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Meggitt

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FY2020 Annual Report · Meggitt
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Meggitt PLC
Annual Report & Accounts 
2020

Introduction

Working closely with our 
Customers, we deliver 
technologically differentiated 
systems and products with  
high certification requirements  
in aerospace, defence and  
selected energy markets.

Through focusing on  
engineering and operational 
excellence, we build broad 
installed bases of equipment  
for which we provide  
through life services  
and support.

Our ambitious and diverse  
teams act with integrity  
to create superior and 
sustainable value for  
all of our stakeholders.

Meggitt PLC
Annual Report & Accounts 2020

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Strong portfolio
Diverse end market exposure 
with four aligned divisions

Focus on sustainability
Next-generation technologies 
that create more sustainable 
and efficient aircraft, engines, 
power and defence systems

Strong leadership
Leading through the 
pandemic: responding and 
adapting to the external 
environment

See more on page 20

See more on page 68

See more on page 14

 
 
 
2

Meggitt PLC
Annual Report & Accounts 2020

What’s in the report

Contents

Strategic Report
4  Our vision
6  At a glance
8  Chairman’s statement
10  CEO’s statement
14  Our response to COVID-19
16  Market review
20  Strategy
22  Business model
24  Innovating for the future
28  Strategy in action
36  Divisional reviews
44  CFO’s review
50  Key performance indicators
54  Risk management
56  Principal risks & uncertainties
62  Section 172 statement
63  Stakeholder engagement
66  Corporate responsibility

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Governance
90  Chairman’s introduction
92  Board of Directors
96  Corporate Governance report
105 Audit Committee report
112 Nominations Committee report
114 Directors’ remuneration report
142 Directors’ report

Group Financial Statements
146 Independent auditors’ report  

to the members of Meggitt PLC
157 Consolidated income statement
158 Consolidated statement of  
comprehensive income
159 Consolidated balance sheet
160 Consolidated statement of changes  

in equity

161 Consolidated cash flow statement
162 Notes to the consolidated  

financial statements

Company Financial Statements
218 Company balance sheet
219 Company statement of  

changes in equity
220 Notes to the financial  

statements of the Company

Other Information
229 Five-year record
230 Investor information
231 Glossary

We deliver innovative solutions 
for the most demanding 
environments. Our differentiated 
products and technologies 
satisfy the highest requirements 
for product safety, performance 
and reliability and we continue  
to prioritise investment in 
sustainable solutions for  
our customers.

CEO statement 

Continuing to support our 
customers while keeping our 
employees safe.

See page 10

Response  
to COVID-19 

Adapting and responding 
to the sudden change in  
the external environment.

14

Our strategy 

Remaining focused on 
operational execution and our 
four strategic priorities.

See page 20

 
 
 
Meggitt PLC
Annual Report & Accounts 2020

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Delivering  
the future 

Remaining committed to our 
investment in technology.

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Business model 

Innovation is at the heart of  
what we do with safety, reliability 
and operating and environmental 
performance underpinning our 
approach.

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Corporate 
responsibility 

We are committed to protecting 
our people and planet to 
develop technologies for the 
benefit of future generations.

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4

Our vision

Meggitt PLC
Annual Report & Accounts 2020

01
To Fly

02
To Power

Expertise relied upon by 
customers to enable safe, cost- 
effective and environmentally 
responsible flight.

Products and services that 
enable customers to operate 
critical infrastructure reliably 
and without disruption.

Every second of every day a Meggitt 
enabled aircraft takes off.1

Enabling advances in cleaner  
energy with innovative technology.

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1  Reflects pre-COVID-19 normalised traffic in 2019.

 
 
 
Meggitt PLC
Annual Report & Accounts 2020

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03
To Live

Innovative technologies which 
enhance lives and make the 
world more secure.

Investing at least two-thirds of our 
innovation budget on technologies for 
sustainable aviation; working to ensure  
a sustainable future for generations  
to come.

Performance

Financial summary

£1,684m

Revenue
2019: £2,276m

£191m

Underlying operating profit1
2019: £403m

£773m

Net debt
2019: £911m

16.5p

Underlying basic  
earnings per share3
2019: 37.3p

2.2x

Net debt: EBITDA5
2019: 1.5x

£32m

Free cash flow2
2019: £268m

£908m

Liquidity headroom4
2019: £806m

£334m

Statutory loss before tax
2019: Profit of £287m

Strategic highlights

 – Kept our people safe while continuing to 

support our global customers 

 – Lowered net debt by £138m

 – Completed the streamlining of our portfolio 

with the sale of Training Systems

 – Addition of 14 SMARTSupport® contracts, 
securing market share in the aftermarket

 – Investment in operational capability with the 

opening of our new Ansty Park campus

 – Accelerated sustainability strategy under 
People, Planet and Technology framework

1  Underlying operating profit is reconciled to operating profit in note 9 

to the Group’s consolidated financial statements on page 180.

2  Free cash flow is reconciled to cash from operating activities in note 42 

to the Group’s consolidated financial statements on page 214.

3  Underlying earnings per share is reconciled to basic earnings per share 

in note 14 to the Group’s consolidated financial statements on  
page 184.

4  Liquidity headroom is the difference between the Group’s committed 
credit facilities and its net borrowings (excluding lease liabilities).

5  As calculated in accordance with covenants in the Group’s committed 

credit facilities as described on page 49.

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At a glance

Meggitt PLC
Annual Report & Accounts 2020

Diverse end-market 
exposure

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Group revenue by end market

43%

2020: £726m

46%

2020: £768m

11%

2020: £190m

Aerospace 
Unique technologies for 
aerospace 

Civil aerospace accounts for 43% of  
Group revenue, with products and  
sub-systems installed on almost every  
jet airliner, regional aircraft and  
business jet in service today.

Energy & other
Keeping the  
lights on

Energy & Other accounts for 11%  
of Group revenue. We supply  
unique technology to enable clean  
and efficient production and use  
of natural gas and support nuclear, 
hydro-electric and novel  
clean-energy power generation.

Defence 
Protecting defence  
forces worldwide

Defence represents 46% of Group revenue. 
We have equipment on an installed base  
of around 22,000 fixed wing and  
rotary aircraft and a significant  
number of ground vehicles.

 
 
 
Meggitt PLC
Annual Report & Accounts 2020

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Four vertically integrated 
customer aligned divisions

Airframe Systems
Market-leading industry provider of  
braking systems for commercial, business 
and defence aircraft, fire protection and 
safety systems, power and motion,  
fuel systems, avionics and sensors and 
advanced polymer seals for around 51,000 
in-service civil and 22,000 defence aircraft.

47%

of revenue

Engine Systems
Market-leading position in advanced engine 
composites, thermal and safety systems with a 
broad range of technologies including 
vibration monitoring and engine health 
management systems. This division also 
provides aerospace engine flow control and 
sensing solutions.

14%

of revenue

Energy & Equipment
Specialises in energy and defence 
equipment ranging from electronics 
cooling to ammunition handling systems 
and heat transfer equipment for off-shore 
oil and gas facilities and renewable  
energy applications. 

20%

of revenue

Services & Support
Provides a full service aftermarket  
offering including spares distribution  
and maintenance, repair and overhaul 
(MRO) to our commercial, business jet  
and defence customers throughout the  
lifecycle of our products. 

19%

of revenue

Global coverage

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Total Group

Employees

9,280

North America

United Kingdom

Rest of World

Europe

Employees

Locations

Employees

Locations

Employees

Locations

Employees

Locations

4,871

17

2,305

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1,111

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993

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8

Meggitt PLC
Annual Report & Accounts 2020

Chairman's statement

Introduction 
While 2019 will be remembered as the year 
that saw a step change in awareness of the 
threat posed by climate change, the events 
of 2020 will also go down in history as a 
time when the world faced one of its 
biggest challenges for generations.

And just as climate change requires the 
collective actions of individuals, businesses 
and governments worldwide, so too has the 
outbreak of COVID-19 and the knock-on 
impact this has had on peoples’ lives 
everywhere.

While there is no doubt that the impact of 
the pandemic on civil aerospace has been 
unprecedented, the breadth of the Group’s 
end-market exposure across civil aerospace, 
defence and energy, coupled with the work 
we have done in recent years to streamline 
and strengthen the Group, has been key in 
helping us navigate our way successfully 
through the crisis.

Having been asked by the Board to stay  
on as Chairman to provide stability and 
continuity throughout this difficult period,  
I have ensured that the Board’s number one 
priority has been, and continues to be, to 
keep our employees and sites safe, while 
continuing to meet the needs of customers 
through the adoption of a number of new 
working practices across the Group. 

Meggitt has also played an important role in 
supporting our local communities, whether 
utilising our facilities and employees for  
the production of personal protective 
equipment or through participation in 
initiatives like the Ventilator Challenge in  
the UK.

In light of the significant reduction in 
demand in our civil aerospace business, we 
had to take a number of actions during the 
year in order to protect cash, reduce our 
cost base and position ourselves for the 
recovery. Part of this has meant taking the 
difficult, but necessary decision to reduce 
the size of the Group and our headcount, to 
ensure that we are well placed in 2021 as 
the recovery in civil aerospace gathers 
momentum.

I am extremely grateful to and proud of our 
employees for demonstrating outstanding 
levels of determination and dedication 
throughout what has been an extremely 
challenging 2020.

While we remain vigilant and agile to 
changes in the external environment, there 
is significant pent-up demand to travel and 
as a result of the development and rollout of 
a number of vaccines, improvements in 
testing and treating COVID-19, as well as 
stable conditions across our defence and 
energy end markets, the outlook for the 
Group is encouraging.

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I am extremely 

grateful to our 
employees for 
their dedication 
throughout  
an extremely 
tough year.

 
 
 
 
Meggitt PLC
Annual Report & Accounts 2020

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2020 performance
Having delivered another year of strong 
organic growth across our end markets and 
record profits for the Group in 2019, we saw 
another good performance from our 
defence business in 2020, which 
represented 46% of Group revenue, and 
which, along with energy, helped to 
mitigate the significant reduction in 
end-market demand and revenue in our civil 
aerospace business.

The overall performance of the Group in the 
year not only demonstrates our diverse 
end-market exposure, but also the fact that 
we entered the year in a strong position, 
reflecting the progress we have made in 
executing our strategy in recent years, 
making the business more resilient and 
more competitive.

As a result of our focus on managing costs 
and preserving cash, along with the 
divestment of our Training Systems business 
as we continued to optimise our portfolio, 
we have reduced our year-end net debt 
levels with our key balance sheet ratios 
remaining well within covenant limits. This 
represents a significant achievement and 
testament to the work done by our 
employees in moving quickly to adjust to 
the rapid change in market conditions.

Where possible, we have sought to 
safeguard future growth by protecting 
investment in new technologies, an 
important measure as we look to support 
our customers in new projects, including 
those focused on making aviation more 
sustainable and the development of talent 
through continued investment in both our 
graduate and apprentice programmes.

As we look ahead, and as the recovery 
continues, we have already reinstated a 
number of key projects, most notably the 
move to Ansty Park which we look forward 
to completing in 2021.

Capital allocation
As a consequence of the Group’s focus on 
preserving cash and protecting profit, the 
Board and the Group had to adjust the 
allocation of capital in 2020.

On our first priority, investing in the 
business to deliver future long-term 
sustainable growth, we entered 2020 at a 
peak in the investment cycle with a 
significant amount of expenditure already 
committed to key projects such as the move 
to Ansty Park and expansion of our carbon 
furnace capacity in the UK and US. Clearly, 
the decision to delay these important 
projects has meant that expenditure has 
been scaled back compared with our 
original plans at the start of the year. 
Looking forward, while we will maintain a 
disciplined approach to capital expenditure, 
we will continue to invest in developing 
sustainable and differentiated technologies, 
world-class facilities and recruiting and 
retaining the best talent, all of which are 
critical to our future success.

The Board recognises the importance of the 
dividend to shareholders and so our 
decisions to cancel the final dividend for 
2019 and the interim and final dividends for 
2020 were difficult. Subject to prevailing 
market conditions, it is the Board’s intention 
to restore the payment of a dividend at the 
appropriate time.

Thirdly, the Board regularly discusses the 
Group’s strategy and has a clear view on 
how we can improve and strengthen its 
position with carefully targeted acquisitions 
to complement our existing portfolio. 
During the year, we continued to enhance 
and optimise our portfolio through the sale 
of Training Systems, enabling us to further 
sharpen our focus on attractive aerospace, 
defence and selected energy markets where 
we have or can leverage our differentiated 
technology to achieve a strong position.
The core focus of the Board throughout 
2020 has been to ensure we navigate the 
downturn in civil aerospace and maintain 
sufficient headroom between our net debt 
levels and covenants. As we look ahead to 
2021, we will continue to ensure we manage 
the balance sheet effectively and 
appropriately as the recovery continues.

Board interaction/developments
The Board has operated effectively during 
the year through virtual meetings, with a 
higher cadence of interactions necessitated 
by the market environment. In particular, 
both Alison Goligher, Chair of the 
Remuneration Committee and Colin Day, 
Chair of the Audit Committee, have had to 
dedicate additional time to their duties 
because of the impact of COVID-19 on 
the Group.

As in previous years, I have continued the 
process of direct engagement with our top 
shareholders throughout the year, 
discussing a range of topics. 

Alongside continuing the implementation of 
our strategy, the main focus areas for the 
Board throughout 2020 were monitoring 
progress on the recovery, maintenance of a 
robust balance sheet and right-sizing the 
business to ensure we are well placed for 
the recovery. 

With no changes to the membership of the 
Board in 2020, this has provided important 
continuity and consistency throughout the 
year and will continue to do so as we move 
through 2021.

I am also pleased to report that Nancy 
Gioia, Chair of the Corporate Responsibility 
Committee and Non-Executive Director 
responsible for employee engagement, was 
able to continue her engagement activities 
across the Group remotely.

People
We have no higher priority than ensuring a 
safe and secure working environment for all 
employees. As well as the introduction of 
additional measures at each site to protect 
our people and reduce the risk of infection,  
I am also pleased to report an improvement 
in our overall safety performance during the 
year, with a reduction in our Total Recordable 
Incident Rate to 0.70 (2019: 0.74).

The Board is pleased that our work on 
culture could continue during the crisis, not 
only through monthly culture briefings run 
for all of our leaders, but also through our 
Inclusion Week in October, which had a real 
impact in helping to introduce and connect 
more of our employees across Meggitt to 
our eight Employee Resource Groups.

I am also very encouraged that the work  
we have done to create a positive culture 
has been reflected in our Employee 
Engagement score which, despite extremely 
challenging circumstances, remained high 
and above the 2018 level with a very good 
participation rate. 

Although no site visits have been possible 
in 2020, the Board has been able to monitor 
the impacts of COVID-19 on employee 
morale and culture. This has been achieved 
through direct engagement with senior 
executives as well as the ongoing activities 
of Nancy Gioia, which included virtual 
meetings with cross sections of employees 
from the UK, US and Asia, as well as more 
specific engagements with HR, graduates, 
apprentices and those involved in our 
culture programme and Employee Resource 
Groups for diversity and inclusion.

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Navigating the crisis has required agility in 
establishing strong leadership across the 
Group, particularly our line managers, 
operational leaders, finance and human 
resources teams. On behalf of the Board, I 
would like to thank these leaders and 
indeed all employees for their resilience, 
dedication and hard work during the most 
testing circumstances. 

In particular, I’d like to thank those that have 
continued to work at our sites from the very 
beginning of the crisis to deliver for our 
customers throughout the year.

Looking ahead
With a focused portfolio, strong market 
positions and diverse end-market exposure 
and having moved quickly and decisively in 
response to the crisis, Meggitt is well placed 
to benefit from the recovery as air travel 
returns in 2021 and beyond.

Sir Nigel Rudd
Chairman

 
 
 
10

CEO's statement

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9 Continuing  
to support 
customers  
while keeping  
our employees 
safe.

Meggitt PLC
Annual Report & Accounts 2020

Introduction
Our focus throughout 2020 and as we  
move into 2021 continues to be ensuring  
the safety and well-being of our people, 
protecting our sites, serving our customers 
and communities and executing our strategy. 
I want to thank all of my colleagues for their 
hard work and dedication in helping us 
navigate our way through the year. 

Faced with a reduction in activity and 
demand in one of our core markets, we 
acted fast, executed well operationally and 
took decisive action to position the Group 
for the recovery in civil aerospace. While our 
full-year performance has clearly been 
impacted by the ongoing effects of 
COVID-19, it also reflects the resilience and 
diverse nature of the Group and the 
mitigating impact of our defence and 
energy businesses. 

The rollout of vaccines, coupled with 
significant pent-up demand to travel, 
provides a supportive backdrop for the 
recovery in civil aerospace in 2021, albeit 
this positive development is likely to take 
time to feed through into growth in global 
flight activity and the aftermarket. 

Based on the significant progress we’ve 
made over the last four years to transform 
the Group, the effective actions we’ve taken 
in 2020, diverse end-market exposure and 
leading market positions, we are well placed 
to benefit from the recovery and to continue 
to deliver long-term profitable growth.

Our response to the crisis
Leveraging our experience of navigating 
previous downturns in civil aerospace and 
through close communication with our 
customers and supply chain, the Group 
moved quickly to implement a revised 
demand scenario for planning purposes and 
adjusted production levels early in the 
second quarter. 

We took a series of decisive actions focused 
on safeguarding our people, supporting the 
community, ensuring that our sites 
continued to operate and a number of 
specific actions to preserve cash, reduce 
cost and reposition the Group for the 
recovery. Details of our response is set out 
later in this report. 

As a result of the hard work and focus of our 
global teams to deliver our in-year cash 
savings, the Group generated £32m of free 
cash flow which was slightly better than our 
expectations at the half year. The free cash 
inflow, combined with proceeds from the 
sale of Training Systems, meant the Group 
ended the year with net debt of £773m, 
some £138m lower than 2019, testament to 
the Group’s focus on tight management of 
the balance sheet during the most 
challenging of times.

 
 
 
Meggitt PLC
Annual Report & Accounts 2020

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Strategy update

Strategic portfolio 
We focus investment in attractive markets 
where we have, or can develop, a leading 
position. This encompasses organic 
investment in differentiated products and 
manufacturing technologies; targeted, 
value-enhancing acquisitions; and selective 
non-core disposals. More than 70% of 
revenue is generated from sole-source, 
life-of-programme positions underpinned 
by Meggitt-owned intellectual property. As 
such, the continued strengthening of our 
technology portfolio remains a critical 
priority of the Group.

In June 2020, we further focused our 
portfolio with the sale of Training Systems, 
consistent with our strategy to focus on 
businesses of scale in markets where leading 
positions offer exposure to aftermarket 
revenue, greater potential for growth and 
operational efficiencies. In January 2021, we 
completed the sale of our Dunstable (UK)
business of designing and manufacturing 
ducting for a range of space, defence and 
civil customers. As a result of these disposals, 
over 80% of our revenue is now generated 
from businesses in attractive markets and 
where we have a strong competitive position, 
above our target set out three years ago. 

Despite the challenges posed by COVID-19 
and the need to preserve cash, we sustained 
our investment in differentiated technology. 
During the year, we met our target of 
prioritising at least two-thirds of our 
investment in Applied Research & 
Technology to enable our customers to 
deliver the next generation of more 
sustainable aircraft. Despite changes in 
normal working patterns, we also maintained 
strong milestone adherence on our major 
development and customer programmes. A 
summary of our key highlights and progress 
is as follows: 

•  Next generation of fuel-efficient engines 
– we are positioning and promoting the 
breadth of our technology with our 
customers to play a critical role in 
enabling the development of the next 
generation of fuel-efficient engines 
specifically leveraging our capabilities in 
thermal management, high temperature 
optical sensing and engine composites. 
For example, in 2020, our Thermal 
Systems programme patented 
technology for six products which will 
allow a step change in engine thermal 
management applications.

•  Green fire suppression – we have made 

good progress working with major 
aircraft OEMs with VERDAGENT™, 
Meggitt’s new, proprietary ‘green’ fire 
suppressant agent to replace ozone-
depleting Halon 1301, with further tests 
in Europe and the US to approve its 
engine APU and cargo applications 
scheduled for 2021.

•  Optical sensing – we successfully 

completed the first customer trials of our 
optical dynamic pressure sensing system 
for ground-based industrial gas turbines 
and now have an installation running 
with a major energy customer. We also 
remain on track to install this new 
technology on a demonstrator aero 
engine with a major OEM in 2021.

•  Engine composites – significant progress 

in development of manufacturing 
processes for advanced gas path engine 
composite components with thin wall, 
high structural integrity requirements.

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•  Electric flight – working closely with a 
customer we have supplied electric 
motors and motor drive units to support 
the development of a leading electric 
urban/air mobility prototype which is 
undergoing trials.

Enabling our sustainable future
At Meggitt, we work in partnership with all 
our stakeholders to enable a sustainable 
future and have adopted a framework to 
support our ambition of net zero 
greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, 
focusing on three core pillars: People, 
Planet and Technology. This framework is 
aligned with the United Nations 
Sustainability Development Goals and the 
Taskforce on Climate Related Financial 
Disclosures:

•  People – through our core values of 

Teamwork, Integrity and Excellence and 
our High Performance Culture we are 
committed to creating a rewarding, safe 
and productive working environment for 
our employees and supporting our local 
communities. During 2020, we started 
the rollout of our leadership programme 
in Operations, introduced our 
Extraordinary People recognition 
scheme and expanded the number of 
Employee Resource Groups to eight with 
further initiatives planned for 2021.

•  Planet – our goal is to contribute to a 

cleaner future by continuously improving 
and adapting our operational systems 
across our sites to promote efficiencies 
and improvements by harnessing green 
energy, driving operational excellence 
and reducing harmful emissions, where 
we have set a target to reduce net 
carbon emissions by 50% by 2025. While 
we made progress in a number of areas 
during the year, including the 
completion of several sustainability 
projects at our sites, and from March 
2021 sourcing 100% of electricity from 
green sources in the UK, we recognise 
that we still have more work to do. We 
have set reduction targets for our sites in 
2021 covering reducing our electricity 
and natural gas usage, consumption of 
water and rates of waste to landfill, as we 
look to build on the progress we have 
made over the last few years.

•  Technology – to support the evolving 
needs of our global customers and 
building on our rich heritage, we 
continue to invest in innovative new 
technologies to support and enable 
sustainable aviation in areas including 
thermal and electric aircraft systems, fire 
protection, composites and optical 
sensing. In 2020, we made very good 
progress on a number of these 
technologies and specific customer 
projects as set out in our Strategy 
section. 

 
 
 
12

CEO’s statement
continued

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SMARTSupport® contracts 
with an aggregate value of
c. £190m

34%

Reduction in the number of 
global sites since 2016, 
ahead of our original target 
reduction of 25% 

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We have also continued to leverage 
advanced manufacturing technology and 
processes across our sites:

•  Additive layer manufacturing (ALM) 
– working with our UK joint venture 
partner HiETA, we have applied ALM  
to build prototype heat exchangers to 
operate at high temperatures for 
industrial and aero applications. We 
have also expanded our US additive 
manufacturing capability to develop  
flow valves and production tooling.

•  Digital manufacturing – the rollout of 

advanced digital work instructions and 
greater use of automation at our sites 
has resulted in a meaningful increase in 
productivity and quality, and we are 
working on plans to deploy this 
technology more extensively across  
the Group in 2021. 

As reported at the half year, we have 
intensified our focus on driving improved 
margin and return on capital in braking 
systems, while continuing to remain 
selective on investing in new opportunities. 
Recognising the change in fleet dynamics 
as a result of the downturn in civil 
aerospace, where possible we have 
re-phased our investment in production 
capacity with a proportion of our  
capital commitments moving into 2021  
and beyond. 

While our focus remains on three core 
markets: aerospace, defence and selected 
energy, over the medium term we also  
look to increase the application of our 
aero-derivative intellectual property and 
technology in adjacent markets, including 
space and ground vehicles, to further 
strengthen the portfolio.

Meggitt PLC
Annual Report & Accounts 2020

Customers

Our success in moving from a transactional 
approach to building long-term relationships 
through our customer aligned divisions 
extends our visibility of near-term customer 
requirements and has enabled us to better 
support the demand for original equipment 
and spare parts and maintenance, repair and 
overhaul (MRO) from our three global hubs 
for the aftermarket. 

During the year, we maintained close 
contact with our customers which was 
critical in the creation of our scenarios  
for planning purposes, including the 
adjustment of production schedules for 
original equipment based on new build 
rates from the OEMs and tracking 
customer sentiment and buying behaviour 
by region in the aftermarket. In the period, 
we continued to win a number of new 
customer contracts including: 

•  $73m from Bell Textron Inc for the 
supply of composite ice protection 
components on the V-22 Osprey; 

•  $27m for the supply of liquid palletised 

cooling units for the Boeing P-8A aircraft;
•  $21m for the supply of high-temperature 
cables for a nuclear energy application; 
•  $20m from Northrop Grumman for the 
supply of fuel bladders on the F/A-18 
Super Hornet; 

•  $15m from the Defence Logistics Agency 
to support the supply of fuel bladders; 
and

•  £8m from MODEC for the supply of 

Heatric printed circuit heat exchangers, 
representing the largest order for that 
business in over five years

In Services & Support, we saw continued 
momentum with SMARTSupport®, our 
long-term contract offering for aftermarket 
customers, adding an additional 14 
agreements, including those with ST 
Aerospace, Derco and Ameco Beijing, 
taking the total number to 39 with an 
aggregate value of £187m, with a number 
of additional opportunities in the pipeline. 
These long-term contracts underpin our 
aftermarket and market share growth in  
the future and provide better insights into 
customer requirements and order patterns.  

 
 
 
Meggitt PLC
Annual Report & Accounts 2020

13

Outlook
While the rollout of vaccines is expected  
to ease lockdowns and drive a gradual 
increase in air traffic activity, which is a 
positive indicator for the civil aerospace 
sector and the Group, uncertainties remain 
in predicting the timing and pace of the 
civil recovery. At the current time, our 
assumption is that the trends seen in civil 
aerospace during the second half of 2020 
are likely to continue in the first half of 
2021, with recovery weighted more 
towards the second half of the year. 
Conditions in our defence and energy  
end markets are expected to remain robust 
in 2021. 

Assuming no further disruption to normal 
operations during the year as a result of 
additional lockdowns, in 2021 we expect 
the Group to generate:

•  Revenue broadly in line with 2020;
•  An increase in underlying operating 

profit versus 2020; and
•  Positive free cash flow

We will continually review our assumptions 
as the year progresses and as we gain 
greater clarity on the path to recovery in 
civil aerospace. 

While we recognise the need to remain 
agile and respond quickly to changes in 
the external environment, based on the 
significant progress we have made over the 
last four years to transform the Group, the 
effective actions we’ve taken in 2020, our 
diverse end-market exposure and leading 
market positions, we are well placed to 
benefit from the recovery in civil aerospace 
and to deliver long-term profitable growth.

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Chief Executive Officer

Competitiveness

While our priority during the year has been 
to ensure that people and sites operate 
safely as we respond to the challenges 
posed by COVID-19, we remained focused 
on driving operational improvements in 
line with our strategy. 

We made further progress reducing our 
global footprint, with site closures and 
consolidations in the UK (Basingstoke)  
and the US (Orange County) and the 
divestment of Training Systems. As a result 
of these actions and the recent sale of our 
Dunstable (UK) business, we now have 37 
Meggitt manufacturing sites, reduced from 
our original 56 sites in 2016 and 42 sites  
at the end of December 2019 and have 
identified additional opportunities to 
reduce our footprint by 50% from our  
2016 baseline by 2023.

In June 2020, we opened our new UK 
manufacturing and engineering centre for 
Braking Systems, Thermal Systems and 
Services & Support together with our 
relocated Group Headquarters at Ansty 
Park in the West Midlands, UK, providing 
office-based employees that have been 
working from home with the flexibility to 
return to the workplace as restrictions 
allowed. The successful relocation of our 
teams to Ansty Park will promote more 
integrated and efficient ways of working 
across both the Group central functions 
and the divisions.

Having been deferred due to the 
disruption caused by COVID-19, the full 
transition of manufacturing from four UK 
sites into Ansty Park is well underway, with 
the capital expenditure associated with  
this transition also moving into 2021. The 
transition to Ansty Park is scheduled to be 
completed by the end of the third quarter 
in 2021.

On inventory, where we have brought 
significant improvements in recent years 
and steadily increased inventory turns from 
just above 2.0x in 2016 to 2.7x in 2019, our 
priority in 2020 was to reduce absolute 
inventory levels as part of our cash 
preservation measures as we responded to 
the change in demand from our customers.  
We used the change in market conditions 
as an opportunity to tighten our supply 
parameters and production scheduling 
(including moving from monthly to weekly 
deliveries of raw materials). While we made 
very good progress reducing absolute 
inventory levels during the year, this will 
remain a focus area in 2021.

Within purchasing, we offered our 
suppliers access to an ePayables scheme 
and supported them gaining access to 
government schemes in the US, UK and 
France. Alongside this, we have taken the 
opportunity to further strengthen and 
consolidate our supply chain, including 
identifying opportunities to derive further 
savings by moving more of our supply base 
to low-cost countries where appropriate. 

Our recovery plan in Engine Composites 
continued as we applied engineering and 
process improvements to achieve higher 
quality and further improvements in yields. 
During the year, our facility in Saltillo, 
Mexico, received approval for the 
manufacture and direct shipment of 
additional high-volume composite parts  
to end customers. In addition, lower 
production of aircraft engines caused by 
COVID-19 allowed us to accelerate the 
adoption of new manufacturing technology 
and transfer of production lines to Mexico, 
with further high-volume parts transitioning 
in 2021.

Culture

Our priority in 2020 was to ensure the 
health and well-being of our people across 
our sites and their response to the crisis 
has been outstanding, enabling us to 
support all our stakeholders in what have 
been extremely challenging circumstances. 

During the year, our teams used their 
capabilities to support our local 
communities in a variety of ways – from 
supporting the production of critical 
ventilators for the NHS in the UK, to visors, 
masks and other protective equipment for 
key workers.

Over the last three years we have  
worked hard to build and nurture a High 
Performance Culture (HPC) and improve 
engagement where our ambitious and 
diverse teams help us to accelerate the 
execution of our strategy. The progress we 
have made in this area and the support of 
our employees has been instrumental in 
the Group being able to respond strongly 
to the crisis during 2020. While our focus 
on responding to the crisis necessitated 
deferring a lot of planned HPC activities 
into 2021, we did deliver a number of 
training sessions virtually and in person 
during the year. 

In addition, our customer aligned 
organisational structure and more 
integrated approach to working across 
teams has been a key enabler as we  
moved quickly to respond to a significant 
adjustment in demand across our civil 
business. Despite the huge challenges 
presented by the need to respond to the 
pandemic and the re-sizing of the business, 
our Group-wide Engagement score was 
maintained at the ‘High Performance 
Norm’1 with our scores for Alignment  
and Agility increasing by 2% and 4% 
respectively, providing reassuring  
feedback on the manner in which the 
Group engaged with all employees as  
we responded to the COVID-19 crisis. 

We further strengthened our commitment 
to Diversity and Inclusion, including a 
series of activities during Inclusion Week  
in October 2020 and the introduction of  
an additional three Employee Resource 
Groups bringing the total number of 
groups to eight. 

1  Culture IQ employee survey benchmark.

 
 
 
14

Meggitt PLC
Annual Report & Accounts 2020

Our response to COVID-19

Nobody could have predicted the events of the last  
12 months and their impact across the world. Faced  
with an unprecedented challenge, our Crisis Management 
Team (CMT) moved quickly to respond and adapt to  
the sudden change in the external environment and  
the associated impact on our colleagues, customers  
and communities.

Looking after the well-being of  

all our colleagues was our first 
priority. We stringently adhered  
to national and local health 
authority guidelines across our 
global sites, introducing a number 
of measures including: social 
distancing, provision of personal 
protective equipment, changes to 
work patterns and home working.

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Customer aligned and 
engaged organisation

02

Crisis management teams

Andrew Garard, 
Group General Counsel and Director Corporate Affairs, Chair Crisis 
Management Team

 – Provided highly effective  
communciation channels 

 – Allowed us to respond quickly  

and decisively to the anticipated 
reduction in demand

 – Twice-weekly meetings  
focused on employee  
safety and business continuity

 – Directly reporting to the  

Board on progress

03

Scenario planning and execution

 – Developed business scenarios  

allowing us to manage production  
levels across the Group

 – Output was converted into a number  

of targeted actions

 
 
 
Meggitt PLC
Annual Report & Accounts 2020

15

Protecting our 
people and our 
sites

Supporting our 
communities

Preserving cash

Well placed for 
the recovery

•  Our number one priority remains the well-being of our employees
•  Protected colleagues who remained on-site as manufacturing continued right from 

the start of the crisis

•  Introduced global ‘Stay the Distance’ campaign, social distancing measures 

including split shifts and one-way systems

•  Provided hand sanitiser and temperature stations at all sites, masks and other 

Personal Protective Equipment

•  Enabled office-based employees to work from home
•  Provided global support networks to promote and protect the physical and mental 

well-being of colleagues, including mental health first aiders

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•  Founding member of a consortium of leading UK businesses on Ventilator 

Challenge UK

•  Our Coventry teams stitched over 49,000 straps for a UK supplier of medical 

visors to help them meet the demands of health care workers

•  Our colleagues in the US made masks for team members and local 

communities

•  Our Rockmart team in Georgia, USA mixed and supplied hand sanitiser for 

the local community

•  Supported food drives for those in need
•  Our site in Fribourg provided free meals for emergency services
•  Our colleagues in Xiamen, China collected and distributed school uniforms 

and equipment for children in need

•  Reduced size of our global workforce
•  Reduced pay for Board and Executive Committee; salary sacrifice for senior 

managers

•  Reduced discretionary expenditure including travel and pay freezes
•  Cancelled final dividend for 2019 and interim dividend for 2020
•  Reduced capital expenditure through re-phasing of projects
•  Reduced gross inventory levels across the Group
•  Secured forward start on our Revolving Credit Facility
•  Accessed Bank of England’s and HM Treasury’s COVID Corporate Finance Facility 

and other government support schemes

•  Issued $300m of senior notes in USPP market 
•  Ended the year with positive free cash flow and substantially lower net debt

•  Continued to execute our focused strategy to emerge stronger from the crisis
•  Remained agile and adaptable to changes in the external environment
•  Continued our focus on our values and High Performance Culture with employees 

and communities at the heart of this

•  Positioned to continue to deliver value for all our stakeholders: employees, 
customers, shareholders, local communities, suppliers and governments
•  Strong fundamentals including diverse end-market exposure across civil 

aerospace, defence and selected energy means we are well placed for the 
recovery

•  Progressive recovery anticipated in the second half of 2021, with positive news on 

vaccines and significant pent-up demand to travel

 
 
 
16

Market review

01

Civil original 
equipment

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2020 market trends

Meggitt performance in 2020

•  The outbreak of COVID-19 caused a 

•  Civil OE revenue was down 40% 

significant reduction in civil air traffic and a 
dramatic reduction in airline and operator 
revenue.

organically, reflecting lower demand for 
original equipment from the airframe and 
engine manufacturers.

•  Reduction in demand for new-build 

•  In large jets, which is the largest 

aircraft across large, regional and business 
jets as airlines and operators deferred 
orders to preserve cash.

component of our civil OE revenue (68%), 
revenue was down 44%.

•  Revenue from regional jets (6% of civil OE 

•  Airframe and engine OEMs significantly 

revenue) was 46% lower. 

cut back production rates, with Airbus and 
Boeing reducing delivery rates by 34% and 
59% respectively.

•  737 MAX returned to service in the US in 
December 2020 and was authorised to 
return to service in Europe by EASA in 
early 2021.

•  Revenue from business jets (26% of  
civil OE revenue) was down 25%, 
outperforming commercial on a  
relative basis.

•  Within the year, civil OE was down 29% 
and 51% in the first and second halves 
respectively, reflecting more normal 
trading in the first quarter of 2020 before 
the impact of COVID-19 was felt in civil 
aerospace markets.

Business jet deliveries are expected to be 
in line with, or slightly up on, 2020 levels.

Over the medium term, deliveries of new 
aircraft are expected to take a few years to 
recover to pre-COVID levels, with most 
industry commentators estimating this 
taking place in 2024/2025.

2021 outlook

OEM production rates expected to be in 
line with or slightly up on 2020 levels, as 
airframe and engine manufacturers begin 
to gradually increase supply to match 
demand for new aircraft as air traffic 
recovers.  

Deliveries of new commercial aircraft are 
expected to exceed production rates as 
large jet numbers are supported by the 
delivery of previously manufactured 737 
MAX from inventory.

Both production rates and deliveries of 
commercial aircraft are expected to 
remain below 2019 levels.

Meggitt PLC
Annual Report & Accounts 2020

Revenue
£306m 

Market segments
Large jet >100 seats
Regional jet <100 seats
Business jet 
Civil helicopters

Group OE revenue 
by platform category

Large jets

Regional jets
Business jets

68%

6%
26%

Annual commercial 
deliveries

‘20

‘19

‘18

‘17

‘16

‘15

687

119

1,188

219

1,581

234

1,472

1,420

259

289

1,372

287

Large jets

Regional jets

Annual business jet
deliveries

‘20

‘19

‘18

‘17

‘16

‘15

556

707

625

643

651

714

 
 
 
 
Meggitt PLC
Annual Report & Accounts 2020

17

02

Civil 
aftermarket 

2020 market trends

Meggitt performance in 2020

COVID-19 and the subsequent imposition  
of global lockdowns and border closures 
resulted in a significant reduction in 
commercial air traffic with ASKs and RPKs 
down 57% and 66% respectively for the full 
year vs 2019.

•  Flight activity levels started to decline in 

Q1, with ASKs down 9% and 39% in 
February and March 2020, respectively.
•  Air traffic started to recover at the end of 
Q2 and through Q3 before plateauing in 
Q4 as infection levels increased and 
national lockdowns returned.
•  Domestic ASKs down 49% with 

international traffic down 76% reflecting 
widespread travel restrictions.

•  Business jets outperformed, with total 

flights in this category down 21% in the 
year compared with the wider global 
commercial fleet, which was down 48%.

•  As a result of the reduction in air traffic 
activity in 2020, Group civil aftermarket 
revenue was down 41% organically as 
airlines and other aftermarket customers 
deferred orders for spare parts and 
repairs.

•  Regionally, within our dedicated Services 

& Support division, civil aftermarket 
revenue (excluding Braking Systems) was 
down 32%, 36% and 34% across APAC, 
EMEA and the US, respectively.

•  Aftermarket revenue for large jets was 

down 41%, regional jets down 49% and 
business jets down 32%.

•  Civil AM revenue was down 26% and 54% 

in the first and second halves, respectively, 
reflecting more normal trading in the first 
quarter of 2020 before the impact of 
COVID-19 was felt in civil aerospace 
markets.

2021 outlook

Rollout of vaccines underpins a positive 
outlook for the continued recovery in civil 
aerospace.

Expectation that lockdown restrictions 
could be eased and passenger confidence 
returns in the second half of 2021.

Looking further ahead, most industry 
commentators now expect air traffic to 
return to 2019 levels by around 2023/2024.

Business jet activity to remain robust 
having recovered well in 2020 (with activity 
levels in December close to the 
comparative period in 2019).

In any recovery, we expect regional jets 
and narrow body aircraft to recover first  
as short haul and domestic routes are 
restored, while the recovery in wide body 
activity will take longer reflecting a change 
in consumer attitudes towards long haul 
and business travel.

Beyond the recovery period, key drivers 
supporting air traffic growth over the long 
term remain intact with IATA forecasting a 
growth rate in global passenger journeys 
of 3.7% per annum over the next 20 years.

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Revenue
£420m 

Market segments
Large jet >100 seats
Regional jet <100 seats
Business jet 
Civil helicopters

Group AM revenue 
by platform category

Large jets

Regional jets
Business jets

Commercial 
active fleet

‘20

‘19

‘18

‘17

‘16

‘15

57%

20%
23%

90%

91%

91%

91%

90%

65%

Commercial 
ASKs (Bn)

‘20

‘19

‘18

‘17

‘16

‘15

381

877

848

794

745

693

 
 
 
 
18

Market review

03

Defence

2020 market trends

Meggitt performance in 2020

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•  US Department of Defense (DOD) outlays 

for fiscal 2020 up 6%.

•  Outlays for Research, Development, Test & 
Evaluation and Procurement both up 12%. 

•  2% growth in size of global military fixed 

wing fleet.

•  Slight decline in non-US defence spending 
vs. 2019, with Europe and Rest of World 
down and 6% and 1%, respectively.

•  Defence revenue grew 4% on an organic 
basis with strong growth of 8% in the first 
half.

•  In OE, revenue grew 14% organically 

driven by continuing strong growth on the 
F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, the F-135 engine, 
Eurofighter, F/A-18 Hornet and in rotary 
wing, the AH-64 Apache.

•  Good performance from our Defense 

Systems business, particularly in 
countermeasures, ammunition handling 
and cooling systems for ground vehicles.

•  Aftermarket revenue was 7% lower 

organically, reflecting some disruption to 
military exercises caused by COVID-19, 
with growth in fighters more than offset by 
lower revenue in rotary wing and military 
transports.

2021 outlook

Global defence spending expected to 
grow around 3%, crossing the $2 trillion 
mark.

US foreign military sales expected to 
increase, continuing the trend seen in 
2020.

The outlook for defence expenditure in 
the US, our single most important defence 
market, remains healthy.

Most major defence spending nations 
remain committed to strengthening 
military presence. 

With the US defence budget for 2021 
approved at $696 billion, outlays are 
expected to be in line with 2020.

Meggitt PLC
Annual Report & Accounts 2020

Revenue
£768m 

Market segments
Military helicopters
Military aircraft
Ground vehicles
Naval
Space

US DoD Spending (US$Bn)

FY21

143

FY20

146

FY19

147

FY18

147

107

105

95

92

446

444

442

432

Procurement
Research, Development, Test & Eval
Other

Group defence revenue 
by platform category

Fighter jet

Transport
Light attack
Special mission

Rotary wing
Ground/naval

36%

9%
4%
3%

25%
23%

Group defence revenue 
by geography

UK

Rest of Europe
US
Rest of World

4%

14%
74%
8%

 
 
 
 
 
Meggitt PLC
Annual Report & Accounts 2020

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04

Energy & other

Revenue
£190m

Market segments 
Power generation
Oil & Gas
Renewables

2020 market trends

Meggitt performance in 2020

In energy, both supply and demand side 
factors led to volatility in the oil price moving 
from $57 in January to below $20 per barrel 
in April.

•  While the oil price subsequently increased 
off its lows, and traded in a range of $37 
to $49 in the second half, this dampened 
overall capital expenditure levels and 
delayed certain projects across the oil and 
gas sector during the year.

Energy revenue was down 8% on an organic 
basis, reflecting volatile end-market 
conditions in the first half and some 
disruption in the supply chain caused by 
COVID-19 towards the end of the year.

•  In Heatric, organic revenue was down 7% 
and revenue derived from our valve and 
condition monitoring business 12% lower 
on an organic basis.

•  Revenue from other markets was up 11% 

•  Growth in sales opportunities for new 

on the comparative period.

energy applications and more sustainable 
power generation systems. 

2021 outlook

Medium-term growth expectations for our 
energy businesses remain good.

We have differentiated technology which 
plays a critical role in the extraction of 
deep water offshore gas reserves and 
good opportunities in adjacent markets 
including LNG and increasingly lower 
carbon and renewable applications.

Our energy businesses benefit from 
synergistic relationships across the Group, 
e.g. thermal systems for the aerospace 
market, as well as the long-term demand 
for energy, particularly in emerging 
markets.

Group energy revenue 
by application

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Low carbon
Other

18%

68%
14%

2020 Global investment in 
power generation*

Coal

Gas
Oil
Nuclear

Renewables

11%

9%
4%
9%

67%

*  Source: IEA (2020) World Energy Investment

 
 
 
 
 
20

Strategy

Meggitt PLC
Annual Report & Accounts 2020

Whilst we experienced 
the disruption in civil 
aerospace in the year, 
we remained focused 
on operational 
execution and our four 
strategic priorities to 
accelerate growth, 
increase cash flow and 
improve return on 
capital employed. 

These priorities are: 
Strategic Portfolio, 
Customers, 
Competitiveness  
and Culture.

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Strategic 
portfolio

02

Customers

Focus areas

 – Investment in sustainable and 
differentiated technologies 
 – Increasing our exposure to 

attractive markets where we have 
strong competitive positions

Focus areas

 – Growing market share in the 

aftermarket

 – Consolidating our customer-

aligned organisation

2020 progress
•  Over 80% of portfolio now in attractive 
markets where Meggitt has a strong 
position

•  Sale of Meggitt Training Systems and 

ducting businesses

•  Continued investment in differentiated 

technologies including those to support 
development of next generation of fuel 
efficient engines, use of optical sensing in 
ground-based power generation and aero 
engines, certification of VERDAGENT™ 
green fire suppression, and deployment of 
electric motors and control systems in 
electric flight applications

•  Intensified focus on returns across product 

portfolio 

2020 progress
•  Customer aligned organisation key to 

navigating the crisis

•  14 SMARTSupport® deals signed in the 

year taking total number of contracts to 39 
with a total aggregate value of £187m

•  Secured a number of new customer 

contract awards in defence and energy 
across our four divisions

•  Investment in capability across our three 

aftermarket hubs in Singapore, UK and the 
US creating Centres of Excellence

  See more on page 11

  See more on page 12

2021 priorities
•  Continue to invest at least two-thirds of  
our Research and Technology budget in 
technologies for sustainable aviation and 
low-carbon energy

•  Progress technology and product 

development programmes with customers 

2021 priorities
•  Grow our market share in the aftermarket by 

securing additional SMARTSupport® 
agreements 

•  Continued investment in systems and capability 
across our three aftermarket hubs to improve 
competitiveness and enhance our offering

•  Focus on opportunities to grow revenue in 

•  Continued focus on operational 

defence and energy

  See more on page 11

improvements to drive customer satisfaction

  See more on page 12

Key risks
•  Technology strategy – failure to develop 

meaningful technologies to meet customer 
needs

Key risks
•  Customer satisfaction – failure to meet 
customers’ cost, quality and delivery 
standards as preferred suppliers

 
 
 
Meggitt PLC
Annual Report & Accounts 2020

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03

Competitiveness

04

Culture

Focus areas

Focus areas

 – Driving productivity 

improvements across all sites

 – Improving inventory management 
 – Rationalise supply chain and 

deliver further purchasing cost 
savings

 – Optimise factory footprint

2020 progress
•  Ansty Park office opened to employees

•  Transfer of high volume engine composite 

parts to our facility in Saltillo, Mexico

•  Further reduction in our global footprint 

with 37 sites at the end of 2020, 
representing a 34% reduction compared 
with our 2016 baseline

•  Reduction in absolute inventory levels in 
response to dramatic reduction in civil 
aerospace volumes to preserve cash

•  Implementation of greater automation and 
advanced digital manufacturing at our sites 
driving greater efficiency

•  Launched Spitfire Programme to promote 

next generation of operations leaders

 – Protect our people and sites
 – Support our local communities
 – High Performance Culture
 – Improve employee engagement
 – Focus on Diversity & Inclusion

2020 progress
•  High Performance Culture (HPC) critical  
in navigating the crisis and keeping our 
sites open

•  Supported our communities across the 
world including production of personal 
protective equipment

•  Engagement score at High Performance 

Norm1 level with scores for Alignment and 
Agility up 2% and 4%, testament to the way 
we continue to handle the COVID-19 crisis

•  Strengthened commitment to Diversity & 
Inclusion with introduction of Inclusion 
Week and three additional Employee 
Resource Groups

  See more on page 13

  See more on page 13

2021 priorities
•  Complete the transfer of production from 

four UK sites into Ansty Park

•  Drive environmental and sustainability 

improvements across our sites including 
meeting our 2021 targets

•  Drive further operational improvements 

across all sites

2021 priorities
•  Continue to protect employees across  
our global sites and support our local 
communities

•  Roll out ‘LeadX’, our leadership 

development programme, across the 
Group

•  Drive engagement across the Group 
through continued rollout of HPC

  See more on page 13

  See more on page 13

Key risks
•  Project/programme management – failure 

to meet new product programme 
milestones or lower than expected 
production volumes 

Key risks
•  People – failure to attract, motivate and 

retain people due to lack of opportunities 
and/or training

1  Culture IQ employee survey benchmark.

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Business model

Meggitt PLC
Annual Report & Accounts 2020

01

What we do

Innovation is at the heart 
of what we do with safety, 
reliability, and operating and 
environmental performance 
underpinning our approach. 

By investing in and developing 
sustainable and differentiated 
technologies for application in 
our selected markets, including 
civil aerospace, defence and 
energy, we develop pioneering 
products in collaboration 

with our customers.
Our products are 
manufactured in our globally 
located facilities and we 
go to market through our 
four customer aligned 
business divisions:

02 How we create value through the investment cycle

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Differentiated  
technology
We invest in differentiated 
technologies for extreme 
environments with deep 
intellectual property.
As such, our products are  
hard to replicate with  
high barriers to entry.

Strong content  
and sole source
We maximise our content  
on new-to-market platforms, 
where possible securing sole- 
source, life-of-programme  
positions across a diverse fleet  
of over 72,000 civil and  
military aircraft.

Through-life  
Services & Support
We provide aftermarket  
services and support building 
longer term, more durable and 
deep partnerships through 
SMARTSupport®.

Outstanding  
operations
We value operational excellence 
as a strategic imperative, 
continuously striving to do things 
better through investment in our 
High Performance System  
and initiatives such as our 
Operations Academy  
and campus at  
Ansty Park.

04

Maintaining a 
competitive 
advantage

Strong partnerships

Market-leading technology

We seek strong, collaborative and  
close relationships with our customers 
and suppliers. Our business cycle is 
multi-year, and we seek relationships  
to support this.

We invest in market-leading 
technology and robustly defend 
our intellectual property rights. 
We hold leading market positions 
across a number of product lines.

See more on page 11

See more on page 24

 
 
 
 
Meggitt PLC
Annual Report & Accounts 2020

23

•  Airframe Systems
•  Engine Systems
•  Energy & Equipment
•  Services & Support

Through our Services 
& Support division and 
SMARTSupport® (our 
brand name for a range 
of tailored, longer term, 
aftermarket offerings), 
we provide a tailored 

package of spare parts 
and repair services to our 
customers depending on 
their requirements to fit 
their operational model.

03

How we share 
value

Aerospace, defence and aero-derived energy 

We secure content across a broad range of platforms in civil aerospace, 
defence and selected energy end markets, generating original equipment 
(OE) revenue from day one and a growing aftermarket (AM) revenue stream 
as the fleet grows over time.

Illustrative

Production

Post Production

)

£

(

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i
s

t
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l

F

Product  
development

Entry in service

Revenue from  
original equipment  
as OEMs produce  
each new aircraft

Revenue from 
aftermarket grows
over the life of the 
programme

25 years

Annual deliveries
Total fleet

Aftermarket annuity

Leveraging our long-term customer relationships, strong IP and differentiated 
technology we have secured increased content on the latest generation of 
platforms. Our business model is to grow and constantly refresh our aftermarket 
revenue providing a strong annuity revenue stream for years to come.

Illustrative

)

£

(

e
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a
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Customers

We develop innovative and 
differentiated technology for our 
customers, that anticipates future 
market demand and meets high 
certification requirements.

Equity and debt holders

Over the last five years we  
have returned c. £486m to our 
shareholders through dividends, 
and paid c. £164m in interest to 
our holders of debt.

Employees

We employ over 9,000 people and 
in 2020 paid over £659m in wages, 
salaries, and employee benefits.

Governments

We paid over £95m in social 
security and corporation taxes  
to governments in 2020. The 
Group’s employees also paid  
a share of their wages and  
salaries to governments through 
income taxes.

Suppliers

Over the last five years, through 
our central procurement function, 
we have paid c. £4.6Bn to our 
suppliers.

Legacy platforms

Younger platforms

New and future platforms

Time

Diverse end markets

World-class services and support

Strong values

We have diverse end-market 
exposure with our technology 
and products utilised in a large 
fleet across civil, defence and 
selected energy markets.

Our customers demand high quality, timely 
services and support to maximise the value  
of our products through their lifecycles.

Our values underpin what we 
do and are supported by HPC. 
Our people collaborate to create 
value by combining extensive 
technical capabilities and long-
standing sector knowledge.

See more on page 6

See more on page 34

See more on page 28

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
24

Meggitt PLC
Annual Report & Accounts 2020

Innovating for the future

Ongoing focus on sustainable 
aviation and low carbon energy.

Our 170-year history is built on  
the invention and development of 
technologies that bring our vision  
to life and ‘enable the extraordinary’ 
across our end markets of aerospace, 
defence and selected energy.  
From the world’s first altimeter  
nearly two centuries ago, to today’s 
next-generation technologies that 
create more sustainable and efficient 
aircraft, engines, power and defence 
systems, innovation is in our DNA. 

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Fundamental to this is our belief that 
designing future technologies must 
support a more sustainable future.

That is why this is at the heart of our innovation strategy 
as we anticipate and prepare for the new challenges our 
customers face. With an accelerating need to address 
climate change we are focusing two-thirds of our 
investment in Research & Technology on developing  
the products and capabilities needed to support a  
net-zero future.

Our design and manufacture of pioneering technology for 
the most extreme environments improves safety, reliability, 
life cycle management and operating and environmental 
performance, enabling our customers around the world  
to deliver on their commitments and ensuring a more 
sustainable future for the generations to come.

Shaping the future of heat  
exchanger technology. 

Additive manufacturing is enabling much greater flexibility in  
the way products are conceived, designed and manufactured.  
This makes it the ideal process to support production of our  
next generation of valves and heat exchangers. Additive 
manufacturing allows us to produce more complex shapes  
which improve thermal and flow properties to produce parts  
that have both improved performance and are shaped to fit  
our customers’ increasingly challenging applications.

Using our additive manufacturing facilities in California and 
working with HiETA Technologies, our UK joint venture partner,  
we are developing the next generation of high-performance and 
light-weight thermal and flow systems with the right performance 
and cost to be brought to the market at a critical time for 
sustainable aviation and lower carbon power generation solutions.

 
 
 
 
Meggitt PLC
Annual Report & Accounts 2020

25

Heat exchangers for the most 
demanding applications.

Meggitt’s Heatric business is recognised  
as an industry leader in Printed Circuit Heat 
Exchanger technology. With 3,000 units in 
operation in some of the most demanding 
high-pressure applications this technology  
is playing a key role in the transition to  
low-carbon energy.

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We have a 30-year history in 
providing high performance  
heat exchangers for demanding 
applications. The increased offshore 
production of natural gas and LNG 
continues to drive demand, and as 
decarbonisation accelerates we are 
increasingly providing advanced  
heat exchangers to low-carbon 
power generation and energy 
storage plants.

Printed Circuit Heat Exchangers are a high-performance compact  
heat exchanger that combine the thermal performance associated  
with compact heat exchangers, the mechanical capabilities traditionally 
reserved for shell and tube exchangers and a superior safety and 
integrity to all other heat exchanger types. 

A bespoke design for every exchanger is tailored to the process 
requirements yielding high thermal effectiveness and process 
efficiencies as flow arrangements are custom designed to optimise  
heat transfer and pressure drop performance with pressure capability  
in excess of 1,000 bar.

Our heat exchangers are used in the production of liquefied natural 
gas, a fuel that is being increasingly used to replace coal and in  
power generation, our heat exchangers are used to pre-heat fuel  
within combined cycle plants to improve efficiency and reduce 
emissions. We are also actively involved in supplying heat exchangers 
to novel new power plants that are capturing the CO2 instead of 
allowing it to be released to the atmosphere and supplying equipment 
to plants using thermal energy storage to provide grid-scale energy 
storage.

 
 
 
26

Meggitt PLC
Annual Report & Accounts 2020

Innovating for the future

Optical sensing 
technology for 
power generation.

Meggitt advanced optical sensors enable 
improved control of combustion in gas 
turbines which reduces emissions and 
improves efficiency.

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As more and more renewable energy is 
added to electrical grids around the 
world, modern gas turbines need to be 
able to flex their output in response to 
changes of supply. This in turn requires 
increasingly sophisticated control of 
the combustor system to maximise 
efficiency and minimise emissions.

Accurately measuring the dynamic pressures within the harsh 
environment of the combustor is key to the real-time monitoring of 
these critical combustor components, and our team in Fribourg, 
Switzerland, has successfully developed high-temperature fibre optic 
pressure sensing systems for gas turbines which are now operating  
at customer sites. Our pioneering optical sensing technology offers 
significant advantages over traditional sensing technologies:  
fibre-optics are more sensitive, more accurate and can be installed 
much closer to the combustion process.

We continue to invest in optical sensing for both ground and  
air applications and see it as a promising technology to help  
improve monitoring and sensing accuracy and efficiency.

 
 
 
Meggitt PLC
Annual Report & Accounts 2020

27

Composite radomes 
protecting the Typhoon’s 
new advanced radar.

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We have been selected by BAE 
Systems and Leonardo to supply a 
pioneering radome for their Typhoon 
upgrade to support the operation  
of a sophisticated Active Electronically 
Scanned Array (AESA) system, which 
allows pilots to locate, identify and 
suppress enemy air defence radar.

The radome is a composite structure at the nose of the aircraft that 
houses the radar systems and antennae and protects them when the 
Typhoon jet is flying at speeds in excess of 2,000 km/h.

Meggitt’s composite radome technology is used to build a robust and 
lightweight nose cone that helps to ensure the jet’s aerodynamic 
stability whilst ensuring that the critical electronic signals can pass 
through it.

 
 
 
28

Meggitt PLC
Annual Report & Accounts 2020

Culture

01
Embedding  
our High 
Performance 
Culture

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Our culture is shaped by our 
shared values, goals and 
practices. 
It’s the glue that binds us and the secret to making 
good extraordinary. It breathes life into our values of 
Teamwork, Integrity and Excellence and is the heartbeat 
that powers our vision: Enabling the Extraordinary,  
To Fly To Power To Live.

We’ve done further positive work to build our Culture  
in 2020, creating our shared sense of purpose and 
emotional connection with what we do. Teamwork and 
collaboration are the hallmarks of this Culture and have 
enabled us to move with pace and purpose during 2020.

Our Culture journey started in 2017, with the launch  
of our global High Performance Culture workshops.  
This has created a strong foundation that has proved 
invaluable in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Applying the principles learned to real life situations  
has enabled our global teams to navigate the pandemic 
successfully and build the necessary flexibility to  
allow them to respond at pace to our customers' 
changing needs.

We have continued our Culture-building activity virtually 
throughout the past 12 months as we continue to equip 
our colleagues with the essential tools to propagate our 
High Performance Culture. More than two-thirds of our 
colleagues have now been through the workshop and 
we have more than 40 internal facilitators who continue 
to deliver our Culture concepts to our colleagues 
worldwide.

Celebrating and valuing our differences are crucial to 
our High Performance Culture and our Employee 
Resource Groups (ERGs) underpin this. This year our 
ERGs have grown in number to eight, with more in 
creation, and in October we held our very first Inclusion 
Week as we continue to create more opportunities for 
voices to be heard.

 
 
 
 
Meggitt PLC
Annual report & accounts 2020

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6,400

The number of colleagues who have 
attended our culture workshops.

1,100

The number of leaders who have 
attended culture reinforcement 
workshops.

2020 also saw the launch of our ‘Extraordinary People’ 
recognition programme, giving colleagues the 
opportunity to acknowledge the extraordinary people 
they work with every day and in turn be recognised for 
their own contributions. 2,353 colleagues have already 
been nominated, and 536 colleagues have received 
awards.

Launching “Our Green Future” is one further step on 
our culture journey as we build a framework for our 
commitment to sustainability, through caring for our 
people and communities; our environmental 
responsibility to better protect our planet; or investing  
in next-generation technologies that create more 
sustainable and efficient aircraft, engines, power and 
defence systems.

It’s the power of our diverse thinking together with  
our individual behaviours, continuing to value our 
differences and the respect we show to each other  
that is enabling us to build our inclusive, diverse and 
progressive culture.

 
 
 
30

Meggitt PLC
Annual report & accounts 2020

Strategy

02
Fire suppression 
that protects 
the environment

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Our patented VERDAGENTTM solution

VERDAGENTTM has passed US Federal 
Aviation Agency (FAA) Minimum 
Performance Standard (MPS) testing  
for cargo applications and is part of 
Boeing’s Eco-Demonstrator project.  
We are now in the process of soliciting 
approval for use as an alternative to 
Halon 1301 by the US Environmental 
Protection Agency and in 2021 we will 
be conducting further tests with the 
European Aviation Safety Agency for 
cargo applications and with the FAA  
for engine and APU applications. 

Global regulations on ozone-depleting 
substances are leading aircraft OEMs to 
phase-out the use of Halon 1301 in 
aircraft fire suppression systems. We are 
working closely with the major OEMs to 
develop a new solution that is both an 
efficient way of extinguishing aircraft 
fires and protecting the environment for 
future generations. Our patented green 
fire suppression solution, VERDAGENT™, 
can be used to extinguish cargo bay, 
engine and Auxillary Power Unit (APU) 
fires. Unlike other green solutions, it 
does not leave corrosive residues  
after application, performs at low 
temperatures and can be delivered 
using existing ancillary equipment,  
such as cylinders and bottles,  
making it an easy retrofit option for  
operators worldwide.

 
 
 
 
Meggitt PLC
Annual report & accounts 2020

31

1

VERDAGENTTM is currently the only 
agent that has passed FAA MPS 
testing for cargo applications.

2035

Is the anticipated goal to retrofit 
all aircraft with green agent.

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32

Meggitt PLC
Annual Report & Accounts 2020

Competitiveness

03
Continuous 
improvements 
and investing  
for growth 

Letting the robot take the strain

installed new paint spray machines  
to support our radome production, 
capable of operating to the fine 
tolerances required to support  
product functionality whilst  
reducing waste.

We have similarly validated the 
automation of the ferruling and  
dimpling processes used in the 
manufacture of our current air/oil  
heat exchangers for implementation  
in our state-of-the-art facilities at  
Ansty Park. 

Advanced manufacturing technologies 
create many opportunities for us to 
improve productivity and meet tighter 
tolerances. Sealants used for bonding 
aerospace composites are inherently 
expensive, and manual application of 
these advanced materials can result in a 
significant amount of waste. We recently 
designed and installed a robotic system 
in our Saltillo composites facility which 
resulted in a 90% saving in the amount 
of sealant being used. Good for the 
financials and good for the environment.

We have also successfully delivered 
robotic capability to build advanced 
composite structures which provides  
a cost saving of 60% compared to 
conventional manual lay-up methods 
along with weight savings and reduced 
material waste. In addition, we have 

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Meggitt PLC
Annual Report & Accounts 2020

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90%

Saving in the amount of  
material used.

60%

Cost saving compared to 
conventional manual methods.

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34

Meggitt PLC
Annual Report & Accounts 2020

Customer

04
Customer-led 
forecasting in  
a digital age

Specialist knowledge, with three global hubs

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Effectively managing customer 
requirements across regions 
requires the best software 
solutions to ensure accurate 
forecasting and optimisation of 
inventory around the world. Having 
the right parts, in the right place, 
at the right time, is critical to our 
customers and our business 
model.

To achieve this, Services & Support 
has established three global hubs 
in Asia, North America and 
Europe, creating regional MRO 
centres of excellence and allowing 
us to support and understand 
better the unique needs of our 
customers and markets. To 
improve forecast accuracy we 
segment our customers to gain 
greater insight into their bespoke 
material requirements. Whether 
they are an engine MRO provider, 
distributor or an operator,  

it is important that the offering  
is customised to support their 
demand needs. This is where our 
digital journey starts.

Using customer-led forecasting tools, 
we collate all our customers’ forecast 
information centrally, incorporate 
platform knowledge, and produce 
an accurate rolling forecast at a 
customer level. This data is then fed 
into our innovative new software 
solution that is supporting our 
delivery of reliable and accurate part 
and MRO services around the world. 
The system takes the sales data and 
refines it by incorporating known 
maintenance events, flight hours, 
fleet lifecycle, growth rates, fleet 
concentration and part reliability 
information.

Managing this process needs 
specialist knowledge and we have 
established a team of global 

material experts in our new Ansty 
Park headquarters who take this 
information down to a detailed 
part-level forecast. Centralising 
this activity means our OE 
manufacturing facilities deal with  
a single customer, facilitating the 
process and building greater 
transparency. This improved 
forecast accuracy enables the sites 
to forward-plan more effectively 
leading to improved on-time 
delivery, optimised inventory,  
and satisfied customers.

This digital evolution has been 
fundamental to the efficient 
navigation of fluctuating demand 
during the COVID-19 pandemic 
and due to the new system’s 
success there are plans to extend 
its use to other parts of the 
business.

 
 
 
Meggitt PLC
Annual Report & Accounts 2020

35

10,000+

The number of components available to our 
customers.

3

Regional Centres of Excellence for 
Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul 
operations.

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Divisional reviews

Meggitt PLC
Annual Report & Accounts 2020

Providing core components for original equipment 
airframe manufacturers and the Services & Support 
division across multiple platforms, and specialising in 
products designed to operate in demanding conditions 
across a diverse range of applications.

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Airframe  
Systems*

£793m

Revenue
(2019: £1,030m)

 
 
 
37

2020 Performance
Organic revenue was down 22%. Civil 
OE revenue was down 34% with large 
jets and regional jets OE down 39% and 
38%, respectively. Business jet OE was 
down 18%, outperforming large and 
regional jets on a relative basis. Civil 
aftermarket revenue was 42% lower on 
an organic basis reflecting the reduction 
in commercial air traffic and lower 
demand for spares. For the full year, 
organic aftermarket revenue in large, 
regional and business jets was down 
38%, 52% and 32%, respectively. 

Defence revenue was flat, with OE 6% 
higher driven by growth in fighters 
including F-35 and Typhoon. In the 
aftermarket, revenue was 5% lower than 
the prior year, with growth on Typhoon, 
F/A-18 and light attack platforms more 
than offset by declining demand on 
rotary wing and special mission.

As a result of the lower volumes in civil 
OE and reduction in higher margin civil 
aftermarket revenue, underlying 
operating margin was 890 basis points 
lower than the comparative period at 
15.2% (FY 2019: 24.1%). 

In 2021, responsibility for all aftermarket 
activities in Braking Systems including 
spares and repairs will transfer to the 
Services & Support division and be 
managed across the Group’s three 
regional aftermarket hubs.

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Meggitt PLC
Annual Report & Accounts 2020

President: Chris Allen  

Divisional capabilities: 
 – Wheels and brakes (including  

control and monitoring systems)

 – Aircraft fire protection and  

safety systems

 – Electro-thermal ice protection
 – Power generation, conversion  

and storage

 – Avionics and air data systems
 – High performance sensors
 – Flexible fuel tanks for defence  

and civil aircraft
 – Sealing solutions

Divisional revenue by market

Revenue

26%

22%
26%
22%
4%

Market

Civil OE

Civil AM
Defence OE
Defence AM
Energy & Other

Markets 

Civil aerospace

Fixed wing 
defence aircraft

Rotary wing 
defence aircraft

Unmanned  
aerial vehicles

What does the division do?
Provides Braking Systems, Fire 
Protection & Safety Systems, Power  
& Motion, Fuel Systems, Avionics & 
Sensors and Polymer Seals for around 
51,000 in-service civil and 22,000 
defence aircraft. As well as increasing 
our content on the new generation 
aircraft by as much as 250%, we also 
have a strong presence on all of the 
fastest growing and hardest worked 
defence platforms. 

As such, we have strong relationships 
with all of the major OEMs, whether 
commercial, defence or business jet; 
fixed wing or rotorcraft; US, European or 
Rest of World. The division represents 
47% of Group revenue, generating 55% 
of its revenue from OE sales and 45% 
from the aftermarket derived mainly 
from Braking Systems, with the 
remaining aftermarket revenue from 
other product groups reported in 
Services & Support. 

Operational and 
strategic highlights
•  Protected our people and kept our 
sites open to support Airframe 
Systems’ customers

•  Responded quickly to reduce costs 

and preserve cash in response to the 
reduction in civil demand

•  Good progress on development of 
new technologies, including new 
green fire suppression agent 
VERDAGENT™ 

•  Continued to support customers on 

new product development and 
testing across a number of platforms
•  Transfer of products associated with 

further footprint consolidation, 
including moves out of Orange 
County, US, to Airframe Systems sites 
in Simi Valley, US, Fareham, UK and 
Fribourg, Switzerland

•  Secured $15m of funding under the 

CARES Act to support critical 
industrial base capability for military 
grade fuel bladders at our Rockmart, 
US, facility

•  Deferral of capital expenditure 
relating to carbon capacity 
expansion in Braking Systems

E-brake®
Our E-brake®, installed 
on the Airbus A220, 
reduce system weight 
by replacing hydraulic 
control lines with lighter 
electronic signalling 
and actuation systems,  
this also eliminates the 
possibility of harmful 
hydraulic fluid leaking 
into the environment.

 
 
 
38

Divisional reviews

Meggitt PLC
Annual Report & Accounts 2020

Providing core technologies for engine manufacturers 
across a broad range of competencies including thermal 
management, engine sensing and advanced composites.

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Engine 
Systems*

£234m

Revenue
(2019: £329m)

 
 
 
39

2020 Performance
Revenue decreased by 28% on an 
organic basis with good growth in 
defence more than offset by lower 
demand for OE parts across civil 
aerospace. Civil OE revenue was 49% 
lower on an organic basis, with the 
absolute reduction in revenue mainly 
driven by large jets. In defence, 
revenue grew by 9% on an organic 
basis with particularly strong growth  
on the F-135 programme and the  
F-22 Raptor. 

Despite the work done within the 
division to reduce costs significantly  
in response to the dramatic reduction 
in civil OE and AM volumes across all 
product groups, Engine Systems 
generated an underlying operating  
loss in the year of £13.2m (FY 2019: 
profit of £27.2m).

Within our Engine Composites business, 
we continued to make good progress 
with operational improvements including 
the transfer of additional high-volume 
parts to our facility in Mexico.

We remain firmly focused on our 
recovery plan in Engine Composites 
and returning this product group to 
mid-teens margins having delivered a 
number of operational improvements. 
However, as reported at the half year, 
due to the severe and sudden 
downturn in civil OE volumes, margin 
recovery will now take longer and 
extend beyond our previous timeline  
of the end of 2021. 

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Meggitt PLC
Annual Report & Accounts 2020

President: Troy Peterson  

Divisional capabilities: 
 – Complex high-temperature engine 

composite components

 – Control valves and sub-systems
 – Engine sensors
 – Thermal management

Divisional revenue by market

Revenue

41%

2%
41%
9%
7%

Market

Civil OE

Civil AM
Defence OE
Defence AM
Energy & Other

Markets

Civil aerospace

Fixed wing 
defence aircraft

Rotary wing 
defence aircraft

What does the division do?
Market-leading position in advanced 
engine composites, thermal and  
safety systems with a broad range  
of technologies including vibration 
monitoring and engine health 
management systems. This division  
also provides aerospace engine flow 
control and sensing solutions. Strong 
positions on high volume platforms 
mean we are well positioned for growth 
in Engine Systems.

The division represents 14% of Group 
revenue, generating 89% of its revenue 
from OE and 11% from the aftermarket 
as a result of its principal route to the 
aftermarket being through the Services 
& Support division.

Operational and 
strategic highlights
•  Protected our people and kept our 

sites open to support Engine 
Systems’ customers

•  Moved quickly to resize the business, 
reduce costs and preserve cash while 
maintaining focus on technology and 
programme development

•  Good progress developing new 
products in the engine core to 
displace heat, increase efficiency, 
and reduce fuel, particularly projects 
to support next generation engine 
demonstrators

•  Transfer of high volume engine 

composite parts to Saltillo, Mexico 
and direct shipments from Mexico to 
end customers 

•  Transfer of Engine Sensing products 

from Basingstoke to Airframe 
Systems Fareham in the UK as part of 
ongoing footprint consolidation 

•  Completed sale of our ducting 

business based in Dunstable (UK) in 
January 2021

•  In defence, continued strong growth 

including to support the F-135 
engine programme

Advanced composite 
solutions
Providing weight 
savings and extending 
product life cycle  
are important steps 
towards more 
sustainable aviation. 
Our advanced 
composites play a 
critical role in our 
latest technologies 
designed to increase 
engine efficiency.

 
 
 
40

Divisional reviews

Meggitt PLC
Annual Report & Accounts 2020

Providing innovative, aero-derivative technologies with 
applications across the energy and defence sectors. 

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£335m

Revenue
(2019: £413m)

 
 
 
41

2020 Perfomance
Revenue was up 7% organically (down 
19% on a reported basis with the 
inclusion of Training Systems) with a 
strong performance from Defense 
Systems and strong OE growth on the 
Apache AH-64 and other rotary wing. 
In energy, despite the volatility in 
market conditions during the year, 
revenue was 12% lower on an organic 
basis, reflecting a strong order book  
as we entered the year. Underlying 
operating margins in Energy & 
Equipment at 12.7% were 20 basis 
points lower than the comparative 
period (FY 2019: 12.9%).

With the US defence budget agreed  
for 2021, a healthy order book and a 
number of promising commercial 
opportunities in both energy and 
defence, the outlook for 2021 is 
encouraging. As well as focusing on the 
conversion of these opportunities in 
2021, our focus in Energy & Equipment 
will continue to be the delivery of 
further operational improvements 
across all sites.

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President: Paul Devaux  

Divisional capabilities: 
 – Combat support (ammunition 

handling, electronics cooling and 
countermeasure launch and 
recovery systems)

 – Energy sensing and controls
 – Vibration condition monitoring 
systems for energy markets
 – Heat transfer equipment for  

offshore oil and gas

 – Fuel handling

Divisional revenue by market

Market

Defence
Energy & Other

Revenue

57%
43%

Markets

Defence ground 
vehicles

Defence and 
security

Energy and 
industrial

Ground fuelling

What does the division do?
Energy & Equipment consists of our 
energy product groups and businesses 
that provide products directly to 
defence customers. Energy Sensors  
& Controls provides a range of valves, 
actuators, sensor and condition 
monitoring systems for oil and gas 
applications. Heatric provides 
innovative printed circuit heat 
exchanger technology for offshore  
gas applications. Defense Systems 
provides a series of complex 
engineered products to defence 
agencies in electronic cooling, 
ammunition handling and scoring 
systems. Training Systems was sold on 
30 June 2020 and revenue from this 
product group (FY 2020: revenue of 
£32.8m) is excluded from organic 
figures. Energy & Equipment 
represents 20% of Group revenue and 
generates 83% of its revenue from OE 
and 17% from the aftermarket.

Operational and 
strategic highlights
•  Protected our people and kept our 
sites open and operating safely to 
support customers 

•  Moved quickly to reduce cost and 

preserve cash 

•  Strong defence performance across 
ground vehicle cooling systems, 
countermeasures and ammunition 
handling 

•  Sale of the Training Systems business 

in June 2020

•  Continued footprint consolidation 
with closure of the Orange County 
site and the transfer of products to 
other sites in the US and Europe 
•  Continued transfer of production 
volumes to low-cost countries 

Optical sensing for 
increased accuracy
Our innovative 
high-temperature  
fibre optic pressure 
sensing technology  
for gas turbines offers 
significant advantages. 
We continue to invest in 
pioneering optical 
sensing for both ground 
and air applications.

 
 
 
42

Divisional reviews

Meggitt PLC
Annual Report & Accounts 2020

Providing throughlife MRO and spares services across 
our extensive installed base through our three  
regional hubs.

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Services  
& Support*

£322m

Revenue
(2019: £499m)

 
 
 
What does the division do?
Services & Support provides a 
full-service aftermarket offering 
including spares distribution and MRO 
to our commercial, business jet and 
defence customer base throughout the 
lifecycle of our products. The division 
represents 19% of Group revenue and 
generates 100% of its revenue from the 
aftermarket. 

Operational and 
strategic highlights
•  Protected our people and kept our 
sites open and operating safely to 
support customers 

•  Moved quickly to reduce cost in the 
face of the reduction in aftermarket 
revenue as airlines and operators 
deferred orders for spares and 
repairs as commercial flight activity 
reduced

•  Continued delivery of strategic 

initiatives with consolidation of repair 
capabilities in our three regional 
centres of excellence: Ansty Park in 
the UK, Singapore, and Miami in the 
US

•  Expansion of Singapore aftermarket 

capability and footprint 

•  Enhanced maintenance forecasting 
capabilities leveraging best-in-class 
technologies to improve inventory 
management, reduce lead times and 
enhance customer service levels
•  Introduction of ‘Smart Scoping’ in 

our three regional hubs to leverage 
engineering capabilities to increase 
efficiency and reduce MRO costs

43

2020 Performance
Within Services & Support, order intake 
in civil aftermarket was down 49% in 
the year as our aftermarket customers 
deferred orders for both spare parts 
and MRO. In APAC, orders were down 
37% with the recovery in the Chinese 
domestic market underpinning the 
region. Order intake was down 48% in 
the Americas with the 737 MAX 
grounding negatively influencing 
demand for spare parts. And, as a 
result of repeated lockdowns and 
associated border controls, within 
EMEA order intake was down 59% in 
the period. 

Divisional revenue was 35% lower 
organically with civil aerospace revenue 
down 40%. Large jet revenue, which 
represented 82% of Services & Support 
civil revenue, was down 41% organically 
in the year, with regional and business 
jets down 39% and 32%, respectively. 
In defence, revenue was 11% lower on 
an organic basis. 

On a regional basis, organic revenue 
was down 32% in APAC and 34%  
and 36% in Americas and EMEA, 
respectively. Underlying operating 
margin was 210 basis points lower at 
12.7% (FY 2019: 14.8%).

In the coming year, our core priorities 
within Services & Support will be to 
ensure the smooth integration of 
Braking Systems spares and repairs into 
the division, drive an increase in market 
share through signing additional 
SMARTSupport® contracts and 
investing further in our three regional 
aftermarket centres of excellence.

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President: Stewart Watson  

Divisional capabilities: 
 – Maintenance, Repair  
and Overhaul (MRO)
 – Spares provisioning
 – SMARTSupport®

Divisional revenue by market

Market

Civil AM
Defence AM

Revenue

74%
26%

Markets

Civil aftermarket

Fixed wing defence aircraft 
AM

Rotary wing 
defence aircraft

SMARTSupport®  
for our customers 
worldwide
We have continued to 
invest in new aftermarket 
capabilities with our three 
regional MRO centres  
of excellence.

 
 
 
44

CFO’s review

 We moved  

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quickly to execute  
a series of actions  
to maintain a robust 
balance sheet.

(Table 1) Financial summary 

Orders
Revenue

Underlying2:
EBITDA3
Operating profit
Profit before tax 
Earnings per share (p)

Statutory:
Operating (loss)/profit
(Loss)/profit before tax
(Loss)/earnings per share (p)

Free cash flow4
Net cash flow5
Net debt
Dividend (p)

FY 2020
£’m

1,547.1
1,684.1

FY 2019
£’m

2,468.4
2,276.2

296.9
190.5
159.5
16.5

(297.3)
(334.0)
(40.4)

31.9
136.0
773.0
–

507.3
402.8
370.3
37.3

325.3
286.7
28.8

267.8
205.7
911.2
5.55

Change

Reported 
%

Organic 1
%

(38)
(22)

(40)
(50)
(55)

(37)
(26)

(41)
(53)
(57)
(56)

(191)
(217)
(240)

(88)
(34)
(15)

Meggitt PLC
Annual Report & Accounts 2020

Introduction
In 2020, the Group moved quickly to 
adapt to the significant change in market 
conditions and executed a series of actions 
to reduce our cost base and preserve 
cash. As well as delivering our internal 
cash savings targets, we have focused on 
maintaining a robust balance sheet and 
on external financing, including securing 
a forward start on our revolving credit 
facility to September 2022, raising $300m 
in the US private placement market and 
honouring all our 2020 scheduled debt 
repayments. I am particularly pleased that 
the Group has delivered a reduction in 
net debt of £138m ending the year with 
net debt: EBITDA of 2.2x providing ample 
headroom against our banking covenants. 
The Finance team has been at the forefront 
of this work. I am incredibly grateful 
to all of them for their hard work and 
dedication during these challenging times. 

Group orders and revenue
Our full year results reflect the effects  
of COVID-19 and the unprecedented 
reduction in civil aerospace activity with key 
financial metrics, both on a statutory and 
underlying basis, declining in the period. 

In our half year results, we reported that 
Group revenue for the six months ended 
30 June 2020 was 14% lower than the 
comparative period. This reflected the 
marked deterioration in trading in our civil 
aerospace business in the second quarter,  
as a result of the significant reduction in 
commercial air traffic and grounding of a 
large proportion of the global fleet, which 
more than offset a strong performance from 
our defence business. 

While the level of global civil aerospace 
flight activity recovered in the second half, 
market conditions have remained 
challenging with the recovery impacted  
by second waves of COVID-19 and further 
lockdowns in the fourth quarter. In the 
second half, Group civil aerospace  
organic revenue was 53% lower than the 
comparative period, with OE down 51% 
(large jets -55%, regional -59% and business 
jets -37%) and aftermarket down 54% (large 
jets -52%, regional -63% and business jets 

1  Organic numbers exclude the impact of 

acquisitions, disposals and foreign exchange.
2  Underlying profit and EPS are used by the Board 
to measure the trading performance of the 
Group as set out in notes 9 and 14.

3  Underlying EBITDA represents underlying 
operating profit adjusted to add back 
depreciation, amortisation and impairment 
losses.

4  Free cash flow is defined and reconciled to 

statutory measures in note 42 to the Group’s 
consolidated financial statements

5  Net cash flow is defined and reconciled to 

statutory measures in note 43 to the Group’s 
consolidated financial statements

 
 
 
 
Meggitt PLC
Annual Report & Accounts 2020

45

Profit and earnings per share
In common with previous years, underlying 
profit is used by the Board to measure the 
underlying trading performance of the 
Group and excludes certain items including 
amounts arising on the acquisition, 
disposal and closure of businesses; 
amortisation of intangible assets acquired 
in business combinations; movements in 
financial instruments; and exceptional 
operating items. 

As a result of the reduction in Group 
revenue, and notwithstanding the 
significant action taken to reduce costs  
to mitigate the impact of lower volumes 
and under absorption of fixed costs, the 
Group's underlying operating margins 
decreased by 640 basis points, to 11.3% 
(FY 2019: 17.7%), with underlying operating 
profit 53% lower in the year at £190.5m (FY 
2019: £402.8m).

Underlying profit before tax decreased by 
57% to £159.5m (FY 2019: £370.3m) with 
underlying earnings per share also down 
56% at 16.5 pence (FY 2019: 37.3 pence). 

The level of exceptional costs at £428.7m  
is significantly higher than forecast at the 
start of the year, including impairment of 
goodwill and other asset write-downs 
arising from the unprecedented downturn 
in civil aerospace during the year, resulting 
in Group underlying operating profit 
becoming an operating loss of £297.3m  
at the statutory level. Within exceptional 
costs, £374.2m relates to impairment losses 
and other asset write downs comprising: 
goodwill (£335.7m); development costs 
(£24.5m); inventory (£8.6m); and trade 
receivables (£5.4m). Further details relating 
to impairment losses and other asset 
write-downs are set out in note 10.

As a result of the impairment losses and 
other asset write downs, Group loss before 
tax was £334.0m (FY 2019: £286.7m profit) 
and basic loss per share was 40.4 pence 
(FY 2019: earnings per share of 28.8 
pence). 

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(Table 2) Revenue growth 

Civil OE
Civil AM

Total civil aerospace

Defence
Energy
Other

Group

FY 2020
Revenue 
£’m

306.0
419.6

725.6

768.4
131.1
59.0

1,684.1

Growth

%

(41)
(41)

(41)

 (7)
(8)
(21)

(26)

Organic
growth1,2
%

(40)
(41)

(41)

4
(8)
11

(22)

-49%). After a strong first half with organic 
growth of 8% (excluding Training Systems), 
defence revenue was flat in the second half 
on an organic basis, somewhat dampened 
by disruption to production at one of our  
US sites caused by a number of COVID-19 
cases. Energy revenue was down 11% 
organically in the second half, partly 
reflecting the timing of projects and 
phasing of revenue. 

For the full year, Group orders were 38% 
lower on an organic basis with book to bill 
of 0.88x. Our order book in defence remains 
robust with an organic book to bill of 1.05x. 
Group organic revenue was down 22% with 
lower revenue in civil aerospace and energy 
more than offsetting a good performance in 
defence where revenue grew 4%. In civil 
aerospace, revenue was 41% lower, with 
sales from civil OE and civil AM down  

40% and 41%, respectively. Energy revenue 
was 8% lower on an organic basis. 

Reported Group revenue of £1,684m (FY 
2019: £2,276m) decreased by 26% as 
analysed in Table 3.

The adjustments for business disposals 
include the sale of Angouleme (completed in 
March 2019), Orange County product lines 
(completed in June to December 2019), 
Training Systems (completed in June 2020), 
and our Dunstable site and associated 
product lines (completed in January 2021). 

Currency movements in the year reflect the 
slight strengthening of pound sterling 
against our trading currencies, principally the 
US dollar. The organic revenue decline 
reflects the impact of COVID-19 on civil 
aerospace partially offset by defence. 

(Table 3) Organic growth 

Revenue

2020
£’m

2019
£’m

Growth
%

1,684.1
(42.2)
12.4

2,276.2
(146.1)
– 

(26)   Reported

  Impact of M&A1
  Impact of currency2

Underlying operating profit

2020
£’m

190.5
3.7
(2.1)

2019
£’m

Growth
%

(53)

402.8
(14.8)
–

1,654.3

2,130.1

(22)   Organic

192.1

388.0

(50)

1  Excludes the results of businesses acquired and disposed during the current and prior year or classified as 

held for sale.  

2  Restates the current year using 2019 translation and transaction exchange rates.

(Table 4) Reconciliation between underlying  
operating profit and statutory operating loss 

Underlying operating profit
Impairment losses and other asset write-downs
COVID-19 incremental non-recurring costs 
Site consolidations
Other
Exceptional operating items
Amortisation of intangible assets arising on acquisition of businesses
Financial instruments
Amounts arising on the acquisition, disposal and closure of businesses

Statutory operating loss

£’m

190.5
(374.2)
(22.0)
(33.5)
1.0
(428.7)
(88.2)
(2.9)
 32.0

(297.3)

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
46

CFO’s review
continued

Meggitt PLC
Annual Report & Accounts 2020

(Table 5) Operational highlights 

Revenue

Growth %

FY 2020

FY 2019

Reported

Organic

793.1
233.6
335.0
322.4
–

1,029.5
329.5
412.5
499.1
5.6

1,684.1

2,276.2

(23.0)
(29.1)
(18.8)
(35.4)
(100.0)

(26.0)

(22.4)   Airframe Systems
(28.4)   Engine Systems

6.5   Energy & Equipment

(34.8)   Services & Support

  Other1

(22.3)   Group

Underlying operating profit

FY 2020

FY 2019

Reported

Organic

Growth %

120.5
(13.2)
42.4
40.8
–

190.5

247.7
27.2
53.4
74.0
0.5

402.8

(51.4)
(148.5)
(20.6)
(44.9)
(100.0)

(52.2)
(150.4)
18.1
(44.5)

(52.7)

(50.5)

1  Those businesses which were disposed of prior to the effective date of the new divisional structure on 1 January 2019, or were classified as held for 

sale at that date, are presented separately as ‘Other’.  

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Finance costs
Underlying net finance costs were £31.0m 
(2019: £32.5m) principally reducing as a 
result of lower USD interest rates on our 
floating rate debt, partly offset by the 
full-year impact of interest arising from the 
new Ansty Park lease, which commenced in 
H2 2019. With the raising of the USD 300m 
private placement debt in November 2020, 
a higher proportion of the Group’s 
borrowings are now subject to fixed 
interest rates, which will result in a modest 
headwind to underlying net finance costs 
for 2021. 

Taxation
The Group’s underlying tax rate for the 
year was 19.7% (FY 2019: 22.0%). 

As reported in 2019, the Group is impacted 
by the EU Commission ruling that the UK 
CFC regime constituted partial state aid. 
The Group maintains the provision held at 
31 December 2019 of £18.3m in respect of 
this matter. During the period the Group 
has been in dialogue with HMRC and 
continues to appeal against the ruling, in 
parallel with the UK Government’s own 
appeal, to the European General Court. 
While dates for these appeals to be heard 
have not been set, the UK tax authority is 
obliged to collect amounts it considers 
state aid and in late February 2021 the 
Group received assessments from the UK 
tax authority. The assessments are in line 
with the provision held and we shall be 
making a cash payment in respect of the 
CFC regime in the first half of 2021.

As expected, cash tax increased in the year 
to £42.1m (FY 2019: £14.4m) driven by the 
phasing of payments. Over the next two to 
three years, we expect the cash tax rate to 
start converging with the P&L tax rate as 
historical tax reliefs and allowances come 
to an end and tax relief on certain capital 
expenditure is received over a longer time 
period. As a result of this and the payment 
in respect of the UK CFC regime, we 

expect the level of cash tax to be around 
£60m for full year 2021.

including amortisation and impairment, 
decreased by 1% (increased by 4% on an 
organic basis) to £68.3m (2019: £68.7m). 

Capital expenditure of £89.7m in 2020 was 
slightly lower than the prior year (FY 2019: 
£94.4m) and below our initial guidance of 
around £130m issued in February 2020, 
before the impact of COVID-19 on the 
sector and the Group was understood. 

This reduction reflects the actions we have 
taken to preserve cash in 2020 and the 
associated deferral of capital expenditure 
relating to the transfer of production to 
Ansty Park and investment in carbon 
capacity, which will now be incurred in 
2021 and beyond as these projects are 
completed. 

For full year 2021, we expect to invest 
around £90m on R&D and £80m on capital 
expenditure, as we complete major 
projects deferred from 2020. 

Dividends
The Board concluded that it was prudent 
not to pay a final dividend for 2019, and in 
light of ongoing challenging market 
conditions, the Board did not recommend 
the payment of an interim dividend or final 
dividend for 2020. This has helped retain 
cash within the Group, ensured the 
continued management of net debt levels 
and preserved financial flexibility. The 
Board is very aware of the importance of 
dividends to our shareholders and looks 
forward to restoring dividend payments 
when the recovery is more established. 

The Company has a balance on its profit 
and loss reserve at 31 December 2020 of 
£1,591.4m (2019: £1,460.3m) of which 
approximately £1,440.0m (2019: £1,310.0m) 
relates to reserves which can be distributed 
as a dividend or used for share buybacks. 

Investing for the future
While we have scaled back expenditure on 
R&D in the year as part of our overall cash 
saving initiative, we have continued to 
invest in sustainable technologies to 
support new product development and 
future growth opportunities. Accordingly, 
total R&D expenditure in the full year of 
£97.9m (FY 2019: £118.5m) was broadly in 
line with the prior year as a percentage of 
revenue at 5.8% (FY 2019: 5.2%). The 
charge to underlying net operating costs, 

(Table 6) Investing for the future 

£m

FY 2020

FY 2019

Organic

Reported

% Change

Total research and development (R&D)
  Less: Charged to cost of sales/WIP
  Less: Capitalised
  Add: Amortisation/Impairment

Charge to underlying net operating costs
Capital expenditure

97.9
(20.8)
(41.4)
32.6

68.3
89.7

118.5
(23.8)
(54.7)
28.7

68.7
94.4

(14)
(12)
(20)
24

4

(17)
(13)
(24)
14

(1)

 
 
 
 
 
 
Meggitt PLC
Annual Report & Accounts 2020

47

In May 2020, we extended the duration of 
our debt by securing a forward start on our 
revolving credit facility, with the signing of a 
new one-year $575m multi-currency facility 
maturing in September 2022.

There are two main financial covenants  
in our financing agreements. The net 
borrowings: underlying EBITDA ratio, which 
must not exceed 3.5x, was at 2.2x at 
31 December 2020 (December 2019: 1.5x) 
and interest cover, which must not be less 
than 3.0x, was 9.8x (December 2019: 16.3x). 
The Group has significant headroom  
against both key covenant ratios, and net 
borrowings: underlying EBITDA is within our 
target range of 1.5x to 2.5x.

Capital allocation priorities
The unprecedented impact of COVID-19 in 
2020 meant we had to adjust our normal 
capital allocation approach, as we focused 
on a series of measures to reduce costs 
and preserve cash. 

Notwithstanding this, our prime objective 
continues to be to invest cash organically 
in developing differentiated technologies, 
to accelerate the Group’s growth and 
maintain its strong market positions across 
a number of product categories, and 
operational efficiencies. A mainstay of our 
capital allocation approach over several 
decades has been to maintain a 
progressive dividend policy and the 
payment of a regular dividend to our 
shareholders. The decision not to pay a 
dividend in 2020 was difficult and so we 
look forward to restoring dividend 
payments when the recovery in civil 
aerospace is more established. 

At present, the Board continues to believe 
that in maintaining an efficient balance 
sheet with ample covenant headroom and 
investment capacity, a net debt: EBITDA 
ratio of between 1.5x and 2.5x is 
appropriate, while preserving flexibility  
to move outside this range in certain 
situations, of which COVID-19 is one. The 
Board will keep this policy under review.

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(Table 7) Full year cash flow statement (£m)  

Underlying operating profit
Depreciation and amortisation
Working capital movements
Net interest paid
Tax paid
Exceptional operating items paid
Purchase of property, plant and equipment
Proceeds from disposal of property, plant and equipment
Capitalised development costs/programme participation costs
Retirement benefit deficit reduction payments
Other

Free cash flow
Net proceeds from disposal/acquisition of businesses 
Dividends paid to Company's shareholders
Issue of equity share capital
Other

Net cash generated

Lease liabilities entered
Lease liabilities disposed with business
Exchange differences
Other movements

Net debt movements

FY 2020

FY 2019

190.5
106.4
8.1
(32.1)
(42.1)
(49.3)
(89.7)
1.3
(43.0)
(21.7)
3.5

31.9
104.2
–
0.3
(0.4)

136.0

(11.4)
5.6
7.6
0.4

138.2

402.8
104.5
(21.0)
(33.1)
(14.4)
(27.3)
(94.4)
23.1
(56.7)
(35.2)
19.5

267.8
68.9
(130.4)
–
(0.6)

205.7

(54.2)
–
31.2
(19.8)

162.9

Net debt at 1 January
Net debt at 31 December

(911.2)
(773.0)

(1,074.1)
(911.2)

Cash flow
The Group generated a free cash inflow of 
£31.9m (FY 2019: £267.8m inflow), which 
was ahead of our guidance issued in 
September 2020, reflecting the work done 
across the Group to offset the impact of 
the lower operating result, including a 
reduction in absolute inventory levels and 
planned levels of capex. 

Investment in capital expenditure was 
£89.7m (FY 2019: £94.4m) and working 
capital was an inflow of £8.1m (FY 2019: 
£21.0m outflow). Higher cash tax payments 
of £42.1m (FY 2019: £14.4m) reflects the 
phasing of payments in the US, and the 
increase in cash exceptional costs to 
£49.3m (FY 2019: £27.3m), includes £18.9m 
of non-recurring COVID-19-related costs 
and site consolidation costs as we continue 
to rationalise our global footprint. Deficit 
payments made in respect of retirement 
benefit schemes were £21.7m (FY 2019: 
£35.2m) following an agreement with the 
trustees of the UK scheme to defer four 
months of payments totalling £9.6m that 
will now be spread across the 2021 to 2023 
period. The free cash inflow of £31.9m was 
augmented by proceeds from the sale of 
Training Systems which generated net 
proceeds of £117.0m, with a net cash inflow 
for the Group of £136.0m for the full year 
(FY 2019: £205.7m inflow). 

As a result, at the end of December 2020, 
our net debt was £773.0m (FY 2019: 
£911.2m), including lease liabilities of 
£144.3m, a decrease of £138.2m from 
December 2019 after taking into account 
proceeds from the sale of Training Systems 
and favourable currency movements of 
£7.6m, and we had significant headroom of 
£908.1m on committed facilities of 
£1,536.8m. 

Debt structure and financing
In June and October 2020, we repaid $125m 
and $150m respectively on the maturity of 
two separate tranches of 2010 US Private 
Placement Notes. In November 2020, we 
raised $300m in aggregate of three and five 
year senior notes providing us with additional 
liquidity and financial flexibility as we look 
ahead to 2021 and beyond.

In April 2020, the Group was confirmed as an 
eligible issuer under the Bank of England and 
HM Treasury’s Covid Corporate Financing 
Facility (CCFF), under which the Group is 
able to draw up to £600m. While the Group 
issued commercial paper under this facility 
during the year, as at the end of December 
2020, there were no borrowings under this 
facility. The Group is eligible to issue 
commercial paper using this facility (subject 
to certain terms and restrictions) up to and 
including 22 March 2021, with a maturity 
period of up to 12 months. 

 
 
 
 
 
48

CFO’s review
continued

(Table 8) Post-retirement benefit scheme summary (£’m)  

Opening net deficit

Service cost
Group cash contributions

Deficit reduction payments
Other amounts charged to income statement1
Remeasurement gains – schemes’ assets
Remeasurement losses – schemes’ liabilities
Currency movements

Closing net deficit2

Assets
Liabilities

Closing net deficit2

Assets as percentage of liabilities

2020

267.9

15.2
(36.9)

(21.7)
8.4
(93.5)
136.1
(1.8)

295.4

1,168.5
1,463.9

295.4

80%

2019

209.1

12.8
(48.0)

(35.2)
8.8
(53.5)
142.7
(4.0)

267.9

1,079.6
1,347.5

267.9

80%

1  Comprises past service amounts, administration expenses borne directly by schemes and net  

interest expense.

2  Comprises £248.7m (2019: £222.0m) in respect of pension schemes and £46.7m (2019: £45.9m) in respect 

of US healthcare schemes. 

In the UK, the Group is currently making 
deficit payments in accordance with a 
recovery plan agreed with the trustees 
following the 2018 triennial funding 
valuation, amended in 2020 following the 
four month deferral of deficit contributions. 
This amended recovery plan provides for 
the 2018 deficit to be addressed by 
payments which gradually increase over 
the period to August 2023. Under the plan, 
the Group will make deficit contributions of 
£38.4m in 2021, £40.2m in 2022 and 
£29.9m in 2023. 

At 31 December 2020, principally due to 
the significant fall in bond yields since the 
date of the 2018 valuation, the current UK 
funding position is approximately £135.0m 
lower than that projected in the 2018 
valuation. This funding shortfall will, should 
it remain, be addressed through a revised 
recovery plan as part of the April 2021 
triennial valuation, which we would expect 
to be finalised during H1 2022. Deficit 
contributions to address any additional 
deficit would commence at a date to be 
agreed with the trustees once the valuation 
is finalised.

Foreign exchange
The Group is exposed to both translation 
and transaction risk due to changes in 
foreign exchange rates. These risks 
principally relate to the US dollar/sterling 
rate, although exposure also exists in 
relation to other currency pairs, principally 

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Post-retirement benefit schemes
The Group’s principal defined benefit 
pension schemes are in the UK and US.  
On 1 February 2021, the Group 
announced, following a consultation 
process with employees, that the UK plan 
would be closed to future accrual with 
effect from 6 April 2021. Once this change 
takes effect, and following the closure of 
one of the Group’s US schemes during 
2020, none of the UK or US defined benefit 
pension schemes will be open to future 
accrual. 

Total scheme deficits in 2020 increased to 
£295.4m (2019: £267.9m) with the principal 
drivers of the net increase being:
•  an increase of £136.1m (2019: increase of 

£142.7m) relating to remeasurement 
losses on scheme liabilities principally 
arising from the significant weakening of 
AA corporate bond yields in both the UK 
and US;

•  a reduction of £93.5m (2019: reduction 
of £53.5m) due to remeasurement gains 
on scheme assets; and

•  net deficit reduction payments in the 

year of £21.7m (2019: £35.2m). In the UK, 
following the COVID-19 outbreak, the 
Group agreed with the trustees to defer 
four months of deficit contributions 
amounting to £9.6m, which will now be 
made over the remainder of the current 
recovery plan to August 2023. Deficit 
contributions recommenced in Q3 of 
2020. In the US, legislation was passed  
in response to COVID-19 allowing 
companies to defer contributions due  
in 2020 to January 2021, as a result of 
which the Group deferred £2.4m of 
payments planned for 2020.

Meggitt PLC
Annual Report & Accounts 2020

translation risk for the sterling/euro and 
sterling/Swiss franc and transaction risk  
for the US dollar/euro and US dollar/ 
Swiss franc.

(Table 9) Exchange rates

2020

2019

Average translation 

rates against Sterling:

US Dollar
Euro
Swiss Franc

Average transaction 

rates:

US Dollar/Sterling
US Dollar/Euro
US Dollar/Swiss Franc

Year-end rates against 

Sterling:
US Dollar
Euro
Swiss Franc

1.29
1.14
1.22

1.38
1.17
1.09

1.37
1.11
1.20

1.28
1.14
1.27

1.42
1.19
1.06

1.32
1.18
1.28

The results of foreign subsidiaries are 
translated into sterling at weighted 
average exchange rates. Sterling remained 
volatile throughout 2020, trading at 
between $1.15 and $1.37 against the US 
dollar. Over the year as a whole, the 
average sterling rate against the US dollar 
was $1.29 (2019: $1.28) providing a modest 
negative impact on our reported results for 
the year. Compared to 2019, translation of 
results from overseas businesses 
decreased Group revenue by £8.6m and 
decreased underlying profit before tax 
(PBT) by £0.1m in the year. 

The sensitivity of full-year revenue and 
underlying PBT to exchange rate 
translation movements against sterling, 
when compared to the 2020 average rates, 
is shown in Table 10. 

Transaction risk arises where revenues and/ 
or costs of our businesses are denominated 
in a currency other than their own. 

We hedge known and some anticipated 
transaction currency exposures, based on 
historical experience and projections. Our 
policy is to hedge at least 70% of the next 
12 months’ anticipated exposure and to 
permit the placing of cover up to five years 
ahead. Compared to 2019, the Group’s 
revenue was unfavourably impacted by 

(Table 10) Translation currency sensitivity 

Impact of 10 cent movement*
US Dollar
Euro
Swiss Franc

2020 
average 
rate

1.29
1.14
1.22

Revenue

£’m

85
9
6

Underlying 
PBT 
£’m

5
1
1

*  As measured against 2020 actual full-year revenue and underlying PBT.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Meggitt PLC
Annual Report & Accounts 2020

49

Interest risk
The Group seeks to reduce volatility 
caused by interest rate fluctuations on net 
borrowings. Our US private placements are 
subject to fixed interest rates, whereas 
borrowings under our syndicated and 
bilateral bank credit facilities are at floating 
rates. To manage interest rate volatility,  
we use interest rate derivatives to either 
convert floating rate interest into fixed rate 
or vice versa. Our policy is to generally 
maintain at least 25% of net borrowings  
at fixed rates with a weighted average 
maturity of two years or more. At 
31 December 2020, the percentage of net 
borrowings at fixed rates was 108% (2019: 
70%), and of gross borrowings was 84% 
(2019: 58%) and the weighted average 
period to maturity for the first 25% was 6.0 
years (2019: 6.5 years). A higher proportion 
of debt is held at fixed interest rates, than 
the minimum required under our policy, in 
anticipation of further increases in market 
interest rates and pending further clarity 
on floating rates when we refinance our 
USD 575m RCF maturing in 2022, given the 
replacement of LIBOR.

Non-financial information 
Our non-financial information statement is 
contained in the Corporate responsibility 
report on page 66.

Louisa Burdett 
Chief Financial Officer 

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£3.8m and underlying PBT for the year 
benefited by £2.5m from currency 
transaction movements. 

Each ten cent movement in the US dollar 
against the average hedge rates achieved 
in 2020 would affect underlying PBT by 
approximately £7.0m in respect of US 
dollar/sterling exposure, £2.0m in respect 
of US dollar/euro exposure and £2.0m in 
respect of US dollar/Swiss franc exposure.

The following table details hedging 
currently in place: 

(Table 11) Transaction hedging 

2021:
US Dollar/Sterling
US Dollar/Euro
US Dollar/Swiss Franc

2022 – 2024 inclusive:
US Dollar/Sterling
US Dollar/Euro
US Dollar/Swiss Franc

Hedging 
in place 
%1 

Average 
transaction
rates2

100
100
100

70
25
0

1.36
1.16
1.13

1.33
1.21
N/A

1  Based on forecast transaction exposures.
2  Hedging in place with unhedged exposures 
based on exchange rates at 29 January 2021.

Taking translation and transaction benefit 
into account, FY 2020 reported revenue 
decreased by £12.4m and underlying PBT 
increased by £2.4m.

At the end of the year, sterling 
strengthened against the US dollar. Should 
the current level of sterling against the US 
dollar as at the date of this report be 
maintained throughout 2021, it will 
generate a headwind for both Group 
revenue and profit. 

Debt financing risks
The Group seeks to minimise debt 
financing risk as follows:

a. Concentration of risk 
We raise funds through private placement 
issuances and committed bank facilities to 
reduce reliance on any one market. Bank 
financing is sourced from 14 international 
institutions spread across North America, 
Europe and Asia. No single lender 
accounts for more than 10% of the Group’s 
total credit facilities and the credit rating of 
lenders is monitored by our treasury 
department. The Group’s largest lenders 
are Bank of America, Bank of China, 
Barclays, BNP Paribas, Crédit Industriel et 
Commercial, HSBC, JP Morgan, Sumitomo 
Mitsui Banking Corporation and Wells 
Fargo. We seek to maintain at least £100m 
of undrawn committed facilities, net of 
cash, as a buffer.

b. Set-off arrangements

The Group utilises set-off and netting 
arrangements to reduce the potential 
effect of counterparty defaults. All treasury 
transactions are settled on a net basis 
where possible and surplus cash is 
generally deposited with our lenders up to 
the level of their current exposure to us.

c. Refinancing risk

We seek to ensure the maturity of our 
facilities is staggered and any refinancing is 
concluded in good time, typically more 
than 12 months before expiry.

d. Currency risk

To ensure we mitigate headroom erosion 
due to currency movements, over 90% of 
our credit facilities are denominated in US 
dollars, the currency in which most of our 
borrowings are held.

(Table 12) Net debt by drawn 
currency (£’m) 

Sterling
US Dollar
Euro
Swiss Franc
Other

Net debt

2020

39.2
786.3
(32.4)
(16.1)
(4.0)

773.0

2019

128.5
807.8
(12.7)
(2.3)
(10.1)

911.2

e. Covenant risk 
Our committed credit facilities contain two 
financial ratio covenants – net debt: 
EBITDA and interest cover. The covenant 
calculations are drafted to protect us from 
potential volatility caused by accounting 
standard changes, sudden movements in 
exchange rates and exceptional items. This 
is achieved by measuring EBITDA on a 
frozen GAAP basis, retranslating net debt 
and EBITDA at similar average exchange 
rates for the year and excluding 
exceptional items from the definition of 
EBITDA. At 31 December 2020, we have 
comfortable headroom on both key 
financial covenant measures.

(Table 13) Covenant ratios 

Net debt: 
EBITDA
Interest cover

Covenant

2020

2019

≤3.5x1
≥3.0x

2.2x
9.8x

1.5x
16.3x

1  A ratio of 4.0x applies in the two six month 
reporting periods following a significant 
acquisition.

 
 
 
 
50

Meggitt PLC
Annual Report & Accounts 2020

Key performance indicators

The Group uses a mix of financial and 
non-financial key performance indicators 
(KPIs) to measure execution against
our strategic objectives. To ensure we 
deliver value to our shareholders over the 
investment cycle, financial KPIs balance 
short-term measures (underlying operating 
profit and free cash flow in the year) with 
longer-term measures (organic revenue 
growth, return on capital employed and 
underlying EPS growth). Non-financial KPIs 
focus on investment in R&D to drive
future revenues, the health and safety of 
our employees and raising standards  
of operational performance to satisfy  
our customers.

The Group adopted IFRS 15 and IFRS 16 
with effect from 1 January 2018, with prior 
year comparatives for 2017 restated.
KPIs for 2016 and for those for 2017, 
where calculations are based on growth 
compared to performance in 2016, are not 
fully restated, though they reflect the 

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requirement to expense free of charge 
manufactured parts (FOC) as incurred 
under IFRS 15, rather than initially 
recognising costs as an intangible asset 
and then amortising them over their  
useful lives.

The Group’s performance against climate 
change objectives continues to be a focus. 
From 2021, the Group intends to include 
measures supporting the Group’s 
environmental commitments in its KPI 
monitoring, including the Group’s 
greenhouse gas emissions. For reference, 
in 2020 the Group emitted 87,062 carbon 
dioxide equivalent tonnes (gross) from its 
operations on a Scope 1 and 2 basis. This 
is down 21% from 2019, when the measure 
was 110,075 CO2e.

 
 
 
Meggitt PLC
Annual Report & Accounts 2020

51

Organic revenue growth

Performance

-22.3%

'20

-22.3

'19

'18

'17

'16

8.3

8.9

1.6

0.9

Definition and basis of calculation 
Revenue growth is calculated by measuring current and 
prior year revenue at constant currency, excluding the 
revenue of any businesses acquired or disposed of in those 
periods or classified as held for sale. To measure revenue at 
constant currency, current year revenue is restated using 
translation and transaction exchange rates prevailing in the 
prior year. See page 45 for a reconciliation of organic 
revenue to revenue. 

Target
The Group started the year targetting organic revenue 
growth of 2–4% in 2020. However, since March 2020 and 
with the impact of COVID-19, the Group does not currently 
have any published revenue guidance for either 2020 or 
2021. The Group was targetting 5.5% pa organic revenue 
growth in its 2018 LTIP Award. 

1

2

3

4

Result
2020: -22.3% three-year average of -1.7%.  
See page 45 for details. 

Directors’ incentive plans
Organic revenue growth is a performance 
measure for the 2018 LTIP. 

Underlying operating profit

1

3

4

Performance

£190.5m

'20

'19

'18

'17

'16

190.5

402.8

367.3

353.3

356.6

Definition and basis of calculation 
Underlying operating profit is defined and reconciled to 
statutory measures in note 9 to the Group's consolidated 
financial statements on page 180.

Result
2020: £190.5m. See page 45 for details.  
The 2020 STIP did not reach threshold and no 
STIP bonus will be paid in respect of 2020.

Target
By exception, as part of the Q3 2020 Trading Update the 
Group guided that FY20 underlying operating profit would 
be between £180 – £200m. The Group typically does not 
publish profit targets. 

Directors’ incentive plans
Underlying operating profit was a performance 
measure in the 2020 STIP and is a measure for 
the 2021 Plan. For the purposes of these plans, 
actual and target underlying operating profit 
are measured at constant currency. See pages 
121 and 129 for details. 

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Return on capital employed (ROCE)

Performance

5.2%

'20

'19

'18

'17

'16

5.2

11.0

9.9

9.4

10.0

Definition and basis of calculation 
Return on capital employed is underlying operating profit 
expressed as a percentage of average capital employed 
(i.e. the underlying return on average capital employed). 
Underlying operating profit is defined above. Capital 
employed is defined as net assets excluding net debt, 
retirement benefit obligations net of associated deferred 
tax and derivative financial instruments. Average capital 
employed is the mean of the period's opening and closing 
capital employed. 

Target
As LTIP ROCE targets are set over a three-year period, 
there are no specific targets for 2020 alone. Details of the 
ROCE target from the 2020 LTIP are shown on page 124.

1

3

4

Result
2020: 5.2%. Three-year average ROCE to 2020 
was 8.6%. See page 123 for details. 

Directors’ incentive plans
ROCE is a performance measure for executive 
directors in the 2018, 2019 and 2020 LTIP. 
ROCE will be a performance measure for the 
2021 LTIP. For the purposes of these plans, 
underlying operating profit and capital 
employed are measured at constant currency. 
See pages 123 & 129 for details.

Link to strategic priorities

1

2

3

4

Strategic Portfolio

Customers

Competitiveness

Culture

  2020

  Reflect the full impacts 
of IFRS 15 and IFRS 16, 
where appropriate.

  Restated only for the 
impact of expensing 
FOC as incurred.

 
 
 
52

Meggitt PLC
Annual Report & Accounts 2020

Key performance indicators 
continued

Underlying EPS growth

Performance

-55.8%

'20

-55.8

'19

'18

'17

'16

9.1

6.9

8.3

-1.5

Free cash flow

Performance

£31.9m

31.9

267.8

167.4

197.4

131.1

'20

'19

'18

'17

'16

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R&D investment

Performance

5.8%

'20

'19

'18

'17

'16

5.8

5.2

6.6

7.9

7.9

Definition and basis of calculation 
The percentage change in underlying earnings per share 
(EPS) from the previous year. Underlying EPS is defined and 
reconciled to statutory measures in note 14 to the Group's 
consolidated financial statements.

Target
We do not typically publish profit targets. As LTIP 
upderlying EPS targets are set over a three-year period,  
there are no specific targets for 2020 alone. Details of  
the underlying EPS target from the 2020 LTIP are shown  
on page 124. 

1

2

3

4

Result
2020: -55.8%. See page 45 for details. 

Directors’ incentive plans
Underlying EPS is a performance measure  
for the 2018, 2019 and 2020 LTIPs, and is 
proposed for the 2021 Award. See pages  
123 and 129 for details. 

1

2

3

4

Definition and basis of calculation 
Cash generated excluding amounts in respect of the 
acquisition and disposal of businesses and payments to 
shareholders. Free cash flow is reconciled to statutory 
measures in note 42 to the Group's consolidated financial 
statements on page 214.

Result
2020: £31.9m. This was in line with the level 
guided in the Q3 Trading Update. See page 47 
for details. As with underlying operating profit, 
the 2020 STIP did not vest and no bonus will 
be paid. 

Target
We do not typically publish free cash flow targets. At the 
start of 2020, the Group was expecting a free cash flow 
conversion of c. 60%. By exception, as part of the Q3 2020 
Trading Update, the Group guided that it would be free 
cash flow neutral for the full year at the top end of our 
underlying operating profit guidance of £180 – £200m.  
We have not published guidance for 2021. 

Directors’ incentive plans
Free cash flow is a performance measure for 
the 2020 and 2021 STIP. For the purposes of 
these plans, actual and target free cash flow 
figures are measured at constant currency and 
exclude interest and tax. See pages 121 and 
129 for details. 

Definition and basis of calculation 
Investment in research and development (R&D) expressed 
as a percentage of revenue. Investment is measured as 
total expenditure in the year as disclosed in note 7 to the 
Group's consolidated financial statements on page 179.  
It is not adjusted for amounts capitalised, amortised, 
impaired or incurred on contracts funded by customers. 

Target
Investment of 5% to 7% per annum. This range reflects 
typical investment fluctuations within the industry cycle. 

1

2

3

4

Result
2020: 5.8%. Average over the last three years 
of 5.9%. See page 46 for details.

Directors’ incentive plans
R&D investment is not a specific measure  
used in directors' incentive plans. However, 
the 2018 (from year 2), 2019 and 2020 LTIP 
include programme performance measures 
which include the effective delivery of R&D 
programmes. The same measure is proposed 
for 2021 LTIP. See pages 123 and 129  
for details. 

 
 
 
Meggitt PLC
Annual Report & Accounts 2020

53

Total recordable incident rate (TRIR)

1

2

3

4

Performance

0.7

'20

'19

'18

'17

Definition and basis of calculation 
The total recordable safety incident rate calculated per  
100 employees. It is calculated as the number of recordable 
incidents multiplied by 200,000 and then divided by the 
total number of hours worked during the year. 

Result
2020: 0.7. The Group has been collecting  
TRIR data for this KPI since 2017. See page 80 
for details. 

0.7

0.7

0.8

1.2

Target
In 2020, the Group had a TRIR target of less than or
equal to 0.7. For 2021, that target is maintained at a rate of 
less than or equal to 0.7.

Directors’ incentive plans
Health and safety performance is not a specific 
measure used in directors' incentive plans. 
However, improvement in health and safety is 
included in the personal objectives of the 
Chief Executive in the 2020 and 2021 STIP.

Inventory turns

Performance

2.1x

'20

'19

'18

'17

'16

2.1

2.7

2.7

2.5

2.3

Definition and basis of calculation 
Underlying cost of sales divided by average inventory 
measured at constant currency and excluding businesses 
acquired or disposed of in the year. Underlying cost of sales 
adjusts cost of sales for the impact of items which are 
excluded from the Group's underlying profit measures as 
disclosed in note 9 to the Group's consolidated financial 
statements on page 180. Average inventory is calculated  
as the 13-month average of inventory, gross of provision,  
at the end of the previous financial year and at the end of 
each month of the current year. To measure inventory at 
constant currency, average inventory of foreign subsidiaries 
is translated at average exchange rates for the year.

Target
At the start of 2020, the Group was targeting inventory
turns of 4.0 by 2021. The proposed 2021 LTIP contains an
inventory turns target of 2.8 for 2021 using the Group's
updated four-month average inventory turns measure.

1

2

3

4

Result
2020: 2.1. See page 13 for details. 

Directors’ incentive plans
Inventory reduction is a performance measure 
for the 2018, 2019 and 2020 LTIP. Inventory 
turns is also proposed as a measure for 2021. 
See pages 123 and 129 for details. 

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2

3

4

Strategic Portfolio

Customers

Competitiveness

Culture

  2020

  Reflect the full impacts 
of IFRS 15 and IFRS 16, 
where appropriate.

  Restated only for the 
impact of expensing 
FOC as incurred.

 
 
 
54

Risk management

Meggitt PLC
Annual Report & Accounts 2020

Meggitt seeks to operate within a low risk appetite range overall. Effective risk 
management is required to deliver this while supporting the achievement of the 
Group’s strategic and business objectives. Our risk management framework is based  
on ISO 31000 and includes a formal process for identifying, assessing and responding  
to risk.

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During 2020 we continued to refine our risk management 
approach in a consistent way to prior years but we were pleased  
to note the processes described below continued to operate 
throughout the pandemic, providing dynamic risk assessments  
for site, functional and executive management.

The Board approved an updated Group risk appetite statement 
with associated risk tolerances to ensure that identified risks are 
managed within acceptable limits. Comfort over the management 
of these risks is demonstrated through the updated Group risk 
assurance map which summarises the assurance activities taking 
place throughout the Group in relation to the principal risks. 
Where appropriate, insurance is used to manage risks and our  
risk management procedures are shared with our insurers when 
assessing any potential exposures. Our insurers have provided 
funding via bursaries to enable more detailed reviews of certain 
risks to increase understanding of the key drivers and enable more 
efficient action to address these, either through mitigation or 
insurance. These reviews have been well received by the risk 
owners for improving their ability to monitor and assess their risks 
and by the insurers for providing a more detailed analysis of the 
causes and their respective impacts.

Our process
Our risk management processes require identified risks 
throughout the Group to be owned by a named individual. They 
must review them regularly and consider related emerging risks. 
Risk identification is embedded within other processes, including 
strategy, project and programme management, bid approvals and 
other operational activities. Risk tolerance levels are flowed down 
to the divisions and functions. The likely timeframe within which 
the impact of risks might be felt (risk velocity) and how we 
prioritise risks is considered as part of our risk management 
strategy and feeds into our assessment of long-term viability.

Once identified, risks are reviewed at a site level and aggregated 
for review at divisional and functional levels on a consistent basis, 
before being submitted for the Group’s regular review process.

The resultant Group Risk Register is subject to a detailed review 
and discussion by the Executive Committee which includes 
discussion of risks which may not have been identified through  
the normal channels. The Board assesses the outputs from this 
process and takes comfort from the ‘three lines of defence’  
risk assurance model. The first line represents operational 
management who own and manage risk on a day-to-day basis, 
utilising effective internal controls. Group functions and divisions 
monitor and oversee these activities, representing governance 
and compliance at the second line. The third line is the 
independent assurance over these activities provided by  
internal and external audits.

Meggitt’s corporate strategy is designed to optimise our  
business model and take risk, with the required controls, on  
an informed basis. See pages 22 to 23 for a full description of  
our business model and strategy. To enable value to be created 
for our shareholders, we set varying risk tolerances and associated 
criteria. We accept and manage risk as described on the  
following pages.

Governance
Responsibility for risk management operates at all levels 
throughout Meggitt:

The Board takes overall responsibility, 
determining the nature and extent of  
the principal risks it is willing to take in 
achieving our strategic objectives, and 
overseeing the Group’s risk governance 
structure and internal control framework. 
During 2020, the Board carried out a 
robust assessment of the principal risks 
facing the Group, including those 
emerging, that would threaten its 
business model, future performance, 
solvency or liquidity. This report 
describes those risks and how they  
are being managed or mitigated.

The Board has delegated responsibility 
for reviewing and ensuring the 
effectiveness of the risk management 
process to the Audit Committee.

Divisional and functional leadership are 
responsible for the management of risk 
and for compiling and maintaining their 
own risk registers, which outline risks at 
business unit and programme levels.  
The Executive Committee as a whole 
regularly reviews the Group’s principal 
risks, while individual members own 
specific risks.

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Meggitt PLC
Annual Report & Accounts 2020

55

Risk heat map
The heat map below shows the outcome of the risk identification and assessment processes used to compile the Group Risk Register. 
This shows the relative likelihood and impact of the principal risks identified. Risks rated as green or those with a low expected impact 
are not considered principal risks of the Group for inclusion in the Group Risk Register, although they may feature on divisional or 
functional risk registers and be managed at that level.

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09

02

08

04

06

11

13

01

03

10

Medium

High

Increasing risk impact

05

14

12

Very high

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02

03

Strategic risks 
Medium to low tolerance for risks  
arising from poor business decisions  
or sub-standard execution of business 
objectives.

Business model

Operational risks
Low to near-zero tolerance for risks  
arising from business processes including 
the technical, quality, and project 
management or organisational risks 
associated with programmes and 
products.

Corporate risks
Low to zero tolerance for compliance and 
reputational risks including those related 
to the law and regulations, health, safety 
and the environment.

12

Legal and compliance

Industry changes

04 Quality escape/equipment failure

Climate change

05

06

07

08

09

Business interruption

Project/programme management

Customer satisfaction

IT/systems failure

Supply chain

10 Group change management

11

People

Financial risks
Medium to low tolerance for financial  
risks including taxation, pension funding, 
failure to provide adequate liquidity to 
meet our obligations and managing 
currency, interest rate and credit risks.

13

14

Pension funding

Liquidity

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56

Meggitt PLC
Annual Report & Accounts 2020

Principal risks & uncertainties

The Group’s strategic objectives can only be achieved  
if certain risks are taken and managed effectively. We have 
listed below the most significant risks that may affect our 
business, although there may be other risks – of which the 
Group is unaware or are considered less significant – which 
may affect our performance. The potential impacts of each 
of our principal risks were considered as part of the viability 
stress testing and considered to be consistent with, 
analogous to or less significant than the scenarios modelled.

Approach to COVID-19
Given the wide-ranging impact of COVID-19 on the aviation 
industry we have assessed the effect on our existing risks 
and considered resultant emerging risks rather than having a 
single, standalone COVID-19 risk.

Strategic priorities

Change in risk

Risk velocity

KPIs

Strategic Portfolio

Increase

H

High:  

 Impact within 6 months of 
risk occurring

1

2

3

4

Customers

No change

Competitiveness

Decrease

Culture

 – Financial performance 

(organic revenue growth, 
underlying operating profit, 
ROCE, underlying EPS 
growth and free cash flow) 

M

Medium:  

 Impact between 6 and  
36 months of risk occurring

L

Low:  

 Impact after more than  
36 months of risk occurring

 – R&D investment 
 – TRIR (total recordable 

incident rate) 
 – Inventory turns 

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Strategic risks

Risk

Description

Impact

How we manage it

Industry changes

1      H

KPIs:
•  Financial performance

Business model

2  

  M

KPIs:
•  Financial performance 
•  R&D investment

Significant variation in demand  
for air travel and/or our products 
due to aerospace and defence 
business downcycles coinciding; 
serious political, economic, 
pandemic (including the on-going 
impacts of COVID-19) or terrorist 
events; or industry consolidation 
that materially changes the 
competitive landscape. 

Failure to respond to fundamental 
changes in our aerospace 
business model, primarily the 
evolving aftermarket. This 
includes more durable parts 
requiring less frequent 
replacement, a growing supply  
of surplus parts, OE customers 
seeking greater control of their 
aftermarket supply chain and 
accelerated pace of new aircraft 
deliveries leading to the earlier 
retirement of older aircraft.

Volatility in revenue 
and underlying 
profitability.

 – Demand is managed by monitoring external economic and 
commercial environment and long-lead indicators whilst 
maintaining focus on balanced portfolio. 

 – Monitoring international political and tax developments to 

assess implications of future legislation.

Decreased revenue 
and profit.

 – Alignment of Group, divisional and functional strategy 

processes. 

 – Dedicated full-service aftermarket organisation. 
 – Long-term customer agreements including 

SMARTSupport® packages to create tailored solutions for 
customers throughout the product life cycle enabling more 
effective performance monitoring and more predictable 
pricing. 

 – Investment in research and development to maintain and 

enhance Meggitt’s intellectual property.

 
 
 
Meggitt PLC
Annual Report & Accounts 2020

57

Climate change

3      M

KPIs:
•  Financial performance
•  R&D investment

Failure to adapt to the transition 
and physical impacts of climate 
change, including:
– government legislation to limit 
air travel;
– regulations limiting greenhouse 
gas emissions from aviation come 
into effect faster than technical 
solutions;
– societal attitudes shifting 
against air travel (e.g. "flight 
shaming");
– acute physical risks such as the 
increased likelihood of extreme 
weather events; and
– chronic physical risks such as 
changing weather patterns 
including rising temperatures and 
sea levels.

Decreased revenue 
and profit, damage 
to operational 
performance and 
reputation.

 – Continued dialogue with governments, industry bodies 

and customers to maintain awareness of evolving aviation 
sector requirements.

 – Continued focus on developing technologies to support 
sustainable aviation and on reducing the carbon intensity 
of our production operations.

 – Allocation of two-thirds of innovation budget to 

sustainable solutions. 

 – Reduction in Group carbon footprint through new facilities, 

more efficient production processes and using green 
energy sources.

 – Comprehensive business continuity plans across the 

Group, supported by an insurance programme subject to 
annual renewal.

 – Long-term weather considerations as part of site footprint 

strategy.

These are considered further as part of the TCFD disclosures 
on page 71.

Operational risks

Risk

Description

Impact

How we manage it

Quality escape / 
equipment failure

3  

  H

KPIs:
•  Financial performance

Business 
interruption

3      H

KPIs:
•  Financial performance

Project / 
programme 
management

3  

  M

KPIs:
•  Financial performance 
•  R&D investment

Customer 
satisfaction

2  

  M

KPIs:
•  Financial performance 
•  Inventory turns

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Defective product leading to 
in-service failure, accidents,  
the grounding of aircraft or 
prolonged production shut-
downs for the Group and its 
customers.

Decreased revenue 
and profit, damage 
to operational 
performance and 
reputation.

 – System safety analysis, verification and validation policy 

and processes, combined with quality and customer audits 
and industry certifications. 

 – Meggitt Production System (MPS). 
 – Supplier quality assurance process.

A catastrophic event such as 
natural disasters (including 
earthquake – the Group has a 
significant operational presence 
in Southern California); civil 
unrest, military conflict or terrorist 
activity; or a pandemic (including 
further impacts from COVID-19) 
could lead to infrastructure 
disruption and/or property 
damage which prevents the 
Group from fulfilling its 
contractual obligations.

Failure to meet new product 
development programme 
milestones and certification 
requirements and successfully 
transition new products into 
manufacturing as production 
rates increase. This also covers 
lower than expected production 
volumes, including programme 
cancellations or delays, notably 
the 737 MAX.

Failure to meet customers’ cost, 
quality and delivery standards or 
qualify as preferred suppliers.

Decreased revenue 
and profit, damage 
to operational 
performance and 
reputation.

 – Group-wide business continuity and crisis management 
plans, subject to regular testing and also invoked during 
2020 in response to COVID-19. 

 – Comprehensive insurance programme, renewed annually 

and subject to property risk assessment visits.

Failure to deliver 
financial returns 
against investment 
and/or significant 
financial penalties 
leading to 
decreased profit 
and damage to 
reputation.

 – Rigorous commercial and technological reviews of bids and 

contractual terms before entering into programmes. 
 – Continuous review of programme performance through 
the Programme Lifecycle Management (PLM) process 
including: 
 – regular monitoring of the end-market performance of 

key OE programmes;

 – internal review process, to stress-test readiness to 
proceed at each stage of key programmes; and 

 – regular monitoring of the financial health of customers.

Failure to win future 
programmes 
resulting in 
decreased revenue 
and profit.

 – Creation of a customer-facing organisational structure 

including a dedicated aftermarket division. 

 – Regular monitoring of customer scorecards and ensuring 

responsiveness to issues via Voice of the Customer 
process. 

 – Functional excellence in operations, project management 

and engineering. 

 – Increased utilisation of low-cost manufacturing base.

 
 
 
58

Meggitt PLC
Annual Report & Accounts 2020

Principal risks and uncertainties
continued

IT/Systems failure

1      H

KPIs:
•  Financial performance

Supply chain

1  

  M

KPIs:

•  Financial performance 
•  Inventory turns

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Group change 
management

3  

  M

KPIs:
•  Financial performance 
•  Inventory turns

People

4  

  H

KPIs:
•  Financial performance 
•  Inventory turns

A breach of IT security due to 
increasingly more sophisticated 
cyber crime/terrorism resulting in 
intellectual property or other 
sensitive information being lost, 
made inaccessible, corrupted or 
accessed by unauthorised users. 
This also includes the loss of 
critical systems such as SAP due 
to poorly executed 
implementation or change of 
control; poor maintenance, 
business continuity or back-up 
procedures and the failure of third 
parties to meet service level 
agreements.

Failure or inability of critical 
suppliers to supply unique 
products, capabilities or services 
preventing the Group from 
satisfying customers or meeting 
contractual requirements.

Decreased revenue 
and profit, damage 
to operational 
performance and 
reputation.

 – Information Security infrastructure, policies and 

procedures supported by a Group wide security awareness 
programme.

 – Intelligence sharing on threats with government and 
security bodies including the FBI, CPNI and NCSC.

 – Group-wide intellectual property protection programme.
 – Management of third party service providers and risks, 
including resilience and disaster recovery processes.
 – Rolling programme of system upgrades (including SAP 

implementation) to replace legacy systems.

 – Defined vulnerability management policy with monitoring 
capability to ensure that vulnerabilities are identified and 
appropriately patched.

 – Dedicated cyber-security protective monitoring resources, 

employing industry-leading technical controls and 
procedures.

Decreased revenue 
and profit, damage 
to operational 
performance and 
reputation.

 – Supplier excellence framework combined with integrated 
commercial and procurement approach to contractual 
terms and conditions including development of long-term 
agreements.

 – Local sourcing strategy to improve operational efficiency 

and minimise potential impacts and disruption from 
cross-border tariffs.

 – Maintenance of buffer inventory for critical and sole-source 

suppliers.

 – Implementation of measures to mitigate counterfeit and 

fraudulent parts at high-risk facilities.

Failure to successfully, 
simultaneously, deliver the 
significant change programmes 
currently in process and planned, 
including site consolidation 
activity such as Ansty Park and 
investments in new carbon 
manufacturing facilities in the 
USA.

Decreased revenue 
and profit, 
increased costs, 
damage to 
operational 
performance and 
reputation.

 – PMO oversight of large capital projects.
 – Dedicated site consolidation and property management 

teams for Ansty Park.

 – Regular monitoring by Executive Committee through 

operational and project reviews.

 – HPS implementation at new/expanded sites.

Failure to attract, retain or 
mobilise people due to factors 
including industrial action, 
workforce demographics, lack of 
training, availability of talent and 
inadequate compensation.

Decreased revenue 
and profit, damage 
to operational 
performance.

 – Embedding of High Performance Culture.
 – Action plans to improve employee engagement.
 – Graduate and apprentice programmes in partnership with 

schools and universities.

 – Regular oversight by Executive Committee.
 – Creation of Employee Resource Groups to foster diversity, 

boost employee engagement and enable global 
collaboration.

Corporate risks

Risk

Description

Impact

How we manage it

Legal and 
compliance

3  

  H

KPIs:
•  Financial performance 
•  TRIR

Significant breach of increasingly 
complex trade compliance, 
bribery and corruption, US 
Government contracting, ethics, 
intellectual property, data 
protection or competition/
antitrust laws and facilitation of 
tax evasion.

Damage to 
reputation, loss of 
supplier 
accreditations, 
suspension of 
activity, fines from 
civil and criminal 
proceedings.

 – Continuing investment in compliance programmes 

including Board-approved policies and rollout of training 
and IT solutions.

 – Regular monitoring of ethics and anti-bribery programme 

by Corporate Responsibility Committee.

 – On-going trade compliance programme including 

third-party audits.

 – Comprehensive ethics programme including training, 

anti-corruption policy and 'Speak Up' Line.

 – Third-party and internal audits including HS&E and 

Anti-Bribery & Corruption.

 – HPS implementation to enhance safety measures, validated 

by third-party audits.

 
 
 
Meggitt PLC
Annual Report & Accounts 2020

Financial risks

59

Risk

Description

Impact

How we manage it

Pension funding

3      M

KPIs:
•  Financial performance 

Liquidity

3      M

KPIs:
•  Financial performance 

Higher pension 
scheme funding 
contributions 
resulting in 
decreased cash and 
profit.

 – Triennial valuation process and deficit funding agreement 

with UK Pension Trustees.

 – Continued monitoring of asset allocations and funding 

levels for all schemes.

 – Closure of UK and US defined benefit schemes to future 

accrual.

The Group operates defined 
benefit pensions schemes in the 
UK, US and Switzerland. The level 
of deficits in these schemes may 
be affected adversely by 
investment returns, interest rates, 
increasing life expectancy and 
changes in the regulatory 
environment. The rates at which 
deficits are funded is subject to 
agreement with the trustees in 
the UK and is dependent on 
legislation in the US and 
Switzerland.

Financial risk management is 
considered in detail on pages 172 
to 173.

Inability to access 
financing on normal 
commercial terms.

 – Maintaining sufficient headroom in committed credit 
facilities and against covenants in those facilities. 
 – Arranging funding with maturities spread over several 

years or the ability to terminate early at little or no cost to 
the Group.

Oversight of risk and internal control
The Board is responsible for risk management and internal control and for maintaining and reviewing its financial and operational 
effectiveness. The Board has taken into account the guidance provided by the FRC on risk management and internal control in carrying 
out its duties. The system of internal control is designed to manage, but not to eliminate, the risk of failure to achieve business 
objectives and to provide reasonable, but not absolute, assurance against material misstatement or loss.

The Group’s functions are responsible for determining Group policies and processes. The businesses are responsible for implementing 
them, with internal and/or external audits to confirm business unit compliance. The key features of the risk management and internal 
control system are described below, including those relating to the financial reporting process, as required under the Disclosure 
Guidance and Transparency Rules (DGTR):
 – Group policies – key policies are approved by the Board and other policies are approved by Group functions; 
 – process controls – for example financial controls including the Group Finance Policies and Procedures Manual, the bid approval 

process, programme lifecycle management reviews, IT security framework and risk management; and 

 – the forecasting, budget and strategic plan processes. 

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The Group’s programmes for insurance and business continuity form part of our risk management and internal control framework.

The following features allow the Group to monitor the effective implementation of policies and process controls by business units:
 – a business performance review process (including financial, operational and compliance performance); 
 – semi-annual business unit, product group and divisional sign-off of compliance with Group policies and processes; 
 – compliance programmes and external audits (including trade compliance, ethics, anti-corruption, health, safety and environmental); 
 – an effective internal audit function which, primarily, performs business unit reviews by rotation (including finance, programme 

management, IT, HR, ethics, anti-bribery & corruption and business continuity); and 

 – a whistleblowing line to enable employees to raise concerns. 

To review the effectiveness of the system of internal controls, the Board and Audit Committee applied the following processes and 
activities in 2020 and up to the date of approval of the Annual Report:
 – reviews of the risk management process, risk register and risk appetite statement; 
 – written and verbal reports to the Audit Committee from internal and external audit on progress with internal control activities, 

including:
 – Reviews of business processes and activities, including action plans to address any identified control weaknesses and 

recommendations for improvements to controls or processes; 

 – The results of internal audits; 
 – Internal control recommendations made by the external auditors; and 
 – Follow-up actions from previous internal control recommendations. 

 – regular compliance reports from the Group General Counsel and Director, Corporate Affairs; 
 – regular reports on the state of the business from the Chief Executive and Chief Financial Officer; 
 – presentation on IT security activities and plans from the Chief Information Officer and the Chief Information Security Officer; 
 – strategy reviews, review of the five-year financial plan and review and approval of the 2021 budget; 
 – written reports to the Corporate Responsibility Committee on the effectiveness and outcomes of whistleblowing procedures; and 
 – reports on insurance coverage and uninsured risks. 

The risk management and internal control systems have been in place for the year under review and up to the date of approval of the 
Annual Report, and are regularly reviewed by the Board. The Board monitors executive management’s action plans to implement 
improvements in internal controls that have been identified following the above mentioned reviews and reports. The Board confirms 
that it has not identified any significant failings or weaknesses in the Group’s systems of risk management or internal control as a result of 
information provided to the Board and resulting discussions.

 
 
 
60

Meggitt PLC
Annual Report & Accounts 2020

Principal risks and uncertainties
continued

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Viability statement
In accordance with the provision 31 of the 2018 Code, as part  
of their assessment of the Group’s viability, the directors have 
assessed the prospects of the Group and its ability to meet its 
liabilities as they fall due.

Response to COVID-19 and impact on Meggitt’s 
viability 
During 2020, along with the rest of the civil aerospace sector, 
Meggitt responded to the pressures caused by the COVID-19 
pandemic. Year on year, the Group’s revenues fell by £592m (26%) 
and as such, the last 12 months have tested the Group’s viability.

The first actions of the Group secured liquidity, and over the year 
the Group’s funding structure has proved to be secure and 
resilient. In the first half, the Group secured a forward start on its 
RCF for one year on $575m to September 2022, and in November 
successfully refinanced $300m of debt. The Group also became 
an eligible issuer under the Bank of England’s CCFF facility. 
However, the Group has not issued commercial paper under this 
facility at 31 December 2020 and at no point during 2020 was the 
Group viable only through access to these funds. 

The Group has also addressed its structural cost base. As at the 
end of 2020, our global headcount is 26% or 3,319 lower than at 
the end of 2019. Overall, though £592m of revenue have been  
lost year on year, the fall in underlying operating profit has been 
£212m, meaning for every £3 of revenue lost, just under £2 has 
been saved on cost. The Group also generated cash in the year 
with free cash flow (after interest and tax) of £32m and net debt 
lower by £138m year on year. The Group has received a small 
amount of support under government furlough schemes. The 
benefit to the income statement has not been critical to viability. 

Meggitt’s diversified business model has also proved robust. 
Though the Group’s civil aerospace business has come under 
pressure, the defence business is up 4% on an organic basis and 
defence now represents 46% of the Group’s revenue. In addition, 
the Group’s global manufacturing base has proved resilient during 
2020, with manufacturing capacity largely maintained through the 
pandemic despite significant levels of infection in both the UK and 
USA. Meggitt has benefitted from both globally distributed 
facilities and diverse end markets. 

Overall, though far from over, the Group’s response to COVID-19 
has been encouraging. Nearly 12 months into the most severe 
crisis to hit aerospace in living memory, Meggitt continues to  
be viable. 

Assessment of prospects
The Board believes that, despite the impact of COVID-19 in 2020, 
the prospects for the Group continue to be favourable in the 
medium to long-term.

•  We believe that the desire for individuals to travel remains and 
that air travel will play a critical part in meeting that demand
•  Growth in civil aerospace markets will return despite the near 
term impact of COVID-19; we provide equipment to all major 
new platforms entering service in the near future

•  Meggitt has provided equipment to over 73,000 in service 
aircraft, and with an average aircraft lifespan of 25 years,  
our aftermarket will be providing meaningful revenues to the 
Group for decades to come

•  We are diversified by end market and by customer

•  We supply into both civil (43% revenue) and defence (46%) 
aircraft markets, and into selected energy markets (8%)
•  Our revenues are split broadly evenly between equipment 

sales and aftermarket

•  We work with a diverse group of customers from across the 
globe. Our top 10 customers generate less than 50% of our 
revenue 

•  We invest for the long term and protect our know-how

•  We invest in market leading technology. We continue to 
spend, on average, 5-7% of revenue on R&D through the 
cycle

•  Our physical capital base is renewed regularly. We have 

maintained our investment levels in 2020 (£90m of capital 
expenditure vs. £94m in 2019)

•  We grow, manage and defend our intellectual property 

portfolio robustly

•  We continue to invest in next generation technologies to 

support a sustainable future for aviation and power 
generation

•  We seek to attract and retain colleagues who can enable the 

extraordinary

•  We manufacture based on quality, consistency and value

•  We manage our manufacturing facilities using HPS (previously 

MPS), a tiered improvement programme, providing a 
roadmap to best in class manufacturing.

•  We operate a globally distributed manufacturing 

infrastructure, producing both in the OECD and in lower cost 
locations

•  We have robust liquidity and a strong financial base

•  The Group has reduced its levels of debt by over £100m to 

£773m in spite of the financial pressure of the last 12 months. 
The Group generated free cash flow in 2020 

•  Our gearing ratio at the end of 2020 was 2.2x (net debt / 
EBITDA) and interest cover was 9.8x, both well within our 
covenant limits

•  We have £1.5bn of committed facilities as at 31 December 

2020, and a headroom of £908m

Assessment period 
The Board considered the Group’s principal risks as detailed in our 
risk register, and assessed the impact, likelihood and timeframe 
over which the risks might crystallise. It also considered over what 
timeframe certain business and sector changes currently 
impacting the Group would likely be resolved.

1.  Recovery of the civil aerospace market: Many industry 

observers including IATA see the civil aerospace market 
recovering to 2019 levels by 2024-25.

2.  Refinancing: The Group expects to have refinanced a 

significant proportion of its debt, including its RCF by 2023-24.

3.  Evolution of Meggitt: The Group has a number of projects, 

including the completion of the move into Ansty Park and other 
footprint reduction efforts, which are expected to complete 
within the next five years. 

4.  Programme investment: The Group typically expects the 

investment cycle of five years for engineering development 
programmes. 

The Board concluded that these four major activities would be 
largely resolved in a five-year time frame and as such, five years 
continues to be the correct timeframe over which to assess 
viability and risk impact.

 
 
 
Meggitt PLC
Annual Report & Accounts 2020

61

Assessment of viability and risk stress tests
The Group is modelling a progressive recovery in activity in the civil 
aerospace market from a low point in late 2020 and early 2021. 
Though a number of outcomes are possible, the Group believes that  
a full recovery in the civil aerospace market is likely by 2024-25 and it 
is on this baseline that the Group’s viability has been tested. 

Using the output of the Group’s long-term planning activity, the 
Group has created two adverse downside scenarios. These are 
modelled against a baseline “COVID recovery” scenario detailed in 
note 1 of the consolidated financials statements and the financial 
impact quantified should a number of risks within those scenarios 
crystallise within a five-year period. 

1.  Loss of a major customer
  The aviation sector is reliant on a well-developed system of global 
regulations and equipment qualifications to ensure confidence in 
the sector’s functioning. In addition, particularly when working with 
the defence arms of governments, security of data and adherence 
to military protocols is critical.

  The Group has modelled the impact of a significant loss of revenue 
following a regulatory or compliance failure at Meggitt. Censure 
for non-compliance is severe, whether through the loss of access to 
government contracts, or the grounding of fleet which are deemed 
to be unsafe. 

  This scenario is modelled to unfold in parallel with the recovery 
from COVID-19. Given necessary lead times to find alternative 
sources of supply, the full impact of this loss of customer scenario 
would take 12 months to be felt, during which time the civil AM 
recovery is underway in the underlying base case. The maximum 
impact of the scenario would be in 2023, when the Group is 
refinancing a number of facilities. 

2.  Major business disruption event
  As the Group is currently experiencing a significant demand-side 
business disruption event in COVID-19, in testing the Group’s 
viability, a supply-side shock has been considered. Specifically, 
manufacturing disruption in California as a result of a natural 
disaster. 

  On the Group’s risk matrix, business disruption continues to be one 

of the highest impacting risks on the Group’s financial 
performance, disrupting relationships with both major customers 
and suppliers. 

  The Group used knowledge of previous business disruption events 
to model the impact on the Group’s future plans. As modelled, the 
Group is able to weather the earthquake event without needing to 
conclude any additional refinancing. 

The Group has modelled the financial impact of the risks articulated 
above, together with mitigating actions. Mitigating actions include a 
reduction in investment both in PP&E and R&D or curtailment of 
indirect expenditure and headcount reduction. Levers such as dividend 
suspension or material reduction in discretionary spend are somewhat 
reduced in their effectiveness, as these actions have already been 
taken in response to COVID-19. However, the Group continues to sell 
into diverse end markets and enjoys long dated aftermarket revenue 
and technologically differentiated products. The Group would find it 
challenging should a second external shock occur before the recovery 
from COVID-19 is established. However, the Group continues to 
believe that both the scale of the potential mitigating levers available 
to it and the favourable outcomes achieved in 2020 against COVID-19 
by it provide buffers to mitigate the impact of these scenarios. 

Statement of viability
Based on the results of the analysis, the Board has a reasonable 
expectation that the Group will continue in operation and be able to 
meet its liabilities as they fall due over the five-year period of 
assessment.

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62

Meggitt PLC
Annual Report & Accounts 2020

Section 172 statement

As set out in Section 172 of the Companies Act 2006, the directors 
must act in good faith to promote the success of the Company for 
the benefit of its shareholders as a whole. In performing this duty, 
they are required to have regard, amongst other things, to the 
interests of employees, the impact of our operations on the 
communities in which we operate and the environment, and the 
need to foster relationships with our suppliers, customers and 
other key stakeholders in order to maintain a reputation for high 
standards of business conduct and enhance the sustainable 
long-term success of the business. The directors give careful 
consideration to these matters when discharging their duties and 
are supported by:

•  An induction programme and ongoing briefings, visits and 
discussions to ensure that they understand the business 
including our markets and future prospects, and wider 
stakeholder impacts;

•  A formalised procedure which highlights the impact of 

important decisions on key stakeholders to assist the process of 
assessment of Section 172 impacts. The draft proposals 
received by the Board and its Committees ensure that this 
formalised approach embeds the consideration of stakeholder 
interests at key decision-making levels and that Board papers 
reflect the impact of decision-making on key stakeholders; and

•  Carefully planned agendas to ensure the Board and its 

Committees have sufficient time to consider and discuss key 
matters.

Business conduct
As explained on page 97 the day-to-day management of the 
business is delegated to the executive management team. The 
Group Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability Policy requires 
the Group’s business to be conducted in a manner that achieves 
sustainable growth by balancing the interests of all stakeholders. 
This Policy prompts consideration of the matters set out in Section 
172 during the decision-making process undertaken at all levels of 
the business and, by mandating compliance with this Policy, we 
ensure that the business is run for the benefit of its shareholders 
as a whole.

Our comprehensive ethics programme, which includes an 
independently run whistleblowing hotline, promotes high 
standards of business conduct across the Group. The programme 

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is monitored by the Board on a quarterly basis and by the 
Corporate Responsibility Committee at a more detailed level at 
each meeting. It is reinforced through our policies, regular ethics 
training and our values and High Performance Culture 
programme. To date, 6,400 of our current employees have 
attended High Performance Culture ‘unfreezing’ sessions 
including the Board who participated in sessions in 2019.

Depending on the subject matter, the relevance of each 
stakeholder group may differ and decisions will not always result 
in a positive outcome for all stakeholders. But by having due 
regard to the interests of our key stakeholders at each key 
decision-making level of the business we ensure that all decisions 
taken promote the long-term sustainable success of the Group. 

How we engage with our stakeholders 
The Board has identified our key stakeholders as: our workforce, 
shareholders, customers, suppliers and the communities within 
which we operate. Management conduct much of the primary 
engagement activities and present regular updates to the Board 
providing critical insights and perspectives to shape Board 
decisions and enable effective challenge of decisions taken by 
management on behalf of the Board. 

COVID-19
2020 represented a period of significant challenge for the 
Company as a result of the severe impact of COVID-19 on the 
markets in which we serve. During the year the Board have taken a 
number of difficult decisions to flex the Company’s cost base and 
capacity to align more closely with our lower near market outlook 
with the overriding aim of securing the long-term sustainability of 
the Company.

These decisions have not been taken lightly and the impact of 
each decision on all key stakeholders has been considered 
carefully by the Board. A rolling record of all decisions taken in 
response to the COVID-19 pandemic has been maintained, 
together with assessment of the impact of these decisions on our 
key stakeholders. This assessment has been reviewed by the Board 
regularly throughout the year to ensure no particular stakeholder 
group has been unduly privileged at the expense of others. 

Decision-making in practice

COVID-19 has fundamentally changed the aerospace industry 
in the short to medium term and the Board has had to make a 
number of difficult decisions to ensure the long-term success  
of the Company. These decisions included not paying the  
2019 final dividend, not declaring any dividends for 2020  
and reducing our workforce to reflect lower demand for  
our products.

In making these decisions the Board paid due regard to the 
material impact on the affected stakeholder groups and the 
contribution of each decision to securing the long-term success 
of the Company. These decisions played a key role in reducing 
our cost base and strengthening our financial position and 
liquidity. 

Significant effort was made during the year to reduce 
employee costs while seeking to minimise the loss of jobs as  
far as possible, including the application of temporary furlough 
schemes, the reduction of salaries and fees for Board and 
Executive Committee members, encouraging senior 

management to take voluntary salary reductions and no 
payment of any 2020 bonus. However, given the scale  
of the COVID-19 impact on our business, job losses were 
unfortunately necessary to align our cost base with the 
reduction in demand for our products. Where possible,  
job losses were tailored to reflect our long-term strategy 
and allow us to emerge strongly when the recovery comes. 
Job losses were implemented with candid and humane 
communication and support.

Our shareholders want us to maximise returns in a 
sustainable way. Cancelling dividends has had a significant 
positive impact on our liquidity and cash flow. By taking the 
short-term decision not to pay dividends during the year we 
were able to minimise job losses and continue to support 
our customers, suppliers and the communities which will 
help generate long-term returns for our shareholders.

 
 
 
 
Meggitt PLC
Annual Report & Accounts 2020

63

Stakeholder engagement

Stakeholder

How we engaged  
in 2020

What they said  
in 2020

What we did  
in 2020

Workforce
Having an 
engaged 
workforce that live 
our values and 
focus on high 
performance, 
which ultimately 
drives results.

To ensure effective 
two-way 
communication.

Shareholders
Having supportive 
shareholders is 
vital to the 
achievement of  
our strategy.

•  Nancy Gioia, is Chair of the Corporate 
Responsibility Committee and the 
Non-Executive Director responsible for 
employee engagement. During 2020, Nancy 
conducted virtual meetings with sites in the UK, 
US and Asia, where she met separately with 
employees at all levels of the business. She also 
met with apprentices, graduates, our Employee 
Resource Groups, High Performance Culture 
facilitators and with our HR teams to discuss 
specific issues including COVID-19, the 
engagement survey results, the transition to 
Ansty Park, and diversity and inclusion. These 
meetings enabled Nancy to gain a deeper 
insight of matters that are of significance to  
our workforce and these were reported back  
to the Board.

•  Annual employee engagement surveys, and 

annual ‘pulse’ surveys, are issued to employees 
with the results reported to and discussed by 
the Board.

•  Intranet updates and leadership blogs provide 

employees with information on matters of 
concern to them and achieve a common 
awareness of the financial and economic factors 
affecting the Group’s performance.

•  An independently run whistleblowing hotline is 
in place with regular reports to the Corporate 
Responsibility and Sustainability Committee 
and the Board.

•  Our CEO, CFO and VP Investor Relations meet 
regularly with our key shareholders and report 
regularly to the Board.

•  The Chairman met with some of our key 

shareholders during the year on matters related to 
governance.

•  The Senior Independent Director engaged with 
key shareholders regarding the decision for Sir 
Nigel Rudd to remain on the Board to ensure 
continuity during the COVID-19 pandemic.
•  The Company Secretary and VP Investor 

Relations engaged with our major shareholders 
and proxy advisors ahead of and after the AGM 
to answer questions on the resolutions and 
report key themes back to the Board.

•  In late 2020 and early 2021, the Chair of the 

Remuneration Committee engaged with our 
major shareholders, and proxy advisors, to 
discuss and seek feedback on remuneration 
proposals. Further information can be found in  
the Directors remuneration report on page 114.

•  We set up a dedicated email address for 

shareholders to raise questions about the Group 
and its governance and operations ahead of  
the AGM. Responses to questions received  
are included on the shareholder section of  
our website. 

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•  Released COVID-19-
related information 
direct to employees 
through HR, as well  
as making resources 
and support 
information available 
on our intranet, 
including advice and 
links to our existing 
Employee Assistance 
Programmes.

•  Mental health during 
COVID-19 was a key 
topic actively 
discussed by the  
Board and executive 
management. 
Executive management 
worked with SHINE, 
our Employee 
Resource Group on 
mental health and 
disabilities.

We answered queries on 
our participation in the 
Ventilator Challenge 
directly and provided 
additional information  
on our website on this 
matter.

We kept our shareholders 
updated and informed 
through a combination  
of scheduled and ad-hoc 
market updates and 
answered questions 
throughout the year on 
all aspects of the 
COVID-19 crisis and 
progress made by the 
Company. 

The Remuneration 
Committee responded to 
shareholder and proxy 
advisor feedback by 
reshaping remuneration 
policy proposals: see the 
Directors’ Remuneration 
Report for more details. 

•  Stress levels had 
increased as  
a result of COVID-19, 
working from home 
and reductions in 
workforce. 

•  Meggitt provides the 
opportunity to take  
on challenging and 
meaningful 
assignments. Direct 
access to senior 
management was seen 
as a positive aspect of 
the Company’s culture. 

•  COVID-19 limitations 
for in-person High 
Performance Culture 
sessions raised 
concerns for 
maintaining the rate of 
deployment and 
cultural shift progress. 

•  Improved and 
consistent 
communication and 
collaboration tools 
were identified as key 
areas for improvement.

•  The main area of 

interest from retail 
shareholders ahead of 
the AGM centred on  
our participation in the 
Ventilator Challenge.

•  Institutional 

shareholders were 
primarily interested in 
the impact of COVID-19 
on Group revenue and 
profitability, steps being 
taken to preserve cash 
and adjust our cost 
base, our liquidity and 
headroom, expected 
pace of recovery in the 
civil aerospace market, 
safety of our workforce 
and steps taken to 
retain talent.

•  Shareholder feedback 

on the Chairman 
continuing on the Board 
as a result of the need 
for continuity during 
COVID-19 was positive.
•  Shareholder feedback 
and proxy advisor 
feedback on our 
remuneration proposals 
is detailed in the 
Directors’ Remuneration 
Report.

 
 
 
64

Meggitt PLC
Annual Report & Accounts 2020

Stakeholder engagement 
continued

Stakeholder

How we engaged  
in 2020

Customers
To provide 
sustainable 
technology 
solutions and 
anticipate future 
demand. 

To obtain feedback 
on where we are 
performing well 
and any areas 
where we can 
improve.

To ensure effective 
two-way 
communication 
and manage 
expectations.

Suppliers
Our relationships 
with our external 
supply base are  
a critical element 
of our overall 
business 
effectiveness and 
profitability.

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•  Continuous engagement by our CEO and 

divisional presidents and product group teams 
to discuss performance and technologies.
•  The Board receives reports on customers, 

customer-related key performance indicators, 
and actions being undertaken as a result.

•  The Board has overseen the implementation of 
the Meggitt Production System (MPS) since it 
was launched in 2012. MPS provides continuous 
improvement to our manufacturing processes 
for the benefit of the customer. MPS measures 
are included in the Long Term Incentive Plan 
and progress with MPS is discussed in detail by 
the Board and Remuneration Committee.

•  The Board has also overseen the creation and 

development of the Services & Support division, 
which is entirely focused on civil and defence 
aerospace aftermarket customer service. The 
Board receives regular updates on progress.

•  Our requirements for suppliers to demonstrate 
compliance to industry-wide policies regarding 
quality, security and a wide range of corporate 
social responsibility matters including 
environmental, performance, modern slavery 
and human trafficking and conflict minerals  
are documented and made available to our 
suppliers. The requirements are included in  
our standard terms and conditions. 

•  Risk assessments of suppliers have been 

undertaken and we have engaged with those 
suppliers perceived to be higher risk to seek 
confirmation of compliance on certain matters. 

•  The Corporate Responsibility Committee 
receives an annual update on supplier 
engagement activities from our Chief 
Procurement Officer, which is reported back  
to the Board.

•  The Corporate Responsibility Committee 

monitors the communication channels and 
relationships with our suppliers to ensure that 
they facilitate open discussion on areas of 
concern and support best practice.

•  Payment practices are managed by the Chief 

Financial Officer and Chief Procurement Officer 
who monitor actions to improve payments to 
suppliers. The Board and Corporate 
Responsibility Committee also receive biannual 
updates on payment practices. 

•  The Procurement team engaged with suppliers 
to ensure we fully understood the risks to our 
supply chain arising from COVID-19. 

What they said in 
2020

What we did 
in 2020

In 2020 there was 
continuous engagement 
with our customers to 
ensure that production 
during COVID-19 was in 
line with demand. 

Customers also 
requested extensions on 
payment terms.

Ensure continuous 
service to our customers 
throughout the year.

A new credit 
management committee 
was established to review 
credit extensions for 
customers.

Due to COVID-19 some 
suppliers needed 
additional support to 
remain operational. 

Support was provided to 
suppliers to assist them 
in their efforts to remain 
operational, especially  
in regions affected by 
national/state lockdowns.

However, towards the 
latter end of the year 
creditor days were 
extended slightly, 
detracting from the 
significant progress 
made in 2019 in respect 
of our payment practices. 

Assisted suppliers with 
access to Government 
stimulus funds in the 
USA, UK, and France,  
and re-launched the 
Meggitt US ePayables 
programme, allowing 
suppliers to receive 
payment more quickly, 
easing pressure on their 
cash flow. 

 
 
 
Meggitt PLC
Annual Report & Accounts 2020

65

Stakeholder

How we engaged  
in 2020

What they said  
in 2020

What we did  
in 2020

•  Additional support  
was needed by local 
communities during 
the COVID-19 
pandemic.

Local 
communities  
and the  
environment
As a global Group 
we are members of 
a diverse range of 
communities and 
have a responsibility 
to understand and 
support our local 
communities.

•  Board oversight and approval of the Corporate 

Responsibility and Sustainability Policy.
•  Our approach to local communities and 

charities and implementation of the Group 
Sponsorship and Charitable Giving Policy is 
discussed at each meeting of the Corporate 
Responsibility Committee.

•  Monitoring the environmental impact of our 

facilities and agreeing targets on greenhouse 
gas emissions, water and waste.

•  Maintain an active external communications 
presence, including through social media, to 
communicate key messages and monitor 
comments about the Company. Regular social 
media updates are provided to executive 
management.

•  Many of our teams and employees engaged 
with local communities to provide support 
during COVID-19. 

Participated in Ventilator 
Challenge UK.

Our UK Services & 
Support business 
produced over 49,000 
straps for face visors.

A colleague in the US 
produced 2,000 face 
masks.

Our Rockmart site 
adapted its production 
line to package gallons  
of hand sanitiser.

Colleagues in Xiamen 
collected stationery and 
school necessities to 
distribute to poorer 
communities.

Our California site 
collected food to 
distribute to 200 local 
families.

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Decision-making in practice

One of the major decisions made by the Group this year was the sale of the Meggitt Training Systems business to Pine Island 
Capital Partners, LLC. In making this decision the Board considered the interests of and the impact on all relevant stakeholders.

Our shareholders want us to maximise returns in a sustainable way. The sale of Meggitt Training Systems supported our strategy 
to focus on the civil and defence aerospace markets where we have strong competitive positions. Increasing our exposure to 
these markets will provide better returns for our shareholders in the long term. The sale also bolstered Meggitt’s liquidity during 
this challenging period helping to secure our long-term success. 

Our workforce rely on us for their livelihood and our customers rely on us to provide quality products at competitive prices. 
During the sale process care was taken to select an appropriate buyer who had shown interest in utilising their resources to grow 
the business. The buyer was considered a good custodian who would continue to invest in the workforce and in developing 
quality products for its customer base. 

 
 
 
 
66

Meggitt PLC
Annual Report & Accounts 2020

Corporate responsibility

Our people deliver solutions 
for the most challenging 
environments and are critical 
to our sustainable future. 

We must look after our  
planet by harnessing green 
energy, alongside driving 
operational excellence and 
reducing harmful emissions. 

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As the world transitions  
to a net zero future, our 
technology and products play 
a key role in making flight 
more sustainable and in 
enabling low-carbon power 
generation.

 
 
 
Meggitt PLC
Annual Report & Accounts 2020

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Enabling Our Sustainable Future

At Meggitt we are committed  
to working in partnership with 
our employees, communities, 
customers, suppliers, and 
shareholders to protect our 
people and planet to develop 
technologies for the benefit of 
future generations.

Our Corporate Responsibility and 
Sustainability Policy supports our 
strategy for a sustainable future by 
concentrating on three core pillars: 
People, Planet and Technology. Our 
strategy is tied to four of the United 
Nations Sustainability Development 
Goals, and allows us to strengthen our 
relationships with all of our stakeholder 
groups.

2020 has seen an expansion of our 
corporate responsibility activities.  
Our work on our strategic portfolio,  
our investment in differentiated 
technologies, alongside our 
commitment to manufacturing 
efficiencies, our values and diversity 
and inclusion all contribute to the 
sustainable development of our 
business and is the key to our 
continued long-term success.

 
 
 
68

Corporate responsibility
continued

Meggitt PLC
Annual Report & Accounts 2020

02

Our focus areas and stakeholders

People 
Health & Safety
Diversity &  
Inclusion

C

&

u

s

t

o

s

u

p

m

p

e

li

e

r

s

r

s

E m ployees

Planet
Using low carbon  
energy  
Reducing our  
waste 

Stakeholders

Technology 
Reducing 
aerospace emissions
Supporting green 
energy

Share h old ers

c

o

L

m

o

m

c

a

u

n

l  

iti

e

s

Ethics and  
business conduct
Anti-bribery 
Speaking up

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01

Corporate 
Responsibility  
& Sustainability 
Policy
•  Addresses our key 

stakeholders: employees, 
customers, suppliers, 
shareholders and the wider 
community;

•  upholding sound corporate 
governance principles and 
applying the UK Corporate 
Governance Code;

•  supporting the Ten Principles  
of the United Nations Global 
Compact, relating to human 
rights, labour, the environment 
and anti-corruption;

•  upholding our employees’  

human rights;

•  encouraging dialogue with 

employees through engagement 
and our Speak Up Line;

•  building a more diverse and 
inclusive Meggitt, complying 
with reporting obligations 
including gender pay gap 
reporting and reporting 
gender ratios for executives 
and the Board to the Hampton 
Alexander Review;

•  minimising the environmental 

impact of products and 
processes and maintaining 
internationally accredited 
environmental management 
systems, including  
ISO 14001 and ISO 9001;

•  conducting business 

relationships ethically and 
responsibly; 

•  complying with anti-slavery 

and human-trafficking 
legislation;

•  acting as a responsible 

supplier and encouraging  
all our counterparties to do  
the same; and

•  supporting our local 

communities.

  
 
 
 
 
Meggitt PLC
Annual Report & Accounts 2020

69

03

04

Action
For our stakeholders this means:
•  committing to invest over two-thirds of 
our innovation budget on technologies 
for sustainable aviation and energy;

•  improving the environmental 

sustainability and resilience of our sites 
around the world;

•  complying with relevant national laws 

and regulations;

•  complying with the latest environmental 

reporting requirements;

•  providing a supportive, rewarding and 

safe working environment;

•  introducing an employee recognition 
scheme, “Extraordinary People”, in a 
number of categories which include 
community and sustainability; 

•  delivering training for all employees on 

our Code of Conduct, health and safety, 
diversity and other areas;

•  continuing to develop our approach to 

employee communications and 
improving our collaboration tools;

•  maintaining modern, safe and efficient 

operational practices;

•  contributing to the social and economic 

enrichment of local communities, 
focusing particularly on activities related 
to STEM, and the work of our Employee 
Resource Groups;

•  having effective risk identification and 

mitigation across all areas of the 
business;

•  removing all sales agents from our 

business and implementing a continuous 
improvement plan for all intermediaries;

•  rolling out a new and improved Code of 

Conduct for our employee base 
alongside developing a Code of 
Conduct for our suppliers and other 
counterparties;

•  conducting independent audits in key 

compliance areas; and

•  adopting robust internal and external 
reporting and controls, and ensuring 
financial probity.

Governance and compliance
Ultimately, the Board is responsible 
for the implementation and 
performance of our Corporate 
Responsibility and Sustainability 
Policy (CR&S Policy).

On-going monitoring of corporate 
responsibility (CR) activities has 
been delegated by the Board to  
the Corporate Responsibility 
Committee (CR Committee). The 
CR Committee maintains oversight 
of ethics and business conduct, 
sustainability, charity and 
community activities.

The CR Committee also oversees 
the Board’s approach to 
implementing sections of the UK 
Corporate Governance Code 2018 
(“the 2018 Code”) and the UK 
Companies Act 2006 relevant to 
stakeholder engagement.

Nancy Gioia, the Chair of the  
CR Committee also performs the 
role of Non-Executive Director 
responsible for Employee 
Engagement. The role and activities 
undertaken by Nancy in 2020 are 
outlined on page 63.

In 2020, the Board of Directors 
continued to receive updates on 
diversity and inclusion activities 
across the Group, including the 
significant progress in 2020 with 
our Employee Resource Groups 
and the Meggitt Inclusion Week 
held in October. Health and safety 
reporting is also overseen directly 
by the Board with regular reports 
from the Chief Executive, and in 
2020 the Board reviewed current 
health, safety and environmental 
performance with the VP Health, 
Safety and Environment and the 
Group Director of Operations. 

Group support is provided to 
ensure we fulfil the requirements 
outlined in our CR&S Policy, and 
our divisional presidents, product 
group leaders and site directors 
take responsibility for implementing 
Group policies and procedures 
locally.

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Day-to-day responsibilities of the 
Board and the Chief Executive for 
overseeing the CR&S Policy in 2020 
were delegated as follows:
•  the Group Operations Director 
had functional responsibility for 
health, safety and the 
environment, led by our VP 
Health, Safety and Environment; 

•  the Group HR Director led 

initiatives focused on culture, 
diversity, inclusion and employee 
engagement; and

•  the Group Company Secretary 
had functional responsibility for 
ethics and business conduct and 
charity and community matters, 
working closely with our Group 
General Counsel & Director, 
Corporate Affairs, and Group  
HR Director.

In 2020, health and safety (Total 
Recordable Incident Rate) was a  
key strategic non-financial KPI  
(see page 53). In 2021, we are 
introducing carbon emissions  
as another non-financial KPI 
recognising the key strategic 
importance of this area. 

Data in other key areas, such as 
employees and other environmental 
data were monitored and assessed 
and our Group progress is reported 
in this section and in the 
Nominations Committee report 
(see page 112). Our non-financial 
information statement as required 
by sections 414CA and 414CB of 
the Companies Act 2006 is set out 
on page 89.

 
 
 
 
70

Corporate responsibility
continued

Meggitt PLC
Annual Report & Accounts 2020

Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) reporting and guidance

In 2020, Meggitt undertook a review of external environmental, social and governance reporting, and we are in the process of 
implementing a framework for our sustainability strategy across Meggitt, under the banner of “Enabling our sustainable future”. This 
framework captures our commitment to drive our business to be more sustainable across three key pillars: People, Planet and 
Technology. Our framework also covers the reporting requirements under the Taskforce on Climate Related Financial Disclosures. 

We have reviewed the United Nations Sustainability Development Goals and determined that the following goals are where Meggitt can 
make a difference:

Industry, innovation  
and infrastructure

UN description: 
Inclusive and sustainable 
industrialisation, together with 
innovation and infrastructure, can 
unleash dynamic and competitive 
economic forces that generate 
employment and income. They play 
a key role in introducing and 
promoting new technologies, 
facilitating international trade and 
enabling the efficient use of 
resources.

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Reduced inequalities

UN description: 
Reducing inequalities and ensuring no 
one is left behind are integral to 
achieving the Sustainable 
Development Goals. 

Our approach 
Meggitt can contribute to this goal by 
encouraging innovation and continuing 
our commitment to research and 
development on sustainable technologies 
for aviation and energy.

Our approach 
Meggitt can contribute to this goal by 
empowering and promoting the social, 
economic and political inclusion of all, 
irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, 
ethnicity, origin, religion or economic or 
other status.

Meggitt is committed to:
•  Investing two-thirds of our Applied 
Research & Technology spend in 
technologies and products needed for 
sustainable aviation and low carbon 
power generation; 

•  Membership of the UK Government’s 

Jet Zero Council which is a partnership 
between industry and Government in 
the UK to bring together ministers and 
chief executive officer-level 
stakeholders to drive the ambitious 
delivery of new technologies and 
innovative ways to cut aviation 
emissions; and

•  Working with established and new 

companies developing innovative low 
carbon solutions.

Meggitt is committed to:
•  Continuing commitment to our values 
and our High Performance Culture 
(HPC) journey;

•  Creating and supporting Employee 
Resource Groups which sponsor, 
promote and challenge our approach 
to diversity and inclusion across 
Meggitt;

•  Increased emphasis on our Speak Up 

culture;

•  Commitment to Gender Pay Gap and 
other diversity related data reporting; 
and 

•  Increased community-based charity 
support connected to STEM and our 
Employee Resource Groups.

 
 
 
Meggitt PLC
Annual Report & Accounts 2020

71

Responsible  
consumption and production

UN description: 
Worldwide consumption and 
production – a driving force of the 
global economy – rest on the use of 
the natural environment and resources 
in a way that continues to have 
destructive impacts on the planet. 

Peace, justice and 
strong institutions

Promote peaceful and inclusive 
societies for sustainable 
development.

Our approach 
Meggitt can contribute to this goal by 
concentrating on:

– achieving the environmentally sound 
management of chemicals and all wastes
throughout their life-cycle and
significantly reducing their release to air, 
water and soil in order to minimise their 
adverse impacts on human health and the 
environment; 

– substantially reducing waste generation 
through prevention, reduction, recycling 
and reuse; and

– adopting sustainable practices and to 
integrate sustainability information into our 
reporting cycle.

Meggitt is committed to:
•  Reducing greenhouse gas emissions, 

waste to landfill and water consumption, 
which are being managed by 
opportunities to maximise operational 
efficiencies;

•  Sourcing green energy;
•  harmonising more sustainable practices 

across our sites including waste 
recycling, minimising plastics, electric 
car charging and other facilities;

•  Sites maintaining ISO 14001 certification;
•  Site-level environmental performance 

monitoring and reporting against targets 
increased external reporting in the 
environmental, social and governance 
space including the Taskforce on 
Climate Related Financial Disclosures; 
and

•  Aftermarket business model of reduce, 

reuse and recycle.

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Our approach 
Meggitt can contribute to this goal by:

– taking action to prevent modern slavery 
within Meggitt and our supply chain;

– implementing policies, processes and 
awareness training to prevent bribery 
and corruption; and

– ensuring effective and accountable 
reporting.

Meggitt is committed to:
•  Increased transparent reporting in the 
environmental, social and governance 
space;

•  Increased emphasis on creating a sound 
Anti-Bribery & Corruption compliance 
programme through our annual 
continuous improvement plan;

•  Driving ethical business conduct through 

emphasis on our Speak Up Culture;

•  Creation and support for our Employee 

Resource Groups;

•  Continuing commitment to our High 

Performance Culture journey;

•  All-employee yearly compliance training 

in key areas including our Code of 
Conduct, ethical business practices and 
health and safety.

Taskforce on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD)
The TCFD was created to develop consistent climate related financial risk disclosures for use by companies to provide meaningful 
information to shareholders. We are required to fully comply with these disclosure requirements in our 2021 Annual Report & Accounts. 
During the year we completed a review and gap analysis of the TCFD requirements to identify areas for improvement in our practices 
and disclosure. Many of the TCFD requirements were already integrated into our strategy, operations and culture and we have 
strengthened our reporting in this Annual Report & Accounts to provide additional disclosure as appropriate in the following key areas: 
Governance, Strategy, Risk Management and Metrics & Targets. We are working on an action plan to address areas for improvement to 
enable full disclosure with the requirements in 2021.  

TCFD 
Recommendation 

Link to section in 
Annual Report 
and Accounts

Governance

Strategy

Risk Management

Metrics & Targets

Page 73

Page 11

Page 72

Page 11

 
 
 
72

Corporate responsibility
continued

Meggitt PLC
Annual Report & Accounts 2020

Climate-related opportunities and risks
The opportunities and risks that climate change pose are managed as an integral part of our strategic plan for the business (see page 
20), both in terms of how demand will change for existing and new products and how our operations will change in terms of energy 
usage, greenhouse gas emissions, and resilience to changing climate. The strategic planning process is integrated with our financial 
planning processes and includes climate change scenarios with a focus on future air travel, potential launches of new types of aircraft 
and engines, and impact on our sites.

Market opportunities and risks

Short term (< 3 years)

Medium term (3 - 10 years)

Long term (>10 years)

Opportunities

Risks

Opportunities

Risks

Opportunities

Risks

Aerospace 
markets

Energy 
markets

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Production 
operations

Increased use of 
more modern 
and fuel-efficient 
aircraft where 
Meggitt has a 
higher ship-set 
content leading 
to increased sales 
of both original 
equipment and 
aftermarket 
services.

Increased use of 
natural gas 
driving a growing 
market for 
Meggitt's heat 
exchangers and 
products used in 
gas-turbine 
power 
generation.

Use of renewable 
electricity, 
improved energy 
efficiency, and 
reductions in 
waste and water 
use.

Review and 
where 
appropriate 
initiate Scope 3 
emissions 
management.

Reduced 
passenger 
demand due to 
“flight shaming”  
or “carbon taxes” 
leading to a 
slower growth of 
the civil 
aerospace 
market.

Launch of next 
generation 
engines and 
aircraft where 
Meggitt’s  
thermal, sensing, 
composite, and 
flow control 
technologies are 
well suited.

Reduced 
passenger 
demand due to 
“flight shaming”  
or “carbon taxes” 
leading to a 
slower growth of 
the civil 
aerospace 
market.

Transition to 
alternative engine 
fuels (hydrogen  
or batteries) with 
opportunities  
for Meggitt’s 
technologies.

A new 
competitive 
environment with 
competitors 
offering 
technologies 
from other 
sectors.

If solar or wind 
power generation 
capacity reaches 
a scale whereby 
the demand for 
LNG falls then 
there would be a 
lower demand for 
heat exchangers 
in this market.

Over-capacity 
due to 
dramatically 
climate-altered 
societies and 
markets.

Increased 
demand for 
hydrogen, carbon 
capture  
and energy 
storage offers 
significant 
opportunities  
for our heat 
exchangers and 
thermal systems 
capabilities.

Changes to 
production 
facilities to  
provide key 
technologies for 
next generation 
green propulsion 
and energy 
sectors.

Carbon taxes  
and impacted 
operations from 
increased risk of 
extreme weather 
events. 

Increased 
demand for 
hydrogen, carbon 
capture, and 
energy storage 
offers significant 
opportunities  
for our heat 
exchangers and 
thermal systems 
capabilities.

Reduced energy 
usage and 
greenhouse gas 
emissions from  
our own facilities 
through 
improved 
production 
efficiency and 
through the 
ongoing 
consolidation of 
our global 
facilities into a 
smaller number 
or larger, more 
efficient plants.

Ongoing Scope 3 
emissions work 
with suppliers to 
improve energy 
efficiency and 
greenhouse gas 
emissions 
resulting in 
higher yields and 
lower costs.

Increased risks of 
wild fires in areas 
we operate (i.e. 
California and 
Oregon). 
Increased 
likelihood of 
extreme weather 
events.

Limited capex 
availability 
following 
COVID-19 crisis 
to fund 
substantial 
greenhouse gas 
reduction 
projects.

Limited Federal 
Regulations in 
Sustainable 
energy market in 
the US.

 
 
 
 
 
Meggitt PLC
Annual Report & Accounts 2020

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Governance of climate-related opportunities and risks
Climate change, with the associated risks and opportunities, has been identified by the Board and Executive Committee as a key
strategic issue and is an integral part of our business planning framework. Our strategy includes how we can position the Company to
offer products that will enable the shift to sustainable aviation and low-carbon energy production, how we can reduce greenhouse
gas emissions from our operations, and how we can ensure our facilities are resilient in the face of a changing climate.

Summary of responsibilities in relation to climate related issues

Board

At a strategic level, the Board consider the impacts of climate change on both our markets and our 
operations. The Board continually monitor our performance and progress in both of these areas, receiving 
regular updates on UK and international policies to decarbonise the aviation sector, including market-based 
measures, technological solutions and demand management and takes these into consideration when 
setting the Group’s policies and strategy.

The Board approve the CR&S Policy and the Environmental Policy that sets out the Group’s commitment to
incorporate environmental considerations in all aspects of our business. These policies are reviewed by the 
Board on a regular basis to ensure they are appropriate and in line with current best practice. These policies 
are available on our website.

CR Committee

The CR Committee has independent oversight of the implementation of the Group’s environmental 
performance and receives regular updates on environmental KPIs and environmental audits.

Executive 
Committee

The Executive Committee leads the consistent implementation of business and operational processes to 
minimise the impact of the Group on the environment and sets targets for improving the Group’s 
environmental performance.

Functional responsibility is delegated to the Group Director of Engineering & Strategy (for our response 
from a technology and market perspective) and to our Group Operations Director (for our response from an 
operational perspective).

Divisions, 
product groups 
and sites

Our divisions, product groups and sites are responsible for day-to-day performance in these areas.

Each site is required to drive a number of projects locally to support the reduction of carbon emissions, 
electricity and water consumption, and landfill wastes disposals. Targets have been deployed at each site 
and will be tracked as part of the overall Strategy Deployment Process at site and product group level.

Environmental 
Steering 
Committee (ESC)

The Environmental Steering Committee, comprised of the Group Company Secretary, Group Director, 
Engineering & Strategy, and Group Operations Director deploy the Group’s strategy into the business by 
providing direction to the Environmental Working Group on key business plans, such as the procurement of 
clean electricity and deployment of site targets.

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Environmental 
Working Group 
(EWG)

EWG includes members from Finance, Operations, Procurement, Communications, Research and 
Technology, Corporate Responsibility and Facilities Management, reporting to the ESC for strategic 
guidance.

 
 
 
74

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Corporate Responsibility Committee

Meggitt PLC
Annual Report & Accounts 2020

As Chair of the Corporate 
Responsibility Committee, Nancy 
Gioia’s role is to ensure that we 
oversee the Group’s activities in the 
areas of ethics and business conduct, 
environment and charity and 
community.

Our values and commitments are set out in our CR&S Policy 
to ensure it reflects our strategic goal to conduct business  
in a sustainable, long-term manner while demonstrating  
a high degree of social responsibility. Our approach and 
performance in this area is monitored closely by the CR 
Committee and oversight is provided by the Board.

The CR Committee covers ethics and business conduct, 
environmental performance, charity and community in detail. 
It also ensures that the Board meets its responsibilities under 
the 2018 Code and UK Companies Act 2006 on stakeholder 
engagement, and other reporting requirements. 

COVID-19 brought all matters related to corporate 
responsibility and how we treat our stakeholders to the fore 
in 2020. During 2020, we received detailed progress reports 
on environmental performance and ethics and business 
conduct, including trend analysis, detailed Speak Up line 
case reports, and updates on training roll out. We also 
received reports on supplier engagement and discussed 
feedback on employee engagement activities. We also 
discussed specifically the impacts of COVID-19 on our 
stakeholder groups to ensure our approach was balanced.

Integrity

In 2020, a new Ethics Management Committee was 
formed to review Speak Up line investigation reports  
to ensure consistent application of the process and 
investigation quality. The committee reviewed trend 
analysis data to ensure additional training and coaching 
is rolled out in the required areas in addition to the all 
employee training. The results of the committee’s 
findings were also reported to the Corporate 
Responsibility Committee.

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Nancy Gioia
Non-Executive Director

Our behaviours with  

each other, our customers, 
our suppliers and in our 
communities must be 
exemplary and we 
must accept nothing less.

Committee membership  
and attendance in 2020

Mrs N L Gioia 
(Committee Chairman)

Mr A Wood

Mrs L S Burdett

Mr G S Berruyer

Mr A Garard 

 Meetings attended

 
 
 
 
Meggitt PLC
Annual Report & Accounts 2020

75

Shareholders

Customers 

The Committee determined that the regular reports to the 
Board on shareholder engagement during 2020, in addition 
to direct engagement by the Chairman, executive directors 
and Chair of the Remuneration Committee were appropriate 
and gave the Board a good level of oversight and 
understanding of shareholder views. Our shareholder 
engagement activities are described in more detail on  
page 63. 

The Board discussed engagement with customers at every 
meeting during 2020. The Committee determined that the 
regular reports to the Board and customer updates were 
appropriate and gave the Board a good understanding of 
customer views. Our markets and key customer activities  
are outlined in our Strategic Report (page 64).

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Suppliers

Employees

The Chief Procurement Officer presented an update  
on the implementation of our supply chain strategy to  
the Board and detailed written reports on supplier 
engagement were provided direct to the Committee in 
2020. This highlighted that Meggitt’s approach to supply 
chain management is evolving, with a targeted reduction 
in the cost and complexity of our supply chain, but a 
deeper level of engagement with retained suppliers.

The Board reviewed reports from executive management  
on employee engagement and culture on a regular basis. 
The Committee reviewed the activities of the Non-Executive 
Director for Employee Engagement in detail. The results  
of the employee engagement survey as well as the 
whistleblowing hotline and ethics programme were also 
reviewed by the Board and CR Committee (see page 63). 

2020 Highlights 

A focus on the impacts of COVID-19 on our stakeholder groups, 
particularly in relation to actions taken by management to  
control cost.

Creation of an Environmental Steering Committee to support the 
implementation of our strategy on climate change.

Creation of an Ethics Management Committee to provide 
direction on our ethics programme, including approving processes 
and oversight of case management and ethical training.

Reducing sales agents in our business to zero.

Refreshing our Code of Conduct for all Employees.

Relaunching our new and improved independent Speak Up Line.

Launching our employee recognition scheme “Extraordinary 
People”.

Launching three new Employee Resource Groups supporting 
Black, Asian & minority ethnic (BAME), Latinos and Hispanics, and 
our Veteran communities (adding to the five existing groups which 
cover gender, mental health, STEM, young professionals and the 
LGBTQI+ communities) whilst also reviewing our talent pipeline, 
reflecting our commitment to diversity and inclusion.

Implementing site-level key performance indicators and targets 
for environmental measures such as energy and water 
consumption and waste to landfill.

 
 
 
 
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Meggitt PLC
Annual Report & Accounts 2020

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Our people are at 
the centre of our 
sustainable future

Our values and culture
Our values reflect how we should work 
together and the behaviours that are 
integral to our drive for success. Our work 
on culture continues to be a key part of our 
overall Group strategy. 

To accelerate our progress towards 
becoming a truly integrated global 
business, we launched our High 
Performance Culture (HPC) initiative across 
the Group in 2017, with the first wave of 
HPC sessions targeted at the senior 
leadership teams across the organisation. 

6,400 of our current colleagues have 
attended unfreezing sessions and 1,100 
colleagues have received reinforcement 
training. Our original goal was for all 
employees to have attended a session by 
the end of 2020, however, due to the 
COVID-19 pandemic, progress has been 
slower than planned. In 2020, we focussed 
our activities on reinforcement with virtual 
monthly sessions on HPC for leaders and 
managers across the business, to enable 
them to deploy activities at a local level. 

In 2020 we also trained facilitators to 
deliver HPC virtually in 2021, which will 
ensure that we sustain momentum as we 
continue to build our High Performance 
Culture.

 
 
 
Meggitt PLC
Annual Report & Accounts 2020

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Living our values

Teamwork

At Meggitt, we support each other 
and recognise outstanding 
contributions. By working together, 
we bring extraordinary technology 
to our customers. We build great 
relationships with all of our 
stakeholders, providing the support 
they need to succeed. We build 
highly skilled teams passionate 
about what we do and how we do it. 

Integrity

At Meggitt we do the right thing, in  
the right way wherever we operate.  
Our colleagues, customers and the 
communities we are part of can 
count on us to act with integrity, 
honesty and respect. We form 
lasting positive relationships built on 
open communication, understanding, 
fairness and impartiality. We 
conduct ourselves with integrity  
and the highest standards of ethical 
behaviour across the business.

Excellence

We enable the extraordinary at 
Meggitt. We’re good at what we do 
and that’s why customers come back 
to us. We are constantly working to 
improve our processes and attention 
to detail. As a result, we deliver the 
most ambitious technologies, 
products and services safely, 
efficiently and cost effectively  
to our customers.

Group Board

Senior managers*

Wider employees

5

56%

4

44%

92

82%

20

18%

6,490

70%

2,790

30%

* 

includes members of the Executive Committee, direct reports of the Executive Committee and,  
as required by s414C of the Companies Act 2006, subsidiary directors.

Diversity and Inclusion
Our Diversity and Inclusion Policy (available 
on our website) sets out our commitments at 
Board level to making Meggitt a diverse and 
inclusive organisation. The Policy reinforces 
that we should employ a diverse workforce 
that reflects the diverse communities within 
which we operate and always foster an 
inclusive culture where people are valued, 
respected and supported.

Alongside our Policy and embedded within 
our culture and values are diversity and 
inclusion. The Board, executive management, 
and leaders across the Group recognise that a 
diverse and inclusive workforce is critical to 
running a sustainable and successful business. 
To reinforce our commitment to creating a 
diverse and inclusive environment, we have 
created divisional-level diversity plans, and 
established a Group-wide Diversity & Inclusion 
Council which drives the aims of the Policy. 

During 2020 we saw substantial progress, 
with the launch of three new Employee 
Resource Groups. We also continued to 
deploy inclusion and unconscious bias 
training in 2020.

We hosted numerous events throughout 
the year which increased awareness and 
visibility of our efforts including Women’s 
History Month and International Women’s 
Day in March, Mental Health Awareness 
Week in May, Hispanic Heritage Month in 
September, Black History Month (UK) in 
October and Remembrance/Armistice Day 

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in November. In October we launched  
our first ‘Inclusion Week’ showcasing the  
work of all of our Employee Resource 
Groups. Over 1,000 participants attended 
live sessions and activities deployed to 
colleagues across the business. 

We continue to make good strides in 
diversity in our talent pipeline where 
female promotions have increased to  
36% in 2020 (2019: 32%); a testament  
to the work done on facilitating growth  
and development of our female 
population. Our UK gender pay gap 
reduced from 14.9% to 9.3% in 2020, with 
progress driven by several senior executive 
changes and our increased focus on 
diversity and inclusion. Our full UK gender 
pay gap statement will be available on our 
website by April 2021. We are committed 
to building a more diverse and inclusive 
Meggitt and complying with reporting 
obligations including gender pay gap 
reporting and the Hampton Alexander 
Review, as well as equal pay and fostering 
a fair and transparent environment where 
employees are rewarded based on their 
position, competencies, performance  
and contribution.

Our Employee Engagement Survey 
showed a year over year improvement  
in our diversity and inclusion index. Our 
people are in favour of efforts to promote 
diversity and inclusion and most feel that 
differing viewpoints are sought out and 
valued.

Meggitt does not discriminate on the 
grounds of age, colour, disability, ethnic or 
national origin, gender, gender expression, 
gender identity, marital status, pregnancy, 
race, religion or belief, or sexual orientation 
and new hires are offered positions based 
on merit, taking account of their specific 
skills, experience and knowledge. All 
individuals are supported during their 
employment through training, career 
development and awareness of diversity 
and inclusion groups are promoted to all 
employees through our Employee 
Resource Groups. 

 
 
 
 
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continued

6,399

employees who have 
attended unfreezing

1,125

employees who have had 
reinforcement training

Employee recognition
Having a high performance culture and 
great values are at the heart of how we 
work at Meggitt. Colleagues believe in the 
value of great Teamwork, always acting 
with Integrity – doing the right things, in 
the right way, and staying focussed on 
Excellence for our customers. A culture  
of appreciation and recognition is an 
important building block for our values 
– being able to say thank you or well done 
to a colleague is easy. Our engagement 
survey data told us how much people value 
being recognised for great work and in 
response to this feedback we introduced 
our Extraordinary People recognition 
programme in 2020.

This programme is a way of recognising  
the special efforts and commitment of 
individual colleagues and teams across  
the whole of Meggitt. Open to all, this 
programme, together with local recognition 
schemes already running at local sites, is 
motivational and rewarding, helping to 
create a culture of customer service and 
appreciation. Nominations are accepted for 
individuals and teams in seven categories: 
Operational Excellence, Innovation, 
Teamwork, Safety, Sustainability, Customer 
Service and Community. The level of 
uptake of this recognition scheme has been 
very well received by staff, having received 
over 2,000 nominations in 2020.

Employee engagement 
and feedback
We recognise that our future success 
depends upon our shared sense of 
purpose and it is important that we find 
out from our employees what they think 
about Meggitt and how they feel about  
the work that they do.

The results of our 2020 annual Employee 
Engagement survey had an excellent 80% 
participation rate. 71% of employees were 
favourable on the overall engagement 
index, only 1% less than 2019 which was 
considered a positive outcome given the 
impact of COVID-19 on our business and 
our people during 2020. Our scores in 
alignment (connecting an employee’s own 
goals with the goals of the Group) and 
agility (the organisations ability to respond 
to change) improved by 2% and 4% 
respectively. The feedback shows strong 
improvement in a number of areas:
•  We saw big improvements in respect 
and trust, openness, and teamwork.

•  It showed that improvements in 
efficiency and performance 
management have been made and we 
have further opportunities to improve 
our execution by refreshing the Meggitt 
Production System and simplifying 
processes.

•  Our High Performance Culture initiative 
scored well and highlighted the need to 
ensure HPC is fully embedded in all 
areas of the business.

As well as asking for employee feedback 
and engagement, in the UK we encourage 
investment in Meggitt through 
participation in the UK employee share 
ownership schemes. 

Meggitt PLC
Annual Report & Accounts 2020

Investment in employees through 
training and development
We invest time and energy into ensuring 
we attract, develop and retain the best 
talent to ensure people succeed based on 
their skills, behaviours, knowledge and 
experience. We recognise that a skilled 
workforce will help Meggitt achieve better 
results. During 2020, our training and 
development programmes were impacted 
by COVID-19, the need to preserve cash 
and the inability to attend physical training 
sessions. The following are highlights from 
2020:
•  All-employee compliance training was 

rolled out in H2 2020;

•  We developed internally the Spitfire 
Academy for operations leadership 
which was launched in Autumn 2020; 
and

•  We developed LeadX, a new leadership 
programme for aspiring leaders (below 
executive level) and this programme 
launched in January 2021. 

We continue to develop employees’ 
leadership capabilities and during the year 
implemented formal programmes to raise 
capability in functional teams, including 
procurement, project and programme 
management.

Graduate programme members and 
apprenticeships were protected from the 
necessary reductions in force which took 
place as a result of COVID-19 during 2020.

In 2020, our graduate programme received 
over 1,000 applications for 15 places  
(40% of those places were filled by 
females). We also confirmed 10 graduates 
into permanent roles within Meggitt and in 
total, currently have 45 graduates on our 
Global Rotational Graduate Programme. 

In 2020, we have continued our efforts  
with the Meggitt Corporate Apprenticeship 
Programme in the UK. This includes 
confirming eleven apprentices into 
permanent roles within Meggitt and 
recruiting another cohort of seven onto the 
Manufacturing Engineering Apprenticeship, 
alongside an additional four joining our new 
Procurement Apprenticeship in January 
2021. This brings our total apprentices in 
the UK to 60 and globally to 111. 

 
 
 
Meggitt PLC
Annual Report & Accounts 2020

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Community and charities
The Sponsorship & Charitable Giving Policy 
contains guidance about the types of 
organisations (charitable and non-charitable) 
that we will consider funding, the criteria are 
aligned to our Values. It is the responsibility 
of our Group Director of Ethics and 
Corporate Responsibility to ensure the policy 
is followed across the Group including 
providing guidance on charitable giving,  
and communicating this policy across  
the business.

Each site is ultimately responsible for 
agreeing and administering its own budget 
for charitable donations and sponsorships 
to ensure they have a positive impact on 
the local community that they support and 
in which their business operates. 

In 2020 Meggitt donated to a number of 
charities aligned to the goals set out by our 
Employee Resource Groups and foodbanks 
in the UK and USA which are linked to the 
local communities we share. Our plan for 
work with charities in 2021 will continue to 
be aligned to the work our Employee 
Resource Groups do. 

Throughout 2020 our employees 
volunteered their time generously to support 
their colleagues and local communities 
coping with COVID-19. Our employees in 
Coventry, UK, repurposed our restraints 
product line to stitch straps for full-face 
acetate masks, essential PPE for health care 
workers and first responders. Well over 
49,000 straps were produced.

Our Rockmart site in Georgia, USA, teamed 
up with GEO Specialty Chemicals to jointly 
produce, package and distribute 1,200 
gallons of hand sanitiser, enough to protect 
the employees of both companies with 
additional supplies sent to local hospitals 
and offices in need.

Many employees and their family members 
devoted their free time to making fabric face 
masks. Thousands of masks were donated to 
colleagues and local communities. 

Employees used their personal 3D printers to 
produce headband brackets, face shields 
and ‘ear savers’ at home and donated the 
items to community medical centres.

Disability
Meggitt’s policy in relation to the 
employment of disabled persons is to  
give full consideration to job applications 
received from disabled persons. 
Candidates are selected and appointed  
on the basis of their ability to perform the 
duties of the job. Where appropriate, 
special training is given to facilitate 
engagement of the disabled and 
modifications to the job are considered. 
Where an employee becomes disabled 
whilst in our employment and is unable to 
perform their existing role, arrangements 
will be made where possible for retraining 
in order that a different job may be 
performed. 

Headcount by division
Number of employees and contractors

  Airframe Systems 

  Engine Systems 
  Energy & Equipment 
  Services & Support 

  Central 

Total 

4,876

1,886
1,299

505

714

9,280

Headcount by region
Number of employees and contractors

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  UK 

  Rest of World 

  Rest of Europe 

Total 

4,871

2,305

1,111

993

9,280

Headcount by length of service
Number of employees and contractors

  Less than 5 years 

  Between 5 and 10 years 

  Between 10 and 15 years 

  Between 15 and 20 years 

  Between 20 and 25 years 
  Over 25 years 

Total 

4,337

1,856

1,090

665

656
676

9,280

 
 
 
Meggitt PLC
Annual Report & Accounts 2020

We continue to measure our effectiveness 
in health and safety through the use of the 
Meggitt Safety Star Programme which 
incorporates many leading indicators of 
health and safety performance. In 2020,  
26 of our sites achieved Platinum level 
within the Programme which is the highest 
level of recognition in regards to health 
and safety performance that our sites can 
achieve. The Safety Star Programme is also 
a key element in determining if a site has 
achieved a level of operational excellence 
within our High Performance System which 
closely ties health and safety performance 
to operational performance as a measure 
of overall business performance.

In 2021 we will be incorporating the”Safety 
Leadership Index” metric into the business 
which consists of leadership leading 
indicators such as safety leadership walks, 
safe observation days conducted by site 
Safety Champions and the number of 
safety stand downs conducted each month 
as a mandatory metric in our Safety Star 
Programme that will require sites to 
achieve certain levels in the metric to 
achieve Platinum Safety Star status. 

In addition, we are targeting all of our sites 
to implement and obtain an occupational 
health and safety management system 
certified to the ISO 45001 standard by 
2022. In 2020, 30% of sites had achieved 
this target.

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Corporate responsibility
continued

requirements, decreased and limited 
face-to-face meetings, staggered work 
shifts, telecommuting, and increased 
cleaning and disinfection regimes among 
other actions. These actions, combined 
with the resilience and cooperation of our 
employees during unprecedented times, 
allowed most of our operations to safely 
remain open throughout the pandemic.

Throughout the pandemic our employees 
continued to follow our core values of 
always placing safety first, and to always  
do the right thing by our people, our 
customers and our communities in  
which we operate. Our added focus of 
addressing COVID-19 risks in the 
workplace did not detract from our drive  
to reduce health- and safety-related risks 
that can arise within our operations.  

With consistent communication of safety 
matters occurring daily through our 
Meggitt Production System’s daily layered 
accountability process, we continued to 
keep our employees engaged throughout 
2020 by encouraging employees to identify 
any perceived opportunities for improving 
safety in the work environment on a 
day-to-day basis. Across our business,  
site leaders continued to conduct regular 
Leadership Safety Walks on the production 
floors with a sole focus of observing how 
health and safety is embedded into daily 
operations, and emphasising the 
importance of positive safe behaviours 
with each task performed. 

Sites also continued to conduct Safety 
Stand Downs in areas or topics of concern 
specific to their operations. Across all of 
our sites over 1,000 Safety Stand Downs 
were conducted in 2020. A Safety Stand 
Down occurs when operations are paused 
for a period of time and the whole site 
focuses on specific risk areas; interactive 
discussions are held with all managers and 
employees to review ways to minimise or 
eliminate the specific risk.

In 2020, we continued to report record 
lows in our Total Recordable Incident Rate 
(TRIR). Our TRIR improved in 2020 to 0.70 
(0.74 in 2019), representing a 5% reduction 
year on year as a result of a decade of 
continuous improvement activities. 

Our commitment to health and safety was 
reinforced in 2020 with the review and 
revision of our Group Health and Safety 
Policy which was approved by the Board of 
Directors in October 2020.

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9 Health and safety

Our Health & Safety Policy sets outs 
responsibilities at all levels towards health 
and safety and the prevention of injury  
to our employees, visitors, contractors, 
customers and others who may be  
affected by our activities.

At Meggitt, we have continuously placed 
the health and safety of our employees, 
contractors, customers and visitors at the 
forefront of everything we do. This 
approach was more important than ever  
as the COVID-19 virus spread in the  
global communities in which we operate. 

The Group Crisis Management Team 
formed early in 2020 to oversee our 
response to COVID-19 and ensure a clear 
and consistent approach across the Group. 
Our sites activated the pandemic response 
supplement of our business continuity plan 
and a Group-wide policy and procedure 
for managing the work environment during 
the COVID-19 outbreak was developed 
and deployed by our HSE function. The 
procedure required all of our sites to 
undertake detailed and specific risk 
assessments in their operations to identify 
risk reduction measures needed to control 
or reduce the spread of the virus in the 
workplace. 

Additional controls and policies were put 
into place including increased awareness 
campaigns, health screening of employees 
and visitors, social distancing 

 
 
 
Meggitt PLC
Annual Report & Accounts 2020

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Our Extraordinary 
People

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2020 will go down in the history books as the 
year that united communities worldwide in  
the fight against a global pandemic. We are  
so proud of our teams worldwide who continue 
to give their time to support colleagues, 
communities and those in need to ensure they 
have the right tools and support to make a 
difference, our teams worldwide continued  
to deliver when it mattered most.

 
 
 
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Annual Report & Accounts 2020

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Our planet, our home

Our commitment
Our Corporate Responsibility & 
Sustainability (CR&S) Policy and our 
Environmental Policy set out our 
commitments to incorporate environmental 
considerations, sustainability and 
responsibility in all aspects of our business 
by including environmental protection, 
resource conservation and waste reduction 
in our strategic planning. Our policies 
require all of our sites to comply with 
relevant legislation, promote environmental 
stewardship and achieve recognised 
ISO14001 certification of their 
environmental management systems and 
commits us to work with our suppliers to 
minimise any adverse impact of their 
products and operations on the 
environment.

Performance
Our overall strategy requires all of our  
sites to implement and maintain an 
environmental management system 
certified to ISO 14001. Those sites which 
had not yet achieved certification as at the 
start of the year had to delay their plans to 
2021 because of the impact of COVID-19 on 
travel restrictions, availability of auditors 
and their inability to certify virtually. As part 
of maintaining an ISO 14001 certified 
management system, sites need to identify 
all aspects of their business that may impact 
the environment and to set strategies to 
mitigate, control or reduce those impacts. 

Many of our sites have completed projects 
that contribute to our overall strategic goal 
of reducing our environmental impact on 
the planet. 

The solar panel project at our Ansty Park, 
UK, site was completed in 2020 and the 
solar array generated 86,000 KWh of 
renewable energy last year.

Our Rockmart, US, site completed the 
replacement of an autoclave in late 2019 
and a second one in 2020 with higher 
efficiency models which resulted in an 
approximate 30% decrease in water 
consumption at the site. In addition, the site 
has plans to replace a third autoclave and 
their two large boilers with five smaller, 
energy efficient boilers in 2021. The 
replacement of the boilers will allow the  
site to better control their natural resource 
consumption as they will be able to tailor 
their consumption based upon demand as 
opposed to running the larger boilers 24/7.

Our Portland, US, site achieved the 
following in 2020:
•  Reduced electricity consumption  
by 16% by installing LED lighting;
•  Reduced natural gas consumption  

by 12%;

•  Reduced water usage by 47% with the 
installation of inline chillers to recycle 
and reuse water in their cooling towers; 
and

•  Moved 80% of what was previously 

landfilled to recyclables (77% decrease 
in landfill, 80% increase in recyclables).

The energy storage system that was 
installed at our MDS Irvine, US, site in 2019 
which allowed the site to purchase and store 
electricity purchased during off peak hours 
for use during peak hours, resulted in cost 
savings for the site. The site in turn utilised 
the cost savings to purchase Renewable 
Energy Credits (RECs) that offset 100% of 
their greenhouse gas emissions from 
electricity purchased from the grid.

In Autumn 2020 we signed a UK-wide 
energy contract to source 100% of our UK 
electricity from renewable energy sources 
from March 2021 onwards. There are further 
plans being implemented for the rest of our 
sites globally outside of the UK to transition 
as much of our energy as possible to 
renewable sources in 2021, or where this is 
not possible (such as in some locations in 
the US) to adopt other strategies to offset 
our energy usage. 

These actions are being taken as a part  
of reaching our goal of reducing our 
greenhouse gas emissions relative to 
revenue by 50% by 2025, using 2015 as  
a baseline year. 

During 2021 we are committed to 
developing a plan for Meggitt to reach net 
zero on our Scope 1 and 2 emissions.

 
 
 
Meggitt PLC
Annual Report & Accounts 2020

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Case study 
Ansty Park – 
sustainable by design

Performance Certificate rating A+,  
and a BREEAM audit ranking of ‘Very 
Good’, meaning we are in the top 25% 
of international new construction 
projects for sustainability.  

Several features have helped us to 
achieve this recognition, we have a 
rainwater harvesting system that 
incorporates a 90,000 litre collection 
tank which supplies recycled and 
filtered water for use in toilets and 
production. We have in-built insulation 
with localised air extraction and 
heating systems to optimize 
climatisation, and 20 electric vehicle 
charging points with ducts installed to 
accommodate an additional 130 cars. 
In addition, we have installed a state  
of the art wet processing line with an 
integrated filtration system, meaning 
nothing goes to drain except clean 
water, protecting the environment and 
reducing our levels of hazardous waste. 

Perhaps the most striking 
environmental feature is our roof-top 
solar farm, It is one of the biggest  
roof mounted solar Photovoltaic 
installations in the UK. This 2,600kW 
system will produce around 2 million 
kW’s of electricity a year. It took  
three months to build, covers 167,000 
square feet (around five football 
pitches), has over 9,500 solar panels 
and 20km of cable. We estimate that 
our solar farm will account for more 
than 25% of our annual Ansty power 
requirement.

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Annual Report & Accounts 2020

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Table 1 shows our performance for key 
environmental metrics and Table 2 shows 
our progress on achieving internally set 
targets. 

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We currently disclose gross Scope 1 and 
Scope 2 greenhouse gas emissions. From 
2021 we will disclose our net as well as gross 
emissions for Scope 1 and Scope 2, and in 
2022 we will review the disclosure of Scope 
3 emissions.

COVID-19 had a significant impact on our 
overall performance in 2020. As expected, 
all of our environmental metrics decreased 
year-on-year on an absolute basis due to 
the associated impacts on our operations 
in terms of production, employees 
telecommuting and site furloughs. 

As a result, our absolute greenhouse gas 
emissions decreased by 21% year-on-year 
but increased by 6% when normalised to 
revenue and our performance against our 
2025 target deteriorated slightly. Our 
carbon brake manufacturing operations 
continue to drive our overall performance 
on greenhouse gas emissions and those 
sites were significantly impacted by the 
pandemic in 2020. As discussed above, 
however, our sites continue to develop 
renewable energy projects and our 
strategy to procure greener energy will 
lead the way in helping us to achieve our 
target on net emissions by 2025.

It has been agreed for 2021 to implement 
Group wide site targets for a 3% reduction 
in electricity, natural gas, water and waste 
to landfill in 2021. Each site will be 
required to build a strategic improvement 
plan that will drive concrete actions to 
support these targets.

Water consumption decreased significantly 
on an absolute basis (-30%) which also 
resulted in a 6% decrease when normalised 
to revenue. Although the pandemic had an 
impact on this metric for most of our sites, 
the improvement at our Rockmart, Georgia, 
facility (the largest water consumer in 
Meggitt) was due to the autoclave 
replacement projects listed on page 82  
as well as the site identifying and fixing 
significant leaks in their systems. In total, 
the site improved their year-on-year water 
consumption by 46%.

Our Environmental Working Group (EWG) 
has been working on plans to increase 
energy efficiency across the Group as a 
principal measure of our commitment to 
climate related action in our operations. 
Projects are underway in line with ISO 
14001 site led continuous improvement 
plans, as well as improving employee 
engagement on sustainability and 
corporate responsibility more widely, 
including the launch of a community of 
interest for sustainability in 2021.

Our absolute waste generated decreased 
on an absolute basis by 52% and by 35% 
when normalised to revenue; the decrease 
was due to decreases in production in 2020.

Looking forward, the Environmental 
Steering Committee tasked the EWG with 
increasing the Group’s energy efficiency  
as a principal measure of our Group’s 
commitment to climate-related action. 
Projects on this are underway in line with 
ISO 14001 site-led continuous improvement 
plans alongside moving to the procurement 
of greener energy globally where possible.

During 2020 it was agreed to include 
carbon emissions as a Group KPI, and this 
will be included in the KPI section of the 
Annual Report from 2021 onwards. It was 
also agreed during 2020 that sustainable 
technology programmes should be 
specifically measured under the Long  
Term Incentive Plan award for 2021  
(see page 129), and that we will  
consider the implementation of further 
environmental measures in our incentive 
plans during 2021.

 
 
 
•  c

Meggitt PLC
Annual Report & Accounts 2020

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Environmental metrics1 (Table 1)

Utilities
Electricity – gWh
MWh per £m revenue
Natural gas – gWh
MWh per £m revenue
Greenhouse gas emissions1 (CO2e) (gross, Scope 1 & 2) – tonnes 
Tonnes per £m revenue
Waste – tonnes
Tonnes per £m revenue
Water – cubic metres
Cubic metres per £m revenue

2020

Change

2019

170
101
158
94
87,062
51.7
8,604
5.1
637,546
379

-19% 
9%
-21% 
7%
-21% 
6%
-52% 
-35%
-30% 
-6%

210
93
199
88
110,075
48.6
17,785
7.9
913,584
404

Targets (Table 2)

GHG emissions1 

– relative to revenue

Water consumption

Waste to landfill

27%

reduction in GHG 
emissions4 since 2015

Baseline year

Five year performance  
period (financial years)

Target improvement over 
performance period

Achieved  

as at 31.12.2020

2015

2016

2016

To 31 December 2025

To 31 December 2021

To 31 December 2021

-50%

-10%

-10%

-27%

+10%

+3%

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GHG emissions1 data (Table 3)

Combustion of fuel and operation of facilities2

Electricity, heat, steam and cooling purchased for own use

Intensity measurement:
Emissions reported above, normalised to tonnes  
per £m revenue

Proportion of emissions and energy usage for UK sites (Table 4)

Electricity useage

Natural gas usage

Greenhouse gas emissions

2020 Tonnes of CO2e

2019 Tonnes of CO2e

29,145

57,917

87,062

36,733

73,342

110,075

51.7

48.6

UK %

Non-UK %

23

39

23

77

61

77

1   Metrics per £m are calculated using revenue converted at constant exchange rates. Greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) are calculated using conversion factors 
published in the 2019 and 2020 Guidelines to DEFRA/DECC’s GHG Conversion Factors for Company Reporting for UK locations. Emissions from overseas 
electricity are calculated using conversion factors published in the IEA Emission factors 2020.

2   Table 3 shows the GHG emissions data for the Large and Medium-Sized Companies and Groups (Accounts and Reports) Regulation 2013 (the Regulations). 

The sites reporting GHG data are the same as those consolidated in the Group’s financial statements. 

3   Global GHG emissions were calculated using conversion factors published in the Guidelines to DEFRA/DECC’s GHG Conversion Factors for Company 

Reporting and the WRI/WBCSD Greenhouse Gas Protocol: A Corporate Accounting and Reporting Standard. Emissions from overseas electricity are 
calculated using conversion factors published in the IEA Emission factors 2020. 

4  Relative to revenue.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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Meggitt PLC
Annual Report & Accounts 2020

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In pursuit of 
sustainable 
aviation and 
clean energy

Meggitt has committed to spending 
two-thirds of investment in Research 
and Technology on developing the 
products and capabilities needed  
to support a net-zero future with 
technologies that support the 
aviation industry drive to become 
more sustainable and technologies 
that enable renewable energy 
production. 

Meggitt has a strong portfolio of existing 
products that already help towards these 
goals, as well as numerous emerging 
projects. In 2020, a newly compiled 
sustainable technologies catalogue was 
created covering all of these technologies 
across our diverse Group product 
portfolio. The catalogue will support our 
objective to deliver consistent internal and 
external narrative to illustrate how our 
products benefit the environment, for use 
in all stakeholder communications.

Details of our three-, five- and ten-year 
risks and opportunities from a market and 
technology perspective can be found on 
page 72.

Case studies on our technologies can be 
seen on pages 24-27.

Designed for next generation UHBR engines,  
our innovative air-oil mini system provides an 
integrated solution, saving space and weight, 
resulting in improved operating efficiency  
and reduced emissions.

 
 
 
Meggitt PLC
Annual Report & Accounts 2020

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Innovation investment in sustainable 
technologies

Lighter, more  
efficient aircraft

Next-generation  
engines

Sustainable aviation  
fuels (e-fuels, hydrogen)

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Thermal systems

Safety systems

Fuel systems

Optical sensing

Engine composites

Braking systems

High temperature systems

Electrical systems

Additive/digital manufacturing

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Enabling sustainable aviation

Improve propulsion system efficiency –  
burn less fuel per unit of thrust or power delivered

Reduce aircraft weight – less units of thrust  
required to carry payload

Reduce aircraft drag – less units of thrust required  
to carry payload

Use of sustainable aviation fuels – new fuels with lower 
greenhouse gas emissions

Enabling sustainable  
energy production

Enable renewable power generation

Enabling zero carbon power generation

Enabling green hydrogen production and/or operation

Reducing emissions though improved gas turbine 
combustion efficiency and/or turbine performance 
optimisation

 
 
 
 
88

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Meggitt PLC
Annual Report & Accounts 2020

Business conduct 

Our CR&S Policy sets out our position 
in relation to conducting all business 
in a manner that achieves sustainable 
growth whilst demonstrating a high 
degree of social responsibility. It aims 
to balance the interests of all our 
stakeholders including shareholders, 
employees, customers, suppliers and 
the wider community in matters of 
law and governance, ethics, diversity 
and the environment.

At Meggitt, we commit to conducting 
business fairly, impartially, and in 
compliance with all applicable laws and 
regulations. Our Values of Teamwork, 
Integrity and Excellence are at the heart  
of how we do things and underpin our 
policies which are reinforced by applying 
our High Performance Culture concepts 
throughout the working day. 

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To accompany our standards on conducting 
business fairly and ethically, we relaunched 
our Code of Conduct in 2020, which is 
accompanied by training courses for all 
employees. The Code has been developed 
to be used by employees as a handbook in 
the workplace, offering links to additional 
policies for more detail and contact details 
for the relevant subject matter experts to 
provide support and guidance, alongside 
short explanations of every employees 
responsibility in each area. Every employee 
receives an Ethics Guide and Code of 
Conduct upon joining the Group.

Speak Up Line

We operate an independently run Speak 
Up Line that enables employees to raise 
questions or concerns anonymously and 
confidentially, 24 hours a day, 7 days a 
week from anywhere in the world. 

During 2020 the Ethics Line was renamed  
as the Speak Up Line. This name change 
was accompanied by additional all-
employee communications on how the line 
works and supporting employees to use  
the line as appropriate. 

Our independent helpline was also 
transferred to a new provider during the 
year. This new provider has enabled a more 
streamlined end-to-end process for ethics 
investigations across the business and 
consistent categorisation of cases, from 
employee relations concerns to raising 
quality and manufacturing issues. This has 
supported better case management and 
trend analysis.

reviewed trend analysis data to ensure 
additional training and coaching was being 
rolled out in the required areas in addition 
to any all employee training. The results of 
the Committee’s findings were also 
reported to the CR Committee.  

The investigation process was also  
reviewed and improved to ensure all 
internal investigators use the same process 
and the the new investigation tool which 
was adopted alongside the helpline in 2020. 
Our process is available on the intranet to 
all employees so that they are aware of our 
procedures when speaking up and how 
confidential ethics cases and whistleblowing 
are dealt with.

All employees are entitled to a thorough 
investigation of concerns raised and  
receive feedback whether the issues are 
substantiated or not. Our values and our 
High Performance Culture concepts 
underpin our ethics programme with their 
focus on how we treat each other (which is 
the main area for calls received on our 
Speak Up Line).

Contact information of people who can  
help employees if there are any concerns is 
available on our intranet, in all of our ethics 
policies and on posters at all of our sites. 

Our programme was enhanced during 2020 
with the creation of an Ethics Management 
Committee to review Speak Up Line 
investigations reports and to ensure 
consistent application of the process and 
investigation quality. The Committee 

Each Meggitt site has a designated  
Ethics Champion who is available to assist 
employees with questions or concerns,  
and who also attend quarterly workshops 
to share best practice, develop skills and 
identify issues and the need for additional 
training at their site. Alongside these 
practices ethical behaviour is also drawn 
out in our Employee Engagement surveys 
which are monitored and impact future 
strategy decisions with our stakeholders. 

01

02

03

Case raised
Cases raised via independent and 
confidential third-party service 
which is input into our case 
management tool accessed by 
Group Director, Ethics & CR

Triage
Cases will be reviewed 
confidentially and an appropriate 
investigator will be appointed 
depending on the subject matter

Investigate
The appointed investigator will 
conduct the investigation under 
Meggitt guidelines developing a 
report based on evidence found 
and witness interviews

06

05

04

Remediate
After actions are closed out, trend 
analysis and lessons learnt will be 
reviewed to prevent future issues 
reoccurring. Redacted information 
will be circulated around the 
business to illustrate positive actions 
arising from Speaking Up

Resolve
Actions will be placed on teams for 
resolution of substantial issues and 
monitored by Group Director, 
Ethics & CR

Report and review
The report will be reviewed by the 
Ethics Management Committee 
where a decision will be made  
as to whether the claims are 
substantiated or unsubstantiated. 
Recommendations will be made as 
to whether further investigations 
are needed or actions taken by the 
appropriate teams

 
 
 
Meggitt PLC
Annual Report & Accounts 2020

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Compliance training
In addition to the updated Ethics & Business 
Conduct Policy and the relaunched Code  
of Conduct, we continued to promote our 
ethical business conduct through training 
issued to all employees, more targeted 
training delivered at specific sites, video 
messaging to all employees through our 
intranet and also briefings delivered to our 
Ethics Champions who are located at every 
site. Our training reminds employees about 
ethical business conduct, and we provide 
examples of how to apply the principles laid 
out in our policies in the training and 
reminders of help, support and our 
responsibility in the Code itself.

In 2020, we held virtual training sessions on 
data protection, cyber security and health 
and safety practices for the awareness of 
all our employees.

Anti-bribery and corruption
Our Anti-corruption Policy covers bribery, 
gifts and entertainment, conflicts of 
interest, competition and anti-trust, 
operating with intermediaries such as sales 
representatives and distributors, offset 
contracting, political contributions and 
lobbying activities and breaches of this 
policy and reporting obligations. In 
addition to the Anti-corruption Policy, we 
also have a Financial Crime Policy covering 
anti-money laundering, fraud prevention 
and corporate tax evasion. Both policies 
set out clear escalation procedures to raise 
concerns through management or via the 
independently run Speak Up hotline.

2020 saw us build on the Continuous 
Improvement Plan for Commercial 
Intermediaries which was introduced in 
2019. The plan not only looks at potential 
corruption and bribery risks across our 
business but also how we can work better 
with such appointed parties.

We continued to take steps to reduce the 
number of our commercial intermediaries, 
being able to remove all sales agents from 
our business dealings in 2020. In 2021 we 
will broaden this remit to review all types  
of counterparties within our business 
dealings. Our continuous improvement 
plan has strengthened our work with 
independent organisations assessing 
potential country corruption risk, leading 
to enhanced due diligence and alerts in 
our customer relationship management 
tool, all of which is reviewed by internal 
and external auditors. 

strengthened recruitment processes and 
high level engagement with our suppliers 
incorporating clear communication of our 
expectations and regular site visits. Taking 
into account the output from our diligence 
and assurance processes and the absence 
of any concerns highlighted in this area the 
Group considers the risk of forced labour  
in its business and supply chain to be low. 
Further information can be found in our 
Modern Slavery Statement on our website.

Non-financial information statement
The table below summarises where to find 
non-financial information required by 
section 414C of the Companies Act 2006.

Our business model on page 22 
summarises the key resources and 
relationships we leverage to generate  
and preserve value. Non-financial key 
performance indicators on page 53 allow 
us to assess progress against objectives 
and monitor the development and 
performance of specific areas of the 
business

Further information on Group policies can 
be found on our website.

Strategic report
This 2020 Strategic Report on pages 4 to 
89 is hereby agreed on behalf of the Board.

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Tony Wood
Chief Executive Officer

Human rights
Our CR&S Policy covers Human Rights, 
setting out our position in relation to 
conducting our business in the right way.
We recognise that as a large international 
business, our business operations can 
impact the lives and rights of other people 
(not just our employees). As such, we 
support the Ten Principles of the United 
Nations Global Compact, relating to 
human rights, labour, the environment  
and anti-corruption.

Our Code of Conduct training also 
reinforces the behaviour that we expect 
from our employees as well as suppliers 
and contractors. We encourage suppliers 
and contractors to be responsible and 
adhere to our values and principles to 
ensure our business relationships are 
responsible and ethical. We are committed 
to complying with anti-slavery and 
human-trafficking legislation and we will 
continue to work with our suppliers to 
engage on this topic. 

Modern slavery
As part of our commitment to acting as  
a responsible supplier, we commit to 
abstaining from practices such as slavery, 
human trafficking, forced labour and child 
labour and reduce offset contracting. We 
also commit to take all reasonable 
measures to ensure that our suppliers and 
other entities acting on our behalf do not 
engage in practices that violate applicable 
laws and regulations relating to slavery, 
human trafficking, forced labour and child 
labour. As such, we ask our suppliers to 
comply with our Code of Conduct or 
similar standards. Steps that we are taking 
to combat anti-slavery and human 
trafficking in our supply chain are set out  
in our Modern Slavery Act statement 
available on our website.

The Company has implemented a 
framework to mitigate against the risk of 
modern slavery and human trafficking in 
our business and supply chain, including 
annual confirmations of compliance with 
Group policies and procedures, 

Related Group policies

Environmental matters  
Pages 82 to 97

Environmental Policy

Related principal risks 
(pages 56 to 59)

Industry change
Technology strategy

Employees
Pages 76 to 80

Social matters
Page 79

Human rights
Page 89

Diversity & Inclusion Policy
Health & safety Policy

Technology strategy
People

Group Sponsorship and 
Charitable Giving Policy

CRS Policy

Business Interruption

Industry change

People
Supply Chain

Legal and compliance

Anti-bribery and corruption
Page 89

Anti-corruption Policy
Financial Crime Policy

 
 
 
 
90

Meggitt PLC
Annual Report & Accounts 2020

Chairman’s introduction

We strive to uphold the highest standards 
of corporate governance and business 
conduct that underpin successful and 
sustainable long-term businesses. We 
remain accountable to our shareholders, 
and we recognise the value of strong 
relationships with our workforce and 
wider stakeholders built on a culture  
of openness and trust. 

Strong governance 
The unprecedented levels of disruption and uncertainty 
faced during the year have highlighted the importance of 
strong leadership and a robust corporate governance 
framework to enable us to respond quickly and effectively to 
developing risks whilst maintaining focus on our overriding 
purpose.

This report explains how the Group has applied the 
principles of the UK Corporate Governance Code (the 2018 
Code) and how our governance framework supports delivery 
of our strategy as set out on pages 20 and 21.

Governance highlights in 2020

 –

Strong attendance at additional Board meetings 
throughout the year to direct and oversee 
management’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. 
Details of the key focus areas of the Board in 2020 
can be found on pages 97 and 98.

 – Notwithstanding the announcement in February 

2020 of my intention to step down as Chairman, the 
Board recognises the significant benefit of continuity 
in these uncertain times and as a result it was agreed 
that I should remain as Chairman until further notice. 
Information on our succession planning activities can 
be found on pages 112 and 113.

 –

In light of the volatility and rapidly changing markets 
in 2020, we implemented a process of additional 
review and challenge on the going concern 
assessment, prior to the final review and challenge 
conducted by the Board. Further details of our going 
concern assessment can be found on pages 107 and 
162 to 164.

 – We scheduled additional Remuneration Committee 
meetings to consider the impact of COVID-19 on  
the Group and ensure that executive pay remained 
socially responsible taking into consideration 
shareholder interests and consistency with the wider 
workforce. More details on actions taken by the 
Remuneration Committee can be found on pages  
114 to 141. 

 – We maintained a robust schedule of employee 

engagement activities to better understand and 
address key issues raised by employees and the 
impact of COVID-19 on the workforce. More details 
on employee engagement activities can be found  
on page 63. 

 – We refreshed our Code of Conduct to further clarify 
and articulate how employees should conduct 
themselves in daily business interactions.

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Sir Nigel Rudd
Chairman

2020 Board attendance1
 7 Scheduled meetings

 9 Additional meetings

Sir Nigel Rudd2
Chairman

Mr A Wood
Chief Executive

Mr G S Berruyer3
Non-executive director

Mrs L S Burdett
Chief Financial Officer

Mr C R Day
Non-executive director

Mrs N L Gioia3
Non-executive director

Ms A J P Goligher
Non-executive director

Mr G C Hachey3
Non-executive director

Mrs C L Silver3
Non-executive director

1  Due to COVID-19, meetings from March 2020 were conducted 

remotely

2  Met the independence criteria on appointment as Chairman  

on 23 April 2015.

3  Unable to attend additional meetings due to prior commitments.

/  Meetings attended     Non attendence

 
 
Meggitt PLC
Annual Report & Accounts 2020

91

Senior Independent Director
Guy Berruyer is reaching the conclusion of his nine-year term  
in October 2021. The Board consider that Guy’s knowledge  
of Meggitt and his prior experience bring significant value to 
Board discussions, and that he continues to bring independent 
challenge to this role. The Board are also keen to ensure 
continuity on the Board in light of the COVID-19 pandemic and 
as the Group’s key aerospace market recovers. In light of this, 
Guy Berruyer will continue to serve as a non-executive director 
on the Board. However, in light of Guy’s length of service, the 
Nominations Committee has agreed that Alison Goligher will 
succeed Guy as Senior Independent Director from the date of 
the AGM in 2021. Alison has nearly six years’ experience on  
the Board and has, as a result, built good relationships  
with the non-executives and executive management, has  
relevant experience of Board dynamics, and has a detailed 
understanding of the Group, which makes her well qualified  
to succeed Guy in the role of Senior Independent Director.

Corporate culture
We monitor the corporate culture to ensure that it remains 
aligned with our purpose and values. Details of how we monitor 
culture can be found on page 99.

I am proud that Meggitt’s first priority throughout the COVID-19 
pandemic has been prioritising the continued safety and 
well-being of our employees and ensuring business continuity 
and safe operations across our global manufacturing sites. 
During the year particular focus has also been given to meeting 
commitments to customers and supporting our suppliers to 
mitigate any disruption across the supply chain, clearly 
demonstrating our commitment as an organisation to build 
strong relationships with our wider stakeholders.

The regions where we operate have been impacted by 
COVID-19 and I am pleased that our employees have continued 
to support their local communities. In the UK we were part of 
the Ventilator Challenge with responsibility for programme 
management of the consortium’s production of an additional 
13,000 ventilators to help patients hospitalised with COVID-19 
fight the virus and our harness team in Coventry sewed over 
49,000 straps for face visors to support the NHS and care home 
workers in the local area. These achievements, together with 
other activities undertaken by our workforce around the world 
to support local communities during these challenging times 
demonstrate our key values of teamwork and excellence in 
practice. 

Diversity and inclusion are embedded within our culture and we 
have made good progress in this area in recent years. During 
the year we continued our diversity and inclusion activities, with 
our inaugural Inclusion Week in October 2020, and the launch of 
three new Employee Resource Groups taking our total to eight. 
More details of their activities can be found in the Corporate 
Responsibility Report on page 77. 

Sir Nigel Rudd
Chairman of the Board of Directors 
3 March 2021

In this section

Board of Directors
This introduces our individual Board members by providing 
details of the skills and experience they bring to the Board 
and the Committees on which they serve.

page 92

Corporate governance report
The Corporate governance report analyses the leadership 
provided by the Board, the steps taken to ensure that the 
Board is effective and the frameworks by which the Board 
manages relationships with shareholders. 

page 96

Audit Committee report
Introduced by its Chair, Colin Day, this report describes the 
Audit Committee’s work during the year by reference to the 
principal responsibilities of the Committee for financial 
reporting, external audit, the risk management process, 
internal controls and internal audit.

page 105

Nominations Committee report
Introduced by its Chair, Sir Nigel Rudd, this report outlines 
the Committee’s philosophy on appointments and 
diversity and describes the activities of the Committee 
during the year.

page 112

Directors’ remuneration report
Introduced by its Chair, Alison Goligher, this report 
summarises the Committee’s approach to remuneration  
and its link with our strategy. It also includes the revised 
remuneration policy which is being submitted to 
shareholders for approval at the Annual General Meeting  
in April 2021 and describes how the previous policy was 
applied in 2020.

page 114

Directors’ report
The Directors’ report is prepared in accordance with 
Section 415 of the Companies Act 2006, and sets out 
information that the directors are required to present in 
accordance with the Act.

page 142

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92

Board of Directors

Committee membership

 Audit

 Nominations

 Remuneration

 Corporate Responsibility

 Finance

 Disclosure

 Denotes Chairman

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Meggitt PLC
Annual Report & Accounts 2020

Tony Wood
Chief Executive
Appointed as CEO: 2018  |  Nationality: British

Skills and experience
Extensive aerospace industry experience 
gained with Rolls-Royce plc where he held a 
number of senior management positions, 
latterly as President, Aerospace. Previously 
spent 16 years at Messier-Dowty, now part of 
Safran Group.

Tony’s significant operational experience both 
in aerospace and defence and other industrial 
sectors, strong customer relationships and 
strategic oversight of the Group are critical to 
the Board as the business benefits from the 
recovery in the civil aerospace market. Tony’s 
experience of leading cultural change in 
previous roles has also brought the Group’s 
culture into focus just as the expectations of 
the Board are being raised in these areas.

Organisations
President of ADS, the UK trade organisation 
representing the aerospace, defence, security 
and space sectors.

Committee membership

Sir Nigel Rudd DL
Non-Executive Chairman
Appointed: 2015  |  Nationality: British

On 25 March 2020, we announced that in light 
of the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic  
and its impact on the global economy, the 
wider aerospace sector and the Group, the 
Succession Committee led by Guy Berruyer 
has agreed with Sir Nigel and the Board that 
he will stay on as Chairman until further 
notice. The Board believes that there is 
significant benefit in continuity of 
chairmanship at this time.

Skills and experience
Chartered accountant with extensive board 
experience spanning multiple sectors 
including aerospace, retail and financial 
services.

Sir Nigel plays a critical role in managing the 
Board and the Nominations Committee, and 
brings decades of executive leadership and 
chairmanship experience across many 
industrial companies including aerospace  
and defence and other complex sectors. His 
commercial, financial and general business 
acumen and shareholder focus are extremely 
valuable to the Board.

Current appointments
Non-Executive Chairman of Signature 
Aviatian plc and Sappi Limited. 

The Board of Signature Aviation plc has 
recommended an offer from a consortium 
comprising (i) Blackstone Infrastructure and 
Blackstone Core Equity (ii) Global 
Infrastructure Partners; and (iii) Cascade 
Investment, L.L.C. to shareholders and 
assuming the proposal is approved by 
shareholders and the regulatory clearances 
are obtained, it is expected that  
Sir Nigel Rudd will retire as Chairman of 
Signature Aviation plc when that transaction 
completes.

Previous appointments 
Chairman of Williams Holdings plc, Destiny 
Pharma PLC, Kidde plc, Heathrow Airport 
Holdings Limited (formerly BAA Limited), The 
Boots Company, Pilkington PLC, Pendragon 
PLC, Invensys plc, Aquarius Platinum Limited 
and BGF PLC. Deputy Chairman of Barclays 
PLC and Non-Executive Director of BAE 
Systems plc.

Committee membership

Providing 
expert  
skills and 
experience.

 
 
Meggitt PLC
Annual Report & Accounts 2020

93

Guy Berruyer
Senior Independent Director
Appointed: 2012  |  Nationality: French

Louisa Burdett
Chief Financial Officer
Appointed: 2019  |  Nationality: British

Colin Day
Non-Executive Director
Appointed: 2015  |  Nationality: British

Skills and experience
Trained as an electrical engineer at the École 
Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne and 
holds a Harvard Business School MBA.

Guy brings significant experience to the 
Board as a former Chief Executive of a FTSE 
100 multinational enterprise software 
company.

Appointments in unlisted companies
Non-Executive Chairman of Brandwatch,  
a digital consumer intelligence company. 
Non-Executive Director of Berger Levrault,  
a French software and services company,  
and Non-Executive Director of Civica Group.  
Senior adviser to the European software team 
at Warburg Pincus.

Previous appointments
Group Chief Executive of The Sage Group plc 
and Chief Executive of Sage Group plc’s 
Europe and Asia division. Non-Executive 
Chairman of Softomotive Holding Limited. 
Early career spent with software and hardware 
vendors in France and other European 
management roles.

Notes

Alison Goligher will succeed Guy Berruyer as 
Senior Independent Director from the date of 
the AGM. Guy Berruyer will continue to serve 
as an independent non-executive director.

Committee membership

Skills and experience
Chartered accountant who has held senior 
financial positions in industrial, 
manufacturing, publishing and 
pharmaceutical companies.

Louisa brings solid financial, commercial and 
M&A experience across a broad range of 
sectors, including aerospace, to the Board.

Current appointments
Non-Executive Director and Chair of the 
Audit Committee of Electrocomponents plc,  
a global distributor of industrial and 
electronic products.

Organisations
Member of the Institute of Chartered 
Accountants in England and Wales.

Previous appointments 
Chief Financial Officer of Victrex plc, a 
FTSE-250 industrial polymers group. CFO 
roles with Optos plc, the Financial Times 
Group, GE Healthcare and Chep Europe.  
She also spent time in various roles at 
GlaxoSmithKline, including Finance 
Integration Director.

Committee membership

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Skills and experience
Chartered certified accountant who makes  
a significant contribution as Chairman of the 
Audit Committee, responsible for the 
interface between the Committee and the 
external and internal auditors. He has more 
than 25 years’ experience in senior roles and 
non-executive positions at blue-chip 
companies across a wide range of industries, 
including engineering and technology, 
pharmaceuticals, oil and gas and aerospace. 
He brings significant commercial and financial 
expertise to the Board.

Current appointments
Non-Executive Chairman of Premier Foods 
plc. Non-Executive Director of Euromoney 
Institutional Investor PLC and Chair of the 
Audit Committee.

Appointments in unlisted companies
Non-Executive Director for the UK 
Government’s Department for Environment, 
Food & Rural Affairs and Chair of the  
Audit and Risk Assurance Committee. 
Non-Executive Director of FM Global Inc. 
Non-Executive Chairman of MK:U Limited.

Organisations
Independent member of the Council of 
Cranfield University.

Previous appointments
Chief Executive of Essentra PLC, Chief 
Financial Officer of Reckitt Benckiser Group 
plc, Group Finance Director of Aegis Group 
plc, Non-Executive Director of WPP plc, 
Easyjet plc, Imperial Tobacco Group plc, 
Cadbury plc, and Senior Independent 
Director of Amec Foster Wheeler plc.

Committee membership

 
 
94

Board of Directors

Committee membership

Non-Executive

Meggitt PLC
Annual Report & Accounts 2020

 Audit

 Nominations

 Remuneration

 Corporate Responsibility

 Finance

 Disclosure

 Denotes Chairman

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Nancy Gioia
Non-Executive Director
Appointed: 2017  |  Nationality: American

Alison Goligher OBE
Non-Executive Director
Appointed: 2014  |  Nationality: British

Skills and experience
Electrical engineer, who brings extensive 
engineering and operational experience in 
manufacturing to the Board. Her role in the 
fast-paced automotive manufacturing area 
gives important perspective in Board 
discussions about strategic initiatives, and  
she also has a keen interest in cyber security. 
Nancy’s prior roles also mean that she brings 
an understanding of the value of culture, 
diversity and inclusion to her role as Chair of 
the Corporate Responsibility Committee and 
as Non-Executive Director responsible for 
employee engagement.

Current appointments
Non-Executive Director of Brady Corporation, 
Chair of the Technology Committee and 
member of the Management Development 
and Compensation Committee.

Appointments in unlisted companies
Executive Chair of Blue Current Inc., a 
privately held start-up company focused on 
battery technologies. Member of the Board  
of advisors of KPIT Technologies Limited. 
Principal of Gioia Consulting Services, LLC,  
a strategic business advisory company.

Organisations
Member of the University of Michigan- 
Dearborn Electrical and Computer 
Engineering Advisory Council and 
Engineering Dean’s Advisory Board.

Previous appointments
Held several key executive positions at  
Ford Motor Company during a 33- year 
career. Non-Executive Director of  
Exelon Corporation, former Chair of 
AutomotiveNEXT and Stanford University 
Alliance for Integrated Manufacturing.

Skills and experience
Trained engineer and holds a MEng in 
Petroleum Engineering from Heriot-Watt 
University.

Alison brings important energy sector 
experience. She has a strong operations  
focus and makes an excellent contribution  
to strategic discussions. As Remuneration 
Committee Chair, a role which she also holds 
on two other Boards, Alison has experience of 
overseeing two remuneration policy reviews 
and successfully led the Committee through 
complex remuneration matters arising in 2020 
from COVID-19.

Current appointments
Non-Executive Director of United Utilities 
Group PLC and Chair of the Remuneration 
Committee. Non-Executive Director of 
Technip Energies N.V. and Chair of the 
Compensation Committee. 

Appointments in unlisted companies
Executive Chair of Silixa Limited, a provider of 
distributed fibre optic monitoring solutions. 

Previous Appointments 
Various roles at Royal Dutch Shell from 2006 
to 2015, most recently as Executive Vice 
President, Upstream International 
Unconventionals. Previously spent 17 years  
at Schlumberger, a supplier of technology, 
integrated project management and 
information solutions to oil and gas  
customers worldwide.

Notes
Alison Goligher will succeed Guy Berruyer as 
Senior Independent Director from the date of 
the AGM.

Committee membership

Committee membership

 
 
Meggitt PLC
Annual Report & Accounts 2020

95

Guy Hachey
Non-Executive Director
Appointed: 2019  |  Nationality: Canadian

Caroline Silver
Non-Executive Director
Appointed: 2019  |  Nationality: British

Skills and experience
Guy was President and Chief Operating 
Officer of Bombardier Aerospace from April 
2008 to his retirement in 2014.

Current appointments
Non-Executive Director of Hexcel 
Corporation and Chair of the Compensation 
Committee.

Appointments in unlisted companies
Operating partner at Advent International.

Previous appointments
Prior to his retirement from Bombardier,  
Guy had significant operational roles at 
Delphi Corporation and General Motors 
Corporation.

Committee membership

Skills and experience
Chartered accountant with significant global 
investment banking experience specialising in 
financial institutions, financial technology and 
market infrastructure, and capital raising.

Current appointments
Non-Executive Chair of FTSE 250 consumer 
products group, PZ Cussons plc, and Chair of 
the Nominations Committee. Non-Executive 
Director of Intercontinental Exchange, Inc.

Appointments in unlisted companies
Non-Executive Director of BUPA, Chair of  
the Risk Committee and member of the  
Audit and Remuneration Committees. 
Part-time Advisory Partner at Moelis & 
Company, a leading global investment bank. 

Organisations
Trustee of the Victoria & Albert Museum,  
Chair of the Finance Committee and 
Investment Committee and member of the 
Audit Committee.

Previous appointments
Caroline was Vice Chair of EMEA Investment 
Banking at Bank of America Merrill Lynch and 
spent 14 years at Morgan Stanley where she 
held a number of senior positions including 
Global Vice Chair of Investment Banking and 
European Head of Financial Institutions. She 
started her career as a chartered accountant 
with PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP.

Committee membership

Gender Diversity

Female

Male

44%

56%

Independence

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Independent1

Non Independent

1  Excluding the Chairman

67%

33%

Non-Executive Director Tenure

0 – 2 years

3 – 4 years
5 – 6 years
7 – 8 years

29%

14%
43%
14%

 
 
96

Meggitt PLC
Annual Report & Accounts 2020

Corporate Governance report

Our governance framework

Board of Directors
Membership: Sir Nigel Rudd (Chairman), Executive and Independent Non-Executive Directors

Creating and delivering sustainable value
• Collectively setting the strategy and directing the Group, while meeting the appropriate interests of its shareholders and relevant 
stakeholders;
• Sets the Group’s values and standards; and
• Ensures obligations to shareholders, employees and other stakeholders are met.

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Remuneration
The Independent  
Non-Executive Directors
Determines the reward strategy 
for the executive directors  
and senior management, taking 
into consideration shareholder 
interests and the wider 
workforce.

Audit
The Independent  
Non-Executive Directors
Monitors the integrity of the 
Group’s financial statements,  
the effectiveness of the  
external and internal auditors,  
risk and internal control 
processes, tax and treasury.

Finance
Executive Directors and 
Group General Counsel 
& Director, Corporate 
Affairs
Approves treasury-related 
activity, insurance and  
other matters delegated  
by the Board.

Board Committees

Nominations
Chairman and  
Independent  
Non-Executive Directors
Ensures the Board and senior 
management team have the 
appropriate skills, knowledge  
and experience to operate  
effectively and to deliver  
the Group’s strategy.

Corporate  
Responsibility
Two Independent  
Non-Executive Directors  
and the Executive Directors
Stakeholder engagement, including but 
not limited to employees, and oversees 
the implementation of the Group’s 
strategy and programmes in the areas  
of corporate responsibility, charity  
and community, ethics and  
business conduct (including  
anti-corruption) and  
environment.

Disclosure
Executive Directors, 
Company Secretary, VP 
Investor Relations and 
Group General Counsel
Discusses and approves all 
matters related to inside 
information under the  
market abuse regime.

Management  
Committees

Executive Committee
Chief Executive and his direct reports
Responsible for overall management of the
Group, driving its vision and strategy and 
ensuring the organisational culture leverages 
diversity, industry knowledge, global perspective 
and customer insight. 

Commercial Committee
Executive Directors, Group General 
Counsel and Director, Corporate Affairs, 
Group Director, Engineering & Strategy 
and Group Operations Director
Reviews and approves bids and proposals of 
Group significance and any other significant 
commercial activity.

Technology Advisory Board
Group Director, Engineering & 
Strategy, Chief Technology Officer, 
between two and four external 
members with backgrounds in 
technology or academia, Meggitt 
engineering fellows and other 
appropriate employees.
Provides advice on the direction and  
pace of technology road maps, increases 
awareness of disruptive technologies, 
business models or business trends and 
provides guidance on new areas and 
opportunities.

 
 
Meggitt PLC
Annual Report & Accounts 2020

97

Leadership and purpose

Our purpose at Meggitt is to design and manufacture world-class 
systems and products for the aerospace, defence and selected 
energy markets to enable the extraordinary and deliver 
sustainable solutions for the most challenging environments by 
working closely with our customers and focusing on engineering 
and operational excellence.

The role of the Board 
Our role as a Board is to promote the long-term success of the 
Group by establishing its purpose. We do this by implementing 

and overseeing frameworks for governance and risk management 
and receiving regular updates on governance, stakeholder 
engagement activities, risk, strategy and culture. 

Whilst day-to-day responsibility for the business lies with the executive 
management team, we maintain a Schedule of Matters Reserved for 
the Board which we review regularly and against the latest guidance 
and best practice to ensure that key decisions which affect the Group 
and are of the upmost importance to our shareholders and wider 
stakeholders are taken by the Board as a whole. 

Key Matters Reserved for the Board:

•  Approval of the Group’s strategic aims, objectives, purpose and values
•  Approval of significant changes in accounting policies
•  Approval of the Group’s risk appetite statement
•  Approval of the viability statement
•  Approval of capital projects or treasury activities over pre-determined amounts
•  Appointment and removal of Board members
•  Approval of significant Group policies
•  Reviewing the Group’s culture and corporate governance arrangements
•  Appointment and removal of the Company Secretary 

Area of Focus in 2020

Key Matters considered

Outcome

Strategy

The Group’s strategy and sale of 
non-core businesses

The Board receives regular updates on business strategy throughout the 
year and held a strategy session in October where it approved the 
five-year strategic plan for the Group. 

Culture

Code of Conduct and Group 
policies

The Board approved the sale of the Training Systems business and high 
pressure metallic ducting and clamps business in June 2020 and January 
2021 respectively, delivering on the Group’s strategy to focus on its core 
business. 

The Board approved a refreshed Code of Conduct which reflects our 
commitment to ethical business conduct and to comply with laws and 
regulations. The new Code demonstrates the conduct that is a 
fundamental part of our values and culture.

During the year the Board has also approved updated Group policies on 
health and safety and trade compliance. 

Monitor culture

The Board receives numerous updates throughout the year to monitor 
culture and how well policies have been embedded. Further details on 
how we monitor culture can be found on page 99. 

Risk

Risk appetite and principal risks 

The Board:

 –

 –

 –

 –

conducted a robust assessment of the emerging and principal risks 
facing the Group and determined the nature and extent of the 
principal risks the Group is willing to take in order to achieve its 
long-term strategic objectives;
received an update on the effectiveness of risk management from 
the Audit Committee;
reviewed and approved the risk appetite statement and Group Risk 
Register; and
approved the long-term viability statement.

Long-term viability

Reviewed models of a number of scenarios including a base case and 
severe but plausible downside scenario for both planning and going 
concern purposes which underlie the long term viability of the Group.

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98

Meggitt PLC
Annual Report & Accounts 2020

Corporate Governance report 
continued

Area of Focus in 2020

Key Matters considered

Outcome

Operational performance

Performance of the four divisions 
against strategic objectives

The Chief Executive provided updates on divisional performance at 
every meeting. 

Financial performance

Payment to shareholders

Reduce cost base

Capital allocation

Going concern

Budget

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Governance

Stakeholder engagement

The Board received regular updates from the Group Crisis Management 
Team on the impact of COVID-19 on our people and how business 
continuity was being managed.

The Divisional Presidents attended a Board meeting during the year to 
provide detailed updates on divisional performance, with a particular 
focus on the impacts of COVID-19 on their business areas. 

In March 2020, the Board withdrew the recommendation to pay a 2019 
final dividend and did not approve an interim dividend in order to retain 
cash within the Group, manage net debt levels and preserve flexibility.

The Board reviewed and agreed management actions on cost reduction 
initiatives. These included reducing headcount by approximately 20% 
and applying furlough schemes to align capacity with workload. The 
Board including the executive directors agreed a 20% reduction in 
directors salaries and fees for H2 2020 and a 10% reduction in H1 2021. 
In H2 2020, Executive Committee salaries were reduced by 10%, and 
deferred by 10%, and salaries were reduced by 10% again in H1 2021.

The Board approved the application for a Bank of England Covid 
Corporate Financing Facility (£600m), a $300 million private placement 
and a one year $575m multi-currency facility. 

Held a special meeting in August to review the models underlying the 
appropriateness of adopting the going concern basis in the interim 
financial results. 

The Board reviewed performance against 2020 budget and approved 
the budget for 2021.

The Board continued with its stakeholder engagement programmes as 
detailed on pages 63 to 65 and took the interests of all stakeholders into 
consideration when making its decisions through the review of detailed 
stakeholder analysis provided with each Board proposal. 

Governance framework

The Board reviewed and updated the terms of reference for its principal 
committees to complete alignment with the 2018 Code. 

Succession planning

The Board considered the risk relating to talent and capability and 
reviewed succession plans at the most senior level of the business. 

Effectiveness

An internal evaluation was conducted at the end of 2020 for the Board 
and its Committees to reflect on their own performance and recommend 
areas for improvement. 

 
 
Meggitt PLC
Annual Report & Accounts 2020

99

The Audit Committee plays a key role in ensuring that our values 
are embedded in our financial reporting process and risk 
management framework by monitoring the integrity of the 
financial statements and reviewing the adequacy and 
effectiveness of the Group’s internal controls, risk management 
systems and processes. The Corporate Responsibility Committee 
monitors culture by overseeing the implementation of the Group’s 
strategy and corporate responsibility programmes. The Chair of 
the Corporate Responsibility Committee is also the Non-Executive 
Director responsible for Employee Engagement and undertakes a 
range of activities alongside other non-executive directors each 
year to assess how well our values are embedded within the 
organisation, better understand the challenges faced by our 
workforce, share feedback with senior management and the 
Board, and make recommendations based on the output from  
the engagement. 

Purpose, strategy and values
To perform our role effectively, it is essential that we have a good 
understanding of the views of our shareholders and other key 
stakeholders. Details of shareholder and other stakeholder 
engagement activities can be found on pages 63 to 65. Output 
from these activities are reported to the Board and its Committees 
as appropriate to shape the decisions that we make. 

We hold an annual strategy day where we receive a detailed 
report on the markets in which Meggitt operates, agree the 
strategic objectives to achieve our purpose and approve the 
financial plan to implement them. We receive updates from the 
businesses and functions throughout the year to assess 
performance against the strategy and provide additional direction 
if needed. Our values are supported by our High Performance 
Culture initiative and embedded in our Code of Conduct and 
Group policies which we review and approve on a rolling basis to 
ensure that our values remain appropriate and clearly articulate 
the behaviours expected of employees and management. 

Key activities undertaken by the Remuneration and Nominations 
Committees promote our values by ensuring that we have the 
right people in the organisation who respect our values and 
purpose and structuring remuneration schemes to reward the 
right behaviours as well as strategic achievements. 

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How we monitor culture

1.  Health and safety – Reports are provided to the Board at every meeting through the Chief Executive, with detailed reports 

every six months and regular presentations from the Vice President of Health and Safety on our safety culture and leading and 
lagging indicators. 

2.  Reports to the Board on culture, diversity and inclusion and engagement – There is a regular commentary provided in the 
Chief Executive’s Report at every meeting. We also have a standalone annual session with the Group HR Director focussed on 
our culture, diversity and inclusion and engagement. 

3.  Annual employee engagement survey feedback – A summary of the results of the annual engagement survey was shared with 
the Board in December 2020, with a detailed review taking place with the Non-Executive Director for Employee Engagement 
beforehand. 

4.  Reports from the Non-Executive Director for Employee Engagement – Are provided to the Board. See page 63 for further 

details on engagement activities and key themes in 2020. 

5.  Whistleblowing and ethics reports – Provided quarterly to the Board to monitor if there are any systemic issues and how they 
are being addressed. More detailed reports are provided to the Corporate Responsibility Committee at each meeting. The 
Corporate Responsibility Committee Chair has separate meetings with the Group Director, Ethics and Corporate Responsibility. 

6.  Internal audit reports – Provided to the Audit Committee at each meeting and identify areas of non-compliance to help us 
assess effectiveness of the policies and processes implemented to embed our values and shape our culture. We also monitor 
management’s response to audit findings and time taken to address audit actions. 

7.  UK Gender pay gap – Receive an update on the UK gender pay gap report, including an explanation of the factors that have 

impacted data and processes implemented to close the gap. 

8.  Modern slavery – Receive an update on the approach to modern slavery and approve the modern slavery statement.  

This includes details of processes and activities that have been implemented to reduce the risk of slavery and human trafficking 
in our organisation and supply chain. 

9.  Prompt payment reporting – Review performance on supplier payment practices and discuss improvements to processes. 

10. Training completion rates – Robust and regular training is essential to ensure our workforce understands policies and 

regulations that apply to them. During 2020, we moved to a new training platform which will continue to deliver virtual training 
on key governance and regulatory matters and track completion rates. Employees without regular access to remote training 
undertake it in a classroom environment. We maintain an annual schedule of mandatory training for both new starters and 
existing employees with training completion rates reported to the Board and the Corporate Responsibility Committee. 

 
 
100

Meggitt PLC
Annual Report & Accounts 2020

Corporate Governance report
continued

How we ensure our culture aligns with our values and strategy 

Shareholders and other stakeholders

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Workforce/culture/performance

Governance  
A fundamental principle of our governance framework is the 
division of responsibilities. The roles of the Chairman and  
Chief Executive are clearly defined and the Board supports the 
separation of the roles to increase the Board’s independence  
from management and enable better monitoring and oversight.  
All of our non-executive directors are considered independent 
under the 2018 Code, with the breadth of skills, knowledge and 
experience to constructively challenge management and hold 
them to account. The variety of backgrounds and perspectives  
on the Board also strengthens the strategic guidance provided  
to management and ensures robust deliberation during the  
decision-making process which leads to better decisions. 

As set out on page 96, we have established a number of  
Board Committees to assist in the fulfilment of our oversight 
responsibilities. Each Committee is governed by clearly defined 
terms of reference which are reviewed annually by the Board  
to ensure that they remain relevant and aligned with current  
best practice. Membership of the Audit, Remuneration and 
Nominations Committees is restricted to the non-executive 
directors to ensure independent oversight of the key governance 
matters over which these committees preside. Only Committee 

chairs and members are entitled to attend the meetings,  
although others may attend by invitation. All Committee chairs 
report verbally on the proceedings of their Committee at the  
next meeting of the Board when members of the Board were  
not in attendance at the Committee meetings, and make 
recommendations to the Board when appropriate. The 
management committees are responsible for matters of strategic 
importance and report to the Board when appropriate.

Further details of the composition and activities of the Board 
Committees are set out in the separate Committee reports.

Risk management framework
A significant part of governing how Meggitt conducts its business 
is approving the risk appetite i.e. the amount and type of risk that 
Meggitt is prepared to retain. We review periodic updates on the 
principal and emerging risks throughout the year and approve  
the risk appetite on an annual basis. Further details on our risk 
management framework can be found on pages 56 to 61. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Meggitt PLC
Annual Report & Accounts 2020

Roles and  
responsibilities

Chairman
Sir Nigel Rudd
• Leads the Board and sets the agenda;
• Promotes culture of openness and debate;
• Ensures the Board is effective;
• Facilitates the contribution of non-executive directors and oversees the 

relationship between them and the executive directors; and

• Ensures there is an effective system for communication with shareholders.

Senior Independent Director
Guy Berruyer
• Makes himself available to shareholders if they have concerns which cannot 

be resolved through the normal channels;

• Chair of the Nominations Committee when it is considering the Chairman of 

the Board’s succession;

• Appraises the Chairman’s performance annually with the non-executive 

directors; and

• Acts, if necessary, as a focal point and intermediary for the other directors.

Chief Executive
Tony Wood
• Leads executive directors and the senior executive team in the day-to-day 

running of the Group’s business;

• Ensures effective implementation of Board decisions;
• Regularly reviews the strategic direction and operational performance of 

the Group’s business; and

• Keeps the Chairman informed on all important matters.

Executive Directors
Tony Wood and Louisa Burdett
• Responsible for successful delivery of the Group’s objectives and strategy; 

and

• Manage various functions and operations across the Group.

Independent Non-Executive Directors
Guy Berruyer, Colin Day, Nancy Gioia,  
Alison Goligher, Guy Hachey and  
Caroline Silver
• Constructively challenge management and scrutinise their performance;
• Contribute to the development of the Group’s strategy;
• Monitor the Group’s performance;
• Satisfy themselves on the integrity of financial information and the 

effectiveness of financial controls and risk management; and

• Determine appropriate levels of remuneration for executive directors and 

participate in the selection and recruitment of new directors and succession 
planning.

Non-Executive Director for Employee Engagement
Nancy Gioia
• Engage with employees through a range of formal and informal initiatives;
• Ensure that employee policies and practices are in line with the Group’s 

purpose and values and support the desired culture; and

• Regularly review Speak Up Line reports.

Company Secretary
Marina Thomas
• Acts as secretary to the Board and its Committees;
• Ensures compliance with Board procedures and advises on  

governance issues;

• Facilitates the induction process for new directors; and
• Ensures good information flow within the Board and between 

non-executive directors and senior management.

101

Board effectiveness

Composition
The composition of the Board is closely monitored by the 
Nominations Committee to ensure that it remains appropriately 
balanced and is regularly refreshed to safeguard its independence 
and ensure that the skills, knowledge and experience of Board 
members align with those needed to deliver against the  
business strategy.

Appointments, induction and training
We have a formal, rigorous and transparent procedure for the 
appointment of new directors. On appointment, directors are 
provided with a comprehensive induction programme tailored to 
their needs based on their experience and background and the 
requirements of the role. 

The Chairman agrees a personalised approach to the training  
and development of each director and reviews this regularly.  
The Company Secretary assists with professional development 
where required and directors are encouraged to update their  
skills regularly. Training needs are assessed as part of the Board 
evaluation process described below. The non-executive directors’ 
knowledge and familiarity with the Group is facilitated by access 
to senior management, reports on the business and site visits. 
Resources are available to all directors to develop and update 
their knowledge and capabilities.

Conflicts
Our directors hold appointments in other listed and non-listed 
companies as shown on pages 92 to 95. We recognise the value 
derived from these appointments particularly with regard to board 
discussions and the sharing of best practice where appropriate. 
We maintain a register of all external appointments and interests 
of our Board members which is reviewed regularly to ensure that it 
is accurate and up to date. Directors notify the Board of any actual 
or potential conflicts arising from these external appointments or 
other matters, which are duly considered by the Board and, if 
thought appropriate, approved together with relevant conditions 
to ensure that the conflict is appropriately managed. 

As Meggitt’s business is diverse and operates across multiple 
markets, a list of our competitors by division is included in our 
Group Strategy review and assists non-executive directors in 
identifying actual or potential conflicts arising out of current or 
prospective external appointments. 

Time commitment
The minimum time commitment expected from the non-executive 
directors is set out in their letters of appointment. We monitor  
the external time commitments of our directors closely to ensure 
that they have the capacity to discharge their responsibilities  
to Meggitt effectively. Prior to appointment, all existing 
commitments are considered against the overboarding guidance 
issued by the institutional shareholder advisory organisations,  
and all additional appointments are subject to Board approval 
following consideration of the additional time commitment  
and the overboarding risk. 

In February 2020, Sir Nigel confirmed his intention to retire from 
the Board. However, on 25 March 2020, we announced that in light 
of the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on the 
global economy, the wider aerospace sector and the Group, the 
Succession Committee led by Guy Berruyer has agreed with Sir 
Nigel and the Board that he will stay on as Chairman until further 
notice. The Board believes that there is significant benefit in 
continuity of chairmanship at this time.

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102

Meggitt PLC
Annual Report & Accounts 2020

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Corporate Governance report
continued

Additionally, it should be noted that the Board of Signature 
Aviation plc has recommended an offer from a consortium 
comprising (i) Blackstone Infrastructure and Blackstone Core 
Equity (ii) Global Infrastructure Partners; and (iii) Cascade 
Investment, L.L.C. to shareholders and assuming the proposal  
is approved by shareholders and the regulatory clearances are 
obtained, it is expected that Sir Nigel Rudd will retire as Chairman 
of Signature Aviation plc when that transaction completes.

Throughout the year Sir Nigel has demonstrated a strong level of 
commitment to Meggitt and has led all meetings of the Board and 
Nominations Committee, including a large number of additional 
meetings to provide oversight and direction in respect of 
COVID-19 and the Board strongly believes that Sir Nigel’s other 
external appointments have not affected his ability to discharge 
his responsibilities effectively during this period. 

In August 2020, Caroline Silver was appointed as Non-Executive 
Director of Intercontinental Exchange Inc., and in December 2020, 
Colin Day was appointed as Non-Executive Director of FM  
Global Inc.. In February 2021 Alison Goligher was appointed  
as Non-Executive Director of Technip Energies N.V.. The Board 
considered each of these appointments on its own merit, taking 
into consideration the nature, expectation and requisite time 
commitment of each new role together with a holistic view of the 
directors’ existing appointments and responsibilities and their 
strong attendance at scheduled and additional Board and 
Committee meetings in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic. 
Additionally, as part of the year end process, each non-executive 
director confirmed that, taking into consideration all of their 
external appointments and commitments, they continued to have 
sufficient time to effectively discharge their duties to Meggitt. 

Following such consideration the Board was satisfied that these 
directors would continue to have sufficient time to effectively 
discharge their duties to Meggitt following the above 
appointments.

Information and support
The Chairman is responsible for ensuring directors receive 
accurate, timely and clear information and is satisfied that 
effective communication, principally by the Chief Executive  
and Chief Financial Officer, is undertaken with shareholders.

The Board is supplied with the information it needs to discharge 
its duties. The Company Secretary is responsible for ensuring 
good information flows within the Board and Committees and 
between senior management and non-executive directors. The 
Board members have regular discussions about their information 
and support requirements and discuss the effectiveness of the 
annual Board schedule during the Board evaluation.

All directors have had access to the advice and services of the 
Company Secretary, who is responsible to the Board for advising 
on all governance matters.

The Board allows all directors to take external independent 
professional advice at the Group’s expense.

Board evaluation 
The Board undertakes an annual review of its own effectiveness 
using a combination of independent externally facilitated and 
internally run evaluations over a three-year cycle. In 2019, Clare 
Chalmers Limited was appointed to undertake our externally 
facilitated review which focused on key governance areas agreed 
with the Chairman and Company Secretary. The Board reviewed 
the suggestions made following the evaluation and agreed the 
actions shown on the following page. Clare Chalmers Limited does 
not have any connection to Meggitt or any of the directors. 

Board and committee evaluation 
process

In order to evaluate its own effectiveness, the Board 
undertakes annual effectiveness reviews using a 
combination of independent externally facilitated  
and internally run evaluations over a three-year cycle.

      November 2020

 Internal Board evaluation planning by the 
Chairman and Company Secretary.

    December 2020 to January 2021

 Questionnaires issued to the Board, 
Committees and other attendees. 

The Board effectiveness questionnaire posed questions in 
the following areas ranked on a scale of 1 to 3 (with space 
for comments):
•  How well the strategy process works and the Board’s 
understanding of the core business and markets.
•  To what extent Board meetings are engaging with  

high quality discussion and open debate and whether  
all Board members contribute to discussions and work 
together well. 

•  How well the Board had managed the challenges 

brought about by COVID-19.

•  Whether the skills and experience on the Board are 

appropriate. 

•  How the Board responds to challenges.
•  Whether the Chairman’s leadership style and tone is 
effective and how he works with the Chief Executive.

•  Whether the Company Secretary is performing 

effectively. Whether the Board schedule and papers are 
appropriate. 

•  Whether risk management is undertaken appropriately. 
• 

If succession planning is working well.

     March 2021

 A detailed discussion is held by the Board 
on their responses to the questionnaire and 
resulting actions are agreed.

The Senior Independent Director met with the 
non-executive directors remotely to assess the performance 
of the Chairman and the Chairman held remote meetings 
with non-executive directors without the executive directors 
present where the performance of executive management 
was discussed.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Meggitt PLC
Annual Report & Accounts 2020

103

2020 Evaluation
A more targeted, internally run evaluation was conducted via an 
online questionnaire at the end of 2020 and focused on similar 
areas as the 2019 review. The Board has reviewed and discussed 
the output from the evaluation and has agreed the following  
three actions. 

Board papers – streamline papers with a focus on enhancing 
readability, avoiding duplication and making better use of 
executive summaries.

Meetings – integrate some all-virtual meetings into future 
Board schedules.

Engagement – schedule more virtual engagements with senior 
executives in 2021. 

Progress against these actions will be reported in the 2021 Annual 
Report & Accounts. 

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2019 Evaluation results

Agreed Actions

Progress

Start succession planning  
well in advance of vacancies 
arising. Ensure short-term 
plans are in place to cover  
top executive posts and 
ensure opportunities for the 
Board to spend time with  
top talent. 

Increase Board focus on 
resilience around processes 
and people.

Ensure the Board understand 
the plan for nurturing and 
developing talent.

Continue momentum with 
High Performance Culture.

No Board appointments were 
made in 2020. 

Succession planning for all 
executives was discussed in detail 
in 2020, including emergency 
replacements.

The Board focus in 2020 has 
largely been around the 
effectiveness and resilience of the 
Group’s strategies for managing 
COVID-19.

The Board has received updates in 
2020 on the talent management 
process and this will continue  
in 2021.

Since COVID-19, High 
Performance Culture sessions  
have been put on hold for safety 
reasons. However work to 
reinforce the culture has continued 
internally, particularly through 
monthly “culture moments”,  
and the Board has continued to 
receive regular reports on culture.

Ensure strategy and risk 
management discussions 
have appropriate capacity for 
horizon scanning to identify 
opportunities and threats 
which are further ahead.

Owing to the impacts of 
COVID-19, the Board has spent a 
significant amount of time horizon 
scanning for opportunities and 
threats in 2020, and this will 
continue into 2021.

Ways to modernise systems 
and processes around internal 
audits should be reviewed, 
including better use of 
technology.

Review the remit of the 
Non-Executive Director for 
Employee Engagement and 
Corporate Responsibility 
Committee to ensure it is 
appropriate one year on.

Consideration given to utilising 
technology used in other Group 
projects which were delayed due 
to COVID-19. Audit processes 
modernised to enhance agility  
of the internal audit function and 
better incorporate technology  
to overcome travel restrictions 
imposed during the year.

The Board conducted a detailed 
review of the activities of the 
Non-Executive Director for 
Employee Engagement in 
December 2020 and determined 
that the role was functioning 
effectively, and had continued to 
do so in the virtual environment 
during COVID-19.

The effectiveness of the Corporate 
Responsibility Committee was 
covered in the 2020 evaluation 
process. The Committee was 
found to be effective and its remit 
appropriate.

 
 
104

Meggitt PLC
Annual Report & Accounts 2020

Corporate Governance report
continued

Shareholder documents
We provide annual reports and other documents to shareholders 
in their elected format under the electronic communications 
provisions approved by shareholders at our AGM in 2007. 
Electronic copies of this Annual Report & Accounts and the  
Notice of AGM will be posted on our website, together with 
announcements, press releases and other investor information, 
including an analysis of ordinary shareholders by size of holdings 
and shareholder type.

Annual General Meeting

2020 AGM
In line with UK Government lockdown restrictions resulting  
from the COVID-19 pandemic and the need to protect the health 
and well-being of our employees, shareholders and the wider 
community the Board decided to hold the 2020 AGM as a closed 
meeting at our registered office in Ansty Park. Consideration was 
given to the use of technology to enable shareholders to attend, 
vote and speak at the AGM remotely, however due to the 
proximity of the lockdown announcement to the mailing date of 
our Notice of Meeting we had insufficient time to fully investigate 
technological options to facilitate a hybrid meeting in 2020. 
Shareholders were therefore encouraged to appoint the Chairman 
of the Meeting as their proxy to vote on their behalf and were able 
to submit questions by email in advance which were raised at the 
meeting and a response posted on our website.

We received 19% of votes against the resolution to authorise the 
directors to allot shares in the Company representing up to 33%  
of the issued share capital and a further 33% of the issued share 
capital in connection with a rights issue. Our Vice President, 
Investor Relations engaged with our largest shareholder who 
voted against this resolution to understand their lack of support 
for this proposal. Whilst seeking authority to allot shares up to 
66% of the company’s issued share capital in connection with a 
rights issue is standard practice for many listed companies and  
fell within the guidelines of the Investor Association, the investor 
explained that granting a board such authority fell outside their 
internal guidelines which limited board authority to allot shares  
to 33% of the issued share capital. The Board considered this 
investor’s position when proposing the resolutions for the 2021 
AGM, and whilst noting their stance on the matter, considered it 
appropriate to maintain the flexibility these authorities provide to 
enable the Company to respond quickly to market developments 
and enable allotments to take place to finance business 
opportunities. The directors confirm that they have no current 
intention of exercising this authority. 

2021 AGM
We recognise the importance of the AGM for shareholders and, 
for the AGM to be held on 29 April 2021, we intend to hold a 
hybrid meeting to enhance engagement and participation 
channels. Further detail will be included in the Notice of Meeting.

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•  Convene general meetings on 14 clear days’ notice. The shorter 

notice period would not be used as a matter of routine for  
such meetings, but only where time-sensitive matters are to be 
discussed and where merited in the interests of shareholders as 
a whole. The directors also intend to follow other best practice 
recommendations as regards this authority’s use.

•  To dis-apply pre-emption rights for up to 10% of issued share 
capital in accordance with the latest guidance from the UK 
Pre-Emption Group. The first resolution will seek authorisation 
for 5% of the issued share capital to be issued without 
application of pre-emption rights. The second resolution seeks 
authority for an additional 5% of the issued share capital to be 
used for an acquisition or a specified capital investment of a 
kind contemplated by the Statement of Principles most recently 
published by the UK Pre-Emption Group. The Board has 
considered shareholder feedback on this topic but continues  
to believe that, in order for the Board to have full strategic 
flexibility where acquisitions and capital investments are 
concerned, it continues to be appropriate to request this 
authority from shareholders. In asking shareholders to approve 
this additional authority, the directors confirm that they intend 
to adhere to the requirements set out in the Statement of 
Principles.

All directors are subject to election by shareholders at the first 
AGM after their appointment. After that, all directors are subject 
to annual re-election to comply with the 2018 Code. All directors 
in office at the date of the AGM will be subject to re-election.

Statement of compliance
Throughout the financial year ended 31 December 2020 and to the 
date of this Annual Report, we have complied with the provisions 
set out in the 2018 Code published by the Financial Reporting 
Council, with the exception of Provision 38. Provision 38 requires 
the alignment of executive director pension contributions with the 
wider workforce. As set out in the Directors’ Remuneration Report, 
pension allowances for incumbent executive directors will be 
reduced to 15% by the end of 2022. Pension allowances for new 
executive directors will be in alignment with the wider workforce 
on appointment. Further information on executive director pension 
allowances is set out on pages 124 and 134. 

A copy of the 2018 Code can be found on the Financial Reporting 
Council’s website: https://www.frc.org.uk. Details of how the 
Group has applied the principles set out in the 2018 Code are 
included in this report and in the Audit Committee, Nominations 
Committee and the Directors’ Remuneration Reports. The 
information required under Rule 7.2.6 of the Disclosure Guidance 
and Transparency Rules is disclosed in the Directors’ report.

By order of the Board

At the 2021 AGM, in addition to the routine business, shareholder 
consent will be sought for resolutions which give the Company 
authority to:

M L Thomas
Company Secretary
3 March 2021

•  Approve a revised Remuneration Policy which includes  

four changes from the Remuneration Policy approved by 
shareholders at the 2020 Annual General Meeting: (i) increasing 
the normal eligibility level in LTIP for executive directors to 
250% salary; (ii) permitting awards under the LTIP to be granted 
as Restricted Share Awards (RSAs) with vesting subject to 
continued employment and an underpin based on Committee 
discretion from 2021; (iii) reducing the vesting level at threshold 
performance from 30% to 25% of maximum for Performance 
Share Awards (PSAs); and (iv) clarifying that the Company has 
the ability to settle any bonuses paid to executive directors  
in shares. 

 
 
 
 
Meggitt PLC
Annual Report & Accounts 2020

105

Audit Committee report

Chairman’s introduction

I am pleased to present the report of the Audit Committee 
for 2020.

I chair the Audit Committee and as a Fellow of the 
Association of Chartered Certified Accountants, and 
previous Chief Executive Officer of Essentra plc and Chief 
Financial Officer of Reckitt Benckiser Group plc, I can confirm 
that I, together with Caroline Silver, a chartered accountant 
with significant global investment banking experience, bring 
recent and relevant financial experience to the Committee. 

Committee members throughout 2020 were Guy Berruyer, 
Nancy Gioia, Alison Goligher, Guy Hachey and Caroline 
Silver. As a whole, we bring skills, knowledge and experience 
relevant to the aerospace, defence and selected energy 
markets in which the Group operates. Further details are 
included in our profiles on pages 92 to 95.

By invitation, there were a number of other regular attendees 
including the Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer, 
Chief Financial Officer, the Group Financial Controller, and 
the internal and external auditors. The Head of Treasury, 
Head of Tax and a representative of Grant Thornton, who 
provide co-sourced audits for the internal audit function,  
also attended meetings by invitation.

During the year, the Committee focused on the financial 
effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and the significant 
challenges it posed to the preparation of IFRS financial 
statements. The Committee also considered and discussed 
the challenges to the control environment resulting from 
remote working.

Responsibilities
The Committee’s key role is to protect shareholders’ 
interests in relation to the Group’s financial reporting and 
internal control arrangements. The Committee is responsible 
for ensuring the integrity of the processes and procedures 
relating to corporate reporting and the effectiveness of the 
internal controls and risk management systems. The Board 
relies on the Committee to ensure appropriate disclosures 
are made in the financial reports and oversee the work of the 
internal and external auditors.

Specific responsibilities include:

Financial reporting: 
•  Focusing on accounting policies, judgements and 

estimates, challenging the decisions and approach taken 
by management to ensure appropriate disclosures and 
compliance with relevant regulations.

•  Challenging and scrutinising the work taken to support the 

long-term viability and going concern statements.

•  Reviewing the content of the Annual Report & Accounts 
and advising the Board whether the Annual Report & 
Accounts is fair, balanced and understandable.

Risk and control: 
•  Monitoring the effectiveness of risk management and 

internal control systems.

•  Reviewing the effectiveness of the risk management 
processes, including those used to determine risk 
appetite, tolerance and strategy and advising the Board  
of the appropriateness of those processes.

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Protecting shareholders’ 
interests through 
financial reporting  
and internal control.

Committee membership and attendance  
in 20201

 3 Scheduled meetings

 1 Additional meeting

Mr C R Day
Committee Chairman

Mr G S Berruyer2
Non-executive director

Mrs N L Gioia2
Non-executive director

Ms A J P Goligher
Non-executive director

Mr G Hachey
Non-executive director

Mrs C L Silver
Non-executive director

1  Due to COVID-19, meetings from March 2020

were conducted remotely

2  Unable to attend additional meetings due to prior 

commitments.

/  Meetings attended     Non attendence

 
 
 
106

Meggitt PLC
Annual Report & Accounts 2020

Audit Committee report
continued

Internal audit:
•  Reviewing the resources and scope of the internal audit function 

and approving the internal audit charter. 

•  Approving annual internal audit plans and reviewing the results 

and effectiveness of internal audits. 

External audit:
•  Monitoring independence and effectiveness of the external 
auditors and approving the terms of engagement and audit 
fees.

•  Recommending to the Board the appointment, reappointment 

or removal of the auditors.

•  Reviewing and approving the annual external audit plan and 

ensuring that it is consistent with the scope of the audit 
engagement and coordinated with the activities of Internal 
Audit. 

Effectiveness 
The Committee has a carefully planned agenda of items of 
business to ensure that high standards of financial governance and 
risk management are maintained. There were three scheduled 
meetings during the year, with an additional meeting held in 
September for the Committee to scrutinise the significant 

accounting judgements and estimates and review and recommend 
the interim financial statements to the Board. The Committee 
Chair is fully engaged with management and the internal and 
external auditors and is available beyond regularly scheduled 
meetings to provide guidance as appropriate. Prior to each 
scheduled meeting, the Committee Chair meets with the Chief 
Financial Officer, Group Financial Controller, Head of Audit & Risk 
and the external auditors, to share views and consider key issues, 
particularly regarding significant estimates and judgements, to be 
highlighted to the Committee for discussion to ensure appropriate 
time is allocated for each item.

The Committee reviewed its own effectiveness via the process 
described on page 103. Overall the results were positive with the 
Chair’s effectiveness and the Committee’s ability to avoid minutiae 
and focus on important matters highlighted. Actions for 2021 
include ensuring key personnel in the finance team have 
appropriate exposure to the Committee in the virtual 
environment. 

Committee activities in 2020

Approved
•  The 2020 external audit fees 
•  The internal audit plan for 2021
•  The Internal Audit Charter

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•  The terms of engagement for the external auditors
•  Updated Committee Terms of Reference

Reviewed
•  The financial information contained in the 2019 Annual  

Report & Accounts, 2019 full year and 2020 interim results 
announcements and recommended them to the Board  
for approval.

•  The external auditors’ strategy memorandum, including level 
of materiality applied by PwC, and interim audit clearance 
report for 2020.

•  Terms of Reference for the Committee, which were 

•  Significant estimates and judgements in respect of the 

recommended to the Board for approval.

Group’s financial statements (page 107 and 108).

•  The independence and effectiveness of the external auditors, 

and agreed their terms of engagement.

•  The adequacy and effectiveness of: (i) the systems of internal 
control; (ii) the risk management process; and (iii) the process 
executive management used to enable the Board to make the 
viability statement.

•  The effectiveness of the Committee and external audit using 

the process described on page 102. 

•  The outcome of the internally facilitated internal audit review 

(see page 110).

•  The reporting processes applied in the production of the 
2019 Annual Report & Accounts and the output of these 
processes to determine that the 2019 Annual Report & 
Accounts was fair, balanced and understandable and advised 
the Board as such. 

•  The basis of preparation of the financial statements as a 
going concern and scrutinised the work undertaken by 
management. 

•  Issues and findings of the internal audit function and satisfied 
itself that management had resolved or was in the process of 
resolving any outstanding issues.

Since the year end, the Committee has discussed the external auditors’ final audit clearance report for 2020, reviewed the financial 
information contained in the 2020 Annual Report & Accounts and full year results announcement and recommended them to the Board 
for approval. The Committee also provided advice to the Board that the 2020 Annual Report & Accounts, taken as a whole, are fair, 
balanced and understandable. The Committee provided this advice having reviewed management’s process and confirmed its output, 
and provided confirmation to the Board that this process was effective. The Committee also recommended that the Board approve the 
viability and going concern statements.

Updates and reports
•  Received at every meeting from the Head of Audit & Risk a report on 
findings from internal audits and progress with the internal audit plan 
and internal controls across the Group.

•  Received an update on the results of the viability statement stress 

testing scenarios. 

•  Received updates on the risk management process.

•  Received an update from the Head of Treasury.
•  Received an update from the Head of Tax.
•  Received technical accounting and governance updates provided  
by the Group Financial Controller, Company Secretary and the 
external auditor.

 
 
 
Meggitt PLC
Annual Report & Accounts 2020

107

Significant estimates, judgements and disclosures relating to the financial statements
The table below summarises the significant estimates, judgements and disclosures reviewed by the Committee in respect of the Group’s  
financial statements.

Critical accounting estimates and judgements:

Area

Action

Going concern

The Committee reviewed the work performed by management in assessing the Group’s ability to continue as 
a going concern, noting that in their role as members of the Board they had reviewed and challenged the cash 
flow forecasts prepared by management in both the base case and downside scenarios. The Committee was 
also able to confirm that the process for ensuring the Group’s principal risks were reflected in the downside 
scenario was appropriate. The Committee considered the outputs from management’s work, noting the level 
of committed credit facility headroom that existed throughout the going concern assessment period and the 
covenant headroom at the twice yearly testing dates of 30 June 2021 and 31 December 2021.

The Committee concluded there was no material uncertainty around the Group’s ability to continue as a going 
concern and that the disclosures in the Annual Report were appropriate.

Goodwill

A key area of focus for the Committee during the period was the extent to which the carrying value of the 
Group’s goodwill was impaired following the COVID-19 outbreak. The Committee considered this across 
three separate meetings:

July 2020 meeting
The Committee discussed and agreed with management a trigger event had occurred in March 2020 and  
the approach to be used to perform the impairment testing. In light of the increased level of current market 
uncertainty, the Committee concluded reliable estimates of fair values for the CGUs did not in their opinion 
exist and agreed a value-in-use approach should be adopted. The Committee also agreed with management 
that given the range of potential trajectories for recovery of the civil aerospace sector was significant, it was 
appropriate to develop a number of potential scenarios that should be probability weighted to generate the 
cash flow estimates to be used. The Committee recommended that management ensured long term growth 
rates appropriately reflected the potential impacts of climate change on the civil aerospace sector. 

September 2020 meeting
A separate meeting was held in September to focus on the results of the impairment testing performed by 
management. The Committee reviewed the assumptions made by management and the conclusions reached, 
noting that the cash flow estimates used were derived from base case and downside scenario models, which 
in their role as members of the Board, Committee members had previously reviewed. Particular attention  
was given to the probabilities applied to the base case and downside scenarios and the discount rates and 
long term growth rates used, together with the sensitivities of the impairment recorded to changes in these 
assumptions. The Committee also discussed the results of management’s impairment testing with PwC and 
reviewed the draft disclosures for the interim financial statements. The Committee concluded that the 
assumptions used, impairment charge recognised and disclosures were appropriate.

March 2021 meeting
The Committee reviewed a paper prepared by management setting out the reasons why they did not 
consider any additional impairment trigger event had occurred between the September meeting and the 
balance sheet date and agreed with management’s conclusions. They reviewed the disclosures for inclusion in 
the Annual Report and agreed these were appropriate.

The Committee considered a report from management setting out the basis on which assumptions on 
mortality, inflation and the rates at which scheme liabilities are discounted had been determined; how the 
Group’s assumptions used in its 2019 financial statements benchmarked against those disclosed by other 
large corporate entities in the UK and US; and the sensitivity of amounts recorded in the balance sheet to 
changes in assumptions. The Committee concluded the assumptions used, which were supported by 
third-party actuarial advice, were appropriate. 

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Retirement benefit 
obligations

 
 
108

Audit Committee report
continued

Other significant areas of Committee focus:

Area

Action

Meggitt PLC
Annual Report & Accounts 2020

Development costs

Provision for 
environmental matters 
relating to historic sites 
and related insurance 
receivables

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Liabilities for uncertain 
tax positions

The Committee discussed a report from management analysing amounts capitalised across different aircraft 
platforms and manufacturers, including a sensitivity analysis for specific programmes. This analysis set out  
the extent to which estimates of the revised fleet volumes, issued since the COVID-19 outbreak and used by 
management for impairment testing, would need to fall before any further impairment would be triggered. 
The Committee focused in particular on technology development for the Airbus A220, Bombardier Global 
7500/8000, Embraer 450/500, Irkut MC 21 and Gulfstream G500/G600 in light of the material values 
capitalised on these platforms, and additionally in the case of the MC-21, delays to its entry to service 
following the introduction of US sanctions. The Committee concluded assumptions made by management 
were reasonable and the carrying values and estimated useful lives of the assets were appropriate, with no 
significant risk that estimated fleet volumes would fall further in 2021 such that an additional material 
impairment loss would be required. In light of the current uncertainty in the aerospace industry, the 
Committee also discussed the risk of any programme cancellations or OEM bankruptcies which would lead  
to a material impairment and concluded that the risk of such an event in the next financial year was  
not significant.

The Committee discussed a report from management setting out the basis for estimates made and the extent 
to which these were supported by third-party specialist advice. The Committee focused on the sensitivity of 
amounts recorded to increases in cost estimates, particularly those arising from extended periods of 
operations and maintenance activities (O&M), and agreed with management that the increases to O&M 
periods recognised in the year were appropriate and supported by third party estimates. Given the recent 
increases in O&M periods reflected in the provisions recognised, the Committee concluded that it did not 
consider there to be a significant risk of cost estimates changing by material amounts in the next 12 months 
and this should no longer be considered a critical accounting estimate. The Committee also held a discussion 
with management regarding the ongoing litigation with historic insurers to recover additional amounts, not 
currently recognised in the financial statements, and whether there was a significant probability of recognising 
material amounts in 2021. Based on the current status of the litigation, the Committee agreed with 
management that the likelihood was not significant.

In assessing the appropriateness of the provision recognised in respect of uncertain tax positions, the 
Committee considered a report from management setting out the basis for the assumptions made for each 
significant area of tax exposure. It discussed the assumptions in light of the current tax environment and the 
status of tax audits in the main jurisdictions in which the Group operates. A separate presentation from the 
Group’s new Head of Tax on each of the major areas of exposure was also received and discussed. The 
Committee’s principal focus was the Group’s potential liability under the UK CFC regime and they agreed with 
management that full liability for the exposure remained the most likely outcome for the Group. The 
Committee also concluded there was not a significant risk of any material adjustment to the estimates made in 
2021.

Treatment of items 
excluded from 
underlying profit 
measures 

The Committee discussed the treatment and disclosure of amounts included within exceptional operating 
items. The Committee agreed that the recognition of impairment losses and other asset write-downs as 
exceptional operating items was consistent with the Group’s accounting policy, given their significance and 
that they each arose following the impact on the aerospace sector of the global lockdowns and travel bans 
introduced in response to the COVID-19 outbreak. 

Whilst the amounts recognised as asset write downs of inventory, trade receivables and contract assets were 
not individually material, the Committee agreed they should be considered in aggregate with the impairment 
losses on goodwill and development costs as in their opinion they all arose from the unprecedented shock to 
the industry from events in the year. The Committee agreed that separate disclosure of the aggregate impact 
of these items on the face of the income statement was appropriate given their significance. 

The Committee reviewed the nature of items included within COVID-19 incremental non-recurring costs and 
agreed this was appropriate and excluded costs of a recurring nature. 

It noted other items classified as exceptional operating items continued to reflect the way in which they, as 
members of the Board, reviewed the underlying performance of the Group, were treated consistently year on 
year and disclosed appropriately.

 
 
Meggitt PLC
Annual Report & Accounts 2020

109

Key areas of oversight

Financial reporting
The Committee’s role is to ensure that disclosures in the financial 
statements are appropriate given the data available and, if not, 
challenge management to explain and justify their interpretation 
and, if necessary, update the disclosure. 

Significant estimates and judgements reviewed by the Committee 
in respect of the 2020 financial statements are set out on pages 
107 and 108. When considering these matters we sought the 
opinion of the external auditors as to whether the estimates and 
judgements made were appropriate taking into consideration 
information available and agreed accounting practices. 

The Committee reviews the content of the Annual Report & 
Accounts and advises the Board whether, taken as a whole, it is 
fair, balanced and understandable and provides the information 
necessary for shareholders to assess the Group’s performance, 
business model and strategy. To assist with this assessment, the 
Committee reviews questions completed by management to 
illustrate the fair, balanced and understandable aspects of the 
Annual Report & Accounts and a summary of the financial 
reporting process. Following consideration of these items 
together with the Annual Report & Accounts, the Committee is 
satisfied that the key events and issues impacting the Group 
during the year, both positive and negative, have been adequately 
reflected and referenced in the Annual Report & Accounts. 

External audit
The external auditors are PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (PwC) who 
were first appointed for the financial year commencing 1 January 
2003 after a competitive tender. The Committee undertook a 
further competitive tender in 2017 (described in our 2017 Audit 
Committee report) as a result of which it was agreed that PwC 
should be reappointed. There are no contractual obligations 
restricting the Committee’s choice of external auditors.

The Committee maintains oversight of the Group’s relationship 
with the external auditors, and is responsible for reviewing the 
effectiveness of the audit process, including an assessment of the 
quality of audit, and assessing annually their independence and 
objectivity taking into account relevant UK professional and 
regulatory requirements and the Group’s relationship with the 
auditors as a whole.

Quality
In July 2020, the Financial Reporting Council (FRC) published the 
2019/2020 Audit Quality Inspection Reports (AQIR) for each of the 
‘big four’ audit firms, including PwC.

The AQIRs identified areas of improvement for all four firms and 
PwC was asked to make improvements in several areas. The 
Committee reviewed a summary of PwCs AQIR and received 
assurance from the audit partner on the steps being taken by PwC 
to address the findings. 

PwC presented the audit strategy for the 2020 financial year at the 
meeting in July 2020, including their application of materiality and 
the scope to be able to provide an opinion on the Group financial 
statements as a whole. PwC highlighted the expected impact of 
COVID-19 on the audit and areas that would be given special 
consideration. Following discussion the Committee approved the 
scope of the audit and the threshold for materiality. PwC reported 
on the progress made against the audit plan at subsequent 
meetings to enable the Committee to monitor progress. The 
Committee monitored the impact of COVID-19 on the 
effectiveness of the external audit and was satisfied that the audit 
was conducted effectively through site visits when appropriate, 
increased use of technology and enhanced oversight of 
component audit teams to ensure the appropriateness of audit 
work performed at significant and material components.

Access to management and information
The Committee routinely meets PwC without executive 
management present to encourage open and honest feedback. 
No concerns have been raised by PwC who confirmed that the 
external auditors had been able to offer rigorous and constructive 
challenge to executive management during the year.

Evaluation
During the year, all members of the Committee, as well as key 
members of the senior management team and those who regularly 
provide input into the Committee or have regular contact with the 
external auditors, completed a feedback questionnaire seeking 
their views on the effectiveness of the external audit. Views of the 
respondents were sought in terms of:
•  the independence and objectivity of the external auditors;
•  the external auditors understanding of the business and risks 
material to the audit including those resulting from COVID-19;

•  the robustness of the external audit process and degree of 
challenge to matters of significant audit risk and areas of 
management subjectivity;

•  whether the scope of the audit and the planning process were 
appropriate for the delivery of an effective and efficient audit;

•  the expertise of the audit team conducting the audit;
•  the degree of professional scepticism applied by the external 

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auditors;

•  the appropriateness of the communication between the 

Committee and the external auditors in terms of technical 
issues; and

•  the quality of the audit and service provided by the external 

auditors.

The feedback was collated and presented to the meeting of the 
Committee held in March 2021, at which the conclusions were 
discussed. The Committee is satisfied with PwC’s performance 
and that PwC have employed an appropriate level of professional 
challenge in fulfilling their role. Whilst no significant findings were 
identified, several suggestions to strengthen the external audit 
process were recommended to PwC. 

 
 
110

Meggitt PLC
Annual Report & Accounts 2020

Audit Committee report
continued

Independence
In assessing PwCs independence, the Committee takes into 
consideration information and assurances provided by the 
external auditors confirming that the partner and staff involved in 
the audit are independent of any connection to Meggitt. PwC also 
confirmed that its partner and staff complied with their ethics and 
independence policies and procedures which are fully consistent 
with the FRC’s Ethical Standard. PwC is also required to provide 
written disclosure at the planning stage of the audit about any 
significant relationships and matters that may reasonably be 
thought to have an impact on its objectivity and independence 
and that of the lead partner and the audit team. The lead audit 
partner must change every five years and other senior audit staff 
rotate at regular intervals. The lead audit partner is Mr J Ellis 
whose appointment in this role commenced with the audit for  
the financial year ended 31 December 2018. Mr Ellis has had  
no previous involvement with the Group in any capacity.  

The mandatory rotation of auditors under EU rules will take place  
in 2023.

The Committee is responsible for the development and 
implementation of the non-audit services policy which was 
updated in 2019 to reflect the latest FRC Guidance on Audit 
Committees and Ethical Standard and caps non-audit services at 
70% of the average annual statutory audit fee. The policy covers  
a short list of permitted non-audit services and applies a limit of 
£100,000 for individual items that the CFO can approve with 
individual items in excess of this amount requiring approval from 
the Committee.

The Committee agrees fees paid to the external auditors for their 
services as auditors. Details of fees paid for audit services, 
audit-related services and non-audit services can be found in note 
6 to the Group’s consolidated financial statements. Fees paid for 
non-audit services in 2020 were less than £0.1 million (0.1% of the 
total audit fee) and average fees paid for non-audit services for the 
last three years to 2020 were less than £0.1 million (2.4% of the 
total audit fee over that period). Fees paid for non-audit services 
related to services allowed to be provided by PwC under the 
Group’s policy on non-audit services.

The Committee is satisfied that the overall levels of audit-related 
and non-audit fees are not material to the PwC office conducting 
the audit, or PwC as a whole, and therefore the objectivity and 
independence of the external auditors was not compromised.

On the basis of the information above, the Committee have 
determined that the audit process is effective and that PwC are 
appropriately objective and independent and have recommended 
that the Board submit the reappointment of PwC to shareholders 
for approval at the AGM in 2021 for the 2021 financial year.

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Internal audit
The internal audit function is a key element of the Group’s 
corporate governance framework. Its role is to provide 
independent and objective assurance, advice and insight on 
governance, risk management and internal control to the 
Committee, the Board and to senior management. Internal audit 
makes recommendations to improve processes and address key 
issues identified through their audit programme.

The Committee agrees the annual internal audit plan which is 
developed according to a risk assessment process and ensures 
adequate resources are available to execute the plan. The risk 
assessment process initially divides our business units into three 
tiers determined by financial measures. Tier 1 businesses are 
visited annually, with Tier 2 businesses visited every other year and 
Tier 3 businesses every third year. This is then subject to a further 
discretionary risk-based adjustment if there are circumstances 
which suggest a business unit should have an audit accelerated. 
Reasons for this can include adverse prior audit findings, a change 
in IT system, site location moves, substantiated issues reported by 
whistleblowers, senior leadership changes or operational 
performance issues.

The business unit audit programme’s scope includes finance, 
programme management, HR/payroll, sales agents/distributors, 
commercial bid and proposal activity and business continuity. In 
2020, internal audits were carried out for 24 Group locations as 
part of the rotational audit cycle, including shared service 
functions. During the year the Committee monitored the impact of 
COVID-19 on delivery of the audit plan and effectiveness of the 
internal audit process. The plan was broadly delivered as originally 
committed and processes were updated to conduct site audits 
remotely. This required increased use of technology, including 
utilisation of applications such as WebEx and file sharing and other 
innovative solutions such as using cameras on shopfloors to 
validate tests. In July, the Committee agreed proposed changes 
to the plan for H2 2020 to reflect changes in business needs. 

The scope of internal audit continues to expand and develop with 
the business and in December 2020 the Committee reviewed and 
approved an Internal Audit Charter that clearly defines the scope 
and responsibilities of the function. During the same meeting the 
Committee also considered the level of internal audit resource and 
agreed that it remained appropriately resourced.

In addition to the site-based business unit reviews, internal audit 
has a co-source arrangement with Grant Thornton UK LLP to assist 
with resourcing specialist audits for areas such as IT, treasury and 
complex legislation such as the Defense Federal Acquisition 
Relation Supplement (DFARS) and the General Data Protection 
Regulation (GDPR). During the year, Grant Thornton conducted 
audits on Information Security, GDPR, Procurement and HR 
systems and reported its findings back to the Committee in 
December 2020. The approach for 2021 will continue to rely on 
Grant Thornton’s subject matter experts to deliver specialist 
audits, including IT Strategy and readiness for Cyber Security 
Model Certification. 

 
 
Meggitt PLC
Annual Report & Accounts 2020

111

The results of the audits are regularly discussed with the Group 
Head of Audit & Risk by the Chair of the Committee between 
Committee meetings. At each meeting, the Committee receives  
a status update on the internal audit programme, discusses and 
challenges any significant issues arising and monitors 
implementation by the business of any recommendations made.

The Committee routinely meets internal audit without executive 
management present. No concerns have been raised and it was 
confirmed that the internal auditors had been able to carry out 
their work and offer constructive challenge to executive 
management during the year. The Committee considered the 
effectiveness of internal audit in 2020 and confirmed that they 
continue to be satisfied.

Communications with the FRC
During the year there was no interaction with the FRC’s Corporate 
Reporting Review team. 

Whistleblowing
The Corporate Responsibility Committee is responsible for 
oversight and review of the process for handling allegations  
from whistleblowers. Whistleblowing is included in our  
Ethics & Business Conduct Policy and Code of Conduct,  
which are available on our website. The Group sponsors an 
independently operated and monitored Speak Up Line, enabling 
employees to report concerns about possible misconduct, with 
proportionate and independent investigation and appropriate 
follow-up action. During the year the Group relaunched the  
Code of Conduct and Speak Up Line, more detail is included in 
the Corporate Responsibility report on page 88.

Compliance with Audit Services Order
We comply with the Competition and Market Authority Order 
2014 relating to audit tendering and the provision of non-audit 
services, as discussed further above.

On behalf of the Audit Committee

Colin Day
Chairman of the Audit Committee
3 March 2021

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112

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Annual Report & Accounts 2020

Nominations Committee report

The Nominations Committee plays a leading role in 
assessing the balance of skills, knowledge, experience  
and diversity on the Board and its Committees. 

The Committee is comprised of the Non-Executive Chairman 
and the non-executive directors. During the year, the 
Committee had a detailed session on succession planning  
for executive management and reviewed and discussed  
the Board skills matrix.

Responsibilities
The Committee reviews the structure, size and composition 
(including the skills, knowledge, experience and diversity)  
of the Board and, in consultation with the directors, makes 
recommendations to the Board on any proposed changes. 
Decisions on Board changes are taken by the Board as a 
whole. In performing its duties, the Committee has access  
to the services of the Group HR Director and the Company 
Secretary and may seek external professional advice at the 
Group’s expense.

Effectiveness
In 2020 the Committee reviewed its own effectiveness by way 
of a questionnaire, with follow up questions asked for clarity  
if needed. Overall the evaluation was positive, noting good 
progress on executive succession planning. The Committee 
noted the importance of continued focus on diversity, 
particularly ethnic diversity, for Board appointments. 

Board composition
Each year the Committee considers a comprehensive skills 
matrix that sets out the experience and background of each 
director and reviews it against the Group’s strategic 
objectives to ensure the Board comprises the skills and 
capabilities required to meet the demands of the business. 

The matrix also includes the tenure of the Chairman and 
non-executive directors to ensure that succession for the 
Chairman and non-executive directors is regularly discussed 
by the Committee and planned accordingly to ensure 
membership of the Board is refreshed regularly. 

Guy Berruyer was appointed on 2 October 2012 and his  
third three-year term will expire on 1 October 2021. The 
Committee considered his independence during the year 
and was satisfied that he remains independent. The 
Committee consider that Guy’s knowledge of Meggitt  
and his prior experience bring significant value to Board 
discussions. The Committee are also keen to ensure 
continuity on the Board in light of the COVID-19 pandemic 
and as the Group’s key aerospace market recovers. In light of 
this, it recommended that Guy Berruyer should continue to 
serve as a non-executive director on the Board. However, in 
light of Guy’s length of service, the Nominations Committee 
agreed that Alison Goligher should succeed Guy as Senior 
Independent Director from the date of the AGM in 2021. 
Alison has nearly six years experience on the Board and has, 
as a result, built good relationships with the non-executives 
and executive management, has relevant experience of 
Board dynamics, and has a detailed understanding of the 
Group, which makes her well qualified to succeed Guy in the 
role of Senior Independent Director.

In February 2020, I confirmed my intention to retire from the 
Board and a succession process commenced, led by our 
Senior Independent Director, Guy Berruyer. However, on 
25 March 2020, we announced that in light of the outbreak  
of the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on the global 
economy, the wider aerospace sector and the Group, the 
Succession Committee led by Guy Berruyer and the Board 
agreed that I will stay on as Chairman until further notice. 
The Board believes that there is significant benefit in 
continuity of chairmanship at this time.

Overseeing the 
structure, size  
and composition 
of the Board.

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Committee membership and attendance  
in 2020

Sir Nigel Rudd
Committee Chairman

Mr G S Berruyer
Non-executive director

Mr C R Day
Non-executive director

Mrs N L Gioia
Non-executive director

Ms A J P Goligher
Non-executive director

Mr G Hachey
Non-executive director

Mrs C L Silver
Non-executive director

 Meetings attended     Non attendence

 
 
113

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Annual Report & Accounts 2020

Board Skills and Experience

Australia

Africa

Asia

S America

N America

Europe (Inc UK)

Engineering

Industrial

Aerospace aftermarket/Customer Services

Aerospace/Defence/Energy

Mergers & Acquisitions

Risk/Legal/Regulatory (Inc Cyber)

Financial

Operations

Senior Independent Director

Remuneration Committee Chair

Audit Committee Chair

Chief Executive Officer

Listed company Chair

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8

9

10

Succession planning
The Group operates a succession planning process which enables 
the identification and development of employees with the 
potential to fill key business leadership positions in the Group.  
The succession plans for the executive team, including the 
executive directors are reviewed at least annually by the 
Committee to ensure that they are effective, based on merit and 
objective criteria, promote a diverse talent pool and take into 
account the challenges and opportunities facing the Group as well 
as the Group’s strategic priorities. The plan identifies emergency 
replacements, those who are ready now, those that will be ready 
in the short term following further development and those that will 
be ready in the longer term. 

Diversity and inclusion
The Board places great emphasis on ensuring that its own 
membership reflects diversity in its broadest sense. A combination 
of demographics, skills, experience, race, age, gender, educational 
and professional background and other relevant personal 
attributes on the Board is important in providing a range of 
perspectives, insights and challenge needed to support good 
decision making. 

Whilst we do not currently have an ethnic minority director on our 
Board, the Board remains diverse in terms of demographics, skills, 
experience, age, gender and professional background. Further 
details on the diverse attributes of Board members can be found 
in the pie charts on page 95 and in the Board skills and experience 
chart above.

It is our policy that Board appointments are made on merit,  
taking account of the specific skills and experience, independence 
and knowledge needed to ensure a rounded Board and the 
diversity benefits each candidate can bring to the overall Board 
composition. The policy aims for all appointments to diversify and 
strengthen the overall composition of the Board by contributing 
something new to the overall board dynamic, be it in terms of 
experience, skills, perspective, interests or other attributes.

Our Board diversity policy is brought to the attention of any 
executive search firm used as part of the selection and appointment 
process for a Board position and we request that they be proactive 
in marketing to a truly diverse range of candidates.

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Hampton-Alexander gender diversity rankings. Our high position 
is due to the main rankings table being determined by the number 
of females on our Board. The combined data for Executive 
Committee and their direct reports show that Meggitt can 
improve further. 

The Board has discussed the suggested target set out in the 
Parker Review of having “at least one director of colour on the 
Board by the end of 2021” and will take this into account, 
alongside diversity of gender, nationality, skills and experience, in 
filling Board positions when they arise. As no Board appointments 
were made in 2020 there was no opportunity to strengthen the 
ethnic diversity of our Board during the year.

The Board, our executive leadership team, and management at  
all levels recognise that a diverse and inclusive workforce is critical 
to running a sustainable and successful business. Our Diversity 
and Inclusion Policy seeks to increase and leverage diversity by 
employing a diverse workforce that reflects the communities 
within which we operate and fostering an inclusive culture where 
people are valued, respected and supported. The Board and 
Executive Committee remain focused on this area and details on 
progress made against the Group Diversity and Inclusion policy to 
strengthen the diversity in our talent pipeline can be found in the 
Corporate Responsibility Report on pages 75 and 77.

Candidate selection
When recruitment is undertaken, an independent external search 
consultancy is used for the appointment of the Chairman and 
non-executive directors with guidance provided by the 
Committee on the requisite skills, knowledge, and experience to 
fill any gaps identified by the Board skills matrix and complement 
those of existing Board members. Instruction is also given to 
provide long and short lists, with a diverse range of candidates.

On behalf of the Nominations Committee

On gender diversity, the Board currently has four female Board 
members representing 44% of the Board. This year, Meggitt 
appeared 32nd in the list of FTSE 250 companies on the 

Sir Nigel Rudd
Chairman of the Nominations Committee 
3 March 2021

 
 
 
 
 
 
114

Directors’ remuneration 
report
Chair’s introduction and annual statement

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Our decision making 
has continued to  
be framed by the 
experience of our 
stakeholders.

Committee membership and attendance  
in 20201

 3 Scheduled meetings

 4 Additional meetings

Ms A J P Goligher
Chair, Non-executive director

Mrs C L Silver2
Non-executive director

Mr C R Day2
Non-executive director

Mrs N L Gioia2
Non-executive director

Mr G C Hachey
Non-executive director

Mr G S Berruyer
Non-executive director

1  Due to COVID-19, meetings from March 2020 were 

conducted remotely

2  Unable to attend meetings due to prior commitments

/  Meetings attended     Non attendence

Meggitt PLC
Annual Report & Accounts 2020

This has been a challenging year for the business 
and our industry as a whole. The onset of the 
COVID-19 pandemic (and particularly its effect  
on employment, employees and society globally) 
has further heightened the focus on executive 
remuneration, not only from the perspective of 
shareholders and proxy agencies, but also that of 
public interest. There has been an increased focus 
on how businesses have been run during the 
pandemic, including the treatment and experience 
of all relevant stakeholder groups, and the need 
for pay decisions to be demonstrably appropriate 
in the wider social context. The Committee has 
been mindful of this context as it has worked 
through decisions in this extraordinary year.

I am pleased to present the Directors’ Remuneration 
Report for the year ended 31 December 2020. This 
report includes: an “At a Glance” summary; the 
Annual Report on Remuneration for the year; and  
an amended Directors’ Remuneration Policy. The 
Directors’ Remuneration Report will be put to an 
advisory vote, and the proposed Policy put forward 
for approval by shareholders, at our 2021 AGM. 

Looking back… remuneration outcomes  
in 2020 
The impact of COVID-19 on Meggitt’s civil 
aerospace business has been significant. The 
outbreak, and subsequent lockdowns across the 
globe, caused an unprecedented reduction in 
commercial air traffic in H1 2020, particularly in 
Q2 when global air traffic was down 90%, with  
up to 60% of the global fleet grounded in April. 
IATA’s latest forecast shows expected 2021 
Revenue Passenger Kilometres (RPK) about 48% 
lower than 2019, reflecting a gradual recovery as 
lockdowns are eased, vaccine programmes are 
implemented and passengers return to flying.

The executive team, led by the Chief Executive 
and Chief Financial Officer, took a series of swift 
and decisive actions in areas within Meggitt’s 
control in response to the pandemic, focused on 
reducing costs, protecting cash and resizing the 
business. As a result, Meggitt is now positioned to 
take advantage of the recovery in the aerospace 
industry in the coming years.

While the Committee has worked throughout 
2020 to ensure that remuneration continues to 
reflect both our strong focus on governance and 
alignment of outcomes to business strategy and 
performance, our decision making has also been 
framed by the experience of our stakeholders. In 
addition to regrettably reducing the size of the 
global workforce by around 20%, the Board 
decided to cancel the final dividend for 2019 and 
not to pay an interim dividend in 2020. Meggitt 
also accessed Government support schemes 
around the world (including the Coronavirus Job 
Retention Scheme and CCFF in the UK).

In this context, and despite the strong 
performance by the executive directors, the 
Committee felt it was appropriate to reflect, in our 
decision making, the impact of the pandemic on 
many of our employees and the shareholder 
experience over the past 12 months. The impact 
of making these decisions in relation to 2020 are 
set out below.

2020 Implementation of Policy
The Committee has continued to evaluate the fixed 
and variable remuneration packages of the executive 
directors across the year in the context of industry 
and business performance along with the experience 
of the wider workforce and shareholders.

 
 
 
Meggitt PLC
Annual Report & Accounts 2020

Salary
In April 2020, Meggitt announced that 
salary increases for all employees, where 
legally possible, would be cancelled for 
2020, including the approved increases for 
executive and non-executive directors.
In addition to this, the entire Board 
volunteered to take a 20% reduction in 
base salary and fees for the second half of 
2020. Our Executive Committee also took  
a 10% pay reduction along with a 10% 
deferral of pay in H2. 

Around 650 of our senior leaders (excluding 
executive directors and our Executive 
Committee) were invited to reduce their 
base salary by 10%, in return for which they 
would be awarded Meggitt shares of 
equivalent value, deferred over two years. 
I’m pleased to say that there was over 80% 
take-up of the scheme by senior managers. 
All of these actions on salary deferral and 
reductions saved over £3m cash in 2020. 

STIP
2020 performance was below the threshold 
for the financial measures set at the start of 
the year, resulting in nil payout under these 
elements. Despite some of the objectives 
related to the strategic element of the STIP 
being met, the Committee discussed and 
agreed, with the full support of the 
executive directors, that, in light of the 
experiences of employees across Meggitt 
and shareholders in the year, downwards 
discretion should be exercised to lapse this 
element of the STIP. 

LTIP
Although Meggitt’s performance in 2018 
and 2019 was strong, the outturn for the 
financial metrics in the 2018 LTIP award 
(based on three-year performance to 
31 December 2020) was below the 
threshold vesting level, with 2020 
performance impacted significantly by 
COVID-19. Progress against the long-term 
strategic measures warranted overall 
vesting of 10.1% of awards. The Committee 
considered this outcome in the wider 
context of the Group’s performance.  
We recognised that although the overall 
outturn was low when considering the two 
years of very strong performance, it was in 
line with the employee and shareholder 
experience in 2020 and no adjustments 
were made.

Proposed changes from 2021 
During 2020, the Committee reviewed our 
Remuneration Policy against the emerging 
global context. Although the Policy was put 
to shareholders for approval in 2020, the 
Committee felt that, in order to address 
retention, motivation and alignment of 
interests in this exceptional time and as the 
aerospace industry recovers over the next 
few years, some adjustments to the Policy 
are necessary for 2021. 

In Autumn 2020, we consulted 
shareholders and proxy agencies on 
proposals for a revised Policy. I am pleased 
to say we had excellent engagement 
during this exercise in the final quarter of 
2020 with continued dialogue in Q1 2021.  

The conversations were extremely helpful 
and, in particular, it was encouraging to 
hear the level of support from our 
shareholders for our Chief Executive and 
Chief Financial Officer who are recognised 
as key to Meggitt’s recovery from the 
COVID-19 pandemic and to our future 
growth prospects. We also kept under full 
consideration the experience of employees, 
shareholders and other stakeholder groups.

I am grateful for the feedback provided 
which has enabled us to adjust our 
proposals in response. 

2021 Remuneration Policy updates 
The Committee considered various 
approaches to address concerns about 
motivation and retention of the executive 
directors and senior leadership team in  
the months and years ahead, given the 
ongoing uncertainty around the impact 
and timescales of the pandemic and a 
subsequent recovery. Following feedback 
from shareholders, the Committee 
proposes the following revisions to our 
Policy to meet this objective:

1)  An increase in the total long-term 

incentive opportunity from 220% to 
250% of salary. 

The Committee reviewed the 
competitiveness and mix of the overall 
package for the executive directors and 
considered it appropriate to increase the 
LTIP opportunity. This level will help ensure 
the remuneration package is competitive 
with companies of similar scale and 
complexity, and to support the continued 
motivation and retention of the executive 
directors as our recovery builds over the 
period of this new Policy. 

2)  Introduction of restricted share awards 

(RSA) to complement the existing 
performance share awards (PSA) 
awarded under the LTIP.

RSAs are common elements of 
compensation in Meggitt’s global market 
for talent and the Committee considered 
that introducing them to the Policy at 
Meggitt for executive directors will support 
our ability to attract and retain talent. 
Around 50% of our senior operations 
leaders are in the US and having an element 
of restricted share awards in their incentives 
will align better with the US market. It will 
also help mitigate some of the retention 
risk we face in the US. In addition, we 
recognise that many of our UK shareholders 
prefer to retain a performance-based award 
for senior managers, and the hybrid plan 
seeks to address both of these valid, and 
equally weighted, perspectives. Hybrid  
LTIP RSA/PSA awards have already been 
introduced for our senior executives and so 
this proposal will ensure alignment of the 
executive directors with senior executives.

It is proposed that the overall long-term 
incentive opportunity be split 50/50 
between the RSA and PSA, with RSA face 
values discounted by 50% compared to  
the PSA, to maintain the fair value of the 
long-term incentive opportunity. This 
results in awards worth 125% of salary 
under the PSA and 62.5% of salary under 
the RSA for the executive directors. The 

115

combined impact of these changes on the 
executive director remuneration package is 
to reduce the overall opportunity by 7%.

RSAs will be granted under the LTIP and 
will ordinarily be subject to all the same 
rules as the current LTIP approved in 2020, 
i.e. a three-year vesting period, the same 
malus/clawback provisions, post-vesting 
holding period and post cessation 
shareholding requirements. However, it is 
proposed that the first RSA (to be granted 
in 2021) vests on a phased basis over the 
three-year period, i.e. a third annually, but 
with release of the vested shares to remain 
at five years following grant. This is to 
address immediate issues of incentive and 
retention during the recovery period. 

The vesting of RSAs will be subject to a 
discretionary assessment by the 
Committee of a basket of measures, the 
balance of which may be varied to reflect 
the evolution of Meggitt’s medium-term 
financial and strategic priorities over time.

3)  Reduction of vesting threshold for PSAs 
under the LTIP from 30% to 25% of 
maximum. 

Meggitt recognises that market practice 
has evolved over time with respect to the 
level of long-term incentive vesting for 
threshold performance. The Committee 
felt it was an appropriate time to align with 
market practice. In all other respects the 
STIP and LTIP (PSA) remain the same. 

Concluding comments
We recognise that there is a significant 
focus among stakeholders on executive 
pay levels and on maintaining an 
appropriate relationship between pay and 
performance during the unprecedented 
global crisis in which we continue to 
operate. This has been a key priority for 
the Committee this year in its deliberations 
around 2020 outcomes.

Considering the potential ongoing impact 
of the pandemic in the years ahead, we 
have thought deeply about the balance of 
motivating our executive directors during 
the recovery and addressing retention risks 
across our senior management team. We 
also wish to ensure that interests are 
aligned between the executive directors 
and wider management team, for whom a 
hybrid approach to long-term incentives 
(combining restricted and performance-
based shares) has already been introduced 
in early 2021.

We have worked hard to gather and 
incorporate feedback from shareholders in 
an open and transparent manner, and we 
have considered market sentiment, market 
practices and market competitiveness in 
refining our proposals for 2021. We are 
confident that the changes proposed 
increase the alignment between 
shareholders and executives, provide a fair 
and motivational remuneration package to 
executive directors and ensure alignment 
between the executive directors and the 
wider management team. 

Alison Goligher
Chair of the Remuneration Committee

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116

Meggitt PLC
Annual Report & Accounts 2020

Directors’ remuneration report
continued

Chair’s introduction and annual statement continued

2020 activity

Approved
•  The 2019 STIP vesting and deferred bonus awards and 2017 LTIP vesting;
•  The 2020 STIP and LTIP performance targets;
•  2020 LTIP awards together with the application of a holding period for the 2020 LTIP awards to executive directors; 
•  Increases to salaries for executive directors and other senior executives and the Chairman’s fee. Discretion was 

applied to later cancel these as a result of COVID-19 (see 115 for more details); 

•  The 2019 Directors’ remuneration report and Policy were approved by shareholders at the 2020 AGM;
•  The appointment of Ellason LLP as remuneration adviser to the Committee from 1 January 2021;
•  Revised Terms of Reference for the Committee to align with current best practice. These are available on our 

website; and

•  Since the year end, we have approved the structure of the 2021 STIP and LTIP awards and confirmed the vesting 

outcome of the 2020 STIP (and applied appropriate downward discretion) and 2018 LTIP awards.

Discretion exercised
•  Cancellation of the 2020 salary and fee increases;
•  Agreed that the 2021 STIP financial targets for all senior executives below the Board be based on Group 

performance, consistent with the targets used for executive directors;

•  Since the year end, we have agreed that strategic objectives targets which had been met under the 2020 STIP for 
the executive directors should not vest owing to the overall financial performance of the Group and to reflect the 
wider stakeholder impact of COVID-19. This means that no STIP payment will be made for the 2020 year.

Policy review
•  Reviewed the Policy in light of the impacts of COVID-19 on the Group; and
•  Proposed a revised Policy, including the following elements: 

 – a hybrid LTIP including Restricted and Performance share awards for executive directors
 – Performance share awards (PSA) structured as previously; Restricted share awards (RSA) to vest subject to a 

discretionary assessment of corporate health across a range of measures 

 – for the 2021 RSA to vest annually over a three-year period, but with leaver conditions attached between the 

vesting date and the third anniversary from grant (and a holding period for the fourth and fifth year after grant)

 – for RSA awards from 2022 onwards to have a three-year vesting period
 – to increase the total LTIP award opportunity for executive directors from 220% to 250% of salary
 – to reduce vesting at threshold under the PSA from 30% to 25% of maximum.

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Meggitt PLC
Annual Report & Accounts 2020

117

Remuneration at a glance 

Remuneration principles 
Our Remuneration Policy is designed to deliver against these key remuneration principles for the long-term growth of the business:

Attract

Align

competitive in the global markets where Meggitt competes for talent;

with shareholders through a strong weighting on shares in remuneration packages, but also alignment between our 
executive directors and other senior managers who work as one team towards the same goals;

Incentivise

incentive plans provide an opportunity for management to meet and exceed targets whilst outcomes are appropriately 
aligned with financial performance; and

Retain

the remuneration structure and opportunity supports retention in an increasingly competitive international setting.

Linking our remuneration to our strategy

Strategic Portfolio
Investing in differentiated technologies

Delivering sustainability goals

Enhancing our business portfolio

LTIP: Innovation targets and ROCE in the LTIP.  
Sustainability has been introduced to the LTIP. 

STIP: Strategic objectives for executive directors include 
portfolio-related activity and sustainability goals.

KPIs:
Growth, 
ROCE

Competitiveness
Enhancing manufacturing capability

Optimising our global footprint

LTIP: quality and delivery targets, programme management, 
ROCE and inventory improvement targets are measures in 
the LTIP.

STIP: Strategic objectives for executive directors include 
operational performance, footprint consolidation and net 
purchasing costs.

Customers
Maximising our share of  
the aftermarket 

Growing our defence business

LTIP: Quality and delivery targets are included in the LTIP

STIP: Strategic objectives for executive directors  
include growth in aftermarket and defence

Culture
Attracting and developing  
diverse talent

High performance culture

STIP: Strategic objectives for executive directors  
include measures to improve employee engagement  
and embed our high performance culture. 

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KPI’s
2020 STIP
Financial Measures

Underlying  
Operating Profit

Free Cash Flow

Strategic Measures

Culture –  
Engagement

189m  101m 



Customer – 
Operational 
Improvements



Portfolio



2018-2020 LTIP
Financial Measures

Strategic Measures

Earnings Per Share

ROCE

Inventory

Programmes

MPS

90.8p  8.6%  2.1 

2.9 

44.6% 

 
 
118

Meggitt PLC
Annual Report & Accounts 2020

Directors’ remuneration report
continued

2020 Outcomes

Outcomes versus pay scenarios

Mr A Wood (£’000)

Mr A Wood (£’000)

Mrs L Burdett (£’000)

Mrs L Burdett (£’000)

100%

100%

Minimum

Minimum

£820

£820

100%

100%

Minimum

Minimum

£518

£518

43%

43%

34%

34%

23%

23%

43%

43%

34%

23%
34%

23%

On-target

On-target

£1,921

£1,921

25%

25%

30%

30%

45%

45%

On-target

On-target

25%

25%

30%

30%

Maximum

Maximum

£3,274

£3,274

Maximum

Maximum

20%

20%

25%

25%

55%

55%

20%

20%

25%

25%

£1,215

£1,215

45%

45%

£2,072

£2,072

55%

55%

Max+50% share price increase

Max+50% share price increase

£4,003

£4,003

Max+50% share price increase

Max+50% share price increase

£2,534

£2,534

85%

85%

15%

15%

Single Figure 2020

Single Figure 2020

£885

£885

Salary and benefits

Salary and benefits

Pension

Pension

STIP

STIP

LTIP

LTIP

Single Figure 2020

Single Figure 2020

£476

£476

100%

100%

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Incentive outcomes

2020 STIP Outcome

Maximum
Actual
Actual
Adjusted Outcome

CEO

CFO

0.00%

38.5%

41.5%

50.0%

50.0%

50.0%

Strategic            UOP            FCF

2018 LTIP Outcome (% Vesting)

Maximum

73.3%

73.3%

73.3%

Outcome

22.2%

EPS 0.0%

ROCE 0.0%

Strategic            EPS            ROCE

Pay for performance history

Meggitt
FTSE 100

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4000

3000

2000

1000

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31/12/2011

31/12/2012

31/12/20131

31/12/2014

31/12/2015

31/12/2016

31/12/2017

31/12/2018

31/12/2019

31/12/2020

Mr T Twigger

Mr S G Young

Mr A Wood

1 combination of Mr T Twigger and Mr S G Young 

£

250

225

200

175

150

125

100

75

50

25

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Meggitt PLC
Annual Report & Accounts 2020

119

2021 Remuneration 

Components of executive directors’ remuneration 2021

Base salary
Pension

Benefits
Annual bonus (STIP)

LTIP (PSA and RSA)

Sharesave Scheme  
and Share Incentive  
Plan (SIP)

Set at a competitive level to attract and retain high calibre directors in the relevant talent market.
To provide post-retirement benefits for executive directors in a cost-efficient manner. New directors are 
eligible for a pension allowance at the same level as the wider workforce. Pension allowances for incumbent 
executive directors are being reduced to 15% of salary by the end of 2022.
Provides non-cash benefits which are competitive in the market where the director is employed.
Incentivises executive directors on delivering annual financial and strategic targets set at the start of each 
year. There is a maximum award opportunity of up to 150% of salary.
Aligns the interests of executive directors with shareholders in growing the value of the Group over the long 
term. Awards vest after three years and are subject to a two-year holding period. Executive directors are 
currently eligible for annual awards of up to 220% of salary (proposed to be increased to 250% at the 2021 
AGM). If shareholders approve, awards would consist of Performance Share Awards (125%) and Restricted 
Share Awards (62.5%). The executive directors are subject to post-cessation shareholding requirements, 
along with malus and clawback provisions. 
To align the interests of UK employees and shareholders by encouraging all UK employees to own  
Meggitt shares. 

2021 remuneration time horizons

2021

Year 1

2022

Year 2

2023

Year 3

2024

Year 4

2025

Year 5

2026

Year 6

2027

Year 7

STIP

PSA

RSA

Performance 
Period

Deferral Period1

Performance Period

Vesting Period2

Holding Period

Holding Period

1 STIP deferral of 25% of the outcome into shares for 2 years
2 First RSA grant vests in thirds at the end of years 1-3 but a total holding period of 5 years from grant will apply

2021 pay scenario summaries 

Mr A Wood (£’000)

66% 34%

Minimum

£1,210

Mrs L Burdett (£’000)

100% 34%

Minimum

£771

38%

34%

23% 20%

43%

34%

23% 20%

On-target

£2,080

On-target

£1,322

26%

30%

45% 14%

25%

30%

45% 14%

Maximum

£3,034

Maximum

£1,926

22%

25%

55%

17%

20%

25%

55%

17%

Max+50% share
price increase

£3,656

Max+50% share
price increase

£2,320

Salary and benefits

Pension

STIP

PSA

RSA

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2021 Incentive Plans 

Short-Term Incentive Plan (STIP)

Long-Term Incentive Plan (LTIP) – Performance Share Awards

   Underlying  

operating profit 

  Free cash flow  

   Strategic and financial  

objectives 

  Total STIP 

 33.3%

 33.3%

 33.3%

 100.0%

  Underlying EPS 

33.3%

  ROCE  

33.3%

   Strategic measures:  
HPS / Inventory / 
Programmes 

33.3%

  Total PSA 

100.0%

 
 
 
120

Meggitt PLC
Annual Report & Accounts 2020

Directors’ remuneration report
continued

Annual report on remuneration

Executive Directors 

Single total figure of remuneration for executive directors (audited)
The table below sets out a single figure for the total remuneration received by each executive director for the year ended
31 December 2020 and the prior year:

Salary1
Taxable benefits2 
Pension Allowance3

Total fixed

Annual bonus4
Deferred bonus4
LTIP5
Other

Total variable

Total remuneration

Mr A Wood

Mrs L S Burdett

2020
£’000

597
14
143

754

–
–
131
–

131

885

2019
£’000

660
14
165

839

507
169
4346
–

1,110

1,949

2020
£’000

378
14
84

476

–
–
–
–

–

476

2019
£’000

420
14
84

518

321
107
–
–

428

946

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1  Salary for both executive directors is reported with the COVID-19 reduction of 20% in the second half of the year. For the CEO the annual salary of £663k reduced 
by £66.3k from July to December, and for the CFO the annual salary of £420k reduced by £42k from July to December. The CEOs salary was set at £663k from 
1 April 2019, previously £650k, giving a single figure for Salary of £660k for 2019. The COVID reduction was based on the Annual Salary of £663k. 

2  Taxable benefits consist primarily of company car or car allowance, fuel allowance and private health care insurance. In addition to this figure, Mr Wood also 

received £1,526 in the year relating to his relocation agreement which ended 31 March 2020. Mrs Burdett received a relocation allowance as part of the transition 
of the head office to Ansty Park. Because of COVID-19 restrictions, only £4,800 was paid under this agreement in 2020. 
3  Pension figure was calculated on the unreduced salary for 2020 at 21.5% of salary for the CEO and 20% of salary for the CFO
4  STIP paid for performance over the relevant financial year. As no bonus was payable, no payout was deferred into shares. Further details of the 2020 STIP, 

including performance measures, actual performance and bonus payouts, can be found on pages 121 to 122.

5  LTIP is calculated as the number of shares vesting based on certain performance measures and valued at the market value of the shares on the vesting date.  

The value includes distribution payments. For 2020, the figure represents the actual vesting outcome of the 2018 award. Based on performance to 31 December 
2020 the 2018 LTIP award will vest at 10.1%. The market value of vested shares has been estimated using the average share price over the last quarter of 2020 of 
366.85p. None of the value of the LTIP is attributable to share price appreciation as the share price declined by 15% since the grant date. This value will be trued 
up in next year’s report to reflect the actual share price on the vesting date. Further details on performance criteria, achievement and resulting vesting levels can 
be found on page 123.

6  For 2019, the figure represents the actual vesting of the 2017 award which has been trued up, compared to that reported last year, to reflect the share price on the 
date of vesting. The value of the 2019 LTIP vesting has been updated from the 2019 report from £975k to £434k due to fall in share price since the figures were 
estimated in February 2020. 

 
 
Meggitt PLC
Annual Report & Accounts 2020

121

Incentive outcomes for the year ended 31 December 2020 (audited)

STIP in respect of 2020 performance

The Board set stretching financial and strategic targets for the STIP at the start of the 2020 financial year. These targets, and the 
performance against these, are summarised in the table below.

Executive directors

Measure

Financial  Underlying operating profit

                Free cash flow

Strategic See below

Weighting  
(as a percentage 
of target)

33.3%

33.3%

33.3%

Threshold for 
2020

£407.0m

£257.9m

Target for 2020

Stretch for 2020

£452.2m

£286.6m

£497.4m

£315.3m

Actual1

£196.4m

£102.7m

Percentage of 
maximum 
opportunity

0%

0%

See tables below

1  For the purpose of STIP, targets and actual performance for both underlying operating profit and free cash flow are measured on a constant currency basis, 

adjusted where appropriate for any M&A activity and, in the case of free cash flow, excludes interest and tax. The STIP targets and actual performance for 
underlying operating profit are measured before the impact of any share based payment expense. Other adjustments are also made at the discretion of the 
Committee to ensure the outcome is a fair reflection of the underlying performance of the Group for the year. These are described on page 116 of this report.

A summary of the strategic objectives applying to each executive director and the outcome is provided below:

Tony Wood
Chief Executive
Strategic Objectives

Strategy
Deliver sustainability goals and enhance portfolio

Performance against objectives
•  Absolute reductions in all major sustainability KPIs (electricity,  

Customer
Deliver on-time to quality

Competitiveness
Increase margin and efficiency

Culture
Improve employee engagement and safety

gas, GHG emissions, water).

•  Two key divestitures.
•  On time delivery had an improving trend April to November but 

fell in December due to significant COVID-19 disruption.

•  Delivered very significant reduction in escapes following the 

introduction of enhanced processes.

•  Reduction in purchase costs.
•  Project Conquer launched in March targeting a £450m reduction in 
cash costs in year – this was fully and successfully implemented by 
year end without disruption to customers. 

•  Stable employee engagement levels despite the impact of the 

pandemic and our global restructuring actions across all facilities 
worldwide.

•  Delivered our best safety (TRIR) performance to date.

Payout based on assessment of objectives (% of maximum): 

77% (see note overleaf)

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122

Meggitt PLC
Annual Report & Accounts 2020

Directors’ remuneration report
continued

Louisa Burdett
Chief Financial Officer
Strategic Objectives

Strategy
Refinancing

Customer
Develop Meggitt’s shareholder engagement

Competitiveness
Improve operational performance

Culture
Improvement in the overall Finance employee engagement 
score

Performance against objectives
•   Secured various sources of external liquidity for the company 

during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

•   Securing internal liquidity through Project Conquer to save £450m 

of cash.

•   Extensive scenario planning and cash forecasting throughout the 

year, remaining agile within changing market conditions.

•   Adapted IR processes, using technology and increased contact 
with shareholders, sell-side analysts, employees and the Board.
•   Consultation to close UK defined benefit pension scheme to future 

accrual.

•   Finance and IT engagement scores improved year on year.

Payout based on assesment of objectives (% of maximum): 

83% (see note below)

Although the outcome of the strategic objectives element of STIP would have generated a pay-out to executives of £254,000 (CEO) and 
£175,000 (CFO) under the rules of the scheme, the Committee exercised discretion to reduce this payment to zero for 2020. 

The following STIP awards were therefore received by executive directors in respect of 2020 performance:

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Executive

Mr A Wood
Mrs L S Burdett

STIP – deferral into shares (audited)
There will be no deferral of STIP into shares in 2021 as no STIP was paid. 

% salary

£’000

0%
0%

–
–

In 2020, as a result of the 2019 STIP vesting, the share awards were made under the Share Incentive and Retention Plan and are outlined 
in the table below. In line with the Remuneration Policy, 25% of the 2019 payout was deferred into shares, to be released (with no further 
performance conditions attached) after two years. Deferred STIP awards may lapse in certain leaver circumstances. 

Executive

Mr A Wood
Mrs L S Burdett

Conditional Share Award
Conditional Share Award

28.02.2020
28.02.2020

Form 
of award

Date 
of grant

Shares over 
which awards 
granted

29,146
18,463

Award 
price1

579.64p
579.64p

£’000

% of bonus

Date
 of vesting

169
107

25
25

28.02.2022
28.02.2022

1  The award price is the average close price for the five days prior to the award date.

 
 
Meggitt PLC
Annual Report & Accounts 2020

123

LTIP 2018 outcome
The LTIP award granted in April 2018 was subject to performance measures comprising three-year cumulative underlying EPS, three-year 
average ROCE and a scorecard of strategic measures. The outcome of the EPS measure has been adjusted for disposals. Performance 
against each of these measures over the completed performance period is summarised in the table below:

Element

2018

2019

2020 Weighting

Threshold Mid-point

Stretch

Performance period

Targets

Actual 
performance

% vesting 
(of LTIP)

Underlying EPS (pence)  
three-year aggregate

33.33%

101.6p

107.7p

114.0p

90.8p

0.0%

ROCE % average over three years

33.33%

11.1%

11.5%

11.9%

8.6%

0.0%

Strategic measures1

Organic revenue growth

Programme management 2

Gross margin

Inventory

MPS gate exits3

Innovation4

Programme excellence5

5.56%

4.00%

5.50%

7.00%

-1.7%

0.0%

1.85%

2.0

3.0

4.0

2018: 2.5

1.85%

38.0%

38.8%

39.6% 2018: 37.2%

451.4

421.4

401.4

2018: 473.1

1.85%

1.85%

1.85%

6.17%

2.0

2.0

2.0

3.0

3.0

3.0

4.0

4.0

4.0

0.9%

0.0%

0.0%

0.0%

2018: 0.1

2018:4.0

1.9%

2019: 3.1
2020: 2.9

2019: 50.0%
2020: 44.6%

2019: 2.7
2020: 2.1

3.9%

3.4%

0.0%

10.1%

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5

MPS (Quality and Delivery)6

6.17%

40%

50%

60%

Inventory Turns

Overall outcome

6.17%

3.0

3.2

3.4

1  Progress against the targets for all strategic measures, other than revenue growth, are assessed annually and the final vesting outcome based on performance in  

each period.

2  Performance score out of 5. Programme management vesting is an assessment of programme performance and is based on independent assessments of the

performance of our largest programmes (approximately 100 in total) at formal programme gate reviews against standard gate exit criteria.

3  Vesting is based on the number of our sites that have progressed up one stage of MPS in the year.
4  Vesting is determined based on progress with certain important innovation projects against detailed milestone criteria, as assessed by our Chief Technology 

Officer.

5  Programme excellence is the combined score of programmes and AR&T programmes (previously “Innovation”) weighted 50/50.
6  MPS (Quality and Delivery) vesting is based on progress against specific targets in each of these areas. For each of these measures, vesting criteria were set at the 

start of the year and assessed at the end of the year and reviewed by internal audit.

Based on these performance outcomes, 10.1% of the 2018 LTIP award will vest. Details of the awards vesting for executive directors are 
set out in the table below.

Executive3

Mr A Wood

Interests 
held

332,852

Vesting 
%

10.1

Interests 
vesting

Date 
of vesting

Share price 
at vesting1

33,618

03.04.2021

366.85p

Value
 £’0002

131

1  The market value of vested stock is based on the average share price over the last quarter of 2020.
2  The value includes the accrued distribution payable on the shares that vest (equivalent to a dividend, paid as income).
3  Mrs Burdett did not receive a 2018 LTIP award as she joined the Group on 22 October 2018, after the LTIP award date (becoming Chief Financial Officer on 

1 January 2019).

Based on the market value estimated from Q4 2020 share price, none of the value of the award is attributable to share price 
appreciation. The value of the award has decreased due to fall in share price since award.

 
 
 
124

Meggitt PLC
Annual Report & Accounts 2020

Directors’ remuneration report
continued

Scheme interests awarded in the year ended 31 December 2020 (audited) 

The executive directors were granted LTIP awards in 2020. Vesting is dependent on the achievement of three-year targets ending 
31 December 2022 that were set in February 2020, based on the following performance measures:

Weighting Measure

33.3%

33.3%

Underlying EPS (pence) three-year aggregate

ROCE average over three years

33.3%

Strategic measures

1  Vesting at threshold is 30%, and at stretch is 100%

HPS (Prev MPS)

Site targets on Quality 
and Delivery

Inventory

Inventory turns

Programme 
excellence

Average status of 
programmes and 
AR&T programmes

Threshold1

Mid-point

Stretch1

112.8

11.0%

40%

3.0

125.4

11.5%

50%

3.3

137.9

12.0%

60%

3.6

2.0

3.0

4.0

2020 LTIP

Executive

Form 
of award

Date 
of award

Shares over  

which awards
granted

Award 
price1

Face value

£’000

% of salary2

Date 
of vesting

 Mr A Wood
Mrs L S Burdett

Conditional Award

Conditional Award

28.02.2020
28.02.2020

251,638
159,409

579.64p
579.64p

1,459
924

220
220

28.02.2023
28.02.2023

1  The award price is the average close price for the five days prior to the award date. The face value has been calculated using the award price for each award.
2  Based on salary at the date of award.

Total pension entitlements (audited)
Mr Wood and Mrs Burdett received pensions allowances in 2020 of 21.5% and 20% of salary respectively. The pension allowance 
payments made in 2020 are included in the single total figure of remuneration table, and calculated on the unreduced salary (per the 
method of operation for all UK employees). 

In 2021, Mr Wood and Mrs Burdett’s pension allowances are being reduced to 18% and 17.5% of salary respectively. Both will reduce to 
15% of salary by the end of 2022. Neither executive director participates in a Defined Benefit pension. 

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Share ownership guidelines (audited)
The minimum shareholding guideline for executive directors is 300% of base salary for the Chief Executive and 200% of base salary for 
the Chief Financial Officer. There is no set time frame within which executive directors have to meet the guideline, however, until they 
meet the guideline they are not permitted to sell more than 50% of the after-tax value of a vested share award. 

Post-cessation shareholding guidelines of two years from vesting now apply to the executive directors. Further information on how the 
executive directors currently meet the shareholding guideline is in the annual report on remuneration on page 125. The executive 
directors have each executed a deed under which they acknowledge and agree to the Company’s post-employment shareholding 
requirements and acknowledge that Meggitt reserves the right to take action to enforce compliance with the requirements. In the event 
of a breach of the post-employment shareholding obligations, Meggitt reserves the right to require the individual to revoke any 
assignment, transfer or charge, or acquire shares to replace disposed shares. Meggitt may also apply malus against unvested awards. To 
date, no executive directors have left office following the introduction of our post-employment shareholding requirements. 

As at 31 December 2020, the Chief Executive’s shareholding was 151% of base salary and the Chief Financial Officer’s shareholding was 
20% of base salary.

Executive director

 Mr A Wood
Mrs L S Burdett

Shareholding 
Guideline 
(% 2020 salary)

Shareholding

Current 
Shareholding
(% 2020 salary)

Guideline Met?

300%
200%

214,291
18,419

151%
20%

Building
Building

 
 
Meggitt PLC
Annual Report & Accounts 2020

125

Executive Directors’ beneficial interests (audited)
The beneficial interests of the executive directors and their connected persons in the ordinary shares of the Group at 31 December 
2020, as notified under the Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rules (DTR) of the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) (including 
shares held beneficially in the SIP by executive directors), were as follows:

Mr A Wood 
Mrs L S Burdett

Shareholding  
Ordinary shares of 5p each

2020

43,291
5,500

2019

12,056
–

Between 1 January 2021 and 24 February 2021, the only changes to the beneficial interests of the directors in the ordinary shares of the 
Company are that Mr Wood acquired 68 shares through the Meggitt PLC Share Incentive Plan. 

Executive Directors’ shareholding requirements (audited)
Shares which are included within the shareholding requirement are:

Source of shares

LTIP

Deferred Bonus

Ordinary shares
Dividend reinvestment plan
SIP
Sharesave Scheme

 Description

Shares awards that have vested but not been exercised on a net of tax basis and share awards 
that have been exercised and retained
Share awards that have not vested on a net of tax basis and shares released after the two-year 
deferral period
Shares purchased directly in the market.
Shares acquired through the dividend reinvestment plan.
Shares acquired under the SIP (including those held in trust).
Shares exercised and retained.

Executive Directors’ interests in share schemes (audited) 
All outstanding LTIP awards have performance conditions attached (as detailed in the Directors’ remuneration report in the year of grant 
and in this report for those awards made in 2020). The awards made up to and including 2017 have already vested to the extent detailed 
in this and previous reports and the figures shown in the table below for those years are the vested share award amounts. The awards 
made in 2018 and later years were unvested as at 31 December 2020. Sharesave awards are not subject to performance conditions.

Number of shares under award

Date of 
award

At 1 
January
2020

Awarded/ 
(exercised/
lapsed)

At 31 
December
2020

Exercise 
price

Market price 
at date of 
exercise

Date 
exercisable
from

Expiry 
date

G
o
v
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n
a
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c
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–

9
0
-
1
4
5

LTIP (nil cost options – unvested)

Mr A Wood
LTIP (nil cost options – vested unexcercised)

01.12.16
07.04.17
03.04.18
08.04.19
28.02.20
LTIP (conditional award – unvested)
Share Incentive and Retention Plan (awards) 27.03.18
08.04.19
28.02.20
13.09.18
17.09.19

Sharesave (options)

Total

112,506
228,907
332,852
278,443
–
26,884
38,155
–
847
1,826

–
(86,070)
–
–
251,638
(26,884)
–
29,146
–
–

112,506
142,837
332,852
278,443
251,638
–
38,155
29,146
847
1,826

1,020,420

167,830 1,188,250

Number of shares under award

–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–

–
–
–
–
–
307.28p
–
–
425.02p
492.80p

01.12.19
07.04.20
03.04.21
08.04.22
28.02.23
27.03.20
08.04.21
28.02.22
01.11.21
01.11.24

01.12.21
07.04.22
03.04.23
08.04.24
28.02.23
27.03.20
08.04.21
28.02.22
01.05.22
01.05.25

Date of 
award

At 1 
January  
2020

Awarded/ 
(exercised/
lapsed)

At 31 
December
2020

Exercise 
price

Market price 
at date of 
exercise

Date 
exercisable
from

Expiry 
date

Mrs L S Burdett
LTIP (nil cost options – unvested)
LTIP (conditional award – unvested)
Share Incentive and Retention (awards)

Sharesave (option)

Total

08.04.19
28.02.20
08.04.19
28.02.20
17.09.19

176,389
–
5,913
–
1,826

–
159,409
–
18,463
–

176,389
159,409
5,913
18,463
1,826

184,128

177,872

362,000

–
–
–
–
–

–
–
–
–
492.80p

08.04.22
28.02.23
08.04.21
28.02.22
01.11.22

08.04.24
28.02.23
08.04.21
28.02.22
01.05.23

 
 
126

Meggitt PLC
Annual Report & Accounts 2020

Directors’ remuneration report
continued

External appointments held by executive directors as at 31 December 2020

Executive director

Company

Role

Mrs L S Burdett

Electrocomponents plc

Non-executive director
Chair of Audit Committee

Total

Fees retained 
2020 
£’000

60
10

70

Exit payments made in the year (audited)
No exit payments have been made in 2020.
Payments to past directors (audited)
There were no payments to past directors in 2020. A de minimis of £10,000 applies to all disclosures under this note.

Review of past performance
The remuneration package is structured to help ensure alignment with shareholders. However, there may be no direct correlation 
between share price movement and the change in the value of the pay package in any one year (as the remuneration package comprises 
several components, some fixed and others based on non-financial measures). 

The graph below illustrates the Group’s performance compared to the FTSE 100 Index, which is considered an appropriate broad equity 
market index against which the Group’s performance should be measured, and reflects Meggitt’s ambition to be a FTSE100 company. 
Performance, as required by legislation, is measured by TSR over the ten year period from 31 December 2010 to 31 December 2020.

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Pay for performance history

Meggitt
FTSE 100

l

a
t
o
t

l

e
g
n
i
s

s
’
e
v
i
t
u
c
e
x
E

i

f
e
h
C
p
u
o
r
G

0
0
0
£

)

m
£

(

e
r
u
g

i
f

n
o
i
t
a
r
e
n
u
m
e
r

5000

4000

3000

2000

1000

0

31/12/2011

31/12/2012

31/12/20131

31/12/2014

31/12/2015

31/12/2016

31/12/2017

31/12/2018

31/12/2019

31/12/2020

Mr T Twigger

Mr S G Young

Mr A Wood

1 combination of Mr T Twigger and Mr S G Young 

£

250

225

200

175

150

125

100

75

50

25

0

0
1
0
2

r
e
b
m
e
c
e
D
1
3
n
o
d
e
t
s
e
v
n

i

0
0
1
£

f

o
e
u
a
V

l

 The table below details the CEO’s single total figure of remuneration over the same period: 

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

Mr A Wood1
Single total figure of remuneration £’000)
STIP outcome2 
LTIP vesting2 

Mr S G Young1
Single total figure of remuneration (£’000)
STIP outcome2 
EPP vesting2 
ESOS vesting2 
LTIP vesting2 

Mr T Twigger1
Single total figure of remuneration (£’000)
STIP outcome2 
EPP vesting2 
ESOS vesting2 

1,296
39%
38%
76%
–

1,845
35%
56%
98%

4,252
100%
69%
100%

3,812
80%
88%
100%

2,334
82%

1,949
68%
52.1% 62.4%

885
0%
10.1%

1,232
23%
0%
0%
–

1,347
31%
0%
0%
–

1,969
60%
N/A
N/A

2,040
68%
N/A
N/A
17.3% 18.9%

1  Figures are provided for Mr T Twigger for the period up to 1 May 2013, for Mr S G Young for the period up to 31 December 2017 and for Mr A Wood from his 

appointment as CEO on 1 January 2018.

2  The outcomes are for those awards which are included in the single figure of remuneration for that year. For 2020, this represents the outcome of the 2018 LTIP 

and the 2020 STIP. Outcomes are expressed as a percentage of maximum.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Meggitt PLC
Annual Report & Accounts 2020

127

Change in Executive Directors’ pay for the year in comparison to that of Meggitt employees
The table below shows the year-on-year percentage change in salary, benefits and annual bonus earned between the year ended 
31 December 2019 and 31 December 2020 for all executive directors compared to the change in earnings for employees of Meggitt 
PLC, and UK employees.

CEO
CFO

Meggitt PLC Employees
UK Meggitt Employees

Salary

Benefits

-9.5%1
-10%

-3.2%
-0.5%

0.0%
0.0%

0.0%2
0.0%2

Annual 
Bonus

-100%
-100%

-100%
-100%

1  The CEOs salary was set at £663k from 1 April 2019, previously £650k, giving a single figure for Salary of £660k for 2019. The COVID reduction was based on the 

annual salary of £663k, leading to a -9.5% reduction on the single figure salary. 

2  Benefits changes for the PLC and All UK populations are based on value of entitlement, and exclude, for example, the change in Benefit in Kind value created by a 

change in company car.

A similar analysis is provided for the non-executive directors on 131.

CEO pay ratio
The lower quartile, median and upper quartile employees were determined using Calculation Method A, which involved calculating  
the actual full-time equivalent remuneration for all UK employees for the year ending 31 December 2020. Where variable pay data was 
available for the 2020 financial year outturn (to be paid in March 2021 in respect of executive and senior management annual bonus and 
LTIP), actual amounts were used. Where the outturn of variable pay for 2020 was unknown at the date of calculation (for managerial, 
professional and direct workforce), the amount to be paid in March 2021 was estimated. 

From this analysis, three employees were then identified as representing the 25th, 50th and 75th percentile of the UK employee 
population. The Committee chose this method as it is the preferred approach of the Government and that of institutional shareholders, 
and Meggitt has the systems in place to undertake this method.

The three individuals identified were full-time employees during the year and did not receive any exceptional incentive award which 
would otherwise inflate their pay figures. No adjustments or assumptions were made by the Committee, with the total remuneration of 
these employees calculated in accordance with the methodology used to calculate the single figure of the Chief Executive. The 
Committee considered the median pay ratio in the context of the ratio reported in prior years as well as the figures produced by sector 
comparators and across the FTSE more generally.

The CEO pay ratio is based on comparing the Chief Executive’s pay to that of the Group’s UK-based workforce, a large proportion of 
whom are production workers. The Committee expects that the ratios will be largely driven by the Chief Executive’s incentive pay 
outcomes, which will likely lead to greater variability in his pay than that observed at lower levels who, consistent with market practices, 
have a greater proportion of their pay linked to fixed components. This expectation has been realised in the change between 2019 and 
2020 ratios. 

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The Committee takes into account these ratios when making decisions around the executive director pay packages, and the Group takes 
seriously the need to ensure competitive pay packages across the organisation.

Lower quartile (25th percentile)

Median

Upper quartile (75th percentile)

(£)

2020

2019

Method

Total Pay & Benefits

Total Salary

Total Pay & Benefits

Total Salary

Total Pay & Benefits

Total Salary

A

A

34,019

32,879

31,788

27,986

43,831

42,861

40,584

41,317

59,994

58,479

55,550

52,776

(£)

Method

Pay Ratio 25th Percentile

Pay Ratio 50th Percentile

Pay Ratio 75th Percentile

2020

20191

A

A

26:1

59:1

20:1

45:1

15:1

33:1

1  2019 Ratio has been updated due to the true up of the value at vesting of the 2019 LTIP. Prior reported ratio at median was 58:1.  

 
 
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Directors’ remuneration report
continued

Relative importance of spend on pay
The chart below shows shareholder distributions (i.e. dividends) and total employee expenditure for 2020 and the prior year, along with 
the percentage change in both.

800

700

600

500

400

300

200

100

0

-20.1%

£707.7m

£565.4m

-100%

£42.9m

£0.0m

Dividends1

Employee costs2

2020
2019

1  See note 15 to the Group’s consolidated financial statements.
2  Comprises wages and salaries and retirement benefit costs. See note 8 to the Group’s consolidated financial statements.

Shareholder distributions

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2020 Committee evaluation
The Committee reviewed its own effectiveness and the effectiveness of their advisers using a detailed questionnaire and follow up 
discussion. Overall, the results of the review were positive for both the Committee and their advisers, in what was a particularly 
challenging year. The Committee’s meetings were well run, with papers of the right length, and holding virtual meetings during 2020 
had not caused issues in the way the Committee interacted.

The response to the pandemic was viewed as proactive and appropriate, with a detailed shareholder consultation exercise being viewed 
as extremely helpful in gaining insight to shareholders views in this area. There was a wider concern from the Committee about the 
appropriateness of the remuneration structure and retention concerns across senior executives post-COVID which would continue to be 
discussed by the Committee throughout the year. 

Specific actions arising were about increasing Committee understanding of wider remuneration structures across the Group as well as 
gaining more sector specific and US remuneration trends from advisers. 

Context for the Committee’s decisions in 2020

The Committee included regular updates from executive management on the impact of COVID-19 environment on key stakeholders in 
Meggitt to ensure that this context was front of mind as the Committee discussed executive pay. Each meeting held in the year started with 
an update of stakeholder impacts. The main themes considered were:

Stakeholder impacts

Senior leaders

The Executive Committee took a 10% salary reduction plus a 10% salary deferral in the second half  
of 2020. 

All STIP and LTIP participants (c. 200 globally) shared the same outcomes as the executive directors 
reported here. 

Around 650 of our senior management (excluding Executive Committee) were invited to reduce their 
base pay by 10%, in return for which they would be awarded Meggitt shares deferred over two years. 
80% of the population took this opportunity and the first tranche of shares were delivered in January 
2021. The second tranche vests in January 2022.

Wider workforce

Various actions were taken, where possible, across the wider workforce including:
 – cancellation of the 2020 annual pay review
 – suspension of company contributions to 401(k) in the US
 – beginning consultation to close the UK Defined Benefit pension plan to new accruals 
 – cancellation of the UK Free Share Award. 

We utilised furlough and voluntary unpaid leave arrangements globally in line with a reduction of 
production activity due to COVID-19 impact. Regrettably, we also reduced the workforce by over 20% 
globally.

Shareholders

Final dividend for 2019 was cancelled. No dividends have been paid or declared for 2020. 

 
 
Meggitt PLC
Annual Report & Accounts 2020

129

2021 Policy implementation

Base salary, pension and benefits
For 2021, no salary increases are currently proposed for implementation in April 2021. In agreeing this position, the Committee has 
taken into account that salary increases for the wider employee population will not be reviewed until October 2021. Additionally, the 
executive and non-executive directors have agreed a 10% reduction in salary for the first half of 2021. For the wider workforce Meggitt 
continues to utilise furlough and voluntary unpaid leave programmes in H1 2021.

The following table shows the base salaries for the executive directors (not including COVID-19 reductions):

Mr A Wood
Mrs L S Burdett

2021
£’000

663
420

% change

+0%
+0%

2020
£’000

663
420

The Committee periodically benchmarks executive director salaries against other FTSE companies of similar size, as well as a defined 
group of UK-listed industry comparators, comprising: BAE Systems, Signature Aviation, Halma, IMI, Melrose Industries, Rolls-Royce, 
Rotork, Senior, Spectris, Spirax-Sarco, Ultra Electronics and Weir Group.

From 1 January 2021, the Committee agreed a reduced pensions allowance for the Chief Executive to 18% of salary and Chief Financial 
Officer to 17.5% of salary. There are no other changes to benefit provisions for 2021.

2021 Incentives
The proposed 2021 Policy introduces a hybrid approach to share based remuneration including Performance Share Awards (PSA) and 
Restricted Share Awards (RSA) under the LTIP. Awards worth 125% of salary under the PSA and 62.5% of salary under the RSA for the 
executive directors are proposed. In 2021 100 STIP and LTIP-eligible leaders have been moved to the revised ‘hybrid’ scheme consisting 
of PSA and RSA proposed for the executive directors at the AGM. 100 have been moved to a pure RSA grant moving forward.

2021 Incentive Plan Measures
Targets for 2021 STIP and 2021 PSA grants will be set following the usual methodology.

In 2021, the Committee has considered the increasing importance of ESG-related factors and has agreed to incorporate a new 
sustainability measure into the LTIP. The 2021 goal is to direct two-thirds of Meggitt’s research and technology expenditure towards 
developing sustainable technology. In this context “sustainable technologies” are those that will enable our customers to operate with 
lower greenhouse gas emissions and more efficiently. Strategic measures under the short term incentive plan for the Chief Executive 
also include sustainability goals. The Committee will further consider ESG measures when looking at 2022 plan measures. The 
Committee is satisfied that the current and proposed incentive structures for senior executives do not raise ESG risks by inadvertently 
motivating irresponsible behaviour.

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Directors’ remuneration report
continued

STIP
STIP measures for 2021 are unchanged from 2020, as follows: 

2021 STIP measures

 Underlying operating profit 

 Free cash flow 

 Strategic Objectives 

33.3%

33.3%

33.3%

The STIP targets for 2021, together with details of whether they have been met, will be disclosed (subject to commercial sensitivity) in 
the 2021 Directors’ remuneration report. STIP award opportunities will be in line with the Policy disclosed on page 135.

LTIP – Performance Share Awards
The measures for 2021 performance share awards are 33% earnings per share, 33% ROCE and 33% based on three strategic measures, 
which are our High Performance System (previously known as the Meggitt Production System), inventory and programme excellence:

•  HPS (previously known as the Meggitt Production System): site specific Quality and Delivery targets measure two of the key outputs of 

HPS. 

•  Programme excellence: this measure scores the health of all of the Group’s programmes, including specific sustainability programmes.  
•  Inventory: based on inventory turns.

Due to the impact of the continuing COVID-19 pandemic, the Committee has decided to delay setting the targets for the PSAs for 2021 
until such time as it believes that it can finalise appropriate performance ranges. Any award will be consistent with the Policy. The targets 
– which would normally be disclosed prospectively in this report – will be disclosed in an RNS statement.

LTIP - Restricted Share Awards
Although not subject to any formal performance measures, the Committee will assess RSAs vesting based on a basket of measures, 
adjusting these measures to be appropriate for the position in the recovery period. A wide range of business factors is expected to be 
considered including, free cash flow, balance sheet health, adherence to dividend policy and overall cash returns to shareholders, 
customer service, health and safety performance, ESG performance and corporate culture. The balance and weighting of the factors 
may be adjusted as priorities for the Group develop over time to align with the anticipated recovery, and the Committee will consider 
performance in the round. The factors considered in the application of discretion used will be fully disclosed in the relevant Annual 
Report.

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Non-executive directors 

Chairman and non-executive director fee structure for 2020 and 2021
In February 2020, and as reported in the 2019 Directors’ Remuneration Report, it had been agreed that the fees for non-executive 
directors and the Chairman should increase at a level of above 2% since the fees were generally below the median levels of our industry 
peers and companies of a similar size. In April 2020, as a result of COVID-19, the Board agreed to freeze their fees at 2019 levels, and in 
May 2020, it was agreed that the non-executive directors and the Chairman would reduce their fees by 20% for H2 2020 alongside the 
executive directors.

For 2021, it has been agreed to continue to freeze fees at 2020 levels, and a 10% fee reduction has also been agreed from 1 January 
2021 to 30 June 2021, alongside the 10% salary reduction for executive directors.

The remuneration of the Chairman and non-executive directors in 2021 (not including COVID-19 reductions) are as follows:

Chairman fee2
Non-executive director base fee3
Additional fee for chairing Audit or Remuneration Committee
Additional fee for chairing Corporate Responsibility Committee and  

Non-Executive Director responsible for Employee Engagement

Additional fee for Senior Independent Director

1  Fees shown are effective for a year from 1 April.
2  Sir Nigel Rudd receives additional benefits of £20,000 per annum for secretarial and car services required for business purposes.
3  A fee of £4,000 is paid per meeting to non-UK directors when travelling to meetings outside of their home continent.

Single total figure of remuneration for non-executive directors (audited)
The table below sets out a single figure for the total remuneration received by each non-executive director:

Sir Nigel Rudd
Mr G S Berruyer
Mr C R Day
Mrs N L Gioia1
Ms A J P Goligher
Mr G Hachey1
Mrs C L Silver

20211
£’000

364
60
11

11
11

2020
£’000

328
65
65
62
65
58
54

20201
£’000

364
60
11

11
11

2019
£’000

362
68
71
84
68
88
41

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1 

Includes fees to cover the cost of attendance at meetings that took place outside continent of residence.

Change in non-executive directors’ pay for the year in comparison to that of Meggitt employees
The table below shows the year-on-year percentage change in fees earned between the year ended 31 December 2019 and 
31 December 2020 for all non-executive directors compared to the change in salary, benefits and annual bonus for Meggitt PLC 
employees, and all Meggitt UK employees.

Sir Nigel Rudd 
Mr G S Berruyer
Mr C R Day
Mrs N L Gioia1

Ms A J P Goligher
Mr G Hachey1
Mrs C L Silver

Meggitt PLC Employees
UK Meggitt Employees

Salary/Fees

Benefits

Annual 
Bonus

-9%
-4%
-8%
-26%

-4%
-34%
32%

-3.2%
-0.5%

–
–
–
–

–
–
–

–
–
–
–

–
–
–

0.0%1
0.0%1

-100%
-100%

1 
2 

 Mr G S Hachey and Mrs N L Gioia’s figures were reduced due to meetings being conducted remotely.
 Mrs C L Silver’s fees show an increase on 2019 rates as she became a director during 2019. The annualised figure would be -9%. 

 
 
132

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Annual Report & Accounts 2020

Directors’ remuneration report
continued

Non-executive directors’ beneficial interests (audited)
The beneficial interests of the non-executive directors and their connected persons in the ordinary shares of the Group at 31 December 
2020, as notified under the Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rules (DTR) of the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), were as follows:

Sir Nigel Rudd
Mr G S Berruyer
Mr C R Day
Mrs N L Gioia
Ms A J P Goligher
Mr G Hachey
Mrs C L Silver

Shareholding  
Ordinary shares of 5p each

2020

250,000
38,000
76,937
3,188
6,000
3,000
5,000

2019

150,000
13,000
76,937
3,188
3,000
3,000
–

Between 1 January 2021 and 24 February 2021, there were no changes in the beneficial interests of the non-executive directors in the 
ordinary shares of the Company.

Other Disclosures
Advisors to the Committee
During the year, the Committee’s independent remuneration advisors were Mercer (part of Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc.) who 
were appointed in 2010 and 2019 as a result of a competitive tender processes. 

In late 2020, it was agreed that remuneration advisory services for the Committee would transfer to Ellason LLP from 1 January 2021 as a 
result of our lead advisors leaving to establish Ellason.

During the year, the Committee confirmed it was satisfied with the independence of Mercer, and have also confirmed the same for 
Ellason LLP since the year end.

Neither Mercer nor Ellason have any direct individual relationships with any of our directors. Mercer and Ellason’s fees are determined 
on an hourly rate basis, and monitored against an agreed scope of work and fee estimate during the year.

Mercer, and now Ellason, provide guidance on remuneration matters at Board level and below. Mercer, and now Ellason, do not have any 
other connection with the Group other than for Mercer, through their parent company, Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc., which is also 
the parent company of the Group’s primary advisors on insurance (Marsh) and UK pensions and benefits (Mercer). Mercer and Ellason 
are members of the Remuneration Consultants Group and adhere to its code of conduct (www.remunerationconsultantsgroup.com). 

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The total fees in 2020 for remuneration advice to the Committee were £81,117 (2019: £72,608). The increased fees were as a result of 
their additional work advising on COVID-19 impacts and the Remuneration Policy review.

AGM voting
The following table shows the results of the advisory vote on the 2019 Directors’ remuneration report at the 2020 AGM:

Resolution text

Votes 
for

% of votes
cast for

Votes 
against

% of votes  

cast against

Total 
votes cast

Votes withheld1
(abstentions)

Approval of Directors’ remuneration report

580,686,499

94.65

32,817,185

5.35

613,503,684

5,824,350

1 A withheld vote is not a vote in law and is not counted in the calculation of the proportion of votes cast for and against a resolution.

The following table shows the results of the binding vote on the current Directors’ remuneration policy at the 2020 AGM:

Resolution text

Votes 
for

% of votes
cast for

Votes 
against

% of votes cast 
against

Total 
votes cast

Votes withheld1
(abstentions)

Approval of Directors’ remuneration policy

582,387,803

94.96

30,925,843

5.04

613,313,646

6,014,417

1 A withheld vote is not a vote in law and is not counted in the calculation of the proportion of votes cast for and against a resolution.

 
 
Meggitt PLC
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133

Remuneration Policy

2021 Changes to Remuneration Policy
Although the Committee put forward a revised Remuneration Policy in 2020, in keeping with the requirement to submit the Policy to a 
binding vote at least every three years, 2020 has bought about significant changes in our industry and across the globe. The Committee 
met in May 2020 to discuss the immediate actions for remuneration as a result of COVID-19 and whether our Policy was still fit for 
purpose in the context of the ongoing impact of the pandemic and likely recovery trajectory of the aerospace industry over a period of 
years, and that our business would likely be affected for a number of years to come. 

The Committee undertook a review of the 2020 Policy in the summer and considered changes in the external market. In particular, the 
Committee considered retention risks for all senior management particularly in the US, where 50% of senior leaders are based. With this 
in mind, the company have already introduced Restricted Stock Awards to complement the Performance Stock Awards for all Meggitt 
senior leaders to enhance the competitiveness of Meggitt in all our global markets. The Committee considered the importance of 
transparency, fairness and alignment between executive directors and senior leaders, to reinforce our shift from a portfolio of individual 
businesses to a truly integrated and effective global company, which is critical for our long-term success. Providing a motivating 
incentive for all Meggitt senior management in the US, UK and elsewhere is a fundamental element of this, and having the whole team 
on the same incentive schedule is an important driver for assuring collaborative teamwork, alignment of long-term strategy decision 
making and consistent delivery for customers by the senior team.

As a result of these deliberations, the Committee has determined that changes were necessary to ensure the Policy continues to 
appropriately incentivise, retain and reward our executive directors over the next three years, and aligns with revisions being cascaded 
into the wider organisation from 2021. A new Remuneration Policy is being put to shareholders at the 2021 Annual General Meeting 
which includes four changes from that approved by shareholders at the 2020 Annual General Meeting:
•  Increasing the normal eligibility level in LTIP for executive directors to 250% salary;
•  Permitting awards under the LTIP to be granted as Restricted Share Awards (RSAs) with vesting subject to continued employment and 

an underpin based on Committee discretion from 2021; 

•  Reducing the vesting level at threshold performance from 30% to 25% of maximum for Performance Share Awards (PSAs); and 
•  Clarifying that the Company has the ability to settle any bonuses paid to executive directors in shares. 
•  Under the new Remuneration Policy, RSAs will be granted to executive directors in addition to the awards which have performance 

conditions (PSAs) which have been granted to date under the LTIP. This hybrid PSA/RSA structure for executive Directors aligns with 
senior management across the company. The key terms of the RSAs are:

•  a three-year vesting period and two-year holding period for RSAs (meaning a total of five years between grant and full ownership);
•  vesting being subject to a holistic assessment by the Committee of overall performance of the business over the vesting period, 

rather than any specific performance targets;

•  granted under the current Meggitt 2014 Long Term Incentive Plan and subject to the same leaver rules and aggregate plan limits as 

other grants under this plan; and

•  application of post-cessation shareholding requirements and malus and clawback provisions.

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Remuneration Policy review process 
In order to determine appropriate revisions to the Policy to achieve its objectives, the Committee considered: shareholder sentiment in 
the UK listed company environment; shareholder sentiment in the US market in particular with respect to remuneration practices; 
specific feedback from our shareholders; competitive practices at our peers and sector more generally; and the alignment of the Policy 
with Meggitt’s culture and remuneration arrangements for the rest of our employees. We also considered whether the current Policy’s 
implementation fairly reflected performance and was adequately aligned with shareholder interests.

Consideration of shareholder views
The Committee Chair is available to discuss remuneration matters with the Group’s major shareholders and is also regularly updated on 
feedback on remuneration received by the Chairman of the Board and executive directors directly from shareholders. The Committee 
Chair ensures the Committee is kept informed of shareholder views. 

In Q4 2020, the Committee Chair consulted shareholders and engaged with their proxy agencies on our draft proposals. The Committee 
was pleased with the good level of engagement and the feedback we received. The Committee has listened carefully to this feedback 
and considered in depth in its decision-making the experience of employees, shareholders and other stakeholder groups. Recognising 
that some elements of our original proposal were unusual, the original proposals were modified to address the points raised by 
shareholders, while still aspiring to achieve our objective of supporting retention, motivation and alignment. The Committee feels this 
robust review process has helped shape an appropriate remuneration package for our executive directors for the next Policy period, 
which will now run from 2021 to 2023 (inclusive), subject to our modified proposals being approved by shareholders at the AGM in 2021.

Revised Policy and the 2018 Code
In developing the proposed 2021 Remuneration Policy, the Committee has continued to take into account the provisions of the Code. 
We set out below our assessment of how we believe the proposed Policy complies with Provision 40 of the Code.

Clarity: Our approach to remuneration disclosure and decision making is transparent and supported by clear rationale. We remain 
committed to consulting shareholders on the Policy (and any changes to it), as well as our approach – and material revisions – to how it is 
implemented.

Simplicity: The proposed Remuneration Policy and our approach to implementation is logical and well understood internally, as well as 
externally. The performance measures used in the STIP and LTIP are well aligned to the Group’s strategy, as illustrated on page 138.

Risk: The Committee regularly reviews remuneration arrangements to ensure that these continue to drive an appropriate focus on 
performance (through short- and long-term performance-based incentives), without encouraging and rewarding excessive risk taking 
(for example, by having an element of longer term variable remuneration – restricted shares – linked to continued employment only).  
We set incentive targets to be stretching and achievable, while retaining appropriate discretion to adjust formulaic bonus and LTIP 
outcomes to ensure that pay reflects underlying performance.

 
 
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Directors’ remuneration report
continued

Predictability: Incentive opportunities are capped, with clearly defined payout schedules aiding participants’ understanding of how 
incentives operate and the performance expectations attaching to these. By replacing some of the LTIP Award opportunity with 
restricted share awards, we are proposing to further enhance the predictability of pay outcomes. 

Proportionality: Performance ranges are calibrated to ensure that incentive outcomes do not reward poor performance. The use of 
sliding scales helps ensure that incremental performance is incentivised and rewarded by incremental reward, while discretion helps 
safeguard against the possibility that pay outcomes are disproportionate to performance outcomes.

Culture: The proposed Policy remains consistent with Meggitt’s culture and strategy, and it reflects our approach to remuneration 
across the Group more widely. This consistency of approach aligns the focus of our employees and drives collective behaviours that 
promote the long-term success of the Company for the benefit of all stakeholders.

2021 Revised Remuneration Policy – Executive Directors’ Policy Table

Base salary

Function

To attract and retain talent by ensuring base salaries are competitive in the relevant talent market.

Operation

Salary will be reviewed by the Committee annually, in February, with changes effective from 1 April of that year. Salaries 
for the year under review are disclosed in the annual report on remuneration.

In deciding salary levels, the Committee considers personal performance including how the individual has helped to 
support the strategic objectives of the Group. The Committee will also consider employment conditions and salary levels 
across the Group, prevailing market conditions, and market data for FTSE companies in similar industries and those with 
similar market capitalisation.

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Salaries are paid to existing executive directors in GBP, however the Committee reserves the right to pay future and 
existing executive directors in any other currency (converted at the prevailing market rate when a change is agreed).

Opportunity The percentage salary increases for executive directors will not exceed those of the wider workforce over the life of this 

Remuneration Policy in the normal course of business. Higher increases may be awarded (i.e. in excess of the wider 
employee population) in instances where, for example, there is a material change in the responsibility, size or complexity 
of the role, or if a new executive director was intentionally appointed on a below-market salary. The Committee will 
provide the rationale for any such higher increases in the relevant year’s annual report on remuneration.

Performance 
metrics

None explicitly, but salaries are independently benchmarked periodically against FTSE companies in similar industries 
and those with similar market capitalisation. Personal performance is also taken into account when considering salary 
increases.

Pension

Function

To provide post-retirement benefits for executive directors in a cost-efficient manner.

Operation

The pension plans operated by the Group, of which executive directors are or could be members, are:
•  Meggitt Pension Plan (defined benefit pension plan, closed to new members).
•  Meggitt Workplace Savings Plan (defined contribution personal pension scheme, open to new members).

Salary is the only element of remuneration that is pensionable. There are no unfunded pension promises or similar 
arrangements for directors.

Opportunity New directors are eligible for a pension allowance at the same level as the wider workforce. In 2021, for incumbent 
executive directors, the CEO pension allowance will be 18% of salary, and 17.5% of salary for the CFO. (The basis of 
pensionable salary being the unreduced salary is consistent with policy applied to all UK employees). These rates will be 
aligned to 15% of pensionable salary by the end of 2022. A review of UK pension provision is currently taking place, and 
so the Committee will review executive director pension allowances again once this is complete.

Performance 
metrics

None.

Benefits

Function

To provide market-competitive benefits for executive directors.

Operation

The Group may provide benefits including, but not limited to, a company car or car allowance, private medical insurance, 
permanent health insurance, life assurance, a fuel allowance, a mobile phone, relocation costs and any other future 
benefits made available either to all employees globally or all employees in the region in which the executive director is 
employed.

Opportunity Benefits vary by role and individual circumstances; eligibility and cost is reviewed periodically. Benefits in respect of the 

year under review are disclosed in the annual report on remuneration. It is not anticipated that the costs of benefits 
provided will increase significantly in the financial years over which this Remuneration Policy will apply, although the 
Committee retains discretion to approve a higher cost in exceptional circumstances (e.g. to facilitate recruitment, 
relocation, expatriation, etc.) or in circumstances where factors outside the Group’s control have changed materially (e.g. 
market increases in insurance costs).

Performance 
metrics

None.

 
 
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Annual Report & Accounts 2020

135

Annual bonus – Short Term Incentive Plan (STIP)

Function

To incentivise executive directors to deliver annual financial and strategic objectives.

Operation

Performance measures, targets and weightings are set at the start of the year.

The performance period of the STIP is a financial year. After the end of the financial year, to the extent that the 
performance criteria have been met, 75% of the STIP Award is paid in cash to the director (or at the discretion of the 
Committee, in shares). The remaining 25% of the award will be deferred into shares and released (with no further 
performance conditions attached and no matching shares provided) after a further period of two years.

Under the STIP, the Committee may decide to apply malus and/or clawback to STIP Awards and deferred STIP Awards to 
reduce the vesting of awards and/or require repayment of awards in the event of:

(a) The participant leaves employment and facts emerge which, if known earlier, would have caused the award to lapse or 

caused the Committee to exercise discretion differently;

(b) Any error in the assessment of a performance condition or vesting calculation that resulted in an overpayment;
(c) The Group being the subject of a regulatory investigation or in breach of any applicable laws, rules or codes of conduct 

or the standards reasonably expected of it;

(d) A material failure of risk management for any period which caused serious harm to the reputation of the Group and/or 

significant financial loss to the Group;

(e) A serious breach of health and safety which caused serious harm to the reputation of the Group and/or significant 

financial loss to the Group;

(f) The Committee determines that the underlying financial health of the Group has significantly deteriorated such that 

there are severe financial constraints on payment of awards; and

(g) The participant, after having left employment, is found to be in breach of any restrictive covenant, non-solicitation, 

anti-disparagement or confidentiality undertakings.

Deferred STIP Awards may lapse in certain leaver circumstances.

Opportunity The STIP provides for a maximum award opportunity of up to 150% of salary in normal circumstances, with an on-target 

opportunity of 100% of salary and an opportunity of 50% of salary at threshold performance.

The Committee has discretion to make a STIP award of up to 200% of salary in exceptional circumstances (e.g. a 
substantial contract win which has a significant positive financial impact in the long term but which has no, or negative, 
short-term financial impact).

Dividends accrue on unvested deferred STIP awards over the vesting period and are released on the vesting date.

Performance 
metrics

STIP awards are based on the achievement of financial and strategic performance targets. For executive directors, the 
STIP will be based on a combination of the financial performance of the Group and strategic performance. The relative 
weightings of the financial and strategic elements for any STIP period, and the measures used to assess financial and 
non-financial performance, will be set by the Committee in its absolute discretion to align with the Group’s operating and 
strategic priorities for that year. However, the weighting for strategic performance will not exceed one-third of the 
maximum STIP opportunity in any year.

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The award for performance under each element of the STIP will be calculated independently. The Committee has discretion 
to review the consistency of the pay-out of the financial and strategic elements and adjust the total up or down (within the 
levels specified above) if it does not consider this to be a fair reflection of the underlying performance of the Group or the 
individual.

The strategic performance element will typically be based on three to five objectives, both financial and strategic, 
relevant to the executive director’s role cascaded from the Group’s strategy.

Details of the measures, weightings and targets applicable to the STIP for each year, including a description of how they 
were chosen and whether they were met, will be disclosed retrospectively in the annual report on remuneration for the 
following year (subject to commercial sensitivity).

 
 
136

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Annual Report & Accounts 2020

Directors’ remuneration report
continued

Long Term Incentive Plan (LTIP)

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Function

To align the interests of executive directors with shareholders in growing the value of the Group over the long term.

Operation

Under the LTIP, executive directors are eligible to receive annual awards over the Company’s shares normally vesting after 
three years.

Two different types of awards can be granted:
1. 
2. 
as to overall performance and any other wider considerations. The Committee has discretion to apply additional 
conditions to some or all of an RSA.

Performance Share Awards (PSAs) which are subject to the achievement of stretching performance targets; and
Restricted Share Awards (RSAs) for which vesting levels are subject to a general assessment by the Committee 

Under the LTIP rules, the Committee may decide to apply malus and/or clawback to awards to reduce the vesting of 
awards and/or require repayment of awards in the event of:

(a) The participant leaves employment and facts emerge which, if known earlier, would have caused the award to lapse or 

caused the Committee to exercise discretion differently;

(b) Any error in the assessment of a performance condition or vesting calculation that resulted in an overpayment;
(c) The Group being the subject of a regulatory investigation or in breach of any applicable laws, rules or codes of conduct 

or the standards reasonably expected of it;

(d) A material failure of risk management for any period which caused serious harm to the reputation of the Group and/or 

significant financial loss to the Group;

(e) A serious breach of health and safety which caused serious harm to the reputation of the Group and/or significant 

financial loss to the Group;

(f) The Committee determines that the underlying financial health of the Group has significantly deteriorated such that 

there are severe financial constraints on payment of awards; and

(g) The participant, after having left employment, is found to be in breach of any restrictive covenant, non-solicitation, 

anti-disparagement or confidentiality undertakings.

PSAs and RSAs made to executive directors are subject to a holding period after the vesting period, normally a two-year 
period after a three-year vesting period but, in any case, the vesting plus holding period will always be no shorter than 
five years from grant. 

Opportunity Executive directors will normally be eligible for annual LTIP awards of 250% of salary. RSAs will be granted at a discount of 

50% of the regular PSA, i.e. a regular award of 250% value would be made up of 125% of salary PSA and 62.5% of salary 
RSA. Awards (PSA and RSA combined) up to a maximum of 300% of salary may be granted in exceptional circumstances 
(e.g. to support the recruitment of a key executive or to recognise exceptional individual performance).

25% of a PSA will vest if performance against each performance condition is at threshold and 100% if each is at maximum, 
with straight line vesting in between.

Dividends accrue on unvested awards granted under the LTIP (i.e. PSA and RSA) over the vesting period and are released, 
to the extent the award vests, on the vesting/exercise date.

Performance 
metrics

Vesting of PSAs is subject to continued employment and performance against corporate measures, which are intended to 
be as follows for awards made over the life of the Remuneration Policy but are subject to change at the discretion of the 
Committee:

•  Earnings per Share (EPS);
•  Return on Capital Employed (ROCE); and
•  Strategic goals (typically but not always to be based on strategic priorities around execution, growth and innovation), 

which will be explained in the relevant annual report on remuneration.

It is the intention that the weighting of the measures will be equal (e.g. one-third each if three measures are used) but that 
the Committee will consider, and adjust if deemed appropriate, the weighting at the start of each LTIP cycle.

PSAs made under the LTIP have a performance period of three financial years, starting from 1 January of the year in which 
the award is made and ending on 31 December of the third year. If conditions are not met at the end of the relevant 
performance period, awards will lapse.

Vesting of the strategic objectives element will also be subject to a discretionary assessment by the Committee of the 
extent to which achievement is consistent with the Group’s underlying financial performance over the three-year period.

The measures and targets in operation for the PSAs, and which are not deemed commercially sensitive, are normally 
disclosed in the annual report on remuneration for the relevant year of grant. Any commercially sensitive information on 
measures, targets and performance will be disclosed retrospectively.

Vesting of RSAs is subject to a general underpin allowing the Committee to adjust vesting if business performance, 
individual performance or wider considerations mean, in its view, that an adjustment is required. Any vesting is also 
subject to any other conditions set by the Committee at grant.

 
 
Meggitt PLC
Annual Report & Accounts 2020

137

Sharesave Scheme and Share Incentive Plan (SIP)

Function

To align the interests of employees and shareholders by encouraging all employees to own the Company’s shares.

Operation

Sharesave Scheme—All employee scheme under which all UK employees (including UK executive directors) may save up 
to a maximum monthly savings limit over a period of three or five years. Options under the Sharesave Scheme are granted 
up to a discount of up to 20% to the market value of shares at the date of grant.

SIP—All-employee scheme under which (i) all UK employees (including UK executive directors) may contribute up to a 
monthly maximum to purchase shares monthly from pre-tax pay; and (ii) all UK employees (including UK executive 
directors) may receive free shares up to an annual maximum value.

Opportunity Savings, contributions and free shares are capped at or below the legislative maximum for tax-qualifying approved share 

plans at the time UK employees are invited to participate.

Performance 
metrics

None.

Notes to the Policy table
The Committee is satisfied that the above Remuneration Policy is in the best interests of shareholders and does not promote excessive 
risk-taking. The Committee retains discretion to make minor, non-significant changes to the Policy without reverting to shareholders.

Recruitment
External appointments
In cases of hiring or appointing a new executive director from outside the Group, the Committee may make use of all existing 
components of remuneration, as follows:

Component

Approach

Base salary

The base salaries of new appointees will be determined based on the experience and skills of 
the individual, internal comparisons, employment conditions and salary levels across the Group 
and prevailing market conditions. Initial salaries may be set below market conditions and 
consideration given to phasing any increases over two or three years subject to development in 
the role.

Pension

In line with the Remuneration Policy, new appointees will be entitled to become members of 
the Meggitt Workplace Savings Plan (defined contribution plan) or receive a cash pension 
allowance at the same level as the wider workforce in lieu of salary.

Maximum annual
grant value

N/A

N/A

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Benefits/
Sharesave/SIP

New appointees will be eligible to receive benefits in line with the Remuneration Policy and any 
applicable UK all-employee share plans.

N/A

STIP

LTIP

The structure described in the Remuneration Policy table will apply to new appointees with the 
relevant maximum being pro-rated to reflect the proportion of the year worked. Targets for the 
strategic element will be tailored to the appointee.

150% of salary
(200% in exceptional 
circumstances)

New appointees will be granted awards under the LTIP on similar terms as other executive 
directors, as described in the Remuneration Policy table.

250% of salary (300%, 
combined, in 
exceptional 
circumstances)

In determining the appropriate remuneration structure and levels, the Committee will take into consideration all relevant factors to 
ensure that arrangements are in the best interests of shareholders and employees. The Committee may make an award in respect of a 
new appointment to ‘buy out’ incentive arrangements forfeited on leaving a previous employer, i.e. over and above the approach 
outlined in the table above. Any such compensatory awards will be made under the Group’s existing share plans, where appropriate, 
and will be subject to the normal rules and performance conditions of those schemes.

The Committee may also consider it appropriate to structure ‘buy-out’ awards differently to the structure described in the Remuneration 
Policy table, exercising the discretion available under UKLA Listing Rule 9.4.2 R where necessary to make a one-off award to an executive 
director in the context of recruitment. In doing so, the Committee will consider relevant factors including any performance conditions 
attached to these awards, the likelihood of those conditions being met and the proportion of the vesting period remaining. The value of 
any such ‘buy-out’ will be fully disclosed.

Internal promotion
Where a new executive director is appointed by way of internal promotion, the Remuneration Policy will be consistent with that for 
external appointees as detailed above. Any commitments made prior to an individual’s promotion will continue to be honoured even if 
they would not otherwise be consistent with the Remuneration Policy prevailing when the commitment is fulfilled although the Group 
may, where appropriate, seek to revise an individual’s existing service contract on promotion to ensure it aligns with other executive 
directors and prevailing market best practice.

Disclosure of the remuneration structure of any new executive director, including details of any exceptional payments, will be disclosed 
either in the RNS notification made at the time of appointment or in the annual report on remuneration for the year in which the 
recruitment occurred.

 
 
138

Meggitt PLC
Annual Report & Accounts 2020

Directors’ remuneration report
continued

Approach to performance measure selection and target setting
Performance measures have been selected to closely align with and reinforce our strategic priorities (see pages 20 to 21).

Targets applying to the STIP and PSAs are reviewed annually, based on a number of internal and external reference points, including the 
Group’s strategic plan, analyst forecasts for the Group and its sector comparators, historical growth achieved by the Group and its 
sector comparators, market practice and external expectations for growth in our markets.

STIP
The performance measures used in the STIP reflect financial targets for the year and non-financial performance objectives. The 
Remuneration Policy provides the Committee with flexibility to select appropriate measures on an annual basis. STIP performance 
targets are set to be stretching but achievable, with regard to the particular strategic performance objectives and the economic 
environment in a given year. For financial measures, ‘target’ is based around the annual budget approved by the Board. Prior to the start 
of the financial year, the Committee sets an appropriate performance range around target, which it considers provides an appropriate 
degree of ‘stretch’ challenge and an incentive to outperform.

STIP strategic measures are set each year under the themes of our four strategic blue chips: Strategy, Customer, Competitiveness and 
Culture. Each year every executive director is assigned measures against these themes which will drive the long-term success of the 
Group. These measures are then cascaded through the Executive Committee and beyond using a policy deployment matrix to ensure 
alignment across the entire organisation to the Group’s strategic priorities. Strategic measures are disclosed retrospectively when they 
are considered not to be commercially sensitive. 

LTIP – PSA
It is intended that the vesting of PSAs made during the life of this Remuneration Policy will be linked to EPS, ROCE and the achievement 
of long-term strategic goals, but may also include other measures to enable the PSA to reinforce appropriate financial and non-financial 
objectives aligned with our strategy. EPS is considered by the Board to be the most important measure of our financial performance. It is 
highly visible internally, is regularly monitored and reported and is strongly motivational for participants. EPS targets will continue to be 
set on a nominal cumulative (pence) basis to incentivise consistent performance and reflect the fact that our profits are generated to a 
large degree outside the UK and not significantly influenced by UK retail price inflation. ROCE helps to balance the achievement of 
growth and returns. The Committee believes ROCE is a good proxy for total shareholder return (TSR) which focuses executives on 
managing the balance sheet and the Group’s operational performance. For executive directors, the use of ROCE targets reflects the  
fact that acquisition decisions come within the collective responsibility of the Board.

The Committee believes that the strategic goals component helps reinforce the realisation of the Group’s strategy and the achievement 
of key non-financial and strategic goals over long product cycles which drive long-term value for the Group. This element will typically 
comprise a scorecard of three-year targets across a maximum of three core strategic areas for the Group. The Committee believes that 
this approach enables it to reflect the Group’s long-term nature and shifting strategic priorities in the PSA to ensure executives’ interests 
remain closely aligned with those of our shareholders over time. Specific measures and targets for each area will be developed and 
clearly defined at the start of each three-year cycle to balance leading and lagging indicators of performance. Vesting of this element is 
subject to a discretionary assessment by the Committee of the extent to which achievement of the strategic objectives is consistent with 
the Group’s underlying financial performance over the performance period.

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LTIP – RSA
The vesting of the RSAs is subject to a discretionary assessment of ‘corporate health’ by the Committee, taking into account a wide 
range of business factors including, but not limited to, free cash flow, balance sheet health, adherence to dividend policy and overall 
cash returns to shareholders, customer service, health and safety performance, ESG performance and corporate culture. The balance 
and weighting of the factors may be adjusted as priorities for the Group develop over time, and the Committee will consider 
performance in the round.

 
 
Meggitt PLC
Annual Report & Accounts 2020

139

Pay-for-performance: scenario analysis
The charts below provide an estimate of the potential future reward opportunities for the executive directors and the potential split 
between the different elements of remuneration under three different performance scenarios: ‘Minimum’, ‘On-target’ and ‘Maximum’.  
This chart also shows the effect of future share price increases on executive pay outcomes under The Companies (Miscellaneous 
Reporting) Regulations 2018. Potential reward opportunities are based on the Policy, applied to 2021 base salaries. Note that the awards 
granted under the LTIP in a year will not normally vest until the third anniversary of the date of grant and the projected value excludes 
the impact of dividend accrual.

Mr A Wood (£’000)

66% 34%

Minimum

£1,210

Mrs L Burdett (£’000)

100% 34%

Minimum

£771

38%

34%

23% 20%

43%

34%

23% 20%

On-target

£2,080

On-target

£1,322

26%

30%

45% 14%

25%

30%

45% 14%

Maximum

£3,034

Maximum

£1,926

22%

25%

55%

17%

20%

25%

55%

17%

Max+50% share
price increase

£3,656

Max+50% share
price increase

£2,320

Salary and benefits

Pension

STIP

PSA

RSA

The following assumptions have been made in compiling the above charts:

Scenario Minimum

On-target

Maximum

Maximum +50%  
share price increase

Fixed pay

Latest known base salary, 
pension and value of benefits

Latest known base salary, 
pension and value of benefits

Latest known base salary, 
pension and value of benefits

Latest known base salary, 
pension and value of benefits

STIP

No STIP payable

On-target STIP payable  
(67% of maximum)

Maximum STIP payable

Maximum STIP payable

LTIP

PSA – Threshold not achieved 
(0% vesting)

PSA – Performance warrants  
threshold vesting (25%)

PSA – Performance warrants  
full vesting (100%)

PSA and RSA warrants full 
vesting plus 50% share price 
appreciation on all awards.

RSA – it is assumed that the 
Committee did not exercise  
its discretion to adjust  
vesting levels.

RSA – it is assumed that the 
Committee did not exercise  
its discretion to adjust  
vesting levels.

RSA – it is assumed that the 
Committee did not exercise  
its discretion to adjust  
vesting levels.

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Exercise of discretion
The Committee will operate the Group’s incentive plans according to their respective rules and the Remuneration Policy set out above, and in 
accordance with the Listing Rules and HMRC rules, where relevant. The Group’s incentive plans enable the use of discretionary override and 
the directors to exercise independent judgement and discretion when authorising remuneration outcomes, taking account of Group and 
individual performance, and wider circumstances. In line with common market practice, the Committee retains discretion as to the 
operation and administration of these incentive plans, including routine administration matters such as the participating employees, timing 
of awards and the manner in which they are settled. The Committee also retains discretion over the choice of performance measures and 
targets in accordance with the Remuneration Policy set out above and the rules of each plan and the measurement of performance in the 
event of a variation of share capital, change of control, special dividend, distribution or any other corporate event which may affect the 
current or future value of an award.

The Committee also has discretion over determination of a ‘good leaver’ (in addition to any specified categories) for incentive plan 
purposes, based on the rules of each plan and the circumstances of the individual leaving and adjustments required in certain 
circumstances (e.g. rights issues, share buybacks, special dividends, other corporate events, etc.). 

Any use of the above discretion in relation to the executive directors would, where relevant, be explained in the annual report on 
remuneration for the year in which the discretion was exercised. As appropriate, it might also be the subject of consultation with the 
Group’s major shareholders.

Minor changes
The Committee may make minor amendments to the rules of the Group’s incentive plans (for regulatory, exchange control, tax or 
administrative purposes or to take account of a change in legislation) without requiring prior shareholder approval for that amendment.

 
 
140

Meggitt PLC
Annual Report & Accounts 2020

Directors’ remuneration report
continued

Service contracts and exit payment policy
Executive director service contracts, including arrangements for early termination, are carefully considered by the Committee and are 
designed to recruit, retain and motivate directors of the quality required to manage the Group.

The Committee’s policy is that executive directors’ service contracts should be terminable on no more than 12 months’ notice.

The Committee’s approach to payments in the event of termination of employment of an executive director is to take account of the 
particular circumstances, including the reasons for termination, individual performance, contractual obligations and the rules of the 
Group’s applicable incentive plans which apply to awards held by the executive directors:

•  Compensation for loss of office in service contracts 

Except as set out in the table below, under the terms of their service contracts, the executive directors may be required to work 
during their notice period or may, if the Group decides, be paid in lieu of notice if not required to work the full notice period. Payment 
in lieu of notice will be equal to base salary plus the cost to the Group of providing the contractual benefits (pensions allowance, 
health insurance and company car or car allowance) that would otherwise have been paid or provided during the notice period. 
Payments will be in equal monthly instalments and will be subject to mitigation such that payments will either reduce, or stop 
completely, if the executive director obtains alternative employment. An executive director’s employment can be terminated by the 
Group without notice or payment in lieu of notice in specific circumstances including summary dismissal, bankruptcy or resignation.

•  Treatment of STIP 

Executive directors have no automatic entitlement to any bonus on termination of employment under the STIP, but the Committee 
may use its discretion to award a bonus (normally pro-rated). Where any bonus is deferred into shares, the award will normally lapse  
if an executive director’s employment terminates unless the executive director leaves for specified reasons. The ‘good leaver’ reasons 
are death, redundancy, retirement, injury, disability, the business or company which employs the executive director ceasing to be part 
of the Group or any other circumstances in which the Committee exercises discretion to treat the executive director as a ‘good leaver’. 
If the executive director is a ‘good leaver’, their award will vest on the normal vesting date and will not be subject to pro-rating. 
Awards normally vest early on a change of control of the Company.

•  Treatment of long-term incentive plan awards 

The treatment of awards under the LTIP (both PSA and RSA) is governed by the rules of the plan which have been approved by 
shareholders and are described below. Awards will normally lapse if an executive director’s employment terminates, unless the 
executive director leaves for specified ‘good leaver’ reasons. The ‘good leaver’ reasons are the same as described above. If the 
executive director is a ‘good leaver’, awards will vest to the extent that the attached performance conditions are met, but on a time 
pro-rated basis, with Committee discretion to allow early vesting. Under the LTIP, awards vest on the normal vesting date subject to 
performance over the normal performance period, unless the Committee decides otherwise. Awards normally vest early on a change 
of control of the Company, subject to performance conditions and time pro-rating.

A summary of the key terms of the executive directors’ service contracts on termination of employment or change of control is set out 
below. 

Name

Position

Notice period
from employer

Notice period
from employee

Compensation payable on termination of employment or  
change of control

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Mr A Wood  
Service contract dated 
13 November 2017

Mrs L S Burdett 
Service contract dated 
17 September 2018

Chief Executive 
Officer

Chief Financial  
Officer

12 months

6 months

As set out in the Remuneration Policy.

12 months

6 months

As set out in the Remuneration Policy.

No change of control provisions.

No change of control provisions.

Remuneration policy for other employees
The Committee has ensured “workforce remuneration and related policies and the alignment of incentives and rewards with culture” has 
been considered when making decisions regarding executive director remuneration in 2020. 

In setting the Remuneration Policy, the Committee reviewed:

•  Our Global Compensation Policy – it noted alignment between pay for performance provisions for executive directors and the wider 

workforce, along with an alignment of historic average pay increases;

•  Our incentive plans (STIP and LTIP) – it noted alignment between the plans for the top 200 senior managers and the executive 

directors and that work is underway to align other short-term incentive plans lower down the organisation; and

•  Alignment of reward with Culture, Values and long-term success – it noted the successful implementation of our High Performance 

Culture programme (which is linked to our culture strategic priority) which is embedded in performance and talent processes across 
the Group. The success of our High Performance Culture is enhanced by the increase in employee engagement.

•  Other key metrics such as our Gender Pay Gap (full report available on our website). 

A report will be provided each year to the Committee, ensuring it is updated on remuneration of the wider workforce and ensuring 
context as it makes remuneration decisions related to the executive directors. Employee opinion has not been directly sought. 
The remuneration policy for other employees is based on broadly consistent principles as that for executive directors. Annual salary 
reviews take into account personal performance, Group performance, local pay and market conditions, and salary levels for similar roles 
in comparable companies. Some employees below executive level are eligible to participate in annual bonus schemes; opportunities 
and performance measures vary by organisational level, geographical region and an individual’s role. Senior executives are eligible for 

 
 
Meggitt PLC
Annual Report & Accounts 2020

141

LTIP (PSA and RSA) on similar terms to the executive directors (except some of the performance conditions may vary), although award 
opportunities are lower and vary by organisational level. All UK employees are eligible to participate in the Sharesave Scheme and SIP 
on identical terms.

Pay ratios and pay gaps
Conscious of the increasing focus on the context of the wider stakeholder experience, the Committee also kept front of mind other 
remuneration metrics such as the CEO Pay Ratio and Gender Pay Gap. The Gender Pay Gap reduced from 14.9% to 9.3% in 2020. Our 
progress was driven by several senior executive changes and our increased focus on diversity and inclusion. The CEO Pay Ratio reduced 
from 45x to 20x, driven by a reduced incentive outcome for the CEO. 

Non-executive directors – Remuneration Policy table
Non-executive directors stand for re-election annually, do not have a contract of service and are not eligible to join the Group’s pension 
or share schemes.

Fees

Function

Operation

To attract and retain non-executive directors of the highest calibre with broad commercial and other experience relevant 
to the Group.

Fee levels are reviewed annually, with any adjustments effective 1 April each year. The fees paid to the Chairman of the 
Board are determined by the Committee, while the fees for all other non-executive directors are reviewed by a 
committee of the Board formed of the executive directors. Fees for the year under review and for the current year are 
disclosed in the annual report on remuneration on page 120.

Additional fees are paid to the Chair of the Remuneration Committee; Chair of the Audit Committee; Chair of the 
Corporate Responsibility Committee and non-executive director responsible for employee engagement; and to the 
Senior Independent Director, to reflect the additional time commitment of these roles. Additional fees may also be paid 
to non-executive directors to cover the cost of attendance at meetings which take place outside their continent of 
residence. In addition, non-executive directors are reimbursed for reasonable business-related expenses. The Group may 
pay any tax due on these expenses on behalf of non-executive directors.

In deciding fee increases, the Committee considers external market benchmarks as well as salary increases across the 
Group and prevailing market conditions. Currently, all fees are paid in GBP, however the Committee reserves the right to 
pay future and existing non-executive directors in any other currency (converted at the prevailing market rate when a 
change is agreed).

Opportunity

Fee increases will be applied taking into account the outcome of the annual review. The maximum aggregate annual fee 
for all non-executive directors (including the Chairman) as provided in the Company’s Articles of Association is 
£1,000,000.

Performance 
metrics

None.

Non-executive director expenses
Non-executive directors are already reimbursed for reasonable business-related expenses. The Group may decide to pay any tax that is 
due on such expenses on behalf of the non-executive director.

Non-executive director recruitment
In recruiting a new non-executive director, the Committee will use the Remuneration Policy as set out in the table on page 115.

By order of the Board

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Alison Goligher
Chair of the Remuneration Committee  
3 March 2021

 
 
142

Directors’ report

Meggitt PLC
Annual Report & Accounts 2020

The directors present their report with the Group’s audited consolidated financial statements (prepared in accordance with both 
international accounting standards in conformity with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 and international financial reporting 
standards pursuant to Regulation (EC) No 1606/2002 as it applies in the European Union) and the Company’s audited financial 
statements (prepared in accordance with Financial Reporting Standard 101 Reduced Disclosure Framework (FRS 101) and the 
Companies Act 2006 ) for the year ended 31 December 2020.

Incorporation by reference
Certain laws and regulations require that specific information should be included in the Directors’ report. The table below shows the 
items which are incorporated into this Directors’ report by reference:

Information incorporated into the Directors’ report by 
reference

Important events and likely future developments in the Group’s 
business

Location and page

Strategic report (pages 4 to 89)

Post balance sheet events

Employee information 
Employee engagement
Employment of disabled persons

Engagement with stakeholders

Greenhouse gas emissions

The Corporate governance report

Note 22 (page 193) and Note 36 (page 207) to the Group’s 
consolidated financial statements

Stakeholder engagement (page 63)

Corporate responsibility report (page 79)

Stakeholder engagement (pages 63 to 65)

Corporate responsibility report (page 85)

Board of Directors and Corporate governance report (pages 90 to 
104)

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Details of long-term incentive plans

Directors’ remuneration report (pages 114 to 141)

Research and development

Policies on financial risk management, including the extent to 
which financial instruments are utilised to mitigate any significant 
risks to which the Group is exposed

Statement of the amount of interest capitalised by the Group 
during the year with an indication of the amount and treatment of 
any related tax relief

Note 7 to the Group’s consolidated financial statements (page 
179) and Chief Financial Officer’s review (page 46)

Note 3 to the Group’s consolidated financial statements (pages 
172 and 173)

Note 18 to the Group’s consolidated financial statements (page 
189)

Directors’ agreement to waive part of their salaries and fees

Directors’ remuneration report (page 115) 

Overseas branches

Note 45 to the Group’s consolidated financial statements (page 
216 and 217)

Dividends
In 2019 the Board recommended a final dividend of 11.95p per ordinary 5p share which was subsequently withdrawn in March 2020 to 
strengthen the Group’s financial position and liquidity as the COVID-19 pandemic unfolded. The Board recognises the importance of the 
dividend to its shareholders, but due to the ongoing financial impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Group, the Board has taken  
the prudent decision not to recommend a final dividend per ordinary 5p share for 2020 in order to retain cash within the Group, manage 
net debt levels and preserve flexibility. The Board announced on 8 September 2020 that an interim dividend would not be paid (2019 
interim dividend: 5.55p ) and therefore there will be no dividend paid for 2020 (total dividend 2019: 17.50p). The Board is very aware of 
the importance of dividends to our shareholders and looks forward to restoring dividend payments as soon as possible as the recovery 
in civil aerospace gains momentum.

Dividend reinvestment plan
The Company operates a Dividend Reinvestment Plan (DRIP) which enables shareholders to buy the Company’s shares on the London 
Stock Exchange with their cash dividend. Further information about the DRIP is available from Computershare, the Company’s registrars. 
During 2020, no dividends were paid. The Board currently intends to continue to make the DRIP available to shareholders in relation to 
future dividends and the date by which relevant DRIP elections must be received will be disclosed on the financial calendar page on our 
website if a dividend is declared.

Directors
The directors of the Company in office during the year and up to the date of signing the financial statements were:

Sir Nigel Rudd (Chairman), Mr A Wood, Mr G S Berruyer, Mrs L S Burdett, Mr C R Day, Mrs N L Gioia, Ms A J P Goligher, Mr G C Hachey 
and Mrs C L Silver.

All directors listed above will be submitted for re-election at the Annual General Meeting (AGM).

Details of any unexpired terms of the directors’ service contracts are in the Directors’ Remuneration Report. Membership of committees 
and biographical information is disclosed on pages 92 to 95 and in the AGM notice. Succession activities are highlighted in the 
Nominations Committee report on pages 112 and 113.

 
 
Meggitt PLC
Annual Report & Accounts 2020

143

The directors benefit from qualifying third-party indemnity 
provisions for the purposes of Section 236 of the Companies 
Act 2006 pursuant to the Articles in effect throughout the 
financial year and up to the date of this Directors’ report. The 
Company also purchased and maintained throughout the year 
Directors’ and Officers’ liability insurance. No indemnity is 
provided for the Company’s auditors.

Conflicts of interest
The Company has a procedure for the disclosure, review, 
authorisation and management of directors’ conflicts of interest 
and potential conflicts of interest, in accordance with the 
provisions of the Companies Act 2006. In deciding whether to 
authorise a conflict or potential conflicts, the directors must have 
regard to their general duties under the Companies Act 2006. 

The authorisation of any conflict matter and the terms of 
authorisation are regularly reviewed by the Board. Further 
details can be found on page 101.

Political donations
Neither the Group nor the Company made any political 
donations or incurred any political expenditure during the year 
(2019: None).

Share capital and control
As at 31 December 2020, the Company held 9,859 treasury  
shares with a nominal value of 5p each and the Company’s 
issued share capital (excluding shares held in treasury) consisted 
of 781,233,667 shares with a nominal value of 5p each. As at 
2 March 2021, the Company held 9,859 treasury shares with  
a nominal value of 5p each and the Company’s issued share 
capital (excluding shares held in treasury) consisted of 
781,272,284 shares with a nominal value of 5p each. The issued 
share capital of the Company at 31 December 2020 and details 
of shares issued during the financial year are shown in note 37  
to the Group’s consolidated financial statements.

The ordinary shares are listed on the London Stock Exchange.
The rights and obligations attaching to the Company’s ordinary 
shares are set out in the Articles. A copy of the Articles is available 
for inspection at the Company’s registered office. The holders of 
ordinary shares are entitled to receive the Company’s Annual 
Report and Accounts, to attend and speak at general meetings of 
the Company, to appoint proxies to exercise full voting rights and 
to participate in any distribution of income or capital.

There are no restrictions on transfer, or limitations on holding 
ordinary shares, and no requirements for prior approval of any 
transfers. There are no known arrangements under which 
financial rights are held by persons other than holders of the 
shares and no known agreements or restrictions on share 
transfers or on voting rights. Shares acquired through Company 
share plans rank pari passu (on an equal footing) with the shares 
in issue and have no special rights.

Meggitt operates an Employee Share Ownership Plan Trust (the 
“Trust”) that was formed to acquire shares to satisfy the vesting 
and exercise of awards under the Group’s share based incentive 
arrangements. The trustees do not exercise any voting rights on 
shares held by the Trust and a dividend waiver operates in 
respect of these shares. Once shares are transferred from the 
Trust to participants the participants are entitled to receive 
dividends and exercise voting rights attached to the shares.

Rules about the appointment and replacement of directors are 
contained in the Articles which provide that a director may be 
appointed by ordinary resolution of the shareholders or by the 
existing directors, either to fill a vacancy or as an additional 
director. Changes to the Articles must be submitted to the 
shareholders for approval by way of special resolution. The 
directors may exercise all the powers of the Company subject  
to the provisions of relevant legislation, the Articles and any 
directions given by the Company in general meeting.

At the 2020 AGM, the Company was granted authority by 
shareholders to purchase up to 77,756,798 ordinary shares, being 
10% of the Company’s issued share capital, in accordance with the 
Articles. No shares were bought back under this authority during 
the year ended 31 December 2020. Shares purchased under this 
authority would have been cancelled or held as treasury shares to 
be sold at a later date or used to satisfy awards under the 
Company’s share plans as the Board saw fit.

The directors were also granted authority by shareholders to  
allot securities in the Company up to a maximum nominal amount 
of £25,918,932, of this amount £12,959,466 can only be allotted 
pursuant to a rights issue. The directors were also authorised to 
allot securities, without the application of pre-emption rights, up 
to a nominal amount of £1,943,919 and a further £1,943,919 in 
connection with an acquisition or other capital investment of a 
kind contemplated by the Statement of Principles on Disapplying 
Pre-Emption Rights. No such transaction is contemplated at 
present.

These authorities apply until the conclusion of the 2021 AGM or,  
if earlier, 30 June 2021. The Company will seek shareholder 
approval to renew these authorities at the 2021 AGM. Detailed 
explanatory notes are set out in the AGM notice.

The Group has significant financing agreements which include 
change of control provisions which, should there be a change of 
ownership of the Company, could result in renegotiation, 
withdrawal or early repayment of these financing agreements. 
These are a USD125m note purchase agreement dated June 2010, 
a USD750m syndicated revolving credit agreement dated 
September 2014, a USD600m note purchase agreement dated 
May 2016, two term loan facility agreements in the amounts of 
GBP45m and USD125m dated December 2019, a USD575m 
syndicated revolving credit agreement dated May 2020,  
a GBP100m term loan facility agreement dated June 2020  
and a USD300m note purchase agreement dated November 2020.

There are a number of other long-term commercial agreements 
that may alter or terminate upon a change of control of the 
Company following a successful takeover bid. These arrangements 
are commercially sensitive and their disclosure could be seriously 
prejudicial to the Company.

Agreements with the Company’s directors or employees providing 
compensation in the event of a takeover bid:

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Director

Mr A Wood

Mrs L S Burdett

Contractual entitlement

None except that provisions in 
the Company’s share plans may 
cause options and/or awards 
granted to employees under 
such plans to vest on a takeover.

None except that provisions in 
the Company’s share plans may 
cause options and/or awards 
granted to employees under 
such plans to vest on a takeover.

Non-executive directors

None.

All other employees

There are no agreements that 
would provide compensation for 
loss of employment resulting 
from a takeover except that 
provisions in the Company’s 
share plans may cause options 
and/ or awards granted to 
employees under such plans to 
vest on a takeover.

 
 
 
144

Directors’ report
continued

Meggitt PLC
Annual Report & Accounts 2020

Substantial shareholdings 
At 31 December 2020, the Company had been notified under  
the Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rules (DTR) of the 
following substantial interests in the issued ordinary shares of the 
Company requiring disclosure:

•  make judgements and accounting estimates that are reasonable 

and prudent; and

•  prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis 
unless it is inappropriate to presume that the Group and 
Company will continue in business.

Direct 
voting 
rights

Indirect 
voting 
rights

(m)*

(m)*

Other 
financial 
instruments 
with voting 
rights (m)*

Total 
voting 
rights
(m)*

Percentage
of total 
voting 
rights**

–

–

133.3

–

133.3

17.06%

43.2

0.4

43.6

5.60%

22.2

3.8

23.7

–

–

38.8

–

–

–

–

26.0

3.96%

23.7

3.01%

38.8

23.7

5.00%

3.03%

The  
Capital Group 
Companies, Inc.

FMR LLC (FIL 
Limited)

Standard Life 
Investments Ltd

Legal & General 
Group plc

T. Rowe Price
Associates, Inc

Norges Bank

23.7

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*  One voting right per ordinary share.
**  Percentage of the Company’s issued share capital when the Company was 

notified of the change in holding.

These holdings are published on a regulatory information service 
and on the Company’s website. As at 2 March 2021 no further 
changes had been notified to the company.

Statement of directors’ responsibilities in respect of  
the financial statements
The directors are responsible for preparing the Annual Report and 
the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and 
regulation.

Company law requires the directors to prepare financial 
statements for each financial year. Under that law the directors 
have prepared the Group financial statements in accordance with 
international accounting standards in conformity with the 
requirements of the Companies Act 2006. Additionally, the 
Financial Conduct Authority’s Disclosure Guidance and 
Transparency Rules require the directors to prepare the Group 
financial statements in accordance with international financial 
reporting standards adopted pursuant to Regulation (EC) No 
1606/2002 as it applies in the European Union. The directors have 
prepared the Company financial statements in accordance with 
United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice (United 
Kingdom Accounting Standards, comprising FRS 101 “Reduced 
Disclosure Framework”, and applicable law).

Under company law, directors must not approve the financial 
statements unless they are satisfied that they give a true and fair 
view of the state of affairs of the Group and Company and of the 
profit or loss of the Group for that period. In preparing the 
financial statements, the directors are required to:
•  select suitable accounting policies and then apply them 

consistently;

•   state whether international accounting standards in conformity 

with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 and 
international financial reporting standards adopted pursuant to 
Regulation (EC) No 1606/2002 as it applies in the European 
Union have been followed for the Group financial statements 
and United Kingdom Accounting Standards, comprising FRS 
101 have been followed for the Company financial statements, 
subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in 
the financial statements;

The directors are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of 
the Group and Company and hence for taking reasonable steps 
for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.

The directors are responsible for keeping adequate accounting 
records that are sufficient to show and explain the Group’s and 
Company’s transactions and disclose with reasonable accuracy  
at any time the financial position of the Group and Company and 
enable them to ensure that the financial statements and the 
Directors’ Remuneration Report comply with the Companies  
Act 2006.

The Board are responsible for the maintenance and integrity of the 
Company’s website. Legislation in the United Kingdom governing 
the preparation and dissemination of financial statements may 
differ from legislation in other jurisdictions.

Directors’ confirmations
The Board consider that the annual report and accounts, taken  
as a whole, is fair, balanced and understandable and provides  
the information necessary for shareholders to assess the Group 
and Company’s position and performance, business model  
and strategy.

Each of the directors, whose names and functions are listed in the 
Board of Directors confirm that, to the best of their knowledge:
•  the Group financial statements, which have been prepared in 

accordance with international accounting standards in 
conformity with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 
and international financial reporting standards adopted 
pursuant to Regulation (EC) No 1606/2002 as it applies in 
the European Union, give a true and fair view of the assets, 
liabilities, financial position and loss of the Group;

•   the Company financial statements, which have been prepared  
in accordance with United Kingdom Accounting Standards, 
comprising FRS 101, give a true and fair view of the assets, 
liabilities, financial position and profit of the Company; and
•   the Strategic report and this Directors’ Report includes a fair 
review of the development and performance of the business 
and the position of the Group and Company, together with a 
description of the principal risks and uncertainties that it faces.

In the case of each director in office at the date the Directors’ 
Report is approved:
•  so far as the director is aware, there is no relevant audit 

information of which the Group’s and Company’s auditors are 
unaware; and

•  they have taken all the steps that they ought to have taken as a 

director in order to make themselves aware of any relevant audit 
information and to establish that the Group’s and Company’s 
auditors are aware of that information.

Fair, balanced and understandable
The Board of directors as at the date of this report consider that 
the Annual Report, taken as a whole, is fair, balanced and 
understandable and provides the information necessary for 
shareholders to assess the Group’s position, performance, 
business model and strategy. The Board has made this assessment 
on the basis of a review of the accounts process, a discussion on 
the content of the Annual Report assessing its fairness, balance 
and understandability, together with the confirmation from 
executive management that the Annual Report is fair, balanced 
and understandable.

 
 
Meggitt PLC
Annual Report & Accounts 2020

145

Going concern
The directors have formed a judgement, at the time of approving 
the financial statements, that there is a reasonable expectation 
that the Group and the Company have adequate resources to 
continue in operational existence for a period of at least 12 
months from the date of this report. For this reason, the directors 
continue to adopt the going concern basis in preparing the Group 
and Company financial statements. Details on how the directors 
reached this judgement are set out in note 1 to the Group’s 
consolidated financial statements on pages 162 to 164. 

By order of the Board

M L Thomas 
Company Secretary 
3 March 2021

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146

Meggitt PLC
Annual Report & Accounts 2020

Independent auditors’ report to the members of Meggitt PLC

Other than those disclosed in note 6 to the financial statements,  
we have provided no non-audit services to the Group in the 
period under audit.

Our audit approach
Overview

Audit scope
•  We identified 12 reporting units which, in our view, required  
a full scope audit based on their size or risk. In addition, we 
determined that specified audit procedures were required at a 
further 2 reporting units to address specific risk characteristics 
and provide sufficient overall Group coverage of particular 
revenue streams, cost of sales and/or working capital balances.

•  We used component teams in 4 countries to perform a 

combination of full scope audits and specified procedures at  
14 reporting units.

•  The Group team performed procedures over several different 

financial statement line items, including complex areas prepared 
by the head office finance function, to provide sufficient overall 
Group coverage.

•  The consolidation and financial statement disclosures were 

audited by the Group team.

•  Reporting units where we performed audit procedures 

accounted for 73% of Group loss before tax; 62% of Group 
underlying profit before tax; and 78% of Group total assets.  
Our audit scope provided sufficient appropriate audit evidence 
as a basis for our opinion on the Group financial statements  
as a whole.

Key audit matters
•  COVID-19 (Group and Company)

•  Going concern (Group and Company)

•  Goodwill impairment assessment (Group)

•  Company’s investments in subsidiary undertakings impairment 

assessment (Company) 

•  Development costs impairment assessments (Group)

•  Environmental provisions (Group)

•  Retirement benefit obligation liabilities (Group and Company)

•  Provisions for uncertain tax positions (Group)

Materiality
•  Overall Group materiality: £15.2m (2019: £17.0m) based on a  

5 year average of 5% of underlying profit before tax.

•  Overall Company materiality: £35.0m (2019: £34.0m) based on  

1% of total assets.

•  Performance materiality: £11.4m (Group) and £26.25m 

(Company).

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Report on the audit of the financial statements
Opinion
In our opinion:
•  Meggitt PLC’s Group financial statements and Company 

financial statements (the “financial statements”) give a true and 
fair view of the state of the Group’s and of the Company’s affairs 
as at 31 December 2020 and of the Group’s loss and the Group’s 
cash flows for the year then ended;

•  the Group financial statements have been properly prepared in 

accordance with international accounting standards in 
conformity with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006;
•  the Company financial statements have been properly prepared 

in accordance with United Kingdom Generally Accepted 
Accounting Practice (United Kingdom Accounting Standards, 
comprising FRS 101 “Reduced Disclosure Framework”, and 
applicable law); and

•  the financial statements have been prepared in accordance with 

the requirements of the Companies Act 2006.

We have audited the financial statements, included within the 
Annual Report & Accounts 2020 (the “Annual Report”), which 
comprise: the Consolidated and Company balance sheets as  
at 31 December 2020; the Consolidated income statement,  
the Consolidated statement of comprehensive income, the 
Consolidated cash flow statement, and the Consolidated and 
Company statements of changes in equity for the year then 
ended; and the notes to the financial statements, which include  
a description of the significant accounting policies.

Our opinion is consistent with our reporting to the Audit 
Committee.

Separate opinion in relation to international financial 
reporting standards adopted pursuant to Regulation (EC) 
No 1606/2002 as it applies in the European Union
As explained in note 1 to the Group financial statements, the 
Group, in addition to applying international accounting standards  
in conformity with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006,  
has also applied international financial reporting standards 
adopted pursuant to Regulation (EC) No 1606/2002 as it applies  
in the European Union.

In our opinion, the Group financial statements have been properly 
prepared in accordance with international financial reporting 
standards adopted pursuant to Regulation (EC) No 1606/2002 as it 
applies in the European Union.

Basis for opinion
We conducted our audit in accordance with International 
Standards on Auditing (UK) (“ISAs (UK)”) and applicable law.  
Our responsibilities under ISAs (UK) are further described in the 
Auditors’ responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements 
section of our report. We believe that the audit evidence we have 
obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for  
our opinion.

Independence
We remained independent of the Group in accordance with the 
ethical requirements that are relevant to our audit of the financial 
statements in the UK, which includes the FRC’s Ethical Standard, 
as applicable to listed public interest entities, and we have fulfilled 
our other ethical responsibilities in accordance with these 
requirements.

To the best of our knowledge and belief, we declare that non-
audit services prohibited by the FRC’s Ethical Standard were not 
provided to the Group.

 
 
 
Meggitt PLC
Annual Report & Accounts 2020

147

There are inherent limitations in the audit procedures described 
above. We are less likely to become aware of instances of 
non-compliance with laws and regulations that are not closely 
related to events and transactions reflected in the financial 
statements. Also, the risk of not detecting a material misstatement 
due to fraud is higher than the risk of not detecting one resulting 
from error, as fraud may involve deliberate concealment by, for 
example, forgery or intentional misrepresentations, or through 
collusion.

Key audit matters
Key audit matters are those matters that, in the auditors’ 
professional judgement, were of most significance in the audit of 
the financial statements of the current period and include the 
most significant assessed risks of material misstatement (whether 
or not due to fraud) identified by the auditors, including those 
which had the greatest effect on: the overall audit strategy; the 
allocation of resources in the audit; and directing the efforts of the 
engagement team. These matters, and any comments we make on 
the results of our procedures thereon, were addressed in the 
context of our audit of the financial statements as a whole, and in 
forming our opinion thereon, and we do not provide a separate 
opinion on these matters.

This is not a complete list of all risks identified by our audit.

COVID-19, going concern and Company’s investments in 
subsidiary undertakings impairment assessment are new key audit 
matters this year. Otherwise, the key audit matters below are 
consistent with last year.

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The scope of our audit
As part of designing our audit, we determined materiality and 
assessed the risks of material misstatement in the financial 
statements.

Capability of the audit in detecting irregularities,  
including fraud
Irregularities, including fraud, are instances of non-compliance  
with laws and regulations. We design procedures in line with our 
responsibilities, outlined in the Auditors’ responsibilities for the 
audit of the financial statements section, to detect material 
misstatements in respect of irregularities, including fraud. The 
extent to which our procedures are capable of detecting 
irregularities, including fraud, is detailed below.

Based on our understanding of the Group and industry, we 
identified that the principal risks of non-compliance with laws and 
regulations related to breaches of trade compliance, bribery and 
corruption, US Government contracting, US environmental 
regulations, aviation regulation including the Federal Aviation 
Agency and Civil Aviation Authority, data protection, competition/
antitrust laws and international tax legislation, and we considered 
the extent to which non-compliance might have a material effect 
on the financial statements. We also considered those laws and 
regulations that have a direct impact on the preparation of the 
financial statements such as the Companies Act 2006. We 
evaluated management’s incentives and opportunities for 
fraudulent manipulation of the financial statements (including the 
risk of override of controls), and determined that the principal risks 
were related to posting inappropriate journal entries, omitting, 
advancing or delaying recognition of events and transactions that 
have occurred during the reporting period and management bias 
in accounting estimates or judgements to manipulate results. The 
Group engagement team shared this risk assessment with the 
component auditors so that they could include appropriate audit 
procedures in response to such risks in their work. Audit 
procedures performed by the Group engagement team and/or 
component auditors included:

•  Held discussions with Meggitt PLC’s Group management,  
Head of Internal Audit, legal and tax advisors, including 
consideration of known or suspected instances of non-
compliance with laws and regulation and fraud.

•  Evaluated management’s controls designed to prevent and 

detect irregularities.

•  Reviewed meeting minutes of the Board, Audit, Nominations, 

Remuneration, Corporate Responsibility and Finance 
Committees.

•  Assessed matters reported on the Group’s Speak Up Line and  

the results of management’s investigation of such matters.

•  Challenged assumptions and judgements made by 

management in their significant accounting estimates and 
judgements, particularly in relation to the key audit matters 
below.

•  Identified and tested journal entries based on our risk 

assessment and evaluating whether there was evidence of 
management bias that represents a risk of material 
misstatement due to fraud.

•  Incorporated elements of unpredictability into the audit 

procedures performed.

 
 
 
148

Meggitt PLC
Annual Report & Accounts 2020

Independent auditors’ report to the members of Meggitt PLC  
continued

Key audit matter

How our audit addressed the key audit matter

COVID-19 (Group and Company)
The COVID-19 pandemic, and measures taken by governments 
in order to contain COVID-19 has had a significant impact on 
the commercial aerospace industry in particular, affecting many 
areas of the Group’s business including its employees, supply 
chain, customer base and shareholders. The impact on the 
Group’s and Company’s financial statements is wide ranging 
and so our audit devoted significant time to assessing whether 
all impacts had been properly considered by the directors and 
in obtaining evidence to inform our view as to the 
reasonableness of the significant judgements that the directors 
had made.

The main considerations in respect of the impact of COVID-19 
on the Group’s and Company’s financial statements are as 
follows: 
•  Going concern – see specific key audit relevant matter 

below;

•  Asset impairment assessments – The areas materially 

impacted by estimation uncertainty are: 

 – Goodwill impairment assessment – see specific key 

audit matter below;

 – Development costs impairment assessments – see 

specific key audit matter below; and

 – Company’s investment in subsidiary undertakings 

impairment assessment – see specific key audit matter 
below.

•  COVID-19 incremental non-recurring costs – The Group has 
excluded income and expenditure determined to be directly 
attributable to the pandemic, and which is not expected to 
recur in future periods, from its underlying profits, 
amounting to £22.0m; and

•  Management’s way of working, including the operation of 

controls, has been impacted as a result of a large number of 
staff working remotely. This has resulted in an increase in risk 
due to the remote accessing of IT systems and a potentially 
heightened cyber risk.

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For our audit response to the impact of COVID-19 on the 
following areas, see the specific key audit matters: 
•  Going concern; 
•  Goodwill impairment assessment;
•  Development costs impairment assessments; and
•  Company’s investment in subsidiary undertakings impairment 

assessment.

In respect of the other areas of consideration, we have 
performed the following audit procedures: 
•  COVID-19 incremental non-recurring costs

 – We tested a sample of these costs in order to confirm 

that they were non-recurring and directly attributable to 
the pandemic. The costs primarily related to severance 
costs and were consistent with the headcount reduction 
announced by the Group in April 2020 in response to 
COVID-19; and

 – We considered whether the exclusion of these items from 
the Group’s underlying results was consistent with the 
Group’s accounting policy for exceptional items, 
considering the nature and value of those items. We did 
not identify any material discrepancies through these 
procedures and were therefore satisfied that the 
presentation of these costs was acceptable and 
explained the results for the current year.

We have assessed the appropriateness of management’s 
disclosures in the financial statements in respect of the impact of 
COVID-19 and the increased uncertainty on certain accounting 
estimates and consider these to be appropriate.

We have also performed the following additional procedures: 
•  Considered the impacts of the pandemic, and specifically the 

increased level of remote working, on the Group’s internal control 
environment, including fraud risk, business process control 
activities, IT general controls and cyber risk. We performed all of 
our standard walkthrough procedures via video conference. 
Based on the inquiries performed and the results of our audit 
procedures, we did not identify any evidence of a significant 
deterioration of the control environment;

•  Ensured that we adequately directed, supervised and reviewed 

the audit work undertaken by our significant and material 
component audit teams in a remote working environment, we 
increased the frequency and extent of our oversight, using video 
conferencing and remote working paper reviews. We were 
satisfied that the audit work performed by these audit teams was 
sufficient, appropriate and in accordance with our issued 
instructions; and 

•  Considered all potential impacts of the pandemic on the Group’s 
financial statements, based on our understanding of the Group’s 
operations, to ascertain whether all items had been properly 
considered by the directors. We found no instances where such 
matters had not been considered appropriately.

 
 
 
Meggitt PLC
Annual Report & Accounts 2020

149

Key audit matter

How our audit addressed the key audit matter

Going concern (Group and Company)
The directors have formed a judgement, at the time of 
approving the consolidated and Company financial statements, 
that there is a reasonable expectation that the Group and 
Company (hereinafter, the ‘Group’) have adequate resources to 
continue in operational existence for a period of at least 12 
months from the date of approval. For this reason, the directors 
continue to adopt the going concern basis in preparing these 
financial statements.

In making an assessment as to whether the going concern 
principle should be adopted, the directors have considered the 
period to 31 March 2022 (the ‘assessment period’). The 
directors have concluded that there are no material 
uncertainties around the Group’s ability to continue as a going 
concern.

In forming this assessment the directors considered its liquidity 
requirements and compliance with its loan covenants based 
upon its plans, as approved by the Board in October 2020 and 
updated through to the date of these financial statements. 
Further the directors modelled a severe but plausible downside 
scenario and concluded that, even in this scenario, the Group 
retained sufficient liquidity and complied with all relevant 
covenants.

The current trading environment created by the COVID-19 
pandemic has resulted in unprecedented levels of uncertainty 
in respect of future results and cash flows. Consequently, our 
audit devoted a significant amount of resource to assessing the 
directors’ projections, under both scenarios modelled, and 
obtaining sufficient appropriate evidence to inform our view as  
to the reasonableness of the assumptions that the directors  
had made.

In both scenarios, the Group maintains sufficient liquidity to be 
able to meet its obligations as they fall due in the assessment 
period. It also demonstrates sufficient headroom against each 
of the covenant ratios, throughout the assessment period.

Refer also to the Audit Committee report and note 1 to the 
consolidated financial statements (page 107 and pages  
162 to 164).

For our audit response and conclusions in respect of going 
concern, see the ‘Conclusions relating to going concern’ section 
below.

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150

Meggitt PLC
Annual Report & Accounts 2020

Independent auditors’ report to the members of Meggitt PLC  
continued

Key audit matter

How our audit addressed the key audit matter

Goodwill impairment assessment (Group)
The Group holds significant amounts of goodwill (£1,519.5m) on 
the balance sheet.

As noted in the COVID-19 key audit matter, the impact of the 
pandemic on the Group has been significant and the 
announcement of the first lockdown in March 2020 was 
determined to be a trigger for a goodwill impairment 
assessment to be performed at the end of that month. 

An impairment charge of £335.7m has been recorded against 
goodwill in the current year.

The impairment assessment includes the following estimates:
•  The forecast cash flows in the five-year plan;
•  The probability weighting factors applied to each of the 

potential scenarios used to derive an expected value for the 
cash flow projections; 

•  The growth rate applied to extrapolate forecasts beyond the 

plan; and

•  The discount rate applied to future cash flows.

The challenging economic conditions caused by COVID-19 
means the future performance of the business could vary 
significantly, resulting in a materially different impairment than 
that recognised. Our audit focused on the accuracy of the 
impairment charge recorded, whilst also considering the risk 
that the carrying value of goodwill could be overstated post 
the impairment being recorded.

The Group has also assessed whether, on 31 December 2020, 
there are indicators that an additional impairment charge 
would be required and concluded that such indicators do not 
exist.

These matters are complex and involve a high degree of 
estimation uncertainty and judgement. Accordingly our audit 
devoted significant resources to assessing the validity of the 
models used by the directors and obtaining evidence to inform 
our view on the reasonableness of the assumptions that the 
directors had made.

Refer also to note 4 and 17 to the consolidated financial 
statements (page 174 and pages 185 to 188).

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Management determined that the impairment assessment would 
be performed at the operating segment level, with the exception 
of the CGUs within Energy & Equipment (‘E&E’), which operate 
independently of one another. No changes were made to the 
level at which impairment testing was performed compared to 
2019. We consider management’s assessment to be appropriate 
and we have not identified any indication of management bias.

We have performed the following procedures over the value in 
use model which supports the impairment assessment:
•  Evaluated management’s future cash flow forecasts by 
obtaining the scenarios modelled by management and:

 –

Tested the mathematical accuracy and integrity of the 
models;

 – Agreed the 2020 forecast used in the base scenario 
five-year plan to the latest board approved budget;

 –

 – Assessed the reliability of cash flow forecasts by 
comparing actual past performance to previous 
forecasts;
Identified the key assumptions applied in the base case 
scenario, which we determined to be revenue growth 
and margins, particularly in civil aerospace, taking 
account of the impact of COVID-19 and the pace of 
anticipated recovery to return to 2019 levels: 
 –

Revenue – We compared management’s assumptions 
to external industry benchmarks, including forecasts 
for civil OE fleet sizes, civil aerospace passenger 
traffic measured using RPKs, territory defence spend 
budgets and territory inflation projection; and

 – Margin – We compared this assumption to historical 

margins and consideration of specific margin 
recovery actions to supporting evidence. 
 – Assessed, for the alternative scenarios, whether these 

were reasonable and appropriate scenarios, particularly in 
light of the risk of further waves of COVID-19 infection 
globally, impacting consumers’ ability and confidence to 
resume travelling, with an effective vaccine not widely 
available during the period. The downside case included 
reasonable assumptions to adjust the extent and pace of 
the anticipated recovery in civil aerospace revenue and a 
reasonable assumption to slow the level of gross margin 
improvement over the five-year plan. The impacts of the 
economic uncertainty arising from COVID-19 on the 
Group’s other markets were also sufficiently considered; 
and

 – Assessed whether the weighting applied to each 

scenario was reasonable.

    We did not identify any material exceptions in these tests.
•  Compared the long-term growth rate used for each territory 

to long term inflation projections for the countries in which the 
CGUs operate. We did not identify any differences;

•   Tested the discount rates used in management’s impairment 

assessment by comparing key inputs, where relevant, to 
externally derived data or data for comparable listed 
organisations. Our specialists reviewed the discount rates and 
management’s estimates were within our expected range;

•   Performed sensitivity analyses to ascertain the extent of which 

changes in key assumptions would impact the amount of 
impairment recognised; and

•   Considered whether any additional impairment triggers 

existed at year end that would require an updated impairment 
assessment and concluded that there were none.

Based on the procedures described above, we consider the 
impairment charge recognised to be materially accurate. We 
have assessed the related disclosures in the consolidated 
financial statements, including significant estimates and the 
sensitivities provided and consider them to be appropriate.

 
 
 
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Key audit matter

How our audit addressed the key audit matter

Company’s investments in subsidiary undertakings 
impairment assessment (Company) 
The Company holds a significant investment in its subsidiary 
undertakings (£2,078.8m) on the balance sheet. This asset is 
subject to impairment testing at least annually, or when a 
triggering event or change in circumstances indicates the 
carrying value may not be recoverable.

For the reasons set out in the goodwill impairment assessment 
key audit matter above, we determined there to be a 
heightened risk in respect of the impairment assessment of this 
balance. Management used the same value in use model to 
perform an impairment assessment of this balance. 

No impairment charge has been recorded against the 
Company’s investment in subsidiary undertakings in the current 
year.

Our audit focused on the risk that the carrying value of 
investment in subsidiaries could be overstated.

Refer also to note 6 to the Company financial statements  
(page 224).

Development costs impairment assessments (Group)
The Group holds significant amounts of development costs 
(£531.9m) on the balance sheet. These intangible assets are 
subject to impairment testing at the individual asset 
(“programme”) level, at least annually. Where headroom is 
limited, when comparing its value in use to its carrying value, or 
if events or changes in circumstances indicate the carrying 
value may not be recoverable, an impairment test is performed 
more frequently. 

An impairment charge of £25.6m has been recorded against 
development costs in the current year. 

This matter involves a high degree of estimation and 
judgement which necessitated us devoting significant time to 
this area. 

Our audit focused on the accuracy of the impairment charge 
recorded, whilst also considering the risk that the carrying 
value of development costs could be overstated post the 
impairment being recorded, particularly in light of the 
COVID-19 outbreak, which has resulted in OE customers 
significantly reducing production levels, together with 
uncertainty over the extent and pace of recovery in the civil 
aerospace industry. 

We focused our audit procedures on those programmes 
against which management hold an impairment provision, 
those with limited headroom and those with a significant 
carrying value. The key estimates and assumptions assessed 
were: 
•  The estimated aircraft or engine volumes (‘fleet forecasts’) 
and the period over which future cash flows are forecast 
(‘fleet lives’); 

•  The sales price per part where a purchase price has not yet 

been agreed;

•  The cost per part where the programme is still in 

development; and 

•  The discount rate applied to future cash flows. 

Refer also to note 18 to the consolidated financial statements 
(page 189).

We have performed the following procedures to test the 
impairment assessment:
•  We evaluated management’s assessment whether any 

indicators of impairment existed by comparing: 

 –

 –

The carrying value of investments in subsidiary 
undertakings to the market capitalisation of the Group  
at 31 December 2020 and post year-end; and
The net asset value of the investment entity to the 
investment value recognised by the Company.

•  To determine the recoverable value, management prepared a 
valuation based on the discounted future cash flows (‘value in 
use’) of the Group. We have tested the reasonableness of key 
assumptions, including cash flow growth rates, long term 
growth rates and the discount rate management has applied. 
Our audit procedures performed on the value in use model 
which supports the impairment assessment are described in 
the ‘Goodwill impairment assessment’ key audit matter above. 

We have concluded that the carrying value of the Company’s 
investments in subsidiaries is supported by the net assets and/or 
value in use of those subsidiaries. 

We have performed the following procedures over the value in 
use models which support management’s impairment 
assessment: 
•  Tested the mathematical integrity of the model;
•  Tested the discount rates used in management’s impairment 

assessment by comparing key inputs, where relevant, to 
externally derived data or data for comparable listed 
organisations. Our specialists reviewed the discount rates and 
management’s estimates were within our expected range; and
•  Agreed fleet forecast data used in calculating the programme 
forecast cash flow up to 2034 to external market forecasts for 
all heightened risk programmes (defined below) and on a 
sample basis over the remaining programme population.  
We corroborated any significant deviations applied by 
management to supporting evidence. We assessed fleet 
forecasts used beyond the period covered by the external 
market forecasts, considering average aircraft lives and trend 
analysis and considered them to be supported by the 
evidence we obtained. 

We identified those programmes which we considered to be of 
heightened risk based on their value or potential for the carrying 
amount not being recovered. For these models we performed 
the following additional audit procedures:
•  Agreed the sales price per part to customer contract or 

alternative supporting evidence;

•  Agreed cost per part to inventory historic cost per unit, 

including bill of materials, or alternative supporting evidence; 
and

•  Performed a sensitivity analysis over the discount rates and 

fleet forecasts.

We did not identify any material exceptions in these tests. 

Based on the procedures described above, we consider the 
impairment charge recognised to be materially accurate. We 
have assessed the related disclosures in the consolidated 
financial statements. Given the level of exposure on at-risk 
programmes and the provision recorded by management, we 
concur with management’s conclusion that there are no 
significant accounting estimates to disclose in relation to 
development costs.

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Key audit matter

How our audit addressed the key audit matter

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Environmental provisions (Group)
The Group has liabilities of £72.7m relating to environmental 
matters.

The environmental matters primarily relate to known exposures 
arising from environmental investigation and remediation of 
certain sites in the US for which the Group has been identified  
as a potentially responsible party under US law. The liabilities  
are based on subjective estimates of the level and timing of 
remediation costs, including the period of operating and 
monitoring activities required. Our audit procedures focused 
on the risk that the provisions in relation to these matters could 
be understated.

The Group has separately recognised insurance and other 
receivables of £18.8m. We focused on the required asset 
recognition criteria being met and recoverability of these 
receivables.

Refer also to note 34 of the consolidated financial statements 
(page 204).

Retirement benefit obligation liabilities (Group  
and Company) 
The Group has retirement benefit obligations with gross 
liabilities of £1,463.9m, of which £961.1m is recognised by the 
Company. The liabilities are significant in the context of the 
overall Group and Company balance sheets.

The valuation of retirement benefit obligations requires 
significant levels of estimation and technical expertise, 
including the use of actuarial experts to support management 
in selecting appropriate assumptions. Small changes in a 
number of the key financial and demographic assumptions 
used to value the Group’s retirement benefit obligation could 
have a material impact on the calculation of the liability. These 
include:
•  Discount rates;
•  Inflation rates;
•  Salary increases; and
•  Mortality.

Our audit procedures focused on the risk that the assumptions 
used result in an understatement of the retirement benefit 
obligation.

Refer also to note 36 of the consolidated financial statements 
(pages 207 to 211) and note 12 of the Company financial 
statements (page 227).

Our work on the valuation of environmental liabilities comprised 
the following:
•  Confirmed that the Group’s external environmental 

consultants and legal advisors have sufficient expertise, are 
qualified and affiliated with the appropriate industry bodies in 
the respective local territory, and are independent of the 
Group;

•  Obtained the cost estimates and reports prepared by the 

Group’s external environmental consultants and legal advisors 
for the most significant sites. We assessed the consistency of 
the cost estimates year on year and the level of costs incurred 
compared to the prior year estimates to assess the historical 
accuracy of the estimates and understand significant changes 
to the scope of remediation plans. We confirmed that the 
changes in scope have been appropriately reflected in the 
provision;

•  Reconciled the cost estimates and reports to the provision 
recorded and gained an understanding of all significant 
adjustments applied, such as differences in the period over 
which operating and monitoring activities are conducted and 
the application of additional provisions for incremental costs. 
We assessed the reasonableness of these, including reviewing 
historical data where appropriate and consider the provision 
to be supported by reasonable assumptions; and

•  We obtained evidence of the settlements and claims which 

resulted in the recognition of receivables and found that the 
evidence obtained supported asset recognition. 

We evaluated and concluded that the liabilities, related assets 
and potential exposures, were appropriately disclosed in the 
consolidated financial statements.

We evaluated the assumptions made in relation to the valuation of 
the liabilities, with input from our actuarial experts. In particular we:
•  Confirmed that the Group’s external experts are qualified and 

affiliated with the appropriate industry bodies in the 
respective local territory and are independent of the Group. In 
addition, we have held discussions with managements external 
expert for the UK, US and Swiss pension schemes to further 
understand the key assumptions;

•  Tested the completeness and accuracy of participant 

employee data used by the actuary in the liability calculation 
to underlying records;

•  Tested the discount and inflation rate assumptions used by 
comparing them to our internally developed benchmarks, 
which are based on externally derived data, and to 
comparable organisations. We observed the assumptions to 
be within our expected range;

•  Compared assumed mortality rates to national and industry 

averages. From the evidence obtained we found the 
assumptions to be within our expected range and 
methodology used to be appropriate;

•  Assessed the assumption for salary increases against the 

Group’s historical trend and expected future outlook. The 
assumption used was supported by the evidence we obtained; 
and

•  Considered the appropriateness of the methodology used to 

update estimates from the latest actuarial valuation and 
assessed changes in assumptions in aggregate from the prior 
year to assess the consistency of approach overall. From the 
evidence obtained we found the assumptions and 
methodology used to be appropriate.

We evaluated and concluded that the liabilities and potential 
exposures were appropriately disclosed in the consolidated and 
Company financial statements.

 
 
 
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Key audit matter

How our audit addressed the key audit matter

Provisions for uncertain tax positions (Group)
The Group has a provision for uncertain tax positions of £49.1m.

Judgements and estimates have to be made by management 
on the tax treatment of a number of transactions in advance of 
the ultimate tax determination being certain.

This is due to the complexity of the Group’s legal structure 
(including multiple legal entities), the number of tax 
jurisdictions in which the Group operates, the complexity of 
international tax legislation and the changing tax environment. 
In addition, uncertainty arises from intergroup transactions 
relating to goods, services and internal financing.

Where the amount of tax payable or recoverable is uncertain, 
the Group establishes provisions based on managements’ 
judgement of the probable amount of the liability or expected 
amounts recoverable.

Our audit procedures focused on the risk that the conclusion of 
the ultimate tax determination by tax authorities is at an 
amount materially different to the amount recorded.

Refer also to note 29 of the consolidated financial statements 
(page 196).

In conjunction with our internal UK and international tax 
specialists we: 
•  Evaluated the process by which management, in conjunction 

with their advisors, calculated each tax exposure and assessed 
the appropriateness of assumptions made. From the evidence 
obtained we found the assumptions and methodology used to 
be appropriate;

•  Considered any tax opinions or other tax advice the Group 

had received from its tax advisors in relation to the exposures 
identified to determine whether management’s treatment is 
consistent with the advice obtained. We also considered the 
evidence of changing tax practices, recent tax audits and 
external tax cases which may have an impact on existing tax 
exposures. Based on the work performed we found that these 
factors had been appropriately considered in determining 
management’s provision;

•  Assessed and formed our own views on the key judgements 

with respect to open and uncertain tax positions and 
concluded that the judgements made by management were 
materially consistent with our own views in respect of the tax 
exposures.

We evaluated and concluded that the liabilities and potential 
exposures were appropriately disclosed in the consolidated 
financial statements.

How we tailored the audit scope
We tailored the scope of our audit to ensure that we performed enough work to be able to give an opinion on the financial statements 
as a whole, taking into account the structure of the Group and the Company, the accounting processes and controls, and the industry in 
which they operate.

The Group’s accounting process is structured around a local finance function in each of the Group’s reporting units. These functions 
maintain their own accounting records and controls (although transactional processing and certain controls for some reporting units are 
performed at the Group’s shared service centres) and report to the head office finance team through an integrated consolidation 
system.

In establishing the overall Group audit strategy and plan, we determined the type of work that needed to be performed at the reporting 
units by the Group engagement team and by component auditors from other PwC network firms. Where the work was performed by 
component auditors, we determined the level of involvement we needed to have in the audit work at those reporting units to be able to 
conclude whether sufficient appropriate audit evidence had been obtained as a basis for our opinion on the Group financial statements 
as a whole.

For each reporting unit we determined whether we required an audit of their complete financial information (‘full scope’) or whether 
specified audit procedures addressing a specific risk characteristic or financial statement line item would be sufficient. Those where  
a full scope audit was required included 6 reporting units considered to be individually financially significant (Airframe Systems based  
in Akron (US), Fareham (UK) and Coventry (UK), Defense Systems based in Irvine (US), Airframe Systems and Services & Support  
based in Ventura County (US) and Airframe Systems, Engine Systems, Energy & Equipment and Services & Support based in Fribourg 
(Switzerland)). We performed a full scope audit at a further 6 reporting units selected by their size or risk and reviewed certain working 
papers for those contributing material amounts to Group underlying profit before tax. We determined that specified audit procedures 
were required at a further 2 reporting units to address specific risk characteristics or to provide sufficient overall Group coverage of 
revenue streams, cost of sales and/or working capital balances.

In addition to the work performed at the in-scope reporting units, there is a substantial amount of work performed at head office by  
the Group audit engagement team. The Group team performs audit procedures over the Company’s financial position and results and 
several financial statement line items, including complex areas prepared by the head office finance function, to provide sufficient overall 
Group coverage. These include goodwill, development costs, other intangible assets, investments, derivative financial instruments and 
related hedge accounting, cash and cash equivalents, bank and other borrowings and related finance costs, certain IFRS 16 leases, 
environmental provisions and related receivables, certain onerous contracts and other provisions, retirement benefit obligations, certain 
current tax charges, deferred tax, share-based payments and amounts arising on the acquisition, disposal and closure of businesses. 
The Group team also performs procedures over the consolidation and financial statement disclosures.

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Meggitt PLC
Annual Report & Accounts 2020

Independent auditors’ report to the members of Meggitt PLC  
continued

These audit procedures covered 73% of Group loss before tax; 62% of Group underlying profit before tax; and 78% of Group total 
assets (“key coverage metrics”). As a result of its structure and size, the Group also has a large number of small reporting units that, in 
aggregate, make up a material portion of the key coverage metrics. The Group engagement team perform analytical review procedures 
over a significant proportion of these with the remaining population of reporting units contributing insignificant underlying profit before 
tax individually and in aggregate. These procedures include an analysis of year on year movements, at a level of disaggregation to 
enable a focus on higher risk balances and unusual movements. This gave us the evidence we needed for our opinion on the financial 
statements as a whole.

Materiality
The scope of our audit was influenced by our application of materiality. We set certain quantitative thresholds for materiality. These, 
together with qualitative considerations, helped us to determine the scope of our audit and the nature, timing and extent of our audit 
procedures on the individual financial statement line items and disclosures and in evaluating the effect of misstatements, both 
individually and in aggregate on the financial statements as a whole.

Based on our professional judgement, we determined materiality for the financial statements as a whole as follows:

Financial statements – Group

Financial statements – Company

Overall materiality

£15.2m (2019: £17.0m).

£35.0m (2019: £34.0m).

How we determined it

A 5 year average of 5% of underlying profit 
before tax.

1% of total assets.

Rationale for benchmark applied

We believe that total assets is the primary 
measure used by the shareholders in 
assessing the performance and position  
of the entity and reflects the Company’s 
principal activity as a holding Company.

Based on the benchmarks used in the Annual 
Report, underlying profit before tax is the 
primary measure used by the shareholders  
in assessing the performance of the Group. 
Further, we consider it appropriate to 
eliminate volatility and to preserve the link 
between materiality and the performance  
of the underlying business. As a result of 
significant volatility in 2020 performance, 
primarily due to COVID-19, we have used a  
5 year average benchmark compared to a 
single year benchmark in 2019.

For each component in the scope of our Group audit, we allocated 
a materiality that is less than our overall Group materiality. The 
range of materiality allocated across components was between 
£1.3m and £13.68m. Certain components were audited to a local 
statutory audit materiality that was also less than our overall Group 
materiality.

We use performance materiality to reduce to an appropriately low 
level the probability that the aggregate of uncorrected and 
undetected misstatements exceeds overall materiality. Specifically, 
we use performance materiality in determining the scope of our 
audit and the nature and extent of our testing of account balances, 
classes of transactions and disclosures, for example in determining 
sample sizes. Our performance materiality was 75% of overall 
materiality, amounting to £11.4m for the Group financial 
statements and £26.25m for the Company financial statements.

In determining the performance materiality, we considered a 
number of factors – the history of misstatements, risk assessment 
and aggregation risk and the effectiveness of controls – and 
concluded that an amount at the upper end of our normal range 
was appropriate.

We agreed with the Audit Committee that we would report to 
them misstatements identified during our audit above £0.8m 
(Group audit) (2019: £0.85m) and £1.75m (Company audit) (2019: 
£1.7m) as well as misstatements below those amounts that, in our 
view, warranted reporting for qualitative reasons.

Conclusions relating to going concern
Our evaluation of the directors’ assessment of the Group’s and the 
Company’s ability to continue to adopt the going concern basis of 
accounting included:

•  Testing the mathematical integrity of the cash flow forecasts 
and the models and reconciled these to Board approved 
budgets;

•  Identifying the key assumptions applied, which we determined 

to be revenue growth and margins, particularly in civil 
aerospace, taking account of the impact of COVID-19 and the 
pace of anticipated recovery. We evaluated these key 
assumptions by: 

 –

Revenue – We compared these assumptions to external 
industry benchmarks, including forecasts for civil OE fleet 
sizes, civil aerospace passenger traffic measured using 
RPKs, territory defence spend budgets and territory 
inflation projections;

 – Margin – We compared this assumption to historical 

margins and considered the feasibility of specific margin 
recovery actions to supporting evidence; 

 – Downside scenario – In light of the risk of delays in the 

global vaccine roll-out programme and the emergence of 
new COVID-19 variants adversely impacting consumers’ 
ability and confidence to resume travelling as quickly as 
anticipated in the base case, as well as constrained growth 
in defence spending due to a weaker economic 
environment, we assessed the plausible severity of the 
downside assumptions to stress test the model. The 
downside scenario was considered to be sufficiently 
severe, but plausible, based on the audit evidence 
obtained; and

 – Mitigating actions – We assessed the reasonableness of 

management’s planned or potential mitigating actions 
based on historical execution and feasibility. 

 
 
 
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155

•  Reviewing the debt agreements to confirm the terms and 

conditions, including covenants. The covenants were consistent 
with those used in management’s going concern assessment;
•  Agreeing all borrowings as at 31 December 2020 to third-party 
confirmations and considered the Group’s available financing 
and maturity profile. This supported the directors’ conclusion 
that sufficient liquidity headroom remained throughout the 
assessment period;

•  Testing the mathematical accuracy of the covenant calculations, 

including confirming that the adjustments recorded to 
determine underlying EBITDA agreed to the terms of the 
covenant. We concluded that covenant compliance remained 
throughout the assessment period; and

•  Assessing management’s reverse stress test and the extent to 

which such a scenario is plausible, specifically to understand the 
change in forecast net debt or underlying EBITDA required to 
breach the financial covenant ratio in June 2021, being the 
covenant with the least headroom. We concurred with the 
directors’ conclusion that such a scenario, based on the current 
evidence, is not considered to be plausible.

Based on the work we have performed, we have not identified any 
material uncertainties relating to events or conditions that, 
individually or collectively, may cast significant doubt on the 
Group’s and the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern 
for a period of at least twelve months from when the financial 
statements are authorised for issue.

In auditing the financial statements, we have concluded that the 
directors’ use of the going concern basis of accounting in the 
preparation of the financial statements is appropriate.

However, because not all future events or conditions can be 
predicted, this conclusion is not a guarantee as to the Group’s and 
the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern.

In relation to the Company’s reporting on how they have applied 
the UK Corporate Governance Code, we have nothing material to 
add or draw attention to in relation to the directors’ statement in 
the financial statements about whether the directors considered it 
appropriate to adopt the going concern basis of accounting.

Our responsibilities and the responsibilities of the directors with 
respect to going concern are described in the relevant sections of 
this report.

Reporting on other information
The other information comprises all of the information in the 
Annual Report other than the financial statements and our 
auditors’ report thereon. The directors are responsible for the 
other information. Our opinion on the financial statements does 
not cover the other information and, accordingly, we do not 
express an audit opinion or, except to the extent otherwise 
explicitly stated in this report, any form of assurance thereon.

In connection with our audit of the financial statements, our 
responsibility is to read the other information and, in doing so, 
consider whether the other information is materially inconsistent 
with the financial statements or our knowledge obtained in the 
audit, or otherwise appears to be materially misstated. If we identify 
an apparent material inconsistency or material misstatement, we are 
required to perform procedures to conclude whether there is a 
material misstatement of the financial statements or a material 
misstatement of the other information. If, based on the work we 
have performed, we conclude that there is a material misstatement 
of this other information, we are required to report that fact. We 
have nothing to report based on these responsibilities.

With respect to the Strategic report and Directors’ report,  
we also considered whether the disclosures required by the UK 
Companies Act 2006 have been included.

Based on our work undertaken in the course of the audit, the 
Companies Act 2006 requires us also to report certain opinions 
and matters as described below.

Strategic report and Directors’ report
In our opinion, based on the work undertaken in the course of the 
audit, the information given in the Strategic report and Directors’ 
report for the year ended 31 December 2020 is consistent with the 
financial statements and has been prepared in accordance with 
applicable legal requirements.

In light of the knowledge and understanding of the Group and 
Company and their environment obtained in the course of the 
audit, we did not identify any material misstatements in the 
Strategic report and Directors’ report.

Directors’ Remuneration
In our opinion, the part of the Directors’ remuneration report to 
be audited has been properly prepared in accordance with the 
Companies Act 2006.

Corporate governance statement
The Listing Rules require us to review the directors’ statements in 
relation to going concern, longer-term viability and that part of  
the corporate governance statement relating to the Company’s 
compliance with the provisions of the UK Corporate Governance 
Code specified for our review. Our additional responsibilities  
with respect to the corporate governance statement as other 
information are described in the Reporting on other information 
section of this report.

Based on the work undertaken as part of our audit, we have 
concluded that each of the following elements of the corporate 
governance statement, included within the Corporate governance 
report is materially consistent with the financial statements and 
our knowledge obtained during the audit, and we have nothing 
material to add or draw attention to in relation to:
•  The directors’ confirmation that they have carried out a robust 

assessment of the emerging and principal risks;

•  The disclosures in the Annual Report & Accounts 2020 that 

describe those principal risks, what procedures are in place to 
identify emerging risks and an explanation of how these are 
being managed or mitigated;

•  The directors’ statement in the financial statements about 
whether they considered it appropriate to adopt the going 
concern basis of accounting in preparing them, and their 
identification of any material uncertainties to the Group’s and 
Company’s ability to continue to do so over a period of at least 
twelve months from the date of approval of the financial 
statements;

•  The directors’ explanation as to their assessment of the Group’s 
and Company’s prospects, the period this assessment covers 
and why the period is appropriate; and

•  The directors’ statement as to whether they have a reasonable 

expectation that the Company will be able to continue in 
operation and meet its liabilities as they fall due over the period 
of its assessment, including any related disclosures drawing 
attention to any necessary qualifications or assumptions.

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Our review of the directors’ statement regarding the longer-term 
viability of the Group was substantially less in scope than an audit 
and only consisted of making inquiries and considering the 
directors’ process supporting their statement; checking that the 
statement is in alignment with the relevant provisions of the UK 
Corporate Governance Code; and considering whether the 
statement is consistent with the financial statements and our 
knowledge and understanding of the Group and Company and 
their environment obtained in the course of the audit.

In addition, based on the work undertaken as part of our audit,  
we have concluded that each of the following elements of the 
corporate governance statement is materially consistent with the 
financial statements and our knowledge obtained during the 
audit:
•  The directors’ statement that they consider the Annual Report, 
taken as a whole, is fair, balanced and understandable, and 
provides the information necessary for the members to assess 
the Group’s and Company’s position, performance, business 
model and strategy;

•  The section of the Annual Report that describes the review of 

effectiveness of risk management and internal control systems; 
and

•  The section of the Annual Report describing the work of the 

Audit Committee.

We have nothing to report in respect of our responsibility to 
report when the directors’ statement relating to the Company’s 
compliance with the Code does not properly disclose a departure 
from a relevant provision of the Code specified under the Listing 
Rules for review by the auditors.

Responsibilities for the financial statements  
and the audit
Responsibilities of the directors for the financial 
statements
As explained more fully in the Statement of directors’ 
responsibilities in respect of the financial statements, the directors 
are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements  
in accordance with the applicable framework and for being 
satisfied that they give a true and fair view. The directors are  
also responsible for such internal control as they determine is 
necessary to enable the preparation of financial statements that 
are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error.

In preparing the financial statements, the directors are responsible 
for assessing the Group’s and the Company’s ability to continue  
as a going concern, disclosing, as applicable, matters related to 
going concern and using the going concern basis of accounting 
unless the directors either intend to liquidate the Group or the 
Company or to cease operations, or have no realistic alternative 
but to do so.

Auditors’ responsibilities for the audit of the financial 
statements
Our objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance about whether 
the financial statements as a whole are free from material 
misstatement, whether due to fraud or error, and to issue an 
auditors’ report that includes our opinion. Reasonable assurance  
is a high level of assurance, but is not a guarantee that an audit 
conducted in accordance with ISAs (UK) will always detect a 
material misstatement when it exists. Misstatements can arise 
from fraud or error and are considered material if, individually or  
in the aggregate, they could reasonably be expected to influence 
the economic decisions of users taken on the basis of these 
financial statements.

Our audit testing might include testing complete populations of 
certain transactions and balances, possibly using data auditing 
techniques. However, it typically involves selecting a limited 
number of items for testing, rather than testing complete 
populations. We will often seek to target particular items for 
testing based on their size or risk characteristics. In other cases, 
we will use audit sampling to enable us to draw a conclusion  
about the population from which the sample is selected.

A further description of our responsibilities for the audit of  
the financial statements is located on the FRC’s website at:  
www.frc.org.uk/auditorsresponsibilities. This description forms 
part of our auditors’ report.

Use of this report
This report, including the opinions, has been prepared for and 
only for the Company’s members as a body in accordance with 
Chapter 3 of Part 16 of the Companies Act 2006 and for no other 
purpose. We do not, in giving these opinions, accept or assume 
responsibility for any other purpose or to any other person to 
whom this report is shown or into whose hands it may come save 
where expressly agreed by our prior consent in writing.

Other required reporting
Companies Act 2006 exception reporting
Under the Companies Act 2006 we are required to report to you 
if, in our opinion:
•  we have not obtained all the information and explanations we 

require for our audit; or

•  adequate accounting records have not been kept by the 

Company, or returns adequate for our audit have not been 
received from branches not visited by us; or

•  certain disclosures of directors’ remuneration specified by law 

are not made; or

•  the Company financial statements and the part of the Directors’ 
remuneration report to be audited are not in agreement with 
the accounting records and returns.

We have no exceptions to report arising from this responsibility.

Appointment
Following the recommendation of the Audit Committee, we were 
appointed by the directors on 2 October 2003 to audit the 
financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2003 and 
subsequent financial periods. The period of total uninterrupted 
engagement is 18 years, covering the years ended 31 December 
2003 to 31 December 2020.

John Ellis (Senior Statutory Auditor)
for and on behalf of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
Chartered Accountants and Statutory Auditors
Reading
3 March 2021

 
 
 
Meggitt PLC
Annual Report & Accounts 2020

157

Consolidated income statement
For the year ended 31 December 2020

Revenue

  Non-GAAP measures
  Exceptional impairment losses and other asset write-downs
  Other cost of sales

Cost of sales

Gross profit

  Non-GAAP measures
  Exceptional impairment losses and other asset write-downs
  Other operating costs

Operating costs
Operating income

Net operating costs

Operating (loss)/profit1

Finance income
Finance costs

Net finance costs

(Loss)/profit before tax2

Tax credit/(charge)

(Loss)/profit for the year attributable to equity owners of the Company

(Loss)/earnings per share:
Basic3
Diluted4

Non-GAAP measures
1   Underlying operating profit
2   Underlying profit before tax
3   Underlying basic earnings per share
4   Underlying diluted earnings per share

Notes

2020
£’m

2019
£’m

5

1,684.1

2,276.2

10

(8.6)
(1,192.0)

–
(1,458.0)

 7

(1,200.6)

(1,458.0)

483.5

818.2

10

7
7

(365.6)
(452.7)

(818.3)
37.5

–
(541.9)

(541.9)
49.0

(780.8)

(492.9)

5,7

(297.3)

325.3

11
12

0.5
(37.2)

(36.7)

2.2
(40.8)

(38.6)

(334.0)

286.7

13

19.8

(64.1)

(314.2)

222.6

14
14

9
9
14
14

(40.4)p
(40.4)p

28.8p
28.3p

190.5
159.5
16.5p
16.2p

402.8
370.3
37.3p
36.7p

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158

Meggitt PLC
Annual Report & Accounts 2020

Consolidated statement of comprehensive income
For the year ended 31 December 2020

(Loss)/profit for the year attributable to equity owners of the Company

Items that may be reclassified to the income statement in subsequent periods:
Currency translation movements
Movements in fair value of financial liabilities arising from changes in credit risk
Tax effect

Items that will not be reclassified to the income statement in subsequent periods:
Remeasurement of retirement benefit obligations
Tax effect

Notes

2020
£’m

2019
£’m

(314.2)

222.6

32
13 

36
13

(79.9)
1.8
1.6

(76.5)

(42.6)
10.8

(31.8)

(68.7)
–
0.3

(68.4)

(89.2)
11.9

(77.3)

Other comprehensive expense for the year

(108.3)

(145.7)

Total comprehensive (expense)/income for the year attributable to equity owners of the Company 

(422.5)

76.9

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Meggitt PLC
Annual Report & Accounts 2020

159

Consolidated balance sheet
At 31 December 2020

Non-current assets
Goodwill
Development costs
Programme participation costs
Other intangible assets
Property, plant and equipment
Investments 
Other receivables
Contract assets
Derivative financial instruments
Deferred tax assets

Current assets
Inventories
Trade and other receivables
Contract assets
Derivative financial instruments
Current tax recoverable
Cash and cash equivalents
Assets classified as held for sale

Total assets

Current liabilities
Trade and other payables
Contract liabilities
Derivative financial instruments
Current tax liabilities
Lease liabilities
Bank and other borrowings
Provisions
Liabilities directly associated with assets classified as held for sale

Net current assets

Non-current liabilities
Other payables
Contract liabilities
Derivative financial instruments
Deferred tax liabilities
Lease liabilities
Bank and other borrowings
Provisions
Retirement benefit obligations

Total liabilities

Net assets

Equity
Share capital
Share premium
Other reserves
Hedging and translation reserves
Retained earnings

Total equity attributable to owners of the Company

The financial statements on pages 157 to 217 were approved by the Board of Directors on 3 March 2021 and signed on its behalf by: 

A Wood  
Director 

L Burdett
Director

Notes

2020
£’m

2019
£’m

17
18
18
19
20
21
24
25
33
35

23
24
25
33

26
22

1,519.5
531.9
18.7
401.1
458.8
20.8
16.5
59.6
15.0
19.2

1,966.6
575.9
18.0
503.6
449.4
14.1
17.0
55.2
14.6
23.3

3,061.1

3,637.7

426.9
251.1
48.8
5.4
11.5
178.6
14.7

937.0

489.8
379.9
66.3
3.8
11.1
155.3
–

1,106.2

5

3,998.1

4,743.9

27
28
33
29
30 
31
34
22

27
28
33
35
30
31
34
36

37

(296.5)
(50.8)
(21.6)
(56.9)
(14.7)
(10.5)
(32.6)
(3.7)

(464.5)
(50.5)
(16.5)
(81.6)
(16.4)
(219.4)
(36.2)
–

(487.3)

(885.1)

449.7

221.1

(8.5)
(73.9)
(0.3)
(93.4)
(129.6)
(796.8)
(80.3)
(295.4)

(2.1)
(77.0)
(4.6)
(155.3)
(136.2)
(694.5)
(64.4)
(267.9)

(1,478.2)

(1,402.0)

(1,965.5)

(2,287.1)

2,032.6

2,456.8

39.0
1,226.6
15.7
348.9
402.4

38.8
1,226.5
15.7
425.4
750.4

2,032.6

2,456.8

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160

Meggitt PLC
Annual Report & Accounts 2020

Consolidated statement of changes in equity
For the year ended 31 December 2020

Equity attributable to owners of the Company

At 1 January 2019

Profit for the year

Other comprehensive expense for the year:
Currency translation movements: 
  Arising in the year
Remeasurement of retirement benefit obligations

Other comprehensive expense before tax
Tax

Other comprehensive expense for the year 

Total comprehensive (expense)/income for the year

Employee share schemes:
  Value of services provided

Issue of equity share capital

Dividends

At 31 December 2019

Loss for the year

Other comprehensive expense for the year:
Currency translation movements: 
  Arising in the year
  Currency translation gain transferred from equity
Movements in fair value of financial liabilities arising 

from changes in credit risk

Remeasurement of retirement benefit obligations

Other comprehensive expense before tax
Tax

Other comprehensive expense for the year 

Total comprehensive expense for the year

Employee share schemes:
  Value of services provided

Issue of equity share capital

At 31 December 2020

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Share 
capital  

Share 
premium 

Other 
reserves* 

Notes

£’m

38.8

£’m

1,223.9

£’m

15.7

Hedging and 
translation
reserves**
£’m

Retained 
earnings 

Total 
equity  

£’m

£’m

493.8

720.2 

2,492.4

–

222.6

222.6

(68.7)
–

(68.7)
0.3

(68.4)

–
(89.2)

(89.2)
11.9

(77.3)

(68.7)
(89.2)

(157.9)
12.2

(145.7)

(68.4)

145.3

76.9

–
–
–

17.9
(2.6)
(130.4)

17.9
–
(130.4)

–

–
–

–
–

–

–

–
–
–

–

–
–

–
–

–

–

–
2.6
–

–

–
–

–
–

–

–

–
–
–

38.8

1,226.5

15.7

425.4

750.4

2,456.8

–

–
–

–
–

–
–

–

–

–

–
–

–
–

–
–

–

–

–
0.2

–
0.1

–

–
–

–
–

–
–

–

–

–
–

–

(314.2)

(314.2)

(35.9)
(44.0)

1.8
–

(78.1)
1.6

(76.5)

–
–

–
(42.6)

(42.6)
10.8

(35.9)
(44.0)

1.8
(42.6)

(120.7)
12.4

(31.8)

(108.3)

(76.5)

(346.0)

(422.5)

–
–

(1.7)
(0.3)

(1.7)
–

39.0

1,226.6

15.7

348.9

402.4

2,032.6

36

13 

15

44

36

13 

*  

 Other reserves relate to capital reserves of £14.1m (2019: £14.1m) arising on the acquisition of businesses in 1985 and 1986 where merger accounting was applied 
and a capital redemption reserve of £1.6m (2019: £1.6m) created as a result of the share buyback programme in 2014 and 2015.

**   Hedging and translation reserves comprise a credit balance on the hedging reserve of £2.9m (2019: £1.1m) and a credit balance on the translation reserve of  
£346.0m (2019: £424.3m). Amounts recycled from the translation reserve to the income statement, in respect of the disposal of foreign subsidiaries, are 
recognised in net operating costs.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Meggitt PLC
Annual Report & Accounts 2020

161

Consolidated cash flow statement
For the year ended 31 December 2020

Non-GAAP measures
Cash inflow from operations before business disposal expenses and exceptional operating items
Cash outflow from business disposal expenses
Cash outflow from exceptional operating items

Cash inflow from operations
Interest received
Interest paid 
Tax paid

Cash inflow from operating activities

Investment acquired
Businesses disposed
Capitalised development costs
Capitalised programme participation costs
Purchase of intangible assets
Purchase of property, plant and equipment
Government grants received in respect of purchase of property, plant and equipment
Proceeds from disposal of property, plant and equipment

Cash outflow from investing activities

Dividends paid to Company’s shareholders
Issue of equity share capital
Proceeds from bank and other borrowings
Repayments of bank and other borrowings
Debt issue costs paid
Reverse lease premium received
Repayments of lease liabilities

Cash outflow from financing activities

Net increase/(decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents at start of the year
Exchange losses on cash and cash equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents at end of the year

Notes

2020
£’m

2019
£’m

282.9
(5.2)
(49.3)

228.4
0.1
(32.2)
(42.1)

154.2

(7.6)
117.0
(41.4)
(1.6)
(11.0)
(80.8)
2.1
1.3

(22.0)

–
0.3
618.6
(705.8)
(2.4)
3.5
(15.4)

451.1
(9.4)
(27.3)

414.4
1.8
(34.9)
(14.4)

366.9

–
78.3
(54.7)
(2.0)
(17.2)
(77.2)
–
23.1

(49.7)

(130.4)
–
0.4
(213.0)
–
18.9
(16.2)

(101.2)

(340.3)

31.0
155.3
(7.7)

178.6

(23.1)
181.9
(3.5)

155.3

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162

Meggitt PLC
Annual Report & Accounts 2020

Notes to the consolidated financial statements

1. General information and basis of preparation
Meggitt PLC is a public limited company listed on the London Stock Exchange, domiciled and incorporated in the United Kingdom with 
the registered number 432989. Its registered office is Pilot Way, Ansty Business Park, Coventry, England, CV7 9JU.

Meggitt PLC is the parent company of a Group whose principal activities during the year were the design and manufacture of high 
performance components and sub-systems for aerospace, defence and other specialist markets, including energy, medical, industrial and test.

The consolidated financial statements of the Group have been prepared in accordance with both international accounting standards in 
conformity with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 and international financial reporting standards adopted pursuant to 
Regulation (EC) No 1606/2002 as it applies in the European Union. The consolidated financial statements have been prepared on a 
going concern basis and under the historical cost convention, as modified by the revaluation of certain financial assets and financial 
liabilities (including derivative financial instruments) at fair value.

Going concern
The directors have formed a judgement, at the time of approving the financial statements, that there is a reasonable expectation that 
the Group and the Company have adequate resources to continue in operational existence for a period of at least 12 months from the 
date of approval of this Annual Report. For this reason, the directors continue to adopt the going concern basis in preparing the Group’s 
consolidated financial statements and the Company’s financial statements. In making a judgement as to whether the going concern 
principle should be adopted, the directors have considered the period starting with the date these financial statements were approved 
by the Board and ending on 31 March 2022.

Actions taken to preserve cash and liquidity
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Group implemented a number of actions to reduce costs, preserve cash and resize the 
business. These actions are described on page 15 of the Strategic report. Additionally, to preserve liquidity, during 2020 the Group:

•  arranged a forward start on its revolving USD 750m revolving credit facility, due to mature in September 2021, by the signing of a new 

one-year USD 575m revolving credit facility maturing in September 2022; and

•  issued USD 300m loan notes to private placement investors which mature in 2023 and 2025.

Current liquidity
At 31 December 2020, the Group had the following committed credit facilities with its relationship banks and private placement 
investors: 

During assessment period

Later

Total

Maturity date

H1 2021 
£’m

H2 2021 
£’m

Q1 2022 
£’m

Subtotal 
£’m

USD 750m multi currency syndicated revolving credit facility*
USD loan notes issued to private placement investors in 2010
USD bilateral facility
Sterling bilateral facilities
USD loan notes issued to private placement investors in 2016
USD loan notes issued to private placement investors in 2020

Total committed credit facilities (see note 31)

–
–
–
–
–
–

–

128.2
–
–
–
–
–

128.2

–
–
–
–
–
–

–

128.2
–
–
–
–
–

£’m

421.2
91.6
91.5
145.0
439.5
219.8

£’m

549.4
91.6
91.5
145.0
439.5
219.8

128.2

1,408.6

1,536.8

*  Comprises USD 175m maturing in September 2021, with the balance of USD 575m covered by the additional forward start facility that matures in September 2022.

Additionally, the Group has been confirmed as an eligible issuer under the Bank of England’s and HM Treasury’s Covid Corporate 
Financing Facility (‘CCFF’), under which the Group can draw up to £600m. The Group is eligible to issue commercial paper under this 
facility (subject to certain terms and restrictions) up to and including 22 March 2021, with a maturity period of up to 12 months. The 
Group has no commercial paper issued under this facility at 31 December 2020 or at the date these consolidated financial statements 
were approved by the Board. 

At 31 December 2020, the Group had the following headroom against its committed credit facilities:

Committed credit facilities

Bank and other borrowings (see note 31)
Less: cash (see note 26)

Net borrowings excluding lease liabilities

Headroom

Total
£’m

1,536.8

807.3
(178.6)

628.7

908.1

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Meggitt PLC
Annual Report & Accounts 2020

163

1. General information and basis of preparation continued
Going concern continued
Covenants 
The committed credit facilities set out above contain two financial ratio covenants – net debt/EBITDA and interest cover. The covenant 
calculations are drafted to protect the Group from potential volatility caused by accounting standard changes, sudden movements in 
exchange rates and exceptional items. This is achieved by measuring EBITDA on a frozen GAAP basis, excluding exceptional operating 
items and retranslating net debt and EBITDA at similar average exchange rates. Covenant ratios are required to be measured on a 
trailing 12 month basis twice a year (at 30 June and 31 December), with net debt/EBITDA not to exceed 3.5x and interest cover to be not 
less than 3.0x. At 31 December 2020, net debt/EBITDA was 2.2x and interest cover was 9.8x. The covenant with the least headroom 
during the assessment period is net debt/EBITDA at 30 June 2021, which will reflect a full trailing 12 months performance post 
COVID-19, before an anticipated recovery in H2 2021. No covenant waivers have been sought by the Group.

Base case scenario
The impact on the commercial aerospace segment following the outbreak of COVID-19 is substantial and unprecedented, affecting 
many areas of the Group’s business including its employees, supply chain, customer base and shareholders. To model the expected 
impact on the Group, a base case model was developed in Q2 2020, which has been regularly updated subsequently to reflect the 
Group’s current view of the most likely impact on its revenues and how this impacts profit and cash flows over the next five years. The 
current model was prepared for, and reviewed by, the Board in October 2020. In assessing whether the going concern principle remains 
appropriate, the Group has used the outputs from this model covering the period to 31 March 2022. Where appropriate, the outputs 
have been adjusted to reflect market dynamics between October 2020 and the date of approval of the Annual Report – these 
adjustments were also reviewed by the Board. Over the period covered by the going concern assessment, the key assumptions within 
the base case scenario are:

•  For civil AM, ASKs in 2021 are assumed to be approximately 60% of 2019 levels, with recovery weighted towards H2 2021 as the 

vaccine roll-out enables the easing of lock down restrictions and consumer demand for flights progressively increases. The 
progressive recovery is assumed to continue into Q1 2022. The Group’s civil AM revenue reflects these market factors, its exposure to 
specific platforms/customers and an assumed spares/MRO mix similar to prior periods. 

•  For civil OE, aircraft production rates increase modestly in 2021, reflecting emerging build rates from the Group’s customer base and 
the extent to which 2021 aircraft deliveries will be met from existing inventory held by OEMs, particularly on the 737 MAX. Aircraft 
production rates increase further in 2022, but remain significantly below 2019 levels.

•  US defence spending in 2021 remains broadly flat, consistent with the US DOD budget approved in January 2021. No significant 

changes in levels of US defence spending in 2022 are assumed. 

•  A modest improvement in the Group’s overall gross margin percentage in H1 2021, driven by the full period impact of the cost saving 
initiatives actioned in 2020, price increases and savings from the Group’s footprint initiatives. The Group’s gross margin percentage 
increases progressively over the remainder of the assessment period driven principally by the assumed increase in civil aftermarket 
volumes, as ASKs start to recover, with a similar civil AM mix assumed to prior periods.

•  At a free cash flow level, capital expenditure in 2021 remains at similar levels to 2020, before reducing modestly in 2022 following 

completion of the Antsy Park facility; UK pension deficit payments continue to be made in accordance with the existing 2018 recovery 
plan agreed with UK trustees, including certain 2020 deferred payments; and tax payments reflect the payment in H1 2021, 
notwithstanding the ongoing appeals, of the liability recognised in respect of the Controlled Foreign Company regime (see note 29). 

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Under the base case scenario, the Group has sufficient existing committed credit facilities to meet its obligations as they fall due and 
does not breach either of the financial covenant ratios.

Downside scenario (“severe but plausible scenario”)
Due to inherent uncertainty over the extent and pace of recovery in the Group’s commercial aerospace markets in particular, the Group 
also developed a downside scenario in Q2 2020 covering the same period as the base case scenario, and has subsequently updated this 
regularly as its view of a severe but plausible scenario has evolved. The current model was also prepared for, and reviewed by, the Board 
in October 2020. To stress test the assumption that the going concern principle remains appropriate under a severe but plausible 
scenario, the Group has used the outputs from this model covering the period to 31 March 2022. Where appropriate, outputs have been 
adjusted to reflect market dynamics between October 2020 and the date of approval of the Annual Report – these adjustments were 
also reviewed by the Board. The downside scenario assumes:

•  For civil AM, delays in the global vaccine roll-out programme and the emergence of new COVID-19 variants adversely impact 
consumers’ ability and confidence to resume travelling as quickly as anticipated in the base case. Under this scenario, civil AM 
revenues are around 8% lower than the base case for 2021. This approximates to a decline in ASKs of 7-10 percentage points 
compared to the base case, with the reduction significantly weighted towards H2. However, as noted above, the Group’s civil AM 
revenue reflects its exposure to specific platforms/customers and an assumed spares/MRO mix, and does not correlate perfectly to 
macro ASK drivers. 

•  For civil OE, weaker customer demand causes airlines to further defer purchases, resulting in reduced production build rates for OEM 

deliveries, which remain broadly flat over the assessment period.

•  Additionally, as a result of the wider impact of a more prolonged pandemic, higher levels of government borrowing lead to defence 

spending falling modestly from 2020 levels in the assessment period. 

•  Reduced volumes have a consequential adverse impact on gross margin in the assessment period.
•  The Group takes further appropriate mitigating actions to reduce its cost base and to preserve cash flows. 

Under the downside scenario, the Group has sufficient financing to be able to meet its obligations as they fall due in the period under 
assessment. The continued availability of the CCFF during the period has not been assumed. During the assessment period, the Group 
does not breach either of the financial covenant ratios. 

 
 
 
164

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Notes to the consolidated financial statements 
continued

1. General information and basis of preparation continued
Going concern continued
Principal risks
The Group has also considered whether its principal risks (as described on pages 56 to 59 of the Strategic Report) have been 
appropriately reflected in the downside scenario. In making this assessment, the Group has considered the likelihood of the risks taking 
place during the going concern assessment period and, were they to occur, the extent to which the impacts would be experienced 
during this period and the timing of mitigation actions available to the Group. The Group has not assumed that any of the catastrophic 
events described within its business interruption risk (see page 57 of the Strategic Report) occur during the going concern assessment 
period. The Board has regularly reviewed these risks throughout the period since the start of the COVID-19 outbreak and up to the date 
of the financial statements, and has approved an updated Group risk appetite statement with associated risk tolerances to ensure that 
risks are managed within acceptable limits. The Group has concluded that the downside scenario has been appropriately adjusted to 
reflect these risks. 

Conclusion
Based on the above, the directors have therefore concluded there are no material uncertainties around the Group’s or Company’s ability 
to continue as a going concern and it is appropriate to adopt the going concern principle in these financial statements.

2. Summary of significant accounting policies
The principal accounting policies adopted by the Group in the preparation of the consolidated financial statements are set out below. 
These policies have been applied consistently to all periods presented unless stated otherwise.

Basis of consolidation
The Group’s consolidated financial statements consolidate the financial statements of the Company, all of its subsidiaries and the 
Group’s share of the results of its joint ventures.

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A subsidiary is an entity over which the Group has control. The Group has control over an entity where the Group is exposed to,  
or has the rights to, variable returns from its involvement with the entity and has the power over the entity to affect those returns. The 
results of subsidiaries acquired are consolidated from the date on which control transfers to the Group. The results of subsidiaries 
disposed are consolidated up to the date on which control transfers from the Group. Transactions between, and balances with, 
subsidiary companies are eliminated together with unrealised gains on intra-Group transactions. Unrealised losses are eliminated to the 
extent the asset transferred is not impaired. 

A joint venture is a contractual arrangement between the Group and one or more other parties, under which control is shared between 
the parties and the Group and other parties have rights to the net assets of the arrangement. A joint venture is accounted for using the 
equity method whereby the Group’s share of profits and losses of the joint venture is recognised in the income statement within net 
operating costs and its share of net assets and goodwill of the joint venture is recognised as an investment. Unrealised gains and losses 
on transactions with the joint ventures are eliminated to the extent of the Group’s interest in the arrangements.

The cost of an acquisition is the fair value of consideration provided, including the fair value of contingent consideration, measured at 
the acquisition date. Contingent consideration payable is measured at fair value at each subsequent balance sheet date, with changes in 
fair value recorded in the income statement within net operating costs. Identifiable assets and liabilities of an acquired business, 
meeting the conditions for recognition under IFRS 3, are recognised at fair value at the date of acquisition. The extent to which the cost 
of an acquisition exceeds the fair value of net assets acquired is recorded as goodwill. Costs directly attributable to an acquisition are 
recognised in the income statement within net operating costs as incurred. 

When a business is acquired, the fair value of its identifiable assets and liabilities are finalised within 12 months of the acquisition date. 
All fair value adjustments are recognised with effect from the date of acquisition and consequently may result in the restatement of 
previously reported financial results. The accounting policies of acquired businesses are changed, where necessary, to be consistent 
with those of the Group.

When a business is disposed, the difference between the fair value of consideration receivable and the value at which the net assets of 
the business were recognised, immediately prior to disposal, is recognised in the income statement within net operating costs. 
Contingent consideration receivable is measured at fair value at the date of disposal in determining the gain or loss recognised. It is 
subsequently measured at fair value at each balance sheet date, with any changes in fair value recognised in the income statement within 
net operating costs. 

When a foreign subsidiary is disposed, the cumulative exchange differences relating to the retranslation of the net investment in the 
foreign subsidiary are recognised in the income statement as part of the gain or loss on disposal. This applies only to exchange 
differences recognised in equity after 1 January 2004. Exchange differences arising prior to 1 January 2004 remain in equity on disposal 
as permitted by IFRS 1 (‘First time Adoption of International Financial Reporting Standards’).

Amounts arising on the acquisition, disposal and closure of businesses are excluded from the underlying profit measures used  
by the Board to monitor and measure the underlying performance of the Group (see note 9). They comprise gains or losses made on the 
disposal or closure of businesses, adjustments to the fair value of contingent consideration payable in respect of acquired businesses  
or receivable in respect of disposed businesses and costs directly attributable to the acquisition or disposal of businesses. Amounts arising on 
the acquisition, disposal and closure of businesses are included within the appropriate consolidated income statement category, but are 
highlighted separately in the notes to the consolidated financial statements.

 
 
 
Meggitt PLC
Annual Report & Accounts 2020

165

2. Summary of significant accounting policies continued
Foreign currencies
Functional and presentational currency
The Group’s consolidated financial statements are presented in pounds sterling. Items included in the financial statements of each of the 
Group’s subsidiaries are measured using the functional currency of the primary economic environment in which the subsidiary operates.

Transactions and balances
Transactions in foreign currencies are recognised at exchange rates prevailing on the dates of the transactions. Monetary assets and 
liabilities denominated in foreign currencies are reported at exchange rates prevailing at the balance sheet date. Exchange differences 
on retranslating monetary assets and liabilities are recognised in the income statement within net operating costs, except where they 
relate to qualifying net investment hedges in which case exchange differences are recognised in hedging and translation reserves within 
other comprehensive income. 

Foreign subsidiaries
The results of foreign subsidiaries are translated at average exchange rates for the period. Assets and liabilities of foreign subsidiaries 
are translated at exchange rates prevailing at the balance sheet date. Exchange differences arising from the retranslation of the results 
and net assets of foreign subsidiaries are recognised in hedging and translation reserves within other comprehensive income. Goodwill 
and fair value adjustments arising from the acquisition of foreign subsidiaries are treated as assets and liabilities of those subsidiaries 
and retranslated at exchange rates prevailing at the balance sheet date. 

Segment reporting
Operating segments are those segments for which results are reviewed by the Group’s Chief Operating Decision Maker (CODM) to 
assess performance and make decisions about resources to be allocated. The CODM has been identified as the Board (see page 96 of 
the Corporate governance report). The Group has determined that its segments for the year ended 31 December 2020 are Airframe 
Systems, Engine Systems, Energy & Equipment and Services & Support.

The principal profit measure reviewed by the CODM is ‘underlying operating profit’ as defined in note 9. A segmental analysis of 
underlying operating profit is accordingly provided in the notes to the consolidated financial statements (see note 5).

Segmental information on assets is provided in the notes to the consolidated financial statements in respect of ‘trading assets’, which 
are defined to exclude from total assets, amounts which the CODM does not regularly review at a segmental level (see note 5). Excluded 
assets comprise centrally managed trading assets, goodwill, other intangible assets (excluding software assets), investments, derivative 
financial instruments, deferred tax assets, current tax recoverable, cash and cash equivalents and assets classified as held for sale.

No segmental information on liabilities is provided in the notes to the consolidated financial statements, as no such measure is reviewed 
by the CODM.

Revenue from external customers
Revenue is recognised when control of goods or services provided by the Group is transferred to the customer at an amount reflecting 
the consideration the Group expects to receive from the customer in exchange for those goods and services. 

There are no significant judgements required in either determining the Group’s performance obligations or, because the majority of the 
Group’s revenue is recognised when goods or services are delivered to the customer, the timing of revenue recognition. As revenue is 
typically recognised at amounts agreed in advance with customers, no significant estimates are required in determining transaction 
prices. 

Transfer of control – At a point in time
For the majority of goods and services provided by the Group, transfer of control occurs when delivery to the customer takes place 
which, depending on the specific terms agreed with the customer, may be when goods are collected from the Group’s facilities or when 
they are delivered either to the customer’s facilities or to a third party transport agent. The more common exceptions to this assessment 
for when control passes are:

•  Bill and hold arrangements. Where, under the terms of a contract, a customer agrees to accept title to goods which remain at the 

Group’s facility, and normal credit terms apply, transfer of control occurs when contractual terms have been met, which will typically 
be when goods are completed, packaged and segregated at the Group’s facility;

•  Goods and services are not distinct performance obligations. Where a contract involves the supply of multiple goods and services, the 

Group has concluded that typically each good and service supplied is a distinct performance obligation. However, contracts may require 
the Group to provide installation and other services specific to the goods but subsequent to their delivery. Where installation and other 
services are specialised, significant and not capable of being performed by another party, control of the goods transfers when installation 
and other services are completed by the Group and not when delivery of the goods to the customer takes place;

•  Goods are delivered subject to consignment arrangements. Where the Group delivers goods to a customer facility, such as an airline 
operator, but retains control of the goods until they are used by the customer, control transfers when the Group is notified by the 
customer of their use; and

•  Goods supplied subject to customer acceptance. Within the aerospace industry, goods are frequently subject to customer acceptance 

testing on delivery, or at the Group’s facilities. Normally the Group is able, through its own testing procedures, to predict with 
reasonable certainty that customer acceptance testing will be successful and accordingly customer acceptance testing will not affect 
the determination of when control passes. However, where the Group cannot predict the outcome with reasonable certainty, control is 
not considered to transfer until the goods have been accepted by the customer.

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166

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Notes to the consolidated financial statements 
continued

2. Summary of significant accounting policies continued
Revenue from external customers continued
Transfer of control – Over time
The principal circumstances in which control transfers over time are where the Group provides goods or services for which it has no 
alternative use and has the enforceable right to payment, plus a reasonable profit margin, throughout the life of the contract. An 
alternative use exists where there are multiple potential OEMs and/or aftermarket customers to whom the Group could provide those 
goods or services.

Certain defence contracts include clauses entitling the Group to be awarded a reasonable profit margin in the event the customer 
cancels for convenience. Where the Group considers such rights to be enforceable; is confident that a reasonable profit margin would 
be awarded regardless of the stage of contract completion and would apply to all costs incurred by the Group; and the goods and 
services have no alternative use, control will transfer over time.

Where a contract is structured such that non-refundable milestone payments are receivable from a customer in advance of work being 
performed, and the Group is reasonably certain at contract inception that the cumulative value of such milestone payments will exceed 
cumulative costs incurred throughout the duration of the contract, control will transfer over time. 

Where control transfers over time, the Group considers costs incurred, as a proportion of total expected contract costs, to be the most 
appropriate measure of contract completion. For power-by-the-hour and cost-per-brake-landing contracts this results in revenue being 
recognised when maintenance events are performed. Estimates of total contract costs are required to determine the extent to which 
revenue is recognised in a period. The Group does not consider that any reasonably foreseeable changes in these estimates could give 
rise to a significant impact on revenue recognised in the current period. 

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Consideration expected to be received from the customer
The majority of the Group’s contracts provide that consideration is receivable by the Group within a short period after control of goods and 
services is transferred to the customer, typically up to three months, and accordingly no significant financing component to the consideration 
receivable exists.

Where a contract includes variable consideration, the Group estimates the variable consideration to which it will be entitled at contract 
inception and revises the estimate throughout the life of the contract. Estimates are constrained until it is highly probable that the 
uncertainty affecting the level of variable consideration has been resolved and a significant reversal of cumulative revenue recognised 
will not arise. For power-by-the-hour and cost-per-brake-landing contracts, this requires the Group to estimate the number of aircraft 
flying hours or landings expected over the contract.

In certain instances the Group will receive contributions from customers during the development phase of an aerospace programme, 
and where the Group expects to retain the intellectual property of the developed technology throughout the programme life. Such 
contributions, typically in the form of cash, are treated as customer consideration and initially recognised as a contract liability when 
receivable. Contributions are subsequently included in the transaction price attributable to goods and services provided to the 
customer during the production phase of the programme. Where the contribution is received more than 12 months in advance of goods 
and services being provided to the customer, the financing element of the contribution, if significant, is separately identified and 
recognised within finance costs over the period beginning with the receipt of the contribution and ending when the goods and services 
are provided by the Group to the customer.

Where the Group makes contributions to customers to participate in aerospace programmes, typically in the form of cash, such 
contributions are initially recognised as a contract asset provided the Group has received, or it is highly probable that it will receive, 
contracts from the same customer relating to the same aerospace programme (see ‘Programme participation costs’ policy). Where the 
contribution is made more than 12 months in advance of goods and services being provided to the customer, the financing element of 
the contribution, if significant, is separately identified and recognised within finance income over the period beginning with the payment 
of the contribution and ending when the goods and services are provided by the Group to the customer. Other than such contributions, 
the Group does not typically incur significant incremental costs to obtain contracts.

Exceptional operating items
Items which are significant by virtue of their size or nature, are considered non-recurring, and which are excluded from the underlying 
profit measures used by the Board to monitor and measure the underlying performance of the Group (see note 9), are classified as 
exceptional operating items. They include, for instance, costs directly attributable to the integration of acquired businesses, significant 
site consolidations and other restructuring costs. In 2020, given their significance, impairment losses and other asset write-downs arising 
from the current uncertainty facing the commercial aerospace industry have been treated as exceptional operating items. 

Exceptional operating items are presented separately on the face of the income statement, where the Group considers it relevant to an 
understanding of the Group’s financial performance. This separate presentation has been adopted for the first time in 2020 in respect of 
the impairment losses and other asset write-downs as they are in aggregate of such a significance, that the Group considers separate 
presentation is appropriate (see note 10). Exceptional operating items which are not presented separately on the face of the income 
statement are included within the appropriate consolidated income statement category, but are highlighted separately in the notes to 
the consolidated financial statements.

 
 
 
Meggitt PLC
Annual Report & Accounts 2020

167

2. Summary of significant accounting policies continued
Intangible assets
Goodwill 
Goodwill represents the excess of the cost of an acquisition over the fair value of the Group’s share of identifiable assets acquired and 
liabilities and contingent liabilities assumed. Goodwill is tested annually for impairment and also whenever events or changes in 
circumstances indicate the carrying value may not be recoverable. Goodwill is held at cost less amortisation charged prior to 
1 January 2004 and accumulated impairment losses. 

In the event a business to which goodwill relates is disposed, its attributable goodwill is included in the determination of the gain or loss 
on disposal. Where the Group restructures or reorganises its operations, goodwill relating to affected businesses is reallocated using a 
relative fair value basis.

Research and development
Research expenditure is recognised as an expense in the income statement as incurred. Development costs incurred on projects where 
the Group retains ownership of intellectual property; the related expenditure is separately identifiable and measurable; and 
management are satisfied as to the ultimate technical and commercial viability of the project and that the asset will generate future 
economic benefits based on all relevant available information, are recognised as an intangible asset. Capitalised development costs are 
subsequently held at cost less accumulated amortisation and impairment losses. Amortisation is charged to net operating costs over the 
periods expected to benefit, typically up to 15 years, commencing with launch of the product. Development costs not meeting the 
criteria for capitalisation are expensed as incurred. 

Programme participation costs
Programme participation costs are contributions made to OEMs, typically in the form of cash, in connection with their selection of the 
Group’s products for installation onto new aircraft where the Group has obtained principal supplier status. The recognition of 
programme participation costs depends on the contractual relationship between the Group and the third party to whom the 
contribution is made:

•  Where the contribution is made to a third party under a revenue contract (as defined by IFRS 15), or the award of future IFRS 15 
revenue contracts on the same aerospace programme from the same customer is highly probable, contributions are initially 
recognised as contract assets (see ‘Revenue from external customers’ policy).

•  Other contributions are initially recognised as intangible assets and subsequently held at cost less accumulated amortisation and 
impairment losses. Amortisation is charged to net operating costs over periods expected to benefit from receiving the status of 
principal supplier, through the sale of replacement parts, typically up to 15 years.

Other intangible assets – Assets acquired as part of a business combination
The Group recognises intangible assets separately from goodwill provided they are separable or arise from contractual or other legal 
rights and their fair value can be measured reliably. Intangible assets are initially recognised at fair value, which is regarded as their cost. 
Intangible assets are subsequently held at cost less accumulated amortisation and impairment losses. Amortisation is charged on a 
straight-line basis to net operating costs over the estimated useful economic lives of the assets. The nature of intangible assets 
recognised and their estimated useful lives are as follows:

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Customer relationships
Technology
Trade names and trademarks

Up to 20 years
Up to 20 years
Up to 15 years

Amortisation of intangible assets acquired as part of a business combination is excluded from the underlying profit measures used by 
the Board to monitor and measure the underlying performance of the Group (see note 9).

Other intangible assets – Software and other intangible assets
Software and purchased licences, trademarks and patents are held at cost less accumulated amortisation and impairment losses. 
Amortisation is charged on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful economic lives of the assets, commencing with the date the 
assets are available for use, typically over periods up to 10 years. Residual values and useful lives are reviewed annually and adjusted if 
appropriate.

 
 
 
 
168

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Annual Report & Accounts 2020

Notes to the consolidated financial statements 
continued

2. Summary of significant accounting policies continued
Property, plant and equipment 
Property, plant and equipment are held at cost less accumulated depreciation and impairment losses. Cost includes expenditure directly 
attributable to the acquisition of the asset. For right-of-use assets, cost comprises an amount equal to the initial lease liability 
recognised, adjusted to include any payments made for the right to use the asset, initial direct costs incurred and estimated costs for 
dismantling, removing and restoring the asset at the end of the lease term. Depreciation is charged on a straight-line basis over the 
estimated useful economic lives of the assets, commencing with the date the assets are available for use, as follows:

Freehold buildings
Right-of-use assets
Plant and machinery
Furnaces
Fixtures and fittings
Motor vehicles

Up to 50 years 
Shorter of the useful economic life of the asset and the lease term
3 to 10 years
Up to 20 years
3 to 10 years
4 to 5 years

Residual values and useful lives are reviewed annually and adjusted if appropriate. When property, plant and equipment are disposed, 
the difference between sale proceeds, net of related costs, and the carrying value of the asset is recognised in the income statement.

Borrowing costs
Borrowing costs directly attributable to the construction or production of qualifying assets, are capitalised as part of the cost of those 
assets until such time as the assets are substantially ready for their intended use. Qualifying assets are those that necessarily take a 
substantial period of time to get ready for their intended use, typically at least 12 months. All other borrowing costs are recognised in the 
income statement within finance costs as incurred.

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Impairment of non-current non-financial assets
Assets are reviewed for impairment annually and also whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate their carrying value may not be 
recoverable. To the extent the carrying value of an asset exceeds its recoverable amount, the difference is recognised as an expense in the 
income statement. The recoverable amount used for impairment testing is the higher of value in use and fair value less costs of disposal. 
For the purpose of impairment testing, assets are generally tested individually or at a CGU level which represents the lowest level for which 
there are separately identifiable cash inflows which are largely independent of cash inflows from other assets or groups of assets. Where it 
is not possible to allocate goodwill on a non-arbitrary basis to individual CGUs, it is allocated to the group of CGUs which represent the 
lowest level within the Group at which goodwill is monitored by management. At each balance sheet date, previously recognised 
impairment losses, other than any relating to goodwill, are reviewed and if no longer required reversed with a corresponding credit to the 
income statement.

Inventories
Inventories are recognised at the lower of cost and net realisable value. Cost comprises materials, direct labour, other direct costs and 
related production overheads, based on normal operating capacity, and is determined using the first-in first-out (FIFO) method. 
Abnormal variations between actual/forecasted volumes and normal operating capacity are excluded from the valuation of inventory. 
Net realisable value is based on estimated selling price, less further costs expected to be incurred to completion and disposal. Provision 
is made for obsolete, slow moving or defective items where appropriate.

Trade and other receivables
Trade receivables are initially recognised at fair value and subsequently measured at amortised cost less any impairment losses. To the 
extent outflows of economic benefits required to settle an obligation recognised as a provision are recoverable from an insurer or other 
third party, an other receivable is recognised. Other receivables are discounted to present value where the impact is significant, using a 
pre-tax rate. The discount rate used is based on current market assessments of the time value of money, adjusted to reflect any risks 
specific to the receivable which have not been reflected in the undiscounted receivable. The impact of the unwinding of discounting is 
recognised in the income statement within finance income.

Cash and cash equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents include cash in hand and deposits held at call with banks. Bank overdrafts are disclosed as current liabilities, 
within bank and other borrowings, except where the Group participates in offset arrangements with certain banks whereby cash and 
overdraft amounts are offset against each other.

 
 
 
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2. Summary of significant accounting policies continued 
Impairment of financial assets
The Group’s financial assets, which are subject to the expected credit loss (ECL) model, are:

•  trade receivables;
•  other receivables;
•  contract assets relating to conditional rights to consideration on over time contracts; and 
•  cash and cash equivalents.

For trade receivables and contract assets, the simplified method has been applied whereby ECLs are measured using a lifetime 
expected loss allowance. Contract assets relating to conditional rights to consideration on over time contracts are subject to 
substantially the same risks as trade receivables on the same types of contracts. The Group therefore applies the same loss rates to 
these contract assets that it uses for trade receivables. Expected loss rates are based on historical ageing of receivables adjusted for 
risk-based estimates of future losses. The historical data is assessed over a period that reflects the current conditions and may change 
year on year. 

For other receivables, which principally relate to amounts recoverable from insurers, ECLs are measured using those expected to arise in 
the 12 months subsequent to the balance sheet date. For cash and cash equivalents, the Group does not currently anticipate any future 
credit losses given the high quality credit rating of the financial institutions with which balances are held.

Trade and other payables
Trade payables are initially recognised at fair value and subsequently measured at amortised cost. Trade payables are not interest 
bearing.

The Group operates a supplier financing programme whereby suppliers can elect, on an invoice-by-invoice basis, to receive discounted 
early payment from a bank, rather than being paid directly by the Group in line with agreed payment terms. In the event the option for 
early payment is taken by a supplier, the amount payable by the Group remains unchanged but is assigned by the supplier under the 
programme as payable by the Group to the bank. The Group assesses the programme against indicators to assess if liabilities should be 
classified as other payables or borrowings. Under the Group’s current supplier financing programme, contractual rights and obligations 
of the supplier and Group are not substantively modified when a supplier elects to participate in the programme, credit terms agreed 
between the Group and the bank do not differ significantly from those agreed by the Group with suppliers who do not participate in the 
programme; no additional security is provided by the Group to the bank; and to the extent the Group has existing committed or 
uncommitted facility arrangements with the same bank, the amounts due under the supplier financing programme are not considered 
by the bank to represent utilisation of those existing facilities. Accordingly, provided amounts due to the bank do not exceed agreed 
credit terms, they are classified as other payables. If the Group exceeds agreed credit terms, amounts that are overdue are classified as 
bank borrowings.

Taxation
Current tax is based on taxable profit for the period, calculated using tax rates enacted or substantively enacted at the balance sheet 
date. Deferred tax is provided in full using the liability method on temporary differences between the tax bases of assets and liabilities and 
their corresponding book values as recognised in the Group’s consolidated financial statements. It is calculated using tax rates enacted or 
substantively enacted at the balance sheet date. Deferred tax is provided on unremitted earnings of foreign subsidiaries, except where the 
Group can control the remittance and it is probable that earnings will not be remitted in the foreseeable future. Deferred tax assets are 
recognised only to the extent it is probable that taxable profits will be available against which deductible temporary differences can be 
utilised. Current tax and deferred tax are recognised in the income statement, other comprehensive income or directly in equity, 
depending on where the item to which they relate has been recognised.

Liabilities for uncertain tax positions are recognised when the Group has a present obligation as a result of past events, it is probable an 
outflow of economic benefits will be required to settle the obligation and the amount can be reliably estimated. The Group typically uses a 
weighted average of outcomes assessed as possible to determine the liabilities required, unless a single best estimate of the outcome is 
considered to be more appropriate. Assessments are made at the level of an individual tax uncertainty, unless uncertainties are considered 
to be related, in which case they are grouped together. Liabilities, which are not discounted given the short period over which they are 
expected to be utilised, are included within current tax liabilities, together with any liability for penalties, which to date have not been 
significant. Any liability relating to interest on tax liabilities is included within finance costs.

Bank and other borrowings
Bank and other borrowings are initially recognised at fair value, being proceeds received less directly attributable transaction costs 
incurred. Borrowings are generally subsequently held at amortised cost at each balance sheet date, with any transaction costs amortised 
to the income statement over the period of the borrowings using the effective interest method. Certain borrowings however are 
designated as fair value through profit and loss at inception, where the Group has interest rate derivatives in place which have the 
economic effect of converting fixed rate borrowings into floating rate borrowings. Such borrowings are held at fair value at each balance 
sheet date, with any movement in fair value attributable to changes in credit risk recognised in other comprehensive income and any 
other movements in fair value recognised in the income statement within net operating costs. Movements in fair value recognised in net 
operating costs are excluded from the underlying profit measures used by the Board to monitor and measure the underlying 
performance of the Group (see note 9).

Any related interest accruals are included within borrowings. Borrowings are classified as current liabilities unless the Group has an 
unconditional right to defer settlement of the liability for at least 12 months after the balance sheet date.

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Notes to the consolidated financial statements 
continued

2. Summary of significant accounting policies continued 
Leases
The majority of the Group’s leases relate to property. A lease liability is recognised when the Group obtains control of the right-of-use 
asset, that is the subject of the lease. The initial lease liability recognised represents the discounted value of payments due under the 
lease less any incentives receivable. Where lease payments are variable, often because they are based on future inflation rates or 
indices, they are initially measured using the inflation rate or index value at lease inception. Typically the interest rate implicit in the 
Group’s leases cannot be easily determined and accordingly the Group’s incremental borrowing rate, for borrowings of similar amounts 
and maturity periods, is used to discount amounts due under the lease. The lease liability is subsequently measured using the effective 
interest method, with interest recognised within finance costs.

At inception, the Group evaluates whether it is reasonably certain that any option to extend a lease term will be exercised. Typically, 
where the initial lease term for a property used for the Group’s manufacturing operations is for at least five years, the option to extend 
the lease term is at market rates and the right-of-use asset is not considered specialised, the Group will not assess the likelihood of the 
lease being extended at inception as reasonably certain. The Group continues to evaluate the likelihood of exercising such options 
however throughout the initial lease term. When the Group is committed to extending the lease, having considered the alternative 
options available and where appropriate lessor consent to the extension has been obtained, the Group will consider the option to be 
reasonably certain to be exercised. When an option is reasonably certain to be exercised, the right-of-use asset and lease liabilities 
recognised are adjusted to reflect the extended term.

Leases, which at inception have a term of less than 12 months or relate to low-value assets, are not recognised on the balance sheet. 
Payments made under such leases are charged to the income statement on a straight-line basis over the period of the lease.

Derivative financial instruments and hedging
The Group uses derivative financial instruments to hedge its exposure to interest rate risk and foreign currency transactional risk. 
Derivative financial instruments are initially recognised at fair value on the date the derivative contract is entered into and are 
subsequently held at fair value at each balance sheet date, using values determined indirectly from quoted prices that are observable for 
the asset or liability. 

The method by which any gain or loss arising from subsequent measurement at fair value is recognised, depends on whether the 
instrument is designated as a hedging instrument and if so the nature of the item hedged. The Group recognises an instrument as a 
hedging instrument by documenting, at its inception, the economic relationship between the instrument and the hedged item and the 
objectives and strategy for undertaking the hedging transaction. To be designated as a hedging instrument, an instrument must also be 
assessed, at inception and on an ongoing basis, to be effective in offsetting changes in fair values or cash flows of hedged items as 
outlined in the objectives and strategy for undertaking the hedging transaction and any changes in fair values must not be dominated 
by the effect of credit risk. 

To the extent the maturity of the derivative financial instruments are more than 12 months from the balance sheet date, they are 
classified as non-current assets or non-current liabilities. All other derivative financial instruments are classified as current assets or 
current liabilities. 

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Fair value hedges
Changes in the fair value of derivative financial instruments, that are designated and qualify as fair value hedges, are recognised in the 
income statement within net operating costs together with changes in fair value of the hedged item not attributable to credit risk. 
Changes in the fair value of the hedged item attributable to credit risk are recognised in other comprehensive income. Any difference 
recognised in the income statement between movements in the fair value of the derivative and the hedged item is excluded from the 
underlying profit measures used by the Board to monitor and measure the underlying performance of the Group (see note 9). The Group 
currently applies fair value hedge accounting to the hedging of fixed interest rate risk on bank and other borrowings. 

Net investment hedges
Changes in the fair value of the effective portion of any net investment hedge are recognised in other comprehensive income. Changes 
in the fair value of any ineffective portion are recognised immediately in the income statement within net operating costs. 

Derivatives not meeting the criteria for hedge accounting
Where derivatives do not meet the criteria for hedge accounting, changes in fair value are recognised immediately in the income 
statement within net operating costs. Gains and losses arising from measuring these derivatives at fair value are excluded from the 
underlying profit measures used by the Board to monitor and measure the underlying performance of the Group (see note 9). 

Provisions
Provision is made for environmental liabilities, onerous contracts, product warranty claims and other liabilities when the Group has a 
present obligation as a result of past events, it is more likely than not that an outflow of economic benefits will be required to settle the 
obligation and the amount can be reliably estimated. In determining the estimated costs to fulfil a contract, the Group includes only 
incremental direct costs (e.g. direct materials and direct labour). Provisions are discounted to present value where the impact is 
significant, using a pre-tax rate. The discount rate used is based on current market assessments of the time value of money, adjusted to 
reflect any risks specific to the obligation which have not been reflected in the undiscounted provision. The impact of the unwinding of 
discounting is recognised in the income statement within finance costs.

 
 
 
Meggitt PLC
Annual Report & Accounts 2020

171

2. Summary of significant accounting policies continued
Retirement benefit schemes
For defined benefit schemes, pension costs and the costs of providing other post-retirement benefits, principally healthcare, are 
charged to the income statement in accordance with the advice of qualified independent actuaries. Past service credits and costs are 
recognised immediately in the income statement.

Retirement benefit obligations represent, for each scheme, the difference between the fair value of the schemes’ assets and the present 
value of the schemes’ defined benefit obligations measured at the balance sheet date. The defined benefit obligation is measured 
annually by independent actuaries using the projected unit credit method. The present value of the defined benefit obligation is 
determined by discounting the defined benefit obligations using interest rates of high quality corporate bonds denominated in the 
currency in which the benefits will be paid and with terms to maturity comparable with the terms of the related defined benefit 
obligations. Where the Group has a statutory or contractual minimum funding requirement to make contributions to a scheme in respect 
of past service and any such contributions are not available to the Group once paid (as a reduction in future contributions, or as a refund 
to which the Group has an unconditional right either during the life of the scheme or when the scheme liabilities are settled), an 
additional liability for such amounts is recognised.

Remeasurement gains and losses are recognised in the period in which they arise in other comprehensive income.

For defined contribution schemes, payments are recognised in the income statement when they fall due. The Group has no further 
obligations once the contributions have been paid.

Share-based compensation
The Group operates a number of share-based compensation schemes, which are subject to non-market-based vesting conditions and 
are principally equity-settled. For equity-settled schemes, at the date of grant, the Group estimates the number of awards expected to 
vest as a result of vesting conditions. The fair value of this estimated number of awards is recognised as an expense in the income 
statement on a straight-line basis over the period for which services are received. At each balance sheet date, the Group revises its 
estimate of the number of awards expected to vest and adjusts the amount recognised cumulatively in the income statement to reflect 
the revised estimate. When awards are exercised and the Company issues new shares, the proceeds received, net of any directly 
attributable transaction costs, are credited to share capital (nominal value) and share premium.

Share capital
Ordinary shares are classified as equity. Incremental costs directly attributable to the issue of new shares are deducted from the 
proceeds recognised in equity. 

Own shares represent shares in the Company that are held by an independently managed Employee Share Ownership Plan. 
Consideration paid for own shares, including any incremental directly attributable costs, is recognised as a deduction from retained 
earnings. 

Dividends
Interim dividends are recognised when paid to shareholders. Final dividends are recognised when approved by the shareholders. 

Adoption of new and revised accounting standards
During the year, no new accounting standards, amendments or revisions to existing standards, or interpretations have become effective 
which had a significant impact on the Group’s consolidated financial statements. 

Recent accounting developments
Amendments to IAS 37 “Onerous contracts – costs of fulfilling a contract”
Under IAS 37, a contract is onerous when the unavoidable costs of meeting the contractual obligations exceed the economic benefits 
arising from the contract. Prior to the amendments to IAS 37, there was diversity in practice as to whether the costs of meeting 
contractual obligations should comprise only incremental costs (e.g. direct materials and direct labour) or also include an allocation of 
other direct costs (e.g. factory overheads) which would be incurred regardless of whether the contract was being performed or not. 
Under the Group’s current accounting policy, it only includes incremental direct costs in measuring the costs to fulfil a contract under 
IAS 37. The IAS 37 amendments clarify however, that the costs of fulfilling a contract should include an allocation of other direct costs. 
The Group has yet to assess the impact of these amendments, which may result in the recognition of additional onerous contracts and 
will result in the measurement of existing onerous contract provisions increasing. The amendments are effective for accounting periods 
beginning on, or after, 1 January 2022 to open contracts at that date, with any additional amounts required to be recognised as an 
adjustment to retained earnings at that date. These amendments have not been early adopted.

A number of other additional new standards and amendments and revisions to existing standards have been published and are 
mandatory for the Group’s future accounting periods. These have not been early adopted and are not expected to have a significant 
impact on the Group’s consolidated financial statements when they are adopted.

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172

Meggitt PLC
Annual Report & Accounts 2020

Notes to the consolidated financial statements 
continued

3. Financial risk management
Financial risk factors
The Group’s operations expose it to a number of financial risks including market risk (principally foreign exchange risk and interest rate 
risk), credit risk and liquidity risk. These risks are managed by a centralised treasury department, in accordance with Board approved 
objectives, policies and authorities (see also pages 47 to 49 of the Chief Financial Officer’s review). Regular reports monitor exposures 
and assist in managing the associated risks. 

Market risk
Foreign exchange risk
The Group operates internationally and is subject to foreign exchange risks on future commercial transactions and the retranslation of 
the results of, and net investments in, foreign subsidiaries. The principal exposure arises with respect to the US dollar against the pound 
sterling. To mitigate risks associated with future commercial transactions, the Group policy is to hedge known and certain forecast 
transaction exposures based on historical experience and projections. The Group hedges at least 70% of the next 12 months anticipated 
exposures and can hedge expected exposures up to five years. Details of hedges in place are provided in note 33. The Group does not 
hedge exposure arising from the retranslation of the results of foreign subsidiaries. The Group uses borrowings denominated in the 
relevant currencies to partially hedge its net investments in foreign subsidiaries.

Interest rate risk
The Group has borrowings issued at both fixed and floating rates of interest. Borrowings issued at fixed rates expose the Group to fair 
value interest rate risk, whereas borrowings issued at floating rates expose the Group to cash flow interest rate risk. The Group’s 
principal exposure is to changes in US interest rates. The Group’s policy is to generally maintain at least 25% of its net borrowings at 
fixed rates and mitigates interest rate risks through interest rate derivatives which have the economic effect of converting fixed rate 
borrowings into floating rate borrowings and floating rate borrowings into fixed rate borrowings. Details of hedges in place are provided 
in note 33.

Sensitivity analysis
The table below illustrates the sensitivity of the Group’s results to changes in the exchange rate between the US dollar and pound 
sterling and to changes in US interest rates at the balance sheet date. The analysis covers only financial assets and liabilities held at the 
balance sheet date and is made on the basis of the hedge designations in place on those dates, assuming no hedge ineffectiveness.

US dollar/Sterling exchange rate +/- 10%

US yield curve +/- 1%

2020

2019

Income 
statement 
£’m

37.8

6.3

Equity

£’m

80.3

–

Income 
statement 
£’m

55.5

10.4

Equity

£’m

86.7

–

The impact on equity from movements in the exchange rate comprises £78.3m (2019: £81.5m) in respect of US dollar net borrowings, 
and £2.0m (2019: £5.2m) in respect of other financial assets and liabilities. However, as all US dollar net borrowings are designated as a 
net investment hedge, or are held by US subsidiaries, this element of the impact is entirely offset by the retranslation of foreign 
subsidiaries. The impact of a 1% movement in the US yield curve includes the effect on the Group’s foreign currency forward contracts 
and other financial assets and liabilities.

Credit risk
Concentration of credit risk on the Group’s trade receivables and contract assets is spread across a large number of customers across 
the world. In addition, many of the Group’s principal customers are either government departments or large multinationals. Note 32 
details the Group’s credit risk exposures in relation to its customers. Policies are maintained to ensure the Group makes sales to 
customers with an appropriate credit history. Letters of credit, or other appropriate instruments, are put in place to reduce credit risk 
where considered necessary. The Group is also subject to credit risk on the counterparties to its other financial assets and financial 
liabilities which it controls through only dealing with highly rated counterparties and netting transactions on settlement wherever 
possible. The credit quality of the Group’s counterparties is set out in notes 32 and 33.

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Annual Report & Accounts 2020

173

3. Financial risk management continued
Liquidity risk
The Group maintains sufficient committed facilities to meet projected borrowing requirements based on cash flow forecasts. Additional 
headroom is maintained to protect against the variability of cash flows and to accommodate small bolt-on acquisitions. Key ratios are 
monitored to ensure continued compliance with covenants contained in the Group’s principal credit agreements. The following tables 
analyse the Group’s derivative financial instruments and other non-derivative financial liabilities at the balance sheet date. The amounts 
disclosed in the tables are the contractual undiscounted cash flows:

Trade and other payables*
Contract liabilities (see note 28)
Derivative financial instruments (Inflows)**
Lease liabilities
Bank and other borrowings (see note 31)
Interest payments on borrowings

Total

Trade and other payables*
Contract liabilities (see note 28)
Derivative financial instruments (Inflows)**
Lease liabilities
Bank and other borrowings (see note 31)
Interest payments on borrowings

Total

Less 
than 
1 year 
£’m

285.8
50.8
(3.9)
19.5
2.2
26.7

381.1

Less  
than 
1 year 
£’m

452.0
50.5
(4.9)
22.9
208.2
26.1

754.8

2020

Between 1 
and  

5 years
£’m

7.7
19.7
(1.7)
61.4
576.1
71.0

Greater 
than 
5 years
£’m

0.8
54.2
–
112.1
219.8
7.9

Total

£’m

294.3
124.7
(5.6)
193.0
798.1
105.6

734.2

394.8

1,510.1

2019

Between 1 
and  

5 years
£’m

1.7
20.5
(2.9)
76.9
463.1
62.5

621.8

Greater 
 than 
5 years
£’m

0.4
56.5
–
110.7
227.1
16.4

411.1

Total

£’m

454.1
127.5
(7.8)
210.5
898.4
105.0

1,787.7

*  Excludes social security and other taxes of £10.7m (2019: £12.5m) (see note 27).
**  Assumes no change in interest rates from those prevailing at the balance sheet date.

Capital risk management
The Group’s objective when managing its capital structure is to minimise the cost of capital whilst maintaining adequate capital to 
protect against volatility in earnings and net assets. The strategy is designed to maximise shareholder return over the long term. The 
Group’s capital structure is as follows: 

Net debt (see note 43)
Total equity

Debt/equity %

2020
£’m

2019
£’m

773.0
2,032.6

911.2
2,456.8

38.0%

37.1%

The Board believes that in maintaining an efficient balance sheet, a net debt:EBITDA ratio of between 1.5x and 2.5x is appropriate, 
whilst retaining the flexibility to move outside the range if appropriate. Further details on the Group’s strategy for delivering net 
debt:EBITDA in this range can be found on pages 47 to 49 of the Chief Financial Officer’s review, which includes details on how the 
Group has complied with the two principal financial covenant requirements contained in its committed credit facilities.

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174

Meggitt PLC
Annual Report & Accounts 2020

Notes to the consolidated financial statements 
continued

4. Critical accounting estimates and judgements
In applying the Group’s accounting policies set out in note 2, the Group is required to make certain estimates and judgements 
concerning the future. These estimates and judgements are regularly reviewed and revised as necessary. The estimates and judgements 
that have the most significant effect on the amounts included in the consolidated financial statements are described below. Further 
consideration of these critical estimates and judgements can be found in the Audit Committee report on pages 105 to 111.

Critical accounting estimates
Impairment of goodwill and other assets 
The COVID-19 pandemic has had a dramatic impact in the year on the commercial aerospace industry, with significant uncertainty over the 
duration of the current disruption to air traffic movements and the eventual pace and extent of the recovery. Forward-looking assessments 
of Available Seat Kilometres (ASKs) and new aircraft production build rates, which impact the Group’s civil aftermarket and OE revenues 
and hence its cash flows, are therefore subject to significant estimation uncertainty. The area most impacted by this estimation uncertainty 
is the assessment by the Group of the extent to which goodwill has become impaired. Details on the estimates made in making this 
assessment, the impairment recognised and the sensitivities of the amounts recorded to reasonably foreseeable changes in estimates are 
set out in note 17.

Forward-looking assessments have also significantly impacted the Group’s estimates of the recoverable value of development costs, net 
realisable value of inventory and expected credit losses on trade receivables. Note 10 sets out the impairment losses and other asset 
write-downs recognised by the Group having completed these assessments. Based on available current information, the Group does not 
believe any reasonably foreseeable changes in the estimates made would require a material change to the impairment losses or other asset 
write-downs recognised in respect of these individual asset classes in the next 12 months and accordingly these areas are not considered to 
be critical estimates.

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Retirement benefit obligations
The liability recognised in respect of retirement benefit obligations is dependent on a number of estimates, principally those relating to 
mortality, inflation, salary increases and the rate at which liabilities are discounted. External actuarial advice is taken with regard to the 
most appropriate assumptions to use. Further details on these estimates and sensitivities of the retirement benefit obligations to these 
estimates are provided in note 36.

Areas no longer considered critical accounting estimates
The Group previously disclosed in its 2019 Annual Report critical estimates in respect of uncertain tax positions and environmental 
provisions. The Group no longer considers these to be critical estimates as it does not consider there to be a significant risk of a material 
change to the carrying value of amounts recognised in respect of these estimates in the next 12 months. Further details on these 
estimates are set out in notes 29 and 34 respectively.

Critical accounting judgements
Going concern
The judgement made by the directors that the going concern basis is appropriate in preparing the consolidated financial statements is a 
new critical judgement for 2020. The basis for making the judgement, the assumptions made in reaching the judgement and the results 
of the stress testing performed are set out in note 1.

Capitalisation of development costs
The Group is required to make judgements as to when development costs meet the criteria to be recognised as intangible assets. The 
majority of capitalised development costs relate to technology developed for aerospace programmes. In such cases, costs are typically 
not capitalised until a contract to develop the technology is awarded by a customer as, prior to this date, it is generally not possible to 
reliably estimate the point at which research activities conclude and development activities commence. Absent a contract to develop 
the technology, the Group also does not believe there is generally sufficient certainty over the future economic benefits that will be 
generated from the technology, to allow capitalisation of costs. Once such a contract is awarded, the Group capitalises development 
costs provided it expects to retain the intellectual property in the technology throughout substantially all of the life of the aircraft or 
engine and it is probable that future economic benefits will flow to the Group. In making a judgement as to whether economic benefits 
will flow to the Group, the Group makes estimates of aircraft or engine volumes (taking into account the extent to which the Group has a 
sole-source position), aftermarket revenues which are dependent on aircraft utilisation, fleet lives and operator service routines, costs of 
manufacture and costs to complete the development activity. During 2020, the Group recognised £41.4m (2019: £54.7m) of 
development costs as an intangible asset (see note 18).

Areas no longer considered critical accounting judgements
The Group previously disclosed in its 2019 Annual Report critical judgements specifically arising from the change in divisional structure 
implemented in that year, how this impacted the level at which goodwill testing should be performed and the reallocation of goodwill to 
the new CGUs and groups of CGUs identified. These are no longer critical judgments following completion of this restructuring in 2019.

 
 
 
Meggitt PLC
Annual Report & Accounts 2020

175

5. Segmental analysis 
Analysis by operating segment 
The Group manages its businesses under four customer-aligned divisions: Airframe Systems, Engine Systems, Energy & Equipment and 
Services & Support. Details of the Group’s divisions can be found on pages 36 to 43 of the Strategic report. Transactions between 
divisions are reflected in the segmental information below and are measured at arm’s length. The transactions are eliminated on 
consolidation. 

Year ended 31 December 2020: Analysis of income statement items
The key performance measure reviewed by the CODM is underlying operating profit. A detailed reconciliation of operating profit to 
underlying operating profit is provided in note 9.

Gross segment revenue
Inter-segment revenue

Airframe 
Systems 
£’m

972.7
(179.6)

Engine 
Systems
£’m

Energy & 
Equipment 
£’m

Services & 
Support
£’m

Total 

£’m

338.8
(105.2)

358.5
(23.5)

326.6
(4.2)

1,996.6
(312.5)

Revenue from external customers

793.1

233.6

335.0

322.4

1,684.1

At a point in time
Over time: Power by the hour/cost per brake landing
Over time: Other

Revenue from external customers by basis of recognition

Civil OE
Civil aftermarket
Defence
Energy
Other

Revenue from external customers by end market

Underlying operating profit/(loss) (see note 9)*
Items not affecting underlying operating profit (see note 9)

Operating loss (see note 9)
Finance income (see note 11)
Finance costs (see note 12)

Net finance costs
Loss before tax
Tax credit (see note 13)

Loss for the year

754.2
22.2
16.7

793.1

207.8
176.7
377.7
13.9
17.0

793.1

219.9
4.4
9.3

233.6

95.3
3.8
117.3
0.5
16.7

233.6

161.2
–
173.8

335.0

2.9
0.2
190.9
116.1
24.9

335.0

315.2
7.2
–

1,450.5
33.8
199.8

322.4

1,684.1

–
238.9
82.5
0.6
0.4

306.0
419.6
768.4
131.1
59.0

322.4

1,684.1

120.5

(13.2)

42.4

40.8

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190.5
(487.8)

(297.3)
0.5
(37.2)

(36.7)
(334.0)
19.8

(314.2)

361.3
57.0
140.6
56.7

Impairment losses on goodwill and intangible assets (see notes 17 and 18)**
Other exceptional operating items***
Amortisation of intangible assets (see notes 18 and 19)****
Depreciation (see note 20)

145.5
27.3
104.6
28.6

201.1
13.1
23.5
13.7

14.7
13.2
10.7
11.2

–
3.4
1.8
3.2

* 

Central costs are allocated using a variety of bases designed to reflect the beneficial relationship between costs and segments. Bases include headcount,  
payroll costs, gross assets and revenue.

**  Of the total impairment losses in the year, £1.1m relating to Engine Systems has been charged to underlying operating profit as defined in note 9, with the 

balance of £360.2m charged to exceptional operating items (see note 10).

***  Comprises exceptional operating items other than those relating to impairment losses on goodwill and development costs. Of the total exceptional operating 
items in the year of £428.7m (see note 10), central items of £11.5m were not included in segmental exceptional operating items reviewed by the CODM.

****  Of the total amortisation in the year, £52.4m has been charged to underlying operating profit as defined in note 9.

 
 
 
 
 
176

Meggitt PLC
Annual Report & Accounts 2020

Notes to the consolidated financial statements 
continued

5. Segmental analysis continued
The Group’s largest customer accounts for 8.9% of revenue (£149.5m). Revenue from this customer arises across all segments. Revenue 
recognised in the current year relating to performance obligations satisfied or partially satisfied in the prior year was £3.2m.

Year ended 31 December 2020: Analysis of additions to non-current assets*

Development costs (see note 18)
Programme participation costs (see note 18)
Other purchased intangible assets
Property, plant and equipment

Total

Airframe 
Systems 
£’m

Engine 
Systems
£’m

Energy & 
Equipment 
£’m

Services & 
Support
£’m

28.4
2.6
0.7
36.9

68.6

2.9
–
0.3
13.6

16.8

9.9
–
0.6
16.1

26.6

0.2
–
0.9
3.5

4.6

Total 

£’m

41.4
2.6
2.5
70.1

116.6

*  Relate to those non-current assets included within segmental trading assets reviewed by the CODM.

At 31 December 2020: Analysis of segmental trading assets

Airframe Systems
Engine Systems
Energy & Equipment
Services & Support

Total segmental trading assets
Centrally managed trading assets*
Goodwill (see note 17)
Other intangible assets excluding software assets
Investments (see note 21)
Derivative financial instruments – non-current (see note 33)
Deferred tax assets (see note 35)
Derivative financial instruments – current (see note 33)
Current tax recoverable
Cash and cash equivalents (see note 26)
Assets classified as held for sale (see note 22)

Total assets

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Total 
£’m

1,036.5
356.2
234.3
90.4

1,717.4
167.4
1,519.5
328.6
20.8
15.0
19.2
5.4
11.5
178.6
14.7

3,998.1

*  Centrally managed trading assets principally include amounts recoverable from insurers and other third parties in respect of environmental issues relating to 

former sites, other receivables and property, plant and equipment of central companies. 

Analysis by geography

UK
Rest of Europe
United States of America
Rest of World

Revenue 

Revenue is based on the location of the customer.

UK
Rest of Europe
United States of America
Rest of World

Non-current assets 

2020
£’m

129.7
270.8
1,027.6
256.0

2019
£’m

178.6
414.0
1,342.5
341.1

1,684.1

2,276.2

31 
December 
2020
£’m

617.6
184.0
2,094.3
34.1

31  

December
2019
£’m

668.3
203.2
2,613.5
28.5

2,930.0

3,513.5

Segmental non-current assets are based on the location of the assets. They exclude investments, other receivables, contract assets, 
derivative financial instruments and deferred tax assets.

 
 
 
 
 
 
Meggitt PLC
Annual Report & Accounts 2020

177

5. Segmental analysis continued
Year ended 31 December 2019 (Restated): Analysis of income statement items
The key performance measure reviewed by the CODM is underlying operating profit. A detailed reconciliation of operating profit to 
underlying operating profit is provided in note 9. Prior year figures have been restated to reflect the transfer of the external customer-
facing relationships for the UK braking systems maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) business from Airframe Systems to Services & 
Support with effect from 1 January 2020. The restatement comprised external revenue of £27.9m and underlying operating profit of 
£2.8m.

Gross segment revenue
Inter-segment revenue

Airframe 
Systems 
£’m

1,451.7
(422.2)

Engine 
Systems
£’m

341.2
(11.7)

Energy & 
Equipment 
£’m

Services & 
Support
£’m

450.3
(37.8)

Other*

Total 

Revenue from external customers

1,029.5

329.5

412.5

At a point in time
Over time: Power by the hour/cost per brake landing
Over time: Other

Revenue from external customers by basis of recognition

Civil OE
Civil aftermarket
Defence
Energy
Other

Revenue from external customers by end market

984.3
35.2
10.0

1,029.5

317.6
305.0
379.3
10.8
16.8

1,029.5

312.6
7.2
9.7

329.5

188.5
5.9
109.6
1.0
24.5

329.5

244.3
–
168.2

412.5

10.4
–
239.2
130.9
32.0

412.5

Underlying operating profit (see note 9)**
Items not affecting underlying operating profit (see note 9)

247.7

27.2

53.4

74.0

Operating profit (see note 9)
Finance income (see note 11)
Finance costs (see note 12)

Net finance costs
Profit before tax
Tax charge (see note 13)

Profit for the year

519.0
(19.9)

499.1

487.5
11.6
–

499.1

–
404.7
94.1
–
0.3

499.1

£’m

5.6
–

5.6

5.6
–
–

5.6

2.1
0.3
2.4
–
0.8

5.6

0.5

£’m

2,767.8
(491.6)

2,276.2

2,034.3
54.0
187.9

2,276.2

518.6
715.9
824.6
142.7
74.4

2,276.2

402.8
(77.5)

325.3
2.2
(40.8)

(38.6)
286.7
(64.1)

222.6

11.8
138.4
57.3

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Exceptional operating items***
Amortisation of intangible assets (see notes 18 and 19)****
Depreciation (see note 20)

3.2
102.9
28.9

5.7
22.1
13.7

1.5
12.0
12.0

1.4
1.3
2.7

–
0.1
–

* 

** 

Those businesses which were disposed of prior 1 January 2019, the effective date of the new divisional structure, or were classified as held for sale at that date, 
are presented separately as ‘Other’.
Central costs are allocated using a variety of bases designed to reflect the beneficial relationship between costs and segments. Bases include headcount,  
payroll costs, gross assets and revenue.

***  Of the total exceptional operating items in the year of £26.2m (see note 10), central items of £14.4m were not included in segmental exceptional operating items 

reviewed by the CODM.

****  Of the total amortisation in the year, £48.6m has been charged to underlying operating profit as defined in note 9.

The Group’s largest customer accounted for 8.1% of revenue (£184.3m). Revenue from this customer arises across all segments. Revenue 
recognised in 2019 relating to performance obligations satisfied or partially satisfied in the prior year was £3.4m.

 
 
 
 
 
178

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Annual Report & Accounts 2020

Notes to the consolidated financial statements 
continued

5. Segmental analysis continued
Year ended 31 December 2019: Analysis of additions to non-current assets*

Development costs (see note 18)
Programme participation costs (see note 18)
Other purchased intangible assets
Property, plant and equipment

Total

Airframe 
Systems 
£’m

Engine 
Systems
£’m

Energy & 
Equipment 
£’m

Services & 
Support
£’m

40.4
1.6
0.6
38.0

80.6

2.5
–
0.7
21.7

24.9

11.7
–
0.5
10.7

22.9

0.1
–
1.8
5.9

7.8

*  Relate to those non-current assets included within segmental trading assets reviewed by the CODM.

At 31 December 2019 (Restated): Analysis of segmental trading assets*

Airframe Systems
Engine Systems
Energy & Equipment
Services & Support

Total segmental trading assets
Centrally managed trading assets**
Goodwill (see note 17)
Other intangible assets excluding software assets
Investments (see note 21)
Derivative financial instruments – non-current (see note 33)
Deferred tax assets (see note 35)
Derivative financial instruments – current (see note 33)
Current tax recoverable
Cash and cash equivalents (see note 26)

Total assets

Total 

£’m

54.7
1.6
3.6
76.3

136.2

Total 
£’m

1,142.0
437.5
306.8
82.7

1,969.0
162.1
1,966.6
424.0
14.1
14.6
23.3
3.8
11.1
155.3

4,743.9

*  Prior year figures have been restated to reflect the transfer of the external customer facing relationships for the UK braking systems MRO business from Airframe 

Systems to Services & Support with effect from 1 January 2020. The restatement comprised segmental trading assets of £5.4m.

**  Centrally managed trading assets principally include amounts recoverable from insurers and other third parties in respect of environmental issues relating to 

former sites, other receivables and property, plant and equipment of central companies. 

6. Auditor’s remuneration
Payable to PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP and its associates:

For the audit of the Company and consolidated financial statements in respect of the current year
For the audit of the accounts of any subsidiary of the Company in respect of the current year

Auditor’s remuneration

2020 
£’m

2.2
0.6

2.8

2019 
£’m

1.9
0.8

2.7

Non-audit fees payable to PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP were £0.1m (2019: £0.1m), consisting of other assurance services.

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Annual Report & Accounts 2020

7. Operating profit
Operating profit is stated after charging:

Raw materials and consumables used
Employee costs (see note 8)
Site related costs*
Change in inventories of finished goods and work in progress
Capitalisation of development costs (see note 18)
Free of charge/deeply discounted manufactured parts (‘FOC’)
Amortisation of capitalised development costs (see note 18)
Amortisation of programme participation costs (see note 18)
Amortisation of intangible assets acquired in business combinations (see note 9)
Amortisation of software and other intangible assets (see note 19)
Depreciation (see note 20)
Loss on disposal of property, plant and equipment 
Exceptional operating items (see note 10)
Financial instruments – loss (see note 9)
Share of loss after tax of joint ventures (see note 21)
Other costs**

179

2019
£’m

726.5
815.4
153.0
(64.1)
(54.7)
72.7
28.7
1.1
89.8
18.8
57.3
–
26.2
–
–
129.2

2020
£’m

468.0
659.3
118.3
38.5
(41.4)
53.4
31.5
1.2
88.2
19.7
56.7
1.4
428.7
2.9
3.2
89.3

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4
6
-
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2
8

Total

2,018.9

1,999.9

*  Site related costs comprise business insurance, energy, establishment and other factory costs. 
**  Other costs principally comprise engineering materials of £16.8m (2019: £27.3m), freight costs of £22.8m (2019: £37.7m) and professional fees of £27.7m  

(2019: £39.2m).

Disclosed as:

Cost of sales
Operating costs

Total

2020
£’m

2019
£’m

1,200.6
818.3

1,458.0
541.9

2,018.9

1,999.9

Total research and development expenditure in the year is £97.9m (2019: £118.5m) of which £20.8m (2019: £23.8m) is charged to cost of 
sales or manufacturing work in progress, £35.7m (2019: £40.0m) is charged to net operating costs and £41.4m (2019: £54.7m) is 
capitalised as development costs (see note 18).

During 2020, the Group recognised in the income statement government grants of £3.8m, principally in the UK and Singapore, under 
the respective employee retention schemes of those countries which were launched as a means to support businesses and employees 
during the unprecedented global COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally in 2020, the Group received £2.1m in the US under the CARES Act 
from the US Department of Defense to sustain critical industrial base capability for military grade fuel bladders at its Rockmart facility. 
These amounts have been recognised in property, plant and equipment as a reduction in the cost of the related capital expenditure 
additions in the year.

Operating profit is stated after crediting:

Gain on disposal of property, plant and equipment 
Amounts arising on the acquisition, disposal and closure of businesses (see note 9)
Financial instruments – gain (see note 9)
Net foreign exchange gains
Share of profit after tax of joint venture (see note 21)
Other income

Operating income

2020
£’m

–
32.0
–
–
–
5.5

37.5

2019
£’m

0.9
23.5
15.0
3.4
1.7
4.5

49.0

 
 
 
180

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Annual Report & Accounts 2020

Notes to the consolidated financial statements 
continued

8. Employee information 

Wages and salaries
Social security costs
Retirement benefit costs (see note 36)
Share-based payment (credit)/expense (see note 38)
Other benefits including US medical costs

Employee costs including executive directors

Airframe Systems
Engine Systems
Energy & Equipment 
Services & Support
Corporate including shared services

Total persons employed including executive directors
Other persons providing similar services

Total 

2020 
£’m

530.2
53.0
35.2
(2.5)
43.4

659.3

2020
Average
Monthly
Number

5,324
2,013
1,479
543
510

9,869
651

2019 
£’m

660.4
59.6
47.3
10.1
38.0

815.4

2019
Average
Monthly
Number

5,935
2,344
1,911
523
546

11,259
965

10,520

12,224

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9. Reconciliations between profit and underlying profit 
Underlying profit is used by the Board to monitor and measure the underlying trading performance of the Group. Items excluded from 
underlying profit measures are treated consistently with the way performance is measured under the Group’s short-term and long-term 
incentive plans and with covenant requirements defined in the Group’s committed credit facilities.

Operating (loss)/profit

Amounts arising on the acquisition, disposal and closure of businesses
Amortisation of intangible assets acquired in business combinations
Financial instruments – loss/(gain)
Exceptional operating items (see note 10) 

Adjustments to operating profit*

Underlying operating profit

(Loss)/profit before tax

Adjustments to operating profit per above
Net interest expense on retirement benefit obligations (see note 36)**

Adjustments to profit before tax

Underlying profit before tax

(Loss)/profit for the year

Adjustments to profit before tax per above
Tax effect of adjustments to profit before tax***

Adjustments to profit for the year

Underlying profit for the year

Notes

a
b
c

2020
£’m

(297.3)

(32.0)
88.2
2.9
428.7

487.8

190.5

(334.0)

487.8
5.7

493.5

159.5

2019
£’m

325.3

(23.5)
89.8
(15.0)
26.2

77.5

402.8

286.7

77.5
6.1

83.6

370.3

(314.2)

222.6

493.5
(51.2)

442.3

128.1

83.6
(17.5)

66.1

288.7

*  Of the adjustments to operating profit, £39.0m (2019: £8.1m) relating to exceptional operating items has been charged to cost of sales, with the balance of 

£448.8m (2019: £69.4m) included within net operating costs.

**  The Board considers net interest expense on retirement benefit obligations to be a non-trading item and accordingly excludes it from underlying profit measures.
*** Of the tax effect of adjustments to profit before tax, £32.5m (2019: £5.0m) relates to exceptional operating items (see note 10).

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Meggitt PLC
Annual Report & Accounts 2020

181

9. Reconciliations between profit and underlying profit continued
a.  Delivery of the Group’s strategy includes investment in acquisitions that enhance its technology portfolio. The exclusion of significant 
items arising from M&A activity is designed by the Board to align short-term operational decisions with this longer-term strategy. 
Accordingly amounts arising on the acquisition, disposal and closure of businesses are excluded from underlying profit measures. 
These include gains or losses made on the disposal or closure of businesses, adjustments to the fair value of contingent consideration 
payable in respect of acquired businesses or receivable in respect of disposed businesses and costs directly attributable to the 
acquisition and disposal of businesses.

Gain on disposal of businesses in the current year (see note 44)
Amounts recognised in respect of disposals in prior periods

Amounts arising on the acquisition, disposal and closure of businesses

2020 
£’m

(33.3)
1.3

(32.0)

b.  For the same reasons as described in note 9a, the Group also excludes from its underlying profit figures the amortisation of 

intangible assets acquired in business combinations.

Amortisation of other intangible assets (see note 19)
Less: amortisation of software and other intangible assets (see note 19)

Amortisation of intangible assets acquired in business combinations

2020 
£’m

107.9
(19.7)

88.2

2019 
£’m

(23.5)
–

(23.5)

2019 
£’m

108.6
(18.8)

89.8

c.  To ensure appropriate and timely commercial decisions are made as to when and how to mitigate the Group’s foreign currency and 

interest rate exposures, gains and losses arising from the marking to market of financial instruments that are not hedge accounted are 
excluded from underlying profit measures. The Group does not hedge account for foreign currency forward contracts, cross currency 
swap contracts or treasury lock derivatives (refer to note 33 for further details). 

When interest rate derivatives qualify to be hedge accounted, any difference recognised in the income statement as hedge 
ineffectiveness between movements in fair value of the derivatives and fair value of fixed rate borrowings is excluded from underlying 
profit measures. 

Movement in fair value of foreign currency forward contracts
Impact of retranslating net foreign currency assets and liabilities at spot rate
Movement in fair value of interest rate derivatives
Movement in fair value of fixed rate borrowings due to interest rate risk (see note 32)
Movement in fair value of cross currency derivatives
Movement in fair value of treasury lock derivative

Financial instruments – loss/(gain)

2020
£’m

(15.9)
6.5
1.6
(1.6)
12.8
(0.5)

2.9

2019
£’m

(25.7)
(0.2)
(0.3)
(0.1)
11.8
(0.5)

(15.0)

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182

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Annual Report & Accounts 2020

Notes to the consolidated financial statements 
continued

10. Exceptional operating items
Delivery of the Group’s strategy includes the restructuring of its cost base to deliver operational improvements. The exclusion from 
underlying profit measures of significant items arising from site consolidations, business restructuring and integration of acquired 
businesses is designed by the Board to align short-term operational decisions with this longer-term strategy. In addition, the impact of 
the global COVID-19 pandemic, and the resulting uncertainty facing the commercial aerospace industry, have given rise to significant 
non-recurring impairment losses and asset write-downs which have been treated as exceptional operating items. 

Impairment losses and other asset write-downs
COVID-19 incremental non-recurring costs
Site consolidations
Business restructuring costs and other items

Exceptional operating items

Income statement

Cash flow

Note

a
 b
c
d

2020
£’m

374.2
22.0
33.5
(1.0)

428.7

2019
£’m

–
–
20.1
6.1

26.2

2020
£’m

–
18.9
31.6
(1.2)

49.3

2019
£’m

–
–
22.4
4.9

27.3

a.  The Group has recognised material impairment losses and other reductions in asset values arising from the current uncertainty facing 
the commercial aerospace industry. These have been aggregated and classified as an exceptional operating item given their size and 
that they all arise from the unprecedented circumstances that the industry has experienced in 2020. This treatment is consistent with 
the Group’s policy, with impairment losses and other asset write downs following the cancellation of the Dassault 5X programme, 
treated as an exceptional operating item in 2017.

Following the COVID-19 outbreak, governments have imposed strict travel restrictions contributing to a dramatic reduction in flight 
numbers and passenger load factors, the parking by operators of record numbers of aircraft, several airlines filing for bankruptcy  
and OE customers significantly reducing production levels. These events, together with uncertainty over the extent and pace of 
recovery in the sector, have impacted the reliability of forecasts for commercial aerospace more generally and also for specific aircraft 
platforms. Whilst management believes the COVID-19 outbreak is directly responsible for substantially all of the amounts recorded,  
it recognises the inherent difficulties in making a reliable estimate of the impact directly attributable to the pandemic and accordingly 
has not disclosed the amounts as related solely to COVID-19 or attempted to quantify the COVID-19 specific element.

     The amounts recognised in the year comprise:

Impairment of goodwill* (see note 17)
Impairment of development costs (see note 18)
Write down of inventory to net realisable value (see note 23)
Expected credit losses on trade receivables and contract assets (see note 32)

Impairment losses and other asset write-downs

Cost of 
sales 
£m

Operating 
costs 
£m

–
–
8.6
–

8.6

335.7
24.5
–
5.4

365.6

Total

£m

335.7
24.5
8.6
5.4

374.2

*  The goodwill impairment charge is lower than that recognised in the interim condensed consolidated financial statements solely due to retranslation of the 

amounts relating to foreign currency denominated goodwill at the average exchange rates for the year.

  To the extent any of the impairment losses or asset write-downs recognised in the current year are reversed in a subsequent period, 

the reversals will be recognised as exceptional operating items.

     The tax credit in respect of these items was £18.8m.

b.  In 2020, given its significance, the Group has excluded income and expenditure directly attributable to the global COVID-19 
pandemic, and which is not expected to recur in future periods, from its underlying profit measures. This principally relates to 
severance costs arising from the Group’s announcement on 23 April 2020 that it would be reducing its global workforce by around 
15% in response to the COVID-19 outbreak. Other amounts include additional cleaning costs; the purchase of personal protective 
equipment; and shift premiums and other associated costs arising from social distancing measures. Of the amounts classified as 
exceptional operating items, £11.5m has been recognised within cost of sales, with the balance of £10.5m recognised within other 
operating costs. The tax credit in respect of these items was £4.9m.

c.  Amounts principally relate to costs incurred in respect of the Group’s previously announced plans to reduce its footprint by the end 

of 2021. Cumulative costs since the announcement are £97.2m. In 2020, costs are principally in respect of the move to the new facility 
at Ansty Park in the West Midlands, UK which will enable the Group to consolidate a range of manufacturing, engineering and 
support operations into a single centre of excellence and the move of one of its Energy & Equipment businesses following the 
disposal of a number of its product lines in 2019. Of the amounts classified as exceptional operating items, £18.9m has been 
recognised within cost of sales with the balance of £14.6m recognised within other operating costs. The tax credit in respect of  
these items was £8.8m.

d.  In 2020, this includes a credit of £1.5m relating to the reversal of amounts previously recognised as exceptional operating items, 

following the recovery of costs from a third party. 

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Meggitt PLC
Annual Report & Accounts 2020

11. Finance income

Interest on bank deposits
Unwinding of interest on other receivables (see note 34)
Other finance income

Finance income

12.  Finance costs

Interest on bank borrowings
Interest on senior notes 
Interest on lease liabilities
Unwinding of discount on provisions (see note 34)
Net interest expense on retirement benefit obligations (see note 36)
Amortisation of debt issue costs
Less: amounts capitalised in the cost of qualifying assets (see note 18)

Finance costs

13. Tax

Current tax – current year
Current tax – adjustment in respect of prior years
Deferred tax – origination and reversal of temporary differences
Deferred tax – effects of changes in other statutory tax rates
Deferred tax – adjustment in respect of prior years

Tax (credit)/charge

183

2019 
£’m

1.4
0.5
0.3

2.2

2019
£’m

1.2
29.4
5.0
1.2
6.1
0.7
(2.8)

40.8

2019
£’m

60.2
(2.2)
6.4
(2.4)
2.1

64.1

2020 
£’m

0.1
0.2
0.2

0.5

2020
£’m

1.3
24.5
6.0
0.7
5.7
0.8
(1.8)

37.2

2020
£’m

29.3
(10.5)
(44.6)
–
6.0

(19.8)

The Finance Act 2020 introduced legislation to cancel the planned reduction in the main rate of corporation tax in the UK from 19% to 
17%. The legislation which was substantively enacted in the year, has resulted in an increase in the current tax charge of £1.3m.

Reconciliation of tax (credit)/charge
A reconciliation based on the weighted average tax rate applicable to the (loss)/profit of the Group’s consolidated businesses is as 
follows:

(Loss)/profit before tax at weighted average tax rate of 24.7%* (2019: 23.0%)
Effects of:
Impact of impairment losses on intangible assets
Deferred tax - effects of changes in other statutory tax rates
Tax effect of share-based payments
Non-taxable gain on disposal of businesses
Tax concessions
Tax credits and incentives
Additional liabilities in respect of uncertain tax positions
Other permanent differences
Current tax – adjustment in respect of prior years
Deferred tax – adjustment in respect of prior years

Tax (credit)/charge

2020
£’m

(82.4)

67.9
0.3
1.5
(4.8)
0.5
(2.7)
1.3
3.1
(10.5)
6.0

(19.8)

2019
£’m

65.9

–
(2.4)
(0.5)
0.1
(3.5)
(6.2)
6.5
4.3
(2.2)
2.1

64.1

*  Calculated by applying enacted tax rates applicable to profits and losses of the Group’s businesses in their respective countries in the year. Accordingly it does 

not reflect any changes in tax rates that have been substantively enacted, but are not applicable until future periods. The change in the weighted average
applicable tax rate is caused by changes to the geographical balance of the Group’s profits and losses due to the impact of the exceptional operating items.  
The sensitivity of the tax charge to changes in the tax rate is such that a one percentage point increase, or reduction, in the tax rate would cause the total taxation 
(credit)/charge for 2020 to increase, or reduce respectively, by approximately £9.6m of which £6.3m arises from the impact of the change in tax rate on net 
deferred tax liabilities.

The tax reconciliation for 2020 includes £2.7m (2019: £3.5m) in respect of tax credits and incentives in the US for items such as research 
& development and certain foreign derived income, and additional liabilities of £1.3m (2019: £6.5m) in respect of various uncertain tax 
positions in the Group (see note 29). The tax reconciliation for 2019 includes £3.5m of tax concessions which allow for income to be 
taxed at beneficial rates.

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Annual Report & Accounts 2020

Notes to the consolidated financial statements 
continued

13. Tax continued
Tax relating to components of other comprehensive (expense)/income

Deferred tax – currency translation movements
Deferred tax – movements in fair value of financial liabilities arising 

from changes in credit risk

Deferred tax – remeasurement of retirement benefit obligations

Other comprehensive (expense)/income

Deferred tax

Total

Tax relating to items recognised directly in equity

Current tax relating to share-based payment expense
Deferred tax relating to share-based payment expense (see note 35)

Total (charge)/credit

Before 
tax 

£’m

(79.9)

1.8
(42.6)

(120.7)

2020

Tax  
(charge)/ 
credit 
£’m

2.0

(0.4)
10.8

12.4

12.4

12.4

After 
tax 

£’m

(77.9)

1.4
(31.8)

Before 
tax 

£’m

(68.7)

–
(89.2)

(108.3)

(157.9)

2019

Tax  
(charge)/ 
credit 
£’m

0.3

–
11.9

12.2

12.2

12.2

2020 
£’m

(0.2)
(2.0)

(2.2)

After 
tax 

£’m

(68.4)

–
(77.3)

(145.7)

2019 
£’m

1.0
2.0

3.0

14. (Loss)/earnings per ordinary share 
Earnings per ordinary share (EPS) is calculated by dividing the profit attributable to owners of the Company by the weighted average 
number of shares in issue during the year. The weighted average number of shares excludes treasury shares and any shares bought by 
the Group and held during the year by an independently managed Employee Share Ownership Plan Trust (see note 39). The weighted 
average number of own shares excluded is 3.6m shares (2019: 4.0m shares). The calculation of diluted EPS adjusts the weighted average 
number of shares to reflect the assumption that all potentially dilutive ordinary shares convert. For the Group, this means assuming all 
share awards in issue are exercised. 

Basic EPS
Potential effect of dilutive ordinary shares

Diluted EPS

* 

(Loss)/profit for the year attributable to equity owners of the Company.

2020

Loss*
£’m

Shares 
Number ’m

(314.2)
–

(314.2)

777.8
11.6

789.4

EPS 
Pence

(40.4)
–

(40.4)

Profit*
£’m

222.6
–

222.6

2019

Shares 
Number ’m

773.7
12.1

785.8

EPS 
Pence

28.8
(0.5)

28.3

Underlying EPS is based on underlying profit for the year (see note 9) and the same number of shares used in the calculation of basic 
EPS. It is reconciled to basic EPS below:

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n
a
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i

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Basic EPS
Adjust for effects of:
Amounts arising on the acquisition, disposal and closure of businesses
Amortisation of intangible assets acquired in business combinations
Financial instruments – loss/(gain)
Exceptional operating items
Net interest expense on retirement benefit obligations

Underlying basic EPS

2020
Pence

(40.4)

(4.2)
9.2
0.3
51.0
0.6

16.5

2019
Pence

28.8

(2.0)
8.8
(1.6)
2.7
0.6

37.3

Diluted underlying EPS is based on underlying profit for the year (see note 9) and the same number of shares used in the calculation of 
diluted EPS. Diluted underlying EPS for the year is 16.2 pence (2019: 36.7 pence).

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Meggitt PLC
Annual Report & Accounts 2020

185

15. Dividends

In respect of earlier years
In respect of 2019:

Interim of 5.55p per share 

  Final of 11.95p per share

Dividends paid in cash

2020 
£’m

–

–
–

–

2019 
£’m

87.5

42.9
–

130.4

On 27 March 2020, the Group announced that the Board had decided that it was prudent to withdraw the recommendation to pay the 
final dividend in respect of the year ended 31 December 2019 of 11.95 pence per share. That action, together with a series of significant 
measures to reduce costs and tightly manage cash flow, was taken to further strengthen the financial position and liquidity of the Group. 
The directors did not recommend the payment of an interim dividend in respect of 2020 and no final dividend in respect of 2020 is to be 
proposed at the Annual General Meeting on 29 April 2021 for the same reasons.

16. Related party transactions
During the year, the Group made sales to the joint ventures of £0.7m (2019: £2.9m) and purchases from the joint ventures of £0.6m (2019: 
£0.1m). Transactions between the Company and its subsidiaries have been eliminated on consolidation. 

The remuneration of key management personnel of the Group, which is defined for 2020 as members of the Board and the Group 
Executive Committee, is set out below. 

Salaries and other short-term employee benefits
Share-based payment (credit)/expense

Total

2020 
£’m

4.7
(0.5)

4.2

2019 
£’m

10.8
2.5

13.3

Full details of all elements in the remuneration package of each director, together with directors’ share interests and share awards, are 
disclosed in the Directors’ remuneration report on pages 114 to 141 which forms part of these consolidated financial statements.

17. Goodwill

At 1 January
Exchange rate adjustments
Businesses disposed (see note 44)
Transferred to assets classified as held for sale (see note 22)
Impairment losses (see note 10)

At 31 December 

2020
£’m

1,966.6
(22.9)
(84.8)
(3.7)
(335.7)

2019
£’m

2,035.3
(57.9)
(10.8)
–
–

1,519.5

1,966.6

The net book amount at 31 December 2020 comprises cost of £1,841.4m (2019: £1,966.6m) and accumulated impairment losses of 
£321.9m (2019: £Nil).

An analysis of goodwill by CGU or group of CGUs is shown below:

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6
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2
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Airframe Systems
Engine Systems
Services & Support
Training Systems
Defence Systems
Other

Total

2020
£’m

1,105.3
115.3
206.6
–
30.2
62.1

2019
£’m

1,253.2
316.9
209.9
78.8
31.2
76.6

1,519.5

1,966.6

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
186

Meggitt PLC
Annual Report & Accounts 2020

Notes to the consolidated financial statements 
continued

17. Goodwill continued
Impairment testing – trigger event
On 19 March 2020, the Group released a trading update in response to the COVID-19 pandemic including an announcement that in light 
of the highly fluid market and global macro-economic situation, it was too early to provide earnings guidance for the remainder of the 
2020. The Group considered this to be the date a trigger event under IAS 36 ‘Impairment of Assets’ occurred and therefore performed 
an additional impairment test of its goodwill balances at the end of March, the closest month end date to this announcement. 

For the purpose of impairment testing, the Group used value-in-use calculations to determine recoverable amounts as it did not believe 
reliable estimates of fair value less costs of disposal existed given the current market uncertainty. No changes were made in 2020 to the 
level at which impairment testing was performed. The key assumptions for the value in use calculations for all CGUs and groups of CGUs 
were as follows:

Cash flows covered by management estimates 
Estimates of cash flows prepared and approved by management subsequent to the COVID-19 outbreak and which were restricted to 
cover a five year period from the date of the impairment testing were used. The Group did not believe there was sufficient reliability 
over forecasts in excess of five years for longer periods to be used for impairment testing, even though as a result it is possible that 
elements of the aerospace recovery were not captured by using this shorter period. Given the uncertainty affecting forecasts for the 
markets in which the Group operates, it did not consider the approach adopted in prior periods of using a single set of cash flows as its 
best estimate to be appropriate. Accordingly in 2020, the Group prepared cash flow forecasts covering a number of potential scenarios 
which were probability weighted to derive an expected value for the cash flows to be used for impairment testing. The three scenarios 
modelled reflected different assumptions as to the extent and pace of recovery in the civil aerospace sector in particular, although the 
impacts on other markets of the economic uncertainty arising from COVID-19 were also considered.

The base case scenario assumed civil aftermarket and OE levels recovered progressively from a low point expected to take place in Q2/
Q3 2020, with no second wave of global lock down restrictions. An increasing return of passenger flights was anticipated, with ASKs 
returning to pre-COVID-19 levels in 2024. Civil OE deliveries, which reflect the emerging build rates from the Group’s customer base, 
remained below 2019 levels until the end of the five-year forecast period. The base case assumed continued robust funding of defence 
expenditure, particularly by the US government, and that energy and other markets were not largely impacted by COVID-19 over the 
five-year forecast period. A variant of the base case was also developed which, whilst assuming revenue levels consistent with those 
reflected in the base case, assumed a slower level of gross margin improvement over the five years. In aggregate a 70% probability was 
assigned to these two base case scenarios. 

The third scenario, to which a 30% probability was assigned, used the downside scenario developed for the period to the end of 2021  
as part of the going concern assessment made in the Group’s interim financial statements. Under this downside scenario, waves of 
COVID-19 infection occurred globally, impacting consumers’ ability and confidence to resume travelling, with an effective vaccine not 
widely available during the period and reduced consumer discretionary spending power. Weakening ASKs were assumed to result in 
production build rates for OEM deliveries to airlines being depressed further. Additionally, as a result of the wider impact of a more 
prolonged pandemic, higher levels of government borrowing led to defence spending being constrained. These resulted in the Group’s 
civil revenues falling by 15% in 2021, when measured against the 2020 base case assumption. Defence markets experienced growth in 
2021, but this was constrained to levels of assumed inflation. Energy and other markets remained depressed as the weaker economic 
environment resulted in reduced investment in oil and gas markets. The downside scenario assumed the Group took further appropriate 
non-restructuring mitigating actions to reduce its cost base and to preserve cash flows. The scenario assumed a gradual recovery from 
2022 onwards, with gross margin percentage improvements year on year consistent with the base case variant model. Under this 
scenario, revenues in year five were approximately 10% lower than in either of the base case models. 

The sensitivity of the amounts recorded as an impairment charge to the probabilities assigned to the three scenarios is such that 
increasing to 80% or reducing to 60% the percentage applied to the two base case scenarios would have resulted in a reduction or 
increase in the impairment charge of £70.0m respectively.

Growth rates used for periods beyond those covered by management’s detailed budgets and plans 
The Group’s assumptions reflected a number of different inputs: its own estimates taking into account the long term nature of the 
industry in which the CGUs operate and their sole source positions, industry estimates where available, the impacts of climate change 
and other potential structural changes in markets and long term inflation forecasts for the countries in which the CGUs operate. These 
different assumptions were probability weighted to derive an expected growth rate and the lower of this value and the long-term 
inflation forecasts for the countries in which the CGUs operate was used. The growth rates used for impairment testing were as follows:

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Airframe Systems
Engine Systems
Services & Support
Defence Systems
Other

2020 
%

2.0
1.3
2.1
2.2
0.7-2.2

2019 
%

2.2
2.0
2.1
2.3
1.0-2.3

 
 
 
 
 
Meggitt PLC
Annual Report & Accounts 2020

187

17. Goodwill continued
Discount rates applied to future cash flows  
The Group’s post-tax weighted average cost of capital (WACC) was used as the foundation for determining the discount rates to be 
applied. The WACC was adjusted to a pre-tax rate and to reflect risks specific to the CGU or group of CGUs not already reflected in its 
future cash flows. The pre-tax discount rates used were as follows:

2020 
%

2019 
%

Airframe Systems
Engine Systems
Services & Support
Defence Systems
Other

10.7
9.1
10.4
10.6
8.1-11.0

10.1
9.2
10.2
10.8
5.9-10.8

As a result of the impairment test, impairment losses of £335.7m was recognised as an exceptional operating item (see note 10). The 
impairment charge in the year is analysed by CGU or group of CGUs as follows:

Airframe Systems
Engine Systems
Energy & Equipment – Fribourg

Total 

2020 
£m

122.3
199.7
13.7

335.7

At the date the impairment testing was concluded, it was considered reasonably foreseeable that the adverse changes in assumptions 
set out below could arise and would lead to an increased impairment charge in future accounting periods:

•  Probability weighted cash flows move adversely by 5% over the five year period reflecting managements’ assessment of reasonably 

foreseeable changes in the probability weightings applied to the three scenarios modelled. This would lead to additional impairment 
losses of £213.0m, analysed as losses relating to Airframe Systems of £175.2m, Engine Systems of £31.6m and Energy & Equipment 
– Fribourg of £6.2m. Goodwill relating to other CGUs and groups of CGUs would not be impacted. 

•  Long-term growth rates reduce by 25bps reflecting the weighted average movement seen across the CGUs and groups of CGUs for 
which an impairment has been recognised, since the date of the last impairment test. This would lead to an additional impairment 
charge of £181.8m, analysed as losses relating to Airframe Systems of £142.7m, Engine Systems of £35.1m and Energy & Equipment 
– Fribourg of £4.0m. Goodwill relating to other CGUs and groups of CGUs would not be impacted.

•  Discount rates applied to future cash flows increase by 50 basis points reflecting the weighted average movement seen across the 

CGUs and groups of CGUs for which an impairment has been recognised, since the date of the last impairment test. This would lead 
to additional impairment losses of £195.8m, analysed as losses relating to Airframe Systems of £154.9m, Engine Systems of £36.8m 
and Energy & Equipment – Fribourg of £4.1m. Goodwill relating to other CGUs and groups of CGUs would not be impacted. 

It was also considered reasonably foreseeable that favourable movements in assumptions of similar levels to those adverse movements 
described could occur. However, under IFRIC 10 ‘Interim Financial Reporting and Impairment’ impairment losses recognised in interim 
financial statements cannot be reversed in subsequent accounting periods.

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8

 
 
 
 
188

Meggitt PLC
Annual Report & Accounts 2020

Notes to the consolidated financial statements 
continued

17. Goodwill continued
Impairment testing subsequent to the trigger event
Under the Group’s annual impairment testing cycle, goodwill would normally have been tested at 30 June 2020. In light of the proximity 
of this date to the trigger date, for which the impairment testing exercise was concluded in Q3 2020, a separate detailed impairment 
test was not performed at 30 June 2020. Management concluded this was appropriate given any test at 30 June 2020 would have  
used cash flows derived from the same management estimates used as part of the trigger impairment testing; its assessment of the 
probability weightings applied to the three scenarios described above had not changed; there had been no change to its assessment  
of long-term growth rates for periods not covered by management estimates or long-term inflation forecasts for these periods; and 
discount rates had moved modestly lower (i.e. favourably) between 31 March 2020 and 30 June 2020. Accordingly, the Group concluded 
that no additional impairment charge would have been recorded as a result of a detailed impairment test at 30 June 2020.

The Group has also assessed whether, at 31 December 2020, there are indicators that an additional impairment charge would be 
required and concluded that such indicators do not exist. This was supported by a review of:

•  assets allocated to each of the CGUs and groups of CGUs, for which an impairment loss was recognised following the trigger event 

impairment testing. These had decreased modestly between the trigger event impairment test date (after recording the impairment 
losses) and 31 December 2020;

•  cash flow estimates for the periods covered by management estimates. The Group’s current five-year base case and downside 
scenarios, the earlier years of which were used in the going concern assessment judgement (see note 1), and the probability 
weightings that management would assign to these scenarios, were compared with the equivalent scenarios used for the trigger 
event impairment test. Between the trigger event impairment testing date and 31 December 2020, whilst a second wave of global 
lock down restrictions has taken place, there were also a number of vaccines announced which were in the process of obtaining 
regulatory approval and which, subsequent to the balance sheet date, have received approval and are being rolled out globally. 
When comparing the current cash flow estimates, which reflect these events and also capture a greater part of the anticipated 
recovery in the aerospace industry by using the five-year period to 31 December 2025, rather than the five-year period to 31 March 
2025 at the impairment test trigger event date, no indicators of an additional impairment were identified; 

•  growth rates for periods beyond those covered by management estimates. Management’s own estimates of long-term growth rates 
had not changed and long-term inflation forecasts for the countries in which the CGUs and groups of CGUs operate have either 
remained at the same levels, or increased modestly at 31 December 2020, since the trigger event impairment test date; and

•  discount rates at 31 December 2020. These were recalculated at 31 December 2020 and had decreased since the trigger event 

impairment test for all CGUs and groups of CGUs, thus increasing their value-in-use.

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Meggitt PLC
Annual Report & Accounts 2020

18. Development costs and programme participation costs

At 1 January 2019
Cost
Accumulated amortisation

Net book amount

Year ended 31 December 2019
Opening net book amount
Exchange rate adjustments
Additions – Internal development costs
– Cash payments

Transfers from contract assets
Interest capitalised (see note 12)
Businesses disposed
Amortisation - net operating costs

Net book amount

At 1 January 2020
Cost
Accumulated amortisation

Net book amount

Year ended 31 December 2020
Opening net book amount
Exchange rate adjustments
Additions – Internal development costs
– Cash payments
Transfers to contract assets
Disposals
Interest capitalised (see note 12)
Businesses disposed (see note 44)
Impairment losses*
Amortisation - net operating costs

Net book amount

At 31 December 2020
Cost
Accumulated amortisation 

Net book amount

189

Programme 
participation 
costs 
£’m

38.0
(19.8)

18.2

18.2
(0.7)
–
1.6
–
–
–
(1.1)

18.0

38.4
(20.4)

18.0

18.0
(0.7)
–
2.6
–
–
–
–
–
(1.2)

18.7

39.6
(20.9)

18.7

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–

1
4
6
-
2
2
8

Development 
costs 

£’m

774.9
(217.8)

557.1

557.1
(16.3)
54.7
–
7.2
2.8
(0.9)
(28.7)

575.9

814.4
(238.5)

575.9

575.9
(7.6)
41.4
–
(1.8)
(1.0)
1.8
(19.7)
(25.6)
(31.5)

531.9

800.0
(268.1)

531.9

*  Of the impairment losses, £24.5m (2019:£Nil) has been charged to operating exceptional items (see note 10). This relates to programmes where changes in third 

party fleet forecasts and customer announcements subsequent to the COVID-19 outbreak have required write-downs of the carrying value of capitalised 
development costs to reflect reduced future expected benefits from these programmes.

The net book amount of development costs includes £423.3m (2019: £447.1m) in respect of Airframe Systems which have an estimated 
weighted average remaining life of 12.7 years (2019: 13.0 years). Interest has been capitalised using the average rate payable on the 
Group’s floating rate borrowings of 1.2% (2019: 2.0%). Tax relief claimed on interest capitalised in the year is £0.3m (2019: £0.5m). 

Although the Group has recorded a material impairment loss in the current year, this has arisen as a result of the unprecedented 
uncertainty in the aerospace sector in 2020. The Group does not believe there is a significant risk that third party fleet delivery forecasts 
will fall further in 2021, such that a material impairment loss will be required to be recognised in the next 12 months.

The Group has individually material balances capitalised on the Airbus A220, Bombardier Global 7500/8000, Embraer 450/500, Irkut MC 
21, Gulfstream G500/G600, LEAP-X, Dassault Falcon 6X, Boeing 787 and Airbus A321NEO programmes. These programmes have an 
aggregate net book amount of £318.3m at 31 December 2020 (At 31 December 2019 these programmes had an aggregate net book 
amount of £319.0m). Of this net book amount, £59.0m (2019: £51.0m) relates to aircraft programmes not yet in service. The Group does 
not believe that for any of these programmes there is a significant risk of an OEM bankruptcy or programme cancellation in the next 12 
months which would give rise to material loss in 2021.

 
 
 
 
 
190

Meggitt PLC
Annual Report & Accounts 2020

Notes to the consolidated financial statements 
continued

19. Other intangible assets

At 1 January 2019
Cost
Accumulated amortisation 

Net book amount 

Year ended 31 December 2019
Opening net book amount
Exchange rate adjustments
Additions
Disposals
Amortisation – net operating costs

Net book amount

At 1 January 2020
Cost
Accumulated amortisation 

Net book amount 

Year ended 31 December 2020
Opening net book amount
Exchange rate adjustments
Businesses disposed (see note 44)
Additions
Disposals
Amortisation – net operating costs

Net book amount

At 31 December 2020
Cost
Accumulated amortisation 

Net book amount

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Acquired in business combinations*

Customer  
relationships 

Technology 

£’m

£’m

Trade 
names and 
trademarks 
 £’m

1,142.6
(717.8)

424.8

424.8
(11.4)
–
–
(68.0)

345.4

1,099.9
(754.5)

345.4

345.4
(6.1)
–
–
–
(67.0)

272.3

1,056.9
(784.6)

272.3

332.3
(232.5)

99.8

99.8
(2.5)
–
–
(21.1)

76.2

321.8
(245.6)

76.2

76.2
(1.1)
–
–
–
(20.5)

54.6

282.5
(227.9)

54.6

32.4
(29.2)

3.2

3.2
(0.1)
–
–
(0.7)

2.4

30.0
(27.6)

2.4

2.4
–
–
–
–
(0.7)

1.7

21.7
(20.0)

1.7

Software  
and other 
assets 
£’m

190.6
(108.0)

82.6

82.6
(1.0)
17.2
(0.4)
(18.8)

79.6

Total 

£’m

1,697.9
(1,087.5)

610.4

610.4
(15.0)
17.2
(0.4)
(108.6)

503.6

202.4
(122.8)

79.6

1,654.1
(1,150.5)

503.6

79.6
(0.1)
(0.1)
13.2
(0.4)
(19.7)

72.5

503.6
(7.3)
(0.1)
13.2
(0.4)
(107.9)

401.1

212.2
(139.7)

72.5

1,573.3
(1,172.2)

401.1

*  Amortisation of these items is excluded from the Group’s underlying profit figures (see note 9).

The net book amount of customer relationships includes £182.8m (2019: £243.0m) in respect of Airframe Systems and £77.3m (2019: 
£87.7m) in respect of Engine Systems. These have estimated weighted average remaining lives of 4.3 years (2019: 5.0 years) and 12.0 
years (2019: 12.8 years), respectively. 

The net book amount of technology includes £32.0m (2019: £49.4m) in respect of Airframe Systems and £20.6m (2019: £24.2m) in 
respect of Engine Systems. These have estimated weighted average remaining lives of 3.3 years (2019: 3.8 years) and 7.7 years (2019: 8.6 
years), respectively.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Meggitt PLC
Annual Report & Accounts 2020

20. Property, plant and equipment

At 1 January 2019
Cost
Accumulated depreciation 

Net book amount 

Year ended 31 December 2019
Opening net book amount
Exchange rate adjustments
Businesses disposed
Additions
Disposals
Transfers
Depreciation*

Net book amount**

At 1 January 2020
Cost
Accumulated depreciation 

Net book amount 

Year ended 31 December 2020
Opening net book amount
Exchange rate adjustments
Businesses disposed (see note 44)
Additions
Transferred to assets classified as held for sale (see note 22)
Disposals
Transfers
Depreciation*

Land and 
buildings 

£’m

Plant, 
equipment 
and vehicles 
£’m

Right-of-use 
assets: 
property 
£’m

Right-of-use 
assets: 
other 
£’m

218.5
(89.8)

128.7

128.7
(3.1)
(4.8)
16.8
(11.7)
8.8
(8.6)

126.1

221.7
(95.6)

126.1

126.1
(1.7)
(0.4)
30.8
–
(0.2)
1.9
(8.3)

553.6
(357.4)

196.2

196.2
(5.8)
(1.3)
60.6
(1.1)
(9.1)
(32.2)

207.3

158.7
(82.0)

76.7

76.7
(2.1)
(0.1)
54.1
–
0.3
(15.4)

113.5

570.3
(363.0)

207.3

203.8
(90.3)

113.5

207.3
(3.4)
(2.4)
40.8
(0.8)
(1.2)
(1.9)
(32.4)

113.5
(1.6)
(4.0)
10.4
(0.9)
–
–
(14.8)

191

Total 

£’m

934.9
(530.9)

404.0

404.0
(11.2)
(6.2)
132.9
(12.8)
–
(57.3)

449.4

1,000.4
(551.0)

449.4

449.4
(6.8)
(6.8)
83.0
(1.7)
(1.6)
–
(56.7)

458.8

993.9
(535.1)

458.8

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–

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4
6
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2
8

4.1
(1.7)

2.4

2.4
(0.2)
–
1.4
–
–
(1.1)

2.5

4.6
(2.1)

2.5

2.5
(0.1)
–
1.0
–
(0.2)
–
(1.2)

2.0

5.0
(3.0)

2.0

Net book amount

148.2

206.0

102.6

At 31 December 2020
Cost
Accumulated depreciation 

Net book amount**

233.2
(85.0)

148.2

567.5
(361.5)

206.0

188.2
(85.6)

102.6

*  The depreciation charge for the year includes £3.8m which has been charged to exceptional operating items (2019: £1.4m).
**  Included within the net book amount are assets under construction of £9.2m (2019: £1.1m) relating to land and buildings and £26.9m (2019: £20.2m) relating to 

plant, equipment and vehicles. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
192

Meggitt PLC
Annual Report & Accounts 2020

Notes to the consolidated financial statements 
continued

21. Investments 
The Group’s investments in its joint ventures, Meggitt UTC Aerospace Systems, LLC (UTC Aero) and HiETA Technologies Limited (HiETA) 
are accounted for using the equity method and are stated as follows:

At 1 January
Exchange rate adjustments
Additions*
Share of (loss)/profit after tax

At 31 December

2020 
£’m

14.1
(0.5)
10.4
(3.2)

20.8

2019 
£’m

12.9
(0.5)
–
1.7

14.1

* 

In January 2020, the Group acquired a 33% investment in HiETA Technologies Ltd, a UK company with world-leading capabilities in metal additive manufacturing 
and a focus on developing new ways to make heat exchangers using additive manufacturing technology. The investment comprised £7.6m paid in cash in the year 
and contingent consideration of £2.8m.

Summarised financial information for the joint ventures
The information below reflects amounts presented in the financial statements of the joint ventures adjusted to reflect the Group’s 
accounting policies (and not the Group’s share of those amounts unless otherwise stated).

Summarised statement of comprehensive income

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Operating (loss)/profit
Finance costs

(Loss)/profit before tax
Tax charge

(Loss)/profit after tax

Total comprehensive (expense)/income

Summarised balance sheet

Property, plant and equipment

Cash and cash equivalents
Other current assets

Total current assets

Financial liabilities (excluding trade payables)
Other liabilities

Total liabilities

Net assets/(liabilities)

Reconciliation of summarised financial information

Net assets/(liabilities) at 1 January
Total comprehensive (expense)/income

Net assets/(liabilities) at 31 December

Group’s interest in joint venture
Goodwill

Group’s investment at 31 December

There are no contingent liabilities relating to the Group’s interest in the joint ventures.

UTC Aero
£’m

10.6

2020

HiETA
£’m

2.4

(2.9)
(0.2)

(3.1)
(0.1)

(3.2)

(3.1)

(3.1)
(0.2)

(3.3)
–

(3.3)

(3.3)

UTC Aero
£’m

2020

HiETA
£’m

2.8

4.3
7.3

11.6

(4.1)
(8.7)

(12.8)

1.6

2.8

0.3
0.6

0.9

(6.6)
(1.0)

(7.6)

(3.9)

UTC Aero
£’m

2020

HiETA
£’m

4.7
(3.1)

1.6

1.1
10.4

11.5

(0.6)
(3.3)

(3.9)

(1.3)
10.6

9.3

Total
£’m

13.0

(6.0)
(0.4)

(6.4)
(0.1)

(6.5)

(6.4)

Total
£’m

5.6

4.6
7.9

12.5

(10.7)
(9.7)

(20.4)

(2.3)

Total
£’m

4.1
(6.4)

(2.3)

(0.2)
21.0

20.8

2019

UTC Aero
£’m

24.1

2.8
(0.1)

2.7
(0.2)

2.5

2.4

2019

UTC Aero
£’m

2.0

3.2
9.1

12.3

(3.1)
(6.5)

(9.6)

4.7

2019

UTC Aero
£’m

2.3
2.4

4.7

3.3
10.8

14.1

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Meggitt PLC
Annual Report & Accounts 2020

193

22. Assets classified as held for sale
In December 2020, the sale of the Group’s aircraft ducting business, based in Dunstable UK, together with a small product line from one 
of the Group’s other businesses was agreed. Accordingly, the related assets of the business have been classified as a disposal group 
held for sale and are presented separately at the balance sheet date together with directly associated liabilities. The sale completed on 
30 January 2021 for a cash consideration of £20.2m, subject to an adjustment for working capital in the business at the date of disposal.

At 1 January 2020
Additions

At 31 December 2020

Goodwill (see note 17)
Property, plant and equipment (see note 20)
Inventories
Trade and other receivables

Assets classified as held for sale

Trade and other payables
Contract liabilities
Provisions (see note 34)
Lease liabilities

Liabilities directly associated with assets classified as held for sale

23. Inventories

Raw materials and bought-in components
Manufacturing work in progress
Finished goods and goods for resale

Total

Assets 
classified as 
held for sale

£’m

–
14.7

14.7

2020

Liabilities 
directly 
associated 
with assets 
classified as 
held for sale
£’m

–
(3.7)

(3.7)

Total

£’m

–
11.0

11.0

Total
£’m

3.7
1.7
5.2
4.1

14.7

(1.4)
(1.1)
(0.1)
(1.1)

(3.7)

2020
£’m

163.3
160.3
103.3

426.9

2019
£’m

175.8
205.8
108.2

489.8

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The cost of inventories recognised as an expense and included within cost of sales is £1,080.9m (2019: £1,353.3m). The cost of 
inventories recognised as an expense includes £13.4m (2019: £7.2m) in respect of write-downs of inventory to net realisable value. Of 
this write-down, £8.6m (2019: £Nil) has been recognised as an exceptional operating item (see note 10). This relates to inventory held for 
specific older aircraft programmes, where customer announcements with regards to the future operations of the existing fleet made 
subsequent to the COVID-19 outbreak, have required write-downs of inventory to reflect the new significantly reduced demand. The 
cost of inventories recognised as an expense has been reduced by £3.3m (2019: £3.6m) in respect of the reversal of write-downs of 
inventory to net realisable value made in previous years.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
194

Meggitt PLC
Annual Report & Accounts 2020

Notes to the consolidated financial statements 
continued

24. Trade and other receivables

Trade receivables
Prepayments
Other receivables

Current portion

Other receivables

Non-current portion

Total

2020
£’m

198.8
12.5
39.8

251.1

16.5

16.5

2019
£’m

330.4
18.2
31.3

379.9

17.0

17.0

267.6

396.9

As at 31 December 2020, £7.9 million was due from one of the joint ventures (2019: £4.2 million) and is included within trade receivables. 

Other receivables include £18.8m (2019: £17.0m) in respect of amounts recoverable from insurers and other third parties, principally 
relating to businesses sold by Whittaker Corporation prior to its acquisition by the Group, of which £5.0m (2019: £2.2m) is shown as 
current (see note 34). 

The Group does not hold any collateral as security. Trade and other receivables are denominated in the following currencies:

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Sterling
US dollar
Euro
Other

Total

25. Contract assets

Conditional rights to consideration on over time contracts
Programme participation cash payments

Current portion

Conditional rights to consideration on over time contracts
Programme participation cash payments

Non-current portion

Total

2020
£’m

46.1
189.3
19.3
12.9

267.6

2020
£’m

45.7
3.1

48.8

24.6
35.0

59.6

2019
£’m

51.7
309.7
23.2
12.3

396.9

2019 
£’m

63.8
2.5

66.3

25.4
29.8

55.2

108.4

121.5

Amortisation of programme participation cash payments of £3.1m (2019: £2.6m) has been recognised as a reduction in revenue in the 
year. Cumulative catch-up adjustments to revenue recognised in a prior period, arising from changes in the current year in the measure 
of progress or contract price on contract assets were £0.4m (2019: £1.2m).

26. Cash and cash equivalents

Cash at bank and on hand
Short-term bank deposits

Total

Cash and cash equivalents are subject to interest at floating rates. 

2020 
£’m

178.6
–

178.6

2019 
£’m

136.2
19.1

155.3

 
 
 
 
 
 
Meggitt PLC
Annual Report & Accounts 2020

195

27. Trade and other payables 

Trade payables
Social security and other taxes
Accrued expenses
Other payables

Current portion

Other payables

Non-current portion

Total

2020
£’m

131.4
10.7
58.5
95.9

296.5

8.5

8.5

2019
£’m

222.0
12.5
72.2
157.8

464.5

2.1

2.1

305.0

466.6

Other payables include £23.5m (2019: £48.3m) due to banks in respect of the Group’s supplier financing programme. No amounts due 
under the programme met the requirements to be classified as bank borrowings (2019: £Nil).

28. Contract liabilities

Contributions received from customers during development phase of programmes
Cost per brake landing/power by the hour contracts
Other consideration received in advance of performance

Current portion

Contributions received from customers during development phase of programmes
Cost per brake landing/power by the hour contracts
Other consideration received in advance of performance

Non-current portion

Total

2020 
£’m

1.7
4.9
44.2

50.8

45.1
5.2
23.6

73.9

2019 
£’m

1.0
6.6
42.9

50.5

40.9
9.1
27.0

77.0

124.7

127.5

Revenue recognised in the year relating to amounts recognised as a contract liability at the beginning of the year was £36.1m 
(2019: £43.9m). Cumulative catch-up adjustments to revenue recognised in a prior year, arising from changes in the current year in the 
measure of progress or contract price on contract liabilities were £0.7m (2019: £2.6m).

The aggregate amount of the transaction price allocated to performance obligations that are unsatisfied or partly satisfied at  
31 December 2020 is £208.6m (2019: £366.1m). Of this aggregate amount, the Group expects to recognise £161.4m (2019: £112.5m) as 
revenue during 2021, with the balance recognised in more than one year but not more than five years. The Group has taken the practical 
expedients available in IFRS 15 not to include amounts relating to contracts which have an expected duration of less than 12 months 
when received, or amounts relating to contracts for which revenue is recognised using a method whereby the value to the customer 
corresponds to the right to invoice the customer. 

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196

Meggitt PLC
Annual Report & Accounts 2020

Notes to the consolidated financial statements 
continued

29. Current tax liabilities

UK Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) regime
Other liabilities in respect of uncertain tax positions
Other current tax liabilities

Current tax liabilities

Note

a
b

2020 
£’m

18.3
30.8
7.8

56.9

2019 
£’m

18.3
28.7
34.6

81.6

a.  In April 2019, the European Commission announced its decision that state aid partially applies to one of the UK’s CFC exemptions 
that was utilised by the Group. This decision has been appealed by the UK Government and the Group has also lodged its own 
separate appeal. There are a number of uncertainties that remain to be resolved, including the results of the appeals processes and, 
should these be unsuccessful, the extent to which historical tax benefits received by the Group are deemed to have derived from 
financing activities performed in the UK rather than overseas. In making an assessment of the appropriate tax liability related to 
historical tax benefits received by the Group under the CFC regime, the Group has estimated that the most likely outcome is that the 
appeals will not be successful and accordingly a liability for the Group’s estimated exposure is held. 

  Pending the outcome of these appeals, the UK tax authorities have an obligation to collect amounts due from UK businesses and the 
Group. On 17 December 2020, the Taxation (Post-transition Period) Act 2020 received Royal Assent which gave the UK tax authorities 
specific powers to recover amounts considered due from UK businesses and in late February 2021 the Group received an assessment 
from the UK tax authority. The assessment is in line with the amounts provided and payments will be made in the first half of 2021. As 
such, the Group does not consider there to be a significant risk of a material adjustment to the liability recognised within the next 12 
months.

Separate to the state aid uncertainty, the Group is also in discussion with the UK tax authorities over the applicability of one of the 
UK’s CFC exemptions utilised by the Group under UK domestic law. As such, in the event that the state aid appeals are successful, an 
element of the £18.3m provision would remain until resolution of the discussions with the UK tax authorities. 

b.  In determining the Group’s tax liabilities, it is also necessary to consider other transactions in key tax jurisdictions for which the 

ultimate tax determination is uncertain. The Group’s tax liabilities for these matters reflect a number of estimates where the amount 
of tax payable is either currently under audit by the tax authorities or relates to a period which has yet to be audited. These areas 
include the deductibility of interest on certain borrowings used to finance acquisitions made by the Group and the value at which 
goods and services are transferred between Group companies. The nature of the items, for which a liability is held, is such that the 
final outcome could vary from the amounts recognised once a final tax determination is made, although currently none of these 
exposures are considered individually material. To the extent the estimated final outcome differs from the tax that has been 
provided, adjustments will be made to the liabilities held in the period the determination is made. The Group does not consider 
there to be a significant risk of a material adjustment to the liabilities recognised within the next 12 months.

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2
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6
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30. Lease liabilities
The Group leases various factories, warehouses, offices, plant and equipment. The following amounts are included in the Group’s 
consolidated financial statements in respect of its leases:

Depreciation charge for right-of-use assets (see note 20)
Additions to right-of-use assets (see note 20)*
Net book amount of right-of-use assets (see note 20)
Interest on lease liabilities (see note 12)
Expense related to short-term leases and low-value assets
Net cash outflow for leases** 

2020
£’m

16.0
11.4
104.6
6.0
0.6
17.9

2019
£’m

16.5
55.5
116.0
5.0
0.1
1.4

In 2019, this includes £38.4m relating to the new Ansty Park site which has a lease term of 30 years.

* 
**  Comprises capital payments of £15.4m (2019: £16.2m) and interest payments of £6.0m (2019: £4.1m), less a reverse lease premium received of £3.5m (2019: 

£18.9m) relating to the new Ansty Park site.

Analysis of lease liabilities:

In one year or less
In more than one year but not more than five years
In more than five years

Present value of lease liabilities

Current portion

Non-current portion

Present value  
of minimum  
lease payments

2020
£’m

14.7
45.4
84.2

144.3

14.7

129.6

2019
£’m

16.4
51.8
84.4

152.6

16.4

136.2

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Meggitt PLC
Annual Report & Accounts 2020

31. Bank and other borrowings

Bank loans
Other loans

Current portion

Bank loans
Other loans

Non-current portion

Total

Analysis of bank and other borrowings repayable:
In one year or less
In more than one year but not more than five years
In more than five years

Total

Analysis of bank and other borrowings:
Drawn under committed facilities
Drawn under uncommitted facilities
Less unamortised debt issue costs
Fair value adjustment to fixed rate borrowings
Interest accruals

Total

197

2019 
£’m

0.2
219.2

219.4

141.4
553.1

694.5

913.9

219.4
467.8
226.7

913.9

898.4
–
(0.8)
6.7
9.6

913.9

2020
£’m

2.2
8.3

10.5

43.7
753.1

796.8

807.3

10.5
577.4
219.4

807.3

795.9
2.2
(2.4)
3.3
8.3

807.3

Debt issue costs are amortised over the period of the facility to which they relate. The Group has no secured borrowings.

The Group has the following committed facilities at notional value:

2010 Senior notes (USD125.0m)
2016 Senior notes (USD600.0m)
2020 Senior notes (USD300.0m)
Syndicated credit facility (USD750.0m)
Bilateral facility (USD125.0m)
Bilateral facility (GBP100.0m)
Bilateral facility (GBP45.0m)

Committed facilities

Drawn 
£’m

91.6
439.5
219.8
–
–
–
45.0

795.9

2020

Undrawn 
£’m

–
–
–
549.4
91.5
100.0
–

Total 
£’m

91.6
439.5
219.8
549.4
91.5
100.0
45.0

740.9

1,536.8

Drawn 
£’m

302.8
454.2
–
141.4
–
–
–

898.4

2019

Undrawn 
£’m

–
–
–
426.4
94.6
100.0
45.0

666.0

Total 
£’m

302.8
454.2
–
567.8
94.6
100.0
45.0

1,564.4

The Group issued USD400m of loan notes to private placement investors in 2010. The notes comprised three tranches as follows: 
USD125m carried an interest rate of 5.02% and were repaid in June 2020; USD150m carried an interest rate of 5.17% and were repaid in 
October 2020; and the remaining USD125m carry an interest rate of 5.12% and are due for repayment in June 2022. These loan notes are 
designated as fair value through profit and loss and are in a hedge relationship with the Group’s interest rate swaps.

The Group issued USD600m of loan notes to private placement investors in 2016. The notes comprise two tranches as follows: 
USD300m carry an interest rate of 3.31% and are due for repayment in July 2023; and USD300m carry an interest rate of 3.60% and are 
due for repayment in July 2026. These loan notes are designated as net investment hedges of the net assets of USD denominated 
subsidiaries.

The Group issued USD300m of loan notes to private placement investors in 2020. The notes comprise two tranches as follows: USD100m 
carry an interest rate of 2.78% and are due for repayment in November 2023; and USD200m carry an interest rate of 3.00% and are due 
for repayment in November 2025.

In 2014, the Group secured a five-year USD900m syndicated revolving credit facility which the Group reduced to USD750m in 2017 and 
which matures in September 2021. During 2020, the Group secured a new one year USD575m multi-currency facility maturing in 
September 2022 which will replace the USD750m facility in September 2021. At 31 December 2020, the amounts drawn under the 
facility are £Nil (2019: £141.4m). Borrowings under the facility are subject to interest at floating rates which are linked to LIBOR.

During 2019, the Group signed three new committed term loan bilateral facility agreements with its relationship banks. They comprise  
a USD125m facility with Bank of America, a GBP100m facility with Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation and a GBP45m facility with 
Caixabank. The USD facility matures in June 2023 and the two GBP facilities mature in January 2024. Borrowings under the facilities are 
subject to interest at floating rates which are linked to LIBOR.

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198

Meggitt PLC
Annual Report & Accounts 2020

Notes to the consolidated financial statements 
continued

31. Bank and other borrowings continued
Committed facilities expire as follows:

In one year or less*
In more than one year but not more than five years
In more than five years

Committed facilities

Drawn 
£’m

–
576.1
219.8

795.9

2020

Undrawn 
£’m

128.2
612.7
–

Total 
£’m

128.2
1,188.8
219.8

740.9

1,536.8

Drawn 
£’m

208.2
463.1
227.1

898.4

2019

Undrawn 
£’m

–
666.0
–

666.0

Total 
£’m

208.2
1,129.1
227.1

1,564.4

*  Comprises the USD175.0m element of the USD750.0m revolving credit facility which expires in September 2021 and will not be replaced by the new USD575.0m 

facility.

The Group also has various uncommitted facilities with its relationship banks. At 31 December 2020, £2.2m (2019: £Nil) was drawn under 
these facilities.

Additionally, the Group has been confirmed as an eligible issuer under the Bank of England’s and HM Treasury’s Covid Corporate 
Financing Facility (CCFF), under which the Group can draw up to £600m. The Group is eligible to issue commercial paper under this 
facility (subject to certain terms and restrictions) up to and including 22 March 2021, with a maturity period of up to 12 months. The 
Group has no commercial paper issued under this facility at 31 December, 2020 or at the date these consolidated financial statements 
were approved by the Board. 

After taking account of financial derivatives entered into by the Group that alter the interest basis of its financial liabilities, the interest 
rate exposure on bank and other borrowings is: 

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At 31 December 2020:

US dollar*
Swiss franc
Euro
Sterling

Gross bank and other borrowings
Less: unamortised debt issue costs

Bank and other borrowings

Floating

Fixed 

Total

£’m

(133.1)
–
–
45.0

(88.1)
(1.4)

(89.5)

£’m

672.9
166.4
58.5
–

897.8
(1.0)

896.8

£’m

539.8
166.4
58.5
45.0

809.7
(2.4)

807.3

Fixed rate borrowings

Weighted 
average 
interest 
rate 

%

Weighted 
average 
period 
for which 
rate is fixed 
Years

2.4

3.1

*  Part of the proceeds from the issue of USD 300m senior notes at fixed interest rates in the year, has been used to reduce the level of gross USD borrowings held  
at floating rates. Prior to this reduction, the Group had entered cross currency derivatives, which have not yet matured, and which convert USD floating rate 
borrowings into fixed rate borrowings denominated in Swiss francs and euros (see note 33). At 31 December 2020, the notional amounts of these cross currency 
swaps exceeds the gross value of USD floating rate borrowings and accordingly a negative value is reported in the table above for floating rate USD borrowings 
after taking account of these financial derivatives.

At 31 December 2019:

US dollar
Swiss franc
Euro
Sterling

Gross bank and other borrowings
Less: unamortised debt issue costs

Bank and other borrowings

Floating

Fixed 

Total

£’m

76.1
–
–
80.7

156.8
(0.1)

156.7

£’m

546.1
156.6
55.2
–

757.9
(0.7)

757.2

£’m

622.2
156.6
55.2
80.7

914.7
(0.8)

913.9

Fixed rate borrowings

Weighted 
average 
interest 
rate 

%

Weighted 
average 
period 
for which 
rate is fixed 
Years

2.5

3.2

The weighted average interest rate reflects the relative impact of interest rates based on the principal amounts and the duration of 
borrowings. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
Meggitt PLC
Annual Report & Accounts 2020

199

31. Bank and other borrowings continued
Hedges of net investments in foreign subsidiaries
The Group manages risks in respect of net operating assets held in foreign currencies by holding foreign currency denominated loans. 

Carrying value at 1 January
Gain recognised in net finance costs due to movements in accrued interest and debt costs
Gain recognised in other comprehensive income due to exchange rate movements

Carrying value at 31 December

2020
£’m

461.1
(0.1)
(14.7)

446.3

2019
£’m

477.6
(0.2)
(16.3)

461.1

Cumulative translation adjustments recognised in other comprehensive income in relation to continuing net investment hedge loans are 
a gain of £15.8m (2019: £1.1m gain). Net investment hedges are considered effective unless the value of the hedging instrument exceeds 
the value of the hedged item. No ineffectiveness arose in either 2020 or 2019.

32. Financial instruments
At 31 December 2020:

Held at fair value

Held at amortised cost

Non-current:
Other receivables (see note 24)
Contract assets*
Derivative financial instruments (see note 33)

Current:
Trade and other receivables**
Contract assets*
Derivative financial instruments (see note 33)
Cash and cash equivalents (see note 26)

Through 
profit 
& loss

£’m

–
–
9.9

–
–
5.4
–

Financial assets

15.3

5.1

Current:
Trade and other payables***
Contract liabilities (see note 28)
Derivative financial instruments (see note 33)
Lease liabilities (see note 30)
Bank and other borrowings (see note 31)

Non-current:
Other payables (see note 27)
Contract liabilities (see note 28)
Derivative financial instruments (see note 33)
Lease liabilities (see note 30)
Bank and other borrowings (see note 31)

Financial liabilities

Total 

–
–
(21.6)
–
–

–
–
(0.3)
–
(95.0)

(116.9)

(101.6)

Derivatives 
designated 
for 
hedging 
£’m

Assets

Liabilities

Total 
book 
value

Total 
fair 
value

£’m

£’m

£’m

£’m

–
–
5.1

–
–
–
–

–
–
–
–
–

–
–
–
–
–

–

F

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s

–

1
4
6
-
2
2
8

16.5
24.6
–

238.6
45.7
–
178.6

504.0

–
–
–
–
–

–
–
–
–
–

–

–
–
–

–
–
–
–

–

(285.8)
(50.8)
–
(14.7)
(10.5)

(8.5)
(73.9)
–
(129.6)
(701.8)

16.5
24.6
15.0

238.6
45.7
5.4
178.6

524.4

(285.8)
(50.8)
(21.6)
(14.7)
(10.5)

(8.5)
(73.9)
(0.3)
(129.6)
(796.8)

16.5
24.6
15.0

238.6
45.7
5.4
178.6

524.4

(285.8)
(50.8)
(21.6)
(14.7)
(10.5)

(8.5)
(73.9)
(0.3)
(129.6)
(813.1)

(1,275.6)

(1,392.5)

(1,408.8)

5.1

504.0

(1,275.6)

(868.1)

(884.4)

*  Excludes non-current programme participation costs of £35.0m and current programme participation costs of £3.1m (see note 25).
**  Excludes prepayments of £12.5m (see note 24).
*** Excludes social security and other taxes of £10.7m (see note 27).

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
200

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Annual Report & Accounts 2020

Notes to the consolidated financial statements 
continued

32. Financial instruments continued
At 31 December 2019:

Held at fair value

Held at amortised cost

Non-current:
Other receivables (see note 24)
Contract assets*
Derivative financial instruments (see note 33)

Current:
Trade and other receivables**
Contract assets*
Derivative financial instruments (see note 33)
Cash and cash equivalents (see note 26)

Financial assets

Current:
Trade and other payables***
Contract liabilities (see note 28)
Derivative financial instruments (see note 33)
Lease liabilities (see note 30)
Bank and other borrowings (see note 31)

Non-current:
Other payables (see note 27)
Contract liabilities (see note 28)
Derivative financial instruments (see note 33)
Lease liabilities (see note 30)
Bank and other borrowings (see note 31)

Financial liabilities

Total 

Through 
profit 
& loss

£’m

–
–
9.5

–
–
2.0
–

11.5

–
–
(16.5)
–
(134.7)

–
–
(4.6)
–
(99.9)

(255.7)

(244.2)

Derivatives 
designated 
for 
hedging 
£’m

Assets

Liabilities

Total 
book 
value

Total 
fair 
value

£’m

£’m

£’m

£’m

–
–
5.1

–
–
1.8
–

6.9

–
–
–
–
–

–
–
–
–
–

–

17.0
25.4
–

361.7
63.8
–
155.3

623.2

–
–
–
–
–

–
–
–
–
–

–

–
–
–

–
–
–
–

–

(452.0)
(50.5)
–
(16.4)
(84.7)

(2.1)
(77.0)
–
(136.2)
(594.6)

17.0
25.4
14.6

361.7
63.8
3.8
155.3

641.6

(452.0)
(50.5)
(16.5)
(16.4)
(219.4)

(2.1)
(77.0)
(4.6)
(136.2)
(694.5)

17.0
25.4
14.6

361.7
63.8
3.8
155.3

641.6

(452.0)
(50.5)
(16.5)
(16.4)
(220.7)

(2.1)
(77.0)
(4.6)
(136.2)
(702.7)

(1,413.5)

(1,669.2)

(1,678.7)

6.9

623.2

(1,413.5)

(1,027.6)

(1,037.1)

*  Excludes non-current programme participation costs of £29.8m and current programme participation costs of £2.5m (see note 25).
**  Excludes prepayments of £18.2m (see note 24).
*** Excludes social security and other taxes of £12.5m (see note 27).

Fair value measurement and hierarchy 
For trade and other receivables, contract assets, cash and cash equivalents, trade and other payables, contract liabilities and floating 
rate bank and other borrowings, fair values approximate to book values due to the short maturity periods of these financial instruments. 
For trade and other receivables and contract assets, allowances are made within their book value for credit risk. Lease liabilities are 
outside the scope of IFRS 7 “Financial Instruments: Disclosures” with regards to fair value disclosures.

Derivative financial instruments measured at fair value, are classified as level 2 in the fair value measurement hierarchy, as they have 
been determined using significant inputs based on observable market data. The fair values of interest rate derivatives have been 
derived from forward interest rates based on yield curves observable at the balance sheet date and contractual interest rates. The fair 
values of foreign currency forward contracts have been derived from forward exchange rates observable at the balance sheet date and 
contractual forward rates. The fair values of cross currency derivatives have been derived from forward interest rates based on yield 
curves observable at the balance sheet date, forward exchange rates observable at the balance sheet date and contractual interest and 
forward rates. Credit risk is not significant for these instruments.

The current and non-current elements of fixed rate bank and other borrowings measured at fair value, are classified as level 3 in the fair 
value measurement hierarchy, as they have been determined using significant inputs which are a mixture of those based on observable 
market data (interest rate risk) and those not based on observable market data (credit risk). The fair values attributable to interest rate 
risk have been derived from forward interest rates based on yield curves observable at the balance sheet date and contractual interest 
rates, with the credit risk margin kept constant. The fair values attributable to credit risk have been derived from quotes from lenders for 
borrowings of similar amounts and maturity periods. The same methods of valuation have been used to derive the fair values of the 
current and non-current elements of fixed rate bank and other borrowings which are held at amortised cost, but for which fair values are 
provided in the tables above.

There were no transfers of assets or liabilities between levels of the fair value hierarchy in the year.

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201

32. Financial instruments continued
Impairment of financial assets
Trade receivables and contract assets are stated after a loss allowance of £12.4m (2019: £6.1m). Movements in the loss allowance during 
the year are as follows:

2020 
£’m

2019 
£’m

At 1 January
Exchange rate adjustments
Businesses disposed
Utilised
Charge to income statement – net operating costs*

At 31 December

6.1
(0.2)
(0.2)
(1.1)
7.8

12.4

7.1
(0.1)

(1.6)
0.7

6.1

* 

Includes £5.4m (2019: £Nil) which has been charged to exceptional operating items (see note 10). This relates to additional expected credit loss allowances 
recognised as a result of the uncertainty facing the commercial aerospace industry and a number of airline operator bankruptcies subsequent to the COVID-19 
outbreak.

The loss allowance is determined by reference to the ageing of gross balances which at 31 December 2020 is as follows:

Current
Up to 1 month past due
Up to 2 months past due
Up to 3 months past due
More than 3 months past due

Gross balances

Loss allowance

Total

Represented by:
Trade receivables – current (see note 24)
Contract assets – current (see note 25)
Contract assets – non-current (see note 25)

At 31 December

2020
£’m

235.7
20.7
7.3
4.1
13.7

281.5

(12.4)

269.1

198.8
45.7
24.6

269.1

2019
£’m

351.0
41.3
14.3
5.1
14.0

425.7

(6.1)

419.6

330.4
63.8
25.4

419.6

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4
6
-
2
2
8

The maximum exposure to credit risk at the balance sheet date is the fair value of each class of financial asset reported above.  
Other receivables and cash and cash equivalents are also subject to the impairment requirements of IFRS 9, however the identified 
impairment loss was not significant. The credit quality of the financial institutions where cash and cash equivalents is held are as follows:

Moody’s rating:
Aa
A
Baa

Total

2020
£’m

176.0
2.2
0.3

178.5

2019
£’m

122.3
33.0
–

155.3

 
 
 
 
 
202

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Annual Report & Accounts 2020

Notes to the consolidated financial statements 
continued

32. Financial instruments continued
Financial liabilities designated as fair value through profit and loss
The Group designates loans that are in a hedge relationship with interest rate swaps as fair value through profit and loss. The difference 
between fair values and contractual amounts at maturity of the current and non-current elements of bank and other borrowings 
designated as fair value through profit and loss is as follows:

Contractual amount payable at maturity
Cumulative fair value adjustments arising from changes in interest rate risk
Cumulative fair value adjustments arising from changes in credit risk
Accrued interest and debt costs

Fair value

Changes in fair value in the year are as follows: 

Bank and other borrowings at fair value through profit and loss:
At 1 January
Exchange rate adjustments
Settled upon maturity
Gain recognised in net operating costs due to interest rate risk (see note 9)
(Gain)/loss recognised in net finance costs due to movements in accrued interest and debt costs
Gain recognised in other comprehensive income due to changes in credit risk

At 31 December

2020
£’m

91.6
4.8
(1.5)
0.1

95.0

2019
£’m

227.1
6.4
0.3
0.8

234.6

2020
£’m

2019
£’m

234.6
2.6
(138.1)
(1.6)
(0.7)
(1.8)

242.7
(8.1)
–
(0.1)
0.1
–

95.0

234.6

The largest movement in credit spread seen in a six-month period since inception of the borrowings is 100 basis points. A 100 basis 
point movement in the credit spread, used as an input in determining fair values at 31 December 2020, would impact other 
comprehensive income by approximately £1.4m.

33. Derivative financial instruments
At 31 December 2020:

Cross currency swaps – not hedge accounted
Foreign currency forward contracts – not hedge accounted

Current portion

Interest rate swaps – fair value hedges
Foreign currency forward contracts – not hedge accounted

Non-current portion

Total

Contract or underlying 
principal amount

Fair value 

Assets 
£’m

Liabilities 
£’m

Assets 
£’m

Liabilities 
£’m

–
182.6

182.6

91.6
172.0

263.6

446.2

(299.5)
(40.3)

(339.8)

–
(85.7)

(85.7)

(425.5)

–
5.4

5.4

5.1
9.9

15.0

20.4

(20.0)
(1.6)

(21.6)

–
(0.3)

(0.3)

(21.9)

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Annual Report & Accounts 2020

203

33. Derivative financial instruments continued
At 31 December 2019:

Interest rate swaps – fair value hedges
Cross currency swaps – not hedge accounted
Foreign currency forward contracts – not hedge accounted

Current portion

Interest rate swaps – fair value hedges
Foreign currency forward contracts – not hedge accounted

Non-current portion

Total

Credit quality of derivative financial assets
The credit quality of derivative financial assets is as follows:

Moody’s rating:
Aa
A

Total

Contract or underlying 
principal amount

Fair value 

Assets 
£’m

Liabilities 
£’m

Assets 
£’m

Liabilities 
£’m

132.4
–
56.2

188.6

94.6
207.4

302.0

490.6

–
(211.8)
(216.5)

(428.3)

–
(199.2)

(199.2)

(627.5)

1.8
–
2.0

3.8

5.1
9.5

14.6

18.4

2020 
£’m

8.1
12.3

20.4

–
(6.8)
(9.7)

(16.5)

–
(4.6)

(4.6)

(21.1)

2019 
£’m

6.6
11.8

18.4

The maximum exposure to credit risk at the balance sheet date is the fair value of the derivative financial instruments.

Interest rate swaps
The Group currently holds fixed to floating interest rate swap contracts, denominated in US dollars, that have the economic effect of 
converting fixed rate US dollar borrowings into floating rate US dollar borrowings. To the extent they continue to meet the criteria for 
hedge accounting, the contracts are accounted for as fair value hedges. 

The total notional principal amount of outstanding interest rate swap contracts at 31 December 2020 is USD125m (2019: USD300m) 
which will expire in 2022. The weighted average floating rate payable on the swap contracts in 2020 was LIBOR +1.1% (2019: LIBOR 
+1.1%).

Any difference recognised in the income statement between movements in the fair value of the interest rate swaps and the fixed rate 
borrowings is considered to be hedge ineffectiveness. Possible sources of ineffectiveness arise from changes in the credit risk of either 
party to the derivative contract and timing differences on cashflows between the derivative and hedged item. The fair value hedge 
ineffectiveness recognised in the year is £Nil (2019: credit of £0.4m) (see note 9).

Cross currency swaps
The cross currency swap contracts are used to synthetically convert US dollar denominated floating borrowings into Swiss franc and  
euro denominated fixed borrowings to commercially hedge against Swiss franc and euro denominated assets of foreign subsidiaries. 
The contracts do not qualify to be hedge accounted. 

Foreign currency forward contracts
Although the Group uses foreign currency forward contracts to hedge against foreign currency exposures, it has decided the costs of 
meeting the extensive documentation requirements to be able to apply hedge accounting under IFRS 9 ‘Financial Instruments’ are not 
merited. Foreign currency forward contracts are analysed as follows:

Fair value:
US dollar/sterling forward sales
Forward sales denominated in other currencies

Total

2020

2019

Assets 
£’m

Liabilities 
£’m

Assets 
£’m

Liabilities 
£’m

12.7
2.6

15.3

(1.7)
(0.2)

(1.9)

11.4
0.1

11.5

(10.8)
(3.3)

(14.1)

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204

34. Provisions

Notes to the consolidated financial statements 
continued

Environmental

(a)
£’m

66.7
(2.7)
–
–
16.0
–

0.7
–
(8.0)

72.7

Onerous
contracts 
(b)
£’m

Provisions

Warranty
costs
(c)
£’m

13.3
(0.3)
(0.7)
–
6.5
(0.2)

–
(0.5)
(5.1)

13.0

14.8
(0.1)
(0.1)
(0.1)
8.0
(2.2)

–
–
(4.3)

16.0

At 1 January 2020
Exchange rate adjustments
Businesses disposed
Transferred to assets classified as held for sale (see note 22)
Additional provisions/(receivables recognised) in year* 
Unused amounts reversed*
Charge/(credit) to net finance costs (see notes 12 and 11 

respectively)

Transfers to trade and other payables
Amounts (utilised)/settled

At 31 December 2020

Current
Non-current

At 31 December 

Meggitt PLC
Annual Report & Accounts 2020

Other 

Total

(d)
£’m

5.8
0.3
–
–
10.7
(2.4)

–
–
(3.2)

11.2

£’m

100.6
(2.8)
(0.8)
(0.1)
41.2
(4.8)

0.7
(0.5)
(20.6)

112.9

2020
£’m

32.6
80.3

Environmental 
receivables
(a)
£’m

(17.0)
0.7
–
–
(16.0)
–

(0.2)
–
13.7

(18.8)

2019
£’m

36.2
64.4

112.9

100.6

*  Amounts in respect of environmental provisions and £7.8m in respect of other provisions have been recognised in net operating costs. Amounts in respect of 

onerous contracts, warranty costs and £2.9m in respect of other provisions have been recognised in cost of sales.

a.  The Group’s operations and facilities are subject to laws and regulations that govern the discharge of pollutants and hazardous 

substances into the ground, air and water as well as the handling, storage and disposal of such materials and other environmental 
matters. Failure to comply with its obligations potentially exposes the Group to serious consequences, including fines, other 
sanctions and limitations on operations. The Group is involved in the investigation and remediation of current and former sites for 
which it has been identified as a potentially responsible party under US law. In determining the provision to be recognised, advice  
is received by the Group from its environmental consultants and legal advisors to assist in the estimate of the level and timing of 
remediation costs, including the period for which operations and monitoring (O&M) activities will be required. These estimates are 
revised regularly as remediation activities progress and further information is obtained on the extent of activities for which the Group 
is responsible. As the cumulative period for which groundwater testing has been performed increases, the results of the testing 
provide a more reliable estimate of the extent to which these activities will continue to be required in the future. Over the last three 
years, based on testing performed, the estimated period for which O&M activities will be required has increased by five years at the 
majority of sites. Given the recent revisions to O&M periods, the Group no longer believes that it is reasonably foreseeable that any 
increases to O&M periods will be required in the next 12 months which would result in a material increase to the level of provision 
required. Whilst annual reductions and increases in estimated site remediation costs, excluding those relating to increases in O&M 
periods, have been experienced over recent years, the Group no longer believes that it is reasonably foreseeable that any changes to 
these estimates in the next 12 months would result in a material adjustment to the level of provision required. Provisions are expected 
to be substantially utilised over the next 20 years and are discounted using an appropriate discount rate. 

  The Group has insurance arrangements in place which, together with other agreements with third parties, partly mitigates the 

ongoing impact of historical environmental events on the Group. A receivable has been established to the extent these costs are 
virtually certain to be recoverable under the Group’s environmental insurance policies or from other parties. Movements in the 
receivable are shown in the table above (see also note 24). The Group is currently in litigation with a number of historic insurers over 
the extent to which they are responsible for past and future remediation costs. No amounts have been recognised as receivables in 
respect of these actions as recovery is not virtually certain. The Group does not currently believe it is reasonably foreseeable that in 
the next 12 months, material amounts will be recognised as receivables in respect of these ongoing legal actions. 

b.  Provision has been made for estimated losses under certain trading contracts. Provisions are expected to be substantially utilised 

over the next five years and are not discounted given the short period over which they will be utilised.

c.  Provision has been made for product warranty claims. Provisions are expected to be substantially utilised over the next three years 

and are not discounted given the short period over which they will be utilised.

d.  A number of asbestos-related claims have been made against subsidiary companies of the Group. To date, the amount connected 

with such claims in any year has not been material and many claims are covered fully or partly by existing insurance and indemnities. 
There is a provision, included within other provisions, for certain claims which cannot be recovered from insurers. Provisions are 
expected to be substantially utilised over the next ten years and are discounted, where appropriate, using a discount rate 
appropriate to each provision. In addition, a provision of £6.4m has been recognised in the year relating to the restructuring of 
certain of the Group’s operations. This provision is expected to be utilised over the next two years and is not discounted given the 
short period over which it will be utilised.

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Annual Report & Accounts 2020

205

35. Deferred tax
Movements in deferred tax assets and liabilities without taking into consideration the offsetting of balances, are analysed below:

At 1 January 2019
Exchange rate adjustments
Reclassifications
Charge to income statement (see note 13)
Credit to other comprehensive income (see note 13)
Credit to equity (see note 13)

At 31 December 2019
Exchange rate adjustments
Businesses disposed (see note 44)
Reclassifications
Credit to income statement (see note 13)
Credit to other comprehensive income (see note 13)
Charge to equity (see note 13)

At 31 December 2020

Movements in gross deferred tax assets are analysed as follows:

At 1 January 2019
Exchange rate adjustments
Reclassifications
Charge to income statement
Credit to other comprehensive income
Credit to equity

At 31 December 2019
Exchange rate adjustments
Businesses disposed
Reclassifications
Credit/(charge) to income statement
Credit to other comprehensive income
Charge to equity

At 31 December 2020

Assets
£’m

125.4
(2.7)
2.5
(15.2)
12.2
2.0

124.2
(3.1)
(0.7)
(1.9)
6.7
12.4
(2.0)

Liabilities
£’m

(271.0)
8.2
(2.5)
9.1
–
–

(256.2)
5.2
7.4
1.9
31.9
–
–

Net 
£’m

(145.6)
5.5
–
(6.1)
12.2
2.0

(132.0)
2.1
6.7
–
38.6
12.4
(2.0)

135.6

(209.8)

(74.2)

Provisions

£’m

34.9
(0.9)
–
(3.2)
–
–

30.8
(1.1)
(0.5)
–
4.9
–
–

34.1

Retirement
benefit 
obligations
£’m

44.0
(1.0)
–
(2.7)
11.9
–

52.2
(0.4)
–
–
(1.7)
12.4
(1.9)

60.6

Assets

Contract 
liabilities

£’m

3.1
0.7
–
11.7
–
–

15.5
(2.0)
(0.9)
–
4.6
–
–

17.2

Other 
(*)

£’m

43.4
(1.5)
2.5
(21.0)
0.3
2.0

25.7
0.4
0.7
(1.9)
(1.1)
–
(0.1)

23.7

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4
6
-
2
2
8

Total 

£’m

125.4
(2.7)
2.5
(15.2)
12.2
2.0

124.2
(3.1)
(0.7)
(1.9)
6.7
12.4
(2.0)

135.6

* 

Includes balances arising from temporary differences in relation to accruals, share-based payments, finance costs and derivative financial instruments, none of 
which are individually material at either balance sheet date or include any material movements during either year.

 
 
 
206

Meggitt PLC
Annual Report & Accounts 2020

Notes to the consolidated financial statements 
continued

35. Deferred tax continued
Movements in gross deferred tax liabilities are analysed as follows:

At 1 January 2019
Exchange rate adjustments
Reclassifications
Credit/(charge) to income statement 

At 31 December 2019
Exchange rate adjustments
Businesses disposed
Reclassifications
Credit/(charge) to income statement

At 31 December 2020

Liabilities

Intangible 
assets

Contract 
assets

£’m

(231.5)
7.0
(8.3)
10.4

(222.4)
4.2
7.3
2.1
30.4

(178.4)

£’m

(11.2)
0.4
–
(0.1)

(10.9)
0.4
–
–
(1.1)

(11.6)

Accelerated 
tax 
depreciation
£’m

(28.3)
0.8
5.8
(1.2)

(22.9)
0.6
0.1
(0.2)
2.6

(19.8)

Total

£’m

(271.0)
8.2
(2.5)
9.1

(256.2)
5.2
7.4
1.9
31.9

(209.8)

Deferred tax assets and liabilities are offset where there is a legally enforceable right to offset current tax assets against current tax 
liabilities and when the deferred income taxes relate to the same tax authority. The balances after allowing for such offsets are as 
follows:

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Deferred tax assets
Deferred tax liabilities

Net balance at 31 December

Deferred tax liabilities all fall due after more than one year. Deferred tax assets are analysed as follows:

To be recovered within one year
To be recovered after more than one year

Total

2020
£’m

19.2
(93.4)

(74.2)

2019
£’m

23.3
(155.3)

(132.0)

2020
£’m

4.4
14.8

19.2

2019
£’m

11.0
12.3

23.3

The Group has unrecognised tax losses of £8.0m (2019: £9.9m) for which no deferred tax asset has been recognised. No asset has been 
recognised in respect of these losses, as it is not regarded as probable they will be recovered. Deferred tax assets not recognised would 
be recoverable in the event they reverse and suitable taxable profits are available. There are no unremitted earnings in foreign 
subsidiaries that would give rise to a tax liability in the event of those subsidiaries remitting their earnings.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Meggitt PLC
Annual Report & Accounts 2020

207

36. Retirement benefit obligations
Pension schemes
The Group operates a number of pension schemes for the benefit of its employees. The nature of each scheme which has a significant 
impact on the consolidated financial statements is detailed below: 

•  In the UK, the Group operates a funded defined benefit scheme. The scheme is closed to new members and on 1 February 2021, 

following conclusion of a consultation process with active members of the scheme, the Group announced it would be closed to future 
accrual for all members with effect from 6 April 2021. It is a registered scheme and subject to the statutory scheme-specific funding 
requirements outlined in UK legislation, including the payment of levies to the Pension Protection Fund. It is established under trust 
and the responsibility for its governance lies with the trustees who also agree funding arrangements with the Group;

•  In the US, the Group operates three principal defined benefit schemes, all of which are closed to new members. Following closure of 
the last remaining scheme to future accrual during the first half of 2020, they are now also all closed to future accrual for all members. 
The schemes are tax-qualified pension schemes regulated by the Pension Protection Act 2006 and are insured by the Pension Benefit 
Guarantee Corporation up to certain limits. They are established under, and governed by, the US Employee Retirement Income 
Security Act 1974. Meggitt PLC is a named fiduciary with the authority to manage the operation of the schemes. The Group also 
operates two small unfunded schemes; and 

•  In Switzerland, the Group operates a funded defined benefit scheme which is open to new members and future accrual. The scheme 
is a tax qualified pension plan subject to the Swiss Federal Law on Occupational Retirement, Survivors’ and Disability Pension Plans 
which constitutes a legal framework setting out the minimum requirements for occupational pension plans. Responsibility for its 
governance lies with a foundation, which is similar in nature to a UK trustee board. 

The UK and US schemes provide benefits to members in the form of a guaranteed level of pension payable for life. The benefits 
provided depend on a member’s length of service. For the UK scheme, benefits are currently dependent on salary at retirement,  
or average salary over employment in the final years leading up to retirement. Following closure of the plan to future accrual in 2021, 
benefits will be dependent on salary at the date of closure, or average salary over employment in the final years leading up to the  
date of closure, together with inflation linked to CPI for the period from closure to retirement. In the US, the schemes either provide  
a benefit linked to salary at the date they were closed to future accrual or provide a fixed benefit for each year of service. The Swiss 
scheme has many of the characteristics of a defined contribution scheme, but provides for certain minimum benefits to be guaranteed 
to members. 

For all funded schemes, benefit payments are made from funds administered by third parties unrelated to the Group. The assets of such 
schemes are held in trust funds, or their equivalent, separate from the Group’s finances. For all unfunded schemes, benefit payments are 
made by the Group as obligations fall due. 

The Group also operates a number of defined contribution schemes under which the Group has no further obligations once 
contributions have been paid.

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Healthcare schemes
The Group has two principal other post-retirement benefit schemes providing medical and life assurance benefits to certain employees 
and former employees of Meggitt Aircraft Braking Systems Corporation and Meggitt (Rockmart), Inc. These schemes are unfunded and 
closed to new members.

Amounts recognised in the income statement

Total charge in respect of defined contribution pension schemes

Service cost
Past service cost 
Administrative expenses borne directly by schemes
Net interest expense on retirement benefit obligations

Total charge in respect of defined benefit pension schemes

Service cost
Net interest expense on retirement benefit obligations

Total charge in respect of healthcare schemes

Total charge

2020
£’m

19.9

14.5
0.1
2.6
4.3

21.5

0.7
1.4

2.1

43.5

2019
£’m

34.5

12.1
–
2.7
4.3

19.1

0.7
1.8

2.5

56.1

Of the total charge, £35.2m (2019: £47.3m) is included in employee costs (see note 8), of which £19.2m (2019: £29.3) has been recognised 
in cost of sales and £16.0m (2019: £18.0m) in net operating costs. Of the remaining charge, £2.6m (2019: £2.7m) has been recognised in 
net operating costs in respect of scheme administration expenses and £5.7m (2019: £6.1m) is recognised in finance costs (see note 12). 

 
 
 
 
208

Meggitt PLC
Annual Report & Accounts 2020

Notes to the consolidated financial statements 
continued

36. Retirement benefit obligations continued
Amounts recognised in the income statement continued
The Group has estimated, with the advice of its actuary, that the impact of the High Court ruling on 20 November 2020 in respect of the 
requirement to provide uplifts to transfer values paid before 26 October 2018 to address inequalities in the calculation of Guaranteed 
Minimum Pension obligations is not significant. 

The Group has assessed whether the restructuring of the Group in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, which has included a reduction 
in the Group’s workforce by approximately 25% requires a curtailment gain or loss to be recognised in the income statement. The 
assessment, which has been completed at a scheme level by the Group’s actuaries, has concluded that the amounts involved are not 
significant, either individually or in aggregate. The assessment took into consideration the rules of each scheme; the number of active 
scheme members leaving the Group; the proportion of leavers taking early retirement together with early retirement factors; and 
inflation differences for active, deferred and pensioner members.

Amounts recognised on the balance sheet

Present value of liabilities
Fair value of assets

Retirement benefit obligations

Present value of liabilities
Fair value of assets

Retirement benefit obligations

UK 
pension 
scheme 
£’m

961.1
(774.5)

186.6

UK 
pension 
scheme 
£’m

855.7
(705.1)

150.6

2020

Overseas* 
pension 
schemes 
£’m

US 
healthcare 
schemes 
£’m

Total

£’m

456.1
(394.0)

62.1

46.7
–

46.7

1,463.9
(1,168.5)

295.4

2019

Overseas* 
pension 
schemes 
£’m

US 
healthcare 
schemes 
£’m

445.9
(374.5)

71.4

45.9
–

45.9

Total 

£’m

1,347.5
(1,079.6)

267.9

*  Comprises £46.8m (2019: £51.0m) in respect of US schemes and £15.3m (2019: £20.4m) in respect of the Swiss scheme.

Of the total deficit of £295.4m (2019: £267.9m), £61.7m (2019: £60.9m) is in respect of unfunded schemes.

Changes in the present value of retirement benefit obligations 

At 1 January
Exchange rate adjustments
Service cost
Past service cost
Net interest expense (see note 12)
Contributions – Group
Contributions – Members
Benefits paid
Settlements
Administrative expenses borne directly by schemes

Remeasurement of retirement benefit obligations:
  Experience gain
  Gain from change in demographic assumptions
  Loss from change in financial assumptions

 Return on schemes’ assets excluding amounts included in  
finance costs

Total remeasurement loss/(gain)

Liabilities 
£’m

1,347.5
(4.0)
15.2
0.1
28.4
–
2.5
(60.8)
(1.1)
–

(7.8)
(2.4)
146.3

–

136.1

2020

Assets 
£’m

(1,079.6)
2.2
–
–
(22.7)
(36.9)
(2.5)
60.8
1.1
2.6

–
–
–

(93.5)

(93.5)

Total 
£’m

267.9
(1.8)
15.2
0.1
5.7
(36.9)
–
–
–
2.6

(7.8)
(2.4)
146.3

(93.5)

42.6

Liabilities 
£’m

1,224.7
(15.3)
12.8
–
36.0
–
2.7
(56.1)
–
–

(0.9)
(8.9)
152.5

–

142.7

2019

Assets 
£’m

(1,015.6)
11.3
–
–
(29.9)
(48.0)
(2.7)
56.1
–
2.7

–
–
–

(53.5)

(53.5)

Total 
£’m

209.1
(4.0)
12.8
–
6.1
(48.0)
–
–
–
2.7

(0.9)
(8.9)
152.5

(53.5)

89.2

At 31 December

1,463.9

(1,168.5)

295.4

1,347.5

(1,079.6)

267.9

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Meggitt PLC
Annual Report & Accounts 2020

36. Retirement benefit obligations continued
Analysis of pension scheme assets 

Equities
Government bonds 
Corporate bonds
Hedge funds
Property funds
Cash
Derivative assets/(liabilities)
Other assets*

UK pension scheme

Equities
Government bonds 
Corporate bonds
Property funds
Cash
Derivative assets
Other assets*

Overseas pension schemes

Equities
Government bonds 
Corporate bonds
Hedge funds
Property funds
Cash
Derivative assets/(liabilities)
Other assets*

 2020

Quoted
£’m

Unquoted
£’m

208.5
314.5
102.4
–
–
24.4
8.1
9.0

666.9

35.1
87.6
203.3
28.6
9.0
5.3
16.9

385.8

243.6
402.1
305.7
–
28.6
33.4
13.4
25.9

–
–
0.5
54.3
41.6
–
(2.1)
13.3

107.6

4.5
–
–
3.7
–
–
–

8.2

4.5
–
0.5
54.3
45.3
–
(2.1)
13.3

Total
£’m

208.5
314.5
102.9
54.3
41.6
24.4
6.0
22.3

774.5

39.6
87.6
203.3
32.3
9.0
5.3
16.9

394.0

248.1
402.1
306.2
54.3
73.9
33.4
11.3
39.2

%

26.9
40.6
13.3
7.0
5.4
3.1
0.8
2.9

100.0

10.1
22.2
51.6
8.2
2.3
1.3
4.3

100.0

21.2
34.4
26.2
4.6
6.3
2.9
1.0
3.4

Total pension schemes’ assets

1,052.7

115.8

1,168.5

100.0

209

%

32.8
40.7
9.3
7.4
3.7
6.6
(1.5)
1.0

100.0

16.1
25.2
42.9
7.0
2.1
0.7
6.0

100.0

27.0
35.4
20.9
4.8
4.9
5.0
(0.8)
2.8

Total
£’m

231.0
287.2
65.4
51.8
26.4
46.7
(10.8)
7.4

705.1

60.1
94.5
160.8
26.4
7.7
2.6
22.4

374.5

291.1
381.7
226.2
51.8
52.8
54.4
(8.2)
29.8

1,079.6

100.0

 2019

Quoted
£’m

Unquoted
£’m

231.0
284.9
63.6
–
–
46.7
2.9
–

629.1

55.9
94.5
160.8
22.6
7.7
–
22.4

363.9

286.9
379.4
224.4
–
22.6
54.4
2.9
22.4

993.0

–
2.3
1.8
51.8
26.4
–
(13.7)
7.4

76.0

4.2
–
–
3.8
–
2.6
–

10.6

4.2
2.3
1.8
51.8
30.2
–
(11.1)
7.4

86.6

*  Other assets principally comprise insured annuities, mortgage-backed securities and commodities, no category of which is individually material. 

The schemes have no investments in any assets of the Group.

Financial assumptions used to calculate scheme liabilities

Discount rate* 
Inflation rate
Increases to deferred benefits during deferment**
Increases to pensions in payment**
Salary increases

*  The discount rate for the Swiss scheme was 0.08% (2019: 0.32%).
**  To the extent not overridden by specific scheme rules.

UK 
pension 
scheme 
%

1.40
3.00
2.30
2.90
2.80

2020

US 
pension 
schemes 
%

2.30
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A

US 
healthcare 
schemes  

UK 
pension 
scheme  

2019

US
pension 
schemes  

US 
healthcare 
schemes  

%

2.30
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A

%

2.05
3.00
2.10
2.90
2.85

%

3.10
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A

%

3.10
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A

In determining the fair value of scheme liabilities, the Group uses mortality assumptions which are based on published mortality tables 
adjusted to reflect the characteristics of the scheme populations. The Group’s mortality assumptions in the UK are based on recent 
mortality investigations of Self Administered Pension Schemes adjusted to reflect the profile of the membership of the scheme, which 
include the results of an analysis of members used to support the 2018 triennial UK actuarial valuation. Allowance has been made for 
rates of mortality to continue to fall at the rate of 1.25% per annum.

In the US, mortality assumptions are based on the Pre-2012 headcount weighted table, for schemes where benefits are not salary-linked, 
and the Pri-2012 table for other schemes, with both tables projecting rates of mortality to fall using the 2020 Social Security 
Administration’s Intermediate Cost Projections scale.

In Switzerland, mortality assumptions are based on the BVG 2015 (Generational) tables.

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210

Meggitt PLC
Annual Report & Accounts 2020

Notes to the consolidated financial statements 
continued

36. Retirement benefit obligations continued
Financial assumptions used to calculate scheme liabilities continued

Member age 45 (life expectancy at age 65) – male
Member age 45 (life expectancy at age 65) – female
Member age 65 (current life expectancy) – male
Member age 65 (current life expectancy) – female

UK 
scheme 
Years

23.1-25.0
25.6-26.9
21.7-23.6
24.2-25.5

 2020

US
schemes 
Years

21.0-21.9
23.4-23.6
19.7-20.6
22.3-22.5

Swiss
scheme 
Years

24.5
26.5
22.7
24.8

UK 
scheme 
Years

22.9-24.8
25.5-26.8
21.6-23.4
24.0-25.3

 2019

US
schemes 
Years

21.0-21.9
23.4-23.6
19.8-20.6
22.2-22.5

Swiss
scheme 
Years

24.4
26.4
22.6
24.7

Details on the sensitivity of scheme liabilities to changes in key assumptions are provided below:

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•  The impact of a 50 basis point reduction in discount rate, the average annual movement in discount rates observed over the last five 

years, would cause scheme liabilities at 31 December 2020 to increase by approximately £128.6m.

•  The impact of a 10 basis point increase in inflation and salary inflation rates would cause scheme liabilities at 31 December 2020 to 

increase by approximately £12.4m. 

•  The impact of assuming every scheme member were to live for an additional year would cause scheme liabilities at 31 December 2020 

to increase by approximately £57.3m.

The above sensitivities are based on a change in a single assumption while keeping all other assumptions constant. In practice, this is 
unlikely to occur and changes in assumptions may be correlated. When calculating the sensitivity of the defined benefit obligation to 
significant actuarial assumptions, the same method of calculating the defined benefit obligation has been used as when calculating the 
retirement benefit obligations recognised on the balance sheet. The methods and types of assumptions used in preparing the sensitivity 
analysis are consistent with the previous year. No change has been considered necessary to any sensitivity levels, given recent past 
experience.

Risks
The Group is exposed to a number of risks arising from operating its defined benefit pension and healthcare schemes, the most 
significant of which are detailed below. The Group has not changed the process used to manage defined benefit scheme risks during 
the year unless otherwise stated. 

Asset volatility
This risk is partly mitigated by funded schemes investing in matching corporate bonds, such that changes in asset values are offset by 
similar changes in the value of scheme liabilities. However, the Group also invests in other asset classes such as equities, property funds, 
hedge funds, mortgage-backed securities, commodities and derivatives where movements in asset values may be uncorrelated to 
movements in the yields on high quality corporate bonds. The Group believes that, due to the long-term nature of its scheme liabilities, 
it is appropriate to invest in assets which are expected to outperform corporate bonds over this timeframe. Scheme assets are well 
diversified, such that the failure of any single investment would not have a material impact on the overall level of assets. Both the UK and 
US schemes have purchased equity derivatives which enable the schemes to benefit from equity-like returns, subject to certain caps, 
whilst providing an element of protection against falls in equity markets. These derivatives cover approximately 46% of the total equities 
held by the schemes and have an average remaining life of 1.8 years at 31 December 2020. The Group actively monitors how the 
duration and expected yield of scheme assets match the expected cash outflows arising from its pension obligations. For each UK and 
US funded scheme, there is a ‘glide-path’ in place which provides, to the extent the funding position improves, for asset volatility to be 
reduced by reduced exposure to return seeking assets and increased investment in bonds with maturities that match benefit payments 
as they fall due.

Interest risk
In both the UK and the US, schemes invest in government bonds and corporate bonds as part of their hedging strategy. Additionally,  
in the UK, the scheme has also invested in cash flow matching credit assets and interest rate derivatives to provide additional hedging 
against interest risk exposures. At 31 December 2020, approximately 80% of the interest rate risk on the UK scheme’s liabilities, 
measured on a funding basis, is hedged (2019: 60%). In the US, across the three funded schemes, hedging levels range from 80% to 90% 
of scheme liabilities measured on a funding basis (2019: 40% to 90%).

 
 
 
 
Meggitt PLC
Annual Report & Accounts 2020

211

36. Retirement benefit obligations continued
Inflation risk
Salary inflation risk in the UK has been partly mitigated by linking benefits in respect of future service to average salaries over a period 
of employment, rather than final salary at retirement. Salary inflation risk will no longer be relevant once the scheme closure to accrual 
takes place with effect from 6 April 2021. Inflation risk in the UK in respect of deferred benefits and pensions in payment is mitigated by 
caps on the levels of inflation under the scheme rules. Residual inflation risk (after scheme caps) is mitigated through investing in index 
linked gilts and inflation rate derivatives. At 31 December 2020, these assets cover approximately 80% of liabilities measured on a 
funding basis (2019: 60%). 

In the US, schemes do not provide benefits at retirement which are dependent on future salary increases and the impact for the scheme 
in Switzerland of salary inflation is not significant. In both the US and Switzerland, schemes provide for no inflation to be applied to 
benefits in deferment or retirement. Exposure to inflation on US healthcare costs has been mitigated by freezing Group contributions to 
medical costs at 2011 cost levels.

Longevity risk
To the extent life expectancy exceeds the Group’s estimates, the retirement benefit obligations recognised in the consolidated financial 
statements would increase. This risk is more significant in the UK plan, where the average duration of its liabilities is longer compared to 
the US schemes, and inflationary increases more common, resulting in higher sensitivity to changes in life expectancy. The Group 
currently does not use derivatives to mitigate this risk. 

Other information  
In the UK, the most recent triennial valuation was as at 5 April 2018 at which date the deficit was measured for funding purposes at 
£171.8m. As part of the valuation, the Group agreed with the trustees that it would make deficit contributions, which would increase by 
approximately 5% each year in the expectation that these payments, together with asset returns, would eliminate the deficit by August 
2023. Following the COVID-19 outbreak, the Group agreed with the trustee’s deferral of four months deficit contributions originally due 
to be made in 2020, amounting to £9.6m and which will now be made over the remainder of the current recovery plan to August 2023. 
Deficit contributions recommenced in Q3 of 2020. Under the amended recovery plan, the Group will now make deficit contributions of 
£38.4m in 2021, £40.2m in 2022 and £29.9m in the period to August 2023. The present value of future deficit payments agreed as part  
of the 2018 actuarial valuation does not exceed the scheme accounting deficit at 31 December 2020 and accordingly no additional 
minimum funding liability arises. Principally due to the significant fall in bond yields since the date of the 2018 valuation, the current UK 
funding position at 31 December 2020 is approximately £135.0m lower than that projected in the 2018 valuation. This funding shortfall 
will, should it remain, be addressed through a revised recovery plan as part of the April 2021 triennial valuation, which the Group 
expects to be finalised during the first half of 2022. Deficit contributions to address any additional deficit would commence at a date to 
be agreed with the trustees once the valuation is finalised. The buy-out valuation at the 2018 valuation date, which assumed the Group 
were to transfer responsibility of the scheme to an insurance company, was measured at £467.9m. The Group has no current plans to 
make such a transfer.

In the US, minimum deficit reduction payments are driven by regulations and provide for deficits to be eliminated over periods up to  
15 years. At 31 December 2020, the three funded schemes had funding levels of 78%, 94% and 99%, respectively. Legislation was 
passed in response to COVID-19 allowing companies to defer contributions due in 2020 to January 2021, as a result of which the Group 
deferred £2.4m of payments planned for 2020. Absent any changes in legislation, deficit contributions in 2021 are forecast to be £8.7m 
(including the £2.4m deferral from 2020) and then reduce to approximately £6.0m for the next four years. The present value of deficit 
payments due under legislation does not exceed the schemes’ deficits at 31 December 2020 and accordingly no additional minimum 
funding liability arises. The Group’s US medical and life assurance benefits are unfunded. 

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The Swiss scheme has a surplus on a funding basis of £25.1m and no additional minimum funding liability arises.

Estimated total Group contributions expected to be paid to the schemes during 2021 are £53.7m.

The weighted average duration of the UK schemes’ defined benefit obligation is 19.5 years. The weighted average duration of the 
overseas schemes’ defined benefit obligations is 12.7 years. The expected maturity of undiscounted pension and healthcare benefits at 
31 December 2020 is as follows:

To be made in 2021
To be made in 2022
To be made in 2023 to 2025
To be made in 2026 to 2030
To be made in 2031 to 2035
To be made in 2036 to 2040
To be made in 2041 to 2045
To be made from 2046 onwards

Total expected benefit payments

Pension 
schemes 
£’m

Healthcare 
 schemes 
£’m

49.2
50.6
155.9
270.2
268.1
248.2
219.1
575.3

3.2
3.1
8.6
12.2
9.7
7.7
5.8
10.5

Total 

£’m

52.4
53.7
164.5
282.4
277.8
255.9
224.9
585.8

1,836.6

60.8

1,897.4

 
 
 
 
 
212

Meggitt PLC
Annual Report & Accounts 2020

Notes to the consolidated financial statements 
continued

37. Share capital
Issued share capital

Allotted and fully paid:
At 1 January 2019
Issued on exercise of Sharesave awards

At 31 December 2019
Issued on exercise of Sharesave awards

At 31 December 2020

The Company does not have an authorised share capital.

Ordinary 
shares of 
5p each 
Number ‘m

Nominal 
 value 

Net 
consideration 

£’m

£’m

776.9
0.6

777.5
3.7

781.2

38.8
–

38.8
0.2

39.0

–

–

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38. Share-based payment 
The Group operates a number of share schemes for the benefit of its employees. The total credit recognised in net operating costs in 
respect of such schemes is £2.5m (2019: £10.1m expense) (see note 8) and is analysed as follows:

Meggitt Long-Term Incentive Plan 2014 – Equity settled
Meggitt Long-Term Incentive Plan 2014 – Cash settled
Deferred Share Bonus Plan – Equity settled
Sharesave Plans – Equity settled

Total (credit)/expense

2020 
£’m

(3.0)
(0.1)
0.3
0.3

(2.5)

2019 
£’m

9.3
0.1
–
0.7

10.1

Meggitt Long-Term Incentive Plan 2014: Equity settled
Under this plan, an annual award of shares may be made to certain senior executives. The number of shares, if any, that an executive 
ultimately receives, depends on three performance conditions:

•  an earnings per share measure (33% of the award); 
•  a return on assets measure (33% of the award); and
•  a strategic goals measure (33% of the award).

Each of the conditions is measured over a three-year performance period. An employee is generally entitled to a payment at the end of 
the vesting period, equivalent to dividends that would have been paid during the vesting period, on any shares that vest. There is no 
exercise price payable by the employees. The fair value of the award made in 2020 has been estimated at the market price of the share 
on the date of grant, which was 579.6 pence (2019: 523.8 pence). Movements in the number of outstanding shares that may potentially 
be released to employees are as follows:

At 1 January
Awarded
Exercised
Lapsed

At 31 December 

2020 
Number of 
shares 
under award 
outstanding 
‘m

2019 
Number of 
shares 
under award 
outstanding 
‘m

16.0
4.1
(2.4)
(3.0)

14.7

16.7
4.6
(2.1)
(3.2)

16.0

At 31 December 2020, 1.1m of the shares under award are eligible for release. The remaining 13.6m shares under award have a weighted 
average life of 397 days until they are eligible for release.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Meggitt PLC
Annual Report & Accounts 2020

213

39. Own shares
Own shares represent shares in the Company that are held by an independently managed Employee Share Ownership Plan Trust (‘the 
trust’) formed to acquire shares to be used to satisfy share options and awards under the employee share schemes as described in the 
Directors’ remuneration report on pages 114 to 141. At December 2020, the trust holds 3.8m ordinary shares (2019: 3.1m ordinary shares) 
which are unallocated, being retained by the trust for future use. The shares are held for the benefit of employees. Of the shares held at 
31 December 2020, 3.7m were issued during 2020 and 0.1m were purchased during 2018. Their market value at 31 December 2020 is 
£17.6m (2019: £20.3m), representing 0.48% of the issued share capital of the Company (2019: 0.40%).   

40. Contractual commitments
Capital commitments

Contracted for but not incurred: 
Intangible assets
Property, plant and equipment

Total

2020 
£’m

3.8
24.0

27.8

2019 
£’m

3.7
46.9

50.6

Other financial commitments
The Group enters into long-term arrangements with aircraft and original equipment manufacturers to design, develop and supply 
products to them for the life of the aircraft. This represents a significant long-term financial commitment for the Group and requires the 
consideration of a number of uncertainties including the feasibility of the product and the ultimate commercial viability over a period 
which can extend over 35 years. The directors are satisfied that, at this time, there are no significant contingent liabilities arising from 
these commitments. Programme costs comprise programme participation costs and the supply of initial manufactured parts (FOC) on  
a free of charge or deeply discounted basis to OEMs in connection with their selection of the Group’s products for installation onto new 
aircraft, where the Group has obtained principal supplier status. Programme participation costs are accounted for as described in note 
2, FOC costs are expensed as incurred. Based on latest OE delivery forecasts from external agencies, the future estimated expenditure 
under contractual commitments to incur development costs and programme costs at 31 December 2020, are shown in the table below.

In one year or less
In more than one year but not more than five years
In more than five years 

Total

2020

2019

Development 
costs 
£’m

Programme 
costs 
£’m

Development 
costs 
£’m

Programme 
costs 
£’m

33.4
17.8
8.9

60.1

60.7
221.2
725.5

1,007.4

42.2
35.3
7.9

85.4

81.5
305.3
899.2

1,286.0

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41. Contingent liabilities
The Company has given guarantees in respect of credit facilities for certain of its subsidiaries, some property and other leases, and the 
performance by some current and former subsidiaries of certain contracts. Also, there are similar guarantees given by certain other 
Group companies. The directors believe that the probability of an outflow of economic benefits arising from the guarantees is remote.

The Company and various of its subsidiaries are, from time to time, parties to legal proceedings and claims which arise in the ordinary 
course of business. The directors do not anticipate that the outcome of these proceedings, actions and claims, either individually or in 
aggregate, will have a material adverse effect upon the Group’s financial position.

 
 
 
 
 
214

Meggitt PLC
Annual Report & Accounts 2020

Notes to the consolidated financial statements 
continued

42. Cash inflow from operations

(Loss)/profit for the year
Adjustments for:
  Finance income (see note 11)
  Finance costs (see note 12)
  Tax (see note 13)
  Depreciation (see note 20)
  Amortisation (see notes 18 and 19)

Impairment losses (see notes 17 and 18)

  Loss/(gain) on disposal of property, plant and equipment
  Gain on disposal of businesses (see note 9)
  Costs arising on disposal of businesses (see note 44)
  Financial instruments – loss/(gain) (see note 9)

Impact of retranslating net foreign currency cash at spot rate

  Share of loss/(profit) after tax of joint venture (see note 21)
  Change in carrying value of held for sale assets and liabilities up to date of disposal
  Retirement benefit obligation deficit payments
  Share-based payment (credit)/expense (see note 38)
Changes in working capital:

Inventories

  Trade and other receivables
  Contract assets
  Trade and other payables
  Contract liabilities
  Provisions

Cash inflow from operations

2020
£’m

2019
£’m

(314.2)

222.6

(0.5)
37.2
(19.8)
56.7
140.6
361.3
1.4
(32.0)
(3.8)
2.9
(0.4)
3.2
–
(21.7)
(2.5)

39.8
115.0
(4.3)
(146.2)
1.7
14.0

(2.2)
40.8
64.1
57.3
138.4
–
(0.9)
(23.5)
(12.2)
(15.0)
(0.6)
(1.7)
(0.5)
(35.2)
10.1

(75.6)
20.4
(15.7)
29.3
31.1
(16.6)

228.4

414.4

The Board uses free cash flow to monitor and measure the underlying trading cash performance of the Group. It excludes amounts 
received and/or paid in respect of M&A activity for the reasons set out in note 9a. It is reconciled to cash from operating activities 
below:

Cash inflow from operating activities
Add back cash outflow from business disposal expenses
Add back impact of retranslating net foreign currency cash at spot rate
Capitalised development costs (see note 18)
Capitalised programme participation costs
Purchase of intangible assets
Purchase of property, plant and equipment (net of grants received)
Proceeds from disposal of property, plant and equipment
Reverse lease premium received*

Free cash inflow

2020
£’m

154.2
5.2
0.4
(41.4)
(1.6)
(11.0)
(78.7)
1.3
3.5

31.9

2019
£’m

366.9
9.4
0.6
(54.7)
(2.0)
(17.2)
(77.2)
23.1
18.9

267.8

*  Prior to any discussions with the lessor, the Group had negotiated terms for the purchase of land and subsequent construction of the building at Ansty Park, with a 

number of third parties. The lessor received the benefit of these negotiated terms when it contracted with those same third parties, and in return agreed to make 
a reverse lease premium payment to the Group, the majority of which was received in 2019 at inception of the lease with the balance received in 2020. The receipt 
of the reverse lease premium of £3.5m (2019: £18.9m) has been included in free cash flow, consistent with the treatment of capital expenditure incurred by the 
Group relating to the Ansty Park site.

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Meggitt PLC
Annual Report & Accounts 2020

215

43. Movements in net debt

At 1 January 2019
Cash inflow from operating activities
Cash outflow from investing activities
Cash (inflow)/outflow from financing activities*
Lease liabilities entered
Exchange rate adjustments
Other movements

At 31 December 2019
Cash inflow from operating activities
Cash outflow from investing activities
Cash (inflow)/outflow from financing activities*
Lease liabilities entered
Businesses disposed or classified as held for sale
Exchange rate adjustments
Other movements

Bank and  
other 
borrowings: 
Current 
£’m

Bank and  
other 
borrowings: 
Non-current
£’m

10.2
–
–
–
–
(5.6)
214.8

219.4
–
–
(215.1)
–
–
9.1
(2.9)

1,148.3
–
–
(212.6)
–
(26.4)
(214.8)

694.5
–
–
125.5
–
–
(22.2)
(1.0)

At 31 December 2020

10.5

796.8

Lease 
liabilities:  
Current

Lease

liabilities:  

Non-current

Total 
debt

Cash and 
cash
equivalents

Net 
debt 

£’m

16.1
–
–
(0.2)
–
(0.4)
0.9

16.4
–
–
(11.9)
–
(1.7)
(0.3)
12.2

14.7

£’m

81.4
–
–
2.9
54.2
(2.3)
–

136.2
–
–
–
11.4
(3.9)
(1.9)
(12.2)

129.6

£’m

£’m

£’m

1,256.0
–
–
(209.9)
54.2
(34.7)
0.9

1,066.5
–
–
(101.5)
11.4
(5.6)
(15.3)
(3.9)

(181.9)
(366.9)
49.7
340.3
–
3.5
–

(155.3)
(154.2)
22.0
101.2
–
–
7.7
–

1,074.1
(366.9)
49.7
130.4
54.2
(31.2)
0.9

911.2
(154.2)
22.0
(0.3)
11.4
(5.6)
(7.6)
(3.9)

951.6

(178.6)

773.0

*  Cash flows relating to bank and other borrowings are disclosed in the cash flow statement as proceeds from borrowings of £618.6m (2019: £0.4m), repayments of 

borrowings of £705.8m (2019: £213.0m) and debt issue costs paid of £2.4m (2019: £Nil). Cash flows relating to lease liabilities are disclosed in the cash flow 
statement as repayments of lease liabilities of £15.4m (2019: 16.2m) and reverse lease premium received of £3.5m (2019: £18.9m).

44. Business disposals
On 30 June 2020, the Group disposed of Meggitt Training Systems (MTS), for a cash consideration of USD155.7m. The transaction is 
consistent with the Group’s strategy to focus on businesses of scale in markets where its leading positions offer greater potential for 
growth and operational efficiencies. The business disposed was not a major line of business or geographical area of operation of the 
Group. The net assets of the business at the date of disposal were as follows:

Goodwill (see note 17)
Development costs (see note 18)
Other intangible assets (see note 19)
Property, plant and equipment (see note 20)
Inventories
Trade and other receivables – current
Contract assets – current
Cash and cash equivalents
Trade and other payables – current
Contract liabilities – current
Lease liabilities – current
Provisions – current
Deferred tax (see note 35)
Lease liabilities – non-current

Net assets
Currency translation gain transferred from equity
Business disposal expenses
Gain on disposal (see note 9)

Total consideration received in cash

Cash inflow arising on disposal:
Total consideration received in cash
Less: cash and cash equivalents disposed of

Businesses disposed
Less: business disposal expenses paid*

Total cash inflow

*  Of the total business disposal expenses paid, £3.5m were in respect of the disposal of MTS, with the balance relating to disposals in the prior year.

MTS
£’m

84.8
19.7
0.1
6.8
11.6
9.4
22.6
9.8
(15.4)
(4.4)
(1.5)
(0.1)
(6.7)
(3.0)

133.7
(44.0)
3.8
33.3

126.8

126.8
(9.8)

117.0
(5.2)

111.8

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216

Meggitt PLC
Annual Report & Accounts 2020

Notes to the consolidated financial statements 
continued

45. Related undertakings
In accordance with section 409 of the Companies Act 2006, a full list of related undertakings as at 31 December 2020 is disclosed 
below. Unless otherwise stated, undertakings have their registered office at Pilot Way, Ansty Business Park, Coventry, England, CV7 9JU, 
United Kingdom, and have a single class of ordinary shares with 100% of the equity owned by the Group. No subsidiary undertakings 
have been excluded from the consolidation.

Subsidiaries – directly owned 
Dunlop Aerospace Limited

Integrated Target Services Limited

KDG Holdings Limited

Meggitt (Pamphill) Limited

Meggitt (Sand) Limited

Meggitt (Wimborne) Limited

Meggitt Engineering Limited

Meggitt International Holdings Limited3

Meggitt Pension Trust Limited

Negretti & Zambra Limited

Negretti Limited

Phoenix Travel (Dorset) Limited1

The Microsystems Group Limited

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Subsidiaries – indirectly owned 
Aero-Tech Composites de Mexico, S. de R.L. de 
C.V. (Mexico)2
Carretera 54 a Zacatecas 5690, Parque Industrial 
Amistad Sur Saltillo, Coahuila 25070
Aircraft Braking Systems Europe Limited 
Aircraft Braking Systems Services Limited 
Artus SAS (France)
Chemin du Champ des Martyrs, 49240 Avrillé
Atlantic House Pension Trustee Limited
Avica Aerospace Ducting Limited
BAJ Coatings Limited4
Bells Engineering Limited
Bestobell Aviation Products Limited
Bestobell Engineering Products Limited
Bestobell Insulation Limited
Bestobell Meterflow Limited
Bestobell Mobrey Limited
Bestobell Service Co Limited
Bestobell Sparling Limited
Cavehurst Limited3
Dunlop Aerospace Group Limited3
Dunlop Aerospace Holdings Limited3
Dunlop Aerospace Overseas Investments 
Limited 
Dunlop Aerospace Overseas Limited3
Dunlop Holdings Limited3
Dunlop Limited3
Europeenne de Conception d’Etudes  
Technologiques SAS (France)
8 Chemin de l’Etang, BP 15, F-16730 FLEAC
Evershed & Vignoles Limited
Heatric Limited5
King Tool International Limited
Meggitt (Baltimore) Inc. (USA)6
3310 Carlins Park Drive, Baltimore, Maryland 21215
Meggitt (Canford) Limited
Meggitt (Colehill) Limited
Meggitt (Erlanger), LLC (USA)7
1955 Surveyor Avenue, Simi Valley, California 93063
Meggitt (France) SAS (France)
10 rue Mercoeur, 75011 Paris
Meggitt (Hurn) Limited
Meggitt (Korea) Limited
Meggitt (North Hollywood), Inc. (USA)6
12838 Saticoy Street, North Hollywood,  
California 91605
Meggitt (Orange County), Inc. (USA)6
4 Marconi, Irvine, California 92618

Meggitt Overseas Limited
Meggitt (Rockmart), Inc. (USA)6
669 Goodyear Street, Rockmart, Georgia 30153
Meggitt (San Diego), Inc. (USA)6
6650 Top Gun Street, San Diego, California 92121
Meggitt (Sapphire) GmbH (Germany)
Kaiserleistraße 51, 63067 Offenbach/Main
Meggitt (Sapphire) Limited
Meggitt (Sensorex) SAS (France)
196 rue Louis Rustin, Archamps Technopole, 74160 
Archamps
Meggitt (Shapwick) Limited
Meggitt (Simi Valley), Inc. (USA)6
1955 Voyager Avenue, Simi Valley, California 93063
Meggitt (Tarrant) Limited
Meggitt (Troy), Inc. (USA)6
3 Industrial Drive, Troy, Indiana 47588
Meggitt (UK) Limited
Meggitt (Vietnam) Co., Ltd (Vietnam)8
No 7, 16A Road, Industrial Zone 2 of Bienhoa, Dongnai
Meggitt (Xiamen) Sensors & Controls Company 
Limited (China)9
No.230 South 5 Gaoqi Road, Xiamen Area of China 
(Fujian) Pilot Free Trade Zone 361006
Meggitt A/S (Denmark)
Porthusvej 4, 3490 Kvistgaard
Meggitt Acquisition Limited3
Meggitt Advanced Composites Limited3
Meggitt Aerospace Asia Pacific Pte. Ltd. 
(Singapore)
1A Seletar Aerospace Link, Seletar Aerospace Park, 
Singapore 797552
Meggitt Aerospace Holdings Limited3
Meggitt Aerospace Limited
Meggitt Aircraft Braking Systems Corporation 
(USA)6
1204 Massillon Road, Akron, Ohio 44306
Meggitt Aircraft Braking Systems Kentucky 
Corporation (USA)6
190 Corporate Drive, Danville, Kentucky 40422
Meggitt Aircraft Braking Systems Queretaro,  
S. de R.L. de C.V. (Mexico)2
Carretera Estatal 200 Queretaro-Tequisquiapan, 
KM 22 547 Interior A, Parque Aeroespacial, Queretaro,  
CP 76278
Meggitt Asia Pacific Pte. Ltd. (Singapore)
1A Seletar Aerospace Link, Seletar Aerospace Park, 
Singapore 797552
Meggitt Brasil Solucoes de Engenharia Ltda. 
(Brazil)9
Avenida João Cabral de Mello Neto, No. 850, Suites 815 
and 816, Barra da Tijuca, CEP 22.775-057, City and State 
of Rio de Janeiro
Meggitt Canada Enterprises Inc. (Canada)
1501 McGill College Avenue, 26th Floor, Montréal, 
Québec, H3A 3N9
Meggitt Defense Systems, Inc. (USA)6
9801 Muirlands Boulevard, Irvine, California 92618
Meggitt Filtration & Transfer Limited
Meggitt Finance (Beta)
Meggitt Finance Limited
Meggitt GmbH (Germany)
Kaiserleistraße 51, 63067 Offenbach

 
 
 
Meggitt PLC
Annual Report & Accounts 2020

217

Notes
1  Ownership held as ordinary B shares (50%).
2  Ownership held as quota interest (100%).
3  The entity has taken the audit exemption under 
section 479A of the Companies Act 2006 in 
respect of the financial year ended 31 December 
2020.
  Ownership held as deferred shares (55.55%) and 
ordinary shares (44.45%).

4 

5  Ownership held as ordinary A shares (60%) and 

ordinary B shares (40%).
 Ownership held as common stock.
 Ownership held as membership interest (100%).

6 
7 
8  Ownership held as owner’s capital.
9 
10   Ownership held as equity shares (100%).
11  Registered at 125 West Regent Street, Glasgow, 

 Ownership held as registered capital (100%).

Lanarkshire, G2 2SA, Scotland.

12   Joint venture with Hamilton Sundstrand 

Corporation – ownership held as membership 
interest (70%).

13   Subsidiary of Meggitt UTC Aerospace System, 

LLC – ownership held as quota interest (99.97%).

14   Ownership held as ordinary shares (33.33%).
15   Ownership held as ordinary shares (33.33%).
16  Ownership held as ordinary shares (100%).
17  Ownership held as ordinary shares (50%).

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45. Related undertakings continued
Meggitt Holdings (France) SAS (France)
Chemin du Champ des Martyrs, 49240 Avrillé
Meggitt Holdings (USA) Inc. (USA)6
1955 Surveyor Avenue, Simi Valley, California 93063
Meggitt India Pvt Ltd (India)10
901, Brigade Rbix, No. 20. HMT Main Road, HMT 
Township, North Bangalore Karnataka 560022
Meggitt International Limited3
Meggitt Investments Limited3
Meggitt-Oregon, Inc. (USA)6
2010 Lafayette Avenue, McMinnville, Oregon 97128
Meggitt Properties PLC
Meggitt Queretaro LLC (USA)7
1204 Massillon Road, Akron, Ohio 44306
Meggitt SA (Switzerland)
Rte de Moncor 4, PO Box 1616, CH-1701 Fribourg
Meggitt Safety Systems, Inc. (USA)6
1785 Voyager Avenue, Simi Valley, California 93063
Meggitt-USA Services, Inc. (USA)6
1955 Surveyor Avenue, Simi Valley, California 93063
Meggitt-USA, Inc. (USA)6
1955 Surveyor Avenue, Simi Valley, California 93063
Miller Insulation & Engineering Limited11
NASCO Aircraft Brake, Inc. (USA)6
13300 Estrella Avenue, Gardena, California 90248
OECO, LLC (USA)7
4607 SE International Way, Milwaukie, Oregon 97222
Pacific Scientific Company (USA)6
1785 Voyager Avenue, Simi Valley, California 93063
Park Chemical Company (USA)6
1955 Surveyor Avenue, Simi Valley, California 93063
Piher International Limited
Precision Engine Controls Corporation (USA)6
11661 Sorrento Valley Road, San Diego,  
California 92121
Securaplane Technologies, Inc. (USA)6
12350 N. Vistoso Park Road, Oro Valley, Arizona 85755
Serck Aviation Limited
Target Technology Petrel Limited
TFE Techniques et Fabrications Electroniques 
SAS (France)
Rue Jean Perrin Zone Industrielle Actisud Le Capitre, 
31100 Toulouse
Tri-scan Limited
Vibro-Meter Limited
Vibro-Meter S.a.r.l (Switzerland)
Rte de Moncor 4, PO Box 1616, CH-1701 Fribourg
Wallaby Grip Limited
Whittaker Aerospace
Whittaker Corporation (USA)6
1955 Surveyor Avenue, Simi Valley, California 93063
Whittaker Development Co. (USA)6
1955 Surveyor Avenue, Simi Valley, California 93063
Whittaker Ordnance, Inc. (USA)6
1955 Surveyor Avenue, Simi Valley, California 93063
Whittaker Technical Products, Inc. (USA)6
1955 Surveyor Avenue, Simi Valley, California 93063
Zambra Legal Pty Ltd (Australia)
Suite 2, Level 11, 60 Castlereagh Street, Sydney,  
New South Wales 2000

Entities not included in 
the consolidation

Equity accounted investments 
Meggitt UTC Aerospace Systems, LLC (USA)12
1400 Jamike Avenue, Erlanger, Kentucky 41018
Parkway-Hamilton Sundstrand Mexico S.  
de R.L. de C.V. (Mexico)13
Carretera 54 a Zacatecas 5690, Parque Industrial 
Amistad Sur Saltillo, Coahuila 25070
Valley Association Corporation (USA)14
1204 Massillon Road, Akron, Ohio 44306

Private company limited by guarantee 
without share capital
Meggitt Pension Plan Trustees Limited 

Registered charity
Evershed & Ayrton Fund

Registered branches
Meggitt (Korea) Ltd has a branch in South Korea
Meggitt (Xiamen) Sensors & Controls Ltd 
has a branch in Shanghai 

Joint ventures
HiETA Technologies Limited15 

Private company with shares held  
by a nominee
Pilot Funding Limited16

Subsidiaries – indirectly owned and not 
included in the consolidation
ABL Systems (USA)17
1204 Massillon Road, Akron, Ohio 44306
Alston Properties LLC (USA)7
14600 Myford Road, Irvine, California 92606
Wallaby Grip (NSW) Pty Ltd (in liquidation) 
(Australia)
Bradley Tonks, PKF Sydney, Level 8, 1 O’Connell Street, 
Sydney, New South Wales 2000
Wallaby Grip Australia Pty Ltd (in liquidation) 
(Australia)
Bradley Tonks, PKF Sydney, Level 8, 1 O’Connell Street, 
Sydney, New South Wales 2000
Wallaby Grip B.A.E. Pty Ltd (in liquidation) 
(Australia)
Bradley Tonks, PKF Sydney, Level 8, 1 O’Connell Street, 
Sydney, New South Wales 2000
Wallaby Grip Industries Australia Pty Ltd  
(in liquidation) (Australia)
Bradley Tonks, PKF Sydney, Level 8, 1 O’Connell Street, 
Sydney, New South Wales 2000

 
 
 
218

Meggitt PLC
Annual Report & Accounts 2020

Company balance sheet
At 31 December 2020

Non-current assets
Intangible assets
Property, plant and equipment
Investments
Derivative financial instruments
Deferred tax assets

Current assets
Other receivables
Derivative financial instruments
Current tax recoverable
Cash and cash equivalents

Total assets

Current liabilities
Trade and other payables
Derivative financial instruments
Current tax liabilities
Lease liabilities
Bank and other borrowings

Net current assets

Non-current liabilities
Derivative financial instruments
Lease liabilities
Bank and other borrowings
Provisions
Retirement benefit obligations

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Total liabilities

Net assets

Equity
Share capital
Share premium
Capital redemption reserve
Other reserves
Retained earnings:
  At 1 January
  Profit for the year attributable to owners of the Company
  Other changes in retained earnings

Total equity attributable to owners of the Company

Notes

2020 
£’m

2019 
£’m

4
5
6
10
 11

7
10

8
10

9

10

9

12

13

36.1
0.4
2,078.8
15.1
37.8

43.4
0.9
2,082.7
16.5
27.4

2,168.2

2,170.9

1,451.4
5.2
0.1
27.7

1,325.9
6.6
9.3
32.9

1,484.4

1,374.7

3,652.6

3,545.6

(99.0)
(29.2)
(8.4)
(0.5)
(7.4)

(158.7)
(18.2)
–
(0.2)
(7.6)

(144.5)

(184.7)

1,339.9

1,190.0

(6.2)
–
(439.0)
(0.2)
(186.6)

(11.7)
(0.2)
(453.5)
(0.2)
(150.6)

(632.0)

(616.2)

(776.5)

(800.9)

2,876.1

2,744.7

39.0
1,226.6
1.6
17.5

38.8
1,226.5
1.6
17.5

1,460.3
177.0
(45.9)

1,521.4
139.7
(200.8)

2,876.1

2,744.7

The financial statements on pages 218 to 228 were approved by the Board of Directors on 3 March 2021 and signed on its behalf by: 

A Wood  
Director 

L Burdett
Director

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
Meggitt PLC
Annual Report & Accounts 2020

219

Company statement of changes in equity
For the year ended 31 December 2020

At 1 January 2019

Profit for the year

Other comprehensive expense for the year:
Remeasurement of retirement benefit obligations

Other comprehensive expense before tax
Tax

Other comprehensive expense for the year

Total comprehensive income for the year

Employee share schemes:
  Value of subsidiary employee services
  Value of services provided
  Issue of equity share capital
Dividends

At 31 December 2019

Profit for the year

Other comprehensive expense for the year:
Remeasurement of retirement benefit obligations

Other comprehensive expense before tax
Tax

Other comprehensive expense for the year

Total comprehensive income for the year

Employee share schemes:
  Value of subsidiary employee services
  Value of services provided
  Issue of equity share capital
Dividends

At 31 December 2020

Equity attributable to owners of the Company

Share  
capital 

Share  
premium 

Notes

 £’m

38.8

£’m

1,223.9

Capital 
redemption 
reserve 
£’m

1.6

Other
reserves*

Retained 
earnings 

Total  
equity 

£’m

17.5

£’m

 £’m

1,521.4

2,803.2

12

11

12

11

–

–

–
–

–

–

–
–
–
–

–

–

–
–

–

–

–
–
2.6
–

–

–

–
–

–

–

–
–
–
–

–

–

–
–

–

–

–
–
–
–

139.7

139.7

(94.5)

(94.5)
14.0

(80.5)

(94.5)

(94.5)
14.0

(80.5)

59.2

59.2

10.0
2.7
(2.6)
(130.4)

10.0
2.7
–
(130.4)

38.8

1,226.5

1.6

17.5

1,460.3

2,744.7

–

–

–
–

–

–

–
–
0.2
–

–

–

–
–

–

–

–
–
0.1
–

–

–

–
–

–

–

–
–
–
–

–

–

–
–

–

–

–
–
–
–

177.0

177.0

(54.1)

(54.1)
12.1

(54.1)

(54.1)
12.1

(42.0)

(42.0)

135.0

135.0

(3.0)
(0.6)
(0.3)
–

(3.0)
(0.6)
–
–

39.0

1,226.6

1.6

17.5

1,591.4

2,876.1

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*  

 Other reserves relate to the cancellation of the Company’s share premium account in 1988, which was transferred to a non-distributable capital reserve.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
220

Meggitt PLC
Annual Report & Accounts 2020

Notes to the financial statements of the Company

1. Basis of preparation
These financial statements apply the recognition, measurement and presentation requirements of international accounting standards in 
conformity with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006, but make amendments where necessary in order to comply with the Act 
and take advantage of the following disclosure exemptions permitted by FRS 101:

•  Paragraphs 10(d), 111 and 134-136 of IAS 1, ‘Presentation of financial statements’
•  IAS 7, ‘Statement of cash flows’
•  Paragraph 17 of IAS 24, ‘Related party disclosures’ 
•  The requirements in IAS 24, ‘Related party disclosures’ to disclose related party transactions entered into between two or more 

members of a group

•  Paragraphs 45(b) and 46-52 of IFRS 2, ‘Share-based payment’
•  IFRS 7, ‘Financial Instruments: Disclosures’

The Company has taken advantage of the legal dispensation contained in Section 408 of the Companies Act 2006 allowing it not to 
publish a separate income statement and related notes and not to publish a separate statement of comprehensive income.

These financial statements have been prepared on a going concern basis and under the historical cost convention, as modified by the 
revaluation of certain financial assets and financial liabilities (including derivative financial instruments) at fair value, in accordance with 
the Companies Act 2006.  

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2. Summary of significant accounting policies
The principal accounting policies adopted by the Company in the preparation of the financial statements are set out below.  
These policies have been applied consistently to all periods presented unless stated otherwise.

Investments
Investments in subsidiaries are stated at cost less accumulated impairment losses, except for investments acquired before 
1 January 1988 where Section 612 merger relief has been taken and investments are stated at the nominal value of the shares  
issued in consideration, using the deemed cost exemption in IFRS 1 on transition to FRS 101.

Intangible assets
Intangible assets, which comprise software, are recorded at cost less accumulated amortisation and impairment losses. Amortisation is 
charged on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful economic lives of the assets, commencing with the date the assets are 
available for use, typically over periods up to five years. Residual values and useful lives are reviewed annually and adjusted if 
appropriate.

Property, plant and equipment
Property, plant and equipment are recorded at cost less accumulated depreciation and impairment losses. Cost includes expenditure 
directly attributable to the acquisition of the asset. 

For right-of-use assets, cost comprises an amount equal to the initial lease liability recognised, adjusted to include any payments made 
for the right to use the asset, initial direct costs incurred and estimated costs for dismantling, removing and restoring the asset at the 
end of the lease term. 

Depreciation is charged on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful economic lives of the assets, commencing with the date the 
assets are available for use, as follows:

Right-of-use assets

Shorter of the useful economic life 
of the asset and the lease term

Plant and equipment

3 to 5 years

Motor vehicles

5 years

Residual values and useful lives are reviewed annually and adjusted if appropriate. When property, plant and equipment are disposed,  
the difference between sale proceeds, net of related costs, and the carrying value of the asset is recognised in the income statement.

Impairment of non-current, non-financial assets
At each balance sheet date, the Company reviews the carrying amounts of its non-current, non-financial assets to determine whether 
there is any indication that those assets have suffered an impairment loss. If any such indication exists, the recoverable amount of the 
asset is estimated in order to determine the extent of any impairment loss. Where it is not possible to estimate the recoverable amount 
of an individual asset, the Company estimates the recoverable amount of the cash-generating unit (CGU) to which the asset belongs.

Recoverable amount is the higher of fair value less costs to sell and value in use. In assessing value in use, the estimated future pre-tax 
cash flows are discounted to their present value using a pre-tax discount rate that reflects current market assessments of the time value 
of money and the risks specific to the asset for which the estimates of future cash flows have not been adjusted. If the recoverable 
amount of an asset or CGU is estimated to be less than its carrying amount, the carrying amount of the asset or CGU is reduced to its 
recoverable amount.

Any impairment loss is recognised immediately in the income statement. Where an impairment loss is no longer required, it is reversed 
with a corresponding credit to the income statement. 

 
 
 
Meggitt PLC
Annual Report & Accounts 2020

221

2. Summary of significant accounting policies continued
Other receivables
Other receivables are initially recognised at fair value and subsequently measured at amortised cost less any impairment losses.  
The Company applies the IFRS 9 simplified approach to measuring expected credit losses (ECLs), which uses a lifetime expected  
loss allowance. To measure ECLs, other receivables have been grouped based on shared credit risk characteristics and their ageing.  
For amounts owed by subsidiary undertakings, which are repayable on demand, ECLs are based on the assumption that repayment is 
demanded at the balance sheet date. The subsidiary undertaking’s access to sufficient accessible highly liquid assets in order to repay 
the amounts due if demanded at the balance sheet date is assessed. The expected manner of recovery is considered when measuring 
ECLs. If these indicate that the Company would fully recover the outstanding amounts due, ECLs will be limited to the effect of 
discounting the amounts due using the effective interest rate, over the period until cash is expected to be realised.

Cash and cash equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents include cash in hand and deposits held at call with banks. Bank overdrafts are disclosed as current liabilities, 
within bank and other borrowings, except where the Company participates in offset arrangements with certain banks whereby cash and 
overdraft amounts are offset against each other.

Taxation
Current tax is based on taxable profit for the period, calculated using tax rates enacted or substantively enacted at the balance  
sheet date.

Deferred tax is provided in full using the liability method on temporary differences between the tax bases of assets and liabilities  
and their corresponding book values as recognised in the Company’s financial statements. It is calculated using tax rates enacted or 
substantively enacted at the balance sheet date. Deferred tax assets are recognised only to the extent it is probable that taxable  
profits will be available against which deductible temporary differences can be utilised. 

Current tax and deferred tax are recognised in the income statement, other comprehensive income or directly in equity depending on 
where the item to which they relate has been recognised.

Foreign currencies
The Company’s financial statements are presented in pounds sterling. Transactions in foreign currencies are recorded at exchange rates 
prevailing at the dates of the transactions. Monetary assets and liabilities, denominated in foreign currencies are reported at exchange 
rates prevailing at the balance sheet date. Exchange differences on retranslating monetary assets and liabilities are recognised in the 
income statement. 

Retirement benefit schemes
For the Company’s defined benefit scheme, pension costs are charged to the income statement in accordance with the advice of 
qualified independent actuaries. Past service credits and costs are recognised immediately in the income statement.

Retirement benefit obligations represent the difference between the fair value of the scheme assets and the present value of the 
scheme defined benefit obligations measured at the balance sheet date. The defined benefit obligation is measured annually by 
independent actuaries using the projected unit credit method. The present value of the defined benefit obligation is determined by 
discounting the defined benefit obligations using interest rates of high quality UK corporate bonds with terms to maturity comparable 
with the terms of the related defined benefit obligations. Where the Company has a statutory or contractual minimum funding 
requirement to make contributions to a scheme in respect of past service and any such contributions are not available to the Company 
once paid (as a reduction in future contributions or as a refund, to which the Company has an unconditional right either during the life  
of the scheme or when the scheme liabilities are settled), an additional liability for such amounts is recognised.

Remeasurement gains and losses are recognised in the period in which they arise in other comprehensive income. 

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For defined contribution schemes, payments are recognised in the income statement when they fall due. The Company has no further 
obligations once the contributions have been paid.

Share-based compensation
The Company operates a number of share-based compensation schemes, which are subject to non-market based vesting conditions and 
are principally equity settled.

For equity-settled schemes, at the date of grant, the Company estimates the number of awards expected to vest as a result of  
vesting conditions and the fair value of this estimated number of awards is recognised as an expense in the income statement on  
a straight-line basis over the period for which services are received. At each balance sheet date, the Company revises its estimate of  
the number of awards expected to vest and adjusts the amount recognised cumulatively in the income statement to reflect the revised 
estimate. When awards are exercised and the Company issues new shares, the proceeds received, net of any directly attributable 
transaction costs, are credited to share capital (nominal value) and share premium.

The grant by the Company of options over its equity instruments to employees of subsidiary undertakings, is treated as a capital 
contribution. The fair value of the awards made is recognised, over the vesting period, as an increase in investment in subsidiary 
undertakings, with a corresponding credit to retained earnings.

 
 
 
222

Meggitt PLC
Annual Report & Accounts 2020

Notes to the financial statements of the Company  
continued

2. Summary of significant accounting policies continued 
Derivative financial instruments and hedging
Derivative financial instruments are initially recognised at fair value on the date the derivative contract is entered into and are 
subsequently measured at fair value at each balance sheet date using values determined indirectly from quoted prices that are 
observable for the asset or liability. 

To the extent the maturity of the derivative financial instruments are more than 12 months from the balance sheet date, they are 
classified as non-current assets or non-current liabilities. All other derivative financial instruments are classified as current assets or 
current liabilities. 

The Company utilises a large number of foreign currency forward contracts to mitigate against currency fluctuations. The Company  
has determined that the additional costs of meeting the extensive documentation requirements in order to apply hedge accounting 
under IFRS 9 ‘Financial Instruments’ are not merited. Therefore changes in fair value are recognised immediately in the income statement. 

Borrowings
Borrowings are initially recognised at fair value, being proceeds received less directly attributable transaction costs incurred. Borrowings 
are generally subsequently held at amortised cost at each balance sheet date with any transaction costs amortised to the income 
statement over the period of the borrowings using the effective interest method. 

Any related interest accruals are included within borrowings. Borrowings are classified as current liabilities unless the Company has an 
unconditional right to defer settlement of the liability for at least 12 months after the balance sheet date.

Share capital 
Ordinary shares are classified as equity. Incremental costs directly attributable to the issue of new shares are deducted from the 
proceeds recorded in equity. 

Own shares represent shares in the Company that are held by an independently managed Employee Share Ownership Plan. 
Consideration paid for own shares, including any incremental directly attributable costs, is recorded as a deduction from retained 
earnings. Details of own shares in the Company are disclosed in note 39 to the Group’s consolidated financial statements.

Dividends
Interim dividends are recognised when paid to shareholders. Final dividends are recognised when approved by the shareholders. 
Details of dividends paid and proposed by the Company are disclosed in note 15 to the Group’s consolidated financial statements.

3. Critical accounting estimates and judgements
In applying the Company’s accounting policies set out in note 2, the Company is required to make certain estimates and judgements 
concerning the future. These estimates and judgements are regularly reviewed and revised as necessary. The estimates and judgements 
that have the most significant effect on the amounts included in the financial statements are described below. 

Critical accounting estimates
Retirement benefit obligations
The liability recognised in respect of retirement benefit obligations is dependent on a number of estimates including those relating to 
mortality, inflation, salary increases and the rate at which liabilities are discounted. External actuarial advice is taken with regard to the 
most appropriate assumptions to use. Further details on these estimates, and sensitivities of the retirement benefit obligations to these 
estimates, are disclosed in note 12.

Critical accounting judgements
Going concern
The judgement made by the directors that the going concern basis is appropriate in preparing these financial statements is a new 
critical judgement for 2020. The basis for making the judgement, the assumptions made in reaching the judgement and the results of 
the stress testing performed are provided in note 1 of the Group’s consolidated financial statements on pages 162 to 164. 

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Meggitt PLC
Annual Report & Accounts 2020

4. Intangible assets

At 1 January 2019
Cost
Accumulated amortisation

Net book amount

Year ended 31 December 2019
Opening net book amount
Additions
Amortisation

Net book amount

At 1 January 2020
Cost
Accumulated amortisation

Net book amount

Year ended 31 December 2020
Opening net book amount
Additions
Disposals
Amortisation

Net book amount

At 31 December 2020
Cost
Accumulated amortisation

Net book amount

223

Software 
£’m

76.2
(37.6)

38.6

38.6
13.2
(8.4)

43.4

89.4
(46.0)

43.4

43.4
2.9
(0.3)
(9.9)

36.1

92.0
(55.9)

36.1

Software assets include costs relating to the Group’s enterprise resource planning system. The asset has a net book amount of £12.8m 
(2019: £16.2m) and a remaining amortisation period of four years (2019: five years). 

5. Property, plant and equipment

Cost
Accumulated depreciation

Net book amount

Plant, 
equipment 
and vehicles 
£’m

6.2
(6.2)

–

2020

Other 

Total 

£’m

1.9
(1.5)

0.4

£’m

8.1
(7.7)

0.4

Plant, 
equipment 
and vehicles 
£’m

6.4
(6.0)

0.4

2019

Other 

Total 

£’m

1.8
(1.3)

0.5

£’m

8.2
(7.3)

0.9

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224

Meggitt PLC
Annual Report & Accounts 2020

Notes to the financial statements of the Company  
continued

6. Investments

Shares in subsidiary undertakings:
At 1 January
Capital contributions
Less contributions from subsidiary undertakings 

At 31 December

2020 
£’m

2019 
£’m

2,082.7
–
(3.9)

2,081.2
7.3
(5.8)

2,078.8

2,082.7

As set out in note 17 of the Group’s consolidated financial statements on page 185, the Group identified the need to perform an 
additional goodwill impairment test at 31 March 2020, in light of the impact of COVID-19 on its business. For the same reasons as the 
Group, the Company also performed an assessment at 31 March 2020 of the recoverability of its investments. For this impairment test, 
the Company utilised the value in use (VIU) calculations used for the Group’s goodwill impairment test. At the date of testing, the VIU  
of the subsidiary undertakings in which the Company held an investment exceeded the carrying value of the investment and no 
impairment was required. The Company also performed a sensitivity analysis to determine if any reasonably foreseeable change in 
assumptions used in determining VIU would result in an impairment and concluded that for each sensitivity, there remained headroom 
between the investment carrying value and the VIU. The methods used to derive the VIU, assumptions made and the reasonably 
foreseeable changes in assumptions modelled were consistent with those used by the Group in its goodwill impairment testing (see 
note 17 on pages 185 to 188). 

A list of all subsidiary undertakings is disclosed in note 45 to the Group’s consolidated financial statements on pages 216 to 217.

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7. Other receivables

Amounts owed by subsidiary undertakings
Prepayments and accrued income
Other

Total

2020 
£’m

1,450.8
0.4
0.2

2019 
£’m

1,325.1
0.2
0.6

1,451.4

1,325.9

Amounts owed by subsidiary undertakings are unsecured and are stated net of amounts due to subsidiary undertakings, where a right 
of set off exists. Within amounts owed by subsidiary undertakings are amounts totalling £1,358.3m (2019: £1,342.9m) which are interest 
bearing, have no fixed date for repayment and are repayable on demand. Interest accrues at rates ranging from 1% to 3%. 

Amounts owed by subsidiary undertakings are stated net of a loss allowance of £1.7m (2019: £1.9m). Each year, the Company performs 
an assessment of recoverability of amounts owed by subsidiary undertakings in accordance with IFRS9 requirements. The Company 
does not believe there is a significant risk of a material adjustment to the loss allowance recognised in respect of these receivables at 
31 December 2020, in the next 12 months. 

8. Trade and other payables – current

Trade payables
Amounts owed to subsidiary undertakings
Social security and other taxes
Accrued expenses
Other payables

Total

2020
£’m

1.7
90.6
0.5
4.1
2.1

99.0

2019
£’m

7.4
132.6
4.8
13.5
0.4

158.7

Amounts owed to subsidiary undertakings are unsecured. They include amounts totalling £Nil (2019: £22.6m) which are interest bearing, 
have no fixed date for repayment and are repayable on demand. Interest accrues at rates ranging from 1% to 3%.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Meggitt PLC
Annual Report & Accounts 2020

225

9. Bank and other borrowings

Other loans - current
Other loans - non-current

Total

Analysis of bank and other borrowings repayable:
In one year or less
In more than one year but not more than five years
In more than five years

Total

Analysis of bank and other borrowings:
Drawn under committed facilities
Less unamortised debt issue costs
Interest accruals

Total

2020
£’m

7.4
439.0

446.4

7.4
219.5
219.5

446.4

2019
£’m

7.6
453.5

461.1

7.6
226.8
226.7

461.1

439.5
(0.5)
7.4

446.4

454.2
(0.7)
7.6

461.1

Debt issue costs are amortised over the period of the facility to which they relate. The Company has no secured borrowings (2019: £Nil).

The Company has the following committed facilities at notional value:

2016 Senior notes (USD600.0m)

Committed facilities

Drawn 
£’m

439.5

439.5

2020

Undrawn 
£’m

–

–

Total 
£’m

439.5

439.5

Drawn 
£’m

454.2

454.2

2019

Undrawn 
£’m

–

–

Further details of the committed facilities are disclosed in note 31 to the Group’s consolidated financial statements on page 197.  
The committed facilities expire as follows:

In more than one year but not more than five years
In more than five years

Committed facilities

Drawn 
£’m

219.8
219.7

439.5

2020

Undrawn 
£’m

–
–

–

Total 
£’m

219.8
219.7

439.5

Drawn 
£’m

227.1
227.1

454.2

2019

Undrawn 
£’m

–
–

–

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4
6
-
2
2
8

Total 
£’m

454.2

454.2

Total 
£’m

227.1
227.1

454.2

The Company also has various uncommitted facilities with its relationship banks. No amounts had been drawn under these facilities at 
31 December 2020 (2019: £Nil).

Additionally, the Company has been confirmed as an eligible issuer under the Bank of England’s and HM Treasury’s Covid Corporate
Financing Facility (CCFF), under which the Company can draw up to £600m. The Company is eligible to issue commercial paper  
using this facility (subject to certain terms and restrictions) up to and including 22 March 2021, with a maturity date of up to 12 months.  
The Company has no commercial paper issued under this facility at 31 December, 2020 or at the date these financial statements  
were approved by the Board. 

The fair value of bank and other borrowings is as follows:

Current
Non-current

Total

 2020

 2019

Book  
 value 
£’m

7.4
439.0

446.4

Fair  
 value 
£’m

7.4
452.7

460.1

Book  
 value 
£’m

7.6
453.5

461.1

Fair  
 value 
£’m

7.6
461.7

469.3

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
226

Meggitt PLC
Annual Report & Accounts 2020

Notes to the financial statements of the Company  
continued

9. Bank and other borrowings continued 
All borrowings are subject to interest at fixed rates. The interest rate exposure on bank and other borrowings is: 

At 31 December 2020:

US dollar denominated other loans
Less unamortised debt issue costs

Bank and other borrowings

At 31 December 2019:

US dollar denominated other loans
Less unamortised debt issue costs

Bank and other borrowings

Fixed rate borrowings

Weighted 
average 
interest 
rate 

%

3.5

Weighted 
average 
period 
for which 
rate is fixed 
Years

4.0

Fixed rate borrowings

Weighted 
average 
interest 
rate 

%

3.5

Weighted 
average 
period 
for which 
rate is fixed 
Years

5.0

Total 

£’m

446.9
(0.5)

446.4

Total 

£’m

461.8
(0.7)

461.1

The weighted average interest rate reflects the relative impact of interest rates based on the principal amounts and the duration  
of borrowings. 

10. Derivative financial instruments

Interest rate swaps
Cross currency swaps 
Foreign currency forward contracts

Current portion

Interest rate swaps 
Foreign currency forward contracts 

Non-current portion

Total

2020

2019

Assets 
£’m

Liabilities 
£’m

Assets 
£’m

Liabilities 
£’m

–
–
5.2

5.2

5.1
10.0

15.1

20.3

–
(20.0)
(9.2)

(29.2)

–
(6.2)

(6.2)

(35.4)

1.8
–
4.8

6.6

5.1
11.4

16.5

23.1

–
(7.0)
(11.2)

(18.2)

–
(11.7)

(11.7)

(29.9)

The Company does not use hedge accounting for any of its derivative financial instruments. It is exempt from certain FRS 101 disclosures 
as the Group’s consolidated financial statements provide the disclosures required by IFRS 7 (see note 33 to the Group’s consolidated 
financial statements on pages 202 to 203).

The loss recorded in the income statement, recognised in net operating costs, arising from the measurement at fair value of derivative 
financial instruments, is £7.3m (2019: loss £19.1m).

The contract or underlying principal amount of foreign currency forward contracts in respect of derivative financial assets is £443.1m 
(2019: £405.6m) and in respect of derivative financial liabilities is £362.1m (2019: £627.0m).

The fair value of foreign currency forward contracts is analysed as follows:

US dollar forward sales and purchases (USD/£)
Forward sales and purchases denominated in other currencies

Fair value

2020

2019

Assets 
£’m

Liabilities 
£’m

13.0
2.2

15.2

(11.2)
(4.2)

(15.4)

Assets 
£’m

15.5
0.7

16.2

Liabilities 
£’m

(19.7)
(3.2)

(22.9)

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Meggitt PLC
Annual Report & Accounts 2020

227

11. Deferred tax
Movements in deferred tax assets and liabilities during the year, without taking into consideration the offsetting of balances,  
are as follows:

Assets

Liabilities

Net

At 1 January 2019
Reclassifications
Charge to income statement
Credit to other comprehensive income
Credit to equity

At 31 December 2019
Charge to income statement
Credit to other comprehensive income
Credit to equity

At 31 December 2020

Retirement 
benefit 
obligations 
£’m

15.1
–
(3.3)
14.0
–

25.8
(2.4)
12.1
–

35.5

Other 

Total 

£’m

2.7
(1.1)
(0.6)
–
0.6

1.6
(0.7)
–
1.4

2.3

£’m

17.8
(1.1)
(3.9)
14.0
0.6

27.4
(3.1)
12.1
1.4

37.8

After taking account of the offsetting of balances, deferred tax assets are analysed as follows:

To be recovered within one year
To be recovered after more than one year

Total

Accelerated 
tax 
depreciation 
£’m

(1.1)
1.1
–
–
–

–
–
–
–

–

2020 
£’m

6.8
31.0

37.8

£’m

16.7
–
(3.9)
14.0
0.6

27.4
(3.1)
12.1
1.4

37.8

2019 
£’m

5.9
21.5

27.4

There are no unremitted earnings in foreign subsidiaries that would give rise to a tax liability in the event of those subsidiaries remitting 
their earnings.

12. Retirement benefit obligations
The Company is the sponsoring employer of the Meggitt Pension Plan, a funded defined benefit plan. Each participating company in 
the Meggitt Pension Plan bears employer contributions in respect of future service. No other amounts are recharged by the Company to 
any other participating employer. The Company has recognised the total deficit in respect of the Meggitt Pension Plan in these financial 
statements. Further details on the plan are disclosed in note 36 to the Group’s consolidated financial statements on pages 207 to 211  
in respect of the UK scheme.

The total charge to net operating expenses in respect of the defined contribution scheme in which employees of the Company 
participate is £2.0m (2019: £2.1m). 

Changes in the present value of retirement benefit obligations

At 1 January
Service cost
Past service cost
Net interest cost
Contributions – Company
Benefits paid
Administrative expenses borne directly by scheme

Remeasurement of retirement benefit obligations:
Gain from change in demographic assumptions 
Loss from change in financial assumptions 
Return on scheme assets excluding amounts included in finance 

costs

Total remeasurement loss/(gain)

At 31 December

 Present value of scheme liabilities.

* 
**   Fair value of scheme assets.

Liabilities 
(*) 
£’m

855.7
7.8
0.1
17.3
–
(29.5)
–

(1.6)
111.3

–

109.7

 2020

Assets 
(**) 
£’m

(705.1)
–
–
(14.6)
(29.6)
29.5
0.9

–
–

(55.6)

(55.6)

Total 

£’m

150.6
7.8
0.1
2.7
(29.6)
–
0.9

(1.6)
111.3

(55.6)

54.1

Liabilities 
(*) 
£’m

753.4
6.7
–
21.5
–
(26.2)
–

(2.5)
102.8

–

100.3

 2019

Assets 
(**) 
£’m

(668.9)
–
–
(19.6)
(37.8)
26.2
0.8

–
–

(5.8)

(5.8)

Total 

£’m

84.5
6.7
–
1.9
(37.8)
–
0.8

(2.5)
102.8

(5.8)

94.5

961.1

(774.5)

186.6

855.7

(705.1)

150.6

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228

Meggitt PLC
Annual Report & Accounts 2020

Notes to the financial statements of the Company  
continued

12. Retirement benefit obligations continued
Details on the sensitivity of scheme liabilities to changes in assumptions are provided below: 

•  The impact of a 50 basis point reduction in discount rate would cause scheme liabilities at 31 December 2020 to increase by 

approximately £97.4m.

•  The impact of a 10 basis point increase in inflation and salary inflation rates would cause scheme liabilities at 31 December 2020 to 

increase by approximately £12.1m.

•  The impact of assuming every scheme member were to live for an additional year would cause scheme liabilities at 31 December 2020 

to increase by approximately £40.2m.

The above sensitivity analyses are based on a change in a single assumption while keeping all other assumptions constant. In practice,  
this is unlikely to occur, and changes in assumptions may be correlated. When calculating the sensitivity of the defined benefit obligation 
to significant actuarial assumptions, the same method of calculating the defined benefit obligation has been used as when calculating 
the retirement benefit obligations recognised on the balance sheet. The methods and types of assumptions used in preparing the 
sensitivity analysis are consistent with the previous year. No change has been considered necessary to sensitivity levels, given recent 
past experience.

The weighted average duration of the defined benefit obligation is 19.5 years. The expected maturity of undiscounted pension benefits 
at 31 December 2020 is as follows:

Total
£’m

To be made in 2021
To be made in 2022 
To be made in 2023 to 2025
To be made in 2026 to 2030
To be made in 2031 to 2035
To be made in 2036 to 2040
To be made in 2041 to 2045
To be made from 2046 onwards

Total

23.4
25.0
82.9
158.1
172.0
172.3
163.1
476.6

1,273.4

13. Share capital
Disclosures in respect of share capital of the Company are provided in note 37 to the Group’s consolidated financial statements on  
page 212.

14. Share-based payment
Share awards have been granted to employees of the Company under various plans. Details of the general terms and conditions of each 
share-based payment plan are provided in the Directors’ remuneration report on pages 114 to 141. Disclosure is also made in the 
Group’s consolidated financial statements in note 38 on page 212.

15. Commitments and contingencies
The Company has no capital commitments (2019: Nil). Details of contingent liabilities impacting the Company are disclosed in note 41 to 
the Group’s consolidated financial statements on page 213.

16. Other information
Directors’ remuneration
Details of the remuneration paid to directors of the Company are provided in the Directors’ remuneration report on pages 114 to 141. 

Auditor’s remuneration
Remuneration payable to PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP for the audit of the Company was £27,000 (2019: £27,000).

Employee information

Wages and salaries
Social security costs
Retirement benefit costs
Share-based payment (credit)/expense

Employee costs including executive directors

2020 
£’m

21.0
4.2
9.9
(0.6)

34.5

2019 
£’m

31.2
4.2
8.8
2.7

46.9

The average number of persons employed by the Company in the year is 278 (2019: 241). The total number of employees reduced in the 
year from 289 at I January 2020 to 275 at 31 December 2020.

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Meggitt PLC
Annual Report & Accounts 2020

229

Five-year record

Revenue and profit
Revenue

Underlying profit before tax
Amounts arising on the acquisition, disposal and closure of businesses
Amortisation of intangible assets acquired in business combinations
Disposal of inventory revalued in business combinations
Financial instruments
Exceptional operating items
Net interest expense on retirement benefit obligations 

(Loss)/profit before tax

Earnings and dividends
(Loss)/earnings per share – basic
Earnings per share – underlying
Dividends per ordinary share in respect of the year

Gearing ratio
Net debt as a percentage of total equity

2020 
£’m

2019 
£’m

2018 
£’m

2017 
£’m

2016 
£’m

1,684.1

2,276.2

2,080.6

1,994.4

1,992.4

159.5
32.0
(88.2)
–
(2.9)
(428.7)
(5.7)

(334.0)

(40.4)p
16.5p
–

370.3
23.5
(89.8)
–
15.0
(26.2)
(6.1)

286.7

28.8p
37.3p
5.55p

334.8
25.1
(91.5)
–
(10.1)
(34.2)
(8.0)

216.1

320.2
25.3
(93.5)
–
60.7
(73.1)
(11.3)

228.3

352.1
39.1
(98.6)
(4.6)
(66.4)
(15.5)
(10.6)

195.5

23.2p
34.2p
16.65p

37.8p
32.0p
15.85p

22.1p
34.8p
15.10p

38.0%

37.1%

43.1%

45.9%

48.0%

The Group adopted IFRS 15 and IFRS 16 with effect from 1 January 2018, with prior year comparatives for 2017 restated. IFRS 15 in 
particular is a complicated standard, requiring customer contracts to be reassessed against revised criteria for when, and at what value, 
revenue should be recognised. It is therefore not practical to provide a restatement of the numbers presented above for 2016.

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230

Meggitt PLC
Annual Report & Accounts 2020

Investor information

Contacts

Investor relations
E: investors@meggitt.com

Shareholder enquiries
Registrar: 
Computershare Investor  
Services PLC  
The Pavilions  
Bridgwater Road  
Bristol BS99 6ZZ

T: 0370 703 6210  
E: www.investorcentre.co.uk/
contactus

Information on Meggitt PLC, including the latest share price: www.meggitt.com

Enquiries about the following matters should be addressed to Meggitt PLC’s registrar: 

•  Change of address notification.
•  Lost share certificates.
•  Dividend payment enquiries.
•  Dividend mandate instructions. Shareholders may have their dividends paid directly into their bank or 
building society accounts by completing a dividend mandate form. Dividend confirmations are sent 
directly to shareholders’ registered addresses. Quarterly statements will be available online at  
www.investorcentre.co.uk. Shareholders will need their Shareholder Reference Number (SRN) and 
registered address details to get started. Statements will be available from 30 April, 31 July, 
31 October and 31 January each year.

•   Amalgamation of shareholdings. Shareholders who receive more than one copy of the Annual Report 

are invited to amalgamate their accounts on the share register.

Shareholders can view and manage their shareholdings online at www.investorcentre.co.uk, including 
updating address records, making dividend payment enquiries, updating dividend mandates and viewing 
the latest share price. Shareholders will need their Shareholder Reference Number, which can be found on 
their share certificate or a recent dividend tax voucher or dividend confirmation, to access this site. Once 
signed up to Investor Centre, an activation code may be sent to the shareholder’s registered address to 
enable the shareholder to manage their holding.

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Other useful contacts

Share dealing services are provided for shareholders by Computershare Investor Services PLC. 
These services are provided by telephone (0370 703 0084) and online (to access the service, 
shareholders should have their SRN and log onto www.computershare.trade.

ShareGift (www.sharegift.org, registered charity number 1052686): PO Box 72253, London, SW1P 9LQ  
(0207 930 3737). ShareGift, the independent share donation charity, is especially useful for those who 
may want to dispose of a small number of shares which are uneconomic to sell on their own. Shares 
which have been donated to ShareGift are aggregated and sold when practicable, with the proceeds 
passed on to a wide range of UK registered charities. 

Future payment of 
dividends – mandatory 
direct credit

From 2022, the Company is simplifying the way in which it pays dividends to shareholders by only paying cash 
dividends directly into a shareholder’s nominated bank account. This is known as Mandatory Direct Credit. 
The Company will no longer be issuing dividend cheques. Shareholders recorded on the register of members 
as receiving dividend payments by cheque will be contacted by Computershare. Those shareholders will need 
to take the required action by selecting the appropriate option as set out in the Computershare notification. 

 
 
 
Meggitt PLC
Annual Report & Accounts 2020

231

Glossary

401(k) 

ADS 

An employer-sponsored defined-
contribution pension in the United 
States

Aerospace, Defence, Security and  
Space Organisation

Aftermarket (AM)  

Spares and repairs

AGM 

AR&T 

ASK  

BAME 

Annual general meeting

Applied research and technology

Available seat kilometres

Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic

Basis point 

One-hundredth of a percent

BEPS 

Board  

Book to bill 

Bronze stage 

Business jets 

CAGR 

Capability  

CFC 

CGU  

CHF  

CI 
CO2  
2018 Code  

CODM  

Company  

Base Erosion and Profit Shifting

Board of directors

The ratio of orders received to revenue 
recognised in a period

Fourth stage of Meggitt  
Production System

Aircraft used for non-commercial 
operations

Compound annual growth rate

Expertise in technology and 
manufacturing

Controlled Foreign Company

Cash generating unit

Swiss franc

Continuous improvement

Carbon dioxide

UK Corporate Governance Code 2018

Chief operating decision maker

Meggitt PLC

Condition-monitoring  Monitoring the condition of aerospace 

and land-based turbines and 
supporting equipment to predict wear 
and tear, promoting safety, up-time 
and planned maintenance

Continuing Resolution  Appropriations legislation restricting 
modification from prior-year funding 
patterns

Covid Corporate 
Financing Facility 

CR 

CREST 

D&A 

DECC 

DEFRA  

DFARS 

DLA 

A Bank of England scheme introduced 
in March 2020 to support firms during  
the COVID-19 pandemic

Corporate Responsibility

Certificateless Registry for Electronic 
Share Transfer

Depreciation and amortisation

Department of Energy & Climate 
Change

Department for Environment, Food & 
Rural Affairs

(US) Defense Federal Acquisition 
Relation Supplement

Daily layered accountability, the nervous 
system of the Meggitt Production 
System, DLA is a  multi-layered structure 
of interlocking meetings at the start  
of each working day that flows fresh, 
accurate performance and operational 
information up and down the business 
enabling problems to be solved quickly 
by those best equipped to do so

DoD  

DPPM 

DRIP  

DGTR 

EBITDA 

E&C 

ECR 

EPS 

ERG 

ESG 

EU  

Executive Committee 

FCA 

FIFO  

FIRST 

FOC 

FRC  

FRS  

FTSE 

GAAP 

GBP  

GDP  

GDPR  

GHG  

Group  

HMRC  

HSE 

HPC 

HPS 

IAS  

IET 

IFBEC 

IFRS 

Installed base 

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(United States) Department of Defense

Defective parts per million, a measure  
of quality

Dividend reinvestment plan

Disclosure Guidance and Transparency 
Rules

Earnings Before Interest, Tax, 
Depreciation and Amortisation

Ethics & Compliance

(US) Export Controls Reform

Earnings per Share

Employee Resource Group

Environment, Social & Governance

European Union

Assists the Chief Executive to develop 
and implement the Group’s strategy, 
manage operations and discharge 
responsibilities delegated by the Board

Financial Conduct Authority

First-in first-out

For Inspiration and Recognition of 
Science and Technology 

Free of charge

Financial Reporting Council

Financial Reporting Standard

Share index of companies listed on the 
London Stock Exchange

Generally Accepted Accounting 
Practice

British pound or pound sterling 

Gross domestic product

General Data Protection Regulation

Greenhouse gas

Meggitt PLC and its subsidiaries

HM Revenue & Customs

Health, Safety & Environment

High Performance Culture (HPC) – our 
chosen culture, with a particular focus 
on diversity & inclusion and improved 
employee engagement, to accelerate 
execution of our strategy

High Performance System (HPS) –  
our new Emerging Stronger plan for  
Outstanding Operations, which will  
replace the Meggitt Production  
System (MPS)

International Accounting Standards

Institution of Engineering and 
Technology

International Forum on Business Ethical 
Conduct

International Financial Reporting 
Standards

The sum total of the Meggitt products 
and sub-systems installed on 
customers’ equipment

IR 

IP 

Investor Relations

Intellectual property

 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
232

Meggitt PLC
Annual Report & Accounts 2020

Glossary continued

PwC 

R&D  

REACH  

RECs 

Regional aircraft  

Registrar  

RIDDOR 

RMU 

RNS 

ROCE 

ROTA 

RPH 

SAP 

Sell-side 

Shipset 

SIP  

SRN  

STIP  

TCFD 

TRIR 

TSR  

UAV  

UN SDG 

UKLA 

USD  

Ventilator Challenge  

WACC  

WBCSD 

WRI 

PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

Research and development

Registration, Evaluation and 
Authorisation of Chemicals

Renewable Energy Credits

Commercial aircraft with fewer than  
100 seats

Computershare Investor Services PLC

The Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and 
Dangerous Occurrences Regulations

Retrofit, modification and upgrade

Regulatory News Service 
announcement

Return on capital employed

Return on trading assets

Retirement Plan Headcount

The Group’s selected enterprise 
management system

Refers to the part of the financial 
industry that is involved in the creation, 
promotion, and sale of stocks, bonds, 
foreign exchange, and other financial 
instruments

Value of Meggitt’s content on  
aircraft platforms

Share Incentive Plan

Shareholder Reference Number

Short-Term Incentive Plan

Taskforce on Climate-related Financial 
Disclosures

Total recordable injury rate

Total shareholder return

Unmanned aerial vehicle

United Nations Sustainable 
Development Goals

UK Listing Authority

United States dollar

A consortium led rapid production of 
ventilators to help patients hospitalised 
with COVID-19

Weighted average cost of capital

World Business Council for Sustainable 
Development

World Resources Institute

ISA  

International Standards on Auditing

Jet Zero Council (JZC) 

KPI  

Large jets 

Lean 

LIBOR  

LTIP  

M&A 

MPS 

Mix 

MoD  

MPP 

MRO  

Net borrowings 

NHS 

NPI 

O&M 

OE  

OECD  

OEM  

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Partnership between industry and 
government bringing together 
ministers and chief executive officer-
level stakeholders to drive the 
ambitious delivery of new technologies 
and innovative ways to cut aviation 
emissions

Key performance indicator

Commercial aircraft with greater than 
100 seats

A method for the continual elimination 
of waste within a manufacturing system

London Inter-Bank Offered Rate

Long-Term Incentive Plan

Mergers and acquisitions

Meggitt Production System (MPS) – our 
single global approach to continuous 
improvement using tools and processes 
tailored for the Group. Being replaced 
by our High Performance System
The impact on performance of revenue 
streams with higher or lower 
profitability growing at differing rates

UK Ministry of Defence 

Meggitt Pension Plan

Maintenance, repair and overhaul

Net debt adjusted to exclude lease 
liabilities

National health Service

New product introduction

Operations and maintenance

Original equipment

Organisation for Economic 
Cooperation and Development

Original equipment manufacturer

Operations excellence  A system of tools and processes that 

embraces the way in which every 
aspect of Meggitt is managed from the 
factory floor to all functions and every 
level of leadership from supervisors to 
the Group Executive Committee

Growth excluding the impact of 
currency and acquisitions and disposals 
of businesses

Occupational Safety and Health 
Administration

On-time delivery

Profit before tax

Printed circuit heat exchanger – a block 
of flat, diffusion bonded plates on to 
which fluid flow channels have been 
chemically milled

Plan for every part

Aircraft or ground vehicle model 
incorporating Meggitt products 

Project management office

Programme Participation Cost

The production and utilisation lifecycle 
of an aircraft model or ground vehicle

Organic growth  

OSHA 

OTD 

PBT 

PCHE 

PFEP 

Platform  

PMO 

PPC 

Programme  

 
 
 
Meggitt PLC
Ansty Business Park
Pilot Way
Coventry
CV7 9JU
United Kingdom

T +44 (0)24 7682 6900
www.meggitt.com

Registered in England and Wales
Company number 432989