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Interserve plc
Annual Report 2017

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FY2017 Annual Report · Interserve plc
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PDF Page: 28772 - INT AR17 0 Cover.p1.pdf

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REGISTERED OFFICEInterserve Plc Interserve House Ruscombe Park Twyford  Reading Berkshire RG10 9JUT. +44 (0)118 932 0123 F. +44 (0)118 932 0206E. info@interserve.com www.interserve.comInterserve Plc     ANNUAL REPORT 2017INGENUITY AT WORKANNUAL REPORT 2017PDF Page: v2 28772 - INT AR17 0 CoverINNER.p1.pdf

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INTERSERVE IS ONE OF THE WORLD’S FOREMOST  SUPPORT SERVICES, CONSTRUCTION AND EQUIPMENT  SERVICES COMPANIES. WE OFFER ADVICE, DESIGN, CONSTRUCTION, EQUIPMENT, FACILITIES MANAGEMENT AND CITIZEN SERVICES. WE ARE HEADQUARTERED IN THE UK AND FTSE-LISTED. OUR GOAL IS TO PROVIDE A COST EFFECTIVE AND EFFICIENT SOLUTION TO OUR CLIENTS’ NEEDS.WE HAVE GROSS REVENUES OF £3.7 BILLION AND A WORKFORCE  OF CIRCA 75,000 PEOPLE WORLDWIDE.WE AIM TO BE A GREAT PLACE TO WORK FOR OUR EMPLOYEES WHERE EVERYTHING WE DO IS SHAPED BY OUR CORE VALUES.This Annual Report was printed in the UK by CPI Colour Limited, using vegetable based inks. The printer and paper mill are accredited with ISO 14001 Environmental Management Systems and are Forest Stewardship Council® chain-of-custody registered. The paper is 100% recycled, produced from de-linked post consumer waste. The silk laminate used on the outer cover is bio-degradable.PDF Page: v2  28772 - INT AR17 1 Front p1-45.p1.pdf

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Overview Who we are 02Chairman’s statement 04Chief Executive Officer’s statement 06Results in summary 08Our markets 09Strategic Report  Our strategy 12Business model 14Performance 16Operational review 18Principal risks and uncertainties 28Financial review 32GovernanceBoard of directors 48Advisers 51Corporate governance 52Audit Committee report 62Directors’ remuneration report 70Directors’ report 100Directors’ responsibility statement 109Financial StatementsIndependent auditor’s report 112Consolidated financial statements 122Notes to the consolidated  financial statements 128Company financial statements 184Notes to the Company financial statements 186Related undertakings 201Five-year analysis 208Shareholder information 210CONTENTSThe role of this reportThe role of the Annual Report and Accounts is to provide our shareholders and other interested parties with a clear understanding of how we create value. It should provide real insight into the Company, our strategy, our markets, and how we manage risk, as well as a comprehensive and clear report on the Company’s activities in the preceding year.FOR FURTHER INVESTOR INFORMATION:www.interserve.com/investorsStrategic ReportOverview01GovernanceFinancial StatementsPDF Page: v2  28772 - INT AR17 1 Front p1-45.p2.pdf

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*Excluding UK Construction and Group ServicesOVERVIEWWho we areBUSINESSES BY OPERATING PROFIT*SUPPORT SERVICES UK34%EQUIPMENT  SERVICES47%CONSTRUCTION INTERNATIONAL17%SUPPORT SERVICES INTERNATIONAL2%c.8,000CLIENTS345OFFICES  WORLDWIDE3CORE BUSINESS LINES:SUPPORT SERVICES,  CONSTRUCTION &  EQUIPMENT SERVICES02PDF Page: v2  28772 - INT AR17 1 Front p1-45.p3.pdf

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75,000EMPLOYEES10%90SERVICES03Strategic ReportOverviewGovernanceFinancial StatementsPDF Page: v2  28772 - INT AR17 1 Front p1-45.p4.pdf

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GLYN BARKER CHAIRMANUsually in this statement I reflect on the key matters which have occurred in the previous fiscal year. On this occasion my comments will also cover the first few months of 2018 in view of the significant events which have taken place in that period. In the last sixteen months Interserve has suffered unprecedented levels of disruption and faced a number of significant challenges. The Company was affected by general market headwinds and external events; however, much of this resulted from self-inflicted mistakes of the past. The resulting stress and uncertainty have led to anxiety amongst our staff, suppliers and customers and significant loss  of value for our shareholders from the fall in our share price.The changes in our executive team, the completion of our debt restructuring and the commencement of the ‘Fit for Growth’ programme are the first steps along the road to restoring stability, future financial success and underlying resilience in Interserve and to rebuilding trust with all our stakeholders. I comment on each of these points in a little more detail below.FINANCIAL PERFORMANCEOverall the Group’s financial performance in 2017 was extremely poor with headline profit falling to £52.4 million. An inefficient operating model and excessive cost structure left the Group exposed to weaknesses in the UK performance of Support Services and Construction, in addition to a further deterioration in Energy from Waste during the middle of the year. The combination of these issues outweighed the excellent performance from our Equipment Services division and good results from our International construction business.Success in our business requires discipline over the selection and pricing of bid opportunities, strong operational control over margin and cash generation, and an efficient, competitive cost infrastructure. It is clear to me that these disciplines have been inadequate in Interserve for a number of years. This is reflected not only in the underlying weak performance last year, but also by the provisions in these accounts against certain contracts resulting from our recent contract review. It is of no consolation to observe that many of these issues are also reflected in the performance of some of our competitors in construction and support services.  When executed well, there are huge benefits to society from a strong and efficient outsourcing industry, bringing enhanced efficiency, predictable performance and quality to the client. It is to be hoped that events over the last year or so will encourage the necessary changes in approach from all participants in this market.MANAGEMENT CHANGESIn March 2017 we announced that Debbie White would succeed Adrian Ringrose as Chief Executive and she joined us in September last year.  A month later, our new Chief Financial Officer,  Mark Whiteling, also joined us, replacing  Tim Haywood. Under Debbie’s leadership the  team has moved swiftly to identify and begin to deal with the operational and financial challenges facing Interserve. The Chief Executive’s Statement and Operational Review in this Annual Report provide more detail, but some highlights include:• Completion of a Group-wide strategic review• Completion of a review of our major contracts• Establishing the ‘Fit for Growth’ transformation plan to streamline the Group and improve efficiency and agility• Development of a comprehensive and realistic three-year business plan• Changing the leadership structure of Support Services and beginning to address the key issues described above• Strengthening the controls around construction contract bid approval and improving management oversight of ongoing operationsOVERVIEW Chairman’s  statement04PDF Page: v2  28772 - INT AR17 1 Front p1-45.p5.pdf

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Achieving so much in such a short time would be admirable in normal circumstances but, of course, Debbie, Mark and the rest of the executive team have also had to deal with one of the most complex debt refinancing negotiations in recent times and bring it to a successful conclusion. We are extremely fortunate to have secured the services of Debbie and Mark and I am hugely grateful for what they have already achieved.DEBT REFINANCINGIn 2017 we took the decision to suspend the dividend to preserve liquidity in the Group. However, ongoing deterioration in Energy from Waste combined with weakness in our Support Services and Construction businesses, meant that our liquidity came under increasing pressure towards the end of the year and there was a possibility of default on our year-end debt covenant. Furthermore, in my view, aggressive working capital management to operate within such a constrained environment is unfair on our suppliers and unsustainable.  We therefore sought temporary relief from  our lenders and we were able to announce on  13 December 2017 an increase in our borrowing facilities and a deferral of our covenant testing to 31 March 2018 (subsequently extended to 30 April). This was designed to give us time to negotiate a longer-term debt structure to support the business.I am delighted that, as we announced on 27 April 2018, these negotiations have come to a conclusion and we now have confirmed lending facilities through to September 2021. That we have been able to achieve such a complex refinancing in such a difficult environment is a testament to Debbie and her team and the integrity and robustness of their business plan.On behalf of the Board I would like to express my gratitude to those lenders who have supported us  in this refinancing. BOARD AND GOVERNANCEDuring the year Adrian Ringrose, Tim Haywood  and Bruce Melizan left the Board. Keith Ludeman has indicated that he does not wish to stand for re-election as a non-executive director at the AGM, as he is taking on increased responsibilities elsewhere and will be unable to devote appropriate time to Interserve. I am extremely grateful to Keith for his excellent contribution to the Board and his Chairmanship of the Remuneration Committee. I am pleased to announce that Nick Salmon has agreed to take over as Chairman of the Remuneration Committee.OUR PEOPLEI have highlighted the challenges that the leadership team have faced in recent months, but inevitably the impact of those changes has been felt by people throughout the business. These are difficult times for the Company and the sectors it operates in. Dealing with these challenges will necessitate changes for all staff and some will be impacted personally. Across Interserve our people have shown great resilience and loyalty. They have embraced the need for change and I thank them for this and their continued support. LOOKING AHEADThe turmoil of the past 16 months is behind us, but the hard work is not. We have made good progress in dealing with the challenges of completing our exit from Energy from Waste but significant risks clearly remain.The tasks of improving Interserve’s business, restoring financial resilience to our balance sheet and rebuilding trust with, and value for, our shareholders are just beginning. I am confident that we now have the necessary leadership to succeed. Once again, I would like to thank our staff, customers and suppliers for their support during this difficult period. I would also express my appreciation to those shareholders and lenders who have continued to support us throughout and those new stakeholders who have invested more recently.Glyn BarkerChairman27 April 2018“THE CHANGES IN OUR EXECUTIVE TEAM, THE COMPLETION OF OUR DEBT RESTRUCTURING AND THE COMMENCEMENT OF THE ‘FIT FOR GROWTH’ PROGRAMME ARE THE FIRST STEPS ALONG THE ROAD TO RESTORING STABILITY, FUTURE FINANCIAL SUCCESS AND UNDERLYING RESILIENCE IN INTERSERVE.”05Strategic ReportOverviewGovernanceFinancial StatementsPDF Page: v2  28772 - INT AR17 1 Front p1-45.p6.pdf

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DEBBIE WHITE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICEROVERVIEWChief Executive Officer’s statement2017 was clearly an extremely challenging year for Interserve. Throughout this period the Group has benefited enormously from its underlying strengths – our dedicated and hard-working employees, the depth of our client relationships, the underlying business models, and the strong support of our financial stakeholders.On our number one priority, the health and safety of our employees, I am pleased to say the Group’s performance improved in the year. While there will always be more to do through ongoing improvements, our Accident Incident Rate1 fell  from 128 in 2016 to 95 in 2017.Whilst the majority of my first six months as Chief Executive Officer has been spent establishing the long-term financial stability of the Group, I have had some opportunity to spend time visiting our operations. It is very clear that we have extremely strong delivery capability and client relationships. Interserve will be able to build on this as we seek to leverage the best of what we do across the Group.During the last six months, we have completed a full strategic review and developed a three-year business plan for the Group. In the course of this, we have addressed the key questions of which markets and services we wish to be in and deliver, what capabilities we currently have and will need “THROUGHOUT THIS PERIOD THE GROUP HAS BENEFITED ENORMOUSLY FROM ITS UNDERLYING STRENGTHS – OUR DEDICATED AND HARD-WORKING EMPLOYEES, THE DEPTH OF OUR CLIENT RELATIONSHIPS, THE UNDERLYING BUSINESS MODELS, AND THE STRONG SUPPORT OF OUR FINANCIAL STAKEHOLDERS.”1  Accident Incident Rate is based on the number of injuries meeting the RIDDOR reporting requirements per 100,000 workforce and includes associate entities.There were some good customer wins in the year, an example of which being the five-year contract we were awarded to provide facilities management services for the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). The five-year contract is worth £227 million over its life and was successfully mobilised in 2018. In the Middle East, we were awarded major new contracts with, among others, the Jumeirah Group and Liwa Plastics. During the course of 2018, we will refine and communicate our strategic plan further, but it  is based on four strategic priorities:1. Fit for Growth – improving cost efficiency 2.  Strengthening our competitive customer value proposition3. Standardising operational delivery4.  Developing our people and a consistent,  ‘One Interserve’ cultureThe first priority is ‘Fit for Growth’, our programme to ensure Interserve has the right strength, depth and level of resources going forward and leverages the scale of the Group. One of Interserve’s historic fundamental issues is that the cost base of the Group has not been fit for purpose. Our purchasing practices, the organisational design and the cost choices made, will not enable us even to achieve going forward and finally, how do we win in what is an ever-changing competitive landscape.In terms of our markets and services, each of the main businesses of the Group has a key role to play going forward. The business and financial models are currently complementary, many of the skills and capabilities of our people are transferable between them and if we leverage our back-office activities across the business, we can gain significant synergies.margins consistent with our peers in the industry. We have started to address all of these issues through our transformation plan, which began with an initial cost-out programme in late 2017 and initiatives such as a Group-wide organisational design project, already underway in 2018. We anticipate that the impact of this programme  will deliver £15 million to Group operating profit in 2018, and at least £40-£50 million by 2020, the majority of this benefit being in Support Services. 06PDF Page: v2  28772 - INT AR17 1 Front p1-45.p7.pdf

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The cost of this programme in 2017 was £16.5 million and is expected to incur a further  cost of circa £15 million in 2018. Key to the long-term success of the business is our second strategic priority: it is imperative that we have a competitive customer value proposition in each of the markets we choose to operate in. This must bring a depth of expertise and knowledge to our customers enabling them to deliver their own strategic goals. In the coming months and years, these value propositions will be strengthened and leveraged creating value for our clients, employees and shareholders. We will refocus our energy on where these propositions best meet the needs of our customers; a key component of this is the deepening of our relationships with clients, moving from single-service operations to a broader, deeper span of services. In terms of operational delivery, to maintain and improve our financial performance, it is key to have a standard way of delivering what we do and to not ‘reinvent the wheel’. Some progress has been made on the ‘Interserve way’ in the past, but this is not fully developed nor fully implemented, and embedding this is our third strategic priority.The key to the delivery of the strategy and the business plan is our people. We must implement a standard approach to leadership, to performance management, to training and development and to reward and recognition. The historic fragmented and federalised nature of our business has not allowed for the best development opportunities for our teams. Unlocking these aspects and creating a common Interserve culture is our  fourth strategic priority.Turning to Interserve’s 2017 financial results, the performance was extremely poor. A significant proportion of our Support Services business consists of high-volume, and relatively low-margin contracts. Historic selection and pricing in this sector has not been as disciplined as it will be in the future and the contract provision and poor performance is reflective of this. In addition, the operational discipline needs to be strengthened to ensure predictable and resilient results.Having confirmed the intention to hold and further develop our Equipment Services division following the strategic review in 2016, its performance in the period was very good, with strong growth momentum contributing to a 12 per cent increase  in total operating profit to £54.4 million.Underlying performance in our UK Construction business was poor, with challenging market conditions and pockets of underperformance leading to a net loss for the year. This division has also historically suffered from poor decision making in project targeting and inadequate project control, reflected in the significant provisions we have made against a number of outstanding projects following our contract review. Internationally, we delivered a strong performance in improving markets, stimulated by local development plans and the ongoing need for infrastructure development across the region.The outlook on some of our Energy from Waste contracts deteriorated during the year, leading to the increase in our provision announced last September. We have nevertheless made good progress in dealing with the challenges of completing our exit from the sector. Our target to complete the construction phase on all remaining projects in the first half of 2018 remains on track and, specifically, on the Derby project, we achieved the necessary Renewal Obligation Certificates (ROCs) accreditation in March 2018 as scheduled. Despite this progress, risks clearly remain and we continue to expend every effort to bring these projects to a satisfactory conclusion.Strengthening our leadership team has been  a key activity with new appointments of  Mark Whiteling as Chief Financial Officer, Sally Cabrini as Director of Transformation, IT and People, and  Andy McDonald as General Counsel and Company Secretary. The Group will continue to invest in strong capability in its core areas in the coming years by both the development of internal candidates and by bringing in new talent.As we look to the future, there is significant opportunity with the new strategy and business plan and in leveraging the Interserve values to transform the Group. The result will be a more focused, higher margin, cash generative business delivering value to its customers, employees  and shareholders.OUTLOOKThe completion of our refinancing means that the business now has the platform to execute its Fit for Growth plans and rebuild momentum in its underlying performance. Whilst this refinancing has come at a considerable cost, delivery of the agreed business plan will enable us to consider options for achieving a more secure financial foundation. The Board’s expectations for the current year remain broadly unchanged. Debbie WhiteChief Executive Officer27 April 2018“THE COMPLETION OF OUR REFINANCING MEANS THAT THE BUSINESS NOW HAS THE PLATFORM TO EXECUTE ITS FIT FOR GROWTH PLANS AND REBUILD MOMENTUM IN ITS UNDERLYING PERFORMANCE.”07Strategic ReportOverviewGovernanceFinancial StatementsPDF Page: v2  28772 - INT AR17 1 Front p1-45.p8.pdf

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REVENUELOSS BEFORE TAXGROSS OPERATING CASH FLOWUNDERLYING EBITDAFUTURE ORDER BOOKHEADLINE EARNINGS PER SHARE 12016£3,244.6m2016£7.6bn2016£253.9mOVERVIEWResults in summary2016£(94.1)m201684.5p1 See note 11 for calculation of earnings per share2017£3,250.8m2017£7.6bn2017£20.1m201729.0p2017£(244.4)m2016£194.0m2017£116.0m08Overview

Strategic Report

Governance

Financial Statements

OVERVIEW

Our markets

WHAT WE DO

SUPPORT SERVICES

MARKET THEMES

•  The management and delivery of outsourced 

operational activities across a range of 
sectors in both public and private markets

•  Provision of citizen services in the Justice, 
Health and Training and Employment sectors

•  Services provided in the UK and the  

Middle East

•  UK outsourced FM market was £88.6 billion in 
2017 and we expect fastest areas of growth 
to be in TFM and Mechanical and Electrical 
(M&E) services

•  Growth opportunities in Justice market from 

prison renewal and privatisation

•  Training and employment opportunities 

resulting from Apprenticeship Levy and fast-
growing Saudi Arabia market

CONSTRUCTION

•  Provision of advice, design, construction 
and fit-out services for buildings and 
infrastructure across a range of sectors in 
both public and private markets

•  Fragmented market with limited growth 

prospects

•  Infrastructure and private housing are forecast 

to grow faster than market as a whole

•  Fit-out market continues to offer 

opportunities

EQUIPMENT SERVICES

•  Provision of engineering solutions for the 

•  Continued global growth in infrastructure

construction industry in the specialist field 
of temporary structures, i.e. formwork, 
falsework and shoring

•  Operating in over 20 countries around  

the world

•  Short-term headwinds from increasing regional 

and local competition

09

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PDF Page: v2  28772 - INT AR17 1 Front p1-45.p10.pdf

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Job Name: 81652z Interserve Annual Report 2017

An Interserve-led consortium was selected for an £85 million project by Durham University to finance, design, build and operate two new colleges in Durham City, strengthening our position in the further education market.The consortium, made up of Interserve, fund and asset management firm, Equitix, and on-campus student accommodation developer and operator, Campus Living Villages UK (CLV), will finance, build and operate the two new facilities for up to 50 years. Interserve’s construction division will design and build the two new residential facilities, which will have up to 1,000 student bed spaces, plus associated academic and social college spaces on a University-owned area of land just to the south of the city. Interserve will also design and build a University hub building on the same site, comprising student facilities and administrative space. The contract, which adds to our extensive portfolio of student accommodation projects, also builds on our 15-year relationship with Durham University, for whom we built the recently-opened Ogden Centre for Fundamental Physics.DURHAM UNIVERSITY  WIN STRENGTHENS OUR POSITION IN THE FURTHER EDUCATION MARKET 10PDF Page: v2  28772 - INT AR17 1 Front p1-45.p11.pdf

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Our strategy 12Business model 14Performance 16Operational review 18Principal risks and uncertainties 28Financial review 32Strategic  ReportStrategic ReportOverviewGovernanceFinancial Statements11STRATEGIC REPORT

Our strategy

Divisional strategy: Strategy focus for 2018 and beyond
Interserve has developed a coherent and consistent strategy to drive the overall direction of the business

2018 FOCUS

2018+ STRATEGY

SUPPORT 
SERVICES UK

SUPPORT 
SERVICES 
INTERNATIONAL

CONSTRUCTION 
UK

CONSTRUCTION 
INTERNATIONAL

• Focus on select sectors, 
products, services and 
geographies

• Better pricing and  
bidding discipline

• Cost and risk control 

• Delivery optimisation

• Reduce overhead and  

streamline support functions

• Standardised services 

• Self-deliver the majority  

of services

• Grow in places we choose  

to play

• Effective bidding and efficient  

delivery in select sectors/
regions

• Standardise services in Learning  

& Employment business

• Grow in carefully selected 

sectors with common platform

• Grow share in defined  
high-growth sectors

• Explore expansion opportunities 

to other Middle Eastern 
countries

EQUIPMENT 
SERVICES

• Maximise core business and  
expand in existing markets 

• Accelerate ground-shoring  

capability and delivery

• Improve cost efficiency

• Scale up sales capabilities

• Strengthen regional support

12

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PDF Page: v2  28772 - INT AR17 1 Front p1-45.p13.pdf

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PROFITABLE GROWTHFocusSimplificationVisibility & ProcessesPeople  & CultureOrganisation  & GovernanceStandard-isationStrategy enablers• Strategically choose where to play based on our competency/unique capability and market potential (sector and geography, etc)• Exit/stop bidding in non- focus areas• Standardise our offers to ensure efficient commercial activities as well as delivery• We will only be able to achieve this if we focus on select sectors/geographies• Simplify our operating model to create the most efficient commercial and delivery model to win on our chosen “battlegrounds”•  “One version of the truth” – reliable, accurate and timely data to allow proper Group control (e.g. finance, risks) as well as business/performance management (e.g. pipeline, margin)FIT FOR GROWTH•  Strong leadership  and ownership•  Clear governance structure with responsibilities and accountabilities  clearly defined•  Shared Service Centres to support businesses efficiently• “One Interserve” mentality• Strong sense of ownership, openness to change, entrepreneurial and innovative• Compelling value propositions to the talent that we wantALL UNDERPINNED BY FOUR STRATEGIC PRIORITIESDELIVER THE FIT FOR GROWTH TRANSFORMATION PLANSTANDARDISE OPERATIONAL DELIVERYDEFINE AND DELIVER A VALUE PROPOSITION FOR CUSTOMERSONE INTERSERVE CULTURE AND APPROACH2017201820192020Strategic ReportOverviewGovernanceFinancial Statements13PDF Page: v2  28772 - INT AR17 1 Front p1-45.p14.pdf

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STRATEGIC REPORTBusiness modelWHAT WE DOHOW WE DO ITTHROUGH OUR PEOPLEWe listen and  encourage openness. Whatever the task in hand, everybody can  and should take pride  in a job well done.We ask questions, think differently, seek solutions and create ideas to support our customers and add value. We strive to always work in a safe and sustainable way.A leader in innovative and sustainable outcomes for our clients and a great place to work for our people.  We deliver construction, equipment services, facilities management and citizen services.  Headquartered in the UK and FTSE listed, we have gross revenues of £3.7 billion and a workforce  of circa 75,000 people worldwide. We principally deliver services and outcomes to other businesses based on longstanding and  trusted relationships.We deliver services in over 40 countries around the world.Since late 2017, Interserve has evaluated which markets, products and services are critical for future success. The new governance processes for the Group will ensure the strategic approach is implemented.THROUGH STRONG GOVERNANCE14PDF Page: v2  28772 - INT AR17 1 Front p1-45.p15.pdf

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SUPPLY CHAIN  MANAGEMENTWe manage and work with our extensive supply chain to ensure we get the best value from suppliers to meet our clients’ needs safely and sustainably. We manage risk by ensuring our supply chain complies with our policies and consider the cost of ownership, quality, service and delivery when selecting our suppliers. We treat our supply chain in a consistent manner from selection to contract agreement and ongoing management.SYSTEMS  AND PROCESSESInterserve’s proven expertise over many years lies in the evolution of systems and processes to maximise impact and manage resources. Through the innovative use of technology and the experience of serving numerous customers, we are constantly looking at ways to enhance process management. Interserve brings ingenuity to work on a daily basis to ensure we can always improve systems and processes in partnership with our customers.PROJECT MANAGEMENT  AND DELIVERYWe use proven programme management tools and draw from our vast experience of delivering complex projects for both public and private-sector organisations. This includes mobilising, transitioning and transforming large-scale contracts across a range of sectors. We recognise the importance of using proven systems to assure our readiness for service commencement, allowing us to deliver the best service possible to our customers.STRATEGIC REPORTBusiness modelSUPPORT SERVICES Facilities managementFrontline servicesEstate managementIndustrial servicesOil and gas servicesCONSTRUCTIONBuildingInfrastructureEngineering servicesFit-outConsultingEQUIPMENT SERVICESDesignEngineeringPropping and  shoring solutionsGround shoringHOW WE CREATE VALUEOUR EXPERTISEWHAT WE DOSee case study on page 110See case study on page 10See case study on page 46Strategic ReportOverviewGovernanceFinancial Statements15STRATEGIC REPORT

Performance 

KPIs
 We use a scorecard of financial and non-financial KPIs to measure critical aspects of the Group’s performance.  
These KPIs are aligned with: 

•  Achieving the Group’s strategic objectives of delivering a 

substantial future workload and generating strong earnings 
growth and cash conversion.

•  The Group’s key behavioural goals, specifically regarding our 
employees and the health and safety of everyone working 
both directly and indirectly for Interserve.

INVESTORS
HEADLINE EARNINGS PER SHARE1

FUTURE WORKLOAD2

2017

29.0p

2016

84.5p

2017

67%

2016

70%

CLIENT RETENTION 
(UK Support Services)

2017

82%

2016

52%

TARGET
VISIBILITY OF OVER 70% OF NEXT 12 
MONTHS’ REVENUE (MARKET CONSENSUS)

EMPLOYEES
ACCIDENT INCIDENT RATE3

EMPLOYEE ENGAGEMENT INDEX SCORE
(figures for 2017 not available)

2017

95

2016

128

TARGET
HALVE THE RATE BY 
2020 FROM A 2010 
BASE OF 379

2016

75%

APPRENTICES, TRAINEES, 
GRADUATES4

WORK 
PLACEMENTS

2017

535

2016

601

2017

3,387

2016

2,941

16

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2015

68%

TRAINING 
DAYS

2017

82,713

2016

101,168

 
 
Overview

Strategic Report

Governance

Financial Statements

ENVIRONMENT

Natural Capital

Water consumption (m3)  
(relative metric: m3/£m)5

Construction waste (tonnes)  
(relative metric: tonnes/£m)5

Total carbon emissions (tonnes CO2e)  
(relative metric: tonnes CO2e/£m)5

UK

ROW

Total

UK

ROW

Total

UK

ROW

Total

40% reduction by 2020

40% reduction by 2020

60% reduction by 2025

2017 Performance  
vs. 2013

Yr on Yr Change  
2017 vs. 2016

Absolute

Relative

Absolute

Relative

-9%

2%

1%

1%

-40%

-33%

-21%

-9%

-12%

-22%

-27%

-17%

-13%

-19%

-45%

-33%

-35%

-28%

2%

-5%

-5%

29%

-19%

-10%

-11%

-13%

-13%

1%

3%

-3%

27%

-12%

-9%

-12%

-6%

-12%

We recognise the natural environment plays a significant role in 
the economy and society. Our approach to managing natural 
capital includes setting ambitious targets to minimise our 
impacts, focusing on responsible sourcing and improving 
resources efficiency, and protecting the services the natural 
environment provides.

The following key environmental issues are addressed through 
our aim to generate a positive environmental impact as part of 
our SustainAbilities programme:

•  Water use and scarcity

•  Responsible sourcing and efficient use of natural resources. 

During 2017 we have made considerable progress towards 
achieving our aim of making a positive contribution through 
both our own operations and those we undertake on behalf of 
clients. This includes reducing carbon emissions by 28 per cent 
(on a relative basis over the last four years) across our 
operations. This has been driven primarily by a focus on fuel 
use in our fleet and a focus on energy use across our estate.

•  Mitigating climate change through reducing carbon 

emissions associated with our use of energy, fuel and travel

These performance metrics will be revisited as our strategy 
evolves.

•  Waste management – generation, treatment and disposal

1  See note 11 for calculation of earnings per share.
2  Future workload comprises forward orders and pipeline. Forward orders are those for which we have secured contracts in place and pipeline covers 

contracts for which we are in bilateral negotiations and on which final terms are being agreed.

3  Accident Incident Rate is based on the number of injuries meeting the RIDDOR reporting requirements per 100,000 workforce and includes  

associate entities. 

4  Number of apprentices, trainees and graduates on programme.
5  £m revenue.

17

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STRATEGIC REPORTOperational        reviewThe Operational Review refers to a number of alternative performance metrics; it is considered that these better reflect the underlying performance of the business. See note 32 to the consolidated financial statements for the basis of calculation.Additional disclosure is made in the Financial Review of non-underlying items and why the directors believe it is appropriate to exclude these in considering operating performance. Certain comparatives are restated within these statements (see note 1).SUPPORT SERVICESSupport Services focuses on the management and delivery of operational services for both public and private-sector clients in the UK and internationally. Results summary20172016ChangeRevenue– UK£1,687.5m£1,718.1m-2%– International1£193.9m£267.9m-28%Contribution to total operating profit£41.7m£89.5m-54%– UK£38.9m£80.1m-51%– International1£2.8m£9.4m-70%Operating margin – UK2.3%4.7%– International21.7%3.6%Future workload3– UK£6.1bn£5.7bn– International1£218m£192m1 Including share of associates.2  Operating margin is calculated based on the underlying operating margin of associates and the reported operating margin of subsidiaries.3  Future workload comprises forward orders and pipeline. Forward orders are those for which we have secured contracts in place and pipeline covers contracts for which we are in bilateral negotiations and on which final terms are being agreed.These figures exclude non-underlying items.UKSupport Services UK delivered a disappointing performance, largely due to the impact of regulatory changes, challenging contract mobilisations, excessive historical overheads and a cost base that has not been flexible enough.Revenue was stable at £1.7 billion, reflecting good work winning and contract retentions but, as expected, operating profit was negatively impacted by regulatory-driven costs including the UK National Living Wage (NLW) increases (introduced in April 2016), the Apprenticeship Levy, increased IAS 19 pension service charges and changes to the application of holiday pay and travelling time on our large workforce. Profits were specifically impacted by a number of large contract mobilisations, contract performance in the justice business and some underperforming accounts which are being remedied through ‘Fit for Growth’ - the three-year programme launched by the new management team in October 2017 focused on increasing the Group’s organisational efficiency, improving Group-wide procurement processes and ensuring greater standardisation and simplification across the business.New management has already taken decisive action to address the division’s excessive cost base, including cutting the division’s headcount as part of Fit for Growth. The margin absorbed the substantial rise in the NLW, one of the factors contributing to the fall to 2.3 per cent.Despite the cost headwinds absorbed by the division during the year, it won £2.1 billion of  new work and the division’s future workload grew 7 per cent to £6.1 billion. The UK Government has been our largest customer for many years, and we continue to be one of its largest suppliers, winning a number of important new accounts during the year, demonstrating the Government’s ongoing faith in our ability to continue to mobilise and deliver large-scale contracts.18PDF Page: v2  28772 - INT AR17 1 Front p1-45.p19.pdf

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We strengthened our position as one of the Ministry of Defence’s largest infrastructure partners during the period, winning a two-year contract extension worth up to £265 million to continue as the infrastructure support provider for four overseas UK Armed Forces bases (in the Falkland Islands and Ascension Island in the South Atlantic Ocean, as well as Gibraltar and Cyprus in the Mediterranean). We were also awarded a five-year contract worth £227 million to provide facilities management services for the Department for Work and Pensions, which is currently being mobilised. This contract will see us providing services to over 700 buildings throughout the UK, covering over 1.3 million square metres of space. In the transport sector we secured a further five-year facilities management contract with Network Rail worth £65 million, which sees us deliver a range of facilities services across 11 of Network Rail’s managed stations in London, Reading and Bristol, which include eight of the UK’s 10 busiest stations. The new contract builds upon Interserve’s existing relationship with Network Rail, which has included providing cleaning services across the organisation’s estate for the last five years. We also won a new five-year contract worth £90 million to provide total facilities management services for the Department for Transport and nine of its agencies, plus the Environment Agency. We achieved a notable contract extension, winning a £140 million contract with the BBC to continue providing facilities services until 2023. This latest four-year extension to the account, which was first awarded in 2014, will see us continue to provide services from critical broadcast engineering, energy and utilities management through to cleaning, portering and security at 150 BBC sites, including the corporation’s major offices and production facilities at MediaCityUK in Salford and Broadcasting House in Portland Place, London.More broadly in the commercial sector, we won new facilities management contracts with power generation group, RWE, travel retailer, Dufry, and law firm, Irwin Mitchell.Our learning and skills business (Interserve Learning & Employment) had a busy year following the introduction of the UK Apprenticeship Levy and we further invested in this area to maximise the significant opportunities presented by this reform. Our capability in designing, delivering and evaluating apprenticeship training within this business is now playing an increasingly valuable role as higher employment costs and regulatory requirements drive employers to invest more in training and skills, either to defray their Apprenticeship Levy or to upskill and gain additional productivity from an increasingly costly workforce. During the year we won new contracts with DHL, Countrywide, BT Group, Stagecoach Group, Grafton and Unilever.We were awarded a five-year contract worth  £227 million to provide facilities management services for the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).Interserve will provide the DWP estate with mechanical, electrical and building maintenance as well as cleaning, catering, waste disposal, removal and secure destruction of confidential waste services to over 700 buildings throughout the UK, covering over 1.3 million square metres of space. The contract is part of an innovative ‘integrator’ model being launched to manage the DWP estate. The new model replaces the DWP’s existing Private Finance Initiative contract, which ended  in March 2018.The model will allow DWP to focus on transformational objectives and strategic estates management, whilst being supported by Interserve and other specialist organisations to deliver the specific services needed to operate the DWP estate. SUPPORTING AND MANAGING THE DWP’S UK ESTATE Strategic ReportOverviewGovernanceFinancial Statements19PDF Page: v2  28772 - INT AR17 1 Front p1-45.p20.pdf

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“‘FIT FOR GROWTH’ - THE THREE-YEAR PROGRAMME LAUNCHED BY THE NEW MANAGEMENT TEAM IN OCTOBER 2017 IS FOCUSED ON INCREASING THE GROUP’S ORGANISATIONAL EFFICIENCY, IMPROVING GROUP-WIDE PROCUREMENT PROCESSES AND ENSURING GREATER STANDARDISATION AND SIMPLIFICATION ACROSS THE BUSINESS.”In the justice sector, we won a contract to run a range of employment training schemes at Wrexham’s HMP Berwyn, where inmates can improve their skills, employability and qualifications to ensure they are work-ready when they are released.Our healthcare business, which provides nursing care in the home for high-acuity patients, delivered a resilient, profitable performance during the year and achieved a notable contract extension with healthcare firm, Baxter.For Interserve, 2018 will principally be characterised by our transformation plans for the business and this is especially relevant to our Support Services division as we look to improve profitability. We will be reviewing organisational design, building on the work already started in 2017, to ensure an effective and efficient operating model. We will also look to improve governance and process to ensure a disciplined approach to work-winning and contract management. As part of our new strategy for Support Services, we will also focus on select sectors and service offerings. 2018 has started with major contract mobilisations for the Department for Work and Pensions and the Department for Transport and we continue to win work, building on a significant order book of £6.1 billion. While some uncertainties remain, specifically the outcome of Brexit negotiations, we remain a key strategic supplier to UK Government and we fully expect to build on this over the course of the year. Through a focus on cost reduction and stronger discipline on contract management, we would expect to see some benefits delivered in 2018.InternationalThe division performed creditably, delivering an improved profit performance in the second half of the year (H1 2017: £0.9 million). This follows the action taken to reduce the size and cost base of the division in 2016 which we saw the benefits of during 2017. We also diversified our operations in Qatar and Oman in response to challenging market conditions and to reflect continued low oil prices and the cumulative impact on clients’ spending. As a result, the smaller, leaner division delivered revenues of £193.9 million (YE 2016: £267.9 million) over the year. The division reported a profit of  £2.8 million (YE 2016: £9.4 million), demonstrating that we can still deliver a profit with a lower cost base and reduced volumes.Market conditions in the Middle East facilities management market – in which we delivered a profit during the period – improved during the year, enabling us to leverage our extensive UK experience and longstanding customer relationships in the region. This was highlighted through our success in securing a £34 million facilities management contract with Musanada, which delivers maintenance and infrastructure projects for the Abu Dhabi government. We also won a £10 million contract to provide facilities management services at Qatar’s Doha Festival City Mall and a £5 million support services contract with Emirates Aluminium.We also won facilities management contracts with several private-sector firms including accounts  with Ford Middle East and Africa and retail group,  Al Shaya, in the UAE.STRATEGIC REPORTOperational review continued20PDF Page: v2  28772 - INT AR17 1 Front p1-45.p21.pdf

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The division’s future workload at the end of December 2017 was up 13.5 per cent at £218 million (2016: £192 million) as the market stabilises and adapts to a ‘new normal’ oil price.Given the reduction in size and cost base for our International Support Services business in 2017, we expect 2018 to be a year of consolidation, as a smaller, yet profitable business. While still a relatively small business, we still view our FM work in the Middle East to be an important medium to long-term value opportunity and we will continue to target profitable growth in this area in 2018.EQUIPMENT SERVICESEquipment Services, which trades globally as RMD Kwikform (RMDK), provides engineering solutions in the specialist field of temporary structures needed to deliver major infrastructure and building projects. It is a global market leader and our engineers solve complex problems for our customers, through the application of world-class design and logistics capabilities, backed up by technology and an extensive fleet of specialist equipment. Our activities have a broad geographic spread, the mix of which can change quickly,  hence we manage our equipment fleet globally, combining our scale and expertise with agility  and responsiveness to meet customers’ needs  and safeguard our operational efficiency.Results summary120172016Change Revenue£229.0m£224.1m+2%Contribution to total operating profit£54.4m£48.6m+12%Margin23.8%21.7%Our strong growth momentum continued as contribution to total operating profit increased by 12 per cent to £54.4 million, and margins improved to 23.8 per cent, reflecting healthy demand, strong pricing and market positioning across the broad range of global infrastructure markets in which  we operate. The division continues to have good momentum across its international markets, particularly the Middle East and UK and it was pleasing to see that we achieved growth across a broad range of our markets, rather than in any one individual territory during the period.In Asia-Pacific, we delivered a good performance in Hong Kong, driven by our ongoing work on large-scale infrastructure projects, including the Kowloon Rail Terminus and the Hong Kong Macau Bridge, on which we completed our work during the period. We again performed well in the Middle East, with demand continuing to grow in the UAE where we won work on the Dubai Ports Bridge project, and in Saudi Arabia, where we continue to work on the Riyadh Metro scheme.We delivered a strong performance in the UK, with work on several major projects continuing, including the Defence National Rehabilitation Centre in Loughborough and on sizeable rail improvement projects in Reading and on the Stockley Viaduct project near Heathrow airport. We also completed major long-term projects during the period, including work on the Mersey Gateway Bridge and the Medway crossing. Last year’s launch of new products in the UK ground-shoring market has gone well and we expect to make further progress in this market in 2018.As highlighted in our strategic review of the RMDK business in 2016, we have exited some of our smaller, less attractive markets including Singapore and Colombia and have also rationalised parts of the product range. Our adaptation of new technologies sets us apart in the temporary works sector and we continue to exploit our capability in 3D design and engineering, providing rapid visualisation tools to enable customers to quickly and easily visualise our solutions.Over the next 12 months, Equipment Services will continue to pursue the recommendations of our 2016 strategic review, developing new opportunities such as ground-shoring, while also exiting some geographies based on evolving demand for our services. Macro uncertainties, such as the Qatar trade blockade may impact trading, but we would expect to maintain a similar level of performance from the division in 2018 despite some currency headwinds.CONSTRUCTIONWe offer design and construction services to create whole-life, sustainable solutions for building and infrastructure projects. Our focus is on forming long-term relationships and delivering repeat business through commercial structures such as framework agreements and project-financed schemes.Our presence in the Middle East (in UAE, Qatar and Oman) is structured through longstanding joint-venture partnerships, enabling us to form enduring relationships with clients and to combine our international experience with our partners’ local knowledge to deliver outstanding service. 1 Excluding Exited Business.Strategic ReportOverviewGovernanceFinancial Statements21STRATEGIC REPORT

Operational review continued

Results summary

2017

2016

Change

Revenue

- UK1

£1,048.2m £870.8m

+20%

- International2

£290.5m £296.9m

-2%

Contribution to total 
operating profit

(£0.2m)

£42.1m

- UK1

- International2

(£19.4m) £25.2m

£19.2m £16.9m

Operating margin

- UK1

- International3

Future workload

- UK1

- International2

-1.9%

7.0%

2.9%

5.5%

£1.0bn

£1.2bn

£236m £365m

1  Excluding Exited Business.

2  Share of associates.

3   Operating margin is calculated based on the underlying 

operating margin of associates.

UK
2017 was another difficult year for our UK 
Construction business due to the ongoing period 
of challenging market conditions and continued 
pockets of underperformance in operational 
delivery in a number of contracts, which resulted in 
a net loss result for the division. 

We have continued to narrow our work-winning focus 
onto core sectors and activities and have refined 
the risk profile of work that we take on. Despite 
this, revenue rose 20.4 per cent during the year 
as we traded through legacy contracts. Revenue 
is expected to fall in 2018 as the shrinkage of the 
order book works through – during the year the order 
book fell 16.7 per cent to £1.0 billion. Going forward, 
we expect the division to be a smaller business by 
revenue but one capable of consistent profit margins 
in line with industry norms.

In the final quarter of 2017 the business conducted 
a contract review and balance sheet review. As part 
of this review the business identified the need for 
significant balance sheet write-downs principally in 
relation to work-in-progress and receivables. The 
majority of the value of these write-downs related to 
UK Construction. These write-downs were recorded as 
non-underlying and are not reported in the underlying 
numbers reported above. Please see the Financial 
Review section for further details.

During the year we further strengthened our cost, 
pricing and bidding controls and narrowed our 

strategic focus, restricting work-winning activity 
to select sectors, regions and activities and have 
refined our risk appetite in new work that we take 
on. We also instigated a number of changes to 
better manage the risks from future work, such as 
establishing a Contract and Investment Committee, 
which approves all contracts requiring a Parent 
Company Guarantee, a bond, or is worth in excess 
of £5 million.

Our operating model continues to combine a strong 
regional presence and exposure to framework 
agreements with infrastructure and public-sector 
customers, in core sectors such as defence, 
education and healthcare, along with a growing 
presence in fit-out markets.

Reflecting this increased selectivity in work 
winning, our future workload fell for the third year 
running, a substantial portion of which is focused 
on low-risk projects, constructing a range of 
buildings and infrastructure often under framework 
agreements with public-sector customers and utility 
companies. 

We secured a place on a new construction framework 
launched by specialist healthcare property company, 
Prime, and Yeovil District Hospital NHS Foundation 
Trust (YDH). This continues our 15-year role on UK 
health frameworks, through which we have delivered 
over £1 billion of diverse healthcare facilities across 
more than 250 projects, which includes the UK’s 
first Proton Beam therapy unit, currently under 
construction at The Christie in Manchester.

We also won a place on the Homes and Communities 
Agency’s £8 billion Delivery Partner Panel 3 (DPP3) 
Framework - the four-year framework is divided into 
regional lots, and Interserve - a new entrant into 
the DPP framework - is appointed to all five. We also 
won a place on major highway and infrastructure 
frameworks in Manchester and across the Yorkshire 
and Humber Region, with the lots to which we have 
been appointed having a potential value in excess  
of £500 million. 

In another of our longstanding core markets, 
education, an Interserve-led consortium was 
selected for an £85 million project by Durham 
University to finance, design, build and operate two 
new colleges in Durham City. The consortium, made 
up of Interserve, fund and asset management firm, 
Equitix, and on-campus student accommodation 
developer and operator, Campus Living Villages UK 
(CLV), will finance, build and operate the two new 
facilities for up to 50 years. We also won contracts 
with an average value of c£20 million to build four 
schools in Yorkshire and Wales.

22

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Overview

Strategic Report

Governance

Financial Statements

The division was named Construction Company of 
the Year for the second year running at the National 
Centre for Diversity’s annual awards.

Despite disappointing results in 2017, considerable 
work has been done to return the Construction 
business in the UK to a stable platform and this 
will continue through 2018. We are working to 
improve organisational structure and capability and 
we expect to improve our performance. Our focus 
remains on quality contracts, targeting profits and 
not revenue and we will restructure the cost base 
accordingly; the division is likely to face working 
capital challenges as we create efficiencies in the 
model, but we will manage these accordingly.

International
International Construction delivered a strong 
performance in improving markets stimulated by 
development plans such as those for Expo 2020 in 
the UAE and the ongoing need for infrastructure 
development across the region.

Contribution to operating profit in our associate 
businesses rose by 13.6 per cent to £19.2 million 
(2016: £16.9 million), with margins strengthening to 
7.0 per cent (2016: 5.5 per cent). Future workload, 
however, fell to £236 million (2016: £365 million). 

Market conditions in the UAE were largely good 
with key contract wins including refurbishment and 
fit-out work worth c£80 million with the Jumeirah 
Group (Jumeirah Beach Hotel) and Dubai Properties 
(Double Tree Hilton). We also won a range of fit-
out contracts and further work on the Mall of the 
Emirates following the completion of our work to 
extend the facility last year.

In Qatar, we won a £102 million contract to build 
a range of substations and continue to make good 
progress (with our joint-venture partner ALEC) in 
delivering Doha Festival City. We also won a  
£23 million contract to build a sewage treatment 
plant for Hyundai Rotem and some large fit-out 
contracts with local retailers and private individuals. 

The recent political developments in the region 
have led to some isolated project deferrals in 
Qatar and remain a risk to the business that could 
impact during the year. However, with the Qatari 
government awarding more work to local companies 
following the trade blockage we are optimistic that 
more opportunities could open up for us given our 
joint-venture partner in Qatar (Gulf Contracting 
Company) is a well-established local company.

During the period we won contracts for civil and 
building works for the new 445 MW combined power 
plant in Oman for SEPCO and for £74 million worth 
of buildings, civils and underground piping work on 
the Liwa Plastics project, which is part-funded with 
the support of UK Export Finance.

In our International Construction business, trading 
has seen an impact from political developments 
in Qatar, albeit to a small degree, but upcoming 
events such as Expo 2020 in Dubai will continue to 
support work winning in 2018. Our International 
Construction division remains a well-performing 
business and our experience in the Middle East 
region continues to stand us in good stead.

Exited Business

Revenue

-  UK Exited Business 

(consolidated revenue)

Total pre-tax  
non-underlying loss

2017

2016

£48.6m

£91.0m

£35.1m

£160.0m

Further progress was made on our remaining 
Energy from Waste (EfW) contracts during the year. 
However, we saw a slippage in the anticipated 
completion date for some of the contracts and, 
as previously announced in October 2017, we now 
expect that an additional £35.1 million provision – in 
addition to the £160 million provided in 2016 - is 
required to enable us to complete the outstanding 
projects in Derby, Margam, Templeborough and 
Dunbar. We expect to substantially complete the 
construction of the projects in the first half of 2018, 
though significant uncertainty remains on the timing 
of commissioning.

During the period we completed the construction of 
the Derby EfW plant and commissioning is progressing 
well. The plant started receiving municipal waste in 
January, generating electricity in February and has 
now received its Renewable Obligations Certificate 
from OFGEM. While significant risks remain, we are 
making good progress towards final commissioning.

We expect cash flow during 2018 to be broadly 
neutral over the full year. However, we anticipate a 
substantial cash outflow in the first half of the year, 
as construction continues on these projects, which 
is expected to be offset by insurance and other 
recoveries in the second half of the year. 

We remain very focused on the challenges of exiting 
our remaining EfW projects and we will vigorously 
pursue our legal entitlements in closing these 
contracts out and progress insurance claims and 
negotiated settlements where appropriate. 

GROUP SERVICES
All central costs, including those related to our 
financing activities, are disclosed within the Group 
Services segment. 

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STRATEGIC REPORT

Operational review continued

Group Services’ net costs of £21.0 million include 
the financial impact of our Private Finance  
Initiative (PFI) investments. During the year the 
Group disposed of the entirety of its investment  
in Addiewell PFI, realising a profit on disposal of 
£7.5 million. Group Services’ gross costs rose 
5 per cent to £28.5 million (2016: £27.1 million), 
due principally to investment in back-office 
capabilities, IT infrastructure, people development 
and communications. 

We take every step to ensure working environments 
are free from harassment and bullying, where all 
individuals are treated equally and fairly and that 
selection for employment, promotion, training or any 
other benefit will be taken solely on merit and ability 
against job-based criteria. We avoid discrimination 
in working conditions and terms of employment and 
are committed to making reasonable adjustments for 
disabled employees. We oppose all forms of unlawful 
and unfair discrimination.

OUR PEOPLE

Employee consultation and participation
We believe in involving our people in matters 
affecting them as employees and keeping them 
informed of all relevant factors concerning the 
Group’s performance, strategy, financial status, 
charitable activities and other issues. We achieve 
this through formal and informal briefings, our Group 
newsletter ‘Good News Friday’ and our intranet.

We continued to grow our web-based employee 
portal, www.MyInterserve.com, specifically aimed at 
reaching our thousands of frontline employees. The 
portal, which now has around 20,000 regular users, 
is accessible on mobile devices, giving staff access to 
e-pay slips, company news, the ability to participate 
in discussion forums, and to give days of their time 
in support of good causes, as well as access to staff 
discounts at a range of retailers and leisure outlets.

We operate two all-employee share schemes to 
encourage our employees to share in the future of 
the Group. In our Sharesave Scheme, employees 
save small amounts each month which can then 
be used to purchase Company shares at a discount 
to the market price. In our Share Incentive Plan, 
employees can purchase Company shares through 
lump-sum or monthly payments which are deducted 
from their salaries before income tax and national 
insurance liabilities are assessed.

Equal opportunities
Interserve is committed to eliminating 
discrimination among our workforce in order that 
we may offer employees an environment where 
there is no unlawful discrimination and all decisions 
are based on merit.

Our policy is to promote equality and fairness for 
all in our employment. The Group aims to ensure 
that no job applicant or employee receives less 
favourable treatment or is disadvantaged by 
imposed conditions or requirements that cannot be 
shown to be justifiable, on the grounds of gender 
(including sex, marital or civil-partner status, 
gender reassignment), race (including ethnic origin, 
colour, nationality and national origin), disability, 
sexual orientation, religion or belief, age, and 
pregnancy or maternity.

Diversity and inclusion
Following our award of the National Equality 
Standard (NES) for equality, diversity and inclusion 
in 2016, our work to develop and promote equality, 
diversity and inclusion across the business continued 
throughout 2017. This included the running of 
events around our LGBT and women’s networks and 
an internal and external communications campaign 
around creating opportunities for ex-offenders and 
former military personnel. 

Our work was recognised by the National Centre 
for Diversity (NCFD), which named our Construction 
division its ‘Construction Company of the Year’ for 
the second year running at its annual awards earlier 
this year.

During the year Interserve worked with a variety 
of different organisations that helped us put in 
place programmes and practices that improve the 
diversity of our talent pipeline and build our culture 
of inclusion. These include BITC (Business in the 
Community), Investors in Diversity (IiD), The Prince’s 
Trust, WISE, Ban the Box, Leonard Cheshire and Two 
Ticks (for disability), to name several. The NES is the 
consolidating standard that binds all our activities 
together and through their process will help our 
selection of partner organisations moving forward.

At Interserve we are committed to creating a 
diverse and inclusive workplace where all of our 
people feel at ease and can progress. We take this 
commitment extremely seriously and have a range 
of programmes underway and more initiatives 
planned to ensure this happens.

We welcome the UK government’s requirement for 
large companies to be more transparent on gender 
pay and we share our data for our 18 legal entities 
which employ more than 250 people. 

Across all of the employing entities we have 
reported, there is some diversity in the statistics 
and this is a feature of the different types of 
businesses that we have, the employees they 
have traditionally attracted and also length of 
service. Our gender pay gap report can be viewed 
at www.interserve.com/docs/default-source/
about/policies/gender-pay-gap-march-2018.pdf.

24

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Overview

Strategic Report

Governance

Financial Statements

PROVIDING EMPLOYMENT SERVICES 
AT WREXHAM PRISON 

We started running employment workshops at HMP Berwyn, a large new prison in North 
Wales, after being awarded a five-year contract by the Ministry of Justice (MoJ).

The sessions at the Category C men’s prison, which opened last year, are designed to replicate a normal 
working environment where men will be able to improve their skills, employability and qualifications. 

Interserve provides employment places for 520 men in the workshops with the men following 
an attendance pattern that will provide a routine similar to working life outside of prison. 
Work undertaken at the workshops is varied and reflects the type of opportunities those 
released from prison may have. 

Interserve, which has delivered probation services for the MoJ since 2015, is committed to 
reducing re-offending through rehabilitation, which is at the very heart of what the sessions are 
intended to achieve. 

The workshops aim to ensure that the transition from prison to the community for those 
released is made as smooth as possible through Interserve’s close working relationship with its 
partners in the Community Rehabilitation Companies and the National Probation Service.

Our gender pay gap results are extremely mixed 
and highlight the differences in the make-up 
of our divisions and the sectors in which they 
operate. For example, our Citizen Services 
business, which has many women occupying senior 
positions, outperformed the national average,  
as did Group Centre.

Other parts of the Group - notably Construction 
and Equipment Services – have more work to 
do. However, it is important to note that the 
construction and engineering sectors – in which 
both businesses operate - generally attract more 
men than women into roles within their industries.

The gender pay gap at Interserve highlights a 
gender balance issue and not an equal pay issue, 
particularly in the more senior roles and sectors 

traditionally dominated by males. The gap is 
particularly noticeable in respect of bonuses, as 
our incentive schemes are targeted at more senior 
people in the organisation. We are aware that more 
needs to be done to redress the balance and have 
already started taking action.

To improve the gender split of our talent pipeline 
during the year we continued to audit recruitment 
and training practices across the divisions to ensure 
they are free of bias and to seek equal gender balance 
in general recruitment, apprentice and graduate 
applications. We are also introducing measures to 
address gender imbalances in those training for 
management roles and to ensure that mentoring and 
coaching programmes are provided by trained coaches 
who are sensitive to gender specific matters.

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STRATEGIC REPORT

Operational review continued

We also now insist on diverse recruitment shortlists 
and track gender balance in our headcount data and 
succession planning and are working on our approach 
towards attracting women to roles that have 
previously been identified as more male-dominated. 

Both of our divisions working in the construction 
and engineering sectors (Construction and 
Equipment Services - where the gender pay gap 
is more prevalent) are now running early career 

initiatives around work-experience placements, 
apprentices and graduates. These initiatives are 
designed to ensure non-gender biased processes are 
implemented across both businesses and to ensure 
that balanced recruitment shortlists become the 
norm for all roles. Our Citizen Services business 
continues to promote the benefits of flexible 
working and is running internal campaigns to change 
perceptions about certain roles.

As at 31 December 2017, 29,765 of our global workforce of 55,350 were male and 25,585 were female. 
Further information is provided in the table below. 

Number of persons who were directors of 
the Company1

Number of persons who were senior 
managers of the Group2

Number of persons who were employees of 
the Group3

Male

Female

Total

2017

7

2016

8

98

102

2017

2016

2

8

1

7

2017

9

2016

9

106

109

29,660

32,945

25,575

26,951

55,235

59,896

Total

29,765

33,055 

25,585 

26,959 

55,350 

60,014 

1   Plc Board directors at year end.

2   Subsidiary directors and Persons Discharging Managerial Responsibility (PDMRs) at year end.

3   Employees of wholly-owned subsidiaries included within Group consolidation at year end. 

HUMAN RIGHTS
We have a Group-wide Human Rights Policy, which 
is available to download from our intranet. The 
policy states that the upholding of human rights 
is wholly aligned with our values, and forms part 
of our decision-making and the delivery of our 
strategy.

As a large employer with global operations, 
Interserve aims to make a positive difference in the 
communities where we operate. This is the intention 
behind our sustainability plan, designed to deliver 
social, economic and environmental benefits.

We respect internationally-recognised human 
rights, aiming to work within the principles set out 
by the UN Declaration of Human Rights as well as 
the International Labour Organisation’s Declaration 
on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work, and 
work hard to ensure that in all areas of interaction 
with our employees, clients, suppliers, third 
parties, interviewees and joint-venture partners 
that everyone is protected and treated fairly.

Our commitment means that we seek to identify, 
prevent or mitigate potential human rights risks, 
and address any shortcomings which actions within 
our control may have caused. In implementing 
this policy we are subject to the laws of the many 
countries in which we operate. We are committed 
to comply with all such applicable laws. 

The policy sets out the core principles we 
respect and promote and is a reference point for 
employees, suppliers, sub-contractors, customers 
and joint-venture partners. These principles apply 
to Group subsidiaries and joint ventures where we 
have management control, and will be championed 
and promoted where we don’t. The principles are 
applied in conjunction with our other policies on 
the ethical standards we expect in our business 
activities, which include: 

•  Conducting Business with Interserve

•  Health and Safety Policy 

•  Conflicts of Interest Policy

•   Code of Conduct and Competition Law 

Compliance Policy

•  Anti Bribery and Corruption Policy

•  Fraud Policy

•  Whistleblowing Policy

•  Sustainable Procurement Policies

•  Supplier Codes of Conduct

Our Human Rights Policy is supplemented by 
policies relating to Modern Slavery and Business 
Practices, which are also available to download 
from our intranet.

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Overview

Strategic Report

Governance

Financial Statements

HEALTH AND SAFETY 
Interserve adopts a formal and proactive approach 
to the management of health and safety throughout 
our operations. To ensure Board-level visibility, an 
Executive Board member is designated as Safety 
Champion and senior directors are appointed 
with responsibility for health and safety in each 
operational division. These directors, together with 
the Heads of Safety from each of the divisions, met 
five times during the year to review performance 
and the various health and safety initiatives being 
undertaken to facilitate the spread of best practice.

Our standard is for all operating businesses to 
implement safety management systems that meet 
the OHSAS 18001 standard. During the year Group 
Centre and Developments achieved certification to 
the standard. Across the world 97 per cent of our 
employees work under safety management systems 
certified to this standard.

Safety performance is clearly defined as a 
line-management responsibility and together 
with formal management systems, we provide 
appropriate training and professional support to 
ensure managers are able to effectively discharge 
their duties. 

Proactive site visits and safety inspections are 
carried out by directors, management teams and, 
safety advisers. Members of the Executive  
Board carried out a total of 81 site-safety visits 
during the year and across the Group over  
5,810 management safety tours were recorded. 
As a result of these and other inspections, over 
115,871 unsafe conditions were identified and 
corrected, preventing potential incidents. In 
addition, 181,048 safe conditions were observed.

We are regularly recognised for our contributions to 
delivering high standards of health and safety and 
in 2017 received 16 awards in the Royal Society for 
the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) Occupational 
Health and Safety Awards, taking the Group’s total 
RoSPA honours over the last decade to more than 
240. Achievements in 2017 included: 

•   Construction and Engineering awarded RoSPA’s 

prestigious Order of Distinction, which is 
presented to companies that have received 15 or 
more consecutive Gold Awards for their health 
and safety performance. Construction has now 
won 17 consecutive Gold Awards and Engineering 
has won 16 consecutive Gold Awards.

•   Support Services won a range of honours, 

including Guardian Angel Awards (established 
in 2014 to recognise and celebrate the work of 
individuals who have gone ‘above and beyond’ to 
improve the safety of others), three President’s 
Awards, three Gold Medals (for receiving up 
to nine consecutive Gold awards) and six Gold 
Awards.

•  RMD Kwikform also received six Gold Awards.

Overall, our reportable injury incidence rate reduced 
by 31 per cent with our overall accident rate for all 
lost-time injuries reducing by 15 per cent.

Despite this success, sadly one our colleagues 
suffered fatal injuries in an incident in the United 
Arab Emirates. The event was subject to an in-
depth investigation to determine the root cause 
and corrective actions required to prevent future 
incidents of this type.

A total of 281 lost-time injuries were recorded across 
the Group at an incidence rate of 285 (335 in 2016). 
Of these a total of 94 met the RIDDOR reporting 
criteria at an incidence rate of 95 (128 in 2016).

ANTI-BRIBERY AND CORRUPTION
We have a detailed Anti-Bribery and Corruption 
Policy, which is available to download on our 
intranet. This sets out the expectation that 
individuals with whom we work will comply with 
the Bribery Act 2010 and any anti-corruption laws 
which are applicable in the countries in which 
we operate. This policy is reviewed annually and 
signed-off by the Chief Executive Officer.

Anti-Bribery and Corruption training is also provided 
to all staff who are issued with Interserve IT 
equipment and/or who are in customer or supplier-
facing roles. The scope and nature of this training 
is regularly reviewed by our Executive Board, 
with appropriate measures taken to encourage 
individuals to complete the training.

This training is supplemented by our ‘Smart Choice’ 
mobile phone application, which was developed in 
conjunction with the Institute of Business Ethics, 
and is installed on company mobile phone devices. 
This gives users the ability to access key anti-
bribery guidance on the move. A bowser-based 
version of the app is also available on our intranet.

Operation of whistleblowing procedures allow 
individuals to make protected disclosures to the 
Group without fear of retribution if they become 
aware of behaviour that falls short of the legal 
standards we uphold.

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STRATEGIC REPORT

Principal risks and uncertainties

We operate in a business environment in which a number of risks and uncertainties exist. While it is not possible to eliminate 
these completely, the established risk-management and internal control procedures, which are regularly reviewed by the Group 
Risk Committee on behalf of the Board, are designed to manage their effects and thus contribute to the preservation and 
creation of value for the Group’s shareholders as we pursue our business objectives. Given the events of 2017, we have updated 
the Principal Risks and Uncertainties to reflect the Group’s current financial position and evolving strategy.

The Group continues to be dependent on effective maintenance of its systems and controls. More information about how we 
manage risk can be found in the Corporate Governance report on pages 58 to 61. The table below details the principal risks and 
uncertainties which the Group addresses through its risk-management measures. The changes to these risks relative to the last 
bi-annual review undertaken by the Board in August 2017 are depicted in the column entitled ‘Risk Environment’. 

RISK

POTENTIAL IMPACT

RISK ENVIRONMENT

MITIGATION AND MONITORING

BUSINESS, 
ECONOMIC 
AND POLITICAL 
ENVIRONMENT

Among the changes which could affect our 
business are:

We seek to mitigate these risks in a number 
of ways. These include:

•   shifts in the economic climate both in the  

•  by fostering long-term relationships with 

UK and internationally;

our clients and partners;

•  the development of additional capabilities 

to meet anticipated demand in new growth 
areas; 

• maintaining a flexible cost base; 

• effective supply-chain management; and

•  geographic diversity through the markets  

in which we operate. 

The business plan created this year included 
a detailed strategy review and competitive 
assessment. This has informed our focus on 
those market segments with the greatest 
growth opportunities and the ability for us to 
earn appropriate margins. 

As part of our competitive assessment, 
we assess our success rate in competitive 
situations. Whether we win, lose or retain 
a contract we analyse the reasons for 
our success or shortcomings and feed the 
information back at both tactical and 
strategic levels. We have launched a major 
transformation programme, ‘Fit for Growth’, 
as part of ensuring that our cost base is 
appropriate for the services we offer and to 
enable us to be cost competitive. 

We monitor and assess levels of political risk 
and have contingency plans to mitigate some 
of these risks.

We are committed to ensuring that our IT 
applications and infrastructure and the IT 
organisation that manages them are provided 
with the necessary skills and tools to 
maintain the health of our IT services.

We operate robust monitoring and 
preventative maintenance regimes to 
minimise the potential impact of IT failures 
or security incidents in accordance with good 
industry practice.

Where necessary, we also ensure that both 
ISO 27001 and CES certifications are obtained 
for key contracts.

•  changes in the UK Government’s policy with 
regard to employment costs, expenditure 
on improving public infrastructure, 
buildings, services and modes of service 
delivery (including appetite to outsource 
services) and delays in or cancellation of 
the procurement of Government-related 
projects;

•  Brexit, in particular our reliance on the large 
number of EU nationals within our workforce;

•  the imposition of unusually onerous contract 

conditions by major clients;

•  changes in our competitors’ behaviour; 

•  a deterioration in the profile of our 

counterparty risk; and

•  civil unrest and/or shifts in the political 
climate in some of the regions in which  
we operate

any one or more of which might result in a 
failure to win new or sufficiently profitable 
contracts in our chosen markets or to deliver 
contracts with sufficient profitability.

IT SYSTEMS/ 
SECURITY

As our IT systems become ever more critical 
to business success and to meet customer 
expectations, there is an increasing need to:

•  prevent service failures;

•  ensure confidentiality, availability and 

integrity of data;

•  protect our staff and systems from cyber-

attack; and

•  recover critical systems in a timely and 

effective manner.

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Overview

Strategic Report

Governance

Financial Statements

RISK

POTENTIAL IMPACT

RISK ENVIRONMENT

MITIGATION AND MONITORING

DATA  
MANAGEMENT

OPERATING  
SYSTEM

FINANCIAL  
RISKS

As we continue to onboard new customers, 
increasingly collaborate across our 
organisation and its supply chain and enable 
mobility for our diverse workforce, there 
is an increasing need to ensure that our 
customer, supplier and employee data is:

• classified appropriately;

• processed securely; and

•  stored in accordance with legal and 

contractual requirements.

The increasing reliance on our data to 
provide commercial opportunity and 
enhanced risk management is driving more 
diverse use of our data across the Group.

We enjoy demonstrable success in working 
with third parties both through joint 
ventures and associated companies in the UK 
and abroad. This success results in a material 
proportion of our profits and cash flow being 
generated from businesses in which we do 
not have overall control. The alignment of 
the Group’s interests and the interests of 
our partners is critical to that success. Any 
weakening of our strong relationships with 
these business partners could have an effect 
on our profits and cash flow.

The Group, due to a number of factors, has 
found itself with very high levels of debt 
relative to its earnings and cash flow. This 
has necessitated the refinancing of the 
existing debt structure and the injection  
of further additional debt funding. This  
is discussed in the Financial Review on  
pages 32 to 44. This high level of debt is 
anticipated to continue until the Group is 
able to achieve a deleveraging of its balance 
sheet and, as such, in this period of time, we 
are inevitably not as financially resilient.

Our Group-wide information security 
programme continues to improve our staff’s 
awareness of the need for effective data 
management activity.

Initiatives include management and end- 
user training, contingency planning and 
detailed risk-management activities that 
address many difference types of data loss.

We have a broad programme to address 
the forthcoming General Data Protection 
Regulation (GDPR) obligations that come into 
force in May 2018. This will be supported by 
an extensive internal training programme.

We have a proven track record of developing 
and re-enforcing such relationships in a 
mutually beneficial way over a long period 
of time and our experience of this places 
us well to preserve existing relationships 
and create new ones as part of our business 
model. The measures taken to limit risk 
in this area include: board representation, 
shareholders’ agreements, management 
secondments, local borrowings and rights 
of audit in addition to investing time in 
personal relationships. 

We have policies in place to monitor the 
effective management of working capital, 
including the production of daily balances, 
weekly cash reports and forecasts together 
with monthly management reporting.

The Contract and Investment Committee  
(as discussed under ‘Major Contracts’ 
overleaf) considers the implications of  
new business opportunities relative to  
the financial constraints as part of its 
assessment and review process. 

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Principal risks and uncertainties continued

RISK

POTENTIAL IMPACT

RISK ENVIRONMENT

MITIGATION AND MONITORING

MAJOR  
CONTRACTS

In Support Services our strategy is to focus 
on offering a broad range of services to 
large-scale customers whilst our construction 
business focuses on contracts between  
£5 million and £50 million. Termination of 
large contracts which account for a significant 
portion of our revenue would be likely to 
reduce our revenue and profit. In addition,  
the management of such contracts entails 
a range of potential risks. These include: 
mis-pricing; inaccurate specification; poor 
mobilisation of new contracts leading to 
non-delivery of promised cost or efficiency 
improvements; poor control of costs or of 
service delivery; sub-contractor performance 
and/or insolvency.

In PFI/PPP contracts, which can last for 
periods of around 30 years, there may be 
increases in costs, including wage inflation, 
beyond those anticipated, or clients under 
financial pressure seeking to implement 
alternative interpretations of the contract  
in order to reduce payments.

DAMAGE TO 
REPUTATION

Issues arising within contracts, from the 
management of our businesses or from the 
behaviour of our employees at all levels, can 
have broader repercussions on the Group’s 
reputation than simply their direct impact and 
may have an adverse impact upon the Group’s 
“licence to operate”.

This risk increases as we expand the range 
of frontline services being delivered, some 
of which are high profile and/or politically 
sensitive. 

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Among our mitigation strategies are 
targeting work within, or complementary to, 
our existing competencies, engagement of 
experts to effectively deploy both business 
and cultural change requirements, the 
fostering of long-term relationships with 
clients, operating an authority matrix for the 
approval of large bids, monthly management 
reporting with key performance indicators 
at contract and business level, the use of 
monthly cost-value reconciliation, supply-
chain management and ensuring that 
periodic benchmarking and/or market testing 
are included in long-term contracts.

We monitor the risk on contractual 
counterparties to avoid over-dependency on 
any one customer or sub-contractor.

In conjunction with our financing deal signed 
in December 2017, we commissioned an 
independent review of approximately  
125 of our largest contracts. We continue to 
take action to minimise the consequences 
for those contracts with potential risks and 
potential underperformance.

As part of our Fit for Growth programme 
all new tenders requiring bonding or other 
security instruments are referred to the 
Contract and Investment Committee (CIC), 
comprising the CEO, CFO and General 
Counsel, who deliberate and consider 
approval based on assessment of commercial 
terms, profitability and risk.

Our Fit for Growth programme will ensure we 
are fit to compete in increasingly challenging 
environments and markets by focusing on 
how we can improve our governance and 
processes, simplify our structures and improve 
efficiency across the whole Group.

Control procedures and checks governing 
the operation of our contracts and of 
our businesses, supported by business 
continuity plans, are in place. With the 
expansion of our frontline services there is 
even more emphasis placed upon assessing 
reputational risk before entering into such 
contracts, having proper procedures in place 
to monitor performance, escalate issues 
and monitor our response, promoting a 
good understanding of our brand amongst 
stakeholders through timely, clear and 
consistent communications. 

We have a clear set of core values which  
we strive to embed within our organisation 
and set ourselves the goals of creating a 
culture of innovation in sustainability and 
offering transparency to clients on public-
sector projects.

Overview

Strategic Report

Governance

Financial Statements

POTENTIAL IMPACT

RISK ENVIRONMENT

MITIGATION AND MONITORING

RISK

KEY  
PEOPLE

The success of our business is dependent on 
recruiting, retaining, developing, motivating 
and communicating with sufficient numbers 
of appropriately skilled, competent people 
of integrity at all levels of the organisation. 
This is particularly relevant during periods 
of change and when improvement to 
profitability and competitiveness is required.

We are focused on engaging with all of 
our people at all levels and wherever they 
work in the organisation to ensure that they 
continue to deliver great customer service 
for our clients. 

As part of our Fit for Growth programme we 
will design and build a more effective and 
efficient organisation in which skilled and 
engaged employees can thrive. 

We have various incentive schemes and run 
a broad range of training courses for people 
at all stages in their careers. With active 
people management and Investors in People 
accreditation in many parts of the Group, 
we manage our people professionally and 
encourage them to develop and fulfil their 
maximum potential with the Group.

As part of our commitment to a diverse and 
inclusive workforce we are keen to offer 
‘Opportunities for All’ and our approach 
focuses on how we can deliver, and work 
with others, to provide disadvantaged 
groups with the skills and employment 
opportunities that will help to turn their 
lives around.

A commitment to Health, Safety & 
Environment (HS&E) is embedded in all our 
core values and the subject leads every 
Board meeting both at Group and divisional 
level. Group and Divisional HS&E Governance 
committees meet quarterly to evaluate current 
risks for relevance and conduct independent 
reviews of high potential HS&E events and 
investigations. Each member of the Executive 
Board undertakes dedicated visits to review 
health and safety measures in place at our 
operational sites and we have ongoing training 
and communication campaigns across the 
Group emphasising its importance.

The new Group Head of Health, Safety & 
Environment has completed a review of all 
divisional programmes and we have now 
standardised our reported metrics across the 
business. Over the course of the current year, 
we are looking to increase the use of forward-
looking metrics to reduce the risk of incidents.

HEALTH AND 
SAFETY REGIME

The nature of the businesses conducted by 
the Group means that employees and third 
parties are exposed to potential health and 
safety risks. Management of these risks is 
critical to the success of the business and 
they are addressed through the adoption 
and maintenance of occupational health and 
safety procedures and operating standards 
setting out ‘ways of working’.

The Group is exposed to operational currency risk in its International and Equipment Services businesses. These are not 
material on a net basis. In addition, the Group has foreign currency exposure in relation to its existing US Private Placement 
borrowings and the interest cost of servicing those borrowings. Whilst it does not trade in commodities, the Group does operate 
in countries where their economies depend upon commodity extraction and are therefore subject to volatility in commodity 
prices. The Group’s principal businesses operate in countries which we regard as politically stable.

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STRATEGIC REPORTFinancial reviewThis has been a difficult year for Interserve with a substantial reported loss and a reduced underlying trading performance. Notwithstanding these pressures, from the second half of 2017 onwards we have made significant progress to place the business on a more stable footing:•  In order to ensure an appropriate rigour and clarity in the reported numbers we have carried out a contract and balance sheet review exercise (the Contract Review). The process behind this and the results from it are discussed in further detail below. • In April 2018 we concluded the refinancing of the Group, extending our committed borrowing facilities to £834 million (based on exchange rates at the time) and extending the maturity date to September 2021.Having gained greater clarity on the underlying issues facing the business and secured our funding structure, we are well placed to move forward with our Fit for Growth agenda to tackle the underlying issues and improve financial performance. The Financial Review does not deal with the underlying operating profit and revenue of each individual trading division. For commentary on these underlying operational results please refer to the Operational Review section of the Strategic Report.REPORTED FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE£million20172016Consolidated revenue3,250.83,244.6Total operating profit  pre-amortisation and  non-underlying items74.9155.0Amortisation of acquired intangible assets(21.6)(29.9)Goodwill and other asset impairments(76.7)–Contract and balance sheet review charges(86.1)(30.8)Energy from Waste(35.1)(160.0)Property development(26.0)–Restructuring costs(33.2)–Professional adviser fees(13.9)–Strategic review of Equipment Services(7.1)(10.7)Total operating loss(224.8)(76.4)Consolidated revenue was broadly flat at  £3,250.8 million (2016: £3,244.6 million). After amortisation of acquired intangible assets, goodwill impairment and other non-underlying items, analysed in further detail in note 5 to the consolidated financial statements and discussed further below, the operating loss was £224.8 million (2016: loss £76.4 million). “HAVING GAINED GREATER CLARITY ON THE UNDERLYING ISSUES FACING THE BUSINESS AND SECURED OUR FUNDING STRUCTURE, WE ARE WELL PLACED TO MOVE FORWARD WITH OUR FIT FOR GROWTH AGENDA TO TACKLE THE UNDERLYING ISSUES AND IMPROVE FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE. ”32PDF Page: v2  28772 - INT AR17 1 Front p1-45.p33.pdf

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GOODWILL AND OTHER ASSET IMPAIRMENTSManagement reassessed the valuation of other intangible assets and a total impairment of £60.0 million has been recognised against goodwill in the period. This follows a reassessment of the relevant cash generation units and the separate identification of delivery of support services to the private sector and its associated intangible assets that principally relate to the acquisition of Initial Facilities in 2014.A further £16.7 million write-down has been taken with regard to capitalised IT development costs. During 2017 the associated programmes were cancelled with no future benefit expected to be derived from the work carried out to date, as such the assets have been fully written off.CONTRACT REVIEW AND BALANCE SHEET REVIEWThe new management team, with the approval of the Board, commissioned a comprehensive Contract Review, with the independent support of PwC, which reviewed the most material balance sheet judgements in relation to long-term contract accounting, accrued income, work-in-progress and mobilisation. This Contract Review identified the need for an additional £42.4 million of balance sheet write-downs principally in relation to work-in-progress and receivables beyond existing provisions. In the main these adjustments relate to contracts that were substantially complete at the end of 2016 but where additional information has come to light since the signing of the prior-year financial statements. These provisions and write-downs relate to  18 individual contract issues. Of these, as at the date of the signing of these financial statements, nine are regarded as financially complete. Financially complete is defined as the point at which Interserve is no longer providing significant services to the client and final account negotiations have been concluded. A further seven are regarded as operationally complete. Operationally complete is defined as the point at which Interserve has ceased to provide significant services to the client but final account negotiations have not concluded.  The remaining two contracts are regarded as neither operationally nor financially complete. These same contracts contributed a loss of  £33.2 million in 2016. The Contract Review also identified the need for £43.7 million of additional provisions in respect of loss-making or onerous contracts (these same contracts contributed a profit of £2.4 million in 2016). For the avoidance of doubt, the discrete contracts included here had results in previous periods and, where relevant, will continue to report results in future periods. Any such results will be presented consistently with this treatment.These accounts therefore include a total of £86.1 million of charges in respect of the Contract Review being £42.4 million of balance sheet write-downs plus £43.7 million in respect of onerous contract provisioning. Over half of this total cost reflects cash already expended with no future cash implications. Of the remaining balance approximately one-third will flow out during 2018 as onerous contract obligations are fulfilled with the remaining two-thirds anticipated in 2019 and beyond.Further details of these adjustments, along with other non-underlying items not considered to be directly linked to the Contract Review, can be found in note 5 to the consolidated financial statements. The Board notes that the results of the Contract Review have led to a number of asset impairments and large write-offs of a non-recurring nature and the difficulties this can cause in assessing underlying operating performance. This ability to assess underlying operating performance is recognised as a key focus for investors and other stakeholders. Where appropriate, the 2016 figures are adjusted for the non-underlying items to assist comparability with 2017. There is no impact on comparative net assets or statutory profit before taxation. The Group has also utilised a number of non-statutory alternative performance metrics to further increase transparency and comparability. See note 32 for further details. Strategic ReportOverviewGovernanceFinancial Statements33PDF Page: v2  28772 - INT AR17 1 Front p1-45.p34.pdf

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ENERGY FROM WASTEDuring 2016 we took the decision to exit business where we take contractual responsibility for process risk on the construction of Energy from Waste (EfW) facilities. This Exited Business comprises six contracts with aggregate whole-life revenues of £430 million that we entered into between mid-2012 and early 2015. These contracts, most notably the project in Glasgow, have been impacted by issues relating to the design, procurement and installation of the gasification plant. Progress on these issues was adversely affected by sub-contractor insolvencies and the consequential impacts  on project timing and costs. During 2016 we recognised a non-underlying loss of £160 million and restated 2015 comparatives to show a gross loss of  £21.5 million. These losses reflected costs incurred to that date, estimates of costs to complete, and damages. This was stated net of expectations for further contractual income entitlements from our customers and recoveries from professional indemnity insurance policies on a number of separate issues relating to design.During 2017, as announced in October, a further £35.1 million of losses have been recognised on these contracts, taking the aggregate 2015-2017 losses to £216.6 million. As previously stated, these losses reflect costs incurred to date, estimates of costs to complete, and damages. This is stated net of expectations for further contractual income entitlements from our customers and recoveries from professional indemnity insurance policies  on a number of separate issues relating to design. During 2017 significant insurance payments were received in respect of claims on the Glasgow project. The receipt of further insurance income remains a key judgement for the Group; see  note 1 to the financial statements for further details on key judgements. The increase in loss from 2016 is predominantly due to an acceleration of certain projects to achieve key milestone dates.We continue to expect to complete substantially all of our works during 2018 and that the impact of these contracts will be contained within the non-underlying losses recognised to date. We expect cash flow during 2018 to be broadly neutral over the full year. There is likely to be a substantial cash outflow in the first half of the year, as construction continues on these projects, which is expected to be offset by insurance and other recoveries in the second half of the year. These amounts are inherently judgemental but are based on legal and professional advice received and reflect our current best estimates of the most probable net outflows. We will vigorously pursue our legal entitlements in closing these contracts out. Managing the challenges of exiting from these complex projects remains the sole priority for the large, experienced team of commercial, operational and legal experts we have deployed and will remain an area of critical focus for the Board during 2018.PROPERTY DEVELOPMENTDuring the year, as part of a review of assets held, we took the decision to exit the business of Property Development. As a result of that decision, and a review of carrying value of property assets, it has become necessary to impair those carrying values by £26.0 million to bring them into line with estimated net recoverable amounts.In March 2018 we commenced the marketing of our remaining development asset (the Haymarket site in Edinburgh). Encouragingly, we have received a number of indicative offers. We anticipate being able to complete a deal in connection with this site within the next six months and anticipate gross proceeds in excess of £40 million, depending upon the final offer which is accepted.RESTRUCTURING COSTSThe Group has embarked on a three-year plan, ‘Fit for Growth’, to increase the Group’s organisational efficiency, improve Group-wide procurement processes and ensure greater standardisation and simplification across the business. During the year it incurred termination costs of £16.5 million (2016: £nil) in respect of former employees and directors along with recruitment costs for the new management team. In addition to this, £16.7 million (2016: £nil) of cost has been incurred in respect of a property consolidation exercise based mainly around a new Midlands hub office but also in the consolidation of regional networks. These costs include provisions for the remainder of onerous lease terms and dilapidations costs in respect of exited properties as we seek to right size and appropriately locate our operations to meet  future needs.PROFESSIONAL ADVISER FEESProfessional fees incurred in connection with the strategic review and the short-term refinancing secured towards the end of the year totalled  £13.9 million in the year (2016: £nil). We anticipate further costs in 2018 totalling £25 million to complete the refinancing.STRATEGIC REPORTFinancial review continued34PDF Page: v2  28772 - INT AR17 1 Front p1-45.p35.pdf

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STRATEGIC REVIEW OF EQUIPMENT SERVICESConsistent with the disclosure at last year end, further closure costs of £7.1 million (2016:  £10.7 million) in the year resulted from the strategic review of Equipment Services and the decision to exit a number of smaller, less attractive markets. This brings total costs to just over the £17.0 million that was announced at the time of the review.NET FINANCE COSTSThe net finance cost for the year of £19.6 million can be analysed as follows:£million20172016Net interest on Group debt(21.4)(18.8)Foreign exchange gain on  US private placement notes2.9–Pension finance (charge)/ credit(1.1)1.1Group net interest charge(19.6)(17.7)Higher net interest on Group debt of £21.4 million (2016: £18.8 million) reflects the higher average net debt levels in 2017. Please see the net debt section later within this review for further detail. We anticipate interest costs to increase substantially in 2018, reflecting both increased average net debt levels and increased interest rates following the April 2018 refinancing. Please see the Treasury Risk Management section later within this Financial Review for details of the refinancing carried out in 2018. Within net debt the Group carries $350 million of US private placement notes. For the majority of the year these were fully hedged in sterling. On 13 December 2017 the Group disposed of all hedging instruments resulting in the free float of the borrowings; all subsequent retranslation gains or losses on the value of this debt are recognised through the income statement as a non-underlying item. During the final 18 days of 2017 this led to a credit of £2.9 million. The $350 million private placement has a GBP value of £258.9 million as at the balance sheet date, reflecting the closing rate of 1.35 USD : 1 GBP. The IAS 19 pension deficit position results in a non-cash pension finance charge of £1.1 million (2016: £1.1 million credit). See note 29 to the consolidated financial statements for further details.TAXATIONThe tax charge for the year of £10.0 million represents an effective rate of 15.5 per cent on headline profit before tax. 20172016£millionProfitTaxRateProfit TaxRateSubsidiary companies26.9(8.1)30.1%111.5(12.2)10.9%Joint ventures and associates125.5––25.8––Headline profit before tax52.4(8.1)15.5%137.3(12.2)8.9%Amortisation of intangible assets(21.6)3.616.7%(29.9)4.715.7%Goodwill impairment(60.0)–––––Exited business and  non-underlying items(215.2)(5.5)(2.6%)(201.5)–n/aEffective tax charge and rate(244.4)(10.0)n/a(94.1)(7.5)8.0%1  The Group’s share of the post-tax results of joint ventures and associates is included in profit before tax in accordance with IFRS.The subsidiary companies’ effective rate stands at 30.1 per cent. This is considerably higher than the  UK rate, principally driven by the impact of unrelieved UK losses. For further disclosure on the non-underlying items and amortisation see note 5 to the consolidated financial statements. See note 9 for further tax disclosures.DIVIDENDThe dividend remains suspended with no interim dividend paid or final dividend due to be paid. Under  the terms of our new financing facilities, no dividend is payable until historical net debt to EBITDA is below 2.5 times.Strategic ReportOverviewGovernanceFinancial Statements35PDF Page: v2  28772 - INT AR17 1 Front p1-45.p36.pdf

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CASH FLOWYear-end net debt stands at £502.6 million (2016: £274.4 million), an increase of £228.2 million. The key factors driving this outflow are £95.9 million of EfW associated outflows, £64.7 million of cash outflows associated with other non-underlying items, £32.0 million of investments into joint ventures and a £46.8 million working capital outflow as the 2016 year-end working capital stretch was not repeated and partially reversed. £million20172016Operating profit before non-underlying items and amortisation of intangible assets74.9155.0Depreciation and amortisation41.139.0EBITDA116.0194.0Net capital expenditure(25.3)(39.0)Gain on disposal of property, plant and equipment(22.4)(16.0)Investment disposals in excess of the income statement charge4.84.6Other2.12.7Working capital movement(46.8)96.1Dividends received from associates and joint ventures in excess/(deficit) of profits(8.3)11.5Gross operating cash flow20.1253.9Energy from Waste(95.9)(116.9)Non-underlying items(64.7)(17.8)Pension contributions in excess of the income statement charge(15.9)(19.5)Interest and tax(30.0)(29.0)Dividends paid–(37.1)Investment in joint-venture entities(32.0)(9.8)Disposal of hedging instruments44.1–Foreign exchange(53.9)10.9Other non-recurring–(0.3)Decrease/(increase) in  net debt(228.2)34.4Year-end net debt(502.6)(274.4)Underlying trading generated EBITDA of  £116.0 million. For commentary on the underlying operational results please refer to the Operational Review section of the Strategic Report.Capex of £25.3 million (2016: £39.0 million) was circa 62 per cent of depreciation and amortisation as the Group exercised investment restraint in a cash constrained climate. Key areas of investment were the upgrade of back-office IT systems, purchase of operational assets and investments related to our Midlands office consolidation.Gains on disposal of fixed assets of £22.4 million (£16.0 million) almost entirely relate to sales of ex-hire fleet within Equipment Services. This is an integral part of the divisional business model and represents both a standard route to market and a consistent income statement and cash flow item.Investment disposals in excess of the income statement charge of £4.8 million (2016: £4.6 million) represent the impact of the aggregate disposal proceeds on Addiewell PFI (£12.3 million), less the portion of these already included within operating profit (£7.5 million).Working capital outflows of £46.8 million (2016: £96.1 million inflow) reflected a reversal of the 2016 year-end inflows on creditors as the Group returned to a more normal year-end payments profile. In January and February 2018, the Group had significant working capital outflows in respect of the settlement of Time to Pay obligations to HMRC (£10.8 million). Consistent with normal quarterly payment timescales, the Group also settled the Q4 VAT payment of £22.5 million on 3 January 2018. After adjusting for these post-year-end items the Group is considered to have returned to a steadier working capital position without year-end working capital stretch. The Group does not use factoring or reverse factoring arrangements.Joint venture and associate (JVA) dividends received were £8.3 million in deficit of profits,  a partial reversion of an extremely strong 2016 (£11.5 million in excess). In aggregate across 2016 and 2017, JVA dividends have been equal to 100 per cent of JVA underlying operating profits. Underlying JVA cashflows, the vast majority of which relate to our operations in the Middle East, remain strong. Aggregate debt and work-in-progress days in our Middle East joint ventures and associates remain broadly in line with 2016.STRATEGIC REPORTFinancial review continued36PDF Page: v2  28772 - INT AR17 1 Front p1-45.p37.pdf

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EfW net outflows of £95.9 million in the year reflect our continued efforts to close out these projects. In December 2017 we received a significant insurance receipt, constituting partial payment on a number of claim items. Further gross cash outflows are expected in the first half of 2018 as we complete operational works. Over the entirety of 2018 the EfW projects are expected to be broadly cash neutral, with receipts from claims against insurers and other parties offsetting the gross cash outflows.Non-underlying cash outflows of £64.7 million represent the in-period cash impact of those items, other than EfW, that are classified as non-underlying items. £15.9 million of this balance relates to restructuring costs associated with the Group’s Fit for Growth plans, £13.9 million relates to adviser and other professional fees and the remaining balance predominantly relates to the cash impact of non-underlying contract losses. See note 5 to the consolidated financial statements, and earlier within this Financial Review, for further details of non-underlying items. Investments in joint-venture entities of £32.0 million (2016: £9.8 million) reflects further equity injections into our Derby Waste and Haymarket projects. NET DEBTAverage net debt for the full year, calculated  as a rolling 12 month of month-end balances,  stood at £501.1 million. H1 average net debt  was £457.3 million and H2 average net debt  £545.0 million, the increase driven by ongoing cash outflows on EfW and a non-repeat of the reporting period-end cash pushes. We anticipate, given the items discussed above, that H1 2018 net debt will be in the range of £650 to £680 million, subject to timing on asset disposals. This is then expected to reduce in the second half of the year as the first half outflows on EfW are matched with similar levels of anticipated inflows later in the year.The Group typically has a c£55 million variance between net debt and gross debt, reflecting restricted cash that is not included within the Group cash pooling arrangements. Intra-month net debt is typically at a higher level than month-end net debt, reflecting the timing of the majority of customer receipts. Following the successful conclusion of our lender negotiations in April 2018 the Group has arranged access to committed facilities of £834 million (including $350 million at 1.4 USD : 1 GBP) which  are considered adequate to satisfy the ongoing liquidity demands of the Group. See the ‘Treasury Risk Management’ section for further details.PENSIONSAt 31 December 2017 the Group had an IAS 19 pension deficit of £48.0 million (2016: £52.4 million net deficit).£million20172016Gross liabilities(1,064.1)(1,044.6)Insurance policy assets342.7368.7Defined benefit obligation net of insurance assets(721.4)(675.9)Other assets673.4623.5Total deficit(48.0)(52.4)The Group is committed to paying deficit-reduction contributions to the Interserve section of the Interserve Pension Scheme of £14.1 million during 2018 and £14.6 million during 2019. Contributions for years 2020 and beyond will be agreed between the Group and Trustee as part of the actuarial valuation due with an effective date of 31 December 2017; contributions in 2020 and 2021 will be at least £15 million per year. In addition, the Group pays contributions relating to the cost of accrual in the scheme (broadly equivalent to the service cost shown in these accounts), and also pays the expenses incurred by the scheme.The pension figures set out in this report are required to comply with IAS 19, which promotes consistency of accounting disclosures to facilitate comparisons between companies, and so the IAS 19 assumptions underlying the projected benefit payments to members are intended to be ‘best estimates’. In contrast, the funding valuations used to determine the level of contributions paid into a pension scheme, are required to be based on explicitly prudent assumptions. For example, the prudent funding assumption regarding how long pensioners will live in retirement implies a longer period than used in the IAS 19 numbers shown above.The investment strategy for the scheme incorporates a number of de-risking measures put in place to reduce the volatility of the pensions deficit, in particular the buy-in policy asset and the bespoke LDI fund. Details of these investments, and the risks hedged, are included within the main pensions disclosure.Strategic ReportOverviewGovernanceFinancial Statements37STRATEGIC REPORT

Financial review continued

NEW ACCOUNTING STANDARDS
IFRS 9 Financial instruments
The directors have completed the impact 
assessment of IFRS 9 Financial instruments and 
have concluded that under the new standard, 
which will be adopted for the financial year 
ending 31 December 2018, the Group will be able 
to continue to record movements in its financial 
assets held within its PFI joint ventures through 
other comprehensive income (OCI) using the fair 
value through OCI category. This is because these 
financial assets are held within a business model 
whose objective at Group level is achieved by 
both collecting contractual cash flows and selling 
financial assets and the contractual terms of 
the financial asset meet the “solely payments of 
principal and interest on the principal outstanding” 
criterion. Therefore, there will be no quantitative 
impact on the Group upon adoption of IFRS 9 at  
1 January 2018.

IFRS 15 Revenue from contracts  
with customers
The new standard replaces IAS 18 Revenue and  
IAS 11 Construction contracts. It became effective 
for accounting periods on or after 1 January 2018, 
at the earliest. The main impact of the standard is 
to require the recognition and disclosure of revenue 
to be based around the principle of disaggregation 
of discrete performance obligations. The Group has 
conducted a detailed review to quantify the impact 
of adoption of the standard and does not currently 
anticipate any material impact.

IFRS 16 Leases
The new standard will replace IAS 17 Leases. It will 
become effective for accounting periods on or after 
1 January 2019, at the earliest. It will require nearly 
all leases to be recognised on the balance sheet as 
liabilities, including those currently recognised as 
operating leases, with corresponding assets being 
created. The existing operating lease commitments 
of the Group are disclosed in note 24(b) to the 
consolidated financial statements. The Group is 
conducting a systematic review to quantify the 
exact impact of adoption of the standard. 

Please see note 1 to the consolidated financial 
statements for further disclosures on these 
standards. Except for IFRS 9, IFRS 15 and  
IFRS 16 noted above, the directors do not currently 
anticipate that the adoption of any other standard 
and interpretation that has been issued but is not 
yet effective will have a material impact on the 
financial statements of the Group in future periods.

TAX STRATEGY AND RISK MANAGEMENT
Governance
The Group seeks constantly to evolve its systems, 
processes and procedures as they relate to 
taxation to ensure that confidence is maintained 
in the Group’s ability to process and deal with its 
taxation affairs. All tax decisions and considerations 
are routed through the specialist Group Tax 
Department prior to being considered further 
and, when appropriate, put forward for approval 
at Board level. All tax disclosures and errors are 
reported to the Group Tax Department which also 
forms the principal point of contact between the 
Group and HMRC.

The Group has a robust system of documented 
controls which are regularly reviewed to ensure 
they remain fit for their intended purpose and 
which ensure that we are able to meet our taxation 
obligations and the requirements of the Senior 
Accounting Officer (SAO) reporting obligations. A 
comprehensive review is undertaken each year of 
adherence to SAO requirements before considering 
whether it is necessary to draw attention to errors 
which may have affected the Group’s ability to 
account for the correct amount of tax. 

Responsibility for the execution of the Group’s tax 
strategy rests with the Chief Financial Officer and 
the Head of Tax and Treasury.

Planning
Efficient management of the tax base of the Group 
involves structuring the Group’s affairs efficiently 
for tax and conducting the Group’s affairs in 
accordance with tax legislation, but does not 
involve or permit the use of risky or aggressive  
tax structures or schemes. 

The Group’s tax strategy is determined by 
the Board and is summarised in the following 
statement:

“The Group will seek to manage the tax it pays 
(i) by abiding by legal and regulatory principles, 
(ii) by considering acceptability to stakeholders, 
and (iii) by avoiding any acts inconsistent with the 
Group’s reputation.”

The Group seeks to create value for its shareholders 
and efficient management of the tax base of the 
Group is an integral part of that value creation, 
subject to the principles outlined above. 

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Overview

Strategic Report

Governance

Financial Statements

Relationship with UK tax authorities
Interserve seeks to maintain an open dialogue 
in the UK with HMRC regarding its plans and tax 
affairs, discussing potential tax issues which may 
arise in the business as well as initiating discussion 
around the suitability of the systems and controls in 
place to control and manage its tax position.

During Q4 2017 the Group entered into a Time to 
Pay (TTP) agreement with HMRC. The substance 
of this agreement was to defer payment of certain 
payroll taxes to HMRC. As at 31 December 2017 the 
Group had residual liabilities under this agreement 
of £10.8 million. These were settled in full by  
7 February 2018. 

TREASURY RISK MANAGEMENT
We operate a centralised Treasury function whose 
primary role is to manage interest rate, liquidity 
and foreign exchange risks. The Treasury function 
is not a profit centre and it does not enter into 
speculative transactions. Where possible it aims 
to reduce financial risk by the use of hedging 
instruments, operating within a framework of 
policies and guidelines approved by the Board. 

Liquidity risk
We seek to maintain sufficient facilities to ensure 
access to funding for our current and anticipated 
future requirements, determined from budgets and 
medium-term plans.

During 2017 the Group had access to committed 
debt facilities comprising of a $350 million  
US private placement and £433 million of 
committed loan facilities. For the majority of the 
year the US private placement was fully swapped 
into GBP, giving an effective value of £207 million. 
These aggregate facilities of £640 million had a 
weighted average expiry date of April 2022.

On 13 December 2017 the Group secured interim 
financing from its lenders. The additional facilities, 
totalling £180 million, comprised a £37.5 million 
committed revolving credit facility, £37 million 
of committed ancillary facilities, committed 
bonding facilities of £93 million and £12.5 million of 
additional funding available by agreement with the 
lenders. These facilities were scheduled to expire 
on 30 March 2018 (and subsequently extended to 
30 April 2018). In order to obtain these facilities, 
Interserve agreed to close out its cross-currency 
swaps, which hedged exchange rate exposure on 
the existing US private placement loan notes, 
generating proceeds of £44.1 million. These  
£44.1 million of proceeds were then used to repay 
existing committed facilities, resulting in aggregate 
facilities at the year end of £685.0 million. See 
note 20 for further details. 

As a result of the disposal of the cross-currency 
swaps the US private placement became free 
floating with all subsequent retranslation gains or 
losses on the value of this debt recognised through 
the income statement as a non-underlying item. 
See the ‘Net Interest Charge’ section earlier within 
this Financial Review for further details. 

Following the successful conclusion of our lender 
negotiations in April 2018, and expiry of the 
£37.5 million of short-term facilities, the Group has 
arranged access to committed borrowing facilities of 
£834 million which are considered adequate to satisfy 
the ongoing liquidity demands of the Group. 

These committed borrowing facilities consist of 
a renewal of existing revolving credit facilities of 
£388.6 million, $350 million of US private placement 
notes, £175 million new term loan and £21.5 million 
of money market lines. The term loan is repayable 
in instalments with £150.0 million of repayments 
(including from disposals) due before or during 2019 
and £60.0 million in 2020. The balance of funding 
is committed until September 2021 and is subject 
to a covenant to reduce gross borrowings to below 
£450 million by 30 June 2020.

These facilities are subject to interest at the following rates:

Cash payment

Payment in kind

Total

Revolving credit 
facility

LIBOR + 3.00%

US$ loan notes

Weighted average  
of 5.61%

1.43% + 2.00% until 
September 2019 if net leverage 
is above 3.0x and then subject 
to a ratchet increase

2.00% until September 2019 
if net leverage is above 3.0x 
and then subject to a ratchet 
increase

LIBOR + 6.43%

Weighted average  
of 7.61%

New term loan

LIBOR + 3.25%

5.50%

LIBOR + 8.75%

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STRATEGIC REPORT

Financial review continued

As part of the refinancing the Company will issue 
warrants to the providers of the new term loan 
and bonding facilities to buy shares at 10 pence 
per share (the nominal price of each share). If 
exercised, this would provide the warrant holders 
with an interest of up to 20 per cent of the post-
issue share capital. The issue of these warrants will 
result in a charge to the income statement over the 
life of the new money equivalent to their fair value.

The Company has also agreed with the lenders 
that, as part of any significant equity fundraising 
to deleverage the Group, they will be offered a 
right to participate in up to 20 per cent of value 
of the equity fundraising by way of a conversion 
of a proportion of their debt into new equity 
at the same issue price as other investors. This 
participation right is conditional on the lenders 
retaining their lending commitment until any such 
equity fundraising. There is no certainty that the 
lenders will take up this right and, in addition, 
this right can be withdrawn if the Company, 
having taken advice from its corporate brokers 
and independent equity adviser, believes it would 
be likely to adversely impact success of any such 
equity fundraise.

The Group also secured additional bonding facilities 
of up to £95 million as part of the arrangements 
which attract a cash margin of 2.00 per cent with 
payment-in-kind charges of 5.50 per cent whilst net 
leverage exceeds 3.0x. Existing bonding also attracts 
a 0.50 per cent uplift on existing pricing and 2.00 per 
cent payment-in-kind charges until September 2019 
or net leverage falls below 3.0x and then subject to 
a ratchet. Payment-in-kind charges are capitalised to 
the balance sheet as a liability and become payable 
on a subsequent refinancing.

It is anticipated that the total interest expense in 
2018 will be approximately £67 million (including 
the amortisation of costs associated with the 
warrants) of which circa £34 million will be cash 
interest. The increased cost of bonding instruments 
already issued will be circa £3.2 million, of which 
the cash impact is less than £1 million.

The borrowings are subject to a number of financial 
covenants including absolute EBITDA and cash flow 
available for debt servicing along with net leverage 
and cash interest cover. The calculation of EBITDA 
is subject to a cap on the level of non-underlying 
items that are excluded for covenant calculation 
purposes. Net leverage requirements for net debt 
relative to EBITDA start at a maximum of 6.5x and 
trend downwards to below 4.0x over the duration 
of the funding. Interest cover requirement is 
broadly for EBIT to cover interest by at least 3.5x. 
These covenants are tested quarterly on a rolling 
12-month basis. There is also a minimum net worth 
covenant that is effective from December 2019.

In addition to the general financial covenants, the 
Group is subject to specific covenants on delivering 
EfW projects to within a £20 million tolerance 
on outturn cash flows, achieving milestones in 
a deleveraging timetable, numerous periodic 
reporting requirements and avoiding a qualification 
of its consolidated audit report. Alongside 
these requirements it is committed to achieving 
prescribed levels of disposals of non-core assets and 
businesses by prescribed dates.

The Group has granted security in respect of the 
new, and some of the existing debt, in the form 
of share pledges over material subsidiaries and 
floating charges over various intercompany funding 
arrangements.

Market price risk
The objectives of our interest rate policy are to 
match funding costs with operational revenue 
performance and to ensure that adequate interest 
cover is maintained, in line with Board-approved 
targets and banking covenants. 

Foreign currency risk
Transactional currency translation
The revenues and costs of our trading entities are 
typically denominated in their functional currency. 
The impact of retranslating any entity’s non-
functional currency balances into its functional 
currency was not material.

Consolidation currency translation
We do not hedge the impact of translating overseas 
entities’ trading results or net assets into the 
consolidation currency.

As at the balance sheet date the $350 million of 
debt relating to the US private placement was 
unhedged with the hedging instruments having 
been disposed of as a condition to secure the 
interim financing discussed above. 

The impact of changes in the year-end exchange 
rates, compared to the rates used in preparing the 
2017 consolidated financial statements, has led to a 
decrease in net assets attributable to equity holders 
of £35.2 million (2016: £67.4 million increase).

VIABILITY STATEMENT
This statement is made against a background of 
considerable market turbulence in the UK support 
services and construction sectors, sectors that 
form the operating environment for the two 
largest revenue generating divisions of Interserve. 
The collapse into liquidation of Carillion and the 
announcement of a £700 million rights issue by Capita 
are clearly significant events for the sector as a whole. 
These events come against a backdrop of profit 
warnings from a number of other sector players in 
recent years.

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Overview

Strategic Report

Governance

Financial Statements

The directors have reviewed the viability of the 
Group over a three-year period to December 2020. 
The choice of a three-year period reflects the long-
term secured nature of the Group’s revenues with 
£4.1 billion of work already secured in the order 
book covering the period up until the end of 2020. 
It also accords with the period covered by annual 
strategic planning process which is discussed in 
greater detail below. The three-year period takes 
the Group until December 2020, nine months before 
expiry of the entirety of the current committed 
borrowing facilities. 

2.   Margin improvement driven by efficiencies 

within overhead costs.

3.   Interserve will make non-core asset disposals  

during 2018 and beyond.

4.   The Company will be successful in its current 

professional indemnity insurance claims relating 
to the construction of the Glasgow EfW plant.

5.   The Company has not, as yet, recognised any 
material value for professional indemnity 
insurance claims relating to the construction of 
the Derby EfW plant.

Strategy and key judgements
The strategy of the Group is disclosed within this 
Annual Report and consists of four key priorities:

1.  Fit for Growth – improving cost efficiency

2.   Strengthening our competitive customer value 

proposition

3.  Standardising operational delivery

4.   Developing our people and a consistent,  

‘One Interserve’ culture

The principal risks and uncertainties associated 
with this plan are discussed in more detail 
separately within the Strategic Report  
on pages 28 to 31.

In generating its plan the Board has considered 
both the overall strategy of the Group and also the 
principal risks and uncertainties inherent within 
the business, as well as making a number of  
key strategic planning assumptions which are  
discussed below:

1.   No significant political changes in the UK, in 

particular around the appetite for public-sector 
outsourcing, or in the Middle East, in particular 
around the relationship between Qatar and 
other countries in the region.

6.   Dunbar, Margam and Rotherham EfW plants – 

solvency of joint-venture partner.

7. 

 Future losses on the Ministry of Justice CRC 
contracts will fall within provided levels.

8.   Future losses on the US Forces Prime contract 

will fall within provided levels.

9.   Both customer and supplier payment terms will 

remain within historic norms.

10.  Significant deleveraging event or equity raise 
achieved within the timeframe of this review. 

A number of these assumptions are discussed 
further within the detail on key judgements in  
note 1 to the consolidated financial statements 
which should be read as an integral part of this 
statement. 

As part of its recently concluded refinancing, the 
Group has also had to commit to a number of 
significant requirements over the next three years 
which are summarised below. Non-compliance 
would be an event of default under the terms of 
these financing arrangements and has the potential 
to impact on the ability of the business to remain as 
a going concern and/or to remain viable.

Term loan step downs

Gross debt

Approved non-core 
asset and business 
disposals (net proceeds 
to pay down loan)

Financial covenants

2018

2019

£70 million

2020

£60 million

To be less than £450 
million by June 2020

Reasonable 
endeavours to 
achieve sales target

Best endeavours to realise 
£75 million by April 2019 
and committed proceeds of 
£80 million by July 2019

Absolute EBITDA (with capped non-underlying items), absolute cash flow, 
leverage and interest cover – all to within a minimum circa 20% adverse tolerance 
of the business plan and tested quarterly on LTM basis. Minimum net worth 
requirement.

Deleveraging

Compliance with key milestones to an agreed timetable

Energy from Waste net 
operating cash flow 
forecast variances

Less than £20 million deterioration in total life project forecast cash flow

Audit report

No qualification of consolidated audit report

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41

STRATEGIC REPORT

Financial review continued

The Group currently has plans in place to comply 
with these requirements but it cannot be 
considered to be without risk. Most significantly 
within a 12-month timeframe, from the signing 
of these financial statements, the Group has 
committed to:

1.   Make a £50 million repayment of the newly-
drawn term loan by February 2019 (included 
within the £70 million above with the remaining 
£20 million due later in 2019). The Group’s 
ability to do this may depend on its ability 
to achieve asset sales and other collections 
within this timeframe which may be outside the 
control of the directors.

2.   Have used its best endeavours to achieve a 
determined amount of sales proceeds from 
approved non-core business disposals, and 
reasonable endeavours to dispose of other 
assets, which again may involve factors beyond 
the control of the directors.

3.   Comply with financial covenants on a 

quarterly basis benchmarked against a 
business plan containing challenging cost 
reduction and efficiency targets that may 
either not be deliverable or take longer to 
deliver than anticipated.

4.   No significant deterioration in forecast outturn 
for Energy from Waste projects including 
as a result of insolvency, or insolvency 
proceedings, against any of the Group’s 
joint-venture partners in this sector. Whilst 
significant efforts and resources are being 
directed at the conclusion of these projects 
over the next 12 months, the directors cannot 
preclude the development of other unforeseen 
factors or events beyond their control and 
the forecasts on which the directors are 
reaching their conclusions, which whilst their 
best estimate, include significant assumptions 
about ultimate contract settlements, insurance 
settlements and project timetables that 
may be outside their control. Note 1 to the 
financial statements contains additional 
disclosure of key judgements in this respect. 
The directors are aware of potential solvency 
issues at a joint-venture partner, with whom 
we share joint and several liability for project 
completion on three projects. The joint-venture 
partner has launched a rights issue to raise 
additional funding which is due to complete on 
30 April 2018. This rights issue is underwritten 
by a significant shareholder in the joint-venture 
partner. Accordingly, although the ongoing 
solvency of the joint-venture partner is beyond 
the directors’ control, they do not currently 
anticipate an adverse outcome. 

5.   As discussed in note 1 to the financial 

statements, significant judgements have also 
been taken with respect to the anticipated 

outcome of other contracts. In particular, that 
contract losses on the US Forces Prime contract 
and the Ministry of Justice CRC contracts will 
fall within anticipated and provided levels. 
This relies upon, as yet, unsecured negotiations 
to settle or de-scope contracts. Conclusion of 
these negotiations, is at least, partially outside 
the control of the directors and could have a 
material adverse impact on the Group.

In addition, it should be noted that the current 
level of uncertainty has been, and is potentially 
disruptive to, confidence from customers, suppliers, 
employees and all stakeholders. The continuation 
of this level of uncertainty may disrupt the ability 
of the Group to perform to expectations.

Looking beyond the 12-month timeframe, to the 
remainder of 2019 and 2020, there are additional 
key requirements that may ultimately be beyond 
the control of the directors as set out in the table 
above. A failure to achieve any of these items 
would almost certainly bring an adverse conclusion 
to the viability of the Group.

Notwithstanding these significant standalone 
risks and requirements, the Group has carried 
out a comprehensive business planning exercise 
on all other aspects of its business. The approach 
adopted and sensitivities considered are discussed 
further below.

Assessment process
The future prospects and implementation of this 
strategy are assessed primarily through the annual 
strategic planning process. This entails a series 
of detailed operational reviews. These culminate 
with divisional reviews involving the Group’s 
Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer 
and divisional management teams. The results of 
these reviews are then submitted to the Board in 
the form of a plan summary document for debate 
and approval.

The output is a full set of income statement, cash 
flow and balance sheet projections for each of 
the reporting entities of the Group. These exist at 
monthly frequency for the first year of the strategic 
plan (2018), at a quarterly frequency for the second 
year of the strategic plan (2019) and annually for 
the final year (2020). This process was concluded in 
December 2017.

Progress against this strategic plan is monitored on 
a monthly basis, primarily via the Group’s monthly 
management accounts which are submitted to the 
Board and the lender group. 

Subsequent to December 2017 the projections of 
the plan were amended to reflect the results of 
the Contract Review carried out by the Group, 
which is discussed in more detail earlier within 

42

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Overview

Strategic Report

Governance

Financial Statements

this Financial Review. They were also amended to 
reflect expectations of the financing agreement 
to be reached with the Group’s debt holders and 
the approximately £40 million of adviser fees 
associated with this. 

within the Group cash pooling arrangements. 
Intra-month net debt is typically at a higher level 
than month-end net debt, reflecting the timing 
of the majority of customer receipts. The Group 
committed debt facilities stand at £834 million. 

Following these amendments, the plan produced 
envisages average net debt of c£650 million in 
H1 2018 and c£620 million in H2 2018. 2018 full-year 
average net debt is at c£630 million. 2019 full-year 
average net debt is forecast at c£525 million with 
2020 net debt lower still. The Group typically has a 
c£55 million variance between net debt and gross 
debt, reflecting restricted cash that is not included 

Assessment of viability
Although they consider that the output of the 
annual strategic planning process represents the 
best estimate of future prospects of the Group, 
the directors have also stress tested the future 
viability of the Group by considering a number of 
sensitivities to the plan, grouped into a number of 
potential scenarios. 

These scenarios have been informed with reference to both the Principal Risks and Uncertainties of the 
Group and the key strategic planning assumptions detailed on page 41. The scenarios are:

Scenario

1.    Significantly reduced work 

winning from a combination of a 
downturn in market conditions, 
changes in the political appetite 
for outsourcing, political 
pressures in the Middle East or 
from reduced overall customer 
confidence in Interserve. 

2.    Fit for Growth plans not 

fully implemented to reduce 
overhead and increase 
procurement efficiency. 

Linkage to the key judgements and the 
principal risks or uncertainties

Sensitivity modelled

Key strategic planning  
assumptions: 1, 2

Principal risks and uncertainties: 
business, economic and political 
environment, IT systems/security, 
operating system, health and safety 
regime, financial risks, damage to 
reputation

Shortfall on 2018 work to win 
volumes leading to reduced revenue 
and increased working capital 
outflows in the UK Construction 
business. Failure to cut overheads 
fully in line with revenue reductions. 
Aggregate Group 2018 EBIT reduced 
by c25%.

Similar levels of adjustments applied 
in 2019/20.

Key strategic planning  
assumptions: 2

Costs of change incurred as planned, 
but with reduced benefits.

Principal risks and uncertainties: 
operating system, key people, 
financial risks

3.    Failure to achieve planned levels 

of 2018 asset disposals.

Key strategic planning  
assumptions: 3

4.    Energy from Waste – insurance 
proceeds lower than assumed 
at Glasgow and higher at Derby, 
and delays completing the 
commissioning at Derby.

5.    Failure to deliver expected 

levels of contractual 
performance.

6.    Both supplier and customer 

payment terms move adversely 
from historic norms, resulting in 
working capital outflows.

Principal risks and uncertainties: 
financial risks

Key strategic planning  
assumptions: 4, 5, 6

Principal risks and uncertainties: 
major contracts

Key strategic planning  
assumptions: 7, 8

Principal risks and uncertainties: 
operating system, key people,  
major contracts

Key strategic planning 
assumptions: 9

Principal risks and uncertainties: 
financial risks

Planned disposals of PFI and 
property assets are assumed to be 
delayed by six months from current 
expectations.

Glasgow professional indemnity 
proceeds at 50% of expected level. 
Derby professional indemnity  
offsets shortfall at Glasgow.

2018 total operating profit reduced 
by c10% with similar absolute 
reductions applied in 2019/20.

Aggregate working capital balances 
are £25 million adverse to planned 
levels by December 2018. This 
working capital outflow does not 
reverse in 2019/20.

43

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The Company is able to sustain up to five of these scenarios in combination whilst forecasting to remain within absolute committed facility limits and within covenant tests. Application of all scenarios simultaneously will result in the Company breaching committed facilities and/or banking covenants. Additional unmodelled scenarios exist that could cause breaches of either the absolute committed facilities or covenants. These principally involve either significant adverse macroeconomic events or a significant worsening in the cost to complete or final account settlements within the EfW businesses. The directors have applied the assumption that more than five of the modelled scenarios will not occur simultaneously and that the unmodelled scenarios will not occur.As outlined above, and elsewhere within this report, the Group faces a number of material uncertainties in the latter part of the three-year period under review with a number of events that may ultimately be beyond the control of the directors. It has plans in place that have been stress tested with a number of reasonable scenarios; however, there can be no certainty that it will remain viable and there are credible scenarios identified in which it will not remain so. The directors have a credible plan which they are implementing but they acknowledge the inherent risks of delivery, some of which are outside their control.GOING CONCERN STATEMENTOn pages 40 to 44, the directors have carried out a detailed review of the viability of the Group over the period to December 2020. This review has involved stress testing of the current strategic plan of the Group under a number of scenarios and has considered risks and uncertainties to both the near and medium term. Based on this analysis the directors have a reasonable expectation that the Group has adequate resources to continue as a going concern for the foreseeable future, representing a period of at least 12 months from the date of this report. Based on current expectations the directors consider it appropriate to continue to adopt the going concern basis in preparing the financial statements.This Strategic Report was approved by the Board  of Directors on 27 April 2018 and signed on its behalf by:Debbie White Mark WhitelingDirector Director      STRATEGIC REPORTFinancial review continued44PDF Page: v2  28772 - INT AR17 1 Front p1-45.p45.pdf

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Khansaheb Group, Interserve’s joint-venture partner in the United Arab Emirates, won a contract to provide integrated facilities management services at Serenia Residences,  a premium gated residence located on Dubai’s Palm Jumeirah.Designed by renowned architect, Hazel Wong, for Palma Developments, the 79,000 square metre development was built by Khansaheb’s construction arm as part of a £79 million contract. The project, which features  246 residential apartments, three penthouses, three swimming pools, water features and recreational facilities, was completed by Khansaheb in December 2017. Leveraging its experience in building the residence, Khansaheb’s FM team worked alongside its construction business to better understand the maintenance requirements at Serenia and developed a bespoke FM solution  to serve the residence. Khansaheb’s FM business started delivering a range of services including mechanical, electrical, and plumbing work, cleaning, concierge, lifeguard, landscaping, swimming  pool maintenance and outsourced security services in March 2018.The win shows the value of leveraging Interserve’s extensive UK experience and longstanding customer relationships in the  Middle East to win different types of work  with the same client.MANAGING SERVICES AT INTERSERVE-BUILT SERENIA RESIDENCES IN DUBAIStrategic ReportOverviewGovernanceFinancial Statements45PDF Page: v2 28772 - INT AR17 2 Governance p46-111.p1.pdf

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Corporate governance continuedGOVERNANCEOur Equipment Services business, RMD Kwikform (RMDK), designed and supplied the support solutions to assist the construction of Qatar Railways’ Doha Metro.The £25 billion project, which covers 300 kilometres and includes 100 stations,  will transform the country’s transport infrastructure when it is completed by the  FYAP joint venture (consisting of FCC, Archirodon, Yuksel and Petroserv) in  late 2019.RMDK designed and supplied a range of formwork and shoring products to support the construction of the elevated sections throughout the project. This included the construction of a viaduct, three elevated stations and an underpass.The RMDK team overcame a complex design process, which included several sub-projects and individual teams, and worked closely with the FYAP JV’s technical, planning and construction teams to determine which system would accommodate every element of the project.Due to the elevation and varying slopes of certain sections, the RMDK team produced 3D designs and conducted 3D frame analysis to create a solution that was fit for all sub-project teams, using only standard components. In total RMDK delivered 3,536 tonnes of equipment to site.By using only ‘standard’ kit, instead of specifically designed solutions, the site team was able to erect the equipment safely and quickly which was essential due to the strict project timelines and the close proximity to nearby busy streets in Doha and surrounding areas. RMD KWIKFORM DELIVERS FOR DOHA METRO PROJECT 46PDF Page: v2 28772 - INT AR17 2 Governance p46-111.p2.pdf

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Board of directors 48Advisers 51Corporate governance 52Audit Committee report 62Directors’ remuneration report 70Directors’ report 100Directors’ responsibility statement 109GovernanceGovernanceOverviewStrategic ReportFinancial Statements47PDF Page: v2 28772 - INT AR17 2 Governance p46-111.p3.pdf

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GOVERNANCE Board of directorsSkills and experienceGlyn has extensive experience as a business leader and trusted adviser to FTSE 100 companies and their boards on a wide variety of corporate finance issues. He previously held a number of senior positions during his 35-year career at PricewaterhouseCoopers and built PwC’s private-equity focused Transactions Services business. He has a deep understanding of accounting and regulatory issues, together with comprehensive transactional and financial services experience. Glyn is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales and holds a BSc (Hons) in Economics and Accountancy from the University of Bristol.External appointments• Senior Independent Non-Executive Director, Aviva plc• Non-Executive Director and Remuneration Committee Chairman, The Berkeley Group Holdings plc• Non-Executive Chairman, Irwin Mitchell Holdings Ltd• Non-Executive Director and Audit Committee Chairman, Transocean Ltd (NYSE)• Adviser, Novalpina Capital LLPFormer key appointments• Non-Executive Chairman, Transocean Partners LLC (NYSE)• Vice Chairman, UK, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP• Managing Partner, UK, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP• Head of Assurance, UK, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP• Deputy Chairman, English National OperaGLYN BARKER ChairmanJoined the Board in January 2016 and  became Chairman in March 2016Chairman of the Nomination Committee  and Member of the Remuneration Committee DEBBIE WHITEChief Executive OfficerJoined the Board in September 2017Skills and experienceDebbie joined Interserve as Chief Executive Officer in September 2017 after spending 13 years at Sodexo where, most recently, she served as Chief Executive Officer of Global Healthcare and Global Government, leading its business in Justice, Defence and Government Services and Healthcare. A Cambridge graduate who qualified as a chartered accountant and tax adviser with Arthur Andersen in the UK, Debbie spent her early career in finance roles at Astra Zeneca and in a global advisory role at PWC Consulting. She is a member of the Women  1st Top 100 Club. External appointments• Non-Executive Director, Howden Joinery Group Plc• Trustee and Audit Committee Chair, Wellbeing of WomenFormer key appointments• Chief Executive Officer, Sodexo Global Healthcare and Government• Chief Executive Officer, Sodexo UK  and Ireland• Chief Financial Officer, Sodexo Inc• Chief Financial Officer, Sodexo UK  and Ireland48PDF Page: v2 28772 - INT AR17 2 Governance p46-111.p4.pdf

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DOUGIE SUTHERLANDExecutive DirectorJoined the Board in January 2011MARK WHITELING Chief Financial OfficerJoined the Board in October 2017Skills and experienceMark has considerable financial and leadership experience in listed companies, most recently having spent four years at Premier Farnell in various roles, including Chief Financial Officer and Deputy Chief Executive. Mark started his career with Coopers and Lybrand in New Zealand before moving to the USA where he held a number of finance roles. A graduate of the University of Canterbury in Christchurch, New Zealand, Mark holds a Masters of Commerce (Hons) degree. External appointments• Senior Independent Non-Executive Director and Audit Committee Chairman,  Hogg Robinson Group PLC• Senior Independent Non-Executive Director and Audit Committee Chairman,  Connect Group PlcFormer key appointments• Non-Executive Director, Future plc• Deputy Chief Executive/Interim Chief Executive/Chief Financial Officer, Premier Farnell plc• Chief Financial Officer, Autobar Group Ltd• Finance Director, Communisis plc• Group Finance Director, Tibbett & Britten Group Plc• Chief Financial Officer for the food equipment division (Europe and International), Enodis Plc• Vice President – finance, diversified pharmaceutical services, Smithkline BeechamSkills and experienceDougie, who joined Interserve in  September 2006, is Managing Director of Interserve’s Developments division and is also responsible for UK Construction. He began his career with seven years in the Royal Engineers. He then led on various deals on behalf of the Government including the redevelopment of the HM Treasury, GCHQ and National Savings sites. He has an extensive background in the Private Finance Initiative infrastructure investment arena, across both public and private sectors. Dougie holds an MBA from Cranfield School of Management and a BSc (Hons) in Civil and Structural Engineering from the University of Edinburgh.Former key appointments• Partner, 3i Infrastructure• Divisional Managing Director, Lend Lease• Managing Director, Amey Ventures Ltd• Various roles at HM Treasury RUSSELL KING Senior Independent DirectorJoined the Board in September 2014Member of the Audit, Nomination and Remuneration CommitteesSkills and experienceFollowing his appointment to the Board in September 2014, Russell was appointed as Senior Independent Director in May 2015. He has broad international experience in business/strategy development, human resources relations, government and sustainable development acquired during his 20 years in various management roles at ICI and senior positions at Anglo American. Russell holds a BA (Hons) in Politics from the University of Durham. External appointments• Non-Executive Chairman, Hummingbird Resources PLC• Senior Independent Non-Executive Director and Remuneration Committee Chairman, Spectris Plc• Independent Non-Executive, BDO LLPFormer key appointments• Senior Independent Non-Executive Director and Remuneration Committee Chairman, Aggreko plc• Senior Adviser, Heidrick & Struggles• Chairman, Sepura plc• Chairman, GeoProMining Ltd• Senior Adviser, RBC Capital Markets on Metals and Mining• Chairman, Bergteamet AB• Non-Executive Director, Anglo Platinum Ltd• Chief Strategy Officer, Anglo American plc• Executive Vice President of Group Human Resources and Business Development, Anglo American plcGovernanceFinancial StatementsStrategic ReportOverview49PDF Page: v2 28772 - INT AR17 2 Governance p46-111.p5.pdf

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GOVERNANCEGOVERNANCE Board of directors       continuedANNE FAHYIndependent  Non-Executive DirectorJoined the Board in January 2013Chair of the Audit Committee, and  Member of the Nomination and  Remuneration CommitteesSkills and experienceDuring her 27 years at BP, Anne gained extensive experience of global business, developing markets, risk management, internal control, compliance and strategy development in the aviation, petrochemicals, trading and retail sectors. She is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Ireland and a Bachelor of Commerce in Economics, Accounting and Business from University College Galway, Ireland. Anne has chaired the Audit Committee since May 2013. External appointments• Non-Executive Director, Coats Group plc• Non-Executive Director and Audit Committee Chair, Nystrar NV (Belgium) • Non-Executive Director and Audit Committee Chair, SThree plc• Director/Trustee and Chair of Finance Committee, Save the ChildrenFormer key appointments• Chief Financial Officer, Global Fuels, BP• Controller Strategic Businesses, BP• Controller Petrochemicals, BP• Other senior management roles at BP• Senior Audit Manager, KPMG (Ireland  and Australia)GARETH EDWARDS Independent  Non-Executive DirectorJoined the Board in February 2017Member of the Audit, Nomination and Remuneration CommitteesSkills and experienceAs a former partner at Pinsent Masons, Gareth’s expertise is in corporate legal matters, but he also has extensive experience as an adviser to Boards and  CEOs in a range of public (predominantly  FTSE 250), private and entrepreneurial companies on their strategy and wider business and commercial issues. He has considerable international experience, particularly in the Middle East and has spent recent years expanding Pinsent Masons’ offices in continental Europe and facilitating its business development between Asian, Middle Eastern and European offices. Gareth, a qualified solicitor, has a BA in French/German from the University of Keele. External appointments• Non-Executive Director, Positive  Healthcare plcFormer key appointments• Partner, Global Head of Corporate,  Pinsent Masons LLP50PDF Page: v2 28772 - INT AR17 2 Governance p46-111.p6.pdf

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KEITH LUDEMAN Independent  Non-Executive DirectorJoined the Board in January 2011Chairman of the Remuneration Committee, and Member of the Audit and Nomination CommitteesAdvisersGROUP COMPANY  SECRETARYDaniel BushREGISTERED OFFICEInterserve House Ruscombe Park Twyford Reading Berkshire RG10 9JU T +44 (0)118 932 0123 F +44 (0)118 932 0206 info@interserve.com www.interserve.comREGISTERED NUMBER00088456REGISTRAR AND SHARE  TRANSFER OFFICELink Asset Services  The Registry 34 Beckenham Road Beckenham Kent BR3 4TU T +44 (0)371 664 0300 enquiries@linkgroup.co.uk www.signalshares.com AUDITORSGrant Thornton UK LLPSTOCKBROKERSJ.P. Morgan Cazenove Limited Numis Securities LimitedLAWYERSAshurst LLPNICK SALMON Independent  Non-Executive DirectorJoined the Board in August 2014Member of the Audit, Nomination and Remuneration CommitteesSkills and experienceNick brings a wealth of experience from a number of senior roles in multinational companies. A mechanical engineer by training, he spent his formative years as a project engineer before joining Alstom in 1988. During his tenure at Alstom, Babcock and Cookson, Nick was responsible for leading several major restructuring projects and negotiating complex acquisitions and disposals. He is a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering and holds a BSc (Hons) in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Bristol.External appointments• Non-Executive Chairman, South East  Water Ltd• Senior Independent Non-Executive  Director, Elementis plcFormer key appointments• Senior Independent Non-Executive Director, United Utilities Group plc• Chief Executive, Cookson Group plc• Executive Vice President, Alstom SA• Chief Executive, Babcock International Group plcSkills and experienceKeith has many years’ experience in the transport and infrastructure industries including some 15 years with the Go-Ahead Group, where, as Chief Executive, he was responsible for the negotiation and operation of complex public-service contracts and the management and motivation of large workforces. He is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Transport and Logistics and a Fellow of the Institute of Railway Operators. He holds a BA in Geography from the University of Newcastle and an MSc in Transport Engineering and Planning from the University of Salford. Keith has chaired the Remuneration Committee since July 2014.External appointments• Non-Executive Chairman, Bristol Water plc• Non-Executive Chairman, London Transport Museum Ltd• Senior Independent Non-Executive Director, Eversholt UK Rails Group• Adviser, Lloyds Development CapitalFormer key appointments• Non-Executive Chairman, TXM Plant• Non-Executive Chairman, Aspin Group Holdings Ltd• Senior Independent Non-Executive Director, Network Rail Ltd• Non-Executive Director, Network Rail Infrastructure Ltd• Non-Executive Director, Network Rail Consulting Ltd• Group Chief Executive, Go-Ahead Group Plc• Chairman, Association of Train Operating CompaniesGovernanceFinancial StatementsStrategic ReportOverview51PDF Page: v2 28772 - INT AR17 2 Governance p46-111.p7.pdf

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GOVERNANCEGOVERNANCECorporate  governanceGLYN BARKERCHAIRMANDear ShareholderGood corporate governance requires a strong system of effective internal control to assess and manage risk and a culture of integrity, openness and a desire for continuous improvement. The circumstances that resulted in the challenges faced by the Group during 2017 were, in my view, due in part to weaknesses in the corporate governance framework of Interserve over several years.One of the key criteria the Board emphasised when selecting our new Chief Executive was the ability to work with the Board to improve culture through leadership and the control environment through strong management. Debbie White and her team have moved swiftly to improve our control environment significantly and her strong leadership has already brought demonstrable improvement to the culture  of the organisation and the motivation of our people.It is clear that that the enormous change taking place in Interserve has put extraordinary demands on our people.  I recognise the invaluable contributions made by our dedicated teams across the divisions during the year who have demonstrated a collective desire to deliver success and I have been impressed by the strength and courage of our people who have shown resilience as we transition into a stronger organisation. I would like to take this opportunity  to thank the staff of Interserve for their hard work  and dedication.The diversity and inclusion agenda and developing our talent pipeline continues to be an important element of our people strategy. As outlined in the accompanying Corporate Governance Report, during the year various diversity networks for our people have been formed with the intention of raising awareness through events and activities of the important issues around equality, diversity and inclusion across the Group.We were delighted to have been named Construction Company of the Year for the second year running at the National Centre for Diversity (NCFD) annual awards and the Board remains committed to ensuring we continue towards a truly diverse and inclusive workforce. The Nomination Committee paid particular attention to diversity and workforce demographics in its review of succession planning and recruitment during the year. Our aim is to deliver a sustainable and growing business through the Fit for Growth programme and I would like to thank our loyal stakeholders for their continued support and, while challenges remain in many of our markets, the Group has a clear plan to restore stability and reset the business for future growth.As was the case last year, all directors wishing to remain  in office will seek re-election at the AGM.Glyn Barker Chairman52Overview

Strategic Report

Governance

Financial Statements

COMPLIANCE WITH THE CODE 
The Financial Reporting Council (FRC) requires the Company 
to disclose how it has applied the principles of the UK 
Corporate Governance Code published in April 2016 (the Code) 
and whether there has been compliance with its provisions 
throughout the financial year. In the case of non-compliance, 
the Company must specify those provisions with which it has 
not complied and give reasons for this. The Code may be found 
on the FRC website (www.frc.org.uk). 

The directors consider that the Company has complied 
throughout the year with all provisions of the Code applicable 
to it, save for the following provisions:

•  B.2.3, which requires that non-executive directors should 

be appointed for specified terms subject to re-election and 
to statutory provisions relating to the removal of a director 
and recommends that any term beyond six years for a 
non-executive director should be subject to particularly 
rigorous review, and should take into account the need for 
progressive refreshing of the board. 

Keith Ludeman was appointed to the Board in 2011 and his 
tenure as non-executive director has reached the threshold 
of six years recommended by the Code. As detailed in the 
Chairman’s Statement, Mr Ludeman has informed the Board 
of his intention to step down as a director of the Company  
at the conclusion of the forthcoming AGM in order to take  
on increased responsibilties elsewhere and therefore will  
not be seeking re-election. 

•  B.6.1, which requires the board to state how performance 
evaluation of the board, its committees and its individual 
directors has been conducted. 

The Company has appointed a new Chief Executive Officer 
and Chief Financial Officer and Gareth Edwards has recently 
joined the Board as a non-executive director. As a result, 
the Board, in its current composition, has had less than 
one full year of meetings. The Company did not therefore 
consider that a performance evaluation of the Board would 
be appropriate or cost efficient at this point in time and 
decided to postpone such evaluation until the next financial 
year. The Company is confident that the Board combines 
an appropriate range of skills and experience and, at a 
Board meeting on 12 March 2018, it was decided that a 
performance evaluation of the Board and its committees will 
be carried out in 2018. In relation to each of the directors 
putting themselves forward for election or re-election at 
the 2018 AGM, the Nomination Committee is satisfied that 
each director standing for election or re-election continues 
to make an effective and valuable contribution to the Board 
and demonstrates commitment to the role. 

LEADERSHIP 
The Board 
Operation of the Board 
The Board has a formal schedule of matters reserved for its 
decision, whilst day-to-day operational decisions are managed 
by the Executive Board, as referred to on page 56.

In order to facilitate the efficient use of its time the Board has 
delegated certain of its powers to Board committees, details 
of which are set out later in this report. From time to time the 
Board also establishes certain other committees to deal with a 
specific issue which the Board has approved.

Board activities in the 2017 financial year 
The Board is responsible for reviewing the Group’s strategic 
direction, governance, ethics, values and risk management. 
Set out below are the key matters dealt with by the Board 
during the course of the year, in addition to the ongoing 
monitoring of operational and financial performance of 
the Group: 

Strategy
•  launching the Group’s Fit for Growth programme aimed at 

improving cash and margin performance;

•  setting the health and safety targets for the Group and 

monitoring performance on a monthly basis;

•  reviewing progress on a quarterly basis against the HR 

strategy;

•  monitoring progress against the Group’s SustainAbilities 

plan; 

Finance/governance
•  ongoing monitoring of key contracts where outcomes could 
impact financial performance with particular reference to 
the exited Energy from Waste (EfW) business forming part of 
the UK Construction business;

•  ongoing monitoring of the Group’s working capital, net debt 
positions and funding requirements, and related discussions 
with the Group’s lenders;

•  considering capital investments and requests by the 

businesses for approval of significant tenders within the 
framework of matters reserved for the Board’s decision;

•  setting the Group’s annual budget and plan;

•  approval of the annual and half-year report;

•  satisfying itself as to the basis for and appropriateness  

of the going concern and viability statements;

Risk management
•  ensuring the maintenance of a sound system of internal 

controls and an effective risk management and assurance 
strategy;

•  reviewing the risk and control performance report from the 
Executive Board, including conducting, in February and July, 
a robust assessment and ongoing monitoring of the principal 
risks facing the Company, including those that would 
threaten its business model, future performance, solvency 
or liquidity; and horizon scanning for emerging risks;

•  careful consideration of the risk/reward profile of significant 

bids and potential joint ventures; and

•  reviewing legal risk management within the Group.

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GOVERNANCE

Corporate governance continued

Division of responsibilities
There is a clear division of responsibilities between the role 
of the Group Chairman and Chief Executive Officer which 
are clearly defined in written terms of reference, agreed by 
the Board.

The role of the Chairman
The Group Chairman leads the Board and creates the 
conditions for overall Board and individual director 
effectiveness, both inside and outside the boardroom.  
The Group Chairman considers succession planning and  
the Board’s composition with the Nomination Committee  
and ensures effective communication with shareholders and 
other stakeholders. 

The Group Chairman, assisted by the Company Secretary, 
sets the agenda for Board meetings and ensures that Board 
members receive timely information and are briefed on 
issues arising at Board meetings to assist them in making  
an effective contribution. 

The Group Chairman’s other commitments are set out in his 
biography on page 48.

The role of the Chief Executive Officer
The Chief Executive Officer manages the Group, leading the 
formulation of and, once set by the Board, implementing 
strategy. The Chief Executive Officer chairs the Executive 
Board and Risk Committee, leads the executive management 
team and investor communications and is responsible for social 
and ethical matters within the Group.

The role of the Senior Independent Director
The Senior Independent Director is available to shareholders 
should they have any concerns which contact through other 
channels has failed to resolve or for which such contact may 
be inappropriate. He also acts as a sounding board for the 
Group Chairman, serves as an intermediary for the other 
directors when necessary, conducts the Group Chairman’s 
annual performance evaluation and leads any new Chairman 
appointment process.

The role of the Company Secretary
The Company Secretary distributes Board papers and other 
information sufficiently far in advance of each meeting for the 
directors to be properly briefed, presenting certain papers to 
the Board and its committees, advises on Board procedures 
and ensures that the Board follows them.

The Board papers include information from management on 
financial, business and corporate issues. Matters requiring 
Board and committee approval are generally the subject 
of a written proposal and circulated as part of the Board 
papers. The Company Secretary plays a key role in the good 
governance of the Company and, in particular, by supporting 
the Group Chairman on all Board matters pertaining 
to governance. 

Non-executive director independence and appointments
The Board reviews the independence of its non-executive 
directors on an annual basis as part of its nomination  
for re-election process. The Group Chairman and the  
non-executive directors are considered by the Board to be 
independent in character and judgement and free from any 
relationships or circumstances which are likely to affect, or 
could appear to affect, their judgement. The non-executive 
directors have complementary skills, experience and 
qualifications in a wide range of economic sectors and so 
are able to bring independent judgement and constructive 
challenge to bear on matters for consideration.

As at 31 December 2017 the Board comprised nine  
members: the Group Chairman, three executive and  
five non-executive directors. 

Non-executive directors and the Group Chairman are required 
to confirm, on appointment, that they have sufficient time to 
meet what is expected of them and to seek the committee 
chairman’s agreement, or in the case of the Group Chairman, 
the Senior Independent Director’s agreement, before 
accepting additional commitments that might impact upon the 
time they are able to devote to their role as a non-executive 
director of the Company. The letters of appointment of the 
non-executive directors and the Group Chairman specify the 
anticipated level of time commitment.

The terms and conditions of appointment of the non-
executive directors and the Group Chairman are available for 
inspection at the Company’s registered office during normal 
business hours. 

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Overview

Strategic Report

Governance

Financial Statements

BOARD EFFECTIVENESS 
Meetings 
The Board held 10 pre-scheduled meetings throughout the year 
and 13 ad hoc meetings to deal with time-critical matters. 
Attendance at Board and committee meetings during the year 
is set out in the table below.

Number of meetings attended

Audit  Remuneration

Nomination

3/3

6/6

6/6

6/6

6/8

5/5

8/8

7/8

8/8

6/6

8/8

2/2

1/1

2/2

2/2

2/2

0/1

2/2

G A Barker

G M Edwards1

A K Fahy

T P Haywood2

R J King

K L Ludeman

B A Melizan3

A M Ringrose4

N R Salmon

D I Sutherland

D J White5

M A Whiteling6

Board

23/23

17/20

22/23

16/16

22/23

18/23

19/22

13/14

23/23

23/23

9/9

7/7

1    Gareth Edwards was appointed to the Board on 1 February 2017. He 

was appointed to the three committees on 23 June 2017.

2   Tim Haywood stepped down from the Board on 30 September 2017.

3   Bruce Melizan stepped down from the Board on 30 November 2017.

4   Adrian Ringrose stepped down from the Board on 31 August 2017.

5   Debbie White was appointed to the Board on 1 September 2017.

6   Mark Whiteling was appointed to the Board on 1 October 2017.

The Group Chairman held four sessions with the non-executive 
directors at which no executive directors were present plus 
a number of informal discussions with the Chief Executive 
Officer present. The non-executive directors also met under 
the chairmanship of the Senior Independent Director, without 
the Group Chairman being present, to review the Group 
Chairman’s performance.

Board induction, training and development
On appointment, new directors receive a tailored induction 
programme arranged by the Company Secretary which 
includes, for example, refresher training on the duties of 
a listed company director, the operation and activities 
of the Group, meetings with management and other 
corporate advisers, and operational site visits encompassing 
a representative cross-section of most of the Group’s UK 
operations accompanied by the executive director responsible 
for that part of the Group.

Upon appointment, the new Chief Executive Officer and Chief 
Financial Officer were provided with induction materials 
containing core business information and attended a series 
of meetings with executive and other senior members of the 
management and, in the case of the Chief Financial Officer, 

finance teams across the Group. Both the Chief Executive 
Officer and the Chief Financial Officer attended meetings 
with senior members of the risk, internal audit, finance, 
tax and investor relations teams, as well as the Company’s 
main shareholders and external advisers. The meetings were 
focused on understanding the Group’s different business 
areas and operations. In addition, the Chief Executive Officer 
completed external training for public company directors 
provided by Ashurst LLP and completed five UK site visits 
and a visit to our Middle East operations. Gareth Edwards 
received internal induction materials, took part in a series 
of introductory meetings with team leaders and attended 
external training sessions for non-executive directors. 

An ongoing programme of site visits, staff meetings and 
business presentations provides additional opportunities for 
the Group Chairman and non-executive directors to visit 
various operations of the Group and to receive insight and 
feedback from employees. 

The executive directors make the details of their scheduled 
site visits available to the non-executive directors in order to 
provide further opportunities for the non-executive directors 
to learn more about the business. Furthermore, each non-
executive director, accompanied by an executive director, 
undertook separate site visits to one of the following: one of 
the Group’s Community Rehabilitation Companies probationary 
sites in Norwich, the Riverside School contract in Plymouth, 
the Dunbar and Derby Waste contracts, the Defence & 
National Rehabilitation Centre contracts, the Haymarket 
Edinburgh development (tHe) and the Group’s new flagship 
office, Ingenuity House, in Birmingham. 

During the year under review the non-executive directors have 
attended a number of seminars and/or other non-executive 
forums relevant to their roles.

Performance evaluation
During the course of the year the performance of the directors 
was reviewed by the Group Chairman on an ongoing basis and 
the Group Chairman’s performance was reviewed by the Senior 
Independent Director. 

The overall time commitment of the non-executive  
directors in the attendance of Board meetings/visits was in  
the order of circa 20 days in addition to the time taken to  
read Board papers and attendance at six meetings held by  
the Group Chairman. 

Information and support
Individual directors may, after consultation with the Group 
Chairman, take independent legal advice in furtherance 
of their duties at the Company’s expense up to a limit of 
£10,000 in relation to any one event. In the case of the Group 
Chairman he must consult with the Senior Independent 
Director. All directors have access to the advice and services 
of the Company Secretary, whose appointment or removal is 
a matter reserved for the approval of the Board or any duly 
delegated committee thereof. 

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GOVERNANCE

Corporate governance continued

Election and re-election
Debbie White and Mark Whiteling, having been appointed 
since the previous AGM, will submit themselves for election by 
shareholders at the AGM on 12 June 2018 in accordance with 
the Company’s Articles of Association. All remaining directors 
(with the exception of Keith Ludeman) will also submit 
themselves for re-election.

experience (both executive and non-executive) under review 
and makes recommendations for any changes to the Board. 
The composition of the Board will continue to be reviewed 
during 2018.

The Committee’s terms of reference set out clearly its 
authority and duties, and are available on the Company’s 
website at www.interserve.com and on request.

Biographical details for each of the directors standing for 
election or re-election are set out on pages 48 to 51.

EXECUTIVE BOARD
The Executive Board, which, during the year, comprised the 
executive directors together with the senior operational 
and functional leaders of the Group, is chaired by the Chief 
Executive Officer.

The Executive Board, which met 15 times during the course  
of the year, is responsible for: 

•  the operational management and delivery against budget 

and forecast of the Group;

•  implementing resolutions of the Board, formulation 
of strategy, annual budgets and other proposals for 
consideration by the Board;

•  the identification and evaluation for consideration by the 

Board of risks faced by the Group;

•  designing, operating and monitoring a suitable system of 
internal control embracing the policies adopted by the 
Board and providing assurance to the Board that it has  
done so; and

•  conducting monthly Senior Leadership Business Updates 

reflecting the Group’s open and collaborative culture and 
demonstrating the importance that the Executive Board 
places on employee engagement.

The Executive Board is also responsible for devising and,  
once approved by the Board, implementing suitable 
policies and monitoring procedures for health and safety, 
environmental, social and ethical, treasury, human resources 
and information technology.

AUDIT COMMITTEE
The Audit Committee is responsible for carrying out the audit 
functions required by paragraph 7.1.3R of the FCA’s Disclosure 
Guidance and Transparency Rules, details of which are 
included in the Audit Committee Report on pages 62 to 69  
and are incorporated into this Corporate Governance report  
by reference.

NOMINATION COMMITTEE
The Nomination Committee is chaired by the Group 
Chairman and the members are independent non-executive 
directors. External consultants are generally used for new 
appointments. The Committee keeps the Board structure, 
size and composition, balance of skills and knowledge and 

Overview of activities 
Business conducted during the year included recommendations 
to the Board for the re-election of retiring directors at the 
AGM, reviewing the Board structure and composition, and the 
recruitment of Board appointments, as outlined below. The 
effectiveness of the Committee and its terms of reference 
were also reviewed. 

Senior appointment and recruitment
The Committee managed the recruitment process for the 
positions of Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer 
during the year. A role and person specification for each 
position was drawn up and credible external and internal 
candidates were identified and assessed. The searches were 
conducted on merit, against objective criteria, with due 
regard for relevant experience and for the benefits of diversity 
of Board membership, including gender. The process was 
facilitated by external head-hunters.

There are no other connections between the head-hunters  
and the Company.

Re-election of retiring directors at the AGM
In making its recommendation to the Board for the re-election 
of directors, the subject of “over-boarding” was considered 
by the Committee. It reached the conclusion that all directors 
were sufficiently available to the Company. Moreover, the 
Committee considers these other directorships assist in 
bringing valuable knowledge and experience to Board and 
committee debate. 

Succession planning
A wide-reaching talent review covering 846 employees was 
conducted during late 2016 and early 2017. This provided an 
in-depth review of management strength at three levels below 
Executive Board, and robust succession plans.

With the change in leadership, the 2017 talent review has  
been deferred to 2018.

The Company’s policy relating to the terms of appointment 
and remuneration of the executive and non-executive 
directors is detailed in the Directors’ Remuneration Report  
on pages 70 to 99.

Effectiveness
The Committee also reviewed its effectiveness against its 
terms of reference and concluded that it continued to  
operate effectively.

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Overview

Strategic Report

Governance

Financial Statements

Equality, diversity and inclusion 
The Group’s Diversity Policy states that diversity in all its 
forms is fundamental to the Group’s business. It is available 
on our website at www.interserve.com/about-us/policies. The 
goal is to recruit, motivate, develop and retain outstanding 
people that reflect the diversity of the communities in which 
the Group operates. 

In 2016 we achieved the National Equality Standard (NES) and 
in so doing achieved one of our SustainAbilities targets two 
years early. The NES sets clear equality, diversity and inclusion 
(EDI) criteria against which we were assessed and has become 
the accepted standard for inclusiveness in business across the 
UK. Only 11 organisations in the UK have successfully achieved 
the NES standard to date, and of those we are the largest 
employer and first from the support services sector.

We received further recognition in January 2018 when our 
Construction division was named ‘Construction Company 
of the Year’ for the second year running at the National 
Centre for Diversity (NCFD) annual awards. The NCFD also 
announced its UK Top 100 Index for 2018, highlighting 100 of 
the UK’s best and most diverse organisations. Interserve’s 
Construction division was placed at number 30, up three 
places from last year.

Diversity networks focusing on LGBT (out@interserve), mental 
health, Interserve Race, Ethnicity and Cultural Heritage 
(InREaCH) have all been formed. The Women in Interserve 
Network (WIIN), now in its sixth year, continues to grow in 
membership and programmes. These networks help raise 
awareness of the important issues around equality, diversity 
and inclusion across the Group and employees receive regular 
updates regarding the programme of events and activities 
in order to reach out to all employees regardless of their 
ethnicity, nationality, race, heritage, culture or identity. 

The success in developing the diversity of the Board 
is monitored as part of our annual evaluation of Board 
effectiveness. This will be monitored later in the year when 
the Company conducts its next evaluation. 

We would expect our diversity policy and the ongoing work on 
diversity and equality throughout the organisation to lead to 
greater diversity on the Board and divisional boards over time.

As detailed in the Strategic Report, the Group released its first 
Gender Pay Gap Reporting submission ahead of the deadline of 
4 April 2018.

Culture 
Our culture, drawn from our core values and expressed in our 
leadership framework, is promoted through the way we deliver 
the Company Vision and key initiatives such as SustainAbilities; 
innovation; health and safety; and diversity and inclusion. 
These initiatives, which are implemented across the Group, 
provide a common thread connecting our diverse businesses 
and set cultural and behavioural norms that form a key part of 
our employer brand.

The beliefs, norms and behaviours fostered by our culture 
include:

•  we make a difference in the work that we do;

•  we care about each other, our customers, the community, 

the environment and the services we deliver;

•  we are a place where different people thrive and make  

their mark;

and characterise what it feels like to be a colleague within our 
organisation. They also make a positive contribution towards 
both employee engagement and our reputation as an employer 
of choice.

Our employee survey, the work of internal audit and internal 
communication audits are all used to help us ensure that there 
is alignment between our culture, beliefs, norms, behaviours 
and our employer brand.

As part of our commitment to compliance in anti-bribery 
and competition laws, we continue to use the smart choice 
toolkit that was developed in conjunction with the Institute 
of Business Ethics. This is a decision-making guidance tool 
providing practical help and guidance on the legal position 
in a variety of situations in which our employees may find 
themselves, such as when it is and is not appropriate to accept 
a gift or offer hospitality, practical tips to avoid involvement 
in facilitation payments and how best to act if faced with a 
conflict of interest.

REMUNERATION COMMITTEE 
The Remuneration Committee is composed entirely of 
independent non-executive directors, details of whom 
are set out in the table on page 99. The responsibilities 
of the Committee, together with an explanation of 
the work undertaken and how it applies the directors’ 
remuneration principles of the Code, are set out in more 
detail in the Directors’ Remuneration Report on pages 70 
to 99 and are incorporated by reference into this Corporate 
Governance report.

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GOVERNANCE

Corporate governance continued

CONTRACT AND INVESTMENT COMMITTEE 
The Contract and Investment Committee (CIC) is composed of 
the Chief Executive Officer, the Chief Financial Officer and the 
Company Secretary. The CIC is responsible for deliberating and 
approving all new tenders involving bond and other security 
instruments based on an assessment of commercial terms, 
profitability and risk. Divisional managing directors submit 
standardised proposals to the CIC for new tenders, setting out 
the required credit support. 

The Company Secretary and Treasury function maintain an  
up-to-date schedule of issued and upcoming instruments 
approved by the CIC which ensures an efficient and 
streamlined instrument administration process.

OTHER BOARD COMMITTEES
The Conflicts Committee comprises the Group Chairman or, in 
the event that he is interested in the matter to be considered, 
the Senior Independent Director, and the Company Secretary.

The General Purposes Committee comprises any two executive 
directors (one of whom must be the Chief Executive Officer or, 
in her absence, the Chief Financial Officer).

The Inside Information Committee comprises the Group 
Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer.

The Private Finance Initiative (PFI) Committee comprises any 
two or more directors.

Each committee has written terms of reference and reports 
on the business conducted to the following Board meeting. 
Committee meetings held during the year are as follows:

Committee

Conflicts

General Purposes

Inside Information

PFI

Number of meetings

–

37

5

–

ACCOUNTABILITY 
Financial and business disclosures
In order to present a balanced assessment of the Company’s 
position and prospects, the Annual Report contains a  
Directors’ Responsibility Statement on page 109, an 
Independent Auditor’s Report about their reporting 
responsibilities on pages 112 to 121, a going concern statement 
on page 44 and a viability statement on pages 40 to 44. An 
explanation of the Company’s business model and strategy  
for delivering the Company’s objectives is set out on  
pages 14 and 15, and 12 and 13, respectively. 

The Directors’ Report contained on pages 100 to 108, of which 
this Corporate Governance report forms part, contains the 
information required by paragraph 13(2)(c), (d), (f), (h) and (i) 
of Schedule 7 to the Large and Medium-sized Companies and 
Groups (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 (as amended 
by The Companies Act 2006 (Strategic Report and Directors’ 
Report) Regulations 2013 and The Large and Medium-sized 
Companies and Groups (Accounts and Reports) (Amendment) 
Regulations 2013)).

Risk management and internal control
The Board has documented a risk management framework 
setting out its objectives in terms of the risk management 
framework and risk appetite, risk management policy, risk 
oversight structures and accountability, risk identification 
and assessment, escalation, monitoring and reporting, and 
guidance on the application of the framework, which is 
included within the Group’s internal controls manual.

The Board has carried out a robust assessment of the principal 
risks facing the Group1, as required by the Code, together with 
a review of effectiveness of the Group’s risk management and 
internal control systems, including operational and financial 
controls during the period covered by this report and has not 
identified nor been advised of any failings or weaknesses in 
the operational or financial controls which it determines to  
be significant. 

Because of the limitations that are inherent in any system 
of internal control, the Group’s system of internal control is 
designed to manage rather than eliminate the risk of failure to 
achieve business objectives, and can only provide reasonable, 
but not absolute, assurance against material misstatement or 
loss. The Group’s governance framework distinguishes between 
entities which are wholly controlled and joint ventures and 
associate companies in which the Group does not have overall 
control. For these joint ventures and associate companies, 
systems of internal control are applied as agreed between the 
Group and the other joint-venture parties or members of the 
associate company, as the case may be.

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Overview

Strategic Report

Governance

Financial Statements

Risk management framework
The Board has overall responsibility for the Group’s systems 
of risk management and internal controls, together with the 
ongoing review of its effectiveness, and sets appropriate 
policies having regard to the objectives of the Group.

Risk oversight, structures and accountability
The risk and control framework is predicated on the basis  
that line management is best placed to ensure that 
appropriate risk management is being exercised to maintain 
risk within the constraints of the Board’s risk appetite.

Key decisions are reserved by the Board to itself. Other 
decisions are taken under various delegated authorities down 
through the management chain.

The Executive Board, under delegated responsibility from 
the Board, identifies, assesses, manages and monitors risk 
and operates and monitors the system of internal control and 
provides assurance to the Board that it has done so. The Risk 
Committee assists the Executive Board in discharging its risk 
management responsibilities.

The Risk Committee, comprising the Chief Executive 
Officer, Chief Financial Officer, Group Health, Safety and 
Environmental Manager, Group Insurance Manager, the 
Group Company Secretary (who is its secretary), the Group 
General Counsel, the Group Chief Information Officer, the 
Group Information Security Officer and a representative from 
each of the Group’s operating divisions, met three times 
during the course of the year. The internal audit partner 
has a standing invitation to attend. The Committee has 
written terms of reference and provides copies of its meeting 
minutes to the Board.

Work undertaken by the Risk Committee included reviewing 
the Group’s prime risk areas2 and principal risks and 
uncertainties, providing a bi-annual risk and control report 
to the Executive Board, a programme of reviewing (on a 
divisional bottom-up basis) a selection of the Board’s key risks 
against the overall assurance map mapping (on a top-down 
basis) the three lines of assurance (management, functional 
oversight and independent internal reporting), receiving 
reports from the Information Security Forum, regular horizon 
scanning for risks presented by legal developments and 
forthcoming legislation, reviewing business continuity planning 
and reviewing whistleblowing notifications and the results of 
subsequent investigations, considering the divisional readiness 
of the forthcoming General Data Protection Regulations and 
updating the Anti-Bribery and Corruption Policy in the wake of 
a gap analysis review.

Risk committees have also been established by most 
divisions. These committees review risk at a divisional and 
business unit level, providing both reports to and attendance 
at the Risk Committee.

The risk oversight structure mirrors the operating style and 
culture of the Group, devolving responsibility for operational 
risk mitigation controls to those best placed to supervise 
and ensure their proper implementation. Divisional line 
management exercise oversight to manage risk appropriately 
and to ensure that the Board’s risk appetite is not 
being exceeded.

The Board’s risk appetite is cascaded throughout the Group 
indirectly by defined delegated decision boundaries and 
authority matrices. Certain key areas listed on pages 28 to 31 
are subject to central management or control.

Best practice, procedure and, where appropriate, policies 
in the areas of information security, business continuity 
and human resources, are promulgated by specialist forums 
comprised of subject matter experts from across the business.

Risk identification and assessment
As a normal part of Board business, consideration is given  
to any emerging or changing risks and whether these affect 
the strategy.

A thorough risk identification and assessment exercise is 
undertaken of the prime risk areas by the Risk Committee 
on a six-monthly basis. This review focuses on risks with the 
potential for material impact on the Group’s operational, 
financial or reputational standing. The review takes into 
account the latest divisional updates, actions taken, current 
performance against existing and any new key performance 
indicators and whether, as a result of the foregoing, the 
residual (net) risk of the prime risk area has changed since  
the last assessment.

The identification of risks associated with new business, and 
associated risk controls/mitigation is part of the process for 
obtaining Board approval.

New and emerging risks are captured by divisional risk 
committee bi-annual risk reviews which are consolidated 
into the risk and control performance report by the Risk 
Committee. The Board also gives consideration to emerging 
risks as part of its bi-annual risk review and more generally as 
part of its ongoing consideration of the future development of 
the Group.

1 

2 

 Further details of the Group’s Principal Risks and Uncertainties, their potential to affect the business, how they are being mitigated and changes in 
the current risk environment are set out in the Strategic Report, on pages 28 to 31.

 The Group’s prime risk areas are sub-sets of and have been mapped to the Principal Risks and Uncertainties set out on pages 28 to 31 of the 
Strategic Report and are matters which, if not appropriately managed, may to lead to events which breach the Board’s risk appetite.

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GOVERNANCE

Corporate governance continued

Escalating, reporting, monitoring and review
Monthly management accounts, divisional board meetings, 
the March, May and September forecast reviews, monthly and 
quarterly safety and quarterly legal and insurance reports all 
provide an opportunity for emerging risks to be escalated.

Divisional boards are required bi-annually to review their  
risk matrices, in January/February and June/July, to  
facilitate aggregation ahead of the release of the annual  
and half-year results.

Divisional management monitor the implementation, 
operation and efficacy of the risk management procedures 
within their division. Improvements implemented by 
divisional management are reported as part of the bi-annual 
risk reviews.

The Executive Board and the Board monitor risk as part of 
their monthly review of trading.

The internal audit function also undertakes a rolling review of 
the effectiveness of the internal control and risk management 
procedures as part of its annual work programme. Divisional 
risk and assurance resources have also been increased to 
support this work.

The Board performs a formal assessment of the effectiveness 
of the risk management process twice a year prior to 
publication of the half-year and annual results, taking into 
account the risk and control performance report from the 
Executive Board.

The Board has an ongoing process for identifying, evaluating 
and managing principal risks that the Group faces, together 
with an ongoing process to embed internal control and risk 
management within the business operations. This process 
was in place for the period under review and up to the date 
of approval of this Annual Report and Financial Statements 
and the systems accord with the FRC’s guidance on Risk 
Management, Internal Control and Related Financial and 
Business Reporting.

Control effectiveness
Divisional boards undertake an ongoing assessment of, and 
effect improvements to, the control environment, and report 
their actions through the bi-annual risk review process.

The internal audit function assesses the effectiveness of 
certain internal control and risk management procedures as 
part of its annual work programme.

Enhancements to the risk management process include the 
development of an assurance map which identifies the three 
lines of assurance (management, functional oversight and 
independent internal reporting) over the prime risk areas.  
This enables the Board to make an informed assessment of  
the appropriateness of assurance.

Financial reporting
Based on submissions from the trading divisions, a budget is 
prepared for approval by the Board before the start of each 
financial year. Subsequently, forecasts of prospective financial 
performance are prepared as at the end of March, May and 
September of each year. Budgets and forecasts include the 
financial results, financial position and cash flows for each 
division and Group Services.

The Group has risk management systems and documented 
accounting policies and procedures to be applied by all entities 
in the Group in submitting their financial statements for 
consolidation to ensure that adequate accounting records are 
maintained and transactions are recorded accurately and fairly 
to permit the preparation of consolidated financial statements 
in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards.

Each month, every entity within the Group submits 
management accounts in local currency to the Group Finance 
team. The consolidated management accounts include the 
financial results, financial position, cash flows and projections 
and are submitted, along with analytical commentary, to the 
Executive Board and subsequently the Board for review. 

The management accounts for June and December are used to 
prepare the half-yearly and annual financial statements. The 
Group Finance team reviews the disclosures in the financial 
statements to ensure that they comply with applicable 
reporting standards. The half-yearly and annual financial 
statements are reviewed by the Executive Board, the Audit 
Committee and the Board before publication.

The financial reporting process is reviewed periodically by 
internal audit in accordance with the programme approved by 
the Audit Committee each year. 

A summary of the key financial risks inherent in the Group’s 
business is given on pages 39 and 40 and a description of how 
the Group manages those risks is set out on page 29. 

Operational controls
The principal features of the Group’s system of operational 
control are:

•  An established management structure comprising the Board 

with its various committees and an Executive Board.

•  Executive Board and Board review of the monthly finance 

and divisional trading reports.

•  Documented delegated authority limits which are kept 

under regular review. Larger value proposals and business 
acquisitions and disposals are controlled by the Board.

•  All Group companies operate detailed tendering procedures 

designed to ensure effective risk management when 
tendering for high-value projects or projects with difficult 
conditions, onerous obligations, guarantees, bonds and 
adverse cash flow conditions which are monitored by the 
relevant Executive Board member and, where appropriate, 
in conjunction with the Chief Executive Officer.

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One-to-one post-results meetings held with institutional 
investors tend to focus on such matters as Group strategy, 
operational performance, market trends, macro-economic 
influences, financial performance, merger and acquisition 
ambitions, peer group issues, the political environment and 
progress of key bids and key contract renewals. Meetings held 
with analysts focus on the foregoing issues and, in addition, 
the key factors which influence analysts’ financial forecasts, 
with a view to ensuring market consensus is based on accurate 
and up-to-date information, properly interpreted.

Having due regard to their importance as stakeholders, 
we also undertake regular one-to-one meetings and group 
presentations with our bank and private-placement lenders, 
in which operational, strategic and market issues are 
discussed, together with the implications for our future 
financing requirements.

The Group’s annual and half-yearly results, trading updates, 
presentations given to analysts and all announcements made 
through the RNS are published on the Company’s website at 
www.interserve.com. 

All shareholders are given at least 21 clear days’ notice of the 
AGM. It is standard practice for all directors to attend the AGM 
to which all shareholders are invited and at which they may 
put questions to the chairs of the various committees or the 
Board generally. The voting results of the AGM are announced 
through the RNS and posted on the Company’s website shortly 
after the close of the meeting.

APPROVAL
This report was approved by the Board of Directors on 
27 April 2018 and signed on its behalf by:

Glyn Barker
Chairman
27 April 2018

•  Manuals setting out Group policy and procedures, with 

which all Group companies must comply. 

•  The Group has certain key areas which are subject to central 
management or control, which include health, safety and 
environmental policies, legal, insurance, tax and treasury, 
real estate, internal and external communication, investor 
relations, information technology network services and 
operating systems, human resources, motor fleet and 
company secretarial. These functions report to members of 
the Executive Board.

•  One or more members of the Executive Board and, in 

many cases, either the Chief Executive Officer or the Chief 
Finance Officer, attend divisional board meetings.

•  During the course of each year members of the Executive 

Board or other senior operational and financial management 
visit or review all trading companies to discuss and monitor 
the performance of those businesses.

•  The Group has in place a whistleblowing policy which sets 
out a framework for dealing with any allegations of fraud, 
financial misreporting and any whistleblowing notification.  
A copy of the policy is available on the Company’s website  
at www.interserve.com.

RELATIONSHIP WITH SHAREHOLDERS
The main communications with financial investors are the half-
year and annual results presentations and a capital markets 
day. The results presentations are posted on our website and 
are available for all investors to view, along with a recording 
of the presentations themselves. A live webcast of the capital 
markets day was publicised via the Regulatory News Service 
(RNS) and copies of the presentations were made available on 
the Company’s website.

The Company also encourages two-way communication 
with both institutional and private investors to develop an 
understanding of the views of major shareholders about the 
Company.

The Group Chairman met with six of the Company’s 
major shareholders in order to gain an understanding of 
their aspirations for the Company and to afford them the 
opportunity to give their views. The key themes emerging 
from these meetings were then fed back to the Board.

During the year ended 31 December 2017 Adrian Ringrose 
and Tim Haywood attended 44 meetings with analysts and 
institutional investors and, respectively, two and 27 individual 
meetings accompanied by other members of staff. 

Debbie White and Mark Whiteling attended 75 meetings with 
analysts and institutional investors and, respectively, five and 
25 individual meetings, accompanied by other staff members.

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GOVERNANCEANNE FAHYCHAIR OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEEGOVERNANCEAudit Committee reportDear ShareholderI am pleased to present, on behalf of the Board, our Audit Committee Report on our work in relation to the financial year ended 31 December 2017.2017 has been an exceptionally challenging year for the Company and the circumstances surrounding it. Therefore, the key focus areas and agenda for the Committee have been driven by the trading judgements and estimates which underpin our revenue and margin recognition on long-term construction and service contracts, with particular focus on how these have changed, developed and matured during the year from a risk and operational perspective.The Company’s financial performance and position changed quite rapidly in the second half of the year with a number of market updates and an escalating debt and liquidity situation which indicated a need to further strengthen risk management, internal control and monitoring processes in the Company.During this period the Committee, together with the Board and the new executive team, were vigilant and alert to ensure the Company remained solvent, operational and risk management processes were strengthened, internal and external audit resource was further optimised and additional external resource engaged to underpin the changes needed.A key focus for the Committee in finalising the annual results has been to challenge, test and validate the Company’s going concern and viability statements and to provide assurance to the Board in making these statements.In addition to judgements on long-term contracts and going concern and viability, we also focused on measurement, presentation and disclosure of non-underlying items; carrying value of goodwill and intangibles; revenue and margin recognition including anticipated impacts of IFRS 15 and retirement benefit accounting.Having reviewed the Annual Report, the Committee considers that, taken as a whole, it is fair, balanced and understandable and provides the information necessary to assess the Group’s strategy, business model, position and performance.Anne FahyChair of the Audit Committee62Overview

Strategic Report

Governance

Financial Statements

MEMBERSHIP
The Audit Committee is responsible for carrying out the audit 
functions required by paragraph 7.1.3R of the FCA’s Disclosure 
Guidance and Transparency Rules (DTR). It is composed 
entirely of independent non-executive directors, in accordance 
with the provisions of the UK Corporate Governance Code 
published in April 2016 (the Code), and has been chaired by 
Anne Fahy since 13 May 2013. The directors who have served 
on the Committee during the year are:

ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES
The role and responsibilities of the Committee are set out in 
its terms of reference which are available on the Company’s 
website at www.interserve.com and on request. These terms 
of reference, which include all matters described in the Code 
and paragraph 7.1.3 of the DTR, are reviewed at least annually 
by the Committee and were last updated in June 2017. They 
were reviewed again in December 2017 but no further changes 
were considered necessary.

Name

Date of appointment to Committee

The principal responsibilities of the Committee are to:

A K Fahy (Chair)

1 January 2013

G M Edwards

23 June 2017

R J King 

1 September 2014

K L Ludeman

1 January 2011

N R Salmon

1 August 2014

Appointments to the Committee are made by the Board, on 
the recommendation of the Nomination Committee and in 
consultation with the Committee Chair. Gareth Edwards, who 
joined the Board on 1 February 2017, was appointed to the 
Committee on 23 June 2017.

Anne Fahy is a qualified chartered accountant and has 
significant, recent and relevant financial experience. The 
other members of the Committee all have extensive business 
and financial experience in multinational and/or complex 
organisations and a good understanding of the Company’s 
business. The Committee, as a whole, is therefore considered 
by the Board to be competent. The biographies of the 
Committee members are set out on pages 48 to 51.

The Company Secretary is secretary to the Committee.

MEETINGS
The Committee met six times during the year. Members’ 
attendance at the meetings is set out in the table on page 55. 
The external auditor was present at four of the meetings and 
representatives from PricewaterhouseCoopers LLC (PwC), 
the provider of the internal audit function, were present at 
two of the meetings. The Group Chairman, Chief Executive 
Officer, Group Finance Director/Chief Financial Officer and 
Group Financial Controller also attended the majority of the 
meetings by invitation. 

•  review with management and the external auditor the 
Group’s consolidated report and accounts and the half-
year report and any formal announcements relating to the 
Group’s financial performance based on the statutory audit 
or half-yearly review, as the case may be, before submission 
to the Board;

•  review the annual report and accounts and advise the Board 

as to whether, taken as a whole, it is fair, balanced and 
understandable and provides the information necessary 
for shareholders to assess the Company’s position and 
performance, business model and strategy;

•  make recommendations to the Board on the appointment 

and re-appointment of the external auditor, take 
responsibility for reviewing the effectiveness of the 
statutory audit and agreement of the fees in respect of both 
the statutory audit and non-audit services provided by the 
external auditor;

•  review and monitor the appropriateness of the provision of 
non-audit services by the external auditor in the context of 
reviewing the auditor’s independence;

•  approve the annual work programme of the internal auditor, 
the fees to be paid in connection with that work and review 
the effectiveness of the internal audit process;

•  provide an independent overview of the integrity of the 
Group’s systems of internal control, fraud prevention, 
compliance, whistleblowing, prevention of bribery and 
corruption, risk management and financial reporting 
processes through the co-ordination and supervision of the 
quality, independence and effectiveness of the internal 
and external auditors, reviewing the Company’s financial 
reporting and making further enquiries as appropriate; and

•  report to the Board on how it has discharged its 

responsibilities.

The Committee has, on three occasions, taken the opportunity 
to seek the views of the external auditors in private. It has 
also twice held a private session with the internal auditors. 
Both the external and internal auditors have the opportunity 
to address the Committee in private at any time should they so 
wish. In addition, the Chair met frequently with both parties 
to review audit and internal control topics and to ensure open 
and continuous dialogue with the Committee. 

The effectiveness of the Company and the Group’s internal 
control and risk management systems is reviewed and 
monitored throughout the year by the Board, as set out in  
the Corporate Governance report on pages 52 to 61.

A full set of Committee papers is provided to all directors and 
the Chair of the Committee reports at the subsequent Board 
meeting on the Committee’s work. The Board also receives a 
copy of the minutes of each meeting.

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GOVERNANCE

Audit Committee report continued

OVERVIEW OF ACTIVITIES
In relation to the 2017 financial year the Committee:

•  considered the principal elements of management’s 

recommendation regarding the EfW cost provision together 
with all other items categorised as non-underlying 
(further details of which are included under Significant 
Issues Considered on pages 65 and 66) ensuring the 
measurement, presentation and disclosure were consistent 
with the Company’s disclosed accounting policy and with 
FRC guidance and were clearly explained, reconciled to 
statutory measures and consistent with fair, balanced and 
understandable principles;

•  received a financial briefing from the newly-appointed 

Divisional Finance Director on the construction business and 
questioned management on the pace of improvement to the 
underlying systems and processes;

•  received a briefing from the Group Financial Controller 
on the progress being made on the adoption of IFRS 15 
Revenue from contracts with customers in the 2018 financial 
year focusing on key judgements in the application of the 
standard and transitional arrangements;

•  reviewed the paper prepared by management supporting the 
going concern and viability statements and satisfied itself 
as to the appropriateness of the underlying assumptions, 
ensuring consistency with the Group’s longer-term planning 
and annual budgeting cycle financing arrangements and any 
material contingent risks; as well as ensuring appropriate 
disclosure of judgments and uncertainties;

•  received a briefing from the former Group Finance Director 
on the principal judgements made in determining the half-
year review and annual report, reviewed and questioned 
those judgements in the light of operational performance 
and other evidence and, taking into account the external 
auditor’s view, satisfied itself that the judgements and 
estimates were both appropriate and robust and in 
accordance with the Group’s accounting policies;

•  conducted site visits to the key EfW projects at Derby and 
Dunbar ensuring that the stage of completion and general 
progress was consistent with management’s judgements in 
determining provisions and costs to complete at that time;

•  reviewed both the half-year report and annual report and 

financial statements. As part of each review the Committee 
satisfied itself as to the clarity and completeness of 
disclosures in the financial statements and that they were 
appropriately contextualised. It also reviewed the Audit 
Committee Report, together with the Chairman’s Statement, 
Strategic Report and Corporate Governance statement 
relating to audit and risk management. As part of each 
review the Committee received a report from the external 
auditor on their audit of the annual report and review of the 
half-year report, respectively;

•  supported the newly-appointed Chief Executive Officer 
and Chief Financial Officer in prioritising changes and 
improvements to the system of internal control with 
particular attention on the Company’s solvency and 
liquidity position;

•  challenged and questioned the findings from the contract 

review conducted at management’s request by PwC 
and satisfied itself that the ensuing judgements made 
by management in finalising the annual accounts were 
appropriate and substantiated;

•  met with the recently appointed Support Services Divisional 
Finance Director to review and discuss weaknesses that he 
had identified in performance reporting in that division and 
to assure ourselves that all such failures had been identified, 
appropriate corrective actions taken and underlying 
processes and system controls improved;

•  reviewed, prior to their consideration by the Board, the 

representation letters to be given to the external auditor in 
respect of the half-year review and the annual report; 

•  conducted an assessment of the effectiveness of the 

external audit process, as detailed on page 68;

•  reviewed the independence and objectivity of the external 

auditor, as detailed on page 67;

•  reviewed and approved the external auditor’s terms of 

engagement for the half-yearly review and for the audit of 
the annual report; 

•  considered and agreed the scope, focus and fees to be paid 
to the external auditor for the half-yearly review and the 
statutory audit; 

•  reviewed and updated the Company’s policy on the provision 
of non-audit services by the external auditor and regularly 
monitored non-audit fees in comparison to the audit fees in 
accordance with this policy (as detailed in Objectivity and 
Independence on page 67); 

•  received and reviewed a bi-annual update on the Group’s 

monitoring of fraud risk assessment; 

•  regularly reviewed both the external and internal audit risk 
assessments and satisfied itself that the audit activities 
appropriately addressed those risks, revising those plans 
in light of the exceptional circumstances that crystallised 
particularly in the second half of the year;

•  reviewed the adequacy of controls across the worldwide 
businesses, particularly with regard to entities which are  
not controlled by the Group;

•  reviewed both the internal audit programme and the 

findings and remediation actions, ensuring an adequate 
coverage of risks (as detailed on page 68). A draft 2018 
internal audit plan has been agreed for the first half of the 
year, with flexibility maintained to adapt to changes as the 
Company’s transformation and Fit for Growth programmes 
evolve;

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•  received a report at each meeting on the progress and 
outcome of the investigation of the 17 whistleblowing 
notifications received during the course of the year, four of 
which were upheld and eight where investigations continue; 

•  established the Committee’s calendar of actions for the 2018 

financial year; and

•  reviewed its terms of reference and considered whether any 

changes needed to be proposed to the Board.

An evaluation of the Committee’s effectiveness was deferred 
to 2018 recognising the exceptional circumstances and need 
to prioritise the Committee’s time in responding to specific 
business critical issues and outcomes.

SIGNIFICANT ISSUES CONSIDERED
The Committee reviewed the key judgements applied in the 
preparation of the consolidated financial statements which 
have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies 
and detailed notes to the financial statements on pages 128 
to 183 as well as considering the overall quality of earnings. 
The Committee received a paper, prepared by management, 
setting out the key judgements and reviewed and challenged 
these in the light of its own knowledge, taking into account 
the audit findings and views of Grant Thornton and further 
enquiry of executive management, as appropriate, in relation 
to the following matters: 

•  Non-underlying items – measurement, presentation 

and disclosure
In light of the financial challenges facing the Company in the 
second half of 2017, management undertook a fundamental 
review of the Group’s strategy, activities, business model, 
organisation, financing and ways of working. This review, 
supported by independent third parties including PwC, 
Oliver Wyman and others, was comprehensive and far 
reaching and ensured that all layers of the organisation 
across the divisions and in Group Centre were thorough 
in their analysis of the challenges, risks and opportunities 
facing their part of the business.

In anticipation that the outcome of this review could result 
in additional non-recurring and potentially significant 
provisions, asset write-offs, impairments restructuring 
and refinancing costs, management prepared a paper on 
the proposed accounting treatment setting out clearly 
the criteria for inclusion of items in the category of non-
underlying item, evidencing consistency with its own 
accounting policies and compliance with IASB’s conceptual 
framework, IAS 1, as well as guidance from the FRC and 
other regulatory bodies on APMs and disclosure overall. 
This paper was reviewed by the Audit Committee in the 
fourth quarter in advance of quantification of any actual 
charges with appropriate challenges and questions. This 
included a request to management to compare the proposed 
accounting with others in the sector who had been through 
similar restructuring programmes, assuring ourselves that 
the Group was following best practice and was being 
fully transparent, thorough and compliant in its proposed 
accounting treatment and presentation.

As these various reviews progressed the Committee kept 
abreast of developments and the likely impact on the 2017 
financial statements. This included considering the PwC 
contract review together with Board and management 
decisions on organisational restructuring, asset and business 
portfolio changes and future strategies. This process 
culminated in management’s presentation to the Committee 
of a draft paper on its principal judgements and estimates 
which covered those relating to underlying as well as non-
underlying results in an interim meeting in March 2018. 
Supported by views, analysis and insights from external 
audit and taking into account our own knowledge and 
understanding of the main judgments and uncertainties as 
well as further questions and challenges, the Committee was 
satisfied that both in terms of recognition and presentation 
the accounting for individual items included in the non-
underlying column was appropriate. At its most recent 
meeting the Committee considered the latest developments 
regarding specific contracts and other potential changes.

In addition, the Committee ensured that disclosures 
relating to non-underlying items were fair, balanced and 
understandable throughout the financial statements 
particularly taking account of recent guidance from the FRC 
for the construction and business support services sector.

• Going concern and viability statement 

Following the recognition of difficult trading conditions  
and refinancing needs, the Board and Committee were 
vigilant throughout the period to ensure the Company 
remained solvent, was able to meet its liabilities as they  
fell due and had sufficient liquidity in place at all times.  
This relied on interim financing which was secured in 
December 2017 with a longer-term solution put in place 
in April 2018 following agreements reached between 
the Company and its lenders. Following this refinancing, 
management prepared a comprehensive paper outlining 
latest cash flow forecasts, financing arrangements, covenant 
tests and assumptions together with sensitised cases and 
various stress test scenarios. These, together with the audit 
findings, were reviewed in detail by the Committee, with 
additional possible scenarios discussed and considered. 
Whilst uncertainty and unforeseen events could impact the 
ability of the Company to continue as a going concern, the 
Committee was assured by the rigour of analysis and stress 
tests and therefore considered it appropriate to adopt the 
going concern principle in finalising its 2017 accounts.

The Company has set out a comprehensive viability 
statement in the Strategic Report on pages 40 to 44 and 
describes very clearly the principal risks, judgements, 
uncertainties and planning assumptions underpinning 
this statement as well as the key covenant compliance 
requirements of the refinancing agreements. In 
considering and in support of the viability statement 
executive management had overlaid various sensitivities 
and stress tested the three-year business plan and 
compared these outcomes both in terms of liquidity  
and covenant compliance headroom. 

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GOVERNANCE

Audit Committee report continued

The Committee reviewed and debated these scenarios at 
length as well as considering other possible, albeit unlikely, 
event-driven scenarios. Taking into account the independent 
testing and review from the Company’s auditors and with 
further enquiry of executive management, the Committee 
concluded that the viability statement was well judged and 
appropriate in terms of adequacy of its disclosure whilst 
balancing commercial sensitivities.

•  Revenue, margin recognition and contract 

accounting 
The recognition of revenue and profits on long-term 
construction and service contracts requires management 
to exercise significant levels of judgement involving a high 
degree of discretion and control. For construction-type 
contracts the key judgement concerns the recognition 
of profits, the recovery of work-in-progress and debtors, 
especially on non-certified amounts (including variations and 
claims) and forecast outcomes. For service-type contracts 
the key accounting risk is that the revenue and costs are 
not recognised in the correct period and provisions are 
not made for losses when foreseen. For contracts in the 
Equipment Services division, where revenue is recognised 
on either the sale of equipment or over the period of an 
equipment hire, the key accounting risk relates to whether 
the appropriate cut-off for sales and period of hire has been 
applied and the recoverability of debtors.

This was agreed as a specific area of focus for the 
Committee throughout the year and, in particular, during 
the year-end financial close, taking into account the 
criticality of judgements on material contracts to the future 
success of the Company. These judgements impacted both 
the underlying and non-underlying results and we were 
vigilant to ensure that changes to provisions or previous 
positions were due to specific changes or developments in 
the period.

The Committee reviewed the audit findings, the PwC 
contract review and management judgements on a 
selection of contracts perceived to carry the highest risk 
of misstatement. This review was undertaken against the 
background of its familiarity with the challenged contracts, 
whilst acknowledging that final outcomes on contracts 
always carry uncertainty and exposure to changes in the 
supply chain, clients’ requirements and circumstances, the 
ability to meet technical commissioning and completion 
hurdles and other variables. This work also included the 
Committee satisfying itself as to the recoverability of long-
dated debtor and work-in-progress balances.

The Committee reviewed the level of provisioning made 
by management at both contract level and centrally at the 
year end in order to form a view of the completeness of 
provisions on loss-making contracts and whether there was a 
requirement to include a forward loss provision on longer-
term contracts. The quality of earnings and movement in 
provisions during the course of the year was also reviewed. 

•  Carrying value of goodwill and other intangible 

assets
The carrying value of goodwill and other intangible assets 
on the balance sheet at the year end was £427.4 million, 
which included goodwill with a value of £372.9 million.

The majority of goodwill and other intangible assets is 
held within UK Support Services and arises mainly from 
private-sector related acquisitions. Following a decline in 
trading performance and consistent with changes in the 
way Support Services UK is now managed, a more granular 
definition of cash generating units was deemed appropriate.

The Committee reviewed management’s determination of its 
principal cash generating units, the key assumptions used, 
such as the discount rate and future cash flows in light of 
current business performance and that future projections 
were consistent with medium-term plans, and satisfied 
itself of the appropriateness of management’s impairment 
testing, As a result, goodwill of £60 million relating to the 
private-sector business in Support Services was impaired in 
2017. This is principally due to an underperformance against 
pre-acquisition expectations primarily due to competitive 
pricing, impact of regulatory labour cost increases, 
customer churn and cost synergies not fully delivered.

Otherwise the Committee assured itself that significant 
headroom exists and that any reasonable sensitivity to the 
assumptions did not indicate additional impairment.

• Retirement benefit accounting

Calculation of the retirement benefit obligation requires 
management to make a number of assumptions including the 
selection of an appropriate discount rate and mortality.

The Committee satisfied itself as to the reasonableness of the 
assumptions set out in note 29 to the financial statements, 
taking into account the independent third-party confirmations 
of the pension assets valuation at the balance sheet date and 
that pension balances are accounted for in accordance with 
relevant accounting standards and guidance.

FAIR, BALANCED AND UNDERSTANDABLE FINANCIAL 
STATEMENTS
The directors are responsible for preparing the annual report. 
At the request of the Board the Committee considered whether 
the report and accounts, taken as a whole, was fair, balanced 
and understandable. In making that assessment, the Committee 
took into account whether the report and accounts provided the 
necessary information for shareholders to assess the Company’s 
position and performance, business model and strategy.

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Overview

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Governance

Financial Statements

In reviewing and conducting our enquiries we, amongst 
other activities, challenged the criteria and consistent 
application in classifying, measuring and disclosure of non-
underlying items, we focused on the outlook statements to 
ensure consistency with our collective understanding and 
interpretation of the Company’s recent and anticipated 
performance and satisfied ourselves that risks and 
mitigations were appropriately disclosed.

Objectivity and independence
The Company has an established policy aimed at safeguarding 
the independence and objectivity of the Group’s external 
auditor. The policy sets out the approach to be taken when 
considering engaging the external auditor for non-audit work. 
There is no inconsistency between the FRC Revised Ethical 
Standard 2016 and the Group’s policy.

The external auditor may carry out certain categories of 
non-audit work in areas that have been pre-approved by the 
Committee up to a monetary limit of £150,000 per transaction. 
Any other work for which management may wish to instruct 
the external auditor with a value not exceeding £250,000 
must be approved in advance by the Committee or, more 
normally, by the Committee Chair on its behalf. Instructions 
above £250,000 require prior approval of the Board. The pre-
approved services may be summarised as follows:

•  assurance services; and

•  audit reports required by statute or regulation.

The above policy also prohibits the auditor auditing their own 
work, or entering into any arrangement in relation to audit 
work whereby a joint interest is created between the Company 
and the auditor, without the Committee’s prior consent. 

The Committee received a report at each of its meetings 
itemising the fees expended and forecast to be expended 
with Grant Thornton for non-audit services. In addition to the 
above safeguards, a minimal amount of non-audit services was 
delivered by specialists and advisers who were independent of 
the audit team.

Non-audit fees incurred for the year were £0.1 million  
(9 per cent) compared to audit fees of £1.1 million, the largest 
element of which - £0.1 million - related to the interim review. 
Further details of the audit and non-audit fees paid to Grant 
Thornton are included in note 4 to the financial statements on 
pages 142 and 143.

The Committee concluded that the safeguards set out above 
were sufficient so as not to compromise auditor objectivity 
and independence.

The Committee was satisfied that, taken as a whole, the 
2017 annual report was fair, balanced and understandable 
and contained the information set out above and reported 
accordingly to the Board. The Board’s statement in this regard 
is set out on page 109.

EXTERNAL AUDIT
Oversight
The Committee considers and makes recommendations to 
the Board as regards audit matters. The Committee manages 
the relationship with the Company’s auditor, which includes a 
review of the effectiveness of the statutory audit at the end 
of the audit cycle, agrees, for and on behalf of the Board, 
the statutory audit fees and scope of the statutory audit 
and makes recommendations to the Board as to the auditor 
appointment or re-appointment. The Committee also seeks to 
ensure co-ordination between the activities of the external 
and internal auditors. 

Tenure
Grant Thornton was formally appointed as the Company’s 
auditor on 13 June 2014 following a competitive tender 
exercise involving four audit firms at the end of the 2013 
statutory audit and approval by shareholders at the 2014 AGM. 
Based upon the review of audit effectiveness the Committee 
has recommended to the Board that Grant Thornton be 
reappointed for a fifth year as the Company’s independent 
auditor for the 2018 financial year. 

The Audit Engagement Partner is Simon Lowe, who has held 
this position since Grant Thornton was appointed as the 
external auditor. 2017 is therefore Mr Lowe’s fourth year as 
Audit Engagement Partner of a maximum of five years. Grant 
Thornton are planning for the Audit Engagement Partner 
succession by rotating members off the engagement team to 
facilitate both continuity and independence in future years. 
It is anticipated that the transition and handover to a new 
Engagement Partner will start in 2018.

The Committee will continue to review the auditor 
appointment and the need to ensure that the Group complies 
with the provisions of The Statutory Audit Services for Large 
Companies Market Investigation (Mandatory Use of Competitive 
Tender Processes and Audit Committee Responsibilities) Order 
2014 made by the Competition and Markets Authority (the CMA 
Order) relating to mandatory audit tenders every 10 years and 
rotation after 20 years. 

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Audit Committee report continued

Effectiveness and audit quality
The Committee reviewed Grant Thornton’s audit effectiveness 
following the audit of the 2017 annual report, taking into 
account:

Specialist subject matter experts are engaged where 
appropriate across many reviews to address areas such as 
engineering and commercial issues, VAT, employment law,  
IT, business continuity, culture and behaviour, working capital 
and information security. 

•  the partners’ and senior audit staff’s understanding of the 

business;

•  the effectiveness of the audit work in relation to key 

judgements and how those were addressed;

•  the quality of suggested control improvements;

•  the appropriateness of assurance gained over parts of the 

Group not audited by Grant Thornton;

•  the appropriateness and deployment of experts on technical 

items;

•  the quality and comprehensibility of the audit findings 

reports;

•  the quality and clarity of the auditor’s external report; and

•   feedback from senior management on the audit  

process generally. 

In addition, the Committee reviewed the FRC’s 2016/17 Audit 
Quality Inspection (AQI) of Grant Thornton and discussed 
its findings with the Audit Engagement Partner as well as 
satisfying itself as to the adequacy of the firm’s internal 
quality assurance processes.

The Audit Engagement Partner has direct access to the Chair 
of the Committee and they meet on a regular basis in addition 
to the formal committee process.

INTERNAL AUDIT 
The internal audit function provides an independent and 
objective appraisal to the Board, through the Committee, of 
the adequacy and effectiveness of the processes established to 
manage risk and control the business, makes recommendations 
on how the system of internal control might be improved, 
assists the Board in meeting its objectives and discharging its 
responsibilities and also provides certain advisory reports on 
business initiatives in support of management initiatives.

The annual internal audit plan of work, submitted to the 
Committee each December for approval, is risk-based and 
designed to provide core assurance against those areas 
identified as high risk and deliver cyclical reviews of key 
business activities, financial reporting processes and 
medium-risk areas. The annual plan may be modified by 
exception (subject to agreement of the Committee) based 
on changing circumstances.

The Committee received a summary of each internal audit 
review undertaken during the year comprising a set of 
findings, proposed corrective actions, management’s responses 
to those findings and, where appropriate, recommendations 
for improvements.

Closure of the agreed corrective actions was tracked via  
a web-based system and monitored by management,  
with progress reported to the Committee in July 2017,  
December 2017 and March 2018. The Committee raised 
concerns following the December update on the deterioration 
in the rate of closure of audit actions and agreed with 
management that measures be put in place to remediate this 
weakness, with the finance function to lead on closing this gap.

In addition to the agreed audit programme, and in order to 
monitor the level of control across the Group, all material 
business units and relevant central and support functions 
were required to complete an online self-assessment of 
their compliance with key controls covering 16 different 
business processes. The Committee noted and questioned the 
apparent deterioration in the self-assessment ratings with 
an understanding that at least some of this was likely to be 
a more realistic view than reported in prior years and other 
ratings inconsistent with recent findings on specific contract 
outcomes. We agreed that this control process should be 
enhanced by management taking full ownership of it and it 
becoming part of the second line of defence rather than being 
managed by the internal audit function.

A draft 2018 internal audit plan has been agreed for the first 
half of the year but with flexibility maintained to adapt to 
changes as the Company’s transformation and Fit for Growth 
programmes evolve.

The Committee also monitored, reviewed and assessed the 
role and effectiveness of internal audit in the overall context 
of the Group’s risk management system and review. 

The Internal Audit Partner has direct access to the Chair of the 
Committee and they meet on a regular basis in addition to the 
formal committee process.

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Overview

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REVIEW 
The Committee confirms that it has fulfilled its responsibilities 
during the year in relation to, and confirms the Group is 
in compliance with, The Statutory Audit Services for Large 
Companies Market Investigation (Mandatory Use of Competitive 
Tender Processes and Audit Committee Responsibilities)  
Order 2014.

AGM
The Chair of the Audit Committee will be available at the  
AGM to answer questions about the work of the Committee.

APPROVAL
This report was approved by the Board of Directors on  
27 April 2018 and signed on its behalf by:

Anne Fahy
Chair of the Audit Committee
27 April 2018 

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GOVERNANCEKEITH LUDEMANCHAIRMAN OF THE  REMUNERATION COMMITTEEGOVERNANCEDirectors’ remuneration reportCHAIRMAN’S SUMMARY STATEMENTDear Shareholder On behalf of the Board, I am pleased to present the Remuneration Committee’s annual report on directors’ remuneration for the year ended 31 December 2017 which sets out the amounts earned by the directors under the Remuneration Policy approved by shareholders at the 2015 AGM.Since the 2015 Remuneration Policy will have been in operation for three years by the time of our AGM on  12 June 2018, we are required to seek shareholder approval  for a new Remuneration Policy at the AGM. 2017 has been a challenging year at Interserve but a year in which progress has been made in moving the Company forward, progress that we hope will be recognised in a recovery in the Company’s share price. We were particularly pleased to welcome a new executive leadership team into the Company in the second half of 2017 with the appointment of a new Chief Executive Officer and a new Chief Financial Officer and they are already building strong foundations for future success. Part of their initial focus has been undertaking a wide-reaching strategic review that looks to build on our strengths at the same time as addressing the challenges that the business has faced over the past two years. Since the Board is in the early stages of considering the conclusions of this review, the Committee has resolved to renew the 2015 Remuneration Policy on broadly the same terms. The current policy includes a conventional incentive structure (i.e. separate annual bonus and long-term incentives plans) and is fully aligned with current ‘best practice’ expectations (i.e. it includes 200 per cent of salary share-ownership guidelines, recovery and withholding provisions and a holding requirement on vested long-term incentive plan shares). As a result, the Committee is comfortable renewing the existing policy on broadly the same terms and aligning the new executive team with delivering against these short and long-term priorities indicated in the strategic review. The only change vis-à-vis the 2015 Remuneration Policy is enabling greater flexibility to refine the choice of performance metrics for incentive plans as progress is delivered against the objectives of the strategic review. However, the Committee intends to reflect on the continued use of the current policy in advance of the 2019 AGM in the event that delivery over the longer term against the objectives of the strategic review could be better supported through the adoption of a more tailored approach to future remuneration policy. 2017 REMUNERATION PAYMENTSAnnual Variable Pay The annual bonus targets set at the start of 2017 for the executive directors in post at that time included a challenging range of normalised EPS1 growth targets, net debt reduction targets and individually tailored strategic targets (where relevant) for each role. In what was a challenging year, we did not meet the financial targets and, with the exception of the non-financial targets set for the former Chief Executive, the non-financial targets were not met. With regard to the former Chief Executive, elements of the targets set relating to improvements in health and safety and delivering against our SustainAbilities agenda were met. However, in light of the challenges faced by the Company during the year, a fatality in the Group while fulfilling Company business, and the Company’s share price over the year, the Committee used its discretion to determine that no bonus would be paid to the former Chief Executive.In relation to the appointments of our new Chief Executive Officer and new Chief Financial Officer (in September and October 2017 respectively), given that the targets set at the start of the financial year were no longer relevant to the challenges faced by the business at that time, and noting their appointments took place towards the end of the financial year, individually tailored targets were set for each individual to ensure their remuneration was fully aligned with the immediate priorities of the Company. Bonuses were calculated based on salaries earned for the part year (i.e. pro rata for the relevant period of employment). The targets set for the Chief Executive Officer included completing a strategic review, taking steps to deliver an effective restructuring of the Group’s businesses, building confidence among key stakeholders in the Group and appraising the leadership team. The targets set for the Chief Financial Officer related to delivering appropriate financing structures for the Group. Bonuses were also underpinned by delivering acceptable financial performance over the final quarter of 2017. Exceptionally strong performance 70Overview

Strategic Report

Governance

Financial Statements

was delivered against these objectives which included, 
amongst other factors, developing a detailed recovery and 
transformation plan which was approved by the Board and 
is in the early stages of implementation as evidenced by a 
restructuring of the senior roles and responsibilities within the 
Company’s Fit for Growth programme and laying the platform 
for a successful refinancing of the Company’s facilities in 
early 2018. Performance against the objectives set resulted 
in bonuses becoming payable at circa 42 per cent and 31 per 
cent of salary, respectively, for the Chief Executive Officer and 
the Chief Financial Officer. The Committee was comfortable 
paying bonuses at the level in light of the improvement in the 
underlying financial position of the Company as at the time the 
2017 year-end audit concluded.

As a result, targets that align with the core strategic priority 
of reducing net debt to the conclusion of the 2019 financial 
year were set for the new Chief Executive Officer and new 
Chief Financial Officer. This approach directly aligned the 
executives to the core objective of ensuring the Company is in 
the best position to successfully refinance its debt facilities. 
The targets are structured as a challenging sliding scale that 
require out-performance of the forecast levels of net debt that 
formed part of the discussions with the Company’s lenders and 
other stakeholders during refinancing discussions in early 2018. 
The Committee will retain discretion to adjust the vesting of 
these awards if it does not consider the level of vesting to be 
supported by underlying financial and share price performance 
over the same period. 

Full details of the annual bonus targets initially set, 
performance against them and the actual bonuses earned 
are set out on pages 87 to 89.

Full details of both sets of performance targets set for the 
long-term incentive awards granted in 2017 are set out on  
pages 93 and 94.

Long-term variable pay 
2015 Performance Share Plan (PSP) awards
The long-term incentive awards granted in 2015 were eligible 
to vest based on independent, challenging three-year 
normalised EPS2 and relative total shareholder return (TSR) 
targets (versus a bespoke group of sector peers).

Under the EPS element of the award, the threshold 
performance target was not met. With regards to our relative 
TSR performance, we were below the median when compared 
against the peer group and so this target was also missed. 
Accordingly, there will be no vesting in relation to the 2015 
long-term incentive award.

2017 PSP awards
The targets set for the 2017 PSP awards for the executive 
directors in post at the start of the 2017 financial year were 
based on a combination of challenging EPS growth and relative 
TSR performance conditions. 

With regards to the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial 
Officer appointed during the second half of 2017, in light of the 
challenges faced by the business during the year under review, 
the Committee used its discretion to replace the EPS and TSR 
conditions applicable to the other executive directors with net 
debt reduction targets. While our 2015 Remuneration Policy 
details that EPS and TSR conditions are normally set for PSP 
awards, the policy includes discretion where circumstances 
change to set different measures to ensure that the targets 
fulfil their intended purpose (i.e. align executives with the 
long-term success of the Company and its stakeholders). In light 
of the events that occurred during 2017, and the fact that the 
EPS and TSR targets were set prior to the appointment of the 
current Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, the 
Committee determined that EPS growth measured from the 
2016 EPS result and relative TSR measured from the start of the 
2017 financial year were no longer appropriate in the context of 
the changed circumstances of the Company in the year. 

Base salaries
Details of the newly-appointed executive directors’ salaries 
are set out on page 84. There were no increases to any 
departing or continuing executive directors’ base salaries 
during the year under review.

APPLICATION OF 2018 REMUNERATION POLICY
We have made several changes to the application of our 
Remuneration Policy for the current financial year to better 
align with our 2018 strategic priorities.

Annual Variable Pay 
Regarding the Annual Variable Pay scheme, we have 
restructured the 2018 scheme vis-à-vis the 2017 scheme to 
better align with the Group’s current short-term priorities. 
Bonuses will be earned in 2018 based on targets set against 
Group-wide improvements in operating profit, operating cash 
flow and strategic targets. The financial targets are structured 
to operate on a sliding scale with strategic targets set against 
well-defined 2018 objectives on the Energy from Waste and 
wider transformation plans.

Part of bonuses earned will be the subject of deferral into 
Interserve shares with 30 per cent of any bonus earned above 
25 per cent of salary deferred into shares for three years and 
50 per cent of any bonus earned above 50 per cent of salary 
subject to deferral on the same basis. Any bonus earned will 
also be the subject of recovery and withholding provisions which 
will enable the Committee to reclaim value overpaid in the 
event of a misstatement of the Company’s accounts, an error in 
determining a bonus payment or misconduct for a period of two 
years after the date on which a payment is made.

1 

2 

 Normalised EPS is headline EPS adjusted to exclude IAS 36 Impairment of assets and IAS 39 Financial instruments and any unbudgeted “one-off” 
contributions to EPS which the Committee exercises its discretion to exclude.

 Normalised EPS is headline EPS adjusted to reflect growth in underlying value created by (a) removing the impact of IAS 36 Impairment of assets and 
IAS 39 Financial instruments; and (b) recognising or removing “one-off” events at the judgement of the Committee. 

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GOVERNANCE

Directors’ remuneration report continued

Long-term variable pay 
The Committee intends to grant long-term incentive awards 
in 2018. The performance conditions that will apply to these 
awards are aligned with three key medium to long-term 
priorities for the Company. These include creating above 
market total returns for shareholders, returning the Company 
to an acceptable level of profitability and delivering against 
the medium to long-term objectives included in the Board’s 
transformation plan. Accordingly, one-third of the award will 
vest based on our TSR performance relative to an appropriate 
comparator group, one-third will vest based on our cumulative 
operating profit over the period to 31 December 2020 and 
one-third will vest based on how successfully we implement 
the Company’s business transformation plan and strategy. The 
entire award will be subject to Committee discretion to reduce 
vesting if underlying financial performance is not considered 
satisfactory over the performance period.

Board changes
As detailed above, there were a number of changes  
to our Board during the year. As announced on 
14 November 2016, Adrian Ringrose stepped down from  
the Board on 31 August 2017. Also, as announced on 
30 June 2017, Tim Haywood stepped down from the  
Board on 30 September 2017. These changes reflected  
the Board’s desire to appoint a new executive leadership 
team to take the Company through its next phase  
of development. Furthermore, as announced on  
1 December 2017, and reflecting the early conclusions  
as to the best future operating structure for the  
Company, Bruce Melizan stepped down from the Board  
on 30 November 2017 in connection with his role being  
made redundant with effect from 31 January 2018. Details 
of the payments agreed in connection with cessation of 
employment of each individual, which are consistent with  
our Remuneration Policy, are included on pages 89 to 91. 

Gareth Edwards was appointed as a non-executive director 
on 1 February 2017. Debbie White was appointed as Chief 
Executive Officer and Mark Whiteling as Chief Financial Officer 
on 1 September 2017 and 1 October 2017, respectively.

Shareholder engagement
The Committee is committed to maintaining an ongoing 
dialogue with shareholders on the issue of executive 
remuneration and we welcome any further feedback  
you may have. 

We look forward to your support on the resolutions relating  
to remuneration at the AGM on 12 June 2018.

On behalf of the Remuneration Committee

Keith Ludeman
Chairman of the Remuneration Committee

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Financial Statements

Page

73

81

82

84

98

In this section:

REMUNERATION POLICY

Executive directors’ remuneration policy

Terms of appointment and remuneration policy for non-executive directors

ANNUAL REPORT ON REMUNERATION

How the Remuneration Policy will be applied in 2018

How the Remuneration Policy was applied in 2017

Governance and operation of the Remuneration Committee

REMUNERATION POLICY

This part of the report sets out the Company’s Remuneration Policy which will be subject to a binding vote at the 2018 AGM and 
take effect from that date. 

As detailed in the Chairman’s Summary Statement, only limited changes are being proposed to the policy approved by shareholders 
at the 2015 AGM. The Committee is comfortable with retaining the current Remuneration Policy on broadly the same basis given it 
is structured to support delivery against our short-term financial and strategic objectives and the creation of long-term returns to 
shareholders. This is achieved through an annual bonus plan that is normally heavily weighted towards achieving improved financial 
and operational performance and a long-term incentive plan that supports the delivery against our long-term planning and creation 
of shareholder returns. The long-term focus in our policy is strengthened through the requirement to defer part of annual bonus 
into shares, the requirement to retain vested long-term incentive award shares from the conclusion of the three-year performance 
period for a further two years and a 200 per cent of salary share-ownership requirement.

The only change vis-à-vis the 2015 Remuneration Policy is enabling greater flexibility to choose performance metrics that will 
support delivery against the objectives of our strategic review and to retain flexibility to refine these (in relation to future year 
bonuses or long-term incentive awards) as progress is made in delivering against the objectives of the strategic review.

EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS’ REMUNERATION POLICY
The following table summarises the main elements of the executive directors’ remuneration policy, the key features of each 
element, their purpose and linkage to our current strategy. Details of the remuneration arrangements for the non-executive 
directors are set out on page 81. 

Element of pay

Base salary

Purpose and link  
to strategy

To recruit and retain 
executives of a 
suitable calibre for 
the role and duties 
required.

How operated in practice (including framework for assessing performance)

Maximum opportunity

Reviewed annually with any changes generally taking effect from 1 July.

Salaries are determined taking into account:

•  the experience, responsibility, effectiveness and market value of  

the executive;

There is no prescribed 
maximum annual increase. 
The Committee is guided 
by the general increase 
for the broader workforce 
but recognises that 
higher increases may be 
appropriate where an 
individual is promoted, 
changes role, where the 
size, composition and/
or complexity of the 
Group changes or where 
an individual is materially 
below market comparators 
or is appointed on a 
below-market salary with 
the expectation that his/
her salary will increase 
with experience and 
performance.

73

Reflects the market 
rate for the individual 
and their role.

•  the pay and conditions in the workforce; 
•  pay relativities within the Group;
•  broadly the median position in light of remuneration within other 

similar companies and the rest of the Company; and

•  affordability, given the profits of the Company.

Normally paid monthly in cash.

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Directors’ remuneration report continued

Element of pay

Benefits

Purpose and link 
to strategy

To provide benefits 
commensurate to the 
market in which the 
Company operates 
and/or the market in 
which the director is 
based and in line with 
policies applicable 
to all other senior 
salaried employees.

Pension

To provide benefits 
commensurate to the 
market in which the 
Company operates.

Annual 
Variable Pay

To incentivise the 
achievement of 
annual targets, 
rewarding strong 
operational 
performance in line 
with and in excess of 
targeted performance 
and which promote 
the long-term  
success of the 
Company.

How operated in practice (including framework for assessing performance)

Maximum opportunity

Car (cash allowance and/or company car) and fuel (or fuel allowance).

Private medical insurance.

Permanent health insurance.

Life assurance.

Relocation expenses, allowance for disruption and ongoing expatriate 
benefits. These benefits are provided for defined periods only.

Directors’ and officers’ liability insurance.

Reasonable personal use of mobile telephone.

Small tokens with a value not exceeding £1,000 to mark significant 
events (e.g. long service, retirement etc).

A Company contribution calculated at up to 15% of base salary for 
executive directors provided they are making the maximum 8% employee 
contribution.

Employees whose pension provision exceeds HMRC limits are permitted to 
opt out of making pension contributions and instead receive the Company 
contribution as a non-enhanceable salary supplement.

Employees who elect to take the cash allowance still benefit from the 
life cover of four times base salary provided to members of the pension 
scheme and death-in-service cover.

Employees who have not chosen to opt out of making pension 
contributions are eligible to participate in the Company’s “SMART 
Pensions” arrangement. SMART Pensions is a salary sacrifice arrangement 
set up by the Company providing an option for employee pension 
contributions to be met by their employer following a corresponding 
sacrifice in their contractual pay. This scheme affords the Company a 
saving in employer’s National Insurance contributions.

Targets are set by the Committee with reference to stretching targets 
that are set annually by the Board.

Bonuses are based on achievement against challenging financial and, 
where appropriate, non-financial targets. The Committee may use 
different performance metrics and weightings for each performance 
cycle to better reflect the strategic priorities of the Company as these 
evolve. However, a substantial proportion will be based on structured 
financial targets each year.

Although Annual Variable Pay is deliverable in cash, an element of any 
payment in excess of 25% of basic salary is required to be invested in 
Company shares in accordance with the arrangements stated below:
•  for the balance of any Annual Variable Pay received between 25% and 
50% of basic salary, 30% of the net Variable Pay must be invested in 
Company shares and 70% may be retained; and

•  for the balance of any Annual Variable Pay received between 50% and 
100% of basic salary or, in the case of the Chief Executive Officer and 
Chief Financial Officer, between 50% and 125% of basic salary, 50% of 
the net Variable Pay must be invested in Company shares and 50% may 
be retained.

Company shares so acquired must be held for three years and dividends 
will accrue on deferred shares.

The Committee has the overriding discretion to adjust the Variable Pay 
outcome up or down (subject to the overall maximum set out in the 
adjacent column) to ensure the payment is fair and appropriate in all the 
circumstances.

The Annual Variable Pay arrangements include provisions that enable the 
Committee to recover value overpaid (clawback) or to withhold future 
Variable Pay awards (malus) in the event of misstatement, error or 
misconduct for a period of two years after the date on which a payment 
is made.

Annual Variable Pay is not pensionable.

The value of benefits may 
vary from year to year 
depending on the cost to 
the Company. 

Additional benefits may 
be provided and the range 
of those benefits may 
vary taking into account 
market practice, the 
relevant circumstances and 
the requirements of the 
executive.

Employer’s defined 
contribution and/or pension 
cash supplement up to a 
total maximum of 15% of 
base salary.

Maximum opportunity: 

125% of basic salary for the 
Chief Executive Officer and 
Chief Financial Officer and 
100% of basic salary for 
the remaining executive 
directors.

Entry level performance:

No more than 10% of 
basic salary in relation to 
financial targets.

A graduated scale of 
targets operates between 
entry level and maximum 
performance. 

Where non-financial 
targets are set, it may 
not always be possible to 
set a graduated scale of 
targets with some elements 
requiring a subjective 
assessment of the level of 
performance achieved.

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Element of pay

Performance 
Share Plan 
(PSP)

Purpose and link 
to strategy

To provide a longer-
term incentive to 
incentivise the 
executive directors 
to achieve the 
Group’s longer-term 
objectives and 
promote the long-
term success of  
the Company. 

To provide  
alignment with 
shareholders  
and provide a 
retention tool.

All-employee 
share 
schemes

To support and 
encourage share 
ownership by 
employees at  
all levels.

How operated in practice (including framework for assessing performance)

Maximum opportunity

PSP awards may be granted each year to senior executives.

Maximum: 

150% of basic salary (at 
the date of grant) for the 
executive directors, save in 
exceptional circumstances 
in relation to recruitment 
or retention where an 
award of up to 200% of 
basic salary (at the date of 
grant) may be made.

No more than 25% of any 
part of a financial and/or 
TSR performance condition 
can vest for achieving the 
threshold performance 
level.

The executive directors are 
entitled to participate in 
both schemes on the same 
terms as all other eligible 
employees. Maximum 
opportunity is the same for 
all participants as defined 
within the terms of the 
scheme and prescribed  
by HMRC.

Awards vest subject to performance conditions tested over a minimum of 
three years. A majority of awards must be subject to a challenging range 
of financial targets (e.g. EPS) and/or TSR targets. A minority of an award 
may be subject to strategic targets.

With regard to financial targets, no more than 25% of each part of an 
award may vest for achieving the threshold performance levels with full 
vesting for achieving the maximum performance targets under each 
element, with graduated scales operating between performance points. 
No awards vest for below-threshold performance levels. In relation to 
strategic targets, the structure of the target will vary based on the 
nature of target set (i.e. it will not always be practicable to set such 
targets using a graduated scale and so vesting may take place in full for 
strategic targets if specific criteria are met in full).

The Committee will review the performance conditions each year prior 
to awards being made and may make appropriate revisions in light of 
developments in the Company’s strategy. 

Should there be a material change in the proposed performance 
conditions (e.g. introducing an additional performance metric) 
appropriate dialogue with the Company’s major shareholders would 
take place along with a full explanation in the Annual Report on 
Remuneration to support any such change.

Post-tax vested shares must be retained for at least a two-year holding 
period after vesting.

Dividends accrue on shares that vest to the later of three years from 
grant and the conclusion of any holding period. Dividends may be paid in 
cash or shares and assume reinvestment of dividends into the Company’s 
shares.

The PSP includes provisions that enable the Committee to recover value 
overpaid on vesting (clawback) or to withhold future variable pay awards 
(malus) in the event of misstatement, error or misconduct for a period of 
two years after the date on which an award vests.

The Company currently provides two all-employee HMRC tax-advantaged 
share schemes for its employees, the Interserve Sharesave Scheme 2009 
(the Sharesave Scheme) and the Interserve Share Incentive Plan 2009 
(the SIP). 

Under the Sharesave Scheme, eligible employees may enter into  
a savings contract for a minimum fixed term of three years and  
at the end of the savings period they have the option to buy  
shares in the Company at an exercise price fixed at the start of  
the savings contract.

Under the SIP, eligible employees are offered the opportunity to invest 
pre-tax earnings (subject to HMRC limits per tax year) in Company 
shares under a regular monthly share purchase plan or by up to two 
lump-sum payments per tax year (or a combination of the two). Shares 
so purchased are placed in trust. The shares can be released from the 
trust to participants at any time, but income tax and national insurance 
contributions are payable on their value should they be released within 
five years of their purchase date. 

The SIP rules also provide for matching shares and free shares (up to 
certain prescribed limits) to be given to participants. 

Dividend payments on SIP shares are reinvested in dividend shares and 
must be held in the trust for three years.

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Directors’ remuneration report continued

Element of pay

Purpose and link to strategy

Shareholding 
Guidelines

Under the Shareholding Guidelines executive directors are expected to build up over time a shareholding equivalent to 200% of 
their base salary. Shares purchased under the Annual Variable Pay arrangements, vested awards under the PSP (whether or not 
exercised), the Sharesave Scheme and the SIP also count toward this limit. Share options, whether or not vested, do not count 
towards satisfying these Guidelines.

The Remuneration Committee retains the discretion to adjust the requirement to invest Annual Variable Pay in Company shares 
and retain share awards on vesting in appropriate circumstances.

Discretion retained by the Committee
The Committee will operate the Company’s incentive plans according to their respective rules and consistent with normal 
market practice, the Listing Rules and HMRC rules, where relevant, including flexibility and discretion in a number of respects 
and as set out in the respective plan rules. In particular, but without limitation, the Committee has flexibility regarding: the 
testing of a performance condition over a shortened performance period; how to deal with a change of control or restructuring 
of the Group (as set out in more detail on pages 79 and 80); determination of a good/bad leaver for incentive plan purposes; 
and adjustments required in certain circumstances (e.g. rights issues, corporate restructuring, events and special dividends).

The Committee also retains the discretion to: 

•  adjust the targets and/or set different measures and alter weightings for the Annual Variable Pay arrangements and PSP, or to 

remove the effects of “one-off” events in relation to the PSP, if events occur that cause it to determine that the metrics are no 
longer appropriate and amendment is required so they can achieve their original intended purpose; and 

•  waive some or all of the Shareholding Guidelines or the requirement to invest Annual Variable Pay in Company shares and 

retain share awards on vesting in exceptional circumstances.

Operation of Annual Variable Pay and the Performance Share Plan
With regard to performance conditions, the Committee will continue to select financial and, if appropriate, non-financial strategic 
measures as targets for Annual Variable Pay that are key performance indicators for the business over the short term. 

For the long-term incentives, the Committee will continue to select a combination of measures that provide a good focus on 
the outcomes of the Company’s strategy together with sustainable improvements in long-term profitability, together with 
appropriate and demanding targets in the context of the Company’s trading environment and strategic objectives. 

There are no performance conditions for the Sharesave Scheme and SIP as they are all-employee share plans aimed at 
encouraging wider employee share ownership.

Targets are set based on sliding scales that take account of internal planning and external market expectations for the 
Company. Only modest rewards are available for delivering threshold performance levels with maximum rewards requiring 
substantial out-performance of the challenging plans approved at the start of each year.

Further details of the annual bonus metrics to be used for the current financial year are set out in the Annual Report on 
Remuneration. The targets for awards to be granted under the PSP in the current financial year are consistent with the policy 
set out above and are also set out in the Annual Report on Remuneration.

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Governance

Financial Statements

How the executive directors’ Remuneration Policy 
relates to the wider Group
The Remuneration Policy for the executive directors is 
designed with regard to the policy for employees across the 
Group as a whole. There are some differences in the structure 
of the Remuneration Policy for executive directors, other 
senior employees and employees more generally. Variable 
pay opportunity tends to be set at higher levels at more 
senior executive levels as these employees are those that are 
perceived to have the greatest ability to influence overall Group 
performance. In addition, the choice of performance metrics 
for executive directors tends to be more heavily weighted 
towards Group results rather than business unit or individual 
performance. Incentive plan targets for senior employees are 
typically set against a combination of metrics (e.g. Group, 
business unit and personal targets) with wider employee targets 
more likely to be weighted towards individual performance. In 
all cases targets link back to overall Group business plans. This 
approach provides a strong alignment of interest between senior 
executives, employees and investors.

Operation of the PSP is limited to the most senior employees 
who are perceived to have the greatest ability to influence 
Group-level performance. As a result, the PSP is aligned across 
the senior managers in the Group with circa 130 or so senior 
employees typically receiving awards. Senior employees below 
Executive Board level are provided with lower levels of awards 
and these awards may have simplified performance conditions 
(e.g. a single EPS-based performance condition as opposed to 
using EPS and relative TSR may apply). 

Benefits are provided across the Group at all levels with these 
often linked to employee grade. In terms of the most valuable 
benefits to executive directors these include the provision of 
a cash allowance and/or company car benefit with the value 
limited to £30,000.

The Shareholding Guidelines are not applicable other than to 
the executive directors.

How the views of employees are taken into account
The Company, in line with current market practice, does not 
actively consult with employees on executive remuneration. 
However, the Director of Transformation, IT and People updates 
the Committee periodically on feedback received on remuneration 
practices across the Group. In light of the current draft 2018 UK 
Corporate Governance Code, work is being undertaken internally 
to determine the most appropriate route in future through which 
employees’ views can be represented to the Board.

The Committee takes due account of remuneration structures 
elsewhere in the Group when setting pay for the executive 
directors (for example, consideration is given to the overall 
salary increase budget and the incentive structures that 
operate across the Group).

How the views of shareholders are taken into account
The Remuneration Committee considers shareholder feedback 
received in relation to the AGM each year and guidance from 
shareholder representative bodies more generally. This feedback, 
plus any additional feedback received during any meetings held 
with shareholders from time to time, is then considered as part of 
the Committee’s ongoing review of remuneration policy.

Ability to make payments to executive directors 
Remuneration payments can only be made if they are 
consistent with the approved Remuneration Policy, the 
relevant plan rules or are otherwise approved by ordinary 
resolution of the members of the Company.

When approving this directors’ Remuneration Policy, authority 
was given to the Company to honour any commitments 
entered into with current or former directors (such as the 
payment of a pension or the vesting or exercise of past 
share awards) that have either been set out in the previously 
approved Remuneration Policy or remuneration reports or 
disclosed to and approved by shareholders and in respect of 
outstanding share awards as detailed on pages 93 to 97 of 
the Annual Report on Remuneration. Details of any payments 
to former directors will be set out in the Annual Report on 
Remuneration as they arise.

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Directors’ remuneration report continued

Remuneration scenarios for executive directors
The Remuneration Policy results in a significant proportion of 
remuneration received by executive directors being dependent 
on Group performance. The graph below illustrates how the 
total pay opportunities for the executive directors varies under 
three different performance scenarios: below target, on-target 
and maximum. When reviewing the graph, it should be noted 
that it has been prepared based on the policy detailed above 
and ignores, for simplicity, the potential impact of future share 
price growth.

Service contracts and policy on payments for  
loss of office
All newly-appointed executive directors will have contracts 
terminable at any time on up to one year’s notice. Under 
the terms of the contract, should notice be served by either 
party, the executives can continue to receive basic salary, 
benefits and pension for the duration of their notice period 
during which time the Company may require the individual to 
continue to fulfil their current duties or may assign a period of 
garden leave. 

0
0
0
£

2,800

2,400

2,000

1,600

1,200

800

400

0

£1,807

35%

23%

£767

100%

42%

30%

£2,555

38%

Long-term Incentive Plans

Annual Bonus

Fixed Pay

£1,593

Contracts also contain the ability, at the Company’s discretion, 
to make a payment in lieu of notice of up to one year’s basic 
annual salary.

Details of the current executive directors’ service contracts 
are summarised below. Each contract has an indefinite 
unexpired term and a notice period of one year.

32%

38%

£1,127

£1,168

Name

35%

22%

£479

£845

40%

D J White

32%

36%

£380

19%

27%

M A Whiteling

D I Sutherland

100%

43%

30%

100%

45%

33%

Date of contract

1 September 2017

1 October 2017

1 January 2011

Copies of the service contracts are available for inspection 
by shareholders at the AGM. The Committee will continue 
to keep under review the terms of executive directors’ 
service contracts.

The table below summarises the policy on payments to 
executive directors for loss of office. The overriding principle 
will be to honour contractual remuneration entitlements and 
determine on an equitable basis the appropriate treatment of 
deferred and performance-linked elements of the package, 
taking account of the circumstances. 

Payments for loss of office can only be made if they are 
consistent with the approved Remuneration Policy or are 
otherwise approved by ordinary resolution of the members  
of the Company. Failure will not be rewarded. 

m
u
m
i
n
i
M

t
e
g
r
a
t
-
n
O

m
u
m
i
x
a
M

Chief Executive 
Officer

m
u
m
i
n
i
M

t
e
g
r
a
t
-
n
O

m
u
m
i
x
a
M

m
u
m
i
n
i
M

t
e
g
r
a
t
-
n
O

m
u
m
i
x
a
M

Chief Financial 
Officer

Other Executive 
Director

Assumptions: 
•  Minimum – fixed pay only, based on salary effective  

1 January 2018 (excluding any mid-year review), 15 per 
cent of salary pension contribution (or 15 per cent of salary 
contribution in lieu of pension) and benefits received in the 
2017 financial year (annualised where relevant). 

•  On-target – minimum plus 50 per cent of the maximum pay-
out under the Annual Variable Pay scheme, and 65 per cent 
PSP vesting. 

•  Maximum – minimum plus 100 per cent of the maximum 
pay-out under the Annual Variable Pay scheme, and full 
PSP vesting. 

Dividend equivalent payments provided for under the PSP have 
been disregarded and no share price growth assumed for the 
purposes of these charts.

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Element

Resignation1

Departure on agreed terms2

Nil

Salary (after 
cessation of 
employment) 

Up to one year’s basic salary which may be 
payable monthly for the duration of the notice 
period of up to one year. The Company will have 
the discretion to make a payment in lieu of notice 
(PILON) comprising up to 12 monthly instalments 
of base salary which would be mitigated 
proportionate to income received through 
alternative employment.

Good leaver3

Nil

Pension and 
benefits

Nil

For existing directors up to one year’s benefits  
and pension. 

Nil

Annual 
Variable Pay

Performance 
Share Plan

Nil if the executive 
departs before the 
payment date unless 
the Remuneration 
Committee determines 
otherwise.

All awards, including 
those which have 
vested but are 
unexercised will 
lapse immediately 
upon cessation of 
employment.

For newly-appointed directors up to one year’s 
benefits and pension as part of the PILON as 
detailed above.

May be payable at the discretion of the 
Committee based upon performance and pro-
rated for the proportion of the financial year 
worked. No payment will be made in respect of 
any period of notice not worked.

May be payable at the discretion of 
the Committee based on performance 
pro-rated for the proportion of the 
financial year worked. 

Awards will lapse upon cessation of employment 
unless the Committee decides otherwise in which 
case awards may be exercised within 12 months of 
the vesting date. 

Where employment ends before the vesting date, 
awards may only be exercised to the extent that 
the performance conditions have been satisfied, 
but will be reduced pro-rata based upon the 
period of time after the grant date and ending 
on the date of cessation of employment relative 
to the three-year performance period unless the 
Committee, acting fairly and reasonably, decides 
that such a reduction is inappropriate in any 
particular case.

Awards may be exercised within  
12 months of the vesting date. 

Where employment ends before 
the vesting date, awards may only 
be exercised to the extent that the 
performance conditions have been 
satisfied, but will be reduced pro-rata 
based upon the period of time after 
the grant date and ending on the date 
of cessation of employment relative 
to the three-year performance period 
unless the Committee, acting fairly 
and reasonably, decides that such 
a reduction is inappropriate in any 
particular case.

In accordance with the scheme rules.

All-employee 
share 
schemes 
(Sharesave 
and SIP)

Other 
payments

Nil

Depending upon circumstances the Committee 
may consider payments in respect of any statutory 
entitlements, to settle any potential claim against 
the employer, provide outplacement support and 
assistance with legal fees.

Nil

1  For example, normal resignation from the Company or termination for cause (e.g. gross misconduct).

2  This may cover a range of circumstances such as business reorganisation, changes in reporting lines, change in need for the role, termination as a 

result of a failure to be re-elected at an AGM. 

3  For compassionate reasons such as death, injury or disability, retirement with the agreement of the employer. Should a compromise agreement be 

reached with an individual, in terms of quantum it will be within the maximum amounts set out under ‘departure on agreed terms’. 

There are no provisions in executive directors’ service agreements entitling them to terminate their employment or receive 
damages in the event of a change in control of the Company. The Annual Variable Pay scheme does not include any provision 
entitling early or any payment to be made on a change in control of the Company. 

In the event of change of control, PSP awards would be eligible to vest based on (i) the extent to which performance targets 
had been met, as assessed by the Committee, over the shortened performance period and (ii) subject to a pro-rata reduction 
for time (which the Committee retains discretion to disapply if it considers it appropriate to do so). As an alternative, and in 
agreement with an acquiring company, the awards may be replaced with equivalent awards in the acquiring company’s shares.

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The Sharesave Scheme provides that if a change in control of the Company occurs, any options may be exercised within a month 
(or such longer period as the Board may permit up to a maximum of six months). There are also rollover provisions similar to 
those under the PSP explained above.

Recruitment remuneration
In cases where the Company recruits a new executive director, the Committee will follow the policy set out below to determine 
his/her ongoing remuneration package. In arriving at a total package and in considering quantum for each element of the 
package, the Committee will take into account the skills and experience of the candidate, the market rate for a candidate of that 
experience as well as the importance of securing the preferred candidate. The remuneration package for a new executive director 
would be set in accordance with the terms of the Company’s approved remuneration policy in force at the time of appointment.

Element

Salary

Pension and 
benefits

Annual  
Variable Pay

General policy

Specifics

At a level required to attract the most appropriate 
candidate.

In line with Company policies.

In line with existing schemes. 

Maximum opportunity 100% of base salary or in the case 
of a Chief Executive Officer or Chief Financial Officer, 
125% of base salary.

Discretion to pay a lower basic salary with increases at a 
rate above inflation over two to three years as the new 
appointee becomes established in the role.

Where appropriate, relocation expenses/arrangements 
may be provided.

Specific targets could be introduced for an individual 
where necessary for the first year of appointment if 
it is appropriate to do so to reflect the individual’s 
responsibilities and the point in the year in which they 
joined the Board.

Performance 
Share Plan

In line with Company policies and PSP rules. Maximum 
award up to 200% of basic salary (at the date of grant) 
may be made.

An award may be made in the year of joining or, 
alternatively, the award can be delayed until the following 
year. Targets would be the same as for other directors.

Other share 
awards or 
remuneration1

The Committee may make an incentive award to 
replace remuneration forfeited on an executive leaving 
a previous employer, where to do so would be in the 
commercial interests of the Company. 

Awards would, where possible, take into account the 
awards forfeited in terms of vesting periods, expected 
value and performance conditions.

For unvested performance-related awards, awards of broadly 
similar quantum (allowing for the impact of any performance 
targets), with appropriate performance conditions.

1  The Committee may make use of the flexibility provided in the Listing Rules to make such awards if deemed appropriate in terms of replacing 

forfeited variable pay.

In the case of an internal appointment, any variable pay element awarded in respect of the prior role may be allowed to pay 
out according to its terms on grant, adjusted as relevant to take into account the appointment. In addition, any other ongoing 
remuneration obligations existing prior to appointment may continue as appropriate. 

External directorships
The Board is comfortable with the principle of executive directors sitting on another company board as a non-executive in order 
to assist with their development, subject to the prior approval of the Chief Executive Officer and the Board. Any fees earned in 
that capacity may be retained by the executive director.

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Financial Statements

TERMS OF APPOINTMENT AND REMUNERATION POLICY FOR NON-EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS
Terms of appointment
Non-executive directors are appointed initially until the first AGM of the Company following appointment, when they are 
required to stand for election by shareholders. Non-executive directors do not have service contracts, they are engaged by 
letters of appointment which are terminable upon one month’s notice by either party, without compensation, save for the 
Group Chairman whose appointment is terminable upon six months’ notice by either party, without compensation. 

The dates of appointment of the non-executive directors are set out below:

Name

G A Barker

G M Edwards

A K Fahy

R J King

K L Ludeman

N R Salmon

Date first appointed

1 January 2016

1 February 2017

1 January 2013

1 September 2014

1 January 2011

1 August 2014

Date last elected/re-elected

12 May 2017

12 May 2017

12 May 2017

12 May 2017

12 May 2017

12 May 2017

The following table summarises the non-executive directors’ Remuneration Policy.

Element 

Purpose and link to strategy How operated in practice

Maximum opportunity

There is no prescribed maximum 
annual increase. The Committee is 
guided by the general increase in 
the non-executive director market 
and for the broader employee 
population but on occasions may 
need to recognise, for example, 
an increase in the scale, scope or 
responsibility of the role.

Fees 

To recruit and 
maintain non-
executives of a 
suitable calibre for 
the role and duties 
required.

The Group Chairman’s fee is reviewed by the Committee 
(without the Group Chairman present). 

The Remuneration Policy for the non-executive directors, 
other than the Group Chairman, is determined by a  
sub-committee of the Board comprising the Group 
Chairman and the executive directors. 

Non-executive directors receive a fee for carrying out 
their duties, together with additional fees for the Senior 
Independent Director and for those non-executive directors 
who chair the primary Board committees (i.e. Audit and 
Remuneration Committees). Other fees may be introduced 
if considered appropriate, for example in the event of 
exceptional levels of additional time being required, or new 
responsibilities being assigned in response to corporate 
developments.

The non-executive directors and the Group Chairman 
do not currently receive benefits, but the Board retains 
a discretion to introduce such benefits if considered 
appropriate (e.g. paying reasonable travel expenses 
incurred undertaking Company business to keep individuals 
whole on a net of tax basis). Small tokens with a value not 
exceeding £1,000 may be made to mark significant events 
(e.g. long service, retirement etc).

The fees of the non-executive directors are determined 
by the Board taking into account amounts paid by other 
similar-sized listed companies, the time commitment of the 
individual, role and responsibilities. Fees are reviewed in 
detail biennially with an annual interim review.

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ANNUAL REPORT ON REMUNERATION

The Annual Report on Remuneration will be put to an advisory vote at the AGM on 12 June 2018.

HOW THE DIRECTORS’ REMUNERATION POLICY WILL BE APPLIED FOR THE YEAR ENDING 31 DECEMBER 2018

EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS’ REMUNERATION 
At a glance
The table below sets out an at-a-glance summary of how the key elements of the Remuneration Policy for the executive 
directors will be applied during the financial year ending 31 December 2018.

Remuneration element

Remuneration policy 

Base salary 

Pension 

Annual Variable Pay

Reviewed annually with any increases from 1 July of each year.

15% salary supplement in lieu of pension contributions.

Maximum payment of 125% of salary for the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer. 
The maximum applicable to other executive directors is 100% of salary.

The performance targets applying to the bonus in 2018 are as follows:

Performance  
Share Plan (PSP)

•  one-third – operating profit;

•  one-third – operating cash flow; and

•  one-third - strategic targets.

These targets reflect the Company’s immediate priorities in terms of operating profitably, generating 
cash and delivering against our transformation and Energy from Waste plans.

For each executive director, an element of any payment in excess of 25% of basic salary is required 
to be invested in Company shares and held for a period of three years (full details are set out in the 
Remuneration Policy).

Maximum value of shares (when awarded) is set at up to 150% of salary. 

Shares vest subject to remaining in employment and satisfaction of relevant performance conditions.

The performance targets to apply to PSP awards in 2018 are as follows:

•  one-third – relative total shareholder return (TSR) performance (requiring median to upper quartile 

performance versus the constituents of the FTSE 250 and FTSE Small Cap);

•  one-third – three-year cumulative operating profit; and

•  one-third – strategic targets (requiring challenging targets set against transformation plan and 

strategy to be achieved through to 2020). 

These targets reflect the Company’s current medium to long-term priorities and the Committee retains 
discretion to reduce vesting if performance against the targets results in a vesting outcome that is not 
considered consistent with underlying financial performance.

Vested shares from the PSP awards are to be held for two years post-vesting (after payment of tax).

Malus and clawback 
provisions

Variable Pay arrangements include provisions that enable the recovery of value overpaid (clawback) or 
the withholding of pay earned (malus) in the event of misstatement, error or misconduct for a period 
of two years after the date on which a payment is made. 

Shareholding requirement

200% of salary to be held as shares.

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A more detailed summary of how the policy will be applied 
during the year ending 31 December 2018 is set out below.

Salaries 
Salaries for the executive directors are reviewed annually 
with any increases effective from 1 July of each year. Payroll 
movement in the salaried workforce, adjusted on a like-for-
like basis (including in-year increases, but excluding starters, 
leavers and promotions) and increases awarded to the 
general salaried workforce, will be taken into account when 
conducting this review.

Annual Variable Pay 
The bonus metrics to apply in 2018 are summarised below  
with the structure a simplification on the individualised 
approach operated in prior years.

The bonus structure applicable to all executive directors is  
as follows:

Position 

Proportion of salary

Metric

Executive  
director

One-third

One-third

One-third

Operating profit

Operating cash flow

Achievement of defined 
strategic targets

With regard to the choice of metrics we are to use in 2018, 
operating profit and operating cash flow are being introduced 
as part of a Group-wide focus on returning the Company back 
to targeted levels of profitability and cash generation. These 
metrics are also scalable through our businesses which was an 
important consideration when setting targets for 2018. During 
the current period of change at Interserve, and recognising 
the importance of certain current initiatives, it was also 
considered appropriate to include a greater weighting than 
in prior years on delivery against specific objectives arising 
from the Energy from Waste plans and early conclusions of the 
current strategic review and those in our transformation plan. 

The targets relating to operating profit and operating cash 
flow have been set using a challenging sliding scale set with 
reference to the Company’s internal planning expectations, 
current market expectations for our performance and the 
plans presented to lenders and other financial stakeholders in 
connection with the refinancing of the Company’s debt. 

With regard to the non-financial targets, a combination of 
quantitative and qualitative targets apply that are based on 
delivery against the Company’s Fit For Growth strategy and 
leadership to ensure that the changes agreed by the Board are 
driven through the business are sustainable.

In relation to any payment in connection with the above 
targets, the Committee will retain the discretion to reduce 
these elements of Variable Pay (to zero) if it considers it 
appropriate to do so in light of the Company’s overall financial 
performance achieved during the year.

Since disclosure in advance of the specific targets and average 
net debt reduction and non-financial targets in the Annual 
Variable Pay scheme is considered commercially sensitive, 
disclosure of performance against the targets and the criteria 
to determine pay awards will be set out in full retrospectively 
in the 2018 Annual Report on Remuneration (subject to any 
price sensitivity considerations in which case the targets would 
be considered for disclosure the following year).

Performance Share Plan 
Awards will be made in 2018 to executive directors over shares 
worth 150 per cent of basic salary as at the date of grant.

The targets to apply to the awards comprise three elements 
which reflect the current medium to long-term priorities of 
the Company and include creating above-market total returns 
for shareholders, returning the Company to an acceptable level 
of profitability and delivering against the medium to long-term 
objectives included in the Board’s transformation plan. 

One-third of the award: relative TSR 

Relative TSR versus the FTSE 250 and FTSE Small Cap constituents

Vesting

Below median

Median 

Upper quartile

Straight-line vesting between performance points

One-third of the award: three-year cumulative  
operating profit

Cumulative operating profit (2018 + 2019 + 2020)

Less than 86.3% of target operating profit

86.3% of target operating profit

100% of target operating profit

113.7% of target operating profit

Straight-line vesting between performance points

0%

25%

100%

Vesting

0%

25%

50%

100%

The actual operating profit numbers underpinning the above 
sliding scale are considered to be commercially sensitive and 
as a result have not been included above. However, the target 
range has been calibrated around the plans presented to the 
Company’s lenders and other financial stakeholders, and so 
are considered appropriately demanding by the Committee. 
Indeed, less than 50 per cent of this part of the award will 
vest for hitting the numbers included in the plans presented 
externally. The Committee will publish the actual targets 
and the Company’s performance against them in the 2020 
Directors’ Remuneration Report. 

83

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GOVERNANCE

Directors’ remuneration report continued

One-third of the award: delivery against pre-determined 
strategic targets 
The strategic targets have been set against the targets 
included in the Company’s transformation plan and strategy 
through to 2020. 

HOW THE REMUNERATION POLICY WAS APPLIED FOR 
THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2017
The salaries for the executive directors are set out in the  
table below: 

As with the operating profit target detailed above, the actual 
strategic targets are considered commercially sensitive and 
the Committee intends to provide full details of the actual 
targets and our performance against them in the 2020 
Directors’ Remuneration Report.

In addition to the above, the vesting of the award will be 
subject to a general financial underpin that will require the 
Committee to be satisfied that the vesting result is consistent 
with the underlying financial performance of the Company 
over the performance period. Should this not be the case, the 
Committee retains discretion to reduce the vesting outcome to 
better reflect underlying financial performance.

Overall, the Committee is comfortable that having had regard 
to current commercial circumstances and the challenges 
more broadly faced within our business sector, the targets 
are at least as challenging as those set in previous years 
and will provide a realistic incentive at the lower end of the 
performance range, but with full vesting requiring exceptional 
outperformance. 

The 2018 PSP awards will be subject to the two-year post- 
vesting holding period and recovery and withholding provisions 
detailed in the policy table on page 75.

NON-EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FEES 
The fee levels operated in 2017 will remain unchanged during 
2018 and are set out in the table below:

Fee effective 
1 January 2018 
£

Fee effective 
1 January 2017
 £

Percentage  
change

170,000

170,000

51,400

51,400

Element

Fee paid to Group 
Chairman

Base fee paid to other 
non-executive directors

Supplementary fees:

–  Senior Independent 

7,000

7,000

Director

–  Audit Committee 

10,000

10,000

Chairman

–  Remuneration 

Committee Chairman

10,000

10,000

nil

nil 

nil 

nil 

nil

–  Nomination Committee 

See note1

See note1

n/a

Chairman

1 

 The Group Chairman is Chairman of the Nomination Committee and 
receives no supplementary fee for chairing this committee.

84

Name

D J White1

M A Whiteling2

D I Sutherland

Former directors

A M Ringrose3

T P Haywood4

B A Melizan5

Salary as at 
1 January 2018 
£

Salary as at
1 January 2017 
£

Percentage 
change 

650,000

405,000

–

–

315,188

315,188

–

–

–

577,844

378,225

357,213

n/a

n/a

nil

n/a

n/a

n/a

1  Debbie White was appointed on 1 September 2017.

2  Mark Whiteling was appointed on 1 October 2017.

3  Adrian Ringrose stepped down from the Board on 31 August 2017.

4  Tim Haywood stepped down from the Board on 30 September 2017.

5  Bruce Melizan stepped down from the Board on 30 November 2017.

The salary levels set on appointment for the Chief Executive 
Officer and Chief Financial Officer reflected the Committee’s 
view of the calibre and experience of each individual. 

In aggregate, the total fixed pay (base salary, benefits, 
allowances and pension) provided to the Chief Executive 
Officer is below the level provided at her previous employer 
with the Committee limiting her base salary and total fixed 
pay such that it achieved an appropriate balance between 
recognising the calibre and experience of the individual but 
also managing quantum to a level that reflects the current 
size and complexity of Interserve. 

The Chief Financial Officer’s salary similarly limited the base 
salary to a level which was no higher than was payable in his 
most recent full-time executive position and was again felt 
to strike an appropriate balance between recognising the 
calibre of the individual and setting quantum with reference 
to the current size and complexity of Interserve. 

There were no increases to the departing or continuing 
executive directors’ base salaries during the year. For 
comparison in relation to the salaried workforce, payroll 
movement in the period June 2016 to June 2017, adjusted on 
a like-for-like basis (including in-year increases, but excluding 
starters, leavers and promotions) was 3.4 per cent.

Debbie White is a non-executive director of Howden Joinery 
Group plc for which she receives a fee of £55,000 per annum. 
She is also an unremunerated trustee of Wellbeing of Women. 

Mark Whiteling is a non-executive director of Hogg Robinson 
Group Plc and Connect Group Plc for which he receives an 
annual fee of £45,000 and £50,000, respectively (in the case of 
the latter amount, one-third of which was received in 2017).

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Overview

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Governance

Financial Statements

The table below shows the remuneration paid to each director. Further details are included on pages 86 to 91.

Remuneration paid to each director (audited information)

Salary  
& fees

Taxable 
benefits

Annual  
Variable Pay

PSP9/10

Pension11

Other 
remuneration

Total

216,667

6,641

270,089

–

–

–

101,250

3,433

126,562

£

Executive directors

D J White1

M A Whiteling2

D I Sutherland

Sub-total

Non-executive directors

G A Barker

G M Edwards3

A K Fahy

R J King

K L Ludeman

N R Salmon

Sub-total

Former directors

Lord Blackwell4

A M Ringrose5

T P Haywood6

B A Melizan7

S L Dance8

Sub-total

Total

Year

2017

2016

2017

2016

2017

2016

2017

2016

2017

2016

2017

2016

2017

2016

2017

2016

2017

2016

2017

2016

2017

2016

2017

2016

2017

2016

2017

2016

2017

2016

2017

2016

2017

2016

–

315,188

311,344

633,105

311,344

170,000

150,233

47,117

–

61,400

61,400

58,400

58,400

61,400

61,400

51,400

51,400

449,717

382,833

–

28,333

385,229

570,797

283,669

373,613

327,445

352,857

–

106,048

996,343

1,431,648

2017

2,079,165

2016

2,125,825

–

17,973

17,009

28,047

17,009

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

16,160

22,306

15,854

19,787

23,868

26,253

–

6,779

55,882

75,125

83,929

 92,134

–

–

–

396,651

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

396,651

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

32,500

–

15,188

–

47,278

46,702

94,966

46,702

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

57,784

85,619

42,550

56,042

49,117

52,929

–

15,907

149,451

210,497

244,417

257,199

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

525,897

–

246,433

–

380,439

375,055

1,152,769

375,055

170,000

150,233

47,117

–

61,400

61,400

58,400

58,400

61,400

61,400

51,400

51,400

449,717

382,833

–

28,333

459,173

678,722

342,073

449,442

400,430

432,039

–

128,734

1,201,676

1,717,270

2,804,162

2,475,158

1  Debbie White was appointed on 1 September 2017.

2  Mark Whiteling was appointed on 1 October 2017.

3  Gareth Edwards was appointed on 1 February 2017.

4 

 Lord Blackwell resigned on 29 February 2016.

85

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GOVERNANCE

Directors’ remuneration report continued

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

 As detailed in last year’s Remuneration Report, Adrian Ringrose stepped down from the Board on 31 August 2017. The figures reported above reflect 
the payments he received during the period that he was a serving director (1 January to 31 August 2017). In connection with the termination of 
his employment, he received £325,593 which consisted of £27,781 accrued but untaken holiday entitlement and £297,812 for payment in lieu of 
the balance of his notice period with notice to terminate his employment having taken place on 7 March 2017 following the identification and 
announcement of a successor. In addition, he also has a taxable benefit in relation to continued provision under the Company’s private medical 
insurance scheme of £641 for the period from 1 September 2017 to 31 December 2017. 

 Tim Haywood stepped down from the Board on 30 September 2017 but remained employed by the Company until 30 November 2017. The figures 
reported above reflect the payments he received during the period that he was a serving director (1 January to 30 September 2017). He also 
received £63,038 as salary; £3,700 as taxable benefits and £9,456 as salary supplement in lieu of pension, giving a total of £76,194 for the period 
following stepping down from the Board but remaining in employment (1 October to 30 November 2017). In addition to the above, he also received 
£1,935 in respect of accrued but untaken holiday entitlement and a payment of £7,500 (excluding VAT) in connection with agreeing the terms of 
severance. In relation to the balance of his 12-month notice period (which commenced on 30 November 2017 following notice to terminate his 
employment taking place along with his cessation of employment), he will continue to receive a monthly payment of £31,519 (equivalent to his basic 
monthly salary) in lieu of his 12-month notice period through to 30 November 2018. 

 Bruce Melizan stepped down from the Board on 30 November 2017 but remained employed by the Company until 31 January 2018 when his role 
became redundant. The figures reported above are pro-rated for the period during the year that he was a serving director (1 January to  
30 November 2017). For the period during the year that he remained an employee (1 December to 31 December 2017), he received £29,768 as 
salary; £2,178 as taxable benefits and £4,465 as salary supplement in lieu of pension, giving a total of £36,411. Following the conclusion of the 
year end, for the period to 31 January 2018 when his role became redundant, he received further payments of £29,768 as salary, £2,178 as taxable 
benefits and £4,465 as salary supplement in lieu of pension, giving a total of £36,411. In connection with his redundancy, he received a payment 
of £357,213 in lieu of notice of one year’s base salary in accordance with his service agreement, together with a statutory redundancy payment of 
£9,047. In addition, after the year end he also received a payment of £7,500 (including VAT) in connection with agreeing the terms of severance and 
a payment of £20,000 (excluding VAT) towards outplacement support.

 As set out in last year’s Remuneration Report, Steven Dance stepped down from the Board in connection with his retirement on 4 May 2016. 

 The PSP awards awarded on 1 June 2015 have not met the performance conditions and will not vest. For further information see page 89.

10   The PSP awards awarded on 13 May 2014 did not meet the performance conditions and did not vest. For further information see last year’s 

Remuneration Report.

11   15 per cent salary supplement in lieu of pension. 

Additional notes to the directors’ remuneration table (audited information)
1.  Taxable benefits
The table below sets out the constituent elements of the taxable benefits for the executive directors included in the single 
figure table above for the period that each individual was a member of the Company’s Board:

Executive directors

D J White

M A Whiteling

D I Sutherland

Former directors1

A M Ringrose

T P Haywood

B A Melizan

S L Dance

Total

Year

Company car 
£

Cash allowance in 
lieu of company car  
£

Fuel benefit 
£

Travel 
allowance 
£

Medical 
insurance
 £

2017

2016

2017

2016

2017

2016

2017

2016

2017

2016

2017

2016

2017

2016

2017

2016

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

10,294

12,876

–

798

–

4,443

10,294

18,117

6,000

–

3,000

–

13,896

13,896

12,795

19,192

–

–

12,276

12,986

–

–

47,967

46,074

–

–

75

–

2,208

1,428

2,137

1,429

4,534

5,665

–

–

–

1,929

8,954

10,451

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

9,886

10,784

–

–

9,886

10,784

641

–

358

–

1,869

1,685

1,228

1,685

1,026

1,246

1,706

1,685

–

407

6,828

6,708

Total
 £

6,641

–

3,433

–

17,973

17,009

16,160

22,306

15,854

19,787

23,868

26,253

–

6,779

83,929

92,134

1   Values represent the benefit received as a serving director during the year.

86

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Overview

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Governance

Financial Statements

2.  Determination of 2017 Annual Variable Pay
Bonus targets applying to Adrian Ringrose, Tim Haywood, Bruce Melizan and Dougie Sutherland
Bonuses for the directors in post at the start of 2017 were subject to the targets set at the start of 2017 with individual bonus 
opportunities also reduced based on their period of employment with the Company. The targets were tailored by individual 
role and reflected the Company’s focus on delivering profitable growth, debt reduction and strategic priorities which included 
delivering against the SustainAbilities agenda, effective health and safety, and managing a successful exit from the EfW 
business. The actual targets set and performance against the targets is set out below.

Maximum  
award as a 
percentage  
of salary

Metric

Performance target

Percentage of salary

Extent of achievement

Actual  
award as a 
percentage 
of salary

Targets applicable to Adrian Ringrose (01.01.17 to 31.08.17), Tim Haywood (01.01.17 to 30.09.17) and Bruce Melizan  
(01.01.17 to 30.11.17) 

Normalised  
EPS1

Average 
net debt 

70%

Less than 58.6p

0%

31.4p per share – target not achieved

nil

58.6p to 65.1p

65.1p to 71.6p

Above 71.6p

7% to 42% pro rata

42% to 70% pro rata

70%

30%

Greater than £460 million

0% 

£501 million – target not achieved

nil

Less than £460 million but 
greater than £400 million

0% to 30%

Less than £400 million

30%

Targets applicable to Dougie Sutherland

Normalised  
EPS1

Average  
net debt 

52.5%

Less than 58.6p 

0%

31.4p per share – target not achieved

nil

58.6p to 65.1p

65.1p to 71.6p

Above 71.6p 

5.25% to 31.5%

31.5% to 52.5%

52.5%

22.5%

Greater than £460 million

0%

£501 million – target not achieved

nil

Less than £460 million but 
greater than £400 million

0% to 22.5%

Less than £400 million

22.5%

Personal targets applicable to Adrian Ringrose (01.01.17 to 31.08.17)

SustainAbilities

12.5%

Deliver the Board’s SustainAbilities agenda

Health  
and Safety

12.5%

Achievement of Group Annual Safety Plan targets

A balanced scorecard of objectives 
operated which were only met in 
part, triggering 3.8% of the maximum 

This target was only met in part and 
there was a fatality within the Group, 
resulting in 5.5% achievement 

Personal targets applicable to Tim Haywood (01.01.17 to 30.09.17) and Dougie Sutherland

Deliver Board 
strategic targets

25%

Efficient management of the Exited EfW business 
including, but not limited to, no increase being 
required in the current provision

Target not achieved

nil

nil

nil

1 

 Normalised EPS is headline EPS adjusted to exclude IAS 36 Impairment of assets and IAS 39 Financial instruments and any unbudgeted “one-off” 
contributions to EPS which the Committee exercises its discretion to exclude. 

In summary, based on the above performance, a bonus was eligible to be paid to Adrian Ringrose at 9.3 per cent of his pro-rata 
salary. However, in light of the challenges faced by the Company during the year, a fatality in the Group while fulfilling Company 
business, and the Company’s share price over the year, the Committee used its discretion to determine that no bonus would be 
paid to the former Chief Executive.

87

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Directors’ remuneration report continued

As detailed in the Chairman’s Summary Statement, 2017 was an exceptional year at Interserve which included a change in the 
executive leadership of the Company. In light of the challenges faced by the Company, detailed in the Chairman’s Statement and 
Strategic Report, and the timing of the appointment of the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, the Committee 
set specific strategic targets that reflected the immediate priorities of the Board at the time of their appointment. This 
approach was consistent with the terms of the Remuneration Policy. At the time of setting the tailored targets, the Committee’s 
intention was to limit the bonuses that the new executives could earn to two-thirds of the normal pro-rata maximum for the 
period of their employment in the current financial year to take account of the difficulties faced by the Company during 2017. 
However, in light of the substantial improvement in the financial position of the Company achieved by the time the Company 
concluded the 2017 audit, the Committee concluded that the new directors should be eligible to earn up to the normal pro-rata 
maximum bonuses (subject to meeting the performance targets). Based on this position, the extent of achievement against 
each target set and the bonus payable (in line with the Company’s Remuneration Policy) is set out below.

Bonus targets applying to the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer

Strategic objectives

Maximum award

Performance target

Extent of achievement 

Personal targets applicable to Debbie White (01.09.17 to 31.12.17)

Actual award as 
a percentage of 
annual salary
(rounded to two 
decimal places)

Each strategic 
objective carries 
an equal weighting 
and represents, in 
each case, a bonus 
opportunity of up  
to 13.85% of basic 
salary.

A qualitative review 
shall be conducted by 
the Committee against 
each strategic objective 
separately as follows: 

50% of maximum:  
if demonstrable  
progress is made;

75% of maximum: 
if good progress has  
been achieved; or 

100% of maximum: 
if exceptional progress  
has been achieved.

(a)   To deliver a recovery plan 

involving the reorganisation  
of the business.

(b)   To show leadership, instil 
confidence in and cement 
relationships with key 
stakeholders.

(c)   To appraise the current 

leadership team, identify 
any skills gaps and possible 
candidates and commence the 
early stages of recruitment by 
the end of Q4 with a view to 
strengthening and rebuilding a 
sustainable top team.

Personal targets applicable to Mark Whiteling (01.10.17 to 31.12.17)

(a)   To conduct constructive 
discussions with banking 
providers, PPN holders and 
bond sureties with a view to 
securing support through to 
31 March 2018.

Each strategic 
objective carries an 
equal weighting and 
represents a bonus 
opportunity of up 
to 10.42% of basic 
salary.

(b)   In parallel with the foregoing, 
look at alternative capital 
funding schemes.

(c)   To address the structure of 
the finance structure to aid 
transparency.

A qualitative review shall 
be conducted by the 
Committee against each 
strategic objective as 
follows:

50% of maximum: if 
demonstrable progress is 
made;

75% of maximum: if 
good progress has been 
achieved; or

100% of maximum: if 
exceptional progress has 
been achieved.

(a)   Target met in full following 
a detailed recovery and 
transformation plan was 
developed and approved by 
the Board and in the process of 
being implemented by year end. 

13.85%

(b)   Target met in full following 

13.85%

feedback to the Company 
Chairman from a broad range of 
key stakeholders confirming that 
the new CEO had led a marked 
improvement in confidence.

(c)   Target met in full following 
Stage 1 of a leadership 
assessment programme being 
undertaken and implemented 
with internal capabilities being 
substantially strengthened with 
new senior appointments. 

(a)   Target met in full following 
successful discussions with 
lenders and other stakeholders 
in relation to the deferral 
of covenant tests and the 
enhancement of current 
financing facilities.

(b)   Target met in full following the 
Board presentations on a broad 
range of alternative financing on 
appropriate terms.

13.85%

10.42%

10.42%

(c)   Targets met in full through a full 

10.42%

review of the current financing 
structure and clarity on the 
preferred future structure of 
debt and associated facilities.

88

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The above targets were also underpinned by a requirement 
to achieve a threshold level of financial performance in the 
final quarter of 2017. This was achieved in full as a result of 
(i) there being no breach of the Group’s committed banking 
facilities or the Note Purchase Agreement (with a net debt to 
EBITDA test excluded for this condition) and cash flow being in 
line with the fourth-quarter plan. 

As a result of the above, and the Committee’s general view 
that the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer’s 
performance had been exceptional in challenging circumstances 
for the period of 2017 that they were employed, bonuses were 
payable at 100 per cent of the pro-rata maximum for the Chief 
Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer respectively (i.e. 
circa 42 per cent and 31 per cent of salary).

The above provides full disclosure of the financial targets 
operated during the year and actual performance against 
those targets. In relation to non-financial targets, an overview 
has been provided which omits targets that are considered 
commercially sensitive. It is not anticipated that further 
disclosures in respect of 2017 performance will be provided 
but this position will be reviewed when preparing the 2018 
Annual Report on Remuneration. 

3.  Determination of 2017 Performance Share Plan 
payments
The analysis below explains how the PSP payments 
for the performance period ending 31 December 2017 
were determined. 

The PSP awards granted on 1 June 2015 were based on 
performance over the three-year period from 1 January 2015 
to 31 December 2017 and were subject to the following 
performance conditions: 

The EPS Performance Condition for two-thirds of  
the 2015 Awards

Normalised EPS1 growth of the  
Company over the performance period

Vesting percentage of two-thirds  
of shares subject to the award

Less than 18%

18% to 32%

32% to 58%

Greater than 58%

0%

25% to 65% (pro-rated)

65% to 100% (pro-rated)

100%

1 

 Normalised EPS is defined as headline EPS adjusted to reflect  
growth in underlying value created by (a) removing the impact  
of IAS 36 Impairment of assets and IAS 39 Financial instruments;  
and (b) recognising or removing “one-off” events at the discretion  
of the Committee.

In testing the performance condition, the Committee assessed 
performance based on the definition of EPS detailed above, 
and made an adjustment for the change from IAS 19 to 
IAS 19R Pensions, which ensured the target was no more or 
less challenging than the target originally set allowing for this 
factor. Following adjustment, the decline in normalised EPS 
from 67.9 pence per share to 29.0 pence per share over the 
three-year performance period for the 2015 award represented 
a 57 per cent decline. 18 per cent growth in normalised EPS 
was required for threshold vesting to occur.

The TSR Performance Condition for one-third of  
the 2015 Awards
This condition is determined by comparing the Company’s TSR 
performance to the TSR of each company in the FTSE 250, 
excluding investment trusts.

TSR ranking of the Company compared  
to the Comparator Group over the  
performance period

Below median ranking

Median ranking (top 50%)

Vesting percentage of one-third  
of shares subject to the award 

0%

25%

Median to upper quartile ranking 

30% to 100% (pro-rated)

Upper quartile ranking (top 25%)

100%

TSR performance was below the median of the comparator 
group and therefore the TSR part of the awards will not vest.

4.  Directors’ pension entitlements 
Defined Contribution Scheme
During 2017 none of the executive directors were active 
participants of the Defined Contribution section of the 
Interserve Pension Scheme and, as at 31 December 2017, all 
the executive directors who were former members of the 
Scheme had transferred their deferred benefits out of this 
section of the Scheme. All the executive directors receive 
15 per cent salary supplement in lieu of pension contributions. 

Non-executive directors’ fees are not pensionable.

Defined Benefit Scheme
Following the benefit changes to the Interserve Pension 
Scheme, Adrian Ringrose ceased to accrue any further  
benefits in the Defined Benefit section of the Scheme from  
31 December 2009. His accrued pension at that date was 
£72,337 per annum and his pension will increase up to the 
point he draws his benefits broadly in line with price inflation. 

5.  Payments for cessation of employment
Details are set out below of the payments to directors stepping 
down from the Board in 2017.

(a) Adrian Ringrose
Salary and benefits
As announced on 14 November 2016, Adrian Ringrose  
stepped down from the Board following the appointment of  
Debbie White. In connection with the termination of his 
employment on 31 August 2017, he received £325,593 which 
consisted of £27,781 accrued but untaken holiday entitlement 
and £297,812 for payment in lieu of the balance of his notice 
period (with notice to terminate his employment having 
taken place on 7 March 2017 following the identification and 
announcement of the appointment of a successor). In addition, 
he also has a taxable benefit in relation to continued provision 
under the Company’s PMI scheme of £641 for the period from  
1 September 2017 to 31 December 2017.

89

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GOVERNANCE

Directors’ remuneration report continued

Treatment of Annual Variable Pay
In line with his continued employment in 2017, the Committee 
determined he would remain eligible to receive a pro-rata 
bonus based on the period of his employment subject to 
satisfying the bonus plan’s targets. As detailed above, no 
bonus will be payable in relation to 2017 performance. 

Treatment of share awards
In view of Mr Ringrose’s continued employment and, in line 
with the rules of the PSP and the Company’s Remuneration 
Policy, the Committee resolved to treat him as a “good 
leaver” under the Plan. His unvested nil-cost share option 
awards over 131,604 and 195,114 shares, granted in 2015 and 
2016, respectively, will become exercisable at the end of the 
respective performance periods, subject to the applicable 
performance conditions being satisfied, and time pro-rating 
to the end of Mr Ringrose’s notice period (7 March 2018). 
Dividend equivalents accrue on the resulting shares that vest 
in line with the Plan rules. 

Any vested awards must be exercised within 12 months of 
the vesting date, after which time they will lapse. Any shares 
resulting from the 2015 and 2016 awards must be held for 
a further two years after vesting and will be subject to the 
recovery and withholding provisions of the Plan.

The 131,604 nil-cost share options awarded to Mr Ringrose 
under the PSP in 2015 will not vest.

The shares purchased by Mr Ringrose under the Share Incentive 
Plan (partnership shares), together with any dividend shares 
held, have been transferred to him in accordance with the 
rules of the plan.

General
All amounts payable to Mr Ringrose will be subject to such 
deductions in respect of tax and national insurance as the 
Company is required by law to make.

(b) Tim Haywood
Salary and benefits
As announced on 30 June 2017, Tim Haywood stepped down 
from the Board on 30 September 2017. As further announced 
on 2 October 2017, Mr Haywood remained employed by the 
Company until 30 November 2017 both to support the new 
Chief Executive Officer and assist in the transition to his 
successor, the new Chief Financial Officer. During this period 
he continued to receive his salary, pension and benefits as well 
as a payment of £1,935 in respect of his accrued but untaken 
holiday entitlement as at 30 September 2017, in line with 
the provisions in his service agreement and the Company’s 

Remuneration Policy. For the period from 1 December 2017 
to 30 November 2018, Mr Haywood will receive a monthly 
payment of £31,519 (which is equivalent to his basic monthly 
salary) in lieu of the 12 months’ notice period included in his 
contract. However, should Mr Haywood obtain a comparable 
position during the notice period, whereby he is directly or 
indirectly remunerated (whether by way of salary, bonus, 
pension, fees, equity or otherwise) the monthly payments 
from the Company will be reduced or extinguished by the 
amount of that direct or indirect remuneration.

Treatment of Annual Variable Pay
In light of Mr Haywood’s continuation in active employment, 
consistent with the Company’s Remuneration Policy, the 
Committee determined he would remain eligible to receive a 
pro-rata bonus based on the period of his employment subject  
to satisfying the bonus plan’s targets. As detailed above, no 
bonus will be payable in relation to 2017 performance.

Treatment of share awards
In view of Mr Haywood’s continued employment and, in line 
with the rules of the PSP and the Company’s Remuneration 
Policy, the Committee resolved to treat him as a “good leaver” 
under the Plan. His unvested nil-cost share option awards over 
86,140, 127,711 and 256,562 shares, granted in 2015, 2016 and 
2017, respectively, will, after the application of performance 
conditions, become exercisable at the end of their respective 
performance periods, subject to the applicable performance 
conditions being satisfied and will be reduced pro-rata to  
30 November 2017. 

The two-year holding period, clawback and recovery and 
withholding provisions contained within the relevant awards 
will apply to any vested shares. Any dividend equivalents will 
be satisfied in cash following the vesting date in accordance 
with the Plan rules. 

The 86,140 nil-cost share options awarded to Mr Haywood 
under the PSP in 2015 will not vest.

Mr Haywood’s awards under the all-employee Sharesave 
Scheme and Share Incentive Plan will be treated in accordance 
with the rules of the respective plans, details of which are set 
out in the table on page 75.

General
In addition, a payment of £7,500 (excluding VAT) was made 
in connection with legal fees incurred in preparing a 
settlement agreement in connection with his stepping  
down from the Board.

90

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(c) Bruce Melizan
Salary and benefits
As announced on 1 December 2017, Bruce Melizan stepped 
down from the Board on 30 November 2017, and ceased 
employment with the Company on 31 January 2018 following 
his role being made redundant in connection with a 
restructuring of the senior roles and responsibilities within  
the Company's Fit for Growth programme.

For the period until his role was made redundant on 
31 January 2018, during which time Mr Melizan carried out 
handover duties and the transfer of key client relationships, 
he continued to receive his salary, pension, a company 
car allowance and other contractual benefits. Following 
his departure on 31 January 2018, Mr Melizan received a 
payment of £357,213 in lieu of notice of one year’s base salary 
in accordance with his service agreement, together with a 
statutory redundancy payment of £9,047. 

Treatment of Annual Variable Pay
Mr Melizan was a participant of the Annual Variable Pay 
scheme for the financial year ending 31 December 2017.  
The amount of any bonus payment was subject to the 
satisfaction of the relevant performance conditions, as set 
out on page 87 of this report and as determined by the 
Remuneration Committee in March 2018. As detailed above,  
no bonus will be payable in relation to 2017 performance. 

Treatment of share awards
In line with the rules of the PSP and the Company’s 
Remuneration Policy and in connection with his redundancy, 
the Committee resolved to treat Mr Melizan as a “good leaver” 
under the Plan. His unvested nil-cost share option awards over 
81,355, 120,616 and 242,309 shares, granted in 2015, 2016 and 
2017, respectively, will, after the application of performance 
conditions, become exercisable at the end of their respective 
performance periods, subject to the applicable performance 
conditions being satisfied and will be reduced pro-rata to  
31 January 2018. 

The two-year holding period, clawback and recovery and 
withholding provisions contained within the relevant awards 
will apply to any vested shares. Any dividend equivalents will 
be satisfied in cash following the vesting date in accordance 
with the Plan rules. 

The 81,355 nil-cost share options awarded to Mr Melizan under 
the PSP in 2015 will not vest.

General
A payment of £7,500 (including VAT) was made in connection 
with legal fees incurred in preparing a settlement agreement 
in connection with his stepping down from the Board. As part 
of his redundancy, the Company also contributed £20,000 
(excluding VAT) towards outplacement support. These 
contributions were paid after the year end.

Performance graph 
The graph below shows the value, on 31 December 2017, of £100 invested in Interserve Plc on 31 December 2008 compared with 
the value of £100 invested in the companies comprising the Support Services sector of the FTSE All-Share Index. This was chosen 
for comparison because it is considered to be the relevant benchmark against which to compare our performance.

Historical TSR Performance

£400

£300

£200

£100

£

–

s
g
n
i
d
l
o
h

l
a
c
i
t
e
h
t
o
p
y
h

f
o

e
u
l
a
V

0%

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

Interserve Plc

FTSE All-Share Support Services

Source: Thomson Reuters Datastream

91

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GOVERNANCE

Directors’ remuneration report continued

Change in Chief Executive remuneration
The table below provides a summary of the Chief Executive’s remuneration over the last nine years:

Total remuneration (£000)

2017

9851

Annual Variable Pay (% of maximum)

33.0%2

PSP vesting (% of maximum)

nil3

2016

679

nil

nil

1,418

77.8%

2015

2014

2013

2012

2011

1,797

2,054

1,928

1,318

62.6%

58.7%

100.0%

100.0%

30.0%

44.5%

54.2%

100.0%

100.0%

50.0%

nil

2010

543

2009

943

98.0%

50.0%

The data for this table was taken from the Directors’ Remuneration Reports for the relevant years and adjusted to take account 
of the actual share price on the date of vesting for the PSP. 

1    This figure represents the total remuneration for Adrian Ringrose for the period during the year that he served as Chief Executive (1 January to  

31 August 2017) combined with the total remuneration for Debbie White for the period during the year that she served as Chief Executive Officer  
(1 September to 31 December 2017).

2 

3 

 This figure represents the average bonus paid based on Adrian Ringrose receiving no bonus (0% of the maximum) for the eight-month period  
from 1 January 2017 to 31 August 2017 and Debbie White receiving a bonus (100% of the maximum) for the period of four months from  
1 September 2017 to 31 December 2017. 

 This figure represents the maximum vesting potential of PSP awards with performance conditions ending at 31 December 2017; in this case, the PSP 
award granted to Adrian Ringrose on 1 June 2015 which did not vest. The recruitment award to Debbie White (detailed on page 96) is excluded since 
it does not relate to performance at Interserve.

Percentage change in Chief Executive's remuneration 
compared to employees
The table below shows the percentage change in the  
Chief Executive's salary, benefits and annual bonus  
between the financial years ending 31 December 2016 and  
31 December 2017, compared to the percentage increase  
for UK Senior Management (on a per capita basis):

Relative importance of spend on pay
The table below illustrates the change in expenditure by the 
Company on remuneration paid to all the employees of the  
Group against other significant distributions and payments 
from the financial year ending 31 December 2016 compared  
to the financial year ending 31 December 2017: 

2017
 £million

2016 
£million

Percentage 
change

Overall expenditure on pay

1,282.0

1,153.7

11%

Dividends paid

–

11.8 

(100%)

Salary

Chief Executive1

Senior Management2

Benefits

Chief Executive1

Senior Management2

Annual Bonus

Chief Executive1

Senior Management2

Percentage change

nil

0.85%

(0.90%)

(8.32%)

nil

(0.58%)3

1 

2 

3 

 For the purposes of providing comparable year-on-year figures for the 
Chief Executive, the percentage change relates to Adrian Ringrose for 
the period he served as Chief Executive during the year (1 January 
to 31 August 2017). There were no changes to the range of benefits 
provided to Adrian Ringrose for the period to 31 August 2017. 

 The comparator group relates to UK Senior Management rather than all 
Group employees. We have chosen this group because the Committee 
believes that it provides a sufficient comparator group to give a 
reasonable understanding of underlying increases based on similar 
remuneration constituents applicable to Senior Management whilst 
reducing the distortion that would otherwise arise from the changing 
mix between UK and overseas employees.

 This figure is an estimate only of the 2017 bonus. The actual amount 
will only be known once the May 2018 payroll has been run. To the 
extent that there is a material difference this will be disclosed in the 
2018 report.

92

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Overview

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Financial Statements

Performance Share Plan (audited information) 
The following grants were made to the executive directors under the PSP during the year:

Executive directors

D J White1 

M A Whiteling2

D I Sutherland

Former directors

A M Ringrose3

T P Haywood4

B A Melizan5

Date of grant

Number of shares 

11.09.17

02.10.17

06.04.17

n/a

06.04.17

06.04.17

599,778

526,840

213,802

n/a

256,562

242,309

Face value
£

968,6416

612,4527

477,8478

n/a

573,4168

541,5618

Performance period

Exercise period

01.01.17 – 31.12.19 

11.09.20 –  10.09.22

01.01.17 – 31.12.19 

02.10.20 –  01.10.22

01.01.17 – 31.12.19 

06.04.20 –  05.04.22

n/a

n/a

01.01.17 – 31.12.19 

06.04.20 –  05.04.22

01.01.17 – 31.12.19 

06.04.20 –  05.04.22

1  Debbie White was appointed on 1 September 2017.

2  Mark Whiteling was appointed on 1 October 2017.

3  Adrian Ringrose stepped down from the Board on 31 August 2017.

4    Tim Haywood stepped down from the Board on 30 September 2017. His award will be subject to a pro-rata reduction and performance targets  

will apply as detailed on page 90.

5    Bruce Melizan stepped down from the Board on 30 November 2017. His award will be subject to a pro-rata reduction and performance targets  

will apply as detailed on page 91.

6   Valued using the share price at the date of grant, being 161.50p per share.

7   Valued using the share price at the date of grant, being 116.25p per share.

8   Valued using the share price at the date of grant, being 223.50p per share.

All awards were made in the form of nil-cost options 
equivalent to 150 per cent of base salary.

As disclosed last year, the performance conditions attached 
to the awards to the executive directors in post at the start of 
the 2017 financial year were a combination of EPS growth and 
relative TSR performance conditions as detailed below.

The EPS condition (determining two-thirds of the award) 
measures EPS growth from the 2016 normalised EPS result 
through to the conclusion of the 2019 financial year. 

In light of the challenges faced by the business during the 
year under review and the fact that the above targets were 
set prior to the appointments of the current Chief Executive 
Officer and Chief Financial Officer, the Committee used its 
discretion to replace the above conditions for these directors. 
While our 2015 Remuneration Policy stipulates that EPS and 
TSR conditions must be set for PSP awards, the policy includes 
a market standard discretion where circumstances change to 
set different measures to ensure that the targets fulfil their 
intended purpose (i.e. align executives with the long-term 
success of the Company and its stakeholders). 

Normalised EPS growth of the 
Company over the performance period

Vesting percentage of two-thirds  
of shares subject to the award

Less than 6%

6% to 30%

Greater than 30%

0%

25% to 100% (pro-rated)

100%

The relative TSR condition (determining one-third of the 
award) compares the Company’s TSR performance to the TSR 
of each company in the FTSE Small Cap and the FTSE 250, 
excluding investment trusts.

TSR ranking of the Company compared 
to the Comparator Group over the 
performance period

Below median ranking

Median ranking (top 50%)

Vesting percentage of one-third of 
shares subject to the award

0%

25%

Median to upper quartile ranking 

25% to 100% (pro-rated)

Upper quartile ranking (top 25%)

100%

In light of the events that occurred during 2017, the 
Committee determined that EPS growth measured from the 
2016 EPS result and relative TSR measured from the start 
of the 2017 financial year were no longer appropriate in the 
context of the changed circumstances of the Company in the 
year. As a result, targets that align with the core strategic 
priority of reducing net debt through to the conclusion of 
the 2019 financial year were set for the new Chief Executive 
Officer and new Chief Financial Officer. The targets are 
structured as a challenging sliding scale that reflect the 
net debt forecast position presented to lenders and other 
stakeholders in relation to the Company’s refinancing. Only 
out-performance results in potential vesting. The Committee 
will retain discretion to adjust the vesting of these awards if 
it does not consider the level of vesting to be supported by 
underlying financial and share price performance over the 
same period. 

93

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GOVERNANCE

Directors’ remuneration report continued

The range of targets set to apply to the 2017 awards detailed above for Debbie White and Mark Whiteling are as follows:

Average Q4 2019 net debt

Less than target 

Target 

Between target and maximum

Maximum (89.2% of target to reflect reduced debt aspiration) 

Vesting percentage of the award

0%

25%

25% to 100% (pro-rated)

100%

The actual average net debt numbers underpinning the above sliding scale are considered to be commercially sensitive and as 
a result have not been included above. However, since no vesting takes place unless the base case numbers presented to the 
Company’s lenders and other stakeholders are achieved, allied to the underpin, the Committee is satisfied that the targets are 
appropriately demanding and appropriate in the current circumstances. The Committee will publish the actual targets and the 
Company’s performance against them in the 2019 Directors’ Remuneration Report. 

Executive directors must retain their post-tax vested shares for at least a two-year holding period after vesting.

The number of awards over shares in the Company (pursuant to the PSP 2006 and the PSP 2015) held by each person who  
served as an executive director of the Company during the financial year, is shown below:

Balance 
as at  
1 January 
2017*

Granted 
during 
year

Date 
 granted

Market 
price at 
date of 
award 
pence

Vested 
during 
year

Market 
price at 
date of 
vesting 
pence

Market 
price at 
date of 
exercise 
pence

Lapsed 
during 
year

Amount 
realised on 
exercise  
£

Balance  
as at  
31 December 
2017*

Performance period

Executive directors

D J White

11.09.17

-1 599,778 161.50

M A Whiteling 02.10.17

-2 526,840 116.25

D I Sutherland 13.05.14

61,908

01.06.15

71,784

05.04.16 106,425

- 694.00

- 619.50

- 419.60

06.04.17

- 213,802 223.50

Former directors

A M Ringrose

13.05.14 104,005

01.06.15 131,604

05.04.16 195,114

T P Haywood

13.05.14

74,893

01.06.15

86,140

05.04.16

127,711

- 694.00

- 619.50

- 419.60

- 694.00

- 619.50

- 419.60

06.04.17

- 256,562 223.50

B A Melizan

13.05.14

61,908

01.06.15

81,355

05.04.16 120,616

- 694.00

- 619.50

- 419.60

06.04.17

- 242,309 223.50

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

-

-

61,908

-

-

-

n/a 104,005

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

-

-

74,893

-

-

-

61,908

-

-

-

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

599,778 01.01.17–31.12.199

526,840 01.01.17–31.12.199

- 01.01.14–31.12.166

71,784 01.01.15–31.12.177

106,425 01.01.16–31.12.188

213,802 01.01.17–31.12.199

–3 01.01.14–31.12.166

131,6043 01.01.15–31.12.177

195,1143 01.01.16–31.12.188

-4 01.01.14–31.12.166

86,1404 01.01.15–31.12.177

127,7114 01.01.16–31.12.188

256,5624 01.01.17–31.12.199

-5 01.01.14–31.12.166

81,3555 01.01.15–31.12.177

120,6165 01.01.16–31.12.188

242,3095 01.01.17–31.12.199

94

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1   As at 1 September 2017, when Debbie White was appointed to the Board.

2   As at 1 October 2017, when Mark Whiteling was appointed to the Board.

3   As at 31 August 2017, when Adrian Ringrose stepped down from the Board.

4   As at 30 September 2017, when Tim Haywood stepped down from the Board.

5   As at 30 November 2017, when Bruce Melizan stepped down from the Board.

6   As detailed in last year’s Remuneration Report, the 2014 PSP award’s performance conditions were not met and the awards lapsed in full. 

7   As detailed on page 89, the 2015 PSP award’s performance conditions were not met and the awards will lapse in full. 

*  The maximum number of shares that could be receivable by the executive if performance conditions set out below are fully met:

8    The EPS Performance Condition for the 2016 Awards 

Normalised EPS growth of the Company over the performance period

Vesting percentage of two-thirds of shares subject to the award

Less than 16.7%

16.7% to 37%

37% to 65%

Greater than 65%

0%

25% to 65% (pro-rated)

65% to 100% (pro-rated)

100%

8  The TSR Performance Condition for the 2016 Awards 

 This condition is determined by comparing the Company’s TSR performance to the TSR of each company in the FTSE 250, excluding investment trusts.

TSR ranking of the Company compared to the Comparator Group  
over the performance period

Vesting percentage of one-third of shares subject to the award

Below median ranking

Median ranking (top 50%)

Median to upper quartile ranking

Upper quartile ranking (top 25%)

0%

25%

25% to 100% (pro-rated)

100%

  The 2016 PSP awards were granted in the form of nil-cost options, exercisable between 5 April 2019 and 4 April 2021.

9  The performance conditions applying to the 2017 awards are detailed on pages 93 and 94.

95

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GOVERNANCE

Directors’ remuneration report continued

Chief Executive Officer’s buy-out awards (audited information) 
On 11 September 2017 Debbie White was granted a share award over the Company’s shares to replace her forfeited awards 
from previous employment. Consistent with the Company’s Remuneration Policy, the share award replicates, as far as 
practicable, the terms (including performance conditions where relevant and time period to vesting) and value of awards 
forfeited by Mrs White in agreeing to join the Company. Where forfeited awards were subject to performance conditions, 
these awards have been exchanged for shares in Interserve at an equivalent face value at the date she joined the Company 
but with the number of shares vesting remaining subject to the extent to which the performance conditions in her previous 
employer are ultimately met. This approach results in the new Chief Executive Officer being aligned with Interserve 
shareholders through holding an interest in the Company’s shares but results in no personal benefit being derived from the 
switching of employment. Details of the performance conditions applying to Mrs White’s share awards are included in the 
Report and Accounts of Mrs White’s previous employer. Where share awards were not subject to performance conditions (i.e. 
shares were awarded that vested based on continued employment only), these shares were replaced by an equivalent value 
of Interserve shares calculated at the time of commencing employment with vesting to take place over the same time period 
as the awards forfeit. No consideration was paid for the grant of these awards.

The share awards (which are over 1,897,899 shares in total) will vest, subject to the rules governing the award and to Mrs White's 
ongoing employment with the Company, in the following tranches on the vesting dates set out below. 

Tranche

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Total number of shares  
under award granted

Vesting date

Performance condition 

481,158

267,310

133,655

133,655

133,655

66,827

66,827

307,406

153,703

153,703

11.03.2018

27.04.2019

27.04.2019

27.04.2019

09.09.2019 

09.09.2019

09.09.2019

27.04.2020

27.04.2020

27.04.2020

No

No 

Yes

Yes 

No 

Yes

Yes

No 

Yes

Yes

It is currently anticipated that the awards will be satisfied by market purchase shares. 

Share options (audited information)
No options were granted to, or exercised by, the executive directors during the year pursuant to an executive share option 
scheme and none remain outstanding. The aggregate gain made on the exercise of options was £nil (2016: £nil). The market 
price of the shares as at 31 December 2017 was 95.50p. The highest and lowest market prices of the shares during the 
financial year were 352.75p and 63.00p respectively.

Sharesave Scheme (audited information) 
No grants were made to the executive directors under the Interserve Sharesave Scheme 2009 during the year. All eligible 
employees are entitled to apply for options under the Sharesave Scheme. The maximum monthly savings amount is set annually 
by the Remuneration Committee within HMRC limits. There are no performance conditions attached to the options.

Under the scheme rules, the exercise price is calculated by taking the average of the mid-market closing share price for the five 
dealing days immediately preceding the invitation date less a discount set by the Remuneration Committee up to a maximum of 
20 per cent.

96

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The number of options over 10p ordinary shares in the Company (pursuant to the Sharesave Scheme) held by each person who 
served as an executive director of the Company during the financial year, is shown below:

Balance 
as at 
1 January 
2017

Granted 
during 
year

Date 
granted

Market 
price at 
date of 
award 
pence

Exercise 
price 
pence

Exercised 
during 
year

Market 
price at 
date of 
exercise 
pence

Lapsed 
during 
year

Amount 
realised on 
exercise
 £

Balance  
as at  
31 December 
2017

Exercise period

Executive directors

D J White

M A Whiteling

n/a

n/a

-1

-2

D I Sutherland 09.04.14

352

Former directors

A M Ringrose

n/a

T P Haywood

09.04.14

30.09.14

14.10.15

B A Melizan

09.04.14

30.09.14

14.10.15

-

352

340

385

352

340

385

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

696.50 511.00

n/a

n/a

696.50 511.00

599.50 529.00

592.50 467.00

696.50 511.00

599.50 529.00

592.50 467.00

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

-

-

352

-

352

-

-

352

-

-

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

-

-

n/a

n/a

- 01.06.17–30.11.17

-3

n/a

-4 01.06.17–30.11.17

3404 01.12.17–31.05.18

3854 01.12.18–31.05.19

-5 01.06.17–30.11.17

3405 01.12.17–31.05.18

3855 01.12.18–31.05.19

1  As at 1 September 2017, when Debbie White was appointed to the Board.

2  As at 1 October 2017, when Mark Whiteling was appointed to the Board.

3  As at 31 August 2017, when Adrian Ringrose stepped down from the Board.

4  As at 30 September 2017, when Tim Haywood stepped down from the Board.

5  As at 30 November 2017, when Bruce Melizan stepped down from the Board.

Shareholding guidelines
Executive directors are expected to build up over time a shareholding equivalent to 200 per cent of their base salary. Further 
details of the shareholding guidelines are set out in the executive directors’ remuneration policy table on page 76. 

97

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GOVERNANCE

Directors’ remuneration report continued

Shareholdings of directors (audited information)
The beneficial interests of each person who served as a director of the Company during the financial year in the ordinary share 
capital of the Company, together with interests held by his connected persons, are shown below, together with details of the 
extent to which the executive directors have met the requirement to hold shares to the value of 200 per cent of salary:

31 December 2017 
Beneficially owned

31 December 2016 
Beneficially owned 

Outstanding vested 
PSP awards 

31 December 2017 

% shareholding 
requirement  
(% of salary/fee)

% actual 
shareholding  
(% of salary/fee)1

Executive directors

D J White

M A Whiteling

D I Sutherland

Former directors

A M Ringrose

T P Haywood

B A Melizan

Non-executive directors

G A Barker

G M Edwards

A K Fahy

R J King

K L Ludeman

N R Salmon

65,408

-

149,145

563,7294

162,7415

110,4486

93,970

21,350

8,000

3,000

4,990

5,000

-2

-3

149,145

563,325

162,164

109,551

5,670

-7

8,000

3,000

4,990

5,000

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

200%

200%

200%

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

9%

0%

40%

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

1  Using a share price of 84.91p, being the three-month average to 31 December 2017.

2  As at 1 September 2017, when Debbie White was appointed to the Board.

3   As at 1 October 2017, when Mark Whiteling was appointed to the Board.

4   As at 31 August 2017, when Adrian Ringrose stepped down from the Board.

5   As at 30 September 2017, when Tim Haywood stepped down from the Board.

6   As at 30 November 2017, when Bruce Melizan stepped down from the Board.

7   As at 1 February 2017, when Gareth Edwards was appointed to the Board.

The above figures include shares held in trust pursuant to the Share Incentive Plan (SIP).

Between the year end and the date of this report, there have been no changes in the shareholdings of the directors who held 
office at the year end.

Dilution limits 
Under present dilution limits the Company is permitted to allocate a rolling ten-year aggregate of up to 10 per cent of its 
ordinary share capital (14,571,412 shares) under all its share schemes. At 31 December 2017 there remained headroom 
equivalent to 2,311,019 shares over which options may be granted under the Company’s share schemes.

GOVERNANCE AND OPERATION OF THE REMUNERATION COMMITTEE 
Role and membership
The Committee is responsible for determining, on behalf of the Board, the remuneration of all executive directors, the Group 
Chairman and the Company Secretary. The terms of reference of the Committee are available on the Company’s website at 
www.interserve.com and on request.

The Committee’s role is, after consultation with the Group Chairman and/or the Chief Executive Officer (except when 
determining their own remuneration), to set the remuneration policy and determine the individual remuneration and benefit 
packages of the Group Chairman, the Chief Executive Officer and the senior management team (comprising the executive 
directors, the Company Secretary and the other senior executives below the Board who report to the Chief Executive 
Officer). This includes formulating for Board approval long-term incentive plans which require shareholder consent and 
overseeing their operation. The Committee also monitors the terms of service for, and level and remuneration structure of, 
other senior management.

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Overview

Strategic Report

Governance

Financial Statements

The table below lists the members of the Committee who 
served during the year and are regarded as independent by 
the Board. 

Name

Date of appointment to Committee

K L Ludeman (Committee Chairman)1

G A Barker

G M Edwards

A K Fahy

R J King

N R Salmon

1 January 2011

1 January 2016

23 June 2017

1 January 2013

1 September 2014

1 August 2014

1  Appointed as Committee Chairman on 9 July 2014.

The Committee meets as often as is necessary to discharge  
its duties and met eight times during the year ended  
31 December 2017. Members’ attendance at the meetings is  
set out in the table on page 55. The Chief Executive Officer 
and Chief Financial Officer may be invited to attend meetings 
as appropriate. 

No member of the Committee has any personal financial 
interest in the Company (other than as a shareholder), any 
conflict of interest arising from cross-directorships, or any 
day-to-day involvement in running the business. No individual 
is present when matters relating directly to their own 
remuneration are discussed.

Advisers 
In determining the executive directors’ remuneration, the 
Committee consulted with and received recommendations 
from Adrian Ringrose, the former Chief Executive. The 
Committee also received advice from Korn Ferry and  
Trevor Bradbury, the former Company Secretary, which 
materially assisted the Committee in relation to the 2017 
financial year. Executives are not present when matters 
affecting their own remuneration arrangements are decided.

Korn Ferry was appointed to provide independent advice to 
the Committee on remuneration matters for a period of three 
years commencing on 1 January 2017. Korn Ferry is a signatory 
to the Remuneration Consultants’ Code of Conduct and has 
confirmed its compliance with the Code. The fees paid to Korn 
Ferry in respect of its services to the Committee during the 
year was £58,130 excluding VAT. The advice provided included 
providing IFRS 2 and performance monitoring in addition to 
providing advice in relation to the design and implementation 
of incentive arrangements. The Committee is satisfied that the 
advice it has received from Korn Ferry has been objective and 
independent and the Committee reviews the performance of 
its advisers periodically.

Representatives from Korn Ferry meet either on a one-to-one 
basis with the Committee Chairman, or with the Company 
Secretary present, as necessary, to discuss matters such as 
topical issues in remuneration which are of relevance to the 
Company or if there are specific pieces of work which the 
Committee requires to be undertaken.

Statement of shareholder voting at AGM
At the AGM held on 12 May 2017, the Annual Report on Remuneration received the following votes from shareholders:

Resolution 

Votes  
for 

%  
for

Votes  
against

%  
against

Total votes cast 
(excluding votes 
withheld)

Annual Report on Remuneration

72,869,236

99.82 

134,030

0.18

73,003,266

Votes  
withheld

8,315 

The directors’ Remuneration Policy did not require a shareholder vote in 2017.

APPROVAL
The Directors’ Remuneration Report was approved by the Board of Directors on 27 April 2018 and signed on its behalf by:

Keith Ludeman
Chairman of the Remuneration Committee 
27 April 2018

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GOVERNANCEThe directors of Interserve Plc (the Company) present their report and the audited consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2017.SCOPE OF REPORTINGFor the purposes of compliance with paragraphs 4.1.5R(2) and 4.1.8R of the Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rules (the DTRs) of the Financial Conduct Authority (the FCA), the required content of the “management report” can be found in the Strategic Report and this Directors’ Report (including the sections of the Annual Report and Financial Statements incorporated by reference).The directors’ responsibility for the preparation of the Annual Report and Financial Statements, which forms part of this report, and the statement by the auditors about their reporting responsibilities, are set out on pages 109, and 112 to 121, respectively, of this Annual Report.A review of the development of the Group and its future prospects is included in the Chairman’s Statement, which is incorporated into this Directors’ Report by reference. The Group’s business model and strategy are summarised in the Strategic Report.The DTRs also require certain information to be included in a corporate governance statement in the Directors’ Report. Information that fulfils the requirements of the corporate governance statement can be found in the Corporate Governance report and the Audit Committee Report, which are incorporated into this Directors’ Report by reference.Information required to be disclosed under Listing Rule 9.8.4R can be found in the following locations:Section of LR 9.8.4RTopicLocation(4)Details of long-term incentive schemesDirectors’ Remuneration Report(12)Shareholder waivers of dividendsDirectors’ Report(13)Shareholder waivers of future dividendsDirectors’ ReportThe remaining disclosures required by Listing Rule 9.8.4R are not applicable to the Company.All the information cross-referenced above is hereby incorporated by reference into this Directors’ Report.Disclosure of financial risk management objectives and policies is made on pages 39 and 40 of the Strategic Report.GOVERNANCEDirectors’  reportDANIEL BUSHCOMPANY SECRETARY100Overview

Strategic Report

Governance

Financial Statements

THE COMPANY
Legal form
The Company is incorporated in the United Kingdom with 
company number 00088456. Related undertakings are listed  
on pages 201 to 207.

Branches
The Company, through various subsidiaries, has established 
branches in a number of different countries in which the 
Group operates.

Amendment of the Articles of Association
The Company’s constitution, known as the articles of 
association (the Articles), is essentially a contract between the 
Company and its shareholders, governing the management of 
the Company. A copy of the Articles is available on our website 
at www.interserve.com or can be obtained on request from 
the Company Secretary. Amendments to the Articles must be 
approved by at least 75 per cent of those voting in person or 
by proxy at a general meeting of the Company.

FINANCIAL RESULTS
The Group’s Consolidated Income Statement set out on  
page 122 shows Group loss before taxation of £244.4 million 
(2016: loss of £94.1 million). The detailed results of the Group 
are given in the financial statements on pages 122 to 183 
and further comments on divisional results are given in the 
Operational Review on pages 18 to 27. 

On 21 March 2018 the Group announced agreement in principle 
on the major commercial terms of a refinancing. Under this 
refinancing the Group has agreed additional committed 
borrowing facilities, bringing aggregate committed borrowing 
facilities to £834 million. Of this, £249 million relates to the 
$350 million of US private placement. The new facilities will 
mature in September 2021 and all existing debt and private 
placement loan notes will be amended to be co-terminus with 
the new facilities. Additionally, as part of the proposed deal 
terms, the Company anticipates that it will issue warrants 
to the providers of the new cash and bonding facilities to 
buy shares at 10 pence per share (the nominal price of each 
share). If exercised, this would provide the warrant holders 
with an interest of up to 20 per cent of the post-issue share 
capital. As part of this refinancing the maturity date of the 
existing interim financing, and the date of covenant test, were 
extended until 30 April 2018. See note 20 to the consolidated 
financial statements for further details.

Further post-balance sheet events that require disclosure or 
adjustment in the financial statements can be found in note 20 
and the Financial Review on pages 32 to 44.

DIVIDENDS
No interim dividend was paid in respect of the 2017 financial 
year (2016: 8.1p per ordinary share). The directors do not 
recommend a final dividend to be paid for 2017 (2016: nil).

Link Trustees (Jersey) Limited, the trustee of the Interserve 
Employee Benefit Trust (the Trust), has waived its rights 
to receive dividends on any shares held by the Trust in the 
name of Link Market Services Trustees (Nominees) Limited. 
As no dividends were paid during the 2017 financial year, no 
dividends were waived over shares held by the Trust (2016: 
1,497,773 shares). 

DIRECTORS AND DIRECTORS’ INTERESTS
The following have served as directors during the year:

Glyn Barker* (Group Chairman) 
Gareth Edwards*1 
Anne Fahy* 
Tim Haywood2 
Russell King* (Senior Independent Director) 
Keith Ludeman* 
Bruce Melizan3 
Adrian Ringrose4 
Nick Salmon* 
Dougie Sutherland 
Debbie White5 (Chief Executive Officer) 
Mark Whiteling6 (Chief Financial Officer)

*  Non-executive director

1  Appointed to the Board on 1 February 2017

2  Stepped down from the Board on 30 September 2017

3  Stepped down from the Board on 30 November 2017

4  Stepped down from the Board on 31 August 2017

5  Appointed to the Board on 1 September 2017

6  Appointed to the Board on 1 October 2017

The biographical details of the directors of the Company are 
given on pages 48 to 51.

The powers of the directors, and their service contracts 
and terms of appointment, are described in the Corporate 
Governance report.

The directors’ beneficial interests in, and options to acquire, 
ordinary shares in the Company, are set out on pages 93 to 98 
of the Directors’ Remuneration Report. 

The directors do not have any interest in any other Group 
company, other than as directors. No director has, or has had, 
a material interest, directly or indirectly, at any time during 
the year under review in any contract significant to  
the Company’s business.

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GOVERNANCE

Directors’ report continued

APPOINTMENT AND REPLACEMENT OF DIRECTORS 
The Board must comprise of not less than three and no 
more than twelve directors. Directors may be appointed by 
shareholders (by ordinary resolution) or by the Board. 

Under the Company’s Articles, any director appointed by the 
Board since the last AGM may only hold office until the date 
of the next AGM, at which time that director must stand for 
election by shareholders. Debbie White and Mark Whiteling will 
therefore be standing for election at the AGM on 12 June 2018.

The Articles also require one-third of the directors to retire 
by rotation at each AGM. Any director who has not retired 
by rotation must retire at the third AGM after his or her last 
appointment or re-appointment. However, in accordance 
with the UK Corporate Governance Code, the Board has 
again decided that all the directors (with the exception of 
Keith Ludeman who has informed the Board of his intention 
to stand down at the conclusion of the AGM in order to take 
on increased responsibilities elsewhere) will be subject to 
election or re-election at this year’s AGM.

No person other than a director retiring at a general meeting 
shall, unless recommended by the directors for election, be 
eligible for election to the office of director unless, not less 
than seven nor more than 21 days beforehand, the Company 
has been given notice, executed by a shareholder eligible to 
vote at the meeting, of his intention to propose such person 
for election together with a notice executed by that person of 
his willingness to be elected.

The Company may, by ordinary resolution, of which special 
notice has been given in accordance with section 312 of the 
Companies Act 2006 (the 2006 Act), remove any director 
before the expiration of his period of office and may, by 
ordinary resolution, appoint another person in his stead.

DIRECTORS’ INDEMNITIES AND INSURANCE
As permitted by the Company’s Articles, qualifying third-
party indemnities have been in place throughout the period 
under review and remain in force at the date of this report 
in respect of liabilities suffered or incurred by each director. 
The Company also undertakes to loan such funds to a director 
as it, in its reasonable discretion, considers appropriate 
for the director to meet expenditure incurred in defending 
any criminal or civil proceeding or in connection with any 
application under section 661(3) or 1157 of the 2006 Act on 
terms which require repayment by the director of amounts 
so advanced upon conviction of final judgment being given 
against him or her. The deeds of indemnity are available for 
inspection by shareholders at the Company’s registered office. 
The Company also maintains an appropriate level of directors’ 
and officers’ insurance in respect of legal actions against the 
directors. Neither the qualifying third-party indemnities nor 
the insurance provide cover where the director has acted 
fraudulently or dishonestly. 

On 26 September 2007 the rules of the Interserve Pension 
Scheme were amended in order to provide the directors of 
Interserve Trustees Limited, the corporate trustee of the 
Interserve Pension Scheme, with a qualifying pension scheme 

indemnity to the extent that insurance has not been taken out 
by the trustee to cover its liabilities, or such liabilities cannot 
be paid from the proceeds of any insurance taken out by the 
trustee. That qualifying pension scheme indemnity remains in 
force at the date of this report and is available for inspection 
by shareholders at the Company’s registered office.

In January 2011 an indemnity was given to the trustees of the 
Douglas Group Compass Pension Plan for any claim, costs, loss, 
damages and expenses which may be made against them or 
which they may pay or incur (save as a consequence of breach 
of trust committed knowingly and intentionally or as a result 
of negligence) in connection with the administration of the 
Plan and the winding-up of the Plan. Two of the trustees were 
also directors of one or more Group subsidiary companies. 
This Plan was formally wound up on 7 January 2011 but the 
indemnity remains in force.

In January 2012 an indemnity was given to the trustees of 
the Interserve Retirement Plan against all and any claims, 
costs, damages and expenses which may be made against 
them or which they may pay or incur in connection with their 
administration of the Plan and the winding-up of the Plan 
(other than liabilities arising as a consequence of breach of 
trust committed knowingly and intentionally). One of the 
trustees was also a director of various Group subsidiary 
companies. This Plan was formally wound up 31 January 2012 
but the indemnity remains in force. 

EMPLOYEES
The average number of persons, including directors, employed 
by the Group and their remuneration, is set out in note 6 
to the consolidated financial statements. A breakdown of 
employee diversity, as required by the 2006 Act, can be 
viewed on page 26 of the Strategic Report. The Group’s 
statement with regard to its employees, including its 
disclosure on employee consultation, equal opportunities  
and diversity, is set out within the Strategic Report on 
pages 24 to 26.

GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS 
In this section we report on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in 
accordance with the Companies Act 2006 (Strategic Report and 
Directors’ Report) Regulations 2013.

A range of approaches can be taken to determine the 
boundaries of an organisation for the purposes of GHG 
reporting including ‘financial control’, ‘operational control’ or 
‘equity share’. We report using the financial control approach 
to define our organisational boundary. 

On this basis, we are including emissions associated with our 
owned and controlled businesses but not the emissions from 
our associate companies. GHG emissions from our leased 
vehicles when used on company business are reported, in 
addition to emissions associated with our construction sites. 
This has not been the case in previous years; hence we have 
retrospectively calculated GHG emissions arising for past 
years. We have not included data from our Justice division 
owing to a reliance on estimated data for leased buildings.

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Overview

Strategic Report

Governance

Financial Statements

Summary table
Global GHG emissions data for 1 January 2017 to 31 December 2017, with comparable, re-stated data for 2013 to 2016, is as 
follows:

Tonnes CO2e

2017

2016

2015

2014

2013

Emissions from:

–  Combustion of fuel and operation of facilities

61,596

79,9491

61,352

64,440

61,174

– Electricity, heat, steam and cooling purchased for own use

14,476

14,366

20,133

14,331

13,045

Intensity measurement:

– Emissions reported above, normalised to tonnes CO2e per £m revenue

23.24

28.70

25.09

25.03

31.54

1 

 Increase predominantly relates to the consumption of 6 million litres of gas oil/diesel associated with specific contracts undertaken by The Oman 
Construction Company LLC and Adyard Abu Dhabi LLC.

We have reported on all of the emissions sources required 
under the Companies Act 2006 (Strategic Report and Directors’ 
Report) Regulations 2013. These sources fall within our 
consolidated financial statements.

We have used the “Environmental Reporting Guidelines: 
including mandatory greenhouse gas emissions reporting 
guidance” (June 2013) issued by DEFRA and the “UK 
Government GHG Conversion Factors for Company Reporting” 
(June 2016) to calculate our emissions based on data gathered 
from each of our business units.

Additional information relating to the Group’s GHG emissions 
and some of the actions being taken to mitigate our impact on 
the environment are set out within the Strategic Report.

POLITICAL DONATIONS
The Group made no political donations and incurred no 
political expenditure during the year (2016: £nil). It is not the 
Company’s policy to make cash donations to political parties. 
This policy is strictly adhered to and there is no intention to 
change it. 

FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS AND RISK MANAGEMENT
The Group’s exposure to and management of capital, liquidity, 
credit, interest rate and foreign currency risk are set out 
within the Financial Review section of the Strategic Report  
on pages 39 and 40.

SHARE CAPITAL AND STRUCTURE
General
The Company’s issued share capital as at 31 December 2017 
comprised a single class of ordinary shares. All shares rank 
equally, are fully paid up and are quoted on the London Stock 
Exchange. No person holds shares carrying special rights with 
regard to control of the Company.

No shares were issued during the year. The Company’s issued 
share capital at the end of the year stood at 145,714,120 (2016: 
145,714,120) ordinary shares of 10p each (£14,571,412) (2016: 
(£14,571,412). No further shares have been issued since the 
year end. The issued share capital at the date of this report 
therefore stands at 145,714,120 ordinary shares of 10p each 
(£14,571,412).

Details of outstanding awards and options over shares in the 
Company as at 31 December 2017 are set out in notes 26  
and 28 to the consolidated financial statements on pages 171 
and 173 respectively.

Issue of shares
Section 551 of the 2006 Act provides that the directors may 
not allot shares unless empowered to do so by shareholders. 
A resolution giving such authority was passed at the AGM held 
on 12 May 2017. Although no shares have been allotted by 
the Company under the authority granted at the 2017 AGM, 
in April 2018 the Company issued warrants over its ordinary 
shares representing 20 per cent of the Company’s existing 
share capital as enlarged by the exercise of the warrants. 
Further details are set out in note 20 to the consolidated 
financial statements on page 162. 

The directors propose resolution 17 set out in the Notice of 
AGM to renew the authority granted to them at the 2017 AGM 
to allot shares up to an aggregate nominal value of one-third 
of the Company’s issued share capital and, in accordance 
with the Investment Association’s Share Capital Management 
Guidelines, the directors again propose to extend this by a 
further one-third (i.e. two-thirds in all) where the allotment is 
in connection with a rights issue. 

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GOVERNANCE

Directors’ report continued

Under section 561 of the 2006 Act, if the directors wish to 
allot unissued shares for cash (other than pursuant to an 
employee share scheme) they must first offer them to existing 
shareholders in proportion to their holdings (a pre-emptive 
offer). In March 2015, the Pre-Emption Group issued a revised 
Statement of Principles for the disapplication of pre-emption 
rights (the Principles). In addition to the standard annual 
disapplication of pre-emption rights up to a maximum equal 
to five per cent of issued ordinary share capital, the Pre-
Emption Group is now supportive of extending the general 
disapplication authority for an additional five per cent in 
connection with an acquisition or specified capital investment. 
In line with the Principles, the directors are again seeking 
approval at the 2018 AGM for the disapplication of pre-emption 
rights up to an aggregate nominal value of no more than five 
per cent of the Company’s issued ordinary share capital on an 
unrestricted basis (resolution 18) and an additional five per 
cent in connection with an acquisition or specified capital 
investment (resolution 19). In accordance with recommended 
best practice, the Company has split the section 561 resolution 
into two separate resolutions. Further information is set out in 
the Notice of AGM. 

The Principles also require that in any rolling three-year 
period a company does not make non-pre-emptive issues for 
cash or of equity securities exceeding 7.5 per cent of the 
company’s issued share capital without prior consultation with 
shareholders. Pursuant to its employee share schemes, the 
Company issued nil per cent of its issued share capital on a 
non-pre-emptive basis in 2017 and 1.2 per cent in the period 
2015 to 2017 (calculated by reference to the Company’s closing 
issued share capital at 31 December 2017).

Save for issues of shares in respect of various employee share 
schemes, the directors have no current plans to make use of 
the renewed authorities sought by resolutions 17, 18 and 19 
although they consider their renewal appropriate in order 
to retain maximum flexibility to take advantage of business 
opportunities as they arise.

Purchase of own shares
The Company has authority under a shareholders’ resolution 
passed at the 2017 AGM to repurchase up to 14,571,412 of 
the Company’s ordinary shares in the market. This authority 
expires at the conclusion of the forthcoming AGM on  
12 June 2018. No shares have been repurchased by the 
Company under the authority granted at the 2017 AGM. 

Resolution 20 set out in the Notice of AGM will be proposed as 
a special resolution in order to renew this authority. Although 
the directors have no immediate plans to do so, they believe 
it is prudent to seek general authority from shareholders 
to be able to act if circumstances were to arise in which 
they considered such purchases to be desirable. This power 
will only be exercised if and when, in the light of market 
conditions prevailing at that time, the directors believe that 
such purchases would increase expected earnings per share 
and would be for the benefit of shareholders generally. 

The authority sets the minimum and maximum prices at which 
the shares may be bought and it will be limited to a maximum 
of 10 per cent of the Company’s issued share capital calculated 
at the latest practicable date prior to the publication of the 
Notice of AGM. Any shares purchased under this authority will 
be cancelled (unless the directors determine that they are to 
be held as treasury shares) and the number of shares in issue 
will be reduced accordingly.

Whilst the Company does not presently hold shares in treasury, 
the Treasury Shares Regulations allow shares purchased by the 
Company out of distributable profits to be held as treasury 
shares, which may then be cancelled, sold for cash or used 
to meet the Company’s obligations under its employee share 
schemes. The authority sought by this resolution is intended to 
apply equally to shares to be held by the Company as treasury 
shares in accordance with the Treasury Shares Regulations.

SHAREHOLDERS’ RIGHTS
General
The rights attaching to the ordinary shares are set out in the 
2006 Act and the Company’s Articles.

A shareholder whose name appears on the register of members 
may choose whether those shares are evidenced by share 
certificates (certificated form) or held in electronic form 
(uncertificated) in CREST.

Voting
Subject to the restrictions set out below, a shareholder 
is entitled to attend (or appoint another person as his 
representative (a proxy) to attend) and to exercise all or any 
of his rights to speak, ask questions and vote at any general 
meeting of the Company. A shareholder may also appoint 
more than one proxy, provided that each proxy is appointed 
to exercise the rights attached to a different share or shares 
held by that shareholder. A proxy need not be a shareholder 
of the Company.

The right to appoint a proxy does not apply to a person who 
has been nominated under section 146 of the 2006 Act to 
enjoy information rights (a Nominated Person). He/she may, 
however, have a right under an agreement with the registered 
shareholder by whom he/she was nominated, to be appointed 
(or to have someone else appointed) as a proxy. Alternatively, 
if a Nominated Person does not have such a right, or does 
not wish to exercise it, he/she may have a right under such 
an agreement to give instructions to the person holding the 
shares as to the exercise of voting rights.

In accordance with section 327 of the 2006 Act, in order to be 
valid, any form of proxy sent by the Company to shareholders 
or any proxy registered electronically in relation to any general 
meeting must be delivered to the Company’s registrars not 
later than 48 hours before the time fixed for holding the 
meeting (or any adjourned meeting). In calculating the 48-hour 
period no account shall be taken of any part of a day that is 
not a working day. Full details of the deadlines for exercising 
voting rights in respect of the 2018 AGM are set out in the 
Notice of AGM.

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Overview

Strategic Report

Governance

Financial Statements

Subject to any rights or restrictions for the time being 
attached to any class or classes of shares and to any other 
provisions of the Articles or statutes, on a vote on a resolution 
at a general meeting on a show of hands every shareholder 
present in person, every proxy present who has been duly 
appointed by one or more shareholders entitled to vote on 
the resolution and every authorised representative of a 
corporation which is a shareholder of the Company entitled 
to vote on the resolution, shall have one vote. If a proxy has 
been duly appointed by more than one shareholder and has 
been instructed by one or more of those shareholders to vote 
for the resolution and by one or more of those shareholders to 
vote against it, that proxy shall have one vote for and one vote 
against the resolution. On a poll, every shareholder present in 
person or by proxy shall have one vote for every share held.

If a person fails to comply with a notice served on him by the 
Company under section 793 of the 2006 Act (which confers 
upon public companies the power to require information to be 
supplied in respect of a person’s interests in the Company’s 
shares) then the Company may, no sooner than 21 days later, 
and after warning that person, serve a disenfranchisement 
notice upon the shareholder. Unless the information required 
is given within 14 days, such holder will not be entitled to 
receive notice of any general meeting or attend any such 
meeting of the Company and shall not be entitled to exercise, 
either personally or by proxy, the votes attaching to such 
shares in respect of which the disenfranchisement notice has 
been given until the information required by the section 793 
notice has been provided.

The Company operates a number of employee share schemes. 
Under some of these arrangements, shares are held by 
trustees on behalf of employees. The employees are not 
entitled to exercise directly any voting or other control rights. 
The trustees abstain from voting on these shares.

As permitted by the Company’s Articles and in line with 
practice increasingly adopted by UK public companies, voting 
at the 2018 AGM will (as last year) be conducted by way of a 
poll rather than a show of hands. Voting by poll is considered 
to be a more transparent and equitable method of voting 
because it includes the votes of all shareholders, including 
those cast by proxies in advance of the meeting, rather than 
just the votes of those shareholders who attend the meeting. 
As soon as practicable following the AGM, the results of the 
poll will be published via a Regulatory News Service and on 
the Company’s website at www.interserve.com.

General meetings
No business may be transacted at a general meeting unless a 
quorum is present consisting of not less than two shareholders 
present in person or by proxy or by two duly authorised 
representatives of a corporation. Two proxies of the same 
shareholder or two duly authorised representatives of the 
same corporation will not constitute a quorum.

An AGM must be called on at least 21 days’ clear notice. All 
other general meetings are also required to be held on at least 
21 days’ clear notice unless the Company offers shareholders 
an electronic voting facility and a special resolution reducing 
the period of notice to not less than 14 days has been passed. 
The directors are proposing resolution 22 set out in the Notice 
of AGM to renew the authority obtained at last year’s AGM 
to reduce the notice period for general meetings (other than 
AGMs) to at least 14 days. It is intended that this shorter notice 
period will only be used for non-routine business and where 
merited in the interests of shareholders as a whole. 

The business of an AGM is to receive and consider the accounts 
and balance sheets and the reports of the directors and 
auditors, to elect directors in place of those retiring, to elect 
auditors and fix their remuneration and to declare a dividend.

Providing that notice is given to the Company no later than 
six weeks before an AGM or no later than the date on which 
the notice of an AGM is given, shareholders representing 
at least five per cent of the total voting rights of all the 
shareholders who have a right to vote at the AGM or at least 
100 shareholders who have that right and who hold shares in 
the Company on which there has been paid up an average sum 
per shareholder of at least £100, may require the Company to 
include an item in the business to be dealt with at the AGM.

Dividends
Subject to the provisions of the 2006 Act, the Company may, 
by ordinary resolution, declare a dividend to be paid to the 
shareholders but the amount of the dividend may not exceed 
the amount recommended by the directors. The directors may 
also pay interim dividends on any class of shares on any dates 
and in any amounts and in respect of any periods as appear to 
the directors to be justified by the distributable profits of the 
Company.

Liquidation
If the Company is wound up the liquidator may, with the 
sanction of a special resolution of the Company, and any other 
sanction required by law, divide amongst the shareholders 
the whole or any part of the assets of the Company. He may, 
for such purposes, set such value as he deems fair upon any 
property to be divided and may determine how such division 
shall be carried out as between the shareholders or different 
classes of shareholders. The liquidator may also transfer the 
whole or any part of such assets to trustees to be held in 
trust for the benefit of the shareholders. No shareholder can 
be compelled to accept any shares or other securities which 
would give him any liability.

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GOVERNANCE

Directors’ report continued

Modification of rights
If at any time the capital of the Company is divided into 
different classes of shares, the rights attached to any class  
or any of such rights may be modified, abrogated, or  
varied either:

(a)   with the consent of the holders of 75 per cent of the 

issued shares of that class; or

(b)   with the sanction of a special resolution passed at a 

separate general meeting of the holders of the shares  
of the class. 

The rights attached to any class of shares shall not (unless 
otherwise provided by the terms of issue of the shares of 
that class or by the terms upon which such shares are for 
the time being held) be deemed to be modified or varied 
by the creation or issue of further shares ranking pari 
passu therewith.

The Company may by ordinary resolution, convert any paid-up 
shares into stock, and reconvert any stock into paid-up shares 
of any denomination.

Transfer of shares
There are no specific restrictions on the transfer of securities 
in the Company, or on the size of a shareholder’s holding, 
which are both governed by the Articles and prevailing 
legislation. In accordance with the EU Market Abuse 
Regulation (which came into effect on 3 July 2016), certain 
employees are required to seek the approval of the Company 
to deal in its shares.

The Company is not aware of any agreements between its 
shareholders that may result in restrictions on the transfer of 
securities or on voting rights.

Subject to the 2006 Act, the directors may refuse to register 
any transfer of any share which is not fully paid (whether 
certificated or uncertificated), provided that the refusal does 
not prevent dealing in shares in the Company from taking place 
on an open and proper basis.

The directors may also decline to register the transfer of any 
certificated share unless the instrument of transfer is duly 
stamped (if stampable) and accompanied by the certificate 
of the shares to which it relates and such other evidence as 
the directors may reasonably require to show the right of the 
transferor to make the transfer.

Transfers of uncertificated shares must be conducted  
through CREST and the directors can refuse to register 
transfers in accordance with the regulations governing  
the operation of CREST.

All share transfers must be registered as soon as practicable. 

SUBSTANTIAL SHAREHOLDINGS 
As at 31 December 2017 the Company had been notified, 
pursuant to paragraph 5 of the DTRs, of the following 
notifiable voting rights in its ordinary share capital: 

Name of holder

Coltrane Asset  
Management, LP

Farringdon Capital 
Management2

The Goldman Sachs  
Group, Inc

Number  
of ordinary 
shares

Percentage  
of total 
 voting  
rights1

Nature  
of holding

36,485,528

25.0

Indirect

17,597,634

12.1

Indirect

14,836,801

10.2

Indirect

Farringdon Capital 
Management: Fund I – SICAV2

8,872,902

6.1

Direct

Deutsche Bank AG

8,550,819

Standard Life Aberdeen plc

7,112,247

Farringdon Capital 
Management: Fund II – SICAV2

4,504,514

5.9

4.9

3.1

Direct

Indirect

Direct

1 

2 

 Calculated according to the number of total voting rights as at  
31 December 2017.

 Farringdon’s two direct holdings are included within its larger  
indirect holding.

Between the year end and the date of this report (being a date 
not more than one month prior to the date of the AGM Notice), 
the Company has been notified that the interests in the voting 
rights have changed as follows:

•  Farringdon Capital Management2 – decrease to 14,432,204 

shares (9.9 per cent).

•  The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc – decrease to 14,759,848 

shares (10.1 per cent). 

•  Farringdon Capital Management: Fund I – SICAV2 – decrease 

to 8,491,285 shares (5.8 per cent).

•  Farringdon Capital Management: Fund II - SICAV2 – decrease 

to 3,759,408 shares (2.6 per cent).

•  J.P. Morgan Securities Plc (indirect holding) – increase to 

7,774,644 shares (5.3 per cent) and subsequent decrease to 
below the minimum threshold.

•  Old Mutual Plc (indirect holding) – increase to 7,549,196 

shares (5.2 per cent) and subsequent decrease to 7,184,490 
shares (4.9 per cent).

No further notifications have been received between the year 
end and the date of this report (being a date not more than 
one month prior to the date of the AGM Notice). 

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Overview

Strategic Report

Governance

Financial Statements

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING 
The resolutions to be proposed at the AGM to be held on 
12 June 2018, together with the explanatory notes, appear 
in the separate Notice of AGM accompanying this Annual 
Report. The Notice is also available on our website at  
www.interserve.com.

APPROVAL
This report was approved by the Board of Directors on  
27 April 2018 and signed on its behalf by:

Daniel Bush 
Company Secretary
27 April 2018

Interserve House  
Ruscombe Park  
Twyford 
Reading 
Berkshire  
RG10 9JU 

SIGNIFICANT AGREEMENTS – CHANGE OF 
CONTROL PROVISIONS
The following significant agreements contain provisions 
entitling the counterparties to exercise termination rights  
in the event of a change of control in the Company:

•  Under the terms of the debt documents detailed on  

pages 39 and 40 of the Strategic Report, if any person, 
or group of persons acting in concert, gains control 
of the Company, all facilities will be cancelled and all 
outstanding loans or instruments or notes under the debt 
documents, together with accrued interest and all other 
amounts payable under the debt documents, shall become 
immediately due and payable.

•  The Group’s share schemes also contain provisions relating 

to the vesting and exercising of awards/options in the event 
of a change of control of the Group. These are set out on 
pages 79 and 80 of the Directors’ Remuneration Report.

AUDITOR
Resolutions to re-appoint Grant Thornton UK LLP as the 
Company’s auditor and to authorise the directors to determine 
their remuneration will be proposed at the forthcoming AGM.

Statement of disclosure of information to auditor
The directors in office at the date of approval of this report 
confirm that:

(a)   so far as they are each aware, there is no relevant audit 
information of which the Company’s auditor is unaware; 
and

(b)   they have each made such enquiries of their fellow 

directors and of the Company’s auditor and have each 
taken such other steps as were required by their duty 
as a director of the Company to exercise due care, skill 
and diligence in order to make themselves aware of 
any relevant audit information and to establish that the 
Company’s auditor is aware of that information.

This confirmation is given and should be interpreted in 
accordance with the provisions of section 418 of the 2006 Act.

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GOVERNANCE

Directors’ report continued

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT
The Strategic Report, Directors’ Report and Directors’ Remuneration Report have been prepared solely for existing members 
of the Company in compliance with UK company law and the Listing, Prospectus, and DTRs of the FCA. The Company, the 
directors and employees accept no responsibility to any other person for anything contained in the Strategic Report, Directors’ 
Report and Directors’ Remuneration Report. The directors’ liability for the Strategic Report, Directors’ Report and Directors’ 
Remuneration Report is limited, as provided in the 2006 Act. 

The Company’s auditor provides an opinion on:

(a)   whether the information given in the Strategic Report and the Directors’ Report is consistent with the 

financial statements;

(b)   whether the Strategic Report and the Directors’ Report have been prepared in accordance with applicable 

legal requirements;

(c)   whether in the light of the knowledge and understanding of the Company and its environment obtained in the course of the 
audit, the auditor has identified material misstatements in the Strategic Report and the Directors’ Report and, if applicable, 
give an indication of the nature of each of those misstatements;

 but neither the Strategic Report nor the Directors’ Report are audited. 

Statements made in the Strategic Report, Directors’ Report and Directors’ Remuneration Report reflect the knowledge  
and information available at the time of their preparation. The Strategic Report and the Directors’ Report contain  
forward-looking statements in respect of the Group’s operations, performance, prospects and financial condition. By their 
nature, these statements involve uncertainty. In particular, outcomes often differ from plans or expectations expressed 
through forward-looking statements, and such differences may be significant. Assurance cannot be given that any particular 
expectation will be met. No responsibility is accepted to update or revise any forward-looking statement, resulting from new 
information, future events or otherwise. Liability arising from anything in this Annual Report and Financial Statements shall 
be governed by English law. Nothing in this Annual Report and Financial Statements should be construed as a profit forecast.

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Directors’ responsibility 
statement

Overview

Strategic Report

Governance

Financial Statements

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

Company law requires the directors to prepare financial 
statements for each financial year. Under that law the 
directors are required to prepare the Group financial 
statements in accordance with International Financial 
Reporting Standards (IFRS) as adopted by the European Union 
and Article 4 of the IAS Regulation and have elected to prepare 
the parent company financial statements in accordance with 
United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice (UK 
GAAP) (UK Accounting Standards and applicable law), including 
the requirements of FRS 101 Reduced disclosure framework. 

Under company law the directors must not approve the 
financial statements unless they are satisfied that they give 
a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the Group and 
parent company and of their profit or loss for that period.

In preparing the parent company financial statements, the 
directors are required to:

•  select suitable accounting policies and then apply them 

consistently;

•  make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and 

prudent;

•  state whether applicable UK Accounting Standards have 

been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed 
and explained in the financial statements; and

•  prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis 
unless it is inappropriate to presume that the company will 
continue in business.

In preparing the Group financial statements, International 
Accounting Standard 1 requires that the directors:

•  properly select and apply accounting policies;

•  present information, including accounting policies, in a 

manner that provides relevant, reliable, comparable and 
understandable information;

•  provide additional disclosures when compliance with the 
specific requirements in IFRSs are insufficient to enable 
users to understand the impact of particular transactions, 
other events and conditions on the entity’s financial position 
and financial performance; and

•  make an assessment of the Group’s ability to continue as  

a going concern.

The directors are responsible for keeping adequate accounting 
records that are sufficient to show and explain the parent 
company’s transactions and disclose with reasonable accuracy 
at any time the financial position of the parent company 
and enable them to ensure that the financial statements 
comply with the Companies Act 2006 and Article 4 of the IAS 
Regulations. They are also responsible for safeguarding the 
assets of the Group and hence for taking reasonable steps for 
the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.

Under applicable law and regulations, the directors are also 
responsible for preparing a Strategic Report, Directors’ Report, 
Directors’ Remuneration Report and Corporate Governance 
statement that comply with that law and those regulations.

The directors confirm that, to the best of their knowledge:

(a)   the parent company and Group financial statements in this 
Annual Report, which have been prepared in accordance 
with UK GAAP, including the requirements of FRS 101 
Reduced disclosure framework and IFRS, respectively, 
give a true and fair view of the assets, liabilities, financial 
position and profit of the parent company and of the Group 
taken as a whole; 

(b)   the management report required by paragraph 4.1.8R of 
the FCA’s Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rules 
(contained in the Strategic Report and the Directors’ 
Report) includes a fair review of the development and 
performance of the business and the position of the parent 
company and the Group taken as a whole, together with 
a description of the principal risks and uncertainties that 
they face; and

(c)   the Annual Report and Financial Statements, taken as a 

whole, are fair, balanced and understandable and provide 
the information necessary for shareholders to assess 
the Group’s position and performance, business model 
and strategy. 

By order of the Board

D J White 
Chief Executive Officer 
27 April 2018

M A Whiteling
Chief Financial Officer

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Corporate governance continuedGOVERNANCEWe won a £140 million contract with the BBC to continue providing facilities services across its UK estate until 2023. This latest four-year extension to the account, which was first awarded in 2014, will see us provide total facilities management services across the broadcaster’s UK estate. In total the contract covers 150 sites and 560,000 square metres of floorspace, including the corporation’s major offices and production facilities at MediaCityUK in Salford, Broadcasting House in Portland Place,  London and Pacific Quay in Glasgow. The partnership covers 26 separate service lines reflecting the diversity of the BBC’s operations across its estate and the need to deliver a coordinated and positive workplace experience for employees across the organisation’s sites. Services ranging from critical broadcast engineering, energy and utilities management through to cleaning, portering and security are tailored to specific building requirements, including the need for  24-hour operations at several locations. In addition to this contract, Interserve currently delivers security guarding and building  contractor services for the broadcaster under separate frameworks. MANAGING SERVICES ACROSS THE BBC’S UK ESTATE 110PDF Page: v2 28772 - INT AR17 2 Governance p46-111.p66.pdf

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Independent auditor’s report 112Consolidated financial statements 122Notes to the consolidated  financial statements 128Company financial statements 184Notes to the Company financial statements 186Related undertakings 201Five-year analysis 208Shareholder information 210Financial StatementsOverview111Strategic ReportGovernanceFinancial StatementsFINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Independent auditor’s report  
to the members of Interserve Plc

Our opinion on the financial statements is unmodified
We have audited the financial statements of Interserve Plc (the ‘parent company’) and its subsidiaries (the ‘Group’) for 
the year ended 31 December 2017 which comprise the Consolidated Income Statement, the Consolidated Statement of 
Comprehensive Income, the Consolidated and Parent Company Balance Sheets, the Consolidated and Parent Company 
Statement of Changes in Equity, the Consolidated Cash Flow Statement and notes to the financial statements, including a 
summary of significant accounting policies. The financial reporting framework that has been applied in the preparation of 
the Group financial statements is applicable law and International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRSs) as adopted by the 
European Union. The financial reporting framework that has been applied in the preparation of the parent company financial 
statements is applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards, including Financial Reporting Standard 101 Reduced 
disclosure framework (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).

In our opinion: 

• 

• 

• 

• 

the financial statements give a true and fair view of the state of the Group’s and of the parent company’s affairs as at 
31 December 2017 and of the Group’s loss for the year then ended;

the Group financial statements have been properly prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting 
Standards (IFRSs) as adopted by the European Union;

the parent company financial statements have been properly prepared in accordance with United Kingdom Generally 
Accepted Accounting Practice; and

the financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 and, as 
regards the Group financial statements, Article 4 of the IAS Regulation.

Basis for opinion
We conducted our audit in accordance with International Standards on Auditing (UK) (ISAs (UK)) and applicable law. Our 
responsibilities under those standards are further described in the Auditor’s Responsibilities for the Audit of the Financial 
Statements section of our report. We are independent of the Group and the parent company in accordance with the ethical 
requirements that are relevant to our audit of the financial statements in the UK, including the FRC’s Ethical Standard as applied 
to listed public-interest entities, and we have fulfilled our other ethical responsibilities in accordance with these requirements. 
We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion.

Who we are reporting to
This report is made solely to the parent company’s members, as a body, in accordance with Chapter 3 of Part 16 of the 
Companies Act 2006. Our audit work has been undertaken so that we might state to the parent company’s members those 
matters we are required to state to them in an auditor’s report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent permitted by 
law, we do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the parent company and the parent company’s members as 
a body, for our audit work, for this report, or for the opinions we have formed. 

Conclusions relating to principal risks, going concern and viability statement
The ISAs (UK) require us to report to you whether we have anything material to add or draw attention to in respect of:

• 

• 

• 

the disclosures in the annual report set out on pages 28 to 31 that describe the principal risks and explain how they are 
being managed or mitigated; 

the directors’ confirmation, set out on page 109 of the annual report, that they have carried out a robust assessment of the 
principal risks facing the group, including those that would threaten its business model, future performance, solvency or liquidity; 

the directors’ statement, set out on page 44 of the financial statements, about whether the directors considered it 
appropriate to adopt the going concern basis of accounting in preparing the financial statements and the directors’ 
identification of any material uncertainties to the Group and the parent company’s ability to continue to do so over a period 
of at least twelve months from the date of approval of the financial statements;

•  whether the directors’ statement relating to going concern required under the Listing Rules in accordance with Listing Rule 

9.8.6R(3) is materially inconsistent with our knowledge obtained in the audit; or 

• 

the directors’ explanation, set out on pages 40 to 44 of the Annual Report, as to how they have assessed the prospects of the 
Group, over what period they have done so and why they consider that period to be appropriate, and their statement as to 
whether they have a reasonable expectation that the Group will be able to continue in operation and meet its liabilities as they 
fall due over the period of their assessment, including any related disclosures drawing attention to any necessary qualifications 
or assumptions. 

112112

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113113GovernanceFinancial StatementsStrategic ReportOverviewWe draw attention to the viability statement disclosures in the Annual Report on pages 40 to 44, which reference a number of key risks and uncertainties which could impact on the conditions associated with the banking covenants. Other than this matter, we have nothing to report in respect of the above.Overview of our audit approachKey audit matters were identified as going concern, revenue recognition and contract accounting, the presentation and disclosure of non-underlying items, impairment of non-current assets and defined benefit pension schemes.Overall Group materiality: is £3.3 million which represents approximately 1.35 per cent of the Group’s loss before tax.We performed full-scope procedures at all operating locations in the United Kingdom and certain Group entities in the United Arab Emirates. We performed targeted procedures over component entities in Guernsey, Oman, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Australia, Hong Kong, the Philippines and the United States of America. We performed analytical procedures over component entities in all other geographical locations.Key audit mattersThe graph below depicts the audit risks identified and their relative significance based on the extent of the financial statement impact and the extent of management judgement. Management override of controlsPresentation and disclosure of non-underlying itemsRMD hire fleet and inventoryOperating expensesPFI Investments Employeeremuneration International and RMD  trade receivables Taxation Revenue recognition andcontract accountingImpairment ofnon-current assetsDerivatives Key audit matter Significant riskOther riskLow High High Low Judgement** Value/Impact* Non-contractrelated provisions   GoingconcernDefinedbenefitpensionschemesOther matter*  Impact the identified risk would have on the Group or Company’s financial statements** Probability that the identified risk could occur during the year under review if not properly controlledKey audit matters are those matters that, in our professional judgement, were of most significance in our audit of the financial statements of the current period and include the most significant assessed risks of material misstatement (whether or not due to fraud) that we identified. These matters included those that had the greatest effect on: the overall audit strategy; the allocation of resources in the audit; and directing the efforts of the engagement team. These matters were addressed in the context of our audit of the financial statements as a whole, and in forming our opinion thereon, and we do not provide a separate opinion on these matters. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Independent auditor’s report continued
to the members of Interserve Plc

In arriving at our opinions set out in this report, we highlight the following key audit matters: 

Key audit matter

How the matter was addressed in the audit

Going concern (Group and parent)
See the Group statement on going concern on page 44 
and the Group’s viability statement on pages 40 to 44.

We responded to the risk by adding a team of restructuring 
specialists as auditor’s experts on our team so as to provide 
relevant expertise, working alongside the core audit team. 

The Group first announced to the market on 
13 December 2017 that it had secured additional 
short-term committed funding, providing a platform for 
continued discussions with the Group’s lenders, with a 
view to securing longer-term funding. A further update 
was given to the market on 21 March 2018, indicating 
that short-term facilities had been extended for a 
further month to 30 April 2018. The Group announced 
that it had concluded refinancing negotiations and had 
arranged access to committed borrowing facilities of 
£834 million on 27 April 2018.

Our work included, but was not restricted to:

•  evaluating the assumptions and judgements made in the 

Group’s debt-free cash flow forecast, for the three-year period 
ending 31 December 2020 (‘the Adjusted Cash Flow Forecast’);

•  assessing the Group’s future borrowing requirements, liquidity 

headroom and ongoing covenant obligations as set out within 
the Adjusted Cash Flow Forecast;

•  assessing the appropriateness of sensitivities applied to the 

Adjusted Cash Flow Forecast to evaluate whether liquidity 
headroom and covenant compliance had been subjected to 
appropriate stress tests;

•  assessing the appropriateness of risk factors disclosed in the 
viability statement, and their impact on the profit, working 
capital and balance sheet forecasts;

• 

reading term loan documentation to assess the accuracy of 
the calculation of proposed financial covenants within the 
Adjusted Cash Flow Forecast;

•  analysing the Board’s viability analysis to understand the key 
risk factors, the resultant scenarios modelled therefrom and 
the outcome of stress testing over the period covered; and

•  challenging the sufficiency of management’s disclosures over 

going concern and viability.

Key observations
As a result of our work, we concluded that there were no matters in relation to going concern to which the ISAs (UK) require us 
to report to you.

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115115GovernanceFinancial StatementsStrategic ReportOverviewKey audit matterHow the matter was addressed in the audit  Revenue recognition and contract accounting (Group)Revenue £3,666.9 million (2016: £3,685.2 million) Trade receivables, accrued income and amounts due from construction contract customers £610.3 million (2016: £606.4 million)See note 1 on page 135 and page 66 of the Audit Committee report.Revenue is recognised in the Group financial statements as the fair value of consideration received or receivable in respect of provision of service and construction contracts. Provision is made for expected contract losses as soon as they are foreseen. Determining the amount of revenue to be recognised in respect of construction and service contracts requires management to make significant judgements and estimates including the cost to complete, and the identification of any other costs that might arise, the probability of customer acceptance of claims and variations and the recoverability of work-in-progress and receivables balances.We therefore identified revenue recognition and contract accounting as a significant risk, which was one of the most significant assessed risks of material misstatement.Our audit work included, but was not restricted to:• selecting a sample of contracts in progress (determined by reference to materiality and other risk factors, including loss-making contracts and contracts with aged work-in-progress and debtor balances), and on each selected contract carrying out the following procedures: ◦testing management’s application of the contractual terms and conditions, recalculating revenue recognised under the percentage of completion method based on costs incurred to date (where applicable) and testing a sample of costs recorded on projects to purchase invoice or other source documents; ◦challenging management’s assertions relating to the expected costs to complete by reference to supporting documentation such as customer certifications, forecast models and comparing previous cost estimates against actual results and examining variation and claim agreements; ◦agreeing revenues per the Group financial statements to the contracted amounts and reconciling differences to variations that were submitted during the period, or where amounts were not fixed in the contract, agreeing the revenue recognised to internal contract reporting; ◦testing a sample of revenue items for non-contract revenue, covering both hire and sale revenue, agreeing items selected for testing through to documented supporting existence;  ◦evaluating management’s assessment of forward loss provisions recorded on long-term contracts, including challenging management on the judgements inherent within the forecast revenue and profit on the contract, understanding the basis for projected claims income and cost savings, consideration of historical experience, comparing against expected outcomes, and considering a third party’s contract review; ◦investigating the extent of historic recovery of work-in-progress balances held by the Group, with reference to certifications and correspondence from customers; and ◦testing key controls within the Construction division over contract execution, certification, invoicing, collections, cost approvals and cost allocations, to confirm they were executed as designed.Key observationsAs a result of our work, we concluded that revenue recognition and contract accounting was acceptable.   FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Independent auditor’s report continued
to the members of Interserve Plc

Key audit matter

How the matter was addressed in the audit

Presentation and disclosure of non-underlying items (Group)
Non-underlying items £(298.7) million losses (2016, as restated: £(226.7) million)
See note 5 on page 144 and page 65 of the Audit 
Committee report, and the accounting policies.

Classification

Our audit work included, but was not restricted to:

The Group has presented separately certain items 
on the face of the Consolidated Income Statement as 
non-underlying. The directors believe that the resulting 
‘underlying’ income statement reflects better the 
Group’s trading performance during the year. 

In the Group’s reported results, significant adjustments 
have been made to statutory loss before tax of 
£244.4 million to derive underlying profit before tax 
of £52.4 million, and to statutory loss after tax of 
£254.4 million to derive underlying profit after tax of 
£44.3 million. The most significant of these are discussed 
in detail in note 5.

Non-underlying items are not defined by IFRSs as 
adopted by the European Union. Consequently, 
management have written an accounting policy to define 
non-underlying items in the financial statements, which 
is set out in note 1. In applying this accounting policy, 
management exercises significant judgement in respect 
of what it determines as a non-underlying transaction. 
In making this assessment, management has identified 
significant non-recurring transactions that by their size 
or nature require separate presentation. As such, there 
is a risk of management bias in the selection of the 
items identified as non-underlying.

Alternative performance measures can provide 
shareholders with appropriate additional information 
and understanding of a company’s financial performance 
and strategy. However, when improperly used and 
presented, such measures might prevent the Annual 
Report being fair, balanced and understandable by 
confusing the real financial position and results or by 
making the results of the reporting entity seem more 
attractive. Failure to disclose clearly the nature and 
impact of material non-underlying earnings may distort 
the reader’s view of the financial result in the year.

• 

inspecting and challenging the nature of the items included 
within non-underlying items as follows:

 ◦

 ◦

 ◦

for contract-related items, agreeing the revenue and cost 
in the current and prior year to our work on that contract;

in each case, as these contracts represented a material 
judgement in their own right, we performed a detailed 
contract review which is commented on under the 
previous Key Audit Matter;

for non-contract items, obtaining a detailed breakdown 
of these items and obtaining an understanding of the 
nature of each cost; substantively testing a sample of 
items to invoice or other supporting evidence, confirming 
that the specific project or activity is one identified as 
non-underlying by management; and

•  challenging the completeness of contracts identified as non-
underlying to identify if any other contracts would meet the 
criteria set out by management.

Presentation

•  challenging management’s rationale for the basis for inclusion 
of certain classes of items within the Consolidated Income 
Statement as non-underlying, particularly around the areas of 
higher judgement, to determine whether the items recognised 
as non-underlying meet the criteria of the accounting policy 
for such items defined by the Group;

•  challenging the appropriateness of restatements to 

comparative information; and

•  evaluating the appropriateness of the inclusion of items, 
both individually and in aggregate, within non-underlying 
items, including ensuring adherence to IFRS requirements and 
latest FRC guidance, and benchmarking them against market 
practice, including, but not limited to, the ICAEW’s statement 
of principles, guidance issued by the FRC in their thematic 
review, and guidance issued by the European Securities and 
Markets Authority (ESMA).

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117117GovernanceFinancial StatementsStrategic ReportOverviewKey audit matterHow the matter was addressed in the audit  Presentation and disclosure of non-underlying items (Group) continuedWe therefore identified the following significant risks in respect of non-underlying items in the Consolidated Income Statement, which was one of the most significant assessed risks of material misstatement:Classification of non-underlying items and whether they meet the definition set out in the policy;Presentation of non-underlying items as a separate column in the income statement, and whether the presentation of the ‘underlying’ financial information is fair, balanced, and understandable in its representation of underlying trading, or whether undue prominence has been given to this information over the GAAP information; andDisclosure of information in respect of the non-underlying items in respect of its appropriateness and quality, including associated critical judgements and estimates.DisclosureWe also assessed the disclosures made, and considered: • the extent to which the prominence given to the ‘underlying’ financial information and related commentary in the Annual Report compared to the statutory financial information and related commentary could be misleading; • whether the statutory and ‘underlying’ financial information are reconciled with sufficient prominence given to that reconciliation; and• whether the basis of the ‘underlying’ financial information is clearly and accurately described and consistently applied; and• whether the ‘underlying’ financial information is not otherwise misleading in the form and context in which it appears in the Annual Report.Key observationsAs a result of our work, we concluded that the classification, presentation and disclosure of non-underlying items was acceptable.  Impairment of non-current assets (Group)Goodwill: £372.9 million (2016: £437.0 million) Acquired intangibles: £30.3 million (2016: £51.9 million)See note 13 on page 154 and page 66 of the Audit Committee report.Under International Accounting Standard 36 Impairment of assets, the directors are required to make an annual assessment to determine whether the Group’s goodwill and intangible assets, which stand at £372.9 million and £30.3 million, respectively, are impaired.The process for assessing whether impairment exists under IAS 36 is complex. The process of determining the value in use, through forecasting cash flows related to cash generating units (CGUs) and the determination of the appropriate discount rate and other assumptions to be applied can be highly judgemental and can significantly impact the results of the impairment review.We therefore identified the impairment of non-current assets as a significant risk, which was one of the most significant assessed risks of material misstatement.Our audit work included, but was not restricted to:• obtaining management’s assessment of the relevant cash generating units, which has been revisited in the year, used in the impairment calculation and comparing those to our understanding of the business units and operating structure of the Group; • determining the arithmetical accuracy of those calculations including the associated sensitivity analyses;• challenging management assessment of impairment indicators relating to intangible assets;• testing the assumptions utilised in the impairment models, including growth rates and discount rates;• ensuring these assumptions are consistent across the business, and that where different assumptions are used based on the profile of different divisions, that these are consistent with our knowledge of the business and our detailed work performed on the forecasts used for going concern; and• testing the accuracy of management’s forecasting through a comparison of budget to actual data and historical variance trends and inspecting the cash flows for non-underlying or unusual items or assumptions.Key observationsAs a result of our work, we concluded that the carrying value of goodwill and acquired intangibles was acceptable. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Independent auditor’s report continued
to the members of Interserve Plc

Key audit matter

How the matter was addressed in the audit

Defined benefit pension schemes (Group and parent)
Retirement benefit obligation: Group £48.0 million (2016: £52.4 million); parent £38.5 million (2016: £39.5 million) 
Fair value of scheme’s assets: Group £1,016.1 million (2016: £992.2 million); parent £928.7 million (2016: £911.3 million) 
Present value of defined benefit obligation: Group £1,064.1 million (2016: £1,044.6 million); parent £967.2 million 
(Group £950.8 million)

See note 29 on page 176 and page 66 of the Audit 
Committee report.

The Group has a number of defined benefit pension 
schemes that provide benefits to a significant number of 
current and former employees. 

The measurement of the defined benefit pension 
scheme liability in accordance with IAS 19 Employee 
benefits involves significant judgement and their 
valuation is subject to complex actuarial assumptions. 
Small variations in those actuarial assumptions can lead 
to a materially different defined benefit pension scheme 
asset or liability being recognised within the Group 
financial statements. 

We therefore identified defined benefit pension 
schemes, specifically their valuation, as a significant 
risk, which was one of the most significant assessed 
risks of material misstatement.

Our audit work included, but was not restricted to:

• 

reviewing the model and assumptions to ensure that they are 
reasonable and consistent, and in line with IAS 19;

•  utilising the expertise of our in-house actuarial specialists to 

assess and challenge the assumptions used for reasonableness 
and the methods employed in the calculation of the 
obligation; and

• 

testing the accuracy of membership data provided to the 
Group’s actuaries for the purpose of calculating the scheme 
liabilities by agreeing a sample of employee data to underlying 
records.

Key observations
As a result of our work, we concluded that the carrying value of the retirement benefit obligation was acceptable.  

Our application of materiality and an overview of the scope of our audit
Materiality
We define materiality as the magnitude of a misstatement in the financial statements that makes it probable that the economic 
decisions of a reasonably knowledgeable person would be changed or influenced. We use materiality in determining the nature, 
timing and extent of our audit work and in evaluating the results of that work.

We determined materiality for the Group financial statements as a whole to be £3.3 million, which was set at 4.5 per cent 
of Group loss before tax at the planning stage of our audit, based upon an estimate of the full-year result. This reflects 
approximately 1.35 per cent of the final result. This benchmark is considered the most appropriate because this is a key 
performance measure used by the Board of Directors to report to investors on the financial performance of the Group. We have 
chosen a different benchmark to the prior year as, given our focus on presentation and disclosure of non-underlying items as a 
key audit matter, we felt it most appropriate to select a statutory benchmark and not an alternative performance measure. We 
chose not to revise our materiality threshold during the course of the audit once the final loss before tax was known, as using 
4.5 per cent of the year-end loss before tax would have resulted in a higher level of materiality to the level set at the planning 
stage, which we did not feel was appropriate. In the prior year we used a benchmark of profit before tax, amortisation, and 
exceptionals (as defined in the prior year’s financial statements): this resulted in a materiality of £5.0 million.

We use a different level of materiality, performance materiality, to drive the extent of our testing and this was set at 
70 per cent of financial statement materiality for the audit of the Group financial statements. The percentage used is the same 
as that set last year, which reflects our assessment of the risk inherent in the audit. 

Materiality for the parent company was calculated based on total assets of the Company, but was capped at performance 
materiality for the Group. Its individual performance materiality was set at 70 per cent of its financial statement materiality.

We determined a lower level of materiality for certain specific areas such as directors’ remuneration and related party 
transactions.

118118

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119119GovernanceFinancial StatementsStrategic ReportOverviewWe determined the threshold at which we will communicate misstatements to the Audit Committee to be £165,000. In addition we communicate misstatements below that threshold that, in our view, warrant reporting on qualitative grounds.Overview of the scope of our auditOur audit approach was based on a thorough understanding of the Group’s business and is risk-based. An interim visit was conducted before the year end at all significant components of the Group to complete advance substantive audit procedures and to evaluate the Group’s internal controls environment including its IT systems. The components of the Group were evaluated by the group audit team based on a measure of materiality considering each as a percentage of total Group assets, liabilities, revenues and profit before taxes, to assess the significance of the component and to determine the planned audit response. For those components that were evaluated as significant, either a full-scope or targeted audit approach was determined based on their relative materiality to the Group and our assessment of the audit risk. For significant components requiring a full-scope approach we evaluated and tested controls over the financial reporting systems identified as part of our risk assessment, reviewed the accounts production process and addressed critical accounting matters. We sought, wherever possible, to rely on the effectiveness of the Group’s internal controls in order to reduce substantive testing. We then undertook substantive testing on significant transactions and material account balances. In order to address the audit risks described above as identified during our planning procedures, we performed a full-scope audit of the financial statements of the parent company, Interserve Plc and of the Group’s operations throughout the United Kingdom and certain Group entities in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The operations that were subject to full-scope audit procedures made up 89 per cent of consolidated revenues and 84 per cent of loss before tax. Statutory audits of subsidiaries, where required by local laws, were performed to lower materiality where applicable.While the majority of the operations are located within the United Kingdom, the Group has material operations spanning the globe, particularly in their Equipment Services and Construction divisions. Through an analysis of these operations we determined that targeted audit procedures were to be carried out in 14 entities located in Guernsey, Oman, Qatar, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Australia, Hong Kong, the Philippines and the United States of America. These targeted procedures addressed the key audit matters described above, where relevant to the entity. Those components subjected to targeted audit procedures comprise 5 per cent of total revenues and 6 per cent of total loss before tax of the Group. The joint ventures and associates which were subjected to targeted audit procedures contributed 7 per cent of total loss before tax of the Group. All of the items that are presented as non-underlying have been tested under a comprehensive approach, even if the related entity was subject to a targeted or analytical approach.The following charts represent the proportion of revenue and headline profit before tax that has been subject to each approach.RevenueFull ScopeTargetedAnalyticalHeadline profit before taxFull ScopeTargetedAnalyticalThe remaining operations of the Group were subject to analytical procedures over the balance sheet and income statements of the related entities with a focus on the Key Audit Matters above and the significance to the Group’s balances.Detailed audit instructions were issued to the auditors of the reporting components where a full-scope or targeted audit approach had been identified. The instructions detailed the significant risks that were to be addressed through the audit procedures and indicated the information that needed to be reported back to the Group audit team. The Group audit team performed site visits in Oman, Qatar and the UAE, which included a review of the work performed by the component auditors. Where targeted components outside of the UK were not physically visited an assessment of the supporting working papers was conducted remotely. The group audit team communicated with all component auditors throughout the planning, fieldwork and concluding stages of the local audits.FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Independent auditor’s report continued
to the members of Interserve Plc

Other information
The directors are responsible for the other information. The other information comprises the information included in the Annual 
Report set out on pages 1 to 110 and 208 to 209, other than the financial statements and our auditor’s report thereon. Our 
opinion on the financial statements does not cover the other information and, except to the extent otherwise explicitly stated 
in our report, we do not express any form of assurance conclusion thereon. 

In connection with our audit of the financial statements, our responsibility is to read the other information and, in doing so, 
consider whether the other information is materially inconsistent with the financial statements or our knowledge obtained in 
the audit or otherwise appears to be materially misstated. If we identify such material inconsistencies or apparent material 
misstatements, we are required to determine whether there is a material misstatement in the financial statements or a 
material misstatement of the other information. If, based on the work we have performed, we conclude that there is a material 
misstatement of this other information, we are required to report that fact. 

We have nothing to report in this regard.

In this context, we also have nothing to report in regard to our responsibility to specifically address the following items in the 
other information and to report as uncorrected material misstatements of the other information where we conclude that those 
items meet the following conditions:

•  Fair, balanced and understandable set out on page 109 – the statement given by the directors that they consider the 

Annual Report and Financial Statements taken as a whole is fair, balanced and understandable and provides the information 
necessary for shareholders to assess the Group’s performance, business model and strategy, is materially inconsistent with 
our knowledge obtained in the audit; or

•  The Audit Committee report set out on pages 62 to 69 – the section describing the work of the Audit Committee does not 

appropriately address matters communicated by us to the Audit Committee; or

•  The directors’ statement of compliance with the UK Corporate Governance Code set out on page 53 – the parts of the 
directors’ statement required under the Listing Rules relating to the Company’s compliance with the UK Corporate 
Governance Code containing provisions specified for review by the auditor in accordance with Listing Rule 9.8.10R(2) do not 
properly disclose a departure from a relevant provision of the UK Corporate Governance Code.

Our opinions on other matters prescribed by the Companies Act 2006 are unmodified
In our opinion, the part of the Directors’ Remuneration Report to be audited has been properly prepared in accordance with 
the Companies Act 2006. 

In our opinion, based on the work undertaken in the course of the audit: 

• 

the information given in the Strategic Report and the Directors’ Report for the financial year for which the financial 
statements are prepared is consistent with the financial statements; and 

• 

the Strategic Report and the Directors’ Report have been prepared in accordance with applicable legal requirements.

Matters on which we are required to report under the Companies Act 2006
In the light of the knowledge and understanding of the Group and parent company and its environment obtained in the course 
of the audit, we have not identified material misstatements in the Strategic Report or the Directors’ Report.

Matters on which we are required to report by exception
We have nothing to report in respect of the following matters in relation to which the Companies Act 2006 requires us to report 
to you if, in our opinion:

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

received from branches not visited by us; or

• 

the parent company financial statements and the part of the Directors’ Remuneration Report to be audited are not in 
agreement with the accounting records and returns; or

•  certain disclosures of directors’ remuneration specified by law are not made; or

•  we have not received all the information and explanations we require for our audit. 

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121121GovernanceFinancial StatementsStrategic ReportOverviewResponsibilities of directors for the financial statementsAs explained more fully in the Directors’ Responsibility Statement set out on page 109, the directors are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements and for being satisfied that they give a true and fair view, and for such internal control as the directors determine is necessary to enable the preparation of financial statements that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error.In preparing the financial statements, the directors are responsible for assessing the Group’s and the parent company’s ability to continue as a going concern, disclosing, as applicable, matters related to going concern and using the going concern basis of accounting unless the directors either intend to liquidate the Group or the parent company or to cease operations, or have no realistic alternative but to do so.Auditor’s responsibilities for the audit of the financial statementsOur objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements as a whole are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error, and to issue an auditor’s report that includes our opinion. Reasonable assurance is a high level of assurance, but is not a guarantee that an audit conducted in accordance with ISAs (UK) will always detect a material misstatement when it exists. Misstatements can arise from fraud or error and are considered material if, individually or in the aggregate, they could reasonably be expected to influence the economic decisions of users taken on the basis of these financial statements.We are responsible for obtaining reasonable assurance that the financial statements taken as a whole are free from material misstatement, whether caused by fraud or error. Owing to the inherent limitations of an audit, there is an unavoidable risk that material misstatements of the financial statements may not be detected, even though the audit is properly planned and performed in accordance with the ISAs (UK). Our audit approach is a risk-based approach and is explained more fully in the ‘An overview of the scope of our audit’ section of our audit report. A further description of our responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements is located on the Financial Reporting Council’s website at: www.frc.org.uk/auditorsresponsibilities. This description forms part of our auditor’s report.Other matters which we are required to addressWe were appointed by the Audit Committee on 13 June 2014. Our total uninterrupted period of engagement is four years, covering the periods ending 31 December 2014 to 31 December 2017.During the year ended 31 December 2017, Grant Thornton S.A. Luxembourg, a member firm of the Grant Thornton International Limited network, provided a payroll processing service (which has now ceased) to a subsidiary of the group during 2017, for which non-audit fees totalled €1,939 in 2017. This was subsequently identified as a prohibited non-audit service in the Financial Reporting Council’s Ethical Standard. We have notified the Audit Committee of this breach. The breach is considered minor by both Grant Thornton UK and the Audit Committee on the basis that the related payroll expense, which is recognised in the financial statements, is inconsequential. We therefore consider this to be a minor breach of the Ethical Standard and we do not consider our independence to be impaired.Other than the service noted above, the non-audit services prohibited by the FRC’s Ethical Standard were not provided to the Group or the parent company and we remain independent of the Group and the parent company in conducting our audit.Our audit opinion is consistent with our report to the Audit Committee.Simon Lowe Senior Statutory Auditor for and on behalf of Grant Thornton UK LLP Statutory Auditor, Chartered Accountants London 27 April 2018FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Consolidated income statement  
for the year ended 31 December 2017

Year ended 31 December 2017

Year ended 31 December 2016

Before non-
underlying 
items and 
amortisation 
of acquired 
intangible
assets
£million

Non-
underlying 
items and 
amortisation 
of acquired 
intangible 
assets
(note 5)  
£million

Before non-
underlying 
items and 
amortisation 
of acquired 
intangible 
assets #
£million

Non-
underlying 
items and 
amortisation 
of acquired 
intangible 
assets # 
(note 5)  
£million

Total
£million

Total
£million

3,529.2

137.7

3,666.9 

3,409.0

276.2

3,685.2

(416.1)  

–

(416.1)  

(440.6)    

–

(440.6)  

3,113.1

137.7

3,250.8

2,968.4

276.2

3,244.6

(2,717.1)  

(246.1)  

(2,963.2)  

(2,543.1)    

(423.7)    

(2,966.8)  

396.0

(108.4)  

287.6

425.3

(147.5)  

277.8

(346.6)  

–

–

(79.1)  

(21.5)  

(60.0)  

(425.7)  

(296.1)  

(21.5)  

(60.0)  

–

–

(50.8)    

(29.8)    

–

(346.9)  

(29.8)  

–

(346.6)  

(160.6)  

(507.2)  

(296.1)  

(80.6)    

(376.7)  

49.4

25.5

–

25.5

74.9

5.9

(28.4)  

52.4

(8.1)  

(269.0)  

(219.6)  

(30.6)  

(0.1)  

(30.7)  

(5.1)  

(0.1)  

(5.2)  

129.2

25.8 

–

25.8 

(228.1)    

(98.9)  

(3.2)    

(0.1)    

(3.3)    

22.6

(0.1)  

22.5

(299.7)  

(224.8)  

155.0

(231.4)    

(76.4)  

2.9

–

8.8

(28.4)  

(296.8)  

(244.4)  

(1.9)  

(10.0)  

5.6 

(23.3)    

137.3

(12.2)    

–

–

(231.4)    

4.7 

5.6

(23.3)  

(94.1)  

(7.5)  

44.3

(298.7)  

(254.4)  

125.1

(226.7)  

(101.6)  

42.3

2.0

44.3

(298.7)  

(256.4)  

123.0

(226.7)  

(103.7)  

–

2.0

2.1 

–

2.1

(298.7)  

(254.4)  

125.1

(226.7)  

(101.6)  

(176.0p)  

(176.0p)  

(71.2p)  

(71.2p)  

Notes

2

2

15

4

7

8

9

11

Continuing operations

Revenue including share of associates and 

joint ventures

Less: Share of associates and joint ventures

Consolidated revenue

Cost of sales

Gross profit

Administration expenses

Amortisation of acquired intangible assets

Impairment of goodwill

Total administration expenses

Operating profit/(loss)

Share of result of associates and joint ventures

Amortisation of acquired intangible assets

Total share of result of associates and joint ventures

Total operating profit/(loss)

Investment revenue

Finance costs

Profit/(loss) before tax

Tax (charge)/credit

Profit/(loss) for the year

Attributable to:

Equity holders of the parent

Non-controlling interests

Earnings per share

Basic

Diluted

# restated (note 1)

122

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123GovernanceFinancial StatementsStrategic ReportOverviewConsolidated statement of comprehensive income  for the year ended 31 December 2017NotesYear ended  31 December 2017 £millionYear ended 31 December 2016£million    Profit/(loss) for the year(254.4)  (101.6)  Items that will not be reclassified subsequently to profit or loss:Actuarial (losses)/gains on defined benefit pension schemes29(10.4)  (90.2)  Deferred tax on above items taken directly to equity91.815.3     (8.6)  (74.9)  Items that may be reclassified subsequently to profit or loss:Exchange differences on translation of foreign operations(34.8)  67.7 (Losses)/gains on cash flow hedging instruments (excluding joint ventures)(23.0)  42.0 Recycling of cash flow hedge reserve to profit and loss account22.7(48.4)  Deferred tax on above items taken directly to equity90.20.9 Net impact of Items relating to joint-venture entities3.0(5.3)      (31.9)  56.9     Other comprehensive income/(loss) net of tax(40.5)  (18.0)      Total comprehensive income/(loss)(294.9)  (119.6)      Attributable to:Equity holders of the parent(297.3)  (122.0)  Non-controlling interests2.42.4    (294.9)  (119.6)      FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Consolidated balance sheet  
at 31 December 2017

Non-current assets
Goodwill
Other intangible assets
Property, plant and equipment
Interests in joint-venture entities
Interests in associated undertakings
Retirement benefit surplus
Deferred tax asset

Current assets
Inventories
Trade and other receivables
Derivative financial instruments
Cash and deposits

Total assets

Current liabilities
Bank overdrafts
Trade and other payables
Current tax liabilities
Short-term provisions

Net current assets

Non-current liabilities
Borrowings
Trade and other payables
Long-term provisions
Retirement benefit obligation

Total liabilities

Net assets

Equity 
Share capital
Share premium account
Capital redemption reserve
Merger reserve
Hedging and revaluation reserve
Translation reserve
Investment in own shares
Retained earnings

Equity attributable to equity holders of the parent
Non-controlling interests

Total equity

Notes

12
13
14
15/31
15
29
16

17
19
21
20

20
22

25

20
23
25
29

26

31 December
2017
£million

31 December
2016
£million

31 December
2015
£million

372.9
54.5
228.6
46.5
78.4
–
23.4

804.3

34.0
722.0
–
155.1

911.1

437.0 
77.0 
250.4 
41.6 
85.3 
–
18.6 

909.9 

36.5 
724.4 
67.1 
113.3 

941.3 

428.6 
91.6 
218.1 
40.9 
91.0 
17.2 
1.3 

888.7 

40.1 
774.9 
25.1 
86.1 

926.2 

1,715.4

1,851.2 

1,814.9 

(6.8)  
(798.6)  
(7.2)  
(50.2)  

(862.8)  

48.3

(647.5)  
(14.5)  
(80.0)  
(48.0)  

(790.0)  

(11.1)  
(899.3)  
(2.6)  
(21.8)  

(934.8)  

6.5 

(449.4)  
(16.6)  
(42.9)  
(52.4)  

(561.3)  

(15.5)  
(788.0)  
(6.1)  
(27.4)  

(837.0)  

89.2 

(406.1)  
(15.9)  
(43.3)  
–

(465.3)  

(1,652.8)  

(1,496.1)  

(1,302.3)  

62.6

355.1 

512.6 

14.6
116.5
0.1
121.4
(5.9)  
74.5
(1.9)  
(272.0)  

47.3
15.3

62.6

14.6 
116.5 
0.1 
121.4 
(8.8)  
109.7 
(1.9)  
(9.4)  

342.2 
12.9 

355.1 

14.5 
116.5 
0.1 
121.4 
2.0 
42.3 
(1.5)  
205.2 

500.5 
12.1 

512.6 

These financial statements were approved by the Board of Directors on 27 April 2018.

Signed on behalf of the Board of Directors

D J White 
Director 

124

M A Whiteling
Director

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125GovernanceFinancial StatementsStrategic ReportOverviewConsolidated statement of changes in equity  for the year ended 31 December 2017Share capitalShare premiumCapital redemptionreserveMerger reserve1Hedging and revaluation reserve2TranslationreserveInvestmentin own shares3Retained earningsAttributable to equity holders of the parentNon- controlling interests   Total£million£million£million£million£million£million£million£million£million£million£million            Balance at  1 January 201614.5116.50.1121.42.042.3(1.5)  205.2500.512.1512.6Profit/(loss) for the year–––––––(103.7)  (103.7)  2.1(101.6)  Other comprehensive income––––(10.8)  67.4–(74.9)  (18.3)  0.3(18.0)  Total comprehensive income––––(10.8)  67.4–(178.6)  (122.0)  2.4(119.6)  Dividends paid–––––––(35.5)  (35.5)  (1.6)  (37.1)  Shares issued 0.1–––––––0.1–0.1Purchase of Company shares––––––(0.4)  –(0.4)  –(0.4)  Company shares used to settle share-based payment obligations–––––––(0.5)  (0.5)  –(0.5)  Share-based payments–––––––––––Transactions with owners0.1–––––(0.4)  (36.0)  (36.3)  (1.6)  (37.9)              Balance at  31 December 201614.6116.50.1121.4(8.8)  109.7(1.9)  (9.4)  342.212.9355.1Profit/(loss) for  the year–––––––(256.4)  (256.4)  2.0(254.4)  Other comprehensive income––––2.9(35.2)  –(8.6)  (40.9)  0.4(40.5)  Total comprehensive income––––2.9(35.2)  –(265.0)  (297.3)  2.4(294.9)  Dividends paid –––––––––––Shares issued –––––––––––Purchase of Company shares–––––––––––Company shares used to settle share-based payment obligations––––––– ––––Share-based payments–––––––2.4 2.4–2.4Transactions with owners–––––––2.42.4–2.4            Balance at  31 December 201714.6116.50.1121.4(5.9)  74.5(1.9)  (272.0)  47.315.362.6            1  The £121.4 million merger reserve represents £16.4 million premium on the shares issued on the acquisition of Robert M. Douglas Holdings Plc in 1991, £32.6 million premium on the shares issued on the acquisition of MacLellan Group Plc in 2006 and £72.4 million premium on the shares placed to partially fund the acquisition of Initial Facilities in 2014.2  The hedging and revaluation reserve includes £16.0 million relating to the revaluation of available-for-sale financial assets within the joint ventures  (2016: £19.9 million).3  The investment in own shares reserve represents the cost of shares in Interserve Plc held by the trustees of the Interserve Employee Benefit Trust. The number of shares held at 31 December 2017 was 466,909 (2016: 473,920), with the market value of these shares at 31 December 2017 being £0.4 million (2016: £1.6 million).FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Consolidated cash flow statement  
for the year ended 31 December 2017

Operating activities

Total operating profit/(loss)

Adjustments for:

Amortisation of acquired intangible assets

Impairment of goodwill

Amortisation of capitalised software development

Impairment of capitalised software development

Depreciation of property, plant and equipment

Impairment of capitalised IT development

(Profit)/loss on disposal of investments in joint ventures

Proceeds on disposal of investments

Other non-current asset non-cash impairment items

Pension contributions in excess of the income statement charge

Share of results of associates and joint ventures

Charge relating to share-based payments

Gain on disposal of plant and equipment - hire fleet

Gain on disposal of plant and equipment - other

Operating cash flows before movements in working capital

(Increase)/decrease in inventories

(Increase)/decrease in receivables

Increase/(decrease) in payables

Increase/(decrease) in provisions 

Capital expenditure - hire fleet

Proceeds on disposal of plant and equipment - hire fleet

Cash generated by operations

Cash used by operations - Energy from Waste exited business

Cash used by operations - other non-underlying

Cash generated by operations - ongoing business

Taxes paid

Net cash from operating activities

Investing activities

Interest received

Dividends received from associates and joint ventures

Proceeds on disposal of plant and equipment - non-hire fleet

Capital expenditure - non-hire fleet

Investment in joint-venture entities

Receipt of loan repayment - investments

Net cash from/(used in) investing activities

126

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Year ended 
31 December 
2017
£million

Year ended 
31 December 
2016
£million

Notes

(224.8)  

(76.4)  

13

12

13

13

14

14

15

5

28

14

15a

13/14

15b

15b

21.5

60.0

1.6

6.3

39.5

9.4

(7.5)  

12.3

1.4

(15.9)  

5.2

2.1

(22.2)  

(0.2)  

(111.3)  

0.5

(11.1)  

(77.3)  

50.9

(17.8)  

30.2

(135.9)  

(95.9)  

(64.7)  

24.7 

(8.6)  

(144.5)  

5.9

17.2

1.6

(39.3)  

(32.7)  

0.7

(46.6)  

29.8 

–

1.4 

–

37.6 

–

(2.9)  

7.5

–

(19.5)  

(22.5)  

(0.2)  

(16.0)  

–

(61.2)  

9.4

80.8 

83.8 

(8.2)  

(30.9)  

21.6

95.3

(116.9)  

(17.8)  

230.0 

(10.2)  

85.1

4.5

34.1

8.6

(38.3)  

(9.8)  

–

(0.9)  

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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127GovernanceFinancial StatementsStrategic ReportOverviewYear ended 31 December 2017Year ended 31 December 2016Notes£million£million    Financing activitiesInterest paid(27.3)  (23.3)  Dividends paid to equity shareholders10–(35.5)  Dividends paid to non-controlling interests–(1.6)  Proceeds from issue of shares and exercise of share options–0.1Purchase of own shares –(0.4)  Proceeds from disposal of derivatives2144.1–Increase in bank loans223.6(5.0)  Movement in obligations under finance leases(1.0)  2.2    Net cash from financing activities239.4(63.5)      Net increase/(decrease) in cash and cash equivalents48.320.7Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period102.270.6Effect of foreign exchange rate changes(2.2)  10.9    Cash and cash equivalents at end of period148.3102.2    Cash and cash equivalents compriseCash and deposits155.1113.3Bank overdrafts(6.8)  (11.1)      148.3102.2    Reconciliation of net cash flow to movement in net debtNet increase/(decrease) in cash and cash equivalents48.320.7 Increase in bank loans(223.6)  5.0 Movement in obligations under finance leases1.0(2.2)      Change in net debt resulting from cash flows(174.3)  23.5 Effect of foreign exchange rate changes(53.9)  10.9     Movement in net debt during the period(228.2)  34.4 Net cash/(debt) - opening(274.4)  (308.8)      Net cash/(debt) - closing20(502.6)  (274.4)      FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Notes to the consolidated financial statements  
for the year ended 31 December 2017

1.  Basis of preparation and accounting policies

Basis of preparation

The Interserve Plc consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting 
Standards (IFRS) and comply with the IFRS and related Interpretations (SIC and IFRIC interpretations) as adopted by the 
European Union.

(a)  Adoption of new and revised standards

At the date of authorisation of these Group financial statements, the following Standards and Interpretations were in issue but 
not yet effective, and therefore have not been applied in these Group financial statements:

IFRS 9 Financial instruments
The directors have completed the impact assessment of IFRS 9 Financial instruments and have concluded that under the new 
standard, which will be adopted for the financial year ending 31 December 2018, the Group will be able to continue to record 
movements in its financial assets held within its PFI joint ventures through other comprehensive income (OCI) using the fair 
value through OCI category. This is because these financial assets are held within a business model whose objective at Group 
level is achieved by both collecting contractual cash flows and selling financial assets, and the contractual terms of the financial 
asset meet the “solely payments of principal and interest on the principal outstanding” criterion. Therefore, there will be no 
quantitative impact on the Group upon adoption of IFRS 9 at 1 January 2018.

IFRS 15 Revenue from contracts with customers
The new standard will replace IAS 18 Revenue and IAS 11 Construction contracts. It will become effective for accounting periods 
on or after 1 January 2018.

The Group has conducted a thorough review of its approach to revenue recognition on all material areas of contract income 
from customers. It has concluded that in respect of the significant majority of revenues in the Group the adoption of IFRS 15 
will have no impact on the approach to revenue recognition relative to the approaches already adopted under IAS 11 and IAS 18 
as currently adopted. As such the impact of adoption is expected to be immaterial and no significant changes to accounting 
policy are currently anticipated. There will, however, be additional disclosure requirements going forward. The review has 
included consultation with Divisional Finance Directors, Group Legal, Commercial and Business Development functions. 

The central principles of IFRS 15 revolve around identifying “separate performance obligations” to the customer and recognising 
the identified consideration for those obligations as they are delivered to the customer. These are very much the principles that 
have always driven our approach to revenue recognition which can be seen from an overview of the various revenue streams of 
the Group with the possible exceptions, and reasons why they are not, considered below this table:

Business segment

Types of revenue

Performance obligations

Services (UK and 
International) 
eg:

Cleaning

Catering

Training

Healthcare

Security

Total FM

Maintenance

Single service with 
a fixed monthly 
fee subject to 
non-performance 
deductions

To provide the service 
(eg cleaning) for a 
period of time to a 
specified performance 
level (eg KPIs)

Bundled services 
with a fixed monthly 
fee subject to 
non-performance 
deductions

Service at schedule 
of rates (hours or 
tasks)

Services are sufficiently 
integrated to be 
considered as one 
overall performance 
obligation (even if all 
were separated and 
recognised separately it 
would come to the same 
answer)

To provide the task 
or service (eg hour of 
security, change a light 
bulb)

Transaction price and 
allocation to performance 
obligations

Contract identifies 
a periodic fee 
(eg monthly) and 
calculations for 
performance 
deductions for 
performance. 
Appropriate allocation 
is fee less performance 
deductions

When are performance 
obligations met

As the service is 
provided (ie over 
time) (“The customer 
simultaneously receives 
and consumes the 
benefits provided by the 
entity’s performance as 
the entity performs” – 
IFRS 15 Para 35(a))

Differences from 
IAS 18 and IAS 11

No difference

Recognition under IFRS 15

Recognise over time 
- contracted monthly 
fee less actual or 
expected KPI deductions 
recognised in the month 
the service is provided

As above

As above

As above

No difference

Contract will identify 
a schedule of rates (eg 
per hour or per task 
delivered) for each 
performance obligation

As the hour of service 
is delivered or the task 
performed (ie at a point 
in time)

Recognise as the  
service/task is delivered 
at the contracted rate

No difference

128

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129129GovernanceFinancial StatementsStrategic ReportOverviewBusiness segmentTypes of revenuePerformance obligationsTransaction price and allocation to performance obligationsWhen are performance obligations metRecognition under IFRS 15Differences from IAS 18 and IAS 11Construction (UK and International)Construction contract with single completionTo construct an asset (as lead contractor this will necessitate the procuring of multiple sub-contract services but the offering to the customer is fully integrated with one overall performance obligation)Contract sum will be specified in the contract for the overall performance obligationPerformance obligation is delivered over time as the asset is constructed on land owned by the customer (“The entity’s performance creates or enhances an asset that the customer controls” – IFRS 15 Para 35 (b))Contract sum is recognised over time in line with the delivery of the constructed asset proportional to its stage of completion based on a measure of input or outputs (surveys of work performed by quantity surveyors)No differenceConstruction contract with variations and claimsAs aboveContract specifies original price but contract price now expected to be different as a result of agreed or unagreed variations and/or claims. Revenue recognition should be based on expected price but capped to ensure that it is “highly probable that a significant reversal of revenue will not occur once the uncertainty is resolved” As aboveContract sum plus additional consideration considered to be highly probable is recognised over time in line with the delivery of the constructed asset proportional to its stage of completion based on a measure of input or outputs (surveys of work performed by quantity surveyors)No difference (but arguable that evidential standard for recognition of claims and unagreed variations is higher – highly probable now required (see below)Construction contract with sectional completions or material variation to original contract resulting in separate obligationsConstructed asset is considered to consist of multiple performance obligations (eg contract to build six schools is six contracts to build a school)Overall price identified in contract with sub-completions possibly allocated. If not allocated a reasonable basis of apportionment used (eg tendered costs)As aboveContract sum on each sectional completion is recognised over time in line with the delivery of the constructed asset proportional to its stage of completion based on a measure of input or outputs (surveys of work performed by quantity surveyors)No differenceEquipment ServicesEquipment saleDelivery of specified equipment to the customerIdentified in contract or purchase orderAt point of delivery and acceptance by customerAt a point in time on delivery at the contracted priceNo differenceEquipment rental Availability of specified equipment for a period of timeAs aboveOver time across the rental period (“The customer simultaneously receives and consumes the benefits provided by the entity’s performance as the entity performs” – IFRS 15 Para 35(a))Recognise contracted price straight-line over the rental periodNo differenceAs can be seen, by far the majority of our revenue is already recognised on principles consistent with IFRS 15 with service revenues discretely identifiable as amounts paid, or to be paid, for specific time periods of service delivery or on a schedule of rates for specific services. The revenue for these services has always been accounted for in the period that the service, or performance obligation, is delivered. In respect of construction contracts, revenue will continue to be recognised on a basis proportional to stage of completion and where contracts, either from the start or by subsequent variation, include separable obligations they are accounted for on a sectional completion basis (effectively treating each obligation as its own contract for revenue recognition purposes with revenue recognised proportional to delivery for each obligation separately). Revenue in the Equipment Services business is accounted for at the point of delivery for sales or straight-line over the period that the customer retains the equipment if on a rental basis.The review identified the following possible exceptions where a more detailed review of potential implications of IFRS 15 was conducted:• Long-term service contracts with declining fixed-fee income. The Group has a handful of contracts where the fixed-fee element of income reduces over the lifetime of the contract. A closer inspection of the arrangements confirmed that in these instances the customer is also receiving an agreed reduced service over this time as opportunities are identified, and mutually agreed, to “value engineer” the service to a reduced level in line with the reducing revenue. If the customer does not agree to the service reductions, the income is not reduced. The contract income is therefore invoiced in proportion to the performance obligation delivered and it is appropriate to recognise revenue in line with invoiced income.FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Notes to the consolidated financial statements continued
for the year ended 31 December 2017

1.  Basis of preparation and accounting policies continued

(a)  Adoption of new and revised standards continued
•  Long-term service contracts with variable or performance-related income. A small number of our contracts see a transition 
over their lifetime from predominantly fixed-fee income to a mixture of fixed-fee and performance-related income in 
the latter parts of the contract. We have reviewed expected whole-life contract income relative to weighted volume 
deliverables and are satisfied that cumulative contract revenue recognised to date is materially proportional to the extent of 
the obligations delivered and that no material adjustment is necessary on the adoption of IFRS 15. This assessment includes 
an extrapolation from current volume and performance metrics.

•  Recognition of claims on construction contracts. As noted above, IFRS 15 introduces a new criterion for recognition of 
variable income and such revenue should only be recognised to the “extent that it is highly probable that a significant 
reversal in the amount of cumulative revenue recognised will not occur when the uncertainty associated with the variable 
consideration is subsequently resolved”. The Group has performed a thorough accounting review in the period, with the 
support of PwC, and the directors are satisfied that, in their judgement at this time, values recognised to date already 
materially meet this criterion under existing accounting standards. That is not to say that there is not judgement or 
estimates involved, and associated risk, but that the amounts recognised are felt to be the expected, or in some instances 
the most likely, amount to be recovered.

•  Mobilisation costs. Such costs are expensed as incurred unless they relate to property, plant and equipment or there is a 

contractual right of recovery from the customer.

•  Design costs on equipment rental projects. The design element of projects is not considered to be a separable performance 
obligation but rather an integrated obligation along with the availability of the physical equipment. We do not provide 
designs for other suppliers’ equipment and others do not provide designs for our equipment and the design is not therefore 
capable of being separated.

In summary, we have concluded that the adoption of IFRS 15 is not expected to have a material impact on our approach 
to revenue recognition and that we do not currently anticipate any material adjustments on adoption to either the income 
statement or net assets. The Group is still, however, considering the implications of some of its more complex contracts.

IFRS 16 Leases
The new standard will replace IAS 17 Leases. It will become effective for accounting periods on or after 1 January 2019, at the 
earliest. It will require nearly all leases to be recognised on the balance sheet as liabilities, including those currently recognised 
as operating leases, with corresponding assets being created. The existing operating lease commitments of the Group are 
disclosed in note 24(b). The Group is conducting a systematic review to quantify the exact impact of adoption of the standard.

Except for IFRS 9, IFRS 15 and IFRS 16 noted above, the directors do not currently anticipate that the adoption of any other 
standard and interpretation that has been issued but is not yet effective will have a material impact on the financial statements 
of the Group in future periods.

(b)  Critical accounting judgements and key sources of estimation and uncertainty

In the preparation of the consolidated financial statements management makes certain judgements and estimates that 
impact the financial statements. While these judgements and estimates are continually reviewed the facts and circumstances 
underlying them may change and that could impact the results of the Group. In particular:

Judgements

Glasgow Energy from Waste (EfW) plant – significant judgements
In July 2012 Interserve was appointed by Viridor as the EPC contractor for the construction of the Glasgow EfW plant. 
In December 2016 this contract was terminated by the client.

The Company has made a number of key judgements on the out-turn of various issues arising from the Glasgow EfW contract, 
the principal ones being:

•  The Company will make further significant recoveries from professional indemnity insurers.

 ◦

The Company is currently engaged in negotiating a number of professional indemnity (PI) claims with our insurers. The 
claims relate to design failures by the key sub-contractors responsible for the odour-control system and the power plant. 
These failures gave rise to additional costs and delays and were the greatest cause of both the losses recorded on this 
project and the termination of the contract by the client. 

130130

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131131GovernanceFinancial StatementsStrategic ReportOverview ◦Glasgow EfW has been a significantly loss-making contract for Interserve and, as required under IAS 11, a forward loss provision was recognised in 2016. This forward loss provision assumes significant insurance recoveries under these PI claims. Failure to achieve this will result in an increased loss on the contract. A significant cash receipt, in excess of £20 million, which was allocated as a series of part payments against a number of the aspects of these claims, was received in December 2017. ◦The directors have prepared the 2017 accounts on the basis of the judgement that these further significant PI insurance receipts will be received. The majority of the events have been accepted in principle by the insurers and the claims are robust, well supported and well developed. Some payments have already been received and positive discussions are continuing. • Final account settlement will crystallise within current expected parameters. ◦The judgements in this regard have been based upon appropriate legal and technical advice and the directors regard them as appropriate. The directors are hopeful of achieving a negotiated settlement with the client but, failing this, arbitration is likely which carries further uncertainty. Derby EfW plant – significant judgementsInterserve is currently involved in the construction of an EfW plant on behalf of Derby City and County Councils. The contract for the construction and operation of this plant was awarded to a special-purpose vehicle (SPV), formed as a 50:50 joint venture between Interserve and Renewi, in August 2014. This SPV subsequently awarded an Engineer Procure Construct (EPC) contract to Interserve Construction for the construction of the Derby EfW plant. The Company has taken a number of key judgements on the contractual out-turn on the Derby EfW plant, the principal ones being:• The contract will complete within the current projected timescale and current allowances around contractual cost to complete, exposure to liquidated damages and required levels of warranty provision are adequate. ◦Construction and commissioning at Derby are expected to complete by H1 2018 with the contract having incurred >90% of the total cost to complete as at the end of February 2018. Failure to meet this timeframe will result in increased labour and sub-contractor costs and an increased exposure to liquidated damages (LDs).  ◦Post the completion of commissioning Interserve will retain a defects liability for up to two years. The current cost to complete estimate for Derby waste includes an allowance for maintenance costs over this period, representing the best estimate by management of the future liability. •  The Company has, as yet, not recognised any material value for PI insurance claims relating to the construction of the Derby EfW plant. ◦This contract has been significantly loss-making and, as required under IAS 11, a forward loss provision has been taken. This forward loss provision does not assume significant insurance recoveries from PI insurance claims. Interserve considers that, as for Glasgow EfW, there will ultimately be significant PI recoveries on Derby Waste. A notification has been made to the PI insurer of claims. These centre around alleged design negligence of key sub-contractors and are conceptually similar to those on Glasgow. The majority of the PI claims by value are expected to focus on design deficiencies around the Advanced Conversion Facility (ACF) power plant.  ◦Although the directors believe these claims will ultimately be successful they have not included the benefit of any material recoveries from these claims in their estimation of the net loss on the project. The PI claims on Derby Waste are at an earlier stage of development than those on Glasgow. Additionally, unlike Glasgow, no cash has yet been received from the PI insurers. As such the directors do not consider the claims are yet sufficiently well progressed to recognise material value. The directors will revisit this judgement in 2018 as the claims continue to progress.Dunbar, Margam and Rotherham EfW plants – ongoing viability of joint-venture partnerInterserve is currently constructing EfW plants at three other sites (Dunbar, Margam and Rotherham) in joint venture with Babcock & Wilcox Volund (BWV). Both Interserve and BWV are jointly and severally liable under the terms of these contracts. For each plant the JV partners have an agreement in place cross indemnifying each other against different aspects of the risks of construction, the substance of which is to transfer engineering process risk onto BWV and risk around the civil engineering aspects of construction onto Interserve. The obligations of BWV are guaranteed by their ultimate parent, Babcock & Wilcox Enterprises Inc (BW). A financial failure of BW could result in the negation of these cross-indemnity agreements, with Interserve required to assume full responsibility for all aspects of construction. This would include the engineering process risk and all associated accrued liabilities and costs.FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Notes to the consolidated financial statements continued
for the year ended 31 December 2017

1.  Basis of preparation and accounting policies continued
(b)  Critical accounting judgements and key sources of estimation and uncertainty continued

Judgements continued
In March 2018 BW released Q4 2017 results prepared on a going concern basis. These results noted uncertainties relating to 
the ongoing financing of BW but also contained details of the steps in place, including an underwritten share issue and asset 
disposals, to remedy these uncertainties. Although noting the signs of financial strain on BW the directors of Interserve continue 
to believe it is an appropriate judgement to assume they will remain a solvent counterparty.

Future losses on the Ministry of Justice CRC contracts will fall within provided levels
Interserve is involved in providing probation and rehabilitation services to the Ministry of Justice (MoJ). These services are 
provided via five community rehabilitation companies (CRCs) each of which holds a contract to provide services in a given 
geographic area. These contracts provide a number of ways to measure the level of services provided by Interserve, chief 
among which is the Weighted Annual Volume (WAV) level.

The historic WAV level of services provided by two of the CRCs are at a level that triggers a contractual right for those CRCs to 
renegotiate the contract price payable for April 2018 onwards. Interserve has accordingly opened discussions with the MoJ. In 
addition, various other commercial issues associated with all five of the contracts are currently under discussion with the MoJ.

The 2017 financial statements have been prepared in the expectation that the commercial issues currently under discussion 
with the MoJ will be resolved by reaching a settlement with the MoJ or determined by means of the dispute resolution 
procedure. This judgement results in four of the five contracts being loss-making, and the remaining one being marginally 
profitable, over the remaining life of the contracts. A forward loss provision has accordingly been booked in the 2017 financial 
statements for the loss-making contracts.

The directors consider this judgement to be appropriate, based on their expectations of reaching a suitable settlement with the 
MoJ or, if necessary, obtaining a determination under the dispute resolution procedure. It is difficult to predict with accuracy 
what the final value will be of the matters being discussed with the MoJ as negotiations remain at an early stage and the range 
of potential outcomes remains wide.

Future losses on the US Forces Prime contract will fall within provided levels
Interserve is involved in providing facilities management and other services to the US Forces Prime via a contract with the UK 
Ministry of Defence. Currently this contract is loss-making and as part of the contract review carried out in 2017, a significant 
forward loss provision was taken. The measurement of potential future liability is complicated with negotiations underway to 
potentially de-scope certain services and contractual claims by Interserve also underway. The forward loss provision recognised 
is based on the mostly likely final outcome, and is considered appropriate by the directors, but negotiations remain at an early 
stage and the range of potential outcomes remains wide.

The Group will make asset disposals in 2018
This judgement applies principally to the assessments of viability and going concern, see the Financial Review for further 
details.

The strategic plan assumes a level of asset disposals in 2018; these are discussed in more detail in the viability statement. These 
disposals reflect the ongoing Group strategic priorities around reduction in overall net debt and disposal of non-core activities 
and assets. In the light of prior-year asset disposals, including fixed-asset disposals, achieved, the directors consider this 
judgement appropriate. The Group remains in constructive negotiations around disposals of a number of non-core assets.

Retirement benefit obligations
The Group has assessed that no further liability arises under IFRIC 14 IAS 19 - The limit on a defined benefit asset, minimum 
funding requirements and their interaction. This conclusion was reached because the trustees of the Interserve Pension 
Scheme, which represented 97% of the Group’s total defined benefit obligations at 31 December 2017, do not have a unilateral 
power to wind up the schemes and the schemes’ rules allow the Group an unconditional right to refunds assuming the gradual 
settlement of plan liabilities over time until all members have left the scheme.

Judgement is also exercised in establishing the fair value of retirement benefit assets, most notably the valuation of the buy-in 
contract to insure some of the benefits of a subset of the pension membership of the scheme provided by the insurer. This 
requires judgement of the proportion of the buy-in contract that exactly matches the amount and timing of benefits payable 
and the choice of an appropriate valuation technique in accordance with IFRS 13.

132132

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133133GovernanceFinancial StatementsStrategic ReportOverviewNon-underlying item presentationIAS 1 requires material items to be disclosed separately in a way that enables users to assess the quality of a company’s profitability. In practice, these are commonly referred to as ‘exceptional’ or ‘non-underlying’ items, but this is not a concept defined by IFRS and therefore there is a level of judgement involved in determining what to include in headline profit. We consider items which are non-recurring and significant in size or in nature to be suitable for separate presentation (see note 5).Estimates and uncertaintyRevenue and margin recognitionDetermining the amount of any revenue to be recognised, costs to complete and assessment of any other costs arising, the impact of any changes in scope of work, together with the level of recoverable work-in-progress and receivables requires significant management judgements and estimates. The policy for revenue recognition on long-term construction and service contracts is set out in notes 1(d) and (e). As acknowledged in note 1(e), no margin is recognised on construction contracts until the outcome of the contract can be assessed with reasonable certainty - this assessment in itself is highly judgemental (and is generally not achieved until the project has achieved substantial progress). This assessment is aided by the use of benchmark, but rebuttable, assumptions that are used to aid consistency but remain subject to regular management challenge and review for appropriateness.Further estimates are made on an ongoing basis with regard to the recoverability of amounts due from customers and other relevant parties, liabilities arising and the requirement for forward loss provisions. Regular forecasts are compiled on the outcomes of these types of contracts (including variations and claims), which require assessments and estimates relating to the value of work performed, changes in work scopes, contract programmes and maintenance obligations. In the current period a particular focus has been judgements of this nature relating to estimates made in respect of our exited EfW business (see note 5).For contracts in the Equipment Services division, where revenue is recognised on either the sale of equipment or over the period of an equipment hire, the key accounting judgements and estimates relate to whether the appropriate cut-off for sales and period of hire has been applied and the recoverability of receivables.Measurement of impairment of goodwill and intangible assetsAs set out in notes 1(b) and (h) the carrying value of goodwill and intangible assets is reviewed for impairment at least annually. In determining whether goodwill is impaired an estimation of the value in use of the cash generating unit (CGU) to which the goodwill has been allocated is required. This calculation of value in use requires estimates to be made relating to the timing and amount of future cash flows expected from the CGU, and suitable discount rates based on the Group’s weighted average cost of capital adjusted to reflect the specific economic environment of the relevant CGU.These estimates have been used in the year to calculate a £60.0 million impairment against the goodwill held in respect of Support Services but are judgemental in nature.Retirement benefit obligationsIn accordance with IAS 19 Employee benefits, the Group has disclosed in note 29 the assumptions used in calculating the defined benefit obligations. In the calculation a number of assumptions around future salary increases, increase in pension benefits, mortality rates, inflation and discount rates have been made. Small changes in these assumptions can lead to significant changes to the overall scheme liabilities, as disclosed in note 29.(c) Restatement of comparativesThe new management team, with the approval of the Audit Committee, commissioned a comprehensive Contract Review, with the independent support of PwC, which reviewed the most material balance sheet judgements in relation to long-term contract accounting, accrued income, work-in-progress and mobilisation. This Contract Review identified the need for additional balance sheet writedowns principally in relation to work-in-progress and receivables. In the main these adjustments relate to contracts that were substantially complete at the end of last year but where additional information has come to light since last year’s financial statements were signed. The Contract Review also identified the need for additional provisions in respect of loss-making or onerous contracts. The impact of the Contract Review is presented as non-underlying items (see note 5) and is excluded from the calculation of headline earnings per share (see note 11). The presentation of comparative information has been restated to be consistent with this presentation. There is no impact on comparative net assets or statutory profit before taxation.FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Notes to the consolidated financial statements continued
for the year ended 31 December 2017

1.  Basis of preparation and accounting policies continued
Accounting policies 

Interserve Plc (the Company) is a company incorporated in the United Kingdom under the Companies Act 2006. The consolidated 
financial statements comprise the Company and its subsidiaries (together referred to as the Group) and the Group’s interest 
in joint ventures and associates. These financial statements are presented in pounds sterling which is the currency of the 
primary economic environment in which the Group operates. Foreign operations are included in accordance with the policies 
set out below.

These financial statements have been prepared on a historical cost basis, except for the revaluation of certain financial 
instruments.

The financial statements are prepared on a going concern basis. As disclosed on page 44 the directors believe that the Group 
has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future.

The significant accounting policies adopted by the directors are set out below and have been applied consistently in dealing 
with items which are considered material to the Group’s financial statements.

(a)  Basis of consolidation

The Group financial statements incorporate the financial statements of the Company and entities controlled by the Company 
(its subsidiaries). The results, assets and liabilities of associates and joint-venture entities are accounted for under the equity 
method of accounting. The results of subsidiaries acquired or disposed of during the year are included from the effective date 
of acquisition or until the effective date of disposal respectively.

Non-controlling interests in the net assets of the consolidated subsidiaries are identified separately from the Group’s equity 
interest therein. Non-controlling interests consist of those interests at the date of the original business combination and the 
minority’s share of the changes in equity since the date of the combination.

All intra-group transactions, balances, income and expenses are eliminated on consolidation.

Where necessary, adjustments are made to the financial statements of the associates, joint ventures and any newly acquired 
subsidiaries to bring their accounting policies into line with those used by the Group. When an entity has an accounting 
reference date other than 31 December, due to the influence of a co-shareholder or customer requirements, the consolidation 
includes management accounts, prepared using these Group accounting policies, drawn up for the year ended 31 December.

Where a Group company is party to a jointly-controlled operation, that company proportionately accounts for its share of 
the income and expenditure, assets, liabilities and cash flows on a line-by-line basis. Such arrangements are reported in the 
consolidated financial statements on the same basis.

(b)  Business combinations

Business combinations are accounted for using the acquisition accounting method. The cost of the acquisition is measured at the 
aggregate of the fair values, at the date of acquisition, of assets given, liabilities incurred or assumed and equity instruments 
issued by the Group in exchange for control of the acquired company. The acquired company’s identifiable assets, liabilities 
and contingent liabilities are recognised at their fair value as at the acquisition date. Before the adoption of IFRS 3 (revised), 
the cost of acquisition included any costs directly attributable to the business combination. Costs incurred on acquisitions 
completed since 1 January 2010, the date of adoption of the revision to IFRS 3, are expensed.

Goodwill arising on consolidation represents the excess of the cost of acquisition over the Group’s interest in the fair value 
of the identifiable assets and liabilities of a subsidiary at the date of acquisition. Goodwill is recognised as an asset and 
reviewed for impairment at least annually. Any impairment is recognised immediately in the income statement and is not 
subsequently reversed.

On disposal of a subsidiary, associate or jointly-controlled entity, the attributable amount of goodwill is included in the 
determination of the profit or loss on disposal.

Goodwill arising on acquisitions before the date of transition to IFRS has been retained at the previous UK GAAP value at that 
date, subject to being subsequently tested for impairment. Goodwill written off to reserves under UK GAAP prior to 1998 
has not been reinstated and is not included in determining any subsequent profit or loss on disposal. Goodwill arising on the 
acquisition of shares in associated undertakings is included within investments in associated undertakings.

The level of non-controlling interests in the acquired company is initially measured at the minorities’ proportion of the net fair 
value of the assets, liabilities and contingent liabilities recognised.

134134

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135135GovernanceFinancial StatementsStrategic ReportOverview(c) Foreign currencyTransactions denominated in foreign currency are translated at the rates ruling at the dates of the transactions.Monetary assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies at the balance sheet date are translated at the rates ruling at that date. These translation differences are dealt with in the profit for the year.The financial results and cash flows of foreign subsidiaries, associated undertakings and joint ventures are translated into sterling at the average rate of exchange for the year. The balance sheets are translated into sterling at the closing rate of exchange, and the difference arising from the translation of the opening net assets and financial results for the year at the closing rate is taken directly to other comprehensive income.(d) Revenue Revenue is measured at the fair value of the consideration received or receivable for goods and services provided, net of trade discounts, value added and similar sales based taxes, after eliminating revenue within the Group.Revenue is recognised as follows:• Construction contracts – by reference to services performed to date as a percentage of total services to be performed (see note 1 (e)).• Service contracts – the value of work carried out during the year as services are provided, including amounts not invoiced. Service contracts are billed as work is performed on either a fixed monthly fee plus additional services performed during the month (on a schedule of rates), or hours worked/tasks performed, again on a schedule of rates basis, in the month. As service contracts may be based on hours of work performed, and this information is processed from timesheets, accruing of income at the period end is necessary with invoicing occurring shortly afterwards. Some client billing arrangements do not coincide with month end or we are contractually entitled to invoice in advance and such income is deferred and recognised in the period in which it is earned. Expected losses are recognised immediately.• Equipment sales – at the time of delivery.• Equipment hire – on a straight-line basis over the hire period in accordance with contractual arrangements.(e) Construction contract accounting Where the outcome of a contract can be estimated reliably, revenue and costs are recognised by reference to the stage of completion of the contract activity at the balance sheet date (determined by surveys of work performed by quantity surveyors in conjunction with clients). Where the outcome of a contract cannot be estimated reliably, revenue is only recognised to the extent that it is probable that it will be recoverable. Revenue in respect of variations to contracts and incentive payments is recognised when it is probable it will be agreed by the customer. Revenue in respect of claims is recognised when negotiations have reached an advanced stage such that it is probable that the customer will accept the claim and the probable amount can be measured reliably. Profit is only recognised on a construction contract when the final outcome can be assessed with reasonable certainty. Expected losses are recognised immediately.(f) Other intangible assetsIntangible assets acquired as part of an acquisition of a business are stated at fair value less accumulated amortisation and any impairment losses, provided that the fair value can be measured reliably on initial recognition.Operating software acquired as part of a related item of hardware is capitalised within property, plant and equipment along with the hardware acquired. Other software licences acquired are capitalised, along with the cost to bring the software into use, within intangible assets. Other intangible assets are amortised over their useful economic lives on a straight-line basis, typically between three and ten years. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Notes to the consolidated financial statements continued
for the year ended 31 December 2017

1.  Basis of preparation and accounting policies continued
(g)  Property, plant and equipment 

(i) 

 Owned property, plant and equipment – tangible fixed assets are carried at historical cost less any accumulated 
depreciation and any impairment losses. Properties in the course of construction are carried at cost less any recognised 
impairment loss. Depreciation is charged so as to write off the cost of assets to their presumed residual value over their 
expected useful lives. 

Depreciation is provided on a straight-line or reducing-balance basis at rates ranging between:  

Freehold land

Freehold buildings

Leasehold property

Straight line

Nil

2% to 7%

Over the period of the lease

Reducing balance

–

–

– 

Plant and equipment

10% to 50%

11.5% to 38% 

(ii)   Property, plant and equipment held under finance leases are capitalised and depreciated over their expected useful lives. 

The finance charges are allocated over the primary period of the lease in proportion to the capital element outstanding. 

(h)  Impairment of tangible and other intangible assets 

The Group reviews, at least annually, the carrying amounts of its tangible and intangible assets compared to their recoverable 
amounts to determine whether those assets have suffered an impairment loss (see note 12). Where an impairment loss 
subsequently reverses, the carrying amount of the asset is increased to the revised estimate of its recoverable amount, but so 
that the increased carrying amount does not exceed the carrying amount that would have been determined had no impairment 
loss been recognised for the asset in prior years. 

(i) 

Investments  

Investments are held at fair value at the balance sheet date. Investments are financial assets and are classified as fair value 
through the profit or loss. Gains or losses arising from the changes in fair value are included in the income statement in the 
period in which they arise. 

(j) 

Inventories 

Inventories are stated at the lower of cost and net realisable value. The cost of inventories is calculated using the weighted 
average method. Net realisable value represents the estimated selling price less all estimated costs of completion and costs to 
be incurred in marketing, selling and distribution. 

(k)  Borrowing costs

Project-specific finance costs are capitalised until the asset becomes operational. All other borrowing costs are recognised in 
the income statement using the effective interest method. 

(l)  PFI bid costs and other pre-contract costs 

Other pre-contract costs are recognised as expenses as incurred, except that directly attributable costs are recognised as 
an asset when it is virtually certain that a contract will be obtained and the contract is expected to result in future net cash 
inflows. Virtual certainty of a contract award is a subjective assessment, but normally arises on appointment as preferred 
bidder or notification from the prospective customer of their intent to appoint Interserve. 

(m)  Leases 

Leases are classified as finance leases whenever the terms of the lease transfer substantially all risks and rewards of ownership 
to the lessee. All other leases are classified as operating leases. 

Finance leases are capitalised at the inception of the lease at the fair value of the leased property or, if lower, at the present 
value of the minimum lease payments. Lease payments are apportioned between the finance charges and the reduction of the 
lease liability so as to achieve a constant rate of interest on the remaining balance of the liability. Finance charges are reflected 
in the income statement. 

Operating lease payments are recognised as an expense in the income statement on a straight-line basis over the lease term. 

136136

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137137GovernanceFinancial StatementsStrategic ReportOverview(n) 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 an outflow of resources embodying economic benefits will be required to settle the obligation and a reliable estimate can be made of the amount of the obligation. The expense relating to any provision is presented in the income statement net of any reimbursement. If the effect of the time value of money is material, provisions are discounted using an appropriate rate that takes into account the risks specific to the liability. Where discounting is used, the increase in the provision due to the passage of time is recognised as a finance cost. (o) Financial instruments  Trade receivables Trade receivables are initially measured at fair value. Appropriate allowances for estimated irrecoverable amounts are recognised in the income statement where there is objective evidence that the asset is impaired. Trade receivables are financial assets and classified as loans and receivables. Cash and deposits Cash and deposits comprise cash on hand and 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. Cash and deposits are financial assets and are classified as loans and receivables. Borrowings Interest-bearing bank loans and overdrafts are recorded at the proceeds received, net of direct issue costs. Finance charges, including premiums payable on settlement or redemption and direct issue costs, are accounted for on an accruals basis in the income statement and are added to the carrying amount of the instrument to the extent that they are not settled in the period in which they arise. Borrowings are measured at amortised cost. Trade payables Trade payables are other financial liabilities initially measured at fair value and subsequently measured at amortised cost using the effective interest rate method. Equity instruments Equity instruments issued by the Company are recorded at the proceeds received, net of direct issue costs. Derivative financial instruments and hedge accounting Financial assets and financial liabilities are recognised on the Group’s balance sheet when the Group becomes a party to the contractual provisions of the instrument. Transactions in derivative financial instruments are for risk management purposes only. The Group uses derivative financial instruments to hedge its exposure to interest rate and foreign currency risk. To the extent that such instruments are matched to underlying assets or liabilities, they are accounted for using hedge accounting. Derivatives are initially recognised at fair value at the date a derivative contract is taken out and subsequently remeasured at fair value at each balance sheet date. Changes in fair value of derivative instruments that are designated as, and effective as, hedges of future cash flows and net investments are recognised directly in the other comprehensive income statement. Any ineffective portion is recognised immediately in the income statement. Amounts deferred in other comprehensive income are recycled through the income statement in the same period in which the underlying hedged item is recognised in the income statement. However, when the transaction that is being hedged results in a non-financial asset or non-financial liability, the gains and losses previously accumulated in other comprehensive income are transferred from other comprehensive income and included in the initial measurement of the cost of that asset or liability. Hedge accounting is discontinued when the hedging instrument expires or is sold, terminated, or exercised, or no longer qualifies for hedge accounting. Any cumulative gain or loss on the hedging instrument recognised in other comprehensive income at that time is retained in other comprehensive income until the forecast transaction occurs. If a hedged transaction is no longer expected to occur, any cumulative gain or loss recognised in other comprehensive income is transferred to the income statement for the period. Changes in fair value of derivative instruments that do not qualify for hedge accounting, or have not been designated as hedges, are recognised in the income statement as they arise. These derivative instruments are designated as fair value through the profit or loss (FVTPL). FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Notes to the consolidated financial statements continued
for the year ended 31 December 2017

1.  Basis of preparation and accounting policies continued
(o)  Financial instruments continued

Derivative financial instruments and hedge accounting continued
Derivatives embedded in other financial instruments or other host contracts are treated as separate derivatives when their 
economic risks and characteristics are not closely related to those of the host contracts and the host contracts are not carried 
at fair value. 

(p)  Share-based payments

The Group has applied the requirements of IFRS 2 Share-based payment. 

The Group issues share-based payments to certain employees. The fair value determined at the grant date is expensed on 
a straight-line basis over the vesting period, based on the Group’s estimate of shares that will eventually vest. Fair value is 
measured by use of an appropriate valuation model. The Black-Scholes option pricing model has been used to value the share 
option plans and the Sharesave Scheme. A stochastic model has been used to value the Performance Share Plan. 

(q)  PFI projects

Treatment on consolidation  
The Group’s investments in PFI jointly-controlled entities (“Joint ventures - PFI Investments”) are accounted for under the 
equity method. 

Treatment in the underlying joint-venture entity 
The joint-venture entities have determined the appropriate treatment of the principal assets of, and income streams from, PFI 
and similar contracts. The balance of risks and rewards derived from the underlying assets is not borne by the entities, and 
therefore the asset provided is accounted for as a financial asset and is classified as available-for-sale. 

Income is recognised on PFI projects both as operating revenue and interest income: a proportion of total cash receivable is 
allocated to operating revenue by means of a margin on service costs taking account of operational risks, and interest income 
on the financial asset is recognised in the income statement using the effective interest method. The residual element is 
allocated to the amortisation of the financial asset. 

The fair value of the financial asset is measured at each balance sheet date by computing the discounted future value of the 
cash flow allocated to the financial asset. Discount rates are determined using long-term interest rates, subject to a floor, plus 
risk factors specific to individual projects. 

Gains and losses arising from changes in the fair value of available-for-sale financial assets are recognised directly in other 
comprehensive income until the asset is disposed of or is determined to be impaired, at which time the cumulative gain or loss 
previously recognised in other comprehensive income is included in the income statement for the period. 

(r)  Pensions

The Group has both defined benefit and defined contribution pension schemes for the benefit of permanent members of staff. 
For the defined benefit schemes the cost of providing benefits is determined using the projected unit credit method, with 
actuarial valuations being carried out at each balance sheet date. 

Actuarial gains and losses are recognised in full in the period in which they occur. They are recognised directly in other 
comprehensive income and presented in the statement of comprehensive income. 

For defined contribution schemes, the amount recognised in the income statement is equal to the contributions payable to the 
schemes during the year. 

(s)  Taxation

Current tax is provided at amounts expected to be paid (or recovered) using the tax rates and laws that have been enacted or 
substantively enacted by the balance sheet date. The Group’s research and development activities allow it to claim R&D tax 
credits from HMRC in respect of qualifying expenditure; these credits are reflected in the income statement in cost of sales. 
Deferred tax assets and liabilities are calculated at the rates at which they are likely to reverse in the tax jurisdiction to which 
they relate. 

Deferred tax is provided in full on temporary differences which arise between the carrying value of an asset or liability and its 
tax base. Deferred tax assets are recognised to the extent that it is probable that there will be sufficient profits in the future 
to enable the assets to be utilised and reviewed at least annually. Deferred tax liabilities are normally recognised for all taxable 
temporary differences. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are not discounted. 

138138

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139139GovernanceFinancial StatementsStrategic ReportOverviewDeferred tax is charged/credited to the income statement except to the extent that the underlying asset or liability is credited/charged to equity in which case the deferred tax follows that treatment to equity. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are offset when there is a legally enforceable right to set off current tax assets against current tax liabilities and when they relate to income taxes levied by the same taxation authority and the Group intends to settle its current tax assets and liabilities on a net basis. (t) Non-underlying itemsNon-underlying items are those that the Group considers to be non-recurring and significant in size or nature where it would aid the reader for such items to be presented separately. Non-underlying items include, but are not limited to: transaction and integration costs relating to the acquisition of businesses, material restructuring and professional adviser costs, non-recurring results of exited businesses and costs associated with significant strategic or contract reviews. 2. RevenueAn analysis of the Group’s revenue for the year is as follows:Revenue including share  of associates and joint venturesConsolidated revenue  2017201620172016£million£million£million£million      Continuing operationsProvision of services2,028.2 2,045.9 1,924.1 1,957.2 Revenue from construction contracts1,379.6 1,384.6 1,067.6 1,032.7 Equipment sales and rental income259.1 254.7 259.1 254.7       3,666.9 3,685.2 3,250.8 3,244.6       3. Business and geographical segments(a) Business segmentsThe Group is organised into three operating divisions, as set out below. Information reported to the Executive Board for the purposes of resource allocation and assessment of segment performance is based on the products and services provided.-  Support Services: provision of outsourced support services to public- and private-sector clients, both in the UK and internationally.- Construction: design, construction and maintenance of buildings and infrastructure, both in the UK and internationally.- Equipment Services: design, hire and sale of formwork, falsework and associated access equipment.Costs of central services, including the financial impact of our PFI investments, are shown in “Group Services”.FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Notes to the consolidated financial statements continued
for the year ended 31 December 2017

3.  Business and geographical segments continued
(a)  Business segments continued

Support Services - UK

Support Services - International

Support Services

Construction - UK

Construction - International

Construction

Equipment Services

Group Services

Inter-segment elimination

Revenue including share of 
associates and joint ventures

Consolidated revenue

Result

2017
£million

2016 #
£million

2017
£million

2016 #
£million

2017
£million

2016 #
£million

1,687.5

1,718.1

1,670.7

1,694.7

193.9 

267.9 

142.2 

211.9 

1,881.4

1,986.0

1,812.9

1,906.6

1,048.2 

290.5 

870.8 

296.9 

1,048.2 

870.8 

– 

–

1,338.7 

1,167.7 

1,048.2 

870.8 

229.0 

92.1 

(12.0)  

224.1 

81.3 

(50.1)  

229.0 

35.0 

(12.0)  

224.1 

17.0 

(50.1)  

38.9 

2.8 

41.7 

(19.4)  

19.2 

(0.2)  

54.4 

(21.0)  

– 

80.1

9.4 

89.5

25.2 

16.9 

42.1 

48.6 

(25.2)  

– 

Non-underlying items and amortisation of acquired 

intangible assets (note 5)

137.7

276.2

137.7

276.2

(299.7)  

(231.4)  

Revenue/total operating profit/(loss)

3,666.9 

3,685.2 

3,250.8 

3,244.6 

(224.8)  

(76.4)  

3,529.2

3,409.0

3,113.1

2,968.4

74.9 

155.0

Investment revenue

Finance costs

Profit/(loss) before tax

Tax

Profit/(loss) for the year

# restated (note 1)

Support Services - UK

Support Services - International

Support Services

Construction - UK

Construction - International

Construction

8.8 

(28.4)  

(244.4)  

(10.0)  

5.6 

(23.3)  

(94.1)  

(7.5)  

(254.4)  

(101.6)  

Segment assets

Segment liabilities

Net assets/(liabilities)    

2017
£million

423.1 

109.4 

2016
£million

372.4 

128.6 

2017
£million

2016
£million

2017
£million

2016
£million

(382.8)  

(383.5)  

(51.4)  

(73.4)  

40.3 

58.0 

98.3 

(11.1)  

55.2 

44.1 

532.5 

501.0 

(434.2)  

(456.9)  

231.5 

55.9 

255.4 

63.6 

(350.4)  

(434.6)  

(118.9)  

(179.2)  

– 

–

55.9 

63.6 

287.4 

319.0 

(350.4)  

(434.6)  

(63.0)  

(115.6)  

Equipment Services

255.1 

290.8 

(56.2)  

(64.4)  

198.9 

226.4 

Group Services, goodwill and acquired intangible assets

484.0 

553.9 

1,075.0 

1,110.8 

(840.8)  

(168.3)  

(955.9)  

(92.2)  

234.2 

315.7 

154.9 

461.7 

1,559.0 

1,664.7 

(1,009.1)  

(1,048.1)  

549.9 

616.6 

Net debt 

Net assets (excluding non-controlling interests)

(502.6)  

(274.4)  

47.3 

342.2 

140140

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141141GovernanceFinancial StatementsStrategic ReportOverviewDepreciation and amortisationAdditions to property, plant and equipment and intangible assets    2017201620172016£million£million£million£million      Support Services - UK13.512.4 23.3 29.5 Support Services - International3.9 4.5 1.1 2.1      Support Services17.416.9 24.4 31.6 Construction - UK3.0 3.1 0.7 3.7 Construction - International– –––     Construction3.0 3.1 0.7 3.7 Equipment Services17.6 17.8 16.3 28.4       38.037.8 41.4 63.7 Group Services24.7 31.1 15.7 5.5       62.768.9 57.1 69.2       (b) Geographical segmentsThe Support Services and Construction divisions are located in the United Kingdom and the Middle East. Equipment Services has operations in all of the geographic segments listed below.The following table provides an analysis of the Group’s sales by geographical market, irrespective of the origin of the goods/services:Revenue including share  of associates and joint venturesConsolidated revenueTotal operating profit   20172016 #20172016 #20172016 #£million£million£million£million£million£million         United Kingdom2,672.72,557.12,655.92,533.727.4 108.2Rest of Europe63.4 54.1 63.4 54.1 2.7 3.1 Middle East & Africa627.5 675.4 285.3 322.5 52.7 48.8 Australasia31.1 29.4 31.1 29.4 6.3 6.4 Far East16.8 26.0 16.8 26.0 4.6 11.7 Americas37.6 35.8 37.6 35.8 2.2 2.0 Group Services92.1 81.3 35.0 17.0 (21.0)  (25.2)  Inter-segment elimination(12.0)  (50.1)  (12.0)  (50.1)  ––         3,529.23,409.03,113.12,968.474.9 155.0Non-underlying items and amortisation of acquired intangible assets (note 5)137.7276.2137.7276.2(299.7)  (231.4)           3,666.9 3,685.2 3,250.8 3,244.6 (224.8)  (76.4)           # restated (note 1)FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Notes to the consolidated financial statements continued
for the year ended 31 December 2017

3.  Business and geographical segments continued
(b)  Geographical segments continued

United Kingdom

Rest of Europe

Middle East & Africa

Australasia

Far East

Americas

Group Services, goodwill and acquired intangible assets

Deferred tax asset

Non-current assets

2017
£million

137.9 

6.1 

177.7 

16.4 

13.3 

30.8 

398.7 

780.9 

23.4 

804.3 

2016
£million

124.8 

4.9 

186.6 

17.9 

17.8 

34.1 

505.2 

891.3 

18.6 

909.9 

Included in consolidated revenue above are revenues of approximately £90 million (2016: £106 million) which arose from sales to 
the Group’s largest contract customer.

4.  Profit for the year
Profit for the year has been arrived at after charging/(crediting): 

Depreciation of property, plant and equipment:

 On owned assets

 On assets held under finance leases

Amortisation of capitalised software development

Impairment of capitalised software development

Impairment of capitalised IT development costs

Gain on disposal of plant and equipment - hire fleet

Gain on disposal of plant and equipment - other

Amortisation of acquired intangible assets (subsidiary undertakings)

Amortisation of acquired intangible assets (associated undertakings)

Rentals under operating leases:

 Hire of plant and machinery

 Other lease rentals

Cost of inventories recognised in cost of sales

Staff costs 

Auditors’ remuneration for audit services (see overleaf)

Notes

2017
£million

2016
£million

14

14

13

13

14

13

15

6

38.6 

1.0 

1.6 

6.3

9.4

(22.2)  

(0.2)  

21.5 

0.1 

33.6 

49.4 

27.0 

1,147.0 

1.1 

36.8 

0.8 

1.4 

–

–

(16.0)  

– 

29.8 

0.1 

43.5 

44.4 

36.3 

1,153.7 

1.1 

142142

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143143GovernanceFinancial StatementsStrategic ReportOverviewA more detailed analysis of auditors’ remuneration on a worldwide basis is provided below:20172016£million£million   Fees payable to the Company's auditors for the audit of the Company's annual accounts0.2 0.2 The audit of the Company's subsidiaries pursuant to legislation0.9 0.9    Total audit fees1.1 1.1    Audit-related assurance services0.1 0.1 Other services– 0.1    Total non-audit fees0.1 0.2       Total fees paid to the Company's auditors1.2 1.3    An explanation of how auditor objectivity and independence is safeguarded when non-audit services are provided by the auditors is set out in the Audit Committee Report on page 67.FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Notes to the consolidated financial statements continued
for the year ended 31 December 2017

5.  Non-underlying items and amortisation of acquired intangible assets

Exited businesses1

2017

Strategic 
review of 
Equipment 
Services
£million

Energy from 
Waste
£million

48.6 

(81.6)  

4.5 

(7.2)  

(33.0)  

(2.7)  

(2.1)  

(4.4)  

Property 
development
£million

Restructuring 
costs
£million

Professional 
adviser fees
£million

Contract 
Review
£million

Asset 
impairments
£million

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

(0.4)  

(0.4)  

–

–

–

84.6

(156.9)  

(72.3)  

–

–

–

(32.8)  

(13.9)  

(9.2)  

(16.7)  

–

–

–

–

–

–

(32.8)  

(13.9)  

(9.2)  

–

(60.0)  

(76.7)  

(33.2)  

(13.9)  

(81.5)  

(76.7)  

–

–

(4.4)  

(7.1)  

–

–

(26.0)  

–

–

–

–

–

(4.6)  

–

–

–

Consolidated revenue

Cost of sales

Gross profit/(loss)

Administration expenses

Amortisation of acquired 

intangible assets

Impairment of goodwill

Total administration expenses

Operating profit/(loss)

Share of results of associates and 

joint ventures

Amortisation of acquired 

intangible assets of associates

–

–

(2.1)  

(35.1)  

–

–

Total operating profit/(loss)

(35.1)  

(7.1)  

(26.0)  

(33.2)  

(13.9)  

(86.1)  

(76.7)  

Net finance costs

Total profit/(loss) 

Tax on non-underlying items

Prior period adjustments

Amortisation of acquired 

intangible assets

Tax on non-underlying items

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

(35.1)  

(7.1)  

(26.0)  

(33.2)  

(13.9)  

(86.1)  

(76.7)  

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

(5.5)  

–

(5.5)  

Foreign 
exchange 
gain/
(loss) on 
retranslation 
of loan 
notes
£million

Amortisation 
of acquired 
intangible 
assets
£million

Total
£million

137.7

(246.1)  

(108.4)  

(79.1)  

(21.5)  

(60.0)  

–

–

–

–

(21.5)  

–

(21.5)  

(160.6)  

(21.5)  

(269.0)  

–

(30.6)  

(0.1)  

(0.1)  

(21.6)  

(299.7)  

–

2.9 

(21.6)  

(296.8)  

–

(5.5)  

3.6 

3.6 

3.6 

(1.9)  

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

2.9 

2.9 

–

–

–

Profit/(loss) after taxation

(35.1)  

(7.1)  

(26.0)  

(33.2)  

(13.9)  

(86.1)  

(82.2)  

2.9 

(18.0)  

(298.7)  

144144

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145145GovernanceFinancial StatementsStrategic ReportOverview2016 #  Exited businesses1Foreign exchange gain/(loss) on retranslation of loan notes   Energy from WasteStrategic review of Equipment ServicesProperty developmentRestructuring costsProfessional adviser feesContract ReviewAsset impairmentsAmortisation of acquired intangible assetsTotal£million£million£million£million£million£million£million£million£million£million           Consolidated revenue91.0 4.3 – – – 180.9– – – 276.2Cost of sales(251.0)  (2.1)  – – – (170.6)  – – – (423.7)             Gross profit/(loss)(160.0)  2.2 – – – 10.3– – – (147.5)  Administration expenses– (12.9)  – – – (37.9)  – – – (50.8)  Amortisation of acquired intangible assets– – – – – – – – (29.8)  (29.8)  Impairment of goodwill– – – – – – – – – – Total administration expenses– (12.9)  – – – (37.9)  – – (29.8)  (80.6)             Operating profit/(loss)(160.0)  (10.7)  – – – (27.6)  – – (29.8)  (228.1)  Share of results of associates and joint ventures– – – – – (3.2)  – – – (3.2)  Amortisation of acquired intangible assets of associates– – – – – – – – (0.1)  (0.1)             Total operating profit/(loss)(160.0)  (10.7)  – – – (30.8)  – – (29.9)  (231.4)  Net finance costs– – – – – – – – – –            Total profit/(loss) (160.0)  (10.7)  – – – (30.8)  – – (29.9)  (231.4)             Tax on non-underlying itemsPrior period adjustments– – – – – – – – – – Amortisation of acquired intangible assets– – – – – – – – 4.7 4.7            Tax on non-underlying items– – – – – – – – 4.7 4.7            Profit/(loss) after taxation(160.0)  (10.7)  – – – (30.8)  – – (25.2)  (226.7)             1  The construction of Energy from Waste facilities, where there was contractual responsibility taken for process risk, and business streams exited as a result of the strategic review of Equipment Services and the decision to exit property development, along with directly associated costs, are considered to be Exited Businesses. Exited Businesses are presented as non-underlying items and are excluded from the calculation of headline earnings per share (reflecting their material and non-recurring nature). The Exited Businesses do not meet the definition of discontinued operations as stipulated by IFRS 5 Non-current assets held for sale and discontinued operations because the business has not been disposed of and there are no assets classified as held for sale. Accordingly the disclosures within non-underlying items differ from those applicable for discontinued operations.# restated (note 1)FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Notes to the consolidated financial statements continued
for the year ended 31 December 2017

5.  Non-underlying items and amortisation of acquired intangible assets continued
Exit from Energy from Waste

During 2016 we took the decision to exit business where we take contractual responsibility for process risk on the construction 
of Energy from Waste facilities. This Exited Business comprises six contracts with aggregate whole-life revenues of £430 million 
that we entered into between mid-2012 and early 2015. These contracts, most notably the project in Glasgow, have been 
impacted by issues relating to the design, procurement and installation of the gasification plant. Progress on these issues was 
adversely affected by sub-contractor insolvencies and the consequential impacts on project timing and costs. During 2016 we 
recognised a non-underlying loss of £160 million and restated 2015 comparatives to show a gross loss of £21.5 million. These 
losses reflected costs incurred to that date, estimates of costs to complete, and damages. This was stated net of expectations 
for further contractual income entitlements from our customers and recoveries from professional indemnity insurance policies 
on a number of separate issues relating to design. 

During 2017 a further £35.1 million of losses have been recognised on these contracts, taking the aggregate 2015-17 losses to 
£216.6 million. As previously stated, these losses reflect costs incurred to date, estimates of costs to complete, and damages. 
This is stated net of expectations for further contractual income entitlements from our customers and recoveries from 
professional indemnity insurance policies on a number of separate issues relating to design. During 2017 significant insurance 
payments were received in respect of claims on the Glasgow project. The receipt of further insurance income remains a key 
judgement for the Group, see note 1 to the financial statements for further details on key judgements. The increase in loss 
from 2016 is predominantly due to an acceleration of certain projects to achieve key milestone dates.

We continue to expect to complete substantially all of our works during 2018 and that the impact of these contracts will be 
contained within the non-underlying losses recognised to date. We expect cash flow during 2018 to be broadly neutral over the 
full year. There is likely to be a substantial cash outflow in the first half of the year, as construction continues on these projects, 
which is expected to be offset by insurance and other recoveries in the second half of the year. These amounts are inherently 
judgemental but are based on legal and professional advice received and reflect our current best estimates of the most 
probable net outflows. We will vigorously pursue our legal entitlements in closing these contracts out. Managing the challenges 
of exiting from these complex projects remains the sole priority for the large, experienced team of commercial, operational and 
legal experts we have deployed and will remain an area of critical focus for the Board during 2018.

Strategic review of Equipment Services

Consistent with the disclosure at last year end, further closure costs of £7.1 million (2016: £10.7 million) in the year resulted 
from the strategic review of Equipment Services and the decision to exit a number of smaller less attractive markets. This 
brings total costs to just over the £17.0 million that was announced at the time of the review.

Property development

During the year, as part of a review of assets held, we took the decision to exit the business of property development. As a 
result of that decision, and a review of carrying value of property assets, it has become necessary to impair those carrying 
values by £26.0 million to bring them into line with estimated net recoverable amounts.

Restructuring costs

The Group has embarked on a three-year plan, “Fit For Growth”, to increase the Group’s organisational efficiency, improve 
Group-wide procurement processes and ensure greater standardisation and simplification across the business. During the year 
it incurred termination costs of £16.5 million (2016: £nil) in respect of former employees and directors along with recruitment 
costs for the new management team. In addition to this, £16.7 million (2016: £nil) of cost has been incurred in respect of 
a property consolidation exercise based mainly around a new Midlands hub office but also in the consolidation of regional 
networks. These costs include provisions for the remainder of onerous lease terms and dilapidations costs in respect of exited 
properties as we seek to right size and appropriately locate our operations to meet future needs.

Professional adviser fees

Professional fees incurred in connection with the strategic review and the short-term refinancing secured towards the end of 
the year totalled £13.9 million in the year (2016: £nil).

146146

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147147GovernanceFinancial StatementsStrategic ReportOverviewContract ReviewThe new management team, with the approval of the Audit Committee, commissioned a comprehensive Contract Review, with the independent support of PwC, which reviewed the most material balance sheet judgements in relation to long-term contract accounting, accrued income, work-in-progress and mobilisation. This Contract Review identified the need for an additional £42.4 million of balance sheet write-downs principally in relation to work-in-progress and receivables. In the main these adjustments relate to contracts that were substantially complete at the end of last year but where additional information has come to light since the signing of the prior-year financial statements. These provisions and write-downs relate to 18 individual contract issues. Of these, as at the date of the signing of these financial statements, nine are regarded as financially complete. Financially complete is defined as the point at which Interserve is no longer providing significant services to the client and final account negotiations have been concluded. A further seven are regarded as operationally complete. Operationally complete is defined as the point at which Interserve has ceased to provide significant services to the client but final account negotiations have not concluded. The remaining two contracts are regarded as neither operationally nor financially complete. These same contracts contributed a loss of £33.2 million in 2016. The Contract Review also identified the need for £43.7 million of additional provisions in respect of loss-making or onerous contracts (these same contracts contributed a profit of £2.4 million in 2016). For the avoidance of doubt, the discrete contracts included here had results in previous periods and, where relevant, will continue to report results in future periods. Any such results will be presented consistently with the treatment here.Asset impairmentsAs part of the Contract Review, management also reassessed the valuation of other intangible assets and a total impairment of £60.0 million has been recognised against goodwill in the period. This follows a reassessment of the relevant cash generation units and the separate identification of delivery of support services to the private sector and its associated intangible assets that principally relate to the acquisition of Initial Facilities in 2014.A further £16.7 million write-down has been taken with regard to capitalised IT development costs. During 2017 the associated programmes were cancelled with no future benefit expected to be derived from the work carried out to date, as such the assets have been fully written off. £6.3 million has been written off Other Intangible Assets (note 13), £9.4 million has been written off Property, Plant and Equipment (note 14), with £1.0 million written off working capital.A further £5.5 million of deferred tax assets relating to losses have been impaired in the period following a review of likely utilisation timescales.Foreign exchange gain/(loss) on retranslation of loan notesFrom 13 December 2017, the Group’s US$ 350 million US Private Placement loan notes are retranslated at current exchange rates, with profit or loss on translation being taken to profit or loss. Up to that date, these loans were swapped to a fixed sterling equivalent, using derivatives that were designated as cash flow hedges (see notes 20 and 21).FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Notes to the consolidated financial statements continued
for the year ended 31 December 2017

6.  Staff costs
The average number of full-time equivalent employees within each division during the year, including executive directors, was:

Support Services

Construction

Equipment Services

Group Services

Their aggregate remuneration comprised:

Wages and salaries

Social security costs

Share-based payments

Other pension costs (see below) 

Defined benefit scheme current service costs (note 29)

Other UK - defined contribution

Other overseas - defined contribution

Pension costs

2017
Number

40,247 

2,599 

1,459 

406 

44,711 

2016
Number

41,825 

2,587 

1,444 

390 

46,246 

2017
£million

2016
£million

1,025.3 

1,038.6 

91.5 

2.1 

28.1 

88.3 

(0.4)  

27.2 

1,147.0 

1,153.7 

5.2 

20.9 

2.0 

28.1 

5.7 

20.2 

1.3 

27.2 

Detailed disclosures of directors’ aggregate and individual remuneration and share-based payments are given in the Directors’ 
Remuneration Report on pages 70 to 99 and should be regarded as an integral part of this note.

2017
£million

2016
£million

3.0 

2.2 

– 

2.9 

0.7 

8.8 

2017
£million

(27.3)  

(1.1)  

(28.4)  

3.1 

0.7 

1.1 

–

0.7 

5.6 

2016
£million

(23.3)  

– 

(23.3)  

7. 

Investment revenue

Bank interest

Interest income from joint-venture investments

Net return on defined benefit pension assets (note 29)

Foreign exchange gain on US private placement loan (note 20)

Other interest

8.  Finance costs

Borrowings and overdrafts

Net interest cost on pension obligations (note 29)

148148

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149149GovernanceFinancial StatementsStrategic ReportOverview9. Tax20172016£million£million    Current tax - UK5.8 2.1 Current tax - overseas6.9 6.4 Deferred tax (note 16)(2.7)  (1.0)      Tax charge for the year10.0 7.5     Tax charge before prior period adjustments2.9 7.2 Prior period adjustments - charges/(credits)7.1 0.3     10.0 7.5     20172016    ProfitTaxEffective rateProfitTaxEffective rate£million£million%£million£million%        Subsidiary undertakings' profit before tax, excluding one-offs26.9 8.1 30.1% 111.512.2 10.9% Group share of profit after tax of associates and joint ventures25.5 – –25.8 ––        52.4 8.1 15.5% 137.312.2 8.9% Other non-underlying items(215.2)  5.5 (2.6%)  (201.5)  – – Goodwill impairment(60.0)  – – – – – Amortisation(21.6)  (3.6)  16.7% (29.9)  (4.7)  15.7% b        Profit/(loss) before tax(244.4)  10.0 (4.1%)  (94.1)  7.5 (8.0%)  b        UK corporation tax is calculated at 19.25% (2016: 20%) of the estimated taxable profit for the year. Taxation for other jurisdictions is calculated at the rates prevailing in the relevant jurisdictions.The total charge for the year can be reconciled to the profit per the income statement as follows:20172016  £million%£million%      Profit/(loss) before tax(244.4)  (94.1)        Tax at the UK income tax rate of 19.25% (2016: 20%)(47.0)  19.2% (18.8)20.0% Tax effect of expenses not deductible in determining taxable profit(1.5)  0.6% 1.2 (1.3%)  Non-tax-effected non-underlying items33.4 (13.7%)  34.1 (36.2%)  Tax effect of share of results of associates1.0 (0.4%)  (4.5)  4.8% Effect of overseas tax rates and unrelieved losses16.3 (6.7%)  (4.2)  4.5% Effect of change in rate of deferred tax0.7 (0.3%)  (0.6)  0.6% Prior period adjustments7.1 (2.9%)  0.3 (0.3%)  b      Tax charge and effective tax rate for the year10.0(4.1%)  7.5(8.0%)  b      FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Notes to the consolidated financial statements continued
for the year ended 31 December 2017

9.  Tax continued
In addition to the income tax charged to the income statement, the following deferred tax charges/(credits) have been recorded 
directly to other comprehensive income and to statement of changes in equity in the year:

Tax on actuarial losses/gains on pension liability

Tax on movements in cash flow hedging instruments

Tax on exchange movements on hedged financial instruments

Tax on the intrinsic value of share-based payments

10.  Dividends

Final dividend for the year ended 31 December 2015

Interim dividend for the year ended 31 December 2016

Amount recognised as distribution to equity holders in the period

11.  Earnings per share
Calculation of earnings per share is based on the following data:

Earnings

Dividend 
per share
pence

16.4

8.1

Net profit attributable to equity holders of the parent (for basic and diluted basic earnings per 

share)

Adjustments:

Non-underlying items and amortisation of acquired intangible assets (note 5)

Headline earnings (for headline and diluted headline earnings per share)

# restated (note 1)

2017
£million

(1.8)  

(4.0)  

3.8 

– 

(2.0)  

2017
£million

–

–

–

2016
£million

(15.3)  

6.4 

(7.3)  

0.1 

(16.1)  

2016
£million

23.7 

11.8 

35.5 

2017
£million

2016 #
£million

(256.4)  

(103.7)  

298.7 

42.3 

226.7

123.0

150150

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151151GovernanceFinancial StatementsStrategic ReportOverviewNumber of shares20172016NumberNumber   Weighted average number of ordinary shares for the purposes of basic and  headline earnings per share145,714,120145,606,147 Effect of dilutive potential ordinary shares:Share options and awards16,781,433291,221   Weighted average number of ordinary shares for the purposes of diluted basic1 and  diluted headline earnings per share152,495,553145,897,368   Earnings per share20172016 #pencepence   Basic earnings per share(176.0)  (71.2)     Diluted basic earnings per share(176.0)  (71.2)     Headline earnings per share29.084.5   Diluted headline earnings per share27.784.3   # restated (note 1)1  Due to basic earnings per share being a loss in 2016 and 2017 these adjustments are anti-dilutive and are therefore ignored in calculating diluted basic earnings per share for 2016 and 2017.12. Goodwill20172016£million£million   CostAt 1 January 497.0 488.6 Exchange movements(4.1)  8.4    At 31 December492.9 497.0    Accumulated impairmentAt 1 January 60.0 60.0 Impairment losses for the year60.0 –    At 31 December 120.0 60.0    Carrying amountAt 31 December 372.9 437.0    FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Notes to the consolidated financial statements continued
for the year ended 31 December 2017

12.  Goodwill continued
Goodwill acquired in a business combination is allocated, at acquisition, to the cash generating units (CGUs) that are expected 
to benefit from that business combination and are summarised as follows:

At 1 January 2016

Exchange movements

At 31 December 2016

Impairment losses for the year

Exchange movements

At 31 December 2017

Goodwill impairment testing

Construction
£million

Support Services
£million

Equipment Services
£million

11.9 

– 

11.9 

– 

– 

11.9 

415.8

8.3

424.1 

(60.0)

(4.0)

360.1

0.9

0.1

1.0 

– 

(0.1)

0.9

Total
£million

428.6

8.4

437.0 

(60.0)

(4.1)

372.9

The Group tests goodwill annually for impairment, or more frequently if there are indications that goodwill might be impaired.

Key assumptions
The recoverable amounts of the CGUs are determined from value in use calculations. The key assumptions for the value in use 
calculations are those regarding the discount rates, cash flows, growth rates and margins during the period.

Discount rates
Management estimates discount rates using pre-tax rates that reflect current market assessments of the time value of money 
and the risks specific to the CGUs.

The rates used to discount the future cash flows range from 10.3% for Support Services (2016: 8.4%) to 11.3% for Construction 
and Equipment Services (2016: 9.4%) and are based on the Group’s pre-tax weighted average cost of capital. The increases 
reflect the shifting risk profile of the Group.

Growth rates and terminal values
The revenue growth rates and margins are based on current Board-approved budgets and forecasts based on prevailing market 
conditions and expert forecasts. The Group produces three-year plans and then projects a further year based on growth rates 
of 2.0%, followed by a terminal value based on a perpetuity calculated at a nominal 2.0% growth which does not exceed current 
market growth rates.

Sensitivity analysis 
As part of this annual review a sensitivity analysis was performed on the impairment test of each CGU, including an increase 
in the discount rate of up to 2.0% or a 1.0% reduction in the terminal growth rate and a reduction in assumed profitability. No 
further impairment in the carrying value of the goodwill in Support Services, Equipment Services or Construction would occur 
as a result of adopting these sensitivities other than the review and impairment relating to Support Services discussed below.

Review of the carrying value of goodwill in the Support Services CGU

Recent acquisitions, principally Initial Facilities in 2014, have focused on the delivery of support services to the private sector 
and performance in this sector has not been in line with previous projections. During the year the Group reviewed and updated 
the sub-analysis of the overall Support Services CGU into a number of the component parts, the most significant of which are 
public and private-sector Support Services. These changes are felt to better reflect the way the business is managed and a 
better matching of cash generation. These are then summarised into one overall CGU as reported here. As part of its annual 
review of impairment, the Group has updated its estimate of the recoverable amount of the CGU that relates to the delivery of 
support services to the private sector, which has resulted in an impairment of £60.0 million being recognised against goodwill in 
Support Services.

152152

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153153GovernanceFinancial StatementsStrategic ReportOverviewKey assumptionsThe key assumptions underpinning the calculations of the net present value of future cash flows in respect of private-sector delivered support services include:• the calculations are based on a three-year plan approved by the Board;• revenue of £690.4 million in 2017 and compound annual nominal growth rate of 5% over the plan period in line with the approved detailed plan;• an average operating margin of 2.7% after management charges;• a terminal nominal growth rate of 2.0%; and• a pre-tax discount rate for the CGU of 10.3% which has been adjusted for the risks specific to the market in which the CGU operates.In reviewing the carrying value, the following factors have also been considered:• macro pressures in the support services sector;• a renewed focus on cost control under the Fit For Growth programme; and• management resource to deliver the budget.Sensitivity analysisThe value in use calculations are reliant on the accuracy of management’s forecast and the assumptions that underlie them as well as the discount rate and growth rates applied. Sensitivity analysis was performed on the forecasts to consider the impact of certain trading scenarios and changes in assumptions both individually and in combination.A combination of these sensitivities concluded that an impairment of £60.0 million represented the Audit Committee’s best estimate. A 1% change in the discount rate would result in a further £29.6 million impairment (2%: £59.2 million). A £1.0 million change in operating profit would result in a further £12.0 million impairment. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Notes to the consolidated financial statements continued
for the year ended 31 December 2017

13.  Other intangible assets

Cost

At 1 January 2016

Additions

Exchange movements

At 31 December 2016

Additions

Disposals

Exchange movements

At 31 December 2017

Accumulated amortisation

At 1 January 2016

Charge for the year

Exchange movements

At 31 December 2016

Charge for the year

Impairments (note 5)

Eliminated on disposals

Exchange movements

At 31 December 2017

Carrying amount

At 31 December 2017

At 31 December 2016

At 1 January 2016

Acquired

Computer 
software
£million

Customer 
relationships
£million

Other
£million

21.6 

16.2 

– 

37.8 

7.7 

(6.4)  

– 

39.1

11.3 

1.4 

– 

12.7 

1.6

6.3

(5.7)  

– 

14.9 

24.2 

25.1 

10.3 

176.0 

– 

2.0 

178.0 

– 

– 

(1.1)  

176.9

95.6 

29.5 

1.7 

126.8 

21.1 

–

– 

(1.0)  

146.9 

30.0 

51.2 

80.4 

3.0 

– 

0.4 

3.4 

– 

– 

(0.2)  

3.2

2.1 

0.3 

0.3 

2.7 

0.4 

–

– 

(0.2)  

2.9 

0.3 

0.7 

0.9 

Total
£million

200.6 

16.2 

2.4 

219.2 

7.7 

(6.4)  

(1.3)  

219.2

109.0 

31.2 

2.0 

142.2 

23.1 

6.3

(5.7)  

(1.2)  

164.7 

54.5 

77.0 

91.6 

Useful lives

5 years

5-10 years

3-5 years

The useful life and amortisation period of each group of intangible assets varies according to the underlying length of benefit 
expected to be received.

154154

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155155GovernanceFinancial StatementsStrategic ReportOverview14.  Property, plant and equipment (a)  MovementsOtherLand andHireplant andbuildingsfleetequipmentTotal£million£million£million£million     CostAt 1 January 201636.6 270.3 123.1 430.0 Additions2.3 30.9 19.8 53.0 Disposals(8.1)  (24.6)  (13.6)  (46.3)  Exchange differences3.5 38.8 17.1 59.4      At 31 December 201634.3 315.4 146.4 496.1 Additions10.3 17.8 21.5 49.6 Impairments (note 5)––(9.4)    (9.4)    Disposals(2.8)  (29.0)  (8.7)  (40.5)  Exchange differences(1.4)  (13.9)  (8.4)  (23.7)       At 31 December 201740.4 290.3 141.4 472.1      Accumulated depreciationAt 1 January 201615.3 117.6 79.0 211.9 Charge for the year1.7 18.1 17.8 37.6 Eliminated on disposals(0.8)  (19.0)  (12.3)  (32.1)  Exchange differences2.0 12.9 13.4 28.3      At 31 December 201618.2 129.6 97.9 245.7 Charge for the year2.2 18.2 19.2 39.6 Eliminated on disposals(0.6)  (21.0)  (8.6)  (30.2)  Exchange differences(1.0)  (3.8)  (6.8)  (11.6)  Exchange differences(1.0)  (3.8)  (6.8)  (11.6)  At 31 December 201718.8 123.0 101.7 243.5      Carrying amountAt 31 December 201721.6 167.3 39.7 228.6      At 31 December 201616.1 185.8 48.5 250.4      At 1 January 201621.3 152.7 44.1 218.1      The carrying amount of the Group’s plant and equipment includes an amount of £3.6 million (2016: £4.6 million) in respect of assets held under finance leases. Details of property, plant and equipment held under finance leases are shown in note 24.FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Notes to the consolidated financial statements continued
for the year ended 31 December 2017

14.  Property, plant and equipment continued
(b)  Carrying amount of land and buildings

Freehold:

Land at cost

Buildings at cost less depreciation

Leaseholds under 50 years at cost less depreciation

(c)  Future capital expenditure not provided for in the financial statements

Committed

15.  Interests in associates and joint-venture entities

(a)  Results of joint-venture entities and associated undertakings 

The aggregate results of joint-venture entities and associated undertakings were as follows:

31 December 
2017
£million

31 December 
2016
£million

2.5 

1.2 

3.7 

17.9 

21.6 

2.6 

2.9 

5.5 

10.6 

16.1 

31 December 
2017
£million

31 December 
2016
£million

0.7

0.5

Year ended 31 December 2017

Year ended 31 December 2016

Joint ventures
£million

Associates
£million

Total
£million

Joint ventures
£million

Associates
£million

Total
£million

Revenues

134.6 

770.8 

905.4 

157.7 

794.7 

952.4 

Operating profit

Net interest receivable

Taxation

Profit after tax

Less: Profit after tax attributable to non-Group interests

Profit after tax attributable to the Group

Group amortisation of acquired intangible assets

Contribution to Group total operating profit

Dividends paid to the Group

Retained result for the period attributable to the Group

(22.1)  

(1.2)  

(0.7)  

(24.0)  

(1.3)  

(25.3)  

– 

(25.3)  

(0.3)  

(25.6)  

49.6 

0.5 

(3.6)  

46.5 

(26.3)  

20.2 

(0.1)  

20.1 

(16.9)  

27.5 

(0.7)  

(4.3)  

22.5 

(27.6)  

(5.1)  

(0.1)  

(5.2)  

(17.2)  

3.2 

(22.4)  

2.0 

1.9 

(1.0)  

2.9 

(1.7)  

1.2 

–

1.2 

(0.4)  

0.8 

44.3 

0.3 

(1.5)  

43.1 

(21.7)  

21.4 

(0.1)  

21.3 

(33.7)  

(12.4)  

46.3 

2.2 

(2.5)  

46.0 

(23.4)  

22.6 

(0.1)  

22.5 

(34.1)  

(11.6)  

156156

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157157GovernanceFinancial StatementsStrategic ReportOverview(b) Joint-venture entities(i)  Results and net assetsThe aggregate results of joint ventures were as follows:Year ended 31 December 2017Year ended 31 December 2016  Support ServicesGroup ServicesTotalSupport ServicesGroup ServicesTotal£million£million£million£million£million£million        Revenues7.5 127.1 134.6 13.7 144.0 157.7         Operating profit0.4 (22.5)  (22.1)  0.6 1.4 2.0 Net interest receivable–(1.2)  (1.2)  –1.9 1.9 Taxation– (0.7)  (0.7)  –(1.0)  (1.0)          Profit after tax0.4 (24.4)  (24.0)  0.6 2.3 2.9 Less: Profit after tax attributable to non-Group interests(0.2)  (1.1)  (1.3)  (0.3)  (1.4)  (1.7)          Profit after tax attributable to the Group0.2 (25.5)  (25.3)  0.3 0.9 1.2 Group amortisation of acquired intangible assets– –––––        Contribution to Group total operating profit0.2 (25.5)  (25.3)  0.3 0.9 1.2 Dividends paid to the Group(0.1)  (0.2)  (0.3)  (0.3)  (0.1)  (0.4)          Retained result for the period attributable to the Group0.1 (25.7)  (25.6)  – 0.8 0.8         There are no significant restrictions on the ability of joint ventures to pay dividends or repay loans if agreed by the shareholders.The net assets of joint-venture entities were as follows:Year ended 31 December 2017Year ended 31 December 2016  Support ServicesGroup ServicesTotalSupport ServicesGroup ServicesTotal£million£million£million£million£million£million        Non-current assets– 206.4 206.4 – 225.0 225.0 Current assets1.7 386.6 388.3 2.3 300.3 302.6 Current liabilities(1.6)  (44.8)  (46.4)  (2.3)  (23.5)  (25.8)  Non-current liabilities– (480.7)  (480.7)  – (409.8)  (409.8)          Net assets0.1 67.5 67.6 – 92.0 92.0 Less: Net assets attributable to non-Group interests(0.1)  (21.0)  (21.1)  – (50.4)  (50.4)          Net assets attributable to the Group– 46.5 46.5 – 41.6 41.6 Goodwill– – – – – – Acquired intangible assets– – – – – –         Carrying value of net assets and goodwill– 46.5 46.5 – 41.6 41.6         The liabilities of the joint-venture entities principally relate to the non-recourse debt within those businesses as part of funding the construction of the underlying asset.FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Notes to the consolidated financial statements continued
for the year ended 31 December 2017

15.  Interests in associates and joint-venture entities continued
(b)  Joint-venture entities continued
(ii)   Movements in the year

At 1 January 2016

Acquisitions and advances

Disposals

Fair value adjustment to financial instruments and 

derivatives

Share of retained profits

At 31 December 2016

Acquisitions and advances

Repayments to the Group

Disposals

Fair value adjustment to financial instruments and 

derivatives

Share of retained profits

At 31 December 2017

Shares
£million

0.1 

– 

– 

– 

– 

0.1 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

Loans
£million

34.5 

9.8 

(4.0)  

– 

– 

40.3 

33.1 

(0.7)  

(3.2)  

– 

– 

0.1 

69.5 

Share of
reserves
£million

6.3 

– 

(0.6)  

(5.3)  

0.8 

1.2 

– 

– 

(4.0)  

5.3 

(25.6)  

(23.1)  

Total
£million

40.9 

9.8 

(4.6)  

(5.3)  

0.8 

41.6 

33.1 

(0.7)  

(7.2)  

5.3 

(25.6)  

46.5 

Further details of the Group’s investment in PPP/PFI schemes are included in note 31.

During the year the Group disposed of its investment in the Addiewell Prison special-purpose vehicle.

At 31 December 2017 the Group had no commitments for additional investment in joint-venture entities (2016: £32.7 million). 

(c)  Associated undertakings

(i)   Results and net assets
The aggregate results of the Group’s various associated undertakings were as follows:

Year ended 31 December 2017

Year ended 31 December 2016

Construction
£million

Support 
Services
£million

Total
£million

Construction
£million

Support 
Services
£million

Total
£million

Revenues

628.9 

141.9 

770.8 

636.2 

158.5 

794.7 

Operating profit

Net interest receivable

Taxation

Profit after tax

Less: Profit after tax attributable to non-Group interests

Profit after tax attributable to the Group

Group amortisation of acquired intangible assets

Contribution to Group total operating profit

Dividends paid to the Group

Retained result for the period attributable to the Group

43.4 

0.7 

(3.1)  

41.0 

(21.5)  

19.5 

– 

19.5 

(15.7)  

3.8 

6.2 

(0.2)  

(0.5)  

5.5 

(4.8)  

0.7 

(0.1)  

0.6 

(1.2)  

(0.6)  

49.6 

0.5 

(3.6)  

46.5 

(26.3)  

20.2 

(0.1)  

20.1 

(16.9)  

3.2 

39.3 

0.3 

(1.1)  

38.5 

(19.4)  

19.1 

– 

19.1 

(31.0)  

(11.9)  

5.0 

– 

(0.4)  

4.6 

(2.3)  

2.3 

(0.1)  

2.2 

(2.7)  

(0.5)  

44.3 

0.3 

(1.5)  

43.1 

(21.7)  

21.4 

(0.1)  

21.3 

(33.7)  

(12.4)  

There are no significant restrictions on the ability of associates to pay dividends or repay loans if agreed by the shareholders.

158158

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159159GovernanceFinancial StatementsStrategic ReportOverviewTotal net assets of the associated undertakings were as follows:Year ended 31 December 2017Year ended 31 December 2016  ConstructionSupport ServicesTotalConstructionSupport ServicesTotal£million£million£million£million£million£million        Non-current assets55.7 2.7 58.4 57.1 3.3 60.4 Current assets453.9 67.4 521.3 518.7 79.7 598.4 Current liabilities(333.5)  (32.9)  (366.4)  (388.3)  (45.8)  (434.1)  Non-current liabilities(39.6)  (3.9)  (43.5)  (44.8)  (4.8)  (49.6)          Net assets136.5 33.3 169.8 142.7 32.4 175.1 Less: Net assets attributable to non-Group interests(81.7)  (14.4)  (96.1)  (80.2)  (14.3)  (94.5)          Net assets attributable to the Group54.8 18.9 73.7 62.5 18.1 80.6 Goodwill1.2 3.5 4.7 1.2 3.5 4.7 Acquired intangible assets– – – – – –         Carrying value of net assets and goodwill56.0 22.4 78.4 63.7 21.6 85.3         (ii) Movements in the yearShare ofSharesLoansreservesTotal£million£million£million£million     At 1 January 20165.9 8.9 76.2 91.0 Share of retained profits net of amortisation– – (12.4)  (12.4)  Exchange differences– – 6.7 6.7      At 31 December 20165.9 8.9 70.5 85.3 Share of retained profits net of amortisation– – 3.2 3.2 Exchange differences– – (10.1)  (10.1)       At 31 December 20175.9 8.9 63.6 78.4      FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Notes to the consolidated financial statements continued
for the year ended 31 December 2017

16.  Deferred taxation
The following are the major deferred tax assets and (liabilities) recognised by the Group.

At 1 January 2016

(Charge)/credit to income

(Charge)/credit to equity

Exchange differences

At 31 December 2016

(Charge)/credit to income

(Charge)/credit to equity

Exchange differences

At 31 December 2017

Retirement 
benefit 
obligations
£million

Acquired 
intangible 
assets
£million

Accelerated 
capital 
allowances
£million

Trading  
losses
£million

Other 
tempor ary 
differences
£million

(0.5)  

(6.0)  

15.3 

– 

8.8 

(2.5)  

1.8 

– 

8.1 

(15.9)  

6.9 

– 

– 

(9.0)  

3.5 

– 

– 

8.3 

(2.5)  

– 

– 

5.8 

6.3 

– 

0.4 

(5.5)  

12.5 

1.2 

2.8 

– 

– 

4.0 

(1.6)  

– 

(0.1)  

2.3 

8.2 

(0.2)  

0.8 

0.2 

9.0 

(3.0)  

0.2 

(0.2)  

6.0 

Total
£million

1.3 

1.0 

16.1 

0.2 

18.6 

2.7 

2.0 

0.1 

23.4 

Certain deferred tax assets and liabilities, as shown below, have been offset on the consolidated balance sheet.

Deferred tax liabilities

Deferred tax assets

31 December 
2017
£million

31 December 
2016
£million

(5.5)  

28.9 

23.4 

(0.2)  

18.8

18.6

No deferred tax asset has been recognised in respect of certain unused tax losses available for offset against future profits due 
to the unpredictability of future profit streams in those businesses. The accumulated tax value of these losses is £80.0 million 
(2016: £41.5 million) on gross losses of £460.0 million (2016: £244.2 million).

17.  Inventories

Goods held for resale

Materials

31 December 
2017
£million

31 December 
2016
£million

31 December 
2015
£million

22.7 

11.3 

34.0 

28.7 

7.8 

36.5 

32.1 

8.0 

40.1 

160160

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161161GovernanceFinancial StatementsStrategic ReportOverview18. Construction contractsBalances related to contracts in progress at the balance sheet date were:31 December 201731 December 201631 December 2015£million£million£million    Amounts due from contract customers included in trade and other receivables (note 19)95.1 116.9 127.3 Amounts due to contract customers included in trade and other payables (note 22)(29.5)  (41.6)  (35.5)      65.6 75.3 91.8     Contract costs incurred plus recognised profits less recognised losses to date2,105.9 2,176.4 1,529.6 Less: progress billings(2,040.3)  (2,101.1)  (1,437.8)      65.6 75.3 91.8     At 31 December 2017, retentions held by customers for contract work amounted to £39.8 million (2016: £44.6 million) of which £7.2 million (2016: £10.7 million) is receivable after one year. Advances received were £29.5 million (2016: £41.6 million) of which £nil is repayable after one year (2016: £nil).19. Trade and other receivables31 December 201731 December 201631 December 2015£million£million£million    Amounts recoverable from the sale of goods and services384.4 380.7 444.5 Allowances for doubtful debts(47.5)(54.3)(46.3)    336.9 326.4 398.2 Amounts due from construction contract customers95.1 116.9 127.3 Retentions39.8 44.6 38.4 Other receivables39.8 43.2 27.2 Prepayments 32.1 30.2 34.9 Accrued income178.3 163.1 148.9     722.0 724.4 774.9     Included in the above are the following amounts recoverable after more than one year:31 December 201731 December 201631 December 2015£million£million£million    Retentions7.2 10.7 6.1     The directors consider that the carrying amount of trade and other receivables approximates their fair value. Trade and other receivables are included as part of the financial assets.Average credit period taken on the sale of goods and services is 32 days (2016: 32 days). Allowances for doubtful debt are provided for on a specific basis, based on estimates of irrecoverability determined by market knowledge and past experience.FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Notes to the consolidated financial statements continued
for the year ended 31 December 2017

19.  Trade and other receivables continued
Ageing of trade receivables, not impaired but net of allowances for doubtful debt, is as follows:

31 December 
2017
£million

31 December 
2016
£million

31 December 
2015
£million

Not more than one month past due

Between one and three months past due

Between three and six months past due

Greater than six months

Total past due but not impaired

Not past due

Total net receivables

50.4 

34.5 

34.1 

12.7 

131.7 

205.2 

336.9 

The average age of the receivables past due but not impaired is 83 days (2016: 96 days). 

Movement in allowance for doubtful debt is as follows:

49.0 

19.6 

23.3 

21.9 

113.8 

212.6 

326.4 

2017
£million

54.3 

(14.9)  

18.8 

(7.1)  

(3.6)  

47.5 

76.9 

23.4 

22.5 

24.0 

146.8 

251.4 

398.2 

2016
£million

46.3 

(26.8)  

34.4 

(7.7)  

8.1 

54.3 

Balance at 1 January

Amounts written off as uncollectable

Impairment losses recognised in the year

Amounts recovered during the year

Exchange differences

Balance at 31 December

20.  Cash, deposits and borrowings

(a)  Cash, deposits and borrowings

Cash and deposits

Bank overdrafts

Bank loans

US Private Placement loan notes1

Finance leases (note 24)  

Total borrowings

Per balance sheet

less: Impact of hedges on US Private Placement loan notes1

Net debt

31 December 
2017
£million

31 December 
2016
£million

31 December 
2015
£million

A

155.1

113.3 

86.1 

(6.8)  

(388.6)  

(258.9)  

(654.3)  

(3.4)  

(657.7)  

(502.6)  

–

(502.6)  

(11.1)  

(165.0)  

(284.4)  

(460.5)  

(4.4)  

(464.9)  

(351.6)  

77.2

(274.4)  

(15.5)  

(170.0)  

(236.1)  

(421.6)  

(2.2)  

(423.8)  

(337.7)  

28.9 

(308.8)  

B

A+B

1  The US Private Placement Loan notes are shown above after re-translating to year-end closing exchange rates in accordance with IAS 21. As discussed below, 

until 13 December 2017, these loan balances were swapped into the fixed sterling equivalent of £207.2 million and this adjustment was to pro forma the statutory 
borrowing number back to this balance which the directors believed best represented the commercial substance of the liability. On 13 December 2017 these 
exchange rate swaps were terminated in exchange for consideration equal to their fair value of £44.4 million in the form of cancelled bank loans. Following the end 
of the swap arrangement, the 2017 net debt figure agrees to the balance sheet. In accordance with IFRS 7, disclosures given below include the statutory amount as 
translated at the closing exchange rate.

162162

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163163GovernanceFinancial StatementsStrategic ReportOverviewCash and deposits comprise cash held by the Group and short-term bank deposits that have an original maturity of three months or less. Where deposits earn interest, the interest rates are at floating rates related to UK base rates.Included within cash and deposits is £31.0 million (2016: £38.6 million) which is subject to various constraints on the Group’s ability to utilise these balances. These constraints relate to amounts held in project bank accounts, amounts held in accounts held in entities subject to minority interest shareholdings and the regulatory cash funding requirements relating to the Group’s captive insurance company. Total borrowings are repayable as follows:31 December 201731 December 201631 December 2015£million£million£million    On demand or within one year7.712.116.1 In the second year389.40.90.4 In the third to fifth years inclusive64.6167.0171.0 After more than five years196.0284.9236.3    657.7464.9423.8Less: Amount due for settlement within 12 months (7.7)  (12.1)  (16.1)      Amount due for settlement after 12 months650.0452.8407.7    Amounts are drawn down against facilities on a short-term basis but the ageing of the total amount borrowed is classified according to the maturity of the facilities. Contractual interest on bank loans, that will accrue between the year end and the date of rollover of the amounts drawn down, is £1.4 million and is all due for payment within one year (2016: £0.7 million within one year).The analysis of utilisation of committed bank facilities is as follows:31 December 201731 December 201631 December 2015£million£million£million    Drawn facilities:US Private Placement loan notes258.9284.4236.1 Bank loans388.6165.0170.0 Undrawn facilities maturing in less than one year37.5–– Undrawn facilities maturing in one to two years––– Undrawn facilities maturing in more than two years but not more than five years–135.0130.0  –135.0130.0 Total committed borrowing facilities685.0584.4536.1     (b) Committed borrowing facilities31 December 201731 December 201631 December 2015£million£million£million    US Private Placement loan notes258.9284.4236.1 Bank facilities426.1300.0300.0     Total committed borrowing facilities685.0584.4536.1    FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Notes to the consolidated financial statements continued
for the year ended 31 December 2017

20.  Cash, deposits and borrowings continued
(b)  Committed borrowing facilities continued
The Group has a US$ 350 million issue of US Private Placement loan notes (“loan notes”), which have a weighted average 
maturity length of 6.5 years. The loan notes attract differing fixed rates of interest depending on their tenor. Until 
13 December 2017, when the swap arrangements were terminated, this was swapped to a fixed sterling equivalent of 
£207.2 million, along with the associated interest payments, with the use of derivatives that were designated as cash flow 
hedges that were held at fair value (see note 21(b)). From 13 December 2017 onwards the loan notes are not subject to any 
exchange rate hedging and we discontinued hedge accounting for the swaps and the associated loan notes (see note 21).

The loan notes are in addition to £426.1 million of committed bank facilities as at the year end. This includes the £433.0 million 
of facilities referred to last year, which mature in 2019, less £44.4 million that was cancelled on termination of the exchange 
rate swaps referred to above and an additional £37.5 million of short-term committed facilities that were agreed in 
December 2017 and ran until 30 March 2018 (extended to 30 April 2018).

Following the successful conclusion of our bank negotiations in April 2018, and expiry of the £37.5 million of short-term facilities, 
the Group has arranged access to committed borrowing facilities of £834 million.

These committed borrowing facilities consist of a renewal of existing revolving credit facilities of £388.6 million, $350 million of 
US loan notes, £175 million new term loan and £21.5 million of money market lines. The term loan is repayable in instalments with 
£150.0 million of repayments (including from disposals) due before or during 2019 and £60.0 million in 2020. The balance of funding 
is committed until September 2021 and is subject to a covenant to reduce gross borrowings to below £450 million by June 2020.

These facilities are subject to interest at the following rates:

Cash payment

Payment in kind

Total

Revolving credit 

facility

LIBOR + 3.00%

US$ loan notes

Weighted average of 5.61%

1.43% + 2.00% until September 2019  
if net leverage is above 3.0x and  
then subject to a ratchet increase

2.00% until September 2019  
if net leverage is above 3.0x and  
then subject to a ratchet increase

LIBOR + 6.43%

Weighted average of 7.61%

New term loan

LIBOR + 3.25%

5.50%

LIBOR + 8.75%

As part of the refinancing the Company will issue warrants to the providers of the new term loan and bonding facilities to buy 
shares at 10 pence per share (the nominal price of each share). If exercised, this would provide the warrant holders with an 
interest of up to 20% of the post-issue share capital. The issue of these warrants will result in a charge to the income statement 
over the life of the new money equivalent to their fair value.

The Group also secured additional bonding facilities of up to £95 million as part of the arrangements which attract a cash 
margin of 2.00% with payment in kind charges of 5.50% whilst net leverage exceeds 3.0x. Existing bonding also attracts a 
0.50% uplift on existing pricing and 2.00% payment in kind charges until September 2019 or net leverage falls below 3.0x and 
then subject to a ratchet. Payment in kind charges are capitalised to the balance sheet as a liability and become payable on a 
subsequent re-financing.

It is anticipated that the total interest expense in 2018 will be approximately £67 million (including the amortisation of costs 
associated with the warrants) of which circa £34 million will be cash interest. The increased cost of bonding instruments already 
issued will be circa £3.2 million, of which the cash impact is less than £1 million.

The borrowings are subject to a number of financial covenants including absolute EBITDA and cash flow available for debt 
servicing along with net leverage and cash interest cover. The calculation of EBITDA is subject to a cap on the level of 
non-underlying items that are excluded for covenant calculation purposes. Net leverage requirements for net debt relative 
to EBITDA start at a maximum of 6.5x and trend downwards to below 4.0x over the duration of the funding. Interest cover 
requirement is broadly for EBIT to cover interest by at least 3.5x. These covenants are measured quarterly on a rolling 12-month 
basis. There is also a minimum net worth covenant that is effective from December 2019.

The Group has granted security in respect of the new, and some of the existing debt, in the form of share pledges over material 
subsidiaries and floating charges over various intercompany funding arrangements.

164164

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165165GovernanceFinancial StatementsStrategic ReportOverview21. Financial risk managementFinancial assets comprise trade and other receivables (excluding construction contracts, prepaid and accrued income), long-term debtors and cash and deposits. Financial assets and liabilities have fair values not materially different to the carrying values. Financial liabilities comprise trade and other payables (excluding construction contracts, accruals, deferred income and other tax and social security), bank borrowings, finance leases, loan notes, long-term creditors and interest rate hedges.The Group has the following categories of financial assets and liabilities:31 December 201731 December 2016  Other  financial assetsDerivatives used for hedgingTotalOther  financial assetsDerivatives used for hedgingTotal£million£million£million£million£million£million        Loans and receivablesCash and deposits155.1 – 155.1 113.3 – 113.3  Trade and other receivables (excluding construction contracts, prepaid and accrued income)376.7 – 376.7 369.6 – 369.6 Currency exchange rate hedge– – – – 67.6 67.6         Total financial assets531.8 – 531.8 482.9 67.6 550.5         31 December 201731 December 2016  Other  financial liabilitiesDerivatives used for hedgingTotalOther  financial liabilitiesDerivatives used for hedgingTotal£million£million£million£million£million£million        Borrowings, overdrafts and finance leases398.8 – 398.8 180.5 – 180.5 Loan notes258.9 – 258.9 284.4 – 284.4 Trade and other payables (excluding construction contracts, accruals, deferred income and other tax and social security)276.1 – 276.1 368.5 – 368.5 Interest rate hedge (non-PFI investments)– – – – 0.5 0.5          Total financial liabilities933.8 – 933.8 833.4 0.5 833.9         Trade and other receivables and trade and other payables are held at amortised cost. The directors consider these values to approximate their fair values. The interest rate hedges are recorded at fair value at each balance sheet date.Financial instruments that are measured subsequent to initial recognition at fair value are grouped into three levels based on the degree to which the fair value is observable, as defined by IFRS 7:        -  Level 1 fair value measurements are those derived from unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets and liabilities;-  Level 2 fair value measurements are those derived from inputs, other than quoted prices included within "Level 1", that are observable either directly (i.e. as prices) or indirectly (i.e. derived from prices); and -  Level 3 fair value measurements are those derived from valuation techniques that include inputs for the asset or liability that are not based on observable market data.Classification of financial assets/(liabilities) held at fair value according to the definitions set out in IFRS 7:31 December 201731 December 2016£million£million   Level 2–67.1   FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Notes to the consolidated financial statements continued
for the year ended 31 December 2017

21.  Financial risk management continued
The Group’s hedging derivatives were terminated for consideration at fair value on 13 December 2017 and at 31 December 2017 
had no such arrangements (see below under exchange rate hedges and interest rate hedges).

Derivatives used for hedging financial liabilities are considered to be within the grouping referred to as “Level 2”. Their fair 
values are calculated based on the valuation models operated by the relevant counterparty bank, based on market interest rates 
in force on the date of valuation. The Level 2 financial derivatives are classified within other receivables and other payables.

No financial instruments have been transferred between levels during the year.

Exposure to credit risk on liquid funds and derivative financial instruments is managed by the Group’s requirement to trade 
with counterparties with strong credit ratings as determined by international credit rating agencies. The transactional banking 
requirements are met by local banks in each location with significant cash balances being remitted to Group treasury where 
short-term cash surpluses or cash not available for use by the Group is deposited with investment grade rated banks.

(a)   Currency exposures

Where material trade is transacted in non-local currency, the Company hedges the currency exposure and ordinarily this will be 
achieved with forward contracts.

Analysis of financial assets, excluding derivatives used for hedging, by currency:

31 December 2017

31 December 2016

Sterling

US dollar

Euro

Australian dollar

Dirham

Other

Floating  
rates
£million

102.5

17.7

12.7

1.5

5.4

15.3

155.1

Fixed  
rates
£million

Non–interest 
bearing
£million

Total
£million

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

251.3

353.8

35.4

15.2

4.7

19.8

50.3

53.1

27.9

6.2

25.2

65.6

376.7

531.8

Analysis of financial liabilities, excluding derivatives used for hedging, by currency:

31 December 2017

Floating  
rates
£million

388.6

–

4.2

–

–

2.6

Fixed  
rates
£million

3.4

258.9

–

–

–

–

Non-interest 
bearing
£million

229.9

22.3

2.0

1.5

10.7

9.7

Total
£million

621.9

281.2

6.2

1.5

10.7

12.3

Floating  
rates
£million

60.6

14.6

3.7

3.4

6.8

24.2

113.3

Floating  
rates
£million

174.0

–

–

–

–

2.1

Fixed
rates
£million

Non–interest 
bearing
£million

Total
£million

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

250.2

310.8

38.9

12.4

4.8

24.6

38.7

53.5

16.1

8.2

31.4

62.9

369.6

482.9

31 December 2016

Fixed
rates
£million

Non-interest 
bearing
£million

4.4

284.4

–

–

–

–

299.1

38.5

2.0

1.6

10.9

16.4

Total
£million

477.5

322.9

2.0

1.6

10.9

18.5

395.4

262.3

276.1

933.8

176.1

288.8

368.5

833.4

0.5%

5.3%

0.3%

5.3%

Sterling

US dollar

Euro

Australian dollar

Dirham

Other

Weighted average interest rates 

excluding amortisation of 
arrangement fees and bank 
margin

166166

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167167GovernanceFinancial StatementsStrategic ReportOverviewWhere the Group has overseas operations, the revenues and costs of the business will typically be denominated in local currency. Gains and losses arising on retranslation of monetary assets and liabilities that are not denominated in the functional currency of individual Group companies are recognised in the income statement. The Group enters into forward foreign exchange contracts to manage material currency exposures that arise on cashflows from sales or purchases not denominated in functional currencies immediately those sales or purchases are contracted. Taking into account the effect of forward contracts, Group companies did not have a material exposure to foreign exchange gains or losses on monetary assets and monetary liabilities denominated in foreign currencies at 31 December 2017.The Group does not hedge anticipated future sales and purchases. Gains and losses arising on the retranslation of foreign operations’ net assets into the consolidation currency are recognised directly in equity. The Group does not hedge these translation differences.The Group’s exposure to fluctuations in exchange rates is shown below where a change in value of foreign currencies against sterling would have the following impact on the results of the Group:31 December 201731 December 2016£million£million   A 1% change in exchange rates results in:Change in profit0.5 0.4 Change in reserves/net assets2.3 2.2    A 1% change in the Qatari rial exchange rate would result in a £0.2 million change in profit and a £0.7 million change in reserves/net assets.(b) Market price risk - currency exchange rate hedgesPrior to 13 December 2017, when they were terminated, the Group used foreign exchange rate swaps to control its exposure to changes in foreign currency rates and limit the impact of any changes on both the balance sheet and the income statement. It had no foreign exchange rate hedges in place at the year end but had the following arrangements in place in the comparative year:31 December 201731 December 2016  Nominal  valueUS$ millionMaturityExchange  rateNominal  valueUS$ millionMaturityExchange  rate        Currency exchange rate hedges– – – 85.0 20211.69– – – 155.0 20241.69– – – 110.0 20261.69  –350.0         The fair value of currency exchange rate hedges at 31 December 2017 was £nil (2016: £67.6 million). The contracts were designated as cash flow hedges prior to their termination and, to the extent that the hedges were effective hedges, changes in their fair value were recognised directly in other comprehensive income (no charges have gone through the income statement in the year (2016: £nil) in respect of changes in the fair values of the hedges). A loss of £23.2 million (2016: gain £42.0 million) was booked to other comprehensive income in the year in respect of changes in the fair value of the hedges prior to their termination bringing the total cumulative gain recognised in equity at the point of termination to £44.4 million. At the point of termination the cumulative losses on the hedged loan notes, also recognised in equity under the hedging relationship, totalled £54.6 million and therefore a net £10.2 million loss previously recognised in equity will be recycled to the income statement over the remaining life of the originally hedged instruments (the loan notes). The Group received £44.4 million of consideration, in the form of cancelled bank loans, for the termination of the foreign exchange swaps.The fair values of the hedge instruments were calculated and provided by the respective counterparty banks.FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Notes to the consolidated financial statements continued
for the year ended 31 December 2017

21.  Financial risk management continued
(c)  Market price risk - interest rate hedges

Prior to 13 December 2017, when they were terminated, the Group used interest rate swaps to control its exposure to changes 
in interest rates and limit the impact of any changes on the income statement. It had no interest rate hedges in place at the 
year end but had the following arrangements in place in the comparative year:

Interest rate swaps

31 December 2017

31 December 2016

Nominal 
 value
£million

– 

– 

– 

– 

Maturity

Strike price

– 

– 

– 

– 

Current

Current

Nominal 
value
£million

20.0 

20.0 

Maturity

Strike price

2017

2019

1.09%

1.54%

The fair value of the interest rate hedges at 31 December 2017 was £nil (2016: (£0.5 million). The contracts were designated as 
cash flow hedges and, to the extent they were effective hedges, changes in their fair value were recognised directly in other 
comprehensive income (no charges have gone through the income statement in the year (2016: £nil) in respect of changes in 
the fair values of the hedges). Gains of £0.2 million (2016: loss £0.4 million) was booked to other comprehensive income in the 
year in respect of changes in the fair value of the hedges prior to their termination bringing the total cumulative loss recognised 
in equity at the point of termination to £0.3 million. This loss will be recycled to the income statement over the remaining life 
of the originally hedged instruments (the bank loans). The Group paid consideration of £0.3 million for the termination of the 
interest rate swaps. 

The fair values of the hedge instruments were calculated using computer valuation models operated by counterparty banks.

The use of fixed rate borrowings, where appropriate, diminishes the impact of an interest rate change. The impact of a 1% 
change in interest rate to the Group’s results is shown in the table below:

A 1% change in interest rates results in:

Change in profit

(d)  Credit risk

31 December 
2017
£million

31 December 
2016
£million

3.9

1.4

The Group’s principal financial assets are bank balances and cash, trade and other receivables and investments, 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 balance sheet 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. To manage this risk, credit references are taken and where appropriate parent company 
guarantees and letters of credit are sought along with monthly monitoring of age and recoverability of trade receivables.

Apart from receivables due from customers related to HM Government, the Group has no significant concentration of credit risk, 
with exposure spread over a number of counterparties and customers.

(e)  Liquidity risk

The Group seeks to maintain sufficient facilities to ensure that it has access to funding to meet current and anticipated future 
funding requirements determined from budgets and medium-term plans. Some of the facilities require us to comply with certain 
financial covenants, which are calculated excluding non-underlying items.

The maturity of financial assets and liabilities, with the exception of interest rate hedges above, are discussed in the specific 
asset and liability footnotes. 

168168

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169169GovernanceFinancial StatementsStrategic ReportOverview(f) Capital riskThe Group manages its capital to ensure that entities in the Group will be able to continue as going concerns, whilst seeking to optimise the debt and equity balance, in order to maximise the return to stakeholders. The capital structure of the Group consists of net debt, which includes cash, deposits and borrowings (note 20), and equity attributable to equity holders of the parent.The Group may adjust the capital structure of the Group by returning capital to shareholders, issue new shares or sell assets to reduce debt.The Group is not subject to externally imposed capital requirements but is subject to covenants in its loan agreements which seek to maintain the level of debt and interest that the Group may take on at serviceable levels by reference to the Group’s earnings which ultimately limits the amount of debt that the Group can take on.22. Trade and other payables - amounts falling due within one year31 December 201731 December 201631 December 2015£million£million£million    Obligations under finance leases (note 24)0.91.00.6 Trade payables206.9290.7166.5Advances received29.541.635.5Other taxation and social security75.445.485.3Other payables57.264.668.5Accruals377.1422.5388.0Deferred income51.633.543.6    798.6899.3788.0    23. Trade and other payables - amounts falling due after more than one year31 December 201731 December 201631 December 2015£million£million£million    Obligations under finance leases (note 24)2.53.41.6Trade payables0.30.60.2Other payables11.712.614.1    14.516.6 15.9     The carrying amount of trade and other payables approximates to their fair value.The average credit period taken for trade purchases is 41 days (2016: 50 days).Ageing of amounts payable excluding advances, finance leases, accruals and deferred income is as follows:31 December 201731 December 201631 December 2015£million£million£million    Less than one year339.5 400.7 320.3 Between one and two years12.0 13.2 14.3     351.5 413.9 334.6     FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Notes to the consolidated financial statements continued
for the year ended 31 December 2017

24.  Obligations under finance and operating leases
(a)  Finance leases

Amounts payable under finance leases:

Within one year

In the second to fifth years inclusive

After five years

Less: future finance charges

Present value of lease obligations 

Minimum lease payments

Present value of minimum lease payments

2017
£million

2016
£million

2017
£million

2016
£million

4.7 

4.7 

1.0 

2.5 

0.2 

3.7 

(0.3)  

3.4 

2.4 

2.4 

1.1 

3.0 

0.6 

4.7 

(0.3)  

4.4 

4.4 

4.4 

0.9 

2.5 

– 

3.4 

n/a

3.4 

2.2 

2.2 

1.0 

2.9 

0.5 

4.4 

n/a

4.4 

Certain of the Group’s plant and equipment is held under finance leases. The average lease term is six to seven years. For the 
year ended 31 December 2017 the average effective borrowing rate was 1.8% (2016: 1.8%). Interest rates are fixed at the contract 
date. All leases are on a fixed repayment basis and no arrangements have been entered into for contingent rental payments.

All finance lease obligations are denominated in sterling.

The carrying amount of the Group’s finance lease obligations approximate their fair value.

The Group’s obligations under finance leases are secured by the lessors’ charges over the leased assets.

(b)  Operating leases

At the balance sheet date, the Group had outstanding commitments for future 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

31 December 2017

31 December 2016

Land and 
buildings
£million

13.0

30.3

104.5

147.8

Other
£million

16.0

18.0

Total
£million

29.0

48.3

–

104.5

34.0

181.8

Land and 
buildings
£million

20.9

34.9

8.5

64.3

Other
£million

Total
£million

16.4

17.8

–

34.2

37.3

52.7

8.5

98.5

The majority of leases of land and buildings are subject to rent reviews at periodic intervals of between three and five years 
and are based on market rates.

170170

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171171GovernanceFinancial StatementsStrategic ReportOverview25. ProvisionsContract provisionsOtherTotal£million£million£million    At 1 January 201641.8 28.9 70.7 Additional provision in the year12.5 9.4 21.9 Release(15.2)  (0.5)  (15.7)  Utilisation of provision(10.5)  (3.5)  (14.0)  Exchange differences0.2 1.6 1.8     At 31 December 201628.8 35.9 64.7 Additional provision in the year47.2 39.8 87.0 Release(8.0)  – (8.0)  Utilisation of provision(7.7)  (4.9)  (12.6)  Exchange differences– (0.9)  (0.9)      At 31 December 201760.3 69.9 130.2     31 December 201731 December 201631 December 2015£million£million£million    Included in current liabilities50.221.827.4Included in non-current liabilities80.042.943.3    130.264.770.7    The impact of discounting is not material.Contract provisions include costs of site clearance, remedial costs and other contractual provisions. These are expected to be utilised on final settlement of the relevant contracts.Other provisions include self-insured risk retained by the Group’s captive insurance company and other similar balances along with property and restructuring provisions (note 5).26. Share capital31 December 201731 December 201631 December 2015£million£million£million    Issued and fully paid: 145,714,120 ordinary shares of 10p each (2016: 145,714,120 ordinary shares of 10p each)14.614.614.5    SharesShare capitalthousands£million   At 1 January 2016145,207.5 14.5 Share awards issued in 2016506.6 0.1    At 31 December 2016145,714.1 14.6 Share awards issued in 2017––   At 31 December 2017145,714.1 14.6    FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Notes to the consolidated financial statements continued
for the year ended 31 December 2017

26.  Share capital continued
Awards were granted during the year as indicated below. Exercise and vesting details are stated in the Directors’ Remuneration 
Report on pages 70 to 99. Outstanding options and awards over shares in the Company at 31 December 2017 were as follows:

31 December 2017

31 December 2016

Subscription 
price per  
10p share

Number of 
beneficiaries 
including directors

Number of shares 

Number of 
beneficiaries 
including directors

Number of shares

(a) Performance Share Plan

Date of grant

11 April 2012

9 April 2013

13 May 2014

27 May 2014

1 June 2015

5 April 2016

6 April 2017

11 September 2017

2 October 2017

Nil

Nil

Nil

Nil

Nil

Nil

Nil

Nil

Nil

– 

7 

– 

– 

120 

123 

112 

8 

1 

– 

15,382 

– 

– 

1,695,314 

2,079,878 

4,006,741 

996,143 

526,840 

9,320,298 

(b) Restricted Stock Award

11 September 2017

Nil

1 

1,897,899 

(c) Sharesave Scheme

4 April 2013

9 April 2014

30 September 2014

14 October 2015

12 October 2016

11 October 2017

398.0p

511.0p

529.0p

467.0p

317.0p

91.0p

– 

7 

736 

1,278 

1,231 

2,955 

1,897,899 

– 

5,737 

216,164 

430,003 

1,033,942 

9,540,599 

11,226,445 

5 

17 

114 

2 

134 

136 

– 

– 

– 

–

11 

1,319 

1,217 

2,034 

1,995 

– 

8,153 

40,117 

1,385,104 

15,828 

1,775,036 

2,162,868 

– 

– 

– 

5,387,106

–

2,124 

410,635 

361,139 

688,291 

1,696,073 

– 

3,158,262 

27.  Contingent liabilities
The Company and its subsidiaries are, from time to time, parties to legal proceedings and claims which arise in the ordinary 
course of business. Appropriate provision has been made in these accounts for all material uninsured liabilities resulting from 
proceedings that are, in the opinion of the directors, likely to materialise.

The Company and certain subsidiary undertakings have, in the normal course of business, given performance guarantees and 
provided indemnities to third parties in relation to performance bonds and other contract-related guarantees. These relate 
to the Group’s own contracts and to the Group’s share of the contractual obligations of certain joint ventures and associated 
undertakings. The Group acts as guarantor for the following:

Maximum guarantee

Amounts utilised

2017
£million

2016
£million

4.7 

18.9 

226.0 

2.4 

244.9 

17.7 

284.2 

4.4 

301.9 

2017
£million

1.7 

138.3 

2.2 

140.0 

2016
£million

– 

172.2 

172.2 

Joint ventures and associates

Borrowings

Bonds and guarantees

172172

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173173GovernanceFinancial StatementsStrategic ReportOverview28. Share-based paymentsUnder the Group’s share-based incentive schemes the following expense was charged/(credited):31 December 201731 December 2016£million£million   Performance Share Plan(1.3)  (0.6)  Restricted Stock Award3.1 – Sharesave Scheme0.3 0.4    Total charge/(credit)2.1 (0.2)     Cash settled(0.3)  0.2 Equity settled2.4 (0.4)     Total charge/(credit)2.1 (0.2)     The cash settled element of the charge relates to cash payments equivalent to the dividends which would have accrued to Performance Share Plan participants had their vested shares been awarded at the grant date. (a) Performance Share PlanThe Performance Share Plan is a “free” share award with an effective exercise price of £nil. For all participants in the 2017 awards, one-third of their award is subject to a Total Shareholder Return (TSR) performance condition with performance compared to a comparator group. For all previous awards, this applied only to certain participants. All awards are subject to an Earnings per Share (EPS) performance condition. The performance period is three years. Further details of these conditions are set out in the Directors’ Remuneration Report on pages 70 to 99. Awards are normally forfeited if the employee leaves the Group before the awards vest.20172016AwardsnumberAwardsnumber   Outstanding at beginning of period5,387,106 4,778,037 Granted during the period5,616,649 2,162,868 Exercised during the period(26,562)(535,171)Lapsed during the period(1,656,895)(1,018,628)   Outstanding at the end of the period9,320,298 5,387,106    Exercisable at the end of the period15,38248,270   The remaining weighted average contractual life is 3.8 years (2016: 3.5 years).FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Notes to the consolidated financial statements continued
for the year ended 31 December 2017

28.  Share-based payments continued
(a)  Performance Share Plan continued
The Group engaged external consultants to calculate the fair value of these awards at the date of grant. The valuation model 
used to calculate the fair value of the awards granted under this plan was a stochastic valuation model, the inputs of which are 
detailed below:

Weighted average share price

Weighted average exercise price

Expected volatility

Expected life

Risk-free rate

Expected dividend yield

Average fair value of award per share 

(b)  Restricted Stock Award

2017
grants

202.4p

0p

44.7%

3 years

0.3%

0.0%

27.9p

2016
grants

419.6p

0p

26.2%

3 years

0.5%

0.0%

134.6p

2015
grants

619.5p

0p

24.4%

3 years

0.7%

0.0%

303.0p

On 11 September 2017 the Chief Executive Officer, Debbie White, received Restricted Stock Awards in order to compensate 
her for forfeited awards from her previous employment. The awards replicate, as far as practicable, the terms (including 
performance conditions where relevant) and values of awards forfeited by Mrs White in agreeing to join the Group. The award 
is a “free” share award with an effective exercise price of £nil. The vesting dates of awards vary from March 2018 to April 2020. 
Awards are normally forfeited if the employee leaves the Group before the awards vest. Further details of the awards are set 
out in the Directors’ Remuneration Report on pages 70 to 99.

Outstanding at beginning of period

Granted during the period

Exercised during the period

Lapsed during the period

Outstanding at the end of the period

Exercisable at the end of the period

2017
Awards 
number

– 

1,897,899 

– 

– 

1,897,899

–

The remaining weighted average contractual life is 1.5 years (2016: n/a).

The fair value of the awards granted under this plan is 161.5p per share, which is based on the closing share price of the 
Company on the grant date of 11 September 2017.

174174

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175175GovernanceFinancial StatementsStrategic ReportOverview(c) Sharesave Scheme The Sharesave Scheme is an all-employee HMRC tax-advantaged share scheme. The scheme involves employees saving a set amount from their salary for a period of three years. At the end of the three-year period the employee is offered the opportunity to purchase shares based on the amount saved at an option price set at the start of the period. The option price for grants from 2012 onwards was set at a 20% discount of the average share price over five days trading prior to the offer date of the scheme.20172016    OptionsnumberWeighted average exercise price £OptionsnumberWeighted average exercise price £      Outstanding at beginning of period3,158,262 3.99 2,222,000 4.85 Granted during the period9,861,819 0.96 1,709,574 3.17 Exercised during the period– – (13,951)  3.64 Lapsed during the period(1,793,636)  3.60 (759,361)  4.64  4.7 2.4  4.4 2.2 Outstanding at the end of the period11,226,445 1.39 3,158,262 3.99  4.7 2.4  4.4 2.2 Exercisable at the end of the period– – 2,124 3.98       The outstanding options at the end of the period had a weighted average exercise price of £1.39 (2016: £3.99) and had a remaining weighted average contractual life of 3.2 years (2016: 2.6 years).The inputs into the Black-Scholes model are as follows:201720162015grantsgrantsgrants    Share price at date of grant113.5p348.0p592.5pExercise price91.0p317.0p467.0pExpected volatility41.3%30.0%23.3%Expected life3 years3 years3 yearsRisk-free rate0.5%0.8%0.8%Expected dividend yield3.7%4.1%4.3%Fair value of award per share33.0p62.3p114.7p    Expected volatility was determined by calculating the historical volatility of the Group’s share price over the previous two years. The expected life used in the model has been adjusted, based on management’s best estimate, for the effects of non-transferability, exercise restrictions, and behavioural considerations.FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Notes to the consolidated financial statements continued
for the year ended 31 December 2017

29.  Defined benefit retirement schemes
The principal pension schemes within the Group have been valued for the purposes of IAS 19 Employee benefits. For each of 
these pension schemes valuation information has been updated by Lane Clark & Peacock LLP, qualified independent actuaries, 
to take account of the requirements of IAS 19 in order to assess the liabilities of the various schemes as at 31 December 2017.

Actuarial gains and losses are recognised in full in the period in which they occur. As permitted by IAS 19, actuarial gains and 
losses are recognised outside profit or loss and presented in other comprehensive income. The liability recognised in the balance 
sheet represents the present value of the various defined benefit obligations, as reduced by the fair value of plan assets. The 
cost of providing benefits is determined using the Projected Unit Credit Method.

The Group contributes to various defined benefit pension schemes in the UK and overseas. By far the most significant 
arrangement is the Interserve Pension Scheme in the UK, where benefits are generally related to service and final salary. The 
Interserve Pension Scheme comprises two segregated sections (referred to as the Interserve and Landmarc sections), with 
assets and liabilities ring-fenced. The Group operates a defined contribution plan for new hires, with membership of the defined 
benefit arrangements only permitted when specific contract terms require defined benefit provision. Contributions to the 
defined contribution arrangements are in addition to those set out below and are charged directly to profit and loss.

The current funding target for the Group’s defined benefit schemes is to maintain assets equal to the value of the accrued 
benefits based on projected salaries (where relevant). The regulatory framework in the UK requires the Trustees and Group 
to agree upon the assumptions underlying the funding target, and then to agree upon the necessary contributions required to 
recover any deficit at the valuation date. There is a risk to the Group that adverse experience could lead to a requirement for 
the Group to make considerable contributions to recover any deficit.

The following table sets out the key IAS 19 assumptions used to assess the present value of the defined benefit obligation. 
The discount rate and inflation assumptions shown below are the single equivalent rates for the full yield curves assumed for 
the Interserve section of the Interserve Pension Scheme, which represents 91% of the total defined benefit obligation. The life 
expectancy assumptions shown relate to the vast majority of the membership of that scheme. Alternative assumptions have 
been used for the less material arrangements where the specific nature of those schemes makes it appropriate to do so. The 
weighted average duration of the expected benefit payments for the schemes is around 17 years.

Significant actuarial assumptions

Retail price inflation (pa)

Discount rate (pa)

Post-retirement mortality (expectancy of life in years)

 Male currently aged 65 

 Female currently aged 65

 Male aged 65 in 20 years' time

 Female aged 65 in 20 years' time

Other related actuarial assumptions

Consumer price index price inflation (pa)

Pension increase assumptions (pa)

LPI/RPI

Fixed 5%

3% or RPI if higher (capped at 5%)

General salary increases (pa)

2017

2016

2015

3.2%

2.5%

87.7 

89.6 

89.5 

91.0 

2.2%

3.3%

2.8%

87.6 

89.5 

89.4 

91.0 

2.3%

3.1%

3.8%

87.6 

89.4 

89.3 

90.9 

2.1%

3.1%/3.2%

3.1%/3.3%

3.0%/3.1%

5.0%

3.7%

2.7%

5.0%

3.7%

2.8%

5.0%

3.6%

2.6%

176176

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177177GovernanceFinancial StatementsStrategic ReportOverviewThe amount included in the balance sheet arising from the Group’s obligations in respect of the various pension schemes is as follows:201720162015£million£million£million    Present value of defined benefit obligation1,064.1 1,044.6 880.9 Fair value of schemes' assets(1,016.1)  (992.2)  (898.1)      (Asset)/liability recognised in the balance sheet48.0 52.4 (17.2)      The change in the net liabilities recognised in the balance sheet is comprised as follows:20172016£million£million   Opening net (asset)/liability52.4 (17.2)  Expense charges to profit and loss7.9 2.8 Amount recognised in other comprehensive income10.4 90.2 Employer contributions(22.7)  (23.4)     Closing net (asset)/liability48.0 52.4    The Group has assessed that no further liability arises under IFRIC 14 IAS 19 — The limit on a defined benefit asset, minimum funding requirements and their interaction. This conclusion was reached because the trustees of the Interserve Pension Scheme and the Landmarc Pension Scheme, which together represented 97% of the Group's total defined benefit obligations at 31 December 2017, do not have a unilateral power to wind up the schemes and the schemes' rules allow the Group an unconditional right to refunds assuming the gradual settlement of plan liabilities over time until all members have left the scheme.Indicative change in defined benefit obligation   20172016Sensitivity£million£million    Sensitivity to significant actuarial assumptionsPrice inflation+0.5% pa+64+65Discount rate+0.5% pa-85-85Post-retirement mortality (expectancy of life in years)1 year increase+35+34    The sensitivities shown above reflect only the change in the assessed defined benefit obligation. In practice any movement in assumptions is likely to be accompanied by a partially offsetting change in asset values, and the corresponding overall impact on the net liability/(asset) is therefore likely to be lower than the amounts above.The amounts recognised in the income statement are as follows:20172016£million£million   Employer’s part of current service cost5.2 5.7 Net interest on the net pension liability/(asset)1.1 (1.1)  Administration costs1.6 0.9 Past service cost/(credit)– (2.6)  Losses/(gains) on settlements– (0.1)     Total expense recognised in the income statement7.9 2.8    FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Notes to the consolidated financial statements continued
for the year ended 31 December 2017

29.  Defined benefit retirement schemes continued
The current service cost and administration costs are included within operating profit. The interest cost is included within 
financing costs.

At the balance sheet date, the current allocation of the schemes’ assets is as follows:

Equities (quoted)

Alternative investments (primarily unquoted)

Property (unquoted)

Liability Driven Investment ("LDI") (unquoted)

Insurance policies (unquoted)

Government bonds (quoted)

Corporate bonds (quoted)

Infrastructure (unquoted)

Cash and other (primarily unquoted)

31 December 2017

31 December 2016

31 December 2015

Current 
allocation

Fair value 
£million

Current 
allocation 

Fair value 
£million

Current 
allocation

Fair value 
£million

28%

19%

0%

13%

34%

0%

0%

5%

1%

286.1

192.5

3.9

132.7

342.7

–

2.8

49.0

6.4

28%

17%

0%

12%

37%

0%

0%

5%

1%

271.7

168.6

3.1

117.7

368.7

2.1

2.7

52.0

5.6

23%

16%

2%

0%

39%

13%

0%

6%

1%

207.4

144.9

22.5

–

347.9

115.8

2.3

51.7

5.6

100%

1016.1

100%

992.2

100%

898.1

Alternative investments include diversified growth funds, fund of hedge funds and emerging market multi-asset funds (primarily 
unquoted).

The Trustee of the Interserve section of the Interserve Pension Scheme holds an insurance policy to protect the Group from 
certain risks associated with approximately 31% of that section’s defined benefit obligation. The policy aims to closely match 
the pension payments to the pensioner members who were above age 65 in July 2014. The policy is not an exact match for 
the benefits in certain areas, notably: pension increases if price inflation falls below 0%; differences between the increase in 
the Consumer Prices Index and the Retail Prices Index; and the eligibility criteria for dependants’ pensions. The element of 
the policy that does not provide an exact match for the benefits covers circa £292 million of the defined benefit obligation at 
31 December 2017. The policy covers a further circa £9 million of the defined benefit obligation which precisely matches the 
benefits in respect of certain dependants in receipt of pension.

Except for the element of the policy which precisely matches the benefits (around 3% of the total policy value), the policy has 
been valued as the estimated replacement cost at the accounting date by the Group’s actuarial advisers, LCP, in accordance 
with the fair value requirements of IFRS 13. The small matching element has been valued at the same amount as the defined 
benefit obligation in respect of the matched benefits.

During 2016 the Interserve Pension Scheme invested in a bespoke pooled LDI fund. The LDI portfolio provides a broad 45% hedge 
of the Interserve section’s interest rate and inflation exposure not covered by the insurance policy above. The LDI manager 
invests in a combination of gilts and swaps, depending on the relative attractiveness of each instrument at each maturity.

The schemes have not directly invested in any of the Group’s other financial instruments nor in other assets or properties used 
by the Group.

178178

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179179GovernanceFinancial StatementsStrategic ReportOverviewA reconciliation of the present value of the defined benefit obligation is as follows:20172016£million£million   Opening defined benefit obligation1,044.6880.9Employer’s part of current service cost5.25.7Interest on defined benefit obligation28.632.7Contributions by schemes' participants0.30.4Actuarial loss/(gain) due to: Changes in financial assumptions39.7176.0 Changes in demographic assumptions(1.2)  – Experience on defined benefit obligations(8.4)  (8.6)  Benefits paid(44.7)  (39.1)  Past service cost/(credit)–(2.6)  Curtailments and settlements–(0.8)  Bulk transfers––   Closing defined benefit obligation1,064.11,044.6   A reconciliation of the fair value of the schemes' assets is as follows:20172016£million£million   Opening fair value of the schemes' assets992.2898.1Interest on schemes' assets27.533.8Actual return on schemes' assets less interest on schemes' assets19.777.2Contributions by the employers22.723.4Contributions by schemes' participants0.30.4Administrative expenses(1.6)  (0.9)  Benefits paid(44.7)  (39.1)  Curtailments and settlements–(0.7)  Bulk transfers––   Closing fair value of the schemes' assets1,016.1992.2   A triennial actuarial valuation of the Interserve Pension Scheme is underway, with an effective date of 31 December 2017. The future contribution rates will be determined in the light of this actuarial valuation. Based on current contribution rates and payroll, the Group expects to contribute £17.9 million to the various defined benefit arrangements during 2018 (including deficit contributions to the Interserve section of the Interserve Pension Scheme of £14.1 million).FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Notes to the consolidated financial statements continued
for the year ended 31 December 2017

30.  Related party transactions
Transactions between the Company and its subsidiaries, which are related parties, have been eliminated on consolidation and 
are not disclosed in this note. Transactions between the Group and its associates are disclosed below.

During the year, Group companies entered into the following transactions with related parties who are not members of the Group:

Sales of goods
and services

Purchases of goods
and services

Amounts due from 
related par ties

Amounts owed to 
related par ties

2017
£million

43.7

7.6

2016
£million

118.1

11.6

2017
£million

2016
£million

2017
£million

2016
£million

2017
£million

2016
£million

–

2.2

–

1.2

14.5

4.8

7.8

4.6

–

0.7

–

0.5

Joint-venture entities 

Associates

Sales and purchases of goods and services to related parties were made on normal trading terms.

The amounts outstanding are unsecured and will be settled in cash. No guarantees have been given or received in respect of 
the outstanding balances. No provisions have been made for doubtful debts in respect of the amounts owed by related parties.

Key management personnel are considered to be the directors of Interserve Plc. No dividends were paid in the year 
(2016: £0.3 million) in respect of ordinary shares held by the Company’s directors. Other amounts paid to key management 
personnel are given in the Directors’ Remuneration Report on pages 70 to 99.

31.  Investments in joint ventures - arrangements
PFI/PPP arrangements that have reached financial close at 31 December 2017 include:

Interserve services

Dates

Design/
build

Operate

Whole-life 
value
£million

Status

Awarded

Fully
operational

Contract
end

Share of equity/  
sub-debt

%

£million

Total capital 
required
£million

Contract

Central/local government

Derby Waste

yes

no

145

construction Q3 2014

–

2042

50

17.5

190.8

Health

Alder Hey Hospital

no

yes

100

operational Q2 2013

Scottish National Blood 

mid-
2015

2045

Transfusion

yes

yes

43

construction Q4 2014

Q1 2017

2042

20

50

yes

yes

160

construction Q1 2015

Q1 2017

2042

45

Education

Hertford, Luton and 
Reading Schools

Invested to date

Shares

Loans

Remaining commitment

200.0

43.0

147.0

3.3

1.6

6.1

28.5

0.1

28.4

–

28.5

Interserve’s share of the capital commitments of the joint ventures above amounts to £11.2 million (2016: £25.8 million).

180180

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181181GovernanceFinancial StatementsStrategic ReportOverview32.  Reconciliation of non-statutory measuresThe Group uses a number of key performance indicators to monitor the performance of its business. This note reconciles these key performance indicators to individual lines in the financial statements.(a)  Headline pre-tax profit201720162015£million£million£million    Profit/(loss) before tax(244.4)  (94.1)  79.5 Adjusted for:Amortisation of acquired intangible assets21.5 29.8 31.0 Share of associates amortisation of acquired intangible assets0.1 0.1 0.1 Non-underlying items - exited business - Energy from Waste35.1 160.0 10.6 Non-underlying items - exited business - strategic review of Equipment Services7.1 10.7 2.6 Non-underlying items - exited business - property development26.0 – – Non-underlying items - restructuring costs33.2 – – Non-underlying items - professional adviser fees13.9 – – Non-underlying items - contract review86.1 30.8– Non-underlying items - asset impairments76.7 – – Non-underlying items - transaction and integration costs– – 4.8 Non-underlying items - exchange gain/loss on retranslation of loan notes(2.9)  – –     Headline pre-tax profit52.4 137.3128.6     (b)  Operating cash flow201720162015£million£million£million    Cash generated by operations(135.9)  95.3 38.7 Adjusted for:Cash used by operations - exited business - Energy from Waste95.9 116.9 10.4 Cash used by operations - other non-underlying64.7 17.8 5.6 Pension contributions in excess of income statement charge15.9 19.5 16.1 Proceeds on disposal of plant and equipment - non-hire fleet1.6 8.6 1.6 Capital expenditure - non-hire fleet(39.3)  (38.3)  (31.2)      Operating cash flow2.9 219.8 41.2     (c)  Free cash flow201720162015£million£million£million    Operating cash flow2.9219.841.2Adjusted for:Pension contributions in excess of income statement charge(15.9)  (19.5)  (16.1)  Taxes paid(8.6)  (10.2)  (6.8)  Dividends received from associates and joint ventures17.2 34.1 13.6 Interest received5.9 4.5 4.4 Interest paid(27.3)  (23.3)  (21.1)  Effect of foreign exchange rate change(2.2)  10.9 0.1     Free cash flow(28.0)  216.3 15.3     FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Notes to the consolidated financial statements continued
for the year ended 31 December 2017

32.  Reconciliation of non-statutory measures continued
(d)   Operating cash conversion

Operating cash flow

Operating profit, before non-underlying items and amortisation of acquired 

intangible assets

Full-year operating cash conversion

(e)   Gross operating cash conversion

Operating cash flow

Dividends received from associates and joint ventures

Gross operating cash flow

Operating profit, before non-underlying items and amortisation of acquired 

intangible assets

Share of results of associates and joint ventures, before non-underlying items 

and amortisation of acquired intangible assets

Total operating profit, before non-underlying items and amortisation of 

acquired intangible assets

Full-year gross operating cash conversion

(f)   Gross revenue

Consolidated revenue

Share of revenues of associates and joint ventures

Gross revenue

2017
£million

2.9 

49.4 

5.9%

2017
£million

2.9 

17.2 

20.1 

49.4 

25.5 

74.9 

26.8%

2017
£million

3,250.8 

416.1 

3,666.9 

2016
£million

219.8 

129.2

170.1%

2016
£million

219.8 

34.1 

253.9 

2015
£million

41.2 

122.4 

33.7%

2015
£million

41.2 

13.6 

54.8 

129.2

122.4 

25.8 

22.6 

155.0

163.8%

2016
£million

3,244.6 

440.6 

3,685.2 

145.0 

37.8%

2015
£million

3,204.6 

424.3 

3,628.9 

182182

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183183GovernanceFinancial StatementsStrategic ReportOverview(g)  Net debt201720162015£million£million£million     Cash and depositsA155.1 113.3 86.1      Bank overdrafts(6.8)  (11.1)  (15.5)  Bank loans(388.6)  (165.0)  (170.0)  US Private Placement Loans(258.9)  (284.4)  (236.1)       (654.3)  (460.5)  (421.6)  Finance leases(3.4)  (4.4)  (2.2)       Total borrowingsB(657.7)  (464.9)  (423.8)       Per balance sheetA+B(502.6)  (351.6)  (337.7)  less: Impact of hedges on US Private Placement loan notes– 77.2 28.9      Net debt(502.6)  (274.4)  (308.8)       33.  Events after the balance sheet dateFollowing the successful conclusion of our bank renegotiations in April 2018, and expiry of the £37.5 million of short-term facilities, the Group has arranged access to committed borrowing facilities of £834 million which are considered adequate to satisfy the ongoing liquidity demands of the Group (see note 20).FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Company balance sheet  
at 31 December 2017

Fixed assets

Tangible assets

Investments in subsidiaries

Investments in associates

Other investments

Current assets

Debtors:

Due within one year

Due after one year

Cash at bank and in hand

Creditors: amounts falling due within one year

Net current (liabilities)/assets

Total assets less current liabilities

Creditors: amounts falling due after more than one year

Retirement benefit obligation

Provisions for liabilities

Net assets

Capital and reserves

Called-up share capital

Share premium account

Capital redemption reserve

Merger reserve

Profit and loss account

Total shareholders’ funds

Notes

166.8

(152.5)  

E

F

G

H

I

I

J

K

L

M

O

2017
£million

13.7

462.9

2.7

0.3

479.6

12.2

9.6

166.8

188.6

(152.5)  

(37.4)  

36.1

515.7

(3.9)  

(38.5)  

(33.6)  

439.7

14.6

116.5

0.1

180.9

127.6

439.7

2016
£million

10.2

462.9

2.7

0.3

476.1

114.5

7.5

5.3

127.3

(37.4)  

89.9

566.0

(4.8)  

(39.5)  

(15.9)  

505.8

14.6

116.5

0.1

180.9

193.7

505.8

Interserve Plc reported a loss after taxation for the financial year ended 31 December 2017 of £69.2 million (2016: profit of  
£34.1 million).

The financial statements of Interserve Plc (registered number 00088456) were approved by the Board of Directors on 
27 April 2018.

Signed on behalf of the Board of Directors

D J White 
Director 

M A Whiteling 
Director

184

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185GovernanceFinancial StatementsStrategic ReportOverviewCompany statement of changes in equity  for the year ended 31 December 2017Called–up share capital£millionProfit and loss account£millionShare premium account£millionCapital redemption reserve£millionMerger reserve£millionTotal£million       Balance as at 1 January 201614.5151.2116.50.1180.9463.2Profit for the year –34.1 – – –34.1Other comprehensive income for the year –43.8 – – –43.8       Total comprehensive income for the year –77.9 – – –77.9Issue of share capital0.1 – – – –0.1Dividends –(35.5)   – – –(35.5)  Fair value adjustment – – – – – –Investment in own shares – – – – – –Deferred tax on items taken directly to equity – – – – – –Company shares used to settle share-based payments – – – – – –Share-based payments –0.1 – – –0.1       Transactions with owners0.1(35.4)   – – –(35.3)         Balance as at 31 December 201614.6193.7116.50.1180.9505.8Profit for the year –(69.3)   – – –(69.3)  Other comprehensive income for the year –0.8 – – –0.8       Total comprehensive income for the year –(68.5)   – – –(68.5)  Issue of share capital – – – – – –Dividends – – – – – –Fair value adjustment – – – – – –Investment in own shares – – – – – –Deferred tax on items taken directly to equity – – – – – –Company shares used to settle share-based payments – – – – – –Share-based payments –2.4 – – –2.4       Transactions with owners –2.4 – – –2.4       Balance as at 31 December 201714.6127.6116.50.1180.9439.7       The share premium reserve includes proceeds from share issues over and above the nominal value of the 10p ordinary shares.The merger reserve includes premium on the shares issued on acquisition of subsidiary companies.FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Notes to the Company financial statements  
for the year ended 31 December 2017

A)  Accounting policies
The principal accounting policies are summarised below. They have all been applied consistently throughout the year and the 
preceding year.

(a)  Basis of accounting

These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with Financial Reporting Standard 101 Reduced disclosure 
framework and the Companies Act 2006. These financial statements have therefore been prepared under the historical cost 
convention.

Interserve Plc is a company incorporated in the United Kingdom under the Companies Act. The address of the registered office 
is given on page 51 of the Group’s consolidated financial statements.

The Company meets the definition of qualifying entity under FRS 100 Application of financial reporting requirements. These 
financial statements were prepared in accordance with FRS 101 Reduced disclosure framework as issued by the Financial 
Reporting Council.

The Company’s financial statements are included in the Interserve Plc consolidated financial statements for the year ended 
31 December 2017. As permitted by section 408 of the Companies Act 2006, the Company has not presented its own profit and 
loss account.

The Company has taken advantage of the following disclosure exemptions in preparing these financial statements, as permitted 
by FRS 101 Reduced disclosure framework:

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

the requirements of paragraphs 45(b) and 46 to 52 of IFRS 2 Share-based payment; 

the requirements of IFRS 7 Financial instruments: disclosures; 

the requirements of paragraphs 91 to 99 of IFRS 13 Fair value measurement; 

the requirement in paragraph 38 of IAS 1 Presentation of financial statements to present comparative information in 
respect of: 

 ◦

 ◦

 ◦

paragraph 79(a)(iv) of IAS 1; 

paragraph 73(e) of IAS 16 Property, plant and equipment; and 

paragraph 118(e) of IAS 38 Intangible assets; 

 the requirements of paragraphs 10(d), 10)(f), 16, 38A, 38B, 38C, 38D, 40A, 40B, 40C, 40D and 111 of IAS 1 Presentation of 
financial statements; 

the requirements of paragraphs 134 to 136 of IAS 1 Presentation of financial statements; 

the requirements of IAS 7 Statement of cash flows; 

the requirements of paragraphs 30 and 31 of IAS 8 Accounting policies, changes in accounting estimates and errors; 

the requirements of paragraphs 17 and 18A of IAS 24 Related party disclosures; 

 the requirements in IAS 24 Related party disclosures to disclose related party transactions entered into between two or 
more members of a group; and

• 

the requirements of paragraphs 134(d) to 134(f) and 135(c) to 135(e) of IAS 36 Impairments of assets. 

These financial statements are separate financial statements.

Where required, equivalent disclosures are given in the Group’s consolidated financial statements in notes 1 to 33.

Adoption of new and revised standards
There have been no changes to the Standards or Interpretations applied in the current year.

(b)  Going concern

The directors have made enquiries and have a reasonable expectation that the Company has adequate resources to continue 
in existence for the foreseeable future. For this reason they continue to adopt the going concern basis in preparing the annual 
financial statements. A more detailed review of going concern can be found in the Group’s consolidated financial statements on 
page 44.

186

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187GovernanceFinancial StatementsStrategic ReportOverview(c) LeasesOperating lease payments represent rentals payable by the Company for its office properties. Leases are negotiated for an average term of 10 years and rentals are fixed for an average of five years with a break option to extend at five years. Leases of land and buildings are typically subject to rent reviews at five-yearly intervals and provide for the lessee to pay all insurance, maintenance and repair costs.(d) Foreign currencyThe financial statements are presented in pounds sterling, which is the currency of the primary economic environment in which the Company operates (its functional currency).Transactions denominated in currencies other than the functional currency are translated at the rates ruling at the dates of the transaction. Monetary assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies at the balance sheet date are translated at the rates ruling at that date. Non-monetary items that are measured in terms of historical cost in foreign currency are not retranslated.Exchange differences are recognised in profit and loss in the period in which they arise.(e) Tangible assetsTangible assets are carried at cost less any accumulated depreciation and any impairment losses. Depreciation is provided on a straight-line basis, calculated to write off the cost or valuation over its expected useful life, at rates ranging between:Freehold landNilFreehold buildings2%Leasehold propertyOver period of leaseComputer hardware and software33.3%Furniture, office and plant equipment10% to 33.3%Useful lives are reviewed at the end of every reporting period.The costs of operating leases are charged to the profit and loss account as they accrue.(f) Provisions and contingent liabilitiesProvisions are recognised when the Company has a present obligation (legal or constructive) as a result of a past event, it is probable that the Company will be required to settle the obligation and a reliable estimate can be made of the amount of the obligation. Where the Company expects some or all of a provision to be reimbursed, the reimbursement is recognised as a separate asset but only when the reimbursement is virtually certain. The expense relating to any provision is presented in the profit and loss net of any reimbursement. If the effect of the time value of money is material, provisions are discounted using an appropriate rate that takes into account the risks specific to the liability. Where discounting is used, the increase in the provision due to the passage of time is recognised as a finance cost.Contingent liabilities are disclosed in the notes to the financial statements in respect of guarantees given to the Company’s subsidiaries, associated undertakings, joint ventures and pension scheme. Due to the nature of the guarantees it would be difficult to reliably measure the Company’s potential obligation and the Company considers it unlikely that there will be a requirement to make a financial settlement as a result of these guarantees.(g) InvestmentsInvestments are stated at cost less any impairment at the balance sheet date.(h) Impairment of investmentsInvestments are assessed for indicators at each balance sheet date. The investment is impaired where there is objective evidence that, as a result of one or more events that occurred after the initial recognition of the asset, the estimated future cash flows of the investment have been affected.FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Notes to the Company financial statements continued
for the year ended 31 December 2017

A)  Accounting policies continued
(i)  Pensions

The Company participates in, and is the sponsoring employer of, both defined benefit and defined contribution pension schemes 
for the benefit of permanent members of staff. For the defined benefit schemes the cost of providing benefits is determined 
using the projected unit credit method, with actuarial valuations being carried out at each balance sheet date.

Actuarial gains and losses are recognised in full in the period in which they occur. They are recognised directly in equity and 
recognised in the statement of other comprehensive income. 

For defined contribution schemes, the amount recognised in the profit and loss is equal to the contributions payable to the 
schemes during the year.

(j)  Taxation

Current tax, including UK corporation tax and foreign tax, is provided at amounts expected to be paid (or recovered) using the 
tax rates and laws that have been enacted or substantively enacted by the balance sheet date. The tax currently payable is 
based on taxable profit for the year. Taxable profit differs from net profit as reported in the profit and loss because is excludes 
items of income or expense that are taxable or deductible in other years and it further excludes items that are never taxable or 
deductible.

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 the computation of taxable profit, and 
is accounted for using the balance sheet liability method. Deferred tax liabilities are generally recognised for all taxable 
temporary differences and deferred tax assets are recognised to the extent that it is probable that taxable profits will be 
available against which deductible temporary differences can be utilised. Such assets and liabilities are not recognised if the 
temporary difference arises from the initial recognition of other assets and liabilities in a transaction that affects neither the 
taxable profit nor the accounting profit.

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

Deferred tax is calculated at the tax rates that are expected to apply in the period when the liability is settled or the asset is 
realised based on tax laws and rates that have been enacted or substantively enacted at the balance sheet date.

Deferred tax is charged or credited in the profit and loss, except when it relates to items charged or credited in other 
comprehensive income, in which case the deferred tax is also dealt with in other comprehensive income.

The measurement of deferred tax liabilities and assets reflects the tax consequences that would follow from the manner in 
which the Company expects, at the end of the reporting period, to recover or settle the carrying amount of its assets and 
liabilities.

Deferred tax assets and liabilities are offset where there is a legally enforceable right to set off current tax assets against 
current tax liabilities and when they relate to income taxes levied by the same taxation authority and the Company intends to 
settle its current tax assets and liabilities on a net basis.

Current tax and deferred tax for the year
Current and deferred tax are recognised in profit and loss, except when they relate to items that are recognised in other 
comprehensive income or directly in equity, in which case the current and deferred tax are also recognised in other 
comprehensive income or directly in equity respectively.

(k)  Finance costs

Borrowing costs are recognised in the profit and loss in the period in which they are incurred. Differences between borrowing 
costs payable in the year and costs actually paid are shown in accruals in the balance sheet.

188

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189GovernanceFinancial StatementsStrategic ReportOverview(l) Financial InstrumentsFinancial assets and financial liabilities are recognised in the Company’s balance sheet when the Company becomes party to the contractual provisions of the instrument. Financial assets, other than those held at fair value through profit and loss, are assessed for indicators of impairment at each balance sheet date. Financial assets are impaired where there is objective evidence that, as a result of one or more events that occurred after the initial recognition of the financial asset, the estimated future cash flows of the investment have been affected.DebtorsDebtors are initially measured at fair value. Appropriate allowances for estimated irrecoverable amounts are recognised in the profit and loss where there is objective evidence that the asset is impaired.Cash and cash equivalentsCash and cash equivalents comprise cash on 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.Bank and other borrowingsInterest-bearing bank loans, intercompany loans and overdrafts are recorded at the proceeds received, net of direct issue costs. Finance charges, including premiums payable on settlement or redemption and direct issue costs, are accounted for on an accruals basis in the profit and loss and are added to the carrying amount of the instrument to the extent that they are not settled in the period in which they arise.CreditorsCreditors are initially measured at fair value and subsequently measured at amortised cost. Equity instrumentsDebt and equity instruments are classified as either financial liabilities or equity in accordance with the substance of the contractual arrangement.An equity instrument is any contract that evidences a residual interest in the assets of an entity after deducting all of its liabilities. Equity instruments issued by the Company are recorded at the proceeds received, net of direct issue costs.Derivative financial instrumentsTransactions in derivative financial instruments are for risk management purposes only. The Company uses derivative financial instruments to hedge its exposure to foreign currency risk. Derivatives are initially recognised at fair value at the date a derivative contract is taken out and subsequently remeasured at fair value at each balance sheet date. These derivative instruments are designated as fair value through the profit and loss. A derivative with a positive fair value is recognised as a financial asset whereas a derivative with a negative fair value is recognised as a financial liability. A derivative is presented as a non-current asset or a non-current liability if the remaining maturity of the instrument is more than 12 months and it is not expected to be realised or settled within 12 months. Other derivatives are presented as current assets or current liabilities.(m) Share-based paymentsThe Company issues equity-based and cash-settled share-based payments to certain employees of the Group headed by the Company. The fair value determined at the grant date is expensed on a straight-line basis over the vesting period, based on the Company’s estimate of shares that will eventually vest. Fair value for grants pre-2006 was measured by the use of the Black-Scholes model and subsequently a stochastic model was used. Note 28 to the Group’s consolidated financial statements sets out details of the share-based payments. Share-based payments to employees of subsidiaries of the Company are recharged to the relevant employer and the recharged income is credited to the profit and loss account of the Company.For cash-settled share-based payments a liability is recognised based on the fair value of the payment earned by the balance sheet date. For equity-settled share-based payments the corresponding credit is recognised directly in reserves.FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Notes to the Company financial statements continued
for the year ended 31 December 2017

A)  Accounting policies continued
(n)  Critical accounting judgements and key sources of estimation uncertainty

In the application of the Company accounting policies, which are described above, the directors are required to make 
judgements, estimates and assumptions about the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent 
from other sources. The estimates and associated assumptions are based on historical experience and other factors that are 
considered to be relevant. Actual results may differ from these estimates.

The estimates and underlying assumptions are reviewed on an ongoing basis. Revisions to accounting estimates are recognised 
in the period which the estimate is revised if the revisions affect only that period, or in the period of the revision and future 
periods if the revision affects both current and future periods.

There are no critical judgements, apart from those involving estimates (which are dealt with separately below), that the 
directors have made in the process of applying the Company’s accounting policies and that have the most significant effect on 
the amounts recognised in the financial statements.

The key assumptions concerning the future, and other key sources of estimation uncertainty at the balance sheet date, that 
have a significant risk of causing a material adjustment to the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities within the next financial 
year, are discussed below.

Impairment of investments in subsidiaries
Determining whether the Company’s investments in subsidiaries have been impaired requires judgement. In making these 
judgements, net assets of subsidiaries at the balance sheet date and Board-approved budgets for the next three years are taken 
into consideration. The carrying amount of the investments in subsidiaries at the balance sheet date was £462.9 million  
(2016: £462.9 million) with £nil (2016: £nil) of impairment losses recognised in 2017.

Retirement benefit obligations
In accordance with IAS 19 Employee benefits, the Company has disclosed in note L the assumptions used in calculating the 
defined benefit obligations. In the calculation a number of assumptions around future salary increases, increase in pension 
benefits, mortality rates, inflation and discount rates have been made. Small changes in these assumptions can lead to 
significant changes to the overall scheme liabilities, as disclosed in note L. Judgement is also exercised in establishing the fair 
value of retirement benefit assets, most notably the valuation of the buy-in contract to insure some of the benefits of a subset 
of the pension membership of the Scheme provided by the insurer.

B)  Profit on ordinary activities after taxation
Interserve Plc reported a loss after taxation for the financial year ended 31 December 2017 of £69.2 million (2016: profit of 
£34.1 million).

The auditors’ remuneration for audit services to the Company was £0.4 million (2016: £0.2 million).

190

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191GovernanceFinancial StatementsStrategic ReportOverviewC) EmployeesThe costs incurred in respect of these employees were:20172016£million£million   Wages and salaries17.417.0Social security costs2.11.7Share-based payments1.4(0.8)  Pension costs1.31.1   22.219.0   20172016£million£million   Share-based payments to employees of the Company1.4(0.8)  Share-based payments to employees of subsidiaries0.70.6   Group share-based payment charge2.1(0.2)     Cash-settled(0.3)  0.2Equity-settled2.4(0.4)     Group share-based payment charge2.1(0.2)     The average number of persons employed, being full-time equivalents, by the Company during the year, including directors, was 345 (2016: 300).Share-based payments are issued to certain employees of the Company and its wider Group. All schemes referenced in the Group accounts are applicable to the Company. The division of costs across the Group has resulted in no charge to the Company. Further details can be found in note 28 to the Group’s consolidated financial statements on pages 173 to 175. Directors’ remunerationDetailed disclosures of directors’ aggregated individual remuneration and share-based payments included in the above analysis are given in the Directors’ Remuneration Report on pages 70 to 99 and should be regarded as an integral part of this note.D) Dividends20172016£million£million   Amounts recognised as distributions to equity holders in the period:Final dividend for the year ended 31 December 2016 of nil (2015: 16.4p) per share–23.7Interim dividend for the year ended 31 December 2017 of nil (2016: 8.1p) per share–11.8   –35.5   The directors do not recommend the payment of a final dividend for the year ended 31 December 2017.FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Notes to the Company financial statements continued
for the year ended 31 December 2017

E)  Tangible fixed assets
(a)  Movement during the year

Cost

At 1 January 2017

Additions 

Impairment

Disposals

At 31 December 2017

Depreciation

At 1 January 2017

Charge in year

Impairment

Disposals

At 31 December 2017

Net book value

At 31 December 2017

At 31 December 2016

(b)  Land and buildings

Net book value of land and buildings

Freehold:

Land at cost

Buildings at cost less depreciation

Leaseholds over 50 years at cost less depreciation

Land and  
buildings
£million

Computers
£million

Other
£million

Total
£million

5.8

8.0

(0.5)  

(0.7)  

12.6

2.7

0.1

–

(0.3)  

2.5

10.1

3.1

10.1

8.1

(13.4)  

(0.1)  

4.7

3.4

2.9

(4.8)  

(0.1)  

1.4

3.3

6.7

1.0

 –

 –

 –

1.0

0.6

0.1

–

 –

0.7

0.3

0.4

16.9

16.1

(13.9)  

(0.8)  

18.3

6.7

3.1

(4.8)  

(0.4)  

4.6

13.7

10.2

2017 
£million

2016  
£million

1.3

0.2

1.5

8.6

10.1

1.3

1.1

2.4

0.7

3.1

Further information on the impairment of computers can be found in notes 5 and 14 to the Group’s consolidated financial 
statements. 

192

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193GovernanceFinancial StatementsStrategic ReportOverview(c) Operating leasesAt the balance sheet date, the Company had outstanding commitments for future minimum lease payments under non-cancellable operating leases, which fall due as follows: Land and buildingsOther  2017 £million2016 £million2017 £million2016 £million      Within one year1.31.20.10.2Between two to five years3.73.6 –0.2After five years3.95.1 – – b      8.99.90.10.4b      F) Investments in subsidiaries£million  CostAt 1 January 2017477.4Additions–Disposals–  At 31 December 2017477.4  ProvisionsAt 1 January 201714.5Additions–Disposals–  At 31 December 201714.5  Carrying valueAt 31 December 2017462.9  At 31 December 2016462.9  Details of the Company’s subsidiaries at 31 December 2017 are given on pages 201 to 205, which form part of these financial statements. Direct subsidiaries are annotated with a superscript note 3.FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Notes to the Company financial statements continued
for the year ended 31 December 2017

G) 

Investments in associates

Cost

At 1 January 2017

Additions

Disposals

At 31 December 2017

Provisions

At 1 January 2017

Additions

Disposals

At 31 December 2017

Carrying value

At 31 December 2017

At 31 December 2016

£million

2.7

–

–

2.7

–

–

–

–

2.7

2.7

The Company’s direct associate at 31 December 2017 is Al Binaa Contracting Company W.L.L. (incorporated in Qatar). Both 
the proportion of ownership interest and proportion of voting power held is 49%. Of the total investment, £17,565 relates to 
investment in shares and the remainder is a loan.

H)  Other investments

Bonds

I)  Debtors

Amounts falling due within one year:

Trade debtors

Amounts owed by Group undertakings

Corporation tax

Prepayments and accrued income

Amounts falling due after more than one year:

Deferred taxation (note N)

2017
£million

0.3

2017
£million

0.5

7.6

0.9

3.2

(0.1)

12.2

9.6

9.6

2016
£million

0.3

2016
£million

0.2

95.7

11.4

7.2

114.5

7.5

7.5

 -

194

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195GovernanceFinancial StatementsStrategic ReportOverviewJ) Creditors: amounts falling due within one year20172016£million£million   Bank loans and overdrafts –14.5Trade creditors2.22.6Amounts owed to Group undertakings99.74.6Other taxation and social security34.11.1Other creditors6.15.7Accruals and deferred income10.48.9   152.537.4   K) Creditors: amounts falling due after one year20172016£million£million   Other creditors3.94.8Deferred tax (note N) – –   3.94.8   L) Retirement benefit schemesThe principal pension scheme the Company participates in and acts as sponsor for has been valued for the purposes of IAS 19 Employee benefits. The pension scheme valuation information has been updated by Lane Clark & Peacock LLP, qualified independent actuaries, to take account of the requirements of IAS 19 in order to assess the liabilities of the scheme as at 31 December 2017.Actuarial gains and losses are recognised in full in the period in which they occur. As permitted by IAS 19, actuarial gains and losses are recognised outside profit and loss and presented in other comprehensive income. The liability recognised in the balance sheet represents the present value of the various defined benefit obligations, as reduced by the fair value of plan assets. The cost of providing benefits is determined using the Projected Unit Credit Method.The Company contributes to a defined benefit pension scheme in the UK, the Interserve Pension Scheme, where benefits are generally related to service and final salary. The Interserve Pension Scheme comprises two segregated sections (referred to as the Interserve and Landmarc sections), with assets and liabilities ring-fenced. The Company operates a defined contribution plan for new hires, with membership of the defined benefit arrangements only permitted when specific contract terms require defined benefit provision. Contributions to the defined contribution arrangements are in addition to those set out below and are charged directly to profit and loss.The current funding target for the Company’s defined benefit scheme is to maintain assets equal to the value of the accrued benefits based on projected salaries (where relevant). The regulatory framework in the UK requires the Trustees and the Company to agree upon the assumptions underlying the funding target, and then to agree upon the necessary contributions required to recover any deficit at the valuation date. There is a risk to the Company that adverse experience could lead to a requirement for the Company to make considerable contributions to recover any deficit.FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Notes to the Company financial statements continued
for the year ended 31 December 2017

L)  Retirement benefit schemes continued
The following table sets out the key IAS 19 assumptions used to assess the present value of the defined benefit obligation. 
The discount rate and inflation assumptions shown below are the single equivalent rates for the full-yield curves assumed 
for the Interserve section of the Interserve Pension Scheme, which represents 91% of the total defined benefit obligation. 
Alternative assumptions have been used for the less material sections where the specific nature of the schemes makes it 
appropriate to do so. The weighted average duration of the expected benefit payments for the schemes is around 17 years. 

2017

2016

2015

Significant actuarial assumptions

Retail price inflation (pa)

Discount rate (pa)

Post-retirement mortality (expectancy of life in years)

Male currently aged 65

Female currently aged 65

Male aged 65 in 20 years' time

Female aged 65 in 20 years' time

Other related actuarial assumptions

Consumer price index price inflation (pa)

Pension increase assumptions (pa)

Retail price inflation

5% LPI

Fixed 5%

3% or RPI if higher (capped at 5%)

General salary increases (pa)

3.2%

2.5%

87.7

89.6

89.5

91.0

2.2%

3.2%

3.1%

5.0%

3.7%

2.7%

3.3%

2.8%

87.6

89.5

89.4

91.0

2.3%

3.3%

3.1%

5.0%

3.7%

2.8%

3.1%

3.8%

87.6

89.4

89.3

90.9

2.1%

3.1%

3.0%

5.0%

3.6%

2.6%

The amount included in the balance sheet arising from the Company’s obligations in respect of the pension scheme is as follows:

Present value of defined benefit obligation

Fair value of scheme’s assets

Net (asset)/liability in balance sheet

The change in net liabilities recognised in the balance sheet is comprised as follows:

Opening net asset

Expense charged to profit and loss

Amount recognised outside profit and loss

Employer contributions

Closing net (asset)/liability

2017
£million

967.2

(928.7)  

38.5

2016
£million

950.8

(911.3)  

39.5

2017
£million

39.5

5.4

13.4

(19.8)  

38.5

2015
£million

807.2

(822.4)  

(15.2)  

2016
£million

(15.2)  

0.4

74.7

(20.4)  

39.5

196

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197GovernanceFinancial StatementsStrategic ReportOverviewIndicative change in defined benefit obligation  20172016Sensitivity£million£million    Price inflation+0.5% pa+58+56Discount rate+0.5% pa-76-76Post-retirement mortality (expectancy of life in years)1 year increase+32+31      The sensitivities shown above reflect only the change in the assessed defined benefit obligation. In practice any movement in assumptions is likely to be accompanied by a partially offsetting change in asset values, and the corresponding overall impact on the net liability/(asset) is therefore likely to be lower than the amounts above.The amounts recognised in the profit and loss are as follows:20172016£million£million   Employer’s part of current service cost3.03.1Net interest on the net pension liability/(asset)0.8(0.9)Administration costs1.60.9Past service cost/(credit) –(2.6)Loss/gain on settlements –(0.1)   Total expense recognised in the profit and loss5.40.4   The current service cost and administration costs are included within operating profit. The interest cost is included within financing costs.The current allocation of the schemes’ assets is as follows:201720162015   Current allocationFair value £millionCurrent allocationFair value £millionCurrent allocationFair value £million         Equities (quoted)28%260.2 26% 238.1 22% 178.2Alternative investments (primarily unquoted)19%179.9 17% 156.3 15% 128.1Property (unquoted)0% –0% – 2% 19.4Liability Driven Investment (“LDI”) (unquoted)13%124.0 13% 117.70% –Insurance policies (unquoted)34%317.5 37% 342.941%336.0Government bonds (quoted)0% –0% –13%105.3Corporate bonds (quoted)0% –0% –0% –Infrastructure (unquoted)5%44.2 6% 51.5 6% 50.9Cash and other (primarily unquoted)1%2.9 1% 4.8 1% 4.5         Total100%928.7 100% 911.3 100% 822.4         Alternative investments include diversified growth funds, fund of hedge funds and emerging market multi-asset funds (primarily unquoted).The Trustee of the Interserve section of the Interserve Pension Scheme holds an insurance policy to protect the Company from certain risks associated with approximately 31% of that section’s defined benefit obligation. The policy aims to closely match the pension payments to the pensioner members who were above age 65 in July 2014. The policy is not an exact match for the benefits in certain areas, notably: pension increases if price inflation falls below 0%; differences between the increase in Consumer Prices Index and the Retail Prices Index; and the eligibility criteria for the dependants’ pensions. The element of the policy that does not provide an exact match for the benefits covers £309.6 million of the defined benefit obligation at 31 December 2017. The policy covers a further circa £9 million of the defined benefit obligation which precisely matches the benefits in respect of certain dependants in receipt of pension.FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Notes to the Company financial statements continued
for the year ended 31 December 2017

L)  Retirement benefit schemes continued
Except for the element of the policy which precisely matches the benefits (around 3% of the total policy value), the policy has 
been valued as the estimated replacement cost at the accounting date by the Company’s actuarial advisers Lane, Clarke and 
Peacock in accordance with the fair value requirements of IFRS 13. The small matching element has been valued at the same 
amount as the defined benefit obligation in respect of the matched benefits.

During 2016 the Interserve Pension Scheme invested in a bespoke pooled LDI fund. The LDI portfolio provides a broad 45% hedge 
of the Interserve section’s interest rate and inflation exposure not covered by the insurance policy above. The LDI manager 
invests in a combination of gilts and swaps, depending on the relative attractiveness of each instrument at each maturity.

A reconciliation of the fair value of the schemes’ assets is as follows:

Opening defined benefit obligation

Employer’s part of current service cost

Interest cost

Contributions by schemes' participants

Actuarial loss/(gain) due to:

 Changes in financial assumptions

 Changes in demographic assumptions

 Experience on defined benefit obligations

Benefits paid

Past service cost/(credit)

Curtailments and settlements

Bulk transfers

Closing defined benefit obligation

A reconciliation of the fair value of the schemes’ assets is as follows:

Opening fair value of the schemes’ assets

Interest on schemes’ assets

Actual return on schemes’ assets less interest on schemes’ assets

Contributions by the employer

Contributions by schemes’ participants

Benefits paid

Administration costs

Curtailments and settlements

Bulk transfers

Closing fair value of the schemes’ assets

2017
£million

950.8

3.0

26.0

0.2

35.8

 –

(7.1)  

(41.5)  

 –

 –

 –

967.2

2017
£million

911.3

25.2

15.3

19.8

0.2

(1.6)  

(41.5)  

 –

 –

928.7

2016
£million

807.2

3.1

30.0

0.3

158.8

 –

(9.4)  

(35.8)  

(2.6)  

(0.8)  

 –

950.8

2016
£million

822.4

30.9

74.7

20.4

0.3

(0.9)  

(35.8)  

(0.7)  

 –

911.3

A triennial actuarial valuation of the Interserve Pension Scheme is underway, with an effective date of 31 December 2017. 
The future contribution rates will be determined in the light of this actuarial valuation. Based on current contribution rates 
and payroll, the Company expects to contribute £17.9 million to the Interserve Pension Scheme during 2018. This includes 
£14.1 million of deficit contributions.

198

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199GovernanceFinancial StatementsStrategic ReportOverviewM) Provisions for liabilities2017 £million2016 £million  InsuranceOtherTotalInsuranceOtherTotal        At 1 January(15.9)   –(15.9)  (11.6)   –(11.6)  Charged to the profit and loss account(1.4)  (16.3)  (17.7)  (4.3)   –(4.3)  Charged to other comprehensive income – – – – – –Released unused – – – – – –Utilisation of provision – – – – – –        At 31 December(17.3)  (16.3)  (33.6)  (15.9)   –(15.9)          Insurance provisions are made for claim events that have been incurred, but not reported based on claims history as a guide to best estimate the level of provision. The timing and outflow of these provisions will depend on when claims are settled. The Company aims to close out old insurance years on a regular basis if favourable pricing can be obtained from the market in order to avoid holding on to unnecessary provisions. Other includes dilapidation and onerous lease costs for exiting a number of properties. Further information on the onerous lease and dilapidation provision can be found in note 5 to the Group’s consolidated financial statements.N) Deferred taxation assetAcceleratedtax depreciation£millionRetirementbenefit obligation£millionShare-based payments£millionOther £millionTotal £million      At 1 January 20160.4(3.0)1.10.3(1.2)Charge/(credit) to the profit and loss0.1(0.1)(1.0)(0.1)(1.1)Charge to other comprehensive income –9.8 – –9.8Charge direct to equity – – – – –      At 1 January 20170.56.70.10.27.5Charge/(credit) to the profit and loss2.10.9(0.1)0.33.2Charge to other comprehensive income –(1.1) – –(1.1)Charge direct to equity – – – – –Effect of change in tax rate:– profit and loss – – – – –– equity – – – – –      At 31 December 20172.66.5 –0.59.6      Deferred tax assets and liabilities are offset where the Company has a legally enforceable right to do so. The following is the analysis of the deferred tax balances (after offset) for financial reporting purposes. 20172016£million£million   Deferred tax liabilities (note K) – –Deferred tax assets (note I)9.67.5   9.67.5   Deferred tax is calculated at 17% (2016: 17%).FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Notes to the Company financial statements continued
for the year ended 31 December 2017

O)  Share capital

Authorised

Ordinary shares of 10p each

Allotted, called-up and fully paid

Ordinary shares of 10p each

At 1 January

Issued on exercise of share options

At 31 December

2017
£million

2016
£million

Unlimited

Unlimited

14.6

 –

14.6

14.5

0.1

14.6

Awards were granted during the year as indicated in note 26 to the Group’s consolidated financial statements.

P)  Contingent liabilities
At 31 December 2017, there were guarantees given in the ordinary course of business of the Company. The Company has given 
guarantees covering bank overdrafts in its subsidiary and associated undertakings. At 31 December 2017, these amounted 
to £4.3 million (2016: £2.1 million). The Company has provided a guarantee to the Interserve Pension Scheme for future 
contributions due from subsidiary undertakings amounting to £250.0 million (2016: £250.0 million) in respect of the past funding 
deficit. In addition, contributions will also be payable in respect of future service benefits.

The Company has given guarantees in respect of borrowing and guarantee facilities made available to joint-venture and 
associated undertakings for sums not exceeding £18.8 million (2016: £14.6 million) in respect of borrowings and £187.5 million 
(2016: £241.5 million) in respect of guarantees. At 31 December 2017, £1.7 million (2016: £nil) had been utilised in borrowings 
and £108.1 million (2016: £149.3 million) in guarantees.

200

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GovernanceFinancial StatementsStrategic ReportOverview201In accordance with section 409 of the Companies Act 2006, a full list of the related undertakings of Interserve Plc, as at 31 December 2017,         is disclosed below. Unless otherwise stated:(a) the principal operations of each related undertaking are conducted in its country of incorporation or registration;(b)		the	shareholding	of	each	related	undertaking	relates	to	ordinary,	common	or	unclassified	share	capital	and	is	equivalent	to	the	percentage of voting rights held by the Group;(c)	the	equity	capital	of	each	related	undertaking	is	held	through	an	intermediate	holding	company	rather	than	Interserve	Plc;	(d)	the	results	of	each	related	undertaking	are	consolidated	within	these	financial	statements;	and(e)		the	consolidated	financial	statements	include	the	results	for	the	twelve	months	to	31	December	even	if	the	accounting	reference	date	is	different.Subsidiary undertakingsPrincipal activityGroup holding Incorporated in the United KingdomEngland and Wales: Interserve House, Ruscombe Park, Twyford, Reading, Berkshire RG10 9JUAdvantage Healthcare LtdDormant company100.0%Advantage Healthcare Nursing and Care LtdDormant company100.0%Advantage Healthcare Payroll LtdDormant company100.0%Advantage Healthcare (QHRS) LtdDormant company100.0%Advantage Healthcare (QHS) LtdDormant company100.0%Axiam (UK) LtdDormant company100.0%Baker Blythe & Company LtdDormant company100.0%Bandt Holdings LtdHolding company100.0%Bandt P J H LtdDormant company100.0%Bandt Properties LtdProperty management100.0%Bateman’s Cleaning Services LtdDormant company100.0%Broadreach Group Ltd1Holding company100.0%Broomco (4110) Ltd2Dormant company100.0%ESG Holdings LtdHolding company100.0%ESG Intermediate Holdings LtdHolding company100.0%How Engineering Services Northern LtdDormant company100.0%How Group LtdHolding company100.0%How Group Trust Company LtdCorporate trustee of employee benefit trust100.0%How Investments LtdDormant company100.0%ILE Corporate Services LtdCentral support to fellow subsidiary companies100.0%Industrial Services International LtdDormant company100.0%Interserve Building LtdDormant company100.0%Interserve Developments No.1 LtdHolding company100.0%Interserve Developments No.2 LtdHolding company100.0%Interserve Developments No.3 LtdProperty development management100.0%Interserve Developments No.4 LtdHolding company  100.0%Interserve Developments No.6 LtdHolding company100.0%Interserve Energy Renewable Solutions LtdDormant company100.0%Interserve Engineering LtdHolding company100.0%Interserve Finance LtdIntra-group financing company100.0%Interserve Finance (Switzerland) Holdings LtdHolding company100.0%Interserve Group Holdings Ltd3Holding company100.0%Interserve Group Holdings (Qatar) LtdDormant company100.0%Interserve Healthcare Holdings Ltd4Holding company100.0%Interserve Healthcare LtdHealthcare services 100.0%Interserve Holdings LtdHolding company100.0%Interserve International LtdHolding company100.0%Interserve Investments LtdOperational and financial services to PFI/PPP projects100.0%Interserve Learning & Employment (Services) LtdVocational training services100.0%Interserve Service Futures Holdings LtdHolding company100.0%Interserve Service Futures LtdHolding company100.0%Interserve Strategic Partnerships LtdDormant company100.0%Interserve Support Services LtdDormant company100.0%Interserve Trustees Ltd2 3 5Pension trustee company33.0%Interserve Working Futures Ltd   Welfare-to-work services100.0%Kwikform Holdings Ltd1Holding company100.0%Kwikform UK Ltd3Dormant company100.0%MacLellan Group LtdHolding company100.0%MacLellan Integrated Services LtdDormant company100.0%Modus FM Ltd2Dormant company100.0%Montpellier Health Care LtdDormant company100.0%Orient Gold LtdVocational training services100.0%Professional Healthcare Services LtdDormant company100.0%Purple Futures LLP6Management of five Community Rehabilitation Companies80.0%RMD Kwikform Holdings LtdHolding company100.0%Ruscombe Ltd3Dormant company100.0%Sencia Ltd1Training and employment services100.0%Strand Nurses Bureau LtdDormant company100.0%T D Construction Ltd1Dormant company100.0%The Cheshire and Greater Manchester Community Rehabilitation Company Ltd Probation and rehabilitation services80.0%The Courtyard (Bristol) Management Company Ltd3 7Dormant company33.3%Related undertakings  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Related undertakings continued

Subsidiary undertakings

continued

Principal activity

The Hampshire and Isle of Wight Rehabilitation Company Ltd 
The Humberside, Lincolnshire and North Yorkshire Community 
Rehabilitation Company Ltd  
The Merseyside Community Rehabilitation Company Ltd 
The Ramoneur Company Ltd
The West Yorkshire Community Rehabilitation Company Ltd 
Tilbury Developments Ltd1 3
Tilbury Douglas Construction Ltd
Tilbury Douglas Projects Ltd
Tilbury Estates Ltd3
Transcoast Ltd3
Triangle Training Holdings Ltd
Triangle Training Ltd
Unique	Cleaning	Services	Ltd
West’s Group International Ltd1

England and Wales: Capital Tower, 91 Waterloo Road, London SE1 8RT
Benchmark Carpet Care Ltd
Building & Property (Holdings) Ltd
Building & Property Trustees Ltd
Central Window Cleaning Company Ltd
Clough Williams Power Ltd2
Euro AS Ltd
Fincham Industrial Services Ltd8
First Security Group Ltd9
Global Protect Ltd
Hi-Tech Cleaning Solutions Ltd
How Engineering Services Ltd
Insitu Cleaning Company Ltd
Interserve Building Services (UK) Ltd
Interserve Catering Services Ltd2
Interserve (Defence) Ltd
Interserve Environmental Services Ltd
Interserve (Facilities Management) Ltd
Interserve (Facilities Services) Ltd
Interserve (Facilities Services-Slough) Ltd8
Interserve Fire Services Ltd
Interservefm (Holdings) Ltd
Interservefm Ltd10
Interserve FS (UK) Ltd
Interserve Hospital Services Ltd
Interserve Industrial Services Ltd
Interserve Integrated Services Ltd
Interserve Project Services Ltd
Interserve Security (Fire & Electronics) Ltd
Interserve Security (First) Ltd11
Interserve Security (Knightsbridge) Ltd
Interserve Security Ltd
Interserve Specialist Services (Holdings) Ltd
Interserve Technical Services Ltd
KGL Business Services Ltd
Knightsbridge Guarding Holdings Ltd9
Knightsbridge Guarding Ltd
Lancaster Employment Business Ltd
Lancaster Office Cleaning Company Ltd
Lancaster Payroll Company Ltd
Landmarc Pension Scheme Trustees Ltd21 
Landmarc Solutions Ltd 
Landmarc Support Services Ltd12

MacLellan International Airport Services Ltd
MacLellan International Ltd
MacLellan Ltd
MacLellan Management Services Ltd
MSS Facilities Management Ltd
Perception UK LLP6
Phoenix Fire Services Ltd
Phonotas Services Ltd
R & D Holdings Ltd
Ramoneur Cleaning and Support Services Ltd
Retail Cleaning Services Ltd2
SSD UK Ltd
St James Cleaning and Support Services Ltd
TASS (Europe) Ltd
THK Insulation Ltd
Tilbury (City) Ltd3

202

Probation and rehabilitation services
Probation and rehabilitation services

Probation and rehabilitation services
Dormant company
Probation and rehabilitation services
Dormant company
Dormant company
Property rental
Dormant company
Dormant company
Holding company
Vocational training services
Dormant company
Holding company

Dormant company
Holding company
Dormant company
Dormant company
Dormant company
Dormant company
Dormant company
Dormant company
Dormant company
Dormant company
Dormant company
Contract cleaning
Dormant company
Catering services
Support services to defence sector
Asbestos services
Facilities management services
Non-trading company
Management/maintenance services for Slough Borough Council
Dormant company
Holding company
Holding company
Contract cleaning and related services
Dormant company
Industrial support services
Support services 
International contracting services and supplies
Dormant company
Security manpower and associated support services
Manned guarding security services 
Dormant company
Holding company
Mechanical and electrical engineering services
Dormant company
Holding company
Dormant company
Dormant company
Dormant company
Dormant company
Strike	off	requested
Share plan trustee
Management/maintenance services for MoD 
Army Training Estate
Dormant company
Facilities management services
Dormant company
Personnel and management services
Dormant company
Dormant company
Fire suppression and detection systems
Dormant company
Dormant company
Dormant company
Dormant company
Specialist window cleaning
Dormant company
Dormant company
Dormant company
Dormant company

Group 
holding 

80.0%
80.0%

80.0%
100.0%
80.0%
100.0%
100.0%
100.0%
100.0%
100.0%
100.0%
100.0%
100.0%
100.0%

100.0%
100.0%
100.0%
100.0%
100.0%
100.0%
100.0%
100.0%
100.0%
100.0%
100.0%
100.0%
100.0%
100.0%
100.0%
100.0%
100.0%
100.0%
100.0%
100.0%
100.0%
100.0%
100.0%
100.0%
100.0%
100.0%
100.0%
100.0%
100.0%
100.0%
100.0%
100.0%
100.0%
100.0%
100.0%
100.0%
100.0%
100.0%
100.0%
51.0%
100.0%
51.0%

100.0%
100.0%
100.0%
100.0%
100.0%
100.0%
100.0%
100.0%
100.0%
100.0%
100.0%
100.0%
100.0%
100.0%
100.0%
100.0%

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GovernanceFinancial StatementsStrategic ReportOverview203Subsidiary undertakingsPrincipal activityGroup holding England and Wales: 395 George Road, Erdington, Birmingham, West Midlands B23 7RZ (changed post-year-end to Ingenuity House, Elmdon Trading Estate, Bickenhill Lane, Birmingham B37 7HQ)CI-ONE Construction Ltd Dormant company100.0%Interserve Construction Ltd Sustainable solutions for building/infrastructure projects 100.0%Interserve Engineering Services LtdMechanical, electrical and engineering services100.0%Interserve Piling LtdNon-trading company100.0%Interserve Rail Ltd1 3Dormant company100.0%Paragon Management UK LtdFitting out and refurbishment of offices and other buildings100.0%Tilbury Water Treatment LtdDormant company100.0%Whittle Contracts Ltd3Dormant company  100.0%England and Wales: Brickyard Road, Aldridge, Walsall, West Midlands WS9 8BWRapid Metal Developments LtdDormant company100.0%RMD Kwikform LtdEquipment hire and sales100.0%Scotland: 35 North Canal Bank Street, Glasgow G4 9XQBandt LtdHolding company100.0%Tilbury Homes (Glasgow) Ltd3Dormant company100.0%Tilbury Homes (Scotland) Ltd3Dormant company100.0%Incorporated in the Rest of EuropeChannel Islands: Mill Court, La Charroterie, St Peter Port, Guernsey GY1 4ETInterserve Insurance Company LtdInsurance 100.0%Poland: Plac Konstytucji 6/55, 01-553 WarszawaTilbury Douglas Polska Sp zooIn liquidation100.0%Portugal: Rua da Tobis Portuguesa, 8 Esc 11, 1750-292 LisboaRMD Kwikform Ibérica – Cofragens e Construçôes Metálicas, Unipessoal, Lda22Equipment hire and sales95.0%Republic of Ireland: Ballyboggan Road, Finglas, Dublin 11Interserve Industrial Services (Ireland) LtdDormant company100.0%RMD Kwikform Ireland LtdEquipment hire and sales100.0%Spain: Calle San Miguel 25, Bajo 1, Azuqueca de Henares, Guadalajara 19200Interserve Centro Especial de Empleo, SLSupport services for integration of disabled people into cleaning contracts100.0%Spain: Calle Juan Ignacio Luca de Tena 8, Madrid 28027Interserve Facilities Services, SAHolding company100.0%Translimp Contract Services, SASupport services for transport sector100.0%Spain: Avenida de Europa, 19 – Ed 2 – 2o D, Pozuelo de Alarcon, Madrid 28224RMD Kwikform Ibérica, SA22Equipment hire and sales95.0%The Indium Division Company, SL22Property leasing100.0%Tilbury Ibérica, SA3Holding company100.0%Switzerland: Avenue Jean-Jacques-Rousseau 7, Neuchatel 2000Interserve Finance (Switzerland) SàrlIntra-group financing company100.0%Incorporated in the Middle East & AfricaIndia: 407-A6, Ansal Chamber – II, Bhikaji Cama Place, New Delhi 110066RMD Kwikform India Private LtdEquipment hire and sales100.0%Kingdom of Bahrain: Flat 34, Building 5, Road 3001, Block 330, ManamaRMD Kwikform Almoayed Bahrain WLL13Equipment hire and sales49.0%Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: 7536, Unit No 39, AR Riyadh 12472-4304ESG (Saudi Arabia) LLCEducation, training and employment services100.0%Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: PO Box 26982, Riyadh 11595Interserve Saudi Arabia LLCBuilding maintenance and cleaning100.0%Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: Office No.4A, Gulf Star Building, near Hotel Meridien, Prince Turkey Road, Al Khobar 31952RMD Kwikform Saudi Arabia LLCEquipment hire74.9%Mauritius: 2nd Floor, The Axis, 26 Cybercity, Ebene 72201Interserve International Equipment LtdRental of plant and machinery 85.0%Republic of South Africa: 52 Jakaranda Street, Plot 22, Hennopspark, CenturionRMD Kwikform (South Africa) (Proprietary) LtdEquipment hire and sales100.0%State of Qatar: Office CoWork02, 1st Floor, Al Jaidah Square, DohaInterserve Engineering & Construction (MENA) LLCHolding company76.0%State of Qatar: Building No.148, Zone No.40, Al Muntazah Street (next to Qatar Chamber of Commerce), PO Box 405, DohaRMD Kwikform (Al Maha) Qatar WLL14Equipment hire and sales49.0%Sultanate of Oman: PO Box 1639, Hay Al-Mina, Muscat, Postal Code 114Interserve Oman LLC15Facilities management70.0%Sultanate of Oman: Post Box No:152, PC Code:103, Building No:308-A, Way No:48, Al Azaiba, MuscatRMD Kwikform Oman LLCEquipment hire and sales70.0%Sultanate of Oman: PO Box 142, Muscat, Postal Code 100The Oman Construction Company LLC16Transport and maintenance services to oil and gas industry70.0%United Arab Emirates: PO Box 7604, Plot M10, Musaffah Industrial, Oil Services Area, Sector 10, MW2, Musaffah, Abu DhabiAdyard Abu Dhabi LLC17Engineering, procurement and construction works and maintenance services for oil and gas industry49.0%continuedFINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Related undertakings continued

Subsidiary undertakings

continued

Principal activity

United Arab Emirates: No.104, Arjan Emirates Real Estate – Branch 1, PO Box 129354, Al Hilal Building, Al Falah Road, Abu Dhabi
Landmarc Gulf Consultancy Management LLC18

Administrative consultancy

United Arab Emirates: Office 102-103 Khansaheb Building, Jamal Abdul Nasser Street, Al Majaz, Sharjah
RMD Kwikform Middle East LLC19
Equipment	hire	and	sales

United Arab Emirates: Office No.W705, Level 7, West Tower, Trade Centre Towers, Abu Dhabi
RMD Kwikform Oil & Gas Services LLC20

Equipment	hire	and	sales

Incorporated in Australasia

Australia: PO Box 169, Melrose Park, South Australia 5039
Rapid Metal Developments (Australia) Proprietary Ltd

New Zealand: PO Box 22.316, 101 Station Road, Otahuhu, Auckland 6
Rapid Metal Developments (NZ) Ltd

Equipment	hire	and	sales

Equipment	hire	and	sales

Incorporated in the Far East

Hong Kong: Suite 3806, Central Plaza, 18 Harbour Road, Wanchai
RMD Kwikform Hong Kong Ltd3

Equipment	hire	and	sales

Republic of Indonesia: 2nd Floor, Suite 202B, Wisma Pondok Indah, Jl Sultan Iskandar Muda V-TA, Pondok Indah, Jakarta
PT Rapid Metal Development Indonesia

Equipment	hire	and	sales

Republic of the Philippines: Unit 2406-09 Raffles Corporate Center, F.Ortigas Jr. Ave., Ortigas Center, Pasig City, Metro Manila
RMD Kwikform Philippines, Inc3

Equipment	hire	and	sales

Republic of Singapore: 77 Robinson Road, #13-00 Robinson 77, Singapore 068896
RMD Kwikform Singapore Pte Ltd

Non-trading company

Incorporated in the Americas

Bermuda: PO Box HM 1022, Clarendon House, 2 Church Street, Hamilton, HM11
Interserve Engineering & Construction (UAE) Ltd

Oil-field maintenance, fabrication and construction services

Canada: Suite 1001, 275 Slater Street, Ottawa, ON, K1P5H9
Interserve Canada Ltd

Support services to defence sector

Cayman Islands: 190 Elgin Avenue, George Town, Grand Cayman KY1-9005
Interserve Engineering & Construction Ltd

Holding company

Guam: Suite 101, Orlean Pacific Plaza, 865 South Marine Corps Drive, Tamuning 96913
RMD Kwikform Guam, LLC

Equipment	hire	and	sales

Republic of Chile: La Estera 811, Valle Grande, Lampa, Santiago 9390433
RMD Kwikform Chile SA

Equipment	hire	and	sales

Republic of Colombia: Calle 98, No 18-71 of 805, Bogota
RMD Kwikform Colombia SAS

Non-trading company

Republic of Panama: Calle A, Km 1.0 desde Transitsmica, Villa Zaita, Panama City
RMD Kwikform Panama, SA22

Equipment	hire	and	sales

Republic of Peru: Calle Los Zorzales No.160, Distrito de San Isidro, Lima
RMD Kwikform Peru SAC

Equipment	hire	and	sales

United States of America: 2711 Centerville Road, Suite 400, Wilmington, New Castle, DE 19808
Holding company
RMD Kwikform North America Holdings Inc
Equipment	hire	and	sales
RMD Kwikform North America Inc

Group 
holding 

25.0%

49.0%

49.0%

100.0%

100.0%

100.0%

100.0%

100.0%

100.0%

100.0%

100.0%

100.0%

100.0%

100.0%

100.0%

100.0%

100.0%

100.0%
100.0%

204

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GovernanceFinancial StatementsStrategic ReportOverview205Notes - subsidiary undertakings 1 Ownership held in ordinary and preference shares. 2 Ownership held in ordinary A and ordinary B shares. 3 Shareholding directly held by Interserve Plc. 4 Ownership held in ordinary A, ordinary B, preference A, preference B and deferred shares. 5 The Group has the right to appoint the majority of the directors of Interserve Trustees Limited by virtue of provisions contained in its Articles of Association and is therefore deemed to be a subsidiary undertaking.  6 No share capital. 7	The	Group	exercises	dominant	influence	and	control	over	The	Courtyard	(Bristol)	Management	Company	Ltd	by	virtue	of	provisions	contained	in	its	Articles	of	Association.	It	is	therefore	consolidated	in	the	Group	financial	statements	as	a	wholly-owned	subsidiary	undertaking.	Ownership	is	held	in	ordinary and developer’s shares. 8 Ownership held in ordinary and deferred shares.  9 Ownership held in ordinary and ordinary A shares. 10 Ownership held in ordinary, redeemable ordinary and deferred shares. 11 Ownership held in ordinary, deferred A and deferred B shares. 12 Ownership held in ordinary A and ordinary C shares. 13	The	Group	has	the	right	to	appoint	and	remove	the	Board	of	Managers	and	therefore	exercises	dominant	influence	and	control	over	RMD	Kwikform	Almoayed	Bahrain	LLC.	It	is	therefore	consolidated	in	the	Group	financial	statements	as	a	wholly-owned	subsidiary	undertaking. 14	The	Group	has	the	right	to	appoint	and	remove	the	General	Manager	and	therefore	exercises	dominant	influence	and	control	over	RMD	Kwikform	(Al	Maha)	Qatar	WLL.	It	is	therefore	consolidated	in	the	Group	financial	statements	as	a	wholly-owned	subsidiary	undertaking.	 15	The	Group	has	a	70%	equity	shareholding	in	Interserve	Oman	LLC.	It	is	consolidated	in	the	Group	financial	statements	as	an	85%-owned	subsidiary	undertaking on the basis of contractual arrangements. 16	The	Group	has	a	70%	equity	shareholding	in	The	Oman	Construction	Company	LLC.		It	is	consolidated	in	the	Group	financial	statements	as	an	85%-owned subsidiary undertaking on the basis of contractual arrangements. 17	The	Group	exercises	dominant	influence	and	control	over	Adyard	Abu	Dhabi	LLC	by	virtue	of	provisions	contained	in	its	Memorandum	of	Association.	It	is	therefore	consolidated	in	the	Group	financial	statements	as	a	wholly-owned	subsidiary	undertaking. 18 The Group has the right to appoint the majority of the directors of Landmarc Gulf Consultancy Management LLC by virtue of provisions contained in its	Memorandum	of	Association.	It	is	therefore	consolidated	in	the	Group	financial	statements	as	a	51%-owned	subsidiary	undertaking. 19	The	Group	has	the	right	to	appoint	and	remove	the	Manager	and	therefore	exercises	dominant	influence	and	control	over	RMD	Kwikform	Middle	East	LLC.	It	is	therefore	consolidated	in	the	Group	financial	statements	as	a	wholly-owned	subsidiary	undertaking.		 20	The	Group	has	the	right	to	appoint	and	remove	the	Manager	and	therefore	exercises	dominant	influence	and	control	over	RMD	Kwikform	Oil	&	Gas	Services	LLC.	It	is	therefore	consolidated	in	the	Group	financial	statements	as	a	wholly-owned	subsidiary	undertaking. 21 Dissolved post-year-end. 22 Sold post-year-end.Associated undertakings1Principal activityGroup holdingAccounted for as Associates within the financial statements  Incorporated in the Middle East & AfricaKingdom of Saudi Arabia: Alsroor Building, Kilo 1, Mecca Road, JeddahAl-Esayi Saif Noman Douglas LtdIn	liquidation49.0%Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: PO Box 245555, Riyadh 11312Interserve Rezayat Company LLCBuilding operation and maintenance, mechanical and industrial works50.0%State of Qatar: PO Box 1811, Building No.334, C Ring Road, Street 230, Zone 24, DohaAl Binaa Contracting Company WLL2Contracting and investment49.0%State of Qatar: PO Box 3886, Building No.309, 230 C Ring Road, Area/Zone 40, DohaGulf Contracting Co WLLCivil engineering, building and maintenance services49.0%State of Qatar: Zone 39, Al Saad Street No.340, Building 55 United Tower, 2nd Floor, PO Box 24176, DohaHow United Services WLLMechanical, engineering and plumbing services49.0%State of Qatar: PO Box 20459, DohaMadina Group WLLMechanical engineering fabrication contractor49.0%Qatar Inspection Services WLLNon-destructive testing and inspection services49.0%Severn Glocon (Qatar) WLLSupply of valves and valve maintenance services49.0%State of Qatar: PO Box 23651, DohaQatar International Safety Centre WLLSafety training for oil, gas and petrochemical industries49.0%State of Qatar: PO Box 22715, DohaUnited Industrial Services WLLHolding company49.0%Sultanate of Oman: PO Box 1639, Hay Al-Mina, Muscat, Postal Code 114Douglas OHI LLCCivil engineering and building49.0%Sultanate of Oman: Flat No 31, PO Box 889, Building No.2522, Way No.3830, Al Ghubra Tower, Al Ghubra, Muscat 100Khansaheb Civil Engineering LLC6In	liquidation46.4%Sultanate of Oman: PO Box 375, Muscat, Postal Code 114, JibrooOccupational Training Institute LLCHealth & safety, environment and educational services49.0%United Arab Emirates: PO Box 2716, DubaiKhansaheb Civil Engineering LLCCivil engineering, building and maintenance services45.0%Khansaheb Group LLCFacilities management and maintenance services49.0%United Arab Emirates: PO Box 259, Abu DhabiKhansaheb Hussain LLCCivil engineering, building and maintenance services49.0%FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Related undertakings continued

Associated undertakings1 continued

Principal activity

Accounted for as Joint Ventures within the financial statements  
Incorporated in the United Kingdom

England and Wales: Interserve House, Ruscombe Park, Twyford, Reading, Berkshire RG10 9JU
Harmondsworth Detention Services Ltd 
Rehab Jobfit LLP3

Dormant company
Employment-related support services 

England and Wales: Capital Tower, 91 Waterloo Road, London SE1 8RT
Axiam Ltd
PriDE (SERP) Ltd4
Sussex Estates and Facilities LLP3

Dormant company
MoD estate management services 
Facilities management services

England and Wales:	8	White	Oak	Square,	London	Road,	Swanley,	Kent	BR8	7AG
Alder Hey Holdco 1 Ltd 
Alder Hey Holdco 2 Ltd 
Alder Hey Holdco 3 Ltd 
Alder Hey (Special Purpose Vehicle) Ltd 

Holding company
Holding company
Holding company
Hospital construction/operation  

England and Wales: 55 Baker Street, London W1U 8EW
HLR Schools Holding Ltd
HLR Schools Ltd

Holding company
School/college construction/operation

England and Wales: 5 The Triangle, Wildwood Drive, Worcester WR5 2QX
Interserve Prime Solutions Ltd4
Partnering Solutions (Southampton) Ltd
Partnering Solutions (Yeovil) Ltd
Southampton CEDP LLP3
Southampton CEDP Project Co Ltd 
Yeovil Estates Partnership LLP3

Holding company
Hospital construction/operation
Hospital construction/operation
Hospital construction/operation
Hospital construction/operation
Hospital construction/operation

England and Wales: Suite 2b and 2c, The Cunard Building, Water Street, Liverpool L3 1EL
Public Services Lab LLP3

Public services lab to support charities, community groups 
and social enterprises

England and Wales: Dunedin House, Auckland Park, Mount Farm, Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire MK1 1BU
Resource Recovery Solutions (Derbyshire) Holdings Ltd5
Resource Recovery Solutions (Derbyshire) Ltd 

Holding company
Construction/operation of new waste treatment facility 

Scotland: Interserve House, Almondview Business Park, Almondview, Livingston EH54 6SF
Edinburgh Haymarket Developments Ltd5
Seacole National Centre (Holding) Ltd5
Seacole National Centre Ltd

Property development
Holding company
Construction/maintenance of new National Centre for 
Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service

Notes - associated undertakings
1 Accounted	for	using	the	equity	method	of	consolidation.
2 Shareholding directly held by Interserve Plc.
3 No share capital.
4 Ownership held in ordinary A shares.
5 Ownership held in ordinary B shares.
6 Dissolved post-year-end.

Joint ventures1

Principal activity

Incorporated in the United Kingdom

England and Wales: Brunswick House, Hindley Green Business Park, Leigh Road, Hindley Green, Wigan WN2 4TN
KMI Plus Water 
KMI Water 

Water project framework for United Utilities
Water project framework for United Utilities

Incorporated in the Rest of Europe

Spain:	Avenida	de	Europa,	18	Parque	Empresarial	La	Moraleja,	28108	Alcobendas,	Madrid
Acciona Agua SAU 

Water desalination project for Thames Water Utilities Ltd

Notes - joint ventures
1 Accounted	for	as	joint	operations	within	the	financial	statements.

Group 
holding

49.0%
49.0%

50.0%
50.0%
35.0%

20.0%
20.0%
20.0%
20.0%

45.0%
45.0%

50.0%
50.0%
50.0%
25.0%
25.0%
25.0%

35.0%

50.0%
50.0%

50.0%
50.0%
49.5%

Group 
holding

30.8%
33.3%

47.0%

206

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GovernanceFinancial StatementsStrategic ReportOverview207The following entities used to be part of the Group’s former PFI portfolio and were transferred to the trustee of the Interserve Pension Scheme (Interserve Trustees Ltd) or Dalmore Capital. During the year, any remaining indirect interests held by Interserve Trustees Ltd in these entities were transferred to either another Group company or to Dalmore Capital. Whilst the Group has retained the legal interest shown, it no	longer	has	any	beneficial	interest	in	these	entities	and	they	have	no	impact	on	the	consolidated	financial	statements.Other holdings Principal activityGroup holdingIncorporated in the United KingdomEngland and Wales: Interserve House, Ruscombe Park, Twyford, Reading, Berkshire RG10 9JUAshford Prison Services Holdings Ltd Holding company8.4%Ashford Prison Services Ltd Prison construction/operation8.4%Custodial Holdings (PA) Ltd1Holding company50.1%Dudley Summit PLC Investment company16.7%Falcon Support Services (Holdings) Ltd Holding company25.1%Falcon Support Services Ltd Construction/operation of MoD accommodation facilities25.1%ICB Holdings Ltd2Holding company10.0%Interserve Developments No.10 LtdHolding company50.1%Interserve PFI 2003 Ltd Holding company50.1%Interserve PFI Holdings Ltd3Holding company50.1%Interserve PFI Holdings 2014 Ltd Holding company50.1%Investors in the Community (Buxton) LtdConstruction/operation of Health & Safety Laboratory10.0%Minerva Education and Training (Holdings) Ltd Holding company22.5%Minerva Education and Training Ltd Construction/operation of Defence Sixth Form College for MoD22.5%Newcastle (Healthcare Support) LtdHolding company25.1%Newcastle Holdco (Healthcare Support) Ltd1Holding company50.1%Peterborough Prison Management Holdings Ltd Holding company8.4%Peterborough Prison Management Ltd Prison construction/operation8.4%PFI Custodial (Holdings) Ltd Holding company25.1%Pyramid Accommodation Services (Cornwall) Holdings Ltd Holding company25.1%Pyramid Accommodation Services (Cornwall) Ltd Fire station construction/operation25.1%Pyramid Schools (Cornwall) Holdings Ltd Holding company25.1%Pyramid Schools (Cornwall) Ltd School/college construction/operation25.1%Pyramid Schools (Hadley) Holdings LtdHolding company25.1%Pyramid Schools (Hadley) LtdSchool/college construction/operation25.1%Pyramid Schools (Southampton) Holdings Ltd Holding company25.1%Pyramid Schools (Southampton) Ltd School/college construction/operation25.1%Pyramid Schools (Tameside) Holdings Ltd Holding company25.1%Pyramid Schools (Tameside) Ltd School/college construction/operation25.1%Summit Healthcare (Dudley) Ltd Hospital construction/operation16.7%Summit Holdings (Dudley) Ltd Holding company16.7%Victory Support Services (Portsmouth) Holdings Ltd Holding company50.1%Victory Support Services (Portsmouth) Ltd Day care/respite care centre construction/operation    50.1%West Yorkshire PFI Operational Training & Accommodation (Holdings) Ltd Holding company25.1%West Yorkshire PFI Operational Training & Accommodation Ltd Construction/operation of three new facilities for West Yorkshire Police Authority25.1%England and Wales:	8	White	Oak	Square,	London	Road,	Swanley,	Kent	BR8	7AGHealthcare Support (Newcastle) Finance PlcInvestment company5.0%Healthcare Support (Newcastle) Holdings LtdHolding company5.0%Healthcare Support (Newcastle) LtdHospital construction/operation5.0%Northern Ireland: Carnbane House, Shepherd’s Way, Newry, Co Down BT35 6EEBelfast Educational Services (Dungannon) Holdings Ltd Holding company25.1%Belfast Educational Services (Dungannon) Ltd School/college construction/operation25.1%Belfast Educational Services (Holdings) Ltd Holding company16.7%Belfast Educational Services Ltd School/college construction/operation16.7%Belfast Educational Services (Omagh) Holdings Ltd Holding company25.1%Belfast Educational Services (Omagh) Ltd School/college construction/operation25.1% Notes - other holdings1 Ownership held in ordinary A shares.2 Ownership held in ordinary B shares.3 Ownership held in an ordinary and a Special Rights share.FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Five-year analysis  
(unaudited)

Revenue including share of associates and joint ventures
Support Services - UK
Support Services - International

Support Services

Construction - UK
Construction - International

Construction

Equipment Services
Group Services
Inter-segment elimination

Consolidated revenue
Support Services - UK
Support Services - International

Support Services

Construction - UK
Construction - International

Construction

Equipment Services
Group Services
Inter-segment elimination

Headline profit
Support Services - UK
Support Services - International

Support Services

Construction - UK
Construction - International

Construction

Equipment Services
Group Services

Total operating profit

Investment revenue
Finance costs

Earnings per share, pence

Basic EPS
Headline EPS

Dividend per share, pence

Interim
Final

2017
£million

2016
£million

2015
£million

2014
£million

2013
£million

1,687.5
193.9 

1,881.4

1,048.2 
290.5 

1,718.1
267.9 

1,881.5 
224.3 

1,786.0 
157.2 

1,292.5 
100.5 

1,986.0

2,105.8 

1,943.2 

1,393.0 

870.8 
296.9 

1,040.8 
279.0 

970.7 
207.9 

802.2 
215.9 

1,338.7 

1,167.7 

1,319.8 

1,178.6 

1,018.1 

229.0 
92.1 
(12.0)  

224.1 
81.3 
(50.1)  

211.0 
53.9 
(61.6)  

195.5 
46.7 
(58.7)  

169.6 
41.6 
(40.4)  

3,529.2

3,409.0

3,628.9 

3,305.3 

2,581.9 

1,670.7
142.2 

1,812.9

1,048.2 
– 

1,048.2 

229.0 
35.0 
(12.0)  

1,694.7
211.9 

1,834.4 
170.4 

1,679.9 
117.5 

1,196.6 
57.5 

1,906.6

2,004.8 

1,797.4 

1,254.1 

870.8 
– 

870.8 

224.1 
17.0 
(50.1)  

1,040.8 
– 

1,040.8 

211.0 
9.6 
(61.6)  

970.7 
– 

970.7 

195.5 
8.1 
(58.7)  

802.2 
– 

802.2 

169.6 
7.1 
(40.4)  

3,113.1

2,968.4

3,204.6 

2,913.0 

2,192.6 

38.9 
2.8 

41.7 

(19.4)  
19.2 

(0.2)  

54.4 
(21.0)  

74.9 

5.9 
(28.4)  

52.4 

(176.0)  
29.0 

– 
– 

80.1
9.4 

89.5

25.2 
16.9 

42.1 

48.6 
(25.2)  

155.0

5.6 
(23.3)  

137.3

(71.2)  
84.5

8.1 
– 

92.2 
8.2 

100.4 

10.7 
13.0 

23.7 

44.5 
(23.6)  

145.0 

4.7 
(21.1)  

128.6 

47.5 
75.6 

7.9 
16.4 

81.4 
7.4 

88.8 

15.4 
10.8 

26.2 

27.5 
(24.4)  

118.1 

5.0 
(16.0)  

107.1 

32.2 
59.4 

6.8 
16.4 

56.0 
4.1 

60.1 

14.7 
13.1 

27.8 

21.8 
(21.3)  

88.4 

3.6 
(9.2)  

82.8 

39.1 
49.1 

6.4 
14.1 

208

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GovernanceFinancial StatementsStrategic ReportOverview20920172016201520142013£million£million£million£million£million      Balance sheetIntangible assets427.4 514.0 520.2 544.4 286.6 Property, plant and equipment228.6 250.4 218.1 194.7 155.9 Interests in joint ventures46.5 41.6 40.9 42.7 20.6 Interests in associated undertakings78.4 85.3 91.0 77.2 73.9 Retirement benefit surplus– – 17.2 – – Deferred tax asset23.4 18.6 1.3 1.7 21.0      Non-current assets804.3 909.9 888.7 860.7 558.0 Assets held for sale– – – – – Inventories34.0 36.5 40.1 48.6 30.7 Trade and other receivables722.0 724.4 774.9 679.4 486.1 Derivative financial instruments– 67.1 25.1 – – Cash and deposits155.1 113.3 86.1 82.1 79.7 Bank overdrafts and loans(6.8)  (11.1)  (15.5)  (5.5)  (27.4)  Trade and other payables(805.8)  (901.9)  (794.1)  (755.0)  (597.6)  Short-term provisions(50.2)  (21.8)  (27.4)  (35.7)  (18.1)       Net current assets/(liabilities)48.3 6.5 89.2 13.9 (46.6)  Bank loans(647.5)  (449.4)  (406.1)  (362.8)  (90.0)  Trade and other payables(14.5)  (16.6)  (15.9)  (14.8)  (13.5)  Long-term provisions(80.0)  (42.9)  (43.3)  (33.5)  (29.9)  Retirement benefit obligation(48.0)  (52.4)  – (4.8)  (7.7)       Non-current liabilities(790.0)  (561.3)  (465.3)  (415.9)  (141.1)       Net assets62.6 355.1 512.6 458.7 370.3      Cash flowOperating cash flows before movements in working capital(111.3)  (61.2)  112.0 94.5 74.7 Movement in working capital(37.0)  165.8 (51.7)  (53.3)  (19.7)  Changes in hire fleet12.4 (9.3)  (21.6)  (30.3)  (11.8)  Taxes paid(8.6)  (10.2)  (6.8)  (10.2)  (5.7)       Net cash from operating activities(144.5)  85.1 31.9 0.7 37.5 Acquisitions and investments(32.0)  (9.8)  (6.6)  (253.8)  (59.9)  Net capital expenditure - non-hire fleet(37.7)  (29.7)  (29.6)  (24.0)  (21.9)  Dividends from joint ventures and associates17.2 34.1 13.6 17.8 13.7 Interest received5.9 4.5 4.4 4.7 3.5      Net cash used in investing activities(46.6)  (0.9)  (18.2)  (255.3)  (64.6)  Interest paid(27.3)  (23.3)  (21.1)  (16.0)  (7.8)  Dividends paid– (37.1)  (34.7)  (34.4)  (29.1)  Other (including share issues)44.1 (0.3)  2.1 73.9 0.6      Net cash used in financing activities excluding debt16.8 (60.7)  (53.7)  23.5 (36.3)  Effect of foreign exchange(53.9)  10.9 0.1 0.8 (1.0)       Movement in net debt(228.2)  34.4 (39.9)  (230.3)  (64.4)       Closing net cash/(debt)(502.6)  (274.4)  (308.8)  (268.9)  (38.6)       FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Shareholder information  

Financial calendar 2018
Final results announcement for the year ended 31 December 2017
Annual General Meeting
Half-year results announcement for the six months ended 30 June 2018

 30 April 2018
 12 June 2018
 August 2018

The Company will keep under review the appropriateness of issuing other trading updates to the market during the course of the year.

Share price
As at 31 December 2017

Lowest for the year ended 31 December 2017

Highest for year ended 31 December 2017 

The current price of the Company’s shares is available on the Company’s website at www.interserve.com.

Analysis of registered shareholdings

Notifiable interests

Banks, institutions and nominees

Private shareholders

Total as at 27 April 2018

Holders

Number

6

702

3,604

4,312

 %

0.14

16.28

83.58

Shares

 Number

88,525,136

46,261,523

10,927,461

100.00

145,714,120

 100.00

95.50p

63.00p

352.75p

 %

60.75

31.75

7.50

Shareholder services
Link Asset Services (Link) is our Registrar. Link offer many services to make managing your shareholding easier and more 
efficient:

(a)  Share Portal

Signal Shares is a secure online site where you can manage your shareholding quickly and easily.  You can:

•  View your holding and get an indicative valuation

•  Change your address

•  Elect to receive shareholder communications by email rather than by post

•  View your dividend payment history

•  Make dividend payment choices

•  Register your proxy voting instruction

Just visit www.signalshares.com. All you need is your investor code, which can be found on your share certificate or your 
dividend tax voucher.

(b)  Shareholder Support Centre

Alternatively, you can contact Link’s Shareholder Support Centre which is available to answer any queries you have in relation to 
your shareholding:

By email: 
By phone: 

By post:   

enquiries@linkgroup.co.uk
 +44 (0)371 664 0300 (lines are open 9.00am to 5.30pm, Monday to Friday, excluding public holidays in England 
and Wales)
Shareholder Administration, Link Asset Services, 34 Beckenham Road, Beckenham, Kent BR3 4TU

210

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GovernanceFinancial StatementsStrategic ReportOverview211(c) Sign up to electronic communicationsBy signing up to receive your shareholder communications by email, you will help us to save paper and receive your shareholder information quickly and securely. Registering for electronic communications is very straightforward. Just visit www.signalshares.com. All you need is your investor code, which can be found on your share certificate or your dividend tax voucher.(d) Buy and sell sharesA quick and easy way to buy and sell shares is provided by Link Asset Services Share Dealing. There is no need to pre-register and there are no complicated application forms to fill in. You can also access a wealth of stock market news and information free of charge. For further information on this service, or to buy and sell shares, visit www.linksharedeal.com or call +44 (0)371 664 0445 (calls are charged at the standard geographic rate and will vary by provider. Calls outside the United Kingdom will be charged at the applicable international rate. Lines are open 8.00am to 4.30pm, Monday to Friday, excluding public holidays in England and Wales).This is not a recommendation to buy and sell shares and this service may not be suitable for all shareholders. The price of shares can go down as well as up and you are not guaranteed to get back the amount you originally invested. Terms, conditions and risks apply.Link Asset Services is a trading name of Link Market Services Limited and Link Market Services Trustees Limited. Share registration and associated services are provided by Link Market Services Limited (registered in England and Wales, No.2605568). Regulated services are provided by Link Market Services Trustees Limited (registered in England and Wales No.2729260), which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Not all share plan activity is regulated. The registered office of each of these companies is The Registry, 34 Beckenham Road, Beckenham, Kent BR3 4TU.Donate your shares to charityIf you have only a small number of shares which are uneconomical to sell, you may wish to donate them to charity free of charge through ShareGift (Registered Charity 1052686). Find out more at www.sharegift.org.uk or by telephoning +44 (0)20 7930 3737.Beneficial owners of shares with “information rights”Please note that 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, Link Asset Services, or to the Company directly.Capital gains tax/capitalisation changesThe market value of the Company’s shares as at 31 March 1982 for the purpose of capital gains tax was 16.67p per share. This has been adjusted to take account of all capitalisation changes to 27 April 2018, as indicated below, other than the rights issue in 1986 (one new share for every three existing shares at 140p per share).22 June 1982 -   sub-division of each £1 share into four shares of 25p; bonus issue of two new 25p shares for each £1 share held;10 June 1983 -  bonus issue of one new share of 25p for every four shares held; and31 October 1997 -  share split of five new 10p shares for every two 25p shares held.Beware of share fraudIn recent years many companies have become aware that their shareholders have received unsolicited telephone calls or correspondence concerning investment matters. These are typically from overseas-based ‘‘brokers’’ who target UK shareholders offering to sell them what often turn out to be worthless or high-risk shares in US or UK investments. These operations are commonly known as “boiler rooms”. The “brokers” can be very persistent and extremely persuasive. Shareholders are advised to be very wary of any unsolicited advice, offers to buy shares at a discount or offers of free reports into the Company.You can find out more information on how share fraud works and how to avoid it on the Financial Conduct Authority website at https://www.fca.org.uk/consumers/share-fraud-boiler-room-scams. You can also call the FCA Consumer Helpline on 0800 111 6768.Details of all share dealing facilities that the Company endorses are detailed above.Please note that any electronic address provided in this document to communicate with the Company may not be used for any purpose other than that expressly stated.FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Notes  

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INTERSERVE IS ONE OF THE WORLD’S FOREMOST  SUPPORT SERVICES, CONSTRUCTION AND EQUIPMENT  SERVICES COMPANIES. WE OFFER ADVICE, DESIGN, CONSTRUCTION, EQUIPMENT, FACILITIES MANAGEMENT AND CITIZEN SERVICES. WE ARE HEADQUARTERED IN THE UK AND FTSE-LISTED. OUR GOAL IS TO PROVIDE A COST EFFECTIVE AND EFFICIENT SOLUTION TO OUR CLIENTS’ NEEDS.WE HAVE GROSS REVENUES OF £3.7 BILLION AND A WORKFORCE  OF CIRCA 75,000 PEOPLE WORLDWIDE.WE AIM TO BE A GREAT PLACE TO WORK FOR OUR EMPLOYEES WHERE EVERYTHING WE DO IS SHAPED BY OUR CORE VALUES.This Annual Report was printed in the UK by CPI Colour Limited, using vegetable based inks. The printer and paper mill are accredited with ISO 14001 Environmental Management Systems and are Forest Stewardship Council® chain-of-custody registered. The paper is 100% recycled, produced from de-linked post consumer waste. The silk laminate used on the outer cover is bio-degradable.PDF Page: 28772 - INT AR17 0 Cover.p1.pdf

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REGISTERED OFFICEInterserve Plc Interserve House Ruscombe Park Twyford  Reading Berkshire RG10 9JUT. +44 (0)118 932 0123 F. +44 (0)118 932 0206E. info@interserve.com www.interserve.comInterserve Plc     ANNUAL REPORT 2017INGENUITY AT WORKANNUAL REPORT 2017