Quarterlytics / Financial Services / Banks - Regional / Metropolitan Bank Holding Corp. / FY2014 Annual Report

Metropolitan Bank Holding Corp.
Annual Report 2014

MCB · NYSE Financial Services
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FY2014 Annual Report · Metropolitan Bank Holding Corp.
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Adapting in a
 changing environment

McBride plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014 
Governance and Financial statements

McBride plc
Middleton Way
Middleton
Manchester M24 4DP

Telephone: +44 (0) 161 653 9037
Facsimile:  +44 (0) 161 655 2278

 www.mcbride.co.uk

The Company’s results were presented on 10 September 2014. 
The presentation and audiocast can be found at the Company’s 
website www.mcbride.co.uk or by scanning the QR code above.

McBride has been accepted into 
the FTSE4Good Index Series of 
leading companies which meet 
globally recognised corporate 
responsibility standards.

McBride has been a leading contributor 
in the development of the A.I.S.E. 
Charter for sustainable cleaning and 
was the fi rst Private Label company 
to achieve Charter status.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 WELCOME TO OUR
 GOVERNANCE AND
 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Governance and Financial statements 

Governance
01  Chairman’s letter
02   Corporate Governance report
11 
 Audit Committee report
14 
 Nomination Committee report
15 
 Remuneration report
28   Statutory information
32 

 Statement of Directors’ responsibilities

Adapting in a  
changing environment 

McBride plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014  
Governance and Financial statements

Independent auditors’ report 
and Financial statements
34    Independent auditors’ report on the consolidated 

fi nancial statements
 Consolidated fi nancial statements
 Notes to the consolidated fi nancial statements
  Independent auditors’ report on the  
Company fi nancial statements
 Company balance sheet
 Notes to the Company fi nancial statements
 Principal subsidiaries

37 
43 
79 

81 
82 
87 

Shareholder information
88  Group fi ve-year summary
89  Useful information for shareholders
92  Where to fi nd us
IBC  Our on-line resources

Adapting in a  
changing environment 

McBride plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014 
Strategic Report

Strategic Report

Overview
2014 highlights
Key performance indicators
At a glance
Our journey
Board of Directors
Executive Management Team
Chairman’s statement
Business model
Chief Executive Offi  cer’s review
 Strategy in action 
Chief Finance Offi  cer’s review
 Principal risks and uncertainties
Corporate Responsibility
Shareholder information

On-line reporting

A copy of our Strategic Report and the 
Governance and Financial statements 
can be downloaded from:
www.mcbride.co.uk/investors/
results-reports/fi nancial-reports

Our Sustainability Report is also available 
on-line at: www.mcbride.co.uk/
our-responsibilities/reports

The McBride plc Annual Report this year 
is presented in two parts. The Strategic 
Report contains information about the 
Group, how we run the business and how 
we create value. It includes our strategy, 
business model, markets and key 
performance indicators, as well as our 
approach to governance, sustainability 
and risk management. It also includes 
a summary of our fi nancial management 
and performance.

The Governance and Financial statements 
contains details about how we run the 
business and remunerate executive 
management, and how we organise 
ourselves fi nancially.

On-line you can fi nd more information about 
our markets, including case studies illustrating 
how we create, develop, manufacture 
and supply Private Label Household and 
Personal Care products for our customers.

Our eleventh Sustainability Report is also 
available on-line.

Cautionary statement
This Annual Report has been prepared for the shareholders of McBride plc, 
as a body, and no other persons. Its purpose is to assist shareholders of the 
Company to assess the strategies adopted by the Group and the potential 
for those strategies to succeed and for no other purpose. The Company, 
its Directors, employees, agents or advisers do not accept or assume 
responsibility to any other person to whom this document is shown 
or into whose hands it may come and any such responsibility or liability 
is expressly disclaimed.

This Annual Report contains certain forward-looking statements that are 
subject to risk factors associated with, amongst other things, the economic 
and business circumstances occurring from time to time in the countries, 
sectors and markets in which the Group operates. It is believed that the 
expectations refl ected in these statements are reasonable but they may 
be aff ected by a wide range of variables which could cause actual results 
to diff er materially from those currently anticipated. 

No assurances can be given that the forward-looking statements in this 
Strategic Report will be realised. The forward-looking statements refl ect 
the knowledge and information available at the date of preparation of this 
Strategic Report and the Company undertakes no obligation to update 
these forward-looking statements. Nothing in this Annual Report should 
be constituted as a profi t forecast.

Strategic and Directors’ Reports
The Strategic Report and pages 1 to 32 inclusive of the Governance and 
Financial statements form a Directors’ Report. Both the Directors’ Report 
and Strategic Report have been drawn up and presented in accordance 
with English company law and the liabilities of the Directors in connection 
with those reports shall be subject to the limitations and restrictions 
provided by such law. In particular, the Directors would be liable to the 
Company (but not to any third party) if the Strategic Report and/or 
Directors’ Report contain errors as a result of recklessness or knowing 
misstatement or dishonest concealment of a material fact, but would 
not otherwise be liable.

 OUR ON-LINE RESOURCES

McBride communicates its fi nancial and sustainability performance 
as well as providing additional information about the Group at its website: 
www.mcbride.co.uk

McBride’s Annual Report and Accounts are available to view on-line 
or to download from: www.mcbride.co.uk/investors

McBride’s Sustainability Reports are available to view on-line 
or to download from: www.mcbride.co.uk/our-responsibilities/reports

Latest announcements can be found at the McBride on-line media centre 
at: www.mcbride.co.uk/media-centre/regulatory-news

Acknowledgements
Designed and produced by Instinctif Partners www.instinctif.com.

Printing and paper: This report has been printed by Empress Litho, a Carbon 
Footprint Approved Company. The paper is produced using an elemental 
chlorine-free (ECF) process and contains material sourced from responsibly 
managed forests in accordance with the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC).

Both the paper and the printer involved in the production support the growth 
of responsible forest management and are both accredited to ISO 14001. 
The printer also holds FSC status.

If you have fi nished reading the report and no longer wish to retain it, please 
pass it on to other interested readers, return it to McBride plc or dispose 
of it in your recycled paper waste. Thank you.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 CHAIRMAN’S LETTER

01

Iain Napier
Chairman

Diversity
Our policy on diversity (including gender) is available  
on our website at www.mcbride.co.uk. In essence, whilst 
we acknowledge that gender diversity can be a key 
element to the contribution made to Board deliberations, 
we must recognise that it is difficult in a Company of  
our size to set quotas for the proportion of women to  
be appointed to the Board. However, we will continue  
to ensure that searches for new appointments include 
consideration of female candidates of appropriate skill, 
experience, personality, knowledge and background.  
All appointments will ultimately be made on the basis  
of merit and calibre.

Appointment of new Chief Finance Officer
Following a comprehensive search, the Nomination 
Committee agreed that Chris Smith demonstrated  
the calibre and experience required to fulfil the role  
of Chief Finance Officer. Chris accepted our offer  
and will join the Company at a date to be confirmed.

Shareholder engagement
The Board remain committed to ensuring ongoing, 
effective and appropriate communication with 
shareholders. During the year, the Executive Directors  
and I have been heavily involved in meetings with 
investors and remain committed to doing so. Since the 
end of the year, Sandra Turner, Chair of our Remuneration 
Committee, has also engaged with key shareholders  
with a view to sharing and discussing, where required,  
our Remuneration Policy for the next three years.

Finally, may I reassure you that we do not view corporate 
governance as an isolated exercise in compliance.  
We accept that good governance is an evolving and 
changing field and our aim is to remain in line with best 
governance practice, and to embed it as a discipline that 
serves as a foundation to complementing our desire to 
support the long-term success of the Group on behalf  
of our shareholders and to set an example in terms of  
ways of working for the Group and our employees. 

Iain Napier
Chairman

Dear Shareholder

As explained in this Corporate Governance report, we are 
pleased once again to report that we have complied  
with the principles of the UK Corporate Governance Code 
(‘the Code’). Below I give a brief report on some of the 
key issues your Board has considered during the year.

Board deliberations during the year 
The financial year ended 30 June 2014 has been 
challenging, requiring the Board to focus on developing  
the strategy to ensure the Group continues to adapt  
to changes in the current market and economic climate.  
The actions we have taken are reported in our Strategic 
Report on pages 14 to 22 and the key matters which  
have commanded our attention during the year have 
been very much aligned to determining how to adapt 
whilst continuing to deliver value to all our stakeholders.  
More information about our activities is shown on  
page 6 of this Corporate Governance report.

Sub-committees
Our sub-committees have been particularly proactive  
this year, with the Remuneration Committee deliberating  
in some detail over the content and format of the new 
remuneration reporting regulations and, in particular, 
formulating the Company’s Remuneration Policy for the 
next three years. A new Long Term Incentive Plan (LTIP) 
has also been considered and will be tabled for shareholder 
approval at this year’s annual general meeting (AGM) in 
October 2014. In addition, the Audit Committee has been 
cognisant of the new requirements to report on both 
significant issues considered by the Committee during 
the year as well as to provide advice to the Board on the 
fair, balanced and understandable nature of the financial 
statements. The Nomination Committee (and, ultimately, 
the Board) has also been busy undertaking a search for  
a new Chief Finance Officer following the resignation  
of Richard Armitage earlier in the year.

Board evaluation
Once again, we have completed a Board Evaluation 
exercise. This has included specific focus on risk monitoring, 
Board behaviours and the interaction amongst Board 
members, and with both internal and external advisers.  
A report on the exercise is set out on page 7 of this 
Corporate Governance report but, in summary, I am 
pleased to report that all Directors continue to be actively 
engaged in all discussions, are open and challenging with 
each other and remain determined to deliver a strategy to 
ensure the Group is able to adapt to the market challenges 
we face as a fast moving consumer goods business.

McBride plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014 – Governance and Financial statementsGovernance 01-3202   McBride plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014 – Governance and Financial statements

 CORPORATE GOVERNANCE REPORT

Board

Audit
Committee

Remuneration
Committee

Nomination
Committee

Chief Executive 
Officer 

Chief Finance 
Officer

Executive 
Management
Team

Risk  
Committee

How we govern the Company
The Company’s governance framework is supported by the structure above, underpinned by the Group’s operating 
principles, policies and controls. 

The following pages provide details of how this framework supports the Group in delivering its business model and 
achieving its strategy (as set out on pages 12 and 13 in the Strategic Report).

Board composition
At 30 June 2014, the Board comprised six members: two 
Executive Directors, the Chairman and three Non-Executive 
Directors. The Directors’ biographies appear on page 8  
of the Strategic Report.

Bob Lee retired from the Board at the conclusion of the 
AGM on 14 October 2013, with his Board responsibilities 
reassigned; Steve Hannam becoming Senior Independent 
Director and Sandra Turner Chair of the Remuneration 
Committee.

Richard Armitage, Chief Finance Officer, resigned  
from the Board with effect from 31 July 2014 and will  
be replaced by Chris Smith, who joins the Company  
on a date to be confirmed.

Code compliance
As a Board, we remain committed to maintaining high 
standards of corporate governance and endorse the 
provisions set out in the Code. During the year, we have 
assessed our level of compliance with the Code and 
disclosures in this year’s Corporate Governance report 
describe how the main principles have been applied.  
The Board confirms that throughout the year the Company 
has complied with the Code’s provisions, other than  
the short continuation of Bob Lee’s tenure as a Director  
(to ensure a smooth transition of responsibilities), who  
had been in office for 10 years, before his retirement  
from the Board.

Leadership and responsibilities
We recognise the importance of establishing the right 
culture and communicating this message throughout the 
organisation. It is important that we provide strong and 
effective leadership, constructive challenge and, along with 
the Executive Management Team (EMT), accept collective 
accountability for the performance of the Group. In so 
doing, we can drive and deliver our strategy in the best 
interests of all our stakeholders.

In carrying out our work, the Board focuses on key tasks 
which include active reviews of the Group’s corporate plan 
and its long-term strategy, monitoring the decisions and 
actions of the Chief Executive Officer and the EMT, and 
reviewing the Group’s trading performance as well as 
health and safety and business risks. Further information  
on the matters we have considered during the year is set  
out on page 6 of this Corporate Governance report.

 
McBride plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014 – Governance and Financial statements

03

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer roles
There continues to be a clear division of the roles and 
responsibilities between the Chairman and the Chief 
Executive Officer.

 Iain Napier, as Chairman, is primarily responsible for:
•  leading the Board and ensuring it operates effectively, 
setting the Board agenda and ensuring the Directors 
receive accurate, timely and clear information,
•  ensuring both Board and shareholder meetings  
are properly conducted and promote effective  
decision-making, and

•   promoting effective relationships and open 
communication between the Executive and  
Non-Executive Directors.

 Chris Bull, as Chief Executive Officer, is primarily 
responsible for:
•  the executive management and operational running  

of the Company,

•  supported by the EMT, developing and implementing 

the Group’s business model and strategy, and

•  effectively communicating the Company’s strategy  
and performance and generally building positive 
relationships with all internal and external stakeholders.

Non-Executive Directors 
We consider that all the Non-Executive Directors are 
independent of management and exercise their duties  
in good faith, based on judgements informed by their 
personal knowledge, experience and skills. During the year, 
each Director confirmed that they had no relationship or 
circumstance that could affect their judgement and the 
Board has satisfied itself that there is no compromise to the 
independence of those Directors who have appointments 
with external entities. We believe that the balance between 
non-executive and executive representation encourages 
healthy independent challenge to the Executive Directors 
and to senior management.

 The key responsibilities of the Non-Executive Directors are:
•  developing and agreeing the Group’s business model 

and strategy with the Executive Directors,

•  scrutinising the performance of the Company and  

the Executive Directors,

•  providing challenge and advice to the Executive 

Directors,

•  having an oversight of the Company’s risks and  

internal controls,

•   approving remuneration and succession planning  

for Board Directors and other senior executives, and
•  monitoring and enhancing the Company’s corporate 

governance and compliance activities.

The Non-Executive Directors’ wide-ranging experience  
and backgrounds ensure that we can debate matters 
constructively in relation to both the development of 
strategy and assessment of performance against the 
objectives set by the Board. We also believe that the 
diverse backgrounds of the individual Directors ensures  
we have a Board with the optimum combination of  
skills and experience needed to support the business.

Director election and re-elections
We are satisfied that all the Directors standing for  
election or re-election continue to perform effectively  
and demonstrate commitment to their roles, including 
attendance at Board and sub-committee meetings as  
well as any other duties which may be undertaken by  
them from time to time. This has been demonstrated 
during the year by the willingness of all the Directors  
to attend additional informal meetings and discussions  
and also through the support they have given to the 
executive management of the Group. Any changes to  
the commitments of any Director are always considered  
in advance by the Board to ensure they are still able  
to fulfil their duties satisfactorily.

Although the articles of association (‘Articles’) require  
the Directors to submit themselves for re-election at every 
third AGM, all eligible Directors have agreed to submit 
themselves for annual re-election. Accordingly, Iain Napier, 
Chris Bull, Steve Hannam, Neil Harrington and Sandra Turner 
will retire at the 2014 AGM and offer themselves for 
re-election.

The biographies for each Director (set out on page 8  
of the Strategic Report) describe the skills and experience 
that the Board considers relevant. Voting at the 2013 AGM 
demonstrated continued support for all Directors who held 
office at that time.

Items reserved for the Board
The schedule of matters specifically reserved for decision 
by the Board is displayed on the Group’s website at  
www.mcbride.co.uk. This document has been updated 
during the year to incorporate minor changes to capture 
latest governance guidance.

Board sub-committees
Certain activities of the Board are delegated to various 
sub-committees. Each sub-committee is chaired  
by a member of the Board which, in turn, enables  
the Non-Executive Directors to take active roles in  
influencing and challenging the work, performance  
and recommendations of the Chief Executive Officer,  
the EMT and other senior management.

We have Audit, Nomination and Remuneration Committees. 
Each sub-committee has been established under its own 
Charter which sets out its terms of reference, authority, 
composition, activities and duties. The Charters are 
reviewed and updated as necessary to ensure ongoing 
compliance with the provisions of the Code and other best 
practice guidelines. They were last reviewed and updated 
in June 2014.

Reports for each of the sub-committees follow at the  
end of this Corporate Governance report and detail  
their membership, roles and activities.

Governance 01-3204   McBride plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014 – Governance and Financial statements

 CORPORATE GOVERNANCE REPORT continued

Operational management of the Group
The management of the Group’s business activities is 
delegated to the Chief Executive Officer, who is ultimately 
responsible for establishing objectives and monitoring 
executive actions and performance through the EMT. 
Profiles of the EMT members can be found on page 9  
of the Strategic Report.

The Chief Executive Officer chairs monthly meetings of  
the EMT, which are rotated around the operational sites to 
ensure visibility of the EMT and to provide the opportunity 
for site-based colleagues to interact with members of the 
EMT through Q&A sessions, round-table discussions and 
site tours.

 The key responsibilities of the EMT, led by the  
Chief Executive Officer, are:
•   rigorously assess the Group’s performance against  

its corporate plan,

•  identify and implement to a successful conclusion, 

those large-scale cross-Group projects which  
are critical to delivering the Group’s (strategy into 
action (SIA) projects),

•  facilitate the interface between the Group’s functions 
to ensure decisions are taken in a manner that both 
optimises delivery of the strategy and maximises 
shareholder value, and

•  provide a cross-functional forum for the discussion  
of opportunities and risks arising from them, as well  
as communicate business performance, which is then 
cascaded to the rest of the organisation.

Operational, supply chain, commercial, finance, development 
and technical issues are delegated via the various EMT 
members to senior management on a structured functional 
basis. Employee, social and community responsibilities  
are delegated to the Chief HR Officer, who reports directly  
to the Chief Executive Officer. The Chief Executive Officer  
is also ultimately responsible for health, safety and 
environmental matters as well as for customer service  
and quality matters, although day-to-day management  
is delegated to relevant members of the EMT.

Whilst the Board takes overall responsibility for approving 
Group policies, including those relating to social responsibility 
and business ethics, health and safety, sustainability and 
environmental matters and anti-bribery and corruption 
(copies of which are available on the Group’s website  
at www.mcbride.co.uk), the implementation of these 
policies is delegated to the Chief Executive Officer and  
then cascaded throughout the organisation via the EMT 
and the various functional teams.

Effectiveness
Board style
A strong feature of the Board’s effectiveness in delivering 
the strategy is our open style of management and a  
free flow of information between the Executive and 
Non-Executive Directors. The size of our Board encourages 
individuals to discuss matters openly and freely and to  
make a personal contribution through the exercise of  
their personal skills and experience. No single Director  
is dominant in the decision-making process.

All Directors communicate with each other on a regular 
basis and contact with senior executives within the Group  
is actively sought and encouraged. To further promote this 
interface, members of the EMT and/or other senior executives 
are frequently invited to attend Board meetings to present 
on matters of strategic importance. This also serves to 
provide the Directors with a clearer understanding of 
business issues.

Diversity
We recognise the recommendations of the Financial 
Reporting Council to review targets for female Board 
positions and acknowledge that gender diversity is a  
key element to broaden the contribution made to Board 
deliberations. However, as the Board is small, comprising 
only six members, we do not believe that quotas are 
appropriate. and we must accept that there are many 
different aspects to diversity, including professional  
and industry-specific experience, understanding of 
geographical markets, different cultures and gender,  
all of which can be an aid to the Board’s effectiveness. 
Board appointments will ultimately continue to be made 
based on merit and calibre.

We do have a good record of appointing women to  
Board positions, however, having had at least one female 
Non-Executive Director since 2003 and we will continue  
to ensure potential female candidates are included in the 
search for new Board appointments. During this year’s 
search for a new Chief Finance Officer, the chosen 
executive search firm was tasked with ensuring female 
candidates were included on the shortlist.

Looking to our wider workforce, the Board recognises the 
importance of developing internal talent of all diversities 
across its global workforce. To support this, the Company 
has in place various mentoring arrangements and 
management development programmes. With regard  
to gender diversity specifically, McBride faces challenges 
similar to those of other organisations in the manufacturing 
sector. However, we are committed to ensuring that women 
have an equal chance with men of developing their careers 
within our business. To address this, we have policies  
and processes in place which are designed to encourage 
and support gender diversity in employee recruitment,  
as well as in appropriate development and promotion. 
Further information on diversity can be found on  
page 32 of the Strategic Report.

Succession planning
As part of its duties, the Board reviews the talent process 
and management development plans for the senior 
executive management of the Group, to ensure talent 
identification, development and succession planning is 
appropriate to meet the short and longer term business 
needs and requirements for the Group.

The Group has an embedded formal appraisal and talent 
management process, which is reviewed by the EMT. The 
Board are updated on this process and also have regular 
planned interaction with members of the EMT and other 
senior executives.

McBride plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014 – Governance and Financial statements

05

Induction, development and support
On induction, all new Directors undergo formal and 
in-depth induction programmes to provide them with an 
appropriate understanding of the business. This involves 
site visits, face-to-face meetings with senior executives  
and the issue of an induction manual containing key 
documents relating to the new appointee’s role on the 
Board. Independent external training is also provided, 
where appropriate, by the Group’s legal advisers, 
Addleshaw Goddard LLP, who have no other connection  
with the Company.

We recognise the importance of ongoing training and 
development to ensure Directors have the skills and 
knowledge to discharge their duties effectively. This can 
take the form of briefing papers and/or presentations  
on regulatory/legislative developments and other topics  
of specific relevance to either the business or the markets 
in which we operate. Additionally, all Directors are entitled 
to undertake external training relevant to their particular 
duties. During the year, Sandra Turner has attended various 
forums which have benefited her in the role as Chair of the 
Remuneration Committee. Neil Harrington has continued  
to maintain his professional status as a Chartered Accountant 
and the Executive Directors have attended industry briefings 
relevant to their roles to ensure they are up-to-date on 
developing themes.

All Directors have access to the Company Secretary,  
who is responsible for ensuring that Board procedures are 
followed and that the Company complies with all applicable 
rules, regulations and obligations governing its operations.

Conflicts of interest
In line with the Company’s Articles, we have strict procedures 
in place to capture the disclosure and subsequent 
consideration and potential authorisation of any Director 
interest which may conflict with those of the Group.  
Any such disclosures are recorded and compliance is 
reviewed at each Board meeting. Our procedures allow  
for the imposition of limits or conditions by the Board  
when authorising any conflict, if it is thought appropriate.

Operation of the Board
Board papers are prepared and issued by no later than  
one week prior to each Board meeting to enable Directors 
to give due consideration to all matters in advance of the 
meeting. Directors are able to take independent professional 
advice, if necessary, at the Company’s expense.

The Board holds at least six meetings a year at 
approximately two-monthly intervals. Additional meetings 
are held as necessary to consider specific matters where  
a decision is required before the next meeting. During  
the year, six formal Board meetings were held. From  
time to time, the Board authorises the establishment of  
a sub-committee to consider and, if thought fit, to approve 
certain items of business. On such occasions input is 
sought from all Board members before the business is 
considered. In addition, a number of informal meetings  
and Board discussions took place. At least one formal  
and several informal Non-Executive Director meetings  
have also been held during the year without the Executive 
Directors being present, and the Senior Independent 
Director and the Non-Executive Directors have met  
without the presence of the Chairman as part of the  
Board performance evaluation exercise.

Meeting attendance year ended 30 June 2014

Date appointed AGM

Number of meetings held:

Number of meetings attended:

Iain Napier 
Chairman

Chris Bull 
Chief Executive Officer

Richard Armitage 
Chief Finance Officer

Steve Hannam 
Senior Independent 
Non-Executive Director

Neil Harrington
Independent 
Non-Executive Director

Sandra Turner 
Independent 
Non-Executive Director

Bob Lee(1) 
Independent 
Non-Executive Director

6

6

6

6

6

6

6

2

1 July 2007

4 May 2010

1 November 2009

4 February 2013

3 January 2012

1 August 2011

1 September 2003

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

(1)  Bob Lee’s attendance is shown up to his retirement from the Board.

Governance 01-3206   McBride plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014 – Governance and Financial statements

 CORPORATE GOVERNANCE REPORT continued

Board activity year ended 30 June 2014 
The graphic below illustrates those matters which formed 
the key areas of challenge and discussion by the Board 
during the year.

Matters considered 
• Stakeholder feedback 
• Analyst expectations 
•  Approval of full year,  
half year and IMS  
announcements

• Board self-evaluation 
• Code compliance review 
• Corporate policies reviews

Stakeholder 
Views

Matters considered 
• BRIM exercise 
•  Insurance programme  

renewal

Governance 
Framework

Risks 
Controls

Trading,  
Financial and 
Operational 
Performance

Market and 
Economic 
Environment

The Board

HR  
Enablers

Restoring UK 
Profitability

Growth 
Opportunities 
and SIA  
Enablers

Bank 
Refinancing

Commercial 
Enablers

Supply Chain 
Enablers

Matters considered 
• Regular SIA updates 
•  Market and category  
development updates

• Trading performance updates 
• Customer contracts updates 
•  Competitor and brander  

activity analysis

•  Customer service and  

operational excellence reports

•  Operational strategy and  

performance review

• Purchasing performance 
•  Product legislation  
compliance updates

• Health and safety updates 
•  Talent and succession  

planning review

McBride plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014 – Governance and Financial statements

07

Board evaluation
We acknowledge best governance practice to commission 
an externally facilitated evaluation of the performance  
of the Board, its members and its sub-committees every  
three years.

An external exercise took place in the 2011/12 financial  
year with an internal exercise undertaken during 2012/13. 
As the exercise last year identified a continued strong 
sense of unity amongst members of the Board who are 
committed to driving the strategies necessary to ensure  
the Group adapts to the ever-changing demands and  

The key findings identified were as follows:

Governance framework

Finding

environment of a fast moving consumer goods business,  
it was deemed appropriate for a further internal evaluation 
to be undertaken for the 2013/14 financial year.

As in previous years, the exercise was undertaken by the 
Company Secretary, working closely with the Chairman of 
the Board. Whilst the exercise evaluated the effectiveness, 
leadership qualities and various skill sets of the individual 
Directors, the opportunity was also taken to assess progress 
against improvement areas identified from previous years’ 
exercises. An evaluation of the operation of each of the 
sub-committees of the Board was also covered.

Leadership

•  The Board benefits from strong leadership and is effective in evaluating the 

Company’s financial health and operational performance, as well as regulatory 
compliance and governance adherence.

•  The Non-Executive Directors are independent and inclined to be mentors, advisers 

and sounding boards to support the Executive Directors.

•  Regular interaction is now routinely planned and takes place with members of the 

EMT and other senior executives (action identified from previous evaluation exercises).

•  The composition of the Board and its sub-committees is appropriate.

•   The sub-committees all operate effectively and efficiently, have the right membership, 
strong Chairs and give appropriate attention to the matters falling within their remit.
•  The Board and its sub-committees are well supported by both internal and external 

advisers, where necessary.

•  Relationships amongst Board members are open, honest and benefit from a range  

of skills, experience and diversity.

•  All Directors have access to appropriate training and induction processes.

•   Risk monitoring (tested for the first time in 2013/14) is embedded into Board processes.
•  Shareholder engagement by the Executive Directors is frequent and regular updates 
are provided on investor sentiment to the Non-Executive Directors, who are available 
to engage with shareholders as appropriate.

Effectiveness

Accountability

Areas identified for further consideration for the forthcoming year include:

Area

Identified

Improvement plan

Succession planning

Gender diversity

 Identified in previous evaluation exercises, 
the Board feel that consideration could 
be given to developing succession 
planning further.

 Potential talent will continue to be 
reviewed within the business and 
escalated for more regular review  
at Board level.

The Board is keen to develop gender 
diversity from within the business to 
boost succession opportunities for  
future Board and EMT positions.

Although the view remains that diversity 
should be considered in its broadest 
sense, there will be more encouragement 
to review and nurture potential female 
talent within the business.

Following completion of the evaluation exercise,  
the Chairman met with individual Directors to discuss  
the findings and provide feedback. The Non-Executive 
Directors, led by the Senior Independent Director and in 
the absence of the Chairman, also convened a separate 
meeting to discuss the results and general performance  
of the Chairman.

Once again, from the exercise undertaken, it is evident 
there is strong and effective Board leadership and 
challenge, with the sub-committees operating well and 
supported, as necessary, by internal and external advisers. 
The Board remain committed to driving the strategy of  
the Company forward in the interests of all stakeholders.

Governance 01-32 
08   McBride plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014 – Governance and Financial statements

 CORPORATE GOVERNANCE REPORT continued

Accountability
Business risk
The Group’s internal control and risk management activities 
are managed through various measures including business 
risk reviews, specific functional and strategic risk 
workshops, focused Internal Audit reviews, year-end 
control self assessment questionnaires, supporting internal 
control procedures, a quarterly follow-up process to review 
outstanding control actions and site audits by customers. 
The Internal Audit function serves to provide assurances  
to the Audit Committee that relevant controls and actions 
are in place and its work is guided by the Group’s risk 
assessment process and agreed with the Audit Committee 
at the start of each year, although it remains flexible during 
the course of the year and tailors its work to address  
new and emerging risks, as they arise on an ongoing  
basis (and subject to discussion with and approval of the  
Audit Committee). Further information on our Internal 
Audit function and process can be found in the Audit 
Committee report on pages 12 and 13 of this Corporate 
Governance report.

Internal self-assessment programmes are undertaken  
each year with specific focus on key risks and controls 
across the Group, ranging from the more high level and 
all-encompassing strategic issues affecting the overall 
control environment, to more detailed specific functional 
and operational control activities. Whistleblowing 
procedures are in place for individuals to report  
suspected breaches of law or regulations or other  
serious malpractices. The Group has an Anti-Bribery  
and Corruption Policy which extends to all business 
dealings and transactions in all countries in which it,  
or its subsidiaries, operate. These policies have been 
updated during the year and communicated to all 
employees throughout the Group. Refresher training  
for key risk functions has also taken place this year.

Group business risk management process
Our Risk Committee reports to the EMT and liaises with  
the Chairman of the Audit Committee. Its role is to provide 
leadership and direction with regards to the Group’s overall 
risk management framework. Key risk mitigating controls 
are frequently reviewed and assessed for adequacy and 
effectiveness, by this committee, as well as by functional 
management and Internal Audit.

We have continued to apply our Business Risk Identification 
and Management process (‘BRIM’) across the Group,  
which involves bottom-up risk identification and 
assessment through a series of functional risk workshops, 
as well as strategic risk assessments conducted by the EMT. 
The outputs from the process are owned by the individual 
functional leadership teams, reviewed and assessed by  
the EMT and considered and challenged by the Audit 
Committee. Further risk mitigating actions (with assigned 
action owners and completion timescales) are considered 
as part of this process for any significant risks faced by  
the Group, thereby reflecting the ongoing commitment 
towards managing and addressing key risks in a responsive 
and proactive way. The exercise is used to derive the 
principal risks and uncertainties faced by the Group,  
as reported on pages 28 and 29 of the Strategic Report.

This year’s BRIM exercise again highlighted the ever-
changing nature of risks facing our business. During  
the year, internal controls and monitoring have been 
strengthened for risks such as product recall and poor 
product design, making it possible for these previous 
principal risks to be downgraded during the assessment 
process. However, it was identified that the increased  
levels of legislative compliance now required, particularly  
in Europe, was becoming a potential key risk to the revenue 
and profitability of the Group going forward. This was, 
therefore, upgraded to a principal risk.

Internal controls 
The Group has a clear internal control system, the purpose 
of which is to safeguard investment and the Group’s assets. 
The system embraces key financial, operational and strategic 
risks, and incorporates a full review of key strategic, 
operational and compliance controls aimed at managing 
and addressing these risks. This system is operated as an 
integral part of the organisation of executive responsibilities 
and accountabilities and has been reviewed by the Board.

The Board has ultimate responsibility for the Group’s system 
of internal control and for reviewing its effectiveness.  
This control system is designed to manage, rather than 
eliminate, the risk of failure to achieve business objectives 
and to provide reasonable, but not absolute, assurance that 
assets are safeguarded against unauthorised use or material 
loss, and that its transactions are properly authorised and 
recorded. We delegate responsibility to members of the 
EMT to consider and reassess the effectiveness of the 
existing controls and to identify whether any new risks  
have arisen as a result of any control weaknesses.

09

Key control procedures
The Board has reviewed the effectiveness of the systems  
of internal control and risk management procedures during 
the year and is satisfied that there is an ongoing process  
for identifying, evaluating and managing risks faced by  
the Group, namely the BRIM process governing business 
risk management across McBride. This process has been  

in place for the year under review and also up to the date  
of approval of this Annual Report.

The table below summarises the key control procedures 
undertaken by the Group and links these to the business 
model, strategy and principal risks and uncertainties detailed 
in the Strategic Report.

Control procedure

Link to business model, strategy and principal risks

Management  
responsibility and 
accountability

•  Clearly defined management responsibility and reporting lines.
•  Chief Executive Officer and Chief Finance Officer meet regularly with EMT to review 

progress on financial, commercial, supply chain, HR, safety and environmental issues  
and regulatory/legal compliance matters.

Corporate  
planning process

•  Corporate Plan updated each year and approved by the Board.
•  Strengths, weaknesses, risks and opportunities highlighted on a functional as well as  

Group level.

•   Focus on the market environment, Group strategy and objectives, actions to achieve them.
•  Implementation of the Corporate Plan monitored via monthly EMT meetings and reporting 

system which provides early warning of any failure to meet targets.

Budgeting and  
financial reporting

•  Comprehensive annual budgeting process ultimately approved by the Board.
•  Detailed consolidated management accounts prepared each month and reviewed by EMT.
•   Financial performance against budget monitored and challenged centrally, with full year 

forecasts updated each quarter.

•   Board regularly updated on the Group’s financial performance and position against targets.
•   Finance function encouraged to act independently of management in the course of its 

preparation of monthly accounts and exercising of control procedures.

Key performance  
indicators (KPIs)

•  Comprehensive set of commercial, operational, financial and non-financial (including 

environmental and employee related) KPIs reported at monthly trading meetings.

•  Performance against targets and sharing of best practice discussed regularly at both 

functional and Group levels.

•  Adequacy and suitability of current KPIs reviewed regularly.

Expenditure approval

•  Authorisation and control procedures in place for capital expenditure and other major projects.
•  Process to review capital expenditure projects post-completion to highlight issues, motivate 

management to achieve forecast benefits and improve future projects.

Documented policies

•   Formalised and documented policies for a range of areas including HR matters, expenditure, 

treasury and financial reporting.

•   Group Finance Manual updated annually and incorporates accounting, tax and treasury 

policies, as well as reporting responsibilities and capital expenditure approval procedures.

•   Also includes Group Authority Levels detailing matters reserved for the Board,  

its sub-committees, members of the EMT and other senior management across the Group.
•  Detailed Internal Control Questionnaire (ICQ) completed and signed by relevant executives 
to confirm their compliance with core control procedures in operation across the Group.

Site property surveys

•  Meetings held with insurance and risk advisers covering the Group.
•  Risk assessments, safety audits and reviews of progress against objectives established  

by each site regularly carried out.

Internal audit

•  Individual businesses, functions and significant strategic and operational projects, processes 

and procedures periodically reviewed by Internal Audit function, and recommendations 
made to improve controls (further information to be found in the Audit Committee report).

Cash

•  Cash and debt position monitored daily and variances from forecast levels investigated.
•  Working capital balances reviewed on a monthly basis at Group level and significant variances 

analysed and investigated.

External auditors

•  The audit includes the review and test of the system of internal financial control and the  

data contained in the financial statements to the extent necessary for expressing an audit 
opinion on the truth and fairness of the financial statements (further information to be  
found in the Audit Committee report).

McBride plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014 – Governance and Financial statementsGovernance 01-32 
 
10   McBride plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014 – Governance and Financial statements

 CORPORATE GOVERNANCE REPORT continued

Investor relations
Relations with shareholders
We place considerable importance on maintaining 
effective, balanced communications with all shareholders. 

Together with formal presentations of full year and 
half-year results, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief 
Finance Officer run an investor relations programme,  
which includes regular face-to-face meetings with banks, 
analysts, brokers and fund managers. This provides  
the opportunity for shareholders to assess the Group’s 
performance and promote a better understanding of the 
business and its strategic development, as well as to explore 
the Group’s approach to corporate governance matters.

During the year, approximately 34 meetings were held in 
the UK and 14 in the USA.

The Board is kept informed of investors’ views through the 
distribution and regular discussion of analysts’ and brokers’ 
briefings and through summaries of investor opinion 
feedback. The Board also receives reports on the output 
from surveys carried out by various investor research 
bodies. The Chairman, Senior Independent Director and 
Chair of the Remuneration Committee are available to 
discuss governance, strategy and remuneration issues with 
major shareholders and are prepared to contact individual 
shareholders should any specific areas of concern or 
enquiry be raised. Where applicable, the views of major 
shareholders are sought on certain issues. In July 2014, 
Remuneration Committee Chair, Sandra Turner, wrote  
to our major shareholders setting out the Company’s 
proposed Remuneration Policy to be put to shareholders  
at the 2014 AGM. This led to constructive engagement  
with a number of investors who generally confirmed their 
support for the Remuneration Committee’s approach.

The principal communication with private investors is via 
our website at www.mcbride.co.uk/investors, which is a 
section dedicated to shareholders. All the Directors attend 
the AGM and shareholders have an opportunity to raise 
questions, both formally during the meeting and informally 
after the meeting has closed. A summary presentation of 
the Group’s trading position is given at the AGM before the 
Chairman deals with the formal business of the meeting. 
The proxy votes cast in relation to all resolutions, including 
details of votes withheld, are disclosed during the meeting 
and the results are published on our website and 
announced via the Regulatory News Service.

Information on share capital
Information about share capital can be found in  
the Statutory Information section on page 30.

McBride plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014 – Governance and Financial statements

11

 AUDIT COMMITTEE REPORT

G
o
v
e
r
n
a
n
c
e
0
1
-
3
2

Purpose and main duties
The purpose of the Audit Committee is to make 
recommendations on the reporting, control, risk 
management and compliance functions and responsibilities 
of the Group and to provide independent oversight, 
assessment and challenge to the senior management  
team in these areas.

This report describes how the Committee has discharged 
its duties during the year to:
•  Monitor the integrity of the Group’s financial and 

regulatory reporting process;

•   Review the Group’s accounting policies and disclosure 

practices; 

•  Review and recommend the Board to approve all financial 

statements and announcements;

•   Review the effectiveness of the Group’s internal  

controls and risk management systems;

•  Oversee relations with the external auditors,  

actively considering the objectivity, independence  
and effectiveness of the external audit process,  
and make recommendations to the Board in relation to 
the appointment and remuneration of the external auditors;

•  Monitor the effectiveness of the Group’s Internal  

Audit function;

•   Monitor compliance with legal and regulatory 

requirements; and

•  Develop and oversee the Group’s policy on the supply  

of non-audit services.

Attendance at meetings during the year  
ended 30 June 2014 

Number of meetings held:

Number of meetings attended:

Neil Harrington (Chairman) 
Independent  
Non-Executive Director 

Steve Hannam  
Senior Independent  
Non-Executive Director 

Sandra Turner 
Independent  
Non-Executive Director 
Bob Lee(1)  
Independent  
Non-Executive Director

4

4

4

4

1

Date appointed  
to Committee

3 January 2012

4 February 2013

1 August 2011

27 May 2004

(1)  Bob Lee’s attendance is shown up to his retirement from the Board.

Committee membership and meetings
The members of the Committee and their attendance at 
meetings during the year are shown in the table above.  
A quorum of the Committee is two members.

All members of the Committee that have served during  
the financial year are independent Non-Executive Directors 
within the definition of the Code. The Board is satisfied that 
Committee members are sufficiently competent in financial 
matters, in addition to having a wide range of business 
experience as evidenced in their biographies on page 8  
of the Strategic Report.

Neil Harrington has particular relevant financial experience 
and up-to-date knowledge of financial matters, being a 
member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants and  
the current Chief Finance Officer of Cath Kidston Limited.  
He was previously Group Finance Director at Mothercare plc  
for seven years. The Committee meets as frequently as 
needed, but at least three times a year. In the financial year 
ended 30 June 2014 the Committee met four times, in 
August and December 2013 and February and June 2014. 
Subsequent to the year-end, one further meeting of the 
Committee took place in September 2014. By invitation 
meetings may be attended by the Board Chairman,  
Chief Executive Officer, Chief Finance Officer, Head of 
Internal Audit and other senior members of the finance  
team. Support is provided by the Company Secretary  
who serves as Secretary to the Committee. The Company’s 
external auditors, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (PwC),  
also attend meetings by invitation.

Independent meetings were also held between the 
Committee members and the external auditors in the 
absence of the Executive Directors, and separately
between the Chairman of the Committee and the external 
auditors. There were also regular meetings between the 
Committee Chairman and the Head of Internal Audit.

The Committee’s Terms of Reference are reviewed annually 
to ensure continuing compliance with evolving best practice 
guidelines. This year’s review has incorporated minor 
amendments to reflect changes to the Code and other best 
practice guidance making specific reference to the 
Committee’s responsibilities to oversee any audit tender 
process, to report on any significant financial reporting 
issues and to advise the Board on whether the financial 
statements are fair, balanced and understandable. A copy  
of the latest Terms of Reference is available from the Group’s 
website at www.mcbride.co.uk.

Principal activities during the year
During the year the Committee received regular reports  
on a variety of matters and engaged actively in discussions 
with management and sought assurances from the external 
auditors on the following matters:

Accounting and reporting issues
In addition to the significant issues considered during  
the year, the Committee discussed the Group’s trading 
performance and debated the interim and full year financial 
statements. Papers on important reporting issues were tabled 
for discussion and the Committee actively considered relevant 
matters including proposed financial disclosures and 
announcements, exceptional items, post-employment 
benefits, provisions, taxation and share-based payments.

External auditors reports
The Committee also received, considered and debated 
reports received from PwC arising from their independent 
risk assessment of the Group’s financial controls. This 
included consideration of learnings associated with the 
Group’s transition to its new Shared Services Centre, 
consideration of systems controls, and potential risks relating 
to revenue and management override of control, inventory 
checks and customer documentation. The Committee 
concluded that there were no major concerns and there  
was no evidence of systematic control weaknesses.

 
12   McBride plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014 – Governance and Financial statements

 AUDIT COMMITTEE REPORT continued

Significant issues 
During the year, the Committee debated the following  
key accounting judgements in relation to the financial 
statements which it deemed to be significant in the  
context of the Group’s performance, recognising the  

Matters considered

Actions

need to adapt to the changing trading and economic 
environment. The table below indicates how these issues 
were discussed and addressed:

Going concern status
The responsibility to ensure 
the Group can operate as  
a continuing operation

In depth reviews of the Group’s going concern status were carried out by the 
Committee both at the half and full year period ends. Detailed papers setting out  
all the relevant considerations were tabled by management and discussed by the 
Committee, together with the external auditors who confirmed that their independent 
tests continued to support the position of the Group as a going concern. Further 
information can be found on page 27 of the Chief Finance Officer’s review.

Liquidity/Net debt/ 
Funding strategy
The importance of ensuring 
that the Group has sufficient 
financial capacity to enable  
it to develop its strategy and 
deliver shareholder value

Asset impairment reviews
The requirement  
(or otherwise) to take 
impairment charges against 
certain assets owned by  
the Group depends on the 
strength of the performance 
of that particular asset from 
time to time

Exceptional items
Recognition and reporting  
of exceptional items

The Committee considered management’s proposal to seek early refinancing of the 
Group’s debt facilities with a view to ensuring the Group continues to have available 
sufficient headroom to deliver its strategy and to enable the business to focus on  
other critical priorities. Further information can be found on pages 25 and 26 of the 
Chief Finance Officer’s review.

The Committee considered the proposal to apply a new model to each cash 
generating unit (CGU) to ensure consistency of approach to impairment charges  
and the accounting treatment of goodwill. Management’s judgement on the need  
(or otherwise) to take impairment charges for certain sites within the Group was also 
reviewed, taking into account the trading performance of, and the prospects for, each 
location, and recommendations were discussed and agreed with the external auditors.

The Committee actively challenged management about the ongoing reporting of 
exceptional items, as defined in the Group’s accounting policies on page 47 of the 
financial statements. It was acknowledged that finalisation of the plans to enable the 
Group to adapt to its changing environment would help to give clarity to the degree to 
which exceptional items may be incurred. The income statement format and disclosures 
relating to exceptional items were also discussed and agreed.

Internal audit
There is an established Internal Audit function which provides 
independent assurance to the EMT and the Board on the 
strength and effectiveness of the Group’s risk management 
framework and approach. The scope of Internal Audit 
includes the monitoring of risk identification and verification 
on whether adequate internal controls are in place to 
manage those risks effectively.

During the year, 17 new audits were undertaken by Internal 
Audit in conjunction with a quarterly process of monitoring 
outstanding actions. The Committee was satisfied that  
the Internal Audit reviews confirmed that a generally  
robust and effective control environment exists across  
the Group. However, the work did identify opportunities  
to implement further consistency and formalisation of 
procedures and concluded that improvements could be 
derived from better cross-functional working under the 
new organisational structure.

accountable culture across the business. The Committee  
is provided with regular reports on the progress and  
key results from this process. On behalf of the Board,  
the Committee considered specifically those risks and 
uncertainties facing the business which should be classified 
as significant and sought comfort from the executive 
management about relevant and necessary mitigating 
factors. See pages 28 and 29 in the Strategic Report for  
the Group’s principal risks and uncertainties.

The Committee engaged actively with the Head of Internal 
Audit to understand and consider the extent to which  
the internal control environment could be improved. This 
included receipt of detailed papers on individual audit 
assignments, the ongoing status of outstanding control 
actions, the annual ICQ and Senior Accounting Officer 
(SAO) questionnaire and the Group-wide functional and 
strategic BRIM risk identification and assessment exercises.

Internal Audit also continued to facilitate the roll-out  
of BRIM, which provides a more holistic and focused 
identification and monitoring process for the Group’s key 
business risks and controls, as well as driving a more risk  

The Committee also reviewed and agreed the Annual 
Internal Audit Plan and were satisfied that this was  
aligned to the output from the BRIM exercise.

 
 
 
13

Overall, the Committee continues to be satisfied that the 
Internal Audit function has sufficient resource and provides 
an important and effective role in the management of the 
Group’s internal controls framework and in the facilitation 
of the BRIM process.

Risk management and internal control 
The Committee received reports relating to the Group’s 
approach to internal control and risk management systems, 
including the self-assessment programme, and concluded 
that the overall approach to control and risk management 
continues to be effective. More information is reported  
on pages 8 and 9 of this Corporate Governance report.

Finance strategies
The Committee received regular reports on audit related, 
treasury and taxation matters, including consideration of 
the Group’s funding strategy, transfer pricing project, its 
foreign currency management policy and banking facilities. 
The taxation process and controls were tested during the 
year and confirmed as operating adequately and effectively.

Accounting policies
The Committee received regular updates on technical 
reporting issues and on important accounting policies.  
It reviewed the Group’s finance policies and procedures  
for consistency, particularly in areas where different 
approaches would have been possible.

Corporate policies 
The Committee reviewed updated corporate policies  
on anti-bribery and corruption, whistleblowing and the 
provision of non-audit services. The Committee believes 
that appropriate key policies are in place to ensure 
reasonable steps have been taken to prevent fraud  
and to allow any improprieties to be reported. Copies  
of the policies are available from the Group’s website  
at www.mcbride.co.uk.

External auditors – effectiveness, independence  
and objectivity
The Audit Committee has primary responsibility for  
making recommendations to the Board on the appointment, 
re-appointment and removal of the external auditors  
as submitted to shareholders for their approval at the 
Company’s AGM.

During the year, the Committee monitored the scope, 
results and cost effectiveness of the audit, as well as  
the overall independence and objectivity of the external 
auditors. This was achieved through the receipt and 
assessment of papers, as well as in discussion with  
both management and the auditors.

This has included receiving proposals on the audit strategy 
for the year, reviewing the scope and outcome of the 
interim and year-end audits, and on control and accounting 
developments. The Committee also sought assurance from 
the external auditors of their compliance with applicable 
ethical guidance and, in addition, has taken account of  
the appropriate independence and objectivity guidelines.  
The Committee considers the risk of PwC withdrawing 
from the market as remote since they are one of the top 
four accounting firms in the UK.

The Committee has considered and approved the terms  
of engagement and fees of the external auditors for the 
year ended 30 June 2014. Fees payable by the Group  
to PwC totalled £0.4 million (2013: £0.4m) in respect  
of audit services and £28,000 (2013: £14,000) in respect  
of non-audit services. There were no contingent fee 
arrangements with PwC.

Non-audit fees 
We have in place a detailed policy on the engagement  
of external auditors for non-audit services. This has been 
designed to preserve the independence of the incumbent 
auditors in performing the statutory audit and it aims to 
avoid any conflict of interest by specifying the type of 
non-audit work:
•  for which the auditors can be engaged without referral  

to the Audit Committee;

•  for which a case-by-case decision is necessary; and
•  from which the auditors are excluded.

The Committee did not consider that either the size nor the 
nature of the non-audit services provided this year by the 
external auditors were such as to impair their independence.

In accordance with this policy, other providers are 
considered for non-audit work and such work is awarded 
on the basis of specific expertise, service and cost.

Non-audit work was awarded during the year to other 
professional services firms, principally for consultancy support 
on projects of strategtic importance to the Group relating 
to improving UK profitability, reducing complexity and 
target costing as well as for tax and pension advice. A total 
of £1.8 million was incurred in relation to these services.

External audit tender
A full tender for the appointment of the external audit firm 
took place in 2011, as a result of which PwC were appointed 
with effect from November 2011. The Committee remains 
satisfied with the level of independence, objectivity, 
expertise, fees, resources and general effectiveness of  
PwC and, accordingly, the Committee recommends (and 
the Board agrees) that a resolution for the re-appointment 
of PwC as external auditors should be proposed at the 
forthcoming AGM in October 2014.

The Committee is aware of the Code’s requirements 
regarding audit tenders and these have been incorporated 
into the Committee’s Terms of Reference.

Overview
As a result of its work during the year, the Committee has 
concluded that it has acted in accordance with its Terms  
of Reference and has ensured the independence and 
objectivity of its external auditors.

Having given due and full consideration to all the matters 
referred to above, the Committee satisfied itself that  
the financial statements give a fair, balanced and 
understandable view of the profits, assets, liabilities and 
financial position of the Group, and undertook to report 
accordingly to the Board.

Neil Harrington
Chairman of the Audit Committee

McBride plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014 – Governance and Financial statementsGovernance 01-3214   McBride plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014 – Governance and Financial statements

 NOMINATION COMMITTEE REPORT

The members of the Committee and their attendance  
at meetings during the year are shown in the table below.  
A quorum of the committee is three members, two of 
whom must be independent.

Attendance at meetings during the year  
ended 30 June 2014

Date appointed  
to Committee

Principal activities during the year
The Committee met three times during the year in February, 
March and June, with a further meeting taking place in  
July 2014. Business conducted included:
•   Considering the contributions made by the individual 
Directors prior to recommending their re-election at  
the AGM, after taking account of the outputs from the 
internal Board performance evaluation exercise carried 
out during the year;

•  Considering the appointment of the Senior Independent 

Director and proposed re-election of the Chairman;
•  Reviewing the composition and chairmanship of the 

Number of meetings held:

Number of meetings attended:

Iain Napier (Chairman) 
Board Chairman

Chris Bull 
Chief Executive Officer 

Steve Hannam  
Senior Independent  
Non-Executive Director 

Neil Harrington 
Independent  
Non-Executive Director 
Sandra Turner  
Independent  
Non-Executive Director

3

3

3

3

3

3

19 July 2007

Board’s sub-committees;

4 May 2010

4 February 2013

3 January 2012

1 August 2011

•  Discussing the appropriate role specification and skills 
required for the appointment of a new Chief Finance 
Officer following the resignation of Richard Armitage;

•   Overseeing the search and recruitment for the 

appointment of a new Chief Finance Officer; and
•   Considering the Committee’s approach to diversity, 
including gender; a copy of our Diversity Statement  
is available on our website and more detail on our 
approach is set out in the Corporate Governance  
report on page 4.

Key objective
To ensure the Board comprises individuals with the 
requisite skills, knowledge and experience to ensure  
it is effective in discharging its responsibilities.

Main duties
•  Review the structure, size and composition of the Board, 

including diversity.

•  Consider and recommend the nomination of candidates 

for appointment as Directors.

•  Consider the roles and capabilities required for each  
new appointment taking into account the skills and 
experience of the existing Directors.

•  Ensure that new appointees are provided with detailed 

and appropriate induction training.

Terms of reference
These are governed by a Charter which was reviewed 
during the year. This was updated to incorporate reference 
to the disclosure of the use of external search agencies for 
new Board appointments and to the Committee’s duty to 
consider its approach to diversity, including gender. A copy 
is available on the Group’s website at www.mcbride.co.uk.

No Committee member participated in any discussion 
relating to their personal position.

New appointments
In considering Board appointments, the Committee 
assesses the range and the balance of skills, experience, 
knowledge and independence currently on the Board.  
We also consider any proposed recruitment in the context 
of the Company’s strategic priorities, plans and objectives, 
as well as the prevailing business environment. The 
Committee seeks to appoint Board members who  
can make positive contributions, including the ability to  
develop and challenge strategy. The personality and style 
of new appointees is also taken into account to ensure that 
a cohesive balance on the Board is maintained. Appointments 
are ultimately made on merit against the agreed selection 
criteria. Potential female appointees are considered as part 
of the appointment process.

The Committee uses external search consultancies  
to assist in the appointment process. During the year, 
Russell Reynolds Associates were appointed as consultants 
to identify potential candidates for the new Chief Finance 
Officer role. Russell Reynolds are independent and have  
no other connection with the Company.

Iain Napier
Chairman of the Nomination Committee

 REMUNERATION REPORT

15

Dear Shareholder

In my first year as Chair of the Remuneration Committee,  
I am pleased to present the Remuneration Report for the 
year ended 30 June 2014.

The Remuneration Report has been prepared in 
accordance with the provisions of the Companies Act 2006 
and Schedule 8 of the Large and Medium-sized Companies 
and Groups (Accounts and Reports) (Amendment) 
Regulations 2013. The Report is split into two sections:  
i) a Remuneration Policy Report, which sets out our policy 
on the remuneration for the Executive and Non-Executive 
Directors, and ii) an Annual Report on Remuneration, which 
discloses how the Remuneration Policy was implemented 
during the 2013/14 financial year and how it will be applied 
for the 2014/15 financial year. At the 2014 AGM, there will 
be a separate binding vote on the Policy Report and an 
advisory vote on the Annual Report on Remuneration.

In light of the remuneration reporting regulations now  
in force, the Committee has taken the opportunity during  
the year to review and refresh the Company’s remuneration 
strategy, principles and policies. These have all been 
captured within the Company’s Remuneration Policy  
being put to shareholders at the forthcoming AGM.

The Committee continues to be satisfied that the Company’s 
remuneration structure is appropriate to support the 
attraction, motivation and retention of high calibre 
Executive Directors and other senior executives, who  
are key in devising and delivering the Company’s strategy,  
with short- and long-term incentive plans reflective of 
rewarding only success and the achievement of stretching 
performance targets. 

Key actions and decisions the Committee has taken during 
the year include:

•   In relation to Executive Director pay, the Committee 

determined that the necessary financial hurdles had not 
been met and, therefore, no payment under the Annual 
Bonus Plan would be made covering this period. The 
Committee also accepted the Chief Executive Officer’s 
offer to waive any increase in his base salary, which  
would therefore remain at the 2013/14 level for the 
forthcoming year.

•  The Committee reviewed the performance conditions 
attached to the LTIP awards granted to the Executive 
Directors in February and September 2011, and 
determined that performance for these awards was below 
the threshold levels. The awards have, therefore, lapsed.

•   Richard Armitage, the outgoing Chief Finance Officer, 

was treated as a normal leaver by the Committee under 
all applicable policies and rules. As such, he was not 
entitled to receive any form of bonus for the financial  
year 2013/14 and all LTIP awards lapsed upon his 
cessation of employment on 31 July 2014.

•   Following a Committee meeting in July 2014, the 

remuneration package offered to Chris Smith, Chief 
Finance Officer Designate, was in line with the Company’s 
Remuneration Policy and on the same general basis as 
the previous Chief Finance Officer. Details can be found 
on page 23, but no form of buy-out, or other exceptional 
payments, were offered. Chris Smith will participate in the 
Annual Bonus Plan and LTIP scheme.

•  The Company’s current LTIP scheme is due to expire  
in 2015. In light of institutional investor guidance for  
a company’s remuneration policy to normally be put  
to shareholders every three years, the Committee  
took the view that new LTIP rules should also be offered  
for shareholder approval at the 2014 AGM. Thereafter,  
any future LTIP awards would be made under this  
new scheme. 

Details of the new LTIP can be found in the AGM Notice and 
Circular documents sent to shareholders, but in summary:

•  The new LTIP rules are largely based upon the current 

LTIP which has been in place since 2005;

•  The new LTIP will allow for awards to be granted  
up to a maximum of 200% of salary. However for  
the period the Remuneration Policy is approved  
(2014-2017), it is the Committee’s intention that annual 
awards will be no higher than 150% of salary and awards 
for 2014 will be limited to 100% of salary. Awards above 
this level (i.e. up to the plan maximum of 200% of  
salary) will only be used in exceptional circumstances  
as part of any Executive Director’s recruitment process 
(see recruitment remuneration section on page 20 
for further information);

•  Clawback provisions are included in the rules (as they  
are in the Annual Bonus Plan) and cover a material 
misstatement in the accounts, an error in calculation 
and/or serious misconduct by the executive;
•  The Committee intends to continue to attach 

performance conditions related to total shareholder 
return (TSR) and earnings per share (EPS) to awards,  
as under the current LTIP. Both EPS and TSR 
performance will be measured over three years.  
TSR performance will be measured relative to the 
constituents of a broader FTSE index (being either the 
FTSE 250 or SmallCap excluding Investment Companies), 
with no more than 25% of the award vesting for 
threshold performance including (on a straight-line 
basis) to full vesting for upper quartile performance  
or above. The EPS targets will be set on a similar basis  
to awards under the current LTIP and are based on 
Corporate Plan targets. The targets for awards made  
in the 2014/15 financial year are disclosed on page 23;

•  LTIP awards held by ‘good leavers’ or following a  

change of control will only vest to the extent that the 
performance condition is satisfied and will normally  
be subject to time pro-rating; and

•  Vested awards may include payment of dividend 

equivalents (in the form of additional shares or cash) 
based on dividends accrued over the three-year  
vesting period.

McBride plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014 – Governance and Financial statementsGovernance 01-3216   McBride plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014 – Governance and Financial statements

 REMUNERATION REPORT continued

The Committee takes advice on, and is aware of, 
developing best practice relating to remuneration matters 
and understands the importance of the alignment with 
shareholder objectives to promote behaviours leading  
to sustainable and long-term growth of the business and 
avoiding inappropriate risk taking. Shareholder views  
and engagement are important to the Committee and 
during the year I have consulted with key shareholders  
to outline our Remuneration Policy, new LTIP rules  
and performance conditions, as well as to listen to  
and gain an understanding of investor views towards  
our Remuneration Policy.

The Committee believes the positive vote of 99.93%  
of the votes cast in favour of the Remuneration Report for  
the 2012/13 financial year shows that we have support for 
our remuneration strategy, the key principles of which are 
contained within the Remuneration Policy being put to 
shareholders this year, and we look forward to receiving 
your continued support at our AGM in October 2014 for  
the votes associated with this Remuneration Report.

Sandra Turner
Chair of the Remuneration Committee

Remuneration Policy report

The Committee is responsible for determining the 
Remuneration Policy for the Executive Directors and,  
in conjunction with the Chief Executive Officer, the 
packages for the EMT. This report provides details of the 
Remuneration Policy for the Executive and Non-Executive 
Directors and is intended to be effective from the 
conclusion of the 2014 AGM.

Remuneration Policy principles
The Group’s approach for all employees, including 
executives, is to set remuneration that takes account of 
market practice, economic conditions, the performance  
of the Group and of teams or individuals, recognising  
any collective agreements that may apply as well as any 
legal or regulatory requirements in jurisdictions where it 
operates. Our Policy aims to attract, motivate and retain 
suitably able employees. 

The basic principles that guide our Remuneration Policy for executives, including the Executive Directors, are as follows:

Remuneration 
principle

Remuneration links  
to business strategy 
and long-term 
investor interests

Component

•   Both short and long-term rewards are linked to performance and Company strategy  

to maximise long-term shareholder value. 

•   The Policy provides an appropriate balance between fixed remuneration, short-term bonus 

and long-term incentives. 

•   Executives are encouraged to build and maintain a targeted shareholding as this represents 

the best way to align their interests with those of shareholders.

Fair reward to 
individuals for 
successful contribution 
made to the business

•   The annual bonus targets are split between Company financial performance and personal 

objectives which align with key strategic actions in a given year. 

•   Long-term incentives are targeted against metrics which align with shareholder interests.
•   Environmental, safety, sustainability, social and governance issues are taken into account.

Performance targets 
are appropriate and 
sufficiently demanding

•    Performance conditions for the variable elements of executive pay are set independently by 
the Committee at the outset of each year and assessed by the Committee, both quantitatively 
and qualitatively, at the end of each performance period.

•    The personal objectives for senior executives are specific and are reviewed by the 

Committee to ensure they adequately reflect the strategic aims of the Group and are only 
paid on measurable success.

In line with best 
practice where 
appropriate

•   General pay and employment conditions across the Group are taken into account when 

setting executive remuneration. The Committee is kept informed of such matters via regular 
interaction with the Group’s HR function.

•   The Committee consults with the Chief Executive Officer and pays due regard to his 
recommendations for other senior executives. Individual Directors are not involved in 
decisions concerning their own remuneration.

•   The Committee is committed to keeping its Policy under regular review, taking into account 
changes in the competitive environment, remuneration practices and guidelines set by the 
key institutional shareholder bodies.

17

Consideration of conditions elsewhere In the Group
The Committee does not consult with employees 
specifically on the policy for Executive Director remuneration, 
but takes into account salary increases and benefits 
applying across the Group as a whole when considering  
the salaries and other elements of Executive Director 
remuneration packages.

Consideration of shareholder views
As outlined in the Chair’s letter, the Committee will continue 
to engage with our major shareholders to ensure the Policy 
reflects as far as practicable latest trends in evolving good 
practice in the UK. The Committee considers any feedback 
received from shareholders (either at the AGM or at other 
times during the year) when making decisions on the 
Remuneration Policy.

Future policy table
The following table summarises the main elements of our Remuneration Policy for Directors.

Element

Executive Director base salary

Purpose and  
link to strategy

Operation

To ensure the Group is able to recruit and retain high calibre executives.

Salaries are set by the Committee taking into account individual experience, performance, 
skills and responsibilities, prevailing market conditions (by reference to companies of a similar 
size and complexity and other companies in the same industry) and internal relativities.

Salaries are paid monthly in arrears by bank transfer and are normally reviewed annually  
(with any changes effective from 1st August).

Maximum

Details of current salaries of the Executive Directors are detailed on page 24.

Salaries are reviewed annually and may be increased each year. Increases will generally  
be in line with those awarded to the UK-based workforce, as well as reflective of the overall 
financial performance of the Group.

Increases beyond this (in percentage of salary terms) may be awarded in limited 
circumstances, such as where there is a change in responsibility, experience or a significant 
change in the scale of the role and/or size, value and/or complexity of the Group.

Performance measures

–

Element

Benefits

Purpose and link  
to strategy

To provide market competitive benefits, and be in line with those provided to other Group 
employees.

Operation

Maximum

Benefits include private medical insurance, sick pay, a fully expensed car (or equivalent cash 
allowance), disability and life assurance cover.

The benefit provision is reviewed periodically. No maximum level is set on the value or cost  
of benefits provided.

Performance measures

–

Element

Pension

Purpose and link  
to strategy

Retirement benefits are regarded as an important element of the Group’s basic benefits 
package to attract and retain talent.

Operation

Membership of the Company’s defined contribution, or similar pension scheme, or, in agreed 
circumstances, a cash allowance in lieu of pension.

Maximum

Up to 25% of base salary.

Performance measures

–

McBride plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014 – Governance and Financial statementsGovernance 01-3218   McBride plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014 – Governance and Financial statements

 REMUNERATION REPORT continued

Element

Annual bonus

Purpose and link  
to strategy

The purpose of the annual bonus is to incentivise delivery of the Group’s objectives  
(both financial and non-financial) and to ensure that Executive Directors and senior executives 
are fairly rewarded for their contribution to the success of the Group.

Operation

Performance conditions are set independently by the Committee at the start of each year. 
Performance criteria include the financial targets of the Group as agreed by the Board and 
specific annual targets based on clear and measurable objectives that underpin, and are key 
to, achievement of the Corporate Plan.

Personal objectives are reviewed by the Committee to ensure they adequately reflect the 
strategic aims of the Group.

To further align the interests of Directors with shareholders, a portion of the bonus is paid  
in deferred shares. Shares awarded under the Deferred Annual Bonus Plan (‘DBP’) vest after 
three years and are normally only payable if the Director remains employed by the Group at 
the end of that period. The deferred shares awarded are held by an Employee Benefit Trust 
until vesting.

Both the cash and deferred share elements of the annual bonus are subject to clawback  
in the event of a material misstatement of the financial results, serious misconduct by  
a participant or other defined reasons.

Maximum

100% of base salary.

Performance measures A bonus of 80% of salary is based against a sliding scale of challenging and stretching financial 

performance targets, of which the first 50% of salary is payable in cash and the remaining 
30% of salary in deferred shares under the DBP. A bonus of up to 20% of salary, which is 
payable in cash, is based on the achievement of specific and measurable personal targets. 
Irrespective of achievement against the personal targets, no bonus is payable unless a 
minimum level of financial performance is achieved.

The Committee retains the ability in exceptional circumstances to adjust the targets and/or  
set different measures and alter weightings for the annual bonus if events occur (such as  
a material divestment of a Group business) which cause it to determine they are no longer 
appropriate and a change is required to ensure that they achieve their original purpose and 
are not materially less difficult to satisfy.

Element

LTIP

Purpose and link  
to strategy

The objectives of the LTIP are to align the long-term interests of shareholders and 
management and reward achievement of long-term, stretching targets.

Awards are made to Executive Directors and to senior executives who have a significant 
influence over the Group’s ability to meet its strategic objectives. Whilst it is not a requirement 
of the LTIP, senior executives are encouraged to use the scheme to increase their share 
ownership in the Company.

Operation

Annual awards are granted, subject to individual performance and Committee discretion.  
The awards vest after three years, subject to continued employment and the satisfaction  
of challenging performance conditions.

The LTIP awards from the 2013/14 financial year onwards are subject to clawback in the event 
of a material misstatement of the financial results, serious misconduct by a participant or 
other defined reasons.

A ‘dividend equivalent’ provision is also available at the discretion of the Committee enabling 
dividend or dividend equivalent payments to be paid (in cash or shares) on any shares that 
vest under the LTIP.

The Committee will operate the LTIP according to its respective rules and in accordance  
with the Listing Rules and HMRC rules, where relevant. The Committee retains discretion, 
consistent with market practice, in a number of regards to the operation and administration  
of the LTIP, including the option to provide different types of awards; settling any vesting 
awards in cash; when dealing with a change of control (e.g. the timing of testing performance 
conditions) or restructuring of the Group; determination of a good/bad leaver based on  
the rules of each plan and the appropriate treatment chosen; and adjustments in certain 
circumstances (e.g. rights issues, corporate restructuring, events and special dividends).

19

Element

Maximum

LTIP continued

Typically 100% of salary for Executive Directors, but with the flexibility to increase to 150%  
of salary in relevant circumstances.

Performance measures

50% of the awards are subject to an EPS performance condition and 50% of the awards are 
subject to a relative TSR performance condition.

EPS is a measure of the Company’s overall financial success and TSR provides an external 
assessment of the Company’s performance against its competitors. It also aligns the rewards 
received by executives with the returns received by shareholders.

Targets are set by the Committee for each award on a sliding scale basis. The Committee  
may set different EPS target ranges for each award providing they are equivalently challenging 
in the circumstances. No more than 25% of awards will vest for threshold performance,  
with full vesting taking place for equalling or exceeding maximum performance conditions.

Details of the performance conditions applied to awards granted in the year under review  
and for the awards to be granted in the forthcoming year are set out on pages 25 and 23 
respectively.

Different performance measures and/or weightings may be used for future awards to help 
drive the strategy of the business.

The Committee retains the ability in exceptional circumstances to adjust the targets and/or 
set different measures and alter weightings for the LTIP if events occur (such as a material 
divestment of a Group business) which cause it to determine they are no longer appropriate 
and a change is required to ensure that they achieve their original purpose and are not 
materially less difficult to satisfy.

Element

Non-Executive Director fees

Purpose and link  
to strategy

To ensure the Group is able to attract and retain experienced and skilled Non-Executive 
Directors able to advise and assist with establishing and monitoring the strategic objectives  
of the Company.

Operation

Maximum

The remuneration of the Chairman and the Non-Executive Directors is payable in cash fees. 
They are not eligible to participate in bonus or share incentive schemes. Their services do  
not qualify for pension or other benefits. Fees are paid monthly and reasonable expenses  
are reimbursed where appropriate.

Fee levels are determined by the full Board with reference to those paid by other companies 
of similar size and complexity, and to reflect the amount of time they are expected to devote 
to the Group’s activities during the year. A supplementary fee is also paid to Committee 
chairmen and to the Senior Independent Director to reflect their additional responsibilities.

Details of the current fees for the Chairman and Non-Executive Directors are set out on  
page 26. Under the Company’s current Articles the aggregate annual sum for Non-Executive 
Director fees cannot exceed £400,000 p.a. The Company does not intend to seek shareholder 
approval for any increase to this maximum in the short to medium term.

Performance measures No element of the Chairman’s or Non-Executive Directors’ fees is performance related.

Element

Share ownership guidelines

Purpose and link  
to strategy

Both the Executive and Non-Executive Directors and other senior executives are encouraged 
to build and maintain a shareholding in the Company as this represents the best way to align 
their interests with those of shareholders. Levels are set in relation to earnings and according 
to the post held in the Company.

Operation

Maximum

The expectation is that executives will build up to these levels over a period of time, through 
retaining shares received (net of tax) under the Company’s incentive arrangements.

There is no maximum; however, target levels are set at 150% of salary for Executive Directors, 
33% of annual fees for Non-Executive Directors and 50% of salary for other senior executives.

Performance measures

–

McBride plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014 – Governance and Financial statementsGovernance 01-3220   McBride plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014 – Governance and Financial statements

 REMUNERATION REPORT continued

Element

Recruitment remuneration

Purpose and link  
to strategy

To ensure the Group is able to recruit and retain high calibre Executive and Non-Executive 
Directors.

Operation

New Director remuneration arrangements will be based upon and within the limits of the 
various elements as set out on pages 17 to 19. 

In addition:
•  Executive Director buy-out payments may be made in exceptional circumstances; typically 

when these are considered to be in the best interests of the Company (and therefore shareholders) 
to facilitate the buy-out of value forfeited on joining the Company. These payments would 
typically be in the form of an enhanced LTIP award (and therefore under the rules and 
maximums permitted under the Company’s LTIP rules in place at that time and, in any event, 
would not be in excess of 200%) and would take account of remuneration being relinquished, 
including the nature and time horizons attached to such remuneration and the impact of  
any performance conditions. In exceptional circumstances, payments could be made in the 
form of a cash payment or Restricted Share Award. When in the form of a cash payment, 
this would normally be subject to clawback in certain situations (in line with other elements 
under the Company’s Remuneration Policy). 

•  Relocation packages (generally consisting of out-of-pocket expenses, together with any 

additional costs solely attributable/linked to the relocation and, in some cases, professional 
support to ensure a quick process) may be offered in situations deemed essential in order  
to carry out the relevant role successfully. Any package will be designed to ensure the new 
recruit becomes effective in their role as soon as possible, with minimal distractions from  
any relocation.

In respect of internal promotions, any remuneration commitments made before such promotion 
(whether or not they would fall within the principles of the Company’s current Remuneration 
Policy) may form part of that Director’s remuneration package, with the expectation that any 
such commitments would be phased out over time.

Maximum

It is intended that the value of any element of recruitment remuneration will generally be  
on the same basis as the existing Directors (pro-rated, where appropriate, dependent on time 
of joining the Company) and elements such as buy-out payments being no higher than the 
expected value of the forfeited arrangements.

Remuneration performance scenarios 
The chart opposite illustrates how the composition of  
the Chief Executive Officer’s and Chief Finance Officer’s 
remuneration packages could vary at different levels of 
performance under the Company’s 2014/15 Remuneration 
Policy as a total value opportunity.

External appointments
Executive Directors are permitted, where appropriate  
and with Board approval, to assume non-executive 
directorships of other organisations. Where the Company 
releases Executive Directors to carry out non-executive 
duties, they will be required to disclose the fact that they 
retain any earnings and the amount of such remuneration. 
Neither of the Executive Directors held any external 
directorships during the year ended 30 June 2014.

Total remuneration opportunity £(000)s
1400

1200

1000

800

600

400

200

0

£512

£312

Below
target
threshold
(CEO)

Below
target
threshold
(CFO) 

£1,312
30.5%

30.5%

39%

LTIPs
Annual bonus
Fixed pay

£812
31%  

31%

38%

£892
13%
31%

57%

£550
12%
32%

56%

On target
(CEO) 

On target
(CFO) 

Maximum
(CEO) 

Maximum
(CFO) 

Below target represents fixed pay only (consisting of base salary, benefits 
and pension). On-target performance assumes a bonus award of 70% of 
salary and 25% vesting under the LTIP.

Maximum performance assumes a bonus award of 100% of salary 
(cash and deferred shares) and full vesting under the LTIP. No assumptions 
are made as to likely share price growth for the DBP or LTIP.

The values used for the Chief Finance Officer reflect Chris Smith’s 
remuneration package as if he had been in place for the full year.

21

Executive Directors’ service contracts  
and compensation for loss of office
Service contracts stipulate that the Executive Directors  
will provide services to the Company on a full time basis.  
The contracts contain, in addition to remuneration terms, 
details of holiday and sick pay entitlement, restrictions and 
disciplinary matters. The contract for the Chief Executive 
Officer was entered into on 14 April 2010 and for the former 
Chief Finance Officer on 31 July 2009. The incoming  
Chief Finance Officer accepted the terms of his contract on  
15 July 2014, with a commencement date to be confirmed.

The contracts contain restrictive covenants for periods  
of up to six months post employment relating to non-
competition and non-solicitation of the Group’s customers, 
suppliers and employees and indefinitely with respect to 
confidential information. In addition, they provide for the  

Group to own any intellectual property rights created  
by the Directors in the course of their employment.

The contracts for both the Chief Executive Officer and the 
Chief Finance Officer stipulate six months’ notice by both 
the Company and the Director (although, in exceptional 
circumstances, notice periods for up to a maximum of  
12 months may be offered to newly recruited Directors).  
All Directors’ contracts are available for inspection at  
the AGM. The Committee recognises the provisions of the 
Code for compensation commitments to be stipulated in 
directors’ service contracts with regard to early termination. 
Further information on the Committee’s Executive Director 
compensation approach can be found in the table below. 

Element

Executive Director compensation on loss of office

Purpose and link  
to strategy

On termination of an Executive Director’s service contract, the Committee will seek to  
provide the minimum compensation applicable to the individual’s employment contract.

Operation

Executive Director service contracts will stipulate the Company’s compensation commitments 
to be honoured in an early termination event. Any commitments will be within the principles  
of the Company’s Remuneration Policy, together with any specific contractual provisions 
agreed prior to 27 June 2012 where they do not fall within the principles, where applicable.

Directors’ service contracts confirm that the Company has the option to pay notice month  
by month that would reduce or cease if the departing Director obtained other employment.

There are no agreements between the Company and its Directors or employees providing  
for additional compensation for loss of office or employment (whether through resignation, 
purported redundancy or otherwise) that may occur in the event of a takeover bid. It is also 
the Company’s policy not to include liquidated damages clauses in service contracts, unless 
there is a clear explainable benefit for the Company in doing so. None of the Executive 
Director service contracts contain any such liquidated damages provision.

Maximum

Any compensation arrangements will not be beyond those stipulated in the Directors’  
service contracts and will normally be limited to base salary, benefit and pension elements. 
Dependent upon the circumstances (and subject to the Committee’s discretion) as shown 
below, a Director’s performance related remuneration elements may also be included.

Annual bonus

LTIP

Normal exit
(termination for reasons  
of resignation or dismissal)

No entitlement for year  
of exit. Payments in earlier 
years may be subject  
to clawback in certain 
circumstances.

Unvested awards lapse.
Vested awards may be 
subject to clawback in 
certain circumstances.

Good leaver
(termination for reasons of 
death, ill health, retirement, 
redundancy, or at the 
discretion of the Committee)

Change of control
(excludes a reorganisation  
or reconstruction where 
ownership does not 
materially change)

Pro-rated (based upon 
timing and performance)  
for year of exit. Any DBP 
awards (at Committee 
discretion) vest at either 
normal vesting date or on 
cessation of employment.

Extent to which performance 
requirements are satisfied  
in year determines level of 
annual bonus. Any unvested 
DBP awards will vest on date 
of the relevant event.

Unvested awards pro-rated 
based upon rules of LTIP 
plan (at Committee 
discretion) and vest on either 
normal vesting date or 
cessation of employment.

Unvested awards are 
pro-rated based upon rules 
of LTIP plan (at Committee 
discretion) and vest on the 
date of the relevant event.

McBride plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014 – Governance and Financial statementsGovernance 01-32 
 
22   McBride plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014 – Governance and Financial statements

 REMUNERATION REPORT continued

Non-Executive Directors’ letters of appointment
Set out below is information regarding the dates of the letters of appointment and notice periods for the Chairman and 
the Non-Executive Directors.

Director

Iain Napier

Steve Hannam

Neil Harrington

Sandra Turner

Date first appointed
to the Board

Date of last

election at (AGM)(1)

1 Jul 2007

4 Feb 2013

3 Jan 2012

1 Aug 2011

2013

2013

2013

2013

Notice period

3 months

3 months

3 months

3 months

Compensation upon
 early retirement

None

None

None

None

Latest letter of
appointment

1 July 2014

1 July 2014

1 July 2014

1 July 2014

(1)  All Directors are re-elected on an annual basis.

The Non-Executive Directors and Chairman serve on the  
basis of renewable letters of appointment (last updated and 
issued on 1 July 2014) which are terminable at the discretion 
of either party (generally on three months’ notice). In 
accordance with the principles of the Code, the Chairman, 
the Non-Executive Directors and the Executive Directors  
are subject to voluntary re-election by shareholders on an 
annual basis. Their appointments may be terminated without 
compensation in the event of them not being re-elected by 
shareholders or otherwise in accordance with the Articles. 

Any appointment for more than nine years in total will  
be subject to annual review by the full Board, as well as 
shareholder approval. Consideration will be given to the 
importance of refreshing the membership of the Board  
and avoiding any undue reliance on any particular 
individual, whilst assessing the contribution made by that 
individual, together with the ongoing commitment required 
to the role and the benefit gained from any continuity  
of handover with newer members of the Board.

Annual Report on Remuneration

Attendance at meetings during the year ended  
30 June 2014 

Remuneration Committee and its advisers 
The Committee is responsible for determining the 
remuneration policy for the Executive Directors and,  
in conjunction with the Chief Executive Officer, 
remuneration packages for the EMT. The main duties  
of the Committee are:
•  To review the ongoing appropriateness and relevance  

of the Remuneration Policy;

•  To apply formal and transparent procedures regarding 
executive remuneration and remuneration packages;
•  To consider and make recommendations to the Board 
on remuneration issues for the Executive Directors and 
other senior executives, taking into account the interests 
of relevant stakeholders; and

•  To review the implementation and operation of the 
Company’s share option schemes, bonus schemes  
and LTIP.

A quorum of the Committee is two members. The members 
of the Committee are shown in the table opposite and  
the Board are satisfied that all members are independent 
Non-Executive Directors, with the exception of Iain Napier 
who satisfied the independence condition on his 
appointment as Non-Executive Chairman in 2007.

During the year, the Committee continued to engage  
the services of the independent consultants, Aon Hewitt 
Limited (operating through the brand New Bridge Street 
(NBS)), for the purposes of providing professional advice  
to guide the Committee in its decision-making. NBS 
received £26,435 in respect of the services provided for  
the 2013/14 financial year (2012/13: £29,800). Neither  
NBS, nor any other part of the Aon Corporation Group, 
provided any other services to the Company during the 
year. New Bridge Street is a signatory to the Remuneration 
Consultant Group’s Code of Conduct.

Date appointed
to Committee

Number of meetings held:

6

Number of meetings attended:

Sandra Turner (Chair) 
Independent Non-Executive Director 6

1 August 2011

Steve Hannam  
Senior Independent Director 

6 4 February 2013

Neil Harrington  
Independent Non-Executive Director  6 3 January 2012

Iain Napier 
Board Chairman

Bob Lee(1)  
Independent Non-Executive Director

6

2

19 July 2007

27 May 2004

(1)   Sandra Turner was appointed as Chair of the Remuneration  

Committee with effect from 14 October 2013.

(2) Bob Lee’s attendance is shown up to his retirement from the Board.

The Committee is authorised by the Board to investigate any 
matters within its Terms of Reference and meets as frequently 
as needed, but at least twice a year. In the financial year 
ended 30 June 2014 the Committee met six times, in August, 
September and December 2013 and February, March and 
June 2014. Subsequent to the year-end, two further meetings 
of the Committee took place in July and September 2014. 
Meetings may be attended by the Chief Executive Officer  
on all matters except those relating to his own remuneration. 
Support is provided by the Chief HR Officer and the Company 
Secretary, who serves as Secretary to the Committee.  
No Director participates in any discussion relating to his  
or her own remuneration. The Company’s independent 
remuneration consultants, New Bridge Street, also attend 
meetings by invitation.

The Committee’s Terms of Reference are reviewed regularly 
to ensure continuing compliance with evolving best practice 
guidelines. This year’s review has incorporated minor 
amendments to update the procedural workings of the 
Committee and reflect changes to the Code. The Charter 
setting out the Committee’s constitution and Terms  
of Reference is available from the Group’s website at  
www.mcbride.co.uk.

Benefits  
and pension

Annual bonus

LTIP

23

Application of the Remuneration Policy for the 2014/15 financial year
The table below sets out how the Remuneration Policy will be applied for the forthcoming financial year.

Element

Application

Explanation

Executive Director 
base salary

The base salary (effective from 1 August 2014) 
for Chris Bull, Chief Executive Officer,  
is £400,000.

Following a review of the base salary levels, in 
accordance with the Company’s Remuneration 
Policy, the Committee accepted Chris Bull’s offer 
to waive any increase in the coming year. This 
was felt appropriate in light of the Group’s trading 
performance for the 2013/14 financial year.

Awards for the rest of the Group’s UK workforce 
will be made based on a 2% increase.

The current benefits are considered to be 
appropriate.

The base salary for Chris Smith, newly 
appointed Chief Finance Officer, will be 
£250,000 (pro-rated upon joining the 
Company).

No change for the Chief Executive Officer.

The newly appointed Chief Finance Officer  
will receive the Company’s standard benefits 
package, as well as a pension contribution by 
the Company equivalent to 20% of base salary 
into an appropriate defined contribution 
pension scheme.

The structure and operation of the annual 
bonus scheme will continue in line with the 
previous financial year. The maximum bonus 
opportunity for the Executive Directors 
continues to be 100% of salary: 80% of the 
award will be subject to a sliding scale of 
challenging profit before tax targets and  
20% will be subject to personal targets.

The Committee considers that the forward-
looking targets are commercially sensitive and 
has, therefore, chosen not to disclose them in 
advance. Details of the targets will be set out 
retrospectively in next year’s Remuneration 
Report. However, the targets are considered to 
be demanding in the context of the Company’s 
circumstances.

TSR provides an external assessment of the 
Company’s performance against its competitors. 
It also aligns the rewards received by executives 
with the returns received by shareholders.

The EPS performance measure has been 
selected as it is one of the KPIs used in the 
business and is a measure well understood  
by the senior executives. It is also something 
which they can influence directly. The EPS 
targets incorporate the Committee’s 
expectations of inflation.

The LTIP awards to be granted in 2014/15  
will continue to be subject to EPS and relative 
TSR performance conditions. The intended 
Executive Director grant level for the LTIP  
is 100% of salary.

The TSR schedule and comparator group is 
based upon the FTSE Smallcap Ex. Investment 
Companies Index with 25% of this element  
of the award vesting for median performance. 
EPS targets continue to align to the Company’s 
three-year business targets and our plans for 
EPS growth. Awards subject to the EPS 
condition will lapse unless the Company’s 
growth in EPS (adjusted to exclude the effects of 
amortisation of intangible assets and exceptional 
items) is at least 24% p.a. For performance 
above this level, awards will vest on a rising 
scale, with full vesting only if growth in  
EPS reaches 29%.

Non-Executive  
Director fees

The fee policy for the Chairman  
and Non-Executive Directors is as follows:

Base Non-Executive Director fee: £40,000

Chair of the Audit and Remuneration 
Committees: £4,000 (additional fee)

Senior Independent Director: £4,000 
(additional fee)

Chairman: £150,000

Non-Executive Director fees were last  
reviewed in July 2009 and will be kept  
under review during the course of the year.

McBride plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014 – Governance and Financial statementsGovernance 01-3224   McBride plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014 – Governance and Financial statements

 REMUNERATION REPORT continued

Application of the Remuneration Policy for 2013/14

The following information has been audited by the Company’s auditors:
•  Single total remuneration figure for the Executive and Non-Executive Directors
•  Executive Director pension benefits and interests in the LTIP and DBP schemes 
•  Director shareholdings
•  Exit payments, payments to past Directors and payments to third parties

Single total remuneration figure for the Executive Directors 
The table below sets out a single total remuneration figure for the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Finance Officer  
for the 2013/14 financial year:

Chris Bull

2013/2014
2012/2013
Richard Armitage

2013/2014
2012/2013

Base
salary(1)
£000

400
400

273
263

Fixed remuneration

Performance related

Benefits(2)
£000

Pension(3)
£000

Sub-total
£000

Annual
bonus(4)
£000

LTIPs(5)
£000

Sub-total
£000

12
12

14
10

100
100

54
52

512
512

341
325

–
–

–
–

–
–

–
–

–
–

–
–

Total
remuneration

£000

512
512

341
325

(1)  Full base salary paid during the year.
(2)  Benefits consist of the provision of a Company car and fuel (or cash equivalent), private healthcare, disability insurance and life cover.
(3)  The pension figure represents the cash value of the pension contributions received by the Executive Directors. This includes either Company 

pension contributions or payment in lieu of pension contribution.

(4)  The annual bonus is the cash value of the bonus in respect of the year ended 30 June 2014 (including any deferred shares which must be held  

for a minimum three year period).

(5)  The value of the LTIP award earned in respect of the performance period commencing 1 July 2011 to 30 June 2014. The value of the vested shares 

is the face value of the shares at the vesting date or estimate of the total market value if not yet vested.

Base salary
In relation to the 2013/14 financial year:
•  The Chief Executive Officer requested to forgo his review, 
leaving his salary at the 2010/11 level (£400,000), which 
was unchanged since his appointment in April 2010.

•  Following the re-focusing of Executive Director 

responsibilities, the Chief Finance Officer’s salary was 
increased to £275,000 (3.7%) to reflect his additional 
responsibilities with effect from 3 September 2013.

Annual bonus
For the 2013/14 financial year, the maximum bonus 
opportunity for both the Chief Executive Officer and  
the Chief Finance Officer was 100% of salary. This 
comprised a bonus of up to 50% of salary which could be 
earned by reference to performance against set financial 
thresholds: i) 90% of the budgeted profit on a sliding  
scale of up to a maximum of 110% of budgeted profit,  
and ii) net debt targets.

Subject to achieving a minimum level of financial 
performance, a further 20% of salary could be earned  
for performance against demanding specific, measurable 
personal targets. For the Chief Executive Officer, these 
included targets in relation to i) the achievement of  
organic growth targets for the business, ii) improvement in 
Customer Service Level and iii) successful implementation 
of a gross margin programme. 

For the Chief Finance Officer, personal objectives included 
i) the achievement of organic growth targets for the 
business, ii) improvement in Customer Service Level,  
iii) securing funding and refinancing arrangements by  
June 2014, and iv) successful implementation of a gross 
margin programme.

Both these elements of the bonus would have been 
payable in cash. 

In addition, a further 30% of salary could have been earned 
dependent upon the Group’s performance (based on profit 
before tax targets exceeding those which earned the  
first 50%). This element of the bonus would be payable in 
shares to be retained by the Company for three years and 
only payable if the Executive Director remained employed 
by the Group at the end of that period. 

The Committee determined that the necessary financial 
hurdles had not been met and, therefore, no payment 
under the Annual Bonus Plan would be made covering  
this period.

McBride plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014 – Governance and Financial statements

25

G
o
v
e
r
n
a
n
c
e
0
1
-
3
2

LTIP
In the year under review, no LTIPs vested for the Executive Directors. The performance period for the September 2011 
award ended on 30 June 2014. Performance for the award was below the threshold level and therefore the awards lapsed.

Detailed assumptions used in calculating the fair value of the awards are outlined in note 24 to the consolidated financial 
statements on pages 75 and 76.

Interests of Directors under the McBride plc 2005 LTIP at 1 July 2013 and 30 June 2014 are set out below:

Director

Chris Bull

Richard Armitage(3)

Date of
award

Number of
awards at
1 July 2013

Allocated
in year

Awards
vested
in year

Allocations
lapsed
in year

Number of
awards at
30 June 2014

16 Sep 2010 174,387
20 Sep 2011 338,267(1)
18 Sep 2012 322,763
17 Sep 2013
–
16 Sep 2010 106,267
20 Sep 2011 219,874(1)
18 Sep 2012 209,796
–
17 Sep 2013

–
–
–

323,887(2)

–
–
–

222,672(2)

–
–
–
–

–
–
–
–

174,387
–
–
–

106,267
–
–
–

–
338,267
322,763
323,887

–
219,874
209,796
222,672

Market price
at date
of award
£

Vesting
date

1.8350 17 Sep 2013
1.1825 21 Sep 2014
1.2393 19 Sep 2015
1.235 18 Sep 2016

1.8350 17 Sep 2013
1.1825 21 Sep 2014
1.2393 19 Sep 2015
1.235 18 Sep 2016

(1)  The minimum performance targets for the awards in 2011 were not achieved and have now lapsed.
(2)  Awards were granted on the basis of 100% of salary. The face value of the awards are Chris Bull: £400,000 and Richard Armitage: £275,000. 
Threshold vesting under the TSR condition would be 0% of that part of the award. Threshold vesting under the EPS condition would be 20%  
of that part of the award (10% of the total award).

(3) Richard Armitage resigned as a Director with effect from 31 July 2014 at which point all his interests under the McBride plc 2005 LTIP lapsed.

The performance conditions attaching to awards under  
the LTIP are:
a.  50% of the outstanding awards are subject to a TSR 

performance condition measured against the FTSE 250 
Ex. Investment Companies Index as the comparator group. 
If the Company’s TSR performance is lower than the 
median of the comparator group, awards subject to the 
TSR condition will lapse. The awards start to vest on  
a sliding scale if TSR performance is above the median  
(nil at median) of the comparator group, with full vesting 
only if the Company’s TSR performance is in the upper 
quartile of the comparator group. The TSR measure is 
based upon the average of three months’ share prices 
immediately preceding the relevant performance date 
and is independently calculated for the Committee.

TSR performance of the Company 
relative to the comparator group

% of award vesting (max 50%)

Below the median
Equal to the median
Upper quartile
Intermediate performance Straight-line vesting

0%
0%
50%

b.  50% of the award is subject to an EPS performance 

condition.

 i.   For the 2011 LTIPs, awards subject to the EPS condition 

will lapse unless the Company’s growth in EPS (adjusted 
to exclude the effects of amortisation of intangible assets 
and exceptional items) is at least 4% p.a. above the 
increase in RPI. For performance above this level, awards 
will vest on a rising scale, with full vesting only if growth 
in EPS exceeds the increase in RPI by at least 10% p.a.

EPS growth

% of award vesting (max 50%)

Less than RPI+4% p.a.
RPI+4% p.a.
RPI+10% p.a.
Intermediate performance Straight-line vesting

0%
10%
50%

 ii.  For the 2012 LTIPs, awards subject to the EPS condition 
will lapse unless the Company’s growth in EPS (adjusted 
to exclude the effects of amortisation of intangible assets 
and exceptional items) is at least 17% p.a. above the 
increase in RPI. For performance above this level, awards 
will vest on a rising scale, with full vesting only if growth 
in EPS exceeds the increase in RPI by at least 29% p.a.

EPS growth

% of award vesting (max 50%)

Less than RPI+17% p.a.
RPI+17% p.a.
RPI+29% p.a.
Intermediate performance Straight-line vesting

0%
10%
50%

iii.  For the 2013 LTIPs, awards subject to the EPS condition 
will lapse unless the Company’s growth in EPS (adjusted 
to exclude the effects of amortisation of intangible assets 
and exceptional items) is at least 23% p.a. above the 
increase in RPI. For performance above this level, awards 
will vest on a rising scale, with full vesting only if growth 
in EPS exceeds the increase in RPI by at least 32% p.a.

EPS growth

% of award vesting (max 50%)

Less than RPI+23% p.a.
RPI+23% p.a.
RPI+32% p.a.
Intermediate performance Straight-line vesting

0%
10%
50%

TSR and EPS performance are measured over the period  
of three consecutive financial years of the Company 
beginning with the year of grant of the award. There will be 
no re-setting or re-testing of the performance conditions, 
other than in exceptional circumstances as set out on  
page 19.

 
26   McBride plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014 – Governance and Financial statements

 REMUNERATION REPORT continued

Deferred Annual Bonus Plan 
Interests of Directors under the McBride plc 2012 Deferred Annual Bonus Plan at 1 July 2013 and 30 June 2014 are:

Director

Date of
award

Number of
awards at
1 July 2013

Allocated
in year

Awards
vested
in year

Allocations
lapsed
in year

Number of
awards at
30 June 2014

Vesting
date

Richard Armitage

11 Dec 2012

32,051

–

32,051

–

–

29 July 2013

Richard Armitage was granted an award of 32,051 shares 
under the Company’s DBP on 11 December 2012, reflecting 
his entitlement to a proportion of his annual bonus deferred 
in 2010 as agreed by the Remuneration Committee. There 
was no exercise price applicable to the award and the 
market price at the date of the award was £1.31. 

Pension
The Company paid Chris Bull a cash sum in lieu of a pension 
contribution at 25% of basic salary, £100,000 (2012/13: 
£100,000). Chris Bull has agreed in writing that this payment 
relieves the Company of any liability for pension provision 
on his behalf.

The award was subject to a restricted period of three years 
from 29 July 2010. The award would normally vest on the 
expiry of this three-year period, 29 July 2013. However,  
as this date fell within a close period of the Company,  
the Committee determined the award would vest after 
cessation of the close period on 3 September 2013.  
Awards granted under the DBP are eligible for B Shares,  
or B Share cash equivalent. 

Company contributions to Richard Armitage’s defined 
contribution pension scheme totalled 20% of his basic 
salary £53,794 (2012/13: £52,000).

Single total remuneration figure for the Non-Executive Directors

Iain Napier 
Steve Hannam(1) (2)
Neil Harrington
Bob Lee(3) 
Sandra Turner(4)

2013/2014

Base fee
£000

Committee Chair/
SID fee
£000

Total
£000

Base fee
£000

2012/2013

Committee Chair/
SID fee
£000

150
40
40
12

40

–
3
4
2

3

150
43
44
14

43

150
16
40
40

40

–
–
4
8

–

Total
£000

150
16
44
48

40

(1)  Steve Hannam was appointed as Senior Independent Director with effect from 14 October 2013.
(2) The 2012/13 figures for Steve Hannam are for the period from his appointment to the Board on 4 February 2013.
(3) Bob Lee resigned from the Board on 14 October 2013.
(4) Sandra Turner was appointed Chair of the Remuneration Committee with effect from 14 October 2013.

Directors’ interests
The beneficial interests of the Directors in the ordinary shares of the Company at 1 July 2013 and 30 June 2014 are set out 
below (there have been no changes from those detailed below between 30 June 2014 and the date of this Report):

Iain Napier
Chris Bull
Richard Armitage
Steve Hannam
Neil Harrington
Bob Lee(1)
Sandra Turner

At 30 June 2014

At 1 July 2013

Shares

74,807
340,000
66,831
12,000
20,000
–
10,000

Conditional
share
awards(2)

–
984,917
652,342(3)

–
–
–
–

Shares

64,807
320,000
50,000
12,000
15,000
5,000
10,000

Conditional
share
awards(2)

–
835,417
567,988
–
–
–
–

(1)  Bob Lee resigned from the Board on 14 October 2013.
(2) The conditional share awards have been made under the McBride plc 2005 LTIP.
(3) Richard Armitage resigned as a Director with effect from 31 July 2014 at which point all his interests under the LTIP lapsed.

As detailed on page 19, Executive Directors are expected to build and maintain personal shareholdings in the Company 
equivalent to 150% of salary through retaining shares received (net of tax) under the Company’s Incentive arrangements. 
On a personal level Chris Bull has purchased shares independently on the market at a total price of £542,899 when acquired. 
As at 30 June 2014 the value of the Executive Directors’ shareholdings were: Chris Bull £326,400 (representing 82% of 
salary) and Richard Armitage £64,158 (representing 24% of salary).

None of the Directors had any interest in the shares of any subsidiary company.

McBride plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014 – Governance and Financial statements

27

Exit payments
On termination of an Executive Director’s service contract, 
the Committee will seek to provide the minimum 
compensation applicable to the individual’s employment 
contract and will normally be limited to base salary, benefit 
and pension elements. Dependent upon the termination 
circumstances, and subject to the Committee’s discretion,  
a Director’s performance related remuneration element 
may also be included (subject to achievement of the 
relevant performance condition and time pro-rating).

During the year, Richard Armitage, Chief Finance Officer, 
resigned from the Company, with the Committee 
determining that it should not exercise any discretion  
in relation to any bonus or LTIP awards and, accordingly,  
any entitlements lapsed on his departure on 31 July 2014.

Details of any exit payments made during the year are 
provided on the Company’s website in accordance with  
the new reporting regulations at www.mcbride.co.uk.

Payments to third parties
No payments were made to third parties for making 
available the services of any of the Directors during 
2013/14.

Review of past performance
The graph below charts the TSR (share value movement plus 
reinvested dividends), over the five years to 30 June 2014, 
of shares in McBride plc compared with that of a 
hypothetical holding in the FTSE Smallcap Ex. Investment 
Companies Index. The Directors consider this index to  
be an appropriate comparator group for assessing the 
Company’s TSR as it provides a well defined, understood 
and accessible benchmark.

Percentage change in Chief Executive  
Officer’s remuneration
The table below shows the percentage change in Chief 
Executive Officer remuneration from the prior year 
compared to the average percentage in remuneration for 
all UK employees (1,704 employees). Although the Company 
has an international workforce, this group has been chosen 
as it represents the most meaningful comparator group  
to the UK based Chief Executive Officer.

G
o
v
e
r
n
a
n
c
e
0
1
-
3
2

Chief Executive Officer
Comparator Group

% change 2013/14

Base
salary

Taxable
benefits

Annual
bonus

–
2

–
–

–
–

Relative importance of spend on pay

2012/2013 £m
2013/2014 £m

Shareholder 
Distribution

Underlying 
EBITDA

Total 
Employee
Cost

0

50

100

150

Statement of shareholder voting
The table below shows the voting outcome at the 
October 2013 AGM for the approval of the 2012/13 
Remuneration Report:

For

%

Against

% Withheld

Votes

145,978,134 99.93

101,366 0.07

91,787

McBride plc
FTSE Small Cap

The Remuneration Committee strongly welcome this continued 
shareholder support for the Company’s Remuneration Policy. 

The Remuneration Committee Report was approved by the 
Board on 9 September 2014.

Signed on behalf of the Board by 

Sandra Turner
Chair of the Remuneration Committee

350

300

250

200

150

100

50

0

July
2009

Nov
2009

Mar
2010

July
2010

Nov
2010

Mar
2011

July
2011

Nov
2011

Mar
2012

July
2012

Nov
2012

Mar
2013

July
2013

Nov
2013

Mar
2014

June
2014

The following table shows the historic Chief Executive 
Officers’ levels of fixed pay (single figure of total 
remuneration), together with annual bonus and LTIP awards 
as a percentage of the maximum available.

Chief Executive 
Officer/Financial Year

Fixed pay
£000

Annual bonus %
of maximum

LTIP % of
maximum

Chris Bull
2013/14
2012/13
2011/12
2010/11
2009/10*

Miles Roberts
2009/10*

512,000
512,000
512,000
511,000
83,000

519,000

–
–
48
25
–

–

–
–
–
–
–

–

*   Miles Roberts left the business on 30 April 2010, with Chris Bull 

appointed with effect from 4 May 2010.

 
28   McBride plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014 – Governance and Financial statements

 STATUTORY INFORMATION

Strategic Report
The Group is required to produce a Strategic Report 
complying with the requirements of section 414A of the 
Companies Act 2006 (‘the Act’). The Group has complied 
with this requirement and incorporates a detailed review  
of the Group’s activities, its business performance and 
developments during the year and an indication of likely 
future developments.

Corporate governance statement
The corporate governance statement, as required by Rule 
7.2.1 of the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) Disclosure 
and Transparency Rules, is set out on pages 2 to 31 of  
the Corporate Governance report and forms part of the 
Directors’ Report.

FCA Disclosure and Transparency Rules
For the purposes of DTR 4.1.5R(2) and DTR 4.1.8R the 
Directors’ Report is the management report.

Group results
The results for the year are set out in the consolidated 
income statement on page 37 and a discussion of the 
Group’s financial performance and progress are set out  
in the Strategic Report.

Payments to shareholders
The Company intends that, for the foreseeable future,  
all payments to shareholders will be made by the issue of 
non-cumulative redeemable preference shares (‘B Shares’).

Subject to shareholder approval to renew the B Share 
scheme at the AGM, the Board is recommending the 
allotment of 33 B Shares (equivalent to 3.3 pence)  
per ordinary share held (2013: 3.3 pence), giving a total 
allotment for the year of 50 B Shares (equivalent to  
5 pence) per ordinary share (2013: 5 pence). Further  
details of payments to shareholders are shown in note 12  
to the consolidated financial statements on page 59.

Directors
The Directors who held office during the year were:

Iain J G Napier

Chris D Bull

Richard J Armitage

Steve J Hannam 

Neil S Harrington

Bob A Lee

Sandra Turner 

Chairman

Chief Executive Officer

Chief Finance Officer 
(resigned 31 July 2014)

Senior Independent  
Non-Executive Director

Independent  
Non-Executive Director

Independent  
Non-Executive Director 
(resigned 14 October 2013)

Independent  
Non-Executive Director

On 15 July 2014, the Company announced that Chris Smith 
would join the Company as Chief Finance Officer, following 
the resignation of Richard Armitage. Chris Smith will join 
the Company with effect from a date to be confirmed  
and will seek election as a Director of the Company at  
the 2015 AGM.

Biographical details of the Directors appear on page 8  
of the Strategic Report. Information on the Directors’ 
remuneration and service contracts is given in the 
Remuneration Report on pages 15 to 27.

Directors and their interests
The beneficial interests of the Directors in the share capital 
of the Company are shown in the Remuneration Report on 
page 26.

Related party transactions
Except for Directors’ service contracts, the Company did 
not have any material transactions or transactions of an 
unusual nature with, and did not make loans to, related 
parties in the periods in which any Director is or was 
materially interested.

Indemnification of Directors
In accordance with the Articles, the Company has the 
power (at its discretion) to grant an indemnity to the 
Directors in respect of liabilities incurred as a result of their 
office. In respect of those liabilities for which Directors may 
not be indemnified, the Company maintained a directors’ 
and officers’ liability insurance policy throughout the 
period. Although their defence costs may be met, neither 
the Company’s indemnity nor the insurance policy provides 
cover in the event that the Director is proved to have acted 
fraudulently or dishonestly. The Company is also permitted 
to advance costs to Directors for their defence in 
investigations or legal actions.

There have been no qualifying indemnity provisions or 
qualifying pension scheme indemnity provisions in force 
either during the year or up to the date of approval of the 
Directors’ Report.

Employment policies/employees
The Group employed an average of 4,826 people during 
the year ended 30 June 2014.

Involvement of employees
Employees are key to the Company’s success and we rely 
on a committed workforce to help us achieve our business 
objectives. 

29

Employees are encouraged to operate in an open 
environment, embracing teamwork and aligning personal 
development with the strategy of the business, through  
our Mission Vision and Principles. We are keen to engage 
our employees by providing an environment where they 
can contribute their own ideas and challenge those of 
others. This is supported by an Employee Opinion Survey 
exercise which is conducted at all locations across the 
Group at regular intervals, and serves to provide colleagues 
with an opportunity to air their concerns and to contribute 
to the development of any necessary corrective action 
plans. We are committed to involving employees and we 
consider that good communication helps to achieve this.  
All sites have regular briefings, partnership councils, 
listening groups and newsletters which are designed to 
keep colleagues informed of, amongst other things, the  
financial and economic factors that affect the Company’s 
performance. Members of the EMT regularly visit sites  
and the Chief Executive Officer also attends all our 
Management Development Programmes for open 
questioning from employees and to encourage two-way 
dialogue. We recognise the importance of communication 
at, and across, all levels of the business and a monthly  
Core Brief is published which updates employees on 
business performance Group-wide and reports progress 
against key priorities and projects.

Many functions also hold regular meetings and workshops, 
which provide the opportunity for a cross-section of 
employees to contribute to the development and realisation 
of business plans for their areas of responsibility. Most sites 
are actively engaged in involvement initiatives to allow all 
employees to understand and relate to our business goals. 
Many sites also hold open days to allow employees’  
families to see the environment in which their family 
members work.

More information relating to employee engagement can be 
found in the Corporate Responsibility section on pages 32 
and 33 of the Strategic Report.

Reward and recognition
Eligible employees participate in performance-related 
bonus schemes and some senior management participate 
in an LTIP. Local incentive schemes relating to site 
performance are available to most site-based employees.

We respect the right of employees to join trade unions and 
appropriate representative bodies where they choose to do 
so. We have in place formal arrangements with recognised 
national unions where this is deemed appropriate and 
Partnerships or Works Councils (joint management/
employee consultation groups) operate at all UK and other 
facilities in Western Europe. Where these arrangements 
include nomination of employee representatives, they are 
not discriminated against and they are allowed reasonable 
time and facilities to carry out their representative duties.

Employment of disabled persons
We aim to provide a supportive working environment  
and to offer terms and conditions of service which allow 
disabled people with the necessary skills and qualifications 
to obtain employment with the Group. If employees 
become disabled during the course of their employment, 
they will continue to be employed, wherever practicable  
in the same job. If this is not practicable, every effort  
is made to find and provide appropriate retraining and 
redeployment. Disabled people are afforded equal 
opportunities in recruitment and promotion and full and 
fair consideration is given to providing opportunities  
for training and development of people with disabilities 
according to their skills and capabilities.

Equal opportunities
It is our policy to ensure equal opportunity in recruitment, 
selection, promotion, employee development, training and 
reward policies and we have an equal opportunities and 
diversity policy in place which is monitored through the  
HR function. It is a key objective to ensure that successful 
candidates for appointment and promotion are selected 
taking account of individual ability, skills and competencies 
without regard to age, gender, race, religion, disability or 
sexual orientation. Further information on gender diversity 
in the workplace can be found in the Corporate Responsibility 
section on page 32. We place great emphasis on establishing 
and maintaining a safe working environment for our 
employees. If an employee is injured during the course  
of his employment, the incident is thoroughly investigated 
and, where appropriate, rehabilitation support is provided 
to help the employee to return to work as soon as possible. 
Wherever a restructuring programme is undertaken, great 
care is taken to ensure that all relevant communications, 
consultations, support and guidance are provided and 
every effort is made to ensure that compulsory 
redundancies are minimised.

Political donations
It is the Group’s policy not to make political donations and 
no such donations were made during the year (2013: nil).

Environment and greenhouse gas emissions reporting
The Group recognises the importance of responsible 
environmental management and its obligations  
to protect the environment. The Group, therefore,  
gives high priority to all environmental matters relevant  
to its business. Further information appears in the 
Corporate Responsibility section on pages 30 to 33 and  
in the separate Sustainability Report available from the 
Group’s website at www.mcbride.co.uk.

McBride plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014 – Governance and Financial statementsGovernance 01-3230   McBride plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014 – Governance and Financial statements

 STATUTORY INFORMATION continued

The Group is required to state the annual quantity of 
emissions in tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent from 
activities for which the Group is responsible, including the 
combustion of fuel and the operation of any facility. Details 
of our emissions during the year ended 30 June 2014 are 
set out in our in the Corporate Responsibility section.

Research and development
The Group recognises the importance of investing in 
research and development which brings new product 
development support for its customers, research into  
new products and materials and further development of 
existing products. Research and development expenditure 
in the year was £9.3 million (2013: £9.5m).

Financial instruments
Information on the Group’s financial risk management 
objectives, policies and activities and on the exposure  
of the Group to relevant risks in respect of financial 
instruments is set out in the Chief Finance Officer’s review 
on pages 26 and 27, and in note 21 to the consolidated 
financial statements on pages 65 to 70.

Share capital
Details of the Company’s share capital are shown in  
note 26 to the consolidated financial statements on  
page 77.

The ordinary shares of the Company carry equal rights to 
dividends, voting and return of capital on the winding-up  
of the Company. There are no restrictions on the transfer  
of securities in the Company (other than following service 
of a notice under section 793 of the Act) and there are no 
restrictions on any voting rights or deadlines, other than 
those prescribed by law, nor is the Company aware of any 
arrangements between holders of its shares which may 
result in restrictions on the transfer of securities or on 
voting rights. Participants in employee share schemes have 
no voting or other rights in respect of the shares subject  
to those awards until the allocations are exercised, at which 
time the shares rank pari passu in all respects with shares 
already in issue. No such schemes have any rights with 
regard to control of the Company.

The holders of B Shares have equal rights to a preferential 
dividend and return of capital on the winding-up of the 
Company, and are entitled to redeem such B Shares if  
the Directors believe it is appropriate. They are not entitled  
to attend, speak or vote at general meetings, except on  
a resolution relating to the winding-up of the Company.  
The B Shares are not admitted to the Official List nor are 
they traded on the London Stock Exchange or any other 
recognised trading exchange.

Share repurchases
At the 2013 AGM, shareholder approval was granted to 
allow the Company to repurchase up to 18,221,000 ordinary 
shares. The existing authority will expire on the date of the 
2014 AGM, when the Directors will be seeking authority 
from shareholders to buy back shares which will be 
cancelled or may be held as treasury shares for the  
purpose of meeting obligations under LTIP and employee 
share schemes.

At the beginning of the financial year, the Company  
held 630,992 ordinary shares as treasury shares and during 
the financial year no ordinary shares were repurchased.  
At the end of the year, 630,992 shares were held as 
treasury shares.

Substantial shareholdings
The Company had been notified of the following  
interests amounting to 3% or more of its issued share 
capital as at the end of the financial year and at  
29 August 2014 (being the last practical date prior  
to the date of this Report).

Shareholder

Delta Lloyd Asset 
  Management

As at
29 August 2014

As at
30 June 2014

Number
of shares

%

Number
of shares

%

30,650,000 16.76 30,400,000 16.63

Franklin Templeton

21,703,430 11.87

22,076,216 12.07

Brandes Investment 
  Partners

Aberdeen Asset 
  Management 
  Limited

18,195,503 9.95

17,025,413 9.31

11,779,729 6.44

7,498,193 4.10

Allianz Global  
  Investors (UK) Ltd 11,650,982 6.37

11,725,147 6.41

Neptune Investment 
  Management

Fidelity Worldwide 
  Investment

10,315,815 5.64

9,203,081 5.03

9,292,745 5.08

9,349,292 5 .1 1

Milton Group plc

6,341,928 3.47

6,341,928 3.47

NBIM

5,893,012 3.22

5,984,906 3.27

All the above are institutional holders.

Significant agreements/takeovers directive
There are a number of agreements that take effect, alter  
or terminate upon a change of control of the Group such  
as commercial contracts, bank loan agreements and 
employee share schemes. Other than bank loan agreements, 
none of these are deemed to be significant in terms of their 
potential impact on the business of the Group as a whole  
in the event of a change of control.

31

Articles of Association
The Articles give power to the Board to appoint directors, 
but also require directors to retire and submit themselves 
for election at the first AGM following their appointment. 
Specific information regarding the re-election of directors 
is contained in the Corporate Governance section on  
page 3.

The Articles place a general prohibition on a director voting 
in respect of any contract or arrangement in which they 
have a material interest other than by virtue of their interest 
in shares in the Company.

In addition, the Act requires a director of a company who  
is in any way interested in a contract or proposed contract 
with the Company to declare the nature of their interest at 
a meeting of the directors of the company. The definition  
of ‘interest’ includes the interests of spouses, children, 
companies and trusts. The Act also requires that a director 
must avoid a situation where a director has, or could have,  
a direct or indirect interest that conflicts, or possibly may 
conflict, with the Company’s interests. The Act allows 
directors of public companies to authorise such conflicts, 
where appropriate, if a company’s articles of association so 
permit; the Company’s Articles do permit such authorisation.

The Board may exercise all the powers of the Company 
subject to the provisions of relevant statutes and the 
Articles. The Articles, for instance, contain specific 
provisions and restrictions regarding the Company’s  
power to borrow money and to the issuing of shares.  
A copy of the Articles is available from the Group’s  
website at www.mcbride.co.uk.

Going concern 
The Group’s business activities, together with the factors 
likely to affect its future development, performance and 
position, are set out in the Strategic Report. The financial 
position of the Group, its cash flows, liquidity position  
and borrowing facilities are described in the Chief Finance 
Officer’s review on pages 23 to 27. In addition, note 21  
to the financial statements includes the Group’s objectives, 
policies and processes for managing its capital; its financial 
risk management objectives; details of its financial 
instruments and hedging activities; and its exposures  
to credit and liquidity risks.

The Group meets its funding requirements through internal 
cash generation and bank credit facilities, most of which 
are committed until April 2019 as described in note 20  
to the financial statements. The Group’s forecasts and 
projections, taking account of reasonably possible changes 
in trading performance, show that the Group will be able  
to operate comfortably within its current bank facilities.  
In addition, during the period the Group successfully 
secured further debt facilities of $90 million from two  
US private placements.

The Group has a relatively conservative level of debt-to-
equity gearing. As a result, the Directors believe that  
the Group is well placed to manage its business risks 
successfully despite the current uncertain economic 
outlook. After making enquiries, the Directors have a 
reasonable expectation that the Company and the Group 
have adequate resources to continue in operational 
existence for the foreseeable future. Accordingly, they 
continue to adopt the going concern basis in preparing  
the financial statements.

Directors’ statement regarding disclosure  
of information to auditors
The Directors who held office at the date of approval of  
this Directors’ Report confirm that, so far as they are each 
aware, there is no relevant audit information of which the 
Company’s auditors are unaware. Each Director has taken  
all the steps he or she ought to have taken as a director  
to make himself or herself aware of any relevant audit 
information (that is, information needed by the auditors  
in connection with preparing their report) and to establish 
that the Company’s auditors are aware of that information.

Annual General Meeting
The notice convening the Company’s 2014 AGM at its 
Shared Service Centre, Central Park, Northampton Road, 
Manchester, M40 5BP on 20 October 2014 at 2.30pm is  
set out in a separate document issued to shareholders.

The Strategic Report, Governance section and Financial 
Statements for the year ended 30 June 2014 are available 
from the Group’s website at www.mcbride.co.uk or  
can be obtained free of charge from the Company’s 
registered office.

Independent auditors
On the recommendation of the Audit Committee,  
in accordance with section 489 of the Act, resolutions  
are to be proposed at the AGM for the reappointment of 
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as auditors of the Company 
and to authorise the Board to fix their remuneration.  
The remuneration of the auditors for the year ended  
30 June 2014 is fully disclosed in note 7 to the consolidated 
financial statements on page 54.

Signed by order of the Board

Carole Barnet
Company Secretary

9 September 2014

McBride plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014 – Governance and Financial statementsGovernance 01-3232   McBride plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014 – Governance and Financial statements

 STATEMENT OF DIRECTORS’ RESPONSIBILITIES

The Directors are responsible for preparing the Annual 
Report and the Group and Company financial statements  
in accordance with applicable law and regulations.

Company law requires the Directors to prepare Group  
and Company financial statements for each financial year. 
Under that law they are required to prepare the Group 
financial statements in accordance with IFRSs as adopted 
by the EU and applicable law and have elected to prepare 
the Company financial statements in accordance with UK 
Accounting Standards and applicable law (UK Generally 
Accepted Accounting Practice).

Under company law the Directors must not approve the 
financial statements unless they are satisfied that they  
give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the Group 
and Company and of their profit or loss for that period.  
In preparing each of the Group and Company financial 
statements, the Directors are required to: select suitable 
accounting policies and then apply them consistently; make 
judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent; 
for the Group financial statements, state whether they have 
been prepared in accordance with IFRSs as adopted by the 
EU; for the Company financial statements, state whether 
applicable UK Accounting Standards have been followed, 
subject to any material departures disclosed and explained 
in the Company financial statements; and prepare the 
financial statements on the going concern basis unless  
it is inappropriate to presume that the Group and the 
Company will continue in business.

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

Under applicable law and regulations, the Directors  
are also responsible for preparing a Directors’ Report, 
Directors’ Remuneration Report and Corporate  
Governance Statement that complies with that law  
and those regulations.

The Directors are responsible for the maintenance  
and integrity of the corporate and financial information 
included on the Group’s website www.mcbride.co.uk. 
Legislation in the UK governing the preparation and 
dissemination of financial statements may differ from 
legislation in other jurisdictions. Each of the Directors,  
the names and roles of whom are set out on page 28, 
confirms that to the best of his or her knowledge and  
belief: the financial statements in this document, prepared 
in accordance with the applicable set of accounting 
standards, give a true and fair view of the assets, liabilities, 
financial position and profit of the Company and of the 
Group as a whole; and the Directors’ Report, including the 
Business Review, includes a fair view of the development 
and performance of the business and the position of  
the Company and of the Group as a whole, including  
a description of the principal risks and uncertainties that 
they face.

Each Director in office at the date the Directors’ Report  
is approved, confirms to the best of his or her knowledge 
and belief: so far as the Director is aware, there is no 
relevant audit information of which the Company’s auditors 
are unaware; and he or she has taken all the steps that he  
or she ought to have taken as a Director in order to make 
himself or herself aware of any relevant audit information 
and to establish that the Company’s auditors are aware  
of that information.

Signed on behalf of the Board

Chris Bull
Chief Executive

9 September 2013

McBride plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014 – Governance and Financial statements

33

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Independent auditors’ report and Financial statements

Company financial statements

79 

81 
82 

87 

  Independent auditors’ report on the    
Company financial statements
 Company balance sheet
 Notes to the Company financial statements
1. Principal accounting policies
2. Profit for the year
3. Tangible assets
4. Investments in subsidiary undertakings
5. Debtors
6. Creditors: amounts falling due within one year
7.  Creditors: amounts falling due after more than one year
8. Payments to shareholders
9. Deferred tax assets
10. Provisions for liabilities
11. Called up share capital
12. Movement on reserves
13. Operating lease commitments
14. Guarantees
15. Related party transactions
 Principal subsidiaries

Shareholder information
88  Group five-year summary
89  Useful information for shareholders
92  Where to find us
IBC Our on-line resources

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34    Independent auditors’ report on the consolidated  

financial statements

37  Consolidated income statement
38  Consolidated statement of comprehensive income
39  Consolidated balance sheet
40  Consolidated cash flow statement
41  Reconciliation of net cash flow to movement in net debt
42  Consolidated statement of changes in equity
43   Notes to the consolidated financial statements

1. Basis of preparation
2. Principal accounting policies
3. Acquisitions
4. Segment information
5. Exceptional items
6. Employee information
7. Auditors’ remuneration
8. Operating profit/(loss)
9. Net finance costs
10. Taxation
11. Earnings per share
12. Payments to shareholders
13. Goodwill
14. Other intangible assets
15. Property, plant and equipment
16. Inventories
17. Trade and other receivables
18. Assets held for sale
19. Trade and other payables
20. Borrowings
21. Financial risk management
22. Capital and net debt
23. Pensions and other post-employment benefits
24. Employee share schemes
25. Provisions
26. Share capital and reserves
27. Commitments
28. Related party transactions
29. Exchange rates

 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
34   McBride plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014 – Governance and Financial statements

 INDEPENDENT AUDITORS’ REPORT
to the members of McBride plc

Report on the Consolidated financial 
statements
Our opinion
In our opinion the financial statements, defined below:
•  give a true and fair view of the state of the Group’s affairs 
as at 30 June 2014 and of its loss and cash flows for the 
year then ended;

•   have been properly prepared in accordance with 

International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRSs)  
as adopted by the European Union; and

•  have been prepared in accordance with the requirements 
of the Companies Act 2006 (‘the Act’) and Article 4 of 
the IAS Regulation.

This opinion is to be read in the context of what we say  
in the remainder of this report.

What we have audited
The Group financial statements (the ‘financial statements’), 
which are prepared by McBride plc, comprise:
• the  consolidated balance sheet as at 30 June 2014;
•  the consolidated income statement for the year then ended;
•   the consolidated statement of comprehensive income for  

the year then ended;

•   the consolidated cash flow statement for the year  

then ended;

•  the reconciliation of net cash flow to movement in net 

debt for the year then ended;

•  the consolidated statement of changes in equity for  

the year then ended; and

•   the notes to the financial statements, which include a 
summary of significant accounting policies and other 
explanatory information.

The financial reporting framework that has been applied  
in their preparation is applicable law and IFRSs as adopted 
by the European Union and, as regards the Company,  
as applied in accordance with the provisions of the Act.

What an audit of financial statements involves
We conducted our audit in accordance with International 
Standards on Auditing (UK and Ireland) (‘ISAs (UK & 
Ireland)’). An audit involves obtaining evidence about  
the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements 
sufficient to give reasonable assurance that the financial 
statements are free from material misstatement, whether 
caused by fraud or error. This includes an assessment of: 
•  whether the accounting policies are appropriate to the 

Group’s circumstances and have been consistently 
applied and adequately disclosed; 

•  the reasonableness of significant accounting estimates 

made by the Directors; and 

•    the overall presentation of the financial statements.

In addition, we read all the financial and non-financial 
information in the Annual Report and Accounts (the 
‘Annual Report’) to identify material inconsistencies  
with the audited financial statements and to identify any 
information that is apparently materially incorrect based 
on, or materially inconsistent with, the knowledge acquired 
by us in the course of performing the audit. If we become 
aware of any apparent material misstatements or 
inconsistencies we consider the implications for our report.

Overview of our audit approach
Materiality
We set certain thresholds for materiality. These helped  
us to determine the nature, timing and extent of our audit 
procedures and to evaluate the effect of misstatements, 
both individually and on the financial statements as a whole.

Based on our professional judgement, we determined 
materiality for the Group financial statements as a whole  
to be £3.0 million. This represents approximately 0.4%  
of total revenues. We have had regard to revenues  
because in our view, this is the most relevant measure  
of recurring performance

We agreed with the Audit Committee that we would report 
to them misstatements identified during our audit above 
£0.15 million as well as misstatements below that amount 
that, in our view, warranted reporting for qualitative reasons.

Overview of the scope of the audit
The Group is structured in three segments (UK, Western 
Europe and Rest of the World). The Group financial 
statements are a consolidation of 11 reporting units, 
comprising the Group’s operating businesses and 
centralised functions, within these segments.

In establishing the overall approach to the Group audit, we 
determined the type of work that needed to be performed 
at the reporting units by us, as the Group engagement 
team, or component auditors within PwC UK and from 
other PwC network firms operating under our instruction. 
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.

Accordingly, of the Group’s 11 reporting units, we identified 
7 which, in our view, required an audit of their complete 
financial information, either due to their size, or their risk 
characteristics. Specific audit procedures on certain large 
balances and transactions were performed at a further 
reporting unit. This, together with additional procedures 
performed at Group level, gave us the evidence we  
needed for our opinion on the Group financial statements 
as a whole.

Areas of particular audit focus
In preparing the financial statements, the Directors made  
a number of subjective judgements, for example in respect 
of significant accounting estimates that involved making 
assumptions and considering future events that are 
inherently uncertain. We primarily focused our work in 
these areas by assessing the Directors’ judgements against 
available evidence, forming our own judgements, and 
evaluating the disclosures in the financial statements.

In our audit, we tested and examined information, using 
sampling and other auditing techniques, to the extent  
we considered necessary to provide a reasonable basis  
for us to draw conclusions. We obtained audit evidence 
through testing the effectiveness of controls, substantive 
procedures or a combination of both.

McBride plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014 – Governance and Financial statements

35

We considered the following areas to be those that required particular focus in the current year. This is not a complete list of 
all risks or areas of focus identified by our audit. We discussed these areas of focus with the Audit Committee. Their report 
on those matters that they considered to be significant issues in relation to the financial statements is set out on page 12.

Area of focus

How the scope of our audit addressed the area of focus

Risk of impairment of goodwill and property,  
plant and equipment
We focused on this area because the determination of 
whether or not an impairment charge for goodwill and 
property, plant and equipment is necessary involves 
significant judgements by the Directors about the future 
results of the business and assessment of future plans  
for the Group.

Fraud in revenue recognition
ISAs (UK and Ireland) presume there is a risk of fraud in 
revenue recognition because of the pressure management 
may feel to achieve the planned results.

We focused on the timing of when revenue was recognised 
and its presentation in the income statement given the 
inherent judgement and complexities involved (such as 
customer rebates).

Risk of management override of internal controls
ISAs (UK & Ireland) require that we consider this.

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We evaluated the Directors’ impairment calculations in local 
territories, assessing the future cash flow forecasts used in 
the models, and the process by which they were drawn up, 
including comparing them to the latest Board approved 
budgets, and testing the underlying calculations. We 
challenged:
•  long-term growth rates in the forecasts by comparing 
them to historical results, and economic and industry 
forecasts; 

•  the discount rate by assessing the cost of capital for  
the Company and comparable organisations; and 

•  the assumptions underpinning the forecasts.

We also performed sensitivity analysis around the key 
drivers used to determine growth rates of the cash flow 
forecasts, including revenue growth and expected changes 
in margins. Having ascertained the extent of change in 
those assumptions that either individually or collectively 
would be required for the assets to be impaired, we 
considered the likelihood of such a movement in those  
key assumptions arising.

We tested the controls management has in place, focusing 
on controls over price changes and margin reviews.

We agreed rebates recognised to contractual evidence, 
with particular attention to the period in which the rebate 
was recorded and the appropriateness of the accrual at  
the year end.

We assessed the overall control environment of the Group, 
including the arrangements for staff to “whistle-blow” 
inappropriate actions, and interviewed senior management 
and the Group’s internal audit function. We examined the 
significant accounting estimates and judgements relevant 
to the financial statements for evidence of bias by the 
Directors that may represent a risk of material misstatement 
due to fraud. We also tested journal entries selected based 
on risk profile.

 
 
36   McBride plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014 – Governance and Financial statements

 INDEPENDENT AUDITORS’ REPORT continued
to the members of McBride plc

We have no exceptions to report arising from this 
responsibility.

Other information in the Annual Report
Under ISAs (UK & Ireland) we are required to report to  
you if, in our opinion, information in the Annual Report is:
•  materially inconsistent with the information in the audited 

financial statements; or

•   apparently materially incorrect based on, or materially 

inconsistent with, our knowledge of the Group acquired  
in the course of performing our audit; or

•   is otherwise misleading.

We have no exceptions to report arising from this 
responsibility.

Responsibilities for the financial statements 
and the audit
Our responsibilities and those of the Directors
As explained more fully in the Statement of Directors’ 
Responsibilities set out on page 32, the Directors are 
responsible for the preparation of the financial statements 
and for being satisfied that they give a true and fair view.

Our responsibility is to audit and express an opinion on  
the financial statements in accordance with applicable  
law and ISAs (UK & Ireland). Those standards require us  
to comply with the Auditing Practices Board’s Ethical 
Standards for Auditors.

This report, including the opinions, has been prepared  
for and only for the Company’s members as a body in 
accordance with Chapter 3 of Part 16 of the Act 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 matter
We have reported separately on the parent company 
financial statements of McBride plc for the year ended  
30 June 2014 and on the information in the Directors’ 
Remuneration Report that is described as having  
been audited.

John Minards (Senior Statutory Auditor)
for and on behalf of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
Chartered Accountants and Statutory Auditors
St Albans

9 September 2014

Going concern
Under the Listing Rules we are required to review  
the Directors’ statement, set out on page 31, in relation  
to going concern. We have nothing to report having 
performed our review.

As noted in the Directors’ statement, the Directors have 
concluded that it is appropriate to prepare the financial 
statements using the going concern basis of accounting. 
The going concern basis presumes that the Group has 
adequate resources to remain in operation, and that the 
Directors intend it to do so, for at least one year from the 
date the financial statements were signed. As part of our 
audit we have concluded that the Directors’ use of the 
going concern basis is appropriate.

However, because not all future events or conditions  
can be predicted, these statements are not a guarantee  
as to the Group’s ability to continue as a going concern.

Opinion on other matter prescribed  
by the Companies Act 2006
In our opinion, the information given in the Strategic Report 
and the Statutory Information for the financial year for 
which the financial statements are prepared is consistent 
with the financial statements.

Other matters on which we are required  
to report by exception
Adequacy of information and explanations received
Under the Act we are required to report to you if, in our 
opinion, we have not received all the information and 
explanations we require for our audit. We have no 
exceptions to report arising from this responsibility.

Directors’ remuneration
Under the Act we are required to report to you if, in our 
opinion, certain disclosures of directors’ remuneration 
specified by law are not made. We have no exceptions  
to report arising from this responsibility.

Corporate governance statement
Under the Listing Rules we are required to review the  
part of the Corporate Governance report relating to the 
parent company’s compliance with nine provisions of the 
UK Corporate Governance Code (‘the Code’). We have 
nothing to report having performed our review.

On page 28 of the Annual Report, as required by the Code 
Provision C.1.1, the Directors state that they consider the 
Annual Report taken as a whole to be fair, balanced and 
understandable and provides the information necessary  
for members to assess the Group’s performance, business 
model and strategy. On page 12, as required by C.3.8 of  
the Code, the Audit Committee has set out the significant 
issues that it considered in relation to the financial statements, 
and how they were addressed. Under ISAs (UK & Ireland) 
we are required to report to you if, in our opinion:
•  the statement given by the Directors is materially 

inconsistent with our knowledge of the Group acquired  
in the course of performing our audit; or

•  the section of the Annual Report describing the work  

of the Audit Committee does not appropriately address 
matters communicated by us to the Audit Committee.

McBride plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014 – Governance and Financial statements

37

 CONSOLIDATED INCOME STATEMENT
for the year ended 30 June 2014

Revenue
Cost of sales

Gross profit
Distribution costs
Administrative costs 

Operating (loss)/profit
Finance costs
Finance income

Net finance costs

(Loss)/profit before taxation
Taxation

(Loss)/profit for the year attributable  
to the owners of the Company

Operating (loss)/profit
Adjusted for:
Amortisation of intangible assets
Exceptional items

Adjusted operating profit

Earnings per ordinary share 
Basic
Diluted

*  Adoption of IAS 19 (Revised 2011) ‘Employee Benefits’.

Note

4

8
9
9

9

10

14
5

4

11

2014

Adjusting
items
(see note 11)
£m

Re-presented*
2013

Adjusting
items
(see note 11)
£m

Total
£m

Adjusted
£m

 – 
 – 

 – 
 – 
(35.9)

(35.9)
(0.2)
–

(0.2)

(36.1)
7.3

 744.2
(494.7)

249.5
(49.0)
(214.4)

(13.9)
(7.4)
–

(7.4)

(21.3)
2.2

 761.4
(512.7)

 248.7 
(51.4)
(173.7)

 23.6
(5.8)
0.1

(5.7)

17.9 
(4.6)

 – 
 – 

 – 
 – 
(8.6)

(8.6)
 (0.3) 
 – 

(0.3) 

(8.9)
 1.1 

Adjusted
£m

744.2 
(494.7)

249.5
(49.0)
(178.5)

22.0
(7.2)
–

(7.2)

14.8
(5.1)

Total
£m

 761.4
(512.7)

 248.7
(51.4)
(182.3)

 15.0
(6.1)
0.1

(6.0)

 9.0 
(3.5)

9.7

(28.8)

(19.1)

 13.3 

(7.8)

 5.5

(13.9)

1.4
34.5

22.0

(10.5)p
(10.5)p

15.0

 1.1
7.5

23.6

3.0p
3.0p

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38   McBride plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014 – Governance and Financial statements

 CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT 
 OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
for the year ended 30 June 2014

(Loss)/profit for the year attributable to owners of the Company

Other comprehensive (expense)/income
Items that may be reclassified to profit or loss:
  Currency translation differences on foreign subsidiaries
  Gain/(loss) on net investment hedges
  (Loss)/gain on cash flow hedges in the year
  (Loss)/gain on cash flow hedges transferred to profit or loss
  Taxation relating to items above

Items that will not be reclassified to profit or loss:
  Net actuarial loss on post-employment benefits
  Taxation relating to item above

Total other comprehensive expense

Total comprehensive (expense)/income

*  Adoption of IAS 19 (Revised 2011) ‘Employee Benefits’.

Note

Re-
presented*
2013
£m

 5.5

2014
£m

(19.1)

(10.7)
10.3
(4.6)
(0.3)
0.5

(4.8)

(5.2)
0.1

(5.1)

(9.9)

(29.0)

5.5
(4.7)
0.4
2.4
(0.7)

2.9

(7.2)
 1.4

(5.8)

(2.9)

2.6

10

23
10

McBride plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014 – Governance and Financial statements

39

 CONSOLIDATED 
 BALANCE SHEET
at 30 June 2014

Non-current assets
Goodwill
Other intangible assets
Property, plant and equipment
Derivative financial instruments
Deferred tax assets
Other non-current assets

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

Total assets

Current liabilities
Trade and other payables
Borrowings
Derivative financial instruments
Current tax liabilities
Provisions

Non-current liabilities
Trade and other payables
Borrowings
Derivative financial instruments
Pensions and other post-employment benefits
Provisions
Deferred tax liabilities

Total liabilities

Net assets

Equity
Issued share capital
Share premium account
Other reserves
Accumulated loss

Equity attributable to owners of the Company
Non-controlling interests

Total equity 

*  Adoption of IAS 19 (Revised 2011) ‘Employee Benefits’.

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s
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a
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m
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3
3
-
8
7

Note

2014
£m

Re-
presented*
2013
£m

13
14
15
21
10

16
17
21

18

19
20
21

25

19
20
21
23
25
10

26
26
26

23.9
2.4 
143.4
–
14.1
0.5

184.3

66.6
142.5
0.2
34.9
1.2 

245.4

429.7

180.2
33.1
0.8
6.4
8.9

229.4

0.4
86.9
3.9
30.4
2.5
7.6

131.7

361.1

68.6

18.3
111.5
26.5
(88.3)

68.0
0.6
68.6

 30.8
 3.3
 173.6
 0.1
 5.5
 0.6

 213.9

85.2
 144.5
 0.9
–
 1.3

 231.9

445.8

 197.9
37.0
0.7
9.0
 2.3

 246.9

5.6
49.8
1.5
26.0
 0.5
 8.8

92.2 

 339.1

106.7

 18.3 
 120.6
22.4
(55.2)

106.1
 0.6

106.7

The financial statements on pages 37 to 78 were approved by the Board of Directors on 9 September 2014 and were 
signed on its behalf by:

Chris Bull
Director

 
 
40   McBride plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014 – Governance and Financial statements

 CONSOLIDATED 
 CASH FLOW STATEMENT
for the year ended 30 June 2014

Operating activities
(Loss)/profit before tax
Net finance costs
Exceptional items
Share-based payments
Depreciation of property, plant and equipment
Amortisation of intangible assets

Operating cash flow before changes in working capital
(Increase)/decrease in receivables
Decrease/(Increase) in inventories
(Decrease)/increase in payables

Operating cash flow after changes in working capital
Additional cash funding of pension schemes

Cash generated from operations before exceptional items
Cash outflow in respect of exceptional items

Cash generated from operations
Interest paid
Taxation paid

Net cash from operating activities

Investing activities
Proceeds from sale of non-current assets
Purchase of property, plant and equipment
Purchase of intangible assets
Acquisition of subsidiaries
Settlement of derivatives used in net investment hedges

Net cash used in investing activities

Financing activities
Redemption of B Shares
Drawdown of bank loans
Repayment of bank loans
Capital element of finance lease rentals

Net cash generated from/(used in) financing activities
Increase/(decrease) in net cash and cash equivalents
Net cash and cash equivalents at the start of the year
Currency translation differences

Net cash and cash equivalents at the end of the year

Net cash and cash equivalents comprise:
Cash and cash equivalents 
Overdrafts

Net cash and cash equivalents at the end of the year

*  Adoption of IAS 19 (Revised 2011) ‘Employee Benefits’.

Note

2014
£m

Re-
presented*
2013
£m

9
5
24
15
14

14
3

12

(21.3)
7.4
34.5 
– 
23.5
1.4

45.5
(3.2)
15.3
(14.9)

42.7
(2.1)

40.6

(4.2)

36.4
(5.6)
(8.3)

22.5

0.5
(18.2)
(0.6)
–
1.3

(17.0)

(8.9)
134.7
(87.6)
–

38.2

43.7
(8.3)
(0.5)

34.9

9.0
6.0
7.5
 0.1
 23.9
 1.1

47.6
 2.7
(10.3)
1.1

 41.1
(1.8)

39.3

(8.4)

 30.9
(4.3)
(1.4)

 25.2

0.4
(15.0)
(1.2)
(0.5)
(2.0)

(18.3)

(8.7)
85.7
(99.5)
(0.1)

(22.6)

(15.7)
 7.6 
(0.2)

(8.3)

35.3
(0.4)

34.9

–
(8.3)

 (8.3)

McBride plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014 – Governance and Financial statements

41

 RECONCILIATION OF NET CASH FLOW 
 TO MOVEMENT IN NET DEBT
for the year ended 30 June 2014

Increase/(decrease) in net cash and cash equivalents 
Net (drawndown)/repayment of bank loans
Capital element of finance lease rentals

Change in net debt resulting from cash flows
Currency translation differences

Movement in net debt in the year
Net debt at the beginning of the year

Net debt at the end of the year

*  Adoption of IAS 19 (Revised 2011) ‘Employee Benefits’.

Re-
presented*
2013
£m

(15.7)
13.8
 0.1

(1.8)
(3.8)

(5.6)
(81.2)

(86.8)

2014
£m

43.7
(47.1)
–

(3.4)
5.5

2.1
(86.8)

(84.7)

Note

22

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42   McBride plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014 – Governance and Financial statements

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT  
OF CHANGES IN EQUITY
for the year ended 30 June 2014

At 30 June 2012

 18.3  129.2 

(3.5)

 (1.5)

 15.8

(46.5)

 111.8

 0.6   112.4

Other reserves

Issued
share
capital
£m

Share
premium
account
£m

Cash flow
hedge
reserve
£m

Currency
translation
reserve
£m

Capital
redemption
reserve
£m

Accumulated
loss
£m

Equity
attributable
to owners
of the
Company
£m

Non-
controlling
interests
£m

Total
equity
£m

Year ended 30 June 2013
Profit for the year
Other comprehensive income/(expense)
Items that may be reclassified to profit or loss:
Currency translation differences 
  on foreign subsidiaries
Gain on net investment hedges
Gain on cash flow hedges in the year
Gain on cash flow hedges transferred  
  to profit or loss
Taxation relating to items above 

Items that will not be reclassified to profit or loss:
Net actuarial loss on post-employment benefits
Taxation relating to item above 

Total other comprehensive income/(expense)
Total comprehensive income/(expense)
Transactions with owners of the Company
Issue of B Shares
Redemption of B Shares
Share-based payments
Transfer of own shares
Taxation relating to items above
At 30 June 2013

Year ended 30 June 2014
Loss for the year
Other comprehensive (expense)/income
Items that may be reclassified to profit or loss:
Currency translation differences on  
  foreign subsidiaries
Gain on net investment hedges
Loss on cash flow hedges in the year
Loss on cash flow hedges transferred  
  to profit or loss
Taxation relating to items above 

Items that will not be reclassified to profit or loss:
Net actuarial loss on post-employment benefits
Taxation relating to item above

Total other comprehensive expense
Total comprehensive expense
Transactions with owners of the Company
Issue of B Shares
Redemption of B Shares
At 30 June 2014

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

5.5

5.5

 – 

5.5

 – 
 – 
 0.4

5.5
 (4.7)
 – 

 – 
 – 
 – 

 – 
 – 
 – 

 – 
 – 
 – 
 – 
 – 

 – 
 – 
 – 

 – 
 – 
 – 

 – 
 – 
 – 
 – 
 – 

 – 
 – 
 – 
 – 
 – 

(8.6)
 – 
 – 
 – 
 – 
 18.3   120.6 

 2.4
 (0.7) 
2.1

 – 
 – 
 – 
2.1
2.1

 – 
 – 
 – 
 – 
 – 
(1.4)

 – 
 – 
 – 

 – 
 – 
 – 

 – 
 – 
 – 
 – 
 – 

 – 
 – 
 – 

 – 
– 
 –

(7.2)
 1.4 
(5.8)
(5.8)
(0.3) 

5.5
 (4.7)
0.4

 2.4
 (0.7) 
2.9

(7.2)
 1.4 
(5.8)
(2.9)
2.6

 – 
 – 
 – 

 – 
 – 
 – 

 – 
 – 
 – 
 – 
 – 

5.5
 (4.7)
0.4

 2.4
 (0.7) 
2.9

(7.2)
 1.4 
(5.8)
(2.9)
2.6

 – 
 – 
0.8

 – 
 – 
 – 
0.8
0.8

 – 
 – 
 – 
 – 
 – 
(0.7)

 – 
 8.7 
 – 
 – 
 – 
 24.5 

 – 
(8.7)
 0.1 
0.3
(0.1)
(55.2)

(8.6)
 – 
 0.1
0.3
(0.1)
 106.1

 – 
 – 
 – 
 – 
 – 

(8.6)
 – 
 0.1
0.3
(0.1)
 0.6   106.7

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

(19.1)

(19.1) 

 – 

(19.1) 

 – 
 – 
 – 

 – 
 – 
 – 

 – 
 – 
 – 
 – 
 – 

 – 
 – 
 – 

 – 
 – 
 – 

 – 
 – 
 – 
 – 
 – 

 – 
 – 

(9.1)
 – 
18.3  111.5

 – 
 – 
(4.6) 

(10.7)
10.3
 – 

(0.3)
0.5 
(4.4) 

 – 
 – 
 (0.4)

 – 
 – 
 – 
(0.4) 
(0.4) 

 – 
 – 
 – 
 (4.4)
 (4.4)

 – 
 – 
(5.8)

 – 
 – 
 – 

 – 
 – 
 – 

 – 
 – 
 – 
 – 
 – 

 – 
 – 
 – 

 – 
–
 –

(5.2) 
 0.1
(5.1) 
(5.1) 
(24.2) 

(10.7)
10.3
(4.6) 

(0.3)
0.5 
(4.8) 

(5.2)
0.1
(5.1) 
(9.9) 
(29.0)

 –  (10.7)
10.3
 – 
(4.6) 
 – 

 – 
 – 
 – 

(0.3)
0.5 
(4.8) 

(5.2) 
 – 
0.1 
 – 
(5.1) 
 – 
(9.9) 
 – 
 –  (29.0) 

 – 
 – 
(1.1)

 – 
8.9 
33.4 

 – 
 (8.9)
(88.3)

(9.1)
 – 
68.0 

 – 
 – 

(9.1)
 – 
0.6  68.6 

At 30 June 2014, the accumulated loss included a deduction of £0.8 million (2013: £0.8m) for the cost of own shares held 
in relation to employee share schemes. Further information on own shares is presented in note 26.

 NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED 
 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
for the year ended 30 June 2014

43

1. Basis of preparation
Description of business
McBride plc (‘the Company’) is a company incorporated 
and domiciled in the United Kingdom. The Company’s 
ordinary shares are listed on the London Stock Exchange. 
The registered office of the Company is Middleton Way, 
Middleton, Manchester, M24 4DP. 

The Company and its subsidiaries (together, ‘the Group’) 
comprise Europe’s leading provider of Private Label 
Household and Personal Care products to major retailers. 

Segmental reporting
The Group continues to be managed on a functional  
basis (Commercial, Supply Chain and R&D). Financial 
information is presented to the Board on a geographical 
basis for the purposes of monitoring financial performance 
and allocating resources to the Group’s businesses. 
Accordingly, the Group’s operating segments continue  
to be determined on a geographical basis. 

Segment information is presented in note 4.

Accounting period
The Group’s annual financial statements are drawn up to  
30 June. These financial statements cover the year ended 
30 June 2014 (‘2014’) with comparative amounts for the 
year ended 30 June 2013 (‘2013’).

Basis of accounting
The consolidated financial statements on pages 37 to 78 
have been prepared on the going concern basis in 
accordance with International Financial Reporting 
Standards (IFRSs) as adopted for use in the European 
Union, IFRS Committee Interpretations and those parts  
of the Companies Act 2006 (‘the Act’) applicable to 
companies reporting under IFRSs. The financial statements 
have been prepared under the historical cost convention, 
modified in respect of the revaluation to fair value of 
contingent consideration, financial assets and liabilities 
(derivative financial instruments) at fair value through  
profit or loss and assets held for sale.

The Group’s principal accounting policies are set out  
in note 2.

Going concern
For the reasons set out on page 31, the Directors have 
adopted the going concern basis in preparing the 
Company’s and the Group’s financial statements.

Critical accounting judgements and estimates
(i) Background
In applying the Group’s accounting policies, the Directors 
are required to make estimates and assumptions that  
affect the reported amounts of its assets, liabilities, income 
and expenses. Actual outcomes could differ from those 
estimates and affect the Group’s results in future years. The 
Directors consider the following to be the key accounting 
judgements and estimates made in preparing these 
financial statements that, if not borne out in practice, may 
affect the Group’s results during the next financial year.

(ii) Revenue
Revenue is stated after deduction of rebates and discounts 
given or expected to be given, which vary according  
to contractual arrangements with individual customers. 
Accrual is made at the time of sale for the estimated 
rebates or discounts payable, based on, amongst other 
things, expected sales to the customer during the period  
to which the rebate or discount relates, historical 
experience and market information. 

(iii) Impairment of long-lived assets
Impairment testing requires management to estimate  
the recoverable amount of an asset or group of assets. 
Recoverable amount represents the higher of value in  
use and fair value less costs to sell.

Value in use represents the net present value of the cash 
flows expected to arise from an asset or group of assets 
and its calculation requires management to estimate those 
cash flows and to apply a suitable discount rate to them.

Cash flows are estimated by applying assumptions to 
budget sales, production costs and overheads over a 
five-year forecast period and by applying a perpetuity 
growth rate to the forecast cash flow in the fifth year.

Cash flows are discounted using a discount rate based on 
the Group’s weighted average cost of capital adjusted for 
risks specific to the asset or group of assets. The weighted 
average cost of capital is affected by estimates of interest 
rates, equity returns and market- and country-related risks.

At 30 June 2014, the carrying amount of long-lived assets 
was £26.3 million (2013: £34.1m). If cash flow or discount 
rate assumptions were to change, further impairment 
losses may be recognised in the next financial year.

During the year, an impairment of £20.7 million was 
recognised in relation to property, plant and equipment 
and spares, including £6.4 million in relation to the goodwill 
allocated to the UK Air Care business.

The sensitivity of the carrying amount of goodwill in relation 
to the UK Powders business is presented in note 13.

(iv) Contingent consideration 
Contingent consideration payable in a business 
combination is generally remeasured at each balance sheet 
date and the change in its carrying amount recognised in 
profit or loss. Contingent consideration payable is typically 
dependent on performance conditions related to the  
future revenue or profitability of the acquired business. 
Considerable judgement is required in assessing the likely 
future performance of the acquired business against such 
performance conditions.

At 30 June 2014, the Group recognised contingent 
consideration payable of £0.4 million as described  
in note 3.

Financial statements 33-87McBride plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014 – Governance and Financial statements44   McBride plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014 – Governance and Financial statements

 NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED 
 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS continued
for the year ended 30 June 2014

1. Basis of preparation continued
Critical accounting judgements and estimates continued
(v) Pensions and other post-employment benefits
Under IAS 19 ‘Employee Benefits’, the cost of defined 
benefit schemes is determined based on actuarial 
valuations that are carried out annually at the balance sheet 
date. Actuarial valuations are dependent on assumptions 
about the future that are made by the Directors on the 
advice of independent qualified actuaries. If actual 
experience differs from these assumptions, there could  
be a material change in the amounts recognised by the 
Group in respect of defined benefit schemes in the next 
financial year.

At 30 June 2014, the present value of defined benefit 
obligations was £123.0 million. It was calculated using 
a number of assumptions, including future salary increases, 
increases to pension benefits and mortality rates. The 
present value of the benefit obligation is calculated by 
discounting the benefit obligation using market yields 
on high quality corporate bonds at the balance sheet date.

At 30 June 2014, the fair value of the scheme assets  
was £92.6 million. The scheme assets consist largely of 
securities and managed funds whose values are subject  
to fluctuation in response to changes in market conditions.

Changes in the actuarial assumptions underlying the 
benefit obligation and the expected return on the scheme’s 
assets are classified as actuarial gains and losses and are 
recognised in other comprehensive income. During 2014, 
the Group recognised a net actuarial loss of £5.2 million. 
Further actuarial gains and losses will be recognised during 
the next financial year. 

An analysis of the assumptions that will be used by the 
Directors to determine the cost of the defined benefit 
scheme that will be recognised in profit or loss in the  
next financial year and the sensitivity of the benefit 
obligation to key assumptions is presented in note 23.

(vi) Provisions
Provision is made for liabilities of uncertain timing or 
amount where management considers that the Group  
has a present obligation as a result of a past event, it is 
probable that payment will be made to settle the liability 
and the payment can be measured reliably. 

At 30 June 2014, the Group held provisions amounting to 
£11.4 million, which principally represented reorganisation 
and restructuring costs. Adjustment to the amounts 
recognised would arise if it becomes necessary to revise 
the assumptions and estimates on which the provisions  
are based, if circumstances change such that contingent 
liabilities must be recognised or if management becomes 
aware of obligations that are currently unknown. 

(vii) Taxation
The Group operates in a number of tax jurisdictions.  
The Directors are required to exercise significant judgement 
in determining the Group’s provision for income taxes.

Estimation is required of taxable profit in order to 
determine the Group’s current tax liability and judgement  
is required in situations where the Group’s tax position  
is uncertain and may be subject to review and challenge  
by the tax authorities. 

Estimation is also required of temporary differences 
between the carrying amount of assets and liabilities and 
their tax base. Deferred tax liabilities are recognised for  
all taxable temporary differences but, where there exist 
deductible temporary differences, judgement is required  
as to whether a deferred tax asset should be recognised 
based on the availability of future taxable profits. At  
30 June 2014, the Group recognised deferred tax assets  
of £14.1 million, including £2.4 million in respect of tax 
losses and tax credits. Deferred tax assets amounting to 
£9.9 million were not recognised in respect of tax losses 
and tax credits carried forward. It is possible that the 
deferred tax assets actually recoverable may differ from 
the amounts recognised if actual taxable profits differ  
from estimates.

At 30 June 2014, deferred tax liabilities were not 
recognised on retained profits of foreign subsidiaries 
because the Group is able to control the remittance of 
those profits to the UK and it is probable that they will not 
be remitted in the foreseeable future. Income tax may be 
payable on those profits if circumstances change and their 
remittance to the UK can no longer be controlled by the 
Group or they are actually remitted to the UK.

Use of adjusted measures
Adjusted operating profit and adjusted earnings per  
share exclude specific items that are considered to hinder 
comparison of the trading performance of the Group’s 
businesses either year-on-year or with other businesses 
and are used for internal performance analysis and in 
relation to employee incentive arrangements. The Directors 
present these measures in the financial statements in order 
to assist investors in their assessment of the trading 
performance of the Group’s businesses. 

During the periods under review, the items excluded  
from operating profit in arriving at adjusted operating  
profit were the amortisation of intangible assets and 
exceptional items.

Exceptional items are excluded from adjusted operating 
profit because they are not considered to be representative 
of the trading performance of our businesses during  
the period.

45

1. Basis of preparation continued
Use of adjusted measures continued
Adjusted earnings per share is based on the Group’s profit 
for the year adjusted for the items excluded from operating 
profit in arriving at adjusted operating profit, the unwinding 
of the discount on contingent consideration arising on 
business combinations and the tax relating to those items.

The combined impact of the amendments to IAS 19 has 
been to increase the income statement cost of the Group’s 
defined benefit pension scheme for the year ended  
30 June 2013 as follows:
•  Pension scheme administration costs are now charged  

to administrative costs amounting to £0.4 million;

•  Net interest cost increased by £0.1 million; and
•  Offset by taxation relating to the above items.

‘Adjusted operating profit’ and ’adjusted earnings per share’ 
are not defined under IFRSs and, therefore, these measures 
as defined by the Group may not be comparable with 
similarly titled measures used by other companies. The 
Directors do not regard these measures as a substitute for, 
or superior to, the equivalent measures calculated and 
presented in accordance with IFRSs.

2. Principal accounting policies
Accounting standards adopted during the year
The accounting policies adopted are consistent with  
those of the annual financial statements for the year  
ended 30 June 2013, except for:
•  IAS 19 (Revised 2011) ‘Employee Benefits’
•   IFRS 13 ‘Fair value Measurement’
• Amendments to IAS 12 ‘Income taxes’ on deferred tax
•  Amendments to IFRS 7 on Financial instruments asset  

and liability offsetting

• Annual improvements 2011

Of the above changes to accounting policies, only the 
adoption of IAS 19 has had a financial effect on the 
consolidated financial statements for the year ended  
30 June 2014. In addition, management have re-presented 
prior year administration costs to be aligned on a 
consistent basis with current year in relation to the 
allocation of engineering costs between direct and indirect.

Adoption of IAS 19 (Revised 2011) ‘Employee Benefits’
Amendments to IAS 19, which fully impact the accounting 
for the Group’s defined benefit pension scheme for the  
first time for the year to 30 June 2014, are reflected within 
these financial statements. The IAS 19 amendments affect 
the pensions disclosure as follows:
•   Pension scheme administration costs are now charged  
to operating profit. However, the costs of managing 
pension scheme assets continue to be deducted in 
arriving at the actual return on the scheme assets. 

•  The Group’s consolidated income statement now reflects 
a net interest cost, calculated by applying the discount 
rate used to measure the benefit obligation to the net 
deficit on the scheme as at the beginning of the year. 

Essentially, therefore, in the Group’s income statement the 
expected return on the scheme assets has been replaced 
by an interest credit. Differences between the actual return 
on the scheme assets and the interest credit are recognised 
on a separate line in other comprehensive income. 

Basis of consolidation
The consolidated financial statements include the results, 
cash flows and assets and liabilities of the Company and its 
subsidiaries. Details of the Company’s principal subsidiaries 
at 30 June 2014 are set out on page 87.

A subsidiary is an entity controlled, either directly or 
indirectly, by the Company where control is the power to 
govern the financial and operating policies of the entity so 
as to obtain benefits from its activities. Control generally 
exists where the Group owns a shareholding that gives it 
more than one half of the voting rights in the entity.

A non-controlling interest in a subsidiary represents  
the share of the net assets of the subsidiary that are 
attributable to the equity interests in the subsidiary that  
are not owned by the Group. Non-controlling interests are 
presented in the balance sheet within equity, separately 
from equity attributable to owners of the Company. 

In situations where the Group is contractually committed  
to purchase those equity shares in a subsidiary that it does 
not already own, a non-controlling interest in the subsidiary 
is recognised only to the extent that the risks and rewards 
of ownership are considered to remain with the minority 
shareholders.

The Group’s results, cash flows and assets and liabilities 
include those of each of its subsidiaries from the date 
on which the Company obtains control until such time  
as the Company loses control. Intra-Group balances 
and transactions, and any unrealised gains and losses 
arising from intra-Group transactions, are eliminated on 
consolidation. Consistent accounting policies are adopted 
across the Group.

Business combinations
A business combination is a transaction or other event in 
which the Group obtains control of one or more businesses.

Business combinations are accounted for using the 
acquisition method. 

Financial statements 33-87McBride plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014 – Governance and Financial statements 
46   McBride plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014 – Governance and Financial statements

 NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED 
 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS continued
for the year ended 30 June 2014

2. Principal accounting policies continued
Business combinations continued
Goodwill arising in a business combination represents  
the excess of the sum of the consideration transferred, 
the amount of any non-controlling interest in the acquired 
business and, in a business combination achieved in stages, 
the fair value at the acquisition date of the Group’s 
previously held equity interest, over the net total of the 
identifiable assets and liabilities of the acquired business  
at the acquisition date. If the identifiable assets and 
liabilities of the acquired business exceed the aggregate  
of the consideration transferred, the amount of any 
non-controlling interest in the business and the fair value  
at the acquisition date of any previously held equity 
interest, the excess is recognised as a gain in profit or loss.

Consideration transferred in a business combination 
represents the sum of the fair values at the acquisition 
date of the assets given, liabilities incurred or assumed  
and equity instruments issued by the Group in exchange 
for control over the acquired business. 

Acquisition-related costs are charged to profit or loss in  
the period in which they are incurred. 

Identifiable assets and liabilities of the acquired business 
are measured at their fair value at the acquisition date, 
except for the following items that are measured in 
accordance with the relevant Group accounting policy:
•  pensions and other post-employment benefits
•  equity instruments related to the replacement of  
share-based incentives awarded to employees of  
the acquired business

•  deferred tax assets and liabilities of the acquired business
•   assets classified as held for sale.

If the initial accounting for a business combination is 
incomplete by the end of the financial year in which the 
combination occurs, the Group reports provisional amounts 
for the items for which the accounting is incomplete. If, 
within a measurement period of up to one year from the 
acquisition date, new information is obtained about facts 
and circumstances that existed at the acquisition date that, 
if known, would have affected the amounts recognised  
at that date, retrospective adjustments are made to the 
amounts recognised at the acquisition date and there is  
a corresponding adjustment to goodwill. Retrospective 
adjustment is not made in respect of any other changes  
to the provisional amounts and any such adjustments  
are recognised in profit or loss. 

Changes in the amount of contingent consideration 
payable that result from events after the acquisition  
date, such as meeting a revenue or profit target, are not 
measurement period adjustments and are, therefore, 
recognised in profit or loss. 

Any non-controlling interest in the acquired business  
is measured either at fair value or at the non-controlling 
interest’s proportionate share of the identifiable assets  
and liabilities of the business.

Changes in the Group’s ownership interest in a subsidiary 
that do not result in a loss of control are accounted for 
within equity. 

If the Group loses control of a subsidiary, it derecognises 
the assets and liabilities and related equity components 
of the subsidiary and measures any investment retained  
in the former subsidiary at its fair value at the date when 
control is lost. Any gain or loss on a loss of control is 
recognised in profit or loss.

Foreign currency translation
At entity level, transactions in foreign currencies are 
translated into the entity’s functional currency at the 
exchange rate ruling at the date of the transaction. 
Monetary assets and liabilities denominated in foreign 
currencies are translated at the exchange rate ruling at  
the balance sheet date. Currency translation differences 
arising at entity level are recognised in profit or loss.

The Group’s presentation and functional currency  
is Sterling.

On consolidation, the results of foreign operations are 
translated into Sterling at the average exchange rate for 
the period and their assets and liabilities are translated  
into Sterling at the exchange rate ruling at the balance 
sheet date. Currency translation differences arising on 
consolidation are recognised in other comprehensive 
income and taken to the currency translation reserve.

In the event that a foreign operation is sold, the gain or loss 
on disposal recognised in profit or loss is determined after 
taking into account the cumulative currency translation 
differences arising on consolidation of the operation 
subsequent to the adoption of IFRSs.

In the cash flow statement, the cash flows of foreign 
operations are translated into Sterling at the average 
exchange rate for the period.

Revenue
Revenue from the sale of goods is measured at the invoiced 
amount, net of sales rebates, discounts, value added tax 
and other sales taxes. 

Revenue comprises of the fair value of the consideration 
received or receivable for the sale of goods.

Revenue is recognised on the transfer of the risks and 
rewards of ownership, which generally coincides with  
the delivery of the goods to the customer. 

Accruals for sales rebates and discounts are established  
at the time of sale based on management’s best estimate 
of the amounts payable under the contractual 
arrangements with the customer.

Interest income is accrued using the effective interest 
method.

47

2. Principal accounting policies continued
Exceptional items
Exceptional items are items that are material either 
individually or, if of a similar type, in aggregate and which, 
due to their nature or the infrequency of the events giving 
rise to them, are presented separately to assist users of the 
financial statements in assessing the trading performance 
of the Group’s businesses either year-on-year or with other 
businesses.

Borrowing costs
Borrowing costs directly attributable to the construction  
of a manufacturing or distribution facility are capitalised 
as part of the cost of the facility if, at the outset of 
construction, the facility was expected to take a substantial 
period of time to get ready for its intended use.

Costs attributable to the arrangement of term borrowing 
facilities are amortised over the life of those facilities.

All other borrowing costs are recognised in profit or loss  
in the period in which they are incurred.

Goodwill
Goodwill arising in a business combination is recognised as 
an intangible asset and is allocated to the cash-generating 
unit (CGU) or group of CGUs that are expected to benefit 
from the synergies of the acquisition.

Goodwill is not amortised but is tested for impairment 
annually and whenever there are events or changes in 
circumstances that indicate that its carrying amount may 
not be recoverable. 

Goodwill is carried at cost less any recognised impairment 
losses.

Other intangible assets
Other intangible assets are stated at cost less accumulated 
amortisation and any recognised impairment loss.

(i) Assets acquired in business combinations
An intangible resource acquired in a business combination 
is recognised as an intangible asset if it is separable from 
the acquired business or arises from contractual or legal 
rights. An acquired intangible asset with a definite useful 
life is amortised on a straight-line basis so as to charge its 
fair value at the date of acquisition to profit or loss over 
its expected useful life as follows:

Patents, brands and trade marks – up to 3 years
– up to 5 years
Customer relationships 

(ii) Product development costs
All research expenditure is charged to profit or loss in  
the period in which it is incurred.

Development expenditure is charged to profit or loss in  
the period in which it is incurred, unless it relates to the 
development of a new or significantly improved product  
or process whose technical and commercial feasibility is 
proven at the time of development.

(iii) Computer software
Computer software and software licences are recognised 
as intangible assets measured at cost and are amortised 
on a straight-line basis over their expected useful lives, 
which are in the range 3 to 5 years.

Property, plant and equipment
Property, plant and equipment is stated at cost less 
accumulated depreciation and any recognised impairment 
losses.

Cost includes the original purchase price of the asset and 
the costs attributable to bringing the asset to its working 
condition for its intended use.

Freehold land and assets under construction are not 
depreciated. Otherwise, property, plant and equipment is 
depreciated on a straight-line basis so as to charge its cost, 
less any residual value, to profit or loss over the expected 
useful life of the asset as follows:

Freehold buildings 
Leasehold building 
Plant and equipment  – 3 to 10 years

– 50 years
– Length of the lease

Property, plant and equipment acquired in a business 
combination is depreciated on a straight-line basis so as 
to charge its fair value at the date of acquisition, less any 
residual value, to profit or loss over the remaining expected 
useful life of the asset.

Leased assets
Leases that confer rights and obligations similar to those 
that attach to owned assets are classified as finance leases. 
All other leases are classified as operating leases.

Assets held under finance leases are recognised as assets 
within property, plant and equipment, initially measured at 
the fair value of the leased asset or, if lower, at the present 
value of the minimum lease payments, and a corresponding 
liability is recognised. Subsequently, the assets are 
depreciated over shorter of the expected useful life of the 
asset or the term of the lease. At inception of the lease,  
the lease payments are apportioned between an interest 
element and a capital element so as to achieve a constant 
periodic rate of interest on the outstanding liability. 
Thereafter, the interest element is recognised as an 
expense in profit or loss while the capital element is  
applied to reduce the outstanding liability.

Operating lease payments, and any incentives receivable, 
are recognised in profit or loss on a straight-line basis over 
the term of the lease. 

Impairment of non-financial assets
Goodwill, other intangible assets and property, plant and 
equipment are tested for impairment whenever events or 
circumstances indicate that their carrying amounts may  
not be recoverable. Additionally, goodwill is subject to  
an annual impairment test whether or not there are any 
indicators of impairment.

Financial statements 33-87McBride plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014 – Governance and Financial statements48   McBride plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014 – Governance and Financial statements

 NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED 
 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS continued
for the year ended 30 June 2014

2. Principal accounting policies continued
Impairment of non-financial assets continued
An asset is impaired to the extent that its carrying amount 
exceeds its recoverable amount, which represents the 
higher of the asset’s value in use and its fair value less costs 
to sell. An asset’s value in use represents the present value 
of the future cash flows expected to be derived from the 
continued use of the asset. Fair value less costs to sell is  
the amount obtainable from the sale of the asset in an 
arm’s length transaction between knowledgeable, willing 
parties, less the costs of disposal.

Where it is not possible to estimate the recoverable  
amount of an individual asset, the recoverable amount  
is determined for the CGU to which the asset belongs.  
An asset’s CGU is the smallest group of assets that includes 
the asset and generates cash inflows that are largely 
independent of the cash inflows from other assets or 
groups of assets. Goodwill does not generate cash flows 
independently of other assets and is, therefore, tested for 
impairment at the level of the CGU or group of CGUs to 
which it is allocated.

Value in use is based on estimates of pre-tax cash flows 
discounted at a pre-tax discount rate that reflects the risks 
specific to the CGU to which the asset belongs.

Where necessary, impairment of non-financial assets other 
than goodwill is recognised before goodwill is tested for 
impairment. When goodwill is tested for impairment and 
the carrying amount of the CGU or group of CGUs to  
which it is allocated exceeds its recoverable amount, the 
impairment is allocated first to reduce the carrying amount 
of the goodwill and then to the other non-financial assets 
belonging to the CGU or group of CGUs pro-rata on the 
basis of their respective carrying amounts.

Impairment losses are recognised in profit or loss. 
Impairment losses recognised in previous periods for assets 
other than goodwill are reversed if there has been a change 
in the estimates used to determine the asset’s recoverable 
amount, but only to the extent that the carrying amount  
of the asset does not exceed its carrying amount had  
no impairment been recognised in previous periods. 
Impairment losses recognised in respect of goodwill  
cannot be reversed.

Assets held for sale
Non-current assets are classified as held for sale if it is 
expected that their carrying amount will be recovered by 
sale rather than through continuing use. For this to be the 
case, the asset must be available for immediate sale in its 
current condition and the sale must be expected to be 
completed within 12 months. An extension of the period 
required to complete the sale does not preclude the asset 
from continuing to be classified as held for sale, provided 
the delay was for reasons beyond the Group’s control and 
management remains committed to its plan to sell the asset. 

An asset that is classified as held for sale is measured at  
the lower of its carrying amount when classified as held 
for sale and fair value less costs to sell.

Inventories
Inventories are stated at the lower of cost and net realisable 
value with due allowance for any excess, obsolete or 
slow-moving items. Cost represents the expenditure 
incurred in bringing each product to its present location 
and condition. The cost of raw materials is measured on  
a first-in, first-out (FIFO) basis. The cost of finished goods 
and work in progress comprises the cost of raw materials, 
direct labour and other direct costs, together with related 
production overheads based on normal operating capacity. 
Net realisable value is the estimated selling price less 
estimated costs of completion and estimated selling and 
distribution costs. 

Financial instruments
(i) Trade receivables
Trade receivables represent the invoiced amount of sales  
of goods to customers for which payment has not been 
received (fair value), less an allowance for doubtful 
accounts that is estimated based on factors such as the 
period outstanding, the payment history of the customer, 
the current economic environment and other information. 

(ii) Cash and cash equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents comprise cash in-hand, deposits 
available on demand and other short-term, highly liquid 
investments with a maturity on acquisition of three months 
or less and bank overdrafts. Bank overdrafts are presented 
as current liabilities to the extent that there is no right of 
offset with cash balances.

For cash flow purposes, cash and cash equivalents include 
bank overdrafts.

(iii) Trade payables
Trade payables are initially recognised at fair value and 
subsequently held at amortised cost.

(iv) Bank and other loans
Bank and other loans are initially recognised at fair value, 
net of directly attributable transaction costs, if any, and 
are subsequently measured at amortised cost using the 
effective interest rate method. 

(v) Derivative financial instruments
The Group uses derivative financial instruments, principally 
forward currency contracts and interest rate swaps, to 
reduce its exposure to exchange rate and interest rate 
movements. The Group does not hold or issue derivatives 
for speculative purposes.

Derivative financial instruments are recognised as assets 
and liabilities measured at their fair values at the balance 
sheet date. Changes in their fair values are recognised in 
profit or loss. Derivative financial instruments are, therefore, 
likely to cause volatility in profit or loss in situations  
where the hedged item is not recognised in the financial 
statements or is recognised but its carrying amount is  
not adjusted to reflect fair value changes arising from  
the hedged risk, or is so adjusted but that adjustment is  
not recognised in profit or loss. Provided the conditions 
specified by IAS 39 ‘Financial Instruments: Recognition  
and Measurement’ are met, hedge accounting may be  
used to mitigate this volatility in profit or loss.

49

2. Principal accounting policies continued
Financial instruments continued
Derivative financial instruments are classified as current 
assets or liabilities unless they are in a designated  
hedging relationship and the hedge item is classified  
as a non-current asset or liability.

Derivative financial instruments that are not in a designated 
hedging relationship are classified as held for trading.

(vi) Offsetting financial instruments
Financial assets and liabilities are offset and the net amount 
reported in the balance sheet where there is a legally 
enforceable right to offset the recognised amounts,  
and there is an intention to settle on a net basis or realise 
the asset and settle the liability simultaneously.

Hedge accounting
For a hedging relationship to qualify for hedge accounting, 
it must be documented on inception together with the 
Group’s risk management objective and strategy for 
initiating the hedge, and it must both be expected to be 
highly effective in offsetting the changes in cash flows or 
fair value attributed to the hedged risk and actually be 
highly effective in doing so.

When hedge accounting is used, the hedging relationship  
is classified as a cash flow hedge, a net investment hedge 
or a fair value hedge.

(i) Cash flow hedge
Hedging relationships are classified as cash flow hedges 
where the hedging instrument hedges exposure to 
variability in cash flows that is attributable either to a 
particular risk associated with a recognised asset or liability 
(such as interest payments on variable rate debt), a highly 
probable forecast transaction (such as forecast sales) or  
a firm commitment that could affect profit or loss.

Where a hedging relationship is classified as a cash flow 
hedge, to the extent that the hedge is effective, the change 
in the fair value of the hedging instrument is recognised  
in other comprehensive income rather than in profit or loss. 
When the hedged item affects profit or loss (for example, 
when a forecast sale that is hedged takes place), the 
cumulative gain or loss recognised in other comprehensive 
income is transferred to profit or loss. When a forecast 
transaction that has been hedged results in the recognition 
of a non-financial asset (for example, inventory), the 
cumulative gain or loss recognised in other comprehensive 
income is transferred from equity as an adjustment to the 
cost of the asset.

When a hedging instrument expires or is sold, or if the 
hedging relationship no longer meets the conditions for 
hedge accounting, the cumulative gain or loss recognised 
in other comprehensive income remains in equity until 
the forecast transaction is recognised in profit or loss. 

When a hedged forecast transaction is no longer expected 
to occur, the cumulative gain or loss recognised in other 
comprehensive income is immediately transferred to profit 
or loss.

(ii) Net investment hedge
A net investment hedge is the hedge of the currency 
exposure on the retranslation of the Group’s net investment 
in a foreign operation. 

Net investment hedges are accounted for similarly to cash 
flow hedges. Changes in the fair value of the hedging 
instrument are, to the extent that the hedge is effective, 
recognised in other comprehensive income.

In the event that the foreign operation is disposed of, the 
cumulative gain or loss recognised in other comprehensive 
income is transferred to profit or loss and included in the 
gain or loss on disposal of the foreign operation.

(iii) Fair value hedge
Hedging relationships are classified as fair value hedges 
where the hedging instrument hedges the exposure to 
changes in fair value of a recognised asset or liability that is 
attributable to a particular risk and could affect profit or loss.

Where the hedging relationship is classified as a fair value 
hedge, the carrying amount of the hedged asset or liability 
is adjusted by the change in its fair value attributable to  
the hedged risk and the resulting gain or loss is recognised 
in profit or loss where, to the extent that the hedge is 
effective, it offsets the change in the fair value of the 
hedging instrument.

Pensions and other post-employment benefits
Post-employment benefits principally comprise pension 
benefits provided to employees in the UK and Continental 
Europe. The Group operates both defined benefit and 
defined contribution pension schemes.

(i) Defined contribution schemes
Under a defined contribution pension scheme, the Group 
makes fixed contributions to a separate pension fund. 
The amount of pension that the employee will receive  
on retirement is dependent entirely on the investment 
performance of the fund and the Group has no obligation 
to make additional contributions in the event that the  
fund underperforms. 

Payments to defined contribution schemes are recognised 
in profit or loss in the period in which they fall due.

Financial statements 33-87McBride plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014 – Governance and Financial statements50   McBride plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014 – Governance and Financial statements

 NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED 
 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS continued
for the year ended 30 June 2014

2. Principal accounting policies continued
Pensions and other post-employment benefits continued
(ii) Defined benefit schemes
Under a defined benefit pension scheme, the amount  
of pension that an employee will receive on retirement 
is fixed based on factors such as pensionable salary,  
years of service and age on retirement. In most cases, the 
schemes are funded by contributions from the Group and 
the participating employees. The Group is obliged to make 
additional contributions if the fund has insufficient assets  
to meet its obligation to pay accrued pension benefits. 

Actuarial valuations of the defined benefit schemes  
are carried out annually at the balance sheet date by 
independent qualified actuaries. Scheme assets are 
measured at their fair value at the balance sheet date. 
Benefit obligations are measured on an actuarial basis 
using the projected unit credit method and are discounted 
using the market yields on high quality corporate bonds at 
the balance sheet date. The defined benefit liability or asset 
recognised in the balance sheet comprises the difference 
between the present value of the benefit obligations and 
the fair value of the scheme assets. Where a scheme is in 
surplus, the asset recognised is limited to the present value 
of any amounts that the Group expects to recover by way 
of refunds or a reduction in future contributions. 

Defined benefit schemes are recognised in profit or loss  
by way of the service cost and the net interest cost on the 
benefit obligation. The service cost represents the increase 
in the present value of the benefit obligation relating to 
additional years of service accrued during the period,  
less employee contributions.

Gains or losses on curtailments or settlements are 
recognised in profit or loss in the period in which the 
curtailment or settlement occurs.

Actuarial gains and losses are recognised in other 
comprehensive income in the period in which they occur.

Share-based payments
The Group operates share schemes under which it grants 
equity-settled and cash-settled awards over ordinary 
shares in the Company to certain of its employees. The 
Group recognises a compensation expense that is based on 
the fair value of the awards measured using the Black-Scholes 
option pricing formula or the Monte Carlo valuation model. 

For equity-settled awards, the fair value reflects market 
performance conditions and all non-vesting conditions. 
Fair value is determined at the grant date and is not 
subsequently remeasured unless the relevant conditions 
are modified. Adjustments are made to the compensation 
expense to reflect actual and expected forfeitures due 
to failure to satisfy service conditions or non-market 
performance conditions. For cash-settled awards, the 
fair value reflects all the conditions on which the award  
is made and is remeasured at each reporting date and 
at the settlement date. 

Generally, the compensation expense is recognised on  
a straight-line basis over the vesting period. For equity-
settled awards a corresponding credit is recognised in 
equity while for cash-settled awards a corresponding 
liability to settle is recognised in the balance sheet. 

In the event of the cancellation of an equity-settled award, 
whether by the Group or by a participating employee, the 
compensation expense that would have been recognised 
over the remainder of the vesting period is recognised 
immediately in profit or loss.

Provisions
A provision is a liability of uncertain timing or amount and 
is generally recognised when the Group has a present 
obligation (legal or constructive) as a result of a past event, 
it is probable that a payment will be required to settle the 
obligation and the payment can be estimated reliably. 

Provision is made for restructuring costs when a detailed 
formal plan for the restructuring has been determined  
and the plan has been communicated to the parties that 
may be affected by it. Gains from the expected disposal  
of assets are not taken into account in measuring 
restructuring provisions and provision is not made  
for future operating losses.

Provisions are discounted where the effect of the time 
value of money is material.

Taxation
Current tax is the amount of tax payable or recoverable in 
respect of the taxable profit or loss for the period. Taxable 
profit differs from accounting profit because it excludes 
income or expenses that are recognised in the period for 
accounting purposes but are either not taxable or not 
deductible for tax purposes or are taxable or deductible  
in earlier or subsequent periods. Current tax is calculated 
using tax rates that have been enacted or substantively 
enacted at the balance sheet date.

Deferred tax is tax expected to be payable or recoverable 
on differences between the carrying amount of an asset 
or liability and its tax base used in calculating taxable profit. 
Deferred tax is accounted for using the liability method, 
whereby deferred tax liabilities are generally recognised for 
all taxable temporary differences and deferred tax assets 
are recognised to the extent that it is probable that taxable 
profits will be available in the foreseeable future against 
which the deductible temporary differences may be utilised.

Deferred tax assets and liabilities are not recognised if the 
temporary difference arises from the initial recognition of 
goodwill or from the initial recognition of other assets and 
liabilities in a transaction other than a business combination 
that affects neither accounting profit nor taxable profit.

McBride plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014 – Governance and Financial statements

51

3. Acquisitions
Acquisitions in prior years
On 1 September 2010, the Group acquired 70% of the  
share capital of Dermacol a.s., a manufacturer of skincare 
products in the Czech Republic. Under the terms of the 
acquisition, the Group agreed to pay fixed instalments on 
completion and within one year of completion and further 
instalments based on Dermacol’s revenue in each financial 
year in the five-year period ending 30 June 2017. The Group 
also agreed to purchase the remaining 30% of the share 
capital of Dermacol in 2017 for consideration based on 
Dermacol’s operating profit for the financial year ending  
30 June 2017. 

At each reporting date, the Directors estimate the 
contingent consideration payable in relation to the 70% 
interest acquired and the liability to acquire the remaining 
30% interest in Dermacol. 

Movements in the contingent consideration liability were  
as follows:

At 1 July
Consideration paid
Charged to profit or loss:
  Change in estimate (see note 5)
  Unwind of discount 
Currency translation differences

At 30 June

2014
£m

5.6
–

 (4.7)
 0.2
 (0.7)

 0.4

2013
£m

 4.1
(0.5)

1.6
 0.3
0.1

5.6

Estimated contingent consideration payable is classified 
as follows:

Current
Non-current:
  Between two and five years

Total

2014
£m

–

0.4

0.4

2013
£m

–

5.6

5.6

i

F
n
a
n
c
i
a
l

s
t
a
t
e
m
e
n
t
s
3
3
-
8
7

Deferred tax is provided on temporary differences arising 
on investments in foreign subsidiaries, except where the 
Group is able to control the reversal of the temporary 
difference and it is probable that it will not reverse in  
the foreseeable future. 

Deferred tax is calculated using the enacted or 
substantively enacted tax rates that are expected to apply 
when the asset is recovered or the liability is settled. 

Current tax assets and liabilities are offset when there  
is a legally enforceable right to set off the amounts and 
management intends to settle on a net basis. Deferred  
tax assets and liabilities are offset where there is a legally 
enforceable right to set off current tax assets and liabilities 
and the deferred tax assets and liabilities relate to income 
taxes levied by the same taxation authority on the same 
taxable entity.

Current tax and deferred tax is recognised in profit or loss 
unless it relates to an item that is recognised in the same 
or a different period outside profit or loss, in which case  
it too is recognised outside profit or loss, either in other 
comprehensive income or directly in equity.

Payments to shareholders
Subject to shareholder approval at each annual general 
meeting (AGM), it is the Company’s intention that, for  
the foreseeable future, all payments to shareholders  
will be made by the issue of non-cumulative redeemable 
preference shares (B Shares). B Shares issued but not 
redeemed are classified as current liabilities. 

Own shares
Own shares represent the Company’s ordinary shares  
that are held by the Company in treasury or by a  
sponsored ESOP trust in relation to the Group’s employee 
share schemes. When own shares are acquired, the cost  
of purchase in the market is deducted from equity. Gains  
or losses on the subsequent transfer or sale of own shares  
are also recognised in equity.

Accounting standards issued but not yet adopted
Recently issued accounting standards that are relevant  
to the Group but have not yet been adopted are  
outlined below: 
• IAS 27 Separate Financial Statements
•  IAS 28 Investments in Associates and Joint Ventures 
•  Amendments to IAS 32 Financial Instruments Presentation 

– Offsetting Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities 

•  Amendments to IAS 36 Recoverable Amounts Disclosure 

for Non-Financial Assets 

•  IFRS 9 Financial Instruments (replacement of IAS 19)
•  IFRS 10 Consolidated Financial Statements 
•  IFRS 11 Joint Arrangements 
•  IFRS 12 Disclosures of Interests in Other Entities 
•  IFRS 15 Revenue from Contracts with Customers

 
 
52   McBride plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014 – Governance and Financial statements

 NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED 
 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS continued
for the year ended 30 June 2014

4. Segment information
Background
Financial information is presented to the Board on a geographical basis for the purposes of allocating resources within  
the Group and assessing the performance of the Group’s businesses. Accordingly, the Group’s operating segments are 
determined on a geographical basis. 

The Board uses adjusted operating profit to measure the profitability of the Group’s businesses. Adjusted operating profit 
is, therefore, the measure of segment profit presented in the Group’s segment disclosures. Adjusted operating profit 
represents operating profit before specific items that are considered to hinder comparison of the trading performance  
of the Group’s businesses either year-on-year or with other businesses. During the periods under review, the items 
excluded from operating profit in arriving at adjusted operating profit were the amortisation of intangible assets and 
exceptional items.

Analysis by reportable segment

Segment revenue

259.0

419.5

65.7

744.2

–

744.2

2014

UK
£m

Western
 Europe
£m

Rest of
the World
£m

Total 
segments
£m

Corporate
£m

Total 
Group
£m

(1)  Corporate liabilities include external debt and tax liabilities.
(2) Capital expenditure includes property, plant and equipment and intangible assets.

Adjusted operating profit
Adjusted for:
Amortisation of intangible assets
Exceptional items (see note 5)

Operating (loss)/profit
Net finance costs

Loss before taxation

Segment assets 
Segment liabilities(1)
Assets held for sale
Capital expenditure(2)
Amortisation and depreciation

Segment revenue

Adjusted operating profit
Amortisation of intangible assets
Exceptional items (see note 5)

Operating profit/(loss)
Net finance costs

Profit before taxation

Segment assets 
Segment liabilities(1)
Assets held for sale
Capital expenditure(2)
Amortisation and depreciation

4.2

19.8

4.2

28.2

(6.2)

22.0

(1.2)
(27.6)

(24.6)

–
(3.8)

16.0

(0.2)
(0.6)

3.4

(1.4)
(32.0)

(5.2)

–
(2.5)

(8.7)

162.1
(120.1)
–
6.7
9.6

229.0
(145.0)
1.2
6.7
13.6

35.7
(14.2)
–
6.0
1.7

426.8
(279.3)
1.2
19.4
24.9

2.9
(81.8)
–
–
–

Re-presented*
2013

UK
£m

286.3

Western
 Europe
£m

409.9

Rest of
the World
£m

Total 
segments
£m

Corporate
£m

65.2

761.4

–

14.5
(1.0)
(1.3)

12.2

14.3
–
(0.8)

13.5

2.0
(0.1)
(1.7)

0.2

30.8
(1.1)
(3.8)

25.9

(7.2)
–
(3.7)

(10.9)

(1.4)
(34.5)

(13.9)
(7.4)

(21.3)

429.7
(361.1)
1.2
19.4
24.9

Total 
Group
£m

761.4

23.6
(1.1)
(7.5)

15.0
(6.0)

9.0

163.4
(105.3)
 –
7.4
9.7

231.2
(149.9)
1.3
6.6
13.4

51.0
(16.1)
–
2.8
1.6

445.6
(271.3)
1.3
16.8
24.7

0.2
(67.8)
 –
0.3
0.3

445.8
(339.1)
1.3
17.1
25.0

(1)  Corporate liabilities include external debt and tax liabilities.
(2) Capital expenditure includes property, plant and equipment and intangible assets.

* Adoption of IAS 19 (Revised 2011) ‘Employee Benefits’.

McBride plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014 – Governance and Financial statements

53

4. Segment information continued
Geographical information
Revenue from external customers by country of destination was as follows:

UK
Western Europe
Rest of the World

Total revenue

Non-current assets (excluding deferred tax assets) by geographical location were as follows:

UK
Western Europe
Rest of the World

Total non-current assets

Revenue by major customer
In 2014 and 2013, no individual customer provided more than 10% of the Group’s revenue.

5. Exceptional items
Analysis of exceptional items

Reorganisation and restructuring costs:
– Functional reorganisation
– Supply chain restructuring
– UK restructuring

Impairment of long-lived assets and inventory:
– Etain, France
– Brno, Czech Republic
– Head Office
– UK restructuring

Environmental remediation
Classification, labelling and packaging (CLP)
Change in contingent consideration (note 3)

Total charged to operating profit

i

F
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a
n
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i
a
l

s
t
a
t
e
m
e
n
t
s
3
3
-
8
7

2014
£m

239.2
420.1
84.9

744.2

2014
£m

64.5
90.7
15.0

2013
£m

271.1
408.0
82.3

761.4

2013
£m

85.7
103.1
19.6

170.2

208.4

2014
£m

2013
£m

(2.6)
–
(7.9)

(10.5)

–
(4.9)
(0.4)
(20.7)

(26.0)

(2.5)
(0.2)
4.7

(34.5)

(3.0)
(0.7)
–

(3.7)

(2.2)
–
–
–

(2.2)

–
–
(1.6)

(7.5)

During 2014, the Group recognised further exceptional costs of £2.6 million (2013: £3.0m) in relation to the creation 
of a functional structure with centralised support services, comprising project management and consultancy costs.

Also during the year, the Group recognised costs with regards to UK restructuring following the strategic review of the  
UK business as follows:
•  £7.9 million in relation to redundancies, legal and consultancy costs
•  £20.7 million in relation to the impairment of property, plant and equipment and spares, including £6.4 million in relation  

to the goodwill allocated to its Air Care business.

As discussed in note 15, the Group recognised a £4.9 million impairment charge on property, plant and equipment in 
relation to its Skincare business at Brno, Czech Republic, which is materially offset by the change in contingent consideration 
payable on the Dermacol acquisition of £4.7 million. In addition, Head Office assets were impaired by £0.4 million, as the 
Group rationalised Head Office functions to Manchester.

Further exceptional costs have been incurred of £2.5 million in relation to a long-term environmental remediation plan  
at a site in Belgium and initial incremental costs of £0.2 million incurred with regards to CLP. Further exceptional costs  
will be incurred in the forthcoming year with regards to CLP.

In the prior year, £0.7 million was charged to complete the rationalisation of its supply chain in Western Europe.

 
 
54   McBride plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014 – Governance and Financial statements

 NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED 
 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS continued
for the year ended 30 June 2014

6. Employee information
The monthly average number of persons employed by the Group (including Directors) during the year, analysed by 
category, was as follows:

Manufacturing
Sales, general and administration

Aggregate payroll costs were as follows:

Wages and salaries
Share-based payments
Social security costs
Other pension costs

2014
Number

2013
Number

4,113
713

4,119
 779

4,826

4,898

2014
£m

119.0
–
25.2
3.5

147.7

2013
£m

115.7
 0.1
 26.4 
 2.7

144.9

Pension costs comprise the current service cost for defined benefit schemes and payments made by the Group to defined 
contribution schemes (see note 23).

7. Auditors’ remuneration
Fees payable by the Group to the Company’s auditors, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (PwC), and its associates, were  
as follows:

Audit fees:
Audit of the Company’s accounts
Other services:
Audit of the accounts of the Company’s subsidiaries

Total fees

2014
£m

0.1

0.3

0.4

2013
£m

0.1

0.3

0.4

Fees for the audit of the Company’s accounts represent fees payable to PwC in respect of the audit of the Company’s 
individual financial statements and the Group’s consolidated financial statements. Non audit fees payable to PwC in 
relation to other advisory services amounted to £28k (2013: £14k).

8. Operating (loss)/profit
Operating (loss)/profit is stated after charging/(crediting):

Cost of inventories (included in cost of sales)
Employee costs (see note 6)
Amortisation of intangible assets (see note 14)
Depreciation of property, plant and equipment (see note 15)
Impairment:
  Goodwill (see note 13)
  Property, plant and equipment (see note 15)
  Inventories (see note 16)
  Trade receivables (see note 17)
Rentals payable under operating leases
Research and development costs not capitalised
Net foreign exchange (gains)/losses 

2014
£m

415.4
147.7
1.4
23.5

6.4
17.8
1.8
1.4
5.0
9.3
(0.3)

2013
£m

451.5
144.9
1.1
23.9

2.2
 –
 0.6
5.3
 4.4
 9.5
0.3

McBride plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014 – Governance and Financial statements

55

9. Net finance costs

Finance costs
Interest on bank loans and overdrafts
Loss on interest rate swaps transferred to profit or loss
Interest differentials on net investment hedges
Unwind of discount on contingent consideration (see note 3)
Amortisation of facility fees
Non utilisation fees
Finance lease interest
Premium on average rate options

Post-employment benefits:
  Net interest cost on defined benefit obligation (see note 23)

Total finance costs

Finance income
Interest on cash and cash equivalents

Net finance costs

*  Adoption of IAS 19 (Revised 2011) ‘Employee Benefits’.

Re-
presented*
2013
£m

2014
£m

3.6
0.4
0.3
0.2
0.7
0.6
0.1
0.4

6.3

1.1

7.4

–

7.4

2.1
1.6
0.3
0.3
0.3
0.4
–
 0.3

5.3

0.8

6.1

(0.1)

6.0

i

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a
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t
a
t
e
m
e
n
t
s
3
3
-
8
7

During the year, the Group renegotiated its Revolving Credit Facility (RCF). The remaining unamortised costs associated 
with the previous RCF amounting to £0.4 million have been charged to finance costs. Costs relating to the new RCF and 
two new US Private Placements will be amortised over the life of the facilities.

Interest rate swaps are used to manage the interest rate profile of the Group’s borrowings. Accordingly, net interest 
payable or receivable on interest rate swaps is included in finance costs.

10. Taxation
Income tax expense

Current tax expense:
Current year
Adjustment for prior years

Deferred tax expense:
Origination and reversal of temporary differences
Adjustment for prior years
Impact of change in tax rate

Income tax (credit)/expense

2014

2013

UK
£m

Overseas
£m

Total
£m

UK
£m

Overseas
£m

Total
£m

–
–

–

(8.0)
(0.5)
–

(8.5)

(8.5)

6.4
0.1

6.5

(0.2)
0.2
(0.2)

(0.2)

6.3

6.4
0.1

6.5

(8.2)
(0.3)
(0.2)

(8.7)

(2.2)

0.1
0.3 

0.4

(1.2)
(0.4)
(0.3)

(1.9)

(1.5)

6.4
(0.3)

6.1 

(1.1)
–
–

(1.1)

5.0

6.5 
–

6.5 

(2.3)
(0.4)
(0.3)

(3.0)

3.5

 
 
56   McBride plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014 – Governance and Financial statements

 NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED 
 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS continued
for the year ended 30 June 2014

10. Taxation continued
Reconciliation to UK statutory tax rate
The total tax (credit)/charge on the Group’s (loss)/profit before tax for the year differs from the theoretical amount that 
would be charged at the UK standard rate of corporation tax for the following reasons:

(Loss)/profit before tax

(Loss)/profit before tax multiplied by the UK corporation tax rate of 22.5% (2013: 23.75%)
Effect of tax rates in foreign jurisdictions
Non-deductible expenses
Tax incentives/non taxable income
Utilisation of tax losses
Tax losses for which no deferred tax recognised
Change in tax rate
Other differences
Under/(over) provision in prior years

Total tax (credit)/expense in profit or loss

Taxation is provided at current rates on the profits earned for the year. 

2014
£m

(21.3)

(4.8)
1.6
0.5
(1.0)
–
1.2
(0.2)
0.8
(0.3)

(2.2)

2013
£m

9.0

2.1
1.4
2.4
(1.5)
(0.1)
–
(0.3)
(0.1)
(0.4)

3.5

To the extent that dividends remitted from overseas affiliates are expected to result in additional taxes, these amounts have 
been provided for. No deferred tax has been recognised in respect of timing differences associated with the unremitted 
earnings of overseas subsidiaries as these are considered permanently employed in the business of these companies. 
Unremitted earnings may be liable to overseas taxes and/or UK taxation (after allowing for double tax relief) if distributed 
as dividends. The aggregate amount of temporary differences associated with investments in subsidiaries and associates 
for which deferred tax liabilities have not been recognised totalled approximately £4.1 million at 30 June 2014.

The main rate of UK corporation tax was reduced from 23% to 21% with effect from 1 April 2014. The Group’s effective  
UK corporation tax rate for the year was, therefore, 22.5% (2013: 23.75%).

Factors affecting future tax charges
The main rate of UK corporation tax will reduce further to 20% with effect from 1 April 2015. UK deferred tax expected  
to reverse in the year to June 2015 has been measured using the effective rate of 20.75% expected to apply in this period. 
UK deferred tax expected to reverse beyond June 2015 has been measured using the effective rate of 20%.

Tax on items recognised in other comprehensive income

Items that may be reclassified to profit or loss:
Gain/(loss) on cash flow hedges in the year
Loss on cash flow hedges transferred to profit or loss

Items that will not be transferred to profit or loss:

Net actuarial loss on post-employment benefits:
  Deferred tax

Total tax credit in other comprehensive income

Tax on items recognised directly in equity

Tax expense on share-based payments

2014
£m

(0.5)
–

(0.5)

2013
£m

0.1
0.6

0.7

(0.1)

(0.6)

(1.4)

 (0.7) 

2014
£m

–

2013
£m

0.1

McBride plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014 – Governance and Financial statements

57

10. Taxation continued
Deferred tax
The movement in the net deferred tax balances during the year was:

At 30 June 2012
Credit/(charge) to income  
  statement 
Credit/(charge) to other    
  comprehensive income
Charge to equity
Effect of the change in tax rate
Exchange movements

At 30 June 2013
Credit/(charge) to profit or loss 
Credit to other  
  comprehensive income
Charge to equity
Effect of the change in tax rate
Exchange movements

At 30 June 2014

Accelerated
tax 
depreciation
£m

Intangible
assets
£m

Share-
based 
payments
£m

(14.0)

(3.6)

1.7

(0.2)

–
–
–
(0.7)

(13.0)
5.3

–
–
(0.2)
0.8

(7.1)

–
–
0.2
0.1

(3.5)
1.4

–
–
0.4
(0.1)

(1.8)

0.1

–

–
(0.1)
–
–

–
–

–
–
– 
– 

– 

Tax
 losses
 £m

0.8

1.3

–
–
–
0.1

2.2
0.4

–
–
– 
(0.2)

2.4

Retirement
 benefit
 obligations
£m

4.3

–

1.2
–
0.1
–

5.6
(0.2)

0.1
–
0.3
– 

5.8

Surplus 
ACT
£m

4.1

–

–
–
–
–

4.1
–

–
–
– 
– 

4.1

Deferred tax assets and liabilities are presented in the Group’s balance sheet as follows:

Deferred tax assets
Deferred tax liabilities

Other
£m

2.1

Total
£m

(6.2)

(0.1)

2.7

(0.7)
–
–
–

1.3
1.6

0.5
–
(0.3) 
–

3.1

2014
£m

14.1
(7.6)

6.5

0.5
(0.1)
0.3
(0.5)

(3.3)
8.5

0.6
–
0.2
0.5

6.5

2013
£m

5.5
(8.8)

(3.3)

i

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n
a
n
c
i
a
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s
t
a
t
e
m
e
n
t
s
3
3
-
8
7

Deferred tax assets have increased due to the recognition of asset impairments and provisions which have a tax impact  
in later accounting periods.

Unrecognised deferred tax assets
At 30 June 2014, the Group had unused tax losses of £17.9 million (2013: £11.3m) available for offset against future profits. 
No deferred tax asset has been recognised in respect of £9.9 million (2013: £4.2m) of these losses due to the unpredictability 
of future profit streams. The majority of these tax losses arise in tax jurisdictions where they do not expire. However, tax 
losses of £2.1 million will expire between now and 2018.

No deferred tax asset has been recognised in relation to the remaining surplus ACT of £2.9 million (2013: £2.9m) due  
to uncertainty as to future ACT capacity.

 
 
 
 
58   McBride plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014 – Governance and Financial statements

 NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED 
 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS continued
for the year ended 30 June 2014

11. Earnings per share
Basic earnings per ordinary share is calculated by dividing the profit for the year attributable to owners of the Company 
by the weighted average number of the Company’s ordinary shares in issue during the financial year. The weighted 
average number of the Company’s ordinary shares in issue excludes 0.6 million shares (2013: 0.7 million shares),  
being the weighted average number of own shares held during the year in relation to employee share schemes.

Earnings (£m) 
Weighted average number of ordinary shares in issue (million)
Basic earnings per share

Re-
presented*
2013
£m

5.5
182.4
3.0p

2014
£m

(19.1)
182.2
(10.5)p

a
b
a/b

Diluted earnings per share is calculated by adjusting the weighted average number of ordinary shares in issue assuming 
the conversion of all potentially dilutive ordinary shares.

During the year, the Company had equity-settled LTIP awards with a nil exercise price that are potentially dilutive  
ordinary shares.

Weighted average number of ordinary shares in issue (million)
Effect of dilutive LTIP awards (million)
Weighted average number of ordinary shares for calculating diluted earnings per share c

Re-
presented*
2013
£m

 182.4
 0.6
 183.0

2014
£m

182.2
–
182.2

Diluted earnings per share

a/c

(10.5)p

 3.0p 

Adjusted earnings per share measures are calculated based on profit for the year attributable to owners of the Company 
before adjusting items as follows:

Earnings for calculating basic and diluted earnings per share
Adjusted for:
Amortisation of intangible assets (see note 14)
Exceptional items (see note 5)
Unwind of discount on contingent consideration (see note 3)
Taxation relating to the above items

Earnings for calculating adjusted earnings per share 

Adjusted basic earnings per share

Adjusted diluted earnings per share

*  Adoption of IAS 19 (Revised 2011) ‘Employee Benefits’.

Re-
presented*
2013
£m

 5.5

 1.1
 7.5
0.3
(1.1)

13.3

7.3p

7.3p

2014
£m

(19.1)

1.4
34.5 
 0.2
(7.3)

9.7

5.3p

5.3p

d

d/b

d/c

McBride plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014 – Governance and Financial statements

59

12. Payments to shareholders
Payments to ordinary shareholders are made by way of the issue of B Shares in place of income distributions. Ordinary 
shareholders are able to redeem any number of the B Shares issued to them for cash. Any B Shares that they retain  
attract a dividend of 75 per cent of LIBOR on the 0.1p nominal value of each share, paid on a twice-yearly basis.

Payments to ordinary shareholders made or proposed in respect of the year were as follows:

Interim 
Final

Total for the year

2014

2013

Pence
per share

1.7
3.3

5.0

£m

3.1
6.0

9.1

Pence
per share

1.7
3.3

5.0

£m

3.1
6.0

9.1

The proposed final payment in respect of 2014 of 3.3p per ordinary share is subject to approval by shareholders at the 
Company’s 2014 AGM and has therefore not been recognised in these financial statements.

Movements in the number of B Shares outstanding were as follows:

Issued and fully paid
At 1 July 
Issued 
Redeemed 

At 30 June

2014

Number

Nominal
value
£m

2013

Number

Nominal
value
£m

394,892,632
9,110,465,450
(8,926,907,163)

578,450,919

0.4
9.1
(8.9)

0.6

495,384,888
8,563,369,763
(8,663,862,019)

394,892,632

0.5
8.6
(8.7)

0.4

B Shares carry no rights to attend, speak or vote at Company meetings, except on a resolution relating to the winding up 
of the Company.

i

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t
a
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m
e
n
t
s
3
3
-
8
7

13. Goodwill

Carrying amount
At 1 July
Impairment recognised in the year
Currency translation differences

At 30 June

Goodwill is allocated to CGUs as follows:

UK
  Household liquids
  Air Care
  Powders

Western Europe

  Italy

Rest of the World
  CGUs without significant goodwill

2014
£m

2013
£m

30.8
(6.4)
(0.5)

23.9

2014
£m

14.8
–
1.2

16.0

 32.6 
(2.2)
0.4

 30.8

2013
£m

14.8
6.4
1.2

 22.4 

6.3

6.8

1.6

 23.9

1.6

 30.8

 
 
60   McBride plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014 – Governance and Financial statements

 NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED 
 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS continued
for the year ended 30 June 2014

13. Goodwill continued
Impairment tests carried out during the year
Goodwill is tested for impairment annually at the level of the CGUs to which it is allocated. In each of the tests carried out 
during 2014, the recoverable amount of the CGUs concerned was measured on a value in use basis.

Value in use represents the present value of the future cash flows that are expected to be generated by the CGU to which 
the goodwill is allocated. Management based its cash flow estimates on the Group’s budget for the 2015 financial year. 
Cash flows in the following four years were forecast by applying assumptions to budget sales, production costs and 
overheads that were based on published industry forecasts and economic data. Aggregate cash flows beyond the fifth 
year were estimated by applying a perpetuity growth rate to the forecast cash flow in the fifth year that was based on 
long-term growth rates for the CGU’s products in its end markets.

Management estimates sales growth for each CGU based on forecasts of the future volume of the end markets for the 
CGU’s products published by independent market research organisations. CGUs to which significant goodwill is allocated 
supply the Air Care market in the UK and the Household liquids markets in the UK and Italy. The UK Household liquids 
market is forecast to grow by 1% per annum. In Italy, the market is forecast to be broadly flat.

Significant goodwill is not allocated to CGUs that supply the Group‘s higher growth developing and emerging markets 
in Central and Eastern Europe and the Asia Pacific region.

Management estimates the cost of material inputs and other direct and indirect costs based on current prices and 
market expectations of future price changes. Beyond the budget period, unless there are reasons to suggest otherwise, 
management assumes that future changes in material input prices are reflected in the price of the Group’s products. 
General cost inflation is based on market expectations of future inflation rates.

Discount rates applied to the cash flow projections were determined using a capital asset pricing model and reflected 
current market interest rates, relevant equity and size risk premiums and the risks specific to the CGU concerned.  
Discount rates used in calculating the value in use of those CGUs to which significant amounts of goodwill are allocated 
were as follows: UK Household liquids 10.0%; UK Air Care 10.0%; and the Italian business 13.2%.

Impairment recognised in the year
During 2014, following a strategic review of the UK business, an impairment of £6.4 million was recognised which represented 
the entire goodwill allocated to the UK Air Care business.

During 2013, an impairment of £2.2 million was recognised at the Group’s Household liquid plant at Etain, France.

Possibility of impairment in the near future
With the exception of the Group’s UK powder business, management considers it unlikely that one or more key assumptions 
will change in the near future to the extent that an impairment will be recognised at any of the CGUs to which goodwill has 
been allocated.

Based on the assumption that sales will grow at 0% per annum and cost inflation will be 2.5% per annum in the forecast 
period, the impairment test carried out in respect of the UK powder business showed that its value in use exceeded  
its carrying amount by £5.3 million. An impairment would result if either the sales growth rate was to fall below (1.4%)  
per annum or cost inflation was to increase above 3.7% per annum.

McBride plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014 – Governance and Financial statements

61

14. Other intangible assets

Cost
At 30 June 2012
Additions
Currency translation differences

At 30 June 2013
Additions
Currency translation differences

At 30 June 2014

Accumulated amortisation and impairment
At 30 June 2012
Charge for the year
Currency translation differences

At 30 June 2013
Charge for the year

At 30 June 2014

Net book value

At 30 June 2014

At 30 June 2013

Patents,

brands and  
trade marks
£m

Computer
software
£m

Customer
relationships
£m

Other
£m

Total
£m

 2.0 
 – 
 – 

2.0
–
–

2.0

(1.1)
(0.4)
 – 

(1.5)
(0.4)

(1.9)

0.1

0.5

2.0
 1.2
0.1

3.3
0.6
–

3.9

(0.8)
(0.4)
 – 

(1.2)
(0.6)

(1.8)

2.1

2.1

 8.3
 – 
0.3

8.6
–
(0.1)

8.5

(7.8)
(0.1)
(0.3)

(8.2)
(0.2)

(8.4)

0.1

0.4

0.5
–
–

 0.5 
–
–

0.5

 – 
(0.2)
 – 

(0.2)
(0.2)

 12.8
 1.2 
0.4

14.4
0.6
(0.1)

14.9

(9.7)
(1.1)
(0.3)

(11.1)
(1.4)

(0.4)

(12.5)

0.1

0.3

2.4

3.3

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62   McBride plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014 – Governance and Financial statements

 NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED 
 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS continued
for the year ended 30 June 2014

15. Property, plant and equipment

Cost
At 30 June 2012
Additions
Disposals
Transfers
Currency translation differences

At 30 June 2013
Additions
Disposals
Currency translation differences

At 30 June 2014

Accumulated depreciation and impairment
At 30 June 2012
Charge for the year
Disposals
Currency translation differences

At 30 June 2013
Charge for the year
Impairment recognised in the year
Disposals
Currency translation differences

At 30 June 2014

Net book value

At 30 June 2014

At 30 June 2013

Payments
on account
and assets 
in the 
course of
construction
£m

7.0
6.6
– 
(9.2)
–

4.4
7.1
(0.4)
–

11.1

Total
£m

489.4
15.9
(1.5)
–
15.2

519.0
18.9
(1.5)
(18.9)

517.5

 – 
 – 
–
–

–
–
–
–
–

–

(313.8)
(23.9)
1.5
(9.2)

(345.4)
(23.5)
(17.8)
1.0
11.6

(374.1)

Land and 
buildings
£m

Plant and 
equipment
£m

101.4
0.6
–
–
3.9

105.9
0.5
(0.4)
(5.1)

381.0
8.7
(1.5)
9.2
11.3

408.7
11.3
(0.7)
(13.8)

100.9

405.5

(32.0)
(2.1)
–
(1.2)

(35.3)
(2.3)
(4.9)
0.3
1.5

(281.8)
(21.8)
1.5
(8.0)

(310.1)
(21.2)
(12.9)
0.7
10.1

(40.7)

(333.4)

60.2

72.1

11.1

143.4

70.6

98.6

4.4

173.6

The impairment recognised in the year relates to Brno, Czech Republic and UK amounting to £4.9 million and £12.9 million 
respectively.

At 30 June 2014, land and buildings with a carrying amount of £2.4 million (2013: £2.5m) were secured in relation to bank 
and other loans.

Net book value of assets held under finance leases:

Land and buildings
Plant and equipment

2014
£m

3.7
1.3

5.0

2013
£m

3.3
1.7

5.0

McBride plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014 – Governance and Financial statements

63

16. Inventories

Raw materials, packaging and consumables
Finished goods and goods for resale

2014
£m

37.3
29.3

66.6

2013
£m

41.5
43.7

85.2

Inventories are stated net of an allowance of £4.3 million (2013: £5.2m) in respect of excess, obsolete or slow-moving 
items. Movements in the allowance were as follows:

At 1 July
Utilisation
Charged to profit or loss 
Currency translation differences

At 30 June

17. Trade and other receivables

Trade receivables
Other receivables
Prepayments and accrued income

Total receivables

2014
£m

(5.2)
2.9
(1.8)
(0.2)

(4.3)

2013
£m

(5.4)
1.0
(0.6)
(0.2)

(5.2)

2014
£m

133.8
4.4
4.3

142.5

2013
£m

138.4
3.2
2.9

144.5

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Trade receivables amounting to £32.3 million (2013: £28.2m) are secured under the invoice discounting facilities described  
in note 21.

Trade receivables are regularly reviewed for bad and doubtful debts. Bad debts are written off and an allowance  
is established for specific doubtful debts.

Trade receivables may be analysed as follows:

Amounts neither past due nor impaired

Amounts past due but not impaired:
Less than one month 
Between one and three months
Between three and six months
Over six months

Amounts impaired:
Total amounts that have been impaired
Allowance for doubtful debts

Total trade receivables

Movements in the allowance for doubtful debts were as follows:

At 1 July
Charged to profit or loss
Utilisation
Currency translation differences

At 30 June

2014
£m

130.6

2013
£m

133.7

0.9
1.2
0.3
0.8

3.2

1.8
(1.8)

–

1.7
1.0
0.6
1.4

4.7

1.7
(1.7)

–

133.8

138.4

2014
£m

1.7
1.4
(1.2)
(0.1)

1.8

2013
£m

 1.3 
5.3
(4.9)
–

1.7

Trade receivables are generally not interest-bearing although interest may be charged to customers on overdue accounts.

 
 
64   McBride plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014 – Governance and Financial statements

 NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED 
 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS continued
for the year ended 30 June 2014

18. Assets held for sale
At 30 June 2014, assets held for sale amounting to £1.2 million (2013: £1.3m) comprised freehold land and buildings at the 
Group’s former manufacturing site at Solaro in Italy.

19. Trade and other payables

Current liabilities
Trade payables
Taxation and social security
Other payables
Accrued expenses
Deferred income
B Shares (see note 12)

Non-current liabilities
Contingent consideration (see note 3)

2014
£m

2013
£m

136.0
16.9
12.5
12.0
2.2
0.6

180.2

0.4

180.6

155.4
16.7
13.2
9.2
3.0
0.4

197.9

5.6

203.5

Trade payables are generally not interest-bearing although interest may be charged by suppliers on overdue accounts.

20. Borrowings
Borrowings may be analysed as follows:

Overdrafts

Bank and other loans:
  Unsecured loans(1)
  Secured loans
  Invoice discounting facilities (see note 21)

Finance lease liabilities

2014

2013

Current
liabilities
£m

Non-current
liabilities
£m

Total
liabilities
£m

Current
liabilities
£m

Non-current
liabilities
£m

Total
liabilities
£m

–

0.4

8.3

–

8.3

0.4

–
0.2
32.3

32.5

0.2

33.1

84.9
1.9
–

86.8

0.1

84.9
2.1
32.3

119.3

0.3

86.9

120.0

0.3
–
28.2

28.5

0.2

37.0

(1)  Includes two US private placements amounting to £52.8 million (2013: £nil).

Bank and other loans are repayable as follows:

Within one year
Between one and two years
Between two and five years
More than five years

Total repayable

Details of the Group’s bank facilities are presented in note 21. 

Amounts payable under finance leases are as follows:

Within one year
Between one and five years 

At 30 June 2014 and 30 June 2013, future finance charges were less than £0.1 million.

47.1
2.6
–

49.7

0.1

49.8

2014
£m

32.5
0.3
32.9
53.6

119.3

47.4
2.6
28.2

78.2

0.3

86.8

2013
£m

28.5
47.4
0.9
1.4

78.2

2014
£m

Present 
value
£m

0.2
0.1

0.3

2013
£m

Present 
value
£m

0.2
 0.1 

0.3

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
McBride plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014 – Governance and Financial statements

65

21. Financial risk management
Risk management policies
The Group’s central treasury function is responsible for procuring the Group’s capital resources and maintaining an 
efficient capital structure, together with managing the Group’s liquidity, foreign exchange and interest rate exposures. 
Further information is presented in the Chief Finance Officer’s review on pages 26 and 27 of the Strategic Report.

All treasury operations are conducted within strict policies and guidelines that are approved by the Board. Compliance 
with those policies and guidelines is monitored by the regular reporting of treasury activities to the Board following 
regular treasury committee meetings.

Financial assets and financial liabilities
In the following tables, the financial assets and financial liabilities held by the Group are categorised according to the basis 
on which they are measured. Financial assets and liabilities that are held at fair value are further categorised according to 
the degree to which the principal inputs used in determining their fair value represent observable market data as follows:
Level 1  –  Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities. 
Level 2  –  Inputs other than Level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly (prices) or indirectly  

(derived from prices).

Level 3  –  Inputs that are not based on observable market data (unobservable inputs).

Fair value through
profit or loss

Loans 
and 
receivables
£m

Liabilities 
at
 amortised
 cost
£m

Designated
hedging
relationships
£m

Total 
carrying
 amount
£m

Other
£m

At 30 June 2014
Financial assets
Trade receivables
Other receivables
Cash and cash equivalents

Financial assets held at fair value
Derivative financial instruments (Level 2)
– Forward currency contracts 
– Interest rate caps

Total financial assets

Financial liabilities
Trade payables
Other payables
Accrued expenses
Unredeemed B Shares
Bank overdrafts
Bank and other loans
Obligations under finance leases

Financial liabilities held at fair value
Derivative financial instruments (Level 2)
– Forward currency contracts
– Interest rate swaps

Contingent consideration (Level 3)

Total financial liabilities

Total

133.8
4.4
35.3

173.5

–
–

–

173.5

–
–
–
–
–
–
–

–

–
–

–
–
–

–

173.5

–
–
–

–

–
–

–

–

(136.0)
(12.5)
(12.0)
(0.6)
(0.4)
(119.3)
(0.3)

(281.1)

–
–

–
–
–

(281.1)

(281.1)

–
–
–

–

0.2
–

0.2

0.2

–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–

(3.5)
(1.2)

(4.7)
–
(4.7)

(4.7)

(4.5)

Fair
value
£m

133.8
4.4
35.3

173.5

0.2
–

0.2

133.8
4.4
35.3

173.5

0.2
–

0.2

173.7

173.7

(136.0)
(12.5)
(12.0)
(0.6)
(0.4)
(119.3)
(0.3)
(281.1)

(136.0)
(12.5)
(12.0)
(0.6)
(0.4)
(119.3)
(0.3)
(281.1)

(3.5)
(1.2)

(4.7)
(0.4)
(5.1)

(3.5)
(1.2)

(4.7)
(0.4)
(5.1)

–
–
–

–

–
–

–

–

–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–

–
–

–
(0.4)
(0.4)

(0.4)

(286.2)

(286.2)

(0.4)

(112.5)

(112.5)

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66   McBride plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014 – Governance and Financial statements

 NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED 
 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS continued
for the year ended 30 June 2014

21. Financial risk management continued
Financial assets and financial liabilities continued

At 30 June 2013
Financial assets
Trade receivables
Other receivables

Financial assets held at fair value
Derivative financial instruments (Level 2)
– Forward currency contracts 
– Interest rate caps

Total financial assets
Financial liabilities
Trade payables
Other payables
Accrued expenses
Unredeemed B Shares
Bank overdrafts
Bank and other loans
Obligations under finance leases

Financial liabilities held at fair value
Derivative financial instruments (Level 2)
– Forward currency contracts
– Interest rate swaps

Contingent consideration (Level 3)

Total financial liabilities
Total

Fair value through
profit or loss

Loans 
and 
receivables
£m

Liabilities 
at
 amortised
 cost
£m

Designated
hedging
relationships
£m

Total 
carrying
 amount
£m

Other
£m

138.4
3.2
141.6

–
–
–
141.6

–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–

–
–
–
–
–
–
141.6

–
–
–

–
–
–
–

(155.4)
(13.2)
(9.2)
(0.4)
(8.3)
(78.2)
(0.3)
(265.0)

–
–
–
–
–
(265.0)
(265.0)

–
–
–

0.9
0.1
1.0
1.0

–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–

–
–
–

–
–
–
–

–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–

(0.2)
(2.0)
(2.2)
–
(2.2)
(2.2)
(1.2)

–
–
–
(5.6)
(5.6)
(5.6)
(5.6)

138.4
3.2
141.6

0.9
0.1
1.0
142.6

(155.4)
(13.2)
(9.2)
(0.4)
(8.3)
(78.2)
(0.3)
(265.0)

(0.2)
(2.0)
(2.2)
(5.6)
(7.8)
(272.8)
(130.2)

Fair
value
£m

138.4
3.2
141.6

0.9
0.1
1.0
142.6

(155.4)
(13.2)
(9.2)
(0.4)
(8.3)
(78.2)
(0.3)
(265.0)

(0.2)
(2.0)
(2.2)
(5.6)
(7.8)
(272.8)
(130.2)

Derivative financial instruments comprise the foreign currency derivatives and interest rate derivatives that are held by  
the Group in designated hedging relationships. Foreign currency forward contracts are measured by reference to prevailing 
forward exchange rates. Foreign currency options are measured using a variant of the Monte Carlo valuation model. 
Interest rate swaps and caps are measured by discounting the related cash flows using yield curves derived from 
prevailing market interest rates.

Contingent consideration is measured at fair value based upon management’s estimates of the future sales and 
profitability of the acquired business. Details are presented in note 3.

Cash and cash equivalents and bank and other loans largely attract floating interest rates. Accordingly, management 
considers that their carrying amount approximates to fair value.

Finance lease obligations attract fixed interest rates that are implicit in the lease rentals and their fair value has been 
assessed relative to prevailing market interest rates.

There were no transfers between levels during the period end and no changes in valuation techniques. 

Credit risk
Credit risk is the risk that a counterparty will default on its contractual obligations resulting in financial loss to the Group.

The Group’s cash balances are managed such that there is no significant concentration of credit risk in any one bank or 
other financial institution. Management monitors closely the credit quality of the institutions with which it holds deposits. 
Similar considerations are given to the Group’s portfolio of derivative financial instruments.

McBride plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014 – Governance and Financial statements

67

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21. Financial risk management continued
Credit risk continued
Before accepting a new customer, management assesses the customer’s credit quality and establishes a credit limit. 
Credit quality is assessed using data maintained by reputable credit rating agencies, by the checking of references 
included in credit applications and, where they are available, by reviewing the customer’s recent financial statements. 
Credit limits are subject to multiple levels of authorisation and are reviewed on a regular basis. Credit insurance is 
employed where it is considered to be cost effective. At 30 June 2014, the majority of trade receivables were due from 
major retailers in the UK and Western Europe.

At 30 June 2014, the Group’s maximum exposure to credit risk was as follows (there was no significant concentration 
of credit risk):

Trade and other receivables:
– Trade receivables
– Other receivables
– Derivative financial instruments

Cash and cash equivalents

2014
£m

2013
£m

133.8
4.4
0.2

138.4
35.3

173.7

138.4
3.2
1.0

142.6
–

142.6

Liquidity risk
Liquidity risk is the risk that the Group will encounter difficulty in meeting the obligations associated with its financial liabilities.

The Group’s borrowing facilities are monitored against forecast requirements and timely action is taken to put in place, 
renew or replace credit lines. Management’s policy is to reduce liquidity risk by diversifying the Group’s funding sources 
and staggering the maturity of its borrowings.

During the year, the Group concluded the refinancing of the Groups banking facilities. 

The Group has an unsecured €140 million revolving credit facility that is committed until April 2019. At 30 June 2014, 
the amount undrawn on the facility was €100.0 million (2013: €120.0m). The Group is subject to covenants, representations 
and warranties which are typical for unsecured borrowing facilities, including two financial covenants. Debt Cover  
(the ratio of net debt to EBITDA) may not exceed 3:1 and Interest Cover (the ratio of EBITDA to net interest) may not  
be less than 4:1.

For the purpose of these calculations, net debt excludes amounts drawn under the invoice discounting facilities and net 
interest comprises interest payments and receipts on net debt. At 30 June 2014, the Debt Cover ratio was 1.21:1 and the 
Interest Cover ratio was 10.7:1. Any future non-compliance with the covenants could, if not waived, constitute an event  
of default and may, in certain circumstances, lead to an acceleration of the maturity of borrowings drawn down and an 
inability to access committed facilities.

The Group also negotiated two US Private Placements (USPP) with major US financial institutions. These loans denominated 
in US Dollars, repayable in a single instalment at maturity and carrying a fixed rate of interest. The first USPP, for $50 million, 
matures in November 2020, the second, for $40 million, matures in April 2022. Both loan obligations have been swapped 
into Euro fixed rate liabilities in order to affect the Group’s Euro assets.

The Group has a number of facilities whereby it can borrow against certain of its trade receivables. In the UK, the Group 
has a £25 million facility that was renewed in August 2014 and is committed until August 2016. In France and Belgium,  
the Group has an aggregate €30 million facility, which has a rolling notice period of six months for the French part and 
three months for the Belgian part. Under these arrangements, the Group transfers trade receivables to the providers of 
the facilities at a discount to the face value of the underlying invoices. The Group can borrow from the provider of the 
relevant facility up to the lower of the facility limit and the discounted value of the receivables transferred. The Group does 
not derecognise the receivables transferred because it continues to be exposed to the credit risk associated with them.

 
 
68   McBride plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014 – Governance and Financial statements

 NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED 
 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS continued
for the year ended 30 June 2014

21. Financial risk management continued
Liquidity risk continued
At 30 June 2014, the carrying amount of trade receivables eligible for transfer and the amounts borrowed under the 
facility were as follows:

Trade receivables available
Amount borrowed

Amount undrawn

2014
£m

49.0
(32.3)

16.7

2013
£m

43.5
(28.2)

15.3

The Group also has access to uncommitted working capital facilities amounting to £46.6 million (2013: £49.8m). At 30 June 2014 
£0.4 million (2013: £8.3m) was drawn against these facilities in the form of overdrafts.

In the following tables, estimated future contractual cash flows in respect of the Group’s financial liabilities are analysed 
according to the earliest date on which the Group could be required to settle the liability. Floating rate interest payments 
are estimated based on market interest rates prevailing at the balance sheet date. Payments and receipts in relation to 
derivative financial instruments are shown net if they will be settled on a net basis.

At 30 June 2014
Bank overdrafts
Bank and other loans:
– Principal
– Interest payments
Finance lease obligations
Other liabilities

Cash flows on non-derivative liabilities

Cash flows on derivative liabilities
– Payments

Cash flows on financial liabilities

Cash flows on related derivative assets
– Receipts

At 30 June 2013
Bank overdrafts
Bank and other loans:
– Principal
– Interest payments
Finance lease obligations
Other liabilities

Cash flows on non-derivative liabilities

Cash flows on derivative liabilities
– Payments

Cash flows on financial liabilities

Cash flows on derivative assets
– Receipts

Within
one year
£m

Between
1 and 2
years
£m

Between
2 and 3
years
£m

Between
3 and 4
years
£m

Between
4 and 5
years
£m

After 5
years
£m

Total
£m

(0.4)

–

–

–

–

–

(0.4)

(32.5)
(3.3)
(0.2)
(161.1)

(197.5)

(0.3)
(3.3)
(0.1)
–

(3.7)

(4.5)

(7.2)

(202.0)

(10.9)

3.5

(198.5)

3.3

(7.6)

(0.3)
(3.3)
–
–

(3.6)

(2.9)

(6.5)

3.2

(3.3)

(0.3)
(3.3)
–
–

(3.6)

(32.3)
(3.3)
–
–

(35.6)

(53.6)
(7.2)
–
–

(119.3)
(23.7)
(0.3)
(161.1)

(60.8)

(304.8)

(2.9)

(6.5)

(2.9)

(38.5)

(6.3)

(26.7)

(67.1)

(331.5)

3.2

3.2

7.1

23.5

(3.3)

(35.3)

(60.0)

(308.0)

Within
one year
£m

Between
1 and 2
years
£m

Between
2 and 3
years
£m

Between
3 and 4
years
£m

Between
4 and 5
years
£m

After 5
years
£m

Total
£m

(8.3)

–

–

–

–

–

(8.3)

(28.5)
(1.2)
(0.2)
(178.3)

(216.5)

(47.4)
(0.9)
(0.1)
–

(48.4)

(1.4)

(217.9)

(0.8)

(49.2)

(0.3)
(0.1)
–
–

(0.4)

(0.5)

(0.9)

(0.3)
(0.1)
–
–

(0.4)

(0.3)
(0.1)
–
–

(0.4)

(1.4)
(0.1)
–
–

(1.5)

(78.2)
(2.5)
(0.3)
(178.3)

(267.6)

–

–

–

(2.7)

(0.4)

(0.4)

(1.5)

(270.3)

0.9

–

–

–

–

–

0.9

(217.0)

(49.2)

(0.9)

(0.4)

(0.4)

(1.5)

(269.4)

McBride plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014 – Governance and Financial statements

69

21. Financial risk management continued
Interest rate risk
Interest rate risk is the risk that the fair value of, or future cash flows associated with, a financial instrument will fluctuate 
because of changes in market interest rates.

The Group is exposed to interest rate risk on its floating rate borrowings, which it has mitigated using interest rate swaps. 
After taking into account the Group’s currency and interest rate hedging activities, the currency and interest rate profile 
of the Group’s interest-bearing financial assets and financial liabilities was as follows:

Floating rate
Bank overdrafts
Bank and other loans
Cash and cash equivalents

Fixed rate
Bank and other loans

Finance lease obligations

2014

2013

Euro
£m

Sterling
£m

Other
currencies
£m

Total
£m

Euro
£m

Sterling
£m

Other
currencies
£m

(0.3)
(13.7)
11.8

(2.2)

(84.9)

–

(84.9)

(87.1)

–
(20.7)
21.6

0.9

–

–

–

0.9

(0.1)
–
1.9

1.8

–

(0.3)

(0.3)

1.5

(0.4)
(34.4)
35.3

0.5

(84.9)

(0.3)

(85.2)

(84.7)

(10.2)
(15.4)
–

(25.6)

(47.1)

–

(47.1)

(72.7)

(0.9)
(15.7)
–

(16.6)

–

–

–

(16.6)

2.8
–
–

2.8

–

(0.3)

(0.3)

2.5

Total
£m

(8.3)
(31.1)
–

(39.4)

(47.1)

(0.3)

(47.4)

(86.8)

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7

Interest payable on bank overdrafts and floating rate loans is based on base rates and short-term interbank rates 
(predominantly LIBOR, EURIBOR and some EONIA). At 30 June 2014, the weighted average interest rate payable on  
bank and other loans was 4.5% (2013: 2.3%). At 30 June 2014, the weighted average interest rate receivable on cash  
and cash equivalents was 0.1% (2013: 1.1%).

At 30 June 2014, the Group held interest rate swaps that had the effect of fixing the interest payable on £32.1 million 
(2013: £55m) of its Euro-denominated borrowings at a weighted average rate of 2.84% (2013: 5.22%). As shown in the 
following table, interest rate swaps with a notional principal amount of £24 million will remain in place during the next 
financial year and together with interest rate caps with a notional principal amount of £24 million, which cap the maximum 
rate payable but allows the rate to float below this maximum.

The USPP loans are at an average rate of 5.45% payable in Euros.

Interest rate derivatives held by the Group at 30 June 2014 were as follows:

Maturity

January 2016
December 2015
December 2015
February 2017 (commences February 2014)
March 2017 (commences December 2015)
June 2018 (commences December 2015)

November 2020

April 2020

Fixed 
rate 
payable 
or capped
 rate 
%

Variable 
rate
 receivable 
%

Notional
 principal
 amount 
€ million

10
10
10
10
10
10

36.2

2.880
3.355
3.300
1.700
1.690
1.600

5.509

0.302
0.176
0.176
n/a
n/a
n/a

n/a

29.2

5.376

n/a

Nature of
 contract

Swap
Swap
Swap
Cap
Cap
Cap

Xccy
Swap
Xccy
Swap

All interest rate derivatives held by the Group are indexed to 3-month EURIBOR.

Fixed or capped interest rates shown in the above table do not include the margin over market interest rates payable 
on the Group’s borrowings.

 
 
70   McBride plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014 – Governance and Financial statements

 NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED 
 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS continued
for the year ended 30 June 2014

21. Financial risk management continued
Interest rate risk continued
For accounting purposes, the Group has designated the interest rate swaps, caps and a part of its cross currency interest 
rate swaps as cash flow hedges. At 30 June 2014, the fair value of the interest rate swaps was £(1.2) million (2013: £(2.0)m), 
the fair value of the interest rate caps was Nil (2013: £0.1m) and the fair value of the cross currency interest rate swaps  
was £(2.7) million. During 2014, a loss of £3.6 million (2013: loss of £0.5m) was recognised in other comprehensive income 
in respect of these derivatives.

On the assumption that a change in market interest rates would be applied to the interest rate exposures that were  
in existence at the balance sheet date and that designated cash flow hedges are 100% effective, an increase/decrease  
of 100 basis points in market interest rates would have decreased/increased the Group’s profit before tax by Nil  
(2013: £0.4m).

Foreign currency risk
(i) Transaction risk
Foreign currency transaction risk arises on sales and purchases denominated in currencies other than the functional 
currency of the entity that enters into the transaction. While the magnitude of these exposures is relatively low,  
the Group’s policy is to hedge committed transactions in full and to hedge a proportion of highly probable forecast 
transactions on a 12-month rolling basis. Foreign currency transaction risk also arises on financial assets and liabilities 
denominated in foreign currencies and Group policy also allows for these exposures to be hedged using forward  
currency contracts.

At 30 June 2014, the notional principal amount of outstanding foreign currency contracts (net purchases) that are held 
to hedge the Group’s transaction exposures was £29.6 million (2013: £29.0m). For accounting purposes, the Group  
has designated the foreign currency contracts as cash flow hedges. At 30 June 2014, the fair value of the contracts  
was £(0.8) million (2013: £0.6m). During 2014, a loss of £1.0 million (2013: gain of £0.9m) was recognised in other 
comprehensive income in respect of these contracts.

After taking into account its hedging activities, the Group has no significant exposure to gains and losses arising from 
foreign currency transaction risk in the event of reasonably possible changes in currency exchange rates.

(ii) Translation risk
Foreign currency translation risk arises on consolidation in relation to the translation into Sterling of the results and net 
assets of the Group’s foreign subsidiaries. The Group’s policy is to hedge a substantial proportion of overseas net assets 
using a combination of foreign currency borrowings and foreign currency swaps. The Group hedges part of the currency 
exposure on translating the results of its foreign subsidiaries into sterling using average rate options and a part of its  
cross currency interest rate swaps. This exposure is also mitigated by the natural hedge provided by the interest payable 
on the Group’s foreign currency borrowings. At 30 June 2014, the fair value of the average rate options was £0.2 million.

At 30 June 2014, the Group had designated as net investment hedges £84.9 million (2013: £47.1m) of its Euro-denominated 
borrowings and 3-month rolling foreign currency forward contracts with a notional principal amount of £18.4 million  
(2013: £35.6m). During 2014, a gain of £10.3 million (2013: loss of £4.7m) was recognised in other comprehensive income  
in relation to the net investment hedges.

The currency profile of the Group’s net assets (excluding non-controlling interests) before and after hedging currency 
translation exposures was as follows:

Sterling
Euro
Polish Zloty
Czech Koruna
Malaysian Ringgit
Other

2014

2013

Net assets
before
hedging
£m

Currency
forward
contracts
£m

Net assets
after
hedging
£m

Net assets
before
hedging
£m

Currency
forward
contracts
£m

Net assets
after
hedging
£m

39.4
1.1
15.1
1.3
7.1
4.0

68.0

18.0
0.9
(12.5)
(1.5)
(4.9)
–

57.4
2.0
2.6
(0.2)
2.2
4.0

–

68.0

52.6
35.1
12.1
2.0
4.5
(0.2)

106.1

32.6
(18.9)
(9.1)
(2.5)
(2.1)
–

85.2
16.2
3.0
(0.5)
2.4
(0.2)

–

106.1

McBride plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014 – Governance and Financial statements

71

22. Capital and net debt
The Group’s capital comprises total equity and net debt. 

The Directors manage the Group’s capital to safeguard its ability to continue as a going concern in order to provide returns 
for shareholders and benefits for other stakeholders. The Directors aim to maintain an efficient capital structure with  
a relatively conservative level of debt-to-equity gearing so as to ensure continued access to a broad range of financing 
sources in order to provide sufficient flexibility to pursue commercial opportunities as they arise.

The Group’s capital was as follows:

Total equity
Net debt

Capital

Gearing(1)

(1)  Gearing represents Net debt/Average Capital.

Movements in net debt were as follows:

Cash and cash equivalents 
Overdrafts

Net cash and cash equivalents 
Bank and other loans
Finance lease liabilities

Net debt

Cash and cash equivalents 
Overdrafts

Net cash and cash equivalents 
Bank and other loans
Finance lease liabilities

Net debt

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3
-
8
7

2014
£m

68.6
84.7

153.3

2013
£m

106.7
86.8

193.5

2014
%

49

2012
£m

112.4
81.2

193.6

2013
%

45

At 30 June
2013
£m

–
(8.3)

(8.3)
(78.2)
(0.3)

(86.8)

At 30 June
2012
£m

 12.4
(4.8)

7.6
(88.4)
(0.4)

(81.2)

Cash 
 flows
£m

35.8
7.9

43.7
(47.1)
–

(3.4)

Cash 
 flows
£m

(12.7)
(3.0)

(15.7)
13.8
0.1

(1.8)

Currency
 translation
 differences
£m

At 30 June
2014
£m

(0.5)
–

(0.5)
6.0
–

5.5

35.3
(0.4)

34.9
(119.3)
(0.3)

(84.7)

Currency
 translation
 differences
£m

At 30 June
2013
£m

0.3
(0.5)

(0.2)
(3.6)
 – 

(3.8)

–
(8.3)

(8.3)
(78.2)
(0.3)

(86.8)

 
 
 
72   McBride plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014 – Governance and Financial statements

 NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED 
 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS continued
for the year ended 30 June 2014

23. Pensions and other post-employment benefits
Overview
The Group operates a number of post-employment benefit arrangements. In the UK, the Group operates a defined  
benefit pension scheme and defined contribution pension schemes. Together, these schemes cover most of the  
Group’s UK employees. Elsewhere in Europe, the Group has a number of smaller unfunded post-employment benefit 
arrangements that are structured to accord with local conditions and practices in the countries concerned. At 30 June 2014, 
the Group’s post-employment benefit obligations outside the UK amounted to £2.0 million (2013: £1.8m).

Post-employment benefits had the following effect on the Group’s results and financial position:

Profit or loss
Operating profit
Defined contribution schemes
  Contributions payable
Defined benefit schemes
  Service cost (net of employee contributions)

Net charge to operating (loss)/profit

Finance costs
Net interest cost on defined benefit obligation

Net charge to (loss)/profit before tax

Other comprehensive income
Defined benefit schemes
  Net actuarial loss

Balance sheet
Defined benefit obligations
– funded
  UK 
  Other  – unfunded

Fair value of scheme assets

Deficit on the schemes

Related deferred tax asset

Re-
presented*
2013
£m

2014
£m

(1.8)

(1.2)

(1.7)

(3.5)

(1.1)

(4.6)

(1.5)

(2.7)

(0.8)

(3.5)

(5.2)

(7.2)

(121.0)
(2.0)

(123.0)
92.6

(30.4)

(108.7)
(1.8)

(110.5)
84.5

(26.0)

5.7

5.6

*  Adoption of IAS 19 (Revised 2011) ‘Employee Benefits’.

UK Defined Benefit Pension Scheme
(i) Background
In the UK, the Robert McBride Pension Fund (‘the Fund’) provides pension benefits based on the final pensionable  
salary and period of qualifying service of the participating employees. The Fund was closed to new entrants in 2002  
and a defined contribution scheme was established for UK employees who are not eligible to participate in the Fund.

The Fund is administered and managed by Robert McBride Pension Fund Trustees Limited (‘the Trustee’), in accordance 
with the terms of a governing Trust Deed and relevant legislation. Regular assessments of the Fund’s benefit obligations 
are carried out by an independent actuary on behalf of the Trustee and long-term contribution rates are agreed between 
the Trustee and the Company on the basis of the actuary’s recommendations. During 2013, a triennial actuarial valuation of 
the Fund as at 31 March 2012 was finalised. The valuation showed a deficit in the Fund of £32.7 million. The Company has 
agreed with the Trustee that it will aim to eliminate the deficit in the Fund by 2026 and increased its monthly deficit-funding 
contributions with effect from July 2013. Overall, the Group expects to contribute £3.9 million to the Fund during 2015.

McBride plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014 – Governance and Financial statements

73

23. Pensions and other post-employment benefits continued
UK Defined Benefit Pension Scheme continued
(ii) Assumptions and sensitivities
For accounting purposes, the Fund’s benefit obligation has been calculated based on data gathered for the triennial 
actuarial valuation and by applying assumptions made by the Company on the advice of an independent actuary in 
accordance with IAS 19 ‘Employee Benefits’, which differ in certain respects from the assumptions made by the Trustee  
for the purpose of the actuarial valuation.

The principal assumptions used in calculating the benefit obligation at the end of the year were as follows:

Discount rate

Inflation rate:
  Retail Prices Index (RPI)
  Consumer Prices Index (CPI)
Future salary increases
Revaluation of deferred pensions (in excess of GMP)
  Accrued before 6 April 2009
  Accrued on or after 6 April 2009
Increase in pensions in payment (in excess of GMP):
  Accrued before 1 April 2011
  Accrued on or after 1 April 2011

2014

2013

4.45%

4.80%

3.30%
2.30%
2.00%

2.30%
2.30%

3.30%
2.35%

3.25%
2.25%
2.00%

2.25%
2.25%

3.25%
2.35%

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8
7

Changes were made to the benefits accruing under the Fund with effect from 1 April 2011. From that date, future increases 
to pensionable salaries were limited to the lower of 2% per annum or the rate of growth in the RPI, although a deferred 
benefit underpin was put into place with the effect that benefits accrued in respect of service before 1 April 2011 will be 
unaffected by these changes. Also with effect from 1 April 2011, changes were made to the basis of determining increases 
in pensions in payment.

Assumptions regarding future mortality rates are made based on published statistics and taking into account the profile 
of the Fund’s members. Mortality rates are based on the PCMA 00 (male) and PCFA 00 (female) mortality tables adjusted 
for both males and females to assume 8% more deaths than average in any one year. Life expectancies are assumed to 
increase in future in line with the CMI standard projection model, with a minimum long-term rate of improvement of 0.5% 
per annum. On this basis, the average life expectancies assumed for members of the Fund after retirement at age 65 are 
as follows:

Member retiring in the next year:
  Male
  Female
Member retiring 20 years from now:
  Male
  Female

2014

2013

22.0
23.9

22.5
24.6

21.9
23.8

22.5
24.6

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

At 30 June 2014, the sensitivity of the benefit obligation to changes in the principal assumptions was as follows (assuming 
in each case that the other assumptions are unchanged):

Discount rate
Inflation rate
Life expectancy

Change in assumption

Increase in assumption

Decrease in assumption

+/– 0.1%
+/– 0.1%
+/– 1 year

Decrease by £2.1m
Increase by £2.0m
Increase by £3.2m

Increase by £2.1m
Decrease by £2.0m
Decrease by £3.2m

 
 
74   McBride plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014 – Governance and Financial statements

 NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED 
 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS continued
for the year ended 30 June 2014

23. Pensions and other post-employment benefits continued
UK Defined Benefit Pension Scheme continued
(iii) Fund’s assets
The Fund’s assets are held separately from those of the Group and are managed by professional investment managers 
on behalf of the Trustee. During 2013, the Trustee conducted an investment strategy review and decided to increase the 
proportion of the Fund’s assets held in low risk investments that match as closely as practicable the profile of its liabilities. 
Due to the favourable matching properties exhibited, the Trustee invested in synthetic gilt instruments that will provide 
returns in line with the yields on UK government bonds. The Trustee maintains a significant portfolio of return-seeking 
assets that are expected to produce returns in excess of the yield on UK government bonds. The Fund’s return-seeking 
assets continue to be predominantly held within managed funds that are designed to achieve equity-like returns over  
the long term but with significantly less volatility than would be experienced if the Fund had invested directly in equities. 

The Fund holds no investment in securities issued by, nor any property used by, McBride plc or any of its subsidiaries.

The fair value and expected return on the Fund’s assets at the end of the year was as follows:

Return-seeking assets:
  Equities
  Property
  Other

Matching assets:
  Bonds

  Other

Cash

Total

2014 
Fair
value
£m

40.2
3.1
30.6

73.9

7.1

9.1

16.2

2.5

92.6

2013 
Fair
value
£m

32.9
0.1
27.6

60.6

18.1

5.7

23.8

0.1

84.5

2012 
Fair
value
£m

32.2
0.5
37.1

69.8

5.1

–

5.1

3.1

78.0

Other return-seeking assets are predominantly those held within the Standard Life GARS fund. Other matching assets 
are predominantly those held within the Schroders LDI fund.

All of the Fund’s assets are held in pooled funds. They are classified as level 2 instruments, as they are not quoted on any 
stock exchange, although their value is directly related to the value of the underlying holdings

The expected return on the Fund’s assets must be set to be in line with the discount rate used to value the Fund’s liabilities. 
This equates to an expected return over the year of £4.1 million.

The actual return on the Fund’s assets during the year was £6.9 million (2013: £6.7m).

(iv) Movements in the Fund’s assets and liabilities
Movements in the fair value of the Fund’s assets during the year were as follows:

At 1 July 
Expected return on plan assets
Actuarial gain
Employer’s contributions
Employees’ contributions
Benefits paid
Administration expenses

At 30 June 

*  Adoption of IAS 19 (Revised 2011) ‘Employee Benefits’.

Re-
presented*
2013
£m

 78.0
3.7
3.3
3.3
0.5
(3.9)
(0.4)

84.5

2014
£m

84.5
4.1
2.8
3.7
0.5
(2.6)
(0.4)

92.6

McBride plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014 – Governance and Financial statements

75

i

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3
3
-
8
7

23. Pensions and other post-employment benefits continued
UK Defined Benefit Pension Scheme continued
(iv) Movements in the Fund’s assets and liabilities continued
Movements in the benefit obligation during the year were as follows:

At 1 July
Service cost
Interest cost
Actuarial loss
Employees’ contributions
Benefits paid

At 30 June

2014
£m

(108.7)
(1.2)
(5.2)
(8.0)
(0.5)
2.6

(121.0)

2013
£m

 (95.9)
(1.2)
(4.5)
(10.5)
(0.5)
3.9

(108.7)

(v) Experience gains and losses
Actuarial gains and losses recognised in other comprehensive income represent the effect of the differences between the 
actuary’s assumptions and actual outcomes. 

The history of actuarial gains and losses in relation to the Fund is as follows:

Present value of the Fund’s benefit obligation
Fair value of the Fund’s assets

Deficit in the Fund

Re-
presented
2013
£m

(108.7)
84.5

(24.2)

2014
£m

(121.0)
92.6

(28.4)

2012
£m

(95.9)
 78.0

(17.9)

2011
£m

(89.8)
75.6

(14.2)

2010
£m

(89.4)
 68.3

(21.1)

Actuarial gains and losses:
  Experience adjustments on the Fund’s benefit obligations
  Experience adjustments on the Fund’s assets

Total recognised in other comprehensive income

(8.0)
2.8

(5.2)

(10.5)
3.3

(7.2)

 (2.2)
(3.6)

(5.8)

3.7
 0.8 

4.5

 (14.1) 
9.8

(4.3)

At 30 June 2014, the cumulative net actuarial loss in relation to the Fund that has been recognised in other comprehensive 
income amounted to £27.6 million (2013: re-presented £22.4m).

24. Employee share schemes
Share awards
The Group operates a performance-based Long Term Incentive Plan (LTIP) for the Executive Directors and certain other 
senior executives. Awards made under the LTIP vest provided the participant remains in the Group’s employment during 
the three-year vesting period and the Group achieves relative total shareholder return (TSR) and earnings per share (EPS) 
targets. Up to 50% of each award vests dependent on the TSR of the Company’s ordinary shares compared with the  
TSR of the FTSE 250 Ex. Investment Companies Index (a market condition). Up to 50% of each award vests dependent  
on the growth in the Group’s EPS compared with the change in the UK Retail Prices Index (a vesting condition).

Vested awards are settled either in the form of the Company’s ordinary shares (equity-settled) or by the payment of cash 
equivalent to the market value of the Company’s ordinary shares on the vesting date (cash-settled).  

Further information on the LTIP is set out in the Remuneration report. 

Movements in LTIP awards outstanding were as follows:

Outstanding at 1 July
Granted
Forfeited

Outstanding at 30 June

2014

2013

Equity-settled
Number

Cash-settled
Number

Equity-settled
Number

Cash-settled
Number

1,371,354
546,560
(280,654)

2,701,260
1,278,728
(688,516)

900,724
532,559
(61,929)

2,154,534
1,247,178
(700,452)

1,637,260

3,291,472

1,371,354

2,701,260

Unvested at 30 June

1,637,260

3,291,472

1,371,354

2,701,260

 
 
76   McBride plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014 – Governance and Financial statements

 NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED 
 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS continued
for the year ended 30 June 2014

24. Employee share schemes continued
Share options
Awards made under the LTIP have a nil exercise price. 

During 2014 and 2013, no equity-settled or cash-settled LTIP awards vested. 

At 30 June 2014, the liability recognised in relation to cash-settled awards was £0.1 million (2013: £0.1m). 

At the grant date, the weighted average fair value of LTIP awards granted during the year was 80.7p (2013: 83.3p). Fair value 
was measured using a variant of the Monte Carlo valuation model based on the following assumptions:

Risk-free interest rate
Share price on grant date
Dividend yield on the Company’s shares
Dividend yield on the FTSE 250 (Ex. Investment Companies) Index
Volatility of the Company’s shares
Volatility of the FTSE 250 (Ex. Investment Companies) Index
Expected life of LTIP awards

2014

2013

0.7%
123.5p
4.1%
2.8%
34.0%
17.0%
3 years

0.4%
124p
4.0%
3.2%
34.0%
22.0%
 3 years

Expected volatility was determined based on weekly observations of the Company’s share price and the FTSE 250  
Ex. Investment Companies Index over the three-year period immediately preceding the grant date.

Compensation expense recognised in profit or loss in relation to employee share schemes was as follows:

LTIP:
Equity-settled awards
Cash-settled awards

Total expense

25. Provisions

At 30 June 2012
Charged to profit or loss
Utilisation 
Currency translation differences

At 30 June 2013
Charged to profit or loss
Utilisation 
Currency translation differences

At 30 June 2014

Analysis of provisions:

Current
Non-current

Total

Reorganisation
and restructuring
£m

Leasehold
 dilapidations
£m

Environmental
remediation
£m

6.2
3.6
(8.0)
0.1

1.9
10.1
(3.5)
(0.1)

8.4

0.3
0.1
(0.1)
–

0.3
0.2
(0.5)
–

–

–
–
–
–

–
2.5
–
–

2.5

2014
£m

–
–

–

Other
£m

0.9
0.1
(0.5)
0.1

0.6
–
(0.1)
–

0.5

2014
£m

8.9
2.5

11.4

2013
£m

0.1
–

0.1

Total
£m

7.4
3.8
(8.6)
0.2

2.8
12.8
(4.1)
(0.1)

11.4

2013
£m

2.3
0.5

2.8

Reorganisation and restructuring provisions as at 30 June 2014 principally comprise of redundancies and consultancy 
costs in relation to the functional reorganisation and UK restructuring.

Environmental remediation provision relates to historical environmental contamination at a site in Belgium.

Other provisions are mainly in respect of training costs in France.

McBride plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014 – Governance and Financial statements

77

26. Share capital and reserves
(i) Share capital

Ordinary shares of 10 pence each
At 1 July 2012, 30 June 2013 and at 30 June 2014

Allotted and fully paid

Number

182,840,301

£m

18.3

Ordinary shares carry full voting rights and ordinary shareholders are entitled to attend Company meetings and to receive 
payments to shareholders.

(ii) Reserves
Share premium account
The share premium account records the difference between the nominal amount of shares issued and the fair value of  
the consideration received. The share premium account may be used for certain purposes specified by UK law, including 
to write-off expenses incurred on any issue of shares or debentures and to pay up fully paid bonus shares. The share 
premium account is not distributable but may be reduced by special resolution of the Company’s ordinary shareholders 
and with court approval. 

Cash flow hedge reserve
The cash flow hedge reserve comprises the cumulative net change in the fair value of hedging instruments in designated 
cash flow hedging relationships recognised in other comprehensive income.

Currency translation reserve
The currency translation reserve comprises cumulative currency translation differences on the translation of the Group’s 
net investment in foreign operations into Sterling together with the cumulative net change in the fair value of hedging 
instruments in designated net investment hedging relationships recognised in other comprehensive income.

Capital redemption reserve
The capital redemption reserve records the cost of shares purchased by the Company for cancellation or redeemed  
in excess of the proceeds of any fresh issue of shares made specifically to fund the purchase or redemption. The capital 
redemption reserve is not distributable but may be reduced by special resolution of the Company’s ordinary shareholders 
and with court approval.

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(iii) Own shares

At cost
At 1 July
Shares purchased in the market
Shares transferred to employees 

At 30 June

2014

2013

Number

£m

Number

£m

663,043
–
(32,051)

630,992

933,215
0.8
32,051
–
– (302,223)
0.8 663,043

1.2
–
(0.4)

0.8

Own shares represent the Company’s ordinary shares that are acquired to meet the Group’s expected obligations under 
employee share schemes. 

At 30 June 2014, 630,992 (2013: 630,992) ordinary shares were held in treasury and none (2013: 32,051) were held  
by an employee benefit trust.

At 30 June 2014, the market value of own shares held was £0.6 million (2013: £0.7m).

Non-controlling interests
Non-controlling interests relates to Fortune Organics (F.E.) Sdn Bhd, Malaysia.

 
 
78   McBride plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014 – Governance and Financial statements

 NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED 
 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS continued
for the year ended 30 June 2014

27. Commitments
Operating leases
Future minimum lease payments under non-cancellable operating leases are as follows:

Rentals payable:
  Within one year
  In the second to fifth years inclusive
  After more than five years

Capital expenditure on property, plant and equipment

Contracted but not provided

2014
£m

3.8
7.3
3.4
14.5

2014
£m

2.9

2013
£m

3.9
7.3
3.0
14.2

2013
£m

2.2

28. Related party transactions
Transactions between the Company and its subsidiaries, which are related parties of the Company, have been eliminated 
on consolidation and, therefore, are not required to be disclosed in these financial statements. Details of transactions 
between the Group and other related parties are disclosed below.

(i) Post-employment benefit plans 
As shown in note 23, contributions amounting to £5.5 million (2013: £4.5m) were payable by the Group to pension schemes 
established for the benefit of its employees. At 30 June 2014, £0.2 million (2013: £nil) in respect of contributions due was 
included in other payables.

(ii) Compensation of key management personnel
For the purposes of these disclosures, the Group regards its key management personnel as the Directors and the other 
members of the EMT.

Compensation payable to key management personnel in respect of their services to the Group was as follows:

Short-term employee benefit:
Post employment benefits
Share-based payments
Total

2014
£m
2.0
0.3
–
2.3

2013
£m
2.2
 0.2 
0.1
2.5

29. Exchange rates
The principal exchange rates used to translate the results, assets and liabilities and cash flows of the Group’s foreign 
operations into Sterling were as follows:

Euro
Polish Zloty
Czech Koruna
Hungarian Forint
Malaysian Ringgit
Australian Dollar
Chinese Yuan

Average rate

Closing rate

2014
£m
1.20
5.03
32.22
362.67
5.28
1.77
9.99

2013
£m
1.21
5.04
30.84
351.24
4.84
1.53
9.80

2014
£m
1.25
5.19
34.25
385.90
5.47
1.81
10.57

2013
£m
1.17
5.05
30.31
343.67
4.79
1.66
9.31

INDEPENDENT AUDITORS’ REPORT
to the members of McBride plc

79

Report on the parent company  
financial statements
Our opinion
In our opinion the financial statements, defined below:
•  give a true and fair view of the state of the parent 

company’s affairs as at 30 June 2014;

•  have been properly prepared in accordance with United 
Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice; and
•  have been prepared in accordance with the requirements 

of the Companies Act 2006.

Opinions on other matters prescribed  
by the Companies Act 2006
In our opinion:
•  the information given in the Strategic Report and the 
Directors’ Report for the financial year for which the 
financial statements are prepared is consistent with the 
financial statements; and

•  the part of the Directors’ Remuneration Report to be 

audited has been properly prepared in accordance with 
the Companies Act 2006.

This opinion is to be read in the context of what we say  
in the remainder of this report.

What we have audited
The parent company financial statements (the “financial 
statements”), which are prepared by McBride Plc, comprise:
•  the balance sheet as at 30 June 2014;
•  the movement on reserves for the year then ended; and
•  the notes to the financial statements, which include a 
summary of significant accounting policies and other 
explanatory information.

The financial reporting framework that has been applied  
in their preparation is applicable law and United Kingdom 
Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally 
Accepted Accounting Practice).

What an audit of financial statements involves
We conducted our audit in accordance with International 
Standards on Auditing (UK and Ireland) (“ISAs (UK & 
Ireland)”). An audit involves obtaining evidence about  
the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements 
sufficient to give reasonable assurance that the financial 
statements are free from material misstatement, whether 
caused by fraud or error. This includes an assessment of:
•  whether the accounting policies are appropriate to the 

parent company’s circumstances and have been 
consistently applied and adequately disclosed; 

Other matters on which we are required  
to report by exception
Adequacy of accounting records and information and 
explanations received
Under the Companies Act 2006 we are required to report 
to you if, in our opinion:
•  we have not received all the information and explanations 

we require for our audit; or

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

Directors’ remuneration
Under the Companies Act 2006 we are required to report 
to you if, in our opinion, certain disclosures of directors’ 
remuneration specified by law are not made. We have no 
exceptions to report arising from this responsibility. 

Other information in the Annual Report
Under ISAs (UK & Ireland) we are required to report to you 
if, in our opinion, information in the Annual Report is:
•  materially inconsistent with the information in the audited 

•  the reasonableness of significant accounting estimates 

financial statements; or

made by the directors; and 

•  the overall presentation of the financial statements.

In addition, we read all the financial and non-financial 
information in the Annual Report to identify material 
inconsistencies with the audited financial statements and  
to identify any information that is apparently materially 
incorrect based on, or materially inconsistent with, the 
knowledge acquired by us in the course of performing  
the audit. If we become aware of any apparent material 
misstatements or inconsistencies we consider the 
implications for our report.

•   apparently materially incorrect based on, or materially 

inconsistent with, our knowledge of the company 
acquired in the course of performing our audit; or

•  is otherwise misleading.

We have no exceptions to report arising from this 
responsibility.

Financial statements 33-87McBride plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014 – Governance and Financial statements80   McBride plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014 – Governance and Financial statements

 INDEPENDENT AUDITORS’ REPORT continued
to the members of McBride plc

Other matters
We have reported separately on the group financial 
statements of McBride Plc for the year ended 30 June 2014.

John Minards (Senior Statutory Auditor)
for and on behalf of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
Chartered Accountants and Statutory Auditors
St Albans

9 September 2014

Responsibilities for the financial statements 
and the audit
Our responsibilities and those of the directors
As explained more fully in the Directors’ Responsibilities 
Statement set out on page 32, the directors are responsible 
for the preparation of the financial statements and for being 
satisfied that they give a true and fair view.

Our responsibility is to audit and express an opinion on  
the financial statements in accordance with applicable  
law and ISAs (UK & Ireland). Those standards require us  
to comply with the Auditing Practices Board’s Ethical 
Standards for Auditors.

This report, including the opinions, has been prepared  
for and only for the company’s members as a body in 
accordance with Chapter 3 of Part 16 of the Companies Act 
2006 and for no other purpose. We do not, in giving these 
opinions, accept or assume responsibility for any other 
purpose or to any other person to whom this report  
is shown or into whose hands it may come save where 
expressly agreed by our prior consent in writing.

McBride plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014 – Governance and Financial statements

81

 COMPANY BALANCE SHEET
at 30 June 2014

Fixed assets
Tangible assets
Investments in subsidiary undertakings

Debtors
Cash at bank and in hand
Creditors: amounts falling due within one year
Net current assets

Total assets less current liabilities

Creditors: amounts falling due after more than one year
Provisions for liabilities 

Net assets

Capital and reserves
Called up share capital
Share premium account
Capital redemption reserve
Profit and loss account

Total shareholders’ funds

Note

2014
£m

2013
£m

3
4

5

6

7
10

11
12
12
12

–
158.2

158.2

151.7
7.5
(59.0)

100.2

0.4
158.2

158.6

127.9
 0.8 
(63.9)

64.8

258.4

223.4

(84.9)
(0.8)

172.7

(47.1)
(0.4)

175.9

18.3
111.5
33.4
9.5

172.7

 18.3
 120.6
24.5
12.5

175.9

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The financial statements on pages 81 to 86 were approved by the Board of Directors on 9 September 2014 and were 
signed on its behalf by:

Chris Bull
Director

McBride plc
Registered number: 2798634

 
 
82   McBride plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014 – Governance and Financial statements

 NOTES TO THE COMPANY 
 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Foreign currency translation
Transactions denominated in foreign currencies are 
translated into Sterling at the exchange rate ruling on the 
date of the transaction. Monetary assets and liabilities 
denominated in foreign currencies are retranslated at the 
exchange rate ruling on the balance sheet date. Currency 
translation differences are recognised in the profit and 
loss account.

Leases
Leases that confer rights and obligations similar to those 
that attach to owned assets are classified as finance leases. 
All other leases are classified as operating leases.

Operating lease payments are charged to the profit and 
loss account on a straight-line basis over the lease term. 
Lease incentives are credited to the profit and loss account 
on a straight-line basis over the lease term or, if the initial 
rent is above the prevailing market rent, over the shorter  
of the lease term and the period to the first rent review 
from which it is expected that the prevailing market rent 
will be payable.

Share-based payments
The Company operates incentive share schemes under 
which it grants equity-settled and cash-settled awards 
over its own ordinary shares to certain employees of  
its subsidiaries. The Company recognises a capital 
contribution to the subsidiaries concerned that is  
based on the fair value of the awards measured using the 
Black-Scholes option pricing formula or the Monte Carlo 
valuation model. 

For equity-settled awards, the fair value reflects market 
performance conditions and all non-vesting conditions. 
Fair value is determined at the grant date and is not 
subsequently remeasured unless the relevant conditions 
are modified. Adjustments are made to the compensation 
expense to reflect actual and expected forfeitures due 
to failure to satisfy service conditions or non-market 
performance conditions. For cash-settled awards, the 
fair value reflects all the conditions on which the award  
is made and is remeasured at each reporting date and 
at the settlement date. 

Generally, the capital contribution is recognised on a 
straight-line basis over the vesting period. For equity-
settled awards a corresponding credit is recognised 
directly in reserves while for cash-settled awards a 
corresponding liability to settle is recognised in the  
balance sheet. 

1. Principal accounting policies
Description of business
McBride plc (‘the Company’) is the ultimate parent 
company of a group of companies that together comprise 
Europe’s leading provider of Private Label Household and 
Personal Care products to major retailers.

Basis of preparation
The Company’s financial statements have been prepared 
on a going concern basis in accordance with the 
Companies Act 2006 (‘the Act’) and United Kingdom 
accounting standards (‘UK GAAP’) and, except as 
described under the heading ‘Financial instruments’,  
under the historical cost convention.

The Company’s principal accounting policies are 
unchanged compared with the year ended 30 June 2013.

Investments in subsidiary undertakings
A subsidiary is an entity controlled, either directly or 
indirectly, by the Company, where control is the power  
to govern the financial and operating policies of the entity  
so as to obtain benefit from its activities. Investments  
in subsidiaries represent interests in subsidiaries that are 
directly owned by the Company and are stated at cost  
less any provision for permanent diminution in value.

Tangible fixed assets
Tangible fixed assets are stated at cost less accumulated 
depreciation and any provision for permanent diminution  
in value. Tangible fixed assets are depreciated on a 
straight-line basis over their expected useful lives,  
which are as follows:

Computer equipment – 3 to 5 years
Furniture and fittings  – 8 to 10 years

Financial instruments
(i) Bank and other loans
Bank and other loans are initially measured at fair value,  
net of any directly attributable transaction costs, and 
are subsequently measured at amortised cost using the 
effective interest method.

(ii) Derivative financial instruments
The Company uses derivative financial instruments to 
manage its exposure to exchange rate and interest rate 
movements. The Company does not hold or issue 
derivatives for speculative purposes.

Derivative financial instruments are recognised as assets 
and liabilities measured at their fair value at the balance 
sheet date. Changes in their fair value are recognised 
immediately in the profit and loss account. The Company 
has not designated any derivatives as hedging instruments 
for the purposes of hedge accounting. 

(iii) Disclosures
The Company is exempt from applying FRS 29 (IFRS 7) 
‘Financial Instruments: Disclosures’ because the required 
disclosures are presented in the consolidated financial 
statements of the Company and its subsidiaries. 

83

Payments to shareholders
Subject to shareholder approval at each annual general 
meeting, it is the Company’s intention that, for the 
foreseeable future, all payments to shareholders will  
be made by the issue of non-cumulative redeemable 
preference shares (‘B Shares’). B Shares issued but not 
redeemed are classified as current liabilities.

Own shares
Own shares represent the Company’s ordinary shares that 
are held by the Company in treasury or by an employee 
benefit trust to employee share schemes. When own  
shares are acquired, the cost of purchase in the market is 
deducted from the profit and loss account reserve. Gains 
and losses on the subsequent transfer or sale of own shares 
are recognised directly in the profit and loss account.

Cash flow statement
A cash flow statement is not presented in these financial 
statements on the grounds that the Company’s cash flows 
are included in the consolidated financial statements of the 
Company and its subsidiaries.

2. Profit for the year
As permitted by section 408(3) of the Act, the Company’s 
profit and loss account and statement of total recognised 
gains and losses are not presented in these financial 
statements.

The Company has no employees.

Fees payable to the Company’s auditors, 
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, in respect of the audit 
of the Company’s accounts were £0.1 million (2013: £0.1m).

The Company’s loss for the financial year was £5.9 million  
(2013: profit £6.4m).

1. Principal accounting policies continued
Taxation
Current tax is the amount of tax payable in respect of the 
taxable profit or loss for the period. Taxable profit differs 
from accounting profit because it excludes income or 
expenses that are recognised in the period for accounting 
purposes but are either not taxable or not deductible for 
tax purposes or are taxable or not deductible in earlier or 
subsequent periods.

Deferred tax is recognised on timing differences between 
the recognition of items of income or expenses for 
accounting purposes and their recognition for tax 
purposes. A deferred tax asset in respect of a deductible 
timing difference or a carried forward tax loss is recognised 
only to the extent that it is considered more likely than not 
that sufficient taxable profits will be available against which 
the reversing timing difference or the tax loss can be 
deducted. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are not 
discounted.

Current and deferred tax is measured using tax rates that 
have been enacted or substantively enacted at the balance 
sheet date.

Provisions
A provision is a liability of uncertain timing or amount and 
is recognised when the Company has a present obligation 
as a result of a past event, it is probable that payment will 
be made to settle the obligation and the payment can be 
estimated reliably. 

Provision is made for restructuring costs when a detailed 
formal plan for the restructuring has been determined 
and that plan has started to be implemented or has been 
announced to the parties that may be affected by it.

Provisions are discounted where the effect of the time 
value of money is material.

Guarantees
From time to time, the Company provides guarantees  
to third parties in respect of the indebtedness of its 
subsidiaries. The Directors consider these guarantees to  
be insurance arrangements and, therefore, the Company 
recognises a liability in respect of such guarantees only in 
the event that it becomes probable that the guarantee will 
be called upon and the Company will be required to make  
a payment to the third party.

Financial statements 33-87McBride plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014 – Governance and Financial statements84   McBride plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014 – Governance and Financial statements

 NOTES TO THE COMPANY 
 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS continued

3. Tangible assets

Cost
At 1 July 2013 and 30 June 2014

Accumulated depreciation and impairment
At 1 July 2013 
Impairment

At 30 June 2014

Net book value

At 30 June 2014
At 30 June 2013

4. Investments in subsidiary undertakings

At 1 July 2013 and at 30 June 2014

Furniture 
and fittings
£m

Computer 
equipment
£m

0.4

–
0.4

0.4

–
0.4

–

–
–

–

–
–

Total
£m

0.4

–
0.4

0.4

–
0.4

£m

158.2

The Directors have reviewed the recoverability of the carrying amount of the Company’s investments and have concluded 
that there is no permanent diminution in their value.

Details of the Company’s principal subsidiaries at 30 June 2014 are set out on page 87.

Details of the share-based payments provided by the Company to employees of its subsidiaries are presented in note 24 
to the consolidated financial statements.

5. Debtors

Amounts owed by subsidiary undertakings

Derivative financial instruments
Deferred tax assets (note 9)
Other debtors
Prepayments and accrued income

6. Creditors: amounts falling due within one year

Amounts owed to subsidiary undertakings

Derivative financial instruments
B Shares (note 8)
Other creditors
Accruals and deferred income

2014
£m

148.3

–
0.9
0.1
2.4

2013
£m

125.5

0.1
0.7
1.3
0.3

151.7

127.9

2014
£m

48.7

8.3
0.6
0.7
0.7

2013
£m

60.0

2.0
0.4
1.0
0.5

59.0

63.9

McBride plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014 – Governance and Financial statements

85

7. Creditors: amounts falling due after more than one year

Bank and other loans

2014
£m

84.9

2013
£m

47.1

Bank and other loans represent amounts drawn down under a €140 million revolving credit facility, which is committed 
until April 2019 and two US Private placements for $50 million, maturing in November 2020 and $40 million, maturing 
April 2022.

8. Payments to shareholders
Payments to ordinary shareholders are made by way of the issue of B Shares in place of income distributions. Ordinary 
shareholders are able to redeem any number of the B Shares issued to them for cash. Any B Shares that they retain  
attract a dividend of 75 per cent of LIBOR on the 0.1p nominal value of each share, paid on a twice-yearly basis.

Payments to ordinary shareholders made or proposed in respect of the year were as follows:

Interim 
Final

Total for the year

2014

2013

Pence
per share

1.7
3.3

5.0

£m

3.1
6.0

9.1

Pence
per share

1.7
3.3

5.0

£m

3.1
6.0

9.1

The proposed final payment in respect of 2014 of 3.3p per ordinary share is subject to approval by shareholders at the 
Company’s AGM and has therefore not been recognised in these financial statements

Movements in the number of B Shares outstanding were as follows:

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Issued and fully paid
At 1 July 
Issued 
Redeemed 

At 30 June

2014

Number

Nominal
value
£m

2013

Number

Nominal
value
£m

394,892,632
9,110,465,450
(8,926,907,163)

578,450,919

0.4
9.1
(8.9)

0.6

495,384,888
8,563,369,763
(8,663,862,019)

394,892,632

0.5
8.6
(8.7)

0.4

B Shares carry no rights to attend, speak or vote at Company meetings, except on a resolution relating to the winding 
up of the Company.

9. Deferred tax assets

At 1 July 2013
Charge to the profit and loss account

At 30 June 2014

10. Provisions for liabilities 

At 1 July 2013
Charge to the profit and loss account
Utilisation 

At 30 June 2014

£m

0.7
0.2

0.9

£m

0.4
0.8
(0.4)

0.8

Provisions represent legal and consultancy costs relating to the Group’s UK business reorganisation and are expected to 
be utilised during 2015.

 
 
86   McBride plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014 – Governance and Financial statements

 NOTES TO THE COMPANY 
 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS continued

11. Called up share capital

Ordinary shares of 10 pence each
At 30 June 2013 and at 30 June 2014

Allotted and fully paid

Number

£m

182,840,301

18.3

Ordinary shares carry full voting rights and ordinary shareholders are entitled to attend Company meetings and to receive 
payments to shareholders.

At 30 June 2014, awards were outstanding over 1,637,260 ordinary shares (2013: 1,371,354 shares) in relation to the 
equity-settled employee share schemes that are operated by the Company. Further information on the employee share 
schemes is presented in note 24 to the consolidated financial statements.

12. Movement on reserves

At 1 July 2013
Profit for the financial year
Issue of B Shares
Redemption of B Shares

At 30 June 2014

Called up
share
capital
£m

Share
premium
account
£m

Capital
redemption
reserve
£m

Profit
and loss
account
£m

18.3
–
–
–

18.3

120.6
–
(9.1)
–

111.5

24.5
–
–
8.9

33.4

12.5
5.9
–
(8.9)

9.5

Total

175.9
5.9
(9.1)
–

172.7

At 30 June 2014, the profit and loss account reserve was stated net of a deduction of £0.8 million (2013: £0.8m) for the 
cost of own shares held in relation to the employee share schemes. Further information on own shares is presented in  
note 26 to the consolidated financial statements.

13. Operating lease commitments
Annual commitments under non-cancellable operating leases over land and buildings are as follows:

Leases which expire:

In two to five years

2014
£m

–

2013
£m

0.2

14. Guarantees
The Company has guaranteed the indebtedness of certain of its subsidiaries up to an aggregate amount of 3.7 million 
(2013: £5.1m). 

15. Related party transactions
As permitted by FRS 8 ‘Related Party Disclosures’, transactions between the Company and its wholly-owned subsidiaries 
are not disclosed in these financial statements.

McBride plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014 – Governance and Financial statements

87

 PRINCIPAL SUBSIDIARIES

Details of the Company’s principal subsidiaries at 30 June 2014 are set out below. In each case, the Company’s equity 
interest is in the form of ordinary shares which, unless stated otherwise, are indirectly owned. Full information of all 
interests are given in the Company’s annual return.

The business activity of each of the Company’s trading subsidiaries is the manufacture, distribution and sale of  
Private Label Household and Personal Care products.

Company

Trading subsidiaries
Robert McBride Ltd (1)
McBride S.A. 
McBride Zhongshan Limited
McBride Czech a.s.(2)
McBride S.r.o.
McBride S.A.S.
Vitherm S.A.S.
Chemolux GmbH
McBride Hungary Kft
McBride S.p.A.
Chemolux S.a.r.l.
Fortune Laboratories Sdn Bhd
Intersilesia McBride Polska Sp. Z.o.o.
McBride Australia PTY Limited
McBride S.A.U.
Newlane Cosmetics Company Limited

Investment companies
McBride Holdings Limited (1)
McBride CE Holdings Limited
McBride Asia Holdings Limited
McBride Hong Kong Holdings Limited
Fortlab Holdings Sdn Bhd
CNL Holdings Sdn Bhd
Fortune Organics (F.E.) Sdn Bhd

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7

Equity interest

Country of
incorporation
and operation

100.0%
100.0%
100.0%
70.0%
100.0%
100.0%
100.0%
100.0%
100.0%
100.0%
100.0%
100.0%
100.0%
100.0%
100.0%
100.0%

100.0%
100.0%
100.0%
100.0%
100.0%
100.0%
55.0%

England
Belgium
China
Czech Republic
Czech Republic
France
France
Germany
Hungary
Italy
Luxembourg
Malaysia
Poland
Australia
Spain
Vietnam

England
England
Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Malaysia
Malaysia
Malaysia

(1)  McBride plc directly owns 100% of McBride Holdings Limited and 57.7% of Robert McBride Ltd.
(2)  McBride Holdings Limited is committed to purchase the 30% equity interest in McBride Czech a.s. that it does not already own on terms which 

are such that the Group does not recognise any non-controlling interest in McBride Czech a.s.

 
 
88   McBride plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014 – Governance and Financial statements

 GROUP FIVE-YEAR SUMMARY

Revenue
Adjusted operating profit
Amortisation of intangible assets
Exceptional items

Operating (loss)/profit
Net finance costs

(Loss)/profit before tax
Taxation

(Loss)/profit after tax

Earnings per share
  Diluted
  Adjusted diluted

Year ended 30 June

Re-
presented
2013
£m

761.4
23.6
(1.1)
(7.5)

15.0
(6.0)

9.0
(3.5)

5.5

2014
£m

744.2
22.0
(1.4)
(34.5)

(13.9)
(7.4)

(21.3)
2.2

(19.1)

2012
£m

813.9
29.5
(1.7)
(9.7)

18.1
(6.0)

12.1
(3.0)

9.1

2011
£m

812.4
29.0
(2.9)
(12.3)

13.8
(6.7)

7.1
(1.8)

5.3

2010
£m

812.2
50.0
(2.0)
(12.8)

35.2
(5.6)

29.6
(7.5)

22.1

(10.5)p
5.3p

3.0p
7.3p

5.0p
9.7p

2.9p
9.3p

12.1p
18.1p

Payments to shareholders (per ordinary share)

5.0p

5.0p

5.0p

6.8p

6.8p

Non-current assets
  Property, plant & equipment
  Intangible assets
  Other assets

Current assets
Current liabilities
Non-current liabilities

Net assets

Net debt

At 30 June

2014
£m

2013
£m

2012
£m

2011
£m

2010
£m

143.4
26.3
14.6

184.3
245.4
(229.4)
(131.7)

68.6

173.6
34.1
6.2

213.9
231.9
(246.9)
(92.2)

175.6
35.7
2.9

214.2
229.8
(252.9)
(78.7)

190.9
38.6
3.1

232.6
252.1
(278.9)
(80.4)

179.9
38.4
3.5

221.8
218.6
(229.4)
(86.3)

106.7

112.4

125.4

124.7

84.7

86.8

81.2

83.7

60.0

McBride plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014 – Governance and Financial statements

89

 USEFUL INFORMATION FOR SHAREHOLDERS

Financial calendar
Next key dates for shareholders: 

Annual General Meeting

2014/15 Q1 interim 
management statement

Record date for entitlement  
to B Shares

Record date for entitlement to B Share 
dividend payable on B Shares issued 
and not previously redeemed

Ex-entitlement to B Shares date

Credit CREST accounts with  
B Share entitlements

Latest date for receipt by Registrar  
of completed election forms and 
submitting CREST elections

Despatch of cheques in respect of 
B Shares which have been redeemed

Payment into bank accounts in  
respect of B Shares which have been 
redeemed by certificated shareholders 
who have valid mandate instructions  
in place

Despatch of share certificates  
for B Shares not being redeemed

Payments on redeemed B Shares  
issued in CREST

Payments of B Share dividend  
payable on B Shares issued and  
not previously redeemed

2014/15 Half year

2014/15 Half year trading statement

Interim results announced

2014/15 Q3 interim  
management statement

2014/15 Year end

2014/15 Year end trading statement

20 October 2014

20 October 2014

24 October 2014

24 October 2014

27 October 2014

27 October 2014

14 November 2014

28 November 2014

28 November 2014

28 November 2014

28 November 2014

28 November 2014

31 December 2014

January 2015

February 2015

April 2015

30 June 2015

July 2015

Full year preliminary statement 

September 2015

These dates are provisional and may be subject to change.

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Company’s registered office
Middleton Way
Middleton
Manchester M24 4DP
Telephone: 0161 653 9037

Independent auditors
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
Chartered Accountant and Statutory Auditors
1 Embankment Place
London WC2N 6RH

Joint financial advisers and brokers
Investec plc
2 Gresham Street
London EC2V 7QP

Panmure Gordon & Co. plc
One New Change
London EC4M 9AF

Principal bankers
Barclays Bank PLC
Eastern Region Corporate Business Centre
Eagle Point
1 Capability Green
Luton LU1 3US

Fortis Bank S.A./N.V.
5 Aldermanbury Square
London EC2V 7HR

KBC Bank N.V.
5th Floor
111 Old Broad Street
London EC2N 1BR

HSBC Bank plc
Level 6
Metropolitan House, CBX3
321 Avebury Boulevard
Milton Keynes MK9 2GA

Registrars
Capita Asset Services
The Registry
34 Beckenham Road
Beckenham
Kent BR3 4TU

Financial public relations advisers
FTI Consulting LLP
200 Aldersgate
London EC1A 4HD

 
 
90   McBride plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014 – Governance and Financial statements

 USEFUL INFORMATION FOR SHAREHOLDERS 
continued

Payments to shareholders
On 24 March 2011 shareholders approved a proposal for the implementation of a B Share scheme as a mechanism for 
making payments to shareholders. This involves the issue of non-cumulative redeemable preference shares (B Shares)  
in place of income distributions. Shareholders are able to redeem any number of their B Shares for cash. B Shares that  
are retained attract a dividend of 75% of LIBOR on the 0.1p nominal value of each share, paid on a twice-yearly basis.

Shareholders may choose to have payments made directly into their bank or building society account. This benefits 
shareholders as the payments are paid into their account, as cleared funds, on the date the payment is due. Confirmation  
of payment is contained in a payment advice which is posted to shareholders’ registered addresses at the time of payment. 
This payment advice should be kept safely for future reference.

Shareholders who wish to benefit from this service should complete the relevant section of the election form 
accompanying the Notice of Annual General Meeting. Alternatively, the required documentation can be obtained  
by contacting the Company’s registrar using one of the methods outlined below.

Shareholder queries
Shareholders who change address, lose their share certificates, wish to amalgamate multiple shareholdings to avoid 
receiving duplicate documentation, want to have payments paid directly into their bank account or otherwise have  
a query or require information relating to their shareholding should contact the Company’s registrar.

This can be done by writing to Capita Asset Services, The Registry, 34 Beckenham Road, Beckenham, Kent BR3 4TU. 
Alternatively, shareholders can contact Capita Asset Services on 0871 664 0300 (calls cost 10p per minute plus network 
extras; lines are open 9.00am to 5.30pm Monday to Friday), or on +44 20 8639 3399 if calling from overseas, or email 
their enquiry to shareholderenquiries@capita.co.uk, indicating they are a McBride shareholder.

Shareholders are also able to access and amend details of their shareholding (such as address and distribution payment 
instructions), via the registrar’s website at www.capitashareportal.com. If you have not previously registered to use this 
facility you will need your investor code, which can be found on your proxy card, or on any share certificate issued by 
Capita Asset Services.

Electronic communications
Shareholders are able to register to receive communications from McBride electronically. This service enables shareholders 
to tailor their communication requirements to their needs. McBride is encouraging shareholders to use this service to  
elect to receive all communications electronically which enables more secure and prompt communication and allows 
shareholders to:
•  Receive electronic notification via email and the internet of the publication and availability of statutory documents  

such as financial results, including annual and interim reports.

• Access details of their individual shareholding quickly and securely on-line.
• Amend their details (such as address or bank details).
• Choose the way payments are received.
• Submit proxy voting instructions for shareholder meetings including the AGM.

It also enables shareholders to contribute directly to reducing McBride’s costs and environmental impact through saving 
paper, mailing and transportation and reducing unnecessary waste.

You can register directly by visiting www.capitashareportal.com and following the on-line instructions. Alternatively,  
you can access the service via the investor relations section of McBride’s website at www.mcbride.co.uk.

On-line shareholder services
McBride provides a number of services on-line in the investor relations section of its website at www.mcbride.co.uk,  
where shareholders and other interested parties may:
• View and/or download annual and interim reports.
• Check current or historic share prices (there is an historic share price download facility).
• Check the amounts and dates of historic payments to shareholders.
•  Use interactive tools to calculate the value of shareholdings and chart McBride ordinary share price changes  

against indices.

•  Register to receive email alerts regarding press releases, including regulatory news announcements, annual reports  

and Company presentations.

McBride plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014 – Governance and Financial statements

91

ShareGift
McBride supports ShareGift, the share donation charity (registered charity number 1052686). ShareGift was set up  
so that shareholders who have only a very small number of shares which might be considered uneconomic to sell are  
able to dispose of them by donating them for the benefit of UK charities. Donated shares are aggregated and sold by 
ShareGift, the proceeds being passed on to a wide range of UK charities. Donating shares to charity gives rise neither  
to a gain nor a loss for UK capital gains purposes and UK taxpayers may also be able to claim income tax relief on the 
value of the donation.

Further information about donating shares to ShareGift is available either from its website at www.ShareGift.org,  
by writing to ShareGift at 17 Carlton House Terrace, London SW1Y 5AH or by contacting them on 020 7930 3737.

Even if the share certificate has been lost or destroyed, the gift can be completed. The service is generally free, however, 
there may be an indemnity charge for a lost or destroyed share certificate where the value of the shares exceeds £100.

Share price history
The following table sets out, for the five financial years to 30 June 2014, the reported high, low, average and financial year 
end (30 June or immediately preceding business day) closing middle market quotations of McBride’s ordinary shares on 
the London Stock Exchange.

Year ended 30 June

2010
2011
2012
2013

2014

Share price (pence)

Low

114
124
105
101

93

Average

Financial
year end

196
155
123
127

111

130
138
124
111

96

High

247
192
142
147

135

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Unsolicited mail
The Company is obliged by law to make its share register publicly available should a request be received. As a consequence, 
shareholders may receive unsolicited mail from organisations that use it as a mailing list. Shareholders wishing to limit the 
amount of such mail should either write to Mailing Preference Service, DMA House, 70 Margaret Street, London W1W 8SS, 
register on-line at www.mpsonline.org.uk or call the Mailing Preference Service (MPS) on 0845 703 4599. MPS is an 
independent organisation which offers a free service to the public within the UK such that registering with them will  
help stop most unsolicited consumer advertising material.

WARNING TO SHAREHOLDERS – BOILER ROOM SCAMS
Share fraud includes scams where investors are called out of the blue and offered shares that often turn out to be worthless 
or non-existent, or an inflated price for shares they own. These calls come from fraudsters operating in ‘boiler rooms’ that 
are mostly based abroad.

While high profits are promised, those who buy or sell shares in this way usually lose their money. The FCA has found  
most share fraud victims are experienced investors who lose an average of £20,000, with around £200 million lost in  
the UK each year.

Protect yourself
If you are offered unsolicited investment advice, discounted shares, a premium price for shares you own, or free company  
or research reports, you should take these steps before handing over any money:
• Get the name of the person and organisation contacting you.
• Check the Financial Services Register at www.fca.org.uk/consumers/scams to ensure they are authorised.
• Use the details on the Register to contact the firm.
•  Call the FCA Consumer Helpline on 0800 111 6768 if there are no contact details on the Register or you are told  

they are out of date.

• Search our list of unauthorised firms and individuals to avoid doing business with.
• REMEMBER if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is!

If you use an unauthorised firm to buy or sell shares or other investments, you will not have access to the Financial 
Ombudsman Service or Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) if things go wrong.

Report a scam
If you are approached about a share scam you should tell the FCA using the share fraud reporting form at  
www.fca.org.uk/consumers/scams, where you can find out about the latest investment scams. You can also  
call the Consumer Helpline on 0800 111 6768.

If you have already paid money to share fraudsters you should contact Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040.

 
 
92   McBride plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014 – Governance and Financial statements

 WHERE TO FIND US

Head Office 
McBride plc
Middleton Way
Middleton
Manchester M24 4DP
Telephone: +44 161 653 9037
Facsimile: +44 161 655 2278
www.mcbride.co.uk 

McBride Business Services Limited
Central Park
Northampton Road
Manchester M40 5BP
www.mcbride.co.uk 

UK
Robert McBride Ltd
Middleton Way
Middleton
Manchester M24 4DP
Telephone: +44 161 653 9037
Facsimile: +44 161 655 2278
www.mcbride.co.uk 

Western Europe 
McBride SA
6 Rue Moulin Masure
7730 Estaimpuis
Belgium
Telephone: +32 56 48 2111
Facsimile: +32 56 48 2110
www.mcbride.co.uk

Rest of the World
Central and Eastern Europe 
McBride Polska
ul. Matejki 2a
47100 Strzelce Opolskie
Poland
Telephone: +48 774 049100
Facsimile: +48 774 049101
www.mcbride.co.uk 

South East Asia/Australasia
McBride Hong Kong
Unit 06, 26th Floor
No. 1 Hung To Road
Kwun Tong
Kowloon
Hong Kong
Telephone: +852 2790 8480
Facsimile: +852 2790 8484
www.mcbride.asia

McBride Australia Pty Limited
Suite 7, 400 Canterbury Road
Surrey Hills
Melbourne 3127
Australia
Telephone: +61 3 9831 2216
Facsimile: +61 3 9831 0423
www.mcbride-anz.com.au

McBride Zhongshan Limited
Jianye Road
Zhongshan Torch High-tech Industrial Development Zone
Zhongshan
Guangdong
PR China 
528437
Telephone: +86 760 8528 2878
Facsimile: +86 760 8858 9903
www.mcbride.asia

Fortune Laboratories Sdn Bhd (Fortlab)
Wisma Fortune, No 4, Jalan 16/12
Section 16, 40200 Shah Alam
Selangor Darul Ehsam
Kuala Lumpur
Malaysia
Telephone: +603 5510 0385
Facsimile: +603 5511 2105
www.fortlab.com

Newlane Cosmetics Company Limited
22 VSIPII, Street 1, Vietnam Singapore Industrial Park II
Binh Duong Industry – Service – Urban Complex
Hoa Phu Ward
Thu Dau Mot Town
Binh Duong Province
Vietnam
Telephone: +84 650 389 536 
Facsimile: +84 650 389 535
www.fortlab.com

 WELCOME TO OUR
 GOVERNANCE AND
 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Governance and Financial statements 

Governance
01  Chairman’s letter
02   Corporate Governance report
11 
 Audit Committee report
14 
 Nomination Committee report
15 
 Remuneration report
28   Statutory information
32 

 Statement of Directors’ responsibilities

Adapting in a  
changing environment 

McBride plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014  
Governance and Financial statements

Independent auditors’ report 
and Financial statements
34    Independent auditors’ report on the consolidated 

fi nancial statements
 Consolidated fi nancial statements
 Notes to the consolidated fi nancial statements
  Independent auditors’ report on the  
Company fi nancial statements
 Company balance sheet
 Notes to the Company fi nancial statements
 Principal subsidiaries

37 
43 
79 

81 
82 
87 

Shareholder information
88  Group fi ve-year summary
89  Useful information for shareholders
92  Where to fi nd us
IBC  Our on-line resources

Adapting in a  
changing environment 

McBride plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014 
Strategic Report

Strategic Report

Overview
2014 highlights
Key performance indicators
At a glance
Our journey
Board of Directors
Executive Management Team
Chairman’s statement
Business model
Chief Executive Offi  cer’s review
 Strategy in action 
Chief Finance Offi  cer’s review
 Principal risks and uncertainties
Corporate Responsibility
Shareholder information

On-line reporting

A copy of our Strategic Report and the 
Governance and Financial statements 
can be downloaded from:
www.mcbride.co.uk/investors/
results-reports/fi nancial-reports

Our Sustainability Report is also available 
on-line at: www.mcbride.co.uk/
our-responsibilities/reports

The McBride plc Annual Report this year 
is presented in two parts. The Strategic 
Report contains information about the 
Group, how we run the business and how 
we create value. It includes our strategy, 
business model, markets and key 
performance indicators, as well as our 
approach to governance, sustainability 
and risk management. It also includes 
a summary of our fi nancial management 
and performance.

The Governance and Financial statements 
contains details about how we run the 
business and remunerate executive 
management, and how we organise 
ourselves fi nancially.

On-line you can fi nd more information about 
our markets, including case studies illustrating 
how we create, develop, manufacture 
and supply Private Label Household and 
Personal Care products for our customers.

Our eleventh Sustainability Report is also 
available on-line.

Cautionary statement
This Annual Report has been prepared for the shareholders of McBride plc, 
as a body, and no other persons. Its purpose is to assist shareholders of the 
Company to assess the strategies adopted by the Group and the potential 
for those strategies to succeed and for no other purpose. The Company, 
its Directors, employees, agents or advisers do not accept or assume 
responsibility to any other person to whom this document is shown 
or into whose hands it may come and any such responsibility or liability 
is expressly disclaimed.

This Annual Report contains certain forward-looking statements that are 
subject to risk factors associated with, amongst other things, the economic 
and business circumstances occurring from time to time in the countries, 
sectors and markets in which the Group operates. It is believed that the 
expectations refl ected in these statements are reasonable but they may 
be aff ected by a wide range of variables which could cause actual results 
to diff er materially from those currently anticipated. 

No assurances can be given that the forward-looking statements in this 
Strategic Report will be realised. The forward-looking statements refl ect 
the knowledge and information available at the date of preparation of this 
Strategic Report and the Company undertakes no obligation to update 
these forward-looking statements. Nothing in this Annual Report should 
be constituted as a profi t forecast.

Strategic and Directors’ Reports
The Strategic Report and pages 1 to 32 inclusive of the Governance and 
Financial statements form a Directors’ Report. Both the Directors’ Report 
and Strategic Report have been drawn up and presented in accordance 
with English company law and the liabilities of the Directors in connection 
with those reports shall be subject to the limitations and restrictions 
provided by such law. In particular, the Directors would be liable to the 
Company (but not to any third party) if the Strategic Report and/or 
Directors’ Report contain errors as a result of recklessness or knowing 
misstatement or dishonest concealment of a material fact, but would 
not otherwise be liable.

 OUR ON-LINE RESOURCES

McBride communicates its fi nancial and sustainability performance 
as well as providing additional information about the Group at its website: 
www.mcbride.co.uk

McBride’s Annual Report and Accounts are available to view on-line 
or to download from: www.mcbride.co.uk/investors

McBride’s Sustainability Reports are available to view on-line 
or to download from: www.mcbride.co.uk/our-responsibilities/reports

Latest announcements can be found at the McBride on-line media centre 
at: www.mcbride.co.uk/media-centre/regulatory-news

Acknowledgements
Designed and produced by Instinctif Partners www.instinctif.com.

Printing and paper: This report has been printed by Empress Litho, a Carbon 
Footprint Approved Company. The paper is produced using an elemental 
chlorine-free (ECF) process and contains material sourced from responsibly 
managed forests in accordance with the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC).

Both the paper and the printer involved in the production support the growth 
of responsible forest management and are both accredited to ISO 14001. 
The printer also holds FSC status.

If you have fi nished reading the report and no longer wish to retain it, please 
pass it on to other interested readers, return it to McBride plc or dispose 
of it in your recycled paper waste. Thank you.

 
 
 
 
 
 
M
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Adapting in a
 changing environment

McBride plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014 
Governance and Financial statements

McBride plc
Middleton Way
Middleton
Manchester M24 4DP

Telephone: +44 (0) 161 653 9037
Facsimile:  +44 (0) 161 655 2278

 www.mcbride.co.uk

The Company’s results were presented on 10 September 2014. 
The presentation and audiocast can be found at the Company’s 
website www.mcbride.co.uk or by scanning the QR code above.

McBride has been accepted into 
the FTSE4Good Index Series of 
leading companies which meet 
globally recognised corporate 
responsibility standards.

McBride has been a leading contributor 
in the development of the A.I.S.E. 
Charter for sustainable cleaning and 
was the fi rst Private Label company 
to achieve Charter status.