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Elementis plc

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FY2018 Annual Report · Elementis plc
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ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS 2018

REIGNITE GROWTH
PORTFOLIO TRANSFORMATION

CONTENTS

STRATEGIC REPORT
1  Elementis Today
8  Chairman’s Statement
10  CEO’s Strategic Overview
14  Portfolio Transformation
16  Our Market Environment
18  Business Model
20  Our Strategy
30  Measuring Our Performance
32  Non-Financial Information Statement
34  Our Business Segments
36  Finance Report
42  Principal Risks and Uncertainties
49  Resources and Relationships
59  Going Concern and Viability Statement

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
61  Chairman’s Introduction
62  Board of Directors 
64  Executive Leadership Team
66  Corporate Governance Report
72  Nomination Committee Report
73  Audit Committee Report
78  Directors’ Remuneration Report
93  Directors’ Report
95  Directors’ Responsibilities
96 

Independent Auditor’s Report

Reignite Growth
We have made material 
progress against our strategic 
priorities and have a strong 
platform for growth in 2019

Board culture
A strong Board culture, and 
throughout the organisation, 
is intrinsic for delivery of the 
Reignite Growth strategy 

REIGNITE GROWTH 
SEE PAGE 20

CHAIRMAN’S INTRODUCTION 
TO GOVERNANCE  
SEE PAGE 61 

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
106 Consolidated Income Statements
106 Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income
107 Consolidated Balance Sheet
108 Consolidated Statement of Changes in Equity
109 Consolidated Cash Flow Statement
110  Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
156 Parent Company Statutory Accounts
158 Notes to the Company Financial Statements
164 Unaudited Pro Forma Information

SHAREHOLDER INFORMATION
165 Five Year Record
166 Glossary
167 Shareholder Services
168 Corporate Information

Financial transparency
We have introduced new 
segmental reporting to 
improve the transparency of 
our financial performance 

FINANCIAL REPORT 
SEE PAGE 36

FOR MORE INFORMATION
www.elementisplc.com 

Cautionary statement
The Annual Report and Accounts for the financial year ended 31 December 2018, 
as contained in this document (‘Annual Report’), contains information which viewers 
or readers might consider to be forward looking statements relating to or in respect 
of the financial condition, results, operations or businesses of Elementis plc. Any 
such statements involve risk and uncertainty because they relate to future events 
and circumstances. There are many factors that could cause actual results or 
developments to differ materially from those expressed or implied by any such 
forward looking statements. Nothing in this Annual Report should be construed 
as a profit forecast.

ELEMENTIS TODAY

REIGNITE GROWTH
PORTFOLIO TRANSFORMATION

WE ARE A GLOBAL SPECIALTY CHEMICALS COMPANY SERVING CUSTOMERS IN 
SELECTED MARKETS WORLDWIDE. TO OUR CUSTOMERS WE DELIVER ENHANCED 
PRODUCT PERFORMANCE THROUGH APPLIED INNOVATION. 

IN THE SECOND YEAR OF OUR REIGNITE GROWTH STRATEGY WE HAVE MADE 
MAJOR PROGRESS IN TRANSFORMING OUR PORTFOLIO, CAPABILITIES AND 
CUSTOMER SERVICE.

2016:  Completed a business wide strategic review 
2017:  Reignite Growth: Strengthening the foundations 
2018: Reignite Growth: Portfolio transformation 

Sales+
$822m

$783m $822m

Net (debt)/cash
($498m)

$78m
2016

$617m

2016

2017

2018

2017

2018

($291m)

($498m)

Adjusted operating profit+∆
$133m 

$123m

$133m

$97m

Adjusted diluted  
earnings per share+Ơ
16.9c

16.1c

17.0c

16.9c

2016

2017

2018

2016

2017

2018

Adjusted operating margin+
16.1%

15.8%

15.7%

16.1%

Ordinary dividends  
per share†
8.4c

7.7c

8.1c

8.4c

2016

2017

2018

2016

2017

2018

Profit before tax+
$65m

$76m

$79m

$65m

FOR MORE ON THIS TOPIC SEE THE 
FINANCE REPORT ON PAGES 36 TO 41

2016

2017

2018

+  Continuing operations.
∆  After adjusting items – see Note 5
†  Rebased for the effects of the Rights Issue – see Note 9

1 

Elementis plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

STRATEGIC REPORTCORPORATE GOVERNANCEFINANCIAL STATEMENTSSHAREHOLDER INFORMATIONELEMENTIS TODAY
CONTINUED

A TRANSFORMED 
PORTFOLIO 
WITH IMPROVED 
FINANCIAL 
TRANSPARENCY

2 

Elementis plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

PERSONAL CARE

Business model
Our Personal Care business supplies rheology modifiers 
based on natural and synthetic ingredients to personal care 
manufacturers. We also supply the active ingredient for the 
production of anti-perspirant deodorants.

Elementis’ competitive advantage is based on access to 
hectorite, a unique raw material, world class global research 
and development and a passion for delivering enhanced 
performance for our customers’ products. 

2018 revenue
$210m

2018 adjusted operating profit
$52m

Customers
Our customers include global and local manufacturers of 
personal care products such as cosmetics and anti-perspirants.

Competition
We are a leader in organoclay based rheology modifiers and 
anti-perspirant active ingredients.

Competition is based on formulation capabilities, customer 
service levels and price.

Market drivers
Demand for Personal Care products is driven primarily 
by disposable income levels, product innovation and 
consumer trends.

FOR MORE ON 
THIS TOPIC 
SEE PAGE 34

OUR PRODUCTS 
IN ACTION 
Bentone® gel is used to 
create Personal Care products 
that thin upon the application 
of force and thicken once the 
force is removed. This flow 
behaviour enhances the 
aesthetics of a cream on the 
skin and allows flawless 
application of nail polish. 
Bentone® gel is based on 
hectorite, a naturally 
occurring clay sourced 
from our mine in California.

COATINGS

Business model
Our Coatings business supplies rheology modifiers and 
additives to manufacturers of decorative and industrial 
coatings.

Elementis’ competitive advantage is based on access to 
hectorite, world class research and development capabilities 
and an unparalleled range of rheology solutions for Coatings 
customers. 

2018 revenue
$362m

2018 adjusted operating profit
$53m

Customers
Our customers are manufacturers of decorative and industrial 
coatings.

Competition
We are a leader in the global rheology modifiers and additives 
segment.

Competition is based on quality of service, technological 
capabilities and price.

Market drivers 
Demand for decorative coatings is influenced by disposable 
income, maintenance spend, housing transactions and 
construction activity. Demand for industrial coatings is driven 
by general macroeconomic activity levels and sector specific 
factors such as the level of automotive demand.

FOR MORE ON 
THIS TOPIC 
SEE PAGE 35

OUR PRODUCTS 
IN ACTION 
Thixatrol® is an additive 
used by coatings and sealant 
customers to adhere very 
heavy objects to a surface 
via a single spray application. 
Thixatrol® is predominantly 
based on renewable raw 
materials and its usage 
needs relatively low heat 
input, making it 
environmentally friendly.

3 

Elementis plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

STRATEGIC REPORTCORPORATE GOVERNANCEFINANCIAL STATEMENTSSHAREHOLDER INFORMATIONELEMENTIS TODAY
CONTINUED

4 

Elementis plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

TALC

Business model
Talc supplies performance minerals with additive 
characteristics to a wide range of markets including coatings, 
plastics, life sciences and paper. Small quantities of other 
minerals, predominantly nickel and cobalt, are created as 
a byproduct of talc purification. 

Talc´s competitive advantage is based on access to a 
distinctive raw material, and the ability to consistently deliver 
tightly specified, high purity, tailored functional formulation 
components to customers around the globe.

2018 revenue*
$158m
* Pro forma 12 months – see pro forma calculations on page 164

2018 adjusted operating profit*
$25m

In the two month period of ownership in 2018, Talc generated 
$22m of revenue and $4m of adjusted operating profit. 

Customers
Customers are global and regional producers of industrial 
and decorative coatings, long life plastics, pharmaceuticals, 
personal care products and paper based items such as 
magazines. Other minerals are sold to leading battery 
materials producers.

Competition
Mondo is the second largest producer of talc based additives 
globally with a market share of approximately 11%. 

Competition is based on product quality, consistency, long 
term supply security and the degree of technical expertise 
and support provided. 

Market drivers
Demand for talc is driven by general macro-economic 
conditions and by structural factors such as the increased 
penetration of talc in products (e.g. via light weighting of 
vehicles) and the increased use of talc in high value 
applications such as pharmaceuticals. 

FOR MORE ON 
THIS TOPIC 
SEE PAGE 35

OUR PRODUCTS 
IN ACTION
Finntalc is used to strengthen 
products, without adding 
unnecessary weight, and is 
used for long life plastics 
including automotive parts 
and household appliances. 
Finntalc is a natural product 
made entirely from talc, the 
softest of all minerals, making 
it an environmentally friendly 
solution for our global 
customers. 

CHROMIUM

Business model
We supply a range of chromium chemicals including 
dichromate, chrome oxide, chromic acid and chrome sulphate. 
These products are used by customers across a wide range 
of sectors and applications to make their products more 
corrosion resistant and durable. 

Our competitive advantage is based on being the only 
domestic producer of chromium chemicals in North America 
and our unique delivery system that minimises the need 
for customer interaction with our products, with significant 
safety benefits.

2018 revenue
$184m

2018 adjusted operating profit
$33m

Customers
Our customers span a range of industries including 
pigments, chrome metal, refractory, metal finishing, 
timber treatment and leather tanning.

Competition
Elementis has approximately a 10% share of the global 
chromium chemicals market.

Competitors range from multinational companies to privately 
owned businesses.

Market drivers
Demand drivers vary across our three main product 
categories. The market for chrome oxide is driven by 
construction, coatings and aircraft demand, chrome acid 
by construction and infrastructure demand, and chrome 
sulphate by beef consumption.

FOR MORE ON 
THIS TOPIC 
SEE PAGE 35

OUR PRODUCTS 
IN ACTION
Chrome sulphate is used in 
the tanning of animal hides 
to make leather goods. 
Waynetan 180 is a product 
designed for faster penetration 
of chrome during hide 
preparation, resulting in 
higher quality leather products. 
Waynetan is produced in 
an environmentally friendly 
manner at our zero water 
discharge facility in Milwaukee.

5 

Elementis plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

STRATEGIC REPORTCORPORATE GOVERNANCEFINANCIAL STATEMENTSSHAREHOLDER INFORMATIONENERGY

Business model
Our Energy business supplies rheological modifiers and 
additives primarily for oil and gas drilling, and stimulation 
activities. These products are formulated to lubricate the 
drill bit, control formation pressure and remove cuttings 
in drilling fluids.

Elementis’ competitive advantage is based on offering a 
range of rheology modifiers, based on natural and synthetic 
ingredients, to Energy customers on a global basis, supported 
by world class technical support. 

2018 revenue
$55m

2018 adjusted operating profit
$7m

Customers
Our customers are typically the global and large regional 
independent oilfield service companies who use our products 
in various oil and gas producing regions around the world.

Competition
We are a leader in organoclay based rheology modifiers for 
energy applications. Technical capability and supply chain 
footprint are top of the buyer criteria.

Market drivers
The oil price and the availability of adequate infrastructure are 
the primary drivers of drilling rig activity levels as well as the 
number of wells drilled. However, there are also other important 
drivers of drilling activity such as well head breakeven cost, 
the number of wells per rig, the length of lateral drilling and 
the drilled but uncompleted well count.

FOR MORE ON 
THIS TOPIC 
SEE PAGE 35

OUR PRODUCTS 
IN ACTION
Oil companies are 
increasingly working in harsh 
conditions which challenge 
drilling production rates. Our 
high purity hectorite-based 
rheological additives, such 
as Bentone® 38, are 
extremely efficient in such 
drilling environments. 
Bentone® 38 is highly 
resistant to contaminants, 
can withstand extreme high 
temperatures and helps to 
improve oil recovery.

ELEMENTIS TODAY
CONTINUED

6 

Elementis plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

ELEMENTIS OVERVIEW

Revenue split by business segment*

Revenue split by geography*

Personal Care

Coatings

Talc

Chromium

Energy

22%

38%

16%

18%

6%

*  Pro forma 12 months – see pro forma calculations on page 164

Global manufacturing bases

North America

31%

Europe

36%

Rest of World

33%

Europe
Total number of sites: 6
3 Personal Care, Coatings, 
and Energy 
3 Talc

Americas
Total number of sites: 13
8 Personal Care, Coatings, 
and Energy 
5 Chromium

Asia
Total number of sites: 3
3 Personal Care, Coatings, 
and Energy

INVESTMENT PROPOSITION

Unique value chains
We combine competitively advantaged positions in hectorite, 
talc and chromium with our global asset base and distinctive 
technology to serve customers in the Americas, Europe 
and Asia. 

Robust organic growth
We focus on additives that deliver enhanced performance 
at a relatively low cost to customers in attractive growth 
sectors such as personal care, long-life plastics, coatings 
and energy. 

Attractive margins
Our operating margins are sustained through the quality of 
our products and the delivery to our customers of Enhanced 
Performance Through Applied Innovation.

Strong cash flow
A robust balance sheet, strong operating cash flow generation 
and capital expenditure discipline fund our Reignite Growth 
strategy while providing healthy and growing dividends.

Value creation
We are a growing and sustainable business. The 
implementation of our Reignite Growth strategy will further 
create value by consistently exceeding our cost of capital.

7 

Elementis plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

STRATEGIC REPORTCORPORATE GOVERNANCEFINANCIAL STATEMENTSSHAREHOLDER INFORMATION 
 
CHAIRMAN’S STATEMENT

IN 2018 THE 
TRANSFORMATION 
OF OUR PORTFOLIO 
ACCELERATED. 
CENTRAL TO THIS 
CHANGE ARE OUR 
PEOPLE AND OUR 
COMMITMENT TO A 
CULTURE OF OPENNESS, 
TRANSPARENCY AND 
CUSTOMER FOCUS. 

ANDREW DUFF
CHAIRMAN

As I reflect on the second year of the Reignite Growth strategy 
at Elementis, I am pleased to report a year of strategic progress.

The acquisition of Mondo, sale of the Surfactants business and 
investment in a new production facility in India are a clear 
reflection of the significant change taking place at Elementis. 

geographic expansion and increased customer penetration 
of Mondo, utilising the global sales and technical service 
relationships of Elementis. In addition, the combination is 
anticipated to unlock new business opportunities for the Group 
through the application of Elementis’ expertise in surface 
chemistry modification to talc.

At Elementis we are focused on enhancing our customers’ 
product performance through the application of our expertise 
and innovation. 

FINANCIAL RESULTS
In 2018, we experienced a mixed economic environment with 
good levels of growth in the Americas but some deterioration 
in Europe and Asia. 

Against this backdrop, the business delivered a solid set of 
results. Adjusted operating profit from continuing operations 
rose 8% from $123m to $133m, with growth a result of improved 
profitability in Personal Care and Chromium. These positive 
factors more than offset declines in Coatings and Energy. We 
also saw a full year of profits from the SummitReheis acquisition 
as well as an initial contribution from Mondo. Reported operating 
profit fell 7% to $85m, due to an increase in non-recurring costs. 
Group adjusted diluted earnings per share+ declined 1% from 
17.0 cents in 2017 to 16.9 cents as a result of higher tax, net 
finance costs and weighted average share count.

MONDO
The acquisition of Mondo in October represents a compelling 
value creation opportunity and a major step in our ambition 
to Reignite Growth at Elementis. Mondo is an attractive, high 
quality additives business with strong competitive advantages 
serving resilient, growing end markets. The business is highly 
differentiated with complementary product markets built on 
application driven research and development.

In Personal Care and Coatings, a total of $20m to $25m of 
revenue synergies are anticipated to arise by 2023 through the 

BREXIT
Whilst the timing and impact of the United Kingdom’s exit from 
the EU (Brexit) remains uncertain, Elementis is well prepared to 
react to the potential outcome of a ‘no deal’ Brexit. Of Elementis’ 
22 manufacturing sites, one is located in the UK, and 96% of 
Group revenue is from outside of the UK. We recognise that 
there may be short term disruption to logistics, however steps 
have been taken to pro-actively manage our supply chain to 
mitigate any potential impact. This includes ensuring sufficient 
raw materials are held at our production site in Livingston, 
Scotland, as well as having sufficient finished goods throughout 
our global distribution network.

BALANCE SHEET
Following the acquisition of Mondo, Elementis’ net debt position 
has increased from $291m at the end of 2017 to $498m, 
representing a net debt to adjusted pro forma EBITDA* of 2.5x. 
Looking forward we plan to rapidly deleverage the Group 
through organic cash generation and self-help initiatives. Our 
debt repayment profile will also be accelerated by the 2018 
triennial review of the UK pension scheme which concluded that 
no cash top up payments will be required from Elementis until 
at least 2021. We anticipate net debt to EBITDA to be around 2x 
by the end of 2019.

DIVIDEND POLICY
Under the dividend policy introduced in 2018, it is our intention 
to pay progressive ordinary dividends, normally with a dividend 
cover of at least two times adjusted earnings, and to seek to 
make additional returns to shareholders when net debt is 
structurally below one times earnings (EBITDA).

8 

Elementis plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

This year the Board is recommending a total ordinary dividend 
of 8.65 cents per share, or 8.40 cents per share on an adjusted 
basis† (2017: 8.80 cents per share, 8.05 cents per share on an 
adjusted basis†), reflecting its confidence in the Group’s 
business model and ability to generate cash, its medium term 
prospects and the levels of investment required over the short 
to medium term to deliver the Reignite Growth strategy.

The final dividend will be paid on 31 May 2019 in pounds sterling 
at an exchange rate of £1.00:$1.3377 (equivalent to a sterling 
amount of 4.2611 pence per share) to shareholders on the 
register at 3 May 2019. The Board declared an interim dividend 
at the time of the Interim Results announcement of 2.95 cents 
per share or 2.70 on an adjusted basis (2017: 2.70 cents, 2.47 
on an adjusted basis).

GOVERNANCE AND BOARD 
The Board leads an ongoing programme to ensure the highest 
standards of corporate governance and integrity right across 
Elementis. We regard this as critical to the Group’s continued 
success and viability. The interactions and communication flows 
between Executives and Non-Executive Directors have been 
strong and as a result the Board is well placed to challenge, 
guide and support the Executives in the delivery of our Reignite 
Growth strategy. The Board considers that it has fully applied 
all of the principles and provisions of the UK Corporate 
Governance Code during 2018.

In 2018 we completed an externally facilitated Board evaluation. 
The overall result was positive, concluding that the Board 
continues to perform effectively with good leadership, 
competent and engaged members and with the appropriate 
focus on both in-year performance and strategy for the future. 
Further detail on the evaluation process, together with the 
Board’s remit, operations and the topics the Board regularly 
review can be found in the Corporate Governance Report. 

PEOPLE AND CULTURE
We now have approximately 1,500 employees in the Group, 
spread over more than 20 manufacturing sites and offices, 
with 200 joining as part of the Mondo acquisition. As the Group 
increases in size, it is important to develop consistent and 
efficient working practices across our teams. We believe our 
values – Safety, Solutions, Ambition, Respect and Team – are 
core to our high performance culture and enable us to work 
effectively in partnership with our customers. 

Solutions 

Ambition

Respect

This year the Group has reported underlying profitability growth 
in a challenging and demanding market place. At the same time, 
we have achieved our best ever safety performance. The Board 
recognises the contribution made by all employees. Our drive 
for safe and sustainable growth remains unchanged and, on 
behalf of the Board, I would like to thank each and every 
employee for their commitment this year. 

Team

SUMMARY
The solid results and significant strategic progress made by the 
Group in 2018 are strong evidence that the Group is adopting 
the right strategy and creating a stronger platform for growth. 
Our priorities in 2019, the third year of the strategy, are to deliver 
safe, reliable operations, to integrate Mondo and to continue 
implementing the Reignite Growth strategy. We are looking 
forward to a year of further progress. 

ANDREW DUFF
CHAIRMAN

+  Continuing operations
*  On a 12 month pro forma basis – see pro forma calculations on page 164
†  Rebased for the effects of the Rights Issue – see Note 9

9 

Elementis plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

OUR VALUES IN ACTION

Safety 

Everyone returning home safely at the end of the 
day is our first consideration when doing business. 

In 2018, we made great strides in this area with no 
lost time accidents (LTA) recorded. This reflects the 
high level of employee engagement and proactive 
thinking on safety at Elementis. A strong safety 
culture, alongside structured safety performance 
management, will contribute to making our 
operations safer.

Our products provide valuable solutions for our 
customers and consumers. With cyclopentasiloxane 
to be banned in cosmetics formulas in Europe by 
2020, our customers have been looking for 
alternative solutions for global cosmetic formulas. 

We were able to create a form of Bentone® gel 
that met their requirements while continuing to 
provide the excellent rheology modification, 
desired application and aesthetics of the original 
product formula. 

Our supply chain is constantly being challenged 
to supply our unique additives to customers in the 
quickest and most efficient manner. 

In 2018, we made several strides in this area 
including investment in a new site in India to serve 
our Coatings, Personal Care and Energy customers 
in the region. We also took action to optimise our 
organoclay operations in North America and China. 

Hurricane Florence caused severe damage in the 
Carolinas in September 2018 and required the safe 
shutdown of our Chromium facility. 

During this period our focus was on the safety of our 
people, assisting the local community and providing 
clear communication with our customers. Following 
the disaster we donated $50,000 to support the local 
community’s response and recovery efforts and an 
additional $25,000 to communities worldwide 
impacted by natural disasters.

The acquisition of Mondo in October 2018 was 
a major step in our ambition to Reignite Growth. 
This project involved several months of close 
collaboration between our business units and areas 
of functional expertise across various geographies 
and cultures.

Since the acquisition, a dedicated team has been 
working together to welcome Mondo’s staff and 
integrate them into Elementis and our culture.

Business insight:
The Group’s employees are guided by a strong corporate 
culture and common set of core values. These values are the 
essence of our identity and govern everything we do and, 
perhaps most importantly, how we engage with each other, 
our customers and our surroundings. 

For more on our culture see page 50.

STRATEGIC REPORTCORPORATE GOVERNANCEFINANCIAL STATEMENTSSHAREHOLDER INFORMATIONCEO’S STRATEGIC OVERVIEW

2018 WAS A YEAR 
OF PORTFOLIO 
TRANSFORMATION 
AND WE NOW HAVE 
A STRONGER 
PLATFORM FOR 
GROWTH.

PAUL WATERMAN
CEO

In 2018, the second year of our Reignite Growth strategy, we 
delivered good organic profit growth and made material strategic 
progress in transforming our portfolio, capabilities and customer 
service. Moving into 2019 we have a stronger platform from 
which to grow the value of Elementis. 

RESULTS
Starting with the Group financial results, I am pleased to report 
a year of solid adjusted operating profit growth. Adjusted 
operating profit from continuing operations rose by 8% on the 
prior year to reach $133m, driven by an extra quarter of 
contribution from SummitReheis, two months contribution from 
Mondo and good growth in Personal Care and Chromium. 
These positive factors more than offset a decline in Coatings, 
where 7% organic growth in adjusted operating profit helped 
offset the impact of the Delden plant disposal, and in Energy 
where the market was impacted by infrastructure constraints in 
North America, leading to lower drilling volumes. Further details 
on each business segment’s performance can be found on 
pages 34 and 35. Profit before tax+ fell 17% to $65m due to an 
increase in non-recurring items and higher net finance costs.

Following the acquisition of Mondo in October 2018, Elementis’ 
net debt position has increased from $291m at the end of 
2017 to $498m, representing a leverage ratio of 2.5x adjusted 
pro forma EBITDA*. Looking forward we see a rapid 
deleveraging profile for the Group as a result of strong 
underlying cash generation, the impact of our cash focused 
self-help initiatives and the positive outcome of the UK pension 
scheme triennial review. 

SAFETY 
Safety remains our top priority and in 2018 I am pleased to 
report significantly improved performance, with three recordable 
injuries (2017: 16) and a total recordable incident rate of 0.22 
(2017: 1.1), the lowest on record at Elementis. This improvement 
was driven by investment to reduce operational risks, safety 
leadership training and the implementation of Elementis safety 
processes at former SummitReheis sites (see Q&A on page 12 
for more information). 

Going forward, we will focus on maintaining and improving this 
record still further. 

CSR AND SUSTAINABILITY
With wider consideration of how we do business, sustainability is 
a core value at Elementis, and here too we made strides in 2018. 
We continue to improve our CSR and sustainability performance 
across all aspects of the organisation. Examples include our 
Milwaukee leather tanning plant which is a zero water, air and 
solid wastes discharge plant, and an innovative R&D programme 
that is focusing on new products built around natural and 
sustainable ingredients. In addition, we have increased the 
transparency of our commitments by becoming a UN Global 
Compact signatory. 

The green credentials of our products are foremost in our mind 
and we have verified the naturalness of our products against 
rigorous standards such as ISO, COSMOS and Ecolabel which 
enables our customers to make sustainability claims about 
their products.

Reflective of our progress, in 2018 Elementis was ranked by 
Ecovadis in the top 7% of companies for CSR in the global 
chemical manufacturing sector, up from 23% in 2014. This 
is a welcome achievement and more information on our 
initiatives in this area are available in our Resources and 
Relationships section.

PEOPLE
Our people and the culture that they embody are at the centre 
of our success. I am pleased to welcome all Mondo employees 
to Elementis. Mondo has an experienced management team with 
a proven track record of repositioning the business and delivering 
growth, and I am pleased to say Christian Kather, previously 
Mondo CEO, has joined our leadership team, as VP Talc.

After a career in the chemicals industry of 23 years, and with 
Elementis for ten years, Ken Smith, VP Technology retired at the 

+  Continuing operations
*  On a 12 month pro forma basis – see pro forma calculations on page 164

10 

Elementis plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

end of 2018. Technology is a cornerstone of what we do and I 
would like to thank Ken for the huge contribution he has made 
to Elementis – his impact on the business will be felt for years 
to come. Whilst it is sad to see Ken go, I am pleased to welcome 
Joe Lupia to Elementis as his successor. Joe has a career 
of more than 30 years in the chemicals industry and joins 
Elementis from BASF where he most recently held the position 
of Director, Technical Innovations and Customer Support – Care 
Chemicals USA.

WELCOME TO MONDO EMPLOYEES
I want to extend a warm welcome to  
Christian Kather and everyone at Mondo.

The integration of Mondo is progressing 
at pace and the combination of our 
businesses will create significant 
opportunities for customers, staff
and shareholders. 

MONDO
The acquisition of Mondo, the second largest producer of premium 
talc based additives in the world, represents a great opportunity 
for Elementis. Our new Talc business segment will strengthen us 
as a higher quality, higher margin company with attractive growth 
potential, consistent with our Reignite Growth strategy.

Our Talc business has strong competitive advantages and a 
track record of growth. Aligned with Elementis’ hectorite based 
value chain, Mondo leverages access to a distinctive, high 
quality natural resource to create high value additives that deliver 
exceptional product performance improvement to customers at 
a relatively low percentage of the end products cost. Premium 
talc follows a specialty additive logic driven by custom 
formulations, customer demand for quality, reliability and service 
and rigorous supplier qualification which results in value based 
pricing and high customer loyalty. 

Demand for talc additives is anticipated to grow at around 5% 
per annum, sustained by favourable structural trends, including 
the light weighting of vehicles and fast growth in life sciences 
such as cosmetics and pharmaceuticals. Mondo is well 
positioned to grow at or above this rate, over the medium term, 
by further developing its position in high end talc markets.

We see significant opportunities in Coatings, Personal Care 
and the broader innovation space from combining Mondo with 
Elementis’ surface chemistry expertise, global scale and 
relationships. These synergy opportunities, discussed in more 
detail on the next page, will unlock additional value for Elementis’ 
stakeholders.

REIGNITE GROWTH
In November 2016, we launched our Reignite Growth strategy. 
In the second year of strategic implementation we have made 
significant progress against our four priorities. Key achievements 
are outlined in more detail on pages 20 to 29 but highlights in the 
year included the acquisition of a brownfield production site in 
India, the sale of our Surfactants business and acquisition of 
Mondo. Elementis now has a significantly stronger platform to 
grow value. 

OUTLOOK
Going forward we will focus on actions that will create sustainable 
shareholder value. Maintaining our focus on safe, reliable 
operations will create a strong foundation for growth. The quality 
and commitment of our people is at the core of our success and 
at Elementis we are fortunate to have a talented, dedicated and 
improving team. 

Whilst global market conditions remain challenging, particularly 
in coatings, we have entered 2019 with a strong platform to 
deliver long term growth and improved returns. In the year 
ahead we are confident of delivering further progress and this 
will be underpinned by the integration and synergies of the Talc 
segment, delivery on self-help initiatives and an unrelenting 
focus on cash generation and deleveraging. 

PAUL WATERMAN
CEO

11 

Elementis plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

REIGNITE GROWTH OVERVIEW
At the end of the second year of our programme to Reignite 
Growth we have a platform to deliver tangible results.

2016 
Completed a 
business wide 
strategic review

Nov 16
Capital Markets Day

Launch of Reignite Growth strategy

Dec 16
Introduction of global functions

2017 
Reignite Growth: 
Strengthening the 
foundations

Mar 17
Acquisition of SummitReheis

Mar 17
Sale of US Colourants business

May 17
Completed working capital review and 
identified $18m of reductions 

Jun 17
Implemented key account management 
processes

Dec 17
Introduction of new global Coatings organisation

2018 
Reignite Growth: 
Portfolio 
transformation

Feb 18
Sale of Surfactants business

Aug 18
Disposal of Jersey City site

Oct 18
Completion of Mondo acquisition

Nov 18
Closure of Changxing organoclay site

Dec 18
Acquisition of India manufacturing site

Business insight:
Elementis now has a broader, more diversified and better 
enabled platform to Reignite Growth but sustained success 
will come from a focus on customers, innovation and 
continuous improvement in everything we do. Growth means 
never standing still. 

For more on our strategic pillars see pages 20 to 29.

STRATEGIC REPORTCORPORATE GOVERNANCEFINANCIAL STATEMENTSSHAREHOLDER INFORMATIONCEO’S STRATEGIC OVERVIEW 
CONTINUED

Q&A

Q
What improvements 
have you made 
to safety in 2018?
A
During 2018 we rolled out Enablon, the 
industry’s most comprehensive HSE software 
platform, undertook several capital 
investments to eliminate risks and progressed 
the implementation of our advanced safety 
audits and management safety interactions. 
We are encouraging our employees to 
become further engaged and thinking 
proactively about staying safe. An even 
stronger safety culture throughout the Group 
will drive further improvement in our already 
excellent safety performance – keeping 
everyone safe at the end of the day. 

Q
What are Elementis’ 
innovation priorities?
A
In innovation our focus is on creating products 
that deliver superior performance, improved 
efficiency and increased sustainability to 
our customers. Products such as our new 
Bentone Hydroclay™ for Personal Care 
applications tick all these boxes. Our 
innovation pipeline is in good shape and 
looking forward we will continue to prioritise 
the delivery of enhanced performance 
through applied innovation.

12 

Elementis plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

Q
What are the risks 
to your Reignite 
Growth strategy?
A
We consider both general and market 
specific risks, concentrating on the 
controllable and mitigating those that are 
beyond our direct influence. More detail can 
be found later in the Principal Risks and 
Uncertainties section. As we focus on 
execution of our growth plans and operational 
performance, the leadership teams in each 
of our businesses carefully consider all 
decisions in the risk context of their individual 
markets. I believe that we now have the right 
people in place, with the experience and 
expertise to do this, across the Group.

Q
What does the 
acquisition of Mondo 
mean for Elementis’ 
shareholders? 
A

In financial terms, the acquisition will be 
earnings per share accretive in the first full 
year of ownership and we expect return on 
invested capital to exceed our weighted 
cost of capital in year two. On top of that, 
we expect our net debt position to rapidly 
decline supported by our strong cash 
generation. In business terms, Mondo brings 
a complementary business, based on a 
unique value chain and with outstanding 
growth prospects, to our portfolio. This all 
adds up to value creation for our shareholders 
both in the short and in the long term.

MONDO MINERALS 
EXPLAINED

WHAT IS TALC?
Talc is a clay mineral 
composed of hydrated 
magnesium silicate with unique 
features: microscopic crystalline 
platelets which are strong yet 
soft, resistant to acids or 
alkalines, oxidation, radiation, 
or ageing. At the same time it 
is inert and odourless. Mondo 
operates four high quality talc 
mines in Finland with 
approximately 92 years 
of resources. 

ELEMENTIS 
AND TALC

OPPORTUNITIES FOR 
THE GROUP
Aligned with Elementis’ hectorite 
based value chain, Mondo 
leverages access to a distinctive, 
high quality natural resource to 
create products that serve 
diverse end markets. Clear areas 
of complementarity range from 
formulation expertise to 
application driven research and 
development, through to end 
markets and customers, notably 
Coatings and Personal Care. 

Plastics
Allows long life plastics to have similar 
properties to metal, at lower cost and lighter 
weight. Applications: Automotive plastics, 
household appliances. 

Coatings
Increased sheen, mechanical resistance, 
barrier effects, opacity. Applications: 
industrial coatings, architectural coatings.

Life Sciences
Increased inertness, sheen, silkiness and 
anti-caking. Applications: Cosmetics, food 
and beverage, pharmaceuticals.

Technical Ceramics
Improved resistance to cracks and heat. 
Applications: Insulation, catalytic converters.

Paper
Enhanced printability and barrier effect. 
Applications: High end magazines and 
publications.

APPLIED INNOVATION
At facilities in Finland and the 
Netherlands, Mondo applies 
proprietary processing methods 
and formulation expertise to 
create customised talc based 
solutions for technology driven 
industries. Talc adds new 
features to products and makes 
processes more efficient across 
a range of industries.

Coatings

Personal Care

Innovation

Revenue synergies of approximately 
$10-15m by 2023 are anticipated to 
arise primarily through geographic 
expansion of Mondo, using Elementis 
relationships to increase market share 
in industrial coatings in North America 
and Latin America, and also through 
deepening strategic relationships with 
existing Elementis customers for the 
sale of talc and a greater share of their 
materials spend. 

Revenue synergies of approximately 
$10m by 2023 are expected via 
enhanced access for Mondo to 
leading personal care formulators and 
distributors as well as an expansion to 
new markets in Asia and the Americas 
utilising local sales, distribution and 
logistics networks and greater sales 
coverage within Europe. Value will also 
be created through an extension of the 
product portfolio to attractive cosmetic 
applications.

The potential applications of talc 
are considerable. New business 
opportunities are anticipated for 
Mondo through the leverage of 
Elementis’ expertise in surface active 
chemistry, rheology and product 
formulation in the field of talc based 
additives.

13 

Elementis plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

STRATEGIC REPORTCORPORATE GOVERNANCEFINANCIAL STATEMENTSSHAREHOLDER INFORMATIONPORTFOLIO TRANSFORMATION

CREATING A HIGHER QUALITY, 
HIGHER MARGIN GROUP WITH 
ATTRACTIVE GROWTH POTENTIAL 

2016

Adjusted operating margin◊
14.7%

Specialty Products
$82m

SUMMITREHEIS 
ACQUISITION

US COLOURANTS 
DISPOSAL

Following a review of our operating 
assets, the US Colourants business was 
identified as non-core and the business 
was sold to Chromaflo Technologies Corp 
in March 2017 for an undisclosed fee. The 
previous site of the business in Jersey City 
was sold in August 2018 for $17m.

In March 2017, we acquired SummitReheis, 
the global leader in the manufacture and 
sale of active ingredients for anti-perspirants, 
for $360m. The acquisition creates an 
enlarged Personal Care business with 
annual sales of over $200m, significantly 
increasing the Group’s presence in this 
attractive growth market. 

Chromium
$27m

Surfactants
$(1)m

14 

Elementis plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

2018

Adjusted operating margin*
16.0%

Personal Care
$52m

Coatings
$53m

Talc
$25m

Chromium
$33m

Energy
$7m

Graphic excludes corporate costs and 
shows Talc on 12 month pro forma basis.

◊ 

* 

 Total operations (both continuing 
and discontinued)
 On a 12 month pro forma basis – see 
pro forma calculations on page 164

MONDO 
ACQUISITION

SURFACTANTS 
DISPOSAL

The acquisition of Mondo, a leading 
producer of talc based additives, brings to 
Elementis a complementary and structurally 
advantaged business, with attractive 
financial characteristics, serving resilient 
and high growth end markets. Significant 
opportunities exist to apply Elementis’ 
global knowledge, scale and relationships to 
unlock additional value and further growth.

In February 2018, we sold the Surfactants 
business located in Delden, the Netherlands 
to Kolb Distribution AG for €39m. The sale 
generated cash, eliminated a strategically 
disadvantaged business, simplified our 
supply chain and enabled the reallocation 
of resources to higher margin growth 
opportunities.

15 

Elementis plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

STRATEGIC REPORTCORPORATE GOVERNANCEFINANCIAL STATEMENTSSHAREHOLDER INFORMATIONOUR MARKET ENVIRONMENT

TREND

DEMOGRAPHICS

THE MACRO 
ECONOMIC 
TRENDS 
AFFECTING 
OUR BUSINESS

In developed economies people are living 
longer and have more income and better 
access to buy a wider range of products.

In the developing world, high birth rates 
are forecast to be the main factor behind 
a global population increase of roughly 
two billion from now to 2050, a significant 
driver of further urbanisation.

In addition, an expanding middle class 
is expected to attain Western levels of 
consumerism, generating new markets for 
products that improve living standards.

 − Growing demand for consumer 

products that use our additives and 
active ingredients

 − Increasing demand for coatings for 

residential, construction and industrial 
purposes

 − Demand increases for the commodities 
produced by our oil and gas customers

 − Increasing demand in developing 

regions for products containing our 
innovative performance additives

 − Capital investment in manufacturing 

assets in Asia to reduce supply chain 
length and bring our products closer 
to our customers

 − Investment in our global key account 

management structures and 
processes to increase our ability to 
serve global customers

WHAT THIS MEANS FOR  
OUR INDUSTRY

Business insight:
Demographic trends and economic 
growth will drive developing markets, 
particularly in Asia and Africa – while 
more mature markets increasingly look 
for more sustainable, premium products. 
Our products, and the way in which we 
conduct our business, must satisfy 
these requirements in an open, honest 
and ethical way – in all our markets. 

For more on how our 
strategy is responding to these 
opportunities see page 20.

OUR OPPORTUNITIES

OUR RESPONSE

Related material
Resources and Relationships – pages 
49 to 58

16 

Elementis plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

PREMIUMISATION

SUSTAINABILITY

TRANSPARENCY

All over the world, consumers are 
increasingly looking for more from their 
products. Premiumisation is bridging the 
gap between luxury and mass market to 
give all consumers access to unique, 
innovative and efficient products that 
promise and deliver more.

The premium segment is experiencing 
strong growth – outpacing total category 
sales in many markets – with potential for 
continued growth as consumer buying 
power and spending rise around the world.

The combustion of fossil fuels has resulted 
in the accumulation of greenhouse gases 
in the atmosphere and is a cause of global 
warming, the consequences of which are 
rising sea levels and an increase in the 
frequency of extreme weather. 

Both impair the productivity of the land to 
supply food and water for the growing 
global population and bring an increased 
focus from organisations on restricting 
global warming and climate change.

In an ever more complex and 
interconnected world, consumers 
demand more transparency from the 
organisations that serve them. 

Organisations of all kinds must establish 
and maintain trust, taking a proactive, 
holistic approach to transparency.

 − Demand for enhanced product 

 − A move towards natural or naturally 

 − Clear evidence of ethical and social 

performance

 − Demand for higher quality products
 − Increasing focus on innovation

 − More demand for high quality and 

multifunctional products containing our 
unique performance additives

derived ingredients

 − Need to minimise social and 

environmental impact along supply 
chain

 − Increasing focus on sustainability
 − Increasing focus on a small carbon 

footprint

considerations

 − Consistent and transparent disclosure 
of activities throughout the value chain
 − Provision of clear and concise privacy 

information to individuals

 − Opportunities to supply additives based 
on natural minerals such as hectorite 
and talc

 − Market expansion of our additives made 

from natural resources

 − Use our innovation expertise to create 

sustainable ingredients

 − Opportunities to help our customers 

make informed decisions through the 
provision of clear scientific evidence
 − Opportunities to inform our customers 
and service users of our processing 
activities and privacy practice

 − Established innovation platform focused 

 − Investment in our hectorite and talc 

on responding to customer needs
 − Focus on our supply chain efficiency 

to deliver novel solutions to customers 
at the best price possible

 − Increasing share of natural and 

sustainable products

production network

 − Further develop in house regulatory 

and sustainability expertise

 − Report our progress and participate 
in the Carbon Disclosure Project 
(CDP) to enable stakeholders to 
understand our environmental impact

 − Conduct business in accordance 
with the Ten Principles of the UN 
Global Compact and publicly report 
our performance

 − Ensure that all manufacturing sites are 
certified against appropriate Safety, 
Environment and Quality standards
 − Work with specialists to characterise 

the physical palm oil derivative supply 
chains, leading to transparency of 
provenance

 − Verify against demanding labelling 

standards such as ISO, COSMOS and 
ECOLABEL to highlight the natural 
aspects of our products

 − Establishment of Data Privacy Team 

to ensure compliance with applicable 
data privacy laws globally

17 

Elementis plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

STRATEGIC REPORTCORPORATE GOVERNANCEFINANCIAL STATEMENTSSHAREHOLDER INFORMATIONBUSINESS MODEL

INPUTS

OVERVIEW

People
Our engaged and skilled 
workforce are focused on 
customer collaboration and 
delivery of our strategy 

Capital 
We operate within a 
disciplined framework to 
invest in growth, productivity 
and maintenance to support 
our strategy

Relationships
We strive to build long term 
relationships with customers, 
suppliers and other 
stakeholders

Supply chain
Our global manufacturing 
footprint is aligned to 
operational performance

Assets
We own and operate the 
world’s largest known source 
of high quality rheology grade 
hectorite clay and operate four 
talc mines with high quality 
long duration talc resources 
within one of only two known 
deposits of scale in Europe. 

Expertise
Our technical service teams 
use their formulation expertise 
to work closely with our 
customers to deliver their 
needs

Product stewardship 
We have dedicated resource 
to oversee comprehensive 
product safety, stewardship 
and regulatory compliance

Elementis is a global specialty chemicals 
company operating across five business 
segments: Personal Care, Coatings, 
Talc, Chromium and Energy on an 
international scale. 

Our primary purpose is to make our customers’ formulations 
look, feel and perform at their best and enable 
distinctiveness in the market – Enhanced Performance 
Through Applied Innovation. Through operations, research 
and development, sales and marketing we apply innovation 
with purpose to provide value to our customers.

OUR VALUES

Safety

Solutions

Ambition

Respect

Team

OUR COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE

Unique value chain

Robust organic growth

Strong cash flow

Attractive margins

Innovation and product development

VALUE CREATION 

Shareholders 
Strong balance sheet and 
cash generation delivering 
sustainable returns to 
shareholders

Dividends paid in 2018
$41.9m
Employees
Our total global workforce 
of c.1,500 is critical for the 
delivery of our strategy

2018 employee pay
$117.4m
Customers
Building relationships with our 
key customers ensures we are 
better placed to deliver the 
best growth opportunities

Total revenue from customers
$822.2m
Suppliers
We value our supplier 
relationships and take a long 
term strategic approach to 
relationship management

Raw materials
700
Communities 
Acting responsibly better 
serves the communities where 
we operate

Carbon disclosure project 
B rating
Link to Our Strategy
pages 20 to 29

Link to Principal Risks 
and Uncertainties
pages 42 to 48

Link to Viability Statement
page 59

Link to Directors’ 
Remuneration Report
pages 78 to 92

FOR MORE ON OUR BUSINESS 
SEGMENTS SEE PAGES 34 TO 35

18 

Elementis plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

OUR SOURCES OF  
COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE 

THE INPUTS WE NEED  
TO CREATE VALUE

UNIQUE VALUE CHAIN 
We combine competitively advantaged positions in hectorite, 
talc and chromium with our global asset base and distinctive 
technology to serve customers in selected markets worldwide. 

PEOPLE
We have strong leadership with a clear business strategy 
supported by functional teams and a skilled workforce focused 
on customer collaboration and operating safely and responsibly 
in the environments wherever we operate. 

ROBUST ORGANIC GROWTH
We focus on additives that deliver enhanced performance to our 
customers in attractive growth sectors such as personal care, 
lightweight plastics, coatings and energy. 

CAPITAL
We operate within a disciplined framework to support our 
strategy and invest in growth, productivity and maintenance.  

ATTRACTIVE MARGINS
Our operating margins are sustained through the quality of our 
products and the delivery to our customers of Enhanced 
Performance Through Applied Innovation.

STRONG CASH FLOW 
A robust balance sheet, strong operating cash flow generation 
and capital expenditure discipline fund our Reignite Growth 
strategy while providing healthy and growing dividends.

CAPITAL EFFICIENCY
We are a growing and sustainable business. The implementation 
of our Reignite Growth strategy will further create value by 
consistently exceeding our cost of capital.

INNOVATION AND PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT
We have a global R&D function focused on strengthening the 
pipeline of new customer focused product development and 
innovation. We apply innovation with purpose to all parts of our 
business through operations and R&D. 

HEALTH, SAFETY AND ENVIRONMENT
We are committed to providing a healthy and safe workplace 
for employees, contractors and site visitors and minimising our 
impact on the environment from our operations. We place a 
great emphasis on protecting people and operating responsibly.  

PRODUCT STEWARDSHIP
Comprehensive product safety and product stewardship 
processes are in place which support product safety and 
regulatory compliance – we strive to provide innovative products 
that create value for customers that are safe for people and the 
environment when used for their intended purpose.

RELATIONSHIPS
We build and maintain close relationships with our customers 
to meet their needs. Long term relationships with customers, 
suppliers and other stakeholders are built on trust and 
collaboration. We monitor trends and market developments 
to ensure our formulations meet the requirements not only of 
our customers but the end users of their products. 

SUPPLY CHAIN
We have a global manufacturing footprint where safety is 
aligned to operational performance. We have manufacturing 
sites located in UK, US, Brazil, Germany, Finland, Netherlands, 
China and Taiwan. Quality controls, testing, procedures, 
certifications and compliance with applicable regulations 
drive consistent product quality.

ASSETS
We own and operate the world’s largest known source of 
high quality rheology grade hectorite clay. This raw material, 
combined with a global production footprint and innovative 
leadership adds value to our customers through the creation 
of innovative, high performance products in Personal Care, 
Coatings and Energy sectors. In addition, we operate four talc 
mines in Finland for specialty (long-plastics, paints and 
diversified industrials) and non-specialty applications (paper). 
Our talc segment has a leading competitive position as a result 
of high quality, long duration talc resources combined with 
proprietary processing methods and formulation expertise. 

In Chromium we are the only domestic producer in North 
America, and our unique delivery system minimises the need 
for customer interaction with our products, with significant 
safety benefits. 

BUSINESS CONDUCT AND ETHICS
Our Code of Conduct sets out our core values and the 
standards of conduct expected of everyone who works for 
Elementis in any of its worldwide operations, including 
compliance with all applicable laws and regulation.

RISK MANAGEMENT
Effective risk management supports the successful delivery 
of our strategic objectives. We have an established risk 
management framework to identify, evaluate and mitigate the 
risks we face as a business.

EXPERTISE
New product development and innovation pipeline is supported 
by technical service and expertise. Our technical service 
laboratories work closely with our customers to deliver their 
needs. In addition, the talc segment utilises proprietary flotation 
process know-how and formulation expertise to deliver superior 
product quality and consistency in a wide range of end markets. 

19 

Elementis plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

STRATEGIC REPORTCORPORATE GOVERNANCEFINANCIAL STATEMENTSSHAREHOLDER INFORMATIONOUR STRATEGY

OUR REIGNITE 
GROWTH 
STRATEGY IS 
BASED ON 
FOUR PILLARS 
OF ACTIVITY

STRATEGIC PRIORITY

2018 ACHIEVEMENTS

Business insight:
There is always a better way.

Our strategy seeks to concentrate on 
growth markets supported by major 
global demographic and consumer 
trends. 

But fundamentally our approach is 
based on the understanding that there 
is always a better way. Better ways to 
interact with our key customers. Better 
ways to run our businesses. Better 
products that improve our customers’ 
products. Better ways to communicate. 
And better ways to empower, develop 
and motivate our people. Because 
ultimately it is our people who 
deliver our strategy.

2019 PRIORITIES

RISKS

20 

Elementis plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

PURSUE BEST GROWTH 
OPPORTUNITIES

 1Our strategic choices 

focus on the most attractive 
and material opportunities 
for Elementis

 − Acquisition of Mondo, the second 

largest producer of talc based additives 
in the world

 − Launched global Coatings 

transformation

 − Acquired a manufacturing site in 

Mumbai, India to serve fast growing 
Coatings, Personal Care and Energy 
markets in the surrounding regions
 − Global key account revenue growth 

increased by 6% in 2018

 − Implement global Coatings 

transformation

 − Asia growth: create a new platform 

in India

 − Talc integration and synergy delivery 

 − Uncertain global economic conditions
 − Business interruption as a result of 

major event

 − Business interruption as a result of 

supply chain failure

 − Portfolio innovation and technology

 
PURSUE SUPPLY CHAIN 
TRANSFORMATION

INNOVATE FOR HIGH 
MARGINS AND 
DISTINCTIVENESS

CREATE A CULTURE OF 
HIGH PERFORMANCE

2

Elementis has a number 
of quality manufacturing 
assets; however, some are 
disadvantaged. We are 
transforming our supply 
chain to unlock cash and 
deliver increased financial 
performance

3

Innovation is at the heart of 
what we do. Focusing on 
significant innovation 
opportunities will continue 
to enhance our customers’ 
performance

4

Achieving the right 
organisation is essential 
to grow the business

 − Completed the sale of Delden and 

 − Winner of Sensory Gold award at 

New Jersey sites, previously home to 
our Surfactants and US Colourants 
businesses respectively

in-cosmetics Global 2018 for Rheoluxe® 
skin care experience

 − 9% growth of our Thixatrol® organic 

 − Consolidation of organoclay operations 

thixotropes in the Americas

in North America and China

 − Delivered $12m of working capital 

savings

 − Qualified new sources of supply for 

10% of raw materials

 − Creation of global Coatings organisation
 − Commenced integration of Mondo 
 − Launch of new digital strategy 
 − Improved working capital management 
 − Roll out of comprehensive safety 
information management system

 − Execution of working capital 

optimisation programme

 − Continued pursuit of procurement 

savings and improved manufacturing 
productivity

 − Focus on fewer, more material 
opportunities across the Group
 − Deliver Personal Care products 

for skincare applications such as 
Bentone Hydroclay™

 − Improved Chromium operations 

 − Leverage R&D expertise to support 

reliability

Talc growth 

 − Quality of earnings focus: margin and 

cash flow

 − Roll out new digital capability
 − Embed the new Elementis values

 − Uncertain global economic conditions
 − Business interruption as a result of 

major event

 − Business interruption as a result of 

supply chain failure

 − Major regulatory enforcement action

 − Increasing regulatory and product 

stewardship challenges

 − Intellectual property and know-how
 − Portfolio innovation and technology

 − Intellectual property and know-how
 − Talent management and succession
 − Cyber security incident

21 

Elementis plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

STRATEGIC REPORTCORPORATE GOVERNANCEFINANCIAL STATEMENTSSHAREHOLDER INFORMATIONOUR STRATEGY
CONTINUED

PURSUE BEST GROWTH 
OPPORTUNITIES

 1

STRATEGY IN ACTION
COATINGS ASIA
In Asia, we have a strong presence centred upon China. In 
2018, under the direction our new global Coatings team, we 
began to transform our business through rigorous evaluation 
of our product offering, routes to market and cost base. This 
has resulted in moves to improve product differentiation, 
rationalise our product portfolio and implement standardised 
service level agreements to reduce working capital and 
improve supply efficiency. Our global Coatings transformation 
will continue at pace in 2019.

In December 2018 we acquired a production facility in 
Mumbai for $4m, a key step in developing a direct presence 
in India. This facility will allow us to bring our distinctive 
technology to the market and enable us to strengthen our 
customer proposition. The plant, which will start production in 
2019 and ramp up in 2020, will serve the Coatings, Personal 
Care and Energy markets in India and beyond, and is an 
exciting development for Elementis in Asia. 

22 

Elementis plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

WHY THIS IS IMPORTANT FOR ELEMENTIS
Our strategic choices focus on 
the most attractive and material 
opportunities for Elementis

PERSONAL CARE GLOBAL GROWTH
Owning the only commercial high quality rheology grade 
hectorite mine in the world provides access to a raw material 
that is natural, white and an outstanding rheology modifier. In 
2018, we continued to grow our hectorite based business and 
made progress diversifying our product portfolio. Rheoluxe®, 
our new polymer based thickener, won Sensory Gold at the 
in-Cosmetics Global exhibition and is building momentum 
with customers – revenue rose 13% in 2018. Our natural, 
Meadowfoam based ingredients also made good progress 
in 2018, seeing incorporation into ground breaking skin care 
products such as Supergoop!® Unseen Sunscreen. 

In the first full year of ownership, our antiperspirant active 
business has demonstrated the ability to balance cost recovery 
and the strength of our customer relationships in the face of 
significant raw material price increases. 

In 2019 we will roll out new products targeted at skin care 
including Bentone Hydroclay™, drive penetration of our 
Bentone® gel product range and introduce more customers 
to our wide range of natural ingredients. 

GLOBAL KEY ACCOUNT MANAGEMENT
Key account management is about improving how we work with 
our most important global customers. In 2018, we leveraged our 
new processes and systems, repositioned our thinking from a 
regional to global perspective and engaged with our customers 
at the most senior levels possible. As a result, our dialogue with 
key customers has improved and we are seeing increased 
technical collaboration. In 2018, revenue from these key 
accounts rose by 6%.

+6%

23 

Elementis plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

STRATEGIC REPORTCORPORATE GOVERNANCEFINANCIAL STATEMENTSSHAREHOLDER INFORMATIONOUR STRATEGY
CONTINUED

PURSUE SUPPLY CHAIN 
TRANSFORMATION

2

STRATEGY IN ACTION
MANUFACTURING PRODUCTIVITY 
Production within our network of assets is being optimised 
to improve efficiency and reduce cost. In 2018, we made 
significant progress at our organoclay operations. In China, 
we closed the Changxing site and consolidated capacity at 
the nearby Anji facility, whilst in the US we relocated our flash 
dryer capacity from Charleston to St Louis. Both of these 
moves allowed us to improve utilisation rates and lower 
operating costs. 

During the year we vigorously pursued our $18m working 
capital improvement target by 2020. Standardised service 
level agreements, new inventory management systems and 
the removal of low sales and low margin items that create 
excess inventory, resulted in $12m of savings. We have 
increased our overall ambition from $18m to a $25m 
sustainable reduction in working capital, and are well 
placed to deliver the rest of the target in 2019 and 2020. 

24 

Elementis plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

WHY THIS IS IMPORTANT FOR ELEMENTIS
We are transforming our supply chain 
to reduce costs, unlock cash and thus 
deliver enhanced financial performance.

ADDRESS DISADVANTAGED ASSETS
In 2018, we exited two significant assets. In February, we 
completed the sale of our Surfactants business, including the 
Delden production site, for €39m and in August we agreed to 
sell the Jersey City site, previously home to the US Colourants 
business, for $17m. Exiting these assets has generated cash, 
simplified our supply chain, significantly reduced ongoing 
maintenance capex and allowed the re-allocation of capital to 
higher margin growth opportunities. In November, we closed 
our organoclay site in Changxing.

In 2019, we will continue to focus on continuous improvement 
of our assets across sectors and geographies. 

Our former Surfactants plant in Delden, Netherlands.

PURSUE PROCUREMENT SAVINGS 
Procurement optimisation continues to create shareholder value. 
In 2018, we qualified new raw material sources for more than 
10% of our raw material spend and achieved more than $6m 
of cost savings. Smarter procurement enabled the partial 
mitigation of raw material cost inflation, particularly within the 
antiperspirant actives business. Finally, we rationalised our 
logistics network and re-negotiated utility suppliers. In 2019, 
we will be focused on further improvement in this area. 

$6m

25 

Elementis plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

STRATEGIC REPORTCORPORATE GOVERNANCEFINANCIAL STATEMENTSSHAREHOLDER INFORMATIONOUR STRATEGY
CONTINUED

INNOVATE FOR HIGH MARGINS 
AND DISTINCTIVENESS

3

STRATEGY IN ACTION
DELIVER NEW PRODUCT PIPELINE
Our innovation pipeline contains many new projects coming to 
market in 2019. In Personal Care, natural functional ingredients 
are in demand, and consumers also want products that have 
great application aesthetics. Our new Bentone Hydroclay™ 
product line delivers these requirements, enabling cosmetic 
formulators to create natural skin care products that also 
deliver novel sensory experiences.

Greener technology, improved performance and efficiency 
are also key drivers in the Coatings industry. Our Thixatrol® 
organic thixotropes allow customers to formulate products at 
lower temperatures, saving energy and increasing product 
throughput time. Thixatrol® is comprised of a high percentage 
of renewable materials and can be used for the most 
demanding applications. 

With the acquisition of Mondo, the addition of Talc opens up 
an exciting new pillar in our technology portfolio. Looking 
forward, we will continue to leverage our core competencies 
to drive innovation and identify opportunities to transfer our 
technologies between industry segments. 

26 

Elementis plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

 
WHY THIS IS IMPORTANT FOR ELEMENTIS
Innovation is at the heart of what we do. 
Delivering significant innovations enhances 
both our customers’ product performance 
and our competitive market position.

SUSTAIN INNOVATION LEADERSHIP 
We drive innovation to meet our customers’ needs and the 
trends impacting our business segments, to deliver superior 
performance, improved efficiency and increased sustainability. 
Leveraging our core competencies in natural mineral-based 
technologies and polymer architecture, we create innovative 
solutions aimed at transforming the markets which we serve. 
To increase the speed and success of our innovation pipeline, 
we work with strategic partners around the world.

27 

Elementis plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

STRATEGIC REPORTCORPORATE GOVERNANCEFINANCIAL STATEMENTSSHAREHOLDER INFORMATIONOUR STRATEGY
CONTINUED

CREATE A CULTURE OF 
HIGH PERFORMANCE

4

STRATEGY IN ACTION
STRUCTURE
In 2018, we accelerated the shift from a regional to a global 
Coatings organisation with the creation of a cross functional 
leadership team and a number of personnel changes in key 
account management, service delivery and within our Asian 
business. We are confident that our team in Coatings now 
has the talent and drive to propel the organisation forwards. 

Following the acquisition of Mondo in October 2018 we 
established a specific project team and the integration of 
Mondo has begun at pace.

28 

Elementis plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

WHY THIS IS IMPORTANT FOR ELEMENTIS
Achieving the right organisation and 
performance management processes 
is essential to build our culture 
and grow the business. 

PROCESSES
In 2018, improved demand planning, inventory management 
and performance management tracking were some of the areas 
in which we made progress as part of our commitment to deliver 
a targeted $25m of sustainable working capital improvement. 

Our digital strategy aims to make it easier for customers to 
do business with Elementis. In 2018, we commenced the 
improvement of our CRM systems and customer facing 
websites, and increased the resources dedicated to data 
protection and transparency – a key part of our commitment 
to customers and staff seeking assurance and visibility.

To further improve our safety performance we rolled out 
Enablon, a comprehensive safety information management 
system. Enablon improves our ability to both track, trend 
and analyse safety data, and implement corrective and 
preventative actions. 

As part of our employee development offer, we continue to utilise 
workday®, our automated human resources system, to improve 
our performance culture and performance management. 

Looking to 2019, priorities include increased employee 
engagement and the integration of Mondo. 

$25m

29 

Elementis plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

STRATEGIC REPORTCORPORATE GOVERNANCEFINANCIAL STATEMENTSSHAREHOLDER INFORMATIONMEASURING OUR PERFORMANCE

WE MEASURE OUR 
PERFORMANCE 
AGAINST OUR 
REIGNITE GROWTH 
STRATEGY 

Through both financial and 
non-financial key performance 
indicators (KPIs). 

We report on these KPIs on a 
monthly basis. We consider that 
our KPIs represent meaningful 
and relevant measures of our 
performance and are an 
important illustration of our ability 
to achieve our objectives under 
each of our strategic pillars.

Link to remuneration 
Our short term performance related pay 
incentives include targets against the annual 
operating plan for adjusted Group profit before 
tax, adjusted operating profit and average 
trade working capital to sales ratio.

Our long term incentives include targets 
against earnings per share and total shareholder 
return that are subject to a return on capital 
employed (ROCE) underpin. These targets are 
a subset of the Group’s financial KPIs. Further 
details can be found in the Directors’ 
Remuneration Report on pages 78 to 92. 

Link to strategic priority
Pursue best growth opportunities 
Pursue supply chain transformation 
Innovate for high margins and distinctiveness 
Create a culture of high performance 

Related material
Our business segments – pages 34 to 35
Resources and Relationships – pages 49 to 58
Directors’ Remuneration Report – pages 78 to 92

30 

Elementis plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

SAFETY
Safety remains our top priority and we aim for an 
injury free work place so that all our employees go 
home safely every day. 

By monitoring our total recordable incident rate 
(TRIR) and lost time accidents (LTA) we can 
manage our safety performance and make 
improvements as necessary.

MEASURE

TRIR

LTA

Link to strategic priority 

ENVIRONMENT
We recognise our responsibility for sustaining the 
quality of the environment in the communities in 
which we operate. 

Environmental  
impact

Link to strategic priority 

CAPITAL EFFICIENCY
How we generate returns from our assets is an 
important indicator of the successfulness of our 
capital allocation decisions.

ROCE

Link to strategic priority 

CASH GENERATION
By monitoring our cash flow we can optimise our 
operations to maximise the cash we generate.

Adjusted operating 
cash flow

Link to strategic priority 

PROFITABILITY
Our profitability is a critical indicator of our 
performance as it reflects the degree of value 
customers place on our products and the efficiency 
of our operations. 

Adjusted Group 
profit before tax

Contribution margin

Adjusted operating 
profit/adjusted 
operating margin 

Link to strategic priority 

WORKING CAPITAL OPTIMISATION 
We acknowledge that the proper management of 
working capital is essential to our financial health 
and operational success. 

Average trade 
working capital 
to sales ratio

Link to strategic priority 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
DESCRIPTION

HOW WE PERFORMED 
IN 2018

HAVE WE IMPROVED?

We use the US Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) 
definition for recordable injuries and illnesses.

TRIR is the total number of recordable incidents multiplied by 200,000, 
divided by total hours worked by all employees during the year.

LTA is an injury or illness that requires greater than 3 days away from 
work not including the day of incident.

We record and categorise environmental incidents into tiers based on 
the severity or actions taken by regulatory authorities. Tier 3 incidents 
are those that have a significant impact on the environment and require 
reporting to an external authority and where enforcement action is likely. 
Tier 2 incidents have a minor impact and require notification but are 
likely to result in minimal action by the authorities.

ROCE is defined as operating profit after adjusting items divided by 
operating capital employed, expressed as a percentage. Operating 
capital employed comprises fixed assets (excluding goodwill), working 
capital and operating provisions. Operating provisions include self 
insurance and environmental provisions but exclude retirement 
benefit obligations.

Adjusted operating cash flow is defined as the net cash flow from 
adjusted EBITDA plus changes in working capital, provisions and share 
based payments, less net capital expenditure.

1.1

2017

2

0.22
2018

FURTHER 
INFORMATION CAN BE 
FOUND ON PAGE 56

2017

0
2018

FURTHER 
INFORMATION CAN BE 
FOUND ON PAGE 56

0.22
80%
reduction

0
100%
reduction

0
No change

0
2017

22%

12%

2017

0
2018

15%

8%
2018

$107.1m

$77.7m

FURTHER 
INFORMATION CAN BE 
FOUND ON PAGE 57

15%
-7pts
ROCE including 
goodwill
8%
-4pts

FURTHER 
INFORMATION CAN BE 
FOUND ON PAGE 125

$77.7m
-27%

2017

2018

FURTHER 
INFORMATION CAN BE 
FOUND ON PAGE 39

Adjusted Group profit before tax is defined as the Group profit before tax 
on total operations (continuing and discontinued) after adjusting items, 
excluding adjusting items relating to tax.

$115.2m $112.4m

$112.5m
-2%

Contribution margin, is defined as total revenue less all variable costs, 
divided by total revenue and expressed as a percentage.

47%◊

46%◊

46%◊
-1pts

2017

2018

FURTHER 
INFORMATION CAN BE 
FOUND ON PAGE 124

◊  Total operations (both continuing and discontinued)

Adjusted operating profit is the profit derived from the continuing 
operations of the business after adjusting items. Adjusted operating 
margin is the ratio of adjusted operating profit, to total revenue.

The trade working capital to total revenue ratio is defined as the 12 month 
average trade working capital divided by total revenue, expressed as a 
percentage. Trade working capital comprises inventories, trade 
receivables and trade payables. It specifically excludes prepayments, 
capital or interest related receivables or payables, changes due to 
currency movements and items classified as other receivables and 
other payables.

31 

Elementis plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

2017

2018

FURTHER 
INFORMATION CAN BE 
FOUND ON PAGE 125

$122.7m

$132.6m

15.7%
2017

16.0%
2018

19%

21%

$132.6m
+8%
Operating 
margin
16.1%
+0.4pts

FURTHER 
INFORMATION CAN BE 
FOUND ON PAGE 125

21%
-2pts

2017

2018

FURTHER 
INFORMATION CAN BE 
FOUND ON PAGE 125

STRATEGIC REPORTCORPORATE GOVERNANCEFINANCIAL STATEMENTSSHAREHOLDER INFORMATIONNON-FINANCIAL INFORMATION STATEMENT

ENVIRONMENTAL MATTERS

EMPLOYEES

Related policies which govern  
our approach 
 − Code of Conduct 
 − Health, Safety and Environment policy 
 − Product testing policy

Related policies which govern  
our approach 
 − Code of Conduct
 − Life saving rules
 − Data protection and privacy policies 
 − Equality and diversity policies 
 − Whistleblowing policies

ASSOCIATED RISKS AND KPIs

ASSOCIATED RISKS AND KPIs

WE MEASURE 
NON-FINANCIAL 
PERFORMANCE 
ALONGSIDE 
OUR REIGNITE 
GROWTH 
STRATEGY

This table follows the requirements of the 
Companies Act 2016 sections 414C(7), 
414CA and 414CB and is intended to help 
stakeholders understand our position on 
key non-financial matters. Most of our 
reporting on these topics is contained 
within our Risk Management and 
Resources and Relationships sections on 
pages 42 to 48 and 49 to 58 respectively. 
Cross references to sections containing 
further information about risk management, 
policy outcomes, targets in specific areas 
are provided. 

Principal risks
 − Business interruption due to a major 

Principal risks
 − Talent management and succession 

event or system interruption 

planning 

 − Regulatory and product stewardship 

challenges 

Elementis has established a cross 
functional Compliance Team (ECT) that 
meets on a quarterly basis to consider 
compliance training needs and 
improvements, assign training courses 
to all and selected groups of employees 
and monitor training completion rates. 
The ECT considers possible 
improvements and makes 
recommendations on identifying and 
mitigating compliance risks for the 
Company. The ECT reports to Walker 
Allen, the General Counsel and Chief 
Compliance Officer. 

KPI
Manufacturing carbon intensity ratio  
(kg CO2e/tonnes product)

KPI
Proportion of internal promotions

2018

2017

0.89
0.73

2018

2017

68
52

Related material
Resources and Relationships – pages 
49 to 58

32 

Elementis plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

HUMAN RIGHTS

SOCIAL AND COMMUNITY 
MATTERS

ANTI-BRIBERY AND CORRUPTION

Related policies which govern  
our approach 
 − Code of Conduct
 − Equality and diversity policies 
 − Data protection and privacy policies
 − Whistleblowing policies

Related policies which govern  
our approach 
 − Code of Conduct 
 − Product testing policy 
 − Social media policy

Related policies which govern  
our approach 
 − Code of Conduct 
 − Anti-corruption policy
 − Anti-competition policy

ASSOCIATED RISKS AND KPIs

ASSOCIATED RISKS AND KPIs

ASSOCIATED RISKS AND KPIs

Principal risks
 − Legal and regulatory

Principal risks
 − Regulatory and product stewardship 

Principal risks
 − Regulatory and product stewardship 

challenges 

challenges 

 − Legal and regulatory

KPI
Number of online training courses made 
available to employees on Human Rights

KPI
Total number of substances registered 
under EU REACH 

KPI
Total number of hours compliance training 
completed by employees

2018

2017

5
6

2018

2017

 115
29

2018

2017

 1,800
2,000

33 

Elementis plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

STRATEGIC REPORTCORPORATE GOVERNANCEFINANCIAL STATEMENTSSHAREHOLDER INFORMATIONOUR BUSINESS SEGMENTS

AGAINST A MIXED 
ECONOMIC ENVIRONMENT 
IN 2018 OUR BUSINESS 
SEGMENTS DELIVERED A 
SOLID SET OF RESULTS.

Adjusted operating profit increased by 6% on an organic 
basis to $132.6m, driven by growth in Personal Care, Coatings 
and Chromium.

Related material
Elementis today – pages 2 to 6
Finance report – pages 36 to 41

 On a 12 month pro forma basis – see pro forma calculations on page 164

∆  After adjusting items – see Note 5
* 
**   Adjusted for FX (where constant currency reflects prior year results 
translated at current year exchange rates) and the impact of M&A
 M&A impact includes the impact of business acquisitions (SummitReheis 
in Personal Care and Talc) and business disposals (US Colourants business 
and Surfactants, Coatings and Personal Care portfolio elimination following 
the Delden asset sale)

‡ 

Group performance – Revenue

Personal Care
Coatings
Talc
Chromium
Energy
Inter-segment
Revenue from continuing operations
Discontinued operations – Surfactants
Inter-segment from discontinued operations
Total revenue from continuing and discontinued operations

Group performance – Adjusted operating profit

Personal Care
Coatings
Talc
Chromium
Energy
Central costs
Adjusted operating profit from continuing operations
Discontinued operations – Surfactants
Total adjusted operating profit from continuing 
and discontinued operations

34 

Elementis plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

PERSONAL CARE 

Headlines
 − Revenue increased 17% to $210.3m, primarily as a result of an 

extra quarter of contribution from SummitReheis and improved H2 
performance in cosmetics and antiperspirant (AP) actives

 − Adjusted operating profit up 17% to $52.2m with robust margins 

of 25%

Financial Performance
In Personal Care, revenue was $210.3m compared with $179.3m last 
year, a 17% increase on a reported basis. Excluding the impact of FX 
and M&A (i.e. on an organic basis), revenue rose by 1% following a 
weak first half performance due to distributor de-stocking in cosmetics 
and volume declines in antiperspirant (AP) actives in response to raw 
material related pricing actions. In the second half of the year, cosmetics 
and AP actives returned to growth, achieving 6% and 5% organic** 
growth respectively versus the prior year period. Cosmetics and AP 
actives represent approximately 90% of Personal Care profitability.

Adjusted operating profit rose 17% to $52.2m, with adjusted operating 
margins solid at 25% despite significant price inflation for two key raw 
materials, aluminium and zirconium. On an organic** basis adjusted 
operating profit rose by 8% driven by the delivery of SummitReheis 
related cost synergies and underlying price increases. 

Revenue 
2017 
$m

179.3
372.9
–
186.7
58.8
(15.0)
782.7
47.8
(0.2)
830.3

Effect of 
exchange 
rates 
$m

Impact of 
M&A‡
$m

Increase/
(decrease) 
2018 
$m

5.4
7.5
–
–
0.4
–
13.3
–
–
13.3

24.4
(19.3)
21.5
–
(0.1)
–
26.5
(43.0)
–
(16.5)

1.2
1.1
–
(2.4)
(4.2)
4.0
(0.3)
–
0.2
(0.1)

Revenue
2018 
$m

210.3
362.2
21.5
184.3
54.9
(11.0)
822.2
4.8
–
827.0

Operating 
profit 
2017∆ 
$m

Effect of 
exchange
rates 
$m

Impact of
M&A‡
$m

Increase/
(decrease) 
2018 
$m

Operating 
profit 
2018∆ 
$m

44.6
54.7
–
30.1
9.7
(16.4)
122.7
5.4

128.1

1.3
1.8
–
–
0.1
–
3.2
–

3.2

2.6
(7.6)
3.9
–
(0.2)
–
(1.3)
(6.0)

(7.3)

3.7
3.6
–
2.9
(2.5)
0.3
8.0
–

52.2
52.5
3.9
33.0
7.1
(16.1)
132.6
(0.6)

8.0

132.0

COATINGS

TALC

Headlines
 − Revenue** flat at $362.2m due to weaker second half growth in 

Europe and Asia 

 − Adjusted operating profit of $52.5m, representing 7% organic growth 

Headlines
 − Revenue contribution of $21.5m in the two months of ownership
 − Adjusted operating profit contribution of $3.9m at a margin of 18%

Financial performance
In Coatings, revenue declined 3% to $362.2m primarily driven by 
portfolio elimination following the Surfactants business sale and the 
continued upgrading of the product portfolio, in line with the value over 
volume strategy of our global Coatings transformation programme. 
Excluding the impact of FX and business disposals, Coatings revenue 
was flat on 2017 at $362.2m. Whilst Coatings America performed well 
with organic revenue** growth of 3% due to customer wins and positive 
momentum with direct customers, the rest of the world experienced 
tougher trading conditions. Revenue in Coatings Asia finished the year 
flat**, with a managed decline in low value resins and lower overall 
activity levels, primarily in China, offset by improved pricing and mix. 
Coatings EMEA finished down 2%** as a result of a deterioration in 
demand, particularly in the fourth quarter.

On an organic** basis, adjusted operating profit rose by 7% to $52.5m, 
reflective of initial efficiency gains as part of the global Coatings 
transformation programme. Initiatives launched in 2018 include the 
streamlining of the product portfolio and cost base, implementation 
of more efficient routes to market and creation of a global Coatings 
organisation.

Financial performance
Following the acquisition of Mondo on 23 October 2018, the Talc 
division contributed $21.5m of revenue in approximately 2 months of 
ownership. On a 12 month pro forma and constant currency basis, 
the Talc business grew by 10% to reach $158.4m of revenue, driven by 
continued momentum in the industrial talc business, serving high value 
applications, and the monetisation of other minerals, namely nickel 
and cobalt. 

In the two months of ownership, Talc contributed $3.9m of adjusted 
operating profit, at a margin of 18%. As expected at the time of the 
acquisition, on a 12 month, constancy currency basis, adjusted 
operating profit rose 26% to $24.6m as a result of top line growth, better 
utilisation levels and improved mix, representing a margin of 16%. 

CHROMIUM

ENERGY

Headlines
 − Revenue down 1% to $184.3m with production outages largely offset 

Headlines
 − Revenue down 7% to $54.9m as a result of lower drilling activity 

by improved pricing

in North America

 − Adjusted operating profit up 10% on 2017 to $33.0m with outages 

 − Adjusted operating profit down 27% to $7.1m due to lower volumes 

offset by insurance recovery and pricing benefits

and weaker mix

Financial performance
In Chromium, revenue was $184.3m compared to $186.7m in the 
previous year, a decrease of 1%. As a result of production outages 
at our Castle Hayne plant in February (extreme cold weather) and 
September (Hurricane Florence) totalling five weeks, volumes fell by 
6%. Outages aside, demand levels in North America and the rest of the 
world were strong and drove global industry utilisation levels to above 
90%. As a result, average selling prices increased by 5% on 2017.

Financial performance
In Energy, revenue declined by 7% on a constant currency basis to 
$54.9m. Whilst oil prices were on average 28% above the levels of 
2017, drilling activity levels were negatively impacted by infrastructure 
constraints in North America and a one time inventory reduction as two 
of our key customers merged. In the second half of 2018 activity levels 
modestly improved with 3% reported revenue growth on the first half 
of the year. 

Adjusted operating profit rose 10% to $33.0m, with the impact of 
production outages largely offset by insurance recovery and upside 
provided by improved pricing. 

Adjusted operating profit declined by 27% to $7.1m, and margins fell 
from 17% to 13% due to lower volumes and weaker product mix.

35 

Elementis plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

STRATEGIC REPORTCORPORATE GOVERNANCEFINANCIAL STATEMENTSSHAREHOLDER INFORMATIONFINANCE REPORT

THE SUCCESSFUL 
COMPLETION OF THE 
MONDO ACQUISITION 
AND SALE OF OUR 
SURFACTANTS 
BUSINESS REPRESENT 
SIGNIFICANT 
MILESTONES IN OUR 
STRATEGY TO 
REIGNITE GROWTH. 

RALPH HEWINS
CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER

GROUP RESULTS
In 2018 revenue from continuing operations rose 5% to $822.2m 
due to an extra quarter’s contribution from SummitReheis and 
two months contribution from the recently acquired Talc business. 
Revenue in the Personal Care segment rose 1% on an organic 
basis, with growth in cosmetics and antiperspirant actives 
impacted by customer destocking and raw material price 
inflation respectively. Coatings revenue remained flat on an 
organic basis with strong performance in the Americas offset by 
weaker demand in the rest of the world. Energy faced headwinds 
in 2018 from infrastructure constraints in North America with 
sales decreasing by 7% on a constant currency basis to $54.9m 
in 2018. Sales in Chromium decreased by 1% to $184.3m in 2018 
due to weather related production outages at our Castle Hayne 
plant in North Carolina. The new Talc segment formed following 
the acquisition of Mondo performed in line with expectations in 
the first two months of ownership with revenue of $21.5m.

Reported Group operating profit for 2018 was $84.9m compared 
to $91.4m in the previous year, a decrease of 7.0%, due to an 
increase in non-recurring items. Adjusted operating profit from 
continuing operations rose to $132.6m compared with $122.7m 
in 2017, an increase of 8%. This was driven by growth in 
Personal Care and Chromium, and a first contribution from Talc, 
partially offset by declines in Coatings and Energy. Profit after 
tax decreased from $117.6m in 2017 to $41.4m in 2018 mainly 
due to the impact in 2017 of the one off tax credit of $51.0m in 
relation to US tax reforms, and increased interest expense as a 
result of higher borrowings in relation to the Mondo acquisition 
alongside the decrease in Group operating profit.

REVENUE

Personal Care
Coatings
Talc
Chromium
Energy
Inter-segment

Revenue from continuing operations

Discontinued operations – Surfactants

Inter-segment from discontinued operations

Total revenue from continuing and discontinued operations◊

36 

Elementis plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

2018
$m

210.3
362.2
21.5
184.3
54.9
(11.0)

822.2

4.8

–

827.0

2017
$m

179.3
372.9
–
186.7
58.8
(15.0)

782.7

47.8

(0.2)

830.3

Change

17%
-3%
n/a
-1%
-7%
-27%

5%

-90%

n/a

0%

OPERATING PROFIT

Personal Care
Coatings
Talc
Chromium
Energy
Central costs

Operating profit from continuing 
operations
Discontinued operations – Surfactants

Operating profit from continuing and 
discontinued operations◊

Operating 
profit
$m

40.4
57.6
(0.2)
15.8
7.1
(35.8)

84.9
(10.4)

74.5

2018

Adjusting 
items
$m

11.8
(5.1)
4.1
17.2
–
19.7

47.7
9.8

57.5

Adjusted 
operating 
profit
$m∆

52.2
52.5
3.9
33.0
7.1
(16.1)

132.6
(0.6)

132.0

2017

Operating profit
$m

Adjusting items
$m

Adjusted 
operating profit
$m∆

29.2
54.6
–
28.8
9.7
(30.9)

91.4
5.8

97.2

15.4
0.1
–
1.3
–
14.5

31.3
(0.4)

30.9

44.6
54.7
–
30.1
9.7
(16.4)

122.7
5.4

128.1

ADJUSTING ITEMS
In addition to the statutory results the Group uses alternative performance measures such as adjusted operating profit and 
adjusted diluted earnings per share to provide additional useful analysis of the performance of the business. The Board considers 
these non-GAAP measures as an alternative way to measure the Group’s performance so it is comparable to the prior year. 
Adjusting items in 2018 resulted in a charge of $57.5m before tax, an increase of $26.6m against last year. The key categories of 
adjusting items are summarised below. For more information on adjusting items and the Group’s policy for adjusting items please 
see Note 5 and Note 1 to the financial statements respectively.

Credit/(charge)

Restructuring
Business transformation
Environmental provisions 
Costs related to acquisition 
activities
Uplift due to fair value of Mondo 
inventory
Sale of Colourants business 
and closure of Jersey City site
Sale of Surfactants business
Amortisation of intangibles 
arising on acquisition
GMP Pension
Surfactants commercial 
settlement
Total

Personal 
Care 
$m

Coatings
$m

Talc
$m

Chromium
$m

Energy
$m

Central  
costs
$m

Continuing 
operations
$m

Discontinued 
operations
$m

–
–
–

(0.2)

–

–
–

(11.6)
–

–
(11.8)

–
(5.6)
–

–

–

12.7
–

(2.0)
–

–
5.1

–
–
–

–

(2.9)

–
–

(1.2)
–

–
(4.1)

–
–
(17.0)

–

–

–
–

(0.2)
–

–
(17.2)

–
–
–

–

–

–
–

–
–

–
–

(0.2)
–
0.5

(0.2)
(5.6)
(16.5)

(16.3)

(16.5)

–

–
(0.5)

–
(3.2)

–
(19.7)

(2.9)

12.7
(0.5)

(15.0)
(3.2)

–
(47.7)

–
–
–

–

–

–
–

–
–

(9.8)
(9.8)

Total
$m

(0.2)
(5.6)
(16.5)

(16.5)

(2.9)

12.7
(0.5)

(15.0)
(3.2)

(9.8)
(57.5)

◊  Total operations (both continuing and discontinued)
∆  After adjusting items – see Note 5

37 

Elementis plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

STRATEGIC REPORTCORPORATE GOVERNANCEFINANCIAL STATEMENTSSHAREHOLDER INFORMATIONFINANCE REPORT 
CONTINUED

Restructuring 
In 2018, restructuring costs relate to the tail end of the IFRS 2 
cost of buyouts associated with the CEO’s and CFO’s 
appointments in 2016.

Business transformation
In 2018 a programme to transform the Coatings segment has 
been implemented focusing on re-engineering our approach to 
markets (direct vs distributor), our underlying asset base and our 
product offerings in order to leverage our international networks 
and key account management. It is anticipated this will continue 
through 2019 driving a step change in Coatings segment 
performance. 

Environmental provisions
The Group’s environmental provision is calculated on a 
discounted cash flow basis, reflecting the time period over 
which spending is estimated to take place. Assessments with 
our external advisers at the end of 2018 have resulted in a $16.5m 
provision increase. As these costs relate to non-operational 
facilities the costs associated are classed as adjusting items.

Costs related to acquisition activities
These are one-off costs predominantly associated with the 
acquisition of Mondo in October 2018 including financing costs, 
legal fees and retention incentives for key Mondo employees. 

Surfactants Commercial Settlement
These are costs incurred in settlement of a commercial dispute 
relating to the Surfactants business disposed of in 2018.

CURRENCY HEDGING
The Group transacts in multiple currencies including US dollars, 
euros, pounds sterling and Chinese renminbi. Cash flow hedges 
are used as part of a programme to manage our exposure to 
foreign exchange risk particularly associated with EUR 
denominated sales. In 2018, overall currency movements were 
such that the net impact of these hedge transactions was a 
credit to operating profit of $0.1m (2017: charge of $0.3m).

CENTRAL COSTS
Central costs are those costs that are not identifiable as 
expenses of a particular business and comprise expenditures 
of the Board of Directors and corporate head office. In 2018, 
central costs were $16.1m broadly similar to the $16.4m of 
central costs for the previous year.

OTHER EXPENSES
Other expenses are administration costs incurred and paid by 
the Group’s pension schemes, which relate primarily to former 
employees of legacy businesses, and were $1.6m in 2018 
compared to $1.2m in the previous year. 

NET FINANCE COSTS

Finance income
Finance cost of borrowings

Net pension finance costs
Discount unwind on provisions

2018
$m

0.3
(16.8)

(16.5)
(0.4)
(1.0)

(17.9)

2017
$m

0.2
(9.7)

(9.5)
(1.1)
(1.1)

(11.7)

Net finance costs for 2018 were $17.9m, an increase of $6.2m 
on last year. The increase was primarily due to the acquisition 
of Mondo completed in October 2018 which was part funded 
by an increase in borrowings. Finance costs comprise interest 
payable on borrowings calculated using the effective interest 
rate method, facility arrangement fees and the unwinding of 
discounts on the Group’s environmental provisions. Pension 
finance costs which are a function of discount rates under IAS 
19 and the value of schemes’ deficit or surplus positions were 
$0.7m lower in 2018 at $0.4m as a result of changes in the 
discount rate. The discount unwind on provisions relates to the 
annual time value of the Group’s environmental provisions which 
are calculated on a discounted basis and at $1.0m for 2018 is 
broadly similar to the previous year. 

Uplift due to fair value of Mondo inventory
In accordance with IFRS 3, inventory held within Mondo
was revalued to fair value on acquisition, representing an uplift
of $2.9m over the book value. As all stock acquired with
Mondo was sold by the year end, the additional expense
recognised in cost of sales due to this fair value uplift has been
classed as an adjusting item.

Sale of Surfactants business
The loss on sale of the Surfactants business has been treated 
as an adjusting item in 2018 and the one-off associated costs 
incurred in 2017 were also classed as adjusting items.

Sale of Jersey City site
The Group completed the sale of the site of the US Colourants 
business in August 2018 for consideration of $17.0m. After 
disposal costs of $4.3m the profit recognised on disposal was 
$12.7m. The US Colourants business was disposed of in March 
2017 to Chromaflo Technologies. 

Amortisation of intangibles arising on acquisition
Amortisation of $15.0m (2017: $11.8m) represents the charge 
in respect of the Group’s acquired intangible assets. As in 
previous years these are included in adjusting items in 
order to present a more reflective view of the Group’s overall 
performance and the key business drivers that underpin it.

GMP Pension
On 26 October 2018, the High Court ruled on the Lloyds Bank 
Guaranteed Minimum Pension inequalities case. In response 
to this our actuaries have included in their calculations a past 
service cost of $3.2m for the estimated costs arising from the 
judgement.

38 

Elementis plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

TAXATION
Tax charge

Reported tax charge
Adjusting items

After adjusting items

2018 
Effective 
rate  
%

23.9
–

21.6

2017 
Effective 
rate 
%

(43.6)
–

20.5

$m

(34.2)
56.7

22.5

$

15.6
8.8

24.4

The Group incurred a tax charge of $24.4m (2017 $22.5m) on 
adjusted profit before tax excluding discontinued operations 
resulting in an effective tax rate of 21.6% (2017: 20.5%). The 
group operates across several jurisdictions internationally and 
is therefore subject to a variety of overseas tax rates and laws, 
changes to which will affect the future tax charges of the Group. 
The Group’s tax rate in 2018 was impacted by the updated US 
s163(j) TCJA regulations in respect of the treatment of 
depreciation capitalised within inventory; resulting in a less 
favourable financing position compared to prior periods. Tax 
on adjusting items primarily related to the acquisition of Mondo 
and the disposal of the Group’s Delden operations.

EARNINGS PER SHARE
Note 9 to the ‘Consolidated financial statements’ sets out a 
number of calculations of earnings per share. To better 
understand the underlying performance of the Group, earnings 
per share reported under IFRS is adjusted for items classified 
as adjusting and includes profits from both continuing and 
discontinued operations.

During the year the Group undertook a rights issue as part of the 
funding strategy for the Mondo acquisition. In accordance with 
IAS 33 the earnings per share figures for all comparative periods 
shown have been rebased to reflect the effects of the rights issue.

Adjusted diluted earnings per share was 16.9 cents◊ for 2018 
compared to 17.9 centsנ in the previous year, a decrease of 6% 
due to higher tax and net finance costs as well as the increased 
weighted average number of shares following the rights issue in 
October 2018. Basic earnings per share before adjusting items 
was 7.9 cents◊ compared to 23.3 cents◊† in 2017. Adjusting 
items◊ increased basic earnings per share by 9.1 cents in 2018 
(reduced by 5.2 cents† in 2017).

Note 9 to the Group financial statements provides disclosure 
of earnings per share calculations both including and excluding 
the effects of adjusting items and the potential dilutive effects 
of outstanding and exercisable options. 

DISTRIBUTIONS TO SHAREHOLDERS
During 2018, the Group paid a final dividend in respect of the 
year ended 31 December 2017 of 6.10 cents per share 
(2017: 5.75 cents). An interim dividend of 2.95 cents per share 
(2017: 2.70 cents) was paid on 28 September 2018 and the 
Board is recommending a final dividend of 5.70 cents per share 
which will be paid on 31 May 2019.

ADJUSTED CASH FLOW
The adjusted cash flow which excludes the cash effect of 
adjusting items from cash generated from operations is 
summarised below. A reconciliation of statutory operating profit 
to EBITDA is shown in Note 5.

EBITDA1
Change in working capital
Capital expenditure
Other

Adjusted operating cash flow
Pension payments
Interest and tax
Adjusting items
Other

Free cash flow 
Issue of shares
Dividends paid
Acquisitions and disposals
Currency fluctuations

Movement in net debt
Net debt/cash at start of year

Net debt at end of year

2018
$m

162.9
(29.9)
(50.8)
(4.5)

77.7
(1.2)
(21.2)
(21.8)
(0.3)

33.2
223.3
(41.9)
(426.7)
5.1

(207.0)
(291.1)

(498.1)

2017
$m

156.0
0.4
(41.6)
(7.7)

107.1
(6.3)
(17.0)
(10.5)
(1.4)

71.9
–
(77.8)
(361.8)
(0.9)

(368.6)
77.5

(291.1)

1 

 EBITDA – earnings before interest, tax, adjusting items, depreciation and 
amortisation.

Adjusted operating cash flow has decreased by $29.4m to 
$77.7m for 2018 as a result of changes in working capital, 
predominantly a result of inventory planning decisions in our 
Chromium segment and anti-perspirant actives business. 
Capital expenditure increased to $50.8m compared to $41.6m 
in 2017. This is primarily due to the inclusion of our new Talc 
segment for two months and spend on our new production site 
in India which is anticipated to commence production in 2019. 

Free cash flow decreased from $71.9m to $33.2m as a result 
of working capital increases, predominantly in relation to raw 
material planning decisions, increased interest on borrowings 
used to part fund the Mondo acquisition and the increased cash 
flow impact of adjusting items. Pension payments decreased 
from $6.3m in 2017 to $1.2m in 2018 as a result of the cessation 
of pension top up payments into the UK pension scheme. The 
September 2017 triennial review of the UK pension scheme 
concluded that no cash top up payments will be required from 
Elementis until at least 2021.

Net debt to pro forma adjusted EBITDA* was 2.5x compared 
to 1.9x in 2017, the increase is due to the acquisition of Mondo 
which was part funded by increased borrowings. 

39 

Elementis plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

◊  Total operations (both continuing and discontinued)
∆  After adjusting items – see Note 5
†  Rebased for the effects of the Rights Issue – see Note 9
*  On a 12 month pro forma basis – see pro forma calculations on page 164

STRATEGIC REPORTCORPORATE GOVERNANCEFINANCIAL STATEMENTSSHAREHOLDER INFORMATIONFINANCE REPORT  
CONTINUED

BALANCE SHEET

Intangible fixed assets
Tangible fixed assets
Working capital
Net tax liabilities
Provisions and retirement 
benefit obligations
Financial liabilities
Net cash
Asset held for sale

Total equity 

2018
$m

976.6
478.2
189.5
(131.6)

(58.7)
(40.3)
(498.1)
–

915.6

2017
$m

717.2
219.5
151.4
(86.8)

(43.2)
–
(291.1)
35.3

702.3

Group equity increased by $213.3m in 2018 (2017: increase of 
$75.2m). Intangible fixed assets increased by $259.4m with 
intangibles and goodwill associated with Mondo contributing 
$88.3m and $200.5m respectively on acquisition. As part of the 
Reignite Growth strategy a production site has been acquired 
in Mumbai at a cost of $4.0m. Tangible fixed asset additions 
resulting from the Mondo acquisition include mineral rights and 
production and warehouse facilities in Finland and Amsterdam.

The funding put in place to complete the acquisition of Mondo 
has increased net debt from $291.1m in 2017 to $498.1m in 
2018. As referenced in the Chairman’s statement on pages 8 
and 9 we see a material deleveraging profile for the Group 
going forward further aided by self help business improvement 
initiatives, capital expenditure discipline and working capital 
improvements. 

Working capital comprises inventories, trade and other 
receivables, trade and other payables and derivatives. Working 
capital increased by $38.1m driven primarily by underlying 
growth of the business, the acquisition of Mondo and raw 
material planning decisions. Inventories rose from $143.6m in 
2017 to $188.7m in 2018 as a result of procurement decisions to 
purchase raw material inputs for Chromium and anti-perspirant 
actives businesses in advance. Trade and other receivables 
and trade and other payables have increased by $14.8m and 
$22.9m respectively primarily due to inclusion of Mondo.

Net tax liabilities increased by $44.8m, as the tax charge 
on profits for the year after adjusting items and including 
discontinued operations of $24.1m and currency translation 
adjustments exceeded actual cash tax paid. Movements in 
provisions and retirement benefit obligations are discussed 
elsewhere in this report.

ROCE has fallen from 22% in 2017 to 15% due to the increase in 
capital employed (excluding goodwill) arising on the acquisition 
of Mondo.

The main dollar exchange rates relevant to the Group are set 
out below.

Pounds sterling
Euro

Year end

0.79
0.87

2018 
Average

0.75
0.84

Year end

0.74
0.83

2017
Average

0.78
0.89

PROVISIONS
The Group records a provision in the balance sheet when it has 
a present obligation as a result of past events, which is expected 
to result in an outflow of economic benefits in order to settle the 
obligation. The Group calculates provisions on a discounted 
basis. At the end of 2018, the Group held provisions of $48.8m 
(2017, excluding provisions within liabilities classified as held for 
sale: $32.7m), consisting of environmental provisions of $43.3m 
(2017: $27.8m), self insurance provisions of $1.5m (2017: $2.2m) 
and restructuring and other provisions of $4.0m (2017: $2.7m).

Environmental provisions have increased by $18.8m in 2018, 
with $16.5m taken through adjusting items and $2.3m 
capitalised within fixed assets. The increase of $16.5m is due 
to the results of assessments carried out during the year at our 
legacy sites which indicated that remedial activities would be 
required over a longer time horizon than previously forecast. 
The self-insurance provision represents the Group’s estimate 
of its liability arising from retained liabilities under the Group’s 
insurance programme. Within the restructuring and other 
provisions categories, the $4.0m balance includes the remaining 
liability under a right of first refusal agreement and costs of 
adjusting head count, training, relocation and other costs of 
restructuring where a need to do so has been identified by 
Management.

PENSIONS AND OTHER POST RETIREMENT BENEFITS

Net (surplus)/liability:
UK
US
Other

2018
$m

(22.1)
21.3
10.7

9.9

2017
$m

(21.9)
21.1
11.3

10.5

UK PLAN
The largest of the Group’s retirement plans is the UK defined 
benefit pension scheme (‘UK Scheme’) which at the end of 
2018 had a surplus, under IAS 19, of $22.1m (2017: $21.9m). 
The UK Scheme is relatively mature, with approximately two 
thirds of its gross liabilities represented by pensions in payment, 
and is closed to new members. Liability adjustments of $45.7m 
(2017: $(12.9)m) which arose due to higher discount rates based 
on real corporate bond yields outweighed a lower return on plan 
assets of $(21.8)m (2017: $42.1m). Company contributions of 
$0.5m reflect the funding agreement reached with the UK 
Trustees following the September 2017 triennial valuation. Under 
this agreement top up contributions are no longer required for 
a period of at least 3 years. 

US PLANS
In the US, the Group reports two post retirement plans under 
IAS 19: a defined benefit pension plan with a deficit value at the 
end of 2018 of $15.7m (2017: $14.9m), and a post retirement 
medical plan with a liability of $5.6m (2017: $6.2m). The US 
pension plan is smaller than the UK plan, in 2018 the overall 
deficit value of this plan increased by $0.2m as the financial cost 
of the liability of $4.6m (2017: $5.2m) and a negative return on 
plan assets of 4% (2017: improvement of 16%) exceeded the 
actuarial decreases on the liability of $8.2m (2017: increases 
of $5.5m) and employer contributions of $1.2m (2017: $2.6m).

40 

Elementis plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

◊  Total operations (both continuing and discontinued)
∆  After adjusting items – see Note 5

OTHER PLANS
Other liabilities at 31 December 2018 amounted to $10.7m 
(2017: $11.3m) and relate to pension arrangements for a 
relatively small number of employees in Germany, certain UK 
legacy benefits and two pension schemes acquired as part 
of the SummitReheis transaction in 2017.

FINANCIAL LIABILITIES
Financial liabilities at 31 December 2018 include $21.4m of 
contingent consideration in respect of Mondo ($22.3m per 
Note 31 revalued at year end rates) and $18.9m due to the 
previous owner of Mondo on resolution of an outstanding tax 
case in Finland.

BREXIT
Our assessment of the impact of Brexit on our business and 
customers has been monitored throughout the year and whilst 
the specific details and timing of Brexit remain unclear, we have 
proactively managed our supply chain in order to minimise the 
impact on our customers. In addition, we continue to monitor the 
impact of sterling in respect of interest rate and cost of capital 
and are taking steps to ensure there is continuity in the REACH 
registrations which apply to our manufactured and imported 
products. The Board’s assessment remains that the impact of 
Brexit on the Group is expected to be of low materiality, however, 
we will continue to monitor political developments and modify 
plans accordingly. Further information on how we have assessed 
and are mitigating the risks associated with Brexit can be found 
in the principal risks section on page 43.

EVENTS AFTER THE BALANCE SHEET DATE
On 26th February 2019 the Group received notice of a payment 
due in settlement of a commercial dispute with a customer of 
the Surfactants business disposed of in 2018. The total amount 
payable of $9.8m has been recognised as a liability at 
31 December 2018. This amount was not recognised in previous 
accounts.

There were no other significant events after the balance 
sheet date.

RALPH HEWINS
CFO
5 March 2019

41 

Elementis plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

STRATEGIC REPORTCORPORATE GOVERNANCEFINANCIAL STATEMENTSSHAREHOLDER INFORMATIONPRINCIPAL RISKS AND UNCERTAINTIES

RISK MANAGEMENT
Elementis faces a number of risks and uncertainties in the 
course of its operations and the effective management of those 
risks supports the successful delivery of our strategic 
objectives. A risk management framework is in place to identify, 
assess, mitigate and monitor the risks we face as a business. 

Risk management framework

Types of risk that the Board keeps under regular 
review include the following:

Commercial 
and supply 
chain risks

Monitoring 
and reporting

Financial 
risks

Strategic 
risks

Response

Identify

Operational 
and 
HSE risks

Litigation 
and 
compliance 
risks

The Board maintains a 12 months forward planner to ensure that 
appropriate focus is given at its formal scheduled meetings to 
discuss, review and monitor business performance, strategic 
priorities, governance, compliance and risk matters. This 
approach allows the Board to engage directly with each of the 
business units and functional department leaders. In addition, 
specific agenda items on risk are scheduled throughout the 
year, for example, legal and compliance risk, operations and 
HSE, insurance as well as the Board’s formal risk review.

RISK APPETITE
In terms of risk appetite, the amount of risk that the Board is 
prepared to accept in return for reward or investment return 
can vary depending on strategy as well as guidance from 
management and advisers based on appropriate risk analysis. 
For example, strategic risk appetite may be decided on a case 
by case basis at Board level and delegated to the ELT to 
implement as appropriate. 

KEY AREAS OF FOCUS DURING THE YEAR
During 2018, the Board carried out a robust assessment of the 
key risks and has taken them into consideration when assessing 
the long term viability of the Company on page 59. As a result 
of the review, three risks were re-designated to better reflect the 
nature of the risk, as reflected on pages 47 and 48. In addition, 
several development areas were identified which include: 
improvement of the quality of risk reporting, multi-category risk 
scenario planning, climate change risk assessment and review 
of risk management policies and procedures. 

Evaluate 

OUR APPROACH TO RISK MANAGEMENT
The Board has overall responsibility for risk management and 
sets the Group’s policies, culture and tone on risk, as well as 
providing support and oversight to management. The Audit 
Committee plays an important role in supporting the work of the 
Board and has specific responsibility for monitoring financial 
reporting, as well as the internal and external audit programmes, 
one of the primary purposes of which is to provide assurance 
on financial, operational and compliance controls. The CEO, 
supported by the ELT, is responsible for implementing Group 
policies, risk management performance, identifying principal 
risks and ensuring resources are allocated for effective risk 
management and mitigation. Each ELT member is responsible 
for identifying, assessing and monitoring their respective 
business and functional risks as well as measuring the impact 
and likelihood of the risk to the business. On an annual basis, 
the ELT reviews operational risks and the Board carries out 
a review of the principal risks and uncertainties. 

RISK CULTURE
Every individual at Elementis has a responsibility to manage risk, 
irrespective of function, business or role. Risk awareness exists 
through decision making processes and is embedded in the 
systems and processes, leadership and behaviours and 
specific standards such as the Code of Conduct and other 
Group policies. Engagement in risk management is carried 
out by various teams who undertake risk management 
responsibilities: the Global Product Stewardship and Regulatory 
Affairs team, the Manufacturing Council and HSE leadership 
team, HSE corporate audit programme, Elementis Compliance 
Team, Insurance Property Survey programme and Internal 
Audit programme. 

42 

Elementis plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

The Board considered the risk profile of the Mondo business 
prior to and during the acquisition in terms of strategic, 
operational, litigation and compliance, reputational, HSE and 
financial risk. During 2019, Mondo will be integrated into the 
Group’s risk management programme in line with integration 
plans.

Steps are being taken to ensure continuity in the REACH 
registrations which apply to our manufactured and imported 
products. Management remain of the view that the impact of 
Brexit on the Group is expected to be of low materiality, however, 
we will continue to monitor political developments and modify 
plans accordingly. 

EMERGING RISKS
Brexit
The impact of Brexit has been kept under review by the Board 
since 2016. In 2018, in response to the growing political 
uncertainty, a cross-functional working group was established 
to focus on a ‘no deal’ outcome. Analysis included supply chain 
footprint, regulatory and export controls, VAT, international trade 
compliance and customs, financial and people/communications. 
Our UK manufacturing site, Livingston, receives raw materials 
and manufactures goods for onward transport to EU customers. 
In the short to medium term and in the event of a ‘no deal’ Brexit, 
our supply chain is well positioned to mitigate the potential impact 
to customers. This includes holding sufficient raw materials at 
Livingston as well as having adequate finished goods throughout 
our global distribution network. 

Climate change
During 2018, climate related risk impacted our Chromium 
operations in North Carolina as a result of two distinct climate 
related weather events: sustained freezing and winter conditions 
and Hurricane Florence which resulted in property damage and 
business interruption. We continue to ensure our operations are 
protected and have sufficient business interruption plans in 
place to deal with these types of events as and when they occur. 
Awareness and monitoring of developing global climate related 
policy and regulatory developments inform strategic decision 
making. In addition, we recognise that our customers continue to 
look for sustainable product solutions which reduce their carbon 
footprint and our R&D and Product Stewardship teams work 
closely with customers to achieve this. In 2019, we will conduct a 
specific climate change risk assessment and develop mitigation 
plans and internal controls. 

3

5

6

8

RISK HEAT MAP (BEFORE MITIGATION)

1.  Uncertain global economic 
conditions and competitive 
pressures in the market place 
(including currency movement)

h
g
H

i

2.  Business interruption as a result 
of a major event or a natural 
catastrophe

3.  Business interruption as a result 
of a supply chain failure of key 
raw materials and/or third party 
service provision

4.  Increasing regulatory and 

product stewardship challenges

5.  Major regulatory enforcement 
action, litigation and/or other 
claims arising from products 
and/or historical and ongoing 
operations

6.  Intellectual property and 

knowhow

7.  Portfolio innovation and 

technology

8.  Talent management and 
succession planning

9.  IT, Cyber and GDPR

t
c
a
p
m

I

i

m
u
d
e
M

w
o
L
Low

Increase in risk

No movement in risk

Decrease in risk

43 

Elementis plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

1

9

2

4

7

Medium
Probability/likelihood

High

STRATEGIC REPORTCORPORATE GOVERNANCEFINANCIAL STATEMENTSSHAREHOLDER INFORMATION2018 developments
 − Strategic purchases of raw 
materials helped to mitigate 
variability of higher raw 
material costs
 − Cross-functional 

workstreams analysed risks 
associated with Brexit 
 − Supply Chain continue to 
monitor the retaliatory 
political situation between 
the US and China

 − Acquisition of 

manufacturing site in India 
is expected to provide a 
strong platform for 
optimisation of supply 
chain and growth

Link to strategy 

Pursue best growth 
opportunities

Pursue supply chain 
transformation

Innovate for high margins  
and distinctiveness

Create a culture of high 
performance

Link to business model

SEE PAGES 18 TO 19 

Link to KPIs

SEE PAGES 30 TO 31 

PRINCIPAL RISKS AND UNCERTAINTIES 
CONTINUED

OUR PRINCIPAL RISKS AND UNCERTAINTIES

Uncertain global economic conditions and 
competitive pressures in the market place 
(including from currency movement)

Description of risk 
The performance of the 
specific end-user markets we 
serve is affected by general 
economic conditions. 
Adverse developments that 
may result in a downturn in 
general economic conditions 
or in the industries in which 
our customers operate may 
include political uncertainty, 
retaliatory tariffs or other 
disputes between trading 
partners. Sub-optimal global 
economic conditions can 
affect sales, raw material 
costs, fluctuations in foreign 
exchange rates, capacity, 
utilisation and cash 
generation. 

Increased competitive 
pressure in the marketplace 
can result in significant 
pricing pressure and loss of 
market share. The impact of 
non-delivery of operating 
plans can lead to market 
expectations of Group 
earnings not being met and 
slower delivery of reported 
strategic priorities.

Controls and  
mitigating activities
 − Financial performance 

(monthly sales, profit and 
cash flows) is closely 
monitored with full year 
reforecasts updated twice 
a year and variances 
investigated and explained

 − Contingency and cost 
reduction plans can be 
implemented in the event of 
an economic downturn to 
reduce operating costs, 
including non-essential 
capital expenditure items 
and discretionary spend
 − Currency hedging action 

taken as appropriate
 − Global key account 

management programme 
in place to deepen how we 
work and grow with our 
largest customers as well 
as monitoring customer 
performance and trends

 − Balanced geographic 

footprint and supply chain 
and broad differentiated 
product offering across 
different sectors

44 

Elementis plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

Increasing risk profile

Decreasing risk profile

No change in risk profile

Link to strategy 

Pursue best growth 
opportunities

Create a culture of high 
performance

Link to business model

SEE PAGES 18 TO 19 

Link to KPIs

SEE PAGES 30 TO 33 

2018 developments
 − During 2018, our Castle 

Hayne site was impacted 
by two key weather events, 
sustained freezing weather 
conditions and Hurricane 
Florence. In response to 
the freezing weather 
conditions, and to protect 
assets from unusually low 
temperatures, a winter 
hazard plan has been 
established. Business 
continuity plans were 
enacted on both 
occasions. 

 − Insurance in place to 
mitigate the business 
interruption impact caused 
by the hurricane. 

 − Safety leadership training 

carried out at sites
 − Review of distributor 

channels and routes to 
market

 − Implementation of Enablon 

(HSE management 
software) 

2018 developments
 − Supply chain footprint 

workstream established to 
assess the impact of Brexit 
on raw materials, finished 
goods, logistics and 
customs tariffs

 − Strategic purchases of raw 
materials helped to mitigate 
variability of higher raw 
material costs

 − Improved demand 

planning, and performance 
management tracking
 − Qualification of new raw 

material sources

Link to strategy 

Pursue best growth 
opportunities

Pursue supply chain 
transformation

Link to business model

SEE PAGES 18 TO 19 

Link to KPIs

SEE PAGES 30 TO 33 

Business interruption as a result of a major event (e.g. 
operations/HSE, transport, workplace incident caused 
by system failure and/or human error, or by fire, storm 
and/or flood) or a natural catastrophe

Description of risk 
The ability of the Group to 
manage its operations 
successfully and achieve 
performance in line with its 
strategy, business plans and 
budgets depends on the 
efficient and uninterrupted 
operation of planning 
processes, operational 
delivery capabilities and 
internal control environment. 
Production facilities may be 
subject to planned and 
unplanned shutdowns, 
turnarounds and outages 
including natural catastrophe, 
weather, climate change, 
disruption associated with 
transportation, utilities and 
distributors could result in 
increased costs in securing 
alternate facilities, significant 
time to increase production 
or customer qualification. 

Controls and  
mitigating activities
 − Preventative maintenance, 
critical spares, process 
and other safety 
procedures to mitigate the 
effects of a major incident

 − Property damage and 
business interruption 
insurance coverage

 − Implement annual review, 
and periodic testing of 
business continuity plans 
at all sites

 − Business continuity 

scenario planning overseen 
by ELT

 − HSE management 

programme which includes 
corporate compliance 
audits and insurance 
property surveys

 − HSE reviewed by ELT on 

a monthly basis

Business interruption as a result of supply chain failure 
of key raw materials and/or third party service 
provision 

Description of risk 
The Group is dependent on 
numerous raw materials from 
various sources. In the event 
of a long term supply 
disruption or market volatility, 
it may not be possible to 
secure sufficient supplies of 
raw materials from alternative 
sources on a timely basis or 
in sufficient quantities or 
qualities or on commercially 
reasonable terms. The lead 
time and effort needed to 
establish a relationship with 
a new supplier could be 
lengthy and could result in 
additional costs, diversion 
of resources and reduced 
production yields.

Controls and  
mitigating activities
 − Majority of raw materials 

are procured on long term 
supply agreements or 
sourced from mines owned 
by the Group 

 − 75% of raw materials can 
be readily sourced from 
more than one supplier
 − Procurement strategies in 
place to manage the cost 
of certain materials 
including contracts, 
hedging and spot buying
 − Strategic stocking of high 

risk materials

 − Transport and carrier plans 
and business interruption 
insurance in place

 − Due diligence, selection 

and audits/reviews of major 
suppliers 

 − Quality assurance 

standards and controls 

45 

Elementis plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

STRATEGIC REPORTCORPORATE GOVERNANCEFINANCIAL STATEMENTSSHAREHOLDER INFORMATIONPRINCIPAL RISKS AND UNCERTAINTIES 
CONTINUED

Increasing regulatory and product stewardship 
challenges

Description of risk 
New regulations restricting 
the use or carriage of 
chemicals can lead to loss of 
applications and sales and/or 
add to operating costs and 
slower delivery of reported 
strategic priorities. The 
Group is subject to extensive 
and evolving environmental, 
occupational safety and 
product safety regulation at 
international, national and 
local levels in multiple 
jurisdictions. The costs of 
compliance with these 
requirements and operating 
costs may continue to 
increase and any non-
compliance or suspected 
non-compliance could lead 
to regulatory investigations or 
enforcement actions.

Controls and  
mitigating activities
 − Product Stewardship team 
oversees, manages and 
monitors regulatory 
developments, compliance 
and sustainability

2018 developments
 − Regulatory and export 
control workstream 
established to assess the 
potential impact of Brexit 
associated with product 
stewardship.

Link to strategy 

Pursue best growth 
opportunities

Innovate for high margins  
and distinctiveness

 − R&D team develops new 

 − EU REACH registration 

Link to business model

products and technologies 
for use in evolving market 
to meet the changing 
needs of customers in 
response to regulatory 
changes

programme concluded in 
May 2018 having registered 
115 chemical substances 
found in our products sold 
in the EU.

 − The Frank R. Lautenberg 

SEE PAGES 18 TO 19 

Link to KPIs

SEE PAGES 30 TO 33 

 − Under the Global 

Harmonized System for 
safety classification of 
products and substances, 
we provide Safety Data 
Sheets and labels in over 
23 languages

Chemical Safety for the 21st 
Century Act (USA) list was 
reset in 2018, over 300 
products containing 400 
chemical substances were 
reviewed in order to 
maintain active listing and 
compliance

 − 30 products qualified under 
ISO 16128 (naturalness of 
products)

 − Nine products certified as 
natural under the Cosmos 
standard

2018 developments
 − Online training modules 
rolled out relating to: 
General Data Protection 
Regulation, anti money 
laundering, preventing 
workplace violence, sexual 
harassment, protecting 
intellectual property, 
sustainable supply chain 
management and global 
corruption, gifts and 
entertainment and 
information security

Link to strategy 

Pursue best growth 
opportunities

Pursue supply chain 
transformation

Link to business model

SEE PAGES 18 TO 19 

Link to KPIs

SEE PAGES 30 TO 33 

Major regulatory enforcement action, litigation and/or 
other claims arising from products and/or historical 
and ongoing operations

Description of risk 
The global nature of the 
Group’s operations means 
that the Group is subject to a 
wide range of legislation and 
regulation, including for 
example, anti-bribery and 
anti-competition legislation, 
taxation, data privacy, 
employment and import/
export controls. 
Failure to comply can lead to 
litigation, claims, damages, 
fines and penalties. The 
Group may be involved in 
legal proceedings and claims 
within the ordinary course of 
business including legacy 
claims from businesses that 
have since been acquired 
by the Group or ongoing 
operations. 
Adverse results in legal 
proceedings could result in 
reputational and financial 
damages and diversion of 
management time and 
resources.

Controls and  
mitigating activities
 − Active compliance and risk 
management programmes 
in place (including policies, 
procedures and training
 − Insurance programme and 
risk transfer strategy in 
place to mitigate potential 
financial losses

 − Experienced General 
Counsel supported by 
in-house and external 
legal teams

 − Regular reviews of litigation 
and compliance reports by 
the Board and the Audit 
Committee as well as the 
internal audit programme 
help ensure these key risks 
are managed effectively
 − Business processes are 

supported by HR policies 
and the Code of Conduct 

46 

Elementis plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

Increasing risk profile

Decreasing risk profile

No change in risk profile

2018 developments
 − Online training module 
rolled out relating to 
protecting intellectual 
property

 − Integration of talc 

proprietary flotation 
technology and other talc 
related knowhow

Link to strategy 

Pursue best growth 
opportunities

Pursue supply chain 
transformation

Link to business model

SEE PAGES 18 TO 19 

Intellectual property and know-how
Redesignation from 2017 ‘Industrial espionage, workplace 
security and loss/theft of intellectual property’

Description of risk 
Failure to adequately protect 
and preserve intellectual 
property and proprietary 
knowhow in both existing and 
new markets could harm our 
competitive position. 

Controls and  
mitigating activities
 − Experienced General 
Counsel supported by 
in-house and external 
legal teams

 − Employment and computer 

policies (supported by 
training) ensure employees 
are made aware of their 
obligations relating to 
confidential information and 
access controls to protect 
HR processes in place to 
ensure new hires undergo 
appropriate background 
and reference checks
 − Trademark and patent 

watch lists

 − Litigation and compliance 
reports reviewed by Audit 
Committee and Board

Link to strategy 

Pursue best growth 
opportunities

Innovate for high margins  
and distinctiveness

Link to business model

SEE PAGES 18 TO 19 

Portfolio innovation and technology
Redesignation from 2017 ‘Disruptive technology advances – 
failure to identify and mitigate threat posed by new or imitation 
technology’

Description of risk 
The ability of the Group to 
compete is highly dependent 
on its ability to meet the 
changing needs of customers 
and keep pace with 
technological innovations and 
sustainability trends. 
New or substitute products 
and technologies developed 
by competitors could erode 
the Group’s ability to 
compete and lead to declines 
in sales and market share. 

2018 developments
 − In anticipation of a pending 
ban of Cyclopentasiloxane 
used in cosmetics in 
Europe, the Group 
developed Bentone gel VS 
1V for our customers 
enabling them to respond 
to this regulatory driven 
opportunity. 

 − Increasing portfolio of 

natural based high value 
adding products enhances 
our environmentally 
responsible global footprint 
 − New launches of Thixatrol®, 
Bentone® and Mondana® 
products 

Controls and  
mitigating activities
 − Global R&D team aims to 

develop new products and 
technologies used in an 
evolving market to meet the 
changing needs of our 
sophisticated customers.
 − Collaborative relationships 

with customers and 
industry formulators 
ensures our efforts are 
aligned with latest market 
trends

 − Innovation stage gate 

process with systematic 
prioritisation enables the 
Group to deliver high value 
solutions for the market
 − Hectorite and high quality 
talc minerals are natural 
resources enabling the 
Group to consistently 
deliver high performance 
innovation

47 

Elementis plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

STRATEGIC REPORTCORPORATE GOVERNANCEFINANCIAL STATEMENTSSHAREHOLDER INFORMATIONIncreasing risk profile

Decreasing risk profile

No change in risk profile

Link to strategy 

Pursue best growth 
opportunities

Create a culture of high 
performance

Link to business model

SEE PAGES 18 TO 19 

Link to KPIs

SEE PAGES 32 TO 33 

PRINCIPAL RISKS AND UNCERTAINTIES 
CONTINUED

Talent management and succession planning

Description of risk 
The Group operates in highly 
competitive markets and 
depends on the expertise of 
services of certain key, highly 
skilled personnel. Loss of key 
people without timely 
replacement could result in 
disruption of business 
operations. 

2018 developments
 − Orderly transition and 

succession plans in place 
for retiring ELT members, 
Ken Smith and Rob 
Mangold

 − Formal talent and 

succession launched within 
each of the business 
segments and global 
functions 

 − Personal development 

plans implemented below 
ELT level

 −  Development and launch 

of values enabled a 
cross-section of employees 
to contribute to defining our 
values through interactive 
workshops

 − Extended leadership group 

conference

Controls and  
mitigating activities
 − Formal talent and 

succession management 
programmes are in place 
both at ELT level and below 
ELT levels to identify rising 
talent and formalise 
development plans

 − ELT succession plans are 

reviewed by Board
 − Experienced Chief HR 
Officer supported by 
in-house teams

 − workday® functionality is 
being utilised to include 
job-grading, performance 
management and 
compensation planning
 − Remuneration packages 
are reviewed in line with 
market rates with external 
consultants who provide 
guidance on best practice

 − Individual development 
goals are set as part of 
formal performance 
management

IT, Cyber and GDPR
Redesignation from 2017 ‘Cyber security incident (systems, 
security breach, loss of network connectivity, loss of business 
and personal data) 

Description of risk 
The Group is expected to 
increasingly rely on IT 
systems for its internal 
communications, controls, 
reporting and relationships 
with customers and 
suppliers. A significant 
disruption could cause delays 
to key operations and inability 
to meet customers’ 
requirements and result in 
increased operating costs, 
legal liability and reputational 
damage. In addition, GDPR 
has created a range of new 
compliance obligations with 
increased financial penalties 
for non-compliance. 

Controls and  
mitigating activities
 − Security controls including 
policies and procedures, 
staff awareness and 
training, risk management 
and compliance, systems 
and information 
management and 
protection, process
 − Regular IT, cyber and 
GDPR updates to the 
Board

 − Business continuity and 

emergency response plans 
are in place at each of our 
manufacturing sites
 − Internal audits are 

scheduled on a regular 
basis

Link to strategy 

Pursue best growth 
opportunities

Create a culture of high 
performance

Link to business model

SEE PAGES 18 TO 19 

2018 developments
 − Data Privacy Steering 

Committee was established 
comprising of the General 
Counsel and Chief 
Compliance Officer, 
Chief HR Officer and 
Chief Information Officer 
to oversee compliance 
with applicable data 
privacy laws

 − Data Privacy Network was 
established, increasing the 
visibility and reach of data 
privacy across our 
functions/locations

 − GDPR training has been 

implemented and policies 
and procedures have 
been revised

 − Data retention manager 

and data privacy specialist 
hires

48 

Elementis plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

RESOURCES AND RELATIONSHIPS

AS A GLOBAL SPECIALTY 
CHEMICALS COMPANY WE 
RECOGNISE THAT THE 
PRODUCTS WE PRODUCE 
AND HOW WE PRODUCE 
THEM HAS AN IMPACT ON 
EVERYDAY LIFE. 

Our behaviours impact the people who work 
for us as well as the wider environment. 

Effective stakeholder management goes hand 
in hand with operational performance and we 
continually strive to improve the ways we work. 

49 

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CONTINUED

PEOPLE 
We recognise our people are our greatest asset for our 
success, and deliver value to customers, shareholders and 
the communities we impact. Our teams are innovative, agile 
and responsive to the ever changing needs of customers and 
the world. We believe in a culture driven by strong values 
and an environment that promotes safety, accountability and 
high performance.

Diversity and inclusion
Diversity of our people is intrinsic to better business decisions. 
Appointments are made on merit and we seek to leverage the 
benefits of a wide and diverse talent pool. 

We are dedicated to increasing diversity through our recruitment 
and talent review processes and creating awareness and 
understanding of the value of diverse teams at all levels. 

Highlights for 2018
 − Engagement with our employees in launching our renewed 

values

 − Completed GDPR assessment and implemented key actions
 − Reinforced performance culture, performance management 
processes and systems and expanded our implementation 
of workday®

 − Further developed talent and succession processes

Priorities for 2019
 − Further embed our culture and values
 − Roll-out talent process focused on development and 

diversity

 − Launch employee experience monitor to enhance employee 

engagement 

Our Directors and ELT have committed to continue to build 
diverse teams that succeed through all aspects of diversity, 
e.g. gender, age, nationality, ways of thinking. 

Gender diversity statistics

Board

Executive leadership 
team (ELT)1

Senior management2

All employees

31 December 2018

Male

62%

82%

81%

76%

Female

38%

18%

19%

24%

3

2

10

360

5

9

43

1,159

1  Excluding the CEO and CFO.
2  Defined as grade 10 and above, excluding CEO, CFO and the ELT. 
Employees are defined as those employed by Elementis Group companies. 

Culture and values
Safety is at the heart of everything we do and is at the forefront 
of every decision we make and every action we take. 

Our culture is driven by a strong set of values that unify the entire 
organisation. In 2018, we engaged more than 200 employees 
from across the organisation to refresh our values. This resulted 
in a launch of new values this year. 

Values

Safety

Solutions

Ambition

Respect

Team

50 

Elementis plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

Employee locations

43%
located  
in Americas

33%
located  
in Europe

24%
located  
in Asia

Employees

 c.1,500

2017: c.1,600

BUSINESS CONDUCT AND ETHICS
Our Code of Conduct (‘Code’) sets out the standards of conduct 
expected from everyone who works for Elementis. Our Code is 
aligned with applicable laws and regulations, as well as our values. 

To help employees understand and adopt these values, 
principles and standards in their daily work life, information and 
training is provided supported by comprehensive 
whistleblowing procedures and an anti-retaliation policy.

The Code is translated from English into seven languages and 
supported with interactive online training to help employees stay 
up to date with their responsibilities. All new employees are 
required to undertake training on the Code and refresher 
training is given regularly.

Compliance training hours

+1,800

Compliance training programme 
Training courses assigned to employees in 2018
 − Preventing sexual harassment (California specific)
 − Anti money laundering
 − Data privacy and protection (GDPR)
 − Intellectual property: trade secrets
 − Avoiding workplace harassment
 − Sustainable supply chain management

 − Maintaining a safe, healthy 
and affirmative workplace

The Code covers the following:
 − Fair dealing 
 − Confidentiality and privacy 
 − Record keeping
 − Communications
 − Trade practices and 

competition compliance
 − Insider trading and fair 

disclosure

 − Bribery and other corrupt 

practices

 − Equal opportunities 
 − Anti-harassment 
 − Offensive materials 
 − Alcohol and drugs 
 − Conflicts of interest 
 − Gifts and hospitality 
 − Theft and misuse of 
Company assets

 − Product liability 
 − International business 

 − Corporate opportunities 
 − Intellectual property and 

dealings

network use

 − Political contributions and 

 − Integrity and security

activities

Bribery and corruption
We have a zero tolerance policy for bribery and corruption. 
Our Code covers bribery and corruption and is further 
supported by an anti-corruption policy. Reporting procedures 
are in place supported by processes to prevent retaliation 
against any employees who communicate good faith concerns 
relating to business conduct.

Building stronger teams
We support the continuous development of our people in 
enhancing their skills and providing the tools they need to be 
successful in their roles. Our focus is on building capability 
through a long term approach to development and effective 
organisational design. Our global leaders are building functional 
capability with teams aligned across our business segments. 
We continue to look at how we build high performing teams 
whether local, regional, global or virtual. 

A number of our employees have participated in external 
development programmes in 2018 and we will continue to 
expand this in the future. 

People drive performance
Through our people management processes our employees 
learn about the strategy, priorities and goals of our Company, 
businesses and functions. This promotes an environment of 
accountability and performance to achieve clear goals each 
year. Annual and mid-year performance discussions enable 
managers and employees to review their progress, give and 
receive feedback and ensure clarity and alignment of goals.

Performance is recognised through a robust reward philosophy. 
We have advanced our compensation and performance 
management processes to build performance into both annual 
merit review and individual bonus outcomes. We also provide 
opportunities to give one time awards for exceptional 
performance. 

HR systems and processes
Through a clear people strategy, we have invested in creating 
and enhancing critical HR systems and processes including 
talent reviews and performance calibration, building capability 
within workday®, our automated HR system, standardising 
policies and processes globally, and utilising reporting and 
analytics for better decision making. 

Roadmap for 2019
In 2019 we will continue to create a culture of high performance, 
with focus being on strengthening our organisation, supporting 
the effectiveness of our teams and reinforcing our culture that 
will lead to continued transformation in the way we work and 
succeed together. 

Initiatives will include measuring and enhancing employee 
engagement, creating additional value from our HR tools and 
data, simplifying and standardising our policies and processes 
and further advancing talent development and diversity. Our 
renewed values will be an intrinsic part of all these initiatives.

51 

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CONTINUED

INNOVATION 
Innovation is at the heart of what we do across the business. 
We have a dedicated technology organisation structured 
around combined technical service and research and 
development functions that is directed at our customers’ needs 
and the trends impacting our business segments. Leveraging 
our core competencies in natural mineral-based technologies 
and polymer architecture, we create innovative solutions aimed 
at transforming the markets which we serve. We apply stage 
gate processes and pipeline management tools to focus on the 
most attractive and material innovation opportunities available. 

We have 93 scientists at seven locations around the world 
providing global innovation and technical support to a global 
customer base. During the year, we spent over $9m on 
research and development activities and launched several new 
products. Our product pipeline is healthy with a range of active 
projects in late stage development, reflecting the variety of 
global customers’ formulations and needs.

In 2018, we were awarded a 
significant contract to supply 
our newly developed 
rheology modifier for a 
premium interior paint line. 
This was due in part to our 
expanded customer 
relationship through deeper 
product development 
partnerships, ongoing 
technical support and 
consistent quality of delivery 
and service.

Joe Furano 
Senior Account Manager
California, USA

Elementis has developed a 
strong portfolio of additives 
that are extremely effective 
in waterborne industrial 
coatings. In 2018, we have 
seen an increase in interest 
in the use of waterborne 
coatings for industrial uses – 
especially in China where the 
market has seen a shift to 
lower environmental impact 
products. 

Xu (Frank) Chunfeng 
Coatings Marketing Manager
Songjiang, China

Natural, clean and green are 
very important trends for 
colour cosmetics and skin 
care. Consumers also 
demand performance and a 
nice sensory experience as 
well. Our R&D team has 
developed unique organo 
clays and emulsifying gels 
that allow skin care and 
colour cosmetic formulators 
to create new and inspiring 
textures and product 
concepts. In fact, we won the 
Gold Sensory Award from 
InCosmetics this year.

Kate Watermann 
Consumer Applications 
Manager, EMEA and Asia
Cologne, Germany

Scientists around the world

 93

52 

Elementis plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

OUR SUPPLY CHAIN 
As a global Group we seek to maximise efficiencies and 
synergies across our business. 

Our Supply Chain transformation strategic pillar focuses on 
sustained improvements across every aspect of how we run 
our business.

Suppliers

Our initiatives 

Raw materials

Manufacturing locations

 500+
 700+
 20+
 1,500+

Customers and local distributors

Assets 

 − Optimise underperforming sites
 − Sale of non-core assets
 − Asset optimisation 
 − Product optimisation 

Process optimisation 

 − Automisation across operations 
 − Driving utilisation 
 − Process simplification 

Cost

 − Higher efficiency equipment 
 − Materials delivery 
 − Equipment reliability

Procurement 
Procurement excellence is a key strategic driver for our success. 
We employ a functional led organisation structure, with category 
specific expertise located around the world. We are aligned with 
the businesses to leverage our spend delivering continuous total 
cost improvement and supply risk mitigation. 

In 2018, we qualified new raw material sources for greater than 
10% of our raw material spend and achieved more than $6m of 
savings. Smarter procurement and the utilisation of hedging and 
pre-buys enabled the partial mitigation of raw material cost 
inflation, including the impact of new tariff regulation particularly 
within the antiperspirant actives business. Improved planning 
processes and strong supplier relationships enabled timely 
delivery of raw materials enabling our plants to produce reliably 
even through several market force majeures and weather related 
events. We also made improvements in our warehouse networks 
globally, ensuring that we have the right assets in the right 
places and that we are prepared for the changing global 
landscape with regards to new regulations and trade tariffs.

Payment terms
We work collaboratively with our suppliers to enable us to deliver 
value to the business and are committed to paying our suppliers 
on time. Our standard payment terms for all suppliers is net 60 
days from receipt of goods and services. 

53 

Elementis plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

STRATEGIC REPORTCORPORATE GOVERNANCEFINANCIAL STATEMENTSSHAREHOLDER INFORMATIONTrade and tariff impacts
Following US and Chinese trade negotiations alongside the UK’s 
proposed withdrawal from the EU we have taken a proactive 
and collaborative approach internally and with our customers 
and suppliers. In some cases, we have built inventories to 
mitigate supply risks, and where appropriate we have shifted 
certain production to new locations to minimise the cost of new 
tariffs. We continue to monitor developments and to date have 
incurred minimal cost and no supply disruptions.

Supplier community and human rights 
We expect the people in our supply chain to be treated fairly 
and their human rights respected. We strive for the highest 
ethical standards, holding our suppliers and partners to the 
same criteria. 

Our Code details our commitment to human rights and covers 
bribery and corruption, conducting business with respect, 
integrity and equality, and managing personal activities and 
interests. Our approach is guided by international conventions 
and standards, including the United Nations (UN) Universal 
Declaration of Human Rights and the UN Guiding Principles on 
Business and Human Rights as well as the International Labour 
Organization’s Declaration on Fundamental Principles and 
Rights at Work. We prohibit the use of child and forced labour 
and are committed to the principles of equality of treatment and 
non-discrimination. With our supply chain partners we undertake 
ongoing risk assessments and due diligence processes to 
monitor compliance. Full details on our approach to preventing 
modern slavery across our business can be found within our 
Modern Slavery Statement published on our website at 
elementisplc.com.

Product stewardship, sustainability and compliance
Product safety, sustainability and compliance are core values at 
Elementis and how we do business. We intend that our products 
are safe for people and the environment and contribute to a 
more sustainable planet. In developing new products we 
consider hazards and risks at all points in a product life cycle, 
the utilisation of natural and renewable resources, and 
compliance with global regulations. To support these ideals we 
have comprehensive programmes in place that adhere to the 
principles of the UN Global Compact. We are committed to 
improving our corporate social responsibilities scoring and 
proactively registering our products to deliver global growth to 
both Elementis and our customers. 

Reflective of our programmes and progress, in 2018, Elementis 
received improved and above average ratings in recognised 
third party evaluations such as CDP and Ecovadis, and attained 
natural certifications for a significant number of products in our 
growing natural product portfolio. In addition, we completed all 
of our EU REACH registrations which brought a close out to a 
programme began in 2008. 

RESOURCES AND RELATIONSHIPS
CONTINUED

Mines
Elementis operates five mines which provide us with a clear 
source of competitive advantage.

Hectorite mine

Location: California, US

We own the only commercially viable high quality rheology grade 
hectorite mine in the world, this combined with manufacturing know 
how enables us to supply high value functional additives globally. 

Markets served: personal care, coatings and energy

Resource life: +50 years 

Talc mines

Location: two mines in Vuonos, Finland 

Location: two mines in Vuonos, Finland 

These specialty talc mines in Finland are within one of only two known 
deposits of scale in Europe. As a result of optimised upstream and 
downstream logistics from plants in Finland and the Netherlands, we are 
in a position to serve dynamic end markets globally. 

Markets served: Long life plastics, coatings, life sciences, personal 
care and paper 

Resource life: +90 years

54 

Elementis plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

STEWARDSHIP AND SUSTAINABILITY ACHIEVEMENTS

Ecovadis

CDP

FTSE4Good

Ecovadis is a tool to enable customers 
to evaluate the sustainability of their 
suppliers.

The Carbon Disclosure Project is a global 
disclosure system that enable us to 
manage our environmental impacts.

The FTSE4Good Index is a leading global 
responsible investment index.

We were awarded a silver medal by 
Ecovadis – putting us in the top 7% 
of Ecovadis reporting companies in 
our sector. 

In 2018, we received a score of B, higher 
than the Chemicals industry average of C. 
Through improvement programmes and 
unique solutions to everyday obstacles, 
we have demonstrated a decrease in our 
manufacturing’s environmental footprint 
and enhanced reporting transparency.

We are recognised as having met the 
corporate responsibility criteria for 
inclusion in the membership of the index.

UN Global 
Compact

ECOCERT

RSPO

The UN Global Compact is the world’s 
largest corporate sustainability initiative 
to align strategies and operations with 
universal principles on human rights, 
labour, environment and anti-corruption, 
and take actions that advance societal 
goals.

In 2018, we signed the commitment letter 
to the UN Global Compact and agreed 
to annually report on our sustainability 
performance and improvements.

Cosmos Natural is a certification for 
natural and biological products. The 
ECOCERT is a certification programme 
for natural products used in cosmetics. 

RSPO was started in 2014 in order to 
contribute to the conservation and 
protection of the rain forests and its 
inhabitants.

In 2018, five additional products were 
certified under Cosmos and Ecocert, 
bringing the total number of approved 
Personal Care products to nine.

We continue to remain a member of the 
Roundtable for Sustainable Palm Oil 
(RSPO) programme and use sustainable 
palm oil derived products in our 
manufacturing. 

ISO 16128

Products 
qualified 
under this 
standard 

REACH

Global Harmonized 

30 

Substances 
registered 
in 2018

86 

System (GHS) 23 

Translated 
into 23 
languages 

ISO 16128 was launched in 2018 and is 
a standard for evaluating the naturalness 
of products. More than 30 of our Personal 
Care products have qualified under this 
standard.

REACH is an EU regulation in respect 
to the production and use of chemical 
substances, regulating their potential 
impacts on both human health and the 
environment.

The GHS is an international programme, 
under the auspices of the UN, with the 
goal of harmonising product label 
warnings across the globe. Over 50 
countries have adopted this standard.

The EU REACH phase-in period 
concluded on 31 May 2018.

A total of 86 substances were successfully 
registered in 2018 concluding this 
programme, with 115 product substances 
registered in total since 2008. These 
registrations support over 360 products. 

We now provide product safety data 
information and labels in over 23 
languages in accordance with this 
programme.

55 

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CONTINUED

HEALTH, SAFETY AND ENVIRONMENT 
We place great emphasis on protecting people and operating 
responsibly. Our Health, Safety and Environment (HSE) 
programmes provide the basis of how we develop, manufacture 
and distribute our products around the world. This is comprised 
of management systems and internal procedures that define our 
regulatory obligations, the industry best practices that we 
employ, risk management and the various programmes that 
drive continuous improvement.

Our performance 
We use the US Occupational Safety and Health Administration 
(OSHA) definitions for Recordable Injuries and Illnesses, the 
Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences 
Regulations 2013 for Lost Time Accidents (LTA), and Total 
Recordable Incident Rate (TRIR) as a means for benchmarking 
performance.

Our operations without a recordable injury or illness

Global HSE programmes

Corpus Christi, US

Internal 
auditing

Incident 
investigation

Process 
safety 
management 

Global  
HSE  
framework

External risk 
assessments 

Injury 
prevention

Environmental  
sustainability 

Continuous improvement cycle

Raise 
awareness

Milwaukee, US

Hsinchu, Taiwan

 15years
6years
5years
6years

Anji, China

2018 safety performance 

Recognise 
performance

Engage 
people 

TRIR (incidents per 
200,000 hours worked)

2017 
Elementis 
excluding 
SummitReheis

2017 
Elementis 
including 
SummitReheis

0.88

1.10

2018

0.22

Of these incidents 0 resulted in an LTA. 

2018 safety initiatives 
 − We continued our execution and training of our initiatives 

such as the Life Saving Rules and Stop Work Authority and 
DuPont’s Take Two... for Safety™ programme
 − We rolled out a comprehensive HSE information 

management software solution that allows for better tracking 
and trending of our HSE data

 − We initiated several capital investments at our plants to 

eliminate risks and improve production safety

 − We implemented advanced safety audits and increased 

management’s HSE interactions with our people

Measure  
results 

Identify  
risk 

Take  
action 

56 

Elementis plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

 
Our HSE capital expenditure programmes in 2018

These new machines at Livingston, Scotland, UK improve 
the ergonomics around the filling areas, reducing manual 
handling of intermediate bulk containers.

This railcar unloading platform at Amarillo, Texas, US provides 
safe access and fall protection to our employees.

2018 environmental performance
Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions
Carbon dioxide derived from natural gas combustion is the 
principal GHG attributed to our operations. Other GHG 
emissions arising from our operations include other fuels, 
chemical reactions in production processes, wastewater 
treatment and carbon dioxide used for process cooling. Our 
data includes all operating sites and principal offices. Small 
office locations are excluded as the level of carbon dioxide 
equivalent (CO2e) emissions from these offices do not make 
a material contribution. 

For the year ended 31 December 2018, the data has been 
impacted by the addition of three sites from the Mondo 
acquired business (pro-rated for our period of ownership) as 
well as the inclusion of the SummitReheis sites for the first time. 
Two weather related events (extreme freezing conditions and 
Hurricane Florence) affected our Castle Hayne site and as 
we managed through these outages and enacted business 
interruption plans, the sites continued to contribute to 
carbon emissions.

We continue to implement initiatives to improve our emissions. 
For example, our Anji site uses biofuels for production of 
chemicals which has resulted in reduced emission levels, and 
our Chromium leather tanning plants have installed air scrubbers 
operating at > 99.95% resulting in the control of unwanted 
pollutants to the environment.

Greenhouse gas emissions
GHG emissions are calculated from energy purchased and process calculations. Energy units are converted into CO2e using the 
official data provided by the UK Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra). Please note that Scope 1 and 2 
emissions, and the intensity ratios, are subject to variations due to changes in the mix of products manufactured, volumes and 
energy efficiency improvements.

Scope 1: Combustion of fuel and operation facilities (tonnes CO2e) 
Scope 2: Electricity, heat, steam and cooling purchased for own use (tonnes CO2e)

Total 
Scope 1 and 2 (tonnes CO2e)

Intensity ratio:
(tonnes CO2e/tonne production)
Supplementary intensity ratio:
(kg CO2e/kWh energy consumed)
Out of Scope:
Biofuel (tonnes CO2e)

2018

242,476
96,059

2017

218,198
92,390

Base year 
2013

221,076
89,500

338,535

310,588

310,576

0.89

0.22

0.73

0.26

 5,753

7,248

0.77

0.27

0

CO2e values were derived using DEFRA published factors (2018) and data from IEA (2017).

Note: Scope 1 and 2 CO2e emissions are affected by production volume, product mix and weather conditions. 

Energy consumption 
We consume energy from oil, electricity (both wind and solar), natural gas, coal and biomass. 

Our performance is outlined below. 

Energy consumed (GJ)

Absolute 
(’000s)

5,753

2018

Per tonne of 
production

14.7

Absolute 
(’000s)

5,333

2017

Per tonne of 
production

12.6

57 

Elementis plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

STRATEGIC REPORTCORPORATE GOVERNANCEFINANCIAL STATEMENTSSHAREHOLDER INFORMATIONMilwaukee Harbor District fish hotels
Our Milwaukee plant neighbours Lake 
Michigan. We currently sponsor three habitat 
hotels on the lake with ten more planned 
for 2019. 

These habitat hotels are part of an initiative 
from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation 
and provide shelter, in an area devoid of 
habitat, for fish on their journey between 
Lake Michigan and Milwaukee rivers.

Desert tortoise preservation
Our hectorite mine is situated in the Mojave 
Desert in California which is home to desert 
tortoises, a protected species. We have 
erected special fences to keep the tortoises 
away from our operations at the mine. We 
have a certified biologist on call should a 
tortoise make its way behind the fencing, 
to be safely returned to its own habitat.

RESOURCES AND RELATIONSHIPS
CONTINUED

Biodiversity programmes

58 

Elementis plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

GOING CONCERN AND VIABILITY STATEMENT

BUSINESS VIABILITY STATEMENT
In accordance with the UK Corporate Governance Code 
provision C.2.2, the Directors have reviewed the Group’s current 
position and carried out a robust assessment of the principal 
risks and uncertainties that might threaten the business model, 
future performance, solvency and liquidity of the Group, 
including resilience to such threats, and consider that they have 
a reasonable expectation that the Group will be able to continue 
in operation and meet its liabilities as they fall due over a period 
of at least three years.

A period of three years was chosen as being consistent with 
the Group’s business and financial planning models, R&D plans, 
a number of key supply contracts and external borrowing 
facilities. In addition, three years is the period used for mid-term 
business planning purposes. Whilst the Directors have no 
reason to believe that the Group will not be viable over a longer 
period, a three year period allows the Directors to make the 
viability statement with a reasonable degree of confidence whilst 
providing shareholders with an appropriate longer term outlook. 
The Directors’ viability assessment of the Group’s prospects is 
based on reviews of annual operating and three year business 
plans, bank covenant compliance forecasts, including 
sensitivities, the Group’s strategy and strategic priorities, 
principal risks and how these are managed and mitigated. How 
these reviews were carried out, the principal risks and how they 
are being managed are more fully described and explained in 
the Principal Risks and Uncertainties section on pages 42 to 48, 
together with relevant assumptions and qualifications.

STRATEGIC REPORT
The Strategic report was approved by the Board of Directors 
on 5 March 2019 and is signed on its behalf by:

PAUL WATERMAN 
CEO 

RALPH HEWINS
CFO

GOING CONCERN
The Directors have assessed the Group as a going concern, 
having given consideration to factors likely to affect its future 
performance and development, the Group’s financial position 
and the principal risks and uncertainties facing the Group, 
including the Group’s exposure to credit, liquidity and market 
risk and the mechanisms for dealing with these risks.

The Group’s net debt position at the year end of 2018 was 
$498.1m. It has access to a syndicated revolving credit facility 
of $375m and long term loan facilities of $200m and €172m 
which have an expiry date of September 2023.

Under this principal borrowing facility, the Group performs 
covenant tests for net debt:EBITDA ratio and interest cover. No 
breaches in the required covenant tests were reported during 
the year. The Group also uses various short and medium term 
forecasts to monitor anticipated future compliance and these 
include stress testing assumptions to identify the headroom on 
these covenant tests.

The Directors are satisfied that, after considering all of the 
above, it is appropriate for the Group and the Company to adopt 
the going concern basis of accounting in preparing these Group 
and parent company financial statements, and that there are no 
material uncertainties to the ability of the Group and Company 
to continue to do so over a period of at least 12 months from the 
date of approval of the financial statements.

BUSINESS VIABILITY ASSESSMENT
The basis of the assessment includes a detailed review of 
strategic and operating plans, underpinned by one and three 
year financial forecasts including profit and loss and cash flows. 
Consideration is therefore given to capital expenditures, 
investment plans, returns to shareholders and other financial 
commitments, as well as to the Company’s debt bearing 
capacity, its financial resources, borrowings and the availability 
of finance. No review of business plans and financial forecasts 
is complete without a robust assessment of the risks and 
opportunities in such planning models and the assumptions 
used. These reviews include consideration and discussion of the 
materials prepared and presented to the Board by management 
and its advisers (where appropriate), as well as additional 
information requested by the Board.

The Board’s programme of monitoring major risks is therefore, 
an important component of the business viability assessment. 
Business and segment growth scenarios, rate of return on 
investments, assumptions on global GDP growth rates, relevant 
currency rates, commodity prices in business plans and 
financial forecasts are all considered, with stress testing on 
financial models where appropriate. Finally, a review of litigation 
and tax reports, legal and compliance risks throughout the year 
and at a formal year end risk review ensures that the viability 
statement is made with a reasonable degree of confidence.

59 

Elementis plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

STRATEGIC REPORTCORPORATE GOVERNANCEFINANCIAL STATEMENTSSHAREHOLDER INFORMATION 
 
CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

In this section:

61  Chairman’s Introduction
62  Board of Directors
64  Executive Leadership Team
66  Corporate Governance Report
72  Nomination Committee Report
73  Audit Committee Report
78  Directors’ Remuneration Report
93  Directors’ Report
95  Directors’ Responsibilities
96 

Independent Auditor’s Report

60 

Elementis plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

CHAIRMAN’S GOVERNANCE LETTER

CHAIRMAN’S INTRODUCTION

ANDREW DUFF
CHAIRMAN

Compliance statement
The UK Corporate Governance Code (Code) provides the 
standard for corporate governance in the UK. The Financial 
Conduct Authority requires listed companies to disclose 
whether they have complied with the provisions of the Code 
throughout the financial year. The Code currently applicable 
to the Company is the 2016 edition and we are reporting our 
compliance with that edition.

The Board considers that the Company has complied with 
the provisions and applied the main principles of the Code 
for the whole of the year ended 31 December 2018. The 
sections that follow describe how the Company has applied 
the main principles of corporate governance, in particular 
those laid down in the Code. The Code can be accessed 
at www.frc.org.uk.

I am pleased to present the Corporate Governance Report for 
the year ended 31 December 2018. The report sets out our 
approach to governance, our key areas of focus during the year, 
our ways of working and how we as your Board remain effective 
as stewards of your Company. 

As I reflect on the achievements and challenges during 2018, 
I remain impressed with the pace of strategic progress in a year 
which has seen the divestment of the Delden and Jersey City 
sites, the acquisition of Mondo and the acquisition of an 
advantaged manufacturing site in India – all whilst remaining 
focused on operational delivery and good governance. 

The Mondo acquisition in particular had a significant impact on 
Board and Committee meetings and shareholder engagement 
at key points throughout the year. I am delighted with how the 
Board performed during this challenging period as each 
member demonstrated commitment, individual expertise, 
challenge, support and guidance as the acquisition progressed 
through to the successful outcome of the General Meeting held 
in October. 

As part of our ongoing programme of governance and in 
keeping with the UK Corporate Governance Code, the external 
Board effectiveness evaluation was carried out during October 
to December 2018 by Manchester Square Partners. The findings 
of the evaluation and further information can be found in the 
Nomination Committee’s report on page 72. 

2018 has been a year of focus on the delivery of strategic 
priorities and the Board continues to deepen its knowledge and 
understanding of the Group’s operations through the continuing 
programme of site visits which allows greater insight and value 
to the work of the Board. As I look ahead to 2019, I am pleased 
that we have scheduled site visits to our newly acquired assets 
and operations in Finland and the Netherlands as well as a visit 
to our management headquarters in New Jersey, USA.

As ever, I am grateful to you, our shareholders, for your 
continued support and I look forward to welcoming you at our 
AGM at 11.00 a.m. on 30 April 2019 which will be held at the 
offices of Herbert Smith Freehills LLP, Exchange House, 
Primrose Street, London EC2A 2EG.

On behalf of the Board, at the recommendation of the Audit 
Committee based on its assessment detailed on page 76, 
I confirm that we believe the 2018 Annual Report presents a fair, 
balanced and understandable assessment of the Company’s 
position, its performance and its prospects as well as its 
business model and strategy. 

ANDREW DUFF
CHAIRMAN

61 

Elementis plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

STRATEGIC REPORTCORPORATE GOVERNANCEFINANCIAL STATEMENTSSHAREHOLDER INFORMATIONBOARD OF DIRECTORS

ANDREW DUFF 
CHAIRMAN 

PAUL WATERMAN
CEO 

NICK SALMON
SENIOR INDEPENDENT DIRECTOR 

Andrew joined the Board as a Non-Executive 
Director and Deputy Chairman on 1 April 2014 
and was appointed Non-Executive Chairman 
and Chairman of the Nomination Committee 
on 24 April 2014. 

Skills, experience and contribution 
Andrew has significant boardroom experience 
gained from serving as a director and chairman 
of a number of UK and international companies. 
This combined with experience in the 
manufacturing, energy and utilities sectors, 
enables Andrew to effectively lead the Board 
and deliver value to shareholders and other 
stakeholders. 

From 2003 until 2009, Andrew was chief 
executive officer of npower, the successor 
entity to Innogy plc which in 2000 was 
demerged from National Power, restructured 
and then sold to RWE, the German electricity 
and gas company. He was also a member of 
the RWE’s executive committee. Before this, 
he spent 16 years at BP in downstream 
international markets. Andrew was a non-
executive director of Wolseley plc, the 
international plumbing and building materials 
company, between 2004 and 2013, where he 
was also the senior independent director and 
chairman of the remuneration committee. 
Andrew holds a BSc (Honours) degree in 
Mechanical Engineering and is a fellow of the 
Energy Institute. 

Committee membership
N*

External appointments
 − Non-executive chairman of Severn Trent plc 

(from July 2010) and chairman of the 
nominations committee and member of the 
corporate responsibility committee and 
remuneration committee 

 − Member of the CBI President’s Committee
 − Trustee of Macmillan Cancer Support 

Nationality
British 

Key
A  Member of Audit Committee
N  Member of Nomination Committee
R  Member of Remuneration Committee
*  Chairman of the Committee

62 

Elementis plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

Paul was appointed CEO on 8 February 2016. 

Skills, experience and contribution 
Paul has a proven track record in developing 
markets, products and opportunities for 
creating value, business optimisation and 
transformation. Paul’s global experience 
provides the skill set required to deliver the 
Reignite Growth strategy and provide inspiring 
leadership.

Prior to joining Elementis, Paul was global 
CEO of the BP lubricants business in 2013 after 
having overseen the BP Australia/New Zealand 
downstream business. In 2010, Paul was 
country president of BP Australia. Prior to this 
he was CEO of BP’s global aviation, industrial, 
marine and energy lubricants businesses 
(2009 to 2010) and CEO of BP Lubricants 
Americas (2007 to 2009). He joined BP after 
it acquired Burmah-Castrol in 2000, having 
joined the latter in 1994 after roles at Reckitt 
Benckiser and Kraft Foods. Paul holds a BSc 
degree in Packaging Engineering from 
Michigan State University and an MBA in 
Finance and International Business from New 
York University, Stern School of Business. 

Nationality
American 

Nick was appointed a Non-Executive Director 
on 20 October 2014 and became Senior 
Independent Director on 16 December 2014. 

Skills, experience and contribution 
Nick has extensive experience gained from 
non-executive roles and as an accomplished 
executive in specialty chemicals, utility and 
engineering sectors. He has been responsible 
for leading several major restructuring projects 
and negotiating complex acquisitions and 
disposals which is highly valuable in Board 
debates. 

Nick was chief executive of Cookson Group plc 
from July 2004 to December 2012 when 
Cookson demerged to create two new listed 
companies, Vesuvius plc and the specialty 
chemicals company, Alent plc. Nick was 
formerly executive vice-president of Alstom 
S.A. and chief executive of Babcock 
International Group plc. He held other senior 
management positions at GEC and GEC 
Alsthom and the China Light and Power 
Company. Nick served as a non-executive 
director of United Utilities plc from 2005 to 
2014, where he was also senior independent 
director from 2007 onwards. Nick holds a 
degree in Mechanical Engineering and is a 
fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering. 

Committee membership
A, N, R

External appointments
 − Non-executive director of Interserve plc (from 
August 2014), chairman of the remuneration 
committee (June 2018) and member of the 
audit and nomination committees 

 − Independent chairman of South East Water 

Limited (from April 2015) 

RALPH HEWINS
CFO

Nationality
British 

Ralph was appointed CFO-Designate and 
Executive Director on 12 September 2016 and 
became the Elementis Group CFO on 
1 November 2016. 

Skills, experience and contribution 
Ralph is an accomplished CFO who has a 
strong track record in finance, strategy 
development and implementation, and M&A 
which enables him to provide effective financial 
leadership to underpin the delivery of the 
Reignite Growth strategy. 

Ralph had a 30 year career with BP, where 
he held a number of significant leadership 
positions, including roles in financial 
management, sales and marketing, corporate 
development, M&A, strategy and planning. In 
2010, Ralph was CFO of BP Lubricants and 
served on the board of Castrol India Limited 
from 2010 until 2016. Ralph holds an MA degree 
in Modern History and Economics from the 
University of Oxford and an MBA from INSEAD. 

Nationality
British 

bodies on a wide range of strategic, operational 
and policy issues. Sandra has held other 
non-executive and advisory appointments with 
the Institute of International Finance, the 
McKinsey Master Retirement Trust and the 
Edith Wharton Restoration. Sandra has a BA 
degree in American Studies and Economics 
from Stanford University and an MBA degree 
from Harvard Business School. 

Committee membership
A, N, R

External appointments
 − External member of the Bank of England’s 
Prudential Regulation Committee (from 
September 2014) and an independent 
member of its RTGS/CHAPS board which 
oversees the UK’s high value payment 
system, chair of the RTGS/CHAPS board risk 
committee and member of the RTGS renewal 
committee

 − A non-executive director of Enstar Group 

Limited (from November 2015), chairman of 
the risk committee and a member of the 
compensation and nominating committees 

Nationality
British/American 

DOROTHEE DEURING
NON-EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR 

Dorothee was appointed a Non-Executive 
Director on 1 March 2017. 

Skills, experience and contribution 
Dorothee provides the Board with valuable 
insight into the wider European chemicals 
sector as well as sector specific acquisition 
expertise. 

Dorothee manages her own corporate advisory 
consultancy serving a number of European 
clients in the pharma/biotech sector. She is 
active in various industry bodies. Her previous 
executive roles included managing director and 
head of Corporate Advisory Group (Europe) at 
UBS in Zurich, head of M&A chemicals and 
healthcare at a private investment bank in 
Germany and as a senior executive in the 
corporate finance department at the Roche 
Group. Dorothee holds a master’s degree in 
Chemistry from the Université Louis Pasteur, 
Strasbourg and an MBA from INSEAD. 

Committee membership
A, N, R

External appointments
 − Non-executive director of the supervisory 
board of Bilfinger SE (from May 2016) and 
member of the audit committee 

 − Non-executive director of Röchling Group SE 

(from May 2016) 

 − Non-executive director of AXPO Holding AG 

(from March 2017) 

Nationality
Austrian 

STEVE GOOD
NON-EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

ANNE HYLAND 
NON-EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR 

Steve was appointed a Non-Executive Director 
on 20 October 2014 and became Chairman of 
the Remuneration Committee on 25 April 2017. 

Anne was appointed a Non-Executive Director 
on 1 June 2013 and became Chairman of the 
Audit Committee in August 2013. 

Skills, experience and contribution 
Steve has strong and relevant international 
experience in specialty chemicals businesses, 
manufacturing and diverse industrial markets 
which enables him to provide guidance and 
challenge to management. Steve’s involvement 
with remuneration committees in other 
organisations enable him to provide judgement 
and knowledge of topical remuneration matters in 
his capacity as Remuneration Committee chair. 

Steve was chief executive of Low & Bonar plc 
between September 2009 and September 
2014. Prior to that role, he was managing 
director of its technical textiles division between 
2006 and 2009, director of new business 
between 2005 and 2006, and managing 
director of its plastics division between 2004 
and 2005. Prior to joining Low & Bonar, he 
spent 10 years with BTP plc (now part of 
Clariant) in a variety of leadership positions 
managing international specialty chemicals 
businesses. Steve served as non-executive 
director and chairman of the remuneration 
committee of Cape plc from July 2015 to 
September 2017 and non-executive director of 
Anglian Water Services and member of the 
audit committee, nomination committee and 
remuneration committee from April 2015 to 
October 2018. 

Skills, experience and contribution 
Anne brings significant financial, internal 
controls, audit and tax expertise to the Board 
which enables her to be effective in her role as 
Audit Committee chair. Anne’s background with 
global companies enables her to effectively 
contribute in the context of Elementis’ existing 
markets and new business opportunities.

Anne is currently CFO of Kymab Group Ltd, 
a bio-pharmaceutical company funded by the 
Wellcome Trust and the Bill & Melinda Gates 
Foundation. Prior to her current executive role, 
she was CFO and company secretary of both 
BBI Diagnostics Group Ltd and Vectura Group 
plc. Previous senior finance positions held 
include director of corporate finance at, the 
then FTSE 100, Celltech Group plc, Medeva plc 
and KPMG. Anne holds a degree in Business 
Studies from Trinity College, Dublin and is a 
chartered accountant (FCA) and a corporate 
tax adviser (CTA-AITI). 

Committee membership
A*, N

External appointments
 − Non-executive director of Clinigen Group plc 
(from January 2018) and chairman of the 
audit committee 

 − CFO of Kymab Group Ltd (from March 2015)

Steve holds a degree in Economics and 
Financial Management from Sheffield 
University. He is a chartered accountant. 

Committee membership
R*, N

External appointments
 − Non-executive chairman of Zotefoams plc 
(non-executive director from October 2014 
and chairman from April 2016) and chairman 
of the nomination committee and member of 
the remuneration committee 

 − Non-executive director of Dialight plc (from 
June 2018) and member of the nominations 
committee and remuneration committee 
 − Director of Low & Bonar Pension Trustee Ltd 

(from July 2018) 

Nationality
British 

Nationality
Irish 

SANDRA BOSS 
NON-EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR 

Sandra was appointed a Non-Executive 
Director on 1 February 2017. 

Skills, experience and contribution 
Sandra brings strategic advisory and corporate 
finance experience gained as a consultant to 
complex global companies on transformational 
change. Her contribution in financial markets 
alongside risk management in regulated 
industries provides the Board with valuable 
insight. 

Sandra was a senior partner at McKinsey & 
Company from 2005 to 2014 (and a partner 
from 2000), where she specialised in 
investment banking and risk, and held several 
senior management positions in the United 
Kingdom and the United States. At McKinsey, 
Sandra acted as an adviser to global financial 
institutions, corporates and public sector 

63 

Elementis plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

STRATEGIC REPORTCORPORATE GOVERNANCEFINANCIAL STATEMENTSSHAREHOLDER INFORMATION 
EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP TEAM

OUR ELT COMPRISES OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS, 
GLOBAL COMMERCIAL AND FUNCTIONAL LEADERS 

The ELT meets on a regular basis and considers 
the execution of the strategic priorities, financial 
performance, capital investment, risk and safety 
and operational performance of the business. 

3

2

7

12

8

11

13

5

9

1

4

10

6

PAUL WATERMAN
CEO 

Full biography can found on page 62. 

RALPH HEWINS
CFO

Full biography can found on page 62. 

1

2

WALKER ALLEN  
GENERAL COUNSEL AND  
CHIEF COMPLIANCE OFFICER

3

MARCI BRAND
VP GLOBAL PERSONAL CARE

4

Joined Elementis in 1999
Based: New Jersey, US

Joined Elementis in 2018 
Based: New Jersey, US

Experience and role 
Walker leads the Group’s Legal function with 
global responsibility for all legal matters within 
the Group including litigation, M&A and 
intellectual property matters. As Chief 
Compliance Officer, Walker’s remit includes 
oversight of the Group’s compliance 
programme including the development of our 
Group compliance policies and procedures. 

Experience and role
Marci is responsible for the Personal Care 
business which includes the Cosmetics, 
AP actives, Pharma and Dental businesses. 
As VP Global Personal Care, Marci’s focus is on 
directing the Personal Care sales and marketing 
teams and driving synergies in the business 
following the acquisition of SummitReheis in 2017 
and integration of the recently acquired Mondo. 

Walker has nearly 25 years’ experience as an in 
house lawyer within global businesses having 
started his career in private practice in two New 
York City law firms.

This role follows her 35 years’ experience at 
BP in marketing and sales leadership roles 
developing strategic business opportunities 
in both business to business and business to 
consumer environments. 

64 

Elementis plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

LAURA HIGGINS,
GROUP COMPANY SECRETARY

5

JOE LUPIA
VP GLOBAL R&D

8

LUC VAN RAVENSTEIN
VP GLOBAL COATINGS

11

Joined Elementis in 2018
Based: London, UK

Joined Elementis in 2018 
Based: New Jersey, US

Joined Elementis in 2012
Based: New Jersey, US

Experience and role
Laura is the Group’s Company Secretary and 
is responsible for providing Board support and 
advice on corporate governance, UK listing 
obligations and corporate transactions. Laura 
is also responsible for overall Group risk 
management processes, insurance and is 
a pension trustee. 

Laura has held various senior company 
secretarial positions at public quoted companies 
including Sky, Britvic, Betfair and Rio Tinto. 

Experience and role
Joe joined Elementis in January 2019 to lead 
the Global R&D function. His former commercial 
experience enables him to lead with a focus 
on commercialisation. Joe is responsible for 
collaborating with the business leaders on 
developing new technologies to enhance our 
customers’ product performance taking into 
account the quality, sustainability and efficiency 
needs of our customers. 

Experience and role
Luc is responsible for the leadership of the 
Global Coatings business. In addition, Luc has 
recently increased his leadership responsibilities 
to support the growth of the Energy business. 
Luc is leading the global Coatings transformation 
programme including the streamlining of the 
product portfolio and cost base, implementation 
of more efficient routes to market and creation 
of a global Coatings organisation.

Joe has 30 years in the chemicals industry and 
joined us from BASF where he led the technical 
innovations and customer support team for 
Care Chemicals USA. 

Luc started his career at Elementis heading 
up the Personal Care and Surfactants business 
following leadership positions at specialty 
chemicals company Croda. 

DANIEL HUGHES 
VP BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT

6

ROBERT MANGOLD 
VP GLOBAL SUPPLY CHAIN

9

CHRIS SHEPHERD 
CHIEF HUMAN RESOURCES  
OFFICER

12

Joined Elementis in 2007
Based: New Jersey, US

Joined Elementis in 2016 
Based: New Jersey, US

Joined Elementis in 2017 
Based: London, UK

Experience and role
Daniel is responsible for leading the business 
through strategic transactions and is currently 
leading the integration of the Mondo business. 
In 2018, he led the asset disposal at Jersey City, 
the acquisition of the India site and the disposal 
of the Surfactants business. 

Daniel has held a number of roles in Elementis 
including previously the Chief Information 
Officer and being the Vice President Coatings 
Asia, integrating the production and sales sites 
there while developing the local strategy, 
customer facing channels and organisational 
design. Prior to joining Elementis, Daniel 
held various senior procurement and supply 
chain positions. 

Experience and role
Robert is responsible for the Supply Chain 
Transformation programme and to deliver 
improved working capital and improved 
operational performance. Robert’s remit 
includes HSE, Manufacturing, Procurement, 
all the Supply Chain and Quality functions and 
Product Stewardship. He drives sustained 
improvements in these key areas.

Experience and role
Chris leads the Group Human Resources 
function and is responsible for talent, 
succession, HR operations, reward 
programmes and internal communications. 
Chris’ focus is on embedding the Company’s 
culture and values throughout the organisation, 
developing internal talent and standardising 
our global people processes. 

Robert has over 35 years’ experience in 
operations for manufacturing and specialty 
chemicals companies. 

This role follows 20 years of global human 
resources experience gained in a mix of 
privately held US and UK listed plcs with the 
first 12 years of his career in manufacturing 
and supply chain. 

CHRISTIAN KATHER 
VP TALC

7

PAUL RAO 
VP ENERGY 

10

ERIC WALDMANN
VP CHROMIUM

13

Joined Elementis in 2018 
Based: Amsterdam, Netherlands

Joined Elementis in 2014
Based: Houston, US

Joined Elementis in 2007
Based: New Jersey, US

Experience and role
Christian has led the Talc business since 2011, 
having joined Mondo in 2010. Following the 
acquisition of Mondo he is currently in the 
process of integrating certain functions into the 
Elementis Group alongside delivery and growth 
of the Talc business on a global basis.

Christian’s former experience was in business 
leadership roles in international specialty 
chemicals companies with roles in both 
Europe and the US. 

Experience and role
As VP Energy, Paul has responsibility for 
leading the Energy sales and marketing teams. 
His focus is on developing strategic 
relationships and offering products that meet 
our oilfield customers’ needs. 

Paul has 28 years of global oilfield experience 
in sales, marketing, business development 
and strategic planning.

Experience and role
Eric is responsible for the leadership of our 
global Chromium operation which includes 
managing the commercial team and strategic 
sourcing. 

Eric has held a number of roles in our Chromium 
business, most recently as VP Finance and 
Sourcing. Prior to joining Elementis, Eric’s 
experience was focused in the areas of finance, 
accounting, mergers and acquisitions and 
sourcing.

65 

Elementis plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

STRATEGIC REPORTCORPORATE GOVERNANCEFINANCIAL STATEMENTSSHAREHOLDER INFORMATION 
LEADERSHIP

GOVERNANCE FRAMEWORK 

THE BOARD
The Board is collectively responsible to shareholders for the delivery of long term value and 
success and provides effective challenge and support to management in relation to the 
execution of strategy, whilst ensuring the Group maintains an effective risk management and 
internal controls system. Further information on the Board’s focus and activities during 2018 
can be found on page 68.

Board Committees

AUDIT  
COMMITTEE
The Audit Committee monitors 
the integrity of the Group’s 
financial statements, the 
systems of internal control and 
risk management and the 
relationships with our internal 
and external auditors. 

REMUNERATION 
COMMITTEE
The Remuneration Committee 
is responsible for setting the 
remuneration policy and 
determines the reward 
structure for the Chairman, 
Executive Directors and ELT 
to align their remuneration 
with the long term interests 
of the Company. 

NOMINATION  
COMMITTEE
The Nomination Committee is 
responsible for the structure, 
size and composition of the 
Board ensuring that the Board 
and Committees have the 
correct balance of skills, 
knowledge and experience. 
This Committee ensures and 
oversees succession planning 
and has responsibility for the 
annual review of Board 
effectiveness.

FOR MORE  
INFORMATION PLEASE  
SEE PAGES 73 AND 76

FOR MORE  
INFORMATION PLEASE  
SEE PAGES 78 AND 92

FOR MORE  
INFORMATION PLEASE  
SEE PAGE 72

Associated documents
The Matters Reserved for the Board and 
terms of reference for the Committees can 
be found on the corporate website: 
elementisplc.com

66 

Elementis plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

BOARD COMPOSITION

CHAIRMAN
Andrew Duff
The Chairman leads the Board and is responsible for its 
leadership, setting its agenda, monitoring its effectiveness and 
ensuring good governance. Andrew facilitates open, honest 
and constructive debate during meetings and guides the CEO 
and CFO in their delivery of the Reignite Growth strategy. 
Andrew ensures effective communication with our 
shareholders and that the Board is aware of the views of major 
shareholders. 

CEO
Paul Waterman
The CEO is responsible for the day-to-day management of 
the business and the execution of strategy and operational 
performance. Paul is supported by the ELT for the delivery 
of both functional and business targets 

CFO 
Ralph Hewins
The CFO is responsible for supporting the CEO in the delivery 
of the Company’s strategy. Ralph leads the Group Finance 
function and is responsible for financial reporting, investor 
relations, IT and tax matters. 

SENIOR INDEPENDENT DIRECTOR
Nick Salmon 
The Senior Independent Director acts as a sounding board 
to the Chairman and leads the performance evaluation of 
the Chairman. 

INDEPENDENT NON-EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS 
Sandra Boss, Dorothee Deuring, Steve Good and 
Anne Hyland
The independent Non-Executive Directors provide 
independent oversight and constructive challenge to the 
Executive Directors. They bring an independent judgement 
to bear on matters of strategy, performance and resources, 
including key appointments and behaviours.

COMPANY SECRETARY
Laura Higgins
The Company Secretary supports the Chairman in ensuring 
the Board operates efficiently and effectively. Laura provides 
the Board with advice on governance developments and is 
responsible for the flow of information to the Board and 
induction and training needs. 

Composition of the Board

Chairman

12.5%

Non-Executive Directors 62.5%

Executive Directors

25%

Gender diversity

Female

37.5%

Male

62.5%

Length of tenure

3 to 6 years

50%

Less than 3 years

50%

Board skills and experience

Manufacturing

62.5%

Chemicals

37.5%

Finance/investment

50.0%

Global markets

37.5%

Average age of the Board
56

Nationality

67 

Elementis plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

STRATEGIC REPORTCORPORATE GOVERNANCEFINANCIAL STATEMENTSSHAREHOLDER INFORMATION 
 
 
LEADERSHIP
CONTINUED

The Board’s focus in 2018 was as follows:

Reignite Growth 
strategy 

Operational 
performance 

Regular CEO reports 
Health, safety and 
environment reports
Group insurance 
programme 
Group risk review 
including Brexit plans
Annual operating plan
Hurricane Florence impact 
at Castle Hayne
GDPR implementation and 
updates

Working capital 
optimisation programme
Global Coatings strategy– 
India and South East Asia 
including the investment 
case for a site in India 
Disposal of the Surfactants 
business and Jersey City 
site
Strategic reviews of 
Personal Care, Energy, 
Chromium and Coatings 
M&A updates including a 
series of meetings focused 
on the acquisition of 
Mondo and associated 
financing 
Three year plan 
IT strategy including cyber 
security and digital
Strategic review of Dental 
business

BOARD ACTIVITIES
The Board has a formal programme of activities that are 
undertaken at scheduled meetings throughout the year which 
is supplemented by ad hoc meetings and conference calls, 
as and when appropriate. 

The Board receives updates on the business, financial, 
operational, governance, compliance, HSE performance and 
investor engagement at each of its formal meetings. 

The Board welcomes the ELT attending Board meetings and 
receives presentations from their relevant business and 
functional areas. 

During 2018, the majority of Board meetings took place in 
London. A meeting was held at the management headquarters 
in New Jersey, US, where a townhall lunch provided the Board 
the opportunity to meet with a cross-section of employees. 

Finance matters

Financial performance 
reports and forecasts 
Dividend policy, 
distributable reserves 
and recommendation 
of payment
Treasury and hedging 
reports
Approval of financial 
statements for full and half 
year and Q1 and Q3 
trading statements 
Tax strategy including 
position on EU state aid
Triennial pension valuation 
updates
Annual operating plan

Shareholders, 
stakeholders  
and governance

Investor relations reports, 
roadshows and other 
investor meetings and 
feedback 
AGM and GM preparation
Corporate broker review
Board effectiveness 
evaluation
People strategy including 
talent management, 
succession planning, 
values and culture 
Updates on the revised UK 
Corporate Governance 
Code
Modern Slavery Statement
Litigation and compliance 
reports
Directors’ duties training
Updates from Committee 
chairs

ROLE OF THE BOARD IN THE ACQUISITION OF MONDO 
The Board had a valuable and important contribution to play 
in the consideration of the investment and strategic rationale, 
diligence process and key findings, valuation considerations, 
financial impact, process timeline, financing and shareholder 
engagement strategy. 

Scheduled Board meetings

8

68 

Elementis plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

Additional Mondo acquisition meetings

12

Board activities timeline

Board meeting

Investor feedback

Chairman and 
investor meetings 

Shareholder 
consultation on 
remuneration 
policy 

Prospectus and 
shareholder 
circular published

Board meeting

Non-executive 
only meeting

Board meeting

Interim results 
review

Mondo acquisition 
update

2018 interim 
results announced

Investor roadshow

2018

JAN

FEB

MAR

APR

MAY

JUN

JUL

AUG

SEP

OCT

NOV

DEC

Board meeting

Board meeting

Full year results 
review

Global Coatings 
strategic review

2017 full year 
results announced

Q1 trading update 
announced

Investor roadshow

AGM

Board meeting

Visit to US 
headquarters and 
townhall lunch with 
employees

Strategic updates 
of Personal Care, 
Energy, Chromium 

Mondo acquisition 
announced

Shareholder 
meeting approval 
of Mondo 
acquisition

Board meeting

Board evaluation

Board meetings 
relating to 
acquisition of 
Mondo

Three year plan

Board meeting

Q3 trading update 
announced

Annual operating 
plan

BOARD MEETING ATTENDANCE DURING 2018
During the year, there were eight scheduled Board meetings. 
There were 12 additional meetings in respect of the acquisition 
of Mondo. Directors’ attendance at scheduled Board meetings 
was as follows:

INDEPENDENCE OF THE NON-EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS 
Each of the Non-Executive Directors is considered independent 
in character and judgement. The Chairman was considered 
independent on appointment and the Board confirms that he 
remains effective. Further information can be found in the 
Nomination Committee report on page 72. 

Director

Andrew Duff

Paul Waterman 

Ralph Hewins

Sandra Boss

Dorothee Deuring 

Steve Good

Anne Hyland

Nick Salmon 

Board meeting

8/8

8/8

8/8

7/8

8/8

8/8

8/8

8/8

Sandra Boss was unable to attend the July 2018 meeting due to 
an illness.

CONFLICTS OF INTEREST 
The Board operates a policy to identify and, when appropriate, 
manage actual or potential conflicts of interest affecting 
Directors. 

Directors are required to seek Board approval for any actual 
or potential conflicts of interest. Any conflicts of interest are 
considered by the Board, at each meeting, and are reviewed 
throughout the year. 

Ralph Hewins is in receipt of a conflict authorisation from the 
Company in respect of him acting as a trustee of the Elementis 
Group Pension Scheme. Further detail can be found in the 
Directors’ Report on page 93.

INSURANCE
The Company maintains directors’ and officers’ liability 
insurance, which gives appropriate cover for legal action 
brought against its Directors.

69 

Elementis plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

STRATEGIC REPORTCORPORATE GOVERNANCEFINANCIAL STATEMENTSSHAREHOLDER INFORMATIONEFFECTIVENESS

BOARD INDUCTION AND DEVELOPMENT 
The Chairman, with the support of the Company Secretary, 
is responsible for preparing and coordinating an appropriate 
induction programme for newly appointed Directors. The 
programme includes meeting members of the ELT and 
corporate advisers and tailored training on the duties and 
responsibilities of a Director of a UK listed company. The 
Non-Executive Directors are encouraged to visit Group 
manufacturing sites to enable them to gain a greater 
understanding of the Group’s activities and to meet people 
across the business. The Board agreed to postpone site visits 
in 2018 to focus on the acquisition of Mondo and a programme 
of visits is being scheduled for 2019. 

BOARD TRAINING AND INDEPENDENT ADVICE
All Directors have access to the advice and services of the 
Company Secretary and may take independent professional 
advice, as appropriate, at the expense of the Company. 
Directors are given the opportunity throughout the year to 
undertake training and attend seminars as necessary to keep 
their skills and knowledge up to date. The Company Secretary 
supports the Chairman in ensuring that the Board and Board 
Committees operate within the governance framework and that 
communication and information flows within the Board and its 
Committees and between management and Non-Executive 
Directors remain effective.

INFORMATION FLOW
The Chairman and Company Secretary ensure that the Directors 
receive clear and timely information on all relevant matters. 
Board papers are circulated in a timely manner in advance of 
meetings to ensure that there is adequate time for them to be 
read and to facilitate robust and informed discussion. A fully 
encrypted electronic Board portal is used to distribute Board 
and Committee papers and to provide efficient distribution of 
business updates and other resources to the Board. 

BOARD EVALUATION 
Process
During 2018, Manchester Square Partners (MSP) were engaged 
to conduct this year’s external evaluation in accordance with the 
Code. The last external review was carried out in 2015. Following 
consultation with the Chairman and the Company Secretary, the 
review process took place from September to December 2018, 
taking into account the conclusion of the Mondo acquisition. 
MSP had access to Board and Committee papers for the prior 
year and observed a Board meeting and Audit Committee 
meeting. Individual interviews were conducted with the Board, 
the Company Secretary and the CHRO. 

The outcome of the evaluation was presented for discussion 
in December 2018. Further information can be found below 
and overleaf.

BOARD, COMMITTEE AND DIRECTORS’ 
PERFORMANCE EVALUATION CYCLE IN 2018

Year 1 (2018)
An externally facilitated evaluation was carried out by MSP.

Stage 2 
Interviews were conducted 
with all Directors, the 
Company Secretary and 
the CHRO.

Stage 3 
MSP prepared a report which 
detailed their findings on the 
overall effectiveness of the 
Board and its Committees.

MSP had access to the 
Board and Committee 
papers for the prior year and 
observed a Board and Audit 
Committee meeting.

Stage 4 
The report and findings were 
presented and discussed 
with the Board. The Board 
subsequently agreed on the 
development areas for 2019 
which are outlined overleaf. 

Stage 1 
Following a tender process 
by the Nomination 
Committee, MSP (who has 
no other connection with the 
Company) were 
recommended to the  
Board for appointment. 

The Chairman and Company 
Secretary were consulted 
to ensure that the review 
process would be in line with 
Code requirements and best 
practice as well as draw out 
themes specific to the 
Company.

Years 2 and 3
Following consultation with the Chairman, an internal questionnaire is developed with facilitation of the process carried out by the 
Company Secretary.

70 

Elementis plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

Review
The review covered the following themes: 

Strategy

Challenges 
and risks

Values and 
culture

Committees

Board effectiveness 
review

Board  
role and 
dynamics 

Leadership

Governance

Composition

Engagement

Outcome 
The comprehensive review concluded that the Board and 
its Committees continue to function and operate well and 
confirmed that the Board environment is open, inclusive, 
collaborative, trusting and supportive. The Board continues 
to provide good leadership and support to the business. 

At the December Board meeting, the Board agreed on some 
areas for further improvement as follows:

1.  Risk management – as the business continues to evolve to 
ensure that the quality of risk management and compliance 
reporting to the Board is improved in line with emerging risks 
as and when they arise.

2.  Investor engagement – consider the strategy and approach 
for engaging with the investment community following the 
acquisition of Mondo and enhancing overall understanding 
of the business.

3.  Talent management and succession – continue to develop 
Board exposure to up and coming talent below ELT level.

4.  Leveraging Board skills and experience – consider ways to 

identify how the skills and experiences of the Non-Executive 
Directors can be better leveraged to support the Executive 
Directors and the broader organisation. 

Theme

Strategy

2018 findings

Over and above the strategy focused meeting in the US, there has been regular ongoing review and debate 
throughout the year with strategic topics featuring on each Board agenda.

Challenges and 
risks

Board members share a consistent view of the key challenges and risks facing the business. Sufficient time 
is devoted to discussion of risk. 

Values and culture 

The Board utilises site visits to feel and test culture and behaviours throughout all levels of the organisation. 
The Board continue to enhance their understanding of culture and values at Board level. 

Board role and 
dynamics

Engagement

Composition

Governance 

Leadership

Committees

Under the leadership of the Chairman, the Board provides valuable advice, support and challenge. The 
Board environment is open and inclusive and enables Board members to effectively contribute to Board 
discussions. 

The Board are diligent, engaged and demonstrate enthusiasm for their individual and collective roles. 

The Board has relevant diversity of experience, expertise and skills. The Committees are well chaired and 
operate well. The Board has evolved under the Chairman’s leadership; there are no pressing succession 
plans to consider.

Board processes are effective, thorough and efficient. The quality of Board papers and financial reporting 
have improved. 

The relationships between the Chairman, CEO and CFO are strong and effective with regular dialogue on 
all sides. 

The Committees are well chaired and operate well. The main Board operates as a valuable mechanism to 
appropriately inform and involve Directors who are not members of a particular Committee. 

71 

Elementis plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

STRATEGIC REPORTCORPORATE GOVERNANCEFINANCIAL STATEMENTSSHAREHOLDER INFORMATIONEFFECTIVENESS 
CONTINUED

NOMINATION COMMITTEE  
REPORT

ANDREW DUFF
CHAIRMAN 
NOMINATION COMMITTEE

Committee members

Scheduled meetings

6
2

Committee members

Andrew Duff

Sandra Boss

Dorothee Deuring

Steve Good

Anne Hyland

Nick Salmon

Scheduled meetings

2/2

2/2

2/2

2/2

2/2

2/2

The Committee is chaired by the Chairman and comprises all 
the Non-Executive Directors. The CEO has a standing invitation 
to attend meetings. The Committee is responsible for regularly 
reviewing the structure, size, diversity and composition of the 
Board. This is to ensure that the Company has the right 
leadership, balance of skills and experience to deliver the 
Company’s strategy and enable the Board to effectively fulfil 
its obligations.

72 

Elementis plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

MAIN ACTIVITIES DURING THE YEAR
The Committee’s focus in 2018 has been:

BOARD EVALUATION
During the year, the Committee was responsible for the 
tendering process and recommendation to the Board for a third 
party provider to provide an evaluation of the Board and its 
Directors. The Committee recommended the appointment of 
Manchester Square Partners to carry out the review. Further 
detail of the evaluation can be found on pages 70 to 71. At its 
December meeting the Committee reviewed Manchester 
Square Partners’ findings.

APPRAISAL PROCESS
The expertise and performance of the Directors is considered 
as part of the annual review of the Board and its Committees. 
The appraisal of the Chairman is led by the Senior Independent 
Director, who meets separately with the Non-Executive Directors 
to discuss the performance of the Chairman. Following 
consideration, it was agreed that the Chairman continues to 
lead the Board effectively and constructively. The Chairman, 
supported by the Non-Executive Directors, leads the appraisal 
of the CEO and they agreed the CEO was implementing the 
Reignite Growth strategy at pace, delivering improved safety 
and operational performance and effective leadership. The 
performance of the other Non-Executive Directors is appraised 
by the Chairman whilst the CFO’s performance is appraised by 
the CEO with feedback from other Directors where appropriate. 
The Board is satisfied that all Directors possess relevant 
experience and appropriate levels of independence and 
financial and commercial experience across various industries.

REAPPOINTMENT OF DIRECTORS
The Committee considered the output from the appraisal 
process and the Board effectiveness evaluation report and 
concluded that each of the Directors continued to make an 
effective contribution to the Board. The Committee considered 
the tenure, time commitments and any other significant 
appointments of each of the Non-Executive Directors, including 
the Chairman and concluded that each Director continues to 
contribute effectively and provides sufficient time to the 
Company. In accordance with the Code, each of the Directors 
will submit themselves for re-election at the 2019 AGM.

DIVERSITY 
The Board recognises that diversity, which should be construed 
in its broadest sense, is essential for a high performing and 
effective Board. The Board is committed to actively searching 
for candidates from the widest talent pool against objective 
criteria and with regard for the benefits of diversity including 
gender and ethnicity. The Board has exceeded the Hampton-
Alexander target for the percentage of women on Boards to 
reach one third by 2020. It is acknowledged that there is a need 
to identify and develop the next generation of talent within the 
Group and processes are in place to ensure the Board have 
visibility. Further information can be found on page 50.

As diversity, inclusion and culture continue to be areas of focus 
for the Committee and the Board as a whole, practices will be 
developed to ensure the Company is meeting appropriate 
standards of governance and is able to realise the benefits 
associated with diversity. 

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
During the year, the Committee received updates from the 
Company Secretary on the revised Code, reviewed the 
independence of the Non-Executive Directors, considered 
potential conflicts of interest and the diversity of the Board and 
made recommendations concerning these matters to the Board. 

ACCOUNTABILITY 

AUDIT COMMITTEE  
REPORT

ANNE HYLAND
CHAIRMAN 
AUDIT COMMITTEE

Committee members

Scheduled meetings

4
4

Committee members 

Anne Hyland

Sandra Boss

Dorothee Deuring

Nick Salmon

Scheduled meetings

4/4

3/4

4/4

4/4

Sandra Boss was unable to attend the July 2018 meeting due to 
an illness. 

73 

Elementis plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

The past year has been transformational for Elementis. The 
strengthening of its portfolio via both the disposal of the 
Surfactants business and the acquisition of Mondo has required 
the Committee to focus on the financial integrity of these 
transactions, to enable us to be assured that the appropriate 
accounting treatments have been applied. 

As part of the Mondo transaction and in my role as Chair of the 
Audit Committee, I led the review of progress of the financial 
related workstreams and held meetings with each of the 
advisers relating to working capital assumptions and 
sensitivities, the financial position, prospects and procedures 
of both businesses and the historical and current financial 
information of Mondo and Elementis. I held regular meetings 
with Ralph and his team who kept me abreast of both the 
transactions, financial reporting and internal control matters. I 
value our open and constructive relationship and I am confident 
that the team are able to discuss matters as the need arises. 

I have held regular meetings with the senior audit partner from 
Deloitte, the external auditors, to discuss the audit processes, 
the new segmental reporting structure, and the accounting 
treatment relating to Mondo. The ability to discuss matters 
throughout the year enables me to be effective as chair of the 
Audit Committee. 

PwC provide an outsourced internal audit function. The 
Committee needs assurance that the internal control environment 
in which Elementis operates is appropriate, and a focus of the 
2018 internal audit reviews was on the SummitReheis sites that 
were acquired by the Company in 2017. Next year, one area of 
focus for the Committee will be the integration of the Mondo 
acquisition. 

Finally, I would like to extend a thank you from the Committee to 
the Elementis Finance teams and in particular the Group Finance 
team who have supported us diligently over the past year and 
whose efforts have made a significant contribution to the 
Company’s Reignite Growth strategy. 

The below report of the Audit Committee for the 2018 financial 
year explains how we have carried out our responsibilities 
during the year.

AUDIT COMMITTEE
Composition
The Committee is comprised of Anne Hyland, as chair, Sandra 
Boss, Dorothee Deuring and Nick Salmon. The Chairman of the 
Board, CEO, CFO and Group Financial Controller alongside 
representatives from the external auditors, Deloitte, and internal 
auditors, PwC, have a standing invitation to attend Committee 
meetings. As required by the Code, Anne Hyland has the relevant 
financial experience to chair this Committee and the Committee 
as a whole has the financial and commercial competence to 
meet its responsibilities in an independent and robust manner. 

Meetings 
In 2018, there were four scheduled meetings – an additional one 
was held in October 2018 to consider the audit plan taking into 
account the acquisition of Mondo. 

STRATEGIC REPORTCORPORATE GOVERNANCEFINANCIAL STATEMENTSSHAREHOLDER INFORMATIONACCOUNTABILITY 
CONTINUED

Main activities during the year
In 2018, the Committee:
 − Met with both the internal and external auditors to review their 

key findings 

 − Ensured compliance with applicable accounting standards, 
monitoring developments in accounting regulations as they 
affect the Group and reviewed the appropriateness of 
accounting policies and practices in place

 − Reviewed the internal control systems and considered the 

 − Reviewed the effectiveness of the internal and external 

output of internal audit reviews and management’s action plans

 − Reviewed the integrity, consistency and key accounting 

judgements made by management in both the Company’s full 
and half year results

 − Ensured the appropriate accounting treatment applied to 

the acquisition of Mondo and the disposal of the Surfactants 
business 

auditors, their independence and objectivity and terms and 
scope of engagement and recommended their reappointment

 − Oversaw matters relating to tax including the impact of tax 

rates on the financial statements, the impact of the State Aid 
Investigation being conducted by the EU and recommended 
for approval the Company’s tax strategy

 − Received litigation and compliance reports for both the full 

 − Advised the Board on whether the process supporting the 

and half year

preparation of Annual Report and Accounts, taken as a whole, 
is fair balanced and understandable and provides the 
information necessary to shareholders to assess the Group’s 
position and performance, business model and strategy

 − Reviewed the going concern and viability statements and the 
supporting assumptions and assessments in the Company’s 
Annual Report and Accounts

 − Considered for both the full and half year the material legal 

risks impacting the Company and the associated provisioning
 − Received updates on the implementation of the revised Code 
of Business Conduct and Ethics and associated training and 
whistleblowing policies and the control procedures in place 
in respect of these

 − Received technical updates on the 2018 UK Corporate 

 − Monitored the ratio and level of audit to non-audit fees paid to 

Governance Code and IFRS 16

the external auditors

Key judgements
The following table sets out the significant matters considered by the Committee during the year in relation to the Financial 
Statements. Further information on these judgements is detailed in Note 1 of the accounts. 

Key judgement

How the Committee has addressed these matters

Key judgement

How the Committee has addressed these matters

Purchase price 
allocation for 
the Mondo 
business

Environmental 
provision

Following the purchase of Mondo in 
October 2018, it was necessary to 
determine the allocation of the purchase 
price to goodwill, intangibles and other 
balance sheet items. Key areas of 
judgement surrounded the evaluation of 
intangible assets. The Committee 
reviewed progress made on the analysis 
that was conducted by a third party 
provider and led by management. 
Management updated the Committee on 
their proposals and the external auditors 
provided assurance to the Committee that 
their subject matter experts were in 
support of the allocation of purchase price. 

A process consistent with 2017 for the 
evaluation of environmental provisions was 
followed by management, the key area of 
judgement being the discount rate used 
for future liabilities. In 2017, this discount 
rate was 2.5%. The Committee considered 
this discount rate and were satisfied that 
a rate of 2.5% remained consistent with 
current market assessments of the time 
value of money and the risks specific to 
the liabilities and is therefore appropriate 
for 2018. 

The carrying 
values of 
advance 
corporation 
tax (ACT) 

A tax report was provided to the 
Committee at each of its meetings. The 
Committee challenged both the 
justification for, and carrying values of, 
ACT recoverable and deferred tax assets. 

74 

Elementis plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

Use of 
adjusting items 
in the Annual 
Report

Revenue 
recognition 

The Committee considers separate 
disclosure of adjusting items in light of the 
FRC recommendations of a balanced and 
consistent approach. The Committee 
understands the importance to 
stakeholders of being able to assess the 
underlying performance of the business 
by adjusting for exceptional items. The 
Committee does not consider such 
measures to be a substitute for, or superior 
to, IFRS measures. 

IFRS 15 – revenue from contracts with 
customers has been applied with an 
effective date of 1 January 2018. Whilst the 
principles of revenue recognition differ to 
IAS 18 Revenue, the previous accounting 
standard, application of IFRS 15 has not 
had a material impact on our financial 
statements. The main area of judgement 
continues to be in relation to recognition 
of revenue for shipments by sea. The 
Committee has received and reviewed the 
reports of external advisers who have 
provided guidance on IFRS 15 
implementation and have ensured our 
accounting policies have been updated 
accordingly. 

Following the acquisition of Mondo the 
Committee considered the application of 
the Company policy to the acquired 
operations at the year end and adopted 
the policy accordingly. 

Audit Committee evaluation
During the year, Manchester Square Partners undertook an 
evaluation of the Committee as part of the Board effectiveness 
review. The findings show that the Committee has evolved well 
since the last review with a more proactive agenda. Financial 
management and reporting have continued to improve under 
the leadership of the CFO and Committee Chair.

EXTERNAL AUDITORS
Deloitte have served as external auditors for three years. The 
Committee engaged with Deloitte to ensure this key area of 
oversight was appropriately maintained. The Committee 
periodically meets privately with the lead audit partner and 
senior members of the audit team to discuss their work and 
findings. No areas of concern have been raised. 

Auditor independence 
The Committee considers the external auditors’ objectivity and 
independence at least twice a year. It receives reports from 
Deloitte on its internal quality controls and independence rules 
and considers carefully the extent of the non-audit services 
provided by Deloitte. This is further maintained by the Group 
policy on non-audit services which contains guidance on the 
types of non-audit work that the external auditors may be 
considered for. 

Under the policy, the CFO may approve individual engagements 
where the fee is up to 15% of the Group’s audit fee for the year, 
provided that the total non-audit fees in the year do not exceed 
50% of that Group audit fee. Decisions above these thresholds 
must be referred to the Committee for determination.

Audit of the 2018 Annual Report and Accounts
At the end of 2018, Deloitte presented their audit plan for the 
year ahead which the Committee considered and then approved.

Examples of services that the external auditors may and may 
not be allowed to perform under the policy can be found at 
www.elementisplc.com. 

Deloitte highlighted the key areas of risk, which were primarily 
identified as areas of judgement and complexity and were 
consistent with those areas identified by the Committee. The 
Committee were also informed and agreed with the level of audit 
materiality, taking into account the enlarged Group following the 
acquisition of Mondo. As part of the audit process, Deloitte then 
presented a detailed report of their audit findings, which were 
reviewed and discussed. 

A similar process is undertaken for the half year results. 

Auditor rotation and tendering and competition and 
markets authority order – statement of compliance
As reported this time last year, the Committee carried out 
an audit tender process in 2015 resulting in the appointment 
of Deloitte as external auditors in April 2016. Deloitte’s 
re-appointment in 2018 was approved by shareholders at 
the Company’s AGM in April 2018. The Committee therefore 
confirms that the Company is compliant with the order on 
mandatory tendering of audit contracts.

Audit effectiveness
To support the Committee in evaluating the effectiveness of the 
external auditors, a questionnaire based evaluation is completed 
by the Finance team globally and the data is collated into a 
score card that can then be used to assess the strengths and 
weaknesses of the external auditors. Management and the 
external auditors then address any areas of weakness in their 
regular review meetings, and the senior audit partner from 
Deloitte updates the Committee on how areas of weakness are 
being addressed. 

The Committee also monitors audit effectiveness by reviewing 
the Audit Quality Inspection reports published by the FRC. 

Following the 2018 review, the Committee considers the 
auditors’ performance to be satisfactory and that the audit is 
effective as measured against their letter of engagement and 
the scope of services agreed.

The Committee is of the view that Deloitte was objective and 
independent throughout the 2018 audit process notwithstanding 
the level of non-audit services provided. Based on the 
Committee’s recommendation, the Board is proposing that 
Deloitte be re-appointed as external auditors to the Company 
at the AGM in April 2019.

Non-audit services 

Audit fees ($m)

Assurance related 
services ($m)

Non-audit fees ($m)

Ratio of non-audit 
fees to audit fees (%)

2018 

1.4

0.1

0.3

21%

2017

0.9

0.1

0.5

56%

INTERNAL CONTROLS AND RISK MANAGEMENT 
SYSTEM
The Committee’s role is to review the effectiveness of the internal 
control, compliance and risk management systems which it 
carries out in support of the Board’s formal review of significant 
risks and material controls, as summarised in the Risk 
management report on pages 42 and 43. 

PwC provide an outsourced internal audit function. The 
Committee consider that the value of internal audit is enhanced 
by having a third party perform this function, to support the 
independent challenge of management and give greater access 
to expertise and resources than an internal function could provide.

75 

Elementis plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

STRATEGIC REPORTCORPORATE GOVERNANCEFINANCIAL STATEMENTSSHAREHOLDER INFORMATIONWhistleblowing
The Group’s whistleblowing policy contains arrangements for an 
independent service provider to receive, in confidence, reports 
of breaches of any legal or Company policy requirements, 
including those related to accounting, auditing, risk, internal 
control and related matters. Any such disclosures are reported 
to the Committee as appropriate.

Fair, balanced and understandable 
The Committee adopted a similar approach as in previous years 
to ensure that the Annual Report is fair, balanced and 
understandable. The process was as follows:

 − An internal Annual Report Team (ART) was set up to manage 
the process. The ART was chaired by the CFO and consisted 
of members drawn from Group Finance, Company Secretariat, 
and Investor Relations teams. The inclusion of these various 
departments, with input from Group Tax and business 
segments as appropriate, ensured the balance, completeness 
and accuracy of the Annual Report. The ART was responsible 
for regularly reviewing work and ensuring balanced reporting 
with appropriate links between key messages and sections of 
the Annual Report. 

 − The Committee chairman held meetings with the audit partner, 
and the Committee held meetings with the external auditor 
without management being present. 

 − An audit clearance meeting was held with the Committee 

chairman, CFO and members of the Finance team alongside 
the audit partner and audit team members. 

 − The Committee received updates from management on the 

Annual Report progress and audit throughout the process as 
well as from the Company’s brokers and other advisers

 − The Committee, Chairman and Executive Directors reviewed 

the Annual Report in its final stages 

Following this process, the Committee and then the Board were 
able to confirm that the Annual Report, taken as a whole, is fair, 
balanced and understandable and provides the necessary 
information for shareholders to assess the Group’s position, 
performance, business model and strategy.

ANNE HYLAND
CHAIRMAN 
AUDIT COMMITTEE

ACCOUNTABILITY 
CONTINUED

The internal audit plan is based on a review of the Group’s key 
risks which are considered high risk or have not been subject 
to a recent audit. The proposed internal audit programme was 
discussed and agreed between management and PwC ahead 
of it being considered and subsequently approved by the 
Committee. Management review the schedule with PwC on a 
quarterly basis and adapt during the year to incorporate any 
new or increased risks which materialise. This is then reviewed 
and approved by the Committee. The outcome of the internal 
reports are provided to the Committee, alongside any 
remedial actions. 

Following an evaluation of the services provided by PwC in 
respect of the Internal Audit, the Committee confirms that both 
the process for determining the internal audit programme, and 
the programme itself, are appropriate and effective. No 
significant internal control failings or weaknesses were reported 
last year. Set out below is a summary of the key features of the 
Group’s internal controls and risk management system. 

Control environment 
The Group has policies and procedures that set out the 
responsibilities of business and site management, including 
authority levels, reporting disciplines and responsibility for risk 
management and internal control. In addition, annual 
compliance statements on internal controls are certified by 
each operating segment. 

Risk identification and review 
A formal risk review process exists at Board and ELT levels for 
the identification, evaluation, mitigation and ongoing monitoring 
of risks. Further details can be found on pages 42 to 48.

Internal audit programme
An internal audit programme is proposed by PwC in consultation 
with the CFO and approved by the Committee each year, 
setting out a programme of audits over the course of the next 
12 months. The programme covers the monitoring of the 
effectiveness of internal controls and the design of processes 
to test the effectiveness of controls. As well as conducting audits 
of operating facilities, sales offices and tolling sites on a two 
to three year rotational basis, the internal audit programme 
includes reviews of Group functions and processes. In 2018, 
the internal audit reviews focused on the recently acquired 
SummitReheis sites in the US and Asian sites. 

Controls assurance
The controls assurance framework at Elementis is as follows: 
 − Board leadership supported by an open and transparent 

culture of ‘no surprises’, good governance and compliance. 
This means knowing and understanding the businesses, 
quality interactions between the Board and the Executive 
Leadership team (including a regular programme of 
presentations and reports to the Board, as well as operational 
site visits) 

 − Internal and external audit programmes, regular litigation and 

compliance reviews with the General Counsel and a 
programme of compliance audits, regulatory inspections, 
environmental reviews and property surveys by external 
specialists

 − Code of Business Conduct and Ethics, on which all employees 
are given training and are required to self certify compliance 
with, supplemented by an online compliance training 
programme, an anti-bribery and corruption policy, which 
contractors are also required to sign up to, whistleblowing 
arrangements and an anti-retaliation policy

76 

Elementis plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

2018 IR PROGRAMME
During 2018:
 − Institutional investors and analysts were invited to attend the 
Company’s full year and half year results presentation in 
person or via webcast

 − Over 170 investor meetings were held with management in 
attendance of which 26 related to the acquisition of Mondo 

 − The Chairman or Senior Independent Director attended 
investor meetings and a Chairman’s roadshow was held 

 − Management attended six investor conferences 
 − The geographic spread of the programme covered the US 

and Europe.

PRIVATE INVESTORS 
The Board is keen to hear the views of our private shareholders 
and they are encouraged to use our shareholder mailbox, 
company.secretariat@elementis.com, for detailed enquiries and 
to access our website for our Company reports and business 
information. Specific enquiries may also be addressed to the 
Company Secretary and sent to the registered office.

SHAREHOLDER TRACING PROGRAMME
In 2015, a shareholder tracing programme was launched to 
reduce the number of ‘gone-away’ shareholders on the share 
register. During the year, 69 accounts have been closed, with 
£58,618 being returned to shareholders (since launch, 764 
accounts have been closed with £530,925 being returned 
to shareholders).

RELATIONS WITH SHAREHOLDERS 

THE BOARD’S APPROACH
Elementis is committed to delivering long term sustainable 
returns to its shareholders. The Chairman is responsible for 
effective communication with shareholders. The CEO and CFO 
are the Company’s principal contacts for investors, analysts, 
press and other interested stakeholders. 

There is a dedicated investor relations programme for current 
and potential investors, which is managed by the Director of 
Investor Relations who reports to the CFO. The Board receives 
an investor relations report at each of its meetings outlining 
recent dialogue with investors and feedback received. Analysts’ 
reports are also made available to the Board. The Chairman 
attends the financial results presentations where he has the 
opportunity to meet with those analysts who attend. 

The Chairman and Senior Independent Director are available to 
shareholders to discuss governance and strategy concerns as 
appropriate. On an annual basis, the Chairman meets with 
shareholders to discuss governance or other matters as 
appropriate. 

SHAREHOLDER MEETINGS
During the year, we held an AGM in April and a General Meeting 
in October 2018 to approve the acquisition of Mondo. The Board 
welcomes attendance at these meetings and they provide a 
valuable opportunity to discuss Company matters. We are 
grateful to those shareholders who were unable to attend but 
submitted voting instructions via proxy. 

At the AGM, all the members of the Board attended and the 
CEO provided a presentation to shareholders outlining 
performance of the Company during the prior financial year and 
an update on the Reignite Growth strategy which was followed 
by a questions and answers session. At the General Meeting, 
shareholders were given the opportunity to enter into dialogue 
with the Board to discuss matters relating to the Mondo 
acquisition.

At the 2018 AGM all proposed resolutions were passed, with 
votes in favour ranging from 87.72% to 100%. At the General 
Meeting the resolution was passed at 97.86%.

The Notice of the AGM was posted to shareholders at least 20 
days prior to the meeting and the documents in respect of the 
General Meeting were posted at least 14 days prior to the 
meeting. Each resolution was proposed separately and voting 
was conducted on a poll taking into account votes cast at the 
meeting and those submitted via proxy. Shareholders had the 
option to vote either for or against a resolution or to withhold their 
vote. Following the meeting, the voting results were announced 
to the London Stock Exchange and published on the Company’s 
corporate website. 

2018 INVESTOR RELATIONS CALENDAR

January

February

March

May 

June

July

September

October 

December

Overseas 
roadshow in 
New York

FY 17 results 
presentation

FY 17 
roadshow

UBS mid cap 
conference

Chairman’s 
governance 
roadshow

Goldman 
Sachs 
chemicals 
conference

Credit Suisse 
chemicals 
conference

JP Morgan 
materials 
conference

Mondo 
roadshow

H1 18 results 
presentation

H1 18 
roadshow

Berenberg 
food 
ingredients 
and chemicals 
conference

Overseas 
roadshow in 
France, 
Germany and 
Norway

Berenberg 
European 
Conference

Numis UK 
conference

77 

Elementis plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

STRATEGIC REPORTCORPORATE GOVERNANCEFINANCIAL STATEMENTSSHAREHOLDER INFORMATIONDIRECTORS’ REMUNERATION REPORT

DIRECTORS’ REMUNERATION 
REPORT – ANNUAL STATEMENT

STEVE GOOD
CHAIRMAN 
REMUNERATION COMMITTEE

Committee members

Scheduled meetings

4
4

Committee members

Steve Good

Sandra Boss

Dorothee Deuring

Nick Salmon

Dear Shareholder,

Scheduled meetings

4/4

4/4

4/4

4/4

As Chair of the Remuneration Committee (Committee), I am 
pleased to present the Directors’ Remuneration Report for the 
year ended 31 December 2018. This statement provides a 
summary of the work completed by the Committee in the year, 
the key decisions that have been taken and how the 
Remuneration Policy was implemented during the year. 2018 
was a year of significant strategic progress including the 
acquisition of Mondo, asset disposals and investment in a new 
production facility in India. It has also been a year in which we 
have experienced a mixed economic environment with good 
levels of growth in the Americas but some deterioration in 
Europe and Asia. 

78 

Elementis plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

The Committee in particular has had a busy year taking into 
account these strategic and macroeconomic developments and 
further details can be found within the body of the Annual Report 
on Remuneration on pages 80 to 92. Further information on the 
role and membership of the Committee and activities during the 
year can be found on pages 91 and 92.

The Directors’ Remuneration Report is set out in three parts:

1.   This Annual Statement summarising how the Policy has 
been implemented and the key decisions the Committee 
has taken;

2.   The Annual Report on Remuneration (Report) which 
provides detail on how we paid Directors during 2018 and 
how we propose to implement the policy in 2019; and

3.   A summary of the Remuneration Policy (Policy), as 

approved at the 2018 AGM.

The Report will be presented to shareholders for approval at 
the AGM on 30 April 2019 and I hope you will vote in support of 
the resolution.

REMUNERATION POLICY
Having undertaken a full review of the Policy and its 
implementation in 2017, we were pleased that the updated 
Policy was approved by our shareholders at the 2018 AGM 
with 99% of votes in favour. The Policy promotes sustained 
performance of the Company and is aligned with shareholder 
interests with incentive pay based on growing profits and 
delivering above average total shareholder return. In line with 
the business operations as a global specialty chemicals 
company that utilises manufacturing technology and scientific 
innovation to deliver high value products to our customers, our 
Policy is designed with a bias towards long term performance. 
As a Committee, we have considered whether the Policy is 
operating as intended and are comfortable that this is the case. 

VARIABLE REMUNERATION OUTCOME FOR 2018
Annual bonus
Elementis delivered solid financial results and made excellent 
strategic progress in 2018 as the Company continued to 
implement the Reignite Growth strategy focusing resources on 
higher margin growth opportunities, transforming the portfolio 
and driving cost and capital efficiency. The acquisition of Mondo 
completed in October and integration is underway. Given that 
the acquisition completed late in the year and was not part of 
the original financial plan on which bonus targets were set, the 
Committee determined that the impact of Mondo should be 
excluded from the calculation of outcomes. 

In terms of 2018 financial performance, Elementis delivered 
adjusted Group profit before tax $110.9m (excluding Mondo), 
which was below the challenging range of stretching profit 
targets set at the start of the year, but delivered well against 
the average trade working capital to sales ratio targets. In 
combination with delivering excellent progress against the 
strategic targets set at the start of the year this resulted in 
bonuses being earned at 35% of the maximum for the CEO and 
36% of the maximum for the CFO. The Committee believes that 
in a challenging external environment the Company has made 
substantial progress during the year and with Mondo performing 
in line with our expectations and its integration progressing well, 
is comfortable that the bonus out-turns are a fair reflection of the 
overall performance of the Executive Directors. Further details 
of the targets set for 2018 are disclosed on pages 84 to 86. 
The Committee has increased the detailed disclosure for 
non-financial targets following feedback from shareholders.

Long term incentive plan (lTIP)
The 2016 LTIP Awards will vest in early 2019 based on 
performance over the three years ended 31 December 2018.
The Company generated total shareholder returns over the 
period of 4.3% compared to 13.8% for the median performing 
company in the FTSE All-Share Index (excluding investment 
trusts) and, therefore, this portion of the award will not vest. 

The impact of the acquisition of Mondo has been excluded 
from the EPS calculation as the significant majority of the 
performance period had elapsed when the acquisition 
completed (33 months out of 36 months). Whilst the Reignite 
Growth strategy has strengthened our financial performance 
since its launch in 2017, given the challenges in 2016 and in 
combination with the wider economic climate since, the 
threshold EPS target has not been met and this portion of the 
award will also lapse. As a result none of the 2016 award will 
vest. Ralph Hewins received an award upon joining the 
company in lieu of share awards forfeited upon leaving his 
previous role. These were subject to the same conditions as 
the 2016 LTIP Award and as a result will also lapse in full. 

The Committee believes that the overall incentive out-turns 
detailed above are justified based on the Company’s 
performance over the whole period and demonstrates that the 
Committee has, and will continue to, set performance targets 
which it considers to be meaningful and appropriately stretching.

ACQUISITION OF MONDO 
In the lead up to the acquisition of Mondo, and in the period 
since, the Committee has considered the impact of the 
acquisition and the corresponding Rights Issue on 
remuneration. In order for outstanding share awards to have 
the same economic value before and after the Rights Issue, 
a standard economic formula has been used to adjust the 
number of shares, and where applicable the exercise price 
(e.g. options under the UK SAYE scheme).

The treatment of the acquisition with respect to the 2016 and 
2019 LTIP Awards is set out above and below respectively. With 
respect to the 2017 and 2018 LTIP Awards, the Committee has 
adjusted and increased the EPS targets to ensure that they 
remain similarly challenging having had regard to the acquisition 
of Mondo. 

APPLICATION OF REMUNERATION POLICY IN 2019
As detailed above, the current Policy and its application are 
considered to be working effectively therefore no material 
changes to the current application of Policy will take place in 
2019. The key points to note include:

Salary review: In line with the average increases awarded to 
the salaried workforce in the US and the UK, the salary of the 
CEO was increased by 3% to $899,746 and the CFO’s salary 
was increased by 2.9% to £354,439. These changes are 
effective from 1 January 2019. Ralph Hewins responsibilities 
have been extended from 1 January 2019 to include leadership 
of the Global IT function and the Digital implementation 
programme.

2019 annual bonus: There will be no change to the quantum 
and as such the CEO will have the opportunity to earn 150% of 
salary and the CFO 125% of salary. 

As for 2018, the bonus will be based 70% against a challenging 
range of financial targets (50% on adjusted Group profit before 
tax and 20% on average trade working capital to sales ratio 
(AWC) on total operations) and 30% based on the delivery of 
specific and measurable objectives that are related to the 
Company’s strategic priorities. 

Summary details of our approach to target setting are detailed 
on page 82 and full details of the financial target ranges and our 
performance against them will be disclosed on a retrospective 
basis in next year’s report.

In line with the 2018 Code, the Committee has discretion to 
modify the overall amount of bonus payable to ensure it is 
appropriate. 

2019 LTIP Awards: Awards will be granted subject to the 
same EPS and TSR performance conditions (split 50:50) as 
operated in 2018.

The range of EPS growth targets will be average annual EPS 
growth of 3% to 12% p.a. for vesting. Growth will be measured 
from the 2018 EPS result to the EPS achieved in 2021. The range 
has been increased from 3% to 10% to 3% to 12% and the base 
EPS will be increased to include an assumed full year of Mondo. 
The EPS calculation will include the contribution of Mondo to the 
Group performance over this time. The Committee considers 
this high growth range to be appropriately stretching in light of 
the progress made with our Reignite Growth strategy and 
current internal and broker forecasts.

TSR will continue to be assessed against the constituents of the 
FTSE All Share index (excluding investment trusts). Threshold 
vesting starting at 3.85% for median performance, increasing 
on a graduated basis with 100% vesting for achieving stretch 
targets, which for TSR will require at least upper quartile 
performance. 

The 2019 LTIP awards will be subject to a return on capital 
employed underpin. This will require the Committee to consider 
the vesting result determined based on the application of the 
EPS and TSR performance conditions in light of the return on 
capital employed achieved during the three year period ending 
31 December 2021. As part of this assessment the Board will 
take into account the guidance provided to shareholders in 
connection with the Mondo acquisition. This included the 
delivery of pre-Mondo rates of return from our capital employed 
during the 2019 LTIP performance period. If the Committee does 
not consider the vesting result appropriate in light of the return 
on capital employed achieved in this context, the underpin 
enables vesting to be reduced to a more appropriate level.

Non-Executive Directors’ fees: The Committee, following 
a recommendation by the Board, approved a policy in 2016 to 
increase the Chairman’s fee and the Non-Executive Directors’ 
basic and any additional role fees annually by the same 
percentage increase as the average UK salaried workforce for 
the year being reported. As such, the 2019 fees have been 
increased by 2.9%.

GOVERNANCE DEVELOPMENTS
As a Committee, we have also considered the impact of the 
changes to the Code which is effective on a comply or explain 
basis for the 2019 financial year and have assessed how we will 
embed the new and amended principles in respect of 
remuneration. 

79 

Elementis plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

STRATEGIC REPORTCORPORATE GOVERNANCEFINANCIAL STATEMENTSSHAREHOLDER INFORMATIONDIRECTORS’ REMUNERATION REPORT 
ANNUAL REPORT ON REMUNERATION

GENDER PAY GAP REPORTING
Whilst the Group has less than 250 employees in the UK and 
is therefore not required to report under the gender pay gap 
regulations, the Committee has had the opportunity to review 
the global analysis of overall gender pay gap and equity of role 
based pay at a country level. As a result of the analysis, actions 
are being taken to promote gender balance at senior levels and 
to address a small number of in role gaps where identified. The 
Board and the Committee will continue to monitor the situation 
going forward and were satisfied appropriate actions were 
being taken.

CONCLUDING REMARKS
The Committee believes that the Policy and our approach to 
implementation in both 2018 and 2019 are in the best interests of 
the Company and we hope that you will support the actions the 
Committee has taken by voting in favour at the 2019 AGM. If you 
have any concerns, please feel free to contact me via the 
Company Secretary at company.secretariat@elementis.com.

ANNUAL REPORT ON REMUNERATION (REPORT) 
This Report details how the Company’s policies and practices on Directors’ remuneration were applied in respect of the financial 
year ended 31 December 2018 and how they will be applied in the 2019 financial year. 

Our measures

ANNUAL BONUS

LTIP

Adjusted Group profit 
before tax: $110.9m (excluding Mondo)
Increase by 1% from 2017

Adjusted average trade working capital 
to sales ratio (AWC): 20.6%
Against target of 20.4%

Non-financial
Objectives aligned with Reignite Growth strategy 

Earnings per share (EPS): 16.9 cents
Down 11% over the three year period to 2018

Relative Total Shareholder Return (TSR):
TSR over the three year period to 31 December 
2018 was 4.3% which was below the median of 
the FTSE All-Share over this period

Strategic priorities

Pursue best growth 
opportunities

Pursue supply 
chain 
transformation

Innovate for high 
margins and 
distinctiveness

Create a culture of 
high performance

How our measures link to strategy

Performance metrics 

Bonus

Financial: (70%)

Adjusted Group profit before tax

Average trade working capital to sales ratio

Non-financial: (30%)

Safety, compliance and risk management

Strategic implementation

People

LTIP

EPS (50%)

Relative TSR versus FTSE All Share (50%)

Return on operating capital employed (underpin)

80 

Elementis plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

IMPLEMENTATION OF REMUNERATION POLICY FOR 2018
The section below summarises how the Policy was implemented in the financial year ending 31 December 2018. Further details are 
provided on pages 83 to 89. 

Key Policy features

Performance assessment

How we implemented in 2018?

Salary 
 − Increases normally guided by the general increase 
for the local workforce and/or broader workforce 
as a whole

Not applicable

Not applicable

Pension/ benefits/ all employee share schemes
 − Pension: CEO participates in US specific 

arrangements and receives a salary supplement 
of 20% of salary and the CFO receives a salary 
supplement of 25% of salary 

 − Directors receive market competitive benefits and 
may participate in all employee share schemes
 − The policy for new executives is to limit Company 

pension contributions to the rates currently provided 
to comparable roles in the organisation and, in all 
cases, to a maximum of 25% of salary

Paul Waterman 

Ralph Hewins 

2018 salary

£651,264*

£344,450 

*  Equivalent to $873,540

In line with the average increases awarded to 
the US and UK salaried workforce, the salaries 
of the CEO and CFO’s salary were both 
increased by 3%. These changes were effective 
from 1 January 2018.

Paul Waterman 

Ralph Hewins 

Pension

£182,793

£86,112

 − Implementation in line with the Policy

Annual bonus
 − Performance related 

scheme which delivers 
value for achievement 
against annual targets
 − Committee may adjust 

outturn where formulaic 
assessment is inconsistent 
with Company’s overall 
performance

 − 50% of bonus earned 
deferred into shares 
for two years

 − Recovery and withholding 

provisions apply

Long term incentive plan
 − Performance measures 

based on financial and/or 
relative TSR metrics and 
measured over three years

 − Committee may adjust 

outturn where formulaic 
assessment is inconsistent 
with Company’s overall 
performance

 − Holding period applies for 
two years following vesting
 − Recovery and withholding 

provisions apply

Share ownership 
guidelines
 − Build up and maintain a 
shareholding equal to 
200% of salary

Paul Waterman

Ralph Hewins

Paul Waterman 

Ralph Hewins 

2018 bonus

£352,171*

£159,497 

% deferred in 
shares until Q1 
2021

*  Equivalent to $472,367

50%

50%

Opportunity
PBT 
Payout

150% of salary  125% of salary 
$110.9m vs target of $115.2m
0% of maximum

AWC
Payout

20.6% vs target of 20.4%
45% of maximum

Non-financial

See pages 85 to 86

Payout

Total

87% of 
maximum 

35% of 
maximum

90% of 
maximum

36% of 
maximum

Further information can be found on 
pages 84 to 86.

Paul Waterman 

Ralph Hewins 

2016 LTIP 
vesting

£0 

£0 

Weighting

Ralph Hewins received an award of shares on 
joining. This award was subject to the same EPS 
and TSR performance conditions as those made 
in April 2016 to other participants of the 2016 
LTIP. As a result of not meeting performance 
conditions, these awards will lapse in full. 

Paul Waterman

Ralph Hewins

Guideline

200% of salary 200% of salary

Level

On track
110% of salary

On track
51% of salary

Average EPS 
growth

TSR vs FTSE All 
Share

50%

3% p.a.

50%

Median

Threshold target

Maximum target

10% p.a. Upper quartile

Actual

Vesting

0% p.a.

0%/50%

Below 
threshold

0%/50%

Further information can be found on 
pages 87 to 88.

 − Both the CEO and CFO increased their 

holdings during the year. Further information 
can be found on pages 88 to 89.

81 

Elementis plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

STRATEGIC REPORTCORPORATE GOVERNANCEFINANCIAL STATEMENTSSHAREHOLDER INFORMATIONDIRECTORS’ REMUNERATION REPORT 
ANNUAL REPORT ON REMUNERATION 
CONTINUED

IMPLEMENTATION OF REMUNERATION POLICY FOR 2019 
The section below summarises how the Committee intends to implement the Policy for the forthcoming financial year ending 
31 December 2019.

Key Policy features

2019 implementation

Salary
 − Level based on the scope and responsibilities of the role
 − Increases normally guided by the general increase for the 

local workforce and/or broader workforce as a whole

 − The Committee reviewed salaries and decided to award Paul 

Waterman and Ralph Hewins each a salary increase as shown in 
the table below, which is consistent with the average planned 
increase in 2019 for the respective US and UK salaried workforce.

Pension/ benefits/ all employee share schemes
 − Pension: CEO participates in US specific arrangements 
and receives a salary supplement of 20% of salary and 
the CFO receives a salary supplement of 25% of salary 
 − Directors receive market competitive benefits and may 

participate in all employee share schemes

Annual bonus
 − Policy maximum of 150% of salary for CEO and 125% 

of salary for CFO

 − Performance related scheme which delivers value for 

achievement against annual targets

 − Committee may adjust outturn where formulaic assessment 

is inconsistent with Company’s overall performance

 − 50% of bonus earned deferred into shares for two years
 − Recovery and withholding provisions apply

Link to KPIs
 − Adjusted Group PBT
 − AWC
 − Individual objectives linked to strategic priorities

Long term incentive plan
 − Policy maximum is 250% of salary 
 − Awards vest to the extent performance conditions 

are achieved

 − Performance measures based on financial and/or 

relative TSR metrics and measured over three years 
with a ROCE underpin

 − Committee may adjust outturn where formulaic assessment 

is inconsistent with Company’s overall performance
 − Holding period applies for two years following vesting
 − Recovery and withholding provisions apply
 − ROCE underpin introduced for the 2019 awards

Link to KPIs
 − EPS
 − Relative TSR
 − ROCE underpin

Paul Waterman 

Ralph Hewins 

Salary as at 1 January 18

Salary as at 1 January 19

2019 Increase

$873,540 

$899,746

(+3%)

£344,450 

£354,439

(+2.9%)

 − Implementation in line with the Policy and no change from 2018.

Opportunity

150% of salary 

125% of salary 

Paul Waterman

Ralph Hewins

Performance metrics:
 − Adjusted Group PBT: 50%
 − Average trade working capital to sales ratio: 20%
 − Non-financial individual strategic priorities: 30%
 − The Committee considers that the bonus targets are commercially 

sensitive and therefore plans to disclose them only on a 
retrospective basis in next year’s Directors’ remuneration report

LTIP Award

200% of salary 

175% of salary 

Paul Waterman

Ralph Hewins

Performance metrics:

EPS

Relative TSR vs 
FTSE all-share 
index

Weighting 

50%

Threshold  

target

3%

Threshold  
vesting

0%

Maximum  

target

12%

50%

Median

3.85%

Upper 
quartile

 − The range of EPS targets is considered to be appropriately 
demanding noting (i) that vesting takes place from 0% (as 
opposed to the market norm of 25%), (ii) base adjusted for full 
year of Mondo and (iii) the maximum target is increased to reflect 
the progress made with our Reignite Growth strategy and current 
internal and broker forecasts

82 

Elementis plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

Key Policy features

2019 implementation

Chair and NED fees
To attract individuals with the relevant skills, knowledge 
and experience that the Board considers necessary 
in order to maintain an optimal mix that ensures the 
effectiveness of the Board as a whole in carrying out 
its duties and responsibilities.

 − 2019 fees were increased in line with the average for the UK 

salaried workforce:

2019

2018

2019  

Increase

Basic fees
Chairman
Non-Executive Director

Additional fees
Senior Independent Director
Chair of Audit or Remuneration 
Committee

£190,856
£50,164

£185,470
£48,750

(+2.9%)
(+2.9%)

£8,716

£8,470

(+2.9%)

£8,716

£8,470

(+2.9%)

REMUNERATION PAYABLE TO DIRECTORS FOR 2018 (AUDITED)
Although the Company reports its results in US dollars, the remainder of this report on remuneration is presented in pounds sterling 
because the majority of the Directors are UK based and paid in pounds sterling.

A breakdown of the Directors’ emoluments for the year ended 31 December 2018 is set out in the table below.

£’000

Year

Salary/fees

Benefits

Pension

Sub-total

Bonus

LTIP

Other4

Sub-total

Total

Fixed

Performance related

Executive Directors
Paul Waterman, CEO1, 2

Ralph Hewins, CFO2, 3

Non-Executive Directors
Andrew Duff, Chairman

Sandra Boss5

Dorothee Deuring6

Steve Good

Anne Hyland

Nick Salmon

Former Directors

Andrew Christie7

Total

Total

2018
2017
2018
2017

2018
2017
2018
2017
2018
2017
2018
2017
2018
2017
2018
2017

2018

2017

2018

2017

651
660
344
334

185
180
49
43
49
39
57
53
57
56
57
56

–

18

1,449

1,439

43
68
25
25

183
169
86
84

–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–

–

–

–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–

–

–

68

93

269

253

877
897
455
443

185
180
49
43
49
39
57
53
57
56
57
56

–

18

1,786

1,785

352
948
159
405

–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–

–

–

511

1,353

–
–
–
–

–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–

–

–

–

–

–
694
–
140

352
1,642
159
545

1,229
2,539
614
988

–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–

–

–

–

834

–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–

–

–

185
180
49
43
49
39
57
53
57
56
57
56

–

18

511

2,187

2,297

3,972

1 

2 

 Paul Waterman is based in the US and paid in US dollars. He received an annual salary of $873k (2017: $848k). His pension comprises 20% of his salary and employer 
contributions to defined contribution pension schemes. Foreign exchange rate applied is the 2018 average rate of $1.3413:£1.00 (2017:$1.2858:£1.00). The 2018 bonus 
shown is equivalent to 52.5% of salary. 
 Taxable benefits for Paul Waterman consist of a car allowance, private health care, dental, life assurance, accidental death and disablement cover and long term 
disability insurance. Taxable benefits for Ralph Hewins consist of a car allowance, private health care and life assurance.

3  Ralph Hewins bonus 2018 shown is equivalent to 45% of salary.
4 

 As required by remuneration reporting regulations, the valuation of Paul Waterman’s other awards for 2018 (which related to a buyout award which vested on 7 March 
2018) has been restated using the actual share price of 310.5875 pence on the date of vesting and dividends paid that had been incurred during the period of grant of 
the award and the date of delivery. 

5  Sandra Boss was appointed as a Non-Executive Director on 1 February 2017.
6  Dorothee Deuring was appointed as a Non-Executive Director on 1 March 2017.
7  Andrew Christie stepped down as a Non-Executive Director on 25 April 2017.

83 

Elementis plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

STRATEGIC REPORTCORPORATE GOVERNANCEFINANCIAL STATEMENTSSHAREHOLDER INFORMATIONDIRECTORS’ REMUNERATION REPORT 
ANNUAL REPORT ON REMUNERATION 
CONTINUED

DETERMINATION OF ANNUAL BONUS OUTCOME FOR PERFORMANCE IN 2018 (AUDITED)
This section shows the performance targets set in respect of the 2018 annual bonus scheme, the level of performance achieved 
and the amount of bonus payable to Directors. The bonus targets were tested against the full year results and the full year bonus 
payment will be paid in Q1. Half of the amount vesting will be paid in cash and the other half paid in the form of a share award 
deferred for two years.

FY 2018 bonus plan targets

Percentage of salary vesting

Full year bonus

Maximum as % salary 
PBT ($ m)
AWC (%)
Non-financial 

Total full year

Relative 
weighting of 
performance 
conditions

50%
20%
30%

100%

Threshold

Plan

Stretch

Actual result

Percent of 
maximum

Paul Waterman 
CEO

Ralph Hewins 
CFO

115.2
22.4

120.4
20.4

132.4
18.4

110.9
20.6
n/a

0%
45%
n/a

150%
0%
13.5%
39.0%

52.5%

125%
0%
11.2%
33.8%

45.0%

CEO and CFO rewards scenario analysis 

CEO

£’000

3,500

3,000

2,500

2,000

1,500

1,000

500

0

£902

100%

Fixed

£3,250

41%

31%

28%

£2,076

32%

24%

43%

On target

Maximum

CFO

£’000

3,500

3,000

2,500

2,000

1,500

1,000

500

0

£1,000
32%
22%

46%

£1,531

41%

29%

30%

On target

Maximum

£468

100%

Fixed

Fixed

Annual bonus

LTIP

Fixed

Annual bonus

LTIP

The Committee exercised discretion to exclude the impact of the acquisition of Mondo from the calculation of financial performance 
(both for PBT and AWC) given it completed late in the year and it was not included in the financial plan upon which the targets had 
been set. 

In addition, the decisions during the year to rebuild chrome ore and zirconium stocks were also excluded from the calculation of 
AWC to ensure that the target remained aligned with the intent of the condition when originally set and reflecting the Committee’s 
policy that tactical operational decisions should not disadvantage or advantage participants in Group bonus schemes (in practice 
the impact on 2018 AWC improved from 20.9% to 20.6%). 

The above adjustments were made by the Committee to ensure that the condition was no more or less challenging than when 
initially set and the Committee was satisfied that the adjustments achieved this objective and provided a fair measure of the 
underlying performance during the year.

For the 2018 annual bonus challenging individual strategic objectives were established by the Committee for each Executive 
Director that reflected activities and initiatives intended to improve the performance of the Group. The objectives established and 
the assessment of performance is shown in the table below. The objectives were categorised into three groups – safety, 
compliance and risk management, strategic implementation and people with each group having a one-third weighting. 

The total bonuses were, therefore, at 35% of the maximum in the case of Paul Waterman which equates to 52.5% of salary and 36% 
of salary for Ralph Hewins which equates to 45% of salary.

The basis of determining the individual out-turn is summarised in the table on pages 85 and 86. 

 Achieved in full or predominantly achieved
 Partially achieved
 Not achieved

84 

Elementis plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

2018 bonus assessment for CEO 

Measure

Objectives

Objectives

SAFETY, 
COMPLIANCE 
AND RISK 
MANAGEMENT

To reduce the injury rate 

Performance indicators
Total recordable incident rate (TRIR) 
target of <0.87 with a threshold <0.97 
and stretch of <0.77

World class performance and best result in the 
history of Elementis. Evidenced by a TRIR of 
0.22 for 2018, significantly exceeding the stretch 
target of 0.77. This excellent result was 
supported by the implementation of the Enablon 
software platform for HSE management 
systems, ongoing safety leadership training and 
implementation of Elementis safety processes at 
SummitReheis sites in Germany and US

This objective was partially achieved and 
evidenced by: 
 − Total SummitReheis synergies of $3.2m 

delivered in 2018. Actions are in place for 
further delivery in 2019

 − Personal Care capital achievements included 
acquisition of new India site, investments in 
operational processes in the SummitReheis 
sites in Germany and US 

 − Personal Care innovation achievements 
included launching new Bentone® gel 
products which have a five year operating 
profit contribution

 − Strategic review of Dental business complete

This objective was fully met and is an excellent 
result evidenced by:
 − The Surfactants business was sold to Kolb 
Distribution AG for a cash consideration of 
€39m in February 2018. A supply agreement 
is in place with no operational issues raised

To deliver quality growth in 
Personal Care demonstrating the 
success of the SummitReheis 
integration 

Performance indicators
 − SummitReheis planned synergies 

delivered in 2018 with 2019 run rate 
actions in place

 − Progress key Personal Care capital 
and innovation pipeline projects to 
strengthen business as per plan
 − Complete strategic review of Dental 

business

Addressing disadvantaged assets

Performance indicators
 − Closure of Changxing site and transfer 

to Anji 

 − Complete sale of the Surfactants 

business with a supply agreement 

 − The Jersey City site was sold for $17m in 

 − Sale of Jersey City site

August 2018 

New Coatings operating model

Performance indicators 
 − Implement a new Global Coatings 

organisation 

 − Business development strategy for 
India and South East Asia agreed 
in H1 2018 

 − China resins strategy agreed in H1 
2018 with an implementation plan 
on schedule

Succession Planning to ELT

Performance indicators
Plan in place for each ELT role showing 
route to 33% diverse candidates within 
five years

 − Closure of Changxing site with activities 
transferred to Anji in November 2018

This objective was fully met and evidenced by: 
 − Global Coatings organisation in place led by 

Luc van Ravenstein and functioning well
 − Global Coatings transformation strategy in 

place and delivering benefits

 − Strategic development plan for India and 

South East Asia agreed by Board in H1 2018
 − Acquisition of new production facility in India 
and surrounding regions in December 2018.
 − China resins strategy review completed and 

implementation commenced in H1 2018

Excellent progress being made, this objective 
was partially achieved: 
 − Talent and succession plans in place for ELT
 − Talent plans reviewed and agreed with the 
Board including progress and plans on 
gender diversity

 − ELT and level below ELT roles require female 

candidate on external short lists

STRATEGIC 
IMPLEMENTATION
Actions to deliver 
‘Pursue best growth 
opportunities’ 
strategic priority

STRATEGIC 
IMPLEMENTATION 
Actions to deliver 
‘Pursue supply chain 
transformation’ 
strategic priority

STRATEGIC 
IMPLEMENTATION
Actions to deliver 
‘Pursue best growth 
opportunities’ 
strategic priority

PEOPLE
Actions to deliver 
‘Create a culture 
of high performance’ 
strategic priority

Summary 
scoring

10/10

8/10

8/10

85 

Elementis plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

STRATEGIC REPORTCORPORATE GOVERNANCEFINANCIAL STATEMENTSSHAREHOLDER INFORMATIONDIRECTORS’ REMUNERATION REPORT 
ANNUAL REPORT ON REMUNERATION 
CONTINUED

2018 bonus assessment for CFO 

Measure

Objective

Performance

SAFETY, 
COMPLIANCE 
AND RISK 
MANAGEMENT

To reduce the injury rate 

Performance indicators
Total recordable incident rate (TRIR) 
target of <0.87 with a threshold <0.97 
and stretch of <0.77

STRATEGIC 
IMPLEMENTATION
Actions to deliver 
‘Pursue best growth 
opportunities’ 
strategic priority

STRATEGIC 
IMPLEMENTATION 
Actions to deliver 
‘Pursue supply chain 
transformation’ 
strategic priority

To deliver quality growth in 
Personal Care demonstrating the 
success of the SummitReheis 
integration 

Performance indicators
 − SummitReheis planned synergies 

delivered in 2018 with 2019 run rate 
actions in place.

 − Progress key Personal Care capital 
and innovation pipeline projects to 
strengthen business as per plan
 − Complete strategic review of Dental 

business

Addressing disadvantaged assets

Performance indicators
 − Closure of Changxing site and transfer 

to Anji 

 − Complete sale of the Surfactants 

World class performance and best result in the 
history of Elementis. Evidenced by a TRIR of 
0.22 for 2018, significantly exceeding the stretch 
target of 0.77. This excellent result was 
supported by the implementation of the Enablon 
software platform for HSE management 
systems, ongoing safety leadership training and 
implementation of Elementis safety processes 
at SummitReheis sites in Germany and US.

This objective was partially achieved and 
evidenced by: 
 − Total SummitReheis synergies of $3.2m 

delivered in 2018. Actions are in place for 
further delivery in 2019

 − Personal Care capital achievements included 
acquisition of new India site, investments in 
operational processes in the SummitReheis 
sites in Germany and US 

 − Personal Care innovation achievements 
included launching new Bentone® gel 
products which have a five year operating 
profit contribution

 − Strategic review of Dental business complete

This objective was fully met and is an excellent 
result evidenced by:
 − The Surfactants business was sold to Kolb 
Distribution AG for a cash consideration of 
€39m in February 2018. A supply agreement 
is in place with no operational issues raised.

business with a supply agreement 

 − The Jersey City site was sold for $17m in 

 − Sale of Jersey City site

August 2018 

STRATEGIC 
IMPLEMENTATION
Actions to deliver 
‘Create a culture of 
high performance’ 
strategic priority

Finance function related

Pension review
Performance indicators 
Delivery of successful outcome of 
triennial pension review

Segmental reporting
Performance indicators 
Introduced in mid-2018 – includes the 
treatment of fixed costs with an 
accompanying investor relations plan 
well received by the external market

Group reporting capability

Performance indicators 
Strengthening of capability in Group 
reporting with well managed and timely 
mid and year end processes

PEOPLE
Actions to deliver 
‘Create a culture 
of high performance’ 
strategic priority

 − Closure of Changxing site with activities 
transferred to Anji in November 2018

This objective was achieved in full and 
evidenced by:
 − The pensions valuation and negotiations 

resulted in an agreement approved by the 
Board and signed with the Trustees resulting 
in zero cash contributions to the scheme over 
the next three years

 − New segment reporting approach was 

designed and executed for H1 2018 results 
and was smoothly received in the market

 − Positive investor feedback has been received 

on the increased transparency provided

This objective was achieved in full and 
evidenced by:
 − High quality appointments have been made 

to Group Tax, Accounting and Group 
Performance Management in time for the 
mid-year review. New processes and delivery 
of high quality reporting is in place

Summary 
scoring

10/10

 8/10

9/10

86 

Elementis plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

 
DIRECTORS’ SHARE BASED AWARDS
Determination of 2016 LTIP awards (audited)
The threshold EPS and TSR targets were not met and these awards will lapse in full for all participants including those of Paul 
Waterman. Ralph Hewins received an award of shares on joining. This award was subject to the same EPS and TSR performance 
conditions as those made in April 2016 to other participants of the 2016 LTIP and would have ordinarily vested in April 2019 and 
this award will also lapse in full. 

Annual LTIP awards granted in the year (audited) 
LTIP awards made in 2018 are set out in the table below and are subject to EPS and TSR performance conditions (split 50:50) over 
the three years to 31 December 2020 as shown in the table below.

Award holder

Paul 
Waterman

Ralph  
Hewins

Type of  
share award

Grant date

30.04.18

Nil cost 
(restricted 
stock unit)
Nil cost option 30.04.18

Number 
of awards1

483,127

Face value of 
award at grant 
(£’000s)2

1,266

229,983

603

Percentage that would vest 
at threshold performance

0% of the award 
subject to the EPS 
condition 
and
3.85% of the award 
subject to the TSR 
condition

The end date of 
the performance 
period

31.12.2020

A summary of performance 
targets and measures

Average annual EPS 
growth of 3% to 10% 
and 
TSR performance 
of median to upper 
quartile

1 

2 

 The original number of share awards at the date of grant was 442,135 for Paul Waterman and 210,470 for Ralph Hewins. The number of awards has been increased by 
a factor of 1.092715 following the Rights Issue to ensure that the participants are no better or worse off.
 The share price used to determine the number of awards granted was 286.40 pence, being the average mid-market closing share price on the dealing day preceding 
the date of grant. 

3  Details of deferred bonus and savings based share schemes are shown in the table overleaf.

SOURCING SHARES FOR OUR SHARE PLANS
Employee share plans comply with the Investment Association’s guidelines on dilution which provide that overall issuance of shares 
under all plans should not exceed an amount equivalent to 10% of the Company’s issued share capital over any ten year period, 
with a further limitation of 5% in any ten year period on discretionary plans. Based on the number of awards that remain outstanding 
as at the year end, the Company’s headroom for all plans is 3.65% and for discretionary plans 2.96% of issued share capital.

87 

Elementis plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

STRATEGIC REPORTCORPORATE GOVERNANCEFINANCIAL STATEMENTSSHAREHOLDER INFORMATIONDIRECTORS’ REMUNERATION REPORT 
ANNUAL REPORT ON REMUNERATION 
CONTINUED

DIRECTORS’ SCHEME INTERESTS (AUDITED) 
The interests of the persons who were Directors during the year in the issued shares of the Company were:

Interest 
type

Grant 
date

Option 
price 
(p)

01.01.18

Granted 
during 
2018

Exercised 
during 
2018 

Lapsed 
during 
2018 

Adjusted 
during 
20181

31.12.18

Vested but 
unexercised 
share 
options

Scheme interests

Executive 
Directors
Paul Waterman

Total scheme 
interests

Ralph Hewins

Total scheme 
interests

A
B
C
B
C
B

D
C
E
D
B
F
C
B
F

07.03.2016
04.04.2016
07.03.2017
03.04.2017
05.03.2018
30.04.2018

19.09.2016
07.03.2017
07.03.2017
07.03.2017
03.04.2017
05.09.2017
05.03.2018
30.04.2018
27.11.2018

–
–
–
–
–
–

225,645
487,816
43,953
469,024
–
–

–
–
–
–
145,988
442,135

206,177
–
–
–
–
–

19,468
–
–
–
–
–

–
45,227
4,075
43,485
13,535
40,992

–
533,043
48,028
512,509
159,523
483,127

1,226,438

588,123

206,177

19,468

147,314 1,736,230

–
–
–
–
–
226.63
–
–
163.91

240,693
6,535
15,977
84,434
202,366
7,942
–
–
–

–
–
–
–
–
–
66,919
210,470
10,981

557,947

288,370

–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–

–

–
–
–
–
–
7,942
–
–
–

22,315
605
1,481
7,828
18,762
–
6,204
19,513
–

263,008
7,140
17,458
92,262
221,128
–
73,123
229,983
10,981

–
–
–
–
–
–

Nil

–
–
–
92,262
–
–
–
–
–

7,942

76,708

915,083

92,262

Notes
1    The number of awards has been increased by a factor of 1.092715 following the Rights Issue to ensure that the participants are no better or worse off.
A   Replacement award structured as restricted stock units made under standalone arrangements that borrow terms from the LTIP as amended. Paul Waterman retained 

113,004 shares following the exercise and sale of options over 206,177 shares granted under tranche 2 of his buyout award granted under the LTIP at a price of 310.5875 
pence giving him a pre-tax gain of c.£640k.

B   LTIP awards are subject to performance conditions. The same EPS growth (annual growth of 3% to 10%) and relative TSR performance conditions apply in respect of the 

awards made in 2016, 2017 and 2018. These awards ordinarily vest on the third anniversary of the grant date and would expire on the tenth anniversary. Vesting 
conditions as set out on page 81.

C   Conditional share award under the Deferred Share Bonus Plan (DSBP). Structured as restricted stock units for Paul Waterman and nil cost options for Ralph Hewins.
D   Replacement awards structured as nil cost options made under standalone arrangements that borrow terms from the LTIP as amended. Vesting conditions for the 2017 

award as set out on page 87. The 2016 awards will lapse on 4 April 2019.

E   Replacement awards structured as nil cost options made under standalone arrangements that borrow terms from the DSBP as amended. 
F 

 Options held under the UK SAYE scheme. This is a savings based share option scheme that is not subject to performance conditions. Further details on this scheme is 
shown in Note 24 to the ‘consolidated financial statements’ on page 150.

88 

Elementis plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

DIRECTORS’ SHARE INTERESTS (AUDITED) 
The interests of the Directors (including any connected persons) during the year (and from the year end to 5 March 2019) in the 
issued shares of the Company were:

Executive Directors
Paul Waterman1
Ralph Hewins

Non-Executive Directors
Andrew Duff
Sandra Boss
Dorothee Deuring
Steve Good
Anne Hyland
Nick Salmon

Share interests

Acquired  
during
2018

Disposed  
during
2018

214,470
4,660

19,500
5,625
6,250
2,500
12,153
7,500

–
–

–
–
–
–
–
–

31.12.18

394,830
4,660

69,500
15,625
16,250
12,500
22,153
17,500

Shareholding  
level met as at
31.12.18

No2
No2

n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a

01.01.18

180,360
–

50,000
10,000
10,000
10,000
10,000
10,000

1 
2 

 Paul Waterman retained 113,004 shares following the exercise and sale of options over 206,177 shares granted under tranche 2 of his buy-out awards.
 As per the Policy, share awards vesting over time will contribute to meeting the shareholding level.

The market price of ordinary shares at 31 December 2018 was 182.1 pence (2017: 263.7 pence) and the range during 2018 was
166.1 pence to 288.8 pence (2017: 237.1 pence to 290.2 pence). These share prices have been rebased following the Rights Issue. 

As at 31 December 2018, the Trustee of the Company’s Employee Share Ownership Trust (ESOT) held 828,787 shares (2017: 
869,207). As Executive Directors, Paul Waterman and Ralph Hewins, as potential beneficiaries under the ESOT, are deemed to 
have an interest in any shares that become held in the ESOT.

As at 5 March 2019, no person who was then a Director had any interest in any derivative or other financial instrument relating to 
the Company’s shares and, so far as the Company is aware, none of their connected persons had such an interest. Between 
31 December 2018 and 5 March 2019 there was no change in the relevant interests of any such Directors nor, so far as the 
Company is aware, in the relevant interests of any of their connected persons.

Other than their service contracts, letters of appointment and letters of indemnity with the Company, none of the Directors had 
an interest in any contract of significance in relation to the business of the Company or its subsidiaries at any time during the 
financial year.

RETIREMENT BENEFITS
The table below shows the breakdown of the retirement benefits of the Executive Directors, comprising employer contributions to 
defined contribution plans and salary supplements paid in cash.

Paul Waterman received a salary supplement of 20% of his basic salary and participated in the defined contribution plans. 
Further detail can be found in the Policy. The amount shown in the table below represents employer matching contributions and 
both this and the salary supplement are included in the Directors’ emoluments table shown on page 83.

Ralph Hewins received a salary supplement of 25% of his basic salary in lieu of any other retirement benefit. The amount received 
is shown in the table below and in the Directors’ emoluments table.

DIRECTORS’ RETIREMENT BENEFITS (AUDITED)

Paul Waterman
Ralph Hewins

Defined contribution plans

Salary supplement

2018
£’000

58
n/a

2017
£’000

37
n/a

2018
£’000

125
86

2017
£’000

132
84

PAYMENTS TO PAST DIRECTORS/PAYMENTS FOR LOSS OF OFFICE (AUDITED)
There were no payments in the financial year. 

89 

Elementis plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

STRATEGIC REPORTCORPORATE GOVERNANCEFINANCIAL STATEMENTSSHAREHOLDER INFORMATIONDIRECTORS’ REMUNERATION REPORT 
ANNUAL REPORT ON REMUNERATION 
CONTINUED

TOTAL SHAREHOLDER RETURN PERFORMANCE AND CHANGE IN CEO’S PAY
The graph below illustrates the Company’s total shareholder return for the ten years ended 31 December 2018, relative to the
FTSE 250 Index, along with a table illustrating the change in CEO pay since 2009. The table also details the varying award vesting 
rates year on year for the annual bonus scheme and LTIP.

As the Company’s shares are denominated and listed in pence, the graph below looks at the total return to 31 December 2018 
of £100 invested in Elementis on 31 December 2008 compared with that of the total return of £100 invested in the FTSE 250 Index. 
This index was selected for the purpose of providing a relative comparison of performance because the Company is a member of it.

TSR performance (rebased to 100)

£

1,200

1,000

800

600

400

200

0

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

Elementis plc

FTSE 250 index

CEO pay (total remuneration – £’000s)
Annual bonus payout (% of maximum)
LTIP vesting (% of maximum)

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2,964
1,031
576
0% 100% 100%

2,252
56%
0% 100% 100% 100%

3,560
81%

88%

1,573
50%
65%

1,5531 2,539

763
1,229
0% 27.5% 93.0% 35.0%
0% 91.2%2 91.4%3
0%

Includes remuneration for Paul Waterman and David Dutro for the period in which each was CEO during 2016 as disclosed in the 2016 Annual Report.

1 
2  Relates to Paul Waterman’s buy-out awards which vested in March 2017.
3  Relates to Paul Waterman’s buy-out awards which vested in March 2018.

90 

Elementis plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

RELATIVE IMPORTANCE OF SPEND ON PAY
The table below shows the total remuneration paid across the Group together with the total dividends paid in respect of 2018 and 
the preceding financial year.

£m

Remuneration paid to all employees
(see Note 8 to the consolidated financial statements)1

Total dividends paid in the year2

2018

2017

Change

100.4

30.5

86.7

61.7

15.8%

(50.5)%

1  The amounts for 2018 and 2017 have been converted from dollars into pounds sterling using the average USD/GBP exchange rates for those years.
2  2017 includes a special dividend payment of $38.7m (£31.0m).

PERCENTAGE CHANGE IN CEO’S PAY
The table below shows the change from 2017 to 2018 of the CEO’s pay with regard to the three elements set out below and the 
corresponding change of these elements across all employees within the Group.

CEO pay (total remuneration)
All employees3

% Change from 2017 to 20181

Salaries

(1.3)%
1.9%

Benefits

(36.1)%
0.2%

Bonus2

(62.8)%
(61.1)%

1  All percentages are based on converting relevant local currencies into pounds sterling using the average rates for the respective year.
2  Change in bonus relates to payments in respect of the relevant financial years.
3  Excluding Mondo.

Relative importance of spend on pay 

Percentage change in CEO’s pay

%

+10%

0

-10%

-20%

-30%

-40%

-50%

-60%

-70%

+1.9%

+0.2%

-1.3%

-36.1%

-62.8% -61.1%

Salary

Benefits

Bonus

£m

120

100

80

60

40

20

0

+15.8%

-50.5%

Total dividends paid in the year

Remuneration paid to all emplyees

CEO

All employees

2017

2018

STATEMENT OF SHAREHOLDER VOTING
The resolution to approve the 2017 Directors’ remuneration policy and Directors’ Remuneration Report was passed on a poll at the 
Company’s last AGM held on 26 April 2018. Set out in the table below are the votes cast by proxy in respect of these resolutions.

2017 Directors’ remuneration report (2018 AGM)

2017 Directors’ remuneration policy (2018 AGM)

376,548,177

378,249,966

98.94

99.35

4,037,197

2,477,105

1.06

0.65

1,034,419

892,722

Votes for

% For

Votes against

% Against

Votes withheld

Votes withheld are not included in the final figures as they are not recognised as a vote in law.

OTHER INFORMATION ABOUT THE COMMITTEE’S MEMBERSHIP AND OPERATION
Committee composition
The Chairman and members of the Committee are shown on pages 62 to 63, together with their biographical information. Four 
meetings were held during 2018 and the attendance of Committee members are shown on page 78. The Chairman, CEO and other 
Non-Executive Directors who are not members of the Committee have a standing invite to attend and the CFO and CHRO also 
attend meetings by invitation, as appropriate. The Executive Directors are not present when their own remuneration arrangements 
are discussed or, if they are, they do not participate in the decision making process.

91 

Elementis plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

STRATEGIC REPORTCORPORATE GOVERNANCEFINANCIAL STATEMENTSSHAREHOLDER INFORMATIONDIRECTORS’ REMUNERATION REPORT
CONTINUED

Terms of reference
A full description of the Committee’s terms of reference is available on the Company’s website at www.elementisplc.com and the 
following is a summary of its responsibilities:
 − Determining the levels of remuneration for the Chairman and Executive Directors and keeping these under review.
 − Making awards under the annual bonus scheme and LTIP, including setting performance targets.
 − Monitoring and making recommendations on the design, structure and level of remuneration for all senior executives, ensuring 

that these are appropriately linked to the Group’s strategy and aligned with the Board’s risk profile.

Activities during the year

Committee meeting dates

February 2018

April 2018

July 2018 (additional meeting)

October 2018

December 2018

Agenda items

 − Remuneration policy – shareholder consultation progress update
 − Approval of new LTIP and Share Save rules prior to AGM
 − 2015 LTIP performance outcomes and 2018 LTIP targets/performance 

conditions

 − 2017 Bonus plan payments, deferred share awards and 2018 bonus 

plan targets

 − ELT salary review and bonus payments
 − Performance outcomes for Paul Waterman’s buy-out awards (tranche 2)
 − Approval of final draft of Directors’ remuneration report

 − 2018 LTIP awards following shareholder approval
 − Bonus plan – approval of individual objectives for Paul Waterman and 

Ralph Hewins

 − Impact of the acquisition of Mondo on share plans
 − Remuneration recommendations for Mondo senior executives and 

managers

 − ELT members – treatment of in-flight share awards on retirement

 − Impact of Rights Issue on EPS for 2016 to 2018 awards
 − EPS/TSR performance update for 2016 to 2018 awards
 − Impact of Mondo acquisition for EPS targets for 2016 to 2018 awards
 − Treatment of share awards for good leavers
 − Corporate governance update

 − Chairman’s remuneration review
 − 2019 salary reviews for Paul Waterman and Ralph Hewins
 − Annual bonus design 2018/19
 − New ELT members compensation packages
 − Corporate governance update

Evaluation, training and development
On an annual basis the Committee’s effectiveness is reviewed as part of the evaluation of the Board. Following the evaluation last 
year, there were no major issues to report.

During 2018, Committee members were updated on the latest developments on executive remuneration and all members received 
briefings from the Company Secretary and the Committee’s remuneration advisers throughout the year, to keep them updated on 
topical matters and developments relating to executive remuneration.

Remuneration advisers
Korn Ferry were appointed external advisers to the Committee with effect from April 2017. The Committee is satisfied that there 
was no over reliance on Korn Ferry and that advice received was independent and objective. Korn Ferry are a member of the 
Remuneration Consultants Group and voluntarily operate under the Code of Conduct. Fees paid to Korn Ferry for remuneration 
advisory services in 2018 were £63,558 (excluding VAT).

In addition to the remuneration advisory services provided by Korn Ferry, other teams also provided recruitment services. The 
Committee is comfortable that this does not impact the independence of the remuneration advice received given the nature of the 
other services provided and the internal protocols at Korn Ferry.

AUDITABLE SECTIONS OF THE DIRECTORS’ REMUNERATION REPORT
The sections of the Annual Report on Remuneration that are required to be audited by law are as follows: Remuneration payable 
to Directors for 2018 and Retirement benefits; and tables headed Annual LTIP awards granted in the year, Directors’ scheme 
interests, Directors’ share interests and Directors’ retirement benefits.

STEVE GOOD
CHAIRMAN, REMUNERATION COMMITTEE
5 March 2019

92 

Elementis plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

DIRECTORS’ REPORT 

REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
The Directors present their report and the audited financial 
statements of the Company and the Group for the year ended 
31 December 2018.

Directors and letters of appointment of the Non-Executive 
Directors are available for inspection at the Company’s 
registered office.

ADDITIONAL DISCLOSURE 
Other information that is relevant to this report and which is also 
incorporated by reference can be located as follows:

DIRECTORS’ CONFLICTS OF INTEREST
Ralph Hewins is in receipt of a conflict authorisation from the 
Company in respect of him acting as a trustee of the Elementis 
Group Pension Scheme.

Business model

Reignite Growth strategy

Indication of future developments 

Dividend

Results

Financial assets and liabilities 

Financial instruments 

Principal risks

R&D activities

People 

Greenhouse gas emissions

Going concern 

Viability statement 

Long term incentive plans 

Dividend waiver

Pages 18 to 19

Pages 20 to 29

Page 11

Page 39

Pages 36 to 41

Page 107

Pages 134 to 144

Pages 42 to 48

Pages 26 to 27

Pages 50 to 51

Page 57

Page 59

Page 59

Page 150 to 152

Page 93

The conflict authorisation enables Ralph Hewins to continue to 
act as a trustee notwithstanding that this role could give rise to 
a situation in which there is a conflict of interest. The Board 
considers that it is appropriate for the trustees of the UK pension 
scheme to benefit from the financial expertise of the CFO and that 
his contribution at trustees’ meetings demonstrates the Board’s 
commitment to supporting the UK pension scheme. The Board’s 
conflict authorisation is subject to annual review and, under the 
terms of the conflict resolution, reciprocal provisions have been 
put in place with a view to safeguarding information that is 
confidential to the Group as well as to the trustees. Were a 
conflict of interest to arise, Ralph Hewins is required to excuse 
himself from reading the relevant papers and absent himself from 
participating in relevant discussions. Procedures are in place to 
ensure compliance with the Companies Act 2006. These 
procedures have been complied with during the year. Details of 
any new conflicts or potential conflict matters are submitted to 
the Board for consideration and where appropriate are 
approved. Authorised conflicts and potential conflict matters 
are reviewed on an annual basis. 

The management report, for the purposes of the Listing Rules 
and Disclosure and Transparency Rules comprises the following 
sections: the Strategic report, this Directors’ report, the 
Directors’ responsibility statement and the biographical 
information on the Directors on pages 62 and 63.

DIRECTORS 
The current Directors and their biographical details are detailed 
on pages 62 and 63. There have been no changes to the 
Directors during 2018 and up to the date of this report. Detail of 
the change of the Company Secretary is set out below:

Name

Title 

Effective date

Laura Higgins

Wai Wong 

Company 
Secretary

Company 
Secretary 

Appointed 31 January 2018

Resigned 31 January 2018

The interests of Directors in the share capital of the Company 
are set out in the Directors’ remuneration report. There have 
been no changes in the interests of the Directors from 
31 December 2018 up until the date of this report.

DIRECTORS’ POWERS
The Directors’ powers are conferred on them by UK legislation 
and by the Company’s Articles of Association (Articles). The 
Articles may only be amended by special resolution of the 
Company at general meeting of its shareholders. 

APPOINTMENT AND REPLACEMENT OF DIRECTORS
The Articles give the Directors power to appoint and replace 
Directors. Under the terms of reference of the Nomination 
Committee, appointments are recommended by the Nomination 
Committee for approval by the Board. In line with the UK 
Corporate Governance Code, the Articles also require Directors 
to retire and submit themselves for election at the first annual 
general meeting (AGM) following appointment and to retire at 
each subsequent AGM and to submit themselves for re-election 
at the following AGM. The service contracts of the Executive 

DIRECTORS’ INDEMNITIES
In addition to the indemnity granted by the Company to 
Directors in respect of their liabilities incurred as a result of their 
office, a Directors’ and Officers’ liability insurance policy is 
maintained throughout the year. Neither the indemnity nor the 
insurance provides cover in the event that a Director has proven 
to have acted dishonestly or fraudulently. Similar arrangements 
also exist for Directors appointed to Group subsidiary entities.

SHARE CAPITAL STRUCTURE
The Company’s share capital consists of ordinary shares, as set 
out in Note 17 on page 133. All of the Company’s issued 
ordinary shares are fully paid up and rank equally in all respects. 

In October 2018, the Company undertook a one for four rights 
issue and 116,058,808 new ordinary shares of £0.05 each were 
issued as a result. The rights attaching to the ordinary shares 
are set out in the Articles.

The rights attached to the ordinary shares, in addition to those 
conferred on their holders by law, are set out in the Company’s 
Articles. Other than those specific provisions set out in the 
Articles, there are no restrictions on the transfer of ordinary 
shares or on the exercise of voting rights attached to them. 
From time to time the ESOT holds shares in the Company for 
the purposes of various share incentive plans and the rights 
attaching to them are exercised by independent trustees, who 
may take into account any recommendation by the Company. 
As at 31 December 2018 the ESOT held 828,787 shares in the 
Company (2017: 869,207). The ESOT took up all its rights in the 
recent Rights Issue. A dividend waiver is in place in respect of 
all shares that may become held by the Trust.

PURCHASE OF SHARES
The Board has the power conferred on it by shareholders to 
purchase its own shares and is seeking renewal of that power 
at the forthcoming AGM within the limits set out in the Notice 
of Meeting.

93 

Elementis plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

STRATEGIC REPORTCORPORATE GOVERNANCEFINANCIAL STATEMENTSSHAREHOLDER INFORMATIONDIRECTORS’ REPORT 
CONTINUED

SUBSTANTIAL SHAREHOLDERS
As at 31 December 2018 and 5 March 2019, the following 
interests in voting rights over the issued share capital of the 
Company had been notified.

Details of the resolutions to be proposed at the AGM are set out 
in the Notice of AGM which has been sent to shareholders and 
is available on the Elementis corporate website 
www.elementisplc.com.

Ameriprise Financial, Inc. 
and its group

APG Asset Management N.V.

FMR LLC

BlackRock, Inc.

Aberdeen Asset Managers 
Limited

Schroders plc

Ordinary shares

57,916,440

55,000,000

36,765,204

35,566,458

23,056,448

22,517,387

AXA Investment Managers S.A.

23,515,878

Percentage 
of issued 
share capital

9.98

9.48

7.92

6.12

4.97

4.91

4.05

GOING CONCERN AND VIABILITY STATEMENT
The Directors consider that the Group and the Company have 
adequate resources to remain in operation for the foreseeable 
future and have therefore continued to adopt the going concern 
basis in preparing the financial statements. The Code requires 
the Directors to assess and report on the prospects of the 
Group over a longer period. This longer term viability statement 
is set out on page 59.

SIGNIFICANT AGREEMENTS – CHANGE OF CONTROL
There are few significant agreements which the Company is 
party to that take effect, alter or terminate in the event of change 
of control of the Company. The Company is a guarantor under 
the Group’s $200m and €172m long term loans and $375m 
revolving credit facility and, in the event of a change of control, 
any lender among the facility syndicate, of which there are 12 
with commitments ranging from $25m to $93m, may withdraw 
from the facility and that lender’s participation in any loans 
drawn down are required to be repaid.

The rules of the Company’s various share incentive schemes set 
out the consequences of a change of control of the Company on 
the rights of the participants under those schemes. Under the 
rules of the respective schemes, participants would generally be 
able to exercise their options on a change of control, provided 
that the relevant performance conditions have been satisfied 
and, where relevant, options are not exchanged for new options 
granted by an acquiring company.

AUDITORS
Deloitte LLP were appointed the Company’s auditors by 
shareholders at the 2016 AGM and were re-appointed at both 
the 2017 and the 2018 AGM. A resolution is included in the 
Notice of Meeting for the 2019 AGM to re-appoint Deloitte LLP 
as auditors.

The Directors who held office at the date of approval of this 
Directors’ report confirm that, in so far as they are each aware, 
there is no relevant audit information of which the Company’s 
auditors are unaware; and each Director has taken all the steps 
that they ought to have taken as Directors to make themselves 
aware of any relevant audit information and to establish that the 
Company’s auditors are aware of that information.

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
The AGM of the Company will be held at 11.00 am on Tuesday 
30 April 2019 at the offices of Herbert Smith Freehills LLP, 
Exchange House, Primrose Street, London EC2A 2EG. 

EMPLOYMENT POLICIES AND EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES
Elementis policies seek to create a workplace that has an open 
atmosphere of trust, honesty and respect. Harassment or 
discrimination of any kind based on race, colour, religion, 
gender, age, national origin, citizenship, mental or physical 
disabilities, sexual orientation, veteran status, or any other 
similarly protected status is not tolerated. This principle applies 
to all aspects of employment, including recruitment and 
selection, training and development, promotion and retirement.

Employees are free to join a trade union or participate in 
collective bargaining arrangements.

It is also Group policy for employees who have a disability to 
reasonably accommodate them, where practicable, and to 
provide training, career development and promotion, as 
appropriate.

It is Group policy not to discriminate on the basis of any unlawful 
criteria and its practices include the prohibition on the use of 
child or forced labour.

Elementis supports the wider fundamental human rights of its 
employees worldwide, as well as those of our customers and 
suppliers, and further details are set out in the section on 
Resources and Relationships on pages 49 to 58.

EMPLOYEE COMMUNICATIONS AND INVOLVEMENT
The Company is committed to employee involvement throughout 
the business. Employees are kept informed of the performance 
and strategy of the Group via email. Telephone conference calls 
are held by the CEO to employees worldwide and these serve 
as an informal forum for employees to ask topical questions 
about the Group. Following the acquisition of Mondo, the CEO 
visited newly acquired sites to welcome employees to the Group. 

The Company operates savings based share option schemes 
in the US and UK to encourage and support employee share 
ownership.

POLITICAL DONATIONS
The Group made no political donations during the year 
(2017: nil).

BRANCHES
As a global Group, Elementis’ interests and activities are held or 
operated through subsidiaries, branches, joint arrangements or 
associates which are established in, and subject to the laws and 
regulations of, many different jurisdictions.

OTHER INFORMATION
Information about financial risk management and exposure to 
financial market risks are set out in Note 21 to the financial 
statements on pages 134 to 144.

EVENTS AFTER THE BALANCE SHEET DATE
There were no significant events after the balance sheet date.

On behalf of the Board.

LAURA HIGGINS
COMPANY SECRETARY
5 March 2019

94 

Elementis plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

DIRECTORS’ RESPONSIBILITIES

The Directors are responsible for preparing the Annual Report 
and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law 
and regulations.

Company law requires the Directors to prepare such financial 
statements for each financial year. Under that law the Directors 
are required to prepare the Group financial statements in 
accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards 
(IFRSs) as adopted by the European Union and Article 4 of the 
IAS Regulation and have also chosen to prepare the parent 
Company financial statements in accordance with Financial 
Reporting Standard 101 Reduced Disclosure Framework. 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 Company and of the profit or 
loss of the Company for that period. 

In preparing the parent Company financial statements, the 
directors are required to:
 − select suitable accounting policies and then apply them 

consistently;

DIRECTORS’ RESPONSIBILITY STATEMENT
We confirm that to the best of our knowledge:
 − the financial statements, prepared in accordance with the 
relevant financial reporting framework, give a true and fair 
view of the assets, liabilities, financial position and profit or 
loss of the Company and the undertakings included in the 
consolidation taken as a whole;

 − the strategic report includes a fair review of the development 

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

 − the Annual Report and financial statements, taken as a 

whole, are fair, balanced and understandable and provide 
the information necessary for shareholders to assess the 
Company’s position and performance, business model 
and strategy.

This responsibility statement was approved by the Board of 
Directors on 5 March 2019 and is signed on its behalf by.

 − make judgments and accounting estimates that are 

reasonable and prudent;

PAUL WATERMAN 
CEO 

RALPH HEWINS
CFO

 − state whether Financial Reporting Standard 101 Reduced 
Disclosure Framework has been followed, subject to any 
material departures disclosed and explained in the financial 
statements; and

 − prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis 
unless it is inappropriate to presume that the Company will 
continue in business.

In preparing the Group financial statements, International 
Accounting Standard 1 requires that Directors:
 − properly select and apply accounting policies;
 − present information, including accounting policies, in a 

manner that provides relevant, reliable, comparable and 
understandable information; 

 − provide additional disclosures when compliance with the 

specific requirements in IFRSs are insufficient to enable users 
to understand the impact of particular transactions, other 
events and conditions on the entity’s financial position and 
financial performance; and

 − make an assessment of the Company’s ability to continue as 

a going concern.

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 enable them to ensure 
that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 
2006. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets 
of the company 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 corporate and financial information included on the 
company’s website. Legislation in the United Kingdom 
governing the preparation and dissemination of financial 
statements may differ from legislation in other jurisdictions.

95 

Elementis plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

STRATEGIC REPORTCORPORATE GOVERNANCEFINANCIAL STATEMENTSSHAREHOLDER INFORMATION 
 
INDEPENDENT AUDITOR’S REPORT TO THE MEMBERS OF ELEMENTIS PLC

REPORT ON THE AUDIT OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Opinion
In our opinion:
 − the financial statements of Elementis plc (Parent Company) and its subsidiaries (Group) give a true and fair view of the state of 
the Group’s and of the Parent Company’s affairs as at 31 December 2018 and of the Group’s profit for the year then ended;
 − the Group financial statements have been properly prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards 

(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, including Financial Reporting Standard 101 “Reduced Disclosure Framework”; and

 − the financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 and, as regards 

the Group financial statements, Article 4 of the IAS Regulation.

We have audited the financial statements which comprise:
 − the Consolidated Income Statement;
 − the Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income;
 − the Consolidated Balance Sheet;
 − the Consolidated Statement of Changes in Equity;
 − the Consolidated Cash Flow Statement;
 − the Consolidated Financial Statement related Notes 1 to 32;
 − the Parent Company Balance Sheet;
 − the Parent Company Statement of Changes in Equity; and,
 − the Parent Company Statutory Accounts related Notes 1 to 11.

The financial reporting framework that has been applied in the preparation of the Group financial statements is applicable law and 
IFRSs as adopted by the European Union. The financial reporting framework that has been applied in the preparation of the Parent 
Company financial statements is applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards, including FRS 101 “Reduced 
Disclosure Framework” (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).

BASIS FOR OPINION
We conducted our audit in accordance with International Standards on Auditing (UK) (ISAs (UK)) and applicable law. Our 
responsibilities under those standards are further described in the auditor’s responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements 
section of our report. 

We are independent of the Group and the Parent Company in accordance with the ethical requirements that are relevant to our 
audit of the financial statements in the UK, including the Financial Reporting Council’s (FRC’s) Ethical Standard as applied to listed 
public interest entities, and we have fulfilled our other ethical responsibilities in accordance with these requirements. We confirm 
that the non-audit services prohibited by the FRC’s Ethical Standard were not provided to the Group or the Parent Company.

We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion.

96 

Elementis plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

SUMMARY OF OUR AUDIT APPROACH

Key audit matters

Materiality

Scoping

The key audit matters that we identified in the current year were:
 − Environmental provision
 − Acquisition accounting for Mondo Minerals Holdings B.V.
 − Revenue recognition

The materiality that we used for the Group financial statements was $5.3m which equates 
to 5.3% of profit before tax adjusted for the sale of operations, acquisition and restructuring costs, 
pension costs and other adjusting items.

We have performed full scope audits of four components, specified account balances on one 
component. Full scope audits and specified account balances comprised of 86% of the Group’s 
revenue and 88% of the Group’s profit before tax.

Significant changes in our 
approach

Following the announcement of the acquisition of Mondo Minerals Holdings B.V., we have 
identified a new key audit matter to report in respect of the acquisition accounting of Mondo 
Minerals Holdings B.V. and a new component consisting of Mondo Minerals.

We no longer consider the acquisition accounting of SummitReheis to be a key audit matter as 
the acquisition was completed in 2017.

CONCLUSIONS RELATING TO GOING CONCERN, PRINCIPAL RISKS AND VIABILITY STATEMENT

Going concern

We have reviewed the Directors’ statement in Note 1 to the financial statements about whether 
they considered it appropriate to adopt the going concern basis of accounting in preparing 
them and their identification of any material uncertainties to the Group’s and Company’s ability 
to continue to do so over a period of at least twelve months from the date of approval of the 
financial statements.

We confirm that we have 
nothing material to report, add 
or draw attention to in respect 
of these matters.

We considered as part of our risk assessment the nature of the Group, its business model and 
related risks including where relevant the impact of Brexit, the requirements of the applicable 
financial reporting framework and the system of internal control. We evaluated the Directors’ 
assessment of the Group’s ability to continue as a going concern, including challenging the 
underlying data and key assumptions used to make the assessment, and evaluated the 
Directors’ plans for future actions in relation to their going concern assessment.

We are required to state whether we have anything material to add or draw attention to in 
relation to that statement required by Listing Rule 9.8.6R(3) and report if the statement is 
materially inconsistent with our knowledge obtained in the audit.

Principal risks and viability statement

Based solely on reading the Directors’ statements and considering whether they were 
consistent with the knowledge we obtained in the course of the audit, including the knowledge 
obtained in the evaluation of the Directors’ assessment of the Group’s and the Company’s 
ability to continue as a going concern, we are required to state whether we have anything 
material to add or draw attention to in relation to:
 − the disclosures on pages 42 to 48 that describe the principal risks and explain how they are 

being managed or mitigated;

 − the Directors’ confirmation on page 59 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; or

 − the Directors’ explanation on page 59 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 are also required to report whether the Directors’ statement relating to the prospects of the 
Group required by Listing Rule 9.8.6R(3) is materially inconsistent with our knowledge obtained 
in the audit.

We confirm that we have 
nothing material to report, add 
or draw attention to in respect 
of these matters.

97 

Elementis plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

STRATEGIC REPORTCORPORATE GOVERNANCEFINANCIAL STATEMENTSSHAREHOLDER INFORMATIONINDEPENDENT AUDITOR’S REPORT TO THE MEMBERS OF ELEMENTIS PLC
CONTINUED

KEY AUDIT MATTERS
Key audit matters are those matters that, in our professional judgement, were of most significance in our 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) that we identified. These matters included 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 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.

Key observations
As a result of our work, 
we have concluded that 
the provisions held by 
Elementis in relation to 
environmental remediation 
and monitoring appear 
reasonable.

How the scope of our audit responded 
to the key audit matter
We have audited the assumptions used in 
management’s calculation of the provision. 
Our procedures included:
 − Holding discussions with management and 

the Group’s external environmental consultant 
on the identified environmental issues to 
confirm our understanding of the current 
situation and the process by which 
management and the external consultant 
prepared the cash flow forecasts;

 − Assessing the appropriateness of forecast of 
individual cost categories on each significant 
site selected for completeness testing through 
discussions with site managers at relevant 
locations; 

 − Engaging our internal valuation experts to 

challenge the appropriateness of the discount 
rates applied by comparison to our own 
internal benchmark data; 

 − Challenging the key assumptions and inputs 
to forecast the cash flows and agreeing the 
inputs to supporting documentation; 

 − Reviewing the previous estimates made of 
expected outflows to actual outflows to 
determine the reasonableness of the project 
spend; and 

 − Performing searches of external databases 
to determine completeness of the identified 
environmental issues and sites.

Environmental provision 

Key audit matter description
In line with other companies within chemical 
industry, Elementis holds provisions for the 
monitoring and remediation of a number of 
operating and legacy sites, including those 
sold off or no longer in use. In accordance 
with the Elementis’ environmental provision 
policy, a provision is recognised for the 
restoration of contaminated land.

As at 31 December 2018, Elementis has 
recognised a provision of $43.3m 
(31 December 2017: $27.8m) against these 
liabilities, of which the most significant two 
sites being Chromium UK site at Eaglescliffe 
and the Chromium US site at Corpus Christi. 
There has been an increase in the total 
provision required of $18.8m, which 
predominantly relates to these two sites and is 
due to reassessment of the future forecast 
cash expenditure required. 

There is uncertainty in this provision relating 
to the estimated future cash expenditure to 
remediate the two sites and the discount rate 
applied in the calculation; given the long time 
horizons over which costs for these two sites 
are anticipated, small changes in annual cash 
outflows can have a significant cumulative 
impact on the total provision required. The 
cash flow is estimated and calculated by an 
external environmental consultant and by 
management. These cash flows are then 
discounted at the management determined 
discount rate. Due to the judgemental and 
material nature of estimation of such forecast 
spending, we have considered the valuation 
of the provision on these two sites to be a key 
audit matter.

The Group’s accounting policy is included 
within Note 1 to the consolidated financial 
statements where this is also included as a 
critical accounting judgement. There is 
additional disclosure included within Note 15. 
The Audit Committee discussion is included 
on page 74.

98 

Elementis plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

Acquisition accounting for Mondo Minerals Holdings B.V.

Key audit matter description
In October 2018, Elementis acquired 100% of 
the share capital of Mondo Minerals Holding B.V. 
for consideration of $546.9m, which includes 
contingent consideration of $22.3m. The 
acquisition meets the definition of a business 
combination and is therefore required to be 
accounted for under IFRS 3 “Business 
Combination”. 

Management commissioned an independent 
valuation expert to assist with the identification 
and valuation of separate assets (including 
intangible assets) and liabilities. The 
acquisition of Mondo Minerals Holding B.V. 
resulted in the identification and recognition of 
goodwill of $200.5m and other intangible 
assets of $88.3m.

Accounting for business combinations is 
complex and requires the recognition of both 
consideration paid and acquired assets and 
liabilities at the acquisition date at fair values, 
which can involve significant judgement and 
estimates. These comprise the identification 
and valuation of intangible assets acquired 
in business combinations, including key 
assumptions such as the discount rates and 
growth rates of separately identifiable 
intangible assets, as well as the valuation of 
fair value attributed to the deferred contingent 
consideration.

The Group’s accounting policy is included 
within Note 1 to the consolidated financial 
statements where this is also included as 
a critical accounting judgement. These 
significant judgement areas are also referred to 
within the Audit Committee report on page 74. 
Further details are disclosed in Note 10 and 
Note 31.

Revenue recognition

Key audit matter description
At the year end, there are varying adjustments 
required for goods which have been 
despatched but not met the definition for 
transferring control of the goods to the 
customer in line with IFRS 15. Management 
have determined the point at which control 
passes based on different shipping terms and 
the key judgement relates to the assumptions 
around the delivery times to this point. The 
Group trades globally and a change in the 
number of days assumed for these shipments 
can have a material impact on the cut-off 
adjustment. Given the level of management 
judgement involved, we identified this key 
audit matter as a potential fraud risk. 

The accounting policy is described in Note 1 
where this is also included as a critical 
accounting judgement. These significant 
judgement areas are also referred to within 
the Audit Committee report on page 74.

99 

Elementis plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

Key observations
Based on the work 
performed above, we are 
satisfied that the acquisition of 
Mondo Minerals Holding B.V. 
has been appropriately 
accounted for in accordance 
with IFRS 3 “Business 
Combinations” and that the 
deferred contingent 
consideration is appropriate.

How the scope of our audit responded 
to the key audit matter
Our procedures included:
 − Reviewing the relevant sale and purchase 

agreement;

 − Testing the cash value of consideration to 
relevant transaction agreements and bank 
statements; 

 − Challenging management’s estimates used 
in the valuation of the deferred contingent 
consideration, including estimating our own 
range of acceptable values; 

 − Reviewing the process that management had 
undertaken to determine the fair value of the 
business acquired including the fair value of 
the intangible assets; 

 − Engaging Deloitte internal valuation specialists 
to review and challenge the identification of 
intangible assets, the appropriateness of the 
valuation techniques used and benchmark the 
reasonableness of the key assumptions used, 
such as discount rates, useful economic lives 
and growth rates; 

 − Evaluating the information supporting the 

valuation model, contingent consideration and 
assumptions, for example, the operating profit 
forecasts and churn assumptions used in the 
fair value analysis; and,

 − Reviewing the adequacy of disclosures 

regarding the key judgements made and 
assets and liabilities acquired. 

Key observations
From the work performed, 
we have noted no material 
misstatements and have 
concluded that management 
have completed appropriate 
cut-off adjustments at the 
year end to take into account 
those sales where control 
has not transferred.

How the scope of our audit responded 
to the key audit matter
Our procedures included:
 − Reviewing and assessing commercial 
arrangements covering shipments, to 
determine the correct point of revenue 
recognition for different shipment 
arrangements and agreements with 
customers;

 − Assessing management’s revenue policy 

as a result of the implementation of IFRS 15;
 − Selecting a sample of international shipments 

made pre-year end for time periods varying by 
destination port and therefore transit time for 
shipments and agreed these to customer 
order, shipment and invoice details, cash 
receipts and goods receipt notes; 

 − Challenging management’s assumptions used 
in their cut-off calculation for reasonableness 
and consistency by substantive testing of 
international shipments; and

 − Substantively tested credit notes raised post 

year end to determine if revenue was 
inappropriately recognised in the year.

STRATEGIC REPORTCORPORATE GOVERNANCEFINANCIAL STATEMENTSSHAREHOLDER INFORMATIONINDEPENDENT AUDITOR’S REPORT TO THE MEMBERS OF ELEMENTIS PLC
CONTINUED

OUR APPLICATION OF MATERIALITY
We define materiality as the magnitude of misstatement in the financial statements that makes it probable that the economic 
decisions of a reasonably knowledgeable person would be changed or influenced. We use materiality both in planning the scope 
of our audit work and in evaluating the results of our work. 

Based on our professional judgement, we determined materiality for the financial statements as a whole as follows:

Materiality

$5.3m (2017: $5.0m)

$2.1m (2017: $2.5m)

Group financial statements

Parent Company financial statements

Basis for determining 
materiality

Rationale for the 
benchmark applied

A factor of 3% of net assets was used capped 
to an appropriate component materiality 40% 
(2017: 50%) of Group materiality.

We have used net assets in determining 
materiality as we believe this is an appropriate 
basis for materiality as it reflects the nature of 
the parent company as a holding company 
and its contribution to the Group performance. 

Materiality was set on the basis of 5.3% of 
profit before tax, adjusted for the sale of 
operations, acquisition and restructuring 
costs, pension costs and other adjusting 
items with the exception of amortisation of 
intangible assets. 

In the prior year, materiality was set on the 
basis of 4.8% of profit before tax, adjusted for 
discontinued operations, acquisition and 
restructuring costs and other adjusting items.

We have used adjusted profit before tax as 
we consider this to be a key performance 
measure for the Group. This metric is 
important to users of the financial statements 
(investors and analysts being the key users for 
a listed entity) because it portrays the 
performance of the business and hence its 
ability to pay a return on investment to the 
investors and also has substantial prominence 
in the Annual Report. Our rationale for 
excluding acquisition, restructuring and other 
adjusting items is that these are one off costs 
and are routinely added back by analysts in 
analysing company performance.

We agreed with the Audit Committee that we would report to the Committee all audit differences in excess of $265 thousand 
(2017: $250 thousand) for the Group, as well as differences below that threshold that, in our view, warranted reporting on qualitative 
grounds. We also report to the Audit Committee on disclosure matters that we identified when assessing the overall presentation 
of the financial statements.

100  Elementis plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

AN OVERVIEW OF THE SCOPE OF OUR AUDIT
Our Group audit was scoped by obtaining an understanding of the Group and its environment, including Group-wide controls, 
and assessing the risks of material misstatement at the Group level.

The scope of our 2018 audit included an additional component due to the Mondo Mineral Holdings B.V. acquisition, which offset 
the removal of the Netherlands Surfactants operations that was disposed of in February 2018 and the amalgamation of the 
SummitReheis operations in the US into the Personal Care, Coatings and Energy (Specialty products) operations in the US. There 
are five components for the 2018 year end, of which, four are significant to the Group:
 − the Specialty products operations in the US, 
 − the Chromium operations in the US;
 − the Specialty products operations in the UK; and,
 − the Specialty products operations in Taiwan, including the Chinese operations. 

These four locations were subject to full scope audits, which were performed by local component auditors under the direction and 
supervision of the Group audit team, except the Speciality UK operations where the Group audit team performed the audit without 
the involvement of a component team. In addition, Mondo Mineral Holdings B.V. was subject to the audit of specified account 
balances performed by local component teams in the Netherlands and Finland, as this was only acquired on the 23 October 2018.

Our audit work on the five components was executed at levels of materiality applicable to each individual entity which were lower 
than Group materiality and ranged from $2.1m to $3.7m (2017: $2.5m to $2.8m).

The in-scope locations (those at which a full scope audit or audit of specified balances were performed) represent the principal 
business units within the Group’s operating divisions and account for 86% (2017: 93%) of the Group’s revenue and 88% (2017: 99%) 
of the Group’s profit before tax.

Full scope audit 

Audit of specified account balances 

Review at Group level 

Revenue 

Profit before tax

83%

3%

14%

86%

2%

12%

At the parent entity level we also tested the consolidation process and carried out analytical procedures to confirm our conclusion 
that there were no significant risks of material misstatement of the aggregated financial information of the remaining components 
not subject to audit or audit of specified account balances. The parent company is located in the UK and is audited directly by the 
Group audit team.

As part of the audit process, the senior members, including the Group Audit Partner, of the audit team visited all of the locations 
subject to full scope audit procedures or the audit of specified account balances (2017: six of seven) set out above. During our 
visits, we attended key meetings with component management and auditors, and reviewed detailed component audit work papers.

In addition to the planned programme of visits, planning meetings were held with key component audit teams. The purpose of 
these planning meetings was to ensure a good level of understanding of the Group’s businesses, its core strategy and a 
discussion of the significant risks.

We also send detailed instructions to our component auditors, include them our team briefing, discuss their risk assessment, and 
review documentation of the findings from their work. We also provided direction on enquiries made by the component auditors 
through online and telephone conversations. All the findings noted were discussed with the component auditor in detail and further 
procedures to be performed were issued where relevant.

101  Elementis plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

STRATEGIC REPORTCORPORATE GOVERNANCEFINANCIAL STATEMENTSSHAREHOLDER INFORMATIONINDEPENDENT AUDITOR’S REPORT TO THE MEMBERS OF ELEMENTIS PLC
CONTINUED

OTHER INFORMATION
The Directors are responsible for the other information. The other information comprises the information included in the annual 
report, other than the financial statements and our auditor’s report thereon.

Our opinion on the financial statements does not cover the other information and, except to the extent otherwise explicitly stated 
in our report, we do not express any form of assurance conclusion 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 such material inconsistencies or apparent material misstatements, we are required to determine whether there is 
a material misstatement in 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.

In this context, matters that we are specifically required to report to you as uncorrected material misstatements of the other 
information include where we conclude that:
 − Fair, balanced and understandable – the statement given by the Directors that they consider the annual report and financial 
statements taken as a whole is fair, balanced and understandable and provides the information necessary for shareholders 
to assess the Group’s position and performance, business model and strategy, is materially inconsistent with our knowledge 
obtained in the audit; or

 − Audit Committee reporting – the section describing the work of the Audit Committee does not appropriately address matters 

communicated by us to the Audit Committee; or

 − Directors’ statement of compliance with the UK Corporate Governance Code – the parts of the Directors’ statement required 
under the Listing Rules relating to the Company’s compliance with the UK Corporate Governance Code containing provisions 
specified for review by the auditor in accordance with Listing Rule 9.8.10R(2) do not properly disclose a departure from a 
relevant provision of the UK Corporate Governance Code.

We have nothing to report in respect of these matters.

RESPONSIBILITIES OF DIRECTORS
As explained more fully in the Directors’ responsibilities statement, the Directors are responsible for the preparation of the financial 
statements and for being satisfied that they give a true and fair view, and for such internal control as the Directors 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.

102  Elementis plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

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 auditor’s 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.

Details of the extent to which the audit was considered capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud are set out below.

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.

EXTENT TO WHICH THE AUDIT WAS CONSIDERED CAPABLE OF DETECTING IRREGULARITIES, INCLUDING FRAUD
We identify and assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to fraud or error, and then design 
and perform audit procedures responsive to those risks, including obtaining audit evidence that is sufficient and appropriate to 
provide a basis for our opinion.

Identifying and assessing potential risks related to irregularities
In identifying and assessing risks of material misstatement in respect of irregularities, including fraud and non-compliance with 
laws and regulations, our procedures included the following:
 − enquiring of management, internal audit, and the Audit Committee, including obtaining and reviewing supporting documentation, 

concerning the Group’s policies and procedures relating to:
 − identifying, evaluating and complying with laws and regulations and whether they were aware of any instances of 

non-compliance;

 − detecting and responding to the risks of fraud and whether they have knowledge of any actual, suspected or alleged;
 − the internal controls established to mitigate risks related to fraud or non-compliance with laws and regulations;

 − discussing among the engagement team including significant component audit teams and involving relevant internal specialists, 
including tax, valuations, pensions, and IT specialists regarding how and where fraud might occur in the financial statements and 
any potential indicators of fraud. As part of this discussion, we identified potential for fraud in the following areas: posting of 
spurious journal entries and manually manipulating revenue to meet targets; and

 − obtaining an understanding of the legal and regulatory frameworks that the Group operates in, focusing on those laws and 

regulations that had a direct effect on the financial statements. The key laws and regulations we considered in this context included 
the UK Companies Act, Listing Rules, pensions legislation and tax legislation. In addition to those laws and regulations having a 
direct effect, considering the nature of the Group’s activities, we considered environmental regulations as having a fundamental 
effect on the operations of the Group.

Audit response to risks identified
As a result of performing the above, we identified “revenue recognition” and “environmental provision” as key audit matters. The 
key audit matters section of our report explains the matters in more detail and describes the specific procedures we performed 
in response to this key audit matters.

In addition, to the above, our procedures to respond to risks identified included the following:
 − reviewing the financial statement disclosures and testing to supporting documentation to assess compliance with relevant laws 

and regulations discussed above;

 − enquiring of management, the Audit Committee and in-house legal counsel concerning actual and potential litigation and claims;
 − performing analytical procedures to identify any unusual or unexpected relationships that may indicate risks of material 

misstatement due to fraud;

 − reading minutes of meetings of those charged with governance, reviewing internal audit reports and reviewing correspondence 

with HMRC; and

 − in addressing the risk of fraud through management override of controls, testing the appropriateness of journal entries and other 
adjustments; assessing whether the judgements made in making accounting estimates are indicative of a potential bias; and 
evaluating the business rationale of any significant transactions that are unusual or outside the normal course of business.

We also communicated relevant identified laws and regulations and potential fraud risks to all engagement team members including 
internal specialists and significant component audit teams, and remained alert to any indications of fraud or non-compliance with 
laws and regulations throughout the audit.

103  Elementis plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

STRATEGIC REPORTCORPORATE GOVERNANCEFINANCIAL STATEMENTSSHAREHOLDER INFORMATIONINDEPENDENT AUDITOR’S REPORT TO THE MEMBERS OF ELEMENTIS PLC
CONTINUED

REPORT ON OTHER LEGAL AND REGULATORY REQUIREMENTS
Opinions on other matters prescribed by the Companies Act 2006
In our opinion the part of the Directors’ Remuneration Report to be audited has been properly prepared in accordance with the 
Companies Act 2006.

In our opinion, based on the work undertaken in the course of the audit:
 − the information given in the Strategic Report and the Directors’ Report for the financial year for which the financial statements are 

prepared is consistent with the financial statements; and

 − the strategic report and the Directors’ Report have been prepared in accordance with applicable legal requirements.

In the light of the knowledge and understanding of the Group and of the parent company and their environment obtained in the 
course of the audit, we have not identified any material misstatements in the strategic report or the Directors’ Report.

MATTERS ON WHICH WE ARE REQUIRED TO REPORT BY EXCEPTION
Adequacy of explanations received and accounting records
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

 − the Parent Company financial statements are not in agreement with the accounting records and returns.

We have nothing to report in respect of these matters.

DIRECTORS’ REMUNERATION
Under the Companies Act 2006 we are also required to report if in our opinion certain disclosures of Directors’ remuneration have 
not been made or the part of the Directors’ Remuneration Report to be audited is not in agreement with the accounting records 
and returns.

We have nothing to report in respect of these matters.

OTHER MATTERS
Auditor tenure
Following the recommendation of the Audit Committee, we were appointed by the Board on 27 April 2016 to audit the financial 
statements for the year ending 31 December 2016 and subsequent financial periods. The period of total uninterrupted engagement 
including previous renewals and reappointments of the firm is three years, covering the years ending 31 December 2016 to 
31 December 2018.

Consistency of the audit report with the additional report to the Audit Committee
Our audit opinion is consistent with the additional report to the Audit Committee we are required to provide in accordance with 
ISAs (UK).

USE OF OUR REPORT
This report is made solely to the Company’s members, as a body, in accordance with Chapter 3 of Part 16 of the Companies Act 
2006. Our audit work has been undertaken so that we might state to the Company’s members those matters we are required to 
state to them in an auditor’s report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent permitted by law, we do not accept or assume 
responsibility to anyone other than the company and the company’s members as a body, for our audit work, for this report, or for 
the opinions we have formed.

CHRISTOPHER POWELL, FCA, 
(SENIOR STATUTORY AUDITOR)
For and on behalf of Deloitte LLP
Statutory Auditor
London, United Kingdom
5 March 2019

104  Elementis plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

In this section:

106 Consolidated Income Statements
106 Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income
107 Consolidated Balance Sheet
108 Consolidated Statement of Changes in Equity
109 Consolidated Cash Flow Statement
110  Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
156 Parent Company Statutory Accounts
158 Notes to the Company Financial Statements
164 Unaudited Pro Forma Information

105  Elementis plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

STRATEGIC REPORTCORPORATE GOVERNANCEFINANCIAL STATEMENTSSHAREHOLDER INFORMATIONCONSOLIDATED INCOME STATEMENT
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2018

Revenue
Cost of sales

Gross profit
Distribution costs
Administrative expenses
Net impairment losses on financial assets

Operating profit

Other expenses1

Finance income
Finance costs

Profit before income tax
Tax

Profit from continuing operations

Profit/(loss) from discontinued operations

Profit for the year

Attributable to:
Equity holders of the parent

Earnings per share

From continuing operations
Basic (cents)2
Diluted (cents)2

From continuing and discontinued operations

Basic (cents)2
Diluted (cents)2

Note

2 

2

3
4

6

32

9
9

9
9

1  Other expenses comprises administration expenses for the Group’s pension schemes. 
2  2017 earnings per share amounts rebased to reflect adjustments associated with the rights issue (see Note 9).

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME 
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2018

Profit for the year

Other comprehensive income:
Items that will not be reclassified subsequently to profit and loss:
  Remeasurements of retirement benefit obligations
  Deferred tax associated with retirement benefit obligations

Items that may be reclassified subsequently to profit and loss:
  Exchange differences on translation of foreign operations
  Effective portion of change in fair value of net investment hedge
  Recycling of deferred foreign exchange losses on disposal
  Effective portion of changes in fair value of cash flow hedges
  Fair value of cash flow hedges transferred to income statement

Income tax effect

  Exchange differences on translation of share options reserves

Other comprehensive income

Total comprehensive income for the year

Attributable to:
Equity holders of the parent

Total comprehensive income for the year

106  Elementis plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

2018
$m

822.2
(516.6)

305.6
(111.6)
(109.0)
(0.1)

84.9

(1.6)

0.3
(18.2)

65.4
(15.6)

49.8

(8.4)

41.4

41.4

41.4

9.5
9.5

7.9
7.9

2018
$m

41.4

5.3
0.7

0.5
(20.5)
4.2
1.4
(0.1)
–
(0.4)

(8.9)

32.5

32.5

32.5

2017
$m

782.7
(487.6)

295.1
(98.0)
(105.6)
(0.1)

91.4

(1.2)

0.2
(11.9)

78.5
34.2

112.7

4.9

117.6

117.6

117.6

22.3
22.0

23.3
23.0

2017
$m

117.6

18.1
(7.3)

(0.2)
22.9
–
0.1
0.3
–
0.1

34.0

151.6

151.6

151.6

 
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET
AS AT 31 DECEMBER 2018

Non-current assets
Goodwill and other intangible assets
Property, plant and equipment
ACT recoverable
Deferred tax assets

Total non-current assets

Current assets
Inventories
Trade and other receivables
Derivatives
Current tax assets
Cash and cash equivalents

Total current assets

Assets classified as held for sale

Total assets

Current liabilities
Bank overdrafts and loans
Trade and other payables
Financial liabilities
Current tax liabilities
Provisions

Total current liabilities

Non-current liabilities
Loans and borrowings
Retirement benefit obligations
Deferred tax liabilities
Provisions
Financial liabilities

Total non-current liabilities

Liabilities classified as held for sale

Total liabilities

Net assets

Equity
Share capital
Share premium
Other reserves
Retained earnings

Total equity attributable to equity holders of the parent

 2018
31 December
$m

 2017
31 December
$m

Note

10
11
16
16

12
13
21

20

32

19
14
31

15

19
23
16
15
31

32

17

18

976.6
478.2
9.8
24.4

1,489.0

188.7
139.4
2.0
3.0
96.1

429.2

–

717.2
219.5
16.2
0.2

953.1

143.6
124.6
0.9
4.3
55.0

328.4

58.2

1,918.2

1,339.7

(2.8)
(140.6)
(0.1)
(17.1)
(7.3)

(167.9)

(591.4)
(9.9)
(151.7)
(41.5)
(40.2)

(834.7)

–

(1,002.6)

915.6

52.1
237.6
85.5
540.4

915.6

(2.7)
(117.7)
–
(14.1)
(10.8)

(145.3)

(343.4)
(10.5)
(93.4)
(21.9)
–

(469.2)

(22.9)

(637.4)

702.3

44.4
21.9
99.0
537.0

702.3

Total equity

915.6

702.3

The financial statements on pages 106 to 155 were approved by the Board on 5 March 2019 and signed on its behalf by:

PAUL WATERMAN 
CEO 

RALPH HEWINS
CFO

107  Elementis plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

STRATEGIC REPORTCORPORATE GOVERNANCEFINANCIAL STATEMENTSSHAREHOLDER INFORMATION 
 
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN EQUITY
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2018

Balance at 1 January 2017

Comprehensive income
Profit for the year
Other comprehensive income
Exchange differences
Fair value of cash flow hedges transferred  
to the income statement
Effective portion of changes in fair value  
of cash flow hedges
Remeasurements of retirement benefit obligations
Deferred tax adjustment on pension scheme deficit
Transfer

Total other comprehensive income

Total comprehensive income

Transactions with owners
Purchase of own shares
Issue of shares by the Company 
Share based payments
Dividends paid

Total transactions with owners

Share  
capital  

$m

44.4

Share  
premium  

$

20.9

Translation 
reserve
$m

Hedging 
reserve
 $m

Other  
reserves 
 $m

Retained 
earnings
$m

(79.9)

(7.3)

162.4

486.6

Total
equity
$m

627.1

–

–

–

–
–
–
–

–

–

–
–
–
–

–

–

–

–

–
–
–
–

–

–

–
1.0
–
–

1.0

–

22.7

–

–
–
–
–

22.7

22.7

–
–
–
–

–

–

–

0.1

0.3
–
–
–

0.4

0.4

–
–
–
–

–

–

117.6

117.6

0.1

–

–
–
–
(2.2)

(2.1)

(2.1)

–
–
2.8
–

2.8

–

–

–
18.1
(7.3)
2.2

13.0

130.6

(2.4)
–
–
(77.8)

(80.2)

22.8

0.1

0.3
18.1
(7.3)
–

34.0

151.6

(2.4)
0.1
2.8
(77.8)

(76.4)

Balance at 31 December 2017

44.4

21.9

(57.2)

(6.9)

163.1

537.0

702.3

Balance at 1 January 2018

Impact following adoption of IFRS 15

Revised at 1 January 2018

Comprehensive income
Profit for the year
Other comprehensive income
Exchange differences
Recycling of deferred foreign exchange losses 
on disposal
Fair value of cash flow hedges transferred to the 
income statement
Effective portion of changes in fair value of cash 
flow hedges
Remeasurements of retirement benefit obligations
Deferred tax adjustment on pension scheme deficit
Transfer

Total other comprehensive income

Total comprehensive income

Transactions with owners:
Purchase of own shares
Issue of shares by the Company1 
Share based payments
Deferred tax on share based payments recognised 
within equity
Dividends paid

Total transactions with owners

Balance at 31 December 2018

44.4

–

44.4

21.9

–

21.9

(57.2)

(6.9)

163.1

537.0

702.3

–

–

–

(0.9)

(0.9)

(57.2)

(6.9)

163.1

536.1

701.4

–

–

–

–

–
–
–
–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–
–
–
–

–

–

–
7.7
–

–
–

7.7

52.1

–
215.7
–

–
–

215.7

237.6

–

(20.0)

4.2

–

–
–
–
–

(15.8)

(15.8)

–
–
–

–
–

–

–

–

–

(0.1)

1.4
–
–
–

1.3

1.3

–
–
–

–
–

–

–

41.4

41.4

(0.4)

–

–

–
–
–
(1.5)

(1.9)

(1.9)

–
–
2.9

–
–

2.9

–

–

–

–
5.3
0.7
1.5

7.5

48.9

(0.3)
–
–

(2.4)
(41.9)

(44.6)

(20.4)

4.2

(0.1)

1.4
5.3
0.7
–

(8.9)

32.5

(0.3)
223.4
2.9

(2.4)
(41.9)

181.7

915.6

(73.0)

(5.6)

164.1

540.4

1 

 The rights issue raised gross proceeds of $232.7m. The total amount capitalised to share capital and share premium was $222.2m ($232.7m less issuance costs of 
$10.5m).

108  Elementis plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

CONSOLIDATED CASH FLOW STATEMENT
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2018

Operating activities:
Profit for the year
Adjustments for:
Other expenses
Finance income
Finance costs
Tax charge
Depreciation and amortisation
Increase/(decrease) in provisions
Pension payments net of current service cost

Share based payments
Profit on disposal of business

Operating cash flow before movement in working capital
Increase in inventories
Increase in trade and other receivables
Increase in trade and other payables

Cash generated by operations
Income taxes paid
Interest paid

Net cash flow from operating activities

Investing activities:
Interest received
Disposal of property, plant and equipment
Purchase of property, plant and equipment
Purchase of business net of cash acquired
Disposal
Acquisition of intangible assets

Net cash flow from investing activities

Financing activities:
Issue of shares by the Company and the ESOT net of issue costs
Dividends paid
Purchase of shares by the ESOT
Proceeds on issue of debt
Repayment of term debt

Net cash used in financing activities

Net increase in cash and cash equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents at 1 January
Foreign exchange on cash and cash equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents at 31 December

No cash or cash equivalents were included in assets held for sale as at 31 December 2017.

Note

3
4
6
7
15
23

24
32

6
4

3
11

31
32
10

27

20

2018
 $m

41.4

1.6
(0.2)
18.2
13.6
45.9
9.2
1.9

2.8
(12.1)

122.3
(24.6)
(2.8)
10.6

105.5
(6.9)
(14.3)

84.3

–
0.6
(50.0)
(484.7)
58.0
(1.4)

(477.5)

223.3
(41.9)
(0.3)
554.7
(296.7)

439.1

45.9
55.0
(4.8)

96.1

2017
 $m

117.6

1.2
(0.2)
11.9
(33.3)
39.7
(8.5)
(6.3)

2.8
–

124.9
(2.2)
(2.4)
11.5

131.8
(9.1)
(8.0)

114.7

0.1
3.3
(43.2)
(361.8)
–
(1.7)

(403.3)

1.0
(77.8)
(2.4)
336.0
–

256.8

(31.8)
82.6
4.2

55.0

109  Elementis plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

STRATEGIC REPORTCORPORATE GOVERNANCEFINANCIAL STATEMENTSSHAREHOLDER INFORMATIONNOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2018

1.  ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Elementis plc is a public company limited by shares 
incorporated and domiciled in England and is the parent 
company of the Group. The address of its registered office is 
Caroline House, 55-57 High Holborn, London WC1V 6DX. The 
Group financial statements have been prepared and approved 
by the Directors in accordance with International Financial 
Reporting Standards as adopted by the EU (‘adopted IFRS’). 
The Company has elected to prepare its parent company 
financial statements in accordance with FRS 101. These are 
presented on pages 156 to 163.

Basis of preparation
The financial statements have been prepared on the historical 
cost basis except that derivative financial instruments are stated 
at their fair value. Non-current assets held for sale are stated at 
the lower of carrying amount and fair value less costs to sell. The 
preparation of financial statements requires the application of 
estimates and judgements that affect the reported amounts of 
assets and liabilities, revenues and costs and related 
disclosures at the balance sheet date. The Group’s accounting 
policies have been updated following the adoption of a number 
of new standards and amendments to standards that have been 
issued and are now effective for the Group. 

The financial statements have been prepared on a going 
concern basis. The rationale for adopting this basis is discussed 
in the Directors’ report on page 94.

Reporting currency
As a consequence of the majority of the Group’s sales and 
earnings originating in US dollars or US dollar linked currencies, 
the Group has chosen the US dollar as its reporting currency. 
This aligns the Group’s external reporting with the profile of the 
Group, as well as with internal management reporting.

Critical accounting judgements and key sources of 
estimation uncertainty
When applying the Group’s accounting policies, management 
must make a number of key judgements on the application of 
applicable accounting standards and estimates and 
assumptions concerning the carrying amounts of assets and 
liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. These 
estimates and judgements are based on factors considered to 
be relevant, including historical experience, which may differ 
significantly from the actual outcome. The key assumptions 
concerning the future and other key sources of estimation 
uncertainty that have a significant risk of causing a material 
adjustment to the amounts recognised in the financial 
statements are discussed below. The development of the 
estimates and disclosures related to each of these matters has 
been discussed by the Audit Committee.

Critical accounting judgements
The following are the critical judgements, apart from those 
involving estimations (which are dealt with separately below), 
that the Directors have made in the process of applying the 
Group’s accounting policies and that have the most significant 
effect on the amounts recognised in the financial statements.
Where relevant and practicable, sensitivity analyses are 
disclosed in the relevant notes to demonstrate the impact of 
changes in estimates or assumptions used.

a. Recognition of a defined benefit pension asset

 In accordance with IAS 19, for any pension plan in surplus, 
the amount recognised as an asset is limited to an asset 
ceiling, being the present value of any potential refund or a 
reduction in future contributions. Following the guidance in 
IFRIC 14, the Group has assessed the nature of the minimum 
funding requirement of the UK scheme alongside the 
unconditional right to a refund of any surplus under any 
winding up of the plan and concluded it is appropriate to 
recognise the full value of any pension surplus.

b. Use of adjusted results

 The Group presents adjusted results (Note 5) to provide 
additional useful information on underlying performance and 
trends to shareholders. These results are used for internal 
performance analysis.

 The term ‘adjusted’ is not a defined term under IFRS and may 
not therefore be comparable with similarly titled profit 
measurements reported by other companies. It is not 
intended to be a substitute for, or superior to, IFRS 
measurements of profit. Refer to Note 5 for the adjusting items 
and a reconciliation to statutory IFRS results.

c. Revenue recognition

 Judgement is exercised over how to determine the timing of 
revenue recognition for orders where the agreed terms are 
delivery to the destination port. The Group has compiled 
shipping estimates based on the destination country which 
are used to inform the timing of revenue recognition. In 
compiling these estimates management have used past 
experience and carrier standard shipping estimates to inform 
their decision making. 

Key sources of estimation uncertainty
The key assumptions concerning the future, and other key 
sources of estimation uncertainty at the reporting period that 
may have a significant risk of causing a material misstatement to 
the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities within the next 
financial year, are discussed below.

a. Purchase price allocation

 In order to determine the value of the separately identifiable 
intangible assets on a business combination, the Group is 
required to make estimates when utilising valuation 
methodologies. These methodologies include the use of 
attrition rates, discounted cash flows, revenue forecasts and 
the estimates for the useful economic lives of intangible 
assets.

 Key areas of judgement surrounded the evaluation of the 
technical know-how in relation to the flotation production 
process and customer lists. Key assumptions made were 
around the average useful economic lives of 15 years for both 
the production process and the customer lists as well as the 
attrition rate of customers of Mondo.

110  Elementis plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

 
 
 
 
 
 
b. Environmental provisions

 Provisions for environmental restoration are recognised 
where: the Group has a present legal or constructive 
obligation as a result of past events; it is probable that an 
outflow of resources will be required to settle the obligation; 
and the amount can be estimated reliably.

 Environmental provisions are measured at the present value 
of the expenditures expected to be required to settle the 
obligation using a pre-tax discount rate that reflects current 
market assessments of the time value of money and the risks 
specific to the obligation. Due to the long time horizons over 
which costs are anticipated, small changes in recurring 
annual cash outflows can have a significant cumulative 
impact on the total provision required. Further details of these 
provisions and a sensitivity assessment are given in Note 15.

c. The carrying values of advance corporation tax

 In 2014, an asset of $42.0m was recognised relating to 
UK advance corporation credits which had previously been 
unrecognised because of uncertainty over the availability of 
UK taxable profits and hence a tax liability against which to 
utilise the credits. During 2014 the Group transferred some 
profitable product manufacturing to the UK from overseas, 
restructured the financing of an overseas subsidiary and 
gained greater certainty on future UK pension contributions, 
all of which led to a reasonable expectation that UK taxable 
profits would arise in the future and therefore that the tax 
credits should be recognised. The recognition of this deferred 
tax asset is contingent on the Group’s estimation of future 
taxable income and this estimation is supported by the 
Group’s latest available three year plan. Deferred tax assets 
are reduced to the extent that it is no longer probable that the 
related tax benefit will be realised.

d. Valuation of a defined benefit pension obligation

 The key estimates made in relation to defined benefit 
pensions relate to the discount rate used to determine the 
present value of future benefits and the rate of inflation 
applied to plan assets. Further details on pensions and a 
sensitivity analysis are given in Note 23.

e. Contingent consideration

 Contingent consideration in relation to the acquisition of 
Mondo is payable dependent on the acquired business 
achieving certain targets within a fixed period post 
acquisition. Estimates of future performance are required to 
calculate the obligation at the date of acquisition and at each 
subsequent reporting date. Further details of the range of 
possible outcomes and sensitivity of carrying amounts to 
changes in assumptions are disclosed in Note 31.

Basis of consolidation
The consolidated financial statements include the financial 
statements of the Company and its subsidiaries for the year. 

Subsidiaries are all entities (including structured entities) over 
which the Group has control. The Group controls an entity when 
the Group is exposed to, or has rights to, variable returns from 
its involvement with the entity and has the ability to affect those 
returns through its power over the entity. Subsidiaries are fully 
consolidated from the date on which control is transferred to the 
Group. They are deconsolidated from the date on which that 
control ceases.

The Group applies the acquisition method to account for 
business combinations. The consideration transferred for the 
acquisition of a subsidiary is the fair value of the assets 
transferred, the liabilities incurred to the former owners of the 
acquiree, and the equity interests issued by the Group. The 

111  Elementis plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

consideration transferred includes the fair value of any asset or 
liability resulting from a contingent consideration arrangement. 
Identifiable assets acquired and liabilities and contingent 
liabilities assumed in a business combination are measured 
initially at their fair value at the acquisition date. The Group 
recognises any non-controlling interest in the acquiree on an 
acquisition-by-acquisition basis, either at fair value or at the 
non-controlling interest’s proportionate share of the recognised 
amounts of the acquiree’s identifiable net assets.

Acquisition costs are accounted for as an expense in the 
period incurred.

Intragroup balances and any unrealised gains and losses or 
income and expenses arising from intragroup transactions, are 
eliminated in preparing the consolidated financial statements. 
Unrealised losses are eliminated in the same way as unrealised 
gains, but only to the extent that there is no evidence of 
impairment.

Changes in accounting policies
The accounting policies adopted are consistent with those of 
the previous financial year except for the adoption of IFRS 15 
Revenue from Contracts with Customers and IFRS 9 
Financial Instruments.

Initial adoption of IFRS 15 Revenue from Contracts 
with Customers
IFRS 15 is effective for annual reporting periods beginning on or 
after 1 January 2018 replacing all prior revenue requirements in 
IFRS and applies to all revenue arising from contracts with 
customers unless the contracts are within the scope of other 
standards such as IAS 17 Leases.

The standard outlines the principles entities must apply to 
measure and recognise revenue with the core principle being 
that revenue is recognised when performance obligations within 
a customer contract are fulfilled, rather than when risk, reward 
and control passes to a customer.

The principles in IFRS 15 must be applied using the following 
five step model:

1  Identify the contract(s) with a customer
2  Identify the performance obligations in the contract
3  Determine the transaction price
4   Allocate the transaction price to the performance obligations 

in the contract

5   Recognise revenue when or as the entity satisfies its 

performance obligations

There has been no material impact of the new standard on the 
Group’s recognition of revenue. The comparative financial 
information has not been restated with this change applied 
using the modified retrospective approach from 1 January 2018 
in accordance with paragraph C3(b) of the standard, with the 
cumulative effect of applying the standard recognised as at 
that date.

The change did not have a material impact on the Group’s 
operating, investing and financing cash flows and the basic and 
diluted EPS.

Details of the change in the Group’s accounting policy in respect 
of revenue recognition are set out overleaf.

STRATEGIC REPORTCORPORATE GOVERNANCEFINANCIAL STATEMENTSSHAREHOLDER INFORMATION 
 
 
 
 
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2018 
CONTINUED

1.  ACCOUNTING POLICIES CONTINUED
Initial adoption of IFRS 9 Financial Instruments
In the current year, the Group has applied IFRS 9 Financial Instruments (as revised in July 2014) and related consequential 
amendments to other IFRS Standards that are effective for an annual period that began on or after 1 January 2018. The Standard 
replaces the provisions of IAS 39 that relate to the recognition, classification, measurement and de-recognition of financial 
instruments, impairment of financial assets and hedge accounting. The financial impact of the new standard on the measurement 
of, and provisioning for, the Group’s financial assets and liabilities is immaterial at both period opening and closing dates. With the 
exception of hedge accounting, which the Group applied prospectively, the Group has applied IFRS 9 retrospectively, with the 
initial application date of 1 January 2018. In accordance with the transitional provisions in IFRS 9 (7.2.15) and (7.2.26), comparative 
figures have not been restated.

Additionally, the Group adopted consequential amendments to IFRS 7 Financial Instruments: Disclosures that were applied to the 
disclosures for 2018 and to the comparative period.

The change did not have a material impact on the Group’s operating, investing and financing cash flows and the basic and 
diluted EPS.

(i) Classification and measurement
Financial assets
At initial recognition, the Group measures a financial asset at its fair value plus, in the case of a financial asset not measured at fair 
value through profit or loss, transaction costs that are directly attributable to the acquisition of the financial asset.

Subsequently financial assets are measured at either amortised cost, fair value through other comprehensive income or fair value 
through profit or loss. Measurement is dependent on two criteria:
 − The Group’s business model for managing the financial assets, and
 − Whether the contractual cash flows represent solely payments of principal and interest

The Group’s derivative financial instruments not designated within hedging relationships are measured at fair value through profit 
or loss as they fail the contractual cash flows test outlined above. The following are the changes in the classification of the Group’s 
financial assets:
 − Trade receivables are held to collect contractual cash flows and give rise to cash flows representing solely payments of 
  principal and interest. These are classified and measured as debt instruments at amortised cost beginning on 1 January 2018. 
  At 31 December 2017 they were classified as loans and receivables under IAS 39 but still measured at amortised cost, which is  

the method of measurement under IFRS 9.

Financial liabilities
The Group has not designated any financial liabilities as at fair value through profit or loss. There are no changes in classification 
and measurement for the Group’s financial liabilities.

In summary, upon the adoption of IFRS 9, the Group had the following required or elected reclassifications:

Current financial assets

Trade receivables

Measurement category

Carrying amount

Original (IAS 39)

New (IFRS 9)

Original
$m

New
$m

Difference
$m

Loans and 
receivables

Amortised 
cost

109.9

109.9

–

The Group’s impairment allowances for trade receivables under IAS 39 are unchanged under the IFRS 9 loss allowance model and 
thus a reconciliation between the two has not been provided. The amounts of the loss allowance are disclosed in Note 21.

(ii) Impairment
The adoption of IFRS 9 has fundamentally changed the Group’s accounting for impairment losses for financial assets by replacing 
IAS 39’s incurred loss approach with a forward looking expected credit loss (ECL) approach. IFRS 9 requires the Group to 
recognise an allowance for ECLs for all debt instruments not held at fair value through profit or loss and contract assets.

The Group has applied the simplified approach in calculating the expected credit loss on the trade receivables portfolio 
recognising full lifetime expected credit losses on transition. The Group has established a provision matrix which takes into account 
the Group’s historical credit loss experience adjusted for historical conditions that are not relevant to future cash flows and forward 
looking factors specific to the debtor and economic environment. The effect of applying the new expected credit loss model on the 
Group’s impairment of trade and other receivables has been immaterial.

112  Elementis plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

 
(iii) Hedge accounting
At the date of initial application, all of the Group’s existing 
hedging relationships were eligible to be treated as continuing 
hedging relationships. Before the adoption of IFRS 9, the Group 
designated the change in fair value of the entire forward 
contracts in its cash flow hedge relationships. Upon adoption of 
the hedge accounting requirements of IFRS 9, the Group 
designates only the spot element of forward contracts as the 
hedging instrument. The forward element is recognised in profit 
and loss.

Property, plant and equipment
Items of property, plant and equipment are stated at cost less 
accumulated depreciation and impairment losses. Freehold land 
is not depreciated. Leasehold property is depreciated over the 
period of the lease. Freehold buildings, plant and machinery, 
fixtures, fittings and equipment are depreciated over their 
estimated useful lives on a straight line basis. Depreciation 
methods, useful lives and residual values are assessed at the 
reporting date. No depreciation is charged on assets under 
construction until the asset is brought into use. 

Cash flow hedges
Consistent with prior periods the Group continues to designate 
its interest rate swaps, fx forwards and interest rate caps and 
collars in cash flow hedging relationships with the effective 
portion of changes in fair value of the hedging instruments 
recognised in other comprehensive income and accumulated in 
the hedging reserve in equity. The ineffective portion of any 
changes in fair value of the hedging instruments are recognised 
in the income statement immediately.

Fair value hedges
The Group does not have any fair value hedges.

Hedges of a net investment in foreign operations
The Group designates the foreign exchange gain or loss on a 
proportion of the Group’s euro and US dollar denominated 
borrowings as a hedge of the Group’s net investment in foreign 
operations. As such the foreign exchange gain or loss on those 
borrowings is recognised in other comprehensive income and 
accumulated in equity until such time as the operations are 
disposed of, at which point the corresponding amounts will be 
recycled to profit or loss. This is unchanged from the treatment 
under IAS 39.

Foreign currency 
a. Foreign currency transactions

 Transactions in foreign currencies are translated at the 
foreign exchange rate ruling at the date of the transaction. 
Monetary assets and liabilities denominated in foreign 
currencies at the balance sheet date are translated at the 
foreign exchange rate ruling at that date. Foreign exchange 
differences arising on translation are recognised in the 
income statement. Non-monetary assets and liabilities 
denominated in foreign currencies that are stated at fair value 
are translated at exchange rates ruling at the dates the fair 
value was determined.

b. Financial statements of foreign operations

 The assets and liabilities of foreign operations, including 
goodwill and fair value adjustments arising on consolidation, 
are translated at exchange rates ruling at the balance sheet 
date. The revenues and expenses of foreign operations are 
translated at the average rates of exchange ruling for the 
relevant period. Exchange differences arising since 1 January 
2004 on translation are taken to the translation reserve. They 
are recognised in the income statement upon disposal of the 
foreign operation. The Group may hedge a portion of the 
translation of its overseas net assets through US dollar and 
euro borrowings. From 1 January 2005, the Group has 
elected to apply net investment hedge accounting for these 
transactions where possible. Where hedging is applied, the 
effective portion of the gain or loss on an instrument used to 
hedge a net investment is recognised in equity. Any 
ineffective portion of the hedge is recognised in the 
income statement.

Estimates of useful lives of these assets are:
Buildings 
Plant and machinery 
Fixtures, fittings and equipment 

10 – 50 years
2 – 20 years
2 – 20 years

The cost of replacing part of an item of property, plant and 
equipment is recognised in the carrying amount of the item if it is 
probable that the future economic benefits embodied within it 
will flow to the Group and its cost can be measured reliably. The 
costs of the day-to-day servicing of property, plant and 
equipment are recognised in the income statement as incurred.

Management regularly considers whether there are any 
indications of impairment to carrying values of property, plant 
and equipment. Impairment reviews are based on risk adjusted 
discounted cash flow projections. Significant judgement is 
applied to the assumptions underlying these projections which 
include estimated discount rates, growth rates, future selling 
prices and direct costs. Changes to these assumptions could 
have a material impact on the financial position of the Group and 
on the result for the year.

Intangible assets
a. Goodwill

 Goodwill arises on the acquisition of subsidiaries, and it 
represents the excess of the consideration transferred, the 
amount of any non-controlling interest in the acquiree and the 
acquisition-date fair value of any previous equity interest in the 
acquiree over the fair value of the identifiable net assets 
acquired. If the total of consideration transferred, non-
controlling interest recognised and previously held interest 
measured at fair value is less than the fair value of the net 
assets of the subsidiary acquired, in the case of a bargain 
purchase, the difference is recognised directly in the 
income statement. 

b. Research and development

 Expenditure on pure research is recognised in the income 
statement as an expense as incurred. Under IAS 38, 
expenditure on development where research findings are 
applied to a plan or design for the production of new or 
substantially improved products and processes is capitalised 
if the product or process will give rise to future economic 
benefits and where the cost of the capitalised asset can be 
measured reliably. Expenditure capitalised is stated as the 
cost of materials, direct labour and an appropriate proportion 
of overheads less accumulated amortisation. The length of 
development lifecycles, broad nature of much of the research 
undertaken and uncertainty until a late stage as to ultimate 
commercial viability of a potential product can mean that the 
measurement criteria of IAS 38 regarding the probability of 
future economic benefits and the reliability of allocating 
costs may not be met, in which case expenditure is expensed 
as incurred.

113  Elementis plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

STRATEGIC REPORTCORPORATE GOVERNANCEFINANCIAL STATEMENTSSHAREHOLDER INFORMATION 
 
 
 
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2018 
CONTINUED

1.  ACCOUNTING POLICIES CONTINUED
c. Customer relationships and other intangible assets 

 Customer relationships and other intangible assets are stated 
at cost or when arising in a business combination, estimated 
fair value, less accumulated amortisation.

d. Amortisation

 Amortisation is charged to the income statement on a straight 
line basis over the estimated useful lives of intangible assets 
through the administrative expenses line item, unless such 
lives are indefinite. Goodwill is systematically tested for 
impairment at each balance sheet date. Other intangible 
assets, comprising customer lists, customer relationships, 
manufacturing processes and procedures, trademarks, 
non-compete clauses and patents, are amortised over their 
estimated useful lives which range from 5 to 24 years.

Impairment
The carrying amount of non-current assets other than deferred 
tax is compared to the asset’s recoverable amount at each 
balance sheet date where there is an indication of impairment. 
For goodwill, assets that have an indefinite useful life and 
intangible assets that are not yet available for use, the 
recoverable amount is estimated at each balance sheet date. 

Each year the Group carries out impairment tests of its goodwill 
and other indefinite life intangible assets which requires an 
estimate to be made of the value in use of its cash generating 
units (CGUs). These value in use calculations are dependent on 
estimates of future cash flows and long term growth rates of the 
CGUs. Further details of these estimates are given in Note 11.

An impairment loss is recognised whenever the carrying amount 
of an asset or its CGU exceeds its recoverable amount. 
Impairment losses are recognised in the income statement. 
Impairment losses recognised in respect of CGUs are allocated 
first to reduce the carrying amount of any goodwill allocated to 
CGUs and then to reduce the carrying amount of the other 
assets in the unit on a pro-rata basis. A CGU is the smallest 
identifiable group of assets that generates cash inflows that are 
largely independent of the cash inflows from other assets or 
groups of assets.

The recoverable amount is the greater of their fair value less 
costs to sell and value in use. In assessing value in use, the 
estimated future cash flows are discounted to their present value 
using a pre-tax discount rate that reflects current market 
assessments of the time value of money and the risks specific to 
the asset(s). For an asset that does not generate largely 
independent cash inflows, the recoverable amount is 
determined for the CGU to which the asset belongs.

Expected credit losses
The Group applies the IFRS 9 simplified approach to measuring 
expected credit losses which uses a lifetime expected loss 
allowance for all trade receivables. 

To measure the expected credit losses, trade receivables have 
been grouped based on shared credit risk characteristics and 
the days past due. The expected loss rates are based on 
payment profiles and the corresponding historical credit losses 
experienced. The historical loss rates are adjusted to reflect 
current and forward looking information in relation to 
macroeconomic factors that could affect the ability of customers 
to settle receivables.

The Group considers a financial asset in default when 
contractual payments are 120 days past due. However, in 
certain cases, the Group may also consider a financial asset to 
be in default when internal or external information indicates that 
the Group is unlikely to receive the outstanding contractual 
amounts in full before taking into account any credit 
enhancements held by the Group. A financial asset is written off 
when there is no reasonable expectation of recovering the 
contractual cash flows.

Leased assets
Leases which result in the Group receiving substantially all of the 
risks and rewards of ownership of an asset are treated as 
finance leases. An asset held under a finance lease is recorded 
in the balance sheet and depreciated over the shorter of its 
estimated useful life and the lease term. Future instalments net of 
finance charges are included within borrowings. Minimum lease 
payments are apportioned between the finance charge, which is 
allocated to each period to produce a constant periodic rate of 
interest on the remaining liability and charged to the income 
statement and reduction of the outstanding liability. Rental costs 
arising from operating leases are charged on a straight line 
basis over the period of the lease.

Investments
Investments comprising loans and receivables are stated at 
amortised cost.

Inventories
Inventories are stated at the lower of cost and net realisable 
value. Net realisable value is the estimated selling price, less 
estimated costs of completion and selling expenses. Cost, 
which is based on a weighted average, includes expenditure 
incurred in acquiring stock and bringing it to its existing 
location and condition. In the case of manufactured inventories 
and work in progress, cost includes an appropriate share of 
overheads attributable to manufacture, based on normal 
operating capacity.

114  Elementis plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

 
 
Provisions
A provision is recognised in the balance sheet when the Group 
has a present legal or constructive obligation as a result of a 
past event, and it is probable that an outflow of economic 
benefits will be required to settle the obligation. If the effect is 
material, provisions are determined by discounting the expected 
future cash flows at a pre-tax rate that reflects current market 
assessments of the time value of money and, where appropriate, 
the risks specific to the liability.

A provision for restructuring is recognised when the Group has 
approved a detailed and formal restructuring plan, and the 
restructuring has either commenced or has been announced 
publicly. In accordance with the Group’s environmental policy 
and applicable legal requirements, a provision for site 
restoration in respect of contaminated land is recognised when 
the land is contaminated. Provisions for environmental issues are 
judgemental by their nature, particularly when considering the 
size and timing of remediation spending, and more difficult to 
estimate when they relate to sites no longer directly controlled by 
the Group.

Pension and other post retirement benefits
In respect of the Group’s defined benefit schemes, the Group’s 
net obligation in respect of defined benefit pension plans is 
calculated by estimating the amount of future benefit that 
employees have earned in return for their service in the current 
and prior periods, that benefit is discounted to determine its 
present value, and the fair value of any plan assets is deducted. 
The liability discount rate is the yield at the balance sheet date 
on AA credit rated bonds that have maturity dates 
approximating to the terms of the Group’s obligations. Pension 
and post retirement liabilities are calculated by qualified 
actuaries using the projected unit credit method. Following the 
introduction of the revised IAS 19 Employee Benefits standard, 
the net interest on the defined benefit liability consists of the 
interest cost on the defined benefit obligation and the interest 
income on plan assets, both calculated by reference to the 
discount rate used to measure the defined benefit obligation at 
the start of the period.

The Group recognises actuarial gains and losses in the period 
in which they occur through the statement of comprehensive 
income. The Group also operates a small number of defined 
contribution schemes and the contributions payable during the 
year are recognised as incurred. Due to the size of the Group’s 
pension scheme assets and liabilities, relatively small changes 
in the assumptions can have a significant impact on the expense 
recorded in the income statement and on the pension liability 
recorded in the balance sheet.

Share capital
Incremental costs directly attributable to issue of ordinary 
shares and share options are recognised as a deduction from 
equity. When share capital recognised as equity is repurchased, 
the amount of the consideration paid, including directly 
attributable costs, is recognised as a deduction from equity. 
Repurchased shares by the Company are classified as treasury 
shares and are presented as a deduction from total equity. 

Trade receivables
From 1 January 2018
Trade receivables are due for payment within one year and are 
thus classified as current. They are non-interest bearing and are 
stated at their nominal amount which is the original invoiced 
amount, less allowance for expected future credit losses. 
Estimates of future expected credit losses are informed by 
historical experience and managements expectations of future 
economic factors, further information on expected credit loss 
impairment is given in the impairment accounting policy. 
Individual trade receivables are written off when management 
deem them to be no longer collectable. There has been no 
material impact in recognition and measurement of the Group’s 
trade receivables in moving from the criteria of IAS 39 to IFRS 9.

Period to 31 December 2017
Trade receivables for the year ending 31 December 2017 are 
measured at amortised cost consistent with the treatment under 
IFRS 9, albeit the IAS 39 classification is referred to as loans and 
receivables. Provision for bad and doubtful receivables was 
made based on the ageing of receivables and historical 
experience. Individual trade receivables were written off when 
management deem them to be no longer collectable which is 
consistent with the treatment in the current period under IFRS 9.

Non-current assets held for sale and discontinued 
operations 
A non-current asset or a group of assets containing a non-
current asset (a disposal group), is classified as held for sale if 
its carrying amount will be recovered principally through sale 
rather than through continuing use, it is available for immediate 
sale and sale within one year is highly probable. On initial 
classification as held for sale, non-current assets and disposal 
groups are measured at the lower of previous carrying amount 
and fair value less costs to sell with any adjustments taken to 
profit or loss. The same applies to gains and losses on 
subsequent remeasurement.

A discontinued operation is a component of the Group’s 
business that represents a separate major line of business or 
geographic area of operations or is a subsidiary acquired 
exclusively with a view to resale, that has been disposed of, has 
been abandoned or that meets the criteria to be classified as 
held for sale.

Cash and cash equivalents 
Cash and cash equivalents comprise cash balances and call 
deposits with an original maturity of three months or less. Bank 
overdrafts that are repayable on demand and form an integral 
part of the Group’s cash management are included as a 
component of cash and cash equivalents for the purpose of the 
statement of cash flows.

Borrowings 
Borrowings are initially measured at cost (which is equal to the 
fair value at inception), and are subsequently measured at 
amortised cost using the effective interest rate method. Any 
difference between the proceeds, net of transaction costs 
and the settlement or redemption of borrowings is recognised 
over the terms of the borrowings using the effective interest 
rate method.

Trade payables
Trade payables are non-interest bearing borrowings and are 
initially measured at fair value and subsequently carried at 
amortised cost.

115  Elementis plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

STRATEGIC REPORTCORPORATE GOVERNANCEFINANCIAL STATEMENTSSHAREHOLDER INFORMATIONNOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2018 
CONTINUED

1.  ACCOUNTING POLICIES CONTINUED
Derivative financial instruments
The Group uses derivative financial instruments to hedge its 
exposure to foreign exchange and interest rate risks. The Group 
does not hold or issue derivative financial instruments for trading 
purposes. However, derivatives that do not qualify for hedge 
accounting are accounted for as trading instruments. Due to the 
requirement to assess the effectiveness of hedging instruments, 
changes in market conditions can result in the recognition of 
unrealised gains or losses on hedging instruments in the 
income statement.

Derivative financial instruments are recognised initially at fair 
value and are shown as separate line items within assets and 
liabilities. The gain or loss on remeasurement to fair value is 
recognised immediately in the income statement. However, 
where derivatives qualify for hedge accounting, recognition of 
any resultant gain or loss depends on the nature of the item 
being hedged. 

a. Cash flow hedges

 Where a derivative financial instrument is designated as a 
hedge of the variability in cash flows of a recognised asset or 
liability, or a highly probable forecast transaction, the effective 
part of any gain or loss on the derivative financial instrument is 
recognised directly in the hedging reserve. Any ineffective 
portion of the hedge is recognised immediately in the 
income statement.

 Amounts previously recognised in other comprehensive 
income and accumulated in equity are reclassified to profit 
and loss in the periods when the hedged item is recognised 
in profit or loss, in the same line of the income statement as 
the recognised hedged item. However, when the forecast 
transaction that is hedged results in the recognition of a 
non-financial asset the gains or losses previously 
accumulated in equity are transferred from equity and 
included in the initial measurement of the cost of the non-
financial asset.

b. Fair value hedges

 Where a derivative financial instrument is designated as a 
hedge of the variability in a fair value of a recognised asset or 
liability or an unrecognised firm commitment, all changes in 
the fair value of the derivative are recognised immediately in 
the income statement. 

 The carrying value of the hedged item is adjusted by the 
change in fair value that is attributable to the risk being 
hedged (even if it is normally carried at amortised cost) and 
any gains or losses on remeasurement are recognised 
immediately in the income statement (even if those gains 
would normally be recognised directly in reserves).

c. Hedges of a net investment in a foreign operation

 The Group designates the foreign exchange gain or loss on a 
proportion of the Group’s Euro and US dollar denominated 
borrowings as a hedge of the Group’s net investment in 
foreign operations. As such the foreign exchange gain or loss 
on those borrowings is recognised in other comprehensive 
income and accumulated in equity until such time as the 
operations are disposed of at which point the corresponding 
amounts are recycled to profit or loss.

Termination benefits
Termination benefits are recognised as an expense when the 
Group is demonstrably committed, without realistic possibility of 
withdrawal, to a formal detailed plan to terminate employment 
before the normal retirement date. Termination benefits for 
voluntary redundancies are recognised if the Group has made 
an offer encouraging voluntary redundancy, it is probable that 
the offer will be accepted, and the number of acceptances can 
be estimated reliably.

Revenue
Revenue is recognised upon transfer of promised goods to 
customers (the performance obligation) in an amount that 
reflects the consideration the Company expects to receive in 
exchange for those goods. This may occur, depending on the 
individual customer relationship, when the product has been 
transferred to a freight carrier, when the customer has received 
the product or, for consignment stock held at customers’ 
premises, when usage reports for the relevant period have 
been compiled.

All revenue is from contracts with customers and pertains to the 
sale of specialty chemicals products, selling prices are agreed 
in advance and hence are directly observable.

The Group’s payment terms offered to customers are within a 
certain number of days of receipt of invoice and standard 
contracts do not include a significant financing component. The 
Group does not expect to have any contracts where the period 
between the transfer of the promised goods to the customer and 
payment by the customer exceeds one year. As a consequence, 
the Group does not adjust any of the transaction prices for the 
time value of money.

Under previous accounting, provisions were put in place for 
returns, trade discounts and rebates as a deduction from 
revenue at the point in time the related revenue was recognised. 
Under IFRS 15 these elements of variable consideration are 
also recognised as a reduction in revenue at the later of when 
revenue is recognised for the transfer of the related goods and 
the entity pays or promises to pay the consideration. The 
promise to pay rebates is contractually agreed in advance and 
thus the point of transferring the goods to the customer is 
deemed to be the later of the two circumstances. Therefore the 
transition to IFRS 15 does not alter the accounting for these 
transactions.

Were the previous accounting policy to be applied to the 
12 month period ending 31 December 2018 the adjustment 
required to financial statement line items and earnings per share 
reported for that period would be nil.

IAS 18 Revenue accounting policy, applied to periods 
ending up to and including 31 December 2017
Revenue from the sale of goods is measured at the fair value of 
the consideration received or receivable, net of returns, trade 
discounts and rebates. Revenue is recognised in the income 
statement only where there is evidence that the significant risks 
and rewards of ownership have been transferred to the 
customer and where the collectability of revenue is reasonably 
assured. This may occur, depending on the individual customer 
relationship, when the product has been transferred to a freight 
carrier, when the customer has received the product or, for 
consignment stock held at customers’ premises, when usage 
reports for the relevant period have been compiled. Where 
goods are shipped but the Group continues to bear insurance 
risk until they reach their destination, revenue is only recognised 
when the goods reach their destination.

116  Elementis plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

 
 
 
 
 
Other expenses
Other expenses are administration costs incurred and paid by 
the Group’s pension schemes, which relate primarily to former 
employees of legacy businesses. 

Finance income and finance costs
Finance income comprises interest income on funds invested 
and changes in the fair value of financial assets at fair value 
taken to the income statement. Interest income is recognised as 
it accrues, using the effective interest method. Finance costs 
comprise interest expense on borrowings, unwinding of the 
discount on provisions, dividends on preference shares 
classified as debt, foreign currency losses and changes in the 
value of financial assets at fair value taken to the income 
statement. All borrowing costs are recognised in the income 
statement using the effective interest method.

Taxation
Income tax on the profit or loss for the year comprises current 
and deferred tax. Income tax is recognised in the income 
statement except to the extent that it relates to items recognised 
directly in equity or in other comprehensive income. Current tax 
is the expected tax payable on the taxable income for the year, 
using tax rates enacted or substantively enacted at the balance 
sheet date, and any adjustment to tax payable in respect of 
previous years.

A deferred tax asset is recognised only to the extent that it is 
probable that future taxable profits will be available against 
which the asset can be utilised. Deferred tax is provided on 
temporary differences between the carrying amounts of assets 
and liabilities for financial reporting purposes and the amounts 
used for taxation purposes. The following temporary differences 
are not provided for: the initial recognition of goodwill; the initial 
recognition of assets or liabilities that affect neither accounting 
nor taxable profit other than in a business combination; and 
differences relating to investments in subsidiaries to the extent 
that they will probably not reverse in the foreseeable future. The 
amount of deferred tax provided is based on the expected 
manner of realisation or settlement of the carrying amount of 
assets and liabilities, using tax rates enacted or substantively 
enacted at the balance sheet date. Deferred tax assets are 
reduced to the extent that it is no longer probable that the 
related tax benefit will be realised.

The Group is required to estimate the income tax in each of the 
jurisdictions in which it operates. This requires an estimation of 
current tax liability together with an assessment of the temporary 
differences which arise as a consequence of different accounting 
and tax treatments. The Group operates in a number of countries 
in the world and is subject to many tax jurisdictions and rules. As 
a consequence the Group is subject to tax audits, which by their 
nature are often complex and can require several years to 
conclude. Management’s judgement is required to determine the 
total provision for income tax. Amounts are accrued based on 
management’s interpretation of country specific tax law and 
likelihood of settlement. However, the actual tax liabilities could 
differ from the position and in such events an adjustment would 
be required in the subsequent period which could have a material 
impact. Tax benefits are not recognised unless it is probable that 
the tax positions are sustainable. Once considered to be 
probable, management reviews each material tax benefit to 
assess whether a provision should be taken against full 
recognition of the benefit on the basis of potential settlement 
through negotiation. This evaluation requires judgements to be 
made including the forecast of future taxable income.

Share based payments
The fair value of equity settled share options, cash settled 
shadow options and LTIP awards granted to employees is 
recognised as an expense with a corresponding increase in 
equity. The fair value is measured at grant date and spread over 
the period during which the employees become unconditionally 
entitled to the options/awards. The fair value of the options/
awards granted is measured using a binomial model, taking into 
account the terms and conditions upon which the options/
awards were granted. The amount recognised as an employee 
expense is adjusted to reflect the actual number of share 
options/awards that vest except where forfeiture is only due to 
share prices not achieving the threshold for vesting.

Own shares held by Employee Share Ownership 
Trust (ESOT)
Transactions of the Group sponsored ESOT are included in the 
consolidated financial statements. In particular, the ESOT’s 
purchases of shares in the Company are charged directly 
to equity.

Alternative performance measures
In the analysis of the Group’s operating results, earnings per 
share and cash flows, information is presented to provide 
readers with additional performance indicators that are 
prepared on a non-statutory basis. This presentation is regularly 
reviewed by management to identify items that are unusual and 
other items relevant to an understanding of the Group’s 
performance and long term trends with reference to their 
materiality and nature. This additional information is not uniformly 
defined by all Companies and may not be comparable with 
similarly titled measures and disclosures by other organisations. 
The non-statutory disclosures should not be viewed in isolation 
or as an alternative to the equivalent statutory measure. 
Information for separate presentation is considered as follows:
 − Material costs or reversals arising from a significant 

restructuring of the Group’s operations are 
presented separately

 − Disposal of entities or investments in associates or joint 

ventures or impairment of related assets are 
presented separately

 − Other matters arising due to the Group’s acquisition, such as 
adjustments to contingent consideration, payment of retention 
bonuses, acquisition costs and fair value adjustments for 
acquired assets made in accordance with IFRS 13 are 
separately disclosed in aggregate

 − If a change in an accounting estimate for provisions, including 
environmental provisions, results in a material gain or loss, that 
is presented separately

 − Other items the Directors may deem to be unusual as a result 

of their size and/or nature.

Adoption of new and revised standards
In the current year, the Group has applied a number of 
amendments to IFRSs issued by the International Accounting 
Standards Board (IASB) that are mandatorily effective for 
accounting periods that begin on or after 1 January 2018. Their 
adoption has not had any material impact on the disclosures or 
on the amounts reported in these financial statements:
 − Annual Improvements to IFRSs: 2014-2016 Cycle
 − IFRS 9 Financial Instruments
 − IFRS 15 Revenue from Contracts with Customers
 − IFRS 2 (amendments) Classification and Measurement of 

Share-Based Payment Transactions

 − IFRIC 22 Foreign Currency Transactions and 

Advance Consideration.

117  Elementis plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

STRATEGIC REPORTCORPORATE GOVERNANCEFINANCIAL STATEMENTSSHAREHOLDER INFORMATIONNOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2018 
CONTINUED

1.  ACCOUNTING POLICIES CONTINUED
New and revised IFRSs in issue but not yet effective
At the date of authorisation of these financial statements, the 
Group has not applied the following new and revised 
international accounting standards (IAS/IFRSs) and 
interpretations (IFRICs) that have been issued but are not 
effective for periods starting on 1 January 2018 but will be 
effective for later periods: 

International Accounting Standards  
(IAS/IFRSs) and Interpretations (IFRICs)
Endorsed by the EU
Amendments to IFRS 9: Prepayment Features 
with Negative Compensation
IFRS 16 Leases
Not yet endorsed by the EU:
IFRS 17 Insurance Contracts
IFRIC 23 Uncertainty over Income Tax 
Treatments
IAS 28 Amendments: Long-term Interests in 
Associates and Joint Ventures
Annual Improvements to IFRS Standards 
2015 – 2017 Cycle
IAS 19 Amendments: Plan Amendment, 
Curtailment or Settlement
IFRS 10 and IAS 28 Amendments: Sale or 
Contribution of Assets between an Investor  
and its Associate or Joint Venture

Effective date

1 January 2019

1 January 2019

1 January 2021
1 January 2019

1 January 2019

1 January 2019

1 January 2019

Deferred 
indefinitely

2.  OPERATING SEGMENTS
Business segments
The Group has determined its operating segments on the basis 
of those used for management, internal reporting purposes and 
the allocation of strategic resources. In accordance with the 
provisions of IFRS 8, the Group’s chief operating decision maker 
is the Board of Directors. Following a review in December 2017 
of the application of IFRS 8 (Operating Segments) the Group has 
decided that, from 1 January 2018, the segments within 
continuing operations that should be disclosed are as follows 
with the addition of the new Talc segment as the result of the 
acquisition of Mondo Minerals BV:
 − Personal Care
 − Coatings
 − Talc
 − Chromium
 − Energy

The five reportable segments, Personal Care, Coatings, Talc, 
Chromium and Energy each have distinct product groupings 
and separate management structures. Segment results, assets 
and liabilities include items directly attributable to a segment 
and those that may be reasonably allocated from corporate 
activities. Presentation of the segmental results is on a basis 
consistent with those used for reporting Group results. Principal 
activities of the reportable segments are as follows:

Personal Care
Production of rheological modifiers and compounded products, 
including active ingredients for AP deodorants, for supply to 
personal care manufacturers.

The Directors have completed an initial assessment of IFRS 16, 
and believe the main impacts on the financial statements will be:

Coatings
Production of rheological modifiers and additives for decorative 
and industrial coatings.

 − It is anticipated that financial liabilities on implementation of 
the standard will increase by approximately $50-55m as 
obligations to make future payments under leases currently 
classified as operating leases will be recognised on the 
balance sheet. Non-current assets will also increase on 
implementation but by a lower amount

 − On adoption, each ‘right-of-use’ asset will not exceed its 

recoverable amount. The Group will also annually review the 
‘right-of-use’ assets for impairment

 − There will be a net reduction in operating costs but an 
increase in finance costs as operating lease costs are 
replaced with depreciation and lease interest expense. This 
will result in an increase to the Group’s operating profit and 
EBITDA but an overall net decrease in profit before tax in the 
initial years after adoption

 − The impact on operating profit and profit before tax is not 

expected to be material in future periods 

 − The noted adjustments will be reflected in retained earnings 

on adoption date.

The total cash outflow for lease payments will not change but 
certain lease payments will be presented as cash flow from 
financing activities, as opposed to the current treatment as cash 
flow from operating activities, resulting in a decrease in cash 
outflow from operating activities and an increase in cash outflow 
from financing activities.

Further details of the leases held by the Group are given in 
Note 22.

Talc
Production and supply of talc for use in plastics, coatings, 
technical ceramics and the paper sectors.

Chromium
Production of chromium chemicals.

Energy
Production of rheological modifiers and additives for oil and gas 
drilling and stimulation activities.

In 2017, the Surfactants business, which was involved in the 
production of surface active ingredients, was reclassed as 
discontinued operations (see Note 32).

Inter-segment pricing is set at a level that equates to the 
manufacturing cost of the product plus a commercially 
appropriate mark up.

Unallocated items and those relating to corporate functions such 
as tax and treasury are presented in the tables overleaf as 
central costs.

118  Elementis plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

Segmental analysis for the year ended 31 December 2018

Personal 
Care
$m

210.3
–

Coatings
$m

362.2
–

Talc1 
$

21.5
–

Chromium  

$m

184.3
(11.0)

Energy
$m

54.9
–

2018

Segment 
totals
$m

833.2
(11.0)

210.3

362.2

21.5

173.3

54.9

822.2

52.2
(11.8)

40.4
–
–
–

–

–

52.5
5.1

57.6
–
–
–

–

–

3.9
(4.1)

(0.2)
–
–
–

–

–

33.0
(17.2)

15.8
–
–
–

–

–

7.1
–

7.1
–
–
–

–

–

148.7
(28.0)

120.7
–
–
–

–

–

Revenue
Internal revenue

Revenue from external 
customers

Adjusted operating 
profit
Adjusted items

Profit/(loss) before 
interest
Other expenses
Finance income
Finance expense
Taxation – after 
adjusting items 
Taxation – on adjusting 
items

Central
costs
$m

Total of 
continuing 
operations
$m

Discontinued 
operations 
$m

Total of all 
operations 
$m

–
–

–

(16.1)
(19.7)

(35.8)
(1.6)
0.3
(18.2)

833.2
(11.0)

4.8
–

838.0
(11.0)

822.2

4.8

827.0

132.6
(47.7)

84.9
(1.6)
0.3
(18.2)

(0.6)
(9.8)

132.0
(57.5)

(10.4)
–
–
–

74.5
(1.6)
0.3
(18.2)

(24.4)

(24.4)

0.3

(24.1)

8.8

Profit for the year

40.4

57.6

(0.2)

15.8

7.1

120.7

(70.9)

1  Talc is the new operating segment in 2018 as a result of the acquisition of Mondo on 23 October 2018.

Fixed assets
Inventories
Trade and other receivables
ACT recoverable
Derivatives
Tax assets
Cash and cash equivalents

Segment assets

Trade and other payables
Operating provisions
Bank overdrafts and loans
Current tax liabilities
Retirement benefit obligations
Deferred tax liabilities
Financial liabilities

Segment liabilities

Net assets

Capital additions
Depreciation and amortisation

Personal Care, 
Coatings 
and Energy2
$m

710.6
106.1
78.4
–
–
–
–

895.1

(77.0)
(1.5)
–
–
–
–
–

(78.5)

816.6

29.8
(30.5)

2018

Chromium  

$m

79.5
58.4
30.7
–
–
–
–

168.6

(30.4)
(21.6)
–
–
–
–
–

(52.0)

116.6

12.9
(8.4)

Segment 
totals
$m

1121.4
188.7
128.4
–
–
–
–

1,438.5

(126.0)
(28.0)
–
–
–
–
–

(154.0)

1,284.5

49.5
(43.8)

Talc  
$m

331.3
24.2
19.3
–
–
–
–

374.8

(18.6)
(4.9)
–
–
–
–
–

(23.5)

351.3

6.8
(4.9)

8.8

49.8

1.7

(8.4)

10.5

41.4

Central
$m

333.4
–
11.0
9.8
2.0
27.4
96.1

479.7

(14.6)
(20.8)
(594.2)
(17.1)
(9.9)
(151.7)
(40.3)

(848.6)

(368.9)

1.8
(1.4)

Total of all 
operations
$m

1,454.8
188.7
139.4
9.8
2.0
27.4
96.1

1,918.2

(140.6)
(48.8)
(594.2)
(17.1)
(9.9)
(151.7)
(40.3)

(1,002.6)

915.6

51.3
(45.2)

2 

 Due to the shared nature of the production facilities for the Personal Care, Coatings and Energy segments a split of assets and liabilities by segment is not available and 
the cost to determine such a split would be prohibitive therefore assets and liabilities are shown in aggregate for these segments.

119  Elementis plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

STRATEGIC REPORTCORPORATE GOVERNANCEFINANCIAL STATEMENTSSHAREHOLDER INFORMATIONNOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2018 
CONTINUED

2.  OPERATING SEGMENTS CONTINUED

Information by geographic area

Revenue from external customers
Non-current assets
Capital additions
Depreciation and amortisation

North
 America
$m

290.3
790.7
32.6
(28.7)

United 
Kingdom
$m

32.1
230.1
2.0
(1.5)

Segmental analysis for the year ended 31 December 2017

Revenue
Internal revenue

Revenue from external 
customers

Adjusted operating profit
Adjusted items

Profit/(loss) before interest
Other expenses
Finance income
Finance expense
Taxation – after adjusting items 
Taxation – on adjusting items

Profit for the year

Personal 
Care
$m

179.3
–

Coatings
$m

Chromium  

$m

372.9
–

186.7
(15.0)

Energy
$m

58.8
–

179.3

372.9

171.7

58.8

44.6
(15.4)

29.2
–
–
–
–
–

29.2

54.7
(0.1)

54.6
–
–
–
–
–

54.6

30.1
(1.3)

28.8
–
–
–
–
–

28.8

9.7
–

9.7
–
–
–
–
–

9.7

Rest of 
Europe
$m

201.1
373.1
3.4
(11.0)

2017

Segment 
totals
$m

797.7
(15.0)

782.7

139.1
(16.8)

122.3
–
–
–
–
–

122.3

Rest of  

the World
$m

Discontinued 
operations
$m

298.7
60.8
8.1
(4.0)

4.8
–
0.8
(0.7)

Total 
$m

827.0
1,454.7
46.9
(45.9)

Central
costs
$m

Total of 
continuing 
operations
$m

Discontinued 
operations
$m

Total of all 
operations 
$m

–
–

–

(16.4)
(14.5)

(30.9)
(1.2)
0.2
(11.9)
(22.5)
56.7

(9.6)

797.7
(15.0)

782.7

122.7
(31.3)

91.4
(1.2)
0.2
(11.9)
(22.5)
56.7

112.7

47.8
(0.2)

47.6

5.4
0.4

5.8
–
–
–
(0.9)
–

4.9

845.5
(15.2)

830.3

128.1
(30.9)

97.2
(1.2)
0.2
(11.9)
(23.4)
56.7

117.6

Fixed assets
Inventories
Trade and other receivables
ACT recoverable
Deferred tax assets
Cash and cash equivalents

Segment assets

Trade and other payables
Operating provisions
Bank overdrafts and loans
Derivatives
Current tax liabilities
Retirement benefit obligations
Deferred tax liabilities

Segment liabilities

Net assets

Capital additions
Depreciation and amortisation

Personal Care, 
Coatings 
and Energy1
$m

721.7
101.6
90.6
–
–
–

–

913.9
(73.1)
(1.4)
–
–
–
–

(74.5)

839.4

24.4
(26.5)

Chromium  

$m

75.3
41.8
25.1
–
–
–

–

142.2
(30.6)
(15.9)
–
–
–
–

(46.5)

95.7

11.3
(8.8)

Segment 
Totals
$m

797.0
143.4
115.7
–
–
–

–

1,056.1
(103.7)
(17.3)
–
–
–
–

(121.0)

935.1

35.7
(35.3)

2017

Central
$m

139.7
0.2
8.9
16.2
0.9
4.5

55.0

225.4
(14.0)
(15.4)
(346.1)
(14.1)
(10.5)
(93.4)

(493.5)

(268.1)

3.4
(1.2)

Total of 
continuing 
operations
$m

936.7
143.6
124.6
16.2
0.9
4.5

55.0

1,281.5
(117.7)
(32.7)
(346.1)
(14.1)
(10.5)
(93.4)

(614.5)

667.0

39.1
(36.5)

Asset held 
for Sale
$m

Total of all 
operations
$m

42.3
6.8
9.1
–
–
–

–

58.2
(15.2)
(3.0)
–
(4.7)
–
–

(22.9)

35.3

6.3
(3.2)

979.0
150.4
133.7
16.2
0.9
4.5

55.0

1,339.7
(132.9)
(35.7)
(346.1)
(18.8)
(10.5)
(93.4)

(637.4)

702.3

45.4
(39.7)

1 

 Due to the shared nature of the production facilities for the Coatings, Energy and Personal Care segments a split of assets and liabilities by segment is not available and 
the cost to determine such a split would be prohibitive therefore assets and liabilities are shown in aggregate for these segments.

120  Elementis plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

Rest of  

the World
$m

Discontinued 
operations
$m

310.9
60.6
4.2
(4.4)

North
 America
$m

283.2
787.9
29.7
(26.1)

United 
Kingdom
$m

22.7
59.4
3.0
(1.5)

Rest of 
Europe
$m

165.9
49.5
2.2
(4.5)

Information by geographic area

Revenue from external customers
Non-current assets
Capital additions
Depreciation and amortisation

3.  FINANCE INCOME

Interest on bank deposits

4.  FINANCE COSTS

Interest on bank loans
Pension and other post retirement liabilities
Unwind of discount on provisions

5.  ADJUSTING ITEMS AND ALTERNATIVE PERFORMANCE MEASURES

Restructuring
Business transformation
Environmental provisions

 Increase in provisions due to additional 
remediation work identified

Costs related to acquisition activities
Uplift due to fair value of SummitReheis inventory
Uplift due to fair value of Mondo inventory
Sale of Colourants business and closure of Jersey 
City site
Release of legal provision
Sale of Surfactants business
Disposal costs
Amortisation of intangibles arising on acquisition
GMP Pension
Surfactants commercial settlement

Tax credit in relation to adjusting items
Tax arising on the restructuring of our German 
operations 
Adjusting tax item (US tax reform)

Cash flows relating to adjusting items

Adjusting 
items on 
discontinued 
operations
$m

–
–

–
–
–
–

–
–
–
–
–
–
9.8

9.8
(1.7)

–
–

8.1

2018
$m

0.2
5.6

16.5
16.5
–
2.9

(12.7)
–
0.5
–
15.0
3.2
–

47.7
(11.5)

2.7
–

38.9

(21.8)

2018
Total
$m

0.2
5.6

16.5
16.5
–
2.9

(12.7)
–
0.5
–
15.0
3.2
9.8

57.5
(13.2)

2.7
–

47.0

2017
$m

0.6
3.4

2.1
9.7
4.0
–

(2.5)
–
–
2.2
11.8
–
–

31.3
(5.7)

–
(51.0)

(25.4)

(10.5)

121  Elementis plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

47.6
42.3
6.3
(3.2)

2018
$m

0.3

2018
$m

16.8
0.4
1.0

18.2

Adjusting 
items on 
discontinued 
operations
$m

–
–

–
–
–
–

–
(0.7)
–
0.3
–
–
–

(0.4)
–

–
–

(0.4)

Total 
$m

830.3
999.7
45.4
(39.7)

2017
$m

0.2

2017
$m

9.7
1.1
1.1

11.9

2017
Total
$m

0.6
3.4

2.1
9.7
4.0
–

(2.5)
(0.7)
–
2.5
11.8
–
–

30.9
(5.7)

–
(51.0)

(25.8)

STRATEGIC REPORTCORPORATE GOVERNANCEFINANCIAL STATEMENTSSHAREHOLDER INFORMATION 
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2018 
CONTINUED

5.  ADJUSTING ITEMS AND ALTERNATIVE PERFORMANCE MEASURES CONTINUED
A number of items have been recorded under ‘adjusting items’ in 2018 by virtue of their size and/or one time nature, in line with our 
accounting policy in Note 1, in order to provide a better understanding of the Group’s results. The net impact of these items on the 
Group profit before tax for the year is a debit of $57.5m (2017: debit of $30.9m). The items fall into a number of categories, as 
summarised below:

Restructuring – in 2016 this related to the appointment of a new CEO, CFO and costs associated with reorganising the 
management structure. In subsequent years, the cost relates to the IFRS 2 cost of buyouts associated with the new CEO and CFO.

Business transformation – the costs incurred in 2017 relate to delivery of the global key account management, and working 
capital improvement phases of the transformation commenced in 2016. In 2018 a programme to transform the Coatings segment 
has been implemented focusing on re-engineering our approach to markets (direct vs distributor), our underlying asset base and 
our product offerings in order to leverage our international networks and key account management. It is anticipated this will 
continue through 2019 driving a step change in the Coatings segment.

Increase in environmental provisions due to additional remediation work identified – assessments at the end of both 
2017 and 2018 have resulted in an increased provision required at a number of our legacy sites. As these costs relate to non-
operational facilities they are classed as adjusting items.

Costs relating to acquisition activities – these are one-off costs predominantly associated with the acquisition of Mondo in 
2018 and SummitReheis in 2017 – primarily the write off of the set-up costs of the previous financing syndicate (now replaced by 
a new facility), bank and lawyers fees and retention bonuses for Mondo and SummitReheis employees. 

Uplift due to fair value of SummitReheis inventory – in accordance with IFRS 3, inventory held within SummitReheis was 
revalued to fair value on acquisition, representing an uplift of $4m over the book value. As all stock acquired with SummitReheis 
was sold by the year end, the additional expense recognised in cost of sales due to this fair value uplift has been classed as an 
adjusting item.

Uplift due to fair value of Mondo inventory – in accordance with IFRS 3, inventory held within Mondo was revalued to fair 
value on acquisition, representing an uplift of $2.9m over the book value. As all Talc stock to which this uplift relates was sold by the 
year end, the additional expense recognised in cost of sales due to this fair value uplift has been classed as an adjusting item.

Sale of Colourants business and closure of Jersey City site – in March 2017, Elementis disposed of its US Colourants 
business and closed the Jersey City site. The profit on sale of the business and costs associated with the closure of the site are 
classed as an adjusting item. In 2018 the site was disposed of and the profit on disposal has been treated as an adjusting item due 
to its size and one-off nature relating to the sale of land.

Release of legal provision – during 2017 the Group released $0.7m from a provision set up in 2015 relating to a regulatory case 
in Europe.

Sale of Surfactants business/Disposal costs – in 2017 Elementis incurred a number of costs associated with the sale of the 
Delden facility and Surfactants business. The profit on sale of the assets and business has been treated as an adjusting item in 
2018 and the one-off associated costs were classed similarly in 2017.

Amortisation of intangibles arising on acquisition – these costs are excluded from operating profit to provide readers of the 
accounts with a better understanding of the Group’s results on its operating activities. In 2018 this item includes amortisation on 
intangibles acquired as part of the Mondo acquisition completed in October 2018.

GMP Pension – on 26 October 2018, the High Court ruled on the Lloyds Bank Guaranteed Minimum Pension inequalities case. 
In response to this our actuaries have included a past service cost of $3.2m for the estimated costs arising from the judgment.

Surfactants commercial settlement – these are costs incurred in settlement of a commercial dispute relating to the 
Surfactants business disposed of in 2018.

Tax on adjusting items – this is the net impact of tax relating to the adjusting items listed above.

Tax arising on the restructuring of our German operations – during the year an internal restructuring exercise was 
undertaken in order to optimise the operational efficiency of the Group on a go forward basis. This restructuring resulted in a 
one-off tax charge.

Adjusting tax item (US tax reform) – in 2017 the Group recognised a reduction in the net deferred tax liability arising from 
timing differences and US goodwill amortisation recognised in the US for tax purposes. Given the one-off nature of the reduction 
to future tax liabilities, this was recognised as an adjusting item.

122  Elementis plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

To support comparability with the financial statements as presented in 2018, the reconciliation to the adjusted consolidated income 
statement is shown below.

2018 
Profit and 
loss on 
continuing 
operations 
 $m

2018
Adjusting 
items on 
continuing 
operations 
 $m

2018 
Profit and loss 
after adjusting 
items on 
continuing 
operations
$m

2018 
Profit and 
loss on 
discontinued 
operations 
 $m

2018
Adjusting 
items on 
discontinued 
operations 
 $m

Profit and loss 
after adjusting 
items on 
discontinued 
operations
$m

2018 
Profit and loss 
after adjusting 
items on total 
operations
$m

822.2
(516.6)

305.6
(111.6)
(109.0)
(0.1)

84.9
(1.6)
0.3
(18.2)

65.4
(15.6)

49.8

–
–

–
–
47.7
–

47.7
–
–
–

47.7
(8.8)

38.9

49.8

38.9

9.5
9.5

7.5
7.4

822.2
(516.6)

305.6
(111.6)
(61.3)
(0.1)

132.6
(1.6)
0.3
(18.2)

113.1
(24.4)

88.7

88.7

17.0
16.9

4.8
(4.3)

0.5
(0.8)
(10.1)
–

(10.4)
–
–
–

(10.4)
2.0

(8.4)

(8.4)

(1.6)
(1.6)

–
–

–
–
9.8
–

9.8
–
–
–

9.8
(1.7)

8.1

8.1

1.6
1.6

4.8
(4.3)

0.5
(0.8)
(0.3)
–

(0.6)
–
–
–

(0.6)
0.3

(0.3)

827.0
(520.9)

306.1
(112.4)
(61.6)
(0.1)

132.0
(1.6)
0.3
(18.2)

112.5
(24.1)

88.4

(0.3)

88.4

–
–

17.0
16.9

2017 
Profit and loss 
on continuing 
operations 
 $m

2017 
Adjusting 
items on 
continuing 
operations 
 $m

2017
Profit and loss 
after adjusting 
items on 
continuing 
operations 
 $m

2017
Profit and 
loss on 
discontinued 
operations 
 $m

2017
Adjusting
items on 
discontinued 
operations 
 $m

2017
Profit and loss 
after adjusting 
items on 
discontinued 
operations 
 $m

2017 
Profit and 
loss after 
adjusting
items on total 
operations
$m

782.7
(487.6)

295.1
(98.0)
(105.6)
(0.1)

91.4
(1.2)
0.2
(11.9)

78.5
34.2
112.7

–
–

–
–
31.3
–

31.3
–
–
–

31.3
(56.7)
(25.4)

782.7
(487.6)

295.1
(98.0)
(74.3)
(0.1)

122.7
(1.2)
0.2
(11.9)

109.8
(22.5)
87.3

47.6
(32.8)

14.8
(6.3)
(2.7)
–

5.8
–
–
–

5.8
(0.9)
4.9

112.7

(25.4)

87.3

4.9

22.3
22.0

24.3
24.0

(5.1)
(5.0)

(5.5)
(5.4)

17.2
17.0

18.8
18.6

1.0
1.0

1.1
1.0

–
–

–
–
(0.4)
–

(0.4)
–
–
–

(0.4)
–
(0.4)

(0.4)

(0.1)
(0.1)

(0.1)
(0.1)

47.6
(32.8)

14.8
(6.3)
(3.1)
–

5.4
–
–
–

5.4
(0.9)
4.5

830.3
(520.4)

309.9
(104.3)
(77.4)
(0.1)

128.1
(1.2)
0.2
(11.9)

115.2
(23.4)
91.8

4.5

91.8

0.9
0.9

1.0
0.9

18.1
17.9

19.8
19.5

Revenue
Cost of sales

Gross profit
Distribution costs
Administrative expenses
Net impairment losses on financial assets

Operating profit
Other expenses
Finance income
Finance costs

Profit before income tax
Tax

Profit for the year 

Attributable to:
Equity holders of the parent

Earnings per share
Basic (cents)
Diluted (cents)

Revenue
Cost of sales

Gross profit
Distribution costs
Administrative expenses
Net impairment losses on financial assets

Operating profit
Other expenses
Finance income
Finance costs

Profit before income tax
Tax
Profit for the year 

Attributable to:
Equity holders of the parent

Earnings per share 
(restated)
Basic (cents)
Diluted (cents)
Earnings per share 
(as reported in 2017)
Basic (cents)
Diluted (cents)

123  Elementis plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

STRATEGIC REPORTCORPORATE GOVERNANCEFINANCIAL STATEMENTSSHAREHOLDER INFORMATIONNOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2018 
CONTINUED

5.  ADJUSTING ITEMS AND ALTERNATIVE PERFORMANCE MEASURES CONTINUED
To support comparability with the financial statements as presented in 2018, a reconciliation from reported profit/(loss) before 
interest to adjusted profit before income tax by segment is shown below for each year.

Personal 
Care
$m

Coatings
$m

Talc
$m

Chromium 
$m

Energy
$m

Segment 
totals
$m

Central 
costs 
$m

Total of 
continuing 
operations
$m

Discontinued 
operations
$m

Total 
$m

2018

Reported operating profit/(loss)

40.4

57.6

(0.2)

15.8

7.1

120.7

(35.8)

84.9

(10.4) 74.5

Adjusting Items
  Restructuring
  Business transformation

I ncrease in environmental  
provisions due to additional 
remediation work identified 

  Costs related to acquisition activities
 Uplift due to fair value of Mondo 
inventory
 Sale of Colourants business and 
closure of Jersey City site
  Sale of Surfactants business

 Amortisation of intangibles arising 
on acquisition
  GMP pension
  Surfactant customer settlements

Adjusted operating profit/(loss) 

  Other expenses
  Finance income
  Finance costs

–
–

–
5.6

–
0.2

–

–
–

11.6
–
–

52.2

–
–
–

–
–

–

(12.7)
–

2.0
–
–

52.5

–
–
–

–
–

–
–

2.9

–
–

1.2
–
–

3.9

–
–
–

–
–

17.0
–

–

–
–

0.2
–
–

–
–

–
–

–

–
–

–
–
–

–
5.6

0.2
–

17.0
0.2

2.9

(12.7)
–

15.0
–
–

(0.5)
16.3

–

–
0.5

–
3.2
–

0.2
5.6

16.5
16.5

2.9

(12.7)
0.5

15.0
3.2
–

–
–

–
–

–

–

–

9.8

0.2
5.6

16.5
16.5

2.9

(12.7)
0.5

15.0
3.2
9.8

33.0

7.1

148.7

(16.1)

132.6

(0.6) 132.0

–
–
–

–
–
–

–
–
–

(1.6)
0.3
(18.2)

(1.6)
0.3
(18.2)

–

–
–

(1.6)
0.3
(18.2)

Adjusted profit before income tax

52.2

52.5

3.9

33.0

7.1

148.7

(35.6)

113.1

(0.6) 112.5

Personal 
Care
$m

Coatings
$m

Chromium 
$m

Energy
$m

Segment 
totals
$m

Central 
costs 
$m

Total of 
continuing 
operations
$m

Discontinued 
operations
$m

Total 
$m

2017

Reported operating profit/(loss)

29.2

54.6

28.8

9.7

122.3

(30.9)

91.4

5.8

97.2

Adjusting Items
  Restructuring
  Business transformation

 Increase in environmental provisions due 
to additional remediation work identified

  SummitReheis acquisition costs

 Uplift due to fair value of SummitReheis 
inventory
 Sale of Colourants business and closure 
of Jersey City site

  Release of legal provision
  Disposal costs

 Amortisation of intangibles arising 
on acquisition

Adjusted operating profit/(loss)

  Other expenses
  Finance income
  Finance costs

–
–

–
2.6

4.0

–
–
–

(0.3)
–

–
–

–

(2.5)
–
0.1

8.8

44.6

2.8

54.7

–
–
–

–
–
–

–
–

1.1
–

–

–
–
–

0.2

30.1

–
–
–

–
–

–
–

–

–
–
–

–

(0.3)
–

1.1
2.6

4.0

(2.5)
–
0.1

0.9
3.4

1.0
7.1

–

–
–
2.1

0.6
3.4

2.1
9.7

4.0

(2.5)
–
2.2

11.8

–

11.8

9.7

139.1

(16.4)

122.7

–
–
–

–
–
–

(1.2)
0.2
(11.9)

(1.2)
0.2
(11.9)

–
–

–
–

–

0.6
3.4

2.1
9.7

4.0

–
(0.7)
0.3

(2.5)
(0.7)
2.5

–

11.8

5.4 128.1

–
–
–

(1.2)
0.2
(11.9)

Adjusted profit before income tax

44.6

54.7

30.1

9.7

139.1

(29.3)

109.8

5.4 115.2

124  Elementis plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
A reconciliation from reported profit for the year to earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) is 
provided to support understanding of the summarised cash flow included within the Finance Report on pages 36 to 41.

Profit for the year

Adjustments for 
  Finance income
  Finance costs and other expenses after adjusting items
  Tax charge
  Depreciation and amortisation
  Excluding intangibles arising on acquisition
  Adjusting items impacting profit before tax

EBITDA

2018 
Profit and 
loss on 
continuing 
operations 
 $m

2018 
Profit and 
loss on 
discontinued 
operations 
 $m

2018  
Profit and 
loss on  
total 
operations 
 $m

2017 
Profit and 
loss on 
continuing 
operations 
 $m

2017 
Profit and 
loss on 
discontinued 
operations 
  $m

2017 
Profit and 
loss on
 total 
operations 
 $m

49.8

(8.4)

41.4

112.7

4.9

117.6

(0.3)
19.8
15.6
45.6
(15.0)
47.7

163.2

–
–
(2.0)
0.3
–
9.8

(0.3)

(0.3)
19.8
13.6
45.9
(15.0)
57.5

(0.2)
13.1
(34.2)
38.0
(11.8)
31.3

162.9

148.9

–
–
0.9
1.7
–
(0.4)

7.1

(0.2)
13.1
(33.3)
39.7
(11.8)
30.9

156.0

There are also a number of key performance indicators (KPIs) on pages 30 and 31, the reconciliations to these are given below.

Operating cash flow
Operating cash flow is defined as the net cash flow from operating activities less net capital expenditure but excluding income 
taxes paid or received, interest paid or received, pension contributions net of current service cost and adjusting items.

Contribution margin
The Group’s contribution margin, which is defined as sales less all variable costs, divided by sales and expressed as 
a percentage.

Revenue

  Variable costs
  Non variable costs

Cost of sales

2018
 $m

827.0

(444.2)
(76.7)

(520.9)

2017
 $m

830.3

(437.4)
(50.2)

(487.6)

Adjusted Group profit before tax
Adjusted Group profit before tax is defined as the Group profit before tax on total operations (both continuing and discontinued) 
after adjusting items, excluding adjusting items relating to tax.

Return on operating capital employed
The return on operating capital employed (ROCE) is defined as operating profit after adjusting items divided by operating capital 
employed, expressed as a percentage. Operating capital employed comprises fixed assets (excluding goodwill), working capital 
and operating provisions. Operating provisions include self insurance and environmental provisions but exclude retirement 
benefit obligations.

Average trade working capital to sales ratio
The trade working capital to sales ratio is defined as the 12 month average trade working capital divided by sales, expressed as a 
percentage. Trade working capital comprises inventories, trade receivables (net of provisions) and trade payables. It specifically 
excludes repayments, capital or interest related receivables or payables, changes due to currency movements and items 
classified as other receivables and other payables.

Adjusted operating profit/operating margin
Adjusted operating profit is the profit derived from the normal operations of the business. Adjusted operating margin is the ratio of 
operating profit, after adjusting items, to sales.

125  Elementis plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

STRATEGIC REPORTCORPORATE GOVERNANCEFINANCIAL STATEMENTSSHAREHOLDER INFORMATIONNOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2018 
CONTINUED

6.  INCOME TAX EXPENSE

Current tax on continuing operations:

Recognition of UK Advance Corporation Tax credits 
UK corporation tax
Overseas corporation tax on continuing operations
Adjustments in respect of prior years:
  United Kingdom
  Overseas

Total current tax

Deferred tax:
United Kingdom
Overseas
Adjustment in respect of prior years:
  United Kingdom
  Overseas

Total deferred tax

Income tax (credit)/expense for the year

Comprising:

Income tax expense for the year

Adjusting items*
  Overseas taxation on adjusting items
  UK taxation on adjusting items
  Recognition of change in rate of tax (US)

Taxation on adjusting items

Income tax expense for the year after adjusting items

*  See Note 5 for details of adjusting items.

2018
$m

–
8.1
11.7

(0.9)
(0.2)

18.7

(1.4)
3.8

(0.4)
(5.1)

(3.1)

15.6

15.6

6.6
2.2
–

8.8

24.4

2017
$m

–
6.9
16.0

–
–

22.9

1.0
(59.3)

0.3
0.9

(57.1)

(34.2)

(34.2)

5.7
–
51.0

56.7

22.5

The tax charge on profits represents an effective rate after adjusting items for the year ended 31 December 2018 of 21.6% (2017: 
20.5%). The Group is international, has operations in several jurisdictions and benefits from cross border financing arrangements. 
Accordingly, tax charges of the Group in future periods will be affected by the profitability of operations in different jurisdictions, 
changes to tax rates and regulations in the jurisdictions within which the Group has operations, as well as the ongoing impact of 
the Group’s funding arrangements. The medium term expectation for the Group’s effective tax rate is around 22.0%.

The total charge for the year can be reconciled to the accounting profit as follows:

Profit before tax on continuing operations

Tax on ordinary activities at 19.00% (2017: 19.25%)*
Difference in overseas effective tax rates
Income not taxable and impact of tax efficient financing
Expenses not deductible for tax purposes
Adjustments in respect of prior years
Tax rate changes
Movement in unrecognised deferred tax
Recognition of adjusting tax items

Tax charge and effective tax rate for the year

2018
$m

65.4

12.4
1.5
(6.8)
16.6
(6.6)
(1.3)
(0.2)
–

15.6

2018
 %

19.0
2.3
(10.5)
25.4
(10.2)
(2.0)
(0.3)
–

23.9

2017
$m

78.5

15.1
(1.2)
(4.3)
6.0
1.2
–
–
(51.0)

(34.2)

2017
%

19.2
(1.5)
(5.5)
7.6
1.5
–
–
(64.9)

(43.6)

*  The UK corporation tax rate will reduce to 17% from 1 April 2020; this reduction was substantively enacted on 26 October 2015.

The tax credit related to discontinued operations is $2.0m (2017: charge of $0.9m).

126  Elementis plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

7.  PROFIT FOR THE YEAR
Profit for the year including discontinued operations has been arrived at after charging/(crediting):

Employee costs (see Note 8)

Net foreign exchange losses/(gains) 

Research and development costs

Depreciation of property, plant and equipment
Amortisation of intangible assets

Total depreciation and amortisation expense

Profit/loss on disposal of property, plant and equipment

Write off of inventory 

Cost of inventories recognised as expense

Fees payable to the Company’s auditor and its associates:
Audit of company
Audit of subsidiaries
Audit related services – interim review
Services related to corporate finance transactions

8.  EMPLOYEES

Employee costs:
Wages and salaries
Social security costs
Pension costs

Average number of FTE employees*:
Specialty Products
Mondo**
Chromium
Central

Total from continuing operations

Discontinued operations**

Total including discontinued operations

2018
$m

134.6

(0.3)

9.3

30.2
15.7

45.9

0.6

1.2

2017
$m

142.3

0.1

8.6

27.2
12.5

39.7

3.2

3.3

384.5

386.9

0.4
1.0
0.1
0.3

2018
$m

117.4
9.5
7.7

134.6

0.3
0.6
0.1
0.5

2017
$m

126.9
9.7
5.7

142.3

Number

Number

1,155
41
258
18

1,472

33

1,505

1,147
–
253
17

1,417

204

1,621

23

*  Full time equivalent including contractors.
**  The discontinued operations and Mondo have both been included on a 12 month average basis but were only active for 2 out of the 12 months.

The aggregate amount of Directors’ remuneration (salary, bonus and benefits) is shown in the Remuneration Report on page 83;
 − The aggregate amount of gains made by Directors on exercise of share options was $0.9m (2017: $0.8m).
 − The remuneration of the highest paid Director was $1.6m (2017: $2.5m).
 − Payments have been made to a defined contribution pension scheme on behalf of 1 Directors (2017: 1 Directors). For the highest 

paid Director, pension contributions of $0.2m (2017: $0.2m) were made.

127  Elementis plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

STRATEGIC REPORTCORPORATE GOVERNANCEFINANCIAL STATEMENTSSHAREHOLDER INFORMATIONNOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2018 
CONTINUED

9.  EARNINGS PER SHARE
The calculation of the basic and diluted earnings per share attributable to the ordinary equity holders of the parent is based on 
the following:

Continuing
operations
2018
$m

Discontinued
operations
2018
$m

Total of all 
operations
2018
$m

Continuing
operations
2017
$m

Discontinued
operations
2017
$m

Totalof all 
operations
2017
$m

Earnings:
Earnings for the purpose of basic earnings 
per share
Adjusting items net of tax

Adjusted earnings

49.8
38.9

88.7

(8.4)
8.1

(0.3)

41.4
47.0

88.4

Number of shares:
Weighted average number of shares for the purposes of basic earnings per share
Effect of dilutive share options

Weighted average number of shares for the purposes of diluted earnings per share

112.7
(25.4)

87.3

2018
m

520.9
5.4

526.3

4.9
(0.4)

4.5

117.6
(25.8)

91.8

Rebased

Reported

2017
m

506.1
6.9

513.0

2017
m

463.2
6.3

469.5

Continuing
operations
2018
cents

Discontinued
operations
2018
cents

Total
of all 
operations
2018
cents

Continuing
operations
2017
cents

Discontinued
operations
2017
cents

Total
of all 
operations
2017
cents

Continuing
operations
2017
cents

Discontinued
operations
2017
cents

Total
of all 
operations
2017
cents

Rebased

Reported

Earnings per share:
Basic
Diluted
Basic after adjusting items
Diluted after adjusting items

9.5
9.5
17.0
16.9

(1.6)
(1.6)
–
–

7.9
7.9
17.0
16.9

22.3
22.0
17.2
17.0

1.0
1.0
0.9
0.9

23.3
23.0
18.1
17.9

24.3
24.0
18.8
18.6

1.1
1.0
1.0
0.9

25.4
25.0
19.8
19.5

The weighted average number of ordinary shares for the year to 31 December 2017 has been rebased to reflect the Rights Issue 
completed in the current year. The adjustment to the weighted average number of ordinary shares reflects the bonus element of the 
Rights Issue. All other factors remain unchanged.

128  Elementis plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

10.  GOODWILL AND OTHER INTANGIBLE ASSETS

Cost:

At 1 January 2017
Exchange differences
Additions
Intangible assets arising on the acquisition 
of SummitReheis
Reclassification as held for sale

At 31 December 2017
Exchange differences
Additions
Intangible assets arising on the acquisition of Mondo

At 31 December 2018

Amortisation:

At 1 January 2017
Charge for the year
Reclassification as held for sale

At 31 December 2017
Charge for the year

At 31 December 2018

Carrying amount:

At 31 December 2018

At 31 December 2017

At 1 January 2017

Goodwill
$m

Brand
$m

Customer lists
$m

321.2
5.8
–

203.0
(3.1)

526.9
(10.1)
–
200.5

717.3

–
–
–

–
–

–

717.3

526.9

321.2

22.6
1.1
–

3.2
–

26.9
(0.5)
–
–

26.4

–
0.8
–

0.8
1.1

1.9

24.5

26.1

22.6

–
2.8
–

136.9
–

139.7
(1.2)
–
40.9

179.4

–
6.2
–

6.2
8.5

14.7

164.7

133.5

–

Other 
intangible
assets
$m

39.1
1.3
2.2

19.0
(3.7)

57.9
(3.1)
1.2
47.3

Total
$m

382.9
11.0
2.2

362.1
(6.8)

751.4
(14.9)
1.2
288.7

103.3

1,026.4

23.0
5.5
(1.3)

27.2
6.0

33.2

70.1

30.7

16.1

23.0
12.5
(1.3)

34.2
15.6

49.8

976.6

717.2

359.9

The amortisation charge includes $nil (2017: $0.4m) in respect of discontinued operations related to the amortisation of capitalised 
REACH costs.

Goodwill acquired in a business combination is allocated, at acquisition, to the CGUs that are expected to benefit from that 
business combination.

The carrying amount of goodwill at 31 December 2018 resulting from the split of Elementis Specialty Products is now allocated to 
Elementis Coatings $202.7m, Energy $28.4m and Personal Care $293.3m the three new operating segments and CGUs. The 
carrying value of goodwill attributable to Elementis Specialty Products in 2017 was $523.8m. The acquisition of Mondo has resulted 
in the addition of $200.5m of goodwill which sits within the new Talc segment and CGU. The goodwill associated with Elementis 
Surfactants (2018: $3.1m, 2017: $3.1m) has now been disposed of and there is no goodwill associated with Elementis Chromium. 

The Group tests annually for impairment, or more frequently, if there are events or circumstances indicate that the carrying amount 
may not be recoverable. The recoverable amounts of the CGUs are determined from value in use calculations. The key 
assumptions for the value in use calculations are those regarding the discount rates, growth rates and expected changes to selling 
prices and direct costs. Management estimates discount rates using pre-tax rates that reflect current market assessments of the 
time value of money and the risks specific to the CGUs. In order to stress test the results over a wider range of conditions, 
management has expanded its testing to include discount rates based on a variety of equity risk premiums and different capital 
structures that reflect the potential variability of risk within the CGUs. During the testing a range of discount rates from 9.1% to 
13.5% (2017: 10.1% to 15.0%) were used. In these cases, if estimates of future growth were reduced by 5.0% per annum, there 
would still be adequate headroom to support the carrying value of the assets.

The Group prepares cash flow forecasts derived from the most recent plans approved by management for the next three years 
with cash flows for periods beyond three years extrapolated based on estimated growth rates of between 5.0% and 7.5%. The 
rates do not exceed the average long term growth rate for the relevant markets. Changes in selling prices and direct costs are 
based on past practices and expectations of future changes in the market. The results of the impairment testing using the 
assumptions discussed show that there is no indication that goodwill might be impaired.

129  Elementis plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

STRATEGIC REPORTCORPORATE GOVERNANCEFINANCIAL STATEMENTSSHAREHOLDER INFORMATIONNOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2018 
CONTINUED

10.  GOODWILL AND OTHER INTANGIBLE ASSETS CONTINUED
The brand intangibles represent the value ascribed to the trading name and reputation of the Deuchem, Fancor, Watercryl, Hi-Mar 
and SummitReheis acquisitions. The Group, with the exception of SummitReheis, considers these to have significant and ongoing 
value to the business that will be maintained and it is therefore considered appropriate to assign these assets an indefinite useful 
life. The brand relating to SummitReheis is being amortised over a period of three years. The carrying amount of brand intangibles 
with an indefinite useful life as at 31 December 2018 is $23.1m (2017: $23.7m). Brand intangibles are tested annually for impairment 
using similar assumptions to the goodwill testing. The remaining intangible assets comprise the value ascribed to customer lists, 
patents and non-compete clauses, which are being amortised over periods of five to 24 years.

11.  PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT

Cost:
At 1 January 2017
Additions
Exchange differences
Disposals
Acquisitions through business combinations
Reclassifications
Reclassification as held for sale

At 31 December 2017
Additions
Exchange differences
Disposals
Acquisitions through business combinations
Reclassifications
Reclassification as held for sale

At 31 December 2018

Accumulated depreciation:
At 1 January 2017
Charge for the year
Exchange differences
Disposals
Reclassifications
Reclassification as held for sale

At 31 December 2017
Charge for the year
Exchange differences
Disposals
Reclassifications
Reclassification as held for sale

At 31 December 2018

Net book value:

At 31 December 2018

At 31 December 2017

At 1 January 2017

Land and 
buildings
$m

Plant and 
machinery
$m

Fixtures 
fittings and
equipment
$m

Under 
construction
$m

134.9
–
6.2
(0.5)
8.3
3.5
(25.2)

127.2
–
(3.1)
(19.6)
15.8
5.2
–

125.5

84.3
3.9
4.1
(0.2)
(0.1)
(19.0)

73.0
2.9
(1.7)
(18.7)
–
–

55.5

70.0

54.2

50.6

480.8
3.0
25.5
(14.8)
8.5
24.3
(117.3)

410.0
8.2
(14.9)
(85.1)
231.6
30.9
–

580.8

344.4
21.6
21.7
(11.8)
0.1
(97.0)

279.0
25.1
(7.7)
(84.9)
(0.4)
–

211.1

369.7

131.0

136.4

49.3
0.1
1.9
(1.5)
0.9
1.8
(10.1)

42.4
–
(0.6)
(1.1)
0.4
3.3
–

44.4

37.6
1.7
1.6
(1.4)
–
(9.6)

29.9
1.6
(0.4)
(0.5)
0.4
–

31.0

13.4

12.5

11.7

18.6
40.1
1.5
–
1.1
(29.6)
(9.9)

21.8
40.9
(0.3)
(0.3)
2.4
(39.4)
–

25.1

–
–
–
–
–
–

–
–
–
–
–
–

–

25.1

21.8

18.6

Total
$m

683.6
43.2
35.1
(16.8)
18.8
–
(162.5)

601.4
49.2
(18.9)
(106.1)
250.2
–
–

775.8

466.3
27.2
27.4
(13.4)
–
(125.6)

381.9
29.6
(9.8)
(104.1)
–
–

297.6

478.2

219.5

217.3

Group capital expenditure contracted but not provided for in these financial statements amounted to $nil (2017: $nil). 

130  Elementis plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

12.  INVENTORIES

Raw materials and consumables
Work in progress
Finished goods and goods purchased for resale

Inventories are disclosed net of provisions for obsolescence of $7.8m (2017: $5.8m).

13.  TRADE AND OTHER RECEIVABLES

Trade receivables
Other receivables
Prepayments and accrued income

14.  TRADE AND OTHER PAYABLES

Trade payables
Other taxes and social security
Other payables
Accruals and deferred income

15.  PROVISIONS

At 1 January 2018

Charged/(credited) to the income statement:
Increase in provisions due to change in discount rate 
Set up/(release) of provisions
Unwinding of discount
Utilised during the year
Currency translation differences
Additional provision on acquisition
Reclassified as held for sale

At 31 December 2018

Due within 1 year
Due after 1 year

Environmental  

$m

27.8

–
18.8
1.1
(6.5)
(0.5)
2.6
–

43.3

5.0
38.3

Self insurance
$m

2.2

–
(0.4)
–
(0.3)
–
–
–

1.5

1.0
0.5

Restructuring  

$m

0.1

–
1.1
–
(0.4)
–
–
–

0.8

0.8
–

2018
$m

70.6
15.3
102.8

188.7

2018
$m

112.4
13.9
13.1

139.4

2018
$m

61.6
–
20.9
58.1

140.6

Other  
$m

2.6

–
–
–
(0.5)
(0.2)
1.3
–

3.2

0.5
2.7

2017
$m

50.8
13.8
79.0

143.6

2017
$m

109.9
4.1
10.6

124.6

2017
$m

53.6
–
10.1
54.0

117.7

Total 
$m

32.7

–
19.5
1.1
(7.7)
(0.5)
3.9
–

48.8

7.3
41.5

Environmental provisions relate to manufacturing and distribution sites including certain sites no longer owned by the Group. 
These provisions have been derived using a discounted cash flow methodology and reflect the extent to which it is probable that 
expenditure will be incurred over the next 25 years. Included within environmental provisions are amounts in respect of all 
anticipated costs related to the closure and remediation of the Chromium UK site at Eaglescliffe. 

Of the $18.8m charged to environmental provisions, $16.5m relates to additional remediation work identified and future monitoring 
costs, predominantly at our Eaglescliffe, Corpus Christi and Castle Hayne sites. These charges are included within adjusting items 
(see Note 5).

If the cost estimates on which the provisions at 31 December 2018 are based were to change by 10%, the provision recognised 
would need to change by approximately $3.9m. Whilst a range of outcomes is possible, the Directors believe that the reasonably 
possible range for the environmental provision is from $37.1m to $44.3m.

131  Elementis plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

STRATEGIC REPORTCORPORATE GOVERNANCEFINANCIAL STATEMENTSSHAREHOLDER INFORMATIONNOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2018 
CONTINUED

15.  PROVISIONS CONTINUED
Self-insurance provisions represent the aggregate of outstanding claims plus a projection of losses incurred but not reported. 
The self-insurance provisions are expected to be utilised within five years.

Restructuring provisions relate to costs of adjusting head count, training, relocation and other costs of restructuring where a need 
to do so has been identified by management and are expected to be utilised within one year.

Other provisions represent payments made for right of first refusal on a quarry, payments for which are linked to the discharge 
of residue into another quarry owned by the same counterparty. These provisions are expected to be utilised within five years.

16.  DEFERRED TAX AND ACT RECOVERABLE

At 1 January 2017
Arising on acquisition
(Charge)/credit to the income statement
Charge to other comprehensive income
Charge to retained earnings
Currency translation differences
Reclassification as held for sale

At 1 January 2018
Arising on acquisition
(Charge)/credit to the income statement
Charge to other comprehensive income
Charge to retained earnings
Currency translation differences

At 31 December 2018

Deferred tax assets

Deferred tax liabilities

Retirement 
benefit 
plans
$m

Accelerated 
tax 
depreciation
$m

Amortisation 
of US 
goodwill
$m

Other 
intangible 
assets
$m

Temporary 
differences
$m

Unrelieved 
tax losses
$m

10.2
–
(1.8)
(7.3)
–
(0.2)
–

0.9
–
0.2
(0.2)
–
(0.1)

0.8

0.8

–

(29.4)
–
7.1
–
–
–
2.8

(19.5)
–
(12.1)
–
–
–

(31.6)

(94.5)
–
35.0
–
–
–
–

(59.5)
–
0.9
–
–
–

(58.6)

–
(52.8)
15.5
–
–
0.6
–

(36.7)
(43.2)
17.1
–
–
1.3

(61.5)

–

–

–

(31.6)

(58.6)

(61.5)

13.5
0.3
1.2
–
(1.4)
(0.1)
0.5

14.0
0.4
4.6
–
(2.2)
0.4

17.2

17.2

–

7.6
–
–
–
–
–
–

7.6
6.3
(7.5)
–
–
–

6.4

6.4

–

Total
$m

(92.6)
(52.5)
57.0
(7.3)
(1.4)
0.3
3.3

(93.2)
(36.5)
3.2
(0.2)
(2.2)
1.6

(127.3)

24.4

(151.7)

Deferred tax assets have been recognised to the extent that it is considered more likely than not that there will be taxable profits 
from which the future reversal of the underlying timing differences can be deducted. Where this is not the case, deferred tax 
assets have not been recognised. 

Deferred tax liabilities are reduced for any deferred tax assets which exist within a jurisdiction where consolidated tax returns are 
filed and where tax assets and liabilities may be netted.

An asset of $42.0m was recognised in 2014 relating to UK advance corporation tax (‘ACT’) credits which had previously been 
unrecognised because of uncertainty over future UK taxable profits. Movements in the ACT recoverable balance are shown below:

At 1 January 
Recognition of UK ACT credits
Utilisation 
Currency translation differences

At 31 December 

2018
$m

16.2
–
(8.1)
1.7

9.8

2017
$m

23.0
–
(8.6)
1.8

16.2

There are no material losses where deferred tax assets have not been recognised.

At the balance sheet date the aggregate amount of the temporary differences in relation to the investment in subsidiaries for which 
deferred tax liabilities have not been recognised was $20.7m (2017: $19.2m). No liability has been recognised in respect of these 
differences because the Group is in a position to control the timing of the reversal of the temporary differences and the Group 
considers that it is probable that such differences will not reverse in the foreseeable future.

132  Elementis plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

17.  SHARE CAPITAL

At 1 January
Issue of shares

At 31 December

2018
$m

44.4
7.7

52.1

2017
$m

44.4
–

44.4

In October 2018 the Group undertook a Rights Issue on the basis of one share for every four fully paid ordinary shares held. A total 
of 116,058,808 ordinary shares were issued at £1.52 per share. Gross proceeds of $232.7m were received resulting in an increase 
in share premium of $214.5m after expenses.

Further details of share capital are set out in Note 9 to the Parent Company Financial Statements.

18.  OTHER RESERVES

Balance at 1 January 2017
Share based payments
Exchange differences
Increase in fair value of derivatives
Transfer

At 1 January 2018
Share based payments
Exchange differences
Increase in fair value of derivatives
Transfer

Balance at 31 December 2018

Capital 
redemption 
reserve 
$m

Translation 
reserve 
$m

Hedging 
reserve 
$m

Share options 
reserve 
$m

158.8
–
–
–
–

158.8
–
–
–
–

158.8

(79.9)
–
22.7
–
–

(57.2)
–
(15.8)
–
–

(73.0)

(7.3)
–
–
0.4
–

(6.9)
–
–
1.3
–

(5.6)

3.6
2.8
0.1
–
(2.2)

4.3
2.9
(0.4)
–
(1.5)

5.3

Total 
$m

75.2
2.8
22.8
0.4
(2.2)

99.0
2.9
(16.2)
1.3
(1.5)

85.5

The Company can redeem shares by repaying the market value to the shareholder, whereupon the shares are cancelled. 
Redemption must be from distributable profits. The capital redemption reserve represents the nominal value of the 
shares redeemed.

The translation reserve comprises all foreign currency differences arising from the translation of the financial statements of foreign 
operations as well as from the translation of liabilities that hedge the Company’s net investment in a foreign subsidiary. 

The hedging reserve comprises the effective portion of the cumulative net change in the fair value of cash flow hedging 
instruments related to hedged transactions that have not yet occurred.

The share options reserve comprises amounts accumulated in equity in respect of share options and awards granted to employees.

133  Elementis plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

STRATEGIC REPORTCORPORATE GOVERNANCEFINANCIAL STATEMENTSSHAREHOLDER INFORMATIONNOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2018 
CONTINUED

19.  BORROWINGS

Bank loans

The borrowings are repayable as follows:

Within one year
In the fifth year

The weighted average interest rates paid were as follows:

Bank loans

Group borrowings were denominated as follows: 

2018 
$m

594.2

2.8
591.4

594.2

2018
%

3.7

2017 
$m

346.1

2.7
343.4

346.1

2017
 %

2.7

Bank loans
31 December 2017

31 December 2018

US Dollar

Taiwan Dollar

Brazilian Real

Euro

Other

Total

305.0

275.0

2.7

2.6

–

–

38.4

316.6

–

–

346.1

594.2

Of the US dollar borrowings, $nil was unsecured (2017: $nil), bearing interest at the relevant interbank rates plus a margin. The 
Taiwan dollar and remaining US dollar borrowings consisted of those secured by time deposits and those secured by charges over 
various land and buildings in Taiwan.

20.  CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS
Cash and cash equivalents for the purpose of the consolidated cash flow statement comprise the following:

Cash and cash equivalents

21.  FINANCIAL RISK MANAGEMENT
21(a) Risk management objectives
The Group has exposure to the following risks from its use of financial instruments:
 − Credit risk
 − Liquidity risk
 − Market risk

2018
$m

96.1

2017
$m

55.0

The Board of Directors has overall responsibility for the establishment and oversight of the Group’s risk management framework. 
The Group’s risk management policies are established to identify and analyse the risks faced by the Group, to set appropriate risk 
limits and controls and to monitor risks and adherence to limits. Risk management policies and systems are reviewed regularly to 
reflect changes in market conditions and the Group’s activities.

The Group’s Audit Committee oversees how management monitors compliance with the Group’s risk management policies and 
procedures and reviews the adequacy of the risk management framework in relation to the risks faced by the Group. The Group’s 
Audit Committee is assisted in its oversight role by Internal Audit. Internal Audit undertakes both regular and ad hoc reviews of risk 
management controls and procedures, the results of which are reported to the Audit Committee.

(i) Credit risk
Credit risk is the risk of financial loss to the Group if a customer or counterparty to a financial instrument fails to meet its contractual 
obligations, and arises principally from the Group’s receivables from customers.

Trade and other receivables
The Group’s exposure to credit risk is influenced mainly by the individual characteristics of each customer. The demographics of 
the Group’s customer base, including the default risk of the industry and country in which customers operate, has less influence 
on credit risk. No single customer accounts for a significant proportion of the Group’s revenue.

Each new customer is analysed individually for creditworthiness before the Group’s standard payment and delivery terms and 
conditions are offered. The Group’s review includes external ratings, where available, and in some cases bank references. 
Purchase limits are established for each customer, which represents the maximum open amount without requiring approval from 
the Board of Directors. Customers that fail to meet the Group’s benchmark creditworthiness may transact with the Group only on 
a prepayment basis.

134  Elementis plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

The Group applies the IFRS 9 simplified approach in establishing an allowance for expected credit losses (ECLs). Therefore, the 
Group does not track changes in credit risk but instead recognises a loss allowance based on lifetime ECLs at each reporting 
date. A provision matrix is used to calculate lifetime ECLs which takes into account the Group’s historical credit loss experience 
adjusted for historical conditions that are not relevant to future cashflows and forward looking factors specific to the debtor and 
economic environment.

Investments
The Group limits its exposure to credit risk through a treasury policy that imposes graduated limits on the amount of funds that can 
be deposited with counterparties by reference to the counterparties’ credit ratings, as defined by Standard & Poor’s or Moody’s. 
Management does not expect any counterparty to fail to meet its obligations.

Exposure to credit risk
The carrying amount of financial assets represents the maximum credit exposure. The maximum exposure to credit risk at the 
reporting date was:

Trade receivables
Other receivables
Cash and cash equivalents

The maximum exposure to credit risk for trade receivables at the reporting date by geographic region was:

North America
Europe
Rest of the world

Carrying amount

2018
$m

112.4
13.9
 96.1

222.2

Carrying amount

2018
$m

35.0
36.6
40.8

112.4

2017
$m

109.9
4.1
55.0

169.0

2017
$m

30.2
30.8
48.9

109.9

Expected credit losses
Set out below is the information about the credit risk exposure on the Group’s trade receivables using a provision matrix:

Not past due
Past due 0-30 days
Past due 31-120 days
Past due > 121 days

Total

Gross
2018
$m

98.4
12.4
2.7
0.9

114.4

Expected credit 
loss rate

Expected credit 
loss
2018
$m

1.6%
0.8%
3.7%
22.2%

(1.6)
(0.1)
(0.1)
(0.2)

(2.0)

Gross
2017
$m

97.9
8.6
3.3
1.0

110.8

The movement in the allowance for expected credit losses during the year was as follows:

Balance at 1 January – calculated under IFRS 9
Increase in expected credit loss allowance recognised in profit or loss during the year
Increase in provision on acquisition of SummitReheis
Increase in provision on acquisition of Mondo

Balance at 31 December

Expected credit 
loss rate

Impairment
2017
$m

0.6%
–
–
30.0%

2018
$m

0.9
0.1
–
1.0

2.0

(0.6)
–
–
(0.3)

(0.9)

2017
$m

0.6
0.1
0.2
–

0.9

The allowance for expected credit losses relates primarily to customers of Elementis Chromium who, due to their payment history 
and geographic location, are assessed as having a higher exposure to credit risk than is acceptable. An allowance for expected 
credit losses is therefore deemed to be appropriate.

135  Elementis plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

STRATEGIC REPORTCORPORATE GOVERNANCEFINANCIAL STATEMENTSSHAREHOLDER INFORMATIONNOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2018 
CONTINUED

21.  FINANCIAL RISK MANAGEMENT CONTINUED
(ii) Liquidity risk
Liquidity risk is the risk that the Group will not be able to meet its financial obligations as they fall due. The Group’s approach to 
managing liquidity is to ensure, as far as possible, that it will always have sufficient liquidity to meet its liabilities when due, under 
both normal and stressed conditions, without incurring unacceptable losses or risking damage to the Group’s reputation. The 
Group’s funding policy is to have committed borrowings in place to cover at least 125% of the maximum forecast net borrowings 
for the next 12 month period. At the year end the Group had $206.5m (2017: $158.2m) of undrawn committed facilities, of which 
$180.0m expires after more than 1 year. 

Exposure to liquidity risk
The following are the contractual maturities of financial liabilities, including interest payments and excluding the impact of 
netting agreements:

Non-derivative financial liabilities at amortised cost:
Unsecured bank loan
Secured bank loan
Trade and other payables*

*  Excludes derivatives.

Non-derivative financial liabilities:
Unsecured bank loan
Secured bank loan
Trade and other payables*

*  Excludes derivatives.

31 December 2018

Carrying
 amount 
$m

Contractual 
cash flows
$m

6 months 
or less
$m

6-12 
months
$m

–
594.2
72.5

666.9

–
(594.2)
(72.5)

(666.9)

–
(2.8)
(72.5)

(75.3)

–
–
–

–

31 December 2017

Carrying
 amount 
$m

Carrying
cash flows
$m

6 months
 or less 
$m

6-12
 months 
$m

–
346.1
69.0

415.1

–
(346.1)
(69.0)

(415.1)

–
(2.7)
(69.0)

(71.7)

–
–
–

–

1 year 
or more 
 $m

–
(591.4)
–

(591.6)

1 year
 or more 
$m

–
(343.4)
–

(343.4)

Bank loans have been drawn under committed facilities and can be re-financed on maturity from the same facilities. The 
contractual maturities indicated reflect the maturing of the loans rather than the end date of the facilities.

(iii) Market risk
Market risk is the risk that changes in market prices, such as foreign exchange rates and interest rates, will affect the Group’s 
income or the value of its holdings of financial instruments. The objective of market risk management is to manage and control 
market risk exposures within acceptable parameters, whilst optimising the return on risk.

The Group uses derivatives in the ordinary course of business, and also incurs financial liabilities, in order to manage market risks. 
All such transactions are carried out within the guidelines set by the Board.

Market risk – currency risk
The Group is exposed to currency risk on sales, purchases and borrowings that are denominated in a foreign currency other than 
the respective functional currencies of Group entities, primarily the US dollar and the euro. The Group hedges up to 100% of 
current and forecast trade receivables and trade payables denominated in a foreign currency. The Group uses forward exchange 
contracts to hedge its currency risk, with a maturity of less than one year from the reporting date.

Interest on borrowings is denominated in currencies that match the cash flows generated by the underlying operations of the 
Group, primarily US dollar, but also euro and pounds sterling. This provides an economic hedge in instances where hedging 
derivatives are not entered into. In respect of other monetary assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies, the Group 
ensures that its net exposure is kept to an acceptable level by buying or selling foreign currencies at spot rates when necessary 
to address short term imbalances.

The Group’s net investment in overseas subsidiaries creates exposure to foreign exchange fluctuations. The risk is hedged by 
US dollar and euro denominated drawdowns under the syndicated facility designated as the hedged item in net investment hedge 
relationships. This mitigates the currency risk arising from the retranslation of a subsidiary’s net assets into pounds sterling, the 
functional currency of the ultimate parent Elementis plc.

136  Elementis plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

Exposure to currency risk 
The Group’s exposure to currency risk was as follows based on notional amounts:

Trade receivables
Trade payables

Gross balance sheet exposure
Forward exchange contracts

Net exposure

2018

2017

USD
 $m

62.4
(35.4)

27.0
–

27.0

Euro
 $m

27.9
(10.6)

17.3
–

17.3

Other
 $m

22.1
(15.6)

6.5
–

6.5

USD
$m

59.5
(28.8)

30.7
–

30.7

Euro
$m

29.6
(12.9)

16.7
(28.8)

(12.1)

Other
 $m

20.8
(11.9)

8.9
28.8

37.7

The main exchange rates relevant to the Group are set out in the Finance report on page 40.

Currency risk sensitivity analysis
A 10% strengthening of US dollar against the following currencies at 31 December 2018 would have increased/(decreased) 
equity and profit or loss by the amounts shown below. The analysis assumes that all other variables, in particular interest rates, 
remain constant.

31 December 2018
GBP
Euro
RMB
TWD

31 December 2017
GBP
Euro
RMB
TWD

Equity 
$m

Profit or loss
$m

(14.9)
(58.0)
(4.1)
(2.7)

(24.9)
(47.1)
(3.8)
(3.2)

3.5
(7.8)
(1.3)
(0.1)

2.5
(5.1)
(1.6)
0.1

A 10% strengthening of USD against all currencies will have increased/(decreased) the carrying amount of variable rate instruments 
as follows:

Variable rate instruments
Financial liabilities

Carrying amount

2018
$m

(31.9)

2017
$m

(4.1)

Market risk – interest rate
The Group’s policy is to borrow at both fixed and floating interest rates and to use interest rate swaps to generate the required 
interest profile. These interest swaps are designated within cashflow hedging relationships with the interest payments on the 
borrowings they are hedging. The risk being hedged is the exposure of the Group to market rate volatility on a portion of the core 
Group debt. The Group policy does not require that a specific proportion of the Group’s borrowings are at fixed rates of interest.

Interest rate sensitivity analysis
A change of 100 basis points in interest rates at the reporting date would have increased/(decreased) profit or loss by the amounts 
shown below. This analysis assumes that all other variables, in particular foreign currency rates, remain constant. 

Variable rate instruments

100bp  
increase 
$m

(3.5)

2018  
Profit or loss 
 100bp  
decrease 
$m

2.8

100bp 
 increase  

$m

(1.8)

2017 
Profit or loss  
100bp  
decrease  

 $m

1.8

137  Elementis plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

STRATEGIC REPORTCORPORATE GOVERNANCEFINANCIAL STATEMENTSSHAREHOLDER INFORMATIONNOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2018 
CONTINUED

21.  FINANCIAL RISK MANAGEMENT CONTINUED
Other market price risk 
Equity price risk arises from equity securities held within the Group’s defined benefit pension obligations. In respect of the US 
schemes, management monitors the mix of debt and equity securities in its investment portfolio based on market expectations. 
The primary goal of the Group’s investment strategy is to maximise investment returns, without excessive risk taking, in order to 
meet partially the Group’s unfunded benefit obligations; management is assisted by external advisers in this regard. In respect 
of the UK scheme, the investment strategy is set by the trustees and the Board is kept informed.

The Group does not enter into commodity contracts other than to meet the Group’s expected usage and sale requirements; 
such contracts are not settled net.

(iv) Capital management
The Board’s policy is to maintain a strong capital base so as to maintain investor, creditor and market confidence, sustain future 
development of the business and maximise shareholder value. The capital structure of the Group consists of debt, cash and cash 
equivalents and equity attributable to equity holders of the parent comprising capital, reserves and retained earnings. Financing 
for the recent acquisition of Mondo was part funded through a Rights Issue and part through drawdowns on the Group’s 
syndicated borrowing facility. 

The Group utilises a mix of debt funding sources including term loans and revolving credit facilities (RCF) from the Group’s 
syndicated borrowing facility with differing maturities to ensure continuity and provide flexibility. The group is subject to two 
financial covenants which apply to the Group’s syndicated borrowing facility, as such the group is required to maintain a ratio of 
net debt to EBITDA of less than 3.75x and minimum net interest cover of 3.0x (in relation to earnings before net interest expense 
and tax). The Net debt to EBITDA ratio stood at 2.5x times at 31 December 2018 and the Directors anticipate the strong cash 
generation of the Enlarged Group to drive a material deleveraging profile going forwards, with leverage reducing to a net debt to 
EBITDA ratio of around 2.0x by the end of 2019. Net interest cover at 31 December 2018 was 10.0x.

The Board monitors the return on operating capital employed (ROCE) both including and excluding goodwill, as defined on 
pages 30 and 31. The Group’s target is to achieve a ROCE (including goodwill) in excess of our weighted average cost of capital. 

The dividend policy is set out in the Chairman’s statement on pages 8 and 9.

The following table shows amounts recognised in profit or loss in relation to financial assets and liabilities within the scope of IFRS 9:

Recognised in profit or loss
Interest income on bank deposits held at amortised cost

Net change in fair value of cash flow hedges transferred from equity

Financial income

Interest on bank loan held within designated cashflow hedge relationship
Net change in fair value of cash flow hedges transferred from equity

Financial costs

Net financial costs

None of the above relates to financial assets or liabilities held at fair value through profit and loss.

2018 
$m

0.3

0.1

0.4

(16.8)
–

(16.8)

(16.4)

2017 
$m

0.2

–

0.2

(9.7)
(0.3)

(11.1)

(10.9)

138  Elementis plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

The following table shows amounts recognised directly in equity in relation to financial assets and liabilities within the scope of IFRS 9:

Recognised directly in equity
Effective portion of changes in fair value of cash flow hedge
Fair value of cash flow hedges transferred to income statement
Effective portion of change in fair value of net investment hedge
Foreign currency translation differences for foreign operations

Recognised in
Hedging reserve
Translation reserve

Loans and borrowings

Current liabilities
Unsecured bank loan
Secured bank loan

Non-current liabilities
Secured bank loan

2018
$m

1.4
(0.1)
(20.5)
0.5

1.3
(20.0)

2018
$m

–
2.8

2017
$m

0.1
0.3
22.9
(0.2)

0.4
22.7

2017
$m

–
2.7

591.6

343.4

Maturity analysis of financial liabilities
The terms and conditions of outstanding loans and derivatives in liability positions were as follows:

Secured bank loan
Secured bank loan
Secured bank loan

Total liabilities

Currency

USD
TWD
EUR/JPY

Year of 
maturity

2023
2019
2023

Face value 
$m

275.0
2.6
316.6

594.2

2018
Carrying 
amount
 $m

275.0
2.6
316.6

594.2

Face value 
$m

305.0
2.7
38.4

346.1

2017
Carrying 
amount
 $m

305.0
2.7
38.4

346.1

The secured bank loans are secured by guarantees provided by subsidiary companies and against land and buildings in Taiwan.

139  Elementis plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

STRATEGIC REPORTCORPORATE GOVERNANCEFINANCIAL STATEMENTSSHAREHOLDER INFORMATIONNOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2018 
CONTINUED

21.  FINANCIAL RISK MANAGEMENT CONTINUED
21(b) Fair values
Fair values versus carrying amounts
The fair values of financial assets and liabilities and classifications under IFRS 9, together with carrying amounts shown in the 
balance sheet, are as follows:

Financial assets at amortised cost:
Trade and other receivables1
Cash and cash equivalents
Derivative contracts in designated hedging relationships:
Financial assets
Financial liabilities
Financial liabilities at amortised cost:
Unsecured bank facility
Secured bank loan
Trade and other payables1

Unrecognised gain/(loss)

1  Excludes derivatives.

31 December 2018

31 December 2017

Carrying  
amount
 $m

Fair value
$m

Carrying  
amount  

$m

Fair value  

 $m

126.3
96.1

2.0
–

–
(594.2)
(140.6)

(510.4)

–

126.3
96.1

2.0
–

–
(594.2)
(140.6)

(510.4)

–

114.0
55.0

0.9
–

– 
(343.3)
(129.2)

(301.7)

–

114.0
55.0

0.9
–

–
(343.4)
(129.2)

(301.7)

–

Derivatives used for hedging included within current assets amounted to $2.0m at 31 December 2018 (2017: $0.9m) and $nil within 
current liabilities (2017: nil). 

Basis for determining fair values
The Group measures fair values in respect of financial instruments in accordance with IFRS 13, using the following fair value 
hierarchy that reflects the significance of the inputs used in making the measurements:

Level 1: Quoted market price (unadjusted) in an active market for an identical instrument.
Level 2: Valuation techniques based on observable inputs, either directly or indirectly.
Level 3: Valuation techniques using significant unobservable inputs. This category includes contingent consideration.

The following summarises the significant methods and assumptions used in estimating the fair values of financial instruments.

Derivatives (level 2)
The fair value of forward exchange contracts is based on their listed market price, if available. If a listed market price is not 
available, then fair value is estimated by discounting the difference between the contractual forward price and the current forward 
price for the residual maturity of the contract using a risk free interest (based on government bonds).

Non-derivatives financial liabilities (level 2)
Fair value is calculated based on the present value of future principal and interest cash flows, discounted at the market rate of 
interest at the reporting date.

Contingent consideration payable (level 3)
Fair value has been estimated by calculating the present value of the future expected cash flows. Expected cash inflows are 
estimated based on the terms of the sale and purchase contract, the entity’s knowledge of the business and how the current 
economic environment is likely to impact it.

As disclosed in Note 31 a liability of $22.3m has been recognised as at the date of acquisition. There were no significant inter-
relationships between unobservable inputs that materially affect fair values.

140  Elementis plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

Interest rates used for determining fair value
The interest rates used to discount estimated cash flows, where applicable, are based on the government yield curve at the 
reporting date plus an adequate constant credit spread, and were as follows:

Borrowings

2018  
%

2017  
%

1.5–5.2

1.0–3.3

At both 31 December 2017 and 31 December 2018 there was no difference between the carrying value and fair value of 
financial instruments.

21(c) Hedging activities
The Group is exposed to certain risks relating to its ongoing business operations. The primary risks managed using derivative 
instruments are foreign currency risk and interest rate risk.

The Group’s risk management strategy and how it is applied to manage risk are explained in Note 21(a) above.

Derivatives designated as hedging instruments
Cash flow hedges
Foreign currency risk
Foreign exchange forward contracts are designated as hedging instruments in cash flow hedges of forecast sales, these forecast 
transactions are highly probable. The foreign exchange forward contract balances vary with the level of expected foreign currency 
sales and purchases and changes in foreign exchange forward rates.

In the month of maturity of the forward exchange contract, the cash flow from the derivative is matched with the cash flow on the 
transaction. Transactions are for the same currency, amount (portion designated as hedged item) and are expected to occur within 
the same month thus providing the economic relationship. The value of the forward contracts taken out are for the same amount as 
the expected future cash flows resulting in a hedge ratio of 1:1 or 100%.

Interest rate risk
The Group enters into interest rate swaps to swap the interest arising from the Group’s syndicated rolling credit facility from floating 
to fixed. Interest payments are highly probable, the hedged risk is the change in the market interest rate, therefore the margin is not 
included in the designation. The hedged item is the interest rate cash flows on the $100m Facility. A debt maturing Feb 2022, the 
Group’s total USD debt is given in Note 19 to the financial statements.

The principal terms (notional, reset date, tenor) of the hedged item and the hedged instrument have been matched along with the 
contractual interest cash flows, therefore creating an exact offset for this transaction resulting in a net fixed interest payable. As the 
interest rate swap and the hedged item are matched (equal and opposite terms of interest rate, date and maturity) this results in a 
designated hedge ratio of 1:1 or 100%.

Hedge ineffectiveness can arise from:
 − Changes in timing of the hedged item
 − Reduction in the amount of the hedged sales considered to be highly probable or price
 − A change in the credit risk of Elementis or the bank counterparty to the forward contract
 − Foreign currency basis spreads

141  Elementis plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

STRATEGIC REPORTCORPORATE GOVERNANCEFINANCIAL STATEMENTSSHAREHOLDER INFORMATIONNOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2018 
CONTINUED

21.  FINANCIAL RISK MANAGEMENT CONTINUED
The Group is holding the following foreign exchange forward contracts and interest rate swaps: 

Interest rate swaps
Notional amount (in USD (m))
Weighted average hedged rate for the year

The impact of the hedging instruments on the statement of financial position is, as follows: 

Maturity

Less than 
1 month

1 – 5 years

–
–

100.0
2.0%

At 31 December 2018
Interest rate swaps

Notional
amount
$m

100

Carrying
amount
$m

Line item in the
statement of 
 financial position
$m

2.0 Derivatives (Current assets)

The effect of cash flow hedges in the statement of profit or loss and other comprehensive income is, as follows:

Year ended 31 December 2018
Derivative cash flow hedging instruments

Year ended 31 December 2017
Derivative cash flow hedging instruments

Total
hedging gain/
(loss) recognised 
in OCI 
$m

Amount 
reclassified from 
OCI to profit or 
loss 
$m

Line item in the 
statement of  
profit or loss 
$m

1.4

0.1

(0.1) Admin expenses

0.3 Admin expenses

Amounts reclassified from other comprehensive income to profit or loss are due to the hedged item affecting profit or loss in the 
period. There were no instances of non-occurance of hedged cashflows in either the current or comparative period.

142  Elementis plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

Hedge of net investments in foreign operations
The Group’s total EUR borrowings of $316.7m have been designated as a hedge of the net investments in the Group’s EUR 
functional currency subsidiaries. This borrowing is being used to hedge the Group’s exposure to the EUR foreign exchange risk on 
these investments. Gains or losses on the retranslation of this borrowing are transferred to OCI to offset any gains or losses on 
translation of the net investments in the subsidiaries.

The Group’s total USD borrowing of $275.0m has been designated as a hedge of the net investments in the Group’s USD functional 
currency subsidiaries. This borrowing is being used to hedge the Group’s exposure to the USD foreign exchange risk on these 
investments. Gains or losses on the retranslation of this borrowing are transferred to OCI to offset any gains or losses on translation 
of the net investments in the subsidiaries.

The amount and currency of the hedging instrument has been matched to the portion of net assets designated as the hedged item 
therefore changes in the value of the hedging instrument are expected to be highly effective in offsetting the changes in fair value 
of the hedged item forming the basis of the economic relationship. The hedge ratio is based on the value of the net investment 
designated as the hedged item which is the same amount as the respective borrowing (hedging instrument). This results in a 
hedge ratio of 1:1 or 100%. Hedge ineffectiveness will arise if the value of the borrowing designated in the hedge relationship 
exceeds the value of the investment in the foreign subsidiary.

The impact of the hedging instruments on the statement of financial position is, as follows: 

At 31 December 2018
EUR denominated borrowing
USD denominated borrowing

Notional amount
m

Carrying amount
$m

Line item in the

statement of  

financial position
$m

EUR 277.0
USD 275.0

316.8
275.0

Loans and borrowings
Loans and borrowings

The impact of hedged items on the statement of financial position is, as follows: 

Net investment in foreign subsidiaries

Foreign
currency
translation
reserve
$m

0.6

Foreign
currency
translation
reserve
$m

(0.2)

143  Elementis plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

STRATEGIC REPORTCORPORATE GOVERNANCEFINANCIAL STATEMENTSSHAREHOLDER INFORMATIONNOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2018 
CONTINUED

21.  FINANCIAL RISK MANAGEMENT CONTINUED
Impact of hedging on equity
Set out below is the reconciliation of each component of equity and the analysis of other comprehensive income:

As at 1 January 2017
Effective portion of changes in fair value arising from: 
Derivative cash flow hedging instruments
Amount reclassified to profit or loss 
Foreign currency revaluation of the net foreign operations
Foreign currency revaluation of borrowings 
Tax effect 

As at 1 January 2018
Effective portion of changes in fair value arising from: 
Derivative cash flow hedging instruments
Amount reclassified to profit or loss 
Foreign currency revaluation of the net foreign operations
Foreign currency revaluation of borrowings
Tax effect 

As at 31 December 2018

22.  OPERATING LEASES

Minimum lease payments under operating leases recognised as an expense in the year

Cash flow hedge 
reserve 
$m

Foreign currency 
translation 
reserve 
$m

(7.3)

(79.9)

0.1
0.3
–
–
–

(6.9)

1.4
(0.1)
–
–
–

(5.6)

–
–
(0.2)
22.9
–

(57.2)

–
–
0.6
(20.5)
–

(72.9)

2018 
$m

8.1

2017  
$m

4.5

At the balance sheet date, the Group has undiscounted outstanding commitments under non-cancellable operating leases, which 
fall due as follows:

Within one year
In the second to fifth years inclusive
After five years

2018 
$m

10.6
19.7
18.0

48.3

2017 
 $m

4.2
9.5
9.9

23.6

Operating lease payments represent rentals payable by the Group for certain of its properties, plant and machinery. Leases have 
varying terms and renewal rights.

144  Elementis plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

23.  RETIREMENT BENEFIT OBLIGATIONS
The Group has a number of contributory and non-contributory post retirement benefit plans providing retirement benefits for the 
majority of employees and Executive Directors. At 31 December 2018 the main schemes in the UK and US were of the defined 
benefit type, the benefit being based on number of years of service and either the employee’s final remuneration or the employee’s 
average remuneration during a period of years before retirement. The assets of these schemes are held in separate trustee 
administered funds or are unfunded but provided for on the Group balance sheet. 

As mentioned within the critical accounting judgements section in Note 1 – accounting policies, the UK defined benefit scheme 
had a surplus, under IAS 19 of $22.1m (2017: $21.9m). In accordance with the requirements of IFRIC 14 management have 
concluded that the right to reduce the minimum funding contributions when the deficit falls below $10.4m in conjunction with the 
unconditional right to a refund of any surplus under any winding up of the plan provides sufficient evidence that an asset ceiling 
does not exist and as such the full surplus has been recognised.

In addition the Group operates an unfunded post retirement medical benefit (PRMB) scheme in the US. The entitlement to these 
benefits is usually based on the employee remaining in service until retirement age and completion of a minimum service period.

Other employee benefit schemes included in the table overleaf at 1 January 2018 relate to two unfunded pension schemes, 
a long term service award scheme in Germany and a special benefits programme for a small number of former employees of the 
Eaglescliffe plant. The Group also acquired two further unfunded pension schemes and two long term service award schemes 
all in Germany. These are also included within this category.

The Group also operates a small number of defined contribution schemes and the contributions payable during the year are 
recognised as incurred. The pension charge for the defined contribution pension schemes for continuing operations for the year 
is $3.0m (2017: $3.5m).

Net defined benefit liability
The net liability was as follows:

2018
Total market value of assets
Present value of scheme liabilities

Net asset/(liability) recognised in the balance sheet

2017
Total market value of assets
Present value of scheme liabilities

Net asset/(liability) recognised in the balance sheet

UK pension  
scheme 
$m

US pension  
schemes 
$m

US PRMB  
scheme 
$m

671.3
(649.2)

22.1

108.3
(124.0)

(15.7)

–
(5.6)

(5.6)

UK pension  
scheme 
 $m

US pension 
 schemes 
 $m

US PRMB  
scheme  

$m

778.7
(756.8)

21.9

120.3
(135.2)

(14.9)

–
(6.2)

(6.2)

Other
$m

–
(10.7)

(10.6)

Other
$m

–
(11.3)

(11.3)

Total 
 $m

779.6
(789.5)

(9.9)

Total 
$m

899.0
(909.5)

(10.5)

Employer contributions in 2018 were $0.5m (2017: $7.3m) to the UK scheme and $1.9m (2017: $2.6m) to US schemes. Top up 
contributions to the UK scheme in 2019 will be nil based on the 2017 triennial valuation. Further details on agreed future payments 
to the UK pension scheme are included in the Finance Report.

145  Elementis plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

STRATEGIC REPORTCORPORATE GOVERNANCEFINANCIAL STATEMENTSSHAREHOLDER INFORMATIONNOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2018 
CONTINUED

23.  RETIREMENT BENEFIT OBLIGATIONS CONTINUED
Movement in net defined benefit liability
The following table shows a reconciliation from the opening balances to the closing balances for the net defined benefit liability and 
its components.

2018
Balance at 1 January

Included in profit or loss
Current service cost
Past service cost

Running costs
Net interest expense

Included in other comprehensive income
Re-measurements:
Return on plan assets excluding interest income
Actuarial gains/(losses) arising from demographic 
assumptions
Actuarial gains arising from financial assumptions
Actuarial gains/(losses) arising from experience 
adjustment
Exchange differences

Contributions:
Employers

Deficit in schemes at 31 December

UK pension
 scheme 
$m

US pension 
schemes 
$m

US PRMB
scheme 
$m

Other
$m

Total 
$m

21.9

(14.9)

(6.2)

(11.3)

(10.5)

(0.8)
(3.4)

(1.2)
0.5

(4.9)

(0.7)
–

(0.4)
(0.5)

(1.6)

(39.8)

(8.9)

22.0
39.1

(15.4)
(1.3)

4.6

0.5

22.1

0.3
8.1

–
–

(0.5)

1.3

(15.7)

(0.1)
–

–
(0.2)

(0.3)

–

–
0.3

–
–

0.3

0.6

(5.6)

(0.1)
–

–
(0.2)

(0.3)

–

–
–

–
0.5

0.5

0.4

(10.7)

(1.7)
(3.4)

(1.6)
(0.4)

(7.1)

(48.7)

22.3
47.5

(15.4)
(0.8)

4.9

2.8

(9.9)

146  Elementis plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

2017
Balance at 1 January

UK pension
 scheme 
$m

US pension 
schemes 
$m

US PRMB
scheme 
$m

Other
$m

 Total 
$m

4.3

(23.1)

(6.3)

(5.0)

(30.1)

Liabilities assumed as part of the acquisition of 
SummitReheis

–

–

–

(4.7)

(4.7)

Included in profit or loss
Current service cost
Running costs
Net interest expense

Included in other comprehensive income
Re-measurements:
Return on plan assets excluding interest income
Actuarial gains/(losses) arising from demographic 
assumptions
Actuarial gains arising from financial assumptions
Actuarial gains/(losses) arising from experience 
adjustment

Exchange differences

Contributions:
Employers

Deficit in schemes at 31 December

Plan assets
Plan assets comprise:

2018
Equities
Bonds*
Cash/liquidity funds

2017
Equities
Bonds*
Cash/liquidity funds

(0.8)
(0.9)
0.3

(1.4)

23.4

–
(14.1)

1.1

1.3

11.7

7.3

21.9

(0.5)
(0.3)
(0.9)

(1.7)

13.2

0.7
(6.1)

0.3

–

8.1

1.8

(14.9)

(0.1)
–
(0.2)

(0.3)

–

–
(0.4)

–

–

(0.4)

0.8

(6.2)

(0.2)
–
(0.3)

(0.5)

–

–
0.3

–

(1.4)

(1.1)

–

(11.3)

UK pension  
scheme 
$m

US pension  
schemes 
$m

US PRMB  
scheme 
$m

227.6
367.4
76.3

671.3

41.2
54.4
12.7

108.3

–
–
–

–

UK pension  
scheme 
$m

US pension  
schemes 
$m

US PRMB  
scheme 
$m

260.8
421.8
96.1

778.7

60.9
7.6
51.8

120.3

–
–
–

–

(1.6)
(1.2)
(1.1)

(3.9)

36.6

0.7
(20.3)

1.4

(0.1)

18.3

9.9

(10.5)

Total 
 $m

268.7
421.9
89.0

779.6

Total 
 $m

321.7
429.4
147.9

899.0

* 

Including LDI repurchase agreement liabilities.

To reduce volatility risk a liability driven investment (LDI) strategy forms part of the Trustees’ management of the UK defined benefit 
scheme’s assets, including government bonds, corporate bonds and derivatives. The bond assets category in the table above 
includes gross assets of $502.7m (2017: $557.6m) and associated repurchase agreement liabilities of $135.2m (2017: $135.8m). 
Repurchase agreements are entered into with counterparties to better offset the scheme’s exposure to interest and inflation rates, 
whilst remaining invested in assets of a similar risk profile. Interest rate and inflation rate derivatives are also employed to 
complement the use of fixed and indexed linked bonds in matching the profile of the schemes liabilities.

147  Elementis plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

STRATEGIC REPORTCORPORATE GOVERNANCEFINANCIAL STATEMENTSSHAREHOLDER INFORMATIONNOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2018 
CONTINUED

23.  RETIREMENT BENEFIT OBLIGATIONS CONTINUED
All equities, bonds and liquidity funds have quoted prices in active markets. Other assets include insured annuities, an insurance 
fund and various swap products.

Within the UK pension scheme, the current asset allocation is approximately 33% in a liability matching fund consisting of gilts 
(fixed interest and index linked), bonds, cash and swaps, 20% in a buy and maintain fund and 47% in an investment fund that 
includes various equity and equity like funds. The aim of the trustees is to manage the risk relative to the liabilities associated with 
the scheme’s investments through a combination of diversification, inflation protection and hedging of risk (currency, interest rate 
and inflation risk). The US scheme currently has approximately 38% of its asset value invested in a range of equity funds designed 
to target higher returns and thus reduce the pension deficit, with the balance invested in fixed income bonds and cash. The 
strategy is that as the deficit reduces, a greater proportion of investments will be made into liability matching funds. 
Changes in the fair value of plan assets for the major schemes are as follows:

2018
Opening fair value of plan assets
Expected return
Running costs
Actuarial gains
Contributions by employer
Contributions by employees
Benefits paid
Exchange differences

Closing fair value of plan assets

2017
Opening fair value of plan assets
Expected return
Running costs
Actuarial gain
Contributions by employer
Contributions by employees
Benefits paid
Exchange differences

Closing fair value of plan assets

UK pension 
 scheme 
$m

US pension  
schemes  

$m

US PRMB 
 scheme 
 $m

778.7
18.0
(1.2)
(39.8)
0.5
0.1
(42.7)
(42.3)

671.3

120.3
4.0
(0.4)
(8.9)
1.4
–
(8.1)
–

108.3

–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–

–

UK pension 
 scheme 
$m

US pension  
schemes  

$m

US PRMB 
 scheme 
 $m

702.9
18.7
(0.9)
23.4
7.3
0.1
(39.9)
67.1

778.7

109.8
4.1
(0.3)
13.2
1.8
–
(8.3)
–

120.3

–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–

–

Defined benefit obligation
Changes in the present value of the defined benefit obligation for the major schemes are as follows:

UK pension  
scheme  

$m

US pension 
 schemes  

$m

US PRMB  
scheme 
 $m

(756.8)
(0.8)
(3.4)
(17.5)
–
45.7
42.7
40.9

(649.2)

(135.2)
(0.7)
–
(4.4)
–
8.2
8.1
–

(124.0)

(6.2)
(0.1)
–
(0.2)
–
0.3
0.6
–

(5.6)

2018
Opening defined benefit obligation
Service cost
Past service cost
Interest cost
Contributions by employees
Actuarial gains/(losses) 
Benefits paid
Exchange differences

Closing defined benefit obligation

148  Elementis plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

Total 
 $m

899.0
22.0
(1.6)
(48.7)
1.9
0.1
(50.8)
(42.3)

779.6

Total 
 $m

812.7
22.8
(1.2)
36.6
9.1
0.1
(48.2)
67.1

899.0

Total  
 $m

(898.2)
(1.6)
(3.4)
(22.1)
–
54.2
51.4
40.9

(778.8)

2017
Opening defined benefit obligation
Service cost
Interest cost
Contributions by employees
Actuarial losses
Benefits paid
Exchange differences

Closing defined benefit obligation

UK pension  
scheme  

$m

US pension 
 schemes  

$m

US PRMB  
scheme 
 $m

(698.6)
(0.8)
(18.4)
(0.1)
(12.9)
39.8
(65.8)

(756.8)

(132.9)
(0.5)
(5.0)
–
(5.1)
8.3
–

(135.2)

(6.3)
(0.1)
(0.2)
–
(0.4)
0.8
–

(6.2)

Total  
 $m

(837.8)
(1.4)
(23.6)
(0.1)
(18.4)
48.9
(65.8)

(898.2)

Actuarial assumptions
A full actuarial valuation was carried out on 30 September 2017 for the UK scheme and at 31 December 2015 for the US schemes. 

The principal assumptions used by the actuaries for the major schemes have been updated by the actuaries at the balance sheet 
date and were as follows:

2018
Rate of increase in salaries
Rate of increase in pensions in payment
Discount rate
Inflation

2017
Rate of increase in salaries
Rate of increase in pensions in payment
Discount rate
Inflation

The assumed life expectancies on retirement are:

Retiring at 31 December 2018
Males
Females
Retiring in 20 years
Males
Females

UK  
%

US  
%

4.2
3.1
2.8
3.2

4.2
3.1
2.4
3.2

US

2018 
 years

21
22

21
23

3.00/3.45
N/A
4.0
2.25

3.00/3.45
N/A
3.4
2.0

2017 
years

21
22

21
23

UK

2018 
 years

22
24

24
25

2017 
 years

23
25

25
26

The main assumptions for the PRMB scheme are a discount rate of 4.0% (2017: 3.4%) per annum and a health care cost trend of 
6.5% (2017: 6.5%) per annum for claims pre age 65 reducing to 4.5% per annum by 2022 (2017: 4.5%). Actuarial valuations of 
retirement benefit plans in other jurisdictions have either not been updated for IAS 19 purposes or disclosed separately because of 
the costs involved and the considerably smaller scheme sizes and numbers of employees involved.

At 31 December 2018, the weighted average duration of the defined benefit obligations for the major schemes was as follows:
UK: 13 years
US: 10 years.

149  Elementis plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

STRATEGIC REPORTCORPORATE GOVERNANCEFINANCIAL STATEMENTSSHAREHOLDER INFORMATIONNOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2018 
CONTINUED

23.  RETIREMENT BENEFIT OBLIGATIONS CONTINUED
Sensitivity analysis
The sensitivities regarding the principal assumptions used to measure the scheme liabilities are set out below:

Assumption

Discount rate
Rate of inflation
Rate of salary growth
Rate of mortality

Change in assumption

Impact on scheme liabilities

Increased/decreased by 0.5%
Increased/decreased by 0.5%
Increased/decreased by 0.5%
Increased by 1 year

Decreased/increased by 7%
Increased/decreased by 4%
Increased/decreased by 0%
Increased by 4%

The sensitivity analyses above have been determined based on a method that extrapolates the impact on the defined benefit 
obligation as a result of reasonable changes in key assumptions occurring at the end of the reporting period. These sensitivities 
have been calculated to show the movement of the defined obligation following a change in a particular assumption in isolation, 
assuming no other changes in market conditions.

24.  SHARE BASED PAYMENTS
The Group maintains a number of active share option and award plans and schemes for its employees. These are as follows:

Savings-related options
Options are granted under the tax-advantaged Save As You Earn (SAYE) share option scheme in the UK. The SAYE allows 
UK-based eligible employees to acquire options over the Company’s shares at a discount of up to 20% of their market value at the 
date of grant. Options are normally exercisable during the six month period following either the third or fifth anniversary of the start 
of the relevant savings contract. Savings contracts are subject to the statutory savings limit of £500 per month.

US-based employees can enter into a similar share save scheme (Share Save). Employees can enter into two year savings 
contracts saving up to a maximum of $2,000 per month, allowing eligible employees to acquire options over the Company’s shares 
at a discount of up to 15% of their market value at the date of grant. Options are normally exercisable during the six month period 
following either the third or fifth anniversary of the start of the relevant savings contract. 

Long-term incentive plan (LTIP) awards
The LTIP is a discretionary employee share scheme for Executive Directors and senior managers. The vesting of the awards are 
subject to performance conditions over a three year period at the discretion of the Remuneration Committee. The performance 
conditions of the LTIP are detailed in the Remuneration Report on pages 78 to 92. As approved at the 2018 AGM, restricted shares 
(i.e. shares that vest based on time only) are awarded to participants below Board level. Shadow LTIPs are in place for senior 
managers based in China and Malaysia. 

Deferred share bonus plan (DSBP) awards
The DSBP operates exclusively for the Executive Directors. Under this scheme, 50% of any cash bonus payable is awarded in 
shares and deferred for two years. There are no other performance conditions other than continued employment.

Legacy Schemes
Prior to the introduction of the LTIP for senior managers, certain employees participated in the Executive Share Option Scheme 
(‘ESOS’). The ESOS which (except for outstanding awards which will run their course) has been discontinued. The Company 
operated shadow ESOS for a number of senior managers, who were employed or based in China or Malaysia.

Options were valued (as shown in the table below) using the binomial option pricing model. The fair value per option granted and 
the assumptions used in the calculations are as follows:

Fair value per option (pence)
Expected volatility (%)
Risk free rate (%)
Expected dividend yield (%)

2018

155.4
26
0.7
3.4

2017

145.0
29.0
0.2
4.1

150  Elementis plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

 
Expected volatility was determined by calculating the historical volatility of the Company’s share price over the previous five years. 
The expected life used in the model has been adjusted, based on management’s best estimate, for the effects of non-
transferability, exercise restrictions and behavioural considerations. The Group recognised total expenses of $2.8m (2017: $2.8m) 
related to share based payment transactions during the year.

At 31 December 2018 the following options/awards to subscribe for ordinary shares were outstanding:

Granted 
’000

Adjusted2
‘000

Exercised 
’000

Expired 
’000

At
31 December
2018
’000

Year of grant

Exercise
 price (p)1

From

To

UK savings related share option scheme

Exercisable

2014
2015
2016
2017
2018

216.58
189.72
160.89
207.40
163.91

01/10/17
01/10/18
01/10/19
01/10/20
01/01/22

01/04/18
01/04/19
01/04/20
01/04/21
01/07/22

US savings related share option scheme
2016

169.57

31/08/18

2017
2018

217.18
160.14

07/09/19
05/12/20

31/11/18

07/12/19
05/03/20

At 
1 January
 2018
’000

4
40
161
64
–

269

 330 

 259 
 – 

 589 

Executive share option schemes/awards granted under the LTIP*
2010
2011+
2012+
2015+
2015*
2016∆
2016+
2016*
2016∆
2017∆
2017#
2017~
2017+
2017*†

06/04/20
04/04/21
27/06/22
01/04/25
27/04/25
07/03/26
04/04/26
04/04/26
19/09/26
07/03/27
07/03/27
07/03/27
03/04/27
03/04/27

06/04/13
04/04/14
27/06/15
01/04/18
27/04/18
07/03/18
04/04/19
04/04/19
04/04/19
07/03/17
07/03/19
07/03/20
03/04/20
03/04/20

52.16
137.18
177.81
290.20
Nil
Nil
218.17
Nil
Nil
Nil
Nil
Nil
264.66
Nil

 237 
 150 
 308
 529 
 439 
 226 
 853 
 914 
 241 
 84 
 50 
 16 
 836 
 1,435 

 – 
 – 
 – 
 – 
 200 

 200 

 – 

 – 
 585 

 585 

 – 
 – 
 – 
 – 
 – 
 – 
 – 
 – 
 – 
 – 
 – 
 – 
 – 
 – 

2017∆
2018#
2018*†
2018*
2018*
2018*

Nil
Nil
Nil
Nil
Nil
Nil

01/08/19
05/03/20
30/04/21
27/06/21
29/10/21
21/12/21

01/08/27
05/03/28
30/04/28
27/06/28
29/10/28
21/12/28

 58 
 – 
 – 
 – 
 – 
 –

 6,376 

 – 
 213 
 1,988
 6 
 38 
570

 2,815 

–
1
15
5
– 

21

 8 

 21 
 – 

 29 

 17 
 9 
 19 
 – 
 – 
 – 
 76 
 85 
 22 
 8 
 5 
 1 
 72 
 125 

5 
 20 
 183
 1 
 – 
– 

(4)
(32)
(3)
(1)
 – 

(40)

(306)

 – 
 – 

(306)

(68)
(49)
(84)
 – 
 – 
(206)
 – 
 – 
 – 
 – 
 – 
 – 
 – 
 – 

 – 
 – 
 – 
 – 
 – 
– 

–
–
(10)
(44)
– 

(54)

(32)

(44)
 – 

(76)

 – 
 – 
(27)
(529)
(439)
(20)
(25)
 – 
 – 
 – 
 – 
 – 
(61)
(86)

 –
 – 
(30)
 – 
 – 
– 

 – 
 9 
 163 
 24 
 200 

 396 

 – 

 236 
 585 

 821 

 186 
 110 
 216 
 – 
 – 
 – 
 904 
 999 
 263 
 92 
 55 
 17 
 847
 1,474 

 63 
 233 
 2,141 
 7 
 38 
570

 648

(407)

(1,217)

 8,215

1  Option prices were adjusted for by a factor of 1.092715 to reflect the dilutive effects of the 2018 Rights Issue.
2  The number of shares over which outstanding awards were over was adjusted by a factor of 1.092715 to reflect the dilutive effect of the 2018 Rights Issue
+   These options include cash settled shadow executive options granted to a number of executives on the same basis as the executive options (with the same performance 

conditions and exercise provisions). These shadow options are included in the calculation of the total expenses recognised by the Group related to share based 
payments. The closing balance of the 2011, 2012, 2016, 2017 options shown above include approximately 5,000, 18,000, 93,000, and 57,000 shadow options 
respectively. 

∆   Awards made as one-off agreements that borrow from the terms of the LTIP.
† 

 These options include cash settled shadow LTIPs granted to a number of executives on the same basis as the LTIP (with the same performance conditions and exercise 
provisions). These shadow LTIPs are included in the calculation of the total expenses recognised by the Group related to share based payments. The closing balance of

*  2017 and 2018 LTIPs shown above include approximately 14,000 and 78,000 shadow LTIPs respectively.
#  Conditional share award under the Deferred Share Bonus Plan. 
~  Awards made as one-off agreements under the Deferred Share Bonus Plan.

The weighted average remaining contractual life of the above shares outstanding at 31 December 2018 was 7.1 years (2017: 7.2 years).

151  Elementis plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

STRATEGIC REPORTCORPORATE GOVERNANCEFINANCIAL STATEMENTSSHAREHOLDER INFORMATIONNOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2018 
CONTINUED

24.  SHARE BASED PAYMENTS CONTINUED
The weighted average exercise prices of options disclosed in the previous table were as follows:

At 1 January
Granted
Exercised
Expired
At 31 December

Exercisable at 31 December

2018  
Average  
exercise  
price (p)

113.2
41.7
118.9
147.4
79.8

nil

2017  
Average  
exercise  
price (p)

110.9
114.8
125.4
83.4
120.1

nil

The weighted average share price at the date of exercise of share options exercised during the year was 153 pence 
(2017: 287 pence). The number of exercisable options outstanding as at 31 December 2018 was nil (31 December 2017: nil).

25.  RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
The Company is a guarantor to the UK pension scheme under which it guarantees all current and future obligations of 
UK subsidiaries currently participating in the pension scheme to make payments to the scheme, up to a specified maximum 
amount. The maximum amount of the guarantee is that which is needed (at the time the guarantee is called on) to bring the 
scheme’s funding level up to 105% of its liabilities, calculated in accordance with section 179 of the Pensions Act 2004. This is also 
sometimes known as a Pension Protection Fund (PPF) guarantee, as having such a guarantee in place reduces the annual PPF 
levy on the scheme.

The Group consists of the Parent Company, Elementis plc, incorporated in the United Kingdom and its subsidiaries and associates. 
In accordance with Section 409 of the Companies Act 2006 a full list of related undertakings, the country of incorporation and the 
effective percentage of equity owned as at 31 December 2018 is disclosed in Note 8 to the parent company financial statements.

26.  MOVEMENT IN NET CASH/(BORROWINGS) 

Change in net cash resulting from cash flows:
Increase in cash and cash equivalents
Decrease in borrowings repayable within one year
Decrease in borrowings repayable after one year

Currency translation differences

Increase in net cash
Net cash at beginning of year

Net cash at end of year

2018 
$m

45.9
(0.2)
(257.8)

(212.1)
5.1

(207.0)
(291.1)

(498.1)

2017  
$m

(31.7)
2.8
(338.8)

(367.7)
(0.9)

(368.6)
77.5

(291.1)

27.  DIVIDENDS
An interim dividend of 2.95 cents per share (2017: 2.70 cents) was paid on 28 September 2018 and the Group is proposing 
a final dividend of 5.70 cents per share (2017: 6.10 cents) for the year ended 31 December 2018. The total dividend for the year 
is 8.65 cents per share (2017: 8.80 cents).

The amount payable for the final dividend, based on the anticipated number of qualifying ordinary shares registered on the record 
date, is $33.0m.

The payment of this dividend will not have any tax consequences for the Group.

Following the Rights Issue in October 2018, dividends per share for periods prior to this have been rebased to reflect the bonus 
element resulting from this Rights Issue. 

Unadjusted dividend per share (cents)
Adjustment factor (x)

Rebased dividend per share (cents)

Interim

2.95
0.9152

2.70

2018

Final

5.70
1.00

5.70

Full-year

8.65

8.40

Interim

2.70
0.9152

2.47

2017

Final

6.10
0.9152

5.58

Full-year

8.80

8.05

152  Elementis plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

28.  KEY MANAGEMENT COMPENSATION

Salaries and short term employee benefits
Other long term benefits
Share based payments

2018 
 $m

2.3
0.4
1.6

4.3

2017 
 $m

4.7
0.6
1.7

7.0

The key management compensation given above is for the Board and the business president, Chromium. Directors’ remuneration 
is set out in the Directors’ remuneration report on pages 78 to 92.

29.  CONTINGENT LIABILITIES
As is the case with other chemical companies, the Group occasionally receives notices of litigation relating to regulatory and legal 
matters. A provision is recognised when the Group believes it has a present legal or constructive obligation as a result of a past event, 
and it is probable that an outflow of economic benefits will be required to settle the obligation. Where it is deemed that an obligation is 
merely possible and that the probability of a material outflow is not remote, the Group would disclose a contingent liability. 

In 2013 the British Government (through HMRC) introduced a UK tax incentive for certain Group financing arrangements. In 
October 2017, the European Commission opened a State aid investigation into the rules relating to this incentive under the UK 
controlled foreign company regime. HMRC has provided certain information and maintains that the exemption and the way it is 
applied does not represent unfair State aid. Elementis could be impacted by the outcome of this investigation as it has, along with 
many other UK based multinationals, benefited from the arrangements. No provision for this potential liability has been provided 
in these financial statements as the final outcome remains uncertain. 

30.  EVENTS AFTER THE BALANCE SHEET DATE
On 26 February 2019 the Group received notice of a payment due in settlement of a commercial dispute with a customer of the 
Surfactants business disposed of in 2018. The total amount payable of $9.8m has been recognised as a liability at 31 December 
2018. This amount was not recognised in previous accounts.

There were no other significant events after the balance sheet date.

31.  ACQUISITION
On 23 October 2018 the Group acquired all the shares of Mondo Minerals Holding B.V. (Mondo), for an initial purchase 
consideration of $500m. Mondo is a leading mine-to-market producer of talc and other mineral products with a strong presence in 
Northern and Central Europe and a growing customer base in Eastern Europe, Southern Europe, South America and Asia. The Mondo 
Group supplies talc to customers operating in a wide range of end markets, including industrial sectors (e.g., plastics, paints & 
coatings, technical ceramics, life sciences) and paper sectors (e.g., paper filler, paper coatings). Mondo uses proprietary flotation 
process know how and formulation expertise to deliver superior product quality and consistency to its customers.

The acquisitions had the following effect on the Group’s assets and liabilities:

Intangible assets
Property, plant and equipment
Inventories
Trade and other receivables
Tax indemnification asset
Trade and other payables
Other accruals
Cash and cash equivalents
Provisions
Corporation tax
Deferred tax

Total identifiable net assets acquired

Goodwill

Total consideration

of which:
 Contingent consideration

 Considered paid, satisfied in
Cash acquired

Net cash outflow

153  Elementis plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

Note

10
11

15

16

Book value at 
acquisition
$m

Fair value 
adjustments
$m

Fair value of 
assets acquired
$m

19.6
226.2
24.3
21.9
–
(18.1)
(26.1)
39.9
(2.7)
(0.4)
(12.2)

272.4

68.7
24.1
1.9
(1.1)
6.6
(1.0)
–
–
(1.1)
0.2
(24.3)

74.0

88.3
250.3
26.2
20.8
6.6
(19.1)
(26.1)
39.9
(3.8)
(0.2)
(36.5)

346.4

200.5

546.9

22.3

524.6
(39.9)

484.7

STRATEGIC REPORTCORPORATE GOVERNANCEFINANCIAL STATEMENTSSHAREHOLDER INFORMATIONNOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2018 
CONTINUED

31.  ACQUISITION CONTINUED
The fair value adjustment to inventories of $1.9m is the net of an uplift due to fair value of $2.9m less an increase in provision for 
obsolescence of $1.0m.

The valuation techniques used for measuring the fair value of material assets acquired were as follows.

Assets acquired

Valuation technique

Property, plant and 
equipment

A cost approach method, benchmarked to market where available, was the method used to value 
machinery & equipment and buildings. 

Intangible assets

Land that had previously been valued during a purchase price allocation exercise conducted in 2012 was 
included at NBV due to management’s opinion that values had not varied significantly in the intervening period.

Intangible assets have been categorised into two groups: customer relationships and technology. 
Customer relationships have been valued using a Multi-period Excess Earnings Method, in which the value 
is equal to the present value of incremental after-tax cash flows attributable to the asset after deducting 
contributory asset charges. Technology has been valued using a Relief from Royalty methodology.

Inventories

The market approach has been used to determine fair value based on the net realisable value of the 
inventory less costs to sell and a reasonable profit margin.

The consideration for the acquisitions has been allocated against identified net assets with the remaining balance recorded as 
goodwill. The goodwill recognised on acquisition reflects both the capabilities of the acquired entities’ personnel and the 
synergistic opportunities going forward, neither of which can be allocated to an identifiable intangible asset.

Contingent consideration of $22.3m for the Mondo transaction is made up of:

a.   $9.4m relating to potential payouts that may be made under an earn-out mechanism dependant on EBITDA performance for the 
years 2018-2020 exceeding certain thresholds. The potential undiscounted amount payable under the agreement is between 
$0.0m and $53.0m. The fair value of the contingent consideration arrangement of $9.4m was estimated by calculating the 
present value of the future expected cash flows based on a weighted probability analysis of a range of payments to give an 
estimate of the final obligation.

b.   a further $12.9m that may be payable subject to the successful conclusion of an historic, pre-acquisition interest deduction 

dispute with the Finnish Tax authorities.

There were a number of one-off costs associated with the acquisition of Mondo Minerals – primarily the write off of the set-up costs 
of the previous financing syndicate, now replaced by a new facility, bank and lawyers fees, retention bonuses for Mondo 
employees, that have not been capitalised in accordance with IFRS 3. However, these have been reflected as adjusting items 
within Note 5 and recognised in administrative expenses and operating cash.

Acquisitions made during 2018 contributed $21.5m to the Group’s revenue and $3.9m to the operating profit.

The estimated contribution of Mondo Minerals to the results of the Group, had the acquisition been made on 1 January 2018, and 
assuming that the fair value adjustments that arose on acquisition would have been the same at the earlier date, are as follows:

Revenue

Operating profit 

2018
$m

158.4

24.6

Cashflow relating to acquisitions in 2017 is wholly attributable to the acquisition of SummitReheis, further detail can be found in the 
2017 annual report.

32.  DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS/ASSETS HELD FOR SALE 
On 28 February the Group disposed of Elementis Specialties Netherlands BV, which carried out all of the Group’s Surfactants 
operations. The disposal generated cash flow for the expansion of the Group’s other businesses.

The results of the discontinued operations, which have been included in the consolidated income statement on the line ‘Profit from 
discontinued operations’, were as follows:

Revenue
Expenses
Profit before tax
Attributable tax expense

Net profit attributable to discontinued operations (attributable to owners of the Company)

Revenue includes $nil related to inter-segment sales in 2018 (2017: $0.2m).

154  Elementis plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

Year ended
31 December 
2018 
$m

Year ended
31 December
2017 
$m

4.8
(15.2)
(10.4)
2.0

(8.4)

47.8
(42.0)
5.8
(0.9)

4.9

During the year, Elementis Specialties Netherlands BV contributed $1.1m (2017: $7.2m) to the Group’s net operating cash flows 
and paid $0.6m (2017: $2.6m) in respect of investing activities.

The Group recognised a total loss on current year disposal of:

Consideration received
Net assets disposed of
Disposal costs
Recycling of deferred foreign exchange gains

Loss on disposal

Details of assets and liabilities at the date of disposal are provided in the following table:

Goodwill
Intangible assets
Property, plant and equipment
Inventories
Trade and other receivables
Cash and bank balances

Total assets classified as held for sale

Trade and other payables
Pensions
Tax liabilities
Bank overdrafts and loans

Total liabilities associated with assets classified as held for sale

Net assets of disposal group

Year ended
31 December
2018 
$m

47.9
(42.0)
(2.2)
(4.2)

(0.5)

Year ended
2018
$m

3.2
2.4
38.0
8.6
11.1
2.8

66.1

(20.3)
(0.4)
(3.4)
–

(24.1)

42.0

2017 Assets Held for Sale
In the 2017 Annual Report, we disclosed that the Group intended to dispose of Elementis Specialties Netherlands BV and that the 
disposal process was sufficiently advanced for the business to be classified as a disposal group held for sale.

The major classes of assets and liabilities comprising the operations classified as held for sale were as follows:

Goodwill
Intangible assets
Property, plant and equipment
Inventories
Trade and other receivables
Cash and bank balances

Total assets classified as held for sale
Trade and other payables
Tax liabilities
Bank overdrafts and loans

Total liabilities associated with assets classified as held for sale

Net assets of disposal group

155  Elementis plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

Year ended
2017
$m

3.1
2.3
36.9
6.8
9.1
−

58.2
(18.2)
(4.7)
−

(22.9)

35.3

STRATEGIC REPORTCORPORATE GOVERNANCEFINANCIAL STATEMENTSSHAREHOLDER INFORMATIONPARENT COMPANY STATUTORY ACCOUNTS
ELEMENTIS PLC

BALANCE SHEET
at 31 December 2018

Fixed assets
Investments

Non-current assets
Debtors 
Creditors: amounts falling due within one year
Creditors

Net current assets 

Total assets less current liabilities
Creditors: amounts falling due after more than one year
Amounts due to subsidiary undertakings

Net assets

Capital and reserves
Called up share capital
Share premium account
Capital redemption reserve
Other reserves
Share option reserve
Profit and loss account

Equity shareholders’ funds

Note

 2018  
£m

 2017  
£m

6

7

8

9

9

9

771.8

769.7

12.7

12.7

(0.6)

12.1

783.9

(146.4)

637.5

28.9
176.4
83.3
250.5
2.9
95.5

637.5

(0.6)

12.1

781.8

(333.7)

448.1

23.1
12.8
83.3
250.5
2.9
75.5

448.1

The Company recognised a loss for the financial year ended 31 December 2018 of £1.3m (2017: £3.6m).

The financial statements of Elementis plc, registered number 3299608, on pages 156 to 163 were approved by the Board on 
5 March 2019 and signed on its behalf by:

PAUL WATERMAN 
CEO 

RALPH HEWINS
CFO

156  Elementis plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

 
 
STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN EQUITY
for the year ended 31 December 2018

Balance at 1 January 2017

Comprehensive income
Profit for the year
Transfer

Total other comprehensive income

Total comprehensive income

Transactions with owners
Issue of shares by the Company 
Share based payments
Transfer
Dividends paid

Total transactions with owners

Balance at 31 December 2017

Share  
capital
£m

23.1

Share  
premium  

£m

12.0

Capital 
redemption 
reserve 
£m

Other 
reserves
 £m

 Share  
options 
reserve
£m

Retained  
earnings 
£m

Total  
£m

83.3

250.5

2.8

137.8

509.5

–
–

–

–

–
–
–
–

–

–
–

–

–

0.8
–
–
–

0.8

–
–

–

–

–
–
–
–

–

–
–

–

–

–
–
–
–

–

23.1

12.8

83.3

250.5

–
–

–

–

–
–
0.1
–

0.1

2.9

(3.6)
–

–

(3.6)

–
1.9
(0.1)
(60.5)

(58.7)

75.5

(3.6)
–

–

(3.6)

0.8
1.9
–
(60.5)

(57.8)

448.1

Balance at 1 January 2018

23.1

12.8

83.3

250.5

2.9

75.5

448.1

Comprehensive income
Profit for the year
Transfer

Total other comprehensive income

Total comprehensive income

Transactions with owners
Issue of shares by the Company 
Share based payments
Transfer
Dividends received
Dividends paid

Total transactions with owners

Balance at 31 December 2018

–
–

–

–

5.8
–
–
–
–

5.8

28.9

–
–

–

–

163.6
–
–
–
–

163.6

176.4

–
–

–

–

–
–
–
–
–

–

–
–

–

–

–
–
–
–
–

–

–
–

–

–

–
–
–
–
–

–

83.3

250.5

2.9

(1.3)
–

–

(1.3)

–
2.1
–
50.0
(30.8)

21.3

95.5

(1.3)
–

–

(1.3)

169.4
2.1
–
50.0
(30.8)

190.7

637.5

The Company’s distributable reserves amount to £95.5m (2017: £75.5m) at the end of the period.

For more information on the the dividend issued and the dividend per share please see Note 27 of the Group financial statements.

157  Elementis plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

STRATEGIC REPORTCORPORATE GOVERNANCEFINANCIAL STATEMENTSSHAREHOLDER INFORMATIONNOTES TO THE COMPANY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF ELEMENTIS PLC
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2018

1.  GENERAL INFORMATION
Elementis plc is a public company limited by shares and is incorporated and domiciled in England. The address of its registered 
office is Caroline House, 55-57 High Holborn, London, WC1V 6DX. The principal activity of the Company is to act as the ultimate 
holding company of the Elementis Group of companies.

2.  BASIS OF PREPARATION 
The Company’s financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention, in compliance with applicable 
United Kingdom accounting standards, including Financial Reporting Standard 101 – ‘Reduced disclosure framework – Disclosure 
exemptions from EU-adopted IFRS for qualifying entities’ (‘FRS 101’), and with the Companies Act 2006. The Company has 
presented its results under FRS 101.

As a qualifying entity whose results are consolidated in the Elementis plc Consolidated financial statements on pages 106 to 155, 
the Company has taken advantage of the exemption under FRS 101 from preparing a statement of cashflows and associated 
notes, the effects of new but not yet effective IFRSs, disclosures in respect of transactions and the capital management of wholly 
owned subsidiaries and key management personnel compensation disclosures. 

As the consolidated financial statements include equivalent disclosures, the Company has also taken the disclosure exemptions 
under FRS 101 in respect of group settled share-based payments under IFRS 2 Share based payment, IFRS 16 leases, disclosures 
required by IFRS 7 Financial Instruments Disclosures and by IFRS 13 Fair Value Measurement.

By virtue of section 408 of the Companies Act 2006 the company is exempt from presenting an income statement and disclosing 
employee numbers and staff costs.

As a consequence of the majority of the Company’s assets, liabilities and expenses originating in UK pound sterling, the Company 
has chosen the UK pound sterling as its reporting currency. 

3.  SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
The principal accounting policies applied in the preparation of these financial statements are set out below. These policies have 
been consistently applied to all the years presented, unless otherwise stated. The Company has adopted FRS 101 in these 
financial statements. 

Foreign currencies 
Transactions in foreign currencies are recorded at the rates of exchange ruling at the date of the transaction. Monetary assets and 
liabilities denominated in foreign currencies are translated using the contracted rate or the rate of exchange ruling at the balance 
sheet date and the gains and losses on translation are included in the profit and loss account.

Investments 
Investments in Group undertakings are included in the balance sheet at cost less impairment.

Dividends on shares presented within shareholders’ funds
Dividends unpaid at the balance sheet date are only recognised as a liability at that date to the extent that they are appropriately 
authorised and are no longer at the discretion of the Company. 

Pensions and other post-retirement benefits 
The Company participates in the Elementis Group defined benefit pension scheme. The assets of the scheme are held separately 
from those of the Company. Details of the latest actuarial valuation carried out in September 2014 can be found in the 2016 
Elementis plc Annual report and accounts. Following the introduction of the revised reporting standard, any surplus or deficit in the 
Elementis Group defined benefit pension scheme is to be reported in the financial statements of Elementis Holdings Ltd, which 
employs the majority of active members of the scheme and is responsible for making deficit contributions under the current 
funding plan.

Taxation 
Deferred tax is provided on temporary differences between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities for financial reporting 
purposes and the amounts used for taxation purposes. Advance corporation tax recoverable by deduction from future corporation 
tax is carried forward within deferred taxation or as ACT recoverable within debtors as appropriate.

There were no significant judgements or estimates necessary in 2018. 

Changes in accounting policies
The accounting policies adopted are consistent with those of the previous financial year except for the adoption of IFRS 15 
Revenue from Contracts with Customers and IFRS 9 Financial Instruments. There has been no impact from these new standards, 
please see Note 1 of the Group financial statements for further details.

158  Elementis plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

Share based payments 
The fair value of share options granted to employees is recognised as an expense with a corresponding increase in equity. Where 
the Company grants options over its own shares to the employees of its subsidiaries it recognises in its individual financial statements 
an increase in the cost of investment in its subsidiaries equivalent to the equity settled share based payment charge recognised in 
its subsidiaries’ financial statements, with the corresponding credit being recognised directly in equity. The fair value is measured 
at grant date and spread over the period during which the employees become unconditionally entitled to the options. The fair value 
of the options granted is measured using a binomial model, taking into account the terms and conditions upon which the options 
were granted. The amount recognised as an expense is adjusted to reflect the actual number of share options that vest except 
where forfeiture is only due to share prices not achieving the threshold for vesting.

Classification of financial instruments issued by the Company
Financial instruments issued by the Company are treated as equity only to the extent that they meet the following two conditions:

a.   They include no contractual obligations upon the Company to deliver cash or other financial assets or to exchange financial 

assets or financial liabilities with another party under conditions that are potentially unfavourable to the Company.

b.   Where the instrument will or may be settled in the Company’s own equity instruments, it is either a non-derivative that includes 
no obligation to deliver a variable number of the Company’s own equity instruments or is a derivative that will be settled by the 
Company’s exchanging a fixed amount of cash or other financial assets for a fixed number of its own equity instruments.

To the extent that the definition is not met, the proceeds of issue are classified as a financial liability. Where the instrument so 
classified takes the legal form of the Company’s own shares, the amounts presented in these financial statements for called up 
share capital and share premium account exclude amounts in relation to those shares.

Finance payments associated with financial liabilities are dealt with as part of interest payable and similar charges. Finance 
payments associated with financial instruments that are classified as part of shareholders’ funds, are dealt with as appropriations 
in the reconciliation of movements in shareholders’ funds.

4.  PROFIT FOR THE FINANCIAL YEAR ATTRIBUTABLE TO SHAREHOLDERS
As permitted by Section 408 of the Companies Act 2006, the Company has not presented its own profit and loss account. A loss 
of £1.3m (2017: £3.6m loss). 

5.  DIRECTORS’ REMUNERATION
Details of Directors’ remuneration for the Company are included in the Directors’ remuneration report within the Elementis plc 
Annual Report and Accounts on pages 78 to 92.

6.  INVESTMENTS

Cost at 1 January 2018
Additions

Net book value 31 December 2018

Net book value 31 December 2017

Unlisted  
shares at cost  

Unlisted loans  

Capital  
contributions  

£m

0.1
–

0.1

0.1

£m

759.0
–

759.0

759.0

£m

10.6
2.1

12.7

10.6

Total  
£m

769.7
2.1

771.8

769.7

The investment in unlisted loans is with Elementis Holdings Ltd, an indirect wholly owned subsidiary. The investments in unlisted 
shares are in Elementis Group BV and Elementis Overseas Investments Ltd, both wholly owned subsidiaries. Capital contributions 
relate to share based payment awards made to employees of subsidiary companies.

159  Elementis plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

STRATEGIC REPORTCORPORATE GOVERNANCEFINANCIAL STATEMENTSSHAREHOLDER INFORMATIONNOTES TO THE COMPANY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF ELEMENTIS PLC
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2018 
CONTINUED

6.  INVESTMENTS CONTINUED
The trading subsidiaries and associates of Elementis plc, all of which are wholly owned, excluding Alembic Manufacturing Limited, 
where the Group holds a 25% interest, are as follows:

Subsidiary undertakings

Adentatec GmbH
Alembic Manufacturing Ltd
Deuchem Co., Ltd
Deuchem (HK) Trading Co Ltd

Personal Care products
Personal Care products
Additives and resins
Additives and resins

Additives and resins
Deuchem (Shanghai) Chemical Co. Ltd
Personal Care products
Eisenbacher Dentalwaren ED GmbH
Chromium chemicals
Elementis Chromium Inc
Elementis Chromium LLP
Chromium chemicals
Elementis Deuchem (Shanghai) Chemical Ltd Additives and resins
Chromium chemicals
Elementis LTP Inc
Organoclays
Elementis Specialties (Anji) Ltd
Elementis Specialties (Changxing) Ltd
Organoclays
Elementis Specialties do Brasil Quimica Ltda Coatings additives
Elementis Specialties Inc

Elementis SRL Inc
Elementis UK Limited trading as: 
Elementis Specialties
Elementis Pharma GmbH
SRL Dental GmbH
Mondo Minerals BV
Mondo Minerals Deutschland GmbH
Mondo Minerals Nickel Oy
Mondo Trading (Beijing) Company Ltd

Rheological additives, colourants, 
waxes, other specialty additives
Personal Care products
Rheological additives, colourants, 
waxes, other specialty additives
Personal Care products
R&D for Personal Care 
Talc products
Talc products
Talc products
Talc products

Country of incorporation and operation

Germany1 
United Kingdom2
Taiwan3
People’s Republic of China – Hong Kong 
Special Administrative Region4
People’s Republic of China5
Germany6
United States of America7
United Kingdom8
People’s Republic of China5
United States of America7
People’s Republic of China9
People’s Republic of China10
Brazil11
United States of America7

United States of America7
United Kingdom8

Germany12 
Germany12 
Netherlands13
Germany14
Finland15
People’s Republic of China16

1  Registered office Konrad-Adenauer-Straße 13, 50996 Köln, Germany.
2   Registered office Unit 6 Wimbourne Buildings, Atlantic Way, Barry Docks, Barry, South Glamorgan CF63 3RA, UK.
3  Registered office 92, Kuang-Fu North Road, Hsinchu Industrial Park, Hukou, Hsinchu Taiwan, ROC.
4  Registered office Flat P, 14/F, Haribest Industrial Building, 45-47 Au Pui Wan Street, Fotan, Shatin N.T Hong Kong.
5  Registered office 99 Lianyang Road, Songjiang Industrial Zone, Shanghai, China.
6  Registered office Dr.-Konrad-Wiegand-Str. 9, 63939 Wörth a.Main, Germany.
7  Registered office 1209 Orange Street, Wilmington, Delaware, 19801, US.
8  Registered office Caroline House, 55-57 High Holborn, London WC1V 6DX, UK.
9  Registered office Huibutai, Majiadu Village, Dipu Town, Anji County, Huzhou City, Zhejiang Province, China.
10 Registered office Sian Town, Changxing County, Zhejiang Province, China.
11  Registered office Rodovia Nelson Leopoldino, SP 375, Km 13,8, s/n, Bairro Rural, Palmital, São Paulo, Brazil.
12 Registered office Giulinistr.2, 67065 Ludwigshafen, Germany.
13 Registered office Kajuitweg 8, 1041 AR, Amsterdam, Netherlands.
14 Registered office Friedrichsallee 14, 42117, Wuppertal, Germany.
15 Registered office Talkkitie 7, 83500, Outokumpu, Finland.
16 Registered office Nan Zhugan Hutong no.6, floor 9, 01-007, Dongcheng District, 100010, Beijing, China.

Non-trading and dormant subsidiaries of Elementis plc, all of which are wholly owned within the Group, are as follows:

Subsidiary undertakings

Agrichrome Ltd
American Chrome & Chemicals Inc
Deuchem Holding Inc
Deuchem International Inc
Elementis America Shared Services Inc
Elementis Australia Ltd
Elementis Benelux NV
Elementis BV
Elementis Catalysts Inc
Elementis Chemicals Inc
Elementis Chromium America Inc
Elementis Finance (Australia) Ltd
Elementis Finance (Europe) Ltd

Non-trading
Dormant
Dormant
Dormant
Dormant
Dormant
Non-trading (in liquidation)
Dormant
Dormant
Dormant
Dormant
Dormant
Non-trading

Country of incorporation and operation

United Kingdom1
United States of America2
Samoa3
Samoa3
United States of America2 
United Kingdom1
Belgium4
Netherlands5
United States of America2
United States of America2
United States of America2
United Kingdom1
United Kingdom1

160  Elementis plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

Subsidiary undertakings

Elementis Finance (Germany) Ltd
Elementis Finance (Ireland) Ltd
Elementis Finance (US) Ltd
Elementis Germany GmbH
Elementis Germany Ltd
Elementis Global LLC
Elementis GmbH
Elementis Group (Finance) Ltd
Elementis Group BV
Elementis Group Ltd
Elementis Holdings Ltd
Elementis London Ltd
Elementis Nederland BV
Elementis New Zealand Ltd
Elementis NZ Ltd
Elementis Overseas Investments Ltd
Elementis Pigments Inc
Elementis S.E.A. (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd
Elementis Securities Ltd
Elementis Service Centre NV
Elementis Services GmbH
Elementis Specialties (India) Private Ltd
Elementis US Holdings Inc
Elementis US Ltd
H & C Acquisitions Ltd
H & C Lumber Inc
Harcros Chemicals Canada Inc
Iron Oxides s.a.de. CV
Mondo Minerals Holding BV
Mondo Minerals International BV
NB Chrome Ltd
Reheis, Inc.
SRL Coöperatief U.A.
SRLH Holdings Inc
SRL International Holdings, LLC
Talc Holding Finance Oy
Talc Holding Oy
WBS Carbons Acquisitions Corp

Non-trading
Non-trading
Non-trading
Non-trading
Dormant
Non-trading
Non-trading
Non-trading
Non-trading
Dormant
Non-trading
Dormant
Non-trading
Dormant
Non-trading
Non-trading
Dormant
Non-trading
Non-trading
Non-trading
Non-trading
Non-trading
Non-trading
Non-trading
Dormant
Dormant
Dormant
Dormant
Non-trading
Dormant
Dormant
Non-trading
Non-trading
Non-trading
Non-trading
Non-trading
Non-trading
Non-trading

Country of incorporation and operation

United Kingdom1
Ireland6
United Kingdom1
Germany7
United Kingdom1
United States of America2
Germany7
United Kingdom1
Netherlands5
United Kingdom1
United Kingdom1
United Kingdom1
Netherlands5
United Kingdom1
New Zealand8
United Kingdom1
United States of America2
Malaysia9
United Kingdom1
Belgium10
Germany7
India11
United States of America2
United Kingdom1
United Kingdom1
United States of America2
Canada12
Mexico13
Netherlands14
Netherlands14
United Kingdom1
United States of America2
Netherlands5
United States of America2
United States of America2
Finland15
Finland15
United States of America2

1  Registered office Caroline House, 55-57 High Holborn, London WC1V 6DX, UK.
2  Registered office 1209 Orange Street, Wilmington, Delaware, 19801, US.
3  Registered office Maystar Chambers, P.O. Box 3269, Apia, Samoa.
4  Registered office Regus Brussels Airport, Pegasuslaan 5,1831 Diegem, Belgium.
5  Registered Strawinskylaan 411, 1077XX Amsterdam, Netherlands.
6  Registered office 8th Floor, Block E, Iveagh Court, Harcourt Road, Dublin 2, Ireland.
7  Registered office Stolberger Str.370, 50933, Köln, Germany.
8  Registered office KPMG, P O Box 1584, 18 Viaduct Harbour Avenue, Maritime Square, Auckland, New Zealand.
9  Registered office 10th Floor, Menara Hap Seng, No. 1 & 3 Jalan P. Ramlee, 50250 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
10 Registered office Pegasuslaan 5, 1831 Machelen (Brab.), Belgium.
11  Registered office Unit-B, Ground Floor, Jaswanti Landmark, Mehra Industrial Estate, L.B.S. Marg, Vikhroli (W), Mumbai 400079, India.
12 Registered office C/o Stewart McKelvey Stirling Scales,44 Chipman Hill, Suite 1000 ON E2L 4S6, Canada.
13 Registered office Calle San Ignacio N 105, 22106 Tijuana,Baja California, Mexico.
14 Registered office Kajuitweg 8, 1041 AR, Amsterdam, Netherlands.
15 Registered office Kajaanintie 54, 88620, Korholanmäki, Finland.

Notes:
Other than Elementis Group BV and Elementis Overseas Investments Ltd, none of the undertakings is held directly by the Company. Equity capital is in ordinary shares 
and voting rights equate to equity ownership.
All undertakings listed above, with the exception of Elementis Specialties (India) Private Ltd for which the relevant date is 31 March, have accounting periods ending 
31 December.
Undertakings operating in the United Kingdom are incorporated in England and Wales. In the case of corporate undertakings other than in the United Kingdom their 
country of operation is also their country of incorporation.
All undertakings listed above have been included in the Consolidated financial statements of the Group for the year.

161  Elementis plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

STRATEGIC REPORTCORPORATE GOVERNANCEFINANCIAL STATEMENTSSHAREHOLDER INFORMATIONNOTES TO THE COMPANY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF ELEMENTIS PLC
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2018 
CONTINUED

7.  DEBTORS

Group relief receivable 

8.  CREDITORS: AMOUNT FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR

Accruals and deferred income

9.  SHARE CAPITAL AND RESERVES 

Called-up allotted and fully paid:
Ordinary shares of 5 pence each
At 1 January 
Issue of shares

At 31 December

2018 
£m

12.7

2018 
£m

0.6

2018  
Number  

’000

463,938
116,456

580,394

2018  
£m

23.1
5.8

28.9

2017  
Number 
’000

463,496
442

463,938

2017 
 £m

12.7

2017 
 £m

0.6

2017 
£m

23.1
–

23.1

In October 2018 the group undertook a rights issue on the basis of 1 share for every four fully paid ordinary shares held. The issue 
was resulted in the issue of 116,058,808 ordinary shares at £1.52 per share.

397,326 ordinary shares with an aggregate nominal value of £19,866 were allotted and issued for cash to various employees at 
subscription prices between 170 pence and 226 pence on the exercise of options under the Group’s share option schemes. 

The total subscription monies received by the Company for these shares was £172.5m as a result of the rights issue and 
employee allotments. The holders of ordinary shares are entitled to receive dividends and entitled to one vote per share at 
meetings of the Company.

The Company can redeem shares by repaying the market value to the shareholder, whereupon the shares are cancelled. 
Redemption must be from distributable profits. The Capital redemption reserve represents the nominal value of the 
shares redeemed.

The share options reserve comprises amounts accumulated in equity in respect of share options and awards granted to employees.

Details of the Shared-based payments in the year are set out in Note 24 to the Elementis plc consolidated financial statements. 

10.  RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
The Company is a guarantor to the Elementis Group defined benefit pension scheme under which it guarantees all current and 
future obligations of UK subsidiaries currently participating in the pension scheme to make payments to the scheme, up to a 
specified maximum amount. The maximum amount of the guarantee is that which is needed (at the time the guarantee is called on) 
to bring the scheme’s funding level up to 105% of its liabilities, calculated in accordance with section 179 of the Pensions Act 2004. 
This is also sometimes known as a Pension Protection Fund (‘PPF’) guarantee, as having such a guarantee in place reduces the 
annual PPF levy on the scheme.

162  Elementis plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

11.  UK REGISTERED 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 31 December 2018. Unless otherwise stated, the undertakings listed below are all 100% owned, either directly or 
indirectly, by Elementis plc. The Company will guarantee the debts and liabilities of the UK subsidiaries listed below at the balance 
sheet date in accordance with section 479C of the Companies Act 2006. The Company has assessed the probability of loss under 
the guarantee as remote.

Name

Agrichrome Limited
Elementis Finance (Germany) Limited
Elementis Finance (US) Limited
Elementis Germany Limited
Elementis Group (Finance) Limited
Elementis Group Limited
Elementis Overseas Investments Limited
Elementis Securities Limited
Elementis UK Limited
Elementis US Limited
SRL Performance Limited

Proportion of shares held 
by the Company (%)

Proportion of shares held 
by subsidiary (%)

Company Number

100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100

–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–

2228826
5531634
9303101
48664
9303017
4048541
8008981
597303
656457
8005226
9622186

163  Elementis plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

STRATEGIC REPORTCORPORATE GOVERNANCEFINANCIAL STATEMENTSSHAREHOLDER INFORMATIONUNAUDITED PRO FORMA INFORMATION

To better understand the full year performance of the business segments operated by the Group as at 31 December 2018 the 
information below includes the results for the Talc segment for the ten months prior to acquisition

Group performance

Revenue
Adjusted operating profit
Adjusted operating margin

Adjusted EBITDA

Net Debt

Net Debt / EBITDA *

External revenue by business segment

Personal Care
Coatings
Talc
Chromium
Energy

External revenue by geography

North America
Europe
Rest of World

Mondo performance

Revenue
Adjusted operating profit

Talc 1 Jan  
to 22 Oct 
$m2

136.9
20.7
15.1%

Pro forma 
continuing 
operations 
$m

959.1
153.3
16.0%

36.6

199.8

Continuing 
operations
$m1

822.2
132.6
16.1%

163.2

498.1

Continuing 
operations 
$m1

Talc 1 Jan  
to 22 Oct 
$m2

210.3
362.2
21.5
173.3
54.9

822.2

136.9

136.9

Continuing 
operations 
$m1

Talc 1 Jan  
to 22 Oct 
$m2

290.3
233.2
298.7

822.2

6.0
116.1
14.8

136.9

Pro forma 
continuing 
operations 
$m

210.3
362.2
158.4
173.3
54.9

959.1

Pro forma 
continuing 
operations 
$m

296.3
349.3
313.5

959.1

498.1

2.49

%

21.9%
37.8%
16.5%
18.1%
5.7%

100.0%

%

30.9%
36.4%
32.7%

100.0%

12 months to 
31 Dec 2018 
€m2

12 months to 
31 Dec 2017 
€m2

134.3
20.8

122.2
16.5

* 

 Net Debt/EBITDA where EBITDA is the Adjusted EBITDA on continuing operations of the Group and including full prior months of Mondo is the definition of Net Debt/ 
EBITDA for Elementis’ core banking covenants.

1  Source – Elementis annual accounts.
2  Source – Mondo management accounts for the relevant period.

164  Elementis plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

FIVE YEAR RECORD

Turnover
Continuing operations
Discontinued operations

Group turnover

Operating profit after adjusting items
Continuing operations
Discontinued operations

Adjusting items

Profit before interest
Other expenses

Net interest payable

Profit before tax
Tax

2018 
$m

833.2
4.8

838.0

132.6
(0.6)

132.0

(57.5)

74.5
(1.6)

(17.9)

55.0
(13.6)

2017 
$m

782.7
47.6

830.3

122.7
5.4

128.1

(30.9)

97.2
(1.2)

(11.7)

84.3
33.3

Profit attributable to equity holders 
of the parent

41.4

117.6

Basic
Earnings per ordinary share (cents)
Earnings per ordinary share after adjusting items 
(cents)

Diluted 
Earnings per ordinary share (cents)
Earnings per ordinary share after adjusting items 
(cents)

Dividend per ordinary share (cents)
Dividend per ordinary share rebased3 (cents)
Interest cover (times)1

2018
$m

7.9

17.0

7.9

16.9

8.65
8.40
8.0

2017
$m

23.3

18.1

23.0

17.9

8.80
8.05
13.5

Equity attributable to equity holders 
of the parent
Net cash

915.6
(498.1)

702.3
(291.1)

2016
restated2
$m

616.6
42.9

659.5

97.6
(0.6)

97.0

(12.5)

84.5
(1.4)

(7.6)

75.5
(7.4)

68.1

2015
restated2 

$m

623.4
53.8

677.2

119.8
4.5

124.3

2.8

127.1 
(2.1)

(4.2)

120.8
(26.2)

2014
$m

723.5
66.9

790.4

145.2
4.9

150.1

6.3

156.4
(1.9)

(6.3)

148.2
27.2

94.6

175.4

2016
restated2
$m

2015
restated2
$m

14.7

17.6

13.5

16.1

16.80
15.38
138.6

627.1
77.5

20.5

21.4

18.7

19.0

16.45
124.3
124.3

653.8
74.0

2014
 $m

38.1

25.1

34.8

23.0

15.40
115.5
115.5

644.1
64.2

Weighted average number of ordinary shares 
in issue during the year (million)

526.3

513.0

510.0

509.4

508.5

1   Ratio of operating profit after adjusting items to interest on net borrowings.
2   Restated following the adjustment for amortisation of intangibles 2016 and 2015 restated but not prior years. This is not expected to be material.
3   Following the rights issue in October 2018, dividend per share for periods prior to this have been rebased to reflect the bonus element resulting from this rights issue.

165  Elementis plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

STRATEGIC REPORTCORPORATE GOVERNANCEFINANCIAL STATEMENTSSHAREHOLDER INFORMATIONGLOSSARY

ACC

ACT

AGM

AWC

Board

Brexit

CEO

CFO

CO2

CO2e

American Chemistry Council

Advance Corporation Tax

Annual General Meeting

Average trade working capital

Board of Directors of Elementis plc

The withdrawal of the UK from the EU

Chief Executive Officer

Chief Financial Officer

Carbon dioxide

Carbon dioxide equivalent

Company

Elementis plc

CR

Corporate responsibility 

DB Scheme

Defined benefit scheme

DEFRA

EBITDA

EPS

ESOS

ESOT

EU

FRC

GAAP

GDP

GHG

GJ

Group

HMRC

HSE

Department for Environment and Rural Affairs

Earnings before interest, tax, depreciation 
and amortisation

Earnings per share

Executive share option scheme

Employee share ownership trust

European Union

Financial Reporting Council

Generally Accepted Accounting Principles

Gross domestic product

Greenhouse gases

Gigajoule

Elementis plc and its subsidiaries

HM Revenue and Customs

Health, safety and environment

IA

IFC

IFRS

ISS

KPI

kWh

LDI

LTA

LTIP

Mondo

NIC

OSHA

PRMB

REACH

Investment Association

Inside front cover

International Financial Reporting Standards

Institutional Shareholder Services

Key performance indicator

Kilowatt hour

Liability driven instrument

Lost time accident

Long term incentive plan

Mondo Minerals Holding B.V. 
and its subsidiaries

National Insurance Contributions

Occupational Safety and Health Administration

Post retirement medical benefit

Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation 
and restriction of Chemicals

Rights Issue

A one to four rights issue that was undertaken 
by the Company in October 2018

RCF

RfR

ROCE

SAYE

SID

Revolving credit facility

Relief from royalty

Return on capital employed

Save as you earn

Senior Independent Director

SummitReheis SRLH Holdings, Inc. and its subsidiaries

TSR

UK

UN

US

VOC

Total shareholder return

United Kingdom

United Nations

United States

Volatile organic compound

166  Elementis plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

Number of 
shareholders

Percentage 
of total 
shareholders

Ordinary 
shares 
(million)

Percentage of 
issued share 
capital

4432
1148
2255
455
290
64
123
33
81

0.788000
49.9%
0.820629
12.93%
4.899359
25.4%
3.048649
5.12%
5.715973
3.27%
4.465933
0.72%
28.865617
1.38%
0.37%
24.174449
0.91% 507.615608

0.14%
0.14%
0.84%
0.53%
0.98%
0.77%
4.97%
4.17%
87.46%

Number of 
shareholders

Percentage 
of total 
shareholders

Ordinary 
shares 
(million)

Percentage of 
issued share 
capital

8156
437
243
44
1

91.84
4.92
2.74
0.50
0.00

14.94168
467.645177
89.670519
8.123311
0.01353

2.57%
80.58%
15.45%
1.40%
0.00%

PAYMENT OF DIVIDENDS
Shareholders who wish dividends to be paid directly into bank or 
building society account should contact Equiniti for a dividend 
mandate form. This method of payment removes the risk of delay 
or loss of dividend cheques in the post. 

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

SHARE DEALING SERVICES
Equiniti provides a share dealing service that enables shares to 
be bought or sold by UK shareholders by telephone or over the 
internet. For telephone share dealing please call 0345 603 7037 
between 8.30 am and 4.30 pm (lines are open until 6.00 pm for 
enquiries) and for internet share dealing please visit: 
www.shareview.co.uk/dealing.

SHAREHOLDER SERVICES

Range of holdings

1 – 499
500 – 999
1,000 – 4,999
5,000 – 9,999
10,000 – 49,999
50,000 – 99,999
100,000 – 499,999
500,000 – 999,999
1,000,000 Plus

Category

Private individuals
Nominee companies
Limited and public limited companies
Other corporate bodies
Pension funds, insurance companies and banks 

BOILER ROOM FRAUD 
Share or investment scams are often run from ‘boiler rooms’ 
where fraudsters cold call investors offering them worthless, 
overpriced or even non-existent shares, or offer to buy their 
shares in a company at a higher price than the market value. 
Shareholders are advised to be very wary of any unsolicited 
advice, offers to buy shares at a discount, or offers of free reports 
about the company. Even seasoned investors have been caught 
out by such fraudsters. The FCA have some helpful information 
about such scams on their website, including tips to protect your 
savings and how to report a suspected investment scam. This 
information can be accessed at www.fca.org.uk/consumers/
scams/investment-scams

REGISTRARS
Enquiries concerning shares or shareholdings, such as the 
loss of a share certificate, consolidation of share certificates, 
amalgamation of holdings or dividend payments, should be 
made to the Company’s registrars:

Equiniti Limited 
Aspect House 
Spencer Road 
Lancing
West Sussex 
BN99 6DA
Tel: 0371 384 2379 or +44 (0)121 415 7043

For shareholders with hearing difficulties: 
Tel: 0371 384 2255 or +44 (0)121 415 7028

Lines are open 8.30 am to 5.30 pm, Monday to Friday 
(excluding public holidays in England and Wales).

In any correspondence with the registrars, please refer to 
Elementis plc and state clearly the registered name and address 
of the shareholder. Please notify the registrars promptly of any 
change of address.

167  Elementis plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

STRATEGIC REPORTCORPORATE GOVERNANCEFINANCIAL STATEMENTSSHAREHOLDER INFORMATIONCORPORATE INFORMATION

COMPANY SECRETARY 
Laura Higgins 

AUDITORS 
Deloitte LLP 

REGISTERED OFFICE 
Caroline House 
55-57 High Holborn 
London 
WC1V 6DX  
UK 

REGISTERED NUMBER 
3299608 

FINANCIAL CALENDAR

5 March 2019
30 April 2019
30 April 2019*
2 May 2019
3 May 2019
31 May 2019
30 July 2019*
5 September 2019*
6 September 2019*
27 September 2019*

*  Provisional date.

CORPORATE BROKERS 
JP Morgan Cazenove 

PUBLIC RELATIONS
Tulchan Communications

Preliminary announcement of final results for the year ended 31 December 2018
Annual General Meeting 
Trading update
Ex-dividend for final dividend for 2018 payable on ordinary shares
Record date for final dividend for 2018 payable of ordinary shares
Payment of final dividend for 2018 on ordinary shares
Interim results announcement for the half year ending 30 June 2019
Ex-dividend date for interim dividend for 2019 payable on ordinary shares
Record date for interim dividend for 2019 payable on ordinary shares
Payment of interim dividend for 2019 on ordinary shares

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
The Annual General Meeting of Elementis plc will be held on 30 April 2019 at 11.00 am at the offices of Herbert Smith Freehills LLP, 
Exchange House, Primrose Street, London EC2A 2EG. The Notice of Meeting is included in a separate document. 

PRINCIPAL OFFICES
Elementis plc 
Caroline House 
55-57 High Holborn 
London 
WC1V 6DX 
UK 

Tel: +44 (0)20 7067 2999 

Email: company.secretariat@elementis.com
Website: www.elementisplc.com 

Elementis Global
469 Old Trenton Road
East Windsor
NJ 08512
US

Tel: +1 609 443 2000

168  Elementis plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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www.gather.london

The paper used in this report is elemental chlorine 
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environmental procedures, using vegetable based inks.

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Forest certification is combined with a system  
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from certified sources.

ENHANCED PERFORMANCE THROUGH 
APPLIED INNOVATION

Elementis plc
Caroline House
55-57 High Holborn
London
WC1V 6DX
UK

Tel: +44 (0)20 7067 2999
Fax: +44 (0)20 7067 2998
www.elementisplc.com