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Henry Boot plc

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Henry Boot PLC 
Annual Report and  
Financial Statements 2010

A lot has changed in

125 years

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A lot has changed in 
125 years

t Contents

t About us

The Henry Boot Group 
operates in the UK Property 
and Construction sectors.

Our key objective is to maximise long-term 
shareholder value through construction and plant 
hire activities, the development of and investment 
in high quality property assets and the promotion 
of new land development opportunities.

Review of the year

01  2010 highlights

02  Henry Boot at a glance

04   Chairman’s statement

06   Business review

   Operations review

   Financial review

Corporate responsibility

24  Corporate social responsibility

   Health and safety

   Our employees

   Corporate governance

 Supporting local communities 
and charities

   Our environmental responsibilities

Corporate governance

30   Board of directors

31    Subsidiary company 

managing directors

31   Company advisers

31   Financial calendar

32   Directors’ report

40   Directors’ responsibilities

41   Corporate governance statement

44   Directors’ remuneration report

Financial statements

47   Independent auditors’ report

48 

 Consolidated statement of 
comprehensive income

49   Statements of financial position

50   Statements of changes in equity

51   Statements of cash flows

52   Principal accounting policies

58   Notes to the financial statements

Shareholder information

80   Property valuers’ report

81   Notice of annual general meeting

IBC Front cover images

t for more information:
www.henryboot.co.uk

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A lot has changed in 
125 years

t 2010 highlights

Henry Boot PLC 
Annual Report and  

Financial Statements 2010 01

t		Trading	profits(*) increased to £18.0m (2009: £11.5m)

t		Property	revaluation	surplus	of	£0.6m	(2009:	deficit	£22.4m)

t		Property	investment	disposal	profits	of	£2.4m	(2009:	£0.9m)

t		Profit	before	tax:	£18.9m	(2009:	loss	£11.9m)

t  Earnings per share: 9.1p (2009: loss 5.7p)

t		Proposed	final	dividend	of	2.15p	per	share,	total	for	the	year	

of	3.5p	up	40%	on	2009	(2.5p)

t  Net	asset	value	per	share	increased	by	7%	to	145p	(2009:	135p)

t		Further	reduction	in	net	debt	to	£11.4m	(2009:	£32.1m)	and	

in	gearing	to	6%	(2009:	18%)

t  Post year end:

 t  Group is net cash positive after property and land disposals 

completed in early 2011

 t  Director retirement and appointment announced 

(*) Trading	profit	comprises	operating	profit	of	£20.9m	(2009:	loss	of	£10.0m),	adjusted	for	the	increase	in	fair	value	of	

investment	property	of	£0.6m	(2009:	decrease	of	£22.4m),	profit	on	sale	on	investment	properties	of	£2.4m	(2009:	£0.9m)	
and the loss on sale of assets held for sale of £0.1m (2009: £nil).

Group profit before tax
(£m) 31 December

Net asset value per 
ordinary share
(p) 31 December

Earnings per ordinary share
(p) 31 December

Dividends per ordinary share
(p) 31 December

£18.9m

145p

9.1p

3.5p

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

40.8

2006

46.5

2007

19.3

2008

(11.9)

2009

18.9

2010

116

139

146

135

145

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

19.8

2006

24.5

2007

10.8

2008

(5.7)

2009

9.1

2010

4.4

5.0

5.0

2.5

3.5

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02

Henry Boot PLC 
Annual Report and  
Financial Statements 2010

A lot has changed in 
125 years

t Henry Boot at a glance

The Sheffield-based Henry Boot Group 
is one of the UK’s leading property and 
construction organisations, with its four 
principal trading subsidiary companies 
operating in the property development and 
investment, land management, construction 
and plant hire sectors.

The Group’s main objective is to maximise shareholder 
value in the longer term through active commercial 
development and land management, allied to recurring 
income from investment property, PFI, construction 
and plant hire activities.

Each Group company is managed autonomously 
and has set objectives to maximise short-term profits 
and create valuable long-term asset backed opportunities 
in the property sector.

t to view online:
annualreports.henryboot.co.uk/2010/ 
reviewoftheyear/group

Our locations

Group head office
Sheffield

Twelve regional offices
Bristol
Chesterfield
Derby
Dronfield
Glasgow
Leeds
London
Manchester
Northampton
Rotherham
Stocksfield
Wakefield

Henry Boot Developments Limited

Henry	Boot	Developments	is	a	major	force	
in	the	UK	property	development	market,	
operating	nationally	from	its	head	office	
in	Sheffield	and	regional	offices	in	Bristol,	
Glasgow,	London	and	Manchester.

With	its	considerable	experience	and	
impressive reputation in all sectors of property 
development,	the	Company	has	built	up	
a	substantial	investment	portfolio	in	recent	
years.	At	the	same	time,	many	schemes	
have	been	sold-on	to	financial	institutions	
looking to add to their own quality portfolio.

Head Office:
Banner Cross Hall
Ecclesall Road South
Sheffield	S11	9PD
t:	0114	255	5444
e:	hbdl@henryboot.co.uk
www.henrybootdevelopments.co.uk

Managing Director:
David Anderson

Regional Offices:
South	East	–	London	t:	020	7495	6419
South	West	–	Bristol	t:	01454	275	261
North West – Manchester t: 0161 830 8000
North	East	–	Sheffield	t:	0114	255	5444
Scotland	–	Glasgow	t:	0141	223	9090

annualreports.henryboot.co.uk/2010/
reviewoftheyear/operationsreview/property

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A lot has changed in 
125 years

Henry Boot PLC 
Annual Report and  

Financial Statements 2010 03

Hallam Land Management Limited

Henry Boot Construction Limited

Banner Plant Limited

Hallam Land Management is the strategic 
land and planning promotion arm of the 
Henry Boot Group. The Company’s key role 
is to promote and deliver land opportunities 
through	the	complexities	of	the	UK	Planning	
System.	Experienced	land	and	planning	
promotion	teams	cover	the	UK,	operating	
from	regional	offices	in	Bristol,	Glasgow,	
London	and	Northampton,	as	well	as	from	
the	Sheffield	head	office.

Henry Boot Construction operates from 
strategic	regional	bases	at	Dronfield	and	
Manchester,	and	specialises	in	serving	both	
public	and	private	clients	in	all	construction	
sectors,	including	civil	engineering.	It	works	
very closely with clients under all forms of 
contract,	including	Partnering	and	Framework	
agreements,	which	are	delivered	to	the	highest	
quality,	safely,	on	time,	within	agreed	costs	
and	to	the	maximum	benefit	to	all	parties.

Banner	Plant	is	a	long	established	plant	hire	
company offering a wide range of products 
and services for sale and hire. The Company’s 
head	office	is	in	Dronfield,	with	hire	centres	
located	in	Dronfield,	Chesterfield,	Derby,	
Leeds,	Rotherham	and	Wakefield.	Continuing	
investment is made in providing new 
equipment,	transport	and	service	facilities	
to meet the increasing needs of its many 
varied	customers	in	commerce,	industry	
and	the	general	public.

Head Office:
Banner Cross Hall
Ecclesall Road South
Sheffield	S11	9PD
t:	0114	255	5444
e:	hallamland@henryboot.co.uk
www.hallamland.co.uk

Managing Director:
Keran Power

Regional Offices:
South	East	–	London	t:	020	7495	6419
South	West	–	Bristol	t:	01454	625	532
South	Midlands	–	Northampton	t:	01604	646	588
North	Midlands	–	Sheffield	t:	0114	255	5444
North	–	Sheffield	t:	0114	255	5444
Scotland	–	Glasgow	t:	01698	464	320

annualreports.henryboot.co.uk/2010/
reviewoftheyear/operationsreview/land

Road	Link	(A69)	Limited,	a	61%	owned	
subsidiary,	with	two	other	shareholders	
holding	the	remaining	39%,	operates	and	
maintains the A69 Newcastle-Carlisle	trunk	
road for the Highways Agency under a 
PFI	contract.	The	contract	was	initially	for	
30 years and has 15 years still to run.

Head Office:
Callywhite Lane
Dronfield
Derbyshire	S18	2XN
t:	01246	410	111
e:	hbc@henryboot.co.uk
www.henrybootconstruction.co.uk

Managing Director:
Simon Carr

Regional Offices:
Eastern	–	Dronfield	t:	01246	410	111
Western – Manchester t: 0161 273 5302
Road	Link	–	Stocksfield	t:	01661	842	842

annualreports.henryboot.co.uk/2010/
reviewoftheyear/operationsreview/construction

Head Office:
Callywhite Lane
Dronfield
Derbyshire	S18	2XS
t:	01246	299	400
e:	dronfield@bannerplant.co.uk
www.bannerplant.co.uk

Managing Director:
Giles Boot

Regional Hire Centres:
Chesterfield	t:	01246	268	593
Derby	t:	01332	752	035/751	762
Leeds	t:	0113	240	6350
Rotherham	t:	01709	515	655/511	500
Dronfield	t:	01246	299	400
Wakefield	t:	01924	283	487

annualreports.henryboot.co.uk/2010/
reviewoftheyear/operationsreview/plant

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04

Henry Boot PLC 
Annual Report and  
Financial Statements 2010

A lot has changed in 
125 years

t Chairman’s statement

In	my	final	report	to	shareholders	before	my	
retirement	as	Chairman,	I	am	pleased	to	report	
a	significantly	improved	set	of	results	for	the	
year	ended	31	December	2010,	particularly	
given the continued challenging market 
conditions prevailing in the UK property and 
construction markets during the period.

Property	investment	yields	in	general	stabilised	
at	similar	levels	to	those	seen	at	the	end	of	2009,	
with	the	exception	of	prime	yields,	which	did	
improve	somewhat	during	the	period.	Consequently,	
the downward revaluations seen in 2009 were 
not repeated and the year closed with a small 
revaluation	surplus.	The	Group	was	able	to	take	
advantage	of	a	better	investment	market	during	
the	year	and	concluded	sales	at	South	Shields,	
Mansfield	and	Port	Talbot.	Commercial	property	
development	remains	difficult,	the	combination	
of	construction,	tenant	and	valuation	risk	remains	
high,	although	the	more	stable	market	means	
that selectively we have commenced development 
once	again	with	a	foodstore-led,	retail	development	
in	Warminster,	pre-let	to	Waitrose.	In	addition,	we	
have	signed	up	several	development	opportunities,	
some	as	joint	ventures	with	the	landowners,	
where	we	expect	to	add	value	in	the	longer	term.	
As	anticipated,	Hallam	Land	Management	Limited	
(‘Hallam	Land’)	had	a	better	year	than	in	2009	
but	results	remain	significantly	below	the	levels	
seen	at	the	peak	of	the	cycle.	Pockets	of	buying	
activity	from	retailers	and	house	builders	are	
emerging	and	we	concluded	a	significant	land	
sale	at	Bridgwater	to	Morrisons	for	a	major	
regional	distribution	hub	and	to	Barratt	for	some	
600 housing units. The proceeds of these sales 
will fund the cost of the infrastructure and 
Section 106 requirements of the site in order to 
access the further land with permission for over 
400	more	housing	units.	As	2011	continues	to	
unfold,	the	UK	house	builders	reporting	to	date	
have	indicated	that	new	build	housing	market	
volumes	remain	fairly	flat,	though	pricing	and	
margins are recovering as land acquired more 
recently	begins	to	work	through	into	the	sales	
mix.	The	key	concern	within	our	land	business	
is,	however,	neither	the	land	market	nor	the	
customers	for	our	land,	it	is	the	underlying	
planning	environment.	A	combination	of	Coalition	
Government intervention in the planning regime 
and	local	authority	staff	cutbacks	within	planning	
departments	will,	we	believe,	serve	to	reduce	
the	number	of	new	planning	permissions	being	
granted in the coming months and years. 
However,	we	anticipated	this	development	and	
are	pleased	to	report	that	over	20%	of	our	portfolio	
of land already has either planning permission 
or	an	allocation	in	a	local	plan,	and	is	therefore	
much	further	through	the	planning	process,	
compared	with	around	10%	some	five	years	ago.

The construction division generated another 
positive	financial	result	as	work	continued	on	

JOHN REIs
Chairman
I am pleased to report a significantly 
improved set of results for the year ended 
31 December 2010, particularly given the 
continued challenging market conditions 
prevailing in the UK property and 
construction markets during the period.

t to view online:
annualreports.henryboot.co.uk/2010/reviewoftheyear/
chairmansstatement 

(*) See page 1

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A lot has changed in 
125 years

Henry Boot PLC 
Annual Report and  

Financial Statements 2010 05

the Rotherham and Doncaster Decent Homes 
programmes,	and	work	commenced	at	Eastlands,	
Manchester.	As	in	previous	years,	much	of	the	
construction division’s work is either local authority 
or	centrally	funded	and	we	expect	that	the	public	
spending cuts will reduce potential contract 
workloads and increase pricing pressure as more 
firms	compete	for	less	work.	At	31	December	2010,	
as	in	previous	years,	about	70%	of	2011’s	budgeted	
activity was already contracted. At our plant hire 
business,	activity	levels	in	2010	recovered	slightly	
although	the	bad	weather	in	January	and	December	
did have an adverse impact on trading. Whilst we 
increased	capital	expenditure	over	2009,	our	plant	
business	in	2010	was	cash	generative	once	again.	
Road Link A69 continued to perform in line with 
management	expectations	and	previous	years,	
once	again	contributing	solidly	to	both	underlying	
profit	and	cash	generation	in	the	period.	Traffic	
volumes	have	been	only	marginally	affected	by	
the adverse weather over the last two winters 
and	our	team	continued	to	do	a	great	job	ensuring	
that the road remained open at all times. 

We	continue	to	operate	through	our	UK-wide	
network	of	offices,	creating	future	land,	planning	
and development opportunities in a cost effective 
way and as prudent cash management allows. 
The construction and property investment income 
streams	provide	steady	profits	and	cash	flows,	
which	underpin	our	performance,	despite	the	
reduction in the more cyclical development and 
land	profits.	Our	strategic	focus	during	the	
recessionary	period	has	been	to	preserve	asset	
values	and	reduce	debt.	We	have	made	further	
progress	on	debt	reduction	during	the	period	
with	net	debt	down	from	£32.1m	to	£11.4m	at	the	
year end. Despite the large property valuation 
adjustment	seen	over	the	last	three	years,	our	
net	asset	value	per	share	(NAV)	of	145p	at	
December	2010	is	now	ahead	of	the	139p	
per share reported at the top of the cycle in 
December	2007.	We	expect	our	businesses	
to generate further cash in 2011 and achieved a 
strong	start	with	the	sales	made	in	January	2011.	
We are now seeing increasing opportunities 
to	reinvest	this	cash	into	our	extensive	portfolio	
of land and development opportunities.

FINANCIAL REsULTs
Revenue	was	£131.9m	(2009:	£116.5m),	arising	
from	higher	land	transaction	values	offset	by	weaker	
construction division turnover and development 
activity	during	the	year.	Trading	profit(*) increased to 
£18.0m	(2009:	£11.5m),	once	again	because	of	the	
improved	contribution	from	land	trading	and	
development	activities	in	2010.	Profit	before	tax	
also	benefited	from	a	one-off	pension	liability	
management	credit	of	£4.5m	(2009:	£nil)	and,	
at	£18.9m,	was	significantly	ahead	of	the	2009	loss	
of	£11.9m.	The	major	change	in	profitability	arose	
from the movement in the property revaluation 
surplus	of	£0.6m	compared	to	a	deficit	of	£22.4m	

in	2009.	Property	disposal	profits	were	
£2.4m	(2009:	£0.9m),	largely	attributable	to	
the sale of our South Shields retail investment. 
Basic earnings per share increased to 9.1p 
(2009: loss of 5.7p). Total net assets increased 
7%	to	£188.6m	(2009:	£176.2m),	representing	
a	NAV	of	145p	per	share	(2009:	135p).	Gearing	
again	fell,	for	the	third	year	in	succession,	as	the	
cash generated from land and property investment 
sales	was	applied	to	reducing	debt.	Gearing	at	
the	year	end	stood	at	6%,	based	on	net	debt	of	
£11.4m	(2009:	gearing	18%,	net	debt	£32.1m).	

DIVIDENDs
I	believe	we	have	managed	the	downward	and	
early recovery phases of this trading cycle well. 
I	also	believe	that	the	recovery	will	continue	to	
be	slow	and	it	is	likely	to	be	several	years	before	
property values recover towards those seen at 
the	top	of	the	previous	cycle.	However,	the	Board	
recognises that dividends are vitally important 
to shareholders in a low growth environment 
and,	given	the	recovery	in	profit	and	positive	
cash	flow	in	the	year,	has	decided	to	recommend	
a	final	dividend	of	2.15p,	a	72%	increase	
(2009: 1.25p). The total dividend for the year is 
therefore	increased	by	40%	to	3.5p	(2009:	2.5p).

BOARD CHANGEs
I	have	served	on	the	Board	of	Henry	Boot	PLC	
for	nearly	30	years	and,	having	chaired	the	Group	
now	for	15	years,	latterly	through	the	latest	recession,	
I	feel	it	is	an	appropriate	time	to	retire	following	
this year’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) in May. 
My	fellow	Independent	Non-executive	Director	
John	Brown	has	agreed	to	take	over	the	
Chairman’s	role	after	the	AGM	and	I	hope	his	
tenure	will	be	as	enjoyable	as	mine	has	been.	
The	Directors	have	appointed	James	Sykes,	
a	partner	in	the	accountants	Saffery	Champness,	
as	a	Non-executive	Director	with	effect	from	
22	March	2011	and	this	appointment	will	be	
put	before	shareholders	at	this	year’s	AGM	
for	ratification.	James	will	not	be	deemed	an	
Independent	Director	as	he	is	a	trustee	of	
certain	trusts	which	hold	16%	of	the	issued	
share	capital	of	the	Group,	however,	his	
experience	makes	him	an	ideal	Chairman	of	the	
Audit Committee which he will take over from 
John	Brown.	Following	my	retirement,	the	Board	
will	consist	of	John	Brown	as	Independent	
Non-executive	Chairman;	Michael	Gunston,	
Senior	Independent	Non-executive	Director;	
James	Sykes,	Non-independent	Non-executive	
Director;	Jamie	Boot,	Managing	Director;	and	
John	Sutcliffe,	Finance	Director.

Regrettably,	the	continued	tough	trading	conditions	
within	the	construction	division	have	meant	that,	
once	again,	we	have	had	to	make	a	number	of	
people	redundant	during	the	year.	I	would	also	like	
to take this opportunity to thank all the employees 
who have worked for the Group throughout my 
tenure	on	the	Board.	Without	their	hard	work,	many	
of	whom	are	very	long	serving,	the	Group	would	
not	be	in	the	strong	position	it	is	today.	

sTRATEGY
We	continue	to	invest	for	the	long-term	in	land	
promotion,	property	investment	and	development,	
with	our	performance	being	underpinned	by	the	
recurring	profit	and	cash	flows	generated	by	our	
construction,	PFI	and	plant	hire	activities.	We	have	
also succeeded in our previously stated aim to 
release	capital	by	completing	developments	in	
progress and disposing of certain assets in the 
portfolio	to	reduce	debt.	We	are	now	debt	free,	
which	gives	us	considerable	flexibility	going	forward	
to invest in land and property development 
without	recourse	to	expensive	funding	sources.	
Furthermore,	we	will	continue	to	invest	in	
securing	planning	consents	on	our	greenfield	land	
portfolio	to	enable	us	to	supply	the	recovering	
house	building	market	where,	we	believe,	planning	
constraints could serve to improve the value 
of	these	long-term	investments.	We	therefore	
continue to retain and add to a strong portfolio 
of opportunities which we will work through the 
challenges	of	the	new	planning	regime	or	bring	
forward	for	development	where	the	expected	
returns are commensurate with the risk.

OUTLOOK
Whilst	remaining	challenging,	the	property	market	
has	stabilised	and	is	now	showing	some	signs	
of	recovery,	at	a	level	which	allows	the	Group	
to	make	a	reasonable	return	on	its	investments.	
However,	I	continue	to	believe	that	the	recovery	
will	be	patchy	and	relatively	long	and	drawn	out.	
It	is	clear	that	there	are	many	risks	to	a	sustained	
recovery in property values. These include the 
availability	of	mortgages	and	bank	debt	to	the	
sector,	the	potential	release	of	distressed	property	
from	banks’	portfolios	and	cutbacks	in	Government	
spending,	all	of	which	may	not	be	resolved	for	
some	time.	Therefore,	the	Board	believes	that	
the	strategy	outlined	above	remains	the	correct	
one until there is clear evidence that the recovery 
is	sustained.	The	Group	retains	significant	facility	
headroom	and	the	support	of	our	long-term	
banking	partners	which	will	allow	us	to	gear	
up	again	as	the	recovery	takes	hold,	using	
the	potential	in	our	businesses	to	generate	
improving shareholder returns once again.

EMPLOYEEs
On	behalf	of	my	fellow	Directors,	I	would	like	
to	express	my	thanks	to	all	our	employees	
who have worked tremendously hard to achieve 
a	creditable	result	in	very	difficult	markets.	

JOHN s REIs
CHAIRMAN
18 april 2011

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06

Henry Boot PLC 
Annual Report and  
Financial Statements 2010

t Business review

A lot has changed in 
125 years

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A lot has changed in 
125 years

Henry Boot PLC 
Annual Report and  

Financial Statements 2010 07

The Group’s long-term aim remains the value enhancement of land through 
development, planning promotion and construction...it will be focused 
management teams like ours, capitalising on the opportunities available to 
them, that will generate the greatest improvements in asset value, cash and 
profit over the next few years.

OPERATIONs REVIEw
The	Group’s	long-term	aim	remains	the	value	
enhancement	of	land	through	development,	
planning promotion and construction. The 
marketplace	throughout	the	period	can	be	
described	as	challenging	with	a	continuing	lack	
of liquidity at an individual level in the mortgage 
market,	also	at	the	commercial	development	
level	where	high	equity	investment	and	pre-let	
percentages	are	required	to	secure	debt	funding,	
through to institutional grade investments where 
lower loan to value covenants reduce the scope 
to	raise	debt	against	the	value	of	property.	
Coupled	with	this,	most	traditional	funders	of	the	
UK property market are seeking to reduce their 
exposure	to	the	market	and	in	many	cases	have	
unwanted	property	which	they	are	recycling	back	
into the market.

We remain very cautious regarding commercial 
development on the sites that we hold and 
continue to push for a high degree of certainty 
on	pre-lets.	However,	there	are	signs	that	the	
market is recovering in certain areas which may 
allow	profitable	development	to	take	place	in	2011	
and	beyond.	During	the	year,	we	took	advantage	
of	a	reasonably	strong	investment	market	to	
dispose	of	investment	properties	at	South	Shields,	
Port	Talbot	and	Mansfield,	in	order	to	release	
capital for reinvestment into potential future 
developments,	such	as	the	Waitrose	development	
at Warminster. 

Our	land	planning	and	promotion	business,	
Hallam	Land,	is	a	very	long-term	operation	with	
planning	consents	taking	between	five	and	
20	years	to	achieve.	2010	remained	difficult	
as	UK	house	builders	continued	to	build	units	
at half the average rate of the previous 25 years 
as the demand for new housing settled at this 
new low level. The outlook appears to have 
improved	a	little,	with	almost	all	major	house	
builders	who	have	reported	so	far	in	2011	indicating	
that	they	are	looking	to	replenish	their	land	banks	
at current market prices in anticipation of a growing 
market and a need to open new sites. The Coalition 
Government’s changes to the planning system 
have	already	begun	to	slow	the	number	of	planning	
consents	and	we	can	only	see	this	bottleneck	
becoming	worse	before	it	improves.	Housing	
demand	in	the	short-term	is,	in	our	view,	still	

being	held	back	by	the	availability	of	affordable	
mortgage funding. When this funding situation 
improves,	the	lack	of	sites	with	permission	could	
then	result	in	a	shortage	of	sites	for	housing,	
along with the attendant pricing pressure.

The	construction	division,	with	its	performance	
underpinned	by	the	solid	recurring	revenues	
from	our	PFI	project,	Road	Link	A69,	performed	
well,	albeit	with	profits	down	on	2009	due	to	a	
one-off	provision	release	of	£8.2m	which	inflated	
profit	that	year.	There	continues	to	be	uncertainty	
as	to	the	impact	of	cutbacks	in	Government	
spending	and	precisely	where	the	axe	will	fall.	
It	appears	that	repair	and	maintenance	work	
is	still	being	undertaken	but	larger,	more	costly,	
projects	are	subject	to	delay	and	cancellation.	
We	have	made	significant	efforts	to	try	to	
anticipate	this	and,	for	this	reason,	have	sadly	
had	to	reduce	staffing	levels	during	the	year.	
Plant	Hire	had	another	challenging	year	but	
we	curtailed	all	but	essential	capital	expenditure	
and,	as	a	result,	the	business	was	cash	generative.	
Conditions did improve through the year and 
if	this	trend	is	continued	in	2011,	we	should	
see results improve. 

Our	key	focus	at	Group	level	over	this	very	
difficult	two	year	period	has	been	to	retain	
as much of the NAV created in the period up 
to	the	end	of	2007	as	possible	and	to	reduce	
our	borrowings.	NAV	at	December	2010	now	
exceeds	the	pre-recession	level	before	taking	
into	account	dividends	paid,	whilst	debt	has	
been	further	reduced	from	£32.1m	(18%	gearing)	
at	31	December	2009	to	£11.4m	(6%	gearing)	at	
31	December	2010.	Furthermore,	sales	reported	
after the year end mean that we are now moving 
forward	with	cash,	land	and	development	sites	
to	enable	us	to	generate	growing	returns	as	the	
market recovers.

We	continue	to	believe	that	the	recovery	phase	
will	be	slow	and	patchy	and	will	be	highly	
dependent on funding streams to the property 
sector in general continuing to improve. 
Therefore,	in	this	challenging	market,	it	will	
be	focused	management	teams	like	ours,	
capitalising	on	the	opportunities	available	
to	them,	that	will	generate	the	greatest	
improvements	in	asset	value,	cash	and	
profit	over	the	next	few	years.

Top left: Grange Primary School 
in	Grimsby	was	recently	
completed	by	Henry	Boot	
Construction.

Top right: Some of Banner 
Plant’s range of powered access 
equipment.

Bottom left: Hallam Land has a 
50%	share	in	this	site	
in	Mansfield,	the	subject	of	
a	planning	application	for	430	
new homes and 30 acres of 
employment land.

Bottom right: Henry Boot 
Development’s	The	Poynt	office	
development,	fully	let	to	Tenon	
PLC for its Nottingham 
headquarters. 

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08

Henry Boot PLC 
Annual Report and  
Financial Statements 2010

A lot has changed in 
125 years

t Business review continued
property investment and development

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A lot has changed in 
125 years

Henry Boot PLC 
Annual Report and  

Financial Statements 2010 09

A number of investment properties were sold during the year, either to take 
advantage of strong values or because particular properties were not seen 
as long-term portfolio holds. 

OPERATIONs REVIEw CONTINUED
prOpErTY inVESTmEnT anD DEVElOpmEnT
prOpErTY
Property	values	in	the	year	showed	reasonable	
stability,	following	increases	in	late	2009	and	early	
2010. The improvement in demand and funding 
for	prime	property,	with	long	leases	and	strong	
covenants,	helped	to	maintain	these	valuation	
improvements	throughout	the	year.	In	the	case	
of	most	other	property	categories,	whether	
industrial,	retail	or	commercial,	values	peaked	
in	early	2010	and	have	probably	seen	a	slight	
softening since then. Secondary and tertiary 
properties in all categories have not fared as 
well,	typically	due	to	poor	demand	combined	
with	a	lack	of	funding,	resulting	in	weakening	
valuations throughout the year. As we move 
into	2011,	values	across	all	property	sectors	
currently	remain	stable.

Occupier	confidence	and	therefore	demand	across	
all sectors has marginally improved compared 
to	2009,	when	prospective	tenants	deferred	
property decisions due to the recessionary 
conditions	in	the	wider	economy.	In	most	sectors,	
the supply of good quality vacant space has 
fallen as take up has improved and very little 
new,	speculatively	built,	space	has	come	forward.	
This has resulted in some sectors seeing improved 
letting	terms,	either	in	the	form	of	longer	leases	
or	lower	tenant	incentives.	In	most	cases,	these	
improvements have still not yet reached a level 
capable	of	sustaining	new	speculative	development,	
although	the	reduction	in	good	quality,	vacant	
space	has	given	rise	to	a	greater	level	of	pre-let	
and	design	and	build	activity.

inVESTmEnTS
A	number	of	investment	properties	were	sold	
during	the	year,	either	to	take	advantage	of	strong	
values	or	because	particular	properties	were	not	
seen	as	long-term	portfolio	holds.	Waterloo	Square,	
our	70,000	sq	ft	unrestricted	retail	warehouse	
investment	in	South	Shields,	let	on	long	leases	
to	Debenhams,	Next,	River	Island	and	BHS,	was	
sold	for	£11.4m	early	in	2010	to	take	advantage	
of	a	strong	off-market	offer,	substantially	in	excess	
of the 2009 year end valuation of £9.0m.

The	neighbourhood	retail	centre	investment	
in	Mansfield,	completed	and	fully	let	at	the	
end	of	2009,	was	sold	in	the	year	at	valuation	

of £2.1m as it was not considered a core 
long-term	investment.	All	but	one	of	the	remaining	
speculatively	built	small	industrial	units	at	our	
business	parks	at	Priory	Park,	Hull	and	Markham	
Vale	on	Junction	29A	of	the	M1,	have	now	been	
sold	or	let,	with	a	modest	improvement	in	capital	
value	arising	at	31	December	2010.	The	remaining	
unit	is	expected	to	be	leased	in	2011.	The	only	
remaining	speculatively	built	small	office	unit	
investment,	at	Bridge	View	Office	Park	in	Hull,	
let	to	the	Humberside	Police	Authority,	was	
also sold in 2010.

The letting of vacant space within the investment 
portfolio	continued	to	be	a	priority	and	at	our	retail	
and	office	scheme	in	Bromley,	all	but	one	of	the	
vacant	retail	units	was	let,	with	strong	interest	
in the remaining unit which we anticipate letting 
in	2011.	Interest	in	the	remaining	office	space	
has	been	sufficiently	strong	to	justify	its	subdivision	
to	secure	a	number	of	smaller	office	occupiers,	
with	this	building	work	now	about	to	proceed	on	
site.	Terms	have	also	been	agreed	to	lease	our	
18,000	sq	ft	retail	unit	at	Clifton	Moor,	York,	and	it	
is	anticipated	that	the	tenant	will	be	in	occupation	
by	the	middle	of	2011	following	the	completion	
of	fit-out	works.

We accepted an offer on our largest retail 
investment	property	in	Ayr,	Scotland,	during	
2010. Negotiations were very protracted and 
were not concluded until the early part of 2011 
at	£33.8m,	a	figure	slightly	ahead	of	the	£32m	
gross	valuation	disclosed	at	the	year	end	before	
the	provision	for	lease	incentives	brought	the	
asset held for sale value down to £27.7m. The 
mixed-use	office,	retail	and	leisure	development	
known	as	The	Axis	in	Nottingham	remains	fully	
let	and	we	saw	a	10%	increase	in	valuation	over	
the	year,	reflecting	the	significant	uplift	in	rental	
income arising in the second half of 2011 from 
fixed	increase	rent	reviews.

We	continue	to	hold	the	50,000	sq	ft	B&Q	
investment	in	Rotherham,	the	development	
of which was completed in 2009. This site has 
benefited	from	the	strengthening	investment	
values for such prime properties during the year. 
We	continue	to	market	the	adjoining	development	
land which has planning consent for a further 
50,000	sq	ft	of	retail	warehousing,	but	we	will	only	
progress	this	on	a	viable	pre-let	basis.	

Left: A computer generated 
image of our proposed 
development of the former 
County	Court	buildings	on	
Deansgate in Manchester 
which	will	include	offices,	
shops and restaurants.

t to view online:
annualreports.henryboot.co.uk/ 
2010/reviewoftheyear/
operationsreview/property

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10

Henry Boot PLC 
Annual Report and  
Financial Statements 2010

A lot has changed in 
125 years

t Business review continued
property investment and development continued

Left:	The	Axis	in	Nottingham	city	
centre,	our	mixed-use	retail	and	
office	development.

Bottom left and below: 
External	and	internal	views	of	
the	design	build	manufacturing	
facility for MSE Hiller at our 
Markham Vale development 
in	Derbyshire,	just	off	the	M1.

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A lot has changed in 
125 years

Henry Boot PLC 
Annual Report and  

Financial Statements 2010 11

With more competitive construction costs and the stabilisation of investment 
values, high quality pre-let developments are now, selectively, financially viable. 

OPERATIONs REVIEw CONTINUED
prOpErTY inVESTmEnT 
anD DEVElOpmEnT CONTINUED
inVESTmEnTS CONTINUED
We	have	agreed	terms	on	the	adjoining	10,000	sq	ft	
speculatively	built	industrial	space	and	aim	to	
conclude these lettings in 2011. We also have 
occupier	interest	in	a	design	and	build	scheme	
on	the	balance	of	the	site	but	there	is	no	
agreement in place yet.

Visitor	numbers	have	continued	to	increase	at	
our	port	waiting	facility	at	Saltwood,	Kent,	where	
active	scheme	management	secured	the	pre-let	
of a 100 space lorry park on land to the rear of 
the	scheme.	The	£1m	construction	project	in	
support of this is underway and due for completion 
in	the	first	half	of	2011.	Considerable	activity	is	
taking	place	to	firm	up	the	food	and	retail	offer	
and,	whilst	we	are	being	selective	in	the	type	and	
quality	of	operators	we	choose	to	secure,	it	is	
anticipated	that	further	lettings	will	be	announced	
in	2011.	A	possible	redevelopment	of	part	of	the	
site for a hotel is also under consideration and 
we are in discussion with the Highways Agency 
regarding improving the signage to the facility 
in order to increase footfall.

Our	70,000	sq	ft	town	centre	retail	investment	
in	Beeston,	Nottingham,	continues	to	be	
the	subject	of	major	redevelopment	plans.	
2010 saw the confirmation of funding for the 
Nottingham	Tram	Extension	which	will	occupy	
part	of	the	existing	investment	and	provide	a	
dedicated passenger interchange as part of the 
enlarged	scheme.	We	are	working	with	Broxtowe	
Borough	Council	to	finalise	agreements	and	
hope to conclude these discussions in 2011 
in order to take advantage of the strong demand 
from retailers for the town which is considered 
to have strong demographics and too little 
quality retail space.

DEVElOpmEnTS in prOGrESS
With occupier activity only recently improving 
and our current reluctance to progress speculative 
projects,	levels	of	development	activity	over	the	last	
three	years	have	remained	below	the	long-term	
average.	However,	with	more	competitive	
construction	costs	and	the	stabilisation	of	

investment	values,	high	quality	pre-let	developments	
are	now,	selectively,	financially	viable.	This	has	
enabled	a	number	of	development	projects	to	
make	progress,	notably:	

t		The	initial	phase	of	our	foodstore-led,	retail	

development	in	Warminster,	where	we	are	now	
on	site	building	the	relocation	premises	for	the	
existing	industrial	occupier	for	completion	in	
2011.	Once	this	move	is	completed,	we	will	
immediately commence the development of 
the	26,500	sq	ft	foodstore,	pre-let	to	Waitrose,	
and	three	ancillary	retail	units	which	we	expect	
to	complete	by	the	end	of	2011.

t		The	development	of	a	small	supermarket,	
pre-let	to	Tesco,	in	Bradford,	is	also	now	
under	construction	and	is	expected	to	be	
completed	in	the	first	half	of	2011.

t		Our	business	park	at	Markham	Vale,	on	
Junction	29A	of	the	M1	Motorway,	has	
continued to attract good quality industrial 
occupiers	with	the	completion	of	a	bespoke,	
design	and	build,	15,000	sq	ft	industrial	unit	
in the year for one owner occupier. This has 
been	quickly	followed	by	the	agreement	
of terms for another owner occupied design 
and	build	project,	comprising	41,000	sq	ft	of	
offices	and	warehousing.	The	predominance	
of interest from owner occupiers at Markham 
Vale	reflects	the	site’s	highly	visible,	strategic	
location on the M1.

FUTUrE DEVElOpmEnT OppOrTUniTiES
t		In	Daventry,	planning	applications	for	both	the	
100,000	sq	ft	town	centre	redevelopment	and	
the	140,000	sq	ft	edge	of	centre	retail	park	are	
being	prepared	for	submission	in	the	first	half	
of	2011.	Once	consent	has	been	granted	for	
this	£50m	scheme,	an	early	start	on	development	
work is anticipated.

t  Demolition work at our site in Tamworth town 
centre	has	now	been	completed	following	
the	grant	of	the	200,000	sq	ft	retail	planning	
permission and negotiations with a range of 
prospective	occupiers	are	progressing.	In	the	
meantime,	the	cleared	site	is	being	operated	
as	a	temporary	car	park	by	the	local	authority,	
generating	some	income	in	the	short-term.

t		At	Priory	Park,	Hull,	negotiations	for	off-site	

highway	improvement	works	have	now	been	
finalised	with	the	Highways	Agency.	This	will	
now allow for the grant of planning permission 
for	the	final	phase	of	development	to	include	
an	increased	amount	of	higher	value	office	
space and we will commence the infrastructure 
to	open	up	this	office-based	phase	in	2011.

t  The detailed planning application and listed 
building	consent	application	have	been	
submitted	for	our	mixed	use	conversion	of	the	
former	County	Court	building	on	Deansgate	
in Manchester city centre. With the support 
of	English	Heritage,	we	expect	planning	
approval	to	be	granted	in	the	first	half	of	
2011,	followed	by	a	marketing	phase	and	
ultimately redevelopment.

t		Terms	are	being	finalised	on	a	number	of	smaller	
sites	for	a	range	of	pre-let	developments	and	
if	no	planning	delays	are	experienced,	we	
anticipate	being	on	site	with	developments	
of	budget	hotels	in	Richmond	upon	Thames	
and	Malvern	before	the	end	of	2011.	Where	
occupier demand for other sites remains 
weak,	we	are	taking	the	opportunity	to	secure	
improved planning permissions and planning 
renewals to enhance values and occupier 
attraction and reiterate that we will not 
undertake speculative development in the 
current market.

t		A	new	development	opportunity	has	been	

secured	through	joint	development	agreements	
with Royal Bank of Scotland on a 23 acre site 
in	Thorne,	Doncaster,	where	we	have	applied	
for	a	mixed-use	planning	consent	including	
a	foodstore,	offices,	a	hotel	and	industrial	space.	

t		We	are	also	delighted	to	have	been	chosen	as	
the	preferred	development	partner	by	Calderdale	
and	Huddersfield	NHS	Foundation	Trust	to	enter	
into	a	long-term	joint	venture	to	construct	additional	
accommodation	for	the	Trust,	as	well	as	to	work	
with its surplus property assets in order to 
maximise	development	or	disposal	values.

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12

Henry Boot PLC 
Annual Report and  
Financial Statements 2010

A lot has changed in 
125 years

t Business review continued
  land development

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A lot has changed in 
125 years

Henry Boot PLC 
Annual Report and  

Financial Statements 2010 13

We have secured a number of planning allocations and permissions on a range 
of sites during the year.

OPERATIONs REVIEw CONTINUED
lanD DEVElOpmEnT
Hallam	Land,	our	land	management	business,	
continued	to	face	a	difficult	market	throughout	
2010.	UK	house	builders	saw	something	of	
a	revival	in	the	early	part	of	2010	but,	with	the	
election	of	a	cost	cutting	Coalition	Government,	
this	largely	petered	out	by	the	second	half	of	the	
year.	As	a	result,	land	sales	proved	difficult	to	
conclude.	However,	recent	announcements	indicate	
that there are some signs of renewed recovery 
in	the	housing	sector	but	the	key	difficulty	for	new	
house	sales	remains	the	lack	of	mortgage	availability,	
particularly	for	first-time	buyers.	As	a	consequence,	
total UK house sales have not recovered and remain 
around half the average annual volumes seen over 
the	last	25	years.	Nevertheless,	in	this	relatively	
subdued	market,	Hallam	Land	secured	sufficient	
sales,	most	notably	at	St	Albans	(20	acres)	and	
Bridgwater	(18	acres),	to	generate	a	small	profit	
for the year.

At	this	time	last	year,	we	noted	the	potential	for	
an incoming Government to change the planning 
system. The Coalition Government has announced 
a radical overhaul of the system through the 
introduction of the Decentralisation and Localism Bill. 
This Bill will remove the regional tier of the planning 
system and introduce a new local layer of planning 
complexity.	In	addition,	local	authority	cutbacks	have	
reduced	staff	numbers	in	already	overloaded	
planning	departments.	It	remains	to	be	seen	how	
the	bill	and	the	new	system	will	eventually	impact	
on	planning	delivery	but,	in	the	short-term,	it	has	led	
to a curtailment of an already restricted supply 
of planning permissions for new residential schemes.

Despite	these	difficulties	and	against	the	trend,	
we	have	secured	a	number	of	planning	allocations	
and permissions on a range of sites during the 
year.	It	is	worth	noting	that	five	years	ago,	Hallam	
Land’s	total	land	bank	was	6,194	acres	of	which	
651	acres	(10.5%)	had	either	a	planning	
permission or were allocated for development. 
At	31	December	2010,	the	land	bank	stood	at	
8,052	acres	of	which	1,754	acres	(21.8%)	had	
either planning or an allocation. The successful 
hard work since 2006 will stand the company 
in	good	stead	over	the	next	three	to	four	years	
when	we	anticipate	that	it	will	become	more	
difficult	to	gain	new	permissions.	We	now	have	

a	significant	number	of	consented	sites	in	the	
portfolio which should allow sales to increase 
over	the	next	three	years,	even	in	the	current	
challenging	market.	We	do	not	expect	to	see	a	
significant	improvement	in	land	prices	because	
the	housing	market	recovery	is	likely	to	be	subdued	
for	some	time,	at	least	until	mortgage	availability	
improves,	particularly	for	first	time	buyers.

Hallam	Land’s	trading	performance	reflected	
the	difficult	conditions	in	the	housebuilding	sector	
but	is	nonetheless	significantly	ahead	of	that	in	
2009,	with	turnover	of	£34.3m	(2009:	£10.2m),	
and	an	operating	profit	of	£0.6m	(2009:	operating	
loss	£3.1m).	At	December	2010,	we	held	interests	
in	8,052	acres	(2009:	7,933	acres)	of	which	we	owned 
1,409	acres	(2009:	1,679	acres),	had	4,076	acres	
under	option	(2009:	4,117	acres)	and	had	2,567	
acres under planning promotion agreements 
(2009:	2,137	acres).	The	inventory	value	of	these	
assets totalled £55.0m (2009: £51.3m) and we have 
120	sites	(2009:	119)	in	progress,	with	a	geographical 
bias	toward	the	South	and	West	of	England	and	
Scotland.	Of	the	schemes	in	the	land	portfolio,	we	
highlight	below	some	of	the	main	sites	which	are	
working towards the marketing phase of the cycle.

t  ExETEr	–	we	have	a	30%	holding,	alongside	
the	three	national	house	builders,	in	a	major	
urban	expansion	to	Exeter	at	Cranbrook.	
We converted the ‘minded to grant’ planning 
permission into outline permission and have 
just	obtained	full	planning	permission	for	the	
first	1,100	dwellings.	We	have	also	secured	
substantial	Government	funding	for	
infrastructure	provision	and	affordable	
housing and are now in initial discussions 
to	sell	this	first	phase	site.

t  BriDGwaTEr	–	having	obtained	planning	

permission	late	in	2009,	during	the	year	under	
review we secured infrastructure provision 
funding,	disposed	of	land	for	a	750,000	sq	ft	
site to Morrisons for a south west regional 
distribution	centre	and	sold	the	first	tranche	
of residential land to Barratt Homes. From 
these	funds,	we	are	required	to	provide	the	
site	infrastructure	and	this	work	has	commenced,	
as	has	work	by	Morrisons.	We	anticipate	
further	land	disposals	over	the	next	two	
to three years.

Left: An impressive view of part 
of Hallam Land’s Bridgwater 
scheme showing Wm Morrison 
Supermarkets’ regional 
distribution	centre	under	
construction	and	superbly	
placed	for	excellent	
communication links. 

t to view online:
annualreports.henryboot.co.uk/ 
2010/reviewoftheyear/
operationsreview/land 

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Henry Boot PLC 
Annual Report and  
Financial Statements 2010

A lot has changed in 
125 years

t Business review continued
   land development continued

Left:	Part	of	the	submission	
for the planning application 
for our site at Chatteris 
in	Cambridgeshire.	

Below:	Our	in-house	
architectural team drew up the 
plans for the housing proposals 
for	our	land	holding	at	Tillicoultry,	
Clackmannanshire. 

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A lot has changed in 
125 years

Henry Boot PLC 
Annual Report and  

Financial Statements 2010 15

We now have a significant number of consented sites in the portfolio which 
should allow sales to increase over the next three years, even in the current 
challenging market. 

OPERATIONs REVIEw CONTINUED
lanD DEVElOpmEnT CONTINUED
t  BiDDEnham – we continue to negotiate the 
Section	106	Agreement	for	our	1,000	dwelling	
scheme	and	have	secured	significant	
infrastructure	funding	for	the	bypass.	This	
complex	site	has	some	time	to	go	before	
marketing	can	commence	but	the	next	
three years should see the site much 
closer to disposal.

t  wOrCESTEr – we have disposed of our 
optioned	site	to	Bloor	Homes	which	will	be	
the	subject	of	a	planning	application	later	
this year.

t  BUCkinGham – we marketed this 700 

unit site during the second half of 2010 and 
concluded	a	sale	during	the	first	month	of	2011.

t  kETTErinG	–	this	site	has	the	benefit	of	an	

outline planning permission and we are clearing 
down	pre-commencement	conditions	before	
putting it on the market. The total site is for 
5,500	dwellings	of	which	our	share	is	275.

t  kilmarnOCk – our 90 acre owned site now 

has an allocation for 500 houses and a District 
Centre. The latter already has planning permission 
and	we	have	submitted	the	application	for	500	
houses.	When	planning	permission	is	obtained,	
which	is	expected	later	in	2011,	we	will	commence 
marketing the site.

t  ChaTTEriS – a planning application has 
been	submitted	for	1,000	dwellings	on	this	
optioned	site	and	we	hope	to	obtain	consent	
during 2011.

t  BlaBY	–	we	have	a	25%	interest	in	a	4,500	
house	scheme	on	optioned	land	at	Blaby	
bounded	by	the	M1	and	the	M69.	An	application	
has	now	been	submitted	on	this	site	which	
Blaby	District	Council	includes	within	in	its	
Core Strategy.

In	addition	to	the	main	sites	listed	above,	we	also	
have a range of other schemes which we are 
seeking	to	bring	forward	and	market	over	the	
coming two to three years.

t  COUnTESThOrpE – permission was granted 
on appeal for 180 dwellings on this optioned 
site	last	year	and	we	expect	marketing	to	take	
place	in	the	first	half	of	2011.

t  TilliCOUlTrY – permission was granted for 
74	housing	units	on	land	which	we	own	and	
we	expect	this	site	to	be	marketed	during	2011.

t  manSFiElD	–	we	have	a	50%	share	on	this	
site	which	is	the	subject	of	an	application	for	
430	dwellings	and	30	acres	of	employment	
land	which	we	anticipate	being	approved	in	
the	first	half	of	the	year.

t  BiShOpBriGGS – we have a consent for 

32 dwellings and are looking to increase this 
to	51	on	this	owned	site.	Once	these	discussions	
are	concluded	the	site	will	be	marketed.

t  ShEFFiElD – our wholly owned employment 
site	at	Oxclose	Park	is	the	subject	of	a	
proposal	for	an	85,000	sq	ft	retail	store	by	
Tesco.	If	successful,	we	have	agreed	heads	
of terms to dispose of the site to the retailer.

t  rUGBY – our site at Calvestone Road 

represents the last phase of our successful 
Cawston Grange scheme. Planning permission 
for	residential	development	has	been	granted	
for a twelve acre site of which our share is 
three	acres.	The	site	is	now	being	marketed	
and	we	expect	a	disposal	later	in	the	year.

t  markET harBOrOUGh – a planning 

application	has	been	submitted	for	1,000	
dwellings	on	this	optioned	site.	If	we	are	
successful	in	the	planning	process,	we	aim	
to	begin	marketing	the	site	in	2012.

t  BOlSOVEr	–	having	been	refused	planning	

permission	at	the	first	attempt	for	our	250	house	
scheme	on	optioned	land,	we	amended	the	
proposal	and	re-submitted	the	scheme.	We	are	
expecting	a	decision	on	the	revised	application	
during	2011	and,	if	successful,	we	anticipate	
marketing the scheme later this year.

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16

Henry Boot PLC 
Annual Report and  
Financial Statements 2010

A lot has changed in 
125 years

t Business review continued
   Construction

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A lot has changed in 
125 years

Henry Boot PLC 
Annual Report and  

Financial Statements 2010 17

Our ongoing strategy targets a mix of public sector funded construction projects 
in our chosen sectors, supplemented by suitable private sector construction 
opportunities in the hotel and leisure, commercial, industrial and retail sectors.

OPERATIONs REVIEw CONTINUED
COnSTrUCTiOn
Henry Boot Construction performed well during 
2010,	achieving	targeted	activity	levels	and	
exceeding	budgeted	profit	margins.	This	pleasing	
result was achieved in a very competitive market 
place throughout the period. We hold a healthy 
forward	order	book	from	a	good	mix	of	regional,	
as	well	as	sector-focused	businesses	and	continue	
to	be	positive,	but	realistic	about	construction	
activity.	We	are	confident	that	we	can	achieve	
sustainable	activity	levels	in	existing	and	new	
markets	for	2011.	Our	approach	continues	to	
be	underpinned	by	an	assessment	of	the	risk	
profile	of	opportunities	and	the	careful	selection	
of the type of contracts and clients we work 
with,	focusing	on	key	partnering,	framework	
and	negotiated	contracts,	predominantly	in	social	
housing,	education,	health	and	prison	sectors.

Our	ongoing	strategy	targets	a	mix	of	public	
sector	funded	construction	projects	in	our	
chosen	sectors,	supplemented	by	suitable	
private sector construction opportunities in 
the	hotel	and	leisure,	commercial,	industrial	
and	retail	sectors.	This	will	be	supported	by	
the	expansion	and	delivery	of	our	integrated	
regeneration	agenda,	offering	unparalleled	
quality,	innovation	and	modern	construction	
processes,	to	give	our	customers	value	for	
money whilst incorporating the social and 
green agendas.

We continue to work alongside partner 
contractors	on	major	Decent	Homes	schemes	
and environmental programmes for Rotherham 
2010	and	for	St	Leger	Homes	on	behalf	of	
Doncaster Metropolitan Borough Council. 
Partnering contracts secured in 2010 include 
Decent Homes and environmental works to 
6,000	units	in	Manchester	for	the	Eastlands	
Homes Partnership and for North Lincolnshire 
Homes delivering housing improvements in 
Scunthorpe. Work also commenced on a contract 
for	Sheffield	City	Council	to	construct	27	new	
properties	being	built	to	the	Code	for	Sustainable	
Homes	Level	5.	Notably,	this	scheme	received	
a 2010 Housing Design Award. We also saw 
continued	expansion	in	the	refurbishment	of	
non-traditionally	constructed	houses	with	contracts	
being	secured	for	Barnsley	Metropolitan	Borough	

Council,	Rotherham	Metropolitan	Borough	Council,	
St Leger Homes of Doncaster and North Lincolnshire 
Homes.	We	anticipate,	subject	to	the	continued	
availability	of	appropriate	funding	streams,	
further growth in this sector.

Our	preferred	alliance	contractor	agreement	with	
the	National	Offender	Management	Service	is	
providing work to deliver upgrades and security 
improvements in Category A prisons and 
refurbishment	contracts	within	a	range	of	other	
secure	establishments.	New	work	was	secured	
during	the	year	at	HMP	Manchester,	HMP	Full	
Sutton,	HMP	Ranby,	HMP	YOI	Werrington,	HMP	
Wakefield	and	HMP	Lindholme.	We	anticipate	
that	several	new	projects	will	come	to	market	
during	2011	which,	if	we	are	successful	in	
winning,	will	reinforce	our	already	strong	
presence in this sector.

Work for the education sector has continued at 
stable	levels	during	the	year,	with	new	facilities	
either	being	constructed	or	completed	under	
partnering framework agreements with Cheshire 
County	Council,	Lancashire	County	Council,	
Derby	City	Council	and	Rotherham	Metropolitan	
Borough Council. We also completed a 
refurbishment	scheme	for	Sheffield	Hallam	
University.	A	number	of	school	extension	and	
modernisation	projects	have	been	completed	for	
North East Lincolnshire Council and Rotherham 
Metropolitan Borough Council through our 
involvement in the Rotherham Construction 
Partnership. Further contracts secured in this 
sector	include	a	new	extension	and	refurbishment	
at Heptonstall School for Calderdale Metropolitan 
Borough	Council,	classroom	extensions	at	Stapeley	
School	for	Cheshire	East	Council	and	a	new-build	
Children’s Centre at Brinscall for Lancashire 
County Council.

Our	activities	in	the	health	sector	continue	to	
expand	with	the	award	and	completion	of	four	
contracts at the Northern General Hospital under 
the	Sheffield	Teaching	Hospitals’	framework	for	
major	refurbishment	works	to	existing	facilities.	
Late 2010 also saw the award of the negotiated 
£5m	Rawmarsh	Joint	Service	Centre,	incorporating	
a	doctor’s	surgery,	pharmacy,	library	and	sports	
facilities for Rotherham Metropolitan Borough 
Council and the Rotherham Primary Care Trust.

Left: Work in progress at 
Scunthorpe,	delivering	housing	
improvements for North 
Lincolnshire Homes.

t to view online:
annualreports.henryboot.co.uk/ 
2010/reviewoftheyear/
operationsreview/construction 

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18

Henry Boot PLC 
Annual Report and  
Financial Statements 2010

A lot has changed in 
125 years

t Business review continued
  Construction continued

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A lot has changed in 
125 years

Henry Boot PLC 
Annual Report and  

Financial Statements 2010 19

Henry Boot Construction received five prestigious National Site Awards under 
the Considerate Constructors Scheme...we also received the RoSPA Gold Award 
and the CIOB Corporate Responsibility Award.

planT hirE
Trading	in	2010	proved	to	be	more	buoyant	than	
we	had	initially	anticipated	and	it	could	have	been	
even	better,	had	it	not	been	for	the	adverse	weather	
conditions	at	the	beginning	and	end	of	the	year.	
Whilst	continuing	to	strive	for	maximum	turnover	
and	profit,	the	company	strategy	centred	on	three	
core	elements:	generating	a	positive	cash	flow,	
cost	control	and	continued	fleet	realignment	to	
reflect	the	current	market.	The	hire	fleet,	at	original	
cost,	was	reduced	in	value	by	3.8%	during	the	year.	
However,	where	required,	controlled	investment	
in	new	items	of	£1.75m	has	been	made	to	ensure	
we	continue	to	offer	a	modern,	technically	strong,	
competitive product and was targeted towards 
powered	access	equipment,	temporary	
accommodation units and mechanical plant.

After	the	reduction	in	turnover	in	2009,	a	small	
increase in hire revenues was achieved in 2010. 
As	already	indicated,	this	would	have	been	higher	
but	for	weather	conditions.	This	increase,	combined	
with	the	benefits	of	reduced	borrowings,	lower	
depreciation	and	stable	overhead	costs,	resulted	
in	a	small	profit	for	the	year.	2010	also	saw	cash	
generation of over £1m reducing the operation’s 
borrowings	to	their	lowest	level	for	over	ten	years.	
Despite	increases	in	fleet	maintenance,	fuel	prices	
and	higher	bad	debts	overall,	costs	have	been	
kept	broadly	in	line	with	2009	levels.

OPERATIONs REVIEw CONTINUED
COnSTrUCTiOn CONTINUED
Our	general	works	division	maintained	workloads	
with	its	long-standing	customer	base	in	civil	
engineering and environmental works in the 
industrial,	water	and	waste	sectors	and	has	
secured future contracts to provide recycling 
centres for Veolia and Leeds City Council as 
well as environmental improvements for Barnsley 
Metropolitan Borough Council. This was once again 
augmented	by	an	increasing	level	of	business	in	
small	building	work	contracts	in	various	sectors.

Pleasingly,	during	2010,	Henry	Boot	Construction	
received	five	prestigious	National	Site	Awards	under	
the Considerate Constructors Scheme. Two Gold 
and one Silver Considerate Constructors Awards 
were	received	for	projects	undertaken	on	behalf	
of Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council 
and	St	Leger	Homes	of	Doncaster,	as	well	as	
the additional accolade of two ‘runner up’ 
awards for the Most Considerate Site in the 
United	Kingdom.	During	the	year,	we	also	
received the RoSPA Gold Award and the 
CIOB	Corporate	Responsibility	Award.

rOaD link a69
Road	Link	has	now	completed	half	the	30-year	
term contract to operate and maintain the A69 
trunk road for the Highways Agency and had 
another successful year trading in line with 
management	expectations.	

In	recent	years,	the	cold	winters	with	periods	
of	heavy	snowfall	have	provided	a	significant	
challenge	to	the	A69	team.	However,	the	expertise	
of those providing the winter gritting has ensured 
that	the	A69	has	remained	an	open	all-weather	
route,	even	accommodating	extra	traffic	when	
adjacent	roads	have	been	closed.	

Planned maintenance schemes incorporating whole 
life	cost	analysis,	together	with	the	introduction	
of	innovative	cost	effective	maintenance	solutions,	
continue to achieve savings against the original 
plan.	As	expected,	traffic	volumes	in	2010	remained	
static,	but	we	have	benefited	from	a	slightly	higher	
than	forecast	increase	in	the	price	adjustment	
indices.	It	is	expected	that	traffic	flows	will	increase	
slightly in each year of the remaining contract 
period	and	we	are	confident	that	expected	levels	
of	profitability	will	be	achieved.

Top left: The award winning 
homes	for	Sheffield	City	Council	
at Shirecliffe include a high level 
of	sustainable	features.

Top right:	A	Terex	TV	1200	
Tandem	Roller	being	put	through	
its paces at Banner Plant’s 
Dronfield	depot	prior	to	going	out	
on hire.

Left:	The	new	sports	hall	we	built	
for St Bernard’s Catholic High 
School in Rotherham pictured on 
the day of handover.

t to view online:
annualreports.henryboot.co.
uk/2010/reviewoftheyear/
operationsreview/plant 

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20

Henry Boot PLC 
Annual Report and  
Financial Statements 2010

A lot has changed in 
125 years

t Business review continued

One of our key aims for 2010 was to further 
reduce debt levels whilst continuing to invest 
in each of our businesses. We were successful 
in this objective and our year end net debt 
position improved by £20.7m during the year.

t to view online:
annualreports.henryboot.co.uk/2010/reviewoftheyear/
financialreview 

(*) See page 1

FINANCIAL REVIEw
COnSOliDaTED STaTEmEnT OF 
COmprEhEnSiVE inCOmE
Revenue	for	the	year	grew	by	13%	to	£131.9m	
(2009:	£116.5m)	as	a	result	of	increased	land	sales,	
principally	Bridgwater,	partially	offset	by	reduced	
construction division revenues. This gave rise 
to	a	significant	improvement	in	trading	profit(*) 
of	£18.0m	(2009:	£11.5m).	Operating	profit	
was £20.9m (2009: loss £10.0m) after a net 
revaluation	surplus	of	£0.6m	(2009:	deficit	£22.4m)	
and	profit	on	sale	of	investment	properties	of	£2.4m	
(2009: £0.9m). The revaluation surplus largely 
arose	in	the	first	half	of	2010	with	only	a	slight	
further recovery in the second half. As predicted 
last	year,	administrative	costs	were	reduced	by	
16%	to	£12.2m	compared	with	£14.5m	in	2009,	
helped	by	a	reduction	in	payroll	costs	and	
non-recurring	pension	and	facility	expenses	
in 2009. There was a pension credit of £2.7m 
in	2010	compared	with	an	expense	of	£3.6m	
in	2009	as	a	result	of	the	liability	management	
exercises	that	took	place	in	the	year	(see	section	
on pension scheme). This led to a reduction in past 
service	liabilities	of	around	£4.5m	which	under	
IAS	19	are	treated	as	a	credit	to	the	Consolidated	
Statement	of	Comprehensive	Income	within	
profit	for	the	year	rather	than	through	other	
comprehensive income. 

The segmental result analysis shows that land 
development generated a small operating 
profit	of	£0.6m	(2009:	loss	£3.1m)	and	property	
development and investment activities showed 
an	operating	profit	of	£10.5m	(2009:	loss	£16.3m),	
mostly	arising	from	property	rental	income,	
revaluation surplus and profits on sales. 
Construction	division	profits	were	lower	at	£9.2m	
(2009: £16.8m) after 2009’s one off release of 
provisions of £8.2m was not repeated. Central 
costs were a credit of £0.5m (2009: cost £7.5m) 
after	lower	IAS	19	pension	costs	and	the	liability	
management	credit	to	pension	costs	noted	above.

Basic earnings per share were 9.1p (2009: loss 5.7p) 
and	the	total	dividend	payable	for	the	year	is	3.5p	
(2009:	2.5p),	an	increase	of	40%.	The	final	dividend	
of	2.15p	is	payable	on	31	May	2011.

FinanCinG anD GEarinG
As	anticipated,	net	interest	costs	were	relatively	
stable	at	£2.0m	(2009:	£1.8m)	as	non-utilisation	
fees offset much of the cost reduction due to 
lower	levels	of	debt.	2009	also	benefited	from	
lower average interest rates over the year as new 
facilities at higher rates were not signed until 
May	of	that	year.	It	is	expected	that	interest	costs	
will	be	lower	in	2011	with	most	of	the	cost	being	
non-utilisation	fees.	Interest	cover,	expressed	
as	the	ratio	of	operating	profit	(excluding	the	
valuation movement on investment properties 

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A lot has changed in 
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Henry Boot PLC 
Annual Report and  

Financial Statements 2010 21

and	disposal	profits)	to	net	interest	costs,	was	
9 times (2009: 6 times). No interest incurred in 
either	year	has	been	capitalised	into	the	cost	
of developments in progress.

Land	sales	achieved	in	the	year,	partially	offset	
by	the	continued	investment	in	our	investment	
property	portfolio,	saw	net	debt	fall	by	64%	to	
£11.4m	(2009:	£32.1m).	Gearing	on	net	assets	
of	£188.6m	fell	to	6%	(2009:	net	assets	£176.2m,	
gearing	18%).	All	borrowings	continue	to	be	at	
floating	rates	or	on	short-term	fixed	commitments.	
Included	in	receivables	are	£7.7m	of	negotiable	
instruments,	arising	from	deferred	payment	
arrangements	on	land	sales,	which	have	not	
been	forfaited	given	the	cash	positive	position	
arising	in	2011.	During	the	year,	we	retained	
three	year	committed	bank	facilities	totalling	
£94m,	however,	the	non-utilisation	costs	
associated with this mean we will look to reduce 
these facilities in 2011 to £50m. We feel this 
revised	level	will	provide	sufficient	headroom	
for	the	business	until	facilities	are	renewed	again	
in May 2012. Throughout the year we operated 
comfortably	within	the	facility	covenants	and	
continue to do so.

Tax
The	tax	charge	for	the	year	was	£5.4m	(28.5%)	
(2009:	credit	£5.9m)	arising	from	the	significant	
change	in	net	profit	over	the	two	years.	Taxation	
on	profit	for	the	year	was	£2.2m	(2009:	£1.1m)	and	
benefits	from	prior	year	adjustments	of	£0.5m	
(2009:	£0.3m).	The	deferred	tax	charge	was	£3.2m	
(2009:	credit	£7.0m)	as	the	Group’s	deferred	tax	
asset	fell	from	£11.1m	to	£6.6m,	mostly	as	a	result	
of	the	reduction	in	the	IAS	19	pension	deficit.	
Deferred	tax	has	been	calculated	at	27%,	being	
the	rate	expected	to	be	applicable	at	the	date	
the	actual	tax	will	arise.

COnSOliDaTED STaTEmEnT 
OF CaSh FlOwS
One	of	our	key	aims	for	2010	was	to	further	
reduce	debt	levels	whilst	continuing	to	invest	
in	each	of	our	businesses.	We	were	successful	
in	this	objective	and	our	year	end	net	debt	
position	improved	by	£20.7m	during	the	year	
(2009:	£17.2m).	We	believe	it	is	vital	that	we	
have	the	flexibility	to	undertake	developments	
and land deals without the interference and 
added	expense	arising	from	each	lending	
institution’s internal approval process. The cash 
flow	achieved	in	the	year,	with	further	sales	in	
early	2011,	gives	us	the	required	flexibility.	
We anticipate that the forecast net investment 
in	land	and	property	investment/development	in	
2011 should result in a further modest reduction 
in	debt	by	the	end	of	the	year.	Cash	generated	
from operations increased to £20.1m (2009: £13.9m) 
after	increased	land	inventories	and	receivables	

were	more	than	offset	by	higher	payables,	
reversing	the	trends	in	2009.	However,	these	
impacts	were	offset	by	a	£2.0m	higher	tax	
outflow	primarily	arising	from	higher	payments	
on	account	of	taxable	profits	in	2010.	These	
operating	cash	inflows	were	augmented	by	
a	£11.1m	inflow	(2009:	£14.8m	inflow)	from	
investing	activities.	Cash	outflows	from	asset	
purchases and the completion of developments 
in	progress	at	the	beginning	of	the	year	were	
reduced	significantly	to	£5.7m	(2009:	£11.3m).	
Proceeds from property and asset disposals 
fell	to	£16.5m,	compared	to	£25.6m	in	2009.	
Dividends	paid,	including	those	to	non-controlling	
interests,	totalled	£5.3m	(2009:	£8.2m).	

COnSOliDaTED STaTEmEnT 
OF FinanCial pOSiTiOn 
Total investment property and assets in the course 
of construction were valued at £135.1m after the 
adjustment	for	tenant	incentives	(2009:	£172.3m).	
This	excludes	the	value	of	our	Ayr	property	which	
was	held	in	current	assets	held	for	sale,	net	of	
tenant	incentives,	at	£27.7m.	The	market	value	
of	investment	property,	including	Ayr,	was	
£122.1m (2009: £129.9m) and the value of 
investment property under construction within 
investment	property	was	£48.4m	(2009:	£51.0m).	
The principal disposals from investment property 
were	retail	investments	at	South	Shields,	
Port	Talbot	and	Mansfield.

Intangible	assets	reflect	the	Group’s	asset	
investment in Road Link A69 of £11.7m 
(2009: £12.7m). This is a requirement of 
IFRIC	12	‘Service	Concession	Arrangements’	
and	arises	because	the	underlying	road	asset	
reverts to the Highways Agency at the end of 
the	concession	period.	Property,	plant	and	
equipment now comprise Group occupied 
buildings	valued	at	£7.0m	(2009:	£7.0m),	and	
plant,	vehicles	and	office	equipment	with	a	net	
book	value	of	£8.3m	(2009:	£9.2m).	Non-current	
trade	and	other	receivables	have	increased	to	
£10.4m	(2009:	£3.7m)	due	to	deferred	receipts	
on land sales undertaken during the year. We 
have	flagged	for	some	time	that	this	is	a	much	
more	common	occurrence	as	house	builders	
defer	land	payments,	more	closely	reflecting	
their	cash	flows	and	build	out	periods.	Deferred	
tax	assets	have	fallen	as	a	result	of	the	reduced	
pension	deficit	and	valuation	changes	within	the	
property	portfolio.	In	total,	non-current	assets	
have	reduced	to	£179.1m	(2009:	£216.1m),	
with the main variances arising from investment 
property disposals of £11.1m and the transfer 
of the Ayr property to current assets.

Within	current	assets,	inventories	of	£58.0m	
(2009:	£55.4m)	were	higher	due	to	further	
investment in the land portfolio. Trade and 

other	receivables	at	£27.3m	(2009:	£25.1m)	
reflect	the	higher	deferred	land	receipts.

Current	liabilities	have	reduced	by	11%	to	£80.0m	
(2009:	£90.0m)	as	the	current	portion	of	debt	fell	
to	£11.4m	(2009:	£31.2m)	and	provisions	rose	
to	£11.8m	(2009:	£4.0m)	due	to	amounts	held	
within the land division for infrastructure costs 
at Bridgwater. Net current assets were therefore 
£37.1m	compared	to	net	current	liabilities	of	
£5.1m	in	2009.	Non-current	liabilities	also	fell	
to	£27.6m	(2009:	£34.7m)	after	reductions	in	
pension	liabilities	were	offset	by	an	increase	
in	provisions,	once	again	for	land	development	
infrastructure costs at Bridgwater.

Net	assets	increased	by	7%	to	£188.6m	
(2009:	£176.2m)	as	the	retained	profit	of	£11.8m	
and	retained	other	comprehensive	income,	
largely	the	pension	deficit	reduction	of	£3.3m,	
was	offset	by	dividends	paid	of	£3.4m.	
Net	asset	value	per	share	was	7.4%	higher	
at	145p	(2009:	135p).

pEnSiOn SChEmE
The	IAS	19	valuation	of	the	defined	benefit	pension	
scheme	showed	the	scheme	deficit	decreasing	
to	£16.2m	(2009:	£25.7m)	at	the	year-end.	
The	deferred	tax	asset	associated	with	this	
was	£4.4m	(2009:	£7.2m).	Adding	back	this	net	
deficit	of	£11.8m	(2009:	£18.5m)	to	net	assets,	
the	2010	deficit	equates	to	5.9%	of	equity	
shareholders’	funds	(2009:	9.5%).	The	triennial	
deficit	calculated	at	1	January	2010	has	now	
been	finalised	with	the	deficit	valued	at	£25.2m	
(1	January	2007:	£8.8m),	the	increase	arising	
due	to	a	decrease	in	long-term	bond	yields,	
rising	long-term	inflation	and	increased	mortality	
assumptions.	During	2010,	we	undertook	liability	
management	exercises	which	have	been	taken	
into	account	in	calculating	the	value	of	the	deficit.	
The	revised	annual	contribution	into	the	scheme	
in the latest recovery plan is agreed at £3.8m 
(previously £0.7m). Following the 2007 triennial 
valuation,	the	Company	provided	an	‘on	demand’	
letter	of	credit	for	£7.0m	and	this	will	not	be	required	
under	the	new	recovery	plan.	The	defined	benefit	
scheme is closed to new entrants and new 
employees	are	offered	a	defined	contribution	
scheme.	Each	0.1%	change	in	the	assumed	
differential	between	long-term	investment	returns	
and	inflation	affects	the	defined	benefit	scheme	
deficit	by	about	£2.5m	to	£3.0m,	therefore	a	
relatively small change in gilt yields has a marked 
effect	on	the	deficit.	The	liability	management	
exercises	undertaken	during	2010	to	reduce	
scheme risk included offering enhanced transfer 
value	terms	to	certain	deferred	members,	capping	
future	salary	increases	for	active	members	at	
1%	per	annum	(with	any	balance	going	into	
the	defined	contribution	scheme)	and	offering	

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22

Henry Boot PLC 
Annual Report and  
Financial Statements 2010

A lot has changed in 
125 years

t Business review continued

The Group’s employees 
are its foremost asset. 
Their skill, commitment, 
drive and enthusiasm are 
vitally important to the 
long-term success of our 
business. We succeed in 
the delivery of shareholder 
value because our people, 
individually, achieve the 
targets set for them.

FINANCIAL REVIEw CONTINUED
pEnSiOn SChEmE CONTINUED
a	pension	increase	and	exchange	alternative	to	
pensioners,	taking	inflation	risk	out	by	offering	a	
higher	fixed	pension.	We	believe	that	the	benefit	
of this work was a £10m to £12m reduction in 
total	scheme	liabilities.	In	addition,	liabilities	have	
also	been	reduced	following	a	Government	
consultation	to	change	the	inflation	measure	
from	the	Retail	Prices	Index	(RPI)	to	the	Consumer	
Prices	Index	(CPI)	in	respect	of	increases	to	
members’	deferred	pensions.	We	will	continue	
to evaluate cost effective ways of reducing risk 
and	liabilities	within	our	defined	benefit	scheme,	
undertaking	further	exercises	as	necessary.

kEY riSkS
In	common	with	all	organisations	the	Group	
faces risks which may affect its performance. 
These	are	general	in	nature	and	include:	obtaining	
business	on	competitive	terms,	retaining	key	
personnel,	successful	integration	of	new	
business	streams	and	market	competition.	

The Group operates a system of internal control 
and risk management in order to provide 
assurance that we are managing risk whilst 
achieving	our	business	objectives.	No	system	
can fully eliminate risk and therefore the 
understanding of operational risk is central to the 
management process within Henry Boot. The 
long-term	success	of	the	Group	depends	on	
the	continual	review,	assessment	and	control	
of	the	key	business	risks	we	face.	To	enable	
shareholders	to	appreciate	what	the	business	
considers	are	the	main	operational	risks,	they	
are	briefly	outlined	below:

DEVElOpmEnT	–	not	developing	marketable	
assets	for	both	tenants	and	the	investment	market	
on time and cost effectively. Rising market yields 
on completion can make development uneconomic. 
Construction,	funding	and	tenant	risk	which	
is	not	matched	by	commensurate	returns	on	
development	projects.	The	lack	of	funding	
availability	at	acceptable	interest	rates	to	allow	
development to take place. 

lanD	–	the	inability	to	source,	acquire	and	
promote land would have a detrimental effect 
on	our	strategic	land	bank	and	income	stream.	
Prices	may	be	affected	by	changes	in	Government	
policy,	legislation,	planning	environment	and	
taxation.	A	dramatic	change	in	house	builder	
funding sentiment and demand for housing can 
dramatically change the demand and pricing 
profile	for	land.	

inVESTmEnTS – identifying and retaining assets 
which	have	the	best	opportunity	for	long-term	rental	
and	capital	growth,	or	conversely	selling	those	
assets	where	capital	values	have	been	maximised.	
This is an ongoing process with regular reviews of 
the	assets	and	market	conditions	and	must	be	
undertaken	dispassionately	to	achieve	best	value.	

inTErEST raTES	–	significant	upward	changes	
in	interest	rates	affect	interest	costs,	yields	and	
asset prices and reduce demand for commercial 
and residential property.

TrEaSUrY	–	the	lack	of	readily	available	
funding to either the Company or third parties 
to undertake property transactions can have 
a	significant	impact	on	the	marketplace	in	which	
we	operate.	Due	to	the	difficulties	within	the	
banking	sector,	the	Group	has	agreed	three	year	
facilities	with	our	three	banking	partners.	Detailed	
cash requirements are forecast up to 15 months 
in advance and reviewed and revised monthly. 
Financial instruments are considered where 
applicable	and	any	short-term	positive	cash	
balances	are	placed	on	deposit.

planninG	–	increased	complexity,	cost	and	delay	
in the planning process may slow down the 
project	pipeline.	The	recent	significant	change	
in demand for housing and the attendant decline 
in land prices may have a detrimental effect on 
the	supply	of	land	being	brought	to	market	
by	landowners.	Changes	in	Government	or	
Government	policy,	as	happened	in	2010,	
towards planning policies could impact on the 
speed of the consent process or the value of sites.

pErSOnnEl – the attraction and retention of 
the	highest	calibre	people	with	the	appropriate	
experience	is	crucial	to	our	long-term	growth	in	
the	highly	competitive	labour	markets	in	which	
we	work.	It	is	anticipated	that	in	the	short	term	
this	risk	may	be	reduced	as	unemployment	rises	
and recessionary conditions prevail.

pEnSiOn	–	the	Group	operates	a	defined	
benefit	pension	scheme	which	has	been	closed	
to	new	members	for	some	time.	Whilst	the	
trustees	have	a	prudent	approach	to	the	mix	
of	return	seeking	and	fixed	interest	assets,	
times	of	economic	instability	can	have	an	impact	
on those asset values with the result that the 
reported	pension	deficit	increases.	Furthermore,	
the	relationship	between	implied	inflation	and	
long-term	gilt	yields	has	a	major	impact	on	the	
pension	deficit	and	our	business	has	little	control	
over	those	variables.	Whilst	pension	schemes	
are	a	long-term	commitment,	regulations	require	
us	to	respond	to	deficits	in	the	short	term.

EnVirOnmEnTal	–	the	Group	is	inextricably	
linked to the property sector and environmental 
considerations are paramount to our success. 
Therefore our interaction with the environment 
and	the	agencies	that	have	an	over-arching	
responsibility	has	got	to	be	positive	at	all	
times	in	order	to	achieve	best	value.	Stricter	
environmental legislation will increase 
development	and	house	building	costs	and	
therefore	could	impact	on	profitability	if	capital	
and	land	values	do	not	increase	to	reflect	this	
more	efficient	energy	performance.	

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A lot has changed in 
125 years

Henry Boot PLC 
Annual Report and  

Financial Statements 2010 23

locations	and	has	a	modern,	well	maintained,	
fleet	of	assets	servicing	the	construction	sector.	
Furthermore,	we	operate	our	own	delivery	fleet	
to ensure that our customers’ requirements are 
satisfied	quickly.	Our	PFI	asset	is	well	established,	
cash	generative	and	efficiently	maintained	and	has	
15	years	remaining	on	the	concession;	furthermore,	
the	market	for	PFI	assets	remains	reasonably	
strong even in these recessionary times.

rOBUST FinanCial pOSiTiOn – we have long 
established	relationships	with	our	three	key	
funding	partners,	Barclays	Bank,	Lloyds	TSB	
Bank and Royal Bank of Scotland. We maintain 
significant	headroom	within	our	three	year	
banking	facilities	and	consider	our	property	
investment	portfolio	as	a	“store	of	value”	to	be	
realised to augment these facilities if required. 
The	land	bank	and	development	opportunities,	
together	with	the	investment	portfolio,	have	been	
acquired largely from retained resources ensuring 
our	gearing	levels	are	prudent.	In	the	longer	term	
we aim to achieve a high return on capital employed 
and a healthy dividend cover level allowing for 
reinvestment in our core activities which in turn 
create	improving	longer-term	shareholder	returns.

JAMIE BOOT
GROUP MANAGING DIRECTOR
18 april 2011

JOHN sUTCLIFFE
GROUP FINANCE DIRECTOR
18 april 2011

ECOnOmiC – we operate solely in the UK 
and	are	closely	allied	to	the	real	estate,	house	
building	and	construction	sectors.	A	strong	
economy with strong tenant demand is vital to 
create	long-term	growth	in	rental	and	asset	
values,	whilst	at	the	same	time	creating	a	healthy	
market for the construction and plant hire 
divisions.	The	much	published	forecast	reductions	
in	public	spending,	the	more	difficult	planning	
regime and comparatively low levels of property 
lending	could	have	an	impact	on	our	business.

COUnTErparTY	–	we	depend	on	the	stability	of	
our	customers,	suppliers,	funders	and	development	
partners	to	achieve	success.	In	recessionary	
periods	we	pay	particular	attention	to	the	financial	
strength	of	counterparties	before	contracting	
with	them	so	as	to	mitigate	financial	exposure.

kEY pErFOrmanCE inDiCaTOrS (kpis)
Each	business	unit	within	the	Group	is	required	
to	establish	targets	at	the	beginning	of	each	
financial	year	against	a	broad	range	of	financial	
and	non-financial	indicators.	The	Managing	
Director	of	each	subsidiary	reports	on	progress	
at Board meetings every two months. The two 
main	Board	Executive	Directors	attend	these	
meetings	and	are	able	to	assess	whether	each	
unit is performing in accordance with its plan 
throughout the year. 

The	KPIs	differ	in	each	subsidiary	with	the	
exception	of	financial	targets	which	focus	on	
profitability	growth,	cash	generation	and	levels	
of	debt,	forecast	cash	requirements,	return	on	
capital	employed,	shareholder	return	and	asset	
value created. We also review health and safety 
matters and how economic conditions and 
changes in legislation may affect individual 
business	units.	

In	addition	to	this,	we	review	a	range	of	specific	
indicators	within	each	business	unit.	The	main	
ones are as follows:

lanD	–	the	size	of	the	strategic	land	bank,	
the	split	between	owned	and	optioned	land,	the	
extent	to	which	we	have	full	or	outline	planning	
consent	and	the	number	of	residential	units	or	
commercial space contained in those consents.

DEVElOpmEnTS	–	the	expected	investment	in	
developments,	expected	completed	values	and	
anticipated	yields,	rents	and	rental	growth,	levels	
of	tenant	demand	and	unlet	space,	new	commercial	
property investment and development opportunities 
and potential asset sales.

COnSTrUCTiOn – workload forecasts and 
capacity	utilisation	in	relation	to	plan,	general	
activity	levels,	tender	opportunities,	contract	
costing	workload	and	wins,	health	and	safety	

and environmental matters and contract 
completion,	sign	off	and	financial	closure.

planT hirE	–	activity	levels	by	depot	and	class	
of	asset,	health	and	safety	matters,	levels	of	
cash generated and returns on plant asset 
capital employed which in turn drive asset 
investment decisions.

GrOUp	–	at	Group	level	the	business	units’	
performance	against	expectations	forms	an	
integral	part	of	the	reporting	criteria.	In	addition,	
Group performance indicators of cash and 
facilities,	pension	scheme	performance,	
shareholder return and return on capital 
employed,	along	with	health	and	safety	matters	
are reported on at each meeting. 

rESOUrCES
The Group has the following key resources to 
assist	it	in	the	pursuit	of	its	key	objectives:

pEOplE – the Group’s employees are its 
foremost	asset.	Their	skill,	commitment,	drive	and	
enthusiasm	are	vitally	important	to	the	long-term	
success	of	our	business.	We	succeed	in	the	
delivery	of	shareholder	value	because	our	people,	
individually,	achieve	the	targets	set	for	them.	
They	source	and	acquire	land;	promote	
planning	consents;	acquire,	develop,	manage	
or	sell	investment	properties	and;	service	
constructors,	run	our	PFI	project	and	refurbish	
and	construct	buildings.	

DEVElOpmEnT pOrTFOliO – we have an 
extensive	geographical	spread	of	opportunities	
within	the	UK	on	sites	across	the	retail,	leisure,	
office	and	industrial	sectors.	The	current	portfolio	
should allow us to maintain current activity levels 
for several years and in particular food stores 
currently	offer	very	strong	returns.	In	the	current	
marketplace completed investments may give 
a	better	return	than	developments	and	will	be	
considered alongside and as an alternative 
to development. 

STraTEGiC lanD Bank – at the year end we 
owned	over	1,409	acres	and	had	interests	in	a	
further	6,643	acres	through	option	or	agency	
agreements which give us the right to promote 
that land for a planning consent and share 
in	the	benefit	created	on	ultimate	disposal.	We	
anticipate	that	this	land	bank	will	grow	in	future	
years	and	represents	a	significant	future	profit	
opportunity to the Group.

COnSTrUCTiOn aCTiViTiES – the construction 
business	works	on	an	order	book	of	between	one	
and	two	years,	though	several	of	the	Framework	
contracts it has won are spread over several 
years.	Our	plant	hire	business	operates	from	seven	

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24

Henry Boot PLC 
Annual Report and  
Financial Statements 2010

A lot has changed in 
125 years

t Corporate social responsibility

We make sure that the way we manage 
our businesses has a positive impact 
upon our employees, our other stakeholders, 
society at both the local and wider level 
and on the environment.

t to view online:
annualreports.henryboot.co.uk/2010/
corporateresponsibility  

Fire	wardens	at	our	head	office	
undergoing a refresher course 
in the use of various types 
of	extinguisher.	

The	corporate	social	responsibility	ethos,	long	
before	the	name	came	into	use	in	the	1980s,	
has	always	had	a	significant	place	in	the	
125	year	history	of	Henry	Boot	and	is	now,	
more	than	ever,	embedded	in	all	aspects	of	
our operations. We make sure that the way we 
manage	our	businesses	has	a	positive	impact	
upon	our	employees,	our	other	stakeholders,	
society	at	both	the	local	and	wider	level	and	
on the environment.

HEALTH AND SAFETY: FIRST 
AND FOREMOsT
Health	and	safety,	by	the	very	nature	of	our	
business,	continues	to	be	the	top	priority	in	all	
our operations. The following is the Henry Boot 
Health	and	Safety	Policy	Statement,	the	key	
document setting out our health and safety 
philosophy	and	responsibilities:

Henry Boot PLC is committed to achieving 
excellence in safety, health and welfare 
management and recognises the key role 
this excellence plays in the successful and 
cost‑effective management of the business. 
It is the policy to maintain a healthy and safe 
working environment for all our employees and 
any persons who may be affected by our assets 
and undertakings.

The principles of safety management throughout 
the Group of companies are based upon the 
identification of the inherent risks associated with 
our activities and the application of sensible and 
practical control measures that eliminate or 
reduce risk to an acceptable level.

To achieve the objectives of this policy 
Henry Boot PLC and its subsidiary companies 
are required to:

t  implement and maintain management systems 
that ensure the effective planning, organisation, 
control, monitoring and review of health and 
safety measures;

t  assess and manage the risks to the health and 
safety of our people and any others that may 
be affected by our undertakings;

t  promote best working practices and standards 
of behaviour, which minimise the risk of injury 
and occupational ill health;

t  set performance targets to achieve continuous 

improvement above and beyond statutory 
requirements relating to health and safety;

t  identify individual responsibilities;

t  provide the necessary resources to effectively 

manage health and safety; and

t  identify training needs and provide health 

and safety training to industry and nationally 
recognised standards.

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A lot has changed in 
125 years

Henry Boot PLC 
Annual Report and  

Financial Statements 2010 25

In order to assist the achievement of these 
objectives, all employees are required to be aware 
and fulfil their responsibilities in maintaining 
a healthy and safe working environment.

The Group Safety Department will independently 
monitor compliance with this policy and audit 
activities against the documented procedures.

The Group Safety Manager will continuously 
review the policy and update it accordingly 
to reflect best practice, changes in legislation 
and new knowledge, such that it remains 
at its most effective.

We	continue	to	have	a	long-standing	and	
well-respected	dedicated	health	and	safety	
department,	headed	up	by	a	fully	qualified	
health	and	safety	professional,	that	is	active	in:

t	advising	on	health	and	safety	issues	and	policy;

t  monitoring new legislation and ensuring it is 
properly	disseminated	and	fully	understood;

t  compiling and updating the Group Safety 
Manual	and	associated	documentation;

t		inspecting	and	auditing	the	safety	of	building	
sites,	offices,	premises,	physical	assets	and	
working	practices;

t  compiling statistics associated with health 

and	safety	matters	and	benchmarking	them	
against	recognised	comparators;

t  providing comprehensive health and safety 

training	to	all	employees	and,	where	applicable,	
to	the	wider	community	in	which	we	work,	
ensuring that all training and knowledge is 
duly	refreshed;

t  making health and safety a separate 

top-of-the-agenda	item	for	all	Company	Board	
meetings and management meetings and 
reported	upon	by	the	Director	of	the	Company	
expressly	responsible	for	health	and	safety	
matters;	and

t  striving for continuous improvement in health 

and safety performance. 

Particular	emphasis	has	always	been	placed	on	
health and safety training and continues to do so. 
The scope of courses offered range from the 
very	comprehensive	National	Examining	Board	
in	Occupational	Safety	and	Health	(NEBOSH)	
National	Construction	Certificate	to	a	half-day	
annual	first	aid	refresher.

In	2010	a	group	of	our	project	managers	
successfully	passed	the	NEBOSH	National	
Construction Certificate which is aimed at 
supervisors,	managers	and	CDM	co-ordinators	
within the construction industry who are required 
to ensure that activities under their control are 
undertaken safely.

We also fully support The ConstructionSkills’ 
Safety Plus Scheme which is a comprehensive 

A study in concentration: a pupil at Watercliffe 
Community	Primary	School	in	Sheffield	listens	
intently to a talk we gave on safety and the 
importance	of	keeping	away	from	building	sites.	

test,	whereupon	the	participant	is	then	entitled	
to apply for the industry accredited card.

Other	courses	our	health	and	safety	department	
ran in 2010 included:

t		Abrasive	Wheels	Awareness

t		Asbestos	Awareness

t		Cable	Avoidance

t  Carriage of Dangerous Goods

t		Confined	Space	Training

t  Fire Warden

t		IOSH	Working	Safely

t		Managing	Lifting	Operations

t  Manual Handling

t  Temporary Works Supervision

health and safety training programme designed 
to	provide	the	building,	civil	engineering	and	allied	
industries with a range of courses designed to 
give everyone from operative to senior manager 
the skill set they need to progress through the 
industry. Such courses range from a one day 
Health	and	Safety	Awareness	course	to	the	five	day	
Site Management Safety Training Scheme. All 
personnel working on a construction site attend 
training under this scheme.

During the year we supported the new scaffold 
inspection	qualification	launched	by	the	
Construction	Industry	Scaffolders	Record	
Scheme which is aimed at anyone who is 
responsible	for	carrying	out	statutory	scaffold	
inspections in accordance with the Work at 
Height	Regulations	2005.	A	number	of	our	
employees	attended	a	two-day	course	which	
incorporates	both	a	practical	inspection	and	
report	writing	assessment,	as	well	as	a	theory	

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26

Henry Boot PLC 
Annual Report and  
Financial Statements 2010

A lot has changed in 
125 years

t Corporate social responsibility continued

The new kitchen we provided for 
the Latin Gardens Community 
Centre	in	Scawsby,	near	
Doncaster,	was	well	received	
by	local	tenants.	

HEALTH AND SAFETY: FIRST 
AND FOREMOsT CONTINUED	
We are also proactive in providing health and 
safety awareness to the wider community and 
in particular to children who live in areas where 
we carry out construction work that is often a 
magnet	for	their	curiosity.	One	way	we	do	this	
is	to	provide	a	stimulating,	educational	and	fun	
presentation that we take into schools which 
is	proving	to	be	very	successful	in	getting	the	
safety message across.

During the year we were delighted that Henry Boot 
Construction was awarded a RoSPA Gold Award 
for	Occupational	Health	and	Safety	which	
was made following an assessment of the 
Company’s	entry	and	associated	evidence	by	
the RoSPA (The Royal Society for the Prevention 
of	Accidents)	adjudication	panel	and	was	
particularly	commendable	in	view	of	the	high	level	
of	entries	received	totalling	1,800.	Its	commitment	
to health and safety and improvements made in 
reducing	accidents	is	reflected	in	the	statistics	
shown on page 27 which show the progress 
made	in	2010	and	over	the	last	five	years.

We	also	run	our	own	in-house	annual	Safety	Awards	
which	are	decided	on	the	basis	of	monthly	health	
and safety audit scores and site inspections. Such 
awards	include	a	Young	Achiever	Trophy	for	
outstanding dedication to health and safety 
by	a	trainee.

OUR EMPLOYEES: ADAPTING TO CHANGE
The	working	lives	of	our	employees	have,	in	2010,	
again	been	challenging	across	all	our	businesses,	
as we continue to adapt to the changing economic 
conditions of recent years. 

In	the	year	under	review:

t  we	employed	441	people	at	31	December	2010,	a	
13.7%	decrease	on	the	31	December	2009	figure;

t	we	recruited	46	people	during	the	year;

t		employee	turnover	equated	to	23.6%,	

partly due to some redundancies in our 
construction	activities;

t	7.5%	of	our	employees	worked	part	time;

t	22%	of	our	employees	were	female;

t	2.7%	declared	that	they	had	a	disability;	and

t		1.2%	stated	that	they	were	from	an	ethnic	minority.

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A lot has changed in 
125 years

Henry Boot PLC 
Annual Report and  

Financial Statements 2010 27

Despite	difficult	trading	conditions	in	which	some	
hard	decisions	have	had	to	be	made	in	terms	of	
headcount,	we	recognise	that	ongoing	investment	
in	our	employees	is	still	absolutely	crucial	to	meet	
the demands of the changing face of our overall 
business.	In	terms	of	training:

t		we	delivered	649	training	days,	the	equivalent	

of	1.47	days	per	employee;

t		we	supported	560	days	outside	the	business	

within	higher	education;	and

t  our per capita training spend was £218 per person.

In	addition	to	health	and	safety	courses,	we	run	a	
number	of	personal	development	courses.	Whether	
an	operative	on	a	construction	site	or	an	office	
administrator,	there	is	an	opportunity	to	undertake	
a	National	Vocational	Qualification	(NVQ)	relevant	
to the work the employee is undertaking. The 
levels	of	NVQ	range	from	typically	a	Level	2	for	a	
tradesperson	up	to	a	Level	5	for	a	project	manager.	
The	types	of	NVQs	that	have	been	provided	include	
Wood	Occupations,	Plastering,	Customer	Care,	
Business	Administration,	Site	Management	
and Construction Senior Management.

An	Institute	of	Leadership	and	Management	
programme is run for aspiring managers 
at	either	Level	3	award	for	first	line	management	
or	Level	4	award	for	managers.	Other	developmental 
workshops	include	a	suite	of	Microsoft	Office	courses,	
legislative	updates	and	soft	skill	courses,	such	as	
time management and communication skills.

Each	subsidiary	company	has	their	own	individual	
needs.	By	way	of	example,	Banner	Plant	Limited	
runs courses for its employees who drive 

commercial	vehicles	over	3.5	tonnes,	as	part	
of	the	new	Driver	Certificate	of	Professional	
Competence	(CPC).	This	has	been	introduced	
across the European Union to maintain high 
driving standards and improve road safety. 
All commercial vehicle drivers need to complete 
a minimum of 35 hours of periodic training every 
five	years.	This	first	cycle	of	periodic	training	
has	to	be	completed	by	September	2014.	
All	Banner	Plant	drivers	have	also	been	given	
the opportunity to undertake the Driving Goods 
Vehicle	NVQ	Level	2.

While Henry Boot Developments and 
Hallam Land Management have developed 
a	programme	of	bespoke	courses	for	their	
employees,	Henry	Boot	Construction	focuses	
its requirements on ensuring its employees 
are	kept	up	to	date	with,	for	example,	legislative	
changes in construction law and modern practices 
in	low	carbon	construction,	together	with	associated	
environmental	issues.	In	terms	of	commitment	
to	targeted	training,	it	has	recently	been	awarded	
a	Platinum	Award	Certificate	of	Commitment	by	the	
Construction	Skills	Certification	Scheme	(CSCS)	
to recognise the fact that Henry Boot Construction 
is a company committed to improving competence 
in construction and has registered more than 
90%	of	its	workforce	under	the	scheme	which	
was	set	up	by	the	construction	industry	to	
improve quality and reduce accidents. The holding 
of	a	CSCS	card	by	employees	is	increasingly	
demanded as evidence of occupational 
competency	by	contractors,	public	and	private	
clients and others.

In	addition	to	the	emphasis	on	training	and	
employee	development,	key	elements	of	our	
employment policies include:

t		to	employ	a	workforce	that	reflects	the	

diversity	of	our	society;

t  to provide equal opportunities for all 

employees,	regardless	of	age,	gender,	
race,	religion,	disability,	nationality,	sexual	
orientation	and	belief;	

t		to	ensure	that	in	the	event	of	an	existing	

employee	becoming	disabled	every	effort	
is made to continue their employment and 
that	appropriate	training	is	provided;	and

t  to recognise that effective employee 

communication and consultation are essential 
in	achieving	our	business	objectives.	In	this	
connection,	information	on	the	progress	and	
activities	of	the	Company	and	the	external	
financial	and	economic	factors	affecting	it,	
both	from	sources	in	the	public	domain	and	
those	published	internally,	are	made	readily	
available	to	employees	in	a	variety	of	ways.

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE: 
MAINTAINING THE HIGHEsT sTANDARDs
Henry Boot PLC is committed to maintaining 
the highest standards of corporate governance 
and details of its policies and adherence to the 
June	2008	edition	of	The	Combined	Code	
on	Corporate	Governance	as	issued	by	the	
Financial	Reporting	Council	to	which	it	is	subject	
are set out in the Corporate Governance 
Statement	on	pages	41	to	43.

Reportable	accidents	

Number	of	fatal	injury	incidents	

Accident	frequency	rate	(AFR)	per	100,000	hours	worked	

AFR	per	100,000	hours	worked	(including	subcontractors)	

Number	of	dangerous	occurrence	incidents	

Number	of	prohibition	notices	by	Health	and	Safety	Executive	

Number	of	improvement	notices	by	Health	and	Safety	Executive	

2006 

2007 

2008 

2009 

2010

6	

0	

0.21	

0.68	

0	

0	

0	

9	

0	

0.44	

0.67	

0	

0	

0	

12	

0	

0.53	

0.61	

0	

0	

0	

14	

0	

0.68	

0.52	

0	

0	

0	

12

0

0.28

0.46

0

0

0

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28

Henry Boot PLC 
Annual Report and  
Financial Statements 2010

A lot has changed in 
125 years

t Corporate social responsibility continued

sUPPORTING LOCAL COMMUNITIEs AND 
CHARITIES: A STRONG COMMITMENT
As	ever,	we	continue	to	support	the	local	
communities in which we operate and the 
following	are	just	some	examples	of	the	projects	
we have undertaken in 2010:

t  helping to sponsor the highest commercial 
vineyard	in	the	UK	set	up	by	Whirlow	Hall	
Farm	Trust	in	Sheffield,	a	charity	which	includes	
providing a range of vocational activities and 
training	for	people	with	disabilities;

t		providing	a	purpose-built	recycling	area	and	

bin	stores	for	the	Autism	Plus	Residential	Centre	
at	Thorne,	near	Doncaster,	where	we	are	working	
on	the	St	Leger	Homes	Decent	Homes	project;	

t		supporting	Dronfield’s	first	Winter	Fest	which	
included a specially constructed ice rink for 
young	people;

t  working with the young people’s charity Catch 22 
to	set	up	an	allotment	project	in	Grimesthorpe	
and	providing	know-how	and	a	shed	for	the	
storage	of	tools	and	for	shelter;

t		carrying	out	significant	refurbishment	works	at	
The	Homestead	Community	Centre	in	Bentley,	
the Elm Green Lane Community Centre 
in	Conisborough	and	the	Latin	Gardens	

Community	Centre	in	Scawsby,	all	projects	
being	associated	with	housing	modernisation	
work	we	were	carrying	out	in	South	Yorkshire;

t		allowing	Foxwood	Special	School	in	Beeston	
to have free use of a retail unit for a year 
at the town’s shopping centre that we own in 
order	to	provide	a	training	facility	for	pupils;

t  supplying a greenhouse and chicken coop 
for	the	Denaby	Children’s	Centre	with	the	
aim of encouraging children with the concept 
of	self-sufficiency;

t  in association with our Eastland Homes contract 
nearby,	installing	a	new	kitchen	and	associated	
works for The Breakthrough Centre in Manchester 
which supports people with mental health 
problems	and	disabilities;	and

t		in	conjunction	with	the	local	tenants’	and	

residents’	association,	donating	plants	and	
bulbs	for	the	regeneration	of	the	Busk	Meadows	
community	garden	in	Shirecliffe,	Sheffield.	

As	part	of	our	community	work,	we	have	strong	
links with local schools and universities. For those 
schools offering the Diploma in Construction and 
the	Built	Environment,	we	offer	site	visits,	talks	
on specialist topics and provide career guidance 
and	work	experience	for	those	pupils	in	year	10.	

We have also developed a programme for such 
diploma	and	work	experience	students	whereby	
they	are	able	to	shadow	various	different	types	
of	job	roles,	such	as	estimators,	planners	and	
quantity	surveyors	so	that	they	can	get	a	better	
understanding of the different careers that 
are	available	in	the	construction	and	property	
industries. We support and work very closely 
with	the	Construction	Design	Centre	in	Sheffield	
which	offers	on	and	off-site	vocational	training	to	
students	aged	14	to	19	studying	for	a	construction	
qualification,	including	the	Young	Apprenticeship,	
an	NVQ,	the	work-related	BTEC	qualification	and	
so	forth.	For	university	students	we	are	able	to	
provide relevant work placement opportunities 
and these can range from as little as one week 
to	a	full	year’s	experience.

Tony	Shaw,	Eastern	Regional	Manager	for	
Henry	Boot	Construction,	hands	over	a	new	shed	
for	use	by	the	Catch	22	charity	for	their	Steps	to	
Success	programme	at	Grimesthorpe,	Sheffield	
where	an	organic	allotment	is	being	used	to	help	
ex-offenders	gain	confidence	and	life	skills.	

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A lot has changed in 
125 years

Henry Boot PLC 
Annual Report and  

Financial Statements 2010 29

As	we	have	done	for	many	years,	we	continue	to	
operate	The	Charities	Trust	sponsored	Give-As-You-
Earn	Scheme	(also	known	as	Payroll	Giving)	whereby 
donations	made	by	employees	from	their	pay	to	
charities	of	their	choice	are	matched	by	the	Company 
on	a	£1	for	£1	basis.	This	is	an	extremely	effective	
way	of	supporting	charitable	work	and	good	causes	
and provides a regular income for the recipients. 
Monthly	donations	made	by	our	employees	range	
from a few pounds to hundreds of pounds. 

Yet	again,	the	Company	was	awarded	with	a	
Payroll Giving Silver Award in 2010 in recognition 
of its support.

During	the	year	we	made	our	third	contribution	
of	£10,000	to	the	South	Yorkshire	Community	
Foundation	(SYCF)	for	its	Henry	Boot	Grassroots	
Endowment	Fund.	This	donation	has	been	matched	
funded	by	the	Office	for	Civil	Society,	part	of	The	
Cabinet	Office.	The	SYCF	helps	philanthropists,	
local	businesses	and	trusts	to	achieve	their	
charitable	goals	by	setting	up	charitable	funds	
that support local community groups and last 
year it awarded more than £2.5m in grants. 
Charities	supported	by	The	Henry	Boot	Fund	in	
the year included Ravenscroft Agewell Group 
and	the	Wath-upon-Dearne	based	Tweenies	
Sewing and Home Craft Class to provide 
assistance	for	their	disabled	members.

As	ever,	we	also	make	a	considerable	
number	of	ad	hoc	donations	to	a	variety	of	
charities.	In	2010	those	we	supported	included	
The	Lighthouse	Club	(the	construction	industry	
charity),	the	Sheffield	based	St	Luke’s	Hospice,	
Trinity	Day	Care	Trust,	Yorkshire	Wildlife	Trust	
and	we	regularly	match	or	top	up	charitable	
donations	raised	by	employees	for	particular	
one-off	causes	that	touch	them.

OUR ENVIRONMENTAL RESPONSIBILITIES: 
MAKING A POsITIVE IMPACT
Effective environmental management is 
an essential feature in the operations of all 
Henry	Boot	companies.	Our	key	commitments	
in this regard are to:

t		protect	and	enhance	the	environment	at	large;

t		mitigate	any	possible	adverse	impact	upon	

the	environment;

t  continuously review and improve our working 
practices to protect the environment as far as 
is	reasonably	practicable;

t  comply with the requirements of environmental 
legislation,	regulations	and	best	practice	as	
a	minimum	standard;

t		set	objectives	and	targets	to	achieve	

greater	effectiveness;

t  provide employees with a high standard 

of	awareness	in	environmental	matters;	and

t		promote	our	environmental	values	to	consultants,	
advisers,	suppliers	and	all	business	contacts.

Our	approach	to	environmental	awareness	
and	making	a	positive	impact	is	probably	best	
illustrated at the contract we are in the course 
of	carrying	out	for	Sheffield	City	Council	at	
Shirecliffe	where	we	are	building	27	local	authority	
houses	and	flats.	These	are	being	built	to	the	
impressive	Code	for	Sustainable	Homes	Level	4	
standard.	However,	we	have	taken	upon	ourselves	
to run a pilot scheme on plot 22 as a research 
and	development	project	to	find	ways	of	achieving	
Level 5 of the Code to show how construction 
techniques and products can help a property 
meet	the	difficult	standard	of	100%	above	
Building Regulations requirements in terms of 
energy	efficiency	and	raising	it	up	from	the	56%	
demanded	by	Level	4	of	the	Code.	In	addition	
to	extra	photovoltaic	panels	on	the	roof,	the	
property	features	a	grey	water	collection	tank,	
composting	facilities,	cycle	storage,	energy	
efficient	white	goods	and	high	level	air	tightness,	
among its other upgrades. With a growing 
demand	for	sustainable	housing	expertise,	
a	number	of	our	planning	staff	have	been	
trained	to	become	Code	for	Sustainable	Homes	
Assessors.	In	addition,	we	also	have	an	in-house	
RICS	Ska	Accredited	Assessor	who	is	fully	trained	
in assessing the environmental performance of 
office	fit-out	projects,	providing	guidance	on	
making	improvements	and	benchmarking	
performance	against	other	similar	projects	and,	
again,	this	demonstrates	a	real	commitment	
to	putting	sustainability	at	the	heart	of	our	
business	practices.

During 2010 Henry Boot Construction received 
a	BREEAM	Excellent	rating	for	the	design	
and	build	B&Q	warehouse	it	constructed	for	
Henry	Boot	Developments	at	Northfields	Retail	Park	
in	Rotherham.	The	project	had	to	meet	strict	
environmental criteria to achieve the rating 
and was achieved through good design and 
selection	of	materials.	Waste	recycling	figures	
are	up	to	96%	on	a	number	of	projects	and	the	
Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP) 
has produced a case study highlighting the 
achievements of the Company in meeting 
its	targets	for	the	Halving	Waste	to	Landfill	
programme	which	shows	that	this	has	been	
reduced	by	20%	since	2008.	A	report	issued	
in	October	2010	by	ECUS	environmental	
consultancy	showed	that	the	off-site	operations	
of	Henry	Boot	Construction	produced	22.5%	
less	carbon	than	the	previous	year,	showing	
a	significant	reduction	in	the	overall	impact	on	
the	environment.	Measures	continue	to	be	taken	
to	record,	analyse	and	reduce	the	carbon	produced	
as	a	result	of	office	and	vehicular	activities,	in	
addition	to	initiatives	on	site	to	reduce	carbon	
footprints	through	sustainable	design.

Recycling	of	building	waste	is	an	
important part of our programme 
to	significantly	reduce	sending	
such	material	to	landfill	sites.	

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30

Henry Boot PLC 
Annual Report and  
Financial Statements 2010

t Board of directors

A lot has changed in 
125 years

JOHN REIs
Chairman
John	Reis,	MA,	73,	was	appointed	a	Non-executive	Director	in	
1983	and	became	Non-executive	Chairman	in	1996.	He	manages	
substantial	interests	in	farming	and	property.	He	is	a	member	of	
the	Audit	and	Remuneration	Committees	of	the	Board.	He	will	be	
retiring as Chairman and as a Director of the Company at the 
conclusion	of	the	AGM	to	be	held	on	27	May	2011.

JAMIE BOOT
GrOUp manaGinG DirECTOr
Jamie	Boot,	59,	joined	the	Company	in	1979	and	was	appointed	to	
the	Board	in	1985.	He	became	Group	Managing	Director	in	1986.	He	
is	the	Chairman	of	the	Company’s	four	principal	operating	subsidiaries	 
–	Henry	Boot	Construction	Limited,	Hallam	Land	Management	Limited,	
Henry Boot Developments Limited and Banner Plant Limited. He is 
the	Board	member	responsible	for	health	and	safety	matters.

JOHN sUTCLIFFE
GrOUp FinanCE DirECTOr
John	Sutcliffe,	BA,	ACA,	51,	joined	the	Company	and	the	Board	
in 2006 as Group Finance Director and Company Secretary. He 
previously held a similar role with Town Centre Securities PLC 
and	prior	to	that	was	Finance	Director	of	Abbeycrest	plc.	John	is	
a	member	of	the	CBI	Yorkshire	and	the	Humber	Regional	Council.

JOHN BROwN
nOn-ExECUTiVE DirECTOr
John	Brown,	FCCA,	CTA,	66,	was	appointed	to	the	Board	in	2006	and	
is	the	Senior	Independent	Director.	He	was	formerly	the	Chief	Executive	
of Speedy Hire plc which he founded in 1977. He is also the 
Non-executive	Chairman	of	Norcros	plc	and	a	Non-executive	Director	
of	Lookers	plc,	both	London	Stock	Exchange	listed	companies,	and	he	
holds	a	number	of	other	directorships.	He	is	the	Chairman	of	the	Audit	
Committee	and	a	member	of	the	Remuneration	Committee.	He	is	to	be	
appointed	Non-executive	Chairman	of	the	Company	upon	the	retirement	
of	John	Reis	at	the	conclusion	of	the	forthcoming	AGM.

MICHAEL GUNsTON
nOn-ExECUTiVE DirECTOr
Michael	Gunston,	FRICS,	67,	was	appointed	to	the	Board	in	2006	
having retired as the Chief Surveyor of The British Land Company PLC 
where he worked for nearly 32 years. He is the Chairman of the 
Remuneration	Committee	and	a	member	of	the	Audit	Committee.

JAMEs sYKEs
nOn-ExECUTiVE DirECTOr
James	Sykes,	BA,	ACA,	46,	was	appointed	to	the	Board	on	
22	March	2011.	He	is	a	Partner	in	the	London	office	of	Saffery	
Champness,	Chartered	Accountants,	which	he	joined	straight	
from university in 1987. He is the Head of its Private Wealth Group 
and	is	also	a	member	of	the	firm’s	Management	Board.

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A lot has changed in 
125 years

Henry Boot PLC 
Annual Report and  

Financial Statements 2010 31

t Subsidiary company managing directors

t Company advisers

HENRY BOOT DEVELOPMENTs LIMITED
DaViD anDErSOn, BSC (hOnS), mriCS, 44, 
started his career in a planning consultancy and 
then	joined	Henry	Boot	Developments	Limited	
in	1990	as	an	Assistant	Development	Surveyor,	
rapidly rising to the position of Senior Development 
Surveyor. He was appointed a Director in 1996 
and	became	Managing	Director	of	the	Company	
in 2005.

HENRY BOOT CONsTRUCTION LIMITED
SimOn Carr, BSC (hOnS), mriCS, 52, 
has	been	with	Henry	Boot	for	over	22	years.	He	
has	held	a	number	of	positions	on	the	construction	
side	of	the	business,	more	recently	as	Partnering	
Manager	and	as	Operations	Director.	He	took	
over	as	Managing	Director	in	September	2009.	
Simon	is	currently	the	President	of	the	Yorkshire	
Builders’	Federation.	He	has	recently	been	
appointed	to	the	Board	of	The	Sheffield	City	
Region Local Enterprise Partnership and to 
the	Sheffield	City	Region	Joint	Housing	and	
Regeneration Board.

BANNER PLANT LIMITED
GilES BOOT, Ba (hOnS), 51, joined	the	
Henry Boot Group in 1982 and had a variety of 
management	roles	in	Rothervale	Trading	Limited,	
the retail side of the then Group’s door manufacturing 
business.	Moving	to	Banner	Plant	Limited	in	
1988,	he	held	a	number	of	positions,	including	
Depot Manager and Business Development 
Manager,	before	being	appointed	to	its	Board	
in	1995,	becoming	Managing	Director	in	2000.

HALLAM LAND MANAGEMENT LIMITED
kEran pOwEr, mrTpi, 60,	began	his	career	
in	Local	Government	as	a	planning	officer.	
He	joined	the	newly	created	Hallam	Land	
Management Limited in 1990 and was appointed 
a	Director	in	1993.	He	became	Managing	Director	
at	the	beginning	of	2010.	Keran	is	a	Chartered	
Town	Planner	and	for	a	number	of	years	was	a	
member	of	the	National	Council	of	The	Royal	Town	
Planning	Institute.

t Financial calendar

LONDON sTOCK EXCHANGE 
ANNOUNCEMENTs
Preliminary Statement of Results 2010:  
23 March 2011

First	2011	Interim	Management	Statement:	 
early May 2011

Half-yearly	Results	2011:	end	August	2011

Second	2011	Interim	Management	Statement:	
mid	November	2011

Trading	Update	2011:	mid	January	2012

ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL 
sTATEMENTs 2010 AND HALF-YEARLY 
REPORT 2011 POsTED TO sHAREHOLDERs
Annual Report and Financial Statements 2010: 
by	27	April	2011

Half-yearly	Report	2011:	early	September	2011

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
27 May 2011

DIVIDENDs PAID ON ORDINARY sHAREs
2010 Final: 31 May 2011

2011	Interim:	end	October	2011

AUDITORs
priCEwaTErhOUSECOOpErS llp
1 East Parade 
Sheffield	S1	2ET

BANKERs
BarClaYS Bank plC
2 Arena Square 
Sheffield	S9	2LF

llOYDS TSB Bank plC
14	Church	Street 
Sheffield	S1	1HP

ThE rOYal Bank OF SCOTlanD plC
56 Market Street 
Chorley PR7 2SD

CORPORATE FINANCE
kpmG COrpOraTE FinanCE
1	The	Embankment 
Neville Street 
Leeds	LS1	4DW

FINANCIAL PR
CiTiGaTE DEwE rOGErSOn
1 Wrens Court 
Lower	Queen	Street 
Birmingham B72 1RT

REGIsTRARs
CapiTa rEGiSTrarS limiTED
The Registry 
34	Beckenham	Road 
Beckenham 
Kent	BR3	4TU

sOLICITORs
Dla pipEr Uk llp
1 St Paul’s Place 
Sheffield	S1	2JX

sTOCKBROKERs
EVOlUTiOn SECUriTiES limiTED
Kings House 
1 King Street 
Leeds LS1 2HH 

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32

Henry Boot PLC 
Annual Report and  
Financial Statements 2010

t Directors’ report

A lot has changed in 
125 years

The Directors have pleasure in presenting the Annual Report and the audited Financial Statements for the year ended 31 December 2010.

PrinCiPaL aCtivities of tHe grouP
The principal activities of the Group during the financial year were:

t  Property – property development and property investment.

t  Land – land development.

t  Construction – construction, civil engineering, road maintenance under a PFI contract and plant hire.

t  Other – central services, head office administration and in‑house leasing.

resuLts for tHe year anD DiviDenDs
The results are set out in the Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income on page 48. The principal active subsidiary companies affecting 
the profit or net assets of the Group in the year are listed in note 31 to the Financial Statements.

The Directors recommend that a final dividend of 2.15p per ordinary share be paid on 31 May 2011 to ordinary shareholders on the register at the 
close of business on 3 May 2011. This, together with the interim dividend of 1.35p per ordinary share paid on 28 October 2010, will make a total 
dividend of 3.50p per ordinary share for the year ended 31 December 2010.

Business review
The review of the development and performance of the business of the Group during the year and the future outlook of the Group is set out 
in the Chairman’s Statement on pages 4 and 5 and the Business Review on pages 6 to 23. Details of the principal risks and uncertainties 
that the Company faces are set out in the Business Review on pages 22 and 23.

The Group’s policy in respect of financial instruments is set out within the Accounting Policies on page 55 and details of credit risk, capital risk management, 
liquidity risk and cash flow risk are given respectively in notes 15, 21, 22 and 23 to the Financial Statements.

sHare CaPitaL
Details of the Company’s issued share capital during the year are set out in note 28 to the Financial Statements.

The Notice of the Annual General Meeting (AGM) on pages 81 and 82 includes the following resolutions:

t  an ordinary resolution (Resolution 7) to renew the authority of the Directors to allot shares up to a maximum nominal amount of £4,341,479 being 
33.33% of the Company’s issued ordinary share capital at 23 March 2011. The authority will expire on 26 August 2012 or at the conclusion of the 
next AGM whichever is the earlier but it is the present intention of the Directors to seek annual renewal of this authority. The Directors do not have 
any present intention of exercising the authority;

t  a special resolution (Resolution 8) to enable the Directors to continue to allot equity securities for cash in connection with a rights or other issue 

pro rata to the rights of the existing shareholders, but subject to certain exceptions, and for any other purpose provided that the aggregate value 
of such allotments does not exceed £650,000 (4.99% of the Company’s issued ordinary share capital at 23 March 2011). The authority will expire 
on 26 August 2012 or at the conclusion of the next AGM whichever is the earlier but it is the present intention of the Directors to seek annual renewal 
of this authority; and

t  a special resolution (Resolution 9) to renew the authority of the Company to make market purchases of up to 11,055,000 of its own issued ordinary 
shares (8.49% of the Company’s issued share capital at 23 March 2011). The minimum price that may be paid under the authority for an ordinary share 
is 10p and the maximum price is limited to not more than 5% above the average of the middle market quotations for an ordinary share as derived 
from the London Stock Exchange Daily Official List for the five business days before the purchase is made. The Directors will exercise the authority 
only if they are satisfied that it would be likely to result in an increase in expected earnings per share of the ordinary share capital in issue and that 
any purchase will be in the best interests of shareholders generally. If the Directors do decide to exercise the authority, ordinary shares so acquired 
will either be cancelled or held as treasury shares, depending upon the circumstances prevailing at the time.

DireCtors
J S Reis, E J Boot, J T Sutcliffe, J E Brown and M I Gunston held office as Directors throughout 2010. Mr D Greaves ceased to be a Director on 30 June 2010 
on his retirement from the Company. In anticipation of J S Reis stepping down as Chairman and a Non‑executive Director with effect from the conclusion 
of the AGM to be held on 27 May 2011, J J Sykes was appointed a Non‑executive Director of the Company on 22 March 2011 in order to represent the 
substantial shareholdings of the Reis family in the Company. As a result, from a corporate governance point of view, he is not regarded as an 
independent Non‑executive Director. On 23 March 2011, it was also announced that J E Brown would be taking over as Chairman of the Company at the 
conclusion of the 2011 AGM. Biographical details of the current Directors are shown on page 30.

In accordance with the Articles of Association of the Company, J E Brown and J T Sutcliffe will retire by rotation at the forthcoming AGM and offer 
themselves for re‑appointment. In accordance with the June 2008 version of The Combined Code on Corporate Governance, the Chairman confirms 
that the performance of J E Brown continues to be effective and to demonstrate commitment to the role. J J Sykes, having been appointed since the 
last AGM, will retire at the forthcoming AGM but will offer himself for re‑appointment under the Articles of Association of the Company. This gives 
shareholders the opportunity to confirm that appointment.

At no time during the year has any Director had any interest in any significant contract with the Company.

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A lot has changed in 
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Henry Boot PLC 
Annual Report and  

Financial Statements 2010 33

DireCtors’ interests
The interests of Directors in the share capital of the Company, other than with respect to options to acquire ordinary shares, were:

J S Reis 

E J Boot 

– Ordinary 
– Preference 

– Ordinary 
– Preference 

D Greaves (retired 30 June 2010) 
– Ordinary 

J T Sutcliffe  

– Ordinary 

J E Brown    

– Ordinary 

M I Gunston 

– Ordinary 

at 31 December 2010 

At 31 December 2009

Beneficial	

Non‑beneficial 

Beneficial 

Non‑beneficial

6,646,185 
3,259 

5,083,862 
14,753 

20,915,430 
8,167 

1,105,085 
— 

6,976,185 
3,259 

5,751,437 
14,753 

20,585,430
8,167

335,085
—

n/a 

n/a 

149,525 

108,010 

15,000 

23,000 

— 

— 

— 

65,000 

15,000 

23,000 

—

—

—

—

Between 31 December 2010 and 23 March 2011, being a date not more than one month prior to the date of the Notice of the AGM, there have been 
no changes in the beneficial and non‑beneficial interests of any Director. At the time of his appointment as a Director, J J Sykes was a registered joint 
shareholder with Rysaffe Nominees and with J S Reis and P J M Scott in respect of a total of 20,712,000 ordinary shares in the Company and as 
a joint registered shareholder with Rysaffe Nominees of 6,843 preference shares in the Company. He had no beneficial interest in any of these shares. 

Details of Directors’ long‑term incentive awards and share options are provided in the Directors’ Remuneration Report on pages 44 to 46.

DireCtors’ inDemnity
Subject to the provisions of and to the extent permitted by relevant statutes, under the Articles of Association of the Company, the Directors and other 
officers throughout the year were indemnified out of the assets of the Company against liabilities incurred by them in the course of carrying out their 
duties or the exercise of their powers.

major sHareHoLDer notifiCations
Excluding Directors, at 23 March 2011, being a date not more than one month prior to the date of the Notice of the AGM, the following information 
had been disclosed to the Company in accordance with the requirements of Chapter 5 of the Disclosure Rules and Transparency Rules:

Rysaffe Nominees and J J Sykes 
FMR Corp* 
BT Pension Scheme Trustees Limited* 
The Fulmer Charitable Trust 

* Notified as indirect voting rights.

Voting rights over 
ordinary shares

Number 

20,382,000 
12,979,170 
7,399,958 
5,739,580 

% of 
issued

15.65
9.96
5.68
4.41

Rysaffe Nominees and J J Sykes are joint registered holders on behalf of various Reis family trusts, whose holdings are also included under the beneficial 
and non‑beneficial interests of J S Reis.

The holding of The Fulmer Charitable Trust, a registered charity, is also included under the non‑beneficial interests of J S Reis in his capacity as a trustee.

going ConCern
The Company’s business activities, together with the factors likely to affect its future development, performance and position, are set out in the 
Operations Review on pages 7 to 19. The financial position of the Company, its cash flows, liquidity position and borrowing facilities are described 
in the Financial Review on pages 19 to 23.

As highlighted in note 22 to the Financial Statements, the Company meets its day‑to‑day working capital requirements through a secured loan facility, 
which includes an overdraft facility, which is due for renewal on 7 May 2012. The current economic conditions create uncertainty for all businesses over 
a number of risk areas. As part of their regular going concern review the Directors specifically address all the risk areas that they consider material 
to the assessment of going concern. The report arising from these discussions is made available to the auditors and the conclusion is that the Directors 
have a reasonable expectation that the Company has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future and thus 
they continue to adopt the going concern basis of accounting in preparing the annual Financial Statements.

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34

Henry Boot PLC 
Annual Report and  
Financial Statements 2010

A lot has changed in 
125 years

t Directors’ report continued

aDoPtion of new artiCLes of assoCiation
The Notice of the AGM on pages 81 and 82 includes a resolution (Resolution 11) which proposes to adopt new Articles of Association (‘New Articles’). 
These incorporate amendments to the Company’s current Articles of Association (‘Current Articles’) in order to update the Current Articles primarily 
to take account of changes in English company law brought about by the Companies Act 2006 (‘the Act’) and other relevant legislation.

The principal changes introduced in the New Articles are summarised in the Appendix to this Directors’ Report on pages 37 to 39. Other changes, which are of a 
minor, technical or clarifying nature and also some more minor changes which merely reflect changes made by the Act, have not been noted in the Appendix.

The New Articles and a copy of the Current Articles marked to show changes being proposed by the resolution are available for inspection as detailed 
in Note 12 of the Notes to the AGM on page 84.

emPLoyees
Details of the Company’s policy on equal opportunities for disabled employees and on employee involvement are set out in the ‘Our Employees’ section 
of the Corporate Social Responsibility Report on page 27.

The Company continues to encourage employee share ownership through participation in its savings related share option schemes. The Henry Boot PLC 
2000 Sharesave Scheme expired on 26 May 2010 and at the AGM held on 28 May 2010 shareholders approved and adopted a replacement scheme, 
known as the Henry Boot PLC 2010 Sharesave Plan.

HeaLtH anD safety
The Group recognises the importance of its employees working in a healthy and safe environment and its responsibilities to clients, visitors, contractors, 
tenants, members of the public and anyone who comes into contact with our operations. Further information is provided in the Corporate Social 
Responsibility Report on pages 24 to 26.

suPPLier Payment PoLiCy
The Group’s policy is for all companies within the Group to agree terms and conditions with their suppliers and subcontractors. Payments are 
then generally made on the basis of this agreement, providing the suppliers and subcontractors conform with the terms and conditions stipulated. 
At 31 December 2010 the Company had an average of 31 days (2009: 32 days) purchases outstanding in trade creditors.

CHaritaBLe Donations
Donations for charitable purposes totalled £54,770 (2009: £28,300). Details of some of the charities supported are set out in the Corporate Social 
Responsibility Report on pages 28 and 29.

Post rePorting PerioD events
Details of post reporting period events can be found in notes 17 and 19 to the Financial Statements.

statement of DisCLosure of information to auDitors
The Directors of the Company who held office at the date of approval of this Annual Report each confirm that:

t  so far as they are aware, there is no relevant audit information (information needed by the Company’s auditors in connection with preparing their 

report) of which the Company’s auditors are unaware; and

t   they have taken all the steps that they ought to have taken as Directors in order to make themselves aware of any relevant audit information 

and to establish that the Company’s auditors are aware of that information. 

aDDitionaL information for sHareHoLDers
Following the implementation of the EU Takeover Directive in the UK, the following description provides the required relevant information for shareholders 
where not already provided elsewhere in these Financial Statements. This description summarises certain provisions of the current Articles of Association 
of the Company (as adopted by special resolution on 22 May 1992 and amended by special resolution on 19 May 2006 and by special resolution 
on 21 May 2009) (‘the Articles’) and applicable English law concerning companies (the Companies Act 2006). This is a summary only and the relevant 
provisions of the Companies Act 2006 or the Articles should be consulted if further information is required.

ShaRE capITal
The Company’s issued share capital comprises two classes of shares being, respectively, ordinary shares of 10p each (‘ordinary shares’) and cumulative 
preference shares of £1 each (‘preference shares’). Further details of the share capital of the Company are set out in note 28 to the Financial Statements. 
As at 23 March 2011, the ordinary shares represent approximately 97% of the total issued share capital of the Company by nominal value and the preference 
shares represent approximately 3% of such total issued share capital. The ordinary shares and the preference shares are in registered form. Both classes 
of share are admitted to the Official List of the UK Listing Authority. The Company’s ordinary shares are categorised as ‘Premium Listed’ and its preference 
shares as ‘Standard Listed’. A Standard Listing is based on EU minimum standards for floating a company on a public market whereas a Premium Listing 
requires compliance with additional requirements set out in the Listing Rules of the UK Listing Authority.

RIGhTS anD oBlIGaTIonS aTTachInG To ShaRES
Subject to the Companies Act 2006 and other shareholders’ rights, any share may be issued with such rights and restrictions as the Company may 
by ordinary resolution decide or, if no such resolution has been passed or so far as the resolution does not make specific provision, as the Board 
of Directors for the time being of the Company (‘Board’) may decide. Subject to the Companies Act 2006, the Articles and any resolution of the Company, 
the Board may deal with any unissued shares as it may decide.

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A lot has changed in 
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Henry Boot PLC 
Annual Report and  

Financial Statements 2010 35

aDDitionaL information for sHareHoLDers CONTINUED
RIGhTS of pREfEREncE ShaRES
The preference shares carry the following rights in priority to the ordinary shares but carry no further right to participate in profits or assets:

t  the right to receive out of the profits of the Company a fixed cumulative preferential dividend at the rate of 5.25% per annum on the capital paid 

up thereon;

t  the right on a return of assets on a winding up to payment of the capital paid up thereon together with a sum calculated at the rate of 6.00% per annum 
in respect of any period up to the commencement of the winding up for which such preferential dividend as referred to above has not been paid; and

t  the right on a return of assets in a reduction of capital to repayment of the capital paid up thereon together with a sum equal to all arrears (if any) 

of such preferential dividend as referred to above.

The preference shares shall not confer on the holders of them any right to receive notice of or to be present or to vote at any general meeting (as defined 
in the Articles) unless either: 

t   a resolution is proposed directly affecting the rights or privileges of the holders of the preference shares as a separate class; or 

t   at the date of the notice convening the general meeting the fixed cumulative preferential dividend provided in the Articles shall be in arrears for more 

than six months.

VoTInG
Under and subject to the provisions of the Articles and subject to any special rights or restrictions as to voting attached to any shares, on a show 
of hands every member present in person shall have one vote and on a poll every member who was present in person or by proxy shall have one vote 
for every share of which he is the holder. Under the Companies Act 2006, 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 a general meeting or class meeting.

RESTRIcTIonS on VoTInG
A member shall not be entitled to vote at any general meeting or class meeting in respect of any shares held by him unless all calls and other sums 
presently payable by him in respect of that share have been paid. In addition, holders of default shares (as defined in the Articles) shall not be entitled 
to vote during the continuance of a default in providing the Company with information concerning interests in those shares required to be provided 
(following relevant notification) under the Companies Act 2006. 

DEaDlInES foR VoTInG RIGhTS
Full details of the deadlines for exercising voting rights in respect of the resolutions to be considered at the AGM to be held on 27 May 2011 are set out 
in the Notice of AGM on page 83 of this Annual Report and Financial Statements. 

DIVIDEnDS anD DISTRIBuTIonS
The Company may, by ordinary resolution, declare a dividend to be paid to the members but no dividend shall exceed the amount recommended 
by the Board. The Board may pay interim dividends and also any fixed rate dividend whenever the financial position of the Company justifies its payment 
in the opinion of the Board. If the Board acts in good faith, none of the Directors shall incur any liability to the holders of shares with preferred rights 
for any loss they may suffer in consequence of the payment of an interim dividend on other shares.

WInDInG up
Under the Articles, if the Company is in liquidation, the liquidator may, with the sanction of an extraordinary resolution of the Company and any other 
authority required by the Statutes (as defined in the Articles):

t  divide among the members in specie the whole or any part of the assets of the Company and, for that purpose, value any assets and determine 

how the division shall be carried out as between the members or different classes of members; or

t  vest the whole or any part of the assets in trustees upon such trusts for the benefit of members as the liquidator with the like sanction shall think fit.

VaRIaTIon of RIGhTS
The Articles specify that the special rights attached to any class of shares may, either with the consent in writing of holders of three‑fourths of the issued 
shares of that class or with the sanction of an extraordinary resolution passed at a separate meeting of such holders (but not otherwise), be modified 
or abrogated.

TRanSfER of ShaRES
Under and subject to the restrictions in the Articles, any member may transfer all or any of his shares by an instrument of transfer in any usual form 
or in any other form which the Board may approve. The Board may, in its absolute discretion and without giving any reason, refuse to register any 
transfer of a share not fully paid up or any transfer of a share on which the Company has a lien. The Board may also refuse to register any transfer 
unless it is: 

t  in respect of only one class of shares; 

t  in favour of no more than four transferees; 

t  left at the office or at such other place as the Board may decide for registration; and 

t  accompanied by the certificate for the shares to be transferred and such other evidence (if any) as the Board may reasonably require to prove 

the title of the intending transferor or his right to transfer the shares.

The Articles also provide that nothing in them shall preclude title to any securities of the Company being recorded other than in writing in accordance 
with such arrangements as may from time to time be permitted by the Statutes and approved by the Board.

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36

Henry Boot PLC 
Annual Report and  
Financial Statements 2010

A lot has changed in 
125 years

t Directors’ report continued

aDDitionaL information for sHareHoLDers CONTINUED
REpuRchaSE of ShaRES
Subject to the provisions of the Statutes and to any rights conferred on the holders of any class of shares, the Company may purchase all or any 
of its shares of any class, including any redeemable shares.

aMEnDMEnT To aRTIclES of aSSocIaTIon
Any amendments to the Articles may be made in accordance with the provisions of the Companies Act 2006 by way of special resolution.

appoInTMEnT anD REplacEMEnT of DIREcToRS
The Directors shall not, unless otherwise determined by an ordinary resolution of the Company, be less than three nor more than 15 in number. Directors may 
be appointed by the Company by ordinary resolution or by the Board. A Director appointed by the Board shall retire from office at the next AGM of the 
Company but shall then be eligible for re‑appointment. The Board may appoint one or more Directors to hold any office or employment under the Company 
for such period (subject to the Statutes) and on such terms as it may decide and may revoke or terminate any such appointment. At each AGM any Director 
who has been appointed by the Board since the previous AGM and any Director selected to retire by rotation shall retire from office. At each AGM one‑third of 
the Directors who are subject to retirement by rotation or, if the number is not an integral multiple of three, the number nearest to one‑third but not exceeding 
one‑third shall retire from office. In addition, there shall also be required to retire by rotation any Director who at any AGM of the Company shall have been a 
Director at each of the preceding two AGMs of the Company, provided that he was not appointed or re‑appointed at either such AGM and he has not 
otherwise ceased to be a Director and been re‑appointed by general meeting of the Company at or since either such AGM. 

The Company may, by extraordinary resolution or by ordinary resolution of which special notice has been given in accordance with the Statutes, 
remove any Director before his period of office has expired notwithstanding anything in the Articles or in any agreement between him and the Company. 
A Director may also be removed from office by the service on him of a notice to that effect signed by or on behalf of all the other Directors, being not 
less than three in number. The office of a Director shall be vacated if: 

(i)   he is prohibited by law from being a Director; 

(ii)   he becomes bankrupt or makes any arrangement or composition with his creditors generally; 

(iii)  he is or may be suffering from mental disorder as referred to in the Articles; 

(iv)   for more than six months he is absent, without special leave of absence from the Board, from meetings of the Board held during that period 

and the Board resolves that his office be vacated; or

(v)  he serves on the Company notice of his wish to resign.

poWERS of ThE DIREcToRS
The business of the Company shall be managed by the Board which may exercise all the powers of the Company, subject to the provisions of the Statutes, 
the Memorandum of Association of the Company, the Articles and any ordinary resolution of the Company. The Articles specify that the Board may 
exercise all the powers of the Company to borrow money and to mortgage or charge all or any part of its undertaking, property and assets and uncalled 
capital and to issue debentures and other securities, subject to the provisions of the Articles.

TakEoVERS anD SIGnIfIcanT aGREEMEnTS
There are no significant agreements to which the Company is a party that take effect, alter or terminate on a change of control of the Company 
following a takeover bid with the exception of:

t the Company’s share schemes and plans; and

t   bank facilities which upon the occurrence of a takeover the lenders shall consult with the Company for a period of not greater than 30 days 

to determine whether and on what basis the lenders are prepared to continue the facilities.

There are no persons with whom the Company has contractual or other arrangements who are deemed by the Directors to be essential 
to the business of the Company.

information rigHts
Beneficial owners of shares who have been nominated by the registered holder of those shares to receive information rights under Section 146 
of the Companies Act 2006 are required to direct all communications to the registered holder of their shares, rather than to the Company’s registrar, 
Capita Registrars, or to the Company directly.

inDePenDent auDitors
The auditors, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, have signified their willingness to remain in office and resolutions re‑appointing them as auditors 
(Resolution 5) and authorising the Directors to fix their remuneration (Resolution 6) will be proposed at the AGM.

On behalf of the Board

j t sutCLiffe
ComPany seCretary
18 apRIl 2011

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A lot has changed in 
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Henry Boot PLC 
Annual Report and  

Financial Statements 2010 37

aPPenDix
ExplanaToRy noTES of pRIncIpal chanGES To ThE coMpany’S aRTIclES of aSSocIaTIon (SEE aGM RESoluTIon 11)
The material differences between the Current Articles and the New Articles are summarised below. Changes of a minor, conforming or purely technical 
nature have not been mentioned specifically.

1. ThE coMpany’S oBJEcTS
The provisions regulating the operation of the Company were previously set out in the Company’s Memorandum and Articles of Association. The Company’s 
Memorandum contained, among other things, the objects clause which set out the scope of the activities the Company is authorised to undertake. 
This was drafted to give a wide scope.

The Act significantly reduces the constitutional significance of a company’s memorandum. The Act provides that a memorandum will record only 
the names of subscribers and the number of shares each subscriber has agreed to take in the company. Under the Act, the objects clause and all 
other provisions which were contained in the company’s memorandum at 1 October 2009 are deemed to be contained in its articles of association, 
although the company can remove these provisions by a special resolution.

Further, the Act states that unless a company’s articles provide otherwise, a company’s objects are unrestricted. This abolishes the need for companies 
to have objects clauses. For this reason, the Company is proposing to remove its objects clause together with all other provisions of its Memorandum 
which, by virtue of the Act, are treated as forming part of the Company’s Articles of Association. Resolution 11 confirms the removal of these provisions.

As the effect of this resolution will be to remove the statement previously in the Company’s Memorandum of Association regarding limited liability, 
the New Articles also contain an express statement regarding the limited liability of the members of the Company.

2. auThoRISED ShaRE capITal anD unISSuED ShaRES
The Act abolishes the requirement for a company to have an authorised share capital. The New Articles reflect this and all references to authorised 
share capital have been removed. Directors will still be limited as to the number of shares they can at any time allot because allotment authority 
continues to be required under the Act, save in respect of employee share schemes.

3. REDEEMaBlE ShaRES
Under the Companies Act 1985 (‘1985 Act’), if a company wished to issue redeemable shares, it had to include in its articles the terms and manner 
of redemption. The Act enables directors to determine such matters provided they are authorised to do so by the company’s articles. The New Articles 
contain such an authorisation. The Company has no plans to issue redeemable shares but if it did so the Directors would require shareholders’ 
authority to issue new shares in the usual way.

4. auThoRITy To puRchaSE oWn ShaRES, conSolIDaTE anD SuBDIVIDE ShaRES anD REDucE ShaRE capITal
Under the 1985 Act, a company required specific enabling provisions in its articles to purchase its own shares, to consolidate or subdivide its shares 
and to reduce its share capital or other undistributable reserves, as well as shareholder authority to undertake the relevant action. The Current Articles 
include these enabling provisions. Under the Act, a company only requires shareholder authority to do any of these things and it is no longer necessary 
for articles to contain enabling provisions. Accordingly, the relevant enabling provisions have been removed from the New Articles.

5. SuSpEnSIon of REGISTRaTIon of ShaRE TRanSfERS
The Current Articles permit the Directors to suspend the registration of transfers. Under the Act, share transfers must be registered as soon as practicable. 
The power in the Current Articles to suspend the registration of transfers is inconsistent with this requirement. Accordingly, this power has been removed 
in the New Articles.

6. VoTInG By pRoxIES on a ShoW of hanDS
The Companies (Shareholders’ Rights) Regulations 2009 (‘Shareholders’ Rights Regulations’) amended the Act so that it provides that each proxy 
appointed by a shareholder has one vote on a show of hands unless the proxy is appointed by more than one shareholder, in which case the proxy 
has one vote for and one vote against if the proxy has been instructed by one or more shareholders to vote for the resolution and by one or more 
shareholders to vote against the resolution. The New Articles contain provisions which clarify these rights and also clarify how the provisions giving 
a proxy a second vote on a show of hands should apply to discretionary powers.

7. VoTInG By coRpoRaTE REpRESEnTaTIVES
Under the Act, a corporate shareholder can appoint more than one corporate representative to exercise its voting rights at a general meeting. In addition, 
the Shareholders’ Rights Regulations have amended the Act in order to enable multiple representatives appointed by the same corporate shareholder 
to vote in different ways on a show of hands and a poll. The New Articles remove certain of the provisions in the Current Articles dealing with voting 
by corporate representatives on the basis that these are dealt with in the Act.

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38

Henry Boot PLC 
Annual Report and  
Financial Statements 2010

A lot has changed in 
125 years

t Directors’ report continued

aPPenDix CONTINUED
8. ElEcTRonIc conDucT of MEETInGS
Amendments made to the Act by the Shareholders’ Rights Regulations specifically provide for the holding and conducting of electronic meetings. 
The New Articles include amendments to provide greater scope for members to participate in meetings of the Company even if they are not present 
in person at the principal place where the meeting is held. The New Articles allow for members to participate not only by attendance at satellite meeting 
locations but also by any other electronic means of participation.

9. aDJouRnMEnTS foR lack of quoRuM
Under the Act, as amended by the Shareholders’ Rights Regulations, general meetings adjourned through lack of quorum must be held at least 
ten clear days after the original meeting. The provisions in the Current Articles dealing with notice of adjourned meetings have been amended to ensure 
that they are consistent with this requirement.

10.  VoTInG REcoRD DaTE
Under the Act, as amended by the Shareholders’ Rights Regulations, the Company must determine the right of shareholders to vote at a general meeting 
by reference to the register not more than 48 hours before the time for the holding of the meeting, not taking into account weekends and bank holidays. 
The Current Articles have been amended to reflect this requirement.

11.  ValIDITy of VoTES
Following the implementation of the Shareholders’ Rights Regulations, proxies are expressly required to vote in accordance with the instructions 
given to them by shareholders. The New Articles contain a provision stating that the Company is not required to enquire whether a proxy or corporate 
representative has voted in accordance with instructions given to him and that votes cast by a proxy or corporate representative will be valid even 
if he has not voted in accordance with his instructions.

12.  VacaTIon of offIcE By DIREcToRS
The Current Articles specify the circumstances in which a Director must vacate office. The New Articles update these provisions to reflect the approach 
taken on mental and physical incapacity in the model articles for public companies produced by the Department of Business, Innovation and Skills.

13.  pRoVISIon foR EMployEES on cESSaTIon of BuSInESS
The Act provides that the powers of the directors of a company to make provision for a person employed or formerly employed by the company or any 
of its subsidiaries in connection with the cessation or transfer to any person of the whole or part of the undertaking of the company or that subsidiary, 
may only be exercised by the directors if they are so authorised by the company’s articles or by the company in general meeting. The New Articles 
provide that the Directors may exercise this power as the Current Articles already do.

14. poWER To BoRRoW MonEy
In the New Articles some amendments have been made to the borrowing powers provisions of the Current Articles to reflect current accounting practice.

15.  uSE of SEalS
The New Articles provide an alternative option for execution of documents (other than share certificates). Under the New Articles, when the seal 
is affixed to a document, it may also be signed by a Director in the presence of a witness, in addition to the current provisions for signature by either 
a Director and the Secretary or two Directors or such other person or persons as the Directors may approve.

16.  GEnERal
Several statutory references have been amended in the New Articles to take account of the implementation of provisions in the Act and repeal 
of corresponding sections of the 1985 Act. Some definitions have also been changed and additional definitions added to bring them in line with 
relevant provisions of the Act. In addition, amendments have been made in relation to the holding of uncertificated shares (and differentiations from 
certificated shares) and other miscellaneous non‑material changes have been made to reflect current law and practice as well as some formatting 
and minor typographical amendments.

17.  aRTIclES WhIch DuplIcaTE STaTuToRy pRoVISIonS
Provisions in the Current Articles which replicate provisions contained in the Act are in the main removed in the New Articles. This is in line with the approach 
advocated by the Government that statutory provisions should not be duplicated in a company’s constitution. Certain examples of such provisions 
include provisions as to the form of resolutions, the requirement to keep accounting records and provisions regarding the period of notice required 
to convene general meetings. The main changes made to reflect this approach are detailed in these explanatory notes.

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Henry Boot PLC 
Annual Report and  

Financial Statements 2010 39

18.  foRM of RESoluTIon
The Current Articles contain a provision that, where for any purpose an ordinary resolution is required, a special or extraordinary resolution is also 
effective and that, where an extraordinary resolution is required, a special resolution is also effective. This provision is being removed as the concept 
of extraordinary resolutions has not been retained under the Act. Further, the remainder of the provision is reflected in full in the Act.

19.  fRacTIonS
The Current Articles contain a provision providing that if a consolidation or subdivision of shares results in shareholders being entitled to fractions 
of shares, the Board can deal with such fractions as it thinks fit, including selling the fractions and distributing the proceeds in proportion among 
the shareholders. For clarity, this provision has been amended in the New Articles to provide where any shareholder’s entitlement to a portion 
of the proceeds of sale of the fractions amounts to less than such sum as the Board may from time to time determine, the Board can (if not retained 
for the benefit of the Company) distribute that shareholder’s proceeds to charity.

20.  conVEnInG GEnERal MEETInGS
The provisions in the Current Articles dealing with the convening of general meetings and the length of notice required to convene general meetings 
are being removed in the New Articles because the relevant matters are provided for in the Act. In addition, the chairman of a general meeting no longer 
has a casting vote.

21.  VoTES of ShaREholDERS
Under the Act proxies are entitled to vote on a show of hands whereas under the Current Articles proxies are only entitled to vote on a poll. The time 
limits for the appointment or termination of a proxy appointment have been altered by the Act so that the articles cannot, amongst other matters, 
provide that they should be received:

t more than 48 hours before the meeting or adjourned meeting; or

t in the case of a poll taken more than 48 hours after it was demanded, more than 24 hours before the taking of the poll.

The New Articles reflect these provisions and effectively give the Directors discretion, when calculating these time limits, to exclude weekends 
and bank holidays.

22.  noTIcE of BoaRD MEETInGS
Under the Current Articles, when a Director is abroad he can request that notice of Directors’ meetings are sent to him at a specified address and if he does 
not do so he is not entitled to receive notice while he is away. This provision has been removed, as modern communications mean that there may 
be no particular obstacle to giving notice to a Director who is abroad. It has been replaced with a more general provision that a Director is treated 
as having waived his entitlement to notice, unless he supplies the Company with the information necessary to ensure that he receives notice 
of a meeting before it takes place.

23.  REcoRDS To BE kEpT
The provision in the Current Articles requiring the Board to keep accounting records has been removed as this requirement is contained in the Act.

24.  ElEcTRonIc anD WEB coMMunIcaTIonS
Provisions of the Act which came into force in January 2007 enable companies to communicate with shareholders by electronic and/or website 
communications. The New Articles allow communications to shareholders in electronic form and, in addition, they also permit the Company to take 
advantage of the new provisions relating to website communications. Before the Company can communicate with a shareholder by means of website 
communication, the relevant shareholder must be asked individually by the Company to agree that the Company may send or supply documents 
or information to him by means of a website and the Company must either have received a positive response or have received no response within 
the period of 28 days beginning with the date on which the request was sent. The Company will notify the shareholder (either in writing or by other 
permitted means) when a relevant document or information is placed on the website and a shareholder can always request a hard copy version 
of the document or information.

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40

Henry Boot PLC 
Annual Report and  
Financial Statements 2010

A lot has changed in 
125 years

t	Directors’	responsibilities

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

Company law requires the Directors to prepare Financial Statements for each financial year. Under that law the Directors have prepared the Group 
and Parent Company Financial Statements in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) as adopted by the European Union (EU). 
Under company law the Directors must not approve the Financial Statements unless they are satisfied that they give a true and fair view of the state 
of affairs of the Group and the Company and of the profit or loss of the Group for that period. In preparing these Financial Statements, the 
Directors are required to:

t  select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;

t  make judgements and accounting estimates that are reasonable and prudent;

t  state whether applicable IFRS as adopted by the EU have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the 

Financial Statements; and

t  prepare the Financial Statements on the going concern basis, unless it is inappropriate to presume that the Company will continue in business.

The Directors are responsible for keeping proper accounting records that are sufficient to show and explain the Company’s transactions and disclose 
with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the Company and the Group and to enable them to ensure that the Financial Statements 
and the Directors’ Remuneration Report comply with the Companies Act 2006 and, as regards the Group Financial Statements, Article 4 of the IAS 
Regulation. They are responsible for safeguarding the assets of the Company and the Group and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention 
and detection of fraud and other irregularities.

The Directors are responsible for the maintenance and integrity of the corporate and financial information included on the Company’s website. 
Legislation in the United Kingdom governing the preparation and dissemination of Financial Statements may differ from legislation in other jurisdictions.

DireCtors’ statement Pursuant to tHe DisCLosure anD transParenCy ruLes
Each of the Directors, whose names and functions are listed on page 30, confirm that, to the best of each person’s knowledge and belief:

t  the Financial Statements, prepared in accordance with IFRS as adopted by the EU, give a true and fair view of the assets, liabilities, financial 

position and profit or loss of the Company and the undertakings included in the consolidation taken as a whole; and

t  the Directors’ Report contained in the Annual Report includes a fair review of the development and performance of the business and the position 
of the Company and the undertakings included in the consolidation taken as a whole, together with a description of the principal risks and 
uncertainties that they face.

On behalf of the Board

e j Boot 
DireCtor 
18 apRIl 2011 

j t sutCLiffe
DireCtor
18 apRIl 2011

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Henry Boot PLC 
Annual Report and  

Financial Statements 2010 41

t	Corporate	governance	statement

The Board continues to support and remain committed to high standards of corporate governance. However, it believes that such governance must 
reflect the unique nature of the Company, the composition of its shareholders, many of whom have strong family ties, as well as other stakeholders’ 
interests and, above all, must assist in the effective attainment of corporate objectives.

During the accounting period under review, the Company, as a premium listed company, was subject to the June 2008 edition of The Combined Code 
on Corporate Governance (‘the Code’), issued by the Financial Reporting Council (FRC), the June 2010 edition of which is now known as The UK 
Corporate Governance Code. The June 2010 edition is applicable to premium listed companies with accounting periods commencing on or after 
29 June 2010. Copies of both editions are publicly available on the website of the FRC at www.frc.org.uk.

The Directors take comfort in the fact that the Code recognises that not all of the provisions are necessarily relevant to smaller listed companies 
and the Code states that departures from its provisions should not be automatically treated as breaches.

In applying the principles of the Code, the corporate governance policies adopted by the Board broadly follow the Code’s guidelines insofar that 
they assist the overall wellbeing of the Company and its shareholders’ interests. Pragmatism also constitutes a very important element in the Board’s 
approach and adoption of all the supporting principles of the Code is not an objective as such.

The Listing Rules require companies to make a disclosure statement in two parts in relation to Section 1 of the Code as follows:

Part 1: tHe aPPLiCation of tHe main PrinCiPLes of tHe CoDe
a. DIREcToRS
1. ThE BoaRD
Details of the Directors of the Company are set out in the Directors’ Report on page 32 and their biographical details are set out on page 30. 
J E Brown is the Senior Independent Director but on taking the Chairmanship in May 2011 Michael Gunston will take over the role of Senior Independent Director.

The main strategy of the Company is set by the Board as a whole, after consultation with, and assessment of, principal stakeholders’ objectives. 
The Board retains a Schedule of Reserved Matters which is reviewed annually to ensure that strategy and key elements that might affect the 
implementation of corporate goals are adhered to.

Those serving as members of the Audit Committee in 2010 were J E Brown (Chairman), M I Gunston and J S Reis. The Committee met three times 
during the year, with the Company’s auditors in attendance for part of each meeting, during which it reviewed, amongst other matters, the Half‑yearly 
and Annual Reports, the review of internal controls, the annual management report of the auditors, the level of fees charged by the auditors for non‑audit 
services, the independence and objectivity of the auditors and the proposed nature and scope of their work before the audit commenced. Details 
of fees paid for non‑audit services are set out in note 3 to the Financial Statements. The level of these fees and the services provided are reviewed 
by the Committee to ensure that they do not threaten auditor objectivity and independence.

At the end of 2009, taking into account the fact that the then auditors, Hawsons, Chartered Accountants, had held their position for a number of decades, 
the Committee agreed that the position of auditors to the Company should be the subject of a tender process and a number of firms, including Hawsons, 
were invited to make submissions for the position. After a comprehensive and in‑depth selection process, the Committee’s recommendation to the Board 
was that PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (PWC) be proposed as auditors to the Company and accordingly at the AGM of the Company held on 28 May 2010 
PWC were appointed as auditors of the Company following the conclusion of the AGM.

Those serving as members of the Remuneration Committee in 2010 were M I Gunston (Chairman), J E Brown and J S Reis. E J Boot attended 
in an advisory and supportive role. The Committee met twice in the year to review the Executive Directors’ performance, levels of pay, bonuses, 
Long‑Term Incentive Plan (LTIP) grants and awards and to consider other remuneration and employment matters as deemed appropriate from 
time to time.

All the Directors attended the seven Board meetings, the three Audit Committee meetings, the two Remuneration Committee meetings and the AGM 
held during the year of which they were entitled to attend, with the exception of M I Gunston who was unable to attend one Board Meeting. The Non‑executive 
Directors meet without the Executive Directors being present usually just prior to Board meetings.

2. chaIRMan anD chIEf ExEcuTIVE
The roles of the Non‑executive Chairman, J S Reis, and the Managing Director, E J Boot, are clearly defined and they act in accordance with the main 
and supporting principles of the Code.

3. BoaRD BalancE anD InDEpEnDEncE
For the purposes of the accounting period under review, J E Brown and M I Gunston are the independent Non‑executive Directors and, with the Company 
as a ‘smaller company’ defined by the Code, they meet the requirement for having two such Directors. J S Reis, who has served as Chairman since 1996, 
is not deemed to be independent. He has a significant shareholding in the Company and has family ties with E J Boot, the Managing Director, as well 
as with other shareholders. However, this is seen in a positive light as obviously he aligns his interests with that of the Company’s ongoing success.

4. appoInTMEnTS To ThE BoaRD
During the accounting period under review there was no formal Nominations Committee.

5. InfoRMaTIon anD pRofESSIonal DEVElopMEnT
All Directors are offered the opportunity and are encouraged to continue their professional development and update their commercial and Company 
knowledge as required. All have access to the Company Secretary and there is in place a written procedure for all Directors to take independent 
professional advice.

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Henry Boot PLC 
Annual Report and  
Financial Statements 2010

A lot has changed in 
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t	Corporate	governance	statement	continued

Part 1: tHe aPPLiCation of tHe main PrinCiPLes of tHe CoDe CONTINUED
a. DIREcToRS CONTINUED
6. pERfoRMancE EValuaTIon
The Executive Directors’ performance is reviewed annually by the Remuneration Committee to ensure that they continue to contribute effectively 
to the Group’s overall objectives. The Non‑executive Directors’ performance and commitment is kept under review throughout the year 
by the Executive Directors. Whilst performance evaluation of individual Directors was carried out, there was no formal evaluation of the Board 
or its committees as a whole per se in 2010.

7. RE‑ElEcTIon
All Directors are required to be re‑elected at intervals of no more than three years and newly appointed Directors are subject to election at the AGM 
following their appointment.

B. REMunERaTIon
1. ThE lEVEl anD MakE‑up of REMunERaTIon; anD
2. pRocEDuRE
Details of the work of the Remuneration Committee and the policies and procedures adopted with regard to Directors’ remuneration are set out 
in the Directors’ Remuneration Report on page 44.

c. accounTaBIlITy anD auDIT
1. fInancIal REpoRTInG
Details of the Directors’ responsibilities and the Directors’ Responsibility Statement are contained on page 40. The Independent Auditors’ Report 
is given on page 47.

The Directors’ statement in respect of the business as a ‘going concern’ is provided in the Directors’ Report on page 33.

2. InTERnal conTRol
The Board operates and maintains a system of internal controls which is reviewed regularly for its effectiveness and which broadly accords with 
the Turnbull Committee guidance thereon. Whilst the system of internal control is designed to manage, rather than eliminate, the risk of failure 
to achieve the Company’s business objectives, it can only provide reasonable, not absolute, assurance against material misstatement or loss. 
The system is, and has been, an ongoing process for identifying, evaluating and managing the significant risks faced by the Company. It has been 
in place for the period under review and up to the date of the approval of the Annual Report and Financial Statements.

The following key processes are considered by the Board to provide effective management of significant risks to the business:

t  the business organisation and structured reporting framework – each of the Company’s activities is monitored through bi‑monthly management 

meetings and formal bi‑monthly subsidiary company Board meetings. The latter are attended by the Board’s Executive Directors and chaired by E J Boot. 
Formal lines of responsibility and levels of authority are in place within each subsidiary company. Annual plans, budgets (with two out‑post years) and 
performance criteria for each business are set by the Executive Directors and performance against these targets is reviewed monthly by the 
Board. Annual profit forecasts and 15 month cash flow forecasts are produced on a monthly basis. The Board monitors the risks and associated 
controls over financial reporting processes, including the consolidation process. The financial reporting controls are monitored and maintained 
through the use of internal control frameworks which address key financial reporting risks, including risks arising from changes in the business 
or accounting standards. Operations on the ground are also monitored frequently by way of visits to sites, depots, properties and regional offices 
by the Executive Directors;

t  centralised operations – specific risks and compliance issues associated with health and safety, treasury and banking operations, company secretarial, 
pensions, legal, human resources and training, public and investor relations, information communication technology and insurance are managed 
centrally and report functionally to the appropriate Executive Director responsible for that particular operation. Each operation reviews its own 
system of internal controls and reports twice a year to the Audit Committee;

t  business procurement – development appraisals, land purchases, options and construction contracts above a certain value require the authority 
of the Executive Directors to proceed. A strict routine covering the authorisation of capital expenditure is in place and Board approval is required 
for any corporate acquisition or disposal; and

t  day‑to‑day operations – responsibility for running the day‑to‑day operations and for reviewing the associated systems of control is devolved to each 
subsidiary company Managing Director. Policy and procedure manuals cover major areas of their operations, including safety, purchasing, estimating, 
marketing, production and quality. The subsidiary company Managing Directors review and report to the Audit Committee on the effectiveness 
of the systems of internal controls in place and any matters of concern are raised at Board meetings.

3. auDIT coMMITTEE anD auDIToRS
The terms of reference of the Audit Committee fully incorporate the Code’s provisions in relation to the role and responsibilities of audit committees 
and are available for inspection at the Company’s registered office.

Past experiences of using a formally appointed internal audit function have not resulted in added value to the business, although this is reviewed annually.

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Henry Boot PLC 
Annual Report and  

Financial Statements 2010 43

D. RElaTIonS WITh ShaREholDERS
1. DIaloGuE WITh InSTITuTIonal ShaREholDERS
The Company is active in communicating with its thousand or so private and institutional shareholders and likewise receives feedback from them. 
It is this close relationship with shareholders which is seen as one of the particular strengths and characteristics of the Company. During the year 
a number of formal presentations were made by members of the Board to institutional shareholders. Our website is used to aid a two‑way communication 
process with both present and potential investors and includes all London Stock Exchange announcements, presentations to analysts and press releases 
over the last twelve months and links to the websites of our four principal operating subsidiaries.

2. conSTRucTIVE uSE of ThE aGM
The attendance and participation of all shareholders at the AGM is much encouraged. At the AGM held in May 2010 proxies were received representing 
74.2% of the number of shares in issue and is a demonstration of shareholder active involvement which has been at this level for a considerable number 
of years.

Part 2: ComPLianCe witH tHe Provisions of tHe CoDe
The Company has complied with the vast majority of the provisions of the June 2008 version of the Code but has not complied in full or in part 
with the following during the period:

a.1.2, a.4.1, a.4.2, a.4.3, a.4.6 
There is no Nominations Committee currently in place as the Board as a whole has previously dealt with the appointment of any new Director.

a.1.3, a.6.1
The performance of the Chairman is appraised by the Executive Directors as is the performance of the other Non‑executive Directors. As a smaller 
listed company, it is felt that this is the most appropriate approach.

a.7.2
The Chairman, J S Reis, who has served longer than nine years as a Non‑executive Director, is not subject to annual re‑election. The Board’s view 
is that re‑election every three years is still appropriate in view of his connections with the Company. J S Reis will retire after the May 2011 AGM.

B.1.1 
This provision refers to Schedule A of the Code and Clause 6 of the Schedule states that, in general, only basic salary should be pensionable. 
This is contrary to precedents established within the Company prior to the introduction of the Code and any change therein would have contractual 
implications in the case of E J Boot. Following contractual negotiations with E J Boot in 2010 only his basic salary is now pensionable.

B.2.1, c.3.1
The Chairman is a member of the Remuneration Committee and the Audit Committee, notwithstanding the fact that he was not considered 
independent at the time of his appointment as Chairman. However, his appointment as Chairman took place when the Code was not in place. 
The view is that he has a valuable role to play on these Committees.

B.2.2, B.2.3
With the Chairman as a member of the Remuneration Committee, along with the other two Non‑executive Directors, their remuneration is set 
by the Executive Directors. As a smaller listed company, it is felt that this is the most appropriate approach.

On behalf of the Board

j t sutCLiffe
ComPany seCretary
18 apRIl 2011

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44

Henry Boot PLC 
Annual Report and  
Financial Statements 2010

A lot has changed in 
125 years

t	Directors’	remuneration	report

The Directors present the Directors’ Remuneration Report for the year ended 31 December 2010. A resolution to approve the Report will be proposed 
at the Company’s AGM (Resolution 10). The auditors are required to report to the shareholders on the audited section of the Report and to state 
whether in their opinion it has been prepared in accordance with the Companies Act 2006. The Report therefore has separate sections containing 
unaudited and audited information. 

unauDiteD seCtion
REMunERaTIon coMMITTEE
The remuneration of the Executive Directors is fixed by the Remuneration Committee which during 2010 comprised the three Non‑executive Directors, 
namely M I Gunston (Chairman), J E Brown and J S Reis, with the Managing Director, E J Boot, in attendance. 

The Executive Directors, E J Boot and J T Sutcliffe, determine the remuneration of the Non‑executive Directors.

To assist the Directors in determining the appropriate policy and levels of remuneration, reference is made, in addition to comparisons of policies 
with peer companies, to a variety of published sources.

REMunERaTIon polIcy
The Company’s policy on Directors’ remuneration is to ensure that the Directors are competitively rewarded on a basis that is comparable with similar 
companies, taking into account the need to attract, motivate and retain Directors of an appropriate calibre to achieve the Company’s objectives, 
without making excessive payments. When setting the pay of Directors, the pay and employment conditions of employees across the Group are taken 
into account by the Remuneration Committee. As with employees, Directors are rewarded based on their role, their performance and the market rate 
for the job. Directors’ basic salaries and benefits, where applicable, are reviewed annually, taking into account individual performance, the recommendations 
of the Group Managing Director and published remuneration information. Benefits include the provision of a company car or a cash allowance 
alternative, permanent health insurance and private medical insurance. The value of benefits is not pensionable and is set out for each Director in the 
table of Directors’ remuneration. 

Non‑executive Directors are remunerated on the basis of their anticipated time commitment and the responsibilities entailed in their role. There are no service 
agreements in place for the Non‑executive Directors and they do not participate in any of the Company’s incentive arrangements. Any newly appointed 
Non‑executive Director is expected to serve an initial period of at least three years. Terms and conditions of appointment relating to Non‑executive 
Directors are available for inspection at the registered office of the Company.

E J Boot and J T Sutcliffe each have a one year rolling service agreement. Termination of these arrangements would therefore be subject to their 
contractual terms and conditions which require a notice period of twelve months. Contractual compensation in the event of early termination of either 
contract provides for compensation of basic salary for the notice period. The service agreement of D Greaves terminated on 30 June 2010 when 
he retired as a Director of the Company.  

The Executive Directors participate in an annual bonus scheme. This is calculated by reference to pre‑tax profits achieved in the year, compared 
with budget, and as recommended by the Remuneration Committee. The annual bonus payable to all Executive Directors is not pensionable. 

The Executive Directors participate in the Henry Boot PLC 2000 Sharesave Scheme. The scheme was approved by shareholders and is subject to 
HMRC rules. A grant of options was made on 1 November 2006 at an exercise price of 155.4p, a 15% discount to the prevailing market price. A further 
grant of options was made on 22 October 2008 at an exercise price of 77.0p, a 10% discount to the prevailing market price. There are no performance 
criteria attached to the exercise of these options which are capable of exercise for a six month period three years from the date of grant.

During the year the Executive Directors participated in either one or both of the Company’s long‑term incentive plans, details of which are set out in the table 
opposite. The principle of a long‑term incentive plan for senior executives is one that the Remuneration Committee and the Company believes readily aligns 
the interests of Executive Directors and shareholders, whilst providing the motivation and incentive for the Directors to perform at the highest levels.

ThE hEnRy BooT plc 1996 lonG‑TERM IncEnTIVE plan
Under the provisions of the Plan, no participant during any financial year may receive a provisional allocation that exceeds 50% of basic salary excluding 
benefits in kind. This is calculated by reference to the share price at the time of the provisional allocation. Awards under the Plan are subject to a performance 
condition reflecting improvements on the underlying financial position of the Group and specifically if the percentage growth in earnings per share over 
the three year performance period exceeds the percentage growth in the Retail Prices Index over the same period by 6%. This target again ensures 
that rewards for the Board should be aligned with shareholder return. Furthermore, the Plan allows for a standard loyalty incentive whereby the 
performance award may be enhanced by the award of a further share for every two shares retained for a further three year period. During the 
year the shares vesting under this Plan related to its loyalty incentive element. 

ThE hEnRy BooT plc 2006 lonG‑TERM IncEnTIVE plan
Under the provisions of the Plan, participants may receive a provisional allocation of shares up to 120% of basic salary calculated by reference to 
the share price at that time. This limit can only be exceeded in exceptional circumstances at the discretion of the Remuneration Committee. Awards 
under the Plan, which usually vest in three years, are subject to three performance conditions over that three year period. These are the per annum 
increase in net asset value per share compared to an industry standard investment property annual index, the increase in profitability compared to 
the Retail Prices Index and Total Shareholder Return (TSR) compared to the median of a comparator group of the FTSE Small Cap Index. These targets 
ensure that the actual awards at the vesting date are aligned closely with the factors that drive shareholder return.

E J Boot is a member of The Henry Boot Staff Pension and Life Assurance Scheme, a defined benefit pension scheme. J T Sutcliffe is a member of 
The Henry Boot Group Stakeholder Pension Scheme, a defined contribution scheme. Both schemes also provide a lump sum death in service benefit 
and a pension for dependants of members on their death in service and, on death after retirement, a pension for dependants. Normal retirement age 
is currently 65.

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Henry Boot PLC 
Annual Report and  

Financial Statements 2010 45

fIVE yEaR TSR pERfoRMancE
The line graph below shows the cumulative TSR over the last five years for a holding of shares in the Company compared with the performance of 
the FTSE Small Cap Index. This comparator index has been chosen as the most appropriate index, as the Company, but for the free float restrictions, 
would be included as a constituent of this index.

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auDiteD seCtion
DIREcToRS’ REMunERaTIon
The emoluments of the Directors, excluding pension contributions, were:

J S Reis (Chairman) 
E J Boot 
D Greaves (retired 30 June 2010) 
J T Sutcliffe 
J E Brown (Non‑executive) 
M I Gunston (Non‑executive) 

lonG‑TERM IncEnTIVE plan aWaRDS
pERfoRMancE ShaRES

Salary 
£’000 

35 
324 
106 
221 
30 
30 

746 

E J Boot 

D Greaves 
(retired 30 June 2010) 

J T Sutcliffe 

Plan 

Date of 
award 

2006  15/05/2007 
1996  23/04/2007 
2006  12/05/2008 
2006  05/05/2009 
2006  04/05/2010 

2006  15/05/2007 
1996  23/04/2007 
2006  12/05/2008 

2006  15/05/2007 
2006  12/05/2008 
2006  05/05/2009 
2006  04/05/2010 

Market 
price at 
date of 
award 

256.5p 
253.2p 
135.0p 
72.5p 
96.5p 

256.5p 
253.2p 
135.0p 

256.5p 
135.0p 
72.5p 
96.5p 

At 
1 January 
2010 

116,955 
43,947 
256,666 
335,637 
— 

76,020 
24,962 
167,037 

76,020 
238,888 
229,086 
— 

Awarded 
during 
the year 

— 
— 
— 
— 
336,785 

— 
— 
— 

— 
— 
— 
229,480 

Bonus 
£’000 

— 
232 
— 
158 
— 
— 

390 

Vested 
during 
the year 

58,478 
43,947 
— 
— 
— 

38,010 
24,962 
— 

38,010 
— 
— 
— 

Taxable 
benefits 
£’000 

— 
25 
10 
19 
— 
— 

54 

2010 
Total 
£’000 

35 
581 
116 
398 
30 
30 

2009 
Total 
£’000

35
479
314
329
30
30

1,190 

1,217

Lapsed 
at 
during  31 December 
2010 

the year 

Earliest/ 
actual 
vesting 
date 

58,477 
— 
— 
— 
— 

38,010 
— 
27,839 

38,010 
— 
— 
— 

—  15/06/2010 
—  15/06/2010 
256,666  11/06/2011 
335,637  04/06/2012 
336,785  03/06/2013 

—  15/06/2010 
—  15/06/2010 
139,198  11/06/2011 

—  15/06/2010 
238,888  11/06/2011 
229,086  04/06/2012 
229,480  03/06/2013 

Market 
price on 
vesting

93.5p
93.5p 
—
—
—

93.5p
93.5p 
—

93.5p
—
—
—

All data prior to 21 May 2007 has been restated to take into account the 4 for 1 bonus issue that took effect on that date.

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46

Henry Boot PLC 
Annual Report and  
Financial Statements 2010

A lot has changed in 
125 years

t	Directors’	remuneration	report	continued

auDiteD seCtion CONTINUED
lonG‑TERM IncEnTIVE plan aWaRDS CONTINUED
pERfoRMancE ShaRES CONTINUED
The number of shares at 1 January 2010 are the awards achievable under the Long‑Term Incentive Plans’ maximum performance conditions.

Of the shares awarded on 15 May 2007, 50% vested on 15 June 2010 on the attainment of a per annum increase in net asset value per share 
compared to an industry standard investment property annual index, and on the attainment of the TSR element of the performance conditions, 
and 50% lapsed due to the failure to attain the required increase in profitability compared to the Retail Prices Index.

Details of performance conditions applicable to the 1996 and 2006 Plans can be found on page 44.

There have been no variations to the terms and conditions or performance criteria for the Long‑Term Incentive Plans during the financial year.

SaVInGS RElaTED ShaRE opTIonS
Details of options granted to Directors under the Henry Boot PLC 2000 Sharesave Scheme are as follows:

Number of options

At 
1 January 
2010 

12,467 

6,080 

12,467 

E J Boot 
D Greaves
(retired 30 June 2010) 

J T Sutcliffe 

Granted 
during 
year 

Exercised 
during 
year 

Lapsed 
during 
year 

at  
31 December 
2010 

Exercise 
price 

Date from 
which 
exercisable 

Expiry 
date

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

12,467 

77.0p 

01/12/2011 

31/05/2012

6,080 

— 

— 

12,467 

155.4p 

77.0p 

01/12/2009 

31/05/2010

01/12/2011 

31/05/2012

Details of the Scheme are set out in note 28 of the Financial Statements.

There have been no variations to the terms and conditions for share options during the financial year. Options granted under the 2000 Sharesave Scheme 
are not subject to performance criteria.

The market price of ordinary shares at 31 December 2010 was 93.5p and the range during the year was 83.0p to 101.0p.

DIREcToRS’ pEnSIon InfoRMaTIon
1. DEfInED BEnEfIT pEnSIon SchEME

Transfer 
value at 
1 January 
2010 
£’000(1)(5) 

Transfer 
value	at 
31 December 
2010 
£’000(1)(6) 

Increase 
in transfer 
value 
£’000 

Increase in 
transfer 
value less 
member 
contributions 
over year 
£’000 

Changes in 
accrued 
benefit in 
relation to 
inflation 

Transfer 
value of 
the change 
in accrued 
benefit in 
relation to 
inflation 

£’000(2) 

£’000(2) 

Accumulated 
benefit 
accrued 
2010 
£’000(3)(4) 

Accumulated 
benefit 
accrued 
2009 
£’000(3)

E J Boot 

3,776 

4,605 

829 

806 

— 

(27) 

221 

221

The transfer value has been calculated on the basis of actuarial advice in accordance with Actuarial Guidance Note GN11.

1.  Mr E J Boot’s transfer values as at 1 January 2010 and 31 December 2010 are based on a capped final pensionable salary of £331,002. 

2.  The transfer values include changes due to revaluation in deferment.

3.   The increase in accrued benefit during the year is net of any increase for revaluation in deferment and the transfer value thereof calculated in accordance with the 

Trustees‘ chosen transfer value basis less an estimate of the Director‘s contributions for the year.

4.   The accumulated benefit accrued at 31 December 2010 represents the pension entitlement which would be preserved in the Scheme if the member had left service 

on 31 December 2010.

5.  Benefits and contributions relating to Additional Voluntary Contributions are not included in the above table.

6.  The transfer value for 2010 is calculated on the revised basis agreed by the Trustees following the 31 December 2009 valuation.

2. DEfInED conTRIBuTIon pEnSIon SchEME
J T Sutcliffe is a member of the defined contribution pension scheme. Contributions paid by the Company in the year were £44,290. 

On behalf of the Board

j t sutCLiffe
ComPany seCretary
18 apRIl 2011

_2_HYB_ar10_back_[JW].indd   15

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A lot has changed in 
125 years

Henry Boot PLC 
Annual Report and  

Financial Statements 2010 47

 t	Independent	auditors’	report	to the members of henry Boot plc

We have audited the financial statements of Henry Boot PLC for the year ended 31 December 2010 which comprise the Consolidated Statement 
of Comprehensive Income, the Group and Parent Company Statements of Financial Position, the Group and Parent Company Statements of Changes 
in Equity, the Group and Parent Company Statements of Cash Flows, the Principal Accounting Policies and the related notes. The financial reporting 
framework that has been applied in their preparation is applicable law and International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRSs) as adopted by the 
European Union and, as regards the Parent Company Financial Statements, as applied in accordance with the provisions of the Companies Act 2006.

resPeCtive resPonsiBiLities of DireCtors anD auDitors 
As explained more fully in the Directors’ Responsibilities statement set out on page 40, 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. This report, including the opinions, has been prepared for and only for the Company’s 
members as a body in accordance with Chapter 3 of Part 16 of the Companies Act 2006 and for no other purpose. We do not, in giving these 
opinions, accept or assume responsibility for any other purpose or to any other person to whom this report is shown or into whose hands it may 
come save where expressly agreed by our prior consent in writing.

sCoPe of tHe auDit of tHe finanCiaL statements 
An audit involves obtaining evidence about the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements sufficient to give reasonable assurance that the 
Financial Statements are free from material misstatement, whether caused by fraud or error. This includes an assessment of: whether the Accounting 
Policies are appropriate to the Group’s and the Parent Company’s circumstances and have been consistently applied and adequately disclosed; 
the reasonableness of significant accounting estimates made by the Directors; and the overall presentation of the Financial Statements.

oPinion on finanCiaL statements 
In our opinion: 

t  the Financial Statements give a true and fair view of the state of the Group’s and of the Parent Company’s affairs as at 31 December 2010 and 

of the Group’s profit and Group’s and Parent Company’s cash flows for the year then ended;

t the Group Financial Statements have been properly prepared in accordance with IFRSs as adopted by the European Union; 
t the Parent Company Financial Statements have been properly prepared in accordance with IFRSs as adopted by the European Union and as  
  applied in accordance with the provisions of the Companies Act 2006; and
t  the Financial Statements have been prepared in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 and, as regards the Group 

Financial Statements, Article 4 of the lAS Regulation. 

oPinion on otHer matters PresCriBeD By tHe ComPanies aCt 2006 
In our opinion: 

t the part of the Directors’ Remuneration Report to be audited has been properly prepared in accordance with the Companies Act 2006;
t the information given in the Directors’ Report for the financial year for which the Financial Statements are prepared is consistent with the Financial Statements; and
t  the information given in the Corporate Governance Statement set out on pages 41 to 43 with respect to internal control and risk management 

systems and about share capital structures 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: 

Under the Companies Act 2006 we are required to report to you if, in our opinion: 

t  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 

t  the Parent Company Financial Statements and the part of the Directors’ Remuneration Report to be audited are not in agreement with the 

accounting records and returns; or 

t certain disclosures of Directors’ remuneration specified by law are not made; or 
t we have not received all the information and explanations we require for our audit; or
t a Corporate Governance Statement has not been prepared by the Parent Company. 
Under the Listing Rules we are required to review: 
t the Directors’ Statement, set out on page 33, in relation to going concern;
t  the parts of the Corporate Governance Statement relating to the Company’s compliance with the nine provisions of the June 2008 Combined Code 

specified for our review; and

t certain elements of the report to shareholders by the Board on Directors’ remuneration.

ian morrison (senior statutory auDitor)
for anD on BeHaLf of PriCewaterHouseCooPers LLP 
CHartereD aCCountants anD statutory auDitors 
sHeffieLD
18 apRIl 2011

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12/04/2011   12:53:16

Artworkers please note:
The space after on the bullets 
has been reduced to 2.5pt, as 
per the clients request

 
 
48

Henry Boot PLC 
Annual Report and  
Financial Statements 2010

A lot has changed in 
125 years

t	Consolidated	statement	of	comprehensive	income	for the year ended 31 December 2010

Revenue 
Cost of sales 

Gross profit 
Other income 
Administrative expenses 
Pension credit (expenses) 

Increase (decrease) in fair value of investment properties 
Profit on sale of investment properties 
Loss on sale of assets held for sale 

Operating profit (loss)  
Finance income 
Finance costs 

Profit (loss) before tax 
Tax 

Profit (loss) for the year from continuing operations 

other comprehensive income:
Revaluation of Group occupied property 
Deferred tax on property revaluations 
Tax on realised surplus 
Actuarial gain (loss) on defined benefit pension scheme 
Deferred tax on actuarial (gain) loss  
Movement in fair value of cash flow hedge 
Deferred tax on cash flow hedge 

other comprehensive income for the year 

Total comprehensive income for the year 

Profit (loss) for the year attributable to:
Owners of the Parent Company 
Non‑controlling interests 

Total comprehensive income attributable to:
Owners of the Parent Company 
Non‑controlling interests 

Note 

1 

1 

4 

13 

3 
5 
6 

7 

12 
16 
7 
25 
16 
23 
16 

2010 
£’000 

131,944 
(104,522) 

27,422 
23 
(12,205) 
2,718 

17,958 
555 
2,433 
(60) 

20,886 
507 
(2,475) 

18,918 
(5,395) 

13,523 

— 
(19) 
—  
4,649 
(1,465) 
122 
164 

3,451 

16,974 

11,827 
1,696 

13,523 

15,167 
1,807 

16,974 

2009 
(restated) 
£’000

116,524
(87,015)

29,509
29
(14,468)
(3,611)

11,459
(22,381)
878
—

(10,044)
803
(2,651)

(11,892)
5,926

(5,966)

(44)
80
391
(1,595)
447
65
—

(656)

(6,622)

(7,389)
1,423

(5,966)

(8,070)
1,448

(6,622)

Basic earnings per ordinary share for profit (loss) attributable  
to owners of the parent company during the year 

Diluted earnings per ordinary share for profit (loss) attributable  
to owners of the parent company during the year 

9 

9 

9.1p 

9.1p 

(5.7)p

(5.7)p

2009 comparatives have been restated for a reclassification of overheads within the Construction segment amounting to £1,610,000 transferred 
from cost of sales to administrative expenses.

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A lot has changed in 
125 years

Henry Boot PLC 
Annual Report and  

Financial Statements 2010 49

t	Statements	of	financial	position	at 31 December 2010

aSSETS
non‑current assets
Intangible assets 
Property, plant and equipment 
Investment properties 
Investments 
Trade and other receivables 
Deferred tax assets 

current assets
Inventories 
Trade and other receivables 
Current tax assets 
Cash and cash equivalents 
Assets classified as held for sale 

lIaBIlITIES
current liabilities
Trade and other payables 
Current tax liabilities 
Borrowings 
Provisions 

nET cuRREnT aSSETS (lIaBIlITIES) 

non‑current liabilities
Trade and other payables 
Borrowings 
Employee benefits 
Deferred tax liabilities 
Provisions 

nET aSSETS 

EquITy
Share capital 
Revaluation reserve 
Retained earnings 
Other reserves 
Cost of shares held by ESOP trust 

Equity attributable to owners of the parent company 
Non‑controlling interests 

Total equity 

Group 

2010 
£’000 

Parent Company

2009 
£’000 

2010 
£’000 

2009 
£’000

Note 

11 
12 
13 
14 
15 
16 

17 
15 

19 

20 

22 
24 

20 
22 
25 
16 
24 

28 
29 
29 
29 
14 

11,707 
15,234 
135,117 
—  
10,449 
6,631 

12,684 
16,203 
172,290 
—  
3,743 
11,131 

—  
182 
—  
5,222 
—  
4,726 

—
274
— 
3,862
— 
7,836

179,138 

216,051 

10,130 

11,972

58,005 
27,331 
— 
4,037 
27,719 

117,092 

55,216 
1,602 
11,362 
11,835 

80,015 

37,077 

1,347 
4,069 
16,221 
—  
5,937 

27,574 

55,433 
25,071 
— 
4,305 
— 

84,809 

51,971 
2,820 
31,163 
4,004 

89,958 

(5,149) 

3,734 
5,231 
25,732 
5 
— 

34,702 

188,641 

176,200 

13,424 
3,294 
168,528 
2,774 
(476) 

187,544 
1,097 

188,641 

13,424 
3,349 
156,200 
2,599 
(602) 

174,970 
1,230 

176,200 

—  
172,373 
71 
979 
— 

173,423 

75,952 
—  
10,000 
—  

85,952 

87,471 

—  
—  
16,221 
—  
—  

16,221 

81,380 

13,424 
—  
63,776 
4,180 
—  

81,380 
—  

81,380 

—
190,116
—
1,885
—

192,001

106,688
687
30,000
1,124

138,499

53,502

—
—
25,732
—
—

25,732

39,742

13,424
—
22,138
4,180
— 

39,742
—

39,742

The financial statements of Henry Boot PLC, registered number 160996, were approved by the Board of Directors and authorised for issue on 18 April 2011.

On behalf of the Board

e j Boot 
DireCtor 

j t sutCLiffe
DireCtor 

_2_HYB_ar10_back_[JW].indd   18

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50

Henry Boot PLC 
Annual Report and  
Financial Statements 2010

A lot has changed in 
125 years

t	Statements	of	changes	in	equity	at 31 December 2010

Group 

At 1 January 2009 

(Loss) profit for the period 
Other comprehensive income 

Total comprehensive income 

Equity dividends 
Transfer to retained earnings 
Share‑based payments 

Attributable to owners of the Parent Company

Share   Revaluation 
reserve 
capital 
£’000 
£’000 

Retained 
earnings 
£’000 

Other 
reserves 
£’000 

Cost of 
shares held 
by ESOP 
 trust 
£’000 

Non‑ 
controlling 
interests 
£’000 

Total 
£’000 

Total 
equity 
£’000

13,424 

4,438 

168,868 

2,577 

(764) 

188,543 

1,557 

190,100

—  
—  

—  

—  
—  
—  

—  

(1,410)  
427  

(5,979)  
(1,148)  

(983)  

(7,127)  

—  
(106)  
—  

(6,464)  
124  
799  

(106)  

(5,541)  

—  
40  

40  

—  
(18)  
—  

(18)  

—  
—  

—  

—  
—  
162  

162  

(7,389)  
(681)  

1,423 
25 

(5,966) 
(656) 

(8,070)  

1,448 

(6,622) 

(6,464)  
—  
961  

(1,775) 
—  
—  

(8,239) 
— 
961 

(5,503)  

(1,775) 

(7,278) 

At 31 December 2009 

13,424 

3,349  

156,200  

2,599  

(602)  

174,970  

1,230 

176,200 

Profit for the period 
Other comprehensive income 

Total comprehensive income 

Equity dividends 
Transfer to retained earnings 
Share‑based payments 

— 
—  

— 

—  
—  
—  

—  

—  
(19) 

11,827 
3,184  

(19)  

15,011 

—  
(36)  
—  

(3,378) 
36  
659  

(36) 

(2,683)  

—  
175  

175  

—  
—  
—  

—  

—  
—  

—  

—  
—  
126 

126 

11,827 
3,340 

1,696 
111 

13,523
3,451

15,167 

1,807 

16,974

(3,378) 
—  
785 

(1,940) 
—  
—  

(5,318) 
— 
785

(2,593) 

(1,940) 

(4,533) 

at 31 December 2010 

13,424 

3,294 

168,528 

2,774 

(476)  187,544 

1,097 

188,641

parent company 

As at 1 January 2009 

Loss for the period 
Other comprehensive income 

Total comprehensive income 

Equity dividends 
Dividends from subsidiaries 
Transfer to retained earnings 
Share‑based payments 

At 31 December 2009 

Profit for the period 
Other comprehensive income 

Total comprehensive income 

Equity dividends 
Dividends from subsidiaries 
Share‑based payments 

Share 
capital 
£’000 

13,424 

—  
—  

—  

—  
—  
—  
—  

—  

13,424 

— 
—  

— 

—  
—  
—  

—  

Retained 
earnings 
£’000 

37,762 

(20,642)   
(1,148)   

(21,790)   

(6,469)   
11,439  
647  
549   

6,166   

22,138   

4,856 
3,184   

8,040 

(3,378) 
36,456  
520   

33,598   

Other 
reserves 
£’000 

5,601 

(774)   
—  

(774)  

—   
—  
(647)  
—   

(647)  

4,180  

—   
—  

—  

—  
—  
—  

—  

at 31 December 2010 

13,424 

63,776 

4,180 

Total  
equity 
£’000

56,787

(21,416)  
(1,148)  

(22,564)  

(6,469) 
11,439 
— 
549 

5,519 

39,742 

4,856
3,184

8,040

(3,378)
36,456 
520

33,598

81,380

_2_HYB_ar10_back_[JW].indd   19

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A lot has changed in 
125 years

Henry Boot PLC 
Annual Report and  

Financial Statements 2010 51

t	Statements	of	cash	flows	for the year ended 31 December 2010

Cash flows from operating activities
Operating profit (loss)  
Adjustments for non‑cash items:
Amortisation of PFI asset 
Goodwill impairment 
Depreciation of property, plant and equipment 
Impairment losses on land and buildings 
Revaluation (increase) decrease in investment properties 
Share‑based payment expense 
Pension scheme (credit) charge 
Provision against investments in subsidiaries 
Movements on provision against loans to subsidiaries 
Movements in fair value of cash flow hedge 
Loss on disposal of assets held for sale 
Gain on disposal of property, plant and equipment 
Gain on disposal of investment properties 

Operating cash flows before movements in working capital 
(Increase) decrease in inventories 
(Increase) decrease in receivables 
Increase (decrease) in payables 

Cash generated from operations 
Interest paid 
Tax paid 

Net cash flows from operating activities 

Cash flows from investing activities
Purchase of intangible assets 
Purchase of property, plant and equipment 
Purchase of investment property 
Purchase of investments in subsidiaries 
Proceeds on disposal of property, plant and equipment 
Proceeds on disposal of investment properties 
Proceeds on disposal of assets held for sale 
Interest received 
Dividends received from subsidiaries 

Net cash flows from investing activities 

Cash flows from financing activities
Decrease in borrowings 
Dividends paid   – ordinary shares 

– non‑controlling interests 
– preference 

Net cash flows from financing activities 

net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents 
Net cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year 

net cash and cash equivalents at end of year 

analysis of net debt
Cash and cash equivalents 
Bank overdrafts 

Net cash and cash equivalents 
Bank loans 
Related party loans 

net debt 

Note 

11 
11 
12 
12 
13 

11 
12 
13 

10 

10 

22 
22 

Group 

2010 
£’000 

Parent Company

2009 
£’000 

2010 
£’000 

2009 
£’000

20,886 

(10,044) 

2,112 

(27,021)

1,117 
204 
3,024 
24 
(555) 
659 
(4,862) 
—  
— 
122 
60 
(554) 
(2,433) 

17,692 
(2,888) 
(8,606) 
13,905 

20,103 
(1,754) 
(3,438) 

14,911 

(344) 
(2,479) 
(2,857) 
— 
954 
13,823 
1,732 
273 
—  

11,102 

1,098 
203 
3,327 
106 
22,381 
799 
1,474 
— 
— 
65 
— 
(1,516) 
(878) 

17,015 
3,953 
4,158 
(11,255) 

13,871 
(1,855) 
(1,425) 

10,591 

(314) 
(779) 
(10,159) 
—  
3,844 
21,773 
— 
472 
—  

—  
—  
117 
—  
—  
520 
(4,862) 
32,775 
(34,488) 
—  
—  
—  
—  

(3,826) 
—  
53,407 
(6,896) 

42,685 
(3,839) 
(1,727) 

37,119 

—  
(25) 
—  
(59,134)  
—  
—  
—  
8,056 
36,456 

14,837 

(14,647) 

(20,963) 
(3,357) 
(1,940) 
(21) 

(14,639) 
(6,443) 
(1,775) 
(21) 

(20,000) 
(3,357) 
—  
(21) 

(26,281) 

(22,878) 

(23,378) 

(268) 
4,305 

4,037 

4,037 
—  

4,037 
(15,231) 
(200) 

2,550 
1,755 

4,305 

4,305 
— 

4,305 
(36,394) 
— 

(906) 
1,885 

979 

979 
—  

979 
(10,000) 
— 

(11,394) 

(32,089) 

(9,021) 

— 
— 
133
— 
— 
549
1,474
— 
— 
— 
— 
— 
— 

(24,865)
— 
38,095
(5,343)

7,887
(4,074)
(240)

3,573

— 
(153)
— 
— 
8
— 
— 
8,294
11,439

19,588

(13,477)
(6,448)
— 
(21)

(19,946)

3,215
(1,330)

1,885

1,885
—

1,885
(30,000)
—

(28,115)

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52

Henry Boot PLC 
Annual Report and  
Financial Statements 2010

A lot has changed in 
125 years

t	Principal	accounting	policies

The principal Accounting Policies adopted in the preparation of the Group’s IFRS Financial Statements are set out below. These policies have been 
consistently applied to all years presented, unless otherwise stated.

The Company is a public limited company, which is listed on the London Stock Exchange and incorporated and domiciled in the United Kingdom. The 
address of its registered office is Banner Cross Hall, Ecclesall Road South, Sheffield S11 9PD.

Basis of PreParation anD statement of ComPLianCe
The Consolidated Financial Statements have been prepared in accordance with IFRS adopted by the EU, IFRIC interpretations and the Companies Act 2006 
applicable to companies reporting under IFRS and therefore comply with Article 4 of the EU IAS regulations. They have been prepared on the historical 
cost basis, except for financial instruments, investment properties and Group occupied land and buildings, which are measured at fair value.

ConsoLiDation
The Consolidated Financial Statements are a consolidation of the Financial Statements of the Parent Company and all entities controlled by the Company 
(its subsidiaries) made up to 31 December each year. Control is achieved where the Company has the power to govern the financial and operating 
policies of an investee entity so as to obtain benefits from its activities.

Where necessary, adjustments are made to the Financial Statements of subsidiaries to bring the Accounting Policies used into line with those used 
by the Group. All intra‑group transactions, balances, income and expenses are eliminated on consolidation. The results of subsidiaries acquired 
or disposed of during the year are included in the Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income from the effective date of acquisition or disposal.

Non‑controlling interests in the fair value of the net assets of consolidated subsidiaries are identified separately from the Group’s equity therein. 
Non‑controlling interest consists of the amount of those interests at the date of the original business combination and the non‑controlling interests’ 
share of changes in equity since the date of the combination.

Investments in subsidiaries are accounted for at cost less impairment. Cost is adjusted to reflect changes in consideration arising from contingent 
consideration amendments. Cost also includes direct attributable costs of investment.

going ConCern
The Directors have, at the time of approving the Financial Statements, a reasonable expectation that the Company and the Group have adequate 
resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future. Thus they continue to adopt the going concern basis of accounting 
in preparing the Financial Statements. Further detail is contained in the Directors’ Report on page 33.

investments in assoCiates
Associates are all entities over which the Group has significant influence but not control, generally accompanied by a share of between 20% and 50% of the 
voting rights. Investments in associates are accounted for using the equity method of accounting and are initially recognised at cost. The Group’s share of its 
associates’ post‑acquisition profits or losses are recognised in the Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income. The cumulative post‑acquisition 
movements are adjusted against the carrying amount of the investment. If the share of losses equals its investment, the Group does not recognise further 
losses, except to the extent that there are amounts receivable that may not be recoverable or there are further commitments to provide funding.

joint ventures
Joint ventures are all entities in which the Group has shared control with another entity, established by contractual agreement. Jointly controlled 
entities are accounted for using the equity method from the date that the jointly controlled entity commences until the date that the joint control of the 
entity ceases. The Group’s share of profits or losses is recognised in the Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income. If the share of losses 
equals its investment, the Group does not recognise further losses, except to the extent that there are amounts receivable that may not be recoverable 
or there are further commitments to provide funding.

gooDwiLL
Goodwill arising on consolidation of subsidiary undertakings is recognised as an asset and initially measured at cost, being the excess of the cost 
of the business combination over the Group’s interest in the net fair value of the identifiable assets, liabilities and contingent liabilities recognised. 
Goodwill is subsequently measured at cost less any accumulated impairment losses. Goodwill is subjected to an impairment test at the Statement 
of Financial Position date or when there has been an indication that the goodwill should be impaired, any loss is recognised immediately through the 
Statement of Comprehensive Income and is not subsequently reversed. For the purpose of impairment testing, goodwill is allocated to 
cash‑generating units. The allocation is made to those cash‑generating units that are expected to benefit from the business combination in which 
goodwill arose.

assets CLassifieD as HeLD for saLe
Non‑current assets are classified as held for sale when their carrying amount is to be recovered principally through a sale transaction and a sale 
is considered highly probable. They are stated at the lower of carrying amount and fair value less costs to sell if their carrying amount is to be recovered 
principally through a sale transaction rather than through continuing use and a sale is considered highly probable.

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A lot has changed in 
125 years

Henry Boot PLC 
Annual Report and  

Financial Statements 2010 53

revenue reCognition
Revenue is measured at the fair value of the consideration received or receivable for goods and services provided in the normal course of business, 
net of discounts, VAT and other sales related taxes.

Revenue from construction contracts is recognised in accordance with the Group’s accounting policy on construction contracts (see below).

Revenue from the sale of land and properties is recognised at the point of legal completion and where title has passed.

Revenue from the Group’s PFI concession is recognised by the calculation of ‘shadow tolls’ which are based on vehicle usage of the A69 for the period 
of account.

Revenue from operating leases is recognised on a straight line basis over the lease term, except for contingent rental income which is recognised when 
it arises. When the Group provides incentives to its tenants, the cost of incentives is recognised over the lease term, on a straight line basis, as a reduction 
to revenue.

Revenue from the hire of plant and equipment is measured as the fair value of sales proceeds from such which relate to the period of account. 

ConstruCtion ContraCts
Where the outcome of a construction contract can be estimated reliably, contract revenue and contract costs are recognised by reference to the stage 
of completion of the contract activity at the Statement of Financial Position date and profit is that estimated to fairly reflect the profit arising up to that date.

Contract revenue is recognised in accordance with the stage of completion of the contract where the contract’s outcome can be estimated reliably. 
The principal method used to recognise the stage of completion of a contract is an in‑house survey of the work performed.

When it is probable that total contract costs will exceed total contract revenue, the expected loss is recognised as an expense immediately.

Contract revenue includes an assessment of the amounts agreed in the contract, plus or less any variations in contract work and claims to the extent 
that they are approved and can be measured reliably. The Group therefore assesses the revenue recognised on a contract by contract basis.

Variations and claims are changes to the original contractual obligations, which may be valued by contractual rates or agreed rates, or changes 
to contract conditions, loss and expense, prolongation, disruption, or additional prelims. They are included to the extent that it is probable that they 
will result in revenue and they are capable of being reliably measured. Our judgement on these matters is based on past experience, external valuers, 
external influences (weather, for example), trends, risk profile and nature of the contract, competency of consultants and legal constraints.

oPerating segments
The chief operating decision maker is the person or group that allocates resources to and assesses the performance of the operating segments 
of an entity. The Group has determined that its chief operating decision maker is the Board of Henry Boot PLC (‘the Board’).

Management has determined the operating segments based on the reports reviewed by the Board in making strategic decisions.

The Board considers the business based on the following operating segments:

t  property operations, inclusive of property development, property investment and trading activities;

t  land operations, inclusive of land management, development and trading activities; and 

t  construction operations, inclusive of its PFI company, plant hire and regeneration activities.

Whilst the following is not a reportable segment, information about it is considered by the Board in conjunction with the reportable segments 
and is therefore included for completeness:

t  Group overheads, comprising central services, pensions, head office administration, in‑house leasing and other mainly ‘not for profit’ activities.

investment ProPerty
Investment properties, which are properties held to earn rental income and for capital appreciation, are stated at fair value at the Statement 
of Financial Position date.

On completion, investment property is carried at fair value, based on market values. Other than houses, property is then valued annually by independent 
valuers. Houses are held at Directors’ valuation. Any surplus or deficit arising from these valuations is included in the Statement of Comprehensive Income. 
When an existing investment property is redeveloped for continued future use as an investment property, it remains an investment property whilst 
in development.

investment ProPerties unDer ConstruCtion
Investment properties under construction are held at fair value unless a fair value cannot be reliably determined in which case it is accounted 
for at cost. Valuation movements on investment properties under construction are reflected in the Statement of Comprehensive Income.

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54

Henry Boot PLC 
Annual Report and  
Financial Statements 2010

A lot has changed in 
125 years

t	Principal	accounting	policies	continued

ProPerty, PLant anD equiPment
Group occupied properties are stated in the Statement of Financial Position at their revalued amounts, being the fair value, based on market values 
less any subsequent accumulated depreciation or subsequent accumulated impairment loss. Fair value is determined annually by independent valuers. 
Surpluses on revaluations are transferred to the revaluation reserve. Deficits on revaluations are charged against the revaluation reserve to the extent 
that there are available surpluses relating to the same asset and are otherwise charged to the Statement of Comprehensive Income.

In respect of buildings, depreciation is provided where it is considered significant having regard to the estimated remaining useful lives and residual 
values of individual properties.

Plant and vehicles and office equipment are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation and any recognised impairment loss. Cost includes 
the original purchase price of the asset plus any costs attributable to bringing the asset to its working condition for its intended use.

Depreciation is charged so as to write off the cost or valuation of assets over their estimated useful lives, using the straight line method, mainly 
at the following annual rates:

t  plant and machinery  – between 25% and 50%

t  motor vehicles 

– between 20% and 25%

t  office equipment 

– 25%

intangiBLe assets exCLuDing gooDwiLL
The PFI asset represents the capitalised cost of the initial project, together with the capitalised cost of any additional major works to the road 
and structures, which are then amortised, on a straight line basis, over 20 years or the remaining life of the concession. The concession lasts a period 
of 30 years and has a further 15 years to run.

Leasing
Leases are classified as finance leases whenever the terms of the lease transfer substantially all the risks and rewards of ownership to the lessee. 
All other leases are classified as operating leases and rentals are charged wholly to the Statement of Comprehensive Income.

Assets held under finance leases are capitalised in the Statement of Financial Position and depreciated over their expected useful lives or the lease term, 
whichever is the shorter. The interest element of leasing payments represents a constant proportion of the capital balance outstanding and is charged 
to the Statement of Comprehensive Income over the period of the lease.

Where the Group acts as a lessor in the case of operating leases, rental income is recognised on a straight line basis over the term of the relevant 
lease after adjustment for any rent free periods or other incentives.

inventories
Inventories are stated at the lower of cost and net realisable value which, in the case of land held for development, is deemed to be the estimated 
existing use value where satisfactory planning permission has not yet been obtained.

The cost of options to purchase land and planning promotion agreements are carried at the lower of cost or estimated net realisable value 
and are subject to regular impairment reviews.

Developments in progress comprise all the direct costs incurred in bringing the individual schemes to their present state at the Statement of Financial 
Position date less the value of any impairment losses.

retirement Benefit Costs
Payments to the defined contribution retirement benefit scheme are charged as an expense as they fall due.

The cost of providing benefits under the defined benefit retirement scheme is determined using the Projected Unit Credit Method, with actuarial calculations 
being carried out at each Statement of Financial Position date. Actuarial gains and losses are recognised in full in the period in which they occur. They are 
recognised within ‘Other comprehensive income’ within the Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income. The net periodic benefit cost comprising 
the employer share of the service cost and the interest cost, less the expected return on assets, is charged to the Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive 
Income. The Group’s net obligations in respect of the scheme are calculated by estimating the amount of future benefit that employees have earned in return 
for their service in the current and prior periods. This is then discounted to present value and the fair value of the scheme’s assets is then deducted.

ShAre‑BASeD	PAymeNTS
Equity‑settled share‑based payments to employees are measured at fair value of the equity instruments at the date of grant and are expensed 
on a straight line basis over the vesting period. Fair value is measured by a Monte Carlo pricing model taking in to account any market performance 
conditions and excludes the effect of non market‑based vesting conditions. Details regarding the determination of the fair value of equity‑settled 
share‑based transactions are set out in note 28. At each reporting period date, the Group estimates the number of equity instruments expected to 
vest as a result of the effect of non market‑based vesting conditions. The impact of the revision, if any, is recognised in the Consolidated Statement of 
Comprehensive Income with a corresponding adjustment to equity reserves.

SAYE share options are treated as cancelled when employees cease to contribute to the scheme. This results in accelerated recognition of the expenses 
that would have arisen over the remainder of the original vesting period.

Details regarding the determination of the fair value of share‑based transactions are set out in note 28. 

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A lot has changed in 
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Henry Boot PLC 
Annual Report and  

Financial Statements 2010 55

tax
The tax charge on the profit or loss for the year comprises the sum of tax currently payable and any deferred tax movements in the year.

Tax currently payable is based on taxable profit for the year adjusted for any tax payable or repayable in respect of earlier years. Taxable profit differs 
from net profit as reported in the Statement of Comprehensive Income because it excludes items of income or expense that are taxable or deductible 
in other years and items that may never be taxable or deductible.

The Group’s liability for current taxation is calculated using tax rates that have been enacted or substantially enacted by the Statement of Financial Position date.

Corporation tax liabilities of wholly owned subsidiary companies are transferred to and paid by the Parent Company and credit is given by the Parent 
Company for loss relief surrendered.

Deferred tax is the tax expected to be payable or recoverable on differences between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities in the Financial 
Statements and the corresponding tax bases used in computing taxable profits.

The carrying amount of deferred tax assets is reviewed at each Statement of Financial Position date and reduced to the extent that it is no longer 
probable that sufficient taxable profits or gains will be available to allow all or part of the assets to be recovered.

Deferred tax is calculated at tax rates that are expected to apply in the period when the liability is settled or the asset is realised. Deferred tax is charged 
or credited in the Statement of Comprehensive Income, except when it relates to items charged or credited directly to equity, in which case the deferred 
tax is also dealt with in equity.

Deferred tax assets and deferred tax liabilities are offset where the Group has a legally enforceable right to do so and when the deferred tax assets 
and liabilities relate to tax levied by the same tax authority where there is an intention to settle the balances on a net basis.

DiviDenDs
Dividends are only recognised as a liability in the actual period in which they are declared.

sHare CaPitaL
Preference share capital is classified as equity as it is non‑redeemable or is redeemable only at the Company’s option and any dividends 
are discretionary. Dividends on preference share capital classified as equity are recognised as distributions within equity.

finanCiaL instruments
The Group retains such financial instruments as are required, together with retained earnings, in order to finance the Group’s operations.

Financial assets or financial liabilities are recognised by the Group in the Statement of Financial Position only when the Group becomes a party 
to the contractual provisions of the instrument.

The principal financial instruments are:

t  trade and other receivables which are recognised and carried at the lower of their original invoiced value and recoverable amount. Where the time 
value of money is material, receivables are carried at amortised cost using the effective interest rate method (see Interest Income and Expense 
on page 56). Provision is made when there is objective evidence that the Group will not be able to recover balances in full. Balances are written off 
when the probability of recovery is assessed as being remote. Should an amount previously written off prove recoverable the amount written off 
is reversed through the Statement of Comprehensive Income to the extent that the amount written back does not exceed the amortised cost has 
the written off not been recognised;

t  cash and cash equivalents which comprise cash in hand, demand deposits and other short‑term highly liquid investments that are readily convertible 

to a known amount of cash and are subject to an insignificant risk of changes in value with an original maturity of three months or less; 

t  trade and other payables which are on normal credit terms, are not interest bearing and are stated at their nominal values. Where the time value 

of money is material, payables are carried at amortised cost using the effective interest rate method (see Interest Income and Expense on page 56);

t  borrowings: see below; and

t  derivatives: see page 56.

Borrowings
Borrowings are recognised initially at fair value, net of transaction costs incurred. Borrowings are subsequently carried at amortised cost; any difference 
between the proceeds (net of transaction costs) and the redemption value is recognised in the Statement of Comprehensive Income over the period 
of the borrowings using the effective interest method. 

Fees paid on the establishment of loan facilities are recognised as transaction costs of the loan to the extent that it is probable that some or all of the facility 
will be drawn down. In this case, the fee is deferred until the draw down occurs. To the extent there is no evidence that it is probable that some or all 
of the facility will be drawn down, the fee is capitalised as a pre‑payment for liquidity services and amortised over the period of the facility to which it relates.

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56

Henry Boot PLC 
Annual Report and  
Financial Statements 2010

A lot has changed in 
125 years

t	Principal	accounting	policies	continued

Derivatives anD HeDging
Derivative financial instruments such as interest rate swaps are occasionally entered into in order to manage interest rate risks arising from long‑term 
debt. Such derivative instruments are initially recognised at fair value on the date on which a derivative contract is entered into and are subsequently 
re‑measured at fair value. Derivatives are carried as assets when the fair value is positive and as liabilities when the fair value is negative.

At the inception of a hedge relationship, the Group formally designates and documents the hedge relationship to which the Group wishes to apply 
hedge accounting and the risk management objective and strategy for undertaking the hedge. The documentation includes identification of the hedging 
instrument, the hedged item or transaction, the nature of the risk being hedged and how the entity will assess the hedging instrument’s effectiveness 
in offsetting the exposure to changes in the hedged item’s fair value or cash flows attributable to the hedged risk. Such hedges are expected to be highly 
effective in achieving offsetting changes in fair value or cash flows and are assessed on an ongoing basis to determine that they actually have been 
highly effective throughout the financial reporting periods for which they were designated.

For the purpose of cash flow hedge accounting, hedges are classified as cash flow hedges when hedging exposure to variability in cash flows that 
is attributable to a particular risk associated with a recognised asset or liability or a highly probable forecast transaction.

The effective portion of the gain or loss on the hedging instrument is recognised directly in equity, while any ineffective portion is recognised immediately 
in profit or loss, such as when the hedged financial income or financial expense is recognised or when a forecast sale occurs. Where such derivative 
transactions are executed, gains and losses on the fair value of such arrangements are taken either to reserves or to the Statement of Comprehensive 
Income dependent upon the nature of the instrument.

If the forecast transaction or firm commitment is no longer expected to occur, amounts previously recognised in equity are transferred to profit or loss. 
If the hedging instrument expires or is sold, terminated or exercised without replacement or rollover, or if its designation as a hedge is revoked, amounts 
previously recognised in equity remain in equity until the forecast transaction or firm commitment occurs.

When a derivative is held as an economic hedge for a period beyond twelve months after the end of the reporting period, the derivative is classified 
as non‑current (or separated into current and non‑current portions) consistent with the classification of the underlying item. A derivative instrument that 
is a designated and effective hedging instrument is classified consistent with the classification of the underlying hedged item. The derivative instrument 
is separated into a current portion and non‑current portion only if: 1) a reliable allocation can be made; and 2) it is applied to all designated and effective 
hedging instruments.

Provisions
Provisions are recognised when the Group has a present obligation (legal or constructive) as a result of a past event, it is probable that the Group 
will be required to settle that obligation and a reliable estimate can be made of the amount of the obligation.

The amount recognised as a provision is the best estimate of the consideration required to settle the present obligation at the Statement of Financial 
Position date, taking into account the risks and uncertainties surrounding the obligation. Where a provision is measured using the cash flows estimated 
to settle the present obligation its carrying amount is the present value of those cash flows.

When some or all of the economic benefits required to settle a provision are expected to be recovered from a third party, a receivable is recognised 
as an asset if it is virtually certain that reimbursement will be received and the amount of the receivable can be measured reliably.

interest inCome anD exPense
Interest income and expense are recognised within ‘Finance income’ and ‘Finance costs’ in the Statement of Comprehensive Income using the effective 
interest rate method, except for borrowing costs relating to qualifying assets, which are capitalised as part of the cost of that asset. The Group has chosen 
not to capitalise borrowing costs on all qualifying assets which are measured at fair value.

The effective interest rate method is a method of calculating the amortised cost of a financial asset or financial liability and of allocating the interest income or 
interest expense over the relevant period. The effective interest rate is the rate that exactly discounts estimated future cash payments or receipts throughout 
the expected life of the financial instrument, or a shorter period where appropriate, to the net carrying amount of the financial asset or financial liability.

juDgements anD key assumPtions
The critical judgements in applying the Group’s Accounting Policies and that have the most significant effect on the amounts recognised in the Financial 
Statements, apart from those involving estimations (see below), relate to revenue recognition, construction contracts and inventories. All of these are referred 
to on pages 53 and 54 and each is interpreted by management in the light of IAS 18 ‘Revenue’, IAS 11 ‘Construction Contracts’ and IAS 2 ‘Inventories’.

The key assumptions concerning the future and other key sources of estimation uncertainty at the Statement of Financial Position date, and that could 
have a material adjustment to the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities over the ensuing year, are retirement benefit costs, fair value of investment 
properties, provisions and the impairment review of land, option and agency costs carried forward in inventories. The estimates used in retirement 
benefit costs are arrived at in conjunction with the scheme’s actuary and advisers, those having the most significant impact being mortality rates 
and bond yields. The fair value of completed investment property is determined by independent valuation experts using the Yield Method valuation 
technique. In most cases the fair values are determined based on recent market transactions with similar characteristics and location to those of the 
Company’s assets. The fair value of investment property under construction has been determined using the Residual Method by the Directors of the 
Company. Amounts recognised in relation to provisions are determined based on assumptions about items such as the risk adjustment to cash flows 
or discount rates used, future changes in prices and estimates of costs. Impairment relating to land, option and agency costs is considered individually 
by management in the light of progress made in the planning process, feedback from local planning officers and other external factors that might be 
considered likely to influence the eventual outcome. 

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A lot has changed in 
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Henry Boot PLC 
Annual Report and  

Financial Statements 2010 57

imPaCt of aCCounting stanDarDs anD interPretations
At the date of authorisation of these Financial Statements, the following standards and interpretations to existing standards are mandatory for the first 
time for the accounting period ended 31 December 2010:

IFRIC 9 and IAS 39 (amended 2009) 
IFRIC 15 (issued 2008) 
IFRIC 16 (issued 2008) 
IFRIC 17 (issued 2008) 
IFRIC 18 (issued 2009) 
IAS 17 (amended) 
IAS 27 (revised 2008) 
IAS 39 (amended 2008) 
IFRS 1 (amended 2008) 
IFRS 1 (amended 2009) 
IFRS 2 (amended 2009) 
IFRS 3 (revised 2008) 

‘Embedded Derivatives’ 
‘Agreements for Construction of Real Estate’ 
‘Hedges of a Net Investment in a Foreign Operation’ 
‘Distributions of Non‑cash Assets to Owners’ 
‘Transfers of Assets from Customers’ 
‘Leases’ 
‘Consolidated and Separate Financial Statements’ 
‘Financial Instruments: Recognition and Measurement: Eligible Hedged Items’ 
‘First‑time Adoption of IFRS’ 
‘Additional Exemptions for First‑time Adopters’ 
‘Group Cash‑settled Share‑based Payment Transactions’ 
‘Business Combinations’ 

Effective from

30 June 2009
1 January 2010
1 July 2009
1 July 2009
1 July 2009
1 January 2010
1 July 2009
1 July 2009
1 July 2009
1 January 2010
1 January 2010
1 July 2009

The adoption of these standards and interpretations has not had a significant impact on the Group. 

At the date of the authorisation of these Financial Statements, the following standards and interpretations were in issue but not yet effective:

IFRIC 14 (amended 2009) 
IFRIC 19 (issued 2009) 
IAS 12 (amended 2010) 
IAS 24 (revised 2009) 
IAS 32 (amended 2009) 
IFRS 1 (amended 2010) 
IFRS 1 (amended 2010) 
IFRS 7 (amended 2010) 
IFRS 9 (issued 2009) 

* Not yet endorsed by the EU.

‘Prepayments of a Minimum Funding Requirement’ 
‘Extinguishing Financial Liabilities with Equity Instruments’ 
‘Deferred Tax: Recovery of Underlying Assets’ 
‘Related Party Disclosures’ 
‘Classification of Rights Issue’ 
‘Limited Exemption from Comparative IFRS 7 Disclosures for First‑time Adopters’ 
‘Severe Hyperinflation and Removal of Fixed Dates for First‑Time Adopters’ 
‘Financial Instruments: Disclosures’ 
‘Financial Instruments’ 

Effective from

1 January 2011
1 July 2010
1 January 2012*
1 January 2011
1 February 2010
1 July 2010
1 July 2011*
1 July 2011*
1 January 2013*

A review of the impact of these standards, amendments and interpretations continues. At this stage the Directors do not believe that they will give rise 
to any significant financial impact.

There are also a number of minor amendments to other standards which are part of the International Accounting Standards Board’s annual improvements 
projects issued on 16 April 2009 and 6 May 2010. The improvements comprise amendments that result in accounting changes for presentation, recognition 
or measurement purposes, as well as terminology or editorial amendments related to a variety of individual IFRS standards. Most of the amendments 
are effective for annual periods beginning on or after 1 July 2010 and 1 January 2011. No material changes to Accounting Policies are expected 
as a result of these amendments.

In 2010, the Group did not early adopt any new or amended standards and does not plan to early adopt any of the standards issued but not yet effective. 

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58

Henry Boot PLC 
Annual Report and  
Financial Statements 2010

A lot has changed in 
125 years

t	Notes	to	the	financial	statements	for the year ended 31 December 2010

1. revenue
Analysis of the Group’s revenue is as follows:

activity in the united kingdom   

Revenue from construction contracts 
Property development 
Land development 
PFI concession income 
Plant and equipment hire 
Investment property rental income 
Other rental income 

Other income 

2010 
£’000 

64,712 
3,735 
33,801 
11,411 
8,452 
9,733 
100 

131,944 
23 

131,967 

2009 
£’000

58,895
18,231
10,089
10,885
8,175
10,154
95

116,524
29

116,553

Contingent rents recognised as income during the year amount to £193,000 (2009: £14,000).

Other income relates to payments received under a debt agreement with the Export Credit Guarantee Department arising from a long completed 
contract that was not paid for at the time.

2. segment information
For the purpose of the Board making strategic decisions, the Group is currently organised into three operating segments: Property investment and 
development; Land development; and Construction. Whilst Group overheads are not a reportable segment, information about them is considered 
by the Board in conjunction with the reportable segments and is therefore included for completeness.

Operations are carried out entirely within the United Kingdom.

Inter‑segment sales are charged at prevailing market prices.

The accounting policies of the reportable segments are the same as the Group’s Accounting Policies described on pages 52 to 57.

Segment profit represents the profit earned by each segment before tax and is consistent with the measure reported to the Group’s Board for the purpose 
of resource allocation and assessment of segment performance.

Revenues from external sales are detailed in note 1.

Revenue 

External sales 
Inter‑segment sales 

Total revenue 

Operating profit 
Finance income 
Finance costs 

Profit before tax 
Tax 

Profit for the year 

other information
Capital additions 
Depreciation 
Impairment losses 
Goodwill impairment 
Amortisation 

2010

Property 
investment	
and	
development	
£’000 

Land	
development	
£’000 

Construction	
£’000 

Group 
overheads	
£’000 

eliminations	
£’000 

Total 
£’000

 13,467  
 304  

 33,901  
 440  

 84,576  
 199  

 13,771  

 34,341  

 84,775  

 10,528  
 1,331  
 (7,515) 

 4,344  
 (833) 

 3,511  

 3,009  
 54  
 24  
 —  
 —  

 581  
 275  
 (730) 

 126  
 (51) 

 75  

 22  
 61  
 —  
 —  
 —  

 9,230  
 1,412  
 (735) 

 9,907  
 (2,858) 

 7,049  

 2,207 
 2,465  
 —  
 204  
 1,117  

 —  
 520  

 520  

 527  
 8,026  
 (4,032) 

 4,521  
 (1,302) 

 3,219  

 442  
 444  
 —  
 —  
 —  

 —  
 (1,463) 

 131,944 
 — 

 (1,463) 

 131,944 

 20  
 (10,537) 
 10,537  

 20  
 (351) 

 (331) 

 —  
 —  
 —  
 —  
 —  

 20,886 
 507 
 (2,475)

 18,918 
 (5,395)

 13,523 

 5,680 
 3,024 
 24 
 204 
 1,117 

During the year the Land development segment made a disposal amounting to 12% of the Group’s total revenue. Due to the nature of land transactions 
the segment often has large value, low volume transactions. As the segment receives offers from multiple customers for its sales it is not reliant on any 
major customer individually.

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A lot has changed in 
125 years

Henry Boot PLC 
Annual Report and  

Financial Statements 2010 59

2. segment information CONTINUED

Revenue 

External sales 
Inter‑segment sales 

Total revenue 

Operating (loss) profit  
Finance income 
Finance costs 

(Loss) profit before tax 
Tax 

(Loss) profit for the year 

other information 
Capital additions 
Depreciation 
Impairment losses 
Goodwill impairment 
Amortisation 

Segment assets
Property investment and development 
Land development 
Construction 
Group overheads and other  

unallocated assets
Deferred tax assets 
Cash and cash equivalents 

Total assets 

Segment liabilities
Property investment and development 
Land development 
Construction 
Group overheads and other 

unallocated liabilities
Current tax liabilities 
Current borrowings 
Non‑current borrowings 
Employee benefits 
Deferred tax liabilities 

Total liabilities 

Total net assets 

Property 
investment 
and 
development 
£’000 

 28,386  
 309  

 28,695  

 (16,317) 
 1,890  
 (7,623) 

 (22,050) 
 6,536  

 (15,514) 

 10,192  
 62  
 106  
 —  
 —  

2009

Land 
development 
£’000 

Construction 
£’000 

Group 
overheads 
£’000 

 10,183  
 —  

 10,183  

 (3,149) 
 272  
 (736) 

 (3,613) 
 979  

 (2,634) 

 6  
 66  
 —  
 —  
 —  

 77,955  
 6,982  

 84,937  

 16,847  
 1,040  
 (699) 

 17,188  
 (2,657) 

 14,531  

 867  
 2,729  
 —  
 203  
 1,098  

 —  
 574  

 574  

 (7,460) 
 8,267  
 (4,253) 

 (3,446) 
 1,537  

 (1,909) 

 187  
 470  
 —  
 —  
 —  

Eliminations 
£’000 

Total 
£’000

 —  
 (7,865) 

 116,524 
 — 

 (7,865) 

 116,524 

 35  
 (10,666) 
 10,660  

 29  
 (469) 

 (440) 

 —  
 —  
 —  
 —  
 —  

2010 
£’000 

183,964 
74,396 
25,428 
1,774 

285,562 

6,631 
4,037 

 (10,044)
 803 
 (2,651)

 (11,892)
 5,926 

 (5,966)

 11,252 
 3,327 
 106 
 203 
 1,098 

2009 
£’000

196,015
58,030
29,456
1,922

285,423

11,131
4,305

296,230 

300,860

4,080 
27,958 
39,918 
2,379 

74,335 

1,602 
11,362 
4,069 
16,221 
— 

6,172
11,451
37,844
4,243

59,710

2,820
31,163
5,231
25,732
5

107,589 

188,641 

124,660

176,200

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60

Henry Boot PLC 
Annual Report and  
Financial Statements 2010

A lot has changed in 
125 years

t	Notes	to	the	financial	statements	for the year ended 31 December 2010 continued

3. oPerating Profit
Operating profit has been arrived at after charging (crediting):

Depreciation of property, plant and equipment – owned assets 
Impairment of goodwill included in administrative expenses 
Amortisation of PFI asset included in cost of sales 
Impairment losses on land and buildings 
Loss on sale of assets held for sale 
Impairment losses recognised on trade receivables 
Impairment losses reversed on trade receivables  
Property rentals under operating leases 
(Increase) decrease in fair value of investment property 
Cost of inventories recognised as expense 
Employee costs 
Amounts payable to Deloitte LLP by Road Link (A69) Limited in respect of audit services 
Profit on sale of property, plant and equipment 

The remuneration paid to PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, the Group’s external auditors, was as follows:

Fees payable for the audit of the Company’s annual accounts and consolidated financial statements 
Fees payable for the auditor and its associates for other services:  
  – audit of the Company’s subsidiaries pursuant to legislation 
  – tax services  
  – other services 

Total fees 

The remuneration paid to Hawsons, the Group’s previous external auditors, was as follows:

Fees payable for the audit of the Company’s annual accounts and consolidated financial statements 
Fees payable for the auditor and its associates for other services:  
  – audit of the Company’s subsidiaries pursuant to legislation 
  – tax services  
  – other services 

Total fees 

2010 
£’000 

3,024 
204 
1,117 
24 
60 
46 
(468) 
261 
(555) 
29,940 
16,496 
7 
(554) 

2009 
£’000

3,327
203
1,098
106
— 
634
—
267
22,381
25,963
24,377
9
(1,516)

2010 
£’000

44

95 
153
320 

612 

2009 
£’000

58

117 
94
11

280 

In addition, fees of £12,125 (2009: £11,775) were paid to Hawsons in their capacity as auditors of The Henry Boot Staff Pension and Life Assurance Scheme. 

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A lot has changed in 
125 years

Henry Boot PLC 
Annual Report and  

Financial Statements 2010 61

4. emPLoyee Costs

Wages and salaries 
Share‑based payment expense  
Social security costs 
Defined benefit pension (credit) costs (see note 25) 
Other pension costs 

The average monthly number of employees during the year, including Executive Directors, was:

Property investment and development 
Land development 
Construction 
Plant hire 
Group overheads 

5. finanCe inCome

Interest on bank deposits 
Interest on other loans and receivables 

6. finanCe Costs

Interest on bank loans and overdrafts 
Interest on other loans and payables 

2010 
£’000 

16,483 
659 
1,712 
(2,961) 
243 

16,136 

2009 
£’000

17,675
799
2,001
3,336
275

24,086

2010 
number 

2009 
Number

24 
31 
288 
106 
47 

496 

2010 
£’000 

26 
481 

507 

2010 
£’000 

1,942 
533 

2,475 

27
29
393
113
47

609

2009 
£’000

52
751

803

2009 
£’000

2,035
616

2,651

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62

Henry Boot PLC 
Annual Report and  
Financial Statements 2010

A lot has changed in 
125 years

t	Notes	to	the	financial	statements	for the year ended 31 December 2010 continued

7. tax

Current tax:
UK corporation tax on profits for the year 
Adjustment in respect of earlier years 

Total current tax 

Deferred tax (note 16): 
Origination and reversal of temporary differences  
Adjustment in respect of earlier years 

Total deferred tax 

Total tax 

2010 
£’000 

2,684 
(464) 

2,220 

2,307 
868 

3,175 

5,395 

2009 
£’000

1,320
(266)

1,054

(6,980)
—

(6,980)

(5,926)

Corporation tax is calculated at 28% (2009: 28%) of the estimated assessable profit (loss) for the year.  

During the year, as a result of the change in the UK corporation tax rate from 28% to 27% that was substantively enacted on 27 July 2010 and planned 
to be effective from 1 April 2011, the relevant deferred tax balances have been re‑measured. Deferred tax balances at the year end have been 
measured at 27%.

Further reductions to the UK tax rate have been announced. The changes propose to reduce the rate to 26% from 1 April 2011 and by 1% per annum 
thereafter to 23% by 1 April 2014. The changes had not been substantively enacted at the Statement of Financial Position date and, therefore, are not 
recognised in these Financial Statements.

The charge (credit) for the year can be reconciled to the profit (loss) per the Statement of Comprehensive Income as follows:

Profit (loss) before tax 

Tax at the UK corporation tax rate 
Effects of:
Permanent differences 
Adjustment in respect of earlier years 
Capital (losses) gains 
Deferred tax adjustment in respect of earlier years 

2010 
£’000 

2009 
£’000

18,918 

(11,892)

2010 
% 

28.00 

(1.13) 
(2.45) 
(0.49) 
4.59 

28.52 

2009 
%

28.00

19.39
2.24
0.20
— 

49.83

In addition to the amount charged to profit (loss) for the year, the following amounts relating to tax have been recognised in other comprehensive income:

Deferred tax:
  – tax on realised surplus 
  – property revaluations 
  – actuarial (gain) loss 
  – cash flow hedge 

Total tax recognised in other comprehensive income 

2010 
£’000 

— 
(19) 
(1,465) 
164 

(1,320) 

2009 
£’000

391
80
447
—

918

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A lot has changed in 
125 years

Henry Boot PLC 
Annual Report and  

Financial Statements 2010 63

8. resuLts of Parent ComPany
As permitted by Section 408 of the Companies Act 2006, the Statement of Comprehensive Income of the Parent Company is not presented as part 
of these Financial Statements. The profit dealt with in the Financial Statements, excluding dividends received from subsidiaries of £36,456,000 
(2009: £11,439,000), of the Parent Company is £4,856,000 (2009: loss £21,416,000).

9. earnings Per orDinary sHare
The calculation of the basic and diluted earnings per share is based on the following information:

Earnings 

Profit (loss) for the year 
Non‑controlling interests 
Preference dividend 

number of shares 

Shares in issue 
Less shares held by the ESOP on which dividends have been waived 

Weighted average number for basic earnings per share 
Adjustment for the effects of dilutive potential ordinary shares 

Weighted average number for diluted earnings per share 

2010 
£’000 

13,523 
(1,696) 
(21) 

11,806 

2009 
£’000

(5,966)
(1,423)
(21)

(7,410)

2010 

2009

130,244,385 
(1,009,452) 

130,244,385
(1,275,922)

129,234,933 
1,171,972 

128,968,463
— 

130,406,905 

128,968,463

There have been no other transactions involving ordinary shares or potential ordinary shares between the reporting date and the date of completion 
of these Financial Statements.

10. DiviDenDs

Amounts recognised as distributions to equity holders in year:
Preference dividend on cumulative preference shares 
Final dividend for the year ended 31 December 2009 of Nil per share (2008: 3.75p)  
Interim dividend for the year ended 31 December 2010 of 1.35p per share (2009: 1.25p) 
Second interim dividend for the year ended 31 December 2009 of 1.25p per share (2008: Nil) 

2010 
£’000 

21 
—  
1,745 
1,612 

3,378 

2009 
£’000

21
4,831
1,612
—

6,464

The proposed final dividend for the year ended 31 December 2010 of 2.15p per share (2009: Nil) makes a total dividend for the year of 3.5p (2009: 2.5p). 

The proposed final dividend is subject to approval by shareholders at the AGM and has not been included as a liability in these Financial Statements. 
The total estimated dividend to be paid is £2,779,000.

Notice has been received from Moore Street Securities Limited waiving its right as corporate trustee for the Employee Share Ownership Plan (ESOP) 
to receive all dividends in respect of this and the previous financial year except for a nominal amount. 

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64

Henry Boot PLC 
Annual Report and  
Financial Statements 2010

A lot has changed in 
125 years

t	Notes	to	the	financial	statements	for the year ended 31 December 2010 continued

11. intangiBLe assets

cost
At 1 January 2009 
Additions at cost 

At 1 January 2010 
Additions at cost 

at 31 December 2010 

accumulated impairment losses and amortisation
At 1 January 2009 
Amortisation 
Impairment losses for the year 

At 1 January 2010 
Amortisation 
Impairment losses for the year 

at 31 December 2010 

carrying amount
at 31 December 2010 

At 1 January 2010 

At 1 January 2009 

Goodwill 
£’000 

4,070 
— 

4,070 
—  

4,070 

882 
— 
203 

1,085 
—  
204 

1,289 

2,781 

2,985 

3,188 

PFI 
asset 
£’000 

15,094 
314 

15,408 
344 

15,752 

4,611 
1,098 
— 

5,709 
1,117 
—  

6,826 

8,926 

9,699 

10,483 

Total 
£’000

19,164
314

19,478
344

19,822

5,493
1,098
203

6,794
1,117
204

8,115

11,707

12,684

13,671

The Group’s investment in Road Link (A69) Holdings Limited is 61.2%. The goodwill arising on the acquisition represents the excess of consideration 
over net assets acquired and is subject to an impairment test at the Statement of Financial Position date. This company’s subsidiary, Road Link (A69) 
Limited, operates a PFI concession which comprises managing and maintaining the A69 Carlisle to Newcastle trunk road. The company receives 
payment from the Highways Agency based on the number and type of vehicles using the road. The concession lasts for a period of 30 years and 
has a further 15 years to run, at the end of which the road reverts to the Highways Agency. Whilst the impairment test demonstrates significant 
headroom, an impairment charge of £204,000 has been recognised during the year to reflect the fact that the PFI concession will revert to 
the Highways Agency at the end of the 30 year period, at which point no goodwill should remain. There were no significant changes to these 
arrangements during the year. 

Although the Companies Act 2006 Section 390(5) requires a co‑terminous year end, the subsidiary company’s accounting reference date is 31 March 
in order to align with the Highways Agency’s financial year end and hence interim Financial Statements are prepared for incorporation into these 
consolidated Financial Statements.

At 31 December 2010, the Group had entered into contractual commitments for the acquisition of intangible assets amounting to £Nil (2009: £29,000).

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A lot has changed in 
125 years

Henry Boot PLC 
Annual Report and  

Financial Statements 2010 65

12. ProPerty, PLant anD equiPment

Group 

cost or fair value
At 1 January 2009  
Additions at cost  
Transfers to investment property  
Disposals  
Decrease in fair value in year 

At 31 December 2009 
Additions at cost  
Disposals  

at 31 December 2010 

Being:
Cost  
Fair value at 31 December 2010  

accumulated depreciation
At 1 January 2009 
Charge for year 
Impairment loss 
Eliminated on disposals 
Transferred to investment property 

At 31 December 2009 
Charge for year 
Impairment loss 
Eliminated on disposals 

at 31 December 2010 

carrying amount
at 31 December 2010 

At 31 December 2009  

At 1 January 2009  

Land and 
buildings  
£’000  

Properties 
 under 
construction  
£’000 

9,257 
— 
— 
(1,850) 
(44) 

7,363 
74 
(150) 

7,287 

—  
7,287 

7,287 

207 
— 
106 
— 
— 

313 
—  
24 
—  

337 

6,950 

7,050 

9,050 

82,315 
— 
(82,315) 
— 
— 

— 
—  
—  

—  

—  
—  

—  

2,812 
— 
— 
— 
(2,812) 

— 
—  
—  
—  

—  

—  

— 

79,503 

Plant 
and  
vehicles  
 £’000  

30,146 
609 
— 
(4,438) 
— 

26,317 
2,298 
(2,936) 

Office 
equipment  
£’000 

1,788 
170 
— 
(373) 
— 

1,585 
107 
(69) 

Total 
 £’000

123,506
779
(82,315)
(6,661)
(44)

35,265
2,479
(3,155)

25,679 

1,623 

34,589

25,679 
—  

25,679 

18,358 
3,121 
— 
(3,960) 
— 

17,519 
2,856 
—  
(2,687) 

1,623 
—  

1,623 

1,397 
206 
— 
(373) 
— 

1,230 
168 
—  
(68) 

27,302
7,287

34,589

22,774
3,327
106
(4,333)
(2,812)

19,062
3,024
24
(2,755)

17,688 

1,330 

19,355

7,991 

8,798 

11,788 

293 

355 

391 

15,234

16,203

100,732

Land and buildings have been revalued by Jones Lang LaSalle Limited in accordance with the Practice Statements contained in the RICS Appraisal and 
Valuation Standards on the basis of market value at £6,950,000. 

The valuation conforms to International Valuation Standards and was based on recent market transactions with similar characteristics and location 
using the Yield Method valuation technique.

On the historical cost basis, the land and buildings would have been included at a cost of £3,186,000 (2009: £3,227,000).

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66

Henry Boot PLC 
Annual Report and  
Financial Statements 2010

A lot has changed in 
125 years

t	Notes	to	the	financial	statements	for the year ended 31 December 2010 continued

12. ProPerty, PLant anD equiPment CONTINUED

parent company 

cost
At 1 January 2009 
Additions 
Disposals 

At 31 December 2009 
Additions 
Disposals 

at 31 December 2010 

Depreciation
At 1 January 2009 
Charge for year 
Disposals 

At 31 December 2009 
Charge for year 
Disposals 

at 31 December 2010 

carrying amount
at 31 December 2010 

At 31 December 2009 

At 1 January 2009 

13. investment ProPerties

fair value
At 1 January 2009 
Additions 
Disposals  
Transfers from properties under construction 
Transfers to inventories 
Decrease in fair value in year 
Transfers within investment property  

At 31 December 2009 
Additions 
Disposals  
Transfers to assets held for sale  
Transfers from inventories 
Increase (decrease) in fair value in year 
Transfers within investment property 

at 31 December 2010 

Adjustment in respect of tenant incentives 
Adjustment in respect of tax benefits 

Market value at 31 December 2010 

Plant 
and 
vehicles  
£’000 

Office 
equipment 
£’000 

73 
68 
(25) 

116 
—  
—  

116 

34 
17 
(20) 

31 
29 
—  

60 

56 

85 

39 

765 
85 
(173) 

677 
25 
(31) 

671 

542 
116 
(170) 

488 
88 
(31) 

545 

126 

189 

223 

Completed  
investment  
property 
£’000 

Investment 
property 
under 
construction  
£’000 

126,279 
490 
(9,864) 
2,500 
(375) 
(20,627) 
22,902 

121,305 
557 
(11,101) 
(27,719) 
316 
1,282 
2,075 

— 
9,669 
(11,031) 
77,003 
— 
(1,754) 
(22,902) 

50,985 
2,300 
(289) 
(1,792) 
—  
(727) 
(2,075) 

Total 
£’000

838
153
(198)

793
25
(31)

787

576
133
(190)

519
117
(31)

605

182

274

262

Total 
£’000

126,279
10,159
(20,895)
79,503
(375)
(22,381)
—

172,290
2,857
(11,390)
(29,511)
316
555
— 

86,715 

48,402 

135,117

4,471 
(1,104) 

—  
—  

4,471
(1,104)

90,082 

48,402  

138,484

With the exception of houses, completed investment properties have been revalued by Jones Lang LaSalle Limited in accordance with the Practice Statements 
contained in the RICS Appraisal and Valuation Standards on the basis of market value at £84,800,000. The valuation conforms to International Valuation 
Standards and was based on recent market transactions with similar characteristics and location using the Yield Method valuation technique. 

The fair value of houses has been determined by the Directors of the Company at £5,282,000. The fair value takes into account other observable 
prices in an active market.

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A lot has changed in 
125 years

Henry Boot PLC 
Annual Report and  

Financial Statements 2010 67

13. investment ProPerties CONTINUED
Investment properties under construction are developments which have been valued at fair value by the Directors of the Company using the Residual 
Method at £48,402,000. The property rental income earned by the Group from its occupied investment property, all of which is leased out under operating 
leases, amounted to £9,733,000 (2009: £10,154,000). Direct operating expenses arising on investment property generating rental income in the year 
amounted to £967,000 (2009: £3,780,000). Direct operating expenses arising on the investment property which did not generate rental income during the 
year amounted to £64,000 (2009: £215,000). 

At 31 December 2010, the Group had entered into contractual commitments for the acquisition and repair of investment property amounting 
to £2,088,000 (2009: £Nil).

14. investments

parent company – shares in Group undertakings 

cost 
At 1 January 2009 and 2010 
Additions  

at 31 December 2010 

fair value adjustments 
At 1 January 2009 
Provisions for losses 

At 31 December 2009 
Provisions for losses 

at 31 December 2010 

carrying amount 
at 31 December 2010 

At 31 December 2009  

At 1 January 2009  

Total 
£’000

26,622
34,135

60,757

(4,648)
(18,112)

(22,760)
(32,776)

(55,535)

5,222

3,862

21,974

The original cost of shares has been reduced by provisions for losses where necessary and enhanced where the Directors have considered it appropriate 
to reflect in the valuation increases of a permanent nature in the underlying net asset values of subsidiary companies. Such enhancements have been 
£1,115,000 in 1975 and £1,135,000 in 1989.

During the year the Parent Company paid £24,999,000 for share capital subscribed for in prior years but not paid up.

Additional share capital was subscribed for during the year relating to Constructionend Limited and Glasgowend Limited in order to return these subsidiaries 
to a solvent position allowing them to be put into voluntary liquidation. The cost of this share capital has been provided against in full.

On 17 June 2010 Henry Boot Land Holdings Limited acquired 50% of the issued share capital of Stonebridge Projects Limited, a company incorporated 
in the United Kingdom on 9 June 2010, for £500. The principal activity of the Company is to build residential housing and subsequently make sales thereof.

Amounts due from and to subsidiary companies are listed in notes 15 and 20. The principal active subsidiary companies are listed in note 31. All trading 
subsidiaries operate in the United Kingdom and are wholly owned, with the exception of Road Link (A69) Holdings Limited which is 61.2% owned by 
Henry Boot Construction Limited and Stonebridge Projects Limited which is 50% owned by Henry Boot Land Holdings Limited. They are all incorporated 
in the United Kingdom.

All subsidiary companies have only one class of ordinary issued share capital.

coST of ShaRES hElD By ThE ESop TRuST

Group 

At 1 January 
Disposals 

at 31 December 

2010 
£’000 

602 
(126) 

476 

2009 
£’000

764
(162)

602

Quoted investments represent own shares held by the Henry Boot PLC Employee Trust as an ESOP to provide an incentive to greater ownership of shares 
in the Company by its employees. The Company has loaned £475,937 to the Trustee, interest free, which enabled it to purchase Henry Boot PLC ordinary shares.

At 31 December 2010, the Trustee held 1,009,452 shares with a cost of £475,937 and a market value of £943,838. All of these shares were committed 
to satisfy existing grants by the Company under the 1996 and 2006 Henry Boot PLC Long‑Term Share Incentive Plans and the Henry Boot PLC 2000 
Sharesave Scheme. In accordance with IAS 32, these shares are deducted from shareholders’ funds. Under the terms of the Trust, the Trustee has 
waived all but a nominal dividend on the shares it holds.

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68

Henry Boot PLC 
Annual Report and  
Financial Statements 2010

A lot has changed in 
125 years

t	Notes	to	the	financial	statements	for the year ended 31 December 2010 continued

15. traDe anD otHer reCeivaBLes

Trade receivables 
Pre‑payments 
Amounts owed by Group undertakings 

Due within one year 
Due after more than one year 

Group 

Parent Company

2010 
£’000 

36,225 
1,555 
—  

37,780 

27,331 
10,449 

37,780 

2009 
£’000 

27,199 
1,615 
—  

28,814 

25,071 
3,743 

28,814 

2010 
£’000 

199 
455 
171,719 

172,373 

172,373 
—  

172,373 

2009 
£’000

51
677
189,388

190,116

190,116
— 

190,116

Included in the Group’s trade receivable balance are receivables with a carrying amount of £1.4m (2009: £1.9m) which are past due at the reporting 
date for which the Group has not provided, as there has not been a significant change in credit quality and the amounts are still considered 
recoverable. The Group does not hold any collateral over these balances.

aGEInG of paST DuE BuT noT IMpaIRED TRaDE REcEIVaBlES

30–60 days 
60–90 days 
90–120 days 
120+ days 

MoVEMEnT In ThE alloWancE foR DouBTful REcEIVaBlES

At 1 January 
Impairment losses recognised 
Amounts written off as uncollectable 
Amounts recovered during the year 
Impairment losses reversed 

at 31 December 

2010 
£’000 

957 
301 
42 
81 

1,381 

2010 
£’000 

709 
46 
(98) 
(7) 
(468) 

182 

2009 
£’000

1,156
321
101
291

1,869

2009 
£’000

319
634
(132)
(112)
—

709

In determining the recoverability of a trade receivable, the Group considers any change in the credit quality of the trade receivable from the date credit 
was initially granted up to the reporting date. The concentration of credit risk is limited due to the customer base being large and unrelated. Accordingly, 
the Directors believe that there is no further credit provision required in excess of the allowance for doubtful debts.

aGEInG of IMpaIRED TRaDE REcEIVaBlES

0–30 days 
30–60 days 
60–90 days 
90–120 days 
120+ days 

2010 
£’000 

4 
8 
8 
6 
156 

182 

2009 
£’000

1
— 
— 
1
707

709

The Directors consider that the carrying amount of trade and other receivables of the Group and Parent Company approximates to their fair value.

paREnT coMpany
Amounts owed by Group undertakings are unsecured and are stated net of provisions for irrecoverable amounts of £2,727,000, of which £Nil has been 
provided in the year, £34,488,000 has been released in the year and £Nil has been recovered in the year.

The Parent Company has no impaired trade receivables.

cREDIT RISk
The Group’s principal financial assets are bank balances and cash, and trade and other receivables, which represent the Group’s maximum exposure 
to credit risk in relation to financial assets.

The Group’s credit risk is primarily attributable to its trade receivables. The amounts presented in the Statement of Financial Position are net of allowances 
for doubtful receivables, estimated by the Group’s management based on prior experience and their assessment of the current economic environment.

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A lot has changed in 
125 years

Henry Boot PLC 
Annual Report and  

Financial Statements 2010 69

15. traDe anD otHer reCeivaBLes CONTINUED
cREDIT RISk CONTINUED
The Group has no significant concentration of credit risk, with exposure spread over a large number of counterparties and customers.

The credit risk on liquid funds is limited because the counterparties are banks with high credit ratings assigned by international credit rating agencies.

16. DeferreD tax
Deferred tax assets and deferred tax liabilities are offset where the Group has a legally enforceable right to do so and when the deferred tax assets and liabilities 
relate to tax levied by the same tax authority where there is an intention to settle the balances on a net basis. The amounts after offsetting are as follows:

DEfERRED Tax aSSET

Group 

At 1 January 2009 
Recognised in income 
Recognised in other comprehensive income 

At 31 December 2009 
Recognised in income 
Recognised in other comprehensive income 

at 31 December 2010 

parent company

At 1 January 2009 
Recognised in income 
Recognised in other comprehensive income 

At 31 December 2009 
Recognised in income 
Recognised in other comprehensive income 

at 31 December 2010 

DEfERRED Tax lIaBIlITy

Group 

At 1 January 2009 
Recognised in income 
Recognised in other comprehensive income 

At 31 December 2009 
Recognised in income 

at 31 December 2010 

Accelerated 
capital 
allowances  
£’000  

168 
(168) 
— 

— 
86 
—  

86 

22 
(8) 
— 

14 
13 
—  

27 

Property 
revaluations 
£’000 

Employee 
benefits  
£’000 

Other 
timing 
differences  
 £’000 

— 
3,001 
— 

3,001 
(1,321) 
(19) 

1,661 

— 
— 
— 

— 
—  
—  

—  

6,338 
420 
447 

7,205 
(1,360) 
(1,465) 

4,380 

6,338 
420 
447 

7,205 
(1,360) 
(1,465)  

4,380 

500 
425 
— 

925 
(585) 
164  

504 

200 
417 
— 

617 
(298) 
—  

319 

Accelerated 
capital 
allowances 
£’000 

Property 
revaluations 
£’000 

— 
(5) 
— 

(5) 
5 

—  

(3,778) 
3,307 
471 

— 
—  

—  

Total 
 £’000

7,006
3,678
447

11,131
(3,180)
(1,320)

6,631

6,560
829
447

7,836
(1,645)
(1,465)

4,726

Total 
£’000

(3,778)
3,302
471

(5)
5

— 

Unrecognised deferred tax assets relating to property revaluations amounted to £2,315,000. These assets have not been recognised as it is probable 
that in future periods there will be no suitable profits or gains available to the Group against which they may be relieved. There are no other significant 
unrecognised deferred tax assets and liabilities.

During the year, as a result of the change in the UK corporation tax rate from 28% to 27% that was substantively enacted on 27 July 2010 and planned to be 
effective from 1 April 2011, the relevant deferred tax balances have been re‑measured. Deferred tax balances at the year end have been measured at 27%.

Further reductions to the UK tax rate have been announced. The changes propose to reduce the rate to 26% from 1 April 2011 and by 1% per annum 
thereafter to 23% by 1 April 2014. The changes had not been substantively enacted at the Statement of Financial Position date and, therefore, are not 
recognised in these Financial Statements. The effects of these changes are not expected to have any material impact on the Financial Statements.

17. inventories

Group 

Developments in progress 
Land, options and agency agreements held for development 

2010 
£’000 

4,135 
53,870 

58,005 

2009 
£’000

4,101
51,332

55,433

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70

Henry Boot PLC 
Annual Report and  
Financial Statements 2010

A lot has changed in 
125 years

t	Notes	to	the	financial	statements	for the year ended 31 December 2010 continued

17. inventories CONTINUED
Within land, options and agency agreements held for development £1,926,000 (2009: £6,081,000) has been written down and recognised as an expense in the year.

Costs written down during the period relate to land, options and agency agreements where planning permission for development has been refused 
or is deemed to be doubtful.

Previous write‑downs amounting to £58,000 (2009: £1,497,000) have been reversed and reduced the amount of inventories recognised as an expense 
in the year. The reversals relate to costs previously provided where planning permission for development was doubtful but where prospects have now 
significantly improved or actual planning consent has been granted.

poST REpoRTInG pERIoD EVEnTS
In January 2011, Hallam Land Management Limited completed the sale of optioned land with planning permission for 700 dwellings at Buckingham 
to Barratt Developments PLC and Bovis Homes Group PLC for £10.4m. This follows the submission, in 2008, of a planning application on the 
non‑allocated site by Hallam Land for the dwellings and 2.5 hectares of employment development. Outline planning consent was secured in late 2009 
and the site was marketed in mid 2010, receiving substantial levels of interest. Hallam Land retains its interest in the employment land following 
the transaction. The disposal is a ‘Non‑adjusting event after the reporting period’ in accordance with IAS 10 ‘Events after the Reporting Period’ and will 
impact the Statement of Comprehensive Income in 2011. 

18. ConstruCtion ContraCts

Contracts in progress at 31 December:
Amounts due from contract customers included in trade receivables 
Amounts due to contract customers included in trade payables 

Contract costs incurred plus recognised profits less recognised losses to date 
Less: progress billings 

2010 
£’000 

2009 
£’000

—  
(8,799) 

(8,799) 

278,861 
(287,660) 

—
(17,759)

(17,759)

256,756
(274,515)

(8,799) 

(17,759)

At 31 December 2010, retentions held by customers for contract work amounted to £952,000 (2009: £696,000). Advances received from customers 
for contract work amounted to £8,799,000 (2009: £17,759,000).

At 31 December 2010, amounts of £Nil (2009: £Nil) included in trade and other receivables and arising from construction contracts are due for settlement 
after more than twelve months.

19. assets CLassifieD as HeLD for saLe
Assets classified as held for sale are investment properties which are individually being actively marketed for sale with expected completion dates 
within one year. At the Statement of Financial Position date assets classified as held for sale represent our Ayr Central Shopping Centre.

Assets classified as held for sale comprise the following:

fair value
At 1 January 2009 and 2010 
Transfers from investment property 
Disposals  

at 31 December 2010 

Adjustment in respect of tenant incentives 
Adjustment in respect of tax benefits 

Market value at 31 December 2010 

Investment  
property 
£’000

—
29,511
(1,792)

27,719

4,707
(426)

32,000

Assets classified as held for sale have been revalued by Jones Lang LaSalle Limited in accordance with the Practice Statements contained in the 
RICS Appraisal and Valuation Standards on the basis of market value at £32,000,000. The valuation conforms to International Valuation Standards 
and was based on recent market transactions with similar characteristics and location using the Yield Method valuation technique. 

poST REpoRTInG pERIoD EVEnTS
In February 2011, Henry Boot Developments Limited completed the sale of Ayr Central Shopping Centre to Sovereign Land and AREA Property Partners for 
£33.8m before costs, reflecting a net initial yield of 6.25%. Located in the heart of Ayr town centre, the 180,000 sq ft shopping centre was developed in 
2006 by Henry Boot Development Limited and is anchored by Debenhams and Primark, with other tenants including H&M, JD Sports, HMV, Clarks 
and River Island. The disposal of this asset held for sale is a ‘Non‑adjusting event after the reporting period’ in accordance with IAS 10 ‘Events after 
the Reporting Period’ and will impact the Statement of Comprehensive Income in 2011.

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A lot has changed in 
125 years

Henry Boot PLC 
Annual Report and  

Financial Statements 2010 71

20. traDe anD otHer PayaBLes

Trade payables 
Social security and other taxes   
Accrued expenses 
Deferred income 
Amounts owed to related parties 
Amounts owed to Group undertakings 

Due within one year 
Due after more than one year 

Group 

Parent Company

2010 
£’000 

45,476 
6,087 
2,848 
2,144 
8 
— 

56,563 

55,216 
1,347 

56,563 

2009 
£’000 

48,855 
3,077 
1,494 
2,276 
3 
— 

55,705 

51,971 
3,734 

55,705 

2010 
£’000 

1,155 
257 
936 
— 
— 
73,604 

75,952 

75,952 
—  

75,952 

2009 
£’000

907
268
875
—
—
104,638

106,688

106,688
—

106,688

The Directors consider that the carrying amount of trade payables approximates to their fair value.

21. CaPitaL risk management
The Company’s objectives when managing capital are:

t  to safeguard the Group’s ability to continue as a going concern and have the resources to provide returns for shareholders and benefits for other stakeholders; and

t  to maximise returns to shareholders by allocating capital across our businesses based on the level of expected return and risk.

The Group sets the amount of capital in proportion to risk. The Group manages the capital structure and makes adjustments to it in the light of changes 
in economic conditions and the risk characteristics of the underlying assets. In order to maintain or adjust the capital structure, the Group may adjust 
the amount of dividends paid to shareholders, return capital to shareholders, issue new shares or sell assets to reduce debt.

The Group monitors capital on the basis of net debt to equity. Net debt is total debt less cash and cash equivalents and at 31 December 2010 this 
was £11.4m (2009: £32.1m). Equity comprises all components of equity and at 31 December 2010 this was £188.6m (2009: £176.2m).

During 2010 the Group’s strategy, which was unchanged from 2009, was to maintain the debt to equity ratio below 50%. This level was chosen to ensure 
that we can access debt relatively easily and inexpensively if required.

We have in place three year committed facilities totalling £94m with our three banking partners. The facilities become due for renewal on 7 May 2012. Post the 
2010 year end, cash flows from asset sales have resulted in the Henry Boot Group moving to a cash positive position. Given the cost of non‑utilisation 
fees at 150bps and the relatively low development expenditure forecast for 2011, the level of these facilities has been reduced to £50m. 

22. Borrowings

Bank loans  
Loans from related parties  

The borrowings are repayable, including future interest, as follows:
On demand or within one year 
In the second year 
In the third to fifth years inclusive 
After five years 

Due within one year 
Due after one year 

Group 

Parent Company

2010 
£’000 

15,231 
200 

15,431 

11,763 
1,440 
3,228 
—  

16,431 

11,763 
4,668 

16,431 

2009 
£’000 

36,394 
— 

36,394 

31,617 
1,529 
4,072 
603 

37,821 

31,617 
6,204 

37,821 

2010 
£’000 

10,000 
—  

10,000 

10,027 
—  
—  
—  

10,027 

10,027 
—  

10,027 

2009 
£’000

30,000
—

30,000

30,000
— 
— 
— 

30,000

30,000
— 

30,000

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72

Henry Boot PLC 
Annual Report and  
Financial Statements 2010

A lot has changed in 
125 years

t	Notes	to	the	financial	statements	for the year ended 31 December 2010 continued

22. Borrowings CONTINUED
The weighted average interest rates paid were as follows:

Bank overdrafts 
Bank loans – floating rate 
Bank loans – floating rate (relating to Road Link (A69) Limited) 

Related party loans – floating rate (relating to Stonebridge Projects Limited) 

2010 
% 

4.00 
3.06 
1.68 

5.00 

2009 
%

3.90
2.72
3.62

—

A bank loan of £5,231,000, relating to Road Link (A69) Limited, is arranged at an effective floating interest rate of LIBOR plus 0.8%. The loan is fully hedged 
(see note 23), giving rise to an effective fixed interest rate of 7.37%. Other borrowings are arranged at floating rates, thus exposing the Group to cash 
flow interest rate risk. Based on approximate average borrowings during 2010, a 1% change in interest rates would affect profitability before tax by £205,000.

A related party loan from Stonebridge Homes Limited of £200,000, relating to Stonebridge Projects Limited, is arranged at an interest rate of 5%. 
The interest rate is not fixed and may change subject to agreement. The loan is repayable on demand.

The fair value of the Group’s borrowings is not considered to be materially different from the carrying amounts, other than as disclosed in note 23.

Interest on floating rate borrowings is arranged for periods from overnight to three months. These borrowings are secured by a fixed and floating charge over 
the assets of the Group excluding those of Road Link (A69) Limited and Stonebridge Projects Limited. The Road Link (A69) Limited bank loan is secured by a 
specific charge over the freehold and leasehold properties of that Company and fixed and floating charges over the assets of that Company and is without 
recourse to the rest of the Group. It is repayable in six‑monthly instalments that commenced in the year ended 31 March 1999 and is repayable by 31 March 2015. 

At 31 December 2010, the Group had available £72,886,000 (2009: £48,771,000) undrawn committed borrowing facilities and £Nil (2009: £Nil) undrawn 
uncommitted borrowing facilities.

Bank overdrafts are repayable on demand.

23. Derivative finanCiaL instruments
InTEREST RaTE SWap – caSh floW hEDGE
At 31 December 2010, an interest rate swap transaction was in place covering a bank loan of £5,231,000 (2009: £6,394,000) whereby the Group’s subsidiary, Road 
Link (A69) Limited, pays a fixed rate of interest of 6.57% and receives a variable rate based on LIBOR. Interest is payable or receivable, as appropriate, semi‑annually. 
The swap is used to hedge the exposure to the variable interest rate payments on the variable rate secured loan of the subsidiary (note 22).

The loan and interest rate swap have the same critical terms, are fully effective and have a termination date of 31 March 2015. 

The fair value of the interest rate swap arrangement at 31 December 2010 was a liability of £606,000 (2009: £727,000) giving rise to a hedge reserve 
deducted from other reserves.

faIR ValuE MEaSuREMEnTS REcoGnISED In ThE STaTEMEnT of fInancIal poSITIon
The following table provides an analysis of the fair values of financial instruments recognised in the Statement of Financial Position by the degree 
to which the fair value is observable:

Derivative financial liabilities:
Level 1 
Level 2  
Level 3 

Total fair value  

Explanation of the fair value hierarchy:

2010 
£’000 

—  
605 
—  

605 

2009 
£’000

—
727
—

727 

t  Level 1 – fair value measurements are those derived from quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that the entity 

can access at the measurement date;

t  Level 2 – fair value measurements are those derived from the use of a model with inputs (other than quoted prices included in Level 1) that are observable 

from directly or indirectly observable market data; and

t  Level 3 – fair value measurements are those derived from use of a model with inputs that are not based on observable market data.

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A lot has changed in 
125 years

Henry Boot PLC 
Annual Report and  

Financial Statements 2010 73

24. Provisions

Group 

At 1 January 2010
Included in current liabilities 
Included in non‑current liabilities 

Additional provisions in year 
Utilisation of provisions 
Non‑utilisation of provisions 

at 31 December 2010 

Included in current liabilities 
Included in non‑current liabilities 

parent company 

At 1 January 2010 
Utilisation of provisions 
Non‑utilisation of provisions 

at 31 December 2010 

Land 
development 
£’000 

Road 
maintenance 
£’000 

Bonds and 
guarantees 
£’000 

Other 
£’000 

Total 
£’000

— 
—  

— 
17,865 
(1,143) 
—  

16,722 

10,810 
5,912 

16,722 

660 
—  

660 
870 
(505) 
—  

1,025 

1,025 
—  

1,025 

124 
—  

124 
—  
(124) 
—  

— 

—  
—  

—  

Bonds and 
guarantees 
£’000 

124 
(124) 
—  

—  

3,220 
—  

3,220 
25 
(735) 
(2,485) 

25 

—  
25 

25 

Other 
£’000 

1,000 
(735) 
(265) 

—  

4,004
— 

4,004
18,760
(2,507)
(2,485)

17,772

11,835
5,937

17,772

Total 
£’000

1,124
(859)
(265)

— 

The land development provision represents management’s best estimate of the Group’s liability to provide infrastructure and services to land which 
has been disposed of during the period.

The road maintenance provision represents management’s best estimate of the Group’s liability under a five year rolling programme for the maintenance 
of the Group’s PFI asset.

The bonds and guarantees provision represents a claim that was made against the Parent Company, the liability for which was subject to an on demand 
bond. A call under the bond was made during the period resulting in the utilisation of the provision.

Any liabilities where the Directors anticipate that a present obligation would result in a future outflow of resources, including legal and regulatory 
penalties or claims, are taken into account in the Financial Statements.

Non‑utilisation of other provisions includes £1.0m in connection with contract liabilities resulting from warranties which expired in the period, £1.2m in connection 
with a legal case by tenants in one of our investment properties, the outcome of which was successfully decided in our favour and £0.3m relating to a 
£1.0m provision for liabilities arising on an enhanced benefits pension buyout exercise, the remaining £0.7m of which was utilised during the period.

25. emPLoyee Benefits
DEfInED conTRIBuTIon pEnSIon SchEME
The Group operates a defined contribution pension scheme for all qualifying employees. The scheme is administered and managed by Aviva and the Group 
matches member contributions, providing a minimum of 3% of salary is paid by the employee, on a pound for pound basis up to a maximum of 8%.

The total cost charged to income of £153,000 (2009: £158,000) represents contributions payable to the scheme by the Group.

DEfInED BEnEfIT pEnSIon SchEME
The Group operates a defined benefit pension scheme (‘the scheme’) for eligible employees which is funded to provide for future pension liabilities, including 
anticipated increases in earnings and pensions. The assets of the scheme are held in a fund independently administered by trustees. Contributions are 
determined by a qualified actuary on the basis of triennial valuations using the projected unit method. The most recent triennial valuation was carried 
out as at 1 January 2010. The results of that valuation have been projected to 31 December 2010 and then recalculated based on the following assumptions:

Retail Prices Index – RPI 
Consumer Prices Index – CPI 
Pensionable salary increases 
Rate in increase to pensions in payment liable for Limited Price Indexation (LPI) 
Revaluation of deferred pensions 
Liabilities discount rate 
Expected rate of return on scheme assets 

2010 
% 

2.75 
2.00 
1.00 
2.65 
2.00 
5.40 
5.81 

2009 
%

2.75
2.00
2.75
2.65
2.75
5.75
6.17

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74

Henry Boot PLC 
Annual Report and  
Financial Statements 2010

A lot has changed in 
125 years

t	Notes	to	the	financial	statements	for the year ended 31 December 2010 continued

25. emPLoyee Benefits CONTINUED
DEfInED BEnEfIT pEnSIon SchEME CONTINUED
The overall expected rate of return is determined as follows:

t  the assumption for return on equities of 7.00% is based upon gilt yields of 4.37% (commonly adopted as a ‘risk‑free rate’) prevailing at the measurement 

date plus an equity risk premium of 2.63%;

t  the assumption for return on bonds represents the expected return on the current portfolio of gilts and corporate bonds as at the measurement date;

t  the assumption for return on cash is the bank base rate applicable at the measurement date and represents the expected returns on the scheme’s cash holdings; and

t  property is generally assumed to have the same expected return as equities.

Mortality assumptions 

Retiring today (aged 65)
Male 
Female 

Retiring in 20 years (currently aged 45)
Male 
Female 

2010 
years 

21.3 
24.1 

23.2 
26.0 

2009 
Years

19.7 
22.7 

21.0 
24.0 

The mortality assumptions are consistent with the assumptions used in the most recent triennial valuation. These are the Self Administered Pension 
Schemes (SAPS) with allowance for future improvements in line with medium cohort subject to an underpin of 1% per annum.

The sensitivities regarding the principal assumptions used to measure the scheme liabilities are set out below:

Retail Prices Index – RPI 
Consumer Prices Index – CPI 
Rate of general increases in salaries 
Rate in increase to pensions in payment liable for LPI 
Revaluation of deferred pensions 
Liabilities discount rate 
Rate of mortality 

Change in  
assumption 

Increase by 0.25% 
Increase by 0.25% 
Increase by 0.25% 
Increase by 0.25% 
Increase by 0.25% 
Decrease by 0.25% 
Increase by 1 year 

Impact on 
scheme liabilities

Increase by 2.3%
Increase by 0.9%
Nil*

Increase by 2.3%
Increase by 0.7%
Increase by 4.1%
Increase by 3.1%

*  Increases in salaries above the 1% assumed would not affect the scheme liabilities as future increases in pensionable salaries are to be capped at a maximum of 1% per annum. 

Amounts recognised in the Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income in respect of the scheme are as follows:

Current service cost 
Interest cost 
Expected return on scheme assets 
Past service cost 
Gain on curtailment 
Gain on settlement 
Pension Protection Fund 

Pension expenses 

2010 
£’000 

(1,111) 
(7,151) 
6,659 
877 
3,299 
389 
(1) 

2,961 

2009 
£’000

(822)
(8,043)
5,619
—
—
—
(90)

(3,336)

Actuarial gains have been reported in other comprehensive income of £4,649,000 (2009: losses £1,595,000).

The cumulative amount of actuarial gains recognised in other comprehensive income since the date of transition to IFRS is £7,913,000 (2009: £3,264,000).

The actual gain on scheme assets was £9,759,000 (2009: loss £12,239,000).

The amount included in the Statement of Financial Position arising from the Group’s obligations in respect of the scheme is as follows:

Present value of scheme obligations 
Fair value of scheme assets 

2010 
£’000 

129,668 
113,447 

16,221 

2009 
£’000

137,830
112,098

25,732

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A lot has changed in 
125 years

Henry Boot PLC 
Annual Report and  

Financial Statements 2010 75

25. emPLoyee Benefits CONTINUED
DEfInED BEnEfIT pEnSIon SchEME CONTINUED
This amount is presented in the Statement of Financial Position as follows:

Non‑current liabilities 

Movements in the present value of scheme obligations in the year were as follows:

At 1 January 
Service cost 
Interest cost 
Contributions from scheme members 
Actuarial (gain) loss 
Past service cost 
Gain on curtailment 
Gain on settlement 
Benefits paid 

At 31 December  

Movements in the present value of fair value of scheme assets in the year were as follows:

At 1 January 
Expected return on scheme assets 
Actuarial gain 
Employer contributions 
Contributions from scheme members 
Gain on settlement 
Benefits paid 

At 31 December  

The analysis of the scheme assets and the expected rate of return at 31 December 2010 was as follows:

2010 
£’000 

2009 
£’000

16,221 

25,732

2010 
£’000 

137,830 
1,111 
7,151 
367 
(1,548) 
(877) 
(3,299) 
(3,794) 
(7,273) 

2009 
£’000

125,851 
822 
8,043 
 396
8,242 
— 
— 
— 
(5,524)

129,668 

137,830 

2010 
£’000 

112,098 
6,659 
3,100 
1,900 
367 
(3,404) 
(7,273)  

2009 
£’000

103,215 
5,619 
6,620 
1,772 
396 
— 
(5,524) 

113,447 

112,098

Equities 
Bonds 
Cash 

Rate of return 

Market value

2010  
%  

7.00 
4.37 
0.50 

2009  
%  

7.45  
4.61  
0.50  

2010  
£’000  

62,225 
51,032 
 190 

2009  
£’000 

62,150 
49,514 
434 

113,447 

112,098 

Included in equities are 2,250,000 (2009: 2,250,000) ordinary 10p shares in Henry Boot PLC with a value at the year end of £2,103,750 (2009: £2,081,250).

The history of experience adjustments is as follows:

2010  
£’000  

2009 
£’000  

2008  
£’000  

2007  
£’000  

2006  
£’000 

Present value of defined benefit obligations 
Fair value of scheme assets  

(129,668) 
113,447 

(137,830)  
112,098 

(125,851)  
103,215  

(144,260)  
121,806  

(141,580)
115,767 

Deficit in the scheme 

(16,221) 

(25,732)  

(22,636)  

(22,454)  

(25,813)

Experience adjustments on scheme liabilities 
Percentage of scheme liabilities  
Experience adjustments on scheme assets 
Percentage of scheme assets 

(6,666) 
(5%) 
3,100 
3% 

— 
— 
6,620  
6% 

— 
— 
(24,144) 
23%  

1,853  
1%  
18  
—  

(2,935)
(2%)
4,783 
4% 

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76

Henry Boot PLC 
Annual Report and  
Financial Statements 2010

A lot has changed in 
125 years

t	Notes	to	the	financial	statements	for the year ended 31 December 2010 continued

25. emPLoyee Benefits CONTINUED
DEfInED BEnEfIT pEnSIon SchEME CONTINUED
The estimated amount of total contributions expected to be paid to the scheme by the Group, inclusive of contributions payable by the Company, during 
the current financial year is £5,200,000, being £4,800,000 payable by the Group and £400,000 payable by scheme members.

In January 2008 the Company provided the trustees of the scheme with an ‘on demand’ letter of credit for £7,000,000 as part of the Recovery Plan for the scheme as a 
result of the outcome of the scheme’s triennial valuation as at 31 December 2006. As part of the Recovery Plan for the scheme as a result of the 31 December 2009 
triennial valuation, this letter of credit will be replaced by the Company agreeing to contribute a further £175,200 per annum for a period of ten years beginning in 2011.

26. oPerating Leases
ThE GRoup aS lESSEE

Minimum lease payments under operating leases recognised in the Statement of Comprehensive Income for the year 

2010 
£’000 

261 

At 31 December 2010, the Group had outstanding commitments for future aggregate minimum lease payments under non‑cancellable operating 
leases which fall due as follows:

Within one year 
In the second to fifth years inclusive 
After five years 

2010 
£’000 

126 
51 
—  

177 

2009 
£’000

267

2009 
£’000

195
229
— 

424

Operating lease payments represent rentals payable by the Group for certain of its office properties. The rents payable are subject to renegotiation 
at various intervals specified in the leases.

ThE GRoup aS lESSoR
The Group has entered into commercial leases on its investment property portfolio which typically have lease terms between one and 25 years and include 
clauses to enable periodic upward revision of the rental charge according to prevailing market conditions. Ordinarily the lessee does not have an option 
to purchase the property at the expiry of the lease period and some leases contain options to break before the end of the lease term.

Future aggregate minimum rentals receivable under non‑cancellable operating leases at 31 December are as follows:

Within one year 
In the second to fifth years inclusive 
After five years 

2010 
£’000 

8,085 
27,803 
65,852 

2009 
£’000

8,864
33,351
84,584

101,740 

126,799

27. reLateD Party transaCtions
Transactions between the Company and its subsidiaries, which are related parties, have been eliminated on consolidation and are disclosed below:

parent company 

Management charges receivable 
Interest receivable 
Interest payable 
Rents payable 
Recharge of expenses 

Transactions between the Company and its remaining related parties are as follows:

purchases of goods and services 

Close family members of key management personnel (amounts paid for IT services) 

2010 
£’000 

1,599 
8,048 
(2,519) 
(156) 
121 

2010 
£’000 

43 

2009 
£’000

1,566
7,953
(2,739)
(169)
71

2009 
£’000

38

Related party transactions are charged at prevailing market prices. Amounts owing by related parties (note 15) or to related parties (notes 20 and 22) are 
unsecured, repayable on demand and will be settled in cash. No guarantees have been given or received.  No provisions have been made for doubtful 
debts in respect of the amounts owed by related parties.

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A lot has changed in 
125 years

Henry Boot PLC 
Annual Report and  

Financial Statements 2010 77

27. reLateD Party transaCtions CONTINUED
REMunERaTIon of kEy ManaGEMEnT pERSonnEl
The remuneration of the Directors, who are key management personnel of the Group, is set out below in aggregate for each of the categories specified 
in IAS 24 ‘Related Party Disclosures’. Further information about the remuneration of individual Directors is provided in the audited part of the Directors’ 
Remuneration Report on pages 45 and 46.

Salaries and other short‑term employee benefits   
Post‑employment benefits 
Share‑based payments 

28. sHare CaPitaL

5.25% cumulative preference shares of £1 each   
130,244,385 ordinary shares of 10p each (2009: 130,244,385) 

2010 
£’000 

1,350 
101 
190 

1,641 

2009 
£’000

1,389
102
119

1,610

Authorised 

Allotted, issued and fully paid

2010 
£’000 

400 
19,600 

20,000 

2009 
£’000  

400 
19,600 

20,000 

2010 
£’000 

400 
13,024 

13,424 

2009 
 £’000 

400
13,024

13,424

The Company has one class of ordinary share which carries no rights to fixed income but which entitles the holder thereof to receive notice and attend 
and vote at general meetings or appoint a proxy to attend on their behalf.

Subject to Board approval, the preference shares carry the right to a cumulative preferential dividend payable half yearly at the rate of 5.25% per annum. 
They also carry a right, in priority to the ordinary equity, on a return of assets on a winding up or reduction of capital, to repayment of capital, together 
with the arrears of any preferential dividend. With the exception of any resolution proposed to directly affect the rights or privileges of the holders 
of the preference shares, the holders thereof are not entitled to receive notice, be present or vote at any general meeting of the Company.

ShaRE‑BaSED payMEnTS
The Company operates the following share‑based payment arrangements:

(a) ThE hEnRy BooT plc 2000 ShaRESaVE SchEME
This savings related share option scheme was approved by shareholders in 2000 and is subject to HMRC rules. The first grant of options to participating 
employees was made on 1 November 2006 at a price of 155.4p, a discount of just under 15% of the prevailing market price. These became exercisable for a six 
month period from 1 December 2009. A further grant of options was made on 22 October 2008 at an exercise price of 77p, a discount of 10% of the prevailing 
market price. These become exercisable for a six month period from 1 December 2011. There are no performance criteria attached to the exercise 
of these options. Options are normally capable of exercise for a six month period three years from the date of grant. The right to exercise options 
terminates if a participating employee leaves the Group, subject to certain exceptions.

November 2006 grant 
October 2008 grant 

Options 
outstanding at 
31 December 
2009 

140,475 
1,073,389 

Options 
lapsed 

140,475 
145,034 

options 
 outstanding	at 
31 December 
2010

— 
926,036

Options 
exercised 

— 
2,319 

The weighted average share price at the date of exercise for share options exercised during the period was 94.4p (2009: Nil).

(B) ThE 1996 hEnRy BooT plc lonG‑TERM IncEnTIVE plan
This Plan was approved by shareholders in 1996 and operated for ten years. Details of the Plan and the vesting requirements are set out in the Directors’ 
Remuneration Report on page 44.

(c) ThE hEnRy BooT 2006 lonG‑TERM IncEnTIVE plan
This Plan was approved by shareholders at an EGM held on 20 July 2006. Details of the Plan and the vesting requirements are also set out in the Directors’ 
Remuneration Report on page 44.

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78

Henry Boot PLC 
Annual Report and  
Financial Statements 2010

A lot has changed in 
125 years

t	Notes	to	the	financial	statements	for the year ended 31 December 2010 continued

28. sHare CaPitaL CONTINUED
ShaRE‑BaSED payMEnTS CONTINUED
In respect of (B) and (C), the aggregate total of movements in share options granted and awards of shares is as follows:

Share options granted at 1 January 
Lapses of share options in year  
Awards of shares in year 
Share options granted in year 

Share options granted at 31 December 

2010 
number 

2,091,825 
(287,989) 
(264,151) 
566,265 

2009 
Number

1,932,274
(161,650)
(345,085)
666,286

2,105,950 

2,091,825

The weighted average share price at the date of exercise for share options exercised during the period was 93.5p (2009: 79.6p).

faIR ValuE
Fair value is measured by a Monte Carlo pricing model using the following assumptions:

LTIP 

Sharesave 
2006 

Sharesave 
2008

Weighted average exercise price 
Expected volatility 
Expected life 
Risk‑free rate 
Expected dividend yield 

Nil 
15.48% to 42.72% 
3 to 6 years 
1.79% to 4.73% 
2.61% to 4.76% 

The weighted average fair value of share options granted during the year was 96.5p (2009: 73.1p).

ExpEnSE REcoGnISED In ThE STaTEMEnT of coMpREhEnSIVE IncoME

The total expense recognised in the Statement of Comprehensive Income arising from share‑based payment transactions 

155.4p 
17.30% 
3 years 
4.82% 
2.92% 

2010 
£’000 

659 

The total expense recognised in the Statement of Comprehensive Income arose solely from equity‑settled share‑based payment transactions. 

29. reserves

Group 

Property 
revaluation 
£’000 

At 1 January 2009 
Loss for the year 
Dividends paid 
Movements in fair value of cash flow hedge 
Decrease in fair value in year 
Realised revaluation surplus 
Arising on employee share schemes 
Unrecognised actuarial loss 
Deferred tax on actuarial loss 
Transfer to capital reserve 

At 31 December 2009 
Profit for the year 
Dividends paid 
Movements in fair value of cash flow hedge 
Deferred tax on fair value movements  
of cash flow hedge 
Realised revaluation surplus 
Deferred tax on revaluation surplus 
Arising on employee share schemes 
Unrecognised actuarial gain 
Deferred tax on actuarial gain 

4,438 
— 
— 
— 
(44) 
(1,045) 
— 
— 
— 
— 

3,349 
— 
— 
—  

—  
(36) 
(19) 
—  
—  
—  

Retained 
earnings 
£’000 

168,868 
(7,389) 
(6,464) 
— 
— 
1,776 
896 
(1,595) 
447 
(339) 

156,200 
11,827 
(3,378) 
— 

— 
36 
—  
659 
4,649 
(1,465) 

Capital 
redemption 
£’000 

Share 
premium 
£’000 

Other

Capital 
£’000 

271 
— 
— 
— 
— 
— 
— 
— 
— 
— 

271 
—  
—  
—  

—  
—  
—  
—  
—  
—  

2,563 
— 
— 
— 
— 
— 
— 
— 
— 
— 

2,563 
—  
—  
—  

—  
—  
—  
—  
—  
—  

227 
— 
— 
— 
— 
(260) 
(97) 
— 
— 
339 

209 
—  
—  
—  

—  
—  
—  
—  
—  
—  

Other 
£’000 

(484) 
— 
— 
40 
— 
— 
— 
— 
— 
— 

(444) 
—  
—  
75 

100 
—  
—  
—  
—  
—  

77.0p
33.20%
3 years
3.52%
2.61%

2009 
£’000

799

Total 
other 
£’000

2,577
—
—
40
—
(260)
(97)
—
—
339

2,599
—
—
75

100
—
— 
—
—
— 

at 31 December 2010 

3,294 

168,528 

271 

2,563 

209 

(269) 

2,774

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A lot has changed in 
125 years

Henry Boot PLC 
Annual Report and  

Financial Statements 2010 79

29. reserves CONTINUED

parent company 

At 1 January 2009 
Loss for the year 
Dividends from subsidiaries 
Dividends paid 
Realised revaluation surplus 
Unrecognised actuarial loss 
Deferred tax on actuarial loss 
Arising from employee share schemes 
Transfer from capital reserve 

At 31 December 2009 
Profit for the year 
Dividends from subsidiaries 
Dividends paid 
Unrecognised actuarial gain 
Deferred tax on actuarial gain 
Arising from employee share schemes 

at 31 December 2010 

Retained 
earnings 
£’000 

37,762 
(21,416) 
11,439 
(6,469) 
774 
(1,595) 
447 
646 
550 

22,138 
4,856 
36,456 
(3,378) 
4,649 
(1,465) 
520 

63,776 

Capital 
redemption 
£’000 

Share 
premium 
£’000 

271 
— 
— 
— 
— 
— 
— 
— 
— 

271 
— 
— 
— 
— 
— 
— 

271 

2,563 
— 
— 
— 
— 
— 
— 
— 
— 

2,563 
— 
— 
— 
— 
— 
— 

2,563 

Other

Capital 
£’000 

1,632 
— 
— 
— 
(774) 
— 
— 
(97) 
(550) 

211 
— 
— 
— 
— 
— 
— 

211 

Investment 
revaluation 
£’000 

1,135 
— 
— 
— 
— 
— 
— 
— 
— 

1,135 
— 
— 
— 
— 
— 
— 

1,135 

Total 
other 
£’000

5,601
—
—
—
(774)
—
—
(97)
(550)

4,180
—
—
—
—
—
—

4,180

30. guarantees anD ContingenCies
The Parent Company has guaranteed the performance of certain contracts entered into by Group undertakings in the ordinary course of business.

The Parent Company has given cross guarantees to certain of the Group’s bankers and bondsmen in respect of facilities available to Group undertakings 
in the normal course of business. Guarantees relating to bonds are impracticable to quantify. In the opinion of the Directors, no loss is expected to arise 
in connection with these matters.

31. aDDitionaL information – PrinCiPaL aCtive suBsiDiaries
Details of the Company’s principal active subsidiaries, all of which are incorporated in England and are consolidated in the Group Financial Statements 
at 31 December 2010, are as follows:

Name 

Banner Plant Limited 
First National Housing Trust Limited 
Hallam Land Management Limited 
Henry Boot Construction Limited 
Henry Boot Developments Limited 
Henry Boot Estates Limited 
Henry Boot ‘K’ Limited 
Henry Boot Projects Limited 
Henry Boot Tamworth Limited 
Henry Boot Whittington Limited 
Road Link (A69) Limited 
Stonebridge Projects Limited 
Winter Ground Limited 

Activity

Plant hire
Property investment
Land development
Construction
Property development and investment
Property investment
Property development and investment
Property development and investment 
Property development and investment
Property investment
PFI road maintenance
Property development
Property development and investment

All are ultimately 100% owned by the Company, with the exception of Road Link (A69) Limited which is 61.2% owned and Stonebridge Projects Limited 
which is 50% owned. They are all held directly by the Company with the exception of Henry Boot ‘K’ Limited, Henry Boot Tamworth Limited and Winter 
Ground Limited which are held indirectly through Henry Boot Developments Limited and our 50% interest in Stonebridge Projects Limited which is held 
indirectly through Henry Boot Land Holdings Limited.

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80

Henry Boot PLC 
Annual Report and  
Financial Statements 2010

A lot has changed in 
125 years

t	Property	valuers’	report

ThE DIREcToRS
Henry Boot PLC 
Banner Cross Hall 
Ecclesall Road South 
Sheffield S11 9PD

31 December 2010

Gentlemen

St Paul’s House 
Park Square 
Leeds LS1 2ND 
tel +44 (0) 113 244 6440 
www.joneslanglasalle.co.uk

Henry Boot PLC
GRoup pRopERTy poRTfolIo ValuaTIon – 31 DEcEMBER 2010
In accordance with your written instructions, we have valued the various freehold and leasehold properties held by Henry Boot PLC and its subsidiary 
companies, for accounts purposes as at 31 December 2010. The valuations have been made in accordance with the Practice Statements contained 
within the RICS Valuation Standards (6th Edition), in our capacity as External Valuers, on the basis of Market Value. No allowances have been made for 
expenses of realisation or for taxation that might arise in the event of a disposal and our valuations are expressed as exclusive of any Value Added Tax 
that may become chargeable. Each property has been considered as if free and clear of all mortgages or other charges which may have been secured 
thereon. Where appropriate, the properties have been valued subject to and with the benefit of any lettings which have been disclosed. 

Having regard to the foregoing we are of the opinion that the aggregate market value of the freehold and leasehold interests owned by Henry Boot PLC 
and its subsidiaries, as at 31 December 2010 is: 

Freehold 
Leasehold 

Total 

£118,085,000
£5,665,000

  £123,750,000

In accordance with our normal practice, we confirm that our valuations have been prepared for the Directors of Henry Boot PLC and for the purposes 
to which this certificate refers. 

No responsibility is accepted to any third party in respect of the information or advice contained herein, except in circumstances where our prior 
written approval has been granted.

Yours faithfully

Peter j Hague mriCs
DireCtor
foR anD on BEhalf of JonES lanG laSallE lIMITED

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Jones Lang LaSalle Limited 
Registered in England and Wales Number 1188567 
Registered Office 22 Hanover Square London W1S 1JA

 
 
 
A lot has changed in 
125 years

Henry Boot PLC 
Annual Report and  

Financial Statements 2010 81

t	Notice	of	annual	general	meeting

tHis DoCument is imPortant anD requires your immeDiate attention. If you are in any doubt as to what action to take, you 
should consult your stockbroker, solicitor, accountant or other appropriate independent professional adviser authorised under the Financial Services 
and Markets Act 2000. If you have sold or otherwise transferred all your shares in Henry Boot PLC, please forward this document and the 
accompanying form of proxy to the person through whom the sale or transfer was effected, for transmission to the purchaser or transferee. 

The Board of Henry Boot PLC considers all of the proposed resolutions to be in the best interests of shareholders as a whole and accordingly 
recommends that shareholders vote in favour of all the resolutions proposed. 

notiCe of annuaL generaL meeting
Notice is hereby given that the Annual General Meeting (AGM) of Henry Boot PLC will be held at Baldwins Omega, Brincliffe Hill, Off Psalter Lane, 
Sheffield S11 9DF on Friday 27 May 2011, at 12 noon for the following purposes:

To consider and, if thought fit, pass the following resolutions, which will be proposed as to Resolutions 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 10 as ordinary resolutions 
of the Company and as to Resolutions 8, 9 and 11 as special resolutions of the Company. 

resoLution 1
To receive the Directors’ Report and the Financial Statements for the year ended 31 December 2010.

resoLution 2
To re‑appoint J E Brown as a Director, who retires by rotation.

resoLution 3
To re‑appoint J T Sutcliffe as a Director, who retires by rotation.

resoLution 4
To re‑appoint J J Sykes as a Director, who retires having been appointed since the last Annual General Meeting.

resoLution 5
To re‑appoint PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as auditors of the Company.

resoLution 6
To authorise the Directors to fix the auditors’ remuneration.

resoLution 7
THAT pursuant to Section 551 of the Companies Act 2006, the Directors be and are generally and unconditionally authorised to exercise all powers 
of the Company to allot shares in the Company or to grant rights to subscribe for or to convert any security into shares in the Company up to an 
aggregate nominal amount of £4,341,479, provided that (unless previously revoked, varied or renewed) this authority shall expire on 26 August 2012 
or at the conclusion of the next Annual General Meeting of the Company, whichever is the earlier, save that the Company may make an offer or 
agreement before this authority expires which would or might require shares to be allotted or rights to subscribe for or to convert any security into 
shares to be granted after this authority expires and the Directors may allot shares or grant such rights pursuant to any such offer or agreement 
as if this authority had not expired. This authority is in substitution for all existing authorities under Section 551 of the Companies Act 2006 
(which, to the extent unused at the date of this resolution, are revoked with immediate effect).

resoLution 8
THAT subject to the passing of Resolution 7 and pursuant to Section 570 of the Companies Act 2006, the Directors be and are generally empowered to allot 
equity securities (within the meaning of Section 560 of the Companies Act 2006) for cash pursuant to the authority granted by Resolution 7 as if Section 
561(1) of the Companies Act 2006 did not apply to any such allotment, provided that this power shall be limited to the allotment of equity securities:

(a)  in connection with an offer of equity securities (whether by way of a rights issue, open offer or otherwise):

  (i)   to holders of ordinary shares in the capital of the Company in proportion (as nearly as practicable) to the respective numbers of ordinary 

shares held by them; and

  (ii)   to holders of other equity securities in the capital of the Company, as required by the rights of those securities or, subject to such rights, as the 

Directors otherwise consider necessary,

   but subject to such exclusions or other arrangements as the Directors may deem necessary or expedient in relation to treasury shares, fractional 
entitlements, record dates or any legal or practical problems under the laws of any territory or the requirements of any regulatory body or stock 
exchange; and

(b)  otherwise than pursuant to paragraph (a) of this resolution, up to an aggregate nominal amount of £650,000,

 and (unless previously revoked, varied or renewed) this power shall expire on 26 August 2012 or at the conclusion of the next Annual General Meeting 
of the Company, whichever is the earlier, save that the Company may make an offer or agreement before this power expires which would or might 
require equity securities to be allotted for cash after this power expires and the Directors may allot equity securities for cash pursuant to any such 
offer or agreement as if this power had not expired. This power is in substitution for all existing powers under Section 570 of the Companies Act 2006 
(which, to the extent unused at the date of this resolution, are revoked with immediate effect).

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82

Henry Boot PLC 
Annual Report and  
Financial Statements 2010

A lot has changed in 
125 years

t	Notice	of	annual	general	meeting	continued

resoLution 9
THAT pursuant to Section 701 of the Companies Act 2006, the Company be and it is hereby generally and unconditionally authorised to make 
market purchases (within the meaning of Section 693(4) of the Companies Act 2006) of ordinary shares of 10p each in the capital of the Company 
(‘ordinary shares’) provided that:

(a)  the maximum aggregate number of ordinary shares hereby authorised to be purchased is 11,055,000;

(b)  the minimum price (excluding expenses) which may be paid for an ordinary share is 10p;

(c)  the maximum price (excluding expenses) which may be paid for an ordinary share is not more than the higher of: 

  (i)   an amount equal to 105% of the average of the middle market quotations for an ordinary share as derived from the London Stock Exchange Daily 

Official List for the five business days before the purchase is made; and 

  (ii)   an amount equal to the higher of the price of the last independent trade of an ordinary share and the highest current independent bid 

for an ordinary share on the trading venue where the purchase is carried out,

(d)   the authority hereby conferred shall expire at the conclusion of the next Annual General Meeting of the Company after the passing of this 

resolution or, if earlier, on 26 August 2012; and

(e)   the Company may make a contract to purchase ordinary shares under the authority hereby conferred prior to the expiry of such authority which 

will or may be executed wholly or partly after the expiry of such authority.

resoLution 10
THAT the Directors’ Remuneration Report for the year ended 31 December 2010 as set out in the 2010 Annual Report and Financial Statements of the 
Company be and is hereby approved.

resoLution 11
THAT the draft Articles of Association produced to the meeting and signed by the Chairman of the meeting for identification purposes be adopted as 
the Articles of Association of the Company in substitution for, and to the exclusion of, the existing Articles of Association of the Company (including all 
provisions of the Company’s Memorandum of Association which, by virtue of Section 28 of the Companies Act 2006, are treated as provisions of the 
existing Articles of Association of the Company).

By order of the Board

j t sutCLiffe 
ComPany seCretary 
21 apRIl 2011 

Henry Boot PLC
registereD offiCe:
BannER cRoSS hall
EcclESall RoaD SouTh
ShEffIElD S11 9pD
REGISTERED In EnGlanD no. 160996

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A lot has changed in 
125 years

Henry Boot PLC 
Annual Report and  

Financial Statements 2010 83

notes
1. Only holders of ordinary shares in the Company are entitled to attend and vote at the AGM.

2. The holders of preference shares in the Company are not entitled to attend and vote at the AGM.

3.  The right to vote at the meeting is determined by reference to the register of members. Only those shareholders registered in the register of 

members of the Company as at 6.00pm on 25 May 2011 (or, if the meeting is adjourned, 6.00pm on the date which is two days before the date 
of the adjourned meeting) shall be entitled to attend and vote at the meeting in respect of the number of shares registered in their name at that time. 
Changes to entries in the register of members after that time shall be disregarded in determining the rights of any person to attend or vote (and the 
number of votes they may cast) at the meeting.

4.  A shareholder is entitled to appoint another person as his or her proxy to exercise all or any of his or her rights to attend and to speak and vote 

at the meeting. A proxy need not be a shareholder of the Company.

 A shareholder may appoint more than one proxy in relation to the meeting, provided that each proxy is appointed to exercise the rights attached 
to a different share or shares held by that shareholder. Failure to specify the number of shares each proxy appointment relates to or specifying 
a number which when taken together with the numbers of shares set out in the other proxy appointments is in excess of the number of shares 
held by the shareholder may result in the proxy appointment being invalid.

 A proxy may only be appointed in accordance with the procedures set out in notes 5 and 6 below and the notes to the proxy form. The appointment 
of a proxy will not preclude a shareholder from attending and voting in person at the meeting.

5.  A form of proxy is enclosed with the notice issued to holders of ordinary shares. When appointing more than one proxy, complete a separate proxy 
form in relation to each appointment. Additional proxy forms may be obtained by photocopying the proxy form. State clearly on each proxy form the 
number of shares in relation to which the proxy is appointed.

 To be valid, a proxy form must be received by post or (during normal business hours only) by hand at the offices of the Company’s registrars, 
Capita Registrars, 34 Beckenham Road, Beckenham BR3 4TU no later than 12 noon on 25 May 2011 (or, if the meeting is adjourned to a time 
more than 48 hours after the time fixed for holding the original meeting, no later than 24 hours before the time of any such adjourned meeting).

6.  CREST members who wish to appoint a proxy or proxies for the meeting (or any adjournment of it) through the CREST electronic proxy appointment 
service may do so by using the procedures described in the CREST Manual. CREST personal members or other CREST sponsored members, and 
those CREST members who have appointed a 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 specifications and must contain the information 
required for such instructions, 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 
Capita Registrars (ID:RA10) no later than 12 noon on 25 May 2011 (or, if the meeting is adjourned to a time more than 48 hours after the time fixed 
for the holding of the original meeting, no later than 24 hours before the time of any such adjourned meeting). 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 Applications Host) from which Capita Registrars 
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.

 CREST members and, where applicable, their CREST sponsors or voting service providers should note that Euroclear UK & Ireland Limited does 
not make available special procedures in CREST for any particular messages. 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(s), to procure that his or her 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 service providers are referred, in particular, to 
those sections of the CREST Manual concerning practical limitations of the CREST system and timings.

 The Company may treat a CREST Proxy Instruction as invalid in the circumstances set out in Regulation 35(5)(a) of the Uncertificated Securities 
Regulations 2001.

7.  A shareholder which is a corporation may authorise one or more persons to act as its representative(s) at the meeting. Each such representative 
may exercise (on behalf of the corporation) the same powers as the corporation could exercise if it were an individual shareholder, provided that 
(where there is more than one representative and the vote is otherwise than on a show of hands) they do not do so in relation to the same shares.

8.  Where a copy of this notice is being received by a person who has been nominated to enjoy information rights under Section 146 of the Companies 

Act 2006 (‘Nominated Person’):

(a)    the Nominated Person may have a right under an agreement between him/her and the shareholder by whom he/she was nominated, to be 

appointed, or to have someone else appointed, as a proxy for the meeting; or

(b)    if the Nominated Person has no such right or does not wish to exercise such right, he/she may have a right under such an agreement to give 

instructions to the shareholder as to the exercise of voting rights.

 The statement of the rights of shareholders in relation to the appointment of proxies in notes 4 to 6 above does not apply to a Nominated Person. 
The rights described in such notes can only be exercised by shareholders of the Company.

_2_HYB_ar10_back_[JW].indd   52

12/04/2011   12:53:21

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
84

Henry Boot PLC 
Annual Report and  
Financial Statements 2010

A lot has changed in 
125 years

t	Notice	of	annual	general	meeting	continued

notes CONTINUED
9.     A shareholder or shareholders having a right to vote at the meeting and holding at least 5% of the total voting rights of the Company (see note 15 
below), or at least 100 shareholders having a right to vote at the meeting and holding, on average, at least £100 of paid up share capital, may 
require the Company to publish on its website a statement setting out any matter that such shareholders propose to raise at the meeting relating 
to either the audit of the Company’s accounts (including the auditors’ report and the conduct of the audit) that are to be laid before the meeting 
or any circumstances connected with an auditor of the Company ceasing to hold office since the last AGM of the Company in accordance with 
Section 527 of the Companies Act 2006.

  Any such request must:

  (a)  identify the statement to which it relates, by either setting out the statement in full or, if supporting a statement requested by another 

shareholder, clearly identifying the statement which is being supported;

  (b)  comply with the requirements set out in note 10 below; and

  (c) be received by the Company at least one week before the meeting.

  Where the Company is required to publish such a statement on its website:

(i)  it may not require the shareholders making the request to pay any expenses incurred by the Company in complying with the request;

(ii) it must forward the statement to the Company’s auditors no later than the time when it makes the statement available on the website; and

(iii) the statement may be dealt with as part of the business of the meeting.

10.  Any request by a shareholder or shareholders to require the Company to publish audit concerns as set out in note 9:

  (a) may be made either:

(i)  in hard copy, by sending it to the Company Secretary, Henry Boot PLC, Banner Cross Hall, Ecclesall Road South, Sheffield S11 9PD; or

(ii)   in electronic form, by sending it by e‑mail to cosec@henryboot.co.uk. Please state ‘Henry Boot PLC: AGM’ in the subject line of the email,

  (b) must state the full name(s) and address(es) of the shareholder(s); and

  (c) where the request is made in hard copy form, it must be signed by the shareholder(s).

11.   Shareholders have the right to ask questions at the meeting relating to the business being dealt with at the meeting in accordance with 

Section 319A of the Companies Act 2006. The Company must answer any such question unless:

  (a) to do so would interfere unduly with the preparation for the meeting or would involve the disclosure of confidential information;

  (b) the answer has already been given on a website in the form of an answer to a question; or

  (c) it is undesirable in the interests of the Company or the good order of the meeting that the question be answered.

12.   The following documents will be available for inspection during normal business hours at the offices of DLA Piper UK LLP, 3 Noble Street, 

London EC2V 7EE from the date of this notice until the close of the meeting. They will also be available for inspection at the place of the meeting 
from at least 15 minutes before the meeting until it ends:

  (a) copy of the proposed new Articles of Association; and

  (b) copy of the existing Articles of Association marked to show changes being proposed.

13.   The information required by Section 311A of the Companies Act 2006 to be published in advance of the meeting, which includes the matters set 

out in this notice and information relating to the voting rights of shareholders, is available at www.henryboot.co.uk.

14.   Except as expressly provided above, shareholders who wish to communicate with the Company in relation to the meeting should do so using the 

following means:

  (a) telephone 0114 255 5444; or

  (b) e‑mail to cosec@henryboot.co.uk.

  No other methods of communication will be accepted.

15.   The issued ordinary share capital of the Company as at 21 April 2011 was 130,244,385 ordinary shares, carrying one vote each and representing 

the total number of voting rights in the Company.

_2_HYB_ar10_back_[JW].indd   53

12/04/2011   12:53:21

 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
 
   
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
A lot has changed in 
125 years

t Front cover images

Row 1 
The Cavendish Buildings on West Street,  Sheffield, an early shop and office development built in 1907–1919 and still in use today. 

Horses and carts being used on the 1920 Gravesend to Strood road widening contract. 

The Queen Adelaide Hotel, Sheffield, then on the corner of Bramall Lane and Hermitage Street. One of a series of public houses built 
in Sheffield in the period 1900–1920. 

The Company was also a prominent builder of local cinemas in the early years. This is The Star Picture House on Ecclesall Road, Sheffield 
dating from 1915. Somewhat inevitably, a petrol station now occupies the site. 

Since the First World War, virtually every British soldier has passed through Catterick Camp in North Yorkshire. It was originally built by 
Henry Boot when it was known as Richmond Camp. Pictured is the then newly built Camp Post Office. Today Catterick Garrison is almost 
a town in its own right. 

Row 2 
We undertook the construction of a factory for British Glass Industries Limited at Canning Town, London in 1922. 

The Company built an example of one of its houses at the prestigious 1924/25 British Empire Exhibition at Wembley. 

A Henry Boot (Garden Estates) Limited brochure extolling the virtues of its 1930s Garrowhill housing development just outside Glasgow. 

In the late 1920s and early 1930s Charles Boot and a certain George Bennie collaborated on a futuristic overhead ‘Railplane’ project, but 
in the event only a test track at Burnbrae, Scotland was ever built. 

We have built a number places of worship over the years. This is the 1936 classically inspired art deco Wilson Road Synagogue in Sheffield. 

Row 3 
Soil stabilisation work being undertaken in Doncaster in the mid 1950s. 

In the past, the Company has had many contracts overseas, particularly in Europe (France, Greece and Spain) and in the Far East (Hong Kong 
and Singapore). Pictured is bank protection work being carried out on a river near the Greek town of Arta in about 1950. The famous Henry Boot  
‘Greek Contract’ for land reclamation, irrigation works, road and bridge construction took place over four decades, only interrupted by the Second 
World War and the ensuing Greek civil war. 

It’s the early 1960s and the Banner Plant sales team pose for a group photograph. 

Rebuilding post-war Britain. Henry Boot & Sons (Reema) Limited was a specialist activity established in 1954 and supplied sectional houses 
and buildings of the type shown in this photograph. 

Liverpool College of Technology building in Byrom Street was a 1959 contract. Today, it forms part of Liverpool John Moores University. 

Row 4 
We built ‘The Chantry’ in Eastbourne, a typical early 1960s block of flats. 

Our Dronfield offices in north Derbyshire pictured in 1974. 

The cover of the Autumn 1975 issue of our in-house magazine ‘Boot World’ featured a striking image of the Victory House offices in Manchester 
that we had just completed. 

Once described as ‘One of the Seven Wonders of London’, the positively cathedral-like interior of the Tooting Cinema was transformed into 
a Granada bingo hall in 1979. 

A dramatic night-time view during slipforming operations in the construction of a storage silo for British Sugar by Henry Boot Civil Engineering Limited 
in the summer of 1982. 

Row 5 
The Board of Henry Boot & Sons Limited in 1985. Left to right: Doug Greaves, David Boot, Hamer Boot, Jamie Boot and Alan Bamford, 
under the watchful eye of Henry Boot.  

The refurbishment of local authority flats and houses has been a major activity for Henry Boot Construction in the past decade. These were 
undertaken for Sheffield City Council in Netherthorpe in 2001. 

Plant hire has been a long-established activity of the Henry Boot Group and always offers and continues to provide a very competitive service 
to its trade and general public customers. 

The way we shop now. B&Q along with Tesco and other big names in retailing have been major clients for Henry Boot Developments Limited. 

Chellaston, near Derby, where Hallam Land Management acquired a site, obtained the relevant planning permission and then sold 
it to a national housebuilder.

The commitment of the Henry Boot Group to environmental issues is reflected 
in this annual report. The cover has been printed on Trucard 2 Gloss, which 
is a FSC certified 100% woodfree pulp and is fully recyclable.

The text pages are printed on Cocoon Silk, which is made from 100% recycled 
fibres sourced from post consumer waste and Revive Silk, a recycled paper 
stock containing 75% recovered fibre and 25% virgin.

_5_HYB_ar10_cover.indd   1

12/04/2011   14:23:24

Further copies of the 2010 Annual Report 
and Financial Statements may be obtained 
from the Company Secretary.

Henry Boot PLC
Registered office: 
Banner Cross Hall 
Ecclesall Road South 
Sheffield S11 9PD

Registered in England No. 160996

t: 0114 255 5444 
f: 0114 258 5548 
e: cosec@henryboot.co.uk 
www.henryboot.co.uk

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