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Hargreaves Services Plc

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FY2013 Annual Report · Hargreaves Services Plc
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A Year of Transition

Annual Report and Accounts 2013

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An Overview of the Group
Established in 1994, Hargreaves Services plc provides 
unrivalled performance in sourcing, producing,  
processing, handling and transporting carbon-based  
and other bulk materials throughout the UK and within 
Europe. The Group has four complementary divisions:

Production
Produces coal and coke and also recycles 
tyres for customers throughout the UK 
and Europe.

Energy & Commodities
Provides coal, coke, minerals, smokeless 
fuel and biomass products to a range of 
industrial, wholesale and public sector 
energy consumers.

Continuing 
Revenue

Continuing Underlying 
Operating Profit

Continuing 
Revenue

Continuing Underlying 
Operating Profit

£103.2m
+15.0%

£16.7m
+0.0%

£585.0m
+42.0%

£31.9m
+12.4%

The continuing Production division results for the year ended  
31 May 2013 encompassed the operations at Monckton, our own 
surface mining operations and our joint venture investment at 
Tower. The results also include the smaller non-core businesses of 
MR&R and RocPower, neither of which were material contributors 
to the division’s results. Gross revenues from the division’s 
continuing operations increased by £13.5m from £89.7m to 
£103.2m while underlying continuing operating profit remained 
at £16.7m. The last financial year was significant for the Surface 
Mining business. In addition to completing the first full year of 
production at our joint venture operation at Tower in South 
Wales, the Group secured an equity fund raising in April of  
£42.3m to allow the Group to pursue the acquisition of assets 
from the liquidators of Aardvark (TMC) Limited and Scottish  
Coal Company Limited.

The Energy & Commodities division had another very strong year. 
Gross revenues increased by £173.0m from £412.0m to £585.0m, 
reflecting increased Bulk Coal sales volumes to power stations 
and steel works. Underlying operating profit increased by £3.5m 
from £28.4m to £31.9m driven largely by a strong performance in 
the UK where operating profit increased by £4.4m from £20.0m  
to £24.4m due to increased activity levels in the bulk coal markets. 
Following a difficult year in the coke markets, underlying 
operating profit attributable to our German operation reduced 
from £7.5m to £6.3m. Despite the headline reduction this 
represents a very strong performance given the backdrop  
of low volumes in the market.

Find out more about this division and  
its performance in 2013 from page 11

Find out more about this division and  
its performance in 2013 from page 10

Transport
One of the largest suppliers of bulk 
logistics to UK customers.

Industrial Services
Provides quality assured contract 
management services to the power 
generation, utilities, chemicals, minerals 
and steel industries.

Continuing 
Revenue

Continuing Underlying 
Operating Profit

Continuing 
Revenue

Continuing Underlying 
Operating Profit

£82.7m
+6.9%

£4.0m
-1.4%

Overall the Transport division performed well last year. The 
Transport division’s gross revenues increased by £5.4m from 
£77.3m to £82.7m reflecting a strong year from the Bulk fleet. 
Underlying operating profit reduced by £0.1m to £4.0m (2012: 
£4.1m). The Bulk fleet exceeded our internal expectations having 
benefitted from higher than normal coal shipments as power 
stations increased their coal burn and rebuilt coal stocks. The 
Tanker fleet had a quieter year following the loss of the Petroplus 
contract. By the end of the year the Tanker fleet had successfully 
re-positioned itself and we would expect Tankers to deliver a 
stronger performance in this financial year.

£149.3m
+84.9%

£3.0m
-30.0%

Revenues increased by £68.6m from £80.7m to £149.3m.  
This significant increase in revenue was mainly due to two  
large biomass conversion projects undertaken during the  
last financial year. These, together with other non-recurring 
contracts and projects generated an additional £37.1m of  
revenue. Operating profits for the core material handling  
business increased from £3.6m to £5.0m. The revenue  
increase in the core business benefitted from a full year of 
revenues from the contracts that were won in the preceding  
year in the steel sector. This strong performance from the  
core Industrial Services business was adversely impacted  
by a poor result on the biomass conversion projects,  
offset by contributions from other non-recurring contracts.

Find out more about this division and  
its performance in 2013 from page 15

Find out more about this division and  
its performance in 2013 from page 14

A Year of Transition

Annual Report and Accounts 2013

Review of the Year
IFC  An Overview of the Group
Highlights of the Year 
1 
Chairman’s Statement
2 
Group Business Review
4 
 Review of Operating Performance 
10 
by Business Unit
16  Financial Review

Corporate Governance
24 

 Board of Directors and Group 
Executive Management Team

Financial Statements
37 

 Consolidated Statement of 
Comprehensive Income

26  Directors’ Report
29  Corporate Governance
32  Remuneration Report
35 

 Statement of Directors’ 
Responsibilities in Respect  
of the Annual Report and the 
Financial Statements
 Independent Auditor’s Report 
to the Members of Hargreaves 
Services plc

36 

38  Balance Sheets
40  Statements of Changes in Equity
43  Cash Flow Statements
 Notes (forming part of  
44 
the financial statements)

84  Notice of Annual General Meeting
IBC 

Investor Information

Since 1994, Hargreaves Services plc has  
provided unrivalled performance in sourcing, 
producing, processing, handling and  
transporting carbon-based and other bulk 
materials throughout the UK and Europe.

Every day, each one of our 2,500+ people  
strives to deliver progress for the Group  
and our customers. Working together to  
move the business forward.

Market leadership 
We are a market leader 
or major player across all 
the sectors we operate in. 
Operating in four distinct but 
synergistic divisions we offer 
our customers an unrivalled 
level of expertise.

Integration 
Across our divisions, we are a fully  
integrated business. We source,  
produce, process, handle and  
transport a wide range of bulk  
materials demonstrating the  
value added nature of our  
service offerings.

Quality
We are committed to  
delivering a quality service. 
We have built an international 
reputation for quality, service 
and health and safety. 

Repositioning 
The closure of Maltby Colliery 
together with the expansion of 
the Group’s surface mining activity 
reduces the capital intensity of the 
business and increases the stability 
and predictability of our operating 
cash flows.

www.hsgplc.co.uk

Highlights of the Year

•	 Strong performances from coal distribution business in the UK and from core 

material handling services business.

•	 Coke trading operations remain exposed to significant steel sector volatility.
•	 Underlying profit before tax from continuing operations increased by £2.9m  

from £49.3m to £52.2m.

•	 Acquisition of surface mining assets of ATH Resources completed in May 2013 

following successful £42m equity raise in April 2013.

•	 Coal production underway at ATH sites and performing in line with plans.
•	 Acquisition of assets from Scottish Coal completed post year end in July 2013,  

with steps underway to commence production at various sites.

•	 Discontinued activities – Maltby closure and Belgium wind-down both  

progressing in line with expectations.

•	 Net debt at year end broadly in line with expectations at £77.9m.
•	 Recommended final dividend of 13.6p, an increase of 15.3% year-on-year.

Continuing Revenue
Continuing Operating Profit
Continuing Underlying Operating Profit(1)
Continuing Profit Before Tax
Continuing Underlying Profit Before Tax(2)
Continuing Diluted EPS
Continuing Underlying Diluted EPS(2)
Dividend (including proposed final dividend)
Net Debt(3)

Year ended  
31 May 2013

Restated 
Year ended  
31 May 2012

£843.3m
£44.0m
£55.7m
£43.1m
£52.2m
111.0p
134.6p
20.5p
£77.9m

£617.9m
£48.9m
£53.4m
£45.0m
£49.3m
113.7p
125.0p
17.8p
£77.7m

Change  
%

+36.5%
-10.0%
+4.3%
-4.2%
+5.9%
-2.4%
+7.7%
+15.2%
+0.3%

(1)  Continuing Underlying Operating Profit is stated excluding the amortisation and impairment of acquired intangibles and impairment  

of goodwill and including share of profit in jointly controlled entities before tax.

(2)  Continuing Underlying Profit Before Tax and EPS are stated excluding the amortisation and impairment of acquired intangibles and 

impairment of goodwill.

(3)  Net debt comprises cash and cash equivalents, hire purchase receivables, bank overdraft and other interest-bearing loans and borrowings.

Continuing Underlying 
Operating Profit (£m)

Continuing
Revenue (£m)

.

4
3
5

.

7
5
5

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7
6
4

£55.7m
+4.3%

.

7
8
3

.

5
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3

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9
7
1
6

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2
5
5

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5

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8
9
5
4

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3
3
4
8

£843.3m
+36.5%

‘09

‘10

‘11

‘12

‘13

‘09

‘10

‘11

‘12

‘13

Dividend Per Share
(pence)

.

5
0
2

.

8
7
1

.

5
5
1

.

5
3
1

.

8
1
1

Continuing Underlying 
Diluted EPS (pence)

20.5p
+15.2%

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3
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1

.

8
8
8

.

3
6
7

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6
4
3
1

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0
5
2
1

134.6p
+7.7%

‘09

‘10

‘11

‘12

‘13

‘09

‘10

‘11

‘12

‘13

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1

Hargreaves Services plc Annual Report 2013 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Chairman’s Statement
Tim Ross, Group Chairman

Results 
The year ended 31 May 2013 was both challenging and 
rewarding for the Group. The closure of Maltby and the fraud  
in the Belgium business were both setbacks although they  
did not prevent the Group from making significant strategic 
progress. In contrast, the successful equity raise in April 2013 
was well supported by our shareholders and other investors 
and allowed the Group to acquire surface mining assets from 
the former ATH Resources in May 2013 and from the former 
Scottish Resources Group in July 2013. The opportunity to 
develop the Hargreaves surface mining business has allowed 
the Group to take a significant strategic step forward in its  
UK business. 

Underlying Profit Before Tax from Continuing Operations 
increased by £2.9m from £49.3m to £52.2m but the overall 
reported financial results show a net loss after the exceptional 
impact of the Maltby and Belgium losses of £49.6m. The 
increased Profit from Continuing Operations was underpinned 
by a strong performance from our UK coal distribution 
operations. In addition, the surface mining operations at  
Tower contributed significantly in the second half following the 
exceptionally wet weather during the first half of the year. It is 
reassuring to note that the strong performances at Tower and  
in our coal distribution business have continued into the current 
financial year. The core material handling operations in the 
Industrial Services division grew again although profits for that 
segment were pulled down by significant shortfalls on two 
one-off biomass conversion contracts. The Transport division 
and the Monckton coke operations also reported a solid year.

Underlying Diluted EPS from Continuing Operations increased 
by 7.7% from 125.0p to 134.6p. The overall loss per share, taking 
account of the exceptional impacts from the Discontinued 
Operations, was 166.7p per share, compared with Earnings  
per Share of 109.0p in the prior year.

Dividend 
In view of the strong underlying performance from Continuing 
Operations the Board has confidence in recommending an 
increase of 15.3% in the final dividend from 11.8p to 13.6p. This 
will bring the dividend for the full year to 20.5p compared with 
17.8p in the previous year, an overall increase of 15.2% for the 
year. The proposed final dividend will be paid on 12 December 
2013 to all shareholders on the register at the close of business 
on 8 November 2013. 

The Board believes that the Group’s dividend cover remains 
conservative. The average dividend cover over the past three 
years has been set at between six and seven times. The closure 
of Maltby together with the expansion of the Group’s surface 
mining activity reduces the capital intensity of the business 
and increases the stability and predictability of our operating 
cash flows. The Board has therefore set a target of increasing 
the dividend payout progressively over the next three years 
towards a dividend cover of around four times.

People 
Our staff remain key to the business and once again I would 
like to thank them for their loyalty and hard work throughout a 
challenging year. The closure of Maltby was a difficult decision 
that we recognised would affect a large number of people 
both within and outside the Group. With the acquisition of 
assets from ATH we were pleased to be able to welcome over 
200 new employees and we will be working hard to increase 
employment levels over the coming months as we seek to 
commence production and restoration activities at a number 
of other opencast sites.

Board
There were no changes to the Board during the year being 
reported. On 9 September, following the end of the year,  
Peter Gillatt resigned from his Non-Executive Director role on 
the Board and assumed a full time executive role as Managing 
Director of the Production division. In this role Peter will run  
the Group’s expanding surface mining operations. The search 
for a replacement Non-Executive Director is underway.

2

Hargreaves Services plc Annual Report 2013+7.7%Continuing Underlying Diluted EPS

Increased by 7.7% from 125.0p to 134.6p.

It has been both a challenging 
and rewarding year. Whilst the 
Group suffered setbacks at 
both Maltby and Belgium,  
we have made significant 
strategic progress.

Outlook 
Whilst there remain challenges ahead, particularly due to the 
uncertain economic climate and its knock-on effects on the 
major coal users in the power generation and steel sectors,  
we believe that the Group’s resilience leaves it well positioned 
to deal with any further market volatility. The UK business, 
strengthened by the recent surface mining investments 
provides a sound platform to look selectively at additional 
expansion opportunities. Recent trading in the UK has  
been encouraging and we remain confident of achieving 
expectations for further growth in the current financial year.

Tim Ross
Chairman
23 September 2013

3

Hargreaves Services plc Annual Report 2013Review of the YearCorporate GovernanceFinancial StatementsGroup Business Review
Gordon Banham, Group Chief Executive

The results for the Group this year reflect significant  
further progress and changes in business mix. The Group 
reported revenues from continuing operations of £843.3m, 
an increase of £225.4m over the prior year. 

The reported loss after tax was £49.6m compared with  
a profit in the prior year of £30.8m. The loss this year arose  
due to the geological problems that led to the decision to 
close Maltby Colliery, combined with the fraud that led to the 
decision to close the operations in Belgium. The exceptional 
financial impact of these events offset an underlying profitable 
performance from the rest of the Group, which saw further 
growth across our operations. We have separated the results 
between those relating to Continuing Operations and those 
related to the Discontinued Operations of Maltby and Belgium. 
We comment on each of these in the Business and Operating 
review below. Before reviewing these performances.  
I will provide an update on the UK coal market and how 
developments and trends in this market are shaping our 
strategy for the Group.

4

Future for Coal in the UK
Based on Department of Energy & Climate Change (“DECC”) 
statistics, the UK coal burn increased from 44m tonnes in the 
year ended 30 April 2011 to 61m tonnes in the year ended  
30 April 2012. Coal continues to provide a significant portion of 
the electricity generated in the UK and contrary to the longer 
term trend, coal demand from power stations in the UK has 
been increasing recently, reflecting the cost effectiveness of 
coal compared with other energy sources such as gas. 

We are often asked by investors for our view on future coal 
demand and although there are many views and opinions 
there are no reliable forecasts for future coal usage in  
the UK. There are however many obvious and well known 
factors which, over time, will drive an inevitable reduction  
in the amount of coal consumed in the UK. These include  
the following:
•	 A number of coal fired power stations have opted out  

of the Large Plant Combustion Directive (“LPCD”) and are  
in the process of closing; all will be closed by the end of 
2014. To put this into context, this affects some five power 
stations which in the year ended 30 April 2011 consumed 
only 5m tonnes (11%) of coal out of the total of 44m tonnes 
burnt in UK power stations in that year.

•	 For power stations that have implemented Flue Gas 

Desulphurisation technology to comply with the LPCD to 
permit operation beyond 2015, the next technology and 
investment hurdle for these remaining power stations is  
the implementation of technology to allow the nitrogen 
oxide emissions targets to be achieved. Stations have until 
2020 to comply with this requirement. At this time, it is not 
clear which stations will undertake this investment and  
it is likely that many generators will be waiting to better 
understand the future energy landscape in the UK before 
making a commitment.

•	 The implementation of the carbon tax will penalise coal 

generation more than gas generation. The carbon tax will 
add significantly to the cost of coal consumed in power 
stations and will reduce the cost effectiveness of coal 
generation compared with generation from gas. 
•	 The future price of coal relative to gas will also have an 

impact on the future demand for coal. Prices tend to be set 
by the international world markets and the future price of 
both coal and gas is uncertain. If the coal price including 
the cost of carbon taxes, rises relative to gas, generation 
load will shift to gas. If shale gas can be commercialised  
in the UK, or if US shale gas starts to export significant 
quantities at low cost, then this could indeed reduce the 
price of gas relative to coal and hence reduce demand  
for coal.

•	 The rate of implementation of renewable energy will also 
impact on the demand for energy from coal. Renewable 
generation is very expensive. Development is also lagging 
behind the DECC targets.

Hargreaves Services plc Annual Report 2013Strategic Priorities
Our strategy therefore remains unchanged. The production  
of indigenous coal fits our UK distribution model and offers 
significant synergies across the Group. This was a major driver 
of the Group’s decision to acquire Maltby Colliery in 2007 and 
the recent investment in surface mining assets replaces Maltby 
as a source of indigenous coal. The transition from deep 
mining to surface mining delivers a significantly lower risk 
profile and lowers the capital intensity of the production 
operations. In the UK we aim to continue to be the leading 
independent importer and distributor of coal products to all 
markets requiring and using coal, and we will achieve that  
goal by reliably providing quality coal products at competitive 
prices. Our ability to source coals from international markets 
and serve a broad range of different coal markets differentiates 
us from other UK indigenous coal producers. The Group will 
continue to look for further expansion opportunities as 
consolidation in the market continues.

Whilst the UK continues to offer many attractions and  
much opportunity, we also remain committed to looking  
at opportunities to deploy our skills and competencies  
into international markets, where coal demand is forecast  
to increase for decades to come. In order to mitigate risks  
and optimise returns new markets are likely to be accessed 
initially on a service-led basis with capital deployed across  
a broader range of opportunities.

24.2m tonnes

Production: Surface Mining Expansion
Following the acquisition of certain assets relating to 
the businesses of Aardvark and Scottish Coal, we have 
increased our Proven Reserves to 24.2m tonnes.

It is likely that many of these measures, particularly the carbon 
tax and the cost of renewable energy will have far reaching 
implications on the price of energy for both consumers  
and industry in the UK. Significant increases in that cost of 
generation may well place upward pressure on energy prices. 
Whilst this may take some pressure off the generation industry 
it may also prompt future Governments to make policy 
changes which in turn could have significant implications for 
coal generation and the UK energy landscape more widely.

Our own view is that coal fired generation will remain an 
important element of the UK energy mix well into the second 
half of the 2020’s and probably even beyond. We believe that 
forecasts of the rapid demise of coal usage in the UK are not 
well founded and depend on assumptions about the rate of 
additional new capacity being added, whether in renewable, 
gas or nuclear, that are simply unrealistic and will not occur.

Outside of electricity generation a number of markets 
influence the Group’s activities. Coal demand from the  
steel sector is an increasingly important market for us as we 
commence the supply of meaningful quantities of coking coal 
and coal for PCI (pulverised coal injection). Demand from the 
domestic and commercial heating markets will undoubtedly 
decline over time, although the decline of these markets to 
date has been much slower than expected and may be further 
arrested if electricity prices rise. Demand for coal usage in other 
industrial processes, such as cement manufacture, is likely  
to continue and, importantly, will follow different economic 
cycles to those of electricity generation. Across these markets 
we see a continuing demand for coal for many years to come. 

In summary, we believe that, whilst overall demand in the UK is 
set to shrink over the coming years, the size of the coal market 
in the UK will be more than adequate to sustain our business 
for many years to come.

5

Hargreaves Services plc Annual Report 2013Review of the YearCorporate GovernanceFinancial StatementsGroup Business Review
Continued

Commodity Prices
Commodity prices remain depressed. The current API2 coal 
price is approximately US$78, a reduction of around US$50 
from the recent peak in 2011.

We have always adopted a business model where we attempt to 
eliminate or at least smooth the impact of changing commodity 
prices. In the Energy & Commodities business, where we buy 
and sell coal and coke, we will continue to minimise open 
positions in our trading activities through hedging or, more 
commonly, through the use of back-to-back purchase and  
sale contracts. This business model provides significant 
profit-protection when rapid or major price changes are  
being experienced.

In the Production division, with Maltby now closed, our key 
commodity price exposure to manage is in the new surface 
mining assets. Our strategy will be to sell firm production to 
our customers up to three years forward on a fixed price basis 
allowing us to hedge any key input cost. Where long-term 
contracts are not available to protect the forward position we 
will use hedging instruments to ensure a fixed level of forward 
proceeds is secured. In contrast to deep mines, three years  
is usually sufficient to provide security and pay-back for the 
capital that is deployed into a new site, given that the life of a 
surface mine project is significantly shorter and the production 
plant can be readily transferred or sold.

As we move forward with surface mining we will ensure that 
any investment is underpinned by long-term coal and fuel 
contracts. We will also ensure that we are optimally placed  
to bring on additional production streams. The Group is 
developing a broad and well managed development pipeline 
which will ensure that new incremental production can be 
brought on line quickly and flexibly. This creates a significant 
volume and profit upside opportunity should future coal prices 
rise, without exposing the Group to any downside risk should 
prices fall further.

Since the closure of Maltby, the only other material commodity 
exposure in the Group is at Monckton. Monckton sells most  
of its coke into niche markets such as ferro-alloy and soda ash 
production. Demand for Monckton coke has remained buoyant 
and continues to be strong, driven by the quality characteristics 
of the coke. We now manage this exposure by ensuring that 
coking coal input and coke output contracts are negotiated  
in tandem. Although this cannot guarantee a fixed margin  
it is important to note that there continues to be a general 
correlation between the price of coking coal and coke itself. 
Historically a significant portion of Monckton’s coke production 
has been sold on annual contracts. Current conditions in the 
coke markets are very poor with coke prices having fallen 
significantly during the last few weeks. Monckton currently 
benefits from a long-term contract that will protect half of its 
output through to the end of 2015 but some customers are 
pressing for increased flexibility including shorter, quarterly 
contracts. Although this is undoubtedly a temporary feature,  
it does add risk to the normal management of margin as we 
approach the period of contract negotiations for calendar  
2014 and we will continue to monitor prices very closely.

In contrast to Monckton, our coke trading activities in Europe 
are largely unaffected by movements in coke prices but 
instead are subject to greater sales volume volatility, upwards 
and downwards. Our coke trading activities largely serve the 
steel sector and trade a lot of blast furnace coke. The outlook 
for steel production in the UK and Europe in the short term 
remains uncertain.

Whilst the Group has made significant progress in reducing  
its volatility of earnings in its coal production, distribution and 
services businesses, the volatility in coke markets continues to 
present risk to the Group. 

We are also cognisant that the difficult economic conditions are 
placing increasing pressure on many of our larger customers and 
counter-parties. We are particularly aware of counter-party and 
credit risks and continue to proactively manage these risks as 
best we can. 

+2.2m tonnes

Energy & Commodities Growth:
The Energy & Commodities division had another very 
strong year. Gross revenues increased by £173.0m from 
£412.0m to £585.0m, reflecting increased Bulk Coal 
sales volumes to power stations and steel works. 

6

Hargreaves Services plc Annual Report 20137

Hargreaves Services plc Annual Report 2013Review of the YearCorporate GovernanceFinancial StatementsGroup Business Review
Continued

Health and Safety 
The health and safety of employees, customers and the public 
are of the highest priority to the Board and management.  
We recognise the potentially hazardous nature of the work 
undertaken across all of our divisions and we are determined 
to ensure that we provide safe systems of work throughout  
our diverse range of operations. 

I personally continue to take an active role as a Group health 
and safety champion, working alongside the health and safety 
team to drive high quality health and safety performance 
throughout the business, not just in terms of developing 
processes and systems, but in ensuring substance in terms of 
actions and culture to underpin the processes and systems. 

Strategic Outlook
The completion of the fundraising in April followed by the  
two acquisitions of Scottish surface mining assets further 
consolidated our position as the key coal producer and 
distributor in the UK market. The UK continues to be our core 
market and major profit generator. We are confident that our 
UK business model is robust and will continue to generate  
cash and profits even as coal burn reduces in the years to 
come. Our coal distribution business continues to be well 
positioned to add value and address the needs of niche 
markets effectively. We started the new financial year  
with coal production already underway in Scotland  
with the opportunity of commencing other mining  
and restoration projects. 

As we enjoy the benefit of a strongly cash-generative UK 
business, we will step up our efforts to identify opportunities  
to grow the business on both a UK and international basis, 
searching for opportunities where risk can be adequately 
managed and our services and skills can be deployed to  
create value.

Gordon Banham 
Group Chief Executive 
23 September 2013

The Group has health and safety management systems in 
place that are either internally or externally audited to the 
highest standard. We continue to manage health and safety  
at a divisional and business unit level, allowing the Group to 
identify trends and take account of the different operational 
environments in which we operate. Although we focus on 
safety at the business unit level, we have a Group health and 
safety manager to promote communication and coordination 
across the Group. 

Health and safety statistics continue to be monitored at a 
divisional and business unit level, with regular main Board 
review, as well as pro-active health and safety strategies  
in place at each division. Areas identified where additional 
training or improved working practices would be beneficial  
are promptly addressed. 

We are pleased to note that the accident rate, defined as  
the number of lost time accidents per 100,000 man hours 
worked, reduced by 31% in the year ended 31 May 2013 to  
1.04 (year ended 31 May 2012: 1.5). 

8

Hargreaves Services plc Annual Report 20139

Hargreaves Services plc Annual Report 2013Review of the YearCorporate GovernanceFinancial StatementsReview of Operating Performance  
by Business Unit

Revenues from Continuing Operations for the full year 
increased by 36.5% from £617.9m to £843.3m, driven 
mainly by the Energy & Commodities division which 
enjoyed a substantial increase in the volume of coal 
supplied to power stations and the steel sector.

Underlying Group Operating profit from continuing operations 
increased by 4.3% from £53.4m to £55.7m. Reported continuing 
operating profit decreased from £48.9m to £44.0m reflecting 
the impacts of the one off impairment of goodwill and 
intangibles of £4.1m during the year. Underlying Group 
operating margin decreased from 8.6% to 6.6%, mainly 
reflecting a changing product mix in the Energy & 
Commodities division, with a significant increase in  
low margin sales to power stations and the steel sector.

stations and steel works. Underlying operating profit increased 
by £3.5m from £28.4m to £31.9m driven largely by a strong 
performance in the UK where operating profit increased by 
£4.4m from £20.0m to £24.4m due to increased activity levels  
in the bulk coal markets. Following a difficult year in the coke 
markets, underlying operating profit attributable to our 
German operation reduced from £7.5m to £6.3m. Despite the 
headline reduction this represents a very strong performance 
given the backdrop of low volumes in the market.

Energy & Commodities Division
Our Energy & Commodities division encompasses the  
Group’s solid fuel trading activities. These split into two broad 
categories. The first, Bulk Coal Supply, includes the supply of 
coal into power stations and steel works. This includes the 
lower margin markets for thermal coal, coking coal and coal 
supplied for the use of injection into the blast furnace PCI.  
The second, Speciality Coal covers the supply of sized coals, 
low ash coals and coke products. These more specialised 
products, such as sized coals for the domestic and commercial 
heating markets, and industrial coals for customers in the 
cement and ferro-alloy sectors continue to offer greater 
opportunity to add value to the product and hence  
generate higher margins. 

The Energy & Commodities division had another very strong 
year. Gross revenues increased by £173.0m from £412.0m to 
£585.0m, reflecting increased Bulk Coal sales volumes to power 

The average profit per tonne and margin is influenced heavily  
by the product mix, most notably the difference between the 
lower margin sales of coal sold to power stations and the higher 
margin product sold into speciality markets. An increase in the 
proportion of lower margin power station coal sales relative to 
the higher margin speciality product saw overall operating profit 
per tonne sold decrease from £7.32 to £5.17 and the average 
divisional profit margin reduce from 6.9% to 5.4%. 

Profit per tonne in the bulk coal market fell from £2.64 per 
tonne to £2.35 per tonne. This reduction was driven by the 
addition of lower margin coking coal sales into the steel sector. 
The average profit per tonne in the core power station markets 
remained fairly steady. Average profit per tonne in the UK 
specialty markets increased slightly from £20.53 to £21.68.  
Profit per tonne in the European speciality markets reduced 
from £14.68 to £9.77 reflecting a challenging year in the coke 
markets in our German operation.

Production  
2013  
£000

Energy & 
Commodities  
2013  
£000

13,179
131
2,364
1,071

16,745

27,456
4,152
209
60

31,877

(374)

(1,550)

16,371

30,327

Production 
2012 
£000  
Restated

Energy & 
Commodities 
2012 
£000 
Restated

16,597
–
76

16,673

25,921
2,429
23

28,373

(500)

(2,315)

16,173

26,058

Transport  
2013  
£000

3,814
197
–
–

4,011

(694)

3,317

Transport 
2012 
£000 
Restated

3,674
393
–

4,067

(749)

3,318

Industrial 
Services  
2013  
£000

(477)
3,505
–
–

3,028

Total  
2013  
£000

43,972
7,985
2,573
1,131

55,661

(864)

(3,482)

2,164

52,179

Industrial 
Services 
2012 
£000 
Restated

2,755
1,570
–

4,325

Total 
2012 
£000 
Restated

48,947
4,392
99

53,438

(530)

(4,094)

3,795

49,344

Continuing Operating Profit/(Loss)
Intangible amortisation/impairment
Share of profit in jointly controlled entities (net of tax)
Share of tax in jointly controlled entities

Continuing Underlying Operating Profit

Net financing costs – Continuing Operations

Continuing Underlying Profit before Tax

Continuing Operating Profit 
Intangible amortisation
Share of profit in jointly controlled entities (net of tax)

Continuing Underlying Operating Profit

Net financing costs – Continuing Operations

Continuing Underlying Profit before Tax

10

Hargreaves Services plc Annual Report 2013The table below provides a breakdown on volumes and 
margins within the Energy & Commodities division. The 
comparatives in the table have been restated to remove  
the discontinued operations in Belgium.

UK – Bulk Coal Supply (Power Stations and Steel)
The Energy & Commodities business exceeded our targets  
for the last year due to high demand for coal from the UK  
power stations. This demand was driven by strong base load 
generation as generators took advantage of the price differential 
that coal enjoyed over gas during the year. It is pleasing to note 
that the high levels of demand have continued into the current 
financial year. The supply of low grade coals, including pond 
fines, continues to be an important driver for increased power 
station demands. The ability of the Group to reliably and 
efficiently blend such coals into the coal flows, either at the 
importation port or at the power station, has been a key driver  
of this demand. Although only one million tonnes of pond fines 
remained at Maltby when the decision was taken to close the 
mine, the Group has since secured rights to a number of other 
sites including the Prince of Wales Colliery site from UK Coal.  
The Group estimates it has secured rights to approximately  
four million tonnes of pond fines in aggregate.

UK – Specialised Coal (Industrial and Domestic)
The Group was disappointed, but not surprised, when UK Coal 
announced its insolvency and re-structuring. This terminated 
the Group’s supply contract with UK Coal, under which UK Coal 
had been contractually bound to supply around 270,000 tonnes 
of coal for the industrial and domestic markets. During the last  
18 months UK Coal had been struggling to meet its obligations 
and the Group has taken measures to source sized coal from  
the international markets and more recently from other sources, 
including Hatfield Colliery. The acquisition of assets in Scotland 
should also provide an opportunity to diversify the Group’s 
sources of supply and the Group will work hard to increase the 
level of potential supply from indigenous and international 
markets over the coming years.

As a result of the failure of UK Coal, we have impaired the 
remaining £1.6m of acquired intangible asset relating to the  
UK Coal supply agreement that was operating when the  
Group acquired UK Coal’s 50% stake in Coal4Energy Limited  
in January 2009. The intangible asset associated with that 
contract was being amortised over the original duration of the 
contract which was due to run from May 2009 to May 2014.

Europe
Separate from our discontinued operations in Belgium, the 
German business performed well last year in very difficult  
coke markets. Demand from traditional customers in the steel 
sector was very low as many European steel makers struggled  
to balance their own coke production with low levels of steel 
production. The coke trading business benefited from a number 
of significant coke purchases from SSI at Redcar Steel works. 
Growing trading interest in the ferro-alloy markets provides  
an additional opportunity for the current financial year.

Elsewhere in Europe, the Group continued to develop its joint 
venture with Mir Trade AG, a large Russian coal producer, to 
build a power station supply operation in Europe. Thermal  
coal sales in the financial year to 31 May 2013 increased to  
320k tonnes. This business continues to grow steadily and the 
Group will continue to support its development. Although  
the profit contribution remains small at £0.3m, if greater scale 
can be achieved, the opportunity to drive additional profits  
will arise.

Production Division
The continuing Production division results for the year ended  
31 May 2013 encompassed the operations at Monckton, our own 
surface mining operations and our joint venture investment at 
Tower. The results also include the smaller non-core businesses  
of MR&R (formerly MRT) and RocPower, neither of which were 
material contributors to the division’s results. Gross revenues from 
the division’s continuing operations increased by £13.5m from 
£89.7m to £103.2m while underlying continuing operating profit 
remained at £16.7m. 

As anticipated, the division delivered a very strong second half 
performance aided by steady production rate at Tower Colliery 
following the poor weather encountered in the first half.

Monckton
The closure of Maltby Colliery has necessitated sourcing coking 
coal for Monckton from the international markets, and we were 
able to source coal that was very similar to that of Maltby. Our 
subsequent testing and production has shown that the coke 
produced from this coal has very similar properties to that 
produced historically from Maltby coal and we believe that there 
will continue to be sustained demand for this type of coke.

2013

Tonnes sold (000s)
Operating profit per tonne (£)
Operating profit from trading (£m)
JCE & non-trading (£m)

Segment Continuing Underlying Operating Profit (£m)

2012

Tonnes sold (000s)
Operating profit per tonne (£)
Operating profit from trading (£m)
JCE & non-trading (£m)

Segment Continuing Underlying Operating Profit (£m)

UK 
Bulk

UK 
Speciality

4,679
2.35
11.0

618
21.68
13.4

UK 
Bulk

UK 
Speciality

2,609
2.64
6.9

638
20.53
13.1

UK 
Total

5,297
4.61
24.4

UK 
Total

3,247
6.16
20.0

European 
Speciality

645
9.77
6.3

European 
Speciality

511
14.68
7.5

Total

5,942
5.17
30.7
1.2

31.9

Total

3,758
7.32
27.5
0.9

28.4

Note: Operating margin per tonne included profits on handling third-party product volumes through port operations.

11

Hargreaves Services plc Annual Report 2013Review of the YearCorporate GovernanceFinancial StatementsReview of Operating Performance  
by Business Unit Continued

Production at Monckton remained steady and revenues decreased 
by £3.3m from £56.4m to £53.1m. Coke sales fell by £4.5m from 
£54.1m to £49.6m, whilst by-product income fell by £0.5m to £4.1m 
through a combination of lower volumes and lower power prices.

Annual coke volumes sold fell by 25k tonnes from 261k tonnes  
to 236k tonnes in the year, due to a combination of slowing coke 
demand coupled with the effect of de-stocking experienced in 
the year ended 31 May 2012. Included within annual volumes were 
51k tonnes of third party manufactured coke, sold in addition to 
Monckton’s own manufactured product. 

Surface Mining
The last financial year was significant for the Surface Mining 
business. In addition to completing the first full year of production 
at our joint venture operation at Tower in South Wales, the Group 
secured an equity fund raising in April of £42.3m (£40.7m after 
issue costs) to allow the Group to pursue the acquisition of assets 
from the liquidators of Aardvark (TMC) Limited (the main operating 
subsidiary of the former ATH Resources PLC) and Scottish Coal 
Company Limited (the main operating subsidiary of Scottish 
Resources Group Limited). The opportunities presented by these 
acquisitions are very exciting and will provide the Group the 
springboard to rapidly develop its surface mining operation, 
becoming the largest surface mining coal producer in the UK.

Acquisition of Assets from Aardvark TMC Limited
On 16 May 2013, Hargreaves acquired a number of assets related  
to the business of Aardvark (TMC) Limited (“Aardvark”) for £10.4m. 
The acquisition process commenced with the purchase of the 
secured debt from Better Capital in March 2013 following 
extensive discussions with many of the key stakeholders of  
the former ATH group. We worked for two months with the 
management of Aardvark and other stakeholders to ensure 
continuity of operations following the liquidation of Aardvark.

As part of the transaction, ATH’s interests in two active mining sites, 
Netherton and Duncanziemere were hived down into separate  
new companies (the “Hivecos”) which will continue to be owned  
by Aardvark. The objective of these Hivecos will be to resolve 
outstanding restoration liabilities. Hargreaves has and continues  
to actively assist with the process of seeking an optimal solution  
in light of the level of funding available through continued mining 
activity at the sites and the existing restoration bonds. 

Going forward Hargreaves has an exclusive option to purchase  
the shares in the Hivecos for a nominal sum. As and when the 
outstanding restoration issues on each site are resolved on 
commercially acceptable terms, Hargreaves will acquire the 
relevant Hiveco from Aardvark and fully integrate it into the  
Group. This will only happen after all planning permissions are  
in place and would be expected to take approximately between 
three and twelve months. In this interim period, it is expected  
that Hargreaves will continue to provide mining, coal marketing 
and restoration services to ensure the sites are held safely, 
restoration activities are commenced, and jobs are preserved.

The successful acquisition has secured over 200 jobs at Netherton 
and Duncanziemere, protecting employment in East Ayrshire  
and we are hopeful that we will soon be able to recruit additional 
personnel as we start operations at other sites. We expect to 
produce over one million tonnes of surface coal from the ATH  
sites during this financial year.

The Surface Mining business is working with various stakeholders to 
provide restoration activities at other sites including Glenmuckloch 
in Dumfries and Galloway and we are optimistic that both mining 
and restoration projects at other sites will be commenced before 
the end of this financial year. 

As part of the transaction Hargreaves assisted with the formation 
of the Scottish Mines Restoration Trust (“SMRT”). This trust has been 
established as an independent charity to help address outstanding 
legacy restoration issues. Following the acquisition of ATH, 
Hargreaves made a donation to the SMRT of £1.1m.

Post Balance Sheet Event – Acquisition of Assets  
from Scottish Coal Company Limited
Following an intensive period of due diligence we announced  
on 5 July 2013 the completion of a transaction to acquire certain 
assets from the joint liquidators of Scottish Coal Company Limited 
(“Scottish Coal”) for £8.4m. 

The transaction was complex and initially involved the acquisition 
of a property portfolio of approximately 30,000 acres together 
with unencumbered plant and equipment. The property interests 
include Scottish Coal’s rights and interests in various wind farm 
projects that were being progressed through design and planning. 
Scottish Coal will share in any near-term profits realised on the 
wind farms. 

Hargreaves intends to progress the wind farm projects, together 
with one specific development property, as a joint venture with 
the SMRT, to provide a future potential income stream to the  
Trust. The Group does not currently intend to take these projects 
beyond the realisation of the design and planning stages. 

As part of the transaction, Scottish Coal’s interests in five former 
active mining sites, most notably at Broken Cross and House  
of Water, were hived down into separate new companies (the 
“Hivecos”) which will continue to be owned by Scottish Coal.  
This structure was similar to that used for the Aardvark transaction. 
The key difference to the Aardvark transaction was that operations 
at all sites ceased when Scottish Coal was liquidated. Like the 
Aardvark Hivecos, the objective of these Hivecos will be to resolve 
outstanding restoration liabilities. Hargreaves is actively assisting 
with the process of seeking an optimal solution in light of the level 
of funding available through continued mining activity at the sites 
and the existing restoration bonds. 

It is our intention to resume operations to support revised mining 
and restoration plans as quickly as possible and Hargreaves expects 
to bring approximately one million tonnes of production capacity  
on line in the current financial year. Hargreaves will acquire the 
necessary plant and equipment, to support the target of one 
million tonnes of production and would expect to invest between 
£12m and £15m of capital expenditure. Significant efforts are 
underway to achieve this goal.

As with the Aardvark transaction, Hargreaves has an exclusive 
option to purchase the shares in the Hivecos for a nominal sum.  
As and when the outstanding restoration issues on each site are 
resolved on commercially acceptable terms, Hargreaves will acquire 
the relevant Hiveco from Scottish Coal and fully integrate it into  
the Group. This will only happen after all planning permissions  
are in place and would be expected to take approximately twelve 
months. In this interim period, it is expected that Hargreaves  
will continue to provide mining, coal marketing and restoration 
services to ensure the sites are held safely, restoration activities  
are commenced, and workers are re-employed.

It is inevitable given the rapid growth of the business that we 
would reach a stage where our acquisitions exceeded the 
technical thresholds laid down in the Enterprise Act 2002 and 
would give rise to a dialogue with the Office of Fair Trading (“OFT”). 
In anticipation of this next stage in our growth and following  
this transaction, Hargreaves voluntarily approached the OFT to 
commence a dialogue on competition issues relating to any 
further consolidation opportunities that may arise in the coal 
sector in the UK. The Group will continue to work closely with the 
OFT to ensure there are no competition concerns in the UK coal 
market during this period of consolidation and uncertainty.

12

Hargreaves Services plc Annual Report 201313

Hargreaves Services plc Annual Report 2013Review of the YearCorporate GovernanceFinancial StatementsReview of Operating Performance  
by Business Unit Continued

Tower Joint Venture
The Tower project contributed £8.3m of underlying operating 
profit to the Production Division during the year through a 
combination of our 35% share of TRL’s profit, profit made by 
Hargreaves Surface Mining and management charges. 

This was the first full year of production after operations at the 
site commenced just before the start of the last financial year. 
The first six months of operations were significantly hampered 
by exceptional rainfall. The weather improved in the second 
half and higher production levels were achieved. Total sales  
of 574k tonnes were split 179k tonnes in the first half and 395k 
tonnes in the second half of the year.

Strong production levels have been maintained since the end of 
the year. We remain confident that the site will deliver coal in the 
average ratio that was planned and expected. Off-take from two 
steel plants that were interested in buying PCI grade coal from 
Tower have been delayed. As a result we will continue to focus 
on production of coal to support the RWE contract. 

Other Surface Mining
Outside of the Tower project we were also pleased to 
announce the receipt of planning permission for our first 
wholly owned small surface mine. The site at Well Hill in 
Northumberland, our first mine in England, is expected to 
produce 130k tonnes and as anticipated and announced at  
the interim results we expect coaling to commence within  
the next month. We remain on track to fulfil our previous  
target of getting an additional two sites into the planning 
process before the end of this financial year. 

Surface Mining Reserves
Following the activity of the last twelve months the Group has 
significantly progressed its pipeline of potential mining sites. 
The sites targeted in the UK will continue to be smaller sites 
with a typical mining life of between two and four years.  
After careful consideration we have decided that the most 
informative way to provide guidance on reserves is to focus  
on “Proven Reserves.”

Proven Reserves are defined as reserves where, in the opinion 
of management, sufficient drilling has been undertaken to 
form an opinion with reasonable certainty on the quality and 
quantity of coal that would be available from that site. Before 
capital is committed to a site, Hargreaves’ internal assessment 
of coal reserves, coal quality, overburden ratios and mining 
plans will be independently reviewed and confirmed by 
independent external consultants.

As planning permission is a key process and control, Proven 
Reserves will be analysed into three categories:
(1)  “With Planning Permission” are reserves where all the 

necessary planning permissions are in place to operate 
the site;

(2)  “In Planning Process” are reserves where planning 

applications have been submitted; and

(3)  “Pre-Planning” are reserves where land rights have been 
secured and the process for submitting a planning 
preparation is underway. This category would most 
typically include sites where the typical 12 month 
Environmental Impact Assessment is underway.

We have elected not to report Probable Reserves, even where 
property rights have been secured, as they are deemed to  
be too early stage having still to undergo both proving and 
planning. We have not elected to adopt JORC reporting regime 
on the grounds of cost and the greater flexibility to present 
reserves in the way we consider is most informative to the reader 
in terms of understanding the development of the pipeline.

As the surface mining business grows and evolves we will 
review the presentation of information on a regular basis.

Other Continuing Activities
The Group continues to provide management services and 
support to Hatfield Colliery Limited from Maltby Colliery 
Limited. In light of recent production challenges at Hatfield 
Colliery, Hargreaves has elected to waive management fees  
at this time. The coal produced by Hatfield continues to be 
marketed by the Energy & Commodities division. The ongoing 
commercial arrangement is currently being reviewed as 
operations at Maltby are wound down.

Following the landslip in February 2013, the rail link at Hatfield 
Colliery re-opened in July 2013. Network Rail has indicated  
that it intends to bring a claim against, among others, Maltby 
Colliery Limited and Hargreaves Services plc. However, no 
claim has been issued and it is therefore unclear as to the basis 
on which a claim may be brought by Network Rail and the 
remedy which may be sought. It is intended that any claim will 
be vigorously defended by both Maltby Colliery Limited and 
Hargreaves Services plc, and we are currently working with our 
insurers and solicitors. In the circumstances, the Board does not 
feel that any provision for a claim or costs is necessary based 
on the facts available at this time.

Industrial Services Division
Revenues increased by £68.6m from £80.7m to £149.3m.  
This significant increase in revenue was mainly due to two large 
biomass conversion projects undertaken during the last financial 
year. These, together with other non-recurring contracts and 
projects generated an additional £37.1m of revenue. 

The core material handling operations enjoyed another year  
of growth that saw revenues increase from £64.7m to £96.2m. 
Operating profits for the core material handling business 
increased from £3.6m to £5.0m. The revenue increase in the 
core business benefitted from a full year of revenues from the 
contracts that were won in the preceding year in the steel 

Proven Reserves (million tonnes)

Joint Venture

Former ATH Operating Sites

Former Scottish Coal Operating Sites

Other Operating Sites

Other Sites

Total

With Planning 
Permission

In Planning 
Process

Pre-Planning

Total

5.8

1.5

–

0.1

–

7.4

–

–

3.0

–

1.8

4.8

–

–

–

–

12.0

12.0

5.8

1.5

3.0

0.1

13.8

24.2

Of the 24.2 million tonnes of proven reserves, 0.1 million tonnes are at Hargreaves owned sites.

14

Hargreaves Services plc Annual Report 2013sector. In the steel sector, the division is in the process of 
tendering a number of other significant contracts. The division 
has continued to perform well in the power generation sector, 
although we have seen cost and competitive pressures rising 
in the UK power generation market. We continue to be 
encouraged by interest from overseas operators and the 
division is working on a number of tenders in overseas 
countries. We are pleased to note that the division won its  
first maintenance contracts in Hong Kong last year with China 
Light and Power and is awaiting the results of a major tender  
to outsource core material handling services.

This strong performance from the core Industrial Services 
business was adversely impacted by a poor result on the 
biomass conversion projects, offset by contributions from  
other non-recurring contracts. This, along with a disappointing 
performance in our engineering services business where some 
restructuring costs have been incurred, reduced the profitability 
of the division by £2.7m resulting in a fall in overall underlying 
divisional operating profit from £4.3m to £3.0m.

We are pleased to note that one of the two biomass conversion 
projects has now been completed. The second major project is 
ongoing and is expected to complete in the next quarter. These 
contracts have placed significant pressures on our engineering 
services business and whilst they have been problematic and 
loss making, we have remained committed to delivering a 
quality solution. We have reviewed the lessons learnt on these 
projects and decided before the end of the year not to pursue 
further contracts of this nature, resulting in impairment to 
goodwill of £2.5m. Accordingly we have scaled back our 
engineering services business unit to focus on small scale 
projects undertaken in support of the core material handling 
business. We would expect this decision to reduce the future 
volatility of earnings in the division.

Transport Division
Overall the Transport division performed well last year. The 
Transport division’s gross revenues increased by £5.4m from 
£77.3m to £82.7m reflecting a strong year from the Bulk fleet. 
Underlying operating profit reduced by £0.1m to £4.0m (2012: 
£4.1m). The Bulk fleet exceeded our internal expectations 
having benefitted from higher than normal coal shipments  
as power stations increased their coal burn and rebuilt coal 
stocks. The Tanker fleet had a quieter year following the loss of 
the Petroplus contract. By the end of the year the Tanker fleet 
had successfully re-positioned itself and we would expect 
Tankers to deliver a stronger performance in this financial year.

Discontinued Operations
Discontinued operations incurred a loss of £81.8m net of tax 
during the year. This overall result reflects a loss of £59.8m in 
Maltby and a loss of £22m in Belgium, including both the 
exceptional write off and the trading loss.

Maltby
Following consultation with employees and trade union 
representatives, the decision to proceed with the mothballing 
of Maltby Colliery on health and safety, geological and financial 
grounds was announced on 17 December 2012. The timing of 
the decision to mothball the mine means that the results of the 
underground operations at Maltby have been classified within 
discontinued operations in the current and prior year.

The sale of the methane assets to Alkane Energy plc, announced 
on 22 May 2013, allowed the Group to achieve its target asset 
realisation for the year ended 31 May 2013. Hargreaves received 
an initial payment of £5.5m in cash in May 2013 and this will  
be followed during the year ending 31 May 2014 by a further 
£2m payable six months after the mine shafts have been  
filled and capped as part of Maltby’s planned closure and 
restoration programme. 

The process to sell the remainder of the plant and equipment  
is ongoing and the closure and restoration programme remains 
on track to be completed during the current financial year.  
At this stage we have not made any changes to our estimates  
of the amounts recoverable from the sale of equipment.  
We do however note that the mining equipment markets 
remain subdued.

Overground operations at Maltby continue to trade and 
surface coal fines remaining amount to approximately one 
million tonnes and the harvesting and processing of these 
reserves will continue. Further, Maltby will continue to provide 
mining management services to Hatfield Colliery Limited.

The loss of jobs at Maltby is very regrettable. The Group, 
management and unions worked together closely to minimise 
the inevitable socio-economic impacts. In this regard, great 
efforts continue to be made to find alternative jobs for as many 
of the workforce as possible.

Belgium
The fraud in our Belgian business, which was set up as a joint 
venture in 2008, was an extremely disappointing development. 
Following the work that has been done we remain confident 
that we have accurately estimated the direct financial impact of 
the fraud. The net loss is reported at £17.3m net of tax before any 
potential recovery from those involved in perpetrating the fraud.

A detailed review of stock quantities and qualities was 
completed to assess the true value of the book stock and a 
significant misstatement in the value of the stock was identified. 
We also reviewed all other balance sheet values and identified 
those that were also fraudulently reported. Finally we reviewed 
the contract position and identified the quantity and value  
of coal that needed to be purchased to allow us to complete  
the delivery of valid and genuine customer contracts. This 
provided us with a high degree of confidence in our estimate  
of the impact.

As previously stated, significant detailed work has been 
ongoing to ensure all necessary and appropriate steps are 
undertaken to achieve the maximum possible recovery. 

We have also previously stated that we are confident that  
no such issues exist in other parts of the Group. To provide 
additional confidence, PricewaterhouseCoopers were engaged 
to carry out a detailed forensic investigation into certain balance 
sheet items in the German business. This forensic investigation 
identified no issues or concerns. 

The Belgian business has been closed before the year end and 
consequently, in addition to the exceptional write off relating 
to the fraud, the trading loss of £4.7m in the year has also been 
included within the discontinued operations result.

The mothballing process has progressed well with a reported 
loss (including closure costs) of £59.8m net of tax incurred in  
the year ended 31 May 2013 were in line with plan. These costs 
included the operating loss to the point of decision to mothball 
the mine, redundancy costs, closure and settlement costs to the 
end of the year and non-cash write offs relating to plant and 
equipment, development costs and other related assets.

Iain Cockburn
Group Finance Director

Gordon Banham
Group Chief Executive
23 September 2013

15

Hargreaves Services plc Annual Report 2013Review of the YearCorporate GovernanceFinancial StatementsFinancial Review 
Iain Cockburn, Group Finance Director

The Group reported an improvement in Continuing 
Underlying Operating Profit from £53.4m to £55.7m, 
a 4.3% increase year-on-year.

Results Overview
Revenue from continuing operations for the year ended  
31 May 2013 increased by 36.5% from £617.9m to £843.3m. 
Underlying operating profit from continuing operations 
increased by 4.3% from £53.4m to £55.7m which generated  
an increase in underlying profit before taxation of £2.9m from 
£49.3m to £52.2m. Reported profit before taxation decreased 
from £45.0m to £43.1m generating continuing diluted earnings 
per share of 111.0p (2012: 113.7p). 

Discontinued operations incurred a loss of £81.8m net of tax 
during the year, resulting in an overall loss for the year of 
£49.6m (2012: £30.8m profit).

Revenue
Revenue for the year ended 31 May 2013 totalled £843.3m 
(2012: £617.9m), an increase of 36.5%. The Energy and 
Commodities division revenue grew by 42.0% from £412.0m to 
£585.0m and was the key driver behind the growth in Group 
revenue reflecting excellent power station demand and 
volumes. There was also a significant increase in revenue in  
our Industrial Services division from £80.7m to £149.3m; growth 
in our core material handling business generated £31.5m of  
this increase with the balance generated largely by the two 
biomass conversion projects undertaken during the year.

Operating Profit
The Group reported a decrease in operating profit from 
£48.9m to £44.0m, largely due to the one-off impairment of 
goodwill and intangibles of £4.1m during the year relating to 
the Coal4Energy business within our Energy and Commodities 
division and the downsizing of AJS, our Engineering Services 
business within the Industrial Services division.

Pleasingly, the Group reported an improvement in underlying 
operating profit from £53.4m to £55.7m, a 4.3% increase 
year-on-year. This result reflects the strength of the underlying 
business. The Production division remains strong, performing  
in line with expectations. The Energy and Commodities division, 
exceeded our expectations, reflecting an excellent year in the 
UK coal business where record volumes were achieved. 

Interest
Net financing costs on continuing operations incurred during the 
year totalled £3.5m compared with £4.1m for the previous year. 
Higher net debt levels due to trading opportunities were offset 
by interest income from jointly controlled entities of £0.8m.

Taxation
The UK mainstream corporation tax rate reduced from 24% to 
23% in April 2013 giving an average mainstream rate of 23.83%. 
The effective rate of taxation on continuing operations for the 
Group for the year ended 31 May 2013 was 27.3% (2012: 27.5%) 
with the higher rate on profit in our European business 
combined with the non-deductible nature of the goodwill 
impairments being the key reasons for the lower reduction 
versus the drop in mainstream UK Corporation tax rate.

Dividend
The Board has proposed a final dividend of 13.6 pence (2012: 
11.8 pence) bringing the dividend for the full year to 20.5 pence 
(2012: 17.8 pence), an increase of 15.2% in the total dividend  
for the year. The proposed dividend is covered 6.6 times by 
underlying diluted earnings (2012: 7.0 times). 

Pension Liability
Both Monckton and Maltby continue to operate unfunded 
concessionary fuel schemes and Maltby continues to operate 
its two defined benefit pension schemes. The combined 
liability of all the schemes has decreased over the year from 
£6.0m to £3.6m due to a net actuarial gain of £0.7m and deficit 
contributions of £1.7m during the year. There is a curtailment 
event as a result of the closure at Maltby but this has not 
resulted in a curtailment gain or charge as the rate of salary 
increase is equal to inflation and there are not a significant 
number of early retirements.

Earnings Per Share
Continuing basic earnings per share for the year were 112.5 
pence (2012: 116.7 pence) and continuing diluted earnings per 
share were 111.0 pence (2012: 113.7 pence). Underlying diluted 
earnings per share, after adding back amortisation and the 
one-off impairment of acquired intangibles and goodwill, 
increased by 7.7% from 125.0 pence to 134.6 pence. 

Discontinued Operations
The Group’s discontinued operations made a loss of £81.8m 
after tax during the year. These losses relate to events at  
Maltby and in Belgium and the associated results have been 
reclassified as Discontinued in the current and prior year.  
In addition, certain related assets have been reclassified in  
the balance sheet as “assets held for sale”.

Following the discovery of a fraud in our Belgian subsidiaries in 
early December 2012, a post-tax exceptional charge of £17.3m 
was recorded during the year. This charge relates to the write 
off of numerous balance sheet items including inventory and 
receivables. Whilst the overstatement appears to have arisen 
from the inception of the business in 2008, due to the 
intricacies of the fraud and the lack of documentation for many 
of these transactions, it is not possible to allocate the write off 
to specific accounting periods with any precision and it has 
therefore been accounted for in full in the current year.

In addition to the above exceptional write off, the trading  
result of Belgium, an operating loss of £4.7m was classified  
as a discontinued operation during the year. 

Also within Discontinued Operations is the impact of the 
mothballing of the underground operations at Maltby Colliery 
during December 2012. The post-tax loss during the year was 
£59.8m, in line with previous guidance, including the operating 
loss up to the point of decision to mothball the mine, redundancy 
costs, closure costs and non-cash write offs relating to plant and 
equipment, development costs and other related assets.

16

Hargreaves Services plc Annual Report 2013Operating Cash Flow
Net cash flow from continuing operating activities generated a 
cash inflow of £21.2m during the year, an increase of £2.3m on 
the previous year. This was driven by a strong continuing profit 
during the year offset by investment in working capital. 

development costs and other related assets at Maltby were 
non-cash. In Belgium, whilst the exceptional write off was 
non-cash, the funding of the operating loss resulted in a 
further cash outflow. 

Combining continuing and discontinued operating activities 
resulted in an overall net cash outflow from operating activities 
of £24.6m for the Group during the year.

Capital Expenditure
Total capital expenditure for the year was £16.7m (2012: £33.2m) 
including £6.2m relating to discontinued operations, a significant 
reduction on the prior year, reflecting the mothballing of Maltby 
during the year. Of the capital expenditure, £8.2m was financed 
through finance leases. 

Following the mothballing of Maltby, the rebased continuing 
depreciation charge for the year was £8.3m, a significant 
reduction on the prior year total of £20.6m (which included 
£12.9m relating to the now discontinued activities). 

Taking into account the capital expenditure at Maltby during 
the year, net cash from investing activities in discontinued 
operations of £4.2m was generated. This was largely achieved 
on the sale by Maltby of certain coal mine methane assets to 
Alkane Energy plc in May 2013 for £5.5m. This was an initial 
payment and a further £2.0m is payable six months after the 
mine shafts have been filled and capped as part of Maltby’s 
planned closure and restoration programme. It is anticipated 
that these tasks will be completed during the year ending  
31 May 2014.

Working capital requirements consumed an additional £26.5m 
during the year. Taking into account the write offs in Belgium 
and at Maltby, inventory levels in the continuing business 
increased by £23.2m during the year. This increase in inventory 
was driven by significant purchases of coke towards the end of 
the financial year for sale in the first half of the current financial 
year. We also saw the UK coal business unwind its forward 
purchased coal, as anticipated at the interim results, which 
offset the overall increase. Group inventory days (measured 
against forward purchases) reduced by 21 days from 98.0 as  
at 31 May 2012 to 77.0 as at 31 May 2013 reflecting the overall 
net reduction in total Group inventory balances due to the 
significant write offs at Maltby and in Belgium.

Trade and other receivables increased by £34.3m during the 
year in line with the significant growth in activity in the Group. 
Group debtor days reduced by five days from 27.0 days to 22.0 
days continuing to reflect the efficient cash cycle of the Energy 
and Commodities division, the most significant contributor to 
the growth. In addition, amounts advanced to the Tower joint 
venture increased by £0.7m from £22.4m at 31 May 2012 to 
£23.1m at 31 May 2013. 

An increase in trade and other payables of £31.0m also reflects 
the growth in the business, and in particular the Energy and 
Commodities business, as mentioned above. Resultant Group 
creditor days reduced by 19 days from 37.0 days to 18 days  
in line with the working capital cycle in the Energy & 
Commodities division.

After interest payments of £2.7m and income tax payments in 
the year of £9.9m, resultant net cash from continuing operating 
activities during the year was £20.9m compared to £21.2m in 
the previous year. 

The discontinued operations at Maltby and in Belgium resulted 
in a net cash outflow from operating activities of £45.8m 
during the year. At Maltby, the cash outflow was driven by the 
significant operating loss and cash outflow up to the point of 
the decision to mothball the mine, and also the subsequent 
closure, settlement and redundancy costs following that 
decision. The write offs relating to the plant and equipment, 

17

Hargreaves Services plc Annual Report 2013Review of the YearCorporate GovernanceFinancial Statements18

Hargreaves Services plc Annual Report 2013Financial Review  
Continued

Financing Activities
Net cash inflow from financing activities in continuing 
operations was £37.5m, an increase of £15.4m from the  
£22.1m reported in the prior year.

During the year, the Group utilised an additional £10m of its 
banking facilities and made payments of £3.8m against finance 
lease liabilities. Dividend payments made during the year 
amounted to £5.4m. 

In April 2013, the Group completed a successful fund raising  
in the amount of £40.7m, net of £1.6m of issue costs resulting  
in the issue of 5.46m new shares.

Net cash from financing activities in discontinued operations 
resulted in a cash outflow of £5.4m (2012: £8.2m) relating to  
the repayment of finance lease liabilities during the year.

Net Debt
Group net debt, comprising cash and cash equivalents, bank 
overdraft and other interest-bearing loans and borrowings was 
£77.9m at 31 May 2013, an increase of £0.2m from the £77.7m 
reported at 31 May 2012. Net debt as a ratio of net assets of the 
Group at 31 May 2013 was 66% compared to 57% at 31 May 2012. 

Borrowings and Facilities
During the year, the Group was financed by a mixture of cash 
flows from operations, trade credit, short-term borrowings, 
longer-term borrowings and finance leases. Operating leases 
are used in conjunction with asset financing to balance the 
flexibility afforded by asset ownership and the efficient use  
of capital.

The Group continues to operate comfortably within its 
banking covenants. The key covenants on the revolving credit 
facility are interest cover and leverage, measured as a ratio of 
net debt to EBITDA. As at 31 May 2013 interest cover was 12.6 
times, comfortably above the covenant minimum of four times 
and leverage was 1.5 times, comfortably below the maximum 
2.5 times permitted. 

The European business continues to operate on a facility of 
£55m (€65m) from Commerzbank. At the end of the year the 
net debt drawn on this facility was £33.7m.

Capital Management
The Group manages its capital to ensure that entities in the 
Group will be able to continue as a going concern, whilst 
maximising the return to shareholders. The capital structure of 
the Group consists of debt, which includes borrowings, cash and 
cash equivalents, and equity attributable to equity holders of  
the parent, comprising capital, reserves and retained earnings. 

The capital structure is reviewed regularly by the Group’s Board 
of Directors and the Group’s policy is to maintain gearing at 
levels appropriate to the business. The Board principally reviews 
gearing determined as a proportion of debt to earnings  
before interest, tax and depreciation. The Board also takes 
consideration of gearing determined as the proportion of net 
debt to total capital. It should be noted that the Board reviews 
gearing taking careful account of the working capital needs and 
flows of the business. In the trading businesses, where working 
capital cycles are regular, predictable and generally less than  
90 days, the Board is comfortable to maintain higher levels of 
debt and gearing as measured against EBITDA.

Summary of Net Debt

Cash and cash equivalents 
Bank overdraft
Revolving credit facility 
Finance lease liabilities 
Promissory note facility
Hire purchase receivable

2013  
£000

(61,435)
42,476
83,632
15,500
–
(2,276)

77,897

2012  
£000

(45,852)
31,215
73,076
16,398
5,025
(2,192)

77,670

Going Concern
The Group business activities, together with the factors likely to 
affect its future development performance and position are set 
out in the Group Business Review on pages 4 to 8. The financial 
position of the Group, its cash flows, liquidity position and 
borrowing facilities are described in the Financial Review on 
pages 16 to 21. In addition Note 27 to the financial statements 
includes the Group objectives, policies and processes for 
managing its capital; its financial risk management objectives; 
details of its financial instruments and hedging activities; and its 
exposure to credit risk and liquidity risk.

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

After making enquiries, the Directors have a reasonable 
expectation that the Company and the Group have adequate 
resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable 
future. Accordingly, they continue to adopt the going concern 
basis in preparing the annual report and accounts.

19

Hargreaves Services plc Annual Report 2013Review of the YearCorporate GovernanceFinancial StatementsFinancial Review  
Continued

Statement on Risks Relating to the Group’s Business
This statement is an integral part of the business review.

Operational
Deep Mining Risk
With the mothballing of the underground operations at Maltby 
during the year, and the closure plan that is now progressing, 
the Group’s exposure to deep mining risk has significantly 
reduced. A key focus for the Group during the current financial 
year is the successful management and completion of the 
closure and restoration programme to ensure that the mine 
shafts have been filled and capped safely.

Surface Mining Risk
Our surface mining operation is subject to all of the hazards and 
risks normally encountered in the exploration, development and 
production of surface coal including unusual and unexpected 
geological formations, geotechnical instability, flooding and 
adverse weather conditions. The acquisition of certain assets 
from Aardvark and Scottish Coal within the last twelve months 
has increased the Group’s potential exposure to these risks.  
The Group’s surface mining team undertakes appropriate levels 
of site investigation, including extensive geological assessment, 
drilling/borehole analysis and ongoing review, and has the 
appropriate planning, development and technical infrastructure 
and expertise in order to minimise these risks.

Markets and Commodity Prices
The Group produces and trades in coal, coke and other mineral 
commodities, the prices of which are subject to variations that 
are both uncontrollable and unpredictable. Further trading 
risks are created through foreign currency exposures. The 
Group mitigates these risks, wherever practical, through the 
use of measures including fixed-price contracts, hedging 
instruments and “back-to-back” purchase and sale agreements. 
Although short-term trading risks are managed in this way, 
through the ownership of the Monckton Coke Works and  
our interest in the surface mining activities at Tower and the 
former Aardvark and Scottish Coal sites, the Group does have  
a longer-term exposure to price movements, favourable or 
unfavourable, in international coal and coke prices. 

Commercial Relationships
The Group benefits from many long-term and partnership 
arrangements with key customers and suppliers. Damage  
to, or loss of, these relationships could be detrimental to the 
Group results. In addition, due to the nature of the sectors in 
which the Group operates, it does have a concentration of 
businesses with a small number of large energy companies. 

The Group believes that these risks have been adequately 
mitigated through the close working relationships that it has 
developed over a long period of time with key clients and 
suppliers and through careful monitoring of service levels  
and price competitiveness.

Economic
Not only are commodity prices subject to fluctuations, trading 
levels are also heavily influenced by economic factors and their 
impact on key customer sectors such as steel production. Our 
Production units benefit from long-term contracts, typically 
ranging from one year to three years. Although elements of 
the Energy & Commodities trading activities are based on 
long-term contracts of up to one year in duration, a significant 
portion of the trading is based on spot cargoes and deals, 
particularly in Europe. In times of economic downturn, traded 
volumes can fall. Although our fixed cost base in the trading 
business is low, a drop in volumes can have an impact in terms 
of lost profit. The Group will continue to mitigate this risk by 
minimising the fixed cost base, seeking to enter term contracts 
wherever possible and diversifying the customer base as far  
as possible.

Health and Safety
Our working environments have numerous and varied risks 
which we strive to mitigate by providing systems, equipment, 
training and supervision. Risk is evaluated by internal and 
external resources so it is continuously managed and mitigated.

Environmental
There is risk of ground and air contamination at our production 
sites, in particular at the Monckton Coke Works. We mitigate  
this risk by careful monitoring of groundwater discharge. Our 
Transport fleet carries hazardous chemicals, which could lead  
to contamination in the event of a spillage. The Group mitigates 
this risk through deploying properly maintained equipment, 
utilising well-trained personnel and enforcing tight operational 
procedures.

Human Resources and Operations
People are the Group’s most important asset and are key to 
ensuring that our quality systems operate effectively. We work 
hard at recruiting, training and developing staff to mitigate the 
risk of system or human error.

Energy Costs
The Group’s energy usage is very high, both throughout the
Transport and Plant fleets and at the Group’s production 
facilities. An increase in energy cost has been a risk that to  
date we have been successful in mitigating by indexing key 
transport contracts against fuel price rises and through our 
ability to essentially balance and therefore intrinsically hedge 
electricity generation and usage between the Monckton  
Coke Works and other sites.

20

Hargreaves Services plc Annual Report 2013Financial
Treasury activities have the objective of minimising both risk 
and finance costs and are centralised in the Group’s Head 
Office. Group Treasury is responsible for the management  
of liquidity, interest and foreign exchange risks and operates 
within policies and authority limits approved by the Board.  
The use of financial instruments, including derivatives, is 
permitted when approved by the Board and where the  
effect is to minimise risk to the Group.

Coal, coke and minerals stocks that are purchased for re-sale 
are predominantly hedged by matching the currency of
purchase with the currency of sale.

Interest Rate
The Group borrows in US Dollars, Euros and Sterling. These 
borrowings are predominantly at floating rates and where 
appropriate the Group will use derivatives to generate the 
desired effective currency and interest rate exposure. As at  
31 May 2013, 72.3% of net financial liabilities were at fixed  
rates (2012: 59.6%).

Credit Risk
Credit risk arises from the possibility that customers may not  
be able to pay their debts. To manage this risk the Group 
periodically assesses the financial reliability of customers.  
The majority of the Group’s trade receivables are due for 
payment within 45 days. The Credit Control function closely 
monitors and chases any overdue debts.

Although the Group has a diverse customer base of many 
hundreds of trade debtors, concentrations of credit risk with 
respect to trade receivables can arise. These concentrations, 
when they do arise tend to relate to the larger power 
generation companies. These concentrations and exposures 
are closely monitored by the Credit Control function. As at  
31 May 2013, the largest customer represented 17% of the 
Group trade receivables balance of £86.5m and the top ten 
accounts represented approximately 36%.

Management are mindful of the continuation of difficult 
trading conditions being experienced in a number of sectors, 
particularly transport and construction.

Iain Cockburn
Group Finance Director
23 September 2013

Foreign Currency
The Group has operations in three countries and is therefore 
exposed to foreign exchange translation risk when the profits 
of these entities are consolidated into the Group accounts. The 
Group does not hedge exposure on the translation of profits of 
foreign subsidiaries. The translation risk is reduced by ensuring 
that net assets are financed where possible by borrowing in 
local currency.

Transaction foreign exchange exposures arise when entities 
within the Group enter into contracts to pay or receive funds in 
a currency different from the functional currency of the entity 
concerned. It is Group policy to hedge material net exposure  
to cash transactions in foreign currencies when a commitment 
arises, usually through the use of a foreign exchange forward 
contract.

Counterparty Risks
The Group does routinely enter term contracts for the 
purchase or supply of minerals. Although price risk is hedged 
where appropriate on these transactions, the Group is exposed 
to risk through the potential failure of counterparties to 
perform to contract. This risk and strength is judged against 
the scale and duration of the specific contract on a case by 
case basis. As the Group expands into new geographies,  
the inherent counterparty risk profile may increase and the 
information available to assess counterparties may decrease. 
The Group will mitigate this risk by, as far as possible, carefully 
selecting and monitoring counterparties and structuring 
transactions to minimise counterparty exposure.

21

Hargreaves Services plc Annual Report 2013Review of the YearCorporate GovernanceFinancial StatementsCorporate Governance

Financial Statements

 Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income

 Statements of Changes in Equity 

37 
38  Balance Sheets
40 
43  Cash Flow Statements
44 
84 
IBC  Investor Information

 Notes (forming part of the financial statements)
 Notice of Annual General Meeting

24 

 Board of Directors and Group  
Executive Management Team

26  Directors’ Report 
29  Corporate Governance
32  Remuneration Report
35 

 Statement of Directors’ Responsibilities  
in Respect of the Annual Report and  
the Financial Statements 
 Independent Auditor’s Report  
to the Members of Hargreaves Services plc

36 

22

Hargreaves Services plc Annual Report 201323

Hargreaves Services plc Annual Report 2013Corporate GovernanceReview of the YearFinancial StatementsBoard of Directors

Tim Ross* (aged 64)
Non-Executive Chairman
Tim read law at Oxford University and qualified as a solicitor. He worked in the City of London and  
as a company legal adviser, before attending London Business School and moving into general 
management. He has considerable experience of the construction, aggregates, waste disposal and 
opencast coal industries. He is a past Chairman of May Gurney Integrated Services plc and other  
public companies and has served on the boards of several other quoted companies, including  
George Wimpey plc and Lavendon plc. He is the current Chairman of a number of venture capital-
backed companies in the construction sector.

Gordon Banham (aged 49)
Group Chief Executive
Gordon was Managing Director of his family firm, F Banham Limited, until 1994 when he negotiated its 
sale to Charrington Fuels and was appointed as General Manager of the combined businesses. On the 
acquisition of Charringtons by the CPL Group in 1995, he was made Distribution Director responsible for 
the enlarged group’s coal distribution activities. Gordon joined Hargreaves in 2001, subsequently being 
appointed as Group Chief Executive. He led the management buyout in 2004 and subsequent flotation 
on the London Stock Exchange, the following year. He has since guided a series of major acquisitions.

Iain Cockburn (aged 48)
Group Finance Director
Iain is a Chartered Accountant. After five years with PricewaterhouseCoopers in the UK and 
Luxembourg he held a number of finance roles in both the UK and the USA, within Courtaulds plc  
and GenRad Inc groups. Prior to joining Hargreaves he was Finance Director and subsequently CEO 
and Finance Director of Knowledge Support Systems plc.

Kevin Dougan MIQ (aged 58)
Group Commercial Director
Kevin spent the early part of his career with British Coal, specialising in opencast coal mining becoming 
Assistant Regional Engineer. In 1986, Kevin joined Andrew Golightly Limited as Contracts Director, 
subsequently joining the Group in 1995 as a Divisional Director. He was appointed to the Group Board 
in April 2004.

David Morgan* (aged 55)
Senior Independent Director
David, a Chartered Accountant, has had wide ranging board and senior management experience. 
Having trained with KPMG, he then spent over 20 years with Johnson Matthey plc, a FTSE 100  
global business and was Executive Director, Corporate Development from 1999 to 2009. He is a 
Non-Executive Director of Nord Gold N.V. and The Royal Mint as well as a number of other companies. 
His career has involved general and financial management as well as corporate governance and he has 
had M&A experience in all parts of the world. 

24

*  Current member of Audit, Remuneration and Nominations Committees.

Hargreaves Services plc Annual Report 2013Group Executive 
Management Team

The Executive Directors and the following
key managers comprise the Executive
Management Team:

Nigel Barraclough
Chief Operating Officer
Previously: Non-Executive Director, Hargreaves Services plc; Investment Director, YFM Group Ltd.

Steve Anson
Managing Director
Energy & Commodities Division
Previously: Regional Director, Tarmac Ltd; Commercial Director, Tilcon Ltd.

Julie Haynes
Managing Director
Industrial Services Division
Previously: Business Development Director, Norec Ltd; Operations and Development Manager,  
Alfred McAlpine plc; Operations Manager, Serco Group plc.

Peter Gillatt
Managing Director
Production Division
Previously: Non-Executive Director, Hargreaves Services plc; Group Managing Director Longcliffe 
Group Limited; Deputy Managing Director, Lafarge UK; Chief Operating Officer, SITA UK.

25

Hargreaves Services plc Annual Report 2013Corporate GovernanceReview of the YearFinancial StatementsDirectors’ Report

The Directors present their Directors’ Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 31 May 2013. 

Principal Activities 
The principal activities of the Group are the provision of haulage services, waste transportation, mineral import, mining and processing, together with coke 
manufacture and related activities. 

Business Review 
The results for the year are set out on page 37. 

Information that fulfils the requirements of the business review can be found in the accompanying information. In particular: 

•	 A balanced and comprehensive analysis of the development and performance of the Group’s business during the financial year, and of its position at the 

end of the year, is included in the Group Business Review, the Review of Operating Performance by Business Unit and the Financial Review. Key performance 
indicators have been included in these reviews where appropriate; and 

•	 The principal risks and uncertainties facing the business have been included in the Financial Review within the “Statement on Risks Relating to the 

Group’s Business” on page 20. This includes information on environmental matters and employee issues. 

Financial Instruments 
The financial risks faced by the Group and its policy towards these risks are set out in Note 27 of the accounts. 

Proposed Dividend 
Following the payment of an interim dividend of 6.9p per share on 28 March 2013, the Directors recommend a final dividend for the year ended  
31 May 2013 of 13.6p per share to be paid on 12 December 2013 to shareholders on the register on 8 November 2013. The shares will be ex-dividend  
on 6 November 2013. This dividend has not been recognised within creditors as it was not declared and approved before the year end. 

Policy and Practice on Payment of Creditors 
The Group does not operate a defined code of practice regarding payment to suppliers. The Group determines conditions of payment for its own supply of 
goods and services. It is the Group’s policy that transactions are then settled in compliance with these legal or other contractual obligations having regard 
to good commercial practice. Average creditor days at 31 May 2013 for the Group were 18 days (2012: 37 days). It is not meaningful to disclose a similar 
statistic for the Company since it does not trade in its own right. 

Directors 
The Directors who held office during the year and to date were as follows: 

TS Ross 
GFC Banham 
ID Cockburn 
KJ Dougan 
D Morgan
P Gillatt  

(resigned 9 September 2013)

The Directors who held office at the end of the financial year had the following interests in the shares of the Company according to the register of Directors’ 
interests: 

GFC Banham 
KJ Dougan 
ID Cockburn 
TS Ross 

Class of share 

Ordinary
Ordinary
Ordinary
Ordinary

Interest at  
end of year

3,029,831 
175,000 
7,680 
3,086

Interest at 
beginning  
of year

3,029,831 
175,000 
7,680 
3,086

The interests of TS Ross are held through a pension trust of which he is a potential beneficiary. 

Details of Directors’ emoluments are set out in the Remuneration Report.

All the Directors benefited from qualifying third-party indemnity provisions in place during the year and at the date of this report. 

26

Hargreaves Services plc Annual Report 2013 
According to the register of Directors’ interests, no rights to subscribe for shares in Group companies were granted to any of the Directors or their 
immediate families, or exercised by them, during the financial year and up to the date of this report except as indicated below: 

Director

GFC Banham
KJ Dougan
ID Cockburn

Exercise price 
per share

–
–
–

Period during which  
option is exercisable

June 2011 to June 2018
June 2011 to June 2018
June 2011 to June 2018

Number 
of options 
granted

49,180
17,213
20,287

These options were granted under the Long-Term Incentive Plan on 20 June 2008 and are outstanding at the end of the year. None of the share options 
have been exercised. 

Director

GFC Banham
KJ Dougan
ID Cockburn

Exercise price 
per share

–
–
–

Period during which  
option is exercisable

June 2012 to June 2019
June 2012 to June 2019
June 2012 to June 2019

Number 
of options 
granted

60,000
21,000
28,500

These options were granted under the Long-Term Incentive Plan on 30 June 2009 and are outstanding at the end of the year. None of the share options 
have been exercised. 

Director

GFC Banham
KJ Dougan
ID Cockburn

Exercise price 
per share

–
–
–

Period during which  
option is exercisable

June 2013 to December 2020 
June 2013 to December 2020
June 2013 to December 2020

Number 
of options 
granted

39,031 
13,661 
19,133 

These options were granted under the Long-Term Incentive Plan on 15 December 2010 and are outstanding at the end of the year. None of the share 
options have been exercised. 

Director

GFC Banham
KJ Dougan
ID Cockburn

Exercise price 
per share

–
–
–

Period during which  
option is exercisable

June 2014 to September 2021 
June 2014 to September 2021 
June 2014 to September 2021 

Number 
of options 
granted

34,657 
12,130 
16,989 

These options were granted under the Long-Term Incentive Plan on 16 September 2011 and are outstanding at the end of the year. None of the share 
options have been exercised. 

Under the Savings-Related Share Option schemes, the following options were held by a Director: 

GFC Banham

Scheme

Savings-Related Share Option Scheme 7

Options at 
end of year

Options at 
beginning of 
year

819

819

In accordance with the Articles of Association one-third of Directors retire by rotation each year. The Directors retiring by rotation are Tim Ross and  
Kevin Dougan who, being eligible, offer themselves for re-election. 

27

Hargreaves Services plc Annual Report 2013Corporate GovernanceReview of the YearFinancial StatementsDirectors’ Report 
Continued

Significant shareholdings
At 30 August 2013, the Company had been notified or was aware of the following shareholders with 3% or more of the issued share capital of the Company: 

Shareholder

GFC Banham
Odey Asset Management LLP
The Bank of New York Mellon Corporation 
J O Hambro Capital Management Group Limited
M&G Investment Management
Fidelity Worldwide Investment
Fidelity Management & Research
Liberty Square Asset Management
Hansa Capital Partners

Number of 
ordinary 
shares

3,029,831
2,211,789
2,026,430
1,670,323
1,661,773
1,494,078
1,223,748
1,202,667
1,000,000

% of issued 
share capital

9.2%
6.7%
6.1%
5.1%
5.0%
4.5%
3.7%
3.6%
3.0%

Employees
Applications for employment by disabled persons are always fully considered. Employment policies are designed to provide opportunities irrespective of 
colour, ethnic or national origin, nationality, sex or marital status. In the event of employees becoming disabled every effort is made, including appropriate 
training, to ensure that their employment with the Company continues. 

The Directors recognise the importance of good communications and good relations with employees. A quarterly in-house magazine is sent to all employees. 

Purchase of Own Shares
The Directors are authorised to make market purchases of the Company’s own shares under an authority granted at the Annual General Meeting held  
on 23 November 2012. No purchases were made during the year. The Directors will seek renewal of this authority at the 2013 Annual General Meeting  
(full details are available in the 2013 Notice of Annual General Meeting).

Approval to Issue Shares
During the year the Company issued ordinary shares to a nominal amount of £273,004 for cash on a non-pre-emptive basis in line with an authority given at  
the Annual General Meeting held on 23 November 2012. It also issued shares to a nominal amount of £273,004 for cash on a non-pre-emptive basis following 
approval by shareholders at a General Meeting held on 7 May 2013. A total of 415,839 shares (a nominal amount of £41,583.90) were also issued under the 
employee share schemes. The Directors will seek authority to allot up to a maximum aggregate nominal amount of £2,204,000 at the 2013 Annual General 
Meeting (full details are available in the 2013 Notice of Annual General Meeting).

Employee Share Schemes
The Company operates share option schemes for the benefit of employees. Information regarding the schemes and number of options outstanding  
is given in Note 24 on page 74.

Articles of Association
Changes to the Articles of Association must be approved by special resolution of the Company. The Directors are seeking authority at the 2013 Annual 
General Meeting to amend Article 44 to allow laser signatures on share certificates, which is an administrative amendment only and will assist with the 
management of the share register by the Company’s registrar (full details are available in the 2013 Notice of Annual General Meeting).

Political and Charitable Contributions 
The Group made no political contributions during the current or prior year. Donations to UK charities amounted to £29,453 (2012: £29,921). 

Disclosure of Information to Auditor 
The Directors who held office at the date of approval of this Directors’ Report confirm that, so far as they are each aware, there is no relevant audit information 
of which the Company’s auditor is unaware; and each Director has taken all the steps that he ought to have taken as a Director to make himself aware of any 
relevant audit information and to establish that the Company’s auditor is aware of that information. 

Independent Auditor 
Our auditor, KPMG Audit Plc has instigated an orderly wind down of business. The Board has therefore decided, to put KPMG LLP forward to be appointed 
as auditor and resolutions concerning their appointment and to authorise the Directors to agree their remuneration will be put to the forthcoming AGM of 
the Company (full details are available in the Notice of Annual General Meeting).

By order of the Board 

Stephen MacQuarrie
Company Secretary 
23 September 2013

28

Hargreaves Services plc Annual Report 2013Corporate Governance 

The Company is committed to high standards of corporate governance. Whilst the Company, which is listed on AIM, is not required to report on corporate 
governance matters, it is the Board’s intention to both disclose and report on the corporate governance structures and processes that are operated and to 
develop these further to meet the standards appropriate for a Group of Hargreaves’ size and complexity. 

The following sections set out how the Company and the Group has applied the principles and spirit of corporate governance. 

The Board 
The Group is headed by an effective Board, which both controls and leads the Group. A biography of each Director and details of the membership of the 
Committees of the Group Board is provided on page 24. 

During the year the Board comprised a Non-Executive Chairman, three Executive Directors, and two independent Non-Executive Directors, one of whom 
acts as the Senior Independent Director. It meets at least six times per year, receiving appropriate information from management on a timely basis, and 
making further detailed enquiries where necessary to enable it to fully discharge its duties. The Board is collectively responsible for the long term success  
of the Company and has ultimate responsibility for the management, direction and performance of the Group and its businesses. The Board is required to 
exercise objective judgment on all corporate matters and is accountable to shareholders for the proper conduct of the business.

The Board has a schedule of matters which are specifically reserved to it for decision. All Directors have access to the advice and services of the Company 
Secretary, who is responsible to the Board for ensuring that procedures are followed and for compliance with applicable rules and regulations. 

There is a clearly defined division of responsibilities between the Chairman and the Group Chief Executive. The Chairman is primarily responsible for the 
leadership and effective working of the Board. This is achieved by: 

•	 Chairing Board meetings, setting the agendas in consultation with the Group Chief Executive and Company Secretary and encouraging the Directors  

to actively participate in Board discussions; 

•	 Leading the performance evaluation of the Board, its Committees and individual Directors; 
•	 Promoting high standards of corporate governance; 
•	 Ensuring timely and accurate distribution of information to the Directors and effective communication with shareholders; 
•	 Periodically holding meetings with the Non-Executive Directors without the Executive Directors present; and 
•	 Establishing an effective working relationship with the Group Chief Executive by providing support and advice whilst respecting executive responsibility. 

There have been no significant changes in the commitments of the Chairman throughout the year which may impact upon his time and commitment to 
the Company. 

The Group Chief Executive is responsible for the executive management of the Group and for ensuring the implementation of Board strategy and policy 
within approved business plans, budgets and timescales. 

Non-Executive Directors 
Non-Executive Directors bring a wide range of experience to the Group and throughout the year the Chairman, Tim Ross, and the Non-Executive Directors 
were considered by the Board to be independent. 

Board Meetings 
The Group Board meets regularly during the year as well as on an ad hoc basis, receiving appropriate information from management on a timely basis, and 
making further detailed enquiries where necessary which enables the Board to discharge its duties. At each meeting, the Board receives regular reports 
covering, for example, current trading, treasury, health and safety issues and capital expenditure proposals. There is a detailed process to ensure that the 
Board formally reviews and approves annual budgets and business plans. Throughout the year, the Board reviews performance against these annual 
budgets and business plans.

The Board also has regular updates on strategy and reviews other topics, notably to cover material risks and uncertainties facing the business or to address 
Board evaluation. In addition, each year the senior management succession plan for the Group is reviewed with the Head of Human Resources. 

Attendance at meetings

Number of meetings 

Tim Ross 
Gordon Banham 
David Morgan
Peter Gillatt (resigned 9 September 2013)
Iain Cockburn 
Kevin Dougan 

Board 

10  

10 attended 
10 attended 
10 attended 
10 attended 
10 attended 
10 attended 

Audit Committee

Remuneration Committee

Nominations Committee

4 

4 attended 
–
4 attended 
4 attended
–
–

6 

No meeting held in  
this financial year

6 attended 
–
6 attended 
6 attended
–
–

Board Committees 
The Board has three Committees which assist in the discharge of its responsibilities: 

•	 Remuneration; 
•	 Audit; and
•	 Nominations. 

Each Committee reports to, and has its terms of reference approved by, the Board and each Committee’s terms of reference can be found on our website. 

29

Hargreaves Services plc Annual Report 2013Corporate GovernanceReview of the YearFinancial StatementsCorporate Governance 
Continued

Remuneration Committee
The composition and work of the Remuneration Committee is described in the Remuneration Report found on page 32.

Audit Committee and Independent Auditor
During the year the Audit Committee comprised the Non-Executive Directors. David Morgan sits as Chairman of the Committee and is a chartered 
accountant with a corporate governance background thereby bringing a high level of relevant financial and governance experience to the Committee.  
The Board is satisfied that he has recent and relevant financial experience. The Group Chief Executive, Finance Director and the independent external 
auditor are invited to attend meetings. The independent auditor throughout the financial year was KPMG. 

The Committee met four times during the year. The minutes of the Committee are circulated to all Directors for information and the Committee’s terms  
of reference are available on the Company’s website.

The Audit Committee meets at least three times a year to review the Group’s accounting and financial reporting practices, the work of the external auditor 
and compliance with policies, procedures and applicable legislation. The objectivity of the auditor is maintained by ensuring they have direct access to the 
Committee and, as appropriate, the Board.

During the year the Committee reviewed the half year and annual financial statements before submission to the Board. The Committee is also responsible 
for receiving and reviewing reports from the Risk Committee and for reviewing the scope, remit and effectiveness of internal audit provision and the 
effectiveness of the Group’s internal control systems. It also reviews the whistle-blowing arrangements by which employees of the Group could, in 
confidence, raise concerns about possible financial or other improprieties and the anti-bribery and corruption policy.

The Board recognises the importance of safeguarding auditor objectivity and has taken the following steps to ensure that auditor independence  
is not compromised:

•	 The Audit Committee reviews the audit appointment periodically and undertakes a review of the effectiveness of the external audit process on an  

annual basis;

•	 At least once per year the auditor meets with the Committee, or the Chairman of the Committee on its behalf, without members of management  

being present; 

•	 Non audit work is limited to work that requires detailed knowledge derived from the statutory audit or work where fees are not considered to be 

material, exceptions to this are specifically approved by the Committee;

•	 The Committee reviews and approves all fees paid for audit, and all other fees, with a view to ensuring that there is value of delivery and appropriate 

cost-effectiveness; and

•	 The auditor provides a report to the Board and the Audit Committee confirming its independence in accordance with Auditing Standards.

Nominations Committee 
The Nominations Committee leads the process for the appointment of Directors by making recommendations to the Board about filling vacancies and 
appointing additional persons to the Board and to senior management positions so as to maintain an appropriate balance of skills and experience both  
on the Board and throughout the Group. It also considers and makes recommendations to the Board on its composition, balance and membership and on 
the re-appointment by shareholders of any Director under the retirement by rotation provisions in the Company’s Articles of Association. Following such 
appointment, the Director is required to retire and seek re-appointment at the next Annual General Meeting. There is a process of rotation, which ensures 
that approximately one third of all Directors are required to retire and seek re-appointment at each Annual General Meeting. 

The Committee’s members are the independent Non-Executives. Although the Chairman is also Chairman of the Committee he will not chair the Committee 
when it deals with the appointment of his successor. The Committee evaluates the balance of skills, knowledge and experience on the Board and in the light 
of this evaluation, prepares a description of the roles and capabilities required for a particular appointment.

All Directors have service agreements or letters of appointment and the details of their terms are set out in the Remuneration Report. 

Executive Management Committee
The Group Chief Executive is assisted by the work of the Group Executive and its sub-committees. Together these form part of the Company’s corporate 
governance framework, but are not formally appointed committees of the Board. 

•	 Executive Management Team – responsible under the leadership of the Group Chief Executive for the day-to-day management of the business, 
setting performance targets and implementing the Group’s strategy and direction as determined by the Board. Monthly meetings attended by the 
Group Executive Management Team are held to review operational performance and assess the strategic development of each division.

•	 Risk Committee – responsible for driving effective risk management throughout the business and reporting and making recommendations to the Audit 
Committee as appropriate; monitoring and reporting on all material business risks which might impact the delivery of the Group’s strategic goals and 
objectives. Members of the Committee include the Group Finance Director, or his Deputy, and senior financial and operational management. Day-to-day 
risk management is the responsibility of senior management as part of their everyday business processes. This is underpinned by the Group’s policies  
and procedures to ensure that it is fully embedded throughout the organisation. The Board has ultimate responsibility for ensuring that business risks are 
effectively managed. The Board has considered and approved the Risk Committee policy and has delegated the regular review of the risk management 
process to the Audit Committee. The Audit Committee receives regular reports and monitors progress against agreed action plans arising out of reviews. 

30

Hargreaves Services plc Annual Report 2013Induction, Development and Support 
All new Directors receive a full, formal and tailored induction on joining the Board, including meetings with senior management and advisers and visits to 
the Group’s operational locations. The Board calendar is planned to ensure that Directors are briefed on a wide range of topics throughout the year and are 
given the opportunity to visit sites and discuss aspects of the business with employees. We recognise that our Directors have a diverse range of experience, 
and so we encourage them to attend external seminars and briefings that will assist them individually. 

Directors have access to independent professional advice at the Company’s expense where they judge this to be necessary to discharge their responsibilities 
as Directors and all Directors have access to the advice and services of the Company Secretary, who is responsible to the Board for ensuring that Board 
procedures are complied with. 

Board Performance Evaluation 
To further strengthen Group compliance the Board undertakes an annual performance review that reviews and measures its effectiveness and that of  
its Committees. Alongside this review each Director receives an appraisal conducted by the Chairman for the Group Chief Executive and Non-Executive 
Directors, by the Senior Independent Director (following discussions with the other Directors) for the Chairman and by the Group Chief Executive for other 
Executive Directors. 

Conflicts of Interest 
The Articles of Association enable the Directors to authorise any situation in which a Director has an interest that conflicts or has the potential to conflict 
with the Company’s and Group’s interests and which would otherwise be a breach of the Director’s duty, under section 175 of the Companies Act 2006.  
The Board has a formal system in place for Directors to declare such situations to be considered for authorisation by those Directors who have no interest  
in the matter being considered. The Nominations Committee will review conflicts of interests when considering new Board appointments. 

Internal Control 
Management has considerable autonomy to run and develop the business of the Group. The Group Board however believes that a well designed system of 
internal reporting and control is necessary as the Group grows from strength to strength. The Group Board therefore continues to have overall responsibility 
to develop and strengthen internal controls further. The Audit Committee, on behalf of the Group Board, has the responsibility for reviewing internal controls. 
The system is designed to provide reasonable,but not absolute, assurance that the assets of the Group are safeguarded, that proper accounting records are 
maintained, and that reliable financial information is produced. 

Relations with Shareholders 
An important role of the Group Board is to represent and promote the interests of its shareholders as well as being accountable to them for the performance 
and activities of the Group. The Board believes it is important to engage with its shareholders and does this in a number of ways through presentations, 
conference calls, face to face meetings and the Annual General Meeting. Following the announcement of the Group’s half-year and year-end results, 
presentations are made to analysts and major shareholders to update them on progress and invite them to ask questions. 

The Board is updated on the latest shareholder information by the receipt of shareholder register movements, analyst reports and feedback from the 
Group’s brokers following investor road shows after half year and year end results. 

Safety, Health and the Environment 
Hargreaves Services plc has a proactive approach to Safety, Health and the Environment and is committed to the highest practicable standards of safety 
and health management and the minimisation of adverse environmental impacts. 

The Group Board ensures that Health and Safety issues for employees, customers and the public are of foremost concern in all Group activities. The Group 
Chief Executive, supported by external advice, is charged with overall responsibility. The Group encourages both internal and external training through  
a formal network of full-time officers and Health and Safety nominated “champions” at all levels. Statistical analysis is used to highlight any areas where 
additional training or improved working practices would be beneficial, and positive action is promptly implemented. All divisions have formulated safety 
management systems. We continue our programme to achieve OHSAS 18001 Occupation Health and Safety Assessment Series for health and safety 
management systems and ISO 14000 environmental management. 

Compliance with Laws 
Hargreaves Services plc has systems in place designed to ensure compliance with all applicable laws and regulations and conformity with all relevant codes 
of business practice. Compliance with the Bribery Act 2010 involves an Anti-Corruption Policy and a Group Whistle Blowing Policy, which can be found on 
the website. Training is given to all appropriate employees through the use of online tools to ensure that there is full understanding of the Bribery Act and 
awareness of the consequences of not adhering to Group policies.

31

Hargreaves Services plc Annual Report 2013Corporate GovernanceReview of the YearFinancial StatementsRemuneration Report 

Responsibilities and Role of the Remuneration Committee 
The Committee’s principal function is to review the remuneration of the Executive Directors. It also monitors the remuneration of the Group’s senior 
managers. The remuneration strategy, policy and approach for all staff, is also reviewed annually by the Committee. The full Terms of Reference of the 
Committee are available on our website at www.hsgplc.co.uk. 

The policy for the current and future financial years for the remuneration and incentivisation of the Executive Directors is as follows:

•	 To ensure that individual rewards and incentives are aligned with the performance of the Company and the interests of shareholders;
•	 To ensure that performance-related elements of remuneration constitute a significant proportion of an executive’s remuneration package; and
•	 To maintain a competitive remuneration package which enables the Company to attract, retain and motivate high calibre executives.

The Committee reviews the Company’s executive remuneration arrangements and implements incentive arrangements to support the objective of 
rewarding those individuals who deliver real and genuine shareholder value. In developing the arrangements the Committee and its advisers consider 
current market practice.

The Committee invites individuals to attend meetings to provide advice so as to ensure that the Committee’s decisions are informed and take account of 
pay and conditions across the Group. During the year the Group Chief Executive and Group Head of Human Resources attended meetings and provided 
relevant information to the Committee.

Components of Remuneration
Basic Salary 
This is a fixed cash sum, payable monthly. Salaries are reviewed annually by the Remuneration Committee in the light of individual performance, experience 
in the role and market comparisons. 

Annual Bonus 
Executive Directors participate in an annual incentive bonus scheme linked to the actual achievement of operating profit targets set by the Remuneration 
Committee. Such bonus is capped at 100% of salary. No bonus counts in the calculation of pension entitlement. 

Long-Term Incentives 
The Executive Directors and other senior employees are invited to participate in Long-Term Incentive Plans, whereby shares in the Group are awarded 
subject to performance criteria including Earnings Per Share growth targets over a three-year period. 

Benefits in Kind and Pensions 
In addition to basic salary, Executive Directors are entitled to the following benefits: paid holiday, company car, contributions to a personal pension plan and 
life assurance. 

Membership of the Committee 
The members of the Committee which met on 6 occasions during the year were: 

Peter Gillatt 
Tim Ross 
David Morgan

Chairman 

Following Peter Gillatt’s resignation as a Non-Executive Director on 9 September 2013, David Morgan is chairing the Committee on an interim basis until a 
new Non-Executive Director, who will chair the committee going forward, is appointed.

All members of the Committee are Independent Non-Executive Directors and recognised by the Board as capable of bringing independent judgement  
to bear. The Group Chief Executive is consulted and invited to attend meetings when appropriate but no Director is allowed to be present when his own 
remuneration is discussed. 

Directors’ Remuneration for the Year to 31 May 2013

Gordon Banham 
Iain Cockburn 
Kevin Dougan 
Tim Ross 
Peter Gillatt* (resigned 9 September 2013)
David Morgan 
Nigel Barraclough (resigned 30 September 2011)

Total

* P Gillatt received an additional £18,000 during the year in respect of consultancy fees.

2013  
Salary  
£000 

433
256
218
63
38
41
– 

1,049

2013  
Bonus  
£000 

2013  
Benefits  
£000 

–
–
–
–
–
–
–

–

38
17
31
– 
– 
– 
– 

86

2013  
Total  
£000

471
273
249
63
38
41
– 

2012  
Total  
£000 

461 
267 
207
60
26
10
12

1,135

1,043

2013  
Pension  
£000 

2012  
Pension  
£000

109
51
– 
–
– 
– 
–

160

106 
50 
– 
– 
– 
– 
–

156 

32

Hargreaves Services plc Annual Report 2013Directors’ Service Contracts and Letters of Appointment
The Directors have entered into service agreements and letters of appointment with the Company and the principal terms are as follows: 

Date of latest agreement

Name 

Position 

Commencement of period of office 

2013/14 Salary (£)

Notice period

3 September 2013
3 September 2013
3 September 2013
3 September 2013
3 September 2013

Tim Ross 
Gordon Banham 
Kevin Dougan 
Iain Cockburn 
David Morgan 

Non-Executive Chairman 
Group Chief Executive 
Group Commercial Director 
Group Finance Director 
Senior Independent Director 

30 November 2005 
1 October 2001 
23 June 1997 
8 October 2007 
24 February 2012 

64,141
443,254
220,072
260,738
41,603

12 months’ notice 
12 months’ notice 
12 months’ notice 
12 months’ notice 
6 months’ notice

The services of Tim Ross are provided by Crosswater Resources Limited, a company in which Mr Ross has a significant interest. 

Directors’ Share Options 
Details of Directors’ share options, held under the Savings-Related Share Option Scheme and Executive Long-Term Incentive Plan, are noted in the Directors’ 
Report on page 27. 

Savings-Related Share Option Scheme 
The Sharesave Scheme is a savings-related share option scheme and was implemented in December 2005. 

All employees (including Executive Directors) of the Group or any participating member of the Group whose earnings are subject to income tax and who 
have the requisite minimum period of continuous employment are eligible to participate. 

The exercise price of an option shall be fixed by the Group and shall normally be at a 10% discount on the market value of a share on the date invitations  
are issued to eligible employees. In the case of an option to subscribe for shares the exercise price may not be less than the nominal value of a share. 

Participants may, at the absolute discretion of the Committee be invited to apply for three, five or seven year options. All options must be linked to a contractual 
savings scheme entered into by each participant with the savings institution nominated by the Company and approved by HMRC. Participants may save 
between £5 and £250 per month (or weekly equivalent), such sums to be deducted from the relevant participant’s pay. 

At the end of the chosen savings period, a bonus is payable. 

No option shall be granted under the Sharesave Scheme on any date if, as a result, the total number of shares issued or issuable pursuant to options and 
other rights granted under the Sharesave Scheme and any other employees share scheme established by the Company on or after Admission, would 
exceed 10% of the issued ordinary share capital of the Company on that date of grant. 

Ordinary Shares issued pursuant to the Sharesave Scheme shall rank pari passu in all respects with the ordinary shares already in issue. 

In normal circumstances, options may be exercised during the period of six months commencing on the maturity (that is the relevant bonus date) of the 
savings contract. Options will become exercisable immediately on the death of a participant for a period of 12 months after the date of death or the bonus 
date, whichever is earlier. If a participant ceases to be an employee on reaching the age of 65 or at such other age at which that employee is bound to retire 
in accordance with the terms of his contract of employment or ceases to be in employment due to injury, disability, redundancy, or as a result of the sale  
of the business or subsidiary by which the participant is employed, options will become exercisable for a period of six months. If a participant has held an 
option for at least three years, it will become exercisable for a period of six months. Options will also become exercisable on an employee attaining the  
age of 65 if they should continue in employment and on a change in control, reconstruction, amalgamation or voluntary winding-up of the Company. 

An option will lapse six months following the bonus date, except if the participant dies, in which case an option will lapse 12 months following death, if later. 

Executive Long-Term Incentive Plan (“LTIP”) 
The LTIP scheme was implemented in November 2006. 

The scheme was designed to allow awards to be made to eligible employees selected by the Remuneration Committee. 

The vesting of an award granted to an Executive Director of the Company shall, or in the case of an award granted to any other Group employee may, be 
subject to the satisfaction of one or more Performance Conditions. The Remuneration Committee may determine or recommend to the Trustee that the 
vesting of an award will be subject to any other objective condition in addition to the Performance Conditions. The performance conditions on current 
awards, are included in Note 24. 

The rules of the LTIP schemes allow participants to exercise options, to the extent they have satisfied the performance conditions, after the expiry of the 
vesting period. 

No option shall be granted under the LTIP scheme on any date if, as a result, the total number of shares issued or issuable pursuant to options and other 
rights granted under the LTIP scheme and any other employee share scheme established by the Company on or after Admission, would exceed 10%  
(5% excluding other share schemes) of the issued ordinary share capital of the Company on date of grant. 

Ordinary Shares issued pursuant to the LTIP scheme shall rank pari passu in all respects with the ordinary shares already in issue. 

33

Hargreaves Services plc Annual Report 2013Corporate GovernanceReview of the YearFinancial StatementsRemuneration Report  
Continued

Executive Long-Term Incentive Plan (“LTIP”) (continued)
An option will lapse ten years after the date of the grant, except if the participant dies, in which case the option will lapse 12 months following death, 
whichever date is earlier. 

By order of the Board 

David Morgan
Senior Independent Director
23 September 2013

34

Hargreaves Services plc Annual Report 2013Statement of Directors’ Responsibilities in Respect  
of the Annual Report and the Financial Statements 

The Directors are responsible for preparing the Annual Report and the Financial Statements in accordance with applicable law and regulations. 

Company law requires the Directors to prepare Group and parent company financial statements for each financial year. As required by the AIM Rules of the 
London Stock Exchange they are required to prepare the Group financial statements in accordance with IFRSs as adopted by the EU and applicable law and 
have elected to prepare the parent company financial statements on the same basis. 

Under company law the Directors must not approve the financial statements unless they are satisfied that they give a true and fair view of the state of  
affairs of the Group and parent company and of the profit or loss of the Group for that period. In preparing each of the Group and parent company financial 
statements, the Directors are required to: 

•	 Select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently; 
•	 Make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent; 
•	 State whether they have been prepared in accordance with IFRSs as adopted by the EU; and 
•	 Prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the Group and the parent company will continue  

in business. 

The Directors are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records that are sufficient to show and explain the parent company’s transactions and 
disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the parent company and enable them to ensure that its financial statements comply 
with the Companies Act 2006. They have general responsibility for taking such steps as are reasonably open to them to safeguard the assets of the Group 
and to prevent and detect fraud and other irregularities. 

The Directors are responsible for the maintenance and integrity of the corporate and financial information included on the Company’s website. 

Legislation in the UK governing the preparation and dissemination of financial statements may differ from legislation in other jurisdictions. 

35

Hargreaves Services plc Annual Report 2013Corporate GovernanceReview of the YearFinancial StatementsIndependent Auditor’s Report to the 
Members of Hargreaves Services plc 

We have audited the financial statements of Hargreaves Services plc for the year ended 31 May 2013, set out on pages 37 to 83. The financial reporting 
framework that has been applied in their preparation is applicable law and International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRSs) as adopted by the EU and,  
as regards the parent company financial statements, as applied in accordance with the provisions of the Companies Act 2006. 

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. 

Respective Responsibilities of Directors and Auditor 
As explained more fully in the Directors’ Responsibilities Statement set out on page 35, 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. 

Scope of the Audit of the Financial Statements 
A description of the scope of an audit of financial statements is provided on the Financial Reporting Council’s website at www.frc.org.uk/auditscopeukprivate.

Opinion on Financial Statements 
In our opinion: 

•	 The financial statements give a true and fair view of the state of the Group’s and of the parent company’s affairs as at 31 May 2013 and of the Group’s  

loss for the year then ended; 

•	 The Group financial statements have been properly prepared in accordance with IFRSs as adopted by the EU; 
•	 The parent company financial statements have been properly prepared in accordance with IFRSs as adopted by the EU and as applied in  

accordance with the provisions of the Companies Act 2006; and 

•	 The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006. 

Opinion on Other Matter Prescribed by the Companies Act 2006 
In our opinion the information given in 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 
We have nothing to report in respect of the following matters where the Companies Act 2006 requires us to report to you if, in our opinion: 

•	 Adequate accounting records have not been kept by the parent company, or returns adequate for our audit have not been received from branches not 

visited by us; or 

•	 The parent company financial statements are not in agreement with the accounting records and returns; or 
•	 Certain disclosures of Directors’ remuneration specified by law are not made; or 
•	 We have not received all the information and explanations we require for our audit. 

Nick Plumb 
(Senior Statutory Auditor) 
for and on behalf of KPMG Audit Plc, Statutory Auditor 
Chartered Accountants 
Quayside House 
110 Quayside 
Newcastle upon Tyne 
NE1 3DX 

23 September 2013 

36

Hargreaves Services plc Annual Report 2013Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income 
for year ended 31 May 2013 

Continuing activities

Revenue 
Cost of sales 

Gross profit 
Other operating income 
Administrative expenses – Impairment of goodwill and intangible assets
Other administrative expenses 

Operating profit 
Financial income 
Financial expenses 
Share of profit in jointly controlled entities (net of tax) 

Profit before tax 
Income tax expense 

Profit for the year from continuing operations

Discontinued operations
Loss for the year from discontinued operations

(Loss)/profit for the year

Other comprehensive income/(expense) 
Foreign exchange translation differences 
Effective portion of changes in fair value of cash flow hedges 
Actuarial gains and losses on defined benefit pension plans
Tax recognised on other comprehensive income/(expense) 

Other comprehensive expense for the year, net of tax 

Total comprehensive (expense)/income for the year 

(Loss)/profit attributable to: 
Equity holders of the Company 
Non-controlling interest 

(Loss)/profit for the year 

Total comprehensive (expense)/income attributable to: 
Equity holders of the Company 
Non-controlling interest 

Total comprehensive (expense)/income for the year 

Basic earnings per share (pence)
Diluted earnings per share (pence)
Basic earnings per share from continuing operations (pence)
Diluted earnings per share from continuing operations (pence)

Non-GAAP measures (continuing)
Basic underlying earnings per share (pence)
Diluted underlying earnings per share (pence)

2013  
£000

Restated 
2012  
£000

843,298 
(756,930)

617,924 
(533,974) 

86,368
355
(4,131)
(38,620)

43,972
831
(4,313)
2,573

83,950 
723 
–
(35,726) 

48,947 
660 
(4,754) 
99 

Note

1,2 

4

5

1,5,6 
8
8
14

43,063
(10,933)

44,952 
(12,345) 

10

32,130

32,607

9

(81,757)

(1,800)

(49,627)

30,807

530
(8,086)
655 
1,718

(2,201)
3,068
(3,274)
(6)

23

(5,183)

(2,413)

(54,810)

28,394

(46,438)
(3,189)

29,455
1,352

(49,627) 

30,807

(51,640)
(3,170)

27,310
1,084

(54,810)

28,394

(166.68)
(166.68)
112.53
110.96

109.00
106.12
116.73
113.65

136.52
134.63

128.43
125.04

11
11
11
11

11
11

37

Hargreaves Services plc Annual Report 2013Review of the YearCorporate GovernanceFinancial StatementsBalance Sheets 
at 31 May 2013 

Non-current assets 
Property, plant and equipment 
Intangible assets 
Investments in jointly controlled entities 
Investments in subsidiary undertakings 
Derivative financial instruments 
Deferred tax assets 

Current assets 
Assets held for sale
Inventories 
Derivative financial instruments 
Trade and other receivables 
Cash and cash equivalents 

Total assets 

Non-current liabilities 
Other interest-bearing loans and borrowings 
Retirement benefit obligations 
Provisions 
Derivative financial instruments 
Deferred tax liabilities 

Current liabilities 
Bank overdraft 
Other interest-bearing loans and borrowings 
Trade and other payables 
Income tax liabilities 
Provisions 
Derivative financial instruments 

Total liabilities 

Net assets 

38

Group

Company

Note

2013  
£000 

2012  
£000 

2013  
£000 

2012  
£000 

12 
13 
14 
14 
15 
17 

9
18 
15
19 
20 

21 
23 
25 
16 
17

20 
21 
22 

25
16 

60,070
19,149
2,719
–
37
4,108

98,340 
29,831 
140
–
–
–

–
–
42
32,578 
–
123

–
–
42 
32,064 
–
123 

86,083

128,311 

32,743

32,229 

14,997
96,193
3,216
149,558
61,435

–
112,027 
6,051 
114,779 
45,852 

– 
–
–
469,152
11,845 

–
–
–
329,805 
22,270

325,399

278,709 

480,997

352,075 

411,482

407,020 

513,740

384,304

(92,686)
(3,640)
(7,620)
(3,150)
–

(82,405) 
(5,969) 
(9,282) 
(3,258) 
(3,482) 

(83,632) 

–
–
–
–

(73,076) 
–
–
–
–

(107,096) 

(104,396)

(83,632)

(73,076)

(42,476)
(6,446)
(117,841)
(9,344)
(2,285)
(7,664)

(31,215) 
(12,094) 
(100,462) 
(20,117) 
–
(2,375) 

–
–
(341,705)
–
–
(12) 

–
–
(260,530)
–
–
(121)

(186,056) 

(166,263)

(341,717)

(260,651)

(293,152)

(270,659) 

(425,349)

(333,727)

118,330

136,361 

88,391

50,577 

Hargreaves Services plc Annual Report 2013Equity attributable to equity holders of the parent 
Share capital 
Share premium 
Other reserves 
Translation reserve 
Merger reserve 
Hedging reserve 
Capital redemption reserve 
Retained earnings 

Non-controlling interest 

Total equity 

Group

Company

Note

2013  
£000 

2012  
£000 

2013  
£000 

2012  
£000 

26 

26
26
26
26
26

3,296
73,208
211
(872)
1,022 
(5,692)
1,530
47,265 

2,709 
32,105 
211 
(1,383) 
1,022 
525 
1,530 
97,804

119,968
(1,638)

134,523
1,838 

3,296
73,208
–
–
1,022
–
1,530 
9,335

88,391
–

2,709 
32,105
–
–
1,022 
–
1,530 
13,211

50,577
–

118,330

136,361 

88,391

50,577 

These financial statements were approved by the Board of Directors on 23 September 2013 and were signed on its behalf by: 

Gordon Banham 
Director 

Iain Cockburn 
Director 

Registered Number: 4952865 

39

Hargreaves Services plc Annual Report 2013Review of the YearCorporate GovernanceFinancial Statements 
 
 
Statements of Changes in Equity 
for year ended 31 May 2013 

Group 

Balance at 1 June 2011 
Total comprehensive  
income for the year 

Profit for the year 
Other comprehensive income 
Foreign exchange translation differences 
Effective portion of changes in  
fair value of cash flow hedges 

Actuarial gains and losses on defined 

benefit pension plans 
Tax recognised on other  
comprehensive income 

Total other comprehensive income 

Total comprehensive income for the year 

Transactions with owners  

recorded directly in equity 

Issue of shares 
Equity settled share-based  
payment transactions 

Dividends 

Total contributions by and  
distributions to owners 

Share 
capital 
£000

Share 
premium 
£000

Translation 
reserve 
£000

Hedging 
reserve 
£000

Other 
reserves 
£000

Capital 
redemption 
reserve 
£000

Merger 
reserve 
£000

Retained 
earnings 
£000

Total 
parent 
equity 
£000

Non-
controlling 
interest 
£000

Total 
equity 
£000

2,683 

31,490 

550 

(1,759) 

211 

1,530 

1,022 

74,158  109,885

4,765  114,650

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

(1,933) 

–

–

–

–

–

3,068 

–

(784) 

(1,933) 

2,284 

(1,933) 

2,284 

26 

615 

–
–

–
–

26 

615 

–

–
–

–

–

–

–

–
–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–
–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–
–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–
–

–

–

–

29,455 

29,455 

1,352 

30,807 

(1,933) 

(268) 

(2,201) 

–

–

3,068 

(3,274) 

(3,274) 

778 

(6) 

–

–

–

3,068 

(3,274) 

(6) 

(2,496) 

(2,145) 

(268) 

(2,413) 

26,959 

27,310 

1,084 

28,394 

–

641 

–

641 

1,332 
(4,428) 

1,332 
(4,428) 

–
(3,642) 

1,332 
(8,070) 

(3,096) 

(2,455) 

(3,642) 

(6,097) 

(217) 

(217) 

(369) 

(586) 

(3,313) 

(2,672) 

(4,011) 

(6,683) 

Changes in ownership interests 
Acquisition of non-controlling  

interest without a change in control 

–

–

Total transactions with owners 

26 

615 

Balance at 31 May 2012 

2,709 

32,105 

(1,383) 

525 

211 

1,530 

1,022 

97,804  134,523

1,838  136,361

40

Hargreaves Services plc Annual Report 2013Group 

Balance at 1 June 2012 
Total comprehensive  
income for the year 

Loss for the year 
Other comprehensive income 
Foreign exchange translation differences 
Effective portion of changes in  
fair value of cash flow hedges 

Actuarial gains and losses on defined 

benefit pension plans 
Tax recognised on other  
comprehensive income 

Total other comprehensive expense 

Total comprehensive expense for the year 

Transactions with owners  

recorded directly in equity 

Issue of shares 
Equity settled share-based  
payment transactions 

Dividends 

Total contributions by and  
distributions to owners 

Share 
capital 
£000

Share 
premium 
£000

Translation 
reserve 
£000

Hedging 
reserve 
£000

Other 
reserves 
£000

Capital 
redemption 
reserve 
£000

Merger 
reserve 
£000

Retained 
earnings 
£000

Total 
parent 
equity 
£000

Non-
controlling 
interest 
£000

Total 
equity 
£000

2,709

32,105 

(1,383) 

525 

211 

1,530 

1,022 

97,804  134,523

1,838  136,361

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

511 

–

–

–

–

–

(8,086) 

–

1,869

511 

(6,217) 

511 

(6,217) 

587 

41,103 

–
–

–
–

587 

41,103 

–

–
–

–

–

–

–

–
–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–
–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–
–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–
–

–

–

–

(46,438) 

(46,438) 

(3,189) 

(49,627)

511 

19 

530 

–

–

(8,086) 

655

655 

(151) 

1,718 

–

–

–

(8,086) 

655 

1,718 

504 

(5,202) 

19 

(5,183) 

(45,934) 

(51,640) 

(3,170) 

(54,810) 

–

41,690 

–

41,690 

514
(5,119) 

514
(5,119) 

–
(306) 

514
(5,425) 

(4,605) 

37,085 

(306) 

36,779 

– 

–

– 

– 

(4,605) 

37,085 

(306) 

36,779 

Changes in ownership interests 
Acquisition of non-controlling  

interest without a change in control 

–

–

Total transactions with owners 

587 

41,103 

Balance at 31 May 2013 

3,296

73,208

(872) 

(5,692) 

211 

1,530 

1,022 

47,265  119,968

(1,638)  118,330

41

Hargreaves Services plc Annual Report 2013Review of the YearCorporate GovernanceFinancial StatementsStatements of Changes in Equity 
for year ended 31 May 2013  
Continued

Company

Balance at 1 June 2011 
Total comprehensive income for the year 
Profit for the year 
Other comprehensive income 

Total comprehensive income for the year 

Transactions with owners recorded directly in equity 
Issue of shares 
Equity settled share-based payment transactions 
Dividends 

Total transactions with owners 

Balance at 31 May 2012 

Balance at 1 June 2012

Total comprehensive income for the year
Profit for the year

Total comprehensive income for the year 

Transactions with owners recorded directly in equity 
Issue of shares 
Equity settled share-based payment transactions 
Dividends 

Total transactions with owners 

Share  
capital  
£000

2,683 

Share 
premium 
£000

31,490 

Capital 
redemption 
reserve  
£000

1,530 

Merger 
reserve  
£000

1,022 

–
–

–

26 
–
–

26 

–
–

–

615 
–
–

615 

–
–

–

–
–
–

–

–
–

–

–
–
–

–

Retained 
earnings 
£000

Total  
parent  
equity  
£000

5,731 

42,456 

10,576 
–

10,576 
–

10,576 

10,576 

–
1,332 
(4,428) 

641 
1,332 
(4,428) 

(3,096) 

(2,455) 

2,709 

32,105 

1,530 

1,022 

13,211 

50,577 

2,709 

32,105 

1,530

1,022 

13,211

50,577

–

– 

–

–

587
–
–

41,103
–
–

587

41,103

– 

–

–
–
–

–

–

–

–
–
–

–

729 

729

729

729

– 
514
(5,119)

41,690
514
(5,119)

(4,605) 

37,085

Balance at 31 May 2013 

3,296

73,208

1,530

1,022

9,335 

88,391

42

Hargreaves Services plc Annual Report 2013Cash Flow Statements 
for year ended 31 May 2013 

Cash flows from operating activities 
Profit for the year from continuing operations 
Adjustments for: 
Depreciation 
Amortisation and impairment of goodwill and intangible assets 
Dividend income 
Net finance expense 
Share of profit in jointly controlled entities 
Profit on sale of property, plant and equipment 
Equity settled share-based payment expenses 
Income tax expense 
Loss on derivative financial instruments 
Translation of non-controlling interest 

Change in inventories 
Change in trade and other receivables 
Change in trade and other payables 
Change in provisions and employee benefits 

Interest paid 
Income tax paid 

Net cash from continuing operating activities
Net cash from discontinued operating activities

Net cash from operating activities

Cash flows from investing activities 
Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment 
Dividends received 
Acquisition of subsidiaries, net of cash acquired 
Acquisition of property, plant and equipment 

Net cash from investing activities in continuing operations
Net cash from investing activities in discontinued operations

Net cash from investing activities 

Cash flows from financing activities 
Proceeds from the issue of share capital (net of directly attributable expenses)
Payment of finance lease liabilities 
Dividends paid 
(Repayment of)/Proceeds from promissory notes (net of expenses) 
Proceeds from revolving credit facility 
Debt refinancing costs 

Net cash from financing activities in continuing operations
Net cash from financing activities in discontinued operations

Group

Company

Note

2013  
£000 

Restated 
2012  
£000 

2013  
£000 

2012  
£000

32,130

32,607 

729

10,576 

8,345
7,985
–
3,482
(2,573)
(355)
307
10,933
–
19

60,273
(23,231)
(34,253)
30,951
35

33,775
(2,688)
(9,868)

21,219
(45,801)

7,682
4,392 
–
4,094
(99) 
(723) 
1,090 
12,345 
–
(269)

61,119 
(6,064) 
(46,100) 
17,991 
(135) 

26,811 
(2,986) 
(4,860) 

–
–
(1,394)
1,222
–
–
–
188 
(110)
–

635 
–

(138,140) 
81,174 
–

(56,331) 
(665) 
–

–
–
(10,769) 
1,235 
–
–
–
(238) 
121
–

925 
–
(25,447) 
21,569 
–

(2,953) 
(149) 
–

18,965
10,062

(56,996)
–

(3,102)
–

(24,582)

29,027 

(56,996) 

(3,102) 

1,289 
–
–
(6,954)

(5,665)
4,225

2,354 
–
(2,940) 
(9,329) 

(9,915)
(13,050)

(1,440)

(22,965) 

–
–
– 
–

–
–

–

41,690
(3,754)
(5,425)
(5,025) 
10,000 
–

641 
(4,496) 
(8,070) 
5,025
28,974 
–

41,690
–
(5,119)
–
10,000 
– 

37,486
(5,390)

22,074
(8,230)

46,572
–

–
5,769 
(568)
–

5,201
–

5,201 

641 
–
(4,428) 
–
31,000 
(2,026)

25,187
–

9

3
12

9

26

26

21

9

Net cash from financing activities 

32,096

13,844 

46,572 

25,187 

Net increase/(decrease) in cash and cash equivalents 
Cash and cash equivalents at 1 June 
Effect of exchange rate fluctuations on cash held 

6,074
14,637 
(1,752)

19,906 
(6,751) 
1,482 

(10,425)
22,270
–

27,286 
(5,016)
–

Cash and cash equivalents at 31 May 

20 

18,959

14,637 

11,845

22,270 

43

Hargreaves Services plc Annual Report 2013Review of the YearCorporate GovernanceFinancial Statements 
Notes 
(forming part of the financial statements) 

Accounting Policies 

1 
Hargreaves Services plc (the “Company”) is a company incorporated in the UK. 

The Group financial statements consolidate those of the Company and its subsidiaries (together referred to as the “Group”) and equity account the Group’s 
interest in associates and jointly controlled entities. The parent company financial statements present information about the Company as a separate entity 
and not about its Group. 

Both the parent company financial statements and the Group financial statements have been prepared and approved by the Directors in accordance with 
International Financial Reporting Standards as adopted by the EU (“Adopted IFRSs”). On publishing the parent company financial statements here together 
with the Group financial statements, the Company is taking advantage of the exemption in s408 of the Companies Act 2006 not to present its individual 
income statement and related notes that form a part of these approved financial statements. 

The accounting policies set out below have, unless otherwise stated, been applied consistently to all periods presented in these consolidated financial 
statements. In accordance with IFRS 5, the comparative figures within the statement of comprehensive income, cashflow statement and related notes  
have been restated to reflect the impact on prior period results of the operations that were discontinued in the current financial year (see Note 9).

In these financial statements various Adopted IFRSs which are effective for the first time, have been adopted including the following standards, 
amendments and interpretations: 

•	 Amendments to IFRS 7 “Disclosures – Transfers of Financial Assets”; and
•	 Amendments to IAS 12 “Deferred Tax: Recovery of Underlying Assets”.

The company has chosen to early adopt IFRIC 20 (stripping costs in the production phase of a surface mine), which is effective for annual periods beginning 
on or after 1 January 2013.

None of the Adopted IFRSs adopted by the Group had a significant impact on the Group’s result for the year or its equity. 

Accounting Estimates and Judgements 
The preparation of financial statements requires the Directors to make judgements, estimates and assumptions that may affect the application of 
accounting policies and the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, and income and expenses. The estimates and associated assumptions are based  
on historical experience and various other factors that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis of  
making the judgements about carrying values of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. Actual results may differ from  
these estimates. The key areas requiring the use of estimates and judgements which may significantly affect the financial statements are considered to be: 

 Measurement of the recoverable amounts of cash-generating units containing goodwill  
 This requires the identification of appropriate cash-generating units and the allocation of goodwill to these units. The assessment of impairment 
involves assumptions on the estimated future operating cash flows from these cash-generating units, the discount rate applied in the calculations  
and the comparison of the cash flows to the carrying value of the goodwill. Management have assessed the sensitivity of carrying amounts of cash 
generating units containing goodwill to reasonably possible changes in key assumptions. In the current year assets held for sale relate to residual 
equipment from discontinued operations. Estimates have been made of the net proceeds from these disposals.

 Mining production and profitability  
Whilst the Group’s deep mining activities have ceased following the closure of Maltby, it has a growing surface mining business through the Tower 
joint venture and the recent transactions in Scotland. Estimates of mine life and production levels, and the profitability of future production (which in 
the medium-term is in part dependent on future prices for coal and coke) are included in Group forecasts. These forecasts are used in the impairment 
assessment of certain related mining assets, including goodwill. Estimates of mine life and production levels also form the basis of depreciation of 
capitalised mining costs.

 Restoration costs  
Obligations exist at both Maltby Colliery and Monckton Coke Works to carry out restoration at the end of the productive life. The related provisions 
(see Note 25) are based on the nature and extent of the contamination and the estimated costs of restoration. These key assumptions are reviewed  
on a regular basis and these reviews may lead to adjustments to the provisions over their lives. 

 The Group’s surface mining activities also give rise to obligations for site restoration. The restoration provision is based on the Group’s current 
obligation for the cost of future site restoration. Restoration provisions are measured at the expected value of future cash flows, discounted to  
their present value applying an appropriate risk-adjusted rate. Significant judgements and estimates are involved in forming an expectation  
of future activities and the amount and timing of the associated cash flows. Such expectations are based on existing planning requirements  
and management’s future development plans which give rise to a constructive obligation.

 Post retirement employee benefits  
The Group operates both funded defined benefit schemes and unfunded concessionary fuel schemes. The determination of the Group’s obligation 
under these schemes is dependent on a number of long-term assumptions including the discount rate, inflation rate, mortality rates and expected 
return on scheme assets. Differences arising from actual experience or future changes in assumptions will be reflected in future years. 

 Share-based payments  
The estimation of share-based payment costs requires the selection of an appropriate valuation model together with assumptions as to the key inputs 
into the model, including the achievement of certain service and performance conditions. Differences arising from actual experience may be reflected 
in future years. 

a) 

b) 

c) 

d) 

e) 

44

Hargreaves Services plc Annual Report 2013 
Accounting Policies (continued) 

1 
Accounting Estimates and Judgements (continued)
f)   Deferred tax asset

A deferred tax asset is recognised only to the extent that it is probably that future taxable profits will be available against which the asset can be utilised.

Measurement Convention 
The financial statements are prepared on the historical cost basis except that derivative financial instruments and financial instruments classified as fair value 
through the profit or loss or as available-for-sale are stated at their fair value. 

Going Concern 
The Group’s business activities, together with the factors likely to affect its future development performance and position are set out in the Group Business 
Review on pages 4 to 8. The financial position of the Group, its cash flows, liquidity position and borrowing facilities are described in the Financial Review 
on pages 16 to 21. In addition Note 27 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 exposure to credit risk and liquidity risk. 

The Group has considerable financial resources together with long-term contracts with a number of customers and suppliers across different geographic 
areas and industries. As a consequence, the Directors believe that the Group is well placed to manage its business risks successfully despite the current 
uncertain economic outlook. In making this assessment, the Board has reviewed projections for the next five years, taking into account key assumptions 
and uncertainties. 

After making enquiries, the Directors have a reasonable expectation that the Company and the Group have adequate resources to continue in operational 
existence for the foreseeable future. Accordingly, they continue to adopt the going concern basis in preparing the annual report and accounts. 

The financial statements were approved by the Board of Directors on 23 September 2013.

Basis of Consolidation 
Subsidiaries 
Subsidiaries are entities controlled by the Group. Control exists where the Group has the power, directly or indirectly, to govern the financial and operating 
policies of an entity so as to obtain benefits from its activities. The acquisition date is the date on which control is transferred to the acquirer. The financial 
statements of subsidiaries are included in the consolidated financial information from the date that control commences until the date that control ceases. 
Losses applicable to the non-controlling interests in a subsidiary are allocated to the non-controlling interest even if doing so causes the non-controlling 
interests to have a deficit balance. 

Intra-group balances and transactions, and any unrealised gains and losses or income and expenses arising from intra-group transactions, are eliminated 
when preparing the consolidated financial information. 

Associates and Jointly Controlled Entities 
Associates are those entities in which the Group has significant influence, but not control, over the financial and operating policies. Significant influence is 
presumed to exist when the Group holds between 20 and 50 percent of the voting power of another entity. 

Jointly controlled entities are those entities over whose activities the Group has joint control, established by contractual agreements and requiring unanimous 
consent for strategic, financial and operating decisions. The consolidated accounts include the Group’s share of the total comprehensive income and equity 
movements of jointly controlled entities and associates on an equity accounted basis. The results of jointly controlled entities and associates are included in the 
consolidated accounts from the date that joint control or significant influence respectively, commences until the date that it ceases. When the Group’s share  
of losses exceeds its interest in an equity accounting investee, the Group’s carrying amount is reduced to nil and recognition of further losses is discontinued 
except to the extent that the Group has incurred legal or constructive obligations or made payments on behalf of an investee. 

Foreign Currency 
Transactions in foreign currencies are translated to the respective functional currencies of Group entities at the foreign exchange rate ruling at the date  
of the transaction. Monetary assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies at the balance sheet date are retranslated to the functional currency  
at the foreign exchange rate ruling at that date. Non-monetary assets and liabilities that are measured in terms of historical cost in a foreign currency  
are translated using the exchange rate at the date of the transaction. Foreign exchange differences arising on translation are recognised in the income 
statement except for differences arising on qualifying cashflow hedges which are recognised directly in other comprehensive income. 

The assets and liabilities of foreign operations are translated into sterling, the Group’s presentational currency, at the exchange rates ruling at the balance 
sheet date. The revenues and expenses of foreign operations are translated at rates approximating to the foreign exchange rates ruling at the dates of  
the transactions. Exchange differences arising from this translation of foreign operations are reported as an item of other comprehensive income and 
accumulated in the translation reserve or non-controlling interest, as the case may be. They are recycled to profit or loss upon disposal. 

Classification of Financial Instruments Issued by the Group 
Financial instruments issued by the Group are treated as equity (i.e. forming part of shareholders’ funds) only to the extent that they meet the following  
two conditions: 

•	 They include no contractual obligations upon the Group to deliver cash or other financial assets or to exchange financial assets or financial liabilities with 

another party under conditions that are potentially unfavourable to the Group; and 

•	 Where the instrument will or may be settled in the Company’s own equity instruments, it is either a non-derivative that includes no obligation to deliver 
a variable number of the Company’s own equity instruments or is a derivative that will be settled by the Company’s exchanging a fixed amount of cash 
or other financial assets for a fixed number of its own equity instruments. 

45

Hargreaves Services plc Annual Report 2013Review of the YearCorporate GovernanceFinancial Statements 
Notes 
Continued

Accounting Policies (continued) 

1 
Classification of Financial Instruments Issued by the Group (continued)
To the extent that this definition is not met, the proceeds of issue are classified as a financial liability. Where the instrument so classified takes the legal form of 
the Company’s own shares, the amounts presented in these financial statements for called up share capital and share premium account exclude amounts in 
relation to those shares. 

Where a financial instrument that contains both equity and financial liability components exists these components are separated and accounted for 
individually under the above policy. The finance cost on the financial liability component is correspondingly higher over the life of the instrument. 

Finance payments associated with financial liabilities are dealt with as part of finance expenses. Finance payments associated with financial instruments  
that are classified in equity are dividends and are recorded directly in equity. 

Financial Instruments 
Non-derivative Financial Instruments 
Non-derivative financial instruments include investments, trade and other receivables, cash and cash equivalents, loans and borrowings and trade and 
other payables. These are measured at amortised cost. 

Derivative Financial Instruments 
The Group uses interest rate swaps to help manage its interest rate risk, and forward foreign currency contracts to manage its exchange rate risk. The Group 
also uses derivative sale and purchase contracts to mitigate the risk of fluctuating coal prices and exchange rate risk. 

Derivative financial instruments are recognised initially at fair value and subsequently re-measured to fair value at each reporting date and changes 
therein are accounted for as described below. 

Cash Flow Hedges 
Where a derivative financial Instrument is designated as a hedge of the variability in cash flows of a highly probable forecast transaction (for example, 
interest payments, sales and purchases denominated in foreign currency, sale and purchase of commodities), changes in the fair value of the derivative 
hedging instrument designated as a cash flow hedge are recognised directly in the hedging reserve to the extent that the hedge is effective. Amounts 
deferred in equity are recognised in the Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income when the hedged item affects profit or loss. To the extent that 
the hedge is ineffective, changes in fair value are recognised immediately in profit or loss. 

Derivatives designated as hedging instruments are accounted for in line with the nature of the hedging arrangement. Derivatives are intended to be highly 
effective in mitigating the above risks, and hedge accounting is adopted where the required hedge documentation is in place and the relevant test criteria 
are met. 

Changes in the fair value of any derivative instruments that do not qualify for hedge accounting are recognised immediately in the income statement as 
part of financing costs. 

Intra-Group Financial Instruments 
Where the Company enters into financial guarantee contracts to guarantee the indebtedness of other companies within its group, the Company considers 
these to be insurance arrangements and accounts for them as such. In this respect, the Company treats the guarantee contract as a contingent liability until 
such time as it becomes probable that the Company will be required to make a payment under the guarantee. 

Property, Plant and Equipment 
Property, plant and equipment are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation and impairment losses. Where parts of an item of property, plant and 
equipment have different useful lives, they are accounted for as separate items of property, plant and equipment. 

Mine development costs at Maltby Colliery were capitalised and depreciated over the working life of the area of the mine to which the costs are 
attributable. Mine development costs at the Group’s surface mining operations are depreciated on a tonnage extracted basis over the estimated 
production life of the site.

Depreciation is charged to the income statement on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful lives of each part of an item of property, plant and 
equipment. Land is not depreciated. Depreciation rates are as follows: 

Mineral reserves 
Freehold buildings 
Leasehold improvements 
Motor vehicles and plant 
Furniture and equipment 
Fixtures and fittings 

Mining assets
Surface mine development 
Restoration asset  
Stripping activity asset 

– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 

– 
– 
– 

12.5% p.a. 
2% to 4% p.a. 
15% p.a. 
10% to 20% p.a. 
25% p.a. 
15% p.a. 

units of production coal
units of production coal
units of production coal from the specific box cut to which the stripping relates 

Depreciation methods, useful lives and residual values are reviewed at each balance sheet date. Depreciation on assets in the course of construction 
commences when the assets are available for use. 

46

Hargreaves Services plc Annual Report 2013 
 
 
 
Accounting Policies (continued) 

1 
Mining Assets
Surface Mine Development Asset
Costs incurred in preparing and developing sites are referred to as ‘surface mine development costs’ and are capitalised within ‘property, plant and 
equipment’ as part of the ‘mining assets’. Surface mine development costs principally comprise:

•	 The costs associated with achieving necessary planning permission and consents, licences and permits required to operate the site; 
•	 Drilling, geology and mine design costs;
•	 Site development and infrastructure costs.

This asset is amortised to the statement of comprehensive income on a units of production method. Production is deemed to commence when work to 
extract coal from the first production box cut begins.

Income from incidental coal that is extracted during the development phase is included within the consolidated statement of comprehensive income 
together with the associated direct costs. 

Stripping Costs 
The company has chosen to early adopt IFRIC 20 (stripping costs in the production phase of a surface mine), which is effective for annual periods beginning 
on or after 1 January 2013.

During the production phase, a non-current “stripping activity asset” will be recognised within ‘mining assets’ to capitalise costs of removing overburden  
to gain access to or improve access to coal deposits; to the extent that future economic benefits are probable, the deposit of coal to which access has been 
improved can be identified, and costs reliably measured. The stripping activity asset will be initially measured at cost and subsequently carried at cost or its 
revalued amount less amortisation and impairment. The stripping activity asset will be amortised over the units of production of the coal deposit identified 
as being made more accessible as a result of the stripping activity.

Business Combinations 
Subject to the transitional relief in IFRS 1, all business combinations are accounted for by applying the purchase method. Goodwill arises from the acquisition 
of businesses and represents the difference between the cost of the acquisition and the fair value of the identifiable assets, liabilities and contingent liabilities 
acquired. Identifiable intangibles are those which can be sold separately or which arise from legal rights regardless of whether those rights are separable. 

Acquisitions on or After 1 June 2010 
For acquisitions on or after 1 June 2010, 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. 

When the excess is negative, a bargain purchase gain is recognised immediately in profit or loss. 

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 is recognised at fair value at the acquisition date. If the contingent 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 consideration are recognised 
in profit or loss. 

On a transaction-by-transaction basis, the Group elects to measure non-controlling interests either at its fair value or at its proportionate interest in the 
recognised amount of the identifiable net assets of the acquiree at the acquisition date. 

Acquisitions Between 1 June 2006 and 1 June 2010 
Goodwill arising on acquisitions that have occurred between 1 June 2006 and 1 June 2010 is capitalised and subject to impairment review, both annually 
and when there are indications the carrying value may not be recoverable. Negative goodwill arising on an acquisition is recognised immediately in profit 
or loss. 

Acquisitions Prior to 1 June 2006 (Date of Transition to IFRSs) 
Goodwill arising on acquisitions prior to 1 June 2006 was capitalised and amortised under UK GAAP. This goodwill is carried at the UK GAAP carrying value 
at the date of transition to adopted IFRS and is subject to impairment reviews as described above. 

Acquisitions and Disposals of Non-Controlling Interests 
Acquisitions and disposals of non-controlling interests that do not result in a change of control are accounted for as transactions with owners in their 
capacity as owners and therefore no goodwill is recognised as a result of such transactions. The adjustments to non-controlling interests are based on a 
proportionate amount of the net assets of the subsidiary. Any difference between the price paid or received and the amount by which non-controlling 
interests are adjusted is recognised directly in equity and attributed to the owners of the parent. 

Prior to the adoption of IAS 27 (2008), goodwill was recognised on the acquisition of non-controlling interests in a subsidiary, which represented the excess 
of the cost of the additional investment over the carrying amount of the interest in the net assets acquired at the date of the transaction. 

47

Hargreaves Services plc Annual Report 2013Review of the YearCorporate GovernanceFinancial StatementsNotes 
Continued

Accounting Policies (continued) 

1 
Intangible Assets and Goodwill 
Goodwill is stated at cost less any accumulated impairment losses. Goodwill is allocated to cash-generating units and is not amortised but is tested annually for 
impairment. In respect of equity accounted investees, the carrying amount of goodwill is included in the carrying amount of the investment in the investee. 

Other intangible assets that are acquired by the Group, which have finite useful economic lives, are stated at cost less accumulated amortisation and 
accumulated impairment losses. Amortisation is recognised in profit and loss on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful lives of intangible assets  
from the date that they are available for use. 

Assets held for sale
The Group has classified non-current assets as held for sale if the carrying value will be recovered principally through sale rather than continuing use,  
they are available for immediate sale and the sale is highly probable within one year.

On initial classification as held for sale, assets are measured at the lower of carrying amount and fair value less costs to sell, with any adjustments taken  
to the Income Statement. In accordance with IFRS 5, no reclassifications are made in prior periods.

Inventories 
Inventories are stated at the lower of cost and net realisable value. Cost is based on the weighted average method and includes expenditure incurred in 
acquiring the inventories, production or conversion costs and other costs in bringing them to their existing location and condition. 

Prior to the closure of Maltby Colliery, the cost of preparing proceeding coal faces was held on the balance sheet within work in progress and is charged on 
a tonnage-extracted basis over the estimated production life of the relevant face. Work in progress also includes work to date on service contracts where 
project milestones have not yet been reached. 

Trade and Other Receivables 
Trade and other receivables are recognised initially at fair value. Subsequent to initial recognition they are measured at amortised cost less any impairment 
losses. A provision for impairment of trade receivables is established where there is objective evidence that the Group will not be able to collect all amounts 
due according to the agreed terms of the receivables concerned. 

Cash and Cash Equivalents 
Cash and cash equivalents comprise cash balances and call deposits. Bank overdrafts that are repayable on demand and form an integral part of the 
Group’s cash management are included as a component of cash and cash equivalents for the purpose only of the cash flow statement. 

Trade and Other Payables 
Trade and other payables are non-interest bearing and are recognised initially at fair value. Subsequent to initial recognition they are measured at amortised 
cost using the effective interest method. 

Investments 
Investments in jointly controlled entities, associates and subsidiaries are carried at cost less impairment in the parent company accounts. 

Interest-Bearing Borrowings 
Interest-bearing borrowings are recognised initially at fair value less attributable transactions costs. Subsequent to initial recognition, interest-bearing 
borrowings are stated at amortised cost using the effective interest method, less any impairment losses. 

Impairment 
The carrying amounts of the Group’s financial assets, other than inventories and deferred tax assets, are reviewed at each balance sheet date to determine 
whether there is any indication of impairment. If any such indication exists, the asset’s recoverable amount is estimated. 

An impairment loss is recognised whenever the carrying amount of an asset or its cash-generating unit exceeds its recoverable amount. Impairment losses 
are recognised in the income statement. 

Impairment losses recognised in respect of cash-generating units are allocated first to reduce the carrying amount of any goodwill allocated to cash 
generating units and then to reduce the carrying amount of the other assets in the unit on a pro rata basis. A cash-generating unit is the smallest 
identifiable group of assets that generates cash inflows that are largely independent of the cash inflows from other assets or groups of assets. 

Reversals of Impairment 
An impairment loss in respect of goodwill is not reversed. 

In respect of other assets, an impairment loss is reversed when there is an indication that the impairment loss may no longer exist and there has been  
a change in the estimates used to determine the recoverable amount. 

An impairment loss is reversed only to the extent that the asset’s carrying amount does not exceed the carrying amount that would have been determined, 
net of depreciation or amortisation, if no impairment loss had been recognised. 

Employee Benefits 
Defined Benefit Pension Plans 
Following the acquisition of The Monckton Coke & Chemical Company Limited on 17 June 2005 and Maltby Colliery Limited on 26 February 2007, the 
Group operates two concessionary fuel retirement benefit schemes. 

In addition, following the acquisition of Maltby Colliery, the Group is a member of two pension schemes providing benefits based on final pensionable pay. 
The assets of the scheme are held separately from those of the Group. 

The retirement benefit scheme liabilities are calculated by a qualified actuary using the projected unit method. The concessionary fuel retirement benefit 
schemes are unfunded retirement benefits and as such there are no assets in the schemes. The retirement benefit deficits are recognised in full, the 
movement in the scheme deficits is split between operating charges, finance items and, in other comprehensive income, actuarial gains and losses. 

48

Hargreaves Services plc Annual Report 2013Accounting Policies (continued) 

1 
Employee Benefits (continued)
Defined Benefit Pension Plans (continued)
Pension scheme assets are measured using market values. Pension scheme liabilities are measured using a projected unit method and discounted at the 
current rate of return on a high quality corporate bond of equivalent term and currency to the liability. The pension scheme surplus (to the extent that it  
is recoverable) or deficit is recognised in full. The movement in the scheme surplus/deficit is split between operating charges, finance items and, in other 
comprehensive income, actuarial gains and losses. 

Defined Contribution Pension Plans 
The Group operates a Group personal pension scheme. The assets of the scheme are held separately from those of the Group in an independently 
administered fund. The amount charged against profits represents the contributions payable to the scheme in respect of the financial period. 

Obligations for contributions to defined contribution pension plans are recognised as an expense in the income statement as incurred. 

Share-Based Payment Transactions 
The Group operates a share option scheme for certain employees. The fair value of options granted is recognised as an employee expense with a 
corresponding increase in equity. The fair value is measured at grant date and spread over the period during which the employees become unconditionally 
entitled to the options. The fair value of the options granted is measured using an option valuation model, taking into account the terms and conditions 
upon which the options were granted. The amount recognised as an expense is adjusted to reflect the actual number of share options that vest except 
where forfeiture is due only to share prices not achieving the threshold for vesting. 

Where the Company grants share-based payment awards over its own shares to the employees of its subsidiaries it recognises, in its individual financial 
statements, an increase in the cost of investment in its subsidiaries equivalent to the equity settled share-based payment charge recognised in its 
consolidated financial statements with the corresponding credit being recognised directly in equity. 

Revenue 
Revenue is measured at the fair value of consideration received or receivable, excluding value added tax, for goods and services supplied to external 
customers. All directly attributable expenses in respect of services provided are recognised in the income statement in the period to which they relate. 

Coal, Coke and Other Mineral Sales 
Revenue is recognised when delivery of the product has been made and title has passed to the customer. A number of sales are sold on long-term 
contracts, whereby quantities and pricing are agreed with customers for a defined future period. Revenue is recognised on individual sales when the 
conditions above have been met. 

Revenue is measured at the invoiced price net of VAT and any discounts. If, as a separate transaction, the Company has entered into a derivative contract  
to hedge the sale price, any gains or losses on that hedge instrument are also included in revenue at the same time as the hedged transaction is recorded 
as revenue. 

Services 
Revenue is recognised when the service has been delivered and the Group has performed its obligations under the sales contract. A large proportion of 
sales are subject to long-term contracts, typically on a cost-plus or similar basis. The profit on such contracts is recognised (and invoiced) evenly over the 
term of the contract unless it is clear that the timing of contract performance requires profit to be recognised on an alternative basis. Certain contracts,  
for example, include specific programmes of work to be carried out. In these instances, revenue is recognised on achievement of specific programme 
milestones through agreement with the customer. Any losses on such contracts are recognised in full immediately.

Leases 
As Lessee 
Leases of property, plant and equipment where the Group has substantially all the risks and rewards of ownership are classified as finance leases. Finance 
leases are capitalised at the lease’s inception at the lower of the fair value of the leased asset and the present value of the minimum lease payments. The 
corresponding rental obligations, net of finance charges, are included in other payables. Each lease payment is allocated between the liability and finance 
charges so as to achieve a constant rate of interest costs charged to the income statement on the outstanding balance. The property, plant and equipment 
acquired under finance leases are depreciated over the shorter of the asset’s useful life and the lease term. 

Leases where the lessor retains a significant portion of the risks and rewards of ownership are classified as operating leases. Payments made under 
operating leases (net of any incentives received from the lessor) are charged to the income statement on a straight-line basis over the term of the lease. 

As Lessor
The Group also acts as lessor for certain equipment leased on a Hire Purchase basis. As substantially all the risks and rewards of ownership have passed to 
the lessee, the Group has derecognised the related equipment and recognised a recoverable for the minimum lease payments discounted at a rate which 
reflects a constant periodic rate of return over the life of the lease. 

Net Financing Costs 
Net financing costs comprise interest payable, finance charges on finance leases and interest receivable on funds invested together with changes in the fair 
values of interest rate swaps and foreign currency forward contracts recognised through the profit and loss and the expected returns on plan assets and 
interest on the pension scheme liability. 

Interest income and interest payable is recognised in the income statement as it accrues, using the effective interest method. Dividend income is 
recognised in the income statement on the date the entity’s right to receive payments is established. 

Income Tax 
Income tax on the profit or loss for the period comprises both current and deferred tax. Tax is recognised in the income statement except to the extent  
that it relates to items recognised directly in equity, in which case it is recognised in equity. 

49

Hargreaves Services plc Annual Report 2013Review of the YearCorporate GovernanceFinancial StatementsNotes 
Continued

Accounting Policies (continued) 

1 
Income Tax (continued)
Current tax is the expected tax payable on the taxable income for the year, using tax rates enacted or substantively enacted at the balance sheet date,  
and any adjustment to tax payable in respect of previous years. 

Deferred tax is provided on temporary differences between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities for financial reporting purposes and the amounts 
used for taxation purposes. The amount of deferred tax provided is based on the expected manner of realisation or settlement of the carrying amount of 
assets and liabilities, using tax rates enacted or substantively enacted at the balance sheet date. 

The following temporary differences are not provided for: the initial recognition of goodwill, the initial recognition of assets or liabilities that affect neither 
accounting nor taxable profit other than in a business combination, and differences relating to investments in subsidiaries to the extent that they will 
probably not reverse in the foreseeable future. 

A deferred tax asset is recognised only to the extent that it is probable that future taxable profits will be available against which the asset can be utilised. 

Provisions 
A provision is recognised in the balance sheet when the Group has a present legal or constructive obligation as a result of a past event, that can be reliably 
measured and it is probable that an outflow of economic benefits will be required to settle the obligation. If the effect is material, provisions are determined 
by discounting the expected, risk adjusted, future cash flows at a pre-tax risk-free rate. 

Restoration and Rehabilitation Costs
The mining, extraction and processing activities of the Group normally give rise to obligations for site restoration. Restoration works can include site 
decommissioning and dismantling and site and land rehabilitation. The extent of work required and the associated costs are dependent on the 
requirements of relevant authorities and the company’s environmental policies.

An initial provision reflecting the current obligation for the cost of future site restoration is recognised at the commencement of the production phase for 
all liabilities created through development of the surface mine. Production activities give rise to further restoration obligations and provisions are made  
for these liabilities as they arise.

Restoration provisions are measured at the expected value of future cash flows, discounted to their present value applying an appropriate risk-adjusted  
rate. Significant judgements and estimates are involved in forming an expectation of future activities and the amount and timing of the associated cash 
flows. Such expectations are based on existing planning requirements and management’s future development plans which give rise to a constructive 
obligation. Upon initial recognition of the restoration provision, the corresponding cost is capitalised as an asset, representing part of the cost of acquiring 
the future economic benefits of the operation. The capitalised cost is recognised as “restoration assets” within “mining assets”. This asset is amortised to  
the statement of comprehensive income on a units of production method over the life of mine. Further “restoration assets” are capitalised as additional 
provisions are created through production activities. These assets are amortised to the statement of comprehensive income on a units of production 
method over the coal tonnage extracted from the area identified as giving rise to the additional restoration obligation.

The value of the provision is further increased over time as the effect of discounting unwinds, creating an expense recognised in “other finance costs”. 
Restoration provisions are also adjusted for changes in estimates, which are accounted for as a change in the corresponding capitalised cost, except where 
a reduction in the provision is greater than the unamortised capitalised cost of the related assets, in which case the capitalised cost is reduced to nil and  
the remaining adjustment is recognised in the statement of comprehensive income. Changes to the capitalised cost result in an adjustment to future 
amortisation and financial charges. 

Given the significant judgements and estimates involved, adjustments to the estimated amount and timing of future restoration and rehabilitation cash 
flows are a normal occurrence. Factors influencing those changes include but are not limited to: revisions to estimated reserves and site operations; 
planning requirements and management’s development plans; changes in the estimated cost and scope of anticipated activities. 

Adopted IFRSs Not Yet Applied 
At the date of issue of these financial statements the following Adopted IFRSs have been endorsed but have not been applied in these financial statements. 
The potential implications of IFRS 10, 11 and 12 are currently being reviewed. The other Adopted IFRSs are not expected to have a material effect on the 
financial statements: 

IFRS 11 “Joint Arrangements”. 
IFRS 12 “Disclosure of Interests in Other Entities”. 
IFRS 13 “Fair Value Measurement”.
IFRS 10 “Consolidated Financial Statements”. 

•	 Amendments to IAS 1 “Presentation of items of Other Comprehensive Income”.
•	 Amendments to IAS 19 “Employee Benefits”. 
•	
•	
•	
•	
•	 Amendments to IAS 27 “Separate Financial Statements”.
•	 Amendments to IAS 28 “Investments in Associates and Joint Ventures”.
•	 Amendments to IFRS 7 “Disclosures – Offsetting Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities”.
•	 Annual Improvements to IFRSs 2009-2011.
•	 Amendments to IFRS 10, IFRS 11 and IFRS 12 “Consolidated Financial Statements, Joint Arrangements and Disclosure of Interests in Other Entities: 

Transition Guidance”.

•	 Amendments to IAS 32 “Offsetting Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities”. 
•	 Amendments to IFRS 10, IFRS 12 and IAS 27 “Investment Entities”. 

Of the other IFRSs that are available for early adoption, none are expected to have a material effect on the financial statements. 

50

Hargreaves Services plc Annual Report 2013Segmental Information 

2 
The following analysis by industry segment is presented in accordance with IFRS 8 on the basis of those segments whose operating results are regularly 
reviewed by the Board of Directors (the Chief Operating Decision Maker as defined by IFRS 8) to assess performance and make strategic decisions about 
allocation of resources. 

The sectors distinguished as operating segments are Production, Energy & Commodities, Transport and Industrial Services. A short description of these 
sectors is as follows: 

•	 Production: produces coal and coke and also recycles tyres for customers throughout the UK and Europe; 
•	 Energy & Commodities: provides coal, coke, minerals, smokeless fuel and biomass products to a range of industrial, wholesale and public sector energy 

consumers; 

•	 Transport: provides bulk logistics to UK customers; and 
•	

Industrial Services: provides quality assured contract management services to the power generation, utilities, chemicals, minerals and steel industries. 

These segments are combinations of subsidiaries and divisions, have separate management teams and offer different products and services. These four 
operating segments are also reportable segments. 

The segment results, as reported to the Board of Directors, are calculated under the principles of IFRS. Performance is measured on the basis of 
underlying operating profit, which is reconciled to profit before tax in the tables below: 

Restated

Revenue 
Total revenue 
Inter-segment revenue 

Production 
2013  
£000

Energy & 
Commodities 
2013  
£000

Transport 
2013  
£000

Industrial 
Services  
2013  
£000

Total  
2013  
£000

103,189
(15,884)

585,022
(38,691)

82,686
(11,536)

149,276
(10,764)

920,173
(76,875)

Revenue from external customers 

87,305

546,331

71,150

138,512

843,298

Underlying operating profit
Amortisation of intangibles/goodwill 
Taxation on jointly controlled entities
Net financing costs 

Profit before taxation 

Depreciation charge 

Capital expenditure

Net assets 
Segment assets 
Segment liabilities 

Segment net assets 
Jointly controlled entities

16,745
(131)
(1,071)
(374)

31,877
(4,152)
(60)
(1,550)

4,011
(197)
–
(694)

3,028
(3,505)
–
(864)

55,661
(7,985)
(1,131)
(3,482)

15,169

26,115

3,120

(1,341)

43,063

(1,706)

(622)

(3,212)

(2,805)

(8,345)

8,566

1,340

2,343

4,467

16,716 

92,494
(25,192)

198,293
(110,805)

27,882
(17,330)

36,749
(25,490) 

355,418
(178,817)

67,302
2,439

87,488
280

10,552
–

11,259
–

176,601
2,719

Segment net assets including share of jointly controlled entities 

69,741

87,768

10,552

11,259

179,320

Unallocated net assets 

Total net assets 

(60,990)

118,330

Unallocated net assets include goodwill and intangibles (£19.1m), revolving credit facility (£83.6m), cash and cash equivalents (£12.6m), derivative financial 
instruments (£7.6m), deferred tax asset (£4.1m) and other corporate items (£9.6m). 

51

Hargreaves Services plc Annual Report 2013Review of the YearCorporate GovernanceFinancial StatementsNotes 
Continued

2 

Segmental Information (continued) 

Restated

Revenue 
Total revenue 
Inter-segment revenue 

Production 
2012  
£000

Energy & 
Commodities 
2012  
£000

Transport 
2012  
£000

Industrial 
Services  
2012 
£000

Total  
2012  
£000

89,698 
(13,129) 

412,012 
(15,739) 

77,326 
(10,034) 

80,722 
(2,932) 

659,758
(41,834) 

Revenue from external customers 

76,569 

396,273 

67,292 

77,790 

617,924 

Underlying operating profit
Amortisation of intangibles
Net financing costs 

Profit before taxation 

Depreciation charge 

Capital expenditure

Net assets 
Segment assets 
Segment liabilities 

Segment net assets 
Jointly controlled entities

16,673 
–
(500) 

28,373 
(2,429) 
(2,315) 

4,067 
(393) 
(749) 

4,325 
(1,570) 
(530) 

53,438 
(4,392) 
(4,094) 

16,173 

23,629 

2,925 

2,225 

44,952

(1,491) 

(730) 

(3,551) 

(1,910) 

(7,682) 

21,178 

2,427 

4,055 

5,547 

33,207

129,988 
(52,573) 

150,666 
(86,809) 

28,447 
(17,177) 

22,134 
(17,949) 

331,235
(174,508)

77,415 
76 

63,857 
64 

11,270 
–

4,185 
–

156,727 
140 

Segment net assets including share of jointly controlled entities 

77,491 

63,921 

11,270 

4,185 

156,867 

Unallocated net assets 

Total net assets 

(20,506) 

136,361 

Unallocated net assets include goodwill and intangibles (£29.8m), revolving credit facility (£73.1m), cash and cash equivalent (£24.3m) derivative financial 
instruments (£0.4m) and other corporate items (£1.9m). 

Information About Key Customers 
Included in revenue is an amount of £146,699,000 (2012: £82,371,000) arising from sales to the Group’s largest customer, relating to the Energy and 
Commodities and Industrial Services divisions. 

The following table analyses revenue by significant category: 

Sale of goods
Rendering of services

Geographical Information 

Revenue 
Non-current assets 

52

2013  
£000

575,225
268,073

Restated 
2012  
£000

446,676 
171,248 

843,298

617,924 

2013

Restated 
2012

UK  
£000

740,459
81,567 

Overseas 
£000 

102,839 
371 

UK  
£000 

508,862
127,203

Overseas 
£000

109,062 
1,108

Hargreaves Services plc Annual Report 2013Acquisition of Subsidiaries 

3 
Current Year
During the current year, the Group has not acquired any new subsidiaries.

Prior Year 
Acquisition of Eastgate Materials Handling Limited 
On 1 June 2011, the Group acquired the remaining 50% share capital of Eastgate Materials Handling Limited (“EMHL”), a jointly controlled entity with Oxbow 
Coal Limited, satisfied by £1,826,000 cash. The company operates port handling facilities at Immingham, UK. The acquisition was conditional on Oxbow 
Coal Limited entering into an exclusive contract with EMHL, and the consideration of £1,826,000 comprises a payment of £1,958,000 for the contract and  
a receipt of £132,000 for assuming the liabilities of EMHL. Total consideration for EMHL, including the Group’s existing stake of £(193,000) was a receipt of 
£325,000 giving rise to goodwill of £91,000.

In the 12 months to 31 May 2012, Eastgate Materials Handling Limited contributed profit after tax of £202,000 to the consolidated profit after tax for the year. 

ASSETS 
Non-current assets 
Property, plant and equipment 

Current assets 
Trade and other receivables (gross and net)
Cash and cash equivalents

LIABILITIES 
Non-current liabilities 
Deferred tax liabilities 

Current liabilities 
Trade and other payables 

Net identifiable assets and liabilities

Share of Eastgate Materials Handling owned 
Goodwill on acquisition 

Net purchase consideration 
Acquisition of exclusive contract

Satisfied by: 
Cash paid
Existing stake in EMHL (fair value)

Consideration paid

Recognised 
values on 
acquisition 
£000

267

3,178
54

(6)

(3,909)

(416)

(193)
91

(325)
1,958

1,633

1,826
(193)

1,633

Included in the consideration is the estimated fair value of the existing 50% stake which has been valued at £(193,000). 

Reorganisation of European Businesses 
The acquisition of the non-controlling interest comprises the acquisition in November 2011 of a further 8.5% of Hargreaves Raw Material Services GmbH for 
€660,000. This shareholding was subsequently swapped for an 82% shareholding in the newly formed European holding company, Hargreaves Services 
Europe Limited. 

Acquisition of DWL Engineering Services Limited 
On 16 January 2012, the Group acquired 100% of the share capital of DWL Engineering Services Limited for £5,000 satisfied in cash, resulting in the creation 
of £4,800 goodwill. The company is dormant, therefore contributed £nil to the consolidated profit after tax for the year. 

Other 
In July 2011 and November 2011, £180,000 of the £250,000 deferred consideration payable on the acquisition of trade and assets from Stiller Tankers Limited 
in October 2009 was paid in final settlement. The remaining £70,000 was released to profit. 

In June 2011 and August 2011, €467,000 was paid in relation to the acquisition of the 5% non-controlling interest in Hargreaves Raw Material Services GmbH 
in June 2010. 

53

Hargreaves Services plc Annual Report 2013Review of the YearCorporate GovernanceFinancial StatementsNotes 
Continued

4  Other Operating Income 

Net gain on disposal of property, plant and equipment 

Expenses and Auditors’ Remuneration 

5 
Included in profit are the following: 

Amortisation of intangibles 
Impairment of intangibles
Impairment of goodwill
Impairment loss on inventories 
Impairment loss on trade and other receivables
Depreciation of property, plant and equipment owned – continuing
Depreciation of property, plant and equipment held under finance lease – continuing 

2013  
£000 

355

Restated 
2012  
£000 

723

2013  
£000 

3,854 
1,629
2,502
384
197
2,728
5,617

Restated 
2012  
£000

4,392
–
–
160
147
4,457
3,215

The Companies (Disclosure of Auditor Remuneration and Liability Limitation Agreements) (Amendment) Regulations 2011 is mandatory for periods starting 
after 1 October 2011. The comparatives in respect of the disclosures of Auditor Remuneration have been restated accordingly.

Auditors’ Remuneration: 

Audit of these financial statements 

Amounts receivable by the Company’s auditor and its associates in respect of: 

Audit of financial statements of subsidiaries of the Company 
Audit related assurance services 
Taxation compliance services 
Other tax advisory services 
Other assurance services 
All other services 

2013  
£000 

23

230
5
72
59
150
512

Restated 
2012  
£000

19 

172 
– 
64 
34 
– 
110 

Amounts paid to the Company’s auditor and its associates in respect of services to the Company, other than the audit of the Company’s financial 
statements, have not been disclosed as the information is required instead to be disclosed on a consolidated basis. 

Staff Numbers and Costs 

6 
The average number of persons employed by the Group in continuing and discontinued operations (including Directors) during the year, analysed by 
category, was as follows: 

Directors
Traffic and administration
Production, maintenance and drivers

The aggregate payroll costs of these persons were as follows: 

Wages and salaries 
Share-based payments (see Note 24) 
Social security costs 
Contributions to defined contribution plans (see Note 23) 
Current service costs of defined benefit plans (see Note 23) 

54

Number of employees  
Group

2013

25
651
2,134

2012

26
660 
1,967

2,810

2,653

2013 
£000

109,916
514
9,636
1,756
1,216 

Group

2012 
£000

97,368
1,332
10,091
1,338
1,419

123,038

111,548 

Hargreaves Services plc Annual Report 20137  Directors’ Remuneration 

Directors’ emoluments 
Company contributions to money purchase pension plans 
Amounts paid to third-parties in respect of Directors’ services 

2013  
£000

993
160 
160

2012  
£000 

935
156
108 

The aggregate of emoluments and amounts receivable under long-term incentive schemes of the highest paid Director was £471,000 (2012: £461,000), and 
company pension contributions of £108,641 (2012: £106,250) were made to a money purchase scheme on his behalf. 

Retirement benefits are accruing to the following number of Directors under: 
Money purchase schemes 
Defined benefit schemes

The number of Directors who exercised share options was 
The number of Directors in respect of whose services shares were received or receivable under long-term incentive schemes was 

Directors’ rights to subscribe for shares in or debentures of the Company and its subsidiaries are indicated below: 

Number of Directors 

2013

2012

2
–

–
3

2
– 

–
3

GFC Banham 
GFC Banham (under SRSOSs) 
KJ Dougan 
ID Cockburn 

All of the Directors benefited from qualifying third-party indemnity provisions. 

Finance Income and Expense 

8 
Recognised in Profit or Loss 

Finance income
Interest income on unimpaired financial assets
Interest received from jointly controlled entities

Total finance income

Finance expense 
Total interest expense on financial liabilities measured at amortised cost
Interest on defined benefit pension plan obligation 

Total finance expense 

Number of options 

At start  
of year

182,868 
819
64,004 
84,909

At end  
of year

Exercise  
price pence

182,868
819
64,004
84,909

–
1,098
–
–

2013  
£000

54
777

831

Restated 
2012  
£000 

205
455

660

4,292
21 

4,732 
22

4,313

4,754

9  Discontinued Operations
The Group’s discontinued operations made a loss of £81.8m after tax during the year. These losses relate to events at Maltby and in Belgium and the 
associated results have been reclassified as Discontinued in the current and prior year. In addition, certain related assets have been reclassified in the 
balance sheet as “assets held for sale”.

Following the discovery of a fraud in our Belgian subsidiaries in early December 2012, a post-tax exceptional charge of £17.3m was recorded during the year. 
This charge relates to the write off of numerous balance sheet items including inventory and receivables. Whilst the overstatement appears to have arisen 
from inception of the business in 2008, due to the intricacies of the fraud and the lack of documentation for many of these transactions, it is not possible  
to allocate the write off to respective accounting periods with any precision and it has therefore been accounted for in full in the current year.

In addition to the above exceptional write off, the trading result of Belgium of £4.7m was classified as a discontinued operation during the year. 

55

Hargreaves Services plc Annual Report 2013Review of the YearCorporate GovernanceFinancial StatementsNotes 
Continued

9  Discontinued Operations (continued)
Also within discontinued operations is the impact of the mothballing of the underground operations at Maltby Colliery during December 2012. The 
post-tax loss during the year was £59.8m, in line with previous guidance, including the operating loss up to the point of decision to mothball the mine, 
redundancy costs, closure costs and non-cash write offs relating to plant and equipment, development costs and other related assets. An analysis of the 
result of discontinued operations is as follows:

2013  
£000

2012 
£000

Revenue
Direct depreciation
Cost of sales – Belgium exceptional item
Impairment of property, plant and equipment
Inventory write down
Other direct cost of sales

Gross (loss)/profit

Other operating income
Impairment of goodwill
Administrative expenses

Operating (loss)/profit

Net finance expense

Loss before tax of discontinued operations

Taxation

Loss for the year from discontinued operations

During the year, the discontinued operations contributed the following to the Group’s cash flows:

Operating cash flows
Investing cash flows
Financing cash flows

Total cash flows

The major classes of assets directly attributable to the discontinued operations are:

Intangible assets
Opening net book value
Impairment of intangible assets

Carrying value of intangibles assets

Property, plant and equipment
Cost transferred to held for sale
Accumulated depreciation transferred to held for sale (pre-impairment)

Net book value transferred to held for sale
Net book value of assets disposed
Impairment of assets held for sale

Carrying value of property, plant and equipment held for sale

Other non-current assets

Total assets held for sale

56

37,148
(7,756)
(18,710)
(24,845)
(19,426)
(49,832)

70,338
(12,873)
–
–
–
(46,482)

(83,421)

10,983

2,403
(2,727)
(14,401)

(98,146)

(2,235)

(100,381)

112
–
(10,562)

533

(2,366)

(1,833)

18,624

33

(81,757)

(1,800)

2013 
£000

(45,801)
4,225
(5,390)

2012 
£000

10,062
(13,050)
(8,230)

(46,966)

(11,218)

£000

2,727
(2,727)

–

78,086
(39,971)

38,115
(3,535)
(24,845)

9,735

5,262

14,997

Hargreaves Services plc Annual Report 201310  Taxation 
Recognised in the Statement of Comprehensive Income 

Current tax expense 
Current year 
Adjustments for prior years 
Foreign tax – current year 

Current tax expense 

Deferred tax credit 
Origination and reversal of temporary differences 
Adjustments for prior years 
Reduction in tax rate 

Deferred tax credit 

Tax expense in income statement (excluding share of tax of equity accounted investees) 

Share of tax of equity accounted investees 

Total tax expense from continuing operations 

Recognised in Other Comprehensive Income 

Deferred tax income/(expense) 
Effective portion of changes in fair value of cash flow hedges 
Actuarial gains and losses on defined benefit pension plans 

Reconciliation of Effective Tax Rate 

Profit for the year from continuing operations 
Total tax expense (including tax on equity accounted investees) 

Profit excluding taxation from continuing operations 

2013  
£000

11,775
(555)
1,026

Restated 
2012  
£000 

11,867
(404)
1,588

12,246

13,051

(1,699)
467
(81)

(419)
26
(313)

(1,313)

(706)

10,933

12,345

1,131

25

12,064 

12,370

2013  
£000

1,869
(151)

2012  
£000 

(784) 
778 

1,718

(6)

2013  
Rate 

2013  
£000 

32,130
12,064

44,194

2012  
Rate 

Restated

2012  
£000 

32,607 
12,370 

44,977 

Tax using the UK corporation tax rate of 23.83% (2012: 25.67%) 

23.83%

10,532

25.67%

11,545

Effect of tax rates in foreign jurisdictions 
Unrecognised tax losses
Non-deductible expenses
Reduction in tax rate on deferred tax balances
Over provided in prior years 

0.64%
0.65%
2.54%
(0.18%)
(0.18%)

284
286
1,122

(81) 
(79)

0.78% 
(0.19%)
2.58%
(0.50%) 
(0.84%)

354 
(85) 
1,159 
(225) 
(378)

Effective tax rate and total tax expense

27.30%

12,064

27.50%

12,370

The UK corporation tax rate reduced to 23% on 1 April 2013, giving an effective base rate of 23.83% (2012: 25.67%). 

Factors That May Affect Future Current and Total Tax Charges 
The March 2013 budget announced that the main rate of corporation tax will further reduce to 20% by 1 April 2015 in addition to the planned reduction  
to 21% by 2014 previously announced in the December 2012 Autumn Statement. These changes were not substantively enacted during the year and are 
therefore not included in the figure above.

57

Hargreaves Services plc Annual Report 2013Review of the YearCorporate GovernanceFinancial StatementsNotes 
Continued

11  Earnings Per Share 

Ordinary Shares
Basic earnings per share
Diluted earnings per share

2013

2012

Continuing and 
discontinued

Continuing

Continuing and 
discontinued

(166.68)p
(166.68)p

112.53p
110.96p

109.00p
106.12p

Continuing

116.73p
113.65p

The calculation of earnings per share is based on the (loss)/profit for the year attributable to equity holders and on the weighted average number of shares 
in issue and ranking for dividend in the year.

(Loss)/profit for the year attributable to equity holders (£000)
Weighted average number of shares
Basic earnings per share

2013

2012

Continuing and 
discontinued

(46,438)
27,860,668
(166.68)p

Continuing

31,351
27,860,668
112.53p

Continuing and 
discontinued

29,455
27,022,535
109.00p

Continuing

31,543
27,022,535
116.73p

The calculation of diluted earnings per share is based on the (loss)/profit for the year and the weighted average number of ordinary shares in issue in the 
year adjusted for the dilutive effect of the share options outstanding (effect on weighted average number of shares is 392,241 (2012: 732,494); effect on 
earnings per ordinary share is nil (2012: 2.88p) as there is no dilutive effect when a loss is made. Effect on continuing earnings per ordinary share is 1.57p 
(2012: 3.08p).

(Loss)/profit for the year attributable to equity holders (£000)
Weighted average number of shares
Diluted earnings per share

2013

2012

Continuing and 
discontinued

(46,438)
28,252,909
(166.68)p

Continuing

31,351
28,252,909
110.96p

Continuing and 
discontinued

29,455
27,755,029
106.12p

Continuing

31,543
27,755,029
113.65p

Underlying basic and diluted earnings per share are calculated on the same weighted average number of shares in the table above, and on underlying 
profit after tax, as reconciled below:

Profit for the year attributable to equity holders from continuing operations
Amortisation/impairment of intangibles/goodwill
Tax effect of amortisation

Underlying profit after tax

2013  
£000

31,351
7,985
(1,299)

Restated 
2012  
£000

31,543
4,392
(1,230)

38,037

34,705

58

Hargreaves Services plc Annual Report 201312  Property, Plant and Equipment 
Group 

Cost 
Balance at 1 June 2011
Acquisitions through business combinations 
Other acquisitions 
Disposals 
Transfers 
Effect of movements in foreign exchange 

Freehold land  
and buildings  
and leasehold 
improvements 
£000

Assets under 
the course of 
construction 
£000

Furniture and 
equipment 
£000

Motor 
vehicles  
and plant  
£000

Fixtures  
and fittings  
£000

Mineral 
reserves  
£000

20,806
267
193
–
8
(25)

773
–
3,165
–
(2,482)
–

5,237
–
417
–
–
(13)

113,650
–
26,476
(11,637)
2,474
(146)

423
–
23
–
–
–

6,638
–
2,933
–
–
–

Total  
£000

147,527
267
33,207
(11,637)
–
(184)

Balance at 31 May 2012 

21,249

1,456

5,641

130,817

446

9,571

169,180 

Balance at 1 June 2012 
Other acquisitions 
Disposals 
Transferred to assets held for sale
Effect of movements in foreign exchange 

21,249
663
(68)
(305) 
18

1,456
639
–
–
– 

5,641
791
(118)
(628) 
16

130,817
14,520
(2,497)
(77,128)
109

446
103
–
(25) 
–

9,571
– 
–
–
–

169,180
16,716
(2,683)
(78,086)
143

Balance at 31 May 2013 

21,557

2,095

5,702

65,821

524

9,571 

105,270

Depreciation and impairment 
Balance at 1 June 2011
Depreciation charge for the year – continuing
Depreciation charge for the year – discontinued
Disposals 
Effect of movements in foreign exchange 

Balance at 31 May 2012

Balance at 1 June 2012
Depreciation charge for the year – continuing
Depreciation charge for the year – discontinued
Impairment losses
Transferred to assets held for sale (including impairment)
Disposals 
Effect of movements in foreign exchange 

Balance at 31 May 2013

Net book value 
At 1 June 2011 

2,936
456
2
–
(22)

3,372

3,372
363
7
–
(234) 
(42)
13

3,479

–
–
–
–
–

–

–
–
–
–
–

–

–

4,560
321
33
–
(11)

49,339
6,869
11,593
(9,990)
(99)

320
36
5
–
–

3,252
–
1,240
–
–

60,407
7,682
12,873
(9,990)
(132)

4,903

57,712

361

4,492

70,840

4,903
328
42
–
(561)
(112)
6

57,712
7,617
6,885
20,583
(63,994)
(1,712)
77

361
37
5
–
(27)
–
–

4,492
–
817
4,262
–
–
–

70,840
8,345
7,756
24,845
(64,816)
(1,866)
96

4,606

27,168

376

9,571

45,200

17,870

773

677

64,311

103

3,386

87,120 

At 31 May 2012 and 1 June 2012 

17,877

1,456

738

73,105

85

5,079

98,340 

At 31 May 2013

18,078

2,095

1,096

38,653

148

–

60,070 

The Group has £2,095,000 (2012: £1,456,000) property, plant and equipment under construction. 

The Company has no property, plant and equipment. 

Leased Plant and Machinery 
At 31 May 2013 the net carrying amount of leased plant and machinery was £21,675,316 (2012: £24,329,678). The leased equipment secures lease obligations 
(see Note 21). 

Security 
The Group’s property, plant and equipment is used to secure some of its interest-bearing loans and borrowings (see Note 21). 

59

Hargreaves Services plc Annual Report 2013Review of the YearCorporate GovernanceFinancial StatementsNotes 
Continued

Intangible Assets 

13 
Group 

Cost 
Balance at 1 June 2011 
Acquisitions through business combinations 
Effect of movements in foreign exchange 

Goodwill  
£000

22,223 
96 
(29) 

Negative 
goodwill 
£000 

Customer 
contracts 
£000 

Supply 
contracts 
£000 

Other 
intangibles 
£000 

(93) 
–
–

11,689 
2,540 
–

8,148 
–
–

1,015 
–
–

Total  
£000 

42,982 
2,636 
(29) 

Balance at 31 May 2012 

22,290 

(93) 

14,229 

8,148 

1,015 

45,589 

Balance at 1 June 2012 
Effect of movements in foreign exchange 

22,290
30

(93)
–

14,229
–

8,148
–

1,015
–

45,589
30

Balance at 31 May 2013 

22,320

(93)

14,229

8,148

1,015

45,619

Amortisation and impairment 
Balance at 1 June 2011 
Amortisation for the year 

Balance at 31 May 2012 

Balance at 1 June 2012 
Amortisation for the year 
Impairment losses for the year – continuing
Impairment losses for the year – discontinued

–
–

–

–
–
2,502
2,727

(93)
–

8,199
2,762

3,260
1,630

(93)

10,961

4,890

(93)
–
–
–

10,961
2,094
–
–

4,890
1,629
1,629
–

–
–

–

–
131
–
–

11,366
4,392 

15,758

15,758
3,854 
4,131
2,727

Balance at 31 May 2013

5,229

(93)

13,055

8,148

131

26,470

Net book value
At 31 May 2011

At 31 May 2012 and 1 June 2012 

At 31 May 2013

22,223

22,290

17,091

–

–

–

3,490

4,888

1,015

31,616 

3,268

3,258

1,015

29,831

1,174

–

884

19,149 

The supply contracts were being amortised over the weighted average expected life of the contracts, of 60 months. 

£2,032,000 of the customer contracts is being amortised over 62 months, £2,596,000 of the customer contracts is being amortised over 71 months, 
£7,061,000 of the customer contracts is being amortised over 75 months and £2,540,000 of the customer contracts is being amortised over 36 months,  
each being the weighted average expected life of the contracts. 

£1,000,000 of other intangibles relates to an exclusivity agreement and is being amortised over the expected life of the project to which it relates, which is 
expected to be seven years. 

Amortisation and Impairment Charge 
The amortisation and impairment charge is recognised in the following line items in the income statement: 

Administrative expenses – Impairment of intangible assets
Other administrative expenses 
Discontinued operations

2013  
£000 

4,131
3,854
2,727

2012  
£000 

–
4,392 
–

60

Hargreaves Services plc Annual Report 2013Intangible Assets (continued) 

13 
Impairment Testing 
During the year the following impairments to goodwill and intangible assets have been charged in response to specific events:

•	 The closure of Maltby underground mining operations and Mekol NV triggered the impairment of £2,138,000 and £589,000 in goodwill respectively; 
•	 Following the decision to scale back and restructure the engineering services business to focus on small scale projects undertaken to support the core 

material handling business an impairment of £2,502,000 was made against goodwill allocated to AJS Contracts Limited; and

•	 The supply contracts were fully impaired due to the termination of the UK Coal contract. 

The remaining goodwill has been allocated to cash-generating units or groups of cash-generating units as follows: 

Norec Limited 
AJS Contracts Limited 
Imperial Tankers Limited/Hargreaves (Bulk Liquid Transport) Limited 
The Monckton Coke & Chemical Company Limited 
Maltby Colliery Limited 
Coal4Energy Limited/Maxibrite Limited 
Mekol NV 
Other 

Goodwill

2013  
£000

1,252
–
3,523
5,419
–
6,140
–
757

2012  
£000 

1,252
2,502
3,523
5,419
2,138
6,140
589
727

17,091

22,290 

The recoverable amounts of the above cash-generating units have been calculated with reference to their value in use. The key features of this calculation 
are shown below: 

Period on which management approved forecasts are based
Growth rate applied beyond approved forecast period
Discount rate

2013

2012

5 years
2%
12%

5 years 
2% 
12% 

The growth rates used in value in use calculations reflect a conservative estimate of the average industry growth rate. 

The recoverable amount of each cash-generating unit has been calculated with reference to its value in use. In calculating this value, management have 
used the following assumptions: 

•	 Cash flows were projected based on budgeted operating results for the proceeding year with the short-term growth rate applied to the next four years. 
A conservative growth rate of 2% has been applied in perpetuity. This rate does not exceed the long-term average growth rate for any of the cash-
generating units’ industries; 

•	 Sustaining capital expenditure in each cash-generating unit has been included in the calculations equivalent to the current levels of annual depreciation; and
•	 A pre-tax discount rate of 12% (2012: 12%) has been used in the first instance. Management consider this to be higher than a market participant’s 
discount rate for each individual cash-generating unit. The latter would be used if the initial 12% indicated potential impairment of any individual 
cash-generating unit. 

Each of the cash-generating units had significant headroom under the annual impairment review, which remains after allowing for reasonably possible 
changes in assumptions. 

The Company has no intangible assets. 

61

Hargreaves Services plc Annual Report 2013Review of the YearCorporate GovernanceFinancial StatementsNotes 
Continued

Investments in Subsidiaries, Associates and Jointly Controlled Entities 

14 
The Group and Company have the following investments in subsidiaries, associates and jointly controlled entities: 

Company 
Subsidiary undertakings 
Hargreaves (UK) Limited 
Norec Limited 
Hargreaves (Bulk Liquid Transport) Limited 

Coal4Energy Limited 
Forward Sound Limited 
Hargreaves Europe Limited 
Hargreaves Services (HK) Limited 
Hargreaves Services Europe Limited 
Hargreaves Surface Mining Limited
Hargreaves Technical Resources Limited
Hargreaves Services Australia Limited

Jointly controlled entities 
Mir Trade Services BV 
Mir Trade Services Limited 

Nature of business 

Country of 
incorporation 

Class of  
shares held

Ownership

2013

2012 

Holding company 
Contract management service 
Dormant 

UK 
UK 
UK 

Light industrial and domestic coal sales 
Holding company 
Holding company 
Holding company 
Import and sale of carbon-based materials 
Coal mining
Contract management service
Coal trading

UK 
UK 
UK 
Hong Kong 
UK 
UK
UK
UK

Ordinary 
Ordinary 
Ordinary 
Preference 
Ordinary 
Ordinary 
Ordinary 
Ordinary 
Ordinary 
Ordinary 
Ordinary
Ordinary

100%
100%
50%
50%
100%
100%
100%
100%
82%
100%
100%
100%

100% 
100% 
50% 
50% 
100% 
100% 
100% 
100% 
82%
100%
–
–

Import and sale of carbon-based materials 
Import and sale of carbon-based materials 

Netherlands 
UK 

Ordinary 
Ordinary 

50% 
50%

50% 
50%

Group 
Subsidiary undertakings 
Hargreaves (UK) Limited 
Hargreaves (UK) Services Limited 
The Monckton Coke & Chemical Company Limited  Manufacture of coke 
Norec Limited 
Hargreaves (Bulk Liquid Transport) Limited 

Contract management service 
Dormant 

Holding company 
Haulage, mineral import and processing 

UK 
UK 
UK 
UK 
UK 

UK 
Germany 
UK 
UK 
UK 
UK 
UK 
UK 
Belgium 
Belgium 
Poland 
UK 
Hong Kong 
Hong Kong 
UK 
UK 
UK
UK
UK

Ordinary 
Ordinary 
Ordinary 
Ordinary 
Ordinary 
Preference 
Ordinary 
Ordinary 
Ordinary 
Ordinary 
Ordinary 
Ordinary 
Ordinary 
Ordinary 
Ordinary 
Ordinary 
Ordinary 
Ordinary 
Ordinary 
Ordinary 
Ordinary 
Ordinary 
Ordinary 
Ordinary
Ordinary

Coal mining 
Import and sale of carbon-based materials 
Mineral distribution 
Haulage 
Engineering maintenance services 
Smokeless fuel briquette manufacturing 
Renewable energy solutions 
Renewable energy solutions 
Import and sale of carbon-based materials 
Port facilities 
Sale of carbon-based materials 
Holding company 
Holding company 
Contract management service 
Port facilities 
Import and sale of carbon-based materials 
Coal mining
Contract management service
Coal trading

Coal mining 
Import and sale of carbon-based materials 
Import and sale of carbon-based materials 
Lease of heavy plant 

UK 
Netherlands 
UK 
UK 

Ordinary 
Ordinary 
Ordinary 
Ordinary 

100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
82%
100%
100%
100%
85.2%
50.1%
85%
82%
82%
82%
100%
100%
100%
100%
82%
100%
100%
100%

50% 
50% 
50%
50%

100% 
100% 
100% 
100% 
100% 
100% 
100% 
82% 
100% 
100% 
100% 
85.2% 
50.1% 
85% 
82% 
82% 
82% 
100% 
100% 
100%
100% 
82%
100%
–
–

50% 
50% 
50%
50%

Maltby Colliery Limited 
Hargreaves Raw Material Services GmbH 
Hargreaves Metallurgical Supplies Limited 
Imperial Tankers Limited 
AJS Contracts Limited 
Maxibrite Limited 
RocFuel Limited 
RocPower Limited 
Hargreaves Carbon Products NV 
Mekol NV 
Hargreaves Carbon Products Polska Sp Zo.o 
Hargreaves Europe Limited 
Hargreaves Services (HK) Limited 
Hargreaves Industrial Services (HK) Limited 
Eastgate Materials Handling Limited 
Hargreaves Services Europe Limited 
Hargreaves Surface Mining Limited
Hargreaves Technical Resources Limited
Hargreaves Services Australia Limited

Jointly controlled entities 
Tower Regeneration Limited 
Mir Trade Services BV 
Mir Trade Services Limited 
Tower Regeneration Leasing Limited 

Mekol NV is a 100% owned subsidiary of Hargreaves Carbon Products NV. 

Tower Regeneration Leasing Limited is a 100% owned subsidiary of Tower Regeneration Limited. 

In addition to the above, the Group has approximately 13 dormant subsidiary undertakings. 

The Group’s share of post-acquisition total recognised profit or loss in the above associates and jointly controlled entities for the year ended 31 May 2013 
was a profit of £2,573,000 (2012: profit of £99,000). 

62

Hargreaves Services plc Annual Report 201314 

Investments in Subsidiaries, Associates and Jointly Controlled Entities (continued) 

Group 

Cost 
At beginning and end of year 

Share of post acquisition reserves 
At beginning of year 
Profit for the financial year 
Effect of movements in foreign exchange 

At end of year 

Net book value 
At 31 May 2013 

At 31 May 2012

2013 
Tower Regeneration Limited 
Tower Regeneration Leasing Limited 
MIR Trade Services Limited 
MIR Trade Services BV 

2012 
Tower Regeneration Limited 
Tower Regeneration Leasing Limited 
MIR Trade Services Limited 
MIR Trade Services BV 

Interests 
in jointly 
controlled 
entities  
£000

66

74
2,573
6

2,653

2,719

140

Ownership  
%

Current  
assets  
£000

Non-current 
assets  
£000

Current 
liabilities 
£000

Non-current 
liabilities 
£000

Revenue  
£000

Expenses 
(including tax) 
£000

50%
50%
50%
50%

38,263
1,115
6,058
85

19,182
33,619
–
–

(35,149)
(2,833)
(5,576)
–

(15,354)
(31,874)
– 
–

42,718
5,019 
19,123
–

(35,991)
(4,990)
(18,704)
–

45,521

52,801

(43,558)

(47,228)

66,860

(59,685)

Ownership  
%

Current  
assets  
£000

Non-current 
assets  
£000

Current 
liabilities 
£000

Non-current 
liabilities 
£000

Revenue  
£000

Expenses 
(including tax) 
£000

50% 
50% 
50% 
50% 

19,822 
4,111 
4,722 
80 

17,577 
19,007 
–
–

(26,434) 
(6,793) 
(4,673) 
– 

(10,749) 
(16,325) 
–
–

5,557 
250 
3,139 
–

(5,341) 
(250) 
(3,092) 
–

28,735 

36,584 

(37,900) 

(27,074) 

8,946 

(8,683) 

The Group also has options to acquire 100% of the shares in two subsidiaries of Aardvark (TMC) Limited (the Hivecos – see page 12). These options are 
measured at fair value which, at 31 May 2013, was £2.

63

Hargreaves Services plc Annual Report 2013Review of the YearCorporate GovernanceFinancial StatementsNotes 
Continued

14 

Investments in Subsidiaries, Associates and Jointly Controlled Entities (continued) 

Company

Shares at cost and net book value 
At 1 June 2011 
Additions 
Disposals
Capital contribution arising on share options 

At 31 May 2012 

At 1 June 2012
Capital contribution arising on share options 

At 31 May 2013 

15  Other Financial Assets 

Non-current 
Other derivatives designated as fair value through hedging reserve

Current 
Currency contracts designated as fair value through profit or loss
Currency contracts designated as fair value through hedging reserve 
Other derivatives designated as fair value through hedging reserve 

16  Other Financial Liabilities 

Non-current 
Interest rate swaps designated as fair value through hedging reserve 
Other derivatives designated as fair value through hedging reserve 

Current 
Interest rate swaps designated as fair value through profit or loss 
Currency contracts designated as fair value through profit or loss 
Other derivatives designated as fair value through hedging reserve 
Other derivatives designated as fair value through profit or loss 

64

Group 
undertakings 
£000

Jointly 
controlled 
entities  
£000

29,504
2,456
(1,228)
1,332

42
–
–
–

Total  
£000 

29,546
2,456
(1,228)
1,332

32,064 

42 

32,106 

32,064
514

32,578

42
–

42

32,106
514 

32,620

Group 

Company

2012  
£000 

2013  
£000 

–

–

Group 

Company

2012  
£000 

2013  
£000 

2013  
£000

37

2013  
£000

14 
2,477
725

306 
374
5,371 

3,216

6,051

–
–
–

–

2012  
£000 

– 

2012  
£000 

–
–
–

–

Group 

Company

2013  
£000

2012  
£000 

2013  
£000 

2012  
£000 

2,839
311

2,373
885

3,150

3,258 

–
–

–

Group 

Company

2013  
£000

2012  
£000 

2013  
£000 

– 
418
7,218
28

72
482
1,794
27

7,664

2,375

–
12
–
–

12

–
–

–

2012  
£000 

–
121
– 
–

121

Hargreaves Services plc Annual Report 201317  Deferred Tax Assets and Liabilities 
Group 
Recognised Deferred Tax Assets and Liabilities 
Deferred tax assets and liabilities are attributable to the following: 

Property, plant and equipment
Intangible assets
Financial assets
Employee benefits
Share-based payments
Provisions
Tax value of loss carry-forwards
Other

Tax (assets)/liabilities

Assets 

Liabilities

2013  
£000 

–
–
(1,769)
(883)
(450)
(1,890)
(20)
(11)

2012  
£000 

–
–
– 
(1,482)
(250)
(2,419)
(23)
–

2013  
£000 

579
336
–
–
–
–
–
–

2012  
£000 

5,806 
1,635 
178 
–
–
–
–
37 

(5,023)

(4,174)

915

7,656 

Deferred tax assets and liabilities have been netted as the Group has a legally enforceable right of offset and settlement will be on a net basis. 

Movement in Deferred Tax During the Year 

Property, plant and equipment
Intangible assets
Financial assets
Employee benefits
Share-based payments
Provisions
Tax value of loss carry-forwards utilised
Other

Movement in Deferred Tax During the Prior Year 

Property, plant and equipment 
Intangible assets 
Financial assets 
Employee benefits 
Share-based payments 
Provisions 
Tax value of loss carry-forwards utilised 
Other 

Recognised  
in income  
£000

Recognised  
in equity 
£000

Acquired 
in business 
combination 
£000

31 May  
2012  
£000

5,806
1,635 
178 
(1,482) 
(250) 
(2,419) 
(23) 
37 

(5,227) 
(1,299)
(78)
448
(200)
529
3
(48)

–
–
(1,869)
151
–
–
–
–

3,482

(5,872)

(1,718)

–
–
–
–
–
–
– 
– 

–

31 May  
2011  
£000

6,564 
2,282 
(655) 
(1,010) 
(817) 
(2,493) 
(25) 
37

Recognised  
in income  
£000

Recognised  
in equity 
£000

Acquired 
in business 
combination 
£000

(764)
(1,229)
49
306
567
74
2
–

–
–
784
(778)
–
–
–
–

6
582
–
– 
–
–
–
–

31 May  
2013  
£000

579
336
(1,769)
(883)
(450)
(1,890)
(20)
(11)

(4,108)

31 May  
2012  
£000

5,806
1,635
178
(1,482)
(250)
(2,419)
(23)
37

The credit recognised in income includes £4,559,000 (2012: £289,000) in relation to discontinued operations.

3,883 

(995)

6

588

3,482

65

Hargreaves Services plc Annual Report 2013Review of the YearCorporate GovernanceFinancial StatementsNotes 
Continued

17  Deferred Tax Assets and Liabilities (continued) 
Company 
Recognised Deferred Tax Assets and Liabilities 
Deferred tax assets and liabilities are attributable to the following: 

Share-based payments 

Tax assets 
Net of tax liabilities 

Net tax assets 

Movement in Deferred Tax During the Year 

Share-based payments 

There is no expiry date on the above recognised deferred tax asset. 

Assets 

Liabilities

2013  
£000 

(123)

(123) 
–

2012  
£000 

(123) 

(123)
–

(123)

(123) 

2013  
£000 

2012  
£000 

–

–
–

–

–

–
–

–

At 31 May 2012 and 
at 31 May 2011 
 £000

Recognised in 
income  
£000

Recognised in 
equity  
£000

31 May 2013 
£000

(123) 

–

–

(123)

A deferred tax asset has been recognised as projections indicate that there will be sufficient future profits to utilise losses.

Deferred tax assets and liabilities have been recognised at 23%, the rate which was substantively enacted on 3 July 2012. The Chancellor also proposed 
changes to further reduce the main rate of corporation tax by 1% per annum to 20% by April 2015, but these changes were not substantively enacted 
during the year and therefore are not included in the figures above. The overall effect of the further reduction from 23% to 20%, if these applied to the 
deferred tax balance at 31 May 2013, would be to reduce the deferred tax asset by approximately £536,000. 

18 

Inventories 

Raw materials and consumables 
Work in progress 
Finished goods 

Group 

Company

2013  
£000

9,242
4,799
82,152

2012  
£000

30,285 
21,170 
60,572 

96,193

112,027 

2013  
£000

2012  
£000 

–
–
–

–

–
–
–

–

All amounts included within inventories are expected to be recovered within 12 months. 

The write-down of inventories to net realisable value amounted to £384,000 (2012: £160,000). The reversal of write-downs amounted to £nil (2012: £nil). 
The write-down is in cost of sales. 

19  Trade and Other Receivables 

Trade receivables 
Trade receivables due from Group undertakings
Trade receivables due from undertakings in which the Company has a participating interest 
Other receivables 
Prepayments and accrued income 
Corporation tax 
Hire purchase receivable 

Group 

Company

2013  
£000

86,545
–
24,520
18,371
16,476
1,370
2,276

2012  
£000

69,010 
–
24,668 
11,372 
7,537 
–
2,192

2013  
£000

2012  
£000 

–
461,868
4,288 
2,069
304
623
– 

–
318,580
7,302
3,101
13
809
–

149,558

114,779 

469,152

329,805 

Included within trade and other receivables is £nil (2012: £1,009,000) for the Group and £nil (2012: £nil) for the Company expected to be recovered in more 
than 12 months. 

66

Hargreaves Services plc Annual Report 201319  Trade and Other Receivables (continued) 
The Hire Purchase receivable comprises future minimum lease payments of £2,276,000 (2012: £1,183,000) due within one year and £nil (2012: £1,009,000) due 
within one to two years. 

The Group has a variety of credit terms depending on the customer. The majority of the Group’s sales are made to blue-chip companies and consequently 
have very low historical default rates. 

At 31 May 2013 trade receivables are shown net of an allowance for bad debts of £171,000 (2012: £129,000) arising from the ordinary course of business,  
as follows: 

Group 
Balance at 1 June 
Provided during the year 
Released 
Utilised during the year 

Balance at 31 May 

2013  
£000

129
164
(64)
(58)

171

2012  
£000

110
147
(67)
(61)

129

The allowance for bad debts records impairment losses unless the Group is satisfied that no recovery of the amount owing is possible, at that point the 
amounts considered irrecoverable are written off against the trade receivables directly. 

The ageing of trade receivables at the balance sheet date was: 

Group 
Not past due date 
Past due date (0-90 days) 
Past due date (over 90 days) 
Individually impaired amounts 

Group 
Not past due date 
Past due date (0-90 days) 
Past due date (over 90 days) 
Individually impaired amounts 

Gross trade 
receivables 
£000

2013  
Doubtful  
debt  
£000

Net trade 
receivables 
£000

68,238
17,230
1,248
–

(59)
(2)
(110)
–

68,179
17,228
1,138
–

86,716 

(171)

86,545

Gross trade 
receivables 
£000

2012  
Doubtful  
debt  
£000

Net trade 
receivables 
£000

58,193 
10,817 
129 
–

(36)
(56)
(37)
–

58,157
10,761
92
–

69,139 

(129)

69,010

Management have no indication that any unimpaired amounts will be irrecoverable. 

The Group’s most significant trade receivable at 31 May 2013 is with EDF Energy plc which accounts for £14,651,000 of the trade receivables carrying amount 
at 31 May 2013 within the Energy and Commodities and Industrial segments (2012: DK Recycling und Roheisen GmbH £5,089,000). 

The maximum exposure to credit risk for trade receivables at the reporting date by geographic region was: 

UK 
European customers 
Other regions 

The Group’s exposure to credit and currency risks and impairment losses related to trade receivables are disclosed in Note 27. 

2013  
£000 

65,775 
14,620
6,150

2012  
£000

51,857
16,377
776

86,545

69,010

67

Hargreaves Services plc Annual Report 2013Review of the YearCorporate GovernanceFinancial StatementsNotes 
Continued

20  Cash and Cash Equivalents/Bank Overdrafts 

Cash and cash equivalents per balance sheet 
Bank overdrafts 

Group 

Company

2013  
£000 

2012  
£000 

2013  
£000 

61,435
(42,476)

45,852 
(31,215) 

11,845
–

2012  
£000 

22,270
– 

Cash and cash equivalents per cash flow statements 

18,959

14,637 

11,845

22,270 

The Group’s exposure to credit and currency risk related to cash and cash equivalents is disclosed in Note 27. 

21  Other Interest-bearing Loans and Borrowings 
This note provides information about the contractual terms of the Group and Company’s interest-bearing loans and borrowings, which are measured at 
amortised cost. For more information about the Group and Company’s exposure to interest rate and foreign currency risk, see Note 27. 

Non-current liabilities 
Finance lease liabilities 
Invoice discounting facility 
Revolving credit facility 

Current liabilities 
Promissory note facility 
Current portion of finance lease liabilities 

Bank overdraft 

Terms and Debt Repayment Schedule 

Group 

Company

2013  
£000 

2012  
£000 

2013  
£000 

2012  
£000 

9,054
–
83,632

9,329 
–
73,076 

–
–
83,632

–
–
73,076 

92,686

82,405 

83,632

73,076 

–
6,446 

5,025
7,069 

6,446

12,094 

42,476

31,215 

48,922

43,309 

–
–

–

–

–

–
–

–

–

– 

Finance lease liabilities 
Bank overdraft facility 
Invoice discounting facility 
Revolving credit facility 
Promissory note facility 

Currency

Nominal interest rate

Sterling 
EUR/USD/Sterling 
Sterling 
Sterling 
USD

4.0% - 5.0%
2.55% - 3.1% 
Base Rate + 2% 
LIBOR + 2.35% 
LIBOR + 1.5% 

Year of 
maturity

2013-2018 
2016 
2015
2015 
2012

Face  
value  
2013  
£000

15,500
42,476
–
85,000
–

Carrying 
amount  
2013  
£000

15,500
42,476
–
83,632
–

Face  
value  
2012  
£000

16,398 
31,215 
–
75,000 
5,039 

Carrying 
amount  
2012  
£000

16,398 
31,215 
–
73,076
5,025

142,976

141,608

127,652 

125,714

In April 2012, the Group completed a new 43-month multi-bank committed facility consisting of a £50m invoice finance facility and a £125m revolving 
credit facility. This facility is secured by a debenture over the Group’s assets. 

The invoice discounting facilities are committed 43-month facilities from 3 April 2012 which permit the refinancing of current trade receivables. In 
accordance with the presentation requirements of IAS 32 and IAS 39 these liabilities have been classified according to the maturity date of the longest 
permitted refinancing. Without these committed facilities these amounts would have been classified as falling due within one year. The invoice discounting 
advances are secured by fixed and floating charges over the Group’s assets. The gross amount of debts which were subject to invoice discounting advances 
at 31 May 2013 was £nil (2012: £nil). At the year end the invoice discounting facility was unused, with a credit balance of £2,223,000 (2012: £2,574,000) which 
was included in cash and cash equivalents. 

The overdraft facility was renewed on 20 September 2013, extending it until 30 November 2016, and can be drawn down in Euros, US Dollars and Sterling. 
The rate of interest is fixed and dependent on the currency drawn down. 

68

Hargreaves Services plc Annual Report 201321  Other Interest-bearing Loans and Borrowings (continued) 
Finance Lease Liabilities 
Finance lease liabilities are payable as follows: 

Group

Less than one year 
Between one and five years 

22  Trade and Other Payables 

Minimum 
lease 
payments 
2013  
£000

6,947
9,415

Interest  
2013  
£000

501
361

Principal  
2013  
£000

6,446
9,054

Minimum 
lease 
payments 
2012  
£000

7,693 
9,844 

Interest  
2012  
£000

624 
515 

Principal  
2012  
£000

7,069
9,329 

16,362

862

15,500

17,537 

1,139 

16,398 

Current 
Trade payables 
Trade payables due to Group undertakings 
Trade payables due to undertakings in which the Company has a participating interest 
Other trade payables 
Non-trade payables and accrued expenses 

Group 

Company

2013  
£000 

2012  
£000 

2013  
£000 

2012  
£000 

59,397 
–
–
17,156 
41,288 

62,137 
–
–
17,036 
21,289 

–
341,333 
–
–
372

–
257,295 
–
–
3,235

117,841

100,462

341,705

260,530 

No amounts included within trade and other payables for the Group or Company are expected to be settled in more than 12 months (2012: £nil). 

23  Pension Schemes and Other Retirement Benefits 
Defined Contribution Plans 
The Group operates a Group personal pension scheme. The pension cost charge for the year represents contributions payable by the Group to the employees’ 
funds and amounted to £1,756,000 (2012: £1,338,000). There were no outstanding or prepaid contributions, at either the beginning or end of the financial year. 

Defined Benefit Plans 
The Group acquired a concessionary fuel retirement benefit scheme on the acquisition of The Monckton Coke & Chemical Company Limited on 17 June 2005. 

The Group provides for concessionary fuel retirement benefits, for the current members of the scheme, payable at retirement on attaining the age of 65. The 
amounts payable are determined in the employee terms and conditions and are subject to a qualifying period of service. The costs of the concessionary fuel 
benefits are determined by a qualified actuary on the basis of triennial valuations. 

The latest full actuarial valuation was carried out on 31 December 2009 and updated for IAS 19 purposes to 31 May 2013. 

Concessionary fuel is an unfunded retirement benefit and as such there are no assets in the scheme. 

Present value of unfunded defined benefit obligations

2013  
£000

424

2012  
£000 

450 

69

Hargreaves Services plc Annual Report 2013Review of the YearCorporate GovernanceFinancial StatementsNotes 
Continued

23  Pension Schemes and Other Retirement Benefits (continued) 
Defined Benefit Plans (continued) 
Movements in Present Value of Defined Benefit Obligation 

At beginning of year 
Current service cost 
Contributions paid 
Other finance cost 
Actuarial (gain)/loss 

At the end of the year 

Expense Recognised in the Income Statement 

Current service cost 
Interest on defined benefit obligation 

The expense is recognised in the following line items in the income statement: 

Administrative expenses 
Finance expense 

Actuarial gains and losses recognised directly in equity in the statement of comprehensive income since 17 June 2005. 

Cumulative amount at 1 June 
Recognised in the year 

Cumulative amount at 31 May 

The major assumptions used in these valuations were: 

Average retirement age 
Rate of leaving services 
Coal price inflation 
Discount rate applied to scheme liabilities 
Inflation assumption 

2013  
£000

450
7
(21)
21
(33)

2012  
£000

408
6
(22)
22
36

424

450

2013  
£000

7
21

28

2013  
£000

7
21

28

2013  
£000

8
33

41

2012  
£000

6
22

28

2012  
£000

6
22

28

2012  
£000

44
(36)

8

2013

2012

65 years 
2.5%
2.55%
4.6%
3.55%

65 years
2.5% 
2.1% 
4.7%
3.1%

The assumptions used by the actuary are chosen from a range of possible actuarial assumptions which, due to the timescale covered, may not necessarily 
be borne out in practice. 

The assumptions relating to longevity underlying the pension liability at the balance sheet date are based on standard actuarial mortality tables and include 
an allowance for future improvements in longevity. The assumptions are equivalent to expecting a 65 year old to live for a number of years as follows: 

Current pensioner aged 65: 20.0 years (male), 22.2 years (female). 
Future retiree upon reaching 65: 20.6 years (male), 22.9 years (female). 

70

Hargreaves Services plc Annual Report 201323  Pension Schemes and Other Retirement Benefits (continued) 
History of Plans 
The history of the plans for the current and prior periods is as follows: 

Balance Sheet 

Present value of the defined benefit obligation 

Experience Adjustments 

Experience gains and losses on scheme liabilities: 
Amount (£000)
Percentage of year end present value of scheme liabilities

2013  
£000 

424

2012  
£000 

450 

2011  
£000 

408 

2010  
£000 

390 

2009  
£000 

364 

2013 

2012 

2011 

2010 

2009 

57
13%

(11) 
(2%) 

75
18% 

–
0% 

–
0% 

The Group acquired another concessionary fuel retirement benefit scheme and became a member of two defined benefit schemes on the acquisition of 
Maltby Colliery on 26 February 2007. Details of these three schemes are consolidated in the tables below. 

The latest full actuarial valuation of all these schemes was carried out at 31 December 2009 and was updated for IAS 19 purposes to 31 May 2013 by a 
qualified independent actuary. 

Present value of unfunded defined benefit obligations
Present value of funded defined benefit obligations 
Fair value of assets 

Deficit in the scheme – Pension liability 

Movements in Present Value of Defined Benefit Obligation 

At the beginning of the year 
Current service cost 
Interest cost 
Actuarial loss 
Contributions paid 
Benefits paid 
Obligation acquired 

At the end of the year

Movements in the Fair Value of Plan Assets 

Fair value of plan assets at beginning of year 
Expected return on plan assets 
Actuarial gain/(loss)
Employer contributions 
Plan members’ contributions 
Benefits paid 
Plan assets acquired 

Fair value of plan assets at end of year 

2013  
£000

(1,371)
(37,681)
35,836

2012  
£000 

(1,779) 
(30,398)
26,658

(3,216)

(5,519)

2013  
£000

32,177
1,209
1,553
3,240
266
(342)
949

2012  
£000 

27,776
1,413
1,542
1,255
334
(143)
–

39,052

32,177

2013  
£000

26,658
1,504
3,862 
2,939
266
(342)
949

2012  
£000 

24,298
1,574
(1,983)
2,578
334
(143)
–

35,836

26,658

The plan assets and obligations acquired during the current year relate to transfers into the schemes of members under TUPE arrangements with UK Coal. 
There is still one member of the original 140, eligible to transfer their entitlement at the year end. 

71

Hargreaves Services plc Annual Report 2013Review of the YearCorporate GovernanceFinancial StatementsNotes 
Continued

23  Pension Schemes and Other Retirement Benefits (continued) 
History of Plans (continued) 
Expense Recognised in the Income Statement 

Current service cost 
Expected return on defined benefit pension plan 
Interest on defined benefit pension plan obligation

The expense is recognised in the following line items in the income statement: 

In discontinued operations

Administrative expenses 
Finance income 
Finance expense 

Actuarial gains and losses recognised directly in equity in the statement of comprehensive income since 26 February 2007. 

Cumulative amount at 1 June 
Recognised in the year 

Cumulative amount at 31 May 

2013  
£000

1,209
(1,504)
1,553

2012  
£000 

1,413
(1,574)
1,542 

1,258

1,381

2013  
£000

1,209
(1,504)
1,553

2012  
£000 

1,413
(1,574)
1,542

1,258

1,381

2013  
£000

(906)
622

2012  
£000 

2,332
(3,238)

(284)

(906)

Scheme Assets 
The fair value of the scheme’s assets, which are not intended to be realised in the short term and may be subject to significant change before they are 
realised, and the present value of the scheme’s liabilities, which are derived from cash flow projections over long periods and thus inherently uncertain, were: 

Equities and hedge funds 
Bonds 
Property 
Alternative investment mandate 
Other – cash 

Actual return on plan assets 

The expected rates of return on the assets in the scheme were: 

Equities and hedge funds 
Bonds 
Property 
Alternative investment mandate 
Other – cash 

72

Fair value at 
2013  
£000

Fair value at 
2012  
£000

17,058
10,894
1,769
3,217
2,898

12,389
9,018
1,709
1,715
1,827

35,836

26,658

5,366

(409)

Long-term 
rate of return 
2013

Long-term 
rate of return 
2012

7.3%
4.6%
–
6.3%
3.3%

7.0%
4.7%
7.0%
6.0%
3.0% 

Hargreaves Services plc Annual Report 201323  Pension Schemes and Other Retirement Benefits (continued) 
Scheme Assets (continued) 
The major assumptions used in this valuation were: 

Rate of increase in salaries 
Rate of increase in pensions in payment and deferred pensions 
Discount rate applied to scheme liabilities 
Inflation assumption 

2013 

–
3.4%
4.6%
3.55% 

2012

3.1%
3.0%
4.7%
3.1%

The assumptions used by the actuary are chosen from a range of possible actuarial assumptions which, due to the timescale covered, may not necessarily 
be borne out in practice.

There is a curtailment event as a result of the mothballing of underground activities at Maltby Colliery but this has not resulted in a curtailment gain or 
charge as the rate of salary increase is equal to inflation and there is not a significant number of early retirements. There is no longer an increase in salaries as 
a result of this curtailment event.

The assumptions relating to longevity underlying the pension liability at the balance sheet date are based on standard actuarial mortality tables and 
include an allowance for future improvements in longevity. The assumptions are equivalent to expecting a 60 year old to live for a number of years  
as follows: 

IWMPS 
Current pensioner aged 60: 21.6 years (male), 25.5 years (female). 
Future retiree upon reaching 60: 22.4 years (male), 26.3 years (female). 

IWCSSS 
Current pensioner aged 60: 24.3 years (male), 26.7 years (female). 
Future retiree upon reaching 60: 25.0 years (male), 27.5 years (female). 

History of Plans 
The history of the plans for the current and prior periods is as follows: 

Balance Sheet 

Present value of the defined benefit obligation 
Fair value of plan assets 

Deficit 

Experience Adjustments 

Difference between the expected and actual return on scheme assets: 
Amount (£000) 
Percentage of year end scheme assets 

Experience gains and losses on scheme liabilities: 
Amount (£000) 
Percentage of year end present value of scheme liabilities 

2013  
£000 

2012  
£000 

2011  
£000 

2010  
£000 

2009  
£000 

(39,052)
35,836

(32,177) 
26,658 

(27,776) 
24,298 

(23,478) 
17,691 

(16,258) 
12,193 

(3,216)

(5,519) 

(3,478) 

(5,787) 

(4,065) 

2013

2012

2011

2010

2009 

3,862
10.8%

(1,983) 
(7.4%) 

1,204 
5.0% 

1,857 
10.5% 

(3,034) 
24.9% 

(866)
2.2%

(10) 
0.0% 

(82) 
0.3% 

(4,862) 
20.7% 

2,802 
17.2% 

The Group expects to contribute approximately £1,058,000 to its defined benefit plans in the next financial year. 

73

Hargreaves Services plc Annual Report 2013Review of the YearCorporate GovernanceFinancial StatementsNotes 
Continued

24  Employee Share Schemes 
The Group has established a Savings-Related Share Option scheme and an Executive Long-Term Incentive Plan. An additional Long-Term Incentive Plan was 
established for certain senior employees as part of the acquisition of Norec Limited in September 2006. 

The terms and conditions of the grants are as follows, whereby all options are settled by physical delivery of shares: 

Long-Term Incentive Plan – Norec 

September 2006 Senior employees 

Date of grant

Employees entitled

Number 
of shares 
granted

96,572 

Long-Term Incentive Plan 2

June 2008

Senior employees

128,621

Long-Term Incentive Plan 3  

June 2009  

Senior employees  

193,658  

Savings-Related Share Option Scheme 5 

April 2010 

All employees 

175,511 

Long-Term Incentive Plan 4 

December 2010 

Senior employees 

128,702 

Savings-Related Share Option Scheme 6 

April 2011 

All employees 

141,122 

Long-Term Incentive Plan 5  

September 2011 

Senior employees  

134,626 

Savings-Related Share Option Scheme 7 
Savings-Related Share Option Scheme 8 

April 2012 
April 2013 

All employees 
All employees 

167,715 
134,986 

The number and weighted average exercise price of share options is as follows: 

Savings-Related Share Option Schemes 

Outstanding at beginning of year 
Granted during the year 
Lapsed during the year 
Exercised during the year 

Outstanding at the end of the year 

Exercisable at the end of the year 

Vesting conditions

Contractual life

3 years’ service 
3 years’ service and EPS  
growth of 35.4% (30% award)  
– 63.5% (100% award) over RPI  
over those 3 years 
3 years’ service
3 years’ service and EPS  
growth of 18.9% (30% award)  
– 30.0% (100% award) over RPI  
over those 3 years 
3 years’ service
3 years’ service and EPS  
growth of 12% (30% award)  
– 26.0% (100% award over RPI  
over those 3 years 
3 years’ service 
3 years’ service and EPS  
growth of 9.3%% (30% award)  
– 22.5% (100% award over RPI  
over those 3 years
3 years’ service 
3 years’ service 

11 years 

3.5 years 

3.5 years 
3.5 years 

3.5 years
3.5 years 

3.5 years
3.5 years 
3.5 years 

2013 
Weighted 
average 
exercise price

748p
794p
953p
450p

2013  
Number of 
options

626,450
134,986
(118,980)
(184,895)

2012 
Weighted 
average 
exercise price

467p 
1,098p 
674p 
470p 

2012  
Number of 
options

504,962
167,715 
(26,412) 
(19,815)

828p

457,561

748p 

626,450 

656p

121,395

N/A 

–

The options outstanding at 31 May 2013 have an exercise price in the range of 656p to 1,098p and have a weighted average contractual life of 1.5 years. 

The options exercised during the year had a weighted average market value of 773p (2012: 1,002p). 

74

Hargreaves Services plc Annual Report 2013 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
24  Employee Share Schemes (continued)
Long-Term Incentive Plans 

Outstanding at beginning of year 
Granted during the year 
Lapsed during the year 
Exercised during the year 

Outstanding at the end of the year 

Exercisable at the end of the year 

2013 
Weighted 
average 
exercise price

45p
–
–
–

2013  
Number of 
options

630,593
–
(7,000)
(72,319)

2012 
Weighted 
average 
exercise price

54p 
–
– 
–

2012  
Number of 
options

523,267 
134,626 
(14,972)
(12,328) 

197p

551,274

45p 

630,593 

26p

229,000

154p

184,661 

The options outstanding at 31 May 2013 have an exercise price in the range of £nil to 393.5p and have a weighted average contractual life of 1.8 years. 

The options exercised during the year had a weighted average market value of 738p (2012: 1,209p). 

The fair value of services received in return for share options granted is measured by reference to the fair value of share options granted. The estimate of the 
fair value of the services received is measured based on the Black-Scholes model. The contractual life of the option is used as an input into this model. 

Fair value at grant date 
Exercise price
Share price 
Expected volatility 
Option life 
Expected dividends 
Risk-free rate 

2013 

Savings-
Related 
Share Option 
Scheme 8

302p
794p
873p
40.0%
3 years
1.0%
5.4%

2012

Savings-
Related 
Share Option 
Scheme 7

427p 
1,098p
1,022p 
40.0% 
3 years 
1.0% 
5.4% 

Long-Term 
Incentive 
Plan 5

960p 
–
1,021p 
40.0% 
3 years 
2.0% 
5.8% 

Volatility was calculated with reference to the Group’s daily share price volatility. The average share price in the year was 754p (2012: 1,092p). 

The costs charged to the income statement relating to share-based payments were as follows: 

Share options granted in 2009 
Share options granted in 2010 
Share options granted in 2011 
Share options granted in 2012 
Share options granted in 2013

2013  
£000 

–
149
(279)
621
23

2012  
£000

131
447
442
312
– 

514 

1,332

75

Hargreaves Services plc Annual Report 2013Review of the YearCorporate GovernanceFinancial StatementsNotes 
Continued

25  Provisions 

Group 

Balance at 1 June 2012 
Provisions made during the year 
Provisions utilised during the year 

Balance at 31 May 2013 

Monckton 
ground water 
contamination 
£000

1,637 
50
– 

Maltby 
restoration 
£000

6,021 
291
– 

Maltby 
subsidence 
provision 
£000

1,624 
389
(107)

Total  
£000

9,282 
730
(107)

1,687

6,312

1,906

9,905

Included within the Maltby restoration provision is an amount of £2,285,000 (2012: £nil) that is expected to be utilised in the next 12 months.

Provisions comprise: 
1 

 A £1,687,000 ground and groundwater contamination provision which relates to Monckton’s obligation to address ground and groundwater 
contamination at its sites. The provision is based on estimates of volumes of contaminated soil and historical contract costs of ground contamination 
treatment. The costs will usually be payable on the decommissioning of the site. 

2  A £6,312,000 restoration provision which relates to Maltby Colliery’s obligation to restore the site after coal mining has been completed. The provision 

has increased due to estimates of the future cost of labour and fuel increasing. Following the mothballing of underground activities during this financial 
year restoration activities are now underway. 
 A statutory provision payable to the UK Coal Mining Board at a set rate, in order to rectify any potential subsidence of the local area around Maltby 
Colliery. Any unused provision will be released after the statutory period. 

3 

The Company has no provisions. 

26  Capital and Reserves 
Share Capital 

In issue at 1 June
Issued for cash

In issue and fully paid at 31 May

Allotted, called up and fully paid 
32,962,735 (2012: 27,086,816) Ordinary Shares of 10p each

Ordinary Shares

2013  
Number

27,086,816
5,875,919

2012  
Number

26,827,648 
259,168 

32,962,735

27,086,816

2013  
£000

2012  
£000 

3,296

2,709

The holders of ordinary shares are entitled to receive dividends as declared from time to time and are entitled to one vote per share at meetings of the 
Company. In April 2013, the Group completed a successful fund raising in the amount of £40.7m, net of £1.6m of issue costs resulting in the issue of 5.46m 
new shares.

Translation Reserve 
The translation reserve comprises all foreign exchange differences arising since 1 June 2007, the transition date to Adopted IFRSs, from the translation of the 
financial statements of foreign operations. 

Cash Flow Hedging Reserve 
The hedging reserve comprises the effective portion of the cumulative net change in the fair value of cash flow hedging instruments related to hedged 
transactions that have not yet occurred. 

Other Reserves 
Other reserves, the Merger reserve, and the Capital Redemption reserve are historical reserves for which no movements are anticipated. 

Dividends 
The aggregate amount of dividends comprises: 

Final dividends paid in respect of prior year but not recognised as liabilities in that year (11.8 pence per share (2012: 10.4p))
Interim dividends paid in respect of the current year (6.9 pence per share (2012: 6.0p)

Proposed dividend (13.6 pence per share (2012: 11.8p)) 

The proposed dividend has not been included in liabilities as it was not approved before the year end. 

76

2013  
£000

3,222
1,897

2012  
£000

2,803
1,625

5,119

4,428

4,483

3,196

Hargreaves Services plc Annual Report 201327  Financial Instruments 
The Group’s and Company’s principal financial instruments comprise short-term receivables and payables, bank loans and overdrafts, invoice discounting 
advances, obligations under finance leases and cash. Neither the Group nor the Company trades in financial instruments but uses derivative financial 
instruments in the form of forward rate agreements and forward foreign currency contracts to help manage its foreign currency, interest rate and commodity 
price exposures. The main purpose of these financial instruments is to raise finance for the Group’s and Company’s ongoing operations and manage its 
working capital requirements. 

(a)  Fair Values of Financial Instruments 
Derivative Financial Instruments 
Fair Value Hierarchy 
The following hierarchy classifies each class of financial asset or liability depending on the valuation technique applied in determining its fair value: 

Level 1: 
Level 2: 

Level 3: 

The fair value is calculated based on quoted prices traded in active markets for identical assets or liabilities. 
 The fair value is based on inputs other than quoted prices included within Level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or 
indirectly. The fair value of interest rate swaps is calculated as the present value of the estimated future cash flows utilising applicable year end 
yield curves. The fair value of forward foreign exchange and commodity contracts is determined using quoted forward exchange rates and 
commodity prices at the reported date and yield curves derived from quoted interest rates matching the maturities of the forward contracts. 
The fair value is based on inputs for the asset or liability that are not based on observable market data (unobservable inputs). 

In both 2013 and 2012 all of the interest rate swaps, the forward exchange contracts and the commodity contracts are considered to be Level 2 in the fair 
value hierarchy. There have been no transfers between categories in the current or preceding year. 

The fair values of all financial instruments, in both the current and prior year, approximate to their carrying values. 

(b)  Credit Risk 
Financial Risk Management 
Credit risk is the risk of financial loss to the Group if a customer or counterparty to a financial instrument fails to meet its contractual obligations, and arises 
principally from the Group’s receivables from customers. The Group’s risk is influenced by the nature of its customers. New customers are analysed for 
creditworthiness before the Group’s standard payment terms and conditions are offered and appropriate credit limits set. 

Exposure to Credit Risk 
The carrying amount of trade receivables represents the maximum credit exposure. Therefore, the maximum exposure to credit risk at the balance sheet 
date was £86,545,000 (2012: £69,010,000) being the total of the carrying amount of trade receivables. 

The allowance account for trade receivables is used to record impairment losses unless the Group or Company is satisfied that no recovery of the amount 
owing is possible; at that point the amounts considered irrecoverable are written off against the trade receivables directly. Further information on credit risk 
is provided in Note 19. 

(c)  Liquidity Risk 
Financial Risk Management 
Liquidity risk is the risk that the Group and Company will not be able to access the necessary funds to finance their operations. They finance their operations 
through a mix of short- and medium-term facilities. 

The Group manages its liquidity risk by monitoring existing facilities and cash flows against forecast requirements based on a rolling cash forecast. 

77

Hargreaves Services plc Annual Report 2013Review of the YearCorporate GovernanceFinancial StatementsNotes 
Continued

27  Financial Instruments (continued) 
(c)  Liquidity Risk (continued)
Financial Risk Management (continued)
The following are the contractual maturities of financial liabilities, including estimated interest payments and excluding the effect of netting agreements: 

Group 

Carrying 
amount 
£000

Contractual 
cash flow 
£000

1 year  
or less  
£000

2013

1 to <2 
years 
£000

2 to <5 
years 
£000

5 years 
and over 
£000

Carrying 
amount 
£000

Contractual 
cash flow 
£000

1 year  
or less  
£000

2012

1 to <2 
years 
£000

2 to <5 
years 
£000

5 years 
and over 
£000

Non-derivative  

financial liabilities 
15,500
Finance lease liabilities 
42,476
Bank overdrafts
Trade and other payables*  117,841
(2,223)
Invoice discounting facility 
83,632
Revolving credit facility 
–
Promissory note facility 

16,362
42,476

6,947
42,476
117,841 117,841
(2,223)
–
–

(2,223)
83,632 
–

5,442
–
–
–
–
–

3,973
–
–
–
83,632
–

Derivative financial 

liabilities 

Interest rate swaps  
used for hedging 
Forward exchange 
contracts used  
for hedging: 

Outflow 
Inflow 
Commodity contracts: 
Outflow 
Inflow 

2,839

2,839

–

–

2,839

418
–

7,557
–

418
–

418
–

7,557
–

7,246
–

–
–

311
–

–
–

–
–

268,040 

268,902  172,705 

5,753  90,444 

* Excludes derivatives (shown separately). 

Company 

–
–
–
–
–
–

–

–
–

–
–

–

16,398 
31,215 
100,462
(2,574) 
73,076 
5,039

7,693 
17,537 
31,215 
– 
100,462  100,462 
(2,574) 
–
5,025 

(2,574) 
73,076 
5,025

4,743 
31,215
–
–
– 
–

5,101 
–
–
–
73,076
–

2,445

2,445 

72 

– 

2,373

482
–

2,706 
–

482
–

482 
–

2,706 
–

1,821
–

–
–

231
–

–
–

654 
–

–
–
–
– 
–
–

–

–
–

–
–

229,249

230,374

112,981 

36,189 

81,204 

– 

Carrying 
amount 
£000

Contractual 
cash flow 
£000

1 year  
or less  
£000

2013

1 to <2 
years 
£000

2 to <5 
years 
£000

5 years 
and over 
£000

Carrying 
amount 
£000

Contractual 
cash flow 
£000

1 year  
or less  
£000

2012

1 to <2 
years 
£000

2 to <5 
years 
£000

5 years 
and over 
£000

Non-derivative  

financial liabilities 

Trade and other payables 341,705
83,632
Revolving credit facility 

341,705 341,705
–

83,632

–
–

–
83,632

–
–

260,530
73,076 

260,530
73,076

260,530 
–

–
–

–
73,076

12
–

12
–

12
–

425,349 

423,349  341,717 

–
–

–

–
–

83,632

–
–

–

121
–

121
–

121 
–

–
–

–
–

333,727

333,727

260,651

– 

73,076

Derivative financial 

liabilities 

Forward exchange 
contracts used  
for hedging: 

Outflow 
Inflow 

78

– 
– 

–
–

– 

Hargreaves Services plc Annual Report 2013 
 
27  Financial Instruments (continued) 
(d)  Market Risk 
Financial Risk Management 
Market risk is the risk that changes in market prices, such as foreign exchange rates, interest rates and commodity prices will affect the Group’s or Company’s 
income or the value of its holdings of financial instruments. 

Group 
The Group is exposed to currency risk on sales and purchases that are denominated in a currency other than the respective functional currencies of Group 
entities. The Group’s policy is to reduce currency exposures on sales and purchasing through forward foreign currency contracts. 

The Group is exposed to interest rate risk principally where its borrowings are at a variable interest rate. The Group’s policy it to reduce this exposure 
through interest rate swaps. 

Commodity Price Risk 
Commodity price risk is the risk of financial loss to the Group through open positions on the trading of coal, coke and other mineral commodities, prices for 
which are subject to variations that are both uncontrollable and unpredictable. 

The Group mitigates these risks wherever practicable, through the use of measures including fixed price contracts, hedging instruments and “back to back” 
purchase and sale agreements. 

Although short-term trading risks are managed in this way, through the ownership of Monckton Coke Works, and the Group’s participation in the Tower 
surface mining jointly controlled entity and the former Aardvark and Scottish Coal sites, the Group does have a longer-term exposure to price movements, 
favourable or unfavourable, in international coal and coke prices. 

Foreign Currency Risk 
Group 
The Group’s exposure to foreign currency risk is as follows. This is based on the carrying amount for monetary financial instruments except derivatives when 
it is based on notional amounts. 

31 May 2013 

Cash and cash equivalents 
Invoice discounting facility 
Trade receivables 
Trade receivables due from undertakings in which the Company has a participating interest 
Trade payables 
Other trade payables 
Overdraft 
Revolving credit facility 

Balance sheet exposure 
Contracted future sales
Contracted future purchases

Gross exposure
Forward exchange contracts 

Net exposure 

Sterling  
£000 

47,166
2,223
68,006
23,115
(52,600)
(17,156)
–
(83,632)

(12,878)

Euro  
£000 

6,251
–
11,188
–
(1,112)
–
(11,742)
–

4,585
1,429
–

6,014
(6,079)

US Dollar 
£000 

5,779
–
7,123
1,405
(5,683)
–
(30,734)
–

(22,110)
–
(11,720)

(33,830)
40,813

Polish  
Zloty  
£000 

16
–
228
–
(2)
–
–
–

242
–
–

242
–

Total  
£000 

59,212
2,223
86,545
24,520
(59,397)
(17,156)
(42,476)
(83,632)

(30,161)
1,429
(11,720)

(27,574)
34,734

(65)

6,983

242

7,160

79

Hargreaves Services plc Annual Report 2013Review of the YearCorporate GovernanceFinancial StatementsNotes 
Continued

27  Financial Instruments (continued) 
(d)  Market Risk (continued) 

31 May 2012 

Cash and cash equivalents 
Invoice discounting facility 
Trade receivables 
Trade receivables due from undertakings in which the Company has a participating interest 
Trade payables 
Other trade payables 
Overdraft 
Revolving credit facility 
Promissory note facility 

Balance sheet exposure
Gross exposure 
Forward exchange contracts 

Net exposure 

Company 
The Company has no exposure to foreign currency risk. 

Sterling  
£000 

33,502 
2,574 
54,594 
22,394 
(50,082) 
(17,036) 
(857) 
(73,076) 
–

(27,987)

Euro  
£000 

US Dollar 
£000 

Polish  
Zloty  
£000 

6,606 
–
8,575 
–
(3,290) 
–
(22,412) 
–
–

(10,521)
(10,521) 
–

3,116 
–
5,841 
2,274 
(8,765) 
–
(7,946) 
–
(5,025) 

(10,505)
(10,505) 
10,457 

54 
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–

54
54 
–

Total  
£000 

43,278 
2,574 
69,010 
24,668 
(62,137) 
(17,036) 
(31,215) 
(73,076) 
(5,025) 

(48,959)
(20,972) 
10,457 

(10,521) 

(48) 

54 

(10,515) 

Sensitivity Analysis 
Group 
A 10% weakening of the following currencies against the pound Sterling at 31 May 2013 would have increased equity and profit or loss by the amounts 
shown below. This calculation assumes that the change occurred at the balance sheet date and had been applied to risk exposures existing at that date. 

This analysis assumes that all other variables, in particular other exchange rates and interest rates, remain constant. The analysis is performed on the same 
basis for 2012. 

€
$
PLN 

Equity

Profit or loss

2013  
£000

6 
(717)
(22)

2012  
£000 

956 
4 
(5)

2013  
£000 

6
(717) 
(22) 

2012  
£000

956 
4 
(5)

A 10% strengthening of the above currencies against the pound Sterling at 31 May 2013 would have had the equal but opposite effect on the above 
currencies to the amounts shown above, on the basis that all other variables remain constant. 

Interest Rate Risk 
Profile 
At the balance sheet date the interest rate profile of the Group’s interest-bearing financial instruments was: 

Fixed rate instruments 
Financial assets 
Financial liabilities 

Variable rate instruments 
Financial assets 
Financial liabilities 

80

Group 

Company

2013  
£000 

2012  
£000 

2013  
£000 

2012  
£000 

–
(57,976)

–
(47,613) 

(57,976)

(47,613) 

–
–

–

–
– 

– 

61,435
(83,632)

45,852
(78,101) 

11,845
(83,632)

22,270
(73,076) 

(22,197)

(32,249) 

(71,787)

(50,806) 

Hargreaves Services plc Annual Report 201327  Financial Instruments (continued) 
(d)  Market Risk (continued) 
Sensitivity Analysis 
An increase of one basis point in interest rates throughout the period would have affected profit or loss by the amounts shown below. This calculation 
assumes that the change occurred at all points in the period and had been applied to the average risk exposures throughout the period. 

This analysis assumes that all other variables, in particular foreign currency rates, remain constant and considers the effect of financial instruments with 
variable interest rates, financial instruments at fair value through profit and loss or available for sale with fixed interest rates and the fixed rate element of 
interest rate swaps. The analysis is performed on the same basis for 2012. 

Profit or loss 
Increase/(decrease) 

Group 

Company

2013  
£000

312

2012  
£000 

252 

2013  
£000 

2012  
£000 

(32) 

73 

(e)  Cash Flow Hedges 
Cash Flow Hedges – Group 
The following table indicates the periods in which the cash flows associated with cash flow hedging instruments are expected to occur: 

2013  
Expected cash flows

1 year  
or less  
£000 

1 to <2  
years  
£000

2 to <5  
years  
£000 

5 years  
and over 
£000

Carrying 
amount  
£000

2012  
Expected cash flows

1 to <2  
years  
£000

2 to <5  
years  
£000 

5 years  
and over 
£000

Interest rate swaps: 
Assets 
Liabilities
Forward exchange 

contracts: 

Assets
Liabilities
Commodity contracts: 
Assets 
Liabilities

Carrying 
amount  
£000

–
(2,839)

2,491
(418)

762
(7,557)

–
–

2,491
(418)

725
(7,246)

–
–

–
–

37
(311)

–
(2,839)

–
–

–
–

1 year  
or less  
£000 

–
(72) 

680 
(482) 

–
(2,445) 

680 
(482)

5,371 
(2,706) 

5,371 
(1,821)

–
(231)

–
–

–
–

–
(2,373) 

–
–

–
(654) 

–
–

–
–

–
–

–

–
–

–
–

–
–

–

(7,561)

(4,448)

(274)

(2,839)

418 

3,676 

(231)

(3,027) 

(f)  Capital Management 
The Group manages its capital to ensure that entities in the Group will be able to continue as a going concern, whilst maximising the return to shareholders. 
The capital structure of the Group consists of debt, which includes borrowings, cash and cash equivalents, and equity attributable to equity holders of the 
parent, comprising capital, reserves and retained earnings. 

The capital structure is reviewed regularly by the Group’s Board of Directors. The Group’s policy is to maintain gearing at levels appropriate to the business. 
The Board principally reviews gearing determined as a proportion of debt to earnings before interest, tax and depreciation. The Board also takes consideration 
of gearing determined as the proportion of net debt to total capital. It should be noted that the Board reviews gearing taking careful account of the working 
capital needs and flows of the business. In the trading businesses, where working capital cycles are regular, predictable and generally less than 90 days, the 
Board is comfortable to maintain higher levels of debt and gearing as measured against EBITDA. 

The Board believes that the Group’s dividend cover remains conservative. The average dividend cover over the past three years has been just under six 
times, representing an average payout ratio of 14.5%. The closure of Maltby together with the expansion of the Group’s surface mining activity reduces the 
capital intensity of the business and increases the stability and predictability of our operating cash flows. The Board has therefore set a target of increasing 
the dividend payout progressively over the next three years towards a dividend cover of around four times.

There are no externally imposed capital requirements but the bank debt is subject to certain covenants in line with normal commercial practice. 
Historic and projected compliance with these covenants is reviewed by the Board on a regular basis. 

81

Hargreaves Services plc Annual Report 2013Review of the YearCorporate GovernanceFinancial StatementsNotes 
Continued

28  Operating Leases 
Non-cancellable operating lease rentals are payable as follows: 

Less than one year 
Between one and five years 
More than five years 

Group 

Company

2013  
£000

6,876
9,125
1,278

2012  
£000 

6,203 
10,688 
1,711

17,279

18,602

2013  
£000 

2012  
£000 

–
–
–

–

–
–
–

–

Group 
During the year £12,100,509 was recognised as an expense in the income statement in respect of operating leases (2012: £6,073,000). 

Company 
During the year £nil was recognised as an expense in the income statement in respect of operating leases (2012: £nil). 

29  Capital Commitments 
Group 
During the year ended 31 May 2013, the Group entered into contracts to purchase property, plant and equipment for £3,473,093 (2012: £4,826,000).  
In respect of its interest in jointly controlled entities, the Group is committed to incur capital expenditure of £nil (2012: £18,019,000). The jointly controlled 
entities are themselves committed to incur capital expenditure of £nil (2012: £nil). 

30  Contingencies 
Group and Company 
The Company and certain of its subsidiary undertakings have debenture and composite arrangements in connection with banking facilities. The Company 
acts as a guarantor, or surety, for various subsidiary undertakings in banking and other agreements entered into by them in the normal course of business. 
The Company’s maximum unprovided exposure is £6,267,000 (2012: £5,280,000). 

The Group is defendent in a small number of lawsuits incidental to its operators which, in aggregate, are not expected to have a material adverse effect on 
the Group.

31  Related Parties 
Identity of Related Parties with which the Group has Transacted 
The Group and Company have a related party relationship with their subsidiaries and jointly controlled entities (Note 14) and its Directors. 

The Group also has a related party relationship with Hatfield Colliery Limited, in which it holds 10% of the issued share capital. At 31 May 2013, the Group  
is owed £2,276,000 (2012: £2,192,000) under a Hire Purchase agreement. 

Group 
Other Related Party Transactions 

Jointly controlled entities 
Tower Regeneration Limited 
Tower Regeneration Leasing Limited 
MIR Trade Services Limited 

Jointly controlled entities 
Tower Regeneration Limited 
Tower Regeneration Leasing Limited 
MIR Trade Services Limited 

82

Sales to 

Purchases from

2013  
£000 

2012  
£000 

2013  
£000 

2012  
£000

23,542
–
– 

6,847
–
715

– 
5,017
3,905

23,542

7,562

8,922

20
250
–

270

Interest received from

Interest paid to

2013  
£000 

2012  
£000 

2013  
£000 

2012  
£000

697
–
80

777

455
–
–

455

–
–
–

–

–
–
–

–

Hargreaves Services plc Annual Report 201331  Related Parties (continued) 
Group (continued)
Other Related Party Transactions (continued)

Jointly controlled entities
Tower Regeneration Limited 
Tower Regeneration Leasing Limited 
MIR Trade Services Limited 

Receivables outstanding 

Payables outstanding

2013  
£000 

2012  
£000 

2013  
£000 

2012  
£000

22,245 
869
1,406 

18,859 
3,535
2,274

24,520

24,668 

–
–
–

–

–
–
–

–

Transactions with Key Management Personnel 
The Directors are the key management personnel of the Group. Details of Directors’ remuneration, share options, pension benefits and other non-cash 
benefits can be found in Note 7. In addition to this, the element of the share-based payment charge for the year that relates to key management personnel 
is £27,000 (2012: £891,000). There are no other post-employment or other long-term benefits. 

Company 
Other Related Party Transactions 

Jointly controlled entities 
Tower Regeneration Limited 
Tower Regeneration Leasing Limited 
MIR Trade Services Limited 

Subsidiaries 
Jointly controlled entities 

Sales to

Interest received

2013  
£000 

2012  
£000 

2013  
£000 

2012  
£000

750
–
–

750

900
–
–

900

–
–
80

80

–
–
–

–

Receivables outstanding 

Payables outstanding

2013  
£000 

2012  
£000 

2013  
£000 

2012  
£000

461,868
4,288 

318,580 
7,302

341,333
–

257,295 
–

466,156

325,882

341,333

257,295 

32  Post Balance Sheet Events
Following an intensive period of due diligence we announced on 5 July the completion of a transaction to acquire certain assets from the joint liquidators 
of Scottish Coal Company Limited (“Scottish Coal”) for £8.4m. 

The transaction was complex and initially involved the acquisition of a property portfolio of approximately 30,000 acres together with unencumbered plant 
and equipment. The consideration for these assets was £8.4m. The property interests include Scottish Coal’s rights and interests in various wind farm 
projects that were being progressed through design and planning. Scottish Coal will share in any near-term profits realised on the wind farms. 

83

Hargreaves Services plc Annual Report 2013Review of the YearCorporate GovernanceFinancial StatementsNotice of Annual General Meeting 
Hargreaves Services plc 
(incorporated and registered in England and Wales under number 4952865) 

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that this year’s Annual General Meeting will be held at Prior’s Hall, Durham Cathedral, The College, Durham, DH1 3EH 
on 6 November 2013 at 11.00 a.m. for the following purposes: 

Ordinary Business 
To consider and, if thought fit, pass the following resolutions, of which resolutions 1 to 8 will be proposed as ordinary resolutions and resolution 9 as a 
special resolution. 

To adopt and receive the Directors’ Report, the Directors’ Corporate Governance and Remuneration Reports, the Auditor’s Report and the Financial 
Statements for the year ended 31 May 2013. 
To approve the Directors’ Remuneration Report for the year ended 31 May 2013. 
To declare a final dividend for the year ended 31 May 2013 of 13.6 pence per ordinary share to bring the dividend for the year ended 31 May 2013  
to a total of 20.5 pence per ordinary share. 
To re-appoint Tim Ross as a Director of the Company in accordance with article 34 of the Company’s articles of association, who offers himself for 
re-appointment. 
To re-appoint Kevin Dougan as a Director of the Company in accordance with article 34 of the Company’s articles of association, who offers himself  
for re-appointment. 
To appoint KPMG LLP as auditor of the Company to hold office from the conclusion of this meeting to the conclusion of the next meeting at which 
accounts are laid before the Company. 
To authorise the Directors to agree the remuneration of the auditor. 
That the Directors of the Company be and are generally granted and unconditionally authorised for the purposes of Section 551 of the Companies Act 
2006 (the Act) to exercise all the powers of the Company to allot shares in the Company and to grant rights to subscribe for or to convert any security 
into such shares in the Company (Rights): 
8.1 

 up to an aggregate nominal value of £1,102,000 (representing approximately one-third of the total ordinary share capital in issue as at the date  
of this notice); and 
 comprising equity securities (within the meaning of section 560 of the Act) up to an aggregate nominal amount of £2,204,000 (after deducting 
from such amount any shares allotted under the authority conferred by virtue of resolution 8.1) in connection with or pursuant to an offer or 
invitation by way of a rights issue (as defined below), 

8.2 

 provided that such authorities conferred by this resolution 8 shall expire on the earlier of the conclusion of the next Annual General Meeting of the 
Company or the date falling six months after the end of the Company’s current financial year unless varied, revoked or renewed by the Company in 
general meeting, save that the Company may at any time before such expiry make an offer or agreement which would or might require shares to be 
allotted or Rights to be granted after such expiry and the Directors may allot shares and grant Rights pursuant to such offers or agreements as if the 
relevant authorities conferred by this resolution 8 had not expired. These authorities shall be in substitution for all previous authorities previously 
granted to the Directors to allot shares and grant Rights which are pursuant to this resolution 8 revoked but without prejudice to any allotment or 
grant of Rights made or entered into prior to the date of this resolution 8. 
For the purposes of this resolution 8, rights issue means an offer or invitation to (i) holders of ordinary shares in proportion (as nearly as may be 
practicable) to the respective numbers of ordinary shares held by them on the record date for such allotment and (ii) persons who are holders of other 
classes of equity securities if this is required by the rights of such securities (if any) or, if the Directors of the Company consider necessary, as permitted 
by the rights of those securities, to subscribe for further securities by means of the issue of a renounceable letter (or other negotiable instrument) 
which may be traded for a period before payment for the securities is due, but subject in both cases to such exclusions or other arrangements as the 
Directors of the Company may deem necessary or expedient in relation to fractional entitlements, treasury shares, record dates or legal, regulatory or 
practical difficulties which may arise under the laws of, or the requirements of, any recognised regulatory body or any stock exchange in any territory 
or any other matter whatever. 
That, subject to and conditional upon the passing of resolution 8 above, the Directors be and are empowered pursuant to Sections 570 and 573 of the 
Act to allot equity securities (as defined in Section 560 of the Act) of the Company for cash: 
9.1 

 pursuant to the authority conferred upon them by resolution 8.1 or where the allotment constitutes an allotment of equity securities by virtue 
of section 560(3) of the Act, provided that this power shall be limited to the allotment of equity securities: 
9.1.1 in connection with or pursuant to an offer of such securities by way of a pre-emptive offer (as defined below); and 
9.1.2  (otherwise than pursuant to sub-paragraph 9.1.1 above) up to an aggregate nominal value of £330,600 (representing approximately 10%  

of the total ordinary share capital in issue); and 

9.2 

 pursuant to the authority conferred upon them by resolution 8.2, in connection with or pursuant to a rights issue, as if section 561(1) of the Act 
did not apply to any such allotment and the authorities given shall expire on the earlier of the conclusion of the next Annual General Meeting  
of the Company or the date falling six months after the end of the Company’s current financial year unless renewed or extended prior to such 
expiry, save that the Directors of the Company may before such expiry make an offer or agreement which would or might require equity 
securities to be allotted after such expiry and the Directors may allot equity securities in pursuance of any such offer or agreement 
notwithstanding that the power conferred by this resolution 9 has expired. 

For the purpose of this resolution 9: 
(a) 
(b) 

rights issue has the meaning given in resolution 8; and
 pre-emptive offer means a rights issue, open offer or other pre-emptive issue or offer to (i) holders of ordinary shares in proportion (as nearly  
as may be practicable) to the respective numbers of ordinary shares held by them on the record date(s) for such allotment; and (ii) persons  
who are holders of other classes of equity securities if this is required by the rights of such securities (if any) or, if the Directors of the Company 
consider necessary, as permitted by the rights of those securities, but subject in both cases to such exclusions or other arrangements as the 
Directors of the Company may deem necessary or expedient in relation to fractional entitlements, treasury shares, record dates or legal, 
regulatory or practical difficulties which may arise under the laws of, or the requirements of, any recognised regulatory body or any stock 
exchange in any territory or any other matter whatever. 

1. 

2. 
3. 

4. 

5. 

6. 

7. 
8. 

9. 

84

Hargreaves Services plc Annual Report 2013Special Business 
To consider and, if thought fit, pass the following resolutions as special resolutions. 

10.  That the articles of association be amended by substituting the existing Article 44.2 with a new Article 44.2 as shown below:

 “Subject to Article 44.3, every instrument to which the Seal and any Securities Seal shall be affixed shall be signed autographically by one Director and 
the Secretary or by two Directors or by one Director in the presence of a witness save that as regards any certificates for shares or debentures or other 
securities of the Company, the Board may by resolution determine that such signatures, or either of them, shall be dispensed with or affixed by some 
method or system of mechanical signature or by laser printer or in such other manner as the Board having regard to the terms of issue, the Companies 
Acts and the London Stock Exchange may authorise”.

11.  The Company be and is generally and unconditionally authorised for the purpose of section 701 of the Act to make market purchases (which in this 

resolution shall have the meaning given to this term in section 693 (4) of the Act) of its ordinary shares of 10 pence each in the capital of the Company 
(Ordinary Shares) on the terms set out below: 
11.1 

 the maximum aggregate number of Ordinary Shares authorised to be purchased by the Company pursuant to this resolution 11 is 3,306,000 
(representing approximately ten per cent of the number of Ordinary Shares in issue); and 

11.2  the minimum price which may be paid for each of those Ordinary Shares (exclusive of expenses) is 10 pence; and 
11.3 

 the maximum price (exclusive of expenses) which may be paid for each of those Ordinary Shares is not more than the higher of (i) five per cent 
above the average of the middle market quotations for Ordinary Shares (as derived from the Daily Official Lists of the London Stock Exchange) 
for the five dealing days immediately preceding the date of purchase and (ii) that stipulated by Article 5(1) of the Buy-Back and Stabilisation 
Regulations 2003, 

but so that this authority shall (unless previously varied, revoked or renewed) expire on the earlier of the conclusion of the next Annual General 
Meeting of the Company or the date falling six months after the end of the Company’s current financial year, save that the Company may before  
the expiry of this authority conclude any contract for the purchase of its own shares pursuant to the authority conferred by this resolution 11 which 
contract would or might be executed wholly or partially after the expiration of this authority as if the authority conferred by this resolution 11 had  
not expired. 

4 October 2013

By order of the Board 

Stephen MacQuarrie 
Company Secretary 

Registered Office: 
West Terrace Esh Winning 
Durham  
DH7 9PT 
Registered in England and Wales No. 4952865 

85

Hargreaves Services plc Annual Report 2013Review of the YearCorporate GovernanceFinancial Statements 
Notice of Annual General Meeting 
Hargreaves Services plc 
Continued 

Notes 
1. 

To be entitled to attend and vote at the Annual General Meeting (and for the purpose of the determination by the Company of the votes they  
may cast), Shareholders must be registered in the Register of Members of the Company at 6.00 p.m. on 4 November 2013 (or, in the event of any 
adjournment, at 6.00 p.m. two days prior to the day of the adjourned meeting). Changes to the Register of Members after the relevant deadline  
shall be disregarded in determining the rights of any person to attend and vote at the meeting. 

2.  Members are entitled to appoint a proxy to exercise all or any of their rights to attend and to speak and vote on their behalf at the meeting. A shareholder 

3. 

4. 

5. 

6. 

7. 

may appoint more than one proxy in relation to the Annual General Meeting provided that each proxy is appointed to exercise the rights attached to a 
different share or shares held by that shareholder. A proxy need not be a shareholder of the Company. A proxy form which may be used to make such 
appointment and give proxy instructions accompanies this notice. 
To be valid any proxy form or other instrument appointing a proxy must be received by post or (during normal business hours only) by hand at the 
office of the Registrars of the Company, Capita Asset Services, Proxies Department, The Registry, 34 Beckenham Road, Beckenham, Kent, BR3 4TU  
no later than 11.00 a.m. on 4 November 2013. 
The return of a completed proxy form, other such instrument or any CREST Proxy Instruction (as described in paragraph 9 below) will not prevent a 
shareholder attending the Annual General Meeting and voting in person if he/she wishes to do so. 
If a member appoints a proxy or proxies and then decides to attend the Annual General Meeting in person and vote using his poll card, then the vote 
in person will override the proxy vote(s). If the vote in person is in respect of the member’s entire holding, then all proxy votes will be disregarded. If, 
however, the member votes at the meeting in respect of less than the member’s entire holding, then if the member indicates on his polling card that 
all proxies are to be disregarded, that shall be the case; but if the member does not specifically revoke proxies, then the vote in person will be treated 
in the same way as if it were the last received proxy and earlier proxies will only be disregarded to the extent that to count them would result in the 
number of votes being cast exceeding the member’s entire holding. If you do not have a proxy form and/or believe that you should have one or if  
you require additional forms, please contact the Company at its registered office. 
To change your proxy instructions simply submit a new proxy appointment using the methods set out above. Note that the cut-off time for receipt of 
proxy appointments (see Note 3 above) also applies in relation to amended instructions; any amended proxy appointment received after the relevant 
cut-off time will be disregarded. 
Where you have appointed a proxy using the hard-copy proxy form and would like to change the instructions using another hard-copy proxy form, 
please contact Capita Asset Services Proxies Department, The Registry, 34 Beckenham Road, Beckenham, Kent, BR3 4TU. If you submit more than one 
valid proxy appointment, the appointment received last before the latest time for the receipt of proxies will take precedence. 
In order to revoke a proxy instruction you will need to inform the Company by sending a signed hard copy notice clearly stating your intention to 
revoke your proxy appointment to Capita Asset Services. In the case of a member which is a company, the revocation notice must be executed under 
its common seal or signed on its behalf by an officer of the company or an attorney for the company. Any power of attorney or any other authority 
under which the revocation notice is signed (or a duly certified copy of such power or authority) must be included with the revocation notice. The 
revocation notice must be received by Capita Asset Services at Proxies Department, The Registry, 34 Beckenham Road, Beckenham, Kent, BR3 4TU  
no later than 11.00 a.m. on 4 November 2013. If you attempt to revoke your proxy appointment but the revocation is received after the time specified 
then, subject to paragraph 5 above your appointment will remain valid. 

8.  CREST members who wish to appoint a proxy or proxies through the CREST electronic proxy appointment service may do so by using the procedures 

9. 

described in the CREST Manual. CREST Personal Members or other CREST sponsored members, and those CREST members who have appointed voting 
service provider(s), should refer to their CREST sponsor or voting service provider(s), who will be able to take the appropriate action on their behalf. 
In order for a proxy appointment or instruction made using the CREST service to be valid, the appropriate CREST message (a “CREST Proxy Instruction”) 
must be properly authenticated in accordance with Euroclear UK & Ireland Limited’s (Euroclear) specifications, and must contain the information required 
for such instruction, as described in the CREST Manual. The message, regardless of whether it constitutes the appointment of a proxy or is an amendment 
to the instruction given to a previously appointed proxy must, in order to be valid, be transmitted so as to be received by the issuer’s agent (ID RA10) by 
11.00 a.m. on 4 November 2013. For this purpose, the time of receipt will be taken to be the time (as determined by the timestamp applied to the message 
by the CREST Application Host) from which the issuer’s agent is able to retrieve the message by enquiry to CREST in the manner prescribed by CREST.  
After this time any change of instructions to proxies appointed through CREST should be communicated to the appointee through other means. 
10.  CREST members and, where applicable, their CREST sponsors, or voting service providers should note that Euroclear does not make available special 

procedures in CREST for any particular message. Normal system timings and limitations will, therefore, apply in relation to the input of CREST Proxy 
Instructions. It is the responsibility of the CREST member concerned to take (or, if the CREST member is a CREST personal member, or sponsored 
member, or has appointed a voting service provider, to procure that his CREST sponsor or voting service provider(s) take(s)) such action as shall be 
necessary to ensure that a message is transmitted by means of the CREST system by any particular time. In this connection, CREST members and, 
where applicable, their CREST sponsors or voting system providers are referred, in particular, to those sections of the CREST Manual concerning 
practical limitations of the CREST system and timings. 

11.  The Company may treat as invalid a CREST Proxy Instruction in the circumstances set out in Regulation 35(5)(a) of the Uncertificated Securities 

12. 

Regulations 2001 (as amended). 
If a corporation is a member of the Company, it may by resolution of its Directors or other governing body authorise one or more persons to act  
as its representative or representatives at the Meeting and any such representative or representatives shall be entitled to exercise on behalf of the 
corporation all the powers that the corporation could exercise if it were an individual member of the Company. Corporate representatives should 
bring with them either an original or certified copy of the appropriate board resolution or an original letter confirming the appointment, provided  
it is on the corporation’s letterhead and is signed by an authorised signatory and accompanied by evidence of the signatory’s authority. 

13.  As at 3 October 2013 (being the last business day prior to the publication of this Notice) the Company’s issued share capital consists of 33,065,614 

ordinary shares, carrying one vote each. Therefore, the total voting rights in the Company as at 3 October 2013 are 33,065,614. 

86

Hargreaves Services plc Annual Report 201314.  The following documents will be available for inspection of the Company’s registered office at West Terrace, Esh Winning, Durham, DH7 9PT during 
normal business hours on any week day (Saturdays and English public holidays excepted) from the date of this notice until the close of the Meeting 
and at the place of that Meeting for at least 15 minutes prior to and during the Meeting: 

•	 Copies of the service contracts for the Executive Directors of the Company; and 
•	 Copies of the letters of appointment of Non-Executive Directors of the Company. 

Explanatory Notes to the Notice of Annual General Meeting 
The notes on the following pages give an explanation of the proposed resolutions. 

Resolutions 1 to 8 are proposed as ordinary resolutions. This means that for each of those resolutions to be passed, more than half of the votes cast must  
be in favour of the resolution. Resolutions 9 to 11 are proposed as special resolutions. This means that for each of those resolutions to be passed, at least 
three-quarters of the votes cast must be in favour of the resolution. 

Resolution 1: Accounts 
The Directors will present their Report, the Directors’ Corporate Governance and Remuneration Reports, the Auditor’s Report and the audited financial 
statements for the financial year ended 31 May 2013 to the meeting as required by law. These reports and statements are set out on pages 26 to 83 of  
this document. 

Resolution 2: Approval of the Directors’ Remuneration Report 
Shareholders are asked to approve the Directors’ Remuneration Report for the financial year ended 31 May 2013 which is set out in full on pages 32 to 34  
of the Company’s annual report. The vote is advisory and the Directors’ entitlement to remuneration is not conditional upon this resolution being passed. 

Resolution 3: Declaration of Final Dividend 
Final dividends must be approved by shareholders but must not exceed the amount recommended by the Directors. If the meeting approves resolution 3, the 
final dividend in respect of 2013 of 13.6 pence per share will be paid on 12 December 2013 to shareholders on the register of members on 8 November 2013. 

Resolutions 4 and 5: Re-appointment of Directors 
At each annual general meeting one-third of the Directors for the time being (other than those appointed since the last Annual General Meeting) are 
required to retire. If the number of relevant Directors is not a multiple of three, the number nearest to one-third of Directors, but not less than one-third, 
should be obliged to retire. Directors due to retire by rotation are those longest in office since their last re-election or re-appointment and as between 
persons who become or were last re-elected or re-appointed on the same day those due to retire shall (unless otherwise agreed among themselves)  
be determined by lot. A retiring Director is eligible for re-appointment. Tim Ross and Kevin Dougan are both offering themselves for re-appointment. 

Brief biographical details of Tim Ross and Kevin Dougan are set out on page 24 of this document. 

Resolutions 6 and 7: Appointment of Auditor and Approval of Remuneration 
The Company is required to appoint auditors at each general meeting at which accounts are laid, to hold office until the next general meeting. KPMG Audit 
Plc have notified the Company that they are not seeking reappointment. Resolution 6 proposes that KPMG LLP are appointed auditors of the Company and 
will hold office from the conclusion of this meeting until the conclusion of the next general meeting at which accounts are laid before the Company, and, in 
accordance with standard practice, resolution 7 proposes that their remuneration be fixed by the Directors.

Resolution 8: Authority to Allot Shares 
Resolution 8.1 grants the Directors authority to allot relevant securities up to an aggregate nominal amount of £1,102,000 being approximately one third of 
the Company’s ordinary share capital in issue at 3 October 2013. 

In line with guidance issued by the Association of British Insurers in December 2008, resolution 8.2 grants the Directors of the Company authority to allot 
unissued share capital in connection with a rights issue in favour of ordinary shareholders up to an aggregate nominal amount of £2,204,000 (representing 
22,040,000 ordinary shares of 10 pence each), as reduced by the nominal amount of any shares issued under resolution 8.1. This amount, before any such 
reduction, represents approximately two thirds of the Company’s ordinary share capital in issue at 3 October 2013. 

It is not the Directors’ current intention to exercise either such authorities. The authorities granted by resolution 8 replace the existing authority to allot shares.

Resolution 9: Disapplication of Statutory Pre-emption Rights
This resolution disapplies the statutory pre-emption rights which would otherwise apply on an issue of shares for cash and is limited to allotments in 
connection with rights issues or other pre-emptive offers where the securities attributable to the interests of all shareholders are proportionate (as nearly  
as may be) to the number of shares held and generally up to a further £330,600 being approximately 10 per cent of the Company’s ordinary share capital  
in issue at 3 October 2013. This replaces the existing authority to disapply pre-emption rights and expires at the conclusion of the next Annual General 
Meeting of the Company. 

Resolution 10: Amendment to Article 44.2
This resolution proposes an amendment to Article 44.2 of the Company’s articles of association to enable share certificates to be signed by use of a laser 
signature. It is an administrative amendment only which is designed to assist the management of the share register by the Company’s registrar.

87

Hargreaves Services plc Annual Report 2013Review of the YearCorporate GovernanceFinancial StatementsNotice of Annual General Meeting 
Hargreaves Services plc 
Continued 

Resolution 11: Purchase of Own Shares 
Resolution 11 authorises the Company to purchase its own shares (in accordance with section 701 of the Act) during the period from the date of this Annual 
General Meeting until the end of the next Annual General Meeting of the Company or the expiration of six months after the 2014 Company financial  
year end, whichever is the sooner, up to a total of 3,306,000 ordinary shares. This represents approximately 10% of the issued ordinary share capital as at  
3 October 2013, the latest practicable date prior to the issue of this circular. The maximum price payable for a share shall not be more than the higher of 5% 
above the average of the middle market quotations of such shares for the five business days before such purchases and the price stipulated by Article 5(1)  
of the Buy-back and Stabilisation Regulations 2003 (being the higher of the price of the last independent trade and the highest current independent bid  
on the trading venue where the purchase is carried out). The minimum price payable for a share will be 10 pence. Companies are permitted to retain any  
of their own shares which they have purchased as treasury stock with a view to possible re-issue at a future date, rather than cancelling them. The Company 
will consider holding any of its own shares that it purchases pursuant to the authority conferred by this resolution as treasury stock. This would give the 
Company the ability to re-issue treasury shares quickly and cost-effectively, and would provide the Company with additional flexibility in the management 
of its capital base. 

The Directors will consider making use of the renewed authorities pursuant to resolution 11 in circumstances which they consider to be in the best interests 
of shareholders generally after taking account of market conditions prevailing at the time, other investment opportunities, appropriate gearing levels, the 
effect on earnings per share and the Company’s overall financial position. No purchases will be made which would effectively alter the control of the 
Company without the prior approval of the shareholders in a general meeting. 

88

Hargreaves Services plc Annual Report 2013Investor Information

Company Secretary
Stephen MacQuarrie 

Independent Auditor 
KPMG Audit Plc 
Quayside House 
110 Quayside 
Newcastle upon Tyne 
NE1 3DX 

Bankers 
Royal Bank of Scotland 
2nd Floor 
Keel Row House 
1 Sandgate 
Newcastle upon Tyne 
NE1 2NG 

Legal Advisers 
Walker Morris 
Kings Court 
12 King Street 
Leeds 
LS1 2HL 

Nominated Adviser and Joint Stock Broker 
N+1 Singer 
One Bartholomew Lane
London 
EC2N 2AX

Joint Stock Broker 
Jefferies Hoare Govett 
Vintners Place 
68 Upper Thames Street 
London  
EC4V 3BJ 

Registered Office 
West Terrace  
Esh Winning 
Durham  
DH7 9PT 

Registrar 
Capita Asset Services 
The Registry 
34 Beckenham Road 
Beckenham 
Kent 
BR3 4TU 

For more information 

Please visit us online at www.hsgplc.co.uk 
for up to date investor information, 
company news and other information. 

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Hargreaves Services plc
West Terrace
Esh Winning
Durham DH7 9PT
Tel: 0191 373 4485
Fax: 0191 373 3777

www.hsgplc.co.uk