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John Menzies plc

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FY2007 Annual Report · John Menzies plc
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GROWING FROM 
STRENGTH

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John Menzies plc 
108 Princes Street, Edinburgh EH2 3AA
Tel: +44 (0) 131 225 8555
Fax: +44 (0) 131 226 3752
Email: info@johnmenziesplc.com
Web: www.johnmenziesplc.com

Registered in Scotland with company number SC34970
Registered office address as above

John Menzies plc 
Annual Report 2007

 
 
 
 
 
PRINCIPAl ADDRESSES AND ADvISERS

Principal Business Addresses

Principal Advisers

John Menzies plc
108 Princes Street
Edinburgh EH2 3AA
Tel: +44 (0) 131 225 8555
Fax: +44 (0) 131 226 3752
Email: info@johnmenziesplc.com

Menzies Distribution
2 lochside Avenue
Edinburgh Park
Edinburgh EH12 9dJ
Tel: +44 (0) 131 467 8070
Fax: +44 (0) 131 469 4797

Menzies Aviation
Aviation House
923 Southern Perimeter Road
london Heathrow Airport
Hounslow
Middlesex TW6 3AE
Tel: +44 (0) 20 8750 6000
Fax: +44 (0) 20 8750 6001

Auditors
PricewaterhouseCoopers llP
Erskine House
68-73 queen Street
Edinburgh EH2 4NH

Corporate Financial Advisers 
and Joint Brokers
Hoare Govett limited
250 bishopsgate
london EC2M 4AA

Joint Brokers
brewin dolphin
48 St vincent Street
Glasgow G2 5TS

John Menzies plc is a tiMe critical logistics 
coMpany with two operating divisions, Menzies 
aviation and Menzies distribution. 

MENzIES AvIATION IS ONE 
OF THE WORldS lEAdING 
INdEPENdENT GROuNd ANd 
CARGO HANdlERS, WITH OvER 
14,000 EMPlOyEES WORldWIdE 
SERvICING OvER 500 AIRlINE 
CuSTOMERS AT 120 lOCATIONS 
IN 28 COuNTRIES.

MENzIES dISTRIbuTION IS  
A lEAdING PROvIdER OF  
AddEd vAluE dISTRIbuTION 
ANd MARkETING SERvICES 
TO THE uk’S NEWSPAPER ANd 
MAGAzINE SuPPly CHAIN.  
THE dIvISION HAS 4,000 
EMPlOyEES AT 19 Hub  
ANd 18 SPOkE bRANCHES 
THROuGHOuT THE uk  
ANd IRElANd.

bOTH dIvISIONS OPERATE IN 
dISTINCT b2b SECTORS WHERE 
SuCCESS dEPENdS ON PROvIdING 
A SAFE, EFFICIENT ANd HIGH 
quAlITy SERvICE TO THEIR 
CuSTOMERS ANd PARTNERS.

Ground Handling
A full ground handling service is 
available to customers, including 
ticketing, check-in, dispatch, 
boarding, management of 
passenger lounges and baggage 
services. Airside, we offer load 
control, passenger and baggage 
transfer, ramp handling services, 
aircraft towing and pushback, 
cabin cleaning, water services, 
de-icing and other ancillary 
services.

Newspaper and Magazine 
Distribution
We handle 5.7 million 
newspapers (6.1 million on 
Sundays) and 2.7 million 
magazines (covering 3,000  
titles) every day. deliveries  
are made in the early hours  
of the morning 364 days a  
year to more than 23,000 retail 
customers from the Northern 
Isles to the Isle of Wight.

IS RAPIdly ExPANdING IN TERMS OF REvENuE, CONTRACT WINS, 
GEOGRAPHICAl SPREAd ANd REGIONAl dENSITy. OPERATING IN 
GROWING MARkETS, IT IS A lEAdING PlAyER IN THE GlObAl GROuNd 
ANd CARGO HANdlING SECTORS, WITH TEAMS WORkING AT 120 
lOCATIONS WORldWIdE. THE dIvISION HAS OvER 14,000 EMPlOyEES.

underlying Operating Profit 2007

£20.6m

IS A STRONGly CASH GENERATIvE buSINESS WITH AROuNd 30%  
OF THE NEWSPAPER ANd MAGAzINE WHOlESAlE dISTRIbuTION 
MARkET IN THE uk. IT HAS A RECORd OF INvESTMENT IN 
INNOvATION ANd CuSTOMER SERvICE dElIvERy.

underlying Operating Profit 2007

£23.4m

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT: 
This Annual Report contains information which readers might consider 
to be forward looking statements relating to or in respect of the financial 
condition, results, operations and businesses of John Menzies plc. Any such 
statements involve risk and uncertainty because they relate to future events 
and circumstances. There are many factors that could cause actual results 
or developments to differ materially from those expressed or implied by any 
such forward looking statements. Nothing in this Annual Report should be 
construed as a profit forecast.

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Overview

Our Business Divisions  

Chairman’s Statement  

Financial Highlights 

Business review 

Group Performance  

Financial KPIs 

Menzies Aviation  

Menzies Distribution  

Group Financial Review  

Group Business Risks 

Group Trading Outlook  

GOvernance

Corporate Social Responsibility 

Board of Directors  

Corporate Governance  

Report on Directors’ Remuneration  

Directors’ Report  

Independent Auditors’ Report  

Financial statements

Group Income Statement  

Group Statement of Recognised  
Income and Expense 

1

2

2

4

5

6

10

14

18

19

20

26

28

33

40

43

45

45

Group and Company Balance Sheets   46

Group and Company Cash  
Flow Statements 

Notes to the Accounts  

Five Year Summary  

sharehOlder inFOrmatiOn

General Information  

Annual General Meeting  
Explanatory Notes 

Notice of Annual General Meeting  

47

48

80

81

82

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John Menzies plc AnnuAl RepoRt 2007

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cargo handling
Our service provision includes 
ramp transfer, load management, 
import and export handling, 
warehousing, trucking and other 
track and trace services. Our AMI 
business provides airfreight and 
courier wholesaling services and 
forwarder handling.

marketing services
Services to multiple and 
independent retailers include 
space and range planning, racking, 
displays and sales promotion, 
category management and sales 
based replenishment. Services to 
publishers include supporting the 
launch of new titles, ongoing sales 
promotion and development, and 
bespoke services such as data 
services and returns processing.

 
 
 
results
2007 was a strong year. The Group had clear objectives for 
the year, namely to continue the rapid expansion of Menzies 
Aviation and to stabilise Menzies Distribution. I am pleased 
that we have achieved both our objectives.

The expansion of Menzies Aviation has continued with a 
fourth consecutive year of profit growth in excess of 20%. 
New markets were entered and customer relationships 
developed and strengthened. Major investment into 
infrastructure and new projects in India and South Africa 
will deliver earnings growth in the second half of 2008 and 
fully in 2009. 

At Menzies Distribution, stability returned to its core 
markets. 2007 was a year of major operational change with 
the centralisation of newspaper allocations and the further 
installation of new technologies within the branch network. 
Cost initiatives were aggressively pursued as we remodelled 
the business to fit its changing marketplace.

dividend
The Group is delivering on its strategy and to reflect the 
Board’s confidence in the future prospects and performance 
of the Group the final dividend has been increased by 28% 
to 18.4p (2006: 14.4p), making a full year increase of 25%  
to 25.6p (2006: 20.5p). The dividend will be paid on 27 June 
2008 to shareholders on the share register at the close of 
business on 30 May 2008.

Financial highlights

Revenue 
Underlying profit before tax* 
Free cash flow* 
Underlying earnings per share*  
Proposed final dividend per share 

*Terms are defined on page 5

£1,541.1m
£38.0m
£14.9m
47.9p
18.4p

chairman’s statement

2007 was a sTRONG yeaR. 
The GROup had cleaR 
ObjecTives fOR The yeaR, 
Namely TO cONTiNue 
The Rapid expaNsiON Of 
meNzies aviaTiON aNd 
TO sTabilise meNzies 
disTRibuTiON. i am 
pleased ThaT we have 
achieved bOTh OuR 
ObjecTives.

william ThOmsON, chaiRmaN

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John Menzies plc AnnuAl RepoRt 2007

 
 
 
 
 
Board 
Our new corporate structure, implemented in March 2007, 
places greater emphasis for the day to day delivery of 
strategy onto the Operating Boards of both Menzies 
Aviation and Menzies Distribution, with the strong financial 
disciplines continuing to be controlled from the Corporate 
Centre. The members of the Operating Boards are shown on 
pages 26 and 27 and comprise experts in their fields.  
I am confident that with this corporate structure we are 
well placed and resourced to deliver the Group’s strategy.

People
Our staff continue to be our greatest asset and,  
in businesses which rely on delivering a service, it is 
essential that we have the best people working for us. 
Throughout a year of growth in Menzies Aviation and 
change in Menzies Distribution, our staff have adapted  
and developed, and continue to be motivated to deliver a 
world class service. Their dedication and commitment to 
providing the best possible service to our customers is an 
integral part of the product that we offer and I wish to 
express my gratitude to them all.

Pension Fund
As noted at the half year, the Company made a payment  
of £4.3m representing the balance of a £10m special 
contribution. I am pleased to report that as at 29 December 
2007 the Pension Fund is fully funded and in surplus. During 
the year, Professor Ian Percy (who is independent) replaced  
Paul Dollman as Chairman of the Trustees, representing  
best practice in Pension Fund Governance. Two Member 
Nominated Trustees were also appointed.

Prospects
I look forward to the future developments within the Group. 
We shall continue to deploy our resources in expanding  
our businesses organically and by acquisition, improving 
profitability and efficiency and providing the top rate 
services which our customers demand. With its clear 
strategy, I am confident that the Group is now well placed 
to create further shareholder value.

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william thOmsOn
CHAIRMAN
10 March 2008

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revenue and profit analysis

divisional revenue (2007 vs 2006)

divisional Operating Profit (2007 vs 2006)

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£1,541.1m

£44.0m

£1,450.4m

£40.3m

2007	 %	

2006	 %

2007	 %	

2006	 %

  aviation  

£393.8m	26% 

£318.4m	22%

  aviation  

£20.6m	47% 

£16.6m	 41%

		distribution   £1,147.3m  74% 

£1,132.0m 78%

		distribution  

£23.4m	53% 

£23.7m	59%

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John Menzies plc AnnuAl RepoRt 2007

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Group results

Revenue 
Underlying profit before taxation1 
Profit before taxation 
Underlying operating profit by division2

2007	

2006
£1,541.1m  £1,450.4m
£35.8m
£35.6m

£38.0m 
£31.8m 

Aviation 
Distribution 

Underlying earnings per share3 
Basic earnings per share 
Final dividend 

£20.6m 
£23.4m 
47.9p 
44.2p 
18.4p 

£16.6m
£23.7m
46.9p
46.4p
14.4p

Group Performance
2007 has been a good year for the Group with a 6% increase 
in underlying profit before tax. Underlying earnings per 
share were 2% up year on year. At the start of the year we 
set out with two clear objectives namely, continuing the 
growth in profitability at Aviation and stabilising 
Distribution. We have delivered on both of these objectives.

Menzies Aviation had another strong year with underlying 
operating profits up 24% to £20.6m. This is now the fourth 
consecutive year of profit growth in excess of 20%. The 
division has made good progress driven by strong organic 
growth, with a number of significant contract wins 
supported by two modest acquisitions. It also strengthened 
its reputation for quality and service delivery within the 
industry, as evidenced by contract tender successes in India 
and South Africa. In the year we secured licences at 10 
airports in South Africa which, along with the new Indian 
airport openings in early 2008, resulted in a significant level 
of capital investment in the latter part of the year. We 
maintained our strategy of investing in infrastructure to 
support the rapid growth plans for the division and to 
deliver future earnings growth. Results for the year were 
impacted by the adverse movement in exchange rates, 
particularly against the US Dollar. 

Menzies Distribution delivered an underlying operating 
profit of £23.4m, broadly flat compared to 2006. The 
magazine market, which dropped in revenue terms in 2006, 
returned to stability this year. Monthlies still fell back year 
on year but this was offset by the growth in weeklies. 
Newspapers continued their long term trends with volume 
losses being largely offset by cover price increases. 2007 
was also a year of focusing on cost and productivity and we 
reduced the cost base by in excess of £3m as planned.

cashflow and investment
As expected we continued our significant level of 
investment to fuel the growth in the Aviation division, 
particularly in our joint ventures in India and South Africa 
where we have invested in excess of £15m during the year. 
Capital expenditure once again exceeded depreciation in 
Aviation, reflecting the strong net contract wins in the year. 
We believe that the division will see substantial benefits 
from our well planned investment programme as these 
ventures start to deliver the anticipated returns.

Business review:
GROUP PERFORMANCE

2007 has beeN a GOOd 
yeaR fOR The GROup 
wiTh a 6% iNcRease iN 
uNdeRlyiNG OpeRaTiNG 
pROfiT. meNzies aviaTiON 
had aNOTheR sTRONG 
yeaR wiTh uNdeRlyiNG 
OpeRaTiNG pROfiTs up 
24% TO £20.6m. meNzies 
disTRibuTiON deliveRed 
aN uNdeRlyiNG OpeRaTiNG 
pROfiT Of £23.4m, bROadly 
flaT cOmpaRed TO 2006.

paul dOllmaN, GROup fiNaNce diRecTOR

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John Menzies plc AnnuAl RepoRt 2007

	
 
 
We also invested in process automation in Distribution, 
which will streamline the business processes and improve 
efficiency, as well as spending £3.6m on acquisitions during 
the period, including the acquisition of Grays of York and 
Leadenhall News. 

The Group’s net debt at the end of 2007 was £111.3m, an 
increase of £34.3m on 2006 reflecting the continued 
investment in both divisions.

exceptional items
Profit before tax and basic earnings per share reflect two 
exceptional items with a net credit of £0.1m.

During the year, there was an exceptional gain of £2.5m, 
resulting from Distribution entering into a joint venture 
agreement with Eason & Son Ltd in Northern Ireland and 
the Republic of Ireland.

Since the year end we have surrendered an onerous long 
term lease for a property in Buchanan Street, Glasgow,  
for the value of the dilapidations required. As a result  
we have provided an additional £2.4m. 

interest
Bank interest costs increased in the year from £5.6m last 
year to £8.2m in 2007 as the Group’s debt increased, 
resulting from the investment activity particularly in our 
Aviation division. 

In addition, the Group executed cross-currency basis swaps 
which reduced its interest charges. The foreign currency  
loss of £2.1m was exactly matched by tax relief of £2.1m, 
resulting in no economic effect on the results and as  
such this charge has been excluded from underlying profit 
before taxation.

strateGY

The	Group	has	a	clear	sTraTeGy.	

Menzies	aviaTion:	conTinue	on	iTs	rapid	GrowTh	
paTh,	creaTinG	reGional	densiTy	orGanically	by	
TarGeTinG	aTTracTive	cusToMers	in	aTTracTive	
MarkeTs	and	selecTively	acquirinG	
coMpleMenTary	businesses.

Menzies	disTribuTion:	MainTain	iTs	core	
earninGs	whilsT	MiTiGaTinG	cosT	inflaTion	and	
pursuinG	new	revenue	sTreaMs.

FINANCIAL KPIs

revenue (£m)

underlying ePs (pence)

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2003

1,260.3

2004

1,330.6

2005

1,362.1

2006

1,450.4

2007

1,541.1

2003

24.8

2004

44.0

2005

51.9

2006

46.9

2007

47.9

underlying PBt (£m)

Full dividend per share (pence)

2003

18.1

2004

18.5

2005

19.5

2006

20.5

2007

25.6

2003

20.7

2004

33.6

2005

39.4

2006

35.8

2007

38.0

Free cash Flow (£m)

2003

20.7

2004

26.3

2005

23.6

2006

3.2

2007

14.9

definitions 
1  Underlying profit before tax is defined as profit before taxation, 

intangible amortisation, exceptional items and foreign currency loss on 
cross-currency basis swaps.

2  Underlying operating profit includes each division’s share of pre-tax 
profit from joint ventures and associates, and excludes intangible 
amortisation and exceptional items.

3  Underlying earnings per share is profit after taxation and minority 
interest, but before intangible amortisation and exceptional items, 
divided by weighted average number of ordinary shares in issue.
4  Free cash flow is defined as the cash generated by the business after 
capital investment, interest and taxation, and before special pension 
contribution, acquisitions, disposals, ordinary dividend and share issues.

The Board has challenged the Operating Board of Menzies 
Aviation to deliver the following key priorities:
•  Safety & security as number one priority
•  Get basics right
•  Organic growth at existing and new locations
•  Deliver regional density
•  Selective acquisitions that add value
•  Developing and exploiting cross-sell and key account 

opportunities across the network

The Operating Board of Menzies Distribution has been 
challenged to deliver the following key priorities:
•  Continuing to remove costs to mitigate inflation
•  Introduce further initiatives to improve efficiency
•  Develop further new revenue streams and products
•  Improve customer service – aim to be the most 

respected in the industry

John Menzies plc AnnuAl RepoRt 2007

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Business review:
MENzIES AVIATION

Revenue 
Underlying operating profit  

2007	

2006	
£393.8m  £318.4m 
£16.6m 

£20.6m 

Growth
23.7%
24.0%

Performance 
Menzies Aviation enjoyed another record year and is now 
firmly established as one of the world’s leading independent 
ground handlers. During the year the division continued to 
grow and now operates at 120 airports in 28 countries.

This growth resulted from the division following its planned 
expansion which is underpinned by a focus on providing 
excellent customer service.

Acquisition activity during the year was quieter than we 
expected with only two new businesses being acquired.  
This was partly a result of the rapid organic expansion  
and a strict policy of only acquiring businesses that fit 
strategically and can be acquired at a realistic price. 
Organically, the division had an excellent year winning more 
customers at existing locations and entering new markets 
with new and existing customers, driving regional density. 
Overall the division was a net winner of 54 new contracts.

Start up costs associated with these contracts inevitably 
result in a drag on earnings in the year that the contracts are 
won and this has held back the full year result. However, the 
division is well placed to deliver substantial earnings growth 
once the full annualised effect of these contracts is realised.

ORGaNically, we had aN 
excelleNT yeaR wiNNiNG 
mORe cusTOmeRs aT 
exisTiNG lOcaTiONs aNd 
eNTeRiNG New maRkeTs 
wiTh New aNd exisTiNG 
cusTOmeRs, dRiviNG 
ReGiONal deNsiTy.

cRaiG smyTh, maNaGiNG diRecTOR  
meNzies aviaTiON

INVESTING IN 
NETWORK standards  
and saFetY

sPirit 
The values of Menzies Aviation are fundamentally 
important and are one of the reasons that customers 
prefer to choose to work with us. Launched in 2005 
‘SPIRIT’ represents these values. Developed through 
extensive consultation and discussion, these values 
underpin everything we do.

safety & Security, 
Passion, 
integrity, 
reliability, 
innovation, 
teamwork. 

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John Menzies plc AnnuAl RepoRt 2007

	
 
 
As the division continues on its rapid expansion plan it has 
been necessary to put in place the infrastructure to support 
the business for both now and the future. Accordingly a 
significant investment was made during the year in systems 
and people. Our business objective is to provide our airline 
customers with excellent service and to do this our IT 
systems, finance, training and safety functions have all 
received significant investment. The deepening of our 
customer relationships and contract win performance is 
evidence that this investment is paying dividends.

new ventures
In July it was announced that following a competitive tender 
process, the division had been awarded one of only three 
licences to operate at ten airports in South Africa, including 
Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban. These ground 
handling licences have allowed entry into another attractive 
market. 

The major projects in India announced in late 2006 
progressed well during the year. Operations at the new 
Hyderabad and Bangalore airports are due to start at the  
end of March 2008. Both airports are new greenfield site 
ventures. At Hyderabad we will offer ground and cargo 
handling services. At Bangalore we will offer a cargo handling 
service. At both airports our teams and systems are in place 
and intensive training is underway as we look for both 
operations to deliver the standards of service the customer 
demands. 

These entries into new attractive markets will allow the 
division to create regional densities and build on its existing 
strong customer relationships with international carriers as 
well as attracting new customers. By the end of 2008 we 
expect both regions to be making a significant contribution 
to earnings.

24%INCREASE IN UNDERLYING  

OPERATING PROFIT

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During the year two businesses were acquired. Universal  
Air Cargo Pty Ltd (UAC) was acquired in April. UAC is an 
international airfreight consolidator operating at 11 locations 
in Australasia and the USA. The business is highly synergistic 
with the existing Air Menzies International (AMI) business 
and was quickly integrated. It exceeded expectations during 
the year and further expansion is planned.

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In November, the ground handling businesses of Northport 
Norway AS and Finnhandling AB were acquired from 
Northport Oy, a wholly owned subsidiary of Finnair, which 
offer full ground handling services at Stockholm and Oslo 
international airports. The integration has been successful 
with many of the core back office functions being merged 
into our existing Amsterdam operation. The Scandinavian 
market had been identified as an attractive one and this 
acquisition was the best route to establish a presence. 
Expansion plans are in place for the region and the division 
will seek to create regional density.

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This values recognition programme is delivered to  
staff by local management and now the SPIRIT values are 
integrated into the daily activities and programmes of 
Menzies Aviation. 

For example, while performing a routine pushback  
at Sydney Airport in April, Robert Godoy’s actions prevented 
what could have been a catastrophic incident. Robert 
brought a Thai Airlines aircraft back onto the stand having 
seen an on-coming Japan Airlines Boeing 747 – despite 
having been given clearance by the tower. His impressive  
cool thinking has won him the Group Handling International 
magazine’s 2007 Ramp Safety and Industry Award in the Far 
East and Australasia category.

“Menzies	aviaTion	has	invesTed	heavily	in	2007	To	
proMoTe	a	safeTy	culTure	To	ensure	ThaT	in	all	
our	operaTions	around	The	world	safeTy	coMes	
firsT.	The	conTinuous	iMproveMenT	of	our	safeTy	
sTandards	is	an	over-ridinG	business	objecTive,	
in	supporT	of	which	we	have	iMpleMenTed	
various	unique	soluTions.	our	‘spiriT’	values	are	
essenTial	in	differenTiaTinG	Menzies	aviaTion	
and	deliverinG	a	consisTenT	world	class	
producT	worldwide.”

bOb NewmaN, head Of Risk maNaGemeNT 
meNzies aviaTiON

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Business review:
MENzIES AVIATION
(CONTINUED)

cargo handling
2007 was a difficult year in cargo handling. As we predicted 
at the start of the year, global volumes remained soft. Cargo 
handling is an operationally geared business and the soft 
volumes made for a tough year. However, due to its 
geographical spread, the business remains well placed to 
benefit when cargo volumes start to strengthen.

Like for like tonnes were up 1.6% although overall cargo 
tonnes were up 15.9% as a result of new contracts and the 
annualised effect of the new businesses acquired during the 
previous year. 

In Europe, the division’s largest cargo region, volumes were 
flat (like for like up 2.0%) after the loss of Dragonair in 
Manchester following their merger with Cathay Pacific. This 
was partly offset by contract wins from Emirates in Prague 
and Dragonair/Cathay Pacific in Amsterdam. 

In North America tonnage was up 49.9% (like for like down 
1.1%) as a result of the annualisation of the Aeroground and 
Catamount acquisitions and significant contract wins 
including Aer Lingus at seven airports across the USA and 
Emirates in Houston. The USA remains a difficult 
marketplace with overall tonnes weak and high staff 
turnover. We continue to install the Menzies ethos to this 
area and are focussed on improving customer service and 
reviewing customer rates across the region.

Asia Pacific, where the division does not have a significant 
cargo presence, saw a moderate uplift in tonnes, with 
contract wins in Australia and New zealand offsetting 
disappointing volumes in Macau.

During the year the division continued to roll out Hermes, 
its industry leading cargo IT system. Hermes is an integral 
part of the cargo offering and differentiates the division 
from its competitors. The system is now being progressively 
rolled out to our major cargo operations and any significant 
new cargo operations will have Hermes installed as part of 
the integration process. 

AMI, the world’s largest trade-only airfreight consolidator, 
had a very good year. Turnover was up £22.6m following  
a good performance from the core business and the 
acquisition of UAC. The combined business now extends  
the geographical reach of AMI and this business makes a 
welcome contribution to the division’s earnings.

Cargo handling is an integral part of the division’s service 
offering and we are continuing to develop our business 
model and looking to establish network cohesion. The model 
focuses on providing leading edge systems and first class 
customer service to attractive customers in attractive 
markets.

Ground handling
Across the network the ground handling business had an 
excellent year. Overall turns were up 34% (like for like up 3%). 

The division’s specialisation in handling low cost airlines was 
enhanced during the year. Our partnership with easyJet was 
extended to six new stations and the contracts to operate 

GROWTH THROUGH
qualitY

virgin america 
Virgin America launched in August 2007 as a  
“next generation” US airline, designed to change  
the way people fly, with low fares, great service  
and innovative features throughout the customers’ 
experience. When looking for a provider for ramp 
handling and cabin cleaning services at their home 
bases in San Francisco and Los Angeles, Virgin 
America naturally turned to Menzies Aviation. 
Servicing over 36 flights daily, Virgin America  
needed a team committed to delivering high levels  
of customer service, providing innovative solutions 
and implementing operational simplicity. Menzies 
Aviation’s low-cost model first rolled out in Europe 
was exactly what Virgin America required. 

8

John Menzies plc AnnuAl RepoRt 2007

 
 
 
 
 
 
their hubs at London Luton and Amsterdam were extended 
for a further five years. We also started up operations for 
Virgin America at their San Francisco and Los Angeles hubs. 

The contract tender process was particularly pleasing with 
our conversion rate significantly higher than the previous 
year. This justifies the investment we have made to create 
the highest standards and builds on the division’s reputation 
for placing customer service and safety as its core values 
whilst securing business at a price which provides 
acceptable levels of return.

Europe continues to be our largest region. Our operations 
throughout Spain performed ahead of expectations. 
Through the acquisition of Northport, we started operations 
in Sweden and Norway for the first time. In addition to this 
acquisition, the contract to handle easyJet at Copenhagen 
Airport in Denmark was secured late in the year, further 
expanding operations within Scandinavia and providing an 
opportunity to create regional density.

In the Americas region the turnaround of the business 
continued. At Los Angeles, loss making contracts were 
re-priced or exited and new replacement business was 
secured at acceptable rates. Labour continues to be an  
issue with staff turnover much higher than in other regions. 
However, management are focused on improving staff 
retention rates. 

99.3%GROUND HANDLING –  

ON-TIME PERFORMANCE

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strategy
Menzies Aviation is continuing on its rapid growth path.  
The strategy is clear. The division will continue to expand  
by targeting attractive customers in attractive airports at 
sustainable margins. There will always be a focus on firstly 
getting the basics right and then growing from a scaleable 
platform. Providing great customer service in a safe and 
secure environment is embedded in the culture. We will also 
continue to seek out appropriate acquisitions at the right 
price that fit strategically with our existing businesses.

There are few global economies of scale in this business  
but there can be regionally, and by creating regional density 
with shared service centres for back office functions such  
as Finance and Human Resources the business can grow 
rapidly but also sensibly and profitably. 

Asia Pacific, where much of the management focus was on 
the Indian start-ups, enjoyed some significant new 
contracts notably British Airways at Sydney and United 
Airlines at Sydney and Melbourne. These wins were offset 
by the loss of Emirates at Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane, 
who moved their handling to Dnata, who are part of the 
Emirates Group.

As the business grows the commercial activity and 
structure has evolved. An enhanced commercial function  
in the head office now exists with key account managers 
looking after targeted customers centrally. This new focus  
is paying dividends as the division looks to strengthen 
customer relationships and cross-sell its services as it 
expands into new markets. 

“virGin	aMerica	is	buildinG	an	airline	we	Think	
people	will	love.	To	accoMplish	This	we	have	
enlisTed	a	TeaM	of	service	parTners	To	assisT	in	
deliverinG	on	our	GuesT	proMise	of	on	TiMe	
fliGhTs,	TiMely	delivery	of	checked	baGGaGe	
and	clean	aircrafT	in	a	cosT-efficienT	Manner	
so	we	can	keep	our	fares	low.	Menzies	is	a	
GreaT	addiTion	To	ThaT	TeaM	as	They	are	a	
proven	service	parTner	and	share	our	GuesT	
service	philosophy.”

TOdd pawlOwski, vice pResideNT Of aiRpORTs aNd 
GuesT seRvices, viRGiN ameRica.

Key Performance indicators
Menzies Aviation monitors a number of financial and 
operational key performance indicators (KPIs) to help 
achieve key business objectives.

The main financial KPIs are highlighted on page 5 of this 
annual report.

The table below includes operational KPIs which are 
principally aimed at monitoring levels of customer service 
and operational effectiveness.

2007	
kpi	
30.5 
Ground handling – labour hours per turn 
Cargo handling – labour hours per tonne 
2.5 
Ground handling – on-time performance (%)  99.3 
Aircraft damage – category A  
incidents per 1,000 turns 

0.10 

2006
32.5
2.9
99.3

0.10

key	statistics
Stations worldwide 
Countries operate in 
Employees 
Tonnes of cargo handled 
Aircraft turns 

120
28
  14,000
1.8m
  530,000

John Menzies plc AnnuAl RepoRt 2007

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Business review:
MENzIES DISTRIBUTION

Revenue 
Underlying operating profit 

2007	

2006	 Growth
£1,147.3m  £1,132.0m  1.4%
(1.3%)

£23.4m 

£23.7m 

Performance
2007 was a key year for the division after the fall in earnings 
experienced during 2006. The focus for 2007 was to deliver 
in three key areas. Namely:

i) stabilise earnings 
ii) deliver cost initiative plans 
iii) investigate new revenue streams 

The division was successful in all three areas.

Revenue was up 1.4% (like for like 1.1%). Significantly the 
trends highlighted at the time of the Interim Results have 
continued and underlying operating profit for the year was 
broadly flat.

During the year stability returned to the core markets. 
Newspapers continued their recent trends with gradual 
volume decline, but this was broadly offset by increased 
cover prices. 

Overall, volume in the magazine market declined but gross 
profit was flat as a result of cover price increases particularly 
in the weeklies sector. 

The fOcus fOR 2007 was 
TO deliveR iN ThRee 
key aReas: (i) sTabilise 
eaRNiNGs; (ii) deliveR cOsT 
iNiTiaTive plaNs; aNd (iii) 
iNvesTiGaTe New ReveNue 
sTReams. i believe we 
weRe successful iN all 
ThRee aReas. 

ellis waTsON, maNaGiNG diRecTOR  

meNzies disTRibuTiON

IMPROVING THROUGH 
increased eFFiciencY

Throughout 2007 state of the art “Axon” returns 
processing systems have been successfully introduced 
to the Menzies estate. Following significant 
development and testing with partner Axon, this  
new “machine vision” technology has now been 
successfully installed at 14 of our branches in the UK 
and Ireland, facilitating a major step forward in both 
speed and accuracy of unsold product identification.

The system uses advanced computer controlled 
camera technology to identify bar codes anywhere on 
front or back covers of magazines as they pass 
individually through a reading chamber on a high 
speed conveyor belt. To cater for instances where bar 

10 John Menzies plc AnnuAl RepoRt 2007

	
 
 
 
 
 
 
cost initiatives
Cost initiative plans remain on track. During the year the 
division installed new technology to improve the efficiency 
of both the product returns process and magazine packing. 
The new returns technology revolutionises the process with 
a significant increase in the amount of product scanned per 
hour. The new magazine packing technology streamlines the 
process and is now operating in eight hub branches. 

As a result of this new technology the division was able to 
accelerate its hub and spoke programme, which involves the 
merging of the magazine packing and back office processes 
into a hub branch, and the downsizing of a previous full 
service branch into a spoke which solely packs newspapers. 
During the year, three hub branches were created which 
allowed four previous full service branches to become spokes.

A centralisation programme was also implemented during 
the year. The allocation of newspapers and magazines were 
taken out of individual branches and centralised within  
the head office. Three regional call centres were opened 
during the year to handle all calls from newsagents across 
the network. This function was previously carried out at 
branch level.

IMPROVING THROUGH 

increased eFFiciencY

 £3.6mCOST SAVINGS

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codes are damaged or obscured, the system also uses 
photographic cover recognition and “self learning” 
mechanisms. This technology is a major step forward in 
both speed and accuracy of unsold product identification 
and processing, with a significant increase in amount of 
product scanned per hour. It will roll out through the rest  
of the division during 2008. 

“increasinG	accuracy,	speed	and	efficiency	
whilsT	reducinG	The	overall	cosT	base	are	
essenTial	eleMenTs	in	ManaGinG	The	business.	
axon	has	siGnificanTly	iMproved	The	way	we	
ManaGe	and	process	reTurns,	which	is	noT	
only	Good	for	us,	buT	Good	for	all	our	
cusToMers	Too.”	

david mORTON, sTRaTeGic develOpmeNT diRecTOR  
meNzies disTRibuTiON

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11

 
 
 
Business review:
MENzIES DISTRIBUTION
(CONTINUED)

new revenue streams
Grays of York, an independent which previously served 
retailers in the York area with a portfolio of newspaper 
titles, was acquired and integrated into our existing York 
operations. The combined business is performing well  
and delivering the anticipated returns.

The challenging position in the Chester area, which was 
being served by both Menzies Distribution and Dawson 
News, was resolved after Dawson agreed to subcontract 
their business in the area to Menzies. This was a logical 
outcome and provided compelling rationale why the existing 
industry template is the most efficient way of serving 
retailers and consumers.

From the outset the joint venture with Eason & Son in 
Northern Ireland proved challenging with a number of 
operational issues dragging down earnings. Most of these 
issues have now been resolved and by the end of the period 
the venture was delivering improved levels of return.

Leadenhall News, a competitor to the division’s Jones  
Yarrell subsidiary, was acquired during the year. Both 
businesses are distributors of newspapers, principally  
to banks and institutions in the City of London area and 
operations were quickly and successfully integrated. 

D-Cipher, the retail category management service business, 
made progress during the year. Full range planning services 
are now provided to Marks and Spencer, Boots, Easons and 
Musgrave.

Menzies Digital, a virtual wholesaling venture, remains at 
the embryonic stage but is an exciting concept that will 
launch during 2008. 

A trial is underway with Tesco, investigating the potential to 
broaden our offering to them to include papershop related 
products. In addition, in some of our areas we have piloted a 
logistics partnership with Ceva (ex TNT) to link our local 
delivery fleet with their large scale trunking capability, to 
provide a delivery service for “packet traffic”, including some 
home delivery.

d-cipheR, The ReTail 
caTeGORy maNaGemeNT 
seRvice busiNess, 
made pROGRess duRiNG 
The yeaR. full RaNGe 
plaNNiNG seRvices aRe 
NOw pROvided TO maRks 
aNd speNceR, bOOTs, 
easONs aNd musGRave. 

ellis waTsON, maNaGiNG diRecTOR  

meNzies disTRibuTiON

DEVELOPING 
new revenue 
streams

In a competitive marketplace, it is important for retailers  
to ensure they are promoting the correct material to 
maximise their returns. D-Cipher provide industry leading 
retail category management services, which include 
promotional and sales development, operational support, 
financial consolidation, retail display solutions and field 
marketing support. D-Cipher provide direct marketing 
services and promotional management to numerous 
national retailers and independent retailers. 

D-Cipher has enjoyed fantastic growth in 2007 with key 
contract wins and unprecedented category growth for 
retail customers. For example, Marks & Spencer has 
experienced 20% sales growth in 2007, their 5th 
consecutive year of double digit growth.

12 John Menzies plc AnnuAl RepoRt 2007

 
 
 
 
 
 97.6%MAGAzINES DELIVERED ON TIME

 97.5%NEWSPAPERS DELIVERED ON TIME

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Office of Fair trading
The division, as well as responding to continuing information 
requests from the OFT, has been working with all sections 
of the industry to develop proposals for consideration by  
the OFT and relevant Government departments to ensure  
a competitive, efficient and sustainable supply chain for the 
future. The OFT have still to confirm specific timelines, but 
at this stage we anticipate publication later in the year, most 
likely late summer. 

Key Performance indicators
Menzies Distribution monitors a number of financial and 
operational key performance indicators (KPIs) to help 
achieve key business objectives.

The main financial KPIs are highlighted on page 5 of this 
annual report. 

The table below includes operational KPIs which are 
principally aimed at monitoring levels of customer service 
and operational effectiveness.

kpi	
Newspapers delivered on time  
Magazines delivered on time  
Newspaper packing accuracy  
Magazine packing accuracy  
Newspaper return 

2007	
97.5% 
97.6% 
99.8% 
99.6% 
89.7% 

2006
 98.0%
98.0%
99.8%
99.6%
90.0%

KPIs are affected by the late receipt of newspapers and magazines at our 
branches.

“2008	will	see	d-cipher	conTinue		
To	focus	on	securinG	new	reTail	
business	across	The	uk	and	ireland.		
we	also	believe	ThaT	our	expandinG	
direcT	MarkeTinG	offerinG	will	
conTinue	To	brinG	exciTinG	new		
reTail	opporTuniTies	To	The		
independenT	MarkeT.”

david sTepheNs, head Of d-cipheR  
maRkeTiNG

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13

 
 
 
	
 
 
 
 
 
Business review:
GROUP FINANCIAL REVIEW

shareholders’ Funds
Shareholders’ funds increased by £16.2m during the year to 
£108.4m, as follows:

shareholders’ funds at december 2006 
Profit for year 
Taxation 
Dividends 
Minority interests 
Net actuarial loss 
Currency translation 
Increase in share capital 
Share-based payment 
Movement in own shares 

£m

92.2
31.8
(5.7)
(12.8)
(0.5)
(2.2)
2.4 
2.7
0.4
0.1

shareholders’ funds at december 2007 

108.4

cash Flow
The Group generated an operating cash flow of £52.8m in 
2007 (2006: £35.4m). Share issues in 2007 raised a further 
£2.7m. Some £63m was re-invested in the business whilst 
dividend and tax payments accounted for £15.8m. Net debt 
increased from £77m to £111.3m. 

cash Flow 

2007 
 £m 

2006 
£m

£m 

£m 

Operating Profit  
Share-based payments 
Depreciation  
Amortisation of intangibles 
Net pension movement 
Working capital 
Cash spend on exceptional items 
Non-cash items 

Operating cash flow 

  33.2 
0.4 
  21.0 
1.6 
0.2 
(1.5) 
(1.2) 
(0.9) 

  52.8 

  34.0
0.7
  18.1
1.3
(6.5)
(12.3)
(2.5)
2.6

  35.4

Purchase of property,  
plant and equipment 
Sale of property, plant  
and equipment 

net capital expenditure 
Dividends from associates and  
joint ventures 
Net interest paid 
Minority dividends paid 
Tax paid 

(32.0) 

(25.4) 

0.7 

1.1 

  (31.3) 

(24.3)

4.0 
(7.6) 
(0.1) 
(2.9) 

4.1
(3.4)
(0.1)
(8.5)

3.2

Free cash flow 

  14.9 

14 John Menzies plc AnnuAl RepoRt 2007

cash Flow (continued) 

Free cash flow 
Equity dividends paid 
Additional pension payment 
Acquisitions 
Other investments 
Minority interest acquisition 
Intangible asset additions 
Shares  

Total movement  

Opening net debt 
Currency translation 

closing net debt 

2007 
£m 

  14.9 
  (12.8) 
(4.3) 
  (14.9) 
  (13.5) 
(0.4) 
(3.0) 
2.7 

  (31.3) 

  (77.0) 
(3.0) 

 (111.3) 

 –
 –

2006 
£m

3.2
(11.6)
(5.7)
(37.0)

(0.4)
1.8

(49.7)

(32.8)
5.5

(77.0)

The statutory IFRS cash flow statement is shown on  
page 47.

Pensions

income statement 

£m 

Current service cost 
Past service credit 
Expected return on  
scheme assets 
Interest on pension liabilities 
Net financial return 

Net (charge) / credit 

2007 
 £m 

(3.6) 
– 

£m 

2006 
£m

(4.7)
5.8

15.1 
(11.7) 

  13.4 
(11.0) 

3.4 

(0.2) 

2.4

3.5

Balance sheet 

Total market value of assets 
Present value of scheme liabilities 
Surplus in scheme 
Related deferred tax liability 

  250.2 
 (240.7) 
9.5 
(2.7) 

Net pension assets  

6.8 

  237.2
 (231.8)
5.4
(1.6)

3.8

With effect from 1 May 2006, the main UK pension scheme 
changed from a final pensionable salary scheme to an 
average salary scheme and employee contributions were 
increased. Benefits accrued to current active members prior 
to 1 May 2006 are now linked to future price inflation rather 
than future salary increases. The impact of these changes 
was a reduction of £5.8m in the present value of the scheme 
liabilities in respect of past service.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The current service cost for 2007 decreased due to the full 
year impact of the changes implemented during 2006 
combined with a reduction in the pensionable payroll.  
The service cost for 2008 is expected to reduce further.

During 2007 the Group contributed cash of £7.7m, 
comprising regular payments of £3.4m and an additional 
payment of £4.3m in January 2007. 

The market value of invested assets increased by 5% in the 
year, mainly as a result of strong investment growth in the 
equity component of the assets. 

The present value of scheme liabilities increased by 4%  
over the same period.

reconciliation between iFrs operating profit  
and underlying operating profit

£m

  36.6
iFrs operating profit 
(2.5)
(a) net gain on exchange of businesses 
2.4
(b) dilapidations settlement on onerous lease 
1.8
(c) goodwill impairment 
(d) contract amortisation 
1.0
(e) joint venture and associate interest and taxation  1.7

underlying operating profit 

  41.0

The results for the year include the following one-off and/or 
material items, which the Group considers should be 
highlighted:

(a)   The net gain on exchange of businesses results from  
the completion of joint venture agreements with  
Eason & Son Ltd combining newspaper and magazine 
distribution businesses in Northern Ireland and the 
Republic of Ireland. 

(b)   The dilapidations settlement relates to an onerous 

leasehold property where the remaining lease term was 
65 years. As part of the negotiated settlement all 
remaining lease obligations have been renounced.
(c)   Under IFRS, previously capitalised goodwill is no longer 

amortised. However, these results include an impairment 
charge of £1.8m, reflecting the remaining life of the 
current licence at Menzies Macau Aviation Services Ltd.

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(d)   IFRS requires the price paid for a business to be allocated 
between goodwill and other intangible assets. The other 
intangible assets capitalised in Aviation are amortised 
and this amortisation charge has been highlighted to 
present a clearer trading position.

(e)   IFRS operating profit is shown after deducting the 

Group’s share of the interest and tax charges in the joint 
ventures and associates but these are added back in this 
table to present a clearer trading position.

Further details are disclosed in Note 5 to the Accounts.

interest 
The net interest charge is analysed as follows:

Fixed rate sterling term loan 
Floating rate sterling loan 
US dollar loans 
Preference shares 
Cash / overdrafts  
Other finance income 
Foreign currency loss 

Net interest charge 

2007 
 £m 

1.9 
1.6 
2.3 
0.1 
0.2 
(3.4) 
2.1 

4.8 

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£m

2.0
0.5
1.4
0.1
(0.5)
(2.4)
– 

1.1

The sterling term loan is at a fixed rate of 6.23% and is 
repayable between 2008 and 2020.

Other finance income is the net financial return from the 
pension scheme under IAS19. The amount has increased 
due to the additional cash contributed by the Group during 
2007 and the higher returns on invested assets.

During the year the Group executed cross-currency  
basis swaps which reduced its interest costs by £0.6m.  
The foreign currency loss incurred of £2.1m is exactly 
matched by tax relief of £2.1m.

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15

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Business review:
GROUP FINANCIAL REVIEW (CONTINUED)

taxation
The effective underlying tax rate for the year was 20.9% 
compared with 23.2% in 2006 and is analysed as:

Tax due at UK rate 
Non tax-deductible items 
Unrelieved overseas losses 
Reduction in tax rate  
Utilisation of tax losses 
Non-taxable exchange gain 
Adjustments in respect of prior years 

Underlying tax rate 

%

  30.0
(0.1)
5.1
(1.1)
(6.2)
(4.0)
(2.8)

  20.9

The tax rate on underlying earnings continues to be below 
the standard UK rate as a result of the realisation of 
carry-forward overseas tax losses, the creation of overseas 
deferred tax assets on brought-forward losses and the 
resolution of prior year matters.

Tax paid during the year was £2.9m. Payments are expected 
to be higher than this for the year to December 2008.

The tax effect of the exceptional items is a credit of £0.5m. 
Goodwill and other intangible asset amortisation of £2.8m 
does not attract any tax relief.

In the March 2007 Budget the UK Government announced 
the phased abolition of industrial buildings allowances by 
the end of March 2011 and a reduction in the rate of capital 
allowances applicable to plant and machinery expenditure 
from 25% to 20% per annum, on a reducing balance basis, 
from 1 April 2008. If these changes are enacted in the 
proposed manner, they will have an adverse impact on the 
Group’s tax position. At 29 December 2007 the changes are 
not regarded as ‘substantially enacted’ as they are still 
subject to parliamentary agreement, and so their effect is 
not reflected in the Group’s balance sheet at 29 December 
2007. The estimated effect would be an increase in the 
deferred tax liability of £5m. The effect on the Group of 
these proposed changes will be fully reflected in the Group’s 
financial statements for the year ending December 2008, 
assuming the legislation is enacted during 2008. 

The adverse changes to capital allowances will be partially 
offset by the reduction in the UK rate of corporation tax 
from 30% to 28%, with effect from 1 April 2008.

acquisitions and intangible assets
During the year the Group acquired six new businesses.  
The consideration paid, in excess of the fair value of the  
net assets acquired, has been allocated between goodwill 
and other intangible assets, mainly customer contracts.

Capitalised goodwill amounts to £53.2m compared to 
£48.5m in 2006. This goodwill is no longer amortised but 
rather is subject to an annual impairment review. 

Contracts capitalised in the year amount to £13.9m.  
This amount includes £8.2m in respect of businesses 
acquired, £3.1m in respect of the fair value of the Group’s 
shareholding in the combined joint venture businesses in 
Ireland and £1.3m capitalised in respect of the new start 
contracts in India and South Africa.

Amortisation periods for these contracts are business-
stream dependent and vary from zero to ten years.  
Where the contracts are not amortised, they are subject  
to an annual impairment test at cash-generating unit level, 
generally considered to be ‘station’ level.

During the year the Group purchased the 26% minority 
interest in The Big Orange Handling Company Limited.

Property, Plant and equipment 
Purchases of property, plant and equipment totalled:

Distribution  
Aviation  
Corporate 

Plant &
  Property  equipment 
 £m 

 £m 

0.2 
1.1 
– 

1.3 

8.4 
22.1 
0.2 

30.7 

total 
£m

8.6
23.2
0.2

32.0

During the year Distribution invested some £5m in new 
technology.

Aviation’s capital expenditure mainly comprised equipment 
to service new contracts. 

Other investments
The cash spend on joint ventures during 2007 was £13.5m, 
comprising £10.6m in support of the new start contracts in 
India and £2.9m in support of Swissport Menzies Handling  
in Spain.

16 John Menzies plc AnnuAl RepoRt 2007

 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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These investments represent mainly plant and equipment to 
service the business.

working capital
Working capital movement is analysed as follows:

Inventories 
Trade and other receivables 
Trade and other payables 

2007 
 £m 

(0.4) 
(21.0) 
19.9 

2006 
£m

1.0
0.4
(13.7)

(1.5) 

(12.3)

interest rate fluctuations: the Group’s policy is to arrange 
core debt with fixed rate borrowings. The term bank loan of 
£30m is fixed at 6.23% and is repayable between 2008 and 
2020. US dollar bank borrowings totalling £35.6m are fixed 
at rates ranging from 4.36% to 5.3725%, which mature 
during 2009. Other borrowings and cash deposits are at 
variable rates.

Foreign exchange exposures: the Group’s exposure to 
currency risk at a transactional level is minimal, with 
day-to-day transactions of overseas subsidiaries largely 
carried out in local currency.

The overall movement in working capital is due to the effect 
of acquisitions. 

treasury Operations
From a Treasury perspective the main financial risks faced  
by the Group are liquidity, interest rate fluctuations and 
foreign exchange exposures. The Board has approved policies 
for each of these risks, which are managed on a day-to-day 
basis by Group Treasury. The purpose of these policies, 
which remained unchanged throughout the year, is to 
ensure that adequate funds are available to the Group at  
all times and that financial risks arising from the Group’s 
operating and investment activities are carefully managed. 
Accordingly, Group policy is not to enter into transactions  
of a speculative nature. 

The Group Treasurer reports formally on a monthly basis to  
a Treasury Committee under the chairmanship of the Group 
Finance Director and operates within scope and 
authorisation levels specified by the Board.

liquidity: operations are financed by a mixture  
of shareholders’ funds and bank borrowings.  
The objective is to ensure a mix of funding methods  
offering flexibility and cost effectiveness to match the 
needs of the Group. Surplus cash is currently held, and 
Group policy is to make major deposits only with substantial 
institutions with high credit ratings. In addition to its fully 
drawn down term loans of £30m the Group has £29.7m  
of unutilised committed facilities, which are committed  
to November 2011. 

The Group’s exposure to balance sheet translation risk in 
respect of its overseas net investments is minimised by 
borrowings in the functional currency of the investment  
and by use of derivative financial instruments, which  
have the effect of converting sterling borrowings into 
borrowings of the functional currency.

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Approximately 17% of Group turnover and 50% of assets  
are denominated in overseas currencies. The Group does not 
actively hedge exchange rate movements on the translation 
of overseas profits except where those profits are 
effectively matched by foreign currency interest costs.

The majority of Menzies Aviation’s stations are located 
outside the UK and operate in currencies other than sterling. 
The rates of exchange to sterling for those currencies which 
have principally affected the Group’s results were:

average 
for year to 
Year end 
 december   29 december  december  30 december 
2006

average 
Year end  for year to 

 2007 

2006 

2007 

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US$ 
Euro 

2.005 
1.462 

1.993 
1.355 

1.853 
1.468  

1.957
1.484

credit risk: the Group is exposed to credit related losses in 
the event of non-performance by counterparties to financial 
instruments, but mitigates such risk through its policy of 
selecting only counterparties with high credit ratings.

Further disclosure in respect of the above is included in  
Note 16 to the Accounts.

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17

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Business review:
GROUP BUSINESS RISKS

The management of the business and the execution of 
strategy are subject to a number of risks.

Risks are formally reviewed by each Divisional Operating 
Board on an annual basis. A formal Group-wide review of 
risks is also performed annually by the Group Board and 
appropriate processes and controls are put in place to 
monitor and mitigate these risks.

The key business risks affecting the Group are as follows:

safety
This is the risk of safety incidents occurring within the 
business. Both divisions have dedicated health and safety 
teams who regularly visit operational sites monitoring 
health and safety issues and driving improvements.  
They also monitor legislative and regulatory changes.  
We work with industry bodies to lead improvements  
and to benchmark our performance. Health and safety 
reports are tabled at the Divisional Operating Boards and 
the Group Board.

investment decisions
This is the risk of making the wrong corporate portfolio 
investment decisions. A weekly investment review meeting 
is held to review significant capital expenditure decisions 
and all acquisitions and disposals. Projects are measured 
against a number of strict financial criteria such as payback, 
net present value and internal rate of return.

Recommendations from the investment review meetings 
must be ratified by the Group Board. All potential 
acquisitions are subject to rigorous due diligence involving 
internal and external specialists.

People development
This is the risk that we do not successfully develop our 
people and lose key management. To mitigate this risk,  
the Group has introduced a leadership development 
programme and a regular 360 degree appraisal process.  
A number of incentive schemes linked to the Group’s  
results have been designed to help retain key managers.

changing Business environment
This is the risk that we do not respond to a changing 
business environment. A strategy review exercise,  
which involves a full examination of market conditions,  
is held each year prior to budget setting. Board reports  
from each Managing Director, reviewing all aspects of 
market conditions, are tabled for discussion at each meeting. 
Customer surveys have been introduced in both divisions 
which we will repeat regularly.

external shock
This is the risk of the business being impacted by a major 
external shock, such as terrorism, disease, or natural 
disaster. To mitigate this risk, we have emergency response 
procedures in place at both Divisions, which deal with 
communication guidelines, customer liaison, staff safety 
contingency actions and escalation procedures. In each 
division, we have developed strong leadership teams with 
broad experience of dealing with a wide variety of 
operational issues.

18 John Menzies plc AnnuAl RepoRt 2007

Business review:
GROUP TRADING OUTLOOK

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menzies aviation
In India, our start up ventures in Hyderabad and Bangalore 
remain on track. Both airports are brand new and are due to 
open before the end of March 2008. Our staff, systems and 
equipment are in place and ready to start. A number of 
customers, both existing and new, have been secured and 
we look forward to making both of these significant new 
operations a success.

In South Africa, following the award of the required licences, 
operations at six airports (including Johannesburg, Cape 
Town and Durban) commenced on 1 March. We have 
secured a large portfolio of international airlines including 
Cathay Pacific, Malaysian, Qantas, SA Express, British 
Airways, Air Botswana and Cargolux and we look forward to 
this new region delivering positive returns.

Since the year end the division acquired Air Cargo Resources, 
a cargo handling business based at Johannesburg, Cape 
Town and Durban in South Africa. This acquisition provides 
the division with a cargo business to complement the 
ground handling licences awarded during 2007 and allows  
a full service provision to be offered to airlines.

Current trading is in line with our expectations. US cargo, 
where poor volumes persist, continues to disappoint 
offsetting positive trading across the rest of the network.

menzies distribution
The outlook for Menzies Distribution continues to be stable. 
Our cost rationalisation project has been successful and our 
investment in technology has improved efficiencies within 
the business.

The division has entered into formal agreements with SAP 
to invest in the implementation of an Enterprise Resource 
Planning (ERP) solution throughout the business. This initial 
investment, which will be around £7m over a two year 
period, will increase efficiency and productivity as well as 
providing our publisher and retailer customers with an 
enhanced service offering. Project scoping is underway and 
the implementation will start in the second half of the year 
with completion expected to be during 2009.

Magazine volumes, particularly monthlies, remain 
challenging, but trading is in line with our expectations. 

Group
The Group strategy is clear. Aviation will continue on its 
rapid growth path creating regional density organically  
by targeting attractive customers in attractive markets  
and selectively acquiring complementary businesses. 
Distribution will maintain its core earnings while mitigating 
cost inflation and pursuing new revenue streams.

The Board is satisfied that with this clear strategy in place 
the Group is well placed to deliver further shareholder value.

Paul dOllman
GROUP FINANCE DIRECTOR
10 March 2008

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19

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
cOrPOrate sOcial resPOnsiBilitY

introduction
Environmental, social and governance responsibility  
is fundamental to the ongoing success of the Group.  
We acknowledge the impact our business activities have
on the environment and communities in which we operate, 
and have systems in place to identify, analyse and manage 
key risks arising from our operations. This includes ensuring 
that we comply with relevant environmental legislation.  

We recognise that as an employer we have a responsibility 
to our employees for their safety and welfare whilst at  
work. This responsibility extends to their training and 
development, as well as to setting appropriate standards  
for their dealings with customers and suppliers. We take 
business conduct seriously and have policies and guidelines 
in place which set standards concerning ethics, sound 
business practices and wider governance issues.

Board responsibility and management Framework
The Board member with overall responsibility for 
environmental, social and governance (“ESG”) risks is the 
Group Finance Director, with the Divisional Managing 
Directors responsible for ESG within their respective 
divisions. This responsibility also specifically includes 
employees and health and safety. Significant ESG issues 
arising in or affecting our businesses are discussed at each 
Board meeting.

The Company recognises that being a socially responsible 
company adds to and enhances the Company’s overall value, 
both short and long term. For example, mishandled ESG 
risks can be damaging to the Company’s reputation as an 
employer, supplier or business partner. The financial costs 
from mishandled ESG risks can affect the Company’s 
profitability. The Board therefore has systems in place, 
including access to adequate information, to identify and 
assess ESG risks, and to ensure that these risks, and our 
exposure to them, are managed appropriately.

The principal ESG risks to the Group include: failure to retain 
and develop key staff; failure to provide safe working 
conditions for staff; failure to have systems in place that 
prevent the occurrence of environmental hazards arising 
from our operations; failure to manage risks that can 
damage corporate image and reputation; failure to ensure 
that the Group’s operations are conducted on a lawful, 
sound and ethical basis and in compliance with Group 
Policies and Procedures; failure to carry out adequate due 
diligence or business planning on joint venture partners/
acquisitions. 

A description of the Company’s internal control system  
for the management particularly of financial risks is in the 
Corporate Governance report on pages 28 to 32. An analysis 
of the key business risks facing the Group appears in the 
Business Review on pages 4 to 19. Although the 
remuneration of executives is not directly related to 
attainment of ESG objectives, our bonus arrangements allow 
senior managers to base a proportion of performance related 
pay for executives on achieving personal goals such as 
improving staff turnover rates or improving injury or aircraft 
incident rates. These flexible arrangements apply to station 
managers at Aviation and branch managers at Distribution.

health and safety

introduction
Good health and safety practices are integral both to 
employee welfare and to the success of the Group. We are 
continually reviewing our procedures and our training in 
order to develop and adopt methods of working which 
reduce the likelihood of accidents occurring. Both divisions 
operate in a time critical environment: newspaper 
deliveries work to a tight schedule, with any delay losing 
sales for ourselves and our customers. Ground handling 
operations focus on aircraft, where any slip can delay 
departure or damage a customer’s aircraft. Reports on 
health and safety performance are the first operating  
item at all meetings of the Group Board and at Divisional 
Operating Board meetings. They include injury statistics 
and trends as well as lessons learned, training 
performance, contacts with regulators and legislative 
changes. The Group’s health and safety policy statement, 
which is published on our website, focuses on establishing 
a suitable environment, providing proper training, and 
communication and consultation with employees.

Each division has a specialist health and safety manager, 
who is supported by local management. 

menzies aviation
The division has a comprehensive safety management 
programme called MORSE (Menzies Operating Responsibly 
Safely and Effectively), which focuses on:
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

Personal Injury;
Aircraft Damages;
Damage to Equipment;
Emergency Response;
Security Awareness;
Avoiding the Cost of Carelessness.

20 John Menzies plc AnnuAl RepoRt 2007

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The MORSE safety management system and network safety 
team provides a dedicated resource within each region to 
support the field organisation and ensure we maintain a 
strong safety compliance focus. The network team works 
together to set policy, agree standard operational procedures 
and communicate regular safety awareness information to 
the field organisation. With operations at 120 airports 
worldwide, our priority has been to continue standardising 
safety processes. One key feature of MORSE is that it 
incorporates an intranet-based network reporting and 
investigation system for the recording of all incidents, 
including near misses to UK standards, with follow-up action 
taken so that lessons are learned and shared. Additionally,  
an Incident Review Board chaired by the Division’s Managing 
Director meets quarterly to review major (category A) 
incidents, shifting the emphasis to prevention rather than 
cure. MORSE has been rolled out to the new businesses we 
acquired during 2007 and is now part of standard operating 
procedures across our global network.

menzies distribution
The most common types of injuries in this business are 
those sustained from manual handling, slips and trips, and 
moving objects. Menzies Distribution also uses the MORSE 
programme, and the division is now moving into the second 
year of its three year safety strategy. The year saw the 
divisional directors attend a safety briefing which was 
designed to bring them up to date with the changes in 
Health and Safety legislation and also to integrate safety 
into the business risk management plan. Eighty six 
managers from across the division have undertaken various 
levels of Institution of Occupational Safety & Health (“IOSH”) 
approved Risk Management training, aimed at increasing 
awareness of the need to assess risk, and equipping staff 
with the knowledge that allows them to be part of the risk 
management process.

Innovative use of the intranet has made specialist Ergonomic 
and Manual handling assessments available to all managers as 
well as new, more detailed generic assessments.

The division continued to improve its vehicle movement 
practices, separating workplace vehicle movements from 
people movements, and has significantly reduced the 
opportunity for accidents. Our practices were highly 
commended in 2005 by the Freight Transport Association 
and the Health & Safety Executive (“HSE”) which has lead 

to the HSE publishing a case study on their web site 
highlighting Menzies Distribution’s safe systems of work as 
the blueprint for good working practices. Our ‘pack-by-light’ 
newspaper allocation system has enabled standardisation of 
pack sizes, reducing our exposure to lifting injuries.

In terms of motor and vehicle related incidents, Distribution 
continually keeps its fleet under review to ensure that the 
most appropriate vehicles are used for driving/training 
purposes, loading/unloading and accessing routes for making 
deliveries. Consideration is also given to environmental 
impact when choosing fleet suppliers. All staff receive 
health and safety training relevant to the tasks they 
perform. CD based training materials are also available, 
including our driver training programme which covers safety 
as well as advanced driving skills to maximise fuel savings.

injury and incident reporting
Both divisions utilise key performance measures to monitor 
trends and to improve our performance in this area. 
However, our two divisions operate in very different sectors, 
so comparing injury or incident statistics between them or 
overall figures against figures published by comparator 
companies would be meaningless. 

In 2007, Menzies Aviation had 52 (2006: 29) injuries 
reportable under UK RIDDOR with an equivalent rate  
per 100 FTE employees of 1.5 (2006: 1.2). This compares  
to a rate of 1.8 in the HSE’s transport sector. Menzies 
Distribution had 42 (2006: 62) incidents during the year  
that resulted in injuries reportable under UK RIDDOR,  
which is equivalent to an injury rate per 100 FTE employees 
of 1.16 (2006: 1.62) – again below the HSE’s transport sector 
figure of 1.8. The total figure includes businesses acquired 
during the year. 

In respect of Menzies Aviation’s overseas operations, there is 
no comparable UK RIDDOR, as each country where it 
operates has different reporting requirements. However, 
under the MORSE incident reporting system, all injuries are 
reported under different categories depending on 
seriousness, where category A would be for the most 
serious incidents. Category A level is not the same as UK 
RIDDOR, but it includes major/serious incidents involving 
fatality, serious harm, dangerous occurrence or aircraft 
damage, including significant misses. 

John Menzies plc AnnuAl RepoRt 2007

21

 
 
 
CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY (CONTINUED)

To provide some context, there were 107 category A 
incidents altogether reported during 2007 (2006: 76), 
including, regrettably, one fatality following a serious 
accident. Of the 107 incidents, 60 involved aircraft damage 
and 47 involved personal injury. This total of 107 includes 
injuries reported under UK RIDDOR that were serious 
enough to be classed under MORSE as being category A 
incidents. Another significant figure that we monitor is the 
number of incidents involving aircraft damage per 1,000 
turns handled, which is an industry recognised measure.  
In 2007, our incident rate per 1,000 aircraft turns for 
category A aircraft damage was 0.10 (2006: 0.10) which 
compares against an IATA published benchmark figure of 
0.67 and IAHA’s figure for 2007 of 0.16 per 1,000 turns.

employees

recruitment and equal Opportunities
The Board expects the Group to conduct its operations 
based on sound ethical practices which are open and free 
from discrimination and harassment, and will not tolerate
discrimination in any form. It has adopted and disseminated 
appropriate policies and procedures, including clear 
guidelines on matters such as competition law, bribery
and whistleblowing. The principles of equal opportunities 
are recognised through published employment policies 
which are designed to attract, retain and motivate quality 
staff and to give full consideration to the employment of 
disabled people and to staff who become disabled, including 
providing support and retraining to enable them to continue 
their employment. Full consideration is also given to age 
discrimination laws and our policies and practices  
encourage recruitment and promotion based on merit, 
irrespective of factors such as age, gender, race, religious 
beliefs or sexual orientation.

reward
The Group recognises that its continuing success depends on 
the quality and motivation of its employees. It aims to ensure 
that its remuneration practices are competitive, enabling it to 
attract, retain and motivate executives and employees who 
have the experience, skills and talents to operate and develop 
its businesses to their maximum potential.

incentives
Employees are able to develop a direct interest in  
the financial performance of the Group through its  
savings-related share option scheme, which is open to  
all UK employees, of whom over 1,000 are members. 

Options are granted over the Company’s shares at a discount 
of 20% from the prevailing market price at the time of grant 
at an aggregate value based on savings of up to £250 per 
month over three years. Some 700 employees (10.7% of 
those eligible to participate) took up their invitation and 
subscribed to the 2007 sharesave scheme in which some 
370,000 shares are now held under option. 

For staff in the UK, the Group offers many benefits.  
A childcare scheme allows staff to opt to receive part of their 
pay in tax-free childcare vouchers. Other benefits offered to 
staff, dependent on grade and location, include: private 
medical care, subsidised staff restaurant, gym membership, 
life insurance and a company car or car allowance.

training
All executives and managers, from the executive directors 
downwards, undergo an annual review where feedback  
is given on the previous year’s performance and goals for 
the upcoming year are agreed. Leadership development 
initiatives continue and 2007 saw the introduction of the 
“Leading from the Front” programme in Menzies Aviation, 
which provides supervisory level employees with basic 
leadership skills and reinforces the “Menzies Way”, known as 
SPIRIT. SPIRIT – Safe & Secure, Passion, Integrity, Reliability, 
Innovation and Teamwork, underpins our leadership 
principles. The programme is delivered by local management 
and ensures local buy-in to the SPIRIT principles.

A coaching project was also introduced which focuses on 
senior management levels. Eight executives undertook the 
coaching which provides individual development plans and 
appropriate levels of support. 

All new employees are given induction training designed to 
ensure that they can fulfil their tasks safely and securely, 
particularly where this involves lifting. All the Group’s 
commercial vehicle drivers are given driver training designed 
to help them to drive safely, economically and with 
consideration to those around them. Each division has 
resources made available to it to ensure the training needs 
of its staff carrying out particular functions and tasks are 
fully met. Managers are also encouraged to foster a work-
based culture based on values espoused as part of a 
campaign promoting and providing guidance on ethical 
business practices and professional conduct concerning 
dealings with all our stakeholder groups such as customers, 
suppliers and of course employees.

22 John Menzies plc AnnuAl RepoRt 2007

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communication and consultation
A comprehensive internal communication programme exists 
to ensure that all employees throughout the Group are kept 
informed about the direction and performance of their  
own division and of the Group as a whole. The Group’s final 
and interim results are communicated to all employees, 
supplemented by presentations being made during location 
visits by the executive directors. Both divisions operate in 
very different environments and during 2007 each division 
enhanced its own internal communication programme.

A programme of employee communications, differentiated 
by location and function, was introduced in Menzies 
Aviation to provide all staff with timely information  
about all aspects of the Group and Division’s performance. 
Communications are managed for the audience, with 
translation into host languages as necessary.

New media is being utilised within Menzies Aviation to bring 
news bulletins to all e-mail addresses and to mobile devices, 
for dynamic relay of important news. More than 80 e-News 
Bulletins were delivered over a six month period, equating 
to more than 150,000 individual e-mails. Channels are 
incorporated into the bulletins to aid immediate and frank 
feedback. A new and more inclusive intranet is being 
developed, able to be adapted down to individual team  
level. Video is used, with division-wide and interest-group 
communications being delivered using this medium.

During the year the Managing Director of Menzies 
Distribution undertook a series of site visits and numerous 
sessions in the division’s head office, meeting with 
management representatives to discuss strategy, culture 
and final/interim results. The format of these meetings  
is a main presentation and an open Q&A. 

Menzies Distribution also produced 10 staff newsletters, 
which were circulated to every employee in the division.  
The aim of this communication is to inform our teams  
about the major developments and initiatives within the 
business, whilst supporting a positive, open company 
culture. All employees are free to raise any issues they  
wish either with their line manager or directly with the 
newsletter team by post or email. 

environment

environmental Policy
The Board acknowledges its responsibilities for ensuring 
that environmental risks arising from the activities of its 
businesses are properly identified, managed and controlled, 
and that its businesses are compliant with all local laws,  
as well as with best practice – the latter where it is 
practicable. Each of our two divisions has its own 
environmental policy, which has been approved by the 
Divisional Operating Boards and is integrated within  
existing management structures and implemented  
through normal business practices and procedures. 

These environmental policies address the following areas:
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

allocating roles, responsibilities and resources;
complying with legislation and best practice;
monitoring, verification and auditing of compliance;
data collection, analysis and reporting;
risk identification, assessment and management;
communication and dissemination of information;
adopting technology and working practices that are 
modern, environmentally friendly and energy efficient; 
and
working with customers and suppliers to address 
environmental issues affecting our businesses.

• 

At Group level, environmental issues affecting the 
businesses are reported by each Divisional Managing 
Director to the Board. Environmental risks associated with 
new businesses are always assessed as part of our due 
diligence process on all acquisitions. Our operating 
procedures are reviewed following reporting of any 
significant actual or near-miss incidents involving safety 
issues or environmental hazards. Operational management 
also have to certify periodically compliance with local 
environmental regulations. There were no incidents last year 
which posed a significant environmental risk to the Group’s 
operations and systems are in place to try to prevent their 
occurrence. These systems are reviewed periodically.

Fleet & Fuel

menzies aviation
The division operates various vehicles in connection with  
its activities. Typically, these are on and off airport activities 
and include: bussing, trucking (cargo between airports) and
air freight couriering by AMI. 

John Menzies plc AnnuAl RepoRt 2007

23

 
 
 
CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY (CONTINUED)

The on airport activities involve use of specialist Ground 
Servicing Equipment (“GSE”) for both our ground and cargo 
handling businesses. Other than passenger steps and 
baggage or cargo carts (“dollies”), which need to be towed, 
most GSE can be driven and run on diesel, electricity or LPG. 
These include: hydraulic loaders, aircraft push back tugs, 
conveyor belt loaders, and tow tractors which pull passenger 
steps and dollies. This equipment is not designed to travel 
long distances so the mileage is low.

We also operate a fleet of forklift trucks for warehouse 
activity in our cargo handling operations. Of these forklift 
trucks, 91% run on LPG, the remaining larger machines on 
diesel and their average age is between 1 and 5 years old.

Our “Connect” bussing operation at London Heathrow has  
a fleet of 64 single deck passenger buses (2006: 68) that 
transport some 34,000 workers daily to and from off-airport 
sites to the airport, including Terminal 5 construction 
workers. This service is under contract to BAA who supply 
our buses with fuel. 

Our UK trucking operation, which includes the AMI business 
(which consists of mainly forwarder handling and courier and 
air freight wholesaling) involves a fleet of twenty 38 tonne 
articulated units with trailers which transport cargo between 
airports, mainly in the UK and Ireland. Total mileage for 2007 
was c. 1.6 million (2006: 2.2 million) miles. These run on 
diesel fuel and 18 of the trucks are less than 2 years old.  
The remaining trucks are due to be replaced during 2008 
with Euro IV standard low emission vehicles, further 
increasing the fuel efficiency of the fleet. The division also 
has trucking operations in the USA and in Sweden, most of 
which are provided through subcontractors. 

menzies distribution
The business operates 454 vehicles (2006: 437) ranging 
from light commercial vehicles with a Gross Vehicle  
Weight of 3.5 tonne or less, up to 26 tonne articulated 
commercial vehicles. 54% (2006: 47%) of our fleet is  
made up of vehicles that have a gross vehicle weight of  
3.5 tonnes or less. A further 1,173 (2006: 1,147) vehicles  
are operated by contractors in the newspaper and magazine 
distribution process.

Our fleet comprises diesel only vehicles on a leased basis. 
Lease terms typically run for between 3 and 5 years, 
ensuring a modern and efficient fleet. All new additions  
to our fleet since January 2007 run on Euro IV engines. 

A MODEC electric vehicle will be added to the fleet during 
2008 to be operated in central London as part of our 
assessment of more eco-friendly vehicles.

Third party contractors carry out some 68% of our delivery 
mileage. The same focus on costs, regulatory compliance, 
vehicle suitability and health and safety which influences  
the division’s direct operations is also applied in selection and 
management of such subcontractors. Mileage and related 
fuel cost is a significant overhead in our Distribution business 
and we have ongoing programmes to address delivery route 
scheduling and driver training. Such initiatives continue to 
deliver success, having received industry recognition and 
awards. During 2007 we covered 13.6 million miles  
per annum with our fleet, using 3 million litres of fuel  
(2006: 3 million litres). 

company cars
We currently have a fleet of 229 company cars (2006: 243).  
In addition to lifecycle costing, future fleet structure will 
reflect relative emissions efficiency, with a commitment  
to reduction.

energy consumption
At Menzies Distribution, energy consumption during the year 
amounted to 29,660,698 kWh, an increase of 1.3% on 2006. 
Until October 2007, 26% of the electricity supplied was from 
“green” sources. Since then, and following the carbon 
reduction review discussed below, all mainland UK electricity 
has been procured from fully “green” renewable resources. 
Due to the international spread of operations at Menzies 
Aviation, comparable figures are not yet available.

waste and emissions

waste
At Menzies Distribution, packaging waste, namely cardboard 
and polythene, and office paper are by-products of our 
activities. We have waste compactors installed in our  
19 hub branches (2006: 17). The total volume of waste 
uplifted in 2007 was 5,747 tonnes (2006: 5,460 tonnes)  
of which 13.3% (2006: 11.0%) is recycled. Under our 
contracts with newspaper and magazine publishers, we are 
responsible for the collection of unsold copies from retail 
outlets. For magazine publishers, we are further responsible 
for recycling unsold magazines, whereas newspaper 
publishers retain the responsibility for managing the flow  
to recycling of unsold newspaper copies.

24 John Menzies plc AnnuAl RepoRt 2007

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to around 37,000 tonnes of CO2, past attention to 
warehouse design, operations and to route scheduling has 
supported a reduction over time in CO2 per tonne handled 
and miles run of around 15% over the previous five years. 
Following the electricity switch mentioned above, further 
pilot activity supported by Carbon Trust is expected to lead 
to opportunities for some absolute energy reduction in 
warehouses.

community investment

Each year the Board approves a budget for charitable 
donations of around one percent of gross dividends for the 
previous financial year. Donations are made through either 
the John M. Menzies Community Fund or the Charities Fund.

the charities Fund
The Charities Fund is the Company’s main channel for 
supporting charitable causes or investing in community 
projects. Its activities are managed by a Charities 
Committee, which is chaired by the Group Finance Director 
and met four times during the year. Altogether, the Charities 
Fund receives over 300 applications every year from very 
diverse charities and projects, both local and international 
and donations are approved by the Charities Committee.  
In 2007, some 84 organisations benefited from charitable 
donations of around £80,000. 

In addition, and supporting its commitment to the areas  
in which it operates, Menzies Aviation provides financial 
support to various local projects including an annual 
donation of around £7,000 to support children living in a 
children’s village programme in Romania, and an annual 
donation of US $5,000 to the Educando project which 
provides support for children in Peru.

the John m. menzies community Fund
The Group employs more than 18,000 people in 28 
countries all around the world, many of whom participate in 
various forms of charitable, voluntary and other community 
related work. We are therefore supportive of these 
initiatives, and encourage and support these through the 
work of our Community Investment team. The John M. 
Menzies Community Fund supports the work of our 
employees whether engaging in voluntary work or other 
charitable or community-related projects. It makes 
individual cash awards of up to £350 per employee,  
or £700 per team of employees, undertaking a charitable or 
community project. Such awards are made in consultation 
with the Managing Directors of each business. During 2007, 
some 20 projects were supported by this Fund to a total of 
around £6,000. 

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Newspaper publishers outsource the physical uplift and 
recycling from our premises via third party agents with 
whom we work closely to integrate an efficient transition 
from our processes to their collection. In 2007, we facilitated 
the consignment to recycling of 110,000 tonnes of newsprint. 
For magazines, we are responsible for cleansing the unsold 
copies of polythene wrapping and cover mounted gifts where 
this is required to facilitate the subsequent de-inking process. 
Thereafter we manage a logistics service to consolidate 
unsold copy from all of our branches, primarily feeding into 
UPM Kymmene’s Shotton Paper Mill for conversion into future 
newsprint. All unsold magazine products which are not 
required for re-sale are consigned for paper recycling. In 2007, 
some 62,444 tonnes (2006: 60,000 tonnes) of unsold 
magazines were processed for recycling. 

The division also handles other unsold products such as 
collectible partworks and sticker collections. These are sent 
back to publishers for subsequent re-use. The waste 
elements stripped from magazines to cleanse pre recycling 
are currently consigned to landfill. Menzies Distribution is 
active in industry initiatives aimed at reducing the volumes of 
such material to landfill and supporting initiatives to increase 
consumer awareness of the magazine recycling opportunity.

carbon reduction
During 2007 Menzies Distribution set out to establish its 
direct carbon footprint and (1) benchmark this in relation to 
the newspaper and magazine supply chain overall and (2) 
establish how our footprint has evolved over recent years. 
The exercise proved revealing and endorses the strong link 
between operational effectiveness and environmental 
impact. The division’s internal work was supported and 
reviewed by a team from Heriot Watt University and their 
academic partners in the government funded “green 
logistics” project for which it is an early case study on the 
practicalities of foot-printing in the distribution sector. 
Menzies Distribution were also supported by PIRA, the 
paper sector consultants, in pioneering a high level supply 
chain analysis, the principles of which are now being 
adopted for further in-depth collaborative supply chain 
analysis aimed at total commitment to business efficient 
carbon reduction.

Menzies Aviation plans to carry out a similar exercise  
during 2008.

Menzies Distribution prime exposures are (1) warehouse 
energy usage and (2) vehicle diesel fuel. Whilst business 
territory gains have inevitably pushed absolute footprint up 

 
 
 
BOard OF directOrs

1

2

3

4

5

1 william thomson, non-executive chairman (note 3) 
William was appointed chairman in 2002, having been  
a non-executive director since 1987. He also chairs the 
Nomination Committee. He is Chairman of E G Thomson 
(Holdings) Ltd, a shipping and logistics group with interests 
in Asia, British Assets Trust plc and Fidelity Japanese Values 
plc. (Age 67).

2 ellis watson, executive director, menzies distribution 
Ellis was appointed to the Board in March 2007 and has 
been managing director of Menzies Distribution since 
September 2005. Prior to this he was managing director  
of National Newspapers at Trinity Mirror plc and of Celador 
International. His media career began with 9 years at  
News International, where latterly he was marketing 
director. He was also previously chairman of the  
Newspaper Publishers Association, the trade body  
for daily national newspapers. (Age 40).

menzies aviation Operating Board:

craig smyth, managing director, menzies aviation  see above

Paul dollman  see above

mervyn walker, evP operations  Mervyn is responsible for the 
service delivery of the Menzies Aviation operational network.  
His career spans nearly 30 years in aviation having also worked 
for Aer Lingus and Servisair. (Age 47).

Philip harnden, evP commercial  Philip is responsible for 
customer affairs as well as the business development activity  
of Menzies Aviation. He has served as Menzies Aviation company 
secretary as well as assistant company secretary at John Menzies 
plc. (Age 43).

Graeme Jenkins, evP finance  Graeme oversees all finance 
activities for Menzies Aviation including acquisitions, legal and 
company secretarial. He qualified as a chartered accountant  
with Ernst and Young prior to joining Menzies. (Age 32).

26 John Menzies plc AnnuAl RepoRt 2007

3 ian harrison, non-executive director (note 1) 
Ian was appointed a non-executive director in 1987.  
He is a director of Record Currency Management Ltd,  
an institutional investment management company 
specialising in currency management for pension funds 
worldwide. (Age 51).

4 dermot Jenkinson, non-executive director (notes 2, 3) 
Dermot was appointed to the Board in 1986 and held various 
executive responsibilities before assuming a non-executive 
role in 1999. He is founder and chairman of beCogent Ltd, a 
contact centre and related consultancy business, and is a 
director of a number of other private companies. (Age 53).

5 craig smyth, executive director, menzies aviation
Craig was appointed to the Board in March 2007. He was a 
founder executive of the Aviation division and has worked 
for Menzies Aviation for 15 years. In 2003, he moved from 
being the chief financial officer into the operational & 
commercial role as vice president, Americas and was 
appointed managing director of Menzies Aviation in 
February 2004. He is a chartered accountant. (Age 40).

stephen Koller, evP it  Stephen is responsible for all information 
technology systems used in the business, from office PCs to 
real-time critical systems used by airlines, customs and Menzies-
owned companies. His decade in the international aviation industry 
began with Ogden Aviation. (Age 48).

simon Yiend, evP people and network standards  Simon  
is responsible for health and safety, security, HR, internal 
communications and standardisation of operational processes, 
including training, equipment and environmental policy.  
Formerly in charge of UK Ground Handling, Simon began his  
career as an army officer. (Age 52).

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7

8

9

10

6 iain robertson, non-executive director (note 1) 
Iain was appointed a non-executive director in 2004  
and chairs the Audit Committee. Previously a director of  
The Royal Bank of Scotland Group plc, he is chairman of 
Cairn Capital Ltd and BT Scotland. He is a chartered 
accountant. (Age 62).

7 Octavia morley, non-executive director (notes 1, 2)
Octavia was appointed a non-executive director in 2006. 
She is currently chief executive of Lighterlife Ltd and was 
previously executive director, marketing director and 
commercial director at Woolworths plc, and held positions 
as managing director, ecommerce at Asda Stores Ltd and as 
buying and merchandising director at Laura Ashley plc.  
(Age 39).

8 david coltman, non-executive director,  
senior independent director (notes 2, 3) 
David was appointed a non-executive director in 2001, senior 
independent director in 2006 and chairs the Remuneration 
Committee. He is currently chairman of Eredene Capital plc 
and Edinburgh Worldwide Investment Trust plc. He has held 

various senior positions with airlines in the UK and with 
United Airlines in Chicago. (Age 65).

9 Paul dollman, executive director, group finance director
Paul was appointed as group finance director in 2002.  
He is also a non-executive director of Scottish Amicable  
Life Association Society. A chartered accountant, he was 
previously finance director for William Grant & Sons Ltd,  
and has also held senior financial positions with Inveresk 
PLC, Maddox Group plc and Clydesdale Retail Group.  
(Age 51).

10 John Geddes, company secretary
John was appointed as company secretary in 2006.  
A chartered secretary, he joined the Group in 1997 and  
was previously company secretary of Menzies Aviation.  
His career has also included posts at Bank of Scotland plc 
and Guinness plc. (Age 39).

Notes:
1. Member of Audit Committee
2. Member of Remuneration Committee 
3. Member of Nomination Committee

menzies distribution Operating Board:

ellis watson, managing director, menzies distribution  see above

Paul dollman  see above

tom Boyle, operations director  Tom has board responsibility  
for Menzies Distribution’s operational performance. In addition,  
he leads the Newspaper, Business Development, Property, Health  
and Safety and Facilities teams. Tom started his career with the 
company in 1974 and was appointed to the board in 1996. (Age 53).

david mcintosh, commercial and marketing director  David is 
responsible for commercial contractual arrangements, key retail 
relationships, magazine publishers, regulatory/OFT matters and 
business information provision. David joined John Menzies in  
1989 and became Finance Director of Menzies Distribution in 1999. 
(Age 45).

david speirs, it director  David joined Menzies Distribution  
in May 2006 as IT director. Previously executive director for  
IT and production with The Scotsman, David has also worked 
for a variety of major multi-national organisations. (Age 44).

david morton, strategic development director  David joined 
John Menzies in 1992 and is responsible for innovation, 
implementation and evolution of logistics technologies and 
processes, and other developments of strategic added value  
to the business, clients and customers. He is also involved in 
various distribution sector initiatives. (Age 55).

George Kirkwood, finance director  George qualified as a 
chartered accountant with KPMG before joining the finance 
department of John Menzies in 1983. He held a number of 
positions within Menzies Distribution before being appointed 
finance director in 2003. (Age 51).

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27

 
 
 
Dermot Jenkinson and Ian Harrison are not independent 
under the terms of the Code due to their shareholding and 
length of service. However, they not only represent the 
continuing involvement of the founding Menzies family, but 
also contribute effectively to the Board and the work of its 
committees. They bring to the Board a breadth of skills and 
experience from their knowledge of the Company and from 
their backgrounds in business and general management. 

At least two of the members on each of the Audit and 
Remuneration Committees are independent (being a 
majority) including the Chairman of these Committees. The 
Nomination Committee only has one independent member 
and in this respect it is not fully compliant with the Code. 

Board and committee meetings and attendance in 2007

Board  nomination 

committee  committee 

audit  remuneration  
committee

Meetings  
10 
W R E Thomson   10 
10 
P B Dollman  
8 
C A G Smyth** 
8 
E A N Watson** 
10 
D A Coltman 
10 
D J Jenkinson 
10 
I C L Harrison 
10 
O K Morley 
9 
I S Robertson  
2 
P J Macdonald* 

1 
1 
– 
– 
– 
1 
1 
– 
– 
– 
– 

4 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
4 
4 
4 
– 

3
–
–
–
–
3
3
–
3
–
–

*P J Macdonald resigned from the Board on 20 March 2007
**C A G Smyth and E A N Watson were appointed to the Board on 20 March 2007

cOrPOrate GOvernance

corporate Governance statement
The Board is committed to maintaining high standards of 
corporate governance. The Company has applied throughout 
the year under review all the provisions of Section 1 of the 
Combined Code of Corporate Governance 2006 (the “Code”), 
other than the provisions concerning committee 
independence explained below.

the Board

composition
The Board currently consists of nine directors, six of whom are 
non-executive (including the Chairman) and three executive. 
The role of the Chairman is distinct from other positions and 
clearly defined. The Company does not have a Chief Executive, 
instead it has an Executive Managing Director for Menzies 
Aviation, an Executive Managing Director for Menzies 
Distribution and an Executive Group Finance Director.  
Each Executive Director has clearly defined duties and 
responsibilities to the Board. Non-executive directors are 
appointed for an initial term of three years, and all directors 
are required under the Articles to retire and offer themselves 
for re-election at least every three years.

Following a review of the Board’s composition as a result of 
the new structure for the Group, it was felt that an additional 
independent non-executive director should join the Board and 
a search is currently underway. The Board will then have four 
independent non-executive directors, well in excess of the 
minimum recommended by Corporate Governance guidelines 
for a company of our size, and will ensure that the Board is 
well balanced and able to meet the ambitions and challenges 
that will face the business.

independence
Three of the non-executive directors, David Coltman,  
Iain Robertson and Octavia Morley, are independent under 
the terms of the Code, where the number required for 
smaller companies is two. David Coltman has been Senior 
Independent Director since 25 May 2006. 

28 John Menzies plc AnnuAl RepoRt 2007

 
 
 
 
A description of the Board’s Committees is provided  
below, along with the Chairman and membership of each 
Committee. The Board met ten times in 2007 and has a 
formal schedule of matters specifically reserved to it for 
decision. These include: strategic plans, the approval of 
financial statements, acquisitions and disposals, major 
non-recurring projects and major capital expenditures.  
It also delegates specific responsibilities with written terms 
of reference to the Board Committees detailed below. 
Information of an appropriate quality is issued in a timely 
manner to assist the Board in performing its duties. New 
directors receive an appropriate induction tailored to their 
needs. All members of the Board have access to the advice 
and services of the Company Secretary and may take 
independent professional advice as appropriate at the 
expense of the Company.

At least one meeting of the Board each year is held at an 
operating division’s offices and directors are encouraged  
to visit both divisional operations at other times, and to 
undertake such activities and training as is appropriate or  
may be required or desirable in order to carry out their duties.

Board Performance Evaluation
The Board is supportive of the principles and provisions  
of the Code on Board Performance Evaluation. It first 
undertook a rigorous process of performance evaluation  
of the whole Board and of its individual members in 
December 2004/January 2005, with the assistance of 
external consultants. 

The Board’s policy is to conduct performance evaluations 
internally on an annual basis, using external consultants to 
refresh the process every three to five years. It is envisaged 
that external consultants will next be used during 2009 to 
review the Board performance programme.

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During 2007, the Senior Independent Director undertook  
a detailed and formal discussion with each member  
of the Board, reviewing performance and addressing  
any concerns they had relating to their performance,  
the Board’s performance and to the composition of the 
Board and its Committees. The results of these discussions 
were then reviewed by the Board. In addition to this 
review, the non-executive directors held one meeting  
last year without the Chairman being present at which his 
performance was reviewed. They also held a meeting with 
the Chairman present at which the performance of the 
executive directors and the new structure was discussed.

Communication with Shareholders
The Board has developed a comprehensive programme to 
ensure that effective communication with shareholders, 
analysts and the financial press is maintained throughout 
the year. Through its annual and interim reports, results  
and other announcements, as well as through presentations 
to institutional shareholders and the dissemination  
of information via the Group’s website at  
www.johnmenziesplc.com, the Board seeks to present  
its strategy and performance in an objective and  
balanced manner.

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Shareholders attending the Annual General Meeting are 
invited to ask questions during the Meeting and also to 
meet the directors after the formal business of the meeting 
has concluded. The chairmen of the Board Committees are 
also available to answer questions from any shareholder  
at the meeting. Full details of proxy votes cast on each 
resolution are made available to shareholders at the Meeting 
and, in keeping with best practice, are made available on the 
Company’s website after the Meeting.

The Board receives reports at each of its meetings on any 
meetings held with shareholders or analysts. The Chairman 
and Senior Independent Director are also available for 
contact by shareholders at any time.

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29

 
 
 
CorPorATE GovErNANCE (CoNTINuED)

Board Committees
The Board has established committees with defined terms 
of reference. The Board’s policy on the membership of  
its committees is that all non-executive directors should 
contribute, and to keep membership fresh one member  
of each committee be changed every two years. 

The Nomination, remuneration and Audit Committees each 
consist of three non-executive directors. The chairmen of 
the Audit and remuneration Committees will be chosen 
from directors who are independent under the terms of  
the Code. It is the Board’s intention that they will serve  
for three years. The inclusion of Dermot Jenkinson on  
the remuneration and Nomination Committees and of  
Ian Harrison on the Audit Committee respectively does  
not comply with the Code, however they provide valuable 
experience from their knowledge of the Group’s operations, 
and from their backgrounds in business.

The Board has also delegated operational and strategy 
implementation matters to the operating Boards of Menzies 
Aviation and Menzies Distribution, both of which have two 
executive directors on them.

Nomination Committee
Composition:

Name 

W r E Thomson 
D J Jenkinson 
D A Coltman 

Position 

Chairman 
Member 
Member 

Meetings 
attended 
in 2007

1/1
1/1
1/1

The Nomination Committee has terms of reference 
modelled closely on those set out in the Code and its 
responsibilities include recommending new Board 
appointments and succession planning. 

A copy of the terms of reference is available on the 
Company’s website. The Board as a whole is responsible  
for making new appointments to the Board on the 
recommendation of the Nomination Committee and 
nominating recommended candidates for election by 
shareholders on first appointment and thereafter for 
re-election at relevant intervals.

During the year the Committee reviewed the structure, 
balance and composition of the Board and its committees 
and concluded that an additional independent non-executive 
director should be appointed in 2008.

Remuneration Committee
Composition:

Name 

D A Coltman 
D J Jenkinson 
o K Morley 

Position 

Chairman 
Member 
Member 

Meetings 
attended 
in 2007

3/3
3/3
3/3

The report on Directors’ remuneration on pages 33 to 39 
details the constitution and role of the remuneration 
Committee, and how the principles of the Code relating to 
directors’ remuneration have been applied.

Audit Committee
Composition:

Name 

I S robertson 
I C L Harrison 
o K Morley 

Position 

Chairman 
Member 
Member 

Meetings 
attended 
in 2007

4/4
4/4
4/4

The Audit Committee assists the Board in the execution  
of its responsibilities for corporate governance and internal 
control, and has adopted terms of reference modelled 
closely on those set out in the Code. The Group Finance 
Director and certain senior financial executives as 
appropriate, together with representatives from the  
internal and external audit teams, attend each meeting. 

A copy of the terms of reference is available on the 
Company’s website. 

30 John Menzies plc AnnuAl RepoRt 2007

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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for action by management. The Committee reviews  
follow-up reports from management to ensure that any 
weaknesses identified in internal audit reports submitted  
to it are fully addressed and that improved procedures  
are adopted.

The Committee also reviewed the work of management on 
updating the Group’s Business risk register, which involved 
assessing key risks at Group and divisional level according to 
their significance, likelihood and impact, as well as the 
Company’s exposure to and management of these risks. 
After taking into account reports from the controls 
assurance provider, the Committee was satisfied that 
management had appropriate risk management strategies 
and systems in place to address these. 

The Committee reviewed and approved the audit plan as 
well as the findings of the external auditors from its review 
of the interim announcement and its audit of the annual 
financial statements. It also assessed the effectiveness of 
the external auditors and of the audit process through 
meetings and interviews with management and key finance 
staff. As part of this, it keeps under review the objectivity 
and independence of the external auditors and the nature 
and extent of the non-audit services which they provide. 
These services consist mainly of acquisition-related due 
diligence, where their knowledge of the Group’s business 
processes and controls makes them best placed to 
undertake this work cost-effectively on the Group’s behalf.

The external auditors do not deal with the Group’s tax 
affairs. The Committee believes that the level and scope of 
these non-audit services does not impair the objectivity of 
the auditors.

Divisional Operating Boards
The operating Boards of both Menzies Aviation and Menzies 
Distribution consist of senior executives from within each 
division, together with the Divisional Executive Managing 
Director and the Group Finance Director. The Boards have 
responsibility for the day to day running of their division  
and the implementation of the strategy for their division 
agreed by the Group Board. They also retain responsibility 
for approving divisional performance targets consistent  
with the strategic objectives set by the Group Board, and 
monitoring achievement. The operating Boards also have 
responsibility to make recommendations to the Group Board 
and to monitor major initiatives. Each operating Board 
normally meets four times per year.

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31

The Committee has delegated authority from the Board  
for ensuring adherence to the Code provisions and related 
guidance concerning the following matters which it is 
responsible for:
• 

monitoring the integrity of the financial statements  
and reviewing significant accounting policies, 
judgements and estimates contained within them;
reviewing the effectiveness of the internal control  
and risk management systems, including control  
over financial reporting;
reviewing the effectiveness of the internal audit 
function, including the business risk programme;
reviewing the Group’s policies and practices  
concerning business conduct, ethics and integrity  
and on whistleblowing; and 
overseeing all aspects of the relationship with the 
external auditors, including their appointment, the audit 
process, the supply of non-audit services and monitoring 
their effectiveness and independence. 

• 

• 

• 

• 

The Committee met four times in 2007 and a full report of 
its activities and of findings and recommendations from 
each meeting is given to the Board. 

During the year, the Committee formally reviewed and 
approved (prior to the Board) draft annual and interim 
reports (including the statements on internal control and 
the work of the Committee), associated preliminary and 
interim results announcements and the two trading 
statements made by the Company. This aspect of its work 
focused on key accounting policies, estimates and 
judgements, including significant or unusual transactions or 
changes to these. In doing so the Committee reviewed the 
reports of management and the controls assurance (internal 
audit) provider and took into account the views of the 
external auditors. 

The Committee also reviewed the Group’s internal control 
structure, approved the scope of work of and fees for  
the controls assurance provider and debated whether  
the internal audit function should be brought in-house.  
It concluded that due to the complexity of the Group’s 
business and the international nature of the aviation 
business, the internal audit function was best served  
by continuing to outsource to Deloitte & Touche LLP,  
given their global spread and resources.

Findings from the internal audit programme (on financial 
and key non-financial risks) and areas identified for 
improvement are reviewed by the Committee and prioritised 

 
 
 
CorPorATE GovErNANCE (CoNTINuED)

The three executive directors also meet prior to each Board 
meeting with the Chairman joining them as appropriate.  
The meetings provide a forum for sharing ideas and 
experiences from within the operating Divisions. It also 
allows the common financial controls, managed at Group 
level, to be reviewed and discussed.

The composition of the Menzies Aviation operating Board is 
shown on page 26 and the Menzies Distribution operating 
Board is shown on page 27.

Internal Control

The directors are responsible for the Group’s system of 
internal control, which covers financial, operational and 
compliance controls together with risk management.  
Whilst no system can provide absolute guarantee and 
protection against material loss, the system is designed  
to give the directors reasonable assurance that problems 
can be identified promptly and remedial action taken as 
appropriate. The directors, through the Board’s review of  
risk and the work of the Audit Committee, have reviewed 
the effectiveness of the system of internal control for the 
accounting period under review and consider that it accords 
with revised guidance. There were no material weaknesses 
in the Group’s system of internal control relating to financial 
control during the year. The key features of the Group’s 
internal control system are:

Control Environment
A key factor in the Group’s approach to internal control  
is the recognition of the need for risk awareness and the 
ownership of risk management by executives at all levels. 
Each operating division has its own Board. A Statement of 
Group Policies and Procedures sets out the responsibilities 
of these operating Boards, including authority levels, 
reporting disciplines and responsibility for risk management 
and internal control. Certain activities, including treasury, 
taxation, insurance, pension and legal matters are controlled 
centrally with reports reviewed by the Board as appropriate.

Risk Identification and Review
Key identified risks, both financial and non-financial  
(the latter including environmental, social and governance 
“ESG” risks), are reviewed by the Board as well as at 
operating Board level on an ongoing basis, with a formal 
annual review of risks and controls taking place, supported 
by the Group’s Controls Assurance provider. 

The Divisional operating Boards also review each division’s 
performance, strategy and risk management. Annual 
compliance statements on internal control are certified by 
each Divisional Board. A Treasury review Committee meets 
regularly to review the adequacy of the Group’s facilities 
against potential utilisation and commitments, as well as to 
monitor and manage the Group’s exposure to interest rate 
and currency movements. Further details on how the Board 
manages ESG risks in particular is given in the Corporate 
Social responsibility report on pages 20 to 25.

Financial Reporting
There is a comprehensive Group–wide system of financial 
reporting. Figures reported include profit, cash flows,  
capital expenditure, balance sheet and relevant  
performance indicators. Each operating division prepares an 
annual budget which is approved by the Board. Thereafter a 
formal re–forecasting exercise is undertaken at least twice 
during the year. Actual monthly results are monitored 
against budget, forecasts and the previous year’s results.  
Any significant variances are investigated and acted upon  
as appropriate.

Investment Appraisal
There are clearly defined investment guidelines for capital 
expenditure. All such expenditure is subject to formal 
authorisation procedures, with major proposals being 
considered by the Board. Post investment appraisals are 
conducted for all material capital projects.

32 John Menzies plc AnnuAl RepoRt 2007

REPORt ON DIRECtORS’ REMuNERAtION

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Remuneration Committee
The remuneration Committee (“the Committee”) determines the remuneration of the Chairman and the executive directors 
on behalf of the Board. It has formal Terms of reference set by the Board modelled on the Combined Code, which are 
displayed on the Company’s website.

The Committee’s membership is shown on page 30 and no change is proposed for 2008. David Coltman will continue to 
chair the Committee until the expiry of his three year term, subject to the requirement to retire by rotation. The Company 
Secretary is the secretary of the Committee. Paul Dollman, Group Finance Director, who also has responsibility for executive 
remuneration, attends meetings as appropriate. research commissioned from Kepler Associates was used by the Committee 
in its determination of executive bonus payments and review of executive remuneration. Legal advice, from Maclay Murray & 
Spens LLP, was sought by the Committee during the year where it felt appropriate.

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Members of the Committee have no personal financial interest (other than as shareholders) in the matters to be decided  
and no day-to-day involvement in the running of the business of the Group. The Board extended its review of its own 
performance to the performance of the Committee during the year. The Senior Independent Director held individual and 
confidential discussions with each member where they were invited to raise any concerns or issues that they felt needed 
addressing. No such matters were identified.

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Annual General Meeting
A resolution to approve this report on Directors’ remuneration will be tabled at the AGM. The Chairman of the Committee 
will be available to answer questions from shareholders on the report.

Remuneration Policy and Practice
The Group recognises that its continuing success depends on the quality and motivation of its employees. The Group aims  
to ensure that its remuneration practices are competitive, thereby enabling it to attract, retain and motivate executives who 
have the experience, skills and talents to operate and develop its businesses to their maximum potential.

The Committee applies these principles with regard to the executive directors and also reviews the policies underlying the 
remuneration of senior executives. Directors’ salaries are maintained at competitive levels for comparable positions based on 
information provided by Kepler Associates reflecting, where appropriate, the international nature of the business. Additional 
rewards for success are built into the remuneration package through incentives designed to share with these directors any 
increasing profitability of the Group and increased wealth generated for shareholders. The Company introduced incentive 
arrangements to achieve this alignment in 2005 and 2007. In considering and determining suitable remuneration packages 
for the executive directors the Committee has given full consideration to the relevant best practice provisions set out in the 
Combined Code. The Committee also determines the extent to which all performance targets are met, using research 
findings as described above. 

Basic Salary and Benefits
Salaries are reviewed annually, on appointment, or on change in position or responsibility. In addition to salary, the executive 
directors may receive additional benefits covering car allowance, private medical insurance and life cover. Craig Smyth and 
Ellis Watson who joined the Board during 2007 and Patrick Macdonald, who left the Group during 2007, also received a cash 
allowance in place of any pension entitlement above the ‘earnings cap’. Paul Dollman has an unfunded pension undertaking 
from the Company to provide in total the same level of pension as if the ‘earnings cap’ did not apply.

Annual Bonus Scheme
The executive directors participate in a discretionary bonus scheme which is subject to the achievement of challenging 
Group and individual business and personal targets designed to encourage excellent performance. Bonus payments are 
non-pensionable.

The 2007 bonus scheme contained performance targets that were de-linked from budget and include threshold and stretch 
levels derived from a review of the historical and projected performance of the Group and its peers, together with an analysis 
of city analysts’ expectations. The stretch level represents upper quartile performance. The calculation of bonus awards was 

John Menzies plc AnnuAl RepoRt 2007

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rEPorT oN DIrECTorS’ rEMuNErATIoN (CoNTINuED)

Annual Bonus Scheme (continued)
also de-linked from salary, with payment of £nil on achieving threshold for the executive directors, increasing on a straight 
line basis to a maximum payment of £150,000 for stretch performance. up to 20% of any entitlement is dependent on the 
extent to which identified personal key result areas are achieved. Bonus awards for 2007 performance were paid to Paul 
Dollman (£127,000), Craig Smyth (£110,000) and Ellis Watson (£97,000).

Incentive Plan
Following the restructuring of the Board in 2007, and acknowledging the unique set of circumstances and extra 
responsibility placed upon the executive directors and the Divisional operating Boards, the Company introduced a 2008 
Incentive Plan. Designed to promote retention and stability during a period of change this one-off plan operates over a  
1 year period which commenced on 1 January 2008 and runs concurrently with the Company’s accounting year. Any award 
from the plan will be paid during 2009, based on the performance in 2008.

The performance conditions are based on the achievement of targeted Divisional Financial results (“DFr”). The DFr are set 
at threshold and stretch level; at the stretch level, the performance target has been set by the remuneration Committee as 
being suitable and challenging and as being equivalent to achieving upper quartile performance. For Menzies Distribution, 
the DFr are based on a combination of operating profit, reduction in operating costs and income from new revenue streams. 
For Menzies Aviation the DFr are based on the division’s operating profit and for Group Executives the DFr are based on the 
Group’s operating profit. As disclosure of these targets is commercially sensitive and could be interpreted as a profits 
forecast the Committee has decided that it will retrospectively disclose the targets in the year following the performance 
period, when any potential payout is made. A threshold performance will receive a payout of 25%, rising on a straight-line 
basis to a maximum payout at stretch level. The maximum potential payout under the plan is capped at £250,000.

Bonus Co-Investment Plan
under the Bonus Co-Investment Plan executive directors may elect to invest up to 50% of their annual bonus in shares of 
the Company which qualify for an award of up to 2:1 matching shares dependent on achieving a performance target set 
prior to election.

The performance target for the Plan is for real 3%-8% per annum Earnings Per Share (“EPS”) growth above the Group’s EPS 
over a three year period, with the number of shares vesting being calculated on a straight-line basis from a nil award at 3% 
to a full award at 8%. Any dividends accrued on shares which vest are paid in cash on vesting. The John Menzies Employee 
Benefit Trust holds sufficient shares to cover any shares which may vest under the Bonus Co-Investment Plan.

The maximum number of matching shares possible are:

Bonus Co–Investment Plan 

P B Dollman 
C A G Smyth 
E A Watson 
P J Macdonald 

The contents of this table have been audited.

  30/12/06 

Granted 
during 
year 

Market 
price of  
award 

Lapsed 
during 
year 

16,375 
4,968 
– 
15,792 

3,296 
11,426 
1,144 
–  

515.5p 
515.5p 
515.5p 
– 

37,135 

15,866 

– 

– 
– 
– 
– 

– 

29/12/07

19,671 
16,394 
1,144 
15,792

53,001 

An award of conditional matching shares was made during the year (subject to performance conditions as noted above) at a 
market price of 515.5p (2006: 530p). They will vest on the day on which the Company announces its preliminary results for 
the year to December 2009 (2006 share awards: December 2008, 2005 share awards: December 2007). The figures shown 
above are maximum entitlements and the actual number of shares which vest will depend on the performance conditions 
being achieved, as set out above.

Performance Share Plan
Executive directors may be awarded a number of conditional shares annually under the Performance Share Plan (“PSP”) as 
determined by the Committee. The maximum number of conditional shares which may be awarded to any individual under 
the rules of the PSP in any year is 100,000. During the year, the only director to receive an award under the PSP was 

34 John Menzies plc AnnuAl RepoRt 2007

 
 
 
 
  
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Paul Dollman who received an award of 35,000 shares. This was an increase of 5,000 shares over the previous year, 
reflecting his additional responsibility for the Corporate Centre.

The shares awarded in 2007 will vest after three years if the Company’s Total Shareholder return (“TSr”) is equal to or 
outperforms the FTSE 250 Index (the “Index”) TSr for the three years to December 2009. The number of shares to vest  
will be based on the extent of any outperformance, with shares vesting on a straight-line basis up to 100% of the award  
for performance at 30% above the Index’s TSr. Any dividends accrued on shares which vest are paid in cash on vesting.

The John Menzies Employee Benefit Trust holds sufficient shares to cover any shares which may vest under the PSP.  
The maximum number of shares which could vest under the PSP are: 

Performance Share Plan 

P B Dollman 
C A G Smyth 
E A Watson 
P J Macdonald 

The contents of this table have been audited.

30/12/06 
(or date of 
appointment) 

Granted 
during 
year 

Market 
price 
(pence) 

Lapsed 
during 
year 

60,000 
60,000 
72,500 
90,000 

35,000 
– 
– 
– 

576.0 
– 
– 
–  

– 
– 
– 
– 

29/12/07

95,000 
60,000 
72,500 
90,000

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282,500 

35,000 

– 

–  317,500 

An award of conditional shares was made during the year (subject to performance conditions as noted above) at a market 
price of 576.0p (2006: 530p). These will vest on the day on which the Company announces its preliminary results for the year 
to December 2009 (2006 share awards: December 2008, 2005 share awards: December 2007). The figures shown above are 
maximum entitlements and the actual number of shares which vest will depend on the performance conditions being 
achieved, as set out above.

Divisional Performance Share Plan
At the Annual General Meeting in 2007 the Divisional Performance Share Plan (“DPSP”) as recommended by the  
Committee was approved. It was felt by the Board that the Company’s existing incentive schemes did not operate as  
well as was intended in motivating directors responsible for the operating Divisions, and on the Committee’s 
recommendation, the Company adopted the 2007 Divisional Performance Share Plan, to augment the Company’s existing 
share incentive plans as part of the Company’s policy of ensuring that its remuneration practices remain competitive. 

The DPSP is the same in practically all respects as the PSP, except that the performance conditions are based on the 
achievement of targeted Divisional Financial results (“DFr”), rather than Total Shareholder return. The DFr are set at 
threshold and stretch level; at the stretch level, the performance target has been externally verified by Kepler Associates as 
being equivalent to achieving upper quartile performance. For Menzies Distribution, the DFr are based on operating profit, 
reduction in operating costs and income from new revenue streams, and for Menzies Aviation the DFr are based on 
operating profit. 

The John Menzies Employee Benefit Trust holds sufficient shares to cover any shares which may vest under this Plan.  
The maximum number of shares which could vest under the DPSP are:

Divisional Performance Share Plan 

C A G Smyth 
E A N Watson 

The contents of this table have been audited.

30/12/06 
(or date of 
appointment) 

Granted 
during 
year 

– 
– 

– 

35,000 
35,000  

70,000 

Market 
price 
(pence) 

576.0 
576.0 

– 

Lapsed 
during 
year 

29/12/07

– 
– 

– 

35,000 
35,000

70,000 

John Menzies plc AnnuAl RepoRt 2007

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rEPorT oN DIrECTorS’ rEMuNErATIoN (CoNTINuED)

Divisional Performance Share Plan (continued)
An award of conditional shares was made during the year (subject to performance conditions as noted above) at a market 
price of 576.0p. These will vest on the day which the Company announces its preliminary results for the year to December 
2009. The figures shown above are maximum entitlements and the actual number of shares which vest will depend on the 
performance conditions being achieved, as set out above.

When the DPSP was proposed to shareholders at the 2007 Annual General Meeting it was the Committee’s stated intention 
that no individual would receive an award from both the PSP and DPSP in any given year.

However, on reflection and after reviewing feedback from shareholders, the Committee has decided that an award split 
between the two schemes would be appropriate.

The performance criteria set within the PSP is measured against Total Shareholder return (TSr) and therefore aligns each 
divisional director to the performance of the Group while the performance criteria within the DPSP is set against future 
divisional profitability and remains appropriate given the structure of the Group and to incentivise each divisional managing 
director. It is therefore the intention of the Committee to split the overall award of any future awards to each divisional 
managing director equally between the two schemes.

For the avoidance of doubt under no circumstances will any individual receive combined awards of more than 100,000 
conditional shares (the stated annual maximum for each participant in each scheme) in any one year as a result of awards 
under both schemes.

Share Options

Executive Share Option Scheme
Prior to the introduction of the above share schemes, share options were granted to each executive director normally on an 
annual basis at a level of one times salary. All grants were discretionary, and awards could be varied depending on specific 
circumstances. Paul Dollman was granted options at three times salary in 2002, reflecting market conditions at the time of 
his recruitment, and an award of one times salary in 2004. These awards were subject to EPS-based performance conditions 
which have now been fully met. The cost to the Company is shown in Note 20 to the accounts.

Executive Share 
Option Scheme 

P B Dollman 

C A G Smyth 

P J Macdonald 

30/12/06  Granted 
during 
year 

(or date of 
  appointment) 

Exercised 
during 
year 

Market
price at
date of  Lapsed 
exercise  during 
year 

(pence) 

  Exercise 
price 
(pence) 

29/12/07 

Date
exercisable
from 

Expiry date

205,166 
58,714 
2,500 
7,500 
5,000 
5,000 
43,062 
360,577 
–  
–  
97,856 

– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
–  
–  
– 

9,118 
– 
2,500 
– 
– 
– 
– 
9,615 
50,000 
100,000 
97,856 

576 
– 
518.5 
– 
– 
– 
– 
523.75 
541 
 550 
541 

–  196,048 
58,714 
– 
– 
– 
7,500 
– 
5,000 
– 
5,000 
– 
– 
43,062 
–  200,962 
–  
 – 
–  
–  
– 
– 

329  08/11/2005  07/11/2012
418  07/05/2007  06/05/2014
461  21/02/2000  20/02/2007
492  07/04/2001  06/04/2008
348  18/02/2002  17/02/2009
391  28/01/2003  27/01/2010
418  07/05/2007  06/05/2014
312  13/05/2006  31/03/2008
– 
– 
418  07/05/2007  31/03/2008

–  
–  

–  
–  

The contents of this table have been audited.

The options are exercisable on a sliding scale if growth in underlying earnings per share exceeds rPI plus 3%-8% per annum 
in the three years from grant, adjusted to normalise pension and tax charges. The performance conditions attaching to these 
options have been met in full.

Savings Related Share Option Scheme
The Company operates a HM revenue & Customs approved Savings related Share option Scheme (the “SAYE Scheme”) 
available to all uK based employees in the Group, including executive directors. As currently worded, no further options can 

36 John Menzies plc AnnuAl RepoRt 2007

  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
  
 
 
 
  
 
  
 
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
 
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be granted under the SAYE Scheme after 8 September 2008. The Company believes that the SAYE Scheme is an important 
tool in the motivation and retention of staff, and it is proposed that a resolution be put to the Annual General Meeting in 
2008 to continue the SAYE Scheme indefinitely. Further details of the SAYE Scheme are set out on page 71. The cost to the 
Company is shown in Note 20 to the accounts.

The interests of the directors in the SAYE Scheme are set out below:

Savings Related 
Share Option Scheme 

P B Dollman 

C A G Smyth 
P J Macdonald 

30/12/06  Granted 
during 
year 

(or date of 
appointment) 

Exercised  Lapsed 
during  during 
year 

year 

Market
  price at
  Exercise  date of 
price  exercise 
(pence)  (pence) 

29/12/07 

Date
exercisable
from 

Expiry date

78 
1,561 
510 
– 
 – 
410 

– 
– 
– 
67 
2,123 
– 

78 
– 
– 
– 
– 
410 

–  
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 

– 
1,561 
510 
67 
2,123 
– 

545  01/12/2007  01/06/2008
388 
–  01/12/2008  01/06/2009
467 
–  01/12/2009  01/06/2010
348 
–  01/12/2010  01/06/2011
452 
452 
–  01/12/2010  01/06/2011
388  546.5  31/03/2007  30/09/2007

The contents of this table have been audited. 

Service Contracts
The executive directors have service contracts with the Company, the dates of which are listed in the Directors Emoluments 
table below. The Group’s practice on notice periods is that they should be for a period of 12 months’ notice, with any 
termination payment restricted to the actual loss incurred by the director. All executive directors who served during the year 
have or had service contracts on this basis. The Committee considers that the notice periods stated above are reasonable 
and in the interests of shareholders having due regard to prevailing market conditions and practice among companies of 
comparable size.

Non-executive Directors
The Chairman and each of the non-executive directors have letters of appointment. The letters of appointment do not 
contain any contractual entitlement to a termination payment and the directors can be removed in accordance with the 
company’s Articles of Association. The Chairman and all non-executive directors are subject to re-election by shareholders  
at least every three years, with the exception of any director whose appointment exceeds nine years, in which case there  
is a requirement for annual re-election.

Performance Graph
The following graph compares the Company’s total shareholder return for the five years to December 2007 with the 
equivalent performance of the FTSE 250 Index. The directors consider that, given the scale and global spread of the 
businesses within the Group, the most appropriate comparison is with this index.

300

250

200

150

100

50

FtSE250

Menzies

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Dec 03

Dec 04

Dec 05

Dec 06

Dec 07

John Menzies plc AnnuAl RepoRt 2007

37

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
rEPorT oN DIrECTorS’ rEMuNErATIoN (CoNTINuED)

thE FOLLOwING SECtIONS OF thIS REPORt hAvE BEEN AuDItED
Directors’ Emoluments
Directors’ emoluments for the year to 29 December 2007 (30 December 2006) were:

Date of 
appointment 
(a) 

Salary/Fees 
2006 
£‘000 

2007 
£’000 

Benefits 

2007 
£’000 

2006 
£’000 

Bonus 

2007 
£’000 

2006 
£‘000 

24/05/2007 

151  122 

– 

– 

– 

– 

08/08/2002 
20/03/2007 
20/03/2007 

294 
211 
237 

257 
– 
– 

13 
39 
42 

17 
– 
– 

127 
110 
97 

29 
– 
– 

Compensation 
for loss 
of office  

2007 
£’000 

2006 
£‘000 

total

2007 
£’000 

2006 
£‘000

– 

– 
– 
– 

– 

151   122

– 
– 
– 

434  303
360 –
376 –

25/08/2002 

108 

371 

4 

80 

33 

41 

447 

– 

592 

492

Chairman
W r E Thomson 

Executive Directors
P B Dollman 
C A G Smyth 
E A N Watson 
P J Macdonald  
(up to resignation  
on 20/03/2007) 

Non-executive Directors
D J Jenkinson 
I C L Harrison 
D A Coltman 
I S robertson 
o K Morley 
M J Walker 
(retired 25/05/2006)

24/05/2007 
24/05/2007 
24/05/2007 
28/04/2005 
25/05/2006 

33 
33 
51 
37 
33 
– 

31 
33 
49 
36 
23 
13 

– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 

– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 

– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 

– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 

– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 

– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 

33 
33 
51 
37 
33 
– 

31
33
49
36
23 
13 

1,188 

935 

98 

97 

367 

70 

447 

–  2,100  1,102

Notes
(a)  For executive directors, this is the date of their service contract, and for non-executive directors, the date of appointment or latest date of 

re-election to the Board.

(b)  Provision of pension benefits under the Group’s approved pension arrangements is restricted as a consequence of the Finance Act 1989  

(the ‘earnings cap’). 

External Appointments
During the year, no executive directors had any external non-executive directorships or received fees. Prior to accepting an 
invitation to become a non-executive director of another company, an executive director must receive approval from the 
Chairman. This approval will not be denied where the Chairman is confident that the appointment will not interfere in any 
way with the director’s ability to perform his duties for the Company. Executive directors are entitled to retain any fees 
received under these appointments. Subsequent to the year end, Paul Dollman accepted an external non-executive 
appointment with Scottish Amicable Life Association Society. 

Payments to Outgoing Directors

Patrick Macdonald
Patrick Macdonald stepped down from the Board on 20 March 2007. Based on his service contract, he received on his 
departure the following:
•  one year’s base salary, car allowance and pension benefit above the earnings cap (£447,143);
•  He retained the right to receive the bonus payable with regards to the financial year ended 30 December 2006;
•  He retained his entitlement to 25% of the bonus that would otherwise be payable in respect of the bonus year 2007, 

such payment to be determined in line with normal practice in 2008; 

•  He retained his entitlement to interests in the Executive Share option Plan (exercisable within 12 months of his 

• 

departure date) and the Save As You Earn Scheme (exercisable within 6 months of his departure date); and
In accordance with the rules of the schemes, he retained a pro-rated interest in the Bonus Co-Investment Plan and the 
Performance Share Plan. His interests in both these schemes are detailed above.

38 John Menzies plc AnnuAl RepoRt 2007

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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Share Price
The market price for shares in John Menzies plc ranged from 486p to 594p during the 2007 financial year and was 570p at  
29 December 2007.

Pensions 

Scheme Benefits
The executive directors are members of the Menzies Pension Fund, a contributory defined benefit scheme which provides 
pension on retirement at age 60 of up to two-thirds of pensionable earnings, or the ‘earnings cap’ if lower, together with 
additional benefits as detailed below. Pensionable earnings are based on salary excluding bonuses.

unfunded Arrangement
The pensionable salary of Paul Dollman is restricted as a consequence of the ‘earnings cap’. He has an unfunded pension 
undertaking from the Company to provide in total the same level of pension as if the ‘earnings cap’ did not apply. This 
entitlement is effective from his date of appointment as a director. In the case of Craig Smyth and Ellis Watson they both 
receive a cash payment equal to 20% of their respective salaries above the earnings cap which is included in other benefits. 
Pension details are as follows:

Name 

P B Dollman (d) 
C A G Smyth (f) 
E A N Watson (f) 
P J Macdonald (g) 

Age 

51 
40 
40 
45 

Increase 

total 
pension 
in accrued  entitlement 
at 29/12/07 
 (a) 
£’000 pa 

pension 
during year 
£’000 pa 

 transfer value (b, c)

Increase  
excluding  
members’  
30/12/06  contributions 
£’000

£’000 

29/12/07 
£’000 

12 
4 
n/a 
5 

49 
31 
n/a 
20 

665 
260 

68 (h) 

220 

406 
189 

37 (h) 

128 

238
62
25
90

Notes
(a)  Accrued pension entitlements are the amounts which would be paid at normal retirement date if the director left service as at 29 December 
2007, with no allowances for increases in the period between leaving service and normal retirement date. The entitlements disclosed above 
include unfunded benefits.

(b)  Transfer values represent the value of the assets which the pension scheme (together with the Company where appropriate) would need to 

transfer to another pension provider on transferring its liability in respect of the directors’ pension entitlements. They do not represent sums 
payable to individual directors.

(c)  Transfer values have been calculated in accordance with ‘retirement Benefit Schemes (GN 11)’ published by the Institute of Actuaries and the 

Faculty of Actuaries. This methodology determines the values attributable to the deferred pensions for younger members by reference mainly  
to the uK All-Share Index and for members nearing normal retirement date mainly to the Gilts over 15 Years Index and the Index-linked over 5 
Years (5% inflation) Index.

(d)  The unfunded transfer value at 29 December 2007 relating to P B Dollman, calculated on a cash equivalent transfer value basis, totalled 

£409,900.

(e)  The total of the transfer values for unfunded pension entitlements as above, held on the Company’s balance sheet at 29 December 2007 for 
current and former directors, calculated on an IAS 19 basis, totalled £810,105 (2006: £710,114), from which an annual pension of £16,982  
(2006: £15,915 p.a.) is paid to former directors.

(f)  C A G Smyth and E A N Watson joined the Board of directors on the 20 March 2007. Movements in transfer values are for the whole year rather 

than from the date they became directors.

(g)  P J Macdonald left the Board on 20 March 2007. His figures are based on service to and pension accrued as at that date.
(h)  These are fund values as E A N Watson is a member of the Defined Contribution Fund.

By order of the Board
J F A GEDDES
SECrETArY
10 March 2008

John Menzies plc AnnuAl RepoRt 2007

39

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
DIRECtORS’ REPORt

Principal Activities and Results
The principal activities of the Company and its subsidiaries (“the Group”) are the provision of ground and cargo handling 
services at airports and the wholesale distribution of newspapers and magazines.

Business Review
The Company is required to produce a statutory business review of Group operations. A review of the Group’s business 
performance, developments during the year and its position at the year end for the 52 weeks to 29 December 2007 is 
contained on pages 4 to 19. The review incorporates a commentary on likely future developments, and on principal risks  
and uncertainties. A separate review summarising the Group’s approach to employee, health and safety, and community  
and environmental matters is contained in the Corporate Social responsibility report on pages 20 to 25.

Directors and their Interests
The directors who served during the year and at the date of this report are shown below. The directors as at the end of the 
financial year, and their biographies, are shown on pages 26 and 27. Their interests in the ordinary shares of the Company were 
as follows:

W r E Thomson 
P B Dollman 
C A G Smyth (appointed 20.03.07) 
E A N Watson (appointed 20.03.07) 
D J Jenkinson 

I C L Harrison 

D A Coltman 
o K Morley 
I S robertson 
P J Macdonald (resigned 20.03.07) 

Note: These holdings are joint beneficial interests.

29 December 2007 

(or date of appointment)

30 December 2006  

Beneficial 
Beneficial 
Beneficial 
Beneficial 
Beneficial 
Non-Beneficial 
See note 
Beneficial 
See note 
Beneficial 
Beneficial 
Beneficial 
Beneficial 

4,000 
25,467 
18,720 
572 –
2,098,360 
3,570,360 
2,514,885 
2,122,832 
2,514,885 
35,000 
– 
20,000 
n/a 

4,000
14,623
13,007

2,098,360
3,570,360
2,514,885
2,122,832
2,514,885
15,000
–
20,000
21,578

In addition to the above holdings, William Thomson and Iain robertson, as directors of a subsidiary which is a trustee of 
employee benefit trusts in which they have no beneficial interest, have non-beneficial interests in 418,361 shares. 

There have been no subsequent changes to these interests as at 10 March 2008. 

No director had any material interest in any contract, other than a service contract as set out on page 37. 

under the Company’s Articles of Association, a third of the directors, or a number nearest to a third, must retire by rotation. 
Additionally, the Combined Code requires non-executive directors serving for more than 9 years to offer themselves up for 
annual re-election. The directors who retire and, being eligible, offer themselves for re-election at the Annual General 
Meeting (“AGM”) are William Thomson, Paul Dollman, Dermot Jenkinson, Ian Harrison and Iain robertson.

All five directors have undergone a formal performance evaluation and the performance of each continues to be effective 
and to demonstrate commitment to their role including commitment of time for Board and Committee meetings and their 
other duties. William Thomson, who is Chairman, has extensive leadership skills and experience, and provides highly valued 
advice and support to the executive management team. Paul Dollman has been group finance director since october 2002, 
and has successfully guided the financial performance of the Group during a period of sustained growth in Menzies Aviation 
and change in Menzies Distribution.

40 John Menzies plc AnnuAl RepoRt 2007

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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Dermot Jenkinson contributes from his breadth of experience gained from his knowledge of the Company and through a 
wide range of executive management roles. Ian Harrison provides counsel and support to the Board and brings particular 
skills relating to pension investment and currency management. The latter two also represent the interests of the Menzies 
family, who collectively are our major shareholder. Iain robertson has substantial experience in large, multinational financial 
companies, and brings guidance and experience to the Board.

The Board recommends to shareholders the re-election of William Thomson, Paul Dollman, Dermot Jenkinson, Ian Harrison 
and Iain robertson.

Directors’ and Officers’ Liability Insurance
The Company maintains liability insurance for the directors and officers of the Company and its subsidiaries. No director  
or officer was in receipt of any indemnity from the Company during the year.

Substantial Shareholdings
In addition to the directors’ interests, the Company has been notified of the following interests of three per cent or more in 
its issued ordinary share capital as at 10 March 2008.

D C Thomson & Co Ltd 
The Estate of the late Mr J M Menzies 
Audley Capital Management Ltd 
Ameriprise Financial Inc and its group (Threadneedle Asset Management Ltd) 
Legal & General Investment Management 
Aberdeen Asset Managers 
Mr D F ramsay 
Mrs S J Speke 
Mrs K P Slater 

Number of shares 

of Issued Capital

Percentage  

5,190,000 
4,189,650 
3,488,674 
2,807,300 
2,784,973 
2,769,418 
2,589,878 
2,039,920 
1,981,552 

8.64%
6.97%
5.81%
4.67%
4.63%
4.61%
4.31%
3.39%
3.30%

Share Incentive Schemes
The Company operates various share incentive schemes for its directors, information on which is shown in the report on 
Directors’ remuneration. It also operates share incentive schemes for its executives, and a Savings related Share option 
Scheme for its uK employees, details on which are set out in Note 20 to the Accounts on pages 70 to 74.

Dividends
The directors recommend the payment of a final dividend of 18.4p per ordinary share, payable on 27 June 2008 to 
shareholders on the register as at the close of business on 30 May 2008. The shares will be quoted as ex-dividend on  
28 May 2008.

This final dividend, together with the interim dividend of 7.2p per ordinary share paid on 30 November 2007, makes a total 
dividend of 25.6p per ordinary share for the year ended 29 December 2007.

Directors’ Responsibilities and Going Concern
The directors are required by law to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view  
of the state of affairs of the Company and the Group as at the end of the financial year and of the profit or loss and cash 
flows of the Group for the financial year then ended. In preparing the financial statements the directors are required to:
• 
• 

maintain adequate accounting records;
apply suitable accounting policies in a consistent manner and make reasonable and prudent judgments and estimates 
where necessary;

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John Menzies plc AnnuAl RepoRt 2007

41

 
 
 
 
 
 
DIrECTorS’ rEPorT (CoNTINuED)

Directors’ Responsibilities and Going Concern (continued) 
• 

comply with the provisions of the Companies Act 1985 and International Financial reporting Standards as adopted by 
the European union; and
prepare the financial statements on a going concern basis.

• 

The directors are satisfied that, after making appropriate enquiries, the Group has adequate resources to continue in 
business for the foreseeable future and, accordingly, consider that it is appropriate to adopt the going concern basis in 
preparing the financial statements.

The directors confirm that they have complied with the above requirements in preparing the financial statements.  
The directors are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the Company and the Group and hence for taking 
reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.

Disclosure of information to and re-appointment of Auditors
The directors have confirmed that they are confident that, so far as they are aware, there is no relevant audit information of 
which the Company’s auditors are unaware. The directors have confirmed that they have taken all steps that ought to have 
been taken in order to make themselves aware of any relevant audit information and to establish that the Company’s 
auditors are aware of that information.

A resolution to re-appoint PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as auditors to the Company and to authorise the Board to set their 
remuneration will be proposed at the Annual General Meeting.

Supplier Payment Policy
The Group does not operate a standard code in respect of payments to suppliers. Each division is responsible for agreeing 
the terms and conditions under which business transactions with its suppliers are conducted, including the terms of 
payment. It is Group policy that payments to suppliers be made in accordance with the agreed terms, provided that the 
supplier has performed in accordance with all relevant terms and conditions. At the year end, the amount owed to trade 
creditors by the Group was equivalent to 37.4 days (2006: 32.8 days) of purchases from suppliers.

Significant Agreements – change of control
The Company’s divisions, Menzies Aviation and Menzies Distribution, have agreements in place with suppliers and 
customers, some of which contain change of control clauses giving rights to these suppliers and customers on a takeover bid 
for the Company. A change of control of the Company following a takeover bid may cause a number of other agreements to 
which the Company or its subsidiaries are party, such as banking arrangements, property leases and licence agreements to 
take effect, alter or terminate. In addition, the directors’ service agreements and employee share plans would be similarly 
affected on a change of control.

Donations
It is the Company’s policy not to make political donations and no political donations were made during the year (2006: £nil). 
Details of charitable donations made by the Group are contained in the Corporate Social responsibility report on page 25. 
The total amount donated in 2007 was £86,000 (2006: £112,000).

Annual General Meeting
The Notice of Meeting and explanations of the Special Business to be transacted at the Annual General Meeting which will 
be held on 22 May 2008 at the roxburghe Hotel, Edinburgh can be found on pages 85 to 87 of this Annual report.

By order of the Board
J F A GEDDES
SECrETArY
10 March 2008

42 John Menzies plc AnnuAl RepoRt 2007

INDEPENDENt AuDItORS’ REPORt 
tO thE MEMBERS OF JOhN MENZIES PLC

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We have audited the Group and Parent Company financial statements (the “financial statements”) of John Menzies plc for 
the year ended 29 December 2007 which comprise the Group Income Statement, the Group and Parent Company Balance 
Sheets, the Group and Parent Company Cash Flow Statements, the Group and Parent Company Statements of recognised 
Income and Expense and the related notes. These financial statements have been prepared under the accounting policies 
set out therein. We have also audited the information in the Directors’ remuneration report that is described as having 
been audited.

Respective responsibilities of directors and auditors
The directors’ responsibilities for preparing the Annual report, the Directors’ remuneration report and the financial 
statements in accordance with applicable law and International Financial reporting Standards (IFrSs) as adopted by the 
European union are set out in the Statement of Directors’ responsibilities.

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our responsibility is to audit the financial statements and the part of the Directors’ remuneration report to be audited  
in accordance with relevant legal and regulatory requirements and International Standards on Auditing (uK and Ireland).  
This report, including the opinion, has been prepared for and only for the Company’s members as a body in accordance  
with Section 235 of the Companies Act 1985 and for no other purpose. We do not, in giving this opinion, accept or assume 
responsibility for any other purpose or to any other person to whom this report is shown or into whose hands it may come 
save where expressly agreed by our prior consent in writing.

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We report to you our opinion as to whether the financial statements give a true and fair view and whether the financial 
statements and the part of the Directors’ remuneration report to be audited have been properly prepared in accordance 
with the Companies Act 1985 and, as regards the Group financial statements, Article 4 of the IAS regulation. We also report 
to you whether in our opinion the information given in the Directors’ report is consistent with the financial statements.  
The information given in the Directors’ report includes that specific information presented in the Business review that is 
cross referred from the Business review section of the Directors’ report.

In addition we report to you if, in our opinion, the Company has not kept proper accounting records, if we have not received 
all the information and explanations we require for our audit, or if information specified by law regarding directors’ 
remuneration and other transactions is not disclosed.

We review whether the Corporate Governance Statement reflects the company’s compliance with the nine provisions of  
the Combined Code 2006 specified for our review by the Listing rules of the Financial Services Authority, and we report if  
it does not. We are not required to consider whether the Board’s statements on internal control cover all risks and controls, 
or form an opinion on the effectiveness of the Group’s corporate governance procedures or its risk and control procedures.

We read other information contained in the Annual report and consider whether it is consistent with the audited  
financial statements. The other information comprises only the Chairman’s Statement, the Business review, the Corporate 
Governance Statement, the Directors’ report and the unaudited part of the Directors’ remuneration report. We consider 
the implications for our report if we become aware of any apparent misstatements or material inconsistencies with the 
financial statements. our responsibilities do not extend to any other information.

Basis of audit opinion
We conducted our audit in accordance with International Standards on Auditing (uK and Ireland) issued by the Auditing 
Practices Board. An audit includes examination, on a test basis, of evidence relevant to the amounts and disclosures in the 
financial statements and the part of the Directors’ remuneration report to be audited. It also includes an assessment of the 
significant estimates and judgments made by the directors in the preparation of the financial statements, and of whether 
the accounting policies are appropriate to the Group’s and Company’s circumstances, consistently applied and  
adequately disclosed.

John Menzies plc AnnuAl RepoRt 2007

43

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INDEPENDENT AuDITorS’ rEPorT 
To THE MEMBErS oF JoHN MENZIES PLC (CoNTINuED)

We planned and performed our audit so as to obtain all the information and explanations which we considered necessary  
in order to provide us with sufficient evidence to give reasonable assurance that the financial statements and the part of  
the Directors’ remuneration report to be audited are free from material misstatement, whether caused by fraud or other 
irregularity or error. In forming our opinion we also evaluated the overall adequacy of the presentation of information in  
the financial statements and the part of the Directors’ remuneration report to be audited.

Opinion
In our opinion:
• 

 the Group financial statements give a true and fair view, in accordance with IFrSs as adopted by the European union,  
of the state of the Group’s affairs as at 29 December 2007 and of its profit and cash flows for the year then ended;
 the Parent Company financial statements give a true and fair view, in accordance with IFrSs as adopted by the European 
union as applied in accordance with the provisions of the Companies Act 1985, of the state of the Parent Company’s 
affairs as at 29 December 2007 and cash flows for the year then ended;
 the financial statements and the part of the Directors’ remuneration report to be audited have been properly prepared 
in accordance with the Companies Act 1985 and, as regards the Group financial statements, Article 4 of the IAS 
regulation; and
the information given in the Directors’ report is consistent with the financial statements.

• 

• 

• 

PRICEwAtERhOuSECOOPERS LLP
Chartered Accountants and registered Auditors
Edinburgh
10 March 2008

44 John Menzies plc AnnuAl RepoRt 2007

GROuP INCOME StAtEMENt
For THE YEAr ENDED 29 DECEMBEr 2007 (YEAr ENDED 30 DECEMBEr 2006)

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Revenue 
Net operating costs 

Operating profit 
Share of post–tax results of joint ventures and associates 

Operating profit after joint ventures and associates 

Analysed as:
underlying operating profit 
Exceptional items 
Intangible amortisation 
Share of interest and tax on joint ventures and associates 

operating profit after joint ventures and associates 

Finance income 
Finance charges 

Profit before taxation 
Taxation 

Profit for the year 

Attributable to equity shareholders 
Attributable to minority interests 

Earnings per ordinary share 
Basic 
Diluted 

Notes 

2007 
£m 

2006
£m

2  1,541.1  1,450.4
(1,416.4)
3 

(1,507.9) 

2 

2 

5 

5 

7 

7 

8 

33.2 
3.4 

36.6 

41.0 
0.1 
(2.8) 
(1.7) 

36.6  

17.3 
(22.1) 

31.8 
(5.7) 

26.1 

26.0 
0.1 

26.1 

34.0
2.7

36.7

36.9
3.0 
(2.2)
(1.0)

36.7

15.6
(16.7)

35.6
(8.4)

27.2

27.0
0.2

27.2

10

44.2p 
44.0p 

46.4p
46.1p

GROuP StAtEMENt OF RECOGNISED INCOME AND ExPENSE
For THE YEAr ENDED 29 DECEMBEr 2007 (YEAr ENDED 30 DECEMBEr 2006)

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Profit for the year 

Actuarial (loss)/gain on defined benefit pensions 
Deferred tax associated with defined benefit pensions 
Net exchange adjustments 

Net gains recognised directly in equity 

total recognised income for the year 

Attributable to equity shareholders 
Attributable to minority interests 

Notes 

4 

2007 
£m 

26.1 

(3.2) 
1.0 
2.4 

0.2 

26.3 

26.2 
0.1 

26.3 

2006
£m

27.2

23.4
(7.0)
(1.7)

14.7

41.9

41.7
0.2

41.9

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The parent Company Statement of recognised Income and Expense includes the loss for the year of £5.6m  
(2006: profit of £31.1m) and a net actuarial loss on defined benefit pensions of £2.2m (2006: gain of £16.4m).  
There are no minority interests in the parent Company.

John Menzies plc AnnuAl RepoRt 2007

45

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
GROuP AND COMPANy BALANCE ShEEtS
AS AT 29 DECEMBEr 2007 (30 DECEMBEr 2006)

Assets
Non-current assets
Intangible assets 
Property, plant and equipment 
Investments 
Derivative financial assets 
Deferred tax assets 
retirement benefit obligations 

Current assets
Inventories 
Trade and other receivables 
Derivative financial assets 
Cash and cash equivalents 

Liabilities
Current liabilities
Borrowings 
Derivative financial liabilities 
Trade and other payables 
Current income tax liabilities 

Net current (liabilities)/assets 

total assets less current liabilities 

Non-current liabilities
Borrowings 
other payables 
Derivative financial liabilities 
Provisions 
Deferred tax liabilities 

Net assets 

Shareholders’ equity
ordinary shares 
Share premium account 
Investment in own shares 
retained earnings 
Capital redemption reserve 

total shareholders’ equity 
Minority interest in equity 

total equity 

Group 

Company

Notes 

2007 
£m 

2006 
£m 

2007 
£m 

2006
£m

11 

12 

13 

16 

19 

4 

14 

16 

16 

16 

15 

16 

15 

16 

19 

19 

20 

21 

21 

21 

21 

22 

78.6 
146.9 
34.8 
– 
4.1 
9.5 

273.9 

12.4 
142.2 
0.6 
22.9 

178.1 

59.0 
133.3 
18.9 
0.3 
3.8 
5.4 

220.7 

12.0 
110.8 
1.5 
18.8 

143.1 

– 
38.2 
236.7 
– 
– 
9.5 

–
39.0
99.8
0.3
–
5.4

284.4 

144.5

– 
101.7 
0.6 
1.9 

104.2 

–
152.6
1.5
0.5

154.6

(7.8) 
(2.9) 
(188.9) 
(8.7) 

(8.8) 
(0.4) 
(153.1) 
(9.8) 

(6.8) 
(2.9) 
(163.1) 
– 

(4.9)
(0.4)
(94.3)
(3.0)

(208.3) 

(172.1) 

(172.8) 

(102.6)

(30.2) 

(29.0) 

(68.6) 

52.0

243.7 

191.7 

215.8 

196.5

(124.0) 
(0.5) 
(0.1) 
(5.1) 
(5.6) 

(88.3) 
(0.9) 
(0.1) 
(7.0) 
(3.2) 

(124.0) 
– 
(0.1) 
– 
(3.8) 

(135.3) 

(99.5) 

(127.9) 

(88.2)
–
(0.1)
–
(2.4)

(90.7)

108.4 

92.2 

87.9 

105.8

15.0 
15.1 
(3.4) 
60.1 
21.6 

108.4 
– 

108.4 

14.8 
12.6 
(3.5) 
46.3 
21.6 

91.8 
0.4 

92.2 

15.0 
15.1 
– 
36.2 
21.6 

87.9 
– 

87.9 

14.8
12.6
–
56.8
21.6

105.8
–

105.8

The accounts were approved by the Board of Directors on 10 March 2008 and signed on its behalf by:
wILLIAM thOMSON, Chairman 

PAuL DOLLMAN, Group Finance Director

46 John Menzies plc AnnuAl RepoRt 2007

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
  
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
GROuP AND COMPANy CASh FLOw StAtEMENtS
For THE YEAr ENDED 29 DECEMBEr 2007 (YEAr ENDED 30 DECEMBEr 2006)

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Cash generated from operations 
Interest received 
Interest paid 
Tax paid 

Net cash from operating activities 

Cash flows from investing activities
Investment in joint ventures and associates 
Loan repaid by joint venture 
Disposal of investments 
Acquisition of subsidiaries 
Net cash acquired with subsidiaries 
Purchase of property, plant and equipment 
Intangible asset additions 
Acquisition of minority interest 
Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment 
Dividends received 

Net cash used in investing activities 

Cash flows from financing activities
Net proceeds from issue of ordinary share capital 
Finance lease additions 
repayment of borrowings 
Proceeds from borrowings 
Dividends paid to ordinary shareholders 
Dividends paid to minority interests 
Amounts provided to subsidiaries 

Net cash from financing activities 

Group 

Company

Notes 

2007 
£m 

2006 
£m 

2007 
£m 

2006
£m

23 

25 

24 

24 

48.5 
2.4 
(10.0) 
(2.9) 

38.0 

(13.8) 
0.1 
0.2 
(16.8) 
1.9 
(32.0) 
(3.0) 
(0.4) 
0.7 
4.0 

(59.1) 

2.7 
– 
– 
40.0 
(12.8) 
(0.1) 
– 

29.8 

29.7 
2.1 
(5.5) 
(8.5) 

17.8 

– 
0.1 
– 
(38.1) 
1.1 
(25.4) 
(0.5) 
– 
1.1 
4.1 

(57.6) 

1.8 
0.1 
(15.3) 
58.9 
(11.6) 
(0.1) 
– 

33.8 

(10.5) 
0.9 
(7.3) 
(0.2) 

(17.1) 

(14.5)
1.7
(5.4)
(3.3)

(21.5)

– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
(0.2) 
– 
– 
– 
– 

(0.2) 

2.7 
– 
– 
40.0 
(12.8) 
– 
(9.5) 

20.4 

–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–

–

1.8
–
(15.2)
58.9
(11.6)
–
(20.2)

13.7

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Increase/(decrease) in net cash and cash equivalents 

24 

8.7 

(6.0) 

3.1 

(7.8)

Effects of exchange rate movements 
opening net cash and cash equivalents 

Closing net cash and cash equivalents* 

(0.2) 
12.5 

21.0 

(0.2) 
18.7 

12.5 

(0.2) 
(2.1) 

0.8 

(0.2)
5.9

(2.1)

24 

*Net cash and cash equivalents include cash at bank and in-hand and bank overdrafts.

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47

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
NOtES tO thE ACCOuNtS

1.  Accounting policies

A summary of the more significant accounting policies, 
which have been consistently applied, is set out below.

The following new standards, amendments to standards 
and interpretations have been issued but are not effective 
for 2007 and have not been adopted early:

IFrS 7 – ‘Financial Instruments: Disclosures’ and IAS 1 
‘Presentation of Financial Statements – Capital Disclosures’, 
both effective for annual periods beginning on or after 1 
January 2007. The Group has assessed the impact of IFrS 7 
and the amendment to IAS 1, and will apply IFrS 7 and the 
amendment to IAS 1 for annual periods beginning 30 
December 2007. These Standards are for disclosure purposes 
only and will have no impact on reported results.

IFrS 8 – ‘operating segments’ is effective for annual periods 
beginning on or after 1 January 2009.

IFrIC 10 – ‘Interim financial reporting and impairment’ 
prohibits impairment losses recognised in an interim period 
on goodwill and investments in equity instruments and in 
financial assets carried at cost to be reversed at a 
subsequent balance sheet date. This standard will have no 
impact on reported results.

IFrIC 11, IFrS 2 – ‘Group and treasury share transactions’  
is effective for annual periods beginning on or after  
1 March 2007.

IFrIC 14, IAS 19 – ‘The limit on a defined benefit asset, 
minimum funding requirements and their interaction’ is 
effective for annual periods beginning on or after 1 January 
2008. This standard will have no impact on reported results.

Amendment to IAS 23 – ‘Borrowing costs’ is effective for 
annual periods beginning on or after 1 January 2009. The 
impact of this amendment will be the removal of the option 
of immediately recognising as an expense borrowing costs 
that relate to assets that take a substantial period of time to 
get ready for use or sale.

In accordance with Section 230 of the Companies Act 1985 
no income statement is presented for the Company.

Basis of consolidation
The consolidated accounts, which have been prepared under 
the historical cost convention and in accordance with Eu 
Endorsed International Financial reporting Standards (IFrS), 

IFrIC interpretations and the Companies Act 1985 
applicable to companies reporting under IFrS, incorporate 
the accounts of the Company and its subsidiaries, joint 
ventures and associates from the effective date of 
acquisition or to the date of deemed disposal.

Joint ventures and associates
A joint venture is an entity in which the Group holds an 
interest on a long-term basis and which is jointly controlled 
by the Group and one or more other venturers under a 
contractual agreement.

An associate is an undertaking, not being a subsidiary  
or joint venture, over which the Group has significant 
influence and can participate in the financial and operating 
policy decisions of the entity.

The Group’s share of the results of joint ventures and 
associates is included in the Group Income Statement using 
the equity method of accounting. Investments in joint 
ventures and associates are carried in the Group Balance 
Sheet at cost plus post-acquisition changes in the Group’s 
share of the net assets of the entity, less any impairment  
in value. The carrying values of investments in joint 
ventures and associates include acquired goodwill.

Revenue
Distribution – revenue is recognised on the weekly invoiced 
value of goods sold, excluding value-added tax.

Aviation – cargo revenue is recognised at the point of 
departure for exports and at the point that the goods are 
ready for dispatch for imports. other ramp, passenger and 
aviation-related services income is recognised in accordance 
with when the service was performed. revenue excludes 
value-added and sales taxes, charges collected on behalf  
of customers and intercompany transactions.

Property, plant and equipment
Property, plant and equipment is stated at cost, including 
acquisition expenses, less accumulated depreciation. 
Depreciation is provided on a straight-line basis at the 
following rates:

Freehold and long leasehold properties – over 50 years;
Short leasehold properties – over the remaining lease term; and 
Plant and equipment – over the estimated life of the asset.

Inventories
Inventories, being goods for resale and consumables, are 
stated at the lower of purchase cost and net realisable value.

48 John Menzies plc AnnuAl RepoRt 2007

Pensions
The operating and financing costs of pensions are charged 
to the income statement in the period in which they arise 
and are recognised separately. The costs of past service 
benefit enhancements, settlements and curtailments  
are also recognised in the period in which they arise.  
The difference between actual and expected returns  
on assets during the year, including changes in actuarial 
assumptions, are recognised in the statement of recognised 
income and expense.

Pension costs are assessed in accordance with the advice  
of qualified actuaries.

With regard to defined contribution schemes, the income 
statement charge represents contributions made.

taxation
Current tax is the amount of tax payable or recoverable in 
respect of the taxable profit or loss for the period.

Deferred tax is provided in full, using the liability method, 
on temporary differences between the carrying amount  
of an asset or liability in the balance sheet and its tax  
base. Deferred tax arising from the initial recognition of  
an asset or liability in a transaction, other than a business 
combination, that at the time of the transaction affects 
neither accounting nor taxable profit or loss, is not 
recognised. Deferred tax liabilities represent tax payable in 
future periods in respect of taxable temporary differences. 
Deferred tax assets represent tax recoverable in future 
periods in respect of deductible temporary differences,  
the carry forward of unused tax losses and the carry 
forward of unused tax credits.

Deferred tax is determined using the tax rates and tax  
laws that have been enacted or substantively enacted at  
the balance sheet date and are expected to apply when the 
deferred tax asset is realised or the deferred tax liability is 
settled. Deferred tax is provided on temporary differences 
arising on investments in subsidiaries, joint ventures and 
associates, except where the timing of the reversal of the 
temporary difference can be controlled and it is probable 
that the temporary difference will not reverse in the 
foreseeable future. A deferred tax asset is recognised only 
to the extent that it is probable that future taxable profits 
will be available against which the asset can be utilised.

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Current and deferred tax is recognised in the income 
statement except if it relates to an item recognised directly 
in equity, in which case it is recognised directly in equity.

Intangible assets
Goodwill
Goodwill arising on consolidation represents the excess of 
the cost of an acquisition over the fair value of the Group’s 
share of the net assets of the acquired subsidiary, associate 
or joint venture at the date of acquisition. Goodwill acquired 
is recognised as an asset and reviewed for impairment at 
least annually by assessing the recoverable amount of each 
cash-generating unit to which the goodwill relates. When 
the recoverable amount of the cash-generating unit is less 
than the carrying amount, an impairment loss is recognised.

Any impairment is recognised immediately in the income 
statement.

Goodwill arising on the acquisition of joint ventures  
and associates is included within the carrying value of  
the investment.

Goodwill arising on acquisitions before 26 December 2004 
(the date of transition to IFrS) has been retained at the 
previous uK GAAP amounts subject to being tested for 
impairment at that date.

Contracts
The fair value attributed to contracts at the point of 
acquisition is determined by discounting the expected 
future cash flows to be generated from that asset at the 
risk-adjusted weighted average cost of capital for the Group. 
This amount is included in intangible assets as “contracts” 
and amortised over the estimated useful life on a straight-
line basis. Separate values are not attributed to internally-
generated customer relationships.

Contract amortisation is business-stream dependent.  
At Distribution, contracts capitalised are not amortised  
due to the very long-term nature of the business in  
the uK. These contracts are, however, tested annually  
for impairment using similar criteria to the goodwill test.  
At Aviation, contracts are amortised on a straight-line  
basis over ten years as this period is the minimum  
time-frame management considers when assessing 
businesses for acquisition.

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49

 
 
 
NoTES To THE ACCouNTS (CoNTINuED)

1.  Accounting policies (continued)

Development costs
Development expenditure incurred on individual projects  
is carried forward only if all the criteria set out in IAS 38 
‘Intangible assets’ are met. Following the initial recognition 
of development expenditure, the cost is amortised over the 
project’s estimated useful life, usually three to five years.

Computer software
Costs associated with developing or maintaining computer 
software programs are recognised as an expense as 
incurred. Costs that are directly attributable with the 
production of identifiable and unique software products 
controlled by the Group, and that will probably generate 
economic benefits exceeding costs beyond one year, 
 are recognised as intangible assets. Direct costs include  
the costs of software development employees. Costs are 
amortised over their estimated useful lives.

Leases
Leases are classified as finance leases whenever the terms 
of the lease transfer substantially all the risks and rewards 
of ownership to the lessee. All other leases are classified as 
operating leases.

Assets acquired under finance leases are capitalised in the 
balance sheet at their fair value or, if lower, at the present 
value of the minimum lease payments, each determined  
at the inception of the lease. The corresponding liability to 
the lessor is recorded in the balance sheet as a finance lease 
obligation. The lease payments are apportioned between 
finance charges (charged to the income statement) and a 
reduction of the lease obligations.

rental payments under operating leases are charged to the 
income statement on a straight-line basis over applicable 
lease periods.

Cash and cash equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents in the balance sheet comprise 
cash at bank and in-hand and short-term deposits with an 
original maturity of three months or less. Bank overdrafts 
are shown within borrowings in current liabilities in the 
balance sheet.

Foreign currencies
Foreign currency assets and liabilities of the Group are 
translated at the rates of exchange ruling at the balance 
sheet date. The trading results of overseas subsidiaries,  
joint ventures and associates are translated at the average 
exchange rate ruling during the year, with the exchange 
difference between average rates and the rates ruling at  
the balance sheet date being taken to reserves.

Any differences arising on the translation of the opening net 
investment, including goodwill, in overseas subsidiaries, joint 
ventures and associates, and of applicable foreign currency 
loans, are dealt with as adjustments to reserves. All other 
exchange differences are dealt with in the income statement.

Derivative financial instruments and hedging activities
The Group uses forward contracts and cross-currency  
swaps as derivatives to hedge the risk arising from the 
retranslation of foreign currency denominated items.

The Group has derivatives which are designated as hedges of 
overseas net investments in foreign entities (net investment 
hedges) and derivatives which are designated as hedges of the 
exchange risk arising from the retranslation of highly probable 
forecast revenue denominated in non-local currency of some 
of our overseas operations (cash flow hedges).

In all cases, the derivative contracts entered into by the 
Group have been highly effective during the reporting 
period and are expected to continue to be highly effective 
until they expire. As a result, all derivatives have been 
recorded using hedge accounting, which is explained below.

50 John Menzies plc AnnuAl RepoRt 2007

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All derivatives are measured at fair value, which is calculated 
as the present value of all future cash flows from the 
derivative discounted at prevailing market rates.

Exceptional items
Exceptional items are those one-off and/or material items 
which the Group considers should be highlighted due to 
their scope and nature.

Changes in the fair value of the effective portion of net 
investment hedges are recorded in equity, and are only 
recycled to the income statement on disposal of the 
overseas net investment.

Changes in the fair value of the effective portion of cash 
flow hedges are recorded in equity until such time as the 
forecast transaction occurs, at which time they are recycled 
to the income statement. If, however, the occurrence of  
the transaction results in a non-financial asset or liability, 
then amounts recycled from equity would be included in 
the cost of the non-financial asset or liability. If the forecast 
transaction remains probable but ceases to be highly 
probable then, from that point, changes in fair value would 
be recorded in the income statement within finance costs. 
Similarly, if the forecast transaction ceases to be probable 
then the entire fair value recorded in equity and future 
changes in fair value would be posted to the income 
statement within finance costs.

Any ineffective portion of movements in the fair value of 
hedging instruments is recognised in the income statement 
within finance costs.

Critical accounting estimates and judgements
The Group makes estimates and assumptions concerning the 
future. These estimates will, by definition, seldom equal the 
related actual results. The Board has considered the critical 
accounting estimates and assumptions used in the Accounts 
and concluded the main area of significant risk which may 
cause a material adjustment to the carrying amount of 
assets and liabilities within the next financial year is in 
respect of the assumptions used to calculate pension 
benefits. The assumptions include corporate bond yields, 
investment return, price and salary inflation and mortality 
assumptions. Full details of assumptions used to calculate 
the pension assets and liabilities are found in Note 4.

Dividend distributions
Final ordinary dividends are recognised as liabilities in the 
Accounts in the period in which the dividends are approved 
by the Company’s shareholders.

Financial risk factors
The Group is exposed to financial risks: liquidity risk, interest 
rate fluctuations, foreign exchange exposures and credit 
risk. These are more fully discussed in the Business review 
on pages 4 to 19.

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51

 
 
 
NoTES To THE ACCouNTS (CoNTINuED)

2.  Segmental analysis

Primary business segments 
2007 

revenue 

operating profit/(loss) 
Share of post-tax results of joint ventures 
Share of post-tax results of associates 

operating profit/(loss) after joint ventures and associates 

Analysed as:
underlying operating profit/(loss) * 
Net gain on exchange of businesses 
Dilapidations settlement on onerous lease 
Contract amortisation (Note 11) 
Goodwill impairment (Note 13) 
Share of interest on joint ventures and associates 
Share of tax on joint ventures and associates 

operating profit/(loss) after joint ventures and associates 

2006 

revenue 

operating profit/(loss) 
Share of post-tax results of joint ventures 
Share of post-tax results of associates 

operating profit/(loss) after joint ventures and associates 

Analysed as:
underlying operating profit/(loss) * 
Pension credit 
Gain on exchange of contract rights 
rationalisation and integration costs 
Contract amortisation (Note 11) 
Goodwill impairment (Note 13) 
Share of tax on joint ventures and associates 

operating profit/(loss) after joint ventures and associates 

 Distribution 
£m 

Aviation  Corporate 
£m 

 £m 

Group
£m

1,147.3 

393.8 

–  1,541.1

25.2 
0.4 
– 

25.6  

23.4 
2.5 
– 
– 
– 
(0.1) 
(0.2) 

25.6 

13.4 
1.2 
1.8 

16.4 

20.6 
– 
– 
(1.0) 
(1.8) 
(0.2) 
 (1.2) 

16.4 

(5.4) 
– 
– 

(5.4) 

(3.0) 
– 
(2.4) 
– 
– 
– 
–  

(5.4)  

33.2
1.6
1.8

36.6

41.0
2.5
(2.4)
(1.0)
(1.8)
(0.3)
(1.4)

36.6

£m  

£m 

£m 

£m

1,132.0 

318.4 

–  1,450.4

28.0 
– 
– 

8.9 
1.0 
1.7 

28.0  

11.6 

23.7 
4.0 
2.5 
(2.2) 
– 
– 
– 

28.0  

16.6 
1.3 
– 
(3.1) 
(0.4) 
(1.8) 
(1.0) 

11.6 

(2.9) 
– 
– 

(2.9) 

(3.4) 
0.5 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 

34.0
1.0
1.7

36.7

36.9
5.8
2.5
(5.3)
(0.4)
(1.8) 
(1.0)

(2.9)  

36.7

* underlying operating profit/(loss) is defined as operating profit/(loss) excluding intangible amortisation as shown in  

Note 5(b) and exceptional items but including the pre-tax share of results from joint ventures and associates.

52 John Menzies plc AnnuAl RepoRt 2007

 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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2007 

Segment assets 
unallocated assets 

Total assets 

Segment liabilities 
unallocated liabilities 

Total liabilities 

Segment net assets/(liabilities) 
unallocated net liabilities 

Net assets 

2006 

Segment assets 
unallocated assets 

Total assets  

Segment liabilities 
unallocated liabilities 

Total liabilities  

Segment net assets/(liabilities) 
unallocated net liabilities 

Net assets  

 Distribution 
£m 

Aviation  Corporate 
£m 

£m 

164.8 

246.4 

4.3 

(109.9) 

(66.3) 

(21.3) 

54.9 

180.1 

(17.0) 

£m 

£m 

148.9  

182.6 

£m 

4.3 

(98.3) 

(46.9) 

(16.3) 

50.6 

135.7 

(12.0) 

unallocated assets comprise retirement benefit obligations, deferred tax assets and cash and cash equivalents. 
unallocated liabilities comprise borrowings, current income tax liabilities and deferred tax liabilities.

2007 

£m  

£m 

Capital expenditure 
Depreciation 
Amortisation of intangible assets 
Goodwill impairment 
Gain on disposal of property, plant and equipment 

2006 

Capital expenditure 
Depreciation 
Amortisation of intangible assets 
Goodwill impairment 
Gain on disposal of property, plant and equipment 

8.6 
5.5 
0.5 
– 
–  

£m 

9.2 
5.2 
0.5 
– 
– 

23.3 
14.6 
1.1 
1.8 
0.2 

 £m 

15.9 
11.7 
0.8 
1.8 
 0.2 

£m 

0.2 
0.9 
– 
– 
– 

£m 

– 
1.0 
– 
– 
– 

Group
£m

415.5
36.5

452.0

(197.5)
(146.1)

(343.6)

218.0
(109.6)

108.4

£m

335.8
28.0

363.8

(161.5)
(110.1)

(271.6)

174.3
(82.1)

92.2

£m

32.1
21.0
1.6
1.8
0.2

£m

25.1
17.9
1.3
1.8
0.2

Secondary geographic segments 

 Revenue 

Capital expenditure 

Segment assets

united Kingdom 
Continental Europe 
Americas 
rest of the World 

2007 
£m 

2006 
£m 

1,282.4  1,254.9 
80.9 
76.5 
38.1 

95.4 
103.0 
60.3 

1,541.1  1,450.4 

2007 
£m 

12.8 
6.8 
6.8 
5.7 

32.1 

2006 
£m 

14.4 
5.6 
3.0 
2.1 

25.1 

2007 
£m 

270.4 
45.8 
51.4 
47.9 

415.5 

2006
£m

253.2
30.1
27.6
24.9

335.8

John Menzies plc AnnuAl RepoRt 2007

53

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
  
  
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
  
  
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
  
  
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
  
  
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
  
  
  
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
NoTES To THE ACCouNTS (CoNTINuED)

3.  Net operating costs

Goods for resale and consumables 
other operating charges 
Employment costs (Note 4) 
Intangible assets amortisation (Note 11) 
Depreciation (Note 12) 

other operating charges include:

operating leases and hire charges – plant and machinery 
rent of properties 
Gain on disposal of property, plant and equipment 

During the year, the Group (including its overseas subsidiaries) obtained the  
following services from the Group’s auditors at costs as detailed below:

Audit services

Audit of parent company and consolidated accounts 
Audit of the company’s subsidiaries pursuant to legislation 

Non-audit services

Corporate finance services 
other services 

4.  Employees

Wages and salaries 
Share-based payments 
Social security costs  

Pension charge  

The average number of full-time equivalent persons employed during the year was:

Distribution 
Aviation 
Corporate 

2007 
£m 

2006
£m

  1,129.8  1,086.9
59.3
251.0
1.3
17.9

67.1 
288.4 
1.6 
21.0 

  1,507.9 

1,416.4

10.2 
26.2 
(0.2) 

9.7
23.9
(0.2)

0.2 
0.4 

– 
0.2 

0.2
0.4

0.2
0.2

2007 
£m 

2006
£m

255.3 
0.4 
24.7 

280.4 
8.0 

288.4 

219.6
0.7
22.1

242.4
8.6

251.0

2007 
number 

2006
number

3,763 
11,661 
24 

3,573
10,374
31

15,448 

13,978

The numbers above include 8,615 full-time equivalent persons employed outside the uK (2006: 7,909).

54 John Menzies plc AnnuAl RepoRt 2007

 
 
 
 
 
  
 
  
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
  
  
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
  
  
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
  
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
  
  
  
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
  
  
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
  
  
  
 
  
  
  
 
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Pension schemes
With regard to the principal Group–funded defined benefit scheme in the uK (the Menzies Pension Fund), to which the 
employees contribute, the charge to the income statement is assessed in accordance with independent actuarial advice from 
Aon Consulting (“the Actuary”), using the projected unit method. Certain Group subsidiaries operate overseas and participate 
in a number of pension schemes, which are largely of a defined contribution nature. The income statement charge for 
defined contribution schemes represents the contributions made.

The pension charge to the income statement is analysed as follows:

Menzies Pension Fund 
other schemes 

2007 
£m 

3.6 
4.4 

8.0 

2006
£m

4.7
3.9

8.6

Financial assumptions
The Actuary undertook a valuation of the Menzies Pension Fund as at 31 December 2007 (2006: 31 December) under IAS 19.  
In deriving the results the Actuary used the projected unit method and the following financial assumptions:

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rate of increase in salaries 
rate of increase in pensions (prior to 1 April 2006) 
rate of increase in pensions (after 1 April 2006) 
Price inflation 
Discount rate  

2007 
% 

3.90 
3.55 
2.50 
3.40 
5.90  

2006
%

3.60
3.35
2.50
3.10
5.30

Assumptions regarding future mortality experience are set based on advice from the Actuary in accordance with published 
statistics and experience in the business.

The average life expectancy in years of a pensioner retiring at 65 on the balance sheet date is:

Male 
Female 

2007  

2006

18.3 
21.1 

18.3
21.1

The average life expectancy in years of a pensioner retiring at 65, 20 years after the balance sheet date is:

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Male 
Female 

2007  

2006

19.2 
22.0  

19.2 
22.0

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NoTES To THE ACCouNTS (CoNTINuED)

4.  Employees (continued)

Fair value of assets (and expected return on assets)

  Long-term 

rate of  December 
2007 
return 
£m 
% 

7.5 
5.2 
6.5 
5.2 

165.0 
46.0 
38.9 
0.3 

250.2 
(240.7) 

9.5 
(2.7) 

6.8 

Equities 
Bonds 
Property 
other 

Total value of assets 
Defined benefit obligation 

recognised in balance sheet 
related deferred tax liability 

Net pension assets 

Components of pension expense

 Amounts charged to operating profit 

Current service cost 
Past service credit (Note 5) 

Total amount charged/(credited) to operating profit 

Amounts included in finance costs 

Expected return on pension scheme assets 
Interest on pension liabilities 

Net financial return 

Pension expense/(income) 

Amounts recognised in the Statement of Recognised Income and Expense

(Loss)/gain on assets 
Actuarial (loss)/gain on defined benefit obligation 

Actuarial (loss)/gain 

Change in scheme assets during the year

Fair value of assets at start of year 
Expected return on assets 
Company contributions 
Employee contributions 
Benefits and expenses paid 
(Loss)/gain on assets 

Fair value of assets at end of year  

The actual return on scheme assets was £12.4m (2006: £25.4m). 

56 John Menzies plc AnnuAl RepoRt 2007

value at  Long-term 

value at 
rate of  December 
2006 
return 
£m
% 

7.5 
5.0 
6.5 
5.0 

2007 
£m 

3.6 
– 

3.6 

147.6
39.9
44.3
5.4

237.2
(231.8)

5.4
(1.6)

3.8

2006 
£m

4.7
(5.8)

(1.1)

£m 

£m

15.1 
(11.7) 

3.4 

13.4
(11.0)

2.4

0.2 

(3.5)

£m 

£m

(2.7) 
(0.5) 

(3.2)  

12.0
11.4

23.4

£m 

£m

237.2 
15.1 
7.7 
1.6 
(8.7) 
(2.7) 

208.5
13.4
11.1
1.5
(9.3) 
12.0

250.2 

237.2

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
  
  
 
  
  
 
 
 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
  
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
  
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
  
  
  
 
  
  
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
  
  
  
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Change in defined benefit obligation during the year

Defined benefit obligation at start of year 
Current service cost 
Past service credit (Note 5) 
Interest cost 
Employee contributions 
Benefits and expenses paid 
Actuarial loss/(gain) on defined benefit obligation 

Defined benefit obligation at end of year 

2007 
£m 

2006 
£m

231.8 
3.6 
– 
11.7 
1.6 
(8.5) 
0.5 

241.1
4.7
(5.8)
11.0
1.5
(9.3)
(11.4)

240.7  

231.8

history of experience gains and losses 

 % of scheme 
assets/ 
  obligations 

(Loss)/gain on scheme assets 
Actuarial (loss)/gain on defined benefit obligation 

1% 
0.2% 

2007 
£m 

(2.7) 
(0.5) 

% of scheme 
assets/ 
obligations 

5% 
5% 

2006 
£m 

12.0 
11.4 

% of scheme 
assets/ 
obligations 

2005 
£m

9.5% 
12.2% 

19.8
(29.4)

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5.  underlying performance

(a)  Exceptional items

Net gain on exchange of businesses 
Dilapidations settlement on onerous lease 
Pension credit 
Gain on exchange of contract rights 
rationalisation and integration costs 

Notes 

2007 
 £m 

2006 
£m

(i) 

(ii) 

(iii) 

(iv) 

(v) 

2.5 
(2.4) 
– 
– 
– 

0.1 

–
–
5.8
2.5
(5.3)

3.0

(i)  During the year the Group completed joint venture agreements with Eason & Son Limited combining newspaper 

and magazine distribution businesses in Northern Ireland and the republic of Ireland. The fair value of the Group’s 
shareholding in the combined ventures is considered to be £3.1m. As the transferred businesses had no carrying 
value in the Group’s balance sheet there is effectively no cost of disposal to offset against the interests received. 
As a result, a non-cash gain of £3.1m was created, offset by required transaction costs of £0.6m.

(ii)  During the year the Group was served with a schedule of dilapidations in respect of a sublet property, where the 
remaining lease term was 65 years. As part of the negotiated settlement the Group’s remaining obligations under 
this onerous lease were renounced on 8 January 2008.

(iii)  With effect from 1 May 2006, the principal Group–funded defined benefit scheme in the uK changed from a final 
pensionable salary scheme to an average salary scheme and employee contributions were increased. Benefits 
accrued to current active members prior to 1 May 2006 are now linked to future price inflation rather than future 
salary increases. The impact of these changes was a reduction of £5.8m in the present value of the scheme 
liabilities in respect of past service.

John Menzies plc AnnuAl RepoRt 2007

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NoTES To THE ACCouNTS (CoNTINuED)

5.  underlying performance (continued)

(iv)  During 2006, the Group transferred its 20% shareholding in T Cox & Son (Tonbridge) Limited to another wholesaler 

in return for an interest in certain magazine distribution contracts in the south-west London area. The fair value  
of the contractual rights acquired and the shares disposed were considered to be equivalent, and both were 
estimated at £2.5m. As the shareholding had no carrying value in the Group’s balance sheet, there was effectively 
no cost of disposal to offset against the interests received. As a result, a non-cash gain of £2.5m was created.
(v)  Costs of rationalising excess capacity, comprising asset write–downs and staff costs, and integration costs for new 

businesses.

(b)  Intangible amortisation
Goodwill impairment 
Contract amortisation 

Notes 

2007 
 £m 

2006 
£m

(i) 

(ii) 

(1.8) 
(1.0) 

(2.8) 

(1.8)
(0.4)

(2.2)

(i)  As permitted under the transitional requirements of IFrS 1, the acquisition accounting of business combinations 
completed prior to the transition date has not been restated. As a result, assets which were previously capitalised 
as goodwill have not been reclassified as other intangible assets. Accordingly, these financial statements include 
an impairment charge of £1.8m (2006: £1.8m) reflecting the remaining life of the current licence at Menzies Macau 
Aviation Services Limited.

(ii)  This charge relates to contracts capitalised as intangible assets on acquisition of businesses following the adoption 

of IFrS.

The taxation effect of the exceptional items is a credit of £0.5m (2006: a charge of £1.1m).

6.  Directors

A detailed analysis of Directors’ remuneration, together with shareholdings and options, is provided on pages 33 to 39.

7.  Finance costs

Finance income:
Bank deposits 
Expected return on pension scheme assets (Note 4) 

Finance charges:
Bank loans and overdrafts 
Preference dividends 
Interest on pension liabilities (Note 4) 
Foreign currency loss 

Net finance costs 

2007 
£m 

2006 
£m

2.2 
15.1 

17.3 

2.2
13.4

15.6

(8.2) 
(0.1) 
(11.7) 
(2.1) 

(22.1) 

(5.6)
(0.1)
(11.0)
–

(16.7)

(4.8) 

(1.1)

During the year the Group executed cross-currency basis swaps which reduced its interest cost by £0.6m. The foreign 
currency loss incurred of £2.1m is exactly matched by tax relief of £2.1m.

58 John Menzies plc AnnuAl RepoRt 2007

 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
  
  
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
  
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
  
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
8.  taxation

(a)  Analysis of charge in year

Current tax
uK corporation tax on profits for the year 
overseas tax 
Adjustments to prior years’ liabilities 

Total current tax 

Deferred tax
origination and reversal of temporary differences 
Adjustments to prior years’ liabilities 

retirement benefit obligations 

Total deferred tax 

Tax on profit on ordinary activities 

(b)  Current and deferred tax related to items (credited)/charged directly to equity

Deferred tax on actuarial (loss)/gain on retirement benefit obligations 
Current tax on net exchange adjustments 

Tax (credit)/charge reported in equity 

2007 
£m 

2006 
£m

0.9 
3.5 
(2.0) 

2.4 

0.2 
1.0 

1.2 
2.1 

3.3 

5.5
1.5
(3.1)

3.9

0.1
–

0.1
4.4

4.5

5.7 

8.4

(1.0) 
(0.7) 

(1.7) 

7.0
0.4

7.4

(c)  Reconciliation between tax charge and the product of accounting profit multiplied by the Group’s domestic tax 

rate for the years ended 29 December 2007 and 30 December 2006 is as follows:

Profit before tax 

31.8 

35.6

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Profit before tax multiplied by standard rate of corporation tax in the uK (30%) 
Non-deductible expenses 
Depreciation on non-qualifying assets 
Tax-exempt gain on exchange of businesses 
Tax-exempt gain on exchange of contracts 
unrelieved overseas losses 
Profits covered by losses forward 
Non-taxable exchange gain 
Higher tax rates on overseas earnings 
Adjustments to prior years’ liabilities 
Deferred tax on undistributed reserves of associate 
Joint venture and associate post-tax result (included in profit before tax) at 30% 
reduction in uK tax rate 

At the effective corporation tax rate of 17.9% (2006: 23.6%) 

9.5 
0.3 
0.4 
(0.8) 
– 
1.9 
(2.2) 
(1.5) 
0.6 
(1.0) 
(0.2) 
(1.0) 
(0.3) 

5.7 

10.7
0.9
0.3
–
(0.8)
2.6
(1.5)
–
0.1
(3.1)
–
(0.8)
–

8.4

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59

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
  
 
 
  
  
 
 
 
 
 
  
  
 
 
  
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
NoTES To THE ACCouNTS (CoNTINuED)

8.  taxation (continued)

(d)  Factors that may affect future tax charges
The Group has estimated tax losses carried forward, which arose in subsidiary companies operating in the undernoted 
jurisdictions, that are available for offset against future profits of those subsidiaries. Deferred tax assets have not been 
recognised in respect of these losses as they have arisen in subsidiaries where it is not probable that future taxable 
profits will be available against which such assets could be utilised.

uSA 
Netherlands 
Hong Kong 
republic of Ireland 
Germany 
Australia 

 Losses 
£m 

  17.5 
  4.3 
  5.8 
  0.9 
  20.0 
  0.9 

Expiry

Carry forward indefinitely
Not earlier than 1 January 2012
Carry forward indefinitely
Carry forward indefinitely
Carry forward indefinitely
Carry forward indefinitely

The Group has capital losses in the uK of approximately £21.3m that are available for offset against future taxable gains 
arising in the uK. No deferred tax asset has been recognised in respect of these losses.

A deferred tax asset of £0.7m has been recognised in relation to losses carried forward by a subsidiary operating in the uSA, 
in circumstances where that subsidiary has incurred losses in the current and preceding years. The deferred tax asset has 
been recognised on the basis of recent uS acquisitions, which have a history of profitability, and future projections.

A deferred tax liability of £0.5m (2006: £0.7m) has been recognised on the unremitted earnings of an associate.

9.  Dividends

Dividends on equity shares:
ordinary 

– Final paid in respect of 2006, 14.4p per share 
– Final paid in respect of 2005, 13.7p per share 
– Interim paid in respect of 2007, 7.2p (2006: 6.1p) per share 

2007 
£m 

2006 
£m

8.7 
– 
4.1 

–
8.0
3.6

12.8 

11.6

Dividends of £0.1m (2006: £0.1m) were waived by employee share trusts (Note 21) during the year.

In addition, the directors are proposing a final dividend in respect of the full year to 29 December 2007 of 18.4p per ordinary 
share which will absorb an estimated £10.9m of shareholders’ funds. Payment will be made on 27 June 2008 to shareholders 
on the register at close of business on 30 May 2008.

60 John Menzies plc AnnuAl RepoRt 2007

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
  
  
 
 
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10. Earnings per share

Basic 

underlying*

operating profit 
add back: 

intangible amortisation 
share of tax on joint ventures and associates 
share of interest on joint ventures and associates 
exceptional items 

less: 
Net finance costs 
Share of post–tax results of joint ventures and associates 

Profit before taxation 
Taxation 
Tax on exceptional items 
Minority interests 

Earnings for the year 

Basic
Earnings per ordinary share (pence) 
Diluted earnings per ordinary share (pence) 

underlying*
Earnings per ordinary share (pence) 
Diluted earnings per ordinary share (pence) 

Number of ordinary shares in issue (millions)
Weighted average 
Diluted weighted average 

2007 
£m 

33.2 
2.8 
1.4 
0.3 
(0.1) 
(5.1) 
3.4 

35.9  
(7.1) 
(0.5) 
(0.1) 

28.2  

2006
£m

34.0
2.2
1.0
–
(3.0)
(1.1)
2.7

35.8
(9.4)
1.1
(0.2)

27.3

47.9 
47.7 

46.9
46.6

2007 
£m 

33.2 
– 
– 
– 
– 
(4.8) 
3.4 

31.8 
(5.7) 
– 
(0.1) 

26.0 

2006 
£m 

34.0 
– 
– 
– 
– 
(1.1) 
2.7 

35.6 
(8.4) 
– 
(0.2) 

27.0 

44.2 
44.0 

46.4
46.1

58.871 
59.137 

58.206
58.544

The weighted average number of fully paid shares in issue during the year excludes those held by the employee share 
trusts (Note 21). The diluted weighted average is calculated by adjusting for all outstanding share options which are 
potentially dilutive, i.e. where the exercise price is less than the average market price of the shares during the year.

*underlying earnings are presented as an additional performance measure. They are stated before intangible amortisation 
and exceptional items.

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61

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
  
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
NoTES To THE ACCouNTS (CoNTINuED)

11. Intangible assets

Cost
At 30 December 2006 
Acquisitions (Note 25) 
Exchange of businesses (Note 5) 
Additions 
Currency translation 

At 29 December 2007 

Amortisation 
At 30 December 2006 
Amortisation charge 
Currency translation 

At 29 December 2007 

Net book value 

At 29 December 2007 

At 30 December 2006 

Cost
At 31 December 2005 
Acquisitions 
Exchange of contract rights (Note 5) 
Additions 
Disposals 
Currency translation 

At 30 December 2006 

Amortisation
At 31 December 2005 
Amortisation charge 
Disposals 
Currency translation 

At 30 December 2006 

Net book value

At 30 December 2006 

At 31 December 2005 

Goodwill 
£m 

Contracts 
£m 

  Computer 
Software 
£m 

37.5 
5.8 
– 
– 
0.8 

44.1 

0.2 
– 
(0.1) 

0.1 

20.1 
8.2 
3.1 
2.6 
0.2 

34.2 

0.4 
1.0 
– 

1.4 

44.0 

37.3 

32.8 

19.7 

4.4 
– 
– 
0.4 
– 

4.8 

2.4 
0.6 
– 

3.0 

1.8 

2.0 

total 
£m

62.0
14.0
3.1
3.0
1.0

83.1

3.0
1.6
(0.1)

4.5

78.6

59.0

£m 

£m 

£m 

£m

23.6 
15.5 
– 
– 
– 
(1.6) 

37.5 

0.4 
– 
– 
(0.2) 

0.2 

– 
18.0 
2.5 
– 
– 
(0.4) 

20.1 

– 
0.4 
– 
– 

0.4 

37.3 

23.2 

19.7 

– 

4.2 
– 
– 
0.5 
(0.3) 
– 

4.4 

1.8 
0.9 
(0.3) 
– 

2.4 

2.0 

2.4 

27.8
33.5
2.5
0.5
(0.3)
(2.0)

62.0

2.2
1.3
(0.3)
(0.2)

3.0

59.0

25.6

Impairment test for goodwill and contracts

Goodwill
Goodwill is no longer amortised but is tested annually for impairment. Management assesses the value-in-use of the 
asset based on forecast pre-tax cash flows from each cash-generating unit over a ten-year period discounted at 8%.

Contracts
Contract amortisation is business-stream dependent. At Distribution, contracts capitalised are not amortised due to the 
very long-term nature of the business in the uK. These contracts are, however, tested annually for impairment using 
similar criteria to the goodwill test. At Aviation, contracts are amortised on a straight-line basis over ten years as this 
period is the minimum time-frame management considers when assessing businesses for acquisition.

62 John Menzies plc AnnuAl RepoRt 2007

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
  
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
  
 
 
 
 
 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
  
  
  
  
  
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total 
£m

43.4
–
0.2
(1.0)
–

42.6

4.4
1.0
(1.0)
–

4.4

12. Property, plant and equipment

Group 

Long 

Short 

Company

Long 

Short 

Freehold  leasehold  leasehold  Plant and 
property  property  property equipment 
£m 

£m 

£m 

£m 

  Freehold  leasehold  leasehold  Plant and 
total  property  property  property equipment 
£m 
£m 

£m 

£m 

£m 

Cost
At 30 December 2006 
Acquisitions (Note 25) 
Additions 
Disposals 
Currency translation 

At 29 December 2007 

Depreciation
At 30 December 2006 
Charge for the year 
Disposals 
Currency translation 

At 29 December 2007 

Net book value

At 29 December 2007 

At 30 December 2006 

Cost
At 31 December 2005 
Acquisitions 
Additions 
Transfers/inter-group additions 
Disposals 
Currency translation 

At 30 December 2006 

Depreciation
At 31 December 2005 
Charge for the year 
Accelerated write-down 
Disposals 
Currency translation 

At 30 December 2006 

Net book value

At 30 December 2006 

At 31 December 2005 

42.8 
– 
0.2 
(0.1) 
– 

42.9 

6.2 
0.9 
– 
– 

7.1 

1.5 
– 
0.1 
– 
0.1 

1.7 

0.2 
0.1 
– 
– 

0.3 

36.8 
0.1 
1.0 
(0.6) 
1.2 

141.8 
2.7 
30.8 
(7.6) 
3.5 

222.9 
2.8 
32.1 
(8.3) 
4.8 

38.5 

171.2 

254.3 

13.5 
2.0 
(0.4) 
0.3 

15.4 

69.7 
18.0 
(4.6) 
1.5 

89.6 
21.0 
(5.0) 
1.8 

84.6 

107.4 

40.8 
– 
– 
– 
– 

40.8 

2.4 
0.9 
– 
– 

3.3 

35.8 

36.6 

1.4 

1.3 

23.1 

23.3 

86.6 

146.9 

72.1 

133.3 

37.5 

38.4 

39.6 
3.2 
0.3 
– 
(0.2) 
(0.1) 

42.8 

5.4 
0.8 
– 
– 
– 

6.2 

0.7 
0.9 
– 
– 
(0.1) 
– 

36.4 
– 
0.5 
(0.1) 
– 
– 

124.1 
3.7 
24.3 
0.1 
(7.5) 
(2.9) 

200.8 
7.8 
25.1 
– 
(7.8) 
(3.0) 

37.6 
– 
– 
3.2 
– 
– 

1.5 

36.8 

141.8 

222.9 

40.8 

0.2 
– 
– 
– 
– 

0.2 

11.6 
2.0 
– 
– 
(0.1) 

13.5 

62.5 
15.1 
0.2 
(6.9) 
(1.2) 

69.7 

79.7 
17.9 
0.2 
(6.9) 
(1.3) 

89.6 

1.5 
0.9 
– 
– 
– 

2.4 

36.6 

34.2 

1.3 

0.5 

23.3 

24.8 

72.1 

133.3 

61.6 

121.1 

38.4 

36.1 

0.6 
– 
– 
– 
– 

0.6 

0.2 
– 
– 
– 

0.2 

0.4 

0.4 

0.6 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 

0.6 

0.2 
– 
– 
– 
– 

0.2 

0.4 

0.4 

0.3 
– 
– 
(0.3) 
– 

– 

0.3 
– 
(0.3) 
– 

– 

1.7 
– 
0.2 
(0.7) 
– 

1.2 

1.5 
0.1 
(0.7) 
– 

0.9 

– 

– 

0.3 

0.2 

38.2

39.0

0.3 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 

0.3 

0.2 
0.1 
– 
– 
– 

0.3 

– 

0.1 

1.7 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 

1.7 

1.5 
0.1 
– 
(0.1) 
– 

1.5 

40.2
–
–
3.2
–
–

43.4

3.4
1.1
–
(0.1)
–

4.4

0.2 

0.2 

39.0

36.8

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NoTES To THE ACCouNTS (CoNTINuED)

13. Investments

Cost excluding goodwill
At 30 December 2006 
New investments/transfers 
Share of profits after tax 
Dividends received 
Disposals 
Currency translation 

At 29 December 2007 

Goodwill
At 30 December 2006 
Impairment provision 
Currency translation 

At 29 December 2007 

At 29 December 2007 

At 30 December 2006 

Group 

Company

Shares  
in joint  
ventures 
£m 

Loans 
to joint 
ventures 
£m 

Shares in 
associates 
£m 

Loans to 
associates 
£m 

Other 
£m 

total 
£m 

Subsidiaries 
£m

1.0 
6.4 
1.6 
(0.6) 
– 
0.1 

8.5 

– 
– 
– 

– 

8.5 

1.0 

0.2 
7.2 
– 
– 
(0.1) 
– 

7.3 

– 
– 
– 

– 

7.3 

0.2 

6.0 
2.9 
3.6 
(3.4) 
– 
0.3 

9.4 

11.2 
(1.8) 
(0.2) 

9.2 

18.6 

17.2 

0.1 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 

0.1 

– 
– 
– 

– 

0.1 

0.1 

0.4 
0.1 
– 
– 
(0.2) 
– 

0.3 

– 
– 
– 

– 

0.3 

0.4 

7.7 
16.6 
5.2 
(4.0) 
(0.3) 
0.4 

25.6 

11.2 
(1.8) 
(0.2) 

9.2 

34.8 

18.9 

99.8
136.9
–
–
–
–

236.7

–
–
–

–

236.7

99.8

The Group’s share of the results, assets and liabilities of joint ventures and associates are:

Country of  % Interest 
held 

Incorporation 

revenue 
£m 

Profit  
after tax 
£m 

Assets 
£m  

Liabilities 
£m

Joint ventures
Talma Menzies SrL 
Freshport Bv 
EM News (NI) Ltd 
Menzies Bobba Ground Handling Services Private Ltd 
Menzies Aviation Bobba (Bangalore) Private Ltd 
Hyderabad Menzies Air Cargo Private Ltd 

Peru 
Netherlands 
uK 
India 
India 
India 

50 
50 
50 
51 
49 
49 

Associates
Menzies Macau Airport Services Ltd 
Worldwide Magazine Distribution Ltd 
Menzies Chengdu Aviation Services Ltd 
Swissport Menzies Handling ute 

Macau 
uK 
China 
Spain 

29 
31.67 
40 
39 

8.3 
0.6 
40.6 
– 
– 
– 

7.3 
2.4 
2.9 
12.2 

74.3 

1.1 
0.1 
0.4 
– 
– 
– 

2.9 
– 
0.4 
0.3 

5.2 

2.9 
0.5 
2.8 
2.5 
3.7 
0.1 

4.3 
1.2 
2.3 
16.0 

36.3  

(1.5)
(0.2)
(2.3)
–
–
–

(1.1)
(0.4)
(0.4)
(12.5)

(18.4)

Company
During the year John Menzies plc subscribed a further £58.3m in the share capital of subsidiaries and acquired the share 
capital of Menzies Services Inc and John Menzies (uSA) Inc as part of an internal reorganisation.

64 John Menzies plc AnnuAl RepoRt 2007

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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Company 

2007  
£m  

100.1  
17.1  
25.0  
–  

2006  
£m  

82.8  
13.6  
14.4  
–  

2007  
£m  

–  
5.2  
0.8  
95.7  

2006  
£m 

– 
4.9 
0.7 
147.0 

142.2  

110.8  

101.7  

152.6 

Group  

Company 

2007  
£m  

2006  
£m  

2007  
£m  

2006  
£m 

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115.7  
66.3  
6.9  
–  

97.7  
49.8  
5.6  
–  

–  
14.1  
0.2  
148.8  

188.9  

153.1  

163.1  

– 
10.8 
0.2 
83.3 

94.3 

0.5  

0.9  

–  

– 

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14. trade and other receivables 

Trade receivables  
other receivables  
Prepayments  
Amounts owed by Group companies  

15.  trade and other payables

Due within one year
Trade payables  
other payables  
other taxes and social security costs  
Amounts owed to Group companies  

Due after more than one year

other payables  

16. Financial instruments

The objectives, policies and strategies pursued by the Group in relation to financial instruments are described within the 
Business review on pages 4 to 19.

Maturity profile
Borrowings due within one year:
Bank loans and overdrafts 
Finance lease creditor 
unsecured loan stock 

Net derivative liabilities/(assets) 

Total borrowings due within one year 

Group 

Company

2007 
£m 

2006 
£m 

2007 
£m  

2006 
£m

7.6 
0.1 
0.1 

7.8 
2.3 

10.1 

8.6 
0.1 
0.1 

8.8 
(1.1) 

 7.7 

6.8 
– 
–  

6.8 
2.3 

9.1 

4.9
–
–

4.9
(1.1)

3.8

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65

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
  
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
NoTES To THE ACCouNTS (CoNTINuED)

16. Financial instruments (continued)

Borrowings due after one year:

Loans repayable between one and two years 
Loans repayable between two and five years 
Loans repayable after five years 
Preference shares 
Finance lease creditor 

Net derivative liabilities/(assets) 
Total borrowings due after one year 

Total borrowings 
Less: Cash at bank and in hand and short-term deposits 

Net debt 

Group 

Company

2007 
£m 

2006 
£m 

2007 
£m  

2006 
£m

52.3 
48.1 
21.7 
1.4 
0.5  

124.0 
0.1 
124.1  

134.2 
22.9 

111.3 

1.4 
61.2 
23.8 
1.4 
0.5 

88.3 
(0.2) 
88.1 

95.8 
18.8 

77.0 

52.3 
48.1 
21.7 
1.4 
0.5  

124.0 
0.1 
124.1 

133.2 
1.9 

131.3 

1.3
61.2
23.8
1.4
0.5

88.2 
(0.2)
88.0

91.8
0.5

91.3

other than trade receivables and payables, there are no financial assets or liabilities excluded from the above analysis.

No financial assets or liabilities were held or issued for trading purposes.

The Company has issued 1,394,587 cumulative preference shares of £1 each. These shares are not redeemable and pay an 
interest coupon of 9% semi-annually.

Borrowing facilities
At 29 December 2007, the Group had undrawn committed facilities of £29.7m (2006: £42.5m) with the following expiry profile:

Less than one year 
Between one and two years 
Between two and five years 

The Group had no undrawn uncommitted facilities (2006: £10m).

2007 
£m 

20.0 
2.2 
7.5 

29.7 

2006 
£m

23.8
18.7
–

42.5

66 John Menzies plc AnnuAl RepoRt 2007

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
  
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
  
  
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
  
  
  
  
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Fair values
Set out below is an analysis of the fair and book value of the Group’s financial instruments as at 29 December 2007.

2007 
Book 
value 
£m 

2007 
Fair 
value 
£m 

Primary financial instruments held or issued to finance the Group’s operations:
Short-term borrowings 
Medium-term borrowings 
Long-term borrowings 

11.4 
100.4 
22.4 

11.4 
100.5 
23.0 

134.2  

134.9 

2006 
Book 
value 
£m  

7.7 
62.6 
25.5 

95.8 

2006 
Fair 
value 
£m

7.7
62.7
26.0

96.4

Cash and deposits 

22.9  

22.9 

18.8  

18.8

The fair value of the fixed rate term borrowing is calculated as the present value of all future cash flows discounted at 
prevailing market rates.

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Derivative financial instruments 

Assets
Forward foreign exchange contracts (non-current) 
Forward foreign exchange contracts (current) 

Liabilities
Forward foreign exchange contracts (current) 
Forward foreign exchange contracts (non-current) 

Group 

Company

2007 
£m 

2006 
£m 

2007 
£m  

2006 
£m

– 
0.6 

0.3 
1.5 

– 
0.6 

(2.9) 
(0.1) 

(2.4) 

(0.4) 
(0.1) 

1.3 

(2.9) 
(0.1) 

(2.4) 

0.3
1.5

(0.4)
(0.1)

1.3

The fair values of the derivative financial instruments were determined by reference to quoted market prices. The derivative 
financial instruments are classified as current or non-current based on the remaining maturity of the related hedged item.

Forward foreign exchange contracts
The notional principal amounts of the outstanding forward foreign exchange contracts are:

i

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Euro 
uS dollar 
Czech crown 
Australian dollar 
New Zealand dollar 
Swedish kroner 
Indian rupee 

Eur 
uSD 
CZK 
AuD 
NZD 
SEK 
INr 

Group 

Company 

Sterling Equivalents

2007 
million  

2006 
million 

2007 
million  

2006 
million 

29.1 
44.4 
319.2 
17.1 
2.9 
33.9 
412.0 

29.6 
47.5 
319.2 
8.1 
2.9 
– 
 – 

29.1 
44.4 
319.2 
17.1 
2.9 
33.9 
412.0 

29.6 
47.5 
319.2 
8.1 
2.9 
– 
– 

2007 
£m 

21.5 
22.3 
7.8 
7.0 
1.0 
2.6 
5.1 

2006 
£m

19.9
24.3
7.4
3.4
1.0
–
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The fair value of provisions, preference shares and other financial liabilities are not considered to be materially different from 
their book value.

John Menzies plc AnnuAl RepoRt 2007

67

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
NoTES To THE ACCouNTS (CoNTINuED)

16. Financial instruments (continued)

Interest rate and currency risk profile of financial assets and liabilities

Financial assets and liabilities
The interest rate and currency profile of the Group’s financial assets and liabilities (excluding trade receivables and trade 
payables) at 29 December 2007 is shown below.

Currency 

Sterling 
Euro 
uS dollar 
Hong Kong dollar 
Australian dollar 
New Zealand dollar 
Norwegian kroner 
other 

Floating 
rate 
financial 
assets 
£m 

Fixed 
rate 
financial 
assets 
£m 

2007 
total 
financial 
assets 
£m 

Floating 
rate 
financial 
assets 
£m 

Fixed 
rate 
financial 
assets 
£m  

2006 
total 
financial 
assets 
£m

6.0 
3.3 
4.1 
0.6 
4.2 
1.0 
1.8 
1.9 

22.9 

– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 

– 

6.0 
3.3 
4.1 
0.6 
4.2 
1.0 
1.8 
1.9 

6.3 
3.1 
4.0 
0.4 
2.2 
0.6 
– 
0.8 

1.2 
– 
0.2 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 

7.5
3.1
4.2
0.4
2.2
0.6 
– 
0.8

22.9 

17.4 

1.4  

18.8

The floating rate financial assets of £22.9m (2006: £17.4m) are at interest rates linked to Base rates and LIBID. The fixed rate 
financial assets of £1.4m in 2006 were one-month fixed sterling deposits at rates between 5% and 5.2% and a one-month 
fixed uS dollar deposit at 5.21%.

Currency 

Sterling 
Euro 
uS dollar 
other 
Net derivative liabilities/(assets) 

Floating 
rate 
financial 
liabilities 
£m 

Fixed 
rate 
financial 
liabilities 
£m 

2007 
total 
financial 
liabilities 
£m 

Floating 
rate 
financial 
liabilities 
£m 

Fixed 
rate 
financial 
liabilities 
£m  

2006 
total 
financial 
liabilities 
£m

39.4 
4.4 
18.6 
1.9 
2.4 

66.7 

31.9 
– 
35.6 
– 
– 

67.5 

71.3 
4.4 
54.2 
1.9 
2.4 

134.2 

27.4 
0.1 
36.5 
– 
(1.3) 

62.7  

33.1 
– 
– 
– 
– 

33.1 

60.5
0.1
36.5
–
(1.3)

95.8

Floating rate financial liabilities of £66.7m (2006: £62.7m) comprise bank loans, overdrafts, unsecured loan stock,  
cross-currency basis swaps and forward contracts. Interest on these liabilities is determined by reference to short-term  
rates linked to Base rates and LIBor.

Sterling fixed rate financial liabilities comprise a loan repayable between 2008 and 2020 of £30m (2006: £31.1m) on which 
interest is at a fixed rate of 6.23% (2006: 6.23%), preference shares of £1.4m (2006: £1.4m) and finance lease creditors of 
£0.5m (2006: £0.6m). The loan has a weighted average maturity of 7 years (2006: 8 years).

uS dollar fixed rate financial liabilities comprise loans of £35.6m (2006: £nil) repayable between 2009 and 2011 at a blended 
rate of 5.33%.

68 John Menzies plc AnnuAl RepoRt 2007

 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
  
17.  Operating lease commitments

The future aggregate minimum lease payments under non-cancellable operating leases are as follows:

Group 

   Property 

Other 

Company

Property

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within one year 
within two to five years 
after five years 

18. Capital commitments

2007 
£m 

16.6 
50.5 
56.7 

2006 
£m 

21.9 
68.5 
39.3 

2007 
£m  

2006 
£m 

2007 
£m 

2006 
£m

6.9 
8.5 
0.7 

6.3 
6.5 
0.4 

0.8 
2.7 
2.0 

5.5 

0.8
2.4
1.9

5.1

123.8 

129.7 

16.1 

13.2 

Group 

Company

2007 
£m 

2006 
£m 

2007 
£m 

2006 
£m

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Contracted but not provided – property, plant and equipment 

6.5 

4.9 

– 

–

19.  Provisions

Deferred tax 

Assets
Accelerated capital allowances and other temporary differences 

Liabilities
Accelerated capital allowances and other temporary differences 
retirement benefit obligations 

Net deferred tax liabilities/(assets) 

Movement in year:
Income Statement – retirement benefit obligations 

– other 
Statement of recognised Income and Expense 
Acquired with/transfer to subsidiary 

Group 

Company

2007 
£m 

2006 
£m 

2007 
£m 

2006 
£m

4.1 

4.1 

2.9 
2.7 

5.6 

1.5 

2.1 
1.0 
(1.0) 
– 

 2.1 

3.8 

3.8 

1.6 
1.6 

3.2 

(0.6) 

4.4 
0.1 
7.0 
(0.4) 

11.1 

– 

– 

1.1 
2.7 

3.8 

3.8 

0.7 
0.4 
(1.0) 
1.3 

1.4 

–

–

0.8
1.6

2.4

2.4

4.4
0.3
7.0
–

11.7

John Menzies plc AnnuAl RepoRt 2007

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NoTES To THE ACCouNTS (CoNTINuED)

19.  Provisions (continued)

Other – property related 

At beginning of year 
Provided during year 
utilised during year 

At end of year 

Group 

2007 
£m 

7.0 
1.5 
(3.4) 

5.1 

2006 
£m

7.2
3.1
(3.3)

7.0

The property-related provision is in respect of obligations for vacated leasehold properties where applicable sublet income 
may be insufficient to meet obligations under head leases.

Contingent liabilities
There are contingent liabilities, including those in respect of disposed and acquired businesses, which are not expected to 
give rise to any significant loss to the Group.

In addition, in the normal course of business, the Company has guaranteed certain trading obligations of its subsidiaries. 

20. Share capital

Authorised

73,056,248 ordinary shares of 25p each 

Allotted, called up and fully paid

opening – 59,255,537 ordinary shares of 25p each 
Allotted under share option schemes * 

Closing – 59,980,222 ordinary shares of 25p each  

2007 
£m 

2006 
£m

18.3 

18.3

14.8 
0.2 

15.0 

14.7
0.1

14.8

As a result of options being exercised, 724,685 (2006: 547,502) ordinary shares having a nominal value of £0.2m  
(2006: £0.1m) were issued during the year at a share premium of £2.5m (2006: £1.7m).

*  Included in this total are 269,089 (2006: nil) ordinary shares of 25p each allotted to directors under the executive share option scheme 
and 78 (2006: 606) ordinary shares of 25p each allotted to the directors under the savings-related share option scheme with a total 
nominal value of £67,292 (2006: £152).

Potential issue of ordinary shares
Certain senior executives hold options to subscribe for shares in the Company under the executive share option scheme 
approved by the shareholders, details of which are shown below. options on 468,240 shares were exercised in 2007 and 
2,500 options lapsed.

Date of grant 

Feb-97 
Apr-98 
Feb-99 
Jan-00 
Apr-02 
Nov-02 
May-03 
May-04 

70 John Menzies plc AnnuAl RepoRt 2007

Exercise price 
(pence) 

Exercise 
 period 

461 
492 
348 
391 
331 
329 
312 
418 

2000-2007 
2001-2008 
2002-2009 
2003-2010 
2005-2012 
2005-2012 
2006-2013 
2007-2014 

2007 
Number 

– 
12,500 
5,000 
5,000 
– 
196,048 
200,962 
101,776 

521,286 

2006 
Number

15,000
32,500
5,000
19,437
32,207
205,166
403,915
278,801

992,026

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
  
  
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
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Employees, including senior executives, also hold options to subscribe for shares in the Company under the savings-related 
share option scheme approved by the shareholders, details of which are shown below. options on 243,565 shares were 
exercised in 2007 and 190,395 options lapsed.

year of grant 

2003 
2004 
2005 
2006 
2007 

Exercise price 
(pence) 

Exercise 
 period 

  286 
  388 
  467 
  348 
  452 

2006-2007 
2007-2008 
2008-2009 
2009-2010 
2010-2011 

2007 
Number 

– 
22,857 
217,916 
392,850 
372,787 

2006 
Number

35,210
271,566
266,992
489,275
–

 1,006,410 

1,063,043

Company Share Option Schemes
The Company operates the following share-based payment arrangements:

(a)  Executive Share Option Scheme (“ESOS”)
options under the ESoS may be granted to executive directors and senior employees of the Group on an annual basis and 
mature only after three years upon which they become exercisable. The exercise period is usually seven years from maturity 
and special rules apply to employees who leave the employment of the Group due to ill health, retirement or redundancy. 
options are granted with a fixed exercise price equal to the market price of shares under option at the date of grant.

options granted under the ESoS adopted in September 2000, are subject to performance conditions and lapse if these are 
not achieved. The performance hurdles require that for each annual grant three-year growth targets set by the Board are 
achieved. Growth is typically measured by growth in underlying earnings per share (“EPS”) as compared to rPI plus between 
3% and 8% per annum over three years, adjusted to normalise pension and tax charges.

(b)  Savings-related Share Option Scheme
The Company operates a savings-related share option scheme which is open to all eligible uK employees. Typically, employees 
who are eligible to participate include full and part-time employees who work at least 16.5 hours per week, after any 
probationary period. Annual grants of options are made in october each year and become exercisable after three years. 
Employees enter into a savings contract with the Yorkshire Building Society, who administer the scheme. The options are 
granted at a 20% discount of the share price at the date of grant and lapse if not exercised within six months of maturity. 
Special provisions apply to employees who leave their employment due to ill health, redundancy or retirement.

(c)  Performance Share Plan (“PSP”)
under the PSP, the Board can grant executive directors and senior employees of the Group selected by the remuneration 
Committee an award of conditional shares. The shares will vest at the end of three years if Total Shareholder return (“TSr”) 
reaches targets set by the Board. If percentage growth in the Company’s TSr for the three financial years is greater than the 
TSr for the FTSE250 Index by 30% or more, then the percentage of the award vesting is 100%. If the growth is greater than 
the TSr for the FTSE250 Index but less than 30% greater, then the percentage of the award vesting will be calculated on a 
straight-line basis. If growth is equal to or less than TSr for the FTSE250 Index, then the percentage of the award vesting is 
nil. There will be no retesting of performance targets.

Awards may be made by the Board at any time but no award will be made more than ten years after the adoption of the 
PSP. At the end of each three year performance period, the remuneration Committee will notify each participant of the 
extent to which the performance targets have been met and the number of shares that will vest. Shares will be met from 
existing issued shares held under employee benefit trusts. Participants will also be paid an amount equal to the net 
dividends on those shares which actually vest which would have been paid during the performance period.

The conditional shares are not transferable and lapse immediately if the participant leaves the employment of the Group, 
although special rules apply in the case of particular circumstances such as death, ill-health, redundancy or other 

John Menzies plc AnnuAl RepoRt 2007

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NoTES To THE ACCouNTS (CoNTINuED)

20. Share capital (continued)

(c)  Performance Share Plan (“PSP”) (continued)
circumstances at the discretion of the remuneration Committee. No participant may be made an award of more than 
100,000 shares in any year. Share awards are valued using scenario-modelling.

(d)  Long-term Incentive Scheme (“LtIS”)
The terms under which share awards are made under the LTIS to senior employees are the same as for the PSP, other than 
as follows. The shares will vest at the end of three years if underlying EPS reaches targets set by the Board. If the percentage 
real EPS growth in the Company’s underlying EPS for three financial years is greater than rPI + 8% pa or more, then the 
percentage of the award vesting is 100%. If the EPS growth is greater than the rPI by between 3% and 8% pa, then the 
percentage of the award vesting will be calculated on a straight-line basis. If EPS growth is rPI + 3% pa or less, then the 
percentage of the award vesting is nil. There will be no retesting of performance targets.

(e)  Bonus Co-investment Plan (“Plan”)
The Plan offers executive directors and other senior executives selected by the Board the opportunity to invest part of  
their annual cash bonus for a financial year in the Company’s shares, entitling them, provided certain performance targets 
are met, to a grant of additional matching shares in the ratio of up to 2:1. The maximum amount of the annual cash bonus 
which may be eligible for matching is 50%. The net of tax amount is applied in the purchase of shares.

The first bonus award which qualified for investment in shares under the Plan was the award for the financial year ended 
December 2004 and the last qualifying bonus award will be for the financial year which commences 10 years after the 
adoption of the Plan.

Performance targets are based on real growth in earnings measured over three financial years. If the percentage growth in 
the Company’s EPS is rPI + 8% or more, then the number of matching shares that will vest is 2. For EPS growth of between 
rPI + 3% pa and rPI + 8% pa, the number of matching shares vesting will be calculated on a straight-line basis. No matching 
shares will vest for EPS percentage growth of rPI + 3% pa or less.

Similar provisions apply in respect of dividends, transferability of rights and leavers.

(f)  Shadow Option Scheme
The Company also operated a cash-settled Shadow option Scheme for certain senior executives up to 31 December 2004. 
Grants were made on a discretionary basis normally once a year. The Shadow option price was the market price at the date 
of grant and the shadow options mature after three years. The period for exercising was restricted to six months after the 
date of maturity, after which the shadow options lapse. Discretionary provisions were applied to leavers. The final maturity 
under the scheme happened during 2007 and there are no outstanding awards under the scheme. There will be no further 
awards under the scheme.

The performance targets applied were also based on three year real earnings growth. The 2004 shadow options were exercisable 
in 2007 if the percentage EPS growth exceeded rPI + 3%-8% pa, with any gain capped at 300p per shadow option. 

(g) Divisional Performance Share Plan (“DPSP”)
The DPSP was approved at the Annual General Meeting in May 2007 and was introduced to more closely align Divisional 
Directors and Senior Employees with the achievement of target divisional financial results (“DFr”). The DFr for Distribution 
is based on operating Profits, Cost Savings and income from new revenue Streams whilst for Aviation it is based on 
operating Profits. The maximum award which can be made to an individual is 100,000 shares per year.

Shares will vest at the end of three year financial periods. A nil award will be achieved where the DFr is at or below the 
Threshold Performance Target and 100% will vest where the DFr is equal to or greater than the Stretch Performance Target, 
with a result between Threshold and Stretch being made on a straight-line basis.

The first award under the plan was made following its adoption in May 2007 and the plan will run for ten years.

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Fair values of share options
options are valued using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model. No performance conditions are included in the fair value 
calculations.

The fair value per option granted after November 2002 and the assumptions used in the calculation are as follows:

Executive Share Option Scheme 

Savings-Related Option Scheme

Grant date 

May-04  May-03  Nov-02  oct-07  oct-06  oct-05  oct-04

418 
418 
2 

312 
312 
1 

329 
329 
1 

Share price at grant date (pence) 
Exercise price (pence) 
Number of employees 
Shares under option 
3 
vesting period (years) 
25.0% 
Expected volatility 
10 
option life (years) 
4 
Expected life (years) 
risk-free rate 
5.1% 
Expected dividends expressed as a dividend yield*  4.0% 
76 
Fair value per option (pence) 
IFrS 2 charge per option** 
70 

555.5 
467 
473 
101,776  200,962  196,048  372,787  392,850  217,916 
3 
25.0% 
3.5 
3.5 
4.5% 
3.8% 
132 
81 

3 
25.0% 
3.5 
3.5 
4.5% 
3.8% 
104 
63 

3 
25.0% 
10 
4 
4.5% 
5.2% 
50 
50 

3 
25.0% 
3.5 
3.5 
4.6% 
4.0% 
116 
71 

3 
24.5% 
10 
4 
4.1% 
4.5% 
49 
45 

547.5 
452 
697 

450 
348 
585 

485
388
53
22,857
3
25.0%
3.5
3.5
4.7%
3.9%
126
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The expected volatility is based on the historical volatility over the last three years. The expected life is the average expected 
period to vesting. The risk-free rate of return is the zero coupon uK Government bonds of a term consistent with the 
assumed award life.

*  Based on the daily 12-month trailing dividend yield averaged over the 12 months prior to valuation date.

**The difference between the fair value and IFrS 2 charge per option is due to adjustments for forfeiture risk. 

Long-term 
Incentive Scheme 

Performance  
Share Plan 

Bonus  
Co-Investment Plan 

‘DPSP’

Grant date 

Mar-06  Apr-05  May-07  Mar-06   Apr 05  Mar-07  Mar-06  Mar-05  May-07

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Share price at grant date (pence) 
Number of employees 
Shares awarded 
Contractual life (years) 
Expected departure* 
Expected outcome of  
meeting performance criteria 
Fair value per share (pence) 
IFrS 2 charge per share award** 

* risk of forfeiture

** Adjusted for forfeiture risk

576 
1 

582 
20 

541.5 
19 

576
2
96,334  94,978  35,000  105,000   131,250  15,866  11,753  18,149  70,000
3
0%

530  
4 

3 
27% 

3 
27% 

3 
14% 

3 
14% 

3 
14% 

582 
5 

530 
3 

595 
2 

515 
3 

3 
0% 

3 
0% 

3 
0% 

52% 
541.5 
205 

52% 
582 
219 

41% 
235 
235 

41% 
217  
217  

41% 
237 
237 

52% 
230 
230  

52% 
530 
237 

52% 
595 
264 

41%
231
231

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NoTES To THE ACCouNTS (CoNTINuED)

20. Share capital (continued)

Movement in share options
A reconciliation of conditional share movements of executive share options, savings-related share options and shadow 
options is shown below:

Executive Share Option Scheme 

Savings-Related Option Scheme

  weighted 
average 
exercise 
price (p) 

2007 
Number 

  weighted 
average 
exercise 
price (p) 

2006 
Number 

  weighted 
average 
exercise 
price (p) 

2007 
Number 

  weighted 
average 
exercise 
price (p)

2006 
Number 

outstanding at start of year 
Granted 
Forfeited/Expired 
Exercised 
outstanding at end of year 
Exercisable 

  992,026 
– 
(2,500) 
  (468,240) 
   521,286 
  521,286 

356 1,227,430 
– 
– 
(42,177) 
492 
368  (193,227) 
345 
 992,026 
345  713,225 

369 
– 
448 
422 
356 
331 

1,063,043 
377,327 
(190,395) 
  (243,565) 
1,006,410 
22,857 

386 1,154,443 
452  495,907 
381  (233,032) 
380    (354,275) 
413  1,063,043 
35,210 
388 

374
348
399
286
386
286

Shadow Option Scheme 

Performance Share Plan, Long-term Incentive 
Scheme and Bonus Co-investment Plan

  weighted 
average 
exercise 
price (p) 

2007 
Number 

  weighted 
average 
exercise 
price (p) 

2006 
Number 

  weighted 
average 
exercise 
price (p) 

2007 
Number 

  weighted 
average 
exercise 
price (p)

2006 
Number 

outstanding at start of year 
Granted 
Forfeited 
Exercised 
outstanding at end of year 
Exercisable 

  222,600 
– 
– 
  (222,600) 
– 
– 

– 
– 

418  557,600 
– 
(39,797) 
418  (295,203) 
–   222,600 
– 
– 

359 
– 
358 
315 
418 

– –

539,947 
120,866 
(82,483)  

– 
 578,330 

Summary information on all outstanding options

559  289,445 
568  273,357 
(22,855) 
558 
– 
561   539,947 
– 

–   

– 

584
535
565
–
559
–

Executive 
Share Option Scheme 
2006 
2007 

Savings-Related  
Option Scheme  

Shadow  
Option Scheme  

2007 

2006 

2007 

2006 

PSP, LtIS and Bonus 
Co-investment Plan
2006
2007 

range of exercise  
prices (pence) 
Weighted average 
exercise price (pence) 
Number of shares 
Weighted average 
remaining life (years)
– expected 
– contractual 

312-492 

312-540 

348-467 

286-467 

344 
521,286 

356 

386 
992,026  1,006,410  1,063,043 

413 

1.2 
4.4 

1.2 
4.4 

2.1 
2.1 

2.1 
2.1 

– 

– 
– 

– 
– 

418  

515-584 

476-595

418 
222,600  

561 
578,330 

559
539,947

1.2 
1.2 

2.2 
2.2 

2.2
2.2

The weighted average share price during the year for executive share options and savings-related options exercised over the 
year was 368p and 380p respectively (2006: 422p and 286p respectively).

total IFRS 2 charge for share-based incentive schemes
The total charge for the year relating to employee share-based plans was £0.4m (2006: £0.7m), all of which related to 
equity-settled share-based payment transactions. After tax, the total charge was £0.3m (2006: £0.5m).

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21. Statement of changes in shareholders’ equity

Ordinary 
shares 
 £m 

Share  Investment 
in own 
shares 
£m 

premium 
account 
£m 

Capital 
Retained  redemption 
reserve 
earnings 
£m 
£m 

Group
At 30 December 2006 
Profit for the year 
Dividends 
New share capital issued 
Movement in own shares 
Share-based payments 
Actuarial loss (net of deferred tax) 
Exchange adjustments 

At 29 December 2007 

At 31 December 2005 
Profit for the year 
Dividends 
New share capital issued 
Share-based payments 
Actuarial gain (net of deferred tax) 
Exchange adjustments 

At 30 December 2006 

Company
At 30 December 2006 
Loss for the year 
Dividends 
New share capital issued 
Actuarial loss (net of deferred tax) 

At 29 December 2007 

At 31 December 2005 
Profit for the year 
Dividends 
New share capital issued 
Share-based payments 
Actuarial gain (net of deferred tax) 

At 30 December 2006 

14.8 
– 
– 
0.2 
– 
– 
– 
– 

15.0 

14.7 
– 
– 
0.1 
– 
– 
– 

14.8 

14.8 
– 
– 
0.2 
– 

15.0 

14.7 
– 
– 
0.1 
– 
– 

14.8 

12.6 
– 
– 
2.5 
– 
– 
– 
– 

15.1 

10.9 
– 
– 
1.7 
– 
– 
– 

12.6 

12.6 
– 
– 
2.5 
– 

15.1 

10.9 
– 
– 
1.7 
– 
– 

12.6 

total 
£m

91.8
26.0
(12.8)
2.7
0.1
0.4
(2.2)
2.4

(3.5) 
– 
– 
– 
0.1 
– 
– 
– 

46.3 
26.0 
(12.8) 
– 
– 
0.4 
(2.2) 
2.4 

21.6 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 

(3.4) 

60.1 

21.6 

108.4

(3.5) 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 

(3.5) 

– 
– 
– 
– 
– 

– 

– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 

– 

15.5 
27.0 
(11.6) 
– 
0.7 
16.4 
(1.7) 

46.3 

56.8 
(5.6) 
(12.8) 
– 
(2.2) 

36.2 

20.7 
31.1 
(11.6) 
– 
0.2 
16.4 

56.8 

21.6 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 

21.6 

21.6 
– 
– 
– 
– 

21.6 

21.6 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 

21.6 

59.2
27.0
(11.6)
1.8
0.7
16.4
(1.7)

 91.8

105.8
(5.6)
(12.8)
2.7
(2.2)

87.9

67.9
31.1
(11.6)
1.8
0.2
16.4

105.8

The loss for the year for the Company of £5.6m (2006: profit of £31.1m) is the same under both IFrS and uK GAAP.  
other than presentational changes there is no difference in the Company balance sheet.

Investment in own shares
The Company’s ordinary shares are held in trust for an employee share scheme. At 29 December 2007 the trusts held 
706,149 (2006: 714,082) ordinary 25p shares with a market value of £4,025,049 (2006: £3,615,040).

John Menzies plc AnnuAl RepoRt 2007

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NoTES To THE ACCouNTS (CoNTINuED)

22. Minority interests

At beginning of year 
Share of profit after tax 
Dividend 
Acquired during the year 

At end of year 

2007 
£m 

2006 
£m

0.4 
0.1 
(0.1) 
(0.4) 

– 

0.3
0.2
(0.1)
–

0.4

During the year the Group purchased the 26% minority interest in The Big orange Handling Company Ltd.

23. Cash generated from operations

operating profit 
Depreciation and accelerated writedown 
Amortisation of intangible assets 
Share-based payments 
Gain on exchange of businesses 
Dilapidations on onerous lease 
Gain on sale of contract rights 
Gain on sale of property, plant and equipment 
Pension charge 
Past service pension credit 
Pension contributions in cash 
rationalisation and integration costs 
Cash spend on rationalisation and integration costs 
(Increase)/decrease in inventories 
(Increase)/decrease in trade and other receivables 
Increase/(decrease) in trade and other payables and provisions 

Cash generated from acquisitions during the year was not material. 

Group 

Company

2007 
£m  

2006 
£m 

  2007 
£m 

33.2 
21.0 
1.6 
0.4 
(3.1) 
2.4 
– 
(0.2) 
3.6 
– 
(7.7) 
– 
(1.2) 
(0.4) 
(21.0) 
19.9 

48.5 

34.0 
18.1 
1.3 
0.7 
– 
– 
(2.5) 
(0.2) 
4.7 
(5.8) 
(11.1) 
5.3 
(2.5) 
1.0 
0.4 
(13.7) 

(5.4) 
0.9 
– 
– 
– 
2.4 
– 
– 
0.3 
– 
(7.7) 
– 
– 
– 
(0.6) 
(0.4) 

29.7 

(10.5) 

2006 
£m

(2.9)
1.0
–
0.2
–
–
–
–
0.5
(0.5)
(11.1)
–
–
–
(0.7)
(1.0)

(14.5)

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2007 
£m

22.9
(1.9)

21.0
(5.7)
(0.1)
(1.4)
(0.6)
(122.1)
(2.4)

(3.0) 

(111.3)

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24. Analysis of changes in net borrowings

Currency 
2006  Cash flows  translation 
£m 
£m 

 £m 

Cash at bank and in hand 
Bank overdrafts 

Net cash and cash equivalents 
Bank loans due within one year 
Loan stock due within one year 
Preference shares 
Finance leases 
Debt due after one year 
Net derivative assets/(liabilities) 

25. Acquisitions

18.8 
(6.3) 

12.5 
(2.3) 
(0.1) 
(1.4) 
(0.6) 
(86.4) 
1.3 

(77.0) 

4.3 
4.4 

8.7 
(3.2) 
– 
– 
– 
(36.0) 
(0.8) 

(31.3) 

(0.2) 
– 

 (0.2) 
(0.2) 
– 
– 
– 
0.3 
(2.9) 

During the year, the Group acquired 100% of the share capital or trading assets of the following businesses:

Aviation

Date of acquisition 

Purchase consideration:

Cash paid 
Acquisition costs 
Deferred consideration 

Total purchase consideration 
Fair value of net assets acquired 

Goodwill 

universal 
Air Cargo 
Pty Ltd 

Northport 
Norway AS 
Finnhandling 
AB 

23/4/07 

5/11/07

Other 

total

£m 

£m 

£m 

£m

3.5  
0.3  
0.7  

4.5  
0.2  

4.3  

5.8  
0.2  
0.6 

6.6  
6.6  

–  

2.3  
0.2  
–  

2.5  
2.5  

–  

11.6 
0.7 
1.3 

13.6 
9.3 

4.3 

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The assets and liabilities arising from the acquisitions are as follows:

£m 

£m 

£m 

£m

Non-current assets:

Intangible assets (contracts) – fair value 
Property, plant and equipment 

Current assets 
Current liabilities 
Non-current liabilities 

Net assets acquired 

–  
0.3  
3.1  
(3.1) 
(0.1) 

0.2  

4.2  
2.2  
4.6  
(4.4) 
–  

6.6  

2.2  
0.2  
0.2  
(0.1) 
–  

2.5  

6.4 
2.7 
7.9 
(7.6)
(0.1)

9.3 

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other acquisitions during the year include Ground Europe Kft, a ground handling business operating at Budapest 
International Airport. 

John Menzies plc AnnuAl RepoRt 2007

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NoTES To THE ACCouNTS (CoNTINuED)

25. Acquisitions (continued)

Distribution

Date of acquisition 

1/05/07 

12/06/07 

6/08/07

Leadenhall 
News 
Ltd 

Magazine 
Solutions 
Ltd 

Grays 
Newsagents 
(york) Ltd 

 total

Purchase consideration:

Cash paid 
Acquisition costs 
Deferred consideration 

Total purchase consideration 
Fair value of net assets acquired 

Goodwill 

The assets and liabilities arising from the acquisitions are as follows:

Non-current assets:

Intangible assets (contracts) – fair value 
Property, plant and equipment 

Current assets 
Cash 
Current liabilities 

Net assets acquired 

£m 

£m 

£m 

£m

1.2  
0.1  
0.2  

1.5  
–  

1.5  

0.5  
–  
0.1  

0.6  
0.6  

–  

1.0  
0.1  
0.4  

1.5  
1.5  

–  

2.7 
0.2 
0.7 

3.6 
2.1 

1.5 

£m 

£m 

£m 

£m

–  
–  
0.7  
–  
(0.7) 

–  

0.5 
–  
0.6 
1.1 
(1.6) 

0.6  

1.3 
0.1 
0.5 
0.8 
(1.2) 

1.5  

1.8 
0.1 
1.8 
1.9 
(3.5)

2.1 

The acquired businesses contributed revenues of £22.9m from the date of acquisition. If the businesses had been acquired 
on 1 January 2007 revenues contributed would have been £45.2m. Due to divisionalisation and reorganisation of the 
businesses acquired, it has not been possible to meaningfully calculate the profit impact. However, the results from 
acquisitions were not material.

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26. Related party transactions

During the year the Group transacted with related parties in the normal course of business and on an arm’s length basis. 
Details of these transactions are shown below:

Related party 

Talma Menzies SrL (Peru) 
Freshport Bv 
Swissport Menzies Handling uTE 

Sales to 
related 
party 
£m 

Purchases 
from related 
party 
£m 

Amounts 
owed 
by related 
party at 29 
December 
2007 
£m

0.6 
0.3 
0.7 

– 
– 
– 

–
–
0.7

Group 
share 
holding 
% 

50 
50 
39 

Certain activities, including treasury, taxation, insurance, pension and legal matters are provided by the parent company to 
subsidiary companies and are recharged on a cost-plus basis.

The amounts owed to/(due by) the parent Company from dealings with subsidiary companies is disclosed in Notes 14 and 15.

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27.  Subsidiary companies

The principal subsidiaries, Menzies Distribution Limited, Menzies Group Holdings Limited, Menzies Aviation plc and  
Menzies Aviation Holdings Limited are ultimately wholly owned by the Company and operate mainly in the united Kingdom. 
The issued share capital of these subsidiaries is mainly in the form of equity shares.

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John Menzies plc AnnuAl RepoRt 2007

79

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
FIvE yEAR SuMMARy

Revenue
Distribution 
Aviation 

Operating profit
Distribution 
Aviation 

Corporate 

underlying operating profit 
Exceptional items 
Intangible amortisation 
Share of interest and tax on joint ventures and associates 

Profit before interest 
Net finance costs 
Foreign currency loss 

Profit/(loss) before taxation 

Per ordinary share
Dividends – payable 
underlying earnings 
Basic earnings 

IFRS 

2006 
£m 

2007 
£m 

uK GAAP

2005 
£m 

2004 
£m  

2003 
£m

 1,147.3 
393.8 

 1,132.0 
318.4 

 1,093.5 
268.6 

1,086.6  1,033.5
244.0   226.8

  1,541.1  1,450.4  1,362.1 

1,330.6  1,260.3

23.4 
20.6 

44.0 

(3.0) 

41.0 
0.1 
(2.8) 
(1.7) 

36.6 
(2.7) 
(2.1) 

31.8  

23.7 
16.6  

40.3 

(3.4) 

36.9 
3.0 
(2.2) 
(1.0) 

36.7 
(1.1) 
– 

35.6  

30.7 
13.3 

44.0 

(3.7) 

40.3 
– 
(2.1) 
 (0.6) 

37.6 
(0.9) 
– 

36.7 

30.5 
10.3  

40.8 

26.2
2.4

28.6

(4.3) 

(4.8)

36.5 
7.6 
(3.6) 
– 

40.5 
(2.9) 
– 

37.6  

23.8
(17.2)
(3.6)
–

3.0
(3.1)
–

(0.1)

25.6p 
47.9p 
44.2p 

20.5p 
46.9p 
46.4p 

19.5p 
51.9p 
48.2p 

18.5p 
44.0p 
51.0p 

18.1p
24.8p
(11.4)p

80 John Menzies plc AnnuAl RepoRt 2007

 
 
 
 
 
 
  
  
 
  
  
 
  
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
GENERAL INFORMAtION

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Internet
The Group operates a website which can be found at  
www.johnmenziesplc.com. This site is regularly updated to 
provide you with information about the Group and each of 
its operating divisions. In particular all of the Group’s press 
releases and announcements can be found on the site 
together with copies of the Group’s accounts.

Share Registrar & Shareholder Enquiries
Any enquiries concerning your shareholding should be 
directed to the Company’s registrar and clearly state the 
shareholder’s name, address and Shareholder reference 
Number (SrN). The contact details are:
• 
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call: 0870 703 6303
web: www.computershare.com
email: web.queries@computershare.co.uk
write: The John Menzies plc registrar, Computershare 
Investor Services PLC, The Pavilions, Bridgwater road, 
Bristol, BS99 6ZZ

The registrar should be notified in writing promptly of any 
change in a shareholder’s address. Computershare’s online 
Investor Centre also enables you to view your shareholding 
and update your address and payment instructions online. 
You can register at www.computershare.com/investor/uk.  
In order to register you will need your Shareholder reference 
Number (SrN), which you can find on your share certificate 
or tax voucher. If you have an older share certificate issued 
by Capita IrG, your SrN is the 10 digit investor code.

Share Price
The current share price of John Menzies plc ordinary shares can 
be seen on the Group’s website, www.johnmenziesplc.com. 

Low Cost Dealing Service
The Group has arranged a low cost dealing service with 
Stocktrade for those wishing to buy or sell shares in John 
Menzies plc. 

To use this service either:
• 
• 
• 

call: 0845 601 0995 and quote ref: LoW C0014
web: www.stocktradebroking.co.uk
write: John Menzies plc – Share Dealing Service, 
Stocktrade, 81 George Street, Edinburgh, EH2 3ES

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email: help@sharegift.org.uk
write: ShareGift, 17 Carlton House Terrace, London, 
SW1Y 5AH

Payment of Dividends
It is in the interests of shareholders and the Company for 
dividends to be paid directly into bank or building society 
accounts. Any shareholder who wishes to receive dividends 
in this way should contact the Company’s registrar to obtain 
a dividend mandate form. The provisional dates of dividend 
payments in the year, subject to their approval/
recommendation, are:

Ordinary Shares 
Final dividend for 2007 will be paid on 27 June 2008 to 
shareholders on the register on 30 May 2008.

Interim dividend for 2008 will be paid on 28 November 2008 
to shareholders on the register on 31 october 2008.

9% Preference Shares 
will be paid on 1 April 2008 and 1 october 2008.

Investor Relations
The Group accounts can be downloaded from our website. 
For other investor relations enquiries, please contact us at:
• 
• 
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call: 0131 225 8555
fax: 0131 226 3752
web: www.johnmenziesplc.com
email: info@johnmenziesplc.com
write: John Menzies plc, 108 Princes Street,  
Edinburgh EH2 3AA

Corporate Calendar:
11 March 2008 
1 April 2008 

9 April 2008 

15 May 2008* 
22 May 2008 
30 May 2008 

27 June 2008 

 Preliminary announcement of results
 Payment of dividend on 9% 
Cumulative Preference Shares
 Annual report and Notice of AGM 
posted to shareholders
 Management Statement issued
 Annual General Meeting
 record date for Final Dividend  
on ordinary Shares
 Payment date for Final Dividend  
on ordinary shares
 Announcement of Interim results
Payment of dividend on 9% 
Cumulative Preference Shares
record date for Interim Dividend  
on ordinary Shares
 Management Statement issued
 Payment date for Interim Dividend  
on ordinary Shares

John Menzies plc AnnuAl RepoRt 2007

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ShareGift
ShareGift is a share donation scheme which exists to make  
it easy for you to give shares to charity. They specialise in 
accepting small holdings of shares, but can also help people 
with larger gifts of shares to charity. For further details, or 
should you wish to donate any or all of your John Menzies plc 
shares to charity using ShareGift, please contact:
• 
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call: 020 7930 3737
web: sharegift.org

29 August 2008* 
1 october 2008 

31 october 2008* 

11 November 2008* 
28 November 2008* 

*Provisional date

 
 
 
ANNuAL GENERAL MEEtING
ExPLANATorY NoTES To THE NoTICE oF MEETING

The Notice of Meeting appears on pages 85 to 87. The following information provides additional background information to 
several of the resolutions proposed.

Resolutions 3-7 – Re-election of directors

The Board recommends that the following directors, who offer themselves for re-election at this Annual General Meeting, 
be re-elected:

william thomson
William was appointed Chairman of the Company in 2002. He has been a non-executive director since 1987, and chairs the 
Nomination Committee. He is Chairman of E G Thomson (Holdings) Ltd, a shipping and logistics group with interests in Asia, 
British Assets Trust plc and Fidelity Japanese values plc. William has extensive leadership skills and experience, and provides 
highly valued advice and support to the executive management team. Age 67.

Paul Dollman 
Paul was appointed Group Finance Director in 2002, and assumed additional responsibility for the corporate head office in 
2007. He is also a non-executive director of Scottish Amicable Life Association Society. He qualified as a chartered 
accountant in 1982 with Price Waterhouse, and his financial career has included being finance director with William Grant & 
Sons Ltd, Inveresk plc, and Maddox Group plc. Paul sits on both the Menzies Aviation and Menzies Distribution operating 
Boards and has successfully guided the financial performance of the Group during a period of sustained growth in Menzies 
Aviation and change in Menzies Distribution. Age 51.

Dermot Jenkinson
Dermot was appointed to the Board of the Company in 1986 where he held various executive responsibilities before 
assuming a non-executive role in 1999. He is founder and Chairman of beCogent Ltd, a contact centre and related 
consultancy business, and is a director of a number of other private companies. Dermot contributes from his breadth of 
experience gained from his knowledge of the Company and through a wide range of general management roles. Age 53.

Ian harrison
Ian was appointed a non-executive director of the Company in 1987. He is a director of record Currency Management,  
an institutional investment management company specialising in currency management for pension funds worldwide.  
Ian provides counsel and support to the Board and brings particular skills relating to pension investment and currency 
management. Age 51.

Iain Robertson
Iain joined the Board as a non-executive director of the Company in 2004 and chairs the Audit Committee. He is a former 
chief executive of the royal Bank of Scotland’s Corporate Banking and Financial Markets Division. A qualified chartered 
accountant, Iain previously worked in the civil service, at the Department of Trade and Industry and the Department of 
Energy before moving to the Scottish office. He was subsequently appointed director of Locate in Scotland and then chief 
executive of the Scottish Development Agency. Iain provides valuable financial experience and counsel to the Board. Age 62.

Each of the directors retiring has undergone a formal performance evaluation and the performance of each continues to be 
effective and to demonstrate commitment to their role including commitment of time for Board and Committee meetings 
and their other duties.

Resolution 11 – Amendment of the rules of the Company’s Savings Related Share Option Scheme

The rules (the “rules”) of the Company’s Savings related Share option Scheme (the “SAYE Scheme”) were put in place on  
8 September 1998. In terms of the rules no further options may be granted after 8 September 2008. Your directors feel  
that the SAYE Scheme is an important tool in the motivation and retention of staff and because of the advantages it offers 
to employees, it is proposed that the SAYE Scheme be extended indefinitely. The opportunity has also been taken to amend 
the rules in some minor regards to take account of changes in practice and legislation since 1998.

82 John Menzies plc AnnuAl RepoRt 2007

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The rules of the SAYE Scheme will be amended to provide that:
1.  the definition of “Eligible Employee” be revised, in accordance with the requirements of Schedule 3 to the Income Tax 

(Earnings and Pensions) Act 2003 (“ITEPA”), to include directors who are in employment with the Company for 25 hours 
or more per week;

2.  rule 6.6.2 will be amended to ensure that it is not discriminatory against pregnant option holders;
3.  rule 12.2 will be amended so that the consent of Her Majesty’s revenue & Customs (“HMrC”) to any amendments to the 

Scheme rules will only be required when the proposed amendment is to a “key feature” of the rules; and

4.  the SAYE Scheme will not terminate on 8 September 2008 but will continue indefinitely unless and until the directors 

resolve otherwise.  

HMrC have confirmed that the proposed amendments are in a form capable of approval. If the resolution is passed to 
approve and adopt the proposed amendments, the formal approval of HMrC, as required under Paragraph 43 of Schedule 3 
ITEPA, will take effect from the date on which this resolution is passed. 

Resolution 12 – Amendment to Articles of Association

This resolution is being proposed in light of new provisions in relation to directors’ conflicts of interest which are to be 
introduced by the Companies Act 2006 (the “2006 Act”) with effect from 1 october 2008, or a later date yet to be 
announced by the Government. 

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under the 2006 Act, a director will be required to avoid situations in which he has, or can have, a direct or indirect interest 
that conflicts, or may possibly conflict, with a company’s interests. This requirement is considered to be very broad and may, 
for example, apply if a director becomes a director of another company.

The 2006 Act will, however, permit the directors of a public company to authorise a director’s conflict or potential conflict  
of interest provided that the company’s constitution includes provision enabling the directors to give such authorisation. 
resolution 12 is therefore being proposed to amend the Company’s Articles of Association (“Articles”) to include such 
provision. If the amendment is not made then when the sections of the 2006 Act dealing with conflicts of interest come 
into force, currently expected to be on 1 october 2008, the Company may be required to seek shareholder approval every 
time there is a situation where a director has an interest which may conflict with the Company’s interests. This is not 
considered to be practical. 

There are safeguards in the 2006 Act which will apply when directors decide whether to authorise a conflict or potential 
conflict of interest. Firstly, only independent directors (i.e. those who have no interest in the matter being considered) will be 
able to take the decision and, secondly, in taking the decision, the directors will have to act in a way they consider, in good faith, 
will be most likely to promote the Company’s success for the benefit of shareholders as a whole. The directors will also be able 
to impose limits or conditions when giving authorisation if they think this is appropriate. It is the directors’ intention to report 
annually on the Company’s procedures for ensuring that the directors’ powers to authorise conflicts are operated effectively.

The directors expect to propose the adoption of a new set of Articles fully updated to reflect the repeal of the Companies 
Act 1985 and its replacement by the 2006 Act, either at next year’s Annual General Meeting or the next following Annual 
General Meeting, depending on ultimate timing of all sections of the 2006 Act coming into force.

Resolution 13 – Authority to allot shares

resolution 13 authorises the directors to allot unissued shares in the capital of the Company up to a maximum nominal 
value of up to £3,215,173 (the unissued ordinary share capital of the Company as at 8 April 2008). This authority will expire 
on the conclusion of the Annual General Meeting of the Company in 2009, it being the intention to renew it at that and each 
subsequent Annual General Meeting. Shareholders last granted such general authority to the directors at the Annual General 
Meeting of the Company in 2003. The directors have no present intention to issue any shares under the authority being 
sought, but this resolution will provide the Company with flexibility to issue shares in the future. The Company does not hold 
any shares in treasury as at 8 April 2008, the latest practicable date prior to issue of the Notice of Annual General Meeting.

John Menzies plc AnnuAl RepoRt 2007

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ANNuAL GENErAL MEETING  
ExPLANATorY NoTES To THE NoTICE oF MEETING (CoNTINuED)

Resolution 14 – Authority to disapply pre-emption rights

under Section 89 of the Companies Act 1985 (as amended) if the directors wish to allot any of the unissued ordinary  
shares in the Company for cash they must, in the first instance, offer them to existing shareholders in proportion to  
their shareholding. This resolution proposes, on the same basis as last year and subject to the passing of resolution 13,  
to disapply pre-emption rights of shareholders on the allotment of equity securities for cash up to a limit of 5% of the  
issued ordinary share capital of the Company as at 8 April 2008, being shares to an aggregate nominal value of £752,444. 
The authority under this resolution would expire on the date of the next Annual General Meeting of the Company or on  
21 August 2009, whichever is earlier. The directors have no current plans to utilise this authority.

Resolutions 15 and 16 – Authority to buy-back shares

The directors consider that it would be advantageous for the Company to renew the authority, granted at last years Annual 
General Meeting to purchase its own ordinary and 9% cumulative preference shares in case the opportunity presents itself 
where such course of action would be in the best interests of shareholders generally. under the terms of these special 
resolutions the maximum number of shares to be purchased is 6,019,555 ordinary shares (representing 10% of the issued 
ordinary share capital as at 8 April 2008) and 1,394,587 9% cumulative preference shares (representing 100% of the issued 
9% cumulative preference shares as at 8 April 2008). resolutions 15 and 16 set out the highest and lowest prices which the 
Company can pay for these shares. This authority will only be exercised where in the opinion of the Board it is likely to result 
in an increase in earnings per share and would be in the best interests of shareholders generally. Any shares purchased by 
the Company under this authority will be cancelled, unless the shares are purchased by the Company to hold as treasury 
shares. These authorities would expire on the date of the next Annual General Meeting or on 21 August 2009, whichever  
is earlier. The directors have no present intentions for the Company to purchase its own shares.

Recommendation
The directors consider all these resolutions to be in the best interests of the Company and its shareholders as a whole, 
consistent with the directors’ duty to act in the way most likely to promote the success of the Company for the benefit of 
its shareholders as a whole, and unanimously recommend that you vote in favour of them.

Proxy Form
A Form of Proxy, which covers all resolutions to be proposed at the Annual General Meeting of the Company to be held on 
22 May 2008, is provided for use by holders of ordinary shares and should be read in conjunction with the Notice of Annual 
General Meeting. Completed Forms of Proxy should be returned as soon as possible but in any event no later than 12.15pm 
on Tuesday 20 May 2008. Completion of a Form of Proxy will not prevent a shareholder from attending and voting at the 
Annual General Meeting if he/she so wishes.

Appointment of a proxy through CRESt
To appoint one or more proxies or to give an instruction to a proxy (whether previously appointed or otherwise) via the 
CrEST system, CrEST messages must be received by the issuer’s agent (ID number 3rA50) not later than 48 hours before 
the time appointed for holding the Annual General Meeting. For this purpose, the time of receipt will be taken to be the  
time (as determined by the timestamp generated by the CrEST system) from which the issuer’s agent is able to retrieve the 
message. For further information on CrEST procedures, limitations and system timings please refer to the CrEST Manual. 
The Company may treat as invalid a proxy appointment sent by CrEST in the circumstances set out in regulation 35 (5) (a)  
of the uncertificated Securities regulations 2001.

84 John Menzies plc AnnuAl RepoRt 2007

NOtICE OF ANNuAL GENERAL MEEtING

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this document is important and requires your immediate attention. If you are in any doubt about what action you 
should take you are recommended to consult your financial adviser. If you have sold or transferred all of your Ordinary 
Shares in John Menzies plc, you should forward this document, together with accompanying documents, to the 
purchaser or transferee or to the stockbroker, bank or other agent through whom the sale or transfer was effected,  
for transmission to the purchaser or transferee.

Notice is hereby given that the Annual General Meeting of John Menzies plc (the “Company”) will be held in the roxburghe 
Hotel, 38 Charlotte Square, Edinburgh on Thursday 22 May 2008 at 12.15pm (the “Meeting”) to transact the following 
business:

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Ordinary Business

To consider and if thought fit pass the following resolutions which will be proposed as ordinary resolutions:

1.  Report and Accounts

To receive the Directors’ report and Accounts for the financial year ended 29 December 2007 and the report of the 
Auditors thereon.

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2.  Dividend

To declare a final dividend on the Company’s ordinary shares of 18.4p each for the financial year ended 29 December 2007.

Re-election of Directors

3.  To re-elect William Thomson as a director
4.  To re-elect Paul Dollman as a director
5.  To re-elect Dermot Jenkinson as a director
6.  To re-elect Ian Harrison as a director
7.  To re-elect Iain robertson as a director

8.  Remuneration Report

To approve the report on Directors’ remuneration for the financial year ended 29 December 2007.

9.  Re-appointment of Auditor

To re-appoint PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as Auditors of the Company to hold office from the conclusion of the 
Meeting to the conclusion of the next Meeting at which accounts are laid before the Company.

10. Remuneration of Auditor

To authorise the directors to fix the Auditors’ remuneration.

Special Business

11. Amendment to the rules of the Company’s Savings Related Share Option Scheme

To consider the following resolution as an ordinary resolution:

That the amendments to the rules of the John Menzies plc Savings related Share option Scheme (the “SAYE Scheme”)  
in the form produced in draft to the Meeting and for the purposes of identification initialled by the Chairman of the 
Meeting (the effects of which are summarised in the Explanatory Notes to this Notice of Annual General Meeting dated 
9 April 2008) be approved and adopted with effect from 22 May 2008 and that the amendments to the SAYE Scheme be 
submitted for the formal approval of Her Majesty’s revenue & Customs under Paragraph 43 Schedule 3 to the Income Tax 
(Earnings and Pensions) Act 2003.

John Menzies plc AnnuAl RepoRt 2007

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NoTICE oF ANNuAL GENErAL MEETING (CoNTINuED)

12. Amendment to Articles of Association

To consider the following resolution as a Special resolution:

That the Articles of Association of the Company be amended by inserting the following as a new Article 84 (A):
“84  (A)  Subject to the provisions of the Acts and as contemplated by Section 175 of the 2006 Act, the Directors  

may authorise, in such manner and on such terms and subject to such limits and conditions as they see fit, any 
matter in which a director has, or can have, a direct or indirect interest which conflicts, or possibly may conflict, 
with the interests of the Company. The director concerned shall not vote on (or if he does vote, his vote shall not 
be counted), or be counted as part of the quorum in relation to, any resolution of the directors concerning any 
such matter. This Article 84 (A) does not apply to a conflict of interest arising in respect of a transaction or 
arrangement with the Company. For the purpose of this Article 84 (A), a conflict of interest includes a conflict of 
interest and duty and a conflict of duties.”,

and amending the numbering of the remainder of Article 84 (and any references thereto in the Articles of Association) 
accordingly.

13.  Authority to allot shares

To consider the following resolution as an ordinary resolution:

That the directors be and are hereby generally and unconditionally authorised, pursuant to Section 80 of the Companies 
Act 1985, as amended (the “Act”) in substitution for all other authorities pursuant to Section 80 of the Act to the extent 
not utilised at the date this resolution is passed to exercise all powers of the Company to allot relevant securities  
(as defined in Section 80 (2) of the Act) up to an aggregate nominal amount of £3,215,173, being the unissued ordinary 
shares to such persons and at such times and on such terms as they think proper. This authority shall expire at the close 
of the Annual General Meeting of the Company to be held in 2009 and provided that the Company may, prior to such 
expiry, make any offer, agreement or other arrangement which would or might require relevant securities to be allotted 
after that date and the directors may allot relevant securities in pursuance of any such offer, agreement or other 
arrangement as if this authority conferred hereby had not expired.

14.  Authority to disapply pre-emption rights

Subject to the passing of resolution 13, to consider the following resolution as a Special resolution:

That the directors be and are hereby empowered pursuant to Section 95 of the Companies Act 1985 (as amended)  
(the “Act”) to exercise all powers of the Company to allot equity securities (within the meaning of Section 94(2) of the 
Act) wholly for cash pursuant to the authority conferred by resolution 13 above and/or in respect of an allotment of 
equity securities by virtue of Section 94(3) of the Act as if Section 89 (i) of the Act did not apply to any such allotment, 
provided that this power shall be limited to: 

(a)  the allotment (otherwise than pursuant to sub-paragraph (b) below) of equity securities which are, or are to be,  

wholly paid up in cash to an aggregate nominal value of £752,444, being equal to approximately 5% of the ordinary 
shares in issue as at 8 April 2008 and for this purpose an issue of securities convertible into or giving the right to 
subscribe for ordinary shares shall be deemed to be an allotment of the number of shares which would be required  
to satisfy the conversion or subscription price provided in the terms and conditions of the issue; and

(b)  the allotment of equity securities in connection with a rights issue, open offer or otherwise to holders of ordinary 

shares, in proportion (as nearly as may be) to their respective holdings of such ordinary shares held by them, subject 
to the directors having a right to aggregate and sell for the benefit of the Company all fractional entitlements which 
may arise in apportioning equity securities among the holders of the ordinary shares, and subject to such exclusions 
or other arrangements as the directors may deem necessary or expedient in relation to any legal or practical problems 
under the laws of any territory or the requirements of any regulatory body or other authority in any jurisdiction;

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(c)  and that the authority hereby conferred shall expire (unless previously revoked, varied or renewed) at the conclusion of 

the next Annual General Meeting of the Company or on 21 August 2009 whichever is earlier, provided that the Company 
may before such expiry make an offer or arrangement which would or might require equity securities to be allotted after 
such expiry and the directors may allot equity securities in pursuance of any such offer or agreement as if the power 
hereby conferred had not expired.

15.  Purchase of own Ordinary Shares by Company

To consider the following resolution as a Special resolution:

That the Company be and is hereby authorised to make market purchases (within the meaning of Section 163(3) of the 
Act) of any of its own ordinary shares, provided that: 
(a)   the authority hereby conferred shall expire (unless previously revoked, varied or renewed) at the conclusion of the 
next Annual General Meeting of the Company or at the close of business on 21 August 2009, whichever is earlier, 
except in relation to the purchase of ordinary shares for which a contract was concluded before the authority expired 
and which might or will be executed wholly or partly after its expiration and the Company may make such a purchase 
in pursuance of such contract as if the authority hereby conferred had not expired; 

(b)   the maximum number of shares hereby authorised to be purchased is 6,019,555, representing 10% of the Company’s 

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issued ordinary share capital as at 8 April 2008; and 

(c)   the maximum price which may be paid for each ordinary share under this authority is an amount equal to 105% of 
the average of the middle market quotations for such ordinary shares of the Company as derived from the London 
Stock Exchange Daily official List for the five business days immediately prior to the date of conclusion of the 
contract for any such purchase, and the minimum price which may be paid for any such ordinary shares is 25p,  
in each case exclusive of the expenses of purchase (if any) payable by the Company.

16. Purchase of own Preference Shares by Company

To consider the following resolution as a Special resolution:

That the Company be and is hereby authorised to make market purchases (within the meaning of Section 163(3) of the 
Act) of any of its own 9% cumulative preference shares of £1 each, provided that: 
(a)   the authority hereby conferred shall expire (unless previously revoked, varied or renewed) at the conclusion of the 
next Annual General Meeting of the Company or at the close of business on 21 August 2009, whichever is earlier, 
except in relation to the purchase of 9% cumulative preference shares for which a contract was concluded before the 
authority expired and which might or will be executed wholly or partly after its expiration and the Company may 
make such a purchase in pursuance of such contract as if the authority hereby conferred had not expired; 
(b)   the maximum number of shares hereby authorised to be purchased is 1,394,587, representing 100% of the 

Company’s issued 9% cumulative preference share capital as at 8 April 2008; and 

(c)   the maximum price which may be paid for each 9% cumulative preference share under this authority is an amount 
equal to 110% of the average of the middle market quotations for such 9% cumulative preference shares of the 
Company as derived from the London Stock Exchange Daily official List for the five business days immediately prior 
to the date of conclusion of the contract for any such purchase, and the minimum price which may be paid for any 
such 9% cumulative preference shares is £1, in each case exclusive of the expenses of purchase (if any) payable by the 
Company.

By order of the Board
J F A GEDDES
SECrETArY
9 April 2008

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NoTICE oF ANNuAL GENErAL MEETING (CoNTINuED)

Notes

Entitlement to Attend Meeting
only those shareholders entered on the Company’s register of Members (the “register”) by 12.15pm on Tuesday 20 May 
2008 shall be entitled to attend and vote at the Meeting in respect of the number of ordinary shares they hold as shown by 
the register at that time. Changes to entries on the register after that time shall be disregarded in determining the rights of 
any shareholder to attend and vote at the Meeting.

Proxies
A shareholder entitled to attend and vote at the Meeting is entitled to appoint one or more proxies to exercise all or any of 
his/her rights to attend, speak and vote on his/her behalf. A proxy need not be a shareholder of the Company. A shareholder 
may appoint more than one proxy provided each proxy is appointed to exercise rights attached to different shares.  
A shareholder may not appoint more than one proxy to exercise the rights attached to any one share. A form of proxy is 
enclosed for holders of ordinary shares which, to be valid, must be completed in accordance with the instructions printed  
on it and lodged with the registrars of the Company at least 48 hours before the time of the Meeting or any adjournment 
thereof.

Appointment of a proxy will not prevent a shareholder from attending the Meeting and voting in person should he/she 
decide to do so. For members of CrEST who wish to appoint a proxy through the CrEST system, please refer to the 
instructions on page 84.

Documents
The following documents are available for inspection on any day (except Saturday, Sunday and Bank Holidays) from  
the date of sending this Notice of AGM up to and including the date of the Meeting during usual business hours at the 
registered office of the Company and at the offices of Maclay Murray & Spens LLP, one London Wall, London, EC2Y 5AB  
and will, on the date of the Meeting, be available for inspection at the venue of the Meeting from 12.00pm until the 
conclusion of the Meeting:
(a)  the Memorandum of Association of the Company;
(b)  the existing Articles of Association of the Company together with the Articles of Association as proposed to be amended 

by resolution 12;

(c)  copies of the directors’ service contracts with the Company;
(d)  the terms of appointment of the non-executive directors of the Company; and
(e)  a copy of the current rules of the SAYE scheme together with a copy as proposed to be amended by resolution 11.

Dividend
The final dividend on the ordinary shares, if approved, will be paid on 27 June 2008 to shareholders whose names appear on 
the register at the close of business on 30 May 2008.

88 John Menzies plc AnnuAl RepoRt 2007

PRINCIPAl ADDRESSES AND ADvISERS

Principal Business Addresses

Principal Advisers

John Menzies plc
108 Princes Street
Edinburgh EH2 3AA
Tel: +44 (0) 131 225 8555
Fax: +44 (0) 131 226 3752
Email: info@johnmenziesplc.com

Menzies Distribution
2 lochside Avenue
Edinburgh Park
Edinburgh EH12 9dJ
Tel: +44 (0) 131 467 8070
Fax: +44 (0) 131 469 4797

Menzies Aviation
Aviation House
923 Southern Perimeter Road
london Heathrow Airport
Hounslow
Middlesex TW6 3AE
Tel: +44 (0) 20 8750 6000
Fax: +44 (0) 20 8750 6001

Auditors
PricewaterhouseCoopers llP
Erskine House
68-73 queen Street
Edinburgh EH2 4NH

Corporate Financial Advisers 
and Joint Brokers
Hoare Govett limited
250 bishopsgate
london EC2M 4AA

Joint Brokers
brewin dolphin
48 St vincent Street
Glasgow G2 5TS

John Menzies plc is a tiMe critical logistics 
coMpany with two operating divisions, Menzies 
aviation and Menzies distribution. 

MENzIES AvIATION IS ONE 
OF THE WORldS lEAdING 
INdEPENdENT GROuNd ANd 
CARGO HANdlERS, WITH OvER 
14,000 EMPlOyEES WORldWIdE 
SERvICING OvER 500 AIRlINE 
CuSTOMERS AT 120 lOCATIONS 
IN 28 COuNTRIES.

MENzIES dISTRIbuTION IS  
A lEAdING PROvIdER OF  
AddEd vAluE dISTRIbuTION 
ANd MARkETING SERvICES 
TO THE uk’S NEWSPAPER ANd 
MAGAzINE SuPPly CHAIN.  
THE dIvISION HAS 4,000 
EMPlOyEES AT 19 Hub  
ANd 18 SPOkE bRANCHES 
THROuGHOuT THE uk  
ANd IRElANd.

bOTH dIvISIONS OPERATE IN 
dISTINCT b2b SECTORS WHERE 
SuCCESS dEPENdS ON PROvIdING 
A SAFE, EFFICIENT ANd HIGH 
quAlITy SERvICE TO THEIR 
CuSTOMERS ANd PARTNERS.

Ground Handling
A full ground handling service is 
available to customers, including 
ticketing, check-in, dispatch, 
boarding, management of 
passenger lounges and baggage 
services. Airside, we offer load 
control, passenger and baggage 
transfer, ramp handling services, 
aircraft towing and pushback, 
cabin cleaning, water services, 
de-icing and other ancillary 
services.

Newspaper and Magazine 
Distribution
We handle 5.7 million 
newspapers (6.1 million on 
Sundays) and 2.7 million 
magazines (covering 3,000  
titles) every day. deliveries  
are made in the early hours  
of the morning 364 days a  
year to more than 23,000 retail 
customers from the Northern 
Isles to the Isle of Wight.

IS RAPIdly ExPANdING IN TERMS OF REvENuE, CONTRACT WINS, 
GEOGRAPHICAl SPREAd ANd REGIONAl dENSITy. OPERATING IN 
GROWING MARkETS, IT IS A lEAdING PlAyER IN THE GlObAl GROuNd 
ANd CARGO HANdlING SECTORS, WITH TEAMS WORkING AT 120 
lOCATIONS WORldWIdE. THE dIvISION HAS OvER 14,000 EMPlOyEES.

underlying Operating Profit 2007

£20.6m

IS A STRONGly CASH GENERATIvE buSINESS WITH AROuNd 30%  
OF THE NEWSPAPER ANd MAGAzINE WHOlESAlE dISTRIbuTION 
MARkET IN THE uk. IT HAS A RECORd OF INvESTMENT IN 
INNOvATION ANd CuSTOMER SERvICE dElIvERy.

underlying Operating Profit 2007

£23.4m

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT: 
This Annual Report contains information which readers might consider 
to be forward looking statements relating to or in respect of the financial 
condition, results, operations and businesses of John Menzies plc. Any such 
statements involve risk and uncertainty because they relate to future events 
and circumstances. There are many factors that could cause actual results 
or developments to differ materially from those expressed or implied by any 
such forward looking statements. Nothing in this Annual Report should be 
construed as a profit forecast.

GROWING FROM 
STRENGTH

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John Menzies plc 
108 Princes Street, Edinburgh EH2 3AA
Tel: +44 (0) 131 225 8555
Fax: +44 (0) 131 226 3752
Email: info@johnmenziesplc.com
Web: www.johnmenziesplc.com

Registered in Scotland with company number SC34970
Registered office address as above

John Menzies plc 
Annual Report 2007