Financial Statements 
and the Directors’ Remuneration Report 
comply with the Companies Act 2006 and, 
as regards the Group Financial Statements, 

Article 4 of the International Accounting 
Standards Regulation. They are also 
responsible for safeguarding the assets of the 
Company and the Group and hence for taking 
reasonable steps for the prevention and 
detection of fraud and other irregularities.

The Directors are responsible for the 
maintenance and integrity of the Company’s 
website. Legislation in the United Kingdom 
governing the preparation and dissemination 
of Financial Statements may differ from 
legislation in other jurisdictions. Each of 
the Directors confirms that, to the best 
of his/her knowledge:

•  the Group Financial Statements, which 
have been prepared in accordance with 
IFRS as adopted by the EU, give a true and 
fair view of the assets, liabilities, financial 
position and profit of the Group; and

•  the Strategic Report contained on 

pages 2 to 35 includes a fair review of 
the development and performance of the 
business and the position of the Group, 
together with a description of the principal 
risks and uncertainties that it faces.

Relationship agreements
Daily Mail and General Trust plc entered 
into a Relationship Deed with Euromoney 
Institutional Investor PLC on 8 December 
2016, and ZPG Plc on 5 June 2014, in each 
case in accordance with the Listing Rules 
and have acted in accordance with the 
terms of the Deeds since execution. The ZPG 
Plc Relationship Deed ceased with the sale 
of the Group’s interest in the company.

Political donations
No political donations were made during 
the period.

Principal risks
The principal risks and how they are 
being managed or mitigated are shown on 
pages 32 to 35. The Directors have reviewed 
the Group’s principal risks including those 
that would threaten the Group’s business 
model, future performance, solvency 
or liquidity.

Events after the balance sheet date
Details are provided in Note 45.

S
t
r
a
t
e
g
i
c
R
e
p
o
r
t

G
o
v
e
r
n
a
n
c
e

F
i

n
a
n
c
i
a
l

S
t
a
t
e
m
e
n
t
s

S
h
a
r
e
h
o

l

d
e
r

I
n
f
o
r
m
a
t
i

o
n

78

 
 
 
Daily Mail and General Trust plc Annual Report 2018

Procedures are in place to facilitate 
disclosure. The Board reviews its position 
on conflicts of interest annually and at 
such other times as are appropriate.

Change of control
The Company is not party to any significant 
agreements that would take effect, alter or 
terminate upon a change of control of the 
Company following a takeover bid. However, 
certain of the Group’s third-party funding 
arrangements would terminate upon 
a change of control of the Company.

The Company does not have agreements 
with any Director or employee providing 
compensation for loss of office or 
employment that occurs because of a 
takeover bid, except for provisions in the 
rules of the Company’s share schemes 
which may result in options or awards 
granted to employees vesting on a takeover.

Transactions with Directors
No transaction, arrangement or agreement 
required to be disclosed in terms of the 
Companies Act 2006 and IAS 24, Related 
Parties, was outstanding at 30 September 
2018, nor was entered into during the year 
for any Director and/or connected person 
except as detailed in Note 44 (2017 none). 

Annual General Meeting
The AGM will be held at 9.00 am on 
Wednesday 6 February 2019 at Northcliffe 
House, 2 Derry Street, London W8 5TT. 
The resolutions to be put to the meeting 
are set out on pages 80 and 81. A notice 
of meeting will be issued to the holders of 
Ordinary Shares and their nominees only. 
Only Ordinary Shareholders will be entitled 
to attend. 

A resolution to reappoint the Group’s 
External Auditor PricewaterhouseCoopers 
LLP, will be proposed at the 2019 AGM. 

By order of the Board

F Sallas 
Company Secretary

Material contracts
Group companies undertake business with 
a range of customers and suppliers. There is 
no dependence on any particular contractual 
arrangement other than those disclosed in 
Note 41 as regards to ink and printing, where 
arrangements are in place until FY 2020 
and FY 2022 respectively in order to obtain 
competitive prices and to secure supplies. 
Arrangements are made biannually with 
a range of newsprint suppliers to ensure 
the security of supply at the best available 
prices, having regard to the need for the 
necessary quality. Since the Group is a 
diversified international portfolio of 
businesses, DMGT is not dependent on any 
supplier of other commodities for its revenue 
or any particular customer. Distribution 
arrangements are in place to ensure the 
delivery of newspapers to retail outlets. 

Employees
Details in respect of employees are in the 
Our People and Our Stakeholders section 
on pages 30 and 31.

Articles of Association
The appointment and replacement of 
Directors is governed by the Company’s 
Articles of Association. Any changes to the 
Articles of Association must be approved 
by the shareholders in accordance with 
the legislation in force from time to time. 

The Directors have authority to issue and 
allot A Shares pursuant to Article 9 of the 
Articles of Association and shareholder 
authority is requested at each AGM. The 
Directors have authority to make market 
purchases of A Shares. This authority is also 
renewed annually at the AGM.

Conflicts of interest
The Articles of Association permit the Board 
to authorise a conflict of interest in respect 
of any matter which would otherwise involve 
a Director breaching his duty under the 
Companies Act 2006 to avoid conflicts 
of interest.

When authorising a conflict of interest the 
Board must do so without the conflicting 
Director counting as part of the quorum. 
In the event that the Board considers it 
appropriate, the conflicted Director may be 
permitted to participate in the debate, but 
will neither be permitted to vote nor count 
in the quorum when the decision is being 
agreed. The Directors are aware that it is 
their responsibility to inform the Board of 
any potential conflicts as soon as possible. 

S
t
r
a
t
e
g
i
c
R
e
p
o
r
t

G
o
v
e
r
n
a
n
c
e

F
i

n
a
n
c
i
a
l

S
t
a
t
e
m
e
n
t
s

S
h
a
r
e
h
o

l

d
e
r

I
n
f
o
r
m
a
t
i

o
n

79

 
 
 
 
Governance

Governance
Annual General Meeting 2019: Resolutions

The Company’s Annual General Meeting 
(AGM) will be held at 9.00 am on Wednesday 
6 February 2019. Only the holders of 
Ordinary Shares are entitled to attend 
and vote. For information, below are the 
resolutions that will be put to the Ordinary 
Shareholders at the AGM. The results will be 
posted on the Company’s website following 
the meeting in the usual way.

As Ordinary Business

Report and Accounts
1. 

 To receive the Directors’ Report, the 
Accounts and the Auditor’s Report for the 
financial year ended 30 September 2018.

Remuneration Report
2.   To receive and approve the Directors’ 
Remuneration Report (other than 
the part containing the Directors’ 
Remuneration Policy) as set out on 
pages 54 to 76 of the Annual Report and 
Accounts for the financial year ended 
30 September 2018, in accordance with 
section 439 of the Companies Act 2006 
(the Act). 

Dividend
3. 

 To declare the final dividend 
recommended by the Directors of 16.2 
pence per Ordinary Share or A Ordinary 
Non-Voting Share (each an ‘A Share’) 
for the year ended 30 September 2018 
to all holders of Ordinary Shares and/or 
A Shares on the register at the close of 
business on 7 December 2018.

Directors
4. 

 To re-elect Viscount Rothermere  
as a Director

Auditor
16.  To reappoint PricewaterhouseCoopers 
LLP as the Company’s External Auditor 
until the end of the next general 
meeting at which accounts are laid 
before the Company.

17.  To authorise the Directors to determine 

the Company’s External Auditor’s 
remuneration.

As Special Business
18.  That the Company be and is hereby 

This authority revokes and replaces 
all unexercised authorities previously 
granted to the Directors to allot A Shares 
but without prejudice to any allotment of 
A Shares or grant of rights already made, 
offered or agreed to be made pursuant 
to such authority.

As Ordinary Business
19.  That the Directors be generally and 

unconditionally authorised pursuant  
to s551 of the Act to:

generally and unconditionally authorised 
for the purposes of s701 of the Act to 
make market purchases (within the 
meaning of s693(4) of the Act) of  
A Shares on the London Stock Exchange 
provided that:

(a)   the maximum aggregate number of 
A Shares which may be purchased 
is 33,739,205; 

(b)  the minimum price (excluding 

expenses) which may be paid for each 
A Share of 12.5 pence each in its share 
capital is not less than 12.5 pence 
per share;

(c)   the maximum price (excluding 

expenses) which may be paid for each 
A Share of 12.5 pence each in its share 
capital does not exceed the higher of:

(i) 

 5% above the average of the 
middle market quotation taken 
from the London Stock Exchange 
Daily Official List for the five 
business days immediately 
preceding the date of purchase; 
and

(a)   allot A Shares in the Company, and 
to grant rights to subscribe for or to 
convert any security into A Shares 
in the Company up to an aggregate 
nominal amount of £2,108,700 for 
a period expiring (unless previously 
renewed, varied or revoked by the 
Company in a general meeting) at 
the next AGM of the Company after 
the date on which this Resolution is 
passed or on 6 May 2020, whichever 
is the earlier; and

(b)  make an offer or agreement which 

would or might require A Shares to be 
allotted, or rights to subscribe for or 
to convert any security into A Shares 
to be granted, after expiry of this 
authority and the Directors may allot 
A Shares and grant rights in pursuance 
of that offer or agreement as if this 
authority had not expired.

This authority revokes and replaces 
all unexercised authorities previously 
granted to the Directors to allot A Shares 
but without prejudice to any allotment of 
A Shares or grant of rights already made, 
offered or agreed to be made pursuant to 
such authority.

5.  To re-elect Mr Beatty as a Director.

(ii)   the higher of the price of the 

6.  To re-elect Mr Collier as a Director.

7.  To re-elect Lady Keswick as a Director.

8.  To re-elect Mr Lane as a Director.

9.  To re-elect Mr Morin as a Director.

10. To re-elect Mr Nelson as a Director. 

11. To re-elect Mr Parry as a Director.

12. To re-elect Mr Rangaswami as a Director.

13. To re-elect Ms Roizen as a Director.

14. To re-elect Mr Trempont as a Director.

15. To re-elect Mr Zwillenberg as a Director.

last independent trade and the 
highest current independent 
bid as stipulated by Regulatory 
Technical Standards adopted by 
the European Commission under 
Article 5(6) of the Market Abuse 
Regulation (EU) No 596/2014; and 

(d)  the authority conferred by this 

Resolution shall expire on the date of 
the AGM next held after the passing 
of this Resolution or on 6 May 2020 
whichever is the earlier (except in 
relation to the purchase of shares the 
contract for which was concluded 
before such date and which would or 
might be executed wholly or partly 
after such date).

80

S
t
r
a
t
e
g
i
c
R
e
p
o
r
t

G
o
v
e
r
n
a
n
c
e

F
i

n
a
n
c
i
a
l

S
t
a
t
e
m
e
n
t
s

S
h
a
r
e
h
o

l

d
e
r

I
n
f
o
r
m
a
t
i

o
n

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Governance

Annual General Meeting 2019: Resolutions

Daily Mail and General Trust plc Annual Report 2018

Notice
22.  That, a general meeting other than an 
Annual General Meeting may be called 
on not less than 14 clear days’ notice.

By order of the Board

F Sallas
Company Secretary

Daily Mail and General Trust plc 
Northcliffe House, 2 Derry Street,  
London W8 5TT

28 November 2018

As Special Business
20.  If Resolution 19 is passed, that the 
Directors be generally empowered 
pursuant to s570 and s573 of the Act to 
allot A Shares or grant rights to subscribe 
for or to convert any security into A 
Shares, for cash, or sell A Shares held by 
the Company as Treasury Shares for cash, 
pursuant to the authority conferred by 
Resolution 19, as if s561(1) of the Act did 
not apply to the allotment. This power: 

21.  If Resolution 19 is passed, that the 

Directors be generally and unconditionally 
empowered, in addition to any authority 
granted under Resolution 20, pursuant to 
s570 and s573 of the Act to allot equity 
securities for cash pursuant to the 
authority conferred by Resolution 19, 
and/or to sell A Shares held by the 
Company as Treasury Shares for cash, 
as if s561(1) of the Act did not apply to 
the allotment or sale. This power: 

(a)   expires (unless previously renewed, 

(a)  expires (unless previously renewed, 

varied or revoked by the Company in 
a general meeting) at the next AGM of 
the Company after the date on which 
this Resolution is passed or on 6 May 
2020, whichever is the earlier, but the 
Company may make an offer or 
agreement which would or might 
require such securities to be allotted 
after expiry of this power and the 
Directors may allot such securities in 
pursuance of that offer or agreement 
as if this power had not expired; and

(b)  shall be limited to the allotment of 
such A Shares, the grant of rights 
to subscribe for or to convert any 
security into A Shares or the sale 
of A Shares held by the Company 
as Treasury Shares for cash, up to 
an aggregate nominal amount 
of £2,108,700.

varied or revoked by the Company in 
a general meeting) at the next AGM 
of the Company after the date on 
which this Resolution is passed or on 
6 May 2020, whichever is the earlier, 
but the Company may make an offer 
or agreement which would or might 
require such securities to be allotted 
after expiry of this power and the 
Directors may allot such securities in 
pursuance of that offer or agreement 
as if this power had not expired; 

(b)  shall be limited to the allotment of 
equity securities and/or the sale of 
A Shares held by the Company as 
Treasury Shares for cash, up to an 
aggregate nominal amount of 
£2,108,700; and 

(c)  shall be used only for the purposes 
of financing (or refinancing, if the 
authority is to be used within six 
months after the original transaction) 
a transaction which the Board 
determines to be an acquisition or 
other capital investment of a kind 
contemplated by the Statement of 
Principles on Disapplying Pre-Emption 
Rights most recently published by the 
Pre-Emption Group prior to the date of 
this notice.

S
t
r
a
t
e
g
i
c
R
e
p
o
r
t

G
o
v
e
r
n
a
n
c
e

F
i

n
a
n
c
i
a
l

S
t
a
t
e
m
e
n
t
s

S
h
a
r
e
h
o

l

d
e
r

I
n
f
o
r
m
a
t
i

o
n

81

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Financial Statements

Financial Statements
Independent auditor’s report to the members  
of Daily Mail and General Trust plc

Report on the audit of the 
financial statements
Opinion
In our opinion:

•  Daily Mail and General Trust plc’s Group 

financial statements and parent Company 
financial statements (the “financial 
statements”) give a true and fair view of 
the state of the Group’s and of the parent 
Company’s affairs as at 30 September 
2018 and of the Group’s profit and cash 
flows for the year then ended;

•  the Group financial statements have been 
properly prepared in accordance with 
International Financial Reporting 
Standards (IFRSs) as adopted by the 
European Union;

•  the parent Company financial statements 

have been properly prepared in 
accordance with United Kingdom 
Generally Accepted Accounting Practice 
(United Kingdom Accounting Standards, 
comprising FRS 101 “Reduced Disclosure 
Framework”, and applicable law); 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.

We have audited the financial statements, 
included within the Annual Report, which 
comprise: Company and Consolidated 
Statement of Financial Position; 
Consolidated Income Statement; 
Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive 
Income; Company and Consolidated 
Statement of Changes in Equity; 
Consolidated Cash Flow Statement; and the 
Notes to the financial statements, which 
include a description of the significant 
accounting policies.

Our opinion is consistent with our reporting 
to the Audit Committee.

Basis for opinion
We conducted our audit in accordance with 
International Standards on Auditing (UK) 
(“ISAs (UK)”) and applicable law. Our 
responsibilities under ISAs (UK) are further 
described in the Auditor’s responsibilities for 
the audit of the financial statements section 
of our report. We believe that the audit 
evidence we have obtained is sufficient 
and appropriate to provide a basis for 
our opinion.

Independence
We remained independent of the Group in 
accordance with the ethical requirements 
that are relevant to our audit of the financial 
statements in the UK, which includes the 
FRC’s Ethical Standard, as applicable to 
listed public interest entities, and we have 
fulfilled our other ethical responsibilities 
in accordance with these requirements.

To the best of our knowledge and belief, we 
declare that non-audit services prohibited by 
the FRC’s Ethical Standard were not provided 
to the Group or the parent Company.

Other than those disclosed in Note 5 to the 
financial statements, we have provided no 
non-audit services to the Group or the parent 
Company in the period from 1 October 2017 
to 30 September 2018.

Our audit approach
Overview
Materiality 
•  Overall Group materiality: £7.2 million 

(2017: £9 million), based on 4% of adjusted 
profit before tax.

•  Overall parent Company materiality: 
£38 million (2017: £9 million), based  
on 1% of total assets (2017: Overall 
Group materiality).

Audit scope
•  Of the Group’s six trading reporting 

divisions, we obtained full scope audits 
for Consumer Media and Insurance Risk.

•  For Events and Exhibitions, Property 
Information, EdTech and Energy 
Information we scoped our audit at 
a business level, and identified ten 
businesses over which we performed 
either a full scope audit or specified 
audit procedures on certain balances 
or transactions.

•  A full scope audit was also performed 
for the Group’s material associate, 
Euromoney Institutional Investor PLC. 
Specified audit procedures were 
performed for ZPG Plc up to the date 
of disposal. 

•  Taken together, the components where we 
performed audit work accounted for 84% 
of Group revenue and 70% of absolute 
adjusted profit before taxation.

Key audit matters
•  Impairment of intangible assets and 

goodwill (Group).

•  Accounting for disposals (Group).
•  Presentation of adjusted profit (Group).

•  Accounting for deferred taxation 

and uncertain tax positions (Group).

•  Carrying value of investments 

in subsidiaries (Parent).

The scope of our audit
As part of designing our audit, we 
determined materiality and assessed 
the risks of material misstatement in the 
financial statements. In particular, we looked 
at where the directors made subjective 
judgements, for example in respect of 
significant accounting estimates that 
involved making assumptions and 
considering future events that are 
inherently uncertain. 

We gained an understanding of the legal 
and regulatory framework applicable to 
the Group and the industries in which it 
operates, and considered the risk of acts by 
the Group which were contrary to applicable 
laws and regulations, including fraud. We 
designed audit procedures at Group and 
significant component level to respond to 
the risk, recognising that the risk of not 
detecting a material misstatement due to 
fraud is higher than the risk of not detecting 
one resulting from error, as fraud may 
involve deliberate concealment by, 
for example, forgery or intentional 
misrepresentations, or through collusion. 
We focused on laws and regulations that 
could give rise to a material misstatement 
in the Group and parent Company financial 
statements, including, but not limited to, 
International Standards on Auditing (UK) 
(“ISAs (UK)”) and applicable law. Our tests 
included, but were not limited to, review of 
the financial statement disclosures to 
underlying supporting documentation, 
enquiry with internal counsel and 
confirmations with external counsel, review 
of significant component auditors’ work and 
review of internal audit reports in so far as 
they related to the financial statements. 
There are inherent limitations in the audit 
procedures described above and the further 
removed non-compliance with laws and 
regulations is from the events and 
transactions reflected in the financial 
statements, the less likely we would become 
aware of it.

We did not identify any key audit matters 
relating to irregularities, including fraud. As 
in all of our audits we also addressed the risk 
of management override of internal controls, 
including testing journals and evaluating 
whether there was evidence of bias by the 
directors that represented a risk of material 
misstatement due to fraud. 

S
t
r
a
t
e
g
i
c
R
e
p
o
r
t

G
o
v
e
r
n
a
n
c
e

F
i

n
a
n
c
i
a
l

S
t
a
t
e
m
e
n
t
s

S
h
a
r
e
h
o

l

d
e
r

I
n
f
o
r
m
a
t
i

o
n

82

 
 
 
Daily Mail and General Trust plc Annual Report 2018

Key audit matters
Key audit matters are those matters that, in the auditor’s professional judgement, were of most significance in the audit of the financial 
statements of the current period and include the most significant assessed risks of material misstatement (whether or not due to fraud) 
identified by the auditors, 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. These matters, and any comments we make on the results of our procedures thereon, were 
addressed in the context of our audit of the financial statements as a whole, and in forming our opinion thereon, and we do not provide a 
separate opinion on these matters. This is not a complete list of all risks identified by our audit. 

Key audit matter
Impairment of intangible assets and goodwill (Group)
Refer to the Audit & Risk Committee report on pages 46 to 52  
and to Notes 21 and 22 in the Consolidated Financial Statements.

The Group had £333 million of goodwill and a further £131 million  
of intangible assets on the balance sheet at 30 September 2018. 
Impairment charges of £58 million have been recorded against 
intangible assets relating to RMS(one) following management’s 
change in strategy. 

How our audit addressed the key audit matter

As part of our audit of the directors’ impairment reviews (for both 
goodwill and intangible assets) we evaluated future cash flow forecasts 
and the process by which they were drawn up. This included 
comparing them to the latest Board approved budgets and 
management’s three year plans, and testing the underlying calculations.

For the impairment assessment of goodwill and intangible assets we 
tested all key assumptions, including:

The carrying values of the remaining goodwill and intangible assets 
are contingent on future cash flows of the underlying CGUs and 
there is a risk that if these cash flows do not meet the directors’ 
expectations that some of these assets will be impaired. 

•  revenue and profit assumptions included within budgets and future 
forecasts, by considering the historical accuracy of budgets against 
actual results;

•  the long-term growth rates in the forecasts by comparing them to 

historical results, economic and industry forecasts, and comparable 
companies;

•  the discount rate by comparing the cost of capital for the Group with 
comparable organisations, and assessed the specific risk premium 
applied to the business in question; and

•  the directors’ potential bias through performance of our own 

sensitivity analysis on key assumptions particularly those driving 
underlying cash flows.

We engaged our valuation specialists to assist us in evaluating the 
appropriateness of key market related assumptions in the directors’ 
valuation models, including discount and long term growth rates.

In addition, we corroborated the value in use assessment by reference 
to implied multiples of comparable companies, recent transactions 
and other third party reports where available.

With regards to RMS(one) we met with relevant directors, software 
staff, and sales staff to gain an understanding of the change in strategy 
and corroborate facts and circumstances around the full impairment 
loss taken of £58 million. 

We considered the need for additional sensitivity disclosures for CGUs 
with limited headroom as required by IAS 36 Impairment of Assets  
and we agree with the directors’ decision to provide these additional 
disclosures for Genscape and Hobsons. 

For those assets where the directors determined that no impairment 
was required and that no additional sensitivity disclosures were 
necessary, we found that these judgements were supported by 
reasonable assumptions that would require significant downside 
changes before any additional material impairment was necessary.

83

S
t
r
a
t
e
g
i
c
R
e
p
o
r
t

G
o
v
e
r
n
a
n
c
e

F
i

n
a
n
c
i
a
l

S
t
a
t
e
m
e
n
t
s

S
h
a
r
e
h
o

l

d
e
r

I
n
f
o
r
m
a
t
i

o
n

 
 
 
Financial Statements

Financial Statements
Independent auditor’s report to the members  
of Daily Mail and General Trust plc

Key audit matter

How our audit addressed the key audit matter

Accounting for disposals (Group)
Refer to the Audit & Risk Committee report on pages 46 to 52 
and to Notes 8 and 18 in the Consolidated Financial Statements.

During the year, the Group executed a number of disposals 
of subsidiaries including:

•  disposal of Locus Energy, Inc. in exchange for a 17.9% interest 

in AlsoEnergy Holdings, Inc.;

•  disposal of the Environmental Data Resources (EDR) business; 
and disposal of the Group’s 29.9% shareholding in ZPG Plc.

The calculation of the profit on disposals can be complex. 

For the Group’s 17.9% interest in AlsoEnergy Holdings resulting from 
the sale of Locus, we considered and concluded that DMGT has the 
ability to exert significant influence over the business given sufficient 
voting rights and board presence to be considered an associate in 
accordance with IAS 28 Investments in Associates and Joint Ventures. 

We considered the valuation of the Group’s holding in AlsoEnergy 
with reference to multiples derived by a third party from comparable 
market transactions and applied sensitivities to management’s 
calculations to demonstrate the valuation was reasonable.

With regards to the calculation of the profit on disposals, we:

•  obtained and recalculated the directors’ calculation of the profit 

on disposal;

•  verified the fair value of consideration received to underlying 
support including cash transactions and the Share Purchase 
Agreements; and 

•  recalculated foreign exchange differences that were appropriately 

recycled on disposal. 

Based on the procedures performed, we concluded that the 
accounting for the disposals was accurate and the disclosures 
were sufficient.

Presentation of adjusted profit (Group)
Refer to the Audit & Risk Committee report on pages 46 to 52 and  
to Note 13 in the Consolidated Financial Statements.

We have considered the appropriateness of the adjustments made to 
statutory profit before taxation to derive adjusted profit before tax.

The Group presents adjusted profit before taxation to enable users 
of the financial statements to gain a better understanding of the 
underlying results. In arriving at adjusted profit a number of items 
are considered ‘exceptional’ by management and are excluded from 
underlying earnings.

We have understood the rationale for classifying items as exceptional 
or non-trading and considered whether this is reasonable and 
consistent, in that it includes items that both increase and decrease 
the adjusted profit measure, are consistent year on year, and are in 
accordance with the Group’s accounting policy.

The classification of items as non-trading or exceptional is an 
area of judgement and the appropriateness and consistency of 
the presentation of adjusted measures of performance continues 
to attract scrutiny from the financial reporting regulators.

We have also audited the reconciliation of adjusted profit to statutory 
profit in Note 13, and agreed all material adjustments to underlying 
accounting records and our audit work performed over other balances.

We have determined that the rationale for including or excluding items 
from adjusted profit has been consistently applied across gains and 
losses and year on year.

We consider the Group’s disclosures setting out the reasons for its use 
of alternative performance measures and the reconciliations of these 
measures to the statutory amounts to be in line with the FRC guidance 
in this area.

S
t
r
a
t
e
g
i
c
R
e
p
o
r
t

G
o
v
e
r
n
a
n
c
e

F
i

n
a
n
c
i
a
l

S
t
a
t
e
m
e
n
t
s

S
h
a
r
e
h
o

l

d
e
r

I
n
f
o
r
m
a
t
i

o
n

84

 
 
 
Daily Mail and General Trust plc Annual Report 2018

Key audit matter

How our audit addressed the key audit matter

Accounting for deferred taxation and uncertain tax  
positions (Group)
Refer to the Audit & Risk Committee report on pages 46 to 52  
and to Note 37 in the Consolidated Financial Statements.

The Group’s recognition of deferred tax assets in respect of trading 
and non-trading tax losses in the Group is an area of focus due to 
the quantum of the losses and the requirement to make estimates 
of future taxable profits in determining the valuation of deferred 
tax assets.

In addition, the Group has provisions for uncertain tax positions 
relating to both historic and current tax arrangements.

The recognition and measurement of these items in the financial 
statements is judgemental, and we focussed on the directors’ 
forecasts of future profits against which to utilise accumulated 
losses, and the technical interpretation of taxation law in respect 
to transactions giving rise to deferred tax assets and uncertain 
tax positions.

Carrying value of investments in subsidiaries (Parent)
Refer to Note 8 to the Company financial statements.

Investments in subsidiaries of £3,034 million are accounted 
for at cost less impairment in the Company balance sheet 
at 30 September 2018.

Investments are tested for impairment if impairment indicators 
exist. If such indicators exist, the recoverable amounts of the 
investments in subsidiaries are estimated in order to determine 
the extent of the impairment loss, if any. Any such impairment loss 
is recognised in the income statement. 

During the year, impairments of £320 million were recognised 
against the Company’s investments following the sale of EDR 
and ZPG plc and resulting dividend distribution from the Group 
undertakings to the Company. 

We involved our in-house tax specialists in our testing of the 
appropriateness of the estimates and judgements taken in relation to 
deferred taxation and in respect of uncertain tax positions recognised 
in the financial statements.

In assessing the likelihood of the Group being able to generate 
sufficient future taxable profits against which to offset accumulated 
losses, we considered:

•  key inputs to the calculation including revenue and profit 

assumptions, in line with our work over the carrying value of 
goodwill and intangible assets; and

•  the directors’ ability to accurately forecast future profits. 

In understanding and evaluating the directors’ technical interpretation 
of tax law in respect of specific transactions that gave rise to deferred 
tax assets we considered:

•  third party tax advice received by the Group;
•  the status of recent and current tax authority audits and enquiries;
•  the outturn of previous claims;
• 

judgemental positions taken in tax returns and current year 
estimates; and

•  developments in the tax environment, including US tax reform.

We consider the valuation of the deferred tax assets and the level  
of tax provisions to be acceptable in the context of the Group  
financial statements.

We evaluated management’s assumption whether any indicators of 
impairment existed by comparing the net assets of the subsidiaries at 
30 September 2018 with the Company’s investment carrying values.

For those investments where the net assets were lower than the 
carrying values, management prepared a discounted cash flow model. 
We have tested the value in use methodology and key assumptions, 
including profit growth rates, terminal value and discount rates 
management has applied, leveraging our work over the carrying value 
of goodwill and intangible assets. We performed our own independent 
sensitivity analysis to understand the impact of changes in 
management’s assumptions.

As a result of our work, we considered the £320 million impairment 
charge to be appropriate and that the remaining carrying values of 
the investments held by the Company are supportable in the context 
of the Company financial statements taken as a whole.

S
t
r
a
t
e
g
i
c
R
e
p
o
r
t

G
o
v
e
r
n
a
n
c
e

F
i

n
a
n
c
i
a
l

S
t
a
t
e
m
e
n
t
s

S
h
a
r
e
h
o

l

d
e
r

I
n
f
o
r
m
a
t
i

o
n

85

 
 
 
Financial Statements

Financial Statements
Independent auditor’s report to the members  
of Daily Mail and General Trust plc

How we tailored the audit scope
We tailored the scope of our audit to 
ensure that we performed enough work to 
be able to give an opinion on the financial 
statements as a whole, taking into account 
the structure of the Group and the parent 
Company, the accounting processes and 
controls, and the industry in which 
they operate.

The Group consists of a head office and six 
trading reporting divisions: Insurance Risk; 
Consumer Media; Property Information; 
EdTech; Energy Information; and Events and 
Exhibitions. As each of these prepares a 
sub-consolidation, we considered each of 
these to be separate divisions. We scoped 
our audit of Consumer Media and Insurance 
Risk at a divisional level. For Property 
Information, EdTech, Energy Information, 
and Events and Exhibitions, we scoped 
our audit at business level, with divisional 
consolidation adjustments audited at the 
Group level. 

We identified Consumer Media as requiring 
an audit of their complete financial 
information due to its size. In order to obtain 
sufficient and appropriate audit evidence 
over the Group as a whole we also instructed 
our component team to complete a full 
scope audit of the Insurance Risk. 

Within Property Information, we identified 
two UK businesses, Searchflow Ltd and 
Landmark Information Group Ltd, for which 
we performed accelerated statutory audits 
to align with the Group audit timetable. 

Within EdTech, we instructed our component 
team to perform a full scope audit of 
Hobsons Inc, a US business.

Within Energy Information, we performed 
a full scope audit of Genscape Inc,  
a US business.

Within Events and Exhibitions, we performed 
full scope audits of DMG World Media Dubai 
(2006) Ltd and dmg world media (Abu Dhabi) 
Ltd, as well as performed an accelerated 
statutory audit of dmg events (UK) Ltd, a UK 
business, to align with the Group timetable. 

For one US business for which statutory 
audits are not required, Trepp LLC, within 
Property Information, we conducted 
specified procedures over higher risk 
financial statement line items, including 
revenue and capitalised development spend. 

A full scope audit was also performed by 
our component team for the Euromoney 
Institutional Investor PLC. Specified 
procedures were performed over ZPG Plc, 
which rely on work performed by Deloitte 
LLP, who are ZPG Plc’s auditors, and we 
centrally performed additional procedures 
to calculate the Group’s share of these 
results prior to disposal. 

Taken together, the components where we 
performed audit work accounted for 84% of 
Group revenue and 70% of absolute adjusted 
profit before taxation.

We sent detailed instructions to all 
component audit teams, which included 
communication of the areas of focus above 
and other required communications. In 
addition, regular meetings were held with 
the UK and overseas audit teams.

This, together with additional procedures 
performed at the Group level (including audit 
procedures over impairment of goodwill and 
intangibles, material head office entities, tax, 
pensions and consolidation adjustments), 
gave us the evidence we needed for our 
opinion on the Group financial statements 
as a whole. 

Materiality
The scope of our audit was influenced 
by our application of materiality. We 
set certain quantitative thresholds for 
materiality. These, together with qualitative 
considerations, helped us to determine the 
scope of our audit and the nature, timing 
and extent of our audit procedures on the 
individual financial statement line items 
and disclosures and in evaluating the effect 
of misstatements, both individually and 
in aggregate on the financial statements 
as a whole. 

Based on our professional judgement, we determined materiality for the financial statements as a whole as follows:

Overall materiality
How we determined it

Rationale for  
benchmark applied

Group financial statements
£7.2 million (2017: £9 million).
4% of adjusted profit before tax.

The Group is profit oriented. Adjusted profit before 
taxation is the adjusted performance measure that 
is reported to investors and shareholders and is 
the measure which the directors consider best 
represents the underlying performance of the 
Group. Due to the inherent judgement in 
classification of certain items as non-trading, 
and therefore non-underlying, we have applied 
a 4% rule of thumb, which is lower than the 5% 
suggested by ISAs (UK) for the audit of profit-
oriented entities.

Parent Company financial statements
£38 million (2017: £9 million).
1% of total assets (2017: Overall Group 
materiality).
The parent Company is not profit oriented. Total 
assets is used as the benchmark as the parent 
Company’s principal activity is to hold investments, 
creditors, and debtors balances. We have applied 
a 1% rule of thumb suggested by ISAs (UK) as the 
parent Company is a public interest entity.

For each component in the scope of our Group audit, we allocated a materiality that is less than our overall Group materiality. The range 
of materiality allocated across components was between £0.68 million and £5 million.

We agreed with the Audit & Risk Committee that we would report to them misstatements identified during our audit above £0.5 million (Group 
audit) (2017: £0.5 million) and £1.9 million (parent Company audit) (2017: £0.5 million) as well as misstatements below those amounts that, 
in our view, warranted reporting for qualitative reasons.

S
t
r
a
t
e
g
i
c
R
e
p
o
r
t

G
o
v
e
r
n
a
n
c
e

F
i

n
a
n
c
i
a
l

S
t
a
t
e
m
e
n
t
s

S
h
a
r
e
h
o

l

d
e
r

I
n
f
o
r
m
a
t
i

o
n

86

 
 
 
Daily Mail and General Trust plc Annual Report 2018

Going concern
In accordance with ISAs (UK) we report as follows:

Reporting obligation
We are required to report if we have anything material to add or draw attention to in 
respect of the directors’ statement in the financial statements about whether the directors 
considered it appropriate to adopt the going concern basis of accounting in preparing the 
financial statements and the directors’ identification of any material uncertainties to the 
Group’s and the parent Company’s ability to continue as a going concern over a period of 
at least twelve months from the date of approval of the financial statements.

Outcome
We have nothing material to add or to draw 
attention to. However, because not all future 
events or conditions can be predicted, this 
statement is not a guarantee as to the Group’s 
and parent Company’s ability to continue as a  
going concern.

Reporting on other information 
The other information comprises all of the information in the Annual Report other than the financial statements and our auditor’s report thereon. 
The directors are responsible for the other information. Our opinion on the financial statements does not cover the other information and, 
accordingly, we do not express an audit opinion or, except to the extent otherwise explicitly stated in this report, any form of assurance thereon. 

In connection with our audit of the financial statements, our responsibility is to read the other information and, in doing so, consider whether 
the other information is materially inconsistent with the financial statements or our knowledge obtained in the audit, or otherwise appears to 
be materially misstated. If we identify an apparent material inconsistency or material misstatement, we are required to perform procedures to 
conclude whether there is a material misstatement of the financial statements or a material misstatement of the other information. If, based on 
the work we have performed, we conclude that there is a material misstatement of this other information, we are required to report that fact. 
We have nothing to report based on these responsibilities.

With respect to the Strategic Report and Directors’ Report, we also considered whether the disclosures required by the UK Companies Act 2006 
have been included. 

Based on the responsibilities described above and our work undertaken in the course of the audit, the Companies Act 2006 (CA06) and ISAs (UK) 
require us also to report certain opinions and matters as described below (required by ISAs (UK) unless otherwise stated).

Strategic Report and Directors’ Report
In our opinion, based on the work undertaken in the course of the audit, the information given in the Strategic Report and Directors’ Report 
for the year ended 30 September 2018 is consistent with the financial statements and has been prepared in accordance with applicable legal 
requirements. (CA06)

In light of the knowledge and understanding of the Group and parent Company and their environment obtained in the course of the audit, 
we did not identify any material misstatements in the Strategic Report and Directors’ Report. (CA06)
The directors’ assessment of the prospects of the Group and of the principal risks that would threaten the solvency or liquidity  
of the Group
As a result of the directors’ voluntary reporting on how they have applied the 2016 UK Corporate Governance Code (the Code), we are required 
to report to you if we have anything material to add or draw attention to regarding: 

•  The directors’ confirmation on pages 32 to 35 of the Annual Report that they have carried out a robust assessment of the principal risks 

facing the Group, including those that would threaten its business model, future performance, solvency or liquidity.
•  The disclosures in the Annual Report that describe those risks and explain how they are being managed or mitigated.
•  The directors’ explanation on page 26 of the Annual Report as to how they have assessed the prospects of the Group, over what period they 
have done so and why they consider 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.

We have nothing to report in respect of this responsibility. 
Other Code Provisions
As a result of the directors’ voluntary reporting on how they have applied the Code, we are required to report to you if, in our opinion: 

•  The statement given by the directors, on page 44, that they consider the Annual Report taken as a whole to be fair, balanced and 

understandable, and provides the information necessary for the members to assess the Group’s and parent Company’s position and 
performance, business model and strategy is materially inconsistent with our knowledge of the Group and parent Company obtained in the 
course of performing our audit.

•  The section of the Annual Report on pages 46 to 52 describing the work of the Audit & Risk Committee does not appropriately address 

matters communicated by us to the Audit & Risk Committee.

We have nothing to report in respect of this responsibility. 
Directors’ Remuneration
In our opinion, the part of the Directors’ Remuneration Report to be audited has been properly prepared in accordance with the Companies 
Act 2006. (CA06)

S
t
r
a
t
e
g
i
c
R
e
p
o
r
t

G
o
v
e
r
n
a
n
c
e

F
i

n
a
n
c
i
a
l

S
t
a
t
e
m
e
n
t
s

S
h
a
r
e
h
o

l

d
e
r

I
n
f
o
r
m
a
t
i

o
n

87

 
 
 
Financial Statements

Financial Statements
Independent auditor’s report to the members  
of Daily Mail and General Trust plc

Responsibilities for the financial 
statements and the audit
Responsibilities of the directors for the 
financial statements
As explained more fully in the Directors’ 
Responsibilities set out on page 78, the 
directors are responsible for the preparation 
of the financial statements in accordance 
with the applicable framework and for being 
satisfied that they give a true and fair view. 
The directors are also 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.

In preparing the financial statements, the 
directors are responsible for assessing the 
Group’s and the 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 the directors 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 for the audit 
of the financial statements
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 an auditors’ report that includes 
our opinion. Reasonable assurance is a high 
level of assurance, but is not a 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 the aggregate, they could reasonably 
be expected to influence the economic 
decisions of users taken on the basis of 
these financial statements. 

A further description of our responsibilities 
for the audit of the financial statements is 
located on the FRC’s website at: www.frc.org.
uk/auditorsresponsibilities. This description 
forms part of our auditor’s report.

Use of this report
This report, including the opinions, 
has been prepared for and only for the 
parent Company’s members as a body in 
accordance with Chapter 3 of Part 16 of 
the Companies Act 2006 and for no other 
purpose. We do not, in giving these opinions, 
accept or assume responsibility for any other 
purpose or to any other person to whom this 
report is shown or into whose hands it may 
come save where expressly agreed by our 
prior consent in writing.

Other required reporting
Companies Act 2006 exception reporting
Under the Companies Act 2006 we are 
required to report to you if, in our opinion:

•  we have not received all the information 
and explanations we require for our 
audit; or

•  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

•  certain disclosures of directors’ 

remuneration specified by law are not 
made; 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. 

We have no exceptions to report arising from 
this responsibility. 

Appointment
Following the recommendation of the 
Audit Committee, we were appointed by the 
members on 4 February 2015 to audit the 
financial statements for the year ended 
30 September 2015 and subsequent 
financial periods. The period of total 
uninterrupted engagement is 4 years, 
covering the years ended 30 September 2015 
to 30 September 2018.

Other voluntary reporting
Going concern
The directors have requested that we review 
the statement on page 78 in relation to going 
concern as if the parent Company were a 
premium listed company. We have nothing 
to report having performed our review.

The directors’ assessment of the 
prospects of the Group and of the 
principal risks that would threaten 
the solvency or liquidity of the Group
The directors have requested that we 
perform a review of the directors’ 
statements on pages 32 to 35 that they 
have carried out a robust assessment of 
the principal risks facing the Group and in 
relation to the longer-term viability of the 
Group, as if the parent Company were a 
premium listed company. Our review was 
substantially less in scope than an audit and 
only consisted of making inquiries and 
considering the directors’ process supporting 
their statements; checking that the 
statements are in alignment with the 
relevant provisions of the Code; and 
considering whether the statements are 
consistent with the knowledge and 
understanding of the Group and parent 
Company and their environment obtained 
in the course of the audit. We have nothing 
to report having performed this review.

Other Code provisions
The directors have prepared a corporate 
governance statement and requested 
that we review it as though the parent 
Company were a premium listed company. 
We have nothing to report in respect of the 
requirement for the auditors of premium 
listed companies to report when the 
directors’ statement relating to the parent 
Company’s compliance with the Code does 
not properly disclose a departure from a 
relevant provision of the Code specified, 
under the Listing Rules, for review by 
the auditors.

Neil Grimes (Senior Statutory Auditor)
for and on behalf of  
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP 
Chartered Accountants and  
Statutory Auditors 
London

28 November 2018

S
t
r
a
t
e
g
i
c
R
e
p
o
r
t

G
o
v
e
r
n
a
n
c
e

F
i

n
a
n
c
i
a
l

S
t
a
t
e
m
e
n
t
s

S
h
a
r
e
h
o

l

d
e
r

I
n
f
o
r
m
a
t
i

o
n

88

 
 
 
Daily Mail and General Trust plc Annual Report 2018

Consolidated Income Statement 

For the year ended 30 September 2018 

CONTINUING OPERATIONS 
Revenue 

Year ended 
30 September  
2018 
£m 

Year ended  
30 September  
2017 
£m 

Note 

3 

1,426.4 

1,564.3 

Adjusted operating profit 
Exceptional operating costs, impairment of internally generated and acquired computer software, 
property, plant and equipment 
Amortisation and impairment of acquired intangible assets arising on business combinations  
and impairment of goodwill 

3, (i) 

3 

3, 21, 22 

4 
7 

8 

9 
10 
10 

11 

19 

39 
40 

14 

Operating profit/(loss) before share of results of joint ventures and associates 
Share of results of joint ventures and associates 

Total operating profit/(loss) 
Other gains and losses 

Profit/(loss) before investment revenue, net finance costs and tax 
Investment revenue 
Finance expense 
Finance income 

Net finance costs 

Profit/(loss) before tax 
Tax 

Profit/(loss) after tax from continuing operations 

DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS 
Profit from discontinued operations 
PROFIT FOR THE YEAR 

Attributable to: 
Owners of the Company 
Non-controlling interests* 
Profit for the year 

Earnings/(loss) per share 
From continuing operations 
Basic 
Diluted 
From discontinued operations 
Basic 
Diluted 
From continuing and discontinued operations 
Basic 
Diluted 
Adjusted earnings per share 
Basic 
Diluted 

*Continuing operations 
Discontinued operations 

144.9 

179.0 

(78.9) 

(15.8) 

50.2 
118.4 
168.6 
553.0 
721.6 
4.8 
(40.0) 
5.5 

(34.5) 

691.9 
(3.7) 
688.2 

– 
688.2 

689.4 
(1.2) 
688.2 

194.7p 
192.4p 

– 
– 

194.7p 
192.4p 

42.2p 
41.7p 

(1.2) 
– 
(1.2) 

(166.2) 

(158.2) 

(145.4) 
16.9 
(128.5) 
14.0 
(114.5) 
2.5 
(43.8) 
43.5 
(0.3) 

(112.3) 
(64.7) 
(177.0) 

519.3 
342.3 

345.3 
(3.0) 
342.3 

(49.3)p 
(48.5)p 

147.1p 
144.8p 

97.8p 
96.3p 

55.6p 
54.7p 

(6.4) 
3.4 
(3.0) 

(i)  Adjusted operating profit is defined as total operating profit from continuing operations before share of results of joint ventures and associates, 
exceptional operating costs, impairment of goodwill and intangible assets, amortization of acquired intangible assets arising on business 
combinations and impairment of property, plant and equipment. 

89 

89

S
t
r
a
t
e
g
i
c
R
e
p
o
r
t

G
o
v
e
r
n
a
n
c
e

F
i

n
a
n
c
i
a
l

S
t
a
t
e
m
e
n
t
s

S
h
a
r
e
h
o

l

d
e
r

I
n
f
o
r
m
a
t
i

o
n

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Financial Statements

Financial Statements 
Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income 

For the year ended 30 September 2018 

Profit for the year 

Items that will not be reclassified to Consolidated Income Statement 
Actuarial gain on defined benefit pension schemes 
Losses on hedges of net investments in foreign operations of non-controlling interests 
Foreign exchange differences on translation of foreign operations of non-controlling interests 
Tax relating to items that will not be reclassified to Consolidated Income Statement 

Total items that will not be reclassified to Consolidated Income Statement 

Items that may be reclassified subsequently to Consolidated Income Statement 
(Losses)/gains on hedges of net investments in foreign operations 
Cash flow hedges: 

Gains/(losses) arising during the year 
Transfer of (gains)/losses on cash flow hedges from translation reserve to Consolidated  
Income Statement 

Share of joint ventures’ and associates’ items of other comprehensive income/(expense) 
Translation reserves recycled to Consolidated Income Statement on disposals 
Foreign exchange differences on translation of foreign operations 

Total items that may be reclassified subsequently to Consolidated Income Statement 

Other comprehensive income for the year 

Total comprehensive income for the year 

Attributable to: 
Owners of the Company 
Non-controlling interests 

Continuing operations 
Discontinued operations 

Total comprehensive income/(expense) for the year from continuing operations attributable to: 
Owners of the Company 
Non-controlling interests 

Note 

39, 40 
40 
40 

39 

39, 40 

39, 40 
7, 39 
18, 39 
39 

Year ended  
30 September 
 2018 
£m 
688.2 

Year ended  
30 September  
2017 
£m 
342.3 

183.6 
– 
0.2 
(31.2) 

299.1 
(5.5) 
11.4 
(49.3) 

152.6 

255.7 

(2.1) 

4.9 

(4.9) 
14.7 
(10.4) 
(8.9) 

(6.7) 

145.9 

834.1 

835.1 
(1.0) 
834.1 

834.1 
– 
834.1 

835.1 
(1.0) 
834.1 

4.5 

(0.6) 

1.1 
(9.7) 
49.4 
8.7 

53.4 

309.1 

651.4 

645.7 
5.7 
651.4 

51.7 
599.7 
651.4 

54.2 
(2.5) 
51.7 

S
t
r
a
t
e
g
i
c
R
e
p
o
r
t

G
o
v
e
r
n
a
n
c
e

F
i

n
a
n
c
i
a
l

S
t
a
t
e
m
e
n
t
s

S
h
a
r
e
h
o

l

d
e
r

I
n
f
o
r
m
a
t
i

o
n

90

90 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Daily Mail and General Trust plc Annual Report 2018

Consolidated Statement of Changes in Equity 

Called-up 
share 
capital 
£m 
45.3 
– 

Share 
premium 
account 
£m 
17.8 
– 

Capital 
redemption 
reserve 
£m 
5.0 
– 

Own 
shares 
£m 
(88.7) 
– 

Translation 
reserve 
£m 
11.9 
– 

Retained 
earnings 
£m 
359.8 
345.3 

Equity 
attributable 
to owners of 
the Company 
£m 
351.1 
345.3 

Non-
controlling 
interests 
£m 
178.2 
(3.0) 

Total 
equity 
£m 
529.3 
342.3 

For the year ended 30 September 2018 

At 30 September 2016 
Profit/(loss) for the year 
Other comprehensive income  
for the year 

Total comprehensive income  
for the year 

Issue of share capital 
Dividends 
Own shares acquired in the year 
Disposal of Euromoney treasury shares  
held by Euromoney 
Own shares transferred on exercise  
of share options 
Changes in non-controlling interests  
following disposal of Euromoney 
Other transactions with  
non-controlling interests 
Adjustment to equity following increased 
stake in controlled entity 
Adjustment to equity following decreased 
stake in controlled entity 
Credit to equity for share-based payments 
Settlement of exercised share  
options of subsidiaries 
Deferred tax on other items  
recognised in equity 

Note 

39, 40 

39, 40 

40 
39 
38, 39 

38, 39 

39 

39 

40 

39 

39 
39 

39 

37, 39, 40 

– 

– 

– 
– 
– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 
– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 
– 
– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 
– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 
– 
– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 
– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 
– 
(28.6) 

14.1 

38.9 

– 

– 

– 

– 
– 

– 

– 

At 30 September 2017 

45.3 

17.8 

5.0 

(64.3) 

74.9 

Profit/(loss) for the year 
Other comprehensive income/(expense)  
for the year 

Total comprehensive income/(expense)  
for the year 

Dividends 
Own shares acquired in the year 
Own shares transferred on exercise  
of share options 
Changes in non-controlling interests  
following disposal and closure  
of businesses 
Credit to equity for share-based payments 
Settlement of exercised share options  
of subsidiaries 
Corporation tax on share-based payments 
Deferred tax on other items  
recognised in equity 

39, 40 

39, 40 

12, 39 
38, 39 

39 

40 
39 

39 

37, 39, 40 

– 

– 

– 

– 
– 

– 

– 
– 

– 
– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 
– 

– 

– 
– 

– 
– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 
– 

– 

– 
– 

– 
– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 
(14.3) 

21.4 

– 
– 

– 
– 

– 

63.0 

237.4 

300.4 

8.7 

309.1 

63.0 

582.7 

645.7 

– 
(78.3) 
(28.6) 

14.1 

38.9 

– 

– 

5.7 

0.5 
– 
– 

– 

– 

651.4 

0.5 
(78.3) 
(28.6) 

14.1 

38.9 

(171.1) 

(171.1) 

(0.1) 

(0.1) 

– 
(78.3) 
– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

0.4 

0.4 

(2.6) 

(2.2) 

(0.3) 
4.0 

(0.3) 
4.0 

(38.4) 

(38.4) 

(0.4) 

829.5 

689.4 

(0.4) 

908.2 

689.4 

0.3 
0.1 

– 

– 

11.0 

(1.2) 

– 
4.1 

(38.4) 

(0.4) 

919.2 

688.2 

(21.4) 

167.1 

145.7 

0.2 

145.9 

(21.4) 

856.5 

835.1 

(81.0) 
(14.3) 

(1.0) 

(0.2) 
– 

834.1 

(81.2) 
(14.3) 

(81.0) 
– 

– 

21.4 

– 

21.4 

– 
10.8 

(13.8) 
2.3 

– 
10.8 

(13.8) 
2.3 

(6.8) 

(6.8) 

3.7 
– 

– 
– 

– 

3.7 
10.8 

(13.8) 
2.3 

(6.8) 

– 
– 
– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 
– 

– 

– 

– 

– 
– 

– 

– 
– 

– 
– 

– 

At 30 September 2018 

45.3 

17.8 

5.0 

(57.2) 

53.5 

1,597.5 

1,661.9 

13.5 

1,675.4 

91

91 

S
t
r
a
t
e
g
i
c
R
e
p
o
r
t

G
o
v
e
r
n
a
n
c
e

F
i

n
a
n
c
i
a
l

S
t
a
t
e
m
e
n
t
s

S
h
a
r
e
h
o

l

d
e
r

I
n
f
o
r
m
a
t
i

o
n

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Financial Statements

Financial Statements 
Consolidated Statement of Financial Position 

At 30 September 2018 

ASSETS 
Non-current assets 
Goodwill 
Other intangible assets 
Property, plant and equipment 
Investments in joint ventures 
Investments in associates 
Available-for-sale investments 
Trade and other receivables 
Other financial assets 
Derivative financial assets 
Retirement benefit assets 
Deferred tax assets 

Current assets 
Inventories 
Trade and other receivables 
Current tax receivable 
Other financial assets 
Derivative financial assets 
Cash and cash equivalents 
Total assets of businesses held for sale 

Total assets 

LIABILITIES 
Current liabilities 
Trade and other payables 
Current tax payable 
Acquisition put option commitments 
Borrowings 
Derivative financial liabilities 
Provisions 
Total liabilities of businesses held for sale 

Non-current liabilities 
Trade and other payables 
Acquisition put option commitments 
Borrowings 
Derivative financial liabilities 
Retirement benefit obligations 
Provisions 
Deferred tax liabilities 

Total liabilities 

Net assets 

92

92 

At  
30 September  
2018 
£m 

At  
30 September  
2017 
£m 

Note 

21 
22 
23 
24 
24 
25 
27 
28 
34 
35 
37 

26 
27 
31 
28 
34 
29 
20 

30 
31 
32 
33 
34 
36 
20 

30 
32 
33 
34 
35 
36 
37 

333.2 
131.2 
99.7 
1.0 
769.5 
20.4 
27.3 
18.4 
9.0 
249.1 
49.5 
1,708.3 

31.5 
264.3 
5.4 
245.3 
0.7 
437.8 
– 
985.0 
2,693.3 

(492.9) 
(6.1) 
(0.6) 
(222.3) 
(6.6) 
(38.8) 
– 
(767.3) 

(2.0) 
(7.6) 
(205.7) 
(13.5) 
(5.6) 
(10.0) 
(6.2) 
(250.6) 
(1,017.9) 

363.1 
213.0 
103.3 
0.2 
735.2 
30.6 
20.5 
15.5 
4.6 
73.4 
75.9 
1,635.3 

26.6 
236.8 
9.6 
14.5 
3.0 
14.6 
107.8 
412.9 
2,048.2 

(502.7) 
(1.7) 
(0.6) 
(9.4) 
(0.4) 
(43.6) 
(29.0) 
(587.4) 

(2.9) 
(7.4) 
(470.3) 
(18.8) 
(11.0) 
(19.1) 
(12.1) 
(541.6) 
(1,129.0) 

1,675.4 

919.2 

S
t
r
a
t
e
g
i
c
R
e
p
o
r
t

G
o
v
e
r
n
a
n
c
e

F
i

n
a
n
c
i
a
l

S
t
a
t
e
m
e
n
t
s

S
h
a
r
e
h
o

l

d
e
r

I
n
f
o
r
m
a
t
i

o
n

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Daily Mail and General Trust plc Annual Report 2018

Note 

38 
39 

39 
39 
39 
39 

40 

At  
30 September 
 2018 
£m 

At  
30 September  
2017 
£m 

45.3 
17.8 
63.1 
5.0 
(57.2) 
53.5 
1,597.5 
1,661.9 
13.5 
1,675.4 

45.3 
17.8 
63.1 
5.0 
(64.3) 
74.9 
829.5 
908.2 
11.0 
919.2 

At 30 September 2018 

SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY 
Called-up share capital 
Share premium account 

Share capital 
Capital redemption reserve 
Own shares 
Translation reserve 
Retained earnings 

Equity attributable to owners of the Company 
Non-controlling interests 

The financial statements of DMGT plc (Company number 184594) on pages 89 to 184 were approved by the Directors and authorised for issue on  
29 November 2018. They were signed on their behalf by  

The Viscount Rothermere 
P A Zwillenberg 
Directors

S
t
r
a
t
e
g
i
c
R
e
p
o
r
t

G
o
v
e
r
n
a
n
c
e

F
i

n
a
n
c
i
a
l

S
t
a
t
e
m
e
n
t
s

S
h
a
r
e
h
o

l

d
e
r

I
n
f
o
r
m
a
t
i

o
n

93

93 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Financial Statements

Financial Statements 
Consolidated Cash Flow Statement 

For the year ended 30 September 2018 

Cash generated by operations 
Taxation paid 
Taxation received 

Net cash generated by operating activities 

Investing activities 
Interest received 
Dividends received from joint ventures and associates 
Dividends received from available-for-sale investments 
Purchase of property, plant and equipment 
Expenditure on internally generated intangible fixed assets 
Expenditure on other intangible assets 
Purchase of available-for-sale investments 
Proceeds on disposal of property and plant and equipment 
Proceeds on disposal of available-for-sale investments 
Purchase of subsidiaries 
Settlements and collateral payments on treasury derivatives 
Investment in joint ventures and associates 
Loans advanced to joint ventures and associates 
Loans to joint ventures and associates repaid 
Proceeds on disposal of subsidiaries 
Proceeds on disposal of joint ventures and associates 
Purchase of other financial assets 

Net cash generated by investing activities 

Financing activities 
Purchase of additional interests in controlled entities 
Equity dividends paid 
Dividends paid to non-controlling interests 
Issue of shares by Group companies to non-controlling interests 
Purchase of own shares 
Net receipt on settlement of subsidiary share options 
Interest paid 
Loan notes repaid 
Repayments of obligations under finance lease agreements 
Inception of finance leases 
Decrease in bank borrowings 

Net cash used in financing activities 

Net increase/(decrease) in cash and cash equivalents 
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year 
Exchange gain on cash and cash equivalents 

Net cash and cash equivalents at end of year 

94

94 

Year ended  
30 September  
2018 
£m 
137.3  
(27.1) 
4.8  
115.0  

Year ended  
30 September  
2017 
£m 
232.7  
(18.1) 
4.9  
219.5  

0.9  
23.1  
0.1  
(30.4) 
(19.5) 
(0.2) 
(19.3) 
0.1  
1.0  
(19.1) 
7.7  
(1.8) 
(8.4) 
0.2  
146.3  
637.9  
(237.3) 

2.4  
35.9  
0.1  
(21.1) 
(57.7) 
(0.2) 
(19.4) 
0.7  
– 
(26.7) 
2.8  
(2.3) 
(2.7) 
8.6  
215.8  
2.4  
– 

481.3  

138.6  

– 
(81.0) 
(0.2) 
– 
(14.3) 
7.6 
(37.7) 
(0.1) 
– 
– 
(43.7) 

(2.1) 
(78.3) 
– 
0.5  
(28.6) 
0.5  
(34.7) 
(0.6) 
(0.7) 
0.5  
(224.9) 

(169.4) 

(368.4) 

426.9  
7.4  
1.6  
435.9  

(10.3) 
17.5  
0.2  
7.4  

S
t
r
a
t
e
g
i
c
R
e
p
o
r
t

G
o
v
e
r
n
a
n
c
e

F
i

n
a
n
c
i
a
l

S
t
a
t
e
m
e
n
t
s

S
h
a
r
e
h
o

l

d
e
r

I
n
f
o
r
m
a
t
i

o
n

Note 
15 

24 
9 
23 
22 
22 
25 

17 

24 

18 
8, 24 
28 

17 
12, 39 
40 
40 
39 

16 
16 
16 
16 

16 
29 
16 
29 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Daily Mail and General Trust plc Annual Report 2018

Notes to the accounts 

1 Basis of preparation 
DMGT plc is a company incorporated and domiciled in the United Kingdom. The address of the registered office is Northcliffe House, 2 Derry Street, 
London, W8 5TT.  

These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) and related IFRS 
Interpretations Committee (IFRIC) interpretations as adopted by the European Union and with those parts of the Companies Act 2006 applicable to 
companies preparing their accounts under IFRS. 

These financial statements have been prepared for the year ended 30 September 2018.  

Other than the Daily Mail, The Mail on Sunday and Metro businesses, the Group prepares accounts for a year ending on 30 September. The Daily 
Mail, The Mail on Sunday and Metro businesses prepare financial statements for a 52 or 53 week financial period ending on a Sunday near to the end 
of September and do not prepare additional financial statements corresponding to the Group’s financial year for consolidation purposes as it would 
be impracticable to do so. The Group considers whether there have been any significant transactions or events between the end of the financial year 
of these businesses and the end of the Group’s financial year and makes any material adjustments as appropriate. 

The significant accounting policies used in preparing this information are set out in Note 2. 

The Group’s financial statements incorporate the financial statements of the Company and all of its subsidiaries together with the Group’s share  
of all of its interests in joint ventures and associates. The financial statements have been prepared on the historical cost basis, except for derivative 
financial instruments, hedged items, contingent consideration, put options and the pension scheme surplus/(deficit) all of which are measured at  
fair value. 

The Group presents the results from discontinued operations separately from those of continuing operations. An operation is classed as 
discontinued if it has been, or is in the process of being disposed and represents either a separate major line of business or a geographical area of 
operations, or is part of a single coordinated plan to dispose of a separate major line of business or exit a major geographical area of operations. 

Prior period amounts have been re-presented to conform to the current period’s presentation, as prescribed by IFRS 5, Non-current Assets Held for 
Sale and Discontinued Operations. 

All amounts presented have been rounded to the nearest £0.1 million. 

Going concern 
The Group’s business activities, together with the factors likely to affect its future development, performance and position are set out in the 
Financial Review, and the Strategic Report.  

As highlighted in Note 33 and 34 to the financial statements, the Company has long-term financing in the form of bonds and meets its day-to-day 
working capital requirements through bank facilities which expire in March 2023. The Board’s forecasts and projections, after taking account of 
reasonably possible changes in trading performance, show that the Group is expected to operate within the terms of its current facilities. 
Accordingly, the Directors continue to adopt the going concern basis in preparing these financial statements. 

2 Significant accounting policies 
Annual improvements to International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRSs) 
The following new and amended IFRSs have been adopted during the year:  

•  Amendments to IAS 7, Statement of Cash Flows (effective 1 January 2017), 
•  Amendment to IAS 12, Recognition of Deferred Tax assets for Unrealised Losses (effective 1 January 2017) and  
•  Amendments to IFRS 12, Disclosure of Interests in Other Entities (effective 1 January 2017) 

The above amendments have not had any significant impact on the Group’s Consolidated Financial Statements. 

The Group has not yet adopted certain new standards, amendments and interpretations to existing standards, which have been published but are 
only effective for the Group’s accounting periods beginning on or after 1 October 2018. These new pronouncements are listed below: 

•  Amendments to IAS 28, Investments in Associates and Joint Ventures (effective 1 January 2018) 
•  Amendments to IFRS 1, First-time Adoption of International Financial Reporting Standards (effective 1 January 2018) 
•  IFRS 9, Financial Instruments (effective 1 January 2018) 
•  IFRS 15, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (effective 1 January 2018) 
•  IFRS 16, Leases (effective 1 January 2019)  
•  Amendment to IFRS 2 Share Based Payments – benefits (effective 1 January 2019 but not yet endorsed by the EU) 
•  IFRIC 22, Foreign Currency Transactions and advance consideration (effective 1 January 2019 but not yet endorsed by the EU) 
•  IFRIC 23, Uncertainty over Income Tax Treatments (effective 1 January 2019 but not yet endorsed by the EU) 

Other than IFRS 16, the adoption of standards, amendments and interpretations which have been issued but are not yet effective is not expected  
to have a material impact on the Group’s Consolidated Financial Statements.  

S
t
r
a
t
e
g
i
c
R
e
p
o
r
t

G
o
v
e
r
n
a
n
c
e

F
i

n
a
n
c
i
a
l

S
t
a
t
e
m
e
n
t
s

S
h
a
r
e
h
o

l

d
e
r

I
n
f
o
r
m
a
t
i

o
n

95

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Financial Statements

Financial Statements 
Notes to the accounts 

2 Significant accounting policies continued 
IFRS 9, effective for the 2019 fiscal year, replaces IAS 39, Financial Instruments: Recognition and Measurement.  

The new standard introduces changes to three key areas – the classification and measurement of financial instruments; a new impairment model 
based on expected credit losses (ECL) and a simplified hedge accounting process through closer alignment with risk management methodology.  
We have considered the implications of these changes and our findings are as follows: 

•  Since the Group’s available for sale investments are not held for trading, only qualifying dividends will be recognised in the income statement, 

with changes in fair value recognised in other comprehensive income. We have reviewed the values of our available for sale unlisted investments 
currently held at cost less provision for impairment and other financial assets and have concluded that the application of IFRS 9 is not expected  
to have a material impact on the value of these investments. 

•  The Group will recognise a loss allowance from the point of initial recognition for all financial assets based on ECL. This will result in the earlier 

recognition of bad debt provisions. We have reviewed the impact of this change and do not expect the impact of the ECL model to have a material 
impact on the carrying values of our financial assets. 

•  Since IFRS 9 is more closely aligned with our risk management activities, we do not expect any change to the effectiveness of our hedge 

derivatives. We do expect a change to the designation and hedge accounting treatment of our cross currency interest rate swaps. Accordingly, 
following our review of IFRS 9, we have decided to exclude currency basis from hedge designation retrospectively. This will result in an opening 
adjustment to reserves on transition representing a re-classification from translation reserves to retained earnings. The estimated impact on 
opening retained earnings at 1 October 2018 is not expected to be material. 

The Group expects to adopt IFRS 9 on a modified retrospective basis such that the Group will recognise the cumulative effect of initially applying the 
standard as an adjustment to the opening balance of retained earnings i.e. as at 1 October 2018 with no restatement of prior periods. Following 
adoption of the standard the Group does not expect any significant adjustment required on the measurement, presentation or disclosure of 
financial assets and liabilities in the Group’s Consolidated Financial Statements. 

IFRS 15, is effective for the 2019 fiscal year. The standard introduces additional guidance surrounding performance obligations within sales 
contracts and the timing of revenue recognition. The standard introduces a five-step model that will require judgement in their application.  
These steps are as follows: 

•  Identify the contract(s) with a customer 
•  Identify the separate performance obligations in the contract 
•  Determine the contract price 
•  Allocate the transaction price to the performance obligations in the contract 
•  Recognise revenue when each performance obligation has been satisfied 

The adoption of the new standard is not expected to have a material impact on the Group’s reported revenues nor will the standard change the 
cashflows associated with our revenue streams.  

A small number of revenue contracts have been identified across the Group’s operating segments which have been impacted by the new standard, 
leading to a difference in the timing of revenue recognition. The majority of this change is due to revenues being recorded over a period of time 
rather than a point in time.  

In addition to changes in the timing of revenue recognition, IFRS 15 also introduces changes to the recognition of incremental costs incurred when 
obtaining a contract with a customer known as contract acquisition costs. These include sales commissions paid to employees. The standard 
requires such costs to be recognised as an asset, when the Group expects to recover them, and charged to the Consolidated Income Statement on  
a systematic basis – rather than being expensed immediately. 

Judgement is required to determine this period and whether this is the contract term or a longer period such as the estimated customer life for 
contracts which are expected to renew. Such deferred costs are de-recognised and charged immediately to the Consolidated Income Statement 
when no future economic benefits are expected. 

S
t
r
a
t
e
g
i
c
R
e
p
o
r
t

G
o
v
e
r
n
a
n
c
e

F
i

n
a
n
c
i
a
l

S
t
a
t
e
m
e
n
t
s

S
h
a
r
e
h
o

l

d
e
r

I
n
f
o
r
m
a
t
i

o
n

96

96 

 
 
 
 
 
 
Daily Mail and General Trust plc Annual Report 2018

The preliminary results of our assessment of the impact of IFRS 15 on the Consolidated Income Statement for the year ended 30 September 2018 is 
set out in the table below:  

Segment 
Insurance Risk 
Property Information 
EdTech 
Energy Information 
Total 

Increase/ 
(decrease) in  
Revenue  
£m 
 (0.4) 
 0.1 
 (0.4) 
 –  
 (0.7) 

Increase/ 
(decrease) in  
Operating profit  
£m 
 (1.8) 
–  
 (0.4) 
 0.3 
 (1.9) 

The preliminary results of our assessment of the corresponding impact on receivables and payables as at 30 September 2018 is set out in the table 
below:  

Prepayments 
Deferred Revenue 

£m 
 3.4 
 (6.6) 

Increased prepayments 
Increased deferred revenue and accruals 

The Group will adopt IFRS 15 on a modified retrospective basis such that the Group will recognise the cumulative effect of initially applying the 
standard as an adjustment to the opening balance of retained earnings i.e. as at 1 October 2018 with no restatement of prior periods. 

An adjustment to brought forward retained earnings of £3.2 million will be recognised in the Statement of Changes in Equity. This represents the 
reversal of certain revenues which met the criteria for recognition under previously applicable accounting standards but does not do so under IFRS 
15 together with contract acquisition costs which were expensed immediately under previously applicable accounting standards which are now 
deferred and recognised on a systematic basis under IFRS 15. 

IFRS 16, effective for the 2020 fiscal year, eliminates the distinction between operating and finance leases for lessees. The standard requires lessees 
to recognise right of use assets and corresponding liabilities for all leases, unless the lease term is 12 months or less or the underlying asset has  
a low value. The new standard replaces the operating lease expense with a depreciation charge on the underlying asset and an interest expense  
on the liability. 

Lessors will continue to classify leases as operating or finance, with IFRS 16’s approach to lessor accounting largely unchanged from its predecessor, 
IAS 17. The Group expects to adopt IFRS 16 on a modified retrospective basis such that the Group will recognise the cumulative effect of initially 
applying the standard as an adjustment to the opening balance of retained earnings i.e. as at 1 October 2019 with no restatement of prior periods. 

The Group is in the process of quantifying the impact of this standard although based on the undiscounted operating lease commitments in Note 41, 
there will be a large increase in total assets – largely in the land and buildings category, together with an increase in financial liabilities as liabilities 
relating to current operating leases are recognised.  

Since existing operating lease charges will be replaced with a depreciation and finance charge, EBITDA will increase. These changes will also have an 
impact on the Group’s tax charge. The standard will also require the Group to make key accounting judgements in particular around lease renewal 
assumptions and discount rates. 

Since the financial impact is dependent on circumstances at the date of transition, it is not yet practicable to determine a reliable estimate of the 
financial impact on the Group. 

S
t
r
a
t
e
g
i
c
R
e
p
o
r
t

G
o
v
e
r
n
a
n
c
e

F
i

n
a
n
c
i
a
l

S
t
a
t
e
m
e
n
t
s

S
h
a
r
e
h
o

l

d
e
r

I
n
f
o
r
m
a
t
i

o
n

97

97 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Financial Statements

Financial Statements 
Notes to the accounts 

2 Significant accounting policies continued 
Business combinations 
The acquisition of subsidiaries and businesses is accounted for using the acquisition method. The consideration for each acquisition is measured at 
the aggregate of fair values of assets given, liabilities incurred or assumed, and equity instruments issued by the Group in exchange for control of the 
acquiree. Acquisition-related costs are recognised in the Consolidated Income Statement as incurred. 

Where the consideration for an acquisition includes any asset or liability resulting from a contingent arrangement, this is measured at its discounted  
fair value on the date of acquisition. Subsequent changes in fair values are adjusted through the Consolidated Income Statement in Financing.  
Changes in the fair value of contingent consideration classified as equity is not recognised. 

Put options granted to non-controlling interests are recorded at present value as a reduction in equity on initial recognition, since the arrangement 
represents a transaction with equity holders. Changes in present value after initial recognition are recorded in the Consolidated Income Statement  
in Financing. 

If the initial accounting for a business combination is incomplete by the end of the reporting period in which the combination occurs, the Group 
reports provisional amounts for the items for which the accounting is incomplete. Those provisional amounts are adjusted during the measurement 
period, or additional assets or liabilities are recognised, to reflect new information obtained about facts and circumstances that existed as at the 
date of the acquisition that, if known, would have affected the amounts recognised as at that date. 

The measurement period is the period from the date of acquisition to the date the Group obtains complete information about facts and 
circumstances that existed as at the acquisition date and is a maximum of one year. 

Business combinations achieved in stages 
Where a business combination is achieved in stages, the Group’s previously held interests in the acquired entity are remeasured to fair value at the 
date the Group attains control and the resulting gain or loss is recognised in the Consolidated Income Statement. Amounts arising from interests  
in the acquiree prior to the acquisition date that were recognised in other comprehensive income are reclassified to the Consolidated Income 
Statement where such treatment would be appropriate if the interest were disposed of. 

Purchases and sales of shares in a controlled entity 
Where the Group’s interest in a controlled entity increases, the non-controlling interests’ share of net assets, excluding any allocation of goodwill,  
is transferred to retained earnings. Any difference between the cost of the additional interest and the existing carrying value of the non-controlling 
interests’ share of net assets is recorded in retained earnings. 

Where the Group’s interest in a controlled entity decreases, but the Group retains control, the share of net assets disposed, excluding any allocation 
of goodwill, is transferred to the non-controlling interests. Any difference between the proceeds of the disposal and the existing carrying value of the 
net assets or liabilities transferred to the non-controlling interests is recorded in retained earnings. 

Disposal of controlling interests where non-controlling interest retained 
Where the Group disposes of a controlling interest but retains a non-controlling interest in the business, the Group accounts for the disposal  
of a subsidiary and the subsequent acquisition of a joint venture, associate or available-for-sale investment at fair value on initial recognition.  
On disposal of a subsidiary all amounts deferred in equity are recycled to the Consolidated Income Statement.  

Contingent consideration receivable 
Where the consideration for a disposal includes consideration resulting from a contingent arrangement, the contingent consideration receivable  
is discounted to its fair value, with any subsequent movement in fair value being recorded in the Consolidated Income Statement in Financing. 

Discontinued operations 
The Group presents the results from discontinued operations separately from those of continuing operations. An operation is classed as 
discontinued if it has been, or is in the process of being disposed and represents either a separate major line of business or a geographical area of 
operations, or is part of a single coordinated plan to dispose of a separate major line of business or exit a major geographical area of operations. 

Assets and liabilities of businesses held for sale 
An asset or disposal group is classified as held-for-sale if its carrying amount is intended to be recovered principally through sale rather than 
continuing use, is available for immediate sale and it is highly probable that the sale will be completed within 12 months of classification as held  
for sale. Assets classified as held for sale are measured at the lower of their carrying amount and fair value less costs to sell. Any impairment  
is recognised in the Consolidated Income Statement and is first allocated to the goodwill associated with the disposal group and then to the 
remaining assets and liabilities on a pro rata basis. No further depreciation or amortisation is charged on non-current assets classified as held  
for sale from the date of classification. 

S
t
r
a
t
e
g
i
c
R
e
p
o
r
t

G
o
v
e
r
n
a
n
c
e

F
i

n
a
n
c
i
a
l

S
t
a
t
e
m
e
n
t
s

S
h
a
r
e
h
o

l

d
e
r

I
n
f
o
r
m
a
t
i

o
n

98

98 

 
 
 
 
 
 
Daily Mail and General Trust plc Annual Report 2018

Accounting for subsidiaries 
A subsidiary is an entity controlled by the Group. Control is achieved where the Group has power over an investee; exposure, or rights, to variable 
returns from its involvement with the investee; and the ability to use its power over the investee to affect the amount of the returns.  

The results of subsidiaries acquired or disposed of during the period are included in the Consolidated Income Statement from the effective date 
control is obtained or up to the date control is relinquished, as appropriate. Where necessary, adjustments are made to the financial statements  
of subsidiaries to bring their accounting policies into line with those used by other members of the Group. 

All intra-group transactions, balances, income and expenses are eliminated on consolidation. 

Non-controlling interests 
Non-controlling interests in the net assets of consolidated subsidiaries are identified separately from the Group’s equity therein, either at fair value  
or at the non-controlling interest’s share of the net assets of the subsidiary, on a case-by-case basis. The total comprehensive income of a subsidiary  
is apportioned between the Group and the non-controlling interest, even if it results in a deficit balance for the non-controlling interest. 

Interests in joint ventures and associates 
A joint venture is a contractual arrangement whereby the Group and other parties undertake an economic activity that is subject to joint  
control, that is, when the strategic financial and operating policy decisions relating to the activities require the unanimous consent of the parties 
sharing control.  

An associate is an entity over which the Group has significant influence and that is neither a subsidiary nor an interest in a joint venture.  
Significant influence is the power to participate in the financial and operating policy decisions of the investee, but is not control or joint control  
over those policies. 

The post-tax results of joint ventures and associates are incorporated in the Group’s results using the equity method of accounting. Under the  
equity method, investments in joint ventures and associates are carried in the Consolidated Statement of Financial Position at cost as adjusted for 
post-acquisition changes in the Group’s share of the net assets of the joint venture and associate, less any impairment in the value of investment. 
Losses of joint ventures and associates in excess of the of the Group’s interest in that joint venture or associate are not recognised. Additional losses 
are provided for, and a liability is recognised, only to the extent that the Group has incurred legal or constructive obligations or made payments  
on behalf of the joint venture or associate. 

Any excess of the cost of acquisition over the Group’s share of the net fair value of the identifiable assets, liabilities and contingent liabilities of  
the joint venture or associate recognised at the date of acquisition is recognised as goodwill. The goodwill is included within the carrying amount  
of the investment. 

Foreign currencies 
For the purpose of presenting consolidated financial statements, the assets and liabilities of entities with a functional currency other than sterling 
are translated into sterling using exchange rates prevailing on the period end date. 

Income and expense items and cash flows are translated at the average exchange rates for the period and exchange differences arising are 
recognised directly in equity. On disposal of a foreign operation, the cumulative amount recognised in equity relating to that operation is recognised 
in the Consolidated Income Statement as part of the gain or loss on sale. 

The Group records foreign exchange differences arising on retranslation of foreign operations within the translation reserve in equity. 

In preparing the financial statements of the individual entities, transactions in currencies other than the entity’s functional currency are recorded  
at the exchange rate prevailing on the date of the transaction. At each period end date, monetary items denominated in foreign currencies are 
retranslated at the rates prevailing on the period end date.  

Non-monetary items carried at fair value that are denominated in foreign currencies are retranslated at the rate prevailing on the date when fair 
value was determined. Non-monetary items that are measured in terms of historical cost in a foreign currency are not retranslated.  

Exchange differences arising on the settlement of monetary items, and on the retranslation of monetary items, are included in the Consolidated 
Income Statement for the period.  

Goodwill, intangible assets and fair value adjustments arising on the acquisition of foreign operations after transition to IFRS are treated as part of 
the assets and liabilities of the foreign operation and are translated at the closing rate. Goodwill which arose pre-transition to IFRS is not translated.  

In respect of all foreign operations, any cumulative exchange differences that have arisen before 4 October 2004, the date of transition to IFRS, were 
reset to £nil and will be excluded from the determination of any subsequent profit or loss on disposal.  

S
t
r
a
t
e
g
i
c
R
e
p
o
r
t

G
o
v
e
r
n
a
n
c
e

F
i

n
a
n
c
i
a
l

S
t
a
t
e
m
e
n
t
s

S
h
a
r
e
h
o

l

d
e
r

I
n
f
o
r
m
a
t
i

o
n

99

99 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Financial Statements

Financial Statements 
Notes to the accounts 

2 Significant accounting policies continued 
Goodwill and intangible assets 
Goodwill and intangible assets acquired arising on the acquisition of an entity represents the excess of the cost of acquisition over the Group’s 
interest in the net fair value of the identifiable assets, liabilities and contingent liabilities of the entity recognised at the date of acquisition. Goodwill 
is initially recognised as an asset at cost and is subsequently measured at cost less any accumulated impairment losses. Negative goodwill arising 
on an acquisition is recognised directly in the Consolidated Income Statement. 

Goodwill and fair value adjustments arising on the acquisition of a foreign entity are treated as assets and liabilities of the foreign entity and are 
translated at the closing exchange rates on the period end date. On disposal of a subsidiary, associate or a jointly controlled entity, the attributable 
amount of goodwill is included in the determination of the profit or loss recognised in the Consolidated Income Statement on disposal.  

Impairment of goodwill 
The Group tests goodwill annually for impairment, or more frequently if there are indicators that goodwill might be impaired.  

For the purpose of impairment testing, assets are grouped at the lowest levels for which there are separately identifiable cash flows, known as cash-
generating units (CGUs). If the recoverable amount of the CGU is less than the carrying amount of the unit, the impairment loss is allocated first to 
reduce the carrying amount of any goodwill allocated to the unit and then to the other assets of the unit, prorated on the basis of the carrying 
amount of each asset in the unit, but subject to not reducing any asset below its recoverable amount.  

When testing for impairment, the recoverable amounts for all of the Group’s CGUs are measured at the higher of value in use or fair value less costs 
to sell. Value in use is calculated by discounting future expected cash flows. These calculations use cash flow projections based on Board-approved 
budgets and projections which reflect management’s current experience and future expectations of the markets in which the CGU operates.  
Risk adjusted pre-tax discount rates used by the Group in its impairment tests range from 13.25% to 15.28% (2017 11.45% to 19.20%) the choice  
of rates depending on the risks specific to that CGU. The Directors’ estimate of the Group’s post tax weighted average cost of capital is 8.5%  
(2017 8.0%). The cash flow projections consist of Board-approved budgets for the following year, together with forecasts for up to two additional 
years and nominal long-term growth rates beyond these periods. The 3.0% nominal long-term growth rate (2017 between 1.5% and 3.0%) used 
varies with management’s view of the CGU’s market position, maturity of the relevant market and does not exceed the long-term average growth 
rate for the market in which the CGU operates. 

An impairment loss recognised for goodwill is charged immediately in the Consolidated Income Statement and is not subsequently reversed. 

Research and development expenditure 
Expenditure on research activities is recognised as an expense in the period in which it is incurred. An internally generated intangible asset arising 
from the Group’s development activity, including software for internal use, is recognised only if the asset can be separately identified, it is probable 
the asset will generate future economic benefits, the development cost can be measured reliably, the project is technically feasible and the project 
will be completed with a view to sell or use the asset. Additionally, guidance in Standing Interpretations Committee (SIC) 32 has been applied in 
accounting for internally developed website development costs. 

Internally generated intangible assets are amortised on a straight-line basis over their estimated useful lives, when the asset is available for use,  
and are reported net of impairment losses. Where no internally generated intangible asset can be recognised, such development expenditure  
is charged to the Consolidated Income Statement in the period in which it is incurred.   

Licences 
Computer software licences are capitalised on the basis of the costs incurred to acquire and bring into use the specific software. These costs are 
amortised over their estimated useful lives, being three to five years.  

Costs that are directly associated with the production of identifiable and unique software products controlled by the Group, and that are expected  
to generate economic benefits exceeding costs and directly attributable overheads, are capitalised as intangible assets.  

Computer software which is integral to a related item of hardware equipment is accounted for as property, plant and equipment. Costs associated 
with maintaining computer software programs are recognised as an expense as incurred. 

S
t
r
a
t
e
g
i
c
R
e
p
o
r
t

G
o
v
e
r
n
a
n
c
e

F
i

n
a
n
c
i
a
l

S
t
a
t
e
m
e
n
t
s

S
h
a
r
e
h
o

l

d
e
r

I
n
f
o
r
m
a
t
i

o
n

100

100 

 
 
 
 
 
 
Daily Mail and General Trust plc Annual Report 2018

Other intangible assets 
Other intangible assets with finite lives are stated at cost less accumulated amortisation and impairment losses. Amortisation is charged to 
Operating Profit in the Consolidated Income Statement on a reducing balance or straight-line basis over the estimated useful lives of the intangible 
assets from the date they become available for use. The estimated useful lives are as follows: 

Publishing rights, mastheads and titles 
Brands 
Market and customer-related databases and customer relationships 
Computer software 

 5 – 30 years 
 3 – 20 years 
 3 – 20 years 
 2 – 5 years 

Amortisation of intangible assets not arising on business combinations are included within Adjusted Operating Profit in the Consolidated  
Income Statement.  

The Group has no intangible assets with indefinite lives. 

Impairment of intangible assets 
At each period end date, reviews are carried out of the carrying amounts of intangible assets to determine whether there is any indication that those 
assets have suffered an impairment loss. If any such indication exists, the recoverable amount, which is the higher of value in use and fair value less 
costs to sell, of the asset is estimated in order to determine the extent, if any, of the impairment loss. Where the asset does not generate cash flows 
that are independent from other assets, value in use estimates are made based on the cash flows of the CGU to which the asset belongs. 

If the recoverable amount of an asset or CGU is estimated to be less than its net carrying amount, the net carrying amount of the asset or CGU is 
reduced to its recoverable amount. Impairment losses are recognised immediately in the Consolidated Income Statement. 

The Group assesses at the end of each reporting period whether there is any indication that an impairment loss recognised in prior periods, for an 
asset other than goodwill, may no longer exist or may have decreased. If any such indication exists, the Group estimates the recoverable amount  
of that asset. In assessing whether there is any indication that an impairment loss recognised in prior periods for an asset other than goodwill may 
no longer exist or may have decreased, the Group considers, as a minimum, the following indications: 

(i)  whether the asset’s market value has increased significantly during the period; 

(ii)  whether any significant changes with a favourable effect on the entity have taken place during the period, or will take place in the near future,  
in the technological, market, economic or legal environment in which the entity operates or in the market to which the asset is dedicated; and 

(iii)  whether market interest rates or other market rates of return on investments have decreased during the period, and those decreases are likely  

to affect the discount rate used in calculating the asset’s value in use and increase the asset’s recoverable amount materially. 

Property, plant and equipment 
Land and buildings held for use are stated in the Consolidated Statement of Financial Position at their cost, less any subsequent accumulated 
depreciation and subsequent accumulated impairment losses.  

Assets in the course of construction are carried at cost, less any recognised impairment loss. Depreciation of these assets commences when the 
assets are ready for their intended use. Plant and equipment are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation and any accumulated impairment 
losses. Assets held under finance leases are depreciated over their expected useful lives on the same basis as owned assets or, where shorter,  
over the term of the relevant lease. 

The gain or loss arising on the disposal or retirement of an item of property, plant and equipment is determined as the difference between the sales 
proceeds and the carrying amount of the asset and is recognised in the Consolidated Income Statement. 

Depreciation is charged so as to write off the cost of assets, other than property, plant and equipment under construction using the straight-line 
method, over their estimated useful lives as follows: 

Freehold buildings and long leasehold properties 
Short leasehold premises 
Plant and equipment 
Depreciation is not provided on freehold land 

50 years 
the term of the lease 
3 – 25 years 

Inventory 
Inventory is stated at the lower of cost and net realisable value. Cost comprises direct materials and, where applicable, direct labour costs and those 
overheads that have been incurred in bringing the inventories to their present location and condition. The Group uses the Average Cost method  
in the Consumer Media segment for newsprint and the First In First Out method for all other inventories. 

S
t
r
a
t
e
g
i
c
R
e
p
o
r
t

G
o
v
e
r
n
a
n
c
e

F
i

n
a
n
c
i
a
l

S
t
a
t
e
m
e
n
t
s

S
h
a
r
e
h
o

l

d
e
r

I
n
f
o
r
m
a
t
i

o
n

101

101 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Financial Statements

Financial Statements 
Notes to the accounts 

2 Significant accounting policies continued 
Exhibitions, training and event costs 
Directly attributable costs relating to future exhibitions, training and events are deferred within work in progress and measured at the lower of cost  
and net realisable value. These costs are charged to the Consolidated Income Statement when the exhibition, training or event takes place.   

Pre-publication costs 
Pre-publication costs represent direct costs incurred in the development of titles prior to their publication. These costs are recognised as work in  
progress on the Consolidated Statement of Financial Position to the extent that future economic benefit is virtually certain and can be measured 
reliably. These are recognised in the Consolidated Income Statement on publication.   

Marketing costs 
All marketing and promotional costs are charged to the Consolidated Income Statement in the period in which they are incurred. Direct event costs 
are charged to the Consolidated Income Statement within Direct Event Costs. 

Cash and cash equivalents 
Cash and cash equivalents shown in the Consolidated Statement of Financial Position includes cash, short-term deposits and other short-term 
highly liquid investments with an original maturity of three months or less. For the purpose of the Consolidated Cash Flow Statement, cash and cash 
equivalents are as defined above, net of bank overdrafts. 

Revenue 
Revenue is stated at the fair value of consideration, net of value added tax, trade discounts and commission where applicable and is recognised 
using methods appropriate for the Group’s businesses.  

Where revenue contracts have multiple elements (such as software licences, data subscriptions and support), all aspects of the transaction are 
considered to determine whether these elements can be separately identified. Where transaction elements can be separately identified and revenue  
can be allocated between them on a fair and reliable basis, revenue for each element is accounted for according to the relevant policy below.  
Where transaction elements cannot be separately identified, revenue is recognised over the contract period.  

The consumer media segment enters into agreements with advertising agencies and certain clients, which are subject to a minimum spend and 
typically include a commitment to deliver rebates to the agency or client based on the level of agency spend over the contract period. 

The principal revenue recognition policies, as applied by the Group’s major businesses, are as follows: 

•  subscriptions revenue, including revenue from information services, is recognised over the period of the subscription or contract; 
•  publishing and circulation revenue is recognised on issue of the publication or report;  
•  advertising revenue is recognised on issue of the publication or over the period of the online campaign; 
•  contract print revenue is recognised on completion of the print contract;  
•  exhibitions, training and events revenues are recognised over the period of the event;  
•  software revenue is recognised on delivery of the software or the technology or over a period of time where the transaction is a licence (the 
licence term). If support is unable to be separately identified from hosting and revenue is unable to be allocated on a fair and reliable basis, 
support revenue is recognised over the licence term. Commissions paid to acquire software and services contracts are capitalised in prepayments 
and recognised over the term of the contract; 

•  support revenue associated with software licences and subscriptions is recognised over the term of the support contract; and 
•  long-term contract revenue is recognised using the percentage of completion method according to the percentage of work completed at the 

period end date.  

Adjusted measures 
The Group presents adjusted operating profit and adjusted profit before tax by making adjustments for costs and profits which management 
believe to be significant by virtue of their size, nature or incidence or which have a distortive effect on current year earnings.  

Such items would include, but are not limited to, costs associated with business combinations, gains and losses on the disposal of businesses, 
finance costs relating to premia on bond buy backs, fair value movements, exceptional operating costs, impairment of goodwill and amortisation 
and impairment of intangible assets arising on business combinations. 

The board and management team believe these adjusted results, used in conjunction with statutory IFRS results, give a greater insight into the 
financial performance of the Group and the way it is managed. Similarly, adjusted results are used in setting management remuneration.  

A description of each adjustment is set out in the Financial Review, together with a reconciliation of operating profit to adjusted operating profit.  

See Note 13 for a reconciliation of profit before tax to adjusted profit before and after tax. See the Financial Review section in the Strategic Report for 
a reconciliation of operating profit to adjusted profit. 

The Group also presents a measure of net debt, see Note 16. 

Other gains and losses 
Other gains and losses comprise profit or loss on sale of trading investments, profit or loss on sale of property, plant and equipment, impairment  
of available-for-sale assets, profit or loss on sale of businesses and profit or loss on sale of joint ventures and associates. 

S
t
r
a
t
e
g
i
c
R
e
p
o
r
t

G
o
v
e
r
n
a
n
c
e

F
i

n
a
n
c
i
a
l

S
t
a
t
e
m
e
n
t
s

S
h
a
r
e
h
o

l

d
e
r

I
n
f
o
r
m
a
t
i

o
n

102

102 

 
 
 
 
 
 
Daily Mail and General Trust plc Annual Report 2018

EBITDA 
The Group discloses EBITDA, being adjusted operating profit before depreciation of property, plant and equipment. EBITDA is broadly used by 
analysts, rating agencies, investors and the Group’s banks as part of their assessment of the Group’s performance. A reconciliation of EBITDA from 
operating profit is shown in Note 15 and the ratio of net debt to EBITDA is disclosed in Note 34. 

Leasing 
Leases are classified as finance leases whenever the terms of the lease transfer substantially all the risks and rewards of ownership of the asset to 
the lessee. All other leases are classified as operating leases.  

Assets held under finance leases are recognised as assets of the Group at their fair value at the inception of the lease or, if lower, at the present value  
of the minimum lease payments as determined at the inception of the lease. The corresponding liability to the lessor is included in the Consolidated 
Statement of Financial Position as a finance lease obligation. Lease payments are apportioned between finance charges and reduction of the lease 
obligation so as to achieve a constant rate of interest on the remaining balance of the liability. Finance charges are recognised in the Consolidated 
Income Statement. 

Rentals payable under operating leases are charged to the Consolidated Income Statement on a straight-line basis over the term of the relevant 
lease. Benefits received and receivable as an incentive to enter into an operating lease are also spread on a straight-line basis over the lease term. 

Dividends 
Dividend income from investments is recognised when the shareholders’ rights to receive payment have been established. Dividends are recognised  
as a distribution in the period in which they are approved by the shareholders. Interim dividends are recorded in the period in which they are paid. 

Borrowing costs 
Unless capitalised under IAS 23, Borrowing Costs, all borrowing costs are recognised in the Consolidated Income Statement in the period in  
which they are incurred. Finance charges, including premiums paid on settlement or redemption and direct issue costs and discounts related  
to borrowings, are accounted for on an accruals basis and charged to the Consolidated Income Statement using the effective interest method. 

Retirement benefits 
Pension scheme assets are measured at market value at the period end date. Scheme liabilities are measured using the projected unit credit 
method and discounted at a rate reflecting current yields on high-quality corporate bonds having regard to the duration of the liability profiles  
of the schemes. 

For defined benefit retirement plans, the difference between the fair value of the plan assets and the present value of the plan liabilities is 
recognised as an asset or liability on the Consolidated Statement of Financial Position. Actuarial gains and losses arising in the year are taken to the 
Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income. For this purpose, actuarial gains and losses comprise both the effects of changes in actuarial 
assumptions and experience adjustments arising because of differences between the previous actuarial assumptions and what has actually 
occurred. For defined benefit schemes, the cost of providing benefits is determined using the projected unit credit method, with actuarial valuations 
being carried out triennially. In accordance with the advice of independent qualified actuaries in assessing whether to recognise a surplus, the 
Group has regard to the principles set out in IFRIC 14. 

Other movements in the net surplus or deficit are recognised in the Consolidated Income Statement, including the current service cost, any past 
service cost and the effect of any curtailment or settlements. The net finance income/(charge) is also charged to the Consolidated Income 
Statement within net finance costs. 

The Group’s contributions to defined contribution pension plans are charged to the Consolidated Income Statement as they fall due. 

Taxation 
Income tax expense represents the sum of current tax and deferred tax for the year. 

The current tax payable or recoverable is based on the taxable profit for the year. Taxable profit differs from profit as reported in the Consolidated 
Income Statement because some items of income or expense are taxable or deductible in different years or may never be taxable or deductible.  
The Group’s liability for current tax is calculated using the UK and foreign tax rates that have been enacted or substantively enacted by the period 
end date.  

Current tax assets and liabilities are set off and stated net in the Consolidated Statement of Financial Position when there is a legally enforceable 
right to set off current tax assets against current tax liabilities and when they either relate to income taxes levied by the same taxation authority  
or on the same taxable entity or on different taxable entities which intend to settle the current tax assets and liabilities on a net basis. 

Deferred tax is the tax expected to be payable or recoverable in the future arising from temporary differences between the carrying amounts of 
assets and liabilities in the financial statements and the corresponding tax bases used in the computation of taxable profit. It is accounted for using 
the balance sheet liability method. Deferred tax liabilities are generally recognised for all taxable temporary differences and deferred tax assets are 
recognised to the extent that it is probable that taxable profits will be available against which deductible temporary differences can be utilised.  
Such assets and liabilities are not recognised if the temporary differences arise from the initial recognition of goodwill or from the initial recognition 
other than in a business combination of other assets and liabilities in a transaction that affects neither the taxable profit nor the accounting profit. 

S
t
r
a
t
e
g
i
c
R
e
p
o
r
t

G
o
v
e
r
n
a
n
c
e

F
i

n
a
n
c
i
a
l

S
t
a
t
e
m
e
n
t
s

S
h
a
r
e
h
o

l

d
e
r

I
n
f
o
r
m
a
t
i

o
n

103

103 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Financial Statements

Financial Statements 
Notes to the accounts 

2 Significant accounting policies continued 
Taxation continued 
Deferred tax liabilities are recognised for taxable temporary differences arising in investments in subsidiaries, joint ventures and associates except  
where the Group is able to control the reversal of the temporary difference and it is probable that the temporary difference will not reverse in the 
foreseeable future. 

Goodwill arising on business combinations also includes amounts corresponding to deferred tax liabilities recognised in respect of acquired 
intangible assets. A deferred tax liability is recognised to the extent that the fair value of the assets for accounting purposes exceeds the value of 
those assets for tax purposes and will form part of the associated goodwill on acquisition. 

The carrying amount of deferred tax assets is reviewed at each period end date, and is reduced or increased as appropriate to the extent that it is no 
longer probable that sufficient taxable profits will be available to allow all or part of the asset to be recovered, or it becomes probable that sufficient 
taxable profits will be available.  

Deferred tax is calculated at the tax rates that are expected to apply in the period when the liability is settled or the asset realised, based on tax rates  
that have been enacted or substantively enacted by the period end date, and is not discounted. 

Deferred tax assets and liabilities are set off when there is a legally enforceable right to set off current tax assets against current tax liabilities  
and when they relate to income taxes levied by the same taxation authority and the Group intends to settle its current assets and liabilities on  
a net basis. 

Tax is charged or credited to the Consolidated Income Statement, except when it relates to items charged or credited directly to equity, in which 
case the tax is also recognised directly in equity. 

Actual tax liabilities or refunds may differ from those anticipated due to changes in tax legislation, differing interpretations of tax legislation and 
uncertainties surrounding the application of tax legislation. In situations where uncertainties exist, provision is made for contingent tax liabilities 
and assets when it is more likely than not that there will be a cash impact. These provisions are made for each uncertainty individually on the basis 
of management judgement following consideration of the available relevant information. The measurement basis adopted represents the best 
predictor of the resolution of the uncertainty which is usually based on the most likely cash outflow. The Company reviews the adequacy of these 
provisions at the end of each reporting period and adjusts them based on changing facts and circumstances. 

Financial instruments 
Financial assets and financial liabilities are recognised on the Consolidated Statement of Financial Position when the Group becomes a party to the 
contractual provisions of the instrument.  

Financial assets and liabilities are offset and the net amount reported in the Consolidated Statement of Financial Position when there is a legally 
enforceable right to settle on a net basis, or realise the asset and liability simultaneously and where the Group intends to net settle. 

Financial assets 
Trade receivables 
Trade receivables do not carry any interest and are stated at their nominal value as reduced by appropriate allowances for estimated  
irrecoverable amounts. 

Available-for-sale investments 
Investments and financial assets are recognised and derecognised on a trade date where a purchase or sale of an investment is under a contract 
whose terms require delivery of the investment within the time frame established by the market concerned, and are measured at fair value, 
including transaction costs.  

Investments are classified as either fair value through profit or loss or available-for-sale. Where investments are held-for-trading purposes, gains and 
losses arising from changes in fair value are included in net profit or loss for the period. For available-for-sale investments, gains and losses arising 
from changes in fair value are recognised directly in equity, until the investments is disposed of or is determined to be impaired, at which time the 
cumulative gain or loss previously recognised in equity is included in the net profit or loss for the period. 

The fair value of listed investments is determined based on quoted market prices. Unlisted investments are recorded at cost less provision for 
impairment, as since there is no active market upon which they are traded, their fair values cannot be reliably measured. The recoverable amount  
is determined by discounting future cash flows to present value using market interest rates. 

S
t
r
a
t
e
g
i
c
R
e
p
o
r
t

G
o
v
e
r
n
a
n
c
e

F
i

n
a
n
c
i
a
l

S
t
a
t
e
m
e
n
t
s

S
h
a
r
e
h
o

l

d
e
r

I
n
f
o
r
m
a
t
i

o
n

104

104 

 
 
 
 
 
 
Daily Mail and General Trust plc Annual Report 2018

Financial liabilities and equity instruments 
Trade payables 
Trade payables are non-interest bearing and are stated at their nominal value.  

Financial liabilities and equity instruments issued by the Group are classified according to the substance of the contractual arrangements entered 
into and the definitions of a financial liability and an equity instrument. An equity instrument is any contract that evidences a residual interest in the 
assets of the Group after deducting all of its liabilities. The accounting policies adopted for specific financial liabilities and equity instruments are set 
out below: 

Capital market and bank borrowings 
Interest bearing loans and overdrafts are initially measured at fair value (which is equal to net proceeds at inception), and are subsequently 
measured at amortised cost, using the effective interest rate method. A portion of the Group’s bonds are subject to fair value hedge accounting  
as explained below and this portion is adjusted for the movement in the hedged risk to the extent hedge effectiveness is achieved. Any difference 
between the proceeds, net of transaction costs and the settlement or redemption of borrowings is recognised over the term of the borrowing. 

Equity instruments  
Equity instruments issued by the Group are recorded at the proceeds received, net of transaction costs. 

Derecognition 
The Group derecognises a financial asset, or a portion of a financial asset, from the Consolidated Statement of Financial Position where the 
contractual rights to cash flows from the asset have expired, or have been transferred, usually by sale, and with them either substantially all the  
risks and rewards of the asset or significant risks and rewards, along with the unconditional ability to sell or pledge the asset.  

Financial liabilities are derecognised when the liability has been settled, has expired or has been extinguished. 

Derivative financial instruments and hedge accounting 
Derivative financial instruments are used to manage exposure to market risks. The principal derivative instruments used by the Group are foreign 
currency swaps, interest rate swaps, foreign exchange forward contracts and options. The Group does not hold or issue derivative financial 
instruments for trading or speculative purposes. 

Changes in the fair value of derivative instruments which do not qualify for hedge accounting are recognised immediately in the Consolidated 
Income Statement. 

Where the derivative instruments do qualify for hedge accounting, the following treatments are applied: 

Fair value hedges 
Changes in the fair value of the hedging instrument are recognised in the Consolidated Income Statement for the year together with the changes  
in the fair value of the hedged item due to the hedged risk, to the extent the hedge is effective. When the hedging instrument expires or is sold, 
terminated, or exercised, or no longer qualifies for hedge accounting, hedge accounting is discontinued. 

Cash flow hedges 
Changes in the fair value of derivative financial instruments that are designated and effective as hedges of future cash flows are recognised directly 
in equity and the ineffective portion is recognised immediately in the Consolidated Income Statement.  

If a hedged firm commitment or forecast transaction results in the recognition of a non-financial asset or liability, then, at the time that the asset  
or liability is recognised, the associated gains and losses on the derivative that had previously been recognised in equity are included in the initial 
measurement of the asset or liability. 

For hedges that do not result in the recognition of an asset or a liability, amounts deferred in equity are recognised in the Consolidated Income 
Statement in the same period in which the hedged item affects the Consolidated Income Statement. 

Hedge accounting is discontinued when the hedging instrument expires or is sold, terminated, exercised, revoked, or no longer qualifies for  
hedge accounting. At that time, any cumulative gain or loss on the hedging instrument recognised in equity is retained in equity until the forecast 
transaction occurs. If a hedged transaction is no longer expected to occur, the net cumulative gain or loss previously recognised in equity is included 
in the Consolidated Income Statement for the period. 

Net investment hedges 
Exchange differences arising from the translation of the net investment in foreign operations are recognised directly in equity in the translation 
reserve. Gains and losses arising from changes in the fair value of the hedging instruments are recognised in equity to the extent that the hedging 
relationship is effective. Any ineffectiveness is recognised immediately in the Consolidated Income Statement for the period. 

Hedge accounting is discontinued when the hedging instrument expires or is sold, terminated or exercised, or no longer qualifies for hedge 
accounting. Gains and losses accumulated in the translation reserve are included in the Consolidated Income Statement on disposal of the  
foreign operation. 

S
t
r
a
t
e
g
i
c
R
e
p
o
r
t

G
o
v
e
r
n
a
n
c
e

F
i

n
a
n
c
i
a
l

S
t
a
t
e
m
e
n
t
s

S
h
a
r
e
h
o

l

d
e
r

I
n
f
o
r
m
a
t
i

o
n

105

105 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Financial Statements

Financial Statements 
Notes to the accounts 

2 Significant accounting policies continued 
Provisions 
Provisions are recognised when the Group has a present obligation, legal or constructive, as a result of a past event, and it is probable that the Group  
will be required to settle that obligation. Provisions are measured at the Directors’ best estimate of the expenditure required to settle the obligation  
at the period end date, and are discounted to present value where the effect is material. 

Onerous contract provisions are recognised for losses on contracts where the forecast costs of fulfilling the contract throughout the contract period 
exceed the forecast income receivable. The provision is calculated based on cash flows to the end of the contract. Vacant property provisions are 
recognised when the Group has committed to a course of action that will result in the property becoming vacant.  

Share-based payments 
The Group issues equity-settled and cash-settled share-based payments to certain Directors and employees. Equity-settled share-based payments 
are measured at fair value (excluding the effect of non-market-based vesting conditions) at the date of grant. The fair value determined at the grant 
date of the equity-settled share-based payments is expensed on a straight-line basis over the vesting period, based on the Group’s estimate of the 
shares that will eventually vest and adjusted for the effect of non-market-based vesting conditions. 

Fair value is measured using a binomial pricing model which is calibrated using a Black-Scholes framework. The expected life used in the models  
has been adjusted, based on management’s best estimate, for the effect of non-transferability, exercise restrictions and behavioural considerations.  

A liability equal to the portion of the goods or services received is recognised at the current fair value determined at each period end date for  
cash-settled share-based payments. 

Investment in own shares 
Treasury shares 
Where the Company purchases its equity share capital as Treasury Shares, the consideration paid, including any directly attributable incremental 
costs (net of income taxes) is recorded as a deduction from shareholders’ equity until such 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 recognised in equity, with any difference between the proceeds from the sale and the original cost being taken to 
retained earnings. 

Employee Benefit Trust 
The Company has established an Employee Benefit Trust (EBT) for the purpose of purchasing shares in order to satisfy outstanding share options 
and potential awards under long-term incentive plans. The assets of the Trust comprise shares in DMGT plc and cash balances. The Trust is 
administered by independent trustees and its assets are held separately from those of the Group. The Group bears the major risks and rewards  
of the assets held by the EBT until the shares vest unconditionally with employees. The Group recognises the assets and liabilities of the Trust in  
the consolidated financial statements and shares held by the Trust are recorded at cost as a deduction from shareholders’ equity. Consideration 
received for the sale of shares held by the Trust is recognised in equity, with any difference between the proceeds from the sale and the original  
cost being taken to retained earnings. 

Critical accounting judgements and key sources of estimation uncertainty 
In addition to the judgement taken by management in selecting and applying the accounting policies set out above, management has made the 
following judgements concerning the amounts recognised in the consolidated financial statements: 

Adjusted measures 
The Group presents adjusted operating profit and adjusted profit before tax by making adjustments for costs and profits which management 
believe to be significant by virtue of their size, nature or incidence or which have a distortive effect on current year earnings. 

Such items would include, but are not limited to, costs associated with business combinations, gains and losses on the disposal of businesses, 
finance costs relating to premia on bond buy backs, fair value movements, exceptional operating costs, impairment of goodwill and amortisation 
and impairment of intangible assets arising on business combinations. 

Exceptional operating costs include reorganisation costs and similar items of a significant and a non-recurring nature. In addition, the Group 
presents an adjusted profit after tax measure by making adjustments for certain tax charges and credits which management believe to be 
significant by virtue of their size, nature or incidence or which have a distortive effect. The Group uses these adjusted measures to evaluate 
performance and as a method to provide shareholders with clear and consistent reporting.  

See Note 13 for a reconciliation of profit before tax to adjusted profit before and after tax. See the Financial Review section in the Strategic Report  
for a reconciliation of operating profit to adjusted operating profit. 

The Group also presents a measure of net debt, see Note 16 for further detail. 

S
t
r
a
t
e
g
i
c
R
e
p
o
r
t

G
o
v
e
r
n
a
n
c
e

F
i

n
a
n
c
i
a
l

S
t
a
t
e
m
e
n
t
s

S
h
a
r
e
h
o

l

d
e
r

I
n
f
o
r
m
a
t
i

o
n

106

106 

 
 
 
 
 
 
Daily Mail and General Trust plc Annual Report 2018

Investment in Euromoney 
Following loss of control the Group has also considered factors which may indicate de facto control. The Group has determined that it does not have 
de facto control over Euromoney since it cannot block any ordinary resolutions, which comprise the majority of corporate actions, has no control 
over the remuneration of Euromoney’s directors and has no control over Euromoney’s day-to-day operations nor budgets. In addition, the Group 
has no material trading activities or relationships which are critical for Euromoney to carry out its business. The Group’s relationship with 
Euromoney is monitored on an ongoing basis to ensure no change in this assessment.  

Retirement benefits 
After considering the principles set out in IFRIC 14, the Group has recognised a net surplus on its pension schemes amounting to £243.5 million  
(2017 £62.4 million). 

The following represent key sources of estimation uncertainty that have the most significant effect on the amounts recognised in the  
financial statements: 

Forecasting 
The Group prepares medium-term forecasts based on Board-approved budgets and three-year outlooks. These are used to support judgements 
made in the preparation of the Group’s financial statements including the recognition of deferred tax assets in different jurisdictions, the Group’s 
going concern assessment and for the purposes of impairment reviews. Longer-term forecasts use long-term growth rates applicable to the  
relevant businesses. 

Impairment of goodwill and intangible assets 
Determining whether goodwill and intangible or other assets are impaired or whether a reversal of an impairment should be recorded requires a 
comparison of the balance sheet carrying value with the recoverable amount of the asset or CGU. The recoverable amount is the higher of the value  
in use and fair value less costs to sell. 

The value in use calculation requires management to estimate the future cash flows expected to arise from the asset or CGU and calculate the net 
present value of these cash flows using a suitable discount rate. A key area of judgement is deciding the long-term growth rate and the operating 
cash flows of the applicable businesses and the discount rate applied to those cash flows (Note 21). The key assumptions used and associated 
sensitivity analysis in relation to Genscape, Landmark and Hobsons is shown in Note 21. The carrying amount of goodwill and intangible assets 
within these CGUs at the year end was £301.8 million. 

Taxation 
Being a multinational Group with tax affairs in many geographic locations inherently leads to a highly complex tax structure which makes the 
degree of estimation and judgement more challenging. The resolution of issues is not always within the control of the Group and actual tax liabilities 
or refunds may differ from those anticipated due to changes in tax legislation, differing interpretations of tax legislation and uncertainties 
surrounding the application of tax legislation. Such issues can take several years to resolve. 

The Group accounts for unresolved issues based on its best estimate of the final outcome, however the inherent uncertainty regarding these items 
means that the eventual resolution could differ significantly from the accounting estimates and, therefore, impact the Group’s results and future 
cash flows. In situations where uncertainties exist, provision is made for contingent tax liabilities and assets when it is more likely than not that there 
will be a cash impact. These provisions are made for each uncertainty individually on the basis of management estimates following consideration  
of the available relevant information. The measurement basis adopted represents the best predictor of the resolution of the uncertainty which is 
usually based on the most likely cash outflow. The company reviews the adequacy of these provisions at the end of each reporting period and 
adjusts them based on changing facts and circumstances. In the current period, the Group’s uncertain tax positions relate mainly to Euromoney, 
further detail is provided in Note 11. 

In addition, the Group makes estimates regarding the recoverability of deferred tax assets relating to losses based on forecasts of future taxable 
profits which are, by their nature, uncertain.  

Retirement benefit obligations 
The cost of defined benefit pension plans is determined using actuarial valuations prepared by the Group’s actuaries. This involves making certain 
assumptions concerning discount rates, future salary increases and mortality rates. Due to the long-term nature of these plans, such estimates are 
subject to significant uncertainty. The assumptions and the resulting estimates are reviewed annually and, when appropriate, changes are made 
which affect the actuarial valuations and, hence, the amount of retirement benefit expense recognised in the Consolidated Income Statement and 
the amounts of actuarial gains and losses recognised in the Consolidated Statement of Changes in Equity.  

The fair value of the Group’s pension scheme assets include quoted and unquoted investments. The value of unquoted investments require more 
judgement as their values are not directly observable. Accordingly the assumptions used in valuing unquoted investments are affected by current 
market conditions and trends which could result in changes in their fair value after the measurement date. A 1.0% movement in the value of 
unquoted pension scheme assets is estimated to change the value of the Group’s pension scheme assets by £21.0 million. 

The carrying amount of the retirement benefit obligation at 30 September 2018 was a surplus of £243.5 million (2017 £62.4 million).  
The assumptions used and the associated sensitivity analysis can be found in Note 35. 

S
t
r
a
t
e
g
i
c
R
e
p
o
r
t

G
o
v
e
r
n
a
n
c
e

F
i

n
a
n
c
i
a
l

S
t
a
t
e
m
e
n
t
s

S
h
a
r
e
h
o

l

d
e
r

I
n
f
o
r
m
a
t
i

o
n

107

107 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Financial Statements

Financial Statements 
Notes to the accounts 

3 Segment analysis 
The Group’s business activities are split into six operating divisions: Insurance Risk (previously named RMS), Property Information, EdTech, Energy 
Information (all previously known as dmg information), Events and Exhibitions (previously named dmg events) and Consumer Media (previously 
named dmg media). These divisions are the basis on which information is reported to the Group’s Chief Operating Decision Maker, which has been 
determined to be the Group Board. The segment result is the measure used for the purposes of resource allocation and assessment and represents 
profit earned by each segment, including share of results from joint ventures and associates but before exceptional operating costs, amortisation  
of acquired intangible assets arising on business combinations, impairment charges, other gains and losses, net finance costs and taxation.  

Details of the types of products and services from which each segment derives its revenues are included within the Strategic Report. 

The accounting policies applied in preparing the management information for each of the reportable segments are the same as the Group’s 
accounting policies described in Note 2. 

Note 

21, 22 

 22 

Year ended 30 September 2018 
Insurance Risk 
Property Information 
EdTech 
Energy Information 
Events and Exhibitions 
Consumer Media 

Corporate costs 

Adjusted operating profit 

Exceptional operating costs, impairment of internally generated  
and acquired computer software, property, plant and equipment 
Impairment of goodwill and acquired intangible assets arising on  
business combinations 
Amortisation of acquired intangible assets arising  
on business combinations 

Operating profit before share of results of joint ventures  
and associates 

Share of results of joint ventures and associates 

Total operating profit 

Other gains and losses 

Profit before investment revenue, net finance costs and tax 

Investment revenue 
Finance expense 
Finance income 

Profit before tax 

Tax 

Profit for the year 

Segment  
operating 
profit/(loss) 
£m 
 33.8 
 58.0 
 7.4 
 (0.5) 
 27.7 
 83.6 
 210.0 

Less  
operating 
profit/(loss)  
of joint ventures 
and associates 
£m 
 (0.8) 
– 
– 
 (0.8) 
– 
 19.3 
 17.7 

Adjusted  
operating  
profit/(loss) 
£m 
 34.6 
 58.0 
 7.4 
 0.3 
 27.7 
 64.3 
 192.3 

 12.8 

 60.2 

 (47.4) 

Total and  
external  
revenue 
£m 
 229.4 
 271.6 
 68.3 
 85.5 
 117.8 
 653.8 
 1,426.4 

– 
 1,426.4 

 144.9 

 (78.9) 

 (0.3) 

 (15.5) 

 50.2 

 118.4 
 168.6 

 553.0 
 721.6 

 4.8 
 (40.0) 
 5.5 
 691.9 

 (3.7) 
 688.2 

S
t
r
a
t
e
g
i
c
R
e
p
o
r
t

G
o
v
e
r
n
a
n
c
e

F
i

n
a
n
c
i
a
l

S
t
a
t
e
m
e
n
t
s

S
h
a
r
e
h
o

l

d
e
r

I
n
f
o
r
m
a
t
i

o
n

108

108 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Daily Mail and General Trust plc Annual Report 2018

An analysis of the amortisation and impairment of goodwill and intangible assets, exceptional operating costs by segment is as follows: 

Year ended 30 September 2018 
Insurance Risk 
Property Information 
EdTech 
Energy Information 
Events and Exhibitions 
Consumer Media 

Corporate costs 

Total and continuing operations 

Amortisation of 
intangible assets 
not arising on 
business 
combinations 
(Note 22) 
£m 
 (15.0) 
 (3.9) 
 (5.2) 
 (3.4) 
 (0.1) 
 (5.2) 
 (32.8) 

Amortisation of 
intangible assets 
arising on business 
combinations 
(Note 22) 
£m 
– 
 (8.7) 
 (2.8) 
 (3.3) 
 (0.6) 
 (0.1) 
 (15.5) 

Impairment of 
goodwill and 
intangible assets 
arising on business 
combinations 
(Note 21,22) 
£m 
– 
– 
– 
 (0.3) 
– 
– 
 (0.3) 

Impairment of 
internally 
generated and 
acquired computer 
software 
(Note 22) 
£m 
 (58.3) 
– 
– 
 (0.1) 
– 
– 
 (58.4) 

– 
 (32.8) 

– 
 (15.5) 

– 
 (0.3) 

– 
 (58.4) 

Exceptional 
operating costs 
£m 
– 
 (1.5) 
– 
 3.8 
– 
 (18.2) 
 (15.9) 

 (4.6) 
 (20.5) 

The Group’s exceptional operating costs are analysed as follows: 

Year ended 30 September 2018 
Property Information 
EdTech 
Energy Information 
Consumer Media 

Corporate costs 
Total and continuing operations 

Severance  
costs 
£m 
 0.1 
 0.2 
– 
 (0.1) 
 0.2 

– 
 0.2 

(i) 

LTIP 
£m 
– 
– 
– 
 (0.8) 
 (0.8) 

 (4.7) 
 (5.5) 

(ii) 

Pension past 
service cost 
£m 
– 
– 
– 
 (17.3) 
 (17.3) 

– 
 (17.3) 

Property 
£m 
– 
 (0.2) 
– 
– 
 (0.2) 

– 
 (0.2) 

(iii) 

Legal fees 
£m 
 (1.6) 
– 
 3.8 
– 
 2.2 

 0.1 
 2.3 

Total 
£m 
 (1.5) 
– 
 3.8 
 (18.2) 
 (15.9) 

 (4.6) 
 (20.5) 

The Group’s tax charge includes a related credit of £4.3 million in relation to these exceptional operating costs. 

(i)  During the period, the Group sold its investment in ZPG resulting in a profit on sale of £508.4 million. As a direct consequence of this disposal 
the value of the DMGT 2017 Long Term Incentive Plan (the LTIP) is estimated to have increased by £16.5 million. As the LTIP includes a service 
period condition, IFRS 2 Share Options requires the LTIP charge to be spread over the service period until the award vests. The LTIP charge 
recognised in the period which relates to the disposal of ZPG amounts to £5.5 million which is anticipated to be repeated for the following two 
years. Since the profit on the sale of ZPG is excluded from our adjusted profit measure we have treated the incremental increase in the LTIP 
charge as an adjusting item and will continue to do so until the award vests. 

(ii)  The pension past service cost represents a non-cash charge. This follows a change to the scheme rules in one of the Group’s defined benefit 
(DB) pension plans capping future pension increases at 5%. This aligns the pension increases of this scheme with all other Group DB 
pension plans.  

(iii)  Exceptional charges in the Property Information segment relate to fees paid to the Group’s lawyers in defence of various claims brought 
against businesses in this segment. The exceptional credit in the Energy Information segment relates to a release of provisions no  
longer required.  

An analysis of the depreciation of property, plant and equipment, research costs, investment revenue, and finance income and expense by segment  
is as follows: 

Year ended 30 September 2018 
Insurance Risk 
Property Information 
EdTech 
Energy Information 
Events and Exhibitions 
Consumer Media 

Corporate costs 

Total and continuing operations 

Depreciation of 
property, plant  
and equipment 
(Note 23) 
£m 
 (4.9) 
 (2.8) 
 (0.6) 
 (3.3) 
 (0.5) 
 (14.9) 
 (27.0) 

 (0.2) 
 (27.2) 

Research  
costs 
£m 
 (37.2) 
 (0.1) 
– 
 (4.0) 
– 
 (0.5) 
 (41.8) 

– 
 (41.8) 

Investment 
revenue 
(Note 9) 
£m 
 0.3 
– 
 1.4 
– 
– 
– 
 1.7 

 3.1 
 4.8 

Finance  
Income 
(Note 10) 
£m 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
 2.0 
 2.0 

 3.5 
 5.5 

Finance  
expense 
(Note 10) 
£m 
– 
– 
– 
 (2.5) 
– 
 (1.1) 
 (3.6) 

 (36.4) 
 (40.0) 

109

109 

S
t
r
a
t
e
g
i
c
R
e
p
o
r
t

G
o
v
e
r
n
a
n
c
e

F
i

n
a
n
c
i
a
l

S
t
a
t
e
m
e
n
t
s

S
h
a
r
e
h
o

l

d
e
r

I
n
f
o
r
m
a
t
i

o
n

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Financial Statements

Financial Statements 
Notes to the accounts 

3 Segment analysis continued 

Year ended 30 September 2017 
Insurance Risk 
Property Information 
EdTech 
Energy Information 
Events and Exhibitions 
Euromoney 
Consumer Media 

Corporate costs 
Discontinued operations 

Adjusted operating profit 

Exceptional operating costs, impairment of internally generated  
and acquired computer software, property, plant and equipment 
Impairment of goodwill and acquired intangible assets arising  
on business combinations 
Amortisation of acquired intangible assets arising on  
business combinations 

Operating loss before share of results of joint ventures and associates 

Share of results of joint ventures and associates 

Total operating loss 

Other gains and losses 

Loss before investment revenue, net finance costs and tax 

Investment revenue 
Finance expense 
Finance income 

Loss before tax 

Tax 
Profit from discontinued operations 

Profit for the year 

Note 

(i) 

 19 

21,22 

 22 

 19 

Segment  
operating profit 
£m 
 32.0 
 52.0 
 16.1 
 1.1 
 30.6 
 67.3 
 99.2 
 298.3 

Less operating 
profit/(loss) of  
joint ventures and 
associates 
£m 
 (0.8) 
 0.1 
 (0.2) 
 (0.7) 
– 
 48.0 
 22.0 
 68.4 

– 
 (67.3) 

 0.9 
 (48.0) 

Total and  
external  
revenue 
£m 
 233.2 
 328.0 
 114.9 
 87.8 
 117.0 
 95.2 
 683.4 
 1,659.5 

– 
 (95.2) 
 1,564.3 

Adjusted  
operating  
profit/(loss) 
£m 
 32.8 
 51.9 
 16.3 
 1.8 
 30.6 
 19.3 
 77.2 
 229.9 

 (31.6) 
 (19.3) 

 179.0 

 (166.2) 

 (131.7) 

 (26.5) 
 (145.4) 

 16.9 
 (128.5) 

 14.0 
 (114.5) 

 2.5 
 (43.8) 
 43.5 
 (112.3) 

 (64.7) 
 519.3 
 342.3 

(i)  Revenue and adjusted operating profit relating to the discontinued operations of Euromoney have been deducted in order to reconcile total 

segment result to Group loss before tax from continuing operations. 

S
t
r
a
t
e
g
i
c
R
e
p
o
r
t

G
o
v
e
r
n
a
n
c
e

F
i

n
a
n
c
i
a
l

S
t
a
t
e
m
e
n
t
s

S
h
a
r
e
h
o

l

d
e
r

I
n
f
o
r
m
a
t
i

o
n

110

110 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Daily Mail and General Trust plc Annual Report 2018

An analysis of the amortisation and impairment of goodwill and intangible assets, exceptional operating costs and impairment of property, plant 
and equipment by segment is as follows: 

Note 

Year ended 30 September 2017 
Insurance Risk 
Property Information 
EdTech 
Energy Information 
Events and Exhibitions 
Euromoney 
Consumer Media 

Corporate costs 

Relating to discontinued operations 
Continuing operations 

 19 

Amortisation of 
intangible assets 
not arising on 
business 
combinations 
(Note 22) 
£m 
 (17.8) 
 (5.7) 
 (8.5) 
 (6.4) 
 (0.1) 
 (0.9) 
 (4.8) 
 (44.2) 

Amortisation of 
intangible assets 
arising on business 
combinations 
(Note 22) 
£m 
– 
 (13.6) 
 (4.3) 
 (8.2) 
 (0.2) 
 (5.4) 
 (0.2) 
 (31.9) 

Impairment of 
goodwill and 
intangible assets 
arising on 
business 
combinations 
(Notes 21, 22) 
£m 
– 
 (31.6) 
 (2.2) 
 (97.9) 
– 
– 
– 
 (131.7) 

Impairment of 
internally 
generated and 
acquired computer 
software 
(Note 22) 
£m 
– 
 (33.7) 
 (5.3) 
 (42.4) 
– 
– 
 (0.3) 
 (81.7) 

– 
 (44.2) 

 0.9 
 (43.3) 

– 
 (31.9) 

 5.4 
 (26.5) 

– 
 (131.7) 

– 
 (131.7) 

– 
 (81.7) 

– 
 (81.7) 

(i) 

Impairment of 
property,  
plant and 
equipment 
(Note 23) 
£m 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
 (42.0) 
 (42.0) 

– 
 (42.0) 

– 
 (42.0) 

Exceptional 
operating costs 
£m 
 (2.8) 
 (11.8) 
 (7.9) 
 (6.8) 
 (2.6) 
 (0.9) 
 (8.8) 
 (41.6) 

 (1.8) 
 (43.4) 

 0.9 
 (42.5) 

(i) 

Following continued declines in the UK printing market the Group decided to close its Didcot print site, resulting in an impairment charge of  
£41.3 million. 

The Group’s exceptional operating costs are analysed as follows: 

Year ended 30 September 2017 
Insurance Risk 
Property Information 
EdTech 
Energy Information 
Events and Exhibitions 
Euromoney 
Consumer Media 

Corporate costs 
Total and continuing operations 

Relating to discontinued operations 
Continuing operations 

Note 

19 

Severance  
costs 
£m 
 0.5 
 (4.8) 
 (5.5) 
 (0.9) 
– 
– 
 (4.0) 
 (14.7) 

 (1.8) 
 (16.5) 

– 
 (16.5) 

Consultancy 
charges 
£m 
 (3.3) 
– 
 (1.9) 
– 
– 
 (0.1) 
– 
 (5.3) 

– 
 (5.3) 

 0.1 
 (5.2) 

Other  
restructuring  
costs 
£m 
– 
– 
 (0.5) 
– 
 (2.6) 
– 
 (4.8) 
 (7.9) 

– 
 (7.9) 

– 
 (7.9) 

(i) 

Legal fees 
£m 
– 
 (7.0) 
– 
 (5.9) 
– 
 (0.8) 
– 
 (13.7) 

– 
 (13.7) 

 0.8 
 (12.9) 

Total 
£m 
 (2.8) 
 (11.8) 
 (7.9) 
 (6.8) 
 (2.6) 
 (0.9) 
 (8.8) 
 (41.6) 

 (1.8) 
 (43.4) 

 0.9 
 (42.5) 

The Group’s tax charge includes a related credit of £11.1 million in relation to these exceptional operating costs. 

(i) 

Includes dispute settlements and fees paid to the Group’s lawyers. The charge relates principally to a claim by CoStar Inc. (CoStar) against 
Xceligent, Inc. (Xceligent) asserting, inter alia, misuse by Xceligent of CoStar’s intellectual property. Xceligent filed a motion to dismiss on the 
basis that CoStar’s actions are contrary to a Federal Trade Commission (FTC) consent order which was put in place when Xceligent was spun 
out of CoStar’s acquisition of LoopNet. The damages claimed have not been quantified and the Group has made no provision for any claim.  

S
t
r
a
t
e
g
i
c
R
e
p
o
r
t

G
o
v
e
r
n
a
n
c
e

F
i

n
a
n
c
i
a
l

S
t
a
t
e
m
e
n
t
s

S
h
a
r
e
h
o

l

d
e
r

I
n
f
o
r
m
a
t
i

o
n

111

111 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Financial Statements

Financial Statements 
Notes to the accounts 

3 Segment analysis continued 
An analysis of the depreciation of property, plant and equipment, research costs, investment revenue, and net finance costs by segment is  
as follows: 

Note 

Year ended 30 September 2017 
Insurance Risk 
Property Information 
EdTech 
Energy Information 
Events and Exhibitions 
Euromoney 
Consumer Media 

Corporate costs 

Relating to discontinued operations 
Continuing operations 

 19 

Depreciation of 
property, plant  
and equipment  
and investment 
property 
(Note 23) 
£m 
 (5.9) 
 (4.5) 
 (1.8) 
 (4.0) 
 (0.5) 
 (0.8) 
 (16.8) 
 (34.3) 

 (0.2) 
 (34.5) 

 0.8 
 (33.7) 

Research  
costs 
£m 
 (40.3) 
 (0.1) 
 (0.6) 
 (1.1) 
– 
 (2.5) 
 (1.4) 
 (46.0) 

– 
 (46.0) 

 2.5 
 (43.5) 

Investment 
revenue 
(Note 9) 
£m 
 0.3 
 0.5 
– 
– 
– 
– 
 1.5 
 2.3 

 0.2 
 2.5 

– 
 2.5 

Finance Income 
(Note 10) 
£m 
– 
 11.5 
 1.4 
 25.9 
– 
– 
– 
 38.8 

Finance expense 
(Note 10) 
£m 
 (0.1) 
 (0.1) 
– 
 (0.2) 
– 
 (0.7) 
 (3.5) 
 (4.6) 

 4.7 
 43.5 

– 
 43.5 

 (39.9) 
 (44.5) 

 0.7 
 (43.8) 

The Group’s revenue comprises sales excluding value added tax, less discounts and commission where applicable and is analysed as follows: 

Print advertising 
Digital advertising 
Circulation 
Subscriptions 
Events, conferences and training 
Transactions and other 

Year ended  
30 September  
2018 
Total and 
continuing 
operations 
£m 
 187.0 
 135.9 
 291.4 
 399.1 
 116.2 
 296.8 
 1,426.4 

Year ended  
30 September  
2017 
Total 
£m 
 203.6 
 142.7 
 307.8 
 517.4 
 140.9 
 347.1 
 1,659.5 

Year ended  
30 September  
2017 
Discontinued 
operations 
(Note 19) 
£m 
 7.1 
 2.0 
– 
 63.5 
 24.7 
 (2.1) 
 95.2 

Year ended  
30 September  
2017 
Continuing 
operations 
£m 
 196.5 
 140.7 
 307.8 
 453.9 
 116.2 
 349.2 
 1,564.3 

Transactions and other within discontinued operations in the prior period include a £3.8 million foreign exchange loss on forward contracts in the 
Euromoney segment.  

By geographic area 
The majority of the Group’s operations are located in the United Kingdom, North America, rest of Europe, and Australia. The analysis of Group 
revenue below is based on the location of Group companies in these regions.  

Year ended  
30 September  
2018 
Total and 
continuing 
operations 
£m 
 812.0 
 475.4 
 40.1 
 8.7 
 90.2 
 1,426.4 

Year ended  
30 September  
2017 
Total 
£m 
 873.8 
 615.5 
 43.0 
 22.6 
 104.6 
 1,659.5 

Year ended  
30 September  
2017 
Discontinued 
operations 
(Note 19) 
£m 
 30.9 
 50.6 
 4.4 
 0.4 
 8.9 
 95.2 

Year ended  
30 September  
2017 
Continuing 
operations 
£m 
 842.9 
 564.9 
 38.6 
 22.2 
 95.7 
 1,564.3 

UK 
North America 
Rest of Europe 
Australia 
Rest of the World 

112

112 

S
t
r
a
t
e
g
i
c
R
e
p
o
r
t

G
o
v
e
r
n
a
n
c
e

F
i

n
a
n
c
i
a
l

S
t
a
t
e
m
e
n
t
s

S
h
a
r
e
h
o

l

d
e
r

I
n
f
o
r
m
a
t
i

o
n

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Daily Mail and General Trust plc Annual Report 2018

The analysis of Group revenue below is based on the geographic location of customers in these regions. 

UK 
North America 
Rest of Europe 
Australia 
Rest of the World 

Year ended  
30 September  
2018 
Total and 
continuing 
operations 
£m 
 772.4 
 410.8 
 143.2 
 10.2 
 89.8 
 1,426.4 

Year ended  
30 September  
2017 
Total 
£m 
 808.1 
 557.9 
 155.7 
 23.3 
 114.5 
 1,659.5 

Year ended  
30 September  
2017 
Discontinued 
operations 
(Note 19) 
£m 
 9.1 
 43.9 
 18.6 
 2.0 
 21.6 
 95.2 

Year ended  
30 September  
2017 
Continuing 
operations 
£m 
 799.0 
 514.0 
 137.1 
 21.3 
 92.9 
 1,564.3 

The closing net book value of goodwill, intangible assets, property, plant and equipment is analysed by geographic area as follows: 

UK 
North America 
Rest of Europe 
Australia 
Rest of the World 

Closing net book 
value of  
property, plant 
and equipment 
(Note 23) 
2018 
£m 
76.1 
20.3 
2.5 
– 
0.5 
99.7 

Closing net book 
value of  
property, plant 
and equipment 
(Note 23) 
2017 
£m 
79.1 
19.3 
3.3 
– 
1.0 
103.3 

Closing net book 
value of  
goodwill 
(Note 21) 
2018 
£m 
 94.1 
 204.2 
 22.5 
– 
 12.4 
 333.2 

Closing net book 
value of  
goodwill 
(Note 21) 
2017 
£m 
 92.0 
 231.2 
 25.7 
 2.3 
 11.9 
 363.1 

Closing net book 
value of  
intangible assets 
(Note 22) 
2018 
£m 
 44.6 
 72.0 
 12.6 
– 
 2.0 
 131.2 

Closing net book 
value of 
 intangible assets 
(Note 22) 
2017 
£m 
 47.4 
 145.7 
 18.2 
– 
 1.7 
 213.0 

The additions to non-current assets are analysed as follows: 

Insurance Risk 
Property Information 
EdTech 
Energy Information 
Events and Exhibitions 
Euromoney 
Consumer Media 

Corporate costs 

Property, plant  
and equipment 
(Note 23) 
Year ended  
30 September  
2018 
£m 
 4.7 
 9.8 
 0.2 
 2.0 
 0.2 
– 
 7.9 
 24.8 

 5.6 
 30.4 

Property, plant  
and equipment 
(Note 23) 
Year ended  
30 September  
2017 
£m 
 2.5 
 6.6 
 1.0 
 2.6 
 0.4 
 2.8 
 4.7 
 20.6 

 0.5 
 21.1 

Goodwill 
(Note 21) 
Year ended  
30 September  
2018 
£m 
– 
– 
– 
 0.2 
3.0 
– 
– 
3.2 

– 
3.2 

Goodwill 
(Note 21) 
Year ended  
30 September 
 2017 
£m 
– 
 0.4 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
 0.4 

– 
 0.4 

Intangible assets 
(Note 22) 
Year ended  
30 September  
2018 
£m 
 0.1 
 7.4 
 10.9 
 1.3 
 2.6 
– 
– 
 22.3 

– 
 22.3 

Intangible assets 
(Note 22) 
Year ended  
30 September  
2017 
£m 
– 
 26.6 
 17.0 
 13.1 
 0.2 
 0.5 
 1.2 
 58.6 

– 
 58.6 

S
t
r
a
t
e
g
i
c
R
e
p
o
r
t

G
o
v
e
r
n
a
n
c
e

F
i

n
a
n
c
i
a
l

S
t
a
t
e
m
e
n
t
s

S
h
a
r
e
h
o

l

d
e
r

I
n
f
o
r
m
a
t
i

o
n

113

113 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Year ended  
30 September  
2018  
Total and 
continuing 
operations 
£m 
 1,426.4 

Year ended  
30 September  
2017  
Total 
£m 
 1,659.5 

Year ended  
30 September  
2017  
Discontinued 
operations  
Note 19 
£m 
 95.2 

Year ended  
30 September  
2017  
Continuing 
operations 
£m 
 1,564.3 

Financial Statements

Financial Statements 
Notes to the accounts 

4 Operating profit analysis 
Operating profit before the share of results of joint ventures and associates is further analysed as follows:  

Note 

21, 22 
 22 
 22 

 23 
 23 

Revenue 

Decrease in stocks of finished goods and work in progress 
Raw materials, consumables and direct staff costs 

Inventories recognised as an expense in the year 

Staff costs 
Impairment of goodwill and intangible assets 
Amortisation of intangible assets arising on business combinations 
Amortisation of internally generated and acquired computer software 
Promotion and marketing costs 
Venue and delegate costs 
Editorial and production costs 
Distribution and transportation costs 
Royalties and similar charges 
Depreciation of property, plant and equipment  
Impairment of property, plant and equipment 
Rental of property 
Other property costs 
Rental of plant and equipment 
Foreign exchange translation differences 
Other expenses 

Operating profit/(loss) 

5 Auditor’s remuneration 

 (3.6) 
 (230.7) 
 (234.3) 

 (495.4) 
 (58.7) 
 (15.5) 
 (32.8) 
 (33.5) 
 (35.5) 
 (109.3) 
 (40.5) 
 (39.1) 
 (27.2) 
– 
 (25.9) 
 (22.0) 
 (19.2) 
 1.3 
 (188.6) 
 50.2 

 (4.3) 
 (236.8) 
 (241.1) 

 (588.3) 
 (213.4) 
 (31.9) 
 (44.2) 
 (41.9) 
 (41.6) 
 (111.0) 
 (42.5) 
 (51.2) 
 (34.5) 
 (42.0) 
 (29.5) 
 (26.9) 
 (22.8) 
 (0.2) 
 (228.9) 
 (132.4) 

Fees payable to the Company’s Auditor for the audit of the Company’s annual accounts 
Fees payable to the Company’s Auditor and its associates for the audit of the Company’s subsidiaries  
pursuant to legislation 
Audit services provided to all Group companies 

Audit-related assurance services 
Assurance services  
Other non-audit services 

Total remuneration 

114

114 

– 
– 
– 

 (38.3) 
– 
 (5.4) 
 (0.9) 
 (1.6) 
 (8.2) 
 (3.5) 
 (0.6) 
– 
 (0.8) 
– 
– 
 (3.6) 
– 
 (0.3) 
 (19.0) 
 13.0 

 (4.3) 
 (236.8) 
 (241.1) 

 (550.0) 
 (213.4) 
 (26.5) 
 (43.3) 
 (40.3) 
 (33.4) 
 (107.5) 
 (41.9) 
 (51.2) 
 (33.7) 
 (42.0) 
 (29.5) 
 (23.3) 
 (22.8) 
 0.1 
 (209.9) 
 (145.4) 

Year ended  
30 September  
2018 
£m 
 0.3 

Year ended  
30 September  
2017 
£m 
 0.3 

 2.7 
3.0 

0.2 
 0.3  
– 
0.5 

 3.5 

 2.6 
 2.9 

 0.5 
 0.3 
 0.1 
 0.9 

 3.8 

S
t
r
a
t
e
g
i
c
R
e
p
o
r
t

G
o
v
e
r
n
a
n
c
e

F
i

n
a
n
c
i
a
l

S
t
a
t
e
m
e
n
t
s

S
h
a
r
e
h
o

l

d
e
r

I
n
f
o
r
m
a
t
i

o
n

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Daily Mail and General Trust plc Annual Report 2018

6 Employees 
The average monthly number of persons employed by the Group including Directors is analysed as follows: 

Insurance Risk 
Property Information 
EdTech 
Energy Information 
Events and Exhibitions 
Euromoney 
Consumer media 
Corporate costs 

Note 

(i) 

(ii) 

Year ended  
30 September  
2018 
Number 
 1,348 
 2,320 
 382 
 467 
 340 
– 
 2,249 
 87 
7,193 

Year ended  
30 September  
2017 
Number 
 1,149 
 2,487 
 755 
 498 
 359 
 2,192 
 2,417 
 88 
 9,945 

(i) 

Includes the average monthly number of persons employed by Xceligent for the period ended 30 November 2017 and EDR and SiteCompli for 
the period ended 31 March 2018 when these businesses ceased to be subsidiary undertakings. 

(ii)  The prior period represents the average monthly number of persons employed by Euromoney for the period ended 31 December 2016 when 

Euromoney ceased to be a subsidiary undertaking. 

The total average number of persons employed by the Group in the year, for the purposes of calculating an average cost per employee, is 6,267  
(2017 8,301). 

Total staff costs comprised: 

Wages and salaries 
Share-based payments 
Social security costs 
Pension costs 

Year ended  
30 September  
2018 
£m 
 448.6 
 10.1 
 40.4 
 28.5 
 527.6 

Year ended  
30 September  
2017 
£m 
 539.7 
 3.9 
 47.3 
 13.3 
 604.2 

115

115 

S
t
r
a
t
e
g
i
c
R
e
p
o
r
t

G
o
v
e
r
n
a
n
c
e

F
i

n
a
n
c
i
a
l

S
t
a
t
e
m
e
n
t
s

S
h
a
r
e
h
o

l

d
e
r

I
n
f
o
r
m
a
t
i

o
n

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Financial Statements

Financial Statements 
Notes to the accounts 

7 Share of results of joint ventures and associates 

Share of adjusted operating losses from operations of joint ventures  
Share of adjusted operating profits from operations of associates 

Share of profits before exceptional operating costs, amortisation, impairment of goodwill,  
interest and tax 
Share of associates’ other gains and losses 
Share of exceptional operating costs of associates 
Share of amortisation of intangibles arising on business combinations of joint ventures 
Share of amortisation of intangibles arising on business combinations of associates 
Share of associates’ interest payable 
Share of joint ventures’ tax 
Share of associates’ tax 
Share of impairment of intangibles arising on business combinations of associates 
Share of impairment of goodwill in associates 
Share of fair value movement of contingent consideration payable of associates 
Impairment of carrying value of joint ventures 
Impairment of carrying value of associates 

Share of associates’ items of other comprehensive income 
Share of results of joint ventures and associates 

Share of results from operations of joint ventures  
Share of results from operations of associates  
Impairment of carrying value of joint ventures 
Impairment of carrying value of associates 

Share of associates’ items of other comprehensive income 
Share of results of joint ventures and associates 

Year ended  
30 September  
2018 
£m 
 (3.2) 
 77.2 

Year ended  
30 September  
2017 
£m 
 (0.1) 
 68.6 

Note 

(i) 

11, 13 
11, 13 
 13 

13, 24, (ii) 
13, 24, (iii) 

 74.0 
 102.9 
 (4.9) 
– 
 (16.7) 
 (4.0) 
 (0.1) 
 (31.2) 
– 
 (1.5) 
 0.7 
– 
 (0.8) 
 118.4 

 14.7 
 133.1 

 (3.3) 
 122.5 
– 
 (0.8) 
 118.4 

 14.7 
 133.1 

 68.5 
– 
 (6.7) 
 (0.1) 
 (17.1) 
 (4.5) 
– 
 (5.2) 
 (13.7) 
– 
– 
 (3.3) 
 (1.0) 
 16.9 

 (9.7) 
 7.2 

 (0.2) 
 21.4 
 (3.3) 
 (1.0) 
 16.9 

 (9.7) 
 7.2 

(i)  Share of adjusted operating profits from associates includes £55.9 million (2017 £47.2 million) from the Group’s interest in Euromoney and  

£23.4 million (2017 £27.4 million) from the Group’s interest in ZPG Plc (ZPG) in the Consumer Media segment. 

(ii) 

In the prior period, represents a £3.0 million write-down in the carrying value of Knowlura in the EdTech segment and a £0.3 million write-down  
in the carrying value of Artirix in the Consumer Media segment. 

(iii)  Represents a £0.3 million write-down in the carrying value of RLTO Ltd in the Property Information segment and a £0.5 million write-down in 
the carrying value of Eatfirst UK Ltd held centrally. In the prior period, represents a £0.5 million write-down in the carrying value of Carspring  
in the Consumer Media segment and £0.5 million write-down in the carrying value of iProf Learning Solutions in the EdTech segment.  

S
t
r
a
t
e
g
i
c
R
e
p
o
r
t

G
o
v
e
r
n
a
n
c
e

F
i

n
a
n
c
i
a
l

S
t
a
t
e
m
e
n
t
s

S
h
a
r
e
h
o

l

d
e
r

I
n
f
o
r
m
a
t
i

o
n

116

116 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Daily Mail and General Trust plc Annual Report 2018

Note 

13, 25 
 20 
13, 18, (i) 
13, 18, 39, 40, (ii) 
24, (iii) 
13, (iv) 
13, (v) 

Year ended  
30 September 
 2018 
£m 
 1.0 
 (1.8) 
– 
37.1 
 10.4 
 0.7 
 (3.5) 
 509.1 
 553.0 

Year ended  
30 September  
2017 
£m 
– 
 (0.5) 
 (4.1) 
 (6.5) 
 4.7 
 18.0 
– 
 2.4 
 14.0 

8 Other gains and losses 

Profit on disposal of available-for-sale investments 
Impairment of available-for-sale assets 
Impairment of held-for-sale-assets 
Profit/(Loss) on disposal and closure of businesses 
Recycled cumulative translation differences 
Gain on dilution of stake in associate 
Loss on change in control 
Profit on disposal of joint ventures and associates 

There is a tax charge of £17.6 million in relation to these other gains and losses (2017 £0.2 million). 

(i) 

In the current period this principally relates to a £51.7 million profit on the sale of EDR in the Property Information segment, £6.3 million loss on 
the sale of Locus Energy, a £0.9 million profit on disposal of assets in acquiring an interest in Linevision and a £7.2 million loss on the disposal 
Digital H2O in the Energy segment, a £4.8 million loss on Hobsons Solutions and additional costs of £3.5 million on the sale of Hobsons 
Admissions and Edumate on in the EdTech segment.  

Additionally a loss of £4.8 million was recognised on the closure of Xceligent, gains on various disposals amounting to £0.4 million recognised  
in the Consumer Media segment and £0.1 million in the Events segment.  

In the prior period this principally relates to a £6.2 million profit on disposal of Elite Daily in the Consumer Media segment offset by a loss  
of £6.5 million representing an adjustment to the net assets sold with Wowcher in the Consumer Media segment and a loss of £4.4 million  
on sale of various businesses in the EdTech segment. 

(ii)  Represents cumulative translation differences required to be recycled through the Consolidated Income Statement on disposals. 

(iii)  This represents a gain on dilution of the Group’s stakes in Praedicat and Skymet. In accordance with IAS 28, Investments in Associates and 

Joint Ventures, this dilution has been treated as a deemed disposal. The carrying value of these investments has increased resulting in a gain 
on dilution of £0.7 million. In the prior period, this represents a gain on dilution of the Group’s investment in ZPG. 

(iv)  During the period the Group reduced its interest in SiteCompli in the Property Information Segment and SiteCompli became an associate.  

In accordance with IFRS3, Business Combinations, the difference between the fair value of the investment retained less a capital contribution  
and the carrying value is treated as a loss on change in control. 

(v)  Principally relates to the disposal of ZPG for gross proceeds of £641.7 million, resulting in a profit on disposal of £508.4 million. During the prior 

period, this principally relates to the disposal of the Group’s holding in Fortunegreen and Spaceway Storage Services in the Consumer Media 
segment and Clipper Data in the Energy Information segment. 

S
t
r
a
t
e
g
i
c
R
e
p
o
r
t

G
o
v
e
r
n
a
n
c
e

F
i

n
a
n
c
i
a
l

S
t
a
t
e
m
e
n
t
s

S
h
a
r
e
h
o

l

d
e
r

I
n
f
o
r
m
a
t
i

o
n

117

117 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Financial Statements

Financial Statements 
Notes to the accounts 

9 Investment revenue 

Dividend income 
Interest receivable from short-term deposits 
Interest receivable on loan notes 

10 Net finance costs 

Interest, arrangement and commitment fees payable on bonds, bank loans and loan notes 
Loss on derivatives, or portions thereof, not designated for hedge accounting 
Finance charge on defined benefit pension schemes 
Change in fair value of derivative hedge of bond 
Change in fair value of hedged portion of bond 
Finance charge on discounting of contingent consideration payable 
Fair value movement of contingent consideration payable 
Finance expense 

Profit on derivatives, or portions thereof, not designated for hedge accounting 
Finance income on defined benefit pension schemes 
Fair value movement of contingent consideration payable 
Fair value movement of undesignated financial instruments 
Change in present value of acquisition put options 
Finance income 

Net finance costs 

Year ended  
30 September  
2018 
£m 
 0.1 
 1.7 
 3.0 
 4.8 

Year ended  
30 September  
2017 
£m 
 0.1 
 1.0 
 1.4 
 2.5 

Year ended  
30 September  
2018 
£m 
 (35.9) 
 (1.7) 
– 
 (2.3) 
 2.3 
(0.2) 
 (2.2) 
(40.0) 

Year ended  
30 September  
2017 
£m 
 (37.2) 
 (1.7) 
 (4.9) 
 (4.7) 
 4.7 
– 
– 
 (43.8) 

 0.4 
 2.0 
– 
 3.1 
– 
 5.5 

– 
– 
 28.6 
 7.5 
 7.4 
 43.5 

 (34.5) 

 (0.3) 

Note 

13, 35 
16, 34 
16, 34 
36, (ii) 
36, 13, (i) 

35 
36, 13, (i) 
 13 
13, 34 

(i)   The fair value movement of contingent consideration arises from the requirement of IFRS 3, Business Combinations, to measure such 

consideration at fair value with changes in fair value taken to the Income Statement. 

(ii)   The finance charge on the discounting of contingent consideration arises from the unwinding of the discount following the requirement under 

IFRS 3, Business Combinations, to record contingent consideration at fair value using a discounted cash flow approach. 

S
t
r
a
t
e
g
i
c
R
e
p
o
r
t

G
o
v
e
r
n
a
n
c
e

F
i

n
a
n
c
i
a
l

S
t
a
t
e
m
e
n
t
s

S
h
a
r
e
h
o

l

d
e
r

I
n
f
o
r
m
a
t
i

o
n

118

118 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Daily Mail and General Trust plc Annual Report 2018

Year ended  
30 September  
2018 
£m 

Year ended  
30 September  
2017 
£m 

Note 

 (0.7) 
 (0.2) 
 (0.9) 

 (24.3) 
 (0.6) 
 (24.9) 

 (25.8) 

 22.1 
– 
 22.1 

 (3.7) 

– 
 (3.7) 

– 
 0.3 
 0.3 

 (12.0) 
– 
 (12.0) 

 (11.7) 

 (62.4) 
 5.4 
 (57.0) 

 (68.7) 

 4.0 
 (64.7) 

 37 

 19 

11 Tax 

The charge on the profit for the period consists of:  

UK tax 
Corporation tax at 19.0% (2017 19.5%) 
Adjustments in respect of prior years 

Overseas tax 
Corporation tax 
Adjustments in respect of prior years 

Total current tax 

Deferred tax 
Origination and reversals of temporary differences 
Adjustments in respect of prior years 
Total deferred tax 

Total tax charge 

Relating to discontinued operations 

In December 2017 the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act was enacted in the US which included a broad range of tax changes. One key provision was a reduction  
in the corporate tax rate from 35.0% to 21.0% from 1 January 2018. US deferred tax balances have been re-measured to reflect this reduced rate as  
this is the rate that will apply on reversal. The other key provision impacting the Group was a one off toll charge arising from the deemed mandatory 
repatriation of previously undistributed earnings and profits of non-US corporations owned by the Group’s US subsidiaries. 

The current and deferred tax implications of Brexit on the Group have been considered by management and are not expected to have any  
material impact. 

The EU Commission has opened a State Aid investigation into the Group Financing Exemption included within the UK’s controlled foreign company 
(CFC) rules. The Group finances its US operations through a Luxembourg resident finance company which has received clearance from HM Revenue 
& Customs that it benefits from this exemption. If the State Aid investigation leads to a reversal of the benefits that the Group has accrued through 
the exemption, the tax cost to the Group would be approximately £7.4 million. The Directors do not assess this outcome as more than likely and 
accordingly have made no provision in these financial statements. 

A deferred tax credit of £31.2 million (2017 £49.3 million) relating to the actuarial movement on defined benefit pension schemes was recognised  
directly in the Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income. A deferred tax of charge of £6.8 million (2017 £0.4 million) and a current tax credit  
of £2.3 million (2017 £nil) were recognised directly in equity. 

Legislation was enacted in September 2016 to reduce the UK corporation tax rate to 17.0% from 1 April 2020. UK deferred tax balances therefore 
have been measured at 17.0% as this is the tax rate that will apply on reversal unless the timing difference is expected to reverse before April 2020,  
in which case the appropriate tax rate has been used. 

S
t
r
a
t
e
g
i
c
R
e
p
o
r
t

G
o
v
e
r
n
a
n
c
e

F
i

n
a
n
c
i
a
l

S
t
a
t
e
m
e
n
t
s

S
h
a
r
e
h
o

l

d
e
r

I
n
f
o
r
m
a
t
i

o
n

119

119 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Financial Statements

Financial Statements 
Notes to the accounts 

11 Tax continued 
The tax charge for the year is lower than the standard rate of corporation tax in the UK of 19.0% (2017 19.5%) representing the weighted average 
annual corporate tax rate for the full financial year. The differences are explained below: 

Profit/(loss) on ordinary activities before tax – continuing operations 
Profit before tax – discontinued operations 
Total profit before tax 

Tax on profit on ordinary activities at the standard rate 
Effect of:  
Amortisation and impairment of goodwill and intangible assets 
Other expenses not deductible for tax purposes 
Additional items deductible for tax purposes 
Derecognition of previously recognised deferred tax assets 
Effect of overseas tax rates 
Effect of associates tax 
Unrecognised tax losses utilised 
Write off/disposal of subsidiaries and associate 
Effect of change in tax rate 
Adjustment in respect of prior years 
Total tax charge on the profit for the year – continuing and discontinued operations 

Year ended  
30 September  
2018 
£m 
 691.9 
– 
 691.9 

Year ended  
30 September  
2017 
£m 
 (112.3) 
 523.3 
 411.0 

 (131.5) 

 (80.1) 

 (2.2) 
 (1.0) 
 4.3 
 0.3 
 (5.2) 
 22.6 
 1.9 
 97.2 
 10.7 
 (0.8) 
(3.7) 

 (28.4) 
 0.4 
 7.7 
 (109.9) 
 21.6 
 4.5 
 7.7 
 102.3 
 (0.2) 
 5.7 
 (68.7) 

Note 

19 

(i) 

(ii) 

(iii) 
 13 

(i)  Additional items deductible for tax purposes amounting to £4.3 million (2017 £7.7 million) primarily relates to Research and Development tax  
credits and financing arrangements that result in asymmetrical tax treatments in the territories involved. Some of these are expected to recur 
in the short term. 

(ii) 

Includes £96.6 million relating to the profit of sale of ZPG which was non-taxable by virtue of the Substantial Shareholder Exemption. 

(iii)  The adjustment in respect of prior years charge of £0.8 million (2017 credit of £5.7 million) arose largely from a reassessment  

of temporary differences. 

Adjusted tax on profits before amortisation and impairment of intangible assets, restructuring costs and non-recurring items (adjusted tax charge) 
amounted to a charge of £33.2 million (2017 £29.0 million) and the resulting rate is 18.2% (2017 12.8%). The differences between the tax charge and 
the adjusted tax charge are shown in the reconciliation below: 

Total tax charge on the profit for the year 
Share of tax in joint ventures and associates 
Deferred tax on intangible assets 
Reassessment of temporary differences 
Tax on other adjusting items 
Adjusted tax charge on the profit for the year 

Year ended  
30 September  
2018 
£m 
 (3.7) 
 (31.3) 
 (22.6) 
– 
 24.4 
 (33.2) 

Year ended  
30 September  
2017 
£m 
 (68.7) 
 (4.9) 
 (29.6) 
 108.9 
 (34.7) 
 (29.0) 

Note 

7, 19 

 13 

In calculating the adjusted tax rate, the Group excludes the potential future impact of the deferred tax effects of intangible assets (other than 
internally generated and acquired computer software), as the Group prefers to give users of its accounts a view of the tax charge based on the 
current status of such items. Deferred tax would only crystallise on a sale of the relevant businesses, which is not anticipated at the current time,  
and such a sale, being an exceptional item, would result in an exceptional tax impact. 

Reassessment of temporary differences includes £nil (2017 charge of £100.4 million ) relating to the derecognition of overseas tax losses and a net 
charge of £nil (2017 charge of £8.5 million) relating to the derecognition of UK tax losses which are treated as exceptional due to their distortive 
impact on the Group’s adjusted tax charge. 

Included in tax on other adjusting items are items arising from tax reform in the US comprising deferred tax credit of £12.5 million (2017 £nil)  
relating to the re-measurement of US deferred tax balances following the reduction in the US corporate tax rate, a current tax charge of £6.1 million 
(2017 £nil) in respect of the transitional toll charge and a deferred tax charge of £4.0 million relating to the impact of the internal refinancing of the 
US group. 

S
t
r
a
t
e
g
i
c
R
e
p
o
r
t

G
o
v
e
r
n
a
n
c
e

F
i

n
a
n
c
i
a
l

S
t
a
t
e
m
e
n
t
s

S
h
a
r
e
h
o

l

d
e
r

I
n
f
o
r
m
a
t
i

o
n

120

120 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Daily Mail and General Trust plc Annual Report 2018

Uncertain tax positions 
At 30 September 2018 the Group’s 49.8% associate, Euromoney held provisions for uncertain tax of £12.9 million (2017 £10.2 million) relating  
to permanent establishment risk and challenges by tax authorities. The maximum potential additional exposure to Euromoney in relation  
to challenges by tax authorities not provided for is approximately £20.0 million which is for the challenge by the Canadian Revenue Agency (CRA) 
and Quebec Tax Authorities (Revenu Quebec) on a foreign currency trade in 2009. On 23 October 2017, the CRA issued a Notice of Reassessment  
to BCA Research Inc (BCA) based on the CRA view that the loss sustained by BCA on an intra-group derivative transaction cannot be deducted  
in computing income. Euromoney is confident that it will be able to set aside these reassessments through the normal litigation process,  
which has already begun. Nonetheless, BCA has provided satisfactory security for payment to both the CRA and Revenu Québec for 50.0%  
of the tax owing which amounted to £3.5 million and £3.2 million respectively. 

The Group has previously disclosed a potential exposure of £11.0 million relating to an HMRC enquiry into Euromoney’s investment in Dealogic of 
which £2.8 million had been provided in prior periods. Following receipt of a closure notice from HMRC confirming that the tax being pursued is 
£10.7 million, the associated provision has been increased for accounting purposes to £10.7 million at 30 September 2018. A notice of appeal was 
filed with HMRC. 

12 Dividends paid 

Amounts recognisable as distributions to equity holders in the year 
Ordinary Shares – final dividend for the year ended 30 September 2017 
A Ordinary Non-Voting Shares – final dividend for the year ended 30 September 2017 
Ordinary Shares – final dividend for the year ended 30 September 2016 
A Ordinary Non–Voting Shares – final dividend for the year ended 30 September 2016 

Ordinary Shares – interim dividend for the year ended 30 September 2018 
A Ordinary Non-Voting Shares – interim dividend for the year ended 30 September 2018 
Ordinary Shares – interim dividend for the year ended 30 September 2017 
A Ordinary Non-Voting Shares – interim dividend for the year ended 30 September 2017 

Year ended  
30 September  
2018 
Pence per share 

Year ended  
30 September  
2018 
£m 

Year ended  
30 September  
2017 
Pence per share 

Year ended  
30 September  
2017 
£m 

 15.8 
 15.8 
 –  
 –  
 –  

 7.1 
 7.1 
 –  
 –  
 –  

 –  

 3.1 
 52.8 
 –  
 –  
 55.9 

 1.4 
 23.7 
 –  
 –  
 25.1 

 81.0 

 –  
 –  
 15.3 
 15.3 
 –  

 –  
 –  
 6.9 
 6.9 
 –  

 –  

 –  
 –  
 3.0 
 50.9 
 53.9 

 –  
 –  
 1.4 
 23.0 
 24.4 

 78.3 

The Board has declared a final dividend of 16.2 pence per Ordinary/A Ordinary Non-Voting Share (2017 15.8 pence) which will absorb an estimated 
£57.3 million (2017 £55.8 million) of shareholders’ equity for which no liability has been recognised in these financial statements. It will be paid on  
8 February 2019 to shareholders on the register at the close of business on 7 December 2018. 

S
t
r
a
t
e
g
i
c
R
e
p
o
r
t

G
o
v
e
r
n
a
n
c
e

F
i

n
a
n
c
i
a
l

S
t
a
t
e
m
e
n
t
s

S
h
a
r
e
h
o

l

d
e
r

I
n
f
o
r
m
a
t
i

o
n

121

121 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Financial Statements

Financial Statements 
Notes to the accounts 

13 Adjusted profit 

Profit/(loss) before tax – continuing operations 
Profit before tax – discontinued operations 
Profit on disposal of discontinued operations including recycled cumulative translation differences 

Adjust for:  

Amortisation of intangible assets in Group profit, including joint ventures and associates,  
arising on business combinations 
Impairment of goodwill and intangible assets arising on business combinations 
Impairment of goodwill and intangible assets arising on business combinations of joint ventures  
and associates 
Exceptional operating costs, impairment of internally generated and acquired computer software, 
property, plant and equipment and investment property 
Share of exceptional operating costs of joint ventures and associates 
Share of joint ventures’ and associates’ other gains and losses 
Impairment of carrying value of joint ventures and associates 

Other gains and losses:  

Impairment of available-for-sale assets 
Impairment of held-for-sale-assets 
Profit on disposal of available-for-sale investments 
Profit on disposal of businesses, joint ventures, associates, change of control and recycled cumulative 
translation differences 
Profit on disposal of discontinued operations including recycled cumulative translation differences 

Finance costs:  

Finance (income)/charge on defined benefit pension schemes 
Fair value movements including share of joint ventures and associates 

Tax:  

Share of tax in joint ventures and associates 

Adjusted profit before tax and non-controlling interests 
Total tax charge on the profit for the year 

Adjust for:  

Share of tax in joint ventures and associates 
Deferred tax on intangible assets 
Reassessment of temporary differences 
Current tax on foreign exchange tax equalisation contracts 
Agreement of open issues with tax authorities 
Tax on other adjusting items 
Non-controlling interests 

Adjusted profit after taxation and non-controlling interests 

Note 
 3 
 19 
 19 

3, 7, 19 
3, 19 

 7 

3, 19 
7, 19 
 7 
 7 

 8 
 8 
 8 

8,19 
 19 

 10 
(i),10,19 

7,11 

 11 

 7 
 11 
 11 
 11 
 11 
 11 
(ii) 

Year ended  
30 September  
2018 
£m 
 691.9 
– 
– 

Year ended  
30 September  
2017 
£m 
 (112.3) 
 14.0 
 509.3 

 32.2 
 0.3 

 1.5 

 78.9 
 4.9 
 (102.9) 
 0.8 

 1.8 
– 
 (1.0) 

 50.3 
 131.7 

 13.7 

 167.1 
 6.7 
– 
 4.3 

 0.5 
 4.1 
– 

 (553.8) 
– 

 (21.0) 
 (509.3) 

 (2.0) 
 (1.6) 

 31.3 
 182.3 
 (3.7) 

 (31.3) 
 (22.6) 
– 
– 
– 
 24.4 
 0.2 
 149.3 

 4.9 
 (42.8) 

 4.9 
 226.1 
 (68.7) 

 (4.9) 
 (29.6) 
 108.9 
– 
– 
 (34.7) 
 (0.8) 
 196.3 

(i) 

Fair value movements include movements on undesignated financial instruments, contingent consideration payable and receivable and 
change in value of acquisition put options. 

(ii)  The adjusted non-controlling interests’ share of losses for the year of £0.2 million (2017 £0.8 million share of profit) is stated after eliminating  

a credit of £1.0 million (2017 £3.8 million credit), being the non-controlling interests’ share of adjusting items. 

S
t
r
a
t
e
g
i
c
R
e
p
o
r
t

G
o
v
e
r
n
a
n
c
e

F
i

n
a
n
c
i
a
l

S
t
a
t
e
m
e
n
t
s

S
h
a
r
e
h
o

l

d
e
r

I
n
f
o
r
m
a
t
i

o
n

122

122 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Daily Mail and General Trust plc Annual Report 2018

14 Earnings per share 
Basic earnings per share of 194.7 pence (2017 97.8 pence) and diluted earnings per share of 192.4 pence (2017 96.3 pence) are calculated, in 
accordance with IAS 33, Earnings per share, on Group profit for the financial year of £689.4 million (2017 £345.3 million) as adjusted for the effect  
of dilutive Ordinary Shares of £nil (2017 £0.1 million) and earnings from discontinued operations of £nil (2017 £519.3 million) and on the weighted 
average number of Ordinary Shares in issue during the year, as set out below. 

As in previous years, adjusted earnings per share have also been disclosed since the Directors consider that this alternative measure gives a more 
comparable indication of the Group’s underlying trading performance. Adjusted earnings per share of 42.2 pence (2017 55.6 pence) are calculated 
on profit for continuing and discontinued operations before exceptional operating costs, impairment of goodwill and intangible assets, 
amortisation of intangible assets arising on business combinations, other gains and losses and exceptional financing costs after taxation and  
non-controlling interests associated with those profits, of £149.3 million (2017 £196.3 million), as set out in Note 13 and on the basic weighted 
average number of Ordinary Shares in issue during the year. 

Basic and diluted earnings per share: 

Earnings/(losses) from continuing operations 
Effect of dilutive Ordinary Shares 
Earnings from discontinued operations 

Adjusted earnings from continuing and discontinued operations 
Effect of dilutive Ordinary Shares 

Earnings/(losses) per share from continuing operations 
Effect of dilutive Ordinary Shares 
Earnings per share from discontinued operations 

Earnings per share from continuing and discontinued operations 

Year ended  
30 September  
2018  
Diluted earnings 
£m 
 689.4 
– 
– 
 689.4 

Year ended  
30 September  
2017  
Diluted earnings 
£m 
 (174.0) 
 (0.1) 
 519.3 
 345.2 

Year ended  
30 September  
2018  
Basic earnings 
£m 
 689.4 
– 
– 
 689.4 

Year ended  
30 September  
2017  
Basic earnings 
£m 
 (174.0) 
– 
 519.3 
 345.3 

 149.3 
– 
 149.3 

 196.3 
 (0.1) 
 196.2 

 149.3 
– 
 149.3 

 196.3 
– 
 196.3 

Year ended 
 30 September  
2018  
Diluted pence per 
share 
 192.4 
– 
– 
 192.4 

Year ended  
30 September  
2017  
Diluted pence per 
share 
 (48.5) 
– 
 144.8 
 96.3 

Year ended  
30 September  
2018  
Basic pence per 
share 
 194.7 
– 
– 
 194.7 

Year ended  
30 September 
2017 
 Basic pence per 
share 
 (49.3) 
– 
 147.1 
 97.8 

Adjusted earnings per share from continuing and discontinued operations 
Effect of dilutive Ordinary Shares 

Adjusted earnings per share from continuing and discontinued operations 

 41.7 
– 
 41.7 

 54.7 
– 
 54.7 

 42.2 
– 
 42.2 

 55.6 
– 
 55.6 

The weighted average number of Ordinary Shares in issue during the year for the purpose of these calculations is as follows: 

Number of Ordinary Shares in issue  
Own shares held 

Basic earnings per share denominator 
Effect of dilutive share options 

Dilutive earnings per share denominator 

Year ended  
30 September  
2018  
Number 
m 
 362.1 
 (8.0) 
 354.1 
 4.3 
 358.4 

Year ended  
30 September  
2017  
Number 
m 
 362.1 
 (9.0) 
 353.1 
 5.5 
 358.6 

123

123 

S
t
r
a
t
e
g
i
c
R
e
p
o
r
t

G
o
v
e
r
n
a
n
c
e

F
i

n
a
n
c
i
a
l

S
t
a
t
e
m
e
n
t
s

S
h
a
r
e
h
o

l

d
e
r

I
n
f
o
r
m
a
t
i

o
n

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Financial Statements

Financial Statements 
Notes to the accounts 

15 EBITDA and cash generated by operations 

Continuing operations 
Adjusted operating profit 
Non-exceptional depreciation charge 
Amortisation of internally generated and acquired computer software 
Operating profits from joint ventures and associates 
Share of charge of depreciation and amortisation of internally generated and acquired computer 
software of joint ventures and associates 
Dividend income 

Discontinued operations 
Adjusted operating profit 
Non-exceptional depreciation charge 
Amortisation of internally generated and acquired computer software 
Share of profits from operations of joint ventures and associates 

EBITDA 

Adjustments for:  

Share-based payments 
Loss on disposal of property, plant and equipment 
Share of profits from joint ventures and associates 
Exceptional operating costs 
Non-cash pension past service cost 
Dividend income 
Share of depreciation charge of joint ventures and associates 

(Increase)/decrease in inventories 
(Increase)/decrease in trade and other receivables 
(Decrease)/increase in trade and other payables 
Decrease in provisions 
Additional payments into pension schemes 

Cash generated by operations 

Note 

 3 
3, 19 
3, 22 
 7 

 9 

 19 
 19 
 19 
 19 

39, 40 

7, 19 
 3 

 9 

35 

Year ended  
30 September  
2018 
£m 

Year ended  
30 September  
2017 
£m 

 144.9 
 27.2 
 32.8 
 74.0 

8.7 
 0.1 

– 
– 
– 
– 
 287.7 

 10.8 
 1.4 
 (74.0) 
 (20.5) 
 17.3 
 (0.1) 
 (8.7) 
 (5.7) 
 (46.5) 
(10.5) 
 (1.1) 
 (12.8) 
137.3 

 179.0 
 33.7 
 43.3 
 68.5 

 4.0 
 0.1 

 19.3 
 0.8 
 0.9 
 0.8 
 350.4 

 4.1 
– 
 (69.3) 
 (43.4) 
– 
 (0.1) 
 (4.0) 
 3.6 
 8.0 
 0.4 
 (3.9) 
 (13.1) 
 232.7 

S
t
r
a
t
e
g
i
c
R
e
p
o
r
t

G
o
v
e
r
n
a
n
c
e

F
i

n
a
n
c
i
a
l

S
t
a
t
e
m
e
n
t
s

S
h
a
r
e
h
o

l

d
e
r

I
n
f
o
r
m
a
t
i

o
n

124

124 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Daily Mail and General Trust plc Annual Report 2018

Note 
 29 
29, 33 

At  
30 September 
2017 
£m 
 14.6 
 (7.2) 
 7.4 

Cash flow 
£m 
 421.6 
 5.3 
 426.9 

Fair value 
hedging 
adjustments 
Note 10 
£m 
– 
– 
– 

On disposal of 
subsidiaries 
Note 18 
£m 
– 
– 
– 

Foreign  
exchange 
movements 
£m 
 1.6 
– 
 1.6 

(i) 

Other  
non-cash 
movements 
£m 
– 
– 
– 

At  
30 September 
2018 
£m 
 437.8 
 (1.9) 
 435.9 

 33 
 33 
 33 

 33 
 33 
 33 

(ii) 
 28 
 28 

– 
 (1.8) 
 (0.4) 

 (423.5) 
 (46.3) 
 (0.5) 

 (465.1) 

 (13.7) 
 14.5 
– 

– 
 0.1 
– 

– 
 43.7 
– 

 470.7 

 (6.2) 
 (6.5) 
 237.3 

– 
– 
– 

 2.3 
– 
– 

 2.3 

 (2.3) 
– 
– 

– 
– 
 0.4 

– 
– 
 0.5 

 0.9 

– 
– 
– 

– 
– 
– 

– 
 2.6 
– 

 4.2 

 (0.2) 
– 
– 

 (218.7) 
– 
– 

 215.5 
– 
– 

 (3.2) 

– 
– 
– 

 (464.3) 

 695.3 

– 

 0.9 

 4.0 

 (3.2) 

 (218.7) 
 (1.7) 
– 

 (205.7) 
– 
– 

 9.8 

 (22.4) 
 8.0 
 237.3 

 232.7 

 234.3 

16 Analysis of net debt 

Cash and cash equivalents  
Bank overdrafts 

Net cash and cash equivalents 

Debt due within one year 
Bonds 
Loan notes 
Finance lease obligations 

Debt due after one year 
Bonds 
Bank loans 
Finance lease obligations 

Net cash/(debt) before effect  
of derivatives 

Effect of derivatives on debt 
Collateral deposits 
Other financial assets 

Net cash/(debt)at closing  
exchange rate 

Net cash/(debt) at average  
exchange rate 

 (482.2) 

The net cash inflow of £426.9 million (2017 £10.3 million) includes a cash outflow of £9.7 million (2017 £45.8 million) in respect of operating  
exceptional items. 

(i)  Other non-cash movements comprise the unwinding of bond issue discount amounting to £2.9 million (2017 £2.6 million), amortisation of 

bond issue costs of £0.3 million (2017 £0.3 million) together with the inception of new finance leases of  £nil (2017 £0.5 million). Also included  
is the reclassification of bonds maturing December 2018 of £218.7 million between due within one year and due after more than one year. 

(ii)  The effect of derivatives on debt is the net currency gain or loss on derivatives entered into with the intention of economically converting the 

currency borrowings into an alternative currency. 

125

125 

S
t
r
a
t
e
g
i
c
R
e
p
o
r
t

G
o
v
e
r
n
a
n
c
e

F
i

n
a
n
c
i
a
l

S
t
a
t
e
m
e
n
t
s

S
h
a
r
e
h
o

l

d
e
r

I
n
f
o
r
m
a
t
i

o
n

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Financial Statements

Financial Statements 
Notes to the accounts 

17 Summary of the effects of acquisitions 
On 31 October 2017, the Events and Exhibitions segment acquired 100% of Atticus Events Ltd and Atticus Events MEA Ltd for total consideration  
of £3.3 million (Atticus). Atticus runs three Hotel Interior Design forum events which take place annually in Europe, Asia and the Middle East. 

Atticus contributed £1.9 million to the Group’s revenue, £0.7 million to the Group’s operating profit and £0.6 million to the Group’s profit after tax for 
the period between the date of acquisition and 30 September 2018. 

If the acquisition had been completed on the first day of the financial period, Atticus would have contributed £1.9 million to the Group’s revenue,  
£0.7 million to the Group’s operating profit and £0.6 million to the Group’s adjusted profit after tax. 

On 21 December 2017, the Events and Exhibitions segment acquired 100% of the assets of the following assets, African Construction Expo held 
annually in Johannesburg, Cape Construction Expo held annually in Cape Town, KwaZulu Natal Construction Expo held annually in Durban, African 
Ports Evolution Forum held annually in Durban, African Ports Evolution West held annually in Nigeria and Concrete Trends Publication and Concrete 
TV (Hypenica) for total consideration of £1.3 million. 

Hypenica contributed £0.8 million to the Group’s revenue, £0.1 million to the Group’s operating profit and £0.1 million to the Group’s profit after tax 
for the period between the date of acquisition and 30 September 2018. 

If the acquisition had been completed on the first day of the financial period, Hypenica would have contributed £1.1 million to the Group’s revenue,  
£0.1 million to the Group’s operating profit and £0.1 million to the Group’s adjusted profit after tax. 

On 20 May 2018, the Events and Exhibitions segment acquired 50% of Plastex and the controlling voting rights for total consideration of £0.4 million. 
Plastex is the leading international trade fair dedicated to the plastics and rubber machinery, components, raw materials and chemicals in Africa. 
The next show will take place in Egypt in January 2020. 

Plastex contributed £nil to the Group’s revenue, £nil to the Group’s operating profit and £nil to the Group’s profit after tax for the period between the 
date of acquisition and 30 September 2018. 

If the acquisition had been completed on the first day of the financial period, Plastex would have contributed £0.9 million to the Group’s revenue, 
£0.6 million to the Group’s operating profit and £0.6 million to the Group’s adjusted profit after tax. 

Provisional fair value of net assets acquired with all acquisitions: 

Goodwill  
Intangible assets  
Trade and other receivables 
Cash and cash equivalents 
Trade and other payables   
Corporation tax 
Deferred tax 

Group share of net assets acquired 

Cost of acquisitions: 

Cash paid in current year 
Contingent consideration 

Total consideration at fair value 

Note 
21, (i) 
 22 

 37 

36, (ii) 

Atticus 
£m 
 2.2 
 1.5 
 0.7 
 0.3 
 (1.0) 
 (0.1) 
 (0.3) 

 3.3 

 3.3 
– 

 3.3 

Hypenica 
£m 
 0.8 
 0.7 
– 
– 
– 
– 
 (0.2) 

 1.3 

 1.1 
 0.2 

 1.3 

Plastex 
£m 
– 
 0.4 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 

 0.4 

 0.4 
– 

 0.4 

Other 
£m 
 0.2 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 

 0.2 

 0.2 
– 

 0.2 

Total 
£m 
 3.2 
 2.6 
 0.7 
 0.3 
 (1.0) 
 (0.1) 
 (0.5) 

 5.2 

 5.0 
 0.2 

 5.2 

(i)  The amount of goodwill which is deductible for the purposes of calculating the Group’s tax charge is £nil. 

Goodwill arising on these acquisitions is principally attributable to the anticipated profitability relating to the distribution of the Group’s 
products in new and existing markets and anticipated operating synergies from the business combinations. 

(ii)  The contingent consideration recognised during the period is based on future business valuations and profit multiples and has been estimated 

using available data forecasts. It is expected to fall due within one year. 

The estimated range of undiscounted outcomes for contingent consideration relating to acquisitions in the year is £nil to £0.2 million. 

The contingent consideration has been discounted back to current values in accordance with IFRS 3, Business Combinations. In each case,  
the Group has used acquisition accounting to account for the purchase. 

All of the companies acquired during the period contributed £2.7 million to the Group’s revenue and £0.6 million to the Group’s profit after tax for 
the period between the date of acquisition and 30 September 2018. 

S
t
r
a
t
e
g
i
c
R
e
p
o
r
t

G
o
v
e
r
n
a
n
c
e

F
i

n
a
n
c
i
a
l

S
t
a
t
e
m
e
n
t
s

S
h
a
r
e
h
o

l

d
e
r

I
n
f
o
r
m
a
t
i

o
n

126

126 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Daily Mail and General Trust plc Annual Report 2018

Acquisition-related costs, amounting to £0.1 million, have been charged against profits for the period in the Consolidated Income Statement. 

If all acquisitions had been completed on the first day of the period, Group revenues for the period would have been £1,430.3 million and Group 
profit attributable to equity holders of the parent would have been a profit of £690.6 million. This information takes into account the amortisation of 
acquired intangible assets together with related income tax effects but excludes any pre-acquisition finance costs and should not be viewed as 
indicative of the results of operations that would have occurred if the acquisitions had actually been completed on the first day of the period. 

Purchase of additional shares in controlled entities: 

Cash consideration 

During the year, the Group acquired additional shares in controlled entities amounting to £nil (2017 £2.1 million). 

Reconciliation to purchase of subsidiaries as shown in the Consolidated Cash Flow Statement: 

Year ended  
30 September  
2018 
£m 
– 

Year ended  
30 September  
2017 
£m 
 2.1 

Cash consideration 
Cash paid to settle contingent consideration in respect of acquisitions 
Cash paid to settle acquisition put options 
Cash and cash equivalents acquired with subsidiaries 

Purchase of subsidiaries 

Note 

36, (i) 

Year ended  
30 September  
2018 
£m 
 5.0 
 14.4 
– 
 (0.3) 
 19.1 

Year ended  
30 September  
2017 
£m 
 0.5 
 8.2 
 18.0 
– 
 26.7 

(i)  Cash paid to settle contingent consideration in respect of acquisitions includes £1.5 million (2017 £0.3 million) within the Property Information 
segment, £0.2 million (2017 £0.2 million) within the EdTech segment, £12.5 million (2017 £7.0 million) in the Energy Information segment,  
£0.2 million (2017 £0.2 million) within the Events and Exhibitions segment and £nil (2017 £0.5 million) in the Euromoney segment. 

18 Summary of the effects of disposals 
In October 2017, the EdTech segment disposed of the Hobsons Solutions business for total consideration of £1.6 million. This was recognised  
as held-for-sale in the prior year. 

In December 2017, Xceligent, in the property segment, filed for Chapter 7 liquidation. Under US law, a trustee with expertise in liquidating 
companies was appointed to distribute Xceligent’s assets and this business has been treated as closed. 

On 5 April 2018 the Property segment reduced its shareholding in SiteCompli to 49.9%, by a transfer of 6.1% of its shareholding to other 
shareholders pro rata for no consideration. The remaining shareholding has been treated as an associate. 

On 20 September 2018 the Energy Information segment disposed of the Locus Energy business for consideration of £16.2 million. 

On 13 March 2018 the Property segment disposed of the Environmental Data Resources (EDR) business for consideration of £166.7 million.  
This was recognised as held-for-sale in the prior year. 

S
t
r
a
t
e
g
i
c
R
e
p
o
r
t

G
o
v
e
r
n
a
n
c
e

F
i

n
a
n
c
i
a
l

S
t
a
t
e
m
e
n
t
s

S
h
a
r
e
h
o

l

d
e
r

I
n
f
o
r
m
a
t
i

o
n

127

127 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Financial Statements

Financial Statements 
Notes to the accounts 

18 Summary of the effects of disposals continued 
The impact of the disposal of businesses completed during the period on net assets is as follows: 

Goodwill 
Intangible assets  
Property, plant and equipment 
Inventories 
Trade and other receivables 
Cash and cash equivalents 
Trade and other payables   
Finance leases 
Current tax payable 
Provisions 
Deferred tax liabilities 

Net assets/(liabilities) disposed 
Non–controlling interest share of net 
assets disposed 
Profit/(loss) on sale of businesses 
including recycled cumulative  
exchange differences 

Satisfied by:  
Cash received 
Impact of cashflow hedges 
Directly attributable costs paid 
Fair value of investment in associate 
Working capital adjustment cash paid 
Working capital adjustment 
Recycled cumulative translation 
differences 

Note 
 21 
 22 
 23 

 36 
 37 

Xceligent 
£m 
 0.2 
– 
 1.6 
– 
 1.2 
– 
 (5.7) 
 (0.9) 
– 
– 
 2.4 

SiteCompli 
£m 
 0.1 
– 
 0.4 
– 
 3.5 
– 
 (2.7) 
– 
– 
 (0.4) 
– 

Locus Energy 
£m 
 25.9 
 0.6 
 0.1 
 1.4 
 2.5 
– 
 (10.4) 
– 
 0.1 
– 
 2.3 

 (1.2) 

 0.9 

 22.5 

Prior year 
assets held for 
sale disposed 
in current year 
£m 
 70.9 
 8.6 
 8.7 
 0.1 
 19.5 
– 
 (16.8) 
– 
 (5.3) 
– 
 (6.9) 

Adjustment on 
sale of assets 
held for sale in 
current year 
£m 
0.4 
 (0.1) 
 3.4 
– 
 11.5 
 (0.6) 
 (11.5) 
– 
 6.8 
– 
 0.1 

Sub Total 
£m 
 35.4 
 0.7 
 2.1 
 1.4 
 7.8 
– 
 (19.0) 
 (0.9) 
 0.1 
 (0.4) 
 4.7 

31.9 

 78.8 

10.0 

Other 
£m 
 9.2 
 0.1 
– 
– 
 0.6 
– 
 (0.2) 
– 
– 
– 
– 

 9.7 

Total 
£m 
 106.7 
 9.2 
 14.2 
 1.5 
 38.8 
 (0.6) 
 (47.3) 
 (0.9) 
 1.6 
 (0.4) 
 (2.1) 

120.7 

 40 

 4.8 

 (1.1) 

– 

– 

 3.7 

 (2.7) 

 0.9 

 (0.5) 

 (0.7) 

 (6.3) 

 16.2 

 (8.9) 

 0.8 

 (18.4) 

 17.2 

– 

– 

78.8 

– 

 3.7 

 62.4 

72.4 

44.0 

168.4 

– 
– 
 (1.2) 
– 
– 
– 

 2.1 

 0.9 

– 
– 
 (3.7) 
– 
– 
– 

 3.0 

 (0.7) 

 3.0 
– 
– 
 13.2 
– 
– 

– 

 16.2 

 0.7 
– 
 (1.4) 
– 
– 
 (0.2) 

 1.7 

 0.8 

 3.7 
– 
 (6.3) 
 13.2 
– 
 (0.2) 

 6.8 

 17.2 

(i) 

 39 

 153.5 
 4.9 
 (7.1) 
– 
 (3.7) 
– 

3.6 

151.2 

 157.2 
 4.9 
 (13.4) 
 13.2 
 (3.7) 
 (0.2) 

10.4 

168.4 

(i)  The investment in AlsoEnergy received as part of the consideration on sale of Locus Energy involves an estimation of the fair value of the 

Group’s equity holding in AlsoEnergy. A 10% increase/(decrease) in the fair value of the Group’s stake would decrease/(increase) the loss on 
sale of Locus Energy by £1.3 million. 

Reconciliation to disposal of businesses as shown in the Consolidated Cash Flow Statement: 

Cash consideration net of disposal costs 
Impact of cashflow hedges 
Working capital adjustment cash paid 
Cash consideration received in the current year relating to businesses sold in the prior year 
Cash and cash equivalents disposed with subsidiaries 

Proceeds on disposal of businesses 

Year ended  
30 September  
2018 
£m 
 143.8 
 4.9 
 (3.7) 
 0.7 
 0.6 
 146.3 

Year ended  
30 September  
2017 
£m 
 247.8 
– 
– 
– 
 (32.0) 
 215.8 

During the period Hobsons Solutions generated £nil of the Group’s net operating cash flows, paid £nil in respect of investing activities and paid £nil 
in respect of financing activities. 

During the period Xceligent absorbed £7.1 million of the Group’s net operating cash flows, paid £nil in respect of investing activities and paid £nil in 
respect of financing activities. 

During the period EDR absorbed £0.4 million of the Group’s net operating cash flows, paid £3.5 million in respect of investing activities and paid £nil 
in respect of financing activities. 

128

128 

S
t
r
a
t
e
g
i
c
R
e
p
o
r
t

G
o
v
e
r
n
a
n
c
e

F
i

n
a
n
c
i
a
l

S
t
a
t
e
m
e
n
t
s

S
h
a
r
e
h
o

l

d
e
r

I
n
f
o
r
m
a
t
i

o
n

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Daily Mail and General Trust plc Annual Report 2018

During the period SiteCompli absorbed £1.1 million of the Group’s net operating cash flows, paid £0.1 million in respect of investing activities and 
paid £nil in respect of financing activities. 

During the period Locus Energy absorbed £16.1 million of the Group’s net operating cash flows, paid £0.1 million in respect of investing activities and 
paid £nil in respect of financing activities. 

All of the businesses disposed of during the period absorbed £24.7 million of the Group’s net operating cash flows, paid £3.7 million in investing 
activities and paid £nil in financing activities. 

The Group’s tax charge includes £17.6 million in relation to these disposals. 

19 Discontinued operations 
In the prior year, the Group announced its intention to reduce its holding in Euromoney from 67.9% to 49.9%, after which Euromoney ceased to be a 
subsidiary and became an associate. The results of Euromoney up to the point of disposal are included in discontinued operations for the prior year. 

The Group’s Consolidated Income Statement includes the following results from discontinued operations: 

Revenue 
Expenses 
Depreciation 
Amortisation of intangible assets not arising on business combinations 

Adjusted operating profit 
Exceptional operating costs 
Amortisation of intangible assets arising on business combinations 

Operating profit before share of results of joint ventures and associates 
Share of adjusted operating profits from operations of joint ventures and associates 
Share of amortisation of intangibles arising on business combinations of associates 
Share of interest payable of associates 
Share of tax in associates 

Total operating profit 
Other gains and losses 

Profit before net finance costs and tax 
Change in present value of acquisition put options 
Finance costs 

Profit before tax 
Tax charge 

Profit after tax attributable to discontinued operations 

Profit on disposal of discontinued operations 
Recycled cumulative translation differences on disposal of discontinued operations 

Profit attributable to discontinued operations 

Note 
 3 

 3 
 3 
 3 
3, 13 
3, 13 

 13 

 13 

 13 
 13 

 11 

13, 18 
13, 18 

Year ended  
30 September  
2018 
£m 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 

– 
– 
– 

Year ended  
30 September  
2017 
£m 
 95.2 
 (74.2) 
 (0.8) 
 (0.9) 
 19.3 
 (0.9) 
 (5.4) 
 13.0 
 0.8 
 (1.2) 
 (0.6) 
 0.3 
 12.3 
 2.4 
 14.7 
 (0.7) 
 (0.7) 
 14.0 
 (4.0) 
 10.0 

 563.4 
 (54.1) 
 519.3 

During the prior period as a subsidiary undertaking Euromoney generated £15.3 million of the Group’s net operating cash flows, paid £3.0 million  
in respect of investing activities and paid £0.8 million in respect of financing activities. 

S
t
r
a
t
e
g
i
c
R
e
p
o
r
t

G
o
v
e
r
n
a
n
c
e

F
i

n
a
n
c
i
a
l

S
t
a
t
e
m
e
n
t
s

S
h
a
r
e
h
o

l

d
e
r

I
n
f
o
r
m
a
t
i

o
n

129

129 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Financial Statements

Financial Statements 
Notes to the accounts 

20 Total assets and liabilities of businesses held for sale 
At 30 September 2018 there were no assets and liabilities of businesses held for sale. 

At 30 September 2017, the assets and liabilities held-for-sale principally related to EDR, in the Property Information segment and Hobsons Solutions, 
in the EdTech segment. The main classes of assets and liabilities comprising the operations classified as held for sale are set out in the table below. 
These assets and liabilities are recorded at their fair value with all losses taken to the Consolidated Income Statement.  

Note 
 21 
 22 
 23 
 26 
 27 

 30 
 31 
 37 

At  
30 September  
2018 
£m 
 –  
 –  
 –  
 –  
 –  
 –  

At  
30 September  
2017 
£m 
 70.9 
 8.6 
 8.7 
 0.1 
 19.5 
 107.8 

 –  
 –  
 –  
 –  

 –  

Note 

 20 

 17 
 18 

 (16.8) 
 (5.3) 
 (6.9) 
 (29.0) 

 78.8 

Goodwill 
£m 

 1,073.9 
 0.4 
 (504.2) 
 (72.7) 
 8.8 

 506.2 
 3.2 
 (90.6) 
3.6 

 422.4 

Goodwill 
Intangible assets  
Property, plant and equipment 
Inventories 
Trade and other receivables 

Total assets associated with businesses held for sale 

Trade and other payables   
Current tax 
Deferred tax 

Total liabilities associated with businesses held for sale 

Net assets of the disposal group 

21 Goodwill 

Cost 
At 30 September 2016 
Additions 
Disposals 
Classified as held for sale 
Exchange adjustment 

At 30 September 2017 
Additions 
Disposals 
Exchange adjustment 

At 30 September 2018 

130

130 

S
t
r
a
t
e
g
i
c
R
e
p
o
r
t

G
o
v
e
r
n
a
n
c
e

F
i

n
a
n
c
i
a
l

S
t
a
t
e
m
e
n
t
s

S
h
a
r
e
h
o

l

d
e
r

I
n
f
o
r
m
a
t
i

o
n

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Daily Mail and General Trust plc Annual Report 2018

Note 

Goodwill 
£m 

 3 

 20 

 3 
 18 

 92.3 
 117.0 
 (63.6) 
 (1.8) 
 (0.8) 

 143.1 
 0.3 
 (54.8) 
 0.6 

 89.2 

 981.6 

 363.1 

 333.2 

Accumulated impairment losses 
At 30 September 2016 
Impairment 
Disposals 
Classified as held for sale 
Exchange adjustment 

At 30 September 2017 
Impairment 
Disposals 
Exchange adjustment 

At 30 September 2018 

Net book value – 2016 

Net book value – 2017 

Net book value – 2018 

Goodwill impairment losses recognised in the year amounted to £0.3 million (2017 £117.0 million). 

The Group’s policy on impairment of goodwill is set out in Note 2. 

Further disclosures, in accordance with paragraph 134 of IAS 36, Impairment of assets, are provided where the Group holds an individual goodwill 
item relating to a cash generating unit (CGU) that is significant, the Group considers this to be the case when the goodwill carrying value of the 
individual CGU is 15.0% or more of the Group’s total carrying value of goodwill or where there is a change in key assumptions that may result  
in an impairment. 

Using this criteria the only significant items of goodwill included in the net book value above relate to Genscape, Landmark and Hobsons. 

Following disposals in the period, Genscape goodwill has a carrying value of £65.4 million (2017 £100.5 million) together with intangible assets with 
a carrying value of £34.8 million (2017 £40.4 million). The recoverable amount of Genscape has been determined using a value in use calculation in 
line with IAS 36. The methodology applied to the value in use calculations reflects past experience and external sources of information including: 

(i)   cash flows for the business for the following year derived from budgets for 2019. The Directors believe these to be reasonably achievable; 

(ii)   subsequent cash flows for two additional years increased in line with growth expectations of the business; 

(iii)   cash flows beyond the three-year period extrapolated using a long-term nominal growth rate of 3.0%; and 

(iv)   a pre-tax discount rate of 15.3% 

Using the above methodology the recoverable amount exceeded the total carrying value by £10.2 million. For this business the Directors performed 
a sensitivity analysis on the total carrying value of the CGU. For the recoverable amount to be equal to the carrying value the discount rate would 
need to be increased by 1.10% to 16.40%, the long-term growth rate would need to be reduced by 0.97% to 2.03%, or the CGU would need to miss 
budget by 32.6%. In the prior year, the recoverable amount was lower than the carrying value by £140.3 million. Accordingly a goodwill and 
intangible asset impairment charge was recorded amounting to £140.3 million.  

S
t
r
a
t
e
g
i
c
R
e
p
o
r
t

G
o
v
e
r
n
a
n
c
e

F
i

n
a
n
c
i
a
l

S
t
a
t
e
m
e
n
t
s

S
h
a
r
e
h
o

l

d
e
r

I
n
f
o
r
m
a
t
i

o
n

131

131 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Financial Statements

Financial Statements 
Notes to the accounts 

21 Goodwill continued 
Landmark goodwill has a carrying value of £81.5 million (2017 £80.9 million) together with intangible assets with a carrying value of £22.8 million  
(2017 £22.0 million). The carrying value of Landmark has been determined using a value in use calculation in line with IAS 36. The methodology 
applied to the value in use calculations reflects past experience and external sources of information including: 

(i)   cash flows for the business for the following year derived from budgets for 2019. The Directors believe these to be reasonably achievable; 

(ii)   subsequent cash flows for two additional years increased in line with growth expectations of the business; 

(iii)   cash flows beyond the three-year period extrapolated using a long-term nominal growth rate of 3.0%; and 

(iv)   a pre-tax discount rate of 13.3%. 

Using the above methodology the recoverable amount exceeded the total carrying value by £175.2 million (2017 £169.9 million). For this business 
the Directors performed a sensitivity analysis on the total carrying value of the CGU. For the recoverable amount to be equal to the carrying value  
the discount rate would need to be increased by 10.85% to 24.15% (2017 by 15.47% to 26.47%), the long-term growth rate would need to decline  
by 23.66% to -20.66% (2017 by 22.69% to -20.69%), or the CGU would need to miss budget by 62.0% (2017 62.4%). 

Hobsons goodwill has a carrying value of £71.2 million (2017 £69.6 million) together with intangible assets with a carrying value of £26.1 million 
(2017 £22.4 million). The carrying value of Hobsons has been determined using a value in use calculation in line with IAS 36. The methodology 
applied to the value in use calculations reflects past experience and external sources of information including: 

(i)   cash flows for the business for the following year derived from budgets for 2019. The Directors believe these to be reasonably achievable; 

(ii)   subsequent cash flows for two additional years increased in line with growth expectations of the business; 

(iii)   cash flows beyond the three-year period extrapolated using a long-term nominal growth rate of 3.0%; and 

(iv)   a pre-tax discount rate of 15.3%. 

Using the above methodology the recoverable amount exceeded the total carrying value by £9.9 million (2017 £25.2 million). For this business the 
Directors performed a sensitivity analysis on the total carrying value of the CGU. For the recoverable amount to be equal to the carrying value the 
discount rate would need to be increased by 1.10% to 16.40% (2017 by 1.96% to 12.96%), the long-term growth rate would need to decline by 1.00% 
to 2.00% (2017 by 2.23% to 0.77%), or the CGU would need to miss budget by 50.2% (2017 21.3%). 

The impairment charge is analysed by major CGU as follows: 

CGU 

Segment 

Goodwill 
Impairment 
£m 

Intangible asset 
Impairment 
£m 

Recoverable 
amount 
£m 

RMS (one) 
Other 

Total 

Insurance Risk 

– 
 0.3 

 0.3 

 58.3 
 0.1 

 58.4 

– 
– 

– 

Reason for Impairment charge 
The insurance market’s growing acceptance of cloud 
computing and demand for a modular approach 
resulted in the recent decision to re-architect the 
RMS(one) platform. The RMS(one) platform is now fully 
impaired. Further detail can be found in the Insurance 
Risk section of the Operating Business Review. 

Recoverable amounts have been determined using value in use calculations for all of the above CGUs. 

S
t
r
a
t
e
g
i
c
R
e
p
o
r
t

G
o
v
e
r
n
a
n
c
e

F
i

n
a
n
c
i
a
l

S
t
a
t
e
m
e
n
t
s

S
h
a
r
e
h
o

l

d
e
r

I
n
f
o
r
m
a
t
i

o
n

132

132 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Daily Mail and General Trust plc Annual Report 2018

22 Other intangible assets 

Cost 
At 30 September 2016 
Additions from business combinations 
Other additions 
Internally generated 
Disposals 
Classified as held for sale 
Transfer from property, plant and equipment 
Exchange adjustment 

At 30 September 2017 
Additions from business combinations 
Other additions 
Internally generated 
Disposals 
Exchange adjustment 

At 30 September 2018 

Accumulated amortisation 
At 30 September 2016 
Charge for the year 
Impairment 
Disposals 
Classified as held for sale 
Transfer from property, plant and equipment 
Exchange adjustment 

At 30 September 2017 
Charge for the year 
Impairment 
Disposals 
Exchange adjustment 

At 30 September 2018 

Net book value – 2016 

Net book value – 2017 

Net book value – 2018 

Publishing  
rights,  
mastheads  
and titles 
£m 

Note 

 20 
 23 

 17 

 18 

Note 

 3 
 3 

 20 
 23 

 3 
 3 
17, 18 

 275.1 
– 
– 
– 
 (185.1) 
 (0.2) 
– 
 6.1 

 95.9 
– 
– 
– 
 (2.7) 
 0.5 

 93.7 

Publishing  
rights, 
 mastheads and 
titles 
£m 

 197.4 
 4.1 
 1.0 
 (124.4) 
 (0.2) 
– 
 3.1 

 81.0 
 1.3 
– 
 (2.7) 
 0.4 

 80.0 

 77.7 

 14.9 

 13.7 

Market- and 
customer-related 
databases and 
customer 
relationships 
£m 

Computer   
software 
£m 

(i) 

 260.3 
 0.1 
– 
– 
 (150.9) 
 (8.0) 
– 
 4.1 

 105.6 
 1.8 
– 
– 
 (3.9) 
 0.5 

 104.0 

 492.6 
 0.5 
 0.2 
 57.7 
 (114.8) 
 (9.0) 
 (47.1) 
 (7.6) 

 372.5 
– 
 0.2 
 19.5 
 (56.2) 
 8.1 

 344.1 

Market- and 
customer-related 
databases and 
customer 
relationships 
£m 

Computer   
software  
£m 

(i) 

 139.9 
 13.7 
 10.4 
 (105.6) 
 (3.3) 
– 
 2.6 

 57.7 
 7.4 
– 
 (3.9) 
 0.3 

 61.5 

 120.4 

 47.9 

 42.5 

 242.1 
 52.6 
 81.7 
 (94.8) 
 (5.1) 
 (41.1) 
 (6.2) 

 229.2 
 36.4 
 58.4 
 (55.6) 
 5.3 

 273.7 

 250.5 

 143.3 

 70.4 

Brands 
£m 

 99.3 
 0.1 
– 
– 
 (48.9) 
 (1.2) 
– 
 (0.8) 

 48.5 
 0.8 
– 
– 
 (0.5) 
 1.1 

 49.9 

Brands 
£m 

 54.5 
 4.2 
 0.6 
 (13.9) 
 (1.2) 
– 
 (1.0) 

 43.2 
 3.1 
– 
 (0.5) 
 0.9 

 46.7 

 44.8 

 5.3 

 3.2 

Other 
£m 

 11.2 
– 
– 
– 
 (4.7) 
– 
– 
– 

 6.5 
– 
– 
– 
– 
 0.1 

 6.6 

Other 
£m 

 5.4 
 1.5 
 2.7 
 (4.9) 
– 
– 
 0.2 

 4.9 
 0.1 
– 
– 
 0.2 

 5.2 

 5.8 

 1.6 

 1.4 

Total 
£m 

 1,138.5 
 0.7 
 0.2 
 57.7 
 (504.4) 
 (18.4) 
 (47.1) 
 1.8 

 629.0 
 2.6 
 0.2 
 19.5 
 (63.3) 
 10.3 

 598.3 

Total 
£m 

 639.3 
 76.1 
 96.4 
 (343.6) 
 (9.8) 
 (41.1) 
 (1.3) 

 416.0 
 48.3 
 58.4 
 (62.7) 
 7.1 

 467.1 

 499.2 

 213.0 

 131.2 

(i)  Computer software includes purchased and internally generated intangible assets, not forming part of a business combination, as follows: 

S
t
r
a
t
e
g
i
c
R
e
p
o
r
t

G
o
v
e
r
n
a
n
c
e

F
i

n
a
n
c
i
a
l

S
t
a
t
e
m
e
n
t
s

S
h
a
r
e
h
o

l

d
e
r

I
n
f
o
r
m
a
t
i

o
n

133

133 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Financial Statements

Financial Statements 
Notes to the accounts 

22 Other intangible assets continued 

Cost 
At 30 September 2016 
Additions 
Disposals 
Analysis reclassifications 
Classified as held for sale 
Exchange adjustment 

At 30 September 2017 
Additions 
Disposals 
Exchange adjustment 

At 30 September 2018 

Accumulated amortisation 
At 30 September 2016 
Analysis reclassifications 
Charge for the year 
Impairment 
Disposals 
Classified as held for sale 
Exchange adjustment 

At 30 September 2017 
Charge for the year 
Impairment 
Disposals 
Exchange adjustment 

At 30 September 2018 

Net book value – 2016 

Net book value – 2017 

Net book value – 2018 

Note 

£m 

 20 

 20 

 414.8 
 57.9 
 (88.0) 
 (39.5) 
 (7.4) 
 (7.8) 

 330.0 
 19.7 
 (48.0) 
 7.6 

 309.3 

 210.5 
 (33.5) 
 44.2 
 57.8 
 (69.5) 
 (4.1) 
 (5.7) 

 199.7 
 32.8 
 58.3 
 (47.1) 
 4.4 

 248.1 

 204.3 

 130.3 

 61.2 

The following table analyses intangible assets in the course of construction included in the internally generated intangibles above, on which no 
amortisation has been charged in the year since they have not been brought into use. 

Cost 
At 30 September 2016 
Additions 
Impairment 
Projects completed 
Exchange adjustment 

At 30 September 2017 
Additions 
Projects completed 
Exchange adjustment 

At 30 September 2018 

£m 

 40.4 
 18.4 
 (21.9) 
 (16.9) 
 (0.5) 

 19.5 
 10.3 
 (15.6) 
 0.6 

 14.8 

The methodologies applied to the Group’s CGUs when testing for impairment and details of the above impairment charge are set out in Note 2. 

134

134 

S
t
r
a
t
e
g
i
c
R
e
p
o
r
t

G
o
v
e
r
n
a
n
c
e

F
i

n
a
n
c
i
a
l

S
t
a
t
e
m
e
n
t
s

S
h
a
r
e
h
o

l

d
e
r

I
n
f
o
r
m
a
t
i

o
n

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Daily Mail and General Trust plc Annual Report 2018

The carrying values of the Group’s ten largest intangible assets are further analysed as follows: 

DIIG customer relationships 
Genscape intellectual property 
Instant Services customer relationships 
Genscape tradenames 
Landmark valuation hub technology platform* 
Genscape real time power platform 
Petrotranz proprietary knowledge 
Estate Technical Solutions customer relationships 
Hobsons naviance modernisation 
Starfish customer relationships 

* Not yet in use. 

23 Property, plant and equipment 

Cost 
At 30 September 2016 
Additions  
Disposals 
Classified as held for sale 
Owned by subsidiaries disposed 
Transfers to intangible fixed assets 
Reclassifications 
Exchange adjustment 

At 30 September 2017 
Additions  
Disposals 
Owned by subsidiaries disposed 
Reclassifications 
Exchange adjustment 

At 30 September 2018 

At  
30 September  
2018  
Carrying 
value 
£m 
 19.0 
 8.9 
 7.7 
 4.7 
 4.7 
 4.3 
 3.8 
 3.6 
 3.5 
 3.3 

At  
30 September  
2017  
Carrying 
value 
£m 
 22.8 
 9.8 
 8.7 
 5.2 
 2.4 
 5.3 
 4.5 
 4.1 
 2.5 
 3.7 

At  
30 September  
2018  
Remaining 
amortisation  
period 
Years 
 6.0 
 7.5 
 7.5 
 6.6 
– 
 3.8 
 6.1 
 6.4 
 4.6 
 7.0 

At  
30 September  
2017  
Remaining 
amortisation  
period 
Years 
 7.0 
 8.5 
 8.5 
 7.6 
– 
 4.8 
 7.1 
 7.4 
 5.6 
 8.0 

Segment 
Property 
Energy 
Property 
Energy 
Property 
Energy 
Energy 
Property 
EdTech 
EdTech 

Note 

Freehold  
properties 
£m 

Long leasehold 
properties 
£m 

Short leasehold 
properties 
£m 

Plant and 
equipment 
£m 

 20 

 22 

 18 

 57.9 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 

 57.9 
 4.7 
 (21.7) 
– 
 (0.1) 
 (0.4) 

 40.4 

 1.7 
 0.2 
 (0.1) 
– 
 (1.3) 
– 
– 
 0.1 

 0.6 
 0.1 
– 
 (0.3) 
– 
 (0.4) 

– 

 42.7 
 1.9 
 (0.1) 
– 
 (16.3) 
– 
 (1.6) 
 (0.3) 

 26.3 
 0.5 
 (0.7) 
 (0.2) 
 (5.6) 
 0.4 

 20.7 

 335.6 
 19.0 
 (10.4) 
 (27.5) 
 (27.1) 
 47.1 
 1.6 
 (1.8) 

 336.5 
 25.1 
 (53.5) 
 (8.7) 
 5.6 
 2.1 

 307.1 

Total 
£m 

 437.9 
 21.1 
 (10.6) 
 (27.5) 
 (44.7) 
 47.1 
– 
 (2.0) 

 421.3 
 30.4 
 (75.9) 
 (9.2) 
 (0.1) 
 1.7 

 368.2 

135

135 

S
t
r
a
t
e
g
i
c
R
e
p
o
r
t

G
o
v
e
r
n
a
n
c
e

F
i

n
a
n
c
i
a
l

S
t
a
t
e
m
e
n
t
s

S
h
a
r
e
h
o

l

d
e
r

I
n
f
o
r
m
a
t
i

o
n

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Financial Statements

Financial Statements 
Notes to the accounts 

23 Property, plant and equipment continued 

Note 

 3 

 20 

 3 

 18 

Accumulated depreciation and impairment 
At 30 September 2016 
Charge for the year 
Impairment 
Impairment of assets held for sale 
Disposals 
Classified as held for sale 
Owned by subsidiaries disposed 
Transfers to intangible fixed assets 
Reclassifications 
Exchange adjustment 

At 30 September 2017 
Charge for the year 
Disposals 
Owned by subsidiaries disposed 
Reclassifications 
Exchange adjustment 

At 30 September 2018 

Net book value – 2016 

Net book value – 2017 

Net book value – 2018 

24 Investments in joint ventures and associates 

Joint ventures  
At 30 September 2016 
Reclassification 
Additions – cash 
Disposals 
Owned by subsidiaries disposed 
Share of retained reserves 
Dividends received 
Impairment 
Exchange adjustment 

At 30 September 2017 
Disposals 
Share of retained reserves 
Dividends received 
Reclassification from other financial assets 
Exchange adjustment 

At 30 September 2018 

Freehold  
properties 
£m 

Long leasehold 
properties 
£m 

Short leasehold 
properties 
£m 

Plant and 
equipment 
£m 

 14.2 
 1.9 
 22.4 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
 0.1 

 38.6 
 1.2 
 (21.7) 
– 
 (1.3) 
– 

 16.8 

 43.7 

 19.3 

 23.6 

 0.7 
 0.1 
– 
– 
 (0.1) 
– 
 (0.6) 
– 
– 
 (0.1) 

– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 

– 

 1.0 

 0.6 

– 

Note 

(i) 

7 
(ii) 
7 

(iii) 
7 
(iv) 

 25.2 
 2.8 
 0.6 
– 
 (0.1) 
– 
 (9.3) 
– 
 (1.5) 
– 

 17.7 
 2.3 
 (0.7) 
 (0.1) 
 (5.3) 
 0.4 

 14.3 

 17.5 

 8.6 

 6.4 

 221.7 
 29.7 
 19.0 
 0.4 
 (9.8) 
 (18.8) 
 (21.4) 
 41.1 
 1.5 
 (1.7) 

 261.7 
 23.7 
 (52.0) 
 (3.6) 
 6.7 
 0.9 

 237.4 

 113.9 

 74.8 

 69.7 

Cost  
of shares 
£m 

Share of post-
acquisition 
retained reserves 
£m 

 19.7 
 1.0 
 0.3 
 (10.5) 
 (4.7) 
– 
– 
 (3.3) 
 0.3 

 2.8 
 (1.1) 
– 
– 
5.1 
 0.1 

 6.9 

 (14.9) 
 (1.0) 
– 
 10.5 
 4.5 
 (0.5) 
 (0.6) 
– 
 (0.6) 

 (2.6) 
 0.7 
 (3.3) 
 (0.5) 
– 
 (0.2) 

 (5.9) 

Total 
£m 

 261.8 
 34.5 
 42.0 
 0.4 
 (10.0) 
 (18.8) 
 (31.3) 
 41.1 
– 
 (1.7) 

 318.0 
 27.2 
 (74.4) 
 (3.7) 
 0.1 
 1.3 

 268.5 

 176.1 

 103.3 

 99.7 

Total 
£m 

 4.8 
– 
 0.3 
– 
 (0.2) 
 (0.5) 
 (0.6) 
 (3.3) 
 (0.3) 

 0.2 
 (0.4) 
 (3.3) 
 (0.5) 
5.1 
 (0.1) 

1.0 

(i)  During the prior period, the Group the Group disposed of Mail Today Newspapers Pte Ltd in the Consumer Media segment.  

(ii)  During the prior period, the Group received dividends from Decision First Ltd in the Property Information segment. 

(iii)  During the period, the Group disposed of Artirix in the Consumer Media segment. 

(iv)  During the period, the Group received dividends from Decision First Ltd and from HypoPort On-Geo GmbH in the Property Information segment. 

136

136 

S
t
r
a
t
e
g
i
c
R
e
p
o
r
t

G
o
v
e
r
n
a
n
c
e

F
i

n
a
n
c
i
a
l

S
t
a
t
e
m
e
n
t
s

S
h
a
r
e
h
o

l

d
e
r

I
n
f
o
r
m
a
t
i

o
n

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Daily Mail and General Trust plc Annual Report 2018

Summary aggregated financial information for the Group’s joint ventures, extracted on a 100% basis from the joint ventures’ own financial 
information, is set out below: 

Year ended 30 September 2018 
Property Information 
Consumer Media 

At 30 September 2018 
Property Information 
Consumer Media 

Year ended 30 September 2017 
Property Information 
Consumer Media 

At 30 September 2017 
Property Information 
Consumer Media 

Revenue 
£m 
9.9 
9.8 
19.7 

Current  
assets 
£m 
4.8 
19.6 
24.4 

Revenue 
£m 
10.9 
– 
10.9 

Current  
assets 
£m 
3.1 
– 
3.1 

Operating 
(loss)/profit 
£m 
0.9 
(8.8) 
(7.9) 

Total  
assets 
£m 
4.8 
19.6 
24.4 

Operating 
(loss)/profit 
£m 
1.6 
(1.9) 
(0.3) 

Total  
assets 
£m 
3.7 
– 
3.7 

Total  
expenses 
£m 
(9.2) 
(18.6) 
(27.8) 

Current  
liabilities 
£m 
(1.9) 
(6.1) 
(8.0) 

Total  
expenses 
£m 
(9.5) 
(1.9) 
(11.4) 

Current  
liabilities 
£m 
(1.6) 
(1.9) 
(3.5) 

(Loss)/profit  
for the year 
£m 
0.7 
(8.8) 
(8.1) 

Total 
comprehensive 
(expense)/income 
£m 
0.7 
(8.8) 
(8.1) 

Total  
liabilities 
£m 
(1.9) 
(6.1) 
(8.0) 

Net  
assets 
£m 
2.9 
13.5 
16.4 

(Loss)/profit  
for the year 
£m 
1.4 
(1.9) 
(0.5) 

Total 
comprehensive 
(expense )/income 
£m 
1.4 
(1.9) 
(0.5) 

Total  
liabilities 
£m 
(1.6) 
(1.9) 
(3.5) 

Net assets/ 
(liabilities) 
£m 
2.1 
(1.9) 
0.2 

Non-current  
assets 
£m 
0.6 
– 
0.6 

At 30 September 2018 the Group’s joint ventures had capital commitments amounting to £nil (2017 £nil). There were no material contingent 
liabilities (2017 none). 

Information on principal joint ventures: 

Unlisted 
The Sanborn Map Company, Inc. 
(incorporated and operating in the US) 
Knowlura, Inc. 
(incorporated and operating in the US) 
Daily Mail On-Air LLC (DailyMailTV) 
(incorporated and operating in the US) 

Segment 

Principal activity 

Year ended 

Description  
of holding 

Group interest % 

Energy Information 

Photogrammetric mapping 
and GIS data conversion 

30 September 

2018  Preferred stock 

EdTech 

Provider of online  
educational services 

30 September 
2018 

Common 

Consumer Media 

Producer of DailyMailTV 

30 September 
2018 

Membership 
interests 

49.00 

50.00 

50.00 

S
t
r
a
t
e
g
i
c
R
e
p
o
r
t

G
o
v
e
r
n
a
n
c
e

F
i

n
a
n
c
i
a
l

S
t
a
t
e
m
e
n
t
s

S
h
a
r
e
h
o

l

d
e
r

I
n
f
o
r
m
a
t
i

o
n

137

137 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Financial Statements

Financial Statements 
Notes to the accounts 

24 Investments in joint ventures and associates continued 

Associates 
At 30 September 2016 
Reclassification 
Additions – cash 
Additions – non cash Euromoney 
Additions – non cash 
Share of retained reserves 
Dividends received 
Impairment 
Deemed disposal of investment in associates 
Transfer from available-for-sale investments 
Transfer from derivatives 
Disposals 
Owned by subsidiaries disposed 
Exchange adjustment 

At 30 September 2017 
Additions – cash 
Additions – non cash 
Share of retained reserves 
Dividends received 
Impairment 
Deemed disposal of investment in associates 
Transfer from available-for-sale investments 
Disposals 
Exchange adjustment 

At 30 September 2018 

Note 

Cost of shares 
£m 

Share of post-
acquisition 
retained reserves 
£m 

 161.4 
 0.2 
 2.0 
 613.1 
 0.2 
– 
– 
 (1.0) 
 18.0 
 1.4 
 10.2 
 (0.6) 
 (32.4) 
 (1.2) 

 771.3 
 1.8 
 15.6 
– 
– 
 (0.8) 
 0.7 
 29.4 
 (95.9) 
 1.4 

 723.5 

 (16.1) 
 (0.2) 
– 
– 
– 
 11.3 
 (35.3) 
– 
– 
– 
– 
 0.7 
 2.6 
 0.9 

 (36.1) 
– 
– 
 137.2 
 (22.6) 
– 
– 
– 
 (32.9) 
 0.4 

 46.0 

7 
(i) 
7 
8 
25 

(ii) 
18 

(iii) 
7 
(i) 
7 
8 
25 
(iv) 

Total 
£m 

 145.3 
– 
 2.0 
 613.1 
 0.2 
 11.3 
 (35.3) 
 (1.0) 
 18.0 
 1.4 
 10.2 
 0.1 
 (29.8) 
 (0.3) 

 735.2 
 1.8 
 15.6 
 137.2 
 (22.6) 
 (0.8) 
 0.7 
 29.4 
 (128.8) 
 1.8 

 769.5 

The cumulative unrecognised share of losses of the Group’s associates principally comprises £17.4 million (2017 £23.5 million) in relation to the 
Group’s investment in ITN.  

During the year the Group reduced its shareholding in SiteCompli to 49.9%. Accordingly the Group lost control and has recognised SiteCompli as an 
associate held centrally.  

Joint ventures and associates have been accounted for under the equity method using unaudited financial information to 30 September 2018.  

(i)  Dividends received in the current and prior period principally relate to the Group’s investments in ZPG (2018 £5.0 million, 2017 £7.3 million) in 
the Consumer Media segment, Euromoney (2018 £17.1 million, 2017 £18.8 million) in the Euromoney segment and RGJ Destiny LLC (2018 £nil, 
2017 £9.2 million) held centrally. 

(ii)  During the prior period the Group disposed of its investment in Clipper Data in the Energy Information segment and Fortunegreen, IntoStuff 

and Spaceway Storage Services UK in the Consumer Media segment. 

(iii)  During the period the Energy Information segment disposed of its investment in Locus Energy, Inc. in exchange for £3.0 million cash 

consideration together with a 17.9% ownership share of AlsoEnergy Holdings, Inc. (Also), representing 20.0% of Also voting rights.  
In addition the Group has representation on the Also Board. As a result the Group has significant influence over Also and has treated  
the stake in Also as an associated undertaking. 

(iv)  During the period the Group disposed of its investment in Shopcreator, Social metrix, Carsping Ltd and ZPG plc in the Consumer Media 

segment and RGJ Destiny LLC held centrally. 

S
t
r
a
t
e
g
i
c
R
e
p
o
r
t

G
o
v
e
r
n
a
n
c
e

F
i

n
a
n
c
i
a
l

S
t
a
t
e
m
e
n
t
s

S
h
a
r
e
h
o

l

d
e
r

I
n
f
o
r
m
a
t
i

o
n

138

138 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Daily Mail and General Trust plc Annual Report 2018

Summary aggregated financial information for the Group’s associates, extracted on a 100% basis from the associates’ own financial information is 
set out below: 

Year ended 30 September 2018 
Insurance Risk 
Property Information 
Energy Information 
Events and Exhibitions 
Consumer Media 
Centrally held 

At 30 September 2018 
Insurance Risk 
Property Information 
Events and Exhibitions 
Consumer Media 
Centrally held 

Year ended 30 September 2017 
Insurance Risk 
Property Information 
Energy Information 
Events and Exhibitions 
Consumer Media 
Centrally held 

At 30 September 2017 
Insurance Risk 
Property Information 
Events and Exhibitions 
Consumer Media 
Centrally held 

Revenue 
£m 
5.0 
1.8 
1.4 
1.0 
– 
560.4 
 569.6 

Current  
assets 
£m 
7.6 
2.8 
0.3 
– 
249.0 
 259.7 

Revenue 
£m 
 3.8 
 2.5 
 1.5 
 1.6 
 157.7 
 642.7 
 809.8 

Current  
assets 
£m 
 6.5 
 6.1 
 0.3 
 101.6 
 209.3 
 323.8 

Operating 
profit/(loss) 
£m 
1.8 
(4.1) 
(8.2) 
(0.1) 
(3.2) 
139.1 
 125.3 

Total  
assets 
£m 
10.4 
2.9 
0.3 
– 
888.3 
 901.9 

Operating 
profit/(loss) 
£m 
 (2.8) 
 (4.9) 
 (7.8) 
 0.1 
 (37.7) 
 132.5 
 79.4 

Total  
assets 
£m 
 9.6 
 6.2 
 0.3 
 111.3 
 1,376.4 
 1,503.8 

Total  
expenses 
£m 
(7.1) 
(5.9) 
(9.8) 
(1.1) 
(3.2) 
(389.1) 
 (416.2) 

Current  
liabilities 
£m 
(1.1) 
(1.6) 
(0.3) 
(3.2) 
(304.5) 
 (310.7) 

Total  
expenses 
£m 
 (7.5) 
 (7.4) 
 (9.5) 
 (1.5) 
 (169.8) 
 (564.0) 
 (759.7) 

Current  
liabilities 
£m 
 (1.3) 
 (2.6) 
 (0.2) 
 (20.7) 
 (374.2) 
 (399.0) 

Profit/(loss)  
for the year 
£m 
(2.1) 
(4.1) 
(8.4) 
(0.1) 
(3.2) 
171.3 
 153.4 

Non-current 
liabilities 
£m 
– 
– 
– 
– 
(151.6) 
 (151.6) 

Profit/(loss)  
for the year 
£m 
 (3.7) 
 (4.9) 
 (8.0) 
 0.1 
 (12.1) 
 78.7 
 50.1 

Non-current 
liabilities 
£m 
 (4.7) 
– 
– 
 (203.2) 
 (454.1) 
 (662.0) 

Other 
comprehensive 
income 
£m 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
28.7 
 28.7 

Total 
comprehensive 
income/(expense)  
£m 
(2.1) 
(4.1) 
(8.4) 
(0.1) 
(3.2) 
200.0 
 182.1 

Total  
liabilities 
£m 
(1.1) 
(1.6) 
(0.3) 
(3.2) 
(456.1) 
 (462.3) 

Net 
assets/(liabilities) 
£m 
9.3 
1.3 
– 
(3.2) 
432.2 
 439.6 

Other 
comprehensive 
income 
£m 
– 
– 
– 
– 
 1.1 
 3.5 
 4.6 

Total 
comprehensive 
income/(expense)  
£m 
 (3.7) 
 (4.9) 
 (8.0) 
 0.1 
 (11.0) 
 82.2 
 54.7 

Total  
liabilities 
£m 
 (6.0) 
 (2.6) 
 (0.2) 
 (223.9) 
 (828.3) 
 (1,061.0) 

Net 
assets/(liabilities) 
£m 
 3.6 
 3.6 
 0.1 
 (112.6) 
 548.1 
 442.8 

Non-current  
assets 
£m 
2.8 
0.1 
– 
– 
639.3 
 642.2 

Non-current  
assets 
£m 
 3.1 
 0.1 
– 
 9.7 
 1,167.1 
 1,180.0 

At 30 September 2018 the Group’s associates had capital commitments amounting to £nil (2017 £nil). Further details of the contingent liabilities  
of Euromoney amounting to £15.5 million (2017 £14.7 million) can be found in Note 41. 

S
t
r
a
t
e
g
i
c
R
e
p
o
r
t

G
o
v
e
r
n
a
n
c
e

F
i

n
a
n
c
i
a
l

S
t
a
t
e
m
e
n
t
s

S
h
a
r
e
h
o

l

d
e
r

I
n
f
o
r
m
a
t
i

o
n

139

139 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Financial Statements

Financial Statements 
Notes to the accounts 

24 Investments in joint ventures and associates continued 
Information on principal associates:  

Segment 

Note 

Principal activity 

Year ended 

Description  
of holding 

Group  
interest % 

Listed 

Euromoney Insititutional Investor PLC  
(incorporated and operating in the UK) 

Euromoney 

(i) 

Provider of information focused on the 
global asset management, capital 
markets and commodities sectors 

30 September 
2018 

Energy 
Information 
Consumer 
Media 

Unlisted 
LineVision, Inc. 
(incorporated and operating in the US) 
Excalibur Holdco Ltd 
(incorporated and operating in the UK) 
Real Capital Analytics, Inc. 
(incorporated and operating in the US)  Centrally held 
Consumer 
Independent Television News Ltd 
Media 
(incorporated and operating in the UK) 
Praedicat, Inc. 
(incorporated and operating in the US) 
Yopa Property Ltd 
(incorporated and operating in the UK)  Centrally held 

Insurance Risk 

Ordinary  

49.80 

Series A 

55.90 

B Ordinary  

23.90 

31 December 
2018 
30 September 
2018 
30 September 

Provider of transmission line monitoring 
and asset management for utilities 

(ii) 

Operator of online discount businesses 
Provider of real estate 
information 

Independent TV news provider 
Provision of catastrophe 
 risk analytics 

2018  Preferred stock 

39.73 

31 December 
2017 
30 September 

Ordinary  

20.00 

2018  Preferred stock 

25.93 

Online property portal 

31 December 
2017 

Ordinary D 

25.80 

(i)  The market value of the Group’s investment in Euromoney at 30 September 2018 was £720.7 million (2017 £627.0 million). The Group does not 
have the power to control the majority of shareholder voting rights nor the Board of Directors. With an effective interest of  49.8% the Group has 
treated this investment as an associated undertaking. 

(ii)  Since the Group’s share of voting rights in the investment in LineVision, Inc. is 49%, the Group does not have significant control therefore the 

investment has been treated as an associated undertaking. 

140

140 

S
t
r
a
t
e
g
i
c
R
e
p
o
r
t

G
o
v
e
r
n
a
n
c
e

F
i

n
a
n
c
i
a
l

S
t
a
t
e
m
e
n
t
s

S
h
a
r
e
h
o

l

d
e
r

I
n
f
o
r
m
a
t
i

o
n

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Daily Mail and General Trust plc Annual Report 2018

Summary financial information for Euromoney, extracted on a 100% basis from Euromoney’s own financial statements, for the year to  
30 September 2018 is set out below: 

Revenue 
Depreciation and amortisation 
Profit from continuing operations 
Share of results in joint ventures and associates 
Interest income 
Interest expense 
Tax charge 
Post-tax profit from discontinued operations 
Post tax profit from operations 
Other comprehensive income 
Total comprehensive income 

Non-current assets 
Cash and cash equivalents 
Other current assets 
Total assets 
Current liabilities 
Non-current liabilities 
Total liabilities 
Net assets 

Group interest (49.8%, 2017 49.9%) 
Goodwill and intangibles carrying value 
Group carrying value 

25 Available for sale investments 

At 30 September 2016 
Additions – cash 
Additions – non cash 
Owned by subsidiaries disposed 
Transfer to investment in associates 
Impairment charge 
Exchange adjustment 
At 30 September 2017 
Additions – cash 
Additions – non cash, conversion of loan note 
Transfer to investment in associates 
Impairment charge 
Exchange adjustment 
At 30 September 2018 

Year ended  
30 September  
2018 
£m 
390.3 
(29.0) 
161.9 
0.2 
5.2 
(6.0) 
(51.4) 
91.3 
201.2 
28.7 
229.9 
At  
30 September  
2018 
£m 
615.6 
78.3 
87.4 
781.3 
(245.3) 
(42.4) 
(287.7) 
493.6 

Year ended  
30 September  
2017 
£m 
386.9 
(28.0) 
43.4 
(1.9) 
3.3 
(4.1) 
(3.4) 
5.9 
43.2 
3.5 
46.7 

At  
30 September  
2017 
£m 
648.8 
4.4 
123.4 
776.6 
(267.5) 
(212.3) 
(479.8) 
296.8 

245.8 
450.5 
696.3 

Note 

18 
18 
24 
8 

24, (i) 
8 

148.1 
449.8 
597.9 

Unlisted 
£m 
15.8 
19.4 
3.4 
(5.8) 
(1.4) 
(0.5) 
(0.3) 

30.6 
19.3 
1.5 
(29.4) 
(1.8) 
0.2 

20.4 

The investments above represent unlisted securities, which are recorded as non-current assets unless they are expected to be sold within one year, 
in which case they are recorded as current assets. Since there is no active market upon which they are traded, unlisted securities are recorded at 
cost less provision for impairment, as their fair values cannot be reliably measured.  

(i)  During the period, the Group acquired an additional interest in Yopa Ltd, taking its overall holding to 25.8%. By virtue of the Group’s board 

representation and shareholder rights the Group now has significant influence over Yopa Ltd and has treated this investment as an associate  
(see Note 24). 

141

141 

S
t
r
a
t
e
g
i
c
R
e
p
o
r
t

G
o
v
e
r
n
a
n
c
e

F
i

n
a
n
c
i
a
l

S
t
a
t
e
m
e
n
t
s

S
h
a
r
e
h
o

l

d
e
r

I
n
f
o
r
m
a
t
i

o
n

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Financial Statements

Financial Statements 
Notes to the accounts 

25 Available for sale investments continued 
Available-for-sale investments are analysed as follows: 

Unlisted 
Brit Media, Inc. (incorporated and operating in the US) 
BDG Media, Inc. (incorporated and operating in the US) 
Hambro Perks Ltd (incorporated and operating in the UK) 
Taboola.com Ltd (incorporated and operating in Israel) 
Cue Ball Capital LP (incorporated and operating in the US) 
Evening Standard Ltd (incorporated and operating in the UK) 
Kortext Ltd (incorporated and operating in the UK) 
CompStak, Inc. (incorporated and operating in the US) 
Live Better With Ltd (incorporated and operating in the UK) 
Other 

Note 

Class of Holding 

Group interest % 

At  
30 September  
2018 
£m 

At  
30 September  
2017 
£m 

Ordinary 
(i) 
(ii)  Common Stock 
Ordinary 
(iii) 
(iv) 
Ordinary 
(v)  Limited Partner 
Ordinary 
(vi) 
Ordinary 
(vii) 
Ordinary 
(viii) 
Ordinary 
(ix) 

9.1 
3.2 
3.1 
0.4 
2.5 
10.0 
2.4 
2.0 
0.5 

6.2 
4.9 
2.0 
2.0 
1.5 
1.1 
0.7 
0.5 
0.5 
1.0 
20.4 

5.3 
3.2 
– 
2.0 
1.4 
0.3 
– 
0.5 
– 
17.9 
30.6 

(i)  Brit Media, Inc. owns and operates an online media and e-commerce platform that provides tools to teach, inspire, and enable creativity 

among women and girls. 

(ii)  BDG Media, Inc. operates a website with news, entertainment, fashion and beauty, books and lifestyle content.  

(iii)  Hambro Perks Ltd is a growth investment firm. 

(iv)  Taboola.com Ltd provides a content marketing platform that provides a web widget to content creators on their website to show contents that 

include relevant links within the site and from other publishers. 

(v)  Cue Ball Capital LP is a venture capital and private equity firm specialising in start-ups, early-stage, mid-venture, growth equity scale-ups and 

buy-out investments. 

(vi)  Evening Standard Ltd publishes a weekday newspaper, distributed for free throughout Greater London. 

(vii)  Kortext Ltd provides a digital learning platform and supplies digital textbooks.  

(viii)  CompStak, Inc. provides commercial real estate information to brokers, appraisers, researchers, landlords, lenders and investors. 

(ix)  Live Better With Ltd provides a range of products to help improve the quality of day-to-day life for cancer patients. 

Interest analysis of available-for-sale investments is as follows: 

Non-interest bearing 

At  
30 September  
2018 
£m 
20.4 

At  
30 September  
2017 
£m 
30.6 

S
t
r
a
t
e
g
i
c
R
e
p
o
r
t

G
o
v
e
r
n
a
n
c
e

F
i

n
a
n
c
i
a
l

S
t
a
t
e
m
e
n
t
s

S
h
a
r
e
h
o

l

d
e
r

I
n
f
o
r
m
a
t
i

o
n

142

142 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Daily Mail and General Trust plc Annual Report 2018

Note 

20 

At  
30 September  
2018 
£m 
 6.9 
 24.6 
– 
 31.5 

– 
 31.5 

At  
30 September  
2017 
£m 
 7.5 
 17.6 
 1.6 
 26.7 

 (0.1) 
 26.6 

At  
30 September  
2018 
£m 

At  
30 September  
2017 
£m 

Note 

20 

 182.5 
 (5.1) 
 177.4 

 69.7 
 17.2 
 264.3 

– 
 264.3 

 3.0 
 2.6 
 5.4 
 16.3 
 27.3 

 291.6 

 170.4 
 (5.1) 
 165.3 

 72.2 
 18.8 
 256.3 

 (19.5) 
 236.8 

 3.6 
 1.3 
– 
 15.6 
 20.5 

 257.3 

At  
30 September  
2018 
£m 
 (5.1) 
 (4.3) 
 1.8 
 0.3 
 2.5 
 (0.3) 
 (5.1) 

At  
30 September  
2017 
£m 
 (16.1) 
 (4.3) 
 6.6 
 0.8 
 7.9 
– 
 (5.1) 

26 Inventories 

Raw materials and consumables 
Work in progress 
Finished goods 

Classified as held for sale 

27 Trade and other receivables 

Current assets 
Trade receivables 
Allowance for doubtful debts 

Prepayments and accrued income 
Other receivables 

Classified as held for sale 

Non-current assets 
Trade receivables 
Prepayments and accrued income 
Interest receivable 
Other receivables 

Movement in the allowance for doubtful debts is as follows: 

At start of year 
Impairment losses recognised 
Amounts written off as uncollectable 
Amounts recovered during the year 
Owned by subsidiaries disposed 
Exchange adjustment 

At end of year 

In determining the allowance for doubtful debts the Group considers any change in the credit quality of the trade receivable from the date credit 
was initially granted up to the period end date.  

143

143 

S
t
r
a
t
e
g
i
c
R
e
p
o
r
t

G
o
v
e
r
n
a
n
c
e

F
i

n
a
n
c
i
a
l

S
t
a
t
e
m
e
n
t
s

S
h
a
r
e
h
o

l

d
e
r

I
n
f
o
r
m
a
t
i

o
n

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Financial Statements

Financial Statements 
Notes to the accounts 

27 Trade and other receivables continued 
Ageing of impaired trade receivables:  

0 – 30 days 
31 – 60 days 
61 – 90 days 
91 – 120 days 
121+ days 

Total 

At  
30 September  
2018 
£m 
 0.6 
 0.2 
 0.5 
 0.4 
 3.4 
 5.1 

At  
30 September  
2017 
£m 
 0.2 
 0.1 
 0.1 
 0.2 
 4.5 
 5.1 

Included in the Group’s trade receivables are debtors with a carrying value of £70.8 million (2017 £94.8 million) which are past due at 30 September 
2018 for which no allowance has been made. The Group is not aware of any deterioration in the credit quality of these customers and considers that 
the amounts are still recoverable. 

Ageing of past due but not impaired receivables is as follows:  

1 – 30 days overdue 
31 – 60 days overdue 
61 – 90 days overdue 
91+ days overdue 

Total 

The carrying amount of trade and other receivables approximates to their fair value.  

28 Other financial assets 

Current assets 
Collateral 
Cash deposits 

Non-current assets 
Loans to associates and joint ventures 

At  
30 September  
2018 
£m 
 28.5 
 12.0 
 9.1 
 21.2 
 70.8 

At  
30 September  
2017 
£m 
 32.3 
 9.8 
 34.3 
 18.4 
 94.8 

Note 

(i) 
(ii) 

At  
30 September  
2018 
£m 

At  
30 September  
2017 
£m 

 8.0 
 237.3 
 245.3 

 18.4 
 18.4 

 14.5 
– 
 14.5 

 15.5 
 15.5 

(i)  The Group deposits collateral with its bank counterparties with whom it has entered into a credit support annex to an ISDA (International 

Swaps and Derivatives Association) Master Agreement. This represents cash that cannot be readily used in operations. 

(ii)  Represents cash deposits held with the Group’s bank counterparties with an original maturity date of three months or more. As required by  

IAS 7, Statement of Cash Flows, these have been classified within other financial assets. 

S
t
r
a
t
e
g
i
c
R
e
p
o
r
t

G
o
v
e
r
n
a
n
c
e

F
i

n
a
n
c
i
a
l

S
t
a
t
e
m
e
n
t
s

S
h
a
r
e
h
o

l

d
e
r

I
n
f
o
r
m
a
t
i

o
n

144

144 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
29 Cash and cash equivalents 

Cash and cash equivalents 
Unsecured bank overdrafts 
Cash and cash equivalents in the cash flow statement 

Analysis of cash and cash equivalents by currency:  
Sterling 
US dollar 
Australian dollar 
Canadian dollar 
Euro 
Other 

Analysis of cash and cash equivalents by interest type:  
Floating rate interest 
Fixed rate interest 

The carrying amount of cash and cash equivalents equates to their fair values. 

30 Trade and other payables 

Current liabilities 
Trade payables 
Interest payable 
Other taxation and social security 
Other creditors 
Accruals 
Deferred income 

Classified as held-for-sale 

Non-current liabilities 
Other creditors 

The carrying amount of trade and other payables approximates to their fair value. 

Daily Mail and General Trust plc Annual Report 2018

S
t
r
a
t
e
g
i
c
R
e
p
o
r
t

G
o
v
e
r
n
a
n
c
e

F
i

n
a
n
c
i
a
l

S
t
a
t
e
m
e
n
t
s

S
h
a
r
e
h
o

l

d
e
r

I
n
f
o
r
m
a
t
i

o
n

At  
30 September  
2018 
£m 
 437.8 
 (1.9) 
 435.9 

At  
30 September  
2017 
£m 
 14.6 
 (7.2) 
 7.4 

Note 

33 
16 

 333.9 
 89.4 
 0.2 
 0.8 
 5.4 
 8.1 
 437.8 

2.0 
435.8 
437.8 

 0.9 
 2.9 
 0.2 
 0.4 
 3.7 
 6.5 
 14.6 

 14.6 
– 
14.6 

At  
30 September  
2018 
£m 

At  
30 September  
2017 
£m 

Note 

 39.9 
 14.2 
 10.8 
 8.1 
 185.5 
 234.4 
 492.9 
– 
 492.9 

 2.0 
 494.9 

20 

 83.1 
 14.2 
 10.7 
 13.5 
 154.8 
 243.2 
 519.5 
 (16.8) 
 502.7 

 2.9 
 505.6 

145

145 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Financial Statements

Financial Statements 
Notes to the accounts 

31 Current tax 

Corporation tax payable 
Classified as held for sale 

Corporation tax receivable 

32 Acquisition put option commitments 

Current 
Non-current 

The carrying amount of put option commitments approximates to their fair value. 

33 Borrowings 
The Group’s borrowings are unsecured and are analysed as follows: 

Note 

20 

At  
30 September  
2018 
£m 
 6.1 
– 
 6.1 

 (5.4) 
 0.7 

At  
30 September  
2017 
£m 
 7.0 
 (5.3) 
 1.7 

 (9.6) 
 (7.9) 

At  
30 September  
2018 
£m 
 0.6 
 7.6 
 8.2 

At  
30 September  
2017 
£m 
 0.6 
 7.4 
 8.0 

Overdrafts 
£m 

Bank loans 
£m 

Bonds 
£m 

Loan notes 
£m 

Finance leases 
£m 

 1.9 

– 
– 
– 

 1.9 

 7.2 

– 
– 
– 
– 

 7.2 

– 

– 
– 
– 

– 

– 

– 
 46.3 
– 
 46.3 

 46.3 

 218.7 

 9.1 
 196.6 
 205.7 

 424.4 

 1.7 

– 
– 
– 

 1.7 

– 

 1.8 

 216.2 
 10.0 
 197.3 
 423.5 

 423.5 

– 
– 
– 
– 

 1.8 

– 

– 
– 
– 

– 

 0.4 

 0.3 
 0.2 
– 
 0.5 

 0.9 

Total 
£m 

 222.3 

 9.1 
 196.6 
 205.7 

 428.0 

 9.4 

 216.5 
 56.5 
 197.3 
 470.3 

 479.7 

At 30 September 2018 
Within one year 

Between two and five years 
Over five years 

At 30 September 2017 
Within one year 

Between one and two years 
Between two and five years 
Over five years 

146

146 

S
t
r
a
t
e
g
i
c
R
e
p
o
r
t

G
o
v
e
r
n
a
n
c
e

F
i

n
a
n
c
i
a
l

S
t
a
t
e
m
e
n
t
s

S
h
a
r
e
h
o

l

d
e
r

I
n
f
o
r
m
a
t
i

o
n

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Daily Mail and General Trust plc Annual Report 2018

The Group’s borrowings are analysed by currency and interest rate type as follows: 

At 30 September 2018 
Fixed rate interest 
Floating rate interest 

At 30 September 2017 
Fixed rate interest 
Floating rate interest 

Sterling 
£m 

 424.4 
 0.3 
 424.7 

 423.5 
 28.2 
 451.7 

US dollar 
£m 

– 
 3.1 
 3.1 

 0.9 
 27.1 
 28.0 

Euro 
£m 

– 
 0.2 
 0.2 

– 
– 
– 

Total 
£m 

 424.4 
 3.6 
 428.0 

 424.4 
 55.3 
 479.7 

The Group’s borrowings, analysed by currency and interest rate type, adjusting the principal borrowed and interest rate type by the notional 
amount of interest rate swaps and by the notional amount of currency derivatives, are as follows: 

At 30 September 2018 
Fixed rate interest 
Floating rate interest 

At 30 September 2017 
Fixed rate interest 
Floating rate interest 

Sterling 
£m 

US dollar 
£m 

 317.1 
 (11.6) 
 305.5 

 214.7 
 (71.3) 
 143.4 

 320.7 
 (198.3) 
 122.4 

 334.5 
 1.8 
 336.3 

Euro 
£m 

– 
 0.1 
 0.1 

– 
– 
– 

Total 
£m 

 637.8 
 (209.8) 
 428.0 

 549.2 
 (69.5) 
 479.7 

Committed borrowing facilities 
During the period, the Group renewed its committed bank facilities for a further five-year term. The terms of the new facilities are substantially the 
same as those of the previous facilities. 

The Group’s bank loans bear interest charged at LIBOR plus a margin. The margin varies by bank and is based on the Group’s ratio of net debt to 
EBITDA or the Group’s credit rating. EBITDA for these purposes is defined as the aggregate of the Group’s consolidated operating profit including 
share of results of joint ventures and associates before deducting depreciation, amortisation and impairment of goodwill, intangible and tangible 
assets, before exceptional items and before interest and finance charges, and is shown in Note 34.  

The Group’s total committed bank facilities amount to £431.2 million. Of these facilities £205.0 million are denominated in sterling and  
£226.2 million (US$294.0 million) are denominated in US dollars. Drawings are permitted in all major currencies.  

The Group’s committed bank facilities analysed by maturity are as follows: 

Expiring in more than one year but not more than two years 
Expiring in more than four years but not more than five years  
Total bank facilities 

At  
30 September  
2018 
£m 
– 
 431.2 
 431.2 

At  
30 September  
2017 
£m 
 611.4 
– 
 611.4 

147

147 

S
t
r
a
t
e
g
i
c
R
e
p
o
r
t

G
o
v
e
r
n
a
n
c
e

F
i

n
a
n
c
i
a
l

S
t
a
t
e
m
e
n
t
s

S
h
a
r
e
h
o

l

d
e
r

I
n
f
o
r
m
a
t
i

o
n

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Financial Statements

Financial Statements 
Notes to the accounts 

33 Borrowings continued 
The following undrawn committed borrowing facilities were available to the Group in respect of which all conditions precedent had been met: 

Expiring in more than one year but not more than two years 
Expiring in more than four years but not more than five years 
Total undrawn committed bank facilities 

The Group has issued standby letters of credit amounting to £3.3 million (2017 £3.5 million).  

Bonds 
The nominal, carrying and fair values of the Group’s bonds and the coupons payable are as follows:  

At  
30 September  
2018 
£m 
– 
 431.2 
 431.2 

At  
30 September  
2017 
£m 
 565.1 
– 
 565.1 

Maturity 
7 December 2018 
9 April 2021 
21 June 2027 

Annual coupon % 
5.75 
10.00 
6.375 

At  
30 September  
2018  
Fair value 
£m 
 220.2 
 8.4 
 228.8 
 457.4 

At  
30 September  
2017  
Fair value 
£m 
 229.4 
 9.0 
 235.8 
 474.2 

At  
30 September  
2018  
Carrying value 
£m 
 218.7 
 9.1 
 196.6 
 424.4 

At  
30 September  
2017  
Carrying value 
£m 
 216.2 
 10.0 
 197.3 
 423.5 

At  
30 September  
2018  
Nominal value 
£m 
 218.5 
 7.2 
 200.0 
 425.7 

At  
30 September  
2017  
Nominal value 
£m 
 218.5 
 7.2 
 200.0 
 425.7 

The Group’s bonds have been adjusted from their nominal values to take account of the premia, direct issue costs, discounts and movements in  
hedged risks. The issue costs, premia and discounts are being amortised over the expected lives of the bonds using the effective interest method.  
The unamortised issue costs amount to £0.6 million (2017 £0.9 million) and the unamortised premia £1.2 million (2017 £4.1 million).  

The fair value of the Group’s bonds have been calculated on the basis of quoted market rates.  

Further details of the Group’s borrowing arrangements are set out in the Financial Review.  

Loan notes 
The Group has issued loan notes which attract interest at 3.0%. The loan notes are repayable at the option of the loan note holders with a six-month 
notice period and are treated as current liabilities. 

34 Financial instruments and risk management 
The Group is exposed to credit, interest rate and currency risks arising in the normal course of business. Derivative financial instruments are used  
to manage exposures to fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates and interest rates but are not employed for speculative purposes.  

Capital risk management 
The Group manages its capital, defined as equity shareholders’ funds and net borrowings, to ensure that entities in the Group are able to continue  
as going concerns for the foreseeable future.  

Debt management 
The Group borrows on an unsecured basis and arranges its debt to ensure an appropriate maturity profile. The Group’s principal sources of funding 
are the long-term sterling bond market and committed bank facilities. The Group is mindful of its credit rating, currently BB+ with Standard & Poor’s 
and BBB- with Fitch and ensures it has sufficient committed bank facilities in order to meet short-term business requirements, after taking into 
account the Group’s holding of cash and cash equivalents together with any distribution restrictions which exist. The Group aims to maximise the 
term and flexibility of indebtedness and retain headroom in the form of undrawn committed bank facilities of approximately £100.0 million. 
Additionally, the Group arranges its currency borrowings in order that they are in proportion to the ratio of earnings in that particular currency  
to total Group earnings. 

The Directors consider that the Group’s bond issuances together with its bank facilities are sufficient to cover the likely medium-term cash 
requirements of the Group.  

Associates, joint ventures and other investments in general arrange and maintain their own financing and funding requirements. In all cases such 
financing is on a non-recourse basis to the Company.  

Whilst the Group’s internal target of a 12-month rolling net debt to EBITDA ratio of no greater than 2.0 times at any point, the limit imposed by its 
bank covenants is no greater than 3.50 times together with a minimum interest cover ratio of 3.0 times measured in March and September. These 
covenants were met at the relevant testing dates during the year. The bank covenant ratio uses the average exchange rate in the calculation of net 
debt. Excluding cash deposits with an original maturity of more than three months amounting to £237.3 million, the resultant net debt to EBITDA 
ratio is 0.01 times (2017 1.38 times). Using a closing rate basis for the valuation of net cash, the ratio was 0.02 times (2017 1.33 times).  

S
t
r
a
t
e
g
i
c
R
e
p
o
r
t

G
o
v
e
r
n
a
n
c
e

F
i

n
a
n
c
i
a
l

S
t
a
t
e
m
e
n
t
s

S
h
a
r
e
h
o

l

d
e
r

I
n
f
o
r
m
a
t
i

o
n

148

148 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Daily Mail and General Trust plc Annual Report 2018

Cash and liquidity risk management 
The Group monitors its cash balances to ensure that sufficient resources are available to meet operational requirements as they fall due. Short-term 
money market deposits are used to manage liquidity whilst maximising the rate of return on cash resources, giving due consideration to credit risk.  
A detailed maturity analysis of both derivative and non-derivative financial instruments are analysed in the table on page 155 of this note. 

Market risk management 
The Group’s primary market risks are interest rate fluctuations and exchange rate movements.  

Interest rate risk management 
The limit imposed by the Group’s bank covenants is at least 3.0 times EBITDA to net interest. The actual ratio for the year was 9.28 times  
(2017 10.07 times). 

Group debt is largely comprised of floating rate sterling (GBP) and US dollar (USD) bank borrowings and fixed GBP bond debt. 

The Group’s interest rate exposure management policy is aimed at reducing the exposure of the consolidated businesses to changes in interest 
rates. Group policy is to have 70.0% to 80.0% of interest rate exposures fixed with the balance floating.  

This is achieved by issuing fixed rate GBP bond debt and entering into derivative contracts that economically swap fixed rate interest into floating 
rate. Derivatives are used to hedge or reduce the risks of interest rate and exchange rate movements and are not entered into unless such risks exist.  

To meet policy the Group:  

•  swaps a portion of its fixed GBP bond debt into GBP floating debt using interest rate swaps;  
•  swaps a portion of its fixed GBP bond debt into USD fixed bond debt by using cross-currency fixed to fixed swaps;  
•  buys USD caps to fix its USD debt; and  
•  enters forward contracts, selling USD and buying GBP to swap its GBP floating rate debt into USD floating rate debt. 

The derivatives in place to meet Group policy are as follows: 

(i) 

Fixed-to-floating interest rate swaps hedging a portion of the Group’s bonds; changes in the fair value of the swaps are recognised in the 
Income Statement and at the same time the carrying value of the hedged bonds is adjusted for movements in the hedged risk to the extent 
effective and those adjustments are also recognised in the Income Statement. The notional value of these interest rate swaps amounts to  
£93.1 million (2017 £93.1 million) with the Group paying floating rates of between 0.33% and 0.94% (2017 0.29% and 0.99%). 

(ii)  Floating-to-fixed interest rate swaps which are not designated as hedging instruments; changes in the fair value of the swaps are recognised  
in the Income Statement. The notional value of these interest rate swaps amounts to US$67.0 million (2017 US$67.0 million) with the Group 
receiving floating US dollar interest at rates of between 1.33% and 2.35% (2017 0.86% and 1.33%). 

(iii)  Cross-currency fixed-to-fixed interest rate swaps. The notional value of these cross-currency swaps amounts to £96.3 million/ US$155.0 million  

(2017 £96.3 million/US$155.0 million) resulting in the Group paying fixed US dollar interest at rates of between 5.56% and 6.99% (2017 5.56%  
and 6.99%). 

(iv)  The Group also had a number of outstanding interest rate caps. These amounted to US$195.0 million and £105.0 million notional  

(2017 US$225.0 million) at rates of between 2.09% and 3.50% (2017 1.00% and 2.75%). 

Derivative financial instruments are measured at fair value at the date the derivatives are entered into and are subsequently remeasured to fair 
value at each reporting date. The fair value is determined by using market rates of interest and exchange as at 30 September 2018 and the use of 
established estimation techniques such as discounted cash flow and option valuation models. The fair value of long-term borrowings has been 
calculated by discounting expected future cash flows at market rates. 

Foreign exchange rate risk management 
Translation exposures arise on the earnings and net assets of business operations in entities with functional currencies other than that of the parent 
company. The net asset exposures are economically hedged, to a significant extent, by a policy of denominating borrowings in currencies where 
significant translation exposures exist, most notably US dollars. 

The Group also designates currency swaps, forward contracts and US dollar bank borrowings as net investment hedges, hedging the Group’s 
overseas investments.  

Credit risk management 
The Group’s principal credit risk relates to its trade and other receivables and non-performance by counterparties to financial instrument contracts.  

S
t
r
a
t
e
g
i
c
R
e
p
o
r
t

G
o
v
e
r
n
a
n
c
e

F
i

n
a
n
c
i
a
l

S
t
a
t
e
m
e
n
t
s

S
h
a
r
e
h
o

l

d
e
r

I
n
f
o
r
m
a
t
i

o
n

149

149 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Financial Statements

Financial Statements 
Notes to the accounts 

34 Financial instruments and risk management continued 
Trade and other receivables 
The Group’s customer base is diversified geographically and by segment with customers generally of a good financial standing. Before accepting 
any new customers, the Group assesses the potential customers’ credit quality and sets credit limits by customer. The average credit period is  
38 days (2017 32 days). The Group considers the credit risk of trade receivables to be low, although the Group remains vigilant in the current 
economic climate. The Group reserves the right to charge interest on overdue receivables, although the Group does not hold collateral over any 
trade receivable balances. The Group makes an allowance for bad and doubtful debts specific to individual debts. This provision is reviewed 
regularly in conjunction with a detailed analysis of historic payment profiles and past default experience. 

The Group’s receivables are stated net of allowances for doubtful debts and allowances for impairment are made where appropriate. 

The maximum exposure to credit risk from trade and other receivables at the reporting date is the amount of each class disclosed in the table  
on page 153.  

Institutional counterparty risk 
The Group seeks to limit interest rate and foreign exchange risks, described above, by the use of financial instruments. As a result, credit risk arises 
from the potential non-performance by the counterparties to those financial instruments, which are unsecured. The amount of this credit risk is 
normally restricted to the amounts of any hedge gain and not the principal amount being hedged. The Group also has a credit exposure to 
counterparties for the full principal amount of cash and cash equivalents.  

Credit risk is controlled by monitoring the credit quality of these counterparties, principally licensed commercial banks and investment banks with 
strong long-term credit ratings, and of the amounts outstanding with each of them.  

The credit risk on cash deposits and derivative financial instruments is considered low since the counterparties are banks with high credit ratings. 
Group policy is to have no more than £20.0 million or 25.0% surplus cash balances deposited (or at risk) with any ‘AA’ or UK ring-fenced banking 
counterparty or £10.0 million or 10.0% surplus cash balances with ‘A’ rated counterparties but with no more than the higher of £50.0 million or 
50.0% of surplus cash balances in aggregate. The Group has no significant concentration of risk with exposure spread over a large number of 
counterparties and customers.  

The maximum exposure to credit risk from derivative assets and cash and cash equivalents at the reporting date is the amount of each class 
disclosed in the table on page 153. 

Derivative financial instruments and hedge accounting 
The Group designates certain derivatives as:  

(i)  hedges of the change in fair value of recognised assets and liabilities (fair value hedges); or 

(ii)  hedges of highly probable forecast transactions (cash flow hedges); or 

(iii)  hedges of net investment in foreign operations (net investment hedges).  

To qualify for hedge accounting, each individual hedging relationship must be expected to be effective, be designated and documented at its 
inception and throughout the life of the hedge relationship. 

S
t
r
a
t
e
g
i
c
R
e
p
o
r
t

G
o
v
e
r
n
a
n
c
e

F
i

n
a
n
c
i
a
l

S
t
a
t
e
m
e
n
t
s

S
h
a
r
e
h
o

l

d
e
r

I
n
f
o
r
m
a
t
i

o
n

150

150 

 
 
 
 
 
 
Daily Mail and General Trust plc Annual Report 2018

Fair value hedges 
The Group’s policy is to use interest rate swaps to convert a proportion of its fixed rate debt to floating rates in order to hedge the interest rate risk. 

Gains and losses on the borrowings and related derivatives designated as fair value hedges included in the Consolidated Income Statement for the 
year ended 30 September 2018 were: 

Sterling interest rate swaps 
Sterling debt 

Total 

At  
30 September  
2016 
£m 
7.5 
(7.5) 
– 

Fair value 
movement 
gain/(loss) 
£m 
(4.7) 
4.7 
– 

At  
30 September  
2017 
£m 
2.8 
(2.8) 
– 

Fair value 
movement 
gain/(loss) 
£m 
(2.3) 
2.3 
– 

At  
30 September  
2018 
£m 
0.5 
(0.5) 
– 

Cash flow hedges 
The Group’s policy is to use certain derivative financial instruments in order to hedge the foreign exchange risk arising from certain firm 
commitments or forecast highly probable transactions in currencies other than the functional currency of the relevant Group entity.  

All cash flow hedges were effective throughout the year ended 30 September 2018. 

Net investment hedges 
The Group seeks to manage the foreign currency exposure arising on retranslation of the reporting entity’s share of net assets of foreign  
operations at each reporting date by designating certain derivative financial instruments and foreign currency borrowings as net investment 
hedging instruments.  

All net investment hedges were effective throughout the year ended 30 September 2018.  

The Group’s derivative financial instruments, other than acquisition option commitments, and their maturity profiles are summarised as follows:  

Derivative financial assets:  

Fair value  
hedges 
£m 

Net  
investment  
hedges 
£m 

Derivatives  
not qualifying  
for hedge 
accounting 
£m 

Derivative  
financial 
assets 
£m 

At 30 September 2018 
Within one year 

Between one and two years 
Between two and five years 
Over five years 

At 30 September 2017 
Within one year 

Between one and two years 
Between two and five years 
Over five years 

0.7 

– 
1.9 
– 
1.9 

2.6 

– 

1.4 
2.7 
– 
4.1 

4.1 

– 

– 
– 
– 
– 

– 

3.0 

– 
– 
– 
– 

3.0 

– 

– 
1.1 
6.0 
7.1 

7.1 

– 

– 
0.4 
0.1 
0.5 

0.5 

0.7 

– 
3.0 
6.0 
9.0 

9.7 

3.0 

1.4 
3.1 
0.1 
4.6 

7.6 

151

151 

S
t
r
a
t
e
g
i
c
R
e
p
o
r
t

G
o
v
e
r
n
a
n
c
e

F
i

n
a
n
c
i
a
l

S
t
a
t
e
m
e
n
t
s

S
h
a
r
e
h
o

l

d
e
r

I
n
f
o
r
m
a
t
i

o
n

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Financial Statements

Financial Statements 
Notes to the accounts 

34 Financial instruments and risk management continued 
Derivative financial liabilities: 

At 30 September 2018 
Within one year 

Between one and two years 
Between two and five years 
Over five years 

At 30 September 2017 
Within one year 

Between one and two years 
Between two and five years 
Over five years 

Fair value  
hedges 
£m 

Net  
investment  
hedges 
£m 

Derivative  
financial  
liabilities 
£m 

– 

– 
– 
(2.1) 
(2.1) 

(2.1) 

– 

– 
– 
(1.3) 
(1.3) 

(1.3) 

(6.6) 

– 
– 
(11.4) 
(11.4) 

(18.0) 

(0.4) 

(5.7) 
– 
(11.8) 
(17.5) 

(17.9) 

(6.6) 

– 
– 
(13.5) 
(13.5) 

(20.1) 

(0.4) 

(5.7) 
– 
(13.1) 
(18.8) 

(19.2) 

In managing the Group’s interest rate and currency risks, the Group aims to reduce the impact of short-term fluctuations. However, changes in 
foreign exchange rates and interest rates may have an impact on the Group’s statutory results.  

At 30 September 2018 it is estimated that an increase of 1.0% in interest rates would have decreased the Group’s finance costs by £8.1 million  
(2017 £3.7 million). There would have been no effect on amounts recognised directly in equity. This sensitivity has been calculated by applying the 
interest rate change to the Group’s variable rate borrowings, net of any interest rate swaps, at the year-end date.  

At 30 September 2018 it is estimated that a decrease of 1.0% in interest rates would have increased the Group’s finance costs by £5.8 million  
(2017 £3.0 million). There would have been no effect on amounts recognised directly in equity. This sensitivity has been calculated by applying the 
interest rate change to the Group’s variable rate borrowings, net of any interest rate swaps, as at the year-end date.  

At 30 September 2018 it is estimated that a 10.0% strengthening of sterling against the US dollar would have increased the net gain taken to equity 
by £13.3 million (2017 decreased the net loss by £33.2 million) and decreased the net loss taken to income by £0.4 million (2017 no change to the net 
gain taken to income). A 10.0% weakening of sterling against the US dollar would have decreased the net gain taken to equity by £16.3 million  
(2017 increased the net loss by £40.5 million) and increased the net loss taken to income by £0.5 million (2017 increased the net gain by £0.1 million). 
This sensitivity has been calculated by applying the foreign exchange change to the Group’s financial instruments which are affected by changes  
in foreign exchange rates.  

At 30 September 2018, it is estimated that an increase of 1.0% in the rate used to discount the expected gross value of payments would lead  
to a decrease in the present value of acquisition put option commitments of £nil (2017 £nil).  

At 30 September 2018, it is estimated that a decrease of 1.0% in the rate used to discount the expected gross value of payments would lead  
to an increase in the present value of acquisition put option commitments of £nil (2017 £nil). 

S
t
r
a
t
e
g
i
c
R
e
p
o
r
t

G
o
v
e
r
n
a
n
c
e

F
i

n
a
n
c
i
a
l

S
t
a
t
e
m
e
n
t
s

S
h
a
r
e
h
o

l

d
e
r

I
n
f
o
r
m
a
t
i

o
n

152

152 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Daily Mail and General Trust plc Annual Report 2018

The carrying amounts and gains and losses on financial instruments are as follows: 

At  
30 September 
2018  
Carrying  
amount 
£m 
20.4 
20.4 

Year ended  
30 September 
2018  
(Loss)/gain  
to income 
£m 
(1.7) 
(1.7) 

Year ended  
30 September 
2018  
Gain/(loss) 
to equity 
£m 
0.2 
0.2 

At  
30 September 
2017  
Carrying   
amount 
£m 
30.6 
30.6 

Year ended  
30 September 
2017 
Gain/(loss) 
to income 
£m 
(0.5) 
(0.5) 

Year ended  
30 September 
2017 
(Loss)/gain 
to equity 
£m 
(0.3) 
(0.3) 

Investments 

Available-for-sale investments 

Trade receivables 
Other receivables 
Other financial assets 
Cash and cash equivalents 

Loans and receivables 

Option over equity instrument 
Contingent consideration 

Assets at fair value through profit or loss 

Interest rate swaps 
Forward foreign currency contracts 

Derivative assets in effective hedging relationships 

Interest rate swaps 
Interest rate caps 

Derivative assets not designated as hedging instruments 

Trade payables 
Bank overdrafts 
Bonds 
Bank loans 
Loan notes 
Amounts payable under finance leases 

Liabilities at amortised cost 

Contingent consideration 

Liabilities at fair value through profit or loss 

Interest rate swaps 
Fixed to fixed cross currency swaps 
Forward foreign currency contracts 

Derivative liabilities in effective hedging relationships 

Acquisition put option commitments 

Derivative liabilities not designated as hedging 
instruments 

180.4 
33.4 
263.7 
437.8 
915.3 

– 
0.1 
0.1 

2.6 
– 
2.6 

3.2 
3.9 
7.1 

(39.9) 
(1.9) 
(424.4) 
– 
(1.7) 
– 
(467.9) 

(4.8) 
(4.8) 

(2.1) 
(18.0) 
– 
(20.1) 

(8.2) 

(8.2) 

2.2 
– 
3.0 
1.7 
6.9 

– 
– 
– 

– 
(1.7) 
(1.7) 

3.4 
0.4 
3.8 

– 
– 
(26.8) 
(6.9) 
(5.0) 
– 
(38.7) 

(2.4) 
(2.4) 

(1.0) 
(1.4) 
4.9 
2.5 

– 

– 

3.2 
1.5 
– 
1.6 
6.3 

– 
– 
– 

– 
– 
– 

– 
– 
– 

(0.1) 
– 
– 
2.6 
– 
– 
2.5 

(0.1) 
(0.1) 

– 
(0.5) 
(1.6) 
(2.1) 

(0.2) 

(0.2) 

149.4 
34.1 
30.0 
14.6 
228.1 

– 
0.3 
0.3 

4.1 
3.0 
7.1 

0.1 
0.4 
0.5 

(66.3) 
(7.2) 
(423.5) 
(46.3) 
(1.8) 
(0.9) 
(546.0) 

(17.0) 
(17.0) 

(1.3) 
(17.5) 
(0.4) 
(19.2) 

(8.0) 

(8.0) 

Total for financial instruments 

449.6 

(31.3) 

6.6 

(323.6) 

S
t
r
a
t
e
g
i
c
R
e
p
o
r
t

G
o
v
e
r
n
a
n
c
e

F
i

n
a
n
c
i
a
l

S
t
a
t
e
m
e
n
t
s

S
h
a
r
e
h
o

l

d
e
r

I
n
f
o
r
m
a
t
i

o
n

(3.1) 
– 
1.4 
1.0 
(0.7) 

2.9 
– 
2.9 

(1.4) 
(1.7) 
(3.1) 

1.8 
– 
1.8 

– 
– 
(24.2) 
(6.6) 
(0.2) 
(0.2) 
(31.2) 

28.6 
28.6 

– 
(1.7) 
– 
(1.7) 

7.4 

7.4 

3.5 

(1.7) 
(1.6) 
– 
0.1 
(3.2) 

– 
– 
– 

– 
(2.8) 
(2.8) 

– 
– 
– 

0.6 
0.1 
– 
(3.5) 
– 
– 
(2.8) 

(0.6) 
(0.6) 

– 
5.5 
(3.2) 
2.3 

(0.9) 

(0.9) 

(8.3) 

153

153 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Financial Statements

Financial Statements 
Notes to the accounts 

34 Financial instruments and risk management continued 
Reconciliation of net gain/(loss) taken to equity is as follows: 

Change in fair value of hedging derivatives 
Translation of financial instruments of overseas operations 
Transfer of gain on cash flow hedges from translation reserve to the Consolidated Income Statement 

Total gain/(loss) on financial instruments to equity 

Reconciliation of loss taken through income to net finance costs is as follows: 

Total (loss)/gain on financial instruments to income 
Add back:  
Impairment of trade receivables 
Impairment of available-for-sale assets 
Dividend income 
Interest receivable 
Interest on pension scheme liabilities less expected return on pension scheme assets 

Net finance costs 

Reconciliation of amounts due under finance lease agreements is as follows:  

At 30 September 2018 
Future minimum lease payments 
Present value of minimum lease payments 

At 30 September 2017 
Future minimum lease payments 
Present value of minimum lease payments 

Note 
39, 40 

39, 40 

Year ended  
30 September  
2018 
£m 
2.8 
8.7 
(4.9) 
6.6 

Year ended  
30 September  
2017 
£m 
(3.7) 
(7.9) 
3.3 
(8.3) 

Year ended  
30 September  
2018 
£m 
(31.3) 

Year ended  
30 September  
2017 
£m 
3.5 

(2.2) 
1.8 
(0.1) 
(4.7) 
2.0 
(34.5) 

3.1 
0.5 
(0.1) 
(2.4) 
(4.9) 
(0.3) 

Due in less 
than one year 
£m 
– 
– 

Due between one 
and five years 
£m 
– 
– 

Due in less  
than one year 
£m 
0.4 
0.4 

Due between one 
and five years 
£m 
0.5 
0.5 

Note 

27 
8 
9 
9 
10 
10 

Total 
£m 
– 
– 

Total 
£m 
0.9 
0.9 

S
t
r
a
t
e
g
i
c
R
e
p
o
r
t

G
o
v
e
r
n
a
n
c
e

F
i

n
a
n
c
i
a
l

S
t
a
t
e
m
e
n
t
s

S
h
a
r
e
h
o

l

d
e
r

I
n
f
o
r
m
a
t
i

o
n

154

154 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Daily Mail and General Trust plc Annual Report 2018

The remaining undiscounted contractual liabilities and their maturities are as follows: 

Within one year 
£m 

Between one and 
two years 
£m 

Between two and 
five years 
£m 

Between five and 
ten years 
£m 

Between ten and 
fifteen years 
£m 

At 30 September 2018 
Trade payables 
Bank loans 
Bank overdrafts 
Bonds 
Loan notes 
Finance leases 
Contingent consideration 
Acquisition put option commitments 
Interest rate swaps 
Currency swaps 
Forward contracts 

At 30 September 2017 
Trade payables 
Bank loans 
Bank overdrafts 
Bonds 
Loan notes 
Finance leases 
Contingent consideration 
Acquisition put option commitments 
Interest rate swaps 
Currency swaps 
Forward contracts 

(39.9) 
– 
(1.9) 
(234.3) 
(1.7) 
– 
(1.2) 
(0.6) 
0.4 
(36.7) 
– 

(315.9) 

(66.3) 
– 
(7.3) 
(26.0) 
(1.8) 
(0.4) 
(3.4) 
(0.6) 
0.4 
(7.2) 
(36.9) 

(149.5) 

– 
– 
– 
(13.5) 
– 
– 
– 
– 
0.4 
(5.7) 
– 

(18.8) 

– 
– 
– 
(234.3) 
– 
(0.3) 
(6.9) 
– 
0.4 
(35.7) 
– 

(276.8) 

– 
– 
– 
(45.8) 
– 
– 
(3.7) 
(7.7) 
1.1 
(17.1) 
– 

(73.2) 

– 
(47.6) 
– 
(46.5) 
– 
(0.2) 
(7.8) 
(7.4) 
1.1 
(16.6) 
– 

(125.0) 

– 
– 
– 
(247.5) 
– 
– 
– 
– 
1.3 
(109.8) 
– 

(356.0) 

– 
– 
– 
(260.2) 
– 
– 
– 
– 
1.7 
(112.1) 
– 

(370.6) 

– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 

– 

– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 

– 

Total 
£m 

(39.9) 
– 
(1.9) 
(541.1) 
(1.7) 
– 
(4.9) 
(8.3) 
3.2 
(169.3) 
– 

(763.9) 

(66.3) 
(47.6) 
(7.3) 
(567.0) 
(1.8) 
(0.9) 
(18.1) 
(8.0) 
3.6 
(171.6) 
(36.9) 

(921.9) 

Included in the maturity table above are interest rate swaps with a notional value of US$67.0 million (2017 US$67.0 million) and currency swaps with  
a notional value of US$90.0 million (2017 US$90.0 million) with mutual break clauses at fair value every five years. 

S
t
r
a
t
e
g
i
c
R
e
p
o
r
t

G
o
v
e
r
n
a
n
c
e

F
i

n
a
n
c
i
a
l

S
t
a
t
e
m
e
n
t
s

S
h
a
r
e
h
o

l

d
e
r

I
n
f
o
r
m
a
t
i

o
n

155

155 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Financial Statements

Financial Statements 
Notes to the accounts 

34 Financial instruments and risk management continued 
Reconciliation of undiscounted liabilities to amounts on the Consolidated Statement of Financial Position is as follows: 

Undiscounted 
value of 
 financial 
liabilities 
£m 

Interest 
£m 

Unamortised 
issue costs 
£m 

Discount/ 
Premium  
on issue 
£m 

Discounting  
and mark-to-
market 
adjustments 
£m 

Undiscounted 
value of  
financial  
asset 
£m 

At 30 September 2018 
Trade payables 
Bank loans 
Bank overdrafts 
Bonds 
Loan notes 
Finance leases 
Contingent consideration 
Acquisition put option commitments 
Interest rate swaps 
Fixed to fixed cross currency swaps 
Forward foreign currency contracts 

At 30 September 2017 
Trade payables 
Bank loans 
Bank overdrafts 
Bonds 
Loan notes 
Finance leases 
Contingent consideration 
Acquisition put option commitments 
Interest rate swaps 
Fixed to fixed cross currency swaps 
Forward foreign currency contracts 

(39.9) 
– 
(1.9) 
(541.1) 
(1.7) 
– 
(4.9) 
(8.3) 
3.2 
(169.3) 
– 

(763.9) 

(66.3) 
(47.6) 
(7.3) 
(567.0) 
(1.8) 
(0.9) 
(18.1) 
(8.0) 
3.6 
(171.6) 
(36.9) 

(921.9) 

– 
– 
– 
115.4 
– 
– 
– 
– 
(3.2) 
10.3 
– 

122.5 

– 
1.3 
0.1 
141.4 
– 
– 
– 
– 
(3.6) 
9.1 
– 

148.3 

– 
– 
– 
0.6 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 

0.6 

– 
– 
– 
0.9 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 

0.9 

– 
– 
– 
1.2 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 

1.2 

– 
– 
– 
4.1 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 

4.1 

– 
– 
– 
(0.5) 
– 
– 
0.1 
0.1 
(2.1) 
4.9 
– 

2.5 

– 
– 
– 
(2.9) 
– 
– 
1.1 
– 
(1.3) 
2.0 
(0.3) 

(1.4) 

– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
136.1 
– 

136.1 

– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
143.0 
36.8 

179.8 

Total 
£m 

(39.9) 
– 
(1.9) 
(424.4) 
(1.7) 
– 
(4.8) 
(8.2) 
(2.1) 
(18.0) 
– 

(501.0) 

(66.3) 
(46.3) 
(7.2) 
(423.5) 
(1.8) 
(0.9) 
(17.0) 
(8.0) 
(1.3) 
(17.5) 
(0.4) 

(590.2) 

Valuation techniques and assumptions applied for the purpose of measuring fair value 
The following table provides an analysis of financial instruments that are measured subsequent to initial recognition at fair value, grouped into 
levels 1 to 3 based on the degree to which the fair value is observable: 

•  Level 1 fair value measurements are those derived from quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets or liabilities; 
•  Level 2 fair value measurements are those derived from inputs other than quoted prices included within level 1 that are observable for the asset 

or liability, either directly (i.e. as prices) or indirectly (i.e. derived from prices); and 

•  Level 3 fair value measurements are those derived from valuation techniques that include inputs for the asset or liability that are not based on 

observable market data (unobservable inputs). 

S
t
r
a
t
e
g
i
c
R
e
p
o
r
t

G
o
v
e
r
n
a
n
c
e

F
i

n
a
n
c
i
a
l

S
t
a
t
e
m
e
n
t
s

S
h
a
r
e
h
o

l

d
e
r

I
n
f
o
r
m
a
t
i

o
n

156

156 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Daily Mail and General Trust plc Annual Report 2018

At 30 September 2018 
Financial assets 
Available-for-sale financial assets 
Fair value through profit and loss 

Derivative instruments not designated in hedge accounting relationships 
Provision for contingent consideration receivable 

Derivative instruments in designated hedge accounting relationships 

Financial liabilities 
Fair value through profit and loss 

Provision for contingent consideration payable 

Derivative instruments in designated hedge accounting relationships 

At 30 September 2017 
Financial assets 
Available-for-sale financial assets 
Fair value through profit and loss 

Derivative instruments not designated in hedge accounting relationships 
Option over equity instrument 
Provision for contingent consideration receivable 

Derivative instruments in designated hedge accounting relationships 

Note 

25 

36 

Note 

25 

Financial liabilities 
Fair value through profit and loss 

Provision for contingent consideration payable 

36 

Derivative instruments in designated hedge accounting relationships 

Level 1 
£m 

Level 2 
£m 

Level 3 
£m 

– 

– 
– 
– 
– 

– 
– 
– 

– 

7.1 
– 
2.6 
9.7 

– 
(20.1) 
(20.1) 

20.4 

– 
0.1 
– 
20.5 

(4.8) 
– 
(4.8) 

Level 1 
£m 

Level 2 
£m 

Level 3 
£m 

– 

– 
– 
– 
– 
– 

– 
– 
– 

– 

0.5 
– 
– 
7.1 
7.6 

– 
(19.2) 
(19.2) 

30.6 

– 
– 
0.3 
– 
30.9 

(17.0) 
– 
(17.0) 

Total 
£m 

20.4 

7.1 
0.1 
2.6 
30.2 

(4.8) 
(20.1) 
(24.9) 

Total 
£m 

30.6 

0.5 
– 
0.3 
7.1 
38.5 

(17.0) 
(19.2) 
(36.2) 

There were no transfers between categories in the period.  

(i)  The fair value of derivative instruments is determined using market rates of interest and exchange, and established estimation techniques such 

as discounted cash flow and option valuation models.  

(ii)  Available-for-sale financial assets are recorded at cost less provision for impairment, as since there is no active market upon which they are 

traded their fair values cannot be reliably measured. The recoverable amount is determined by discounting future cash flows to present value 
using market interest rates.  

Contingent consideration is valued based on the future profitability of the businesses to which the contingent consideration relates, discounted at 
market rates of interest. 

S
t
r
a
t
e
g
i
c
R
e
p
o
r
t

G
o
v
e
r
n
a
n
c
e

F
i

n
a
n
c
i
a
l

S
t
a
t
e
m
e
n
t
s

S
h
a
r
e
h
o

l

d
e
r

I
n
f
o
r
m
a
t
i

o
n

157

157 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Financial Statements

Financial Statements 
Notes to the accounts 

34 Financial instruments and risk management continued 
Reconciliation of level 3 fair value measurement of financial liabilities is as follows: 

At 30 September 2016 
Cash paid to settle contingent consideration in respect of acquisitions 
Change in fair value of contingent consideration in income 
Additions to contingent consideration 
Exchange adjustment 

At 30 September 2017 
Cash paid to settle contingent consideration in respect of acquisitions 
Change in fair value of contingent consideration in income 
Finance charge on discounting of contingent consideration 
Additions to contingent consideration 
Contingent consideration owned by subsidiaries disposed 

At 30 September 2018 

Note 

36 
10, 36 
36 

36 
10, 36 
10, 36 
36 

£m 
(52.6) 
8.2 
28.6 
(0.6) 
(0.6) 

(17.0) 
14.4 
(2.2) 
(0.2) 
(0.2) 
0.4 

 (4.8) 

The key inputs into the significant level 3 financial liabilities are the future profitability of the businesses to which the contingent consideration relate  
and the discount rate. The estimated range of possible outcomes for the fair value of these liabilities is £nil to £19.4 million (2017 £1.1 million to  
£233.0 million).  

The increase in fair value of contingent consideration of £2.2 million (2017 reduction of £28.6 million) and finance charge on discounting of 
contingent consideration of £0.3 million (2017 £nil) were charged or credited to the Income statement within net finance costs (Note 10).  

A one percentage point increase or decrease in the growth rate used in estimating the expected profits, results in the contingent consideration 
liability at 30 September 2018 increasing or decreasing by £0.4 million and £0.4 million respectively (2017 £1.7 million increase and £1.3 million 
decrease), with the corresponding change to the value at 30 September 2018 charged or credited to the Consolidated Income Statement in  
future periods.  

The rates used to discount contingent consideration range from 0.8% to 1.1% (2017 0.0% to 0.2%). A one percentage point increase or decrease  
in the discount rate used to discount the expected gross value of payments, results in the liability at 30 September 2018 decreasing or increasing  
by £0.1 million and £0.1 million respectively (2017 £0.3 million and £0.1 million), with the corresponding change to the value at 30 September 2018 
charged or credited to the Consolidated Income Statement in future periods. 

S
t
r
a
t
e
g
i
c
R
e
p
o
r
t

G
o
v
e
r
n
a
n
c
e

F
i

n
a
n
c
i
a
l

S
t
a
t
e
m
e
n
t
s

S
h
a
r
e
h
o

l

d
e
r

I
n
f
o
r
m
a
t
i

o
n

158

158 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Daily Mail and General Trust plc Annual Report 2018

35 Retirement benefit obligations  
The Group operates a number of pension schemes under which contributions are paid by the employer and employees. The total net pension costs 
of the Group for the year ended 30 September 2018 were £9.3 million (2017 £18.2 million). 

The schemes include a number of defined contribution pension arrangements, in addition to funded defined benefit pension arrangements which  
are closed to future accrual. The defined benefit schemes in the UK, together with some defined contribution plans, are administered by Trustees  
or Trustee Companies. 

Defined benefit schemes 
Background 
The Company operates two main defined benefit schemes, the Harmsworth Pension Scheme (HPS) and the Senior Executive Pension Scheme 
(SEPF), both of which are closed to new entrants and to further accrual. 

Full actuarial valuations of the defined benefit schemes are carried out triennially by the scheme actuary. Following the results of the latest triennial 
valuation as at 31 March 2016, the Company agreed a Recovery Plan involving a series of annual funding payments, of £13.0 million on 5 October 
2016 to 2018, £18.3 million on 5 October 2019, £16.2 million on 5 October 2020 to 2025 and £76.2 million on 5 October 2026. The Company considers 
that these contribution rates are sufficient to eliminate any deficit over the agreed period. This Recovery Plan will be reviewed at the next triennial 
funding valuation of the main schemes which is due to be completed with an effective date of 31 March 2019. 

In addition the Company has agreed with the Trustees that, should it make any permanent reductions in the Company’s capital, including share  
buy-backs, it will make additional contributions to the schemes amounting to 20.0% of the capital reduction. Contributions of £nil (2017 £nil) 
relating to this agreement were made in the year to 30 September 2018. 

Limited Partnership investment vehicle 
HPS owns a beneficial interest in a Limited Partnership investment vehicle (LP). The LP has been designed to facilitate annual payments of £10.8 
million as part of the deficit funding payments described above over the period to 2026. In addition, the LP is required to make a final payment to 
the scheme of £149.9 million, or the funding deficit within the scheme on an ongoing actuarial valuation basis, at the end of the period to 2026 if this 
is less. The Recovery Plan above assumes £60.0 million of the £149.9 million final payment is required. For funding purposes, the interest of HPS in 
the LP is treated as an asset of the scheme and reduces the actuarial deficit within the scheme. However, under IAS 19, Employee benefits, the LP is 
not included as an asset of the scheme and therefore is not included in the disclosures below. 

Strategic Plan 
The Trustee has developed a comprehensive approach to managing the schemes’ investment strategy to ensure it is always aligned with the 
Strategic Plan. The schemes’ financial performance has been sufficiently better than envisaged so the Trustee has reduced risk largely by decreasing 
the equity allocation and increasing its interest rate and inflation rate hedging which is reflected in the analysis of the schemes’ assets. In addition 
the Strategic Plan has been amended to target an asset allocation that may enable all pension obligations to be under written with insurance 
policies by 2030. 

The Strategic Plan may involve the Trustee reducing risk further. 

This framework defines a series of triggers which present opportunities for the Trustee to reduce risk either by reducing the allocation to return 
seeking assets, such as equities and increasing the interest rate and inflation hedge or a combination of the two. 

The figures in this note are based on calculations using membership data as at 30 September 2018 along with asset valuations and cash flow 
information from the schemes for the year to 30 September 2018. 

A reconciliation of the net pension obligation reported in the Consolidated Statement of Financial Position is shown in the following table: 

Present value of defined benefit obligation 
Assets at fair value 
Surplus/(deficit) reported in the  
Consolidated Statement of Financial Position 

At  
30 September  
2018  
Schemes  
in surplus 
£m 
 (2,541.5) 
 2,790.6 

At  
30 September  
2018  
Schemes  
in deficit 
£m 
 (53.4) 
 47.8 

At  
30 September  
2018  
Total 
£m 
 (2,594.9) 
 2,838.4 

At  
30 September  
2017  
Schemes  
in surplus 
£m 
 (2,631.9) 
 2,705.3 

At  
30 September  
2017  
Schemes  
in deficit 
£m 
 (58.8) 
 47.8 

At  
30 September  
2017  
Total 
£m 
 (2,690.7) 
 2,753.1 

 249.1 

 (5.6) 

 243.5 

 73.4 

 (11.0) 

 62.4 

S
t
r
a
t
e
g
i
c
R
e
p
o
r
t

G
o
v
e
r
n
a
n
c
e

F
i

n
a
n
c
i
a
l

S
t
a
t
e
m
e
n
t
s

S
h
a
r
e
h
o

l

d
e
r

I
n
f
o
r
m
a
t
i

o
n

159

159 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Financial Statements

Financial Statements 
Notes to the accounts 

35 Retirement benefit obligations continued 
The IAS 19 accounting surplus/(deficit) data above differs to the triennial actuarial surplus/(deficit) calculation used in the assessment of future 
funding obligations. There are a number of reasons for this – the actuarial valuation is as at the schemes’ year end date of 31 March and is calculated 
triennially based on more prudent assumptions including those covering discount rates and mortality. IAS 19 requires the Company to use best 
estimate assumptions. 

The International Financial Reporting Interpretations Committee, in its document IFRIC 14, has interpreted the extent to which a company can 
recognise a pension surplus on its Statement of Financial Position. 

In relation to HPS and the SEPF, having taken account of the rules of the schemes, the Company has an unconditional right to a refund of any 
surplus under IFRIC 14 and considers that the recognition of surpluses in these schemes on its Statement of Financial Position is in accordance with 
the interpretations of IFRIC 14. In relation to the AVC, having taken account of the rules of the scheme, the Company does not have an unconditional 
right to a refund under IFRIC 14. However, at 30 September 2018 the AVC Plan showed a deficit and no contributions are payable into the AVC Plan. 
Therefore no asset ceiling needs to be applied to restrict surplus on the balance sheet and no additional minimum funding liability is needed under 
IFRIC 14. 

IFRIC 14 is in the process of being revised which may lead to a reassessment of the Company’s recognition of any pension surplus on its Statement  
of Financial Position.  

The surplus/(deficit) for the year, set out above, excludes a related deferred tax liability of £41.0 million (2017 £9.9 million). 

A reconciliation of the present value of the defined benefit obligation is shown in the following table: 

Defined benefit obligation at start of year 
Attributable to subsidiaries disposed 
Interest cost 
Past service cost 
Net benefit payments 
Actuarial gain as a result of:  

– changes in financial assumptions 
– changes in demographic assumptions 
– membership experience 

Defined benefit obligation at end of year 

A reconciliation of the fair value of assets is shown in the following table: 

Fair value of assets at start of year 
Attributable to subsidiaries disposed 
Interest income on scheme assets 
Company contributions 
Net benefit payments 
Return on plan assets, excluding amounts included in interest income on scheme assets 
Fair value of assets at end of year 

Note 

10 
 3 

39, 40 
39, 40 
39, 40 

Note 

 10 
 15 

39, 40 

Year ended  
30 September  
2018 
£m 
 (2,690.7) 
– 
 (68.7) 
 (17.3) 
 99.2 

 58.7 
 15.8 
 8.1 
 (2,594.9) 

Year ended  
30 September  
2018 
£m 
 2,753.1 
– 
 70.7 
 12.8 
 (99.2) 
 101.0 
 2,838.4 

Year ended  
30 September  
2017 
£m 
 (2,998.9) 
 72.2 
 (62.6) 
– 
 106.8 

 140.7 
 47.3 
 3.8 
 (2,690.7) 

Year ended  
30 September  
2017 
£m 
 2,752.9 
 (71.1) 
 57.7 
 13.1 
 (106.8) 
 107.3 
 2,753.1 

S
t
r
a
t
e
g
i
c
R
e
p
o
r
t

G
o
v
e
r
n
a
n
c
e

F
i

n
a
n
c
i
a
l

S
t
a
t
e
m
e
n
t
s

S
h
a
r
e
h
o

l

d
e
r

I
n
f
o
r
m
a
t
i

o
n

160

160 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Daily Mail and General Trust plc Annual Report 2018

The fair value of assets is categorised as follows: 

Equity 
– Investment funds 
– Private equity 
Liability Driven Investments 
Bonds and loans 
Property 
Hedge funds 
Infrastructure 
Cash / Other 
Total Assets 

Note 
(i) 

(ii) 
(iii) 
(iv) 

Year ended  
30 September  
2018 
£m 

Year ended  
30 September  
2018 
% 

Year ended  
30 September  
2017 
£m 

Year ended  
30 September  
2017 
% 

 464.6 
 212.0 
 565.1 
 817.6 
 521.3 
– 
 215.3 
 42.5 
 2,838.4 

16 
7 
20 
29 
18 
– 
8 
2 
100 

 655.6 
 222.1 
 507.3 
 707.1 
 405.7 
 3.5 
 205.6 
 46.2 
 2,753.1 

24 
8 
18 
26 
15 
0 
7 
2 
100 

(i)  Equities include hedge funds and infrastructure funds. Quoted securities in active markets are valued at the latest available bid price at the 

reporting date. 

Private equity and infrastructure funds are valued by investment managers using appropriate valuation techniques. These are derived from 
market based multiples and discount rates of comparable quoted businesses or market transactions which have been determined by the 
Trustees’ investment advisors to represent fair value.  

(ii)  Liability Driven Investment funds (LDI) are a collateralised portfolio of gilt repo and swap contracts designed to hedge approximately 65% (by 
value of assets) of the schemes’ inflation and discount rate risks. These are independently valued using quoted prices and for OTC instruments 
by the investment manager using recognised discounting techniques. 

(iii)  Bonds and loans include corporate bonds, distressed credit and loans. Corporate bonds are held in unitised pooled investment vehicles and 
are valued at the latest available bid price provided by the pooled investment manager. Distressed credit and loans are valued by the 
investment managers using relevant valuation techniques.  

 (iv)  The schemes’ property portfolio represent a mixture of industrial, retail, office and leisure. These assets are independently valued at open 
market value at 31 March each year with subsequent changes in value based on changes in the Investment Property Databank Index (IPD) 
which tracks retail, office and industrial property transactions. 

The value of employer-related assets held on behalf of the schemes at 30 September 2018 was £nil (0.0% of assets), (2017 £nil, 0.0% of assets). 

The main financial assumptions are shown in the following table: 

Price inflation 
Pension increases 
Discount rate 

Year ended  
30 September  
2018 
% 
 3.25 
 3.10 
 2.80 

Year ended  
30 September  
2017 
% 
 3.20 
 3.00 
 2.60 

The discount rate for both scheme liabilities and the fair value of scheme assets reflects yields at the year-end date on high-quality corporate bonds 
and are based on a cash flow-based yield curve, calculating a single equivalent discount rate reflecting the average duration of the schemes’ 
liabilities, rounded to the nearest 0.05% p.a. This methodology incorporates bonds given an AA rating from at least two of the main four rating 
agencies (Standard and Poors, Moody’s, Fitch and DBRS). 

RPI inflation is derived in a similar way to the discount rate but with reference to the Bank of England spot curve at the duration of the schemes’ 
weighted averaged duration with an appropriate allowance for inflation risk premium (0.20% p.a.), rounded to the nearest 0.05% p.a. 

Mortality assumptions take account of scheme experience, and also allow for further improvements in life expectancy based on the Continuous 
Mortality Investigation (CMI) projections but with a long-term rate of improvement in future mortality rates of 1.25% p.a. Allowance is made for the 
extent to which employees have chosen to commute part of their pension for cash at retirement. 

The average duration of the defined benefit obligation at the end of the year is approximately 18 years (2017 20 years).  

S
t
r
a
t
e
g
i
c
R
e
p
o
r
t

G
o
v
e
r
n
a
n
c
e

F
i

n
a
n
c
i
a
l

S
t
a
t
e
m
e
n
t
s

S
h
a
r
e
h
o

l

d
e
r

I
n
f
o
r
m
a
t
i

o
n

161

161 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Financial Statements

Financial Statements 
Notes to the accounts 

35 Retirement benefit obligations continued 
The table below illustrates examples of the assumed average life expectancies from age 60 for the principal schemes: 

For a current 60-year-old male member of the scheme 
For a current 60-year-old female member of the scheme 
For a current 50-year-old male member of the scheme 
For a current 50-year-old female member of the scheme 

Year ended  
30 September  
2018  
Future life 
expectancy from 
age 60 (years) 
 26.2 
 28.2 
 26.7 
 29.2 

Year ended  
30 September 
 2017  
Future life 
expectancy from 
age 60 (years) 
 26.4 
 28.3 
 26.8 
 29.2 

The amounts charged to the Consolidated Income Statement relating to the Group’s defined benefit schemes, based on the above assumptions are 
shown in the following table: 

Past service cost 
Charge to operating profit 
Finance income/(charge) 

Total charge to the Consolidated Income Statement 

Note 

 10 

Year ended  
30 September  
2018 
£m 
 (17.3) 
 (17.3) 
 2.0 

Year ended  
30 September  
2017 
£m 
– 
– 
 (4.9) 

 (15.3) 

 (4.9) 

The fair value of some of our pension assets are made up of quoted and unquoted investments. The latter require more judgement as their values 
are not directly observable. The assumptions used in valuing unquoted investments are affected by current market conditions and trends which 
could result in changes in fair value after the measurement date. 

Pension costs and the size of any pension surplus or deficit are sensitive to the assumptions adopted. The table below indicates the effect from 
changes in the principal assumptions used above: 

Mortality 
Increase in pension obligation at 30 September 2018 from a one-year increase in life expectancy 
Change in projected pension cost for the year to 30 September 2019 from a one-year increase 

Inflation rate 
Decrease in pension obligation at 30 September 2018 from a 0.1 % p.a. increase (excluding hedging) 
Change in projected pension cost for the year to 30 September 2019 from a 0.1 % p.a. increase 

Discount rate 
Decrease in pension obligation at 30 September 2018 from a 0.1 % p.a. decrease (excluding hedging) 
Change in projected pension cost for the year to 30 September 2019 from a 0.1 % p.a. decrease 

Year ended  
30 September  
2018 
£m 

Year ended  
30 September  
2017 
£m 

+/- 

+/- 

+/- 

 87.7 
 2.4 

 44.2 
 1.1 

 50.0 
 1.5 

 78.9 
 2.0 

 46.5 
 1.1 

 53.2 
 1.3 

S
t
r
a
t
e
g
i
c
R
e
p
o
r
t

G
o
v
e
r
n
a
n
c
e

F
i

n
a
n
c
i
a
l

S
t
a
t
e
m
e
n
t
s

S
h
a
r
e
h
o

l

d
e
r

I
n
f
o
r
m
a
t
i

o
n

162

162 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Daily Mail and General Trust plc Annual Report 2018

There are significant risks in connection with running defined benefit schemes, and the key risks are highlighted below:  

Inflation rate risk  
A significant proportion of the defined benefit obligation is linked to inflation, therefore increased inflation will result in a higher pension obligations.  
The Trustees have sought to acquire certain assets with exposure to inflationary uplifts in order to negate a proportion of this risk. Monetary assets 
such as bonds and loans hedge approximately 65% of the schemes’ risk (by value of assets). 

Life expectancy risk  
The present value of the defined benefit obligation is calculated with reference to the best estimate of the mortality of scheme members.  
An increase in assumed life expectancy will result in an increase in the defined benefit obligation. Regular reviews of mortality experience are 
performed to ensure life expectancy assumptions remain appropriate. 

Investment risk  
This is a measure of the uncertainty that the return on the schemes’ assets meet the return necessary to fund pension obligations. The schemes hold 
a significant proportion of equities, but during the period have been reallocating some of these investments into credit and property investments 
which exhibit lower volatility of return and the LDI investments. 

Discount rate risk  
The present value of the defined benefit obligation is calculated using a discount rate set with reference to high-quality corporate bond yields.  
A decrease in corporate bond yields will increase the present value of the defined benefit obligation, although this will be partially offset by bonds 
and the LDI investment funds which reduce the gilt rate risk by hedging approximately 65% of the schemes’ risk (by value of assets). 

Amounts recognised in the Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income (SOCI) are shown in the following table: 

Actuarial gain recognised in SOCI 
Cumulative actuarial gain/(loss) recognised in SOCI at beginning of year 
Cumulative actuarial gain recognised in SOCI at end of year 

A history of experience gains and losses is shown in the following table: 

Year ended  
30 September  
2018 
£m 
 183.6 
 147.7 
 331.3 

Year ended  
30 September  
2017 
£m 
 299.1 
 (151.4) 
 147.7 

Present value of defined benefit obligation 
Fair value of scheme assets 
Combined surplus/(deficit) in schemes  

Experience adjustments on defined benefit obligation 
Experience adjustments on fair value of scheme assets 

At  
30 September  
2018 
£m 
 (2,594.9) 
 2,838.4 
 243.5 

 82.6 
 101.0 

At  
30 September  
2017 
£m 
 (2,690.7) 
 2,753.1 
 62.4 

 191.8 
 107.3 

At 
 30 September  
2016 
£m 
 (2,998.9) 
 2,752.9 
 (246.0) 

 (574.9) 
 460.2 

At  
30 September  
2015 
£m 
 (2,437.4) 
 2,278.1 
 (159.3) 

 (47.0) 
 54.5 

At  
30 September  
2014 
£m 
 (2,381.9) 
 2,170.1 
 (211.8) 

 (195.7) 
 145.8 

The Group expects to contribute approximately £18.3 million to the schemes during the year to 30 September 2019 including the deficit funding 
payments described above. 

UK defined contribution plans  
The Group has introduced a number of PensionSaver group personal pension plans that have replaced the trust-based defined contribution 
pension plans previously offered to employees. These plans create a consistent pensions savings vehicle across all Group segments. The benefits for 
all members of the trust-based plans have been transferred to individual policies held in the member’s own name and the scheme is now wound up. 
Insured death benefits previously held under this trust have already been transferred to a new trust-based arrangement specifically for life 
assurance purposes.  

The aggregate value of the Group personal pension plans was £140.1 million (2017 £130.5 million) at the year end. The pension cost attributable  
to these plans during the year amounted to £13.5 million (2017 £13.1 million).  

Overseas pension plans  
Overseas subsidiaries of certain Group segments operate defined contribution retirement benefit plans, primarily in North America. The pension 
cost attributable to these plans during the year amounts to £3.2 million (2017 £4.5 million). 

S
t
r
a
t
e
g
i
c
R
e
p
o
r
t

G
o
v
e
r
n
a
n
c
e

F
i

n
a
n
c
i
a
l

S
t
a
t
e
m
e
n
t
s

S
h
a
r
e
h
o

l

d
e
r

I
n
f
o
r
m
a
t
i

o
n

163

163 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Financial Statements

Financial Statements 
Notes to the accounts 

36 Provisions 

Contract 
discounts 
and rebates 
£m 

Note 

Coupon 
discount 
£m 

Onerous 
leases 
£m 

Reorganisation 
costs 
£m 

Contingent 
consideration  
£m 

(ii) 

Claims  
and legal 
£m 

(i) 

Other 
£m 

Total 
£m 

Current liabilities 
At 30 September 2016 
Additions 
Charged during year 
Utilised during year 
Owned by subsidiaries disposed 
Transfer from non-current liabilities 
Contingent consideration paid 
Fair value adjustment to contingent consideration 
Exchange adjustment 

At 30 September 2017 
Additions 
Charged during year 
Utilised during year 
Transfer from non-current liabilities 
Contingent consideration paid 
Notional interest on contingent consideration 
Fair value adjustment to contingent consideration 
Exchange adjustment 

At 30 September 2018 

 17 

 18 

 17 
 10 

 17 

 17 
10 
 10 

 20.9 
– 
 20.7 
 (21.9) 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 

 19.7 
– 
 23.8 
 (21.5) 
 0.1 
– 
– 
– 
– 

 22.1 

 0.6 
– 
 (0.1) 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 

 0.5 
– 
 (0.3) 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 

 0.2 

 1.5 
– 
 (0.5) 
 (0.6) 
 (0.2) 
 0.4 
– 
– 
 0.2 

 0.8 
– 
 1.5 
 (0.7) 
 0.5 
– 
– 
– 
– 

 2.1 

 5.1 
– 
 0.1 
 (3.6) 
– 
– 
– 
– 
 (0.1) 

 1.5 
– 
 0.3 
 (1.5) 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 

 0.3 

 9.3 
 0.1 
– 
– 
– 
 5.3 
 (8.2) 
 (3.3) 
 0.2 

 3.4 
 0.2 
– 
– 
 10.9 
 (14.4) 
 0.2 
 0.9 
– 

 1.2 

 4.8 
– 
 13.0 
 (9.2) 
– 
– 
– 
– 
 (0.3) 

 8.3 
– 
 5.6 
 (9.6) 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 

 4.3 

 12.2 
– 
 0.6 
 (3.5) 
 (0.1) 
 0.4 
– 
– 
 (0.2) 

 9.4 
– 
 2.8 
 (3.6) 
 (0.1) 
– 
– 
– 
 0.1 

 8.6 

 54.4 
 0.1 
 33.8 
 (38.8) 
 (0.3) 
 6.1 
 (8.2) 
 (3.3) 
 (0.2) 

 43.6 
 0.2 
 33.7 
 (36.9) 
 11.4 
 (14.4) 
 0.2 
 0.9 
 0.1 

 38.8 

Non-current liabilities 
At 30 September 2016 
Additions 
Charged during year 
Utilised during year 
Owned by subsidiaries disposed 
Transfer to current liabilities 
Fair value adjustment to contingent consideration 
Exchange adjustment 

At 30 September 2017 
Charged during year 
Utilised during year 
Owned by subsidiaries disposed 
Transfer to current liabilities 
Fair value adjustment to contingent consideration 
Exchange adjustment 

At 30 September 2018 

Onerous 
leases 
£m 

Reorganisation 
costs 
£m 

Contingent 
consideration 
£m 

(ii) 

Claims  
and legal 
£m 

Note 

(i) 

Other 
£m 

Total 
£m 

 17 

 18 

 10 

 18 

 10 

 4.1 
– 
– 
– 
 (0.5) 
 (0.4) 
– 
 0.1 

 3.3 
 1.3 
– 
– 
 (0.5) 
– 
 0.1 

 4.2 

– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 

– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 

– 

 43.3 
 0.5 
– 
– 
– 
 (5.3) 
 (25.3) 
 0.4 

 13.6 
– 
– 
 (0.4) 
 (10.9) 
 1.3 
– 

 3.6 

– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 

– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 

– 

 5.4 
– 
 0.3 
 (0.1) 
 (2.7) 
 (0.4) 
– 
 (0.3) 

 2.2 
 0.3 
 (0.1) 
– 
– 
– 
 (0.2) 

 2.2 

 52.8 
 0.5 
 0.3 
 (0.1) 
 (3.2) 
 (6.1) 
 (25.3) 
 0.2 

 19.1 
 1.6 
 (0.1) 
 (0.4) 
 (11.4) 
 1.3 
 (0.1) 

 10.0 

(i)  Other current provisions principally comprise provisions for VAT of £nil (2017 £1.8 million), end of service provisions of £3.8 million  

(2017 £3.1 million), dilapidation provisions of £2.0 million (2017 £2.1 million) and provisions for national insurance contributions of £1.7 million 
(2017 £nil). 

Other non-current provisions principally comprise dilapidation provisions of £1.0 million (2017 £0.9 million), end of service provisions 
amounting to £0.6 million (2017 £0.5 million) and a provision for amounts payable to the Newspaper Society following the cessation of 
membership on disposal of Northcliffe Newspapers Ltd in 2012 of £0.7 million (2017 £0.8 million). 

164

164 

S
t
r
a
t
e
g
i
c
R
e
p
o
r
t

G
o
v
e
r
n
a
n
c
e

F
i

n
a
n
c
i
a
l

S
t
a
t
e
m
e
n
t
s

S
h
a
r
e
h
o

l

d
e
r

I
n
f
o
r
m
a
t
i

o
n

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Daily Mail and General Trust plc Annual Report 2018

(ii)  The maturity profile of the Group’s contingent consideration provision is as follows: 

Expiring in one year or less 
Expiring between one and two years 
Expiring between two and five years 

At  
30 September  
2018 
£m 
 1.2 
 –  
 3.6 
 4.8 

At 
 30 September  
2017 
£m 
 3.4 
 5.8 
 7.8 
 17.0 

The contingent consideration is based on future business valuations and profit multiples and has been estimated using available data forecasts.  
The estimated range of undiscounted outcomes for contingent consideration relating to acquisitions in the year is £nil to £0.2 million. Certain 
contingent consideration arrangements are not capped since they are based on future business performance. 

37 Deferred taxation 

At 30 September 2016 
Disclosed within non-current liabilities 
Disclosed within non-current assets 
(Charge)/credit to income 
Charge to equity 
Owned by subsidiaries sold 
Classified as held for sale 
Exchange adjustment 

At 30 September 2017 
Disclosed within non-current liabilities 
Disclosed within non-current assets 
Credit/(charge) to income  
Credit/(charge) to income due to change  
in US tax rate  
Charge to equity 
Charge to equity due to change in US tax rate 
Owned by subsidiaries acquired 
Owned by subsidiaries sold 
Exchange adjustment 

At 30 September 2018 

Disclosed within non-current liabilities 
Disclosed within non-current assets 
At 30 September 2018 

(i)  All attributable to continuing operations. 

Note 

11, (i) 
39, 40 
 18 
 20 

11, (i) 

 11 
39, 40 
39,40 
 17 
 18 

Accelerated 
capital 
allowances 
£m 
 39.0 
– 
 39.0 
 12.9 
– 
 (0.5) 
 0.7 
– 
 52.1 
 8.6 
 43.5 
 (11.6) 

Goodwill and 
intangible 
assets 
£m 
 (156.0) 
 (23.9) 
 (132.1) 
 43.7 
– 
 36.2 
 7.6 
 (0.2) 
 (68.7) 
 (61.9) 
 (6.8) 
 17.0 

Share-based 
payments 
£m 
 17.3 
– 
 17.3 
 (5.5) 
 (0.4) 
 (0.1) 
– 
– 
 11.3 
 9.5 
 1.8 
 0.3 

Deferred 
interest 
£m 
 130.9 
– 
 130.9 
 (92.6) 
– 
 (4.3) 
– 
– 
 34.0 
– 
 34.0 
 (4.0) 

Trading  
losses and  
tax credits 
£m 
 38.4 
 0.3 
 38.1 
 (5.4) 
– 
 (5.4) 
– 
 (0.1) 
 27.5 
 19.1 
 8.4 
 (0.7) 

 (2.4) 
– 
– 
– 
 (2.3) 
 0.1 

 35.9 

– 
 35.9 
 35.9 

 19.5 
– 
– 
 (0.5) 
 0.7 
 (2.8) 

 (34.8) 

 (6.2) 
 (28.6) 
 (34.8) 

 (0.9) 
 (3.9) 
 (2.9) 
– 
– 
 (0.1) 

 3.8 

– 
 3.8 
 3.8 

– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 

 30.0 

– 
 30.0 
 30.0 

 (0.1) 
– 
– 
– 
 (0.1) 
 0.4 

 27.0 

– 
 27.0 
 27.0 

Pension 
scheme 
deficit 
£m 
 50.8 
– 
 50.8 
 (6.4) 
 (49.3) 
 (1.7) 
– 
– 
 (6.6) 
– 
 (6.6) 
 0.3 

– 
 (31.2) 
– 
– 
– 
– 

 (37.5) 

– 
 (37.5) 
 (37.5) 

Other 
£m 
 33.2 
 (0.2) 
 33.4 
 (3.7) 
– 
 (13.6) 
 (1.4) 
 (0.3) 
 14.2 
 12.6 
 1.6 
 8.3 

 (3.6) 
– 
– 
– 
 (3.1) 
 3.1 

 18.9 

– 
 18.9 
 18.9 

Total 
£m 
 153.6 
 (23.8) 
 177.4 
 (57.0) 
 (49.7) 
 10.6 
 6.9 
 (0.6) 
 63.8 
 (12.1) 
 75.9 
 9.6 

 12.5 
 (35.1) 
 (2.9) 
 (0.5) 
 (4.8) 
 0.7 

 43.3 

 (6.2) 
 49.5 
 43.3 

S
t
r
a
t
e
g
i
c
R
e
p
o
r
t

G
o
v
e
r
n
a
n
c
e

F
i

n
a
n
c
i
a
l

S
t
a
t
e
m
e
n
t
s

S
h
a
r
e
h
o

l

d
e
r

I
n
f
o
r
m
a
t
i

o
n

165

165 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Financial Statements

Financial Statements 
Notes to the accounts 

37 Deferred taxation continued 
The net deferred tax asset disclosed in the Consolidated Statement of Financial Position in respect of deferred interest, tax losses and tax credits is 
analysed as follows:  

UK 
Rest of Europe 
North America 

At  
30 September  
2018 
£m 
 40.1 
 1.2 
 15.7 
 57.0 

At  
30 September  
2017 
£m 
 41.2 
 1.5 
 18.8 
 61.5 

These losses have been recognised on the basis that the Directors are of the opinion, based on recent and forecast trading, that sufficient suitable 
taxable profits will be generated in the relevant territories in future accounting periods, such that it is considered probable that these assets will be 
recovered. Of these assets £5.0 million (2017 £18.9 million) have expiry dates between 2033 and 2038. 

There is an unrecognised deferred tax asset of £49.7 million (2017 £75.4 million) which relates to revenue losses and £96.1 million (2017 £131.4 million) 
which relates to deferred interest where there is insufficient certainty that these losses will be utilised in the foreseeable future. There is an 
additional unprovided deferred tax asset relating to capital losses carried forward of £113.9 million (2017 £127.4 million). Of these assets £0.8 million  
(2017 £40.1 million) have expiry dates between 2033 and 2038. 

No deferred tax liability is recognised on temporary differences of £74.6 million (2017 £58.8 million) relating to the unremitted earnings of overseas 
subsidiaries as the Group is able to control the timing of the reversal of these temporary differences and it is probable that they will not reverse in the 
foreseeable future. The temporary differences at 30 September 2018 represent only the unremitted earnings of those overseas subsidiaries where 
remittance to the UK of those earnings may still result in a tax liability, principally as a result of dividend withholding taxes levied by the overseas tax 
jurisdictions in which these subsidiaries operate. 

38 Called-up share capital 

Ordinary Shares of 12.5 pence each 
A Ordinary Non-Voting Shares of 12.5 pence each 

Ordinary Shares 
A Ordinary Non-Voting Shares  

Allotted, issued  
and fully paid  
At 30 September  
2018 
£m 
 2.5 
 42.8 
 45.3 

Allotted, issued  
and fully paid  
At 30 September  
2017 
£m 
 2.5 
 42.8 
 45.3 

Allotted, issued  
and fully paid  
At 30 September  
2018 
Number of shares 
19,890,364  
342,204,470  
362,094,834 

Allotted, issued  
and fully paid  
At 30 September  
2017 
Number of shares 
19,890,364  
342,204,470  
362,094,834 

The two classes of shares are equal in all respects, except that the A Ordinary Non-Voting Shares do not have voting rights and hence their holders 
are not entitled to vote at general meetings of the Company. 

S
t
r
a
t
e
g
i
c
R
e
p
o
r
t

G
o
v
e
r
n
a
n
c
e

F
i

n
a
n
c
i
a
l

S
t
a
t
e
m
e
n
t
s

S
h
a
r
e
h
o

l

d
e
r

I
n
f
o
r
m
a
t
i

o
n

166

166 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Daily Mail and General Trust plc Annual Report 2018

Year ended  
30 September  
2018 
£m 

Year ended  
30 September  
2017 
£m 

Note 

 17.8 

 17.8 

 5.0 

 5.0 

 (64.3) 
 (14.3) 
– 
 21.4 
 (57.2) 

 (88.7) 
 (28.6) 
 14.1 
 38.9 
 (64.3) 

38, (ii) 
 18 
(i) 

39 Reserves 

Share premium account 
At start and end of the year 

Capital redemption reserve 
At start and end of the year 

Own shares 
At start of year 
Purchase of DMGT shares 
Disposal of Group share of Euromoney own shares acquired 
Own shares released on vesting of share options 

At end of year 

The Group’s investment in its own shares represents shares held in treasury or shares held by an employee benefit trust to satisfy incentive schemes. 

(i)  During the period, the Company utilised 2.9 million A Ordinary Non-Voting Shares in order to satisfy incentive schemes. This represented 0.9%  

of the called-up A Ordinary Non-Voting Share capital at 30 September 2018. 

(ii)  The Company also purchased 2.2 million A Ordinary Non-Voting Shares having a nominal value of £0.3 million to match obligations under 

incentive plans. The consideration paid for these shares was £14.3 million. 

At 30 September 2018, this investment comprised 4,812,419 A Ordinary Non-Voting Shares (2017 4,812,419 shares) held in treasury and 
2,981,109 A Ordinary Non-Voting Shares (2017 3,710,764 shares) held in the employee benefit trust. The market value of the Treasury Shares  
at 30 September 2018 was £33.8 million (2017 £31.2 million) and the market value of the shares held in the employee benefit trust at  
30 September 2018 was £20.9 million (2017 £24.1 million). 

The employee benefit trust is independently managed and purchases shares in order to satisfy outstanding share options and potential awards 
under long-term incentive plans. 

At 30 September 2018 options were outstanding under the terms of the Company’s Executive Share Option Schemes, Long-Term Incentive Plans 
and nil-cost options, over a total of 3,075,745 A Ordinary Non-Voting Shares (2017 4,052,581 shares). 

Year ended  
30 September  
2018 
£m 

Year ended  
30 September  
2017 
£m 

Note 

Translation reserve 
At start of year 
Foreign exchange differences on translation of foreign operations 
Translation reserves recycled to Consolidated Income Statement on disposals 
Transfer of (profit)/loss on cash flow hedges from translation reserve to Consolidated Income Statement 
Change in fair value of cash flow hedges 
(Loss)/gain on hedges of net investments in foreign operations 

8, 18, 19 

At end of year 

 74.9 
 3.5 
 (8.9) 
 (10.4) 
 4.9 
 (2.1) 
 53.5 

 11.9 
 8.7 
 49.4 
 2.2 
 (1.8) 
 4.5 
 74.9 

S
t
r
a
t
e
g
i
c
R
e
p
o
r
t

G
o
v
e
r
n
a
n
c
e

F
i

n
a
n
c
i
a
l

S
t
a
t
e
m
e
n
t
s

S
h
a
r
e
h
o

l

d
e
r

I
n
f
o
r
m
a
t
i

o
n

167

167 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Financial Statements

Financial Statements 
Notes to the accounts 

39 Reserves continued 
The translation reserve arises on the translation into sterling of the net assets of the Group’s foreign operations, offset by changes in fair value of 
financial instruments used to hedge this exposure. 

Retained earnings 
At start of year 
Profit for the period 
Dividends paid 
Actuarial gain on defined benefit pension schemes 
Credit to equity for share-based payments 
Settlement of exercised share options of subsidiaries 
Adjustment to equity following increased stake in controlled entity 
Adjustment to equity following decreased stake in controlled entity 
Corporation tax on share-based payments 
Deferred tax on actuarial movement 
Deferred tax on other items recognised directly in equity 
Share of items recognised in Statement of Comprehensive Income by the Group’s associated undertakings 

At end of year 

At end of year – total reserves 

40 Non-controlling interests 

At start of year 
Share of loss for the period 
Dividends paid 
Shares issued 
Loss on hedges of net investments in foreign operations 
Transfer of loss on cash flow hedges to Consolidated Income Statement 
Change in fair value of cash flow hedges 
Foreign exchange differences on translation of foreign operations 
Actuarial gain on defined benefit pension schemes 
Credit to equity for share-based payments 
Adjustment to non-controlling interest following decreased stake in controlled entity 
Adjustment to non-controlling interest following increased stake in controlled entity 
Other transactions with non-controlling interests 
Recycled to Consolidated Income Statement on disposals 

At end of year 

Year ended  
30 September  
2018 
£m 

Year ended  
30 September  
2017 
£m 

Note 

 12 
 35 
 15 

 37 
 37 
 7 

Note 

 35 
 15 

8, 18 

 829.5 
 689.4 
 (81.0) 
 183.6 
 10.8 
 (13.8) 
– 
– 
 2.3 
 (31.2) 
 (6.8) 
 14.7 
 1,597.5 

 359.8 
 345.3 
 (78.3) 
 296.4 
 4.0 
 (38.4) 
 0.4 
 (0.3) 
– 
 (49.3) 
 (0.4) 
 (9.7) 
 829.5 

 1,616.6 

 862.9 

Year ended  
30 September  
2018 
£m 
 11.0 
 (1.2) 
 (0.2) 
– 
– 
– 
– 
 0.2 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
 3.7 
 13.5 

Year ended  
30 September  
2017 
£m 
 178.2 
 (3.0) 
– 
 0.5 
 (5.5) 
 1.1 
 (0.9) 
 11.4 
 2.7 
 0.1 
 0.3 
 (2.6) 
 (0.2) 
 (171.1) 
 11.0 

S
t
r
a
t
e
g
i
c
R
e
p
o
r
t

G
o
v
e
r
n
a
n
c
e

F
i

n
a
n
c
i
a
l

S
t
a
t
e
m
e
n
t
s

S
h
a
r
e
h
o

l

d
e
r

I
n
f
o
r
m
a
t
i

o
n

168

168 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Daily Mail and General Trust plc Annual Report 2018

The movement in the non-controlling interest in Euromoney is as follows: 

At start of year 
Share of profit for the period 
Adjustment to non-controlling interest following decreased stake in controlled entity 
Adjustment to non-controlling interest following increased stake in controlled entity 
Other transactions with non-controlling interests 
Recycled to Consolidated Income Statement on disposals 

At end of year 

41 Commitments and contingent liabilities 
Commitments 
At 30 September 2018, the Group had outstanding capital expenditure commitments as follows: 

Property, plant and equipment 
Contracted but not provided in the financial statements 

Year ended  
30 September  
2018 
£m 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 

Year ended  
30 September 
 2017 
£m 
 158.9 
 3.4 
 0.3 
 0.1 
 8.4 
 (171.1) 
– 

At  
30 September  
2018 
£m 

At  
30 September  
2017 
£m 

– 

– 

At 30 September 2018, the Group had outstanding commitments for future minimum lease payments under non-cancellable operating leases, 
which fall due as follows: 

Within one year 
Between one and two years 
Between two and five years 
After five years 

At  
30 September  
2018  
Properties 
£m 
 26.9 
 22.8 
 45.8 
 11.4 
 106.9 

At  
30 September  
2017  
Properties 
£m 
 25.1 
 23.8 
 49.4 
 11.7 
 110.0 

At  
30 September  
2018  
Plant and 
equipment 
£m 
 1.3 
 1.0 
 0.7 
– 
 3.0 

At  
30 September 
 2017  
Plant and 
equipment 
£m 
 1.4 
 1.0 
 1.0 
– 
 3.4 

The Group’s most significant leasing arrangements relate to rented properties. The Group negotiates lease contracts according to the Group’s needs 
with a view to balancing stability, security of tenure and lease terms against the risk of entering into excessively long or onerous arrangements. 

Of the Group’s rented properties, the most significant operating lease commitments relate to the DMGT head office premises at 2 Derry Street, 
London W8 5TT, which expires in December 2022, and to the RMS head office premises at 7575 Gateway Blvd, Newark, California which expires  
in December 2020. 

At 30 September 2018, the Group had outstanding commitments under non-cancellable agreements made to secure venues for future events and 
exhibitions which fall due as follows: 

Within one year 
Between one and two years 
Between two and five years 

At  
30 September  
2018 
£m 
 17.1 
 6.2 
– 
 23.3 

At  
30 September  
2017 
£m 
 12.6 
 13.3 
 7.6 
 33.5 

We identified that the lease commitment relating to a new lease entered into in 2017 had not been recorded in the lease commitment note in 2017. 
All charges related to the lease has been accurately recorded and hence the only adjustment required is to this note. The impact of this change was 
to increase the lease commitment in 2017 from £14.8 million to £33.5 million. 

S
t
r
a
t
e
g
i
c
R
e
p
o
r
t

G
o
v
e
r
n
a
n
c
e

F
i

n
a
n
c
i
a
l

S
t
a
t
e
m
e
n
t
s

S
h
a
r
e
h
o

l

d
e
r

I
n
f
o
r
m
a
t
i

o
n

169

169 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Financial Statements

Financial Statements 
Notes to the accounts 

41 Commitments and contingent liabilities continued 
The Group has entered into arrangements with ink suppliers to obtain ink for the period to December 2020 at competitive prices and to secure 
supply. At 30 September 2018, the commitment to purchase ink over this period was £21.7 million (2017 £24.2 million). 

The Group has entered into agreements with various printers for periods up to December 2022 at competitive prices and to secure supply. 
At 30 September 2018, the commitment to purchase printing capacity over this period was £29.1 million (2017 £39.4 million). 

The Group has entered into a number of arrangements with Microsoft to provide cloud infrastructure to the Insurance Risk segment until June 2019. 
At 30 September 2018, the remaining balance was prepaid resulting in no further outstanding commitment (2017 £12.1 million commitment). 

Contingent liabilities 
The Group has issued standby letters of credit amounting to £3.3 million (2017 £3.5 million). 

The Group is exposed to libel claims in the ordinary course of business and vigorously defends against claims received. The Group makes provision 
for the estimated costs to defend such claims and provides for any settlement costs when such an outcome is judged probable. 

Four writs claiming damages for libel were issued in Malaysia against Euromoney, an associate, and three of Euromoney’s employees in respect  
of an article published in one of the Company’s magazines, International Commercial Litigation, in November 1995. The writs were served on 
Euromoney on 22 October 1996. Two of these writs have been discontinued. The total outstanding amount claimed on the two remaining writs  
is Malaysian Ringgit 83.4 million (£15.5 million). No provision has been made for these claims by Euromoney as Euromoney does not believe it has 
any material liability in respect of these writs. 

In January 2018, the European Commission conducted an unannounced inspection at Euromoney’s Brussels office of RISI Sprl (RISI), a  
wholly-owned subsidiary of Euromoney, as part of an investigation into the sector of kraft paper and industrial paper sacks in the European 
Union/European Economic Area. Provision is made for the outcome of tax, legal and other disputes where it is both probable that the Company  
will suffer an outflow of funds and it is possible to make a reliable estimate of that outflow. No proceedings have been issued and Euromoney  
is unable to make a reliable estimate of any potential liability, therefore no provision has been recognised by Euromoney. 

The Group’s Energy Information business (Genscape) provided a real-time third-party auditor service verifying Renewable Identification Numbers 
(RINs) for renewable fuel production activities in the US, as part of the Renewable Fuel Standard Quality Assurance Program (Program), a regulatory 
program administered by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). 

Following discovery and self-reporting to the EPA by Genscape of potential fraudulent RINs generated by third parties but verified by Genscape 
under the Program, the EPA issued a notice of intent to revoke the ability of Genscape to verify RINs as a third-party auditor. 

EPA regulations for the Program set a liability cap on replacement of invalid RINs of 2.0% of the RINs. Genscape voluntarily paid the 2.0% liability  
cap associated with the invalid RINs at a cost of $1.3 million, based on the then-prevailing market rates, subject to a reservation of rights. The EPA 
regulations allow for situations where the cap does not apply - including auditor fraud and negligence.  

The EPA has not formally alleged any wrongdoing by Genscape but the EPA continues to consider a proposed action to seek Genscape to retire, at 
the current market price, a maximum of 68 million of RINs verified by Genscape. RINs trade in a volatile range currently averaging approximately  
45 cents which equates to a theoretical maximum claim of approximately $31.0 million. Genscape has made no provision for any future claim which 
may be payable. 

Genscape continues to co-operate with EPA and discussions are ongoing. 

S
t
r
a
t
e
g
i
c
R
e
p
o
r
t

G
o
v
e
r
n
a
n
c
e

F
i

n
a
n
c
i
a
l

S
t
a
t
e
m
e
n
t
s

S
h
a
r
e
h
o

l

d
e
r

I
n
f
o
r
m
a
t
i

o
n

170

170 

 
 
 
 
 
 
Daily Mail and General Trust plc Annual Report 2018

42 Share-based payments 
The Group offers a number of share-based remuneration schemes to Directors and certain employees. The principal schemes comprise share 
options under the DMGT, Insurance Risk, Energy Information, Property Information and Consumer Media segments. Share options are exercisable 
after three years, subject in some cases to the satisfaction of performance conditions, and up to 10 years from the date of grant at a price equivalent 
to the market value of the respective shares at the date of grant. Details of the performance conditions relating to the DMGT schemes are explained 
in the Remuneration Report. 

The charge to the Consolidated Income Statement is as follows:  

Segment 
DMGT Board and Corporate Costs 

Insurance Risk 
Euromoney  
Energy Information 
Property Information 
Consumer Media 
Social security costs 

Scheme 
Executive Share Option Scheme 
Equity-Settled Executive Bonuses 
Long-Term Incentive Plan 
Option Plan 
Capital Appreciation Plan 
Option Plan 
Option Plan 
Long-Term Incentive Plan 

Year ended  
30 September  
2018 
£m 
– 
 0.1 
 5.6 
 1.1 
– 
 0.1 
 0.3 
 2.9 
 1.4 
 11.5 

Year ended  
30 September  
2017 
£m 
 (0.1) 
 (0.2) 
 0.7 
 1.0 
 0.2 
 0.2 
 0.1 
 2.0 
 0.1 
 4.0 

The fair value of share options for each of these schemes was determined using a Black-Scholes model. Full details of inputs to the models, 
particular to each scheme, are set out below. With respect to all schemes, expected volatility has been estimated, based upon relevant historic data 
in respect of the DMGT A Ordinary Non-Voting Share price. The expected life used in the model has been adjusted, based on management’s best 
estimate, for the effects of non-transferability. 

The Group did not reprice any of its outstanding options during the period. 

Further details of the Group’s significant schemes are set out below:  

DMGT 2006 Executive Share Option Scheme 
Under the DMGT 2006 Executive Share Option Scheme, each award of options has a maximum life of 10 years. The maximum award limit is 100% of 
salary in any year in normal circumstances and 200% of salary in exceptional circumstances. Awards will not normally vest until three years after the 
award and the performance conditions have been met. No options were outstanding to Directors during the period. 

Outstanding at 1 October 2017 
Granted during the period 
Forfeited during the period 
Exercised during the period 
Expired during the period 
Outstanding at 30 September 2018 

Exercisable at 30 September 2018 

Exercisable at 1 October 2017 

Year ended  
30 September  
2018 
Number of share 
options 
 885,743 
 100,000 
 (8,000) 
 (242,626) 
 (321,803) 
 413,314 

 178,314 

 472,409 

Year ended  
30 September  
2018 
Weighted average 
exercise price  
£ 
 6.16 
 6.40 
 5.05 
 4.66 
 7.50 
 6.21 

Year ended  
30 September  
2017 
Number of share 
options 
 1,527,614 
 75,000 
 (555,232) 
 (157,163) 
 (4,476) 
 885,743 

Year ended  
30 September  
2017 
Weighted average 
exercise price  
£ 
 6.34 
 7.88 
 7.17 
 5.08 
 6.88 
 6.16 

 5.12 

 5.28 

 472,409 

 550,579 

 5.28 

 4.65 

The aggregate of the estimated fair values of the options granted during the period is £0.1 million (2017 £0.6 million). The options outstanding  
at 30 September 2018 had a weighted average remaining contractual life of 5.6 years (2017 4.8 years). 

S
t
r
a
t
e
g
i
c
R
e
p
o
r
t

G
o
v
e
r
n
a
n
c
e

F
i

n
a
n
c
i
a
l

S
t
a
t
e
m
e
n
t
s

S
h
a
r
e
h
o

l

d
e
r

I
n
f
o
r
m
a
t
i

o
n

171

171 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Financial Statements

Financial Statements 
Notes to the accounts 

42 Share-based payments continued 
The inputs into the Black-Scholes model are as follows:  

Date of grant 
Market value of shares at date of grant (£) 
Option price (£) 
Number of share options outstanding 
Term of option (years) 
Assumed period of exercise after vesting (years) 
Exercise price (£) 
Risk-free rate (%) 
Expected dividend yield (%) 
Volatility (%) 
Fair value per option (£) 

Date of grant 
Market value of shares at date of grant (£) 
Option price (£) 
Number of share options outstanding 
Term of option (years) 
Assumed period of exercise after vesting (years) 
Exercise price (£) 
Risk-free rate (%) 
Expected dividend yield (%) 
Volatility (%) 
Fair value per option (£) 

Date of grant 
Market value of shares at date of grant (£) 
Option price (£) 
Number of share options outstanding 
Term of option (years) 
Assumed period of exercise after vesting (years) 
Exercise price (£) 
Risk-free rate (%) 
Expected dividend yield (%) 
Volatility (%) 
Fair value per option (£) 

172

172 

26 January 2009 
 2.53 
 2.53 
 1,887 
 10 
 7 
 2.53 
 3.00 
 5.81 
 40.00 
 0.56 

14 December 2009 
 4.04 
 4.04 
 13,427 
 10 
 7 
 4.04 
 3.00 
 3.64 
 40.00 
 1.13 

6 December 2010 
 5.39 
 5.39 
 6,000 
 10 
 7 
 5.39 
 2.00 
 2.97 
 30.00 
 1.22 

5 December 2011 
 3.98 
 3.98 
 9,000 
 10 
 7 
 3.98 
 1.50 
 4.27 
 30.00 
 0.71 

27 June 2012 
 3.91 
 3.91 
 100,000 
 10 
 7 
 3.91 
 1.00 
 4.43 
 30.00 
 0.70 

17 December 2012 
 5.27 
 5.27 
 8,000 
 10 
 7 
 5.27 
 1.00 
 3.42 
 30.00 
 0.98 

9 December 2013 
 9.16 
 9.16 
 25,000 
 10 
 5 
 9.16 
 1.50 
 2.00 
 25.00 
 1.69 

10 December 2014 
 8.29 
 8.29 
 15,000 
 10 
 5 
 8.29 
 1.08 
 2.77 
 25.70 
 1.31 

14 December 2015 
 7.06 
 7.06 
 60,000 
 3 
 7 
 7.06 
 1.19 
 3.26 
 25.10 
 0.93 

6 December 2016 
 7.88 
 7.88 
 75,000 
 3 
 2 
 7.88 
 1.25 
 3.02 
 26.00 
 0.83 

8 February 2018 
 6.40 
 6.40 
 100,000 
 3 
 7 
 6.40 
 0.82 
 3.24 
 27.88 
 0.94 

S
t
r
a
t
e
g
i
c
R
e
p
o
r
t

G
o
v
e
r
n
a
n
c
e

F
i

n
a
n
c
i
a
l

S
t
a
t
e
m
e
n
t
s

S
h
a
r
e
h
o

l

d
e
r

I
n
f
o
r
m
a
t
i

o
n

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Daily Mail and General Trust plc Annual Report 2018

Nil-cost options under the DMGT Executive Bonus Scheme 
Since December 2009 a portion of the bonus earned by Executive Directors under the Executive Bonus Scheme has been deferred into shares in the 
form of nil-cost options. These options are to the value of the equity portion of the bonus and are fully expensed in the period in which they are 
earned. Further details are shown in the Remuneration Report. 

Outstanding at 1 October 2017 
Granted during the period 
Forfeited during the period 
Exercised during the period 
Outstanding at 30 September 2018 

Exercisable at 30 September 2018 

Exercisable at 1 October 2017 

Year ended  
30 September  
2018 
Number of  
share options 
 263,796 
 14,404 
– 
 (10,893) 
 267,307 

 252,903 

 250,992 

Year ended  
30 September  
2018 
Weighted average 
exercise price  
£ 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 

– 

– 

Year ended  
30 September  
2017 
Number of  
share options 
 792,274 
– 
 (15,666) 
 (512,812) 
 263,796 

 250,992 

 735,803 

Year ended  
30 September  
2017 
Weighted average 
exercise price  
£ 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 

– 

– 

The aggregate of the estimated fair values of the awards granted during the period is £nil (2017 £nil). The awards outstanding at 30 September 2018 
had a weighted average remaining contractual life of 1.2 years (2017 2.0 years).  

DMGT Long-Term Incentive Plan 
Details of the terms and conditions relating to this scheme are set out in the Remuneration Report. 

Outstanding at 1 October 2017 
Granted during the period 
Forfeited during the period 
Exercised during the period 
Expired during the period 
Outstanding at 30 September 2018 

Exercisable at 30 September 2018 

Exercisable at 1 October 2017 

Year ended  
30 September  
2018 
Number of share 
options 
 2,903,042 
 372,598 
– 
 (646,985) 
 (233,531) 
 2,395,124 

Year ended  
30 September  
2018 
Weighted average 
exercise price  
£ 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 

Year ended  
30 September  
2017 
Number of  
share options 
 3,521,726 
 626,615 
 (441,662) 
 (803,637) 
– 
 2,903,042 

Year ended  
30 September  
2017 
Weighted average 
exercise price  
£ 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

The aggregate of the estimated fair values of the awards granted during the period is £2.2 million (2017 £4.5 million). 

The awards outstanding at 30 September 2018 had a weighted average remaining contractual life of 1.4 years (2017 1.4 years). 

S
t
r
a
t
e
g
i
c
R
e
p
o
r
t

G
o
v
e
r
n
a
n
c
e

F
i

n
a
n
c
i
a
l

S
t
a
t
e
m
e
n
t
s

S
h
a
r
e
h
o

l

d
e
r

I
n
f
o
r
m
a
t
i

o
n

173

173 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Financial Statements

Financial Statements 
Notes to the accounts 

42 Share-based payments continued 
Options under the DMGT Long-Term Incentive Scheme 
The inputs into the Black-Scholes model are as follows: 

Date of grant 
Market value of shares at date of grant (£) 
Option price (£) 
Number of share options outstanding 
Term of option (years) 
Assumed period of exercise after vesting (years) 
Exercise price (£) 
Risk-free rate (%) 
Expected dividend yield (%) 
Volatility (%) 
Fair value per option (£) 

Date of grant 
Market value of shares at date of grant (£) 
Option price (£) 
Number of share options outstanding 
Term of option (years) 
Assumed period of exercise after vesting (years) 
Exercise price (£) 
Risk-free rate (%) 
Expected dividend yield (%) 
Volatility (%) 
Fair value per option (£) 

Date of grant 
Market value of shares at date of grant (£) 
Option price (£) 
Number of share options outstanding 
Term of option (years) 
Assumed period of exercise after vesting (years) 
Exercise price (£) 
Risk-free rate (%) 
Expected dividend yield (%) 
Volatility (%) 
Fair value per option (£) 

9 December 2013 
 9.16 
Nil 
 258,976 
 5 
Nil 
Nil 
Nil 
Nil 
Nil 
 9.16 

22 December 2014 
 8.11 
Nil 
 291,331 
 5 
Nil 
Nil 
Nil 
Nil 
Nil 
 8.11 

14 December 2015 
 6.71 
Nil 
 499,387 
 3 
Nil 
Nil 
Nil 
Nil 
Nil 
 6.71 

14 December 2015 
 6.71 
Nil 
 346,217 
 4 
Nil 
Nil 
Nil 
Nil 
Nil 
 6.71 

28 February 2017 
 6.71 
Nil 
 301,650 
 3 
Nil 
Nil 
Nil 
Nil 
Nil 
 6.71 

30 May 2017 
 7.17 
Nil 
 136,681 
 2 
Nil 
Nil 
Nil 
Nil 
Nil 
 7.17 

18 January 2018 
 5.63 
Nil 
 22,202 
 2 
Nil 
Nil 
Nil 
Nil 
Nil 
 5.63 

30 May 2017 
 7.17 
Nil 
 188,284 
 1 
Nil 
Nil 
Nil 
Nil 
Nil 
 7.17 

14 December 2017 
 5.63 
Nil 
 57,605 
 3 
Nil 
Nil 
Nil 
Nil 
Nil 
 5.63 

16 January 2018 
 6.06 
Nil 
 53,911 
 3 
Nil 
Nil 
Nil 
Nil 
Nil 
 6.06 

18 January 2018 
 5.63 
Nil 
 180,036 
 3 
Nil 
Nil 
Nil 
Nil 
Nil 
 5.63 

14 June 2018 
 5.63 
Nil 
 22,202 
 3 
Nil 
Nil 
Nil 
Nil 
Nil 
 5.63 

13 August 2018 
 7.19 
Nil 
 36,642 
 3 
Nil 
Nil 
Nil 
Nil 
Nil 
 7.19 

DMGT Long-Term Executive Incentive Plan Award 2017 
This plan entitles certain executives to a percentage share of eligible profit growth over a three-year performance period. 

The award is settled in A Ordinary Non-Voting Shares based on the later of the average share price for the first three days following release of the 
current year financial results or the date of employment. 

The charge for the period in the Consolidated Income Statement for this award amounts to £6.9 million (2017 £0.5 million) and is included in the  
Long-Term Incentive Plan charge. 

S
t
r
a
t
e
g
i
c
R
e
p
o
r
t

G
o
v
e
r
n
a
n
c
e

F
i

n
a
n
c
i
a
l

S
t
a
t
e
m
e
n
t
s

S
h
a
r
e
h
o

l

d
e
r

I
n
f
o
r
m
a
t
i

o
n

174

174 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Daily Mail and General Trust plc Annual Report 2018

Insurance Risk (RMS) option plan 
RMS options are granted at market value. The options become exercisable after a four-year vesting period and lapse ten years and five years from 
grant date under the 2001 and 2005 option plans respectively. The stock issued under the plan is subject to put or call options where DMGT has the 
right to settle in DMGT A Ordinary Non-Voting Shares or cash. The option plan classification changed from a cash-settled plan in June 2005 to an 
equity-settled plan following this change of settlement feature of stock issued under the plan. After 30 September 2011 options under the 2001 and 
2005 plan were no longer awarded. 

During the year ended 30 September 2011 RMS introduced the Executive Incentive Plan (EIP) and the Long-Term Incentive Plan (LTIP). Under the EIP 
options and Restricted Stock Units (RSU) were awarded to senior management. Under the LTIP RSUs were awarded to key employees. The options 
and RSUs were granted at market value under both plans. The options vest based on the conditions of time and company performance at three and 
five years from date of grant. The options lapse after seven years from grant date. The RSUs under both plans vest annually over three years. 

A 2014 Equity Award Plan (the Plan) was introduced during the year ended 30 September 2014. Under the Plan options and RSUs, both time and 
performance based, are granted to employees who are deemed to be in a position to contribute to the long-term success of RMS. 

The RSU expense is determined by the fair market value of RMS stock at the date of grant. The expense is amortised using an accelerated method.  
Under this method the RSUs are equally allocated to each of the three annual vesting components and the related expense is amortised over 12, 24,  
and 36 months respectively. 

In November 2014, RMS approved an option exchange programme allowing RMS option holders to exchange their existing out-of-the-money 
options for new options with a strike price of US$40.0 or RSUs where eligible. 

In 2015 RMS introduced the 2015 stock option plan which was adopted in January 2016. Options granted under this plan vest on satisfaction of two 
conditions – a four year service period and the occurrence of an initial public offering of RMS or an event in which the Group ceases to hold at least  
50.0% of the voting rights of RMS. 

Outstanding at 1 October 2017 
Granted during the period 
Forfeited during the period 
Exercised during the period 
Outstanding at 30 September 2018 

Exercisable at 30 September 2018 

Exercisable at 1 October 2017 

Year ended  
30 September 
 2018 
Number of  
share options 
 15,031,520 
 3,896,106 
 (8,594,253) 
 (1,174,800) 
 9,158,573 

 453,824 

 1,648,124 

Year ended  
30 September  
2018 
Weighted average 
exercise price  
US$ 
 9.31 
 9.62 
 9.27 
 10.00 
 9.35 

 10.16 

 10.04 

Year ended  
30 September 
 2017 
Number of  
share options 
 12,954,350 
 5,244,596 
 (2,943,930) 
 (223,496) 
 15,031,520 

 1,648,124 

 1,537,824 

Year ended  
30 September  
2017 
Weighted average 
exercise price  
US$ 
 9.18 
 9.52 
 9.08 
 9.68 
 9.31 

 10.04 

 10.03 

The weighted average share price at the date of exercise for share options exercised during the period was US$10.24 (2017 US$10.11). 

The options outstanding at 30 September 2018 had a weighted average remaining contractual life of 8.2 years (2017 8.0 years). 

The inputs into the Black-Scholes model are as follows: 

Date of grant 
Market value of shares at date of grant (US$) 
Option price (US$) 
Number of share options outstanding 
Term of option (years) 
Assumed period of exercise after vesting (years) 
Exercise price (US$) 
Risk-free rate (%) 
Expected dividend yield (%) 
Volatility (%) 
Fair value per option (US$) 

During 2014 
14.59 
14.59 
 16,000 
 7 
3-6 
14.59 
1.25 
2.91 
28.81 
2.70 

During 2015 
 10.00 
 10.00 
 437,824 
 7 
4-5 
 10.00 
 1.25 
 3.63 
 25.63 
 1.44 

During 2016 
 9.04 
 9.04 
 3,596,010 
 10 
 6 
 9.04 
 1.10 
Nil 
 25.60 
 2.58 

During 2017 
 10.11 
 9.52 
 2,280,264 
 10 
 4 
 9.52 
 1.00 
Nil 
 35.00 
 4.00 

During 2018 
 10.24 
 9.63 
 2,828,475 
 10 
 6 
 9.63 
 1.71 
Nil 
 25.60 
 2.75 

Expected volatility was determined by calculating the historical volatility of comparable companies. 

S
t
r
a
t
e
g
i
c
R
e
p
o
r
t

G
o
v
e
r
n
a
n
c
e

F
i

n
a
n
c
i
a
l

S
t
a
t
e
m
e
n
t
s

S
h
a
r
e
h
o

l

d
e
r

I
n
f
o
r
m
a
t
i

o
n

175

175 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Financial Statements

Financial Statements 
Notes to the accounts 

42 Share-based payments continued 
Insurance Risk (RMS) RSU awards 

Outstanding at 1 October 2017 
Forfeited during the period 
Vested during the period 
Expired during the period 
Outstanding at 30 September 2018 

Year ended  
30 September  
2018 
Number of RSUs 
 269,781 
 (14,332) 
 (244,535) 
– 
 10,914 

Year ended  
30 September  
2018 
Weighted average 
exercise price  
US$ 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 

Year ended  
30 September  
2017 
Number of RSUs 
 1,406,356 
– 
 (889,499) 
 (247,076) 
 269,781 

Year ended  
30 September  
2017 
Weighted average 
exercise price  
US$ 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 

43 Ultimate holding company 
The Company’s immediate parent Company is Rothermere Continuation Limited (RCL), a company incorporated in Bermuda. 

Daily Mail and General Trust plc is the only company in the Group to prepare consolidated financial statements. 

44 Related party transactions 
Transactions between the Company and its subsidiaries, which are related parties, have been eliminated on consolidation and are not disclosed  
in this note. The transactions between the Group and its joint ventures and associates are disclosed below. 

For the purposes of IAS 24, Related Party Disclosures, executives below the level of the Company’s Board are not regarded as related parties. 

The remuneration of the Directors at the year end, who are the key management personnel of the Group, is set out in aggregate in the audited part 
of the Directors’ Remuneration Report.  

Ultimate controlling party 
RCL is a holding company incorporated in Bermuda. The main asset of RCL is its 100.0% holding of DMGT Ordinary Shares. RCL has controlled the 
Company for many years and as such is its immediate parent Company. RCL is owned by a trust (the Trust) which is held for the benefit of Viscount 
Rothermere and his immediate family. The Trust represents the ultimate controlling party of the Company. Both RCL and the Trust are administered 
in Jersey, in the Channel Islands. RCL and its directors, the Trust and its beneficiaries are related parties of the Company. 

Transactions with Directors 
During the period, Forsters LLP in which Mr A Lane, a Non-Executive Director of the Company, is a partner, provided legal services to the Company 
amounting to £14,820 (2017 £13,970). 

Transactions with joint ventures and associates 
Details of the Group’s principal joint ventures and associates are set out in Note 24. 

Associated Newspapers Ltd (ANL) holds a 50.0% (2017 50.0%) shareholding in Artirix Ltd (Artirix), a joint venture. During the period, the Group 
received services totalling £nil (2017 £0.2 million) from Artirix. ANL disposed of its shareholding in Artirix during the period. 

ANL has a 50.0% (2017 50.0%) shareholding in Northprint Manchester Ltd, a joint venture. The net amount due to ANL of £5.8 million  
(2017 £5.8 million) has been fully provided. 

Mail Media, Inc. has a 50.0% (2017 50.0%) shareholding in Daily Mail On Air, a joint venture. During the period, Mail Media, Inc. provided funding 
amounting to £4.9 million (2017 £0.2 million). At 30 September 2018, £5.9 million (2017 £0.2 million) was owed by Daily Mail On Air. 

DMG US Investments, Inc. has a 45.0% (2017 45.0%) shareholding in Truffle Pig LLC, an associate. Funding provided by DMG US Investments, Inc.  
in a prior period amounting to £0.2 million remained outstanding at 30 September 2018. 

DMGV Ltd (DMGV, formerly known as DMG Media Investments Ltd) has a 23.9% (2017 23.9%) shareholding in Excalibur Holdco Ltd (Excalibur), an 
associate. During the period, services provided to Excalibur amounted to £0.6 million (2017 £0.7 million). At 30 September 2018, amounts due from 
Excalibur amounted to £0.1 million (2017 £3.8 million), together with loan notes of £17.3 million (2017 £13.6 million). The loan notes carry a coupon 
of 10.0% and £4.0 million (2017 £2.3 million) was outstanding in relation to this coupon at 30 September 2018. 

DMGV has a 19.9% (2017 22.1%) shareholding in Zipjet Ltd (Zipjet), an associate. Services provided to Zipjet during the period amounted to £nil  
(2017 £0.1 million). 

DMGV has a 25.8% shareholding in Yopa Property Ltd (Yopa), an unlisted investment. During the period, the Consumer Media segment provided 
services to Yopa amounting to £0.5 million. At 30 September 2018, £0.1 million was owed by Yopa. 

176

176 

S
t
r
a
t
e
g
i
c
R
e
p
o
r
t

G
o
v
e
r
n
a
n
c
e

F
i

n
a
n
c
i
a
l

S
t
a
t
e
m
e
n
t
s

S
h
a
r
e
h
o

l

d
e
r

I
n
f
o
r
m
a
t
i

o
n

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Daily Mail and General Trust plc Annual Report 2018

DMGZ Ltd (DMGZ) has a 49.8% (2017 49.9%) shareholding in Euromoney Institutional Investor PLC (Euromoney), an associate. During the period, 
services were recharged to Euromoney amounting to £0.1 million (2017 £0.4 million) and consortium relief losses were surrendered under  
an agreement between Euromoney and the Group amounting to a rebate of £0.1 million (2017 £0.4 million). At 30 September 2018, £nil  
(2017 £0.5 million) was owed by Euromoney. During the prior period, on 6 January 2017, Euromoney completed an off-market purchase  
of 19,247,173 Euromoney ordinary shares from the Group for cancellation at a price of £9.75 per share. 

During the period, DMGZ and DMG Charles Ltd received dividends totalling £17.1 million (2017 £18.8 million) from Euromoney. 

During the period, DMG World Media (2006) Ltd recharged costs amounting to £0.3 million (2017 £0.2 million) to BCA Research, Inc.,  
a Euromoney subsidiary. 

During the period, ANL recharged costs amounting to £1.4 million (2017 £0.2 million) to Euromoney. At 30 September 2018, £0.3 million  
(2017 £0.1 million) was owed by Euromoney. 

During the period, Euromoney provided services to Risk Management Solutions Ltd amounting to £0.1 million (2017 £0.1 million). 

DMGZ had a 29.9% (2017 29.8%) shareholding in ZPG Plc (ZPG), an associate. During the period, DMGZ received dividends of £5.0 million  
(2017 £7.3 million) from ZPG. On 18 June 2018, DMGZ disposed of its entire shareholding in ZPG. 

During the period, Landmark Information Group Ltd (Landmark) charged management fees of £0.3 million (2017 £0.3 million) and recharged costs  
of £0.1 million (2017 £0.2 million) to Point X Ltd (Point X), a joint venture. Point X received royalty income from Landmark of £0.1 million  
(2017 £0.1 million). 

Decision Insight Information Group (UK) Ltd (DIIG UK) has a 50.0% (2017 50.0%) shareholding in Decision First Ltd (DF), a joint venture. During  
the period, DIIG UK recharged costs to DF amounting to £0.2 million (2017 £0.2 million), charged management fees amounting to £0.1 million  
(2017 £nil) and received dividends from DF of £0.4 million (2017 £0.6 million). 

On-Geo GmbH (On-Geo) has a 50.0% (2017 50.0%) shareholding in HypoPort On-Geo (HypoPort), a joint venture. During the period, HypoPort made 
purchases from On-Geo amounting to £9.1 million (2017 £8.2 million). During the period, On-Geo received dividends of £0.1 million (2017 £nil) from 
HypoPort. At 30 September 2018, £1.5 million (2017 £1.2 million) was owed by HypoPort. 

RMSI Ltd (RMSI), a company which shares a common director with the Landmark Group, invoiced sales amounting to £2.7 million  
(2017 £1.6 million). Costs were recharged by Landmark to RMSI amounting to £0.7 million (2017 £0.8 million). At 30 September 2018, £0.4 million 
(2017 £0.4 million) was owed to RMSI by Landmark. 

Hobsons, Inc. (Hobsons) has a 50.0% (2017 50.0%) shareholding in Knowlura, a joint venture. At 30 September 2018, £0.3 million (2017 £nil) was 
owed by Knowlura. 

Risk Management Solutions, Inc. (RMS, Inc.) has a 20.0% (2017 20.0%) shareholding in OYO RMS Corporation (OYO), an associate. During the period, 
RMS, Inc. received a dividend of £0.4 million (2017 £nil) from OYO. 

RMS, Inc. has a 25.9% (2017 29.6%) shareholding in Praedicat, Inc. (Praedicat), an associate. During the period, RMS, Inc. provided funding  
of £1.5 million (2017 £nil) to Praedicat.  

Genscape, Inc. (Genscape) has a 55.9% shareholding in LineVision, Inc. (LineVision), an associate acquired in the period. During the period, Genscape 
sold assets with a net book value of US$0.1 million to LineVision for their fair value of US$2.1 million for nil cash proceeds. Since the Group’s share  
of voting rights in the investment in LineVision is 49.0%, the Group does not have control but does have significant influence, therefore the 
investment has been treated as an associate. 

Other related party disclosures 
Under an agreement to guarantee the income generated from certain property assets held by the Harmsworth Pension Scheme which were 
purchased from the Group during a prior period, the Group was charged for rent and service charges in relation to the current period amounting to 
£0.3 million (2017 £0.5 million). At 30 September 2018, £0.1 million (2017 £0.1 million) was owed to the Harmsworth Pension Scheme by the Group. 

At 30 September 2018, the Group owed £0.8 million (2017 £0.8 million) to the pension schemes which it operates. This amount comprised 
employees’ and employer’s contributions in respect of September 2018 payrolls. 

The Group recharges its principal pension schemes with costs of investment management fees. The total amount recharged during the period  
was £0.3 million (2018 £0.3 million). 

Contributions made during the period to the Group’s retirement benefit plans are set out in Note 35, along with details of the Group’s future  
funding commitments. 

In July 2012, the Group entered into a contingent asset partnership whereby a £150.0 million loan note, guaranteed by the Group, was used  
to commit £10.8 million funding p.a. to the Harmsworth Pension Scheme. Interest payable to DMG Pension Partnership LP in the period totalled  
£11.0 million (2017 £11.0 million). 

S
t
r
a
t
e
g
i
c
R
e
p
o
r
t

G
o
v
e
r
n
a
n
c
e

F
i

n
a
n
c
i
a
l

S
t
a
t
e
m
e
n
t
s

S
h
a
r
e
h
o

l

d
e
r

I
n
f
o
r
m
a
t
i

o
n

177

177 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Financial Statements

Financial Statements 
Notes to the accounts 

45 Post balance sheet events 
Pension equalisation 
In October 2018, the High Court ruled in the Lloyds Banking Group (“LBG”) case that UK pension schemes which had contracted out of the State 
Earnings Related Pension Scheme will need to equalise benefits for the effect of unequal Guaranteed Minimum Pensions (GMP) between men and 
women. The judgement also provided comments on the method to be adopted to equalise these benefits. Assuming that there is not a successful 
appeal, it is expected that the ruling will result in a non-cash past service charge. 

Due to the timing of this ruling we cannot yet estimate the impact on DMGT with any reasonable certainty until our Scheme Actuary has carried out  
a full impact assessment. 

Acquisitions 
In October 2018, the Consumer Media segment acquired the remaining 50.0% of the share capital of DailyMailTV, previously a 50.0% joint venture for 
consideration of £4.7 million and DailyMailTV became a wholly-owned subsidiary. 

46 Subsidiaries exempt from audit 
The following UK subsidiaries will take advantage of the audit exemption set out within Section 479A of the Companies Act 2006 for the year ended 
30 September 2018: 

Subsidiary name 
Northcliffe Media Ltd 
DMG Events International Ltd 
Daily Mail International Ltd 
DMG Asset Finance Ltd 
DMG Atlantic Ltd 
DMG Business Media Ltd 
DMG Charles Ltd 
DMG Information Ltd 

Company  
registration number   

Subsidiary name 
03403993    DMG Investment Holdings Ltd 
04118004    DMG Minor Investments Ltd 
01966438    DMGRH Finance Ltd 
05528329    DMGZ Ltd 
04521108    Harmsworth Royalties Ltd 
02823743   
04211684   
03708142   

Kensington Finance Ltd 
Ralph US Holdings 
Young Street Holdings Ltd 

Company  
registration number 
03263138 
04228751 
03191181 
00272225 
04219212 
03960683 
06341444 
04485808 

The Directors of Daily Mail and General Trust plc have confirmed that the Company will provide a guarantee under Section 479C in relation to the 
subsidiaries listed above. 

No dormant subsidiaries have taken the exemption from preparing individual accounts by virtue of Section 394A of Companies Act 2006. 

No dormant subsidiaries have taken the exemption from filing with the registrar individual accounts by virtue of Section 448A of Companies  
Act 2006. 

The following UK subsidiaries will take advantage of the audit exemption set out within Section 480 of the Companies Act 2006, exemption from 
audit for dormant companies for the year ended 30 September 2018: 

Subsidiary name 
Justice for Sgt Blackman Ltd 
The Mail on Sunday Ltd 
AgRisk Ltd 
Decision Insight Packco Ltd 
Pico Information Ltd 
Richards Gray Holdings Ltd 
Richards Gray Ltd 

Company  
Subsidiary name 
registration number   
Kensington US Holdings Ltd 
09761390   
Lincolnshire Media Ltd 
01160545   
02615156    Northcliffe Trustees Ltd 
05193569   
11149692   
05778231   
03209331   

South West Wales Media Ltd 
The Conveyancing Report Agency Ltd 
The Western Gazette Co Ltd 
Trepp Ltd 

Company  
registration number 
06320636 
00037928 
03394992 
00120013 
04666668 
00022796 
03087851 

178

178 

S
t
r
a
t
e
g
i
c
R
e
p
o
r
t

G
o
v
e
r
n
a
n
c
e

F
i

n
a
n
c
i
a
l

S
t
a
t
e
m
e
n
t
s

S
h
a
r
e
h
o

l

d
e
r

I
n
f
o
r
m
a
t
i

o
n

 
 
 
 
 
 
Daily Mail and General Trust plc Annual Report 2018

47 Full list of Group undertakings 

Subsidiary name 
A&N International Media Ltd 

Registered office 
Northcliffe House, 2 Derry Street, London W8 5TT 

A&N Media Finance Services Ltd 

Northcliffe House, 2 Derry Street, London W8 5TT 

AgRisk Ltd 

15 Canada Square, London E14 5GL 

AN Mauritius Ltd 

Argyll Environmental Ltd 

Asia Risk Centre Pte Ltd 

10th Floor, Standard Chartered Tower, 19 Cybercity, Ebène, 
Republic Of Mauritius, Mauritius 

5-7 Abbey Court, Eagle Way, Sowton, Exeter, Devon EX2 7HY 

3F, 19 Cecil Street, Singapore 049704 

Associated Metro Holdings Ltd 

15 Esplanade, St Helier, Jersey, JE1 1RB, Channel Islands 

Associated Newspapers (Ireland) Ltd 

Third Floor, Embassy House, Herbert Park Lane, Ballsbridge, 
Dublin 4 662817 

Associated Newspapers Ltd 

Northcliffe House, 2 Derry Street, London W8 5TT 

Country of  
incorporation or 
registration 
UK 

UK 

UK 

Mauritius 

UK 

Singapore 

Jersey 

Ireland 

UK 

Classes of  
shares held 
Ordinary 

Ordinary 

Ordinary 

Ordinary 

Ordinary 

Ordinary 

Ordinary 

Ordinary 

Ordinary 

Associated Newspapers North America, Inc. 

Atticus Events Ltd 

Atticus Events MEA Ltd 

AVMGE GmbH 

Corporation Service Company, 2711 Centerville Road, Suite 
400, Wilmington, DE 19808, United States 

Invision House, Wilbury Way, Hitchin, Hertfordshire SG4 0TY 

Invision House, Wilbury Way, Hitchin, Hertfordshire SG4 0TY 

USA 

UK 

UK 

Common, Series A 

Ordinary 

Ordinary, B ordinary,  
C ordinary 

ParsevalstraBe 2, 99092, Erfurt, Germany 

Germany 

Ordinary 

BuildFax, Inc. 

42 N French Broad Ave, Asheville NC 28801, United States 

Central Independent News and Media Ltd 

Northcliffe House, 2 Derry Street, London W8 5TT 

Commodity Vectors (Ireland) Ltd 

Commodity Vectors Ltd 

Conveyancing Searches Ltd 

Courier Media Group Ltd 

c/o Anne Brady McQuillans DFK, Iveagh Court,  
Harcourt Road, Dublin 2 

Northcliffe House, 2 Derry Street, London W8 5TT 

Northcliffe House, 2 Derry Street, London W8 5TT 

Northcliffe House, 2 Derry Street, London W8 5TT 

Daily Mail and General Holdings Ltd 

Northcliffe House, 2 Derry Street, London W8 5TT 

Daily Mail and General Investments Ltd 

Northcliffe House, 2 Derry Street, London W8 5TT 

Daily Mail and General Trust plc 

Northcliffe House, 2 Derry Street, London W8 5TT 

Daily Mail International Ltd 

Northcliffe House, 2 Derry Street, London W8 5TT 

Daily Mail Ltd 

Northcliffe House, 2 Derry Street, London W8 5TT 

Dailymail.com Australia Pty Ltd 

Level 12, 207 Kent Street, Sydney, NSW 2000 

Decision Insight Hub Ltd 

5-7 Abbey Court, Eagle Way, Sowton, Exeter, Devon EX2 7HY 

Decision Insight Information Group (Europe) Ltd 

5-7 Abbey Court, Eagle Way, Sowton, Exeter, Devon EX2 7HY 

Decision Insight Information Group (Ireland) Ltd  
(in process of liquidation) 

39/40 Upper Mount Street, Dublin 2, Ireland 

Decision Insight Information Group (UK) Ltd 

5-7 Abbey Court, Eagle Way, Sowton, Exeter, Devon EX2 7HY 

Decision Insight Packco Ltd 

5-7 Abbey Court, Eagle Way, Sowton, Exeter, Devon EX2 7HY 

Derby Telegraph Media Group Ltd 

PO Box 6795, St George Street, Leicester LE1 1ZP 

Digital H20, Inc. 

DMG Angex Ltd 

DMG Asset Finance Ltd 

DMG Atlantic Ltd 

DMG Business Media Ltd 

DMG Charles Ltd 

DMG Comet S.á.r.l. 

Corporation Service Company, 251 Little Falls Drive, 
Wilmington, DE 19808, United States 

Northcliffe House, 2 Derry Street, London W8 5TT 

Northcliffe House, 2 Derry Street, London W8 5TT 

Northcliffe House, 2 Derry Street, London W8 5TT 

Northcliffe House, 2 Derry Street, London W8 5TT 

Northcliffe House, 2 Derry Street, London W8 5TT 

595 Rue De Neudorf, L-2220, Luxembourg 

DMG Comet S.á.r.l. US branch 

2201 West Royal Lane, Irving, Texas 75603, United States 

DMG Conference & Exhibition Services  
(Shanghai) Ltd 

Room 428, Level 4, No 55 Xiya Road (Plot 5 Of Zone F), 
Shanghai, China 

DMG Consolidated Holdings Pty Ltd 

Level 2, 452 Flinders Street, Melbourne VIC 3000, Australia 

DMG Development Co 

DMG Events (Canada), Inc. 

DMG Events (Doha), LLC 

DMG Events (MEA) Ltd 

DMG Events (UK) Ltd 

Corporation Service Company, 251 Little Falls Drive, 
Wilmington, DE 19808, United States 

302, 1333 8 St SW, Calgary, Alberta T2R 1M6, Canada 

Level 14/15 Commercial Bank Plaza, West Bay, Doha, Qatar 

Northcliffe House, 2 Derry Street, London W8 5TT 

Northcliffe House, 2 Derry Street, London W8 5TT 

USA 

UK 

Ireland 

UK 

UK 

UK 

UK 

UK 

UK 

UK 

UK 

Australia 

UK 

UK 

Ireland 

UK 

UK 

UK 

USA 

UK 

UK 

UK 

UK 

UK 

Luxembourg 

USA 

China 

Australia 

USA 

Canada 

Qatar 

UK 

UK 

Common, Series A, B, 
C, D, E, G Preferred 
Stock 

Ordinary 

Ordinary 

Ordinary 

Ordinary 

Ordinary 

Ordinary 

Ordinary 

Ordinary and A 
ordinary non voting 

Ordinary 

Ordinary 

Ordinary 

Ordinary 

Ordinary 

Ordinary 

Ordinary 

Ordinary 

Ordinary 

Common 

Ordinary 

Ordinary 

Ordinary 

Ordinary 

Ordinary 

Ordinary 

Ordinary 

Ordinary 

Ordinary 

Ordinary 

Ordinary 

Ordinary 

Ordinary 

Ordinary 

S
t
r
a
t
e
g
i
c
R
e
p
o
r
t

G
o
v
e
r
n
a
n
c
e

F
i

n
a
n
c
i
a
l

S
t
a
t
e
m
e
n
t
s

S
h
a
r
e
h
o

l

d
e
r

I
n
f
o
r
m
a
t
i

o
n

% shareholding  
(% held directly  
by parent) 
100% 

100% 

100% 

100% 

100% 

100% 

100% 

100% 

100% 

100% 

100% 

100% 

89.9% 

90.0% 

100% 

100% 

100% 

100% 

100% 

100% 

100% 

N/A 

100% 

100% 

100% 

100% 

100% 

100% 

100% 

100% 

100% 

100% 

100% 

100% 

100% 

100% 

100% 

100% 

100% 

100% 

100% 

100% 

100% 

100% 

100% 

100% 

179

179 

 
 
 
 
 
Financial Statements

Financial Statements 
Notes to the accounts 

47 Full list of Group undertakings continued 

Subsidiary name 

DMG Events (USA,) Inc. 

DMG Events Asia Pacific Pte Ltd 

DMG Events Egypt Ltd 

DMG Events Energy Japan KK  

DMG Events India Private Ltd 

DMG Events International Ltd 

DMG Events, LLC, 

DMG Exhibition Management Services (PTY) Ltd 

DMG India Private Ltd 

DMG Information Asia Pacific Pte Ltd 

Registered office 
Corporation Service Company, 251 Little Falls Drive, 
Wilmington, DE 19808, United States 

8 Marina Boulevard #05-02, Marina Bay Financial Centre, 
Singapore 018981 

Office 1, Mezzanine Floor, Hall 2, Egypt International 
Exhibition Centre, Elmoushir Tantawy Axis, New Cairo, Egypt 

Roppongi Hills Keyakizaka Terrace, 6151, Roppongi, 
Minatoku, Tokyo, Japan 

Unit 1, Level 2, B Wing, Times Square, Andheri Kurla Road, 
Andheri, Mumbai, 400059, India 

Northcliffe House, 2 Derry Street, London W8 5TT 

Office 408, Salama Tower, Al Madinah, Al Munawarah Road, 
As Salamah District, PO Box 3650, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia 

76 Eleventh Street, Parkmore, Johannesburg, 2196,  
South Africa 

402-409 4th Floor Of Square One, Saket District Centre,  
Delhi, South Delhi, Delhi – 110017 

8 Marina Boulevard #05-02, Marina Bay Financial Centre, 
Singapore 018981 

DMG Information Hong Kong Company Ltd 

27/F 248 Queen’s Road East, Wanchai, Hong Kong 

DMG Information Ltd 

DMG Investment Holdings Ltd 

DMG Ireland Holdings Ltd  

DMG Loanco Ltd 

DMG Media Ltd 

Northcliffe House, 2 Derry Street, London W8 5TT 

Northcliffe House, 2 Derry Street, London W8 5TT 

Barry Caldwell & Co, 135 Hillside, Greystones, Co Wicklow 

Northcliffe House, 2 Derry Street, London W8 5TT 

Northcliffe House, 2 Derry Street, London W8 5TT 

DMG Minor Investments Ltd 

Northcliffe House, 2 Derry Street, London W8 5TT 

DMG Oceans Ltd 

DMG Plymouth Ltd 

DMG US Investments, Inc. 

Scottish Daily Mail, 20 Waterloo Street, Glasgow, G2 6DB 

15 Canada Square, London E14 5GL 

Corporation Service Company, 251 Little Falls Drive, 
Wilmington, DE 19808, United States 

DMG World Media Abu Dhabi Ltd 

15 Esplanade, St Helier, Jersey, JE1 1RB, Channel Islands 

DMG World Media Dubai (2006) Ltd 

15 Esplanade, St Helier, Jersey, JE1 1RB, Channel Islands 

DMGB Ltd 

Northcliffe House, 2 Derry Street, London W8 5TT 

dmgi Land & Property Europe Ltd 

5-7 Abbey Court, Eagle Way, Sowton, Exeter, Devon EX2 7HY 

DMGRH Finance Ltd 

DMGT US Employee Services, Inc. 

DMGT US, Inc. 

DMGV Ltd 

DMGZ Ltd 

Northcliffe House, 2 Derry Street, London W8 5TT 

Corporation Service Company, 251 Little Falls Drive, 
Wilmington, DE 19808, United States 

Corporation Service Company, 251 Little Falls Drive, 
Wilmington, DE 19808, United States 

Northcliffe House, 2 Derry Street, London W8 5TT 

Northcliffe House, 2 Derry Street, London W8 5TT 

EDR Landmark Management Services Ltd 

5-7 Abbey Court, Eagle Way, Sowton, Exeter, Devon EX2 7HY 

EI Cap II, LLC. 

Corporation Service Company, 251 Little Falls Drive, 
Wilmington, DE 19808, United States 

Energytics, Inc. 

Ensura Ltd 

Enva Power, Inc. 

Environmental Data Resources Holdings, Inc. 

Corporation Service Company, 251 Little Falls Drive, 
Wilmington, DE 19808, United States 

5-7 Abbey Court, Eagle Way, Sowton, Exeter, Devon EX2 7HY 

Corporation Service Company, 251 Little Falls Drive, 
Wilmington, DE 19808, United States 

Corporation Services Company, 251 Little Falls Drive, 
Wilmington DE 19808, United States 

Estate Technical Solutions Ltd 

5-7 Abbey Court, Eagle Way, Sowton, Exeter, Devon EX2 7HY  

Eve 4 Ltd 

Ex TTH Ltd 

Fortress Digital Holdings, Inc. 

180

180 

15 Esplanade, St Helier, Jersey, JE1 1RB, Channel Islands 

Northcliffe House, 2 Derry Street, London W8 5TT 

Corporation Service Company, 2711 Centerville Road, Suite 
400, Wilmington, DE 19808, United States 

S
t
r
a
t
e
g
i
c
R
e
p
o
r
t

G
o
v
e
r
n
a
n
c
e

F
i

n
a
n
c
i
a
l

S
t
a
t
e
m
e
n
t
s

S
h
a
r
e
h
o

l

d
e
r

I
n
f
o
r
m
a
t
i

o
n

Country of  
incorporation or 
registration 

Classes of  
shares held 

% shareholding  
(% held directly  
by parent) 

USA 

Common 

100% 

Singapore 

Ordinary 

100% 

Egypt 

Japan 

India 

UK 

Ordinary 

100% 

Ordinary 

100% 

Ordinary 

Ordinary 

100% 

100% 

Saudi Arabia 

Ordinary 

100% 

South Africa 

Ordinary 

100% 

India 

Ordinary 

100% 

Singapore 

Hong Kong 

UK 

UK 

Ireland 

UK 

UK 

UK 

UK 

UK 

USA 

Jersey 

Jersey 

UK 

UK 

UK 

USA 

Ordinary 

Ordinary 

Ordinary 

Ordinary 

Ordinary 

Ordinary 

Ordinary 

Ordinary 

Ordinary 

Ordinary 

Common 

Ordinary 

Ordinary 

Ordinary 

Ordinary 

Ordinary 

100% 

100% 

100% 

100% 

100% 

100% 

100% 

100% 

100% 

100% 

100% 

100% 

100% 

100% 

100% 

100% 

Common 

100% 

USA 

Common, Series A 

UK 

UK 

UK 

Ordinary 

Ordinary 

Ordinary 

USA  Membership interests 

Common 

Ordinary 

100% 

100% 

100% 

100% 

100% 

100% 

100% 

100% 

USA 

UK 

USA 

USA 

UK 

Jersey 

UK 

Common 

100% 

Common 

100% 

Ordinary A, Ordinary 
B, Ordinary C, 
Ordinary D, Ordinary E 

Ordinary 

Ordinary 

100% 

100% 

100% 

USA 

Ordinary 

100% 

Energy Fundamentals GmbH 

Technoparkstrasse 1, 8005, Zurich, Switzerland 

Switzerland 

Ordinary 

 
 
 
 
Daily Mail and General Trust plc Annual Report 2018

Country of  
incorporation or 
registration 

Classes of  
shares held 

% shareholding  
(% held directly  
by parent) 

Common 

Ordinary 

Ordinary 

Ordinary 

Ordinary 

Ordinary 

100% 

100% 

100% 

100% 

100% 

100% 

Common 

100% 

Common 

100% 

Subsidiary name 

Genscape Asia, Inc. 

Genscape Belgium SA 

Registered office 
Corporation Service Company, 251 Little Falls Drive, 
Wilmington, DE 19808, United States 

Pegasuslaan 5, 1831 Brussels Deigem, Belgium 

Genscape Czech Republic s.r.o. 

Empiria Na Strzi, 65/1702, 140 00 Parague 4, Prague 

Czech Republic 

Genscape France 

Genscape Germany GmbH 

Genscape Iberia SL 

Genscape, Inc. 

Genscape Intangible Holding, Inc. 

Genscape International, Inc. 

Genscape Italy 

Genscape Japan, K.K. 

6 Place De La Madeleine, 75008, Paris, France 

Prinzenallee 7, 40549, Dusseldorf, Germany 

C/Conde De Aranda, 1 2 DO Izquierda, 28001, Madrid, Spain 

Corporation Service Company, 251 Little Falls Drive, 
Wilmington, DE 19808, United States 

Corporation Service Company, 251 Little Falls Drive, 
Wilmington, DE 19808, United States 

Corporation Service Company, 251 Little Falls Drive, 
Wilmington, DE 19808, United States 

Via Torino 2, 20123, Milan, Italy 

Ark Hills Sengokuyama Mori Tower 28F, 1-9-10 Roppongi, 
Minato, Tokyo, Japan 

Genscape Mex, S. de R.L. de C.V. 

1140 Garvin Place, Louisville, KY 40203, United States 

Genscape Natural Gas, Inc. 

Genscape Netherlands 

Genscape Poland SA 

Genscape Slovakia s.r.o. 

Genscape UK Ltd 

Gloucestershire Media Ltd 

GP Energy Management, LLC 

Gridfit, LLC. 

Corporation Service Company, 251 Little Falls Drive, 
Wilmington, DE 19808, United States 

Damrak 20A, 1012 LH, Amsterdam, Netherlands 

Ul. Rzymowskiego, 02-697, Warsaw, Poland 

Kapitulska 18/A, Bratislava-Stare Mesto, 81101, Slovakia 

Northcliffe House, 2 Derry Street, London W8 5TT 

Begbies Traynor (London) LLP, 31st Floor, 40 Bank Street, 
London E14 5NR  

131 Varick Street, Suite 1006, New York 10013, United States 

3500 South Dupont Highway, c/o Interstate Agent Services, 
LLC, Dover 19901, United States 

Harmsworth Printing (Didcot) Ltd 

Northcliffe House, 2 Derry Street, London W8 5TT 

Harmsworth Printing Ltd 

Northcliffe House, 2 Derry Street, London W8 5TT 

Harmsworth Quays Printing Ltd 

Northcliffe House, 2 Derry Street, London W8 5TT 

Harmsworth Royalties Ltd 

Northcliffe House, 2 Derry Street, London W8 5TT 

Hobsons, Inc. 

Inframation GmbH 

Instant Service AG 

Justice for Sgt Blackman Ltd 

Kensington Finance Ltd 

Kensington US Holdings Ltd 

Landmark Analytics Ltd 

Landmark FAS Ltd 

Corporation Service Company, 251 Little Falls Drive, 
Wilmington, DE 19808, United States 

ParsevalstraBe 2, 99092, Erfurt, Germany 

Peterstr. 1, 99084 Erfurt, Germany 

Northcliffe House, 2 Derry Street, London W8 5TT 

Northcliffe House, 2 Derry Street, London W8 5TT 

Northcliffe House, 2 Derry Street, London W8 5TT 

5-7 Abbey Court, Eagle Way, Sowton, Exeter, Devon EX2 7HY 

5-7 Abbey Court, Eagle Way, Sowton, Exeter, Devon EX2 7HY 

Landmark Information Group Ltd 

5-7 Abbey Court, Eagle Way, Sowton, Exeter, Devon EX2 7HY 

Landmark International Holdings Ltd 

5-7 Abbey Court, Eagle Way, Sowton, Exeter, Devon EX2 7HY 

Lawlink (UK) Ltd 

Lincolnshire Media Ltd 

Locus Energy, Inc. 

Mail Media, Inc. 

5-7 Abbey Court, Eagle Way, Sowton, Exeter, Devon EX2 7HY 

Northcliffe House, 2 Derry Street, London W8 5TT 

Corporation Service Company, 251 Little Falls Drive, 
Wilmington, DE 19808, United States 

Corporation Service Company, 251 Little Falls Drive, 
Wilmington, DE 19808, United States 

MailLife Financial Services Ltd 

Northcliffe House, 2 Derry Street, London W8 5TT 

Millar & Bryce Ltd 

10th Floor 133 Finnieston Street, Glasgow, G3 8HB Scotland 

Naviance, Inc. 

Northcliffe Media Ltd 

Northcliffe Trustees Ltd 

Corporation Service Company, 251 Little Falls Drive, 
Wilmington DE 19808, United States 

Northcliffe House, 2 Derry Street, London W8 5TT 

Northcliffe House, 2 Derry Street, London W8 5TT 

Ochresoft Technologies Ltd 

5-7 Abbey Court, Eagle Way, Sowton, Exeter, Devon EX2 7HY 

USA 

Belgium 

France 

Germany 

Spain 

USA 

USA 

USA 

Italy 

Japan 

Mexico 

USA 

Netherlands 

Poland 

Slovakia 

UK 

UK 

USA 

Common 

Ordinary 

Ordinary 

Common 

Common 

Ordinary 

Ordinary 

Ordinary 

Ordinary 

Ordinary 

Membership units 

USA 

Membership units 

UK 

UK 

UK 

UK 

Ordinary 

Ordinary 

Ordinary 

Ordinary 

USA 

Common 

Germany  Ordinary, Preference 

Germany 

Ordinary 

UK  Limited by Guarantee 

Ordinary 

Ordinary 

Ordinary 

Ordinary 

Ordinary, Ordinary A, 
Redeemable 
Preference 

Ordinary 

Ordinary 

Ordinary 

Ordinary 

Ordinary 

Ordinary 

Common 

Ordinary 

UK  Ordinary A, Ordinary B 

Deferred, Ordinary, 
Ordinary A, Preference 

UK 

UK 

UK 

UK 

UK 

UK 

UK 

UK 

UK 

USA 

USA 

UK 

UK 

USA 

UK 

On-Geo GmbH 

ParsevalstraBe 2, 99092, Erfurt, Germany 

Germany 

Ordinary 

Common 

100% 

S
t
r
a
t
e
g
i
c
R
e
p
o
r
t

G
o
v
e
r
n
a
n
c
e

F
i

n
a
n
c
i
a
l

S
t
a
t
e
m
e
n
t
s

S
h
a
r
e
h
o

l

d
e
r

I
n
f
o
r
m
a
t
i

o
n

100% 

100% 

100% 

100% 

100% 

100% 

100% 

100% 

100% 

100% 

100% 

100% 

100% 

100% 

100% 

100% 

100% 

100% 

49.9% 

100% 

100% 

100% 

100% 

100% 

100% 

100% 

100% 

100% 

50.0% 

100% 

100% 

100% 

100% 

100% 

100% 

89.9% 

181

181 

 
 
 
 
 
Financial Statements

Financial Statements 
Notes to the accounts 

47 Full list of Group undertakings continued 

Subsidiary name 
Petrotranz Holdings, Inc. 

Petrotranz, Inc. 

Pico Information Ltd 

Power Supply, LLC. 

Registered office 
855 – 2 Street SW, Suite 3500, Calgary AB T2P 4J8 Canada 

855 – 2 Street SW, Suite 3500, Calgary AB T2P 4J8 Canada 

5-7 Abbey Court, Eagle Way, Sowton, Exeter, Devon EX2 7HY 

131 Varick Street, Suite 1008-1009, New York 10013,  
United States 

Quest End Computer Services Ltd 

5-7 Abbey Court, Eagle Way, Sowton, Exeter, Devon EX2 7HY 

Ralph US Holdings 

Richards Gray Holdings Ltd 

Richards Gray Ltd 

Risk Management Solutions (Bermuda) Ltd 

Risk Management Solutions (Swiss) 

Risk Management Solutions, Inc. 

Risk Management Solutions Ltd 

Risk Management Solutions Ltd (China) 

RMS Japan KK 

RMS Risk Management Solutions India Pte Ltd 

RMS Technologies Ltd 

RMS Worldwide, Inc. 

Northcliffe House, 2 Derry Street, London W8 5TT 

5-7 Abbey Court, Eagle Way, Sowton, Exeter, Devon EX2 7HY 

5-7 Abbey Court, Eagle Way, Sowton, Exeter, Devon EX2 7HY 

Milner House, 18 Parliament Street, Hamilton,  
HM 12 Bermuda 

Zweigniederlassung Zürich, Stampfenbachstrasse 85,  
CH-8006 Zurich, Switzerland 

7515 Gateway Blvd, Newark, CA 94560, United States 

Northcliffe House, 2 Derry Street, London W8 5TT 

12th Floor, Office 1205F, Beijing Excel Centre, No.6 
Wudinghou Street, Xicheng District Beijing , 100033, PR China 

Akasaka Kikyo Building 4th Floor, 11-15 Akasaka 3-Chome, 
Minato-Ku, Tokyo, 107-0052 Japan 

406-407, Pooja Complex 22, Veer Savarkar Block, Shakarpur, 
Delhi 110092 India 

Northcliffe House, 2 Derry Street, London W8 5TT 

7515 Gateway Blvd, Newark, CA 94560, United States 

Rochford Brady Legal Services Ltd 

39/40 Upper Mount Street, Dublin 2, Ireland 

SearchFlow Ltd 

5-7 Abbey Court, Eagle Way, Sowton, Exeter, Devon EX2 7HY 

South West Wales Media Ltd 

Northcliffe House, 2 Derry Street, London W8 5TT 

Springthorpe Drake, Inc. 

Starfish Retention Solutions, Inc. 

Stennet Websites Plc  

Corporation Service Company, 251 Little Falls Drive, 
Wilmington, DE 19808, United States 

Corporation Service Company, 251 Little Falls Drive, 
Wilmington, DE 19808, United States 

Barry Caldwell & Co, 135 Hillside, Greystones, Co Wicklow 

The Conveyancing Report Agency Ltd 

Northcliffe House, 2 Derry Street, London W8 5TT 

The Mail on Sunday Ltd 

Northcliffe House, 2 Derry Street, London W8 5TT 

The Petrochemical Standard, Inc. 

The Western Gazette Co Ltd 

Trepp Holdings, Inc. 

Trepp, LLC. 

Trepp Ltd 

Trepp Port, LLC. 

Trepp UK Ltd 

Corporation Service Company, 251 Little Falls Drive, 
Wilmington, DE 19808, United States 

Northcliffe House, 2 Derry Street, London W8 5TT 

Corporation Service Company, 251 Little Falls Drive, 
Wilmington, DE 19808, United States 

Northcliffe House, 2 Derry Street, London W8 5TT 

Corporation Service Company, 251 Little Falls Drive, 
Wilmington, DE 19808, United States 

Northcliffe House, 2 Derry Street, London W8 5TT 

Vesseltracker.com GmbH 

Mundsburger Damm 14, D-22087, Hamburg, Germany 

Watervale Ltd 

Web2 d.o.o.  

5-7 Abbey Court, Eagle Way, Sowton, Exeter, Devon EX2 7HY 

Park Rajhl Ferenca 8, 24000 Subotica, Severno-Bački – Serbia 

Young Street Holdings Ltd 

Northcliffe House, 2 Derry Street, London W8 5TT 

All subsidiaries are included in the consolidated financial statements of the Group. 

Country of  
incorporation or 
registration 
Canada 

Canada 

UK 

Classes of  
shares held 
Ordinary 

Ordinary 

Ordinary 

Class A membership 
units 

Ordinary 

Ordinary 

Ordinary A 

Ordinary 

USA 

UK 

UK 

UK 

UK 

% shareholding  
(% held directly  
by parent) 
100% 

100% 

100% 

100% 

100% 

100% 

100% 

100% 

Bermuda 

Ordinary 

98.0% 

Switzerland 

USA 

UK 

China 

Japan 

India 

UK 

USA 

Ireland 

UK 

UK 

USA 

USA 

Ireland 

UK 

UK 

USA 

UK 

USA 

Ordinary 

Common 

Ordinary 

98.0% 

98.0% 

98.0% 

Common 

98.0% 

Ordinary 

98.0% 

Ordinary Voting 

Ordinary 

Common 

Ordinary 

Ordinary 

Ordinary 

100% 

100% 

98.0% 

100% 

100% 

100% 

Ordinary 

100% 

Common 

Ordinary 

Ordinary 

Ordinary 

Ordinary 

Ordinary 

Common 

100% 

71.0% 

100% 

100% 

100% 

100% 

100% 

100% 

100% 

51.0% 

100% 

100% 

100% 

51.0% 

100% 

UK 

USA 

UK 

Germany 

UK 

Serbia 

UK 

Ordinary 

Ordinary 

Ordinary 

Ordinary 

Ordinary 

Ordinary 

Ordinary 

S
t
r
a
t
e
g
i
c
R
e
p
o
r
t

G
o
v
e
r
n
a
n
c
e

F
i

n
a
n
c
i
a
l

S
t
a
t
e
m
e
n
t
s

S
h
a
r
e
h
o

l

d
e
r

I
n
f
o
r
m
a
t
i

o
n

* 

Direct investment held by the parent Company Daily Mail and General Trust plc (DMGT). All other subsidiaries are held indirectly through 
subsidiaries of DMGT. 

(i)  Principal place of business in the UAE. 

(ii)  Principal place of business in the UK. 

182

182 

477 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10022, United States 

USA  Membership Interests 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Daily Mail and General Trust plc Annual Report 2018

Joint Venture name 

Daily Mail On-Air, LLC 

Decision First Ltd 

Address of principal place of business 
137 N Larchmont Blvd, #705, Los Angeles, California, 90004, 
United States 

Cardinal House, 9 Manor Road, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS11 9AH  

Hypoport On-Geo GmbH 

Klosterstr. 71, 10179 Berlin, Germany 

Knowlura, Inc. 

Corporation Service Company, 251 Little Falls Drive, Wilmington, 
DE 19808, United States 

Northprint Manchester Ltd 

PO Box 68164, Kings Place, 90 York Way, London N1P 2 AP 

Point X Ltd 

5-7 Abbey Court, Eagle Way, Sowton, Exeter, Devon EX2 7HY 

The Sanborn Map Company, Inc. 

Corporation Service Company, 251 Little Falls Drive, Wilmington, 
DE 19808, United States 

Classes of  
shares held 

Financial  
year end 

% capital included in 
consolidation 

Membership interests 

Ordinary 

Ordinary 

Common 

Ordinary 

Ordinary B 

30 December  

31 December  

31 December  

30 September 

31 March 

31 March 

Ordinary 

31 December  

50.0% 

50.0% 

50.0% 

50.0% 

50.0% 

50.0% 

49.0% 

The Group has joint control over all of the joint ventures listed above, because key operating decisions require the unanimous consent of the Group 
and the other investor(s). 

Country of  
incorporation or 
registration 

Classes of  
shares held 

% shareholding 

Associate name 

AlsoEnergy Holdings, Inc. 

Eatfirst UK Ltd 

ES London Ltd 

Address of principal place of business 
Corporation Trust Centre, 1209 Orange Street, Wilmington,  
DE 19801, United States 

203 Railway Arches, Barnardo Street, London E1 0LL 

Northcliffe House, 2 Derry Street, London W8 5TT 

Euromoney Institutional Investor PLC  8 Bouverie Street, London EC4Y 8AX 

Excalibur Holdco Ltd 

Fortress Digital, LLC 

Wowcher Towers, 12-27 Swan Yard, Islington, London N1 1SD 

48 West 21st Street 4th Floor, New York NY 10010,  United States 

Funcent DMG Information Technology 
Hong Kong Company Ltd 

27/F 248 Queen’s Road East, Wanchai, Hong Kong 

Hong Kong 

Global Event Partners Ltd 

Suite 1, 3rd Floor, 11-12 St. James’s Square,  London SW1Y 4LB  

Independent Television News Ltd 

200 Grays Inn Road, London WC1X 8XZ 

iProf Learning Solutions India Pte Ltd  G-15 / G-3, Gf Dilshad Colony, New Delhi, 110095, India 

Liases Foras Real Estate Rating and 
Research Private Ltd 

Corporation Service Company, 2711 Centerville Road, Suite 400, 
Wilmington, DE 19808, United States 

LineVision, Inc. 

501 Boylston St, Suite 4102, Boston, MA 02116 USA 

Mercatus, Inc. 

OYO RMS Corporation 

Praedicat, Inc. 

Propstack Services Private Ltd 

Real Capital Analytics, Inc. 

1735 Technology Dr, Suite 250, San Jose, California 95110,  
United States 

Akasaka Kikyo Building 4th Floor, 11-15 Akasaka 3-Chome, 
Minato-Ku, Tokyo, 107-0052 Japan 

Corporation Service Company, 2711 Centerville Road, Suite 400, 
Wilmington, DE 19808, United States 

1st & 2nd Floor, Nyay Sagar Bdlg, Kalanagar, Bandra (East), 
Mumbai – 400 051 

32 Union Square East, Suite 1100, New York, NY10003,  
United States 

RLTO Ltd 

Office 7 35-37 Ludgate Hill, London EC4M 7JN  

Skymet Weather Services Private Ltd 

109, Kushal Bazar, Nehru Place, New Delhi – 110019 

Truffle Pig, LLC 

WellAware Holdings, Inc. 

3411 Silverside Road, Rodney Building, Suite 104, Wilmington, 
New Castle, Delaware, United States 

2330 N Loop 1604 W, Ste 110, San Antonio, TX 78248,  
United States 

Wellington Weekly News Ltd 

The Old Court House, Union Road, Farnham, Surrey 

Whereoware, LLC 

Yopa Property Ltd 

Zipjet Ltd  

Corporation Service Company, 2711 Centerville Road, Suite 400, 
Wilmington, DE 19808, United States 

22 Arlington Street, London, SW1A 1RD  

Unit 2, York House, 2 Avonmore Road, London, W14 8RL   

USA 

Series A, Common 

UK 

UK 

UK 

UK 

USA 

UK 

UK 

India 

India 

USA 

USA 

Series A1 

Ordinary 

Ordinary 

B Ordinary 

Ordinary 

Ordinary 

Ordinary 

Ordinary 

Ordinary 

Equity Share, Series 
A Compulsary, 
Cumulative 
Convertible 
Preference Shares 

Series A 

Ordinary 

Japan 

Ordinary 

USA 

Preference 

India 

USA 

UK 

India 

Ordinary 

Common Preference 
shares 

Ordinary 

Ordinary 

USA 

Common Units 

USA 

UK 

USA 

UK 

UK 

Preference 

Ordinary 

Membership 
Interests 

C-2 Preference 

Series A1  

S
t
r
a
t
e
g
i
c
R
e
p
o
r
t

G
o
v
e
r
n
a
n
c
e

F
i

n
a
n
c
i
a
l

S
t
a
t
e
m
e
n
t
s

S
h
a
r
e
h
o

l

d
e
r

I
n
f
o
r
m
a
t
i

o
n

20.0% 

7.7% 

100% 

49.8% 

23.9% 

49.9% 

23.6% 

15.0% 

20.0% 

10.8% 

30.5% 

55.9% 

10.8% 

19.6% 

25.9% 

21.8% 

39.7% 

20.0% 

14.7% 

45.0% 

8.2% 

20.0% 

19.5% 

25.8% 

22.1% 

183

183 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Financial Statements

Financial Statements 
Notes to the accounts 

47 Full list of Group undertakings continued 

Investment name 
BDG Media, Inc. 

Brit Media, Inc. 

Compstak, Inc. 

Cue Ball Capital LP 

Address of principal place of business 
559 Driggs Avenue, Suite 2, Brooklyn, NY 11211, United States 

556 Sutter Street, San Francisco, CA 94102, United States 

Corporation Service Company, 2711 Centerville Road,  
Suite 400, Wilmington, DE 19808, United States 

The Corporation Trust Company, 1209 Orange Street, 
Wilmington, DE 19801, United States 

Evening Standard Ltd 

Northcliffe House, 2 Derry Street, London W8 5TT 

Financial Network Analytics Ltd 

4 Crown Place, London EC2A 4BT 

Hambro Perks Ltd 

8 Greencoat Place, London SW1P 1PL  

Kortext Ltd 

Labrador Ltd 

26-32 Oxford Road, Suite B, 6th Floor, Avalon House, 
Bournemouth, Dorset, BH8 8EZ  

8 Greencoat Place, London, SW1P 1PL 

Live Better With Ltd 

Rocketspace, 40 Islington High Street, London N1 8XB 

London Real Estate Exchange Ltd 

Cannon Place, 78 Cannon Street, London EC4N 6AF 

PA Group Ltd 

PA News Centre, 292 Vauxhall Bridge Road, London SW1V 1AV 

Pascal Metrics, Inc. 

Corporation Service Company, 2711 Centerville Road, Suite 400, 
Wilmington, DE 19808, United States 

Pembroke Holdings, LLC 

46 Southfield Ave Ste 400, Stamford CT 06902, United States 

Taboola.com Ltd 

7 Totseret Haaretz St., Tel-Aviv Israel 

233 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 525, Santa Monica,  
California 90401, United States C/O Mesa Global 

Corporation Service Company, 251 Little Falls Drive, Wilmington, 
DE 19808, United States 

Nazca IT Solutions BV 

Standerdmolen 20, 3995 AA Houten, Netherlands 

Netherlands 

Country of 
incorporation or 
registration 
USA 

USA 

USA 

Classes of  
shares held 
Ordinary 

Ordinary 

Common 

USA 

Partnership Units 

UK 

UK 

UK 

UK 

UK 

UK 

UK 

UK 

USA 

USA 

Israel  

USA 

USA 

Ordinary, Ordinary 
Non Voting 

Ordinary 

C Ordinary 

Ordinary 

Ordinary 

B Ordinary 

Ordinary 

Ordinary 

Ordinary 

Ordinary 

Membership 
Interests 

Ordinary 

Membership 
interests 

Ordinary 

Membership 
interests 

Common 

13th Avenue, Suite 202 Brooklyn, New York, 11228, United States 

100 Corporate Pointe, Suite 100, Culver City, CA 90230  

Argentina 

USA 

TigerBeat Media, LLC 

Upstream Group, Inc. 

Workana, LLC 

Xap Corporation 

184

184 

% shareholding 
3.2% 

9.1% 

2.0% 

2.5% 

10.0% 

10.0% 

3.1% 

2.4% 

8.6% 

5.0% 

2.8% 

15.0% 

15.6% 

4.3% 

10.0% 

0.4% 

12.8% 

3.6% 

4.0% 

19.4% 

S
t
r
a
t
e
g
i
c
R
e
p
o
r
t

G
o
v
e
r
n
a
n
c
e

F
i

n
a
n
c
i
a
l

S
t
a
t
e
m
e
n
t
s

S
h
a
r
e
h
o

l

d
e
r

I
n
f
o
r
m
a
t
i

o
n

 
 
 
 
Daily Mail and General Trust plc Annual Report 2018

Five-Year Financial Summary 

Consolidated Income Statement 

Revenue 
Adjusted operating profit 
Exceptional operating costs, impairment of internally generated and 
acquired computer software, property, plant and equipment and 
investment property, amortisation and impairment of acquired 
intangible assets arising on business combinations and impairment  
of goodwill 

Operating profit/(loss) before share of results from joint ventures  
and associates 
Share of results of joint ventures and associates 

Total operating profit/(loss) 
Other gains and losses 

Profit/(loss) before investment revenue, net finance costs and tax 
Investment revenue 
Net finance costs 

Profit/(loss) before tax 
Tax 

Profit/(loss) for the year after tax 
Discontinued operations 
Equity interests of minority shareholders 

Profit for the year 

52 weeks  
ended 
30 September 
2014 
£m 
1,811.2 
296.2 

Year  
ended 
30 September 
2015 
£m 
1,842.7 
287.0 

Year  
ended 
30 September 
2016 
£m 
1,514.2 
177.0 

Year  
ended 
30 September 
2017 
£m 
1,564.3 
179.0 

Year  
ended 
30 September 
2018 
£m 
1,426.4 
144.9 

(112.2) 

(80.2) 

(91.4) 

(324.4) 

184.0 
14.3 
198.3 
138.9 
337.2 
10.1 
(80.3) 
267.0 
(18.3) 
248.7 
34.3 
(20.1) 
262.9 

206.8 
11.3 
218.1 
82.4 
300.5 
4.0 
(88.4) 
216.1 
(20.8) 
195.3 
50.0 
(28.7) 
216.6 

85.6 
4.9 
90.5 
130.8 
221.3 
2.2 
(21.8) 
201.7 
(19.9) 
181.8 
32.4 
(10.0) 
204.2 

(145.4) 
16.9 
(128.5) 
14.0 
(114.5) 
2.5 
(0.3) 
(112.3) 
(64.7) 
(177.0) 
519.3 
3.0 
345.3 

(94.7) 

50.2 
118.4 
168.6 
553.0 
721.6 
4.8 
(34.5) 
691.9 
(3.7) 
688.2 
– 
1.2 
689.4 

Adjusted profit before tax and non-controlling interests 

291.1 

280.5 

259.6 

226.1 

182.3 

Earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation and  
amortisation (EBITDA) 

391.1 

376.8 

363.7 

350.4 

Adjusted profit after taxation and non-controlling interests 

207.4 

215.5 

197.8 

196.3 

Earnings/(loss) per share 
Number of shares for basic 
Number of shares for diluted 
Profit effect of dilutive shares 

From continuing operations 
Basic 
Diluted 
From discontinued operations 
Basic 
Diluted 
From continuing and discontinued operations 
Basic 
Diluted 
Adjusted earnings per share 
Basic 
Diluted 

372.4 
378.2 
(0.7) 

61.4p 
60.2p 

9.2p 
9.1p 

70.6p 
69.3p 

55.7p 
54.6p 

360.8 
366.5 
(0.3) 

46.2p 
45.4p 

13.9p 
13.6p 

60.1p 
59.0p 

59.7p 
58.7p 

353.4 
360.6 
(0.9) 

48.6p 
47.4p 

9.2p 
9.0p 

57.8p 
56.4p 

56.0p 
54.7p 

353.1 
358.6 
(0.1) 

(49.3)p 
(48.5)p 

147.1p 
144.8p 

97.8p 
96.3p 

55.6p 
54.7p 

287.7 

149.3 

354.1 
358.4 
– 

194.7p 
192.4p 

– 
– 

194.7p 
192.4p 

42.2p 
41.7p 

185

S
t
r
a
t
e
g
i
c
R
e
p
o
r
t

G
o
v
e
r
n
a
n
c
e

F
i

n
a
n
c
i
a
l

S
t
a
t
e
m
e
n
t
s

S
h
a
r
e
h
o

l

d
e
r

I
n
f
o
r
m
a
t
i

o
n

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Financial Statements

Financial Statements 
Five-Year Financial Summary 

Consolidated Cash Flow Statement 

Net cash inflow from operating activities 
Investing activities 
Financing activities 

Net increase/(decrease) in cash and cash equivalents 

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year 
Exchange gain/(loss) on cash and cash equivalents 

Cash and cash equivalents at end of year 

Net increase/(decrease) in cash and cash equivalents 
Cash inflow/(outflow) from change in debt and finance leases 

Change in net debt from cash flows 
Loan notes issued and loans arising from acquisitions 
Other non-cash items 

Decrease/(increase) in net debt in the year 

2014 
£m 
218.4 
26.0 
(302.7) 
(58.3) 

88.5 
(1.2) 

29.0 

(58.3) 
31.3 
(27.0) 
(3.0) 
0.2 
(29.8) 

2015 
£m 
259.7 
(44.2) 
(212.2) 
3.3 

29.0 
(0.8) 

31.5 

3.3 
(86.9) 
(83.6) 
– 
(15.1) 
(98.7) 

2016 
£m 
232.1 
(35.8) 
(214.6) 
(18.3) 

31.5 
4.3 

17.5 

(18.3) 
101.5 
83.2 
(0.2) 
(60.2) 
22.8 

Net debt at start of year 
Net cash/(debt) at end of year 

(573.0) 
(602.8) 

(602.8) 
(701.5) 

(701.5) 
(678.7) 

Consolidated Statement of Financial Position 

Goodwill and intangible assets 
Tangible assets 
Fixed asset investments 
Other non-current assets 

Fixed assets 
Net current liabilities 
Long-term liabilities 

Net assets 

Shareholders’ equity 
Called-up share capital 
Share premium account 
Other reserves 
Minority interests 
Retained earnings 

Total equity 

Shareholder information 

Dividend per share* 
Price of A Ordinary Non-Voting Shares:  
Lowest 
Highest 

2014 
£m 
1,125.3 
202.0 
145.9 
213.6 
1,686.8 
(511.1) 
(785.1) 

390.6 

49.2 
17.8 
(240.7) 
117.8 
446.5 
390.6 

2014 
20.40p 

£6.99 
£10.74 

2015 
£m 
1,332.6 
181.1 
157.0 
230.7 
1,901.4 
(363.2) 
(1,078.4) 

459.8 

45.4 
17.8 
(97.3) 
154.9 
339.0 
459.8 

2015 
21.40p 

£6.99 
£10.74 

2016 
£m 
1,480.8 
176.1 
165.9 
285.5 
2,108.3 
(443.3) 
(1,135.7) 

529.3 

45.3 
17.8 
(71.8) 
178.2 
359.8 
529.3 

2016 
22.00p 

£5.71 
£7.90 

*Represents the dividends declared by the Directors in respect of the above years. 

186

186 

2017 
£m 
219.5 
138.6 
(368.4) 
(10.3) 

17.5 
0.2 

7.4 

(10.3) 
217.0 
206.7 
– 
7.7 
214.4 

(678.7) 
(464.3) 

2017 
£m 
576.1 
103.3 
766.0 
189.9 
1,635.3 
(174.5) 
(541.6) 

919.2 

45.3 
17.8 
15.6 
11.0 
829.5 
919.2 

2017 
22.70p 

£6.06 
£8.36 

2018 
£m 
115.0 
481.3 
(169.4) 
426.9 

7.4 
1.6 

435.9 

426.9 
268.4 
695.3 
– 
1.7 
697.0 

(464.3) 
232.7 

2018 
£m 
464.4 
99.7 
785.8 
358.4 
1,708.3 
217.6 
(250.6) 

1,675.3 

45.3 
17.8 
1.3 
13.5 
1,597.4 
1,675.3 

2018 
23.30p 

£5.00 
£7.81 

S
t
r
a
t
e
g
i
c
R
e
p
o
r
t

G
o
v
e
r
n
a
n
c
e

F
i

n
a
n
c
i
a
l

S
t
a
t
e
m
e
n
t
s

S
h
a
r
e
h
o

l

d
e
r

I
n
f
o
r
m
a
t
i

o
n

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Daily Mail and General Trust plc Annual Report 2018

Company Statement of Financial Position 

At 30 September 2018 

ASSETS 
Fixed assets 
Property, plant and equipment 
Shares in Group undertakings 
Other investments 
Trade and other receivables 

Current assets 
Trade and other receivables 
Other financial assets 
Cash at bank and in hand 
Deferred tax 

Total assets 

LIABILITIES 
Creditors: amounts falling due within one year 
Trade and other payables 
Borrowings 

Creditors: amounts falling due after more than one year 
Borrowings 
Derivative financial liabilities 

Total liabilities 

Net assets 

CAPITAL AND RESERVES 
Called-up share capital 
Share premium account 
Share capital 
Reserve for own shares 
Capital redemption reserve 
Profit and loss account 

Equity shareholders’ funds 

At  
30 September  
2018 
£m 

At  
30 September  
2017 
£m 

Note 

5 
8 
9 
10 

10 
11 
12 
15 

13 
13 

14 
14 

16 

16 
17 
18 

0.9  
3,033.6  
6.5  
167.7  
3,208.7  

59.3  
237.3  
363.8  
3.8  
664.2  
3,872.9  

(102.7) 
(218.7) 
(321.4) 

(205.7) 
(20.1) 
(225.8) 
(547.2) 

– 
3,349.0  
5.7  
169.1  
3,523.8  

81.2  
–  
0.1  
2.5  
83.8  
3,607.6  

(140.2) 
(2.5) 
(142.7) 

(469.8) 
(18.8) 
(488.6) 
(631.3) 

3,325.7  

2,976.3  

45.3  
17.8  
63.1  
(57.2) 
5.2  
3,314.6  

45.3  
17.8  
63.1  
(64.3) 
5.2  
2,972.3  

3,325.7  

2,976.3  

The financial statements on pages 187 to 194 were approved by the Directors and authorised for issue on 29 November 2018. They were signed on 
their behalf by: 

The Viscount Rothermere 
P Zwillenberg 
Directors

187

187 

S
t
r
a
t
e
g
i
c
R
e
p
o
r
t

G
o
v
e
r
n
a
n
c
e

F
i

n
a
n
c
i
a
l

S
t
a
t
e
m
e
n
t
s

S
h
a
r
e
h
o

l

d
e
r

I
n
f
o
r
m
a
t
i

o
n

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Financial Statements

Financial Statements 
Company Statement of Changes in Equity 

Called-up 
share 
capital 
£m 
45.3  
–  

Share 
premium 
account 
£m 
17.8  
–  

Capital 
redemption 
reserve 
£m 
5.2  
–  

Reserve for own 
shares 
£m 
(74.6) 
–  

Profit and loss 
account 
£m 
2,928.7  
127.9  

For the year ended 30 September 2018 

At 30 September 2016 
Profit for the period 

Total comprehensive income for the period 
Dividends paid 
Credit to equity for share-based payments 
Deferred tax on share-based payments 
Own shares acquired in the period 
Own shares released on vesting of share options 

–  
–  
–  
–  
–  
–  

–  
–  
–  
–  
–  
–  

At 30 September 2017 
Profit for the period 

45.3  
–  

17.8  
–  

Total comprehensive income for the period 
Dividends paid 
Credit to equity for share-based payments 
Deferred tax on share-based payments 
Own shares acquired in the period 
Own shares released on vesting of share options 

–  
–  
–  
–  
–  
–  

–  
–  
–  
–  
–  
–  

Total 
£m 
2,922.4  
127.9  

127.9  
(78.3) 
(3.8) 
(1.5) 
(28.6) 
38.2  

127.9  
(78.3) 
(3.8) 
(1.5) 
–  
(0.7) 

2,972.3  
417.9 

2,976.3  
417.9 

417.9 
(81.0) 
7.6  
(1.5) 
–  
(0.7) 

417.9 
(81.0) 
7.6  
(1.5) 
(14.3) 
20.7  

–  
–  
–  
–  
–  
–  

5.2  
–  

–  
–  
–  
–  
–  
–  

–  
–  
–  
–  
(28.6) 
38.9  

(64.3) 
–  

–  
–  
–  
–  
(14.3) 
21.4  

At 30 September 2018 

45.3  

17.8  

5.2  

(57.2) 

3,314.6  

3,325.7  

188

188 

S
t
r
a
t
e
g
i
c
R
e
p
o
r
t

G
o
v
e
r
n
a
n
c
e

F
i

n
a
n
c
i
a
l

S
t
a
t
e
m
e
n
t
s

S
h
a
r
e
h
o

l

d
e
r

I
n
f
o
r
m
a
t
i

o
n

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Daily Mail and General Trust plc Annual Report 2018

Notes to the Company Statement 
of Financial Performance 

1 Basis of preparation 
The financial statements of Daily Mail and General Trust plc have been prepared in accordance with Financial Reporting Standard 101, ‘Reduced 
Disclosure Framework’ (FRS 101). The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention, and in accordance with the 
Companies Act 2006. The preparation of financial statements in conformity with FRS 101 requires the use of certain critical accounting estimates.  
It also requires management to exercise its judgement in the process of applying the Company’s accounting policies. See Note 2 for further detail. 

Profit for the financial year 
As permitted by Section 408 of the Companies Act 2006, a separate profit and loss account for the Company has not been included in these 
accounts. The Company’s profit after tax for the year was £417.9 million (2017 £127.9 million). This includes dividends receivable from subsidiary 
undertakings amounting to £781.8 million (2017 £152.2 million). 

Impact of amendments to accounting standards 
The Company has applied the exemption available under FRS 101 in relation to paragraphs 30 and 31 of IAS 8, Accounting policies, changes in 
accounting estimates and errors (requirement for the disclosure of information when an entity has not applied a new IFRS that has been issued and 
is not yet effective). 

2 Significant accounting policies 
Foreign exchange 
Transactions in currencies other than the Company’s reporting currency are recorded at the exchange rate prevailing on the date of the transaction. 
At each balance sheet date, monetary items denominated in foreign currencies are retranslated at the rates prevailing on the balance sheet date. 
Non-monetary items carried at fair value that are denominated in foreign currencies are retranslated at the rate prevailing on the date when fair 
value was determined. Non-monetary items that are measured in terms of historical cost in a foreign currency are not retranslated. Exchange 
differences arising on the settlement of monetary items, and on the retranslation of monetary items, are included in the profit and loss account for 
the period. 

Available-for-sale investments 
Available-for-sale investments are stated at cost, less any provision for impairment, where appropriate. 

Taxation 
Current tax, including UK corporation tax and foreign tax, is provided at amounts expected to be paid (or recovered) using the tax rates and laws 
that have been enacted or substantively enacted by the balance sheet date. Deferred tax is provided in full on timing differences that result in an 
obligation at the balance sheet date to pay more tax, or a right to pay less tax, at a future date, at rates expected to apply when they crystallise  
based on current tax rates and law. Timing differences arise from the inclusion of items of income and expenditure in taxation computations in 
periods different from those in which they are included in financial statements. Deferred tax is not provided on timing differences arising from the 
revaluation of fixed assets where there is no commitment to sell the asset, or on unremitted earnings of subsidiaries and associates where there is 
no commitment to remit these earnings. Deferred tax assets are recognised to the extent that it is regarded as more likely than not that they will be 
recovered. Deferred tax is not discounted. 

Financial instruments disclosures 
Financial assets 
Trade and other receivables 
Trade receivables do not carry any interest and are stated at their nominal value as reduced by appropriate allowances for estimated irrecoverable 
amounts. The majority of other receivables relate to amounts owed by subsidiary undertakings. Further information concerning interest charged  
on these receivables is set out in Note 10. 

Cash and cash equivalents 
Cash and cash equivalents comprise cash in hand, short-term deposits and other short-term highly liquid investments that are readily convertible  
to a known amount of cash and are subject to an insignificant risk of changes in value. 

Financial liabilities and equity instruments 
Financial liabilities and equity instruments issued by the Company are classified according to the substance of the contractual arrangements 
entered into. An equity instrument is any contract that evidences a residual interest in the assets of the Company after deducting all of its liabilities. 

Trade and other payables 
Trade payables are non-interest bearing and are stated at their nominal value. 

Capital market and bank borrowings 
Interest bearing loans and overdrafts are initially measured at fair value (which is equal to net proceeds at inception), and are subsequently 
measured at amortised cost, using the effective interest rate method. A portion of the Company’s bonds are subject to fair value hedge accounting 
and this portion of the carrying value is adjusted for the movement in the hedged risk to the extent hedge effectiveness is achieved. Any difference 
between the proceeds, net of transaction costs and the settlement or redemption of borrowings is recognised over the term of the borrowing. 

Equity instruments 
Equity instruments issued by the Company are recorded at the proceeds received, net of direct issue costs. 

Financial assets and liabilities are offset and the net amount reported in the balance sheet when there is a legally enforceable right to settle on a net 
basis, or realise the asset and liability simultaneously. 

S
t
r
a
t
e
g
i
c
R
e
p
o
r
t

G
o
v
e
r
n
a
n
c
e

F
i

n
a
n
c
i
a
l

S
t
a
t
e
m
e
n
t
s

S
h
a
r
e
h
o

l

d
e
r

I
n
f
o
r
m
a
t
i

o
n

189

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Financial Statements

Financial Statements 
Notes to the Company Statement 
of Financial Performance 

Derivative financial instruments and hedge accounting 
The Company’s activities expose it to the financial risks of changes in foreign exchange rates and interest rates. The Company uses various 
derivative financial instruments to manage its exposure to these risks. 

The use of financial derivatives is set out in Note 34 of the Group’s Annual Report. The Company does not use derivative financial instruments for 
speculative purposes. 

The Company does not apply hedge accounting except for fair value hedges. Gains and losses arising on derivatives that form part of net investment 
hedge or cash flow hedge relationships in the consolidated financial statements are recorded in the profit and loss account in the Company. 

Financial instruments – disclosures 
The Company has taken advantage of the exemption provided in IFRS 7, Financial Instruments: Disclosures and included disclosures relating  
to financial instruments in Note 34 of the Group’s Annual Report. 

Cash flow statement 
The Company has utilised the exemptions provided under IAS 7, Statement of Cash Flows and has not presented a cash flow statement.  
A consolidated cash flow statement has been presented in the Group’s Annual Report. 

Related party transactions 
The Company has taken advantage of the exemptions of IAS 24, Related Party Disclosures and included disclosures relating to related parties  
in Note 44 of the Group’s Annual Report. 

Share-based payments 
The Company operates the Group’s LTIP and other Group share-based payment schemes, details of which can be found in Note 42 of the Group’s 
Annual Report. 

Retirement benefits 
The defined benefit pension schemes’ surpluses/deficits have been allocated to Group companies on a buy-out basis – that is of an estimate of the 
liabilities and assets of the defined benefit schemes as at 30 September 2018. Accordingly the Company has not recorded an asset or liability in 
relation to the Group’s defined benefit scheme. 

Further information can be found in Note 35 of the Group’s Annual Report. 

Critical accounting judgements and key sources of estimation uncertainty 
The following represents the key source of estimation uncertainty that has the most significant effect on the amounts recognised in the  
financial statements: 

Impairment reviews are performed when there is an indicator that the carrying value of the shares in Group undertakings could exceed their 
recoverable values based on their value in use or fair value less costs to sell. Value in use is calculated by discounting future expected cash flows. 
These calculations use cash flow projections based on Board-approved budgets and projections which reflect management’s current experience  
and future expectations of the markets in which the Group undertaking operates. Risk adjusted pre-tax discount rates used by the Company in its 
impairment tests range from 10.2% to 16.0%, the choice of rates depending on the risks specific to that cash generating unit (CGU). The cash flow 
projections consist of Board-approved budgets for the following year, together with forecasts for up to two additional years and nominal long-term 
growth rates beyond these periods. The nominal long-term (decline)/growth rates range from (3.0%) to 7.00% and vary with management’s view  
of the CGU’s market position, maturity of the relevant market and do not exceed the long-term average growth rate for the market in which the  
CGU operates. 

The carrying value of the investment in Group undertakings is £3.0 billion (2017 £3.3 billion). If the growth rate assumptions were reduced or the 
discount rate was increased this would result in an additional impairment charge. 

3 Auditor’s remuneration 
Statutory audit fees relating to the Company amounted to £0.3 million (2017 £0.3 million). 

4 Employees 

Average number of persons employed by the Company including Directors : 

Total staff costs comprised: 
Wages and salaries 
Share-based payments 
Social security costs 
Pension costs 

2018 
Number 
18 

2017 
Number 
14 

2018 
£m 

4.2 
5.6 
2.1 
0.1 
12.0 

2017 
£m 

5.6 
(1.1) 
0.4 
0.1 
5.0 

The remuneration of the Directors of the Company during the year are disclosed in the Remuneration Report of the Group’s Annual Report.   

190

190 

S
t
r
a
t
e
g
i
c
R
e
p
o
r
t

G
o
v
e
r
n
a
n
c
e

F
i

n
a
n
c
i
a
l

S
t
a
t
e
m
e
n
t
s

S
h
a
r
e
h
o

l

d
e
r

I
n
f
o
r
m
a
t
i

o
n

                                                                                                                                                                                       
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Daily Mail and General Trust plc Annual Report 2018

Fixtures, fittings 
and artwork 
£m 

 – 
 – 

 – 
 – 
0.9 

0.9 

 – 

0.9 

5 Property, plant and equipment 

Cost 
At 30 September 2016 
Additions 
Disposals 

At 30 September 2017 
Additions 

At 30 September 2018 

Net book value – 2017 

Net book value – 2018 

6 Tax 
There was a current tax credit for the year of £8.7 million (2017 £7.8 million). 

7 Dividends 
During the year, the Company paid a final dividend for the year ended 30 September 2017 of 15.3 pence per share and an interim dividend for the 
year ended 30 September 2018 of 6.9 pence to Ordinary and A Ordinary shareholders amounting to £81.0 million (2017 £78.3 million). 

The Board has declared a final dividend for the year ended 30 September 2018 of 16.2 pence per Ordinary/A Ordinary Non-Voting Share  
(2017 15.8 pence) which will absorb an estimated £57.3 million (2017 £55.8 million) of shareholders’ equity for which no liability has been recognised 
in these financial statements. It will be paid on 8 February 2019 to shareholders on the register at the close of business on 7 December 2018. 

8 Shares in Group undertakings (listed on pages 179 to 182) 

At 30 September 2017 
Additions 
Impairment charge 
Disposals 

At 30 September 2018 

Analysis of movements in the year 
Daily Mail and General Holdings Ltd 

9 Other investments 

At 30 September 2017 
Additions 

At 30 September 2018 

10 Trade and other receivables 

Amounts falling due after more than one year 
Amounts owed by Group undertakings 
Other financial assets 
Derivative financial assets 

(i) 

Included within amounts owed by Group undertakings is an amount owed by a subsidiary company, DMGZ Ltd, of £150.0 million  
(2017 £150.0 million). The loan bears interest at 6.3% p.a. and is repayable on 30 September 2024. 

(ii)  Details of the Company’s derivative financial assets are set out in Note 34 of the Group’s Annual Report. 

S
t
r
a
t
e
g
i
c
R
e
p
o
r
t

G
o
v
e
r
n
a
n
c
e

F
i

n
a
n
c
i
a
l

S
t
a
t
e
m
e
n
t
s

S
h
a
r
e
h
o

l

d
e
r

I
n
f
o
r
m
a
t
i

o
n

Cost 
£m 
3,533.0 
4.6 
– 
(184.0) 

3,353.6 

Provision 
£m 
(184.0) 
 – 
(320.0) 
184.0 

 (320.0) 

Net book value 
£m 
3,349.0 
4.6 
(320.0) 
 – 

3,033.6 

Additions 
£m 

4.6 

Cost and net book 
value 
£m 
5.7 
0.8 

6.5 

Note 

(i) 

(ii) 

2018 
£m 

150.0 
8.0 
9.7 
167.7 

2017 
£m 

150.0 
14.5 
4.6 
169.1 

191

191 

 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Financial Statements

Financial Statements 
Notes to the Company Statement 
of Financial Performance 

10 Trade and other receivables continued 

Amounts falling due within one year 
Amounts owed by Group undertakings 
Prepayments and accrued income 
Other receivables 
Corporation tax 

11 Other financial assets 

Cash deposits 

2018 
£m 

48.7 
0.9 
0.2 
9.5 
59.3 

2018 
£m 
237.3 

2017 
£m 

70.7 
2.6 
0.2 
7.7 
81.2 

2017 
£m 
– 

Represents cash deposits held with the Group’s bank counterparties with an original maturity date of three months or more. As required by IAS 7, 
Statement of Cash Flows, these have been classified within other financial assets. 

12 Cash at bank and in hand 

Cash at bank and in hand 

13 Trade and other payables falling due within one year 

5.75 % Bonds 2018 
Bank overdrafts 
Interest payable 
Amounts owing to Group undertakings 
Accruals and deferred income 
Other payables 

Note 

(i) 

(i)  Amounts owing to Group undertakings are repayable on demand and bear interest of UK bank base rate plus 0.5%. 

14 Trade and other payables falling due after more than one year 

5.75 % Bonds 2018 
10.00 % Bonds 2021 
6.375 % Bonds 2027 
Bank loans 
Derivative financial liabilities 

The nominal values of the bonds are as follows: 

5.75 % Bonds 2018 
10.00 % Bonds 2021 
6.375 % Bonds 2027 

Note 

(i) 

2018 
£m 
363.8 

2018 
£m 
218.7 
 – 
14.2 
79.5 
8.8 
0.2 
321.4 

2018 
£m 
 – 
9.1 
196.6 
 – 
20.1 
225.8 

2018 
£m 
218.5 
7.2 
200.0 
425.7 

2017 
£m 
0.1 

2017 
£m 
 – 
2.5 
14.2 
121.5 
4.5 
 – 
142.7 

2017 
£m 
216.2 
10.0 
197.3 
46.3 
18.8 
488.6 

2017 
£m 
218.5 
7.2 
200.0 
425.7 

(i)  Details of the Company’s derivative financial liabilities are set out in Note 34 of the Group’s Annual Report. 

192

192 

S
t
r
a
t
e
g
i
c
R
e
p
o
r
t

G
o
v
e
r
n
a
n
c
e

F
i

n
a
n
c
i
a
l

S
t
a
t
e
m
e
n
t
s

S
h
a
r
e
h
o

l

d
e
r

I
n
f
o
r
m
a
t
i

o
n

                                                                                                                                                                                       
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Daily Mail and General Trust plc Annual Report 2018

The Company’s bonds have been adjusted from their nominal values to take account of the premia, direct issue costs, discounts and movements  
in hedged risks. The issue costs, premia and discounts are being amortised over the expected lives of the bonds using the effective interest method. 
The unamortised issue costs amount to £0.6 million (2017 £0.9 million) and the unamortised premia amounts to £1.2 million (2017 £4.1 million). 

Details of the fair value of the Company’s bonds are set out in Note 33 of the Group’s Annual Report. 

The bonds are subject to fair value hedging using derivatives as set out in Note 34 of the Group’s Annual Report. Consequently, their carrying value  
is also adjusted to take into account the effects of this hedging activity. 

The book value of the Company’s other borrowings equates to fair value.  

The interest rate charged on the Company’s bank loans during the year ranged as follows: 

Sterling 
US dollar 

The maturity profile of the Company’s borrowings is as follows: 

2018 
High 
1.99% 
2.96% 

2018 
Low 
0.98% 
2.30% 

2017 
High 
1.95% 
2.75% 

Overdrafts 
£m 

Bank loans 
£m 

Bonds 
£m 

Owed to group 
undertakings 
£m 

2017 
Low 
0.98% 
1.46% 

Total 
£m 

218.7 

79.5 

298.2 

 – 

 – 
 – 
 – 

 – 

2.5 

 – 
 – 
 – 
 – 

2.5 

 – 

 – 
 – 
 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 
46.3 
 – 
46.3 

46.3 

2018 
Within one year 

Between two and five years 
Over five years 

2017 
Within one year 

Between one and two years 
Between two and five years 
Over five years 

15  Deferred tax 
Movements on the deferred tax asset were as follows: 

At start of year 
Share-based payments 
Tax charge/(credit) for the year 

At end of year 

9.1 
196.6 
205.7 

424.4 

 – 

216.2 
10.0 
197.3 
423.5 

423.5 

 – 
 – 
 – 

79.5 

 – 

 – 
 – 
 – 
 – 

 – 

2018 
£m 
2.5 
0.3 
1.0 
3.8 

In the opinion of the Directors, it is more likely than not that the Company will be able to recover the deferred tax asset against suitable future 
taxable profits generated by its subsidiary undertakings. 

9.1 
196.6 
205.7 

503.9 

2.5 

216.2 
56.3 
197.3 
469.8 

472.3 

2017 
£m 
5.1 
(1.5) 
(1.1) 
2.5 

193

193 

S
t
r
a
t
e
g
i
c
R
e
p
o
r
t

G
o
v
e
r
n
a
n
c
e

F
i

n
a
n
c
i
a
l

S
t
a
t
e
m
e
n
t
s

S
h
a
r
e
h
o

l

d
e
r

I
n
f
o
r
m
a
t
i

o
n

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Financial Statements

Financial Statements 
Notes to the Company Statement 
of Financial Performance 

16 Capital and Reserves 
Share premium account: 

At start and end of year 

Own shares: 

At start of year 
Additions 
Own shares released on vesting of share options 

At end of year 

2018 
£m 
17.8 

2018 
£m 
(64.3) 
(14.3) 
21.4 
(57.2) 

2017 
£m 
17.8 

2017 
£m 
(74.6) 
(28.6) 
38.9 
(64.3) 

The Company’s investment in its own shares are shares held in treasury or shares held by an employee benefit trust to satisfy incentive schemes.  
At 30 September 2018, this investment comprised the cost of 4,812,419 A Ordinary Non-Voting Shares (2017 4,812,419) held in treasury  
and 2,981,109  A Ordinary Non-Voting Shares (2017 3,710,764) held in the employee benefit trust. The market value of the Treasury Shares  
at 30 September 2018 was £33.8 million (2017 £31.2 million) and the market value of the shares held in the employee benefit trust at  
30 September 2018 was £20.9 million (2017 £24.1 million). 

The employee benefit trust is independently managed and has purchased shares in order to satisfy outstanding share options and potential awards 
under the long-term incentive plan.  

The Treasury Shares are considered to be a realised loss for the purposes of calculating distributable reserves. 

17 Capital redemption reserve 

At start and end of year 

18 Profit and loss account 

At start of year 
Net profit for the period 
Dividends paid 
Other movements on share option schemes 

At end of year 

Total reserves 

£m 
5.2 

2017 
£m 
2,928.7 
127.9 
(78.3) 
(6.0) 
2,972.3 

2018 
£m 
2,972.3 
417.9 
(81.0) 
5.4 
3,314.6 

3,280.4 

2,931.0 

The Directors estimate that £1,511.9 million of the Company’s profit and loss account reserve is not distributable (2017 £1,422.0 million). 

19 Contingent liabilities 
At 30 September 2018 the Company had guaranteed subsidiaries’ outstanding derivatives which had a mark to market liability valuation of £ nil 
(2017 £2.6 million) and letters of credit with a principal value of £3.3 million (2017 £3.5 million). The Company is the guarantor of a loan note 
amounting to £150.0 million (2017 £150.0 million) in respect of the contingent asset partnership referred to in Note 44 of the Group’s Annual Report. 

20 Ultimate holding company 
The Company’s immediate parent company is Rothermere Continuation Limited (RCL), a company incorporated in Bermuda. 

Ultimate controlling party 
RCL is a holding company incorporated in Bermuda. The main asset of RCL is its 100% holding of DMGT Ordinary Shares. RCL has controlled the 
Company for many years and as such is its immediate parent Company. RCL is owned by a trust (the Trust) which is held for the benefit of Viscount 
Rothermere and his immediate family. The Trust represents the ultimate controlling party of the Company. Both RCL and the Trust are administered 
in Jersey, in the Channel Islands. 

21 Post balance sheet events 
Details of the Company’s post balance sheet events can be found within Note 45 of the Group’s Annual Report. 

194

194 

S
t
r
a
t
e
g
i
c
R
e
p
o
r
t

G
o
v
e
r
n
a
n
c
e

F
i

n
a
n
c
i
a
l

S
t
a
t
e
m
e
n
t
s

S
h
a
r
e
h
o

l

d
e
r

I
n
f
o
r
m
a
t
i

o
n

                                                                                                                                                                                       
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Daily Mail and General Trust plc Annual Report 2018

Shareholder Information

Company Secretary and Registered Office
Fran Sallas
Northcliffe House
2 Derry Street
London
W8 5TT
Telephone: +44 (0)20 7938 6000
E-mail: enquiries@dmgt.com
England Registered Number: 184594

Website
The Group’s website (www.dmgt.com) gives information on the Company and its operating companies and includes details of significant 
Group announcements.

Financial calendar 2019

24 January
6 February
8 February
31 March
9 April 
30 May
6 June
7 June
21 June 
28 June 
25 July
30 September
5 December
12 December
13 December

Trading update
Annual General Meeting
Payment of final dividend
Half year end
Payment of interest on bonds 
Half yearly financial report released
Interim ex-dividend date
Interim record date
Payment of interest on bonds 
Payment of interim dividend
Trading update
Year end
Announcement of annual results
Ex-dividend date
Record date

Capital gains tax
The market value of both the Ordinary and A Ordinary Non-Voting Shares (A Shares) in the Company on 31 March 1982 (adjusted for the 1994 
bonus issue of A Shares and for the four-for-one share split in 2000) was 9.75 pence. 

Registrars
All enquiries regarding shareholdings, dividends, lost share certificates, loan notes in the Company and in Daily Mail and General Investments 
Limited or changes of address should be directed to Equiniti, the Company’s Registrars, at the address set out on the following page.

Electronic communications
Equiniti operates Shareview, a free online service which enables shareholders to check their shareholdings and other related information 
and to register to receive notification by email of the release of the Annual Report. It also offers practical help on matters such as transferring 
shares or updating contact details. Shareholders may register for the service at www.shareview.co.uk.

This Annual Report is available electronically on the Company’s website which contains a link to Shareview to enable shareholders to register 
for electronic mailings. Notification by email has been given of the availability of this Annual Report on the Company’s website to those 
shareholders who have registered.

Low-cost share dealing service
Equiniti provides a simple low-cost dealing service for the Company’s A Shares, details of which are available at www.shareview.co.uk/dealing 
or by calling +44 (0) 3456 037 037. Details of this and other low-cost dealing services can be found on the Company’s website at www.dmgt.com.

Share price information
The current price of the Company’s A Shares can be found on the home page of the Company’s website at www.dmgt.com.

195

S
t
r
a
t
e
g
i
c
R
e
p
o
r
t

G
o
v
e
r
n
a
n
c
e

F
i

n
a
n
c
i
a
l

S
t
a
t
e
m
e
n
t
s

S
h
a
r
e
h
o

l

d
e
r

I
n
f
o
r
m
a
t
i

o
n

 
 
 
Shareholder Information

Shareholder Information

Eurobond paying agent
The principal paying agent for the Company’s 10% Bonds due 2021 and the 6.375% Bonds due 2027 is Deutsche Trustee Company Limited, 
Winchester House, 1 Great Winchester St, London EC2N 2DB. The principal paying agent for the Company’s 5.75% Bonds due 2018 is HSBC 
Trustee (CI) Limited, HSBC House, Esplanade, Jersey, Channel Islands JE1 1GT. Enquiries should be directed to John Donegan, Group Financial 
Controller, whose email address is john.donegan@dmgt.com.

CREST
Shareholders have the choice either of holding their shares in electronic form in an account on the CREST system or in the physical form 
of share certificates.

Investor relations
Investor relations are the responsibility of Adam Webster, whose email address is adam.webster@dmgt.com.

ShareGift
In the UK, DMGT supports ShareGift, which is administered by the Orr Mackintosh Foundation (registered charity number 1052686) and which 
operates a charity share donation scheme for shareholders wishing to give small holdings of shares to benefit charitable causes. It may be 
especially useful for those who wish to dispose of a small parcel of shares which would cost more to sell than they are worth. There are no 
capital gains tax implications (i.e. no gain or loss) on gifts of shares to charity and it is also possible to obtain income tax relief. If you would 
like to use ShareGift or receive more information about the scheme, ShareGift can be contacted by visiting its website at www.sharegift.org 
or by writing to ShareGift, 17 Carlton House Terrace, London SW1Y 5AH.

Shareholdings at 30 September 2018
Ordinary Shares

Balance ranges

1–1,000
1,001–5,000
5,001–10,000
10,001–20,000
20,001–50,000
50,001–100,000
100,001–500,000
500,001 and over

Totals

A Shares

Balance ranges

1–1,000 
1,001–5,000 
5,001–10,000 
10,001–20,000 
20,001–50,000 

50,001–100,000 
100,001–500,000 
500,001 and over 

Totals 

Total number of holdings

Percentage of holders

Total number of shares

Percentage issued capital

0
0
0
0
0
0
0
3

3

0.00%
0.00%
0.00%
0.00%
0.00%
0.00%
0.00%
100.00%

100.00%

0
0
0
0
0
0
0
19,890,364

19,890,364

0.00%
0.00%
0.00%
0.00%
0.00%
0.00%
0.00%
100.00%

100.00%

Total number of holdings

Percentage of holders

Total number of shares

Percentage issued capital

758
430
172
109
67

39
63
57

44.72%
25.37%
10.15%
6.43%
3.95%

2.30%
3.72%
3.36%

1,695

100.00%

252,315
1,082,471
1,248,251
1,602,554
2,120,441

2,688,037
15,207,760
318,002,641

342,204,470

0.07%
0.32%
0.36%
0.47%
0.62%

0.79%
4.44%
92.93%

100.00%

Advisers
Credit Suisse Securities (Europe) Limited
One Cabot Square
London E14 4QJ
Telephone: +44 (0)20 7888 8888

Auditor
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
1 Embankment Place
London WC2N 6RH
Telephone: +44 (0)20 7583 5000

J.P. Morgan Securities plc
25 Bank Street
Canary Wharf
London E14 5JP
Telephone: +44 (0)20 7777 2000

196

Registrars
Equiniti Limited
Aspect House
Spencer Road
Lancing
West Sussex BN99 6DA
Telephone: +44 (0)371 384 2302

S
t
r
a
t
e
g
i
c
R
e
p
o
r
t

G
o
v
e
r
n
a
n
c
e

F
i

n
a
n
c
i
a
l

S
t
a
t
e
m
e
n
t
s

S
h
a
r
e
h
o

l

d
e
r

I
n
f
o
r
m
a
t
i

o
n

 
 
 
Visit www.dmgt.com to see what is 
happening across our business and 
the marketplaces in which we operate.

Contact Details
DMGT Head Office 
Northcliffe House 
2 Derry Street 
London W8 5TT 
UK

Tel +44 (0)20 7938 6000 
enquiries@dmgt.com 
www.dmgt.com

Design and production 

This report is printed on UPM Fine offset 
which is FSC® certified, as well as having 
ISO 14001 EMS, EMAS and the European 
EcoLabel. Printed in the UK by Pureprint 
who are a CarbonNeutral® company.

Both manufacturing mill and the printer are 
registered to the Environmental Management 
System ISO 14001 and are Forest Stewardship 
Council® (FSC) chain-of-custody certified.

See our online  
report at  
dmgt.com