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Travis Perkins

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FY2014 Annual Report · Travis Perkins
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BUILDING ON
SOLID FOUNDATIONS

ANNUAL REPORT
& ACCOUNTS

2014

 
 
 
 
“2014 was the first year in our 

five year journey to grow each of 

our businesses in a sustainable way. 

After refreshing our strategy in 2013, 

I am pleased with the progress we 

have made to improve and grow our 

Group businesses during 2014. 

We outperformed our markets, grew 

profits faster than revenues and 

returns to shareholders further still”

John Carter Chief Executive

CONTENTS

02

HIGHLIGHTS

04

STRATEGIC REPORT

80

CORPORATE 
GOVERNANCE

130

FINANCIAL 
STATEMENTS

188

OTHER 
INFORMATION

06   Key performance 

82  Directors

132  Income statements

190 Five year record

192  Other shareholder  

information

indicators

 Travis Perkins plc at a 
glance

 The Group’s 
businesses

10 

12 

16 

 Chairman’s statement

18 

 Business model – 
what Travis Perkins 
does

20   The Group’s markets

86 

 Committees and 
advisors

88 

 Corporate 
governance report

94 

 Audit Committee 
report

98 

 Directors’ 
remuneration report

133  Statements of  
comprehensive  
income

134  Balance sheets

136  Consolidated  
statement of   
changes in equity

138   Cash flow statements

118    Nominations 

Committee report

139  Notes to the financial  

statements

24  Business review

120  Directors’ report

124  Statement 

of directors’  
responsibilities

125   Independent auditor’s  

report to the 
members of  
Travis Perkins plc

32  Financial review

38 

 The Group’s strategy

44 

 General Merchanting 
Division strategy

48 

 Plumbing & Heating 
Division strategy

52 

 Contracts Division 
strategy

54 

 Consumer Division 
strategy

58 

64 

 Statement of 
principal risks and 
uncertainties

 Capturing the way 
things are done 
around here

70   Stay Safe report

74    Environmental report

ANNUAL REPORT & ACCOUNTS 2014

301

SECTION HEAD 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
HIGHLIGHTS

For the year ended 31 December 2014

STRONG PROFIT GROWTH AND GOOD STRATEGIC PROGRESS

•  Revenue increased by 8.4% to £5.6bn, with like-for-like sales up by 7.3%

•  Adjusted earnings per share increased to 119.0p, up 14.9%

•  Final dividend of 25.75p giving a full year dividend of 38p, up 22.6%

•   Gross capital investment increased by £58m to £165m funded from cash flows 

to drive on-going share gains and sustainable growth

•  54 new sites opened with a further 47 implants added to the network

•  Acquisition of Primaflow, a plumbing and heating distribution business for £16m

•    Supply chain capabilities enhanced with new Warrington primary distribution 

centre and second heavyside range centre

•  Lease adjusted return on capital employed improved by 0.4ppt to 10.4%

•  Long-term funding secured with £250m bond issued on investment grade terms

Revenue

Adjusted(1):

 Operating profit (note 5a)

 Profit before taxation (note 5c)

 Profit after taxation (note 5c)

 Adjusted earnings per share (pence) (note 11b) 

Statutory:

 Operating profit 

 Profit before taxation 

 Profit after taxation 

 Basic earnings per share (pence)

Total dividend declared per share (note 12)

2014
£m
5,580.7

384.0

362.3

290.8

119.0

343.1

321.4

258.7

105.9

38.0p

%

8.4

10.5

12.8

16.6

14.9

4.1

2.8

(2.3)

(3.6)

22.6

2013
£m
5,148.7

347.6

321.1

249.5

103.6

329.7

312.6

264.7

109.9

31.0p

Divisional Performance(2) 

General Merchanting

Plumbing & Heating

Contracts

Consumer

Group

Revenue Growth

Adjusted Operating 
Margin

Total

13.7%

(0.9)%

12.1%

8.8%

8.4%

Like- 
for-like 
(note 4)

12.9%

(1.9)%

11.8%

6.7%

7.3%

2014

Change 
from 2013

9.8%

4.8%

6.7%

6.0%

6.9%

(0.9)ppt

0.7ppt

(0.4)ppt

0.7ppt

0.1ppt

Lease Adjusted Return 
on Capital Employed
(Rolling 12 Months)

2014

2013

16%

9%

13%

7%

16%

8%

12%

6%

10.4%

10.0%

(2)The divisional allocation of the Group’s businesses for 2013 has been restated following the divisional restructuring effected on 1 January 2014 (note 6).

General Merchanting
•   Revenue improved by 13.7% significantly outperforming the 

market, with all product categories performing strongly

Contracts
•   Revenue growth of 12.1%, with a particularly strong fourth 

quarter. Share gains in all three businesses

•   Adjusted operating profit up 4% to £183m. However, 
excluding profits from property transactions adjusted 
EBITA increased by more than 6% to £169 million. Also in 
2014 the Travis Perkins business began a modernisation 
programme which increased operating costs. Had this 
investment programme not commenced, adjusted 
operating profits would have increased by more than 10%

•    Good progress made in commencing the modernisation 
programme with new format trials underway, the second 
range centre operating in Cardiff and a much stronger 
pipeline of new branch openings

Plumbing & Heating
•    As expected revenue growth slowed during the year, 

down 0.9% owing to fewer Energy Company Obligation 
contracts, a declining boiler market and some branch 
conversion disruption in the second half 

•   Adjusted operating margin improved 0.7ppt to 4.8% 

with a 1.3ppt benefit from property profits and good cost 
management despite competitive pricing pressure from 
weak volume demand reducing gross margins by 0.6ppt

•    Good progress was made effecting the branch 

reconfiguration programme. 46 branches were converted 
from the PTS format to the CPS format and 27 PTS 
branches were closed with customers transferred to larger 
PTS and nearby CPS branches

•   Adjusted operating margin fell 0.4ppt due to the relative 
outperformance of CCF and Keyline and the competitive 
BSS market

•   Strong capital management and higher profits, up 6.1% to 

£72m, resulted in a 1.0ppt increase in lease adjusted return 
on capital employed (“LAROCE”) to 13%

Consumer
•   Revenue up 8.8% to £1,283m with consistent like-for-like 
sales growth throughout the year and a very strong fourth 
quarter against a strong prior year comparator

•   Adjusted operating profit up 22.7% to £77m from £63m 
in 2013, adjusted operating margin up 0.7% to 6.0% and 
improved LAROCE to 7%

•   Although early in the transformation programme for 

Wickes, customer feedback to the changes implemented 
so far has been positive. Improvements to value, branded 
ranges, promotions, customer service and the introduction 
of a new website and click and collect capability 
demonstrate the extent of the work under way

(1)Throughout this Annual Report the term “adjusted” has been used to signify that the effects of exceptional items, amortisation of intangible assets and the 
associated tax impacts have been excluded from the disclosure being made.

2

ANNUAL REPORT & ACCOUNTS 2014

ANNUAL REPORT & ACCOUNTS 2014

3

STRATEGIC 
REPORT

The Directors of the Company have prepared a 
Strategic Report for the year ended 31 December 2014, 
which is set out on pages 6 to 77. It encompasses the 
following information:

06  Key performance indicators

10  Travis Perkins plc at a glance

12   The Group’s businesses

16   Chairman’s statement

18   Business model – what Travis Perkins does

20  The Group’s markets

24  Business review

32  Financial review

38  The Group’s strategy

44  General Merchanting Division strategy

48  Plumbing & Heating Division strategy

52  Contracts Division strategy

54  Consumer Division strategy

58  Statement of principal risks and uncertainties

64  Capturing the way things are done around here

70  Stay Safe report

74  Environmental report

The Strategic Report was approved by the Board of Directors and signed on its behalf by:

John Carter 
Chief Executive Officer 
2 March 2015

Tony Buffin 
Chief Financial Officer 

4

ANNUAL REPORT & ACCOUNTS 2014

ANNUAL REPORT & ACCOUNTS 2014

5

SECTION HEADSTRATEGIC REPORT

KEY PERFORMANCE 
INDICATORS

The Group tracks its performance using 2 operating key performance indicators (“KPI”s), 3 financial KPIs and 4 funding targets that the Board 
believes are key indicators of its progress against its strategic and financial targets. In addition, the Group has a number of guidance measures 
at a group, divisional and business level, details of which are set out in the business and finance reviews on pages 24 to 37. In 2014, in order to 
ensure greater consistency throughout the Group, the Group’s KPIs were reviewed and an additional 3 funding targets were included.

OPERATING 
KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS

FINANCIAL 
KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS

Like-for-like revenue 
growth (%) 
(Note 4)

Adjusted operating  
profit (£m) 
(Note 5a)

Lease adjusted return on 
capital employed* (%) 
(Note 37) 

Adjusted earnings per share* 
(pence) 
(Note 11b)

Free cash flow (£m) 
(Note 35)

3
7.

.

0
4
8
3

6
7.
4
3

.

2
3
1
3

.

7
5
2
3

0
6

.

0
5

.

.

4
0
1

.

0
0
1

8
9

.

.

0
9
1
1

.

6
3
0
1

.

5
3
9
2

.

6
4
5
2

.

8
1
4
2

.

6
9
3
2

.

1
3
9

.

6
0
9

3
1
0
2

4
1
0
2

1
1
0
2

2
1
0
2

3
1
0
2

4
1
0
2

1
1
0
2

2
1
0
2

.

4
1
-

6
9

.

1
1
0
2

2
1
0
2

3
1
0
2

4
1
0
2

1
1
0
2

2
1
0
2

3
1
0
2

4
1
0
2

1
1
0
2

2
1
0
2

3
1
0
2

4
1
0
2

Definition
Profit before tax, financing charges 
and income, amortisation and 
exceptional items.

Reason
This is the profit earned from the 
Group’s trading activities.

Definition
Adjusted operating profit after adding 
back 50% of annual property lease 
rentals, divided by the combined value 
of balance sheet debt, equity and eight 
times annual property rental expense. 

Reason
This ratio allows management to 
measure how effectively capital is used 
in the business to generate returns for 
shareholders. It takes into account both 
balance sheet debt and off-balance 
sheet long term obligations, being 
principally property leases.

Definition
Revenue growth adjusted for new 
branches, branch closures and trading 
day differences. Revenue included 
in like-for-like is for the equivalent 
periods in both years under comparison. 
Branches are included in like-for-like 
sales once they have traded for more 
than 12 months. When branches close, 
revenue is excluded from the prior 
year figures for the number of months 
equivalent to the post closure period in 
the current year.

Reason
Calculating like-for-like sales enables 
management to monitor the performance 
trend of the underlying business 
year-on-year. It also gives management 
a good indication of the health of the 
business compared to competitors.

KPIs marked * are measurements used in determining elements of directors’ remuneration, details of which are set out on pages 98 to 117.

Definition
Profit after tax, adjusted to exclude  
the effects of amortisation and 
exceptional items, divided by the 
weighted average number of shares 
in issue during the period.

Reason
Adjusted earnings per share is an 
indicator of the Group’s underlying 
profitability, which is an important factor 
in determining the Group’s share price.

Definition 
Net cash flow before dividends, growth 
capital expenditure, pension deficit repair 
contributions and financing cash flows.

Reason
The Group needs to generate strong 
free cash flows to enable it to invest and 
expand its operations, settle financing 
charges from debt providers, pay 
dividends to shareholders and access 
the best property locations.

Like-for-like 
revenue growth

7.3%

Adjusted 
operating profit

£384m

Lease adjusted 
return on capital 
employed

10.4%

Adjusted 
earnings per 
share

119.0p

Free cash flow

£255m

6

ANNUAL REPORT & ACCOUNTS 2014

ANNUAL REPORT & ACCOUNTS 2014

7

SECTION HEADSTRATEGIC REPORT

KEY PERFORMANCE 
INDICATORS

FUNDING TARGETS

Dividend cover (times) 
(Note 12)

Fixed charge cover (times) 
(Note 36)

Leverage ratio (times) 
(Note 36)

x
7
4

.

x
6
3

.

x
3
3

.

x
1
3

.

x
5
3

.

x
3
3

.

x
0
3

.

x
8
2

.

x
1
3

.

x
9
2

.

Net debt (£m) 
(Note 33)

.

2
3
8
5

.

2
2
5
4

.

1
8
5
3

.

9
3
4
3

1
1
0
2

2
1
0
2

3
1
0
2

4
1
0
2

x
8
2

.

1
1
0
2

x
8
2

.

2
1
0
2

3
1
0
2

4
1
0
2

1
1
0
2

2
1
0
2

3
1
0
2

4
1
0
2

1
1
0
2

2
1
0
2

3
1
0
2

4
1
0
2

Definition
The ratio of adjusted earnings per share 
to dividends per share.

Reason
Dividends are the primary method for 
returning capital to shareholders. The 
Board aims to balance retaining profits in 
the business for future investment with 
giving shareholders an acceptable return 
on their investment. The Group’s target 
range for its dividend cover ratio is 
2.5x to 3.25x. 

Definition
The ratio of earnings after adding 
back property lease rentals, but before 
interest, tax, depreciation, amortisation 
and exceptional items, to finance charges 
plus property lease rentals.

Reason
Fixed charge cover is used by 
management, lenders and Debt Rating 
Agencies when determining how well the 
Group can afford to pay fixed financing 
charges. The Group is targeting a ratio 
of 3.5x.

Definition
The ratio of lease adjusted net debt to 
earnings before tax, interest, depreciation, 
amortisation, property lease rentals and 
exceptional items. 

Reason
The leverage ratio is an indicator for 
management and lenders of the Group’s 
ability to support its debt. The Group has 
a target of below 2.5x.

Definition
The amounts owed to lenders of finance 
less cash held by the Group.

Reason
The value of debt in the balance sheet is 
an indication of financial efficiency. 
In general, the return paid to debt 
lenders is below the return demanded 
by equity investors. The Group has not 
set a debt target.

Dividend cover

3.1
times

Fixed charge 
cover

3.1 
times

Leverage ratio

2.8 
times

Net debt

£358m

8

ANNUAL REPORT & ACCOUNTS 2014

ANNUAL REPORT & ACCOUNTS 2014

9

SECTION HEADSTRATEGIC REPORT

TRAVIS PERKINS PLC 
AT A GLANCE

A major plc, which can trace its roots back over 200 years,  
Travis Perkins is a leading company in the builders’ merchant and home 
improvement markets, and is the UK’s largest product supplier to the 
building and construction market, one of the largest industries in the UK. 
It operates 18 businesses from 1,975 sites across the UK and Ireland. 
Travis Perkins comprises a strong portfolio of businesses which are 
organised into four divisions: General Merchanting, Plumbing & Heating, 
Contracts and Consumer. 

Cornerstones
The Group has built an inclusive working environment 
where everyone can contribute because everyone is listened 
to, valued and respected. It is founded on five Cornerstones:

Upholding family values – a way of working and 
treating people 

Keeping people safe – safety will always be at the top 
of the agenda

Making decent returns – creating value for 
shareholders, employees, customers and suppliers

Supporting our customers – the Group’s business 
is based on strong relationships

Being the best – setting the bar high 
and making employees and customers 
feel special

THE 
GROUP’S 
MISSION

“Continue to deliver better returns 
by putting in place and growing 
the best businesses, with outstanding 
people providing comprehensive 
building material solutions to everyone. 
Creating, maintaining, repairing and 
improving the built environment, 
helping to build Britain.’’

Consumer

23%

Plumbing 
& Heating

24%

Revenue

EBITA

Steve Fellows – Travis Perkins, Aylesford

Consumer

20%

Plumbing 
& Heating

17%

General 
Merchanting

34%

Contracts

19%

Unallocated
EBITA

(-4%)

General 
Merchanting

48%

Contracts

19%

10

ANNUAL REPORT & ACCOUNTS 2014

ANNUAL REPORT & ACCOUNTS 2014

11

SECTION HEAD  
  
  
  
STRATEGIC REPORT

THE GROUP’S BUSINESSES

GENERAL MERCHANTING
General Merchanting is a division consisting of the Travis Perkins 
and Benchmarx brands, and is the Group’s core business.  
It supplies products for all types of repair, maintenance and 
improvement projects (“RMI”) as well as new builds and 
construction. It has developed exclusive own label products, the 
largest of which is 4Trade. The customers of General Merchanting 
businesses are primarily professional tradesmen, ranging from 
sole traders to national house builders whose key requirements 
are product range and availability, competitive pricing and 
customer service. 

a

Industry: General building materials
Travis Perkins is a leading company in the builders’ 
merchant market, supplying more than 100,000 product 
lines to trade professionals and self-builders.

Industry: Kitchen specialists
Benchmarx Kitchen & Joinery was opened in 2006. It is a 
trade only specialist outlet supplying kitchens and joinery 
products that meet the needs of businesses of many sizes 
from specialist joiners through to local authorities and 
national house builders.

653

BRANCHES 
AROUND THE UK

119

BRANCHES 
AROUND THE UK

PLUMBING & HEATING
Plumbing & Heating supplies the trade with plumbing, heating 
and related products. Plumbing Trade Supplies and City Plumbing 
Supplies are the main brands in the Division which supplies a wide 
range of customers including domestic plumbers, independent 
merchants, large contractors and public services. As well as selling 
branded products, the Division has developed very successful own 
brand products such as BOSS and iflo. 

Industry: Plumbing and heating
City Plumbing Supplies (“CPS”) is a major nationwide 
plumbing and heating merchant serving the general 
plumbing and heating trades. The business offers high 
quality products and expertise to the trade. 

Industry: Plumbing and heating
Plumbing Trade Supplies (“PTS”) sells a wide range of 
bathroom, heating and plumbing products to the contracts 
market serving both the private and public sectors, including 
national house builders and sole trading plumbers.

Industry: Plumbing, heating and bathrooms
F & P Wholesale is the leading distributor of heating, plumbing 
and bathroom products into the independent merchant 
sector and to retailers of fires and bathrooms. The business 
distributes a wide range of the UK’s leading brands plus a 
number of popular own brands including Pro (heating and 
ancillary products) and Fresssh (bathrooms).

236

BRANCHES 
AROUND THE UK

246

BRANCHES 
AROUND THE UK 
AND IRELAND

9

DISTRIBUTION  
CENTRES ACROSS 
THE UK

Industry: Heating spares
Direct Heating Spares (“DHS”) is a leading distributor of 
domestic heating spares in the UK with national coverage. 
The business is focused on improving the supply and 
service of domestic heating spares to the trade.

1

TRADING UNIT 
WHICH DISTRIBUTES 
AROUND THE UK

Industry: Tools and hardware wholesaler
Birchwood Price Tools (“BPT”) is a leading wholesaler of 
power tools, hand tools and site equipment. BPT also develops 
products and brands which are sold both within the Group and 
through third parties throughout the building materials market 
in the UK. BPT was formed in April 2009 as the result of a 
merger between Birchwood Products and Price Tools and was 
acquired by Travis Perkins plc in December 2010.

3

LOCATIONS WHICH 
DISTRIBUTE AROUND 
THE UK

12

ANNUAL REPORT & ACCOUNTS 2014

ANNUAL REPORT & ACCOUNTS 2014

13

SECTION HEADSTRATEGIC REPORT

THE GROUP’S BUSINESSES

PLUMBING & HEATING 
Continued

Industry: Plumbing and heating
Solfex Energy Systems is a distributor of renewables 
technology.

Industry: Plumbing and heating
PlumbNation is a leading supplier of plumbing and heating 
products through its online ecommerce platform and its UK 
contact centre operation. 

1

SITE IN THE NORTH 
WEST OF ENGLAND

1

DISTRIBUTION CENTRE 
WHICH DISTRIBUTES 
AROUND THE UK

CONTRACTS
Contracts has three main brands: Keyline, CCF and BSS and these 
businesses are known for their knowledgeable staff and excellent 
delivery service.

CONSUMER
The consumer division supplies domestic building and decorative 
materials through retail stores. It differentiates its proposition 
through a higher proportion of own brand products, low prices 
and good availability supplemented by the key brands required by 
DIY’ers and the trade. 

Industry: Civils, heavy building materials and 
drainage solutions
Keyline is one of the largest suppliers of civils, heavy building 
materials and drainage solutions in the UK, with a nationwide 
network that delivers thousands of product lines to trade 
professionals and specialist contractors.

Industry: Pipeline and heating solutions
BSS Industrial Pipeline & Heating Solutions (“BSS”) is a 
specialist distributor of pipeline, heating and mechanical 
services equipment, serving customers across all industrial 
sectors within the UK and Ireland.

Industry: Interior building solutions - commercial 
offices, residential, healthcare, education, hotels, 
airports, retail, food
CCF is one of the UK’s leading distributors of interior 
building products to the construction industry. CCF has an 
extensive product range from ceilings, drywall and flooring, 
to insulation, partitioning and fire protection products, which 
can be supplied from stock and delivered nationwide.

75

BRANCHES 
AROUND THE UK

64

BRANCHES 
AROUND THE UK

32

BRANCHES 
AROUND THE UK

Industry: DIY and home improvement 
product retailer
Wickes opened its first store in 1972 and now has over 200 
stores throughout the UK. Wickes was acquired by the Group 
in February 2005. There are currently 10,000+ products in 
the Wickes range which are available to order in-store, online 
or by telephone. 

Industry: Retailer of tools and hardware
Toolstation is a rapidly growing retailer founded in 2003 
operating from over 180 stores. Its fully integrated 
multichannel operating model is class leading and enables 
the business to offer the lowest prices and best availability. 

Industry: Retailer of ceramic tiles
Tile Giant is one of the UK’s fastest growing suppliers of 
ceramic tiles which are available to both the public and the 
trade. Tile Giant was founded in Staffordshire and has grown 
to over 100 stores nationwide. Tile Giant was acquired by 
the Group in 2007.

232

STORES 
AROUND THE UK

184

STORES 
AROUND THE UK

111

STORES 
AROUND THE UK

14

ANNUAL REPORT & ACCOUNTS 2014

ANNUAL REPORT & ACCOUNTS 2014

15

SECTION HEADCHAIRMAN’S STATEMENT

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2014

INTRODUCTION
A few introductory points, by way of context.

During the years 2008 to 2013, 
the Company adopted a measured 
approach to trading and investment, 
combining self-help initiatives and 
selective acquisitions (Toolstation and 
BSS), which reflected opportunities at 
that stage in the business cycle. 

During the second quarter of 2013, however, the Group saw 
early signs of recovery in the sector and decided to adopt a 
more expansionary stance, investing ahead of the cycle and 
planning accordingly:
•  Continuing to carefully plan and execute CEO succession, 

with the pending retirement of Geoff Cooper

•  Developing longer term strategies for each of the 

Group’s businesses

•  Realigning the Group’s senior management teams and 

devolving more operating authority to each of the Group’s 
businesses to take full advantage of the Group’s traditional 
strengths as operators

•  Planning well in advance for a series of Board retirements 

and recruiting a Board fit for the future

•  Commencing a disciplined approach to capital allocation 

that fully reflected the Company’s most attractive 
investment choices

One year into this new direction, I am pleased to report 
impressive progress. Point by point, addressing each of the 
five points above: 

•  John Carter, taking over as Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) 

in January 2014, has had a strong first year and has 
established a close working partnership with Tony Buffin, 
the Group’s Chief Financial Officer (“CFO”)

•  The Group’s five year strategic direction was presented to 
the City in a Capital Markets presentation in December 
2013; this was followed by a further operational briefing 
day in November 2014, when many of the Group’s senior 
executives presented their individual businesses. The 
Group plans to continue this high level of communication

•  The new devolved organisation is clearly working. There 
is significant commitment and energy in each of the 
businesses aimed at innovating their business models 
to serve customers better

•  Board recruitment is now complete. The Group now has 
a talented Board, comprising directors with extensive 
experience, many of whom are current and past CEOs  
and CFOs

•  During 2014, £183m of capital investment was approved. 

Disciplined processes are in place to monitor this 
investment to ensure that targeted returns are achieved, 
and future capital is put to best use 

Finally, and despite good progress to date, the Board 
remains vigilant about future political and market 
uncertainties, and it will continue to ensure the Group  
retains significant flexibility to adjust its 
stance, should conditions change.

Results
As a result I am pleased to report another good year, in which 
the Group once again outperformed its sector. 

The improvement in market conditions has led to revenue 
increasing by 8.4% to £5.6bn (2013: £5.1bn), whilst adjusted 
profit before tax rose by £41m or 12.8% from £321m to 
£362m. Adjusted earnings per share were up 15.4 pence to 
119.0 pence, a 14.9% increase over last year’s 103.6 pence.

As a result of the Group recognising a net £23m of pre-tax 
exceptional items (2013: £9m credit), profit after tax fell by 
£6m to £259m and basic earnings per share was 3.6% lower 
at 105.9 pence.

Net debt has risen slightly to £358m (2013: £344m) despite, 
as planned, the Group increasing the dividend payment to 
investors, commencing its investment programme in branch 
and store expansion, distribution centre restructuring and 
extension and in IT developments and completing a bolt 
on acquisition. Overall gross capital expenditure, before 
acquisitions and disposals, increased by £58m to £165m 
(2013: £107m).

Dividend
The strong performance of the Group in 2014 combined with 
the Board’s confidence that the Group’s self-help strategy and 
underlying market indicators will result in continued strong 
future earnings growth, has enabled the Board to propose a 
22.6% increase in the full year dividend. 

A final dividend of 25.75 pence, payable on 1 June 2015 to 
shareholders on the register on 1 May 2015, will give a full year 
dividend of 38 pence (2013: 31 pence) which is covered  
3.1 times by adjusted earnings per share. The proposed 
dividend brings cover to within the Board’s target range of  
2.5x to 3.25x in the medium term.

Board of Directors
The Group believes that it is best served by directors who have 
demonstrated a successful track record of leading businesses 
as either CEO or CFO. The evolution of the Board, which 
started two years ago, continued at pace during 2014. Two new 
non-executive directors joined the Group during the autumn 
and a further appointment was announced during December 
following the retirement of John Coleman, and in advance of 
the planned retirement from the Board of Andrew Simon in 
October 2015.

John Coleman retired from the Board on 31 October 2014.  
He has served the Group with distinction since he became 
a non-executive director in February 2005 having been 
a member of the remuneration, nominations and audit 
committees and also fulfilled the role of senior independent 
director from January 2013 until August 2014. The Board 
would like to express its thanks to John and wish him well for 
the future.

John Rogers and Pete Redfern joined the Board as  
non-executive directors on 1 November 2014, whilst Coline 
McConville has joined it in the same capacity on 1 February 
2015. The Board believes that it will be enhanced by the newly 
appointed directors as they bring a wide range of skills and 
experience to the Group. 

Andrew Simon became senior independent director on 
1 August 2014. Having joined the Board in 2006, he completed 
nine years of service as a director on 20 February 2015 and 
would normally have retired at that time. However, with all 
the changes to the composition of the Board over the past 
eighteen months Andrew has agreed to its request to defer his 
retirement until 31 October 2015, by which time the recently 
appointed directors will have settled in to their roles.

Employees
The successful implementation of the Group’s strategy is 
wholly dependent upon the quality of the entire Travis Perkins 
team. During the year, the already successful team was joined 
by a number of new colleagues bringing skills to support the 
growth and development of the business. The Board would like 
to welcome all of those new colleagues to the Group and thank 
everyone who has contributed to what has been yet another 
successful year for Travis Perkins. 

Outlook
Good progress has been made implementing the Group’s 
updated strategy, although there remains much still to do. Whilst 
it is early in the recovery of the construction industry, the new 
housing market, new commercial and industrial markets and 
the repair, maintenance and improvement markets have been 
performing largely as the Group expected. 

The key lead indicators monitored by management show that 
the drivers of activity have settled into a more sustainable and 
consistent trend. Mortgage approval rates and subsequent 
housing transactions began to moderate in 2014 and this is not 
expected to significantly reverse in 2015. The upcoming general 
election may also create some short-term volatility. However, 
consumer sentiment has improved, employment is rising, 
mortgage rates are at an historical low and the Group has begun 
to see wage price inflation above consumer price inflation.

However, the Group’s growth plans are not just predicated on 
resurgent markets, but on active investment programmes 
to drive sustainable competitive advantage and long term 
improvements to shareholder returns. Through investing 
in customer propositions, optimising the branch network, 
accelerating the scale advantage the Group enjoys and 
disciplined portfolio management the Group remains confident 
it can continue to outperform the markets it operates in over the 
year ahead and the medium-term.

Robert Walker 
Chairman 
2 March 2015

16

ANNUAL REPORT & ACCOUNTS 2014

ANNUAL REPORT & ACCOUNTS 2014

17

SECTION HEADSTRATEGIC REPORT

BUSINESS MODEL
 What Travis Perkins Does

Travis Perkins operates a diverse range of principally UK-based building 
materials and products distribution businesses in terms of scale and 
customers served. Businesses with similar operating models and 
customer groups are organised into four divisions: General Merchanting, 
Plumbing & Heating, Contracts and Consumer. 

The Group sells quality building products and related 
services over the counter through its physical branches 
and stores, using its nationwide sales force and increasingly 
online to a diverse range of customers ranging from sole 
traders to national house-builders.

The Group aims for each of its businesses to be the 
number one or number two by share in their respective 
sector. The unique breadth of businesses in the Group 

and diverse supply channels provide resilience to future 
changes in customer buying behaviour. Wickes, Tile Giant 
and Toolstation are well placed to benefit from the trend 
amongst smaller customers seeking fixed prices and online 
convenience. Similarly, BSS, CCF and Keyline provide the 
level of service and bespoke framework agreements which 
are increasingly important to larger contract customers.  
The Group is organised by customer type, product and 
operating model as follows:

Consumer

Merchants

Contracts

Wickes
Tile Giant

Toolstation

Travis Perkins,
Benchmarx

CPS, PTS,
F & P, Spares

BSS, CCF,
Keyline

Customers

Small / retail

Pricing

Fixed

Ranging

Mandated

Delivery

35%

50%

Medium -  large trade

Variable by customer to
templates / guided

Tendered quote /
framework
agreements

Variable

85%

Source products from over 
50 countries and over 
9,000 stock suppliers

Stock over 100,000 products 
 and then distribute them from 
1,448 branches, 527 stores 
and 29 warehouses

Sell goods and services 
 to over 280,000 account 
customers and millions of 
cash customers

The Group differentiates its customer proposition through its:

Product solutions:

Scale, competitive pricing and convenience:

•  The size of the Group allows it to benefit from economies of 
scale in common and direct product sourcing and selective 
centralised distribution

•  The Group operates from 2,000 locations enabling it to 
conveniently offer products for collection or delivery to 
customers anywhere in the UK and increasingly integrate 
its developing online operations into its branch and store 
network. This then enables the Group to pass on these 
efficiencies to customers by ensuring each of its businesses 
offers competitive prices in their respective markets

Excellent availability and fast and efficient delivery:

•  The Group’s scale gives its suppliers access to a wide range 
of end customers whilst enabling the Group to purchase 
products on a competitive basis

•  The range of businesses in the Group enables it to access 

and distribute products in almost all building material 
product categories

•  The Group is committed to buying products, commensurate 

with its customers’ needs, from ethically responsible 
manufacturers

•  The Group has developed a wide range of own brand 

products which enable it to offer products of commensurate 
quality to branded goods, but at lower price points

•  The operation of lightside primary distribution centres, 

•  Excellent relationships with suppliers ensure the Group 

heavyside regional distribution centres and dedicated retail 
supply chains mean the Group can offer superior access to 
the broadest product range and excellent availability

•  Over 2,250 colleagues, 192 lorries, 29 central warehouses 

and 3,700 local delivery vehicles enable the Group to operate 
an efficient local and national delivery service

•  Nearly 70% of the Group’s sales are delivered to customers 
with two thirds of these routed through the branch network

•  Telephone, mail order and internet ordering channels  
enable customers to access the product they need at  
their convenience

benefits from product innovation and keen prices which it can 
pass through to its customers

Excellent customer service:

•  Each business has developed a proposition to meet the 
differing needs of its customers, which concentrates on  
speed and quality of service, breadth of product range,  
stock availability for both collection and delivery and value  
for money

•  The Group aims to employ, develop and retain the best 

people in the sector

Through sales expansion, careful control of costs and 
targeted investment the Group seeks to grow the  
business, increase shareholder value and strengthen  
its balance sheet.

18

ANNUAL REPORT & ACCOUNTS 2014

ANNUAL REPORT & ACCOUNTS 2014

19

SECTION HEADSTRATEGIC REPORT

THE GROUP’S MARKETS

The total UK construction and home improvement materials market 
is worth approximately £65bn. Travis Perkins’ addressable market 
is £34bn which excludes certain trade and DIY categories and direct 
from manufacturer to end-user supplies.

£65bn building materials market

Non-addressable
trade market
£6bn

Direct to 
trade/ contract
£20bn

Addressable
trade market
£27bn

Addressable
market £34bn

Non-addressable
retail market
£5bn

Addressable
retail market
£7bn

£34bn addressable market - £11bn adjacent categories

Independents £14bn 
5,400 branches

Adjacent categories
£11bn 

Travis Perkins
£6bn
1,975 branches

Nationals £14bn
5,000 branches

Many of the Group’s businesses hold market leading 
positions (by turnover), and those that do not are generally 
the number two in their respective market. Therefore 
the Group is well-positioned to benefit from the UK’s 
continuing economic recovery and further enhance 
shareholder returns. 

The Group’s largest nationwide competitors account for less 
than half the turnover in the Group’s addressable markets. 
Independents and regional, largely private, companies make 
up the remainder of the market. There are categories with 
an addressable market of approximately £11bn, in which the 
Group does not currently operate. These categories provide 
potential opportunities into which the Group may extend 
its reach.

Market Trends 

The UK has a long history of significantly under-investing in 
its housing stock. According to a recent survey by the Office 
for National Statistics, there are approximately 28 million 
homes in the UK and only 60% of these are maintained 
to a satisfactory standard. A trend towards smaller family 
units results in around 230,000 new households being 
formed each year. The combination of under-investment in 
existing dwellings and new household formation provides 
a reasonable expectation of sustainable medium to long 
term growth in both the new build housing and the repair, 
maintenance and improvement (“RMI”) markets.

Lead Indicators

The Group’s businesses supply greater volumes of product 
to the more resilient RMI market, albeit with a small, but 
important component of turnover coming from the supply 
of material to the new build market. 

The Group tracks several market indicators from the 
housing, retail and construction sectors in order to 
determine levels of investment and inform the Group’s 
trading stance. Secondary housing transactions and 
consumer confidence remain the key indicators that most 
closely correlate to future performance. Traditionally there 
has been a lag of around nine months between a change 

in those key indicators and a corresponding uplift in 
demand volumes. 

There was a significant improvement in the key lead 
indicators the Group monitors as the UK recovery took hold 
in 2013. Whilst it is still relatively early in the recovery of UK 
construction industry, the key indicators monitored by the 
Group have steadied during the course of the year and are 
now at levels that the Group believes are consistent with 
those needed to support sustained medium-term growth in 
RMI spend, new housing construction and new commercial 
and industrial development. 

The following chart shows some of the key lead indicators 
the Group tracks: 

Site 
visitors

Site 
reservations

Consumer
confidence

Climate for 
purchases

using

o
H

R

e

t

a

i

l

Equity 
withdrawal

Retail sales 
growth

Mortgage 
approvals

Housing 
transactions

Housing
prices

Constru c t i

n

o

Architect 
workload

New 
construction 
orders

Construction 
output

Trade 
confidence

Expected 
workload

20

ANNUAL REPORT & ACCOUNTS 2014

ANNUAL REPORT & ACCOUNTS 2014

21

SECTION HEADSTRATEGIC REPORT

Housing Transactions
1,900

s
d
n
a
s
u
o
h
T

1,700

1,500

1,300

1,100

900

700

500

Northern Ireland

Wales

Scotland

England

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

Source: HM Revenue and Customs December 2014 and Travis Perkins analysis

Mortgage Approvals
350

s
d
n
a
s
u
o
h
T

300

250

200

150

100

50

0
2006

Other

Remortgages

House purchases

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

Source: Bank of England December 2014

Consumer Confidence

)

%

(

x
e
d
n

I

5

0

(5)

(10)

(15)

(20)

(25)

(30)

(35)

(40)

(45)

Index figure

Index annual
moving average

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

Source: GFK UK Consumer Confidence Index December 2014

22

ANNUAL REPORT & ACCOUNTS 2014

Looking in more detail at a number of the lead indicators 
the Group tracks, the charts on page 22 show that key lead 
indicators for housing transactions and mortgage approvals 
are relatively strong, albeit growth rates have moderated 
during 2014. 

Government actions and returning confidence led to a rapid 
increase in housing transactions in late 2013 and early 
2014. Following these initial increases, secondary housing 
transactions have been broadly consistent at around 
100,000 transactions per month which has formed the 
basis for the Group’s long term planning

An improving economic outlook with lower inflation, rising 
employment, low and steady interest rates and rising real 
wage increases for the first time in many years has resulted 
in consumer confidence increasing to its highest point 
since 2008. 

Customer Propositions

Customers’ buying behaviours continually evolve and it is 
important that the Group stays ahead of these changes. 
End-users are becoming more confident in challenging 
tradesmen on materials prices with improvements in 
technology enabling increasing levels of price transparency. 
In some of the Group’s markets, in specific categories and 
for smaller tradesmen, there is an emerging trend towards 
more fixed rather than negotiated prices. Larger customers, 
quite rightly, continue to demand both increased levels of 
service and better value.

The Group’s assembly of businesses serving large and  
small customers, across a broad range of categories, 

through on-line and off-line channels, and its nationwide 
delivery capability means it is well placed to adapt to and 
benefit from any changes in customer behaviour and  
buying patterns. 

Online penetration of building material supply to the trade 
remains relatively modest at around 3% and 7% for the 
DIY sector. Industry forecasts predict that online penetration 
is expected to grow and mainly for lighter or higher value 
items where the cost and ease of distribution 
is not restrictive. 

Despite the expectation of relatively modest growth 
in penetration of online sales, the Group is constantly 
monitoring, and will respond to, changes in technology, 
buying behaviour and supply arrangements. The Group 
continues to invest in the expansion of Toolstation with its 
well-developed online capability and in its online heating 
supplies business. New multichannel platforms are being 
developed for General Merchanting, before being rolled 
out across the Group. Wickes has implemented a new web 
platform, which is designed to ensure it is the DIY supplier 
of choice. All of these measures demonstrate the Group’s 
intention to enhance its market leading positions whatever 
the customers’ channel of choice. 

The Group will continue to monitor changes in end-user 
and customer buying behaviour to ensure that it is well 
placed to invest in and benefit from any changes under way. 
Beyond changes to the channels through which products 
are distributed the Group has identified further outsourcing 
opportunities where larger end-users, such as local 
authorities, have requested full service supply agreements.

Staying ahead of changes in buying behaviour

Wickes
Tile Giant

Toolstation

Travis Perkins
& Benchmarx

CPS, PTS,
F & P, Spares

BSS, CCF,
Keyline

Fixed pricing

Variable pricing

Tendered quote /
framework agreements

Customer sizes:
Small – 1-2 employees
Medium – 2-15 employees
Large – 15+ employees

Smaller customers

Medium customers

Larger customers

• Increasing price transparency

• Lightside and high-value products

• End-users challenging tradesmen on material prices

•  Large customers demanding increasing levels of service 

• Jobbing tradesmen able to better compare prices

and value

ANNUAL REPORT & ACCOUNTS 2014

23

SECTION HEAD 
STRATEGIC REPORT

BUSINESS REVIEW

During 2014 good progress has been made in delivering improvements 
in each of the four areas of value creation identified across the Group: 
customer innovation, network optimisation, utilising scale advantage 
and portfolio management.

Significant achievements in the Group’s first year

Customer innovation
•    Further price investment to  

Network optimisation
•  9 new TP branches

grow share

•  Heavyside range extensions

•  4 new Wickes stores

•   33 new Toolstation stores

•   Promotional & branded 

ranges into Wickes

•   City Plumbing format 

conversions

•   New TP format trials  

under way

•   Wickes Click & Collect 

launched

•   46 City Plumbing 

conversions

•  34 new Benchmarx

•  23 Toolhire implants

•  44 Spares implants

•   12 Contracts and  
2 Travis Perkins  
branches redeployed

Utilising scale advantage
•   Second primary lightside 

hub in Warrington complete

Portfolio management
•   Divisional management 
teams gaining traction

•   Second heavyside range 
centre in Cardiff complete

•   Technology investment in  

early stages

•   Further sourcing 
improvements 
in lightside, heavyside, 
timber & kitchens

•   More to do on incentive 

structures

•   Strategic capital planning, 
allocation and review 
processes in place

•   Disciplined acquisitions / 

disposals

•   Transparent / regular 
market updates  
on progress

Improved ranging, own brand development, better 
availability, greater value through price investment and new 
formats have improved the Group’s customer proposition. 
The Group’s network has been extended with 54 new 
trading locations opened during the year together with a 
further 47 non-spares implants being opened in existing 
locations. The Plumbing & Heating Division’s programme 
to reconfigure its branches into two more clearly defined 
operating models commenced during the year and will 
continue through 2015 and into 2016.

A significant step up in the Toolstation new store opening 
programme meant that 33 new stores were opened during 
the year.

The Group has made good progress in better using its scale 
advantage. A new primary lightside primary distribution 

centre located near to Warrington opened towards the end 
of the year, with a second heavyside range centre opened 
in Cardiff. Although still at an early stage a number of 
important technology investments have commenced as 
the Group seeks to modernise its information technology 
infrastructure. Further improvements have been made in 
sourcing where the Group has continued to grow volumes 
through its international buying teams.

Significant progress has also been made in better managing 
the Group’s portfolio of businesses and improving returns 
on capital. Divisional management teams have been 
considerably strengthened and have further developed the 
strategic plans for their respective divisions. The enhanced 
discipline brought to portfolio management resulted in 
the Group determining it could not make an acceptable 

Lester Roe – Travis Perkins, Warrington

return from its roofing business, Rinus Roofing, which was 
subsequently disposed of during the year.

Incentive structures have been better aligned to the 
more clearly defined plans, particularly in the Consumer 
Division, and more work is under way to link management 
performance to compensation in the other Divisions. In the 
first year of implementing the updated strategy the Group 
has successfully outperformed the market and gained 
share, grown operating profit in line with its target of double 
digit growth over the medium-term and improved lease 
adjusted return on capital by 40bps to 10.4%. Significant 
operating and capital investment programmes have 
continued to improve customer propositions, optimise the 
Group’s property network and take advantage of its scale.

The markets for three of the Group’s four divisions have 
followed an improving trend, which began in 2013. Only the 
plumbing and heating market has struggled to grow in the 
face of a reduction in government initiatives and generally 
weak demand. The Group has taken advantage of lower 
demand in the market to commence the restructuring of its 
two principal plumbing and heating businesses, CPS and 
PTS to better align them to the needs of their customers.

With sales outperformance being a key element of the 
Group’s strategy, it was encouraging that for much of 2014 
the merchanting businesses have outperformed the Builders 
Merchants Federation (“BMF”) and the Construction 
Products Association (“CPA”) growth benchmarks, whilst the 
new Wickes management team has significantly increased 
Wickes market share.

24

ANNUAL REPORT & ACCOUNTS 2014

ANNUAL REPORT & ACCOUNTS 2014

25

SECTION HEADSTRATEGIC REPORT

Revenue

Total revenue grew by 8.4% driven by strong like-for-like (“LFL”) sales of 7.3% and further network expansion across the Group.

Total Revenue

General 
Merchanting

Plumbing & 
Heating

Contracts

Consumer

Total

Volume

Price / mix

Like-for-like per day

Expansion / disposals

Total revenue change

Like-for-Like Revenue

Quarter to 31 March

Quarter to 30 June

Quarter to 30 September

Quarter to 31 December

First half 

Second half

Full year

%

10.3

2.6

12.9

0.8

13.7

%

(1.6)

(0.3)

(1.9)

1.0

(0.9)

%

10.3

1.5

11.8

0.3

12.1

%

9.8

(3.1)

6.7

2.1

8.8

%

7.0

0.3

7.3

1.1

8.4

General 
Merchanting

Plumbing & 
Heating

Contracts

Consumer

Total

%

16.6

13.3

10.9

11.6

14.6

11.3

12.9

%

13.2

1.2

(5.1)

(13.3)

7.4

(9.7)

(1.9)

%

12.8

9.7

9.6

15.8

11.1

12.4

11.8

%

6.9

6.8

6.4

6.7

6.8

6.4

6.7

%

12.7

8.1

5.7

3.5

10.2

4.6

7.3

Better weather when compared to the same period in 2013, 
combined with improved market conditions meant that the 
Group started the year strongly with first quarter like-for-like 
sales up 12.7%. Whilst the rate of like-for-like sales growth 
moderated as the year progressed due to much stronger 
comparators, General Merchanting, Contracts and the 
Consumer Division all finished the year well. 

The Consumer Division saw a strong sales volume increase 
during 2014, driven partly by an improved kitchen and 
bathroom performance in Wickes. However, the impact of 
higher volumes on like-for-like sales was tempered slightly 
as Wickes continued to invest in lowering prices and strong 
promotions on key product lines to further enhance its value 
leading position in the DIY market. 

Despite a strong start to 2014, the plumbing and heating 
market weakened as the year progressed. Boiler sales 
suffered an industry-wide slow down owing to mild 
weather and the impact of government inducement 
schemes which pulled forward boiler installations into 
2013 and early 2014. As a result the market became 
increasingly competitive with more aggressive pricing and 
significant discounting of boiler prices during the latter 
part of the year.

The Group has continued its programme of new branch 
openings, utilising existing space more effectively and 
rationalising underperforming sites, particularly in the 
Plumbing & Heating Division where the Building the Best 
transformation programme gathered pace. Network 
expansion and intensification added £60m to revenue 
which represented 1.1% of group sales. 

In November 2014 the Group purchased Primaflow, 
a plumbing and heating distribution business that 
complements the Group’s existing F & P operations. 

Adjusted Operating Margin

Gross margins fell by 0.2ppt for the Group largely owing 
to the weaker volumes in the Plumbing & Heating Division 
and to the stance adopted to grow volumes alongside a 
sales mix shift in the Contracts Division. Implementing the 
Group’s strategy has led to an increase in investment in 
self-help initiatives, but despite this investment the ratio of 
overheads to sales fell by 0.2ppt in 2014.

Overall Group adjusted operating profit increased by 10.5% 
to £384m (2013: £348m), which resulted in adjusted 
operating margins growing by 0.1ppt to 6.9% (2013: 6.8%) 
after the inclusion of property profits across both years.

Property profits increased by £9m during the year to £26m 
(2013: £17m) following the disposal of the freehold for 
the Warrington distribution centre, which added 0.1% to 
operating margin. 

General  
Merchanting

Plumbing & 
Heating

Contracts

Consumer

Unallocated

Total

%

10.7

(0.2)

(0.4)

10.1

(0.3)

9.8

%

4.1

(0.6)

0.5

4.0

0.8

4.8

%

7.1

(0.7)

0.3

6.7

-

6.7

%

5.3

(0.3)

1.0

6.0

-

6.0

%

(0.3)

-

0.1

(0.2)

-

(0.2)

%

6.8

(0.2)

0.2

6.8

0.1

6.9

2013 adjusted operating 
margin

Gross margin

Operating costs 

2014 adjusted operating 
margin before property profits

Property profits

2014 adjusted 
operating margin

26

ANNUAL REPORT & ACCOUNTS 2014

ANNUAL REPORT & ACCOUNTS 2014

27

SECTION HEADSTRATEGIC REPORT

General Merchanting

Performance

Revenue

LFL growth

Adjusted operating profit

Adjusted operating margin

Network expansion (No. of owned branches)

Lease adjusted ROCE

1Excludes Rinus Roofing branches

The improved market conditions experienced in the second 
half of 2013 continued into 2014. New housing activity, 
sustained growth in the RMI sector coupled with improved 
sentiment from the Group’s trade customers led to strong 
market growth. The General Merchanting Division experienced 
modest sales price inflation, predominantly but not exclusively 
in heavyside products, where supply fell short of demand and 
a positive sales mix effect from growth in heavyside and 
timber sales.

Divisional sales grew by 13.7%, 12.9% on a like-for-like basis. 
In May 2014 twelve Keyline branches were transferred into 
the Division and rebranded as Travis Perkins and two large 
Travis Perkins branches were rebranded Keyline. The branches 
added approximately 0.8ppt to Travis Perkins revenue and 
reduced Contracts revenue by approximately 1.4ppt. There 
was no material impact on like-for-like revenue as these 
branches were excluded from comparative calculations. 

From a category perspective, good growth was seen in 
heavyside and timber product areas, with moderate sales price 
deflation in lightside products particularly plumbing & heating, 
reducing growth. Gross margin reduced slightly in the second 
half due to product mix and additional promotional activity, 
but throughout the year margins benefited from strong price 
management and rational markets in the face of 
supply constraints. 

Adjusted operating margins fell by 0.9% from 10.7% in 2013 
to 9.8% and 0.6% after adjusting for property profits.

Divisional operating costs increased during the year due to a 
combination of the comprehensive modernisation programme 
being established, volume increases, investment in customer 
service and delivery service enhancements. New format trials 
were undertaken, upgrades were made to IT software and 
hardware and additional tool-hire and Benchmarx implants 
were established. The second half saw an increase in the 
level of investment, when compared to the first half as the 
modernisation programme gained momentum.

Property profits for the Division were lower in 2014 as the 
impact of the St Pancras redevelopment reduced, which 
resulted in a 0.3% fall in adjusted operating margin. 

Operating the branches of the Division in a safe manner is 
of paramount importance. During 2014 improved reporting 
allowed the earlier identification of potential issues which, 
when coupled with branch led initiatives, has strengthened the 
Division’s safety position; further improvements will be sought 
in 2015.

2014

£1,873m

£183m

9.8%

772 

16%

2013

£1,648m

£176m

10.7%

7281

16%

Change

13.7%

12.9%

4.0%

(0.9)ppt

44

-

In December 2014, Travis Perkins successfully opened its 
second range centre (“RC”) in Cardiff and by the end of 2014 
the RC was supplying heavyside product to more than 30 
branches. Work is under way to open a third RC at East Tilbury 
during 2015. The Warrington RC is now serving 135 branches. 
RCs enable Travis Perkins to provide customers with an 
extended range catalogue and to offer better availability to all 
the brands they serve.

The property pipeline required to deliver new branches has 
been re-established during 2014 and is now well placed to 
deliver between five and fifteen new branches per year into the 
medium-term. Existing space intensification continued in 2014, 
with two Benchmarx kitchen showrooms opening in Travis 
Perkins branches, along with 10 more branches able to offer 
tool-hire services.

Work continues with the Travis Perkins modernisation 
programme: 

•   Format, range and space initiatives are now being trialled in 
three branches, with a fuller pilot programme to commence 
in 2015 

•   Extending the Travis Perkins multi-channel offer remains 

a priority with IT infrastructure under development and the 
range centre development both being an integral part of 
enabling fulfilment. 

•   Modernising the pricing architecture in Travis Perkins, 

through better systems and analytics, is already seeing 
improved decision making in branches and will continue 
in 2015

The Benchmarx business had a record year in 2014, with sales 
growth of 28.2%, 14.7% on a like-for-like basis. Early in the year 
27 kitchen showrooms within Travis Perkins were rebranded 
as Benchmarx showrooms resulting in increased sales, whilst 
a further two implants and five brownfield branches were 
opened during the year taking the total number of sites to 119. 

The Benchmarx strategy is well defined with three branch 
formats: standalone branches, implants in Travis Perkins 
branches, which carry stock to fulfil orders, and showrooms 
which enable customers to view product and then order 
kitchens for delivery. Improvements in sourcing in 2014 and 
a significant review and rationalisation of the range mean the 
business is well placed for growth in 2015.

Plumbing & Heating

Performance

Revenue

LFL growth

Adjusted operating profit

Adjusted operating margin

Network expansion (No. of owned branches)

Lease adjusted ROCE

In March 2014 the business announced its Building the 
Best plans to transform the Plumbing & Heating Division 
by clarifying the plumbing and heating format strategy, 
more specifically aligning the PTS business to support 
large contract customers with CPS supporting the small 
to medium sized plumbing and heating engineers and 
bathroom installers. The network reconfiguration will bring a 
clearer segmentation of customer propositions with around 
180 branch conversions planned over two years. The effect 
will be to re-allocate capital to City Plumbing, which offers 
better returns and significantly improve divisional LAROCE. 
Furthermore, the PTS network is being designed to better 
satisfy demand from larger customers with fewer stocking 
points, better account management and more efficient 
deliveries reducing the level of capital employed.

During the year 46 branches have been converted from 
the PTS format to the CPS format. This has enabled more 
CPS customers to access the new bathroom showroom 
concept and a broader range of product. In addition 27 PTS  
branches have been closed with customers transferred to 
larger PTS and nearby CPS branches.

Revenue in the Division declined by 0.9% as a result of a 
number of one-off Energy Company Obligation Scheme 
contracts ending in the first half of the year as well as a 
weaker market for boiler sales. In addition, as expected, 
sales in the second half of the year were impacted by the 
disruption of branches being physically converted to the 
CPS format and the closure of PTS branches, which were 
not considered to be viable under the new PTS operating 
model. This disruption will continue through 2015.

Gross margins declined 0.6ppt when compared with 
last year a result of a highly competitive market whilst 
operating costs were well controlled with the ratio of cost 
to sales improving by 0.5ppt in the year. This operating 
cost improvement has been delivered despite the business 
continuing to invest in new bathroom showroom facilities 
and spares implants across the network.

2014

£1,353m

2013

£1,366m

£65m

4.8%

505

9%

£56m

4.1%

526 

8%

Change

(0.9)%

(1.9)%

15.4%

0.7ppt

(21)

1.0ppt

The business has recognised an exceptional charge of 
£29m relating to the reconfiguration of the plumbing and 
heating network across PTS and CPS. This includes onerous 
lease costs, dilapidations expenditure, abnormal stock-
write offs associated with branch closures and the costs of 
running the transformation programme. These costs include 
items such as lease rental costs, which would have been 
incurred through to 2020. 

Operating profit grew from £56m in 2013 to £65m in 
2014. If the impacts of property profits and ECO contracts 
are excluded from both the 2013 and 2014 results then 
underlying profits increased from £46m in 2013 to £48m in 
2014. As a result the underlying operating margin increased 
from 3.4% to 3.5% and the reported operating margin 
improved from 4.1% to 4.8%.

During the year, the business undertook a number of 
initiatives to drive productivity improvements across the 
branch network, for example reviewing warehouse layouts 
and processes. In addition property profits of £11m arose 
following the sale of the freehold for the Warrington primary 
distribution hub.

Lease adjusted return on capital employed has improved to 
9%, a year-on-year increase of 1.0ppt as initiatives to reduce 
working capital have gathered pace.

The Division continued to expand the CPS network format 
outside the core Building the Best change programme. 
Through 2014 four new CPS sites were opened in key 
markets and bathroom showrooms were rolled out to an 
additional 34 sites. Spares implants were rolled out to  
44 new PTS and CPS sites in the year, enhancing the 
customer offer and improving sales densities.

In November 2014 the business acquired Primaflow for 
£16m, which has an annual turnover of £37m. Primaflow 
will sit alongside the Connections business within F & P, 
distributing small parts largely to the independent plumbers 
merchants. This investment will support the growth of 
the F & P business through category expansion as well as 
producing commercial and supply chain synergies.

28

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ANNUAL REPORT & ACCOUNTS 2014

29

SECTION HEAD  
  
  
   
STRATEGIC REPORT

Contracts

Performance

Revenue

LFL growth

Adjusted operating profit

Adjusted operating margin

Network expansion (No. of owned branches)

Lease adjusted ROCE

Good progress was made in the Contracts division in 2014, 
which was created just over 15 months ago to provide 
a better service to large contract customers and realise 
synergy benefits. Double digit revenue growth led to  
market share gains in all three businesses, with investments 
commenced to deliver the strategic plans laid out in  
late 2013.

Revenue growth of 12.1% with a like-for-like sales increase 
of 11.8% benefited from good volume growth throughout 
the year and a particularly encouraging final quarter given 
the very strong prior year pricing comparatives. Positive 
sales price and mix variance were slightly more muted than 
expected at the outset of the year with commodity price 
deflation in the BSS plumbing and heating categories being 
offset by inflation in heavy building materials in Keyline.

The gross margin decline in the Division was predominantly 
due to competitive price discounting in BSS and more 
limited pass through as well as a mix shift to the lower 
margin Keyline and CCF businesses. Despite the 
competitive market conditions BSS grew both market  
share and gross profits in the year.

Overheads were well controlled across all three businesses. 
Notwithstanding, investments have been made to support 
the division’s long term vision and strategic plan including in 
skilled, technically strong colleagues to drive an enhanced 
service proposition. Further investments were made in 
rolling out nine more tool-hire businesses within existing 
BSS branches, in the industrial sales team capability, in the 
range and distribution of Sektor partitions in CCF and in the 
rail and utility team capabilities in Keyline.

Keyline continued to improve its range conformity and 
clarity throughout its branch network in 2014. As part of 
this work it was decided to rebrand 12 branches as Travis 
Perkins fascias. These branches were smaller than required 
to stock the comprehensive civil materials range which 
Keyline customers have come to expect and so were better 
suited to meet the needs of Travis Perkins customers.  
Two larger Travis Perkins branches were branded Keyline in 
locations where Keyline was historically under-represented. 
Product ranges were extended and specialists recruited 
in the rail, utilities, highways and geo-technics customer 
segments and categories. Encouragingly strong growth was 
achieved in all parts of the business. In addition, further 

2014

£1,072m

£72m

6.7%

171 

13%

2013

£956m

£68m

7.1%

182 

12%

Change

12.1%

11.8%

6.1%

(0.4)ppt

(11)

1.0ppt

investments were made in the tool-hire category with 
12 branches now offering the full range of tool-hire assets.

BSS faced a more challenging market in 2014, but 
continued to make market share gains, with particular 
focus on growth in the industrial market sector delivering 
double digit growth through the deployment of ‘centres of 
excellence’ across the branch network. The BSS Hire IT offer 
is now available on a national basis through 27 branches. 
It is supported by a central warehouse distribution service, 
which ensures that hire assets are available when and where 
customers need them.

CCF has had a very strong year as it focused on expanding 
its interiors range. All categories have shown positive growth, 
particularly insulation and internal partitions. Following 
an exciting launch at the end of 2013, sales of CCF’s own 
brand ‘Sektor’ partitions products have grown strongly 
during the year and were well received by customers. 
Further investment is planned in 2015. The business’ online 
presence through Insulation Giant has been enhanced with 
an expansion of product range and improvements to the 
on-line customer experience. 

CCF added one new branch in 2014 taking the total 
network to 32. In addition three branches were relocated to 
larger, more efficient premises giving a total space increase 
of 6.6%, which contributed 4.8% to CCF sales. Network 
development provides a material opportunity to grow 
footprint, improve national coverage and reduce the cost 
to serve. Plans are well advanced to extend CCF’s network 
further in 2015. 

Operating margins in the Division fell from 7.1% to 6.7% in 
the year in part owing to the competitive BSS market and 
in part owing to higher growth in lower margin CCF and 
Keyline businesses. Despite the fall in margins EBITA grew 
by 6.1% and lease adjusted return on capital employed 
increased from 12% to 13%.

Following the year end, on 4 February 2015, the Division 
completed the small acquisitions of Rudridge. This should 
add about £50m to revenue from four well located 
branches in the South East. 

Consumer

Performance

Revenue

LFL growth

Adjusted operating profit

Adjusted operating margin

Network expansion (No. of owned branches)

Lease adjusted ROCE

The Division showed strong revenue growth throughout 
2014. Like-for-like sales growth was consistently over 6% 
throughout the year. The first quarter benefited from milder 
weather than in 2013, coupled with strong winds which 
assisted fencing and roofing sales. The fourth quarter saw 
the strongest underlying sales growth with like-for-like sales 
up over 6% and two-year growth of over 15%.

Total revenue growth of 8.8% and like-for-like sales of  
6.7% demonstrates the improvements made in the 
Wickes offer through the year and the attractiveness of 
the Toolstation proposition. Continued price investment in 
Wickes, to keep prices generally lower than its competitors, 
helped the business gain significant share and establish a 
stronger price perception amongst customers. Toolstation 
continued to invest to maintain its ‘lowest price in the 
market’ positioning.

Despite these significant investments for customers, gross 
margin declined by only 0.3ppt owing to the continued work 
to re-source and rationalise range. However, the growth 
in volumes and strong cost control resulted in operating 
margins improving from 5.3% to 6.0% and EBITA growing 
by nearly 23%.

New stores contributed 2.1ppt to sales during the year 
with four new Wickes stores opened alongside 33 new 

2014

£1,283m

2013

£1,180m

£77m

6.0%

527 

7%

£63m

5.3%

489 

6%

Change

8.8%

6.7%

22.7%

0.7ppt

38

1.0ppt

Toolstation shops, including 12 implants in Wickes. At the 
end of 2014 Toolstation operated from 184 shops and 
Wickes from 232 stores.

The transformation plans for Wickes started to gain 
momentum during 2014 with improvements in price, 
branded ranges, promotions, customer service and Wickes 
online offer through the introduction of a new website and 
click and collect. Further improvements and investments 
are planned in 2015 alongside an acceleration in the store 
opening programme.

To date the incremental returns from these investments 
have been strong and are contributing towards 
management’s medium-term target of improving  
lease adjusted returns by 200-300bps for the Division  
as a whole.

Wickes plans to continue the expansion of its network  
by between 5 and 10 new stores per year and  
Toolstation is planning to open more than 30 shops 
again in 2015 (2014: 33).

With clear improvement and expansion plans in place for 
2015, a strong performance in 2014 and positive market 
indicators, management are encouraged with the improved 
outlook for the Division. 

Summary

The Group has seen encouraging progress in the majority 
of its businesses during the first year of implementing 
its updated strategy. The key priorities remain on 
modernising General Merchanting, transforming Wickes and 
reconfiguring the plumbing and heating businesses to better 
suit their customers’ needs. 

The Group’s key lead indicators have settled into a still 
positive, but more moderated and consistent trend.  
This backdrop allied to the Group’s “self-help” growth 
initiatives should support on-going market share gains, 
medium-term double digit operating profit growth and 
continuing growth in return on capital. 

John Carter 
Chief Executive Officer 
2 March 2015

30

ANNUAL REPORT & ACCOUNTS 2014

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31

SECTION HEAD  
  
  
  
STRATEGIC REPORT

FINANCIAL REVIEW

The Group has made good progress towards achieving the medium 
term strategic financial targets set out in last year’s annual report and 
towards its aim of running the business on investment grade metrics. 
Investment levels have increased, longer term funding has been 
put in place and six of the Group’s seven key financial metrics have 
improved as a result of increased profits when compared with 2013. 

Measure

Adjusted earnings per share

Lease adjusted ROCE

Lease adjusted debt to EBITDAR

Fixed charge cover

Adjusted dividend cover

Net debt

Free cash flow

Note

11b

37

36

36

12

33

35

2014

119.0p

10.4%

2.8x

3.1x

3.1x

£358m

£255m

Change

2013

Medium Term Ambition

14.9%

40bps

103.6p

10.0%

Double digit growth p.a.

+200-300bps

0.2x

0.2x

0.2x

3.0x

2.9x

3.3x

£(14)m

£344m

£15m

£240m

2.5x

3.5x

2.50x–3.25x

-

-

With increasing investment levels the Board had a strong 
desire to diversify sources of funding to improve the Group’s 
debt maturity profile, to ensure the Group is not overly 
reliant on any one form of financing and to improve its 
covenant in negotiations with landlords, the Trustees of the 
Group’s pension schemes and its suppliers. 

During 2014 the Group obtained a public debt rating 
from Standard & Poors. In line with the expectations 
of the Group’s management and its advisors, the Group 
was assessed as being BB+ stable, one notch below 
investment grade. 

In September 2014, with strong liquidity in the debt capital 
markets, the Group issued a £250m seven year debut listed 
sterling denominated bond, on investment grade terms, even 
though the Group was rated slightly below investment grade. 
The issue was oversubscribed by more than 3 times. Issuing 
the bond improves the tenor of the Group’s funding and it will 
enable it to implement its investment plans, whilst allowing 
$200m of US private placement senior notes to be repaid in 
January 2016 which are not expected to be replaced. 

Financial Results

The operating performance of the Group is set out in the 
Business Review on pages 24 to 31 of this report. The 
key financial metrics and targets are set out above, the 
key income statement metrics, stated after the exclusion 
of £18m (2013: £18m) of amortisation and £23m of 
exceptional costs (2013: £9m of exceptional income 
and £21m of exceptional tax credits), are included in the 
table below:

Revenue

Operating profit

Profit before tax

Tax 

Profit after tax

2014 
£m

5,580.7

343.1

321.4

62.7

258.7

Basic EPS (pence)

105.9p

Change

8.4%

4.1%

2.8%

(30.9)%

(2.5)%

(3.6)%

2013 
£m

5,148.7

329.7

312.6

47.9

264.7

109.9p

Throughout this annual report, consistent with the approach 
in prior years, the term “adjusted” has been used to signify 
that the effects of exceptional items and amortisation of 
intangible assets have been excluded from the disclosures 
being made. The adjusted operating profit and profit before 
tax are shown below:

2014 
£m

Change

384.0

10.5%

2013 
£m

347.6

362.3

12.8%

321.1

119.0p

14.9%

103.6p

Adjusted operating 
profit

Adjusted profit 
before tax 

Adjusted basic EPS 
(pence)

Impairment and amortisation

The annual amortisation charge was £18m (2013: £18m). In 
accordance with the requirements of International Accounting 
Standards the Group conducted an annual review of the 

carrying value of goodwill and intangible assets to determine 
whether any impairment should be recognised in the financial 
statements. As shown in notes 13 and 14 and noted in the 
Audit Committee report on page 94, after consideration by 
the Audit Committee and the Board, the Directors concluded 
that the future cash flows of each business are likely to be 
sufficient to support the balance sheet carrying value of 
goodwill and intangible assets, therefore no provision for 
impairment has been made.

Finance costs

Net finance costs, which comprise interest on debt,  
mark-to-market fair value adjustments and other financing 
type costs associated with pension schemes, provision discount 
unwinds, fund raising and tax were £22m (2013: £26m). 

Borrowing costs on outstanding debt were approximately 
£1m lower at £22m (2013: £23m). Although the interest 
rate payable on the Group’s new bond issue is higher than 
that on its revolving credit facility, interest charges fell 
following the expiry of several historical interest rate swaps.

32

ANNUAL REPORT & ACCOUNTS 2014

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33

SECTION HEADSTRATEGIC REPORT

The impact of marking-to-market currency forward 
contracts used to hedge commercial transactions, which 
remained outstanding at the year-end was £3m higher in 
2014 with a £4m gain being recorded (2013: £1m gain). 
Other financing type costs were broadly similar to last year 
at £4m (2013: £4m).

The average interest rate on the Group’s borrowings during 
the year was 3.7% (2013: 3.6%).

Exceptional items

Reported profit before tax was £8m higher than last 
year at £321m (2013: £313m) because of the impact of 
exceptional items. In 2014 there was a £23m net pre-tax 
exceptional charge to the income statement (2013: £9m 
of pre-tax exceptional income). The exceptional items in 
2014 comprised the release of a £10m onerous lease 
provision, a £5m loss on the disposal of an investment in 
an associate company, a £1m gain on fair valuing contingent 
consideration for an historic acquisition and £29m of costs 
relating to the reconfiguration of businesses in the  
Plumbing & Heating Division.

Exceptional 
costs and 
cash flows

2014 
Cash 
Impact 
£m

2014 
EBITA 
Impact 
£m

2015 
Incremental 
Cash Impact 
£m

2014 
EBITA 
Impact 
£m

Wickes store 
closure

Plumbing 
and heating 
network 
reconfiguration

Other

Rinus Roofing 
disposal

Total

Taxation

-

10

(4)

-

3

(1)

(29)

1

(5)

(23)

(3)

(3)

-

-

(6)

-

-

-

-

-

The statutory tax charge for the year was £63m  
(2013: £48m). 2014 was the first year in the last five that 
the Government did not enact a change to the standard rate 
of corporation tax, which in previous years has resulted in a 
significant reduction in the Group’s tax charge (2013: £20m). 

The underlying tax charge, excluding the tax deduction 
for exceptional items, was £68m (2013: £68m), which 
represents an effective rate of 19.7% (2013: 22.4%). This is 
slightly below the standard rate of corporation tax of 21.5% 
(2013: 23.25%) applicable to profits in the United Kingdom. 
The difference is mainly due to the value of non-taxable 
property profits exceeding the value of expenses not 
deductible for tax purposes and a reduction in prior year tax 
charges following the implementation of FRS 102, a new UK 
Accounting Standard that impacted the Group’s subsidiary 
companies. A full reconciliation of the actual to standard tax 
rates is included in note 10 of the financial statements.

The Group’s balance sheet tax provision includes £50m 
relating to uncertain tax positions currently under discussion 
with H. M. Revenue and Customs (“HMRC”), which arose 
in prior periods. As a result of changes in Government 
legislation in the 2014 budget, the Group expects that in 2015 
it will have to pay approximately £50m in corporation tax to 
HMRC before the tax positions under discussion are finalised, 
although to date no payment demand has been received. 

Should the Group’s filed tax positions be agreed with 
HMRC the tax charge in the group income statement in a 
future period will be reduced by the release of the £50m 
of provisions, or if previously settled by the repayment of 
£50m of taxes paid. If after concluding all possible avenues 
available to the Group, it becomes necessary to amend the 
Group’s filed tax position then there should be no significant 
impact on the tax charge in the group income statement.

Earnings per share

Profit after taxation fell by 2.3% to £259m (2013: £265m) 
which resulted in basic earnings per share falling by 3.6% 
to 105.9 pence (2013: 109.9 pence). There is no significant 
difference between basic and diluted basic earnings per share. 

Adjusted profit after tax was £291m (2013: £249m) (note 
5) which resulted in adjusted earnings per share (note 11) 
increasing by 14.9% to 119.0 pence (2013: 103.6 pence).  
The increase reflects the improvement in trading profit, 
lower financing costs and the previously enacted reduction 
in the standard rate of corporation tax. There is no significant 
difference between adjusted basic and adjusted diluted 
earnings per share.

Capital employed and lease adjusted return 
on capital employed

Net assets at the end of 2014 were £2,678m (2013: 
£2,515m), which contributed to capital employed of 
£3,207m (2013: £3,009m) (note 37). 

Increased adjusted pre-tax profits in 2014 have resulted 
in the Group’s adjusted (for exceptional items and 
amortisation) return on capital for the year being 0.6% 
higher than 2013 at 12.4%, (2013: 11.8%). After adjusting 
for property leases at a rate of 8 times the annual lease 
charge, the lease adjusted return on lease adjusted capital 
employed was 10.4%, (2013: 10.0%). On both a reported and 
lease adjusted basis returns are well above the Group’s post 
tax weighted average cost of capital of 7.7%. 

Property transactions continued to be an important source 
of profit for the Group in 2014. The development and then 
disposal of the freehold of the Group’s Warrington primary 
distribution centre together with the final element of the  
St. Pancras branch development profit were the main 
contributors to the Group’s £26m of property related gains 
(2013: £17m), which have been included within divisional profits. 

In 2014 the Group has been implementing its strategy of 
investing in strategically important freeholds by spending 
£35m to acquire 19 sites. At the year end, the balance sheet 

carrying value of the freehold and long-leasehold estate 
was £350m (2013: £309m).

During the year, the daily closing share price ranged between 
1,574p (2013: 1,088p) and 1,982p (2013: 1,872p). The shares 
closed the year at a price of 1,857p (2013: 1,872p), making 
the Group’s market capitalisation at the year-end £4.62bn 
(2013 £4.62bn). This represented 1.7 times shareholders’ 
funds (31 December 2013: 1.8 times).

Dividend

The proposed dividend for the year of 38 pence  
(2013: 31 pence) results in a 22.6% increase compared to 
2013 (2013: 24% increase). An interim dividend of  
12.25 pence was paid to shareholders in November 2014 at 
a cost of £30m. If it is approved, the proposed final dividend 
of 25.75 pence will be paid on 1 June 2015 and will cost the 
Group approximately £58m. 

A 38 pence full year dividend would reduce dividend  
cover to 3.1 times (2013: 3.3 times) adjusted earnings per 
share, bringing it within the Board’s target cover of between 
2.5x and 3.25x.

Financing strategy

Strong financial capital management is a fundamental 
component of the overall group strategy. The Group 
maintains a capital structure that is both appropriate to the 
on-going needs of the business and ensures it remains within 
the covenant limits that apply to its banking arrangements. 

The current preferred capital structure of the Group consists 
of debt, which includes listed sterling bonds, syndicated bank 
borrowings and US private placement notes, cash and cash 
equivalents and equity attributable to equity holders of the 
Parent Company, comprising issued capital, reserves and 
retained earnings. 

The capital structure is formally reviewed by the Board as 
part of its annual strategy review, but it is kept under review 
throughout the year. The Board regularly reviews the facilities 
available and seeks to maintain them at a level sufficient to 
facilitate execution of its strategy, whilst ensuring that liquidity 
headroom will cover most reasonably possible eventualities. 
As necessary, the Group will rebalance its capital structure 
by investing in the business, raising or repaying debt, issuing 
equity or paying dividends.

The strategic capital management ambition of the Group is to:

•   Target investment grade credit metrics

•   Maintain group funding flexibility to allow for property 
purchases and branch infill and category acquisitions

•   Generate sufficient free cash flow to enable the Group 
to follow a progressive and sustainable dividend policy 
through the cycle. Specifically this will result in:

•   A dividend cover range of between 2.5x and 3.25x 

•   Moving towards the centre of the range in 2015 and 2016

Whilst the Group has consistently reduced outstanding debt 
in recent years deleveraging over the next two years may be 
more modest given the Group’s:

•   Value adding investment plans

•   Need to increase investment in working capital as the 

Group expands

•   Intention to operate a progressive dividend policy

The Group is also party to a large number of leases, 
most of which relate to premises it occupies for trading 
purposes. The weighted average duration (the time until  
the Group’s first opportunity to exit the lease) is 
approximately 9.5 years.

At 31 December 2014, property leases capitalised at 8x the 
annual rent roll were approximately 80% (2013: 80%) of 
the Group’s combined on and off balance sheet funding with 
an annual rent roll of approximately £184m (2013: £184m). 
It is likely that property leases will become a smaller 
component of the Group’s financing structure in future, 
nonetheless they will remain significant and important.  
In addition the Group paid approximately £36m  
(2013: £12m) in respect of non-property operating leases.

Note 30 gives further details about the Group’s operating 
lease commitments.

The capital structure of the Group at 31 December comprised:

Cash and cash equivalents

Bank loans

UK listed bond

US private placement 
notes at fair value

Loan notes

Finance leases

Liability to pension scheme

Pension fund deficits

Goodwill written off

Mark-to-market adjustments 
on borrowings

2014 
£m

(108)

-

258

2013 
£m

(80)

240

-

133

129

41

21

36

78

93

(17)

(6)

3

24

37

57

93

(4)

(5)

•   Ensure debt funding is suitably diversified to provide 

Finance charges netted off debt

an acceptable maturity profile and reduce reliance on 
individual sources of finance, whilst lowering overall 
funding costs

•   Balance the need to ensure available funding with the 

desire for an efficient cost of capital

Equity attributable to shareholders

Total balance sheet capital employed

Property operating leases (8x rentals)

Total lease adjusted capital employed

2,678

3,207

1,469

4,676

2,515

3,009

1,474

4,483

34

ANNUAL REPORT & ACCOUNTS 2014

ANNUAL REPORT & ACCOUNTS 2014

35

SECTION HEADSTRATEGIC REPORT

Net Debt, Funding and Liquidity

Net debt rose slightly in 2014 and finished the year at 
£358m (2013: £344m), an increase of £14m (2013: 
£104m decrease):

•   Cash generated from operations was £6m lower than for 
2013 at £313m (2013: £319m). A £29m improvement to 
cash flows from higher profits, together with lower pension 
and exceptional payments of £2m, were offset by a £36m 
increase in working capital absorbed by the business 
(2014: £107m, 2013: £71m) as the Group sought to further 
improve availability by investing more into stock

•   Gross capital expenditure, before acquisitions and 

disposals increased by £58m to £165m in 2014 (2013: 
£107m) as the Group commenced its planned investment 
programme in branch and store expansion, distribution 
centre restructuring and extension and in IT development 
and completing a bolt on acquisition. Capital replacement 
expenditure totalled £50m (2013: £44m) and aggregate 
expansionary capital, including acquisitions of £18m  
(2013: £12m), but before netting off disposal proceeds of 
£31m (2013: £17m), was £133m (2013: £75m)

•   The consideration payable for Toolstation was finalised 
early in the year and resulted in the issue of £38m of 
loan notes

•   Dividend payments were, as planned, £16m higher as a 

result of significant dividend increases 

•   Other cash outflows and non-cash movements were  

£7m higher than 2013

Adjusted free cash flow for the period was £255m 
(2013: £240m) (note 35). 

At 31 December 2014 the Group’s committed 
funding comprised:

•   A £250m UK listed bond due 2021

•   A revolving credit facility of £550m, which runs until 
December 2016, advanced by a syndicate of 10 banks

•   $200m of unsecured guaranteed $US senior notes due for 

repayment in January 2016

At 31 December 2014, the Group had undrawn committed 
facilities of £550m (2013: £360m) and available cash / 
short-term borrowings of £108m (2013: £54m).

Effective Financial Risk Management

The overall aim of the Group’s financial risk management 
policies is to minimise potential adverse effects on financial 
performance and net assets. The Group manages the 
principal financial and treasury risks within a framework of 
policies and operating parameters reviewed and approved 
annually by the Board of Directors. The Group does not 
enter into speculative transactions.

The Group’s policy is to enter into derivative contracts only 
with members of its bank facility syndicate, provided such 
counterparties meet the minimum rating set out in the 
Board approved derivative policy.

The Group reviewed its interest rate hedging policy during 
the year and agreed that its preference is for a 100% 
variable rate borrowing profile, subject to an annual review 
that this meets acceptable uncertainty levels for the Group’s 
interest costs, covenants and credit ratios. Currently the 
Board believes that a fully variable rate borrowing profile 
provides acceptable uncertainty levels and so wherever it is 
cost effective to do so the Group’s borrowings are to be held 
at floating rates, with interest rate swaps being used to swap 
fixed rate borrowings into floating rate borrowings.

At the year-end, the Group had £312m notional value of 
interest rate derivatives resulting in interest rates floating 
on approximately 85% (2013: 58%) of the Group’s cleared 
gross debt (before cash and cash equivalents). 

The Group has previously entered into two cross currency 
swaps and four forward currency contracts in respect of its 
$200m of $US private placement notes.

The Group settles its currency denominated purchases 
using a combination of currency purchased at spot rates 
and currency bought in advance on forward contracts. 
During the year, the Group refined its hedging policy to 
more closely buy forward only those purchases that are 
fully committed. As a result the Group now purchases 
forward contracts for approximately 50% of its anticipated 
requirements seven months forward (previously this was 
50% of its projected requirements one year forward).  
At 31 December 2014 the nominal value of currency 
contracts, all of which were $US denominated, was  
$75m (2013: $83m). 

The Group is a substantial provider of credit to a large 
portfolio of small and medium size businesses throughout 
the UK together with some of the country’s largest 
companies. It manages its exposure to credit risk through 
a strong credit control function that works closely with the 
business and its customers to ensure the Group offers 
credit sufficient for the needs of those customers without 
exposing the Group to excessive risk. The bad debt charge 
in 2014 was approximately 0.28% (2013: 0.35%) of 
credit sales, which is at the lower end of results previously 
achieved by the Group.

In summary, the key aspects of the Group’s financial risk 
management strategy are to:

•   Target investment grade credit parameters

•   Reduce the Group’s reliance on the bank market for its 

funding by having a diverse mix of funding sources with a 
spread of maturities

•   Seek to maintain a strong balance sheet

•   Accord a high priority to effective cash and working 

capital management

Pensions

At 31 December 2014 the combined accounting gross 
deficit for the Group’s two final salary pension schemes was 
£98m (2013: £71m), which equated to a net deficit after tax 
of £78m (2013: £57m). 

The Group has compared the funding positions of its 
pensions schemes calculated in accordance with IAS 19 
with the net present value of the minimum agreed funding 
contributions. The deficit in the balance sheet is then based 
on the higher of the two numbers.

At the year-end the gross deficit for the Travis Perkins 
scheme, based upon the net present value of the agreed 
minimum funding contributions was £41m (2013: £6m). 
The gross deficit of the BSS scheme was £57m calculated 
in accordance with IAS 19. 

The Trustees of the Travis Perkins scheme are in the 
process of undertaking an actuarial valuation of the scheme 
as at 30 September 2014. The Trustees of the BSS scheme 
are due to undertake the next actuarial valuation of the 
scheme as at 31 May 2015. It is likely that these valuations 
will result in changes to the value of additional pension 
payments made by the Group to fund the Scheme’s historic 
deficits (2014: £26m). 

The Group made £12m (2013: £12m) of contributions to its 
defined contribution scheme during the year.

Tony Buffin 
Chief Financial Officer 
2 March 2015

•   Maintain liquidity headroom of over £200m and continue 

good relationships with the Group’s bankers

•    Manage counterparty risk by raising funds from a syndicate 
of lenders, the members of which maintain investment 
grade credit ratings

•    Operate banking covenants within comfortable margins:

•   The ratio of net debt to adjusted EBITDA (earnings 

before interest, tax depreciation and amortisation) has to 
be lower than 3.0x; it was 0.7x (2013: 0.7x) at the  
year-end (note 36)

•   The number of times operating profit covers interest  

charges has to be a least 3.5x and it was approximately 
22x at 31 December 2014 (31 December 2013: 18x)

•    Have a conservative hedging policy that reduces the 
Group’s exposure to currency and fluctuations, whilst 
allowing it to benefit from low interest rates

Tax Strategy and Tax Risk Management

The Group’s objectives in managing and controlling its tax 
affairs and related tax risks are as follows:

•    Ensuring compliance with all applicable rules, legislation 

and regulations under which it operates

•   Maintaining an open and co-operative relationship with the 

UK Tax Authorities to reduce its risk profile

•   Paying the correct amount of tax as it falls due

Tax policies and risks are assessed as part of the formal 
governance process and are reviewed by the Chief Financial 
Officer and reported to the Group’s Audit Committee on a 
regular basis.

Significant tax risks, implications arising from these risks 
and potential mitigating actions are considered by the Board 
when strategic decisions are taken:

•   The tax risks of proposed transactions or new areas of 

business are fully considered before proceeding

•    The Group employs professional tax specialists to manage 
tax risks and takes appropriate tax advice from reputable 
professional firms where it is considered to be necessary

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37

SECTION HEADSTRATEGIC REPORT

THE GROUP’S STRATEGY

One of the Group’s key strengths is its unique breadth in the UK. 
It has a portfolio of 18 businesses that cover the spectrum of the 
building materials distribution markets from retail customers in the 
consumer division to major construction companies purchasing large 
scale building products from the Contracts division. The chart below 
shows the structure of the Group: 

Strength as a Group – Unique Breadth in the UK

General
Merchanting

Plumbing &
Heating

Contracts

Consumer

38

ANNUAL REPORT & ACCOUNTS 2014
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Aerial photograph – Guy Stephenson

SECTION HEADSTRATEGIC REPORT

The Group’s markets are in the early stages of recovery 
from what has been a significant and protracted downturn 
for the UK’s construction sector. This recovery now appears 
to be increasingly broad based and this combined with a 

series of self-help initiatives outlined at the Group’s capital 
markets day presentation in 2013 and operational briefing 
in 2014 means that the Group’s performance improvements 
should not be constrained by market growth.

Our growth is not constrained by the market

Market Fragmentation

Majority of the 
markets we compete 
in are highly 
fragmented

Proliferation of 
small family-owned 
businesses

1 

The Group’s businesses are significant 
in each of their markets, but with 
relatively low market shares

Structural Advantages

Branch network: 
2,000 locations in the 
UK with strong financial 
position underpinning
tight yields and site 
access

2 

 Sourcing and supply chain: 
sourcing terms, range, 
stocking and distribution 
efficiency

 IT: 
selective sharing of software 
platforms and volume 
hardware purchasing

Superior Propositions

Space: 
new branch and 
store opening 
programme 
with implants 
intensifying space

3

Range & value: 
improved promotions 
and KVI pricing, 
range extension, 
own label development, 
availability

 Channel: 
format and customer 
service: investment in 
online channels, new 
formats and better service

Fragmented 
markets

+

+

structural 
advantage

superior 
proposition

=

sustainable 
market share 
gains

In setting its strategy the Group believes that it can sustain 
revenue growth into the medium-term due to a number 
of factors:

Sustainable medium-term revenue growth

.

.

a
p
h
t
w
o
r
g
s
e
l
a
S

8%

6%

4%

2%

0% 

1-2%

1-2%

0-2%

2-3%

Market
volume

Inflation

Out- 
performance

New 
 space

•   Low single digit market volume growth assumed

•  Low levels of inflation

•   Structural advantages and investment opportunities 

generate consistent market outperformance

•   ~6-7% revenue growth p.a.

Levers of value creation

The Group’s strategy is designed to deliver long-term 
sustainable shareholder value through the following levers 
of value creation:

•   Improved customer innovation

•   Optimising the Group’s store and branch network

•  Scale advantage

•  Portfolio management

The levers of value creation and key components of each 
lever are set out in the column on the right: 

Levers of 
value creation

Customer innovation

•  Improved value

•  Extended range

•  Product development

•  Format renewal

•  Technology enabled

•  Multi-channel

Optimising network

•  TP expansion & modernisation

•  Wickes national footprint

•  Plumbing & Heating format clarity

•  Implants intensity returns

•  Trade parks

Scale advantage

•  Supply chain investment

•  Leverage property capability

•  Group sourcing benefits

•  Shared technology investment

Portfolio management

•  Streamlined central functions

•  Devolved management responsibility

•  Disciplined planning and capital allocation

•  Regular market updates

e
r
u
t
l
u
c

e
u
q
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u

i

f
o

l

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i
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v
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a

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p
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u
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t
d
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a
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E

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40

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41

SECTION HEAD 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
STRATEGIC REPORT

Portfolio Management

The Group has a robust planning approach enabling it to 
allocate capital to the opportunities which are expected to 
deliver the most material value for shareholders. Aligned 
with this approach to managing capital allocation is a 
selection of key metrics upon which the Group is managed. 
In particular lease-adjusted return on capital employed is 
an important measure of success as the Board believes it 
best aligns investment decisions with the ultimate goal of 
shareholders; their return on equity. 

In order to improve lease adjusted return on capital 
management responsibility for both earnings and capital 
employed is devolved down through the business.  
This greater accountability and autonomy is managed and 
monitored through strong governance processes.  
As management in each of the businesses are taking more 
control for managing returns, central functions are being 
streamlined to ensure all teams are closer to the businesses 
they support and ultimately customers. This approach to 
capital allocation is creating more competition for capital 
with management allocating capital to those investments 
with demonstrably the highest returns.

Capital expenditure, which rose in 2014, will increase further 
in the medium-term to take advantage of investment 
opportunities in the market. Capital expenditure is being 
tiered based upon the risk and return profiles of the various 
investment opportunities identified. The tiering of capital 
spend is managed under four broad headings:

1.   Extending the Group’s leadership: investment in proven 

businesses and opportunities delivering attractive returns

2.   Investing to grow: investment in customer propositions 
to adapt to changing customer needs and cement the 
Group’s market leading positions

3.    Infrastructure investment: investment to enable  

future outperformance

4.    Divest: where there are better uses for capital either 

to grow the business or where it is sensible for it to be 
returned to shareholders

Scale Advantage

One of the key value creation levers is using the  
Group’s scale to improve efficiency and deliver a better 
customer proposition.

The Group’s supply chain ambition is to provide branches 
and customers with easy access to the broadest range of 
products, reliably, efficiently, safely and on time:

•   Ordering will be made simpler for branches with 

improved range management tools and automated stock 
replenishment systems

•   The Group’s distribution centre (“DC”) footprint will undergo 
further change, increasing lightside DC capacity and rolling 
out regional heavyside range centres

•   Route planning tools and further optimisation of the  
vehicle fleet will reduce the cost of, and enhance, the  
local delivery proposition

The Group’s scale enables improved efficiency and 
the ability to offer a stronger proposition. Customers 
increasingly want certainty of product availability and access 
to broader product ranges. 

The Group’s strategy of Easy Supply of Product (ESP) offers 
continuous access to more products quickly, reliably and 
efficiently. The strategy will deliver a sustainable structural 
advantage in the form of:

•   Next day availability on 24,000 lightside products - 

nationwide

•   Next day availability on 3,000 heavyside - 90% of the country

•    Next week availability on further 3,000 heavyside products 

- 90% of the country

•    Lower in-branch stock holding

•   Reduced inter-branch transfers

•    Fewer empty trucks, travelling fewer miles, more frequently

The strength of the Group’s balance sheet enables businesses 
within the Group to access properties they would otherwise 
find it difficult to occupy. Furthermore, by developing  
multi-fascia sites, the Group is able to provide opportunities 
for the Group’s smaller operating businesses to co-locate  
with the Group’s larger businesses and benefit from greater 
foot traffic.

The Group is also focused on using its buying scale to 
source products directly from manufacturers at lower cost 
and on creating more commonality in product ranges such 
that it can consolidate volumes so reducing unit costs 
still further.

For many years, the Group has benefited from efficient,  
low-cost IT systems. These systems are approaching the 
end of their useful life and, therefore, a clear four point 
strategy has been developed to ensure better IT systems 
capacity and flexibility in the future:

•   Delivering a common and shared trading platform across 

the Group’s merchanting businesses

•   Delivering an appropriate multi-channel presence for each 
brand making it easier for customers to order, buy and 
receive products

•    Simplifying back office systems to enable decoupling and 

enhance efficiency

•    Increasing system usability and the experience for 

colleagues and customers so that it is easier to do business 
with the Group

CUSTOMER INNOVATION 
AND OPTIMISING THE 
BRANCH AND STORE 
NETWORK

The underpinning activities to improving the customer 
proposition and improve the network including offering 
better value, extending range, better availability, format 
renewal, modernising Travis Perkins branches and creating 
national networks in a number of the Group’s businesses 
are included in the plans for each of the Divisions in the 
following sections.

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43

SECTION HEAD 
STRATEGIC REPORT

 GENERAL MERCHANTING
   DIVISION STRATEGY

Travis Perkins is, and for the foreseeable future will continue to be, 
the Group’s core business. It is the Group’s largest business by sales, 
profitability and one of the highest returning businesses operated 
within the Group.

The business benefits from national coverage with over 650 
branches, an efficient lightside central distribution network, 
access to a range few competitors can match,  
a modern vehicle delivery fleet and branch managers who 
have built an unparalleled relationship with customers. 
Branch manager incentives are based on return on 
capital performance setting the business apart from its 
competitors, which is a key component of Travis Perkins’ 
market outperformance.

The following chart sets out the key components of the plan 
to improve Travis Perkins, combining both sales and profit 
drivers and investments in enabling infrastructure. 

Simon Stamp – Travis Perkins, Guildford

Modernising the Travis Perkins Model

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45

SECTION HEADExpand thenetworkModernisingformatsManaged servicesdevelopmentInvest in safety &develop our peopleRegionaldistributionEnhanced ITcapabilityEnhancedCRMToolhireexpansionMulti-channeldevelopmentCategory managementand pricingSales and Profit DriversEnablersSTRATEGIC REPORT

There is significant scope for network expansion and 
relocation. Travis Perkins is targeting 5-15 net new branches 
per annum and plans to increase the number of tool-hire 
equipment implants and Benchmarx kitchen implants 
within existing branches. 

The modernisation programme for the Travis Perkins 
business is underway with the key focus on improving range, 
better use of space and ensuring that the price position 
remains competitive. This coupled with the development 
of sales to local authorities through the managed services 
business, expanding the tool-hire category and improving 
Travis Perkins’ multi-channel proposition, offers significant 
opportunities for growth.

The plans to improve the Travis Perkins multi-channel offer 
are set out below:

Mark Munro and Michalakis Michael – Travis Perkins, Aylesford

1

2

3

Where we
are now

Next
steps

Where we
will get to

Customer experience

Infrastructure

•  Clean and functional

•  Branch to site delivery for heavyside

•  Passive

•  Branch collection only for lightside

•  Non-transactional

•  Branch acting as call centre

•  Transactional capability

•  Integration to pricing systems

•  Account management

•  Click & collect

•  Leading online gateway

•  Interactive & social hub

•  Seamless experience across channels

•  Integrated CRM

•  Heavyside distribution improvements
    expanding range and availability

•  Lightside range access from DCs

•  DC direct to site picking

•  Cross-channel fulfilment for lightside

•  CRM and account management
    systems development

•  Contact centre coordination

In summary, the Group is 
confident that Travis Perkins 
can extend its market leading 
position and further drive 
improvements to the customer 
proposition, which over the 
long term will grow value for 
shareholders.

The targets for improvement are set out below and right:

General Merchanting Ambition

Measure

Current

Network expansion

•  Strong market outperformance
•  Network expansion opportunity
•  Modernisation programme the key focus
•  More Benchmarx & Toolhire implants and branches
•  Good early progress with LAROCE improvement

Like-for-like sales 
outperformance

3-5%

772

Operating margin 
improvement prospects

Sector leading

Sustain

Medium-term 
ambition

5-15 new p.a.

1-4% p.a.

•  Strong market outperformance

•  Network expansion opportunity

•  Modernisation programme the key focus

•  More Benchmarx & Toolhire implants and branches

Capital expenditure

£110m

£40-60m p.a.

•  Good early progress with LAROCE improvement

LAROCE

16% Add 200-300bps

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47

SECTION HEADSTRATEGIC REPORT

 PLUMBING & HEATING
 DIVISION STRATEGY

The strategy for the Plumbing & Heating Division  
has three key elements:

1.   Providing plumbers and 

2.  Providing large contract 

bathroom installers with a 
dedicated branch network 
tailored to their needs:

customers with a dedicated 
nationwide branch network  
and efficient delivery service:

a.   City Plumbing Supplies – creating a national network 
of around 400 branches serving local plumbing and 
heating engineers and bathroom installers

a.   Plumbing Trade Supplies – once the reconfiguration 
is complete, a network of around 80 to 90 branches 
servicing value driven plumbing contractors

b.   Tailored bathroom showrooms showcasing the  

best branded and own label ranges, operated by a 
design consultant, helping local tradesmen deliver  
the complete job to their customers faster and  
more efficiently

c.   Increasing availability of spares through extending the 

number of City Heating Spares implants

d.   Selective range extension offering renewables 

products and advice on fitting

b.   Fewer branches holding broader ranges of product in 
contract specified quantities available for same day 
or next day delivery

c.   Branch network supported by overnight dead  
drops from the distribution centre network  
improving availability

d.   Dedicated large customer account management 
capability providing transparency of products  
ordered, despatched and awaiting delivery alongside 
improved billing

3.  Building scale in the P&H 

Division’s focused customer 
proposition:

Pantone
Reflex Blue c

Pantone
PMS 199c

Graphically 
represented 
overleaf

a.   F & P Wholesale – expanding the range throughput 
of product through the reconfigured distribution 
infrastructure to offer local independents broader 
ranges, which are available more speedily

b.   Plumbnation online – providing local heating 

engineers with a fixed price, online ordered boiler and 
spares delivery service

c.    Solfex – providing solar, thermal, photo-voltaic and 
under-floor heating packages to specialist installers

d.   Primaflow – has a complementary product set to  
F & P and so provides the opportunity to offer an 
extended range in both businesses

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49

SECTION HEADSTRATEGIC REPORT

Share Gain Through Focused Customer Propositions

Sales and Profit Drivers

Roll-out of Bathroom 
showroom & 
spares

Leverage high
ROCE F & P model

Develop contract
business

PTS / 
City Plumbing
reconfiguration

More standalone 
City Plumbing
 branches

Supply chain
efficiencies

Tailored 
multi-channel
capability

Enablers

Stay Safe

Excellent IT

Talent to lead UK’s
#1 P&H business

Stanislav Golovenkin – F & P

The targets for the Division are shown below alongside how 
the Plumbing & Heating Division intends to outcompete in  
its markets:

• Outperformance through:

–  Reallocation of the capital base from PTS to CPS

Plumbing & Heating Ambition

Measure

Current

Network expansion

504

Medium-term 
ambition

5-10 net new 
branches p.a.

– CPS network expansion

– Spares and showroom implants

– Differentiated customer offer

– Sourcing and own label development

– F & P supply chain development

Like-for-like sales 
outperformance

Operating margin 
improvement prospects

0-3%

0-3% p.a.

– Development of multi-channel offer

3.5%

Good

Capital expenditure

£14m 

£10-20m p.a.

LAROCE

9%

Add >250bps

Ross Taylor – PTS

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51

SECTION HEADSTRATEGIC REPORT

CONTRACTS DIVISION 
STRATEGY

The Contracts Division was formed on 1 January 2014, bringing 
together the three businesses within the Group that supply products 
to large construction companies and project contractors. 

These businesses all track major commercial and 
infrastructure projects and by bringing them together into 
one division, it is enabling the Group to better track projects 

and sell to major contractors. The key components of the 
strategy for the division are set out below.

Collaboration Drives Outperformance

As with the other divisions, the Group has clear 
performance targets for the division including increasing 
the level of capital investment with the ambition of 
outperforming market peers.

Contracts Ambition

Measure

Current

Network expansion

171 branches

Medium-term 
ambition

1-2% net space 
growth p.a.

Like-for-like sales 
outperformance

Operating margin 
improvement prospects

0-3%

1-3% p.a.

0.7%

Good

Capital expenditure

£14m 

£15-25m p.a.

LAROCE

13% Add 200-300bps

•  Late-cycle recovery – encouraging lead indicators

•  Good market positions throughout project lifecycle

•  Good synergies through businesses collaborating

•  Clear category expansion opportunities

•   Opportunity to improve customer coverage through 

expanding CCF network

Ben Parsons – BSS

Daniel Horgan – Keyline

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Andrew Oliver – CCF

53

SECTION HEADMajor presence inpartitionsDevelop BSSindustrial offerMarket-leadingcustomer serviceMulti-channelcapabilityExcellent ITContract pricing& projectmanagementCategoryexpansionBranch networkoptimisationDeepen sector &category specialismSales and Profit DriversEnablersWhole ContractsDivisionGrowth ininsulationSTRATEGIC REPORT

CONSUMER DIVISION 
STRATEGY

The Consumer Division’s three businesses, Wickes, Toolstation and 
Tile Giant have distinct strategies. The strategies for Wickes and 
Toolstation are set out below:

The strategy is to transform Wickes into the UK’s strongest 
serious DIY retailer with the ambition of having a Wickes 
project in every home. This will be achieved by leveraging 
Wickes’ advantaged position in the market and building on:

•  Wickes’ small box footprint

•  Modest range extensions to the focused store range

•  Reinforcing Wickes value price position

•   Investing in further improvements in the online 

proposition

•   Selectively opening new stores in underserved 

catchment areas

The Wickes plan is graphically represented below:

Wickes offers a focused range of high quality products at 
great value coupled with best in class availability. During 
the year more brands were introduced, there were fewer but 
bigger promotions, and stronger direct communication with 
customers. The business continues to expand its appeal to 
a broader customer base, whilst remaining a great value, 
reliable and convenient place to shop for a loyal base of 
trade and expert DIY consumers. The focus is to continue to 
grow sales and gain market share over the medium term.

The Wickes business is structurally advantaged over its 
competitors. The majority of stores operate from 25 - 30k 
sq ft and there are no plans to significantly modify the 
average store footprint. There are over 60 potential new 
locations in the UK where the Wickes model has already 
proved that the business would be able to gain a profitable 

Philippa Marsh – Wickes

share of the market. The focused Wickes in-store range 
and excellent availability enable customers to shop for 
a DIY project confident that they will be able to find all 
the materials they need to complete the project. Wickes 
investment in its multi-channel capability means customers 
can access an extended range of products which can be 
delivered to home or store with further investments planned.

With a focused range and access to buying scale through 
the Travis Perkins Group, Wickes is able to offer DIY sector 
leading prices and intends to maintain this advantage.

Dan Millers and Sophie Haynes – Wickes

TRANSFORMING THE CUSTOMER PROPOSITION
A Wickes Project in Every Home!

VALUE FOR MONEY
VALUE FOR MONEY

WE ALWAYS DELIVER
WE ALWAYS DELIVER

QUICK, SIMPLE & EASY
QUICK, SIMPLE & EASY

• Refocus product offering based on
   clear customer needs
• Maintain structural price 
   advantage with authority
• Extend to broader
   customer base

• Leverage group scale in 
   buying & distribution
• Leaner service model 
• Enable greater efficiency 
   through IT

hat w e s e ll    
hat w e s e ll    

W
W

               How w
               How w

e
e

s
s

e
e

l
l
l
l

• Build on multi-channel strengths
• National estate coverage
• Improve in-store infrastructure
   & experience

E
E
ffi
ffi

c
c

i
i

e
e

n
n

t 
t 
& E
& E

ffective        
ffective        

w  we work
w  we work

o
o

H
H

• Become a great place to work,
   always
• Develop a diverse workforce to
   match our customer base

Wickes plans to continue to 
expand its network by between 
5 and 10 new stores per year

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55

SECTION HEAD 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
   
Acquisitions

The Group is committed to achieving growth through organic expansion, but that does not exclude taking advantage of suitable 
opportunities that arise to support growth through small bolt on acquisitions.

Small Bolt-on Acquisitions to Support Organic Growth

Geography

• Smaller, independent merchants   
   for regional infill where valuations
  attractive
• International expansion not a focus

On-line

• Accelerate expansion into new   
 channels for key product areas
• Buy or Build trade-off where
  valuations prohibitive

• Strategic investments to protect supply chain
• Share in categories which bypass distribution
• Not a focus

Manufacturing
anufacturin

Channel
Channel

Product
Product

Installation
nstallation

• Installation risk / potential competition with customers
• Not a focus

New categories

• Access specialist markets
• Focus on product areas attractive
   to existing customers
• Smaller footprints attractive to
   leverage existing branch / distribution
   assets
• Buy or Build trade-off where valuations  
   prohibitive or lack of targets
• Demonstrable IP / innovation key
   target areas

How Performance will be Compared to Strategy

The Group’s ambition is to deliver long-term, sustainable value to shareholders. There are a series of financial and non-financial 
measures which the Group tracks to monitor performance. Operationally, success is measured through a comprehensive set of 
key performance indicators. All of these indicators are aligned to achieving the Group’s strategic ambition. The Group’s actual 
performance for 2014 is shown in the key performance indicator section on pages 6 to 9 and in the business and financial 
review sections on pages 24 and 32.

The following diagram shows how delivery of the Group’s strategy links through to the remuneration of the Executive Directors.

Strategy

Financial
Ambition

Annual
Incentive

PSP

Co-
investment
Plan

• Customer Innovation

• Optimise Network

• Scale Advantage

• Portfolio Management

• Double digit
EBITA growth

• Investment grade
credit metrics

• 150-250bps
LAROCE improvement
over medium term
(3-5 years)

• Prospective dividend
growth to within
2.5-3.25X cover

EPS

EPS

Aggregate
cash flow

LAROCE

CROCE

TSR

Personal 
objectives aligned to
operational delivery

Risks

The Statement of Principal Risks and Uncertainties on pages 58 to 63 sets out the key risk factors that are considered by the 
Directors to be material to the business. These include those risks which are deemed to be material and may impact upon 
the successful delivery of this strategy. In addition there are a number of risks which are set out in the table below that are not 
deemed to be material to the Group as a whole but are relevant when setting out a balanced commentary on a divisional basis.

The performance targets for the Consumer Division are set 
out below:

Consumer Ambition

Measure

Network expansion

Like-for-like sales 
outperformance

Operating margin 
improvement prospects

Current

Medium-term 
ambition

232 Wickes
111 Tile Giant
184 Toolstation

~10-15 Wickes p.a.
30+ Toolstation p.a.

Above market

Above market

6%

Good

Capital expenditure

£20m 

~£40m p.a.

LAROCE

7% Add 150-200bps

•   Toolstation expansion continues at pace

•   Wickes transformation driving outperformance:

– New store openings

– Range extension

– Maintain value advantage

– Extend multi-channel leadership

Ben Farler – Toolstation

Toolstation operates from over 180 shops across the UK 
offering the same range instore, online and through its 
catalogue. It aims to provide the lowest cost lightside building 
materials to tradesmen and serious DIY customers and to 
always be in stock in the project quantities its customers 
require. If for any reason products are not available it offers 
next day delivery of those products free of charge.

Toolstation plans to continue to open new shops across 
the UK to meet growing demand from tradesmen for 
transparent, fixed price products. Further investments are 
planned to improve customers’ online experience, provide 
enhanced click and collect services and modestly extend 
the range offered to customers.

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SECTION HEADSTATEMENT OF PRINCIPAL 
RISKS AND UNCERTAINTIES

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2014

The Group operates in a market and an industry which by their nature 
are subject to a number of inherent risks. The Group is able to mitigate 
those risks by adopting different strategies and by maintaining a strong 
system of internal control. However, regardless of the approach that is 
taken, the Group has to accept a certain level of risk in order to generate 
suitable returns for shareholders. 

The Board has a reporting framework that ensures it has 
visibility of the Group’s key risks, the potential impacts 
on the Group and how and to what extent those risks 
are mitigated. Details of the Group’s risk management 
processes are given in the Corporate Governance report on 
page 88. The risk environment in which the Group operates 
does not remain static. The nature of risk is that its scope 
and potential impact will change over time. As such the 
list below should not be regarded as a comprehensive 
statement of all potential risks and uncertainties that may 
manifest themselves in the future. Additional risks and 
uncertainties that are not presently known to the Directors, 
or which they currently deem immaterial, could also have 
an adverse effect on the Group’s future operating results, 
financial condition or prospects.

This section describes the current risk factors that are 
considered by the Board to be material, their potential 
impacts and the factors that mitigate them. The inherent risk 
(before the operation of control) is stated for each risk area 
together with an indication of the current trend for that risk:

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Inherent Risk and Trend

 Risk Description

Impact

Risk Mitigation

Market Conditions

Inherent Risk: 

•••

Trend: 

Competitive pressures place pressure on 
prices, margins and profitability

Inherent Risk:

•••

Trend: 

The Group’s products are sold to businesses, tradesmen and retail customers for a broad range of end 
uses in the built environment. The Group’s markets are cyclical in nature and the performance of those 
markets is affected by general economic conditions and a number of specific drivers of construction, 
RMI and DIY activity, including housing transactions, the timing and nature of government activity to 
stimulate activity, net disposable income, house price inflation, consumer confidence, interest rates  
and unemployment.

Negative or uncertain economic conditions could affect the confidence levels of the Group’s customers, 
which could reduce their propensity to purchase products and services from the Group’s businesses.

Market trends, particularly in respect of customers’ preferences for purchasing materials through 
a range of supply channels and not just through the Group’s traditional competitors may affect the 
Group’s performance so making traditional branch based operations less relevant or profitable.

Increased price transparency could cause customers to perceive that the Group is less competitive 
than some online traders.

Public sector buying groups could reduce sales if public bodies chose to buy direct from 
manufacturers.

The Group faces the risk of new entrants to any of its markets, including from businesses currently 
operating outside its industry or only in overseas markets. Disintermediation may become more of a 
threat if manufacturers decide to deal directly with the end users.

Information technology capabilities impact 
the Group’s ability to trade profitably

The Group depends on a wide range of complex IT systems, both in terms of the availability of 
hardware and the efficient and effective operation of software.

Inherent Risk: 

••

Trend: 

Colleague recruitment, retention and 
succession plans do not deliver the required 
skills and experience

Inherent Risk:  

•

Trend:

Supplier dependency could result in 
shortages of product 

Inherent Risk:  

••

Trend:

The rapid expansion of the Group together with an increasing demand for IT services, particularly as 
the Group embraces modern platforms such as multi-channel, updates its point of sale systems and 
develops its supply chain capabilities, could result in development programmes being delayed or new 
IT systems and change management systems not being successfully implemented.

Should a system become unavailable for an extended period either through deliberate act or through 
accidental failure it could impact the business’ ability to trade.

Increasing levels of sophisticated cyber-crime represent a significant threat to all businesses with the 
potential to cause disruption to systems or the theft and consequential misuse of confidential data.

The ability to recruit, retain and motivate suitably qualified staff is an important driver of the Group’s 
overall performance. 

The strength of the Group’s customer proposition is underpinned by the quality of people working 
throughout the Group. Many of them have worked for Travis Perkins for some considerable time, 
during which they have gained valuable knowledge and expertise. 

The Group faces competition for the best people from other organisations. Ensuring the retention, 
proper development of employees and the succession for key positions is important if the Group is not 
to suffer an adverse effect on future prospects. 

The Group is the largest customer to many of its suppliers. In some cases, those suppliers are large 
enough to cause significant supply difficulties to the Group if they are unable to meet their supply 
obligations due to either economic or operational factors. 

Alternative sourcing may be available, but the volumes required and the time it may take those 
suppliers to increase production could result in significant stock-outs for some considerable time.

The Group has become more reliant on overseas factories producing products as the Group has 
rapidly expanded its direct sourcing capabilities. This has increased the Group’s exposure to sourcing, 
quality, trading, warranty and currency issues.

There is a potential for European anti-dumping legislation to be extended to encompass further Asian 
countries which could increase the cost of some imported products.

Inherent risk: High ••• Medium •• Low • 

Trend: Increasing 

 Static 

 Reducing 

Adverse effect on financial results.

The Board conducts an annual review of strategy, which includes an assessment of likely competitor activity, 
market forecasts and possible future trends in products, channels of distribution and customer behaviour.

Adverse effect on financial results.

The Group maintains a comprehensive tracking system for lead indicators that influence the market for the 
consumption of building materials in the UK.

Significant events including those in the supply chain that may affect the Group are monitored by the 
Executive Committee and reported to the Board monthly by the Group CEO. 

Should market conditions deteriorate then the Board has a range of options dependent upon the severity of 
the change. Historically these have included amending the Group’s trading stance, cost reduction, lowering 
capital investment and cutting the dividend.

Changes to market practice are tracked on an on-going basis and reported to the Board each month.
The Group is building multi-channel capabilities that complement its existing operations and provide its 
customers with the opportunity to transact with the Group through channels that best suit their needs.

The Group is leading the industry in terms of the development of new and innovative supply solutions, and 
works closely with customers and suppliers on a programme of continuous improvements.

The Group continues to refine pricing strategies to ensure it remains competitive.

The Group’s branding strategy allows it to use sites flexibly. Alternative space utilisation models are possible, 
including maintaining smaller stores and implanting additional services into existing branches.

Adverse effect on financial results.

Adverse effect on the Company’s 
reputation.

The strategic demands of the business, the resources available to IT, the performance levels of key systems 
and IT security are kept under review by the Executive Committee. 

Plans that require continual investment in the IT infrastructure have been approved and are being 
implemented. Maintenance is undertaken on an on-going basis to ensure the resilience of group systems, 
with escalation procedures operating to ensure any performance issues are resolved at an early stage. 

The Group’s three data centres mirror each other with data processing switched from one to the other on a 
regular basis. An IT disaster recovery plan exists and is tested regularly together with the business continuity 
plan. Arrangements are in place for alternative data sites for both trade and consumer businesses. Off-site 
back-up routines are in place. 

A programme of risk oriented reviews is undertaken to ensure the level of control around the IT systems 
remains robust.

Inability to develop and execute 
development and succession plans.

Competitive disadvantage.

The Group Human Resources Director monitors staff engagement and turnover by job type and reports to 
the Executive Committee regularly and to the Board annually. Succession plans are established for the most 
senior positions within the Group and these are reviewed annually.

The Group’s reward and recognition systems are actively managed to ensure high levels of  
employee engagement.

A wide-range of training programmes are in place to encourage staff development, whilst management 
development programmes are used to assist those identified for more senior positions. 

Salaries and other benefits are benchmarked annually to ensure that the Group remains competitive.

Adverse effect on financial results.

Adverse effect on reputation.

The commercial and financial teams have established strong relationships with the Group’s key suppliers 
and work closely with them to ensure the continuity of quality materials.

To spread the risk where possible contracts exist with more than one supplier for key products. 

The Group has made a significant investment in its Far East infrastructure to support its direct sourcing 
operation which allows the development of own brand products, thereby reducing the reliance on  
branded suppliers.

Comprehensive checks are undertaken on the factories producing products, the quality and the suitability of 
that product before it is shipped to the UK.

The Group has reacted to the increasing cyber threat by doubling the size of its team to deliver a 
comprehensive security architecture. Investments in best of breed solutions have been made that continually 
adapt to mitigate the risk associated with the most advanced threats. Furthermore, the Information Security 
team has the full support of senior management acting as an important gateway to ensure the development 
of new systems is performed according to industry standard security practices.

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Inherent Risk and Trend

 Risk Description

Impact

Risk Mitigation

Defined benefit pension scheme funding 
could increase significantly

Inherent Risk: 

••

Trend: 

Future expansion plans are not 
implemented or do not achieve the desired 
sales and profit improvements

Inherent Risk:  

•

Trend:

The Group is required by law to maintain a minimum funding level in relation to its on-going 
obligations to provide current and future pensions for members of its two defined benefit  
pension schemes. 

The level of contributions required from the Group to meet the benefits promised in the final salary 
schemes will vary depending upon the funding position of those schemes.

The funding of pension obligations could increase due to a number of factors including poor 
performance of the pension fund investments, falling corporate bond and gilt yields and increasing 
longevity of pension scheme members.

Adverse effect on financial condition.

All of the Group’s final salary pension schemes are closed to new members.

For the Travis Perkins scheme, pensionable salary inflation has been capped at 3% per annum.

The Schemes’ investment policies are kept under regular review to ensure asset profiles are kept in line with 
the profile of liabilities.

The Group has agreed deficit payment plans which currently require it to pay up to £26m per annum to 
its defined benefit pension schemes. The repayment plans will remain in place until the next actuarial 
valuations, when in conjunction with the Scheme Trustees they will be reassessed to take into account the 
circumstances at the time. 

The Group’s strategic plans are predicated on the continued expansion of its UK branch network and 
the development of its supply chain capabilities. 

Adverse effect on financial results.

Responsibility for identifying and implementing opportunities to expand the Group’s operations rests with 
each of the divisional boards, with capital being deployed to those projects giving the best return on capital.

Large scale acquisitions in existing UK markets are unlikely due to the Group’s size and the resulting 
concerns of the competition authorities to ensure competitive markets. Therefore the Group will  
rely on developing smaller scale opportunities, in new catchment areas or in new formats within 
existing sites or on expanding into adjacent markets in which it does not have a presence.

The Group also needs to ensure that funding is available to support its plans. The Group has been 
reliant on the banking market for funding, a market that has contracted in recent years and which 
may continue to contract in the future. It has established a bond issuance capability in 2014, but the 
availability of funds from that market at a sensible cost may depend upon The Group’s rating which 
can be affected by its trading performance. 

The Group has identified a significant number of opportunities for expansion throughout the United Kingdom 
and continues to develop alternative trading formats that will open up additional opportunities in future.

The Group continues to invest in its leading supply chain infrastructure. Its capabilities in this area allow it 
to source directly from manufacturers, offer superior availability to customers and operate cost efficient 
mechanisms to deliver products to customers when they most need it.

As part of its capital management strategy the Group has developed plans and instituted a series of metrics 
that are designed to maintain opportunities to extend sources of funding.

Business transformation projects fail to 
deliver the expected benefits, cost more or 
take longer to implement than expected

The Group is undertaking a large number of strategic projects throughout its business. These 
projects are intended to transform the Group’s infrastructure and its information technology 
systems and to develop its supply chain operations and its branch and store networks. 

Inherent Risk: 
••
Trend: 

By their nature, strategic projects are often complicated, interlinked and require considerable 
resource to deliver them. As a result the expected benefits and the costs of implementation of each 
project may deviate from those anticipated at their outset.

Adverse effect on financial results.

All potentially significant projects are subject to detailed investigation, assessment and approval prior  
to commencement.

Dedicated teams are allocated to each project, with additional expertise being brought into the Group to 
supplement existing resource when necessary.

All strategic projects are closely monitored by the Executive Committee with regular reporting to 
the Board.

Inherent risk: High ••• Medium •• Low • 

Trend: Increasing 

 Static 

 Reducing 

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SECTION HEADSTRATEGIC REPORT

CAPTURING THE WAY 
THINGS ARE DONE 
AROUND HERE

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2014

How the Group drives growth and returns is about a combination of a 
clear strategy with ways of working that will ensure its teams deliver 
the plans underpinning it. 2014 has been notable in that the Group 
has defined the people ‘must haves’ which have enabled it to grow 
to the size and scale of business it is today - its Cornerstones and 
Leadership framework - and will help to ensure it achieves its future 
growth plans and returns. Other enablers are the new management 
trainee programme and women’s community which were launched 
during the year.

The Group’s 5 Cornerstones are:

Upholding Family Values
“I have relationships that have been built 
throughout the Group that make it like a family.”

Keeping People Safe
“Staying safe is our highest priority.” 

Making Decent Returns
“It’s about doing the right thing and not  
being greedy.”

Working for our Customers
“Building good customer relationships is key – 
it leads to loyalty.”

Being the Best
“The best people create the best company.”

Unveiling the Group’s ‘Cornerstones’

Travis Perkins wanted to find a way to define and ‘bottle’ 
the ways of working, leading and managing people which 
have made it so successful since it was formed by the 
merger of the family businesses of Travis and Arnold and 
Sandell Perkins.

Firstly, during the year colleagues from across the  
Group’s 2,000 business outlets helped define what can 
best be described as ‘the way we go about doing things 
around here’. A critical aspect of the project was that the 
outputs had to be shaped by the Group’s people, for the 
Group’s people. The project started as an attempt to  
re-clarify and refresh ‘Group Values’ in a way that that would 

enable them to work seamlessly with those of the Group’s 
individual brands. Colleagues quickly said that ‘values’ was 
not a well understood word and working with them it was 
decided that going forward they will be known instead as 
the Group’s ‘Cornerstones’. 

Focus groups, held with hundreds of colleagues as part 
of the research process, reported that group colleagues 
are looking for responsibility at a young age, are driven by 
their commitments to their families and have a desire to 
learn new skills and develop their careers within a stable, 
successful and safe environment.

Unique Leadership: What Makes the 
Group Great?

Codifying what makes the Group’s leaders different helped 
complete what makes the Group a great place to work. 
How leaders behave is really important to the teams 
around them and they need to help others develop into 
leadership roles. 

New leaders joining the Group always say that they  
never imagined how good it would be to be part of the 
Travis Perkins Group and how different it is. 

Based on the colleague feedback the new Leadership 
framework supports the Cornerstones to capture what’s 

good about the Group’s leaders and summarises the 
behaviours and personality traits that are important.  
The framework is a checklist for current leaders and will 
also guide the recruitment and development of those who 
will lead the business in the future. 

The Group believes the heart of its business has to 
be about how people behave and conduct themselves 
and that the combination of its Cornerstones with the 
Leadership framework will underpin everything it does  
and will ensure that it drives the planned growth and 
returns for all stakeholders.

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Four activity groups have been formed that the Group believes best describe what makes a great leader in Travis Perkins:

What Makes Us Great

WHO 
I AM

HOW 
I LEAD

HOW 
I THINK

HOW 
I DELIVER

Have the courage to 
lead as myself

Develop relationships
at all levels

Think broadly and make 
timely decisions

Be passionate about 
improving performance

•  Down to earth – our people 

value honesty

•  I am comfortable in my own 
skin – we appreciate genuine 
people who can have fun
•  I am confident in my own 

knowledge – our customers 
value our expertise

•  I am humble – arrogance 

doesn’t work in our business
•  I am resilient – we overcome 
obstacles and keep on going
•  I am self-aware – we ask the 
right questions of ourselves 
and learn from our mistakes

•  Visible and approachable 
•  Listen and show interest in 

people 

•  Praise people and develop 

them to be great

•  Use a range of styles to 

influence 

•  Keep the customer at the 
centre of everything we do

•  Seek out market trends and 
use them to make decisions 
that generate profit

•  Take a longer term and group 

wide view

•  Think about my whole business
•  Know when to use rigorous 

analysis or gut feel

•  Consider risk and the impact 

for us 

•  Make reasoned decisions in 

ambiguous situations

•  Challenge the way we do things 
•  Passionately pursue 

opportunities for growth
•  Tackle poor performance
•  Get the right things done with 

pace and energy 

•  Know the competition and 

keep on improving

Building A Workforce with a Difference

Building a workforce with a difference means recruiting, 
developing and supporting people with a wide range 
of backgrounds and experiences and introducing fresh 
perspectives and new ways of thinking into the business. 
During the year, as part of achieving the best possible 
workforce the Group established a Women’s Community 
as a first step to building a future workforce that has a 
significantly different composition to the current one.

There are already great women in the Group, all of whom 
are contributing to its strong commercial performance, so 
an environment is being created where they and others like 
them can be a positive force for change. In addition steps 
are being taken to attract and retain more women.

The Group’s Women’s Community is aimed at giving  
women a greater voice in the organisation. It was launched 
across the Group in July 2014 after being pioneered by  
City Plumbing Supplies (“CPS”).

A new Google+ Community has been launched where 
women, and men, can share their ideas, challenges 
and success.

The aim is to strengthen female representation in the 
senior leadership and management population because 
analysis shows that in every division outlets run by women 
managers outperform those run by men so it’s good for 
the Group’s people and its customers and it makes good 
commercial sense.

Whilst recruiting and developing more women is an 
important factor in achieving Travis Perkins’ growth 
ambitions, a more diverse mix of colleagues in outlets and 
within the leadership team will help broaden the Group’s 
Logo (Without TP plc)
thinking and bring a fresh approach to problem solving.

 Building a Workforce with a Difference

Bringing More Talent into the Group

1. Management Apprenticeship Scheme

In 2014 there has been much more activity focused on 
bringing young talent into the business. From a pool of 
10,000 applicants, 170 young people made it through 
the recruitment process to join the Travis Perkins plc 
Management Apprenticeship Scheme, which is now in 
its fourth year and is bigger and better than ever.

The two year scheme has been running in its current form 
since 2011 when just 19 apprentices joined the Company. 
The fact that this number has grown nearly ten-fold in  
3 years bears testament to its success. Expectations of the 
apprentices increase each year. Many now reach supervisor 
level midway through their apprenticeship and some take 
on assistant branch manager roles within their first year. 
Management apprentices are a valuable resource for the 
branches in which they are working.

2. Fast Tracking the Group’s Talent Pipeline

The business is constantly growing and changing and so 
it needs to develop great people quickly to support this 
growth. At the same time future leaders need to be adept at 
working across the Group’s brands and functions.

A pilot programme was implemented during the year to 
enable the speedy entry into Group of high calibre, high 
potential candidates to fulfil the following:

Included in myPerks is a comprehensive range of flexible 
benefits. Everybody’s lifestyle is different and so flexible 
benefits allow colleagues to find benefits that best suit them. 
They can ‘trade’ some of their benefits in favour of others 
or elect to increase or decrease their benefits to suit their 
lifestyle or circumstances. Current flexible benefits range 
from savings on mobile phones and childcare vouchers to 
income protection and the Group’s healthcare cash plan. 
The portfolio of benefits available will be expanded further 
during 2015.

Charities and Communities

Once again during the year colleagues from across the 
Group have engaged in a wide variety of community and 
charitable activities. The activities are many and varied and 
the Group is often recognised for its efforts in this area.

The City Plumbing Supplies business made it through 
to the final of the Business Charity Awards. The Travis 
Perkins General Merchanting brand, received the Corporate 
Partnership Innovation Award for its Breast Cancer 
Campaign. Overall, during the year the Group and its 
colleagues raised £1.9 million for charities and good causes.

At a local level, Northampton-based colleagues joined 
forces with Northampton Saints RFC to organise the 
Big Christmas Toy Collection for children in care or in 
need. Finally the Wickes business gained an award for 
Best Commercial Float at this year’s Manchester  
Gay Pride Event.

•   Populate more management pipelines with the desired 

quality of people

Engagement

•   Fast-track candidates towards management roles across 

the Group and beyond

•   Provide future managers with a far broader perspective 
than traditional programmes including branch exposure 
and support function specialism

•   Enhance and stimulate a more diverse mix of high 

potential managers for the future

Giving Colleagues More Choice - Launch of MyPerks

During the year further steps were taken to enhance the 
Group’s industry leading, approach to compensation and 
benefits. In order to provide more options and choice for 
colleagues myPerks, an online hub for employees of the 
Travis Perkins Group, was introduced in 2014. The hub is 
open to all employees of the Travis Perkins Group and it 
provides detailed information about all the rewards and 
benefits that are included in the Perks scheme as well as 
specific access to colleague rewards, benefits, discounts, 
advice and guidance. To ensure ease of access, which is 
crucial to myPerks, it can be accessed through work or 
home computers, mobile phones or tablets.

The Group regularly undertakes surveys to measure how 
employee engagement is changing and 2014 was no 
exception. The Group recognises that engaged colleagues 
continue to be a vital part of its success and is very pleased 
that in 2014 levels of colleague engagement reached a 
level that was 40% higher than when the Group first started 
measuring it back in 2007. 

Colleague engagement is key to the Group’s success so it  
is good news that the 2014 survey showed that typically  
8 out of 10 colleagues are proud to work for the business 
and around 9 out of 10 feel loyal to their branch or store. 
This sense of pride and loyalty makes the difference in 
the way Travis Perkins people go about their business at 
work and fuels the tremendous extra-curricular activities 
undertaken with the charities and communities it supports.

Communication

Colleagues are regularly informed about the performance 
of the Group and the business they work for through 
a variety of internal engagement channels including a 
Group quarterly magazine, face-to-face updates, printed 
materials, video and digital sources. A number of the 
Group’s businesses share their local news, successes 
and strategic objectives in more detail through their own 
quarterly publications and online communities, all designed 

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to increase employee engagement and productivity.  
The Group’s continuing efforts to drive employee 
engagement have proven their worth, with all the businesses 
delivering consistently high engagement scores in our 
regular ‘You Talk, We Listen’ employee surveys.

Ethical Policies

The Travis Perkins Group is a leading supplier to Britain’s 
building construction and home improvement industry.  
Its reputation for providing excellent customer service with 
the highest integrity is the direct result of the collective 
effort of its employees, all of whom are caretakers of 
that reputation. How the business conducts itself in 
its businesses and how it treats others will continue to 
determine how the world views Travis Perkins.

The Group has established clearly defined principles aimed 
at helping all its employees to uphold the highest ethical, 
legal and business standards across all the business 
activities it is involved in.

The Group’s “Doing the Right Thing” initiative lays down the 
standards expected of its colleagues under the umbrella 
of three separate, but closely related policies on business 
principles, diversity and encouraging equal treatment.

The initiative sets out the expectations that colleagues will 
not have any involvement with acts of bribery, will avoid 
conflicts of interest, will ensure they comply with all aspects 
of all applicable laws when performing their duties and will 
not become involved with any aspect of insider dealing.

During 2014 it was compulsory for all managers to 
complete online anti-bribery training which provided an 
overview of the Bribery Act and our policies regarding 
Corporate Hospitality, Entertaining and Gifts and concluded 
with a requirement to pass an online examination.  
The completion of the anti-bribery training is a requirement 
for all new managers and completions/non completions 
are reported on monthly. Any Gifts and hospitality that are 
accepted must be recorded in a register.

In summarising the Group’s commitment to integrity, to 
acting honestly and ethically and to complying with the law 
the initiative has provided a one-stop guide for colleagues 
when considering how they interact with customers, 

suppliers, shareholders and the communities in which they 
operate. In essence it sets out the Group’s commitment to 
“Doing the Right Thing”.

Any colleague who is concerned about wrongdoing, 
malpractice or improper behaviour is encouraged to report 
the matter using our confidential telephone hotline. 

Equal Opportunities, Human Rights and Diversity

The Group is committed to promoting equality of 
opportunity for all employees and job applicants. It is an 
equal opportunity employer and always treats its employees 
and applicants fairly regardless of their age, gender, full 
or part time status, disability and marital status. Decisions 
relating to any aspect of employment are based upon ability 
and potential rather than age, sex, race, religion or belief, 
disability or sexual orientation, gender reassignment, civil 
partnership status, pregnancy or maternity.

The Group complies with national legal requirements 
in respect of wages and working hours. It supports the 
International Labour Organisation’s (“ILO”) standards 
regarding child labour and minimum age. It is also 
committed to working only with suppliers who embrace 
standards of ethical behaviour that are consistent with 
its own.

A workforce with a difference allows the Group to maximise 
the unique and individual qualities of its people introducing 
fresh perspectives and new ways of thinking into the Group’s 
businesses. A diverse workforce is at the heart of a strong 
business performance; it delivers increased engagement, 
improves output and generates better financial returns.

The Group employs over 27,000 people in 18 different 
businesses across both the retail and merchanting sectors.

Around 37% of the workforce in the Group’s retail sector 
businesses is female; across the central functions it is 47%. 
The Group’s challenge is to improve the attractiveness of its 
merchanting businesses only 14% of colleagues are female. 
As part of the Group’s strategy the diversity of all applicant 
shortlists are now monitored by our recruitment teams.

The following table sets out more details of the mix of men 
and women employed by the Group at the year-end.

           F

       M

       Total

Number

763

3,536

560

902

643

186

6,590

%

Number

%

Number

47.2%

37.2%

17.8%

11.5%

16.9%

10.0%

23.7%

854

5,978

2,583

6,917

3,164

1,680

21,176

52.8%

62.8%

82.2%

88.5%

83.1%

90.0%

76.3%

1,617

9,514

3,143

7,819

3,807

1,866

27,766

%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

Central Functions

Consumer Division

Contracts Division

General Merchanting Division

Plumbing & Heating Division

Supply Chain

Grand Total

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ANNUAL REPORT & ACCOUNTS 2014

The following table sets out the gender demographics for the Group:

Director

Senior Manager

Colleague

Grand Total

         F

         M

           Total

Number

%

Number

%

Number

1

98

6,491

6,590

12.5%

20.0%

23.8%

23.7%

7

392

20,777

21,176

87.5%

80.0%

76.2%

76.3%

8

490

27,268

27,766

%

100%

100%

100%

100%

successes, supporting each other and inspiring more 
women in to the Travis Perkins Group in the future.

At a senior leadership level 18% (2 out of 11) of the 
operating Executive and 13% of the Board (1 out of 8) 
are female.

The Women’s community was launched in 2014 and 
now has over 400 members. Two Women’s community 
conferences were held during the year where over 
200 nominated attendees were treated to inspiring 
speeches from women who have thrived in male 
dominated businesses.

A Google + community was established in 2014 where 
women (and men) can share their ideas, challenges and 

John Carter 
Chief Executive Officer 
2 March 2015

Kaycee Benson – Travis Perkins, Vauxhall

ANNUAL REPORT & ACCOUNTS 2014

69

SECTION HEADSTRATEGIC REPORT

STAY SAFE 
REPORT

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2014

The Group’s Stay Safe Philosophy and Objectives

The Group’s underlying philosophy 
that all injuries are avoidable 
and that everyone involved in its 
business should return home safe 
and well at the end of every day 
remains unchanged.

It continues to recognise that achieving a significant 
reduction in accidents is a major challenge for an 
organisation of the scale and complexity of the Group and 
that it requires dedicated effort and perseverance.

Since its inception in 2008, Stay Safe has resulted in real 
improvement in the Group’s safety performance particularly 
in the first couple of years, however improvement 
has slowed and it is now at what is a recognised and 
characteristic plateau.

This year the Group has engaged with external consultants 
to conduct a qualitative assessment of ‘where it is now’ 
referencing ‘the safety culture ladder’ in one of its major 
brands. The assessment considered five main drivers of 
safety culture; Systems, Safety/Profit balance, Reporting, 
Training and Communication. With some variation across 
branches the overall assessment rated the brand as  
3.82 out of 5 or approaching proactive. Considering the 
detailed recommendations from the assessment, the  
Group will determine its approach to a wider roll out of this 
method for assessing its overall safety culture.

Safety Culture Ladder

GENERATIVE

(High reliability organisation) HSE is how we do 
business around here

PROACTIVE

Safety leadership and values drive  
continuous improvement

CALCULATIVE

Safety leadership and values drive
continuous improvement

REACTIVE

Safety is important, we do a lot every time 
we have an accident

PATHOLOGICAL

Who cares as long as we’re  
not caught

Stay Safe Governance
Throughout 2014 all Stay Safe activity was reviewed by the Plc Stay Safe Committee, in addition to Stay Safe performance being 
reviewed at group board meetings. Stay Safe also forms part of regular Divisional leadership meetings.

Data Trends for 2014

Each months reports represents the rolling 12 month figure  

Frequency Rates

11

10.5

10

9.3

9

8.3

0.25

0.2

0.15

0.1

0.05

0

Jan-14

Feb-14

Mar-14

Apr-14

May-14

Jun-14

Jul-14

Aug-14

Sep-14

Oct-14

Nov-14

Dec-14

Each months reports represents the rolling 12 month figure  

Severity Rates

2014

2013

Jan-14

Feb-14

Mar-14

Apr-14

May-14

Jun-14

Jul-14

Aug-14

Sep-14

Oct-14

Nov-14

Dec-14

2014

2013

The Stay Safe report for 2013 noted a plateau effect in the 
lost time frequency rates during 2013. For 2014, it is pleasing 
to report that for most of the year frequency rate and group 
severity rates were below those seen in 2013. This positive 
trend is supported by a 29% reduction in the number of days 
lost overall from 8,145 (2013) to 5,783 (2014). The main 
contribution to the effect is a 10% reduction in those lost time 
incidents that lasted a month or more.

Whilst reporting of ‘lagging’ or ‘output’ based indicators such 
as injury frequency rates is helpful in demonstrating the 
Group’s overall long term aim of reducing accidents, there is 
often a lag between improvement activity and a translation 
into accident reduction. With this in mind the Group will be 
reviewing its performance measures with a view to focusing 
on a new suite of ‘leading’ or ‘input’ based indicators and 
objective measures of safety culture and behaviours. This 
will allow a more proactive approach and a focus on human 
factors and reducing errors in the workplace.

Safe Branches
Safe branches are those where:
•   No lost time injuries have been reported
•   Near misses are being reported using the Group’s online 

reporting system

•   The Group’s internal audit team has not given the branch a 
red or amber rating following its most recent Stay Safe audit

In 2014 50% of the Group’s branches achieved this benchmark, 
an improvement from 39.1% in 2013, which means a further 
218 branches became safe branches in 2014. Because of the 
size of the Group’s estate not all branches are audited for safety 
every calendar year so the Group accepts that the safe branch 
measure is an ‘indicative’ measure. It recognises that whilst 
obtaining Safe Branch status is an achievement it also needs 
to continually challenge the baseline for this benchmark and 
‘raise the bar’ in terms of expectation for what makes a truly 
safe branch. Therefore the Group will review the safe branch 
standards and how it reports on this indicator to provide a 
meaningful year-on-year comparison against a continually 
improving standard.

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71

SECTION HEAD??. SECTION continuedNOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTSSTRATEGIC REPORT

TP Group Plc

General Merchanting

Contracts

P&H

Consumer

Safe Branch %

2013

2014

0.0%

10.0%

20.0%

30.0%

40.0%

50.0%

60.0%

70.0%

80.0%

Type of Lost Time Injuries in 2014

The type of lost time injuries the Group experiences continue 
to be broadly similar year-on-year.

However the Group is confident that its Manual Handling 
programme LIFT and innovations in each its divisions to 
reduce the need to manually handle heavy objects will 
secure the reductions it seeks in lost time injuries in this 
area. LIFT is a bespoke practical programme focusing on 
the people, system and environmental issues effecting 
manual handling. There is a focus on eliminating manual 
handling tasks as well as teaching safe lifting techniques.

As reported in the transport matters section below the 
Group has reason to be proud of its overall transport safety 
record. Therefore, the Board was deeply saddened by the 
tragic loss of one of the Group’s delivery drivers from F & P 
Wholesale in a fatal road traffic accident during 2014.

 Hit by moving / falling object

 Hit by moving vehicle

 Hit something fixed / stationary

 Injured while manual handling

   Slipped, tripped or fell on the same level

 Some other kind of accident

2013

10%

26%

6%

26%

21%

23%

3%

4%

2%

7%

2014

38%

34%

Stay Safe Innovations in 2014

The Group’s businesses continue to take the Stay Safe 
philosophy and translate this into specific actions that are 
tailored to their operations and the safety issues that they 
face. Some of the activity completed in 2014 includes:

were challenged with finding best manual handling practice 
in the region and pitched their finding to a panel of yard 
supervisors and drivers who scored ideas. The winning ideas 
are now being developed for roll out across the division. They 
include more effective manual handling accessories for fork 
lift trucks.

•   Keyline estimated that its manual workers in the yard move 
between 4 and 6 tonnes each day. As part of its target to 
reduce this by 75% in 3 years it ran a Strictly Come Dancing 
meets the Dragons Den event where regional directors 

•   CCF have introduced new yard-safety co-ordinators 

to provide a focal point for safety and purchased a ride 
on sweeper to avoid manual sweeping and improve 
housekeeping.

•   BSS has launched its own LiFT programme, including a DVD 

of colleagues from Cambridge in real life situations. 

•   Wickes has focused on behavioural safety, delivering training 
to 433 branch managers, deputies and supervisors. It has 
also been rolling out the LiFT manual handling programme 
and improving employee engagement.

•   Within General Merchanting, in addition to behavioural 

training for its branch managers and yard supervisors, a 
Stay Safe challenge was run where branch teams were 
encouraged to spot potential hazards in branches and to 
fix them, reporting fixed hazards to their regional director. 
The Group believes that in excess of 200 potential hazards, 
which could have led to an injury to a colleague or customer 
in our branches, have been spotted and fixed.

•   All Plumbing & Heating Division drivers received a drivers 
day card signed by their regional director, and all directors, 
senior managers, heads of department and many branch 
managers booked a day out with a driver to help their 
understanding and learn more about the drivers’ role and 
how their safety can be improved.

•   All Plumbing & Heating branches held a Stay Safe meeting 
on June 27, with the branches closing early to facilitate an 
effective meeting. Branch managers were provided with 
supporting materials, flipcharts etc. to launch the “Hole in the 
Swiss Cheese” reporting system. The team meeting session 
also built on some of the feedback from the drivers’ day to 
fully engage all the branch colleagues in making sure safety 
is an integral part of the operation, from 
making a sale to delivering the products. The 
concept of holes in the Swiss cheese was 
launched across the Plumbing & Heating 
Division to better illustrate the importance 
of hazard spotting and reacting to near 
misses or unsafe behaviours.

Transport Matters

For the fourth year in a row the Travis 
Perkins Group has achieved gold accreditation as part 
of the Fleet Operators Recognition Scheme (FoRS) and has 
built on the success of being finalists in the Motor Transport 
Industry awards last year by winning the 2014 Safety in 
Operation Award.

The Construction Logistics and Cycle Safety (CLOCS) 
programme brings together developers, construction 
companies, operators, vehicle manufacturers and regulatory 
bodies to ensure a road safety culture is embedded across 
the construction industry. In 2014 the Group became a 
CLOCS Champions, i.e. one of the organisations that have 
signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Transport for 
London to support the CLOCS programme.

As a major part of the Group’s outward supply, deliveries are 
subject to the FORS and now the CLOCS requirements, and 
it has again been accredited in 2014, passing the required 
audits. The standard is based around safety in driving 

and vehicle design, and highlights vulnerable road users, 
i.e. cyclists. The accreditation also provides a competitive 
advantage as it can be a requirement to trade with certain 
customers and so is responsible for over £12m in sales for 
Keyline via the rail industry.

The Group was successful in winning the Fleet Safety 
Award in 2014 from BRAKE the road safety charity, which 
was based on its work with the Fleet Risk Assessors, and the 
Safer Roads campaign. The award recognised the Group’s 
success in reducing its accident ratio from 0.7 to 0.54 
through the use of vehicle telemetry, which provides live 
data from vehicles such as GPS location, speed, fuel use etc. 
as well as sharing lessons from incidents to coach drivers.

From January 2014 all new fleet vehicles have been fitted 
with 4 way cameras to protect the Group and its drivers 
from fraudulent claims and help with investigations into any 
incidents. The system has a 30 day recording facility so all 
incidents are reviewed and the footage is used to progress 
cases and help with training.

Looking Ahead to 2015 and Beyond

As part of its continual challenge for improvement in safety 
performance, the Group has recruited a Safety Change 
Director. Whilst responsibility for safety will remain devolved 
to the divisional leadership teams, this new role will act 
as a thought leader for the Group and focus on new ways 
to engage with employees and will work with each of the 
Divisions to build stronger sustainable programmes to 
embed the Stay Safe philosophy.

Embedding grass roots behavioural safety will form a key 
part of the strategy along with a focus on consistency in 
regional and branch manager visible leadership. Where 
attention is focussed on leadership training the Group will 
challenge itself to measure and improve the effectiveness of 
this training and its translation into actions on the shop floor. 
It will also start to champion general health and wellbeing 
as a key part of its engagement and improvement strategy 
as well as reviewing all of its safety performance measures. 

This is my last report before handing over the Chairmanship 
of the Committee to my colleague Peter Redfern, the CEO 
of Taylor Wimpey, who brings a wealth of experience of 
safe working conditions in the construction industry. In spite 
of the fact that there are still too many accidents in the 
Group, there is no doubt in my mind that the investments 
in equipment, training and processes will over time help 
the Group achieve its goal of a significant reduction in the 
number of accidents. 

I would like to sincerely thank all colleagues in the Group 
for their efforts in making Travis Perkins a safer place for 
themselves, their colleagues and our customers.

Andrew Simon 
Chairman Plc Stay Safe Committee 
2 March 2015

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73

STRATEGIC REPORT

ENVIRONMENTAL 
REPORT

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2014

Behaving Responsibly

Travis Perkins takes pride in attaching the values of working 
safely, fairly and ethically to its business activities. These 
values are described as the Group’s Cornerstones, and they 
apply just as much to environmental performance as they 
do to other aspects of the Group’s operations. At the same 
time, an essential part of being a successful, sustainable 
company is the return that is provided to shareholders. 
This means that the way environmental impact is reduced 
is also shaped by the desire to create sustainable 
competitive advantage.

In 2014 the Group’s performance1 met or exceeded targets 
in many areas. In some, it fell short of expectations and 
there is still work to be done, as described in this summary 
of activities which covers three areas: buying, operating 
and selling.

Buying Responsibly

Headline Results for 2014

•   97% certified timber (up from 93% in 2013 and surpassing 

the Group’s 2017 target of 96%)

•   Better understanding of the Group’s Supply Chain impacts

Within the Travis Perkins Group there are 18 brands 
and more than 2,000 suppliers. This makes it possible 
to positively influence environmental awareness and 
performance across an extremely wide group of 
stakeholders. It’s really an extension of the Group’s family 
values. A key aspect of the Group’s approach to working 
with suppliers is understanding their energy, greenhouse 
gas, water and waste performance, and to openly share and 
report that data. The objective is to encourage more  
co-operation between suppliers and to lead the way for the 
UK building materials industry.

Timber certification is another key business issue that the 
Group is able to use its buying power to influence, for the 
good of the environment. As the percentage moves closer 
to 100, the task becomes even more challenging. For this 
reason, during 2014 the Group began providing support to 
smaller suppliers to help them with certification challenges 
and help to ensure that they achieve full compliance.

d
e
s
a
h
c
r
u
p
r
e
b
m
T

i

100%

80%

60%

40%

20%

0

Timber Certification

18%

75%

13%

84%

96%

2013

2014

2017 Target

Other certified

FSC

Operating Responsibly

Headline Results for 2014

•   45% energy reduction due to lighting improvements in  

5 Wickes stores

•   89% Waste diverted from landfill

During 2014 the “Constant Energy Conversation” began 
at Wickes. The objective was to get store managers 
and their colleagues to adopt a more active approach 
to energy conservation. The results were extremely 
encouraging. Initially, energy champions were enlisted 
and trained by the Energy Managers’ Association in 
15 regions. By the end of 2014 over half of the Wickes 
managers had completed the training which has 
produced energy reductions, along with the associated 
savings in energy cost. An ambitious pilot project focused 
on replacing lighting in some existing Wickes stores.  
As a result, energy savings across 5 of the stores in the 
pilot averaged 45%. The project is due to be rolled out 
to all stores, beginning in 2015. However, in spite of the 
big improvements made in energy management, the 
Group did fall short of its reduction target for the year, 
so there is still work to be done. This aspect of carbon 
performance is balanced by the outstanding results that 
were achieved with CDP (formerly the Carbon 
Disclosure Project). Very few companies voluntarily 
report on all 3 disclosures (carbon, water and forestry). 
Travis Perkins Group does; achieving a score of 88 for 
disclosure and B for performance for the climate change 
submission, as well as being recognised by CDP as the 
company with the most improved deforestation policy in 
its sector.

Environmental incidents and complaints rose during 2014 and 
as a result, the Group fell short of its stated 2014 target of 10. 
A non-compliance issue at Solfex, which occurred prior to the 
Company’s acquisition by Travis Perkins Group, was voluntarily 
reported to the Environment Agency. There is work still to be 
done on achieving the targets in this area. However, across 
the Group significant improvements in site management 
procedures and compliance have been made, in spite of the 
challenges faced by a business as large and diverse as this one. 

Environmental Incidents and Complaints

i

s
t
n
a
l
p
m
o
c
&
s
t
n
e
d
c
n

i

I

70

60

50

40

30

20

10

0

13

40

12

27

2013

2014

10

Target

Reportable incidents

Incidents & complaints

The tonnage of waste diverted from landfill continued to 
improve during the period alongside improved recycling 
rates, with the implementation of dry mixed recycling (DMR) 
in selected branches providing further opportunities to 
reduce landfill quantities.

s
e
l
a
s
p
u
o
r
G
m
£
r
e
p
e
2
O
C
s
e
n
n
o
T

45

40

35

30

25

20

15

10

5

0

CO2e Emissions

21.1

18.6

19.5

17.8

28.6

2013

2014

2020 Target

s
e
l
a
s
e
r
o
c
d
n
a
s
e
l
a
s
d
r
a
y

f
o
m
£
r
e
p
e
t
s
a
W

f
o
s
e
n
n
o
T

9

8

7

6

5

4

3

2

1

0

Waste Tonnage

6.1

1.5

2013

7.5

0.9

2014

2.2

2014 Target

Transport

Energy

Diverted from Landfill

Landfill

1  This Report includes data for companies where Travis Perkins plc has operational control except PlumbNation (76%) (recent acquisition) and Primaflow (recent acquisition).
It excludes activities and data relating to, Rinus Roofing Supplies Ltd (interest disposed of during 2014), The Mosaic Tile Company Ltd (49%) and Toolstation Europe Ltd (49%).

74

ANNUAL REPORT & ACCOUNTS 2014

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75

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
STRATEGIC REPORT

Selling Responsibly 

Headline Results for 2014

•   Halving carbon intensity2 by 2020, compared to the Group’s 
original 2005 baseline. This equates to a 28% reduction on 
the Group’s new 2013 base year3

•  Increased stakeholder awareness of sustainable products  

•   Zero waste to landfill by the end of 2017

and opportunities

An entire business, Sustainable Building Solutions (SBS) 
is dedicated to selling sustainable products as well as 
professional services and training focused on building 
regulations. SBS focuses exclusively on helping customers 
reduce both operating costs and environmental impact. 
This approach to making things easy for customers is 
also demonstrated in the Group’s waste-broking initiative, 
which enables customers to include recycling skips on their 
materials purchasing account. A waste recycling “take back” 
scheme was also introduced during 2014, enabling customers 
to pass responsibility for managing and recycling product 
packaging, such as cardboard and plastic, back to the Group.

Progressing Responsibly 

During 2014, environmental improvement measures 
accounted for over £11 million of savings. Quantifying 
risks and opportunities enables us to identify competitive 
advantage and improved profitability resulting directly from 
the implementation of environmental initiatives.

Moving forward, there are three major environmental targets 
that will be a focus of particular attention in the future.

Scope 1
Direct emissions from burning gas and solid fuel for heating 
and from road fuel use for distribution6

Scope 2
Indirect emissions from the Group’s use of electricity.

Intensity 
Tonnes of CO2e from Scope 1 and 2, sources per million pounds of 
inflation adjusted sales

John Carter 
Chief Executive Officer 
2 March 2015

•   96% certified timber purchases by the end of 2017

Each division will have direct responsibility for its own 
environmental performance from 2015, with sustainability 
leadership being recognised by the Board as a core 
leadership competency. During 2015 the Group will be 
embarking on the most comprehensive stakeholder 
engagement exercise ever to be undertaken by the business, 
with a view to reporting to the new Global Reporting 
Initiative G4 guidelines in future years. For this year data and 
performance have once again been independently verified 
by LRQA, full details of which are available on the new 
environmental section of the Travis Perkins Group website. 
The web will be used increasingly to update stakeholders 
on progress during 2015. 
(Visit: www.travisperkins.co.uk/responsibility/environment.aspx)

The Group has considered direct GHG emissions  
(Scope 1) and indirect GHG emissions (Scope 2) from all 
activities and operations where the Group has operational 
control over the business.

The Group has reported on all of the emissions’ sources 
required under the Companies Act 2006 (Strategic Report 
and Directors Reports) Regulations 2013. Scope 1 and 
2 emissions are calculated using the UK Government 
Conversion Factors for Company Reporting 2014. 95% of 
Scope 1 and 2 data is from measured sources4 with the 
remainder extrapolated from expenditure on fuel.

Carbon Dioxide Equivalent (CO2e) Tonnes

Comparison year 20135

Reporting year 2014

136,614

132,295

68,904

39.697

74,292

37.24

Notes
2   Carbon intensity is referenced to turnover, which is adjusted to allow for inflation, relative to the baseline year. It uses best available financial data at the time the report was produced.
3  2013 was chosen as the new base year due to significant changes to the business.

4 10% of the energy data is estimated due to supplier data provision issues.

5 Fugitive emissions from domestic refrigeration, vehicle & building air conditioning have been excluded in 2013 as they were not material to the Group’s overall emissions.

6 Scope 1 CO2e emissions include 24,184 from buildings and 108,111 from transport.
7  This carbon intensity value was reported as 54.36 in the Group’s 2013 report. The new value represents the Group’s base year change from 2005 to 2013 using unadjusted sales 
figures.

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77

SECTION HEAD 
78

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79

CORPORATE 
GOVERNANCE

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ANNUAL REPORT & ACCOUNTS 2014

ANNUAL REPORT & ACCOUNTS 2014

81

82   Directors

86   Committees and advisors

88  Corporate governance report

94  Audit Committee report

98  Directors’ remuneration report

118  Nominations Committee report

120 Directors’ report

124  Statement of directors’ responsibilities

125   Independent auditor’s report to the 
members of Travis Perkins plc

SECTION HEADChairman
Robert Walker

Robert Walker was appointed as a non-executive director in 
September 2009 and became Chairman in May 2010. He is chairman 
of Enterprise Inns plc, and of Eagle TopCo Limited. He was chairman 
of W H Smith PLC, Williams Lea Group Ltd, Americana International 
Holdings Ltd and BCA Marketplace, senior independent director 
of Tate & Lyle PLC and Group Chief Executive of Severn Trent Plc. 
Previously, he spent over 30 years with Procter & Gamble, McKinsey 
and PepsiCo and has also served as a non-executive director on a 
number of other FTSE 100 and 250 boards. He is Chairman of the 
Nominations Committee and a member of the Remuneration and 
Stay Safe Committees. 

Chief Executive
John Carter

John Carter joined Sandell Perkins as a management trainee in 1978. 
He held a number of regional management positions, before being 
appointed Managing Director, Operations in 1996, and a director of 
Travis Perkins plc in July 2001. He became Chief Operating Officer in 
February 2005 and Deputy Chief Executive in December 2011.  
He was appointed Chief Executive on 1 January 2014. He is a trustee 
of the Building Research Establishment. He is a member of the  
Stay Safe Committee and Chairman of the Executive Committee.

Chief Financial Officer
Tony Buffin

Tony Buffin was appointed as Chief Financial Officer on 8 April 2013.  
He is a chartered accountant and was previously with the Coles Group in 
Australia where he was Chief Financial Officer from 2009. Prior to that 
he was Chief Executive Officer of the Loyalty Management Group. He is a 
member of the Executive Committee.

Non-Executive Director
Ruth Anderson

Ruth Anderson was appointed as a non-executive director in 
2011. She is a non-executive director of Ocado plc, Coats plc, 
Coats Group plc, The Royal Parks - an executive agency of 
the Department of Culture, Media and Sport, and a trustee of 
the charity, the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award. She is a chartered 
accountant, and held a number of positions in KPMG (UK) from 
1976 to 2009, being a member of its board from 1998 to 2004 
and Vice Chair from 2005 to 2009. She is Chairman of the 
Audit Committee and a member of the Stay Safe Committee. 

Non-Executive Director
Coline McConville

Coline McConville was appointed as a non-executive director on 
1 February 2015. Coline is currently a non-executive director of 
TUI AG, Inchcape PLC, Fevertree Drinks PLC, UTV Media PLC 
and Wembley National Stadium Limited and was formerly a non-
executive director of Shed Media PLC and HBOS PLC,  
and a global advisor and director of Grant Thornton International 
Limited. Previous to that Coline was Chief Operating Officer and 
Chief Executive Officer Europe of Clear Channel International 
Limited. She holds an MBA from Harvard Business School, 
where she was a Baker Scholar. Coline joined the Remuneration 
Committee and the Nominations Committee of the Board upon 
appointment and has since joined the Audit Committee.  
It is anticipated that she will become Chair of the Remuneration 
Committee in due course when Andrew Simon retires.

Non-Executive Director
Pete Redfern

Pete Redfern was appointed as a non-executive director on  
1 November 2014. He is currently Chief Executive of  
Taylor Wimpey plc and is also a Chartered Accountant.  
Pete was previously Chief Executive of George Wimpey Plc 
and prior to that, he held the roles of Chief Executive and 
Finance Director of its UK Housing division. Pete is a member 
of the Remuneration Committee, Stay Safe Committee and 
the Nominations Committee. It is anticipated that he will 
become Chair of the Stay Safe Committee in due course when 
Andrew Simon retires.

Non-Executive Director
Christopher Rogers

Christopher Rogers was appointed as a non-executive director 
on 1 September 2013. He is a chartered accountant,  
Managing Director of Costa Coffee and a director of  
Whitbread PLC, of which he was Group Finance Director from 
2005 to 2012. He was Group Finance Director of  
Woolworth Group PLC from 2001 to 2005 and previously 
held senior roles in both finance and commercial functions  
in Comet Group PLC and Kingfisher PLC. He was also a  
non-executive director of HMV Group PLC from 2006 to 
2012. He is a member of the Audit Committee and the 
Nominations Committee.

Non-Executive Director
John Rogers

John Rogers was appointed as a non-executive director on  
1 November 2014 and is currently Chief Financial Officer of  
J Sainsbury plc and a member of the Board of Sainsbury’s  
Bank plc. During his career at Sainsbury’s he has held the posts 
of Property Director, Director of Group Finance and Director of 
Corporate Finance. Prior to joining Sainsbury’s, John held  
a variety of financial, operational and strategy roles.  
John is a member of the Audit Committee and the 
Nominations Committee.

Non-Executive Director
Andrew Simon O.B.E.

Andrew Simon O.B.E. was appointed as a non-executive director 
in 2006. He is a non-executive director of Finning International 
Inc. (Canada), Management Consulting Group plc, SGL Carbon 
SE (Germany), Exova Group plc, Icon Infrastructure Management 
LLP (Guernsey), Icon 1A GP Ltd, BCA Marketplace and  
Gulf Keystone Petroleum Ltd (Bermuda). He was previously  
Deputy Chairman of Dalkia plc, Chairman, and before that Chief 
Executive of Evode Group plc and has also held non-executive 
directorships with Severn Trent Plc, Ibstock PLC, Laporte Plc, 
Associated British Ports Holdings PLC, and Brake Bros Holdings 
Ltd. He is the Senior Independent Director and chairman of the 
Remuneration and Stay Safe Committees and a member of the 
Nominations Committee.

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84

CORPORATE GOVERNANCEDIRECTORS“Through investing in customer propositions, optimising the 
branch network, accelerating the scale advantage the Group 
enjoys and disciplined portfolio management the Group 
remains confident it can continue to outperform the markets 
it operates in over the year ahead and the medium-term.”

Robert Walker Chairman

“2014 was the first year in our five year journey to grow each 
of our businesses in a sustainable way. I am pleased that 
during this year of investment we grew revenues, earnings at 
a faster pace and the dividend at an even faster pace.”

John Carter Chief Executive

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

COMMITTEES AND 
ADVISORS

Committees

Secretary

Audit Committee

Deborah Grimason

Ruth Anderson (Chair), John Rogers, Christopher Rogers, Coline McConville

Remuneration Committee

Andrew Simon (Chair), Pete Redfern, Coline McConville, Robert Walker 

Nominations Committee

Stay Safe Committee

Executive Committee

Robert Walker (Chair), John Rogers, Andrew Simon, Christopher Rogers,  
Ruth Anderson, Pete Redfern, Coline McConville

Andrew Simon (Chair), Pete Redfern, Ruth Anderson, John Carter, Robert Walker

John Carter (Chief Executive and Committee Chairman)

Tony Buffin (Chief Financial Officer) 

Norman Bell (Group Strategy & IT Director) 

Frank Elkins (Divisional CEO, Contracts Division)

Deborah Grimason (Company Secretary & General Counsel)

Andrew Harrison (Divisional COO, General Merchanting Division)

Carol Kavanagh (Group HR Director) 

Simon King (Wickes Managing Director)

Martin Meech (Group Property Director)

Ian Preedy (Group Commercial Director)

Robin Proctor (Group Supply Chain Director)

Paul Tallentire (Divisional CEO, Plumbing & Heating Division)

“Strong capital discipline is a fundamental part of the overall 
group strategy. By focusing on investing in areas with a 
strong incremental return on capital we increased our key 
lease adjusted return on capital employed measure in each 
of our Divisions, bringing the group total to 10.4%.”

Tony Buffin Chief Financial Officer

Advisors

Investment Bankers / Advisors:

HSBC Bank plc, Nomura International plc

Corporate Brokers:

Citibank, JP Morgan Cazenove

Bankers:

Solicitors:

Auditor: 

Registrar:

The Royal Bank of Scotland plc, Barclays Bank plc, Lloyds Bank plc

Linklaters LLP, London; Herbert Smith LLP, London 

Deloitte LLP, London

Capita Registrars, Beckenham

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CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

CORPORATE 
GOVERNANCE REPORT

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2014

UK Corporate Governance Code
The following pages 
explain how the Company 
has applied the principles 
and provisions of the 2012 
UK Corporate Governance 
Code (“the Code”) 
during 2014.

I would like to make the following points by way of 
introduction before describing the Group’s approach in more 
detail. I hope you will find them helpful:

•   The Board considers that John Carter in his first full year as 
Chief Executive has seamlessly succeeded Geoff Cooper, 
and has established an excellent working relationship with 
Tony Buffin, who joined the Company in April 2013

•   Having successfully completed the recruitment of three 

non-executives, the Group now has a stable and superbly 
qualified Board to monitor, challenge and support the 
evolution of the Company’s strategy 

•   Given the rotation in non-executives in 2014, the Board 
delayed, for a year, the initiative of having individual 
non-executives ‘mentoring’ one of the Group’s businesses 
or central functions and we plan to reintroduce this later 
in 2015

•   An external evaluation of the Board’s performance was 
conducted by Egon Zehnder, one of the UK’s foremost 
providers of such services, and the results are summarised 
on page 91

•    The Board continues to welcome extensive and 

regular shareholder engagement on both business and 
governance matters

•   On governance issues, the Group always aims to engage 

early and with as wide a range of shareholders as possible, 
contacting at least the top 20 investors. In 2014, and 
despite follow-up reminders, the Board was disappointed 
that fewer shareholders chose to engage, on the basis  
that they had no governance concerns. The Board’s view  
is that Group would always prefer to have a regular  
annual discussion

•   The Board has decided not to adopt voluntary reporting 
against the 2014 edition of the Code which applies to 
financial periods starting on or after 1 October 2014

The following pages summarise the Company’s governance 
practices by reference to the five main sections of the Code. 

1. Leadership

At 31 December 2014 the Board was made up of six  
non-executive directors (including myself as Chairman) and 
two executive directors. A further non-executive director 
(Coline McConville) was appointed and took up her role on 
1 February 2015. Andrew Simon is the Senior Independent 
Director. The Board has a schedule of matters reserved 
to it, which is reviewed annually. Revisions were made in 
December 2014 to:

•   Raise to £10m the level of capital expenditure requiring 

Board approval

•   Require the acquisition of any business or company whose 
business is not within the ordinary course for the Group to 
be approved by the Board

•   Remove (subject to safeguarding provisos) change of 

control provisions in certain contracts with public bodies 
from the requirement to obtain Board approval

•   Remove parent company guarantees of £50,000 and 
under from the requirement to obtain Board approval

The Board’s key responsibilities are for overall Group 
strategy, policy on corporate governance, approval 
of expansion plans and major capital expenditure, 
consideration of significant financial and operational matters 
and the Group’s exposure to key risks. It also reviews the 
strategy of the individual businesses, the annual budget and 
progress towards the achievement of the budget and long 
term objectives. Legislative, environmental, health and safety 
and employment issues are also considered.

The Board has approved a written statement of the division 
of key responsibilities between the Chairman, and the Chief 
Executive. This is reviewed annually and minor changes 
were made in 2014. The Board, in 2014, also approved a 
statement of the role of the Senior Independent Director.

The Company maintains directors & officers’ insurance 
in respect of the risk of claims against directors. This is 
reviewed annually and has been increased in 2014.

All directors have direct access to the Company Secretary 
/ General Counsel and may take independent professional 
advice in the furtherance of their duties if necessary.

I agree the agenda for board meetings in conjunction with 
the Chief Executive and the Company Secretary / General 
Counsel. Agendas are based upon an annual plan, but also 
include matters of particular interest or concern to the 
Board at any particular time.

I monitor the information provided to the Board to ensure it 
is sufficient, timely and clear.

I generally contact all the Non-executive Directors in 
advance of Board meetings, to suggest the key issues for 
discussion. In particular I discuss the meeting papers with 
any director who is unable to attend, to obtain that director’s 
views. At the meetings, as Chairman, I ensure that each 
director is able to make an effective contribution within an 
atmosphere of transparency and constructive debate. 

Between Board meetings I maintain frequent direct contact 
with the Executive Directors and keep the Non-executive 
Directors informed of material developments. I held 
a number of meetings during the year with all the 
Non-executive Directors, without the Executive Directors 
being present. 

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SECTION HEADCORPORATE GOVERNANCE

Board Meetings

The Board held nine scheduled meetings in 2014. Three 
meetings considered the Group’s long term strategy.  
Six meetings included either visits to parts of the Group’s 
operations or presentations by senior executives on their 
areas of responsibility. Non-executive directors also made 

individual visits to operational sites. In addition to the regular 
board meetings, key financial information is circulated to the 
Directors outside of meetings.

The number of Board and Committee meetings attended by 
each director (in whole or in part) during the year is detailed 
in the table below.

PLC Board No.

Audit No.

Remuneration No.

Nomination No.

Stay Safe No.

Number of meetings

Attendances:

R. Anderson

A. D. Buffin4

J. P. Carter4

J. Coleman1

G. I. Cooper2

P. Redfern3

C. C. B. Rogers

J. Rogers3

A. H. Simon

R. M. Walker4

9

9

9

9

8

-

1

8

1

9

9

4

4

-

-

3

-

-

3

-

-

-

4

-

-

-

3

-

1

-

1

4

4

4

4

-

-

4

-

-

3

-

4

4

4

4

-

4

-

-

-

-

-

4

4

1 Retired 31 October 2014    2 Retired 6 March 2014    3 Appointed 1 November 2014    4 Although not a member of the Audit Committee has attended four 
meetings during the year

Board Committees

The Group has five Board Committees: the Audit 
Committee, the Remuneration Committee, the Nominations 
Committee, the Stay Safe Committee and the Executive 
Committee, which operate within defined terms of reference, 
which are reviewed annually. Summaries of these are 
available on the Company’s website or may be obtained 
from the Company Secretary. The minutes of committee 
meetings are circulated to all the Directors. 

The Executive Committee is chaired by the Chief Executive 
and its members are listed on page 86. Other executives 
are invited to attend from time to time in relation to specific 
matters. The main purpose of this Committee is to assist 
the Executive Directors in the performance of their duties in 
relation in particular to:

•   Strategy, operational plans, policies, procedures and budgets

•   The monitoring of operational and financial performance

•   The assessment and control of risk

•   The prioritisation and allocation of resources

On occasions during 2014, sub-committees of the Executive 
Committee met to carry out more detailed reviews of 
particular areas. 

2. Effectiveness
Save in respect of Andrew Simon who reached the ninth 
anniversary of his appointment on 20 February 2015 none 
of the specific circumstances set out in Code provision 
B.1.1 apply. Nevertheless, the Board is satisfied that all the 
Non-executive Directors are independent.

Given the significant changes to Board composition 
which have taken place over the past two years and the 
Company’s ambitions for growth presented to investors at 
the 2013 Capital Markets day the issue of orderly Board 
succession is of critical importance. A period of transition 
and handover of between nine and twelve months between 
Andrew and those new directors who will be assuming 
membership and chairmanship of Committees in his stead 
is considered to be necessary and in the best interests of 
investors and accordingly the Board has decided to extend 
Andrew’s term of office until 31 October 2015.

Appointments of new directors are made by the Board on 
the recommendation of the Nominations Committee. I chair 
that Committee and all the other members are independent 
non-executive directors. A report of the Committee’s work in 
2014 is on pages 118 to 119.

Appointments of Non-executive Directors

The Group’s policy is to recruit people of the highest calibre, 
with a breadth of skills and experience appropriate for 
the Company’s business. The Group’s businesses both 
trade and retail, are trading businesses. Given the highly 
competitive and fast moving nature of the markets in which 
the Group operates, the Group’s preference in seeking 

future non-executives, is to attract individuals who have had 
significant Profit and Loss experience as CFOs or CEOs; 
additional expertise in areas relevant to the Group’s businesses 
is also valuable. The Group supports the principles of the 
Davies Review and the need for a diverse board, although it 
does not intend to commit to specific quotas. The Group uses 
search firms who abide by the voluntary code of conduct 
which followed the Davies Review. The Board diversity policy is 
summarised in the Nominations Committee Report.

Non-executive directors are appointed for a period until 
the third AGM following election, at the end of which the 
appointment may be renewed by mutual agreement.  
It is the Board’s policy that non-executive directors should 
generally serve for six years (two three-year terms) and that 
any term beyond this should be subject to a rigorous review. 
This review takes into account the need for progressive 
refreshing of the Board, maintenance of a balance of skills 
and experience and the particular requirements of the 
Company at the time of the possible extension.

Non-executive directors do not have a service contract, 
but each has received a letter of appointment. These 
appointments expire on the following dates, and the length 
of service at that date is also shown.

Ruth Anderson

May 2018 (6 years 7 months)

Coline McConville

May 2018 (3 years 4 months)

Peter Redfern

May 2018 (3 years 7 months)

Christopher Rogers

August 2016 (3 years)

John Rogers

May 2018 (3 years 7 months)

Andrew Simon

October 2015 (9 years 7 months)

Robert Walker

September 2015 (6 years)

The letters of appointment will be available for inspection at 
the Annual General Meeting (“AGM”).

During 2014 Pete Redfern and John Rogers joined the Board 
and on 1 February 2015 Coline McConville also joined.  
Pete is CEO at Taylor Wimpey plc, John is Group CFO at  
J Sainsbury plc and Coline is an experienced non-executive 
director. In view of the number of changes that there have 
been recently, and in order to secure continuity during 
this period of change, Andrew Simon’s appointment was 
extended beyond his normal retirement date of February 
2015. This extension will be until 31 October 2015.

Induction

The Group has an induction process for new directors, which 
is facilitated by the Company Secretary / General Counsel. 
In particular, this includes a programme of meetings 
with senior management in both operations and central 
functions, and visits to a range of branches and stores.  
I ensure that all directors receive appropriate training on 
appointment and then subsequently as required, taking into 
account the need to update their skills and their knowledge 
of the Company’s business. Non-executive directors are 
also regularly provided with information on forthcoming 

legal and regulatory changes and corporate governance 
developments, and briefings on the key risks facing the 
Company, including those identified in the Statement of 
Principal Risks and Uncertainties on pages 58 to 63.

Evaluation of Board Performance

Each year, the Board undertakes an evaluation of its 
performance and the performance of its Committees and 
individual directors. The Board’s policy is to engage an 
external facilitator to assist this process every three years. 
In 2007, 2011 and in 2014, the Board’s performance was 
reviewed externally by Egon Zehnder. The Board had no 
conflict of interest with Egon Zehnder, who has conducted in 
excess of 400 external reviews, significantly more than most 
other comparable firms.

In 2013, the Board carried out an internal review of its 
performance. Reviewing the actions identified at that time, 
the Board has performed well on all items. Non-executive 
succession has been comprehensively managed. The success 
of the 2013 Capital Markets day presentation has been built 
upon. Further streamlining of the financial reporting for the 
Board was completed in May 2014. The Board devoted more 
time to management succession and development  
beyond the senior team. Finally, the Board continued to 
involve appropriate and challenging external expertise in  
its discussions.

Turning to 2014, the Board once again conducted an external 
performance evaluation. This entailed each director, the 
Company Secretary and the Executive Committee members 
completing a questionnaire about the performance of the 
Board and its Committees, followed by individual interviews 
with Egon Zehnder. Egon Zehnder presented its report to the 
Board in December 2014. Additionally, the Non-executive 
Directors led by the Senior Independent Director conducted a 
review of my own performance.

As a result, the Board determined that it had effectively 
managed the achievement of the Company’s objectives 
during the year, that the mix of knowledge and skills among 
Board members was appropriate, and that the Board 
worked cohesively. 

For 2015, the following areas for focus, among others,  
were identified:

•   Honing Board processes

•   Medium-term board succession planning

In 2015, an internal review of the Board’s performance will 
be conducted.

Re-election

At the AGM, all directors will submit themselves for 
election or re-election as appropriate. As a result of the 
Board evaluation exercise, as Chairman I am satisfied that 
each director continues to show the necessary level of 
commitment to the Group, and has sufficient time available 
to fulfil his or her duties, to justify their election or  
re-election. The other directors, in a process led by the 

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91

SECTION HEADCORPORATE GOVERNANCE

Senior Independent Director, have reached a similar view 
with regard to my own re-election.

The Board believes that there is presently a blend of skills 
and experience among the Non-executive Directors which is 
appropriate for the Group. The skills required for the Board 
include experience in the merchanting and retail sectors, 
capital project and M&A evaluation, as well as the essential 
understanding of financial controls and accounting. An 
understanding of information technology is increasingly 
important.

3. Accountability

A review of the performance of the Group’s businesses 
and the financial position of the Group is included in the 
Strategic Report on pages 38 to 57. The Board uses it 
to present a full assessment of the Group’s position and 
prospects, its business model, and its strategy for delivering 
that model. The directors’ responsibilities for the financial 
statements is described on page 124.

Going Concern

After reviewing the Group’s forecasts and risk assessments 
and making other enquiries, the Directors have formed a 
judgement at the time of approving the financial statements, 
that there is a reasonable expectation that the Group and 
the Company have adequate resources to continue in 
operational existence for the foreseeable future. For this 
reason, they continue to adopt the going concern basis in 
preparing the financial statements.

In arriving at their opinion the Directors considered:

•   The Group’s cash flow forecasts and revenue projections

•   Reasonably possible changes in trading performance

The day-to-day operation of the system of internal control 
is delegated to Executive Directors and senior management, 
but the effectiveness of the system is regularly reviewed 
by the Audit Committee and the Board in a process that 
accords with the Turnbull Guidance. 

Risk Assessment 

It is the responsibility of the Board to establish the risk 
framework within which the Group operates. The Board and 
the Executive Committee review the risk register twice and 
the risk appetite once in each year. Members of the Audit 
Committee also receive reports of Internal Audit reviews. 
If appropriate, these reports include recommendations 
for improvement in controls or for the management 
of those risks. Measures to integrate risk management 
processes into the Group’s operations, to extend awareness 
of the importance of risk management and to ensure 
that recommended improvements are implemented, are 
regularly reviewed and refreshed. Senior executives and 
managers are asked, each year, to confirm the adequacy 
of internal controls in their areas of responsibility, identify 
any control weaknesses, and to confirm the accuracy and 
completeness of information given to the directors and to 
the external auditors.

In conjunction with the Audit Committee, the Board has 
carried out an annual review of the overall effectiveness 
of the system of internal control and risk management, 
during the year and up until the date of approval of this 
Annual Report.

Audit Committee and Auditors 

The Board has established an Audit Committee consisting 
of four independent non-executive directors. Its key 
responsibilities and a description of its work in 2014 are 
contained in its report, which is set out on pages 94 to 97.

•   The committed facilities available to the Group and the 

covenants thereon

4. Remuneration

•    The Group’s robust policy towards liquidity and cash  

flow management

•   The Group management’s ability to successfully manage 

the principal risks and uncertainties outlined on  
pages 58 to 63 during periods of uncertain economic 
outlook and challenging macro-economic conditions

Internal Control 

The Board is responsible for the Group’s system of internal 
control and for reviewing its effectiveness. In the design 
of the system of internal control, consideration has been 
given to the significant risks to the business, the probability 
of these risks manifesting themselves and the most cost 
effective means of controlling them. The threat posed by 
those risks, and any perceived change in that threat, is 
reviewed half yearly by both the Executive Committee and 
the Board. The system manages rather than eliminates risk 
and therefore can only provide reasonable, and not absolute, 
assurance against material misstatement or loss.

The Board has established a Remuneration Committee 
consisting of the Chairman and three independent 
non-executive directors. Its responsibilities include 
remuneration policy, a review of the performance of executive 
directors prior to determining their remuneration and the 
approval of incentive arrangements, including performance 
criteria. The remuneration of the Non-executive Directors 
is determined by the Board as a whole, except that the 
Remuneration Committee makes a recommendation in 
respect of the Chairman’s fee. No director plays a part in the 
discussion about his or her own remuneration. 

The Committee’s key responsibilities and a description of its 
work in 2014 are contained in its report, which is set out on 
pages 98 to 117.

The constitution of the Committee did not comply with 
provision D.2.1 of the Code from the beginning of the year 
until the appointment of Pete Redfern and John Rogers. As 
described elsewhere there has been period of significant 

turnover within the Company’s Non-executive Directors and 
it has taken time to re-populate the Committee to meet the 
Code requirements.

5. Relations with Shareholders

The Company encourages two-way communication with 
both its institutional and private investors and responds 
promptly to all enquiries received. Each year, the Company 
reviews its strategy for engaging with shareholders. In 2014, 
the Executive Directors and I, either separately or together, 
attended a large number of meetings with analysts, and with 
shareholders. 

In November 2014 the Group held an Operational Briefing day, 
which was attended by more than 50 investors and analysts 
as well as a number of representatives from the Group’s 
banks. The Executive Directors together with members of the 
Executive Committee delivered an update on progress against 
the strategy which was presented at the Capital Markets day 
in 2013. A copy of the presentation is available in the investor 
section of the Group’s website at www.travisperkinsplc.co.uk. 
The Chairman and the Executive Directors report to the Board 
on any meetings with shareholders or analysts. In addition, 
written reports about the Company by analysts or brokers are 
circulated to all directors.

The Group makes the Senior Independent Director available 
as a direct contact for investors and shareholders, if they 
wish. However, no meetings have in fact taken place 
between the Senior Independent Director and investors due 
to an absence of appetite for such meetings among the 
Company’s investors, and accordingly the Company has not 
complied with provision E.1.1 of the Code in this respect. As 
regards governance issues, as Chairman I aim to meet with 
major shareholders shortly after the previous year’s Annual 
General Meeting. These meetings are deliberately timed 
early in the year so that the Board can consider and respond 
to shareholder concerns well in advance of the following 
year’s annual report and shareholder meeting. I normally 
contact the Group’s 20 largest shareholders to ensure the 
widest consultation possible and particularly, given market 
volatility, to ensure that the views of any shareholder 
which substantially increases its stake during the year 
have been fully taken into account. In 2014, and despite 
follow-up reminders, the Board was disappointed that fewer 
shareholders chose to engage, on the basis that they had no 
governance concerns. The Board’s view is that Group would 
always prefer to have a regular annual discussion.

As well as sending the annual report to shareholders, during 
the year, the Group published its interim results on its 
website and issued two interim management statements. 
Shareholders receive at least twenty working days notice 
of the Annual General Meeting at which all directors are 
available for questions and a short business presentation 
takes place. Each substantive issue is the subject of a 
separate resolution. I announce the numbers of proxy votes 
for and against each resolution at the meeting, after the 

voting has taken place, and these numbers are subsequently 
published on the Company’s website.

The Board’s Fair, Balanced and 
Understandable Declaration

At the board meeting during which the Group’s results for 
the year were presented by the Chief Executive and the 
Chief Financial Officer, the Board also considered whether 
the annual report and accounts, when taken as a whole, 
present a fair, balanced and understandable overview of the 
Group and its performance. After:

•   Hearing from the Executive Directors

•   Receiving a report from the Chairman of the Audit 

Committee on that Committee’s meeting to discuss 
the preparation and content of the year-end financial 
statements and the audit conducted upon them

•   Discussing the contents of the Annual Report and Accounts

•   Recognising that the Auditors have stated in their audit 

report on page 128:

“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.”

The Board concluded that the annual report and accounts 
are fair, balanced and understandable and accordingly the 
Directors’ declaration to that effect can be found in the 
Statement of Directors Responsibilities on page 124.

Corporate Governance Compliance 
Statement

I am pleased to report that the Board considers that the 
Company has complied throughout the year ended  
31 December 2014 with the provisions set out in the Code 
save that for the reasons described on pages 92 and 93:

•   The Remuneration Committee comprised only two 

independent non-executive directors plus the Chairman 
until the Committee membership was supplemented by 
the appointment of John Rogers and Pete Redfern

•   The Senior Independent Director has not proactively met 
with Investors; but has made himself fully available for 
meetings should investors request them

Robert Walker 
Chairman 
2 March 2015

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SECTION HEADCORPORATE GOVERNANCE

 AUDIT COMMITTEE 
REPORT

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2014

Dear Shareholder
As chairman of the Audit Committee, I am pleased to report 
below on the work of the Committee in 2014. 

Role of the Audit Committee

The Committee’s full terms of reference (which are reviewed 
annually and were last updated in December 2013) are 
available on the Group’s website (www.travisperkinsplc.co.uk), 
or on request to the Company Secretary / General Counsel.

Membership and Attendance

I was chairman of the Committee throughout the year. 
Christopher Rogers was a member of the Committee 
throughout 2014 and John Coleman was a member of the 
Committee until his retirement on 31 October 2014. John 
Rogers joined the Committee following John Coleman’s 
departure. John is currently Chief Financial Officer of  
J Sainsbury plc and a member of the Board of Sainsbury’s 
Bank plc. Since the year end the Committee has also been 
joined by Coline McConville whose biographical details can 
be found on page 83. 

All members of the Committee are considered to 
be independent and have considerable financial and 
commercial experience gained through a variety of 
corporate and professional appointments. In particular, the 
Board considers that John Rogers, Christopher Rogers and 
I have the recent and relevant financial experience required 
by the UK Corporate Governance Code (see also the board 
profiles on pages 82 to 84). The Company Secretary was 
secretary to the Committee throughout 2014.

The Committee held four meetings during 2014 and 
attendance at the meetings is shown on page 90. The Group 
Chairman, the Chief Executive, the Chief Financial Officer, 
the Group Financial Controller, the Head of Internal Audit 
and the external auditor also attended most meetings. At 
each meeting attended, the external auditor and the Head of 
Internal Audit were given the opportunity to discuss with the 
Committee any matters which they wished to raise without 
the presence of management. In addition, during the year, 
there were a number of meetings between the Chairman of 
the Committee and the Head of Internal Audit and between 
the Chairman of the Committee and the external auditors, 
without management being present. 

Work of the Committee

Shortly after each meeting, I report to the Board on the 
work of the Committee, outlining key matters and making 
appropriate recommendations. Set out below is the work of 
the committee in more detail.

The Committee has an annual work plan of standard items 
within its remit which is based upon the Group’s half year 
and full year financial reporting cycle. The following sets out 
the main areas of work undertaken by the Committee at 
each of its meetings:

Key issues considered
February
•  Year-end accounting and tax update, including impairment 

consideration and going concern review 

•  Consideration of the annual report and financial statements and 

the preliminary results announcement 

• Review of the systems of internal controls  
•  Review and discussion of a report from Deloitte on their audit 

findings, representation letter, independence and quality  
control processes 

•  Review of the effectiveness and appointment of the external auditors 
• Review of the Audit Committee’s effectiveness

May
•  Review and discussion of upcoming changes to accounting and 
governance rules – consideration of any proposed changes to 
accounting policies

• Review of the annual internal audit activity plan 
• Review of the terms of reference for internal audit  
• Review of the Audit Committee terms of reference 
•  Agreement of the Deloitte terms of engagement for the interim review
• Review of tax strategy and compliance

July
•  Half year accounting and tax update, including impairment 

considerations and going concern review 

• Consideration of the interim results announcement 
•  Consideration and discussion of a report by Deloitte on their 
review of the interim results and their representation letter 

•  Discussion of Deloitte’s audit letter of engagement, audit plan and 

proposed audit fees

November
• Deloitte interim audit report (systems and controls) 
•  Draft Annual Report & Accounts – initial review, including a 

review of significant accounting issues, accounting estimates and 
accounting policies 

• Annual review of effectiveness of Internal Audit
• Annual review of effectiveness of Audit Committee 
•  Annual review of External Auditor effectiveness, quality control 

and independence

In addition, there are a number of standing agenda items 
where at each meeting the Committee reviews:

•  Internal audit and risk reports

•  Whistleblowing, fraud and bribery

•  Non-audit services and fees

•  Progress on implementing recommendations arising from 

internal and external audit work

In addition to attending the formal Audit Committee 
meetings, during the year the Committee members met 
with operational and finance staff and received a number of 
technical updates.

The Audit Committee reviewed papers from the Group’s 
management team and from the Group’s Auditors that 
provided details of the significant financial reporting 
estimates and judgements made during the preparation and 
presentation of the Group’s interim and annual accounts.

I am satisfied that the Committee received sufficient, 
reliable and timely information from management to enable 
it to fulfil its responsibilities during the year.

Significant Issues Relating to the 
Financial Statements

The table below sets out the key judgement areas associated 
with the Group’s financial statements for the year-ended 
31 December 2014 which were considered by the Audit 
Committee. In reaching its conclusions set out in more 
detail below, the Committee has considered papers and 
explanations given by management, discussed each matter 
in detail, challenged assumptions and judgements made and 
sought clarification where necessary. It has reviewed and 
discussed any internal audit reports in respect of the matters 
under consideration and the Committee also received a report 
from the External Auditors on the work undertaken to arrive at 
the conclusions set out in their audit report on page 125 and 
had the opportunity to discuss it with them in depth.

Matter

Issue and Nature of Judgement

Factors Considered and Conclusion Reached

Carrying 
value of 
goodwill and 
intangible 
assets

The Group balance sheet contains a significant value of 
goodwill and other intangible assets associated with historical 
acquisitions. The Directors are required to determine annually 
whether those assets have suffered any impairment. They 
do so by comparing the present value of future cash flows 
for each cash generating unit with the carrying value of its 
goodwill and other intangible assets. 

The calculations undertaken to help arrive at a conclusion 
incorporate a consideration of the risks associated with  
each cash generating unit and are based upon forecasts of 
their long term future cash flows, which by their nature  
require judgement to be exercised and are subject to 
considerable uncertainty.

The cash flow forecasts used for impairment considerations are 
prepared from the strategic business plans presented to, and approved 
by, the Board of Directors annually.

Management explained to the Committee how the cash flow and 
discount rate calculations were prepared, the key assumptions and 
judgements that were made and how sensitive those cash flows were to 
changes in the key assumptions. 

The Committee concluded that management had taken a sensible, 
consistent and reasoned approach to preparing the calculations.  
It considered the judgements made to be acceptable and concluded 
that, whilst the headroom was limited for some cash generating units, 
principally Wickes and PTS, (see note 13 to the financial statements), 
there was no immediate indication of any impairment.

Accounting 
for supplier 
rebate 
income

Supplier rebate agreements result in a significant value of 
income being received by the Group. The calculation of 
rebates due to the Group from suppliers and the amounts to 
be recognised in the income statement and deferred into stock 
can be complicated due to the nature of the agreements. 

However, very few agreements are not coterminous with 
the Group’s accounting year end, so the level of judgement 
required to determine whether volume or value of goods 
purchase thresholds are going to be reached is significantly 
reduced. As a result the key judgements are to determine the 
value of rebates to be immediately recognised in the  
income statement.

To meet customer expectations the Group carries a wide  
range of stock in over 2,000 locations. That stock should 
be included in the balance sheet at the lower of cost or 
net realisable value. The determination of cost may be 
complicated when rebate agreements are in place (see above). 
Furthermore, determining the net realisable value of stock 
requires judgement to be applied.

The Group is currently in discussion with H. M. Revenue 
and Customs (“HMRC”) about the tax treatment of several 
commercial transactions. The outcome of these discussions is 
uncertain and so the Group has had to consider what benefits 
it is appropriate to recognise in the income statement. 

Inventory 
valuation

Income taxes

In the Autumn, management presented a detailed paper to the 
Committee and explained the Group’s key systems and processes, how 
the sources of supplier income were identified, what estimates were 
made, how the calculations were undertaken and how recoverability 
was monitored and reviewed. In addition the Committee reviewed and 
discussed the findings of reviews of systems, controls and processes 
undertaken by the internal audit team.

A summary update of the year-end position was given to the 
Committee at the meeting held to consider the year-end results.

The Committee concluded that the controls over recognising and 
recovering rebate income were appropriate and that the values included 
in the financial statements were appropriate.

Management presented a paper that set out the level of stock 
provisioning and its basis, so that the Committee could understand the 
adjustments made to stock figures for management accounts purposes 
in order to get to the stock figures for statutory accounts purposes.
The Committee concluded that stock values were fairly stated in the 
balance sheet. 

The Committee considered the Group’s provisions for unresolved tax 
positions. It has received regular updates from management during the 
year and at the year-end received a paper setting out the latest position 
based upon the most recent discussions with the Group’s advisors and 
with HMRC. The Committee concluded that the uncertainty justified the 
provisions held and that the Group’s tax position was fairly stated and 
appropriately provisioned.

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Internal Audit

In 2013 we carried out a review of the skills and resources 
in our Internal Audit team and, as a result, during 2014 we 
recruited some new team members with the appropriate 
qualifications and experience. Resources were also 
supplemented by the use of external resources for some 
specialist area audits.

The Committee continued to review the plans for work in 
2014 throughout the first part of the year and increased the 
emphasis on finance matters as opposed to operational 
matters. At each Committee meeting issues raised by, and 
the recommendations made as a result of internal audits 
were considered. The Committee had a particular focus this 
year on reviewing how quickly management implemented 
actions to meet agreed recommendations. Risk based 
plans for work in 2015 were agreed by the Committee in 
November 2014.

The Committee was satisfied with the overall effectiveness 
of the internal audit function.

Risk Management and Internal Controls

The Committee reviewed the Group’s internal financial 
controls and its internal control and risk management 
systems in February 2015. The Committee considered 
these systems to have been overall effective during the year. 
Where deficiencies were identified, actions were agreed to 
provide a remedy and the Committee monitored the “clear 
down” rate of the agreed actions, as noted in the previous 
section on Internal Audit. The risk management systems 
were reviewed in 2014 to more closely align them with the 
Group’s strategy and corporate plans.

External Auditor

Deloitte LLP (or its predecessor firms) is a leading 
international audit partnership, and was first appointed as 
auditor to group companies more than 30 years ago. There 
are no contractual restrictions on the Group with regard to 
their appointment. In accordance with current professional 
standards, the partner responsible for the audit changes 
every 5 years; the last change occurred in 2010. 

As flagged in the 2013 report, in 2014 the Committee 
began the process to tender for external audit services. 
It is expected that the process will be completed during 
March 2015 and a proposal either to re-appoint the existing 
auditor (as permitted under regulation 537/2014/EU on the 
mandatory rotation of statutory auditors, for one final five 
year period) or to appoint a new auditor as appropriate, will 

be put to the Annual General Meeting in May and will be 
effective for the 2015 half year reporting process.

During the year the Committee reviewed the following in 
respect of the external auditor:

•   The policy on engagement of the external auditor for 
non-audit work, as referred to below, and the policy on 
the employment of anyone previously employed by the 
external auditor

•    The plans presented by the external auditor for conduct 
of the year-end audit and half-year review including the 
related risk analyses, terms of engagement, fees and letters 
of representation

•    The effectiveness, independence, and objectivity of the 
external auditor, taking into account information and 
written assurances provided by Deloitte LLP, on its quality 
and independence controls, and its ethical standards and 
reports of the FRC Audit Quality Review Team (formerly 
called the FRC Audit Inspection Unit)

The Committee specifically discussed the effectiveness 
of the external audit process at its meetings of February 
and November 2014 and again at its meeting in February 
2015. In each case the Committee obtained input from 
the Company’s finance team. In particular the Committee 
considered the audit of the 2013 report and accounts, the 
audit plan for 2014 and the audit of the 2014 report and 
accounts, and the risk identification process. The  
Committee was satisfied with the effectiveness of the 
external audit process.

Independence and Objectivity

One of the Committee’s responsibilities is to ensure 
compliance with the Board’s policy in respect of services 
provided by, and fees paid to, the external auditor. There has 
been no change to this policy, which is summarised below 
and is included on the Group’s website at 
www.travisperkinsplc.co.uk.

General Principle

The external auditors should only be chosen to carry out 
non-audit work where its nature makes it more effective 
for the work to be carried out by auditors who have existing 
knowledge of the Group. The external auditors should not 
provide non-audit services where it might impair their 
independence or objectivity in carrying out the audit.

Areas of Work

Audit Related

Activities required by law or legislation 
to be undertaken by the Auditors

Reviews of interim financial information

Managed service reports to housing 
associations and local authorities

Permitted Work

Prohibited Work

Non-audit Related

Tax compliance services

Tax advisory services

Book-keeping and work related to the 
preparation of accounting records

Financial information system design or 
implementation

Public reporting on investment circulars 
and similar documents

Appraisal and valuation services

Private reporting to sponsors and 
similar parties in connection with 
investment circulars and similar 
documents

Internal audit services

Actuarial services

Forensic work

Employee benefit plan audits

Recruitment services

Provision of market data for 
remuneration benchmarking

Secondment of staff to a supervisory 
or management position

Provision of investment advice, broking 
or legal services

Value of Work

Non-audit services require approval as follows:

•  £5,000 to £25,000 – Chief Financial Officer

The Committee understands that the total fees paid by the 
Group to Deloitte in 2014 amount to less than 0.02% of 
Deloitte’s UK fee income and considers that the Auditor’s 
independence and objectivity has not been impaired by the 
non-audit fees paid to it in 2014.

•  £25,000 to £50,000 – Chief Financial Officer and 

Committee Chairman

Overview

As a result of the Committee’s work during the year, and 
taking into account the result of the Board and Committee 
evaluation process described on page 91, the Committee 
considers that it has acted in accordance with its terms of 
reference and has ensured the independence, objectivity 
and effectiveness of the external and internal auditors. The 
Committee has also concluded that the Group’s internal 
control and risk management systems were effective during 
the year. 

I will be available at the Annual General Meeting to answer 
any questions about the work of the Committee.

Ruth Anderson  
Chairman, Audit Committee 
2 March 2015

•  £50,000+ – Chief Financial Officer and Committee 

Chairman following a competitive tender

Formal approval by the Committee is also required if the 
aggregated level of forecast fees for non-audit services 
exceeds 50% of the statutory audit fee.

Reporting 

The Chief Financial Officer reports twice annually to 
the Committee on fees for non-audit services payable 
to the auditors.

As shown in note 5 to the accounts, during the year the 
Auditors were paid £435,000 (2013: £442,000) for 
audit-related work, and £111,000 (2013: £188,000) for 
non-audit work.

The principal items of non-audit fees relate to the interim 
review, bond issue and sundry tax. In view of Deloitte’s 
detailed understanding of the Group’s operations and 
accounting policies, and being mindful of future Auditor 
reporting obligations, the Audit Committee decided that 
it was appropriate for Deloitte to undertake this work. In 
addition, £1,415,000 (2013: £837,000) of fees were paid to 
other accounting firms for non-audit work, including advice 
to the Remuneration Committee.

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DIRECTORS’  
REMUNERATION
REPORT

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2014

This report sets out the Group’s remuneration policies for its 
directors and senior executives and how these policies will be applied 
in practice. The policy is available to view on the Company’s website in 
the investor centre.

UNAUDITED INFORMATION

Remuneration Philosophy

1. Remuneration Committee Chairman’s 
Statement

Dear Shareholder,

In my last year, both as Senior Independent Director and in 
my role as Chairman of the Remuneration Committee, I am 
delighted to present this report, on behalf of the Board at 
the conclusion of a very successful year.

Shareholders will recall that 2012 and 2013 were busy 
years of leadership change and transition as the Committee 
established, following extensive consultation, the pay and 
performance framework for the newly appointed Chief 
Executive Officer, John Carter, Chief Financial Officer,  
Tony Buffin and the Executive Committee team members.

I was pleased with the high level of shareholder support 
shown through the votes received in favour of both the 
remuneration report and the Committee’s policy statement. 
The policy on directors’ remuneration received a 93.28% 
binding vote at the 2014 Annual General Meeting and is 
included in this year’s report again for ease of reference.

The principles of the Group’s remuneration policy 
remain unchanged:

•   Remuneration should be competitive and contribute 

to the delivery of short and long term superior 
financial returns for shareholders

•   Remuneration should contain significant performance 

related incentive elements

•   Reward mechanisms should ensure that a significant 
proportion of variable pay is delivered in deferred 
shares with clawback provisions ensuring that 
executives retain a meaningful personal stake in the 
Group’s success

•   All colleagues should be able to share in the success 
of the Group through participation in both annual 
bonus schemes and longer term share plans

•   The approach to basic salary increases should be 
consistent across all colleagues including no pay 
increases for mergers and acquisitions activity

Performance Outcomes

Group Performance in the 2014 Financial Year

The Group delivered a strong set of financial results and 
solid returns for shareholders in 2014 through continuing to 
outperform in the majority of markets in which it operates. 
The highlights from a very successful year were:

•   Adjusted profit before tax increased by 12.8%

•   Adjusted EPS up by 14.9%

•   Lease adjusted return on capital employed 10.4%

•   Full year dividend of 38 pence (2013: 31 pence), increasing 

by 22.6% (2013: 24%)

•   Free cash flow increased by 6%

•   Total shareholder return (“TSR”) increased ahead of the 

peer group

The Committee ensures that senior executive incentive 
targets are stretching, aligned to the business strategy and 
drive long term shareholder value. The ultimate measure 
of success in a business is consistent shareholder value 
creation; the Committee feels that the Group’s short and 
long term rewards should reflect this. Over the last five 
years the Group has consistently outperformed its peer 
competitor group’s TSR performance and whilst the 
executive team has been rewarded through a combination 
of short and long term incentives, the combination of a 
turbulent market and stretching targets has resulted in the 
executive remuneration history illustrated below:

%
R
S
T

160

140

120

100

80

60

40

20

0

-20

Combined
STI/LTI
achievement

Cumulative TSR to Date

147.3

Travis Perkins

Peer group

136.2

102.5

89.1

54.3

77.2

64.9

29.3

2010-14

2011-14

2012-14

2013-14

33%

42%

69%

74%

Bonus achievement in year of performance, LTIP vesting in year of vesting

1.2 -4.0

2014

42%

Performance against the range of financial, operational 
and longer term targets and KPIs is monitored on a regular 
basis. The Committee is comfortable that the annual bonus 
outcomes for 2014 reflect business performance. The 
table overleaf sets out the Group’s framework for linking its 
growth strategy with pay and performance outcomes; the 
financial measures denoted in bold text (EPS and LAROCE) 
represent 80% of the maximum annual bonus payment.

Alignment Between the Group’s Growth Strategy 
and Performance Measures 

The Group’s growth strategy and Key Performance 
Indicators (“KPIs”) were presented to shareholders at its 
Operational Briefing held on 27 November 2014 and are 
described in detail on pages 6 to 9.

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SECTION HEAD 
CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

What

Enabled by

Customer
Innovation

Optimising
the Network

Ways of Working

 KPIs
2014

Multi-channel
progress

Customer
perception

Network
expansion

Exploit scale
advantages

Better portfolio
management

People engagement

Working safely

Annual Bonus
Financial and Non-Financial
Targets/KPIs*

EPS
ROCE/LAROCE
COGS

Safe sites
Colleague engagement
Customer satisfaction
Sales intensity from implants
Online sales growth

* TSR, Aggregate Cashflow and CROCE form the basket of performance measures for LTIPs

Pay & Performance

Annual Pay Review

The basic salaries of the Chief Executive and the  
Chief Financial Officer increased by 2%. This is the eighth 
successive year of consistency in approach to the annual 
pay review across the whole organisation. As a result,  
with effect from 1 January 2015, John Carter’s and  
Tony Buffin’s basic salaries increased to £673,200 and 
£520,200 respectively.

Annual Bonus

The very strong business performance in 2014 was again 
driven by the delivery of management’s planned strategic 
programme of work. The rounded assessment of financial 
outcomes and achievement against other strategic growth 
KPIs has resulted in an annual incentive payment for 
executive directors and central function managers of 
typically 85-90% of the annual bonus opportunity.  
The precise outcomes are set out later in the remuneration 
report on page 111.

KPIs for Strategy for Growth

Performance in 2014

% of Annual Bonus
max

Below Target

On Target

Above Target

Adjusted EPS Growth

LAROCE/ROCE

Non-Financial
  (Multi-channel
  customer perception
  network expansion
  people engagement
  safety)

50%

30%

20%

A large number of the Group’s business unit teams and 
branch managers exceeded their plan targets by more 
than 5%. I am therefore delighted that these outstanding 
performances have been rewarded with maximum bonus 
payments in their respective schemes which are all tailored 
to meet the operational plan and growth expectations of 
each business.

apply to the senior team. Half of the bonus earned for 
the Executive Directors and the Executive Committee is 
deferred into shares which are subject to forfeiture if target 
share prices are not achieved over the following two years. 
This mechanism ensures that there is a meaningful deferral 
of variable pay on an ‘at risk’ basis for the Group’s most 
senior business leaders.

Whilst there is a great deal of consistency in financial 
performance measures across all business areas with a 
strong focus on ROCE and LAROCE, the deferred bonus 
arrangements, approved by shareholders in 2014, only 

Long Term Incentive Plans

Over recent years the setting of appropriately stretching 
performance targets for long term incentives has proved 

to be one of the most challenging tasks undertaken by the 
Remuneration Committee.

The recession brought new challenges. Global and 
domestic economic uncertainty combined with declining 
customer confidence and poor availability of credit wrought 
havoc in the construction sector. Alongside these market 
uncertainties there has been an increased governance focus 
on pay and performance which extended well beyond the 
financial services sector.

In 2010/11 the Group believed that market growth in its 
sector over the subsequent three year period would be 
much stronger than that which has occurred, and the LTIP 
targets were set accordingly.

As a result of the market recovery taking longer than the 
Group and other businesses anticipated and despite the 
outstanding performance of the management team over 
the intervening three year trading period, the targets have 
been partially met, resulting in a partial vesting of LTIPS  
(37% under the Performance Share Plan and nil vesting 
under the Co-investment Plan) for the Executive Directors 
and over 200 senior managers in 2014. 

Looking forward a similar pattern is anticipated in 2015 with 
partial vesting of awards granted in 2012.

Remuneration Policy

The remuneration policy remains unchanged and is set 
out again on pages 103 to 110. In contrast to prior years 
of significant change there has been no requirement to 
formally consult with shareholders on any remuneration 
issues during 2014. The Committee has, however, discussed 
and carefully considered the guidance notes issued by 
the ABI, ISS, NAPF and PIRC prior to the publication of 
this report.

Forward Looking Remuneration Challenges 

Under the UK Corporate Governance Code (the “Code”) 
for reporting years beginning on or after 1 October 2014 
companies are required to include a clawback provision in 
their share plans and bonus arrangements on a comply 
or explain basis. In addition, companies are required 
to consider under the Code whether for share-based 
remuneration, the Remuneration Committee should require 
directors to hold a minimum number of shares and to 
hold shares for a further period after vesting or exercise, 
including for a period after leaving the Company, subject to 
the need to finance any costs of acquisition and associated 
tax liabilities.

Malus & Clawback

Currently a full clawback provision applies to both the 
executive bonus plan (the Deferred Share Bonus Plan - 
which applies to Executive Directors and the majority of 
Executive Committee members) and the Co-investment 
Plan (the Share Matching Scheme - which applies to a wider 
group typically including business unit managing directors). 

The Performance Share Plan (“PSP”) contained only a 
clause which allowed adjustment of PSP grants to effect 
clawback clauses in other plans. The PSP plan rules have 
recently been amended such that all the executive bonus 
plans now include full malus and clawback clauses. The 
circumstances in which malus and clawback could apply are 
as follows:

•   Discovery of a material misstatement resulting in an 

adjustment in the audited consolidated accounts of the 
Company

•   The assessment of any performance target or condition in 
respect of an award was based on error, or inaccurate or 
misleading information

•   The discovery that any information used to determine the 
number of shares subject to an award was based on error, 
or inaccurate or misleading information

•   Action or conduct of an award holder, which in the 

reasonable opinion of the Board, amounts to employee 
misbehaviour, fraud or gross misconduct

Malus will apply up to the date of the bonus determination 
and clawback will apply for 3 years from the date of bonus 
determination under the bonus arrangements. Malus will 
apply for the 3 year period from grant to vesting with 
clawback applying for the 2 year period post vesting under 
the Performance Share Plan and the Co-investment Plan.

The Committee is comfortable that the rules of the Plans 
provide sufficient powers to enforce malus and clawback 
if required.

Minimum Shareholding & Holding Periods

The Remuneration Committee has reviewed the current 
shareholding requirements for the Executive Directors of 
200% of salary and believes that these remain appropriate. 
In addition, the Committee feels that the combination of 
these minimum shareholding requirements and the multiple 
deferral periods under the Company incentive plans means 
that additional post holding vesting periods are not currently 
required. The Committee will review this position on an 
annual basis.

The Committee will also be looking closely at the EU Market 
Abuse Regulations. Under these regulations the definition of 
‘closed period’ will change to 30 days preceding publication 
of the financial statements for any period. Under the insider 
dealing regime there would also be a period equivalent 
to the Group’s existing closed periods in which no dealing 
could take place.

This raises a number of questions to be considered with 
respect to executive bonus plans including very restricted 
opportunity to exercise vesting awards for example. In 
particular the Group’s Deferred Share Bonus Plan has only 
a short exercise period (6 months) and so the issue is 
particularly acute for this plan. 

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SECTION HEADCORPORATE GOVERNANCE

In addition from 2017, the window in which grants can be 
made under the long term incentive plans will be limited to 
about 3 weeks between the results announcement and the 
start of the full year closed period. Whilst most grants have 
historically been made within this window, delayed grants 
would now be prohibited.

These issues will be considered by the Committee over  
the coming months and may result in changes to current 
plan mechanics.

Remuneration Elsewhere in the Group

The Committee takes into account remuneration packages 
available to all colleagues when considering executive pay. 
As with many companies, senior management participate in 
a wider range of incentives than the majority of colleagues. 
The Group recognises that it has to operate on this basis 
to attract and retain high-quality managers, but ensure that 
a significantly higher proportion of reward for this group is 
weighted on variable incentive outcomes.

All colleagues are entitled to a competitive remuneration 
package that includes basic pay, bonus, pension, life 
assurance cover, Sharesave, Buy-as-You-Earn shares, 
colleague discount, tax-efficient benefits such as childcare 
vouchers and the cycle-to-work scheme, a range of 
‘voluntary benefits’, and paid annual leave. 

In order to improve the accessibility, understanding and take 
up of these benefits the Group followed up 2013’s launch 
of a colleague benefits brand ‘PERKS’ with the launch of 
an online benefits platform ‘myPERKS’ during the year. The 
hub is open to all employees of the Travis Perkins Group 
and it provides detailed information about all the rewards 
and benefits that are included in the Perks scheme as well 
as specific access to colleague rewards, benefits, discounts, 
advice and guidance. 

Included in myPERKS is a comprehensive range of flexible 
benefits where employees can ‘trade’ some of their benefits 
in favour of others or elect to increase or decrease their 
benefits to suit their lifestyle or circumstances. Current 
flexible benefits range from savings on mobile phones and 
childcare vouchers to income protection and the Group’s 
healthcare cash plan. The Group has plans to continue to 
expand the portfolio of benefits available during 2015 and 
beyond. A key principle for myPERKS is ease of access and 
so it has been designed to enable access through work or 
home computers, mobile phones or tablets. 

Over 19,000 colleagues are active members of a group 
pension scheme. Contribution rates made by the Group 
range from 1% to 20% of qualifying earnings under the 
defined contribution scheme. The defined benefits schemes 
are closed to new members, but over 1,600 colleagues 
continue as active members of a defined benefit scheme. 
The Group’s Sharesave scheme continues to be a great 
success. In 2014 around 3,559 colleagues shared returns of 
close to £34m (gains of £21.5m) from five and three year 

schemes, which matured at the end of the year. The gain 
for each employee vesting at the maximum level in the five 
year scheme was around £42,500. Following the invitation 
for the new 2014 Sharesave plan over 10,000 colleagues 
are now active savers which is an 18% increase from 2013.

Summary

Executive director remuneration has reflected the strong 
overall performance of the Group with annual bonus 
payments at 89% of maximum being above last year. This 
pay and performance pattern extends across most of the 
Group’s businesses with the majority of colleagues receiving 
a bonus award in respect of the 2014 financial year. The 
partial vesting of LTIPs at 21% reflects the volatile market 
conditions at the time the targets were set, which will impact 
the vesting outcome for 2015 as well.

A more turbulent economic environment coupled 
with increased governance regulation has spanned a 
significant part of my nine-year tenure as Chairman of 
the Remuneration Committee. The Group’s organic and 
acquisition strategy for growth, level of business change and 
people and succession agendas over the same time period 
have required reviews of its reward framework and have 
resulted in a relatively high level of shareholder dialogue 
on remuneration issues. I believe that, with the advice and 
support of the Group’s major shareholders the Group has 
been able, on balance, to navigate a course of action on 
each occasion which has enabled it to retain and recruit top 
talent and has aligned the interests of multiple stakeholders. 

The 2015 remuneration report will be written by Coline 
McConville who joined the Board in February 2015 and 
will be appointed as Chairman of the Remuneration 
committee in November 2015 as I step down from the 
Board. Coline brings a wealth of remuneration experience 
from her other non-executive director roles and shares the 
Group’s philosophy and approach to remuneration matters 
which has guided us well over the last nine years, in an 
environment that is now more demanding, regulated and 
dynamic than when I joined the Board in 2006.  
I anticipate that Coline will have a different, but equally full 
remuneration agenda in the medium to long term and  
I hope that the high level of shareholder support the Group 
has received to date continues.

I take this opportunity both to wish Coline every success for 
the future and to thank all of the Group’s shareholders  
I have spoken to personally for their time and input over the 
last nine years. 

Andrew Simon 
Chairman of the Remuneration Committee 
2 March 2015

2. Policy Report

The Group’s remuneration policies are not unique to its 
directors. The same principles underpin how the Group 
rewards and compensates all its colleagues. It aims 
to provide base pay to all colleagues that is market 
competitive, all colleagues are provided with the opportunity 
to share in the Group’s success through a variety of bonuses 
and incentive schemes where return on capital employed 
measures aligns colleagues from store and branch 
operations to the CEO. All colleagues are provided with the 
opportunity to prepare for retirement through participation 

in the Group’s pension plan and its PERKS colleague benefit 
brand launched in 2013, and extended to an online website 
(myPerks) during 2014, covers flexible benefits, employee 
discounts, health and welfare benefits and risk and 
insurance benefits and is all inclusive.

How the Group’s policies specifically apply to Directors 
is detailed on the following pages. Following shareholder 
approval these policies applied from 28 May 2014. It is 
intended that the policies apply for three years from the 
date of approval. Relevant parts of the policy are restated 
here for ease of reference.

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SECTION HEADCORPORATE GOVERNANCE

Future Policy Table

Remuneration Element

Link to Strategy

Operation

Maximum Potential Value

Performance Metrics

Remuneration Committee Discretion

Base Salary

Core element of total 
package, essential to support 
recruitment and retention of 
high calibre executives.

Benefits

Maintain competitive package 
with range of benefits for the 
director and their family.

Reviewed annually as at 1 January. Factors influencing 
decision include: 

•  Role, experience and individual performance
•  Pay awards elsewhere in the Group
•  External market (benchmarked against the 

FTSE 75-125 companies)

•  General economic environment

Directors are currently entitled to:

•  Private medical insurance
• Income protection
•  Annual leave - up to 30 days
•  Fully expensed company car (or cash alternative)
•  Life insurance of up to 5 times salary

Pension

Helps executives provide for 
retirement and aids retention.

No director actively participates in a defined benefit  
pension scheme.

None.

The Remuneration Committee  
(‘The Committee’) normally 
considers the relevant market 
median as the maximum salary 
level required.

In the normal course of events 
the maximum salary increase for 
executive directors will be in line 
with the general employee increase.

Benefit levels reflect those typically 
available to senior managers within 
the Group and may be subject to 
minor change.

None.

The maximum potential value 
being the cost to the Company to 
provide those benefits.

25% allowance or contribution.

None.

The Committee retains discretion to award 
salaries of above median levels or increases 
in excess of the general population where 
necessary to attract high calibre candidates,  
to reflect performance and recognise changes in 
roles and responsibilities.

The Committee retains discretion to review the 
appropriate peer comparator group used for 
benchmarking.

Up to 25% of salary is provided either as a cash allowance or as  
part allowance and part pension contribution.

Cash allowances are paid gross and after statutory deductions 
provide a net benefit of 13.25% of salary.

Pension allowances will not be included in the salary figure to be 
used to calculate bonus or the level of award under long term 
incentive plans.

Targets are set annually in line with the performance metrics  
(see aside).

Total bonus level is determined after the year end, based on 
achievement of targets.

50% of the total bonus is paid in cash within 4 months of the  
year end. The remainder of the bonus is deferred as shares.

Bonus deferred as shares is subject to forfeiture if target share 
prices are not achieved. Target share prices are based upon the 
average share price during the bonus year inclusive of a 
compounded long-term equity rate of return.

The deferred shares are split into 2 equal tranches. Tranche 1 vests 
if after 1 year, by comparison to the highest 30 day average share 
price during the period, the target share price is met. If the target 
share price is not met 50% of tranche 1 is forfeited.

Tranche 2 vests if after two years, by comparison to the highest 
30 day average share price during the period the target share price 
is met. If the target share price is not met at the end of two years 
50% of tranche 2 is forfeited.

In determining achievement of target share prices dividends paid 
during the period will be added. Dividend equivalents on vesting
shares may be paid.

Deferred Share Bonus Plan

Rewards achievement of 
annual financial and key 
business strategy objectives.

Rewards personal performance 
measured against key 
objectives. 

Deferred element encourages 
longer term shareholding  
and aligns reward to 
shareholder interests.

Malus & clawback and 
performance based forfeiture 
provisions discourage 
excessive risk taking and 
short-term outlook ensuring 
that executive and shareholder 
interests are aligned.

104

ANNUAL REPORT & ACCOUNTS 2014

Maximum bonus opportunity under 
the plan is 180% of annual salary.

Bonus measures include:
•  Financial targets relating to 

profitability and return on capital

•  Individual or group targets pertaining 
to delivery of the business strategy

Financial targets are based on group 
Annual Operating Plan (‘AOP’) with 
bonus threshold and maximum 
bonus set equidistantly around AOP. 
Threshold will be a maximum of  
5% below AOP.

Performance below threshold results 
in zero bonus. Bonus earned rises from  
0% to 100% of maximum bonus 
opportunity for levels of performance 
between threshold and maximum 
targets.

Performance conditions and 
weightings are set out in the 
Statement of Implementation of the 
Remuneration Policy in 2015.

The Committee retains the discretion to review 
the weighting of measures and to set the 
performance targets and ranges for each metric 
(including the long-term equity rate of return 
which determines the rate of vesting of the 
deferred bonus element).

For financial targets the Committee will 
determine the amount of bonus which can be 
earned for achievement of AOP. 

This determination will be based upon an 
assessment of the degree of difficulty in 
achieving AOP taking into account market 
conditions, improvement on prior year 
performance required, and other relevant factors.

(continued overleaf)

ANNUAL REPORT & ACCOUNTS 2014

105

SECTION HEAD 
 
CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

Future Policy Table continued

Remuneration Element

Link to Strategy

Operation

Maximum Potential Value

Performance Metrics

Remuneration Committee Discretion

Performance Share Plan

Incentivises participants to 
deliver key financial targets 
over a longer term, with 
particular focus on shareholder 
return and the generation 
of cash to fund investment 
in growth and long term 
sustainability.

Helps retain high performing 
executives.

Awards are granted in the form of nil cost options (or a mix of 
nil cost options and approved options at market price), annually 
to participants.

Awards vest after 3 years subject to achievement of performance 
measures (see aside).

Participation may be scaled back where the shareholding 
requirement set by the Committee is not met. 

Dividend equivalents on vesting shares may be paid.

Malus & clawback provisions apply.

The maximum annual award for 
all executive directors is 150% 
of salary.

The Committee retains discretion to 
review the weighting applied to measures, 
and to set the target ranges for each 
measure.

In addition the Committee will review and 
select the appropriate comparator group 
for the TSR, or similar, measures.

Performance measures are:
• EPS growth 
• Aggregate cash flow 
• Relative TSR 
Vesting criteria for aggregate cash flow is set 
against a range based on threshold and maximum 
performance levels determined by the Group’s 
projections for the next 3 years.

TSR awards are measured against an appropriate 
peer group.

EPS growth targets are set as a % growth range 
(in addition to RPI) over 3 years.

Performance below threshold levels results in zero 
vesting. At threshold the amount of the award 
vesting rises from 30% to 100% of maximum 
opportunity for levels of performance between 
threshold and maximum targets.

Performance conditions and weightings are set 
out in the Statement of Implementation of the 
Remuneration Policy in 2015.

Co-investment Plan (SMS)

Encourages a mutual 
commitment whereby 
participants build up a 
shareholding in the Company 
and are incentivised to deliver 
key financial targets over a 
longer term.

Helps retain high calibre 
executives.

Participants are invited to participate annually.

Each participant buys shares from their own resources. 

A matching share award in the form of nil cost options is made 
to each participant, which vests after 3 years subject to 
achievement of performance target.

Dividend equivalents on vesting shares may be paid.

Malus & clawback provisions apply.

All Employee Share Plans

Share plans available to all 
employees to encourage 
wider share ownership 
and engagement amongst 
colleagues.

HMRC SAYE and BAYE plans.

The Committee retains discretion to 
review the weighting applied to measures, 
and to set the target ranges for each 
measure.

Participants may invest up to 
50% of their post-tax salary.

Performance target is Cash Return on Capital 
Employed (CROCE).

Maximum matching is 2:1  
(100% of salary).

Vesting range is based on threshold and 
maximum performance levels based upon the 
Company’s business plan and projections for the 
next 3 years.

Performance below the threshold results in zero 
vesting. At threshold the amount of the award 
vesting rises from 30% to 100% of maximum 
opportunity for levels of performance between 
threshold and maximum targets.

Performance conditions are set out in the 
Statement of Implementation of the Remuneration 
Policy in 2015.

In line with HMRC and  
all-colleague and plan limits.

None.

Shareholding Requirements Aligns the interests of 

executives and shareholders.

Formal requirement (not voluntary guidelines) apply to directors 
and senior executives.

Executive directors are required to hold shares 
valued at two times salary within 5 years.

The Committee retains discretion to 
increase shareholding requirements.

Participation in long-term incentives may be scaled back or 
withheld if the requirements are not met or maintained. 

For the purposes of assessing compliance with the shareholding 
requirement vested, but unexercised awards will be considered.

106

ANNUAL REPORT & ACCOUNTS 2014

ANNUAL REPORT & ACCOUNTS 2014

107

SECTION HEADCORPORATE GOVERNANCE

In considering appropriate performance metrics the 
Committee seeks to incentivise and reinforce delivery of the 
Company’s strategic objectives achieving a balance between 
delivering annual return to shareholders and ensuring 
sustainable long term profitability and growth. Measures 
will therefore reflect a balance of direct shareholder value, 
such as TSR and those which reflect appropriate investment 
strategies, for example, CROCE.

The Committee calibrates these targets by due reference 
to general and bespoke market intelligence, lead indicators 
and other indicators of the economic environment to ensure 
targets represent relative, as well as absolute, achievement.

Discretion 

The Committee has discretion in several areas of policy 
as set out in this report. The Committee may also exercise 
operational and administrative discretions under relevant 
plan rules approved by shareholders as set out in those 
rules. In addition, the Committee has the discretion to 
amend policy with regard to minor or administrative 
matters where it would be, in the opinion of the Committee, 
disproportionate to seek or await shareholder approval. 

The Committee retains discretion in exceptional 
circumstances to change performance measures and 
targets and the weightings attached to performance 
measures part-way through a performance year if there is a 
significant and material event which causes the Committee 
to believe the original measures, weightings and targets are 
no longer appropriate. Any exercise of this discretion will be 
explained in full to shareholders. Discretion may also  
be exercised in cases where the Committee believe that  
the outcome is not a fair and accurate reflection of  
business performance. 

It is the Committee’s intention that commitments made 
in line with its policies prior to the date of the 2014 AGM 
will be honoured, even if satisfaction of such commitments 
is made post the AGM and may be inconsistent with the 
above policies. Such commitments include but are not 
limited to:

•   Awards under the Deferred Share Bonus Plan

•   Awards under the Performance Share Plan

•   Awards under the Co-investment Plan (SMS)

Such commitments remain subject to the share plan rules 
and terms and conditions under which they were granted.

Non-Executive Directors’ Fees

Non-executive fees are positioned in line with the same 
peer comparator group used for executive directors at 
median level and, notwithstanding peer group comparison, 
will normally be reviewed on an annual basis in line 
with inflation and general movement of pay within the 
Company. Current fees are detailed within the Statement of 
Implementation of the Remuneration Policy.

A minimum of 25% of non-executive director fees are paid 
in shares. Non-executive directors do not receive any other 
benefits (other than a staff discount card for purchasing 
products) and are not eligible to join a company pension 
scheme. No compensation is payable on termination of 
their employment, which may be without notice from the 
Company. They cannot participate in any of the Company’s 
share plans. The Company will pay reasonable expenses 
incurred by the Chairman and Non-executive directors.

Recruitment Remuneration

It is the Group’s policy to recruit the best candidate possible 
for any executive board position. The Group seeks to avoid 
paying more than necessary to secure the candidate and 
will have regard to guidelines and shareholder sentiment 
when formulating the remuneration package.

Generally salary, incentives and benefits for candidates are 
structured in line with the above remuneration policy and 
accordingly participation in short and long term incentives 
will be on the same basis as existing directors. In all 
cases the Group commits to providing shareholders with 
timely disclosure of the terms of any new executive hires 
including the approach taken to determine a fair level of 
compensation. The table below outlines the Group’s normal 
recruitment policy:

Share buy-outs/ 
replacement 
awards

The Group’s policy is not to provide buy-out as a matter of course. However, should the Committee determine 
that the individual circumstances of recruitment justified the provision of a buyout, the value of any incentives 
that will be forfeited on cessation of a director’s previous employment will be calculated taking into account 
the following:- 

•  The proportion of the performance period completed on the date of the director’s cessation of employment

•   The performance conditions attached to the vesting of these incentives and the likelihood of them 

being satisfied

•  Any other terms and condition having a material effect on their value (“lapsed value”)

The Committee may then grant up to the equivalent value as the lapsed value, where possible, under the 
Company’s incentive plans. To the extent that it was not possible or practical to provide the buyout within the 
terms of the Company’s existing incentive plans, a bespoke arrangement would be used.

Relocation

Where the Group requires a candidate to relocate in order to take up an executive position it will normally 
reimburse the reasonable costs of the relocation.

Where an internal candidate is promoted to an 
executive position the Group will honour any contractual 
commitments made through their employment prior to 
the promotion.

Recruitment remuneration for Non-executive directors 
would be assessed following the principles set out in the 
policy for Non-executive director fees.

Service Contracts

Each of the Executive Directors has a service contract, 
the date of which is shown below, which will be available 
for inspection at the Annual General Meeting or at the 
Company’s registered office. These contracts provide for 
6 months’ notice from the directors and 12 months’ notice 
from the Company. They do not specify any particular level 
of compensation in the event of termination or change 
of control:

•  John Carter - 1 January 2014

•  Tony Buffin - 8 April 2013

The Non-executive directors do not have a service contract, 
but each has received a letter of appointment which will be 
available for inspection at the Annual General Meeting or at 
the Company’s registered office. These appointments expire 
on the following dates:

Policy on Payment for Directors Leaving 
Employment

Contractual notice periods for directors are normally set at 
6 months’ notice from the director and 12 months’ notice 
from the Company and the Company would normally honour 
contractual commitments in the event of the termination 
of a director. Notwithstanding this approach it is Company 
policy to seek to minimise liability in the event of any early 
termination of a director.

The Committee classifies terminations of employment 
arising from death, ill health, disability, injury, retirement with 
company agreement, redundancy or the transfer from the 
Group of the employing entity as ‘good leaver’ reasons. In 
addition the Committee retains discretion under incentive 
plan rules to determine ‘good leaver’ status. In the event such 
discretion is exercised, for example, recognising significant 
long term contribution to achievement of strategic objectives, 
a full explanation will be provided to shareholders.

Exceptional circumstances may arise where the Committee 
considers it appropriate to exercise discretion in relation 
to the terms afforded to departing directors and allow for 
pro-rata vesting to be calculated on a basis other than the 
director’s leaving date, but normal performance conditions 
will always apply (other than for the events described in the 
table overleaf) and the application of discretion will not be 
used to bring forward vesting.

The Committee reserves the right to make additional 
payments where such payments are made in good faith 
in discharge of an existing legal obligation (or by way of 
damages for breach of such an obligation); or by way of 
settlement or compromise of any claim arising in connection 
with the termination of a director’s office or employment.

In reporting payments to leaving or past directors, 
payments below a de-minimis level of £5,000 will not 
normally be reported.

Base salary and 
benefits

Pension

Annual bonus

Long-term 
incentives

Sign-on 
payments

The pay of any new recruit would be assessed following the principles set out in the remuneration policy table.

Director

Expiry of Appointment Letter

The appointee will be able to receive either a contribution to a personal pension scheme or cash allowance in 
lieu of pension benefits in line with the Company’s policy as set out in the remuneration policy table.

The appointee will be eligible to participate in the Deferred Share Bonus Plan as set out in the remuneration 
policy table. Awards may be granted up to the maximum opportunity allowable in the remuneration policy 
table at the Remuneration Committee’s discretion.

The appointee will be eligible to participate in the Company’s Long-Term Incentive Plans (PSP and SMS) as 
set out in the remuneration policy table. Awards may be granted up to the maximum opportunity allowable 
under scheme rules at the Remuneration Committee’s discretion.

The Group’s policy is not to provide sign-on payments. However, in exceptional cases payments to an 
appointee may be made when the Committee deem it to be in the best interests of the Company and 
shareholders. In such exceptional circumstances the business reason will be explained to shareholders at the 
time of appointment and put to shareholders at the next AGM. Where required, a payment can be made in 
cash or shares and may be subject to performance conditions and/or a holding period. Any sign-on payment 
will be limited to a value equal to twice annual salary.

Ruth Anderson

May 2018

John Coleman

Retired October 2014

Coline McConville

May 2018

Pete Redfern

Chris Rogers

John Rogers

May 2018

August 2016

May 2018

Andrew Simon

October 2015

Robert Walker

September 2015

No compensation is payable on termination of the 
employment of Non-executive directors, which may be with 
or without notice.

108

ANNUAL REPORT & ACCOUNTS 2014

ANNUAL REPORT & ACCOUNTS 2014

109

SECTION HEADCORPORATE GOVERNANCE

Leaver reason may impact treatment of the various remuneration elements as follows:

Remuneration Element Good Leaver Reason

Other Leaver Reason

Salary

Ceases on cessation of employment (salary may 
be paid in lieu of notice) unless a pre-existing 
contractual term applies.

Ceases on cessation of employment (salary may 
be paid in lieu of notice) unless a pre-existing 
contractual term applies.

Bonus including 
Deferred Share Bonus 
Plan*

Unpaid bonus from the period prior to cessation 
will be paid in full. A pro-rata bonus may be paid, 
subject to normal performance conditions, for the 
period in which cessation occurs. 

All unpaid bonus payments lapse. Deferred bonus 
payments also lapse.

Bonus earned and deferred from 2013 onwards will 
vest at the normal vesting date on a pro-rata basis.

Bonus earned and deferred prior to 2013 will vest 
in full at cessation.

Benefits

PSP*

SMS*

Provision or accrual of benefits will cease on 
cessation of employment.

Provision or accrual of benefits will cease on 
cessation of employment.

Normal vesting on a pro-rata basis (full vesting in 
the event of the ill health, injury, disability or death 
of the executive).

Vests on a pro-rata basis in year of leaving based 
on performance in that period.

Participation lapses at cessation of employment.

Participation lapses at cessation of employment.

*Leaver vesting provisions are fully defined in the appropriate plan documents.

Illustration of the Application of the 
Remuneration Policy

Chief Executive Officer

Long Term Variable Remuneration

Annual Variable Remuneration

Fixed Remuneration

•   Fixed remuneration includes basic salary, pension provision 

and other benefits

•   Annual variable remuneration includes annual bonus 
potential under the Deferred Share Bonus Plan, and 
includes that part of the bonus which is deferred as shares 
and may be subject to Malus, but not subject to further 
performance targets

•   Long term variable remuneration includes potential awards 
under the Performance Share Plan and Co-investment 
plan (SMS) as well as that part of the bonus which is 
deferred as shares and subject to performance testing

•    Performance ‘in line with expectations’ assumes, for annual 
variable remuneration, performance in line with annual 
operating plan. For long term variable remuneration it 
assumes mid-range performance relative to the targets set 
for each plan

•   Maximum performance means performance at or in 

excess of maximum performance targets

’

)
0
0
0
£
(
n
o
i
t
a
r
e
n
u
m
e
R

4000

3500

3000

2500

2000

1500

1000

500

0

48%

18%

34%

100%

53%

24%

23%

Minimum

In line with Expectations

Maximum

Chief Financial Officer

Long Term Variable Remuneration

Annual Variable Remuneration

Fixed Remuneration

’

)
0
0
0
£
(
n
o
i
t
a
r
e
n
u
m
e
R

4000

3500

3000

2500

2000

1500

1000

500

0

50%

15%

35%

100%

55%

21%

24%

Minimum

In line with Expectations

Maximum

AUDITED INFORMATION

3. Annual Report on Remuneration
Single Total Figure of Remuneration

Salary 
2014
£’000

Salary 
2013
£’000

Benefits 
20145
£’000

Benefits 
2013
£’000

Bonus 
20146
£’000

Bonus 
2013
£’000

   LTI                                     
    20147
£’000

   LTI
20138
£’000

Pension 
2014
£’000

Pension 
2013
£’000

Other 
20149
£’000

Other 
2013
£’000

Total 
2014
£’000

Total 
2013
£’000

John Carter

Geoff Cooper1

Tony Buffin

Paul Hampden 
Smith2

Ruth Anderson

Chris Bunker3

John Coleman3

Philip Jansen3

Pete Redfern4

Chris Rogers

John Rogers4

Andrew Simon

660

119

510

-

67

-

53

-

9

55

9

75

Robert Walker

270

504

657

365

294

59

44

61

29

-

18

-

69

235

41

1

21

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

33

1

16

14

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

793

-

511

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

359

562

265

222

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

838

726

527

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

710

659

-

430

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

165

30

128

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

126

165

91

74

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Total 

1,827

2,335

63

64

1,304

1,408

2,091

1,799

323

456

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

2,497

1,732

876

2,044

1,697

737

52

-

1,086

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

67

-

53

-

9

55

9

75

270

59

44

61

29

-

18

-

69

235

52

5,608

6,114

Notes:

1   Geoff Cooper stepped down as CEO on 31 December 2013 and as an executive 
director with effect from 6 March 2014. In addition he received £83,000 in his role 
as an advisor to the senior management team from 6 March 2014 onwards. He 
also received, and retained, in respect of his non-executive chairmanship of Dunelm 
plc £121,200 (full year, 2013: £110,000) and £200,000 (full year) in respect of his 
non-executive directorship of Bourne Leisure Holdings Ltd (2013: £66,667). Mr Cooper 
also became a director of Informa Plc on 1 January 2014, and a director of  
Card Factory Plc in May 2014, but earned no fees for these appointments whilst an 
executive director of Travis Perkins plc.

2  Paul Hampden Smith stood down as Finance Director on 28 February 2013 remaining 
as a paid employee of the Company until 30 September 2013.

3  Philip Jansen retired May 2013, Chris Bunker retired in September 2013 and  
John Coleman retired in October 2014.

4  Peter Redfern and John Rogers were appointed as non-executive directors on  
1 November 2014.

5  Benefits for 2014 for John Carter and Tony Buffin include private medical insurance 
and the provision of a company car or car allowance. For Geoff Cooper benefits include 
private medical insurance.

6  Having reviewed prior year bonus disclosure the Group has determined that it is more 
appropriate to classify as LTIP only that proportion of bonus which is deferred and 
subject to additional performance conditions before vesting. 2013 bonus was reported 
as non-deferred bonus only and so is restated here for proper comparison. Deferred 
bonus which is subject to performance vesting conditions will be reported as LTIP upon 
vesting. Bonus payments made in 2014 reflected an achievement of:

 a.  100% achievement of EPS maximum target (achieved 119.0p, plan 112.9p,  

maximum 118.5p) - weighted at 50% of bonus.

  b.  70% achievement of LAROCE maximum target (achieved 10.4%, plan 10.3%, 

maximum 10.7%) - weighted at 30% of bonus.

c.  90% achievement of Individual targets set against group strategic objectives 

(including measures relating to people and process capability, market 
competitiveness, business quality, growth potential and financial performance) 
reviewed and assessed by the Remuneration Committee (20% weighting).  
 Any greater disclosure of strategic tracker objectives would be commercially 
sensitive and could provide advantage to the Group’s competitors.

7  The Group has historically reported LTIPs in the year they have vested. Going forward 
the Group will report LTIPs based upon the year in which the performance conditions 
were met irrespective of when the award vests. We believe this approach is more in 
keeping with reporting requirements. We have applied this approach for 2014 reporting 
and 2013 disclosure is restated to allow full comparison. Vesting awards include 
dividend equivalents amassed during the vesting period. The following vested  
(or vesting) awards are reported for 2014:

  a.  There were three vesting targets under the PSP: 

i.  Aggregate Cash Flow (40% weighting) – for this element to vest, aggregate cash 
flow had to exceed £761m. The outcome over the three years was £666m so this 
element will not vest.

ii.   Total Shareholder Return (20% weighting) - during the three year period the 
increase in share price, in combination with the dividends paid, resulted in  
Travis Perkins being ranked 17th of the companies in the FTSE 250, inside the 
upper quartile which will result in full vesting.

iii.  Adjusted Earnings per Share (40% weighting) - this is an absolute target 

measure (rather than relative to AOP). Over the 3 year period EPS growth was 
27.82%, exceeding the minimum target of RPI plus 3% compounded and will be 
sufficient for a 24.8% vesting. The maximum target was RPI plus  
10% compounded.

  b.  For SMS the performance target was average CROCE for 2012, 2013 and 2014 
which needed to be over 9.53% to vest. The average achieved was 7.41% so this 
award will not vest.

c.  Awards due to vest in 2015 are as follows:

i.   For John Carter 30,806 shares are forecast to vest under the PSP, and 15,872 

shares under the terms of his special share award. Forecast value is based on the 
average share price during Q4 2014 (1715.606p).

ii.   For Geoff Cooper 40,302 shares are forecast to vest under the PSP, again the 

forecast value is based on the average share price during Q4 2014 (1715.606p).

iii.  For Tony Buffin 32,902 shares vested under the terms of his special share 

matching award during 2014.

8  The following vested awards are reported for 2013:
a.  There were three vesting targets under the PSP:

i.   Aggregate Cash Flow (40% weighting) – for this element to vest, aggregate cash 
flow had to exceed £884m. The outcome over the three years was £709m so 
this element did not vest. 

ii.   Total Shareholder Return (20% weighting) - during the three year period the 
increase in share price, in combination with the dividends paid, resulted in  
Travis Perkins being ranked 44th of the companies in the FTSE 250, inside the 
upper quartile which resulted in full vesting.

iii.  Adjusted earnings per Share (40% weighting) - this is an absolute target 

measure (rather than relative to AOP). Over the 3 year period EPS growth  
was 23.19%, exceeding the minimum target of RPI plus 3% compounded  
and was sufficient for a 17.4% vesting. The maximum target was RPI plus  
10% compounded.

  b.  For SMS the performance target was average CROCE for 2011, 2012 and 2013 

which needed to be over 10.75% to vest. The average achieved was 8.08% so this 
award did not vest.

c.  Awards vesting were as follows:

i.   For John Carter 19,994 shares vested under the PSP during 2014, and 15,870 
shares under the terms of his special share award also vested during 2014. 
3,670 shares vested under the SAYE schemes.

ii.  For Geoff Cooper 33,307 shares vested under the PSP during 2014 and 3,670 

shares vested under the SAYE scheme.

iii.  For Paul Hampden Smith 19,995 shares vested under the PSP during 2014 and 

3,670 shares vested under the SAYE scheme.

9   Other payments include dividend equivalents arising on exercise of LTIP awards which 
vested in prior years.

110

ANNUAL REPORT & ACCOUNTS 2014

ANNUAL REPORT & ACCOUNTS 2014

111

SECTION HEAD 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

Director’s Pension Entitlements

The Company’s defined benefit scheme is closed to new 
members. Geoff Cooper ceased defined benefit accrual on 
5 April 2006, but benefits up to that date retain a link to 
pensionable salary and John Carter ceased defined benefit 
accrual on 31 December 2010. The value of the pension 

under the defined benefit scheme is calculated using the 
HMRC Method. 

A gross cash allowance of 25% of salary was paid to  
John Carter and Geoff Cooper in lieu of continued accrual. 
Tony Buffin has received 25% of salary paid as a mix of 
pension contributions to the defined contribution scheme 
and a cash allowance.

Accrued defined benefit pension at 31 December 2014 including revaluation 
if applicable

Normal retirement age

Additional value of pension on early retirement

Pension value in the year from defined benefit scheme (HMRC Method)

Pension value in the year from company contributions to defined contribution scheme

Pension value in year from cash allowance (salary supplement in place of employer 
pension contributions)

Total pension benefit accrued in 2014

Geoff Cooper 
£’000

John Carter 
£’000

Tony Buffin 
£’000

5

274

N/A

60 years

60 years

65 years

0

0

N/A

30

30

0

N/A

N/A

165

165

N/A

N/A

43

85

128

Share Interests Awarded During the Financial Year

Performance Share Plan

Type of Award

Basis

Face Value

Vesting Period 

John Carter

Performance shares

150% of salary

Tony Buffin

Performance shares

150% of salary

£989,994 
(53,441 shares at 
1,852.5p per share)

£764,990 
(41,295 shares at 
1,852.5p per share)

Three years

Three years

Measure

EPS growth

Aggregate cash flow over 
three years up to 2017

Company TSR relative to  
FTSE 50-150 Index 

Weighting

Target Detail

40%

RPI + 9.27% over the 
vesting period

RPI + 33.1% over the 
vesting period

Pro-rata vesting between 
these points

Vesting Range

30% vests

100% vests

40%

£802m - £887m

No vesting below lower target

30% vests at lower target

Full vesting at upper target

Pro-rata vesting between these 
points

30% vests

100% vests

20%

Upper half (top 50%)

Upper quartile (top 25%)

Pro-rata vesting between 
these points

Co-Investment Plan (SMS)

Type of Award

Basis

John Carter

Matching shares

up to 2:1 matching of shares purchased

Tony Buffin

Matching shares

up to 2:1 matching of shares purchased

Face Value

£655,379 
(36,207 shares at 1,810.0p per share)

£506,427 
(27,978 shares at 1,810.0p per share)

Measure

Weighting

Target Detail

Matching Range

Cash Return on Capital Employed (CROCE)

100%

8.37% - 9.37%

0.6:1 matching at lower target

Deferred Share Bonus Plan
Half of the bonuses earned in 2014 will be issued as deferred shares as follows:

Type of Award

Basis

John Carter

Shares

50% of 2014 bonus

Tony Buffin

Shares

50% of 2014 bonus

2:1 matching at upper target

Pro-rata matching between 
these points

Face Value

£528,660 
(29,146 shares at 1,813.8p per share)

£340,425 
(18,768 shares at 1,813.8p per share)

Shares vest two years from grant, part subject to the 
performance conditions detailed in the remuneration policy 
table. The long term equity rate of return which determines 
the rate of vesting of the deferred bonus element, as 
referenced in the policy table is set at 8% for this award.

When Geoff Cooper stepped down as a director on 6 March 
2014, he was retained as an advisor to senior management 
on a salary of £100,000 p.a. for the rest of the year.  
He received no other compensation or benefits in his 
advisory position. 

The Executive Directors also took up the maximum 
opportunity under the all employee Sharesave (SAYE) 
scheme.

Payments to Past Directors 

There were no payments to past directors made during 
the period, however for Paul Hampden Smith 12,795 
shares are forecast to vest in 2015 under the PSP. The 
total vested value of the award is £229,972. This is based 
upon the average share price over the final quarter of 
2014 (1715.606p) and inclusive of dividend equivalents 
of £10,460. In addition Paul Hampden Smith will receive 
unpaid dividend equivalents of £35,518 arising from prior 
vested, and reported, awards.

Payments for Leaving Directors

No payments for loss of office were made during 2014. 

Geoff Cooper retired as CEO of the Group (31 December 
2013) and as a director of the Board from 6 March 2014.  
Mr Cooper remains in the Company’s employment until  
6 March 2015 as a senior management adviser to the new 
management team. The transition arrangements are such 
that the Group’s normal policy for good leavers will apply  
to Mr Cooper and as such no discretion was applied by  
the Committee. 

112

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ANNUAL REPORT & ACCOUNTS 2014

113

SECTION HEAD 
CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

Directors’ Shareholding and Share Interests

Formal shareholding requirements (not voluntary 
guidelines) apply to executive directors and senior 
executives. Participation in long term incentives may be 
scaled back or withheld if the requirements are not met or 
maintained. Executive directors are required to hold shares 

valued at two times salary within 5 years. John Carter and 
Tony Buffin both meet the requirement.

Directors’ shareholdings and share interests as at  
31 December 2014 and as at 28 February 2015  
(for directors in post at this time) were as follows:

Executive 
Director

Beneficial 
Owner

Conditional 
Shares Granted 
under LTI Plans1

Unconditional 
Shares Granted 
under LTI Plans2

Vested but 
Unexercised 
Options

Total 
Interests

Exercised during 
20143

John Carter

197,464

Tony Buffin

61,214

320,551

159,684

21,250

1,786

10,487

-

549,572

228,267

45,360

32,902

Non-Executive Director

Beneficial Shareholding 
(as at 31 December 2014)

Beneficial Shareholding 
(as at 28 February 2015)

Ruth Anderson

Pete Redfern

Chris Rogers

John Rogers

Andrew Simon

Robert Walker

1,828

72

1,598

72

4,343

93,434

1,911

139

1,666

139

4,447

93,944

Notes:

1  Includes awards made under Deferred Share Bonus 

Plan, Performance Share Plan, Co-investment Plan and 
Sharesave.

2  Includes awards made under Deferred Share Bonus Plan  

and Sharesave.

3  John Carter exercised 35,864 shares vested under the 

Performance Share Plan and 9,496 shares vested under the 
Deferred Share Bonus Plan, of which 19,125 were retained. 
The share price on exercise was £17.73. The value of shares 
on exercise was £804,340. Tony Buffin exercised 32,902 
vested shares under the Share Matching Scheme, retaining 
17,407. The share price on exercise was £15.73. The value of 
shares on exercise was £517,419.

UNAUDITED INFORMATION

Performance Graph & Table

Historic CEO Pay

Single figure remuneration (£’000)

2009

1,412

2010

1,423

Annual bonus payout (% of maximum)

100.0%

100.0%

Vesting of share options (% of maximum)

Vesting of Performance Share Plan  
(% of maximum)

Vesting of Co-investment Plan (SMS)  
(% of maximum)

0%

-

0%

-

0%

0%

2011

1,938

75.9%

-

0%

2012

3,506

27.0%

-

2013

2,044

62.9%

-

2014

2,497

89.0%

-

80.0%

37.4%

44.8%

51.0%

100.0%

0%

0%

Change in Remuneration of Director undertaking the Role of CEO

Percentage Change in Salary 
Earned 
(2014 Full Year Compared to 2013 Full Year)

Percentage Change in Bonus 
Opportunity Earned 
(2014 Full Year Forecast Compared to 2013 Full Year)

Percentage Change in Taxable 
Benefits received 
(2013/14 Tax Year Compared to 2012/13 Tax Year)

CEO1

Comparative employee 
group2

0.5%

1.7%

26.1%

10.7%

4,000% 3

7.9%4

1    The CEO comparison compares the remuneration of the previous CEO, Geoff Cooper and the current CEO, John Carter.

2  Comparative group is all colleagues within the Travis Perkins Merchanting Division. This division is the largest division within the Group, covers roles at all levels of the organisation, 
and has wide geographic coverage within the UK and consequently provides a broad and diverse basis for comparison. Comparative group data is provided on a per capita basis.

3   The CEO benefits comparison reflects that the previous CEO (Geoff Cooper) took only Private Medical Insurance as a benefit. His successor John Carter has, in addition to  

Private Medical Insurance, a company car.

4  Average based on all employees employed and in receipt of taxable benefits in both periods.

Relative Importance of Spend on Pay

For comparative purposes the FTSE 100 index has been selected as this is the index of which the Company is a member.

2013

2014

Total Shareholder Return

Travis Perkins plc

FTSE 100

800

700

600

500

400

300

200

100

0

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

700

600

500

400

300

200

100

0

653.9

65.1

Distribution to
Shareholders

107.2

59.2

Capex

Corporation Tax

Employee
Remuneration

700

600

500

400

300

200

100

0

729

81.1

Distribution to
Shareholders

164.9

49.9

Capex

Corporation Tax

Employee
Remuneration

Capital expenditure is shown, for comparison, as an indicator of investment by the Company in future growth. It includes funds 
invested in the purchase of property, plant and equipment. Corporation tax is included as indicator of wider societal contribution 
facilitated by the Company’s operations and is the actual amount of corporation tax paid in the relevant reporting periods.

114

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ANNUAL REPORT & ACCOUNTS 2014

115

SECTION HEADCORPORATE GOVERNANCE

Statement of Implementation of the Remuneration Policy in 2015

In 2015 the Company will implement the remuneration policy outlined above in the future policy table using the following 
measures, weightings and targets:

Plan

Individual Maximum 
Opportunity in 2014

Measures and 
Weighting

Target

Deferred Share 
Bonus Plan

CEO - 180%
CFO - 150%

• EPS 60%
• LAROCE 20%
•  Business 

strategy 20%

Targets are determined in line with the Annual Operating Plan 
(AOP) for 20151. 
Threshold for EPS is set at 95%. Threshold for LAROCE is set at 
96% of AOP. 
Performance below threshold results in zero bonus. Bonus 
earned rises from 0% to 100% of maximum bonus opportunity 
for levels of performance between threshold and maximum 
targets (105% of AOP for EPS and 104% of AOP for LAROCE).
For achievement of AOP for these measures 50% of bonus 
potential can be earned.  
The compounded equity rate of return used to determine targets 
for vesting of deferred bonus is set at 8% for bonus earned in 
2014. For bonus earned in 2015 the rate will be RPI plus 4% 
(subject to a 6% overall cap)2.

Performance 
Share Plan

CEO - 150%
CFO - 150%

•  EPS growth - 

40%

•  Aggregate 
cashflow - 
40%
•  Relative 

TSR - 20%

EPS - threshold of 3% pa in addition to RPI over 3 years with full 
vesting at 10% plus RPI.
The aggregate cashflow range is £901m to £996m. 
Relative TSR - relative position in FTSE 50-150 
•  Threshold is median relative position
•  Maximum is upper quartile relative position
For each target performance below threshold levels results 
in zero vesting. At threshold the amount of the award vesting 
rises from 30% to 100% of maximum opportunity for levels of 
performance between threshold and maximum targets.

Co-investment 
Plan (SMS)

2:1 Matching of 
amount invested by the 
executive from their 
own resources. The 
amount invested being 
limited to 50% of  
post-tax annual salary

Performance 
target is 
Cash Return 
on Capital 
Employed 
(CROCE)

CROCE range is 9.08% to 10.0%.

Performance below threshold levels results in zero vesting. 
At threshold the amount of the award vesting rises from 30% 
to 100% of maximum opportunity for levels of performance 
between threshold and maximum targets.

Notes
1  Specific targets are commercially sensitive, and disclosure of such may provide an unfair advantage to the Company’s competitors. However targets, and the corresponding level of 
vesting or bonus earned, will be disclosed retrospectively, in the relevant reporting period.
2  Given the extension of the deferred plan to a wider population we have reviewed the basis upon which the vesting target is calculated. We believe the revised basis (RPI +4%) will 
generate a fairer target in the forecast medium term low inflation environment.

In relation to salaries and fees:

Salary / Fee Adjustment

Executive directors

•  In line with the Group’s remuneration policy the Executive Directors’ salaries were reviewed 

Non-executive directors

and increased by 2%, in line with general increases across the Group with effect from  
1 January 2015:

• CEO - John Carter’s salary was increased to £673,200 p.a. (2014 £660,000)
• CFO - Tony Buffin’s salary was increased to £520,200 p.a. (2014 £510,000)

•  In line with the Group’s remuneration policy the Non-executive Directors fees were 
reviewed and increased by 2%, in line with general increases across the Group with 
effect from 1 January 2015:

• Chairman - £275,400 p.a. (2014 £270,000 p.a.)
• Non-executive director basic fee - £56,100 p.a. (2014 £55,000 p.a.)
• Chairs of Audit and Remuneration Committees - £12,224 p.a (2014 £12,000 p.a.)
• Senior Independent Director - £10,200 p.a. (2014 £10,000 p.a.)
• Chair of Health & Safety Committee - £4,080 p.a. (2014 £4,000 p.a.)

Governance

Remuneration Committee and Consideration by the 
Directors of Matters Relating to Directors’ Remuneration.

During the year the Committee comprised Andrew Simon 
(Chairman), John Coleman (part year), Peter Redfern 
(part year) and John Rogers (part year), all of whom are 
independent Non-executive directors and Robert Walker. 
PricewaterhouseCoopers (“PwC”) LLP was appointed by 
the Committee to provide it with advice during the year on 
executive remuneration. PwC were selected on the basis of 
their track record of providing robust, salient and independent 
advice in matters pertaining to executive remuneration. 
PwC is a member of the Remuneration Consultants Group 
and abides by its code. Fees are determined on a time 
and materials basis at prevailing market rates (£15,000 in 
2014). PwC provide additional services to the Company in 
relation to remuneration including support in developing 
and implementing remuneration proposals, compensation 
benchmarking and other tax and consulting services. 
Additional compensation data was provided to the committee 
by Deloitte (fee £3,000).

In addition John Carter (CEO), Tony Buffin (CFO),  
Deborah Grimason (Company Secretary), Carol Kavanagh 
(Group Human Resources Director), Stella Girvin/ 
Sonia Fennell (Deputy Company Secretary) and Paul Nelson 
(Group Head of Reward) have assisted the Committee in its 
work, but never in respect of their own remuneration.

Responsibilities

The Remuneration Committee is responsible for the 
executive remuneration policy and the remuneration of 
executives within the Company. It determines all aspects of 
the remuneration of executive directors and reviews with the 
Chief Executive the remuneration of other senior executives. 
It also oversees the administration of the Company’s share 
plans. The Committee’s terms of reference are available on 
the company website or from the Company Secretary.

Key Items Discussed in 2014 Meetings

In 2014 the Remuneration Committee met four times. 
The Committee discussed amongst other topics the 
following matters:

Month

January

Key Issues Considered

• Bonus targets for 2014
• Review of LTIP targets in relation to the corporate plan
• Renewal of the Share Matching (Co-investment) Scheme.

February

• Bonuses

 Review of achievement against 2013 targets
 bonus targets for 2014

• LTIP Awards

 Review of performance conditions and grants for 2014
 Review of awards vesting in 2014

• Review of executive shareholding requirement
• Extension of Sharesave and BAYE limits
• Amendment to Performance Share Plan rules

October

December

• Company pay review 2015
• Initial considerations for the 2014 directors’ remuneration report
• Company incentives

• Directors’ salary review
• Bonus targets for 2015
• Initial review of executive committee performance against strategic objectives
• Directors’ remuneration report 2014

Shareholder Voting

At the last AGM the following resolutions in relation to remuneration were put by the Company:

Resolution

To receive and approve the 
directors’ remuneration policy

Votes For

% For Votes Against % Against

Votes Withheld

147,358,040

93.28%

10,622,997

6.72%

3,478,935

To receive and approve the directors’ remuneration report

154,007,876

96.59%

5,441,120

To authorise the rules of the Travis Perkins Share 
Matching Scheme 2014 and to authorise directors to 
make modifications to the scheme and to establish 
further schemes.

149,814,409

93.71%

10,047,798

The Directors remuneration report has been approved by the Board of Directors and is signed on its behalf.

3.41%

6.29%

2,010,976

1,597,765

Andrew Simon 
Chairman of the Remuneration Committee 
2 March 2015

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ANNUAL REPORT & ACCOUNTS 2014

117

SECTION HEADCORPORATE GOVERNANCE

NOMINATIONS  
COMMITTEE REPORT

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2014

Dear Fellow Shareholder
I hope that the following introductory remarks will give you a 
good overview of the Committee’s activities in 2014.

Over the past two or three years, the Board’s Nomination 
Committee has met as often as the Audit and Remuneration 
Committees. Where necessary, and although not recorded 
as separate meetings, there have also been Nominations 
Committee updates at the end of the regular Board meetings.

This frequency has been important because of the need to 
meticulously plan the CEO and CFO executive succession 
process; and also, as indicated in my last year’s report, to 
plan for non-executive rotation and establish a Board that is 
fully appropriate for the Company’s long term future. 

I am pleased to report that these processes are 
now complete.

In his first full year as CEO, John Carter has proved a very 
effective and energetic leader, and has forged a strong and 
complementary working relationship with Tony Buffin, the 
Group’s CFO. 

On the non-executive front, planning for the retirement of 
John Coleman at the end of 2014, and Andrew Simon’s 
impending retirement at the end of 2015 is now complete.

In last year’s report, I stated that we were very clear about 
the Board skills we seek, operating as it does in fast-moving, 
highly competitive trading and retailing businesses. Simply 
stated, the Group believes its Board is best served by 
individuals who have demonstrated a track record of success 
in leading such businesses, as either CEOs or CFOs. In 
recent months therefore, it has been pleased to welcome 

Pete Redfern and John Rogers to the Board. Additionally, in 
December 2014, the Group was pleased to announce the 
appointment of Coline McConville to the Board. 

For the next twelve months, the Committee’s main task 
will be to review the depth of management and succession 
below the Executive Committee, to ensure the Group has 
a strong pipeline of future management and leadership 
throughout the Group.

Role

The Committee’s principal responsibility is to ensure that 
the Board comprises individuals with the most appropriate 
balance of experience, skills and knowledge to help develop 
and support the Company strategy. In order to achieve 
this, the Committee requires procedures to be in place that 
enable the nomination, selection and succession of the 
most capable directors and senior executives.

The Committee is also responsible for considering, and 
making recommendations to the Board on succession 
planning for directors and other senior executives; in 
this sense the Nominations Committee undertakes a 
broader role.

The Nominations Committee comprises all the 
Non-executive Directors and is chaired by me other than 
when it is dealing with matters in relation to me or the 
chairmanship of the Company. The Chief Executive,  
Chief Financial Officer and Group HR Director are invited 
to attend when appropriate. 

Election of Directors

A rigorous selection process precedes the appointment of 
all directors by the Board, and their recommendation by the 
Nominations Committee.

The performance of each director, the Board and each 
Committee is reviewed annually as part of the Board 
evaluation process and I am pleased to confirm that the 
Board recommends the election and re-election of all 
directors who are standing for election and re-election at the 
Group’s 2015 AGM.

Activites in 2014

The Committee operates under formal terms of reference 
and met four times during the year. The principal matters 
discussed at the meetings were:

•   Monitoring top management succession (completed 
in January 2014) to confirm that the new leadership 
transition has been both seamless and effective

•   Planning and executing the non-executive succession 
to John Coleman as Senior Independent Director, and 
Andrew Simon as Chairman of the Remuneration 
Committee

•   Securing the appointments of Pete Redfern (CEO 
of Taylor Wimpey plc) and John Rogers (CFO of 
J Sainsbury PLC)

•   Securing the agreement of Coline McConville to join the 

Board in February 2015

•   Examining the performance of the Committee and 

reviewing its terms of reference

Board Succession

As mentioned in my introductory note (above), a key task 
facing the Committee during 2014 was the appointment 
of three new non-executive directors, following the 
resignation and retirement of John Coleman and the 
impending retirement in October 2015 of Andrew Simon. 
After considering alternatives, the Committee appointed 
Russell Reynolds, MWM and Odgers Berndtson as external 
independent search consultants. I confirm that each of 
these three firms have no other relationship with the 
Company and have signed up to the voluntary code of 
conduct covering board appointments, following the 
Davies Review.

The brief for the recruitment of new non-executive 
directors was to attract proven, successful candidates with 
both current and past experience as CEOs or CFOs of 
businesses operating in competitive, fast-moving sectors. 
The Group was delighted to announce in September the 
appointment of Pete Redfern, CEO of Taylor Wimpey plc 
and John Rogers, CFO of J Sainsbury plc and in December 

the appointment of Coline McConville with effect from 
1 February 2015.

Finally, and as a result of John Coleman approaching 
retirement from the Board after nine years service, the 
Nominations Committee recommended and the Board 
agreed that Andrew Simon be appointed as Senior 
Independent Director with effect from August 2014.

The individuals involved did not participate in discussions 
about their appointments.

2015 Objectives

As previously outlined, the Committee’s focus in 2015 will 
be on reviewing the Company’s talent pipeline of future 
senior management and leaders. The Committee will 
particularly focus on the depth of this talent below the 
Executive Committee.

Board Diversity

It is the Group’s firm belief that having executives and 
non-executives on the Board that are diverse in age, 
experience, nationality or gender, provides us with different 
perspectives. This does not just make good commercial and 
business sense, but it is good for the Group’s colleagues and 
its customers as well.

In addition, the Group has a clear preference for 
non-executives of whatever background, who have 
demonstrated success as CFOs or CEOs.

As a result, job specifications, search processes and 
selection criteria are focused on appointing candidates that 
not only meet the criteria for the role, but who could also 
offer different perspectives. Therefore, diversity, including 
gender diversity, was actively considered during the year, and 
this will continue to be reflected in future activities.

The Board is committed to appointing the best people 
and ensuring all employees are able to develop their 
careers within the Group and therefore do not believe it is 
appropriate to set targets in this area.

At the most senior director / manager level the Group has 
two female board directors (22%). The Group currently also 
has two women on its operating executive (16.6%). Further 
details of the Group’s workforce diversity are set out in the 
Equal Opportunities, Human Rights and Diversity section of 
the Capturing the Way Things are Done Round Here section 
on pages 64 to 69.

I will be available at the Annual General Meeting to answer 
any questions about the work of the Committee. 

Robert Walker 
Chairman 
2 March 2015

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ANNUAL REPORT & ACCOUNTS 2014

119

SECTION HEADCORPORATE GOVERNANCE

DIRECTORS’ REPORT

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2014

The Directors present their annual report and audited accounts for the 
year ended 31 December 2014. The Corporate Governance statement 
on pages 88 to 93 forms part of the Directors’ report.

Business Review

A review of the Group’s position, developments, activities in 
the field of research and development and future prospects 
can be found in the Strategic report on pages 38 to 43. Whilst 
the Group operates predominately in the UK it does have a 
few branches in the Isle of Man and the Republic of Ireland.

Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reporting

Details of the Group’s Green House Gas Emissions can be 
found in the Environmental Report on pages 74 to 77.

Results and Dividends

The Group results for the year ended 31 December 2014 
and dividends for the year ending 31 December 2014 are 
set out on page 132. If approved at the Annual General 
Meeting, the final dividend will be paid on 1 June 2015 to 
those shareholders on the register at the close of business 
on 1 May 2015.

Balance Sheet and Post Balance  
Sheet Events

The balance sheet on pages 134 and 135 shows the Group’s 
financial position. No important events have occurred since 
the balance sheet date.

Principal Risks and Uncertainties

A review of the Group’s principal risks and uncertainties are 
on pages 58 to 63.

Financial Risk Management

Details of the Group’s approach to capital management 
and the alleviation of risk through the use of financial 
instruments are given in the Financial Review on pages 
32 to 37. Specific quantitative information on borrowings 
and financial instruments is given in notes 23 and 24 on  
pages 165 to 173 of the annual financial statements.

Directors and Their Interests

In accordance with the Company’s Articles of Association, 
John Rogers, Pete Redfern and Coline McConville will be 
standing for election by shareholders at the Annual General 
Meeting, having been appointed to the Board since the last 
Annual General Meeting. The Board believes that  
John Rogers, Pete Redfern and Coline McConville’s strong 
general management and financial background coupled 
with their experience in a number of operational roles will 
greatly benefit the Company, complement the skills of the 
other Board members, and confirm each of them as ideal 
choices as a non-executive director.

The UK Corporate Governance Code (“the Code”) requires 
that all directors of FTSE 350 companies are subject to 
re-election at the Company’s Annual General Meeting each 
year and therefore executive directors, John Carter and  

Tony Buffin, and non-executive directors Robert Walker, 
Chris Rogers, Andrew Simon and Ruth Anderson will all 
seek re-election at the Annual General Meeting.  
John Coleman retired from the Board on 31 October 2014. 

The names of the Directors at 31 December 2014, and 
Coline McConville who was appointed on 1 February 2015 
together with their biographical details are set out on pages 
82 to 84. All of these Directors held office throughout 
the year, except John Rogers and Pete Redfern who were 
appointed with effect from 1 November 2014, and  
Coline McConville as noted immediately above. The 
Executive Directors have rolling 12 month notice periods in 
their contracts. The Non-executive Directors do not have 
service contracts. In the light of the formal evaluation of 
their performances as a result of the process described on 
page 91, Robert Walker, Chairman, confirms on behalf of the 
Board that all directors continue to be effective in,  
and committed to, their roles.

Directors and officers of the Company are entitled to be 
indemnified out of the assets of the Company in respect 
of any liability incurred in relation to the affairs of the 
Company, or any associate company, to the extent the 
law allows. In this regard, the Company is required to 
disclose that under article 140 of the Company’s Articles of 
Association, the Directors have the benefit of an indemnity, 
to the extent permitted by the Companies Act 2006 against 
liabilities incurred by them in the execution of their duties 
and exercise of their powers. This indemnity is currently 
in force. In addition, if proceedings against directors are 
instituted subsequent to any person acquiring control of 
the Company, the Company has agreed with each of the 
Directors that pursuant to article 140(D) of the Company’s 
Articles of Association, the Company shall provide a 
Director with funds (subject to certain restrictions) to meet 
expenditure incurred by that Director in defending any 
criminal or civil proceedings.

A copy of the Company’s Articles of Association (which 
contains this indemnity) is available for inspection at the 
Company’s registered office during normal business hours 
and will be available for inspection at (and during the period 
of 30 minutes prior to) the Company’s forthcoming  
Annual General Meeting. 

None of the Directors had an interest in any contract to 
which the Company or any of its subsidiaries was a party 
during the year.

The Company has undertaken to comply with the best 
practice on approval of directors’ conflicts of interests in 
accordance with the Company’s Articles of Association. 
These provisions have operated effectively. Under the 
Companies Act 2006, a director must avoid a situation 
where he has, or can have, a direct or indirect interest  
that conflicts, or possibly may conflict, with the  
Company’s interests. 

The disclosable interests of Directors at 31 December 2014, 
including holdings, if any, of spouses and of children aged 

120

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ANNUAL REPORT & ACCOUNTS 2014

121

SECTION HEADshare ownership trust). The ordinary shares are listed on the 
London Stock Exchange. All the shares rank pari passu.  
The rights and obligations attaching to the shares are set 
out in the Company’s Articles of Association. Fully paid 
shares in the Company are freely transferable. There are 
no persons that hold securities carrying special rights 
with regard to the control of the Company. Details of the 
structure of the Company’s share capital and changes in the 
share capital during the year are also included in note 20 to 
the annual financial statements.

As at 31 December 2014 the Travis Perkins Employee Share 
Ownership Trust owned 2,428,156 shares in the Company 
(0.98%) of issued share capital for use in connection with 
the Company’s share schemes. Any voting or other similar 
decisions relating to those shares would be taken by the 
trustees, who may take account of any recommendation of 
the Company.

There are no restrictions on voting rights attaching to the 
Company’s ordinary shares. The Company is not aware of 
any agreements between holders of securities that may 
result in restrictions on the transfer of securities or on 
voting rights.

has the power to issue shares and to purchase its own 
shares and is seeking renewal of these powers at the 
forthcoming Annual General Meeting in accordance with the 
restrictions and within the limits set out in the notice of 
that meeting.

There are a number of agreements to which the Company 
is a party that may take effect, alter or terminate upon a 
change of control following a takeover bid. None of these 
agreements is considered significant in the context of the 
Company as a whole. 

There are no agreements providing for compensation 
for Directors or employees on change of control. As set 
out in the Directors Remuneration Report on page 109, 
service contracts for executive directors do not specify any 
particular level of compensation in the event of termination 
following change of control of the Company. As noted 
above, the Company has agreed with each of the Directors 
that it shall provide a director with funds (subject to certain 
restrictions) to meet expenditure incurred in defending 
any criminal or civil proceedings if such proceedings are 
instituted subsequent to any person acquiring control of  
the Company.

The rules governing the appointment and replacement of 
board members and changes to the Articles of Association 
accord with usual English company law provisions. The 
powers of the Company’s Directors are set out in the 
Company’s Articles of Association. In particular, the Board 

By order of the Board

Deborah Grimason 
Company Secretary and General Counsel 
2 March 2015

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

under 18, were as detailed in the Directors’ Remuneration 
Report on page 114.

persons should, as far as possible, be identical to that of 
other employees.

Substantial Shareholdings

As at 31 December 2014, the Company had been notified 
of the following interests amounting to 3% or more of the 
voting rights in the issued ordinary share capital of the 
Company (as at this date no other such notification from 
any other shareholder had been received by the Company):

Sprucegrove Investment 
Management 

BlackRock Inc

Majedie Asset Management

Pzena Investment 
Management

Legal & General Investment 
Management

Number

%

13,026,336

5.24%

12,642,678

7,989,646

7,847,602

5.08%

3.21%

3.16%

7,767,618

3.12%

AXA Group

7,693,143

3.09%

Any notifications received by the Company after  
31 December 2014 and up to the 1 April 2015 (being a  
date within one month prior to the publication of the  
AGM notice) are disclosed in the AGM notice.

Close Company Status

The close company provisions of the Income and 
Corporation Taxes Act 1988 do not apply to the Company.

Employees

Statements on employee matters are contained in the 
section of the annual report entitled Capturing the Way 
Things are Done Around Here on pages 64 to 69.

Details of the number of employees and related costs can 
be found in note 7 to the financial statements. 

The Company is committed to equality of opportunity and 
recognises the benefit of diversity within its workforce. Its 
approach to the matter of diversity on company boards is 
set out in the Nominations Committee report on page 118 
and in the section of the annual report entitled Capturing 
the Way Things are Done Around Here on pages 64 to 69. 
The Company has an equal opportunities policy aimed at 
ensuring that employment decisions are based on ability 
and potential regardless of gender, race, colour, ethnic 
origin or sexual orientation, age or disability. In particular, 
applications for employment by disabled persons are always 
fully and fairly considered, bearing in mind the aptitudes of 
the person concerned. In the event of a member of staff 
becoming disabled, every effort is made to ensure that their 
employment with the Group continues and that appropriate 
training is arranged. It is the policy of the Company that the 
training, career development and promotion of disabled 

The Group’s policies and practices have been designed to 
keep employees informed on matters relevant to them 
as employees through regular meetings and newsletters. 
Employee representatives are consulted regularly on a wide 
range of matters affecting their interests. All employees with 
more than three months’ service are eligible to participate 
in the Company’s Sharesave and Buy-As-You-Earn plans. 
Details are provided in the Directors’ Remuneration Report. 

Political Donations

The Group did not give any money for political purposes 
nor did it make any donations to political organisations or 
independent candidates or incur any political expenditure 
during the year.

Auditor

Deloitte LLP is the Company’s auditor at the date of this 
report. Following the decision of the Audit Committee, the 
Company is currently putting the role of external auditor out 
to tender and the decision is expected to be available on  
27 March 2015. For further details of the tender process, 
please refer to the Audit Committee Report on page 94. 
Deloitte LLP is also participating in the tender process. 
Depending on the result following the tender process, 
resolutions will be proposed at the Annual General  
Meeting to either re-appoint Deloitte LLP as the Company’s  
auditor or appoint a new auditor as the Company’s  
auditor, and to authorise the Directors to fix the relevant 
auditor’s remuneration.

Statement on Disclosure of Information to 
the Auditor

Each of the persons who is a director at the date of approval 
of this report confirms that:

•   So far as the director is aware, there is no relevant audit 
information of which the Company’s auditor is unaware; 
and

•   The director has taken all reasonable steps that they ought 
to have taken as a director in order to make themselves 
aware of any relevant audit information and to establish 
that the Company’s auditor is aware of that information. 

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

Share Capital and Change of Control

As at 31 December 2014 the Company had an allotted and 
fully paid share capital of 248,702,988 ordinary shares 
of 10 pence each, with an aggregate nominal value of 
£24,870,298.80 (including shares owned by the employee 

122

ANNUAL REPORT & ACCOUNTS 2014

ANNUAL REPORT & ACCOUNTS 2014

123

SECTION HEADCORPORATE GOVERNANCE

 STATEMENT OF  
DIRECTORS’ 
RESPONSIBILITIES

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2014

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

Company law requires the Directors to prepare such 
financial statements for each financial year. Under that law 
the Directors are required to prepare the group financial 
statements in accordance with International Financial 
Reporting Standards (IFRSs) as adopted by the European 
Union and Article 4 of the IAS Regulation and have also 
chosen to prepare the parent company financial statements 
under IFRSs as adopted by the European Union. Under 
company law the Directors must not approve the accounts 
unless they are satisfied that they 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, International Accounting Standard 1 requires 
that directors:

•   Properly select and apply accounting policies;

•   Present information, including accounting policies, in a 

manner that provides relevant, reliable, comparable and 
understandable information; 

•   Provide additional disclosures when compliance with the 
specific requirements in IFRSs are insufficient to enable 
users to understand the impact of particular transactions, 
other events and conditions on the entity’s financial 
position and financial performance; and

•   Make an assessment of the company’s ability to continue 

as a going concern.

The Directors are responsible for keeping adequate 
accounting records that are sufficient to show and explain 
the Company’s transactions and disclose with reasonable 
accuracy at any time the financial position of the Company 
and enable them to ensure that the financial statements 
comply with the Companies Act 2006. They are also 
responsible for safeguarding the assets of the Company 
and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention 
and detection of fraud and other irregularities.

The Directors are responsible for the maintenance and 
integrity of the corporate and financial information  
included on the Company’s website. Legislation in the  
United Kingdom governing the preparation and 
dissemination of financial statements may differ from 
legislation in other jurisdictions.

Directors’ Responsibility Statement

We confirm that to the best of our knowledge:

•   The financial statements, prepared in accordance with 
International Financial Reporting Standards as adopted 
by the EU, give a true and fair view of the assets, liabilities, 
financial position and profit or loss of the Company and 
the undertakings included in the consolidation taken as a 
whole; and

•   The Strategic Report, which is incorporated into 

the Directors’ 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.

Declaration

The Directors consider that the Annual Report and 
Accounts, when taken as a whole, are fair, balanced and 
understandable and provide the information necessary for 
shareholders to assess the Group’s performance, business 
model and strategy.

By order of the Board 

John Carter 
Chief Executive 
2 March 2015

Tony Buffin 
Chief Financial Officer 

 INDEPENDENT  
AUDITOR’S REPORT TO 
THE MEMBERS OF  
TRAVIS PERKINS PLC

Opinion on Financial Statements of  
Travis Perkins plc

Separate Opinion in  
Relation to IFRSs as Issued by the IASB

In our opinion the financial statements:

•   give a true and fair view of the state of the Group’s and 

of the Parent Company’s affairs as at 31 December 2014 
and of the Group’s and the Parent company’s profit for the 
year then ended;

•   have been properly prepared in accordance with 

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

•   have been prepared in accordance with the requirements 
of the Companies Act 2006 and, as regards the group 
financial statements, Article 4 of the IAS Regulation.

The financial statements comprise the Group and Parent 
Company Income Statements, the Group and Parent 
Company Statements of Comprehensive Income, the Group 
and Parent Company Balance Sheets, the Group and Parent 
Company Statements of Changes in Equity, the Group and 
Parent Company Cash Flow Statements, and the related 
notes 1 to 37. The financial reporting framework that has 
been applied in their preparation is applicable law and IFRSs 
as adopted by the European Union.

As explained in note 1 to the group financial statements, 
in addition to complying with its legal obligation to apply 
IFRSs as adopted by the European Union, the group has 
also applied IFRSs as issued by the International Accounting 
Standards Board (IASB).

In our opinion the group financial statements comply with 
IFRSs as issued by the IASB.

Going Concern

As required by the Listing Rules we have reviewed the 
directors’ statement contained within the Corporate 
Governance Statement, that the Group is a going concern. 
We confirm that:

•   we have concluded that the directors’ use of the going 
concern basis of accounting in the preparation of the 
financial statements is appropriate; and

•   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.

124

ANNUAL REPORT & ACCOUNTS 2014

ANNUAL REPORT & ACCOUNTS 2014

125

SECTION HEAD 
CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

Our Assessment of Risks of Material Mistatement

Risk

How the scope of our audit responded to the risk

The assessed risks of material misstatement described overleaf 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

The assessment of the carrying value of goodwill 
and intangible assets
The Group’s assessment of goodwill and 
intangible assets (£2,224m, 2013: £2,224m) 
incorporates judgments based on assumptions 
of future cash flows, including assumptions 
around revenue growth, margins, the selection of 
appropriate discount rates and the assessment 
of the Group’s cash-generating units particularly 
with respect to the Wickes (£864m) and 
Plumbing Trading Supplies (“PTS”) (£175m) 
cash generating units within the Consumer and 
Plumbing & Heating Divisions respectively.
Management has included this risk in the key 
accounting estimates and judgements on  
page 143.

Accounting for supplier rebates
Supplier rebates are a key part of the Group’s 
trading activity. As set out on page 143 the 
majority of rebates are determined with reference 
to guaranteed rates and only one rebate 
agreement is not coterminus with the Group’s 
year end.
These arrangements can however be complex 
and therefore management judgement is 
necessary in relation to recognition of the 
associated rebate including the allocation of 
rebate credits between profit and loss and 
inventory at each balance sheet date.
Management has included this risk in the key 
accounting estimates and judgements on  
page 143.

Our work focussed on challenging Management’s assumptions including specifically 
the determination of cash-generating units, the forecast cash flow projections for 
each cash-generating unit and the discount rates. 
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 rate and growth rates employed to available market data. 
We challenged the appropriateness of inclusion of cash flows relating to new 
initiatives against the guidance in IAS 36, which precludes the inclusion of cash flows 
from restructuring activity to which an entity is not yet committed. With respect to 
PTS, we assessed whether the group was committed to building the best programme 
and that the inclusion of associated revenues, costs and cash flows was appropriate. 
With respect to Wickes we considered the ongoing initiatives against this guidance, 
including range reviews and store refits.
We critically assessed management’s position as to whether or not a reasonably 
possible change to key operating assumptions could result in an impairment in either 
of these CGUs. In doing so we considered the sensitivity of the asset valuations 
to adverse outturn versus the forecasts, in particular adverse changes in the long 
term growth rate assumed and like for like sales. We also specifically challenged 
and considered the appropriateness of the disclosures set out in note 13 and note 
14 to the accounts detailing the point at which the carrying value of goodwill and 
intangibles would equal their recoverable amounts. 
We assessed the continuing appropriateness of testing groups of CGUs for 
impairment at the brand level. 

We tested the operating effectiveness of the controls in the supplier rebate cycle 
in both 2013 and 2014 including management oversight, reviewed and challenged 
actual versus forecast rebate receipts throughout the year.
A key focus of our work was on the controls around new agreements entered into in 
the year are appropriately captured by management’s reporting systems. 
We reviewed agreements to understand the commercial basis for arrangements 
entered into and assessed the consistency of the accounting applied. 
We circularised a sample of suppliers to confirm rebate terms and balances, verified 
post year-end cash receipts to assess recoverability and validity of the amount 
recognised as receivable at year end. 
We tested and challenged Management’s calculations to estimate the impact of 
rebates agreements on purchases of items held in stock at year end.
We reviewed and challenged the appropriateness of management’s accounting 
policy on page 139 and other associated disclosures on page 143 in light of recent  
FRC communications.
In addition, we applied data audit techniques to profile the supplier income  
received in order to identify anomalies. Such anomalies were investigated to assess 
whether they were indicative of mis-application of contractual terms or other 
calculation errors.

We tested the operating effectiveness of relevant controls in 2014, including those 
relating to management oversight and completion of inventory counts.
We tested the existence of inventory through observation of 44 inventory counts 
across all of the Group’s divisions on a sample basis and assessed the condition of 
the stock. We tested and challenged the calculations supporting the determination of 
weighted average cost across each division and assessed the appropriateness of the 
methodology applied. We also tested the adjustments for overhead allocations and 
supplier rebates to assess whether they were appropriate. We considered actual and 
forecast sales of key inventory lines to check that the allowances for slow-moving/
obsolete stock were valid and sufficient. 
We tested that the inventory values do not exceed their net realisable values, by 
selecting a sample of lines and comparing the actual sales value to the value held 
in inventory.

We challenged Management’s determination of the Group’s accounting for income 
taxes, using our taxation specialists to assess the judgements made, including the 
level of provision maintained for uncertain tax positions, in light of evidence that 
included correspondence with the relevant tax authorities.

Inventory valuation and provisioning
In relation to the valuation of inventory (£743m, 
2013: £688m), there is complexity in determining 
average weighted cost, reflecting the size and 
scale of the business and the various processing 
systems involved. In addition, judgement must 
be applied by management in determining 
adjustments and provisions for supplier rebates 
on purchases, overhead allocations and other 
allowances to recognise inventories at the lower 
of cost and net realisable value.
Management has included this risk in the key 
accounting estimates and judgements on  
page 143.

Income taxes
The Group is required to consider the extent 
to which the impact of uncertain tax positions 
should be recognised within the current and 
deferred taxation charge for the year and related 
current and deferred taxation assets and liabilities 
in the financial statements.
Management has included this risk in the key 
accounting estimates and judgements on  
page 143.

Last year our audit report included one other risk which is 
not included in our report this year. In 2013 we highlighted 
a risk around provisions for liabilities, principally comprising 
self-insurance and onerous property leases. The Group 
exited one property which accounted for 21% of the total 
provision in the previous year and the remaining provision is 
no longer material to the Group financial statements.

The description of risks above should be read in 
conjunction with the significant issues considered by the 
Audit Committee discussed on page 95.

Our Application of Materiality

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 materiality for the Group to be £17m (2013: 
£22m), which is below 5% of Group profit before tax. We have 
changed the percentage applied to align more closely with other 
comparable companies.
We agreed with the Audit Committee that we would report to 
the Committee all audit differences in excess of £0.3m (2013: 

£0.3m), 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. 

An Overview of the Scope of our Audit

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. The 
senior statutory auditor was involved in all decisions including the 
risk assessment and approach to group-wide controls testing. Based 
on that assessment, we focused our group audit scope primarily on 
the Group’s four principal divisions. These principal divisions are the 
Group’s four operating segments and represent 95% of the Group’s 
net assets, 99% of the Group’s revenue and 99% of the Group’s 
profit before tax. The statutory audits were executed at levels of 
materiality applicable to each individual entity, which were much 
lower than Group materiality.
At the parent entity level we also tested the consolidation process 
and carried out analytical procedures to confirm our conclusion 
that there were no significant risks of material misstatement of the 
aggregated financial information of the remaining components not 
subject to audit or audit of specified account balances.

126

ANNUAL REPORT & ACCOUNTS 2014

ANNUAL REPORT & ACCOUNTS 2014

127

SECTION HEADCORPORATE GOVERNANCE

Opinion on Other Matters Prescribed by 
the Companies Act 2006

Respective Responsibilities of Directors 
and Auditor

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 1 
(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 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.

Scope of the Audit of the Financial 
Statements

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, United Kingdom 
2 March 2015

In our opinion:
•   The part of the Directors’ Remuneration Report to be audited has 
been properly prepared in accordance with the Companies Act 
2006; and

•   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.

Matters on Which we are Required to  
Report by Exception
Adequacy of Explanations Received and Accounting Records

Under the Companies Act 2006 we are required to report to you  
if, in our opinion:
•   We have not received all the information and explanations we 

require for our audit; or

•   Adequate accounting records have not been kept by the parent 

company, or returns adequate for our audit have not been 
received from branches not visited by us; or

•   The 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 ten 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:
•   Materially inconsistent with the information in the audited 

financial statements; or

•   Apparently materially incorrect based on, or materially 

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

•   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.

128

ANNUAL REPORT & ACCOUNTS 2014

ANNUAL REPORT & ACCOUNTS 2014

129

Scott Lloyd and Marc Thompson 
Travis Perkins, Warrington

SECTION HEADFINANCIAL 
STATEMENTS

SECTION HEADThe Group 

Pre- 
exceptional 
items
£m

5,148.7

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Income Statements

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2014

Pre- 
exceptional 
items 
£m

5,580.7

Notes

4

384.0

(17.6)

366.4

-

5.6

(27.3)

344.7

(68.0)

276.7

276.5

0.2

276.7

5(a)

5(d)

9

9

10(a)

11(a)

11(a)

12

2014

Exceptional 
items 

Total 

£m

£m

-

5,580.7

(23.3)

360.7

-

(17.6)

(23.3)

343.1

-

-

-

-

5.6

(27.3)

(23.3)

321.4

5.3

(62.7)

(18.0)

258.7

(18.0)

258.5

-

0.2

(18.0)

258.7

105.9p

102.8p

38.0p

Revenue

Operating profit before 
amortisation

Amortisation of intangible assets

Operating profit 

Exceptional investment income

Finance income 

Finance costs 

Profit before tax

Tax

Profit for the year

Attributable to

Owners of the Company

Non-controlling interests

Earnings per ordinary share 

Basic

Diluted

Total dividend declared per 
ordinary share 

All results relate to continuing operations. Details of exceptional items are given in notes 5 and 10.

Revenue

Operating profit before exceptional items

Exceptional items

Operating profit

Exceptional investment income

Finance income 

Finance costs 

Profit before tax

Tax

Profit for the year

All results relate to continuing operations. Details of exceptional items are given in note 5.

Statements of Comprehensive Income

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2014

Notes

28(g)

10(b)

10(b)

Profit for the year

Items that will not be reclassified subsequently to profit and loss

Actuarial (losses) / gains on defined benefit pension schemes

Deferred tax rate change on actuarial movement

Income tax relating to items not reclassified

Items that may be reclassified subsequently to profit and loss

Cash flow hedges:

Losses arising during the year

Reclassification adjustments for losses included in profit

Movement on cash flow hedge cancellation payment

Income tax relating to items that may be reclassified

10(b)

Other comprehensive (loss) / income for the year net of tax

Total comprehensive income for the year

The Group 

The Company 

2014 
£m

258.7   

(48.4)

-

9.5

(38.9)

(0.1)

0.3

-

-

0.2

(38.7)

220.0

2013
£m

264.7

2014 
£m

147.2

2013 
£m

85.2

34.0

(11.5)

(7.0)

15.5

(5.0)

6.1

0.8

(0.3)

1.6

17.1

-

-

-

-

(0.1)

0.3

-

-

0.2

0.2

-

-

-

-

(5.0)

6.1

0.8

(0.3)

1.6

1.6

281.8

147.4

86.8

2013

Exceptional 
items 

£m

-

-

-

-

9.4

-

-

9.4

20.1

29.5

29.5

-

29.5

Total

£m

5,148.7

347.6

(17.9)

329.7

9.4

3.7

(30.2)

312.6

(47.9)

264.7

264.6

0.1

264.7

109.9p

105.7p

31.0p

The Company

2014
£m

205.4

178.5

2013
£m

129.0

102.9

(6.4)

-

172.1

102.9

-

5.9

9.4

4.0

(41.4)

(45.2)

136.6

10.6

147.2

71.1

14.1

85.2

347.6

(17.9)

329.7

-

3.7

(30.2)

303.2

(68.0)

235.2

235.1

0.1

235.2

Notes

4

5

5

9

9

10

132

ANNUAL REPORT & ACCOUNTS 2014

ANNUAL REPORT & ACCOUNTS 2014

133

  
 
 
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Balance Sheets

AS AT DECEMBER 2014

Assets

Non-current assets

Goodwill

Other intangible assets

Property, plant and equipment

Derivative financial instruments

Investment property

Interest in associates

Investment in subsidiaries

Available-for-sale investments

Deferred tax asset

Total non-current assets

Current assets

Inventories

Trade and other receivables

Derivative financial instruments

Cash and cash equivalents

Total current assets

Total assets

The Group

The Company

Notes

2014
£m

2013
 £m

2014
£m

2013
£m

The Group

The Company

Notes

2014
£m

2013
£m

2014
£m

2013
£m

13

14

15

24

16

17

17

17

26

18

24

19

1,816.8

406.8

689.3

18.7

0.4

1.7

-

3.2

-

1,813.9

409.8

609.9

9.3

0.4

7.3

-

2.7

-

-

-

0.1

18.7

-

1.3

-

-

0.1

9.3

-

7.7

3,605.5

3,588.8

-

3.7

-

18.2

2,936.9

2,853.3

3,629.3

3,624.1

742.7

931.8

2.5

108.3

1,785.3

4,722.2

687.7

822.9

-

79.8

1,590.4

4,443.7

-

167.4

2.5

54.0

223.9

-

133.1

-

7.3

140.4

3,853.2

3,764.5

Equity and Liabilities

Capital and reserves

Issued capital

Share premium account

Merger reserve

Revaluation reserve

Hedging reserve

Own shares

Other reserves

Accumulated profits

Total equity

Non-current liabilities

Interest bearing loans and borrowings

Derivative financial instruments

Retirement benefit obligations

Long-term provisions

Long-term other payables

Amounts due to subsidiaries

Deferred tax liabilities

Total non-current liabilities

Current liabilities

Interest bearing loans and borrowings

Trade and other payables

Derivative financial instruments

Tax liabilities

Short-term provisions

Total current liabilities

Total liabilities

Total equity and liabilities

20

22

22

22

22

22

22

22

23

24

28

25

27

26

23

27

24

25

24.9

510.5

326.5

18.1

0.2

(28.5)

(1.5)

1,827.5

2,677.7

440.0

0.5

97.5

7.8

-

-

66.7

612.5

43.5

1,255.2

-

71.6

61.7

1,432.0

2,044.5

4,722.2

24.7

498.0

326.5

18.4

-

(40.6)

(1.7)

1,689.9

2,515.2

421.6

4.5

71.4

20.7

1.9

-

61.3

581.4

5.8

1,218.1

1.8

73.2

48.2

1,347.1

1,928.5

4,443.7

24.9

509.4

326.5

-

0.2

(28.5)

-

261.0

1,093.5

385.4

0.5

-

-

-

24.7

496.9

326.5

-

-

(40.6)

-

214.3

1,021.8

363.9

4.5

-

-

1.9

2,303.9

2,308.0

-

-

2,689.8

2,678.3

45.6

24.3

-

-

-

69.9

2,759.7

3,853.2

3.2

59.4

1.8

-

-

64.4

2,742.7

3,764.5

The financial statements of Travis Perkins plc, registered number 824821, were approved by the Board of Directors on 2 March 2015 and 
signed on its behalf by: 

John Carter 
Chief Executive Officer 

Tony Buffin 
Chief Financial Officer

134

ANNUAL REPORT & ACCOUNTS 2014

ANNUAL REPORT & ACCOUNTS 2014

135

 
 
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Consolidated Statement of Changes in Equity

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2014
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2014

Statement of Changes in Equity

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2014
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2014

The Group

Issued 
share 
capital
£m

Share 
premium 
account
£m

Merger 
reserve
£m

Revaluation 
reserve
£m

Hedging 
reserve
£m

Own 
shares
£m

Other
£m

Retained 
earnings 
£m

Total 
equity
£m

24.5

487.2

326.5

20.1

(1.6)

(62.4)

At 1 January 2013

Profit for the year 

Other comprehensive income for 
the period net of tax

Total comprehensive income for 
the year

Dividends

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Issue of share capital

0.2

10.8

Realisation of revaluation reserve 
in respect of property disposals

Difference between depreciation 
of assets on a historical basis 
and on a revaluation basis

Deferred tax rate change

Tax on share based payments 
(10c)

Foreign exchange

Fair value of put option (note 29)

Credit for equity-settled share 
based payments

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

(2.8)

(0.2)

1.3

-

-

-

-

At 31 December 2013

24.7

498.0

326.5

18.4

Profit for the year

Other comprehensive income for 
the period net of tax

Total comprehensive income for 
the year

Dividends

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Issue of share capital

0.2

12.5

Realisation of revaluation reserve 
in respect of property disposals

Difference between depreciation 
of assets on a historical basis 
and on a revaluation basis

Tax on share based payments 
(10c)

Foreign exchange

Credit for equity-settled share 
based payments

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

(0.2)

(0.1)

-

-

-

-

0.1

-

0.1

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

(1.8)

-

1,461.3

2,255.6

264.6

264.7

15.5

17.1

280.1

281.8

(65.1)

(65.1)

(18.9)

13.9

2.8

0.2

-

15.7

0.1

-

-

-

1.3

15.7

0.1

(1.8)

13.7

13.7

-

-

-

-

21.8

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

(40.6)

(1.7)

1,689.9

2,515.2

-

-

-

-

12.1

-

-

-

-

-

0.2

258.5

258.7

-

(38.9)

(38.7)

0.2

219.6

220.0

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

(81.1)

(10.5)

(81.1)

14.3

0.2

0.1

-

-

(0.5)

(0.5)

(0.1)

(0.1)

9.9

9.9

-

1.6

1.6

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

0.2

0.2

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Issued 
share 
capital
£m

24.5

Share 
premium 
account
£m

486.1

Merger 
reserve
£m

326.5

The Company

Hedging 
reserve
£m

Own 
shares
£m

Retained 
earnings
£m

Issue of share capital

0.2

10.8

At 1 January 2013

Profit for the year

Other comprehensive income for 
the period net of tax

Total comprehensive income for 
the year

Dividends 

Tax on share based payments 
(note 10)

Credit for equity-settled share 
based payments

At 31 December 2013

Profit for the year

Other comprehensive income for 
the period net of tax

Total comprehensive income for 
the year

Dividends 

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

24.7

496.9

326.5

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

(1.6)

(62.4)

-

1.6

1.6

-

-

-

-

-

-

0.2

0.2

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

21.8

-

-

(40.6)

-

-

-

-

12.1

-

-

Issue of share capital

0.2

12.5

Tax on share based payments 
(note 10)

Credit for equity-settled share 
based payments

-

-

-

-

At 31 December 2014

24.9

509.4

326.5

0.2

(28.5)

261.0

1,093.5

1.2

1.2

Total
equity
£m

977.1

85.2

1.6

86.8

(65.1)

13.9

5.3

3.8

1,021.8

147.2

0.2

147.4

(81.1)

14.3

(10.1)

204.0

85.2

-

85.2

(65.1)

(18.9)

5.3

3.8

214.3

147.2

-

147.2

(81.1)

(10.5)

(10.1)

At 31 December 2014

24.9

510.5

326.5

18.1

0.2

(28.5)

(1.5)

1,827.5

2,677.7

136

ANNUAL REPORT & ACCOUNTS 2014

ANNUAL REPORT & ACCOUNTS 2014

137

 
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
SECTION HEAD

Cash Flow Statements

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2014

The Group

The Company

Operating profit before amortisation and exceptional items

Adjustments for:

 Depreciation of property, plant and equipment 

 Amortisation of internally generated intangibles

 Other non cash movements

 Losses of associate

 Gain on disposal of property, plant and equipment 

Operating cash flows 

 Increase in inventories

 (Increase) / decrease in receivables

 Increase / (decrease) in payables

 Payments on exceptional items

 Pension payments in excess of the charge to profits

Cash generated from operations

Interest paid

Income taxes paid

Net cash from operating activities

Cash flows from investing activities

Interest received

Proceeds on disposal of property, plant, equipment and investments 

Development of computer software

Purchases of property, plant and equipment

Interest in associate

Investments in subsidiaries

Acquisition of businesses net of cash acquired (note 29)

Net cash used in investing activities

Financing activities

Net proceeds from the issue of share capital

Net movement in finance lease liabilities

Bond issue costs

Decrease in loans and liabilities to pension scheme

Increase in sterling bond

Dividends paid

Net cash from financing activities

Net increase / (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the year

Cash and cash equivalents at the end of year (note 19)

2014

£m

384.0

74.9

0.7

9.9

3.3

(26.8)

446.0

(48.5)

(107.7)

48.9

(3.8)

(24.7)

310.2

(15.2)

(49.9)

245.1

0.2

30.8

(14.0)

(150.9)

(2.1)

-

(15.7)

(151.7)

14.3

(2.5)

(2.6)

(243.0)

250.0

(81.1)

(64.9)

28.5

79.8

108.3

2013

 £m

347.6

71.3

-

13.7

2.5

(18.1)

417.0

(48.5)

(83.6)

61.5

(4.6)

(22.6)

319.2

(21.0)

(59.2)

239.0

0.5

16.9

-

(107.2)

(2.9)

-

(9.3)

(102.0)

13.9

(2.1)

-

(143.0)

-

(65.1)

(196.3)

(59.3)

139.1

79.8

2014

2013

£m

£m

178.5

102.9

0.1

-

1.2

-

-

0.1

-

3.8

-

-

179.8

106.8

-

(19.3)

(31.2)

(0.4)

-

-

41.6

63.8

-

-

128.9

212.2

(12.9)

(21.9)

-

-

116.0

190.3

0.5

-

-

(0.1)

1.6

(16.7)

-

-

-

-

(0.1)

(1.3)

(13.2)

-

(14.7)

(14.6)

14.3

-

(2.6)

13.9

-

-

(240.0)

(190.6)

250.0

-

(81.1)

(65.1)

(59.4)

(241.8)

41.9

7.3

49.2

(66.1)

73.4

7.3

Notes to the financial statements

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2014

1. GENERAL INFORMATION
Overview 
Travis Perkins plc is a company incorporated in the United 
Kingdom under the Companies Act 2006. The address of the 
registered office is given on page 192. The nature of the Group’s 
operations and its principal activities are set out in the Business 
and Strategy Review on pages 6 to 57.

These financial statements are presented in pounds sterling, the 
currency of the primary economic environment in which the  
Group operates.

Basis of accounting
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with 
International Financial Reporting Standards (“IFRS”) issued by the 
International Accounting Standards Board (“IASB”). The financial 
statements have also been prepared in accordance with IFRS 
adopted by the European Union and therefore the Group financial 
statements comply with Article 4 of the EU IAS Regulations.

Basis of preparation
The financial statements have been prepared on the historic cost 
basis, except that derivative financial instruments, available for 
sale investments, contingent consideration arising from business 
combinations and certain borrowings are stated at their fair value. 
The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of 
the Company and all entities controlled by the Company (its 
subsidiaries) (together referred to as “the Group”) from the date 
control commences until the date that control ceases. Control is 
achieved where the Company: 

•  has the power over the investee;
•    is exposed or has rights to a variable return from the 

involvement with the investee; and

•  has the ability to use its power to affect its returns.
As such, the results of subsidiaries acquired during the year are 
included in the consolidated income statement from the effective 
date of acquisition.

The following new and revised Standards and interpretations  
have been adopted in the current year. Their adoption has not  
had any significant impacts on the amounts reported in these 
financial statements:

•  Amendments to IFRS10, IFRS12 and IAS 27 Investment entities
•   Amendments to IAS 36 Recoverable Amount Disclosure for 

Non-Financial Assets

At the date of the approval of these financial statements, the 
following Standards and Interpretations, which have not yet  
been applied in these financial statements, were in issue, but not 
yet effective:  

•  IFRS 9 Financial Instruments
•  IFRS15 Revenue from Contracts with Customers
•  Improvements to IFRSs – minor amendments
The Directors anticipate that adoption of these Standards and 
Interpretations in future periods will have no material impact on 
the financial statements of the Group.

The Directors are currently of the opinion that the Group’s forecasts 
and projections show that the Group should be able to operate 
within its current facilities and comply with its banking covenants. 

The Group is however, exposed to a number of significant risks 
and uncertainties, which could affect the Group’s ability to meet 
management’s projections and hence its ability to meet its banking 
covenants. The Directors believe that the Group has the flexibility 
to react to changing market conditions and is adequately placed to 
manage its business risks successfully.

Detailed considerations of going concern, risks and uncertainties 
are provided in the Strategic Report on pages 6 to 63.

After making enquiries, the Directors have formed a judgement 
at the time of approving the financial statements, that there is a 
reasonable expectation that the Company and the Group have 
adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the 
foreseeable future. For this reason, they continue to adopt the 
going concern basis in preparing the financial statements.

2. SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
The principal accounting policies adopted in preparing the financial 
statements are set out below.

Revenue recognition
Revenue is recognised when goods or services are received by the 
customer and the risks and rewards of ownership have passed 
to them. Revenue is measured at the fair value of consideration 
received or receivable and represents amounts receivable for 
goods and services provided in the normal course of business, 
net of discounts and value added tax. For the Parent Company, 
revenue comprises management charges receivable and dividend 
income received.

Exceptional items
Exceptional items are those items of income and expenditure that 
by reference to the Group are material in size or unusual in nature 
or incidence, that in the judgement of the Directors, should be 
disclosed separately on the face of the financial statements (or in 
the notes in the case of a segment) to ensure both that the reader 
has a proper understanding of the Group’s financial performance 
and that there is comparability of financial performance 
between periods.

Items of income or expense that are considered by the Directors 
for designation as exceptional items include, but are not limited 
to, significant restructurings, onerous contracts, write-downs or 
impairments of current and non-current assets, the costs of 
acquiring and integrating businesses, gains or losses on disposals 
of businesses and investments, re-measurement gains or losses 
arising from changes in the fair value of derivative financial 
instruments to the extent that hedge accounting is not achieved 
or is not effective and pension scheme curtailment gains and the 
effect of changes in corporation tax rates on deferred tax balances.

Supplier arrangements 
Rebate, manufacturer funded customer contract support and 
similar promotional arrangements (“Supplier Arrangements”) are a 
common component of trading agreements in the building product 
supply industry. As part of its on-going business activities, the 
Travis Perkins group has entered into such arrangements with a 
significant number of its goods for resale suppliers.  

Amounts due in respect of Supplier Arrangements are not 
recognised in the income statement until all performance 
conditions have been met and the goods have been sold to third 
party customers. 

138

ANNUAL REPORT & ACCOUNTS 2014

ANNUAL REPORT & ACCOUNTS 2014

139

 
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

2. SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES continued

Supplier rebates received and receivable in respect of goods 
which have been sold to the Group’s customers are deducted from 
cost of sales in the income statement. Where goods on which 
rebate has been earned remain in inventory at the year-end, an 
appropriate rebate deduction is made from the gross balance 
sheet carrying value of that inventory. The rebate deduction is  
only released to the income statement when the goods are 
ultimately sold.

Customer contract support arrangements, which are supplier 
specific, enable a supplier to elicit Travis Perkins in the sale of 
certain products or product ranges to particular customers.  
Through this Travis Perkins can sell goods to its customer at a 
competitive contract price benefiting from support from a given 
supplier. All contract support receipts received and receivable are 
deducted from cost of sales when the sale to the third party has 
been completed. 

At the year-end the balance sheet includes a balance representing 
unpaid amounts receivable from suppliers.

Other promotional arrangements are not significant.

Customer rebates
Where the Group has rebate agreements with its customers, 
the value of customer rebates paid or payable, calculated in 
accordance with the agreements in place, is deducted from 
turnover in the year in which the rebate is earned.

Business combinations and goodwill
All business combinations are accounted for using the acquisition 
method. The cost of an acquisition represents the cash value of the 
consideration and/or the fair value of the shares issued on the date 
the offer became unconditional. The acquiree’s identifiable assets, 
liabilities and contingent liabilities that meet the conditions for 
recognition under IFRS 3 (2008) are recognised at their fair value 
at the acquisition date except that:

•   deferred tax assets or liabilities and liabilities or assets related to 
employee benefit arrangements are recognised and measured 
in accordance with IAS 12 Income Taxes and IAS 19 Employee 
Benefits respectively;

•   liabilities or equity instruments related to the replacement by 
the Group of an acquiree’s share-based payment awards are 
measured in accordance with IFRS 2 Share-based Payment.

Where a business combination is achieved in stages, the Group’s 
previously held interest in the acquired entity are remeasured to 
fair value at the acquisition date and the resulting gain or loss,  
if any, is recognised in the income statement.

Goodwill arising on acquisition represents the excess of the cost of 
acquisition over the share of the aggregate fair value of identifiable 
net assets (including intangible assets) of a business or a subsidiary 
at the date of acquisition. All material intangible fixed assets 
obtained on acquisition have been recognised separately in the 
financial statements. Goodwill is initially recognised as an asset and 
allocated to cash generating units or groups of cash generating units 
that are expected to benefit from the synergies of the combination, 
then at least annually, is reviewed for impairment. Any impairment 
is recognised immediately in the income statement and is not 
subsequently reversed, as such, goodwill is stated in the balance 
sheet at cost less any provisions for impairment in value.

Goodwill arising on acquisitions before the date of transition to 
IFRS (1 January 2004) has been retained at the previous UK GAAP 
carrying value subject to being tested for impairment at that date. 

Goodwill written off to reserves prior to 1998 under UK GAAP has 
not been reinstated and would not be included in determining any 
subsequent profit or loss on disposal.

Liabilities for contingent consideration are classified as fair value 
through profit and loss.

Intangible assets
Intangible assets identified as part of the assets of an acquired 
business are capitalised separately from goodwill if the fair value 
can be measured reliably on initial recognition. Intangible assets 
are amortised to the income statement on a straight-line basis 
over a maximum of 20 years except where they are considered 
to have an indefinite useful life. In the latter instance, they are 
reviewed annually for impairment.

Investment properties
Investment properties, which are held to earn rental income or for 
capital appreciation or for both, are stated at deemed cost less 
depreciation. Properties are depreciated to their estimated residual 
value on a straight-line basis over their estimated useful lives, up to 
a maximum of 50 years. 

Rental income from investment property is recognised in the 
income statement on a straight-line basis over the term of 
the lease.

Property, plant and equipment
Property, plant and equipment is stated at cost or deemed cost 
less accumulated depreciation and any impairment in value. 
Assets are depreciated to their estimated residual value on a 
straight-line basis over their estimated useful lives as follows:

•   Buildings - 50 years or if lower, the estimated useful life of the 

building or the life of the lease.

•  Plant and equipment - 4 to 10 years.
•  Computer software - 3 to 10 years.
•  Freehold land is not depreciated.
Assets held under finance leases are depreciated over their 
expected useful lives on the same basis as owned assets, or where 
shorter, the term of the relevant lease. 

The gain or loss arising on the disposal or retirement of an asset 
is determined as the difference between the sale proceeds 
net of expenses and the carrying amount of the asset in the 
balance sheet and is recognised in the income statement. Where 
appropriate, the attributable revaluation reserve remaining in 
respect of properties revalued prior to the adoption of IFRS is 
transferred directly to reserves.

Leases
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 asset 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 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 useful 
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 rental payments are recognised as an expense in 
the income statement on a straight-line basis over the lease term. 

Reverse lease premia and other incentives receivable for entering 
into a lease agreement are recognised in the income statement on 
a straight-line basis over the life of the lease.

Impairment of tangible and intangible assets 
The carrying amounts of the Group’s tangible and intangible assets 
with a definite useful life are reviewed at each balance sheet date 
to determine whether there is any indication of impairment. If such 
an indication exists, the asset’s recoverable amount is estimated 
and compared to its carrying value. Where the asset does not 
generate cash flows that are independent from other assets, the 
Group estimates the recoverable amount of the cash-generating 
unit (“CGU”) to which the asset belongs. The recoverable amount 
of an asset is the greater of its fair value less disposal cost and 
its value in use (the present value of the future cash flows that 
the asset is expected to generate). In determining value in use the 
present value of future cash flows is discounted using a pre tax 
discount rate that reflects current market assessments of the time 
value of money in relation to the period of the investment and the 
risks specific to the asset concerned.

Where the carrying value exceeds the recoverable amount a 
provision for the impairment loss is established with a charge 
being made to the income statement. When the reasons for 
a write down no longer exist the write down is reversed in the 
income statement up to the net book value that the relevant 
asset would have had if it had not been written down and if it had 
been depreciated.

For intangible assets that have an indefinite useful life the 
recoverable amount is estimated at each annual balance  
sheet date.

Inventories
Inventories, which consist of goods for resale, are stated at the 
lower of average weighted cost and net realisable value. Cost 
comprises direct materials and, where applicable, direct labour 
costs and those overheads that have been incurred in bringing 
the inventories to their present location and condition. Net 
realisable value is the estimated selling price less the estimated 
costs of disposal.

Financial instruments
Financial assets and liabilities are recognised in the balance sheet 
when the Group becomes a party to the contractual provisions of 
the instrument.

Trade receivables
Trade receivables are measured at amortised cost, which is 
carrying amount less provision for irrecoverable amounts. 
Allowances for the estimated irrecoverable amounts are made in 
the income statement when the receivable is considered to  
be uncollectible.

Impairment of financial assets
Financial assets are treated as impaired when in the opinion of 
the Directors, the likelihood of full recovery is diminished by either 
events or change of circumstance.

Bank and other borrowings
Interest bearing bank loans and overdrafts, loan notes and other 
loans are recognised in the balance sheet at amortised cost. 

Finance charges associated with arranging non-equity funding are 
recognised in the income statement over the life of the facility.  
All other borrowing costs are recognised in the income statement 
in accordance with the effective interest rate method.

Trade payables
Trade payables are measured at amortised cost.

Foreign currencies
Transactions denominated in foreign currencies are recorded at the 
rates ruling on the date of the transaction.

At the balance sheet date, unhedged monetary assets and 
liabilities denominated in foreign currencies are translated at the 
rate of exchange ruling at that date. Foreign exchange differences 
arising on translation are recognised in the income statement.

Derivative financial instruments and hedge accounting
The Group uses derivative financial instruments to hedge its 
exposure to interest rate and foreign exchange risks arising from 
financing activities. The Group does not enter into speculative 
financial instruments. In accordance with its treasury policy, the 
Group does not hold or issue derivative financial instruments for 
trading purposes. 

Derivative financial instruments are stated at fair value. The  
fair value of derivative financial instruments is the estimated 
amount the Group would receive or pay to terminate the 
derivative at the balance sheet date, taking into account current 
interest and exchange rates and the current creditworthiness of 
the counterparties. 

Changes in the fair value of derivative financial instruments, that 
are designated and effective as hedges of the future variability of 
cash flows, are recognised in equity and the ineffective portion is 
recognised immediately in the income statement.

For an effective hedge of an exposure to changes in the fair value 
of a hedged item, the hedged item is adjusted for changes in fair 
value attributable to the risk being hedged with the corresponding 
entry in the income statement. 

For derivatives that do not qualify for hedge accounting, any gains 
or losses arising from changes in fair value are taken to the income 
statement as they arise.

Derivatives embedded in commercial contracts are treated as 
separate derivatives when their risks and characteristics are not 
closely related to those of the underlying contracts, with unrealised 
gains or losses being reported in the income statement. 

The fair value of hedged derivatives is classified as a non-current 
asset or non-current liability if the remaining maturity of the hedge 
relationship is more than 12 months, otherwise they are classified 
as current.

Foreign currency forward contracts not designated as effective 
hedges are marked-to-market at the balance sheet date, with any 
gains or losses being taken through the income statement.

Financial assets and financial liabilities
Financial assets are classified into the following specified 
categories: financial assets at ‘fair value through profit or loss’ 
(“FVTPL”), ‘available-for-sale’ (“AFS”) financial assets and ‘loans 
and receivables’. The classification depends on the nature and 
purpose of the financial assets and is determined at the time of 
initial recognition.

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141

SECTION HEAD2. SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES continued

Financial liabilities are classified as either financial liabilities ‘at 
FVTPL’ or ‘other financial liabilities’ and trade and other payables.

The Group derecognises financial liabilities when, and only when, 
the Group’s obligations are discharged, cancelled or they expire.

The Group has defined the classes of financial assets to be  
other financial assets, cash and borrowings and derivative 
financial instruments.

Financial assets and financial liabilities at FVTPL 
Financial assets and financial liabilities are classified as at FVTPL 
where the financial asset or the financial liability is either held for 
trading or it is designated as FVTPL.

A financial asset or financial liability is classified as held for  
trading if it:

•    Has been acquired principally for the purpose of being sold or 

disposed of in the near future; or

•    Is a part of an identified portfolio of financial instruments that 

the Group manages together and has a recent actual pattern of 
short-term profit-taking; or

•    Is a derivative that is not designated and effective as a  

hedging instrument.

Financial assets and financial liabilities at FVTPL are stated at fair 
value, with any resultant gain or loss recognised in the income 
statement unless it is an effective cash flow relationship. The net 
gain or loss recognised in the income statement incorporates 
any interest earned or paid on the financial asset and financial 
liability respectively.

Loans and receivables
Trade receivables and other receivables that have fixed or 
determinable payments that are not quoted in an active market 
are classified as loans and receivables. Loans and receivables are 
measured at amortised cost using the effective interest method, 
less any impairment. Interest income is recognised by applying 
the effective interest rate, except for short-term receivables, which 
applies to all amounts owed to the Group when the recognition of 
interest would be immaterial. 

Other financial liabilities
Other financial liabilities, including borrowings, are initially 
measured at fair value, net of transaction costs. Other financial 
liabilities are subsequently measured at amortised cost using the 
effective interest method, with interest expense recognised on an 
effective yield basis. The effective interest method is a method 
of calculating the amortised cost of a financial liability and of 
allocating interest expense over the relevant period. The effective 
interest is the rate that exactly discounts estimated future cash 
payments through the expected life of the financial liability, or, 
where appropriate, a shorter period.

Derecognition of financial assets and financial liabilities
The Group derecognises a financial asset only when the 
contractual rights to the cash flows from the asset expire; or it 
transfers the financial asset and substantially all the risks and 
rewards of ownership of the asset to another entity. If the Group 
neither transfers nor retains substantially all the risks and rewards 
of ownership and continues to control the transferred asset, 
the Group recognises its retained interest in the asset and an 
associated liability for amounts it may have to pay. If the Group 
retains substantially all the risks and rewards of ownership of a 
transferred financial asset, the Group continues to recognise the 
financial asset and also recognises a collateralised borrowing for 
the proceeds received.

Taxation
The tax expense represents the sum of the tax currently payable 
and the 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 and expense that 
are taxable or deductible in other years and it further excludes 
items which are never taxable or deductible. The Group’s liability 
for current tax is calculated using tax rates that have been enacted 
or substantially 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. This 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 tax profit nor the accounting profit.

Deferred tax is calculated at the tax rates that are expected to 
apply in the period when the liability is settled or the asset realised. 
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 within equity.

Retirement benefit costs
Payments to defined contribution retirement benefit schemes 
are recognised as an expense when employees have rendered 
services entitling them to the contributions.

For defined benefit schemes, the cost of providing benefits is 
determined using the projected unit credit method with actuarial 
valuations being carried out at the end of each reporting period. 
Re-measurement comprising actuarial gains and losses, the effects 
of asset ceilings and minimum funding payments and the return 
on scheme assets (excluding interest) are recognised immediately 
in the balance sheet with a charge or credit to the statement 
of comprehensive income. Re-measurement recorded in the 
statement of comprehensive income is not recycled. Net interest 
is calculated by applying a discount rate to the net defined benefit 
liability or asset. Net interest expense or income is recognised 
within finance costs.

Where the Group is committed to pay additional contributions 
under a minimum funding arrangement and it has no 
unconditional right to receive any surplus in a winding up of 
the scheme, the pension obligation recognised in the financial 
statements is the higher of the IAS 19 (revised 2011) obligation 
or the net present value of future minimum funding payments, 
discounted using the IAS 19 (revised 2011) discount rate to which 
the Group is unconditionally committed. 

Employee share incentive plans
The Group issues equity-settled share-based payments to certain 
employees (long-term incentives, executive share options and 
Save As You Earn). These payments are measured at fair value at 

the date of grant by the use of the Black Scholes option-pricing 
model taking into account the terms and conditions upon which 
the options were granted. The cost of equity-settled awards 
is recognised on a straight-line basis over the vesting period, 
based on the Group’s estimate of the number of shares that will 
eventually vest. 

Provisions
A provision is recognised in the balance sheet when the Group 
has a present legal or constructive obligation because of a past 
event, and it is probable that an outflow of economic benefits will 
be required to settle the obligation. Provisions are measured at the 
Directors’ best estimate of the expenditure required to settle the 
obligation at the balance sheet date, and are discounted to present 
value where the effect is material.

Equity instruments and own shares 
Equity instruments represent the ordinary share capital of the 
Group and are recorded at the proceeds received, net of directly 
attributable incremental issue costs.

Consideration paid by the Group for its own shares is deducted 
from total shareholders’ equity. Where such shares vest to 
employees under the terms of the Group’s share incentive 
schemes or the Group’s share save schemes or are sold, any 
consideration received is included in shareholders’ equity.

Dividends
Dividends proposed by the Board of Directors and unpaid at the 
period end are not recognised in the financial statements until they 
have been approved by shareholders at the Annual General Meeting.

3. CRITICAL JUDGEMENTS AND KEY SOURCES 
OF ESTIMATION AND UNCERTAINTY
These consolidated financial statements have been prepared in 
accordance with IFRS as issued by the IASB. The preparation of 
financial statements requires the Directors to make estimates and 
assumptions about future events that affect the reported amounts 
of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and 
liabilities. Future events and their effects cannot be determined 
with certainty. Therefore, the determination of estimates requires 
the exercise of judgement based on various assumptions and 
other factors such as historical experience, current and expected 
economic conditions. The Directors frequently re-evaluate these 
significant factors and make adjustments where facts and 
circumstances dictate. The Directors believe that the following 
judgements are critical due to the degree of estimation required 
and / or the potential material impact they may have on the 
Group’s financial position and performance.

Supplier arrangements - supplier rebates
The value of supplier rebates included in the income statement is 
generally calculated by applying an agreed percentage to the gross 
supplier invoice price of the goods purchased.   

The overwhelming majority of supplier rebates, in excess of 95% 
by value, are determined by reference to “guaranteed” rates of 
rebate, the remainder are subject to stepped targets, the net rebate 
percentage increasing as values or volumes purchased reach  
pre-agreed targets. Only one rebate agreement is not co-terminus 
with the Group’s year end.

Amounts receivable under most Supplier Arrangements are 
earned and settled monthly, although some agreements may  

also stipulate quarterly, bi-annual or annual payments with very 
few of the arrangements not being co-terminus with the Group’s 
statutory year end, which:

•   enables the accurate quantification of amounts receivable 
from suppliers prior to their inclusion in the annual financial 
statements; and 

•   allows the Group to sense check the value of unpaid receivables 
at the year-end by reference to cash received immediately after 
the year-end.

As a result the key judgements made are to determine the value of 
rebates to be immediately recognised in the income statement and 
the value to be deferred in stock.

Income taxes
The Group is subject to the income tax laws of the United 
Kingdom. These laws are complex and subject to different 
interpretations by taxpayers and tax authorities. When establishing 
income tax provisions, the Directors make a number of judgements 
and interpretations about the application and interaction of these 
laws. Changes in these tax laws or in their interpretation could 
affect the Group’s effective tax rate and the results of operations in 
a given period. Accordingly, potentially significant tax benefits will 
not be recognised until there is sufficient certainty that they will be 
accepted by HMRC.

Cash generating units
The Directors consider that individual assets do not generate cash 
flows that are largely independent of those from other assets and 
consequently that, for the purposes of impairment testing, each 
branch in the Group is a cash generating unit (“CGU”). Impairment 
testing of property, plant and equipment is carried out at individual 
branch level and no write offs have been made. Goodwill and 
other intangibles impairment testing is carried out at brand level as 
described in note 13. 

Goodwill and other intangible assets
In testing for impairment, the recoverable amount of goodwill and 
intangible assets is determined by reference to the value in use 
of the CGU grouping to which they are attributed. In addition the 
Directors have made certain assumptions concerning discount 
rates and the future development of the business that are 
consistent with its five-year strategic plan. Whilst the Directors 
consider their assumptions to be realistic, should actual results, 
including those for market volume changes, be different from 
expectations, for instance due to a worsening of the UK economy, 
then it is possible that the value of goodwill and intangible assets 
included in the balance sheet could become impaired. 

The pre-tax discount rate is derived from the Group’s weighted 
average cost of capital (“WACC”) calculated by the Group’s 
advisors. The WACC is based upon the risk free rate for 
twenty-year UK gilts, adjusted for the UK market risk premium, 
which reflects the increased risk of investing in UK equities and 
the relative volatilities of the equity of the Group compared to the 
market as a whole. In arriving at the discount rate the Directors 
have applied an adjustment to reflect their view of the relative 
risk of the Group’s operations. Further details concerning the 
judgements made by the Directors in respect of goodwill and 
intangible assets and the impairment testing thereof, are given 
in note 13.

142

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143

SECTION HEADFINANCIAL STATEMENTSFINANCIAL STATEMENTS

3. CRITICAL JUDGEMENTS AND KEY SOURCES OF ESTIMATION AND UNCERTAINTY continued

Pension assumptions
The Group has chosen to adopt assumptions that the Directors 
believe are generally in line with  comparable companies. If 
the difference between actual inflation and the actual increase 
in pensionable salaries is greater than that assumed, or if long 
term interest rates were lower than assumed, or if the average 
life expectancy of pensioners increases, then the pension deficit 
could be greater than currently stated in the balance sheet. Where 
the pension obligation is included in the balance sheet at the net 
present value of the minimum funding payments then the impact 
on the balance sheet of changes in these assumptions is reduced.

Insurance provisions
The Group has insurance policies containing high excess levels. 
The nature of insurance claims is that they frequently take many 

years to fully crystallise, therefore the Directors have to estimate 
the value of provisions to hold in the balance sheet in respect 
of un-insured excesses relating to historical claims. Under the 
guidance of the Group’s insurance advisors, the value of incurred 
claims is estimated using the Generalised Cape Cod Method. The 
provision is determined by deducting the value of claims settled 
to date from the estimated level of claims incurred. Whilst the 
Generalised Cape Cod Method is an insurance industry standard 
methodology, it relies on historical trends to determine the level of 
expected claims. To the extent that the estimates are inaccurate 
the Group may be underprovided, but in the opinion of the 
Directors, any under-provision is unlikely to be material.

4. REVENUE

Sale of goods

Management charges

Dividends from subsidiaries

Other operating income

Finance income

The Group

The Company

2014 

£m

2013

£m

5,580.7

5,148.7

-

-

-

-

5,580.7

5,148.7

5.7

5.6

4.9

3.7

5,592.0

5,157.3

2014

2013

£m

-

8.3

197.1

205.4

-

5.9

211.3

£m

-

8.0

121.0

129.0

-

4.0

133.0

Like-for-like sales are a measure of underlying sales performance for two successive periods. Branches contribute to like-for-like sales once 
they have been trading for more than 12 months. Revenue included in like-for-like is for the equivalent times in both years being compared. 
When branches close revenue is excluded from the prior year figures for the months equivalent to the post closure period in the current year. 

5. PROFIT
a. Operating profit

Revenue

Cost of sales

Gross profit

Selling and distribution costs

Administrative expenses

Profit on disposal of properties

Other operating income

Share of results of associate

Operating profit

Add back exceptional items 

Add back amortisation of acquired intangible assets

Adjusted operating profit 

The Group

The Company

 2014
£m

2013 
£m

5,580.7

5,148.7

(3,930.2)

(3,616.6)

1,650.5

(1,015.5)

(320.6)

26.3

5.7

(3.3)

343.1

23.3

17.6

384.0

1,532.1

(941.5)

(280.7)

17.4

4.9

(2.5)

329.7

-

17.9

347.6

2014 
£m

205.4

-

205.4

-

(33.3)

-

-

-

172.1

6.4

-

178.5

2013 
£m

129.0

-

129.0

-

(26.1)

-

-

-

102.9

-

-

102.9

Operating profit has been arrived at after charging / (crediting):

During the year the Group incurred the following costs for services provided by the Company’s auditor:

The Group

Fees payable to the Company’s auditor for the audit of the Company’s annual accounts

Fees payable to the Company’s auditor for the audit of the Company’s subsidiaries

Fees paid to the Company’s auditor for other services:

      Audit related assurance services

      Other services relating to taxation - advisory

2014

£000

107

328

89

22

546

2013

£000

107

335

85

115

642

 The Group

The Company

Movement of provisions against inventories

2014
£m

(1.5)

2013
£m

(3.0)

Cost of inventories recognised as an expense

3,931.7

3,619.6

Pension costs in administration expenses

Pension costs in selling and distribution costs

Depreciation of property, plant and equipment

Amortisation of internally generated intangible assets

Staff costs 

Gain on disposal of property, plant and equipment

Rental income

Hire of vehicles, plant and machinery

Other leasing charges – property

Amortisation of acquired intangible assets

Auditor’s remuneration for audit services

7.5

15.1

74.9

0.7

706.4

(26.8)

(5.7)

44.3

183.6

17.6

0.4

7.2

14.9

71.3

-

631.8

(18.1)

(5.0)

35.8

184.1

17.9

0.4

2014
£m

2013
£m

-

-

0.3

-

-

-

-

-

0.3

-

-

-

10.3

12.1

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

0.1

0.1

Audit related assurance services includes £12,000 (2013: £12,781) which was paid to the auditor by the Travis Perkins Pension and 
Dependents Benefit Scheme. 

A description of the work of the Audit Committee is set out in the Audit Committee report on pages 94 to 97, and includes an explanation of 
how auditor objectivity and independence is safeguarded when the auditor provides non-audit services.

144

ANNUAL REPORT & ACCOUNTS 2014

ANNUAL REPORT & ACCOUNTS 2014

145

 
 
 
5. PROFIT continued

b. Adjusted Operating Margin 

To enable readers of the financial statements to obtain a clear understanding of underlying trading, the Directors have shown the exceptional 
items separately in the group income statement.  

General 
Merchanting

Contracts

Consumer

Plumbing & 
 Heating

Unallocated

Group

2014

2014
£m

2013
£m

2014
£m

2013
£m

2014
£m

2013
£m

2014
£m

2013
£m

Revenue

1,872.7

1,647.7

1,071.3

955.7

1,283.4

1,179.8

1,353.3 1,365.5

Segment result

183.4

176.4

65.9

5.7

61.4

6.1

82.4

4.9

67.5

4.9

29.4

7.0

49.5

6.9

-

2014
£m

-

2013
£m

2014
£m

2013
£m

- 5,580.7

5,148.7

(18.0)

(15.7) 343.1

339.1

-

-

17.6

17.9

23.3

(9.4)

-

-

(10.0)

(9.4)

28.7

-

4.6

183.4

176.4

71.6

67.5

77.3

63.0

65.1

56.4

(13.4)

(15.7) 384.0

347.6

9.8%

10.7%

6.7%

7.1%

6.0%

5.3%

4.8%

4.1%

-

-

6.9%

6.8%

-

-

-

-

Amortisation of 
acquired intangible 
assets

Exceptional items

Adjusted segment 
result

Adjusted operating 
margin

Segmental information including the definition of segment result is shown in note 6. 

c. Adjusted profit before and after tax

Profit before tax

Exceptional items 

Amortisation of acquired intangible assets

Adjusted profit before tax

Profit after tax

Exceptional items

Amortisation of acquired intangible assets

Tax on exceptional items and amortisation of acquired intangible assets

Income effect of reduction in corporation tax rate on deferred tax

Adjusted profit after tax 

d. Exceptional items

Reconfiguration of Plumbing & Heating business

Onerous lease provision release

Write down of loans and investment in Rinus Roofing Limited

Fair value adjustments to contingent consideration

The Group

2014
£m

321.4

23.3

17.6

362.3

The Group

2014
£m

258.7

23.3

17.6

(8.8)

-

290.8

2013
£m

312.6

(9.4)

17.9

321.1

2013
£m

264.7

(9.4)

17.9

(3.6)

(20.1)

249.5

The Group

The Company

2014
£m

29.5

(10.0)

4.6

(0.8)

23.3

2013
£m

-

-

-

(9.4)

(9.4)

2014
£m

2013
£m

2.1

-

5.1

(0.8)

6.4

-

-

-

-

-

The programme to reconfigure the Plumbing and Heating business resulted in the Group and the Company incurring £29.5m and £2.1m 
respectively of exceptional operating charges. Details of the exceptional provision is given in note 25.

£10.0m of surplus exceptional onerous lease provision was credited back to operating profit following the surrender of the lease on a property.  

The Group disposed of its investment in Rinus Roofing Limited for £2.8m and recorded a loss of £4.6m, £5.1m in the Company, as loans 
previously advanced to Rinus Roofing and the Group’s equity investment were not fully recovered. 

In accordance with IAS 39 the contingent consideration payable in respect of the acquisition of Solfex was reassessed with the discounted 
amount previously recognised being reduced by £0.8m in the Group and in the Company.

2013

The contingent consideration payable in respect of the Toolstation acquisition was reassessed which resulted in the discounted amount 
previously recognised of £47.0m being reduced to £37.6m.  The difference of £9.4m was credited as exceptional investment income to the 
income statement in both the Group and the Company.

6. BUSINESS AND GEOGRAPHICAL SEGMENTS
As required by IFRS 8 the operating segments are identified on the basis of internal reports about components of the Group that are regularly 
reviewed by the Chief Executive to assess their performance. All four divisions sell building materials to a wide range of customers, none of 
which are dominant, and operate almost exclusively in the United Kingdom and consequently no geographical information is presented.

Segment result represents the profit earned by each segment without allocation of certain central costs, finance income and costs and 
income tax expense. Unallocated segment assets and liabilities comprise financial instruments, current and deferred taxation, cash and 
borrowings and pension scheme assets and liabilities.

Inter-segment sales are eliminated. During 2014 and 2013 there were no impairment losses or reversals of impairment losses recognised in 
profit or loss or in equity in any of the reportable segments.

General 
Merchanting
£m

1,872.7

Contracts

Consumer 

2014

£m

1,071.3

Plumbing & 
Heating
£m

£m

1,283.4

1,353.3

183.4

65.9

82.4

29.4

-

-

183.4

-

183.4

1,453.4

(420.2)

1,033.2

110.1

-

44.6

-

-

65.9

-

65.9

735.5

(280.7)

454.8

13.9

5.7

8.8

-

-

82.4

-

82.4

1,436.2

(334.7)

1,101.5

20.1

4.9

15.6

-

-

29.4

-

29.4

961.5

(265.2)

696.3

13.6

7.0

5.9

Revenue  

Result

Segment result  

Finance income

Finance costs

Profit before taxation

Taxation

Profit for the year

Segment assets

Segment liabilities

Consolidated net assets

Capital expenditure

Amortisation of acquired 
intangibles

Depreciation

Unallocated

Consolidated

£m

-

£m

5,580.7

(18.0)

5.6

(27.3)

(39.7)

(62.7)

(102.4)

135.6

(743.7)

(608.1)

-

-

-

343.1

5.6

(27.3)

321.4

(62.7)

258.7

4,722.2

(2,044.5)

2,677.7

157.7

17.6

74.9

146

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ANNUAL REPORT & ACCOUNTS 2014

147

SECTION HEADFINANCIAL STATEMENTS 
 
 
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

6. BUSINESS AND GEOGRAPHICAL SEGMENTS continued

2013

General 
Merchanting
£m

1,647.7

Contracts

Consumer

£m

955.7

£m

1,179.8

Plumbing & 
Heating
£m

1,365.5

Unallocated 

Consolidated

£m

-

 £m

5,148.7

176.4

61.4

-

-

-

176.4

-

176.4

1,332.2

(421.5)

910.7

84.1

-

36.3

-

-

-

61.4

-

61.4

692.9

(229.8)

463.1

8.8

6.1

10.5

58.1

9.4

-

-

67.5

-

67.5

1,406.5

(380.7)

1,025.8

12.7

4.9

17.4

49.5

(15.7)

329.7

-

-

-

49.5

-

49.5

911.9

(235.6)

676.3

5.9

6.9

7.1

-

3.7

(30.2)

(42.2)

(47.9)

(90.1)

100.2

(660.9)

(560.7)

-

-

-

9.4

3.7

(30.2)

312.6

(47.9)

264.7

4,443.7

(1,928.5)

2,515.2

111.5

17.9

71.3

Revenue 

Result

Segment result 

Exceptional 
investment income

Finance income

Finance costs

Profit before taxation

Taxation

Profit for the year

Segment assets

Segment liabilities

Consolidated net assets

Capital expenditure

Amortisation

Depreciation

As outlined in last year’s annual report, on 1 January 2014  the Group’s divisions were restructured and BSS was transferred from the 
Plumbing and Heating division to the Contracts division, whilst Benchmarx was transferred from the Contracts division to General 
Merchanting. As a result the segmental information for 2013 was reallocated in line with the new divisional structure.

Unallocated segment assets and liabilities comprise the following:

Assets

Interest in associates

Financial instruments

Investment properties

Available for sale investments

Cash and cash equivalents

Unallocated corporate assets

Liabilities

Financial instruments

Tax liabilities

Deferred tax liabilities

Retirement benefit obligations

Interest bearing loans, borrowings and loan notes 

Unallocated corporate liabilities

2014
£m

1.7

21.2

0.4

3.2

108.3

0.8

135.6

(0.5)

(71.6)

(66.7)

(97.5)

(483.5)

(23.9)

(743.7)

2013 
£m

7.3

9.3

0.4

2.7

79.8

0.7

100.2

(6.3)

(73.2)

(61.2)

(71.4)

(427.4)

(21.4)

(660.9)

7. STAFF COSTS
a. The average monthly number of persons employed (including executive directors)

Sales and distribution

Administration

b. Aggregate remuneration

Wages and salaries

Share based payments (note 8)

Social security costs 

Other pension costs (note 28i)

The Group

The Company

2014
No.

20,320

3,160

23,480

2013
No.

19,097

2,840

21,937

2014
No.

-

48

48

2013
No.

-

46

46

The Group

The Company

2014
£m

646.8

9.9

49.7

22.6

2013
£m

565.2

13.7

52.9

22.1

729.0

653.9

2014
£m

7.7

1.2

0.9

0.5

10.3

2013
£m

7.6

3.8

0.7

0.3

12.4

8. SHARE-BASED PAYMENTS 
The Black-Scholes option-pricing model is used to calculate the fair value of the options and the amount to be expensed. The probability of 
the performance conditions being achieved was included in the fair value calculations. The inputs into the model for options granted in the 
year expressed as weighted averages are as follows:

Share price at grant date (pence) 

Option exercise price (pence) 

Volatility (%)

Option life (years) 

Risk-free interest rate (%)

Expected dividends as a dividend yield (%) 

Executive 
Options

1,787

1,796

29.0%

3.0

1.2%

1.9%

2014

SAYE

1,665

1,390

28.2%

3.4

1.4%

1.9%

1,832

-

29.3%

3.0

1.1%

1.9%

2013

SAYE

1,648

  1,274

Nil price 
options

1,373

-

1,463

1,453

32.3%

36.3%

33.0%

3.0

0.6%

2.2%

3.5

1.0%

2.0%

3.0

0.5%

2.3%

Nil price 
options

Executive 
Options

Volatility is based on historic share prices over a period equal to the vesting period. Option life used in the model has been based on options 
being exercised in accordance with historical patterns. For executive share options the vesting period is 3 years. If options remain unexercised 
after a period of 10 years from the date of grant, these options expire. Options are forfeited if the employee leaves the Group before options 
vest. SAYE options vest after 3 or 5 years and expire 3½ or 5½ years after the date of grant. 

The risk-free interest rate of return is the yield on zero-coupon UK Government bonds on a term consistent with the vesting period. Dividends 
used are based on actual dividends where data is known and future dividends estimated using a dividend cover of three times (within the 
Board’s target range). 

The expected life of options used in the model has been adjusted, based upon management’s best estimate, for the effect of non-transferability, 
exercise restrictions and behavioural considerations.

A description of the share schemes operated by the Group is contained in the remuneration report on pages 98 to 117. 

SAYE options were granted on 26 September 2014. The estimated fair value of the shares under option at that date was £11.6m for the 
Group and £0.1m for the Company. 

Shares were granted under the share-matching scheme on 25 March 2014 and 21 October 2014. The estimated fair value of the shares 
under option at those dates was £5.7m for the Group and £2.4m for the Company.

Shares were granted under the performance share plan on 8 January 2014, 21 March 2014 and 22 August 2014. The estimated fair value of 
the shares under option at those dates was £9.6m for the Group and £3.0m for the Company.

148

ANNUAL REPORT & ACCOUNTS 2014

ANNUAL REPORT & ACCOUNTS 2014

149

  
 
The number and weighted average exercise price of share options is as follows:

The Company

2014

Weighted 
average 
exercise 
price

Number of 
options

Number 
of nil price 
options

Weighted 
average
exercise 
price

2013

Number of 
options

Number 
of nil price 
options

In thousands of options

Outstanding at the beginning of the 
year

Forfeited during the year

Exercised during the year

Transferred to other group 
companies

Granted during the year

Outstanding at the end of the year

Exercisable at the end of the year

p

873

1,064

1,065

1,507

1,513

892

429

No.

186

(9)

(81)

(6)

31

121

62

No.

2,331

(406)

(618)

(20)

344

1,631

332

Details of the options outstanding at 31 December 2014 were as follows:

p

756

630

695

-

795

873

790

No.

300

(8)

(126)

-

20

186

125

No.

2,837

(199)

(796)

-

489

2,331

727

The Company

2014

    2013

Executive 
options

SAYE

Nil price 
options

Executive 
options

SAYE

Nil price 
options

Range of exercise prices (pence)

201-1,883 657-1,390

Weighted average exercise price (pence)

Number of shares (thousands)

Weighted average expected remaining life (years)

Weighted average contractual remaining life (years)

744

83

0.7

4.8

1,176

43

2.5

3.0

-

-

1,651

0.8

7.4

 201-1,745

442-1,274

880

152

0.4

3.7

841

34

1.9

2.4

-

-

2,331

0.8

7.4

8. SHARE-BASED PAYMENTS continued

Shares were granted under the deferred share bonus plan on 7 March 2014. The estimated fair value of the shares at that date was £1.5m for 
the Group and £0.9m for the Company. 

The Group charged £9.9m (2013: £13.7m) and the Company charged £1.2m (2013: £3.8m) to the income statement in respect of equity-
settled share-based payment transactions.

The number and weighted average exercise price of share options is as follows:

2014

Number of 
options

The Group

Number 
of nil price 
options

Weighted 
average 
exercise 
price

2013

Number 
of options

Number 
of nil price 
options

No.

No.

6,222

(552)

(2,111)

2,420

5,979

434

4,771

(958)

(841)

900

3,872

743

p

695

763

600

1,287

856

794

No.

7,718

(503)

(2,366)

1,373

6,222

662

No.

5,699

(598)

(1,434)

1,104

4,771

1,193

Weighted 
average 
exercise 
price

p

856

1,018

684

1,407

1,124

700

In thousands of options

Outstanding at the beginning of the year

Forfeited during the year    

Exercised during the year 

Granted during the year

Outstanding at the end of the year

Exercisable at the end of the year

Share options were exercised on a regular basis throughout the year. The weighted average share price for options exercised during the year 
was 1,790 pence (2013: 1,606 pence).

Details of the options outstanding at 31 December 2014 were as follows:

Executive 
options

2014

SAYE

Range of exercise prices (pence)

201-1,853 636-1,390

Weighted average exercise price (pence)

1,087

1,128

The Group

2013

Nil price
 options

Executive 
options

SAYE

Nil price 
options

-

-

201-1,750

442-1,274

963

837

-

-

Number of shares (thousands)

590

5,389

3,872

893

5,329

4,771

Weighted average expected remaining life (years)

Weighted average contractual remaining life (years)

1.2

5.7

2.3

2.8

0.9

7.5

0.9

5.1

2.0

2.5

0.9

7.5

If all 0.6 million outstanding executive options vest and then are exercised on the date of vesting, or in the case of SAYE all 5.4 million shares 
are acquired on the first possible day 6.0 million of shares will be issued for a consideration of £67.2million in the years ending 31 December:

31 December

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

Options

SAYE

No.
m

0.4

1.3

Value
£m

3.3

10.1

No.
m

0.1

1.3

Value
£m

1.3

13.8

No.
m

0.1

2.1

Value
£m

1.8

27.5

No.
m

-

0.3

Value
£m

-

3.6

No.
m

-

0.4

Value
£m

-

5.8

The table above shows theoretical amounts. For the Company to receive the cash indicated in the periods shown, the following must occur:
• All performance conditions on executive share options must be fully met;
• Options must be exercised on the day they vest (option holders generally have a 7 year period post vesting to exercise the option);
• The share price at the exercise date for SAYE options must exceed the exercise price and every holder must exercise;
• All option/SAYE holders must remain with the Company, or leave on good terms.
If none of the requirements are met then the Company will receive no consideration.

150

ANNUAL REPORT & ACCOUNTS 2014

ANNUAL REPORT & ACCOUNTS 2014

151

SECTION HEADFINANCIAL STATEMENTS 
    
9. NET FINANCE COSTS

Interest on bank loans and overdrafts*

Interest on sterling bond

Interest on obligations under finance leases

Unwinding of discounts - property provisions

Unwinding of discounts - SPV loan

Amortisation of cancellation payment for swaps accounted for as cash flow hedges

Other interest

Other finance costs – pension scheme

Net loss on re-measurement of derivatives at fair value

Finance costs

Amortisation of cancellation receipt for swap accounted for as fair value hedge

Net gain on re-measurement of derivatives at fair value

Interest receivable

Finance income

Net finance costs

*Includes £1.7m (2013: £1.5m) of amortised finance charges.

Interest on bank loans and overdrafts

Interest on sterling bond

Amortised bank finance charges

Other interest

Interest receivable

Interest for covenant purposes

Adjusted interest cover for covenant purposes

The Group

The Group

2014
£m

(14.4)

(2.1)

(1.2)

(1.3)

(2.5)

-

(3.4)

(2.4)

-

(27.3)

1.0

4.1

0.5

5.6

(21.7)

2014
£m

(14.4)

(2.1)

1.7

(3.4)

0.5

(17.7)

21.6x

2013
£m

(19.4)

-

(1.3)

(1.5)

(2.5)

(0.8)

(1.8)

(2.1)

(0.8)

(30.2)

1.0

1.9

0.8

3.7

(26.5)

2013
£m

(19.4)

-

1.5

(1.8)

0.8

(18.9)

18.3x

Adjusted interest cover is calculated by dividing adjusted operating profit of £384.0m (2013: £347.6m) less £1.3m (2013: £1.0m) of 
specifically excluded IFRS adjustments, by the interest for covenant purposes.

Interest on bank loans and overdrafts

Interest on sterling bond

Interest on obligations under finance leases

Unwinding of discounts - SPV loan

Loan note interest (included in other interest)

Interest for fixed charge ratio purposes

Interest on bank loans and overdrafts*

Interest on sterling bond

Interest payable to group companies

Amortisation of cancellation payment for swaps accounted for as cash flow hedges

Other interest

Net loss on re-measurement of derivatives at fair value

Finance costs

Amortisation of cancellation receipt for swap accounted for as fair value hedge

Net gain on re-measurement of derivatives at fair value

Interest receivable from group companies

Interest receivable

Finance income

Net finance costs

*Includes £1.7m (2013: £1.5m) of amortised bank finance charges.

The Group

2014
£m

(14.4)

(2.1)

(1.2)

(2.5)

(0.6)

(20.8)

The Company

2014
£m

(14.4)

(2.1)

(22.5)

-

(2.4)

-

(41.4)

1.0

4.1

0.4

0.4

5.9

2013
£m

(19.4)

-

(1.3)

(2.5)

(0.2)

(23.4)

2013
£m

(19.4)

-

(22.4)

(0.8)

(1.8)

(0.8)

(45.2)

1.0

1.9

0.8

0.3

4.0

(35.5)

(41.2)

152

ANNUAL REPORT & ACCOUNTS 2014

ANNUAL REPORT & ACCOUNTS 2014

153

SECTION HEADFINANCIAL STATEMENTS 
??. SECTION continued

10. TAX
a. Tax charge in income statement

The Group

Pre-
exceptional 
items
£m

2014

Exceptional 
items

Total

£m

£m

Pre-
exceptional 
items
£m

The Company

2014

2013

2013

Exceptional 
items

Total

£m

£m

£m

£m

Current tax

UK corporation tax 

 - current year

 - prior year

Total current tax

Deferred tax

 - current year

 - prior year

Total deferred tax

70.2

(11.1)

59.1

1.9

7.0

8.9

(5.3)

-

(5.3)

-

-

-

64.9

(11.1)

53.8

1.9

7.0

8.9

Total tax charge

68.0

(5.3)

62.7

68.9

(1.0)

67.9

1.1

(1.0)

0.1

68.0

-

-

-

(20.1)

-

(20.1)

(20.1)

68.9

(1.0)

67.9

(19.0)

(1.0)

(20.0)

47.9

(14.4)

(15.4)

(0.6)

0.3

(15.0)

(15.1)

0.4

4.0

4.4

1.0

-

1.0

(10.6)

(14.1)

Profit before tax

Tax at the UK corporation tax rate 

Tax effect of expenses / credits that are not deductible / taxable in 
determining taxable profit

Depreciation of non-qualifying property

Exceptional fair value movement not taxable

Deferred tax rate change

Property sales

Prior period adjustment

Tax expense and effective tax rate for the year

The Group

2014

2013

£m

321.4

69.1

1.7

1.9

(0.2)

-

(5.7)

(4.1)

62.7

%

21.5

0.6

0.6

(0.1)

-

(1.8)

(1.3)

19.5

£m

312.6

72.8

1.4

2.1

(2.2)

(20.1)

(4.0)

(2.1)

47.9

%

23.3

0.4

0.7

(0.7)

(6.4)

(1.3)

(0.7)

15.3

The standard rate of corporation tax for the year of 21.5% is a blended rate of 23% up to 1 April 2014 and 21% thereafter. 

The differences between the total tax charge shown above and the amount calculated by applying the standard rate of UK corporation tax to 
the profit before tax are as follows:

Deferred tax

Profit before tax

Intercompany dividends

Loss before tax and dividends received

Tax at the UK corporation tax rate

Tax effect of expenses / credits that are not deductible / taxable in 
determining taxable profit

Prior period adjustment

Deferred tax rate change

Exceptional fair value movement not taxable

Tax credit and effective tax rate for the year

The Company

 2014

 2013

£m

136.6

(197.1)

(60.5)

(13.0)

(0.8)

3.4

-

(0.2)

(10.6)

%

21.5

1.3

(5.6)

-

0.3

17.5

£m

71.0

(121.0)

(50.0)

(11.7)

(1.4)

0.3

0.9

(2.2)

(14.1)

%

23.3

2.8

(0.6)

(1.8)

4.4

28.1

b. Tax charge in statement of comprehensive income
In addition to the amounts charged to the income statement the following amounts relating to tax have been recognised in other 
comprehensive income:

Items that may be reclassified

Cash flow hedge movement

Items that may not be reclassified

Deferred tax rate change on actuarial movement 

Actuarial movement 

The Group

2014
£m

2013
£m

The Company

2014
£m

2013
£m

-

-

9.5

9.5

(0.3)

(11.5)

(7.0)

(18.8)

-

-

-

-

(0.3)

-

-

(0.3)

c. Tax credited directly to equity
In addition to the amount charged to the income statement and other comprehensive income, the following amounts relating to tax have 
been recognised in equity:

Current tax

Excess tax deductions related to share based payments on exercised options

Deferred tax

Rate change on revaluation reserve

Share based payments

   The Group

2014
£m

5.6

-

(6.1)

(0.5)

2013
£m

10.4

1.3

5.3

17.0

The Company

2014
£m

2013
£m

-

-

(10.1)

(10.1)

-

-

5.3

5.3

154

ANNUAL REPORT & ACCOUNTS 2014

ANNUAL REPORT & ACCOUNTS 2014

155

SECTION HEADFINANCIAL STATEMENTS 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
11. EARNINGS PER SHARE
a. Basic and diluted earnings per share

Earnings

Earnings for the purposes of basic and diluted earnings per share being net profit attributable 
to equity holders of the Parent Company

Weighted average number of shares for the purposes of basic earnings per share

Dilutive effect of share options on potential ordinary shares

2014
£m

258.5

244,146,721

7,295,091

Weighted average number of ordinary shares for the purposes of diluted earnings per share

251,441,812

Earnings per share

Diluted earnings per share

105.9p

102.8p

2013
£m

264.6

240,829,833

9,428,138

250,257,971

109.9p

105.7p

47,940 (2013: 16,833) share options had an exercise price in excess of the average market value of the shares during the year. As a result, 
these share options were excluded from the calculation of diluted earnings per share.

b. Adjusted earnings per share
Adjusted earnings per share is calculated by excluding the effect of the exceptional items and amortisation from earnings.

Earnings for the purposes of basic and diluted earnings per share being net profit attributable 
to equity holders of the Parent Company

Exceptional items

Amortisation of acquired intangible assets

Tax on amortisation of acquired intangible assets

Tax on exceptional items

Effect of reduction in corporation tax rate on deferred tax

Adjusted earnings

Adjusted earnings per share

Adjusted diluted earnings per share

12. DIVIDENDS
Amounts were recognised in the financial statements as distributions to equity shareholders as follows:

Final dividend for the year ended 31 December 2013 of 21.0p (2012: 17.0p) per ordinary share

Interim dividend for the year ended 31 December 2014 of 12.25p (2013: 10.0p) per ordinary 
share

Total dividend recognised during the year

2014
£m

258.5

23.3

17.6

(3.5)

(5.3)

-

290.6

119.0p

115.6p

2014
£m

51.2

29.9

81.1

2013
£m

264.6

(9.4)

17.9

(3.6)

-

(20.1)

249.4

103.6p

99.7p

2013
£m

40.9

24.2

65.1

The Company is proposing a final dividend of 25.75p in respect of the year ended 31 December 2014. 
Dividend cover of 3.1x (2013: 3.3x) is calculated by dividing adjusted earnings per share (note 11) of 119.0p (2013: 103.6p) by the total dividend 
for the year of 38.0p (2013: 31.0p).

There are no income tax consequences in respect of the dividends declared, but not recognised in the financial statements.

The dividends for 2014 and for 2013 were as follows:

Interim paid

Final proposed

Total dividend for the year

2014
Pence

12.25

25.75

38.0

2013
Pence

10.0

21.0

31.0

The anticipated cash payment in respect of the proposed final dividend is £63.4m (2013: £51.2m).

13. GOODWILL

Cost

At 1 January 2013

Recognised on acquisitions during the year 

At 1 January 2014

Recognised on acquisitions during the year (note 29)

At 31 December 2014

General 
Merchanting

£m

466.2

0.2

466.4

-

466.4

The Group

Contracts

Consumer

P&H

Total

£m

172.9

-

172.9

-

172.9

£m

829.0

0.5

829.5

-

829.5

£m

339.4

5.7

345.1

2.9

348.0

£m

1,807.5

6.4

1,813.9

2.9

1,816.8

There has been no impairment to the carrying value of goodwill. The Company has no goodwill. 

Cash generating units
The Directors consider that each branch in the Group is an individual Cash Generating Unit (“CGU”). Goodwill and intangible assets with 
indefinite useful lives have been allocated and monitored for impairment testing purposes to groups of individual CGUs within the same 
brand. The following analyses goodwill and intangible assets with indefinite useful lives by CGU grouping. 

 CGU Grouping

Contracts

CCF

Keyline

BSS Industrial

General Merchanting

Travis Perkins

Consumer

Tile Giant

Toolstation

Wickes

Plumbing & Heating

PTS

City Plumbing Supplies

Plumbnation

Primaflow

Solfex

F&P

Other

Intangibles
(note 14)
£m

-

-

49.3

-

-

-

162.5

40.9

-

-

-

-

8.5

3.9

2014

Goodwill

£m

43.6

101.5

27.8

Total 

£m

43.6

101.5

77.1

466.4

466.4

24.6

103.4

701.5

68.7

240.4

1.7

2.9

4.0

30.3

-

24.6

103.4

864.0

109.6

240.4

1.7

2.9

4.0

38.8

3.9

Intangibles
(note 14)
£m

-

-

49.3

-

-

-

162.5

40.9

-

-

-

-

8.5

3.9

2013

Goodwill

£m

43.6

101.5

27.8

Total 

£m

43.6

101.5

77.1

466.4

466.4

24.6

103.4

701.5

133.7

175.4

1.7

-

4.0

30.3

-

24.6

103.4

864.0

174.6

175.4

1.7

-

4.0

38.8

3.9

265.1

1,816.8

2,081.9

265.1

1,813.9

2,079.0

156

ANNUAL REPORT & ACCOUNTS 2014

ANNUAL REPORT & ACCOUNTS 2014

157

SECTION HEADFINANCIAL STATEMENTS13. GOODWILL continued

In March 2014 the business announced plans to clarify the Plumbing and Heating format strategy, by aligning the PTS business to support 
large contract customers with City Plumbing Supplies supporting the small to medium sized plumbing and heating engineers and bathroom 
installers. As a consequence of this restructuring the Directors determined that the goodwill and other intangibles associated with the PTS 
branches that are rebranded as City Plumbing Supplies should be reallocated to the City Plumbing Supplies CGU. Therefore £65m of 
goodwill has been transferred from the PTS CGU to the City Plumbing Supplies CGU. 

Measuring recoverable amounts
The Group tests goodwill and other non-monetary assets with indefinite useful lives for impairment annually or more frequently if there are 
indications that impairment may have occurred. The recoverable amounts of the goodwill and other non-monetary assets with indefinite 
useful lives 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 like-for-like market volume changes which impact sales and therefore cash flow projections. Management 
estimates pre-tax discount rates that reflect current market assessments of the time value of money and the risks specific to the CGU 
groupings that are not reflected in the cash flow projections. 

At the beginning and end of the financial year the recoverable amount of goodwill and intangible assets with indefinite useful lives in all 
segments was in excess of their book value. In the absence of a binding agreement to sell the assets and active reference market on which 
fair value can be determined the recoverable amount of the goodwill and intangible assets with indefinite useful lives was determined 
according to value in use. The Directors’ calculations have shown that no impairments have occurred. The key variables applied to the value in 
use calculations were:

•    Cash flow forecasts, which were derived from the most recent board approved five-year strategic plans. 
•   The sales market volume assumptions underlying the cash flow forecasts are the Directors’ estimates of likely future changes based on 
historic performance (excluding future investment and enhancements) and the current outlook for both the UK economy and the UK 
building materials industry. This is viewed as the key operating assumption because the state of the building materials market determines 
the Directors’ approach to margin and cost maintenance.

•   A risk adjusted pre tax discount rate is calculated by reference to the weighted average cost of capital (“WACC”) of the Group. For 2014, the  
pre tax discount rate ranged between 9.45% and 10.28% (2013: 9.7%), which is not significantly different for any individual CGU or CGU 
grouping. That is because each CGU operates in the same market, selling the same product types therefore the risk profiles are not dissimilar.

•   For 2014, cash flows beyond the five-year plan (2020 and beyond) have been determined using a growth rate of 2.1%, which is the average 
long-term forecast GDP growth outlined in the Economic and Fiscal Outlook report produced by the Office for Budget Responsibility. The 
Directors believe this is the most appropriate indicator of long-term growth rates that is available (2013 growth rate: 2.1%). 

Sensitivity of results to changes in assumptions
Whilst management believe the assumptions are realistic, it is possible that an impairment would be identified if any of the above key 
assumptions were changed significantly. For instance factors which could cause an impairment are:

•  significant underperformance relative to the forecast results;
•   changes to the way the assets are used or changes to the strategy for the business; and
•  a deterioration in the UK economy.
The impairment review calculations are based upon anticipated discounted future cash flows. For most of the CGU groupings, given the 
prudence already built into the Group’s five-year plans and the level of headroom they show, the Directors do not envisage reasonably 
possible changes to the key operating assumptions that are sufficient to generate a different outcome to the impairment calculations 
undertaken. However, for the CGU groupings listed in the table below this is not the case as the Directors consider that reasonably possible 

31 December 2014

CGU Grouping

Headroom

Like-for-like Market Volume
(Average per annum)

Discount Rate

Long-term Growth Rate

Assumption

Sensitivity

Assumption

Sensitivity

Assumption

Sensitivity

Tile Giant
Wickes
PTS

£10m
£100m
£44m

3.2%
-
1.9%

(3.5%)
(1.7%)
(3.0%)

9.6%
9.6%
9.8%

12.5%
10.3%
12.5%

2.1%
2.1%
2.1%

(2.2%)
1.1%
(2.2%)

The reconfiguration of the PTS business is under way as the business transitions to a lower capital, high volume model. To the extent the 
transition is delayed or, in a competitive market, the growth in market share is not as substantial as assumed, this would result in a failure to 
achieve forecast sales volumes, reflected in the like-for-like market volume assumption above. The sales market volume assumption is the 
average annual change incorporated in the five-year strategic plans of each CGU grouping. 

31 December 2013

CGU Grouping

Headroom

Like-for-like Market Volume 
(Average per annum)

Discount Rate

Long-term Growth Rate 

Assumption

Sensitivity

Assumption

Sensitivity

Assumption

Sensitivity

Tile Giant
Wickes
PTS
F & P

£20m
£194m
£37m
£32m

0.7%
1.8%
0.8%
0.8%

(1.3%)
0.7%
(0.1%)
(1.9%)

9.7%
9.7%
9.7%
9.7%

14.9%
11.2%
11.2%
15.2%

2.1%
2.1%
2.1%
2.1%

(6.5%)
(0.1%)
(0.1%)
(7.4%)

14. OTHER INTANGIBLE ASSETS

Cost or valuation

At 1 January 2013

Recognised on acquisitions in the year 

At 31 December 2013

Recognised on acquisitions in the year (note 29)

Additions

At 31 December 2014

Amortisation

At 1 January 2013

Charged to operating profit in the year

At 31 December 2013

Charged to operating profit in the year on acquired intangibles

Charged to operating profit in the year on internally generated 
intangibles

At 31 December 2014

Net book value

At 31 December 2014

At 31 December 2013

Cost of brands with an indefinite useful life (note 13)

Cost of brands being amortised

Brand

£m

298.2

2.9

301.1

1.3

-

302.4

2.1

2.0

4.1

2.1

-

6.2

296.2

297.0

The Group

Computer 
software

Customer 
relationships

£m

17.1

-

17.1

-

14.0

31.1

9.0

0.9

9.9

0.9

0.7

11.5

19.6

7.2

£m

147.6

-

147.6

-

-

147.6

27.0

15.0

42.0

14.6

-

56.6

91.0

105.6

2014

£m

265.1

37.3

302.4

Total

£m

462.9

2.9

465.8

1.3

14.0

481.1

38.1

17.9

56.0

17.6

0.7

74.3

406.8

409.8

2013

£m

265.1

36.0

301.1

Where a brand, which is a leading brand in its sector and has significant growth prospects, has not been established for a significant period of 
time, the Directors do not have sufficient evidence to support a contention that it will have an indefinite useful life. Accordingly for Toolstation, 
Plumbnation, Solfex and Primaflow and certain product related brands the Directors have decided it is appropriate to amortise their cost over 
their estimated useful lives. The useful lives of those brands being amortised ranges from 10 to 20 years while the remaining lives range 
from 6 to 16 years.

The Directors consider that the other brands, which are also all leading brands in their sectors with significant histories and significant growth 
prospects have an indefinite useful life. They are reviewed annually for impairment; details of impairment testing are shown in note 13, but no 
impairment was identified in either year. Acquired customer relationships are amortised over their estimated useful lives, which range from 
5 to 15 years. The remaining lives of amortised customer relationships range from 1 to 11 years.

The Company has no intangible assets.

158

ANNUAL REPORT & ACCOUNTS 2014

ANNUAL REPORT & ACCOUNTS 2014

159

SECTION HEADFINANCIAL STATEMENTS  
15. PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT 

The carrying amount of assets held under finance leases is analysed as follows:

Freehold

£m

Long 
leases

£m

The Group

Short 
leases

£m

308.6

32.3

0.3

(6.5)

334.7

42.9

0.4

-

(0.3)

377.7

43.1

5.2

(0.9)

47.4

4.3

-

(0.1)

51.6

326.1

287.3

27.2

1.0

-

-

28.2

0.1

-

8.9

(0.2)

37.0

6.0

0.5

-

6.5

0.4

6.1

(0.1)

12.9

24.1

21.7

145.0

9.3

-

(7.1)

147.2

13.5

-

(8.9)

(4.6)

147.2

58.8

11.6

(6.4)

64.0

10.7

(6.1)

(4.3)

64.3

82.9

83.2

Plant and 
equipment

£m

511.4

68.9

0.1

Total

£m

992.2

111.5

0.4

(31.6)

(45.2)

548.8

101.2

0.1

-

1,058.9

157.7

0.5

-

(44.3)

(49.4)

605.8

1,167.7

305.9

54.0

(28.8)

331.1

59.5

-

(41.0)

349.6

256.2

217.7

413.8

71.3

(36.1)

449.0

74.9

-

(45.5)

478.4

689.3

609.9

The Company

Plant and 
equipment

£m

0.7

0.1

-

(0.1)

0.7

0.1

-

-

(0.1)

0.7

0.5

0.1

-

0.6

0.1

-

(0.1)

0.6

0.1

0.1

Cost or valuation

At 1 January 2013

Additions

Additions from acquired businesses

Disposals

At 1 January 2014

Additions

Additions from acquired businesses

Reclassifications

Disposals

At 31 December 2014

Accumulated depreciation

At 1 January 2013

Charged this year

Disposals

At 1 January 2014

Charged this year

Reclassifications

Disposals

At 31 December 2014

Net book value

At 31 December 2014

At 31 December 2013

The Group

The Company

2014

2013

Long
 leases
£m

0.8

0.8

Short 
 leases
£m

Plant and 
equipment
£m

7.2

8.3

5.2

6.1

Total
£m

13.2

15.2

Comparable amounts determined according to the historical cost convention:

Freehold
£m

375.6

(67.9)

Long 
leases 
£m

26.7

(8.1)

The Group

Short 
leases 
£m

164.7

(75.0)

Plant and 
equipment 
£m

Total
£m

605.8

1,172.8

(349.6)

(507.2)

307.7

268.9

18.6

19.2

89.7

85.8

256.2

217.7

672.2

591.6

Cost

Accumulated depreciation

Net book value

At 31 December 2014

At 31 December 2013

16. INVESTMENT PROPERTY

Deemed cost

At 1 January 2013 and 1 January 2014 and 31 December 2014

Accumulated depreciation

At 1 January 2013 and 1 January 2014 and 31 December 2014

Net book value

At 31 December 2013 and 31 December 2014

Investment property rental income totalled £nil (2013: £nil). 

Total
£m

-

-

The Company

Total
£m

0.7

(0.6)

0.1

0.1

The Group

£m

0.5

(0.1)

0.4

The cost element of the fixed assets carrying value is analysed as follows:

No external valuation has been performed and therefore, the Directors have estimated that the fair value of investment property equates to 
its carrying value. 

The Group

The Company

The Company has no investment property.

At valuation

At cost

Freehold

Long 
leases

Short 
leases

Plant and 
equipment

£m

59.6

318.1

377.7

£m

6.1

30.9

37.0

£m

1.9

145.3

147.2

£m

-

605.8

605.8

Total

£m

67.6

1,100.1

1,167.7

Total

£m

-

0.7

0.7

Those freehold and leasehold properties included at valuation in the consolidated balance sheet were revalued at their open market value 
on an existing use basis. The valuations were performed as at 31 December 1999 by an independent professional valuer, Lambert Smith 
Hampton, Consultant Surveyors and Valuers.

Included within freehold property is land with a value of £149.5m (2013: £133.8m) which is not depreciated. No assets are pledged as 
security for the Group’s liabilities.

17. INVESTMENTS
a. Interest in associates

Equity investment

Loan facility

Interest on loan facility

Share of losses

The Group

The Company

2014

£m

1.2

6.1

-

(5.6)

1.7

2013

£m

0.6

9.1

0.4

(2.8)

7.3

2014

£m

1.2

0.1

-

-

1.3

2013

£m

0.6

6.7

0.4

-

7.7

160

ANNUAL REPORT & ACCOUNTS 2014

ANNUAL REPORT & ACCOUNTS 2014

161

Travis Perkins plc holds a 49% investment in The Mosaic Tile Company Limited and a 33% investment in Toriga Limited. In 2014 the 
Company disposed of its 25% investment in Rinus Roofing Limited.

SECTION HEADFINANCIAL STATEMENTS 
 
17. INVESTMENTS continued

b. Investment in subsidiares

Cost

At 1 January

Additions

At 31 December

Provision for impairment 

Net book value at 31 December

2014
£m

3,605.8

16.7

3,622.5

(17.0)

3,605.5

2013
£m

3,589.9

15.9

3,605.8

(17.0)

3,588.8

The principal operating subsidiaries of the Group at 31 December 2014 are as follows:

Travis Perkins Trading Company Limited*  
Keyline Builders Merchants Limited*   
Wickes Building Supplies Limited   
City Plumbing Supplies Holdings Limited  
CCF Limited*  
Primaflow Limited*  
Travis Perkins (Properties) Limited*   
Benchmarx Kitchens and Joinery Limited   
Solfex Energy Systems Limited*  
Tile Giant Limited 
Travis Perkins P & H Partner Limited  
Toolstation Limited*  
PTS Group Limited  
* Direct subsidiary of Travis Perkins plc

(Builders merchants) 
(Builders merchants)
(DIY retailers)
(Plumbers merchants)
(Ceiling & dry lining distribution)
(Distributor of plumbing and heating products)
(Property management company)
(Specialist distribution)
(Distributor of renewables technology)
(Ceramic tile merchants)
(Sole corporate partner in Plumbing and Heating Merchants)
(DIY retailers)
(Plumbing and heating merchants) 

The registered office for all the subsidiaries listed above is Lodge Way House, Harlestone Road, Northampton, NN5 7UG except for Keyline 
Builders Merchants Limited, for which the registered office is Unit S3, 8 Strathkelvin Place, Kirkintilloch, Glasgow, G66 1XT, Toolstation Limited 
for which the registered office address is 16-18 Whiteladies Road, Clifton, Bristol, B58 2LG and Solfex Energy Systems Limited for which the 
registered office is Units 3-5 Charnley Fold Industrial Estate, Off School Lane, Bamber Bridge, Preston, Lancashire, PR5 6PS. The Directors 
have applied s409 to s410 of the Companies Act 2006 and therefore list only significant subsidiary companies.
All subsidiaries, with the exception of Plumbnation Limited which is 76% owned, are 100% owned. Each company is registered and 
incorporated in the United Kingdom and registered in England and Wales, other than Keyline Builders Merchants Limited and eight dormant 
companies, which are registered and incorporated in Scotland, City Investments Limited, which is registered and incorporated in Jersey and 
two dormant companies registered and incorporated in Northern Ireland.

c. Available-for-sale investments

Fair value investment

The Group

The Company

2014

2013

2014

2013

£m

3.2

£m

2.7

£m

-

£m

-

The investment represents a minority holding in a unit trust that acquired properties from the Group in 2006. The investment presents the 
Group with an opportunity to generate returns through both income and capital gains. The Directors consider that the carrying amount of this 
investment approximates to its fair value.

The Company

The Group

The Company

18. TRADE AND OTHER RECEIVABLES 

Trade receivables

Allowance for doubtful debts

Amounts owed by subsidiaries

Other receivables, prepayments and accrued income

Trade and other receivables

2014

£m

669.8

(25.3)

644.5

-

287.3

931.8

2013

£m

619.1

(33.9)

585.2

-

237.7

822.9

2014

£m

-

-

-

167.4

-

167.4

2013

£m

-

-

-

133.1

-

133.1

The Group’s trade and other receivables at the balance sheet date comprise principally of amounts receivable from the sale of goods, 
together with amounts due in respect of rebates and sundry prepayments. The Directors consider the only class of asset containing 
significant credit risk is trade receivables.  
The average credit term taken for sales of goods is 55 days (2013: 55 days). The allowance for doubtful debts is estimated by the Group’s 
management based on prior experience and their assessment of the current economic environment. The Directors consider the carrying 
amount of trade and other receivables approximates to their fair values. The business has provided fully for all receivables outstanding for 
more than 90 days beyond agreed terms. Trade receivables not receivable for up to 120 days are specifically provided for. No interest is 
charged on the trade receivable from the date of the invoice until the date the invoice is classified as overdue according to the trading terms 
agreed between the Group and the customer. Thereafter, the Group retains the right to charge interest at between 2% to 4% per annum 
above the clearing bank base rate on the outstanding balance.

Movement in the allowance for doubtful debts

At 1 January

Amounts written off during the year

Increase in allowance recognised in the income statement

At 31 December

The Group

2014

£m

33.9

(21.7)

13.1

25.3

2013

£m

48.3

(26.0)

11.6

33.9

In determining the recoverability of the trade receivables, the Group considers any change in the credit quality of the trade receivable that 
may have occurred between the date credit was initially granted and the reporting date. The concentration of credit risk is limited due to 
the customer base being large. Accordingly, the Directors believe that no further credit provision is required in excess of the allowance for 
doubtful debts.

Included in the Group’s trade receivable balance are debtors unprovided against with a carrying amount of £84.1m (2013: £62.3m) which 
are past due at the reporting date for which the Group has not identified a significant change in credit quality and as such, the Group 
considers that the amounts are still recoverable and therefore there is no allowance for doubtful debts. Except for some instances of personal 
guarantees the Group does not hold any collateral over these balances. 

Ageing of past due but not impaired receivables

Days overdue

0 – 30 days

31 – 60 days

61 – 90 days

The Group

2014

£m

55.6

15.4

13.1

84.1

2013

£m

44.2

10.7

7.4

62.3

Included in the allowance for doubtful debts are specific trade receivables with a balance of £2.7m (2013: £11.9m) which have been placed 
into liquidation. The impairment represents the difference between the carrying amount of the specific trade receivable and the amount it is 
anticipated will be recovered.

None of the Company’s debts are overdue. The directors do not consider there to be any significant credit risk, as the majority of the debt is 
due from subsidiaries.

162

ANNUAL REPORT & ACCOUNTS 2014

ANNUAL REPORT & ACCOUNTS 2014

163

SECTION HEADFINANCIAL STATEMENTS 
 
19. CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS
Cash and cash equivalents comprise cash balances and cash deposits with an original maturity of three months or less held by the Group 
and Company, net of overdrafts. The carrying amount of these assets approximates to their fair value.

23. BORROWINGS
A summary of the Group objectives, policies procedures and strategies with regard to financial instruments and capital management can be 
found in the Finance review within the Strategic report on pages 32 to 37. At 31 December 2014 all borrowings were denominated in Sterling 
except for the unsecured senior notes.

20. SHARE CAPITAL 

Ordinary shares of 10p

At 1 January 2013

Allotted under share option schemes

At 1 January 2014

Allotted under share option schemes

At 31 December 2014

The Group and the Company
Issued and fully paid

No.

244,853,057

1,933,232

246,786,289

1,916,699

248,702,988

£m

24.5

0.2

24.7

0.2

24.9

The Company has one class of ordinary share that carries no right to fixed income. The holders of ordinary shares are entitled to receive 
dividends as declared and are entitled to one vote per share at meetings of the Company. All shares rank equally with regard to the 
Company’s residual assets.

21. OWN SHARES 

At 1 January 

Movement during the year

At 31 December 

Allocated to grants of executive options

Not allocated to grants of executive options

The Group and the Company

2014

No.

2013

No.

3,459,161

5,313,791

(1,030,985)

(1,854,630)

2,428,176

77,878

2,350,298

2,428,176

3,459,161

166,069

3,293,092

3,459,161

The own shares are stated at cost and held by the Employee Share Ownership Trust to satisfy options under the Group’s share option 
schemes. All rights attaching to own shares are suspended until the shares are re-issued. 

22. RESERVES
Details of all movements in reserves for both the Group and Company are shown in their respective Statement of Changes in Equity.  
A description of the nature and purpose of each reserve is given below.

•   the merger reserve represents the premium on equity instruments issued as consideration for the acquisition of BSS;
•   the revaluation reserve represents the revaluation surplus that arises from property revaluations in 1999 and prior years;
•   the hedging reserve comprises the effective portion of the cumulative net change in the fair value of cash flow hedging instruments  

(net of tax) related to hedged transactions that have yet to occur; 

•    the own shares reserve represents the cost of shares purchased in the market and held by the Employee Share Ownership Trust to satisfy 

options under the Group’s share option schemes; and

•   the other reserve represents anticipated gross outflow on potential exercise of the put option held over the non-controlled  

24% shareholding in Plumbnation.

The cumulative total of goodwill written off directly to reserves for acquisitions from December 1989 to December 1998 is £40.1m.  
The aggregate information for the accounting periods prior to this period is not available.

a. Summary

Unsecured senior notes

Liability to pension scheme (note 28)

Bank loans (note 23c)*

Sterling bond

Bank overdraft*

Finance leases (note 23d)

Loan notes (note 23e)

Finance charges netted off bank debt* 

Finance charges netted off sterling bond

Current liabilities

Non-current liabilities

*These balances together total the amounts shown as bank loans in note 23(b). 

b. Analysis of borrowings 

Borrowings repayable

On demand or within one year

More than one year, but not more than two years

More than two years, but not more than five years

More than five years

Gross borrowings

Unamortised fees

Borrowings repayable

On demand or within one year

More than one year, but not more than two years

More than two years, but not more than five years

More than five years

Gross borrowings

Unamortised fees

The Group

The Company

2014
£m

133.1

36.0

-

258.0

-

21.3

40.8

(3.2)

(2.5)

483.5

43.5

440.0

483.5

2013
£m

128.7

36.5

240.0

-

-

23.8

3.2

(4.8)

-

427.4

5.8

421.6

427.4

2014 
£m

133.1

-

-

258.0

4.8

-

40.8

(3.2)

(2.5)

431.0

45.6

385.4

431.0

 The Group

Bank loans and  
overdrafts

 Other 
 borrowings

2014
£m

-

-

-

-

-

(3.2)

(3.2)

2013
£m

-

50.0

190.0

-

240.0

(4.8)

235.2

2014
£m

43.5

135.9

7.5

302.3

489.2

(2.5)

486.7

 The Company

Bank loans and  
overdrafts

 Other 
 borrowings

2014
£m

4.8

-

-

-

4.8

(3.2)

1.6

2013
£m

-

50.0

190.0

-

240.0

(4.8)

235.2

2014
£m

40.8

133.1

-

258.0

431.9

(2.5)

429.4

2013 
£m

128.7

-

240.0

-

-

-

3.2

(4.8)

-

367.1

3.2

363.9

367.1

2013
£m

5.8

4.7

135.9

45.8

192.2

-

192.2

2013
£m

3.2

-

128.7

-

131.9

-

131.9

164

ANNUAL REPORT & ACCOUNTS 2014

ANNUAL REPORT & ACCOUNTS 2014

165

SECTION HEADFINANCIAL STATEMENTS23. BORROWINGS continued

c. Facilities
At 1 December 2014, the following facilities were available: 

Drawn facilities

5 year committed revolving credit facility

15 month committed facility

Sterling bond

Unsecured senior notes

Bank overdrafts

Undrawn facilities

5 year committed revolving credit facility

Bank overdrafts

 The Group

The Company

2014
£m

-

-

255.5

133.1

-

388.6

550.0

30.0

580.0

2013
£m

190.0

50.0

-

128.7

-

368.7

360.0

40.0

400.0

2014
£m

-

-

255.5

133.1

4.8

393.4

550.0

25.2

575.2

2013
£m

190.0

50.0

-

128.7

-

368.7

360.0

40.0

400.0

On 14 December 2011, the Group signed a new £550m forward start banking agreement with a syndicate of banks, which commenced on 
4 April 2013 and runs until December 2016. $200m of the unsecured loan notes fall due on 26 January 2016. On the 4 February 2014 two 
further bilateral facilities were entered into with two syndicate banks totalling £100m. On the 15 September 2014 the company issued a 
7 year sterling bond with a principal amount of £250m. Following the issue of the bond the bilateral facilities totalling £150m were cancelled. 
The disclosures in note 23(c) do not include finance leases, loan notes, or the effect of finance charges netted off bank debt.

d. Obligations under finance leases

Amounts payable under finance leases:

 Within one year

 In the second to fifth years inclusive

 After five years

Less: future finance charges

Present value of lease obligations

Less: Amount due for settlement within one year  
(shown under current liabilities)

Amount due for settlement after one year

The Group

Minimum  
lease payments

2014
£m

3.6

12.8

15.4

31.8

(10.5)

21.3

2013
£m

3.6

14.9

16.9

35.4

(11.6)

23.8

Present value of 
minimum 
 lease payments

2014
£m

2013
£m

2.7

10.2

8.4

21.3

-

21.3

(2.7)

18.6

2.6

11.8

9.4

23.8

-

23.8

(2.6)

21.2

Excluding 999-year leases, the average loan term for properties held under finance leases is 49 years and the average borrowing rate 
has been determined at the inception of the lease to be 9.0%. Interest rates are fixed at the contract date. All lease obligations, which are 
denominated in Sterling, are on a fixed repayment basis and no arrangements have been entered into for contingent rental payments.

e. Loan notes
Included in borrowings due within one year is £3.2m (2013: £3.2m) of loan notes issued as consideration for the acquisition of Broombys 
Limited in 1999. They are redeemable on their final redemption date of 30 June 2015. On 24 March 2014 as consideration for the acquisition 
of Toolstation the company issued loan notes totalling £37.6m. The loan notes can be redeemed by the noteholder giving 30 days notice on 
quarter days with a final redemption date of 31 December 2018.

f. Interest
The weighted average interest rates paid were as follows: 

Unsecured senior notes

Sterling bond

Bank loans and overdraft

Other borrowings

2014
%

5.9

4.4

2.6

2.0

2013
%

5.8

-

2.6

6.0

Bank revolving credit facilities outstanding at the year end of £550m (2013: £550m) and bank loans of £nil (2013: £50m). The $200m 
unsecured Travis Perkins senior notes were issued at fixed rates of interest and swapped into variable rates. As detailed in note 24, to manage 
the risk the Group enters into interest rate derivatives arrangements, which for 2014, swapped floating rates to fixed interest rates on an 
average of £3m of borrowing.  For the year to 31 December 2014, this had the effect of increasing the weighted average interest rates paid 
by 0.06%. In addition the Group entered into fixed to floating swap contracts which swapped $90m of the private placement debt and all 
£250m principal of the sterling bond into floating rates. For the year to December 2014 this had the effect of lowering the weighted average 
interest paid by 0.70%.

In respect of income earning financial assets and interest bearing financial liabilities, the following table indicates their effective interest rates 
at the balance sheet date. All assets and liabilities except for loan notes reprice within six months.

Unsecured senior notes

Unsecured variable rate bank facilities

Sterling bond

Loan notes - Toolstation

Loan notes - Broombys

Unsecured senior notes

Unsecured variable rate bank facilities

Sterling bond

Loan notes - Toolstation

Loan notes - Broombys

Bank overdraft

 2014

Effective 
interest rate

5.9%

-

4.375%

1.5%

6.0%

 2014

Effective 
interest rate 

5.9%

-

4.375%

1.5%

6.0%

2.25%

The Group

 2013

Effective 
interest rate

£m

133.1

-

255.5

37.6

3.2

429.4

The Company

£m

133.1

-

255.5

37.6

3.2

4.8

434.2

5.9%

2.0%

-

-

6.0%

 2013

Effective 
interest rate 

5.9%

2.0%

-

-

6.0%

-

£m

128.7

240.0

-

-

3.2

371.9

£m

128.7

240.0

-

-

3.2

-

371.9

166

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ANNUAL REPORT & ACCOUNTS 2014

167

The US private placement carries fixed rate coupons of between 130 bps and 140 bps over US treasuries.

SECTION HEADFINANCIAL STATEMENTS 
 
 
 
 
 
23. BORROWINGS continued

g. Fair values
For both the Group and the Company the fair values of financial assets and liabilities have been calculated by discounting expected cash 
flows at prevailing rates at 31 December. There were no significant differences between book and fair values on this basis and therefore no 
further information is disclosed.

Details of the fair values of derivatives are given in note 24.

h. Guarantees and security
There are cross guarantees on the overdrafts between group companies.

The companies listed in note 17, with the exception of Benchmarx Kitchens and Joinery Limited, Travis Perkins P&H Partner Limited,  
Tile Giant Limited, Toolstation Limited, Solfex Energy Systems Limited, and Primaflow Limited together with Wickes Limited and Travis Perkins 
Plumbing and Heating LLP are guarantors of the following facilities advanced to Travis Perkins plc:

•  £250m sterling bond;
•  £550m revolving credit facility;
• $200m unsecured senior notes;
•  Interest rate and currency derivatives (note 24).
The Group companies have entered into other guarantee and counter-indemnity arrangements in respect of guarantees issued in favour of 
Group companies by the clearing banks amounting to approximately £62m (2013: £20m).

24. FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS
a. Significant accounting policies
Details of the significant accounting policies and methods adopted, including the criteria for recognition, the basis of measurement and the 
basis on which income and expenses are recognised, in respect of each class of financial asset, financial liability and equity instrument are 
disclosed in note 2 to the financial statements.

b. The carrying value of categories of financial instruments 

Financial assets

Derivative instruments in designated hedge accounting relationships

Designated as fair value through profit and loss (FVTPL)

Loans and receivables (including cash and cash equivalents)

Available-for-sale

Financial liabilities

 The Group

 The Company

2014

£m

18.7

2.5

961.1

3.2

2013

£m

9.3

-

821.1

2.7

2014

£m

18.7

2.5

2013

£m

9.3

-

221.4

140.4

-

-

Designated as fair value through profit and loss (FVTPL)

Derivative instruments in designated hedge accounting relationships

Borrowings (note 23a)

Trade and other payables at amortised cost (note 27)

1.4

0.5

483.5

1,033.8

42.1

4.8

427.4

962.7

1,519.2

1,437.0

1.4

0.5

431.0

24.3

457.2

42.1

4.8

367.1

20.7

434.7

Loans and receivables exclude prepayments of £79.0m (2013: £81.6m). Trade and other payables exclude taxation and social security and 
accruals and deferred income totalling £220.0m (2013: £216.7m). Deferred consideration payable totalling £1.4m included in trade and other 
payables is included in financial liabilities designated as fair value through profit and loss. The carrying amount of financial assets recorded 
in the financial statements, which is net of impairment losses, represents the Group’s maximum exposure to credit risk. The Group has 
considered the impact of credit risk on its financial instruments and because the counterparties are banks with a high credit rating considers 
its impact to be immaterial.

c.  Fair value of financial instruments
The fair values of financial assets and financial liabilities are determined as follows:

•    foreign currency forward contracts are measured using quoted forward exchange rates; 
•     interest rate swaps are measured at the present value of future cash flows estimated and discounted based on the applicable yield curves 

derived from quoted interest rates.

The following table provides an analysis of financial instruments that are measured subsequent to initial recognition at fair value, grouped into 
levels 1 to 3 based on the degree to which the fair value is observable:

•    level 1 fair value measurements are those derived from quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets or liabilities;
•   level 2 fair value measurements are those derived from inputs other than quoted prices included within level 1 that are observable for the 

asset or liability either directly (i.e. as prices) or indirectly (i.e. derived from prices); 

•   level 3 fair value measurements are those derived from valuation techniques that include inputs for the asset or liability that are not based 

on observable market data (unobservable inputs).

There were no transfers between levels during the year.

Included in assets

Level 2

Interest rate swaps designated and effective as hedging instruments carried
at fair value

Cross currency interest rate swaps designated and effective as hedging 
instruments carried at fair value

Foreign currency forward contracts at fair value through profit and loss

Current assets

Non-current assets

Included in liabilities

Level 2

Foreign currency forward contracts at fair value through profit and loss

Foreign currency forward contracts designated and effective as hedging 
instruments carried at fair value

Interest rate swaps designated and effective as cash hedging instruments

Level 3

Current liabilities

Non-current liabilities

The Group

The Company

2014
£m

8.0

10.7

2.5

21.2

2.5

18.7

21.2

-

0.5

-

1.4

1.9

1.4

0.5

1.9

2013
£m

-

9.3

-

9.3

-

9.3

9.3

1.5

4.5

0.3

40.6

46.9

40.5

6.4

46.9

2014
£m

8.0

10.7

2.5

21.2

2.5

18.7

21.2

-

0.5

-

1.4

1.9

1.4

0.5

1.9

2013
£m

-

9.3

-

9.3

-

9.3

9.3

1.5

4.5

0.3

40.6

46.9

40.5

6.4

46.9

d.  Interest risk management
The Group is exposed to interest rate risk as entities in the Group borrow funds at both fixed and floating interest rates. The risk is  
managed by the Group by maintaining an appropriate mix between fixed and floating rate borrowings, by the use of interest rate swap 
contracts and forward interest rate contracts. Hedging activities are evaluated regularly to align with interest rate views and defined risk 
appetite, ensuring optimal hedging strategies are applied, by either positioning the balance sheet or protecting interest expense through 
different interest rate cycles.

985.5

833.1

242.6

149.7

Deferred consideration at fair value through profit and loss

168

ANNUAL REPORT & ACCOUNTS 2014

ANNUAL REPORT & ACCOUNTS 2014

169

SECTION HEADFINANCIAL STATEMENTS 
24. FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS continued

Interest rate swap contracts
The Group adopts a policy of ensuring that its exposure to changes in interest rates on borrowings is on either a fixed rate basis or is subject 
to movements within pre-defined limits. To achieve its desired interest rate profile the Group uses interest rate swap contracts. 

Under interest rate swap contracts, the Group agrees to exchange the difference between fixed and floating interest rate amounts calculated 
on agreed notional principal amounts. Such contracts enable the Group to mitigate the risk of changing interest rates on the fair value of 
issued fixed rate debt held and the cash flow exposures on the issued variable rate debt held. The fair value of interest rate swaps at the 
reporting date is determined by discounting the future cash flows using the curves at the reporting date and the credit risk inherent in the 
contract, and is disclosed below. The average interest rate is based on the outstanding balances at the end of the financial year.

In May 2014 interest rate swaps, designated and 100% effective as cash flow hedges, with notional values of £50m matured.  
At 31 December 2013 the fair value of those interest rate derivatives, to which the Group and the Company were parties was estimated at 
£(0.3)m. This amount is based on market values of equivalent instruments at the balance sheet date. Interest rate swaps were designated 
and effective as cash flow hedges and the fair value thereof was deferred in equity.  

On 15 September 2014 the Group and Company entered into interest rate swap contracts with seven syndicate banks which swapped the 
fixed rate payable on the listed sterling bond of 4.375% to floating rates based on 6 month libor. These interest rate swap contracts, totalling 
a notional amount of £250m, are all designated and effective as fair value hedges. At 31 December 2014 the fair value of these interest 
rate derivatives, all of which terminate after five years from the balance sheet date, to which the Group and the Company were parties, was 
estimated at £8.0m (2013: £nil). This amount is based on market values of equivalent instruments at the balance sheet date. The fair value 
thereof has been credited to the income statement where it is matched with the fair value movement of the associated sterling bond. 

A credit of £nil (2013: £1.9m) in respect of the fair value movement on interest rate swaps with a call option has been taken to the income 
statement through net finance charges, as the Group has not applied hedge accounting. 

The following table details the notional principal amounts and remaining terms of interest rate swap contracts accounted for as cash flow 
hedges at the reporting date:

Cash flow hedges

Receive floating / pay fixed contracts

Under 1 year

Fair value hedges

Receive fixed / pay floating contracts

Over 5 years

 Average contract
 fixed interest
 rate

2014

2013

%

-

%

1.71

 Average contract
 floating interest
 rate

2014

2013

%

2.95

%

-

 Notional principal 
 amount

2014

£m

-

2013

£m

50.0

 Notional principal 
 amount

2014

£m

250.0

2013

£m

-

 Fair value

2014

2013

£m

-

£m

(0.3)

 Fair value

2014

2013

£m

8.0

£m

-

The floating rate on the interest rate swaps outstanding at 31 December 2014 is six month LIBOR plus a basis point increment averating 223.3.  
The floating leg is settled every six months whilst the receivable fixed leg is settled annually.

e. Cross currency swaps and currency forward contracts
In order to eliminate the currency risk associated with the $200m unsecured senior notes the Group and Company has two cross currency 
swaps of £23m and £29m to fix the exchange rate at £1 equal to $1.73 for the entire lives of $90m of the unsecured loan notes. The hedging 
risk on the remaining $110m is eliminated through the use of forward currency contracts.

The forward options fixed the notional amount receivable and payable in respect of the unsecured senior notes to £52m as well as fixing the 
exchange rate applicable to future coupon payments. The two currency swaps convert the borrowing rates on US$50m, US$40m of debt 
from 5.89% to a variable rate based on six month LIBOR plus basis point increment of 86.5 and 86.7 respectively. The currency swaps settle 
on a half-yearly basis. The Group will settle the difference between the fixed and floating interest on a gross basis.

Currency swap contracts exchanging fixed rate interest for floating rate interest are designated and effective as fair value hedges in respect of 
interest rates. During the period, the hedge was 100% effective in hedging the fair value exposure to interest movements and as a result, the 
carrying amount of the loan was adjusted by £1.3m (2013: £3.5m), which was included in the income statement at the same time that the fair 
value of the interest rate swap was also included in the income statement.

The following table details the notional principal amounts and remaining terms of currency swap contracts accounted for as fair value hedges 
as at the reporting date:

Fair value hedges – outstanding receive fixed pay floating contracts

Less than 1 year

2 to 5 years

 Average contract
 floating interest
 rate

2014

2013

%

1.6

-

%

-

1.4

 Notional principal 
 amount

 Fair value

2014

£m

52.0

-

52.0

2013

£m

-

52.0

52.0

2014

2013

£m

10.7

-

10.7

£m

-

9.3

9.3

The Group and the Company have three currency forward contracts with a notional value of $30m each and one with a notional value of 
£20m to hedge $110m of unsecured senior notes. These contracts have a maturity date of January 2016. 

At 31 December 2014 the fair value of these forward contracts was estimated at £ (0.5)m (2013: £ (4.5)m). These contracts are designated 
cash flow hedges.

The Group acquires goods for sale from overseas, which when not denominated in Sterling are paid for principally in US dollars. The Group 
has entered into forward foreign exchange contracts (all of which are less than one year in duration) to buy US dollars to hedge the exchange 
risk arising from these anticipated future purchases. At the balance sheet date the total notional value of contracts to which the Group 
was committed was US$75.0m (2013: US$83.0m). The fair value of these derivatives is £2.5m (2013: £ (1.5)m). These contracts are not 
designated cash flow hedges and accordingly the fair value movement has been reflected in the income statement.

During 2010 the Group and Company novated one cross currency interest rate swap with a notional value of $110m and a sterling equivalent 
of £63m for total proceeds of £13.7m in the Group and £16.3m in the Company. The proceeds are being amortised to the income statement 
over the remaining life of the unsecured senior notes with the total credit to income statement in 2014 being £1.0m (2013: £1.0m).

170

ANNUAL REPORT & ACCOUNTS 2014

ANNUAL REPORT & ACCOUNTS 2014

171

SECTION HEADFINANCIAL STATEMENTS 
24. FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS continued

f. Liquidity analysis
The following table details the Group’s liquidity analysis for its derivative financial instruments and other financial liabilities. The table has been 
drawn up based on the undiscounted net cash flows on the derivative instrument that settle on a net basis and the undiscounted gross cash 
flows on those derivatives that require gross settlement. When the amount payable or receivable is not fixed, the amount disclosed has been 
determined by reference to the projected interest and foreign currency rates as illustrated by the yield curves existing at the reporting date.

0-1 year
£m

1-2 years
£m

2014

2-5 years
£m

5+ years
£m

Gross settled

Interest rate swaps – receipts

Interest rate swaps – payments

Foreign exchange forward contracts

Total gross settled

Net settled

Interest rate swaps

Total derivative financial instruments

Borrowings

Deferred consideration

Other financial liabilities (note 27)

Finance leases (note 23d)

Total financial instruments

Gross settled

Interest rate swaps – receipts

Interest rate swaps – payments

Foreign exchange forward contracts

Total gross settled

Net settled

Interest rate swaps

Total derivative financial instruments

Borrowings

Deferred consideration

Other financial liabilities (note 27)

Finance leases (note 23d)

Total financial instruments

3.4

(0.8)

2.6

(45.6)

(43.0)

3.6

(39.4)

(48.4)

(1.4)

(1,035.2)

(3.6)

(1,128.0)

59.4

(52.5)

6.9

-

6.9

3.0

9.9

(133.7)

-

-

(3.6)

(127.4)

-

-

-

-

-

6.5

6.5

-

-

-

(9.2)

(2.7)

0-1 year
£m

1-2 years
£m

2013

2-5 years
£m

1.8

(0.4)

1.4

(51.8)

(50.4)

(0.2)

(50.6)

(10.3)

(38.7)

(962.7)

(3.6)

(1,065.9)

3.2

(0.8)

2.4

-

2.4

-

2.4

55.9

(52.4)

3.5

-

3.5

-

3.5

(57.1)

(313.9)

(36.5)

-

-

(6.4)

(61.1)

(2.4)

-

(8.5)

(321.3)

-

-

(16.9)

(53.4)

-

-

-

-

-

3.5

3.5

(291.4)

-

-

(15.4)

(303.3)

5+ years
£m

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Total
£m

62.8

(53.3)

9.5

(45.6)

(36.1)

16.6

(19.5)

(473.5)

(1.4)

(1,035.2)

(31.8)

(1,561.4)

Total
£m

60.9

(53.6)

7.3

(51.8)

(44.5)

(0.2)

(44.7)

(417.8)

(41.1)

(962.7)

(35.4)

(1,501.7)

g. Interest rate sensitivity analysis
The sensitivity analyses below have been determined based on the exposure to interest rates for both derivatives and non-derivative financial 
instruments at the balance sheet date. For floating rate liabilities, the analysis is prepared assuming that the amount of liability outstanding at 
the balance sheet date was outstanding for the whole year. A 1.0% increase or decrease is used when reporting interest rate risk internally to 
key management personnel. If interest rates had been 1.0% higher / lower and all other variables were held constant, the Group’s:

•   profit before taxation for the year ended 31 December 2014 would have decreased / increased by £3.1m (2013: increased / decreased by 

£2.5m);

•   net equity would have decreased / increased by £2.4m (2013: increased / decreased by £1.9m) mainly because of the changes in the fair 

value of interest rate derivatives.

25. PROVISIONS

At 1 January 2013 

Additional provision (released) / charged to the income 
statement

Utilisation of provision

Unwinding of discount

At 31 December 2013

Additional provision (released) / charged to income 
statement

Additional provision (released) / charged  to income 
statement as exceptional items

Utilisation of provision

Unwinding of discount

At 31 December 2014

Included in current liabilities

Included in non-current liabilities

The Group

Plumbing   
and heating 
reconfiguration
£m

Property
£m

Insurance 
£m

42.6

(0.4)

(7.1)

1.4

36.5

-

(10.0)

(5.8)

1.4

22.1

16.4

5.7

22.1

31.5

2.6

(4.2)

-

29.9

3.4

-

(3.2)

-

30.1

30.1

-

30.1

-

-

-

-

-

-

16.1

-

-

16.1

14.0

2.1

16.1

Other
£m

2.7

-

(0.2)

-

2.5

-

-

Total
£m

76.8

2.2

(11.5)

1.4

68.9

3.4

6.1

(1.3)

(10.3)

-

1.2

1.2

-

1.2

1.4

69.5

61.7

7.8

69.5

The Group has a number of vacant and partly sub-let leasehold properties. Where necessary provision has been made for the residual lease 
commitments after taking into account existing and anticipated sub-tenant arrangements.

The Group has recognised an exceptional provision of £16.1m relating to the reconfiguration of the Plumbing and Heating division.  
The provision covers expected property costs, legal costs and IT costs arising from the reconfiguration.

Should a provision ultimately prove to be unnecessary then it is credited back into the income statement. Where the provision was originally 
established as an exceptional item, any release is shown as an exceptional credit.

It is Group policy to insure itself using policies with a high excess against claims arising in respect of damage to assets, or due to employers 
or public liability claims.  The nature of insurance claims means they may take some time to be settled.  The insurance claims provision 
represents management’s best estimate, based upon external advice of the value of outstanding insurance claims where the final settlement 
date is uncertain.

172

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ANNUAL REPORT & ACCOUNTS 2014

173

SECTION HEADFINANCIAL STATEMENTS 
 
25. PROVISIONS continued

The following table details the Group’s liquidity analysis of its provisions. The table has been drawn up based on the undiscounted net cash 
outflows.

0-1 year
£m

1-2 years
£m

2-5 years
£m

5+ years
£m

18.8

14.0

30.1

1.2

64.1

16.5

29.9

2.5

48.9

1.3

2.1

-

-

3.4

2.9

-

-

2.9

2.5

2.8

-

-

-

-

-

-

2.5

2.8

8.1

-

-

8.1

25.9

-

-

25.9

Total
£m

25.4

16.1

30.1

1.2

72.8

53.4

29.9

2.5

85.8

2014

Property

Plumbing and Heating reorganisation

Insurance

Other

2013

Property

Insurance

Other

The Company has no provisions.

26. DEFERRED TAX

Capital allowances

Trading losses

Revaluation

Share based payments

Provisions

Derivatives

Business combinations

Brand

Pension scheme liability

Deferred tax

The Group

At
1 Jan 2013
£m

Recognised
in income
£m

Recognised
in equity
£m

At
31 Dec 2013
£m

5.7

(4.5)

10.2

(13.3)

(10.2)

(0.3)

12.2

98.2

(28.9)

69.1

(2.7)

2.7

-

1.0

1.5

-

(2.5)

(16.4)

(3.6)

(20.0)

-

-

(1.3)

(5.3)

-

0.3

-

-

18.5

12.2

3.0

(1.8)

8.9

(17.6)

(8.7)

-

9.7

81.8

(14.0)

61.3

At the balance sheet date the Group had unused capital losses of £45.8m (2013: 47.4m) available for offset against future capital profits. 
No deferred tax asset has been recognised because it is improbable that future taxable profits will be available against which the Group can 
utilise the losses.

Other than disclosed above, no deferred tax assets and liabilities have been offset. 

The following are the major fully recognised deferred tax liabilities and assets recognised by the Group and movements thereon during the 
current and prior reporting periods. 

(Asset) / Liability

Capital allowances

Trading losses

Revaluation on property

Share-based payments

Provisions

Business combinations

Brand

Pension scheme liability

Deferred tax

At
1 Jan 2014
£m

3.0

(1.8)

8.9

(17.6)

(8.7)

9.7

81.8

(14.0)

61.3

Arising on 
acquisition
£m

(0.1)

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

(0.1)

 The Group

Recognised
in income
£m

Recognised
in equity
£m

At
31 Dec 2014
£m

Share-based payments

Other timing differences

(1.3)

1.8

-

0.4

8.1

(0.9)

(3.5)

4.3

8.9

-

-

-

6.1 

-

-

-

(9.5)

(3.4)

1.6

-

8.9

(11.1)

(0.6)

8.8

78.3

(19.2)

66.7

Share-based payments

Derivatives

Other timing differences

At
1 Jan 2014
£m

(17.7)

(0.5)

(18.2)

The Company

Recognised
 in income
£m

Recognised
 in equity
£m

At
31 Dec 2014
£m

4.3

0.1

4.4

The Company

10.1

-

10.1

(3.3)

(0.4)

(3.7)

At
1 Jan 2013
£m

Recognised 
 in income
£m

Recognised 
 in equity
£m

At
31 Dec 2013
£m

(13.4)

(0.3)

(0.5)

(14.2)

1.0

-

-

1.0

(5.3)

0.3

-

(5.0)

(17.7)

-

(0.5)

(18.2)

174

ANNUAL REPORT & ACCOUNTS 2014

ANNUAL REPORT & ACCOUNTS 2014

175

SECTION HEADFINANCIAL STATEMENTS27. OTHER FINANCIAL LIABILITIES 

The Group

The Company

Trade payables

Other taxation and social security

Deferred consideration payable 

Other payables

Accruals and deferred income

Trade and other payables

2014

£m

852.3

64.5

1.4

181.5

155.5

2013

£m

781.2

78.7

38.7

181.5

138.0

1,255.2

1,218.1

2014

£m

-

-

1.4

22.9

-

24.3

2013

£m

-

-

38.7

20.7

-

59.4

The Group 
Trade and other payables principally comprise amounts outstanding for trade purchases and ongoing costs. The Directors consider that the 
carrying amount of trade payables approximates to their fair value. The Group has financial risk management policies in place to ensure that 
all payables are paid within the credit timeframe.

Deferred consideration payable of £nil (2013: £1.9m) is included in long-term other payables. 

The Company
Trade and other payables principally comprise amounts outstanding for trade purchases and ongoing costs. The Directors consider that the 
carrying amount of trade payables approximates to their fair value.

28. PENSION ARRANGEMENTS

Defined benefit schemes
The Group operates three final salary schemes being The Travis Perkins Pensions and Dependants Benefit Scheme (“the TP scheme”), the 
“BSS schemes” being the BSS defined benefit scheme and the immaterial BSS Ireland defined benefit scheme. All defined benefit schemes 
are closed to new members. The TP scheme is for the majority of members a 1/60th scheme. Employees are entitled to start drawing a 
pension, based on their membership of the scheme, on their normal retirement date. If employees choose to retire early and draw their 
pension, then the amount they receive is scaled down accordingly. 

The TP scheme is funded by contributions from Group companies and employees. Contributions are paid to the Trustees on the basis of 
advice from an independent professionally qualified actuary who carries out a valuation of the scheme every three years.

A full actuarial valuation of the TP scheme was carried out on 30 September 2011. The IAS 19 valuation has been based upon the results 
of the 30 September 2011 valuation, and then updated to 31 December 2014 by a qualified actuary. The present values of the defined 
obligations, the related current service costs and the past service costs for the scheme were measured using the projected unit method.

The assets of the BSS schemes are held separately from those of the Group in funds under the control of the schemes’ trustees. The most 
recent actuarial valuations of the BSS schemes’ assets and the present value of the defined benefit obligations were carried out at  
1 June 2012. The present value of the defined benefit obligation, and the related current service cost and past service cost, were measured 
using the projected unit method with a control period equal to the future working lifetime of the active members.

In June 2010, an agreement was reached with the trustees of the Travis Perkins final salary pension scheme to fund £34.7m of the deficit 
using a group controlled special purpose vehicle. The pension scheme is entitled to receive the income of the SPV for a period of up to  
20 years, subject to funding levels. This income is backed by the security of 16 Travis Perkins freehold properties.

As the SPV is consolidated into the Travis Perkins plc Group accounts advantage has been taken of Regulation 7 of The Partnership 
(Accounts) Regulations 2008 and accounts for the SPV will neither be audited or filed. 

The TP scheme and the BSS schemes expose the company to actuarial risks such as investment risk, interest rate risk, longevity risk and 
salary risk. A summary of the risks and the management of those risks is given in the table top right.

Investment risk

Interest risk

Longevity risk

Salary risk

The present value of the defined benefit liabilities of the schemes is calculated using a discount rate 
predetermined by reference to high quality corporate bond yields. If the return on scheme assets is below 
this rate it may create a plan deficit. Currently the schemes have a relatively balanced investment in equity 
securities, debt instruments and real estate. Due to the long term nature of the scheme liabilities the trustees 
of the pension funds consider it appropriate that a reasonable portion of the scheme assets should be 
invested in equities.

A decrease in the bond interest rate will increase the schemes’ liabilities but this will be partially offset by an 
increase in the return on the schemes’ debt assets.

The present value of the defined benefit plan liabilities of the schemes is calculated by reference to the best 
estimate of mortality of plan participants both during and after their employment. An increase in the life 
expectancy of the plan participants will increase the schemes’ liabilities.

The present value of the defined benefit plan liabilities is calculated by reference to the future salaries of 
scheme participants. As such an increase in salaries of scheme participants will increase the scheme liability.

a. Major assumptions used by the schemes’ actuaries at the balance sheet date (in nominal terms)

Rate of increase in pensionable salaries

Rate of increase of pensions in payment

Discount rate

Inflation assumption

At 31 December 
2014

At 31 December  
2013

2.35%

2.50%

3.70%

3.10%

2.65%

2.50%

4.70%

3.40%

In respect of longevity, the valuation adopts the SN1A year of birth tables with improvements in life expectancy to continue in the medium 
term, with base year appropriate to the member’s date of birth. This results in the following life expectancies at illustrative ages:

Weighted average life expectancy for mortality tables used to determine pension liability at 31 December 2014:

Member age 65 (current life expectancy) - TP Scheme

Member age 45 (life expectancy on reaching age 65) - TP Scheme

Member age 65 (current life expectancy) - BSS Schemes

Member age 45 (life expectancy on reaching age 65) - BSS Schemes

b. Amounts recognised in income in respect of the defined benefit schemes

Male

Years

22.3

24.1

22.4

24.5

Current and past service costs charged to operating profit in the 
income statement

Net interest income / (expense)

Total pension charge

TP
Scheme
£m

BSS
Schemes
£m

(8.0)

0.4

(7.6)

(2.7)

(2.8)

(5.5)

2014
Group
£m

(10.7)

(2.4)

(13.1)

Female

Years

25.2

27.2

25.2

27.2

2013
Group
£m

(11.1)

(2.1)

(13.2)

The Directors have agreed with the Schemes’ Actuaries and the Trustees to pay total contributions, including the amounts in excess of 
ongoing contributions required to repay the deficit of £15m to the TP scheme and £10m to the BSS schemes in 2015. In 2015, the excess of 
funding over the on-going service contributions will be £25m in total for the Group.

Note 5 shows where pension costs have been charged in the income statement. Actuarial gains and losses have been included in the 
Statement of Comprehensive Income.

176

ANNUAL REPORT & ACCOUNTS 2014

ANNUAL REPORT & ACCOUNTS 2014

177

SECTION HEADFINANCIAL STATEMENTS28. PENSION ARRANGEMENTS continued

c.  The amount included in the balance sheet arising from the Group’s obligations in respect of all of its defined benefit schemes and the 

movements during the year

Fair value of plan assets

2014

BSS
Schemes
£m

230.9

TP
Scheme
£m

923.7

Group
£m

1,154.6

2013

BSS
Schemes
£m

TP
Scheme
£m

821.1

206.1

Group
£m

1,027.2

Present value of defined benefit obligations

(947.8)

(287.6)

(1,235.4)

(780.0)

(246.9)

(1,026.9)

Actuarial (deficit) / surplus

Restriction an asset recognised

Additional liability recognised for minimum 
funding requirements

(24.1)

(56.7)

(80.8)

-

(16.7)

-

-

Gross pension liability at 31 December

(40.8)

(56.7)

Deferred tax asset

Net pension liability at 31 December

2014

BSS
Schemes
£m

TP
Scheme
£m

At 1 January actuarial asset / (deficit) 

41.1

(40.8)

Additional liability recognised for minimum 
funding requirements

(46.7)

(25.0)

(5.6)

(8.0)

0.4

22.8

61.3

(65.8)

(2.7)

(2.8)

12.6

8.9

Service costs charged to the income statement

Net interest income / (expense)

Contributions from sponsoring companies

Return on plan assets (excluding amounts 
included in net interest)

Actuarial losses arising from changes in 
financial assumptions

Actuarial gain arising from experience 
adjustments

Decrease / (increase) in minimum funding 
requirement liability

-

(16.7)

(97.5)

19.2

(78.3)

Group
£m

0.3

(71.7)

(71.4)

(10.7)

(2.4)

35.4

70.2

41.1

(41.1)

(5.6)

(5.6)

(40.8)

-

0.3

(41.1)

(25.0)

(30.6)

(65.8)

(71.4)

14.0

(57.4)

Group
£m

(57.5)

2013

BSS
Schemes
£m

TP
Scheme
£m

1.6

(59.1)

(68.4)

(66.8)

(8.5)

0.4

22.7

46.3

-

(68.4)

(59.1)

(125.9)

(2.6)

(2.5)

11.0

21.7

(11.1)

(2.1)

33.7

68.0

(141.7)

(33.6)

(175.3)

(21.4)

(9.3)

(30.7)

-

1.7

1.7

-

-

-

At 31 December actuarial deficit

(40.8)

(56.7)

(97.5)

30.0

25.0

55.0

21.7

(5.6)

(25.0)

(65.8)

(3.3)

(71.4)

d. Major categories and fair value of plan assets
The major categories and fair values of plan assets at the end of the reporting period for each category are as follows:

At 31 December 2014

At 31 December 2013

TP 
Scheme
£m

BSS 
Schemes
£m

TP 
Scheme
£m

BSS 
Schemes
£m

Level 1

Domestic equities 

Overseas equities

Fixed interest government bonds

Index linked government bonds

Corporate bonds

Diversified growth fund

Liability driven investment

Level 3

Property

SPV asset

Cash and other

210.0

253.9

-

-

117.2

127.9

131.8

41.6

37.5

3.8

923.7

13.6

126.2

16.4

-

2.4

69.8

-

-

-

2.5

230.9

200.8

235.7

32.0

38.5

108.0

120.2

7.1

32.3

36.1

10.4

821.1

Actual return on scheme assets

 2014

 2013

TP Scheme

BSS Schemes

e. Movements in the fair value of scheme assets in the current period 

£m

100.0

18.4

10.8%

8.0%

£m

80.3

29.7

At 1 January 

Interest on scheme assets

Return on scheme assets not included above

Administration expenses

Contributions from sponsoring companies

Contributions from members

Benefits paid

At 31 December 

 TP
Scheme
£m 

821.1

38.7

61.3

-

22.8

5.0

(25.2)

923.7

2014

BSS
Schemes
£m

Group
£m

2013

BSS
Schemes
£m

 TP
Scheme
£m 

206.1

1,027.2

738.0

171.8

9.5

8.9

-

12.6

0.1

(6.3)

48.2

70.2

-

35.4

5.1

(31.5)

230.9

1,154.6

34.0

46.3

(0.8)

22.7

5.0

(24.1)

821.1

8.0

21.7

-

11.0

0.1

13.1

114.8

-

-

15.3

61.4

-

-

-

1.5

206.1

9.8%

14.4%

Group
£m

909.8

42.0

68.0

(0.8)

33.7

5.1

(6.5)

(30.6)

206.1

1,027.2

178

ANNUAL REPORT & ACCOUNTS 2014

ANNUAL REPORT & ACCOUNTS 2014

179

SECTION HEADFINANCIAL STATEMENTS28. PENSION ARRANGEMENTS continued

f. Movements in the present value of defined benefit obligations in the current period 

At 1 January

Service cost

Interest cost

Contributions from members

Experience adjustments

Actuarial losses

Benefits paid

At 31 December 

TP
Scheme
£m

2014

BSS
Schemes
£m

Group
£m

 TP
Scheme
£m 

2013

BSS
Schemes
£m

Group
£m

(780.0)

(246.9)

(1,026.9)

(736.4)

(230.9)

(967.3)

(8.0)

(38.3)

(5.0)

-

(141.7)

25.2

(2.7)

(12.3)

(0.1)

1.7

(33.6)

6.3

(10.7)

(50.6)

(5.1)

1.7

(175.3)

31.5

(7.7)

(33.6)

(5.0)

-

(21.4)

24.1

(2.6)

(10.5)

(0.1)

-

(9.3)

6.5

(10.3)

(44.1)

(5.1)

-

(30.7)

30.6

(947.8)

(287.6)

(1,235.4)

(780.0)

(246.9)

(1,026.9)

g. Amounts recognised in the statement of other comprehensive income are as follows 

Return on plan assets (excluding amounts 
included in net interest)

Actuarial losses arising from changes in 
financial assumptions

Actuarial gain arising from experience 
adjustments

Movements on restrictions in asset 
recognised

Decrease / (increase) in minimum funding 
requirement liability

Re-measurement of net defined pension 
liability

2014

BSS
Schemes
£m

TP
Scheme
£m

61.3

8.9

Group
£m

70.2

TP
Scheme
£m

2013

BSS
Schemes
£m

46.3

21.7

Group
£m

68.0

(141.7)

(33.6)

(175.3)

(21.4)

(9.3)

(30.7)

-

-

1.7

-

1.7

-

30.0

25.0

55.0

(50.4)

2.0

(48.4)

-

(39.5)

61.2

46.6

-

-

(25.0)

(12.6)

-

(39.5)

36.2

34.0

h. Sensitivities
The estimated effects of changing the key assumptions (discount rate, inflation and life expectancy) on the IAS19 (revised 2011) balance 
sheet position as at 31 December 2014 is given below.

Assumption

Discount rate

Inflation

Longevity

Increase of 0.1%

Decrease of 0.1%

Increase of 0.1%

Decrease of 0.1%

Increase of 1 year

Decrease of 1 year

TP Scheme

BSS Schemes

20.0

(20.5)

(12.5)

13.8

(23.6)

23.7

5.3

(5.4)

(5.2)

5.1

(8.6)

8.6

Defined contribution schemes
The Group operates five defined contribution schemes for all qualifying employees. The pension cost, which represents contributions payable 
by the Group, amounted to £11.9m (2013: £11.8m).

The total charge to the profit and loss account disclosed in note 7 of £22.6m (2013: £22.1m) comprises defined benefit scheme current and 
past service costs of £10.7m (2013: £10.3m) and £11.9m (2013 £11.8m) of contributions made to the defined contribution schemes.

29. ACQUISITION OF BUSINESSES
On the 21 November 2014, the Group acquired 100% of the issued share capital of Primaflow Limited (“Primaflow”) for a total consideration 
of £15.8m. Primaflow is a leading supplier of plumbing fixtures and fittings and complements the Group’s existing F & P business.    

The total revenue and operating profit for Primaflow, for the period from acquisition, total £3.4m and £0.2m respectively. If the acquisition had 
been completed on the first day of the year Group revenues would have been £5,615m and Group operating profit before amortisation would 
have been £386.6m.

Goodwill recognised consists of the benefits from forecast growth and the assembled workforce. None of the goodwill recognised is expected 
to be deductible for income tax purposes. Acquisition costs charged in administration expenses for the period to 31 December 2014 
amounted to £0.1m. The fair value of the acquired receivables totalled £8.3m and all acquired receivables are expected to be collected in full. 

The acquisition was accounted for using the purchase method of accounting. Provisional fair values ascribed to identifiable assets as at the 
date of acquisition are shown in the table below:

Net assets acquired:

Property, plant and equipment

Identifiable intangible assets

Deferred taxation

Inventories

Trade and other receivables

Cash at bank

Corporation tax

Trade and other payables

Goodwill – addition during the period

Satisfied by:

Cash paid 

Fair value  
acquired
£m

0.5

1.3

0.1

6.5

8.3

0.9

(0.1)

(4.6)

12.9

2.9

15.8

15.8

On 30 September 2014 a further payment of £0.8m was made to acquire an additional 25% of the share capital of Plumbnation Limited. 
The total holding in Plumbnation Limited is now 76% with options in place to acquire the remaining 24%.

180

ANNUAL REPORT & ACCOUNTS 2014

ANNUAL REPORT & ACCOUNTS 2014

181

SECTION HEADFINANCIAL STATEMENTS30. OPERATING LEASE ARRANGEMENTS 
The Group leases a number of trading properties under operating leases. The leases, at inception, are typically 25 years in duration, although 
some have lessee only break clauses of between 10 and 15 years. Lease payments are reviewed every five years and increases applied in line 
with market rates. The Group also leases certain items of plant and equipment. The Company has no operating lease arrangements.

a. The Group as lessee

Minimum lease payments under equipment operating leases recognised in income for the year

Minimum lease payments under property operating leases recognised in income for the year

2014
£m

36.0

183.6

2013
£m

 31.6

184.3

The Company undertakes the following transactions with its active subsidiaries:

• providing day-to-day funding from its UK banking facilities;
• paying interest to members of the Group totalling £22.5m (2013: £22.4m);
• levying an annual management charge to cover services provided to members of the Group of £8.3m (2013: £8.0m);
• receiving annual dividends totalling £197.1m (2013: £121.0m).
Details of balances outstanding with subsidiary companies are shown in note 19 and on the Balance Sheet on page 134.

Other than the payment of remuneration there have been no related party transactions with directors.

The Group advanced a total of £4.9m (2013: £2.9m) to all the Group’s associate companies in 2013. Operating transactions with the 
associates during the year were not significant. 

At the balance sheet date, the Group had outstanding commitments for future minimum lease payments under non-cancellable operating 
leases, which fall due as follows: 

33. ANALYSIS OF CHANGES IN NET DEBT

Within one year

In the second to fifth years inclusive

After five years

2014
   £m

174.8

620.7

1,046.8

1,842.3

2013
£m

172.0

600.7

1,042.5

1,815.2

b. The Group as lessor
The Group sublets a number of ex-trading properties to third parties. Property rental income earned during the year in respect of these 
properties was £5.7m (2013: £4.5m).

At the balance sheet date, the Group had contracts with tenants for the following future minimum lease payments:

Within one year

In the second to fifth years inclusive

After five years

31. CAPITAL COMMITMENTS 

Contracted for but not provided in the accounts

2014
£m

5.4

19.2

22.1

46.7

The Group

The Company

2014
£m

13.8

2013
£m

34.0

2014
£m

-

2013
£m

5.1

18.1

23.7

46.9

2013
£m

-

32. RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
The Group has a related party relationship with its subsidiaries, its Directors and with its pension schemes (note 28). Transactions between 
Group companies, which are related parties, have been eliminated on consolidation and are not disclosed in this note. Transactions between 
the Company and its subsidiaries are disclosed below. In addition the remuneration, and the details of interests in the share capital of the 
Company, of the Directors, are provided in the audited part of the remuneration report on pages 111 to 114.

The remuneration of the key management personnel of the Group is set out below in aggregate for each of the categories specified in IAS 24 
Related Party Disclosures. The prior year figure has been restated to include the  remuneration of all the directors.

Short-term employee benefits

Post employee benefits

Share-based payments

182

ANNUAL REPORT & ACCOUNTS 2014

2014
£m

16.1

0.4

2.9

19.4

2013
£m

11.3

0.9

6.0

18.2

Cash 
and cash 
equivalents

Finance 
leases

The Group

Unsecured 
senior USD 
Notes and 
Sterling 
Bond

Term 
loan and 
revolving 
credit 
facility and 
loan notes

Liability to 
pension 
scheme

Fair value 
and 
exchange
on hedged 
net debt 
items

At 1 January 2013

Cash flow

Exchange movement

Fair value movement

Finance charges 
amortised

Amortisation of swap 
cancellation receipt

Discount unwind on 
liability to pension 
scheme

At 1 January 2014

Cash flow

Exchange movement

Fair value movement

Finance charges 
movement

Issue of Toolstation 
loan notes

Amortisation of swap 
cancellation receipt

Discount unwind on 
liability to pension 
scheme

£m

(139.1)

59.3

-

-

-

-

-

£m

25.9

(2.1)

-

-

-

-

-

£m

267.4

(24.5)

-

-

(4.5)

-

-

£m

261.1

(115.6)

(1.7)

(14.1)

-

(1.0)

-

(79.8)

(28.5)

23.8

(2.5)

238.4

(240.0)

128.7

247.4

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

1.6

37.6

-

-

4.2

9.2

0.1

-

(1.0)

-

31 December 2014

(108.3)

21.3

37.6

388.6

£m

36.9

(2.9)

-

-

-

-

2.5

36.5

(3.0)

-

-

-

-

-

2.5

36.0

£m

(19.5)

-

1.7

14.1

-

-

-

(3.7)

-

(4.2)

(9.2)

-

-

-

-

Total

£m

432.7

(85.8)

-

-

(4.5)

(1.0)

2.5

343.9

(26.6)

-

-

1.7

37.6

(1.0)

2.5

(17.1)

358.1

ANNUAL REPORT & ACCOUNTS 2014

183

SECTION HEADFINANCIAL STATEMENTS 
 
33. ANALYSIS OF CHANGES IN NET DEBT continued ntinued

Balances at 31 December comprise:

 The Group

35. FREE CASH FLOW 

Cash and cash equivalents

Non-current interest bearing loans and borrowings

Current interest bearing loans and borrowings

Exchange and fair value adjustments on derivatives hedging net debt items

Net debt

Net debt under IFRS

IAS 17 finance leases

Unamortised swap cancellation receipt

Liability to pension scheme

Fair value adjustment to debt

Finance charges netted off bank debt

Net debt under covenant calculations

34. LEASE ADJUSTED GEARING 

Net debt

Exchange and fair value adjustments

Reported net debt

Property operating lease rentals x8 

Lease adjusted net debt

Property operating lease rentals x8 

Total equity

Lease adjusted equity

Gearing

2014

£m

108.3

(440.0)

(43.5)

17.1

(358.1)

2014

£m

2013

£m

79.8

(421.6)

(5.8)

3.7

(343.9)

2013

£m

(375.2)

(347.6)

16.0

0.9

36.0

17.1

(5.7)

(310.9)

 The Group

2014
£m

375.2

(17.1)

358.1

1,468.8

1,826.9

1,468.8

2,677.7

4,146.5

44.1%

17.5

1.9

36.5

3.7

(4.8)

(292.8)

2013
£m

347.6

(3.7)

343.9

1,474.4

1,818.3

1,474.4

2,515.2

3,989.6

45.6%

Net debt at 1 January

Net debt at 31 December

(Increase) / decrease in net debt

Dividends paid

Net cash outflow for expansion capital expenditure

Net cash outflow for acquisitions

Amortisation of swap cancellation receipt

Discount unwind on liability to pension scheme

Cash impact of exceptional items

Issue of Toolstation loan notes

Interest in associate

Shares issued and sale of own shares

Increase / (decrease) in fair value of debt and exchange 

Movement in finance charges netted off bank debt

Special pension contributions

Free cash flow 

36. LEVERAGE RATIOS
The adjusted ratio of net debt to earnings before interest, tax and depreciation (“EBITDA”) is derived as follows:

Profit before tax

Net finance costs

Depreciation and amortisation

EBITDA 

Exceptional operating items

Exceptional investment income

Adjusted EBITDA

IFRS adjustments required for covenant calculations

Adjusted EBITDA under covenant calculations

Net debt under covenant calculations (note 33)

Adjusted net debt to EBITDA under covenant calculations

 The Group

2014
£m

(347.6)

(375.2)

(27.6)

81.1

115.0

15.7

(1.0)

2.5

3.8

37.6

2.1

(14.3)

13.4

1.7

24.7

254.7

 The Group

2014
£m

321.4

21.7

93.2

436.3

23.3

-

459.6

(2.4)

457.2

310.9

0.68x

2013
£m

(452.2)

(347.6)

104.6

65.1

63.2

9.3

(1.0)

2.5

4.6

-

2.9

(13.9)

(15.8)

(4.5)

22.6

239.6

2013
£m

312.6

26.5

89.2

428.3

-

(9.4)

418.9

(2.6)

416.3

292.8

0.70x

184

ANNUAL REPORT & ACCOUNTS 2014

ANNUAL REPORT & ACCOUNTS 2014

185

SECTION HEADFINANCIAL STATEMENTS36. LEVERAGE RATIOS continued

Adjusted ratio of net debt to earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and operating lease rentals (“EBITDAR”) is derived as follows: 

Adjusted EBITDA 

Property operating lease rentals

Adjusted EBITDAR

Net Debt

Exchange and fair value adjustments

Reported net debt

Property operating lease rentals x8

Lease adjusted net debt

Lease adjusted net debt to adjusted EBITDAR

Fixed charge cover is derived as follows: 

Adjusted EBITDAR

Property operating lease rentals

Interest for fixed charge calculation (note 9)

Fixed charge cover

 The Group

2014
£m

459.6

183.6

643.2

375.2

(17.1)

358.1

1,468.8

1,826.9

2.8x

The Group

2014
£m

643.2

183.6

20.8

204.4

3.1x

2013
£m

418.9

184.3

603.2

347.6

(3.7)

343.9

1,474.4

1,818.3

3.0x

2013
£m

603.2

184.3

23.4

207.7

2.9x

??. SECTION continued

37. RETURN ON CAPITAL RATIOS
Group return on capital employed is calculated as follows: 

Operating profit

Amortisation of acquired intangible assets

Exceptional items

Adjusted operating profit

Opening net assets

Net pension deficit

Goodwill written off

Net borrowings 

Exchange and fair value adjustment

Opening capital employed

Closing net assets

Net pension deficit 

Goodwill written off

Net borrowings 

Exchange and fair value adjustment

Closing capital employed

Average capital employed

Adjusted pre–tax return on capital

Group lease adjusted return on capital employed is calculated as follows:

Adjusted operating profit 

50% of property operating lease rentals 

Lease adjusted operating profit

Average capital employed

Property operating lease rentals x8

Lease adjusted capital employed

Lease adjusted return on capital employed

The Group

2014
£m

343.1

17.6

23.3

384.0

2013
£m

329.7

17.9

-

347.6

2,515.2

2,255.6

57.4

92.7

347.6

(3.7)

3,009.2

2,677.7

78.3

92.7

375.2

(17.1)

3,206.8

3,108.0

12.4%

384.0

91.8

475.8

3,108.0

1,468.8

4,576.8

10.4%

97.0

92.7

452.2

(19.5)

2,878.0

2,515.2

57.4

92.7

347.6

(3.7)

3,009.2

2,943.6

11.8%

347.6

92.2

439.8

2,943.8

1,474.4

4,418.2

10.0%

186

ANNUAL REPORT & ACCOUNTS 2014

ANNUAL REPORT & ACCOUNTS 2014

187

SECTION HEADFINANCIAL STATEMENTSOTHER 
INFORMATION

SECTION HEADOTHER INFORMATION

Five Year Record

Consolidated income statement

Revenue

2014
£m

5,580.7

Operating profit before amortisation and exceptional items

384.0

Amortisation

Exceptional items

Operating profit

Exceptional investment income

Net finance costs 

Profit before tax

Income tax expense

Net profit

Adjusted return on capital 

Basic earnings per share

Adjusted earnings per share

Dividend declared per ordinary share (pence)

Number of branches at 31 December 
(Includes branches of associates)

(17.6)

(23.3)

343.1

-

(21.7)

321.4

(62.7)

258.7

12.4%

105.9p

119.0p

38.0p

1,975

2013
£m

5,148.7

347.6

(17.9)

-

329.7

9.4

(26.5)

312.6

(47.9)

264.7

11.8%

109.9p

103.6p

31.0p

2012
£m

4,844.9

325.7

(17.4)

(8.7)

299.6

39.5

(39.9)

299.2

(50.5)

248.7

11.5%

104.3p

90.6p

25.0p

1,939

1,896

2011
£m

4,779.1

313.2

(12.9)

(9.8)

290.5

-

(20.9)

269.6

(57.2)

212.4

11.3%

90.3p

93.1p

20.0p

1,868

2010
£m

3,152.8

239.0

(0.2)

(19.0)

219.8

-

(23.0)

196.8

(55.5)

141.3

12.2%

69.6p

77.2p

15.0p

1,813

Average number of employees 

23,480

21,937

21,632

21,423

15,792

Consolidated cash flow statement

Cash generated from operations

Net interest paid

Swap cancellation receipt / (payment)

Income taxes paid

Net purchases of investments, property and plant

Interest in associates

Disposal of businesses

Acquisition of businesses net of cash acquired

Proceeds from issuance of share capital

Dividends paid

Bank facility finance charges

Movement on finance lease liabilities

Repayment of unsecured loan notes

Liability to pension scheme

Increase / (decrease) in loans

Net increase / (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents

Net debt at 1 January

Non cash adjustment

Cash flow from debt and debt acquired 

Net debt at 31 December

Free cash flow

2014
£m

310.2

(15.0)

-

(49.9)

(134.1)

(2.1)

-

(15.7)

14.3

(81.1)

(2.6)

(2.5)

-

-

7.0

28.5

(347.6)

(54.2)

(1.9)

(375.2)

254.7

2013
£m

319.2

(20.5)

-

(59.2)

(90.3)

(2.9)

-

(9.3)

13.9

(65.1)

-

(2.1)

-

-

(143.0)

(59.3)

(452.2)

18.8

145.1

(347.6)

239.6

2012
£m

327.6

(27.3)

-

(64.5)

(49.7)

(2.9)

-

(24.5)

8.9

(51.2)

-

5.7

-

-

(61.6)

60.5

(583.2)

14.6

55.9

(452.2)

241.8

2011
£m

345.1

(23.5)

-

(26.3)

(94.2)

(2.3)

26.9

(9.9)

10.6

(38.8)

(6.1)

(1.6)

-

-

(152.2)

27.7

(773.6)

8.9

153.8

(583.2)

293.5

2010
£m

282.3

(16.0)

13.7

(42.4)

(35.4)

(12.5)

-

(294.9)

0.3

(10.1)

-

(1.3)

(0.6)

34.7

(214.1)

(296.3)

(467.2)

(3.1)

(7.0)

(773.6)

277.8

Consolidated balance sheet

Assets

Non-current assets

Property, plant and equipment

Goodwill and other intangible assets

Derivative financial instruments

Interest in associates

Retirement benefit assets

Investment property and other investments

Current assets

Inventories

Trade and other receivables

Assets held for resale

Cash and cash equivalents

Total assets

Capital and reserves

Issued capital

Share premium account

Merger reserve

Own shares

Other reserves

Accumulated profits

Total equity

Non-current liabilities

Interest bearing loans and borrowings

Derivative financial instruments

Retirement benefit obligations

Long-term provisions and other payables

Deferred tax liabilities

Current liabilities 

Interest bearing loans and borrowings

Derivative financial instruments

Trade and other payables

Tax liabilities

Short-term provisions

Total liabilities

Total equity and liabilities

2014
 £m

2013
£m

2012
£m

2011
 £m

2010
£m

689.3

2,223.6

609.9

2,223.7

578.4

2,232.3

562.6

2,095.1

527.1

2,109.7

9.3

7.3

-

3.1

687.7

822.9

-

79.8

12.8

6.7

-

2.8

637.1

746.4

-

139.1

40.3

51.3

-

1.9

596.0

746.1

-

78.6

57.0

45.7

31.7

1.9

571.4

687.2

2.3

62.9

4,443.7

4,355.6

4,171.9

4,096.9

24.7

498.0

326.5

(40.6)

16.7

1,689.9

2,515.2

421.6

4.5

71.4

22.6

61.3

5.8

1.8

24.5

487.2

326.5

(62.4)

18.5

1,461.3

2,255.6

195.2

4.9

125.9

67.0

69.1

396.1

2.6

1,107.6

74.8

56.8

2,100.0

4,355.6

24.4

480.8

326.5

(75.2)

15.7

1,277.2

2,049.4

598.2

5.9

123.7

28.9

77.8

63.6

-

24.2

471.5

325.9

(83.4)

14.4

1,199.2

1,951.8

760.9

4.2

59.6

36.0

110.5

75.6

2.5

1,088.3

1,004.5

75.9

60.2

2,122.5

4,171.9

36.5

54.8

2,145.1

4,096.9

1,255.2

1,218.1

71.6

61.7

2,044.5

4,722.2

73.2

48.2

1,928.5

4,443.7

21.2

1.7

-

3.6

742.7

931.8

-

108.3

4,722.2

24.9

510.5

326.5

(28.5)

16.8

1,827.5

2,677.7

440.0

0.5

97.5

7.8

66.7

43.5

-

190

ANNUAL REPORT & ACCOUNTS 2014

ANNUAL REPORT & ACCOUNTS 2014

191

OTHER INFORMATION

 OTHER SHAREHOLDER
INFORMATION

SHAREHOLDER ENQUIRIES
Shareholder enquiries should be directed to the Company 
Secretary at the Company’s registered office: Lodge Way House, 
Lodge Way, Harlestone Road, Northampton, NN5 7UG 
(telephone 01604 752424, email cosec@travisperkins.co.uk) 
or to the Company’s registrars, Capita Asset Services at  
The Registry, 34 Beckenham Road, Beckenham, Kent, BR3 4TU 
(telephone 0871 664 0300 – calls cost 10p per minute plus 
network extras; lines are open 8.30am to 5.30pm, 
Monday - Friday; email shareholderenquiries@capita.co.uk).

FINANCIAL DIARY
Ex-dividend date 
Record date 
Annual General Meeting 
Payment of final dividend 
Announcement of 2015 interim results 
Interim Management Statement 
Announcement of 2015 annual results 

30 April 2015
1 May 2015
28 May 2015
1 June 2015
4 August 2015
22 October 2015
25 February 2016

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING – CATERING 
ARRANGEMENTS
It has always been the Company’s custom to provide a light 
luncheon for shareholders following the AGM, and a buffet 
luncheon will be available. 

INTERNET
There are sites on the internet that carry a range of information 
about the Group and its principal brands, products and services at 
the following addresses: 

www.ccfltd.co.uk* 
www.4tradeproducts.co.uk 
www.benchmarxkitchens.co.uk
www.birchwoodpricetools.com
www.bssindustrial.co.uk
www.buytiles.co.uk
www.cityheatingspares.co.uk
www.cityplumbing.co.uk*
www.connectionsaml.co.uk
www.defenderpower.com
www.dhsspares.co.uk
www.fponlineordering.co.uk
www.fpwholesale.co.uk
www.fressshbathrooms.co.uk
www.havelockcontrols.co.uk
http://hire.travisperkins.co.uk/hire* 
www.iflo.co.uk
www.insulationgiant.co.uk 
www.keyline.co.uk* 
http://hire.keyline.co.uk/hire/*
www.mispares.com   
www.pro-heat.co.uk 
www.ptsonlineordering.co.uk
www.ptsplumbing.co.uk
www.ptsrenewables.co.uk
www.scruffs.com
www.sektorinteriors.co.uk
www.selfbuildgroup.co.uk 
www.southern-darwent.co.uk 
www.sustainablebuildingsolutions.co.uk
www.tilegiant.co.uk* 
www.tilehq.co.uk
www.tilemagic.co.uk
www.timberdirect.co.uk
www.toolstation.co.uk*
www.tpcareers.co.uk
www.tpmanagedservices.co.uk 
www.trademate.co.uk* 
www.travisperkins.co.uk* 
www.travisperkinsplc.co.uk (investor relations site)
www.vanvault.co.uk
www.wickes.co.uk*
www.wickescareers.co.uk
www.wickeskitchens.co.uk

* These sites allow credit account holders to order on-line through Trademate, with the 
exception of the Wickes, Tile Giant and Toolstation sites which allow on-line ordering 
by secure card transaction. 

Most of the sites provide information about branch locations and 
allow access to prices and the product range available. Customers 
are also able to construct their own price quotation that includes 
any special price arrangements that have been negotiated with  
the Group.

ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATION
In accordance with the Companies Act 2006 and the Company’s 
Articles of Association, the Company is allowed to use its 
website to publish statutory documents and communications to 
shareholders, such as the Annual Report and Accounts and the 
Notice of the AGM. You can therefore view or download a copy of 
the Annual Report and Accounts and the Notice of the AGM by 
going to our website at http://www.travisperkinsplc.co.uk/  
(see section called ‘Investor Relations’). If you received a hard copy 
of this report in the post then you will not have consented to this 
method of publication. Should you now wish to consent to this 
method of publication, you should contact Capita Asset Services, 
Freepost RLYX-GZTU-KRRG, SAS, The Registry, 34 Beckenham 
Road, Beckenham, BR3 9ZA. By reducing the number of 
communications sent by post, it will not only result in cost savings 
to the Company but also reduce the impact that the unnecessary 
printing and distribution of reports has on the environment.  
Please note that if you consent to website publication, you will 
continue to be notified each time that the Company places a 
statutory communication on the website. This notification will be 
sent to you by post. However, you may also choose to receive 
notifications by e-mail and we would encourage you to do so.  
If you wish to receive these notifications by e-mail, you should 
register on the Share Portal at www.travisperkins-shares.com,  
and follow the instructions (see Registrar’s On-Line Service  
over the page). 

Please telephone Capita Asset Services on 0871 664 0300 
(within the UK), calls cost 10p per minute plus network extras; 
lines are open 9.00am to 5.30pm, Monday - Friday or  
+44 20 8639 3399 (Non-UK) if you have any queries.

Notes
1.  Before consenting to receive documents and communications 
via the website, shareholders should ensure that they have a 
computer with internet access and the Adobe Acrobat reader 
facility. The Adobe Acrobat reader software may be obtained via 
the website free of charge.

2.  If you elect to receive notifications of the publication of the 

documents and communications on the website electronically, 
it will be your responsibility to notify our registrars, Capita Asset 
Services, of any subsequent change in your e-mail address or 
other contact details.

3.  If you are not resident in the United Kingdom, it is your 

responsibility to ensure that you may validly receive documents 
and communications electronically (either generally or in relation 
to any particular document or communication) without the 
Company being required to comply with any governmental or 
regulatory procedures or any similar formalities. The Company 
may deny electronic access to documents and communications 
relating to certain corporate actions in respect of those 
shareholders who it believes are resident in jurisdictions where it 
is advised that to provide such access would or may be a breach 
of any legal or regulatory requirements.

4.  The Company’s obligation to provide shareholder documents to 

you is satisfied when it transmits an electronic message. 
The Company is not responsible for any failure in transmission 
for reasons beyond its control any more than it is for postal 
failures. In the event of the Company becoming aware that an 
electronic communication to you has not been successfully 
transmitted, a further two attempts will be made. If the 
transmission is still unsuccessful, a hard copy of the relevant 
notification will be posted to your registered address.

5.  Your registration to receive electronic communications and your 
relevant contact address details will stand until such time as the 
Company receives alternative instructions from you by e-mail or 
in writing.

6.  The Company takes all reasonable precautions to ensure no 

computer viruses are present in any electronic communication it 
transmits, but the Company shall not be responsible for any loss 
or damage arising from the opening or use of any e-mail 
or attachments sent by the Company or on its behalf.  
The Company recommends that shareholders subject all 
messages to computer virus checking procedures.  
Any electronic communication received by or on behalf of the 
Company, including the lodgement of an electronic proxy form 
that is found to contain any computer virus will not be accepted.

7.  The Company reserves the right, irrespective of your election, to 
revert to sending hard copy documentation by post whenever it 
considers it necessary or desirable to do so.

192

ANNUAL REPORT & ACCOUNTS 2014

ANNUAL REPORT & ACCOUNTS 2014

193

OTHER INFORMATION

Other shareholder information continued

 •  Capita offers an on-line and telephone share dealing service 
which is available by logging on to www.capitadeal.com or 
telephoning 0871 664 0346 (calls cost 10p per minute plus 
network extras; lines are open 8.00am to 4.30pm,  
Monday – Friday). For the on-line service, Capita’s commission 
rates are 1.25% of the value of the deal (minimum £30.00, 
maximum £150.00) for certificated holdings, 1.00% of the 
value of the deal (minimum £21.00, maximum £125.00) for 
uncertificated holdings and for the telephone service, Capita’s 
commission rates are 1.50% of the value of the deal (minimum 
£40.00 certificated/£28.50 uncertificated, maximum £195 
certificated/£175.00 uncertificated); all charges include a £3.50 
Compliance charge. The maximum online transaction value is 
£25,000 and a £1 (‘Panel for Takeovers and Mergers’)  
PTM levy is applied to all transactions over £10,000. Share 
purchases are also subject to SDRT. 

•  Stocktrade offer a telephone share dealing service which 

is available by telephoning +44 131 240 0508 and quoting 
reference ‘Travis Perkins Dial and Deal’. Stocktrade’s commission 
will be 0.5%, to deals up to the value of £10,000 and 0.2% on 
the excess thereafter, subject to minimum of £17.50. Please note 
that UK share purchases will be subject to 0.5% stamp duty. 
There will also be a PTM levy of £1 for single trades in excess of 
£10,000. When buying shares you will be required to pay for your 
transaction at the time of the deal by debit card, and you should 
ensure that you have sufficient cleared funds available in your 
debit card account to pay for the shares in full.

SHARE FRAUD - WARNING TO SHAREHOLDERS
In recent years, share fraud has been increasing, with shareholders 
receiving unsolicited correspondence concerning investment 
matters. Fraudsters use persuasive and high-pressure tactics to 
lure investors into scams; offering to sell shares that turn out to 
be worthless or non-existent, or to buy shares at an inflated price 
in return for an upfront payment. Sometimes these individuals 
imply that they represent Travis Perkins, but in fact they have no 
connection with the Company and have no authority to claim or 
imply that they are. 

If you are approached by fraudsters, please tell the Financial 
Conduct Authority using the share fraud reporting form at 
 www.fca.org.uk/scams, where you can also find out more about 
investment scams.

CAPITA REGISTRARS
The Company’s registrars, Capita Asset Services (“Capita”),  
provide a number of services that, as a shareholder, might be 
useful to you:

•  Registrar’s On-Line Service 

By logging onto www.travisperkins-shares.com and following 
the prompts, shareholders can view and amend various details 
on their account. Please note that you will need to register to 
use this service for which purpose you will require your unique 
investor code (IVC), which can be found on your share certificate, 
proxy card or dividend tax voucher.

•  Dividend Re-Investment Plan (“DRIP”) 

This is a scheme which allows you to use your dividends to buy 
further shares in Travis Perkins. For any shareholders who wish 
to re-invest dividend payments in the Company, a facility is 
provided by Capita IRG Trustees Ltd in conjunction with Capita 
Asset Services. Under this facility, cash dividends are used to 
purchase additional shares. Shares are bought on the dividend 
payment date at the then current market price. Any cash left 
over which is insufficient to purchase a whole share will be 
carried forward and held without interest, in a Client Money bank 
account. You can sign up for this service on the Share Portal  
(by clicking on ‘reinvest your dividends’ and following the 
on screen instructions). Any shareholder requiring further 
information should contact Capita on 0871 664 0381  
(Calls cost 10p per minute plus any network extras from  
within the UK); lines are open from 9.00am to 5.30pm  
Monday – Friday. If Non-UK +44 208 639 3402. E-mail  
shares@capita.co.uk or visit www.travisperkins-shares.com. 
Please note that this facility is only available to shareholders with 
an address in the UK or EEA. The value of shares and income 
from them can fall as well as rise and you may not recover the 
amount of money you invest.

•  Duplicate Share Register Accounts 

If you are receiving more than one copy of our report, it may be 
that your shares are registered in two or more accounts on our 
register of members. If that was not your intention you might 
consider merging them into one single entry. Please contact 
Capita who will be pleased to carry out your instructions.

•  Overseas Shareholders 

Capita has partnered with Deutsche Bank to provide you with 
a service that will convert your sterling dividends into your 
local currency at a competitive rate. You can choose to receive 
payment directly into your local bank account, or alternatively, 
you can be sent a currency draft.

You can sign up for this service on the Share Portal (by clicking 
on ‘manage your account’ and ‘Change your dividend details’ 
and following the on screen instructions) or by contacting the 
Customer Support Centre. Further details are available from 
Capita Asset Services: by telephone UK: 0871 664 0385  
(UK calls cost 10p per minute plus network extras). From  
overseas: +44 20 8639 3405. Lines are open 9.00am to 5.30pm,  
Monday to Friday, excluding public holidays.

SHARE DEALING SERVICES
There are two share dealing services that you may wish to use 
to buy or sell shares in Travis Perkins (but alternatively there are 
many other options that you could use):-

194

ANNUAL REPORT & ACCOUNTS 2014

Designed by Travis Perkins Plc, Design Print & Distribution

Travis Perkins plc, Lodge Way House, Harlestone Road, Northampton NN5 7UG   Telephone 01604 752 424
www.travisperkinsplc.com

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