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Halma Holdings Inc

hlma.l · LSE Industrials
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Industry Conglomerates
Employees 5001-10,000
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FY2014 Annual Report · Halma Holdings Inc
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Halma plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014

The world needs protecting

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The world needs protecting
Every day there are hazards to life, health and our environment.  
Our products detect and prevent them.

Every day millions of people suffer serious health problems.  
Our products diagnose and treat them.

Every day there are threats to the vital resources necessary to life.  
Our products protect and conserve them.

Every day our products are protecting life and improving quality  
of life for people worldwide.

Revenue* £676.5m +9%
(2013: £619.2m)

Adjusted1 profit* before  
taxation £140.2m +9% 
(2013: £128.5m restated6)

Return on sales 20.7%
(2013: 20.8% restated6)

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* Continuing and discontinued.

* Continuing and discontinued.

Dividend paid and proposed 
(per share) 11.17p +7%
(2013: 10.43p)
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Revenue

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Adjusted Profit before Taxation1

Statutory Profit before Taxation

Adjusted Earnings per Share2

Statutory Earnings per Share

Total Dividend per Share3

Return on Sales4

Return on Total Invested Capital5

Return on Capital Employed5

 2014

(Restated6)
2013

Change

+9%

+9%

+15%

+10%

+14%

+7%

£676.5m

£619.2m

£140.2m

£128.5m

£138.7m

£120.1m

28.47p

28.14p

11.17p

20.7%

16.1%

76.4%

25.79p

24.79p

10.43p

20.8%

15.6%

70.7%

Pro-forma information:
1  Adjusted to remove the amortisation of acquired intangible assets, acquisition items, the effects of closure to future 

benefit accrual of the Defined Benefit pension plans (net of associated costs), and profit or loss on disposal of 
operations totalling £1.6m (2013: £8.4m). See note 1 to the Accounts. 

2  Adjusted to remove the amortisation of acquired intangible assets, acquisition items, the effects of closure to future 

benefit accrual of the Defined Benefit pension plans (net of associated costs), profit or loss on disposal of operations 
and the associated tax thereon. See note 2 to the Accounts.

05

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3 Total dividend paid and proposed per share.

4  Return on Sales is defined as adjusted1 profit before taxation from continuing operations expressed as a percentage 

of revenue from continuing operations.

5  Organic growth rates, Return on Total Invested Capital and Return on Capital Employed are non-GAAP performance 
measures used by management in measuring the returns achieved from the Group’s asset base. See note 3 to the 
Accounts.

6  The Group adopted IAS 19 (revised) in 2013/14, which changed the accounting for Defined Benefit pension plans. 

The prior year has been restated resulting in a £2.1m reduction in its adjusted profit1. The consequent change to the 
prior year’s adjusted earnings per share2 is shown in the Accounting Policies note. Results prior to 2012/13 have not 
been restated.

 
 
Business at a Glance

Sectors

Protecting life

Process Safety 
Products which protect assets and people at 
work. Specialised interlocks which safely control 
critical processes. Instruments which detect 
flammable and hazardous gases. Explosion 
protection and corrosion monitoring products.

Infrastructure Safety 
Products which detect hazards to protect 
assets and people in public spaces and 
commercial buildings. Fire and smoke 
detectors, fire detection systems, security 
sensors and audible/visual warning devices. 
Sensors used on automatic doors and 
elevators in buildings and transportation.

Contribution 
to Group 

revenue 19% 32%

Improving quality of life

Medical 

Products used to improve personal and public 

health. Devices used to assess eye health, assist 

with eye surgery and primary care applications. 

Fluidic components such as pumps, probes, 

valves and connectors used by medical 

diagnostic OEMs.

Environmental & Analysis 

Products and technologies for analysis in  

safety, life sciences and environmental markets. 

Market-leading opto-electronic technology and 

gas conditioning products. Products to monitor 

water networks, UV technology for disinfecting 

water, and water quality testing products.

24% 25%

Financial  

highlights £127m 

Revenue

£35m 

Operating profit1

£220m 

Revenue

£44m 

Operating profit1

£163m

Revenue

£42m 

Operating profit1

£167m 

Revenue

£32m 

Operating profit1

Primary  
growth  
drivers

 – Increasing health and safety regulation

 – Increasing health and safety regulation

 – Increasing demand for healthcare

 – Increasing demand for healthcare

 – Increasing demand for life-critical resources 

(such as energy and water)

 – Increasing demand for life-critical resources 

(such as energy and water)

Profit1 by sector

Revenue by destination

Employees by location

■  Process Safety 
■  Infrastructure Safety 
■  Medical 
■  Environmental & Analysis 

23%

29%

27%

21%

■  USA 
■  Mainland Europe 
■  United Kingdom 
■  Asia Pacific 
■  Other 

32%

24%

19%

16%

9%

■  USA 
■  Mainland Europe 
■  United Kingdom 
■  Asia Pacific 
■  Other 

30%

16%

33%

20%

1%

1  See Note 1 to the Accounts.

Protecting life

Improving quality of life

Sectors

Process Safety 

Infrastructure Safety 

Products which protect assets and people at 

Products which detect hazards to protect 

work. Specialised interlocks which safely control 

assets and people in public spaces and 

critical processes. Instruments which detect 

flammable and hazardous gases. Explosion 

commercial buildings. Fire and smoke 

detectors, fire detection systems, security 

protection and corrosion monitoring products.

sensors and audible/visual warning devices. 

Sensors used on automatic doors and 

elevators in buildings and transportation.

Contribution 

to Group 

revenue 19% 32%

Medical 
Products used to improve personal and public 
health. Devices used to assess eye health, assist 
with eye surgery and primary care applications. 
Fluidic components such as pumps, probes, 
valves and connectors used by medical 
diagnostic OEMs.

Environmental & Analysis 
Products and technologies for analysis in  
safety, life sciences and environmental markets. 
Market-leading opto-electronic technology and 
gas conditioning products. Products to monitor 
water networks, UV technology for disinfecting 
water, and water quality testing products.

24% 25%

Financial  

highlights £127m 

Revenue

£35m 

Operating profit1

£220m 

Revenue

£44m 

Operating profit1

£163m

Revenue

£42m 

Operating profit1

£167m 

Revenue

£32m 

Operating profit1

Primary  

growth  

drivers

 – Increasing demand for life-critical resources 

(such as energy and water)

 – Increasing health and safety regulation

 – Increasing health and safety regulation

 – Increasing demand for healthcare

 – Increasing demand for healthcare

 – Increasing demand for life-critical resources 

(such as energy and water)

Process Safety

Infrastructure Safety

Medical

Environmental & Analysis

Corporate

Life is precious

Populations are growing

People are living longer

The world needs technology to keep people healthy

Make workplaces safer

Improve public safety

And preserve valuable resources

Our technology protects the world

Contents

Strategic Report 
02  Who We Are
03  Chairman’s Statement
05  Investment Proposition
06  Market Overview
10  Chief Executive’s Strategic Review
15  Business Model and Strategy
24  Key Performance Indicators 
28  Risk Management and 

Internal Controls

30   Principal Risks and Uncertainties
34  Process Safety 
36  Infrastructure Safety
38  Medical 
40  Environmental & Analysis
42  Corporate Responsibility
48  Financial Review

Governance 
54  Chairman’s Introduction
56  Board of Directors 
58  Executive Board
59  Corporate Governance Report
66  Audit Committee Report
70  Nomination Committee Report
72  Remuneration Committee Report
72  Chairman’s Statement
74  Remuneration Policy
81  Annual Remuneration Report

90  Other Statutory Information
93  Directors’ Responsibilities

Financial Statements 
94  Independent Auditor’s Report 
97   Consolidated Income Statement
97  Consolidated Statement of 

Comprehensive Income and 
Expenditure

98  Consolidated Balance Sheet
99  Consolidated Statement of 

Changes in Equity

101  Consolidated Cash Flow Statement
102 Accounting Policies
109 Notes to the Accounts
145 Company Balance Sheet
146 Notes to the Company Accounts
152 Summary 2005 to 2014
154 Halma Directory
158 Shareholder Information  

and Advisers

Stay up-to-date 
The latest Halma news, share price, webcasts, financial documents and more can  
be found on the Halma website at www.halma.com. You can download our free 
investor relations iPad app and follow Halma on the move at http://goo.gl/4W91y

1

Halma plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014Strategic Report Governance Financial Statements  
 
 
Who We Are

Halma employs 5,000 people through nearly 
50 subsidiary businesses based in 23 countries. 
Our companies and products are diverse but 
we have a core focus on safety, health and 
environmental markets.
Through innovation and acquisition we  
have developed a portfolio of market leading 
companies throughout our four sectors:  
Process Safety, Infrastructure Safety, Medical,  
and Environmental & Analysis. 
Our technology is used to save lives, prevent injuries, 
and protect people and assets around the world.  
On oil rigs, in airports and even underground, our 
products are detecting hazards, stopping accidents 
and actively ensuring safety.
We develop products that secure and protect the 
elements critical to healthy lives. They analyse air for 
pollutants and water for drinking. They make medical 
diagnosis faster, treatments more effective, and even 
give sight back to the blind.
Our business is protecting life and improving  
quality of life for people worldwide.

2

Halma plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014Chairman’s Statement

Paul Walker 
Chairman

“ …a strong dedication  
to the business model 
with a large reliance  
on the autonomy of  
the operations.”

When I was first approached about the opportunity 
to chair Halma, I have to admit that I knew very  
little about the Company. That in itself tells you 
something about the business, as Halma has always 
been somewhat understated, relying on the natural 
evolution of its business fundamentals to grow. 
Halma’s ambitions to grow are clearly communicated 
in its engagement with the investment community. 
There are no hidden principles guiding the Group, 
just a strong dedication to the business model with  
a large reliance on the autonomy of the operations. 
This approach is rewarded with shareholders who 
share the same values as Halma and who reinforce 
our dedication to our business model through their 
longer-term investment. Therefore in this, my first 
report as your Chairman, I am delighted to report 
another strong performance by Halma achieving 
record revenue and profit for the eleventh 
consecutive year.

Structured for sustainable growth
During this last year the Board spent time discussing how the 
business should be organised to maximise the growth opportunities 
in our marketplaces. We considered the breadth of management 
control across the Group and concluded that the time had come to  
align our Executive Board with the four market sectors that we are 
engaged in. We continue to believe that it is important to maintain  
the flat management structure that has played a large part in 
underpinning the operational excellence and control of the Group  
for many years. Halma’s growth in recent years has demonstrated 
that it is possible to replicate the Group’s traditional management 
structure within each sector – after all, our sectors are now roughly 
the size that Halma was just ten years ago!

Structuring management and the businesses in this way will broaden 
our M&A search activity as well as making Halma a more transparent 
prospect for the owners and management of potential acquisition 
opportunities. The ability to identify suitable acquisitions is an 
important part of our long-term business model. I am satisfied that  
we have maintained, and indeed enhanced, what makes Halma  
an attractive home for successful businesses.

These changes also mean that additional internal collaboration 
opportunities are more likely to be pursued. I plan to report  
on the additional ‘added value’ from internal collaboration in  
next year’s annual report. 

During the year we created the new role of Group Talent Director 
reporting to Andrew Williams and with a position on the Executive 
Board. This will improve the Company’s ability to identify talent both 
internally and externally, ensuring that we have strong teams in all of 
our businesses coupled with an effective management succession 
planning culture. I am delighted to welcome Jennifer Ward to Halma 
who was appointed to this role in March 2014.

3

Halma plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014Strategic Report Governance Financial Statements Chairman’s Statement

Governance
As Chairman of Halma, I am tasked with ensuring that the Board 
maintains a focused and disciplined approach to governance and  
I am delighted to say that the task is made easier by the leadership 
evidenced at all levels of the Group. In saying that, I do acknowledge 
that we need to improve on our diversity objectives across all of our 
businesses in the Group and that this will continue to be a focus for 
both the plc and Executive Boards. 

“ …the Board maintains 
a focused and disciplined 
approach to governance…”

Due to recent changes in their business commitments, Lord Blackwell 
and Steve Marshall will not be seeking re-election to the Board at the 
forthcoming AGM. I would like to thank them both for the significant 
contribution they have made to the Halma Board and also the support 
that they have provided to me in my first year as Chair.

I am delighted to announce that Roy Twite will be joining the  
Board following the conclusion of the AGM on 24 July 2014.  
Roy is an executive director at IMI plc and brings very relevant 
engineering experience to the Halma Board. Stephen Pettit has 
agreed to the Board’s request to remain on the Halma Board up  
until the 2015 annual general meeting. The Board is in the process  
of seeking to identify an additional non-executive Director.

Further information on Corporate Governance is included on  
pages 59 to 65.

Acquisitions and disposal
The Group concluded only one acquisition this year after acquiring  
six businesses in the previous year on which we spent £137m.  
Our acquisition pipeline remains good. The three acquisitions 
concluded after our financial year end demonstrate that we cannot 
predict when our efforts will come to fruition although this also gives me 
comfort that the disciplines and due diligence surrounding acquisitions 
are not unduly accelerated, but fully performed and considered. As a 
Board, we evaluate each investment opportunity on its merits and 
ensure that each is the right use of our financial resources.

Pensions
During the year, the Board authorised the cessation of future benefit 
accrual in the two remaining UK Defined Benefit pension plans in 
operation in the Group. Whilst this provides the Company with a less 
volatile financial impact in the years ahead, I wanted to let each of the 
long-serving Group employees affected by this change know that  
this was not an easy decision to reach. The Board considered the 
volatility of pension funding and accounting alongside market practice 
outside Halma, harmonisation of Group benefits and upcoming 
changes to National Insurance contributions. We concluded  
that discontinuance of this benefit, balanced with transitional 
measures, was in the best interests of shareholders.

Performance and dividend
I would like to thank Andrew Williams, the Executive Board and each 
of Halma’s employees around the world; each has played their part 
this year in delivering value for shareholders in another chapter in the  
story of Halma.

I am pleased to report that revenue for the year increased by 9% to 
£677m with adjusted1 profit before tax increasing by 9% to £140m.  
In a year in which there were fewer acquisitions, this is a 
commendable performance. 

The Board’s confidence in the Group is reflected in us recommending 
a final dividend of 6.82p per share giving a total dividend for the year 
of 11.17p, an increase of 7%. The final dividend is subject to approval 
by shareholders at the AGM on 24 July 2014 and will be paid on  
20 August 2014 to shareholders on the register at 18 July 2014.  
This marks the 35th consecutive year of dividend increases of  
5% or more.

Summary
2014 has been another successful year for Halma with solid organic 
growth and positive contributions from recent acquisitions helping  
to achieve record results for the eleventh successive year. The 
restructuring of our Executive Board, aligning it more closely with  
our four sectors, will give us a clearer market focus. I believe this will 
continue to help us to achieve our longer-term strategic objectives  
as well as continuing to drive organic growth in the business. 

Paul Walker
Chairman

1  See Financial Highlights.

4

Halma plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014i

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Investment Proposition

Halma delivers sustained shareholder value. 
We consistently deliver record profits, high returns,  
and strong cash flows with low levels of balance sheet 
gearing. We have a 35-year track record of growing 
dividend payments by 5% or more every year. 
Our strategy is to have a diverse group of businesses building strong competitive advantage  
in specialised safety, health and environmental technology markets with resilient growth drivers.  
These growth drivers include increasing Health and Safety regulation, demand for healthcare and 
demand for life-critical resources. They ensure that demand for our products is sustained, in both 
developed and developing regions, through periods of significant macro-economic change.

Organic growth generates the resources we need to fund acquisitions and keep 
increasing dividends. We generate organic growth by increasing levels of investment in people 
development, new product development and in establishing platforms for our businesses to grow 
in international markets.

Our portfolio consists of small to medium-sized manufacturing businesses operating in 23 countries 
and we have major operations in Europe, the USA and Asia. Our principal customer sectors  
are commercial and public buildings, utilities, healthcare/medical, science/environment, process 
industries and energy/resources. This market diversity contributes to our ability to sustain growth 
through economic cyclicality.

We manage the mix of businesses in our Group to ensure we can sustain strong growth and 
returns over the long term. We acquire businesses to accelerate penetration of more attractive 
market niches, we merge businesses when market characteristics change and we exit markets 
which offer less attractive long-term growth and returns through carefully planned disposals.

Halma’s resilient market qualities, sustained investment in organic growth and active portfolio 
management position us strongly to maintain high levels of performance and create shareholder 
value in the future.

Total Shareholder Return (five years)

600%

500%

400%

300%

200%

100%

0%

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

■  Halma
■  FTSE 250
■  FTSE 350 Electronic & Electronic Equipment

Halma plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014

5

 
 
 
 
 
Market Overview 
What makes our business grow? 

Macro-economics, 
regulatory and  
competitive environment
Our focus on the supply of safety, health 
and environmental related products 
positions Halma businesses in relatively 
non-cyclical markets that have clear,  
long-term growth prospects.

Halma’s strategy is to develop market positions with a horizon  
of ten years or more. Growth strategies within our individual 
operating businesses have three to five-year horizons.

Most of our markets are underpinned by regulatory drivers  
where customer spending is often non-discretionary. Our 
businesses benefit from strong market positions providing 
upgrade and replacement sales opportunities. These factors 
create resilience and enable us to achieve organic growth  
above prevailing market growth rates.

We are exposed to a diverse range of niche markets, each with  
its own unique market dynamic. Our approach is to empower  
local management to respond to changing market conditions  
by developing and executing their own growth strategy. More 
details are given in the sector reviews on pages 34 to 41.

Our competitive environment is heavily influenced by global, 
regional and national product approvals or technical validations. 
Compliance with these product regulations is a steadily increasing 
cost and technical challenge but our focus on this area enables  
us to build competitive advantage.

In the current macro-economic environment each of our 
businesses is experiencing different challenges and opportunities 
according to their particular market and geographic exposure. 
In 2014/15, we expect the macro-economic circumstances in 
Europe and the USA to support steady growth.

GDP growth in developing economies is forecast to grow by 
around 5% during 2014 and 2015. The broader socio-economic 
development of developing regions such as Asia and South 
America will continue to increase demand for a safer environment 
and greater access to healthcare and energy/water resources. 
These factors should enable us to deliver growth ahead of the 
GDP rate over the medium term.

Our businesses have favourable long-term organic growth 
prospects because they are positioned in markets with one  
or more of the following three growth drivers:

 – increasing health and safety regulation
 – increasing demand for healthcare
 – increasing demand for life-critical resources

6

Halma plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014

Increasing health and safety regulation
Employers throughout the world must comply with 
increasingly strict government laws and regulations  
to protect their workers, assets and the environment 
from workplace hazards. In parallel with government 
regulation, many multinational employers are extending 
their health and safety practice to developing regions. 
This continuously increasing safety regulation, 
combined with globalisation, drives demand for our 
Process Safety and Infrastructure Safety products.

The human cost of workplace accidents and diseases is enormous. 
Every year 317 million work accidents occur, many resulting in 
extended work absences. The International Labour Organisation 
estimates that 2.34 million people around the world die annually from 
work accidents or work-related disease. That is over 6,400 fatalities 
per day. 

Workplace injury and occupational disease is also a significant 
economic burden on national economies and businesses. The 
financial impact of poor occupational safety and health practice 
is due to absences from work and sickness, disability benefits, 
compensation, interruption of production and medical expenses. 
These costs are estimated to be as high as 4% of global GDP. 
Countries with above average workplace casualty rates may  
lose up to 10% of their GDP. 

Safety and health at work varies considerably between countries, 
economic sectors and social groups. Deaths and injuries take a 
particularly heavy toll in developing countries, where a large part 
of the population may work in hazardous conditions. However, 
advances in occupational safety are reducing the number of fatal 
accidents at work. 

Throughout the world, deaths and injuries caused by accidents 
prompt governments to introduce new and tougher regulations  
that protect people from harm in public access and commercial 
buildings. The continuous introduction of new, mandatory building 
codes affecting fire protection, building security, automated doors 
and elevators drives demand for our Infrastructure Safety products.

Industry update 

An onshore oil pipeline explosion last November that claimed 
62 lives and injured 136 people in Qingdao, Shandong 
province resulted in legal action against 63 people, including 
the Chairman of China’s second largest oil producer, for 
process safety failures. Economic losses caused by the 
accident were estimated at more than £70m.

Every 15 seconds 
a worker dies from a  
work-related accident 
or disease and  
150 workers have  
a work-related accident

Industry update 

Europe’s population of 50 million deaf or hard-of-hearing 
people will benefit from new European fire safety regulations. 
Stricter installation and performance standards for visual  
fire alarm warning devices will improve fire protection in 
commercial buildings and factories for deaf people and 
workers wearing ear protectors.

Read more PP34 and 36

7

Halma plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014Strategic Report Governance Financial Statements Global population ageing: 1950–2050

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2,000

1,500

1,000

500

0

1950 1960

1970

1980

1990

2000
Year

2010

2020

2030

2040

2050

Source: United Nations.

Global senior population by 2017

10% of people 
over 65
73.7 years
$1 trillion 

Global life expectancy by 2017

Chinese healthcare spend 2020

Market Overview continued

Increasing demand for healthcare
Four long-term demographic trends drive increasing 
spend on healthcare worldwide and support demand 
for products in our Medical and Environmental & 
Analysis sectors:

 – population ageing
 – population growth 
 – increase in chronic disease
 – rising incomes in the developing world

Worldwide healthcare expenditure is about 8% of global GDP. Total 
global health spending is forecast to rise by over 5% a year until 2017. 
Healthcare spending continues to rise rapidly in the developed world. 
In the USA, for example, total healthcare expenditure was estimated 
at $2.9 trillion in 2013, and is projected to rise to $3.4 trillion within 
three years. The trend in emerging nations is also for spending on 
healthcare to rise dramatically.

Population growth and growing wealth are strong drivers of 
healthcare demand in the developing world. Healthcare spending  
in China continues to increase rapidly and is the fastest-growing 
emerging market. Healthcare spending in China is forecast to  
grow from $357 billion in 2011 to $1 trillion in 2020.

Population ageing and rising numbers of people suffering from 
age-related chronic disease combine as a strong, long-term driver  
for healthcare services and products in our Medical sector in both 
developed and emerging economies.

The number of people aged over 65 is expected to more than triple 
over the next half-century. Life expectancy is expected to rise from 
72.6 years in 2012 to 73.7 years by 2017. This will mean that more 
than 10% of the world’s population will be over 65. In Western  
Europe the proportion will hit 20 percent; in Japan, 27 percent. 

In the USA, the world’s largest healthcare market, increasing life 
expectancy is predicted to double the population of people over  
65 years old by 2050. While the more developed countries have the 
oldest population distribution, the vast majority of older people, and 
the most rapidly ageing populations, are in less developed regions. 

Rising incomes in the developing world make healthcare more 
accessible but, combined with less active lifestyles, lead to a higher 
prevalence of chronic disease. Worldwide, deaths due to cancer, 
heart disease, stroke, respiratory disease, diabetes and hypertension 
have risen sharply in the past decade. These chronic diseases,  
now the leading cause of mortality worldwide, can be attributed to 
population ageing, more sedentary lifestyles, changing diets and 
rising obesity. Halma’s focus on ophthalmology and advanced blood 
pressure monitoring directly relates to the diagnosis and treatment  
of these chronic diseases.

Read more PP38 and 40

8

Halma plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014 
 
 
 
 
“ Competition for  
water resources is 
forecast to increase 
between countries in  
both developed and 
developing regions.”

Global population: 1950–2050

10

9

8

7

6

5

4

3

2

1

0

)
s
n
o

i
l
l
i

b

(

l

n
o
i
t
a
u
p
o
P

9 billion

8 billion

7 billion

6 billion

5 billion

4 billion

3 billion

1950

1960

1970

1980

1990

2000
Year

2010

2020

2030

2040

2050

Source: U.S. Census Bureau.

Increasing demand for  
life-critical resources
Rising energy consumption and water usage, the 
inevitable consequences of social and economic 
development, are driven by three key trends:

 – population growth
 – rising living standards
 – dietary and agricultural changes

Many of our Environmental & Analysis and Process Safety sector 
businesses operate in markets driven by the global trends of rising 
demand for life-critical resources such as energy and water.

Water consumption grew twice as fast as the world population in the 
20th century and demand continues to rise relentlessly today. A third 
of the world’s population now lives in water-stressed countries. Water 
demand is predicted to increase by 50% by 2025 in developing 
countries and by 18% in developed countries, and both the quality 
and availability of clean water continues to decline. 

Competition for water resources is forecast to increase between 
countries in both developed and developing regions. The rising  
value placed on finite water resources drives demand for our water 
conservation, treatment, monitoring and quality testing products.

Demand for water is strongly linked to energy demand. Water is 
needed to convert resources into electricity via thermal, nuclear,  
and hydro processes and also for irrigation of biofuel crops. In turn, 
energy is needed at all stages of water extraction, treatment and 
distribution. Fifteen percent of water withdrawal is currently used for 
energy production, but this is expected to rise 20% by 2035 due to 
population growth, urbanisation and changing consumption patterns.

Worldwide energy demand is expected to grow by more  
than one-third up to 2035, with China, India and the Middle East 
accounting for more than half of the increase. Rising demand for 
energy will put further strain on the world’s fresh water resources in the 
coming decade, especially in developing and emerging economies.

Rising incomes are enabling developing region populations to  
change their diets from mainly starch-based to meat and dairy.  
This is changing agricultural practices and raising water demand. 
Dietary change has been the most significant factor affecting global 
water consumption over the past 30 years, and is expected to 
continue well into the middle of the twenty-first century.

Read more PP34 and 40

9

Halma plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014Strategic Report Governance Financial Statements  
Chief Executive’s Strategic Review

Record revenue and profit growth
Halma has performed strongly, achieving record revenue and  
profit for the eleventh consecutive year. We achieved revenue  
and profit growth in all four of our business sectors demonstrating  
the benefit of sustained investment in new product innovation and 
people development. We increased revenue in all major geographic 
regions, rewarding our commitment to increasing resources in 
developing countries and reflecting the opportunities for growth  
in developed markets.

The consistency of Halma’s strong performance over a long  
period is the product of a good strategy together with the creativity, 
commitment and talent of Halma’s employees. Once again, I would 
like to thank them for their contributions to our continued success.

Good organic revenue and profit growth
Revenue from continuing operations increased by 9% to £676.5m 
(2013: £619.2m). Organic revenue growth was 6% and also 6%  
at constant currency. Adjusted1 profit from continuing operations 
increased by 9% to £140.2m (2013 restated1: £128.5m). Organic  
profit growth was 6% and 5% at constant currency.

There were similar rates of organic revenue growth at constant 
currency in the first-half and second-half years. Profit growth was 
stronger in the second half as some ‘one-off’ reorganisation and 
quality costs in the first half were not repeated. Product margins 
remained steady throughout the year reflecting good control of  
both pricing and manufacturing costs.

High returns and strong cash generation
High returns were maintained with Return on Sales of 20.7% (2013 
restated1: 20.8%) and Return on Capital Employed at the operating 
level increased to 76% (2013 restated1: 71%). Return on Total Invested 
Capital (post-tax) rose to 16.1% (2013 restated1: 15.6%).

Strong cash generation ensured we ended the period with net  
debt of £74m (2013: £110m) after spending £17m on capital 
expenditure, £17m on acquisitions (2013: £148m of which £137m 
was for businesses acquired in the year) and paying out £40m and 
£28m on dividends and tax respectively. In November 2013, we 
increased and extended our revolving credit facilities up to £360m 
until November 2018 and we are in an excellent financial position 
to support our future growth.

Growth in all major geographic regions
Widespread growth in all major geographic regions once again 
showed Halma’s ability to succeed amid a range of local economic 
conditions. This reflects both the benefit to us of the diversity of our 
end markets and also the agility of our operating structure. Each 
subsidiary company is able to adjust investment priorities quickly as 
market conditions vary. We have seen the value of this, particularly 
during recent years when macro-economic circumstances have 
been changeable.

Andrew Williams 
Chief Executive 

“ The consistency 
of Halma’s strong 
performance over a long 
period is the product of  
a good strategy together 
with the creativity, 
commitment and talent  
of Halma’s employees.” 

10

Halma plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014Revenue from our largest market, the USA, grew by 10% to £214m 
(2013: £195m) including organic growth at constant currency of 6%. 
UK revenue improved by 11% to £128m (2013: £116m) while Mainland 
Europe revenue was up by 8% to £164m (2013: £152m). Constant 
currency organic revenue growth in these regions was 6% and 5% 
respectively. Therefore, total revenue from these three developed 
markets grew by a very healthy 9%, including 6% organic growth 
at constant currency.

We maintained strong growth in China: revenue was up by 26%  
to £47m (2013: £37m), which is 7% of the Group. This included 
a successful first full year for Longer Pump, our first stand-alone 
acquisition in China. This excellent performance in China contributed 
to revenue from Asia Pacific increasing by 11% to £112m, including 
7% organic growth at constant currency.

Organic revenue and profit growth in all sectors
Process Safety grew revenue by 1% to £126.7m (2013: £125.7m) 
and profit2 by 8% to £34.9m (2013: £32.3m). Excluding the 
contribution of Tritech, which was sold in August 2012, revenue 
increased by 5% and profit by 11%. These were also the sector’s 
organic growth rates.

Return on Sales improved from 25.7% to 27.5% due to continued 
strong product margins and good operational management. New 
product introductions contributed to both this margin expansion  
and to revenue growth through diversification into new application 
niches. Examples included new pressure relief devices for shale gas 
production and a wide-area gas detection system which incorporates 
wireless technology developed by one of our Infrastructure Safety 
businesses. This combination of focused product innovation and a 
continued increase in Health & Safety regulation globally is delivering 
sustained success for our Process Safety sector. 

Excluding the prior year disposal, there was growth in all major 
geographic regions except the UK, where revenue declined by 1%. 
There was double-digit growth from the USA (up 13%) and Asia 
Pacific (up 12%). Mainland Europe revenue increased by 1%. The 
sector hub set up in Brazil in 2013 is now firmly established and 
promises to boost Process Safety revenue from this territory in 
the future.

Infrastructure Safety performed strongly, growing both revenue 
and profit2 by 7% to £220.3m (2013: £205.3m) and £44.4m (2013 
restated: £41.5m) respectively. At constant currency, organic revenue 
growth was 6% and profit growth was 5% demonstrating the 
resilience of demand for our products which is underpinned by 
increasing Health & Safety regulation.

Return on Sales remained strong at 20.2% (2013 restated: 20.2%) 
due to successful new product launches and an effective balance 
between investment and cost control to maintain strong product 
margins. We continue to achieve good growth for our wireless smoke 
detectors into the home automation market in the USA, while a new 
safety sensor for automatic swing doors is increasing our market 
share with global pedestrian door OEMs.

Revenue increased in all major geographic regions, including 12% 
growth in Mainland Europe. Healthy mid-single digit growth in the  
UK, USA and Asia Pacific reflected the global reach of our products, 
whether selling into major multinational OEMs or through local 
distribution partners. Our strategy of increasing investment in locally 
based sales and technical resources continues to pay dividends.

Our Medical sector grew revenue by 20% to £163.2m (2013: 
£136.1m) and profit2 by 16% to £41.8m (2013: £35.9m), including  
a sizeable contribution from acquisitions completed in the prior 
financial year. Organic revenue growth at constant currency  
was 7% and organic profit growth was 1%.

Return on Sales remained strong at 25.6%, albeit slightly below last 
year’s record 26.4%. A combination of minor factors contributed to 
this, including the full-year effect of the new medical device tax in the 
USA and the acquisitions made in the prior year having lower returns 
than the sector average. Typically, we increase investment in newly 
acquired businesses during the first couple of years of ownership to 
build management strength, international sales resources and new 
product development capability. In the medium term, this not only 
increases revenue, but also drives up profitability.

There was strong revenue growth in all geographic regions. Asia 
Pacific growth of 52% benefited from a good first year’s performance 
from Longer Pump in China and strong organic growth of 22% 
(constant currency). Our focus on new medical product registrations 
is slowly paying dividends and is enabling us to build stronger market 
positions in key developing territories in Asia and South America. 
Elsewhere, organic revenue growth (constant currency) from the UK 
was up 8%, Mainland Europe grew by 6% and the USA increased 3%.

Environmental & Analysis achieved a pleasing full-year 
performance after a disappointing prior year and some reorganisation 
in the first half. Revenue increased by 9% to £166.5m (2013: £152.4m) 
and profit2 grew by 4% to £31.7m (2013: £30.4m). At constant 
currency, organic revenue growth was 5% and profit was up 2%.

Return on Sales was 19.1% (2013: 19.9%) which represented a useful 
improvement from 18.2% at the end of the first half. The consolidation 
of our two optical coating business facilities has gone to plan with a 
newly expanded facility now operational in Florida and product lines 
being transferred from Colorado. In addition, our main photonics 
business, Ocean Optics, has spun-off a new Halma subsidiary  
in China while our water UV companies have restructured  
their distribution channels in the USA. The total cost of these 
restructuring projects was below £1m in the year.

11

Halma plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014Strategic Report Governance Financial Statements Chief Executive’s Strategic Review continued

“ Our strategy is to  
sustain consistent rates  
of organic growth by 
focusing on three areas  
of investment: innovation, 
people development and 
international expansion.”

Revenue grew by 53% in the UK, dominated by large sales of flow/
pressure data loggers to UK water utilities as part of their preparation 
for the deregulation of the UK commercial water market in 2017. 
There was mid-single digit growth in Mainland Europe and the USA 
whilst revenue from Asia Pacific declined by 5% as major contracts 
for certain water and photonics businesses last year came to an  
end. Restructuring completed during the year and additional senior 
management changes made shortly after year end should improve 
the consistency of this sector’s performance in the medium term.

Executive Board changes enhance the scalability 
of Halma’s business model
In April 2014, Halma’s Executive Board was reorganised to be  
more clearly aligned with our four reporting sectors and provide  
a management structure which gives each sector the potential to 
become as large as the whole of Halma today. Each of our four 
sectors is now led by a Sector Chief Executive (SCE), each of  
whom has already proven successful in delivering both organic and 
acquisition growth as a Halma Divisional Chief Executive (DCE). As 
each sector grows, the SCEs will appoint Sector Vice Presidents to 
chair small groups of companies in much the same way as Halma 
DCEs did successfully for many years in the past.

Halma’s long track record of success is built on careful selection  
of markets and product niches complemented by an unstinting 
commitment to improve the quality of management. This need to 
have a strong talent pipeline to support future growth is an ever-
increasing challenge and, with that in mind, we recruited Jennifer 
Ward to the Halma Executive Board as Group Talent Director. 
Jennifer will lead the development of a more rigorous approach 
to identifying, assessing, developing and attracting diverse 
management talent working in a partnership with the SCEs.

This new management structure will result in clearer growth strategies 
for each sector, clarifying the investment, collaboration and acquisition 
priorities. As Group CEO, I will maintain a close relationship with both 
the SCEs and our individual operating subsidiaries through their 
regular reporting, meetings and my ongoing programme of company 
visits. I am confident that we have a management structure which is 
capable of scaling up Halma’s successful business model over the 
next decade (or more) while maintaining our unique operating culture.

Three acquisitions completed recently; pipeline 
is good
Following a very busy 2012/13, when Halma spent £137m 
on six businesses (excluding net cash acquired of £5m), we 
completed one acquisition this financial year. Talentum, a flame 
detector manufacturer, was acquired by our Infrastructure Safety 
sector in April 2013 for £3m (excluding net cash acquired). 

Despite a quiet year, we remain confident about acquisition 
prospects, having come close to completing a number of additional 
deals during the year. Although the current M&A market is more 
competitive than it has been for the past few years, we are still  
finding high quality companies in good markets at sensible prices.  
To support this confidence, we have completed three acquisitions  
since the period end:

 – Plasticspritzerei AG was acquired in May 2014 for a net cash 

consideration of CHF4.8m (£3.2m). Plasticspritzerei manufactures 
plastic components including critical parts for Medicel’s ophthalmic 
products and joins our Medical sector.

 – Advanced Electronics Limited (Advanced) was acquired in  

May 2014 for an initial cash consideration of £14.1m. Advanced 
manufactures networked fire detection and control systems  
and joins our Infrastructure Safety sector.

 – Rohrback Cosasco Systems Inc. (RCS) was acquired in  

May 2014 for a cash consideration of $108m (£64.7m) excluding 
cash acquired. RCS is a world leader in the design, manufacture 
and sale of pipeline corrosion monitoring products and systems 
and is a strong addition to our Process Safety sector.

We made one disposal following the year end, selling our US-based 
elevator control panel manufacturing business, Monitor Elevator 
Products Inc., to another industry player, Innovation Industries for 
$6m (£3.6m). Halma will record a gain before tax of approximately 
£1m on this transaction in 2014/15.

The net spend on the acqusitions and disposal in May 2014 
was £78.4m.

Creating growth through strategic investment
Our strategy is to sustain consistent rates of organic growth  
by focusing on three areas of investment: innovation, people 
development and international expansion.

We are strongly cash generative and our medium-term organic 
growth rate determines our ability to fund the acquisition of new 
businesses and increase dividends each year. These cash resources 
are supplemented by income from disposals and external financing 
facilities, although our strategy is always to maintain a strong balance 
sheet with modest levels of debt. In the longer term, our ability to shift 
our portfolio mix also ensures that we can change our exposure to 
particular end markets as economic circumstances evolve.

12

Halma plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014Increased investment in innovation
Halma businesses build market leadership, gain market share and 
create opportunities in new markets through innovation of products 
and processes. This innovation comes from leveraging the deep 
market knowledge and application know-how residing within each 
Halma business. 

There is a significant benefit to be gained from Halma companies 
collaborating and sharing know-how with their sister companies.  
We are building a culture which encourages these behaviours in a 
variety of ways including diverse company representation at Halma 
training programmes and holding a biennial Halma Innovation and 
Technology Exposition (HITE). Network groups focused on functional 
areas such as manufacturing, HR and IT also foster regular 
benchmarking and drive continuous improvement.

In May 2013, we held our third HITE event in Florida, USA. HITE 
brings together senior managers from all Halma companies and  
acts as a catalyst for collaboration and sharing know-how thereby 
increasing subsidiaries’ rates of innovation and competitive 
advantage. Plans are already underway for HITE 2015 which will  
be held during April 2015 in Barcelona, Spain and, once again,  
we intend to invite institutional investors and analysts to join us.

Innovation is formally recognised in Halma through the annual  
Halma Innovation Award which includes a first prize of £20,000  
for the winning employees.

The Halma Innovation Award 2014 was won by a collaboration 
between two of our US-based Environmental & Analysis sector 
businesses, Avo Photonics and Aquionics. Avo’s expertise in 
electro-optics and Aquionics’ knowledge of UV light disinfection of 
water were combined to develop PearlSenseT. This is the first product 
to use UV LED lamps instead of mercury-based lamps to monitor the 
effectiveness of UV disinfection systems in real-time. Compared to 
older technology, PearlSenseT offers customers a smaller device 
footprint, a more robust design, lower operating costs and, through 
the elimination of mercury, an environmentally friendly solution.

Both runners-up prizes were won by teams from Oseco, which 
manufactures pressure relief devices for safety-critical processes. 
Their winning innovations were a new pressure safety system for 
shale gas production and a high pressure, high temperature bursting 
disk used in chemical manufacturing. Both of these products provide 
a level of technical performance and reliability way beyond that 
achieved by the competition, creating two new market niches  
for Oseco’s business.

During the year, R&D expenditure grew by 5% to £32.1m (2013: 
£30.5m excluding disposal). There was higher R&D investment  
in all sectors.

In April 2013, we introduced a programme to encourage our 
companies to increase R&D resources in China in order to develop 
more products for the local market. Subsequently, 10 Halma 
businesses have been granted a subsidy to support the cost of 
engineers in China and we expect the first new products to be 
launched in 2014. This is another good example of how being  
in Halma can accelerate the growth and development of  
individual businesses.

People development
A key component of Halma’s success is to build and develop 
company management teams who thrive on the opportunity to 
devise their own growth strategy and take management action  
as market needs dictate. Each Halma company board manages  
their own R&D, manufacturing, sales, marketing and financial  
control resources.

Halma’s Executive Board ensures that, collectively, the subsidiary 
companies’ strategic plans, financial goals and incentive programmes 
are aligned with Halma’s, supported by a relentless commitment to 
attract and develop high quality talent. 

We continue to offer a range of training for employees including the 
Halma Executive Development Programmes (HEDP and HEDP+), 
Halma Management Development Programmes (HMDP and 
HMDP+) and Halma Certificate in Applied Technology (HCAT). All 
programme content is continuously reviewed and upgraded as the 
needs of our business evolve. During 2013/14, 104 employees 
attended these Halma run programmes and many more attended 
locally organised in-house training or externally run programmes. In 
recent years, Executive Board members have attended Advanced 
Management Programmes at Harvard, Wharton, INSEAD and IESE 
Business Schools.

The Halma Graduate Development Programme (HGDP) continues  
to go from strength to strength and our first intake of graduates are 
securing their first permanent jobs with Halma companies. Of the 
nine graduates who joined this first programme in 2012, seven are  
still with us and all have proved that they have the potential to make  
a significant contribution to Halma’s future success. The HGDP 2013 
group is also showing high potential and we are close to completing 
recruitment into the HGDP 2014 programme.

13

Halma plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014Strategic Report Governance Financial Statements Chief Executive’s Strategic Review continued

“ ...widespread growth once 
again demonstrates the 
agility of our organisation...”

We believe that Halma is an attractive employer for new graduates, 
offering them the chance to work in different functional roles,  
diverse markets, gain international experience and demonstrate  
their potential for significant early career progression. We aim to use 
HGDP to increase the depth and quality of talent coming through  
our management ranks. We believe it will also contribute to increasing 
the diversity of our senior management at subsidiary company and 
Group levels.

International expansion contributing strongly to  
our growth
We choose to operate in niches within markets which have growth 
potential in both developed and developing markets. This global 
opportunity derives from targeting long-term market growth drivers 
which have worldwide significance. For example, demand for 
healthcare is driven by ageing population in developed regions and 
the broader social development and increasing personal healthcare 
expectations in developing countries.

When we buy businesses, they often have untapped potential for 
significant international expansion. Frequently, these opportunities  
are not limited to developing countries as many US-based businesses 
still need to build a stronger market position in Europe and vice versa. 
Wherever the growth opportunities are, Halma can provide expertise 
and an infrastructure to support our companies, either through 
regional Halma hub offices or collaboration with sister companies. 

Our strategic objective is for 30% of revenue to come from outside 
the UK, Mainland Europe and the USA by 2015. Since setting this 
goal in 2010, revenue from outside these developed markets has 
increased from £98m (21% of Group) to £170m (25% of Group), which 
represents a compound growth rate of 15% p.a. Although this has 
contributed a third of all revenue growth during the four-year period, 
a combination of higher than anticipated growth in Europe and 
the USA and new acquisitions, has made achieving this strategic 
objective more challenging. However, we remain committed to 
investing in international expansion and will review our mid-term 
objectives once again in 2015.

Delivering corporate responsibility and sustainability
Our primary market growth drivers mean that Halma companies 
operate in markets in which their products contribute positively to the 
wider community. These market characteristics and our commitment 
to health and safety, the environment and people development are 
reflected in the values held by our employees and our operating 
culture. We regularly review our responsibility and sustainability 
reporting in accordance with best practice. Legislative changes, 
particularly concerning the environment and bribery and corruption, 
have provided an opportunity to review and ensure that our 
procedures in these important areas are accessible, compliant  
and firmly embedded within our business.

A detailed report on Corporate Responsibility is on pages 42 to 47.

Outlook
We achieved growth in all four Halma business sectors and in all 
major geographic regions even though market conditions were 
variable. This widespread growth once again demonstrates the agility 
of our organisation and the benefit of senior management being close 
to customers and empowered to allocate resources according to 
market needs.

We expect this varied trading environment to continue, providing  
both opportunities and challenges including a currency headwind 
resulting from the increased strength of Sterling. Our ongoing 
investment in new products, people development and international 
expansion will also continue to open up new market niches and 
applications for our businesses. Our proven ability to achieve organic 
growth and regularly complete good quality acquisitions gives us 
confidence that Halma will make further progress in the year ahead.

Andrew Williams 
Chief Executive 

1 See Financial Highlights.
2 See Note 1 to the Accounts.

14

Halma plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014Business Model and Strategy 

Business model 
What is Halma’s growth objective?

Our business model objective is to double Group revenue and profit every five years. 

We aim to achieve this through a mix of acquisitions and organic growth. Return on Sales in excess of 18%  
and Return on Capital Employed over 45% ensure that cash generation is strong enough to sustain growth  
and increase dividends without the need for high levels of external funding.

Grow
KPIs
 – Organic revenue growth
 – Organic profit growth
 – International expansion
 – Return on sales
 – ROCE
 – ROTIC

  Read more PP16, 24 and 25

Innovate
KPIs
 – R&D development

  Read more PP22 and 27

R

i

s

k

Acquire
KPIs
 – Cash generation
 – Acquisitions

  Read more PP18 and 26

Empower
KPIs
 – Development 
programmes
 – Values alignment
 – CO2 emissions reduction

  Read more PP20, 26 and 27

vernance

o
G

Gro w

Acq

uir

e

Sustainable
growth

I
n

n

o

vate

m power

E

Corporate Resp o n s i b ilit y

Strategy 
How do we grow?

We operate in relatively non-cyclical, specialised global niche markets. Our technology and application know-how deliver  
strong competitive advantage to sustain growth and high returns. Our chosen markets have significant barriers to entry.  
Demand for our products is underpinned by resilient, long-term growth drivers.

We place our operational resources close to our customers through autonomous locally managed businesses.  
We reinvest cash into acquiring high performance businesses in, or close to, our existing markets.

Governance
Halma is committed to maintaining the highest 
standards of corporate governance and ensuring 
values and behaviours are consistent across the 
business. Halma promotes open and transparent 
discussion and constructive challenge across the 
Group to ensure best practice is maintained. 
That governance culture is integral to our strategy 
and decision-making processes for the benefit 
of our shareholders.

Risk
Group risk is mitigated by means of an operating 
structure which spreads the Group’s activities 
across a number of autonomous subsidiary 
companies. Each of these companies is led by a 
high-quality board of directors including a finance 
executive. Group companies operate under a 
system of robust controls which address our 
principal risks and uncertainties.

Corporate Responsibility
Halma companies are involved in the manufacture 
of a wide range of products that protect and 
improve the quality of life for people worldwide. 
Halma has developed meaningful key performance 
indicators (KPIs) that reflect the importance the 
Group places on corporate responsibility and 
enable the Board to monitor the Group’s progress 
in meeting its objectives and responsibilities in 
these areas. 

  Read more PP59 to 65

  Read more PP28 to 33

  Read more PP26 and 27

15

Halma plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014Strategic Report Governance Financial Statements  
 
Grow

We choose to operate in niches within markets with robust long-term 
growth drivers on a global scale. This gives our businesses the 
opportunity to sustain growth in all regions of the world.

Our current focus is on increasing selling resources together with 
enhancing our local product development capabilities. Through this, 
we aim to ensure that we are able to continue to achieve growth rates 
in excess of the underlying market growth through gaining market 
share and diversifying into new markets.

BEA designs, assembles and sells sensors for automatic doors. 
When we acquired BEA in 2002 it was already the world leader in its 
specialised market. The company’s strategy for growth has been to 
maintain global market leadership in the pedestrian door sensors 
niche while growing sales by diversifying into industrial, security and 
transport door control applications based on market-led innovation. 
This has enabled it to grow above the rate of its traditional pedestrian 
door market.

Read more P36

16

Halma plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014Valentin Novakovic´
Valentin is BEA’s Business Development 
Manager and has been responsible for  
the company’s diversification into industrial, 
security and transport applications. 
BEA developed new products with new 
features and functionalities for these 
applications, where demand is still driven by 
one or more of our primary growth drivers.

17

Halma plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014Strategic Report Governance Financial Statements Volker Dockhorn
Volker is Managing Director of Medicel.  
The company has established a strong 
market position with single-use intraocular 
lens injectors that allow surgeons to insert 
new artificial lenses through very small 
incisions during cataract surgery.

18

Halma plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014

Acquire

Acquisitions are a key strategic investment which strengthen our 
product portfolio, add new technologies, deepen our management 
talent pool and extend our geographical reach. They help us to 
sustain growth and high returns and create shareholder value  
over the long term.

Our strategy is to buy companies with technology we understand 
selling into markets we know. They must fit well with our operating 
culture and growth strategy, in addition to having strong financial 
metrics. As a highly cash-generative business with a strong 
balance sheet, we can invest in acquisitions without accumulating 
excessive debt.

We acquired Medicel in 2011 to extend our presence in the 
ophthalmic surgical instrument market. Since acquisition, Medicel  
has benefited from significant capital investment in equipment.  
Halma has also supported Medicel’s development of current and 
new technologies. In May 2014 we acquired Plasticspritzerei, a  
close commercial partner since Medicel’s inception, which secured 
important manufacturing know-how and will be operated by 
Medicel’s management.

Read more P38

19

Halma plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014Strategic Report Governance Financial Statements Empower

Halma has a highly decentralised organisational structure 
which delivers sustainable competitive advantage. 
Subsidiary companies are given considerable freedom 
for entrepreneurial action and are empowered to make 
timely decisions in the best interests of their business.

We place our operational resources close to our  
customers. Research and development, manufacturing, 
sales, marketing and human resources are all managed  
at operating company level. With an intimate knowledge 
of their market dynamics and customer needs subsidiary 
management is best placed to make local resource 
allocation decisions swiftly in response to market changes.

We set up a Halma hub in China in 2006 and, through this, 
our companies learned that they could be more successful 
in new markets by working together. In 2013, our Process 
Safety companies set up their own hub in Brazil to support 
existing customers, to better understand and to develop the 
local market and to help other Halma companies reduce  
the risks of doing business in Brazil.

Read more P34

20

Halma plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014Davi Galvão
Davi is the Director of the Process Safety 
Brazil hub. Currently some of our bursting 
disk and safety interlock businesses use  
the hub for importation, sales and local 
assembly. Other companies in both our 
Process Safety and Infrastructure Safety 
sectors are performing market research  
and are considering using the hub.

21

Halma plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014Strategic Report Governance Financial Statements Phil Buchsbaum
Phil is President of Pixelteq and the new 
PixelSensor chip is next-generation sensor 
technology developed in response to 
customer need for multispectral measurement 
in smaller devices. In 2013/14, Halma invested 
in multi-million dollar clean-room upgrades for 
Pixelteq and additional capacity for wafer-level 
optical coating and patterning.

22

Halma plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014G
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Innovate

Innovation in products and processes is a key driver of organic 
growth. It enables us to build competitive advantage, gain market 
share, open up new markets and achieve high returns. In addition 
to increasing our spending on innovation and R&D in 2013/14, 
we held a third Innovation and Technology Exposition to encourage 
collaboration between all Halma companies.

Several products have been launched resulting from collaboration 
between Halma companies including PearlSenseT, the winner of this 
year’s Halma Innovation Award, a collaboration between Aquionics 
and Avo Photonics.

Pixelteq’s PixelSensor photodiode array packs eight wavelength-
selective photodiodes into a tiny 9mm square package that enables 
precision multispectral measurement in smaller devices. PixelSensor 
typically replaces 10-20 optical components, simplifying optical 
designs for scalable production assembly of biomedical instruments 
from application-specific spectroscopy to fluorescence detection.

Read more P40

23

Halma plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014Strategic Report  
 
 
Key Performance Indicators – KPIs

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Strategic focus 
Through careful selection of our market niches and strategic investment in people development, 
international expansion and innovation we aim to achieve organic growth in excess of our blended 
market growth rate of 5%, broadly matching revenue and profit growth in the medium term.

The safety, health and environmental markets  
in Asia and other developing regions are evolving 
quickly. We continue to invest in establishing local 
selling, technical and manufacturing resources to 
meet this current and future need.

Organic revenue growth %

Organic profit growth %

International expansion %

6%

Performance 

>5%

Target

6%

Performance 

>5%

Target

25%

Performance 

30%

Target by 2015

%
5

%
1
1

%
8

%
8

%
1
1

%
1

%
1
1

%
5

%
2

%
6

%
1

%
5
1

%
8

%
7

%
5

%
9

%
5

*

%
4

%
6

%
9
1

%
8
1

%
8
1

%
9
1

%
9
1

%
2
2

%
1
2

%
4
2

%
4
2

%
5
2

%
5
2

05

06

07

08

09

10

11

12

13

14

05

06

07

08

09

10

11

12

13

14

05

06

07

08

09

10

11

12

13

14

*Before restatement

KPI definition 
Organic revenue growth measures the change 
in revenue achieved in the current year compared 
with the prior year from continuing Group 
operations. The effect of acquisitions and 
disposals made during the current or prior 
financial year has been equalised.

KPI definition 
Organic profit growth measures the change in 
profit achieved in the current year compared with 
the prior year from continuing Group operations. 
The effect of acquisitions and disposals made 
during the current or prior financial year has  
been equalised.

Comment 
Organic growth in revenue was in excess of our 
minimum target with a good performance in all 
four sectors. At constant currency, organic revenue 
growth of 6% was achieved. Over the last five 
years our average rate of annual organic revenue 
growth has been 5% p.a. which is in line with  
our minimum target.

Comment 
Organic profit growth exceeded our  
minimum target. Organic profit growth at constant 
currency was 5% with strong performances in 
Process Safety and Infrastructure Safety sectors. 
Over the last five years our average rate of annual 
organic profit growth has been 9% p.a.

2015 target 
The Board has established a long-term minimum organic growth target of 5% p.a., slightly above 
the blended long-term average growth rate of our markets.

In order to meet the target of organic growth in excess of 5%, the Group must maintain its focus 
on investment in innovation, people development and geographic expansion.

The primary factors affecting our ability to meet the target relate to competitive innovations overtaking the 
Group’s technology, macro-economic factors and the management execution risk in delivering our own 
growth strategy.

KPI definition 
Total sales to markets outside the UK, USA and 
Mainland Europe as a percentage of total revenue 
from continuing operations.

Comment 
Revenue outside the UK, USA and Mainland 
Europe was 25.2% of the Group total (2013: 25.4%) 
with revenue from Asia Pacific up by 11%. Revenue 
from China grew by 26% to £47m which is now 7.1 
times the level in 2006 when we established our 
first Halma hubs.

2015 target 
In 2010, we set a goal for revenue outside the  
UK, USA and Mainland Europe to be 30% of the 
Group total by 2015. Halma corporate hubs were 
established in China and India to assist companies 
in setting up local operations.

Also see 
 – Chief Executive’s Strategic Review P10
 – Financial Review P48
 – Note 1 to the Accounts P109

Also see 
 – Chief Executive’s Strategic Review P10
 – Financial Review P48
 – Principal Risks and Uncertainties P30
 – Note 3 to the Accounts P113

24

Halma plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014 
We choose to operate in markets which are capable of delivering high returns. The ability to maintain these returns is a result of maintaining strong market  
and product positions sustained by continuing product and process innovation.

Return on Sales %

ROTIC % 
(Return on Total Invested Capital)

ROCE % 
(Return on Capital Employed)

20.7%

Performance 

>18%

Target

16.1%

Performance 

>12%

Target

76.4%

Performance 

>45%

Target

%
7
.
6
1

%
7
.
7
1

%
6
.
8
1

%
4
.
8
1

%
3
.
7
1

%
8
.
8
1

%
2
.
0
2

%
8
.
0
2

*

%
8
.
0
2

%
7
.
0
2

%
1
.
2
1

%
8
.
2
1

%
0
.
4
1

%
1
.
4
1

%
1
.
3
1

%
6
.
3
1

%
5
.
5
1

%
8
.
6
1

*

%
6
.
5
1

%
1
.
6
1

%
9
4

%
7
5

%
0
6

%
6
5

%
8
4

%
1
6

%
2
7

%
5
7

*

%
1
7

%
6
7

05

06

07

08

09

10

11

12

13

14

05

06

07

08

09

10

11

12

13

14

05

06

07

08

09

10

11

12

13

14

*After restatement

*After restatement

*After restatement

KPI definition 
Return on Sales is defined as adjusted profit 
before taxation from continuing operations 
expressed as a percentage of revenue from 
continuing operations. 

Comment 
High returns maintained in line with the prior year. 
Process Safety increased Return on Sales in the 
year. Medical and Environmental & Analysis saw 
modest reductions in Return on Sales, although 
both recorded an increase in profitability in the 
second half of the year. 

2015 target 
We aim to achieve a Return on Sales within the 
18% to 22% range while continuing to deliver 
profit growth.

Also see 
 – Chief Executive’s Strategic Review P10
 – Financial Review P48

KPI definition 
ROTIC is defined as the post-tax return from 
continuing operations before amortisation of 
acquired intangible assets; acquisition items; the 
effects of closure to future benefit accrual of the 
Defined Benefit pension plans net of associated 
costs and profit or loss on disposal of operations 
as a percentage of adjusted shareholders’ funds. 

KPI definition 
ROCE is defined as the operating profit from 
continuing operations before amortisation of 
acquired intangible assets; acquisition items; the 
effects of closure to future benefit accrual of the 
Defined Benefit pension plans net of associated 
costs and profit or loss on disposal of operations, 
as a percentage of capital employed.

Comment 
Consistently high returns are in excess of our 
long-term Weighted Average Cost of Capital 
(WACC) of 7.5% (2013: 8.4%). Earnings increased 
in the year faster than our asset base with currency 
translation making a positive impact in this metric. 

2015 target 
The target of 12% was set in 2005 when the 
Group’s ROTIC was 12.1% and WACC was 7.9%. 
A range of 12% to 17% is considered representative 
of the Board’s expectations over the long term. 

Also see 
 – Chief Executive’s Strategic Review P10
 – Financial Review P48
 – Note 3 to the Accounts P113

Comment 
Very high returns maintained above the target level. 
Growth achieved with increased investment in 
operating assets, a continual drive to sustain high 
levels of efficiency in our operations, and our 
strategy to acquire high ROCE businesses. There 
was a positive impact this year from currency 
translation on this metric.

2015 target 
The target of >45% is set in order to ensure the 
efficient generation of cash at all levels to fund 
our target level of organic growth, acquisitions 
and dividend growth without Halma becoming 
a highly-leveraged group.

Also see 
 – Chief Executive’s Strategic Review P10
 – Financial Review P48
 – Note 3 to the Accounts P113

25

Halma plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014Strategic Report Governance Financial Statements  
Key Performance Indicators – KPIs continued

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Strategic focus 
Strong cash generation provides the Group with 
freedom to pursue its strategic goals of organic 
growth, acquisitions and progressive dividends 
without becoming highly-leveraged.

We buy companies with business and market 
characteristics similar to those of existing Halma 
operations. Acquired businesses have to be a 
good fit with our operating culture and strategy 
in addition to being value-enhancing financially.

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Strategic focus
The Halma Executive Development Programme 
(HEDP), the Halma Management Development 
Programme (HMDP), the Halma Certificate in 
Applied Technology (HCAT) and the Halma 
Graduate Development Programme (HGDP) 
provide executives, middle managers and key 
personnel with the necessary skills they need  
in their current and future roles.

Cash generation %

Acquisition spend £m

Development programmes

89%

Performance 

>85%

Target

£17m

Performance 

51%

Performance 

>50% 

Target 

%
2
8

%
2
1
1

%
9
8

%
6
8

*

%
5
8

%
9
8

m
5
2
£

m
6
3
£

m
7
2
£

m
7
4
£

m
2
1
£

m
2
£

m
2
8
£

m
0
2
£

m
8
4
1
£

m
7
1
£

Management development
%
7
6

%
1
7

%
6
5

%
4
5

%
1
5

09

10

11

12

13

14

* After restatement

KPI definition 
Cash generation is calculated using adjusted 
operating cash flow as a percentage of adjusted 
operating profit. 

Comment 
Cash generation of 89% (2013: 85% (restated))  
is in excess of the 85% target in the current year 
with good cash performances across the Group. 
Continued focus is required to ensure debtor and 
inventory levels remain appropriate. 

2015 target 
The goal of Group cash inflow exceeding 85%  
of profit is a metric that has relevance at all levels  
of the organisation and aligns management action 
with Group needs. We will ensure that strong 
internal cash flow and availability of external 
funding underpin our strategic goals of organic 
growth, acquisitions and progressive dividends.

Also see 
 – Chief Executive’s Strategic Review P10
 – Financial Review P48
 – Note 3 to the Accounts P113

05

06

07

08

09

10

11

12

13

14

10

11

12

13

14

KPI definition 
The cash outflow (including repayment of acquired 
bank loans) is disclosed in the Consolidated Cash 
Flow Statement under Acquisition of businesses 
(plus any net debt acquired).

Comment 
We have substantial financial capacity and 
facilities, increased in the year to finance more 
value-enhancing acquisitions.

2015 target 
2014 ended with sufficient financial capacity to 
finance further acquisitions, and three additional 
businesses have been acquired early in the new 
year. Although acquisition targets must meet our 
demanding criteria, we continue to have a strong 
pipeline of opportunities.

Also see 
 – Chief Executive’s Strategic Review P10
 – Financial Review P48
 – Principal Risks and Uncertainties P30
 – Note 24 to the Accounts P131

KPI definition 
Number of current employees having attended an 
in-house development programme compared with 
the estimated pool of qualifying participants.

Comment 
Recognising the vital role that our people play in 
delivering organic growth, our training courses 
have been designed to enhance the skills of the 
next generation of directors, managers and 
innovators. The performance metric is influenced 
by the introduction of new courses and new 
eligible employees joining the Group through 
acquisitions. Overall we are satisfied with our 
performance and progress.

2015 target 
The introduction of the Halma Graduate 
Development Programme in 2012 with its third 
intake later in 2014 is an important expansion of 
the Group’s development programmes and is 
targeted to bring further new talent into the Group.

See also 
 – Chief Executive’s Strategic Review P10
 – Corporate Responsibility P42

26

Halma plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014Since 2007 Halma has conducted an annual 
survey of its employees to assess how well the 
Group’s values are aligned with its employees’ 
current experiences and future aspirations.

Halma’s carbon policy was first approved by  
the Board in 2007. In 2013 the policy target  
was reviewed and continues to call for a 10% 
reduction in the carbon footprint every three years.

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Strategic focus 
We have maintained high levels of R&D investment 
and spending on innovation. The successful 
introduction of new products is a key contributor to 
the Group’s ability to build competitive advantage 
and grow organically and internationally.

Values alignment

CO2 emissions reduction

R&D development

5 

Performance 

>5 

Target

Values alignment (out of 10)

5565567

8% 

Performance 
reduction since 2013

>10% 

Target
reduction over 3 years to 2016

4.7%

Performance 

>4%

Target

C02 emissions (tonnes/£m of revenue)

4
4

4
4

7
4

6
4

3
4

2
4

1
9
3

%
0
.
4

%
3
.
4

%
3
.
4

%
7
.
4

%
0
.
5

%
7
.
4

%
0
.
5

%
7
.
4

%
0
.
5

%
7
.
4

08

09

10

11

12

13

14

08

09

10

11

12

13

14

05

06

07

08

09

10

11

12

13

14

KPI definition 
The survey of Group employees looks for matching 
values in a comparison of the ten current culture 
values receiving the highest number of votes with 
the equivalent ten values employees want to see  
in their working culture.

Comment 
Participation in the survey has increased by nearly 
60% in the last two years, and achieving a good 
alignment of five or more matching values is an 
excellent result.

2015 target 
The minimum target of five matching values 
remains relevant; the goal for 2015 will be to 
improve the Group’s communication of its values 
and to maintain the high rate of employee 
participation in the survey.

See also 
 – Chief Executive’s Strategic Review P10
 – Corporate Responsibility P42

KPI definition 
The percentage change in the Group CO2 
emissions using the conversion factors from the 
2013 Defra/DECC Guidelines for GHG Reporting. 

Comment 
We have made good progress this year towards 
achieving 10% relative reduction in emissions over 
the three years to 2016 and the Group Carbon 
Policy reinforces the focus on our CO2 emissions. 
There is good accountability for monitoring and 
control of CO2 emissions at local level.

2015 target 
The importance of managing Group operations to 
target a 10% relative reduction in CO2 emissions 
over a three-year period to 2016 is a metric 
endorsed by the Board.

See also 
 – Chief Executive’s Strategic Review P10
 – Corporate Responsibility P42

KPI definition 
Total research and development expenditure in the 
financial year (both that expensed and capitalised) 
as a percentage of revenue from continuing 
operations.

Comment 
Total spend in the year was £32.1m (2013: 
excluding disposal: £30.6m) exceeding the 4%  
of revenue target. Excluding the 2013 disposal,  
all four sectors increased the amount of R&D 
expenditure.

2015 target 
New products contribute strongly towards 
achieving organic growth, maintaining high  
returns and building strong market positions.  
The 4% minimum investment target is appropriate 
to the mix of product life cycles and technologies 
within Halma.

Also see 
 – Chief Executive’s Strategic Review P10

1  We have reported on all of the emission sources required under the Companies Act 2006 (Strategic Report and Directors’ Reports) Regulations for the reporting period 31 March 2013 to 29 March 2014. 

We have employed the Operation Control definition to outline our carbon footprint boundary, included within that boundary are Scope 1 and 2 emissions from manufacturing sites and offices which we own 
and operate. Excluded from our footprint boundary are emissions from manufacturing sites and offices which we do not own and control, and emissions considered non-material by the business. We have 
reported on emissions from Scope 1 and 2 emissions sources with some Scope 3 emissions sources included (emissions for Scope 3 have been calculated from business air travel only). Refrigerant gases 
were taken into account this year as an improvement to our carbon emissions reporting processes. We have also used the GHG Protocol Corporate Accounting and Reporting Standard (revised edition)  
and guidance provided by UK’s Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) on voluntary and mandatory carbon reporting. Emission factors were used from UK Government’s GHG Conversion 
Factors for Company Reporting 2013.

27

Halma plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014Strategic Report Governance Financial Statements Risk Management and Internal Controls 

Internal control
The Board meets regularly throughout the year and has adopted 
a schedule of matters which are required to be brought to it for 
decision. This procedure is intended to ensure that the Directors 
maintain full and effective control over all significant strategic, 
financial and organisational issues.

During the year, actions to strengthen the control environment 
continue to be taken centrally by Group management. The duties  
and responsibilities of subsidiary management are continually 
refreshed as well as documented in a manual circulated to all 
subsidiary managing directors and available on our collaboration 
platform. A comprehensive induction programme for subsidiary 
finance directors was launched two years ago and our internal 
financial review procedures have been recently refreshed. 
We strengthened the resources dedicated to identifying and 
investigating potential acquisitions and the policies to ensure a rapid 
and successful integration following acquisition. The scope of the 
Group’s policies and the programme of compliance audits are 
regularly reviewed to ensure they are sufficient to address current 
risks. The Group placed additional emphasis on updating our 
business continuity plans over recent years ensuring that they  
are mutually complementary to our insurance programme.

The Group’s treasury and hedging policy is kept under review to 
ensure that appropriate accounting and banking arrangements are 
aligned with the Group’s growth and to ensure continued compliance 
with accounting requirements.

The internal audit function has operated independently since 2004, 
reporting to the Audit Committee. In 2008/09, a dedicated Internal 
Audit manager was added to support the function and during 
2010/11 an internal auditor based in China was recruited. A further 
review of resources occurred in 2013/14 resulting in a plan to 
strengthen them in 2014/15. Internal audit procedures evolve to 
reflect changing circumstances and specific requirements and  
to enhance effectiveness.

Group risk is mitigated by means of an operating structure which 
spreads the Group’s activities across a number of autonomous 
subsidiary companies. Each of these companies is led by a high-
quality board of directors including a finance executive.

Group companies operate under a system of controls which includes 
but is not limited to:

 – a defined organisational structure with an appropriate delegation 

of authority to operational management which ensures appropriate 
segregation of key duties; 

Group internal control system
The processes which the Board has applied in reviewing the effectiveness of the Group’s system of internal control are summarised below:

•   operating companies carry out a detailed risk assessment each year and identify mitigating actions in place or 

proposed for each significant risk. A risk register is compiled from this information, against which operational risk 
action is monitored through to resolution and strategic risks are reported to the Group. Group management also 
compiles a summary of significant Group risks, documenting existing or planned actions to mitigate, manage or 
avoid risks; 

•   each month the board of every operating company meets, discusses and reports on its operating performance, 
its opportunities, the risks facing it and the resultant actions. The relevant Divisional Chief Executive (now the 
Sector Chief Executive) chairs this meeting and he meets regularly with the Chief Executive and Finance  
Director and reports on divisional (sector) progress to the Executive Board. Please see page 29 for the  
Group structural changes; 

•   financial and trading ‘warning signs’ are reported to Group and sector management. Weekly data on cash 

management and sales and orders are also reported directly to the Chief Executive, the Finance Director and  
the Group finance team. This framework is designed to provide an early warning of potential risks and to direct 
appropriate action where necessary; 

•   the Chief Executive submits a report to each Halma plc Board meeting which includes the main features of 

Group operations and an analysis of the significant risks and opportunities facing the Group. The report also 
covers progress against strategic objectives and shareholder related issues. The Finance Director also submits 
a separate financial report to each Halma plc Board meeting; 

•   regular Director visits to Group companies are scheduled and open access to the subsidiary company boards  

is encouraged; cyclical and risk-based internal control visits are carried out by internal audit or senior finance staff 
resulting in actions being fed back to each company and followed up by Senior Finance Executives and Sector 
Chief Executives. Reviews are coded in terms of risk and a summary of all such reviews is given to the Audit 
Committee, with any significant control failings being reported directly to the Audit Committee; senior finance staff 
also conduct financial reviews at each operating company before publication of half-year and year-end figures. 
We have a Group-wide IT policy supported by a programme of IT audits. Group IT manages aspects of our cyber 
security risks and IT development needs; and

•   the Chief Executive, Finance Director and Internal Audit function report to the Audit Committee on all aspects 
of internal control. The Board receives regular reports from the Audit Committee Chairman and the papers  
and minutes of the Audit Committee meetings are used as a basis for its annual review of internal control. 

28

Halma plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014 – the identification and appraisal of risks both formally, through the 

 – self-certification by operating company management of 

annual process of preparing business plans and budgets, through 
an annual detailed risk assessment carried out at local level and 
informally through close monitoring of operations; 

 – a comprehensive financial reporting system, regularly enhanced, 

within which actual and forecast results are compared with 
approved budgets and the previous year’s figures on a monthly 
basis. Weekly cash/sales/orders reporting including details of 
financial institutions is also maintained within the financial reporting 
system, all of which is reviewed at both local and Group level; 

 – an investment evaluation procedure to ensure an appropriate level 
of approval for all capital expenditure and other capitalised costs; 

compliance and control issues; 

 – a robust structure for electronic communication and conducting 

e-commerce to ensure that the Group is not negatively impacted by 
threats to its information technology infrastructure and to minimise 
potential for business disruptions. The Group has a wide range of 
measures and policies and a framework in place which includes a 
virtual private network covering over 100 sites worldwide, secure 
firewalls, a new IT security and threat monitoring system, information 
management audits, disaster recovery and a mobile devices 
management system; and 

 – an acquisitions and disposals framework which governs the due 

diligence, negotiation, approval and integration processes to ensure 
that value-enhancing, quality investments are made in order to 
meet our strategic objectives.

Group risk management

Board 

Operational 

Chief Executive 

Executive Board 

Subsidiary Company Boards 

Senior Finance Executives 

Compliance

Audit Committee

Company Secretary 

Internal Audit 

Whistleblowing 

The diagram below summarises our complementary integrated approach to risk management which has been aligned with the new 
sector changes. Halma has also refined the timings of the Group-wide risk assessment as well as the division of responsibility for the 
yearly risk reviews. 

Top Down 
Strategic Risk Management

 – review and management of the strategic risks of the 

Group with visibility of the sector risks;

 – consideration of the environment in which the Group 

operates; and

 – setting the risk appetite of the Group.

 – delivery of Group strategic actions; and
 – monitoring Group key risk indicators.

 – execution of any Group–level strategic actions; and
 – reporting on any identified key risks and mitigation 

progress.

Board and 
Audit 
Committee

Executive 
Board and 
Senior 
Finance 
Executives

Subsidiary 
Companies

Bottom Up 
Operational Risk Management

 – assessment of the effectiveness of risk management 

systems across the Group; and

 – reporting principal risks and uncertainties in the Group.

 – reviewing completeness and consistency across the 

sectors and adequacy of mitigation actions;

 – consideration of the aggregation of risk exposures across 

the businesses; and

 – review/management/consolidation of operational risks 

(both sector and business unit, delegated as the Sector 
Chief Executive deems appropriate).

 – reporting of significant and emerging risks to the Group;
 – identification, evaluation, prioritisation, mitigation and 

monitoring of operational risks which are the 
responsibility of each subsidiary company; and 
 – identification of strategic risks which are reported 

to the Group.

29

Halma plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014Strategic Report Governance Financial Statements Principal Risks and Uncertainties 

Halma’s principal risks and uncertainties are detailed below and are supported by the robust risk management and internal control systems 
and procedures noted on pages 28 and 29.

Strategic 
objective

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Risk description

Movement

Potential impact

Mitigation

Remoteness of operations and 
globalisation
A key operational risk emanates from 
remoteness of operations from Head 
Office and the increasing global spread 
of our businesses.

  – Weakening of financial, tax, audit and legal control and 

divergence from overall Group strategy in remote operations, 
leading to businesses taking on more risks than intended or 
unexpected financial outcomes 

 – Failure to comply with local laws and regulations in unfamiliar 

territories, leading to legal or regulatory disputes

 – Continued international growth increases risk

 – Control is exercised locally in accordance with the Group’s policy of autonomous management. We seek to employ local high-quality experts.

 – The Group’s acquisition model ensures retention of management and staff in acquired businesses, meaning that local expertise is maintained.

 – Sector Chief Executives ensure that overall Group strategy is fulfilled through ongoing review of the businesses. The right balance between autonomy 

and adherence to the overall objectives of the Group is a key function of the Sector Chief Executives and Senior Finance Executives.

 – Regular visits and maintenance of key adviser relationships by senior management, finance staff and Internal Audit support local control. 

Competition
The Group faces competition in  
the form of pricing, service, reliability  
and substitution.

Economic conditions 
In times of uncertain economic 
conditions, businesses face additional 
or elevated levels of risk. These include 
market and customer risk, customer 
default, fraud, supply chain risk and 
liquidity risk.

  – Loss of market share due to price pressure and changing markets 

 – Reduced financial performance arising from competitive threats 

 – By empowering and resourcing innovation in local operations to respond to changing market needs, the potential adverse impact of downward price 

pressure and competition can be mitigated and growth maintained.

 – We recognise the competitive threat coming from emerging economies and by operating within these economies, typically using local staff, we are better 

placed to make fast progress ourselves.

 – The Group operates in specialised global niche markets offering high barriers-to-entry.

  – Reduced financial performance 

 – Loss of market share 
 – Unforeseen liabilities 
 – Disruption of service to customers

 – Risks are primarily managed at the operating company level where local knowledge is situated. The financial strength and availability of pooled finances 

within the Group mitigates local risks faced by operating companies as does the robust credit management processes in place across the Group.

 – The Halma Executive Board identifies any wider trends which require action.

 – The Group’s geographic diversity limits its exposure to economic risk arising in any one territory. The Group does not have significant operations, cash 

deposits or sources of funding in economically uncertain regions.

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Financial
Funding
A key risk is that the Group may run out 
of cash or not have access to adequate 
funding. In addition, cash deposits need 
to be held in a secure form and location.

	  – Constraints on, or inability to, trade and buy new companies

 – Inability to deliver on growth strategies 
 – Permanent loss of shareholders’ funds
 – Financial capacity increased during the year 

 – The strong cash flow generated by the Group provides financial flexibility.

 – Cash needs are monitored regularly. In addition to short-term overdraft facilities, the Group renewed and increased to £360m its five-year revolving credit 

facility during the year providing security of funding and sufficient headroom for its needs. Debt levels decreased this year, further increasing the funding 

 – Cash deposits are monitored centrally and spread amongst a number of high credit-rated banks. Subsidiaries report their cash/indebtedness status to 

available to the Group.

Head Office every week.

Treasury
Foreign currency risk is the most 
significant treasury-related risk for the 
Group. In times of increased volatility  
this can have a significant impact on 
performance. The Group is exposed to a 
lesser extent to other treasury risks such 
as interest rate risk and liquidity risk.

Pension deficit
To meet our pension obligations, we 
must adequately fund our pension plans. 
Our UK Defined Benefit pension plans  
are closed to new members and future 
benefit accrual for existing members  
will cease in the coming year.

  – Volatile financial performance arising from translation of profit from 

overseas operations or poorly-managed foreign exchange 
exposures 

 – The risk has increased because more of the Group’s profits are derived from non-Sterling currencies. Currency profits are not hedged. Currency hedging 

must fit with the commercial needs of the business and we have in place a hedging strategy to manage Group exposures. This requires the hedging of a 

substantial proportion of expected future transactions up to 12 months (and in exceptional cases 24 months) ahead. Longer-term currency trends can 

 – Deviation from core strategy through the use of speculative 

or overly complex financial instruments 

 – Financial penalties and reputational damage arising from breach 

of banking covenants

 – More of Group profit now earned in non-Sterling currencies 
 – Increased interest rate risk on higher forecast borrowings

	  – Excessive consumption of cash, limiting investment in operations

 – Unexpected variability in the Company’s financial results

only be covered through a wide geographic spread of operations.

 – The Group does not use overly complex derivative financial instruments and no speculative treasury transactions are undertaken.

 – We closely monitor performance against the financial covenants on our revolving credit facility and operate well within these covenants.

 – There is regular dialogue with pension fund trustees and pension strategy is a regular Halma Board agenda item. The Group’s strong cash flows and 

access to adequate borrowing facilities mean that the pensions risk can be adequately managed.

 – The Group has maintained additional pension contributions with the overall objective of paying off the deficit in line with the Actuary’s recommendations. 

We monitor and consider alternative means of reducing our pension risk in light of the best long-term interest of shareholders.

 – The UK Defined Benefit plans close to future accrual on 1 December 2014 reducing future risk.

Movements indicate management’s perception of how the pre-mitigation risk has moved year on year.

	Increased risk
	No change to risk
	Decreased risk

30

Halma plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014Risk description

Movement

Potential impact

Mitigation

Remoteness of operations and 

globalisation

A key operational risk emanates from 

remoteness of operations from Head 

Office and the increasing global spread 

of our businesses.

  – Weakening of financial, tax, audit and legal control and 

divergence from overall Group strategy in remote operations, 

leading to businesses taking on more risks than intended or 

unexpected financial outcomes 

 – Failure to comply with local laws and regulations in unfamiliar 

territories, leading to legal or regulatory disputes

 – Continued international growth increases risk

 – Control is exercised locally in accordance with the Group’s policy of autonomous management. We seek to employ local high-quality experts.
 – The Group’s acquisition model ensures retention of management and staff in acquired businesses, meaning that local expertise is maintained.
 – Sector Chief Executives ensure that overall Group strategy is fulfilled through ongoing review of the businesses. The right balance between autonomy 

and adherence to the overall objectives of the Group is a key function of the Sector Chief Executives and Senior Finance Executives.

 – Regular visits and maintenance of key adviser relationships by senior management, finance staff and Internal Audit support local control. 

  – Loss of market share due to price pressure and changing markets 

 – Reduced financial performance arising from competitive threats 

 – By empowering and resourcing innovation in local operations to respond to changing market needs, the potential adverse impact of downward price 

pressure and competition can be mitigated and growth maintained.

 – We recognise the competitive threat coming from emerging economies and by operating within these economies, typically using local staff, we are better 

placed to make fast progress ourselves.

 – The Group operates in specialised global niche markets offering high barriers-to-entry.

  – Reduced financial performance 

 – Loss of market share 

 – Unforeseen liabilities 

 – Disruption of service to customers

 – Risks are primarily managed at the operating company level where local knowledge is situated. The financial strength and availability of pooled finances 

within the Group mitigates local risks faced by operating companies as does the robust credit management processes in place across the Group.

 – The Halma Executive Board identifies any wider trends which require action.
 – The Group’s geographic diversity limits its exposure to economic risk arising in any one territory. The Group does not have significant operations, cash 

deposits or sources of funding in economically uncertain regions.

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Financial

Funding

A key risk is that the Group may run out 

of cash or not have access to adequate 

funding. In addition, cash deposits need 

to be held in a secure form and location.

	  – Constraints on, or inability to, trade and buy new companies

 – Inability to deliver on growth strategies 

 – Permanent loss of shareholders’ funds

 – Financial capacity increased during the year 

 – The strong cash flow generated by the Group provides financial flexibility.
 – Cash needs are monitored regularly. In addition to short-term overdraft facilities, the Group renewed and increased to £360m its five-year revolving credit 
facility during the year providing security of funding and sufficient headroom for its needs. Debt levels decreased this year, further increasing the funding 
available to the Group.

 – Cash deposits are monitored centrally and spread amongst a number of high credit-rated banks. Subsidiaries report their cash/indebtedness status to 

Head Office every week.

  – Volatile financial performance arising from translation of profit from 

overseas operations or poorly-managed foreign exchange 

exposures 

 – Deviation from core strategy through the use of speculative 

or overly complex financial instruments 

 – Financial penalties and reputational damage arising from breach 

of banking covenants

 – More of Group profit now earned in non-Sterling currencies 

 – Increased interest rate risk on higher forecast borrowings

	  – Excessive consumption of cash, limiting investment in operations

 – Unexpected variability in the Company’s financial results

 – The risk has increased because more of the Group’s profits are derived from non-Sterling currencies. Currency profits are not hedged. Currency hedging 
must fit with the commercial needs of the business and we have in place a hedging strategy to manage Group exposures. This requires the hedging of a 
substantial proportion of expected future transactions up to 12 months (and in exceptional cases 24 months) ahead. Longer-term currency trends can 
only be covered through a wide geographic spread of operations.

 – The Group does not use overly complex derivative financial instruments and no speculative treasury transactions are undertaken.
 – We closely monitor performance against the financial covenants on our revolving credit facility and operate well within these covenants.

 – There is regular dialogue with pension fund trustees and pension strategy is a regular Halma Board agenda item. The Group’s strong cash flows and 

access to adequate borrowing facilities mean that the pensions risk can be adequately managed.

 – The Group has maintained additional pension contributions with the overall objective of paying off the deficit in line with the Actuary’s recommendations. 

We monitor and consider alternative means of reducing our pension risk in light of the best long-term interest of shareholders.

 – The UK Defined Benefit plans close to future accrual on 1 December 2014 reducing future risk.

Strategic 

objective

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Competition

The Group faces competition in  

the form of pricing, service, reliability  

and substitution.

Economic conditions 

In times of uncertain economic 

conditions, businesses face additional 

or elevated levels of risk. These include 

market and customer risk, customer 

default, fraud, supply chain risk and 

liquidity risk.

Treasury

Foreign currency risk is the most 

significant treasury-related risk for the 

Group. In times of increased volatility  

this can have a significant impact on 

performance. The Group is exposed to a 

lesser extent to other treasury risks such 

as interest rate risk and liquidity risk.

Pension deficit

To meet our pension obligations, we 

must adequately fund our pension plans. 

Our UK Defined Benefit pension plans  

are closed to new members and future 

benefit accrual for existing members  

will cease in the coming year.

31

Halma plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014Strategic Report Governance Financial Statements Principal Risks and Uncertainties continued

Strategic 
objective

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Risk description

Movement

Potential impact

Mitigation

Cyber security/Information 
Technology/Business interruption
Group and operational management 
depend on timely and reliable information 
from our software systems. We seek to 
ensure continuous availability, security 
and operation of those information 
systems. 

Acquisitions
The identification and purchase of 
businesses which meet our demanding 
financial and growth criteria are an 
important part of our strategy for 
developing the Group, as is ensuring  
the new businesses are rapidly  
integrated into the Group.

Laws and regulations 
Group operations are subject to 
wide-ranging laws and regulations 
including business conduct, employment, 
environmental and health and safety 
legislation. There is also exposure to 
product litigation and contractual risk.  
The laws and regulations we are exposed 
to as our businesses expand around the 
world increase each year.

Succession planning and  
staff quality
Group performance is dependent on 
having high-quality leaders at all levels 
and an organisation allowing us to 
continue to grow through acquisition  
as well as driving organic growth.

Research & Development and 
Intellectual Property strategy
New products are critical to our organic 
growth and underpin our ability to earn 
high margins and high returns over the 
long term.

Protection of our intellectual property 
builds competitive advantage by 
strengthening barriers-to-entry. Our 
intangible resources include patents, 
product approvals, technological 
know-how, branding and our workforce.

of sound data 

acquisition selection 

 – Reduced financial performance arising from failure to integrate 

 – Reduced service to customers due to poor information handling 

or interruption of business

 – Global threats to systems and critical information increase  

each year

  – Failure to deliver expected results resulting from poor 

  – Delay or impact on decision making through lack of availability 

acquisitions into the Group 

 – Thorough due diligence is performed by a combination of in-house and external experts to ensure that a comprehensive appraisal of the commercial, 

 – Unforeseen liabilities arising from a failure to understand 

legal and financial position of every target is obtained.

acquisition targets fully

 – Incentives are aligned to encourage acquisitions which are value-enhancing from day one.

  – Diversion of management resources creating opportunity costs 

 – Penalties arising from breach of laws and regulations
 – Loss of revenue and profit associated with contractual disputes 

 – The Group’s emphasis on excellent internal controls, high ethical standards, the deployment of high-quality management resources and the strong focus 

on quality control over products and processes in each operating business help to protect us from product failure, litigation and contractual issues.

 – Each operating company has a health and safety manager responsible for compliance and our performance in this area is good. Health and Safety 

policies, guidance and monthly reporting requirements are updated to reflect changing reporting and governance requirements and to enhance 

compliance. Our well-established policies on bribery and corruption have been maintained during the year to ensure continued compliance with best 

practice internally, via the Group Code of Conduct and externally, via appropriate clauses included in third-party agreements.

 – We carry comprehensive insurance against all standard categories of insurable risk. Contract review and approval processes mitigate exposure 

to contractual liability.

  – Failure to recruit and to retain key staff could lead to reduced 

 – Unethical actions of staff could cause reputational damage to  

innovation and progress in the business 

the Group

 – Acquisition growth can be limited by our organisation’s and 

leaders’ ability to absorb acquisitions effectively

 – International growth increases risk and need for high-quality  

local talent

  – Loss of market share resulting from product obsolescence and 

 – Loss of market share resulting from a failure to protect key 

failure to innovate to meet customer needs

intellectual property

 – There is substantial redundancy and back-up built into group-wide systems and the spread of business offers good protection from individual events.

 – We have a small central resource, Halma IT Services, to assist Group companies with strategic IT needs and to ensure adequate IT security policies are 

used across the Group.

 – An IT security committee was set up in December 2012 comprising Halma plc IT members and selected subsidiary IT managers.

 – Halma IT has been ISO 27001: 2013 certified for its information security management systems.

 – We carry out regular IT audits. Comprehensive IT systems monitoring was introduced in 2013/14.

 – We carry out cyber risk briefings and security awareness training for employees. Cyber security is a regular Board agenda item.

 – We utilise external penetration testing and have completed the rollout of a centralised IT disaster recovery solution to supplement local processes.

 – Business continuity plans are well advanced in each business unit.

 – We acquire businesses whose technology and markets we know well. Sector Chief Executives are responsible for finding and completing acquisitions 

in their business sectors, subject to Board approval, supported by central resources to search for opportunities. We employ detailed post-acquisition 

integration plans.

 – Group development programmes enhance the skills of executives and middle managers needed in their current and future roles.

 – Comprehensive recruitment and ongoing evaluation processes assist high-quality hiring and development.

 – The Group regularly surveys staff to assess the alignment of individuals with Group values.

 – The appointment of a Group Talent Director underpins our identification and development of Group executives.

 – By devolving control of product development to the autonomous operating businesses, we both spread risk and ensure that the people best placed 

to service the customers’ needs are driving innovation.

 – New product development ‘best practice’ is shared between Group companies and return on investment of past and future innovation projects is tracked 

monthly. This ensures that the collective experience and expertise of the Group can be utilised to maximum effect.

 – Large R&D projects, especially those which are capitalised, require Head Office approval, ensuring that the Group’s significant projects are aligned 

to overall strategy.

 – Workforce quality and retention is a central objective. This focus ensures that intangible resources stay and grow within the business.

 – Operating businesses are actively encouraged to develop and protect know-how in local jurisdictions.

 – Innovation is encouraged and fostered throughout the Group, inter alia, via the Halma Innovation Awards.

Movements indicate management’s perception of how the pre-mitigation risk has moved year on year.

	Increased risk
	No change to risk
	Decreased risk

32

Halma plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014Strategic 

objective

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Cyber security/Information 

Technology/Business interruption

Group and operational management 

depend on timely and reliable information 

from our software systems. We seek to 

ensure continuous availability, security 

and operation of those information 

systems. 

Acquisitions

The identification and purchase of 

businesses which meet our demanding 

financial and growth criteria are an 

important part of our strategy for 

developing the Group, as is ensuring  

the new businesses are rapidly  

integrated into the Group.

Laws and regulations 

Group operations are subject to 

wide-ranging laws and regulations 

including business conduct, employment, 

environmental and health and safety 

legislation. There is also exposure to 

product litigation and contractual risk.  

The laws and regulations we are exposed 

to as our businesses expand around the 

world increase each year.

Succession planning and  

staff quality

Group performance is dependent on 

having high-quality leaders at all levels 

and an organisation allowing us to 

continue to grow through acquisition  

as well as driving organic growth.

Research & Development and 

Intellectual Property strategy

New products are critical to our organic 

growth and underpin our ability to earn 

high margins and high returns over the 

long term.

Protection of our intellectual property 

builds competitive advantage by 

strengthening barriers-to-entry. Our 

intangible resources include patents, 

product approvals, technological 

know-how, branding and our workforce.

  – Delay or impact on decision making through lack of availability 

 – Reduced service to customers due to poor information handling 

of sound data 

or interruption of business

 – Global threats to systems and critical information increase  

each year

  – Failure to deliver expected results resulting from poor 

 – Reduced financial performance arising from failure to integrate 

acquisition selection 

acquisitions into the Group 

acquisition targets fully

  – Diversion of management resources creating opportunity costs 

 – Penalties arising from breach of laws and regulations

 – Loss of revenue and profit associated with contractual disputes 

  – Failure to recruit and to retain key staff could lead to reduced 

 – Unethical actions of staff could cause reputational damage to  

innovation and progress in the business 

 – Acquisition growth can be limited by our organisation’s and 

leaders’ ability to absorb acquisitions effectively

 – International growth increases risk and need for high-quality  

the Group

local talent

  – Loss of market share resulting from product obsolescence and 

 – Loss of market share resulting from a failure to protect key 

failure to innovate to meet customer needs

intellectual property

Risk description

Movement

Potential impact

Mitigation

 – There is substantial redundancy and back-up built into group-wide systems and the spread of business offers good protection from individual events.
 – We have a small central resource, Halma IT Services, to assist Group companies with strategic IT needs and to ensure adequate IT security policies are 

used across the Group.

 – An IT security committee was set up in December 2012 comprising Halma plc IT members and selected subsidiary IT managers.
 – Halma IT has been ISO 27001: 2013 certified for its information security management systems.
 – We carry out regular IT audits. Comprehensive IT systems monitoring was introduced in 2013/14.
 – We carry out cyber risk briefings and security awareness training for employees. Cyber security is a regular Board agenda item.
 – We utilise external penetration testing and have completed the rollout of a centralised IT disaster recovery solution to supplement local processes.
 – Business continuity plans are well advanced in each business unit.

 – We acquire businesses whose technology and markets we know well. Sector Chief Executives are responsible for finding and completing acquisitions 
in their business sectors, subject to Board approval, supported by central resources to search for opportunities. We employ detailed post-acquisition 
integration plans.

 – Thorough due diligence is performed by a combination of in-house and external experts to ensure that a comprehensive appraisal of the commercial, 

 – Unforeseen liabilities arising from a failure to understand 

legal and financial position of every target is obtained.

 – Incentives are aligned to encourage acquisitions which are value-enhancing from day one.

 – The Group’s emphasis on excellent internal controls, high ethical standards, the deployment of high-quality management resources and the strong focus 

on quality control over products and processes in each operating business help to protect us from product failure, litigation and contractual issues.
 – Each operating company has a health and safety manager responsible for compliance and our performance in this area is good. Health and Safety 
policies, guidance and monthly reporting requirements are updated to reflect changing reporting and governance requirements and to enhance 
compliance. Our well-established policies on bribery and corruption have been maintained during the year to ensure continued compliance with best 
practice internally, via the Group Code of Conduct and externally, via appropriate clauses included in third-party agreements.

 – We carry comprehensive insurance against all standard categories of insurable risk. Contract review and approval processes mitigate exposure 

to contractual liability.

 – Group development programmes enhance the skills of executives and middle managers needed in their current and future roles.
 – Comprehensive recruitment and ongoing evaluation processes assist high-quality hiring and development.
 – The Group regularly surveys staff to assess the alignment of individuals with Group values.
 – The appointment of a Group Talent Director underpins our identification and development of Group executives.

 – By devolving control of product development to the autonomous operating businesses, we both spread risk and ensure that the people best placed 

to service the customers’ needs are driving innovation.

 – New product development ‘best practice’ is shared between Group companies and return on investment of past and future innovation projects is tracked 

monthly. This ensures that the collective experience and expertise of the Group can be utilised to maximum effect.

 – Large R&D projects, especially those which are capitalised, require Head Office approval, ensuring that the Group’s significant projects are aligned 

to overall strategy.

 – Workforce quality and retention is a central objective. This focus ensures that intangible resources stay and grow within the business.
 – Operating businesses are actively encouraged to develop and protect know-how in local jurisdictions.
 – Innovation is encouraged and fostered throughout the Group, inter alia, via the Halma Innovation Awards.

33

Halma plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014Strategic Report Governance Financial Statements Sector Review 
Process Safety 

Products which protect assets and people at work. Specialised  
interlocks which safely control critical processes. Instruments which  
detect flammable and hazardous gases. Explosion protection and  
corrosion monitoring products.

Neil Quinn, Sector Chief Executive, Process Safety 
Another year of continued strong organic growth in our Process 
Safety businesses resulted from further extensions to our global 
reach through establishing additional regional sales operations and 
new routes to market. Momentum on new product introductions 
was maintained and investment in our manufacturing operations 
ensured that our customers received the levels of product quality 
and on-time delivery to meet their needs. The acquisition of 
Rohrback Cosasco Systems in May 2014 expands our portfolio  
of critical safety products.

Performance

KPIs
Revenue growth
Profit growth1 
Return on Sales2 
ROCE3 
R&D % of Revenue4

Sector 
performance
0.8%
7.9%
27.5%
108.8%
3.5%

Group  
target
>5%
>5%
>18%
>45%
>4%

Revenue % of Group
19% 

Profit % of Group
23% 

Contribution to Group

£m
Revenue 
Profit

2014 
127
35

2013 
126
32

2012 
122
29

2011 
103
24

2010
98
20

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

 Sector revenue and adjusted5 sector profit before finance expense are compared to the 
equivalent prior year figure.

 Return on Sales is defined as adjusted5 before finance expense and taxation expressed as 
a percentage of sector revenue. 

 Adjusted5 sector profit before finance expense expressed as a percentage of sector 
operating net assets.

 Sector research and development expenditure expressed as a percentage of sector revenue. 

 Adjusted to remove the amortisation of acquired intangible assets and acquisition items  
(see Note 1 to the Accounts).

Market trends
Long-term growth in Process Safety markets is supported by two  
key drivers:

 – rising expectations of workplace safety and more stringent safety 

and environmental legislation

 – rising demand for life-critical resources, such as energy

The continuous introduction of new safety regulations and tougher 
enforcement of occupational safety and environmental protection 
laws drives growth in both developed and developing markets.

The global process safety market is forecast to grow by over 11% 
annually for the next two years. A key factor is rising demand for 
safety systems in the oil and gas industry.

Population growth and rising global incomes drive increasing  
demand for energy. By 2030 world population is expected to reach 
8.3 billion. Compared to today, this will add an extra 1.3 billion energy 
consumers. Global income levels in 2030 are forecast to be about 
double what they were in 2011. World primary energy consumption  
is forecast to grow 1.6% annually between 2011 and 2030.

Because onshore oil reserves are maturing, the oil and gas industry’s 
focus is shifting to deepwater offshore platforms. Sustained rising 
energy demand coupled with high oil prices is expected to increase 
offshore oil and gas investment at over 10% per year until 2018. 

Throughout the world, governments continue to impose stricter 
safety regulations to protect industrial workers and our environment. 
Following the Deepwater Horizon incident in the Gulf of Mexico in 
2010, the European Commission concluded that existing oil and gas 
industry safety practices did not provide adequate risk protection. 
In response, in 2013 a new EU Directive came into force which will 
implement higher offshore safety standards in Europe. 

Continuing investment in new oil and gas exploration techniques, 
and delivery of conventional, unconventional and renewable energy 
resources, has supported our sales growth. Sustained investment  
in hydraulic fracturing (fracking) in the fast-growing shale oil and gas 
market, deep sea drilling and LNG production and storage ensures 
that we are operating in vibrant markets.

The global market for gas detection equipment is forecast to grow  
at over 4% annually until 2018. This is driven by increasing regulations 
to protect workers from harmful gases. The International Organization 
for Standardization (ISO) is working on a new global standard for 
occupational health and safety which may prompt new safety 
legislation in many countries. 

1  See Note 1 to the Accounts.

34

Halma plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014Geographic trends
Worldwide growth in demand for energy, chemicals, food and metals 
continues to increase with the USA, Middle East and Asia Pacific very 
buoyant. European process safety markets are returning to growth 
and emerging markets are performing well. Economic conditions 
have reduced demand in India and Australia but we expect these 
areas to recover slowly. 

The main existing areas of offshore activity, such as the ‘golden 
triangle’ including Brazil, US Gulf of Mexico, and West Africa, are  
the key markets where offshore investment is focused. Asia Pacific  
is the key emerging market in terms of energy demand and offshore 
drilling activities.

Awareness of process safety in China has increased following a 
pipeline explosion last year that cost 62 lives. A large number of 
government officials were dismissed and a nationwide survey of 
3,000 petrochemical sites revealed 20,000 disaster risk points.

Strategy
In the Process Safety sector, our strategy for growth focuses on:

 – geographic market diversification via shared hubs 
 – investment in new product development to meet local  

market needs

 – acquisitions in adjacent markets

Our commitment to new product development R&D investment has 
seen sales of products designed in the last three years make up over 
30% of total sales in this sector. New technology and shorter product 
lifecycles, together with industry-leading quality and customer service, 
ensures that we maintain competitive advantage with sales growth 
ahead of market growth. 

Our safety product companies now have 21 manufacturing sites 
across four continents. In addition to 22 existing regional sales and 
service centres, during 2013/14 we opened three new regional hubs 
in Brazil, the Middle East and Poland. R&D resources are increasingly 
localised to ensure that products meet local market needs.

To optimise customer service we continue to develop internal 
collaboration and strategic alliances between our businesses.  
More long-term customer partnerships to maintain market leadership 
in our process safety market niches remains a key strategic goal.

Performance 
Process Safety grew revenue by 1% to £126.7m (2013: £125.7m) and 
profit1 by 8% to £34.9m (2013: £32.3m). Excluding the contribution of 
Tritech, which was sold in August 2012, revenue increased by 5% and 
profit by 11%. These were also the sector’s organic growth rates.

Return on Sales improved from 25.7% to 27.5% due to continued 
strong product margins and good operational management. New 
product introductions contributed to both this margin expansion and 
to revenue growth through diversification into new application niches. 

Excluding the prior year disposal, there was growth in all major 
geographic regions except the UK, where revenue declined by  
1%. There was double-digit growth from the USA (up 13%) and  
Asia Pacific (up 12%). Mainland Europe revenue increased by 1%. 
The sector hub set up in Brazil in 2013 is now firmly established and 
promises to boost Process Safety revenue from this territory 
in the future.

Outlook
Growth prospects in the Process Safety sector remain positive 
supported by rising investment forecasts in our targeted oil, gas  
and energy markets. We plan to extend further into the transport  
and logistics market where the latest forecasts also suggest a  
positive growth outlook.

In May 2014 we acquired Rohrback Cosasco Systems Inc. (RCS) 
for a cash consideration of $108m (see Note 30 to the Accounts). 
As a world leader in the design, manufacture and sale of pipeline 
corrosion monitoring products and systems, RCS expands our 
portfolio of critical safety products which are sold into the energy 
and utility markets to protect life and operational assets.

We continue to search for further acquisitions in the Process  
Safety sector, particularly in complementary markets, to expand  
our technology portfolio and access new sales channels.

35

Halma plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014Strategic Report Governance Financial Statements Sector Review 
Infrastructure Safety 

Products which detect hazards to protect assets and people in public spaces 
and commercial buildings. Fire and smoke detectors, fire detection systems, 
security sensors and audible/visual warning devices. Sensors used on 
automatic doors and elevators in buildings and transportation.

Nigel Trodd, Sector Chief Executive,  
Infrastructure Safety
All major businesses within the sector contributed to a strong year. 
Increasing investment in new products is driving growth above 
market rates in both developed and developing regions. The 
acquisition of Talentum in April 2013 and Advanced Electronics  
in May 2014 demonstrates our strategy to acquire synergistic 
businesses which broaden our product range across our  
chosen markets.

Performance

KPIs
Revenue growth
Profit growth1 
Return on Sales2 
ROCE3 
R&D % of Revenue4

Revenue % of Group
32% 

Profit % of Group
29% 

Sector 
performance
7.3%
7.0%
20.2%
74.3%
5.1%

Group  
target
>5%
>5%
>18%
>45%
>4%

2012 
204
39

2011 
197
39

2010
183
36

Contribution to Group
£m
Revenue 
Profit

2014 
220
44

20136 
205
42

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

 Sector revenue and adjusted5 sector profit before finance expense are compared to the 
equivalent prior year figure.

 Return on Sales is defined as adjusted5 before finance expense and taxation expressed as 
a percentage of sector revenue. 

 Adjusted5 sector profit before finance expense expressed as a percentage of sector 
operating net assets.

 Sector research and development expenditure expressed as a percentage of sector revenue. 

 Adjusted to remove the amortisation of acquired intangible assets, acquisition items and the 
effects of closure to future benefit accrual of the Defined Benefit pension scheme (net of 
associated costs) (see Note 1 to the Accounts).

 Profit restated for the effects of adopting IAS 19 (revised) in 2013/14 (see Accounting 
Policies note).

Market trends
Increasing health and safety regulation remains the primary driver  
in our Infrastructure Safety sector. 

The global trend of increasing urbanisation also stimulates demand 
for our building safety and security products. In China, for example, 
the government has recently announced plans to move 100 million 
people from rural areas to cities by 2020. Global construction output 
is forecast to grow by 70% between 2012 and 2025. More than half  
of that growth will probably take place in just three countries: China, 
India and the United States. 

Tougher fire regulations continue to be introduced in Asia and Europe; 
we now maintain over 3,000 international fire product approvals to 
give us access to world markets. New European fire safety legislation, 
introduced last year, sets new standards for visual fire alarm devices 
that alert people who cannot hear warning sounders. We launched 
new visual fire warning products in 2013 compliant with the new 
regulations to protect people with hearing disabilities.

The global market for our elevator safety and communications 
equipment is divided into two segments of almost equal size: new 
building installations, mainly in developing markets, and elevator 
modernisation and service in Europe and the USA. Ageing 
populations, urbanisation, rising safety awareness and tighter  
building safety regulations continue to underpin global growth  
in the new-build elevator market. 

Elevator equipment demand is projected to grow worldwide by 
almost 6% annually until 2017, despite slowing demand in China. 
China still accounts for over half of the world’s new elevator 
installations and high single-digit growth is set to continue, driven  
by China’s extensive social housing programme. Elevator equipment 
sales are growing steadily in Asia and Latin America, the US market 
is recovering well and Europe is starting to recover. 

Door sensor revenue and profits grew due to innovative new products 
and new European safety regulations that protect pedestrians from 
automatic door accidents. Door sensor demand grew in North and 
South America, and Asia, during 2013/14 but was weaker in Europe. 
Sales of sensors for use on train doors grew strongly in both China 
and Europe. New laser technology, developed for people detection, 
has opened new markets in security and industrial automation.

The electronic access control systems market, the target for our 
intruder alarm business, is forecast to grow by 7% per year until 2017. 
Growth drivers are rising security concerns in many countries plus 
increasing regulation. New wireless intruder detection sensors, plus 
greater UK market share, delivered significant revenue and profit 
growth this year. Sales of intruder detectors and emergency signalling 
devices grew due to new products that enable customers to comply 
with the latest UK and European burglar alarm regulations. A new 
security product undergoing EU approvals will open additional 
markets in 2014/15.

1  See Note 1 to the Accounts.

36

Halma plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014Geographic trends
The home automation and controls market is growing quickly, 
particularly in the USA where sales of our wireless carbon monoxide 
home safety detectors grew strongly in 2013/14.

We relocated our existing elevator safety product manufacture  
within China to a new factory with more sophisticated manufacturing 
capability. The China elevator sales team was strengthened and a 
new local R&D unit will develop localised products to meet the needs 
of Chinese customers. The resulting elevator sales performance in 
China was very strong. Last year China passed the new Special 
Equipment Safety Law to reduce accidents, including deaths and 
injuries caused by elevators. This stricter safety law is expected to 
create favourable growth conditions and stimulate demand from  
the growing Chinese elevator service and modernisation market. 

Our door sensor business grew in all territories, even in Europe where 
we increased market share in a flat market. In China the slowing pace 
of construction stabilised demand but revenue growth was still strong 
throughout the Asia Pacific region. 

Strategy
Our primary growth strategy in the Infrastructure Safety sector is 
to penetrate new markets. We will develop our presence in high 
growth areas, such as Russia and Eastern Europe, ASEAN nations 
and Brazil. Other key target markets are those with commercial 
barriers-to-entry such as Japan, France and the USA.

We have developed a dual channel strategy for fire detection 
products. In some markets we sell directly under our own brand. 
However, OEM sales now make up 50% of international fire detection 
revenue. We will target fire detector sales growth in Russia during 
2014 after gaining new technical product approvals. 

We aim to grow elevator equipment market share with a dual 
brand strategy. We now sell highly specified door sensors with 
global support to international elevator manufacturers in developed 
markets. Lower specification sensors made in China are sold to 
cost-focused customers in developing economies. Global branding 
was strengthened by reorganising our elevator equipment businesses 
into a single organisation called Avire during 2013. 

Investment in our elevator emergency telephone business centres 
on products to penetrate new European markets. R&D activity at 
our elevator display business will add advanced viewing features 
for high-end building projects. China will continue to be a strategic 
focus for elevator product R&D, sales and manufacture.

During 2013/14 we entered adjacent pedestrian automatic doors 
markets with new sensors to activate sliding and swinging doors. 
We aim to extend our door sensor customer base beyond the 
pedestrian segment where we are market leader. Organic profit 
growth will centre on new products for industrial and transport sector 
customers. To precisely meet customer needs, door sensor R&D and 
manufacture is increasingly based in target markets. In 2013/14 we 
increased new product development spending in the USA and China.

Performance 
Infrastructure Safety performed strongly, growing both revenue and 
profit1 by 7% to £220.3m (2013: £205.3m) and £44.4m (2013 restated: 
£41.5m) respectively. At constant currency, organic revenue growth 
was 6% and profit growth was 5% demonstrating the resilience  
of demand for our products which is underpinned by increasing 
Health & Safety regulation.

Return on Sales remained strong at 20.2% (2013 restated: 20.2%) due 
to successful new product launches and an effective balance between 
investment and cost control to maintain strong product margins.

Revenue increased in all major geographic regions, including 12% 
growth in Mainland Europe. Healthy mid-single digit growth in the  
UK, USA and Asia Pacific reflected the global reach of our products, 
whether selling into major multinational OEMs or through local 
distribution partners. Our strategy of increasing investment in locally 
based sales and technical resources continues to pay dividends.

The Talentum flame detector business, acquired in 2013, extended 
our fire detection technology offering and has been successfully 
integrated.

Outlook
We expect continued Infrastructure Safety growth due to technology 
advances, regulatory pressure and products that are increasingly 
developed and manufactured locally within target markets. 

A significant amount of emerging market infrastructure cannot 
accommodate rising urbanisation and population growth trends.  
To combat this, a number of emerging countries’ governments  
have committed to substantial urban infrastructure stimulus plans.

Demand for certified products in Europe will be a strong driver and 
we expect to benefit from adoption of integrated building monitoring 
systems and intruder alarms based on wireless communication  
over time.

Mature market growth is expected to be modest, while developing 
economies should grow well. Russia, Eastern Europe, Middle East, 
Latin America, ASEAN nations and China all offer good growth 
potential. In the USA and Western Europe legislation-driven adjacent 
markets and the rising use of home automation technology offers 
good growth prospects.

In May 2014 we sold Monitor Elevator Products Inc. which 
manufactures customised control panels for elevators focused in 
north-eastern USA and no longer fits with our global market-leading 
door safety sensor and display product business.

In May 2014 we acquired Advanced Electronics Limited (Advanced) 
for an initial cash consideration of £14.1m. Advanced manufactures 
networked fire detection and control systems adding complementary 
products that will help capture the international growth opportunities 
in the increasingly regulated fire market.

37

Halma plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014Strategic Report Governance Financial Statements Sector Review 
Medical 

Products used to improve personal and public health. Devices used to  
assess eye health, assist with eye surgery and primary care applications. 
Fluidic components such as pumps, probes, valves and connectors used  
by medical diagnostic OEMs.

Adam Meyers, Sector Chief Executive, Medical
The Medical sector continued its record of producing both revenue 
and profit growth due to a combination of prior year acquisitions 
and organic growth.

Returns remain high and continue well above Group targets. 
Although Return on Sales was down slightly on the prior year, 
ROCE improved, leading to good cash generation.

We continue to invest in new products and process innovation and 
in expanding our resources in developing economies. Revenue from 
these markets is increasing as a proportion of the sector.

Revenue % of Group
24% 

Profit % of Group
27% 

Performance

KPIs
Revenue growth
Profit growth1 
Return on Sales2 
ROCE3 
R&D % of Revenue4

Sector 
performance
20.0%
16.4%
25.6%
116.3%
3.7%

Group  
target
>5%
>5%
>18%
>45%
>4%

Contribution to Group

£m
Revenue 
Profit

2014 
163
42

2013 
136
36

2012 
100
26

2011 
82
20

2010
69
17

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

 Sector revenue and adjusted5 sector profit before finance expense are compared to the 
equivalent prior year figure.

 Return on Sales is defined as adjusted5 before finance expense and taxation expressed as 
a percentage of sector revenue. 

 Adjusted5 sector profit before finance expense expressed as a percentage of sector 
operating net assets.

 Sector research and development expenditure expressed as a percentage of sector 
revenue. 

 Adjusted to remove the amortisation of acquired intangible assets and acquisition items (see 
Note 1 to the Accounts).

Market trends
The Medical sector growth driver of increasing demand for healthcare 
is underpinned by:

 – worldwide population ageing and increasing life expectancy
 – increasing prevalence of obesity and hypertension
 – increasing healthcare access in developing economies
 – new medical diagnostic technologies 
 – new or improved surgical and pharmaceutical therapies

The proportion of people aged over 60 continues to rise and  
drives demand for healthcare both in developed and developing 
geographies. Population ageing is a key driver for our ophthalmology 
and hypertension management businesses because eyesight 
problems and rising blood pressure are both age-related. 

The global market for ophthalmic diagnostic and eye surgery 
products is forecast to grow at 4% per year through 2017 as new 
technologies, population ageing and rising healthcare expectations 
and affordability in developing economies continue to drive demand.

Eye surgeons are increasingly switching to the type of single-use 
surgical instruments that we make. Cataract surgery is a key market 
niche and demand for cataract instruments is forecast to grow 
annually by over 5% through 2019.

We expect continued growth in spending on hypertension 
management tools throughout the developed world. In the USA for 
example, one in three adults has high blood pressure, but over 50% 
do not realise they have this condition which causes, or leads to, over 
2.4 million American deaths annually. In addition, rising obesity can 
lead to both an increase in hypertension-related conditions and an 
increase in diabetic-related eye disorders.

In South East Asia medical product demand should remain strong  
as governments continue to improve healthcare provision and extend 
it to rural areas. Last year China announced a three-year, £75 billion 
healthcare investment project to build 2,000 new regional hospitals 
and 29,000 township hospitals. 

Molecular diagnostics (tests on patients’ genetic codes), is expected 
to be our fastest growing market for fluidic components with forecast 
global growth of 11% annually through 2019. North America and 
Europe comprise the largest global markets, while growth in Asia is 
expected to outpace all other geographies, with an expected annual 
growth rate of over 14%.

We continue to invest in resources to increase sales in the fast-
growing Asian and South American healthcare markets. In the past 
year we increased staff in China, India, Brazil and the Middle East. 
Additional medical device R&D engineers recruited in China should 
deliver new products with specifications to meet the needs of Asian 
customers during 2014/15. 

1  See Note 1 to the Accounts.

38

Halma plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014Geographic trends
Apart from Japan, our sales in Asia continue to grow strongly as 
governments invest in health and medical infrastructure and extend 
healthcare to a wider section of their populations. China now has 
more than 330 million people with high blood pressure (one out of 
every three adults) with prevalence increasing particularly among  
the young and rural populations. Increased awareness and 
programmes to combat hypertension will increase demand  
for our diagnostic devices.

In China, most of our medical products have now completed lengthy 
and costly official testing and registration. This should ensure that 
China continues to offer substantial growth opportunities. However, 
Chinese growth may be affected by government control of the 
medical device market, including the possibility of price controls. 

US healthcare spending is forecast to continue to rise rapidly at 
almost 6% annually through 2022. However, short-term medical 
market growth in the USA is less certain as the impact of the recently 
enacted Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) is  
being digested. The US market for single-use surgical devices and 
consumables should continue to grow with medical procedure 
growth, but capital equipment sales could be slower until the 
increased patient flow from the PPACA is realised. 

Growth in the US medical diagnostic market, our largest fluidics 
niche, was also affected by uncertainty in the new US healthcare 
model. Its new 2.3% tax on medical devices in the USA increased 
sales costs by over £0.6m in 2014 and was reported by some of  
our customers to cause reductions in their spending. We expect flat 
short-term sales in Europe as economic conditions slowly improve.

With the acquisition of a Chinese peristaltic pump maker in 2013,  
we began selling their products through our US distribution channels 
and our US-made products through the acquired business’  
Chinese channels.

Strategy
Following strong growth in 2012/13 Medical sector strategy is to 
increase organic growth through:

 – broadening our product lines and commercialising innovative 

new products

 – further penetration of geographical markets
 – increasing our customer diversity
 – expansion into adjacent market niches

We aim to increase R&D investment in ophthalmology and 
hypertension management products where we have a competitive 
advantage due to our strong sales channels in these niche markets. 
Product line growth will come from both internally and externally 
developed products. Medical sector R&D focus is on high quality 
components and instrumentation that will be readily accepted by our 
existing conservative customer base. However, local development 
and manufacture in emerging markets, to better satisfy local 
customer needs, is a key Medical sector strategic priority. 

Focusing on Asia, South America, USA and Russia extended  
market penetration will be achieved through additional sales 
resources, market intelligence sharing, cooperative marketing 
between sector companies and new sales channel partnerships. 

Compliance with national product regulation continues to get more 
complex and costly, in both developing and developed markets. 
Product registration and renewal overheads continue to rise but 
provide market access and bar entry by weaker competitors. 

Further acquisitions of value-enhancing healthcare businesses  
should also add significant growth. 

Performance 
Following strong growth in 2012/13 our Medical sector grew revenue 
by 20% to £163.2m (2013: £136.1m) and profit1 by 16% to £41.8m 
(2013: £35.9m), including a sizeable contribution from acquisitions 
completed in the prior financial year. Organic revenue growth at 
constant currency was 7% and organic profit growth was 1%. Return 
on Sales remained strong at 25.6%, albeit slightly below last year’s 
record 26.4% due to a combination of minor factors, including the 
full-year effect of the new medical device tax in the USA.

Increased investment internationally to support good rates of 
underlying revenue growth also impacted profitability this year.

While currency translation impact was minimal in the year, if exchange 
rates remain at current levels we expect an adverse impact on results 
in 2014/15 due to the relative strength of Sterling versus the US Dollar 
and Euro.

There was strong revenue growth in all geographic regions. Asia 
Pacific growth of 52% benefited from a good first year’s performance 
from Longer Pump in China and strong organic growth of 22% 
(constant currency). Elsewhere, organic revenue growth (constant 
currency) from the UK was up 8%, Mainland Europe grew by 6%  
and the USA increased 3%.

Outlook
Ageing populations in developed economies and rising populations 
with increasing access to affordable healthcare in the developing 
world should, subject to budgetary contraints, continue to create a 
favourable environment for growth. 

We expect our Medical businesses to outperform the market in the 
medium term with sales into the healthcare and medical diagnostics 
markets rising consistently, driven by enhanced distribution in export 
markets, new products and acquisitions. We expect the strongest 
growth in the short term in developing markets, especially Asia and 
the Middle East. Growth in South East Asia, particularly China, should 
remain strong as government healthcare spending continues to rise. 

While our fluidics businesses will remain US-centric, we expect to 
reduce reliance on large customers by diversifying our customer  
base in emerging markets and Europe. 

39

Halma plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014Strategic Report Governance Financial Statements Sector Review 
Environmental & Analysis 

Products and technologies for analysis in safety, life sciences and 
environmental markets. Market-leading opto-electronic technology and gas
conditioning products. Products to monitor water networks, UV technology 
for disinfecting water, and water quality testing products.

Chuck Dubois, Sector Chief Executive, 
Environmental & Analysis 
The sector has delivered increasing revenue and profit growth as 
the year progressed and made good progress on its reorganisation. 
Action within the businesses to improve performance will continue 
and we expect to see the benefits of this in the coming year, 
including more collaborative inter-company projects.

Performance

KPIs
Revenue growth
Profit growth1 
Return on Sales2 
ROCE3 
R&D % of Revenue4

Sector 
performance
9.3%
4.5%
19.1%
74.8%
6.3%

Group  
target
>5%
>5%
>18%
>45%
>4%

Revenue % of Group
25% 

Profit % of Group
21% 

Contribution to Group

£m
Revenue 
Profit

2014 
167
32

2013 
152
30

2012 
154
32

2011 
136
26

2010
109
18

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

 Sector revenue and adjusted5 sector profit before finance expense are compared to the 
equivalent prior year figure.

 Return on Sales is defined as adjusted5 before finance expense and taxation expressed as 
a percentage of sector revenue. 

 Adjusted5 sector profit before finance expense expressed as a percentage of sector 
operating net assets.

 Sector research and development expenditure expressed as a percentage of sector revenue. 

 Adjusted to remove the amortisation of acquired intangible assets and acquisition items  
(see Note 1 to the Accounts).

Market trends
Our Environmental & Analysis sector businesses operate in diverse 
markets where sustained growth is delivered by three key drivers:

 – rising demand for basic resources such as energy and water
 – increasing environmental monitoring and regulation
 – growing demand for healthcare

Sales to the scientific analysis market grew faster in 2013/14 than in 
previous years. The global market for laboratory analytical instruments 
and environmental sensors and monitoring is forecast to grow at 
about 6% per year until 2016. Photonics technology is no longer just 
a science and research tool, but is increasingly used in manufacturing 
processes; industrial photonics is the fastest growing photonics 
sector worldwide.

In many countries water demand outstrips supply and water quality 
often fails to meet minimum standards. The quality and scarcity of 
water, and the need to reduce water treatment energy costs, are the 
key factors behind increasingly strict regulation and enforcement 
which drives demand for our water analysis and water and 
wastewater treatment systems.

Increasing water scarcity is due to finite resources, population growth, 
increasing urbanisation in developing economies and climate change 
impact. In about 15 years’ time almost half of the world’s population is 
forecast to live in regions of high water stress or water scarcity. Within 
the next 20 years water demand will exceed supply by 40%. 

New carbon reduction regulations, such as the CRC Energy 
Efficiency Scheme in the UK, is increasing demand for cost effective 
monitoring and remote transmission of data related to water usage 
and energy consumption.

Environmental regulations in China are being strengthened and  
the government has made a series of multi-billion dollar funding 
commitments to increase controls on air and water pollution,  
and decrease greenhouse gas emissions.

China’s most heavily-polluting industries, including thermal power, iron 
and steel, and petrochemicals will, in the future, have to comply with 
international pollution standards. New environmental regulations and 
stronger enforcement in China will create increased opportunities for 
our businesses which make analytical and monitoring equipment  
for controlling environmental pollution. 

US environmental protection regulations are also undergoing 
significant change, with many more stringent requirements being 
issued by the EPA. US government spending on environmental 
monitoring is increasing. As a result, we expect rising demand in 
America for our analytical technologies that monitor pollutants  
in trace amounts.

1  See Note 1 to the Accounts.

40

Halma plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014Geographic trends
In April 2014 we created a new subsidiary in China by transforming 
the Shanghai R&D, sales and manufacturing operations of our 
US-based Ocean Optics business into a stand-alone company to 
deliver an optimal service to Asian customers. This company not  
only distributes spectroscopy products made by Ocean Optics in  
the USA, but is designing and developing products fit for purpose  
in China and Southeast Asia.

In the USA, we reorganised our multispectral sensing and imaging 
business by investing in a consolidated manufacturing centre.

Plans for deregulation of the UK commercial water market from  
2017 are prompting UK water companies to increase investment in 
treatment and distribution to retain existing customers. Continued 
economic difficulties in Europe significantly reduced spending by 
some of our key OEM customers in the water market.

China is now the world’s fastest growing water and wastewater 
treatment market. It recently announced plans to invest almost 
£200 billion in water treatment technology to control water 
resources pollution.

Strategy
Our organic profit growth strategy for the Environmental & Analysis 
sector centres on geographic expansion, with a strong focus on 
emerging markets, increased R&D investment in new product 
development and continued diversification of the customer base.

R&D will focus on products to meet emerging market customer 
needs. Investments to develop emerging markets include a new 
business unit in India and local manufacture in China. 

Sales development in the US alternative energy market was cut  
back because progress on alternative energy projects depends  
on government funding, which has proven to be very variable. 

While we will aim to maintain world leadership in products to reduce 
treated water loss in distribution networks, we succeeded in reducing 
dependence on water conservation technology sales to UK water 
companies within their cyclical 5-year investment programmes. We 
diversified our customer base and achieved strong sales growth in 
non-water markets such as energy monitoring, building management 
systems and commercial remote data logging.

Our strategy for opto-electronic analytical products is to grow organic 
profit by extending our offering in the life sciences and environmental 
monitoring sectors. 

Performance 
Environmental & Analysis achieved a pleasing full-year performance 
after a disappointing prior year and some reorganisation in the first 
half. Revenue increased by 9% to £166.5m (2013: £152.4m) and 
profit1 grew by 4% to £31.7m (2013: £30.4m). At constant currency, 
organic revenue growth was 5% and profit was up 2%.

Return on Sales was 19.1% (2013: 19.9%) which represented a  
useful improvement from 18.2% at the end of the first half. The 
consolidation of our two optical coating business facilities has gone  
to plan with a newly expanded facility now operational in Florida  
and product lines being transferred from Colorado. In addition,  
our main photonics business, Ocean Optics, has spun-off a new 
Halma subsidiary in China while our water UV companies have 
restructured their distribution channels in the USA. The total cost  
of these restructuring projects was below £1m in the year.

In addition to the reorganisation costs noted above the sector 
incurred the cost of fully addressing a supplier component quality 
issue within the water monitoring business.

As noted with the Medical sector, if exchange rates remain at current 
levels we expect an adverse impact on results in 2014/15 due to the 
relative strength of Sterling in particular in relation to the US Dollar.

Revenue grew by 53% in the UK, dominated by large sales of flow/
pressure data loggers to UK water utilities as part of their preparation 
for the deregulation of the UK commercial water market in 2017. 
There was mid-single digit growth in Mainland Europe and the USA 
whilst revenue from Asia Pacific declined by 5% as major contracts 
for certain water and photonics businesses last year were not 
repeated. Restructuring completed during the year and additional 
senior management changes made shortly after year-end should 
improve the consistency of this sector’s performance in the  
medium term.

Outlook
Market growth prospects and key drivers for our environmental and 
analysis product niches remain strong. We anticipate rising global 
demand in the Environmental & Analysis sector through increased 
regulation for water supply security and drinking water quality, plus 
environmental pressures on wastewater discharge. 

We are uniquely placed to develop systems for remote collection and 
management of environmental data through our technology portfolio 
enhanced by the acquisition of ASL Holdings in 2013.

New environmental regulations and stricter enforcement in China 
should significantly increase demand for our technology in coming 
years. Growth in India remains more elusive, but we expect to 
increase market share with new localised products.

We have a strong pipeline of Environmental & Analysis acquisition 
prospects in both developed and emerging markets.

41

Halma plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014Strategic Report Governance Financial Statements Corporate Responsibility

Commitment to Corporate Responsibility
Halma companies are involved in the manufacture of a wide range 
of products that protect and improve the quality of life for people 
worldwide. This report focuses on areas of progress and our 
performance for all areas of corporate responsibility which are 
considered to be material by our stakeholders and are also 
important to the success of our Group’s business. Halma has 
developed meaningful key performance indicators (KPIs) that 
reflect the importance the Group places on corporate 
responsibility and enable the Board to monitor the Group’s 
progress in meeting its objectives and responsibilities in these 
areas. Further details are given on pages 26 and 27.

These areas of emphasis include health and safety, employee 
engagement and development, human rights and ethics, 
corporate responsibility and sustainability. Safety is critical to  
the Group and is a major priority. We recognise the necessity of 
safeguarding the health and safety of our own employees while at 
work and operate so as to provide a safe and comfortable working 
environment for employees, visitors and the public. Our policy is  
to manage our activities to avoid causing any unnecessary or 
unacceptable risks to health and safety and the environment. 
Halma has an excellent health and safety record and a culture  
of safety is deeply embedded within the Group. 

Our core values are Achievement, Innovation, Empowerment and 
Customer Satisfaction. These core values have been selected 
following extensive surveying of employees across the Group.  
Our culture is one of openness, integrity and accountability. We 
encourage our employees to act fairly in their dealings with fellow 
employees, customers, suppliers and business partners. 

We recognise that our employees determine our success and 
therefore continue to invest in and encourage their development 
more and more each year, not only with a suite of Halma 
development programmes, but also through clear leadership  
and decisive action. By ensuring that our team has the approach 
and skills required to succeed we are better placed to meet the 
challenges of the future.

We support the concept of sustainability and recognise that, in 
common with all businesses, our activities have an environmental 
impact. Our strategy is not to have capital-intensive manufacturing 
processes and to operate close to our end markets in terms of 
geography, so the environmental impact of our operations is 
relatively low compared to manufacturers in other sectors. We  
also recognise that we can improve our own environmental 
performance and so resources are deployed to actively reduce 
our own carbon footprint. Halma has been a member of the 
FTSE4Good UK index since its establishment in July 2001.

42

The Environment
We have an excellent long-term record and a clear strategy for 
addressing environmental issues that affect our businesses and  
for developing products that protect the environment and improve 
safety at work and in public places.

Our products
Many of our innovative products play a very positive role in monitoring 
and improving the environment. Halma brands lead the world in a 
number of technologies which help to minimise environmental 
damage. Our principal environmental technologies are water leakage 
detection and wireless monitoring, gas emissions monitoring, water 
and effluent analysis, UV water treatment and optical sensing. We 
promote the use of UV water sterilisation which eliminates the need  
to use dangerous chemicals, as well as making products that 
minimise the waste of clean water.

Our commitment to the development of equipment for measuring 
and monitoring environmental changes and controlling the damaging 
impact of industrial activities is long term. We are the major world 
supplier in several of these areas.

Our impact
The environmental effect of our operations is relatively low compared 
to manufacturers in other sectors. Our manufacturing model is 
decentralised permitting our operations to be located close to their 
customers. Manufacturing operations are established across the 
world for this very reason rather than to save labour costs. The ethos 
of being close to our customers reflects the importance we place on 
the quality of our products and the service levels we provide to our 
customers. It also makes our operations more flexible and responsive 
to their markets and customers. With operations spread around the 
globe, our supplier base is understandably fragmented. Therefore, 
responsibility for vetting and managing suppliers is devolved to local 
management while meeting the Group’s ethical standards.

Environmental Management System (EMS)
We are committed to developing and implementing an EMS 
throughout the Group to measure, control and reduce our 
environmental impacts. We have developed performance indicators 
that assist local management in implementing the policy and 
ultimately developing an EMS. The requirement for an EMS and the 
related reporting has been rolled out to all UK business units, which 
represent approximately 36% of Group production facilities in terms 
of external turnover.

All Group companies are encouraged to undertake ISO 14001,  
the international environmental accreditation, where warranted. The 
requirement to implement an EMS will be extended to the rest of  
the Group in the medium term. In terms of revenue, currently 18% 
(2013: 20%) of the Group has ISO 14001 approval.

Group companies are also encouraged to improve energy efficiency, 
reduce waste and emissions and reduce the use of materials in  
order to minimise their environmental impact. A good example is  
the £250,000 solar panel installation undertaken in 2013/14 by our 
subsidiary, Apollo, which has improved their energy efficiency for  
the longer term. The Group established baseline data in 2004/05  
on emissions to air and water, water and energy consumption, and 
waste production, the results of which are updated on the Halma 
website each year. The data collected for the past number of years 
has enabled the Group to set comprehensive and quantifiable 
objectives for reducing its environmental impacts in those areas and 
to set and monitor targets for reduction in key areas. The collected 
data confirms that the main area of impact on the environment is 
energy consumption.

Halma plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014We have stepped up our activities internationally to comply with  
the new mandatory carbon reporting requirements which UK public 
listed companies are subject to under the Large and Medium-Sized 
Companies and Groups (Accounts and Reports) Regulation 2008 
as amended in August 2013. 

We have reported on all of the emission sources required under 
the Companies Act 2006 (Strategic Report and Directors’ Reports) 
Regulations for the reporting period 31 March 2013 to 29 March 2014. 

We have employed the Operation Control definition to outline  
our carbon footprint boundary; included within that boundary are 
Scope 1 and 2 emissions from manufacturing sites and offices  
which we own and operate. Excluded from our footprint boundary 
are emissions from manufacturing sites and offices which we do  
not own and control and emissions considered non-material by 
the business. We have reported on emissions from Scope 1 and 2 
emissions sources with some Scope 3 emissions sources included 
(emissions for Scope 3 have been calculated from business air travel 
only). Refrigerant gases were taken into account this year as an 
improvement to our carbon emissions reporting processes.

We have also used the GHG Protocol Corporate Accounting and 
Reporting Standard (revised edition) and guidance provided by the 
UK’s Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) 
on voluntary and mandatory carbon reporting. Emission factors 
were used from the UK government’s GHG Conversion Factors 
for Company Reporting 2013. 

Carbon Footprint
The Group’s policy on carbon is published on our website and has 
been distributed and explained to all Halma business units. A senior 
executive in each of our higher impact business units is responsible 
for implementing the carbon policy at local level. Our Finance Director, 
Kevin Thompson, has principal responsibility for coordinating and 
monitoring the policy.

We are committed to reducing our carbon footprint. Reduction of the 
Group’s carbon footprint has received increased attention since 2007 
with the initial objective of a 10% reduction in the Group’s total carbon 
emissions relative to revenues over three years to March 2010. We 
have worked hard to reduce the energy impact of our facilities and 
achieved that target for the last period from 2010 to 2013. Whilst we 
recognise that reduction by another 10% would be challenging for the 
third period, we have set ourselves the same target to March 2016 
and are working hard to achieve this. We are pleased to report that 
we are still on course to meet our three-year target. 

From April 2010, we have worked with providers of energy efficiency 
and carbon reduction solutions to ensure compliance with the new 
Carbon Reduction Commitment Energy Efficiency Scheme (CRC) 
which is the UK’s mandatory energy saving scheme administered 
by the Environment Agency. We are in full compliance with the 
CRC requirements. All major UK sites have received an energy  
survey and set an action plan for improved energy usage. The 
Group’s environmental performance will continue to be reported  
both in the Annual Report and Accounts and on our website.

The Group does not operate a fleet of distribution vehicles  
although we do own a number of company cars. From May 2007,  
we implemented a cap on permissible CO2 emissions of all UK 
company vehicles and have extended an equivalent requirement  
to the USA and Europe. Limits are usually lowered each year so as  
to reduce our vehicles’ environmental impact. We have taken the 
decision to maintain the same limits for company vehicles as last  
year. We will keep this under review for future years.

 Greenhouse Gas Emissions (GHG) Reporting
We are now working with our newly appointed consultants to better monitor our environmental performance and future external  
reporting requirements. The Group is committed to examining the establishment of ‘green’ procurement policies and increasing  
our use of recycled materials.

GHG Emissions data for the period 31 March 2013 to 29 March 2014

Scope 1: Combustion of fuel and operation of facilities

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

Scope 3: Business air travel

Total gross emissions

Intensity measure of tonnes of CO2 emissions per £m revenue

CO2 emissions 
global tonnes

4,199

17,105

4,810

26,1131

38.6

Note 
1.  Due to the changes introduced in Defra’s 2013 conversion factors and the categories of reporting, there is a reduction in our emissions due to the disaggregation of Scope 1 and 2 emissions.  

There is no like-for-like comparison with 2012/13 emissions.

43

Halma plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014Strategic Report Governance Financial Statements Corporate Responsibility continued

Our People
Leadership in the global marketplace requires a group culture and  
an inclusive business environment where the best and brightest 
diverse minds, employees with varied perspectives, skills, and 
experiences, work together to meet customer demands. We believe 
that employing the top talent from all groups within our communities, 
from many backgrounds and with varied experiences, helps us to 
better serve our customers and gives us a competitive advantage  
in the global marketplace. To achieve this, we seek to hire, inspire, 
develop and empower top talent from around the globe.

Periodically we complete a survey of employees to determine  
whether our core values are authentic in our organisation. The  
survey establishes the values individual employees wish to see in our 
operating culture and to what extent they exist in our current culture.

In 2006, our survey of senior managers showed that five (50%) of  
the values they wanted to see in our business were actually present. 
In 2012, our survey was extended to over half of Group employees;  
at this time the survey showed that six (60%) desired values were 
present in our business. This indicated that there was a healthy level 
of alignment between the culture we aspire to have and the culture 
we actually have. Since 2012, we have increased participation by over 
60% by making the survey available in paper format as well as online, 
and by offering it in four languages. This year’s and last year’s surveys 
showed that there continues to be a good alignment of five (50%) 
matching values.

No survey is capable of capturing all the appropriate sentiments, but 
our executives, who regularly visit all Group companies, agree that 
observable and valuable improvements in the Group culture have 
occurred over recent years. The Group will continue to monitor the 
survey results to enable us to better support our people in bringing 
these values and strengths to work so that they and we may derive 
further benefit from them.

Health and Safety
Halma companies are involved in the manufacture of a wide range 
of products that protect and improve the quality of life for people 
worldwide. Therefore, safety is critical to the Group and is a major 
priority for management. 

The Group manages its activities to avoid causing any unnecessary 
or unacceptable risks to health and safety to our employees in the 
work place or to the public as a result of our activities. The policy is 
understood by all Group companies and was reinforced in 2010/11 
through improved guidance and reporting following a comprehensive 
review led by an external expert. 

Halma has an excellent health and safety record and a culture of 
safety is deeply embedded within the Group. To ensure each Group 
company has appropriately embedded the updated Health and 
Safety procedures in their business, independent Health and Safety 
reviews were performed in each operating company last year.  
These reviews were conducted with a view to ensuring a consistent 
approach in quality of reporting, internal processes, integration in 
operations, appropriateness of company policies, culture of Health 
and Safety and also as a means of identifying any patterns or 
underlying causes of reported incidents. We have continued to 
actively promote our safety culture throughout the year using the 
outputs from these reviews. As a result, reporting of Health and 
Safety incidents and corrective action where needed has been given 
an even higher profile. This is a contributory factor in the group-wide 
reduction in the number of days lost due to specified major injury 
accidents and reportable work-related injuries in 2013/14.

Given the autonomous structure of the Group, operational 
responsibility for compliance with relevant local Health and Safety 
regulations is delegated to the directors of each operating company. 
We believe Health and Safety training is important and it is carried out 
within companies as appropriate. This year an additional head office 
driven initiative to provide further IOSH Managing Safely training was 
organised for our UK companies. Adequate internal reporting exists in 
order that the Group’s Finance Director can monitor each company’s 
compliance with this policy.

The Group collects details of its worldwide reported Health  
and Safety incidents, and these are available on our website  
at www.halma.com. We are also pleased to report that there  
were no work-related fatalities in 2013/14 or prior years.

Injuries recorded

Days lost due to reportable*  
work-related injuries
Total recorded injuries to all employees

2014

2013

2012

118
323

382
320

301
362

*  Specified major injury incidents and reportable incidents which result in more than three working 

days lost.

People 
“We see diversity and inclusiveness as an essential part of our 
productivity, creativity, innovation and competitive advantage.  
It is the foundation of a performance culture…”

Jennifer Ward, Diversity Champion

44

Halma plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014Diversity
We see diversity and inclusiveness as an essential part of our 
productivity, creativity, innovation and competitive advantage.  
It is the foundation of a performance culture that promotes  
respect, understanding and appreciation of different perspectives, 
backgrounds and experiences.

Developing regions, including China, Brazil, India and Africa make  
up an increasing share of the world population. They will account for 
approximately 88% of the global population by 2050. Economically, 
diverse markets represent a growing source of consumption and 
buying power, and we must be prepared to serve the needs of the 
changing marketplace.

Because our customer base is constantly changing and growing, 
we need to be prepared in the following ways:

 – diverse and inclusive enough to recognise the needs of customers 

in our current and new markets; 

 – aware enough to anticipate, respond to, and serve the needs 

of the changing marketplace; and

 – engaged enough to contribute at the highest levels to deliver 

superior performance.

By increasing the diversity and inclusion of our workforce and 
leveraging the insights of our diverse talent through an inclusive 
environment, we enhance our ability to compete in the world’s 
increasingly diverse marketplace. We regularly monitor our progress 
toward these aims through executive site visits and annual values 
surveys, which indicate how strongly our desired culture is 
demonstrated in our businesses.

Our efforts are directed towards increasing the proportion of 
individuals with experience in the business and geographic  
markets in which we see our operations growing.

Our strong preference is to develop policies and actions which 
support our aims rather than establishing measurable targets. 
We believe the former evolves into part of the corporate culture 
more readily than simply setting a target.

Each year our Board of Directors reviews these policies and their 
implementation to ensure that they create and maintain a diverse 
and inclusive organisation.

Gender diversity
The Board of Directors responded to the consultation document  
that the UK’s Financial Reporting Council issued in respect of 
‘Gender Diversity on Boards’. We are not satisfied with the proportion 
of women in senior roles and on the boards of our companies. We 
are proactively identifying talented women internally and externally 
who could potentially join our leadership teams in the future. 

We appreciate the task ahead of us in sectors where relevant 
graduates are more than 85% male, so part of our strategy will involve 
ensuring that Halma has a culture and working practices that make it 
more attractive to women. To that end, we issued a Diversity Policy  
in 2012 which is available on our website.

The 2014/15 year intake on the Halma Graduate Development 
Programme (HGDP) demonstrates diversity with an intake of 
graduates from four different countries and 30% of them being 
female. The HGDP is already demonstrating our success in 
attracting women and individuals of diverse backgrounds to  
Halma. We must now ensure that they continue to thrive and  
grow their careers with us.

Diversity Policy
Halma believes that the diversity of our staff is a significant contributor to our success:

 – diversity in our organisation attracts talented people to join the Group and to develop to their full potential; 
 – diversity within our leadership improves decision making processes and effective teamwork; and
 – diversity encourages fresh thinking and challenges the status quo and boosts innovation. 
Our policy’s objectives are:

 –  to build a culture that encourages talented people of all backgrounds, beliefs or any form of personal identity to want to work for Halma;
 –  to use recruitment, training, development, promotion and compensation to increase diversity in our organisation; and
 –  to ensure that our procedures, systems and behaviours are not discriminatory. 

Halma plc Board 
Directors1

Other senior 
managers2

028
1

4
9
1

6
1

0
1
2

Other employees

Total

% of Total

6
7
7
,
2

3
0
0
,
2

9
7
7
,
4

0
8
1
,
3

1
2
0
,
2

9
9
9
,
4

M

F

Total

M

F

Total

M

F

Total

M

F

Total

Notes 
1 
2 

Includes non-executive Directors of the Company. 
 Halma’s definition of ‘senior managers’ is defined as subsidiary company officers and above.

■ Male 
■ Female 

60%
40%

45

Halma plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014Strategic Report Governance Financial Statements Corporate Responsibility continued

Disabled employees
Applications for employment by disabled people are always fully 
considered, bearing in mind the aptitudes of the applicant concerned. 
In the event of members of staff becoming disabled, every effort is 
made to ensure that their employment with the Group continues and 
that appropriate training is arranged. It is the policy of the Group that 
the training, career development and promotion of disabled people 
should, as far as possible, be identical to that of other employees.

“ People development is  
a key part of our organic 
growth strategy.”

Employee consultation
The Group places considerable value on the involvement of its 
employees and has continued to keep them informed on matters 
affecting them as employees and on the various factors affecting 
the performance of the Group. This is achieved through formal and 
informal meetings, the Group collaboration platform and the annual 
financial statements.

Employee representatives are consulted routinely on a wide range 
of matters affecting their current and future interests.

People development
People development is a key part of our organic growth strategy.

We run a number of people development programmes. Our training 
programmes are constantly reviewed to reflect changing training 
needs amongst our companies. The Halma Executive Development 
Programme (HEDP), which is based on our recognition of the 
fundamental part our people play in the success of the Group, 
continued to strengthen in recent years. HEDP is an integrated 
development plan for our senior people – including the next 
generation of Managing Directors and Sector Chief Executives.  
Our objective is to provide these individuals with the tools and training 
they need to achieve more in their existing role and potentially to 
advance through the organisation if their achievements merit it.

HEDP is aimed at employees already serving on subsidiary boards 
but we also encourage applications from senior functional managers 
who can demonstrate they already have equivalent responsibilities 
and will benefit from the programme.

There are approximately 270 such eligible employees in total.

The programme has been developed from a proven course structure 
and is specifically and continuously tailored to suit Halma’s needs, 
aligning the content to the Group’s four core values of Achievement, 
Innovation, Empowerment and Customer Satisfaction. It focuses 
strongly on strategic and leadership capabilities and developing 
personal attributes – commitment, determination and resilience. 
There is an emphasis on performance management and team 
development. It includes skill based elements such as sales and 
marketing management, project leadership, corporate governance, 
finance and innovation, but all are presented in a strategic context.

Seventeen programmes have been successfully completed.

Once a significant proportion of executives had completed HEDP, 
a follow up programme, HEDP+, was introduced to provide updated 
training and to reinforce the original course contents.

Complementing the HEDP is a programme for subsidiary managers 
and supervisors – the Halma Management Development Programme 
(HMDP). During the year, four HMDP and two HMDP+ programmes 
were completed. Programmes were held in the USA, Europe 
and Asia.

In 2011, we introduced a new programme, Halma Certificate of 
Applied Technology (HCAT), targeted at our technical engineers to 
equip them with a broader understanding of Halma’s technology, 
improve their productivity and provide specific skills training in areas 
such as project management. Three such programmes, with 51 
participants, have been completed with great success.

The Halma Graduate Development Programme (HGDP) was 
introduced during 2011/12 and the first participants started working 
with us in mid-2012. HGDP is targeted at engineering, science and 
technical graduates with the potential to become future leaders of  
our companies, or next generation specialists driving our technology.

The programme lasts 18 to 24 months and is based on placements in 
our various operating companies. Through project work, participants 
quickly assume responsibility and learn in detail how businesses 
operate. We support participants through residential training modules 
to help develop communication and teamwork skills alongside a 
mentoring programme for personal development. Our intake from 
2011/12 is now identifying permanent positions within the Group.

Training
Cumulative number of candidates that have completed:

HEDP

4
9
1

1
2
2

5
3
2

HMDP

2
9
3

1
7
4

9
3
5

HCAT

6
3

1
5

1
5

12

13

14

12

13

14

12

13

14

46

Halma plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014Ethics
The Group culture is one of openness, integrity and accountability. 
Halma requires its employees to act fairly in their dealings with fellow 
employees, customers, suppliers and business partners. Halma 
introduced a Code of Conduct during 2011/12 which applies to all 
Group employees and our external business relationships. We require 
suppliers to be of high quality and to operate to accepted international 
standards. Halma operates a confidential whistleblowing policy with 
an external call centre, which enables all Group employees to raise 
any concerns they may have.

Halma has a zero-tolerance policy on bribery and corruption which 
extends to all business dealings and transactions in which we are 
involved. This includes a prohibition on making political donations, 
offering or receiving inappropriate gifts or making undue payments 
to influence the outcome of business dealings. Our robust policy 
and guidance in this area are routinely reviewed.

Responsible investment
Investing in Halma shares meets the criteria of many professional and 
private investors who base their decisions on environmental, ethical 
and social considerations. The Group is a world leader in several key 
environmental technologies and has a reputation for honesty and 
integrity in its relationships with employees, customers, business 
partners and shareholders.

Social conditions can be improved for all through the creation of 
wealth. Halma creates wealth responsibly allowing our employees, 
customers, business partners and shareholders to determine where 
this wealth is best distributed.

Human Rights
Halma’s Human Rights and Labour Conditions Policy reflects the  
core requirements of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights  
and the ILO Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at 
Work, including the conventions relating to forced labour, child labour, 
non-discrimination, freedom of association and right to collective 
bargaining. We do not tolerate practices which contravene these 
international standards. Regulatory demands upon us vary 
considerably around the world, so Halma establishes the core 
structure to ensure that Group companies fully comply with legislative 
and regulatory requirements while permitting them to tailor their 
approach to their particular needs.

Compliance with, and respect for, these core requirements are 
integrated within our organisation. Everyone in Halma is responsible 
for having due regard for human rights. Managers and supervisors 
must provide leadership that promotes human rights as an equal 
priority to other business issues. All employees are responsible for 
ensuring that their own actions do not impair the human rights of 
others, and are encouraged to bring forward, in confidence, any 
concerns they may have about human rights. Our Chief Executive, 
Andrew Williams, has overall responsibility for ensuring that human 
rights considerations are integral to the way in which existing 
operations and new opportunities are developed and managed.

47

Halma plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014Strategic Report Governance Financial Statements Financial Review 

Long-term model delivering widespread growth
This is another set of record results with widespread growth in all 
sectors and all regions. High returns were maintained and good  
cash generation supported the continuation of our long-term record 
of dividend increases. Halma’s financial position remains strong. 

Record results
Halma has increased revenue in 38 of the last 40 years. This year we 
increased revenue by 9.3% to £676.5m (2013: £619.2m), up £57.3m. 
Our long-term objective is to achieve a balance between acquired 
and organic growth. It was weighted a little more to organic growth  
in this year. There was minimal net currency translation effect on the 
results. Acquisition growth came mainly from acquisitions made in 
2012/13. Organic revenue growth at constant currency was 5.7%.

This is the eleventh consecutive year of record results. Adjusted1 profit 
increased by 9.1% to £140.2m (2013 restated3: £128.5m). Again there 
was minimal net currency impact. Organic profit growth at constant 
currency was 5.3%.

Statutory profit before taxation increased by 15% to £138.7m (2013 
restated3: £120.1m). Statutory profit is calculated after charging the 
amortisation of acquired intangible assets of £17.5m (2013: £14.2m), 
disposal costs of £0.5m (2013: £8.1m gain on sale of Tritech) and after 
crediting acquisition transaction items and movements on acquisition 
contingent consideration including related foreign exchange 
movements of £12.5m (2013 charge of £2.3m). In addition statutory 
profit includes a curtailment gain, net of costs, of £4.0m recorded 
following the decision to close the two UK Defined Benefit pension 
plans to future accrual from 1 December 2014. Further information on 
movements in acquisition contingent consideration and changes to 
pension plans is provided later on. 

Revenue growth was 12% in the first half and 7% in the second half, 
with the first half benefiting more from acquisitions made later in the 
prior year. Organic revenue growth at constant currency was similar  
in both periods. Adjusted1 profit grew by 9% in the second half, as in 
the first half, and giving a first half/second half profit split of 46%/54%,  
the same as in the prior year. Higher revenue and profitability in  
the second half is quite typical for Halma, as is revenue and profit 
growing very much in line with each other. 

All four sectors grew both revenue and profit. The Medical sector 
grew fastest benefiting from prior year acquisitions. The highest rates 
of underlying organic profit growth came from the two safety sectors: 
Process Safety and Infrastructure Safety. Environmental & Analysis 
delivered profit growth in the full year after a small reduction in the first 
half, growing profit by 12% in the second half. As anticipated, the 
costs of reorganisation in our photonics business, charged against 
adjusted1 profit, was less than £1m. 

Kevin Thompson  
Finance Director 

“ Halma has a very long 
record of growing its 
dividend, increasing it  
by 5% or more for every 
one of the last 35 years.”

Revenue and Profit growth

Percentage growth

Revenue
Adjusted1 profit (restated3)

2014
£m
676.5
140.2

2013
£m
619.2
128.5

Increase
£m
57.3
11.7

Total
9.3%
9.1%

Organic 
growth2
5.9%
5.7%

Organic 
growth2 at 
constant 
currency
5.7%
5.3%

1 

 In addition to those figures reported under IFRS Halma uses adjusted figures as key performance indicators. The Directors believe the adjusted figures give a more representative view of underlying 
performance. Adjusted profit figures exclude the amortisation of acquired intangible assets; acquisition items; the effects of closure to future benefit accrual of the Defined Benefit pension plans  
(net of associated costs) and profit or loss on disposal of operations. All of these are included in the statutory figures. More details are given in Note 3.

2  See Financial Highlights.

3 

 In this financial review, and where appropriate, the 2013 comparative figures have been restated to reflect the adoption of IAS 19 (Revised) in relation to the accounting for the Group’s Defined Benefit 
pension plans. This has no impact on revenue but leads to restatement of profit figures. Results prior to 2012/13 have not been restated.

48

Halma plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014Central administration costs totalling £7.9m (2013: £6.7m) were  
higher this year due to the costs of the biennial HITE conference  
as well as increased investment in our graduate programme and  
in international expansion.

Widespread geographic growth
There was good growth in all regions throughout the year. The  
USA is our largest sales destination at 32% (2013: 31%) of total 
revenue. US revenue grew by 10% in the year, with all sectors 
growing, supported by acquisitions made in the prior year. Mainland 
Europe showed strong growth of 8% despite a tough economic 
environment, with Infrastructure Safety growing fastest and with 
underlying growth in each sector. The UK increased by 11% due in 
particular to a strong performance by the water businesses within 
Environmental & Analysis. Asia Pacific continued to grow well, up 
11%, with China up 26% (16% excluding last year’s Chinese 
acquisition) and now accounting for 7% (2013: 6%) of Group revenue. 

We targeted 30% of Group revenue coming from outside the UK/
Mainland Europe/USA by 2015. This year we achieved 25.2% (2013: 
25.4%). This KPI sets an important direction for the Group to increase 
its penetration of global markets. The task has been made tougher  
as despite having achieved 74% revenue growth since 2010 in these 
‘rest of world’ territories, the revenue to UK/Mainland Europe/USA 
has grown by 40%. Over the coming years we will continue to 
maintain this focus on international expansion. 

High returns
We aim to operate with a Group Return on Sales in the range of 
18-22%. It has been above 16% every year for 29 consecutive years. 
This year Return on Sales was 20.7% (2013 restated: 20.8%), a 
reflection of the value customers place on our products and on our 
good management of costs. Process Safety increased Return on 
Sales in the year. Medical and Environmental & Analysis saw modest 
reductions in Return on Sales, although both recorded an increase in 
profitability in the second half over the first half, and over the second 
half of the prior year. The Group’s increasing profitability during the 
year resulted in a second half Return on Sales of 21.9% (2013 second 
half: 21.4%).

Gross Margin (revenue less direct material and direct labour costs) 
is a key contributor to our profitability and increased to 64.4% (2013: 
64.0%). This was a good performance in what continued to be a 
competitive operating environment with cost and price pressures. 

Return on Capital Employed2 (ROCE), the pre-tax return on the 
Group’s operating assets increased to 76.4% (2013 restated: 70.7%) 
reflecting the efficiency of our ‘asset light’ operating model. Return  
on Total Invested Capital2 (ROTIC), the post-tax return on the Group’s 
total assets including all historic goodwill, also increased to 16.1% 
(2013 restated: 15.6%).

Revenue bridge £m

700

650

600

550

500

4.2%

(0.8%)

0.2%

5.7%

9.3%

619.2

26.4

(5.1)

1.0

35.0

676.5

2013

Acquisitions

Disposals

Currency

Organic
constant currency

2014

Adjusted profit bridge £m

150

100

50

0

4.1%

(0.7%)

0.4%

5.3%

9.1%

128.5

5.4

(0.9)

0.4

6.8

140.2

2013
restated3

Acquisitions

Disposals

Currency

Organic
constant currency

2014

Geographic revenue growth £m

700

650

600

550

500

10%

8%

11%

11%

4%

9%

619.2

19.5

12.1

12.3

11.1

2.3

676.5

2013

USA

Mainland
Europe

UK

Asia
Pacific

Other
Countries

2014

49

Halma plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014Strategic Report Governance Financial Statements Financial Review continued

Currency translation had minimal effect 
Halma reports its results in Sterling. The other key trading currencies 
are the US Dollar and Euro. Approximately 40% of Group revenue is 
denominated in US Dollars and 15% in Euros. 

The Group has both translational and transactional currency 
exposure. Translational exposures arise on the consolidation of 
overseas company results into Sterling. Transactional exposures  
arise where the currency of sale or purchase transactions differs  
from the functional currency in which each company prepares  
its local accounts. 

Weighted average  
rates used in  

Income Statement
2013
2014
1.58
1.59
1.23
1.19

Year end exchange 
rates used to translate 
Balance Sheet
2013
1.52
1.19

2014
1.66
1.21

US Dollar
Euro

We take a neutral view of the future movements of currencies. After 
matching currency of revenue with currency costs wherever practical, 
forward exchange contracts are used to hedge a proportion (up to 
75%) of the remaining forecast net transaction flows where there is a 
reasonable certainty of an exposure. We hedge up to 12 months and 
in certain specific circumstances 24 months, forward. At 29 March 
2014 over 50% of our next 12 months’ currency trading transactions 
were hedged. There is a good degree of natural hedging within the 
Group in US Dollars but we typically buy fewer products in Euros 
than we sell and so have a net exposure of approximately €35m  
at any time.

Favourable currency translation gains in the first half of 2014 were 
progressively eroded by the strengthening of Sterling relative to the 
US Dollar and Euro in particular. This strengthening has produced 
a tougher trading environment for our UK exporting businesses. 
Currency translation had a minimal effect on Group results for the 
year with the net currency translation impact of 0.2% favourable  
on revenue and 0.4% favourable on profit. By the financial year end, 
Sterling was 9% stronger relative to the US Dollar than at the start of 
the year. If currencies continue at current levels relative to Sterling 
(assuming a constant mix of currency results) then we might expect 
approximately 3% adverse impact on revenue and profit due to 
currency translation in 2014/15 compared with 2013/14. The adverse 
impact in these circumstances would be greater in the first half of 
2014/15 than in the second half. 

Based on the current mix of currency denominated revenue and 
profit, a 1% movement in the US Dollar relative to Sterling changes 
revenue by £2.7m and profit by £0.5m. Similarly, a 1% movement  
in the Euro changes revenue by £0.9m and profit by £0.2m. 

Geographic revenue growth

United States of America
Mainland Europe
United Kingdom
Asia Pacific
Africa, Near and Middle East
Other countries

50

Consistent financing cost
Net financing cost in the Income Statement at £4.7m was in line  
with the prior year (2013 restated: £4.9m). The average cost of bank 
financing remained in line with 2013 with higher levels of average debt 
for the year, following acquisitions made in the second half of 2012/13, 
but a slightly lower cost of funding (see the ‘Average debt and interest 
rates’ table on page 52 for more information). 

Interest cover (EBITDA as a multiple of net interest expense as defined 
by the revolving credit facility) was 53 times (2013: 54 times) well in 
excess of the 4 times minimum required in our banking covenants. 

The net pension financing charge is included within the net financing 
cost, and this year increased to £1.9m (2013 restated: £1.5m). The 
restatement of the prior year results from a change in the accounting 
for Defined Benefit pension costs under IAS 19 (Revised). The main 
change is the new requirement to use the pension plans’ discount rate 
to calculate the return on pension related assets, rather than using a 
rate of return appropriate to the various asset classes. The total 
restatement for IAS 19 in the 2013 Income Statement is a reduction in 
profit of £2.1m being the £1.0m revision to net pension finance cost 
plus the charge against profit of pension administration costs not 
previously included. 2014 and future years’ profits are expected to be 
impacted by similar amounts so that overall Group reported growth 
rates are largely unaffected. 

Stable Group tax rate
The Group has major operating subsidiaries in 10 countries so the 
Group’s effective tax rate is a blend of these different national rates 
applied to locally generated profits. Tax arrangements are driven by 
commercial transactions. We manage these tax arrangements in a 
responsible manner, keeping good relationships with tax authorities 
based on legal compliance, transparency and cooperation. 
Intercompany trading is set on a commercial arm’s length basis. 

The effective tax rate on adjusted1 profit reduced to 23.3% (2013: 
24.2%). Approximately one-third of Group profit is generated and 
taxed in the UK and the UK Corporation tax rate fell from 24% to 23% 
this year, with it forecast to drop to 20% in 2016. Halma also benefited 
from the new UK ‘Patent Box’ rules, resulting in lower tax on profits 
generated from the use of patents. We anticipate that the effective  
tax rate in 2015 will be similar to that in 2014.

2014

% of  
total
32%
24%
19%
16%
5%
4%
100%

£m
214.5
163.7
127.9
111.6
33.0
25.8
676.5

£m
195.0
151.6
115.6
100.5
31.4
25.1
619.2

2013

% of  
total
31%
 25%
19%
16%
5%
4%
100%

Change 
 £m
19.5
12.1
12.3
11.1
1.6
0.7
57.3

%  

growth
10%
8%
11%
11%
5%
3%
9%

Halma plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014Increasing earnings per share and dividends
For many years we have delivered value to shareholders through 
growth in earnings per share and dividend increases. Adjusted1 
earnings per share increased by 10.4% to 28.47p, above the rate  
of increase in adjusted1 profit, due to the lower effective tax rate 
compared with the prior year. Statutory earnings per share increased 
by 13.5% due primarily to the factors noted earlier which are included 
in the calculation of statutory profit. 

An increase in the final dividend of 7.1% to 6.82p per share (2013: 
6.37p) is recommended which, together with the 7.1% increase in 
the interim dividend, gives a total dividend of 11.17p per share (2013: 
10.43p). Halma has a very long record of growing its dividend and 
with this latest rise will have increased the dividend by 5% or more 
for every one of the last 35 years. We have paid out more than 
£300m to shareholders in the last decade. The final dividend for 
2013/14 is subject to approval by shareholders at the AGM on 24 July 
2014 and will be paid on 20 August 2014 to shareholders on the 
register at 18 July 2014. 

We have maintained a progressive dividend policy balancing dividend 
increases with organic growth rates achieved, taking into account 
potential acquisition spend and the maintenance of moderate debt 
levels. Dividend cover (the ratio of adjusted profit after tax to dividends 
paid and proposed) is slightly higher than last year at 2.55 times (2013 
restated: 2.47 times). Our policy is to maintain dividend cover above 
two times and we will continue to determine dividend payout each 
year based on the factors noted above. 

Good cash generation
Strong cash generation is an important feature of the Halma model. 
Our cash performance in 2013/14 was good. Adjusted operating 
cash flow was £129.0m (2013: £113.7m) and represents 89% (2013 
restated: 85%) of adjusted operating profit, ahead of our KPI target  
of 85% cash conversion. 

Operating cash flow summary

Operating profit (restated)
Net acquisition costs and contingent consideration 
fair value adjustments
Defined Benefit pension plan closure costs/
curtailment gain
Amortisation of acquisition-related acquired 
intangibles 
Adjusted operating profit
Depreciation and other amortisation
Working capital movements
Capital expenditure net of disposal proceeds
Additional payments to pension plans (restated)
Other adjustments
Adjusted operating cash flow
Cash conversion %

2014
 £m
143.6

(12.5)

(4.0)

17.5
144.6
18.8
(10.9)
(15.6)
(5.9)
(2.0)
129.0
89%

2013 
£m
117.3

2.2

–

14.2
133.7
17.7
(10.9)
(14.6)
(7.2)
(5.0)
113.7
85%

Non-operating cash flow and reconciliation to  
net debt

Adjusted operating cash flow
Tax paid
Acquisition of businesses and shares of associates 
including cash/debt acquired
Net finance costs and arrangement fees
Dividends paid
Issue of shares/treasury shares purchased
Disposal of businesses
Effects of foreign exchange
Movement in net debt

Opening net debt

Closing net debt

Net Debt to EBITDA

Operating profit (restated)
Depreciation and amortisation
EBITDA

2014
 £m
129.0
(28.3)

(16.9)
(2.5)
(40.5)
(7.3)
1.9
0.4
35.8

2013 
£m
113.7
(25.5)

(153.7)
(2.3)
(37.8)
(5.1)
19.6
(0.5)
(91.6)

(110.3)

(18.7)

(74.5)

(110.3)

2014 
£m
143.6
36.3
179.9

2013 
£m
117.3
31.9
149.2

Net Debt to EBITDA (restated)

0.41

0.74

A summary of the year’s cash flow is shown in the table above.  
The largest outflows in the year were in relation to dividends and 
taxation paid. Working capital movements, comprising changes in 
inventory, receivables and creditors, totalled £10.9m (2013: £10.9m). 
This year’s increase reflects not just the growth in our business but 
also our wider geographic footprint and higher sales in the final 
quarter. Working capital management is the responsibility of each 
individual subsidiary board and therefore will continue to receive  
close attention.

Capital expenditure on property, plant and computer software this 
year was 12% above last year at £17.4m (2013: £15.5m), maintaining 
investment in our operating capability. This year’s spend represents 
117% of depreciation, falling within the 100% to 125% range  
we expect. 

Dividends totalling £40.5m (2013: £37.8m) were paid to shareholders 
in the year. Taxation paid increased to £28.3m (2013: £25.5m). 

51

Halma plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014Strategic Report Governance Financial Statements  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Financial Review continued

Strong financial position maintained
Halma operations are cash generative and the Group has substantial 
bank facilities. We have access to competitively priced finance at 
short notice and spread our risks to provide good liquidity for the 
Group. Group treasury policy is conservative and no speculative 
transactions are undertaken. 

We use debt to accelerate the Group’s development, reviewing our 
funding needs and the structure of borrowing facilities regularly to 
ensure we have ample headroom. In November 2013 we increased 
and extended our syndicated revolving credit facility with the existing 
core group of banks. The facility was increased to £360m (from 
£260m) and the term extended to November 2018 (from October 
2016). This increase in facilities provides Halma with the financial 
resources to operate within its existing business model for the medium 
term, continuing investment in our business and with capacity for 
further value-adding acquisitions. The Group continues to operate well 
within its banking covenants with significant headroom under each 
financial ratio. 

At the year end net debt was £74.5m (2013: £110.3m), a combination 
of £109.0m of debt and £34.5m of cash held around the world to 
finance local operations. The ratio of net debt to EBITDA was 0.41 
times (2013 restated: 0.74 times), well below the level of 1.25 times 
within which we feel comfortable operating. Net debt represents 3% 
(2013: 6%) of the Group’s year end market capitalisation. 

Average debt and interest rates

Average gross debt (£m)
Weighted average interest rate on gross debt
Average cash balances (£m)
Weighted average interest rate on cash
Average net debt (£m)
Weighted average interest rate on net debt

2014
150.9
1.26%
47.1
0.54%
103.8
1.59%

2013
133.7
1.34%
45.2
0.43%
88.5
1.80%

Acquisition and disposal activity
Acquisitions and disposals are an important part of our operating 
model and strategy, ensuring the portfolio of companies in the Group 
can sustain growth and high returns. We buy businesses already 
successful in, or adjacent to, the niches in which we operate. 

Following a record acquisition spend in 2012/13 (£137m spent on 
acquiring six businesses excluding net cash acquired of £5m) we 
made only one acquisition in 2013/14. In April 2013 we acquired 
Talentum, a small technology bolt-on for one of our Infrastructure 
Safety businesses, for £2.6m excluding cash acquired. In addition 
£14m was paid out in deferred contingent consideration for 
acquisitions made in prior years.

Despite continued growth from MicroSurgical Technologies (MST), 
we have revised our estimate of deferred contingent consideration 
payable on the acquisition down from £16m to £4m due to slower 
than expected new product adoption. The change in deferred 
contingent consideration is accounted for as a credit in the  
Income Statement but is not included in adjusted profit. 

Following the year end we made the following acquisitions:

 – Plasticspritzerei AG, a supplier to one of our businesses in the 
Medical sector, was acquired on 2 May 2014 for a net cash 
consideration of CHF4.8m (£3.2m).

 – Advanced Electronics Limited, a manufacturer of networked fire 

detection and control systems which will form part of our 
Infrastructure Safety sector, on 14 May 2014 for an initial cash 
consideration of £14.1m. Contingent consideration of up to £10.1m 
is payable based on earnings growth for the period to March 2015.
 – Rohrback Cosasco Systems Inc. (RCS), a manufacturer of pipeline 
corrosion monitoring products and systems, acquired on 30 May 
2014 for $108m (£64.7m) (excluding cash acquired) and which will 
be included in the Process Safety sector. 

Given the short period between these acquisitions and completion 
of these accounts we have included more limited disclosure (see 
Note 30 to the Accounts) and full disclosure will be included in the 
2014/15 Half Year Report. 

Also in May 2014 we sold Monitor Elevator Products Inc., a business 
within the Infrastructure Safety sector, for a consideration of $6m 
(£3.6m). We expect a gain of approximately £1m before tax  
to result from the transaction. 

The business acquired in 2013/14 and those acquired in 2014/15 
to date, net of the disposal made, are expected to add a net amount 
of £29m to revenue and £6.4m (after financing costs) to profit in 
2014/15, based on their run rate at the time of acquisition/disposal. 

Pension plans cease future accrual
The Defined Benefit (DB) sections of the Group’s UK pension plans 
were closed to new entrants in 2003. Following consultation during 
the year, we announced in March 2014 that the DB pension plans  
will cease future accrual as at 1 December 2014. Members will earn 
future benefits within the Group’s Defined Contribution (DC) pension 
plan under agreed transitional arrangements. This change reduces 
risk for the future and we will work with the plans’ trustees to achieve 
a balanced asset investment strategy and to ensure Halma meets all 
pension obligations. 

On an IAS 19 basis the deficit on the UK DB plans at March 2014  
was £36.5m (2013: £47.2m) before the related deferred tax asset. 
Plan assets increased to £187.5m (2013: £176.3m) due to some 
further recovery in equity values and cash contributions by Halma 
and the plan members. In total, 54% of plan assets are invested in 
return seeking assets: 32% in equities and 22% in diversified growth 
funds providing a higher expected level of return over the longer term. 
Plan liabilities were at a very similar level to the prior year at £224.0m 
(2013: £223.4m) having benefited from a curtailment gain of £4.2m 
(before costs) arising from the cessation of future DB accrual  
noted above. 

We continue to make extra cash contributions to the UK pension 
plans as agreed with the trustees and expect this to be at the rate of 
£7m per year for the immediate future with the objective of eliminating 
the pension deficit over the next five years.

52

Halma plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014We have an ethical approach to business and this is reflected in our 
Code of Conduct which is adopted internationally. This year we have 
increased our focus on cyber security with enhanced IT monitoring 
systems in place and security awareness programmes being rolled 
out across the Group. 

The Board considers all of the above factors in its review of ‘Going 
Concern’ as described on page 65 and has been able to conclude  
its review satisfactorily. 

This Annual Report and Accounts is prepared in line with the latest 
requirements for integrated reporting and the Board has taken care  
to ensure that it is ‘fair, balanced and understandable’. The Audit 
Committee took a key role in assessing compliance with reporting 
requirements supported by robust management processes. 

The key performance indicators (KPIs) we choose reflect the 
importance of investment, growth and returns. These externally 
reported KPIs are an important part of our day to day management  
of the business. In the year ahead we will focus on successful 
integration of the recent acquisitions, search for further opportunities 
and continue to emphasise strong cash generation to fund 
investment and increasing dividends. In this way we aim to  
continue to deliver significant long-term value to shareholders. 

R&D Investment
R&D expenditure increased by 5% to £32.1m (2013 excluding 
disposal: £30.6m). In 2012/13 we increased R&D spend by 13% on  
a 7% revenue increase including some larger projects, and this year 
there were fewer such projects. Investment in new products remains 
an important strategic priority and in the medium term we expect 
R&D to increase broadly in line with revenue growth. 

We are required under IFRS to capitalise certain development 
expenditure and amortise it over an appropriate period, for us three 
years. R&D by its nature carries risk and all R&D projects, particularly 
those requiring capitalisation, are subject to close scrutiny and 
a rigorous approval and review process. In 2013/14 we capitalised 
£5.2m (2013: £5.4m) and amortised £3.9m (2013: £3.5m). This results 
in an asset carried on the Consolidated Balance Sheet, after £0.3m of 
foreign exchange movements, of £13.0m (2013: £12.0m).

Risk management and the year ahead
Halma has a well established business and financial model  
delivering success consistently over the long term. The model is 
based on considerable autonomy and accountability at operating 
company level, within a clear strategic framework with strong  
policies and procedures. 

Risk is managed closely and is spread across the well-resourced 
companies, each of which manages risk to its individual level of 
materiality. There are extensive review processes in place including 
peer financial review and Internal Audit. The key Group risks have 
been referenced in this Annual Report primarily on pages 30 to 33 
and in the Chief Executive’s Strategic Review and Sector Reviews.  
In addition key risks are highlighted in the Audit Committee Report  
on page 66 and Auditor’s Report on page 94. 

Kevin Thompson
Finance Director 

The Strategic Report was approved by the Board of Directors on  
12 June 2014 and signed on its behalf by:

Andrew Williams 
Chief Executive 

Cautionary note: this Strategic Report has been prepared solely to  
assist shareholders to assess the Board’s strategies and their potential to 
succeed. It should not be relied on by any other party, for other purposes. 
Forward-looking statements have been made by the Directors in good faith 
using information available up until the date that they approved the Report. 
Forward-looking statements should be regarded with caution because 
of the inherent uncertainties in economic trends and business risks.

53

Halma plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014Strategic Report Governance Financial Statements  
 
 
 
 
 
 
Chairman's introduction to Governance 

“ The Board is committed 
to maintaining the highest 
standards of corporate 
governance and ensuring 
values and behaviours 
are consistent across  
the business.”

Dear Shareholders,

As Halma’s new Chairman, I am proud to be able to present Halma’s Corporate 
Governance report on behalf of our Board for the first time. I hope the report provides  
you with a clear and meaningful explanation of how we as a Board and the committees 
discharge our governance duties and apply the principles of good governance enshrined 
in the UK Corporate Governance Code (the Code). Halma reports in accordance to the 
revised September 2012 Code, the Listing Rules and the Disclosure & Transparency Rules.

The Board is committed to maintaining the highest standards of corporate governance  
and ensuring values and behaviours are consistent across the business. We have sought 
to manage the affairs of the Company not by merely following regimented rules, but by 
promoting open and transparent discussion, constructive challenge and support in the 
Board and across the Group. I am pleased with the progress Halma has made. We 
continually seek to ensure best practice is maintained and that governance is integral  
to our strategy and decision-making processes for the benefit of our shareholders.

We were sorry to lose Geoff Unwin as Chairman during the year as he has been an 
invaluable and excellent leader and Chairman to our Board and team. I am honoured to 
have worked with him for a few brief months. It is my belief that we have to continually 
nurture talents throughout the Group to enable effective succession planning. We have 
continued to review our governance structures and the composition of our Board and 
Executive Board throughout the year. 

I am delighted to report that we further strengthened our Board and aligned our Executive 
Board with the four market sectors in which we are engaged. We are also sorry that Lord 
Blackwell and Steve Marshall will both be retiring from our Board at the forthcoming AGM.  
I would like to thank them for their significant contribution to the Halma Board. We will  
soon be welcoming Roy Twite, an executive director at IMI plc, to our Board immediately 
following the end of our AGM on 24 July 2014. Roy brings with him substantial engineering 
and operational experience which I am sure will be invaluable to our Board discussions.

54

Halma plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014

I am so pleased to welcome Jennifer Ward to our team. She has global responsibility for 
the development of management talent across Halma, with a strong focus on subsidiary 
company boards and Halma’s senior management. This appointment reinforces our 
commitment to continuously improve the quality and performance of Halma’s management 
talent across the world. Jennifer comes to us with a wealth of experience from a wide 
range of roles held in both the USA and London. Her biography is detailed on page 58  
of the report.

Reviews of management capabilities and potential are performed on a routine basis and 
Halma is always focused on the ways in which we attract, identify, assess and develop 
Board-level talent which is a critical factor for us to achieve our mid to long-term strategic 
goals. Talent also continues to be developed through programmes such as the Halma 
Executive Development Programme which itself evolves to meet the changing needs of  
the Group. Whenever we identify a need for improvement to management resources we 
take action to ensure full strength is attained as soon as practicable.

Lastly, I would like to encourage all shareholders to find the time to attend our AGM on 
24 July 2014. It is an excellent opportunity to meet the Board and the newly constituted 
Executive Board.

Paul Walker  
Chairman
12 June 2014

55

Halma plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014Strategic Report Governance Financial Statements Board of Directors 

Paul Walker  
Non-executive Chairman 
Location UK

Andrew Williams  
Chief Executive 
Location UK

Kevin Thompson  
Finance Director 
Location UK

Paul was appointed non-executive 
Chairman of Halma in July 2013, 
having been appointed to the Board 
in April 2013. Paul is non-executive 
Chairman of Perform Group plc and 
WANdisco plc and a non-executive 
director of Experian plc. He was CEO 
at the Sage Group plc from 1994 to 
2010 and has previously served on 
the boards of Diageo plc and 
Mytravel Group plc. Paul qualified as 
a Chartered Accountant with Ernst & 
Young, having graduated from York 
University with an economics degree.

Andrew was appointed Chief 
Executive of Halma plc in February 
2005. He was promoted to Director 
of the Halma plc Board in 2004. 
Andrew became a member of the 
Halma Executive Board in 2002 as 
Divisional Chief Executive after joining 
Halma in 1994 as Manufacturing 
Director of Reten Acoustics (now 
HWM-Water), where he became 
Managing Director in 1997. Andrew 
is a Chartered Engineer and a 
production engineering graduate of 
Birmingham University. He attended 
the Advanced Management Program 
at Wharton Business School, 
University of Pennsylvania in 2004.

Kevin was appointed to the Halma 
plc Board in 1998. He became 
Group Finance Director in 1997 after 
joining the Halma Executive Board as 
Finance Director in 1995. Kevin joined 
Halma as Group Financial Controller 
in 1987. Kevin qualified as a 
Chartered Accountant with Price 
Waterhouse and is an economics 
and accounting graduate of Bristol 
University. He attended the 
Advanced Management Program at 
Harvard Business School in 2007.

Neil Quinn  
Sector Chief Executive,  
Process Safety 
Location UK

Neil was appointed to the Halma plc 
Board in 1998 and is Chief Executive 
of the Process Safety sector. He 
joined the Halma Executive Board in 
1995 as Divisional Chief Executive. 
He became Managing Director of 
Apollo Fire Detectors in 1992, after 
joining as Sales Director in 1987. Neil 
has a material sciences degree from 
Sheffield University.

Steve Marshall  
Non-executive Director 
Location UK

Stephen Pettit  
Senior Independent Director  
Location UK

Carol Chesney 
Company Secretary  
Location UK

Stephen was appointed a non-
executive Director of Halma in 
September 2003. Previously Stephen 
was a non-executive director of 
National Grid plc, non-executive 
Chairman of ROK plc, an executive 
director with Cable & Wireless PLC, a 
member of the BT Group plc Equality 
of Access Board and a divisional chief 
executive with BP PLC. Stephen has 
an MSc from London School of 
Economics and an MBA from 
INSEAD and is an economics and 
politics graduate of Cardiff University.

Carol was appointed Company 
Secretary of Halma plc in 1998. She 
joined Halma in 1995 as Group 
Finance Manager having spent three 
years with English China Clays plc. 
Carol is a non-executive director of 
Renishaw plc where she chairs the 
Audit Committee. She qualified as a 
Chartered Accountant with Arthur 
Andersen and is a mathematics 
graduate of Randolph-Macon 
Woman’s College, Virginia.

Steve was appointed a non-executive 
Director of Halma in July 2010. He is 
executive Chairman of Balfour Beatty 
plc and non-executive Chairman  
of Wincanton plc and Biffa Group 
Holdings Limited. He is a former 
chairman of Delta plc, Queens’ Moat 
Houses plc and Torex Retail plc as 
well as a former non-executive 
director at Southern Water Services 
Limited. He was Group Chief 
Executive of Railtrack Group plc  
and prior to that Thorn plc, having 
also served as Finance Director at 
each company. His earlier career 
included a wide range of corporate 
and operational roles at Grand 
Metropolitan plc, Burton Group, Black 
& Decker and BOC Group. He is a 
fellow of the Chartered Institute of 
Management Accountants and a 
member of its Governing Council.

56

Halma plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014Adam Meyers  
Sector Chief Executive, Medical 
Location USA

Jane Aikman  
Non-executive Director 
Location UK

Daniela Barone Soares 
Non-executive Director 
Location UK

Norman Blackwell  
Non-executive Director 
Location UK

Adam joined the Halma plc Board in 
April 2008 and is Chief Executive of 
the Medical sector. He became a 
member of the Halma Executive 
Board in 2003 as Divisional Chief 
Executive, having joined Halma in 
1996 as President of Bio-Chem 
Valve. Adam gained his MBA from 
Harvard Business School and is a 
systems engineering graduate of the 
University of Pennsylvania.

Jane was appointed a non-executive 
Director of Halma in August 2007. 
She is Chief Operating Officer and 
Chief Financial Officer of Phoenix IT 
Group plc. Previously Jane was 
Finance Director of Infinis Energy 
Limited, Wilson Bowden Plc and 
Pressac plc. She spent three years 
as an internal audit manager with 
GEC Alsthom and five years in East 
Asia with Asia Pulp and Paper Co 
Limited. Jane qualified as a 
Chartered Accountant with Ernst & 
Young and has a degree in civil 
engineering from Birmingham 
University.

Daniela was appointed a non-
executive Director of Halma in 
November 2011. She is Chief 
Executive Officer of Impetus – The 
Private Equity Foundation (Impetus-
PEF). She is on the advisory board 
and a trustee of a number of 
non-listed, social sector organisations 
in the UK and Brazil. In November 
2013, Daniela was appointed to the 
UK National Advisory Board, which 
advises the G8 Social Impact 
Investment Taskforce. Her past 
business roles have included Head  
of Institutional Support at Save the 
Children, Assistant Vice President of 
Private Equity and Venture Capital at 
BancBoston Capital, Inc. and roles at 
Goldman, Sachs & Co. (New York) 
and Citibank, N.A. (Brazil). Daniela 
has an MBA from Harvard Business 
School and a BSc in economics from 
Universidade Estadual de Campinas 
(UNICAMP), Brazil. 

Norman was appointed a non-
executive Director of Halma in July 
2010. He is non-executive Chairman 
of Lloyds Banking Group Plc and 
Interserve Plc. His past business roles 
have included non-executive director 
of Ofcom, the communications 
regulator, Senior Independent 
Director at both Standard Life Plc  
and SEGRO plc, Director of Group 
Development at NatWest Group 
and Partner at McKinsey & Company. 
He was Chairman of the independent 
Centre for Policy Studies from 2000 
to 2009 and remained a board 
member until 2014. Norman was 
created a Life Peer in 1997 and 
served as Head of the Prime 
Minister’s Policy Unit from 1995  
to 1997.

Make-up of our Board (as at 29 March 2014)

Board tenure (number of years)

Board composition 

Committee membership 

0-1

2-3

4-5

6-10

>10

Gender

Male

Female

10%

10%

20%

20%

40%

80%

20%

Chairman 

Executive Director

Non-executive Director

Company Secretary 

Nationality

UK

USA

Brazil

10%

40%

50%

80%

10%

10%

Audit Nom1 Rem2

•

•

•

•3

•

•

•3

•

•

•3

•

•

•3

Paul Walker

Andrew Williams

Kevin Thompson

Stephen Pettit

Neil Quinn

Adam Meyers

Jane Aikman

Norman Blackwell

Steve Marshall

Daniela Barone Soares

• Chairman  • Member 

1 Nomination
2 Remuneration
3 Appointed in April 2014

•

•

•

•

•

57

Halma plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014Strategic Report Governance Financial Statements Executive Board

Andrew Williams  
Chief Executive
Location UK

Kevin Thompson  
Finance Director 
Location UK

Andrew was appointed Chief Executive of Halma 
plc in February 2005. He was promoted to Director 
of the Halma plc Board in 2004. Andrew became 
a member of the Halma Executive Board in 2002 
as Divisional Chief Executive after joining Halma in 
1994 as Manufacturing Director of Reten Acoustics 
(now HWM-Water), where he became Managing 
Director in 1997. Andrew is a Chartered Engineer 
and a production engineering graduate of 
Birmingham University. He attended the Advanced 
Management Program at Wharton Business 
School, University of Pennsylvania in 2004.

Kevin was appointed to the Halma plc Board in 
1998. He became Group Finance Director in 1997  
after joining the Halma Executive Board as Finance 
Director in 1995. Kevin joined Halma as Group 
Financial Controller in 1987. Kevin qualified as a 
Chartered Accountant with Price Waterhouse and 
is an economics and accounting graduate of 
Bristol University. He attended the Advanced 
Management Program at Harvard Business 
School in 2007.

Chuck Dubois  
Sector Chief Executive, Environmental & Analysis
Location USA

Chuck was appointed to the Executive Board 
in April 2008 and is Chief Executive of the 
Environmental & Analysis sector. He joined 
the Group in 1999 as Vice President of Perma 
Pure LLC and was previously President of Diba 
Industries. He earned his MBA from the F.W. Olin 
School of Business at Babson College and holds 
a Bachelor’s degree in physics from the College 
of the Holy Cross. Chuck attended the Advanced 
Management Program at Harvard Business 
School in 2013.

Adam Meyers  
Sector Chief Executive, Medical 
Location USA
Adam joined the Halma plc Board in April 2008 
and is Chief Executive of the Medical sector. He 
became a member of the Halma Executive Board 
in 2003 as Divisional Chief Executive, having joined 
Halma in 1996 as President of Bio-Chem Valve. 
Adam gained his MBA from Harvard Business 
School and is a systems engineering graduate 
of the University of Pennsylvania.

Neil Quinn  
Sector Chief Executive, Process Safety 
Location UK
Neil was appointed to the Halma plc Board in 
1998 and is Chief Executive of the Process Safety 
sector. He joined the Halma Executive Board 
in 1995 as Divisional Chief Executive. He became 
Managing Director of Apollo Fire Detectors in 1992, 
after joining as Sales Director in 1987.  
Neil has a material sciences degree from  
Sheffield University.

Nigel Trodd  
Sector Chief Executive, Infrastructure Safety 
Location Singapore
Nigel joined the Executive Board in July 2003 
and is Chief Executive of the Infrastructure Safety 
sector. He had joined Halma in July 2003 as Chief 
Executive of the Process Safety Division. Nigel is 
a member of the Chartered Institute of Marketing  
and a business studies graduate of Thames Valley 
University. He relocated to Singapore in April 2012.

Philippe Felten 
Sector Vice President, Medical 
Location Belgium

Martin Zhang 
Director – Halma China 
Location China

Philippe was appointed to the Executive Board in 
April 2012 and is Sector Vice President of the 
Medical sector. He joined the Group in 1998 as 
Sales Director for BEA Europe and was previously 
Chief Executive of BEA Group. Philippe completed 
the Programme for Executive Development at IMD 
Lausanne, holds a Bachelor degree in Marketing 
and Management (ICHEC – Brussels) and is an 
Electro-Mechanical Engineer (ECAM – Brussels).

Martin is a member of the Halma Executive Board 
and has been an adviser to that Board since 
February 2008. He joined the Group in June 2006 
as Director of Halma China and successfully 
established Halma China offices in Beijing and 
Shanghai. Martin holds an Executive MBA from 
the University of Texas at Arlington (Tongji 
University Shanghai) and a Bachelor’s degree in 
chemical engineering from Chengdu University 
of Science and Technology.

Jennifer Ward 
Group Talent Director 
Location UK
Jennifer was appointed as Halma’s first Group 
Talent Director in March 2014. Prior to joining 
Halma, Jennifer spent over 15 years leading HR, 
Talent and Organisational Development for 
divisions of PayPal (an eBay company), Bank 
of America and Honeywell. She has a Master’s 
degree from Michigan State University and a 
Bachelor of Science degree from Oregon  
State University.

58

Halma plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014Corporate Governance Report

Compliance with the Code of best practice
As required by the Listing Rules this Report explains how the 
Company applies the principles and complies with the provisions 
of the Corporate Governance Code (the Code) that was published 
in 2012 by the Financial Reporting Council which applied to the 
Company throughout the year ended 29 March 2014.

Throughout the year, the Company has fully complied with the 
provisions as set out in the Code. The Group’s internal controls  
are detailed on page 65.

The Board has determined its ideal composition as a Chairman, five 
independent non-executive Directors and four executive Directors. 
The Board adjudged this composition as an appropriate structure 
for the Company providing valuable direct knowledge of operations 
and effective challenge surrounding the issues facing the Group. 
The Board reverted to its ideal composition following Geoff Unwin’s 
retirement after the 2013 annual general meeting.

Reporting Requirements Chart

Reporting requirement
Description of the business model and strategy.

Therefore, with the exception of Norman Blackwell and Steve 
Marshall, in accordance with the Code each of the Directors, being 
eligible, will offer themselves for election or re-election at the AGM. 
Norman Blackwell and Steve Marshall will be retiring from the  
Board with effect from the end of the AGM, at which time Roy Twite 
will be joining the Board. Further details on their resignations and 
appointment are provided on pages 62, 64 and 71.

Annual Report and Accounts
In accordance with the Code, the Directors confirm that they  
consider that the Annual Report and Accounts, taken as a whole,  
is fair, balanced and understandable and provides the information 
necessary for shareholders to assess the Group’s performance, 
business model and strategy.

Location
Chief Executive’s Strategic Review and Sector Reviews 
See pages 10 to 27 and 34 to 41

Description of the significant issues that the Audit Committee considered in 
relation to the financial statements and how these issues were addressed, 
having regard to the matters communicated to it by the external audit team. 

Audit Committee Report  
See pages 68 and 69

Explanation of how the Audit Committee has assessed the effectiveness 
of the external audit process and the approach taken to the appointment 
or reappointment of the external auditor to enable shareholders to 
understand why it recommended reappointing or changing the auditor. 

Audit Committee Report  
See pages 67 and 68

Identification of search consultancies used and any connections with  
the Company. 

Statement that the Directors consider that the Annual Report and 
Accounts, taken as a whole, is fair, balanced and understandable  
and provides information necessary for shareholders to assess the 
Company’s business model and strategy. 

Corporate Governance Report and  
Nomination Committee report  
See pages 62 and 71

Corporate Governance Report and  
Audit Committee Report 
See pages 59 and 69

Future policy table and notes, performance scenario charts, remuneration 
obligations in service contracts and statement of shareholder vote on the 
2012/13 remuneration report. 

Remuneration Committee Report  
See pages 72 to 89

Implementation report, remuneration paid to service advisers, single total 
figure tables, CEO pay comparison to company performance and relative 
importance of spend on pay. 

Remuneration Committee Report  
See pages 72 to 89

Directors’ shareholdings and variable pay awarded in the year.

Remuneration Committee Report  
See pages 72 to 89

59

Halma plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014Strategic Report Governance Financial Statements Corporate Governance Report continued

The Board
The Board considered the independence of the Chairman and each 
of the non-executive Directors and subjected Stephen Pettit’s term  
as a non-executive Director to particular rigorous review. Details are 
given on pages 64, 70 and 71. The Board continues to regard 
Stephen Pettit as independent and considers the Chairman and all 
non-executive Directors to be independent of management and free 
from business and other relationships which could interfere with the 
exercise of independent judgment now and in the future. The Board 
believes that any shareholdings of the Chairman and non-executive 
Directors serve to align their interests with those of shareholders.

Upon appointment and at regular intervals, all Directors are offered 
appropriate training. Under the Company’s Articles, each Director is 
subject to re-election at least once every three years however, since 
2011, the Board agreed that each Director shall stand for annual 
re-election. The Board confirms that all Directors standing for election 
or re-election continue to be effective and demonstrate commitment 

to their roles, following the performance evaluation as described on 
page 63.

Details of Directors’ biographies appear on pages 56 and 57 and in 
the Notice of Meeting.

The Directors retain responsibility for the formulation of corporate 
strategy, investment decisions and treasury and risk management 
policies. There is a formal schedule of matters reserved for the 
Board’s decision and the Board meets at least six times each year 
with further ad hoc meetings as required. Directors are issued an 
agenda and comprehensive Board papers in the week preceding 
each Board meeting. All Directors have access to the advice and 
services of the Company Secretary as well as there being an  
agreed procedure for obtaining independent professional advice.

Board meeting attendance
During the year attendance by Directors at Board and Committee meetings was as follows:

Board attendance

Total meetings 

Geoff Unwin2 

Paul Walker3

Andrew Williams 

Kevin Thompson 

Stephen Pettit 

Neil Quinn 

Jane Aikman 

Adam Meyers 

Lord Blackwell 

Steve Marshall 

Daniela Barone Soares4 

Committees

Board

Audit Remuneration

Nomination1

Overall 
attendance  
%

6 

3

5

6 

6 

6 

6 

6 

6 

6 

6 

6 

3 

–

–

– 

– 

3 

– 

3 

– 

3 

3 

2 

4 

2 

3

– 

– 

4 

– 

– 

– 

4 

4 

– 

2

1 

1

1 

– 

2 

– 

1 

– 

1 

2 

1 

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

90%

1  The first Nomination Committee meeting consisted of the reformulated Nomination Committee appointed for the Chairman succession search comprising four non-executive 

Directors, led by Stephen Pettit, the Senior Independent Director. The June Nomination Committee meeting was constituted by the usual members Geoff Unwin, Andrew Williams, 
Stephen Pettit, Steve Marshall, Norman Blackwell and the Chairman Designate Paul Walker. 

2 Geoff Unwin attended all meetings until he stepped down at the July 2013 annual general meeting.

3 Paul Walker attended all meetings from his appointment on 12 April 2013 as Chairman Designate.

4 Daniela Barone Soares was unable to attend one Audit Committee meeting due to conflicting work commitments.

60

Halma plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014Chairman’s responsibilities
Governance
 – promoting high standards of corporate governance;

 – leading, chairing and managing the Board;

 – ensuring all Board committees are properly structured and 

operate with appropriate terms of reference;

 – regularly considering the composition and succession 

planning of the Board and its committees;

 – ensuring that the Board and its committees’ performances are 

evaluated on a regular basis; and

 – ensuring adequate time is available for all agenda items.

Strategy
 – leading the Board in developing the strategy of the business 

and achievement of its objectives;

 – promoting open and constructive debate in Board meetings;

 – ensuring effective implementation of Board decisions with the 

support of the Chief Executive;

 – ensuring the Board manages risk effectively; and

 – consulting where appropriate with the Senior Independent 

Director on Board matters.

People
 – chairing the Nomination Committee;

 – identifying and meeting the induction and development needs 

of the Board and its committees;

 – developing a strong working relationship with the Chief 

Executive; 

 – ensuring a strong working relationship between executive and 

non-executive Directors;

 – setting clear expectations concerning the Company’s culture, 

values and behaviours; and

 – ensuring effective relationships are maintained with all major 

stakeholders in the business.

Chief Executive’s responsibilities 

 – providing coherent leadership and management of the 

Company with the Chairman;

 – developing objectives, strategy and performance standards to 

be agreed by the Board;

 – providing input to the Board’s agenda;

 – providing effective leadership of the Executive Board to 

achieve the agreed strategies and objectives;

 – securing an Executive Board of the right calibre, with specific 
responsibility for its composition, and that its succession plan 
is reviewed annually with the Chairman and the non-executive 
Directors;

 – monitoring, reviewing and managing key risks and strategies 

with the Board;

 – ensuring that the assets of the Group are adequately 

safeguarded and maintained;

 – building and maintaining the Company’s communications and 
standing with shareholders, financial institutions and the public 
and effectively communicating the Halma plc investment 
proposition to all stakeholders;

 – ensuring the Board is aware of the view of employees on 

issues of relevance to Halma plc;

 – living and fostering the Group values which promote ethical 
practices, integrity and a positive work climate, enabling the 
Group to attract, retain and motivate a diverse group of high 
quality employees; and

 – leading by example in establishing a performance orientated, 
customer focused and publicly responsible Group culture.

61

Halma plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014Strategic Report Governance Financial Statements Corporate Governance Report continued

Board constitution
Halma refreshed the composition and diversity of our Board with 
the appointment of Paul Walker as our new non-executive Director 
and Chairman in April 2013. The Nomination Committee appointed 
for the Chairman succession search comprised four non-executive 
Directors, led by the Senior Independent Director, Stephen Pettit. 
A global search firm, Korn Ferry Whitehead Mann, which has no 
other  connection to Halma was appointed. A wide range of high 
calibre candidates was considered for the role and each Director 
had the opportunity to meet Paul Walker ahead of his appointment. 
The Board confirmed Paul Walker’s independence upon appointment 
and was unanimous in its decision to appoint Paul Walker.

Succession planning for the Senior Independent Director was  
well in hand when Norman Blackwell indicated that his April 2014 
chairmanship of Lloyds Banking Group Plc may preclude his 
continuing as a non-executive Director at Halma. Similarly, Steve 
Marshall undertook the CEO role at Balfour Beatty plc in May 2014 
and found that he could not continue to devote the time that is 
necessary as Remuneration Committee Chairman and non-executive 
Director of Halma. The Board search for a new independent 
non-executive Director was led by our Chairman, Paul Walker. A 
global search firm, JCA Group, which has no other connection to 
Halma was appointed. The Board considered a wide and diverse 
range of candidates and the Board, having had the opportunity to 
meet Roy Twite, confirmed his independence upon appointment  
and was unanimous in its decision to appoint Roy effective following 
the conclusion of the July 2014 AGM.

These matters are discussed on page 64 and in the Nomination 
Committee Report on page 71.

Board induction
Newly appointed non-executive Directors follow an induction 
programme which includes scheduled trips to a variety of companies 
in each of the four sectors. All new Directors appointed to the Board 
have a comprehensive induction programme tailored to their 
individual needs.

Paul Walker met with the Company Secretary to review an induction 
pack which included Halma’s governance and risk management 
structure, Board evaluations, Board and Committee meeting minutes, 
strategy papers, recent analyst and broker reports on Halma, and 
access to Halma’s policies and procedural notes was also provided. 
As well as providing a schedule of meetings with executives and 
company visits, Paul Walker also attended the biennial Halma 
Innovation and Technology Exposition (HITE) in 2013 to gain a better 
understanding of the Halma group, our strategy, our operating 
companies, their management teams and their products.

When new non-executive Directors are appointed, Halma tailors  
our existing induction and training programme to suit their individual 
needs and we will similarly be doing so for Roy Twite.

Board diversity
The Board reviewed the report of Lord Davies published in February 
2011 on Boardroom Diversity and contributed to the FRC review of 
Gender Diversity on Boards noting its support for the benefits of 
greater diversity, which is not just gender specific, but relates also to 
other factors such as market and international experience and 
diversity of thought. It was agreed by the Board that a manufacturing 
and technology company such as Halma would have to adopt 
policies to attract a greater number of females into management 
roles. The Board hopes to support these aims through the adoption 
and implementation of Halma’s Diversity Policy (detailed on page 45) 
rather than set quotas. Halma aims to improve the representation of 
women in senior roles and on the Board of Directors by refreshing  
our policies and reviewing implementation to ensure that they create 
and maintain a diverse and inclusive culture. 

As at year end, the Board had a total of ten Directors. The skill  
set of the non-executive Directors includes financial, economics, 
banking, engineering, technology, IT, communications and consumer 
expertise. They include eight British, one American and one Brazilian 
nationals. 20% of the Board are women. 

Board activity throughout the year

February
 – Budget (initial)
 – Remuneration Committee proposals
 – Results of Board effectiveness survey and meetings
 – Interim Management Statement
 – Risk management review
 – Cyber security

April
 – Budget
 – Chairman and NED fees
 – HITE and CEO conference objectives
 – Pensions strategy update
 – 2015 Board Calendar

June
 – Preliminary Results
 – Evaluation of prior year objectives
 – Annual objectives for Group
 – Environmental policy annual approval and target setting
 – Dividend proposal/planning
 – Pension fund accounts
 – Assessment of upper quartile performance
 – Special Guarantees guidelines update
 – Matters Reserved for the Board

July
 – AGM
 – AGM trading update/IMS
 – PSP awards
 – SIP award consideration
 – TSR performance

62

Halma plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014Board activity throughout the year

Halma has the ambition to increase the number of executives 
based outside Europe and the USA to better reflect the proportion 
of our revenue generated outside those markets. The diversity of 
all other employees is detailed on page 45 within the Corporate 
Responsibility report.

Board activity throughout the year 2013/14
During the year the Board received training and briefing updates 
on our sectors, market assessments and changes, acquisition 
opportunities and geographical priorities, succession planning, 
changes in corporate governance, risk management and compliance, 
audits, bribery and corruption, health and safety, environmental 
matters, cyber security, city and shareholder matters, and other 
relevant legislative and accounting changes.

The Directors have a programmed schedule of meetings and 
visits with the Executive Board, Group companies and Halma’s 
development programmes to ensure that they are able to engage 
with management and employees at all levels. The Directors 
also have the opportunity to attend the biennial HITE and the 
associated conferences.

October
 – Strategy/3-year plan
 – Relative attractions of different sectors
 – Candidates for acquisition/disposal
 – Review progress towards annual objectives
 – External sum of the parts valuation
 – Debt/capital structure considerations
 – Succession planning update/management bench

November
 – Half-yearly results
 – PSP vesting update
 – Consideration of Board Evaluation process –  

internal/external review

Board performance and evaluation
The Board considers the evaluation of its performance as a whole 
and that of the Audit, Nomination and Remuneration Committees 
annually, with each Committee also evaluating its own performance. 
The aim of the evaluations is to improve the effectiveness of the Board 
and its members as well as the performance of the Company. The 
Board ensures that an external facilitator is engaged at least every 
third year. Dr Tracy Long of Boardroom Review performed the last 
external review in 2011/12 covering the full Board and Committee 
evaluations. For 2012/13 and 2013/14, the Company Secretary 
facilitated an internal evaluation of Board performance and that of  
the Audit, Nomination and Remuneration Committees. The Board  
will undergo an externally-facilitated review of the Board and its 
Committees next year.

This year’s evaluation was conducted in the final quarter of the 
financial year and its outcome was first discussed with the Chairman 
and subsequently presented to the full Board. The evaluation results 
were circulated to the Board in February 2014 and discussed at the 
April 2014 Board meeting.

The Board members’ many positive responses indicated their  
widely held view that ongoing improvements have been made since 
the 2011/12 external evaluation which concluded that the Board was 
effective, methodical and thorough in the way it approaches its work. 
There continues to be an open and transparent debate and an even 
contribution from all members of the Board and an active and 
collaborative approach to performance management reflected in the 
constructive debates in the Remuneration Committee. The Board 
continues to spend a significant amount of time considering risks and 
controls and was assisted by strong financial information, effective 
internal and external audit processes and a strong Audit Committee. 
Overall, the process confirmed the right blend of behaviours and skills 
around the Halma Board table although the Board recognises that 
additional geographic spread of experience and more gender diversity 
would aid more effective debate. The Board freely and openly 
expresses any concerns which results in more considered outcomes 
emphasising collective responsibility, transparency, clarity and integrity. 

The most significant issue arising from the 2013 review surrounded 
the importance of Chairman and Senior Independent Director 
succession planning and the preservation of the Group’s positive 
culture during such a transition in these roles. The Board felt that this 
was achieved during 2013/14 with the identification of Paul Walker  
as Chairman-elect and the smooth handover from Geoff Unwin. 

Otherwise, the evaluation noted the Board’s continuing recognition of 
the importance of the non-executive Directors investing sufficient time 
to enable them to operate with a sound knowledge of the Company 
and to establish relationships with the executive Directors.

The Board and Executive Board have also introduced more 
opportunities for interaction around topics of strategic and  
operational importance. 

Performance evaluation cycle

Year 1  
External evaluation facilitation

Year 2  
Internal review

Year 3  
Internal review

63

Halma plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014Strategic Report Governance Financial Statements Corporate Governance Report continued

Board governance structure

Key committees

Board

Audit
Committee

Nomination
Committee

Remuneration
Committee

Other committees

Share Plans
Committee

Bank Guarantees
and Facilities
Committee

Acquisitions
and Disposals
Committee

A chart setting out the Company’s Board and Committees’ structure 
is given above with the Board and Committee memberships and 
Directors’ biographical details shown separately on pages 56 and 57. 
The responsibilities of the key Board Committees and the key issues 
and activities during 2013/14 are set out in the following Committee 
reports on pages 66 to 89.

Investor relations
The Board recognises the importance of effective communication with 
our shareholders. In regular meetings with shareholders and analysts 
the Chief Executive and Finance Director communicate the Group’s 
strategy and results, disclosing such information as is permitted within 
the guidelines of the Listing Rules. Such meetings ensure that 
institutional shareholders representing over 50% of the Company’s 
issued share capital meet or hold discussions with the Company on  
a regular basis. Major shareholders are also offered the opportunity  
to meet the Chairman and/or Senior Independent Director. Notes  
from all investor meetings are circulated to the Chairman with investor 
feedback results from roadshows circulated to the whole Board.

All shareholders are encouraged to attend the annual general  
meeting where they can gain a better understanding of the Company. 
Shareholders are able to pose questions to the Board on the matters 
put to the meeting, including the Annual Report and Accounts and the 
management of the Company. Major shareholders are also invited to 
briefings following the half-year and annual results. In February 2014, 
the Chief Executive, Finance Director and a Divisional Chief Executive 
held a Capital Markets Day at which an update on the Group’s 
strategy and the new reporting sectors was detailed and the Group’s 
mergers and acquisitions performance was reviewed. The content of 
presentations to shareholders and analysts at results announcements 
and all announcements are available on the Group website: 
www.halma.com. 

The Group website also contains electronic versions of the latest 
Annual Report and Accounts, Half-year Reports, biographical 
information on Directors and the Executive Board, share price 
information, and full subsidiary company contact details as well as 
links to their own websites. The website also features the facility to 
request e-mail alerts relating to announcements made by the Group 
and there is a feedback form to invite suggestions for improvements 
to the website and our investor relations activities.

In recognition of the time required to properly induct new Board 
Directors and accepting that a maximum of two new appointments 
per annum is ideal, the Nomination Committee and the Board 
proposed that Stephen Pettit’s appointment be extended another 
year (having already extended it once in 2013) to ensure continuity 
and an appropriate transition process is undergone with the aim of 
preserving the Group’s culture while permitting healthy reflection on 
our current structure and processes. In reaching this decision, the 
Board concluded that Stephen Pettit’s independence was not 
compromised by his ongoing directorship and the entire Board 
supported his continuing involvement. Halma also consulted our 
advisers. Stephen Pettit will remain on the Board until such time as 
his experience of Halma’s culture is embodied in his colleagues and 
no later that the 2015 annual general meeting. 

As in prior years, the Board also met in February 2014 before the 
scheduled Board meeting. There was a meeting of the Chairman and 
non-executive Directors with the Chief Executive. This was followed 
by a meeting of the Chairman and non-executive Directors only. The 
Senior Independent Director also led a meeting with the non-
executive Directors without the Chairman present. The Executives 
were also given the opportunity to meet with the Chairman and/or  
the Senior Independent Director separately. The outcome of these 
meetings was then fed back to individuals by the Chairman,  
Senior Independent Director or Chief Executive, as appropriate.

Committees of the Board
Our Committees are a valuable part of the Company’s corporate 
governance structure. The workload of the Committees includes  
the table of scheduled meetings as well as ad hoc meetings and 
communications frequently requiring considerable amounts of time.

Halma has six committees and sub-committees of the Board: the 
Audit Committee, the Nomination Committee, the Remuneration 
Committee, the Share Plans Committee, the Bank Guarantees and 
Facilities Committee and the Acquisitions and Disposals Committee. 
Each of these Committees has terms of reference which have been 
recently reviewed, updated and approved by the Board, copies  
of which are available on the website or on request from the 
Company Secretary.

Minutes of Committee meetings are made available to all Directors 
and the Chairmen of each of the three key Board Committees, the 
Audit, Nomination and Remuneration Committees, provide regular 
updates to the Board. As of April 2014, all non-executive Directors  
sit on the Nomination and Remuneration Committees.

64

Halma plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014Shareholders can keep up to date with the latest Halma financial 
news, on the move, with our Investor Relations iPad app. This is 
available as a free download from the Apple iTunes store, as detailed 
below. The app is updated at the same time as our website and 
delivers news releases, regulatory announcements, presentations, 
reports, webcasts, videos, financial documents and the share price.

To help investors understand the scope of our business we have 
produced a new ‘Introduction to Halma’ animated video. This can be 
viewed from the home page of our website (www.halma.com) and 
from our iPad investor app.

Type this link into your browser to go to the Halma Investor Relations 
app download page on iTunes: http://goo.gl/4W91y 

The Financial calendar is set out on page 158.

Shareholders (number) at 15 May 2014

■  1-5,000 
■  5,001-25,000 
■  25,001-100,000 
■  100,001-750,000 
■  750,001 and over 

Analysis of shares (number) at 15 May 2014

■  1-5,000 
■  5,001-25,000 
■  25,001-100,000 
■  100,001-750,000 
■  750,001 and over 

Results of our 2013 annual general meeting

78.1%

13.4%

4.1%

3.0%

1.4%

1.9%

2.3%

3.3%

14.6%

77.9%

 Total  
votes  
for 
%
99.0
99.7
98.1
96.1 to 99.5
98.5
99.1
98.9

Total 
votes  
against  

%

0.0
0.0
0.8
0.1 to 3.6
0.5
0.6
0.8

99.6

99.6
92.6

0.1

0.1
7.1

Votes  

withheld
%
1.0
0.3
1.1
0.3
1.0
0.3
0.3

0.3

0.3
0.3

Report and Accounts 
Dividend
Remuneration Report

1 
2 
3 
4–13 Directors
14  Reappointment of Auditor
15  Auditor’s remuneration
16  Authority to allot shares
 Disapplication of 
17 
pre-emption rights
 Authority to purchase 
own shares

18 

19  Notice of general meetings

Internal control
The Board has overall responsibility to the shareholders for the 
Group’s system of internal control and risk management, and the 
review of the system’s effectiveness has been delegated to the 
Audit Committee. Whilst not providing absolute assurance against 
material misstatements or loss, this system is designed to identify 
and manage those risks that could adversely impact the achievement 
of the Group’s objectives. The Group’s risk management structure 
and process is detailed on pages 28 and 29. The Group’s principal 
risks and uncertainties are detailed on pages 30 to 33.

The Board confirms that there is an ongoing process for identifying, 
evaluating and managing the significant risks faced by the Group, 
which has been in place for the year under review and up to the 
date of approval of the Annual Report and Accounts. This process 
has been reviewed by the Board and the Board is satisfied that the 
Group accords with the Turnbull guidance. The Board made several 
enhancements in the conduct of the process during the year and will 
continue to review the system routinely to ensure that the system of 
internal control and risk management remains fit for purpose. 

The Group’s external Auditor, Deloitte LLP, has audited the financial 
statements and has reviewed the financial control systems to the 
extent Deloitte considers necessary to support the audit report.

Going concern
The Group’s business activities, together with the main trends  
and factors likely to affect its future development, performance  
and position, and the financial position of the Group, its cash flows, 
liquidity position and borrowing facilities, are set out in the Strategic 
Report. In addition, note 26 to the financial statements includes the 
Group’s objectives, policies and processes for managing its capital, 
its financial risk management objectives, details of its financial 
instruments and hedging activities, and its exposures to currency 
and liquidity risks.

The Group has considerable financial resources (including a £360m 
five-year revolving credit facility, of which £255m was undrawn at 
29 March 2014) together with contracts with a diverse range of 
customers and suppliers across different geographic areas and 
industries. No one customer accounts for more than 2% of Group 
turnover. The Directors have considered the Group’s potential 
exposure to the Eurozone crisis and have concluded that this is 
minimal due to the fact that less than 5% of sales arise in areas 
experiencing macro-economic uncertainty and the Group does 
not maintain significant banking or other business relationships 
in these areas. As a consequence, the Directors believe that the 
Group is well placed to manage its business risks successfully.

After conducting a formal review of the Group’s financial resources, 
the Directors have a reasonable expectation that the Company and 
the Group have adequate resources to continue in operational 
existence for the foreseeable future. For this reason, they continue 
to adopt the going concern basis in preparing the Annual Report 
and Accounts. 

65

Halma plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014Strategic Report Governance Financial Statements Audit Committee Report

Audit Committee members
 – Jane Aikman (Chairman) 
 – Stephen Pettit 
 – Norman Blackwell 
 – Steve Marshall
 – Daniela Barone Soares

Allocation of time %

■ Financial statements and reports 29%
■ Risk management 
19%
■ Internal audit 
13%
■ External audit 
31%
■ Other 
8%

During 2013/14, the Audit Committee focused on the integrity of 
the Group’s financial reporting including the processes to make our 
Annual Report and Accounts ‘fair, balanced and understandable’, 
the effectiveness and appropriateness of our system of risk management 
and internal controls as well as our internal and external audit processes.  
I am pleased to present the first Audit Committee Report prepared in 
accordance with the newly revised Corporate Governance Code, in 
which the role of the Audit Committee and its activities during the year  
are further expanded upon, in particular:

 – description of the significant issues that the Audit Committee 

considered in relation to the financial statements and how these 
issues were addressed, having regard to the matters 
communicated to it by the auditor; and

 – explanation of how the Audit Committee has assessed the 

effectiveness of the external audit process and the approach taken 
to the reappointment of the external auditor to enable shareholders 
to understand why it recommended reappointing our auditor.

During the course of the year, the regular challenge and engagement 
with management, internal audit and the external auditor, together 
with the timely circulation of reports and information, has enabled the 
Committee to discharge its duties and responsibilities effectively.

I hope you find this Report helpful in understanding the work of the 
Audit Committee.

66

“The Audit Committee focused on 
the integrity of the Group’s financial 
reporting including the processes to 
make our Annual Report and Accounts 
‘fair, balanced and understandable’, 
the effectiveness and appropriateness 
of our system of risk management and 
internal controls as well as our internal 
and external audit processes.”
Jane Aikman, Chairman, Audit Committee

Responsibilities
The Audit Committee is appointed by the Board from the non-
executive Directors of the Group. The Audit Committee’s terms 
of reference include all matters indicated by Disclosure and 
Transparency Rule 7.1 and the Code. The terms of reference are 
considered annually by the Audit Committee and are then referred 
to the Board for approval. The full terms of reference were recently 
updated in April 2014 in line with the revised recommendations of 
the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators (ICSA) 
June 2013 audit committee terms of reference guidance. The terms 
of reference can be found on the Company’s website or can be 
obtained from the Company Secretary.

The primary responsibilities of the Audit Committee are to:

 – monitor the integrity of the financial statements of the Group 

and any formal announcements relating to the Group’s financial 
performance and review significant financial reporting judgments 
contained therein; 

 – have oversight of risk management, including the review of the 
Group’s financial, operational and compliance internal controls, 
as well as whistleblowing and fraud prevention procedures; 
 – monitor and review the effectiveness of the Group’s Internal 

Audit function; 

 – make recommendations to the Board, for a resolution to be put 
to the shareholders for their approval at the general meeting, on 
the appointment of the external auditor and the approval of the 
remuneration and terms of engagement of the external auditor; 

 – review and monitor the external auditor’s independence and 

objectivity and the effectiveness of the audit process, taking into 
consideration the periodic rotation of audit personnel and relevant 
UK professional and regulatory requirements; and 

 – develop and implement a policy on the engagement of the external 
auditor to supply non-audit services, taking into account relevant 
guidance regarding the provision of non-audit services by the 
external audit firm. 

Halma plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014Key issues and activities
The Committee not only reviews the financial reporting of the 
Company, but spends a significant amount of its time reviewing the 
effectiveness of the Group’s internal control process. Combined with 
the Committee’s review of the internal and external audit functions, it 
is able to obtain sufficient information to discharge its responsibilities.

More specifically, during the year the Committee reviewed its own 
effectiveness and looked at its activities as detailed in the table below.

Audit Committee activities
Financial statements and reports
 – reviewed the 29 March 2014 Annual Report and Accounts, the 

28 September 2013 Half year report and the IMSs issued in July 
2013 and February 2014. As part of these reviews the 
Committee received a report from the external auditor on the 
audit of the Annual Report and Accounts; 

 – reviewed the effectiveness of the Group’s internal controls and 

disclosures made in the Annual Report and financial statements; 

 – considered acquisition valuation methodology; 
 – review of pension fund accounts; and 
 – review of taxation provisions. 

Risk management
 – considered the output from the Group-wide risk review process 
to identify, evaluate and mitigate risks, the Group’s changing risk 
profile and future risk reports; 

 – devoted additional time to adequately address risk management 

in the Group; and 

 – export controls. 

Internal audit
 – evaluated the effectiveness and the scope of work to be 

undertaken by the Internal Audit function;

 – reviewed management responses to audit reports issued during 

the year; 

 – reviewed the Group’s whistleblowing policy which allows Internal 
Audit to receive, in confidence, complaints on accounting, risk 
issues, internal controls, auditing issues and related matters; 
and

 – reviewed the resourcing of Internal Audit.

External auditor and non-audit work
 – reviewed, considered and agreed the scope and methodology 

of the audit work to be undertaken by the external auditor;
 – evaluated the independence and objectivity of the external 

auditor; and 

 – agreed the terms of engagement and fees to be paid to  
the external auditor for the audit of the 29 March 2014  
financial statements.

Governance
The Audit Committee was in place throughout the financial year 
with Jane Aikman as the Chair. All five members are independent 
non-executive Directors in accordance with provision C.3.1 of the 
Code. The Chief Executive, Finance Director and representatives 
from the external Auditor attend Committee meetings by invitation 
in order to provide appropriate advice. The Committee meets at 
least three times per year and routinely meets the Auditor without 
the involvement of the executive Directors. The Committee meets 
with the Internal Auditor on a regular basis throughout the year. 
The Finance Director works closely with the Chairman of the Audit 
Committee to ensure open communication between them. The 
Board has designated Jane Aikman as the member of the Audit 
Committee with recent and relevant financial experience. She is 
a chartered accountant, is a finance director and has listed 
company experience.

Training
The Audit Committee has extended all of its meetings by an hour 
to incorporate additional time for risk-related topics and training 
on relevant topics, for example valuation of acquisitions and 
disposals, financial reporting (including additional coverage of 
audit procedures, scope and methodology), fraud, cyber security, 
internal control and governance.

Engagement of the external auditor
The external auditor is engaged to express an opinion on the Group’s 
and Company’s financial statements. The audit includes the review 
and test of the data contained in the financial statements to the extent 
necessary for expressing an audit opinion on the truth and fairness of 
the financial statements.

Deloitte LLP has been the external Auditor of the Group since 2003 
and a review of the independence of Deloitte LLP is undertaken each 
year. At the year end the Auditor formally confirmed its independence 
and that objectivity has been maintained. The Committee concluded 
that the relevant independence continues to be met. In addition, 
the partner responsible for the Group audit is rotated at least every 
five years.

Deloitte LLP provides the Committee with relevant reports, 
reviews and advice throughout the year, as set out in their terms 
of engagement.

External auditor tendering
In accordance with UK regulations, the Company’s Auditor adheres 
to a rotation policy based on best practice and a new Group lead 
engagement partner is appointed in place of the previous lead 
engagement partner once he has completed a term of five years  
in that role.

Following a rigorous evaluation of the audit service and a change in 
audit partner in 2010/11, the Audit Committee agreed that a full tender 
was not required for the 2012/13 audit. The Committee reconsidered 
its review during 2013/14 and concluded that a full tender is not 
currently required. In making this assessment the Committee focused 
on the robustness of the audit, the quality of delivery of audit services 
and the effectiveness, objectivity and independence of the Auditor in 
its reviews.

The Committee is satisfied that the audit continues to be effective  
and provides an appropriate independent challenge to the Group’s 
senior management.

The Committee has noted the revisions to the UK Corporate 
Governance Code introduced by the Financial Reporting Council 
(FRC) in September 2012 and effective for Halma’s 2013/14 financial 
year and in particular the recommendation to put the external audit 
out to tender at least every 10 years. The Committee noted the 
proposed transitional arrangements with respect to audit tendering 
to fit the five-yearly cycle of partner rotation.

The Committee is satisfied that Deloitte continues to provide an 
effective audit. The Committee remains supportive of the Code’s 
requirement that the audit should be put out to tender at least once 
in every ten years and intends to conduct its external tendering 
arrangements before the end of December 2016.

Auditor independence
The Group’s ‘Policy on Auditor Independence and Services provided 
by the External Auditor’ sets out restrictions on the categories of 
non-audit services which the external auditor is allowed to provide to 
the Group, a summary of which is provided in the table below. This 
policy is regularly reviewed and states that the Group will only use the 
appointed external auditor for non-audit services in cases where 
these services do not conflict with the auditor’s independence.

67

Halma plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014Strategic Report Governance Financial Statements Audit Committee Report continued

The Committee confirms that Deloitte LLP remains best placed 
to advise the Group on matters related to tax compliance and the 
structure of the Group. The Committee accepts that certain work of 
a non-audit nature is best undertaken by Deloitte, and appointments 
are made taking into account factors including expertise and fees. 
The Committee regularly reviews the amount and nature of the 
non-audit work Deloitte performs. The Audit Committee is notified 
of all of Deloitte’s non-audit services with fees between £50,000 and 
£100,000. The policy also sets a fee level per project of £100,000 
above which non-audit services are subject to a tendering process. 
The above fee levels for non-audit services are also subject to an 
annual cap equal to the audit fee. At each meeting, the Audit 
Committee also receives a summary of all fees, audit and  
non-audit, payable to the external Auditor.

The audit fees payable to Deloitte LLP during 2013/14 were £759,000 
(2013: £740,000) and non-audit service fees were £65,000 (2013: 
£307,000). The principal non-audit service is tax-advisory related. 
A summary of fees paid to the external Auditor is set out in note 6  
to the Accounts on page 116.

In accordance with International Standards on Auditing (UK & Ireland) 
260 and Ethical Standard 1 issued by the Accounting Practices 
Board, and as a matter of best practice, the external Auditor has 
confirmed its independence as Auditor of the Company, in a letter 
addressed to the Directors.

Accordingly, the Committee unanimously recommended to the  
Board that a resolution for the reappointment of Deloitte LLP as the 
Company’s independent Auditor be proposed to shareholders at  
the AGM in July 2014 and the Board has accepted and endorsed  
this recommendation.

External audit effectiveness
The effectiveness of the external audit process is assessed by the 
Committee, which meets regularly throughout the year with the  
audit partner and senior audit managers. Key to the overall 
effectiveness of the process is a ‘no surprises’ approach adopted 

Policy of auditor independence and services

Prohibited non-audit services
 – appraisal or valuation services;
 – financial information systems design and implementation;
 – bookkeeping services;
 – management functions;
 – executive recruiting and resource services;
 – broker-dealer services; and
 – legal services.

Audit-related services not subject to separate tender if 
fees <£100,000
 – audits of businesses acquired or to be sold and due diligence 

services;

 – opinions/audit reports on information provided by the company 

upon request from a third party;

 – advice on accounting policies;
 – electronic data processing audits; and
 – tax services including local tax compliance.

Permitted non-audit services, subject to approval
 – due diligence services relating to acquisitions with fees in excess 

of £100,000;

 – public reporting on investment circulars;
 – liquidation services in respect of redundant subsidiaries or 

associate companies; and

 – tax-advisory fees in excess of £100,000 where the firm’s existing 

knowledge of the Group structure is preferred.

by both the Group and the Auditor under which each party makes the 
other aware of accounting and financial reporting issues as and when 
they arise, rather than limiting this exchange to the period in which 
formal audit and review engagements take place.

This general approach is supported by a formal annual survey 
process involving subsidiary and Group management as well  
as Audit Committee members and attendees.

Surveys are tailored and issued to three distinct groups of respondents:

 – Subsidiary Finance Directors;
 – Sector Chief Executives and Sector Vice Presidents; and
 – Audit Committee members and attendees.

The survey completed by the first group is divided between questions 
focusing on audit quality and client service. As this group is involved 
primarily in the execution phase of the audit the responses cover 
practical audit management issues as well as observations made of 
the integrity and quality of audit field teams. The second and particularly 
the third group interact mainly with senior audit management and the 
audit partner and so the survey covers more general audit planning 
and wider issues around the audit relationship.

In addition to assessing the effectiveness of the external Auditor the 
Committee recognises that Group management has an important 
role to play in the overall effectiveness of the external audit process 
and the Auditor is therefore asked to conduct its own survey of both 
subsidiary and head office companies that Deloitte interacts with. 
This survey addresses items such as the timeliness, quality and 
reliability of data provided to the Auditor.

Taken together the Committee believes that sufficient and appropriate 
information is obtained to form an overall judgment on the 
effectiveness of the external audit process.

Risk management and internal controls
Further details of risk management and internal controls are set out 
on pages 28 to 33. Through monitoring of the effectiveness of its 
internal controls and risk management, the Committee is able to 
maintain a good understanding of business performance, key areas 
of judgement and decision-making processes within the Group.

Significant issues in relation to financial reporting 
matters in 2013/14
During the year the Committee considered significant risks and 
issues in relation to the Group’s financial statements and disclosures 
relating to:

 – the assessment of the carrying value of goodwill and intangible 
assets due to the significance of the amounts recorded on the 
consolidated balance sheet, the number of judgements involved 
in assessing goodwill and intangible assets for impairment and 
the continued challenging economic conditions;

 – the risk that acquisitions are not accounted for correctly in line with 
IFRS 3 ‘Business combinations’ including the recording of fair value 
adjustments and the identification of acquired intangibles;

 – the valuation of any contingent consideration arising on acquisitions 

in current and prior periods;

 – the judgements involved in valuing Defined Benefit pension 

schemes including the discount rate, the mortality assumption 
and the inflation level; 

 – the risk around capturing the capitalised development costs 
in relation to qualifying products as well as the subsequent 
impairment review based on predicted product launch and 
performance; and

 – ensuring the Annual Report and Accounts are fair, balanced 

and understandable.

68

Halma plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014 – the Committee was briefed on the consultation that was 

undertaken with members of the Defined Benefit schemes 
regarding the closure of the schemes to future benefit accrual 
and reviewed the third party report that was prepared by the 
Group’s pension advisers outlining the impact of the closure.

Fair, balanced and understandable report  
and accounts
One of the key governance requirements is for the report and 
accounts to be fair, balanced and understandable. Ensuring that  
this standard is met requires continuous assessment of the financial 
reporting issues affecting the Group on a year round basis in addition 
to a number of focused exercises that take place during the Annual 
Report and Accounts production process.

These focused exercises can be summarised as follows:

 – a qualitative review of disclosures and a review of internal 

consistency throughout the Annual Report and Accounts. This 
review assesses the Annual Report and Accounts against objective 
criteria drawn up for each component of the requirement (individual 
criteria that indicate ‘fairness’, ‘balance’ and ‘understandability’ as 
well as criteria that overlap two or more components);

 – a risk comparison review, which assess the consistency of the 
presentation of risks and significant judgments throughout the  
main areas of risk disclosure in the Annual Report and Accounts;
 – a formal review of all Board and Committee meeting minutes by  
the Company Secretary to ensure that all significant issues are 
appropriately reflected and given due prominence in narrative 
reporting; and

 – preparation and issue to the Audit Committee of the key working 

papers and results for each of the significant issues and judgments 
considered by the Audit Committee in the period.

The Directors’ statement on a fair, balanced and understandable 
Annual Report and Accounts is set out on page 59.

On behalf of the Audit Committee

Jane Aikman
Chairman
12 June 2014

These issues were discussed with management at various stages 
during 2013/14 and during the preparation and conclusion of the 
financial statements. After reviewing the presentations and reports 
from management the Committee is satisfied that the financial 
statements appropriately address the critical judgements and key 
estimates, both in respect of the amounts reported and the 
disclosures made. The Committee is also satisfied that the significant 
assumptions used for determining the value of assets and liabilities 
have been appropriately scrutinised, challenged and are sufficiently 
robust. The Committee has discussed these issues with the Auditor 
during the audit planning process and at the conclusion of the year 
end audit and is satisfied that its conclusions are in line with those 
drawn by the Auditor in relation to these issues. 

The Committee’s process for challenging the assumptions of 
management and addressing the risks identified includes the 
following activities:

 – considering the appropriateness of reviews conducted of the 
purchase agreements against the related accounting entries  
and fair value calculations for the acquired opening balances.  
This involved challenging, where required, assumptions 
and key judgements underpinning the valuations, and 
benchmarking acquisitions;

 – assessing treatments of contingent consideration payment 

arrangements against the requirements of IFRS 3;

 – focusing on, monitoring regularly and constructively challenging 
the reasonableness of the assumptions used in impairment 
calculations by management and the appropriateness of 
judgements and forecasts used including discount rates, growth 
rates, the level of aggregation of individual cash generating units 
and methodology applied, and any other associated disclosures 
in note 11 to the Accounts;

 – assessing capitalisation of development costs in line with the 

accounting policy and standards; 

 – assessing the assumptions in determining the pension obligations, 
particularly given recent market volatility and determined whether 
the key assumptions were reasonable. These assumptions were 
also benchmarked against other listed companies and variances 
highlighted for consideration; and

 – considering the appropriateness and reasonableness of stated 
judgements and conclusions and that reporting was accurate.

As part of the above process the Committee specifically considered 
the following:

 – the valuation of contingent consideration payable in respect of the 

acquisition of MicroSurgical Technology, Inc. (MST) in the prior year. 
Following a review of the expected performance of MST against its 
contingent consideration earnings targets, management concluded 
that a significant proportion of the accrued payable should be 
released to the Consolidated Income Statement as the balance 
was unlikely to be paid in full. The Committee challenged the 
assumptions on which management based its conclusion 
(company forecast and budget data and the impact of this on 
the contingent consideration calculation) by understanding the 
risks and opportunities in the forecast and budget data and 
concluded that, within a range of outcomes, the revised valuation 
was reasonable;

 – the Committee reviewed the relative value of projects in 

development and completed projects comprising the capitalised 
development costs balance and the coverage of these values by 
expected future cash flows to test the assertion of management 
that no projects were at risk of impairment; and

69

Halma plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014Strategic Report Governance Financial Statements Nomination Committee Report 

Nomination Committee members
 – Paul Walker (Chairman) 
 – Andrew Williams 
 – Stephen Pettit 
 – Steve Marshall
 – Norman Blackwell 
 – Jane Aikman (appointed 10 April 2014)
 – Daniela Barone Soares (appointed 10 April 2014)

Allocation of time %

■  Succession planning 
■  Composition of Board 
■  (Re)-election of Directors 

83%

11%

6%

“ The Nomination Committee continued to 
review our governance structures and the 
composition of our Board and Executive 
Board throughout the year. I am delighted 
to have further strengthened our Board 
and aligned our Executive Board with 
the four market sectors in which we 
are engaged.”
Paul Walker, Chairman, Nomination Committee

Responsibilities
The Nomination Committee is appointed by the Board from the 
non-executive Directors of the Group and the Chief Executive.  
The Nomination Committee’s terms of reference include all matters 
indicated by the UK Corporate Governance Code. The terms of 
reference are considered annually by the Nomination Committee and 
are then referred to the Board for approval. The full terms of reference 
were reviewed during the year and updated in April 2014 in line with 
the revised recommendations of the ICSA June 2013 nomination 
committee terms of reference guidance. The terms of reference can 
be found on the Company’s website or can be obtained from the 
Company Secretary.

The primary responsibilities of the Nomination Committee are to:

 – regularly review the structure, size and composition (including the 

skills, knowledge, experience and diversity) of the Board compared 
to its current position and make recommendations to the Board 
with regard to any changes; 

 – give full consideration to succession planning for Directors and 
other senior executives in the course of its work, taking into 
account the challenges and opportunities facing the Company 
and the skills and expertise needed on the Board in the future; and 

 – identify and nominate, for the approval of the Board, candidates  

to fill Board vacancies as and when they arise. 

Governance
The Nomination Committee was in place throughout the financial 
year. It is chaired by the Chairman of the Company who was deemed 
to be independent on appointment to the Board. Six of the seven 
members of the Committee are independent non-executive  
Directors in accordance with provision B.2.1 of the Code.

70

Halma plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014As noted on page 60 and on pages 62 to 64, the process of 
appointments to the Board is paramount in ensuring the Company’s 
performance is maintained and continually improved upon. The 
Board search for a new independent non-executive Director was  
led by our Chairman, Paul Walker. A global search firm, JCA Group, 
which has no other connection to Halma was appointed. The Board 
considered a wide and diverse range of candidates and the Board 
having had the opportunity to meet Roy Twite confirmed his 
independence upon appointment and was unanimous in its decision 
to appoint Roy. Roy Twite, an executive director at IMI plc, will be 
appointed to the Board effective following the conclusion of the AGM 
on 24 July 2014. Roy Twite brings with him very relevant engineering 
experience which will be invaluable to Halma’s Board discussions. 
The Board is in the process of seeking to identify an additional 
non-executive Director.

On behalf of the Nomination Committee

Paul Walker
Chairman
12 June 2014

Key issues and activities
The Committee and the specially formed sub-committee met 
on several occasions during the year and considered:

 – the re-election of all Directors at the July 2013 annual 

general meeting; 
 – succession planning; 
 – external board evaluation; 
 – Geoff Unwin’s proposed retirement; 
 – Stephen Pettit’s re-election to the Board and its Committees;
 – the nomination and appointment of Paul Walker as a non-executive 
Director and Chairman and his membership of the Nomination and 
Remuneration Committees (as described below); and

 – the nominations and appointments of Jane Aikman and Daniela 

Barone Soares to the Nomination and Remuneration Committees. 

When the need to appoint a Director is identified, a candidate profile 
is developed indicating the skills, knowledge and experience required 
taking into account the Board’s existing composition. External search 
consultancies are retained when recruiting non-executive Directors 
and are used to evaluate internal and external candidates for 
succession planning.

As disclosed on page 60, the Nomination sub-committee appointed 
for the Chairman succession search comprised four non-executive 
Directors, led by the Senior Independent Director. A global search 
firm, Korn Ferry Whitehead Mann, which has no other connection  
to Halma was appointed. A wide range of high calibre candidates 
was considered for the role. The Board confirmed Paul Walker’s 
independence upon appointment and was unanimous in its  
decision to appoint Paul Walker.

Succession planning for the Senior Independent Director was  
well in hand when Norman Blackwell indicated that his April 2014 
chairmanship of Lloyds Banking Group Plc may preclude his 
continuing as a non-executive Director at Halma. Similarly, Steve 
Marshall undertook the CEO role at Balfour Beatty plc in May 2014 
and found that he could not continue to devote the time that is 
necessary as Remuneration Committee Chairman and non-executive 
Director of Halma. They will both be stepping down at the conclusion 
of the July 2014 AGM. The Committee concluded that in order to 
ensure continuity and that an appropriate transition process is 
undergone, with the aim of preserving the Group’s culture, Stephen 
Pettit will remain on the Board until such time as his experience of 
Halma’s culture is embodied in his colleagues and no later than the 
2015 annual general meeting. The Committee subjected Stephen 
Pettit’s reappointment to an even more rigorous review to ensure 
Stephen Pettit’s independence is not compromised and that the 
Board supported his reappointment unanimously.

71

Halma plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014Strategic Report Governance Financial Statements Remuneration Committee Chairman statement

“ ...there were no 
substantive changes to 
the remuneration policy  
or structure of the Group 
during the year.”

Dear Shareholders,

On behalf of the Board I am pleased to present the Remuneration Committee’s Directors’ 
Remuneration Report for the year ended 29 March 2014.

As set out on page 5, Halma’s strategy is to build a strong competitive advantage in 
specialised safety, health and environmental technology markets with resilient growth 
drivers. This strategy is underpinned by the Group’s remuneration framework which 
balances a short-term cash incentive related to improvements in the Economic Value 
Added (‘EVA’) in a financial year, with a longer-term share incentive related to returns  
on invested capital and Total Shareholder Return.

Other than the announced closure of the Halma Defined Benefit pension plan in which 
a number of executives participated, there were no substantive changes to the remuneration 
policy or structure of the Group during the year. The Committee continuously assessed the 
appropriateness of its remuneration structure in the light of the business’ performance and 
confirmed its satisfaction with the structure and the outcomes related to the application of 
the structure. Accordingly, the Committee:

 – determined the remuneration of the Chairman, Executive Board and the Company 

Secretary in accordance with its Terms of Reference;

 – determined the Chief Executive’s achievement of personal objectives contributing  
to a proportion of his performance share plan (PSP) award granted in August 2013;
 – confirmed the performance-related bonus arrangements for 2013/14 with no material 

change from prior year;

 – confirmed the PSP arrangements for 2013/14 with no material change from prior year;
 – confirmed the pension arrangements for UK senior executives;
 – considered the framework for subsidiary chief executives and directors to ensure that  

a consistent approach was applied;

 – considered the ‘good leaver’ status of departing PSP participants; 
 – consulted the top ten shareholders on the proposed remuneration of executive Directors 

for 2015; and

 – decided to conduct a more thorough review of remuneration during 2015 to coincide  

with the necessity to introduce a new long-term incentive plan at the 2015 annual 
general meeting.

72

Halma plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014Other than the evaluation of Chief Executive objectives and the determination of 
good leaver status for departing executives, the Committee did not exercise any 
discretion during the year. 

In August 2013, the UK Government Department of Business Innovation & Skills 
(‘BIS’) published a set of regulations on what companies must disclose in the 
Directors’ Remuneration Report from 1 October 2013. In line with the 
requirements, this report is divided into three sections:

 – this Annual Statement;
 – the Directors’ Remuneration Policy, which details Halma’s executive 

remuneration policies and links to Group strategy, as well as projected pay 
outcomes under different performance scenarios; and

 – the Annual Remuneration Report, which focuses on the remuneration 
arrangements and outcomes for the year under review, and how the 
Remuneration Committee intends to implement the policy next year.

As required under the new reporting regulations, the Directors’ Remuneration 
Policy will be put to a binding shareholder vote at the Annual General Meeting 
on 24 July 2014, and the Annual Remuneration Report will be submitted to an 
advisory vote at the same time.

My colleagues on the Remuneration Committee (‘the Committee’) and I hope that 
you find the new layout of the Remuneration Report to be clear and transparent, 
and that we can count on your support for the Directors’ Remuneration Policy – 
which remains unchanged – and its implementation during the year under review.

Steve Marshall
Chairman
12 June 2014

73

Halma plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014Strategic Report Governance Financial Statements Remuneration Committee Report
Remuneration Policy 
This section of the report details the policy for executive and non-executive Directors which shareholders are asked to approve at the 2014 
AGM. The Committee intends that this policy will formally come into effect from 24 July 2014, being the date of the 2014 AGM, and be 
effective for up to three years.

Compliance Statement
This report has been prepared in accordance with the provisions of 
the Companies Act 2006 (‘the Act’), the Listing Rules and Regulation 
11 and Schedule 8 of the Large and Medium-Sized Companies and 
Groups (Accounts and Reports) (Amendment) Regulations 2013. 
The report also meets the relevant requirements of the Listing Rules 
of the Financial Conduct Authority and describes how the Board 
has applied the principles relating to Directors’ remuneration in the UK 
Corporate Governance Code. As required by the Act, resolutions to 
approve the Remuneration Policy and Annual Report on Remuneration 
will be proposed at the AGM of the Company at which the financial 
statements will be approved.

In line with the Regulations, the following parts of the Annual Report 
on Remuneration are audited: the single figure for total remuneration 
for each Director, including annual bonus and performance share 
plan outcomes for the financial year ending 29 March 2014; plan 
interests awarded during the year; pension entitlements; payments 
to past Directors and payments for loss of office; and Directors’ 
shareholdings and share interests. All other parts of the Directors’ 
Remuneration Report are unaudited.

Element and objective

Salary

To attract and retain key employees and reflect their experience  
and personal contribution to delivery of the Group’s strategy

Remuneration Policy
Executive Director remuneration packages are designed to attract, 
retain and motivate the high calibre executives needed to manage 
the Group successfully, and to align their interests with those of our 
shareholders by rewarding them for enhancing shareholder value. 
Executive Director remuneration also seeks to reward achievement 
of stretching performance targets without driving unacceptable 
behaviours or encouraging excessive risk-taking. The performance 
measurement of the executive Directors and the determination of 
their annual remuneration package are undertaken by the 
Remuneration Committee.

There are six elements of the remuneration packages for executive 
Directors. The remuneration policy for executive Directors is 
summarised in the table below.

Operation and process

Opportunity

Performance measures

Reviewed annually or following a material change in responsibilities. 
Salary is benchmarked against appropriate comparators of similar 
size and operating in a similar sector, and is linked to individual 
performance and contribution.

Salary is the only element of remuneration that is pensionable.

Benefits

To provide benefits that are competitive within the relevant market

Benefits are appropriate to the location of the executive and typically 
comprise (but are not limited to) a company car, life assurance, 
permanent disability insurance, private medical insurance, relocation 
and tax advice for international assignments.

Benefits may vary by role, and the level is determined to be 

appropriate for the role and circumstances of each individual 

executive Director. The maximum value will equate to the reasonable 

Not applicable

market cost of such benefits.

Pension 

To provide competitive post-retirement benefits, or to provide the 
opportunity for executives to save for their retirement

Executive Directors participate in either a Group Defined Benefit 
pension plan, Group Defined Contribution pension plan or the US 
401k money purchase arrangement. 

Cash supplements in lieu of Company pension contributions may  
be made to some individuals.

To the extent the pension contributions exceed the local tax 
allowance, the contributions may be paid to the executive, subject  
to taxes and social charges.

74

Base salary increases will be applied in line with the outcome of  

Not applicable

the review (normally with effect from 1 April). Salaries for the financial 

year under review (and the following year) are disclosed in the  

Annual Report on Remuneration (see page 85 for 2013/14 and 

2014/15 salaries).

It is not anticipated that salary increases for executive Directors will 

exceed those of the wider employee population over the period this 

policy will apply. Where increases are awarded in excess of the wider 

employee population, for example if there is a material change in  

the responsibility, size or complexity of the role, the Committee  

will provide the rationale in the relevant year’s Annual Report  

on Remuneration.

It is not anticipated that the current cost of benefits (as set out in  

the Annual Report on Remuneration) would increase materially  

over the period for which this policy will apply.

The Committee retains the discretion to approve a higher cost  

in exceptional circumstances (e.g. relocation expenses or an 

expatriation allowance on recruitment, etc.) or in circumstances  

where factors outside the Company’s control have changed materially 

(e.g. market increases in insurance costs). The rationale behind the 

exercise of such discretion will be provided in the relevant year’s 

Annual Report on Remuneration.

Defined Benefit: maximum pension after 25 years’ pensionable 

service equivalent to two-thirds of final pensionable salary, up to  

a CPI-indexed cap; £153,684 for 2014/15.

Not applicable

Defined Contribution: maximum contribution of 27.5% of pensionable 

salary for executive Directors (2014/15: 20% maximum).

Cash supplement: Halma contributes 26% of salary in excess of the 

cap, or up to 26% of the full salary if the executive Director no longer 

participates in the Defined Benefit scheme.

401k contributions of 3% of salary with a discretionary 2% profit share 

component subject to IRS caps.

Halma plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014In addition to the elements of remuneration set out below, the 
Committee may consider it appropriate to grant an award under a 
different structure in order to facilitate the recruitment of an individual, 
exercising the discretion available under the relevant Listing Rule  
to replace incentive arrangements forfeited on leaving a previous 
employer. Such ‘buyout awards’ would have a fair value no higher 
than that of the awards forfeited. Further, the Committee also retains 
discretion to make non-significant changes to the policy without 
reverting to shareholders.

Element and objective

Salary

To attract and retain key employees and reflect their experience  

and personal contribution to delivery of the Group’s strategy

Reviewed annually or following a material change in responsibilities. 

Salary is benchmarked against appropriate comparators of similar 

size and operating in a similar sector, and is linked to individual 

performance and contribution.

Salary is the only element of remuneration that is pensionable.

Benefits

To provide benefits that are competitive within the relevant market

Benefits are appropriate to the location of the executive and typically 

comprise (but are not limited to) a company car, life assurance, 

permanent disability insurance, private medical insurance, relocation 

and tax advice for international assignments.

Operation and process

Opportunity

Base salary increases will be applied in line with the outcome of  
the review (normally with effect from 1 April). Salaries for the financial 
year under review (and the following year) are disclosed in the  
Annual Report on Remuneration (see page 85 for 2013/14 and 
2014/15 salaries).

It is not anticipated that salary increases for executive Directors will 
exceed those of the wider employee population over the period this 
policy will apply. Where increases are awarded in excess of the wider 
employee population, for example if there is a material change in  
the responsibility, size or complexity of the role, the Committee  
will provide the rationale in the relevant year’s Annual Report  
on Remuneration.

Benefits may vary by role, and the level is determined to be 
appropriate for the role and circumstances of each individual 
executive Director. The maximum value will equate to the reasonable 
market cost of such benefits.

It is not anticipated that the current cost of benefits (as set out in  
the Annual Report on Remuneration) would increase materially  
over the period for which this policy will apply.

The Committee retains the discretion to approve a higher cost  
in exceptional circumstances (e.g. relocation expenses or an 
expatriation allowance on recruitment, etc.) or in circumstances  
where factors outside the Company’s control have changed materially 
(e.g. market increases in insurance costs). The rationale behind the 
exercise of such discretion will be provided in the relevant year’s 
Annual Report on Remuneration.

Performance measures

Not applicable

Not applicable

Pension 

To provide competitive post-retirement benefits, or to provide the 

opportunity for executives to save for their retirement

Executive Directors participate in either a Group Defined Benefit 

pension plan, Group Defined Contribution pension plan or the US 

401k money purchase arrangement. 

Cash supplements in lieu of Company pension contributions may  

be made to some individuals.

To the extent the pension contributions exceed the local tax 

allowance, the contributions may be paid to the executive, subject  

to taxes and social charges.

Defined Benefit: maximum pension after 25 years’ pensionable 
service equivalent to two-thirds of final pensionable salary, up to  
a CPI-indexed cap; £153,684 for 2014/15.

Not applicable

Defined Contribution: maximum contribution of 27.5% of pensionable 
salary for executive Directors (2014/15: 20% maximum).

Cash supplement: Halma contributes 26% of salary in excess of the 
cap, or up to 26% of the full salary if the executive Director no longer 
participates in the Defined Benefit scheme.

401k contributions of 3% of salary with a discretionary 2% profit share 
component subject to IRS caps.

75

Halma plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014Strategic Report Governance Financial Statements Opportunity

Maximum opportunity: 100% of salary.

Target opportunity: 60% of salary.

Bonus payable at threshold: 0% of salary.

Target means the attainment of sufficient Economic Value  

Added (EVA) growth representative of approximately 8%  

profit improvement.

In exceptional circumstances, the Committee has the ability to 

exercise discretion to override the formulaic bonus outcome within 

the limits of the scheme where it believes the outcome is not truly 

reflective of performance and to ensure fairness to both shareholders 

and participants.

Performance measures

The bonus is based 100% on the achievement of financial 

performance targets. No element of the bonus is linked to  

personal objectives.

The primary measure used to determine bonus outcomes is EVA, 

although the Committee may, in its discretion and from time to time, 

supplement EVA with additional financial measures (including, but 

not limited to, revenue growth, cashflow, Return on Capital Employed 

(ROCE), etc.) that reflect Halma’s strategic priorities for the year.

Discretion is only exercised when a strategic priority that may not be 

immediately earnings enhancing is targeted.

Details of the measures, weightings and targets applicable for the 

financial year under review are provided in the Annual Report on 

Remuneration.

Maximum opportunity: 140% of salary, subject to an executive’s 

Vesting of PSP awards is subject to continued employment and the 

personal performance during the financial year prior to grant.

Company’s performance over a three-year performance period. If 

performance conditions are not met at the end of the performance 

In exceptional circumstances, such as to facilitate the recruitment of 

an external candidate, the Committee may, in its absolute discretion, 

period, awards will lapse.

exceed this maximum annual opportunity, as permitted by the Rules 

The performance measures and respective weightings may vary 

(currently up to 150% of salary).

Threshold performance will result in the vesting of 16.7% of the 

maximum award.

year-on-year to reflect strategic priorities, subject to retaining an 

element on Total Shareholder Return (TSR) and Return on Total 

Invested Capital (ROTIC), and subject to a minimum weighting of 

25%, currently 50%, on each of these measures.

The TSR peer group consists of the FTSE250 excluding financial 

companies. The Committee considers the performance condition  

of new awards annually.

Details of the measures, weightings and targets applicable for  

awards made in the financial year under review are provided in  

the Annual Report on Remuneration.

Participation limits are in line with those set by HMRC from time to 

Not applicable.

time (2013/14: £3,000; 2014/15: £3,600).

Remuneration Committee Report continued
Remuneration Policy

Element and objective

Annual Incentive 

To incentivise the achievement of an objective annual target which 
supports the short- to medium-term strategy of the Group.

Operation and process

The structure of the Annual Incentive (including, but not limited to, 
performance measures and their weightings) is reviewed at the  
start of the year to ensure they remain appropriately aligned with the 
Group’s strategy.

Performance targets are calibrated and set at the start of the year, 
with reference to a range of relevant reference points including, but 
not limited to, the annual budget agreed by the Board. At the end of 
the year, the Committee determines the extent to which these targets 
have been achieved.

Performance Share Plan (PSP)

To incentivise executives to achieve superior returns to shareholders 
over a three-year period; to retain key individuals and align interests 
with shareholders, reflecting the sustainability of the business model 
over the long-term.

Executive Directors are granted annual awards of Halma plc shares 
as determined by the Committee, which vest after a period of at least 
three years based on Group performance.

Dividend equivalents accrue over the vesting period. Dividend 
equivalents are paid in cash or shares at the end of the vesting 
period, and only on those shares which vest.

Share Incentive Plan (SIP)

To encourage share ownership across all UK-based employees 
using HMRC-approved schemes.

The SIP is an HMRC-approved arrangement which entitles all 
UK-based employees to receive Halma shares in a potentially 
tax-advantageous manner.

As part of their participation in the PSP, UK executive Directors may 
be awarded a proportion of their PSP awards in SIP Free Shares. 
Free shares are awarded based on length of service and earnings.

Notes to the Policy Table
Payments from Existing Awards
The Committee will honour any commitment entered into, and executive Directors will be eligible to receive payment from any award made, prior to the approval and 
implementation of the Remuneration Policy detailed in this report, i.e. before 24 July 2014. Details of these awards are disclosed in the Annual Report on Remuneration.

Selection of Performance Measures
The performance measures used in Halma’s executive incentives have been selected to ensure incentives reinforce the Group’s strategy and align executive interests 
closely with those of our shareholders.

In the annual bonus, the use of EVA, in summary, profit less a charge for capital employed (definition is provided on page 82) reinforces the Group’s business objective to 
double Group revenue and profit every five years through a mix of acquisitions and organic growth. Profit is a function of the extent to which the Company has achieved both 
its organic growth target and its success in identifying appropriate acquisition targets in current and past years. Ensuring that the cost of funding acquisitions is reflected in 
the bonus model means that executives share the benefit of an acquisition that outperforms expectations, but equally bear the cost of overpaying for an acquisition. Good or 
poor management of working capital is also reflected in the calculation of EVA.

In the PSP, the Committee continues to believe that TSR provides close shareholder alignment and incentivises shareholder value creation, and ROTIC reinforces the 
focus on capital efficiency and delivery of strong returns, thereby further strengthening the alignment of remuneration with the Group strategy.

76

Halma plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014Element and objective

Annual Incentive 

To incentivise the achievement of an objective annual target which 

supports the short- to medium-term strategy of the Group.

Operation and process

The structure of the Annual Incentive (including, but not limited to, 

performance measures and their weightings) is reviewed at the  

start of the year to ensure they remain appropriately aligned with the 

Group’s strategy.

Performance targets are calibrated and set at the start of the year, 

with reference to a range of relevant reference points including, but 

not limited to, the annual budget agreed by the Board. At the end of 

the year, the Committee determines the extent to which these targets 

have been achieved.

Performance Share Plan (PSP)

To incentivise executives to achieve superior returns to shareholders 

over a three-year period; to retain key individuals and align interests 

Executive Directors are granted annual awards of Halma plc shares 

as determined by the Committee, which vest after a period of at least 

three years based on Group performance.

with shareholders, reflecting the sustainability of the business model 

Dividend equivalents accrue over the vesting period. Dividend 

over the long-term.

equivalents are paid in cash or shares at the end of the vesting 

period, and only on those shares which vest.

Opportunity

Maximum opportunity: 100% of salary.

Target opportunity: 60% of salary.

Bonus payable at threshold: 0% of salary.

Target means the attainment of sufficient Economic Value  
Added (EVA) growth representative of approximately 8%  
profit improvement.

In exceptional circumstances, the Committee has the ability to 
exercise discretion to override the formulaic bonus outcome within 
the limits of the scheme where it believes the outcome is not truly 
reflective of performance and to ensure fairness to both shareholders 
and participants.

Maximum opportunity: 140% of salary, subject to an executive’s 
personal performance during the financial year prior to grant.

In exceptional circumstances, such as to facilitate the recruitment of 
an external candidate, the Committee may, in its absolute discretion, 
exceed this maximum annual opportunity, as permitted by the Rules 
(currently up to 150% of salary).

Threshold performance will result in the vesting of 16.7% of the 
maximum award.

Performance measures

The bonus is based 100% on the achievement of financial 
performance targets. No element of the bonus is linked to  
personal objectives.

The primary measure used to determine bonus outcomes is EVA, 
although the Committee may, in its discretion and from time to time, 
supplement EVA with additional financial measures (including, but 
not limited to, revenue growth, cashflow, Return on Capital Employed 
(ROCE), etc.) that reflect Halma’s strategic priorities for the year.

Discretion is only exercised when a strategic priority that may not be 
immediately earnings enhancing is targeted.

Details of the measures, weightings and targets applicable for the 
financial year under review are provided in the Annual Report on 
Remuneration.

Vesting of PSP awards is subject to continued employment and the 
Company’s performance over a three-year performance period. If 
performance conditions are not met at the end of the performance 
period, awards will lapse.

The performance measures and respective weightings may vary 
year-on-year to reflect strategic priorities, subject to retaining an 
element on Total Shareholder Return (TSR) and Return on Total 
Invested Capital (ROTIC), and subject to a minimum weighting of 
25%, currently 50%, on each of these measures.

The TSR peer group consists of the FTSE250 excluding financial 
companies. The Committee considers the performance condition  
of new awards annually.

Details of the measures, weightings and targets applicable for  
awards made in the financial year under review are provided in  
the Annual Report on Remuneration.

Share Incentive Plan (SIP)

To encourage share ownership across all UK-based employees 

using HMRC-approved schemes.

The SIP is an HMRC-approved arrangement which entitles all 

UK-based employees to receive Halma shares in a potentially 

tax-advantageous manner.

As part of their participation in the PSP, UK executive Directors may 

be awarded a proportion of their PSP awards in SIP Free Shares. 

Free shares are awarded based on length of service and earnings.

Participation limits are in line with those set by HMRC from time to 
time (2013/14: £3,000; 2014/15: £3,600).

Not applicable.

Performance targets are set to be stretching yet achievable, taking into account the Company’s strategic priorities and the economic environment in which it operates. 
Targets are calibrated taking into account a range of reference points including the Group’s strategic plan, broker forecasts and historical performance.

Remuneration Policy for Other Employees
Our approach to salary reviews is consistent across the Group, with consideration given to the level of responsibility, experience, individual performance, market levels 
and the Company’s ability to pay. The Committee considers remuneration surveys to establish market rates, as appropriate. 

Executive Board members and other senior executives participate in an annual bonus scheme on a similar basis as the executive Directors. A number of senior 
executives also receive PSP awards. Performance conditions are consistent for all participants, while award sizes vary by organisational level. All UK employees are 
eligible to participate in the SIP on the same terms. 

Pension and benefits arrangements are tailored to local market conditions, and are determined to be appropriately competitive.

Approach to Recruitment Remuneration
The Committee’s policy is to set pay for new executive Directors and Executive Board members within the existing remuneration policy in order to provide internal 
consistency. The Committee aims to ensure that the Company pays no more than is necessary to appoint individuals of an appropriate calibre. 

77

Halma plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014Strategic Report Governance Financial Statements Remuneration Committee Report continued
Remuneration Policy

External appointments
In the case of appointing a new executive Director, the Committee may make use of any of the existing elements of remuneration, as follows:

Component

Approach

Salary

The base salaries of new appointees will be determined by reference to relevant market 
data, experience and skills of the individual, internal relativities and the current salary of 
any incumbent in the same role.

Benefits

Pension

Where a new appointee has an initial base salary set below market, the Committee may 
make phased increases over a period of several years, subject to the individual’s 
development and performance in the role.

New appointees will be eligible to receive benefits in line with the current policy, as well 
as expatriation allowances and any necessary expenses relating to an executive’s 
relocation on appointment.

New appointees will be eligible to participate in the Company’s Defined Contribution 
pension plan or local equivalent.

Annual bonus

The scheme as described in the policy table will apply to new appointees with the 
relevant maximum being pro-rated to reflect the proportion of the year employed.

PSP

SIP

New appointees will be granted awards under the PSP on the same terms as other 
executives, as described in the policy table.

New appointees will be eligible to participate on identical terms to other employees.

£3,600

Maximum incentive 
opportunity

–

–

–

100% of salary 

150% of salary

The Committee may also make an award in respect of a new 
appointment to ‘buy out’ incentive arrangements forfeited on leaving 
a previous employer, and may avail itself of the relevant Listing Rule to 
grant an award under a different structure, as appropriate. In making 
such awards, the Committee will consider relevant factors including 
any performance conditions attached to these awards, the likelihood 
of those conditions being met, and the remaining vesting period of 
these awards. If such an award is made, details will be disclosed in 
the following year’s Annual Report on Remuneration.

Internal appointments
Remuneration for new executive Directors appointed by way of 
internal promotion will similarly be determined in line with the policy 
for external appointees, as detailed above. Where an individual has 
contractual commitments made prior to their promotion to the Board, 
the Company will continue to honour those commitments. Incentive 
opportunities for below-Board employees are generally no higher 
than for executive Directors, and incentive measures vary to ensure 
they are appropriate. 

Share Ownership Guidelines
To ensure alignment between the interests of executive Directors and 
those of shareholders, the Company requires executive Directors to 
progressively build up and maintain a beneficial holding of Halma plc 
shares equivalent to a minimum of 100% of salary.

Executive Director Service Contracts and  
Exit Payment Policies
It is the Company’s policy that executive Directors should have 
contracts with an indefinite term providing for a maximum of one 
year’s notice. The details of the Directors’ contracts are summarised 
in the table below.

Executive Director Date of service contract Notice period

Andrew Williams

April 2003

Kevin Thompson

April 2003

Neil Quinn

Adam Meyers

April 2003

July 2008

One year

One year

One year

One year

The Company’s policy is to limit exit payments to pre-established 
contractual arrangements. In the event that the employment of an 
executive Director is terminated, any compensation payable will be 
determined in accordance with the terms of the service contract 
between the Company and the employee, as well as the rules of any 
incentive plans. No predetermined compensation is provided for in 
the Directors’ contracts. The UK executive Director contracts enable 
the Company to pay one year’s salary in lieu of notice, with no 
contractual entitlement to any other benefits, and the Remuneration 
Committee may determine the individual’s leaving status for pro-rated 
share plan vesting purposes. If the financial year end has passed,  
any bonus earned is payable to the individual. US Director contracts 
permit the individual to remain an employee for the entire period  
of notice enjoying any benefits related to employment. The share  
plan and bonus provisions are identical to the UK. Both contracts 
contain appropriate non-compete restrictions for a suitable period 
post-employment.

When considering termination payments under incentive schemes, 
the Committee reviews all potential incentive outcomes to ensure  
they are fair to both shareholders and participants. The table below 
summarises how the awards under the annual bonus and PSP are 
typically treated in specific circumstances, with the final treatment 
remaining subject to the Committee’s discretion:

78

Halma plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014Reason for leaving

Timing of vesting

Calculation of vesting/payment

Annual bonus

Death, injury or disability, redundancy, 
retirement, or any other reasons the 
Committee may determine

After the end of the financial 
year, although the Committee 
has discretion to accelerate 
(e.g. in relation to death)

Performance against targets will be 
assessed at the end of the year in the 
normal way and any resulting bonus 
will be pro-rated for time served  
during the year

PSP

Change of control

All other reasons

Injury or disability, redundancy, 
retirement, or any other reason the 
Committee may, at its discretion, 
determine

Death

Change of control

Immediately

Awards lapse

Immediately (unless otherwise 
determined by the Committee 
at its discretion)

All other reasons

Awards lapse

Awards will be pro-rated for time and 
performance to the date of cessation 
of employment

Any outstanding awards will be 
pro-rated for time and performance  
up to the point of the change of control

Pay-for-Performance: Scenario Analysis
The following charts provide an estimate of the potential future 
rewards for executive Directors, and the potential split between 
different elements of pay, under three different performance 
scenarios: ‘Fixed’, ‘On-target’ and ‘Maximum’. 

Potential reward opportunities are based on Halma’s current 
remuneration policy, applied to salaries as at 1 April 2014. Note that 
the projected values exclude the impact of share price movement. 

The ‘Fixed’ scenario shows base salary, pension and benefits only.

The ‘On-target’ scenario shows fixed remuneration as above, 
plus a target payout of 60% of salary under the annual bonus  
and performance vesting of 44.45% under the PSP (ROTIC of  
12% and TSR percentile of 50%).

The ‘Maximum’ scenario reflects fixed remuneration, plus full payout 
of all incentives.

Andrew Williams, Chief Executive
Percentages/amounts £000

Neil Quinn, Sector Chief Executive – Process Safety
Percentages/amounts £000

Fixed

On-target

Maximum

100%

677

Fixed

100%

54%

25% 21%

1,251

On-target

46%

26% 28%

38%

29%

33%

1,789

Maximum

30%

29%

41%

Kevin Thompson, Finance Director
Percentages/amounts £000

Adam Meyers, Sector Chief Executive – Medical
Percentages/amounts £000

Fixed

On-target

Maximum

100%

430

Fixed

100%

52%

24% 24%

828

On-target

47%

26% 27%

36%

27%

37%

1,209

Maximum

31%

29%

40%

Salary, pension and benefits

Annual bonus

Long-term incentives

264

571

868

307

654

989

79

Halma plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014Strategic Report Governance Financial Statements Remuneration Committee Report continued
Remuneration Policy

Non-executive Directors
Unless otherwise indicated, all non-executive Directors (NEDs) have 
a specific three-year term of engagement which may be renewed 
for further three-year terms if both the Director and the Board agree. 
The remuneration of the Chairman and the NEDs is determined by 
the Committee and the Board based on independent surveys of 
fees paid to the Chairman and NEDs of similar companies.

The contract in respect of the Chairman’s services provides for 
termination, by either party, by giving not less than six months’  
notice. The non-executive Directors have contracts in respect  
of their services, which can be terminated, by either party, by  
giving not less than three months’ notice.

Summary details of terms and notice periods for NEDs are included 
below. 

Non-executive  
Director

Paul Walker

Stephen Pettit

Jane Aikman

Date of  
appointment

April 2013

September 2003

August 2007

Norman Blackwell

Steve Marshall

July 2010

July 2010

Daniela Barone Soares

November 2011

Notice  
period

6 months

3 months

3 months

3 months

3 months

3 months

NEDs do not receive benefits from the Company and they are not 
eligible to join the Company’s pension plan or participate in any 
incentive schemes. Any reasonable expenses that they incur in 
performing their duties are reimbursed by the Company.

Paul Walker’s personal assistant is an employee of the Company. 

Details of the policy on NED fees are set out in the table below:

Purpose and link to strategy

Operation and process

Opportunity

To attract and retain NEDs of the highest 
calibre with experience relevant to  
the Company

Fees are normally reviewed annually in April 
with any increase effective from 1 April.

Aggregate fees are limited to £0.5 million  
by the Company’s Articles of Association.

The fee paid to the Chairman is determined 
by the Committee, and fees to NEDs are 
determined by the Board. The fees are 
calculated by reference to current market 
levels and take account of the time 
commitment and the responsibilities of the 
NEDs.

Additional fees are payable for acting as 
Senior Independent Director and for being 
the Chairman of a Board Committee, as 
appropriate.

Fees are paid in cash.

The fees paid to non-executive Directors in 
respect of the year under review (and for the 
following year) are disclosed in the Annual 
Remuneration Report.

To avoid setting expectations, there is no 
prescribed maximum fee. Fee increases will 
be applied taking into account the outcome 
of the review.

NED Recruitment
In recruiting a new Chairman or NED, the Committee will use the 
policy as set out in the table above. 

Considerations of Conditions Elsewhere in the Group 
The Committee considers the remuneration and employment 
conditions elsewhere in the Group when determining remuneration 
for executive Directors. However, the Committee does not  
currently consult specifically with employees on the executive 
remuneration policy.

Considerations of Shareholder Views 
When determining remuneration, the Committee takes into account 
the views of our shareholders and ‘best practice’ guidelines set by 
shareholder representative bodies. The Committee always welcomes 
feedback from shareholders on the Company’s remuneration policy 
and commits to undergoing shareholder consultation in advance of 
any significant changes to policy. Detail on the votes received on the 
Directors’ Remuneration Report at the prior annual general meeting 
is provided in the Annual Remuneration Report.

External Directorships
The Committee acknowledges that executive Directors may be 
invited to become independent non-executive directors of other listed 
companies which have no business relationship with the Company 
and that these roles can broaden their experience and knowledge  
to Halma’s benefit.

Executive Directors are permitted to accept one such appointment 
with the prior approval of the Chairman. Approval will only be given 
where the appointment does not present a conflict of interest with  
the Group’s activities and the wider exposure gained will be beneficial 
to the development of the individual. Where fees are payable in 
respect of such appointments, these would be retained by the 
executive Director.

80

Halma plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014Annual Remuneration Report
The following section provides details of how Halma’s remuneration policy was implemented during the financial year ending 29 March 2014, 
and how it will be implemented in 2014/15.

The Remuneration Committee
The primary responsibilities of the Remuneration Committee are to:

 – Make recommendations to the Board on the framework for 

executive Directors’ and senior executives’ remuneration based  
on proposals formulated by the CEO;

 – Determine and agree with the Board the policy and framework for 
the remuneration of the Chairman, CEO, other executive Directors, 
the Company Secretary and members of the Executive Board;

 – Approve the design of, and determine targets for, any performance-
related pay plans operated by the Company and agree the total 
annual payments made under such plans;

 – Review the design of all share incentive plans for approval by the 
Board and shareholders, and determine, each year, whether 
awards will be made, and if so, the overall amount of such awards, 
the individual awards to executive Directors and other senior 
executives and the performance targets to be set; and

 – Determine the policy for, and scope of, pension arrangements  

for each executive Director and other senior executives.

The Committee also monitors and considers, with the CEO, the 
framework of remuneration for subsidiary CEOs and directors and 
ensures a consistent approach is applied.

The full terms of reference can be found on the Company’s website 
or can be obtained from the Company Secretary.

As at 29 March 2014, the Committee comprised the following 
non-executive Directors:

 – Steve Marshall (Chairman)
 – Stephen Pettit
 – Norman Blackwell
 – Paul Walker (from his appointment)

After year end, Jane Aikman and Daniela Barone Soares joined the 
Committee as recommended by the Nomination Committee and 
determined at the 10 April 2014 Board meeting. Geoff Unwin was a 
member of the Committee during the year, until his retirement from 
the Board.

All members of the Committee are considered independent within  
the definition set out in the Code. None of the Committee has any 
personal financial interest in Halma (other than as shareholders), 
conflicts of interests arising from cross directorships or day-to-day 
involvement in running the business.

During the year the Committee met four times. Attendance by 
individual members of the Committee is disclosed in the Corporate 
Governance section on page 60.

Only members of the Committee have the right to attend  
Committee meetings. The CEO and Company Secretary attend  
the Committee’s meetings by invitation, but are not present when 
their own remuneration is discussed. The Committee also takes 
independent professional advice as required.

External Advisers
Kepler Associates acted as the independent remuneration  
adviser to the Committee during the year, having been appointed  
by the Committee in 2011. Kepler attends Committee meetings,  
as appropriate, and provides advice on remuneration for executives, 
analysis on all elements of the remuneration policy and regular  
market and best practice updates. Kepler reports directly to the 
Committee Chairman and is a signatory to the Code of Conduct  
for Remuneration Consultants of UK-listed companies (which can  
be found at www.remunerationconsultantsgroup.com). Kepler 
provides no other services to the Company, and is therefore 
considered independent. Kepler’s fees for the year were £24,000.

Independent pension advice was provided to the Committee and the 
Company by Lane, Clark & Peacock LLP during the year. Total fees 
paid to them for the year were £66,000 primarily related to advice 
pertaining to cessation of future DB accrual.

Shareholder Vote at 2013 annual general meeting
The following table shows the results of the advisory vote on the 2013 Directors’ Remuneration Report at the 25 July 2013 annual 
general meeting.

Total number of votes

% of votes cast

Total  

For

Against

votes cast Abstentions

270,191,620

2,081,758 272,273,378

3,063,744

99.2%

0.8%

100%

1.1%

Total Single Figure of Remuneration for Executive Directors
The tables below set out the total single figure remuneration received by each Executive Director for the year to 29 March 2014 and the 
prior year. 

Executive Director

Andrew Williams

Kevin Thompson

Neil Quinn

Adam Meyers7

Salary1 
£000

Benefits2 

£000

Pension3
£000

482

310

241

261

27

14

14

12

146

101

–

12

Annual
bonus4 
£000

178

114

235

105

PSP5
£000

1,104

684

538

606

2014

SIP6
£000

Total 
remuneration 
£000

3

3

3

–

1,940

1,226

1,031

996

81

Halma plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014Strategic Report Governance Financial Statements Remuneration Committee Report continued
Annual Remuneration Report 

Executive Director

Andrew Williams

Kevin Thompson

Neil Quinn

Adam Meyers7

Salary1 
£000

Benefits2
£000

Pension3
£000

450

290

231

249

27

15

13

14

159

135

–

8

Annual
 bonus4 
£000

216

138

231

249

PSP5 
£000

922

641

511

329

2013

Total 
remuneration 
£000

SIP6
£000

3

3

3

–

1,777

1,222

989

849

1.  Salary: amount earned for the year.

2.  Benefits: company car and private medical insurance.

3.   Pension: value based on increase in accrued pensions (net of inflation) multiplied by a factor of 20, and/or the Company’s pension contribution during the year. Neil Quinn has 

reached the Normal Retirement Date and therefore no future pension contribution or cash supplement is payable.

4.  Annual bonus: payment for performance during the year. 

5.  PSP: the value at vesting of awards vesting on performance during the years ending 29 March 2014 and 30 March 2013. 

6.  SIP: valued based on the face value of shares at grant.

7.  Remunerated in US dollars and translated at the average exchange rate for the year (2014: US$1.59; 2013: US$1.58).

Incentive Outcomes for 2014
Annual bonus in respect of 2014
In 2014, the maximum bonus opportunity for executive Directors was 100% of salary, linked to performance as measured by an Economic 
Value Added (EVA) calculation (90%) and revenue growth outside the UK, USA and Mainland Europe (10%). In setting appropriate bonus 
parameters the Committee determined that bonuses of approximately 60% of salary were payable on the achievement of targeted levels 
of growth.

For the CEO and FD, bonuses are calculated based on Group profit exceeding a target calculated from the profits for the three preceding 
financial years after charging cost of capital, including the cost of acquisitions. As the EVA for each year is utilised for a further three years in 
the comparator calculations, executives must consider the medium-term interests of the Group otherwise there is the potential for an adverse 
impact on their capacity to earn a bonus.

EVA calculation:

Profit for  
each year

Minus
A charge on cost of 
acquisitions

Minus
A charge on working 
capital

Plus/minus
Unrealised profit in 
inventory

Minus
The resultant bonus 
itself (to make it 
self-financing)

Equals
The EVA for each year

In the case of a Sector CEO, a bonus is earned if the profit of the sector for which they are responsible exceeds a target calculated from the 
profits of the three preceding financial years. The profits calculated for this purpose regard each Sector as a stand-alone group of companies 
charging it with the cost of capital it utilises including the cost of acquisitions.

Bonuses for 2014 are based on the divisional allocation that existed throughout 2014. Transitional provisions exist for restructuring to ensure 
Sector CEOs remain appropriately incentivised. Subsidiary executives participate in bonus arrangements similar to those established for 
senior executives.

Further details of the bonuses paid and performance against targets are provided in the tables below.

Executive Director

Andrew Williams

Kevin Thompson

Neil Quinn

Adam Meyers

EVA 
threshold 
000

EVA actual 
000

Overall 
bonus 
outcome 
(% of salary)

£80,730

£80,730

£26,605

$20,074

£92,712

£92,712

£32,650

$23,335

37%

37%

98%

40%

EVA 
maximum

£101,979

£101,979

£30,900

$25,075

No discretion was applied by the Committee in determining the annual bonus outcome calculation for 2014. The EVA maximum column 
represents the EVA performance at which 90% of salary is payable as a bonus (the maximum for 2013/14).

The overall bonus outcome above includes the revenue-related element and the EVA-related element of the incentive.

82

Halma plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014Performance Share Plan (PSP): 2010 Awards (vesting during the year to 29 March 2014)
On 6 August 2010, the executive Directors received awards of performance shares under the PSP. The performance targets for the 2010 
awards are illustrated below and the vesting criteria were 50% TSR-related and 50% ROTIC-related.

Performance conditions for awards made in 2011/12 (and prior)

Percentage of award  
which vests

ROTIC  
(post-tax)

≤ 9.5%

11.0%

12.5%

14.0%

<50%

0%

16.7%

33.3%

50%

50%

16.7%

33.3%

50.0%

66.7%

TSR (percentile)

≥75%

50.0%

66.7%

83.3%

100%

The three-year period over which performance was measured ended on 1 August 2013. Actual average ROTIC was 16.0% and TSR relative 
to the FTSE250 excluding financial companies was 74th percentile, which resulted in vesting of 98.13% of the maximum award. The award 
vested on 6 August 2013, as detailed in the table below:

Executive Director

Andrew Williams

Kevin Thompson

Neil Quinn

Adam Meyers

Interest 
held

Face value 
at grant

200,215

124,126

£562,764

£348,893

97,531

£274,140

110,005

£309,202

Vesting 
%

98.13%

Interest 
vesting

196,470

121,804

95,707

107,947

Price on vesting

561.78p

Vesting 
value

£1,103,729

£684,271

£537,663

£606,425

Vested awards are satisfied in shares with sufficient shares being sold to meet tax and social costs owing, at the recipient’s direction,  
and the net balance of shares transferred to the individual. Awards lapse if they do not vest on the third anniversary of their award.

Performance Share Plan: Awards (granted during 2013/14)
In August 2013, the executive Directors were granted awards under the PSP, the size of which reflects an assessment of each individual 
executive’s achievement of their objectives (agreed at the start of the 2013 financial year), as follows: 

Performance against objectives

Chief Executive

Finance Director

Executive Directors

Maximum 
award 
permitted

140%

140%

140%

Actual 
award  
2014

Estimated 
vesting in 
2017

At  
individual %  
assessment 
level

133%

129%

133%

84%

82%

84%

The percentages above are relative to base salaries. The estimated vesting is at 63.2% of awards granted.

Details of the awards granted on 7 August 2013 are provided in the table below:

Executive Director

Andrew Williams

Kevin Thompson

Neil Quinn

Adam Meyers

Awards 
made during 
the year

Market price at 
date of award

Face value 
at date of 
award

Face value 
at date of 
award (% of 
salary)

114,646

71,041

57,054

62,767

557.6p

£639,266

£396,125

£318,133

£349,989

133%

128%

132%

140%

The face value of the awards as a percentage of salary can differ from the individual assessment level in the first table due to part of the total 
share award being delivered through the SIP (for UK executives) and due to using the prior year average exchange rate for translation of US 
executives’ salaries when determining the award. On the latter basis, Adam Meyers’ face value was 133% compared to his salary of $415,000 
translated at $1.58.

83

Halma plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014Strategic Report Governance Financial Statements Remuneration Committee Report continued
Annual Remuneration Report 

The three-year performance period over which ROTIC performance will be measured is April 2013 to March 2016. TSR performance is 
measured between 1 May 2013 and 1 August 2016 due to three-month averaging of TSR at 1 August 2013 being compared to the three-
month average at 1 August 2016. The award is eligible to vest in its entirety on the third anniversary of the date of grant (i.e. 7 August 2016), 
subject to 50% on ROTIC and 50% on TSR performance. The performance targets applicable to awards granted in 2013 are illustrated below.

Performance conditions for awards made in 2013/14 (unchanged from 2012/13)

Percentage of award  
which vests

ROTIC  
(post-tax)

≤ 9.5%

12.0%

14.5%

17.0%

<50%

0%

16.7%

33.3%

50%

50%

16.7%

33.3%

50.0%

66.7%

TSR (percentile)

≥75%

50.0%

66.7%

83.3%

100%

Total Single Figure of Remuneration for non-executive Directors
The table below sets out the total single figure remuneration received by each NED for the year to 29 March 2014 and the prior year. 

Non-Executive Director

Paul Walker1

Stephen Pettit

Jane Aikman

Norman Blackwell

Steve Marshall

Daniela Barone Soares

Geoff Unwin1

Base fee

Additional fees

Total fees

2014

£130,667

£42,000

£42,000

£42,000

£42,000

£42,000

£43,750

2013

N/A

£40,000

£40,000

£40,000

£40,000

£40,000

£165,000

2014

£2,310

£12,500

£10,000

£7,500

£12,500

£2,500

N/A

2013

N/A

£12,500

£10,000

£5,000

£12,500

£2,500

N/A

2014

£132,977

£54,500

£52,000

£49,500

£54,500

£44,500

£43,750

2013

N/A

£52,500

£50,000

£45,000

£52,500

£42,500

£165,000

1 Paul Walker was appointed to the Board on 12 April 2013 and the Chairman of the Board on 25 July 2013. Geoff Unwin retired from the Board on 25 July 2013.

Payments to past directors
During the year under review, no payments were made to past directors.

Exit Payments
No exit payments were made during the year under review.

Implementation of Remuneration Policy for 2015
Salary
The Committee conducted a consultation of the top ten shareholders in February and March 2014. The consultation was prompted  
by the Committee’s indentification that, whilst Halma’s performance in terms of TSR and market capitalisation has been strong in recent  
years, salaries for Halma’s executive Directors (and the fair value of the total package) were not competitive for a Group of Halma’s size and 
complexity. The Committee believed it was appropriate to move salaries above market lower quartile and closer to a market median level. 
Going forward, it is anticipated that salary increases will normally align with those awarded across the Group more generally. The Committee 
recognises the need to continue to exercise restraint on executive remuneration, and notes that the resulting packages remain below median 
for companies of our size and sector. Therefore, the Committee approved the following salary increases with effect from 1 April 2014. By way 
of comparison, the average salary increase across the sectors for 2015 was between 3% and 4%.

Salary from 
1 April 2014 

Salary from  
1 April 2013

% change

£515,000

£482,000

£330,000

£310,000

£250,000

£241,000

$450,000

$415,000

6.8%

6.5%

3.7%

8.4%

Executive Director

Andrew Williams

Kevin Thompson

Neil Quinn

Adam Meyers

84

Halma plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014Pension and benefits
No change to the executive Directors’ current pension and benefits arrangements is anticipated for 2014/15.

Annual bonus
The maximum annual bonus opportunity for executive Directors in 2015 will remain unchanged from the opportunity in 2014 and will be 100% 
of salary.

Bonuses will continue to be based on EVA performance against a weighted average target of EVA for the past three years for an executive’s 
sector, in the case of a Sector CEO, or the Group, in the case of the Group CEO and FD. 

PSP
PSP awards of new shares will be made in August 2014. The number of shares of which awards will be made is determined by the share price 
leading up to the award, but the value of each award, relative to salary has been determined based on the individuals’ personal, financial and 
governance objectives as follows:

Executive Director

Andrew Williams

Kevin Thompson

Neil Quinn

Adam Meyers

Salary for 
2014/15 

PSP 
attainment
 (140% max)

Value of
August  
2014 award

£515,000

£330,000

£250,000

$450,000

131.0%

135.5%

136.4%

126.5%

£674,650

£447,150

£341,000

£358,019

Chairman and non-executive Director fees
The Chairman’s and the NEDs’ fees, as detailed below, were last reviewed by the Board in April 2014. Fees will next be reviewed in April 2015.

Fees

Chairman

Base fee

Senior Independent Director

Audit Committee Chair

Remuneration Committee Chair

Committee Member

Fees from 
1 April 2014

Fees from 
1 April 2013

£180,000

£175,000

£48,000

£5,000

£7,500

£7,500

£nil

£42,000

£5,000

£10,000

£7,500

£2,500

The committee membership fee has been consolidated into the base fee with effect from 1 April 2014 and appropriate adjustments made to 
committee chair fees such that the year on year total fees of the Chairman and non-executive Directors have an overall increase of 3%.

Percentage Change in CEO Remuneration
The table below shows the percentage change in the CEO’s remuneration from the prior year compared to the average percentage change  
in remuneration for other employees. To provide a meaningful comparison, the analysis includes only salaried employees and is based on a 
consistent set of employees, i.e. the same individuals appear in the 2014 and 2013 populations.

Salary

Taxable benefits

Annual bonus

2014

CEO
£000

482

27

178

2013

CEO
£000

CEO 
% change

Other 
employees 
% change

450

27

216

7%

–%

(18)%

5%

–%

(9)%

85

Halma plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014Strategic Report Governance Financial Statements Remuneration Committee Report continued
Annual Remuneration Report 

Relative importance of spend on pay
The table below shows the percentage change in total employee pay expenditure and shareholder distributions (i.e. dividends and share 
buybacks) from the financial year ended 30 March 2013 to the financial year ended 29 March 2014.

Distribution to shareholders

Employee remuneration (gross)

Employee remuneration (pro-rated) 

2014  
£m

42.2

180.8

180.8

2013  

£m % change

39.4

164.9

174.8

7.1%

9.6%

3.4%

The Directors are proposing a final dividend for the year ended 29 March 2014 of 6.82p per share (2013: 6.37p).

Pro-rated employee remuneration represents a restatement of the prior year employee remuneration for the current year number  
of employees.

Pay for performance
The five-year graph below shows the Company’s TSR performance over the five years to 29 March 2014 as compared to the FTSE250 and 
the FTSE350 Electronic & Electrical Equipment indices. Over the period indicated, the Company’s TSR was 425.2% compared to 292.0%  
for the FTSE250 and 488.4% for the FTSE350 Electronic & Electrical Equipment Index.

The FTSE250 has been selected as a broad market comparator, and the FTSE350 Electronic & Electrical Equipment index has been selected 
because the Company believes that the constituent companies of this index are the most appropriate for this comparison as they are affected 
by similar commercial and economic factors to Halma. The table below the chart details the CEO’s single figure remuneration and actual 
variable pay outcomes over the same period.

Outperforming the market – Total Shareholder Return (five years)

Total Shareholder Return (five years)

600%

500%

400%

300%

200%

100%

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

■  Halma
■  FTSE 250
■  FTSE 350 Electronic & Electronic Equipment

CEO single figure remuneration (£000)

Annual bonus outcome (% of maximum)

PSP vesting outcome (% of maximum)

86

2010

£1,349

19%

91%

2011

£1,553

100%

96%

2012

£1,805

40%

100%

2013

£1,777

48%

100%

2014

£1,940

37%

98%

Halma plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014Directors’ Interests in Halma Shares
The interests of the Directors in office at 29 March 2014 and their families in the ordinary shares of the Company at the following dates were as 
follows:

Paul Walker

Andrew Williams

Kevin Thompson

Stephen Pettit

Neil Quinn

Jane Aikman

Adam Meyers

Norman Blackwell

Steve Marshall

Daniela Barone Soares

Shares  
29 March 2014

Shares  
30 March 2013

30,000

522,029

357,711

2,000

301,264

2,000

296,953

2,000

2,000

1,319

–

501,501

341,044

2,000

271,736

2,000

267,313

2,000

2,000

736

The executive Directors have each met the guideline of holding Company shares to the value of at least one times salary. Paul Walker held no 
interests in the Company’s shares upon his appointment. There are no other non-beneficial interests of Directors. There were no changes in 
Directors’ interests from 29 March 2014 to 12 June 2014.

Details of Directors’ interests in shares and options under Halma long-term incentives are set out in the sections below.

Directors’ Interests in Halma Share Plans
Details of Directors’ outstanding performance shares under the PSP free shares under the SIP and share options under the Share Option 
Scheme (SOS) are outlined in the tables below.

PSP

Andrew Williams

Kevin Thompson

Neil Quinn

Adam Meyers

Date of grant

As at  
30 March 2013

Granted/ 
(vested)  
in the year

Five-day 
average share 
price on grant 
(p)

As at  
29 March 2014

6 Aug 10

12 Aug 11

8 Aug 12

7 Aug 13

6 Aug 10

12 Aug 11

8 Aug 12

7 Aug 13

6 Aug 10

12 Aug 11

8 Aug 12

7 Aug 13

6 Aug 10

12 Aug 11

8 Aug 12

7 Aug 13

200,215

164,912

141,658

124,126

103,571

98,066

97,531

80,810

70,954

110,005

88,552

82,408

(196,470)

114,646

(121,804)

71,041

(95,707)

57,054

(107,947)

62,767

281.08

362.34

403.70

557.60

281.08

362.34

403.70

557.60

281.08

362.34

403.70

557.60

281.08

362.34

403.70

557.60

–

164,912

141,658

114,646

–

103,571

98,066

71,041

–

80,810

70,954

57,054

–

88,552

82,408

62,767

The performance conditions for PSP shares awarded in August 2010 and 2011 differ from those awarded in August 2012 and 2013. 
The performance conditions attached to the awards are outlined on pages 83 and 84.

As at year end, the vesting expectations for grants made in 2011 is 79%; for grants made 2012, 61%, and for grants made in 2013, 42%.

87

Halma plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014Strategic Report Governance Financial Statements Remuneration Committee Report continued
Annual Remuneration Report 

SIP

Andrew Williams

Kevin Thompson

Neil Quinn

Date of grant

As at 
30 March 2013

Granted/ 
(withdrawn) in 
the year

Share price  
on award (p)

As at 
29 March 2014

1 Oct 10

1 Oct 11

1 Oct 12

1 Oct 13

1 Oct 10

1 Oct 11

1 Oct 12

1 Oct 13

1 Oct 10

1 Oct 11

1 Oct 12

1 Oct 13

857

921

695

882

949

695

882

949

695

319.60

315.60

431.10

567.50

319.60

315.60

431.10

567.50

319.60

315.60

431.10

567.50

528

528

528

857

921

695

528

882

949

695

528

882

949

695

528

The SIP shares are held in an external trust and become the employee’s absolutely after three years. There are tax benefits for retaining the 
shares in the trust for five years.

Details of Directors’ outstanding share options as at 29 March 2014 are outlined in the table below.

SOS

Andrew Williams

Kevin Thompson

Neil Quinn

Adam Meyers

As at 
30 March 2013

Lapsed in 
the year

Exercised in 
the year

As at
29 March 2014

69,666

104,000

96,970

107,462

(30,299)

(47,761)

(47,761)

(37,992)

–

–

–

–

39,367

56,239

49,209

69,470

There were no share option grants or exercises during the financial year. Adam Meyers has one exercisable option over 38,063 shares at a price of 145.67p; this option must be 
exercised, in whole or in part, before 24 June 2015. 
The remaining share options have an exercise price of 142.25p and are subject to performance conditions which have not yet been met, 
but will be independently tested upon publication of the 2014 Annual Report and Accounts. These options lapse on 18 August 2014 if not 
exercised before then.

The Company’s Register of Directors’ Interests, which is open to inspection at the Registered Office, contains full details of Directors’ 
shareholdings and share options. There have been no variations to the terms and conditions or performance criteria for share options  
during the financial year.

Directors’ pensions
As noted below, the UK executive Directors are members of the appropriate section of the Halma Group Pension Plan (‘Plan’). This section is  
a funded final salary occupational pension plan registered with HMRC, which provides a maximum pension of two-thirds of final pensionable 
salary after 25 or more years’ service at normal pension age (60). Up to 5 April 2006, final pensionable salary was the greatest salary of the 
last three complete tax years immediately before retirement or leaving service. From 6 April 2011, final pensionable salary was capped at 
£139,185 and is increased annually thereafter by CPI (currently £153,684).

Bonuses and other fluctuating emoluments and benefits-in-kind are not pensionable nor subject to any pension supplement. The Plan also 
provides for life cover of three times salary, pensions in the event of early retirement through ill-health and dependants’ pensions of one-half 
of the member’s prospective pension.

Early retirement pensions, currently possible from age 55 with the consent of the Company and the trustees of the Plan, are subject to 
actuarial reduction. Pensions in payment increase by 3% per annum for service up to 5 April 1997, by price inflation (subject to a maximum 
of 5%) through to 31 March 2007 and 3% thereafter.

Whilst pension benefits are accruing, executive Directors receive pension supplements to compensate them for the fact that their pension 
accrual entitlement under the Halma Group Pension Plan defined benefit arrangements is limited by the pensionable salary cap introduced 
from 6 April 2006 or the Lifetime Allowance. The Company introduced a pensionable salary cap in order to address changes affecting the 
Plan made in the Pension Act 2006. 

88

Halma plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014During the year, the Company announced the closure of the DB section to future accrual with effect from 1 December 2014. The Company 
obtains external advice regarding the changes to the Plan and executive pension arrangements and provides educational seminars on the 
impact of pension legislation changes (annual and lifetime allowances) on individuals. Otherwise, executive Directors are responsible for 
obtaining advice specific to their circumstances.

Prior to drawing his pension, to the extent that an executive’s current salary exceeds the Plan salary cap, the Company compensates him at 
an annual rate of 26% of the excess. In April 2006, Kevin Thompson chose to cease future service accrual in the Plan in return for the pension 
supplement on his full salary. In April 2014, Andrew Williams chose to cease future service accrual in the Plan in return for the pension 
supplement on his full salary. This change is, broadly, cost neutral.

Neil Quinn has reached the Normal Retirement Date and is drawing his pension, therefore no future pension contribution or cash supplement 
is payable.

Two Directors accrued benefits under the Company’s Defined Benefit pension plan during the year as follows.

Executive Director

Andrew Williams

Kevin Thompson

Age at 
29 March 2014

46

54

Years of 
pensionable 
service at 
29 March 2014

Increase in 
accrued benefits 
£000

Increase in 
accrued benefits 
net of inflation 
£000

Accrued benefits 
at 29 March 2014 
£000

20

18

5

4

3

1

60

112

The accrued pension shown is that which would be paid annually on retirement at age 60 based on service to the end of the year.

Executive Director

Andrew Williams

Kevin Thompson

Transfer value at 
30 March 2013 
£000

Transfer value at 
29 March 2014 
£000

Transfer value 
increase/
(decrease) after 
deducting Director 
contribution 
£000

Director 
contribution 
in the year 
£000

816

2,156

864

2,262

17

–

31

106

The transfer values disclosed above do not represent a sum paid or payable to the individual Director. Instead they represent a potential liability 
of the pension plan. The transfer values are Gilt-related and depend upon the relative standings of the Gilt market at the respective valuation 
dates. The increase in transfer values in recent years is predominantly due to the significant reduction in the yields available on UK Gilts. Other 
factors that have increased the transfer values are the impact of any additional service, revaluation in line with inflation and any real salary 
increases as well as the anticipated ageing of the member. These values have been calculated on the basis of actuarial advice in accordance 
with Actuarial Guidance Note GN11.

Adam Meyers is a member of the US 401k money purchase scheme. Company contributions paid in the year were $18,600 (£11,698)  
(2013: $12,500 (£7,911)).

89

Halma plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014Strategic Report Governance Financial Statements Other Statutory Information

Activities
Halma plc is a holding company. A list of its principal subsidiary 
companies and their activities is set out on pages 154 to 157.

Ordinary dividends
The Directors recommend a final dividend of 6.82p per share and, 
if approved, this dividend will be paid on 20 August 2014 to ordinary 
shareholders on the register at the close of business on 18 July 2014. 
Together with the interim dividend of 4.35p per share already paid, 
this will make a total of 11.17p (2013: 10.43p) per share for the  
financial year.

Share capital and capital structure
Details of the share capital, together with details of the movements 
in the share capital during the year, are shown in note 22 to the 
accounts. The Company has one class of ordinary shares which 
carry no right to fixed income. Each share carries the right to one 
vote at general meetings of the Company.

There are no other classes of share capital. There are no specific 
restrictions on the size of a holding nor on the transfer of shares, with 
both governed by the general provisions of the Articles of Association 
and prevailing legislation. No person has any special rights of control 
over the Company’s share capital and all issued shares are fully paid.

Rights and obligations of ordinary shares
Holders of ordinary shares are entitled to attend and speak at  
general meetings of the Company and to appoint one or more 
proxies or, if the holder of shares is a corporation, one or more 
corporate representatives. On a show of hands, each holder of 
ordinary shares who (being an individual) is present in person or 
(being a corporation) is present by a duly appointed corporate 
representative, not being himself a member, shall have one vote,  
as shall proxies (unless they are appointed by more than one holder, 
in which case they may vote both for and against the resolution in 
accordance with the holders’ instructions). On a poll every holder of 
ordinary shares present in person or by proxy shall have one vote  
for every share of which he is the holder. Electronic and paper proxy 
appointments and voting instructions must be received not later than 
48 hours before the meeting. A holder of ordinary shares can lose  
the entitlement to vote at general meetings where that holder has 
been served with a disclosure notice and has failed to provide  
the Company with information concerning interests held in those 
shares. Except as set out above and as permitted under applicable 
statutes, there are no limitations on voting rights of holders of a given 
percentage, number of votes or deadlines for exercising voting rights.

Restrictions on transfer of shares
The Directors may refuse to register a transfer of a certificated  
share that is not fully paid, provided that the refusal does not prevent 
dealings in shares in the Company from taking place on an open  
and proper basis or where the Company has a lien over that share. 
The Directors may also refuse to register a transfer of a certificated 
share unless the instrument of transfer is: (i) lodged, duly stamped  
(if necessary), at the registered office of the Company or any other 
place as the Board may decide accompanied by the certificate for the 
share(s) to be transferred and/or such other evidence as the Directors 
may reasonably require to show the right of the transferor to make  
the transfer; (ii) in respect of only one class of shares; (iii) in favour of a 
person who is not a minor, infant, bankrupt or a person of unsound 
mind; or (iv) in favour of not more than four persons jointly.

Transfers of uncertificated shares must be carried out using  
CREST and the Directors can refuse to register a transfer of an 
uncertificated share in accordance with the regulations governing  
the operation of CREST.

There are no other restrictions on the transfer of ordinary shares in the 
Company except certain restrictions which may from time to time be 
imposed by laws and regulations (for example insider trading laws); or 
where a shareholder with at least a 0.25% interest in the Company’s 
certificated shares has been served with a disclosure notice and has 
failed to provide the Company with information concerning interests 
in those shares. The Directors are not aware of any agreements 
between holders of the Company’s shares that may result in 
restrictions on the transfer of securities or on voting rights.

Treasury shares
Shares held in treasury do not have voting rights and are not eligible 
for dividends.

Employee share plans
Details of employee share plans are set out in note 23 to  
the accounts.

Appointment and replacement of directors
With regard to the appointment and replacement of Directors,  
the Company is governed by its Articles of Association, the UK 
Corporate Governance Code, the Companies Act and related 
legislation. Directors can be appointed by the Company by ordinary 
resolution at a general meeting or by the Board. If a Director is 
appointed by the Board, such Director will hold office until the next 
annual general meeting and shall then be eligible for re-election at  
that meeting. Therefore, with the exception of Norman Blackwell and 
Steve Marshall, in accordance with the UK Corporate Governance 
Code each of the Directors, being eligible, will offer themselves for 
re-election at this year’s Annual General Meeting. The Company 
can remove a Director from office, including by passing a special 
resolution or by notice being given by all the other Directors. The 
Articles themselves may be amended by special resolution of  
the shareholders.

Power of Directors
The powers of Directors are described in the Matters Reserved  
for the Board, copies of which are available on request from the 
Company Secretary, and the Corporate Governance Report on 
pages 59 to 65.

Essential contracts and change of control
There are a number of agreements that take effect, alter or terminate 
upon a change of control of the Company, principally bank loan 
agreements and employee share plans.

The only significant agreement, in terms of its likely impact on the 
business of the Group as a whole, containing such provisions is that 
governing the £360m syndicated revolving credit facility which, if 
within 10 days of a change of control notice to the Loan agent, can 
result in 30 days’ notice being given to the Company by any Lender, 
for all amounts outstanding to that Lender, to be immediately due 
and payable, at which time the commitment of that Lender will 
be cancelled. If all of the Lenders give this notice the whole facility 
would be cancelled.

The Group has contractual arrangements with a wide range of 
suppliers. The Group is not unduly dependent upon contractual 
arrangements with any particular customer. Whilst the loss or 
disruption to certain of these arrangements could temporarily  
affect the Group’s business, none is considered to be essential.

The Company’s share plans contain provisions as a result of which 
options and awards may vest and become exercisable on a change 
of control of the Company in accordance with the rules of the plans.

The Directors are not aware of any agreements between  
the Company and its directors or employees that provide for 

90

Halma plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014compensation for loss of office or employment that occurs  
because of a takeover bid.

Allotment authority
Under the Companies Act 2006 the Directors may only allot shares if 
authorised by shareholders to do so. At the Annual General Meeting 
an ordinary resolution will be proposed which, if passed, will authorise 
the Directors to allot and issue new shares up to an aggregate nominal 
value of £12,500,000 (up to 125,000,000 new ordinary shares of 10p 
each), being just less than one-third of the issued share capital of the 
Company (excluding treasury shares) as at 9 June 2014 (the latest 
practicable date prior to the publication of the Notice of Meeting).

In accordance with the Directors’ stated intention to seek annual 
renewal, the authority will expire at the conclusion of the annual 
general meeting of the Company in 2015. Passing this resolution  
will give the Directors flexibility to act in the best interests of 
shareholders, when opportunities arise, by issuing new shares.

As at 9 June 2014 (the latest practicable date prior to the publication 
of the Notice of Meeting), the Company had 379,018,522 ordinary 
shares of 10p each in issue of which 1,278,148 were held as treasury 
shares, which is equal to approximately 0.3% of the issued share 
capital of the Company (excluding treasury shares) as at that date.

The Companies Act 2006 also requires that, if the Company issues 
new shares for cash or sells any treasury shares, it must first offer 
them to existing shareholders in proportion to their current holdings. 
At the Annual General Meeting a special resolution will be proposed 
which, if passed, will authorise the Directors to issue a limited number 
of shares for cash and/or sell treasury shares without offering them to 
shareholders first. The authority is for an aggregate nominal amount 
of up to 5% of the aggregate nominal value of the issued share capital 
of the Company as at 9 June 2014 (the latest practicable date prior 
to the publication of the Notice of Meeting). The resolution will also 
modify statutory pre-emption rights to deal with legal, regulatory or 
practical problems that may arise on a rights issue or other pre-
emptive offer or issue. The authority will expire at the same time as 
the resolution conferring authority on the Directors to allot shares. 
The Directors consider this authority necessary in order to give  
them flexibility to deal with opportunities as they arise, subject to the 
restrictions contained in the resolution. There are no present plans 
to issue shares, except under share plans previously approved in 
general meeting.

Directors
The names of the Directors of the Company who served throughout 
the year, with brief biographies, are set out on pages 56 and 57.

Directors’ indemnities
The Company has entered into deeds of indemnity with each of the 
current Directors, which remain in force at the date of this report. 
These are qualifying third-party indemnity provisions for the purposes 
of the Companies Act 2006.

Purchase of the Company’s own shares
The Company was authorised at the 2013 annual general meeting to 
purchase up to 37,700,000 of its own 10p ordinary shares in the 
market. This authority expires at the end of the 2014 Annual General 
Meeting. In accordance with the Directors’ stated intention to seek 
annual renewal, a special resolution will be proposed at the Annual 
General Meeting to renew this authority, until the end of next year’s 
annual general meeting, in respect of up to 37,700,000 ordinary 
shares, which is approximately 10% of the Company’s issued share 
capital (excluding treasury shares) as at 9 June 2014 (the latest 
practicable date prior to the publication of the Notice of Meeting). 
The Directors consider it desirable that the possibility of making  
such purchases, under appropriate circumstances, is available.  
Their present intention is that the shares purchased under the 
authority will be held in treasury for future cancellation, sale for cash 
or transfer for the purposes of, or pursuant to, an employee share 
plan, although in the light of circumstances at the time it may be 
decided to cancel them immediately on repurchase. The effect of  
any cancellation would be to reduce the number of shares in issue. 
For most purposes, while held in treasury, shares are treated as if 
they have been cancelled (for example, they carry no voting rights  
and do not rank for dividends).

Following approval of the Performance Share Plan (PSP) at the 2005 
annual general meeting, the Directors made, and intend to continue 
to make, routine purchases of Halma shares in the market for holding 
in treasury until required for vesting under the PSP. In the year to 
29 March 2014, 1,333,516 shares, with a nominal value of £133,351.60, 
which is 0.3% of the Company’s issued share capital as at 9 June 
2014 (the latest practicable date prior to the publication of the Notice 
of Meeting), were purchased in the market for treasury. Otherwise, the 
Directors have no present intention of using this authority. In reaching 
a decision to purchase shares, the Directors will take into account the 
Company’s cash resources, capital requirements and the effect of 
any purchase on the Company’s earnings per share. It is anticipated 
that renewal of the authority will be requested at subsequent annual 
general meetings.

As at 9 June 2014, which is the latest practicable date prior to the 
publication of the Notice of Meeting, options were outstanding to 
subscribe for a total number of 626,810 ordinary shares, or 0.2% of 
the Company’s issued share capital. If the proposed authority were to 
be used in full and all of the repurchased shares were cancelled (but 
the Company’s issued share capital otherwise remained unaltered), 
the total number of options to subscribe for ordinary shares at that 
date would represent approximately 0.2% of the Company’s issued 
share capital (excluding treasury shares).

91

Halma plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014Strategic Report Governance Financial Statements Other Statutory Information continued

Substantial shareholdings
On 9 June 2014, the Company had been notified, in accordance with chapter 5 of the Disclosure and Transparency Rules, of the following 
voting rights as a shareholder of the Company.

Massachusetts Financial Services Company

Sprucegrove Investment Management Ltd

Schroder Investment Management

Norges Bank

BlackRock Inc

Mawer Investment Management

Capital Group

29 March 2014

Percentage of 
voting rights 
and issued 
share capital

No. of ordinary 
shares

9 June 2014

Percentage of 
voting rights 
and issued 
share capital

5.00

4.97

4.94

3.94

3.88

3.00

3.06

37,841,275

18,776,510

18,667,466

14,872,138

14,646,007

11,333,276

11,251,043

10.20

4.97

4.94

3.94

3.88

3.00

2.98

No. of ordinary 
shares

18,904,896

18,776,510

18,667,466

14,872,138

14,646,007

11,333,276

11,543,117

Nature of 
holdings

Indirect

Indirect

Indirect

Direct

Indirect

Direct

Indirect

Annual General Meeting
The Company’s Annual General Meeting will be held on 24 July 2014. The Notice of Meeting, together with an explanation of the proposed 
resolutions, is enclosed with this Annual Report and Accounts and is also available on the Company’s website at www.halma.com.

Special Business
The Board will propose three special resolutions under Special Business at the Annual General Meeting. One of these is to permit the 
Company to retain the ability to call general meetings (other than annual general meetings) at 14 days’ notice rather than 21 days’ notice, 
in accordance with the EU Shareholder Rights Directive implemented in August 2009.

Auditor
Each of the persons who is a Director at the date of approval of this Annual Report and Accounts confirms that:

 – so far as the Director is aware, there is no relevant audit information of which the Company’s Auditor is unaware; and 
 – the Director has taken all the steps that he/she ought to have taken as a director in order to make himself/herself aware of any relevant  

audit information and to establish that the Company’s Auditor is aware of that information. 

This confirmation is given and should be interpreted in accordance with the provisions of Section 418 of the Companies Act 2006.

Deloitte LLP has expressed its willingness to continue in office as Auditor and a resolution to reappoint Deloitte LLP will be proposed at the 
forthcoming Annual General Meeting.

By order of the Board

Carol Chesney
Company Secretary
12 June 2014

92

Halma plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014Directors’ responsibility statement
We confirm that to the best of our knowledge: 

 – the financial statements, prepared in accordance with International 
Financial Reporting Standards as adopted by the EU, 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 performance, 
business model and strategy.

By order of the Board

Andrew Williams  
Chief Executive  
12 June 2014

Kevin Thompson
Finance Director

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 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 
chosen to prepare the parent company financial statements in 
accordance with United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting 
Practice (United Kingdom Accounting Standards and applicable law). 
Under company law the Directors must not approve the accounts 
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;

 – make judgments and accounting estimates that are reasonable 

and prudent;

 – state whether applicable UK Accounting Standards have 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.

93

Halma plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014Strategic Report Governance Financial Statements Independent Auditor’s Report to the Members of Halma plc

Opinion on financial statements of Halma plc
In our opinion:
 – the financial statements give a true and fair view of the state of the Group’s and of the Parent Company’s affairs as at 29 March 2014  

and of the Group’s profit for the year then ended;

 – the Group financial statements have been properly prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (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; 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.

The financial statements comprise the Group Consolidated Income Statement, the Group Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income, 
the Group Consolidated and Parent Company Balance Sheets, the Group Consolidated Cash Flow Statement, the Group Consolidated 
Statement of Changes in Equity, the Parent Company Reconciliation of Movements in Shareholders’ Funds and the related notes 1 to 31 and 
C1 to C12. 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 (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).

Going concern
As required by the Listing Rules we have reviewed the Directors’ statement contained within page 65 that the Group is a going concern.  
We confirm that:
 – we have concluded that the Directors’ use of the going concern basis of accounting in the preparation of the financial statements is 

appropriate; and

 – we have not identified any material uncertainties that may cast significant doubt on the Group’s ability to continue as a going concern.

However, because not all future events or conditions can be predicted, this statement is not a guarantee as to the Group’s ability to continue 
as a going concern.

Our assessment of risks of material misstatement
The assessed risks of material misstatement described below are those that had the greatest effect on our audit strategy, the allocation of 
resources in the audit and directing the efforts of the engagement team:

Risk

How the scope of our audit responded to the risk

Valuation of goodwill and intangible assets 
There is a risk relating to the assumptions and assertions used by 
management to support their assessment of both the recoverable 
amount of goodwill and intangible assets. There are a number of key 
judgements in determining their recoverable amounts, including 
growth rates, discount rates applied and the forecast future  
trading performance.

Acquisition accounting
There is a risk that acquisitions are not accounted for correctly  
in line with IFRS 3 ‘Business combinations’. The risk relates to the 
assumptions and assertions used by management to forecast future 
trading performance to determine both the fair value of acquired 
assets and future contingent consideration payments. For this 
period there is a risk that the contingent consideration provisions are 
provided at the incorrect value, based on inaccurate forecasts. This 
would result in future cost variances on settlement being recorded  
in that period’s Consolidated Income Statement.  

9494

Halma plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014

We challenged the adequacy and reasonableness of assumptions 
used in management’s impairment calculations and the 
appropriateness of judgements and forecasts used to conclude on 
asset impairment including a specific review and challenge of discount 
rates and growth rates, the appropriateness of the level of aggregation 
of individual cash generating units (CGUs) and the methodology 
applied. We benchmarked the discount rates with published rates for 
the external peer group and agreed the CGU groupings to information 
reviewed by management to make decisions about their business. We 
also challenged the forecast cash flows used in the model against 
historical performance and post period trading data. We recalculated 
management’s sensitivity analysis and replaced key assumptions with 
alternative scenario values applying the highest discount rate applied 
by peer group companies, capping the short-term growth rates at  
long term rates and capping the growth assumed in the budgets  
at historical growth levels.Having audited the assumptions within 
management’s annual impairment assessment, we checked the 
arithmetical accuracy of the impairment model. We also assessed 
whether the annual report disclosure included specific growth and 
discount rates for those deemed to be significant CGUs. 

For historical acquisitions we compared the forecast contingent 
consideration positions to post year end trading results, approved 
budgets and historical levels of settlement. We recalculated the release 
of £12m of the balance based on the latest management budgets and 
assessed whether management has disclosed adequately the release 
of the provision in the Consolidated Income Statement. We agreed the 
underlying data in the contingent consideration calculation to signed 
sale and purchase agreements and the trading performance to  
the audited entity trial balance for the current period. We assessed 
whether management’s treatment of contingent consideration payment 
arrangements for former owners, as either additional purchase 
consideration or post-acquisition remuneration, is appropriate. We 
obtained calculations updating the fair value adjustments for material 
acquisitions in the prior period and confirmed that the period of 
asessement was correct as well as confirming that the adjustment  
was supported by actual trading data. 

Halma plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014Risk

How the scope of our audit responded to the risk

Defined Benefit pension plan assumptions
There is a risk relating to judgements made by management in 
valuing the Defined Benefit pension plans including the use of  
key model input assumptions such as the discount rate, mortality 
assumption and inflation level. There is also a risk in accounting  
for non-standard pension transactions that occur infrequently  
and are by their nature potentially complex. 

We used our internal actuarial experts to assess the assumptions 
applied in determining the pension obligations, particularly given recent 
market volatility, and determined whether the key assumptions are 
reasonable. This included reviewing available yield curves and inflation 
data to recalculate a reasonable range for the key assumptions. We 
challenged management to understand the sensitivity of changes in 
assumptions and quantify a range of reasonable rates that could be 
used in their calculation. We discussed the output of sensitivity analysis 
with management and the third party actuarial advisers. We checked 
the arithmetical accuracy of the pension calculation model. Additionally 
we benchmarked key assumptions against other listed companies to 
check for any outliers in the data used. During the period a curtailment 
gain of £4.2m was recorded in respect to the closure of the UK 
Defined Benefit pension plans to future benefit accruals. We verified 
the amendments to the trust deed and confirmed that the trustees’ 
deed of amendment letters were signed before the year end, 
confirming the obligation to close the plans to future benefit accruals. 
The Audit Committee’s consideration of these risks is set out on pages 
68 and 69. Our audit procedures relating to these matters were 
designed in the context of our audit of the financial statements as a 
whole, and not to express an opinion on individual accounts or 
disclosures. Our opinion on the financial statements is not modified 
with respect to any of the risks described above, and we do not 
express an opinion on these individual matters.

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.

We determined materiality for the Group to be £9.8m which is 7% of statutory pre-tax profit and 2% of net assets. 

We agreed with the Audit Committee that we would report to the Committee all audit differences in excess of £196,000, 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.

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. Based on that assessment, we focused our Group audit scope primarily on the audit 
work at 43 locations covering 52 out of 81 trading entities in the Group. 46 of the 52 entities were subject to a full audit, whilst the remaining 6 
were subject to specified audit procedures where the extent of our testing was based on our assessment of the risks of material misstatement 
and of the materiality of the Group’s operations at those locations. These 52 entities represent principal business units and account for 80%  
of the Group’s net assets, 74% of the Group’s revenue and 73% of the Group’s profit before tax. They were also selected to provide an 
appropriate basis for undertaking audit work to address the risks of material misstatement identified above. Our audit work on the 52 entities 
was executed at levels of materiality applicable to each individual entity which were lower than Group materiality.

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 Group audit team continued to follow a programme of planned visits that has been designed so that the Senior Statutory Auditor or a 
senior member of the Group audit team visits key locations where the Group audit scope is focused at least once every three years and  
any significant components at least once a year (defined as contributing greater than 10% of Group profit or revenue). 

Net assets 

Revenue

Profit before tax

■  Full audit scope 
■  Specified audit procedures 
■  Head office review 

78%

2%

20%

■  Full audit scope 
■  Specified audit procedures 
■  Head office review 

71%

3%

26%

■  Full audit scope 
■  Specified audit procedures 
■  Head office review 

73%

0%

27%

95

Halma plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014Strategic Report Governance Financial Statements Independent Auditor’s Report to the Members of Halma plc
continued

Opinion 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; and
 – the information given in the Strategic Report and the Directors’ Report for the financial year for which the financial statements are prepared 

is consistent with the financial statements.

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 arising from these matters.

Corporate Governance Statement
Under the Listing Rules we are also required to review the part of the Corporate Governance Statement relating to the Company’s compliance 
with nine provisions of the UK Corporate Governance Code. We have nothing to report arising from our review.

Our duty to read other information in the Annual Report and Accounts
Under International Standards on Auditing (UK and Ireland), we are required to report to you if, in our opinion, information in the Annual Report 
and Accounts is:

 – materially inconsistent with the information in the audited financial statements; or
 – apparently materially incorrect based on, or materially inconsistent with, our knowledge of the Group acquired in the course of performing 

our audit; or

 – otherwise misleading.

In particular, we are required to consider whether we have identified any inconsistencies between our knowledge acquired during the audit 
and the Directors’ statement that they consider the Annual Report and Accounts is fair, balanced and understandable and whether the Annual 
Report and Accounts appropriately discloses those matters that we communicated to the Audit Committee which we consider should have 
been disclosed. We confirm that we have not identified any such inconsistencies or misleading statements.

Respective responsibilities of Directors and Auditor
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. Our responsibility is to audit and express an opinion on the financial statements in 
accordance with applicable law and International Standards on Auditing (UK and Ireland). Those standards require us to comply with the 
Auditing Practices Board’s Ethical Standards for Auditors. We also comply with International Standard on Quality Control 1 (UK and Ireland). 
Our audit methodology and tools aim to ensure that our quality control procedures are effective, understood and applied. Our quality controls 
and systems include our dedicated professional standards review team, strategically focused second partner reviews and independent 
partner reviews.

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.

Scope of the audit of the financial statements
An audit involves obtaining evidence about the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements sufficient to give reasonable assurance 
that the financial statements are free from material misstatement, whether caused by fraud or error. This includes an assessment of: whether 
the accounting policies are appropriate to the Group’s and the Parent Company’s circumstances and have been consistently applied and 
adequately disclosed; the reasonableness of significant accounting estimates made by the Directors; and the overall presentation of the 
financial statements. In addition, we read all the financial and non-financial information in the Annual Report and Accounts to identify material 
inconsistencies with the audited financial statements and to identify any information that is apparently materially incorrect based on, or 
materially inconsistent with, the knowledge acquired by us in the course of performing the audit. If we become aware of any apparent  
material misstatements or inconsistencies we consider the implications for our report.

Alexander Butterworth ACA (Senior statutory auditor) 
for and on behalf of Deloitte LLP
Chartered Accountants and Statutory Auditor 
Reading, UK 
12 June 2014

9696

Halma plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014

Halma plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014Consolidated Income Statement
Consolidated Income Statement 

52 weeks to 29 March 2014 

52 weeks to 30 March 2013 

(Restated)*  

Before  

Adjustments** 

Before 

Adjustments** 

adjustments** 

Notes 

£000 

 (note 1) 
£000 

Total 
£000 

adjustments** 

£000 

(note 1) 
£000 

Total 
£000 

1 

676,506 

– 

676,506 

619,210 

– 

619,210 

144,660 

(1,089) 

143,571 

133,774 

(16,477) 

117,297 

29 

4 

5 

6 

9 

1 

2 

10 

307 

– 

622 

(5,340) 

140,249 

(32,685) 

– 

307 

(352) 

– 

(352) 

(483) 

– 

– 

(483) 

622 

– 

195 

(5,340) 

(5,074) 

8,070 

– 

– 

8,070 

195 

(5,074) 

(1,572) 

138,677 

128,543 

(8,407) 

120,136 

335 

(32,350) 

(31,162) 

4,632 

(26,530) 

107,564 

(1,237) 

106,327 

97,381 

(3,775) 

93,606 

28.47p 

25.79p 

28.14p 

28.13p 

42,198 

11.17p 

24.79p 

24.76p 

39,389 

10.43p 

Continuing operations 

Revenue 

Operating profit 

Share of results of associates 

(Loss)/ profit on disposal of 
operations 

Finance income 

Finance expense 

Profit before taxation 

Taxation 

Profit for the year attributable 
to equity shareholders 

Earnings per share 

From continuing operations 

Basic 

Diluted 

Dividends in respect  
of the year 

Paid and proposed (£000) 

Paid and proposed per share 

*  Details of the restatement are disclosed in the Accounting Policies note on page 102.  
**  Adjustments include the amortisation of acquired intangible assets; acquisition items; the effects of closure to future benefit accrual of the defined benefit pension  

schemes net of associated costs; profit or loss on disposal of operations; and the associated taxation thereon. 

Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive 
Income and Expenditure

Profit for the year 

Items that will not be reclassified subsequently to the Income Statement: 

Actuarial gains/(losses) on defined benefit pension schemes  

Tax relating to components of Other comprehensive income that will not be reclassified 

Items that may be reclassified subsequently to the Income Statement: 

Effective portion of changes in fair value of cash flow hedges 

Exchange (losses)/gains on translation of foreign operations and net investment hedge 

Tax relating to components of Other comprehensive income that may be reclassified 

Other comprehensive (expense)/income for the year 

Notes 

28 

9 

26 

(Restated)*  

52 weeks to 
29 March 
2014 
£000 

52 weeks to  
30 March  
2013 
£000 

106,327 

93,606 

2,060 

(1,570) 

(19,852) 

4,292 

499 

(504) 

(31,379) 

16,534 

(129) 

(30,519) 

130 

600 

Total comprehensive income for the year attributable to equity shareholders 

75,808 

94,206 

* Details of the restatement are disclosed in the Accounting Policies note on page 102.  

The exchange loss of £31,379,000 (2013: gain of £16,534,000) comprises losses of £2,200,000 (2013: gains of £113,000) which 
relate to net investment hedges as described on page 106. 

Halma plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014 

97 
97

Halma plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014Strategic Report Governance Financial Statements  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Consolidated Balance Sheet
Consolidated Balance Sheet 

Non-current assets 
Goodwill 
Other intangible assets 
Property, plant and equipment 
Interests in associates 
Deferred tax asset 

Current assets 
Inventories 
Trade and other receivables 
Tax receivable 
Cash and bank balances 
Derivative financial instruments 

Total assets 
Current liabilities 
Trade and other payables 
Borrowings 
Provisions 
Tax liabilities 
Derivative financial instruments 

Net current assets 
Non-current liabilities 
Borrowings 
Retirement benefit obligations 
Trade and other payables 
Provisions 
Deferred tax liabilities 

Total liabilities 
Net assets 
Equity 
Share capital 
Share premium account 
Treasury shares 
Capital redemption reserve 
Hedging and translation reserve 
Other reserves 
Retained earnings 
Shareholders’ funds 

29 March  
2014 
£000 

Notes 

(Restated)* 
30 March  
2013  
£000 

11 
12 
13 
14 
21 

15 
16 

26 

17 
18 
19 

26 

18 
28 
20 
19 
21 

22 

335,278 
112,754 
74,417 
5,088 
20,677 
548,214 

71,034 
135,177 
172 
34,531 
496 
241,410 
789,624 

88,291 
4,136 
4,482 
11,340 
167 
108,416 
132,994 

104,891 
36,849 
3,564 
6,777 
43,127 
195,208 
303,624 
486,000 

37,902 
22,778 
(7,054) 
185 
14,363 
(2,745) 
420,571 
486,000 

351,785 
134,457 
76,725 
4,792 
28,749 
596,508 

69,713 
133,605 
69 
49,723 
256 
253,366 
849,874 

87,073 
5,147 
16,276 
11,331 
796 
120,623 
132,743 

154,866 
47,172 
2,993 
21,756 
49,197 
275,984 
396,607 
453,267 

37,888 
22,598 
(4,534) 
185 
45,372 
(1,484) 
353,242 
453,267 

* The restatement includes contingent purchase consideration being reclassified from Trade and other payables to Provisions and the application of IAS 19 (revised) as  
  disclosed in the Accounting Policies note on page 102. 

The financial statements of Halma plc, company number 40932, were approved by the Board of Directors on 12 June 2014. 

A J Williams  K J Thompson  
Director 

Director

98 
98

Halma plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014 

Halma plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Consolidated Statement of Changes in Equity
Consolidated Statement of Changes in Equity 

At 30 March 2013 

Profit for the year 

Other comprehensive income  
and expense: 

Exchange differences on translation 
 of foreign operations 

Actuarial gains on defined benefit pension 
schemes 

Effective portion of changes in fair value  
of cash flow hedges 

Tax relating to components of other 
comprehensive income 

Total other comprehensive income  
and expense 

Share options exercised 

Dividends paid 

Share-based payments 

Deferred tax on share-based payment 
transactions 

Excess tax deductions related to share-
based payments on exercised options 

Net movement in treasury shares 

At 29 March 2014 

At 31 March 2012  

Profit for the year (restated)* 

Other comprehensive income 
and expense: 

Exchange differences on translation  
of foreign operations 

Actuarial losses on defined benefit pension 
schemes (restated)* 

Effective portion of changes in fair value  
of cash flow hedges 

Tax relating to components of other 
comprehensive income (restated)* 

Total other comprehensive income and 
expense (restated)* 

Share options exercised 

Dividends paid 

Share-based payments 

Deferred tax on share-based payment 
transactions 

Excess tax deductions related to share-
based payments on exercised options 

Net movement in treasury shares 

Share 
capital  
£000 

Share 
premium 
account  
£000 

Treasury 
shares  
£000 

Capital 
redemption 
reserve  
£000 

Hedging 
and 
translation 
reserve  
£000 

Other 
reserves  
£000 

Retained 
earnings  
£000 

Total  
£000 

37,888 

22,598 

(4,534) 

185 

45,372 

(1,484)  353,242  453,267 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

14 

180 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

(2,520) 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

–  106,327  106,327 

(31,379) 

– 

499 

(129) 

(31,009) 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

(1,556) 

295 

– 

– 

– 

(31,379) 

2,060 

2,060 

– 

499 

(1,570) 

(1,699) 

490 

(30,519) 

– 

194 

(40,485) 

(40,485) 

– 

– 

(1,556) 

295 

997 

997 

– 

(2,520) 

37,902 

22,778 

(7,054) 

37,856 

22,177 

(4,569) 

–  

–  

–  

185 

185 

–  

14,363 

(2,745)  420,571  486,000 

29,212 

1,346  311,905  398,112 

–  

–  

93,606 

93,606 

–  

–  

–  

–  

–  

–  

–  

–  

–  

–  

32 

421 

–  

–  

–  

–  

–  

–  

–  

–  

–  

–  

–  

–  

–  

–  

–  

–  

–  

–  

–  

–  

35 

–  

16,534 

–  

–  

16,534 

–  

–  

–  

–  

–  

–  

–  

–  

–  

–  

–  

–  

(19,852) 

(19,852) 

(504) 

–  

–  

(504) 

130 

–  

4,292 

4,422 

16,160 

–  

–  

–  

–  

–  

–  

–  

–  

–  

(15,560) 

–  

600 

453 

(37,765) 

(37,765) 

(2,835) 

–  

(2,835) 

5 

–  

–  

–  

5 

1,056 

1,056 

–  

35 

At 30 March 2013  

37,888  

22,598 

(4,534) 

185 

45,372 

(1,484)  353,242  453,267 

* Details of the restatement are disclosed in the Accounting Policies note on page 102 

Halma plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014 

99 
99

Halma plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014Strategic Report Governance Financial Statements  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Consolidated Statement of Changes in Equity continued

Treasury shares are ordinary shares in Halma plc purchased by the Company and held to fulfil the Company’s obligations under  
the performance share plan. At 29 March 2014 the number of treasury shares held was 1,278,148 (2013: 1,143,209) and their  
market value was £7,394,086 (2013: £5,921,823). The net increase in treasury shares of £2,520,000 (2013: reduction of £35,000) 
comprises the purchase of treasury shares of £7,515,000 (2013: £5,525,000) offset by the transfer to Other reserves of £4,995,000 
(2013: £5,560,000). 

The Hedging and translation reserve is used to record differences arising from the retranslation of the financial statements  
of foreign operations and the portion of the cumulative net change in the fair value of cash flow hedging instruments that are  
deemed to be an effective hedge. Other than a net credit of £123,000 (2013: charge of £247,000), all amounts at year end  
relate to translation movements. 

The Capital redemption reserve was created on repurchase and cancellation of the Company’s own shares. The Other reserves 
represent the provision for the value of the equity-settled share option plans and performance share plan.  

100  Halma plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014 
100

Halma plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014 
 
 
Consolidated Cash Flow Statement
Consolidated Cash Flow Statement 

Net cash inflow from operating activities 

Cash flows from investing activities 

Purchase of property, plant and equipment 

Purchase of computer software 

Purchase of other intangibles 

Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment 

Development costs capitalised 

Interest received 

Acquisition of businesses, net of cash acquired 

Acquisition of investments in associates 

Disposal of business, net of cash disposed 

Net cash used in investing activities 

Financing activities 

Dividends paid 

Proceeds from issue of share capital 

Purchase of treasury shares 

Interest paid 

Proceeds from borrowings 

Repayment of borrowings 

Net cash (used in)/from financing activities 

(Decrease)/increase in cash and cash equivalents 

Cash and cash equivalents brought forward 

Exchange adjustments 

Cash and cash equivalents carried forward 

Reconciliation of net cash flow to movement in net debt 

(Decrease)/increase in cash and cash equivalents 

Cash outflow/(inflow) from repayment/(drawdowns) of borrowings 

Net debt acquired 

Loan notes issued** 

Loan notes repaid** 

Exchange adjustments 

Net debt brought forward 

Net debt carried forward 

52 weeks to  
29 March 
2014  
£000 

(Restated)* 
52 weeks to  
30 March 
2013  
£000 

Notes 

25 

121,538 

108,244 

13 

12 

12 

12 

24 

14 

29 

25 

25 

(15,838) 

(14,472) 

(1,529) 

(1,044) 

– 

1,708 

(5,196) 

252 

(9) 

917 

(5,443) 

195 

(16,685) 

(145,641) 

– 

1,917 

(3,187) 

19,608 

(35,371) 

(149,076) 

(40,485) 

(37,765) 

194 

(7,515) 

(2,716) 

7,498 

(57,791) 

453 

(5,525) 

(2,502) 

92,298 

(2,942) 

(100,815) 

44,017 

25 

(14,648) 

49,723 

(1,949) 

33,126 

3,185 

45,305 

1,233 

49,723 

2014  
£000 

(Restated)* 
2013  
£000 

(14,648) 

3,185 

50,293 

(89,356) 

– 

(2,731) 

2,515 

365 

35,794 

(110,290) 

(2,406) 

(2,515) 

– 

(489) 

(91,581) 

(18,709) 

(74,496) 

(110,290) 

*   Details of the restatement are disclosed in the Accounting Policies note on page 102. 
**  The £2,515,000 loan note issued in the prior period was converted at par into cash on 31 May 2013. A new loan note was issued for £2,731,000 on 3 June 2013. This is 

convertible to cash at par at any time between six and twelve months from date of issue. 

Halma plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014  101 
101

Halma plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014Strategic Report Governance Financial Statements  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Accounting Policies
Accounting Policies 

Basis of accounting 
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) adopted for use in 
the European Union (EU) and therefore comply with Article 4 of the EU IAS legislation and with those parts of the Companies Act 2006 
that are applicable to companies reporting under IFRS. The financial statements have also been prepared in accordance with IFRS 
and International Financial Reporting Interpretations Committee (IFRIC) interpretations issued and effective at the time of preparing 
these accounts. 

The principal Group accounting policies are explained below and have been applied consistently throughout the years ended  
29 March 2014 and 30 March 2013 other than those noted below. 

The Group accounts have been prepared under the historical cost convention, except as described below under the heading 
‘Derivative financial instruments and hedge accounting’. 

New Standards and Interpretations not yet applied 
At the date of authorisation of these financial statements, the following Standards and Interpretations that are potentially relevant to 
the Group and which have not been applied in these financial statements were in issue but not yet effective (and in some cases had 
not yet been adopted by the EU): 

− 

− 
− 
− 
− 
− 
− 
− 
− 
− 

IFRS 9 ‘Financial Instruments: Classification and measurement’ – effective for accounting periods beginning on or 
after 1 January 2015.  
IFRS 10 ‘Consolidated Financial Statements’ 
IFRS 10, IFRS 12 and IAS 27 (amended) ‘Investment Entities’ 
IFRS 11 ‘Joint Arrangements’ 
IAS 12 (amended) ‘Deferred Tax: Recovery of Underlying Assets’  
IAS 19 (amended) ‘Defined Benefit Plans: Employee Contributions’  
IAS 27 (revised) ‘Separate Financial Statements’ 
IAS 28 (revised) ‘Investments in Associates and Joint Ventures’ 
IAS 32 (amended) ‘Offsetting Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities’  
IAS 39 (amended) ‘Novation of Derivatives and Continuation of Hedge Accounting’  

The Directors anticipate that the adoption of these Standards and Interpretations in future periods will have no material impact on  
the financial statements of the Group, except for IFRS 9 ‘Financial Instruments’, which will introduce a number of changes in the 
presentation of financial instruments.  

New Standards and Interpretations applied for the first time 
IAS 19 (as revised in June 2011) ‘Employee Benefits’ has been adopted by the Group in the current financial year. The interest  
cost and expected return on defined benefit pension scheme assets used in the previous version of IAS 19 are replaced with a ‘net 
interest’ amount, which is calculated by applying a discount rate to the net defined benefit liability or asset. Furthermore, IAS 19 
(revised) also introduces more extensive disclosures in the presentation of the defined benefit cost, including the separate disclosure 
of the schemes’ administrative expenses. To aid comparison, the Consolidated Financial Statements and affected notes for the  
52 weeks to 30 March 2013 have been restated as if IAS 19 (revised) had always applied during that year. 

The effect of adopting IAS 19 (revised) was a net reduction to profit after tax of £1,610,000 for the 52 weeks ended  
30 March 2013 comprising: 

a)  an increase in administrative expenses of £1,070,000; 
b)  a decrease in the expected return on pension scheme assets of £1,048,000; and 
c)  a reduction in the tax charge of £508,000. 

The corresponding entries to a) and b) were to actuarial gains and to c) were to deferred tax taken to equity. 

The effect on basic, adjusted basic and diluted earnings per share of the above changes was a reduction to all of 0.43p. 

The effect on non-GAAP measures is detailed in note 3. There was no net effect on net cash flow from operations as a result  
of the change in accounting policy. 

IAS 1 (revised) requires that items of Other comprehensive income that may in future be recycled to the Consolidated Income 
Statement are presented separately from those which will not. This presentational change has been made to the Consolidated 
Statement of Comprehensive Income in the current year. 

102  Halma plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014 
102

Halma plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014 
 
 
The following Standards with an effective date of 1 January 2013 have been adopted without any significant impact on the amounts 
reported in these financial statements: 

− 
− 
− 
− 

IFRS 1 (amended) ‘Government Loans’ 
IFRS 7 (amended) ‘Disclosures – Offsetting Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities’ 
IFRS 13 ‘Fair Value Measurement’  
IAS 12 (amended) ‘Deferred Tax Recovery of Underlying Assets’  

The following standard with an effective date of 1 January 2014 has been adopted early without any significant impact on the amounts 
reported in these financial statements: 

− 

IAS 36 (amended) ‘Recoverable Amount Disclosures for Non-financial Assets’ 

Going concern 
The Directors have, at the time of approving the financial statements, a high level of confidence that despite the current economic 
uncertainty the Company has the necessary liquid resources to meet its liabilities as they fall due and will be able to sustain its 
business model, strategy and operations and remain solvent for the foreseeable future. Thus, the Directors continue to adopt the 
going concern basis in preparing these financial statements. Further detail is contained on page 65. 

Key sources of estimation uncertainty and critical accounting judgments 
The preparation of Group accounts in conformity with IFRS requires the Directors to make judgments, estimates and assumptions 
that affect the application of policies and reported amounts of assets and liabilities, income and expenses. The estimates and 
associated assumptions are based on historical experiences and various other factors that are believed to be reasonable under  
the circumstances, the results of which form the basis of making judgments about carrying values of assets and liabilities that  
are not readily apparent from other sources. Actual results may differ from these estimates.  

The following four areas of key estimation uncertainty and critical accounting judgment have been identified as having significant risk  
of causing a material adjustment to the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities in the next financial year: 

Goodwill impairment 
Determining whether goodwill is impaired requires an estimation of the value in use of cash generating units (CGUs) to which goodwill 
has been allocated. In turn, the value in use calculation involves an estimation of the present value of future cash flows of CGUs. The 
future cash flows are based on annual budgets, as approved by the Board, to which the management’s expectation of market-share 
and long-term growth rates are applied. The present value is then calculated based on management’s judgment of future discount 
rates. The Board reviews these key assumptions (market-share, long-term growth rates, and discount rates) and the sensitivity 
analysis around these assumptions. Further details are provided in note 11.  

Intangible assets 
IFRS 3 (revised) ‘Business Combinations’ requires that goodwill arising on the acquisition of subsidiaries is capitalised and included in 
intangible assets. IFRS 3 (revised) also requires the identification of other intangible assets at acquisition. The assumptions involved  
in valuing these intangible assets require the use of estimates and judgements which may differ from the actual outcome.  

IAS 38 ‘Intangible Assets’ requires that development costs, arising from the application of research findings or other technical 
knowledge to a plan or design of a new or substantially improved product, are capitalised, subject to certain criteria being met. 
Determining the technical feasibility and estimating the future cash flows generated by the products in development requires 
judgements which may differ from the actual outcome. 

The estimates and judgements made in relation to both acquired intangibles and capitalised development costs, cover future growth 
rates, expected inflation rates and the discount rate used. 

Contingent consideration 
Determining the value of contingent consideration recognised as part of the acquisition of subsidiaries requires assumptions to 
determine the expected performance of the acquired business and the amount of contingent consideration that will therefore become 
payable. Initial estimates of expected performance are made by the Directors responsible for completing the acquisition and form  
a key component of the financial due diligence that takes place prior to completion. Subsequent measurement of contingent 
consideration is based on the Directors’ appraisal of the acquired business’ performance in the post-acquisition period with any 
required adjustments to the amount payable recognised in the Consolidated Income Statement as required under IFRS 3. Further 
details are provided in note 24. 

Defined benefit pension scheme liabilities 
Determining the value of the future defined benefit obligation requires judgment in respect of the assumptions used to calculate 
present values. These include future mortality, discount rate, inflation and salary increases. Management makes these judgments in 
consultation with an independent actuary. Details of the judgments made in calculating these transactions are disclosed in note 28.  

Basis of consolidation 
The Group accounts include the accounts of Halma plc and all of its subsidiary companies made up to 29 March 2014, adjusted to 
eliminate intra-Group transactions, balances, income and expenses. The results of subsidiary companies acquired or discontinued  
are included from the month of their acquisition or to the month of their discontinuation. 

Halma plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014  103 
103

Halma plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014Strategic Report Governance Financial Statements  
 
 
 
 
Accounting Policies continued
Accounting Policies continued 

Business combinations and goodwill 
Business combinations are accounted for using the acquisition method as at the acquisition date, which is the date on which control 
is transferred to the Group. The Group measures goodwill at the acquisition date as: 

− 
− 
− 
− 

the fair value of the consideration transferred; plus 
the recognised amount of any non-controlling interests in the acquiree; plus 
the fair value of the existing equity interest in the acquiree; less 
the net recognised amount (generally fair value) of the identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed. 

Costs related to the acquisition, other than those associated with the issue of debt or equity securities, are expensed as incurred.  
Any contingent consideration payable may be accounted for as either: 

a)  Consideration transferred, which is recognised at fair value at the acquisition date. If the contingent purchase consideration is 

classified as equity, it is not remeasured and settlement is accounted for within equity. Otherwise, subsequent changes to the fair 
value of the contingent purchase consideration are recognised in the Consolidated Income Statement; or 

b)  Remuneration, which is expensed in the Income Statement over the associated period of service. An indicator of such treatment 

includes when payments to employees of the acquired company are contingent on a post-acquisition event, but may be 
automatically forfeited on termination of employment.  

For acquisitions between 4 April 2004 (the date from which the financial statements were reported under IFRS) and 2 April 2010, 
goodwill represents the difference between the cost of the acquisition, including acquisition costs and the fair value of the net 
identifiable assets acquired. Goodwill is not amortised, but is tested annually for impairment. 

Goodwill is recognised as an intangible asset in the Consolidated Balance Sheet. Goodwill therefore includes non-identified  
intangible assets including business processes, buyer-specific synergies, know-how and workforce-related industry-specific 
knowledge and technical skills. Negative goodwill arising on acquisitions would be recognised directly in the Consolidated Income 
Statement. On closure or disposal of an acquired business, goodwill would be taken into account in determining the profit or loss  
on closure or disposal. 

As permitted by IFRS 1, the Group elected not to apply IFRS 3 ‘Business Combinations’ to acquisitions prior to 4 April 2004 in its 
consolidated accounts. As a result, the net book value of goodwill recognised as an intangible asset under UK GAAP at 3 April 2004 
was brought forward unadjusted as the cost of goodwill recognised under IFRS at 4 April 2004 subject to impairment testing on that 
date; and goodwill that was written off to reserves prior to 28 March 1998 under UK GAAP will not be taken into account in 
determining the profit or loss on disposal or closure of previously acquired businesses from 4 April 2004 onwards. 

Investments in associates 
An associate is an entity over which the Group is in a position to exercise significant influence, but not control or joint control, through 
participation in the financial and operating policy decisions of the investee. Significant influence is the power to participate in the 
financial and operating policy decisions of the investee but without control or joint control over those policies. 

The results and assets and liabilities of associates are incorporated in these financial statements using the equity method of 
accounting. Investments in associates are carried in the Consolidated Balance Sheet at cost as adjusted by post-acquisition  
changes in the Group’s share of the net assets of the associate, less any impairment in the value of individual investments. Losses  
of an associate in excess of the Group’s interest in that associate (which includes any long-term interests that, in substance, form part  
of the Group’s net investment in the associate) are recognised only to the extent that the Group has incurred legal or constructive 
obligations or made payments on behalf of the associate. 

Any excess of the cost of acquisition over the Group’s share of the fair values of the identifiable net assets of the associate at the  
date of acquisition is recognised as goodwill. The goodwill is included within the carrying amount of the investment and is assessed 
for impairment as part of that investment. Any deficiency of the cost of acquisition below the Group’s share of the fair values of the 
identifiable net assets of the associate at the date of acquisition (i.e. discount on acquisition) is credited in profit or loss in the year  
of acquisition.  

Where a Group company transacts with an associate of the Group, profits and losses are eliminated to the extent of the Group’s 
interest in the relevant associate. Losses may provide evidence of an impairment of the asset transferred in which case appropriate 
provision is made for impairment.  

Other intangible assets 
(a) Product development costs 
Research expenditure is written off in the financial year in which it is incurred. 

Development expenditure is written off in the financial year in which it is incurred, unless it relates to the development of a new or 
substantially improved product, is incurred after the technical feasibility and economic viability of the product has been proven and the 
decision to complete the development has been taken, and can be measured reliably. Such expenditure is capitalised as an intangible 
asset in the Consolidated Balance Sheet at cost and is amortised through the Consolidated Income Statement on a straight-line basis 
over its estimated economic life of three years. 

104  Halma plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014 
104

Halma plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014 
 
(b) Acquired intangible assets 
An intangible resource acquired with a subsidiary undertaking is recognised as an intangible asset if it is separable from the 
acquired business or arises from contractual or legal rights, is expected to generate future economic benefits and its fair value  
can be measured reliably. Acquired intangible assets, comprising trademarks and customer relationships, are amortised through 
the Consolidated Income Statement on a straight-line basis over their estimated economic lives of between three and ten years. 

(c) Computer software 
Computer software that is not integral to an item of property, plant or equipment is recognised separately as an intangible asset, and 
is amortised through the Consolidated Income Statement on a straight-line basis over its estimated economic life of between three 
and five years. 

(d) Other intangibles 
Other intangibles are amortised through the Consolidated Income Statement on a straight-line basis over their estimated economic 
lives of between three and five years. 

Impairment of non-current assets 
All non-current assets are tested for impairment whenever events or circumstances indicate that their carrying value may be impaired. 
Additionally, goodwill and capitalised development expenditure relating to a product that is not yet in full production are subject to an 
annual impairment test. 

An impairment loss is recognised in the Consolidated Income Statement to the extent that an asset’s carrying value exceeds its 
recoverable amount, which represents the higher of the asset’s net realisable value and its value in use. An asset’s value in use 
represents the present value of the future cash flows expected to be derived from the asset or from the cash generating unit to  
which it relates. The present value is calculated using a discount rate that reflects the current market assessment of the time  
value of money and the risks specific to the asset concerned. 

Impairment losses recognised in previous periods for an asset other than goodwill are reversed if there has been a change in the 
estimates used to determine the asset’s recoverable amount, but only to the extent that the carrying amount of the asset does not 
exceed its carrying amount had no impairment loss been recognised in previous periods. Impairment losses in respect of goodwill  
are not reversed. 

Segmental reporting 
An operating segment is a distinguishable component of the Group that is engaged in business activities from which it may earn 
revenues and incur expenses, and whose operating results are reviewed regularly by the Chief Operating Decision Maker (the Chief 
Executive Officer) to make decisions about resources to be allocated to the segment and assess its performance, and for which 
discrete financial information is available. 

Reportable segments are operating segments that either meet the thresholds and conditions set out in IFRS 8 or are considered  
by the Board to be appropriately designated as reportable segments. Segment result represents operating profits and includes an 
allocation of Head Office expenses. Segment result excludes tax and financing items. Segment assets comprise goodwill, other 
intangible assets, property, plant and equipment (excluding land and buildings), inventories, trade and other receivables. Segment 
liabilities comprise trade and other payables, provisions and other payables. Unallocated items represent land and buildings,  
corporate and deferred taxation balances, defined benefit scheme liabilities, contingent purchase consideration, all components 
of net cash/borrowings and derivative financial instruments. 

Foreign currencies 
The Group presents its accounts in Sterling. Transactions in foreign currencies are recorded at the rate of exchange at the date of 
the transaction. Monetary assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies at the balance sheet date are reported at the rates 
prevailing at that date. Any gain or loss arising from subsequent exchange rate movements is included as an exchange gain or loss in 
the Consolidated Income Statement. 

Net assets of overseas subsidiary companies are expressed in Sterling at the rates of exchange ruling at the end of the financial year, 
and trading results and cash flows at the average rates of exchange for the financial year. Goodwill arising on the acquisition of a 
foreign business is treated as an asset of the foreign entity and is translated at the rate of exchange ruling at the end of the financial 
year. Exchange gains or losses arising on these translations are taken to the Hedging and translation reserve within Shareholders’ 
funds. 

In the event that an overseas subsidiary is disposed of or closed, the profit or loss on disposal or closure will be determined after 
taking into account the cumulative translation difference held within the Hedging and translation reserve attributable to that subsidiary. 
As permitted by IFRS 1, the Group has elected to deem the Hedging and translation to be £nil at 4 April 2004. Accordingly, the  
profit or loss on disposal or closure of foreign subsidiaries will not include any currency translation differences which arose before  
4 April 2004. 

Derivative financial instruments and hedge accounting 
The Group enters into derivative financial instruments to manage its exposure to foreign exchange rate risk using forward exchange 
contracts. Further details of derivative financial instruments are disclosed in note 26. 

Derivative financial instruments are classified as fair value through profit and loss (held for trading) unless they are in a designated 
hedge relationship. 

Halma plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014  105 
105

Halma plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014Strategic Report Governance Financial Statements  
 
 
Accounting Policies continued
Accounting Policies continued 

Derivatives are initially recognised at fair value at the date a derivative contract is entered into and are subsequently remeasured to 
their fair value at each balance sheet date. The resulting gain or loss is recognised in the Consolidated Income Statement, unless the 
derivative is designated and effective as a hedging instrument, in which event the timing of the recognition in the Consolidated Income 
Statement depends on the nature of the hedge relationship. The Group designates certain derivatives as hedges of highly probable 
forecast transactions or hedges of foreign currency risk of firm commitments (cash flow hedges), or hedges of net investments in 
foreign operations.  

A derivative with a positive fair value is recognised as a financial asset whereas a derivative with a negative fair value is recognised as  
a financial liability. A derivative is presented as a non-current asset or a non-current liability if the remaining maturity of the instrument 
is more than 12 months and it is not expected to be realised or settled within 12 months. Other derivatives are presented as current 
assets or current liabilities. 

Cash flow hedge accounting 
The Group designates certain hedging instruments as cash flow hedges.  

At the inception of the hedge relationship, the entity documents the relationship between the hedging instrument and the hedged 
item, along with its risk management objectives and its strategy for undertaking various hedge transactions. Furthermore, at the 
inception of the hedge and on an ongoing basis, the Group documents whether the hedging instrument has been or is expected  
to be highly effective in offsetting changes in fair values or cash flows of the hedged item.  

Note 26 sets out details of the fair values of the derivative instruments used for hedging purposes and the movements in the hedging 
reserve in equity. 

The effective portion of changes in the fair value of derivatives that are designated and qualify as cash flow hedges is recognised in 
Other comprehensive income. The gain or loss relating to the ineffective portion as a result of being over hedged is recognised 
immediately in the Consolidated Income Statement.  

Amounts previously recognised in Other comprehensive income and accumulated in equity are reclassified to the Consolidated 
Income Statement in the periods when the hedged item is recognised in the Consolidated Income Statement. However, when the 
forecast transaction that is hedged results in the recognition of a non-financial asset or a non-financial liability, the gains and losses 
previously accumulated in equity are transferred from equity and included in the initial measurement of the cost of the non-financial 
asset or non-financial liability.  

Hedge accounting is discontinued when the Group revokes the hedging relationship, the hedging instrument expires or is sold, 
terminated or exercised, or no longer qualifies for hedge accounting. Any gain or loss recognised in Other comprehensive income  
at that time is accumulated in equity and is recognised, when the forecast transaction is ultimately recognised, in the Consolidated 
Income Statement. When a forecast transaction is no longer expected to occur, the gain or loss accumulated in equity is recognised 
immediately in the Consolidated Income Statement.  

Net investment hedge accounting 
The Group uses foreign currency denominated borrowings as a hedge against the translation exposure on the Group’s net investment 
in overseas companies. Where the hedge is fully effective at hedging the variability in the net assets of such companies caused by 
changes in exchange rates, the changes in value of the borrowings are recognised in the Statement of Comprehensive Income and 
accumulated in the Hedging and translation reserve. The ineffective part of any change in value caused by changes in exchange rates 
is recognised in the Consolidated Income Statement. 

Revenue 
Revenue represents sales, less returns, by subsidiary companies to external customers excluding value added tax and other sales 
related taxes. Transactions are recorded as revenue when the delivery of products or performance of services takes place in 
accordance with the contracted terms of sale.  

Revenue on long-term contracts is recognised while the contracts are in progress. Revenue is recognised proportionally to the stage 
of completion of the contract, based on the fair value of goods and services provided to date, taking into account the sign-off of 
milestone delivery by customers. When it is probable that total contract costs will exceed total contract revenue, the expected loss  
is recognised as an expense immediately. 

Property, plant and equipment 
Property, plant and equipment is stated at historical cost less provisions for impairment and depreciation which, with the exception  
of freehold land which is not depreciated, is provided on a straight-line basis over each asset’s estimated economic life. The principal 
annual rates used for this purpose are: 

Freehold property 

Leasehold properties: 

Long leases (more than 50 years unexpired) 

Short leases (less than 50 years unexpired) 

Plant, equipment and vehicles 

106  Halma plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014 
106

2% 

2% 

Period of lease 

8% to 33.3% 

Halma plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014 
Leases 
Leases that confer rights and obligations similar to those that attach to owned assets are classified as finance leases, of which the 
Group has none. All other leases are classified as operating leases. 

Operating lease rentals, and any incentives receivable, are charged to the Consolidated Income Statement on a straight-line basis 
over the lease term. 

Pensions 
The Group makes contributions to various pension schemes, covering the majority of its employees. 

For defined benefit schemes, the asset or liability recorded in the balance sheet is the difference between the fair value of the 
scheme’s assets and the present value of the defined obligation at that date. The defined benefit obligation is calculated separately  
for each scheme on an annual basis by independent actuaries using the projected unit credit method. 

Actuarial gains and losses are recognised in full in the period in which they occur, and are taken to Other comprehensive income. 

Current and past service costs, along with the impact of any settlements or curtailments, are charged to the Consolidated Income 
Statement. Interest on pension plans’ liabilities are recognised within finance expense and the expected return on the schemes’ 
assets are recognised within finance income in the Consolidated Income Statement. 

Contributions to defined contribution schemes are charged to the Consolidated Income Statement when they fall due. 

Employee share schemes 
Share-based incentives are provided to employees under the Group’s share incentive plan, the share option plans and the 
performance share plan. 

(a) Share incentive plan 
Awards of shares under the share incentive plan are made to qualifying employees depending on salary and service criteria. The 
shares awarded under this plan are purchased in the market by the plan’s trustees at the time of the award, and are then held in trust 
for a minimum of three years. The costs of this plan are recognised in the Consolidated Income Statement over the three-year vesting 
periods of the awards. 

(b) Share option plans 
All grants of options under the 1999 company share option plan are equity settled, and so, as permitted by IFRS 1, the provisions  
of IFRS 2 ‘Share-Based Payment’ have been applied only to options awarded on or after 7 November 2002 which had not vested  
at 3 April 2005. 

The fair value of awards under this plan has been measured at the date of grant using the Black-Scholes model and will not be 
subsequently remeasured. The fair value is charged to the Consolidated Income Statement on a straight-line basis over the expected 
vesting period, based on the Group’s estimate of shares that will ultimately vest and adjusted for the effect of non-market-based 
vesting conditions. The corresponding credit is to Shareholders’ funds. 

No further awards will be made under the share option plan. 

(c) Performance share plan 
On 3 August 2005 the share option plan was replaced by the performance share plan. 

Awards under this plan are partly equity-settled and partly cash-settled, and are subject to both market-based and non-market-based 
vesting criteria.  

The fair value of the equity-settled portion at the date of grant is established by using an appropriate simulation method to reflect the 
likelihood of market-based performance conditions being met. The fair value is charged to the Consolidated Income Statement on a 
straight-line basis over the vesting period, with appropriate adjustments being made during this period to reflect expected and actual 
forfeitures arising from the non-market-based performance conditions only. The corresponding credit is to Shareholders’ funds. 

For the cash-settled portion, a liability equal to the portion of the services received is recognised at the current fair value determined at 
each balance sheet date. 

Inventories 
Inventories and work in progress are included at the lower of cost and net realisable value. Cost is calculated either on a ‘first in, first 
out’ or an average cost basis and includes direct materials and the appropriate proportion of production and other overheads 
considered by the Directors to be attributable to bringing the inventories to their location and condition at the year end. Net realisable 
value represents the estimated selling price less all estimated costs to complete and costs to be incurred in marketing, selling and 
distribution. 

Deferred government grant income 
Government grant income that is linked to capital expenditure is deferred to the Consolidated Balance Sheet and credited to the 
Consolidated Income Statement over the life of the related asset. In addition, the Group claims research and development expenditure 
credits arising on qualifying expenditure in its UK-based subsidiaries and shows these ‘above the line’ in Operating profit. Where the 
credits arise on expenditure that is capitalised as part of Internally generated capitalised development costs, the income is deferred to 
the Consolidated Balance Sheet and credited to the Consolidated Income Statement over the life of the related asset in line with the 
policy stated above.  

Halma plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014  107 
107

Halma plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014Strategic Report Governance Financial Statements  
 
 
Accounting Policies continued
Accounting Policies continued 

Provisions 
Provisions are recognised when the Group has a present obligation (legal or constructive) as a result of a past event, it is probable that 
the Group will be required to settle that obligation and a reliable estimate can be made of the amount of the obligation.  

The amount recognised as a provision is the best estimate of the consideration required to settle the present obligation at the balance 
sheet date, taking into account the risks and uncertainties surrounding the obligation. Where a provision is measured using the cash 
flows estimated to settle the present obligation, its carrying amount is the present value of the cash flows.  

When some or all of the economic benefits required to settle a provision are expected to be recovered from a third party, a  
receivable is recognised as an asset if it is virtually certain that reimbursement will be received and the amount of the receivable  
can be measured reliably. 

Operating profit 
Operating profit is stated after charging restructuring costs but before the share of results of associates, profit or loss on disposal of 
operations, finance income and finance costs. 

Taxation 
Taxation comprises current and deferred tax. Tax is recognised in the Consolidated Income Statement except to the extent that it 
relates to items recognised directly in Shareholders’ funds, in which case it too is recognised in Shareholders’ funds. Current tax is the 
expected tax payable on the taxable income for the year, using tax rates enacted or subsequently enacted at the balance sheet date, 
along with any adjustment to tax payable in respect of previous years. Taxable profit differs from net profit as reported in the 
Consolidated Income Statement because it excludes items that are never taxable or deductible. 

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 and is accounted for using the balance sheet liability method, apart from  
the following differences which are not provided for: goodwill not deductible for tax purposes; the initial recognition of assets or 
liabilities that affect neither accounting nor taxable profit; and differences relating to investments in subsidiaries to the extent 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 amounts of assets and liabilities, using tax rates and laws, which are expected to apply  
in the year when the liability is settled or the asset is realised. Deferred tax assets are only recognised to the extent that recovery  
is probable. 

Cash and cash equivalents 
Cash and cash equivalents comprise cash balances, deposits with an initial maturity of less than three months, and bank overdrafts 
that are repayable on demand.  

Dividends 
Dividends payable to the Company’s shareholders are recognised as a liability in the period in which the distribution is approved by 
the Company’s shareholders. 

108  Halma plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014 
108

Halma plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014Notes to the Accounts
Notes to the Accounts  

1 Segmental analysis 
Sector analysis 
The Group has four main reportable segments (Process Safety, Infrastructure Safety, Medical, and Environmental & Analysis),  
which are defined by markets rather than product type. Each segment includes businesses with similar operating and marketing 
characteristics. These segments are consistent with the internal reporting as reviewed by the Chief Executive Officer.  

Segment revenue and results 

Process Safety 

Infrastructure Safety 

Medical 

Environmental & Analysis 

Inter-segmental sales 

Revenue for the year 

Revenue (all continuing  
operations) 

52 weeks to  
29 March  
2014  
£000 

52 weeks to  
30 March  
2013  
£000 

126,704 

220,254 

163,181 

166,547 

125,656 

205,315 

136,054 

152,448 

(180) 

(263) 

676,506 

619,210 

Inter-segmental sales are charged at prevailing market prices and have not been disclosed separately by segment as they are not 
considered material. The Group does not analyse revenue by product group and has no material revenue derived from the rendering 
of services. 

Segment profit before allocation of adjustments** 

Process Safety 

Infrastructure Safety 

Medical 

Environmental & Analysis 

Segment profit after allocation of adjustments** 

Process Safety 

Infrastructure Safety 

Medical 

Environmental & Analysis 

Segment profit 

Central administration costs excluding the effects of closure to future benefit accrual of the defined 
benefit pension scheme net of associated costs*** 

Effects of closure to future benefit accrual of the defined benefit pension scheme net of associated 
costs*** 

Net finance expense 

Group profit before taxation 

Taxation 

Profit for the year 

Profit (all continuing 
 operations) 

(Restated)*  

52 weeks to  
29 March 
2014  
£000 

52 weeks to  
30 March 
2013  
£000 

34,878 

44,445 

41,826 

31,740 

32,310 

41,523 

35,934 

30,385 

152,889 

140,152 

34,125 

45,010 

41,554 

27,574 

39,848 

41,469 

24,146 

26,282 

148,263 

131,745 

(7,922) 

(6,730) 

3,054 

(4,718) 

– 

(4,879) 

138,677 

120,136 

(32,350) 

(26,530) 

106,327 

93,606 

*  Details of the restatement are disclosed in the Accounting Policies note on page 102.  
**  Adjustments include the amortisation of acquired intangible assets; acquisition items; the effects of closure to future benefit accrual of the defined benefit pension 

schemes net of associated costs; and profit or loss on disposal of operations. 

*** The defined benefit scheme referred to here is the Halma Group Pension Plan only, which is not practical to allocate by Sector (see adjustments table on page 110 for 

more details). 

Halma plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014  109 
109

Halma plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014Strategic Report Governance Financial Statements  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Notes to the Accounts continued
Notes to the Company Accounts  

1 Segmental analysis continued 
The accounting policies of the reportable segments are the same as the Group’s accounting policies. For acquisitions after 3 April 
2010, acquisition transaction costs and movement on contingent consideration (collectively ‘acquisition items’), are recognised in the 
Consolidated Income Statement. Segment profit, before these acquisition items and the other adjustments, is disclosed separately 
above as this is the measure reported to the Chief Executive Officer for the purpose of allocation of resources and assessment of 
segment performance. 

These adjustments are analysed as follows: 

Acquisition items 

Amortisation 
of acquired 
intangibles  
£000 

Transaction 
costs  
£000 

Adjustments 
to contingent 
consideration  
£000 

Total 
amortisation 
charge and 
acquisition 
items  
£000 

Disposal of 
operations 
 (note 29) 
£000 

Process Safety 

Infrastructure Safety 

Medical 

Environmental & Analysis 

Total Segment 

Central administration costs 

Total Group 

(598) 

(144) 

(12,530) 

(4,243) 

(17,515) 

– 

(17,515) 

– 

(140) 

102 

(53) 

(91) 

– 

(91) 

(17) 

– 

12,456 

130 

12,569 

– 

(615) 

(284) 

28 

(4,166) 

(5,037) 

– 

12,569 

(5,037) 

(138) 

(45) 

(300) 

– 

(483) 

– 

(483) 

2014 

Total  
£000 

(753) 

565 

(272) 

(4,166) 

(4,626) 

3,054 

(1,572) 

Effects of 
closure to 
future 
benefit 
accrual of 
defined 
benefit 
pension 
 schemes* 
(note 28) 
£000 

– 

894 

– 

– 

894 

3,054 

3,948 

*  The effects of closure to future benefit accrual of defined benefit pension schemes, which were gains of £894,000 and £3,054,000, arose on the closure of the  

Apollo Pension and Life Assurance Plan and Halma Group Pension Plan respectively. It is not practical to apportion the latter gain by Segment. 

The transaction costs arose mainly on the acquisition (see note 24) of ASL Holdings Limited and Talentum Developments Limited, 
which were acquired on 14 March 2013 and 11 April 2013 respectively. The credit in the Medical Segment related mainly to the 
release of accrued fees arising on the MicroSurgical Technology, Inc. (‘MST’) acquisition in the prior year. The £12,456,000 credit to 
contingent consideration related mainly to a revision in the estimate of the MST payable from US$25,0000,000 to US$6,504,000. 

Acquisition items 

Amortisation 
of acquired 
intangibles  
£000 

Transaction 
costs  
£000 

Adjustments 
to contingent 
consideration  
£000 

Process Safety 

Infrastructure Safety 

Medical 

Environmental & Analysis 

Total Segment 

Central administration costs 

(602) 

– 

(9,947) 

(3,686) 

(14,235) 

– 

– 

(54) 

(2,272) 

(417) 

(2,743) 

– 

Total Group 

(14,235) 

(2,743) 

(16) 

– 

517 

– 

501 

– 

501 

Effects of 
closure to 
future benefit 
accrual of 
defined 
benefit 
pension 
schemes 
 (note 28) 
£000 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

Total 
amortisation 
charge and 
acquisition 
items  
£000 

(618) 

(54) 

(11,702) 

(4,103) 

(16,477) 

– 

Disposal of 
continuing 
operations  
£000 

8,156 

– 

(86) 

– 

8,070 

– 

(16,477) 

8,070 

2013 

Total  
£000 

7,538 

(54) 

(11,788) 

(4,103) 

(8,407) 

– 

(8,407) 

110  Halma plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014 
110

Halma plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Segment assets and liabilities 

Before goodwill, interests in associates and acquired intangible assets are 
allocated to specific segment assets/liabilities 

Process Safety 

Infrastructure Safety 

Medical 

Environmental & Analysis 

Total segment assets/liabilities excluding goodwill, interests in 
associates and acquired intangible assets 

Goodwill 

Interests in associates 

Acquired intangible assets 

2014  
£000 

50,518 

88,688 

54,428 

68,866 

Assets 

2013  
£000 

47,960 

86,401 

55,473 

67,066 

262,500 

335,278 

5,088 

256,900 

351,785 

4,792 

96,955 

119,951 

2014  
£000 

18,463 

28,896 

18,457 

26,413 

Liabilities 

2013  
£000 

17,451 

28,933 

18,452 

24,003 

92,229 

88,839 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

Total segment assets/liabilities including goodwill, interests in 
associates and acquired intangible assets 

699,821 

733,428 

92,229 

88,839 

After goodwill, interests in associates and acquired intangible assets are 
allocated to specific segment assets/liabilities 

Process Safety 

Infrastructure Safety 

Medical 

Environmental & Analysis 

Total segment assets/liabilities including goodwill  
and acquired intangible assets 

Cash and bank balances/borrowings 

Derivative financial instruments 

Other unallocated assets/liabilities 

Total Group 

2014  
£000 

68,428 

170,540 

275,109 

185,744 

Assets 

2013  
£000 

67,978 

168,064 

301,256 

196,130 

2014  
£000 

18,463 

28,896 

18,457 

26,413 

Liabilities 

2013  
£000 

17,451 

28,933 

18,452 

24,003 

699,821 

733,428 

92,229 

88,839 

34,531 

49,723 

109,027 

160,013 

496 

256 

54,776 

66,467 

789,624 

849,874 

167 

102,201 

303,624 

796 

146,959 

396,607 

Segment assets and liabilities, excluding the allocation of goodwill, interests in associates and acquired intangible assets, have been 
disclosed separately above as this is the measure reported to the Chief Executive Officer for the purpose of monitoring segment 
performance and allocating resources between segments. Other unallocated assets include land and buildings and tax assets, 
and unallocated liabilities include contingent purchase consideration, retirement benefit provisions and tax liabilities. 

Other segment information 

Process Safety 

Infrastructure Safety 

Medical 

Environmental & Analysis 

Total segment additions/depreciation and amortisation 

Unallocated 

Total Group 

Additions to  
non-current assets  

Depreciation and 
amortisation 

2014  
£000 

4,403 

10,311 

4,575 

6,209 

2013  
£000 

3,692 

7,701 

122,431 

40,908 

25,498 

174,732 

354 

294 

2014  
£000 

3,872 

6,458 

15,742 

9,733 

35,805 

505 

2013  
£000 

3,942 

5,697 

12,727 

8,885 

31,251 

648 

25,852 

175,026 

36,310 

31,899 

Non-current asset additions comprise acquired and purchased goodwill, intangible assets and property, plant and equipment.  

There were no impairment losses incurred during the year (2013: £nil). 

Halma plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014  111 
111

Halma plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014Strategic Report Governance Financial Statements  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Notes to the Accounts continued
Notes to the Company Accounts  

1 Segmental analysis continued 
Geographical information 
The Group’s revenue from external customers (by location of customer) and its non-current assets by geographical location are 
detailed below: 

United States of America 

Mainland Europe 

United Kingdom 

Asia Pacific 

Africa, Near and Middle East 

Other countries 

Revenue by destination 

Non-current assets 

2014  
£000 

2013  
£000 

214,493 

163,707 

127,877 

111,572 

33,037 

25,820 

194,990 

151,631 

115,575 

100,532 

31,380 

25,102 

2014  
£000 

63,996 

28,134 

2013  
£000 

68,765 

28,115 

429,923 

466,006 

5,429 

4,803 

– 

55 

– 

70 

676,506 

619,210 

527,537 

567,759 

Non-current assets comprise goodwill, other intangible assets, investments in associates and property, plant and equipment.  

Information about major customers 
The Group had no revenue from a single customer, which accounts for more than 2% of the Group’s revenue.  

2 Earnings per ordinary share 
Basic earnings per ordinary share are calculated using the weighted average of 377,805,248 shares in issue during the year (net  
of shares purchased by the Company and held as treasury shares) (2013: 377,597,126). Diluted earnings per ordinary share are 
calculated using the weighted average of 378,035,662 shares (2013: 378,009,506), which includes dilutive potential ordinary shares 
of 230,414 (2013: 412,380). Dilutive potential ordinary shares are calculated from those exercisable share options where the exercise 
price is less than the average price of the Company’s ordinary shares during the year. 

Adjusted earnings are calculated as earnings from continuing operations excluding the amortisation of acquired intangible assets; 
acquisition items; the effects of closure to future benefit accrual of the defined benefit pension schemes net of associated costs;  
profit or loss on disposal of operations; and associated tax thereon. The Directors consider that adjusted earnings represent a more 
consistent measure of underlying performance. A reconciliation of earnings and the effect on basic earnings per share figures is 
as follows: 

Earnings from continuing operations 

Cessation of DB pension accrual 

Amortisation of acquired intangible assets (after tax) 

Acquisition transaction costs (after tax) 

Adjustments to contingent consideration (after tax) 

Loss/(profit) on disposal of operations (after tax) 

Adjusted earnings 

2014  
£000 

(Restated)* 
2013  
£000 

106,327 

93,606 

(3,040) 

11,820 

91 

(8,104) 

470 

– 

9,978 

2,252 

(385) 

(8,070) 

107,564 

97,381 

Per ordinary share 

2014  
pence 

28.14 

(0.80) 

3.14 

0.02 

(2.15) 

0.12 

28.47 

(Restated)* 
2013  
£000 

24.79 

– 

2.64 

0.60 

(0.10) 

(2.14) 

25.79 

* The effect on the prior year of the adoption of IAS 19 (revised) on earnings and adjusted earnings per ordinary share was a reduction to both of 0.43p. See the Accounting  
   Policies note on page 102 for further details. 

112  Halma plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014 
112

Halma plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
3 Non-GAAP measures 
The Board uses certain non-GAAP measures to help it effectively monitor the performance of the Group. These measures include 
Return on Capital Employed, Return on Total Invested Capital, Organic growth, Adjusted operating profit and Adjusted operating  
cash flow. 

Return on Capital Employed 

2014  
£000 

(Restated)* 
2013  
£000 

Operating profit before adjustments**, but after share of results of associates 

144,967 

133,422 

Computer software costs within intangible assets 

Capitalised development costs within intangible assets 

Other intangibles within intangible assets 

Property, plant and equipment 

Inventories 

Trade and other receivables 

Trade and other payables 

Current provisions 

Net tax liabilities 

Non-current trade and other payables 

Non-current provisions 

Add back contingent purchase consideration 

Capital employed 

Return on Capital Employed (ROCE) 

2,810 

12,981 

8 

74,417 

71,034 

2,383 

11,977 

146 

76,725 

69,713 

135,177 

133,605 

(88,291) 

(4,482) 

(11,168) 

(3,564) 

(6,777) 

7,562 

(87,073) 

(16,276) 

(11,262) 

(2,993) 

(21,756) 

33,512 

189,707 

188,701 

76.4% 

70.7% 

*  The effect on the prior year of the adoption of IAS 19 (revised) on the Return on Capital Employed (ROCE) measure was a reduction in ROCE of 0.6%. This change arose 

due to the reduction in operating profit. See the Accounting Policies note on page 102 for further details. 

Return on Total Invested Capital 

Post-tax profit before adjustments** 

Total shareholders’ funds 

Add back retirement benefit obligations 

Less associated deferred tax assets 

Cumulative amortisation of acquired intangibles 

Historical adjustments to goodwill*** 

Total invested capital 

Return on Total Invested Capital (ROTIC) 

2014  
£000 

107,564 

486,000 

36,849 

(Restated)* 
2013  
£000 

97,381 

453,267 

47,172 

(7,372) 

(10,851) 

61,324 

89,549 

46,150 

89,549 

666,350 

625,287 

16.1% 

15.6% 

*  The effect on the prior year of the adoption of IAS 19 (revised) on the Return on Total Invested Capital (ROTIC) measure was a reduction in ROTIC of 0.2% due to a 

reduction in post-tax profit. See the Accounting Policies note on page 102 for further details. 

**  Adjustments include the amortisation of acquired intangible assets; acquisition items; the effects of closure to future benefit accrual of the defined benefit pension 

schemes net of associated costs; and profit or loss on disposal of operations. 

*** Includes goodwill amortised prior to 3 April 2004 and goodwill taken to reserves. 

Halma plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014  113 
113

Halma plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014Strategic Report Governance Financial Statements  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Notes to the Accounts continued
Notes to the Company Accounts  

3 Non-GAAP measures continued 
Organic growth 
Organic growth measures the change in revenue and profit from continuing Group operations. The effect of acquisitions and disposals 
made during the prior financial year, and acquisitions made in the current financial year has been equalised by adjusting the current 
year results for pro-rated contributions based on their revenues and profits before taxation at the dates of acquisition and disposal. 
The results of disposals made in the prior financial year have been removed from the prior year reported revenue and profit before 
taxation. Organic growth has been calculated as follows: 

Revenue 

Profit** before taxation 

2014  
£000 

2013  
£000 

% growth 

2014  
£000 

(Restated)* 
2013  
£000 

% growth 

Continuing operations 

676,506 

619,210 

Acquired and disposed revenue/profit 

(26,413) 

(5,088) 

140,249 

128,543 

(5,379) 

(915) 

650,093 

614,122 

5.9% 

134,870 

127,628 

5.7% 

*   Details of the restatement are disclosed in the Accounting Policies note on page 102. 
**  Profit before adjustments, which include the amortisation of acquired intangible assets; acquisition items; the effects of the closure to future benefit accrual of the defined 

benefit pension schemes net of associated costs; and profit or loss on disposal of operations. 

Adjusted operating profit 

Operating profit 

Add back: 

Acquisition items 

Effects of closure to future benefit accrual of defined benefit pension schemes 

Amortisation of acquired intangible assets 

Adjusted operating profit 

Adjusted operating cash flow 

Net cash from operating activities (note 25) 

Add back: 

Taxes paid 

Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment 

Less: 

Purchase of property, plant and equipment 

Purchase of computer software and other intangibles 

Development costs capitalised 

Adjusted operating cash flow 

Cash conversion % (adjusted operating cash flow/adjusted operating profit) 

* Details of the restatement are disclosed in the Accounting Policies note on page 102. 

2014  
£000 

(Restated)* 
2013  
£000 

143,571 

117,297 

(12,478) 

(3,948) 

17,515 

2,242 

– 

14,235 

144,660 

133,774 

2014  
£000 

(Restated)* 
2013  
£000 

121,538 

108,244 

28,351 

1,708 

25,452 

917 

(15,838) 

(14,472) 

(1,529) 

(5,196) 

(1,053) 

(5,443) 

129,034 

113,645 

89% 

85% 

The effect on the prior year of the adoption of IAS 19 (revised) was an increase of 1% in the cash conversion percentage. 

114  Halma plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014 
114

Halma plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
4 Finance income 

Interest receivable 

Fair value movement on derivative financial instruments 

5 Finance expense 

Interest payable on bank loans and overdrafts 

Amortisation of finance costs 

Net interest charge on pension scheme liabilities 

Other interest payable 

Fair value movement on derivative financial instruments 

Unwinding of discount on provisions 

6 Profit before taxation  
Profit before taxation comprises: 

Revenue 

Direct materials/direct labour 

Production overhead 

Selling costs 

Distribution costs 

Administrative expenses 

Operating profit 

Share of results of associates 

(Loss)/profit on disposal of operations 

Net finance expense 

Profit before taxation 

2014  
£000 

252 

370 

622 

2014  
£000 

2,691 

599 

1,875 

25 

5,190 

– 

150 

(Restated)* 
2013  
£000 

195 

– 

195 

(Restated)* 
2013  
£000 

2,366 

634 

1,518 

90 

4,608 

384 

82 

5,340 

5,074 

2014  
£000 

(Restated)* 
2013  
£000 

676,506 

619,210 

(240,584) 

(223,050) 

(81,403) 

(87,385) 

(15,448) 

(74,654) 

(77,348) 

(13,690) 

(108,115) 

(113,171) 

143,571 

117,297 

307 

(483) 

(4,718) 

(352) 

8,070 

(4,879) 

138,677 

120,136 

* Details of the restatement are disclosed in the Accounting Policies note on page 102. 

Included within administrative expenses are the amortisation of acquired intangible assets, the effects of the closure to future benefit 
accrual of defined benefit pension schemes and acquisition items. 

Halma plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014  115 
115

Halma plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014Strategic Report Governance Financial Statements  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Notes to the Accounts continued
Notes to the Company Accounts  

6 Profit before taxation continued 

Profit before taxation is stated after 
charging/(crediting): 

Depreciation 

Amortisation 

Research and development* 

Foreign exchange loss/(gain) 

Loss/(profit) on disposal of operations 

Profit on sale of property, plant and equipment and 
computer software 

Cost of inventories recognised as an expense 

Staff costs (note 7) 

Auditor’s remuneration 

Operating lease rents: 

Audit services to the Company 

Audit of the Company’s subsidiaries 

Total audit fees 

Interim agreed upon procedures 

Tax compliance services 

Tax advisory services 

Other services 

Total non-audit fees 

Audit of Group pension plan 

Total fees 

Property 

Other 

* A further £5,196,000 (2013: £5,443,000) of development costs has been capitalised in the year. See note 12. 

7 Employee information 
The average number of persons employed by the Group (including Directors) by entity location was: 

United States of America 

Mainland Europe 

United Kingdom 

Asia Pacific 

Other countries 

2014  
£000 

2013  
£000 

13,625 

22,685 

26,929 

1,385 

483 

12,684 

19,215 

25,633 

(901) 

(8,070) 

(26) 

(163) 

326,917 

180,905 

284,269 

164,862 

159 

600 

759 

20 

1 

11 

18 

50 

15 

824 

8,027 

942 

142 

598 

740 

20 

27 

225 

21 

293 

14 

1,047 

7,679 

915 

2014  
Number 

2013  
Number 

1,538 

794 

1,723 

936 

8 

1,439 

792 

1,751 

727 

7 

4,999 

4,716 

116  Halma plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014 
116

Halma plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The average number of persons employed by the Group (including Directors) by employee location* was: 

United States of America 

Mainland Europe 

United Kingdom 

Asia Pacific 

Other countries 

2014  
Number 

1,512 

782 

1,660 

994 

51 

4,999 

* The Group started to collect more detailed employee information in the current year. Prior year comparatives for average numbers of employee by location are unavailable.  

Group employee costs comprise: 

Wages and salaries 

Social security costs 

Pension costs (note 28) 

Share-based payment charge (note 23) 

2014 
£000  

2013 
£000 

148,286 

136,120 

21,428 

19,510 

6,695 

4,496 

5,590 

3,642 

180,905 

164,862 

8 Directors’ remuneration 
The remuneration of the Directors is set out on pages 81 to 89 within the Remuneration Report described as being audited and forms 
part of these financial statements. 

Directors’ remuneration comprises: 

Wages, salaries and fees 

Pension costs  

Share-based payment charge 

2014  
£000 

2,671 

56 

1,227 

3,954 

2013  
£000 

2,686 

47 

989 

3,722 

Halma plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014  117 
117

Halma plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014Strategic Report Governance Financial Statements  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Notes to the Accounts continued
Notes to the Company Accounts  

9 Taxation 
As stated in the Accounting Policies, the prior year’s results have been restated following the adoption of IAS19 (revised) from  
31 March 2013. Consequently, the deferred tax charge in the Consolidated Income Statement and the tax credit recognised directly  
in the Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income have both been reduced by £508,000. 

Current tax 

UK corporation tax at 23% (2013: 24%) 

Overseas taxation 

Adjustments in respect of prior years 

Total current tax charge 

Deferred tax 

Origination and reversal of timing differences 

Adjustments in respect of prior years 

Total deferred tax charge/(credit) 

Total tax charge recognised in the Consolidated Income Statement 

Reconciliation of the effective tax rate: 

Profit before tax  

Tax at the UK corporation tax rate of 23% (2013: 24%) 

Overseas tax rate differences 

Permanent differences 

Adjustments in respect of prior years 

Effective tax rate after adjustments** 

Profit before tax and adjustments**  

Total tax charge on profit before adjustments**  

Effective tax rate 

2014  
£000 

(Restated)* 
2013  
£000 

9,465 

20,872 

8,081 

19,046 

(492) 

(178) 

29,845 

26,949 

2,626 

(121) 

2,505 

32,350 

(548) 

129 

(419) 

26,530 

138,677 

120,136 

31,896 

5,665 

(4,598) 

(613) 

32,350 

23.3% 

28,833 

5,413 

(7,667) 

(49) 

26,530 

22.1% 

2014  
£000 

2013  
£000 

140,249 

128,543 

32,685 

23.3% 

31,162 

24.2% 

*   Details of the restatement are disclosed in the Accounting Policies note on page 102. 
**  Adjustments include the amortisation of acquired intangible assets; acquisition items; the effects of the closure to future benefit accrual of the defined benefit pension 

schemes net of associated costs; and profit or loss on disposal of operations. 

118  Halma plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014 
118

Halma plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
In addition to the amount charged to the Consolidated Income Statement, the following amounts relating to tax have been recognised 
directly in the Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income and Expenditure: 

Deferred tax (note 21) 

Retirement benefit obligations 

Short-term timing differences 

2014  
£000 

(Restated)* 
2013  
£000 

1,570 

129 

1,699 

(4,292) 

(130) 

(4,422) 

*  Details of the restatement are disclosed in the Accounting Policies note on page 102. 

In addition to the amounts charged to the Consolidated Income Statement and the Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive 
Income and Expenditure, the following amounts relating to tax have been recognised directly in equity: 

Current tax 

Excess tax deductions related to share-based payments on exercised options 

997 

1,056 

2014  
£000 

2013  
£000 

Deferred tax (note 21) 

Change in estimated excess tax deductions related to share-based payments 

10 Dividends 

Amounts recognised as distributions to shareholders in the year 

Final dividend for the year to 30 March 2013 (31 March 2012) 

Interim dividend for the year to 29 March 2014 (30 March 2013) 

Dividends declared in respect of the year 

Interim dividend for the year to 29 March 2014 (30 March 2013) 

Proposed final dividend for the year to 29 March 2014 (30 March 2013) 

295 

1,292 

5 

1,061 

Per ordinary share 

2014  
pence 

2013  
pence 

2014  
£000 

2013  
£000 

6.37 

4.35 

10.72 

4.35 

6.82 

11.17 

5.95 

4.06 

10.01 

4.06 

6.37 

10.43 

24,049 

16,436 

40,485 

16,436 

25,762 

42,198 

22,425 

15,340 

37,765 

15,340 

24,049 

39,389 

The proposed final dividend is subject to approval by shareholders at the Annual General Meeting on 24 July 2014 and has not been 
included as a liability in these financial statements. 

Halma plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014  119 
119

Halma plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014Strategic Report Governance Financial Statements  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Notes to the Accounts continued
Notes to the Company Accounts  

11 Goodwill  

Cost 

At beginning of year 

Additions (note 24) 

Disposals (note 29) 

Exchange adjustments 

At end of year 

Provision for impairment 

At beginning and end of year 

Carrying amounts 

2014  
£000 

2013  
£000 

351,785 

267,471 

1,649 

– 

82,159 

(8,009) 

(18,156) 

10,164 

335,278 

351,785 

– 

– 

335,278 

351,785 

The Group identifies cash generating units (CGUs) at the operating company level as this represents the lowest level at which cash 
flows are largely independent of other cash flows. Goodwill acquired in a business combination is allocated, at acquisition, to the 
groups of CGUs that are expected to benefit from that business combination. 

Before recognition of any impairment losses, the carrying amount of goodwill has been allocated as follows: 

Process Safety 

Gas Detection 

Bursting Discs 

Safety Interlocks 

Infrastructure Safety 

Fire 

Doors, Security & Elevators 

Medical 

Health Optics 

Fluid Technology 

Environmental & Analysis 

Water 

Photonics 

Environmental Monitoring 

Total Group 

2014  
£000 

2013  
£000 

– 

6,977 

7,357 

– 

7,620 

7,609 

14,334 

15,229 

12,172 

68,465 

80,637 

11,675 

69,988 

81,663 

117,571 

123,123 

31,095 

33,749 

148,666 

156,872 

27,252 

53,184 

11,205 

91,641 

27,929 

57,855 

12,237 

98,021 

335,278 

351,785 

Goodwill values have been tested for impairment by comparing them against the value in use in perpetuity of the relevant CGUs. The 
value in use calculations were based on projected cash flows, derived from the latest budget approved by the Board, discounted at 
CGU specific, risk adjusted, discount rates to calculate their net present value.  

Key assumptions used in ‘value in use’ calculations 
The calculation of ‘value in use’ is most sensitive to the following assumptions: 

−  CGU specific operating assumptions that are reflected in the budget period for the financial year to March 2015; 
−  Discount rates; 
−  Growth rates used to extrapolate risk adjusted cash flows beyond the budget period. 

120  Halma plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014 
120

Halma plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
CGU specific operating assumptions are applicable to the budgeted cash flows for the year to March 2015 and relate to revenue 
forecasts, expected project outcomes and forecast operating margins in each of the operating companies. The relative value ascribed 
to each assumption will vary between CGUs as the budgets are built up from the underlying operating companies within each CGU.  
A short-term growth rate is applied to the March 2015 budget to derive the cash flows arising in the year to March 2016 and a long-
term rate is applied to these values for the year to March 2017 and onwards, as described below. 

Discount rates are based on estimations of the assumptions that market participants operating in similar sectors to Halma would 
make, using the Group’s economic profile as a starting point and adjusting appropriately. The Directors do not currently expect any 
significant change in the present base discount rate of 10.65% (2013: 10.51%). The base discount rate, which is pre-tax and is based 
on short-term variables, may differ from the Weighted Average Cost of Capital (WACC) used in long-term return measures such as 
ROTIC. Discount rates are adjusted for economic risks that are not already captured in the specific operating assumptions for each 
CGU. This results in the impairment testing using discount rates ranging from 10.52% to 13.70% (2013: 9.36% to 14.59%) across  
all CGUs. 

CGUs to which 10% or more of the total goodwill balance is allocated are deemed to be significant. The assumptions used to 
determine value in use for these CGUs are: 

Significant CGU 

Doors, Security & Elevators 

Health Optics 

Photonics 

Risk adjusted discount rate 

Short-term growth rates 

Long-term growth rates 

2014 

13.70% 

12.88% 

11.61% 

2013 

14.05% 

14.59% 

9.52% 

2014 

5.09% 

1.49% 

2.07% 

2013 

3.25% 

3.25% 

3.25% 

2014 

2.14% 

2.35% 

 2.16% 

2013 

2.50% 

2.50% 

2.50% 

Short-term growth rates are based on sectoral organic growth rates achieved in the current year, but are capped at the Group’s 
overall current year organic growth rate to ensure that future uncertainties are adequately reflected. Long-term growth rates are 
capped at the weighted average GDP growth rates of the markets that the Group sells into. 

Sensitivity to changes in assumptions  
Management believes that no reasonable potential change in any of the above key assumptions would cause the carrying value of any 
unit to exceed its recoverable amount. 

Halma plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014  121 
121

Halma plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014Strategic Report Governance Financial Statements  
 
 
 
 
Notes to the Accounts continued
Notes to the Company Accounts  

12 Other intangible assets 

Acquired intangibles 

Customer 
and supplier  
relationships1 

Technical 
know- 
how2 

Trademarks, 
brands and 
 patents3 

Total 

Internally 
generated 
capitalised 
development 
 costs4 

Computer 
software 

Other  
intangibles5 

Total 

Cost 

At 31 March 2012 

68,659  

– 

28,729   97,388  

28,586  

9,906  

418   136,298  

Transfer between category 

313  

7,429  

(7,742)  

– 

Assets of businesses acquired 

48,392  

6,790  

13,888   69,070  

– 

– 

– 

50  

Assets of businesses sold 

(3,632)  

(1,793) 

Additions at cost 

Disposals and retirements 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

(5,425)  

(680)  

(368)  

– 

– 

5,443  

1,044  

(977)  

(427)  

– 

– 

– 

9  

– 

– 

69,120  

(6,473)  

6,496  

(1,404)  

Exchange adjustments 

3,557  

489  

1,022  

5,068  

444  

243  

21  

5,776  

At 30 March 2013 

117,289   12,915  

35,897   166,101  

32,816   10,448  

448   209,813  

Transfer between category6 

Assets of businesses acquired  
(note 24) 

Additions at cost 

Disposals and retirements 

Exchange adjustments 

At 29 March 2014 

Accumulated amortisation 

– 

– 

– 

– 

806 

404 

234 

1,444 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

5,196 

1,529 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

1,444 

6,725 

– 

586 

(51) 

535 

(6,436) 

(963) 

(1,867) 

(9,266) 

(784) 

(441) 

(34) 

(10,525) 

111,659 

12,356 

34,264  158,279 

37,228 

12,122 

363  207,992 

At 31 March 2012 

23,102  

– 

13,204   36,306  

18,078  

7,228  

203   61,815  

Transfer between category6 

250  

5,377  

(5,627)  

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

Charge for the year 

9,705  

1,233  

3,297   14,235  

3,493  

1,402  

85   19,215  

Assets of businesses sold 

(3,632)  

(1,793)  

Disposals and retirements 

– 

– 

– 

– 

(5,425)  

(337)  

(328)  

– 

(713)  

(409)  

– 

– 

(6,090)  

(1,122)  

Exchange adjustments 

At 30 March 2013 

657  

160  

217  

1,034  

318  

172  

14  

1,538  

30,082  

4,977  

11,091   46,150  

20,839  

8,065  

302   75,356  

Transfer between category 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

428 

– 

428 

Charge for the year 

12,009 

1,455 

4,051 

17,515 

3,922 

1,168 

80 

22,685 

Disposals and retirements 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

Exchange adjustments 

(1,503) 

(373) 

(465) 

(2,341) 

(514) 

(349) 

(27) 

(3,231) 

At 29 March 2014 

Carrying amounts 

At 29 March 2014 

At 30 March 2013 

40,588 

6,059 

14,677 

61,324 

24,247 

9,312 

355 

95,238 

71,071 

6,297 

19,587 

96,955 

12,981 

2,810 

8  112,754 

87,207  

7,938  

24,806   119,951  

11,977  

2,383  

146   134,457  

1  Customer and supplier relationship assets are amortised over their useful economic lives estimated to be between three and ten years. There are no individually material 

items within this balance, which comprises customer relationship assets arising from acquisitions over the last ten years.  
2  Technical know-how assets are amortised over their useful economic lives estimated to be between three and ten years. 
3  Trademarks, brands and patents (which include protected intellectual property) are amortised over their useful economic lives estimated to be between eight and  

4 

ten years. 
Internally generated capitalised development costs are amortised over their useful economic lives estimated to be three years. There are no individually material items 
within this balance, which comprises capitalised costs arising from the development phase of the R&D projects undertaken by the Group. 

5  Other intangibles comprise licence and product registration costs amortised over their useful economic lives estimated to be between three and five years. 
6  The net transfer from property, plant and equipment to computer software relates to identifiable software assets. 

122  Halma plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014 
122

Halma plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
13 Property, plant and equipment 

Cost 

At 31 March 2012 

Transfer between category 

Assets of businesses acquired  

Assets of business sold 

Additions at cost 

Disposals and retirements 

Exchange adjustments 

At 30 March 2013 

Transfer between category 

Assets of businesses acquired (note 24) 

Additions at cost 

Disposals and retirements 

Exchange adjustments 

At 29 March 2014 

Accumulated depreciation 

At 31 March 2012 

Transfer between category 

Assets of business sold 

Charge for the year 

Disposals and retirements 

Exchange adjustments 

At 30 March 2013 

Transfer between category 

Charge for the year 

Disposals and retirements 

Exchange adjustments 

At 29 March 2014 

Carrying amounts 

At 29 March 2014 

At 30 March 2013 

Land and buildings 

Freehold  
£000 

Long leases  
£000 

Short leases  
£000 

Plant, 
equipment 
and vehicles  
£000 

Total 
£000 

35,310 

2,440 

6,263 

114,188 

158,201 

– 

– 

– 

239 

(43) 

531 

– 

111 

– 

415 

(127) 

55 

477 

19 

– 

666 

(261) 

167 

(477) 

2,649 

(3,276) 

– 

2,779 

(3,276) 

13,152 

14,472 

(6,784) 

2,734 

(7,215) 

3,487 

36,037 

2,894 

7,331 

122,186 

168,448 

(11) 

– 

73 

(856) 

(869) 

8 

– 

615 

(46) 

(151) 

105 

– 

536 

(383) 

(281) 

(637) 

196 

(535) 

196 

14,614 

15,838 

(5,880) 

(5,140) 

(7,165) 

(6,441) 

34,374 

3,320 

7,308 

125,339 

170,341 

8,652 

1,147 

4,138 

72,146 

86,083 

– 

– 

763 

(31) 

200 

– 

– 

200 

(125) 

28 

346 

– 

637 

(255) 

116 

(346) 

– 

(2,481) 

(2,481) 

11,084 

12,684 

(6,073) 

1,577 

(6,484) 

1,921 

9,584 

1,250 

4,982 

75,907 

91,723 

(8) 

690 

(432) 

(329) 

– 

318 

(46) 

(71) 

81 

657 

(383) 

(209) 

(501) 

(428) 

11,960 

13,625 

(4,611) 

(2,915) 

(5,472) 

(3,524) 

9,505 

1,451 

5,128 

79,840 

95,924 

24,869 

26,453 

1,869 

1,644 

2,180 

2,349 

45,499 

46,279 

74,417 

76,725 

Halma plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014  123 
123

Halma plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014Strategic Report Governance Financial Statements  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Notes to the Accounts continued
Notes to the Company Accounts  

14 Associates 

Interests in associates 

At beginning of the year 

Acquisition cost of investments 

Exchange adjustments 

Group’s share of profit/(loss) of associates 

At end of year 

2014  
£000 

2013  
£000 

4,792 

– 

(11) 

307 

1,968 

3,187 

(11) 

(352) 

5,088 

4,792 

On 25 April 2012, the Group increased its investment in Optomed Oy (Optomed) from 15% to 40% for a cash consideration of 
Euro 3,894,000 (£3,187,000). 

Aggregated amounts relating to associates 

Total assets 

Total liabilities 

Net assets/(liabilities) 

Group’s share of net assets/(liabilities) of associates 

Total revenue 

Profit/(loss) 

Group’s share of profit/(loss) of associates 

2014  
£000 

2013  
£000 

5,021 

(4,802) 

219 

103 

2,399 

591 

307 

4,695 

(5,105) 

(410) 

(128) 

1,427 

(1,106) 

(352) 

In addition to the 40% holding in Optomed, the Group also held 50% of the equity of PSRM Immobilien AG (PSRM), which it acquired 
as part of the Medicel AG business acquisition. The Group disposed of its interest in PSRM post year end as part of the transaction in 
which the Group acquired Plasticspritzerei AG (see note 30 Events after the balance sheet date for more details). Until its disposal, 
PSRM was treated as an associate, and not a subsidiary, because the party holding the remaining 50% was considered to exert  
more control.  

Both associates have a 31 December year end, although results coterminous with the Group’s year end have been consolidated 
according to the Group’s share of ownership of each associate. 

Details of the Group’s associates held at 29 March 2014 are as follows: 

Name of associate 

Optomed Oy 

PSRM Immobilien AG 

Country of incorporation  Proportion of ownership interest 

Principal activity 

Finland 

Switzerland 

40% 

50% 

Design, manufacture and selling 

Property management 

The Group owns 116,727 Class A shares in Optomed out of a total of 285,540 shares in issue (Class A and B shares). Each A and B 
share entitles the holder to one vote. 

The Group owns 50 shares in PSRM out of a total of 100 shares in issue. PSRM has only one class of shares, each of which entitles 
the holder to one vote. 

124  Halma plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014 
124

Halma plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
2013  
£000 

39,349 

7,119 

23,245 

69,713 

2013  
£000 

8,323 

(917) 

2,143 

1,171 

(419) 

330 

2014  
£000 

10,631 

(606) 

548 

116 

– 

(469) 

10,220 

10,631 

15 Inventories 

Raw materials and consumables 

Work in progress 

Finished goods and goods for resale 

2014  
£000 

40,248 

7,161 

23,625 

71,034 

The above is stated net of provision for slow-moving and obsolete stock, movements of which are shown below:  

At beginning of the year 

Amounts reversed against inventories previously impaired 

Write downs of inventories recognised as an expense and utilisation 

Recognition of provisions for businesses acquired 

De-recognition of provisions for businesses disposed 

Exchange adjustments 

At end of the year 

There is no material difference between the balance sheet value of inventories and their cost of replacement. None of the inventory 
has been pledged as security. 

16 Trade and other receivables 

Trade receivables 

Allowance for doubtful debts 

Other receivables 

Prepayments and accrued income 

2014  
£000 

2013  
£000 

123,295 

118,168 

(2,353) 

(2,445) 

120,942 

115,723 

4,099 

10,136 

7,681 

10,201 

135,177 

133,605 

The movement in the allowance for doubtful debts in respect of trade receivables during the year was as follows: 

At beginning of the year 

Net impairment loss recognised  

Amounts recovered against trade receivables previously written down 

Recognition of provisions for businesses acquired 

De-recognition of provisions for businesses disposed 

Exchange adjustments 

At end of the year 

2014  
£000 

2,445 

355 

(465) 

85 

– 

(67) 

2013  
£000 

2,163 

846 

(935) 

359 

(22) 

34 

2,353 

2,445 

Impairment charges are recorded against the trade receivables which the Group believes may not be recoverable. In the case of trade 
receivables that are past due, management makes an assessment of the risk of non-collection, taking into account factors such as 
previous default experience, any disputes or other factors delaying payment and the risk of bankruptcy or other failure of the customer 
to meet their obligations. For trade receivables that are not past due, taking into account good historical collection experience, 
management records an impairment charge only where there is a specific risk of non-collection. 

The fair value of trade and other receivables approximates to book value due to the short-term maturities associated with these items. 
There is no impairment risk identified with regards to prepayments and accrued income or other receivables where no amounts are 
past due. 

Halma plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014  125 
125

Halma plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014Strategic Report Governance Financial Statements  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Notes to the Accounts continued
Notes to the Company Accounts  

16 Trade and other receivables continued 
The ageing of trade receivables was as follows: 

Not yet due 

Up to one month overdue 

Up to two months overdue 

Up to three months overdue 

Over three months overdue 

17 Trade and other payables: falling due within one year 

Gross trade receivables 

Trade receivables net of 
doubtful debts 

2014  
£000 

95,920 

18,621 

2,776 

1,441 

4,537 

2013  
£000 

91,382 

17,415 

3,406 

1,891 

4,074 

2014  
£000 

95,834 

18,509 

2,690 

1,361 

2,548 

2013  
£000 

91,114 

17,289 

3,308 

1,746 

2,266 

123,295 

118,168 

120,942 

115,723 

Trade payables 

Other taxation and social security 

Other payables 

Accruals and deferred income 

Deferred government grant income 

2014  
£000 

(Restated)* 
2013  
£000 

50,270 

50,285 

4,398 

3,342 

6,189 

3,929 

30,022 

26,652 

259 

18 

88,291 

87,073 

* The prior year comparative has been restated to separate out deferred government grant income from general deferred income and to reclassify contingent purchase  
   consideration to Provisions as part of the Group’s continuous appraisal of its financial reporting.  

18 Borrowings 

Loan note falling due within one year 

Overdrafts 

Unsecured bank loans falling due within one year 

Total borrowings falling due within one year 

Unsecured bank loans falling due after more than one year 

2014  
£000 

2,731 

1,405 

– 

4,136 

104,891 

109,027 

2013  
£000 

2,515 

– 

2,632 

5,147 

154,866 

160,013 

Information concerning the security, currency, interest rates and maturity of the Group’s borrowings is given in note 26. 

126  Halma plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014 
126

Halma plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
19 Provisions 
Provisions are presented as: 

Current 

Non-current 

* The prior year has been restated following the reclassification of contingent purchase consideration. 

At beginning of the year 

Unwinding of discount 

Additional provision in the year 

Arising on acquisition** 

Utilised during the year 

Released during the year 

Exchange adjustments 

At end of the year 

Contingent 
purchase 
consideration 
£000 

Dilapidations 
and empty 
property 
£000  

33,512 

1,746 

Product 
warranty 
£000 

2,543 

– 

1,588 

32 

– 

175 

30 

(106) 

(1,977) 

(54) 

(50) 

(283) 

(76) 

1,741 

1,827 

150 

– 

250 

(12,879) 

(12,394) 

(1,077) 

7,562 

2014  
£000 

4,482 

6,777 

11,259 

Legal, 
contractual  
and other  
£000 

231 

– 

94 

672 

(693) 

(173) 

(2) 

129 

(Restated)* 
2013  
£000 

16,276 

21,756 

38,032 

(Restated)* 

Total 
£000 

38,032 

150 

1,857 

984 

(15,655) 

(12,904) 

(1,205) 

11,259 

*   The prior year has been restated following the reclassification of contingent purchase consideration. 
**  Comprises £734,000 current provisions acquired and £250,000 deferred purchase consideration arising on the acquisition of Talentum Developments Limited.  

See note 24. 

Contingent purchase consideration 
The provision at the beginning of the year comprised £13,856,000 falling due within one year and £19,656,000 falling due after one 
year. In the current financial year payments of £10,248,000 and £2,658,000 were made in respect of the Medicel AG and Accutome, 
Inc. acquisitions completed in the prior year. These payments represent substantially all of the current year utilisation of £12,879,000. 
The £12,394,000 release related mainly to a revision to the estimate of the MicroSurgical Technology, Inc. (MST) payable from 
US$25,000,000 to US$6,504,000. The revised estimate of US$6,504,000 is all payable in more than one year’s time. 

Of the closing total provision of £7,562,000, £1,389,000 is due within one year and the balance of £6,173,000 is due after one  
year. Amounts due in less than one year relate mainly to ASL Holdings Limited (ASL), a prior year acquisition, for which £1,216,000  
is provided. Amounts due in more than one year relate mainly to MST and ASL, for which £3,874,000 and £2,284,000 is  
respectively provided. 

Dilapidations and empty property provisions 
Dilapidations and empty property provisions exist where the Group has lease contracts under which the unavoidable costs of meeting 
its obligations under the contracts exceed the economic benefits expected to be received under them. The provisions comprise the 
Directors’ best estimates of future payments: 

a) to restore the fabric of buildings to their original condition where it is a condition of the leases prior to return of the properties; and 
b) on vacant properties, the rental costs of which are not expected to be recoverable from subleasing the properties.  

These commitments cover the period from 2014 to 2028, though they predominantly fall due within five years. 

Product warranty 
Product warranty provisions reflect commitments made to customers on the sale of goods in the ordinary course of business and 
included within the Group companies’ standard terms and conditions. Warranty commitments cover a period of between one and five 
years and typically apply for a 12-month period. The provision represents the Directors’ best estimate of the Group’s liability based on 
past experience.  

Halma plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014  127 
127

Halma plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014Strategic Report Governance Financial Statements  
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Notes to the Accounts continued
Notes to the Company Accounts  

19 Provisions continued 
Legal, contractual and other 
Legal, contractual and other comprise mainly amounts reserved against open legal and contractual disputes. The Company has  
on occasion been required to take legal or other actions to defend itself against proceedings brought by other parties. Provisions  
are made for the expected costs associated with such matters, based on past experience of similar items and other known factors,  
taking into account professional advice received, and represent Directors’ best estimate of the likely outcome. The timing of utilisation 
of these provisions is frequently uncertain reflecting the complexity of issues and the outcome of various court proceedings and 
negotiations. Contractual and other provisions represent the Directors’ best estimate of the cost of settling future obligations.  
Unless specific evidence exists to the contrary, these reserves are shown as current. 

However, no provision is made for proceedings which have been or might be brought by other parties against Group companies 
unless the Directors, taking into account professional advice received, assess that it is more likely than not that such proceedings  
may be successful.  

20 Trade and other payables: falling due after one year 

Other payables 

Deferred government grant income 

2014  
£000 

2,879 

685 

3,564 

(Restated)* 
2013  
£000 

2,305 

688 

2,993 

* The prior year comparative has been restated to separate out deferred government grant income from general deferred income and to reclassify contingent purchase  
   consideration to Provisions as part of the Group’s continuous appraisal of its financial reporting 

21 Deferred tax 

Retirement 
benefit 
obligations  
£000 

Acquired 
intangible 
assets  
£000 

Accelerated 
tax 
depreciation  
£000 

Short–term 
timing 
differences 
£000  

Share–based 
payment  
£000 

Goodwill 
timing 
differences  
£000 

Total 
£000 

At 30 March 2013 

10,851 

(36,207) 

(6,475) 

678 

1,547 

9,158 

(20,448) 

(Charge)/credit to Consolidated 
Income Statement 

(1,909) 

5,669 

753 

(1,040) 

224 

(6,202) 

(2,505) 

Charge to Consolidated Statement 
of Comprehensive Income 

(1,570) 

Credit to equity 

Acquired (note 24) 

Business sold 

Exchange adjustments 

At 29 March 2014 

– 

– 

(318) 

– 

2,363 

– 

– 

(16) 

– 

402 

– 

– 

– 

– 

7,372 

(28,493) 

(5,336) 

(129) 

– 

337 

– 

(221) 

(375) 

– 

295 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

(67) 

– 

(573) 

(1,699) 

295 

(64) 

– 

1,971 

2,066 

2,316 

(22,450) 

(Restated) 
Retirement 
benefit 
obligations  
£000 

Acquired 
intangible 
assets  
£000 

Accelerated 
tax 
depreciation  
£000 

Short–term 
timing 
differences 
£000  

Share–based 
payment  
£000 

Goodwill 
timing 
differences  
£000 

(Restated)* 
Total  
£000 

At 3  March 2012 

1

7,920 

(15,622) 

(7,385) 

1,476 

1,536 

(3,144) 

(15,219) 

(Charge)/credit to Consolidated 
Income Statement 

(1,361) 

4,267 

1,395 

(2,611) 

Charge to Consolidated Statement 
of Comprehensive Income 

4,292 

Charge to equity 

Acquired  

Business sold 

Exchange adjustments 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

(23,377) 

– 

(1,475) 

– 

– 

(242) 

17 

(260) 

At 30 March 2013 

10,851 

(36,207) 

(6,475) 

* Details of the restatement are disclosed in the Accounting Policies note on page 102. 

130 

– 

1,431 

77 

175 

678 

6 

– 

5 

– 

– 

– 

(1,277) 

419 

– 

– 

4,422 

5 

12,980 

(9,208) 

– 

599 

94 

(961) 

1,547 

9,158 

(20,448) 

128  Halma plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014 
128

Halma plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014 
 
 
  
 
 
Certain deferred tax assets and liabilities have been offset. The following is the analysis of the deferred tax balances (after offset) for 
financial reporting purposes: 

Deferred tax liability 

Deferred tax asset 

Net deferred tax liability 

Movement in net deferred tax liability: 

At beginning of year 
(Charge)/credit to Consolidated Income Statement: 
  UK 
  Overseas 
(Charge)/credit to Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income 
Credit to equity 
Acquired (note 24) 
Business sold 
Exchange adjustments 
At end of year 

* Details of the restatement are disclosed in the Accounting Policies note on page 102. 

2014  
£000 

2013  
£000 

(43,127) 

(49,197) 

20,677 

28,749 

(22,450) 

(20,448) 

2014  
£000 

(Restated)* 
2013  
£000 

(20,448) 

(15,219) 

(2,085) 
(420) 
(1,699) 
295 
(64) 
– 
1,971 
(22,450) 

(1,753) 
2,172 
4,422 
5 
(9,208) 
94 
(961) 
(20,448) 

The UK corporation tax rate was reduced to 23% from 24% with effect from 1 April 2013. Further phased reductions in the UK tax 
rate to 20% effective from 1 April 2015 (21% from April 2014) were substantively enacted in the Finance Act 2013. These rate 
reductions have been reflected in the calculation of deferred tax at the balance sheet date. 

It is likely that the unremitted earnings of overseas subsidiaries would qualify for the UK dividend exemption such that no UK tax would 
be due upon remitting those earnings to the UK. However, £21,532,000 (2013: £22,739,000) of those earnings may still result in a tax 
liability, principally as a result of the dividend withholding taxes levied by the overseas jurisdictions in which those subsidiaries operate. 
These tax liabilities are not expected to exceed £3,143,000 (2013: £3,025,000) of which only £671,000 has been provided as the 
Group is able to control the timing of the dividends. It is not expected that further amounts will crystallise in the foreseeable future. 
Temporary timing differences in connection with interests in associates are insignificant. 

At 29 March 2014 the Group had unused capital tax losses of £479,000 (2013: £550,000) for which no deferred tax asset has  
been recognised. 

22 Share capital 

Ordinary shares of 10p each 

Issued and fully paid 

2014  
£000 

2013  
£000 

37,902 

37,888 

The number of ordinary shares in issue at 29 March 2014 was 379,018,522 (2013: 378,880,622), including treasury shares of 
1,278,148 (2013: 1,143,209). 

Changes during the year in the issued ordinary share capital were as follows: 

At 30 March 2013 

Share options exercised 

At 29 March 2014 

Issued and 
fully paid  
£000 

37,888 

14 

37,902 

The total consideration received in cash in respect of share options exercised amounted to £194,000 (2013: £453,000). 

At 29 March 2014 options in respect of 626,810 (2013: 1,261,444) ordinary shares remained outstanding. Further details of these are 
given in note 23 to the accounts. 

At the date of these accounts, the number of ordinary shares in issue was 379,018,522 including treasury shares of 1,278,148. 

Halma plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014  129 
129

Halma plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014Strategic Report Governance Financial Statements  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Notes to the Accounts continued
Notes to the Company Accounts  

23 Share-based payments 
The total cost recognised in the Consolidated Income Statement in respect of share-based payment schemes (the ‘employee share 
plans’) was as follows: 

Share incentive plan 

Share option plan 

Performance share plan 

Equity-
settled 
£000  

641 

– 

3,444 

4,085 

Cash-settled  
£000 

– 

– 

411 

411 

2014 

Total  
£000 

641 

– 

3,855 

4,496 

Equity- 
settled  
£000 

490 

– 

2,723 

3,213 

Cash-settled  
£000 

– 

– 

429 

429 

2013 

Total  
£000 

490 

– 

3,152 

3,642 

The Group has recorded liabilities of £432,000 (2013: £386,000) in respect of the cash-settled portion of the awards granted under 
the performance share plan. 

Share incentive plan 
Shares awarded under this Plan are purchased in the market by the Plan’s trustees at the time of the award and are held in trust until 
their transfer to qualifying employees, which is conditional upon completion of three years’ service. The costs of providing this Plan are 
recognised in the Consolidated Income Statement over the three-year vesting period. 

Share option plans 
The Group has outstanding issued options to acquire ordinary shares in the Company under a share option plan, approved by 
shareholders in 1999. This share option plan provided for the grant of two categories of option, both of which are subject to 
performance criteria. No further awards have been made under the Company share option plan since 3 August 2005. All options 
lapse if not exercised within ten years from the date of grant. Options in respect of 626,810 ordinary shares remained outstanding at 
29 March 2014. Options over 137,900 ordinary shares were exercised in the year and options over a further 496,734 ordinary shares 
lapsed in the year. 

The weighted average option price of the 132,241 (2013: 332,711) exercisable options at the end of the year was 143.40p 
(2013:140.60p); the remaining 494,569 (2013: 928,733) options, which are not yet exercisable and will, otherwise, lapse on  
17 August 2014, have a weighted average option price of 142.25p (2013: 138.80p). 

Performance share plan 
The performance share plan was approved by shareholders on 3 August 2005 and replaced the previous share option plans from 
which no further grants can be made. 

Awards made under this Plan vest after three years on a sliding scale subject to the Group’s relative Total Shareholder Return against 
the FTSE 250 excluding financial companies, combined with an absolute Return on Total Invested Capital measure. Awards which do 
not vest on the third anniversary of their award will lapse. 

A summary of the movements in share awards granted under the performance share plan is as follows: 

Outstanding at beginning of year 

Granted during the year 

Vested during the year (pro-rated for ‘good leavers’) 

Lapsed during the year 

Outstanding at end of year 

Exercisable at end of year 

2014  
Number of 
shares 
awarded 

2013  
Number of 
shares 
 awarded  

3,802,315 

4,133,342 

1,068,785 

1,341,209 

(1,198,568) 

(1,558,091) 

(85,040) 

(114,145) 

3,587,492 

3,802,315 

– 

– 

The weighted average share price at the date of awards vesting during the year was 557.7p (2013: 407.1p). 

The performance shares outstanding at 29 March 2014 had a weighted average remaining contractual life of 1.4 years  
(2013: 1.4 years). 

130  Halma plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014 
130

Halma plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The fair value of these awards was calculated using an appropriate simulation method to reflect the likelihood of the market-based 
performance conditions, which attach to half of the award, being met, using the following assumptions: 

Expected volatility (%) 

Expected life (years) 

Share price on date of grant (p) 

Option price (p) 

Fair value per option (%) 

Fair value per option (p) 

2014 

24% 

3 

568.5 

Nil 

63.2% 

359.3 

2013 

26% 

3 

399.9 

Nil 

55.3% 

223.25 

2012 

27% 

3 

362.3 

Nil 

68.6% 

248.57 

The expected volatility was determined by calculating the historical volatility of the Group’s share price over the previous three years. 

24 Acquisitions  
The Group made one acquisition during the year, Talentum Developments Limited (Talentum). Below are summaries of the assets and 
liabilities acquired and the purchase consideration of: 

the total of Talentum and adjustments to prior year acquisitions; and 

a) 
b)  Talentum, on a stand-alone basis.  

(A) Total of Talentum and adjustments to prior year acquisitions 

Non-current assets 

Intangible assets 

Property, plant and equipment 

Current assets 

Inventories 

Trade and other receivables 

Cash and cash equivalents 

Deferred tax 

Total assets 

Current liabilities 

Trade and other payables 

Provisions 

Corporation tax 

Non-current liabilities 

Deferred tax 

Total liabilities 

Net assets of businesses acquired 

Initial cash consideration paid (Talentum) 

Initial cash consideration adjustment (prior year acquisition) 

Deferred purchase consideration to be paid (Talentum) 

Total consideration 

Goodwill arising on current year acquisition 

Goodwill arising on prior year acquisitions 

Book value  
£000 

Fair value 
adjustments  
£000 

– 

196 

308 

649 

754 

– 

1,444 

– 

(432) 

(25) 

– 

291 

Total  
£000 

1,444 

196 

(124) 

624 

754 

291 

1,907 

1,278 

3,185 

(180) 

– 

(143) 

(16) 

(339) 

1,568 

(125) 

(734) 

(69) 

(339) 

(1,267) 

11 

(305) 

(734) 

(212) 

(355) 

(1,606) 

1,579 

3,315 

(337) 

250 

3,228 

1,032 

617 

1,649 

Halma plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014  131 
131

Halma plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014Strategic Report Governance Financial Statements  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Notes to the Accounts continued
Notes to the Company Accounts  

24 Acquisitions continued 
In the provisional accounting, adjustments are made to the book values of the net assets of the companies acquired to reflect their 
provisional fair values to the Group. Acquired inventories are valued at the lower of cost and net realisable value adopting Group bases 
and any liabilities for warranties relating to past trading are recognised. Other previously unrecognised assets and liabilities at 
acquisition are included and accounting policies are aligned with those of the Group where appropriate. 

During the financial year ended 29 March 2014 adjustments were made to the fair values of acquired assets and liabilities included in 
the provisional accounting for the following prior year acquisitions: 

a)  MicroSurgical Technology, Inc.; 
b)  Thinketron Precision Equipment Company Limited (and its main trading subsidiary, Baoding Longer Precision Pump Co.,  

Ltd); and 

c)  ASL Holdings Limited. 

The provisional accounting was updated for non-material changes to certain provisions, inventory valuations and deferred tax 
balances. The combined adjustments made for each acquisition resulted in a net adjustment to goodwill of £617,000. All adjustments 
to the provisional accounting were made within the goodwill measurement period, relevant to each acquisition, as defined by IFRS 3 
(revised) ‘Business Combinations’. 

As at the date of approval of these financial statements, the accounting for all current and prior year acquisitions is completed. 

Due to their contractual dates, the fair value of receivables acquired (shown above) approximates to the gross contractual amounts 
receivable. The amount of gross contractual receivables not expected to be recovered is immaterial.  

There are no material contingent liabilities recognised in accordance with paragraph 23 of IFRS 3 (revised). 

None of the goodwill arising on acquisitions in the year is expected to be deductible for tax purposes. 

Talentum, the one acquisition in the year, contributed £2,132,000 of revenue and £576,000 of profit after tax for the year ended  
29 March 2014. If this acquisition had been held since the start of the financial year, it is estimated the Group’s reported revenue  
and profit after tax would have been £52,000 and £13,000 higher respectively. 

Analysis of cash outflow in the Consolidated Cash Flow Statement: 

Initial cash consideration paid 

Initial cash consideration adjustment (prior year acquisition) 

Cash acquired on acquisitions 

Overdrafts acquired on acquisitions 

Contingent consideration paid in relation to current year acquisitions 

Contingent consideration paid in relation to prior year acquisitions* 

Net cash outflow relating to acquisitions (per Consolidated Cash Flow Statement) 

Bank loans acquired 

2014  
£000 

2013  
£000 

3,315 

133,060 

(337) 

(754) 

– 

– 

14,461 

16,685 

– 

– 

(7,869) 

869 

3,810 

15,771 

145,641 

2,406 

Net movement in cash and debt, including bank loans acquired 

16,685 

148,047 

* Of the £14,461,000 (2013: £15,771,000) contingent purchase consideration payment £14,461,000 (2013: £15,771,000) had been provided in the prior year’s 
  financial statements. 

132  Halma plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014 
132

Halma plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014 
 
 
(B) Talentum Developments Limited 

Non-current assets 

Intangible assets 

Property, plant and equipment 

Current assets 

Inventories 

Trade and other receivables 

Cash and cash equivalents 

Total assets 

Current liabilities 

Trade and other payables 

Provisions 

Corporation tax 

Non-current liabilities 

Deferred tax 

Total liabilities 

Net assets of businesses acquired 

Cash consideration 

Contingent purchase consideration  

Total consideration 

Goodwill arising on acquisition 

Book value  
£000 

Fair value 
adjustments  
£000 

– 

196 

308 

649 

754 

1,444 

– 

(101) 

– 

– 

Total  
£000 

1,444 

196 

207 

649 

754 

1,907 

1,343 

3,250 

(180) 

– 

(143) 

(16) 

(339) 

1,568 

– 

(60) 

– 

(318) 

(378) 

965 

(180) 

(60) 

(143) 

(334) 

(717) 

2,533 

3,315 

250 

3,565 

1,032 

The Group made one acquisition during the year. The entire share capital of Talentum Developments Limited (Talentum) was acquired 
on 11 April 2013 for an initial cash consideration of £2,590,000. This was subsequently adjusted by an additional £725,000 which was 
paid in June 2013 based on the final level of agreed working capital at the acquisition date. Deferred consideration of £250,000 was 
paid in April 2014 after the seller provided certain pre-agreed technical information and know-how to the Group.  

Talentum forms part of the Infrastructure Safety sector and specialises in the design and manufacture of flame detector products for a 
range of industries, which protect property from the risk of fire. The excess of the fair value of the consideration paid over the fair value 
of the assets acquired is represented by customer-related intangibles of £806,000; marketing and technology-related intangibles of 
£638,000; with residual goodwill arising of £1,032,000. The goodwill represents:  

a) 
b) 
c) 

the technical expertise of the acquired workforce; 
the opportunity to leverage this expertise across some of Halma’s businesses; and  
the ability to exploit the Group’s existing customer base. 

Halma plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014  133 
133

Halma plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014Strategic Report Governance Financial Statements  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Notes to the Accounts continued
Notes to the Company Accounts  

25 Notes to the Consolidated Cash Flow Statement 

Reconciliation of profit from operations to net cash inflow from operating activities: 
Profit on continuing operations before finance income and expense, share of results of associates and 
loss/(profit) on disposal of operations 
Depreciation of property, plant and equipment 
Amortisation of computer software 
Amortisation of capitalised development costs and other intangibles 
Disposals/retirements of capitalised development costs 
Amortisation of acquired intangible assets 
Share-based payment expense in excess of amounts paid 
Additional payments to pension schemes 
Profit on sale of property, plant and equipment and computer software 
Effects of closure to future benefit accruals on defined benefit pension schemes 
Operating cash flows before movement in working capital 
Increase in inventories 
Increase in receivables 
Increase in payables and provisions 
Revision to estimate of contingent consideration payable 

Cash generated from operations 
Taxation paid 
Net cash inflow from operating activities 

Analysis of cash and cash equivalents 
Cash and bank balances 
Overdrafts (included in current borrowings) 
Cash and cash equivalents 

2014  
£000 

(Restated)* 
2013  
£000 

143,571 
13,625 
1,168 
4,002 
– 
17,515 
3,470 
(5,892) 
(26) 
(4,246) 
173,187 
(5,127) 
(9,111) 
3,334 
(12,394) 

149,889 
(28,351) 
121,538 

117,297 
12,684 
1,402 
3,578 
264 
14,235 
2,482 
(7,195) 
(163) 
– 
144,584 
(2,693) 
(9,210) 
1,015 
– 

133,696 
(25,452) 
108,244 

2014  
£000 

2013  
£000 

34,531 
(1,405) 
33,126 

49,723 
– 
49,723 

Analysis of net debt 
Cash and bank balances  
Overdrafts 
Cash and cash equivalents 
Loan notes falling due within 
one year 
Bank loans falling due within 
one year 
Bank loans falling due after  
more than one year 
Total net debt 

At 30 March 
2013  
£000 

Cash flow  
£000 

Net cash 
acquired  
£000 

Loan notes 
issued 
£000 

Loan notes 
repaid 
£000 

Exchange 
adjustments  
£000 

At 29 March 
2014  
£000 

49,723 
– 
49,723 

(13,997) 
(1,405) 
(15,402) 

(2,515) 

– 

(2,632) 

2,516 

(154,866) 
(110,290) 

47,777 
34,891 

754 
– 
754 

– 

– 

– 
754 

– 
– 
– 

– 
– 
– 

(1,949) 
– 
(1,949) 

34,531 
(1,405) 
33,126 

(2,731) 

2,515 

– 

(2,731) 

– 

– 

116 

– 

– 
(2,731) 

– 
2,515 

2,198 
365 

(104,891) 
(74,496) 

* Details of the restatement are disclosed in the Accounting Policies note on page 102. 

The net cash outflow from bank loans in 2014 comprised repayments of £57,791,000 offset by drawdowns of £7,498,000 (2013: net 
cash inflow comprising drawdowns of £92,298,000 offset by repayments of £2,942,000). The £754,000 cash and cash equivalents 
acquired comprised cash only. 

The net of the above £15,402,000 cash outflow and £754,000 net cash acquired is equal to the decrease in cash and cash 
equivalents (£14,648,000) in the Consolidated Cash Flow Statement. 

134  Halma plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014 
134

Halma plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
26 Financial instruments 
Policy 
The Group’s treasury policies seek to minimise financial risks and to ensure sufficient liquidity for the Group’s operations and strategic 
plans. No complex derivative financial instruments are used, and no trading or speculative transactions in financial instruments are 
undertaken. Where the Group does use financial instruments these are mainly to manage the currency risks arising from normal 
operations and its financing. Operations are financed mainly through retained profits and, in certain geographical locations, bank 
borrowings. Foreign currency risk is the most significant aspect for the Group in the area of financial instruments. It is exposed to a 
lesser extent to other risks such as interest rate risk and liquidity risk. The Board reviews and agrees policies for managing each of 
these risks and these policies are summarised below. The Group’s policies have remained unchanged since the beginning of the 
financial year. 

Details of the significant accounting policies and methods adopted (including the criteria for recognition, the basis of measurement 
and the bases of recognition of income and expenses) for each class of financial asset, financial liability and equity instrument are 
disclosed in the Accounting Policies note.  

Capital risk management 
The Group manages its capital to ensure that entities in the Group will be able to continue as going concerns while maximising the 
return to stakeholders through the optimisation of the debt and equity balance. The capital structure of the Group consists of debt, 
which includes the borrowings disclosed in note 18 to the Accounts, cash and cash equivalents and equity attributable to equity 
holders of the parent, comprising issued capital, reserves and retained earnings as disclosed in the Consolidated Statement of 
Changes in Equity. 

The Group is not subject to externally imposed capital requirements. 

Foreign currency risk 
The Group is exposed to foreign currency risk as a consequence of both trading with foreign companies and owning subsidiaries 
located in foreign countries. 

The Group earns a significant proportion of its profit in currencies other than Sterling. This gives rise to translational currency risk, 
where the Sterling value of profits earned by the Group’s foreign subsidiaries fluctuates with the strength of Sterling relative to their 
operating (or ‘functional’) currencies. The Group does not hedge this risk, so its reported profit is sensitive to the strength of Sterling, 
particularly against the US Dollar and Euro. The Group also has transactional currency exposures. These arise on sales or purchases 
by operating companies in currencies other than the companies’ operating (or ‘functional’) currency. Significant sales and purchases 
are matched where possible and a proportion of the net exposure is hedged by means of forward foreign currency contracts. 

The Group has a significant investment in overseas operations in the USA and EU, with further investments in Australia, New Zealand, 
Singapore, Switzerland, China and India. As a result, the Group’s balance sheet can be affected by movements in these countries’ 
exchange rates. Where significant and appropriate, currency denominated net assets are hedged by currency borrowings. These 
currency exposures are reviewed regularly.  

Interest rate risk 
The Group is exposed to interest rate fluctuations on its borrowings and cash deposits. Where bank borrowings are used to finance 
operations they tend to be short term with floating interest rates. Borrowings used to provide longer-term funding are drawn on the 
Group’s loan facilities and have fixed interest rates with maturities of not more than one year. 

Surplus funds are placed on short-term fixed rate deposit or in floating rate deposit accounts. 

Credit risk 
Credit risk is defined as the risk that a counterparty will default on its contractual obligations resulting in financial loss to the Group. 
The Group has adopted a policy of only dealing with creditworthy counterparties, as a means of mitigating the risk of financial loss 
from defaults. Credit ratings are supplied by independent agencies where available, and if not available, the Group uses other publicly 
available financial information and its own trading records to rate its major customers. The Group’s exposure and the credit ratings of 
its counterparties are continuously monitored and the aggregate value of transactions concluded is spread amongst approved 
counterparties. Credit exposure is controlled by counterparty limits that are reviewed regularly. 

Trade receivables consist of a large number of customers, spread across diverse industries and geographical areas. Ongoing credit 
evaluation is performed on the financial condition of accounts receivable and, where appropriate, credit guarantee insurance cover 
is purchased.  

The carrying amount of trade, tax and other receivables, derivative financial instruments and cash of £170,376,000 (2013: 
£183,653,000) represents the Group’s maximum exposure to credit risk as no collateral or other credit enhancements are held. 

The credit risk on liquid funds and derivative financial instruments is limited because the counterparties are banks with high credit 
ratings assigned by international credit-rating agencies.  

Liquidity risk 
On 28 November 2013, the Group increased and extended its syndicated revolving credit facility with its existing core group of five 
banks and with its terms mainly unchanged. The facility was increased to £360m (from £260m) and the term extended to November 
2018 (from October 2016). This facility is the main source of long-term funding for the Group. 

Halma plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014  135 
135

Halma plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014Strategic Report Governance Financial Statements  
 
 
 
 
Notes to the Accounts continued
Notes to the Company Accounts  

26 Financial instruments continued 
The Group has a strong cash flow and the funds generated by operating companies are managed regionally based on  
geographic location.  

Funds are placed on deposit with secure, highly-rated banks. For short-term working capital purposes, most operating companies 
utilise local bank overdrafts. These practices allow a balance to be maintained between continuity of funding, security and flexibility. 
Because of the nature of their use, the facilities are typically ‘on demand’ and as such uncommitted. Overdraft facilities are typically 
renewed annually. 

Currency exposures 
Translational exposures 
It is estimated, by reference to the Group’s US Dollar and Euro denominated profits, that a one per cent change in the value of the US 
Dollar relative to Sterling would have had a £505,000 (2013: £464,000) impact on the Group’s reported profit before tax; and a one 
per cent change in the value of the Euro relative to Sterling would have had a £207,000 (2013: £186,000) impact on the Group’s profit 
before tax for the year ended 29 March 2014. 

Transactional exposures  
The Group has net foreign currency monetary assets and liabilities that are assets and liabilities not denominated in the functional 
currency of the underlying company. These comprise cash and overdrafts as well as certain trade receivable and payable balances. 
These foreign currency monetary assets and liabilities give rise to the net currency gains and losses recognised in the Consolidated 
Income Statement as a result of movement in exchange rates. The exposures are predominantly Euro and US Dollar. Group policy is 
for a significant portion of foreign currency exposures, including sales and purchases, to be hedged by forward foreign exchange 
contracts in the company in which the transaction is recorded.  

Interest rate risk profile 
The Group’s financial assets which are subject to interest rate fluctuations comprise interest bearing cash equivalents which totalled 
£1,742,000 at 29 March 2014 (2013: £1,703,000). These comprised Sterling denominated deposits of £92,000 (2013: £2,000), and 
Euro, US Dollar and Renminbi deposits of £1,650,000 (2013: £1,701,000) which are placed on local money markets and earn interest 
at market rates. Cash balances of £32,789,000 (2013: £48,020,000) earn interest at local market rates. 

The financial liabilities which are subject to interest rate fluctuations comprise bank loans, bank overdrafts, a loan note and certain 
unsecured loans, which totalled £109,027,000 at 29 March 2014 (2013: £160,013,000). All bank loans and the loan note bear interest 
at floating rates or fixed rates where the fixed period is typically no more than three months. Interest rates are based on the LIBOR of 
the currency in which the liabilities arise plus a small margin. Bank overdrafts bear interest at local base rates. 

Analysis of interest bearing financial liabilities 

Sterling denominated bank loans 

US Dollar denominated bank loans 

Swiss Franc denominated bank loans 

Total bank loans 

Overdrafts (principally Sterling and US Dollar denominated) 

Sterling denominated loan note 

Total interest bearing financial liabilities  

2014  
£000 

2013  
£000 

97,000 

109,000 

– 

7,891 

34,540 

13,958 

104,891 

157,498 

1,405 

2,731 

– 

2,515 

109,027 

160,013 

For the year ended 29 March 2014 it is estimated that a general increase of one percentage point in interest rates would reduce the 
Group’s profit before tax by £1,520,000 (2013: £1,281,000).  

Maturity of financial liabilities 
With the exception of the contingent purchase consideration, other payables, provisions and borrowings due after one year, all of the 
Group’s financial liabilities mature in one year or less or on demand. The total of the contractual contingent purchase consideration 
due after one year is £6,173,000 (2013: £7,030,000) and is due between one and two years. No amounts are payable after more than 
two years (2013: £12,626,000). Other creditors due after more than one year include £1,569,000 (2013: £1,216,000) due between 
one and two years, £1,308,000 (2013: £1,079,000) due between two and five years, with the balance of £2,000 (2013: £10,000) due 
after more than five years. Deferred government grant income due after more than one year includes £28,000 (2013: £16,000) due 
between one and two years, £47,000 (2013: £47,000) due between two and five years, with the balance of £610,000 (2013: 
£625,000) due after more than five years. 

The Group’s bank loans are revolving credit facilities and the amount and timing of future payments and drawdowns is unknown.  
It is therefore not possible to calculate the interest arising on these loans and we have therefore not disclosed the maturity of the  
gross cash flows (including interest) in relation to these liabilities. 

136  Halma plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014 
136

Halma plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014 
 
 
Borrowing facilities 
The Group’s principal source of long-term funding is its unsecured five-year £360m revolving credit facility, which expires in  
November 2018. The Group has an additional short-term unsecured and committed US bank facility of £15,060,000, which  
matures in March 2015. This facility was undrawn at 29 March 2014. 

Other short-term operational funding is provided by cash generated from operations and by local bank overdrafts. These overdraft 
facilities are uncommitted and are generally renewed on an annual or ongoing basis and hence the facilities expire within one year  
or less. 

The Group’s undrawn committed facilities available at 29 March 2014 were £270,169,000 (2013: £112,371,000) of which 
£15,060,000 (2013: £7,237,000) matures within one year and £255,109,000 (2013: £105,134,000) between two and five years. 

UK companies have cross-guaranteed £22,122,000 (2013: £17,025,000) of overdraft facilities of which £1,100,000 (2013: £nil)  
was drawn. 

Fair values of financial assets and financial liabilities 
As at 29 March 2014 and 30 March 2013 there were no significant differences between the book value and fair value (as determined 
by market value) of the Group’s financial assets and liabilities. 

The fair value of floating and fixed rate borrowings approximates to the carrying value because interest rates are reset to market rates 
at intervals of less than one year.  

The fair value of derivative financial instruments is estimated by discounting the future contracted cash flow, using readily available 
market data, and represents a level 2 measurement in the fair value hierarchy under IFRS 7. 

Hedging 
As explained previously, the Group’s policy is to hedge significant sales and purchases denominated in foreign currency using forward 
currency contracts. These instruments are initially recognised at fair value, which is typically £nil, and subsequent changes in fair value 
are taken to the Consolidated Income Statement, unless hedge accounted. 

The following table details the forward foreign currency contracts outstanding as at the year end, which mostly mature within one year 
and therefore the cash flows and resulting effect on profit and loss are expected to occur within the next 12 months: 

Average exchange 
rate/£ 

Foreign currency 

Contract value 

Fair value 

2014 

2013 

2014  
000 

2013  
000 

2014  
£000 

2013  
£000 

2014  
£000 

2013  
£000 

Forward contracts not in a designated 
cash flow hedge 

US Dollars 

Euros 

Other currencies 

Forward contracts in a designated cash 
flow hedge 

US Dollars 

Euros 

Czech Koruna 

Other currencies 

Total forward contracts 

US Dollars 

Euros 

Czech Koruna 

Other currencies 

1.65 

1.21 

– 

1.56 

1.16 

– 

5,186 

1,951 

– 

3,841 

783 

– 

3,139 

1,613 

515 

2,237 

673 

486 

5,267 

3,396 

1.60 

1.18 

1.59 

1.22 

7,993 

10,334 

8,051 

9,651 

4,982 

8,724 

5,069 

7,878 

32.82 

30.15 

(109,844) 

(93,595) 

(3,347) 

(3,105) 

– 

– 

– 

– 

1,028 

(155) 

11,387 

9,687 

1.62 

1.19 

1.58 

1.22 

13,179 

11,532 

8,121 

12,285 

10,434 

10,337 

7,306 

8,551 

32.82 

30.15 

(109,844) 

(93,595) 

(3,347) 

(3,105) 

– 

– 

– 

– 

1,543 

331 

16,654 

13,083 

Amounts recognised in the Consolidated Income Statement 

Amounts recognised in the Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income and Expenditure 

15 

– 

(25) 

(10) 

173 

174 

(27) 

19 

339 

187 

174 

(27) 

(5) 

329 

147 

182 

329 

(53) 

15 

(2) 

(40) 

(243) 

(294) 

67 

(30) 

(500) 

(296) 

(279) 

67 

(32) 

(540) 

(223) 

(317) 

(540) 

Halma plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014  137 
137

Halma plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014Strategic Report Governance Financial Statements  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Notes to the Accounts continued
Notes to the Company Accounts  

26 Financial instruments continued 
The fair values of the forward contracts are disclosed as a £496,000 (2013: £256,000) asset and £167,000 (2013: £796,000) liability 
in the Consolidated Balance Sheet. 

Any movements in the fair values of the contracts are recognised in equity until the hedge transaction occurs, when gains/losses are 
recycled to finance income or finance expense.  

Analysis of movement in hedging reserves 

Amounts removed from Consolidated Statement of Changes in Equity and included in Consolidated 
Income Statement during the year 

Amounts recognised in the Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income and Expenditure 

Net movement in hedging reserves in the year in relation to the effective portion of changes in fair value 
of cash flow hedges 

At beginning of year 

At end of year 

2014  
£000 

2013  
£000 

317 

182 

499 

(317) 

182 

(187) 

(317) 

(504) 

187 

(317) 

There was no ineffectiveness arising with regards to forward contracts in a designated cash flow hedge.  

With the exception of currency exposures, the disclosures in this note exclude short-term receivables and payables. 

Market risk 
The Group’s activities expose it primarily to the financial risks of changes in foreign currency exchange rates. The Group enters into 
derivative financial instruments to manage its exposure to foreign currency risk, including: 

− 

− 

forward foreign exchange contracts to hedge the exchange rate risk arising on the export of goods to and from the USA, 
Mainland Europe and the UK; and 
foreign exchange loans to hedge the exchange rate risk arising on translation of the Group’s investment in foreign operations 
which have the Euro and Swiss Franc as their functional currencies. 

Market risk exposures are measured using sensitivity analysis as described below.  

There has been no change to the Group’s exposure to market risks or in the manner in which these risks are managed  
and measured.  

Foreign currency sensitivity analysis 
The Group is mainly exposed to the currency of the USA (US Dollar currency) and the currency of Mainland Europe (Euro currency).  

The carrying amount of the Group’s US Dollar and Euro denominated monetary assets and monetary liabilities at the reporting date 
are as follows: 

US Dollar 

Euro 

2014  
£000 

Assets 

2013  
£000 

142,678 

151,290 

64,525 

66,232 

2014  
£000 

32,433 

14,818 

Liabilities 

2013  
£000 

49,130 

14,731 

If Sterling increased by 10% against the US Dollar and the Euro, profits before taxation and other equity would decrease as follows: 

Profit 

Other equity 

2014  
£000 

4,633 

10,022 

US Dollar 

2013  
£000 

4,263 

8,595 

2014  
£000 

1,899 

4,519 

Euro 

2013  
£000 

1,708 

4,720 

The profit sensitivity arises mainly from the translation of overseas profits earned during the year. 10% is the sensitivity rate which 
management assesses to be a reasonably possible change in foreign exchange rates. The Group’s profit sensitivity has increased 
against the US Dollar and Euro because more of the Group’s profits are earned in these currencies.  

138  Halma plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014 
138

Halma plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
27 Commitments 
Capital commitments 
Capital expenditure authorised and contracted at 29 March 2014 but not recognised in these accounts amounts to £746,000  
(2013: £1,117,000). 

Commitments under operating leases 
The Group has entered into commercial leases on properties and other equipment. The former expire between April 2014 and 
November 2028 and the latter between April 2014 and March 2019. Only certain property agreements contain an option for  
renewal at rental prices based on market prices at the time of exercise. 

Total payments under non-cancellable operating leases will be made as follows: 

Within one year 

Within two to five years 

After five years 

Land and buildings 

2014  
£000 

6,566 

13,989 

2,257 

22,812 

2013  
£000 

7,410 

17,424 

3,374 

28,208 

2014  
£000 

453 

856 

– 

Other 

2013  
£000 

693 

602 

– 

1,309 

1,295 

28 Retirement benefits 
Group companies operate both defined benefit and defined contribution pension schemes. The Halma Group Pension Plan and the 
Apollo Pension and Life Assurance Plan (both UK) have defined benefit sections with assets held in separate trustee administered 
funds. Both of these sections had already closed to new entrants in 2002/03. During the year, following consultation with members,  
it was decided that future benefit accruals for existing members of these sections would cease from 1 December 2014. The members 
would then join the existing defined contribution section, which was established within the Halma Group Pension Plan. This closure to 
future benefit accruals resulted in a curtailment gain of £4,246,000 (before closure costs of £298,000), which has been included in the 
Adjustments column in the Consolidated Income Statement. 

Overseas subsidiaries have adopted mainly defined contribution schemes, with the exception of two small defined benefit schemes  
in the Swiss entities of Medicel AG and Robutec GmbH. 

Defined contribution schemes 
The amount charged to the Consolidated Income Statement in respect of defined contribution schemes was £4,042,000 (2013: 
£3,658,000) and represents contributions payable to these schemes by the Group at rates specified in the rules of the plans. The 
assets of the schemes are held separately from those of the Group in funds under the control of trustees. Where there are employees 
who leave the schemes prior to vesting fully in the contributions, the ancillary contributions payable by the Group are reduced by the 
amount of forfeited contributions. 

Defined benefit schemes 
The Group’s significant defined benefit schemes are for qualifying employees of its UK subsidiaries. Under the schemes, the 
employees are entitled to retirement benefits of up to two-thirds of final pensionable salary on attainment of a retirement age of 60,  
for members of the Executive Board, and 65, for all other qualifying employees. No other post-retirement benefits are provided.  
The schemes are funded schemes. 

The most recent actuarial valuation of the Halma Group Pension Plan assets and the present value of the defined benefit obligation 
was carried out at 1 December 2011 by Mr Adrian Gibbons, Fellow of the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries. The present value of the 
defined benefit obligation, the related current service cost and the past service cost were measured using the projected unit credit 
method. The projected unit credit method is an accrued benefits valuation method in which the scheme liabilities make allowance for 
projected earnings. Mr Gibbons also carried out the 1 April 2012 actuarial valuation of the Apollo Pension and Life Assurance Plan on 
the same basis. 

Halma plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014  139 
139

Halma plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014Strategic Report Governance Financial Statements  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Notes to the Accounts continued
Notes to the Company Accounts  

28 Retirement benefits continued 
An alternative to the projected unit credit method is a valuation on a solvency basis, often estimated using the cost of buying out 
benefits at the balance sheet date with a suitable insurance company. This amount represents the amount that would be required to 
settle the scheme liabilities at the balance sheet date rather than the Group continuing to fund the ongoing liabilities of the scheme. 
The Group estimates that this would amount to £390m (2013: £370m). 

Key assumptions used (UK schemes): 

Discount rate 

Expected return on scheme assets 

Expected rate of salary increases 

Pension increases LPI 2.5% 

Pension increases LPI 3.0% 

Inflation – RPI 

Inflation – CPI 

2014 

2013 

2012 

4.40% 

4.40% 

3.20% 

2.20% 

2.50% 

3.20% 

2.20% 

4.40% 

5.33% 

3.30% 

2.20% 

2.50% 

3.30% 

2.30% 

5.00% 

5.68% 

3.20% 

2.25% 

2.75% 

3.20% 

2.45% 

Mortality assumptions: 
Investigations have been carried out within the past three years into the mortality experience of the Group’s UK defined benefit 
schemes. These investigations concluded that the current mortality assumptions include sufficient allowance for future improvements 
in mortality rates. The assumed life expectations on retirement at age 65 are: 

Retiring today: 

  Males 

Females 

Retiring in 20 years: 

  Males 

Females 

2014  
Years 

2013  
Years 

2012  
Years 

23.4 

25.9 

25.2 

27.9 

23.3 

25.8 

25.1 

27.8 

22.1 

24.9 

24.0 

26.8 

Both the Halma Group Pension Plan and the Apollo Pension and Life Assurance Plan have a baseline mortality assumption for 2014, 
2013 and 2012 derived from the SN03 tables. To reflect population characteristics a one year age deduction has been adopted for 
Halma but no adjustment was made for Apollo. From 2013, a long-term improvement rate of 1.25% per annum was incorporated. 

The sensitivities regarding the principal assumptions used to measure the UK scheme liabilities are set out below: 

Assumption 

Discount rate 

Rate of inflation 

Change in assumption 

Increase/decrease by 0.5% 

Increase/decrease by 0.5% 

Rate of salary growth 

Increase/decrease by 0.5% 

Impact on scheme liabilities 

Decrease/increase by 10.7% 

Increase/decrease by 6.9% 

Increase/decrease by 2.1% 

Rate of mortality 

Increase by one year 

Increase by 2.4% 

IAS 19 (revised) was applied from 31 March 2013, which affected the accounting for the defined benefit pension schemes. In order  
to aid comparison, the results for the 52 weeks to 30 March 2013 have been restated as if IAS 19 (revised) had always applied during 
that year. The effect of adopting IAS 19 (revised) was a net reduction to profit after tax of £1,610,000 for the year comprising: 

a)  an increase in administrative expenses of £1,070,000; 
b)  a decrease in the expected return on pension scheme assets of £1,048,000; and 
c)  a reduction in the tax charge of £508,000. 

The corresponding entries to a) and b) were to actuarial gains and to c) were to deferred tax taken to equity. 

140  Halma plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014 
140

Halma plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Amounts recognised in the Consolidated Income Statement in respect of the UK and Swiss defined benefit schemes are as follows: 

Current service cost 

Administration expenses 

Curtailment gain  

Net interest charge on pension scheme liabilities 

2014  
£000 

2,653 

638 

(4,246) 

1,875 

920 

(Restated) 
2013  
£000 

1,932 

1,070 

– 

1,518 

4,520 

Actuarial gains and losses have been reported in the Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income and Expenditure. 

The actual return on scheme assets was £7.8m (2013: £18.5m). 

The cumulative amount of actuarial losses recognised in the Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income and Expenditure 
since the date of transition to IFRSs is £43m (2013: £45m (restated)). 

The amount included in the balance sheet arising from the Group’s obligations in respect of its UK and Swiss defined benefit 
retirement benefit schemes is as follows: 

Present value of defined benefit obligations 

Fair value of scheme assets 

Liability recognised in the balance sheet 

2014*  
£000 

2013  
£000 

2012  
£000 

(227,358) 

(223,447) 

(185,956) 

190,509 

176,275 

152,959 

(36,849) 

(47,172) 

(32,997) 

* At 29 March 2014, the fair value of the obligations and assets of the UK schemes were £223,996,000 and £187,511,000 respectively and of the Swiss schemes were  
  £3,362,000 and £2,998,000 respectively. 

Cash contributions in the region of £7m per year are expected to be made for the immediate future with the objective of eliminating 
the pension deficit over the next five years. 

Movements in the present value of the UK and Swiss defined benefit obligations were as follows: 

At beginning of year  

Service cost 

Curtailment gain 

Interest cost 

Actuarial losses 

Contributions from scheme members 

Benefits paid 

Premiums paid 

At end of year 

2014  
£000 

2013  
£000 

(223,447) 

(185,956) 

(2,653) 

4,246 

(9,707) 

(1,932) 

– 

(9,239) 

(791) 

(30,608) 

(1,085) 

5,982 

97 

(903) 

5,084 

107 

(227,358) 

(223,447) 

Halma plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014  141 
141

Halma plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014Strategic Report Governance Financial Statements  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Notes to the Accounts continued
Notes to the Company Accounts  

28 Retirement benefits continued 
Movements in the fair value of the UK and Swiss scheme assets were as follows: 

At beginning of year  

Expected return on scheme assets 

Administrative expenses 

Actuarial gains 

Contributions from the sponsoring companies 

Contributions from scheme members 

Benefits paid 

Premiums paid 

At end of year 

The net movement on actuarial gains and losses of the UK and Swiss schemes was as follows: 

Defined benefit obligations 

Fair value of scheme assets 

Net actuarial gains/(losses) 

2014  
£000 

2013  
£000 

176,275 

152,959 

7,832 

(638) 

2,851 

9,183 

1,085 

(5,982) 

(97) 

7,721 

(1,070) 

10,756 

10,197 

903 

(5,084) 

(107) 

190,509 

176,275 

2014  
£000 

(791) 

2,851 

2,060 

(Restated) 
2013  
£000 

(30,608) 

10,756 

(19,852) 

The analysis of the UK scheme assets and the expected rate of return at the balance sheet date were as follows: 

Equity instruments 

Debt instruments 

Property 

2014  
% 

4.40 

4.40 

4.40 

4.40 

(Restated) 
2013  
% 

4.40 

4.40 

4.40 

4.40 

Expected return 

Fair value of assets 

2013  
% 

6.43 

4.70 

3.65 

5.33 

2012  
% 

6.50 

4.20 

5.00 

5.68 

2014  
£000 

2013  
£000 

101,155 

101,355 

71,451 

14,905 

61,727 

13,193 

2012  
£000 

90,460 

50,320 

12,179 

187,511 

176,275 

152,959 

The overall expected rate of return is a weighted average. 

In conjunction with the trustees, the Group conducts asset-liability reviews for its defined benefit pension scheme. The results of these 
reviews are used to assist the trustees and the Group to determine the optimal long-term asset allocation with regard to the structure 
of the liabilities of the scheme. They are also used to assist the trustees in managing the volatility in the underlying investment 
performance and risk of a significant increase in the defined benefit deficit by providing information used to determine the scheme’s 
investment strategy.  

As a consequence, the Group is progressively giving more emphasis to a closer return matching of scheme assets and liabilities, both 
to ensure the long-term security of our defined benefit commitment and to reduce earnings and balance sheet volatility. 

142  Halma plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014 
142

Halma plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The five-year history of experience adjustments was as follows: 

Present value of defined benefit obligations 

(227,358) 

(223,447) 

(185,956) 

(177,055) 

(170,901) 

2014  
£000 

2013  
£000 

2012  
£000 

2011  
£000 

2010  
£000 

Fair value of scheme assets 

Deficit in the scheme 

Experience adjustments on scheme liabilities 

Amount 

Percentage of scheme liabilities  

Experience adjustments on scheme assets 

Amount  

Percentage of scheme assets 

190,509 

176,275 

152,959 

140,818 

127,830 

(36,849) 

(47,172) 

(32,997) 

(36,237) 

(43,071) 

– 

– 

(30) 

0% 

246 

– 

(Restated) 

(10,756) 

(5)% 

(224) 

– 

(1,804) 

(1)% 

157 

– 

(944) 

(1)% 

(136) 

– 

27,648 

22% 

The estimated amount of contributions expected to be paid to the UK and Swiss schemes during the year ending 28 March 2015  
is £8.1m. 

The levels of contributions are based on the current service cost and the expected future cash flows of the defined benefit scheme. 
The Group estimates the scheme liabilities on average to fall due over 20 and 27 years, respectively, for the Halma and Apollo plans. 

29 Disposal of business 
On 22 August 2012, the Group disposed of its Asset Monitoring businesses, comprising Tritech Holdings Limited and its subsidiary 
Tritech International Limited (together known as Tritech). Tritech was sold for an initial cash consideration of £18,900,000. A further 
£839,000 was received in October 2012 in respect of cash and working capital held in the business at the time of sale. In addition 
£2,100,000 was retained in escrow and was released to Halma in August 2013. Net assets disposed of as part of the transaction 
included goodwill of £8,009,000. 

The £1,917,000 cash inflow from disposal of businesses shown in the Consolidated Cash Flow Statement represents the £2,100,000 
released from escrow less disposal transaction costs of £183,000. The loss on disposal of £483,000 comprises £183,000 costs and 
a £300,000 loss on the 2012 disposal of Volumatic Limited, following a revision to the remaining contingent consideration receivable 
from £300,000 to £nil. No further consideration is due to the Group in relation to either the Tritech or Volumatic Limited disposals. 

The profit on disposal of £8,070,000, and cash inflow of £19,608,000, for the 52 weeks to 30 March 2013 related almost entirely to 
the disposal of Tritech. 

30 Events after the balance sheet date 
On 2 May 2014 the Group acquired Plasticspritzerei AG (Plasticspritzerei), located in Wolfhalden, Switzerland at the same facility as 
another Group company, Medicel AG (Medicel). An initial cash consideration of CHF 8,000,000 was paid to acquire the trade and 
assets of the business. The Group then immediately sold the industrial segment of the business to a third party, resulting in a net cash 
cost to the Group of CHF 4,800,000 (£3,200,000). These transactions have resulted in the Group owning only those assets which 
support Medicel’s business. Plasticspritzerei will be operated by Medicel’s management within Halma’s Medical sector, further 
expanding the Group’s manufacturing excellence in ophthalmic diagnostic and surgical instrumentation. Due to the proximity  
of the acquisition date to the date of approval of the Annual Report, it is impracticable to provide further information. 

As part of the transaction in which the Group acquired Plasticspritzerei AG, the Group disposed of its 50% ownership interest in its 
associate, PSRM Immobilien AG (PSRM), for cash consideration of CHF 500,000. Due to the proximity of the transaction date to the 
date of approval of the Annual Report, it is impracticable to provide further information. 

On 14 May 2014 the Group acquired the entire share capital of Advanced Electronics Limited (Advanced) for an initial cash 
consideration of £14,100,000. A further £1,369,000 was paid to acquire the net cash in the business at the completion date. The 
initial cash consideration is adjustable based on the final level of agreed working capital and cash at closing. Contingent consideration 
of up to £10,100,000 is payable in two tranches on or around July 2014 and July 2015 respectively, subject to the company achieving 
certain profit targets. 

Halma plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014  143 
143

Halma plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014Strategic Report Governance Financial Statements  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Notes to the Accounts continued
Notes to the Company Accounts  

30 Events after the balance sheet date continued 
Advanced will operate as a stand-alone business within Halma’s Infrastructure Safety sector and specialises in the manufacture of 
networked fire detection and control systems. Advanced’s controllers can be integrated into system solutions using field devices and 
products from a broad spectrum of suppliers, meeting the increasing diversity of regulatory requirements across the world. Its main 
manufacturing facility is located near Newcastle in the UK with a dedicated electronics and software development facility in Barnsley.  
It has additional commercial offices in the UK, USA and Dubai. Advanced will add complementary products that will help capture the 
international growth opportunity in the increasingly regulated Fire market. Due to the proximity of the acquisition date to the date of 
approval of the Annual Report, it is impracticable to provide further information. 

On 30 May 2014 the Group acquired Rohrback Cosasco Systems Inc. (RCS) and associated companies, headquartered in  
California, USA. RCS also operates in Canada, UK, UAE, Singapore, China, Australia and Texas, USA. An initial cash consideration  
of US$108,000,000 (£64,700,000) was paid for the entire share capital of RCS and its associate companies. A further US$8,000,000 
(£4,800,000) was paid to acquire the net cash in the business at the completion date. The initial cash consideration is adjustable 
based on the final level of agreed working capital and cash at closing. RCS is a world leader in the design, manufacture and sale  
of pipeline corrosion monitoring products and systems into diverse industries including oil, gas, petrochemical, pharmaceutical  
and utilities. The acquisition of RCS expands Halma’s portfolio of critical safety products which are sold into the Energy and Utility 
markets to protect life and operational assets. The existing RCS management team will remain in place and will continue to operate 
the business which already operates in the same industries with similar long-term market growth drivers, including increasing safety 
requirements. Due to the proximity of the acquisition date to the date of the approval of the Annual Report, it is impracticable to 
provide further information. 

On 30 May 2014, the Group disposed of Monitor Elevator Products, Inc. (Monitor) from its Infrastructure Safety sector. The total 
consideration was US$6,000,000 (£3,600,000), of which US$5,100,000 was received in cash at completion and US$900,000 was 
retained in escrow to be released to Halma on the second anniversary of the transaction subject to any valid warranty/indemnity 
claims being made by the purchaser. Consideration is adjustable by the amount that closing net assets are calculated to be more or 
less than US$2,500,000 at the time of completion. An additional US$400,000 was received in cash at closing representing the initial 
estimate of the excess closing net asset value. The Directors estimate that the entire US$900,000 held in escrow will be received. 

The profit on disposal is estimated to be approximately £1m being the total equivalent Sterling consideration stated above less  
£2.5m of net assets disposed and transaction costs. No goodwill was disposed of or impaired as a result of this transaction.   
Monitor has not been separately disclosed as a discontinued operation as defined by IFRS 5 due to its nature and size. 

31 Related party transactions 
Trading transactions 

Associated companies 

Purchases from associated companies  

Amounts due to associated companies 

Amounts due from associated companies 

Other related parties 

Rent charged by other related parties  

Amounts due to other related parties 

2014  
£000 

2013  
£000 

524 

56 

128 

115 

– 

519 

3 

200 

360 

– 

Other related parties comprise two companies with Halma employees on the boards and from which two Halma subsidiaries rent 
property. All the transactions above are on an arm’s length basis and on standard business terms. 

Remuneration of key management personnel 
The remuneration of the Directors and Executive Board members, who are the key management personnel of the Group, is set  
out below in aggregate for each of the categories specified in IAS 24 ‘Related Party Disclosures’. Further information about the 
remuneration of individual Directors is provided in the audited part of the Directors’ Remuneration Report on pages 81 to 89. 

Wages and salaries 

Pension costs 

Share-based payment charge 

144  Halma plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014 
144

2014  
£000 

4,353 

130 

1,908 

6,391 

2013  
£000 

4,185 

165 

1,643 

5,993 

Halma plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Company Balance Sheet
Company Balance Sheet 

Fixed assets 

Tangible assets 

Investments 

Current assets 

Debtors (amounts falling due within one year) 

Debtors (amounts falling due after more than one year) 

Short-term deposits 

Cash at bank and in hand 

Creditors: amounts falling due within one year 

Borrowings 

Creditors 

Current tax payable 

Net current assets 

Total assets less current liabilities 

Creditors: amounts falling due after more than one year 

Borrowings 

Creditors 

Net assets 

Capital and reserves 

Share capital 

Share premium account 

Treasury shares 

Capital redemption reserve 

Other reserves 

Profit and loss account 

Shareholders’ funds 

29 March 
2014 
£000  

30 March 
2013 
£000 

Notes 

C3 

C4 

C5 

C5 

C6 

C7 

3,310 

142,005 

145,315 

3,516 

136,832 

140,348 

43,740 

23,748 

344,307 

339,122 

92 

2,417 

2 

821 

390,556 

363,693 

10,998 

43,639 

3,375 

58,012 

332,544 

477,859 

2,252 

22,876 

3,303 

28,431 

335,262 

475,610 

C6 

C8 

104,891 

154,866 

12,940 

15,107 

360,028 

305,637 

C10 

C11 

C11 

C11 

C11 

C11 

C12 

37,902 

22,778 

37,888 

22,598 

(7,054) 

(4,534) 

185 

185 

(7,647) 

(5,503) 

313,864 

360,028 

255,003 

305,637 

The financial statements of Halma plc, company number 40932, were approved by the Board of Directors on 12 June 2014. 

A J Williams  K J Thompson 
Director  

Director 

145  Halma plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014 

145

Halma plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014Strategic Report Governance Financial Statements  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Notes to the Company Accounts
Notes to the Company Accounts 

C1 Accounting policies 
Basis of preparation 
The separate Company financial statements are presented as required by the Companies Act 2006 and have been prepared on the 
historical cost basis and comply with applicable United Kingdom Accounting Standards and law. The principal Company accounting 
policies have been applied consistently throughout the current and preceding years and are described below. 

Related parties 
The Company is exempt under the terms of FRS 8 ‘Related Party Disclosures’ from disclosing transactions with other members of the 
Halma Group. 

Foreign currencies 
Transactions in foreign currency are recorded at the rate of exchange at the date of the transaction. Monetary assets and liabilities 
denominated in foreign currencies at the balance sheet date are reported at the rates prevailing at that date. Any gain or loss arising 
from subsequent exchange rate movements is included as an exchange gain or loss in the profit and loss account. 

Share-based payments 
The Company has adopted FRS 20 and the accounting policies followed are in all material respects the same as the Group’s policy 
under IFRS 2. This policy is shown on page 107. 

Investments 
Investments are stated at cost less provision for impairment. 

Fixed assets and depreciation 
Fixed assets are stated at cost less provisions for impairment and depreciation which, with the exception of freehold land which is not 
depreciated, is provided on all fixed assets on the straight-line method, each item being written off over its estimated life. The principal 
annual rates used for this purpose are: 

Freehold property 

Plant, equipment and vehicles 

2% 

8% to 33.3% 

Leases 
The costs of operating leases of property and other assets are charged on a straight-line basis over the life of the lease. 

Pensions 
The Company makes contributions to defined contribution pension plans, which are charged against profits when they become 
payable. The Company also participates in a Group-wide defined benefit pension plan. This plan is operated on a basis that does not 
enable individual companies to identify their share of the underlying assets and liabilities, and in accordance with FRS 17 the Company 
accounts for its contributions to the plan as if it was a defined contribution plan. 

Taxation 
Taxation comprises current and deferred tax. 

Current tax is the expected tax payable, on the taxable income for the year, using tax rates enacted, or substantially enacted, at the 
balance sheet date, and any adjustments to tax payable in respect of previous years. 

The Company provides for deferred tax because of timing differences between profits as computed for taxation purposes and profits 
as stated in the accounts, on an undiscounted basis. Deferred tax is measured at the average tax rates that are expected to apply  
in the periods in which the timing differences are expected to reverse, based on tax rates and laws that have been enacted or 
substantially enacted by the balance sheet date. Deferred tax assets are only recognised if recovery is considered more likely than  
not on the basis of all available evidence. 

Bank borrowings 
Interest bearing bank loans and overdrafts are recorded at the proceeds received, net of direct issue costs. Finance charges, 
including direct issue costs, are accounted for on an accruals basis in profit or loss and are added to the carrying amount of the 
instrument to the extent that they are not settled in the period in which they arise. 

146  Halma plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014 
146

Halma plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014 
 
C2 Result for the year 
As permitted by Section 408(3) of the Companies Act 2006, the Profit and loss account of Halma plc is not presented as part of these 
accounts. The Company has reported a profit after taxation of £99,346,000 (2013: £90,955,000). 

Auditor’s remuneration for audit services to the Company was £159,000 (2013: £142,000). 

Total employee costs (including Directors) were: 

Wages and salaries 

Social security costs 

Pension costs 

Number of employees (all in the UK) 

2014  
£000 

5,329 

535 

499 

2013  
£000 

5,398 

490 

417 

6,363 

6,305 

2014 
 Number 

43 

2013  
Number 

45 

Details of Directors’ remuneration are set out on pages 81 to 89 within the Remuneration Report and form part of these financial 
statements. 

C3 Fixed assets – tangible assets 

Cost 

At 30 March 2013 

Additions at cost 

Disposals 

At 29 March 2014 

Accumulated depreciation 

At 30 March 2013 

Charge for the year 

Disposals 

At 29 March 2014 

Carrying amounts 

At 29 March 2014 

At 30 March 2013 

Freehold 
properties  
£000 

Plant 
equipment 
and vehicles  
£000 

Total  
£000 

3,043 

2,273 

5,316 

– 

– 

152 

(46) 

152 

(46) 

3,043 

2,379 

5,422 

386 

47 

– 

433 

2,610 

2,657 

1,414 

1,800 

307 

(42) 

354 

(42) 

1,679 

2,112 

700 

859 

3,310 

3,516 

Halma plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014  147 
147

Halma plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014Strategic Report Governance Financial Statements  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Notes to the Company Accounts continued
Notes to the Company Accounts continued 

C4 Investments 
Shares in Group companies 

At cost less amounts written off at beginning of year 

Increase in investments 

Disposal of investments 

At cost less amounts written off at end of year 

The increase of £5,173,000 comprises:  

2014  
£000 

2013  
£000 

136,832 

135,971 

5,173 

– 

18,402 

(17,541) 

142,005 

136,832 

a)  £1,946,000 increase in investment in a subsidiary;  
b)  £3,564,000 investment in a newly acquired 100% owned subsidiary, Talentum Developments Limited (Talentum); and 
c)  £337,000 reduction in investment following the finalisation of the acquisition accounting for ASL Holdings Limited (ASL). 

The increase of £18,402,000 in the prior year related to the acquisition of ASL (£9,865,000) and an increase in investment in an 
existing subsidiary (£8,537,000). 

The reduction of £17,541,000 in the prior year related to the Company’s disposal of Tritech (£13,823,000) and the reduction in 
investment in various dormant companies (£3,718,000). 

Details of principal subsidiary companies are set out below. Halma plc owns 100% of the ordinary share capital of all its subsidiaries 
(directly, or indirectly through its intermediate holding companies). 

The Company has taken advantage of the exemption under Section 410(2) of the Companies Act 2006 by providing information only 
in relation to subsidiary undertakings the results or financial position of which, in the opinion of the Directors, principally affected the 
financial statements. 

A complete list of subsidiary and associated undertakings will be attached to the next annual return to be filed at Companies House 
following the approval of these accounts. 

Supplementary information relating to Halma’s operations is provided on pages 154 to 157. 

Name of company 

Country of incorporation 

Bureau D’Electronique Appliquee S.A. (BEA) 

Rudolf Riester GmbH 

Medicel AG 

Apollo Fire Detectors Limited 

Avire Limited 

Crowcon Detection Instruments Limited 

Elfab Limited 

Fire Fighting Enterprises Limited 

Fortress Interlocks Limited 

HWM-Water Limited 

Keeler Limited 

Palintest Limited 

Smith Flow Control Limited 

Texecom Limited 

Accutome, Inc. 

Diba Industries, Inc. 

Labsphere, Inc. 

MicroSurgical Technology, Inc. 

Ocean Optics, Inc. 

Oseco Inc. 

Perma Pure LLC 

SunTech Medical Inc. 

Volk Optical Inc. 

148  Halma plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014 
148

Belgium 

Germany 

Switzerland 

UK 

UK 

UK 

UK 

UK 

UK 

UK 

UK 

UK 

UK 

UK 

USA 

USA 

USA 

USA 

USA 

USA 

USA 

USA 

USA 

Halma plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014 
 
 
C5 Debtors 

Amounts falling due within one year: 

Amounts due from Group companies 

Other debtors 

Prepayments and accrued income 

Deferred tax asset (note C9) 

Amounts falling due after more than one year: 

Amounts due from Group companies 

C6 Borrowings 

Falling due within one year: 

Overdrafts 

Falling due after more than one year: 

Unsecured bank loans 

Total borrowings 

2014  
£000 

2013  
£000 

36,792 

15,933 

2 

6,261 

685 

2,604 

4,943 

268 

43,740 

23,748 

344,307 

339,122 

2014  
£000 

2013  
£000 

10,998 

2,252 

104,891 

115,889 

154,866 

157,118 

On 28 November 2013, the Company increased and extended its syndicated revolving credit facility with its existing core group  
of five banks. The facility was increased to £360,000,000 (2013: £260,000,000) and the term extended to November 2018  
(2013: October 2016). 

Therefore, the facility under which the bank loans are drawn expires within four to five years (2013: within two to five years) and at  
29 March 2014 £255,109,000 (2013: £105,134,000) remained committed and undrawn. 

The bank overdrafts, which are unsecured, at 29 March 2014 and 30 March 2013 were drawn on uncommitted facilities which all 
expire within one year, and were held pursuant to a Group pooling arrangement which offsets them against credit balances in 
subsidiary undertakings. 

The Company is part of an arrangement between UK subsidiaries whereby overdraft facilities of £22,122,000 (2013: £17,025,000)  
are cross-guaranteed. Of these facilities £nil (2013: £404,000) was drawn. 

C7 Creditors: amounts falling due within one year 

Trade creditors 

Amounts owing to Group companies 

Other taxation and social security 

Other creditors 

Accruals and deferred income 

Provision for contingent and deferred consideration 

2014  
£000 

1,379 

37,011 

1,145 

1,422 

1,216 

1,466 

2013  
£000 

1,646 

16,724 

1,212 

872 

2,422 

– 

43,639 

22,876 

The £1,466,000 contingent consideration payable comprises £250,000 and £1,216,000 in respect of the Talentum and ASL 
acquisitions respectively. The latter amount has been reclassified from payables due in more than one year and represents the first of 
two tranches of contingent consideration payable totaling £3,500,000. The estimated value of each payment represents the Directors’ 
best estimate and is dependent on the growth in sales of the acquired business up to March 2014 and March 2015. Amounts are 
payable in two tranches on or around May 2014 and May 2015.  

Halma plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014  149 
149

Halma plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014Strategic Report Governance Financial Statements  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Notes to the Company Accounts continued
Notes to the Company Accounts continued 

C8 Creditors: amounts falling due after more than one year 

Amounts owing to Group companies 

Provision for contingent consideration 

Other creditors 

These liabilities fall due as follows: 

Within one to two years 

Within two to five years 

After more than five years 

2014  
£000 

2013  
£000 

10,303 

11,197 

2,284 

353 

3,500 

410 

12,940 

15,107 

2,637 

– 

2,410 

1,500 

10,303 

11,197 

The £2,284,000 Provision for contingent consideration represents the Directors’ best estimate of the second tranche of payments in 
respect of the ASL acquisition. In the prior year the payment was estimated at £1,500,000 and was shown as payable within two to 
five years. 

C9 Deferred tax 

Movement in deferred tax asset: 

At beginning of year 

Credit to profit and loss account 

At end of year (note C5) 

Deferred tax comprises short-term timing differences. 

C10 Share capital 

Ordinary shares of 10p each 

2014  
£000 

2013  
£000 

268 

417 

685 

175 

93 

268 

Issued and fully paid 

2014  
£000 

2013  
£000 

37,902 

37,888 

The number of Ordinary shares in issue at 29 March 2014 was 379,018,522 (2013: 378,880,622), including Treasury shares of 
1,278,148 (2013: 1,143,209). Changes during the year in the issued ordinary share capital were as follows: 

At 30 March 2013  

Share options exercised 

At 29 March 2014 

Issued and fully paid  
2013 
£000 

37,888 

14 

37,902 

The total consideration received in cash in respect of Share options exercised amounted to £194,000 (2013: £453,000). At the date of 
these accounts, the number of Ordinary shares in issue was 379,018,522 (2013: 378,880,622), including Treasury shares of 
1,278,148 (2013: 1,303,209). Details of share options in issue on the Company’s share capital and share-based payments are 
included in note 23 to the Group accounts. 

150  Halma plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014 
150

Halma plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
C11 Reserves 

At 30 March 2013 

Profit transferred to reserves 

Dividends paid 

Issue of shares 

Movement in other reserves 

Net movement in treasury shares 

At 29 March 2014 

Non-distributable  Distributable 

Share 
premium 
account  
£000 

Treasury 
shares  
£000 

Capital 
redemption 
reserve  
£000 

Other 
reserves  
£000 

Total profit 
and loss 
account 
£000  

22,598 

(4,534) 

185 

(5,503) 

255,003 

– 

– 

180 

– 

– 

22,778 

– 

– 

– 

– 

(2,520) 

(7,054) 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

(2,144) 

– 

99,346 

(40,485) 

– 

– 

– 

185 

(7,647) 

313,864 

The Capital redemption reserve was created on the repurchase and cancellation of the Company’s own shares. The Other reserves 
represent the provision being established in respect of the value of equity-settled share option plans and performance share plan 
awards made by the Company. Treasury shares are the Company’s own shares purchased and are held to fulfil its obligations  
under the performance share plan. 

C12 Reconciliation of movement in shareholders’ funds 

At beginning of year 

Profit after taxation 

Dividends paid 

Issue of shares 

Net movement in Treasury shares 

Movement in Other reserves 

At end of year 

2014  
£000 

2013  
£000 

305,637 

255,260 

99,346 

90,955 

(40,485) 

(37,765) 

194 

(2,520) 

(2,144) 

453 

35 

(3,301) 

360,028 

305,637 

Halma plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014  151 
151

Halma plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014Strategic Report Governance Financial Statements  
 
 
 
 
 
Summary 2005 to 2014
Summary 2005 to 2014 

Revenue (note 1) 

Overseas sales (note 1) 

Profit before taxation, and adjustments (note 2) 

Net tangible assets/capital employed 

Borrowings (excluding overdrafts) 

Cash and cash equivalents (net of overdrafts) 

Employees (note 1) 

Earnings per ordinary share (note 1) 

Adjusted earnings per ordinary share (note 2)  

Year on year increase/(decrease) in adjusted earnings per ordinary share 

Return on Sales (notes 1 and 3) 

Return on Capital Employed (note 4) 

Year on year increase in dividends per ordinary share (paid and proposed) 

Ordinary share price at financial year end  

Market capitalisation at financial year end 

UK GAAP 
2004/05  
£000 

299,119 

218,745 

50,389 

80,750 

33,344 

45,348 

3,002 

7.97p 

9.42p 

(0.2%) 

16.8% 

52.1% 

5% 

161p 

IFRS 
 2004/05  
£000 

299,119 

218,745 

49,912 

104,417 

33,344 

45,348 

3,002 

9.38p 

9.45p 

N/A 

16.7% 

48.8% 

5% 

161p 

£593.8m 

£593.8m 

Notes: 
1.  Continuing and discontinued operations. 
2.  Adjusted to remove amortisation of acquired intangible assets and, from 2010/11, acquisition transaction costs and movement on contingent consideration (collectively 

‘acquisition items’) IFRS figures include results of discontinued operations up to the date of their sales or closure but exclude material discontinued and continuing profits 
on sales or closures of operations. In 2013/14 only, the effects of closure to future benefit accrual of the defined benefit pension schemes have also been removed. 

3.  Return on Sales is defined as profit before taxation, the amortisation of acquired intangible assets; acquisition items (from 2010/11); the effects of closure to future benefit 
accrual of the defined benefit pension schemes net of associated costs; profit or loss on disposal of operations; and other exceptional items expressed as a percentage 
of revenue. 

4.  Return on Capital Employed is defined in note 3 to the accounts. 
5  IAS 19 (as revised in June 2011) ‘Employee Benefits’ has been adopted by the Group in the current financial year. To aid comparison, and as required by IAS 19 

(revised), the Consolidated Financial Statements and affected notes for the 52 weeks to 30 March 2013 have been restated as if IAS 19 (revised) had always applied 
during that year. Results prior to 2012/13 have not been restated. See the Accounting Policies note for further details. 

152  Halma plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014 
152

Halma plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014 
 
 
 
 
 
 
IFRS  
2005/06  
£000 

IFRS  
2006/07  
£000 

IFRS  
2007/08  
£000 

IFRS  
2008/09  
£000 

IFRS 
2009/10  
£000  

IFRS  
2010/11  
£000 

IFRS  
2011/12  
£000 

IFRS  
2012/13  
£000 

IFRS 
(Restated) 
 (note 5) 
2012/13  
£000 

IFRS  
2013/14  
£000 

337,348 

354,606 

397,955 

455,928 

459,118 

518,428 

579,883 

619,210 

619,210 

676,506 

249,055 

258,050 

288,701 

351,522 

360,779 

412,297 

454,270 

503,635 

503,635 

548,629 

59,641 

66,091 

73,215 

79,087 

86,214 

104,551 

120,465 

130,661 

128,543 

140,249 

105,396 

113,048 

134,320 

173,128 

145,519 

146,964 

163,283 

188,701 

188,701 

189,707 

32,308 

35,826 

3,187 

11.08p 

11.27p 

19.3% 

17.7% 

56.9% 

5% 

188p 

29,762 

22,051 

3,326 

11.86p 

12.42p 

10.9% 

18.6% 

60.1% 

5% 

220p 

72,393 

28,118 

3,683 

13.49p 

13.86p 

11.5% 

18.4% 

55.8% 

5% 

192p 

86,173 

34,987 

4,018 

14.07p 

15.30p 

10.4% 

17.3% 

47.7% 

5% 

156p 

21,924 

31,006 

3,689 

16.10p 

16.89p 

10.4% 

18.8% 

61.3% 

7% 

259p 

79,688 

42,610 

3,875 

19.23p 

20.49p 

21.3% 

20.2% 

71.9% 

7% 

355p 

64,014 

45,305 

4,347 

23.01p 

24.46p 

19.4% 

20.8% 

74.7% 

7% 

381p 

160,013 

160,013 

107,622 

49,723 

49,723 

4,716 

4,716 

25.22p 

26.22p 

7.2% 

21.1% 

71.3% 

7% 

518p 

24.79p 

25.79p 

5.4% 

20.8% 

70.7% 

7% 

518p 

33,126 

4,999 

28.14p 

28.47p 

10.4% 

20.7% 

76.4% 

7% 

579p 

£693.4m 

£821.8m 

£717.7m 

£583.7m 

£978.1m  £1,342.7m  £1,440.8m  £1,962.6m  £1,962.6m  £2,192.6m 

Halma plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014  153 
153

Halma plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014Strategic Report Governance Financial Statements  
 
 
 
 
 
Halma Directory

Principal operating companies by sector

Main products

Process Safety

Principal locations

Telephone

E-mail

Website

Castell Safety International Limited 

Safety systems for controlling hazardous industrial processes

Kingsbury, London (Head Office) 

+44 (0)20 8200 1200

uksales@castell.com

www.castell.com

Crowcon Detection Instruments Limited

Gas detection instruments for personnel and plant safety

Abingdon, Oxfordshire (Head Office)

+44 (0)1235 557700

sales@crowcon.com

www.crowcon.com

Elfab Limited

Pressure sensitive relief devices to protect process plant

North Shields, Tyne & Wear

+44 (0)191 293 1234

sales@elfab.com

www.elfab.com

Fortress Interlocks Limited

Safety systems for controlling access to dangerous machines

Wolverhampton, West Midlands (Head Office) 

+44 (0)1902 349000

sales@fortressinterlocks.com

www.fortressinterlocks.com

Kirk Key Interlock Company, LLC.

Key interlocks and interlocking systems for the protection of personnel and equipment

+1 (1)800 438 2442

sales@kirkkey.com

www.kirkkey.com

Netherlocks Safety Systems B.V.

Process safety systems for petrochemical and industrial applications

Alphen aan den Rijn, The Netherlands

+31 (0)172 471 839

sales@netherlocks.com

www.netherlocks.com

Oseco Inc.

Pressure sensitive relief devices to protect process plant

Rohrback Cosasco Systems Inc.

Design, manufacture and sale of pipeline corrosion monitoring products and systems into diverse 
industries including oil, gas, petrochemical, pharmaceutical, chemical and utilities

+1 (1)918 258 5626

+1 (1)562 949 0123

info@oseco.com

sales@cosasco.com

www.oseco.com

www.cosasco.com

SERV Trayvou Interverrouillage S.A.S.

Safety systems for controlling access to dangerous machines

Paris, France (Head Office) 

+33 (0)1 48 18 15 15

sales@servtrayvou.com

www.servtrayvou.com

Smith Flow Control Limited

Process safety systems for petrochemical and industrial applications

+44 (0)1376 517901

sales@smithflowcontrol.com

www.smithflowcontrol.com

Infrastructure Safety

Advanced Electronics Limited

Apollo Fire Detectors Limited

Networked fire detectors and control systems

Smoke and heat detectors, sounders, beacons and interfaces

Cramlington, Northumberland

+44 (0)1670 7071111 

sales@advancedco.com

www.advancedco.com

Havant, Hampshire (Head Office) 

+44 (0)2392 492412

enquiries@apollo-fire.com

www.apollo-fire.co.uk

Avire Limited 

Infrared safety systems for elevator doors and elevator emergency communications

+44 (0)1628 540100

sales.uk@avire-global.com

www.avire-global.com

Bureau D’Electronique Appliquée S.A. (BEA)

Sensors for automatic doors

+32 (0)4 361 65 65

info@bea.be

www.bea.be

Fire Fighting Enterprises Limited

Flame detectors, beam smoke detectors and specialist fire extinguishing systems

Janus Elevator Products Inc.

Elevator safety components including displays, door systems and emergency communications

Texecom Limited

Security sensors and signalling products

+44 (0)1462 444740

+1 (1)631 864 3699

+44 (0)1706 220460

sales@ffeuk.com

www.ffeuk.com

sales@januselevator.com

www.januselevator.com

sales@texe.com

www.texe.com

Medical

Accudynamics, LLC.

Accutome, Inc.

Mechanical and fluidic components primarily used in medical, life science and scientific instruments

Lakeville, Massachusetts

+1 (1)508 946 4545

info@accudynamics.com

www.accudynamics.com

Ophthalmic diagnostic and surgical equipment, as well as a broad line of pharmaceutical products

Malvern, Pennsylvania (Head Office) 

+1 (1)610 889 0200

info@accutome.com

www.accutome.com

Baoding Longer Precision Pump Co., Ltd.

Peristaltic, syringe, piston and gear pumps for use in laboratory, industrial and medical applications for 
both end-user and OEM customers

+86 312 3110087

longer@longerpump.com

www.longerpump.com

Bio-Chem Fluidics Inc.

Diba Industries, Inc.

Keeler Limited

Medicel AG

Miniature valves, micro pumps and fluid components for medical, life science and scientific instruments

Boonton, New Jersey

Specialised components and complete fluid transfer subassemblies for medical, life science and scientific 
instruments

Danbury, Connecticut (Head Office) 

Cambridge, UK

+1 (1)973 263 3001

+1 (1)203 744 0773

sales.us@biochemfluidics.com

www.biochemfluidics.com

salesdept@dibaind.com

www.dibaind.com

Ophthalmic instruments for diagnostic assessment of eye conditions

Windsor, Berkshire (Head Office) 

+44 (0)1753 857177

info@keeler.co.uk

www.keeler.co.uk

Instruments for ophthalmic surgery

MicroSurgical Technology, Inc.

Ophthalmic surgical products, focusing on single-use devices used in cataract surgery

Rudolf Riester GmbH

Diagnostic medical devices for ophthalmology, blood pressure measurement and ear, nose and throat 
diagnostics

SunTech Medical, Inc.

Clinical grade non-invasive blood pressure monitoring products and technologies

Morrisville, North Carolina (Head Office) 

+1 (1)919 654 2300

sales@suntechmed.com

www.suntechmed.com

Volk Optical, Inc.

Ophthalmic equipment and lenses as aids to diagnosis and surgery

+1 (1)440 942 6161

volk@volk.com

www.volk.com

+41 71 727 1050

+1 (1)425 556 0544

+49 (0)74 77 92 700

info@medicel.com

www.medicel.com

Info@microsurgical.com

www.microsurgical.com

info@riester.de

www.riester.de

Shanghai, China

Beijing, China

Erlanger, Kentucky

Melbourne, Australia

Massillon, Ohio

Broken Arrow, Oklahoma

Santa Fe, California

Houston, Texas

Aberdeen, Scotland

Sharjah, UAE

Singapore

Tunisia

Witham, Essex

Auburn Hills, Michigan 

Beijing, China

Maidenhead, Berkshire (Head Office) 

Ceské Budejovice, Czech Republic

Shanghai, China 

Singapore

Liège, Belgium (Head Office) 

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 

Beijing, China

Hitchin, Hertfordshire

Hauppauge, New York

Haslingden, Lancashire

Cuijk, The Netherlands

Baoding, Hebei, China

Broomall, Philadelphia

Wolfhalden, Switzerland

Redmond, Washington

Jungingen, Germany

Shenzhen, China

Mentor, Ohio

154154 Halma plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014

Halma plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014Principal operating companies by sector

Main products

Process Safety

Castell Safety International Limited 

Safety systems for controlling hazardous industrial processes

Crowcon Detection Instruments Limited

Gas detection instruments for personnel and plant safety

Elfab Limited

Pressure sensitive relief devices to protect process plant

Fortress Interlocks Limited

Safety systems for controlling access to dangerous machines

Principal locations

Telephone

E-mail

Website

Kingsbury, London (Head Office) 
Shanghai, China

Abingdon, Oxfordshire (Head Office)
Beijing, China
Erlanger, Kentucky

North Shields, Tyne & Wear

Wolverhampton, West Midlands (Head Office) 
Melbourne, Australia

+44 (0)20 8200 1200

uksales@castell.com

www.castell.com

+44 (0)1235 557700

sales@crowcon.com

www.crowcon.com

+44 (0)191 293 1234

+44 (0)1902 349000

sales@elfab.com

www.elfab.com

sales@fortressinterlocks.com

www.fortressinterlocks.com

Kirk Key Interlock Company, LLC.

Key interlocks and interlocking systems for the protection of personnel and equipment

Massillon, Ohio

+1 (1)800 438 2442

sales@kirkkey.com

www.kirkkey.com

Netherlocks Safety Systems B.V.

Process safety systems for petrochemical and industrial applications

Alphen aan den Rijn, The Netherlands

+31 (0)172 471 839

sales@netherlocks.com

www.netherlocks.com

Broken Arrow, Oklahoma

Santa Fe, California
Houston, Texas
Aberdeen, Scotland
Sharjah, UAE
Singapore

Paris, France (Head Office) 
Tunisia

Witham, Essex

+1 (1)918 258 5626

+1 (1)562 949 0123

info@oseco.com

sales@cosasco.com

www.oseco.com

www.cosasco.com

+33 (0)1 48 18 15 15

sales@servtrayvou.com

www.servtrayvou.com

+44 (0)1376 517901

sales@smithflowcontrol.com

www.smithflowcontrol.com

Cramlington, Northumberland

+44 (0)1670 7071111 

sales@advancedco.com

www.advancedco.com

Havant, Hampshire (Head Office) 
Auburn Hills, Michigan 
Beijing, China

+44 (0)2392 492412

enquiries@apollo-fire.com

www.apollo-fire.co.uk

Oseco Inc.

Pressure sensitive relief devices to protect process plant

Rohrback Cosasco Systems Inc.

Design, manufacture and sale of pipeline corrosion monitoring products and systems into diverse 

industries including oil, gas, petrochemical, pharmaceutical, chemical and utilities

SERV Trayvou Interverrouillage S.A.S.

Safety systems for controlling access to dangerous machines

Smith Flow Control Limited

Process safety systems for petrochemical and industrial applications

Infrastructure Safety

Advanced Electronics Limited

Apollo Fire Detectors Limited

Networked fire detectors and control systems

Smoke and heat detectors, sounders, beacons and interfaces

Avire Limited 

Infrared safety systems for elevator doors and elevator emergency communications

+44 (0)1628 540100

sales.uk@avire-global.com

www.avire-global.com

^

^

Maidenhead, Berkshire (Head Office) 
Ceské Budejovice, Czech Republic
Shanghai, China 
Singapore

Bureau D’Electronique Appliquée S.A. (BEA)

Sensors for automatic doors

Fire Fighting Enterprises Limited

Flame detectors, beam smoke detectors and specialist fire extinguishing systems

Janus Elevator Products Inc.

Elevator safety components including displays, door systems and emergency communications

Texecom Limited

Security sensors and signalling products

Liège, Belgium (Head Office) 
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 
Beijing, China

Hitchin, Hertfordshire

Hauppauge, New York

Haslingden, Lancashire

+32 (0)4 361 65 65

info@bea.be

www.bea.be

+44 (0)1462 444740

+1 (1)631 864 3699

+44 (0)1706 220460

sales@ffeuk.com

www.ffeuk.com

sales@januselevator.com

www.januselevator.com

sales@texe.com

www.texe.com

Medical

Accudynamics, LLC.

Accutome, Inc.

Bio-Chem Fluidics Inc.

Diba Industries, Inc.

Keeler Limited

Medicel AG

Baoding Longer Precision Pump Co., Ltd.

Peristaltic, syringe, piston and gear pumps for use in laboratory, industrial and medical applications for 

Baoding, Hebei, China

+86 312 3110087

longer@longerpump.com

www.longerpump.com

Mechanical and fluidic components primarily used in medical, life science and scientific instruments

Lakeville, Massachusetts

Ophthalmic diagnostic and surgical equipment, as well as a broad line of pharmaceutical products

Malvern, Pennsylvania (Head Office) 
Cuijk, The Netherlands

+1 (1)508 946 4545

+1 (1)610 889 0200

info@accudynamics.com

www.accudynamics.com

info@accutome.com

www.accutome.com

both end-user and OEM customers

Miniature valves, micro pumps and fluid components for medical, life science and scientific instruments

Boonton, New Jersey

Specialised components and complete fluid transfer subassemblies for medical, life science and scientific 

Ophthalmic instruments for diagnostic assessment of eye conditions

Instruments for ophthalmic surgery

instruments

diagnostics

MicroSurgical Technology, Inc.

Ophthalmic surgical products, focusing on single-use devices used in cataract surgery

Rudolf Riester GmbH

Diagnostic medical devices for ophthalmology, blood pressure measurement and ear, nose and throat 

SunTech Medical, Inc.

Clinical grade non-invasive blood pressure monitoring products and technologies

Danbury, Connecticut (Head Office) 
Cambridge, UK

Windsor, Berkshire (Head Office) 
Broomall, Philadelphia

Wolfhalden, Switzerland

Redmond, Washington

Jungingen, Germany

Morrisville, North Carolina (Head Office) 
Shenzhen, China

+1 (1)973 263 3001

+1 (1)203 744 0773

sales.us@biochemfluidics.com

www.biochemfluidics.com

salesdept@dibaind.com

www.dibaind.com

+44 (0)1753 857177

info@keeler.co.uk

www.keeler.co.uk

+41 71 727 1050

+1 (1)425 556 0544

+49 (0)74 77 92 700

info@medicel.com

www.medicel.com

Info@microsurgical.com

www.microsurgical.com

info@riester.de

www.riester.de

+1 (1)919 654 2300

sales@suntechmed.com

www.suntechmed.com

Volk Optical, Inc.

Ophthalmic equipment and lenses as aids to diagnosis and surgery

Mentor, Ohio

+1 (1)440 942 6161

volk@volk.com

www.volk.com

155

Halma plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014Strategic Report Governance Financial Statements Halma Directory continued

Principal operating companies by sector

Main products

Principal locations

Telephone

E-mail

Website

Environmental & Analysis

Alicat Scientific, Inc.

Aquionics Inc.

Avo Photonics, Inc.

Berson Milieutechniek B.V.

Fiberguide Industries, Inc.

Hanovia Limited

HWM-Water Limited

Hydreka S.A.S.

Labsphere, Inc.

Ocean Optics, Inc.

Palintest Limited

Perma Pure LLC

Pixelteq, Inc.

Mass flow meters, mass flow controllers and pressure controllers for high-precision fluid flow 
measurement

Ultraviolet (UV) equipment for treatment of water in municipal, industrial and aquatics markets, as well as 
UV-C LED products for disinfection and water analysis

Opto-electronic solutions and product design, development and manufacturing of exclusive, confidential, 
private label applications

+1 (1)520 290 6060

info@alicat.com

www.alicat.com

+1 (1)859 341 0710

sales@aquionics.com

www.aquionics.com

Horsham, Pennsylvania

+1 (1)215 441 0107

sales@avophotonics.com

www.avophotonics.com

Ultraviolet (UV) disinfection systems for municipal drinking water and wastewater treatment plants

Nuenen, The Netherlands

Large core specialty optical fibre, high temperature metalised fibres for optical power delivery and optical 
sensing applications

+31 (0)40 290 7777

+1 (1) 908 647 6601

info@bersonuv.com

info@fiberguide.com

www.bersonuv.com

www.fiberguide.com

Ultraviolet (UV) light water treatment equipment used in the manufacture of food, beverages and 
pharmaceuticals, as well as products for aquaculture, pool and leisure and for marine ballast water 
treatment

Multi-utility M2M solutions provider, including data recording and management for water networks, 
electricity, solar PV and energy conservation

Equipment and software to monitor and analyse the entire clean and dirty water cycle and for leak 
detection 

Precision radiometric and photometric systems and software for light testing, calibration and 
measurement

Miniature fibre optic spectrometers for chemical analysis, process control, environmental monitoring,  
life sciences and medical diagnostics

Water and environmental analysis equipment to test drinking water, wastewater and process water, water 
in pools and spas, as well as farming and irrigation applications

High precision moisture management products including dryers, humidifiers, and complete sample 
conditioning systems for emissions monitoring, process analysis, and medical applications

Multispectral sensing and imaging solutions for aerospace, biomedical, semiconductor, industrial and 
scientific applications

Sensorex Corporation

Electrochemical sensors for water analysis applications in the process industry and laboratory markets

Weihai Guangxue Yiqi (Shanghai), Ltd.

Miniature fibre optic spectrometers for chemical analysis, process control, environmental monitoring,  
life sciences and medical diagnostics

Group

Halma Holdings Inc.

Halma North American Head Office

Halma International Limited Representative Offices Halma China hubs in Shanghai, Beijing, Chengdu, Guangzhou and Shenyang

Halma India Pvt Ltd

Halma India hub

156156 Halma plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014

Tucson, Arizona 

Shanghai, China 

Mumbai, India

Erlanger, Kentucky

Stirling, New Jersey 

Caldwell, Idaho 

Shanghai, China

Slough, Berkshire 

Shanghai, China 

Beijing, China

Cincinnati, Ohio 

Pitsford, Northampton

Lyon, France

Shanghai, China

Winter Park, Florida 

Ostfildern, Germany 

Duiven, The Netherlands 

Oxford, UK

Gateshead, Tyne & Wear 

Beijing, China 

Sydney, Australia

Toms River, New Jersey 

Mumbai, India

Largo, Florida (Head Office) 

Beijing, China

Garden Grove, California

Shanghai, China 

Beijing, China

+44 (0)1753 515300

sales@hanovia.com

www.hanovia.com

Cwmbran, South Wales (Head Office) 

+44 (0)1633 489 479

sales@hwm-water.com

www.hwm-water.com

+33 (0)4 72 53 11 53

hydreka@hydreka.fr

www.hydreka.com

North Sutton, New Hampshire (Head Office) 

+1 (1)603 927 4266

labsphere@labsphere.com

www.labsphere.com

Dunedin, Florida (Head Office) 

+1 (1)727 733 2447

info@oceanoptics.com

www.oceanoptics.com

+44 (0)191 491 0808

sales@palintest.com

www.palintest.com

+1 (1)732 244 0010

info@permapure.com

www.permapure.com

+1 (1)727 545 0741

info@pixelteq.com

www.pixelteq.com

+1 (1)714 895 4344

+86 21 6295 6600

email@sensorex.com

www.sensorex.com

asiasales@oceanoptics.com

www.oceanoptics.cn

Cincinnati, Ohio

China

Mumbai, India

+1 (1)513 772 5501

+86 21 6016 7666

+91 (22)6708 0400

halmaholdings@halmaholdings.com www.halma.com

halmachina@halma.com

halmaindia@halma.com

www.halma.cn

www.halma.com

Halma plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014Environmental & Analysis

Alicat Scientific, Inc.

Mass flow meters, mass flow controllers and pressure controllers for high-precision fluid flow 

measurement

Aquionics Inc.

Ultraviolet (UV) equipment for treatment of water in municipal, industrial and aquatics markets, as well as 

UV-C LED products for disinfection and water analysis

Large core specialty optical fibre, high temperature metalised fibres for optical power delivery and optical 

Ultraviolet (UV) light water treatment equipment used in the manufacture of food, beverages and 

pharmaceuticals, as well as products for aquaculture, pool and leisure and for marine ballast water 

HWM-Water Limited

Multi-utility M2M solutions provider, including data recording and management for water networks, 

electricity, solar PV and energy conservation

Berson Milieutechniek B.V.

Fiberguide Industries, Inc.

Hanovia Limited

Hydreka S.A.S.

Labsphere, Inc.

private label applications

sensing applications

treatment

detection 

measurement

Ocean Optics, Inc.

Miniature fibre optic spectrometers for chemical analysis, process control, environmental monitoring,  

life sciences and medical diagnostics

Palintest Limited

Water and environmental analysis equipment to test drinking water, wastewater and process water, water 

in pools and spas, as well as farming and irrigation applications

Perma Pure LLC

Pixelteq, Inc.

High precision moisture management products including dryers, humidifiers, and complete sample 

conditioning systems for emissions monitoring, process analysis, and medical applications

Multispectral sensing and imaging solutions for aerospace, biomedical, semiconductor, industrial and 

scientific applications

Sensorex Corporation

Electrochemical sensors for water analysis applications in the process industry and laboratory markets

Weihai Guangxue Yiqi (Shanghai), Ltd.

Miniature fibre optic spectrometers for chemical analysis, process control, environmental monitoring,  

life sciences and medical diagnostics

Group

Halma Holdings Inc.

Halma North American Head Office

Halma International Limited Representative Offices Halma China hubs in Shanghai, Beijing, Chengdu, Guangzhou and Shenyang

Halma India Pvt Ltd

Halma India hub

Principal operating companies by sector

Main products

Principal locations

Telephone

E-mail

Website

Avo Photonics, Inc.

Opto-electronic solutions and product design, development and manufacturing of exclusive, confidential, 

Horsham, Pennsylvania

+1 (1)215 441 0107

sales@avophotonics.com

www.avophotonics.com

Tucson, Arizona 
Shanghai, China 
Mumbai, India

Erlanger, Kentucky

+1 (1)520 290 6060

info@alicat.com

www.alicat.com

+1 (1)859 341 0710

sales@aquionics.com

www.aquionics.com

Ultraviolet (UV) disinfection systems for municipal drinking water and wastewater treatment plants

Nuenen, The Netherlands

Stirling, New Jersey 
Caldwell, Idaho 
Shanghai, China

Slough, Berkshire 
Shanghai, China 
Beijing, China

Cwmbran, South Wales (Head Office) 
Cincinnati, Ohio 
Pitsford, Northampton

+31 (0)40 290 7777

+1 (1) 908 647 6601

info@bersonuv.com

info@fiberguide.com

www.bersonuv.com

www.fiberguide.com

+44 (0)1753 515300

sales@hanovia.com

www.hanovia.com

+44 (0)1633 489 479

sales@hwm-water.com

www.hwm-water.com

Equipment and software to monitor and analyse the entire clean and dirty water cycle and for leak 

Lyon, France

+33 (0)4 72 53 11 53

hydreka@hydreka.fr

www.hydreka.com

Precision radiometric and photometric systems and software for light testing, calibration and 

North Sutton, New Hampshire (Head Office) 
Shanghai, China

+1 (1)603 927 4266

labsphere@labsphere.com

www.labsphere.com

Dunedin, Florida (Head Office) 
Winter Park, Florida 
Ostfildern, Germany 
Duiven, The Netherlands 
Oxford, UK

Gateshead, Tyne & Wear 
Beijing, China 
Sydney, Australia

Toms River, New Jersey 
Mumbai, India

Largo, Florida (Head Office) 
Beijing, China

Garden Grove, California

Shanghai, China 
Beijing, China

+1 (1)727 733 2447

info@oceanoptics.com

www.oceanoptics.com

+44 (0)191 491 0808

sales@palintest.com

www.palintest.com

+1 (1)732 244 0010

info@permapure.com

www.permapure.com

+1 (1)727 545 0741

info@pixelteq.com

www.pixelteq.com

+1 (1)714 895 4344

+86 21 6295 6600

email@sensorex.com

www.sensorex.com

asiasales@oceanoptics.com

www.oceanoptics.cn

Cincinnati, Ohio

China

Mumbai, India

+1 (1)513 772 5501

+86 21 6016 7666

+91 (22)6708 0400

halmaholdings@halmaholdings.com www.halma.com

halmachina@halma.com

halmaindia@halma.com

www.halma.cn

www.halma.com

157

Halma plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014Strategic Report Governance Financial Statements Shareholder Information and Advisers

Financial calendar

2013/14 Half year results

2013/14 Interim dividend paid

Interim management statement

2013/14 Year end

2013/14 Final results

2013/14 Report and Accounts issued

Annual General Meeting and interim management statement

2013/14 Final dividend payable

2014/15 Half year end

2014/15 Half year results

2014/15 Interim dividend payable 

Interim management statement

2014/15 Year end

2014/15 Final results

Analysis of shareholders at 15 May 2014

Shareholders
 (number)

Number of shares held

1 – 5,000

5,001 – 25,000

25,001 – 100,000

100,001 – 750,000

750,001 and over

Share price  
London Stock Exchange, pence per 10p share

Highest

Lowest

Dividends  
Pence per 10p share

Interim

Final

Total

* Proposed.

Registered office
Misbourne Court 
Rectory Way 
Amersham 
Bucks HP7 0DE

Tel: +44 (0)1494 721111 
halma@halma.com 
Website: www.halma.com

Registered in England and Wales, No 40932

158158 Halma plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014

19 November 2013

5 February 2014

11 February 2014

29 March 2014

12 June 2014

24 June 2014

24 July 2014

20 August 2014

27 September 2014

18 November 2014

February 2015

February 2015

28 March 2015

June 2015

Shares
(number)

6,986,062

8,871,218

12,532,643

55,267,109

295,361,490

379,018,522

2011

367 

240 

2011

3.54

 5.56

9.10 

2012 

430

306

2012 

3.79

5.95

9.74

%

1.9

2.3

3.3

14.6

77.9

100.0

2010

264 

156 

2010

3.31 

5.19

8.50 

%

78.1

13.4

4.1

3.0

1.4

4,920

847

257

187

87

6,298

100.0

2014

623

471

2014

4.35

6.82*

11.17

2013 

531

373

2013 

4.06

6.37

10.43

Registrars
Computershare Investor Services PLC 
The Pavilions 
Bridgwater Road 
Bristol BS99 6ZZ

Tel: +44 (0)870 707 1046 
Fax: +44 (0)870 703 6101  
Website: www.investorcentre.co.uk

Halma plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014Investor information
Visit our website, www.halma.com, for investor information and Company news. In addition to accessing financial data, you can view and 
download Annual and Half Year Reports, analyst presentations, find contact details for Halma senior executives and subsidiary companies 
and access links to Halma subsidiary websites. You can also download our iPad app or subscribe to an e-mail news alert service to 
automatically receive an e-mail when significant announcements are made.

Shareholding information
Please contact our registrars, Computershare, directly for all enquiries about your shareholding. Visit their Investor Centre website  
www.investorcentre.co.uk for online information about your shareholding (you will need your shareholder reference number which  
can be found on your share certificate or dividend tax voucher), or telephone the registrars direct using the dedicated telephone 
number for Halma shareholders: +44 (0) 870 707 1046.

Dividend mandate
Shareholders can arrange to have their dividends paid directly into their bank or building society account by completing a bank mandate 
form. The advantages to using this service are: the payment is more secure than sending a cheque through the post; it avoids the 
inconvenience of paying in a cheque and there is no risk of lost, stolen or out-of-date cheques. A mandate form can be obtained from 
Computershare or you will find one on the reverse of the tax voucher of your last dividend payment.

Dividend reinvestment plan
The Company operates a dividend reinvestment plan (‘DRIP’) which offers shareholders the option to elect to have their cash dividends 
reinvested in Halma ordinary shares purchased in the market. You can register for the DRIP online by visiting Computershare’s Investor 
Centre website (as above) or by requesting an application form direct from Computershare. Shareholders who wish to elect for the DRIP  
for the forthcoming final dividend, but have not already done so, should return a DRIP application form to Computershare no later than  
30 July 2014.

American Depositary Receipts
The Halma plc American Depositary Receipts (ADRs) are traded on the Over The Counter market (OTC) under the symbol HLMLY.  
One ADR represents three Halma plc ordinary shares. JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. is the depositary. If you should have any queries, 
please contact:

JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A., PO Box 64504, St Paul, MN 55164-0854, USA. E-mail: jpmorgan.adr@wellsfargo.com. Telephone number  
for general queries: (800) 990 1135. Telephone number from outside the USA: +1 651 453 2128.

Electronic communications
All shareholder communications, including the Company’s Annual Report and Accounts, are made available to shareholders on the Halma 
website and you may opt to receive e-mail notification that documents and information are available to view and download rather than to 
receive paper copies through the post. Using electronic communications helps us to limit the amount of paper we use and assists us in 
reducing our costs. If you would like to sign up for this service, visit Computershare’s Investor Centre website. You may change the way  
you receive communications at any time by contacting Computershare.

Share dealing facilities
A low cost telephone dealing service has been arranged with Stocktrade which provides a simple way for buying or selling Halma shares. 
Basic commission is 0.5% up to £10,000, reducing to 0.2% thereafter (subject to a minimum commission of £17.50). For further information 
please call 0845 601 0995 and quote reference Low Co0198.

Annual General Meeting
The 120th Annual General Meeting of Halma plc will be held in the Ballroom at The Berkeley Hotel, Wilton Place, London SW1X 7RL  
on Thursday 24 July 2014 at 11.00 am. 

Investor relations contacts
Rachel Hirst/Andrew Jaques 
MHP Communications  
60 Great Portland Street 
London W1W 7RT

Tel: +44 (0)20 3128 8100 
Fax: +44 (0)20 3128 8171 
halma@mhpc.com

Andrew Williams 
Halma plc 
Misbourne Court 
Rectory Way 
Amersham 
Bucks HP7 0DE 

Tel: +44 (0)1494 721111 
Fax: +44 (0)1494 728032 
investor.relations@halma.com

Auditors 
Deloitte LLP 
Abbots House 
Abbey Street 
Reading RG1 3BD

Bankers
The Royal Bank of Scotland plc 
280 Bishopsgate 
London EC2M 4RB

Financial advisers
Lazard & Co., Limited 
50 Stratton Street 
London W1J 8LL

Brokers
Credit Suisse Securities  
(Europe) Limited 
One Cabot Square 
London E14 4QJ

Investec Investment Banking  
2 Gresham Street 
London EC2V 7QP

Solicitors 
CMS Cameron McKenna LLP  
Mitre House  
160 Aldersgate Street 
London EC1A 4DD

Designed and produced by Luminous 
www.luminous.co.uk
Printed by Halstan.co.uk

 
 
Halma plc 
Misbourne Court 
Rectory Way 
Amersham 
Bucks HP7 0DE

Tel 
+44(0)1494 721111
Fax  +44(0)1494 728032
Web  www.halma.com

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