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Mitie Group

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FY2014 Annual Report · Mitie Group
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Mitie Group plc 
Annual Report and Accounts 2014

We are 
Mitie…

Mitie Group plc 
Annual Report and Accounts 2014

Introduction

inspiring

change...

Our 
business…

Strategic report 
The Mitie business 
Chairman’s statement 
Chief Executive’s  
strategy overview 
Our strategy 
New contracts update 
Marketplace and 
operating overview 
Financial review 
Principal risks  
and uncertainties 
Sustainability 

02

02
04

06
08
12

22
28

32
34

how we 
manage it…

and how 
it performs…

36

36

Governance 
Board of Directors 
Chairman’s introduction  
38
to Corporate Governance 
39
The Board 
43
Audit Committee 
47
Nomination Committee 
Directors’ remuneration report  50
Directors’ report:  
other disclosures 
Directors’ report: statement  
of Directors’ responsibilities 

68

75

76

76

80

Financial 
Independent Auditor’s  
report to the members  
of Mitie Group plc 
Consolidated income  
statement 
Consolidated statement 
81
of comprehensive income 
Consolidated balance sheet  82
Consolidated statement 
of changes in equity 
Consolidated statement 
of cash flows 
Notes to the consolidated  
financial statements 
Company balance sheet 
Notes to the Company  
financial statements 
Shareholder information 

87
126

127
IBC

85

84

Strategic Report

Governance

Financial

1

Our business is focused  
on helping clients run their 
businesses more effectively. 

We’re all about developing people 
to excel, to challenge how things 
are done and to inspire change. 

Headline financial highlights

+8.2%

Revenue (5.2% organic growth)
£2,142.6m (2013: £1,980.6m)

6.0%Operating profit margin

(2013: 6.1%)

+6.8%

Dividend per share
11.0p (2013: 10.3p)

+6.0%

Operating profit
£127.5m (2013: £120.3m)

102.4%

Cash conversion
(2013: 110.0%)

+5.2%

Basic earnings per share
24.3p (2013: 23.1p)

£8.7bn

Order book
(2013: £9.2bn)

84%2015 budgeted revenue secured

(Prior year: 85%)

More on our financial performance:  

  Page 28

  
Mitie Group plc 
Annual Report and Accounts 2014

2

The Mitie business

A consistent  
business model
Understanding 
client needs

Motivating and 
managing people

Technology and  
systems that provide 
data and management 
information

We get to know our clients’ strategy  
and what drives their outsourcing  
needs, so we can help them to achieve 
their goals.

Our fundamental skill is in getting 
the best out of a large and diverse 
workforce and supply chain, allowing a 
client to focus on their core objectives.

In order to manage and deliver services, 
we analyse and act on our own and our 
clients’ data to provide the best service  
and most efficient solutions.

A broad offering…

Services to buildings and facilities
We provide a wide range of facilities management (FM) 
services across the UK, Ireland and Europe. These are 
delivered as integrated FM contracts, in bundles or as single 
services, depending on client requirements.

Services to people
We provide high quality homecare in the UK, delivering  
a wide range of services to people who require help and 
support due to illness, disability or infirmity.

£2,051m headline revenue

£92m headline revenue

Healthcare
£92m

Energy Solutions
£16m

Property 
Management
£265m

Mitie revenue 2014
£2,143m

H
a
r
d

F
M

:

£

5

7

9

m

m
1
9
1
,
1
£
: 
M

oft F
 S

Facilities Management
£1,770m

 
 
 
Strategic Report

Governance

Financial

3

Change and a  
more efficient  
way of working

Delivering value  
for Mitie clients, 
people, communities 
and shareholders

We understand the markets we serve,  
and our specialist knowledge can  
help drive change and enable clients  
to reduce their costs, and provide  
improved levels of service.

We provide a service that helps our 
clients run their organisations more 
efficiently, often with direct benefits 
for society as a whole. In return we are 
able to deliver sustainable profit that 
creates value for our shareholders.

with strong brands and  
focused areas of service…

Services to buildings and facilities

Services to people

Integrated FM

Hard FM 
Technical and  
building services

Energy Solutions

MiHomecare

Cleaning, landscaping, 
pest control and waste

Security

Catering and front of house

The Complete Group

Property Management 
Social housing maintenance 
and painting 

More on our contracts:  

   Pages 12 and 13

 
Mitie Group plc 
Annual Report and Accounts 2014

4

Chairman’s statement

A year of strong  
progress and  
development 

Overview
Mitie has had another very good year, 
delivering strong organic growth 
and implementing further change to 
accelerate growth in the longer term. 

Our core Facilities Management (FM) 
business performed exceptionally well, 
with a steady flow of contract awards 
and retentions across both the private 
and public sectors. We are beginning to 
see an uplift in the level of bid activity 
across our businesses and we have 
a robust sales pipeline. We also see a 
significant opportunity to expand our 
business with our existing client base, 
by proactively selling the benefits of 
bundling more services and of integrated 
FM. Our energy consulting capability 
remains an important niche area for 
us and differentiates our integrated 
FM proposition in the marketplace.

Our entry into the healthcare market has 
continued with success, with MiHomecare 
performing well and the acquisition of 
Complete Group during the year providing 
us with more complex care capabilities. 
We have built a strong proposition in the 
healthcare market and see significant 
long-term growth opportunities in 
this area.

Our strategy is to focus on markets where 
we see potential for growth and which 
meet our margin targets. In this financial 
year, we expect to complete our exit from 
our loss-making mechanical and electrical 
engineering construction business, 
which is exposed to the construction 
markets. We are also moving out of 
the design and build element of Asset 
Management. Whilst we have incurred 
significant losses in doing so, the group 
is now better positioned to deliver our 
growth ambitions. 

As ever, our achievements during the 
year would not be possible without the 
exceptional efforts of our people and we 
would like to extend a huge thank you to 
each of them, and welcome those who 
joined us. 

Strategic Report

Governance

Financial

5

Outlook
Our focus remains on driving our core UK 
FM business to its full potential in order 
to generate strong organic growth and 
maintain our margins at or above their 
current levels. At the same time, we will 
continue to grow and invest in adjacent 
markets – healthcare is a particular focus 
and we are well-placed to benefit from 
the substantial growth opportunities this 
market will offer.

We have made significant progress in 
re-positioning the group away from 
low growth, low margin and higher-risk 
activities by exiting businesses which 
do not meet our financial criteria. As a 
result, we are better placed than for many 
years to deliver growth in our chosen 
outsourcing markets.

The group is financially robust and 
we have a clear, focused strategy for 
growth. We are excited about the growth 
opportunities ahead and confident of 
delivering shareholder value. 

Roger Matthews
Chairman

Results
During the year, headline revenue grew 
by 8.2% to £2,142.6m (2013: £1,980.6m). 
Headline operating profit increased 
by 6.0% to £127.5m (2013: £120.3m), 
reflecting a margin of 6.0% (2013: 6.1%). 
Headline profit before tax increased by 
4.3% to £113.3m (2013: £108.6m) and 
headline earnings per share increased by 
5.2% to 24.3p (2013: 23.1p). 

Our statutory results include £44.9m 
of other items (2013: £52.3m), of which 
£33.9m are non-recurring (2013: £42.3m) 
and will not form part of our income 
streams in the future. The key non-
recurring items are: £13.6m of trading 
losses incurred as part of our exit from 
our mechanical and electrical engineering 
construction business; exceptional 
charges of £25.4m in respect of reducing 
our exposure to the design and build 
element of our Asset Management 
business; costs resulting from acquisitions 
and the related integration costs of £5.1m; 
and a £10.2m accounting net credit 
resulting from a change to future pension 
obligations under the Mitie Group defined 
benefit pension scheme.

Cash generation remained strong, with 
cash inflows from operations of £124.1m 
(2013: £131.0m), representing excellent 
conversion of EBITDA to cash of 107.3% 
(2013: 127.8%). The balance sheet remains 
robust with net debt at the year end of 
£186.6m or 1.6x EBITDA (2013: £192.2m 
or 1.9x). Return on capital employed has 
increased to 16.9% (2013: 16.5%).

We have committed bank facilities of 
£250m until September 2015 along 
with £252m equivalent of US Private 
Placement debt. Both of these facilities 
leave us in a strong position to take 
advantage of value-creating acquisition 
opportunities as they arise.

During this period, our order book 
has decreased by £0.5bn to £8.7bn 
(2013: £9.2bn). Our sales pipeline currently 
stands at £8.2bn (2013: £8.7bn) and our 
forward revenue visibility is excellent, 
with contracted revenue for the year 
ending 31 March 2015 at 84% of budgeted 
revenue (prior year: 85%).

Dividend
The Board’s policy is to grow the dividend 
broadly in line with the underlying earnings 
of the group. The final dividend proposed 
by the Board has increased by 7.0% to 6.1p 
per share (2013: 5.7p per share), bringing 
the full year dividend to 11.0p per share 
(2013: 10.3p per share), an increase of 6.8%. 
Subject to shareholder approval at the 
Annual General Meeting, the dividend will be 
paid on 6 August 2014 to shareholders on 
the register at 27 June 2014.

Board and corporate  
governance
Corporate governance remains an 
important and committed area of focus 
for the Board. The priorities during the 
year were the continued execution 
of our growth strategy, the ongoing 
review of performance and risk and the 
composition of the Board. This strong 
culture of governance is explained further 
in our Corporate Governance Statement.

On 1 June 2013, Jack Boyer was 
appointed as a Non-Executive Director 
of the Board. He has extensive 
experience of building and growing 
businesses globally and his early career 
was spent in consultancy and banking. 
On 31 October 2013, Terry Morgan CBE 
retired as a Non-Executive Director 
of the Board and Chairman of the 
Remuneration Committee. We thank 
him for his contribution and wish him 
well for the future. On 1 November 2013, 
Crawford Gillies undertook the role 
and responsibilities of Chairman of the 
Remuneration Committee. 

Bill Robson, our longest serving Executive 
Director, has indicated his intent to step 
down from the Board on 31 July 2014. 
Bill has served as a member of the 
Board since August 2001 and we are 
delighted that he intends to remain 
as part of the executive team. He will 
continue as Managing Director of our 
Property Management division, focusing 
on the many new opportunities that are 
developing within the housing sector.

Note: Headline results exclude ‘Other items’, as analysed in 
Note 5. 2013 headline results have been restated following 
amendments to IAS 19 ‘Employee Benefits’, see Note 1.

Mitie Group plc 
Annual Report and Accounts 2014

6

Chief Executive’s strategy overview

A successful and 
exciting business… 

Mitie has continued to grow and evolve 
this year, with much success. In everything 
we do our vision is to inspire change in the 
way that people live and work. We do that 
by excelling at service delivery, but always 
looking for a new or better way to do the 
things that we already do well. 

Our core business is in delivering a vast 
range of services to buildings and facilities. 
These activities accounted for over 95% 
of our revenue in 2014 and employ the 
vast majority of our 73,000 people. 
Through this we deliver the largest range 
of facilities management (FM) services 
in the UK: cleaning, landscaping, pest 
control, waste, security, catering, front of 
house, social housing maintenance and 
technical engineering maintenance and 
building services. Some clients appoint us 
to provide a single service, others, in their 
drive for even greater efficiency, choose 
a bundle of services and an increasing 
number opt for integrated FM. We also 
have an energy consulting business that 
helps clients manage energy costs and 
emissions, and this is a real differentiator 
for Mitie. 

We have also moved into the adjacent 
healthcare market, concentrating on 
providing homecare services, enabling 
people to live happier and more 
independent lives. 

We have 6,000+ carers providing a range 
of services from domiciliary care through 
to more complex, 24 hour care. 

Mitie is FM. Mitie is healthcare. We simply 
help our clients run more efficient and 
effective organisations by looking after 
their facilities, their energy needs and 
the people they are responsible for.

Highlights from the past year
This has been a very good year for Mitie. 
Our contract wins are covered on pages 
12 to 13, but I want to make special 
mention of a few. 

In Ireland, we have continued to make 
great progress since acquiring Dalkia FM 
three years ago. We have doubled in size 
in that time and were delighted to win a 
five-year contract to provide FM services 
to around 350 Bank of Ireland sites across 
the Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland 
and Great Britain.

We have also been awarded a 
landmark contract which will see us 
expand our presence in the market for 
custodial services. Valued at £180m 
over eight years, with a potential three 
year extension, this contract involves 
responsibility for over 900 detainees 
at the Colnbrook and Harmondsworth 
Immigration Removal Centres 
near Heathrow. 

Our task is to consolidate these two 
separate centres into one facility, 
which will release significant savings for 
the taxpayer. 

Winning repeat business says a great 
deal about our people, our values and 
our performance. We were very proud to 
retain our contract to provide integrated 
FM services to Network Rail, which 
is valued in excess of £75m over five 
years and was one of our biggest rebids 
for 2014. We have also extended our 
relationship with Vodafone for a further 
five years, delivering integrated FM in a 
contract valued in excess of £250m over 
the period. With Capita, we secured a 
further five year, £110m contract to deliver 
integrated FM and significantly increased 
the scale and scope of services we 
provide them. 

A clear strategy to grow
Our strategy is to deliver sustainable, 
profitable growth, and we will achieve this 
through two key routes.

We are focused on driving our core UK FM 
business to its full potential. Our ambition 
is to be the leading FM provider in the 
UK, with specific strengths in our target 
sectors. We will continue to focus on 
clients in both the public and private 
sectors, and provide them with world-class 
services, unrivalled expertise and the best 
value for money. 

Our growth in FM will come in part 
from developing relationships with new 
clients, but more so through expanding 
our relationships with existing clients. 
The evolution that our clients make 
from single service delivery, to bundles 
of services, to integrated FM in some 
cases, has been a significant driver of our 
growth and we see substantial further 
opportunities to grow with our clients in 
this way. To this end, we are investing 
heavily in our key account management 
capabilities and are taking a more sector-
focused approach to both sales and 
operations. In doing this we aim to grow 
our overall market share.

At the same time, we will continue to 
grow and invest in adjacent markets. 
Healthcare is a particular focus and 
we aim to take the leading position in 
our chosen sectors of the homecare 
market. The integration of MiHomecare 
is complete and with the acquisition of 
Complete Group during the year, we are 
well-placed to exploit great opportunities 
in this fast-growing market.

Strategic Report

Governance

Financial

7

This strategy will enable us to achieve a 
set of key business goals over the next 
five years: 
 k  As part of our objective of being the 
UK market leader in FM and in order 
to better support our clients, we are 
focusing our business on market 
sector specialisms. 

 k We will further build on our success in 
the care and custody sector, growing 
our services to central government, 
particularly in the area of immigration 
and prisons. 

 k In the homecare market, we will develop 
a leadership position and realise the 
sales synergies created by adding 
more complex care into our offering. 

Across everything we do, we will be the 
trusted adviser for our clients, building and 
growing strong relationships based on 
sector-leading expertise and propositions, 
strategic advice, innovative technology 
and management information. 

All of this will ensure that we are a scale 
player with a strong competitive position 
in each of our major markets, that we 
generate margins that are above the 
industry average and that we have 
excellent visibility of long-term revenues.

Reducing risk in our business
We are concentrating on higher margin 
activities in growth markets that feature 
long-term, secured revenue streams. 

Our mechanical and electrical engineering 
construction business, where we played a 
role as subcontractor on major installation 
projects, carried an unacceptable degree of 
risk. In addition, as it operated in a cyclical, 
low margin sector, it could no longer meet 
our financial or strategic targets. 

Consequently, we are now well on the 
way to exiting this business and expect 
this process to be completed during the 
financial year ending March 2015. 

For similar reasons, we have also been 
actively reducing our exposure to the 
design and build element of our Asset 
Management business, which has become 
part of the Energy Solutions division. 
We have existing commitments on a small 
number of legacy projects where we are 
carrying design and build risk and continue 
to experience delays and considerable 
cost overruns. As a result, during the 
financial year we recognised a number 
of non-recurring, exceptional losses in 
relation to some of these contracts. 
We have assessed the carrying value 
of any assets in our accounts and our 
contract related provisions are £25.4m 
as at the year end. This is significantly 
higher than we previously estimated, 
predominantly due to overruns on one of 
our generation projects, where we have 
provided against delays to completion and 
applied a more conservative assessment 
of the through life value of the contract. 
Going forward, design and build risk 
remains on a small number of material 
energy contracts and their financial 
returns remain uncertain. We continue 
to closely monitor their operational and 
financial performance. 

Supported by a strong  
set of values
We are all about developing our people to 
excel every day, challenge the status quo 
and inspire change in the way people live 
and work. 

The talent, skills and proper conduct of our 
people enable us to achieve excellence, 
and enhance our business performance 
and our brand. 

Maintaining positive and harmonious 
working relationships with our people is 
critical to our long-term success – and we 
can only achieve this when all of us apply 
our values in everything we do. 

Our core belief is that everyone should be 
treated fairly and in the way we ourselves 
would like to be treated. We strive to 
create an open and honest culture, where 
above all we can challenge people when 
they don’t do the right thing.

With a new look and feel
Everything we do is about partnerships –  
with clients, suppliers, the community and 
the Mitie people who work together to 
deliver innovative solutions. That ethos 
was the inspiration behind the new 
brand identity that you see in this report. 
Our new look, which is modern, fresh and 
dynamic, has been designed to reflect the 
business that Mitie is today, and where we 
want to be in the future.

And an exciting future ahead
In the past few years we have seen some 
big changes in Mitie – we have positioned 
ourselves as one of the UK’s leading 
integrated FM providers and invested in 
new markets such as homecare. We have 
also made significant progress in reducing 
our exposure to markets with high risk and 
low growth, laying the path for a much 
stronger business in the long term.

The future looks good, the prospects 
healthy. We are confident that we will 
continue to build on our track record 
of sustainable, profitable growth.

Ruby McGregor-Smith CBE
Chief Executive

In-house

Single services

 Bundled services

Integrated FM

A range of specialist  
single services

Broader cost savings

Synergies between service lines

Standardised provision

Integrated delivery – 
one client contact

Significant synergies

Shift

Management team employed 
by Mitie (thin client layer)

Data and information 
systems drive strategic 
property decisions

Potential incremental 
savings

20-30%
In-house to single service
Strategic partnering

+10-15%
Single to bundled services

+10%
Bundled to integrated FM

Creating value beyond cost savings

Mitie Group plc 
Annual Report and Accounts 2014

8

Our strategy

Our strategy is to deliver 
sustainable, profitable  
growth, and is supported  
by a focus on six key elements 

We measure our performance against this strategy with 
a range of financial and non-financial KPIs. Further detail 
on our financial KPIs can be found on pages 28 and 29.

Our sustainability strategy is directly linked to our corporate 
strategy and provides us with a framework to ensure we 
act responsibly towards all our stakeholders. For more 
information on Mitie’s material sustainability issues, and 
what our stakeholders can expect from us, please see 
our sustainability report.

6
Responsibility
Take a long-term view 
by acting responsibly.

5
Risk
Manage risk and protect 
our business and brand.

1
People
Develop the best talent 
at every level  
of our business. 

4 
New markets 
and services
Develop our service capability 
in our current markets and in 
markets that offer attractive 
growth opportunities.

2
Clients
Provide world-class 
services to attract new 
clients and retain and 
expand contracts with 
existing clients.

3
Operational 
excellence
Deliver market-leading, 
innovative services with 
maximum efficiency.

 1

People

‘People’ is one of the six key elements in 
our strategy. We aim to recruit, motivate, 
retain, train and develop the best 
talent in the industry. Why? Because in 
outsourcing, more than almost anywhere 
else, it’s the people on the front line who 
make the difference. They cook, clean 
and paint. They guard, mow and repair. 
They welcome guests, control pests, 
provide personal care and much more 
besides. And they do it all with a real desire 
to serve and, just as important, a smile on 
their faces. Their brilliant and hard work 
is the single biggest factor behind our 
success. We are our people – no more, 
no less – and they deserve and receive 
the greatest support we can give them.

That comes in the form of recognition 
programmes such as Mitie Stars, which 
gives us the chance to say ‘thanks’ in 
a very public way to those who have 
delighted clients by delivering beyond 
expectations. Our support is also 
evident through a variety of regular 
communication channels. Many of our 
people are young and for most of them 
social media is as much a part of their 
lives as TV and phones. We communicate 
in the way that they prefer – and that 
means using Facebook and Twitter. 

We aim to help our people be the best 
they can be and provide a range of 
training and development opportunities, 
from eLearning programmes to career 
pathways which define all key roles across 
the business and give us all clear guidance 
on what is required to make progress in 
our careers. In 2014, we look forward to 
launching the Mitie Academy. This will 
boost our account director talent pipeline, 
by sharing knowledge and providing 
development opportunities tailored to 
the needs of each individual.

Management retention  
%

KPI

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

92.0 

89.5 

82.5 

97.1 

89.2 

Description:
Mitie is a people business and we pride ourselves 
in creating and nurturing outstanding managers.

Monitoring how successful we are in retaining our 
people is an important measure for us.

Target:
Enhance focus on the development and retention of 
management to maintain a retention rate of over 80%.

Comment:
Our management retention rate was 89.2% for the year, 
excluding redundancies.

Strategic Report

Governance

Financial

9

 2

Clients

Clients in both public and private 
sectors continue to recognise outsourcing 
as a route not only to reducing costs but 
also to accessing expertise. We have 
enormous experience and our clients 
know that by working with us they are 
benefiting from a track record of delivery, 
trusted relationships and quality service. 
Put simply, we hit the ground running and 
make a real difference from day one.

Today, clients increasingly want that 
‘difference’ to be applied to more and 
more individual services. Many clients 
initially appoint us to provide a single 
service. Then, when we have proved our 
value, they frequently move towards 
bundling a number of services together 
– and there’s a clear trend towards 
bundled and integrated FM, where we 
deliver a suite of services, often across 
multiple sites. We see opportunities for 
great service and consistent growth in all 
contracts – whether we’re providing one 
service or twenty-one.

Client retention is key to our organic 
growth, particularly in relation to our top 
50 strategic contracts, which account 
for over 40% of group revenue (only one 
of these contracts accounts for more 
than 5% of group revenue, which currently 
contributes 8% of revenue). During the 
year our retention rate on these accounts 
was 92%. 

Single, bundled and
integrated contracts
% of revenue

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

43

42

41

41

40

KPI

57

58

13

26

31

46

33

29

Single

Bundled

Integrated

Description:
As a substantial portion of our revenue was historically 
generated through single service contracts, one of  
our opportunities for growth is through expanding our 
relationships with existing clients by providing other 
services. We have seen a trend in the markets towards 
integrated FM contracts over the past few years and we 
are well-positioned to meet the demands of this trend 
due to our broad range of services. We measure the 
percentage of revenue that is generated by these types 
of contracts in order to measure how well we are 
performing in this area.

Comment:
60% of revenues are attributable to bundled service 
and integrated FM contracts. This KPI includes the 
impact from MiHomecare, which currently operates 
predominantly single service contracts.

Secured revenue
%

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

75

KPI

81

83

85

84

Description:
We are focused on long-term recurring revenue 
streams. At the start of each financial year, we calculate 
the percentage of budgeted revenue that is already 
contracted.

Comment:
At the start of the financial year 2015, 84% of budgeted 
revenue was secured, a reflection of the success  
of our strategy to focus on long-term secured revenue.

Order book
£bn

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

6.4

6.8

KPI

8.6

9.2

8.7

Description:
Our forward order book shows the total value of 
future revenue secured by contractual agreements 
and it is a key part of our focus on building long-term 
recurring revenue.

Target:
We aim to grow our order book at least in line with 
revenue growth.

Comment:
Our order book decreased by £0.5bn during the year  
to £8.7bn. 

 
 
 
Mitie Group plc 
Annual Report and Accounts 2014

10

Our strategy

 3

Operational excellence

We focus on delivering efficiency – 
that’s why clients enjoy working with us. 
But in addition to the day-to-day services, 
clients are seeking value-added advice 
and innovations that reduce their 
total occupancy costs and improve 
service levels. 

We never rest on our laurels and never 
tire of looking for ways to do things 
better. Sometimes that means lateral 
thinking and approaching a task or service 
from a completely new angle. At other 
times, it can involve introducing new or 
improved technology such as MiWorld, 
a web-based management information 
portal that enables clients to monitor and 
manage all their buildings and equipment 
in one place, in real time. 

We continue to invest in these 
capabilities right across our business, 
and in doing so create true partnerships 
with our clients, drive cross selling and 
improve retention. 

Headline operating profit margin
%

KPI

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

5.4

5.7

6.2

6.1

6.0

Description:
Our headline operating profit margin provides us with 
a good indicator of the profitability of our business. 
Where we have material restructuring and acquisition 
related items, such as non-recurring integration costs, 
we exclude these from our measure.

Objective:
Margin increases over the medium-term.

Comment:
Our headline operating profit margin was 6.0%.

 4

New markets and services

FM is our heartland and the main driver 
for both our current success and future 
prospects. At the same time, we’re 
constantly looking for opportunities in new 
markets that meet our targets for margins 
and long-term, secure growth. We do this 
by growing organically in new markets, 
or by making acquisitions. We have 
an established track record of using 
acquisitions to add strategic capability and 
fuel long-term organic revenue growth. 

Healthcare is an important area where 
we have used acquisitions to enter a new 
market. This is a key adjacency to our 
core business and demands many of the 
same key strengths needed to succeed 
in facilities management: client focus, 
service, flexibility and support. It also 
offers tremendous growth prospects. 
During the year we paid around £9m 
to bring Complete Group into our 
organisation. One of the leading complex 
care companies in the UK, the business 
employs some 650 people, including 
registered nurses. Complete Group 
provides high acuity care at home to 
approximately 150 individuals with ongoing 
complex clinical healthcare needs and will 
complement our offering in the rapidly-
growing homecare market.

We also invested over £1m in two new 
‘Mitie Model’ businesses. Our existing waste 
business has been recapitalised to allow the 
management team to take an equity stake 
in the business and motivate them to grow 
it and share in its future success. 

Organic revenue growth
%

KPI

2.1

2010

0.5

2011

2012

2013

2014

5.4

5.0

5.2

Description:
Mitie has historically tracked and reported organic 
revenue growth as a key measure of its success. 
Organic growth is calculated by using revenue as 
reported in the Accounts, based on the continuing 
businesses and excluding the impact of material 
acquisitions or disposals made during the 
performance period. 

Objective:
Grow revenue organically every year. 

Comment:
Mitie achieved 5.2% organic headline revenue growth 
across the group in 2014, an increase of 20bps on 
2013 organic growth.

In addition, our latest start-up business 
is Mitie Local, which provides cleaning 
services to small and medium sized 
London based customers. 

Mitie’s Care and Custody business, which 
specialises in custodial management 
services, also successfully expanded 
its presence in the immigration 
centre market.

In the security market, we were pleased 
to make another small acquisition, of 
UK CRBs Ltd (UKCRBs), the criminal 
records checking service, from the 
management team. UKCRBs is one of 
the largest providers of online criminal 
records checking services in the UK and 
gives our Total Security Management 
business a scalable platform to compete 
in the rapidly growing screening and 
vetting market.

 
 
Strategic Report

Governance

Financial

11

 5

Risk

Effective risk management is critical in 
helping us achieve our strategy and is a 
key consideration in our business decision 
making. Through our contracts, we 
become responsible for certain tasks and 
functions. With responsibility comes risk – 
and we use a thorough risk management 
strategy to help us identify and mitigate 
those risks.

As the group grows in scale and 
complexity, a flexible and dynamic 
approach to risk management is required 
to help us plan and prioritise the use of 
our resources effectively across all areas. 
This enterprise-wide framework ensures 
we can identify, mitigate and manage 
our significant risks effectively, both 
at an operational and strategic level. 

We are also aware of our obligations to 
operate in a responsible and ethical way. 
Our ethical business framework sets out 
clear expectations and behaviours for all 
our people to follow, which holds them 
accountable to always doing the right 
thing and adhering to our values.

Reportable accidents  
per 1,000 employees

2010

2011

2012

2013*

2014*

KPI

3.5

3.1

3.1

3.4

2.6

Description:
The health and safety of our people is critical to our 
business. Reportable accidents are those defined as 
fatalities, major injuries or resulting in over seven days 
absence or restriction from work. 

*Figures shown are those calculated to reflect the over 
seven day absence period, rather than the previously 
defined over three day absence period. 

Objective:
In line with our Work Safe Home Safe! employee 
engagement programme, our objective is to continue 
to embed safe working behaviours and ensure 
every employee goes home safely at the end of their 
working day.

Comment:
Our reportable accident reporting rate shows a 16% 
improvement on the 2013 rate, with the major 
incident rate showing a 10% improvement. We will 
maintain our focus on continual improvement in 
health and safety risk management to fulfil our 
Work Safe Home Safe! vision.

 6

Responsibility

We take our responsibility as a 
business seriously, and work hard to 
minimise our impact on the environment 
and maximise our support for local 
communities. Our Energy Solutions team 
helps many of our FM clients and we 
use the same expertise to make sure that 
emissions and consumption associated 
with our own operations are as low 
as possible.

We’ve set ourselves an aspirational target 
to reduce our carbon footprint by 35% 
by 2020 and we’re well on our way to 
achieving it.

The Mitie Foundation, set up in 2013, 
is an independent charity focused on 
creating job opportunities for people of 
all backgrounds in the communities in 
which we work. Our award winning Real 
Apprentice programme, under its new 
name Ready2Work, has continued to 
go from strength to strength. A record 
number of five programmes have been 
completed this year and 51 people 
completed the course. Of those, 38 have 
been offered a job or apprenticeship, 
or have gone back into further education. 

We were delighted to be recognised 
with the highest ranking in Business 
in the Community’s (BITC) Corporate 
Responsibility Index, being awarded a 
Platinum Big Tick, a new banding in the 
Index for 2013 designed to challenge 
leading companies on topics such as the 
unique contribution their business can 
make to create a sustainable economy. 
Our commitment to diversity also saw 
us win the 2013 Leadership Diversity 
Award at the National Business Awards 
UK, and for the fourth year in a row we 
were named as one of the Times Top 50 
companies where women want to work.

More on our financial performance: 

   Page 28

Carbon dioxide emissions 
tonnes per employee

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

KPI

0.79

0.74

0.71

0.64

0.63

Description:
Emissions are calculated using the DEFRA guidance 
on how to measure and report GHG emissions and 
apply the 2010 guidelines for company reporting. 
The rate of CO2e emissions per Mitie employee 
is calculated using the average number of people 
employed during the year.

Objective:
Understand and minimise the environmental impact 
of our operations.

Comment:
Emissions per employee are lower than the prior year.

Note: All prior years are restated.

 
Mitie Group plc 
Annual Report and Accounts 2014

12

New contracts update

Building and creating excellent  
client relationships in our  
core chosen markets and sectors
This summary shows a selection of contracts that we  
have retained, expanded and been awarded during the year.

Finance and professional services

Private

Manufacturing and utilities

Client

Timeframe Total value

Client

Private
Private

Timeframe Total value

5 years

£50m

5 years

£35m

5 years

£25m

3 years

£8m

3 years

ND

7 years

£6m

3 years

£5m

Capita
Retained and expanded a contract to deliver 
integrated FM

PwC
Retained a contract to provide document 
management and distribution services

Bank of Ireland
Awarded a significant new contract to deliver 
facilities management at 350 sites across 
the Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland and 
Great Britain

Insurance firm
Appointed preferred bidder to deliver an integrated 
FM contract

Law firm
Retained and expanded a contract to provide 
a range of business services, including mailroom, 
printing and other services

Law firm
Awarded a new contract to provide 
business services

Stock exchange
Added to our existing work delivering facilities 
management, with a contract including cleaning, 
mail, porterage, reception, reprographics, 
switchboard, and waste management

Arup
Awarded a new contract for total security 
management

5 years

£110m

3 years

ND

5 years

ND

5 years

£55m

5 years

£12m

3 years

£5m

3 years

£4m

AWE, the Atomic Weapons Establishment
Retained and expanded our partnership to deliver 
bundled services

Novartis Pharmaceuticals
Retained and expanded a contract for waste 
management services

Luxury car maker
Retained and expanded our contract to deliver 
a range of cleaning and environmental services

Bergen Engines
Awarded a new contract to provide facilities 
management services in Norway

BAE Systems
Awarded a new contract for total security 
management, working within its Real Estate 
Solutions business

Springfields Fuels
Awarded a new contract for total security 
management

Kellogg’s
Awarded a new contract to provide facilities 
management services to Kellogg’s UK and 
European head offices in Manchester and Dublin, 
as well as specialist hygiene services to their 
manufacturing plant in Wrexham

3 years

ND

National Grid
A new total security management contract

6 years

£4m

Technology and communications
Client

Vodafone
Retained a contract to deliver integrated FM

Private

Timeframe Total value

5 years

£250m

Retail

Client

Major online retailer
Awarded a new contract to deliver a range of 
facilities management services

Mitchells & Butlers
Awarded a contract to provide waste management 
services at 1,600 restaurants throughout the UK

Tesco
Awarded a contract to deliver lighting

Cineworld
Awarded a contract to provide cleaning services 
at 44 cinemas in the South of England, as well as 
Cineworld’s head office in London

Major UK luxury fashion retailer
Gather & Gather awarded a new contract to 
provide catering services

A British shoe manufacturer
A new contract, subject to final negotiations, 
providing bundled FM

Private

Timeframe Total value

3 years

£47m

3 years

£38m

4 years

ND

3 years

£9m

3 years

£5m

3 years

£4m

ND = not disclosed

Strategic Report

Governance

Financial

13

Transport and logistics
Client

Network Rail
Retained a contract to deliver integrated FM

Heathrow Terminals 3, 4, 5 and the  
Heathrow Express
Awarded a new contract to provide technical FM

Eurotunnel
Retained and expanded a total security 
management contract

HS1
Awarded a contract to operate Ashford 
International station on behalf of HS1 Ltd,  
owner of the UK’s first high-speed railway

Private

Timeframe Total value

5 years

£75m

3 years +  
1 year +  
1 year

£15m 
(phase 1)

3 years

£12m

5 years

ND

FedEx
Renewed a contract to provide security services

3 years

£3m

Healthcare
Client

Four Seasons Healthcare
Commenced a new contract in January to deliver 
technical FM across its estate of care homes

Healthcare
Client

Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust
Awarded a new contract to provide domestic, portering 
and helpdesk services at Epsom Hospital and catering 
services at both Epsom and St Helier Hospitals

NHS Foundation Trust
Awarded a technical facilities management 
contract to deliver a lighting project

Private

Timeframe Total value

3 years

£33m

Public

Timeframe Total value

5 years

£33m

6 months

£4m

Homecare
Client

East Sussex County Council
Appointed to provide homecare, reablement and 
continuing healthcare

Worcestershire and Richmond upon Thames
Appointed to framework contracts

Leicestershire
Appointed to deliver a Continuing Healthcare 
programme

Central government
Client

The Home Office
Awarded a new contract to manage and maintain 
two immigration centres

The Maritime & Coastguard Agency
A new bundled FM contract

Local government
Client

The London Borough of Sutton
A new contract delivering technical FM

Education
Client

University of Law
Awarded a multi-service contract to include 
cleaning, security, mechanical and electrical 
engineering, and pest control services across the 
University of Law’s eight campuses

Oxford Brookes University
A new cleaning contract

Public

Nottinghamshire County Council
Home-based care and support services

Timeframe Total value

8 years + 
3 years

£180m 
(phase 1)

3 years

£4m

Public

Timeframe Total value

7 years +  
3 years

£15m 
(phase 1)

Public

Timeframe Total value

3 years

ND

3 years

£1m

London Borough of Bexley
Appointed to deliver reablement care 

Social housing
Client

Orbit Heart of England
Secured an additional £2.5m per annum contract to 
deliver capital improvement works over eight years. 
This is in addition to our existing work with the client 
and brings the total contract value to £152m over 
eight years

Royal Borough of Kingston
Awarded a new contract to manage Kingston’s 
‘Better Homes’ programme, including delivering 
planned work and decorations to properties across 
the borough

London & Quadrant Housing Trust
Awarded a new contract to deliver painting 
services to L&Q’s housing stock throughout 
South East England

Raglan Housing
Awarded a new contract to provide  
painting services to 5,000 properties across 
Southern England

Public

Timeframe Total value

5 years

£20m

5 years

£3.3m

5 years

£2.5m

3 years

£2.5m

2 years

£1m

Public

Timeframe Total value

8 years

£20m

1 year + 
1 year

£15m

6 years + 
6 years

£7.5m to 
£15m

6 years

£4.5m

Mitie Group plc 
Annual Report and Accounts 2014

14

 Inspiring…
A creative take  
on catering

In May 2013, Creative Taste, part of Mitie’s catering portfolio, 
took over operation of the Gallery Café at Dulwich Picture 
Gallery. We now run daily operations at the 70 cover café, 
as well as catering all hospitality events in the café, along 
with a large number held in the gallery and its grounds.

Creative Taste introduced a new style of service and 
redesigned menus to the café having gained a complete 
understanding of Dulwich Picture Gallery’s profile  
and requirements.

What’s more, we’ve fully refurbished the café space, and 
introduced an additional catering facility – a 1970’s converted 
Citroen H van called Bernadette – which provides an outdoor 
café and children’s offer in the gallery grounds.

Our innovation and nimble approach has eased pressure 
on the main café during busy periods, provides visitors 
with a spacious seating area within the grounds, and has 
considerably increased sales.

+31%

increase in average spend  
per visitor since the start 
of the contract a year ago

70

cover capacity at the Gallery 
Café, enhanced by our vintage 
catering van, Bernadette

Strategic Report

Governance

Financial

15

Mitie Group plc 
Annual Report and Accounts 2014

16

 Inspiring…

A sustainable strategy  
for waste management 

Mitie was awarded a three year, £38m contract in  
October 2013 to deliver waste management services  
to Mitchells & Butlers’ extensive and diverse UK estate. 

Building on our existing relationship with Mitchells & Butlers 
we’ve expanded what started as a single service pest control 
contract to provide recycling services at 1,600 restaurants 
and pubs nationwide. In April 2014 Mitchells & Butlers further 
expanded our contract to include delivery of mechanical  
and electrical maintenance across 85 of their sites for the  
next two years, with an additional value of £2m.

In a chain that includes well-known brands such as Harvester, 
Toby Carvery, and All Bar One, we’ve implemented our 
innovative approach to waste management, improving 
Mitchells & Butlers’ sustainable performance and reducing 
costs through a programme of material segregation  
and better supply chain management. 

1,600+

restaurants and pubs 
throughout the UK

80%+

percentage of Mitchells & Butlers 
waste that is recycled

Strategic Report

Governance

Financial

17

 Inspiring…
Smarter services 
and safer working

We renewed our £75m integrated facilities management 
contract with Network Rail in March 2014, building  
on our long-term partnership to deliver a comprehensive  
range of FM services across their property portfolio  
for a further five years. 

As part of our ongoing strategic relationship, Mitie is 
improving site security, increasing efficiency and reducing 
costs for Network Rail by supplying its new Sentinel  
card service, the passport for working safely on the  
UK rail network.

Mitie introduced the new Sentinel service to Network Rail  
in June 2013, replacing the basic laminated card system 
with a service incorporating smart card technology – the 
most advanced system of its kind in the UK – all managed 
via Mitie’s state-of-the-art MiTec 24/7 technology centre.

The real time, automated service reduces site registration 
times, provides a live register of the people onsite and  
100% authentication of ID and skills, improves protection  
for lone workers, and streamlines frontline processes.

90k

Network Rail employees  
and contractors work ‘trackside’ 
on or near Network Rail’s 
infrastructure, and must carry 
a valid card for inspection

100%

authentication of ID and skills 
of the people working onsite, 
improving site safety

Mitie Group plc 
Annual Report and Accounts 2014

18

Strategic Report

Governance

Financial

19

 Inspiring…
An ethical  
approach to care

MiHomecare delivers over 6,250 hours of care per week to 
vulnerable people in Southwark with 380 support workers, 
making us the biggest care provider in the borough. 

We currently provide care for people who need additional 
help to stay in their own home, including people with dementia 
and mobility issues. Our services include meal preparation, 
medication management, washing, continence support and 
housework. Over 96% of our Southwark workforce lives in the 
borough, making this a local service provided by local people.

Our focus on training and developing our people is 
consistently recognised by our clients and the people we 
care for, who praise the “exceptional way we work with the 
very vulnerable”.

96%

of our people who work  
in Southwark also live there; 
local people, providing  
a local service

380

support workers providing 
care throughout the borough 
makes us the biggest care 
provider in Southwark 

6,250+

hours of care provided  
to vulnerable people  
in Southwark every week

Mitie Group plc 
Annual Report and Accounts 2014

20

 Inspiring…
An integrated  
approach to FM

The Bank of Ireland appointed Mitie in October 2013 to 
deliver integrated facilities management across its estate in 
the Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland and Great Britain.

Mitie was appointed to provide a complete range of  
self-delivered services, including engineering maintenance, 
cleaning, landscaping, waste management, pest control, 
reception, and mailroom.

The strategic, five year partnership has helped the  
Bank of Ireland to integrate services across its estate  
to drive significant efficiencies through an innovative  
and high-quality service offering. 

515

number of Mitie people 
delivering services 
to Bank of Ireland

4,000+

reactive calls handled and resolved 
each month

Strategic Report

Governance

Financial

21

 Inspiring…
A first rate response  
and significant savings

£20m

savings on repair bill  
over the next ten years

In November 2013 Mitie commenced a ten year, £177m 
contract to carry out housing repairs and maintenance for 
Hammersmith & Fulham Council.

Having been awarded a three year £30m cyclical painting 
contract in January 2013, and building on our existing strategic 
partnership with the Council, we’re now responsible for 
providing reactive repairs and planned maintenance  
to over 17,000 social housing properties across the  
London borough. 

Our innovative approach to service delivery ensures that 
residents are a top priority; backed up by our 24/7 contact 
centre, which provides a flexible appointment system  
so that residents can select convenient times for repairs  
to take place.

17,000+

properties will be subject  
to reactive repairs and  
planned maintenance

Mitie Group plc 
Annual Report and Accounts 2014

22

Marketplace and operating overview

Well-placed to benefit 
from the evolving  
outsourcing market

Clients continue to recognise the strengths of outsourcing  
in the drive to meet cost and operational challenges.

We are excited about the growth opportunities in 
our targeted markets, as clients move from outsourcing  
single services to relying on our support across bundled  
services and, ultimately, fully integrated FM.

Economic climate
Although the UK economy is showing 
signs of improvement, and we have  
seen an increase in our bid activity across 
our businesses in the past 12 months, 
there is still some distance to go before 
we can say that the effects of the 
downturn are definitely behind us.

Against this backdrop and the 
austerity measures which continue 
to be implemented by both central 
government and local authorities, 
outsourcing is now well-established 
as a route to improved services with 
lower costs. 

We work with people who want to 
perform better, and see attractive 
opportunities across FM and Healthcare. 

1

2

14

13

12

11

Major markets:
Revenue

10

9

8

3

4

5

6

12 13 14

1

11

10

Major markets:
Sales pipeline

9

8

7

2

3

7

6

5

4

Public sector  
1 Central and other government

£0.8bn  36%
8%

Public sector  
1 Central and other government

£4.7bn  57%
15%

2 Local government

3 Social housing

4 Healthcare

5 Education

7%

2 Local government

10%

3 Social housing

5%

6%

4 Healthcare

5 Education

14%

19%

6%

3%

Private sector  
6 Finance and professional services

£1.4bn  64%
17%

Private sector  
6 Finance and professional services

£3.5bn  43%
8%

7 Manufacturing

8 Retail

9 Property management

10 Technology and communications

11  Construction

12  Utilities

13 Leisure

14  Transport and logistics

11%

11%

4%

6%

1%

3%

4%

7%

7 Retail

8 Manufacturing

9  Transport and logistics

10 Property management

11 Technology and communications

12  Utilities

13 Leisure

14  Construction

8%

5%

8%

7%

1%

2%

2%

2%

Strategic Report

Governance

Financial

23

Although we will be highly selective in the 
opportunities we pursue, justice, social 
housing and local authorities are all areas 
where we anticipate high levels of growth 
in the coming years. While there have 
been procurement delays in the justice 
market, we remain confident and have 
also identified attractive opportunities 
in social housing, particularly through 
the long-term nature of contracts 
and relationships that are a feature 
of this market. 

Private sector

Private sector clients face many 
similar challenges to their public sector 
counterparts. They aim to outsource 
non-core services in order to reduce 
costs while maintaining – and in many 
cases improving – the services they 
offer. We have proven strengths in 
many sectors and expect good growth, 
especially in retail, manufacturing, 
transport and the financial sector. 
Our growth has been predominantly 
driven by the private sector over the 
past five years, and we expect this trend 
to continue, as the economic recovery 
gains momentum.

Services to 
buildings  
and facilities

Marketplace
The total UK FM market is valued at 
£125bn, with £75bn currently outsourced. 
Our principal addressable market, defined 
as contracts worth over £500,000 per 
year, is estimated to be £45bn, of which 
we have a 4% share. The market remains 
fragmented and is dominated by around 
120 large providers, with the 12 largest 
players accounting for 34% of the market. 
Individual service line markets tend to be 
led by different competitors, who in turn 
have follower positions in other markets. 
The FM market is expected to grow 
around 2% per annum between 2013 and 
2017, a significant improvement on the 
1.2% per annum achieved between 2007 
and 2013 (sources: leading management 
consultancy; MTW Research). 

During 2013, we commissioned an 
independent qualitative research 
programme among senior property 
and facilities directors in the UK. 

Clients want companies such as Mitie 
to help them carry out their business 
better, not just cheaper. Among the 
survey’s key findings was the fact that 
although outsourcing remains a key 
method of reducing costs, it is also 
recognised as a way to harness expertise. 
Many interviewees also agreed that a 
focus on least cost provision was a false 
economy, and stressed the need for 
a more outcome-based approach that 
encourages the best performance from 
the service provider. 

The research identified five key customer 
needs: an emphasis on low price coupled 
with a proven track record; a steady 
shift towards bundled services and 
integrated FM; increased expectation of 
FM providers, with a need for strategic 
advice as well as efficient service delivery; 
greater demand for technology and 
management information; and reduced 
demand for FM on a global or cross-
border basis.

Public sector

In the public sector, we believe that 
outsourcing will remain a key government 
strategy and we foresee an increase 
in activity, driven by continuing budget 
reductions. The CBI recently estimated 
that the Government is only half way 
through its planned deficit reduction. 
In order to further reduce the deficit 
and procure services that offer the 
best value for money, it will continue to 
open up public services to independent 
competition. This will be supported by the 
UK public services industry, which makes 
up more than 7% of the UK’s GDP and 
supports over five million jobs. The CBI 
also proposed to introduce new measures 
to boost transparency and trust in public 
sector contracts that are managed by 
private and third sector organisations, 
which we endorse.

Mitie Group plc 
Annual Report and Accounts 2014

24

Marketplace and operating overview

Operational performance 
overview
There are significant opportunities 
for us to grow organically and to win 
market share. This growth will be 
driven by: our extensive self-delivery 
capability supported by a well-managed 
supply chain, which generates value 
for our clients whether they choose 
single, bundled or integrated services; 
our focus on technology which can 
increase efficiency and enhance 
profit margins; and our commitment 
to investing in capable management 
teams that can build and maintain key 
strategic relationships.

Those strengths formed the basis 
for a year in which we were awarded 
and retained a number of important 
contracts, details of which can be found 
on pages 12 and 13. 

Facilities Management revenue split

1

£1,770m

5

1 Cleaning and  

environmental service

2 Security

3 Catering and front 

of house

4 Technical and  

building services

5 Integrated FM

2

3

4

2014
£m

2013
£m

363

216

388

246

76

91

447

668

413

510

We have aligned the way we report our 
FM business to more accurately reflect 
how it is managed, which is in the two key 
areas of Soft and Hard FM. Soft FM is 
made up of: cleaning and environmental 
services; security; and catering and front 
of house services. Hard FM provides a 
range of technical and building services.

Our integrated FM proposition brings 
together a range of hard and soft FM 
services. During the year, the total revenue 
generated from our integrated contracts 
was £668m.

Over the last two decades, the FM 
industry has moved from providing 
single services to bundles of services. 
Today, the focus is on integrating 
a wide range of services into one 
cohesive contract, often at multiple 
and diverse sites. However, although 
the immediate benefits of bundled and 
integrated services include lower costs 
and a single point of accountability, 
long-term success is built on a track 
record of consistent delivery across 
all service lines.

Many FM clients see technology – 
and specifically management information 
– as a key differentiator among providers. 
The data that we collect and hold as part 
of managing a client’s estate can provide 
powerful management information. 
It allows us to reduce the total cost of 
occupancy and improve service levels and 
responsiveness. It also provides insight for 
strategic decisions about how our clients 
run their estates; for example, how to 
better use mobile working or how to 
invest (or divest) across their portfolio.

While a fully integrated FM model 
will not suit all clients, the shift to greater 
integration and bundling of services is 
steady and is continuing to generate 
new and expanded contracts for Mitie.

Divisional performance

Soft FM

2014

2013 Growth

Revenue

£1,190.8m £1,122.2m

6.1%

Operating 
profit

Operating 
profit margin

£74.8m £73.4m

1.9%

6.3%

6.5% (0.2ppts)

Order book

£5.1bn

£5.0bn

2.0%

Cleaning and environmental services

Rebranded in 2013 as Environmental+, 
this business is one of the UK’s largest 
providers of cleaning, pest control, 
landscaping, waste recycling and winter 
gritting. It employs over 32,000 people 
and is active on every high street in 
the country. 

We brought these services together under 
one banner to reflect client demands for 
linking services that complement each 
other, saving costs and improving quality. 

This model allows us to equip our 
people with multiple skills, thereby 
reducing the number of site visits and 
improving productivity. This joined-up 
approach also increases efficiencies, 
saves vital resources such as energy 
and water, and helps to reduce our clients’ 
carbon footprints. 

Security

Our focus is on providing our clients with 
total security management. We have 
responded to changes in the industry 
by adopting a risk-based approach to 
security – we assess risks and then bring 
together the right people, technology and 
consultancy services to manage them. 

While manned guarding remains 
central to our security services, we have 
diversified through a range of higher 
margin and predominantly technology-
based offerings. Services such as remote 
monitoring, employee screening, lone 
worker protection and vacant property 
security systems are changing our 
business mix.

In addition, there are good opportunities 
for us to incorporate security within 
integrated FM contracts. 

Strategic Report

Governance

Financial

25

Property management

2014

2013 Growth

Revenue

£264.8m £242.8m

9.1%

Operating 
profit

Operating 
profit margin

£14.4m

£13.6m

5.9%

5.4%

5.6% (0.2ppts)

Order book

£0.8bn

£0.9bn

(11.1%)

Property Management now operates 
solely in the domestic housing market, 
serving both private and public sector 
customers. We deliver a wide range 
of property related services, and are a 
market leader in comprehensive repair 
and paint services. These operations 
are delivered locally through our branch 
network in 28 locations, and reach in 
excess of 200,000 homes across the UK. 

The market is fast moving, and we 
continue to innovate and expand the 
range of services we offer. We support 
our clients to make transformational 
change, which includes bespoke 
partnering models, legal structures, 
strategic planning, investment 
consultation and stock surveys.

The market is also continuing to 
consolidate, and during 2013 we saw an 
increasing trend towards longer-term, 
larger bundled contracts across larger 
social housing portfolios. With continued 
pressure on local authority budgets, many 
authorities are turning to economies of 
scale to maintain quality across housing 
stocks. We are well placed to exploit 
this trend by bundling services together 
for clients.

Our repairs business, which provides 
services to insurance companies’ 
customers, and private sector housing 
offering continues to grow and we are 
creating a sector specialism within our 
chosen markets.

Catering and front of house

This is a service line that is now delivering 
in a market where we have huge potential 
to grow – the UK contract catering 
market alone is worth £4.2bn. Our Gather 
& Gather catering brand has increased 
its bottom line three-fold in only three 
years and is winning business in its own 
right, as well as an integral part of broader 
FM contracts.

Competition in this market is significant 
but fragmented – split between the 
large global corporates and a host of 
smaller, independent and owner-operated 
businesses. The market is based on 
specialisation, with defined brands and 
offerings targeted at specific sectors. 
Our team is diverse and contemporary, 
and offers clients a new, challenger brand 
with a real point of difference.

These services have huge potential 
to generate reputational goodwill and 
position Mitie as the premier provider 
of catering and reception services, in 
combination with our award winning 
Client Services. 

Hard FM

2014

2013 Growth

Revenue

£579.4m £526.7m 10.0%

Operating 
profit

Operating 
profit margin

£30.0m £29.0m

3.4%

5.2%

5.5% (0.3ppts)

Order book

£2.1bn

£2.8bn

(25.0%)

Our technical and building services 
offering encompasses a full range of 
hard FM services, from mechanical and 
electrical maintenance to lighting and 
building fabric repairs. We operate in a 
wide range of sectors and are currently 
seeing good opportunities across the 
business; particularly with clients in the 
transport, local government, retail and 
commercial sectors.

Demand for our mobile maintenance 
service continues to grow, and it is 
now the most comprehensive in the 
UK. We are also the largest lighting 
contractor in the UK, and the advances 
in LED lighting technology have enabled 
us to differentiate ourselves further by 
providing energy efficiencies.

Our specialist services continue to 
provide new opportunities, through 
services such as water treatment, building 
controls, fire and security systems and 
compliance; all of which continue to grow. 
Our smartphone operational solution 
and performance audit software is 
revolutionising the way our engineers 
operate, and the way our clients manage 
their technical assets.

To further support our clients, we 
have refined our operational structure. 
Our technical and building services 
offering now encompasses a range of 
niche property services such as roofing 
and plumbing, which previously sat within 
Property Management. As all of these 
services are related to either long-term 
maintenance contracts or short-term 
projects for clients with large, commercial 
property portfolios, there are significant 
benefits from operating them as part 
of a singular, broader business.

Energy solutions

2014

2013 Growth

Revenue

£15.9m £45.9m

(65.4%)

Operating 
profit

Operating 
profit margin

(£4.4m)

(£1.4m)

(214.3%)

(27.7%)

(3.1%) (24.6ppts)

Order book

£0.2bn

£0.3bn

(33.3%)

Energy and carbon consumption are 
playing a growing role in the property 
management decisions and strategies 
of our clients. Costs continue to be a 
major issue for all, with our own research 
forecasting that they will double by 2020. 
The issue is further clouded for clients by 
the confusing landscape of obligations 
and policies, as well as the complex 
solutions offered by many providers. 

Our FM proposition is supported by 
services from our Utilyx business, which 
helps our larger FM clients to procure, use 
and generate electricity more efficiently. 
Energy consulting is an important 
differentiator for many of our clients, who 
recognise that it can add significant value 
to their relationships with Mitie. Utilyx also 
works direct with a large independent 
client base. 

During the year, we integrated our Asset 
Management business into Utilyx. We are 
continuing to reduce our exposure to the 
design and build element of this business.

Mitie Group plc 
Annual Report and Accounts 2014

26

Marketplace and operating overview

Homecare is recognised as an 
important element in the move towards 
a system of care that both meets patient 
needs and also delivers better value. 

People prefer to remain in their own 
homes when possible, while central 
government and local authorities view 
homecare as a more cost-efficient 
alternative to care in hospitals or 
retirement homes. Consequently, 
homecare in the UK is a marketplace 
that displays many of the same features 
as the early days of FM outsourcing. 
These include clear opportunities for 
consolidation in a fragmented market 
and for technology to play a major role in 
accelerating performance. Furthermore, 
there is the potential for us to build on 
our existing FM relationships with local 
authorities and the NHS to secure 
homecare contracts.

Increasingly, homecare (or adult 
social care) is publicly funded but privately 
delivered. Two decades ago, the vast 
majority of care was provided by local 
authorities. Today, such provision is 
negligible and almost all care is delivered 
by independent organisations such 
as Mitie.

Services  
to people

Marketplace
Out of an annual UK healthcare spend 
of over £100bn, our target social care 
market accounts for £17bn and the 
homecare market in England alone 
currently accounts for around £8bn. 
However, a number of trends will drive 
this amount up in the coming years. 

The UK population is ageing – with the 
number of over 85s expected to double 
in the next 25 years. This increase 
means that long-term care is expected 
to account for an increasing proportion 
of GDP. According to the OBR, this figure 
could rise from around 1.5% today to 
2.5% by 2060. Cost pressures continue 
to mount, with local authorities expected 
to reduce spending by £800m in the 
near term. The planned 10% reduction in 
council spending over the next two years, 
announced in the 2013 summer spending 
review, will add further momentum to the 
drive to achieve better value in all aspects 
of long-term care.

Homecare services
We offer a range of homecare services:
 k  Help with personal hygiene and 

dressing needs

 k  Morning and night time help to get 

in and out of bed

 k  Administration and assistance 

with medication

 k  Liaison with care users’ GPs
 k  Respite care for relatives and carers
 k  Escorted outings and holidays
 k  Emergency assistance
 k  Live in care
 k  Complex care

Strategic Report

Governance

Financial

27

Performance highlights

Healthcare

2014

2013* Growth

Revenue

£91.7m £43.0m 113.3%

Operating 
profit

Operating 
profit margin

£12.7m

£5.7m 122.8%

13.8%

13.3% 0.5ppts

Order book

£0.5bn

£0.2bn

150%

* Enara was acquired on 9 October 2012, these results are 
from the period of acquisition to 31 March 2013.

Since the acquisition of Enara in 2012, 
which marked our entry into the homecare 
market, we have rebranded the business 
as MiHomecare. It now benefits from a 
more streamlined corporate structure 
and back office, and full integration into 
our operations is complete. 

MiHomecare provides high quality care 
at home to people who require help due 
to illness, disability or infirmity. We deliver 
around 120,000 hours of care per 
week to 10,000 people via some 6,000 
employees working out of 57 branches. 
We offer a range of homecare models 
to a client base of local authorities (78% 
of revenue), the NHS (5%) and private 
individuals (17%). The average length of 
contract is three years and the business 
has a retender success rate of over 90%.

During 2013, we were appointed 
to deliver a Continuing Healthcare 
programme in Leicestershire as well as 
framework contracts in Peterborough, 
Worcestershire and Richmond upon 
Thames. We also won a two year 
contract to provide reablement services 
and homecare in the London Borough  
of Camden.

Long-term, our strategy is to complement 
MiHomecare’s domiciliary care operations 
with capabilities in reablement, complex 
care, community services and integrated 
care pathways. The acquisition of 
Complete Group in January 2014 was 
an important step in this direction. 
Complete Group employs some 650 
people, including registered nurses, 
to provide high acuity care at home to 
around 150 individuals with ongoing 
complex clinical healthcare needs.

Mitie Group plc 
Annual Report and Accounts 2014

28

Financial review

Strengthening  
our financial  
position

Highlights

£2,142.6m +8.2% (Organic: 5.2%)
Headline revenue
(2013: £1,980.6m)

6.0% (0.1)ppts
Headline operating profit margin
(2013: 6.1%)

24.3p +5.2%
Headline basic EPS
(2013: 23.1p)

£127.5m +6.0%
Headline operating profit
(2013: £120.3m) 

£68.4m +21.5%
Profit before tax
(2013: £56.3m) 

13.4p +13.6%
Basic EPS
(2013: 11.8p)

107.3%
Cash conversion
(2013: 127.8%)

£72.0m
Free cash flow
(2013: £87.7m)

1.6x
Net debt: EBITDA
(2013: 1.9x) 

11.0ppts +6.8%
Dividend per share
(2013: 10.3ppts) 

16.9% +0.4ppts
Return on capital employed
(2013: 16.5%)

£38.1m +9.2%
Dividends paid
(2013: £34.9m) 

Financial highlights
We are focused on delivering long-term 
value for our shareholders. With this 
objective in mind, we are repositioning 
our business to focus on markets that 
demonstrate good organic growth 
potential, can generate strong margins 
and have a low risk profile.

This year’s financial results demonstrate 
the strength of our Facilities Management 
(FM) and Property Management 
businesses, which continue to generate 
strong organic growth, and a high 
margin contribution from our Healthcare 
business. Separately, we have also 
recognised the impact of a number 
of other exceptional items, including 
non-recurring losses resulting from our 
decision to reduce our exposure to two 
select areas of our business that no 
longer meet our growth, risk or return 
expectations and an accounting credit 
derived from our actions to de-risk our 
defined benefit pension exposure. 

We delivered strong financial results in 
the year ended 31 March 2014, whilst also 
making good progress in repositioning 
our business. Headline revenue grew by 
8.2% to £2,142.6m, headline operating 
profit grew by 6.0% to £127.5m and 
headline EPS increased by 5.2% to 24.3p 
per share, all of which underpinned the 
recommendation of a final dividend of 
11.0p per share, an increase of 6.8% over 
the prior year. 

Financial KPIs

Headline operating
profit margin
%
2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

KPI

5.4

5.7

6.2

6.1

6.0

Description:
Our headline operating profit margin provides us with 
a good indicator of the profitability of our business.  
Where we have material restructuring and acquisition 
related items, such as non-recurring integration costs, 
we exclude these from our measure.

Target:
Margin increases over the medium term.

Comment:
Our headline operating profit margin was 6.0%.

 
Strategic Report

Governance

Financial

29

Five year compound annual 
growth rate
%
Headline revenue

7.1

Headline operating profit

Headline EPS

7.2

Dividend per share

9.6

9.8

Our results are supported by a strong 
balance sheet and impressive cash 
conversion – qualities that have been 
consistent features of our results and 
our management processes. 

The chart above highlights the strong 
annual growth we have had over the last 
five years. 

Statutory and non-statutory 
measures of performance
Our financial statements contain all the 
information and disclosures required by 
the relevant accounting standards and 
regulatory obligations that apply to the 
group. We have elected to provide some 
further disclosures and performance 
measures in order to present our financial 
results in a way that best demonstrates 
the performance of our business. 

The results described as ‘headline’ report 
the performance of the trading activity 
of our core Soft FM, Hard FM, Property 
Management, Energy Solutions and 
Healthcare businesses along with the 
central overhead required to manage the 
group. The ‘headline’ measure illustrates 
the performance of the underlying 
activities of the group, and is a non-
statutory measure. 

We have separately disclosed any 
restructuring and acquisition-related 
items together with the results of the 
engineering construction business which 
we are exiting. These items are described 
as ‘other items’ within the income 
statement and in related parts of this 
Annual Report and Accounts. The ‘other 
items’ measure of our results is a non-
statutory measure. In the current year, 
‘other items’ comprise: 
 k  The results of the engineering 

construction business we are exiting

 k  Exceptional charges in respect of 
reducing our exposure to certain 
Energy Solutions contracts 

 k  Acquisition related charges, including 
amortisation of acquisition related 
intangible assets

 k  An accounting credit resulting from a 
change to future pension obligations 
under the Mitie Group defined benefit 
pension scheme (recognised under 
IAS 19 (revised)).

The sum of the headline and other items 
columns are the statutory reported 
results of the business and reflect 
the full trading result of the group, 
reported in accordance with IFRS. 
This presentation is consistent with the 
way in which we manage and report on 
our business internally and is consistently 
applied to enhance the disclosure of 
our performance. 

During the year, the group reported on 
the activities of four divisions: Facilities 
Management, Property Management, 
Energy Solutions and Healthcare. 
With effect from 1 April 2014 and in 
this report we have provided enhanced 
transparency of the activities of our 
previously defined Facilities Management 
division and now disclose and describe 
separately the results of our Soft FM 
and Hard FM divisions. In addition, we 
have refined our operational structure 
to further support our clients and to 
focus the activities of our Property 
Management division solely on the 
domestic housing market. The niche 
property services delivered to commercial 
clients, which were previously undertaken 
by Property Management, are now part 
of the Hard FM division. The financial 
impact of this change along with the 
enhanced Facilities Management 
disclosures are set out in the notes 
to the accounts. 

Conversion of EBITDA
to cash
%
2010

KPI

Organic revenue growth
%

KPI

Earnings per share
pence

95.2

2010

0.5

2011

2012

2013

2014

86.7

83.7

127.8

107.3

2.1

2011

2012

2013

2014

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

5.4

5.0

5.2

19.5

KPI

22.6

22.8

23.1

24.3

Description:
The efficiency of how we manage cash generation is 
an important indication of our business performance. 
The conversion of earnings before interest, tax, 
depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) to cash is the 
most significant cash flow indicator for Mitie. Mitie is 
built on a sound understanding of the importance of 
cash and working capital management and that ethos 
remains critical to our business. 

Target:
Over 80.0% of EBITDA converted to cash.

Comment:
Cash performance in the year has been strong and 
we have exceeded our targets on both a statutory 
and headline basis. Conversion of EBITDA to cash 
was 107.3%, and on a headline basis was 102.4%. 
This is a result of the strong focus on cash and working 
capital across the business, throughout the year.

Description:
Mitie has historically tracked and reported organic 
revenue growth as a key measure of its success. 
Organic growth is calculated by using revenue as 
reported in the accounts, based on the continuing 
businesses and excluding the impact of material 
acquisitions or disposals made during the 
performance period. 

Objective:
Grow revenue organically every year. 

Comment:
Mitie achieved 5.2% organic revenue growth across 
the group in 2014, an increase of 20bps on 2013 
organic growth.

Description:
Earnings per share is one of the key metrics of 
measuring shareholder value.

Target:
Maximise EPS sustainable growth.

Comment:
Our EPS growth was 5.2%.

 
 
 
 
Mitie Group plc 
Annual Report and Accounts 2014

30

Financial review

The group’s total return of cash to 
shareholders through share purchase 
and buyback activity in the year totalled 
£27.2m (2013: £6.6m). The average 
number of shares in issue in the year was 
359.9 million (2013: 357.7 million) following 
this activity.

Dividends 
The group has a strong track record 
of dividend growth and it is the Board’s 
policy to grow dividends broadly in line 
with the headline earnings of the group. 
Accordingly, this year’s cash returns 
to shareholders fully reflect the strong 
underlying performance of the business 
and have not been discounted by the 
impact of non-recurring charges. The full 
year dividend has been established by the 
Board to reflect the growth in headline 
earnings at 11.0p per share (2013: 10.3p 
per share), an increase of 6.8% and 
reflecting a cover of 2.2x times headline 
earnings per share. The final dividend 
proposed by the Board has increased 
by 7.0% to 6.1p per share (2013: 5.7p per 
share). During the year, total dividends 
of £38.1m were paid to shareholders 
(2013: £34.9m).

Strong cash conversion  
and free cash flow 
Our profits are strongly backed by cash 
flows. Cash conversion measures our 
success in converting operating profit 
(measured by EBITDA) to cash and 
reflects both the quality of our earnings 
and the effectiveness of our cash 
management activities. Cash inflows from 
operations decreased by 5.3% to £124.1m 
during the year (2013: £131.0m), but 
through our continued focus on working 
capital management we have delivered 
excellent conversion of profit (EBITDA) to 
cash at a rate of 107.3% (2013: 127.8%). 
On a headline basis our cash conversion 
is 102.4% (2013: 110.0%); this is after 
adjusting for the effects of certain 
charges recognised in other items that 
will not recur.

Revenue
Headline revenue in the year grew by 
8.2% to £2,142.6m (2013: £1,980.6m). 
This increase is attributable to strong 
organic growth of 5.2% (£105.5m), 
the full year impact of the prior year 
acquisitions of £50.7m, and £5.8m from 
the in-year acquisitions of UKCRBs and 
Complete Group.

The revenue attributed to the engineering 
construction business which we are 
exiting was £78.5m (2013: £139.9m). 
This revenue has fallen by 43.9% 
this year as we near completion on 
committed work. 

Total statutory revenue was £2,221.1m, 
representing growth of 4.7% on the prior 
year (2013: £2,120.5m).

Operating profit 
Headline operating profit increased 
by 6.0% to £127.5m (2013: £120.3m). 
This increase is attributable to organic 
growth of £2.0m or 1.6%, the full year 
impact of the prior year acquisitions of 
£4.8m, and £0.4m from the acquisitions 
made during the current financial 
year. The group’s headline operating 
profit margin remains strong at 6.0% 
(2013: 6.1%). 

Statutory operating profit for the 
group increased by 21.5% to £82.6m 
(2013: £68.0m), reflecting both the 
growth in the headline performance of the 
business and a reduction in other items 
year on year.

Other items 
Other items included in the income 
statement of £44.9m are set out in Note 5 
to the Accounts. These other items have 
been incurred principally as a result of 
our decision to reposition the group away 
from the construction related mechanical 
and electrical engineering contracting 
business and reduce our exposure to 
design and build contracts in the Energy 
Solutions division. 

During the year, total losses of £13.6m 
were incurred in the engineering 
construction business which is being 
exited. These losses principally arose 
on settlement of certain contracts’ final 
accounts as business activities cease, 
which resulted in costs in excess of 
those anticipated at the end of the prior 
year. Judgements have been taken on the 
value and completion timetable for the 
remaining contracts and on the valuation 
of contract assets and liabilities at the 
balance sheet date.

Charges totalling £25.4m were incurred 
in the year as we sought to reduce our 
exposure to the design and build element 
of our Asset Management business, 
which is now part of the Energy Solutions 
division. We have reviewed the carrying 
value of assets on the balance sheet 
related to the activities of this division and 
have made contract provisions for the 
costs to complete certain works. 

Acquisition related integration costs 
incurred during the year in respect of the 
acquisitions of Enara, Complete Group 
and UKCRBs were £4.4m (2013: £3.7m) 
and were broadly in line with their 
respective acquisition business cases. 
Acquisition costs in the year were £0.7m 
(2013: £3.2m). The amortisation of 
acquisition related intangible assets was 
£11.0m (2013: £10.0m).

Following consultation with members and 
the restructuring of the future benefits to 
be offered to members under the group’s 
main defined benefit pension scheme, 
a credit of £10.2m (£10.5m less costs 
of £0.3m) has been recognised in the 
income statement under IAS 19 (revised) 
due to the resultant reduction in scheme 
liabilities in the Mitie Group defined benefit 
pension scheme.

Earnings per share
We are focused on growing EPS to 
support our dividend growth aspirations 
and as a driver to enhancing shareholder 
value. Headline basic earnings per share 
increased by 5.2% to 24.3p per share 
(2013: 23.1p) and statutory basic earnings 
per share increased by 13.6% to 13.4p 
(2013: 11.8p). 

The EPS measure is driven by both the 
average number of shares in issue and the 
profitability of the group. During the year, 
the Board approved a share purchase 
policy to maintain share numbers at a 
broadly consistent level year on year with 
the aim of ensuring that the interests of 
shareholders are not diluted by the issue 
of shares that support the group’s various 
share schemes, nor by the issue of shares 
as consideration for earn outs under the 
Mitie Model. During the year, the group 
bought back 2.9 million shares (2013: nil) 
at a cost of £7.4m to offset the issue of 
2.3 million shares in respect of earn outs 
under the Mitie Model. These shares were 
subsequently cancelled. To offset shares 
issued under the various share schemes, 
and to hedge against shares to be issued in 
the future under these schemes, 5.8 million 
shares (2013: nil) were bought to be held 
in Treasury at a total cost of £17.0m and 
shares to the value of £2.8m (2013: £6.6m) 
were also purchased and held by the 
group’s Employee Benefit Trust. 

Strategic Report

Governance

Financial

31

During the year, Mitie generated good 
free cash flow of £72.0m (2013: £87.7m), 
reflecting the strong cash generation 
of our business model which requires 
very low levels of capital expenditure to 
support its development (1.0% of group 
statutory revenue (2013: 1.3%)). This has 
enabled us to maintain very good dividend 
payments, return cash to shareholders, 
maintain constant share numbers to 
protect shareholder returns, and actively 
invest in organic and acquisitive growth 
opportunities. The consistency of our 
cash generation and our ability to provide 
strong cash returns to shareholders has 
been a key feature of our results and 
remains a major focus going forward.

Financing facilities
Mitie has a diverse range of secure 
funding facilities, with committed banking 
facilities of £250m which are available 
until September 2015 and on which the 
group has a floating LIBOR interest rate 
exposure. It also has a mix of US private 
placement loan notes, with a range of 
tenure which mature between 2017 
and 2024 and an interest rate exposure 
that is predominantly fixed at around 4% 
per annum. The group also has further 
overdraft facilities of £40m.

Net debt and gearing
The gearing of the group has remained 
low and net debt at 31 March 2014 was 
£186.6m (2013: £192.2m), representing 
a reduction in our statutory net debt 
to EBITDA ratio to 1.6x (2013: 1.9x). 
This conservative gearing level gives 
us capacity to invest in value creating 
growth opportunities going forward 
and to provide strong cash returns to 
our shareholders.

Net finance costs
Total net finance costs increased by 21.4% 
to £14.2m in the year (2013: £11.7m). 
This increase largely reflects the full year 
effect of the funding costs associated 
with the acquisition of Enara Group, which 
was made mid-way through the prior 
year. This acquisition was funded through 
the issue of US Private Placement loan 
notes with a fixed interest rate. 

The total interest cost on US Private 
Placement loan notes was £9.5m 
(2013: £5.4m). Other interest and finance 
charges, net of investment revenue, were 
£3.3m (2013: £5.5m). The introduction 
of IAS 19 (revised) in the current year has 
resulted in a new pension related interest 
charge in the year of £1.4m (2013: £0.8m).

ROCE
%
2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

16.6

16.8

16.6

16.5

16.9

Return on capital employed 
(ROCE)
It is our aim to enhance our ROCE over 
time. ROCE is calculated as headline 
operating profit after tax (adjusted 
for the proforma, full year effect of 
acquisitions) divided by capital employed. 
Capital employed is calculated as net 
assets excluding net debt less non-
controlling interests. Our ROCE for the 
year was 16.9% (2013: 16.5%).

Our ROCE demonstrates our ability 
to generate returns from the capital 
employed by our business. We focus on 
our ROCE through the management of 
our asset base, consideration of returns 
on capital when we invest and through 
a focus on maximising the profitability 
of the group. By generating returns 
that exceed our weighted average cost 
of capital, currently around 8%, we are 
ensuring that we add value through our 
investment decisions. 

Pensions
Our financial strength and balance sheet 
remain unaffected by any significant 
pensions deficit, with the net deficit of all 
the defined benefit pension arrangements 
included on the balance sheet being 
£19.1m (2013: £29.9m).

The deficit on the group defined benefit 
scheme at 31 March 2014 was £17.0m 
(2013: £29.7m). The significant decrease 
in the deficit was due to the strong 
performance of scheme assets and the 
positive impact of amendments made 
to the terms of the Mitie Group defined 
benefit pension scheme. Future increases 
in pensionable pay are now subject to 
a maximum annual cap equivalent to 
CPI. The scheme, which only has 240 
contributing members and is closed to 
new entrants, will remain open to future 
accrual but with a generally reduced level 
of future benefit increases. This change 
reduced the scheme’s future liabilities, 
mitigates a potential rise in future 
contributions and establishes a more 
affordable scheme going forward.  
The in-year financial impact of the 
capping of scheme benefits resulted in 
a non-cash, non-recurring credit to the 
income statement (after associated 
costs) of £10.2m. 

The group also makes contributions 
to customers’ defined benefit pension 
schemes under Admitted Body 
arrangements as well as to other 
arrangements in respect of certain 
employees who have transferred to 
the group under TUPE. Mitie’s net 
defined benefit pension obligations 
in respect of schemes in which it is 
committed to funding amounted to £2.1m 
(2013: £0.2m).

Mitie contributes to a number of defined 
contribution pension schemes. Auto-
enrolment became applicable for the 
group from 1 July 2013.

Investment in acquisitive growth
On 14 August 2013, Mitie acquired UK 
CRBs Ltd (‘UKCRBs’), the criminal records 
checking service, for total consideration 
of £1.0m.

On 15 January 2014, Mitie acquired 
Complete Care Holdings Ltd (‘Complete 
Group’), for total consideration of £9.0m. 

From the date of ownership, the 
acquired businesses have contributed 
headline revenue of £5.8m and 
headline operating profit of £0.4m, 
which is in line with our expectations. 
Acquisition and integration costs of 
£0.7m and £0.4m respectively were 
incurred during the year in relation to 
these acquisitions. In addition, £4.0m of 
integration costs were incurred in relation 
to the prior year acquisition of Enara 
Group (now trading as MiHomecare).

Mitie’s entrepreneurial 
investment model 
In August 2013, Mitie purchased 
certain minority shareholdings of four 
Mitie subsidiary companies under 
their respective Articles of Association 
and shareholder agreements in 
accordance with arrangements under our 
entrepreneurial investment programme 
known as the Mitie Model. The total 
consideration for all four purchases 
amounted to £6.9m being satisfied by 
£0.8m in cash, and the remaining £6.1m 
by the issue of 2.3 million new Ordinary 
shares of 2.5p each in Mitie Group plc 
valued at 267p per share, being the 
average of the closing middle market price 
for the five banking days immediately 
preceding 23 July 2013. These purchases 
are discussed in more detail in Note 31 to 
the accounts. 

Suzanne Baxter 
Group Finance Director

Mitie Group plc 
Annual Report and Accounts 2014

32

Principal risks and uncertainties

The section below describes identified principal risks to the achievement of our 
strategic business objectives. These risks are those believed by the Board to be most 
significant to impact our strategy, our financial and operational performance and 
ultimately our reputation. There may be other risks which are currently unknown to the 
group or which may become material in the future. We continue to group risk in four 
categories: strategic, financial, operational and regulatory.

Strategic risks

Contract 
mobilisation, 
management  
and performance

Company 
performance 
and resourcing 
requirements 
impacted by  
change to 
the market 
and economic  
conditions

Protecting  
our reputation

Financial risk

Risk

Mitigation

The group continues to see large scale complex integrated 
facilities management contracts as materially important to 
the achievement of our strategic objectives. Our ability to 
successfully mobilise, operate and manage such contracts 
is critical for the maintenance of our financial position. As our 
service offering becomes increasingly complex as a business 
differentiator, we become increasingly reliant on the delivery 
of sophisticated technological solutions for our clients. These 
solutions necessarily carry increased risk around design, 
delivery and successful implementation when compared to 
our more traditional business activities. Our ability to retain 
and win new contracts of this type is therefore important for 
the future success of our business.

Mitie’s principal macro-economic exposure is to the UK 
market, with only very limited exposure to the wider global 
economy. With the UK economy showing some signs of 
recovery, an expected potential upturn in the pipeline of 
opportunities for Mitie is anticipated. The need for our 
business model to adapt and grow with any ongoing economic 
upturn is therefore paramount. With private sector clients 
likely to be varied in terms of the volume, value and range 
of required services, a failure to recognise and respond to 
these demands may impact the group’s ability to win or retain 
significant business opportunities. Our diverse business 
portfolio provides resilience during times of economic changes 
and varying demands on our resources, depending on the way 
in which the economic cycle affects our client base. 

The strength of our reputation remains a critical component 
in our ability to achieve our strategic objectives and growth 
targets. A detrimental impact to our reputation may lead to 
a loss in market confidence in our ability to retain or undertake 
new client work and may affect our financial performance and 
growth prospects. We understand clearly that any incident 
involving major harm to one of our people or our clients/
partners, corrupt practices involving fraud or bribery, weak 
financial control processes or failure to meet regulatory 
requirements may significantly impact our reputation. Such 
an impact could result in contract losses, failure to win new 
business, financial penalties and difficulties in the future 
recruitment of key staff.

Large and complex integrated facilities management 
contracts are subject to executive management oversight 
and approval. Teams of experienced bid, mobilisation and 
operational delivery specialists support these contracts 
to mitigate the risk of failure at any stage. Regular 
dialogue occurs with the client’s executive management 
to ensure service delivery remains in line with the client’s 
expectations. 

Our Board governs and reviews the investment in and 
support for the development and deployment of technical 
solutions and these programmes have governance 
and review structures in place to monitor their ongoing 
performance.

We remain highly focused on delivering sustainable, 
profitable growth and are completing our exit strategy 
from more cyclical, margin-diluting markets. Our strategy 
continues to be reviewed and evolve to ensure high 
margin growth areas are targeted, underpinned by the 
right supporting business infrastructure. Our focus on the 
development of our long-term contract portfolio reduces 
the group’s financial exposure to rapid changes in the 
economic environment. The acquisition strategy remains 
targeted on securing opportunities both to help diversify 
our business offering and to enhance our current services. 
Entry into new business areas is controlled and requires 
Board approval.

We recognise that a strong corporate governance 
framework supported by demonstrable values and 
behaviours provides the basis for effective reputational 
management. Our governance framework provides 
dedicated policies, procedures, training programmes and 
audit to address specific issues which, if realised, may 
give rise to reputational impact. Specific elements of this 
framework were revised, rationalised and strengthened 
during the year. As our business continues to grow and 
develop into new sectors we will remain strongly focused 
on protecting the strength of our reputation through 
effective governance, leadership and the development 
of our ethical business framework.

Risk

Mitigation

Financial strength  
and access to  
appropriately  
scaled and diverse  
sources of funding

Our financial strength makes us an attractive partner to 
our clients and stakeholders, including our funding partners. 
Should our financial performance deteriorate, our ability to 
access funding on competitive terms could be impacted, 
causing a restriction in our ability to grow both organically and 
through acquisition, and an increase in the cost of borrowing 
which could affect our financial performance. 

We continue to monitor our financial performance very 
closely via our mature financial governance arrangements, 
with daily monitoring of bank balances, weekly cash 
flow forecasting and regular financial performance and 
balance sheet reviews. We continue to maintain our strong 
banking, debt finance and equity relationships, with a 
diverse portfolio of committed long-term funding. 

Reliance on  
material  
counterparties

Our most significant area of expenditure is staff costs, which 
have to be paid regularly and at specific times. Our ability to 
do this is reliant upon the continued availability of funding, 
our ability to manage our cash flow, access to varied sources 
of funds and working capital. It is critical to the success and 
continuity of our business.

Our business activities are dependent on a number of 
significant counterparties such as insurers, banks, clients and 
suppliers. Effective and ongoing relationships with our material 
counterparties will underpin the group’s ability to meet its 
strategic objectives. The failure of a key subcontractor, 
supplier, financing or other partner could have a detrimental 
impact on the operational and financial effectiveness of our 
business and our ability to trade.

We have strategically developed a diverse and robust 
counterparty base, limiting the dependency of any one 
counterparty and hence the impact of any potential failure. 
A formal review of material counterparty risk is undertaken 
by the Board and at divisional and business level.

Strategic Report

Governance

Financial

33

Operational risk

Significant health,  
safety or  
environmental  
incident

System, process  
or control failure  
may impact 
our operational  
performance

Retention and  
attraction of  
skilled people

Regulatory risk

Non-compliance  
with the  
developing  
regulatory  
framework

Risk

Mitigation

Many of our diverse operations, if not effectively managed, 
have the potential to result in significant harm to our 
employees, our business partners, members of the public, 
or to damage the environment. As a major employer our 
focus on and commitment to safeguarding our people and 
protecting the environment remains unwavering. Failure to do 
so could result in a significant incident, affecting an employee, 
their family, friends and colleagues, or lead to regulatory 
action, financial impact or damage to our reputation. 

Our operational efficiency and future business performance is 
increasingly reliant on the use of sophisticated, interdependent 
business systems, which provide the basis for contract 
management and business support activities. These systems, 
in addition to our governance framework of policies and 
procedures, will remain critical for the control and success 
of the business as they help to drive innovative solutions to 
customer requirements, improve operational efficiency via the 
use of targeted management information and underpin the 
effectiveness of our business support functions. 

The business critical nature of these systems means that 
operational failure may result in a significant impact on 
operational delivery, contract management and client 
expectations. Equally the role of systems in ensuring the 
effectiveness of the business support control and reporting 
environment may mean that system failure could lead to a 
breakdown in the controls around high volume transactions 
and compliance areas such as vetting and employment 
legislation. Such a breakdown could result in financial or 
other misstatements occurring or non-compliance fines.

We acknowledge the importance of attracting and retaining 
the best skilled people at all levels of the business to achieve 
our strategic objectives and helping to deliver our long-term 
growth aspirations. This is particularly the case where we 
require specialist technical expertise or management and 
where the market may be highly competitive. We also 
recognise the importance of diversity in ensuring a broad 
range of views are considered when developing strategy and 
supporting programmes. Challenges in attracting new talent, 
or developing and retaining our existing employees could 
impact our ability to achieve our strategic growth objectives. 
As we continue to grow and diversify into new areas, this risk 
will continue to be a focus for the Board.

The Board maintains its commitment to the highest 
standards of quality, health, safety and environmental 
(QHSE) performance, through effective governance, 
oversight and management standards, with QHSE 
performance continuing to be the first item on every 
Board agenda. Our well-established QHSE management 
systems are certified to the ISO 9001, 14001 and 
OHSAS 18001 standards and we continue to focus 
on the importance of values and behaviours through 
our employee engagement programme Work Safe 
Home Safe! To support our management system and 
engagement programme we focus on developing training 
programmes to ensure every employee, at every level 
of the business, has the core competencies required to 
do their work safely. Our programmes are supported 
by a network of dedicated and experienced QHSE 
professionals, backed up with the use of external parties 
to provide specialist technical expertise where required.

Our core policies provide the basis of our governance 
framework and these remain under continual review 
to ensure they remain optimised in line with effective 
governance practices as the business continues to grow 
and diversify. Our internal control effectiveness continues 
to be reviewed formally, supported by a programme of 
internal audits and self-certification on the operation of key 
controls and procedures.

Business critical systems are tested to ensure effective 
recovery following a potential disaster scenario and 
we have in place an assurance programme to test the 
adequacy of our mitigation activity. Oversight of IT related 
governance is provided by the IT steering group who 
continue to monitor the effectiveness of the information 
security management system which is aligned with 
recognised international standards.

Our career development and talent management 
programmes are a key focus for our management teams, 
ensuring a pipeline of opportunities exist for staff at every 
level of the business. Additionally, succession plans exist 
for key management to ensure a talent pool is identified, 
developed and ready for succession if needed. Our focus 
on training and competency at all levels of the business 
continues to ensure that we develop our people to enable 
them to manage the changing profile of our business. 

Risk

Mitigation

We continue to provide a strong focus on ensuring, as a 
minimum requirement, legal compliance in all of our business 
areas, in particular where we enter into new business 
areas. As a major employer, further development of the 
regulatory framework in areas where we work may have a 
material financial impact on the business. Failure to achieve 
appropriate legal or regulatory compliance could lead to 
enforcement action, fines, adverse publicity and therefore 
potential damage to our reputation. 

Our legal compliance framework, as a key element 
of our management system, has been established to 
ensure proactive identification of legal and regulatory 
requirements in all our business areas. Our operational 
teams remain primarily responsible for ensuring legal 
compliance, supported by experienced teams of 
functional experts and backed up by our assurance 
teams. Where required, we obtain specialist technical 
advice to support our in-house teams. We continue to 
monitor the developing regulatory framework to allow 
for effective planning on potential requirements and 
costs of compliance.

Mitie Group plc 
Annual Report and Accounts 2014

34

Sustainability

One approach. 
One strategy.

Being a responsible business is not optional for us.  
Doing the right thing creates financial value for Mitie – so whether  
we’re developing great relationships with our clients, recruiting  
and developing the best people in the industry, or measuring  
and improving our carbon footprint, our sustainability strategy  
is consistent with our corporate strategy.

1
People

6
Responsibility

2
Clients

5
Risk

3
Operational 
excellence

4 
New markets 
and services

We’ve been setting ourselves 
sustainability targets and publishing 
the results honestly and transparently 
for the last nine years – and our 
performance has improved year on 
year. This year, we have retained our 
Platinum status in the 2014 Business 
in the Community CR Index, we have 
been recognised at the Opportunity 
Now Excellence in Practice Awards 2014 
and we have been named a Times Top 
50 employer for women, for the fourth 
consecutive year. 

We have very clear sustainability 
ambitions, illustrated by our 2020 
targets, and the basis of our 
sustainability report is to update all our 
stakeholders on our progress against 
those targets, as well as set out clearly 
what they can expect from us. Our 2014 
sustainability report encompasses 
the social and environmental 
aspects of our operations, our key 
performance metrics and goals, 
and our commitments for the future. 
Go to www.mitie.com/sustainability 
to view it in full.

More on our group strategy:  
Pages 8 to 11

  
 
Strategic Report

Governance

Financial

35

Our sustainability targets for 2020
Last year we set ourselves aspirational targets to be achieved by 2020. The table 
below shows progress on those targets at a very high level – for the details of our 
performance, including highlights and challenges, go to www.mitie.com/sustainability  
for the full report.

 k Improve client satisfaction to achieve  

a Net Promoter Score of 25%
The best way to measure how well we’re looking after our clients 
is to measure how happy they are. 

 k Achieve 90% employee engagement based  

on Mitie’s proprietary model
As a company founded in the entrepreneurial spirit, we’ve always  
understood the importance of motivation – engaged people are great 
performing people. 

 k Embed diversity in all our practices (achieve 90%  
diversity score based on Mitie’s proprietary model)
When it comes to people, our objective is very clear: we want  
to recruit, retain and develop the very best, and that means getting 
the right mix of people too. 

 k Embed our key Work Safe Home Safe! behaviours
The health and safety of our people is our absolute priority,  
making sure they can work in a secure environment and go home  
safe at the end of the day.

 k Embed our values and beliefs into our supply chain
We already have a robust process in place to audit our partners’ 
sustainability policies and performance – but we want to do much more.

Progress

Progress

Progress

Progress

Progress

 k Dedicate 1% pre-tax profit to community investment,  

Progress

through the Mitie Foundation activities
The Mitie Foundation, set up to bring together Mitie’s community 
engagement activities, is focused on creating opportunities for 
people of all backgrounds to join the world of work, by raising 
aspirations and unlocking people’s true potential.

 k Reduce our carbon footprint by 35% (compared to 2010 

Progress

baseline and measured as CO2e/£m revenue)
We will actively manage our energy use, waste production and fuel 
consumption to ensure that we cut both costs and carbon emissions. 

 On track 

 Work to be done

Resource

Units

2010 restated

 baseline*

Scope 1

Scope 2

Gas and fleet fuel

Electricity

Scope 1 and 2 Intensity

Intensity

Tonnes of CO2e
Tonnes of CO2e
Tonnes of CO2e/employee
Tonnes/£m

Scope 3

Upstream Water

Energy and business car travel Tonnes of CO2e
Tonnes of CO2e
Tonnes

Created waste

Intensity 

General waste

Recycled waste

% recycled

Tonnes/employee

Tonnes

Tonnes

41,343

3,490

0.79

26.07

4,564

10

1,436

0.025

989

447

31

Our position on human  
rights issues
Mitie is committed to the UN Guiding 
Principles on Business and Human Rights 
and International Labour Organisation 
convention. Protecting and preserving 
human rights in every territory we 
operate in is embedded in our culture 
and fundamental to our Company values. 
This is reflected in our policies and actions 
toward our employees, suppliers, clients 
and the communities and countries where 
we do business.

We continually strive to create an 
environment of respect for all individuals. 
We are committed to an inclusive, safe 
and ethical workplace as demonstrated 
within our People Policy and our Equality, 
Diversity and Inclusion Policy, as well 
as our human resources procedures. 
Our human resources policies and 
procedures are compliant with the local 
employment laws concerning 
employment and individuals’ rights,  
in every country in which we operate.

We work with our communities and our 
suppliers to encourage cultural, economic 
and social development, and through 
all our actions, we protect and preserve 
human rights.

You can read more about what we’re  
doing in all of these areas and see our 
latest performance data at:
mitie.com/sustainability

2013 

2014

43,007

42,075

2,978

0.64

21.68

3,591

11

1,204

0.017

607

597

50

3,223

0.63

20.39

10,455*

12

1,536*

0.021

793*

743

48*

% change 
against baseline

2%

-8%

-21%

-22%

129%

22%

7%

-16%

-20%

66%

56%

* Variance to the prior year due to the integration of Enara (now MiHomecare)

Directors of the parent company

Senior managers of the Company**

Employees of the Company

2 women

1 man

80 women

382 men

34,583 women

38,185 men

**Defined as employees earning >£60,000 per annum

Mitie Group plc 
Annual Report and Accounts 2014

36

Board of Directors

Roger Matthews

Non-Executive Chairman 

Chairman of the Nomination Committee 
Member of the Remuneration Committee

Roger was appointed as a Non-Executive Director of Mitie in December 
2006 and was appointed as Non-Executive Chairman in July 2008. Roger is 
a Non-Executive Chairman on the board of LSL Property Services plc and is 
also a Trustee of Cancer Research UK. Roger was previously Non-Executive 
Chairman of Pertemps Network Group Limited and held the roles of Group 
Finance Director of J Sainsbury plc, Group Managing Director and Group 
Finance Director of Compass Group PLC.

Ruby McGregor-Smith CBE

Chief Executive

Chair of the Results and Investment Committees

Ruby joined Mitie in 2002 and was appointed as Chief Executive in 
2007. Ruby has extensive experience within the support services sector 
where, prior to joining Mitie, she held a range of senior roles, primarily 
at Serco Group plc. Ruby is an Independent Non-Executive Director of 
Michael Page International PLC, appointed to the board in May 2007, and is 
also a member of their Nomination and Remuneration Committees. She is  
a Non-Executive Director of the Department of Culture, Media and Sport. 
Ruby’s charitable and community interests include acting as Chair of the 
Confederation of British Industry’s Public Services Strategy Board, Chair  
of the Women’s Business Council, and Business Ambassador for UK Trade 
and Investment.

Suzanne Baxter

Group Finance Director

Bill Robson

Executive Director

Member of the Results and Investment Committees

Suzanne was appointed as Group Finance Director of Mitie Group plc in  
April 2006. Suzanne is a Chartered Accountant with a wealth of experience 
in the support services sector. Prior to joining Mitie, Suzanne specialised  
in mergers and acquisitions related transaction support and held a number 
of commercial and operational roles with Serco Group plc. Suzanne is  
a Non-Executive Director of WH Smith PLC, where she is also Chair of 
the Audit Committee and member of the Nomination and Remuneration 
Committees. She is Deputy Chairman and a member of the Counsel of  
the Business Services Association, a policy and research centre of excellence 
for the support services industry, and Deputy Chairman of Opportunity 
Now, a part of the BitC organisation with a focus on gender diversity in the 
workplace. Suzanne also acted as interim Company Secretary during  
the year.

Bill is the longest serving Executive Director of Mitie Group plc. He joined 
the group in 1992 by way of the acquisition of his private painting and 
maintenance company. Bill was appointed to the Board in August 2001 
and has been responsible for the creation and strategic development of the 
Property Management division. On 31 July 2014 he will step down from the 
Board. He will remain as part of the executive team, continuing as Managing 
Director of the Property Management division, focusing on the many new 
opportunities that are developing within the housing sector.

Strategic Report

Governance

Financial

37

Larry Hirst CBE

Non-Executive Director

David Jenkins

Senior Independent Director

Member of the Audit, Nomination and Remuneration Committees

Independent

Larry was appointed as a Non-Executive Director on 1 February 2010. Until 
his retirement from IBM in 2010, Larry was Chairman of IBM (EMEA) where 
he held a number of senior positions during his 33 year career with IBM. Larry 
is a Non-Executive Director of ARM Holdings plc and is also the Chairman of 
the Imperial College Data Science Institute Advisory Board. His community 
interests include acting as an Ambassador to Everywoman, International 
Adviser to British Airways and a Global Ambassador to Monitise plc.

Chairman of the Audit Committee 
Member of the Nomination and Remuneration Committees

Independent

David was appointed as a Non-Executive Director in March 2006 and is 
currently the Senior Independent Director. David was previously a senior 
partner with Deloitte LLP in London having spent over 20 years in Assurance 
and Advisory Services. David is Chairman of Development Securities PLC and 
a Non-Executive Director of Renewable Energy Systems Holdings Limited.

Crawford Gillies

Non-Executive Director

Chairman of the Remuneration Committee  
Member of the Audit and Nomination Committees

Independent

Crawford was appointed as a Non-Executive Director to the Board in July 
2012 and Chairman of the Remuneration Committee with effect from 
1 November 2013. Crawford spent 25 years with Bain & Co., the international 
management consultants, where he was Managing Director Europe. He is 
also the Chairman of Scottish Enterprise and Control Risks Group, and a 
non-executive director of Standard Life plc. He was recently appointed to 
the board of Barclays plc and is also a member of the Advisory board of the 
School for CEOs.

Jack Boyer

Non-Executive Director

Member of the Audit, Nomination and Remuneration Committees

Independent

Jack was appointed as a Non-Executive Director to the Board on  
1 June 2013. He is Chairman of Ilika plc and iQur Ltd and a Non-Executive 
Director of Laird PLC where he chairs the Remuneration Committee. He 
also sits on the board of the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research 
Council. A serial entrepreneur, he previously founded and was CEO of 
companies in engineering, telecommunications and biotechnology. He has 
been an investment banker at Goldman Sachs and strategy consultant at 
Bain & Co. He is Deputy Chairman of Godolphin & Latymer School. Educated 
at Stanford University (BA), the London School of Economics (MSc) and 
Insead (MBA).

Mitie Group plc 
Annual Report and Accounts 2014

38

Chairman’s introduction to Corporate Governance 

As a Board, we are responsible to shareholders for the group’s activities and its long-term success. We recognise the 
importance and value of good governance in assisting us to achieve this. In this governance report, we explain how  
the main principles of good governance are applied across the group and how that governance framework has been 
enhanced during the year to take into account the changes introduced by the September 2012 edition of the UK 
Corporate Governance Code (the ‘Code’) and the new reporting framework. 

Statement of compliance with the Code 
I can confirm on behalf of the Board that: 

The group has complied with the main principles and all the relevant provisions set out in the Code throughout the year. 
Details of how we have applied the principles and complied with the provisions are explained throughout the report. 

The Code can be found on the Financial Reporting Council website at www.frc.org.uk. 

The most significant reporting changes have been to our Directors’ remuneration report. These changes include the  
way we are required to report some elements of remuneration for our Directors, for example, the single total figure  
of remuneration. 

This revised reporting framework also includes a statement made by the Directors that we consider the Annual Report 
and Accounts, taken as a whole, to be fair, balanced and understandable. The processes in place to support our 
confidence in making this statement include a review of the narrative sections of the report by our Assurance function, 
internal and external counsel and our Independent Auditor. As a Board we also receive drafts and working papers relating 
to the Annual Report and Accounts in good time in order to facilitate our review and input. 

During the year the Board, with the help of the committees, considers that sufficient time has been spent reviewing  
and discussing strategy, risk, financial performance, investor communication and engagement and key matters of 
governance. An overview of the activities and the effectiveness of each of our Board Committees are explained further  
on pages 43 to 67. 

Key areas of governance that have been reviewed in the year include: 

Board composition 
Ensuring that a balance of views is available and that the right decisions are taken requires the right leadership.  
Our Board is composed of directors from various backgrounds with a breadth of professional and sector experience.  
This means that we have a balanced Board with the right range of skills and experience to contribute and, where 
appropriate, challenge decision making. 

During the year Jack Boyer was appointed as a Non-Executive Director and Crawford Gillies was appointed as  
Chairman of the Remuneration Committee. 

Board evaluation 
The Board is committed to reviewing the effectiveness of its performance and that of the Committees and individual 
Directors. During the year, the Board engaged external consultants to assist with the review; the process followed and the 
outcome of the review are discussed further on page 41. 

Internal audit 
During the year the group appointed a Head of Internal Audit, a role which was previously undertaken by the Group 
Enterprise Risk Director, to manage and oversee the delivery of the internal audit programme and its associated activity. 
The internal audit team has since then been expanded with additional senior audit resource, moving the Audit function 
from an outsourced model to a co-source model with the continued support of Grant Thornton LLP. This change in our 
model serves to improve the breadth of assurance being provided to the Board, while maintaining the provision of the 
Grant Thornton specialist expertise. 

Roger Matthews 
Chairman 

 
The Board 

Strategic Report

Governance

Financial

39

Who are the Board members? 
The members of the Board and their accompanying biographies are set out on pages 36 and 37. All Directors are expected 
to allocate sufficient time to the Company to discharge their responsibilities effectively and, where possible, attend all 
Board meetings and the AGM. Any time commitment matters are addressed by the Chairman with the Director concerned. 

Chairman  

Board members (executive) 

Board members (non-executive) 

Roger Matthews 

Ruby McGregor-Smith 

Suzanne Baxter 

Bill Robson 

David Jenkins 

Crawford Gillies 

Larry Hirst 

Terry Morgan (until 31 October 2013) 

Graeme Potts (until 9 July 2013) 

Jack Boyer (from 1 June 2013) 

What is the key purpose of the Board? 
The Board provides leadership and direction to management and is collectively responsible for the sustainable long-term 
success of the Company. Accordingly the Board reviews and agrees the strategy for the group, proposed by the 
Executive Directors, on an annual basis. In setting the strategy, the Board takes account of matters such as: market 
trends; competitive environment; private/public sector approach; international aspects of the business and opportunities; 
finance; people and talent; and the Mitie Model, ensuring at all times that sufficient consideration is given to risk and 
internal controls. 

What are the key responsibilities? 
There are key matters and responsibilities that are set aside to be exclusively dealt with by the Board. These include: 

−(cid:3) setting group objectives and strategies; 
−(cid:3) approving business plans and budgets and monitoring performance against them; 
−(cid:3) approving material acquisitions, disposals and business start-ups (including any material transactions outside of the 

normal course of business); 

−(cid:3) approving the group’s Half-Yearly and Annual Report and Accounts; 
−(cid:3) appointing and removing the Chairman, Directors and Company Secretary; 
−(cid:3) management of the group’s risk profile; and 
−(cid:3) monitoring the group’s corporate governance arrangements. 

The Board recognises its overall responsibility for the group's system of internal control, which is designed to safeguard 
assets and ensure the reliability of the financial information for both internal use and external publication. Responsibility 
for designing, operating and monitoring the system of internal control is delegated to the management of each division. 
The Audit Committee monitors the effectiveness of these controls on behalf of the Board, through Internal Audit and the 
Group Enterprise Risk framework. 

The Directors are mindful of their legal duties to act in the way they consider, in good faith, will be most likely to promote 
the success of the Company for its shareholders and having regard also to other stakeholders. 

How many times did the Board meet? 
During the year ended 31 March 2014, there were six scheduled Board meetings. Additional unscheduled Board meetings 
were held to deal with the review and approval of material transactions, key contracts, acquisitions and issues relating to 
shares and other administrative matters.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Mitie Group plc 
Annual Report and Accounts 2014

40

The Board  

Number of Board meetings held in the year:  

Roger Matthews 

Ruby McGregor-Smith 

Suzanne Baxter  

Bill Robson  

Crawford Gillies 

Larry Hirst  

David Jenkins 

Terry Morgan1 

Graeme Potts2 

Jack Boyer3 

Notes: 
1  Terry Morgan retired from the Board on 31 October 2013. 
2  Graeme Potts retired from the Board on 9 July 2013. 
3  Jack Boyer was appointed to the Board on 1 June 2013. 

An explanation of Board roles 

Attendance 

6 

6 

6 

6 

4 

6 

6 

6 

2 of 3 

2 of 2 

5 of 6 

Division of responsibilities of our Chairman and Chief Executive 
Whilst maintaining a close working relationship, our Chairman and Chief Executive have clearly defined and separate roles 
divided between running the Board and the business. They have an open dialogue and meet regularly between Board 
meetings to ensure a full understanding of business issues and to facilitate efficient decision making. 

The Chairman 
The Chairman is a Non-Executive Director and is responsible for the effective running and leadership of the Board, 
ensuring its effectiveness. He liaises with the Company Secretary on the annual Board plan and sets and agrees the 
Board agendas. Key matters covered at each Board meeting include: strategy, enterprise risk management, financial and 
management reporting, investor relations and corporate governance, with updates received from each of the Committee 
Chairmen. He ensures that sufficient time is allocated to promote healthy discussion and open debate, supported by the 
right level and quality of information to assist the Board in reaching its decisions. The Chairman encourages openness and 
regular communication between Executive and Non-Executive Directors, a culture which has been facilitated throughout 
the year by meetings between the Chairman and individual Directors. The Chairman ensures that the Non-Executive 
Directors contribute effectively and that the Executive and Non-Executive Directors are aware of the views of major 
shareholders. The Chairman is also responsible for ensuring that the Board addresses major challenges faced by Mitie and 
for the effective performance of the Board and its Committees. The Chairman is available to consult with shareholders 
throughout the year and will be available at the AGM. 

The Chief Executive 
The Chief Executive is responsible for all aspects of the operation and management of the group and its business within 
the authorities delegated to her by the Board. She is responsible for developing and effectively implementing strategy 
following approval of the strategic and financial plan by the Board. The Chief Executive’s remit includes proposing 
investment into new business and geographical areas and ensuring at all times that the group’s risk profile is appropriately 
considered. She ensures the timely and accurate disclosure of information to the Board and to shareholders. She leads 
the Executive Directors and senior management team in the day-to-day running of the group’s business under clear 
delegation of authority from the Board. The Chief Executive maintains regular dialogue with the Chairman on all important 
Company matters and together they provide coherent leadership of the group. 

The Executive Directors 
Executive Directors oversee the entire operations of the group and in addition have specific responsibility for managing 
their own area of the business. 

The Non-Executive Directors 
Non-Executive Directors are responsible for exercising their independent skill and judgement. In reviewing the proposals 
for the strategic direction of the group, the Non-Executive Directors constructively challenge and probe the Executive 
Directors, offering a breadth of knowledge, experience and individual skills, and are responsible for contributing to the 
formulation and development of strategy. The Non-Executive Directors monitor high level corporate reporting and satisfy 
themselves as to the integrity of financial information and the operation of key controls. The Non-Executive Directors 
meet without the Executive Directors present during the year. 

The terms of appointment of the Non-Executive Directors and the Executive Directors’ service contracts are available  
for inspection at Mitie’s registered office, the head office and at the AGM. 

 
 
 
 
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41

The Senior Independent Director 
The role of the Senior Independent Director is to make himself available to shareholders should they have concerns which 
have not been resolved through the normal channels of Chairman, Chief Executive or Group Finance Director or for which 
such contact is inappropriate in the circumstances. The Senior Independent Director in particular reviews information on 
major shareholders and financial analysis to obtain a balanced understanding of the issues and concerns of shareholders. 
Explained further below is the Senior Independent Director’s role in succession planning and performance evaluation  
for the Chairman. 

How we have evaluated the performance of the Board and the Committees 
During the year the Board, assisted by independent consultants, Condign Board Consulting, reviewed its performance, 
that of its Committees and individual Directors. The review process included one-to-one meetings with each of the 
Directors and observation of the Board at the meeting in March. Particular consideration was given to the balance  
of skills, experience, independence and knowledge of the Company on the Board. Other key areas considered during  
the review were the Board’s diversity including gender and how the Board performs as a unit. The conclusions and 
recommendations of the review were shared with the Board at the meeting in May 2014. Evaluation of the Chairman  
is passed to the Senior Independent Director to discuss with the Chairman. 

The Board is comfortable with its effectiveness and that of its Committees and Directors. In addition to reviewing 
performance and governance, the Board will continue to focus on the composition of the Board and the balance of its 
skills and experience and the implementation of the growth strategies for both core FM and Healthcare. The Board will 
receive regular updates and management presentations during the year on the strategic development of the group. 

Condign Board Consulting has no other connection with the Company. 

Director re-election 
The performance of each Director has been reviewed as part of the annual board evaluation process and the Board is 
satisfied that they continue to operate effectively and demonstrate clear commitment to their roles. All Directors will 
submit themselves for annual re-election at the 2014 AGM. 

The Director Induction process 
All Directors receive a personally tailored induction to Mitie which includes visits to group and key client sites. They receive 
an information pack, which includes: copies of Mitie’s Memorandum and Articles of Association; the latest Annual Report 
and Accounts; the Committee terms of reference and copies of recent Board and Committee minutes; and supporting 
papers. Directors are given access to the online board portal which, as well as holding all Board reports and Board minutes, 
has a reading room containing the Board Handbook detailing essential information about: the Company; Board and 
Committee terms of reference; Directors’ statutory duties; governance and regulatory guidelines; the group’s approved 
delegated authorities; and an overview of the group’s insurance arrangements. The Handbook is reviewed and updated 
regularly. Additional briefing notes are circulated where appropriate on matters such as changes in the regulatory and 
governance environment. 

Our Board accountability and assurance explained 

Risk management approach 
The Board understands that effective risk management and a sound system of internal control is central to the 
achievement of the group’s business strategy of delivering sustainable, profitable growth. The Board, supported by  
the Audit Committee, has continued to drive improvements to better understand the nature of the risks the group  
faces as it continues to grow in size, shape and complexity. The group has strengthened resource in risk management 
capability during the year and will continue to provide a focus on embedding risk management across all areas of the 
group to ensure the continued identification of risks and opportunities to the delivery of strategic objectives. Our risk 
management approach was reviewed using third party external expertise during 2013 to ensure continual  
improvement in our processes. 

Risk management processes 
The environment in which the group operates is dynamic and quickly evolving and so it is recognised that a flexible  
and adaptable approach to risk management is required. Processes are in place to ensure that each operating division 
and support function identifies and assesses the risks to achieving its objectives, the associated mitigation measures and 
the potential impact of the crystallisation of those risks. This process was reviewed during the year and refocused to 
ensure clarity of requirements were understood and formal risk management workshops were undertaken to provide 
consistency in the risk identification and assessment process. Responsibility for specific areas of risk flows through the 
business, with accountability and responsibility assigned to specific risk owners. The group risk profile is reviewed by  
the Chief Executive and Group Finance Director in advance of review and approval by the Board. This information is 
captured in risk registers at business, divisional and functional level, which are subsequently consolidated into strategic, 
operational, financial and regulatory risk categories within the overall group risk register maintained by the Enterprise  
Risk function. 

 
 
 
Mitie Group plc 
Annual Report and Accounts 2014

42

The Board  

Risk identification and assessment 
To ensure a thorough identification process occurs, both internal and external perspectives are taken into account when 
considering the risks that pose a threat to the achievement of the group’s strategy. The external view will include the 
economic position, political factors, sector and geographical risks. The internal view takes into account factors including 
our business profile, operational processes, technology and people. 

Identified risks are then assessed using standard impact and likelihood ratings to quantify the risk to the achievement of 
business objectives. This approach is consistent across all our operations and support functions and provides executive 
management and the Board with the ability to prioritise resources to manage risk. Independent challenge and oversight  
of the risks identified within the divisional and functional risk registers is provided by the Enterprise Risk function,  
to ensure meaningful and consistent results are achieved via the process. 

Risk mitigation 
The control and mitigation element of our risk management process was enhanced during the year to provide more 
robust information on the effectiveness of the identified controls in place. Each identified risk has a defined control owner 
who is responsible for developing a plan to mitigate the risk. Assessment of the effectiveness of this control environment 
is undertaken at divisional and group level, with the Audit Committee formally reviewing performance. 

Risk monitoring and review 
The changing nature of our business profile means that the risk management process is dynamic, with principal risks 
monitored throughout the year to ensure the risk profile is accurate and the control environment remains effective. 
Through this process, newly identified risks will therefore feature on the risk register and some risks may be removed. 
Following the 2014 review, the overall risk profile has remained in line with that reported previously, although the definition 
of a number of risk events has been refined in order to more accurately reflect the potential challenges to achieving our 
strategic objectives as our business continues to develop. It should be noted that there are other risks identified as part of 
our risk management process, but these do not have a material impact on the group’s overall ability to achieve business 
objectives. These risks are managed via the existing risk management process. 

To further encourage a culture of risk management within the business, the Audit Committee, on behalf of the Board, 
regularly reviews the programme of risk management undertaken across the group to demonstrate the importance  
of the management and assessment of risk at a senior level, and to take ownership of mitigation improvements  
where required. 

Ultimately the risk management framework is designed to manage rather than eliminate the risk of failing to achieve the 
objectives and strategies of the group and can therefore only provide reasonable, and not absolute, assurance against 
material risk and loss. The Board, through the Audit Committee, considers the nature and extent of significant risks  
in setting the group’s strategy. Details of the principal risks of the group are set out on pages 32 and 33. The Audit 
Committee confirms that this risk management process has been in place throughout the reporting year and up to the 
date of approval of the Annual Report and Accounts. 

Internal control and assurance 
The Board has established an appropriate system of governance throughout the group, with a framework of internal 
control based around the ‘three lines of defence’ model. The first line of defence is provided by line management, who are 
responsible for implementing and monitoring specific controls, the second line is provided by senior management within 
the divisions and specific functions (such as Finance, Human Resources and Risk) who provide assurance on the 
effectiveness of these controls, and the third line is provided by internal and external audit. The Internal Audit function  
is structured by way of a co-source arrangement with in-house auditors working alongside specialists from Grant 
Thornton LLP to achieve the overall delivery of the internal audit programme. 

The internal audit programme is designed to provide a level of assurance over the principal risks as identified in the group 
risk register and is developed by the Head of Internal Audit who reports independently to the Audit Committee. The Audit 
Committee supports the Board by monitoring and guiding the activities of the Internal Audit function, including review and 
approval of the internal audit programme, reviewing the findings of the internal audit reports from the Internal Audit 
function and reviewing plans to address identified areas for improvement arising from the audits. 

The Audit Committee also receives regular reports from the Independent Auditor who contribute a further independent 
perspective on certain aspects of the internal financial control systems arising from their work. The Audit Committee also 
receives an update from the Head of Internal Audit and the Executive Directors on the operation of controls within the 
business. 

Committees of the Board 
The Board has five formally constituted committees: the Audit Committee, the Nomination Committee, the Remuneration 
Committee, the Investment Committee and the Results Committee, the work of which are set out on the following pages. 

Audit Committee 

Strategic Report

Governance

Financial

43

Chairman’s introduction 
As Chairman of the Audit Committee I am pleased to present this report on the role and activities of the Audit Committee 
for the financial year ended 31 March 2014. The primary role of the Committee is to oversee and assist the Board in its 
responsibility to discharge a set of fair, balanced and understandable group Annual Report and Accounts. Such accounts 
should provide the information necessary for shareholders to assess the Company’s performance, business model and 
strategy throughout the year.  

Over the past year, the Committee has ensured that the group has in place effective financial governance in respect of 
the group’s financial results, the performance of both the Internal Audit function and the Independent Auditor, and the 
management of the group’s systems of internal control, business risks and related compliance activities. 

Who is on the Audit Committee? 
The Audit Committee comprises independent Non-Executive Directors who are all considered appropriately experienced 
to fulfil their duties. The Chairman of the Committee is David Jenkins, who continues to be deemed by the Board, as at the 
date of this report, to have significant, recent and relevant financial experience through his qualifications and ongoing 
positions. 

Chairman  

Committee members 

David Jenkins 

Crawford Gillies 

Larry Hirst  

Terry Morgan (until 31 October 2013) 

Graeme Potts (until 9 July 2013) 

Jack Boyer (from 1 June 2013) 

What is the key purpose of the Audit Committee? 
The Audit Committee provides effective governance over the appropriateness of the group’s financial reporting, and  
the performance of both the Internal and External Audit functions. The Committee also oversees the management of the 
group’s systems of internal control, business risks and related compliance activities. 

The Audit Committee meets independently with the Independent Auditor and the Head of Internal Audit without the 
Executive Directors. The Chairman of the Committee will be available at the AGM to answer any questions about  
the work of the Committee. 

What are the key responsibilities of the Audit Committee? 
During the year, the Audit Committee considered and reviewed general matters relevant to discharging its responsibilities, 
including: 

−(cid:3) monitoring the group’s corporate reporting process and the statutory audit of the Annual Report and Accounts; 
−(cid:3) reviewing the Half-Yearly Financial Report and Annual Report and Accounts and recommending for Board approval; 
−(cid:3) reviewing accounting policies and key areas of accounting judgement; 
−(cid:3) reviewing the Independent Auditor’s audit plan, nature and scope of work and overall summary of key issues  

and judgements; 

−(cid:3) reviewing the quality of the group’s Independent Auditor services and the re-appointment of the Independent Auditor; 
−(cid:3) assessing the effectiveness of the Independent Auditor including the appropriateness and skills of its audit team; 
−(cid:3) reviewing and monitoring compliance with the Non-Audit Services Policy and maintenance of auditor independence; 
−(cid:3) reviewing the group’s consolidated risk register prior to its approval by the Board; 
−(cid:3) approving the group’s assurance framework and the internal audit plan; 
−(cid:3) reviewing key internal audit reports and findings; 

 
 
 
 
 
 
Mitie Group plc 
Annual Report and Accounts 2014

44

Audit Committee 

−(cid:3) reviewing the group’s whistleblowing process and procedure; 
−(cid:3) considering management’s response to any major internal or independent audit recommendations; 
−(cid:3) monitoring the effectiveness of the internal audit, independent audit and risk management systems and functions; and 
−(cid:3) advising on and reviewing the fair, balanced and understandable statement. 

The Audit Committee’s terms of reference are available at  
http://www.mitie.com/documents/investors/corporate-governance/committee_terms_of_reference.pdf 

How many times did the Audit Committee meet? 
During the financial year, the Audit Committee met three times. Meetings may, by invitation, be attended by the 
Company’s Independent Auditor, the Chairman, the Chief Executive, the Group Finance Director and the Group Enterprise 
Risk Director. 

Number of meetings held in year:  

David Jenkins  

Crawford Gillies  

Larry Hirst  

Terry Morgan1 

Graeme Potts2 

Jack Boyer3 

Notes: 
1  Terry Morgan retired from the Board on 31 October 2013. 
2  Graeme Potts retired from the Board on 9 July 2013. 
3  Jack Boyer was appointed to the Board on 1 June 2013. 

Attendance 

3 

3 

3 

3 

0 of 1 

1 of 1 

2 of 2 

The role of the Committee – financial reporting 
The primary role of the Committee in relation to financial reporting is to review with both management and the 
Independent Auditor the appropriateness of the Half-Yearly and Annual Report and Accounts concentrating on, amongst 
other matters: 

−(cid:3) the quality and acceptability of accounting policies and practices; 
−(cid:3) the clarity of the disclosures and compliance with financial reporting standards and relevant financial and governance 

reporting requirements; 

−(cid:3) material areas in which significant judgements have been applied or where there has been discussion with the 

Independent Auditor; and 

−(cid:3) whether the Annual Report and Accounts, taken as a whole, is fair, balanced and understandable and provides the 
information necessary for shareholders to assess the Company’s performance, business model and strategy. 

To aid our review, the Committee considers reports from the Group Finance Director and also reports from the 
Independent Auditor on the outcomes of their Half-Yearly review and annual audit. 

Significant issues considered by the Committee during the year 
The Audit Committee considered the following significant matters of judgement in relation to the accounting judgements 
contained in the Annual Report and Accounts. In all cases, papers were presented to the Audit Committee by management, 
setting out the material matters of accounting estimates and the judgements associated with each item. A separate 
paper was presented to the Audit Committee by the Independent Auditor that set out their views on each area of 
judgement. The Audit Committee discussed the papers with management and sought the views of the Independent 
Auditor on each matter, and for each area of judgement concurred with the treatment presented by management  
and in the Annual Report and Accounts.  

The presentation of the income statement 
The financial statements contain all the information and disclosures required by the relevant accounting standards and 
regulatory obligations that apply to the group. Mitie has elected to provide some further disclosures and performance 
measures in order to present its financial results in a way that it considers best demonstrates the performance of its 
business. In particular, Mitie adopts headline measures of its performance and separately discloses certain costs and 
income as Other items in its income statement in order to demonstrate the underlying performance of its business. 

The Audit Committee considered the use of these non-statutory measures of performance and related reporting formats 
and disclosures in order to satisfy itself that the presentation of the group’s results was transparent, fairly reflected the 
activity of the business during the reporting period and enabled a clearer understanding of the underlying performance  
of the business over time. 

 
 
Strategic Report

Governance

Financial

45

Accounting for material contracts 
The group operates a broad portfolio of contracts and discloses revenue recognition as a critical judgement in the Annual 
Report and Accounts. The methodology used for the recognition of contract revenue influences the amount of profit 
recognised on a contract as well as the inclusion and valuation of contract related assets and liabilities on the balance 
sheet. 

The Audit Committee considered papers prepared by management on revenue recognition; on the accounting treatment 
applied to the group’s larger integrated facilities management contracts, where judgements are required in respect of the 
percentage of completion of contracted work when recognising revenue and profit; on contract performance and the 
recognition and valuation of contract related assets and liabilities on certain construction contracts in Energy Solutions; 
and on the recoverability of certain specific contract receivables and the risk associated with their collection.  

Accounting for business activities that are being exited or restructured  
In the last financial year, the group announced that it was exiting its cyclical mechanical and electrical engineering 
contraction business and in the current year it has taken the decision to reduce its exposure to the loss-making 
construction element of its Energy Solutions business.  

In forming judgements on the accounting estimates in respect of these businesses, the papers presented to the Committee 
considered the performance of the contracts within each business area, the carrying value of contract related assets and 
liabilities in the balance sheet and the continuing obligations of the group in respect of those businesses. The Committee 
also specifically considered the accounting treatment afforded to the group’s 30% non-controlling equity interest in a joint 
venture company, to which Mitie has also extended subordinated debt. The Energy Solutions division has a contract to 
construct and operate a renewable energy plant for the joint venture company and the project has been subject to delays 
and considerable cost overruns. Consideration was given to the treatment that should be adopted for the joint venture  
on consolidation of the group’s results, and whether it should therefore be considered to be a subsidiary or an associate. 
The group’s interest in that joint venture is accounted for as an associate and is held at nil value (see Note 16). Given the 
delays in the project, consideration was also given to the recoverability of receivables due from the joint venture company 
taking into account the planned timing of repayments from the joint venture company and the risks associated with  
their collection. 

The full trading result of the cyclical mechanical and electrical engineering contraction business has been separately 
disclosed within Other items (see Note 5) due to the significance of its scale to the group, along with the costs of closure 
of that business. A number of contract provisions and costs have been incurred in the year in reducing the group’s 
exposure to design and build construction contracts in the Energy Solutions business. These are also separately disclosed 
as Other items on the face of the income statement. 

The valuation of goodwill 
The group has undertaken a number of acquisitions in the past and carries goodwill as an intangible asset on its balance 
sheet in respect of the businesses acquired (see Note 13).  

The valuation and impairment review of goodwill is assessed for each individual cash generating unit (‘CGU’) and considers 
the balance sheet value of the goodwill compared to the net present value of the post-tax cash flows that are expected  
to be generated by that CGU. This involves an estimation of the future cash flows deriving from each CGU and also the 
selection of appropriate discount rates, which are then applied to the cash flows to calculate a net present value.  

The assumptions underpinning the review were considered by the Audit Committee, particularly the discount rates 
applied. The cash flow forecasts used in the review were derived from the most recent budgets which have been reviewed 
and approved by the Board and the long-term business plans of the group. Sensitivities to changes in key assumptions 
were considered by management and presented to the Audit Committee.  

Going concern 
The Audit Committee considered the evidence that supports the ability of the Directors to conclude that Mitie has 
adequate financial resources to continue in operation for the foreseeable future and can prepare its accounts on a going 
concern basis. The Committee considered the future prospects and performance of the group including the potential 
impact of acquisition activity; the projected future cash flows of the group; the availability of core and ancillary financing 
facilities and compliance with related covenants; and the projected drawn positions and headroom available on the core 
committed financing facilities. It also reviewed and considered the disclosures on the matter of going concern in the 
Annual Report and Accounts and considered them to be appropriate.  

Accounting for acquisitions 
In the previous financial year, the group made the significant acquisition of Enara to support its strategy to enter the 
homecare market. It also made other, smaller acquisitions in the current and prior years. The accounting estimates made 
by the group in accounting for acquisitions were considered by the Audit Committee. 

The fair value estimates established following the acquisition of Enara were reviewed and finalised during the current 
reporting period having taken into account the performance and experience of the business since acquisition and the 
conditions that existed at the acquisition date. 

 
 
 
Mitie Group plc 
Annual Report and Accounts 2014

46

Audit Committee 

The role of the Committee – external audit 
Each year the Audit Committee reviews the performance of the Independent Auditor in respect of audit related services 
and non-audit related services and is committed to ensuring the independence, effectiveness and objectivity of the 
Independent Auditor. 

Deloitte LLP has been the Company’s Independent Auditor since its market listing over 25 years ago. However, Mitie 
tendered its full external audit services in the year ended 31 March 2012 and concluded that Deloitte LLP should be 
re-appointed as Independent Auditor given its relevant experience in both the PLC environment and the support  
services sector. 

The independence of our Independent Auditor 
The Audit Committee has approved a Non-Audit Services Policy that ensures the Independent Auditor remains 
independent and objective throughout the provision of their independent audit services and when formulating their audit 
opinion. In order to retain the flexibility of utilising the Independent Auditor to provide non-audit services, the following 
criteria must also be met. These are such that the Independent Auditor does not: 

−(cid:3) audit their own work; 
−(cid:3) make management decisions for the group; 
−(cid:3) create a conflict of interest; or 
−(cid:3) find themselves in the role of advocate for the group. 

The Non-Audit Services Policy identifies the various types of non-audit services and determines the analysis to be 
undertaken along with the level of authority required before the Independent Auditor can be considered to undertake  
such services. Further, the policy is consistent with the Financial Reporting Council’s ethical standards policy. 

When considering the appointment of the Independent Auditor for non-audit services, the following factors are taken  
into account: 

−(cid:3) the quality of work provided by the Independent Auditor; 
−(cid:3) representations provided by the Independent Auditor regarding independence and objectivity, along with internal 

controls implemented by them when providing non-audit services; 
−(cid:3) the level of the Independent Auditor’s understanding of the group; 
−(cid:3) the nature of the work being performed; and 
−(cid:3) the commercial and practical circumstances of particular types of work required. 

Non-audit services provided to the group during the year included corporate finance services associated with the 
acquisition of Complete Care Holdings Limited, for reasons of commercial confidentiality and efficiency, taxation advice 
and compliance services. 

The Audit Committee considered reports from both management and the Independent Auditor, none of which raised 
concerns about auditor independence. 

A summary of the fees paid to the Independent Auditor is given in Note 6 to the financial statements. The Audit 
Committee confirms that the requirements of the Non-Audit Services Policy have been met throughout the year. 

Independent Auditor effectiveness and tendering 
The Audit Committee monitored the conduct and effectiveness of the Independent Auditor through its assessment of: 

−(cid:3) the experience, expertise and perceptiveness of the auditor; 
−(cid:3) the planning and execution of the agreed audit plan and quality of audit reports; and 
−(cid:3) the conduct of the auditor including the Audit Committee’s experience of interaction with the auditor which included 

meetings held in the absence of management. 

The Audit Committee is satisfied with the effectiveness of the independent audit and, in light of the audit tender 
conducted in the year ended 31 March 2012, has assessed and recommended to the Board the continued engagement of 
Deloitte LLP as the Company’s Independent Auditor and has recommended their re-appointment at the AGM. Deloitte LLP 
has expressed willingness to continue in office as our Independent Auditor and accordingly the Board is recommending 
their re-appointment as Independent Auditor at the forthcoming AGM. 

The Audit Committee has noted the changes in relation to auditor rotation and will continue to give consideration to the 
timing of the next formal tender in light of guidance and changes in regulatory requirements. There are no contractual 
obligations restricting the Company’s choice of Independent Auditor. 

 
Strategic Report

Governance

Financial

47

Assurance 
In line with ‘Internal Control: Guidance for Directors’ and the revised C.2.1, the Board performs a formal annual 
assessment of the operation and effectiveness of the system of internal control, covering all material controls including 
financial, operational and compliance controls, and updates this assessment prior to the signing of the Annual Report  
and Accounts.  

To support the previously reported redesign of the internal control questionnaire, a more robust exercise was carried out 
to gather evidence to support the responses submitted by the businesses. The feedback from this exercise has been used 
to improve and strengthen the system of internal control, embed effective controls further into the operations of the 
group and to implement other procedural improvements.  

These activities are monitored at executive level to ensure that control changes are implemented appropriately and that 
they are effective. The Head of Internal Audit oversees the application of control environment improvements and attends 
each Audit Committee meeting to provide regular updates on the effectiveness of the group’s internal controls and the 
results of the internal audit process. 

Features of the internal control and risk management systems that ensure accuracy and reliability of financial reporting 
include: a culture of good governance, integrity, competence, fairness and responsibility; group level policies and 
procedures to support the business by providing an operational internal control framework; clearly defined responsibilities, 
delegated in accordance with the group’s delegated authorities and authorisation registers; and a group function with  
a team of specialist resources. 

David Jenkins 
Chairman of the Audit Committee 

Nomination Committee 

Chairman’s introduction 
As Chairman of the Nomination Committee my role is to ensure that the group maintains a Board which is appropriately 
balanced and, as a unit, functions as efficiently and effectively as possible. 

The Committee is comprised of independent Non-Executive Directors who are all considered to be appropriately 
experienced to fulfil their duties. 

Who is on the Nomination Committee? 

Chairman  

Committee members 

Roger Matthews 

David Jenkins 

Crawford Gillies 

Larry Hirst  

Terry Morgan (until 31 October 2013) 

Graeme Potts (until 9 July 2013) 

Jack Boyer (from 1 June 2013) 

What is the key purpose of the Nomination Committee? 
The Nomination Committee reviews and evaluates the composition of the Board and its Committees to maintain the 
appropriate balance of skills, knowledge, experience and independence to ensure their continued effectiveness. 

The Nomination Committee also ensures that appropriate succession plans for the Non-Executive Directors, Executive 
Directors and the group’s senior management are also kept under review. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
Mitie Group plc 
Annual Report and Accounts 2014

48

Nomination Committee 

What are the key responsibilities of the Nomination Committee? 
The Nomination Committee is responsible for: 

−(cid:3) succession planning; 
−(cid:3) identifying and nominating, for the approval of the Board, candidates to fill Board vacancies; 
−(cid:3) considering the adequacy of the skills, experience and diversity represented on the Board; 
−(cid:3) leading the process for appointments to the Board; and 
−(cid:3) satisfying itself and the Board that there are sufficient plans in place for orderly succession for future appointments. 

The Nomination Committee’s terms of reference are available at http://www.mitie.com/documents/investors/corporate-
governance/committee_terms_of_reference.pdf. 

What were the key activities during the year? 
The Committee reviewed the composition and chairmanship of the Board and each of its Committees and determined 
that all Non-Executive Directors remained independent in character and judgement. The Committee continues to be 
satisfied that its current composition is appropriate, having regard in particular to the integrity, skills, knowledge and 
experience of its Directors and the size and nature of the business. 

The Committee has worked with Inzito, an executive search firm, to support appointments to Non-Executive Director 
positions made in 2013. Inzito have also supported Mitie in the identification of candidates for a small number of senior 
positions below Executive Director level, but the Company has no other connection with this firm. 

The process followed is set out below: 

−(cid:3) the Committee provides Inzito with an agreed candidate specification; 
−(cid:3) lnzito conducts a candidate search; 
−(cid:3) the Chairman and Senior Independent Director review the candidate list and interview a pre-determined short list; 
−(cid:3) the Committee recommends the appointment to the Board. 

A detailed and personally tailored induction programme is undertaken for Non-Executive Directors joining the Board  
in line with Mitie’s standard procedure. 

How many times did the Nomination Committee meet? 
During the financial year, the Committee met four times. 

Number of meetings held in year:  

Roger Matthews  

David Jenkins 

Crawford Gillies  

Larry Hirst 

Terry Morgan1 

Graeme Potts1 

Jack Boyer3 

Notes: 
1  Terry Morgan retired from the Board on 31 October 2013. 
2  Graeme Potts retired from the Board on 9 July 2013. 
3  Jack Boyer was appointed to the Board on 1 June 2013. 

Attendance 

4 

4 

4 

4 

4 

1 of 2 

2 of 2 

2 of 3 

Our policy on diversity 
Mitie welcomes, as a general principle, the updated Code requirement to consider diversity at Board level and sees this  
as an opportunity to consider the appropriateness of our approach to managing the diversity of ideas and skills on the 
Board. The Board believes that setting aspirational diversity targets could drive a practice that is not necessarily in  
the best interests of the organisation and that the issue of Board diversity should be tackled in a manner that considers  
all areas of the diversity agenda such as skills and experience, as well as gender, race, disability or other aspects of 
difference. Diversity of candidates at Board level has to be balanced against the required skills and experience and  
should be a consideration in any recruitment, succession planning and talent management process. 

During the past year, the group’s Equality, Diversity and Inclusion policy has been reviewed and updated to include specific 
references to boardroom diversity. The Board has been responsible for further driving the diversity agenda throughout 
the organisation in a number of ways, including the development of divisional diversity forums. With specific targets 
around gender, race and age, these business-specific diversity forums reflect the Board’s commitment to diversity, 
through their work to implement bespoke diversity action plans, which support the goals of those business areas. 

 
 
 
 
Strategic Report

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49

The Board is keen to ensure that all aspects of diversity are considered in the promotion, retention and development  
of the talent pipeline throughout the group as well as at Board level, and a suite of diversity policies and procedures  
have been cascaded and embedded throughout the group. Further details of the diversity of Mitie’s people can be found  
in the sustainability report which is available on the Company’s website at www.mitie.com. 

Since the fourth quarter of 2012, we have been monitoring our workforce data, by salary banding, to understand progress 
made on employee diversity, with regard to gender, age, disability and ethnicity. 

Particular achievements to date include continued improvements in the percentage of women in the higher salary bands 
within the organisation. Additionally, the number of people employed in the 16-24 age group has also grown over the last 
year, as has the percentage of people employed aged 60 and over. 

Disability and ethnic minority percentages have remained stable over the same time period and these are particular areas 
of focus at this time. 

We work with a number of external search consultancies, none of which have any other connection with the Company.  
In addition, we have recently built a bespoke recruitment portal, which we use to create and publish vacancies, which are 
also posted to third party jobsites. In the past 12 months we have formalised our long-standing relationship with Remploy 
by signing a partnership agreement. Our relationship with Remploy provides work experience and employment 
opportunities for disabled people and those facing complex barriers to work. Additionally, in the past 12 months we have 
formed links with Pink Jobs (UK’s largest LGBT job vacancies board). In effect this means that all external vacancies are 
now open to Pink Jobs and Remploy candidates. Additionally, we are working towards developing further partnerships 
with Leonard Cheshire and the Ethnic Jobsite. 

We have a long-standing relationship with Remploy and since 2006 more than 450 disabled people have been employed 
by Mitie. 

Board composition
%

Executive

Female

67

Male

33

Board tenure

0-1 years

1-2 years

2-3 years

0

Non-executive

Female

0

Male

4-6 years

7-9 years

100

1

1

1

Roger Matthews 
Chairman of the Nomination Committee 

5

Remuneration Committee 
The Directors’ remuneration report is set out at pages 50 to 67 and details the Remuneration Committee’s activities 
during the year and its policy on remuneration. The Directors’ remuneration report contains full details of any  
earnings that the Executive Directors are permitted to retain from their external appointments. The Chairman of  
the Remuneration Committee will be available at the AGM to respond to any shareholder questions relating to the 
activities of the Remuneration Committee. 

Investment Committee 

Overview and Purpose 
The Investment Committee strengthens the group’s governance framework and facilitates the internal approvals  
process by approving matters as delegated by the Board and referring recommendations for Board approval.  
The Committee, which comprises the Chief Executive, as chairman, and Group Finance Director, met eight times  
during the year and considered matters such as major bids and contracts, acquisitions, disposals, capital expenditure  
and Mitie Model investments. 

Results Committee 

Overview and purpose 
The Results Committee assists the Board in approving matters such as Half-Yearly and preliminary results 
announcements, other routine, non-material announcements and shareholder communications. The Results Committee, 
which comprises the Chief Executive, as chairman, and Group Finance Director, met twice during the year. 

 
 
 
Mitie Group plc 
Annual Report and Accounts 2014

50

Directors’ remuneration report  

Statement from the Remuneration Committee Chairman 

Introduction 
On behalf of the Board, I am pleased to present the Directors’ remuneration report for the year ended 31 March 2014, 
which has been prepared in line with the new reporting requirements which came into effect in October 2013. This report 
sets out the remuneration policy which shapes our Directors’ pay and how that policy was applied during 2014. 

This is also the first report I have prepared in my capacity as new Committee Chairman, a role I assumed on  
1 November 2013, replacing Terry Morgan. The other change in Committee composition during the year was the 
appointment of Jack Boyer who replaced Graeme Potts. Both Terry and Graeme’s contributions to the Committee’s 
activities have been greatly appreciated. 

Company performance 
As set out in the Chairman’s and Chief Executive’s overviews, Mitie has had a strong year, delivering organic growth in 
headline revenues and profits. Key highlights include: 

−(cid:3) Headline revenue growth of 8.2%, of which 5.2% was organic (statutory revenue growth of 4.7%); 
−(cid:3) Headline operating profit growth of 6.0% (statutory profit growth of 21.5%); 
−(cid:3) Headline basic EPS growth of 5.2% (statutory basic EPS growth of 13.6%); and 
−(cid:3) Dividend per share growth of 6.8%. 

Key decisions 
It has been in this positive context that the Committee has approached the key decisions it has taken in connection with 
the remuneration of our Executive Directors. With regard to fixed pay, it has been agreed that the base salaries, which 
were not increased last year for the Chief Executive and Group Finance Director, should be increased by 4.5% from  
1 April 2014. No increase was granted to Bill Robson. The reason for this is that he has indicated his intent to step  
down from the Mitie Group plc Board on 31 July 2014. Bill has served as a member of the Board since August 2001  
and intends to stay within the group as Managing Director of our Property management division, focusing on the  
many new opportunities that are developing within the housing sector. 

Performance-related pay continues to play an important role in our remuneration policy. In assessing achievement against 
the year’s financial target and strategic objectives, the resulting bonus pay-outs as a percentage of base salary were 
144.1% for the Chief Executive and 122.9% for the other two Executive Directors, with any bonus paid above 100% of base 
salary deferred in shares for a two year period. As mentioned above, this reflects a year of strong performance at Mitie. 

With regard to long-term incentives, the following decisions were taken by the Committee: 

−(cid:3) Treatment of the 2010 LTIP awards – LTIP awards granted in 2010 were based solely on real EPS growth targets. 
Based on performance against these targets, the Committee determined on 29 June 2013 that 57.2% of the award 
vested, with the balance lapsing. 

−(cid:3) Treatment of 2011 LTIP awards – LTIP awards granted in 2011 were based on solely absolute EPS growth for the three 

years ending 31 March 2014. EPS growth was below the threshold of 7% and therefore the award will lapse in full. 

−(cid:3) 2013 LTIP awards – Following consultation with major shareholders, it was agreed that the previous approach of using 
solely EPS-based performance conditions for awards should be changed for the 2013 LTIP award. Instead, this award 
will vest based upon a combination of three year absolute EPS growth, relative TSR, cash conversion and organic revenue 
growth targets. In addition, it was also agreed, following this shareholder consultation, that the Chief Executive be 
granted an award over shares worth 250% of salary (ie higher than the default award of 200% of salary but within  
the LTIP plan individual participation limit which allows for awards to be made over shares worth up to 250% of salary  
in exceptional circumstances) to ensure her continued incentivisation and further strengthen her alignment  
with shareholders. 

 
 
Strategic Report

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Remuneration policy for 2014/15 
The remuneration policy for which we are seeking shareholder approval at the forthcoming AGM, and which will apply 
from that date, is set out on pages 53 - 56. This policy broadly reflects the approach adopted by Mitie last year and, 
therefore, no substantial policy changes have been suggested for the following year. However, one of my first objectives 
as the new Chair is to conduct a review of this remuneration policy during the course of 2014, with the assistance of our 
newly appointed advisers, FIT Remuneration Consultants. The primary aim of this policy review will be to ensure that the 
Executive Directors’ remuneration is clearly and demonstrably aligned to the group’s evolving strategy, ensuring that the 
interests of the Executive Directors are fully aligned with our shareholders. If, as anticipated, the output of this review is 
that revisions to the existing policy are proposed, shareholder approval will again be sought for these changes at next 
year’s AGM. As we continue to welcome ongoing discussions with investors on remuneration matters, the Committee will 
consult with major shareholders in advance of the 2015 AGM should it be intended that a revised policy be put to a formal 
vote at that meeting. 

Crawford Gillies 
Chairman of the Remuneration Committee 

Who is on the Remuneration Committee? 

Chairman: 

Committee Members: 

Crawford Gillies (from 1 November 2013) 

Terry Morgan (until 31 October 2013) 

Jack Boyer (from 1 June 2013) 

Larry Hirst 

David Jenkins 

Roger Matthews 

Graeme Potts (until 9 July 2013) 

What is the Committee’s key purpose? 
The Committee has the responsibility for determining remuneration for Mitie’s Executive Directors and the Chairman, 
taking into account the need to recruit and retain executives and ensuring they are properly incentivised to perform  
in the interests of the Company and shareholders.  

What are the Committee’s key responsibilities? 
The Committee’s key responsibilities are: 

−(cid:3) shaping and agreeing with the Board the policy framework for the remuneration of Executive Directors and certain 

aspects of the remuneration of senior management; 

−(cid:3) determining the total individual remuneration package of each Executive Director with due regard to the performance  

of the individual in line with the agreed remuneration policy; 

−(cid:3) agreeing Executive Directors’ contractual terms;  
−(cid:3) acting on behalf of the Board, in connection with the establishment and administration of the group’s current and/or 
future share plans, including the selection of participants, determining the structure of awards and the setting of 
performance targets;  

−(cid:3) overseeing the remuneration policy for the group as a whole; and  
−(cid:3) drafting and approving the Directors’ remuneration report and any remuneration-related resolutions to be put to the 

shareholders at the group’s AGM. 

Who attends Committee meetings? 
The Remuneration Committee regularly consults with Ruby McGregor-Smith, Chief Executive and the Group HR Director  
on various matters relating to the appropriateness of rewards for the Executive Directors. However, the Chief Executive  
is not present when matters relating directly to her specific individual remuneration are discussed.  

The Assistant Company Secretary attended the meetings as Secretary to the Committee. The Chief Executive and Group 
HR Director attended meetings by invitation only.  

The Remuneration Committee seeks and considers advice from independent remuneration advisers where appropriate. 
Kepler Associates (‘Kepler’), appointed by the Committee in 2007, acted as the independent remuneration adviser to  
the Committee up to the end of November 2013. During its appointment, Kepler attended Committee meetings and 
provided advice on remuneration for executives, analysis on all elements of the remuneration policy and regular market 
and best practice updates. Kepler complied with the Code of Conduct for Remuneration Consultants (which can be found 
at www.remunerationconsultantsgroup.com). Kepler provided no other services to the Company during its appointment. 
The total cost of advice to the Committee for the portion of the year Kepler advised was £95,000 (such fees being 
charged in accordance with Kepler’s standard terms of business).  

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Mitie Group plc 
Annual Report and Accounts 2014

52

Directors’ remuneration report 

Following the appointment of Crawford Gillies as Remuneration Committee Chairman, FIT Remuneration Consultants 
(‘FIT’) were appointed by the Committee in December 2013 to provide independent advice on executive remuneration.  
FIT attended Committee meetings and provided advice and analysis on executive remuneration. The advisers provide  
no other services to the Company and also comply with the Code of Conduct for Remuneration Consultants. FIT’s total 
cost of advice for the portion of the year they advised was £38,100 (such fees being charged in accordance with FIT’s 
standard terms of business). 

The Committee specifically considered the position of Kepler and FIT and was satisfied that the advice it received  
by both Kepler and FIT was objective and independent, given that no other services were provided to the Company by 
either party. 

How many times did the Committee meet? 
During the financial year, the Committee met seven times.  

Number of meetings held in year:  

David Jenkins  

Crawford Gillies  

Larry Hirst  

Terry Morgan1 

Graeme Potts2 

Jack Boyer3 

Attendance 

7 

7 

7 

7 

3 of 4 

4 of 4 

4 of 4 

Notes: 
1  Terry Morgan retired from the Board on 31 October 2013. 
2  Graeme Potts retired from the Board on 9 July 2013. 
3  Jack Boyer was appointed to the Board on 1 June 2013. 

What were the key activities of the Committee during the year? 
The Remuneration Committee: 

−(cid:3) Set base salaries for the Executive Directors. 
−(cid:3) Assessed performance of the Executive Directors and determined annual bonuses for 2013. 
−(cid:3) Set bonus targets for the Executive Directors for 2014. 
−(cid:3) Approved share awards for 2013 and the vesting of share awards granted in 2010. 
−(cid:3) Reviewed and amended the Long Term Incentive Plan performance conditions in consultation with major shareholders 
−(cid:3) Reviewed the revised remuneration reporting regulations and prepared the Directors’ remuneration report. 

This report 
We have presented this report to reflect the recent changes in reporting requirements on remuneration matters  
for companies, particularly the UK’s new Large and Medium-sized Companies and Groups (Accounts and Reports) 
(Amendment) Regulations 2013. The report also describes how the Board has complied with the provisions set out  
in the UK Corporate Governance Code relating to remuneration matters. 

At our 2014 AGM we will be holding two votes relating directly to this report: a binding vote on the Directors’ Remuneration 
Policy as set out in the policy section of this report, and an advisory vote on the implementation section of this report. 

The Independent Auditor has reported on certain parts of this report and stated whether, in their opinion, those parts of 
the report have been properly prepared in accordance with the Companies Act 2006. Those sections of the report which 
have been subject to audit are clearly indicated. 

The Company’s remuneration policy 

The key principles of the policy 
The remuneration policy of the Company promotes and embeds the Company’s remuneration principles. The key 
principles of this policy are:  

Performance-related 

At the Executive Director and senior management levels, the majority of reward 
opportunity is provided through performance-related incentives linked to the Company’s 
strategic goals and taking account of the Company’s attitude to risk. 
Reward under these incentives is linked to both individual and group performance. 

Shareholder aligned 

The performance-related incentive arrangements are designed to align the interests of the 
executives with those of shareholders. 

Comprehensive and simple 

The overall remuneration policy is comprehensive without becoming overcomplicated and 
encourages executives to concentrate on profitable growth. 

 
Strategic Report

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53

The policy itself  
The Committee currently reflects these key principles in each of the main elements of the reward packages for the 
Executive Directors as set out in the table below. This policy, if approved by shareholders, will take effect from the date  
of the forthcoming AGM. However, as mentioned above, the Committee intends to conduct a review of the Company’s 
senior executive pay policy in the forthcoming year. Based on the outcome of the review, it is anticipated that Mitie will  
be putting forward a revised policy for the binding vote next year. 

Purpose and link to strategy 

  Operation 

  Opportunity 

  Performance metrics 

Base Salary 

To attract and retain the 
required talent needed to set 
and drive the vision and 
direction for Mitie. 

  Salaries are generally 
reviewed annually and 
effective from 1 April. The 
review is influenced by: 

The individual’s role, 
experience and performance

Business performance and 
the wider market and 
economic conditions 

The range of increases 
across the group 

An external comparator 
group comprised of sector 
comparators and size 
adjusted FTSE 250 
comparator organisations. 

Benefits 

To aid retention and be 
competitive within the 
marketplace. 

  The group provides a range 

of benefits which may 
include a company car/car 
allowance, private fuel, 
private health insurance, life 
assurance and annual leave.

Benefits are reviewed 
periodically against market 
and new benefits may be 
added and/or amended as 
required to support the 
attraction and retention  
of key talent. 

Additional benefits may  
be awarded in certain 
recruitment circumstances 
which may include relocation 
expenses, housing allowance 
and school fees. Other 
benefits may be offered if 
considered appropriate and 
reasonable by the 
Committee. 

  N/A 

  Base salary increases will  
be broadly in line with the 
average increase for the  
UK non-contract based 
workforce whose salaries 
Mitie determines, although 
on occasion other specific 
circumstances such as 
changes of responsibilities, 
progression in role, 
experience, or a significant 
increase in the scale of the 
role and/or size, value and/or 
complexity of the group may 
also be taken into 
consideration. 

  Benefits are set at a level 
which the Remuneration 
Committee considers: 

  N/A 

Appropriately positioned 
against comparable roles  
in companies of a similar size 
and complexity in  
the relevant market. 

Provides a sufficient level  
of benefit based on the  
role and individual 
circumstances  
(for example, relocation). 

The Committee retains 
discretion to approve a 
higher cost than currently 
incurred where factors 
outside the Company’s 
control have changed 
materially (eg medical 
inflation) or in exceptional 
circumstances (eg 
relocation). 

 
  
 
 
Mitie Group plc 
Annual Report and Accounts 2014

54

Directors’ remuneration report 

Purpose and link to strategy 

  Operation 

  Opportunity 

  Performance metrics 

All-employee share plans 

  UK-based Directors are 

To provide opportunities for 
the Directors to voluntarily 
invest in the Company on 
the same terms as other 
employees. 

entitled to participate in UK 
tax approved all-employee 
schemes, namely the Mitie 
Save as You Earn (SAYE) 
scheme and Share Incentive 
Plan (SIP).  

  Participation limits are those 
set by the UK tax authorities.

  N/A 

Under SAYE, employees 
make monthly savings over a 
period of three years linked 
to the grant of an option 
over Mitie shares with an 
option price which can be at 
a discount of up to 20% of 
the market value of shares 
on grant. 

Under SIP, employees can 
use their gross salary to 
purchase shares in the 
Company as part of a 
regular share purchase plan. 
Shares are currently 
purchased monthly using 
employees’ deductions and 
are placed in trust. The 
Company gives the 
employee one free share for 
every ten shares purchased. 

Pension 

  Executive Directors 

  All Directors accrue at a rate 

  N/A 

To aid retention and provide 
competitive retirement 
benefits. 

of 1/70th of pensionable 
salary. Pension salary 
supplement for each of the 
Directors is 20% of salary.  

The pension salary 
supplement for new 
Directors will be determined 
based on the Committee’s 
assessment of competitive 
levels needed to attract and 
retain such individuals. 

participate in the group’s 
defined benefit scheme 
which is now closed to new 
entrants. The plan has a cap 
on pensionable salary. A 
cash supplement is payable 
in respect of full salary.  

The Directors are subject to 
the same scheme rules as 
other members of the Final 
Salary scheme. The rules 
detail the pension benefits 
which members receive on 
retirement, death or leaving 
service. 

 
 
Strategic Report

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55

Purpose and link to strategy 

  Operation 

  Opportunity 

  Performance metrics 

Annual Bonus Plan 

To motivate and incentivise 
delivery of key strategic 
priorities for the financial 
year.  

Long Term Incentive 
Scheme 

To motivate and incentivise 
delivery of sustained 
performance and alignment 
with shareholder interests. 

  Measures and targets are set 
annually and pay-out levels 
determined by the 
Remuneration Committee 
after the year end based  
on performance against 
those targets.  

  Maximum bonus opportunity 

is 160% of salary for the 
Chief Executive and 135% of 
salary for the other 
Executive Directors. 

The Committee may, in 
exceptional circumstances, 
amend the bonus pay-out 
should this not, in the  
view of the Committee, 
reflect overall business 
performance or individual 
contribution. 

Up to 100% of Base Salary 
is paid in cash with anything 
over 100% being deferred  
in shares which vest in two 
years (normally subject to 
continued employment). 
Dividends are accrued on 
deferred shares and paid  
in cash. 

  Annual awards (in the form 

of nil-cost options) are made 
under the Mitie Long Term 
Incentive Plan with vesting 
dependent upon the 
achievement of performance 
conditions over three years. 

Award levels and the 
framework for determining 
vesting are reviewed 
annually to ensure they 
continue to support the 
group’s strategy. 

The Remuneration 
Committee has the 
discretion to decide whether, 
and to what extent, targets 
have been met, and, if an 
exceptional event occurs 
that causes the Committee 
to consider that the targets 
are no longer appropriate, 
the Committee may  
adjust them.  

Dividend equivalents are paid 
in cash on or after the 
vesting date. 

  The Committee’s normal 
policy is to make annual 
awards of up to 200%  
of salary. 

Maximum award allowable 
under the LTIP is 250% of 
salary which will be used in 
exceptional situations only.  

  Bonuses are based on 

stretching financial and 
strategic objectives as set  
at the beginning of the  
year and assessed by the 
Remuneration Committee  
at the end of the year,  
with the underlying aim  
of encouraging and 
rewarding the generation  
of sustainable returns  
to shareholders.  

The Committee has 
discretion to determine the 
appropriate weightings each 
year depending on business 
priorities. The financial 
measure will represent  
the majority of the bonus, 
with the strategic objectives 
representing the balance. 
These elements are additive. 

The award opportunity for 
bonus at threshold 
performance is zero. At the 
start-to-earn performance 
level under the financial 
element, a bonus of 90%  
of salary is payable. 

  Performance over three 

financial years is measured 
against stretching objectives 
set at the beginning of the 
performance period which 
again have the underlying 
aim of encouraging and 
rewarding the generation  
of sustainable returns  
to shareholders. 

The targets that will apply  
to the LTIP awards that  
are to be made in 2015  
are referred to in the  
notes below. 

Vesting under the LTIP 
depends on the achievement 
of four performance 
conditions, for which a 
minimum performance 
threshold has been set. 
Awards attributable to each 
performance condition vest 
at 25% on the achievement 
of the minimum 
performance threshold rising 
to 100% for the achievement 
of a defined upper 
performance threshold. 

 
 
 
Mitie Group plc 
Annual Report and Accounts 2014

56

Directors’ remuneration report 

Purpose and link to strategy 

  Operation 

  Opportunity 

  Performance metrics 

Share Ownership 

  Executive Directors are 

  N/A 

  N/A 

To ensure alignment 
between Executive Directors 
and shareholders. 

required, over time, to build 
and maintain a target 
shareholding in the Company 
worth 150% of salary.  

They are required to retain 
half of the post-tax shares 
vesting under the LTIP until 
the guideline is met. 

Chairman and Non-
Executive Director fees 

To attract and retain  
high-calibre individuals. 

Non-Executive Directors  
do not participate in any 
incentive schemes. 

  Fees are normally reviewed 

  Fees are set at the level which: 

  N/A 

every three years.  

The fee structure is as 
follows: 

The Chairman is paid an  
all-inclusive single fee for  
all Board responsibilities.  

The Non-Executive Directors 
are paid a basic fee, plus 
additional fees for 
Chairmanship of 
committees.  

Fees are currently paid in 
cash but the Company may 
choose to provide some of 
the fees in shares. 

Reflects the commitment 
and contribution that is 
expected from a Chairman 
and the Non-Executive 
Directors. 

Is appropriately positioned 
against comparator roles in 
companies of a similar size 
and complexity in the 
relevant market. 

Actual fees are disclosed in 
the Directors’ remuneration 
report for the relevant 
financial year. 

Aggregate fees are capped 
at the amount set out in  
the Company’s Articles  
of Association. 

Notes: 
2015 salaries for the Executive Directors can be found on page 61. 
Private medical coverage was extended from single cover to family cover at the start of the year. 
There are no specific provisions to lapse or recover amounts paid under the short and long-term incentive schemes. 
2015 bonus targets and measures are discussed on pages 61 and 62. 
Performance conditions for the LTIP award for 2014 are provided on pages 62 and 63. 

What discretions are retained in operating the incentive plans under our policy? 
The Committee will operate the Annual Bonus Plan and LTIP according to their respective rules and the above policy 
table. The Committee retains discretion, consistent with market practice, in a number of respects, in relation to the 
operation and administration of these plans.  

These discretions include, but are not limited to, the following: 

−(cid:3) the selection of participants; 
−(cid:3) the timing of grant of an award/bonus opportunity; 
−(cid:3) the size of an award/bonus opportunity subject to the maximum limits set out in the policy table; 
−(cid:3) the determination of performance against targets and resultant vesting/bonus pay-outs; 
−(cid:3) discretion required when dealing with a change of control or restructuring of the group; 
−(cid:3) determination of the treatment of leavers based on the rules of the plan and the appropriate treatment chosen; 
−(cid:3) adjustments required in certain circumstances (eg rights issues, corporate restructuring events and special dividends); 

and 

−(cid:3) the annual review of performance measures, weightings and targets from year to year. 

In relation to both the LTIP and Annual Bonus Plan, the Committee retains the ability to adjust the targets and/or set 
different measures if events occur (eg material acquisition and/or divestment of a group business) which cause it to 
determine that the conditions are no longer appropriate and the amendment is required so that the conditions achieve 
their original purpose and are not materially less difficult to satisfy. Any use of the above discretions would, where 
relevant, be explained in the Directors’ remuneration report and may, as appropriate, be the subject of consultation with 
the Company’s major shareholders.  

 
 
Strategic Report

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57

In addition, for the avoidance of doubt, in approving this policy report, authority is given to the Company to honour  
any commitments entered into with current or former Directors that have been disclosed to shareholders in previous 
remuneration reports. Details of any payments to former Directors will be set out in the relevant report going forward  
as required by the new Regulations. 

How our policy actually influences levels of pay 
Under our policy, a significant proportion of remuneration is linked to performance. The charts below show how much  
the Executive Directors could earn under Mitie’s remuneration policy (as detailed above) under different performance 
scenarios. The following assumptions have been made: 

−(cid:3) Minimum (performance below threshold) – Fixed pay only with no pay-out/vesting under any of Mitie’s incentive plans. 
−(cid:3) On-target – Fixed pay plus an on-target bonus and vesting of 25% of LTIP awards. 
−(cid:3) Maximum (performance above target) – Fixed pay plus maximum bonus and maximum LTIP awards. 

Fixed pay comprises of: 

−(cid:3) Salaries – effective as of 1 April 2014. 
−(cid:3) Benefits – amount received by each Executive Director in 2014, excluding the value of any matching SIP shares. 
−(cid:3) Pension – amount received by each Executive Director in 2014. 

The table below does not take account of the decision taken by Bill Robson to step down from the Mitie Group plc Board 
on 31 July 2014, referred to in the Chairman’s Statement. 

The scenarios do not include share price growth or dividend assumptions. 

Ruby McGregor-Smith 

Suzanne Baxter 

Bill Robson

Minimum

On-target

Maximum

100

42.6

26.5

£’000s

0

41.0

32.7

16.4

40.8

Fixed pay

Annual bonus

LTIP

Minimum

100

On-target

Maximum

45.0

38.1

16.9

28.4

28.9

42.7

Minimum

On-target

Maximum

100

46.4

29.5

37.1

16.5

28.4

42.1

3,000

£’000s

0

2,000

£’000s

0

2,000

Our policy on Executive Directors’ service contracts 
All Directors are appointed on rolling service contracts but are subject to annual re-election at the AGM in accordance 
with the Code. 

Under the service contracts, the Company is required to give 12 months’ notice of termination of employment;  
Executive Directors are required to give six months’ notice.  

For Executive Directors, if notice is served by either party, the Executive Director can continue to receive basic salary, 
benefits and pension for the duration of their notice period during which time the Company may require the individual  
to continue to fulfil their current duties or may assign a period of garden leave.  

With respect to the current Group Finance Director’s contract, the Company has the right to make a payment in lieu  
of notice equivalent in value of up to 12 months’ salary payable in either monthly instalments or as a lump sum.  
The Company will also pay for any benefit which the individual would have been eligible for until the date of cessation  
had full notice been given.  

The Executive Directors’ service contracts are available for inspection at Mitie’s registered office, the head office and  
at the AGM. There are no other provisions for compensation on termination of employment set out within the contracts  
of the Executive Directors. 

As reported in the Chairman’s Statement, Bill Robson will be stepping down from the Mitie Group plc Board on  
31 July 2014 and will be staying within the group as Managing Director of our Property management division. 

For future Directors, notice periods will not exceed 12 months. 

 
 
 
Mitie Group plc 
Annual Report and Accounts 2014

58

Directors’ remuneration report 

The effective dates of the service contracts of the Executive Directors are set out below: 

Ruby McGregor-Smith  

Suzanne Baxter  

Bill Robson 

Date of agreement 

01-Apr-03 

10-Apr-06 

01-Apr-03 

Our policy on loss of office 
The rules of the Annual Bonus Plan and LTIP set out what happens to awards if a participant ceases to be an employee  
or Director of Mitie before the end of a vesting period.  

Regarding the annual bonus, in the event that the participant ceases to be an eligible employee before the date the bonus 
is paid or is subject to notice of termination of their employment on the bonus date, they shall forfeit all entitlement to the 
Bonus in respect of that financial year, unless the Committee in its absolute discretion determines otherwise. The deferred 
shares will vest in full on the date of cessation for ‘good leaver’ reasons; otherwise the shares will lapse on cessation.  

Generally, any outstanding LTIP awards will lapse on cessation of employment, except in certain circumstances. 
Specifically, if the Executive ceases to be an employee or Director as a result of death, injury, disability or ill-health, 
redundancy, retirement, the sale of the business or company that employs the individual or any other reason at the 
discretion of the Committee, then they will be treated as a ‘good leaver’ under the LTIP rules, in which case awards will 
vest either on cessation or the normal vesting dates subject to the performance conditions and, if the Committee 
determines, a pro rata reduction. A good leaver has 12 months to exercise their vested awards structured as options 
following the cessation of employment.  

In addition, and consistent with market practice, in the event of termination of an Executive Director’s employment, the 
Company may pay a contribution towards the individual’s legal fees and fees for outplacement services as part of a 
negotiated settlement. Any such fees would be disclosed as part of the detail of termination arrangements. Should it 
become necessary to make additional payments in respect of such professional fees that were not ascertained at the 
time of reporting, the Company may do so up to a level of a further £10,000. For the avoidance of doubt, the policy does 
not include an explicit cap on the cost of termination payments. 

Our policy on external appointments 
The Board recognises that the appointment of Executive Directors to Non-Executive positions at other companies can  
be beneficial both for the individual Director and the group through the broadening of their experience and knowledge. 
Ruby McGregor-Smith received fees of £53,515 per annum in respect of her role as a Non-Executive Director of Michael 
Page International plc and £15,000 for her role as Non-Executive Director of the Department of Culture, Media and Sport. 
Suzanne Baxter received fees of £47,499 for her role as a Non-Executive Director of WH Smith plc. Both individuals are 
entitled to retain any fees earned. 

Our policy on the recruitment of a new director  
In cases of a new hire, the Committee will typically align the Executive Director’s remuneration package to the above 
Remuneration policy. However, where appropriate, the Committee retains discretion to make decisions outside of policy 
to facilitate hiring key talent as set out below. 

Base salaries will be set based on the individual’s role and experience, with consideration given to internal equity.  

Benefits will be provided in line with those offered to other employees at the similar level, with relocation expenses/ 
arrangements provided if necessary. In the case of new Executive Directors, individuals will be given a choice of either 
participation in a defined contribution pension or a cash allowance in lieu of pension.  

The maximum level of variable pay that may be offered on an ongoing basis and the structure of remuneration will be in 
accordance with the approved policy detailed above (ie, at an aggregate maximum of 410% of salary – 160% annual bonus 
and up to 250% for LTIP). This limit does not include the value of buy-out arrangements. 

The above policy applies to both internal promotions to the Board or an external hire. For external hires, if it is necessary 
to buy-out existing incentive pay or benefit arrangements (which would be forfeited on leaving their previous company), 
this would be provided taking into consideration relevant factors such as the commercial value of the amount forfeited 
from the previous employer, the performance conditions (eg the likelihood of achieving those) and timing (eg where the 
award is in the vesting cycle). Buy-out awards, if used, will be granted using Mitie’s existing share plans, although, if 
necessary, buy-out awards may be made on more bespoke terms regarding matters such as vesting and performance 
conditions as permitted under the Listing Rules (ie provision 9.4.2.). The Committee has placed a maximum limit on any 
such buy-out awards which it may be necessary to make; these will not exceed the commercial value of the amount 
forfeited from the previous employer.  

In the case of an internal promotion to the Board, any outstanding variable pay awarded in relation to the individual’s 
previous role will be allowed to pay out according to its terms of grant. 

On appointment of a new Chairman or Non-Executive Director, their fees will be set taking into account the existing  
fee structure. 

 
Strategic Report

Governance

Financial

59

Our policy on Non-Executive Director remuneration and appointment terms 
The Chairman and Non-Executive Directors receive an annual fee which is paid in monthly instalments. The Chairman’s 
fee is set by the Remuneration Committee and the fees for the Non-Executive Directors are approved by the Board, on 
the recommendation of the Chairman and the Chief Executive. The Non-Executive Directors are paid a basic fee with  
an additional fee for chairing a Committee, together with expenses incurred in carrying out their duties on behalf of  
the Company. Non-Executive Directors are not eligible to participate in any of the Company’s share schemes or the 
Annual Bonus Plan, nor do they receive pension or ancillary benefits. 

The terms of appointment of the Non-Executive Directors are available for inspection at Mitie’s registered office, the head 
office and at the AGM. The Non-Executive Directors are engaged for an initial term of three years which is terminable on 
either three or six months’ notice and thereafter on a rolling term. They are also subject to annual re-election. 

Non-Executive Directors’ engagement terms 

  Additional duties 

Roger Matthews  

Chairman; 
Chairman of Nomination Committee  

David Jenkins 

Graeme Potts1  

Terry Morgan2 

Larry Hirst 

Crawford Gillies3 

Jack Boyer 

Senior Independent Director;  
Chairman of Audit Committee 

Chairman of Remuneration 
Committee 

Chairman of Remuneration 
Committee 

Date of  
engagement 

Initial 
contract term 

Notice period 

04-Dec-06 

3 years

6 months

31-Jan-06 

3 years

6 months

01-Aug-06 

3 years 

6 months 

01-Jul-09 

3 years 

3 months 

01-Feb-10 

3 years 

3 months 

12-Jul-12 

3 years 

3 months 

01-Jun-13 

3 years 

3 months 

Notes: 
1  Graeme Potts retired as a Non-Executive Director on 9 July 2013. 
2  Terry Morgan retired as a Non-Executive Director on 31 October 2013. 
3  Crawford Gillies was appointed as Chairman of the Remuneration Committee on 1 November 2013. 

How does the executive pay policy differ from that of other Mitie employees? 
The remuneration policy for the Executive Directors is more heavily weighted towards variable pay than for other 
employees, ensuring that the greater part of their pay is conditional on the successful delivery of business strategy.  
This helps create a clear link between the value created for shareholders and the remuneration received by the Directors. 
The LTIP is limited to the most senior employees (approximately 100 in total). For employees below this level, variable  
pay may consist of share options and annual bonus (both of which will be based on role) and the opportunity to participate 
in SAYE and SIP. 

How we take account of employment conditions elsewhere in the Company when setting our policy 
The Remuneration Committee is responsible for overseeing the remuneration policy for the group as a whole and is 
mindful of pay and employment conditions in the wider workforce within the group and externally when determining 
Executive remuneration. When considering base salary increases, benefits and pension provision, the Committee reviews 
overall levels and increases offered to employees across the group. The Committee also reviews information with regard 
to share awards made to other senior management of the group, noting that (i) all employees can participate in the SAYE 
and SIP, and (ii) participation in the LTIP is limited to a selection of senior executives. However, consistent with general 
practice, the Committee does not consult with employees in preparing the policy or its implementation. 

How we take account of shareholder views when setting our policy 
The Committee is committed to a continuing discussion with major shareholders and obtains their views when any 
significant changes to remuneration arrangements are being proposed. A recent example of this was the consultation  
with major shareholders undertaken in relation to changing the performance measures for the 2013 LTIP award.  
A similar consultation exercise will be undertaken following the culmination of the forthcoming review of the  
Company’s pay policy. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Mitie Group plc 
Annual Report and Accounts 2014

60

Directors’ remuneration report 

Annual report on remuneration 

Executive Director remuneration (subject to audit) 
The table below reports a single figure for total remuneration for each Executive Director for the financial years ending  
31 March 2013 and 31 March 2014.  

Ruby McGregor-Smith 

2014 

£526,000 

£20,399 

£757,966 

Year 

Salary 

Benefits 

Annual bonus 

LTIP 

(cid:177) 

Pension 

Total 

£142,901  £1,447,266 

2013 

£526,000 

£25,845 

£712,000 

£714,433 

£126,853  £2,105,131 

Suzanne Baxter 

2014 

£335,000 

£18,157 

£411,548 

(cid:177) 

£95,973 

£860,678 

2013 

£335,000 

£20,505 

£387,000 

£460,734 

£95,952  £1,299,191 

Bill Robson 

2014  £330,000 

£18,183 

£405,405 

(cid:177) 

£115,198 

£868,786 

2013 

£330,000 

£19,919 

£381,000 

£223,077 

£80,573  £1,034,569 

Total remuneration  

2014 

2013 

  £3,176,730 

  £4,438,891 

Notes: 
Benefits relate to the cost to the Company of private medical cover, private fuel and the car allowance. Value of matching shares during the year under the Company Share 
Incentive Plan is also included as is the option gain under the 2012 SAYE grant. 

Bonus payable in respect of the financial year includes any deferred element at face value at the date of award. Further information about how the level of the 2014 award 
was determined is provided on pages 61 and 62. 

The value of the 2014 LTIP is based on the 2011 LTIP award, which will lapse in full. The value of the 2013 LTIP is based on the value of the shares that vested in respect of 
the 2010 LTIP award on the vesting date and includes the value of the dividend equivalent. 

The pension benefits of the Directors comprise a pension supplement paid in cash in the year of 20% of salary and a capped 
cash contribution to a defined benefit pension scheme of £15,576 (2013: £15,114) made by Mitie for each of the Directors. 

The disclosures above in respect of pension benefits comprise the 20% pension supplement along with an actuarially 
derived value of the annually accrued pension benefits under the defined benefit pension scheme, net of personal 
contributions made by each Director. This calculation is known as the net pension input amount and is affected by the 
number of years of scheme membership, the value of annual accrued benefits at each year end, inflation and a prescribed 
multiplication factor of 20.  

The net pension input amount for the Directors included in the pension benefits disclosed above was: 

Ruby McGregor-Smith 

Suzanne Baxter 

Bill Robson 

Year 

2014 

2013 

2014 

2013 

2014 

2013 

Years of scheme membership at 31 March 

11 

10 

2 

1 

22 

21 

£ 

37,701 

21,653 

28,973 

28,952 

49,198 

14,573 

Non-Executive Directors fees (subject to audit) 
The fees to the Non-Executive Directors for the financial year ending 31 March 2014 and 31 March 2013 are set out below: 

Non-Executive Directors’ remuneration  

Roger Matthews  

David Jenkins  

Graeme Potts1 

Terry Morgan2, 3 

Larry Hirst 

Crawford Gillies4, 5 

Jack Boyer6 

Total 

Notes: 
1  Graeme Potts retired as a Non-Executive Director on 9 July 2013. 
2  Terry Morgan retired as a Non-Executive Director on 31 October 2013.  
3  The fees in consideration for the services of Terry Morgan were paid to TKM Management Services Limited. 
4  Crawford Gillies was appointed as Remuneration Committee Chairman on 1 November 2013. 
5  50% of the fees in consideration for the services of Crawford Gillies were paid to CG Advisory Ltd. 
6  Jack Boyer was appointed as a Non-Executive Director on 1 June 2013. 

Base salary/fees £’000 

2014 

140 

53 

27 

37 

46 

49 

38 

2013 

140 

53 

46 

53 

46 

33 

(cid:177) 

390 

371 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Strategic Report

Governance

Financial

61

What happened in 2014 and changes for 2015 

Base salary and benefits 
For 2014, the Remuneration Committee did not award pay increases for the Executive Directors. For the Chief Executive, 
the Remuneration Committee considered an increase given her current pay positioning versus the market; however,  
the Chief Executive requested that the increase be waived. 

For 2015, the Committee awarded average salary increases of 4.5% for two of the Executive Directors, resulting in the 
following base salaries being payable: 

−(cid:3) Ruby McGregor-Smith – £550,000 
−(cid:3) Suzanne Baxter – £350,000 

Bill Robson received no increase and his salary remains £330,000.  

A review of Non-Executive Director fees was undertaken in March 2014. The fees are reviewed every three years with the 
exception of the Chairman’s fee, which had not been reviewed for the past six years. As a result of that review, the fees 
for 2015 are as follows: 

Chairman fees2 

Non-Executive Director core fees3 

Additional fees 

Senior Independent Director 

Chairman of a Committee 

Base salary/fees £’000 

20151

185 

52 

7 

8 

2014 

140 

46 

– 

7 

Notes: 
1  The core fee of £52,000 paid to each Non-Executive Director (including the Chairman) will total £260,000 for 2015 (£230,000 in 2014). Total fees, including additional 

duties are expected to amount to £416,000 for 2015 (£338,000 in 2014). 

2  The Chairman’s fee is inclusive of the Non-Executive Directors core fee and no additional fees are paid to the Chairman where he is a Chairman, or is a member of,  

other committees. 

3  For Non-Executive Directors, individual fees comprise the core fee and adding supplemental fees for chairing committees where a greater responsibility and time 

commitment is required. 

Benefits are as described in the Remuneration policy table. No changes are planned for 2015, aside from a modest 
increase made to the car allowance (which was last reviewed in 2004) to retain market competitiveness. 

Pension (subject to audit) 
Pension is as described in the Remuneration policy table. The pension entitlement for each Director is as follows:  

Defined benefit pension scheme transfer values  

Ruby McGregor-Smith 

Suzanne Baxter 

Bill Robson  

Normal retirement 
date 

22/02/2028 

16/04/2033 

11/08/2015 

Transfer values 

31 March 2013 
£’000 

Contributions 
made by the 
Director 
£’000 

Increase in 
accrued pension 
over the year 
 £’000 

207 

17 

847 

0 

0 

0 

3 

4 

2 

Transfer value 
of pension 
increase (after 
inflation, net of 
contributions) 
£’000 

24 

17 

48 

Transfer value 
31 March 2014 
£’000 

238 

34 

913 

The pension benefits of the Executive Directors are based on a pensionable salary capped at £141,600. The Company 
made contributions to the group’s defined benefit scheme on behalf of the three Directors who are members of the 
scheme at a rate of 11% of the value of the benefit cap. In addition, the Directors received a salary supplement as 
described in the policy table. The normal retirement age for the three Directors is 65 and there are no additional benefits 
available to the Directors upon early retirement. 

No changes are planned for 2015. 

Annual Bonus Plan 
Awards in respect of 2014 were made under the group Annual Bonus Plan. The outcomes were as follows: 

Evaluation of performance 
At the beginning of the year the Committee set a range for EBITA performance from threshold, target through to 
maximum. Performance was slightly better than the target level of EBITA for bonus purposes, and this equated to 
performance 55% between threshold and maximum, thereby resulting in a pay-out of 101.6% of salary for this element. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Mitie Group plc 
Annual Report and Accounts 2014

62

Directors’ remuneration report 

At the beginning of the year, the Committee set objectives relating to organic growth, people management and strategy. 
Key deliverables for the year included: 

−(cid:3) Upper quartile performance on organic revenue growth versus comparator group. 
−(cid:3) Growth of our Healthcare offering through the completion of a strategic acquisition. 
−(cid:3) Good progress in our care and custody offering with substantial wins. 
−(cid:3) Launch of an integrated energy consulting business. 
−(cid:3) Key strategic hires made to strengthen the leadership pipeline across the business. 

Having evaluated a range of outcomes and indicators of performance, the Committee determined that overall  
progress was excellent and warranted a pay-out of 85% of maximum, resulting in a pay-out of 42.5% of salary for  
the Chief Executive and 21.3% of salary for the other Executive Directors. 

Therefore, based on the Committee’s assessment of achievement for both the financial and strategic objectives,  
the bonus was calculated as follows: 

Financial Performance 

Strategic Performance 

Total Bonus Payable 

% of salary 
payable at 
threshold 

% of salary 
payable at 
maximum 

% of salary 
payable 

% of salary 
payable at 
threshold 

% of salary 
payable at 
maximum 

% of salary 
payable 

Total  
bonus 

Cash  

Deferred 
shares 

Ruby McGregor-Smith 

Suzanne Baxter 

90 

110 

101.6 

Bill Robson 

0 

0 

0 

50 

25 

25 

42.5   

758.0 

526.0 

232.0 

21.3   

411.6 

335.0 

21.3   

405.4 

330.0 

76.6 

75.4 

While the actual financial and strategic target ranges have not been disclosed in this report due to commercial sensitivity, 
it is intended that the EBITA targets will be disclosed in next year’s Remuneration Report (although not the strategic 
targets as they will remain commercially sensitive).  

For 2015, no changes are proposed to be made to the bonus scheme. The EBITA and strategic targets used are not 
disclosed at this time as they are considered commercially sensitive. However, similar levels of disclosure as set out above 
will be made in future reports. 

Details of LTIP vesting in June 2014 (2011 award) 
The Committee assessed the outcome of the 2011 LTIP awards against the performance condition of EPS growth (%)  
per annum. 

The number of shares capable of vesting was determined based on the following scale:  

EPS% growth 

13% or more 

Between 7% and 13% 

7% 

Less than 7% 

% of award vesting 

100% 

On a straight-line basis between 25% and 100% 

25% 

0% 

For the performance period, EPS growth was below the threshold of 7% and the award will therefore lapse in full. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Strategic Report

Governance

Financial

63

LTIP awards granted in year 
Following consultation with major shareholders, different performance conditions were applied to awards made in 2014 
compared to awards made in earlier years, in order to provide improved alignment with the strategic drivers of our 
business. Awards granted in 2014 will vest depending on performance against four weighted measures, measured over 
three years: 

Performance measure 

Weighting 

Performance range 

Absolute Earnings Per Share  
(EPS) growth 

20% of the 
award 

3% – 8% pa  

Relative Total Shareholder  

Return (TSR) 

20% of the 
award 

Outperformance against  
FTSE 350 Support  
Services index  

Organic revenue growth  

30% of the 
award 

3% – 6% pa with a financial 
underpin based on the 
achievement of target  
margin of 5.5% pa. 

Cash conversion 

30% of the 
award 

75% – 85% pa 

Vesting of portion of the award  
(performance period ending 31 March 2016) 

Zero vesting if EPS growth is less than 3% pa. If performance is 
equal to 3%, 25% of the award will vest. If Mitie achieves 8% EPS 
growth pa, all the awards will vest. Between these two points, 
the proportion of awards vesting will be determined on a linear 
sliding scale basis. 

Zero vesting if Mitie Group’s TSR performance is less than the 
median of the index. If Mitie's TSR performance is equal to the 
median of the index, 25% of an award will vest. If the Company’s 
TSR exceeds the index TSR by 10% pa or more, all the awards 
will vest. Between these two points the proportion of awards 
vesting will be determined on a linear sliding scale basis. 

Zero vesting if organic revenue growth is less than 3% pa.  
If performance is equal to 3% pa, 25% of the award will vest.  
If Mitie achieves 6% organic growth pa, all the awards will vest. 
Between these two points, the proportion of awards vesting will 
be determined on a linear sliding scale basis. Entire portion of 
award is subject to Mitie achieving 5.5% margin.  

Zero vesting if cash conversion is less than 75% pa. At 75%,  
25% of the award will vest. Up to 70% of the award will vest  
if Mitie achieves 80%. Full vesting for this portion will occur if 
85% pa is achieved. Between 75% and 80% and 80% and 85%, 
the proportion of awards vesting will be determined on a linear 
sliding scale basis. 

Details of the awards made to the Executive Directors under the LTIP (granted as nil cost options) are summarised below, 
with further details given in the table on outstanding share interests on page 66. 

What was granted in 2014 

  Award 

Type 

Number of 
shares 

Face 
value1

Ruby McGregor-Smith  Performance 

527,371 

£1,325,283 

% of 
salary 

250% 

Performance 
condition2 

Performance 
period 

% vesting at 
threshold 

20% Absolute 
Earnings Per Share  

Suzanne Baxter 

Performance 

Nil-cost 
option 

268,698 

£675,235 

200% 

Bill Robson 

Performance 

264,688 

£665,161 

200% 

Notes: 
1  Face value was calculated based on the grant date share price of 251.30p on 28 June 2013. 
2  Performance conditions are set out on pages 62 and 63. 

30% Organic 
Revenue Growth  

30% Cash 
Conversion  

3 financial years 
ending 
31 March 2016 

20% Relative TSR 

25% 

As set out above, the Chief Executive received an exceptional award over shares worth 250% (albeit granted within the 
existing LTIP limits) to ensure her continued incentivisation and further strengthen her alignment with shareholders. 

For 2015, no changes are proposed to the LTIP scheme, with award levels set at 200% for all the Executive Directors.  
The performance conditions remain as outlined above. 

Loss of office payments 
No payments for loss of office were made to past directors during the year. No payments have been made that have not 
already been included in the single figure of remuneration set out on page 60.  

Change in CEO pay for the year compared to UK salaried employees 
The table below sets out the change in remuneration of the Chief Executive and Mitie’s UK salaried population. 

% 

Chief Executive 

Average pay based on Mitie’s UK salaried employees2 

Salary 

Benefits1 

0% 

4.2% 

-7.5% 

12.4% 

Bonus 

6% 

23.8% 

Notes: 
1 
2  Reflects the change in average pay for UK salaried employees employed in both the year ended 31 March 2013 and 31 March 2014. 

Includes car/car allowance, private medical, and private fuel. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Mitie Group plc 
Annual Report and Accounts 2014

64

Directors’ remuneration report 

Relative spend on pay 
The table below shows both the total cost of remuneration in the group, compared with the dividends distributed and 
share buybacks.  

Aggregate employee remuneration  

Equity dividends and share buybacks 

Year ended  
31 March 2014 

Year ended  
31 March 2013 

Change 

1,137 

1,052 

8.0% 

46 

35 

30.4% 

Assessing pay and performance  
In the table below we provide a summary of the Chief Executive’s single figure remuneration over the past five years,  
as well as the pay out and vesting levels of our variable pay plans in relation to the maximum opportunity. This is 
compared with historic TSR performance over the same period. We have chosen these indices as they are widely 
recognised and we have been members of both indices during the period. 

Mitie

FTSE 250

FTSE 350 Support Services

350

300

250

200

150

)

0
0
1
o
t
d
e
s
a
b
e
r
(

R
S
T

100
Apr 09

Mar 10

Mar 11

Mar 12

Mar 13

Mar 14

2010 

2011 

2012 

2013 

2014 

£1,703,031 

£2,324,443 

£2,431,773 

£2,105,131 

£1,447,266 

100% 

100% 

100% 

85% 

90% 

100% 

100% 

87.2% 

57.2% 

0% 

Single figure 
remuneration 

Annual bonus 
element (actual 
as a % of max) 

LTIP element 
(actual vesting 
as a % of max) 

The new reporting requirements will require that the time period for the above TSR chart be lengthened to ten years over 
time and we have therefore included a ten year chart below. 

)

0
0
1
o
t
d
e
s
a
b
e
r
(

R
S
T

400

340

280

220

160

100
Apr 04

Mitie

FTSE 250

FTSE 350 Support Services

Mar 05

Mar 06

Mar 07

Mar 08

Mar 09

Mar 10

Mar 11

Mar 12

Mar 13

Mar 14

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Strategic Report

Governance

Financial

65

Share ownership  

Ruby McGregor-Smith 

Suzanne Baxter  

Bill Robson  

Number of 
Ordinary shares 
owned as at 
31 March 2014 

Value of target  
holding at 1 May 
2013 based on  
% of salary as at  
31 March 2014  

Value of 
holding as at 
31 March 20141

565,403 

£789,000  £1,840,387 

213,673 

£502,500 

£695,506 

Percentage of 
base salary 
achieved
 as at 
31 March 2014 

350% 

208% 

1,623,821 

£495,000  £5,285,537 

1,602% 

Note: 
1  Calculated at a share price of 325.5p being the closing market price on 31 March 2014. 

Directors outstanding share interests (subject to audit) 
The following tables provide the outstanding share interests for the Executive Directors. 

Directors’ interests in options granted under the Mitie Group plc 2011 Save As You Earn Scheme1 

Ruby McGregor-Smith 

Suzanne Baxter  

Bill Robson 

Options as at 
31 March 2013 

Exercised
 in year 

Granted 
in year 

Lapsed 
in year 

Options as at 
31 March 2014 

4,035 

4,035 

4,035 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

4,035 

4,035 

4,035 

Exercise 
price p 

Earliest normal
exercise 
date 

223 

223 

223 

Dec-15 

Dec-15 

Dec-15 

Note: 
1  Executive Directors were invited to participate in the 2011 SAYE scheme and are contributing the maximum amount of £250/month over a 36 month period starting 

December 2012. 

Directors’ interests in shares purchased under the Mitie Group plc Share Incentive Plan 2011  

Shares outstanding as at
31 March 20131

Number of partnership shares
acquired in year2

Number of matching shares 
awarded in year3

Ruby McGregor-Smith 

Suzanne Baxter  

Bill Robson 

1,198 

1,198 

1,198 

621 

621 

621 

55 

55 

55 

Total number of shares
outstanding at
31 March 2014 

1,874 

1,874 

1,874 

Notes:  
1  Figure comprises 1,093 purchased shares plus 105 Matching shares. 
2  Shares were acquired at a market price of 270.10p on 13 May 2013. Executive Directors contributed the full annual amount of £1,500 permitted under the Plan.  

Shares acquired through dividend reinvestment (8 August 2013 and 4 February 2014) have also been included. 

3  Matching shares were purchased in the market at a price of 270.10p on 13 May 2013. Awards of Matching shares must in normal circumstances be held for at least  

three years from the date of award and are subject to forfeiture if corresponding Partnership shares are withdrawn during that period. 

4  The market price of the Company’s shares as at 31 March 2014 was 325.5p. The highest and lowest prices during the year were 345.6p and 248.0p respectively. 

Directors’ interests in options granted under the Mitie Group plc 2001 Executive Share Option Scheme  

ESOS 
options 
outstanding 
as at 
31 March 
2013 

100,000 

100,000 

35,000 

15,000 

Granted 
during 
the year 

Lapsed 
during 
the year 

Exercised 
during 
the year 

ESOS 
options 
outstanding 
as at 
31 March 
20141

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

–  100,000 

–  100,000 

–  35,000 

– 

15,000 

Exercise  
price  
p 

162 

191 

191 

191 

Exercisable between 

Jun-08 

Jun-15 

Jun-09 

Jun-16 

Jun-09 

Jun-16 

Jun-09 

Jun-16 

Ruby McGregor-Smith 

Unapproved scheme  

Unapproved scheme 

Suzanne Baxter  

Unapproved scheme  

Approved scheme 

Note: 
1  The market price of the Company’s shares as at 31 March 2014 was 325.5p. The highest and lowest prices during the year were 345.6p and 248.0p respectively. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Mitie Group plc 
Annual Report and Accounts 2014

66

Directors’ remuneration report 

Directors’ interests in shares granted under the Mitie Group plc 2010 Deferred Bonus Plan  

Ruby McGregor-Smith 

Suzanne Baxter 

Bill Robson 

Shares 
outstanding as 
at 31 March 
2013 

Year of 
grant1 

Granted during 
the year 

Lapsed during
the year 

2011 

2012 

2013 

2011 

2012 

2013 

2011 

2012 

2013 

54,046 

45,883 

– 

– 

– 

71,616 

34,854 

29,239 

33,751 

28,789 

– 

– 

19,842 

– 

– 

– 

19,546 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

Exercised 
during 
the year2,3

54,046 

Shares 
outstanding as 
at 31 March  
20144

Earliest 
exercise date 

– 

May-13 

– 

– 

45,883 

May-14 

71,616 

May-15 

34,854 

– 

May-13 

– 

– 

29,239 

May-14 

19,842 

May-15 

33,751 

– 

May-13 

– 

– 

28,789 

May-14 

19,546 

May-15 

Notes: 
1  The 2011 award was granted on 31 May 2011 at a grant price of 226.66p. 
  The 2012 award was granted on 28 May 2012 at a grant price of 277.88p. 
  The 2013 award was granted on 28 May 2013 at a grant price of 260.0p. 
2  Awards vested on 27 May 2013 and were transferred to the participant. At the date these awards vested the market price of the Company’s shares was 260.0p.  
3  The awards attract dividend equivalents which are accrued from grant date and paid out on vesting. 
4  The market price of the Company’s shares as at 31 March 2014 was 325.5p. The highest and lowest prices during the year were 345.6p and 248p respectively.  

Directors’ interests in nil-cost options granted under the Mitie Group plc 2007 Long Term Incentive Plan  

LTIP options 
outstanding  
at 1 April  
2013 

Granted 
during 
the year at 
249.35p/
share 

Year of 
grant1 

Lapsed 
during
the year 

Exercised 
during
the year2

LTIP options 
outstanding 
at 31 March
20143

Exercise  
price  
p 

Exercisable between 

Ruby McGregor-Smith 

2010 

438,989 

–  187,888  251,101 

–  Nil-cost 

– 

– 

2011 

2012 

2013 

446,663 

414,336 

– 

– 

–  527,371 

– 

– 

– 

–  446,663  Nil-cost 

Jun-14 

Jun-15

–  414,336  Nil-cost 

Jun-15 

Jun-16 

–  527,371  Nil-cost 

Jun-16 

Jun-17 

Suzanne Baxter 

2010 

283,103 

Bill Robson 

2011 

2012 

2013 

2010 

2011 

2012 

2013 

– 

– 

– 

284,638 

263,883 

–  268,698 

137,072 

280,259 

259,945 

– 

– 

– 

–  264,688 

121,169 

161,934 

–  Nil-cost 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

–  284,638  Nil-cost 

Jun-14 

Jun-15 

–  263,883  Nil-cost 

Jun-15 

Jun-16 

–  268,698  Nil-cost 

Jun-16 

Jun-17 

58,667 

78,405 

–  Nil-cost 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

–  280,259  Nil-cost 

Jun-14 

Jun-15 

–  259,945  Nil-cost 

Jun-15 

Jun-16 

–  264,688  Nil-cost 

Jun-16 

Jun-17 

Notes: 
1  The performance criteria applicable to the 2010 award: lower and upper performance thresholds of RPI+5% pa and RPI+10% pa respectively. 

The performance criteria applicable to the 2011 award: lower and upper performance thresholds of 7% pa and 13% pa respectively. 
The performance criteria applicable to the 2012 award: lower and upper performance thresholds of 5% pa and 10% pa respectively.  
The performance criteria applicable to the 2013 award are provided on pages 62 and 63. 
The Directors acquired a conditional joint beneficial interest with the Mitie Employee Benefit Trust 2008 in the shares awarded in 2011 and 2012 under the LTIP.  
The full beneficial interest will transfer to the Director only if the performance criteria applicable to the award is met. 

2   The Committee assessed the extent to which the performance conditions applicable to the 2010 awards had been satisfied and approved the vesting of awards on  

29 June 2013 at 57.2%. Awards are capable of exercise from 29 June 2013 to 28 June 2014. At the date these awards vested the market price of the Company’s shares 
was 253.0p. This compares to a market price on the date of award on 29 June 2010 of 212.8p. The aggregate gain on the share awards was £1,243,000 based on the 
share price on exercise of 290.5p. 

3  The market price of the Company’s shares as at 31 March 2014 was 325.5p. The highest and lowest prices during the year were 345.6p and 248p respectively.  

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Strategic Report

Governance

Financial

67

Director share ownership  

Executive Directors 

Ruby McGregor-Smith  

Suzanne Baxter  

Bill Robson  

Non-Executive Directors 

Roger Matthews  

David Jenkins  

Graeme Potts1  

Terry Morgan2 

Larry Hirst 

Crawford Gillies 

Jack Boyer3 

Number of Ordinary Mitie 
shares beneficially 
owned as at 31 March 2014 

Number of Ordinary Mitie
shares beneficially
owned as at 31 March 2013 
(or date of appointment if later) 

565,403 

213,673 

1,623,821 

100,000 

50,000 

15,000 

0 

25,000 

10,000 

2,000 

564,782 

213,052 

1,623,200 

100,000 

50,000 

15,000 

0 

25,000 

10,000 

0 

Notes: 
1  Graeme Potts retired as a Non-Executive Director on 9 July 2013. 
2  Terry Morgan retired as a Non-Executive Director on 31 October 2013. 
3  Jack Boyer was appointed as a Non-Executive Director on 1 June 2013. 

Share dilution 
The Company manages dilution rates within the ABI guidelines of 10% of issued Ordinary share capital in respect of  
all employee schemes and 5% in respect of discretionary schemes. In calculating compliance with these guidelines,  
the Company allocates available ‘headroom’ on a ten-year flat-line basis, making adjustments for projected lapse rates 
and projected increases in issued share capital.  

LTIP awards are satisfied through the market purchase of shares held by the Mitie Group plc Employee Benefit Trust 
2008. The potential dilution of the Company’s issued share capital is set out below in respect of all outstanding awards 
granted under the Company’s equity-based incentive schemes which are to be satisfied through the allotment of new 
shares or Treasury shares. 

Share dilution at 31 March 2014 

All share plan (maximum 10%)  

Discretionary share plans (maximum 5%) 

 Dilution % 

7.7% 

4.4% 

Shareholder voting 
Mitie remains committed to ongoing shareholder dialogue and takes an active interest in voting outcomes. Prior to the 
2013 Annual General Meeting, the Chairman and Senior Independent Director met with major shareholders to discuss  
the proposed changes to the performance measures for the 2013 LTIP award along with other remuneration proposals. 
Where there are substantial votes against resolutions in relation to Executive Directors’ remuneration, the group seeks  
to understand the reasons for any such vote, and will detail here any actions in response to it.  

Number of votes 

2013 Directors’ remuneration report  
2013 AGM 

Votes in favour  Votes against  Votes withheld 

194.7m 
78.2% 

50.6m
20.3% 

3.7m
1.5% 

The Committee understands that votes against the resolution related to the lack of explanation around certain elements 
of remuneration. We have sought to address this issue going forward. Further explanation of this year’s bonus outturn 
has been provided in this report.  

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Mitie Group plc 
Annual Report and Accounts 2014

68

Directors’ report: other disclosures 

Principal group activities 
The Company is the holding company of the group. The principal activity of the Company is to provide management 
services to the group. The group’s activities are focused on the provision of strategic outsourcing services. The detailed 
strategy for the group can be found on pages 8 to 11 of the Strategic report. Further details of the subsidiary 
undertakings of the Company principally affecting the profits or net assets of the group in the reporting period are listed 
in Note 37 to the financial statements. 

The group operates in the Republic of Ireland, the Isle of Man, Guernsey, Jersey, Germany, France, Finland, Norway, 
Sweden, the Netherlands, Spain, Poland, Switzerland and Belgium. 

Shares and shareholders 

Share capital and powers of shareholders 
The group is financed through both equity share capital and debt instruments. Details of the Company’s share capital are 
given in Note 29 to the financial statements and the detail of its debt instruments is set out in Note 24 to the financial 
statements.  

The Company has a single class of shares being 2.5p ordinary shares (‘Ordinary shares’). The Ordinary shares have  
no right to any fixed income and each share has the right to one vote per share at general meetings of the Company. 
Under the Company’s Articles of Association, holders of Ordinary shares are entitled to participate in any dividends  
pro-rata to their holding.  

In accordance with the Articles of Association, the Board may propose and pay interim dividends and recommend a final 
dividend for approval by the shareholders at the AGM. A final dividend may be declared by the shareholders in a general 
meeting by ordinary resolution, but such dividend cannot exceed the amount recommended by the Board.  

The Articles of Association can be amended in accordance with its provisions, the Companies Act and related legislation. 

Powers of the Company to issue or buy back its own shares 
At the 2013 AGM shareholders authorised: 

−(cid:3) the Directors to allot Ordinary shares up to an aggregate nominal amount of £3,417,300 representing one-third of the 
issued share capital plus 13,334,618 Ordinary shares representing the outstanding commitment in respect of options 
granted under Mitie’s share schemes (such total equating to 36.94% of the issued share capital as at 31 March 2013);  

−(cid:3) the dis-application of pre-emption rights over allotted shares up to an aggregate nominal value equal to £462,590  
or a maximum 18,503,604 Ordinary shares (representing 5% of the issued share capital as at 31 March 2013); and 
−(cid:3) the Company to make market purchases of its own shares up to a total of 37,007,209 Ordinary shares (representing 

10% of the issued share capital as at 31 March 2013). 

Further details of these authorisations are available in the notes to the 2013 Notice of AGM and shareholders are referred 
to the 2014 Notice (both are available at www.mitie.com/investors) which contains similar provisions in respect of the 
Company’s share capital. 

During the reporting period, the Directors utilised the above authorities to allot 7,774,761 Ordinary shares to an aggregate 
nominal amount of £194,369 to employees participating in Mitie’s share schemes and to minority shareholders in 
consideration for shares purchased in connection with Mitie Model investments. 

The Company market purchased a total of 9,671,303 of its own shares during the reporting period representing 2.6%  
of the called-up share capital of the Company as at 31 March 2013. The shares equated to an aggregate nominal value  
of £241,783 and the total aggregate amount paid was £26,963,207. The reasons for the purchases are set out below: 

−(cid:3) 1,000,000 shares were purchased into the Company’s Employee Benefit Trust to hedge future Long Term Incentive 

Plan (LTIP) obligations. 

−(cid:3) 2,871,303 shares were purchased and subsequently cancelled from the register. This purchase was notionally 

undertaken to largely offset expected issues under the Mitie model and LTIP. 

−(cid:3) The remaining 5,800,000 shares purchased are held in treasury so that they can be re-issued at a later date and used 

to hedge future share scheme issues.  

It is not Mitie’s current intention to operate a formal share purchase programme in 2015; however market purchases may 
be made to offset share scheme exercise activity, subject to the prior approval of the Board. 

 
 
Strategic Report

Governance

Financial

69

Significant interests in the Company’s Mitie’s share capital 
As at 16 May 2014, the Company has been notified of the following significant holdings of voting rights in its shares under 
the Disclosure and Transparency Rules:  

The Capital Group  

FMR LLC 

Massachusetts Financial Services Company 

Heronbridge 

Majedie Asset Management Limited 

Number of 
Ordinary shares 

Percentage of 
share capital 

35,411,000 

18,000,006 

18,549,276 

18,366,728 

18,493,852 

9.75 

5.05 

5.02 

5.00 

5.00 

Details of the Directors’ interests in the share capital of the Company are detailed within the Directors’ remuneration 
report on pages 65 to 67. 

Restrictions on the trading of shares 
Ordinary shares that are issued as consideration upon the acquisition by the Company of the shares of minority 
shareholders in subsidiaries of the group that participate in the Mitie Model (as explained in more detail on page 72) have 
contractual restrictions placed upon them that both prevent the transfer of such shares and/or attach specific claw-back 
provisions for periods of up to two years following allotment. Recipients of Company shares received in this way are 
contractually restricted from selling the shares issued as consideration generally for a maximum of two years. The Board 
believes that this is a unique business model that has aided Mitie’s past performance and continues to ensure a close 
alignment of interests between Company shareholders and the management and employees of the group.  

There are no specific restrictions on the size of any shareholding or on the transfer of shares, which are both governed  
by the provisions of the Articles of Association of the Company (available at www.Mitie.com/investors/shareholder-
services/corporate-governance) and legislation.  

The Directors are not aware of any agreements between Company shareholders that may result in restrictions on the 
transfer of securities or on voting rights. No person has any special rights of control over the Company’s share capital.  

Details of employee share schemes are set out below and in Note 34 to the Accounts. 

The group operates a Share Trading and Insider Dealing Policy which provides a framework to identify persons who may 
have access to inside information relating to the Company and explains the rules applicable to them for dealing in 
Company shares. Individuals who may have access to such information are informed individually and asked to read, 
understand and follow the procedures detailed in the policy. 

Significant agreements – change of control 
There are a number of agreements with provisions that take effect, alter or terminate upon a change of control of the 
Company such as bank facility agreements, employee share scheme rules and Articles of Association of certain Mitie 
Model companies. None of these are considered to be significant in terms of their likely impact on the normal course of 
business of the group. The Directors are not aware of any agreements between the Company and its Directors or 
employees that provide for compensation for loss of office or employment that occurs solely because of a takeover bid. 

Shareholder engagement 
The Board is committed to an ongoing, proactive dialogue with institutional and private investors, to further encourage 
engagement between the Company and its shareholders. A full programme, led by the Chief Executive and Group Finance 
Director, of formal and informal events, institutional investor meetings and presentations are also held following the half(cid:3)
yearly and full year results announcements. 

During the year, the Board appointed a capital markets advisory firm to conduct an Investor Relations strategy survey. 
The objective was to provide the Board with a better understanding of the market perception of the group. The survey 
involved interviews with existing shareholders, those that have held shares in the recent past and also non-shareholders. 
The results of the survey were shared with the Board at its annual strategy meeting in January. 

Significant importance is attached to investor feedback on the group’s performance, and as such the Board receives an 
investor relations report at each Board meeting detailing corporate news, share price activity, investor relations activity 
and major movements in shareholdings. The Board is also regularly updated and is provided with investor feedback, 
broker updates and detailed analyst reports following the half year and full year results presentations. The Chairman is 
responsible for ensuring that the Board is made aware of the issues and concerns of the major shareholders. 

 
  
Mitie Group plc 
Annual Report and Accounts 2014

70

Directors’ report 

The Chairman and Senior Independent Director are available for additional meetings with shareholders upon request.  
The Board encourages an ongoing dialogue between the Directors and investors and as such all Directors were present  
at the 2013 AGM and made themselves available for direct discussions with shareholders. Latest group information, 
financial reports, corporate governance and sustainability matters, half yearly and full year results presentations,  
major shareholder information and all announcements are made available to shareholders via the Mitie website 
(www.mitie.com) which has a specific area dedicated to investor relations.  

Electronic communications 
The Directors remain committed to improving and extending the electronic methods by which the Company communicates 
with its shareholders, not only allowing the latest information on the group to be provided more efficiently but recognising 
the environmental benefits. The Board encourages each shareholder to join the growing number of investors electing to 
receive their information electronically and further details on how to register are provided at the end of this report.  

Directors 

Board of Directors 
The membership of the Board as at 31 March 2014 and biographical details of the Directors (including details of 
committee chairmanships and other positions held) are given on pages 36 and 37. To comply with relevant provision of 
the Code, all Directors will submit themselves for re-election at the forthcoming AGM and details are provided in the 
Notice of AGM which is available at www.mitie.com/investors.  

During the year, Non-Executive Director independence was considered by the Board. The Board determined that all  
Non-Executive Directors as at 31 March 2014 were independent in mind and judgement, and free from any material 
relationship that could interfere with their ability to discharge their duties effectively. 

Director development and succession planning 
The Chairman regularly meets with both the Executive and Non-Executive Directors to discuss specific director 
development and training needs. The annual Board evaluation also addresses these requirements and ensures that  
the appropriate level of knowledge, understanding and expertise of the Board is sufficiently maintained. 

Succession planning is discussed in more detail on page 47 and 48. 

Director appointments 
With regards to the appointment and replacement of Directors, the Company is governed by its Articles of Association, 
the Code, the Companies Acts and related legislation.  

Director conflicts 
The Board has a formal policy on the declaration and management of Director conflicts of interests in accordance with 
the Articles of Association of the Company which has operated effectively during the reporting period. Any potential 
situation or transactional conflict must be reported as soon as possible to the Chairman, the Chief Executive and the 
Company Secretary. Where a potential conflict is authorised (under the statutory powers and powers granted under  
the Articles of Association to the Board), such conflict is kept under ongoing review. 

Director indemnities 
The group maintains Directors’ and officers’ liability insurance, providing appropriate cover for any legal action brought 
against its Directors and/or officers. The Articles of Association of the Company extend the protection provided to 
Directors in respect of any litigation against Directors relating to their position as a Director of the Company, and 
specifically provide that the Company may indemnify Directors against any liability incurred in connection with any 
negligence, default, breach of duty or breach of trust in relation to the Company and that the Company may fund defence 
costs. Individual Directors would still be liable to pay damages awarded to the Company in any action against them by the 
Company and to repay their defence costs (to the extent funded by the Company) if their defence was unsuccessful.  

Director commitments 
Executive Directors are permitted to accept appointments outside the group provided permission is sought from the 
Chairman and the Chief Executive and that the additional appointments do not interfere with the Directors’ ability to 
discharge their duties effectively. The commitments outside the group of each Executive Director are detailed in the 
Directors’ remuneration report on page 58. Executive Directors are entitled to retain any fees earned from these  
external appointments.  

 
 
Strategic Report

Governance

Financial

71

Statement of the Directors in respect of the Annual Report and financial statements 
As required by the Code, the Directors confirm that they consider the Annual Report and Accounts, taken as a whole,  
to be fair, balanced and understandable and that it provides the information necessary for shareholders to assess the 
Company’s performance, business model and strategy. When arriving at this position the Board was assisted by a 
number of processes including the following: 

−(cid:3) the Annual Report and Accounts is drafted by senior management with overall co-ordination by the Head of Group 

Finance to ensure consistency across the relevant sections; 

−(cid:3)  an internal verification process is undertaken to ensure factual accuracy; 
−(cid:3) an independent review is undertaken by the Assurance team to assess whether the Annual Report and Accounts is fair, 

balanced and understandable using a set of pre-defined indicators (such as consistency with internally reported 
information, investor communications and relative performance in the industry);  

−(cid:3)  comprehensive reviews of drafts of the Annual Report and Accounts are undertaken by the Executive Directors and 

other senior management; 

−(cid:3)  an advanced draft is reviewed by the Company’s Group Counsel and external legal advisers; and 
−(cid:3) the final draft is reviewed by the Audit Committee prior to consideration by the Board. 

Employees 

Employee involvement 
The Board remains committed to fostering and developing a culture of employee involvement in the business through 
communication with employees and equity involvement whereby employees are enabled to build a stake in the Company 
through the Company’s various equity-based incentive schemes.  

The Board believes that the group’s culture of employee equity involvement is a significant driver in the group’s growth 
performance and that this assists in attracting and retaining skilled and committed employees.  

During the year, the group has continued to operate the Mitie Long Term Incentive Plan to incentivise and reward senior 
members of the Mitie management team, the Executive Share Option Scheme for certain other employees and the 
Savings Related Share Option Scheme and Share Incentive Plan which are open to all eligible employees of the group.  

The group has historically grown by giving entrepreneurial managers the opportunity to create wealth by participating in 
the investment risk of starting a new business, taking equity stakes at fair value in those new businesses in conjunction 
with Mitie and then, dependent on a pre-agreed pricing structure, offering to sell (but cannot require Mitie to buy) that 
stake to Mitie predominantly in exchange for Company shares.  

Under the terms of certain shareholder’s agreements and Articles of Association relating to Mitie Model companies, 
minority shareholders in such companies may provide an option for the purchase by the Company of their minority 
shares. The mechanism for calculating the price to be paid in respect of such transfer is transparent, on an arms-length 
basis, and in accordance with the pricing structure generally applicable for other transfers under the Mitie Model.  
In consideration for these purchases, the Company generally has the option to settle payment in cash or in  
Company shares.  

In 2011, the group launched a £10m Entrepreneurial Fund to back management teams with innovative ideas for starting 
mutually owned businesses. The Board remains committed to supporting growing businesses through the Entrepreneurial 
Fund which builds on a long history of partnering with management teams to start up new business ventures.  

 
 
 
Mitie Group plc 
Annual Report and Accounts 2014

72

Directors’ report 

On 5 July 2013, the Company approved investment into two new Mitie Model companies: Mitie Waste & Environmental 
Services Limited, Mitie’s existing waste management business; and Mitie Local Services Limited, a new start-up business 
providing cleaning services to small to medium size clients in the London area. In total during the year, the Company has 
invested over £0.8m from the Entrepreneurial Fund, in the form of Mitie Model start-ups, second generation equity 
schemes and other equity incentive based businesses.  

On 27 August 2013, the Company announced the purchase of certain minority shareholdings in four of its subsidiary 
companies: Mitie Client Services Limited, Mitie Pest Control (London) Limited, Mitie Security Holdings Limited and Mitie 
Landscapes Limited in accordance with the respective Articles of Association and shareholders’ agreements of those 
companies. The total maximum consideration for all four transactions amounted to £6.9m, being satisfied as to £0.8m  
in cash and as to the remaining £6.1m by the issue of 2,279,533 new Ordinary shares valued at 267.04p per share, being 
the average of the closing middle market price for the five banking days immediately preceding 23 July 2013 .The selling 
shareholders gave certain warranties and representations relating to past and future performance of the relevant 
subsidiary companies. The shares issued in consideration are held in safe custody for a maximum period of one year  
and may be sold to meet any claims that the Company may have in the future in relation to those warranties and 
representations. Details of these structures are generally available (to the extent incorporated into the Articles of 
Association for individual Mitie Model companies) from Companies House at www.companieshouse.gov.uk.  

Communication with employees 
Communication with Mitie’s employees remains a high priority, and has been the focus of a comprehensive review of 
employee engagement undertaken in the past year. The group communicates with employees via multiple channels, 
including group-wide mailings, employee magazines and updates, employee-focused initiatives and events (including 
group business roadshows), media networks and the provision of access to broadcasts of periodic financial presentations.  

We are also committed to developing our use of social media tools as an effective way of communicating with our people 
because we recognise that these methods can provide great ways of allowing our people to give us feedback, share ideas 
and engage with the wider Mitie community. 

Our social media tools are supported by a group-wide intranet system which has improved communication and information 
sharing across the business and includes blog updates from Executive Board members and functional teams. Through this 
system employees are able to access key information (such as online payslips), platforms (such as eLearning), and key 
strategic messages as well as group news. 

Each of the group’s businesses is encouraged to ensure that employees are kept informed of group and individual business 
developments through the use of their own communication processes, and social networking sites continue to play an 
important part in engaging and communicating with employees.  

Our group-wide Mitie Stars programme continues to grow year on year, and recognises and rewards exceptional 
performance displayed by Mitie people. Mitie’s Got Talent, the group-wide talent contest, continues to be supported and 
encourages employee engagement and recognition. The group Sustainability report contains further details of these 
initiatives and is available from www.mitie.com. 

Mitie’s employees remain actively involved in the group’s activities via an employee forum. This year the forum held  
two meetings and included presentations by senior management or functional heads as requested by the employee 
representatives. The Executive Board will continue to seek increasing involvement and activity of the employee 
representatives.  

Our Speak Up service (the whistleblowing programme) continued to operate during the year, providing every employee 
with the ability to confidentially report any concerns or wrong-doings that they were aware of, if they felt unable to  
report these via our existing line management or human resources channels. All Speak Up contacts are independently 
investigated. The Audit Committee and Board receive regular reports on the status of material Speak Up investigations. 

Employee diversity and inclusion 
The Board remains committed to developing a culture that encourages the inclusion and diversity of all of the group’s 
employees through respecting and appreciating their differences and promoting the continuous development of 
employees through skills enhancement and training programmes.  

The group’s employment policies are designed to recruit, motivate, retain, train and develop the very best people, 
recognising that this can be achieved only through offering equal opportunities regardless of gender, race, religion,  
age, disability, sexual orientation or any other aspect of diversity. Applications from disabled persons are always fully 
considered, bearing in mind the aptitudes of the applicant concerned. It is the policy of the group that the training, career 
development and promotion of disabled people (including those who become disabled whilst employees of the group) 
should, as far as reasonably possible, be identical to that of other employees.  

 
 
Strategic Report

Governance

Financial

73

Finance 

Financial results and dividends 
A detailed commentary on the operational and financial results of the group for the year is contained within the Strategic 
report and Financial review on pages 1 to 35 of this report. The profit before taxation for the financial year is £68.4m 
(2013: £56.3m).  

−(cid:3) The Directors declared an interim dividend of 4.9p per Ordinary share with a total value of £17.6m (2013: £16.6m)  

which was paid to shareholders on 3 February 2014.  

−(cid:3) The Directors recommend a final dividend of 6.1p per Ordinary share with a total value of £21.9m based upon the 

number of shares issued as at 19 May 2014 (2013: £20.6m). The final dividend for the year will be paid on 6 August 
2014, subject to shareholder approval at the AGM, to ordinary shareholders on the register on 27 June 2014. 

−(cid:3) The total dividend per Ordinary share for the year ended 31 March 2014 is 11.0p (2013: 10.3p). 

The Company operates a Dividend Re-investment Plan (‘DRIP’) which allows shareholders to build their holding by using 
the cash dividend to purchase additional shares in Mitie. Further details on the operation of the DRIP are included at the 
back of this report and are available from Mitie’s Registrar. 

During the reporting period, the trustees of the Company’s Employee Benefit Trusts waived dividends on shares held.  

Financial instruments 
The group’s financial instruments include bank loans, finance leases, overdrafts, US private placement loan notes and 
performance guarantees. Various derivatives are used to manage interest, currency and other risks when necessary  
or material.  

The principal objective of these instruments is to raise funds for general corporate purposes and to manage financial risk. 
Further details of these instruments are given in Note 24 to the financial statements.  

Events after the balance sheet date 
There have not been any significant events post the balance sheet date. 

Payment of creditors 
The group manages its procurement and supply chain with increasing consideration of its impact on the Company’s 
profitability, reputation and sustainability objectives and is committed to proactively developing mutually beneficial  
and sustainable trading relationships with all of our stakeholders, based on a foundation of trust and co-operation.  
The group’s Ethical Business Practices Policy provides a framework and demonstrates our values and commitment  
to developing and implementing ethical business practices throughout the organisation. 

The group’s policy is to comply with the terms of payment agreed with suppliers on the group’s standard purchasing 
terms as notified to suppliers. Notification of these terms is issued with each generated purchase order and a copy  
of the group’s standard purchasing terms can be found at www.mitie.com/suppliers. At 31 March 2014, the group had  
46 days’ purchases outstanding (2013: 32 days).  

Future developments 
The Strategic report sets out the Board’s view on the future developments of the group. 

Research and development 
Given the nature of the group’s activities, it does not carry out any material research and development work. 

Donations 
Donations to charity and community projects made during the year amounted to £441,322 (2013: £153,573). The total 
value of community investment was £834,240 (2013: £728,773).  

The Company included a resolution in its 2013 AGM notice to shareholders in relation to the ability to make political 
donations. Although, Mitie’s long-standing policy of not making any political donations will continue, it is possible that 
certain routine activities (including charitable donations) undertaken by Mitie might unintentionally fall within the wide 
definition of payments constituting political donations and expenditure as set out in the Companies Act 2006. The 
resolution, which was duly passed, granted the Directors the relevant statutory authority until the 2014 AGM subject  
to a total aggregate cap for Mitie and its subsidiary companies of £50,000. 

Carbon reporting and the environment 
The Company is required to state the annual quantity of emissions in tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent from activities 
for which the group is responsible, including combustion of fuel and the operation of facilities. Details of our emissions 
during the year ended 31 March 2014, are set out in the Strategic report on page 35 and form part of the Directors’  
report disclosures. 

Going concern 
The Directors acknowledge the Financial Reporting Council’s ‘Going Concern and Liquidity Risk: Guidance for Directors  
of UK Companies’ issued in October 2009 and ‘An update for Directors of Listed Companies: Responding to increased 
country and currency risk in financial reports’.  

 
 
 
Mitie Group plc 
Annual Report and Accounts 2014

74

Directors’ report 

The group’s business activities, together with factors likely to affect its future development, performance and position are 
set out in the Strategic report as referred to on pages 2 to 35. The financial position of the group, its cash flows, liquidity 
position and borrowing facilities are described in the financial review, as part of the Strategic report, on pages 28 to 31.  
In addition, Note 25 to the consolidated financial statements includes details of 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 exposure to credit risk and liquidity risk. 

The group benefits from a large number of long-term contracts with a broad range of public and private customers which 
provide a strong forward order book of £8.7bn and high visibility of secured work (84% of budgeted revenue) for the 
financial year ending 31 March 2015. These support the Directors’ belief that the group is well-placed to manage its 
business risks successfully.  

In assessing the group’s ability to continue as a going concern, the Board reviews and approves the annual budget 
including forecasts of cash flows and borrowing requirements. The Board reviews the group’s sources of available funds 
and the level of headroom available against its committed borrowing facilities. The group’s financial forecasts, taking into 
account possible sensitivities in trading performance, indicate that the group will be able to operate within the level of its 
committed borrowing facilities. The group’s committed borrowing facilities comprise £251.7m of US Private Placement 
Loan Notes expiring in December 2017, December 2019, December 2022 and December 2024 and its committed banking 
facility of £250m which is available for use until September 2015.  

The Directors have a reasonable expectation that the group has adequate resources to continue its operational existence 
for the foreseeable future. Thus they continue to adopt the going concern basis of accounting in preparing the Annual 
Report and Accounts. 

Disclosure of information to the auditors 
Each of the Directors in office as of the date of approval of this Annual Report and Accounts confirms that: 

−(cid:3) so far as he/she is aware, there is no relevant audit information (being information required by the auditors in the 

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

−(cid:3) he/she has each taken all the steps that he/she ought to have taken as a Director to make himself/herself aware  
of any relevant audit information and to establish that the Company’s auditors are aware of such information. 

This confirmation is given, and should be interpreted, in accordance with Section 418 of the Companies Act 2006. 

AGM  
Mitie’s AGM will be held on 9 July 2014 at 2.30pm at the offices of UBS, 1 Finsbury Avenue, London, EC2M 2PP.  

By order of the Board 

Suzanne Baxter 
Company Secretary 
19 May 2014 

 
 
Directors’ report: statement of Directors’ responsibilities  

Strategic Report

Governance

Financial

75

Statement of Directors’ responsibilities in respect of the Annual Report,  
the remuneration report and the financial statements 
The Directors are responsible for preparing the Annual Report, the Directors’ remuneration report and the financial 
statements in accordance with applicable law and regulations. The Directors are required to prepare the financial 
statements for the group in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards as adopted by the EU (IFRS)  
and Article 4 of the IAS Regulation and have chosen to prepare Company financial statements in accordance with  
United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice (UK GAAP). 

In the case of International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) accounts, International Accounting Standard 1 requires 
that financial statements present fairly for each financial year the Company’s financial position, financial performance  
and cash flows. This requires the faithful representation of the effects of transactions, other events and conditions  
in accordance with the definitions and recognition criteria for assets, liabilities, income and expenses set out in the 
International Accounting Standards Board’s ‘Framework for the Preparation and Presentation of Financial Statements’.  
In virtually all circumstances, a fair presentation will be achieved by compliance with IFRS where applicable. The Directors 
are also required to: 

−(cid:3) properly select and apply accounting policies; 
−(cid:3) present information, including accounting policies, in a manner that provides relevant, reliable, comparable and 

understandable information; 

−(cid:3) provide additional disclosures when compliance with the specific IFRS requirements is insufficient to enable users to 
understand the impact of particular transactions, other events and conditions on the entity’s financial position and 
financial performance; and, 

−(cid:3) make an assessment of the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern.  

In the parent company accounts, the Directors have elected to prepare the financial statements in accordance with UK 
GAAP. The Directors are required to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of 
the state of affairs of the Company and of the profit or loss of the Company for that period. In preparing these financial 
statements, the Directors are required to: 

−(cid:3) select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently; 
−(cid:3) make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent; 
−(cid:3) state whether applicable accounting standards have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and 

explained in the financial statements; and 

−(cid:3) prepare financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the Company will 

continue in business.  

The Directors are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any 
time the financial position of the Company, safeguarding the assets, taking reasonable steps for the prevention and 
detection of fraud and other irregularities, and the preparation of a Directors’ remuneration report which complies with 
the relevant requirements of the Companies Acts, Listing Rules and Disclosure and Transparency Rules (DTRs).  

The Directors are also responsible for the maintenance and integrity of the Company website. Financial statements 
published by the Company on this website are prepared in accordance with UK legislation which may differ from 
legislation in other jurisdictions.  

To the best of each Director’s knowledge: 

−(cid:3) the financial statements, prepared in accordance with the applicable set of accounting standards and contained within 
this Annual Report and Accounts, give a true and fair view of the assets, liabilities, financial position and profit or loss  
of the group and the undertakings included in the consolidation taken as a whole; 

−(cid:3) the Strategic report includes a fair review of the development and performance of the business and the position of the 

Company and the undertakings included in the consolidation taken as a whole, together with a description of the 
principal risks and uncertainties that they face; and  

−(cid:3) the Annual Report and financial statements, taken as a whole, are fair, balanced and understandable and provide the 

information necessary for shareholders to assess the Company’s performance, business model and strategy. 

By order of the Board 

Ruby McGregor-Smith CBE 
Chief Executive  
19 May 2014 

Suzanne Baxter  
Group Finance Director 
19 May 2014 

 
 
 
 
Mitie Group plc 
Annual Report and Accounts 2014

76

Independent auditor’s report to the members of Mitie Group plc  
For the year ended 31 March 2014 

Opinion on financial 
statements of  
Mitie Group plc 

Going concern 

In our opinion: 
−(cid:3) the financial statements give a true and fair view of the state of the group’s and of  

the parent company’s affairs as at 31 March 2014 and of the group’s profit for the year  
then ended; 

−(cid:3) the group financial statements have been properly prepared in accordance with 

International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRSs) as adopted by the European Union; 
−(cid:3) the parent company financial statements have been properly prepared in accordance  

with United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice; and 

−(cid:3) the financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the requirements of  

the Companies Act 2006 and, as regards the group financial statements, Article 4 of the 
IAS Regulation. 

The financial statements comprise the Consolidated Income Statement, the Consolidated 
Statement of Comprehensive Income, the Consolidated Balance Sheet, the Consolidated 
Statement of Changes in Equity, the Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows, the Company 
Balance Sheet and the related notes 1 to 51. The financial reporting framework that has been 
applied in the preparation of the group financial statements is applicable law and IFRSs as 
adopted by the European Union. The financial reporting framework that has been applied  
in the preparation of the parent company financial statements is applicable law and United 
Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice). 

As required by the Listing Rules we have reviewed the directors’ statement contained within 
the Directors’ Report that the group is a going concern. We confirm that: 
−(cid:3) we have concluded that the directors’ use of the going concern basis of accounting in the 

preparation of the financial statements is appropriate; and 

−(cid:3) we have not identified any material uncertainties that may cast significant doubt on the 

group’s ability to continue as a going concern. 

However, because not all future events or conditions can be predicted, this statement is not a 
guarantee as to the group’s ability to continue as a going concern. 

 
 
 
Strategic Report

Governance

Financial

77

Our assessment  
of risks of material 
misstatement 

The assessed risks of material misstatement described below are those that had the greatest 
effect on our audit strategy, the allocation of resources in the audit and directing the efforts 
of the engagement team: 

Risk 

How the scope of our audit responded to the risk 

Revenue recognition  
and accounting for 
complex contracts 

There are significant accounting judgements in applying the group’s revenue recognition 
policies to the larger, longer-term contracts entered into by the group. In particular this 
relates to determining the stage of completion and forecasting total contract profitability.  
The group’s policy on revenue recognition is set out in Note 1 to the group financial statements.

We challenged the revenue and profit recognition policies applied to the contracts across  
the group, with particular focus on the more complex, long-term contracts, the largest 
contracts and new contracts won during the year that were significant either due to size  
or specific characteristics.  

In addition to understanding the design and implementation of the key controls over  
revenue recognition, we performed substantive tests and analytical procedures, including 
agreeing significant contract terms and analysing margin trends.  

Debtor recoverability 

The group has exposures on the balance sheet in relation to both the recognition and 
recoverability of contract costs capitalised, other contract assets and receivables. 

Goodwill and  
intangible assets 

Our application  
of materiality 

We have challenged the judgements made with respect to the recoverability of significant 
contract receivables with reference to contract documentation and legal correspondence 
where appropriate.  

We performed cash after date testing over the trade debtor population to  
assess recoverability. 

The assessment of the carrying value of goodwill and intangibles involves significant 
judgement by management in undertaking its annual impairment review which incorporates 
judgements based on assumptions of future profitability, revenue growth, margins and 
forecast cash flows, and the selection of appropriate discount rates. 

We critically assessed the appropriateness of Management’s assumptions used in the 
impairment model for goodwill, including the determination of the cash generating units,  
the underlying assumptions supporting the cash flow projections, discount rates, the 
sensitivity analysis performed by Management and the appropriateness of the disclosures 
included in the financial statements. In making this critical assessment of the cash flow 
projections we assessed historical forecasting accuracy and compared forecast profit 
margins to historical margins and benchmarked the discount and growth rates employed  
to available market data. 

The Audit Committee’s consideration of these risks is set out on page 45. 
Our audit procedures relating to these matters were designed in the context of our audit  
of the financial statements as a whole, and not to express an opinion on individual accounts or 
disclosures. Our opinion on the financial statements is not modified with respect to any  
of the risks described above, and we do not express an opinion on these individual matters. 

We define materiality as the magnitude of misstatement in the financial statements that 
makes it probable that the economic decisions of a reasonably knowledgeable person would 
be changed or influenced. We use materiality both in planning the scope of our audit work and 
in evaluating the results of our work. 

We determined planning materiality for the group to be £6.0 million, which is 0.3% of revenue, 
5.3% of headline profit before tax, 8.8% of profit before tax and 1.5% of equity. 
We agreed with the Audit Committee that we would report to the Committee all audit 
differences in excess of £150,000, as well as differences below that threshold that, in our 
view, warranted reporting on qualitative grounds. We also report to the Audit Committee  
on disclosure matters that we identified when assessing the overall presentation of the 
financial statements.  

 
 
Mitie Group plc 
Annual Report and Accounts 2014

78

Independent auditor’s report to the members of Mitie Group plc  
For the year ended 31 March 2014 

An overview of the  
scope of our audit 

Opinion on other  
matters prescribed  
by the Companies  
Act 2006 

Matters on which  
we are required to  
report by exception 

Adequacy of  
explanations received  
and accounting records 

Our group audit was scoped by obtaining an understanding of the group and its environment, 
including group-wide controls, and assessing the risks of material misstatement at the group 
level. Based on that assessment, our group audit scope focused primarily on the audit work at 
the four divisions and at head office. All of these were subject to a full audit, led by the Senior 
Statutory Auditor. These four divisions represent the principal business units within the 
group’s four reportable segments and, together with head office, account for 100% of the 
group’s net assets, 98.4% of the group’s revenue and 100%  
of the group’s profit before tax. Our statutory audits were executed at levels of materiality 
applicable to each individual entity which were much lower than group materiality. 

In our opinion: 
−(cid:3) the part of the Directors’ Remuneration Report to be audited has been properly  

prepared in accordance with the Companies Act 2006; and 

−(cid:3) 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. 

Under the Companies Act 2006 we are required to report to you if, in our opinion: 
−(cid:3) we have not received all the information and explanations we require for our audit; or 
−(cid:3) 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 

−(cid:3) the parent company financial statements are not in agreement with the accounting records 

and returns. 

We have nothing to report in respect of these matters. 

Directors’ remuneration 

Under the Companies Act 2006 we are also required to report if in our opinion certain 
disclosures of directors’ remuneration have not been made or the part of the Directors’ 
Remuneration Report to be audited is not in agreement with the accounting records and 
returns. We have nothing to report arising from these matters. 

Corporate Governance 
Statement 

Under the Listing Rules we are also required to review the part of the Corporate Governance 
Statement relating to the company’s compliance with nine provisions of the UK Corporate 
Governance Code. We have nothing to report arising from our review. 

Our duty to read  
other information  
in the Annual Report 

Under International Standards on Auditing (UK and Ireland), we are required to report to you 
if, in our opinion, information in the annual report is: 
−(cid:3) materially inconsistent with the information in the audited financial statements; or 
−(cid:3) apparently materially incorrect based on, or materially inconsistent with, our knowledge  

of the group acquired in the course of performing our audit; or 

−(cid:3) otherwise misleading. 

In particular, we are required to consider whether we have identified any inconsistencies 
between our knowledge acquired during the audit and the directors’ statement that they 
consider the annual report is fair, balanced and understandable and whether the annual report 
appropriately discloses those matters that we communicated to the audit committee which 
we consider should have been disclosed. We confirm that we have not identified any such 
inconsistencies or misleading statements. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Strategic Report

Governance

Financial

79

Respective responsibilities 
of directors and auditor 

Scope of the audit of  
the financial statements 

As explained more fully in the Directors’ Responsibilities Statement, the directors are 
responsible for the preparation of the financial statements and for being satisfied that they 
give a true and fair view. Our responsibility is to audit and express an opinion on the financial 
statements in accordance with applicable law and International Standards on Auditing  
(UK and Ireland). Those standards require us to comply with the Auditing Practices Board’s 
Ethical Standards for Auditors. We also comply with International Standard on Quality 
Control (UK and Ireland). Our audit methodology and tools aim to ensure that our quality 
control procedures are effective, understood and applied. Our quality controls and systems 
include our dedicated professional standards review team, strategically focused second 
partner reviews and independent partner reviews. 

This report is made solely to the company’s members, as a body, in accordance with Chapter 
3 of Part 16 of the Companies Act 2006. Our audit work has been undertaken so that we 
might state to the company’s members those matters we are required to state to them in an 
auditor’s report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent permitted by law, we do not 
accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the company and the company’s 
members as a body, for our audit work, for this report, or for the opinions we have formed. 

An audit involves obtaining evidence about the amounts and disclosures in the financial 
statements sufficient to give reasonable assurance that the financial statements are free 
from material misstatement, whether caused by fraud or error. This includes an assessment 
of: whether the accounting policies are appropriate to the group’s and the parent company’s 
circumstances and have been consistently applied and adequately disclosed; the 
reasonableness of significant accounting estimates made by the directors; and the overall 
presentation of the financial statements. 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. 

Colin Hudson FCA (Senior Statutory Auditor) 
for and on behalf of Deloitte LLP 

Chartered Accountants and Statutory Auditor 
London, UK 
19 May 2014 

 
 
 
 
Mitie Group plc 
Annual Report and Accounts 2014

80

Consolidated income statement 
For the year ended 31 March 2014 

Continuing operations 

Revenue 

Cost of sales 

Gross profit 

Notes 

Headline
£m 

Other
Items1
£m 

2014   

Total 

£m   

Headline2
£m 

Other 
Items1 
£m 

2013 

Total2
£m 

3,4 

2,142.6 

78.5 

2,221.1   

1,980.6 

139.9 

2,120.5 

(1,819.3)

(76.5)

(1,895.8)  

(1,670.6)

(132.3)

(1,802.9)

323.3 

2.0 

325.3   

310.0 

7.6 

317.6 

Administrative expenses 

(196.3)

(46.9)

(243.2)  

(189.7)

(59.9)

(249.6)

Share of profit of joint ventures 
and associates 

Operating profit  

Investment revenue 

Finance costs 

Net finance costs 

Profit before tax 

Tax 

Profit for the year  

Attributable to: 

Equity holders of the parent 

Non-controlling interests 

Earnings per share (EPS) 

– basic 

– diluted 

– 

– 

– 

120.3 

(52.3)

68.0 

16 

4,6 

8 

9 

10 

0.5 

– 

127.5 

(44.9)

1.2 

(15.4)

(14.2)

113.3 

(25.6)

87.7 

87.5 

0.2 

87.7 

– 

– 

– 

(44.9)

5.7 

(39.2)

(39.2)

– 

(39.2)

0.5   

82.6   

1.2   

(15.4)  

(14.2)  

68.4   

(19.9)  

48.5   

48.3   

0.2   

48.5   

0.5 

(12.2)

(11.7)

108.6 

(25.7)

82.9 

82.7 

0.2 

82.9 

– 

– 

– 

(52.3)

11.8 

(40.5)

(40.5)

– 

(40.5)

12 

12 

24.3p 

(10.9)p

23.6p 

(10.6)p

13.4p   

13.0p   

23.1p 

22.5p 

(11.3)p

(11.0)p

0.5 

(12.2)

(11.7)

56.3 

(13.9)

42.4 

42.2 

0.2 

 42.4 

11.8p 

11.5p 

Notes: 
1  Other items are as described in Note 5. 
2  Restated following amendments to IAS 19, as described in Note 1. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
Consolidated statement of comprehensive income 
For the year ended 31 March 2014 

Strategic Report

Governance

Financial

81

Profit for the year 

Items that will not be reclassified subsequently to profit or loss 

Remeasurement of net defined benefit pension liability 

Income tax relating to items not reclassified 

Items that may be reclassified subsequently to profit or loss 

Exchange differences on translation of foreign operations 

Gains/(losses) on hedge of a net investment taken to equity 

Cash flow hedges: 

  (Losses)/gains arising during the year 

  Reclassification adjustment for gains/(losses) included in profit and loss 

Income tax (charge)/credit relating to items that may be reclassified 

Notes 

35 

2014
£m 

48.5 

20131, 2
£m 

42.4 

2.4 

(1.0)

1.4 

(0.6)

0.2 

(10.1)

12.1 

(0.8)

0.8 

(11.2) 

2.7 

(8.5) 

0.1 

(0.1) 

2.8 

(8.1) 

0.9 

(4.4) 

Other comprehensive income/(expense) for the financial year 

2.2 

(12.9) 

Total comprehensive income for the financial year 

50.7 

29.5 

Attributable to: 

Equity holders of the parent 

Non-controlling interests 

Notes: 
1  Re-presented following amendments to IAS 1, as described in Note 1. 
2  Restated following amendments to IAS 19, as described in Note 1. 

50.5 

0.2 

29.3 

0.2 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Mitie Group plc 
Annual Report and Accounts 2014

82

Consolidated balance sheet 
At 31 March 2014 

Non-current assets 

Goodwill  

Other intangible assets 

Property, plant and equipment 

Interest in joint ventures and associates 

Financing assets 

Trade and other receivables 

Deferred tax assets 

Total non-current assets 

Current assets 

Inventories 

Trade and other receivables 

Cash and cash equivalents 

Total current assets 

Total assets 

Current liabilities 

Trade and other payables 

Current tax liabilities 

Financing liabilities 

Provisions 

Total current liabilities 

Net current assets 

Non-current liabilities 

Financing liabilities 

Provisions 

Retirement benefit obligation 

Deferred tax liabilities 

Total non-current liabilities 

Total liabilities 

Net assets 

Notes 

2014 
£m 

2013
£m 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

20 

21 

18 

22 

23 

24 

26 

24 

26 

35 

20 

459.6 

447.2 

79.3 

56.7 

0.9 

20.4 

41.2 

8.4 

88.0 

56.2 

0.4 

25.3 

20.8 

14.0 

666.5 

651.9 

7.4 

491.6 

89.1 

588.1 

6.7 

507.4 

90.8 

604.9 

1,254.6 

1,256.8 

(525.6)

(500.7)

(11.0)

(2.7)

(1.2)

(10.5)

(2.7)

(1.4)

(540.5)

(515.3)

47.6 

89.6 

(273.0)

(284.3) 

(8.8)

(19.1)

(9.3)

(8.8)

(29.9)

(13.2)

(310.2)

(336.2)

(850.7)

(851.5)

403.9 

405.3 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Strategic Report

Governance

Financial

83

Consolidated balance sheet 
At 31 March 2014 

Equity 

Share capital 

Share premium account 

Merger reserve 

Share-based payments reserve 

Own shares reserve 

Other reserves 

Hedging and translation reserve 

Retained earnings 

Equity attributable to equity holders of the parent 

Non-controlling interests 

Total equity 

Notes 

2014 
£m 

2013
 £m 

29 

30 

30 

30 

30 

30 

30 

9.3 

118.9 

101.2 

2.6 

(37.2)

0.4 

(4.3)

210.0 

400.9 

9.3 

108.0 

97.6 

1.9 

(20.3)

0.3 

(5.9)

210.6 

401.5 

3.0 

3.8 

403.9 

405.3 

The financial statements were approved by the Board of Directors and authorised for issue on 19 May 2014. They were 
signed on its behalf by: 

Ruby McGregor-Smith CBE 
Chief Executive 

Suzanne Baxter 
Group Finance Director 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Mitie Group plc 
Annual Report and Accounts 2014

84

Consolidated statement of changes in equity 
For the year ended 31 March 2014 

Share 
capital  
£m 

Share 
premium 
account 
£m 

Share-
based 
payments 
reserve 
£m 

Own 
shares 
reserve 
£m 

Other 
reserves 
£m 

Hedging 
and 
translation 
reserve
£m 

Attributable 
to equity 
holders of 
the parent 
£m 

Non-
controlling 
interests 
£m 

Retained 
earnings
£m 

Merger 
reserve  
£m 

Total 
£m 

At 1 April 2012 

9.0 

92.5 

93.6 

5.2 

(18.3) 0.3 

(0.6)

230.4 

412.1 

4.2  416.3 

Total comprehensive 
income 

Shares issued  

Dividends paid 

Purchase of own shares  

Share-based payments  

Acquisitions and other 
movements in non-
controlling interests  

– 

– 

0.3 

15.5 

– 

4.0 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

(3.3)

– 

– 

– 

(6.6)

4.6 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

(5.3)

34.6 

29.3 

19.8 

0.2 

29.5 

– 

19.8 

– 

(34.9)

(34.9)

(0.1)

(35.0)

– 

0.8 

(6.6)

2.1 

– 

– 

(6.6)

2.1 

At 31 March 2013 

9.3 

108.0 

97.6 

1.9 

(20.3) 0.3 

(5.9)

210.6 

401.5 

3.8  405.3 

– 

– 

– 

– 

(20.3)

(20.3)

(0.5)

(20.8)

– 

– 

0.1 

10.9 

– 

3.6 

1.6 

48.9 

50.5 

14.6 

0.2 

50.7 

– 

14.6 

– 

Total comprehensive 
income 

Shares issued  

Dividends paid 

Purchase of own shares  

Share-based payments 

Tax on share-based 
payment transactions 

– 

– 

– 

– 

Share buybacks 

(0.1) 

Acquisitions and other 
movements in non-
controlling interests  

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

(19.8)

0.7 

2.9 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

0.1 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

(38.1)

(38.1)

(0.1)

(38.2)

– 

1.1 

1.0 

(7.4)

(19.8)

4.7 

1.0 

(7.4)

– 

– 

– 

– 

(19.8)

4.7 

1.0 

(7.4)

At 31 March 2014 

9.3 

118.9 

101.2 

2.6 

(37.2) 0.4 

(4.3) 210.0 

400.9 

3.0  403.9 

– 

– 

– 

(6.1)

(6.1)

(0.9)

(7.0)

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

 
 
 
 
 
Consolidated statement of cash flows 
For the year ended 31 March 2014 

Strategic Report

Governance

Financial

85

Operating profit  

Adjustments for: 

Share-based payment expense 

Defined benefit pension charge 

Defined benefit pension contributions 

Acquisition related items 

Depreciation of property, plant and equipment 

Amortisation of intangible assets  

Share of profit of joint ventures and associates 

Gain on disposal of property, plant and equipment 

Notes 

34 

35 

35 

5 

15 

14 

16 

2014
 £m 

82.6 

5.0 

(6.1)

(3.6)

0.7 

16.1 

17.0 

(0.5)

(0.7)

20131
£m 

68.0 

2.5 

4.6 

(4.1)

3.2 

20.4 

14.1 

(cid:177) 

(2.6)

Operating cash flows before movements in working capital  

110.5 

106.1 

Increase in inventories 

(Increase)/decrease in receivables 

Increase in payables 

Decrease in provisions 

Cash generated by operations  

Income taxes paid 

Interest paid 

Acquisition costs 

Net cash from operating activities  

Investing activities 

Interest received 

Purchase of property, plant and equipment 

Purchase of subsidiary undertakings, net of cash acquired 

Investment in financing assets 

Purchase of other intangible assets 

Disposals of property, plant and equipment 

Net cash outflow from investing activities 

Note: 
1  Restated following amendments to IAS 19, as described in Note 1. 

(0.8)

(2.4)

16.8 

– 

124.1 

(18.2)

(14.3)

(0.7)

90.9 

1.2 

(20.6)

(10.7)

0.8 

(6.2)

6.0 

(1.0)

16.7 

11.4 

(2.2)

131.0 

(21.6)

(9.6)

(3.2)

96.6 

0.3 

(30.0)

(117.0)

(13.0)

(5.8)

23.4 

(29.5)

(142.1)

5  

31 

14 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Mitie Group plc 
Annual Report and Accounts 2014

86

Consolidated statement of cash flows  
For the year ended 31 March 2014 

Financing activities 

Repayments of obligations under finance leases 

Proceeds on issue of share capital 

Settlement of loan notes on purchase of subsidiary undertakings 

Bank loans repaid 

Private placement notes raised 

Purchase of own shares 

Share buybacks 

Equity dividends paid 

Non-controlling interests dividends paid 

Net cash (outflow)/inflow from financing 

Net (decrease)/increase in cash and cash equivalents 

Net cash and cash equivalents at beginning of the year 

Effect of foreign exchange rate changes 

Net cash and cash equivalents at end of the year 

Net cash and cash equivalents comprise: 

Cash at bank 

Notes 

2014 
 £m 

2013
£m 

30 

29 

11 

(3.6)

8.9 

– 

(2.8)

– 

(19.8)

(7.4)

(38.1)

(0.1)

(62.9)

(4.1)

8.5 

(0.6)

(38.4)

151.5 

(6.6)

– 

(34.9)

(0.1)

75.3 

(1.5)

29.8 

90.8 

60.8 

(0.2)

0.2 

89.1 

90.8 

89.1 

89.1 

2014  
£m 

(1.5)

(0.2)

3.5 

– 

2.2 

– 

1.6 

5.6 

90.8 

90.8 

2013 
£m 

29.8 

0.2 

37.7 

(151.5)

(5.3)

1.6 

2.2 

(85.3)

Reconciliation of net cash flow to movements in net debt 

Notes 

Net (decrease)/increase in cash and cash equivalents 

Effect of foreign exchange rate changes 

Decrease in bank loans 

Private placement notes raised 

Non-cash movement in private placement notes and associated hedges 

Settlement of loan notes on purchase of subsidiary undertakings 

Decrease in finance leases 

Decrease/(increase) in net debt during the year 

Opening net debt 

Closing net debt 

(192.2)

(186.6)

(106.9)

(192.2)

28 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Notes to the consolidated financial statements 
For the year ended 31 March 2014 

Strategic Report

Governance

Financial

87

1 

Basis of preparation and significant accounting policies

Basis of preparation 
The group’s financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2014 have been prepared in accordance with International 
Financial Reporting Standards (IFRSs) adopted for use in the European Union and therefore the group financial 
statements comply with Article 4 of the EU IAS Regulation. 

As more fully detailed in the Directors’ report, the group’s financial statements have been prepared on a going  
concern basis. 

The group’s financial statements have been prepared on the historical cost basis, except for certain financial instruments 
which are required to be measured at fair value. 

The accounting policies adopted in the preparation of the consolidated financial statements are consistent with those 
followed in the preparation of the group’s annual financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2013, except for the 
adoption of the following new standards and amendments for the first time in the current period: 

−(cid:3) Amendments to IAS 19 ‘Employee Benefits’ impact the measurement of various components representing movements 
in the defined benefit pension obligation and associated disclosures, but not the group’s total obligation. The amendment 
has no cash impact. Prior year comparatives have been restated. The headline operating profit for the year to 31 March 
2014 was reduced by £1.3m, finance costs were increased by £1.4m and the tax charge decreased by £0.6m under the 
revised standard, with other comprehensive income increased by £2.1m for the same period. The headline operating 
profit for the year to 31 March 2013 was reduced by £1.7m, finance costs were increased by £0.8m and the tax charge 
decreased by £0.6m under the revised standard, with other comprehensive income increased by £1.9m for the  
same period;  

−(cid:3) IFRS 13 ‘Fair Value Measurement’ has resulted in increased disclosure during the year of financial assets and liabilities 

measured at fair value (see Note 25); 

−(cid:3) Amendments to IAS 1 ‘Presentation of Financial Statements’ have increased the disclosure within the statement of 

comprehensive income by separating items that will not be reclassified subsequently to profit and loss from those that 
could be reclassified. Comparative information has been re-presented. The amendments affect presentation only  
and there is no impact on profit or loss and total comprehensive income; 

−(cid:3) Amendments resulting from May 2012 Improvements to IFRSs; and 
−(cid:3) Amendments to IFRS 7 ‘Financial Instruments: Disclosures’ – offsetting financial assets and financial liabilities.  

The following standards and interpretations have been issued but are not yet mandatorily effective (and in some cases 
have not yet been adopted by the EU): 

−(cid:3) IFRS 9 ‘Financial Instruments’; 
−(cid:3) IAS 27 (Revised) ‘Separate Financial Statements’; 
−(cid:3) IAS 28 (Revised) ‘Investments in Associates and Joint Ventures’; 
−(cid:3) IFRS 10 ‘Consolidated Financial Statements’;  
−(cid:3) IFRS 11 ‘Joint Arrangements’; 
−(cid:3) IFRS 12 ‘Disclosures of Interests in Other Entities’; 
−(cid:3) Amendments to IFRS 10, IFRS 11 and IFRS 12 – Transition Guidance; 
−(cid:3) Amendments to IAS 32 ‘Financial Instruments: Presentation’ – offsetting financial assets and financial liabilities; 
−(cid:3) Amendments to IFRS 10, IFRS 12 and IAS 27 ‘Investment Entities’; 
−(cid:3) Amendments to IAS 39: Novation of Derivatives and Continuation of Hedge Accounting; 
−(cid:3) Amendments to IAS 36: Recoverable Amount Disclosures for Non-Financial Assets; 
−(cid:3) IFRIC Interpretation 21 ‘Levies’;  
−(cid:3) Amendments to IAS 19 ‘Employee Benefits’ – Employee Contributions;  
−(cid:3) Amendments to IFRS 11 ‘Joint Arrangements’ – accounting for acquisitions of interests in joint operations; 
−(cid:3) Amendments to IAS 16 ‘Property, Plant and Equipment’ and IAS 38 ‘Intangible Assets’ – clarification of acceptable 

methods of depreciation and amortisation; and 

−(cid:3) Amendments resulting from Annual Improvements to IFRSs 2010-2012 Cycle and 2011-2013 Cycle. 

The Directors do not anticipate that the adoption of standards and interpretations that have been issued but are not yet 
effective (and in some cases have not yet been adopted by the EU) will have a material financial impact on the group’s 
financial statements in the period of initial application. 

 
 
 
Mitie Group plc 
Annual Report and Accounts 2014

88

Notes to the consolidated financial statements 
For the year ended 31 March 2014 

1 

Basis of preparation and significant accounting policies 

Significant accounting policies under IFRS 
The significant accounting policies adopted in the preparation of the group’s IFRS financial information are set out below. 

Basis of consolidation 
The consolidated financial statements comprise the financial statements of Mitie Group plc and all its subsidiaries.  
The financial statements of the parent company and subsidiaries are prepared in accordance with UK Generally Accepted 
Accounting Practice (UK GAAP) with the exception of a small number of entities. Adjustments are made in the 
consolidated accounts to bring into line any dissimilar accounting policies that may exist between UK GAAP and IFRS. 

All inter-company balances and transactions, including unrealised profits arising from inter-group transactions, have been 
eliminated in full. 

Subsidiaries are consolidated from the date on which control is transferred to the group and cease to be consolidated 
from the date on which control is transferred out of the group. The results, assets and liabilities of joint ventures and 
associates are accounted for under the equity method of accounting. Where necessary, adjustments are made to the 
financial statements of subsidiaries, joint ventures and associates to bring the accounting policies used into line with those 
used by the group.  

Interests of non-controlling interest shareholders are measured at the non-controlling interest’s proportion of the net fair 
value of the assets and liabilities recognised. Changes in a parent’s ownership interest in a subsidiary that do not result in 
a loss of control are accounted for within shareholders’ equity. No gain or loss is recognised on such transactions and 
goodwill is not re-measured. Any difference between the change in the non-controlling interest and the fair value of the 
consideration paid or received is recognised directly in equity and attributed to the owners of the parent. 

Foreign currency 
The financial statements of each of the group’s businesses are prepared in the functional currency applicable to that 
business. Transactions in currencies other than the functional currency are recorded at the rate of exchange at the date 
of transaction. Monetary assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies at the balance sheet date are reported  
at the rates of exchange prevailing at that date. 

Non-monetary items carried at fair value that are denominated in foreign currencies are translated at the rates prevailing 
at the date when the fair value was determined. Non-monetary items that are measured in terms of historical cost in a 
foreign currency are not retranslated. 

Exchange differences arising on the settlement of monetary items, and on the retranslation of monetary items, are 
included in profit or loss for the period. Exchange differences arising on the retranslation of non-monetary items carried  
at fair value are included in profit or loss for the period except for differences arising on the retranslation of non-monetary 
items in respect of which gains and losses are recognised directly in equity. For such non-monetary items, any exchange 
component of that gain or loss is also recognised directly in equity. 

On consolidation, the assets and liabilities of the group’s overseas operations, including goodwill and fair value adjustments 
arising on their acquisition, are translated into sterling at exchange rates prevailing at the balance sheet date. Income  
and expenses are translated into sterling at average exchange rates for the period. Exchange differences arising are 
recognised directly in equity in the group’s hedging and translation reserve. On disposal of a foreign operation, the 
deferred cumulative amount recognised in equity relating to that particular foreign operation shall be recognised in the 
income statement.  

Revenue  
Revenue is recognised to the extent that it is probable that the economic benefits will flow to the group and the revenue 
can be reliably measured. Revenue represents income recognised in respect of services provided during the period  
(stated net of sales taxes) and is earned predominantly within the United Kingdom. 

Revenue from a contract to provide services is recognised by reference to the stage of completion of the contract at  
the balance sheet date. Revenue from time and material contracts is recognised at the contractual rates as labour hours 
and tasks are delivered and direct expenses incurred. In other cases, where services provided reflect a contractual 
arrangement to deliver an indeterminate number of acts over the contract term, revenue is recognised on a straight-line 
basis unless this is not an accurate reflection of the work performed. Where a straight-line basis is not appropriate,  
for example if specific works on contracts represent a significant element of the whole, revenue is recognised based  
on the percentage of completion method, based on the proportion of costs incurred at the balance sheet date relative  
to the total estimated cost of completing the contracted work.  

Strategic Report

Governance

Financial

89

1 

Basis of preparation and significant accounting policies 

Revenue from long-term contracts represents the sales value of work done in the year, including fees invoiced and 
estimates in respect of amounts to be invoiced after the year end. Profits are recognised on long-term contracts where 
the final outcome can be assessed with reasonable certainty. In calculating this, the percentage of completion method is 
used based on the proportion of costs incurred to the total estimated cost. Cost includes direct staff costs and outlays. 
Full provision is made for all known or anticipated losses on each contract immediately such losses are forecast. 

Gross amounts due from customers are stated at the proportion of the anticipated net sales value earned to date less 
amounts billed on account. To the extent that fees paid on account exceed the value of work performed, they are included 
in creditors as gross amounts due to customers. 

Interest income is accrued on a time basis, by reference to the principal outstanding and at the effective interest rate 
applicable, which is the rate that exactly discounts estimated future cash receipts through the expected life of the financial 
asset to that asset’s net carrying amount. 

Borrowing costs  
Borrowing costs directly attributable to the acquisition, construction or production of qualifying assets, which are assets 
that necessarily take a substantial period of time to get ready for their intended use or sale, are added to the cost of 
those assets, until such time as the assets are substantially ready for their intended use or sale. All other borrowing costs 
are recognised in profit or loss in the period in which they are incurred. 

Taxation  
The tax expense represents the sum of the tax currently payable and deferred tax. 

The tax currently payable is based on taxable profit for the year. Taxable profit differs from net profit as reported in the 
income statement because it excludes items of income or expense that are taxable or deductible in other years and it 
further excludes items that are never taxable or deductible. The group’s liability for current tax is calculated using tax rates 
that have been enacted or substantively enacted by the balance sheet date. 

Deferred tax is the tax expected to be payable or recoverable on differences between the carrying amounts of assets  
and liabilities in the financial statements and the corresponding tax bases used in the computation of taxable profit, and is 
accounted for using the balance sheet liability method. Deferred tax liabilities are generally recognised for all taxable 
temporary differences and deferred tax assets are recognised to the extent that it is probable that taxable profits will be 
available against which deductible temporary differences can be utilised. Such assets and liabilities are not recognised if 
the temporary difference arises from goodwill or from the initial recognition (other than in a business combination) of 
other assets and liabilities in a transaction that affects neither the taxable profit nor the accounting profit. 

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

Deferred tax is calculated at the tax rates that are expected to apply in the period when the liability is settled or the asset 
is realised, based upon tax rates and legislation that have been enacted or substantively enacted at the balance sheet 
date. Deferred tax is charged or credited in the income statement, except when it relates to items charged or credited 
directly to equity, in which case the deferred tax is also dealt with in equity. 

Deferred tax assets and liabilities are offset when: there is a legally enforceable right to set off current tax assets against 
current tax liabilities; when they relate to income taxes levied by the same taxation authority; and the group intends to 
settle its current tax assets and liabilities on a net basis. 

Goodwill  
Goodwill arising on consolidation represents the excess of the cost of acquisition over the group’s interest in the fair value 
of the identifiable assets and liabilities of a subsidiary at the date of acquisition.  

Goodwill is initially recognised as an asset at cost and is subsequently measured at cost less accumulated impairment 
losses. It is reviewed for impairment at least annually. Any impairment is recognised immediately in profit or loss and is 
not subsequently reversed. 

For the purpose of impairment testing, goodwill is allocated to each of the group’s cash-generating units (‘CGUs’) 
expected to benefit from the synergies of the combination. CGUs to which goodwill has been allocated are tested for 
impairment annually, or more frequently when there is an indication that the unit may be impaired. If the recoverable 
amount of the CGU is less than the carrying amount of the unit, the impairment loss is allocated first to reduce the 
carrying amount of any goodwill allocated to the unit and then to the other assets of the unit pro-rata on the basis  
of the carrying amount of each asset in the unit. An impairment loss recognised for goodwill is not reversed in a 
subsequent period. 

On disposal of a subsidiary the attributable amount of goodwill is included in the determination of the profit or loss  
on disposal. 

 
 
 
 
 
Mitie Group plc 
Annual Report and Accounts 2014

90

Notes to the consolidated financial statements  
For the year ended 31 March 2014 

1 

Basis of preparation and significant accounting policies 

Goodwill arising on acquisitions before the date of transition to IFRS has been retained at the previous UK GAAP amounts 
subject to being tested for impairment at that date. Goodwill written off to reserves under UK GAAP prior to 1998 has not 
been reinstated and is not included in determining any subsequent profit or loss on disposal. 

Property, plant and equipment  
Property, plant and equipment is stated at cost less accumulated depreciation and any impairment in value. Depreciation 
is charged so as to write off the cost less expected residual value of the assets over their estimated useful lives and is 
calculated on a straight-line basis as follows: 

Freehold buildings and long leasehold property 
Leasehold improvements 
Plant and vehicles 

– 50 years 
– period of the lease 
– 3–10 years 

Annually the group reviews the carrying amounts of its tangible assets to determine whether there is any indication that 
those assets have suffered an impairment loss. If any such indication exists, the recoverable amount of the asset is 
estimated in order to determine the extent of the impairment loss (if any). Where the asset does not generate cash flows 
that are independent from other assets, the group estimates the recoverable amount of the CGU to which the asset 
belongs.  

Recoverable amount is the higher of fair value less costs to sell and value in use. In assessing value in use, the estimated 
future cash flows are discounted to their present value using a pre-tax discount rate that reflects current market 
assessments of the time value of money and the risks specific to the asset for which the estimates of future cash flows 
have not been adjusted. 

If the recoverable amount of an asset (or CGU) is estimated to be less than its carrying amount, the carrying amount of 
the asset (or CGU) is reduced to its recoverable amount. An impairment loss is recognised as an expense immediately. 

Where an impairment loss subsequently reverses, the carrying amount of the asset (or CGU) is increased to the revised 
estimate of its recoverable amount, but so that the increased carrying amount does not exceed the carrying amount  
that would have been determined had no impairment loss been recognised for the asset (or CGU) in prior years.  
A reversal of an impairment loss is recognised as income immediately. 

Intangible assets  
Intangible assets identified in a business acquisition are capitalised at fair value as at the date of acquisition. 

Software and development expenditure is capitalised as an intangible asset if the asset created can be identified, if it is 
probable that the asset created will generate future economic benefits and if the development cost of the asset can be 
measured reliably. 

Following initial recognition, the carrying amount of an intangible asset is its cost less any accumulated amortisation and 
any accumulated impairment losses. Intangible assets are reviewed for impairment annually, or more frequently when 
there is an indication that they may be impaired. Amortisation expense is charged to administrative expenses in the 
income statement on a straight-line basis over its useful life. 

Joint ventures and associates  
The group has an interest in joint ventures which are entities in which the group has joint control of financial and operating 
policies. The group also has an interest in associates which are entities in which the group has significant influence. 

The group accounts for its interest in joint ventures and associates using the equity method. Under the equity method the 
group’s share of the post-tax result of joint ventures and associates is reported as a single line item in the consolidated 
income statement. The group’s interest in joint ventures and associates is carried in the consolidated balance sheet at 
cost plus post-acquisition changes in the group’s share of net assets. 

Inventories  
Inventories are stated at the lower of cost and net realisable value. 

Costs represent materials, direct labour and overheads incurred in bringing the inventories to their present condition and 
location. Net realisable value is based on estimated selling price less further costs expected to be incurred to completion 
and estimated selling costs. Provision is made for obsolete, slow moving or defective items where appropriate. 

Bid, mobilisation and pre-contract costs  
Rendering of services 
All bid costs are expensed through the income statement up to the point where contract award or full recovery of the 
costs is virtually certain. 

 
 
Strategic Report

Governance

Financial

91

1 

Basis of preparation and significant accounting policies 

The confirmation of the preferred bidder for a contract by a client is the point at which the award of a contract is 
considered to be virtually certain. Costs incurred after that point, but before the commencement of services under the 
contract, are defined as mobilisation costs. These costs are capitalised and included within trade and other receivables on 
the balance sheet provided that the costs relate directly to the contract, are separately identifiable, can be measured 
reliably and that the future net cash inflows from the contract are estimated to be no less than the amounts capitalised. 
The capitalised mobilisation costs are amortised over the life of the contract, generally on a straight-line basis, or on a 
basis to reflect the profile of work to be performed over the life of the contract if the straight-line basis is not considered 
to be appropriate for the specific contract to which the costs relate. If the contract becomes loss making, any 
unamortised costs are written off immediately. 

Construction contracts 
In the case of construction contracts, pre-contract costs that are direct costs associated with securing a contract and 
which can be separately identified and measured reliably are included in the cost of the contract when the realisation  
of income from the contract is virtually certain. Their treatment is as for mobilisation costs above. 

Financial instruments  
Financial assets and financial liabilities are recognised on the group’s balance sheet when the group becomes a party  
to the contractual provisions of the instrument. The group derecognises financial assets and liabilities only when the 
contractual rights and obligations are transferred, discharged or expire. 

Assets that are assessed not to be individually impaired are subsequently assessed for impairment on a collective basis. 
Objective evidence of impairment for a portfolio of receivables includes the group’s past experience of collecting 
payments, the number of delayed payments in the portfolio past the average credit period as well as observable changes 
in national or local economic conditions that correlate with default on receivables. 

The carrying amount of the financial asset is reduced by the impairment loss directly with the exception of trade 
receivables where the carrying amount is reduced through the use of an allowance account. When a trade receivable is 
considered uncollectable, it is written off against the allowance account. Subsequent recoveries of amounts previously 
written off are credited against the allowance account. Changes in the carrying amount of the allowance account are 
recognised in the income statement. 

Financial assets comprise loans and receivables and are measured at initial recognition at fair value and subsequently at 
amortised cost. Appropriate allowances for estimated irrecoverable amounts are recognised where there is objective 
evidence that the asset is impaired. Cash and cash equivalents comprise cash in hand, demand deposits and other short-
term highly liquid investments that are readily convertible to a known amount of cash and are subject to an insignificant 
risk of changes in value. 

Financial liabilities comprise trade payables, financing liabilities, including bank and other borrowings, and deferred 
contingent consideration. These are measured at initial recognition at fair value and subsequently at amortised cost with 
the exception of derivative financial instruments which are measured at fair value, and deferred contingent consideration 
which is measured at the Directors’ best estimate of the likely future obligation. Bank and other borrowings are stated at 
the amount of the net proceeds after deduction of transaction costs. Finance charges, including premiums payable on 
settlement or redemption and direct issue costs, are accounted for on an accruals  
basis in the income statement. 

Equity instruments issued by the Company are recorded at the proceeds received, net of direct issue costs. 

Derivative financial instruments and hedge accounting  
The group uses derivative financial instruments including cross currency interest rate swaps and forward foreign 
exchange contracts to manage the group’s exposure to financial risks associated with interest rates and foreign 
exchange. Derivative financial instruments are initially recognised at fair value at the date the derivative contract is 
entered into and are subsequently remeasured to their fair value, determined by reference to market rates, at each 
balance sheet date and included as financial assets or liabilities as appropriate. The resulting gain or loss is recognised  
in profit or loss immediately unless the derivative is designated and effective as a hedging instrument, in which event  
the timing of the recognition in profit or loss depends on the nature of the hedge relationship.  

The group may designate certain hedging instruments including derivatives as either fair value hedges, cash flow hedges, 
or hedges of net investments in foreign operations. Hedges of foreign exchange risk on firm commitments are accounted 
for as cash flow hedges. At the inception of the hedge relationship, the group documents the relationship between the 
hedging instrument and the hedged item, along with its risk management objectives and its strategy for undertaking 
various hedge transactions. Furthermore, at the inception of the hedge and on an ongoing basis, the group documents 
whether the hedging instrument that is used in a hedging relationship is highly effective in offsetting changes in fair values 
or cash flows of the hedged item.  

 
 
 
 
 
Mitie Group plc 
Annual Report and Accounts 2014

92

Notes to the consolidated financial statements  
For the year ended 31 March 2014 

1 

Basis of preparation and significant accounting policies 

Fair value hedges 
Hedges are classified as fair value hedges when they hedge the exposure to changes in the fair value of a recognised 
asset or liability. Changes in the fair value of derivatives that are designated and qualify as fair value hedges are recorded 
in profit or loss immediately, together with any changes in the fair value of the hedged item that are attributable to the 
hedged risk. The change in the fair value of the hedging instrument and the change in the hedged item attributable to  
the hedged risk are recognised in the line of the income statement relating to the hedged item. Hedge accounting is 
discontinued when the group revokes the hedging relationship, the hedging instrument expires or is sold, terminated, 
exercised, or no longer qualifies for hedge accounting. The fair value adjustment to the carrying amount of the hedged 
item arising from the hedged risk is amortised to profit or loss from that date. 

Cash flow hedges 
Hedges are classified as cash flow hedges when they hedge the exposure to changes in cash flows that are attributable  
to a particular risk associated with either a recognised asset or liability or a forecast transaction. The effective portion  
of changes in the fair value of derivatives that are designated and qualify as cash flow hedges are recognised in other 
comprehensive income and accumulated in equity within the group’s translation and hedging reserve. The gain or loss 
relating to any ineffective portion is recognised immediately in profit or loss.  

Amounts previously recognised in other comprehensive income and accumulated in equity are reclassified to profit  
or loss in the periods when the hedged item is recognised in profit or loss, in the same line of the income statement  
as the recognised hedged item. However, when the forecast transaction that is hedged results in the recognition of  
a non-financial asset or a non-financial liability, the gains and losses previously accumulated in equity are transferred  
from equity and included in the initial measurement of the cost of the non-financial asset or non-financial liability.  
Hedge accounting is discontinued when the group revokes the hedging relationship, the hedging instrument expires  
or is sold, terminated, exercised, or no longer qualifies for hedge accounting. Any gain or loss recognised in other 
comprehensive income at that time is accumulated in equity and is recognised when the forecast transaction is ultimately 
recognised in profit or loss. When a forecast transaction is no longer expected to occur, the gain or loss accumulated in 
equity is recognised immediately in profit or loss. 

Hedges of net investments in foreign operations 
Hedges are classified as net investment hedges when they hedge the foreign currency exposure to changes in the  
group’s share in the net assets of a foreign operation. Hedges of net investments in foreign operations are accounted  
for similarly to cash flow hedges. Any gain or loss on the hedging instrument relating to the effective portion of the hedge 
is recognised in other comprehensive income and accumulated in the group’s translation and hedging reserve. The gain  
or loss relating to any ineffective portion is recognised immediately in profit or loss. Gains or losses on the hedging 
instrument relating to the effective portion of the hedge accumulated in equity are reclassified to profit or loss in the  
same way as exchange differences relating to the foreign operation as described above.  

Leasing  
Finance leases, which transfer to the group substantially all the risks and benefits incidental to ownership of the leased 
item, are capitalised at the inception of the lease at the fair value of the leased item or, if lower, at the present value of the 
minimum lease payments. Lease payments are apportioned between the finance charges and reduction of the lease 
liability so as to achieve a constant rate of interest on the remaining balance of the liability. Finance charges are charged 
directly against income. 

Capitalised leased assets are depreciated over the shorter of the estimated life of the asset or the lease term. 

Leases where the lessor retains substantially all the risks and benefits of ownership of the asset are classified as 
operating leases. Operating lease payments are recognised as an expense in the income statement on a straight-line 
basis over the lease term. Any lease incentives are amortised on a straight-line basis over the non-cancellable period  
for which the group has contracted to lease the asset, together with any further terms for which the group has the option 
to continue to lease the asset if, at the inception of the lease, it is judged to be reasonably certain that the group will 
exercise the option. 

Provisions  
Provisions are recognised when the group has a present obligation (legal or constructive) as a result of a past event and  
it is probable that an outflow of resources embodying economic benefits will be required to settle the obligation and a 
reliable estimate can be made of the amount of the obligation. Where the group expects some or all of a provision to be 
reimbursed, for example under an insurance contract, the reimbursement is recognised as a separate asset but only when 
the reimbursement is virtually certain. The expense relating to any provision is presented in the income statement net of 
any reimbursement. If the effect of the time value of money is material, provisions are determined by discounting the 
expected future cash flows at a pre-tax rate that reflects current market assessments of the time value of money and, 
where appropriate, the risks specific to the liability. Where discounting is used, the increase in the provision due to the 
passage of time is recognised as a borrowing cost.  

(cid:3)

Strategic Report

Governance

Financial

93

1 

Basis of preparation and significant accounting policies 

Business combinations  
The acquisition of subsidiaries is accounted for using the acquisition method. The cost of the acquisition is measured  
at the aggregate of the fair values, at the date of exchange, of assets given, liabilities incurred or assumed, and equity 
instruments issued by the group in exchange for control of the acquiree. Acquisition costs incurred are expensed.  
The acquiree’s identifiable assets, liabilities and contingent liabilities that meet the conditions for recognition are 
recognised at their fair value at the acquisition date, except for non-current assets (or disposal groups) that are classified 
as held for resale in accordance with IFRS 5 ‘Non-Current Assets Held for Sale and Discontinued Operations’, which are 
recognised and measured at fair value less costs to sell. 

Goodwill arising on acquisition is recognised as an asset and initially measured at cost, being the excess of the cost  
of the business combination over the group’s interest in the net fair value of the identifiable assets, liabilities and 
contingent liabilities recognised. If, after reassessment, the group’s interest in the net fair value of the acquiree’s 
identifiable assets, liabilities and contingent liabilities exceeds the cost of the business combination, the excess is 
recognised immediately in profit or loss. 

Where applicable, the consideration for an acquisition includes any assets or liabilities resulting from a contingent 
consideration arrangement, measured at fair value at the acquisition date. Subsequent changes in such fair values are 
adjusted against the cost of acquisition where they result from additional information, obtained within one year from  
the acquisition date, about facts and circumstances that existed at the acquisition date. All other subsequent changes  
in the fair value of contingent consideration classified as an asset or liability are recognised in accordance with IAS 39, 
either in profit or loss or as a change to other comprehensive income. Changes in the fair value of contingent 
consideration classified as equity are not recognised. 

Any business combinations prior to 1 April 2010 were accounted for using the standards in place prior to the adoption  
of IFRS 3 (revised 2008) which differ in the following respects: transaction costs directly attributable to the acquisition 
formed part of the acquisition costs; contingent consideration was recognised if, and only if, the group had a present 
obligation, the economic outflow was more likely than not and a reliable estimate was determinable; and subsequent 
adjustments to the contingent consideration were recognised as part of goodwill. 

Share-based payments  
The group operates a number of executive and employee share option schemes. Equity-settled share-based payments  
to employees are measured at the fair value of the equity instruments at the grant date. The fair value excludes the  
effect of non-market based vesting conditions. For all grants of share options and awards, the fair value as at the date  
of grant is calculated using the Black-Scholes or Monte Carlo models and the corresponding expense is recognised on  
a straight-line basis over the vesting period based on the group’s estimate of shares that will eventually vest. At each 
balance sheet date, the group revises its estimate of the number of equity instruments expected to vest as a result  
of the effect of non-market based vesting conditions. Save As You Earn (SAYE) options are treated as cancelled when 
employees cease to contribute to the scheme, resulting in an acceleration of the remainder of the related expense. 

Retirement benefit costs 
The group operates and participates in a number of defined benefit schemes. In respect of the schemes in which the 
group participates, the group accounts for its legal and constructive obligations over the period of its participation which 
is for a fixed period only. 

In addition, the group operates a number of defined contribution retirement benefit schemes for all qualifying employees. 

Payments to the defined contribution and stakeholder pension schemes are charged as an expense as they fall due. 

For the defined benefit pension schemes, the cost of providing benefits is determined using the Projected Unit Credit 
Method, with actuarial valuations being carried out at each balance sheet date. Actuarial gains and losses, the return  
on plan assets (excluding interest) and the effect of the asset ceiling (if applicable) are recognised in full in the period in 
which they occur. They are recognised outside profit and loss and presented in the statement of comprehensive income. 

Current service cost and past service cost are recognised in profit and loss, in administrative expenses, whilst the net 
interest cost is recognised in net finance costs. 

The retirement benefit obligation recognised in the balance sheet represents the present value of the defined benefit 
obligation, as reduced by the fair value of scheme assets. Any asset resulting from this calculation is limited to the present 
value of available refunds and reductions in future contributions to the plan.  

 
 
 
 
 
Mitie Group plc 
Annual Report and Accounts 2014

94

Notes to the consolidated financial statements  
For the year ended 31 March 2014 

2 

Critical accounting judgements and key sources of estimation uncertainty 

Critical judgements in applying the group’s accounting policies 
In the process of applying the group’s accounting policies, which are described in Note 1 above, management has made 
the following judgements that have the most significant effect on the amounts recognised in the financial statements. 

Revenue recognition 
Revenue is recognised for certain project based contracts based on the stage of completion of the contract activity.  
This is measured by comparing the proportion of costs incurred against the estimated whole-life contract costs. 

Accounting for joint ventures and associates 
The group has interests in entities in which it considers that it does not have control and which are accounted for using 
the equity method.  

In the group accounts, consideration is given to the treatment that should be adopted for the results of those entities  
in which the group has a participation, taking into account the ownership of the entity and the group’s influence over  
its control. These considerations determine whether the entity should be consolidated in the accounts as a subsidiary  
or equity accounted as a joint venture or associate. A change in the judgement around Mitie’s influence on the control  
of an entity in which the group participates may determine that the entity should be consolidated. It is not currently 
expected that entities currently accounted for under the equity method would be treated differently in the year ended  
31 March 2015 following the adoption of IAS 27 (Revised) ‘Separate Financial Statements’, IAS 28 (Revised) ‘Investments 
in Associates and Joint Ventures’, IFRS 10 ‘Consolidated Financial Statements’, IFRS 11 ‘Joint Arrangements’, and  
IFRS 12 ‘Disclosures of Interests in Other Entities’. 

Key sources of estimation uncertainty 
The key assumptions concerning the future, and other key sources of estimation uncertainty at the balance sheet date, 
that have a significant risk of causing a material adjustment to the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities within the 
next financial year, are discussed below. 

Measurement and impairment of intangible assets 
The measurement of intangible assets other than goodwill on a business combination involves estimation of future  
cash flows and the selection of suitable discount rates. Determining whether goodwill and other intangible assets are 
impaired requires an estimation of the value in use of the CGUs to which the goodwill has been allocated. The value in  
use calculation involves an estimation of the future cash flows of CGUs and also the selection of appropriate discount 
rates to use in order to calculate present values. The carrying value of goodwill and other intangible assets is £538.9m 
(2013: £535.2m) at the balance sheet date; see Notes 13 and 14. Management do not consider that any reasonably 
foreseeable change in the key assumptions would result in an impairment. 

Measurement of provisions and defined benefit pension obligations  
The group’s provisions (per Note 26) comprise deferred contingent consideration and insurance reserves. The 
measurement of provisions and defined benefit obligations requires judgement. In particular, the calculation of defined 
benefit obligations is dependent on material key assumptions including discount rates, life expectancy rates, future 
returns on assets and future contribution rates. The present value of defined benefit obligations at the balance sheet date 
is £179.1m (2013: £171.8m); see Note 35. 

The sensitivity of defined benefit pension obligations to changes in principal actuarial assumptions is shown below: 

Discount rate 

Retail Price Inflation 

Consumer Price Inflation 

Salary increases 

Life expectancy 

Change in 
assumption 

+0.5% 

-0.5% 

+0.5% 

-0.5% 

+0.5% 

-0.5% 

+0.5% 

-0.5% 

+1 year 

Increase/
(decrease) 
in liability 
£m 

(15.3)

15.3 

12.1 

(12.1)

3.2 

(3.2)

3.2 

(3.2)

4.8 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Strategic Report

Governance

Financial

95

3 

Revenue 

Rendering of services 

Construction contracts  

Total revenue as disclosed in the consolidated income statement 

Investment revenue (Note 8) 

Total revenue as defined in IAS 18 

4 

Business and geographical segments

2014
£m 

2013
£m 

2,113.2 

1,918.9 

107.9 

201.6 

2,221.1 

2,120.5 

1.2 

0.5 

2,222.3 

2,121.0 

The group manages its business on a service division basis. These divisions are the basis on which the group reports its 
primary segmental information. The Healthcare division is the acquired Enara and Complete Group businesses. 

Business segments – structure during the year 

Revenue
£m 

Headline2
revenue  
£m  

Headline2
operating
profit
£m 

Headline2
operating profit
margin 
% 

Profit 
before tax 
£m 

Revenue
£m 

Headline2
revenue 
£m  

Headline2
operating  
profit  
£m  

Headline2
operating profit 
margin 
% 

Profit 
before tax 
£m 

2014 

20131

1,685.7  1,685.7 

101.1 

6.0 

99.7   

1,542.8  1,542.8 

95.4 

6.2 

82.9 

427.8  349.3 

91.7 

91.7 

5.2 

13.8 

6.3   

8.8   

488.8  348.9 

20.6 

43.0 

43.0 

18.1 

12.7 

(4.4)

5.9 

13.3 

(3.1)

(6.6)

3.9 

(7.0)

5.7 

(1.4)

Energy Solutions 

15.9 

15.9 

 (27.7)

(30.3)  

45.9 

45.9 

Acquisition-related 
costs3 

– 

– 

– 

– 

(16.1)  

– 

– 

– 

– 

(16.9)

Total 

2,221.1  2,142.6 

127.5 

6.0 

68.4    2,120.5  1,980.6 

120.3 

6.1 

56.3 

Notes: 
1  Restated following amendments to IAS 19, as described in Note 1. 
2  Headline revenue and operating profit exclude other items which are analysed in Note 5. 
3  This includes costs relating to the integration of Enara, UK CRBs and Complete Group of £4.4m (2013: £3.7m), acquisition costs of £0.7m (2013: £3.2m), and the 

amortisation of acquisition related intangibles of £11.0m (2013: £10.0m), see Note 5. 

With effect from 1 April 2014 our operating divisions are as follows; Facilities Management has been split into Soft FM and 
Hard FM. Hard FM also includes some of the niche services previously reported within the Property Management division. 
The Energy Solutions and Healthcare divisions remain unchanged. A proforma analysis of the financial results of the 
business for the year ended 31 March 2014 is set out below. 

Facilities 
Management 

Property 
Management 

Healthcare 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Mitie Group plc 
Annual Report and Accounts 2014

96

Notes to the consolidated financial statements  
For the year ended 31 March 2014 

4 

Business and geographical segments

Business segments – structure from 1 April 2014 

2014   

20131

Profit 
before tax 
£m   

Revenue
£m 

Headline2
revenue
£m 

Headline2
operating  
profit  
£m  

Headline2
operating profit 
margin  
% 

Profit 
before tax 
£m 

Revenue 
£m 

Headline2
revenue  
£m  

1,190.8  1,190.8 

Headline2
operating 
profit 
£m  
74.8 

Headline2
operating profit
margin 
% 

579.4  579.4  30.0 

343.3  264.8 

14.4 

91.7 

91.7 

12.7 

Soft FM 

Hard FM 

Property 
Management 

Healthcare 

6.3 

5.2 

5.4 

13.8 

77.4  

1,122.2  1,122.2 

73.4 

25.8  

526.7  526.7 

29.0 

2.8   

8.8   

382.7  242.8 

13.6 

43.0 

43.0 

5.7 

(1.4)

Energy Solutions 

15.9 

15.9 

(4.4)

(27.7)

(30.3) 

45.9 

45.9 

Acquisition-related 
costs3 

– 

– 

– 

Total 

2,221.1  2,142.6 

127.5 

– 

6.0 

(16.1) 

– 

– 

– 

68.4    2,120.5  1,980.6 

120.3 

6.5 

5.5 

5.6 

13.3 

(3.1)

– 

6.1 

67.0 

22.4 

(13.1)

3.9 

(7.0)

(16.9)

56.3 

Notes: 
1  Restated following amendments to IAS 19, as described in Note 1. 
2  Headline revenue and operating profit exclude other items which are analysed in Note 5. 
3  This includes costs relating to the integration of Enara, UK CRBs and Complete Group of £4.4m (2013: £3.7m), acquisition costs of £0.7m (2013: £3.2m), and the 

amortisation of acquisition related intangibles of £11.0m (2013: £10.0m), see Note 5. 

The tables below show the movements of headline revenue and operating profit between the old and the new structure: 

Headline revenue1 
£m 

Soft FM 

Hard FM 

Property Management 

Healthcare 

Energy Solutions 

Total 

Headline operating profit1 
£m 

Soft FM 

Hard FM 

Property Management 

Healthcare 

Energy Solutions 

Total 

2014
£m 

1,685.7 

– 

349.3 

91.7 

15.9 

2,142.6 

2014
£m 

101.1 

– 

18.1 

12.7 

(4.4)

127.5 

Technical Facilities 
Management
£m 

 Property Management 
sections 
£m  

(494.9)

494.9 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

84.5 

(84.5) 

– 

– 

– 

2014 – structure 
from 1 April 2014
£m 

1,190.8 

579.4 

264.8 

91.7 

15.9 

2,142.6 

Technical Facilities 
Management
£m 

 Property Management 
sections 
£m  

2014 – structure 
from 1 April 2014
£m 

(26.3)

26.3 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

3.7 

(3.7) 

– 

– 

– 

74.8 

30.0 

14.4 

12.7 

(4.4)

127.5 

Note: 
1  Headline revenue and operating profit exclude other items which are analysed in Note 5. 

The revenue analysis above is net of inter segment sales which are not considered significant. 

No single customer accounted for more than 10% of external revenue in 2014 or 2013. 

The Improvement to IFRS 8 issued in April 2009 clarified that a measure of segment assets should be disclosed  
only if that amount is regularly provided to the chief operating decision maker and consequently no segment assets  
are disclosed.  

  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Strategic Report

Governance

Financial

97

4 

Business and geographical segments

Geographical segments 

Revenue
£m 

Headline2 
revenue  
£m  

Headline2
operating 
profit
£m 

Headline2
operating 
profit
margin 
% 

Profit 
before tax 
£m 

Revenue
£m 

Headline2
revenue  
£m  

Headline2
operating  
profit  
£m  

Headline2
operating 
profit margin 
% 

Profit 
before tax 
£m 

2014 

20131 

United Kingdom  2,149.5  2,071.0 

125.7 

Other countries 

71.6 

71.6 

1.8 

Total 

2,221.1  2,142.6 

127.5 

6.1 

2.5 

6.0 

66.9    2,063.8 

1,923.9 

119.0 

1.5   

56.7 

56.7 

1.3 

68.4    2,120.5 

1,980.6 

120.3 

6.2 

2.3 

6.1 

55.6 

0.7 

56.3 

Notes: 
1  Restated following amendments to IAS 19, as described in Note 1. 
2  Headline revenue and operating profit exclude other items which are analysed in Note 5 and are all incurred in the United Kingdom. 

5  Other items  

The group separately identifies and discloses restructuring and acquisition related items (termed ‘other items’). The results 
of the cyclical mechanical and electrical engineering contracting businesses which are being exited are also presented in 
other items. During the year those businesses generated revenue of £78.5m (2013: £139.9m), and incurred a trading loss 
of £13.6m (2013: £3.1m) and business closure costs of £nil (2013: £22.1m). 

The businesses being exited do not meet the definition of discontinued operations as stipulated by IFRS 5 ‘Non–current 
Assets Held for Sale and Discontinued Operations’ because the businesses have not been disposed of and there are no 
assets classified as held for sale. Accordingly the disclosures within non-headline items differ from those applicable for 
discontinued operations.  

The exceptional charges in relation to design and build contracts in Energy Solutions of £25.4m (2013: £nil) have also been 
presented in other items. Following the group’s decision to reduce its exposure to the design and build element of its 
Energy Solutions business, it has reassessed the recoverability of certain of its contract-related debtors, the carrying 
value of certain of its assets and the requirement to provide for the settlement of certain of its contract obligations. 

During the year, following a strategic review of the Mitie Group defined benefit pension scheme, a cap on increases  
in pensionable pay was introduced. This led to a reduction in the defined benefit pension deficit of £10.5m at the date 
when the plan amendment occurred and was accounted for as a negative past service cost in accordance with IAS 19  
(see Note 35). The net reported credit after costs incurred of £0.3m was £10.2m. 

Restructuring costs in the prior year principally reflect the reorganisation of the overhead cost base in two divisions.  

2014 

2013 

Trading losses 

Business closure costs 

Exceptional charges in relation  
to design and build contracts in  
Energy Solutions 

Restructuring costs  

Integration costs  

Acquisition costs  

Amortisation of acquisition  
related intangibles 

Restructuring of Mitie Group defined 
benefit pension scheme  

Other items before tax 

Tax on other items 

Other items net of tax 

Restructuring 
and acquisition 
related costs
£m 

– 

– 

(25.4)

– 

(4.4)

(0.7)

(11.0)

10.2 

(31.3)

3.7 

(27.6)

Businesses
 being exited 
£m 

Other items
£m 

(13.6)

(13.6)  

Restructuring 
and acquisition  
related costs 
£m 

Businesses
being exited
£m 

Other items
£m 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

(13.6)

2.0 

(11.6)

–   

(25.4)

–   

(4.4)  

(0.7)

– 

– 

– 

(10.2)

(3.7)

(3.2)

(11.0)

(10.0)

10.2 

(44.9)

5.7   

(39.2)

–

(27.1)

6.6 

(20.5)

(3.1)

(22.1)

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

(25.2)

5.2 

(20.0)

(3.1)

(22.1)

– 

(10.2)

(3.7)

(3.2)

(10.0)

–

(52.3)

11.8 

(40.5)

 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Mitie Group plc 
Annual Report and Accounts 2014

98

Notes to the consolidated financial statements  
For the year ended 31 March 2014 

6  Operating profit 

Operating profit has been arrived at after charging/(crediting): 

Depreciation of property, plant and equipment (Note 15) 

Amortisation of intangible assets (Note 14) 

Gain on disposal of property, plant and equipment 

Staff costs (Note 7) 

Note: 
1  Restated following amendments to IAS 19, as described in Note 1. 

A detailed analysis of auditor’s remuneration is provided below: 

Fees payable to the Company’s auditor for the audit of the Company’s annual accounts 

Fees payable to the Company’s auditor and its associates for the audit of the Company’s 
subsidiaries pursuant to legislation 

Total audit fees 

Other audit related services to the group 

Tax services – Relating to the acquisition of Enara 

Tax services – Other 

Corporate finance services – Relating to the acquisition of Enara 

Corporate finance services – Other 

Other services – Relating to the acquisition of Enara 

Other Services – Other 

Non-audit fees 

Total 

2014 
£m 

16.1 

17.0 

(0.7)

20131
£m 

20.4 

14.1 

(2.6)

1,136.7 

1,052.2 

2014 
£’000 

33 

481 

2013
£’000 

33 

485 

514 

518 

50 

– 

140 

– 

99 

– 

10 

50 

75 

170 

275 

– 

33 

15 

299 

618 

813 

1,136 

In addition to the amounts shown above the auditor received fees of £19,000 (2013: £17,000) for the audit of the group 
pension scheme and trusts. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Strategic Report

Governance

Financial

99

7 

Staff costs 

Number of people 

The average number of people employed during the financial year was: 

Facilities Management 

Property Management 

Healthcare 

Energy Solutions 

Total group 

The number of people employed at 31 March was: 

Total group 

Their aggregate remuneration comprised: 

Wages and salaries 

Social security costs 

Other pension costs 

Share-based payments (Note 34) 

2014 

2013 

62,251 

62,086 

3,297 

6,587 

113 

3,532 

3,096 

176 

72,248 

68,890 

72,768 

72,401 

2014
£m 

20131
£m 

1,035.8 

958.9 

80.5 

15.4 

5.0 

77.3 

13.5 

2.5 

1,136.7 

1,052.2 

Note: 
1  Restated following amendments to IAS 19, as described in Note 1. 

Details of Directors’ remuneration and interests are provided in the audited section of the Directors’ remuneration report 
and should be regarded as an integral part of this Note. 

8 

Investment revenue 

Interest on bank deposits 

Other interest receivable  

2014
£m 

0.2 

1.0 

1.2 

2013
£m 

0.3 

0.2 

0.5 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Mitie Group plc 
Annual Report and Accounts 2014

100

Notes to the consolidated financial statements  
For the year ended 31 March 2014 

9 

Finance costs 

Interest on bank facilities 

Interest on private placement 

Bank fees 

Interest on obligations under finance leases 

Loss/(gain) arising on derivatives in a designated fair value hedge 

(Gain)/loss arising on adjustment for the hedged item in a designated fair value hedge 

Net interest on defined benefit pension scheme assets and liabilities 

Note: 
1  Restated following amendments to IAS 19, as described in Note 1. 

10  Tax 

Current tax 

Deferred tax (Note 20) 

2014 
£m 

2.1 

9.5 

2.3 

0.3 

3.8 

(4.0)

1.4 

15.4 

2014 
£m 

19.1 

0.8 

19.9 

Corporation tax is calculated at 23.0% (2013: 24.0%) of the estimated assessable profit for the year. 

The charge for the year can be reconciled to the profit per the consolidated income statement as follows: 

Profit before tax 

Tax at the UK corporation tax rate of 23.0% (2013: 24.0%) 

Non-taxable items 

Impact of changes in statutory tax rates 

Overseas tax rates 

Prior year adjustments 

Tax charge for the year 

2014 
£m 

68.4 

15.7 

4.1 

(1.0)

0.2 

0.9 

19.9 

20131
£m 

3.8 

5.4 

1.7 

0.3 

(2.4)

2.6 

0.8 

12.2 

20131
£m 

17.3 

(3.4)

13.9 

20131
£m 

56.3 

13.5 

1.6 

(0.1)

(0.1)

(1.0)

13.9 

In addition to the amount charged to the consolidated income statement, tax relating to retirement benefit costs and 
hedged items amounting to £1.8m has been charged directly to the statement of comprehensive income (2013: £3.6m 
credit1) and £1.0m (2013: £0.1m) relating to share-based payments has been credited directly to equity. 

Note: 
1  Restated following amendments to IAS 19, as described in Note 1. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Strategic Report

Governance

Financial

101

11  Dividends 

Amounts recognised as distributions to equity holders in the year: 

Final dividend for the year ended 31 March 2013 of 5.7p (2012: 5.2p) per share 

Interim dividend for the year ended 31 March 2014 of 4.9p (2013: 4.6p) per share 

2014
£m 

2013
£m 

20.5 

17.6 

38.1 

18.3 

16.6 

34.9 

Proposed final dividend for the year ended 31 March 2014 of 6.1p (2013: 5.7p) per share 

21.9 

20.6 

The proposed final dividend is subject to approval by shareholders at the Annual General Meeting and has not been 
included as a liability in these financial statements.  

12  Earnings per share 

Basic and diluted earnings per share have been calculated in accordance with IAS 33 ‘Earnings Per Share’. 

The calculation of the basic and diluted EPS is based on the following data: 

Net headline profit attributable to equity holders of the parent1,2 

Other items net of tax1 

Net profit attributable to equity holders of the parent 

Number of shares 

Weighted average number of Ordinary shares for the purpose of basic EPS 

Effect of dilutive potential Ordinary shares: share options 

Weighted average number of Ordinary shares for the purpose of diluted EPS 

Headline basic earnings per share1,2 

Basic earnings per share  

Headline diluted earnings per share1,2 

Diluted earnings per share  

2014
£m 

87.5 

(39.2)

48.3 

2014
million 

359.9 

11.1 

371.0 

2014
p 

24.3 

13.4 

23.6 

13.0 

2013
£m 

82.7 

(40.5)

42.2 

2013
million 

357.7 

9.5 

367.2 

2013
p 

23.1 

11.8 

22.5 

11.5 

Notes: 
1  Restated following amendments to IAS 19, as described in Note 1. 
2  Headline revenue and operating profit exclude other items which are analysed in Note 5.  

The weighted average number of Ordinary shares in issue during the year excludes those accounted for in the  
Own shares reserve (see Note 30). 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Mitie Group plc 
Annual Report and Accounts 2014

102

Notes to the consolidated financial statements  
For the year ended 31 March 2014 

13  Goodwill 

Cost 

At 1 April 2012 

Acquisition of subsidiaries 

Impact of foreign exchange  

Change in deferred contingent consideration for subsidiaries acquired prior to 31 March 2010 

At 1 April 2013 

Acquisition of subsidiaries 

Impact of foreign exchange  

At 31 March 2014 

Accumulated impairment losses 

At 1 April 2012 

At 1 April 2013 

At 31 March 2014 

Carrying amount 

At 31 March 2014 

At 31 March 2013 

£m 

347.7 

100.3 

0.1 

(0.9)

447.2 

12.7 

(0.3)

459.6 

– 

– 

– 

459.6 

447.2 

Goodwill acquired in a business combination is allocated, at acquisition, to the cash-generating units (CGUs) that are 
expected to benefit from that business combination. Additions during the year relate to goodwill recognised on two 
acquisitions and finalisation of the acquisition accounting for acquisitions made in the prior year. More details are 
presented in the Acquisitions note (Note 31). 

Goodwill has been allocated to CGUs, which align with the business segments, as this is how goodwill is monitored by the 
group internally. Goodwill has arisen principally on the acquisitions of Initial Security in 2006, Dalkia Technical Facilities 
Management in 2009 and Enara in 2012. 

Facilities Management 

Property Management 

Healthcare 

Energy Solutions 

Discount rate
2014
% 

Discount rate 
2013 
%  

9.8 

11.0 

11.0 

12.0 

8.2 

9.5 

9.5 

10.7 

Goodwill 
2014 
£m 

251.9 

85.2 

105.0 

17.5 

459.6 

Goodwill
2013
£m 

250.9 

85.2 

93.6 

17.5 

447.2 

The group tests goodwill at least annually for impairment or more frequently if there are indicators that goodwill may  
be impaired.  

Key assumptions 
The recoverable amounts of the CGUs are determined from value in use calculations. The key assumptions for the value 
in use calculations are those regarding the discount rates, growth rates and expected changes to selling prices and direct 
costs during the period. Management estimates discount rates using pre-tax rates that reflect current market 
assessments of the time value of money and the risks specific to the CGUs. The growth rates are based on industry 
growth forecasts. Changes in selling prices and direct costs are based on past practices and expectations of future 
changes in the market. 

Growth rates and terminal values 
The group prepares cash flow forecasts derived from the most recent one year financial budgets approved by the Board, 
extrapolated for four future years by a growth rate applicable to each unit with a terminal value using a 2% inflationary 
growth rate assumption.  

 
 
 
 
 
 
Strategic Report

Governance

Financial

103

13  Goodwill 

Discount rates 
The pre-tax rates used to discount the forecast cash flows from CGUs are derived from the Company’s post-tax 
Weighted Average Cost of Capital, which was 8.2% (2013: 6.8%) at 31 March 2014, and adjusted for the risks specific to 
the market in which the CGU operates. All CGUs have the same access to the group’s Treasury functions and borrowing 
lines to fund their operations.  

Sensitivity analysis 
A sensitivity analysis has been performed and Management has concluded that no reasonably foreseeable change in the 
key assumptions would result in an impairment of the goodwill of any of the CGUs. In particular, a 1% increase in the 
discount rate or a 1% decrease in the terminal value growth rate would not result in an impairment in any of the CGUs. 

14  Other intangible assets 

Cost 

At 1 April 2012 

Additions 

At 1 April 2013 

Additions 

At 31 March 2014 

Amortisation 

At 1 April 2012 

Charge for the year 

At 1 April 2013 

Charge for the year 

At 31 March 2014 

Carrying amount 

At 31 March 2014 

At 31 March 2013 

Acquisition related 

Customer 
relationships
£m 

Other
£m 

Total 
acquisition 
related 
£m 

Software and 
development 
expenditure
£m 

54.2 

30.5 

84.7 

2.1 

10.5   

–   

10.5   

–   

86.8 

10.5   

23.2 

8.3 

31.5 

10.2 

41.7 

5.7   

1.7   

7.4   

0.8   

8.2   

64.7 

30.5 

95.2 

2.1 

97.3 

28.9 

10.0 

38.9 

11.0 

49.9 

34.6 

5.8 

40.4 

6.2 

46.6 

4.6 

4.1 

8.7 

6.0 

14.7 

Total
£m 

99.3 

36.3 

135.6 

8.3 

143.9 

33.5 

14.1 

47.6 

17.0 

64.6 

45.1 

53.2 

2.3   

3.1   

47.4 

56.3 

31.9 

31.7 

79.3 

 88.0 

Customer relationships are amortised over their useful lives based on the period of time over which they are anticipated 
to generate benefits. These currently range from six to eight years. Other acquisition related intangibles include acquired 
software, trade names and non-compete agreements and are amortised over their useful lives which currently range from 
three to ten years. Software and development costs are amortised over their useful lives of between five and ten years, 
once they have been brought into use. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
Mitie Group plc 
Annual Report and Accounts 2014

104

Notes to the consolidated financial statements  
For the year ended 31 March 2014 

15  Property, plant and equipment  

Cost  

At 1 April 2012 

Additions 

Transfers 

Acquired with subsidiaries 

Disposals 

At 1 April 2013 

Additions 

Disposals 

At 31 March 2014 

Accumulated depreciation and impairment 

At 1 April 2012 

Charge for the year 

Disposals 

At 1 April 2013 

Charge for the year 

Disposals 

At 31 March 2014 

Carrying amount 

At 31 March 2014 

At 31 March 2013 

Freehold 
properties
£m 

Leasehold 
properties 
£m 

Plant and 
vehicles 
£m 

4.8 

16.0 

105.5 

Total
£m 

126.3 

31.9 

– 

1.4 

(41.4)

118.2 

22.6 

(20.0)

31.7  

(0.1)

1.4 

(40.7)

97.8  

20.2 

(16.2)

101.8 

120.8 

54.5 

18.8 

(19.9)

53.4 

14.4 

(11.9)

55.9 

62.2 

20.4 

(20.6)

62.0 

16.1 

(14.0)

64.1 

45.9 

44.4 

56.7 

56.2 

– 

– 

– 

– 

4.8 

– 

(1.5)

3.3 

0.9 

0.1 

– 

1.0 

0.1 

(0.4)

0.7 

2.6 

3.8 

0.2 

0.1 

– 

(0.7)

15.6 

2.4 

(2.3)

15.7 

6.8 

1.5 

(0.7)

7.6 

1.6 

(1.7)

7.5 

8.2 

8.0 

The net book value of plant and vehicles held under finance leases included above was £4.9m (2013: £6.5m). 

Additions to fixtures and equipment during the year amounting to £2.0m (2013: £1.9m) were financed by new  
finance leases. 

In the prior year, Management took the decision to perform a ‘sale and operating leaseback’ on its commercial vans. 
Approximately 1,830 vehicles were sold and leased back. These vehicles had a carrying value of £15.6m and were sold  
for a fair market value of £17.8m.  

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Strategic Report

Governance

Financial

105

16 

Interest in joint ventures and associates

The group’s interests in joint ventures and associates are accounted for in the consolidated financial statements using  
the equity method.  

The group’s share of result of joint ventures and associates included in the consolidated income statement was as follows: 

Revenue 

Operating profit 

Net finance costs 

Taxation 

Share of result of joint ventures and associates 

The group’s share of net assets of joint ventures and associates as at 31 March 2014 was as follows: 

Non-current assets 

Current assets 

Current liabilities 

Non-current liabilities 

Interest in joint ventures and associates 

17  Financing assets 

Derivative financial instruments (Note 25) 

Loans to joint ventures and associates 

Infrastructure assets 

Included in current assets 

Included in non-current assets 

2014
£m 

3.3 

0.6 

(0.1)

– 

0.5 

2014
£m 

13.1 

1.2 

(2.4)

(11.0)

0.9 

2014
£m 

(cid:177) 

14.8 

5.6 

20.4 

(cid:177) 

20.4 

20.4 

2013
£m 

(cid:177) 

(cid:177) 

(cid:177) 

(cid:177) 

(cid:177) 

2013
£m 

11.0 

0.5 

(0.5)

(10.6)

0.4 

2013
£m 

4.0 

12.7 

8.6 

25.3 

(cid:177) 

25.3 

25.3 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Mitie Group plc 
Annual Report and Accounts 2014

106

Notes to the consolidated financial statements  
For the year ended 31 March 2014 

18  Trade and other receivables 

Amounts receivable for the sale of services 

Allowance for doubtful debt 

Trade receivables 

Amounts recoverable on contracts (Note 19)  

Other debtors 

Prepayments and accrued income 

Included in current assets 

Included in non-current assets 

Ageing of trade receivables: 

Neither impaired nor past due 

Not impaired and less than three months overdue 

Not impaired and more than three months overdue 

Impaired receivables 

Allowance for doubtful debt 

Movement in the allowance for doubtful debt: 

Balance at the beginning of the year 

Impairment losses recognised 

Amounts written off as uncollectable 

Amounts recovered during the year 

2014 
£m 

2013
£m 

259.0 

280.3 

(6.2)

252.8 

(6.0)

274.3 

85.5 

24.4 

170.1 

532.8 

491.6 

41.2 

532.8 

89.1 

19.2 

145.6 

528.2 

507.4 

20.8 

528.2 

2014 
£m 

2013
£m 

198.6 

216.0 

36.5 

21.3 

2.6 

(6.2)

43.3 

18.0 

3.0 

(6.0)

252.8 

274.3 

2014 
£m 

6.0 

2.5 

(1.1)

(1.2)

6.2 

2013
£m 

5.3 

3.5 

(2.2)

(0.6)

6.0 

The average credit period taken on sales of services was 37 days (2013: 38 days). 

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

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Strategic Report

Governance

Financial

107

19  Amounts recoverable on contracts 

Contracts in progress at the balance sheet date 

Contract costs incurred plus recognised profits less recognised losses to date 

Less progress billings 

Amounts due from contract customers included in trade and other receivables 

Included in current assets 

Included in non-current assets 

2014
£m 

620.2 

(534.7)

85.5 

68.4 

17.1 

85.5 

2013
£m 

795.0 

(705.9)

89.1 

68.3 

20.8 

89.1 

At 31 March 2014, retentions held by customers for contract work amounted to £8.9m (2013: £11.1m). 

Amounts recoverable on contracts include applications for payment from customers which have no fixed payment terms 
until invoiced. 

Included within Amounts recoverable on contracts are Mobilisation costs as detailed below: 

Mobilisation costs 

At 1 April  

Additions 

Amounts recognised in the income statement 

At 31 March  

Included in current assets 

Included in non-current assets 

20  Deferred tax 

2014
£m 

23.2 

15.7 

(8.6)

30.3 

13.7 

16.6 

30.3 

2013
£m 

21.0 

9.6 

(7.4)

23.2 

9.0 

14.2 

23.2 

The following are the major deferred tax liabilities and assets recognised by the group and movements thereon during the 
current and prior reporting period: 

At 1 April 2012 

Credit/(charge) to income 

Credit to equity and the 
statement of comprehensive 
income 

Acquisition of subsidiaries  

At 1 April 2013 

Credit/(charge) to income 

(Charge)/credit to equity  
and the statement of 
comprehensive income 

Acquisition of subsidiaries  

At 31 March 2014 

Accelerated tax 
depreciation
£m 

Retirement 
benefit 
obligations
£m 

Intangible 
assets 
acquired
£m 

Share options
£m 

Short-term 
timing 
differences 
£m 

Tax losses
£m 

(2.0)

1.6 

– 

– 

(0.4)

0.5 

– 

– 

0.1 

4.2 

(0.3)

3.0 

– 

6.9 

(2.0)

(1.1)

– 

3.8 

(8.5)

2.7 

– 

(7.0)

 (12.8)

4.0 

– 

(0.5)

(9.3)

2.0 

(0.8)

(0.3)

– 

0.9 

(0.3)

0.5 

– 

1.1 

1.2 

(0.3)

1.3 

2.1 

4.3 

(1.2)

(0.6)

0.8 

3.3 

2.0 

(0.1)

– 

– 

1.9 

(1.8)

– 

– 

0.1 

Total
£m 

(1.1)

2.8 

4.0 

(4.9)

0.8 

(0.8)

(1.2)

0.3 

(0.9)

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Mitie Group plc 
Annual Report and Accounts 2014

108

Notes to the consolidated financial statements  
For the year ended 31 March 2014 

20  Deferred tax 

Certain deferred tax assets and liabilities have been offset. The following is the analysis of the deferred tax balances  
(after offset) for financial reporting purposes: 

Deferred tax assets 

Deferred tax liabilities 

Net deferred tax (liability)/asset 

2014 
£m 

8.4 

(9.3)

(0.9)

2013
£m 

14.0 

(13.2)

0.8 

The group has unutilised income tax losses of £8.5m (2013: £8.7m) that are available for offset against future profits.  
In addition the group has £0.8m (2013: £0.7m) of capital losses.  

The UK Government announced a reduction in the UK corporation tax rate from 23% to 21% from 1 April 2014, with  
a further reduction to 20% from 1 April 2015, which were substantively enacted on 2 July 2013. The reduction in the 
balance sheet carrying value of deferred tax assets and liabilities to reflect the rate of tax at which those assets are 
expected to reverse has resulted in a deferred tax credit of £1.0m to the income statement.  

21 

Inventories 

Work-in-progress 

Materials 

22  Cash and cash equivalents 

Cash and cash equivalents 

2014 
£m 

2.9 

4.5 

7.4 

2014 
£m 

89.1 

89.1 

2013
£m 

2.7 

4.0 

6.7 

2013
£m 

90.8 

90.8 

Cash and cash equivalents comprise cash held by the group and short-term bank deposits with an original maturity of 
three months or less. The carrying amount of the assets approximates their fair value.  

Included in cash and cash equivalents are deposits totalling £2.1m (2013: £4.8m) held by the group’s insurance subsidiary, 
which are not readily available for the general purposes of the group. 

23  Trade and other payables 

Payments received on account 

Trade creditors 

Other taxes and social security 

Other creditors 

Accruals and deferred income 

2014 
£m 

1.4 

186.9 

96.8 

17.9 

222.6 

525.6 

2013
£m 

3.7 

210.7 

86.2 

25.0 

175.1 

500.7 

Trade creditors and accruals and deferred income principally comprise amounts outstanding for trade purchases  
and ongoing costs. The average credit period taken for trade purchases is 46 days (2013: 32 days).  

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

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Strategic Report

Governance

Financial

109

24  Financing liabilities 

Bank loans 

Private placement notes  

Derivative financial instruments 

Obligations under finance leases (Note 27) 

Included in current liabilities 

Included in non-current liabilities 

2014
£m 

15.3 

2013
£m 

18.8 

245.2 

261.3 

10.3 

4.9 

0.4 

6.5 

275.7 

287.0 

2.7 

273.0 

275.7 

2.7 

284.3 

287.0 

The banking facilities and private placement notes are unsecured but have financial and non-financial covenants and 
obligations commonly associated with these arrangements.  

Included in current liabilities are £2.7m (2013: £2.7m) of obligations under finance leases (see Note 27). 

With the exception of derivative financial instruments and the private placement notes, all financing liabilities are held at 
amortised cost. The Directors estimate that their carrying value approximates their fair value. Derivative financial 
instruments are initially recognised at fair value at the date the contract is entered into and are subsequently remeasured 
to their fair value through profit or loss unless they are designated as hedges for which hedge accounting can be applied 
(see Note 25). The carrying value of the private placement notes at 31 March 2014 includes a fair value adjustment for 
interest rate and currency risk of £0.6m (2013: £1.7m). The fair value of the private placement notes is not significantly 
different from their carrying value. 

Private placement notes 
On 13 December 2012, the group issued US$153.0m and £55.0m of private placement (‘PP’) notes in the United States 
Private Placement market. This followed the issue on 16 December 2010 of US$96.0m and £40.0m of PP notes in the 
United States Private Placement market. The PP notes are unsecured and rank pari passu with other senior unsecured 
indebtedness of the group. In order to manage the risk of foreign currency fluctuations and to manage the group’s finance 
costs through a mix of fixed and variable rate debt, the group has entered into cross currency interest rate swaps.  
The swap contracts have the same duration and other critical terms as the borrowings and are considered to be highly 
effective. The amount, maturity and interest terms of the PP notes are as shown below: 

Tranche 

7 year 

7 year 

9 year 

10 year 

10 year 

10 year 

12 year 

Maturity date 

Amount 

Interest terms 

Swap interest 

16 December 2017 

US$48.0m 

US$ fixed at 3.39% 

£ fixed at 3.88% 

16 December 2017 

US$48.0m 

US$ fixed at 3.39% 

£ LIBOR + 1.26% 

16 December 2019 

£40.0m 

£ fixed at 4.38% 

n/a 

16 December 2022 

US$76.0m 

US$ fixed at 3.85% 

£ fixed at 4.05% 

16 December 2022 

US$77.0m 

US$ fixed at 3.85% 

£ fixed at 4.02% 

16 December 2022 

16 December 2024 

£25.0m 

£30.0m 

£ fixed at 3.87% 

£ fixed at 4.04% 

The weighted average interest rates paid during the year on the overdrafts and loans outstanding were as follows: 

Overdrafts 

Bank loans 

Private placement notes 

2014
% 

2.5 

1.9 

3.8 

At 31 March 2014, the group had available £234.7m (2013: £231.2m) of undrawn committed borrowing facilities in respect 
of which all conditions precedent had been met. The facilities have an expiry date of September 2015. The loans carry 
interest rates which are currently determined at 1.5% over LIBOR. Details of the group’s contingent liabilities are provided 
in Note 32.  

n/a 

n/a 

2013
% 

1.9 

1.9 

3.8 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Mitie Group plc 
Annual Report and Accounts 2014

110

Notes to the consolidated financial statements  
For the year ended 31 March 2014 

25  Financial instruments

Classification 
The group’s principal financial assets are cash and cash equivalents, trade receivables and financing assets. With the 
exception of derivative financial instruments, all financial assets are classified as loans and receivables.  

The group’s principal financial liabilities are trade payables, financing liabilities and deferred contingent consideration.  
With the exception of derivative financial instruments, private placement notes and deferred contingent consideration,  
all financial liabilities are held at amortised cost.  

Derivative financial instruments, and private placement loan notes are measured initially at fair value at the date the 
contract is entered into and are subsequently remeasured to their fair value through profit or loss unless they are 
designated as hedges for which hedge accounting can be applied. Deferred contingent consideration is measured  
at the Directors’ best estimate of the likely future obligation. 

Details of the significant accounting policies and methods adopted (including the criteria for recognition, the basis of 
measurement and the bases for recognition of income and expense) for each class of financial asset, financial liability  
and equity instrument are disclosed in Note 1.  

Risk management objectives 
The group’s treasury function monitors and manages the financial risks relating to the operations of the group. These 
risks include those arising from interest rates, foreign currencies, liquidity, credit and capital management. The group 
seeks to minimise the effects of these risks by using effective control measures and, where appropriate, derivative 
financial instruments to hedge certain risk exposures. The use of financial derivatives is governed by group policies and 
reviewed regularly. Group policy is not to trade in financial instruments. The risk management policies remain unchanged 
from the previous year.  

Interest rate risk  
The group’s activities expose it to the financial risks of interest rates. The group’s Treasury function reviews its risk 
management strategy on a regular basis and will appropriately enter into derivative financial instruments in order to 
manage interest rate risk. Having issued US$249.0m and £95.0m of notes in the US PP fixed rate market, the group has 
swapped US$48.0m into floating rate debt. Details of derivative financial instruments are given in Derivative financial 
instruments below. 

Interest rate sensitivity 
The interest rate sensitivity has been determined based on the exposure to interest rates for both derivative and  
non-derivative instruments at the balance sheet date. For floating rate liabilities, the analysis is prepared assuming  
the amount of liability outstanding at the balance sheet date was outstanding for the whole year. All financial liabilities, 
other than financing liabilities, are interest free. 

If interest rates had been 0.5% higher/lower and all other variables were held constant, the group’s profit after tax for  
the year ended 31 March 2014 and reserves would decrease/increase by £0.2m (2013: £0.5m).  

Foreign currency risk 
The group has limited exposure to transactional foreign currency risk from trading transactions in currencies other than 
the functional currency of individual group entities and some exposure to translational foreign currency risk from the 
translation of its operations in Europe. The group considers the need to hedge its exposures appropriately and will enter 
into forward foreign exchange contracts to mitigate any significant risks. 

In addition, the group has fully hedged the US dollar exposure on its PP notes into sterling using cross currency interest 
rate swaps (see Hedging activities below). 

At 31 March 2014 £3.9m (2013: £6.0m) of cash and cash equivalents were held in foreign currencies. Included in bank 
loans were £15.3m (2013: £18.8m) of loans denominated in foreign currency. 

Liquidity risk 
The group monitors its liquidity risk using a cash flow projection model which considers the maturity of the group’s assets 
and liabilities and the projected cash flows from operations. Bank facilities, which allow for appropriate headroom in the 
group’s daily cash movements, are then arranged. Details of our bank facilities can be found in Note 24. 

 
 
Strategic Report

Governance

Financial

111

25  Financial instruments 

The tables below summarise the maturity profile (including both undiscounted interest and principal cash flows) of the 
group’s financial assets and liabilities:  

Financial assets at 31 March 2014 

Trade receivables 

Financing assets  

Cash and cash equivalents 

Financial assets 

Financial assets at 31 March 2013 

Trade receivables 

Financing assets  

Cash and cash equivalents 

Financial assets 

Financial liabilities at 31 March 2014 

Trade creditors 

Financing liabilities 

Deferred contingent consideration 

Financial liabilities 

Financial liabilities at 31 March 2013 

Trade creditors 

Financing liabilities 

Deferred contingent consideration 

Financial liabilities 

Within
one year  
£m 

In the second 
to fifth years 
£m 

After
five years
£m 

252.8 

0.9 

89.1 

– 

21.0 

– 

342.8 

21.0 

– 

– 

– 

– 

Within
one year  
£m 

In the second 
to fifth years 
£m 

After
five years
£m 

274.3 

0.8 

90.8 

– 

26.2 

– 

365.9 

26.2 

– 

– 

– 

– 

Total
£m 

252.8 

21.9 

89.1 

363.8 

Total
£m 

274.3 

27.0 

90.8 

392.1 

Within
one year  
£m 

In the second 
to fifth years 
£m 

After
five years
£m 

Total
£m 

186.9 

– 

– 

186.9 

12.8 

115.3 

216.7 

344.8 

1.3 

6.5 

– 

7.8 

201.0 

121.8 

216.7 

539.5 

Within
one year  
£m 

In the second 
to fifth years 
£m 

After
five years
£m 

210.7 

– 

– 

12.5 

122.6 

226.1 

– 

8.0 

– 

Total
£m 

210.7 

361.2 

8.0 

223.2 

130.6 

226.1 

579.9 

Credit risk  
The group’s credit risk is monitored on an ongoing basis and formally reported quarterly. The value of business placed 
with financial institutions is reviewed on a daily basis. 

The group’s credit risk on liquid funds and derivative financial instruments is limited because the counterparties are banks 
with high credit ratings assigned by international credit rating agencies and are managed through regular review.  

The amounts presented in the balance sheet in relation to the group’s trade receivables are net of allowances for doubtful 
receivables.  

Before accepting a new customer, the group uses external credit scoring systems to assess the potential customer’s 
credit quality and define an appropriate credit limit which is reviewed regularly.  

In determining the recoverability of a trade receivable, the group considers the credit quality of the counterparty.  
An allowance for impairment is made where there is an identified loss event which, based on previous experience, is 
evidence of a reduction in the recoverability of the cash flows. The Directors believe that there is no further provision 
required in excess of the allowance for doubtful debts at the balance sheet date. 

The maximum exposure to credit risk in relation to trade receivables at the balance sheet date is the fair value of trade 
receivables. The group’s customer base is large and unrelated and, accordingly, the group does not have a significant 
concentration of credit risk with any one counterparty or group of counterparties.  

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Mitie Group plc 
Annual Report and Accounts 2014

112

Notes to the consolidated financial statements  
For the year ended 31 March 2014 

25  Financial instruments

Capital management risk  
The group manages its capital to ensure that entities in the group will be able to continue as going concerns while 
maximising the return to stakeholders through the optimisation of debt and equity. The capital structure of the group 
consists of net debt per Note 28 and equity per the consolidated statement of changes in equity. 

The group’s capital structure is reviewed regularly. The group is not subject to externally imposed regulatory capital 
requirements with the exception of those applicable to the group’s captive insurance subsidiary, which is monitored on  
a regular basis. 

Hedging activities 
Cash flow hedges 
The group holds a number of cross currency interest rate swaps designated as cash flow hedges. Bi-annual fixed interest 
cash flows arising over the periods to December 2022 and denominated in US$ from the US Private Placement market 
are exchanged for fixed interest cash flows denominated in sterling. The group also holds a number of forward exchange 
currency contracts designated as hedges of highly probable forecast transactions. All cash flow hedges were assessed as 
being highly effective as at 31 March 2014. 

Fair value hedges 
The group holds a number of cross currency interest rate swaps designated as fair value hedges. Fixed interest cash flows 
denominated in US$ from the US Private Placement market are exchanged for floating interest cash flows denominated 
in sterling. All fair value hedges were assessed as being highly effective as at 31 March 2014. 

Hedge of net investment in foreign operations 
Included in bank loans at 31 March 2014 was a borrowing of €9.5m (2013: €9.5m) which has been designated as a hedge 
of the net investment in the Republic of Ireland business of Dalkia FM in Ireland and is being used to hedge the group’s 
exposure to foreign exchange risk on this investment. Gains or losses on the translation of the borrowing are transferred 
to equity to offset gains or losses on the translation of the net investment. 

Derivative financial instruments 
The carrying values of derivative financial instruments at the balance sheet date were as follows: 

Cross currency interest rate swaps designated as cash flow hedges 

Cross currency interest rate swaps designated as fair value hedges 

Derivative financial instruments hedging private placement notes 

Assets
2014 
£m 

Assets  
2013  
£m 

Liabilities 
2014 
£m 

Liabilities
2013 
£m 

(cid:177) 

(cid:177) 

(cid:177) 

0.8  

3.2  

4.0  

(9.7)

(0.6)

(10.3)

(0.4)

– 

(0.4)

Derivative financial instruments are measured at fair value. Fair values of derivative financial instruments are calculated 
based on a discounted cash flow analysis using appropriate market information for the duration of the instruments.  

Financial instruments fair value disclosure 
Fair value measurements are classified into three levels, depending on the degree to which the fair value is observable: 

−(cid:3) Level 1 fair value measurements are those derived from quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities;  
−(cid:3) Level 2 fair value measurements are those derived from other observable inputs for the asset or liability; and  
−(cid:3) Level 3 fair value measurements are those derived from valuation techniques using inputs that are not based  

on observable market data.  

We consider that the derivative financial instruments fall into Level 2 and deferred contingent consideration falls into 
Level 3.  

Deferred contingent consideration is measured at the Directors’ best estimate of the likely future obligation based on the 
attainment of certain profit targets. In assessing the likely future obligation, the directors have used their experience and 
knowledge of market conditions, alongside internal business plans and growth forecasts. Actual amounts payable may 
vary up to a maximum of £7.8m (2013: £8.0m) dependent upon the results of the acquired businesses. Movements in the 
carrying value of deferred contingent consideration are shown in Note 26.  

There were no transfers between levels during the year. All contracts are gross settled. 

. 

 
 
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Financial

113

26  Provisions 

At 1 April 2013 

Amounts recognised in the income statement  

Utilised within the captive insurance subsidiary 

Amounts recognised through equity  
(arising from transactions with non-controlling interests) 

At 31 March 2014 

Included in current liabilities 

Included in non-current liabilities 

At 1 April 2012 

Amounts recognised in the income statement  

Deferred contingent consideration settled during the period 

Utilised within the captive insurance subsidiary 

Amounts recognised through goodwill 

Amounts recognised through equity  
(arising from transactions with non-controlling interests) 

At 31 March 2013 

Included in current liabilities 

Included in non-current liabilities 

Deferred 
contingent 
consideration 
£m 

Insurance 
reserve
£m 

8.0 

(cid:177) 

(cid:177) 

(0.2)

7.8 

2.2 

1.8 

(1.8)

(cid:177) 

2.2 

Deferred 
contingent 
consideration 
£m 

Insurance 
reserve
£m 

1.2 

–  

(1.4)

– 

0.3 

7.9 

8.0 

4.4 

0.4 

– 

(2.6)

– 

– 

2.2 

Total
£m 

10.2 

1.8 

(1.8)

(0.2)

10.0 

1.2 

8.8 

10.0 

Total
£m 

5.6 

0.4 

(1.4)

(2.6)

0.3 

7.9 

10.2 

1.4 

8.8 

10.2 

The provision for insurance claims represents amounts payable by Mitie Reinsurance Company Limited in respect  
of outstanding claims incurred at the balance sheet dates.  

27  Obligations under finance leases

Amounts payable under finance leases: 

Within one year 

In the second to fifth years inclusive 

Less: future finance charges 

Present value of lease obligations 

Less: Amount due for settlement within 12 months  

Amount due for settlement after 12 months 

Minimum lease payments 

  Present value of lease payments 

2014
£m 

2013 

£m   

2.9 

2.5 

5.4 

(0.5)

4.9 

(2.7)

2.2 

3.0   

4.1   

7.1   

(0.6)  

6.5   

(2.7)  

3.8   

2014
£m 

2.7 

2.2 

4.9 

(cid:177)

4.9 

(2.7)

2.2 

2013
£m 

2.7 

3.8 

6.5 

– 

6.5 

(2.7)

3.8 

The average remaining lease term is 52 months (2013: 43 months). For the year ended 31 March 2014, the average 
effective borrowing rate was 2.5% (2013: 2.6%). Interest rates are fixed at the contract date. All leases are on a fixed 
repayment basis and no arrangements have been entered into for contingent rental payments. All lease obligations  
are denominated in sterling. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
Mitie Group plc 
Annual Report and Accounts 2014

114

Notes to the consolidated financial statements  
For the year ended 31 March 2014 

The fair value of the group’s lease obligations approximates their carrying amount. The group’s obligations under finance 
leases are protected by the lessors’ rights over the leased assets. 

28  Analysis of net debt 

Cash and cash equivalents (Note 22) 

Bank loans (Note 24) 

Private placement notes (Note 24) 

Derivative financial instruments hedging private placement notes (Note 25) 

Net debt before loan notes and obligations under finance leases 

Obligations under finance leases (Note 27) 

Net debt 

29  Share capital 

Ordinary shares of 2.5p 

Allotted and fully paid 

At 1 April 2013 

Issued for acquisitions 

Share buybacks 

Issued under share option schemes 

At 31 March 2014 

At 1 April 2012 

Issued for acquisitions 

Issued under share option schemes 

At 31 March 2013 

2014 
£m 

89.1 

(15.3)

2013
£m 

90.8 

(18.8)

(245.2)

(261.3)

(10.3)

3.6 

(181.7)

(185.7)

(4.9)

(6.5)

(186.6)

(192.2)

Number  
million 

370.1 

2.3 

(2.9)

4.0 

373.5 

361.9 

4.5 

3.7 

370.1 

£m 

9.3 

– 

(0.1)

0.1 

9.3 

9.0 

0.2 

0.1 

9.3 

During the year 2.3m (2013: 4.5m) Ordinary shares of 2.5p were allotted in respect of the acquisition of non-controlling 
interests at a mid-market price of 267.0p (2013: 267.6p) giving rise to share premium of £2.4m (2013: £7.8m) and  
a merger reserve of £3.6m (2013: £4.0m). 

During the year 2.9m (2013: nil) Ordinary shares of 2.5p were purchased at a cost of £7.4m (2013: £nil) and subsequently 
cancelled. 

During the year 4.0m (2013: 3.7m) Ordinary shares of 2.5p were allotted in respect of share option schemes at a price 
between 127p and 254p (2013: 117p and 254p) giving rise to share premium of £8.5m (2013: £7.7m). 

30  Reserves  

Share premium account 
The share premium account represents the premium arising on the issue of equity shares (see Note 29). 

Merger reserve 
The merger reserve represents amounts relating to premiums arising on shares issued subject to the provisions  
of Section 612 of the Companies Act 2006 (see Note 29). 

Share-based payment reserve 
The share-based payment reserve represents credits relating to equity-settled share-based payment transactions that 
have not yet fully vested (see Note 34). 

Own shares reserve 
The group uses shares held in the Employee Benefit Trust to satisfy options under the group’s LTIP and SIP share option 
schemes. During the year 1.0m shares (2013: 2.3m) were purchased at a cost of £2.8m (2013: £6.6m). In addition, 5.8m 
(2013: nil) Treasury shares were purchased at a cost of £17.0m (2013: £nil). The own shares reserve at 31 March 2014 
represents the cost of 13.9m (2013: 8.4m) shares in Mitie Group plc, with a weighted average of 11.1m (2013: 8.6m) shares 
during the year. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Strategic Report

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Financial

115

30  Reserves  

Other reserves 
Other reserves are comprised of the revaluation reserve of £(0.2)m (2013: £(0.2)m), the capital redemption reserve of 
£0.5m (2013: £0.4m) and other reserves of £0.1m (2013: £0.1m).  

Hedging and translation reserve 
The hedging and translation reserve of £4.3m (2013: £5.9m) predominantly represents movements relating to cash flow 
hedges. It also includes foreign exchange differences arising on translation of the group’s overseas operations and 
movements on net investment hedges. 

31  Acquisitions 

During the year a net cash outflow of £10.7m arose on the acquisitions set out below: 

UK CRBs Limited 

Complete Care Holdings Limited  

Non-controlling interests 

Other 

Net cash outflow on acquisitions 

£m 

0.9 

8.8 

0.8 

0.2 

10.7 

Current year acquisitions 
Entities acquired during the year contributed £5.8m to revenue and £0.4m to the group’s headline operating profit for the 
period. If the acquisitions had taken place at the start of the period, the group’s headline revenue and operating profit 
would have been approximately £2,158m and £128m respectively.  

The goodwill arising on the acquisitions is attributable to the underlying profitability of the companies in the acquired 
group, expected profitability arising from new business and the anticipated future operating synergies arising from 
assimilation into Mitie. None of the goodwill recognised is expected to be deductible for income tax purposes. 

IAS 27 ‘Consolidated and Separate Financial Statements’ (revised 2008) requires transactions with non-controlling 
interests to be accounted for within equity. As a result, the difference of £5.8m between the consideration paid for the 
purchase of non-controlling interests during the year and the change in non-controlling interests is recognised in retained 
earnings. Prior to adoption of the revised standard in the year ended 31 March 2011 these amounts would have been 
recognised in goodwill. 

Purchase of Complete Care Holdings Limited 
On 15 January 2014, Mitie acquired the high acuity care provider Complete Care Holdings Limited (‘Complete Group’)  
for a total consideration of £9.0m. The transaction has been accounted for by the acquisition method of accounting  
in accordance with IFRS 3 (2008). The provisional information on the acquisition is provided below: 

Net assets acquired 

Intangible assets 

Trade and other receivables 

Cash and cash equivalents 

Trade and other payables 

Deferred tax liability 

Net assets acquired 

Goodwill 

Total consideration 

Satisfied by 

Cash  

Total consideration 

Fair value
£m 

2.1 

2.8 

0.2 

(2.3)

(0.3)

2.5 

6.5 

9.0 

9.0 

9.0 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Mitie Group plc 
Annual Report and Accounts 2014

116

Notes to the consolidated financial statements  
For the year ended 31 March 2014 

31  Acquisitions 

Purchase of UK CRBs Limited 
On 14 August 2013, Mitie acquired the criminal records checking service UK CRBs Limited (‘UKCRBs’) for a total 
consideration of £1.0m. 

Prior year acquisitions 
The provisional acquisition accounting for prior year acquisitions as disclosed in the 2013 Annual Report and Accounts 
was reviewed during the period resulting in a reduction of the fair value of net assets acquired of £5.5m, an increase in 
non-controlling interests of £0.4m and an increase of goodwill of £5.1m. These adjustments comprise an adjustment to 
estimates made at the end of the prior year and within a year from the date of acquisition in line with the requirements of 
IFRS 3 ‘Business Combinations’. The adjustments have not materially changed the net assets of the group and therefore 
the 2013 comparative information has not been restated. The final information on prior year acquisitions is shown below. 
(cid:792) 

Purchase of Enara Group Limited 
On 9 October 2012, Mitie acquired Enara Group Limited (‘Enara’), from August Equity LLP and Enara's senior management 
team, for a total consideration of £110.8m on a cash and debt free basis. The transaction has been accounted for by the 
acquisition method of accounting in accordance with IFRS 3 (2008). The provisional acquisition accounting in the 2013 
Annual Report and Accounts was reviewed during the period resulting in a reduction of the fair value of net assets acquired 
of £4.8m and an increase of goodwill of £4.8m to £98.4m. The final information on the acquisition is provided below: 

Net assets acquired 

Intangible assets 

Property, plant and equipment 

Trade and other receivables 

Cash and cash equivalents 

Trade and other payables 

Deferred tax liability 

Net assets acquired 

Goodwill 

Total consideration 

Satisfied by 

Cash  

Total consideration 

Fair value
£m 

28.5 

0.4 

11.6 

4.9 

(23.9)

(4.2)

17.3 

98.4 

115.7 

115.7 

115.7 

Purchase of Creativevents Limited 
On 31 July 2012, Mitie acquired a 51% stake in one of the UK’s leading independent events and leisure catering companies, 
Creativevents Limited (‘Creativevents’). The initial consideration payable was £5.2m paid in cash on completion and £0.3m 
of deferred contingent consideration which was settled in cash in the year ended 31 March 2013. The earn out of the 
remaining 49% stake will bring total consideration payable to a maximum of £12.0m, which is dependent on long-term 
performance. Earn out deferred consideration of £6.5m is provided at the Directors’ best estimate of the likely future 
obligation, which in all likelihood will become payable up to 2017 subject to certain profit targets being attained. This is 
recognised via equity and is included in Provisions in Note 26.  

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Strategic Report

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Financial

117

31  Acquisitions 

The transaction has been accounted for by the acquisition method of accounting in accordance with IFRS 3 (2008).  
The provisional acquisition accounting in the 2013 Annual Report and Accounts was reviewed during the period resulting 
in a reduction of the fair value of net assets acquired of £0.7m, an increase in non-controlling interests of £0.4m and an 
increase of goodwill of £0.3m to £5.6m. The final information on the acquisition is provided below: 

Net assets acquired 

Intangible assets 

Property, plant and equipment 

Trade and other receivables 

Cash and cash equivalents 

Trade and other payables 

Net assets acquired 

Non-controlling interest 

Goodwill 

Total consideration 

Satisfied by 

Initial cash consideration 

Deferred contingent consideration cash settled in cash in the year ended 31 March 2013 

Total cash consideration 

Purchase of non-controlling interests 

Shares issued – Mitie Group plc 

Cash consideration 

Total purchase consideration 

Non-controlling interests 

Retained earnings 

Total recognised in equity 

32  Contingent liabilities 

Mitie Client 
Services Ltd 
£m 

Mitie
Landscapes Ltd
£m 

Mitie Pest 
Control 
(London) Ltd 
£m 

Mitie Security 
Holdings Ltd
£m 

0.9 

0.1 

1.0 

0.2 

0.8 

1.0 

3.7 

0.1 

3.8 

0.7 

3.1 

3.8 

0.5 

0.1 

0.6 

0.1 

0.5 

0.6 

1.0 

0.5 

1.5 

0.1 

1.4 

1.5 

Fair value
£m 

1.9 

0.3 

3.6 

2.6 

(8.7)

(0.3)

0.2 

5.6 

5.5 

5.2 

0.3 

5.5 

Total
£m 

6.1 

0.8 

6.9 

1.1 

5.8 

6.9 

The Company is party with other group companies to cross guarantees of each other’s bank and other borrowings, 
commitments and overdrafts of £589.3m (2013: £551.3m). 

The Company and various of its subsidiaries are, from time to time, party to legal proceedings and claims that are in the 
ordinary course of business. The Directors do not anticipate that the outcome of these proceedings and claims, either 
individually or in aggregate, will have a material adverse effect on the group’s financial position, other than as provided  
for in the accounts. 

Deferred contingent consideration relating to acquisitions has been accrued at the Directors’ best estimate of the likely 
future obligation of £7.8m (2013: £8.0m) per Note 26. The actual amounts payable may vary up to a maximum of £7.8m 
(2013: £8.0m) dependent upon the results of the acquired businesses. 

In addition, the group and its subsidiaries have provided guarantees and indemnities in respect of performance, issued by 
financial institutions on its behalf, amounting to £27.2m (2013: £30.6m) in the ordinary course of business and guarantees 
with a maximum value of £20.6m in respect of the activities of an entity in which the group has a non-controlling interest.  

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Mitie Group plc 
Annual Report and Accounts 2014

118

Notes to the consolidated financial statements  
For the year ended 31 March 2014 

33  Operating lease arrangements 

The group as lessee 

Minimum lease payments under operating leases recognised in income for the year 

2014 
£m 

27.7 

2013
£m 

15.8 

At the balance sheet date, the group had total outstanding aggregate commitments for future minimum lease payments 
under non-cancellable operating leases, which fall due as follows: 

Within one year 

In the second to fifth years inclusive 

After five years 

2014 
£m 

22.4 

35.0 

4.8 

62.2 

2013
£m 

22.0 

32.2 

3.5 

57.7 

Operating lease payments represent rentals payable by the group for certain of its office properties and hire of vehicles 
and other equipment. These leases have average durations ranging from three to ten years. No arrangements have been 
entered into for contingent rental payments. 

34  Share-based payments 

The Company has six equity-settled share option schemes: 

Discretionary share plans: 
The Mitie Group plc Long Term Incentive Plan (LTIP) 
The LTIP was introduced in 2007. The awards of shares or rights to acquire shares (the awards) are offered to a small 
number of key senior management. Where offered as options the exercise price is nil. The vesting period is three years.  
If the awards remain unexercised after a period of four years from the date of grant, the awards expire. The awards may 
be forfeited if the employee leaves the group. Before the awards can be exercised, performance conditions must be 
satisfied which are based on movements in a range of market and non-market measures over a three year period. 

The group also awards performance-related bonuses for Executive Directors which are deferred in shares and are 
accounted for as a share-based payment charge. 

The Mitie Group plc 2001 Executive share option scheme  
The Executive share option scheme exercise price is equal to the average market value of the shares over the five day 
period immediately preceding the date of grant. The vesting period is three years. If the options remain unexercised after 
a period of ten years from the date of grant the options expire. Options may be forfeited if the employee leaves the group. 
Before options can be exercised, a performance condition must be satisfied; the performance condition is linked to the 
percentage growth in earnings per share over a three year period. 

The Mitie Group plc 2011 Executive share option scheme 
The Executive share option scheme exercise price is equal to the average market value of the shares on the business day 
preceding grant or, if the Committee decides, the average market value of shares over a number of preceding business 
days (not to exceed 20). The vesting period is three years. If the options remain unexercised after a period of ten years 
from the date of grant the options expire. Options may be forfeited if the employee leaves the group. Before options can 
be exercised, a performance condition must be satisfied; the performance condition is linked to the percentage growth in 
earnings per share over a three year period. 

Non-discretionary share plans: 
The Mitie Group plc 2001 SAYE scheme 
The SAYE scheme is open to all employees. The exercise price is not less than 80.0% of the market value of the shares  
on the day preceding the date on which invitations to participate in the scheme are issued. For options granted prior to 
September 2008, the vesting period is five years. For options granted in September 2008 and thereafter, the vesting 
period is three years. If the options remain unexercised after a period of six months from the date of vesting, the options 
expire. Options may be forfeited if the employee leaves the group. 

The Mitie Group plc 2011 SAYE scheme 
The SAYE scheme is open to all employees. The exercise price is not less than 80.0% of the market value of the shares 
determined using either: the share price preceding the date on which invitations to participate in the scheme are issued, or 
an average share price over five days preceding the invitation date. The vesting period is three years. If the options remain 
unexercised after a period of six months from the date of vesting, the options expire. Options may be forfeited if the 
employee leaves the group. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Strategic Report

Governance

Financial

119

34  Share-based payments 

The Share Incentive Plan (SIP) 
The SIP was introduced in 2011 and is a non-discretionary scheme open to all eligible UK resident employees. Under the 
scheme, eligible employees are invited to invest in Partnership Shares which are purchased in the market on their behalf 
and held in a UK employee benefit trust. One Matching Share is awarded for every ten Partnership Shares purchased and 
has a holding period of three years. Matching Shares are funded by way of market purchases.  

Details of the share options outstanding during the year are as follows: 

Outstanding at beginning of the year  

Granted during the year 

Forfeited during the year 

Exercised during the year 

Outstanding at the end of the year 

2014 

Weighted 
average 
exercise price 

(in p)   

Number of
share options
(million) 

Number of
share options
(million) 

2013 

Weighted 
average
exercise price
(in p) 

21.1 

7.9 

(3.2)

(5.5)

20.3 

142   

137   

121   

158   

138   

21.2 

8.0 

(2.9)

(5.2)

21.1 

139 

148 

114 

147 

142 

Exercisable at the end of the year 

2.0 

204   

2.8 

196 

The group recognised the following expenses related to share-based payments: 

Discretionary share plans 

Non-discretionary share plans 

2014
£m 

4.5 

0.5 

5.0 

2013
£m 

1.7 

0.8 

2.5 

The weighted average share price at the date of exercise for share options exercised during the year was 290p  
(2013: 267p). The options outstanding at 31 March 2014 had exercise prices (other than nil in the case of the LTIP and  
the SIP) ranging from 120p – 254p (2013: 127p – 254p) and a weighted average remaining contractual life of 4.3 years 
(2013: 4.5 years). In the year ended 31 March 2014, options were granted in June, July and November 2013 in respect of 
the SAYE, LTIP and Executive Share Option schemes. The aggregate of the estimated fair values of the options granted 
on those dates was £4.0m. In the year ended 31 March 2013, options were granted in May, July and August in respect  
of the SAYE, LTIP and Executive share option schemes. The aggregate of the estimated fair values of the options granted 
on those dates was £6.5m.  

The fair value of options is measured by use of the Black-Scholes and Monte Carlo models.  

The inputs into the Black-Scholes model are as follows: 

Share price (p) 

Exercise price (p) 

Expected volatility (%) 

Expected life (years) 

Risk-free rate (%) 

Expected dividends (%) 

2014 

2013 

219-274 

198–274 

0-254 

30-32 

3-5 

0–254 

32–35 

3–5 

0.55-1.48  0.55–2.42 

3.5-4.1  3.30–4.10 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Mitie Group plc 
Annual Report and Accounts 2014

120

Notes to the consolidated financial statements  
For the year ended 31 March 2014 

34  Share-based payments 

The inputs into the Monte Carlo model are as follows: 

Share price (p) 

Average correlation with TSR benchmark (%) 

Expected volatility (%) 

Expected life (years) 

Risk-free rate (%) 

Expected dividends (%) 

2014 

251 

32 

24 

3 

0.64 

4.1 

2013 

(cid:177) 

(cid:177) 

(cid:177) 

(cid:177) 

(cid:177) 

(cid:177) 

Expected volatility was based upon the historical volatility over the expected life of the schemes. The expected life  
is based upon historical data and has been adjusted based on management’s best estimates for the effects of  
non-transferability, exercise restrictions and behavioural considerations. 

35  Retirement benefit schemes  

Defined contribution schemes 
The group operates a number of defined contribution retirement benefit schemes for qualifying employees. The assets  
of the schemes are held separately from those of the group in funds controlled by the scheme providers. The group  
paid employer contributions of £10.4m (2013: £8.8m) during the year. As at 31 March 2014, contributions of £1.2m  
(2013: £0.7m) due in respect of the current reporting period had not been paid over to the schemes. 

Defined benefit schemes 
Group defined benefit scheme 
The group operates a defined benefit pension scheme called the Mitie Group plc Pension Scheme where Mitie Group plc  
is the principal employer.  

The assets of the scheme are held separately from the group. Contributions to the scheme are charged to the income 
statement so as to spread the cost of pensions over the employees’ working lives with the group.  

Under the scheme, the employees are entitled to retirement benefits varying between 0% and 66% of final salary on 
attainment of a retirement age of 65. No other post-retirement benefits are provided. The scheme is a funded scheme. 

The most recent actuarial valuation of the group scheme’s assets and the present value of their defined benefit 
obligations was carried out as at 1 April 2011 by Chris Vaughan-Williams, Fellow of the Institute of Actuaries, from  
Aon Hewitt Limited. The next triennial valuation is due as at 1 April 2014. 

During the year, following a strategic review of the Mitie Group defined benefit pension scheme, a cap on increases in 
pensionable pay was introduced. This led to a reduction in the defined benefit pension deficit of £10.5m at the date when 
the plan amendment occurred and was accounted for as a negative past service cost in accordance with IAS 19. 

Other defined benefit schemes 
Grouped together under ‘Other schemes’ are a number of schemes to which the group makes contributions under 
Admitted Body status to our customers’ defined benefit schemes in respect of certain TUPE employees. These valuations 
are updated by the actuaries at each balance sheet date. The present values of the defined benefit obligations, the related 
current service cost and past service cost were measured using the Projected Unit Credit Method. 

For the Admitted Body Schemes, which are all part of the Local Government Pension Scheme, the group will only 
participate for a finite period up to the end of the contracts. The group is required to pay regular contributions as decided 
by the relevant Scheme Actuaries and detailed in the schemes’ Schedule of Contributions. In a number of cases 
contributions payable by the employer are capped and any excess is recovered from the body that the employees 
transferred from. In addition, in certain cases, at the end of the contract the group will be required to pay any deficit  
(as determined by the Scheme Actuary) that is remaining for its notional section of the scheme. 

 
 
  
 
Strategic Report

Governance

Financial

121

35  Retirement benefit schemes 

Assumptions 

Key assumptions used for IAS 19 valuation: 

Discount rate 

Expected rate of salary increases 

Retail Price Inflation 

Consumer Price Inflation 

Future pension increases  

Post retirement life expectancy: 

Current pensioners at 65 – male 

Current pensioners at 65 – female 

Future pensioners at 65 – male 

Future pensioners at 65 – female 

Group scheme 

Other schemes 

2014
% 

2013 

%   

2014
% 

2013
% 

4.50 

2.00 

3.40 

2.40 

3.40 

4.50   

3.90   

3.40   

2.40   

3.40   

4.50 

2.00 

3.40 

2.40 

3.40 

4.50 

3.90 

3.40 

2.40 

3.40 

Group scheme 

2014
Years 

2013
Years 

88.0 

89.0 

89.0 

91.0 

88.0 

89.0 

89.0 

91.0 

Life expectancy for the other schemes is that used by the relevant scheme actuary. 

The overall expected return on assets is calculated as the weighted average of the expected return of each asset class. 
The expected return on equities is the sum of dividend growth and capital growth net of investment expenses.  
The return on gilts and bonds is the current market yield on long-term bonds. The expected return on property has  
been set equal to that expected on equities less a margin. The expected return on other assets is the rate earned by  
the scheme on cash and alternate assets. 

The sensitivity of defined benefit obligations to changes in principal actuarial assumptions is shown in Note 2. 

Amounts recognised in the income statement in respect of these defined benefit schemes are as follows: 

Current service cost  

Total administration expense 

Past service cost 

Amounts recognised in operating profit 

Net interest cost  

Amounts recognised in profit before tax 

Group scheme
£m 

Other schemes
£m 

Total

£m   

Group scheme 
£m 

Other schemes
£m 

2014 

(3.6)

(0.4)

10.5 

6.5 

(1.3)

5.2 

(0.4)

– 

– 

(0.4)

(0.1)

(0.5)

(4.0)  

(0.4)  

10.5   

6.1   

(1.4)  

4.7   

(3.8)

(0.5)

–

(4.3)

(0.8)

(5.1)

(0.3)

 – 

– 

(0.3)

– 

(0.3)

20131

Total
£m 

(4.1)

(0.5)

–

(4.6)

(0.8)

(5.4)

Note: 
1  Restated following amendments to IAS 19, as described in Note 1. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Mitie Group plc 
Annual Report and Accounts 2014

122

Notes to the consolidated financial statements  
For the year ended 31 March 2014 

35  Retirement benefit schemes  

Amounts recognised in the consolidated statement of comprehensive income are as follows: 

Actuarial gains/(losses) due to changes  
in financial assumptions 

Actuarial gains/(losses) due to changes  
in demographic assumptions 

Actuarial gains/(losses) due to liability 
experience 

Return on scheme assets, excluding  
interest income 

Contract transfers 

Group scheme
£m 

Other schemes
£m 

Total

£m   

Group scheme 
£m 

Other schemes 
£m 

2014 

20131

Total
£m 

– 

0.2 

0.2   

(17.4)

(0.8)

(18.2)

0.9 

– 

0.9   

(0.1)

0.3 

0.2   

3.5 

– 

4.3 

(0.3)

(2.1)

(1.9)

3.2   

(2.1)  

2.4   

– 

0.1 

6.3 

– 

(11.0)

– 

–  

0.6 

– 

(0.2)

– 

0.1 

6.9 

– 

(11.2)

Note: 
1  Restated following amendments to IAS 19, as described in Note 1. 

The cumulative amount of actuarial loss recognised since 1 April 2004 in the consolidated statement of comprehensive 
income is £52.3m (2013: £54.7m). 

The amounts included in the balance sheet arising from the group’s obligations in respect of its defined benefit retirement 
benefit schemes are as follows: 

Fair value of scheme assets  

143.8 

16.2 

160.0   

134.0 

7.9 

141.9 

Group scheme
£m 

Other schemes
£m 

Total

£m   

Group scheme 
£m 

Other schemes 
£m 

2014 

2013 

Total
£m 

Present value of defined  
benefit obligations  

(Deficit)/surplus in scheme  

Contract adjustment 

Net pension liability 

(160.8)

(18.3)

(179.1)  

(17.0)

– 

(17.0)

(2.1)

– 

(2.1)

(19.1)  

–   

(163.7)

(29.7)

– 

(19.1)  

(29.7)

(8.1)

(0.2)

– 

(0.2)

Movements in the present value of defined benefit obligations were as follows: 

Group scheme
£m 

Other schemes
£m 

2014 

Total
£m 

Group scheme 
£m 

Other schemes 
£m 

(171.8)

(29.9)

– 

(29.9)

2013 

Total
£m 

At 1 April 

Current service cost  

Interest cost  

Contributions from scheme members  

Actuarial (gains)/losses on liabilities arising 
from demographic assumptions  

Actuarial (gains)/losses on liabilities arising 
from changes in financial assumptions 

Actuarial (gains)/losses liabilities arising from 
experience 

Benefits paid  

Past service cost 

Contract transfers 

At 31 March 

171.8   

137.9 

10.6 

148.5 

163.7 

3.6 

7.4 

0.2 

8.1 

0.4 

0.5 

0.1 

4.0   

7.9   

0.3   

(0.9)

– 

(0.9)  

3.8 

6.8 

1.0 

– 

0.3 

0.3 

0.1 

– 

4.1 

7.1 

1.1 

– 

– 

(0.2)

(0.2)  

17.4 

0.8 

18.2 

0.1 

(2.8)

(10.5)

– 

160.8 

(0.3)

(0.2)

– 

9.9 

18.3 

(0.2)  

(3.0)  

(10.5)  

9.9   

(0.1)

(3.1)

– 

179.1   

163.7 

– 

(0.1)

(3.9)

8.1 

(0.1)

(3.2)

(3.9)

171.8 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Strategic Report

Governance

Financial

123

35  Retirement benefit schemes 

The defined benefit obligation of the group scheme is analysed by participant status below: 

Active 

Deferred  

Pensioners 

At 31 March  

Movements in the fair value of scheme assets were as follows: 

Group scheme
£m 

Other schemes
£m 

2014
£m 

69.1   

49.9   

41.8   

160.8   

2014 

Total
£m 

Group scheme 
£m 

Other schemes
£m 

At 1 April 

Interest income  

Actuarial gains and losses 

Contributions from the 
sponsoring companies 

Contributions from scheme members  

Expenses paid 

Benefits paid  

Contract transfers 

At 31 March  

134.0 

6.0 

3.5 

3.2 

0.2 

(0.4)

(2.7)

– 

143.8 

7.9 

0.5 

(0.3)

0.4 

0.1 

– 

(0.2)

7.8 

16.2 

141.9   

120.7 

6.5   

3.2   

3.6   

0.3   

(0.4)  

(2.9)  

7.8   

6.0 

6.3 

3.6 

1.0 

(0.5)

(3.1)

– 

160.0   

134.0 

10.7 

0.3 

0.5 

0.5 

0.1 

– 

(0.1)

(4.1)

7.9 

The analysis of the scheme assets at the balance sheet date was as follows: 

Equity instruments 

Debt instruments 

Property 

Other assets 

Alternative assets 

At 31 March  

Group scheme
£m 

Other schemes
£m 

Total

£m   

Group scheme 
£m 

Other schemes
£m 

2014 

55.7 

31.8 

16.2 

3.2 

36.9 

9.9 

4.8 

0.7 

0.8 

– 

65.6   

36.6   

16.9   

4.0   

36.9   

59.1 

31.3 

16.1 

0.8 

26.7 

143.8 

16.2 

160.0   

134.0 

5.2 

1.9 

0.5 

0.3 

– 

7.9 

The pension schemes have invested in property occupied by the group with a fair value of £2.5m (2013: £2.5m)  
generating rental of £0.3m (2013: £0.3m). At 31 March 2014 the pension schemes held no Mitie Group plc shares  
(2013: nil). The pension schemes have not invested in any other assets used by the group. Transactions between  
the group and the pension schemes are conducted at arm’s length. 

2013
£m 

77.8 

48.6 

37.3 

163.7 

2013 

Total
£m 

131.4 

6.3 

6.8 

4.1 

1.1 

(0.5)

(3.2)

(4.1)

141.9 

2013 

Total
£m 

64.3 

33.2 

16.6 

1.1 

26.7 

141.9 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Mitie Group plc 
Annual Report and Accounts 2014

124

Notes to the consolidated financial statements  
For the year ended 31 March 2014 

35  Retirement benefit schemes  

The history of experience adjustments is as follows: 

Fair value of scheme assets 

Present value of defined benefit obligations 

Deficit in the scheme 

Experience adjustments on scheme liabilities  

Percentage of scheme liabilities  

Experience adjustments on scheme assets 

Percentage of scheme assets 

Fair value of scheme assets 

Present value of defined benefit obligations 

Deficit in the scheme 

2014
£m 

143.8 

(160.8)

(17.0)

2013
£m 

134.0 

(163.7)

(29.7)

0.1 

0.1 

(0.1)%

(0.1)% 

3.6 

2.5%

3.9 

2.9% 

2014
£m 

16.2 

(18.3)

(2.1)

2013
£m 

7.9 

(8.1)

(0.2)

2012 
£m 

120.7 

(137.9)

(17.2)

(5.3)

3.9% 

(4.3)

(3.6)%

2012 
£m 

10.7 

(10.8)

(0.1)

Experience adjustments on scheme liabilities  

0.3 

0.2 

0.2 

Percentage of scheme liabilities  

(1.8)%

(2.8)% 

(2.0)%

  Group scheme 

2011 
£m 

2010
£m 

114.5 

101.4 

(117.5)

(108.2)

(3.0)

(6.8)

(0.5)

0.4% 

(0.1)

0.1% 

(0.7)

14.5 

(0.6)%

14.3% 

  Other schemes 

2011 
£m 

9.8 

(9.8)

– 

0.9 

(9.2)%

2010
£m 

61.5 

(65.2)

(3.7)

(0.7)

1.0% 

Experience adjustments on scheme assets 

Percentage of scheme assets 

(0.3)

(1.9)%

0.5 

6.1% 

0.2 

1.6% 

(1.3)

11.7 

(13.3)%

19.0% 

The estimated contributions expected to be paid to the group scheme during the current financial year are £2.8m  
(2013: £3.4m) and to other schemes £0.4m (2013: £0.4m). 

As at 31 March 2014, contributions of £0.3m (2013: £0.3m) due in respect of the current reporting period had not been 
paid over to the schemes. 

36  Related party transactions  

Transactions between the Company and its subsidiaries, which are related parties, have been eliminated on consolidation 
and are not disclosed in this Note. 

During the year, the group derived £10.5m (2013: £16.1m) of revenue from contracts with joint ventures and associated 
undertakings. At 31 March 2014 £7.5m (2013: £2.1m) was outstanding (excluding the loans to joint ventures and 
associates included in Note 17).  

No material contract or arrangement has been entered into during the year, nor existed at the end of the year, in which  
a Director had a material interest.  

The group’s key management personnel are the Directors and Non-Executive Directors whose remuneration is disclosed 
in the audited section of the Directors’ remuneration report. The share-based payment charge for key management 
personnel was £1.5m (2013: £1.1m).  

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Strategic Report

Governance

Financial

125

37  Principal subsidiaries  

The companies set out below are those which were part of the group at 31 March 2014 and in the opinion of the Directors 
significantly affected the group’s results and net assets during the year. Principal subsidiaries are incorporated in the 
United Kingdom and are held directly or indirectly by Mitie Group plc.  

At 31 March 
2014 
% Voting 
rights owned 

At 31 March
2014
% Ownership
interest 

At 31 March
2014
 % Nominal
value owned 

100% 

100% 

100% 

100% 

100% 

100% 

100% 

100%

100%

90.3% 

90.3% 

99.85% 

Division 

Activities 

Principal subsidiaries 

Facilities  
Management 

Property  
Management 

Our Facilities Management division 
delivers facilities consultancy, 
management and service delivery to 
our clients. Services include: 
security, business services, 
managed services, catering, client 
services, PFI, cleaning, landscaping, 
pest control, as well as the facilities 
management led by technology, 
engineering and energy 
requirements. 

  Mitie Facilities Services Ltd 

Mitie Cleaning & 
Environmental Services Ltd 

Mitie Security Holdings Ltd 
Mitie Technical Facilities 
Management Ltd 

  Mitie Property Services  

100% 

100% 

100% 

(UK) Ltd 

Mitie Built Environment Ltd 

100% 

100% 

100% 

Our Property Management division 
offers an integrated property 
management service, including 
mechanical and electrical 
engineering, energy and more 
general facilities management 
services in addition to the traditional
services such as maintenance, 
refurbishment, painting, roofing, 
interior fit-out, fire protection, 
plumbing and heating. 

Energy Solutions  Our Energy Solutions division 

  Utilyx Ltd 

100% 

100%

100%

provides the integration, 
management and maintenance  
of technical assets to meet the 
challenges of the low-carbon 
economy including: energy design, 
generation and certification, 
infrastructure projects, building 
services and mechanical and 
electrical engineering.  

Our Healthcare division provides 
high quality homecare in the UK, 
delivering a wide range of services 
to people who require help and 
support due to illness, disability or 
infirmity. The business cares for 
people via local authority, NHS  
and private pay agreements. 

Healthcare 

Utilyx Asset Management 
Ltd (formerly Mitie Asset 
Management Ltd) 

100% 

100% 

100% 

Mitie Infrastructure Ltd 

100% 

100% 

100% 

  MiHomecare Ltd (formerly 

100% 

100% 

100% 

Enara Ltd) 

The companies listed above represent the principal subsidiary companies of the group. A full list of subsidiary companies 
will be annexed to the next Annual Return.  

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Mitie Group plc 
Annual Report and Accounts 2014

126

Company balance sheet 
At 31 March 2014 

Fixed assets 

Tangible assets 

Investments in subsidiary undertakings 

Total fixed assets 

Current assets 

Debtors 

Total current assets 

Total assets 

Creditors: amounts falling due within one year 

Provisions 

Total current liabilities 

Net current liabilities 

Total assets less current liabilities 

Creditors: amounts falling due after more than one year 

Provisions 

Total non-current liabilities 

Total liabilities 

Net assets 

Capital and reserves 

Share capital 

Share premium account 

Merger reserve 

Share-based payments reserve 

Own shares reserve 

Other reserves 

Profit and loss account 

Equity shareholders’ funds  

Notes 

2014 
£m 

2013
£m 

41 

42 

43 

45 

46 

46 

47 

48 

48 

48 

48 

48 

48 

(cid:177) 

739.5 

739.5 

0.1 

714.8 

714.9 

14.7 

14.7 

28.6 

28.6 

754.2 

743.5 

(276.9)

(255.0)

(1.2)

(1.4)

(278.1)

(256.4)

(263.4)

(227.8)

476.1 

487.1 

(cid:177) 

(cid:177) 

(cid:177) 

– 

– 

– 

(278.1)

(256.4)

476.1 

487.1 

9.3 

118.9 

101.2 

12.6 

(37.2)

0.5 

270.8 

476.1 

9.3 

108.0 

97.6 

10.0 

(20.3)

0.4 

282.1 

487.1 

The financial statements of Mitie Group plc, company registration number SC 19230, were approved by the Board  
of Directors and authorised for issue on 19 May 2014. They were signed on its behalf by: 

Ruby McGregor-Smith CBE 
Chief Executive 

Suzanne Baxter 
Group Finance Director 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Notes to the Company financial statements  
For the year ended 31 March 2014 

Strategic Report

Governance

Financial

127

38  Significant accounting policies

Basis of accounting 
The separate financial statements of the Company are presented as required by company law. They have been prepared 
under the historical cost convention and in accordance with applicable United Kingdom Accounting Standards and law.  

As more fully detailed in the Directors’ report, the Company’s financial statements have been prepared on a going  
concern basis. 

The principal accounting policies are summarised below. They have been applied consistently throughout the year  
and the preceding year. 

Investments 
Fixed asset investments in subsidiaries are shown at cost less any provision for impairment.  

Tangible fixed assets 
Tangible fixed assets are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation and any impairment in value. Depreciation is 
charged so as to write off the cost of the assets over their estimated useful lives and is calculated on a straight-line basis 
as follows: 

Software and development costs 

5–10 years 

The carrying values of tangible fixed assets are reviewed for impairment when events or changes in circumstances 
indicate the carrying value may not be recoverable. If any such indication exists and where the carrying values exceed  
the estimated recoverable amount, the assets or cash-generating units are written down to their recoverable amount.  
The recoverable amount of tangible fixed assets is the greater of net selling price and value in use. In assessing value in 
use, the estimated future cash flows are discounted to their present value using a pre-tax discount rate that reflects 
current market assessments of the time value of money and the risks specific to the asset. 

Borrowing costs 
Borrowing costs directly attributable to the acquisition, construction or production of qualifying assets, which are assets 
that necessarily take a substantial period of time to get ready for their intended use or sale, are added to the cost of 
those assets, until such time as the assets are substantially ready for their intended use or sale. All other borrowing costs 
are recognised in profit or loss in the period in which they are incurred. 

Provisions 
Provisions are recognised when the Company has a present obligation as a result of a past event and it is probable that 
an outflow of resources embodying economic benefits will be required to settle the obligation and a reliable estimate can 
be made of the amount of the obligation. Where the Company expects some or all of a provision to be reimbursed,  
for example under an insurance contract, the reimbursement is recognised as a separate asset but only when the 
reimbursement is virtually certain. The expense relating to any provision is charged to the profit and loss account, net of 
any reimbursement. If the effect of the time value of money is material, provisions are determined by discounting the 
expected future cash flows at a pre-tax rate that reflects current market assessments of the time value of money and, 
where appropriate, the risks specific to the liability. Where discounting is used, the increase in the provision due to the 
passage of time is recognised as a borrowing cost. 

Taxation 
Current tax is provided at amounts expected to be paid (or recovered) using the tax rates and laws that have been 
enacted or substantively enacted at the balance sheet date. 

Deferred tax is provided in full on timing differences that result in an obligation at the balance sheet date to pay more  
tax, or a right to pay less tax, at a future date, at rates expected to apply when they crystallise based upon tax rates  
and legislation that have been enacted or substantively enacted at the balance sheet date. Timing differences arise from 
the inclusion of items of income and expenditure in tax computations in periods different from those in which they are 
included in the financial statements. Deferred tax is not provided on timing differences arising from the revaluation of fixed 
assets where there is no commitment to sell the asset, or on unremitted earnings of subsidiaries and associates where 
there is no commitment to remit these earnings. Deferred tax assets are recognised to the extent that it is regarded as 
more likely than not that they will be recovered. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are not discounted. 

 
Mitie Group plc 
Annual Report and Accounts 2014

128

Notes to the Company financial statements  
For the year ended 31 March 2014 

38  Significant accounting policies 

Financial instruments  
Trade receivables are measured at initial recognition at fair value. Appropriate allowances for estimated irrecoverable 
amounts are recognised in the profit and loss account where there is objective evidence that the asset is impaired. 

Cash and cash equivalents comprise cash in hand and demand deposits, and other short-term highly liquid investments 
that are readily convertible to a known amount of cash and are subject to an insignificant risk of changes in value. 

Interest bearing bank loans and overdrafts are recorded at the proceeds received, net of direct issue costs. Finance 
charges, including premiums payable on settlement or redemption and direct issue costs, are accounted for on an 
accruals basis in the profit and loss account and are added to the carrying amount of the instrument to the extent that 
they are not settled in the period in which they arise.  

Trade payables are measured at amortised cost. 

Equity instruments issued by the Company are recorded at the proceeds received, net of direct issue costs. 

Financial assets and financial liabilities are recognised on the Company’s balance sheet when the Company becomes  
a party to the contractual provisions of the instrument. 

Share-based payments 
The group operates a number of executive and employee share option schemes. Equity-settled share-based payments  
to employees are measured at the fair value of the equity instruments at the grant date. The fair value excludes the effect 
of non-market based vesting conditions. For all grants of share options and awards, the fair value as at the date of grant 
is calculated using the Black-Scholes or Monte Carlo models and the corresponding expense is recognised on a straight-
line basis over the vesting period based on the group’s estimate of shares that will eventually vest. At each balance sheet 
date, the group revises its estimate of the number of equity instruments expected to vest as a result of the effect of  
non-market based vesting conditions. Save As You Earn (SAYE) options are treated as cancelled when employees cease 
to contribute to the scheme, resulting in an acceleration of the remainder of the related expense. 

Options over the Company’s shares awarded to employees of the Company’s subsidiaries are accounted for as a capital 
contribution within the carrying value of investments in subsidiary undertakings. 

Pensions  
Pension costs represent amounts paid to one of the group’s pension schemes. For the purposes of FRS 17 ‘Retirement 
Benefits’ the Company has been unable to identify its share of the underlying assets and liabilities of the group defined 
benefit pension scheme on a consistent and reasonable basis. Therefore the Company is accounting for contributions to 
the scheme as if it were a defined contribution scheme. Note 35 to the consolidated financial statements sets out the 
details of the IAS 19 ‘Employee Benefits’ net pension liability of £17.0m (2013: £29.7m).  

39  Profit for the year 

As permitted by Section 408 of the Companies Act 2006 the Company has elected not to present its own profit and loss 
account for the year. Mitie Group plc reported a profit after taxation for the financial year ended 31 March 2014 of £34.9m 
(2013: £44.7m). 

The auditor’s remuneration for audit services to the Company was £33,000 (2013: £33,000).  

Detailed disclosures of Directors’ remuneration and share options are given in the audited section of the Directors’ 
remuneration report contained in the consolidated financial statements. 

40  Dividends 

Amounts recognised as distributions to equity holders in the year: 

Final dividend for the year ended 31 March 2013 of 5.7p (2012: 5.2p) per share 

Interim dividend for the year ended 31 March 2014 of 4.9p (2013: 4.6p) per share 

2014 
£m 

2013
£m 

20.5 

17.6 

38.1 

18.3 

16.6 

34.9 

Proposed final dividend for the year ended 31 March 2014 of 6.1p (2013: 5.7p) per share 

21.9 

20.6 

The proposed final dividend is subject to approval by shareholders at the Annual General Meeting and has not been 
included as a liability in these financial statements. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Strategic Report

Governance

Financial

129

41 

Tangible fixed assets 

Cost 

At 1 April 2013 

Additions 

Disposals 

At 31 March 2014 

Accumulated depreciation 

At 1 April 2013 

Charge for the year 

Disposals 

At 31 March 2014 

Net book value 

At 31 March 2014 

At 31 March 2013 

42 

Investments in subsidiary undertakings

Shares at cost 

At 1 April 2013 

Additions 

Capital contribution re share-based payments 

Disposals 

At 31 March 2014 

Provision for impairment 

At 1 April 2013 

Impairment 

Disposals 

At 31 March 2014 

Net book value 

At 31 March 2014 

At 31 March 2013 

Software and 
development 
costs
£m 

0.1 

– 

(0.1)

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

Total
£m 

0.1 

– 

(0.1)

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

0.1 

– 

0.1 

£m 

726.5 

22.5 

2.6 

(7.8)

743.8 

11.7 

(cid:177) 

(7.4)

4.3 

739.5 

714.8 

Details of the acquisitions in the year are provided in Note 31 of the consolidated financial statements and a listing of 
principal subsidiaries in Note 37. The cumulative cost of non-compete agreements included in investments is £4.6m  
(2013: £4.6m). 

Disposals in the period relate to the voluntary strike-off of dormant subsidiaries within the group. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Mitie Group plc 
Annual Report and Accounts 2014

130

Notes to the Company financial statements  
For the year ended 31 March 2014 

43  Debtors 

Amounts owed by subsidiary undertakings 

Other debtors 

Prepayments and accrued income 

Deferred tax asset (Note 44) 

The Directors consider that the carrying amount of debtors approximates their fair value. 

44  Deferred tax 

Deferred tax asset at 1 April 2013 (Note 43) 

Charge to the profit and loss account 

Deferred tax asset at 31 March 2014 

The closing balance is analysed as follows: 

Depreciation in excess of capital allowances 

Short-term timing differences 

Share-based payment timing differences 

Deferred tax asset 

45  Creditors: amounts falling due within one year

Overdraft 

Trade creditors 

Amounts owed to subsidiary undertakings 

Other taxes and social security 

Accruals and deferred income 

Corporation tax 

2014 
£m 

11.3 

(cid:177) 

3.1 

0.3 

14.7 

2013
£m 

24.2 

0.4 

3.8 

0.2 

28.6 

£m 

0.2 

0.1 

0.3 

£m 

(cid:177) 

(cid:177) 

0.3 

0.3 

2014 
£m 

98.1 

1.2 

2013
£m 

80.2 

1.2 

148.0 

157.5 

15.1 

11.9 

2.6 

0.4 

9.5 

6.2 

276.9 

255.0 

The Directors consider that the carrying amount of creditors approximates their fair value. 

The Company’s bank overdrafts are part of the group’s banking arrangements and are offset against credit balances 
within the group. The Company has adequate liquidity to discharge all current obligations. 

For details of group borrowings, see Note 24. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Strategic Report

Governance

Financial

131

46  Provisions 

At 1 April 2013 

Other movements in the year 

At 31 March 2014 

Falling due within one year 

The deferred contingent consideration relates to the purchase of non-controlling interests. 

47 

Share capital

Ordinary shares of 2.5p 

Allotted and fully paid 

At 1 April 2013 

Issued for acquisitions 

Share buybacks 

Issued under share option schemes 

At 31 March 2014 

At 1 April 2012 

Issued for acquisitions 

Issued under share option schemes 

At 31 March 2013 

Deferred
contingent
consideration
£m 

1.4 

(0.2)

1.2 

1.2 

1.2 

Number
million 

370.1 

2.3 

(2.9)

4.0 

373.5 

361.9 

4.5 

3.7 

370.1 

Total
£m 

1.4 

(0.2)

1.2 

1.2 

1.2 

£m 

9.3 

(cid:177) 

(0.1)

0.1 

9.3 

9.0 

0.2 

0.1 

9.3 

Details of movements in share capital during the year are provided in Note 29 of the consolidated financial statements.  

 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Mitie Group plc 
Annual Report and Accounts 2014

132

Notes to the Company financial statements  
For the year ended 31 March 2014 

48 

Reserves 

At beginning of year  

Shares issued 

Purchase of own shares  

Share-based payments 

Profit for the year  

Share buybacks 

Dividends paid  
to shareholders 

Balance at  
31 March 2014 

Share  
capital 
£m 

9.3 

0.1 

– 

– 

– 

(0.1) 

– 

Share 
premium 
account 
£m 

108.0 

10.9 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

Merger
reserve
£m 

97.6 

3.6 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

Share-based 
payments
reserve 
£m 

Own shares 
reserve
£m 

10.0 

(20.3)

– 

– 

2.6 

– 

– 

– 

– 

(19.8)

2.9 

– 

– 

– 

Other 
reserves  
£m 

0.4 

– 

– 

– 

– 

0.1 

Profit 
and loss 
account 
£m 

282.1 

– 

– 

(0.7) 

34.9 

(7.4) 

Total 
£m 

487.1 

14.6 

(19.8)

4.8 

34.9 

(7.4)

– 

(38.1) 

(38.1)

9.3 

118.9 

101.2 

12.6 

(37.2) 

0.5 

270.8 

476.1 

49  Contingent liabilities

Details of contingent liabilities have been given in Note 32 of the consolidated financial statements. 

Share-based payments 

50 
0
Equity-settled share option schemes 
The Company has six share option schemes as described in Note 34 of the consolidated financial statements. 

The Company recognised the following expenses related to share-based payments: 

Discretionary schemes 

Non-discretionary schemes 

2014 
£m 

2.4 

– 

2.4 

2013
£m 

1.6 

– 

1.6 

The fair value of options is measured by use of the Black-Scholes and Monte Carlo models. The inputs into the  
Black-Scholes and Monte Carlo models are as described in Note 34 of the consolidated financial statements. 

51 

Related parties 

The Company makes management charges to all of its subsidiaries, whether they are wholly-owned or otherwise, and 
receives dividends from its subsidiaries, according to their ability to remit them. Other details of related party transactions 
have been given in Note 36 of the consolidated financial statements.  

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Strategic Report

Governance

Financial

11 August 2014

17 November 2014

3 February 2014

–

25 June 2014

27 June 2014

6 August 2014

12 July 2014

9 July 2014

Dividend reinvestment plan (DRIP)
Mitie has set up a dividend reinvestment 
plan (DRIP) to enable you to build 
your shareholding by using your cash 
dividends under a standing election to 
buy additional shares in Mitie. If you 
would like to receive further information, 
including details of how to apply, please 
call Capita Asset Services on 020 8639 
3402 or contact them by sending an 
email to: shares@capita.co.uk. 

Mitie online share portal
Mitie has launched a shareholder 
portal where shareholders can register 
and can:
 k access information on shareholdings 

and movements;

 k  update address details;
 k view dividend payments received and 
register bank mandate instructions;

 k  sell Mitie shares;
 k  complete an online proxy voting 

form; and

 k  register for e-communications allowing 
Mitie to notify shareholders by email 
that certain documents are available 
to view on its website. This will further 
reduce Mitie’s carbon footprint as well 
as reduce costs.

If you wish to register, please sign up at 
www.mitie-shares.com.

Corporate website
This report can be downloaded in 
PDF format from the Mitie website, 
which also contains additional general 
information about Mitie. Please visit  
www.mitie.com.

Shareholder information

Results
2015 Interim management statement

2015 Half-yearly results

Dividends
2014 Half-yearly dividend 4.9p paid

2014 Final dividend 6.1p (proposed)

2014 Final ex-dividend date 

2014 Final dividend record date 

2014 Final dividend payment date 

2014 Final dividend last date for receipt/
revocation of DRIP mandate 

2014 Annual General Meeting
2014 Annual General Meeting 

Company details
Mitie Group plc  
1 Harlequin Office Park 
Fieldfare 
Emersons Green 
Bristol 
BS16 7FN

Telephone: 0117 970 8800 
Fax: 0117 301 4159 
Email: group@mitie.com 
Website: www.mitie.com

Registered number: SC 19230

Registrars 
Capita Asset Services 
The Registry 
34 Beckenham Road 
Beckenham 
Kent 
BR3 4TU

Telephone: 0871 664 0300* 
Website: www.mitie-shares.com

* calls cost 10p a minute plus network extras, lines are open 9.00am – 5.30pm Mon – Fri

Designed and produced by Radley Yeldar | www.ry.com
Photography by Ed Robinson.
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Mitie Group plc
1 Harlequin Office Park 
Fieldfare 
Emersons Green 
Bristol BS16 7FN 
United Kingdom

T: +44 (0) 117 970 8800 
F: +44 (0) 117 301 4159 
E: group@mitie.com