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Wincanton

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FY2016 Annual Report · Wincanton
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90 years of  
delivery

W I N CANTO

N

Delivering excellent customer service for 90 years
We started life delivering milk in 1925 and although 
we have never forgotten our heritage, and are still 
transporting milk daily, we now deliver so much more. 
Over the past 90 years we have entered new industry 
sectors, broadened our services and used technology 
to manage the increasing pace and complexity of the 
supply chain. Our people have consistently delivered 
and continue to strive to make our customers’ 
business better, every day. 

WE MAKE OUR 
CUSTOMERS’ BUSINESS 
BETTER. EVERY DAY

ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS 2016

90 years of  
service

1925
Wincanton starts life as a 
subsidiary of West Surrey Central 
Dairy Company, which later 
became Cow & Gate. 

1940s
The Milk Marketing Board (MMB) 
took on responsibility for all farm 
milk collections and contracted 
Wincanton Transport and 
Engineering to collect milk on 
their behalf for all UK dairies.

1960s
Legislation changes allow 
for heavier lorries to be used. 
Wincanton introduced the ‘long 
tom’ articulated vehicle capable 
of carrying 4,500 gallons of milk.

1970s
Wincanton diversifies 
into new market sectors, 
including petroleum, and 
develops new temperature 
controlled operations.

1990s
Wincanton merges with Unigate 
Chilled Distribution and enters 
the retail market through the 
acquisition of Glass Glover.

2001
Wincanton and UNIQ  
(formerly Unigate) demerge to 
form separate organisations.

Wincanton plc quoted on the 
London Stock Exchange.

2002 – 2010
Wincanton makes a number of 
acquisitions into new markets: 
Europe, containers, construction, 
defence and UK home delivery. 

2012
Wincanton disposes of its 
Mainland European operations 
to focus on growth in its market 
leading UK&I business. 

2013
Wincanton has an  
award winning year.

W I N CANTO

N

2016

2015
Wincanton concentrates on 
core contract logistics activity 
with disposal of its records 
management business.

Wincanton wins Retail Week 
Supply Chain Award ‘Team of the 
Year’ in partnership with Screwfix.

Wincanton celebrates  
90 years of service.

Inside this report

STRATEGIC REPORT

About us
Chairman’s statement
Our business
Chief Executive’s statement
KPIs
Key drivers and trends
Our marketplace
Business model
Corporate responsibility
Financial review
Risk

GOVERNANCE

Board of Directors
Chairman’s introduction
Corporate Governance report
Nomination Committee report
Audit Committee report
Directors’ remuneration report
Annual report on remuneration
Directors’ remuneration policy
Directors’ report
Independent auditor’s report

ACCOUNTS

Consolidated income statement
Consolidated statement  
of comprehensive income
Consolidated balance sheet
Consolidated statement  
of changes in equity
Consolidated statement  
of cash flows
Notes to the consolidated  
financial statements
Wincanton plc Company  
balance sheet
Wincanton plc Company  
statement of changes in equity
Notes to the Wincanton plc  
Company financial statements
Additional information
Shareholder information

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1

About us

Delivering  
everyday excellence

Our customers rely on us to organise, store and move their 
goods as efficiently and effectively as possible. In a fast changing 
and competitive environment the supply chain is becoming 
increasingly complex and the need for the right expertise  
has never been greater.

We are focused on delivering operational excellence for our 
customers. In addition, we constantly seek opportunities  
to improve and innovate within the supply chain. Our people 
are key to this and are fundamental to our future success.

Key themes

A strong financial performance
2015/16 has seen further financial 
improvement as we have grown revenue, 
EBITDA, operating profit, profit before tax 
and earnings per share (EPS) and reduced 
debt. As a result we are recommending a 
final dividend for the current year.

Our people
Wincanton’s success is based on the quality, 
dedication and focus of our 17,500 people. 
In line with our vision, mission and values we 
are more focused on ‘making our customers’ 
business better. Every day’

Improved focus
The sale of Wincanton Records Management 
(WRM) means that the Group is now focused 
on the UK and Ireland contract logistics 
markets. The Containers and Pullman 
operations have been brought closer to the 
core logistics business.

Chairman’s statement
See page 2
Chief Executive’s statement
See page 6
KPIs
See page 10
Financial review
See page 24 

Chief Executive’s statement
See page 6 
People feature
See page 12 
Corporate responsibility
See page 20 

Chairman’s statement
See page 2 
Chief Executive’s statement
See page 6 

Wincanton plc Annual Report and Accounts 2016WINCANTON2

Chairman’s statement

Making good  
progress

“A KEY MILESTONE HAS BEEN THE BOARD’S RECOMMENDATION  
TO RESUME THE PAYMENT OF AN ANNUAL DIVIDEND, 
STARTING WITH A FINAL DIVIDEND THIS YEAR.” 

Steve Marshall
Chairman

Introduction
2015/16 proved to be a year of 
intense activity for Wincanton and 
also something of a milestone. 
The Records Management 
business (WRM), which lacked 
fit with the rest of the Group, 
was sold for an enterprise value 
of £60m, which represents an 
excellent return for shareholders. 
The Pullman business was 
stabilised and returned to 
profitability in the second half. 

The Contract logistics business 
continued to grow revenues 
and profits in a market that 
remains highly competitive as our 
customers strive to make progress 
across a broad cross-section of 
changing markets. 
Whatever the sector, rising customer 
expectations, unprecedented information 
transparency, the rapid evolution of 
multichannel and accelerating technological 
change all impose intense cost efficiency and 
responsiveness challenges on customers’ 
supply chains, of which Wincanton is an 

integral part. Our role in meeting and 
exceeding our customers’ needs and 
requirements have been achieved with the 
utmost proficiency.

A key milestone has been the Board’s 
recommendation to resume the payment 
of an annual dividend, starting with a final 
dividend this year. Over the last four years, 
the Group has sought to simplify and 
concentrate on its UK contract logistics 
heartland, strengthen what was a heavily 
geared balance sheet and drive customer and 
operational focus. It is appropriate to record 
that shareholders have without exception been 
supportive and patient during this period. 

Wincanton plc Annual Report and Accounts 20163

capital volatility, average net debt and period 
end net debt will be more closely aligned 
in future.

The period end IAS 19 accounting deficit stood 
at £105.6m (gross of deferred tax), down from 
£144.2m in the prior year. However, the more 
meaningful actuarial deficit is significantly 
higher, and the Board continues to be focused 
on meeting the Group’s ongoing obligations to 
this important stakeholder group. 

Dividend
The Board is proposing a final dividend of 
5.5p for 2015/16 payable in August 2016. It is 
anticipated that in future years, the interim and 
final dividend split will be broadly one-third / 
two-thirds.

The Board’s intention is to adopt a progressive 
dividend policy, with annual dividend 
growth broadly matched to the growth in 
underlying earnings.

People and the Board
There was a smooth transition of Adrian 
Colman into his new role of Chief Executive 
Officer, and I would like to thank the outgoing 
Chief Executive, Eric Born, for his contribution 
to Wincanton’s recovery in his four years in the 
role. Following Adrian’s promotion in August 
2015, a search was conducted to appoint his 
replacement as Group Finance Director. It was 
a pleasure to welcome Tim Lawlor to the Board 
in that role, his appointment effective from 
the end of September 2015. Tim’s extensive 
experience and his ready understanding of a 
demanding business to business contracting 
environment has already proved an asset. 
There were no other Board changes during 
the period.

Most importantly, the hard work and 
dedication of Wincanton’s 17,500 employees 
should once again be recognised. The Board 
appreciates that their commitment to safely 
and enthusiastically meeting the needs of our 
customers remains one of Wincanton’s key 
competitive advantages. We do not take it 
for granted.

Outlook
The key themes that have been the hallmark 
of Wincanton’s recovery phase over the last 
four years – the strong emphasis on contract 
renewal and customer retention, delivering 
internal and customer cost efficiencies, on 
operational and portfolio simplification and on 
generating free cash flow – will remain. 

Importantly, the Group now has the financial 
capability to also support limited scale 
investments in skills and technology to both 
protect and grow the core contract logistics 
business for the longer term. This will be done 
progressively, and in bite size chunks, to avoid 
raising the Group’s overall risk profile.

During the coming year, the Board expects 
Wincanton to make continued progress.

Steve Marshall
Chairman

This has enabled the Board to address 
Wincanton’s priorities in the appropriate 
order and for the long term benefit of 
all stakeholders.

Results
Group revenues at £1.15bn were up by 3.6% on 
the prior year and by 4.4% excluding the WRM 
disposal from both years. Underlying operating 
profits were up by 2.4% from £49.7m to £50.9m 
and by 5.4% excluding WRM again from 
both years.

The Contract logistics business continued to 
grow revenues and profits materially during 
the year. Although the new business pipeline 
provided fewer large opportunities than 
in the prior year, the emphasis on existing 
customer account growth and renewal 
together with delivering cost efficiencies once 
again underwrote financial performance. 
Within Specialist businesses, profits were down, 
due to only a part year contribution from WRM 
prior to disposal and increased first half losses 
from Pullman, prior to the successful resolution 
of its two onerous customer contracts in the 
second half.

Underlying profit before tax was up 12.4% to 
£35.3m, reflecting lower financing costs due 
to reduced average net debt and last year’s 
refinancing. Underlying earnings per share 
continued to advance, up by 13.3% to 23.9p.

The focus on strengthening the balance 
sheet continued. Net debt at the year end was 
down, from £57.6m in the prior year, to £39.5m. 
The net cash inflow from the WRM disposal 
plus the free cash flow generated within the 
year were in fact well in excess of this £18.1m 
reduction. These cash inflows were partly offset 
by a managed reduction in year end working 
capital movements which has resulted in a 
£37.3m reduction in our trade payables from 
last year. As a result of the reduced working 

Revenue
£1,147.4m
+3.6%
+4.4% (excluding WRM)

2016
Underlying operating
profit margin
2015
4.4%
20141
-10bps

2016

2015

2014

Underlying EBITDA
£65.4m
+2.0%
+5.3% (excluding WRM)

Underlying operating profit
£50.9m
+2.4%
+5.4% (excluding WRM)

1,147.4

1,107.4

1,098.0

2016
Underlying EPS
2015
23.9p
+13.3%

2014

4.4

4.5

4.4

2016

2015

2014

65.4

64.1

63.4

23.9

21.1

16.6

2016
Net debt
2015
£39.5m
-31.4%

2014

2016

2015

2014

50.9

49.7

48.0

39.5

57.6

64.9

Wincanton plc Annual Report and Accounts 2016WINCANTON4

Our business

 A diverse logistics business,  
focused on UK and Ireland

Consumers’ expectations continue to evolve and to 
demand a range of ordering and fulfilment offerings 
from retailers. The impact of this is felt throughout 
the supply chain with retailers, manufacturers and 
suppliers adjusting their processes and outputs based 
on the expectations of the end consumers. 

This results in an ever increasing need to focus on offering 
flexible, agile, cost-effective and scalable logistic solutions. 
We strive to understand the unique needs of our customers 
and their sectors in order to deliver innovative solutions more 
cost-efficiently than our competitors.

Contract logistics

Revenue

£979.2m

Underlying operating profit

£48.4m

We provide contract logistics solutions to 
customers across a wide range of sectors 
and have leading positions in the retail, 
construction and defence markets. Our 
services extend from setting up and 
operating distribution services to bonded 
warehouses and technology hosting.

Market sectors:
•  Construction
•  Defence
•  FMCG
•  Fuel and energy
•  Milk
•  Retail stores, convenience, 
online and multichannel:
  –  General merchandise 
  –  Grocery
  –  Home and DIY

Services:
•  Bonded warehousing
•  Call centres
•  Change management
•  Co-packing
•  Dedicated and shared 
user warehousing

•  Home delivery solutions
•  Multichannel 

fulfilment solutions

•  Operational start-up services
•  Returns management
•  Road transport
•  Supply chain consulting and 

system design

•  Supply chain technology 

implementation and hosting

Wincanton plc Annual Report and Accounts 20165

Employees*

17,500

Locations*

200+

Vehicles responsible for*

Warehousing space*

3,400

6.6m sqft

Our customers include:

•  Argos
•  ASDA
•  BAE Systems
•  British Sugar
•  Britvic
•  B&Q
•  CEMEX

•  GlaxoSmithKline
•  H J Heinz
•  Halfords
•  Hope Construction Materials
•  Howdens Joinery
• 
Ibstock
•  Lafarge

•  Loaf.com
•  Lucozade Ribena Suntory
•  Magnet
•  Marks & Spencer
•  Müller Milk and Ingredients 
(previously Dairy Crest)

•  Nestlé

•  Sainsbury’s
•  Screwfix
•  Tesco
•  The Co-op
•  Waitrose
•  Williams-Sonoma, Inc. 

Specialist businesses

Revenue

Underlying operating profit

£168.2m

£2.5m

We have two remaining specialist 
businesses which add depth and 
expertise to our supply chain capability, 
enabling us to support customers across 
the breadth of their operations.

Containers
Our containers business includes 
road and rail transport and 
storage as well as specialist 
capabilities such as skeletal 
tail lifts that enable us to fill 
containers to reduce empty 
running. We work closely with 
shipping lines, freight forwarders, 
retailers and manufacturers, 
using our logistics expertise 
to maximise the potential of 
intermodal transport.

Pullman
The UK’s leading independent 
vehicle repair and maintenance 
specialists, Pullman provides the 
expertise that keeps many of the 

country’s commercial vehicle 
fleets on the road. It offers a 
24/7 mobile service delivered 
by a UK wide network of 
experienced professionals.

Wincanton Records 
Management (WRM)*
WRM provides a blue-chip 
customer base with services 
including secure document 
and data storage, scanning, 
imaging, shredding and other 
ancillary office consumables. 
We sold our WRM business on 
8 December 2015. 

*  WRM contribution is included in Specialist businesses up to the date of disposal and is excluded from the end of year figures for employees, locations, vehicles and warehouse space 

which are stated at a point in time. The nature of WRM’s business required it to occupy multiple floors within properties to maximise accessible document storage space and therefore 
its removal reduces the year end numbers by 6.4m sqft.

Wincanton plc Annual Report and Accounts 2016WINCANTON6

Chief Executive’s statement

Focusing on key goals to 
achieve growth

“THE SALE OF RECORDS MANAGEMENT IN LATE 2015 ENABLES 
US TO FOCUS PURELY ON THE CONTRACT LOGISTICS SKILLS 
AND SPECIALISMS OF THE GROUP IN ITS CORE  
UK AND IRELAND MARKETS.”

Adrian Colman 
Chief Executive Officer

Wincanton plc Annual Report and Accounts 20167

Number of new colleagues 
welcomed to the Group

>1,900

Number of aspiring managers 
who participated in our in-house 
management and leadership 
development programmes

36

Employee engagement score

64%

Introduction
We have continued to deliver 
improved operating performance 
during the year and delivered 
both organic revenue and profit 
growth. A key part of the profit 
growth has been the return to 
stability and profitability of the 
Pullman business in the second 
half of this year. Furthermore, 
we have delivered a material 
reduction in the level of net debt 
following the disposal of Records 
Management (WRM) in late 2015. 
The sale of that business enables 
us to focus purely on the contract 
logistics skills and specialisms 
of the Group in its core UK and 
Ireland markets. 

Financial performance
Group revenue grew by 3.6% to £1,147.4m 
in 2015/16 from £1,107.4m in 2014/15 and 
by 4.4% excluding WRM from both years. 
The continued focus on growing our 
business, delivering important projects for our 
customers, improving asset efficiency and 
strong cost control have resulted in a 2.4% 
increase in underlying operating profit, 5.4% 
excluding WRM. Underlying operating profit 
margin remained at a similar level at 4.4% 
(2015: 4.5%). 

In addition, the continued focus on reducing 
debt levels in the business and the use of 
the sale proceeds from the disposal of the 
Records Management business to repay more 
expensive elements of our historic borrowings 
allowed us to reduce interest costs substantially 
this year. This contributed to the 12.4% increase 
in underlying profit before tax to £35.3m. 
The strong trading resiliency that the Group 
has demonstrated and the material reduction 
in net debt that has now been achieved 
have enabled the Group to reintroduce a 
dividend payment to shareholders this year. 

This is an important step for all stakeholders in 
Wincanton signifying the completion of the 
recovery journey we have been on and the 
positive outlook that we believe the Group has 
for the future.

Our markets
The UK and Ireland marketplace in which we 
operate has been relatively stable and the 
economy overall has performed positively 
in the financial year ended 31 March 2016. 
We have seen a strong performance year over 
year in the volume of business with our retail 
customers in the household and home-related 
products sectors.

The retail marketplace continues to change 
rapidly with multichannel retail becoming 
increasingly important. We continue to see 
further growth opportunities for the Group in 
this area as a high proportion of multichannel 
logistics operations are still in their infancy 
compared to traditional logistics operations. 
Our scale, operational excellence, technology 
capabilities and innovation means we are well 
placed to partner with retailers to help them 
develop and outsource their multichannel 
logistics operations to a larger extent over the 
coming years.

The retail grocery marketplace remains a 
challenging environment for many of our 
customers due to the combination of the 
changing consumer habits and shopping 
profiles, deflationary pressures on goods and 
price competition from discounters. Our retail 
grocery portfolio has remained broadly stable, 
which is encouraging given the change 
happening in the industry and reflects our 
delivery of continued operational and financial 
performance for customers to help them meet 
the challenges they face in their marketplace. 

The construction marketplace continues to 
perform well although the growth trend in 
the UK market has flattened off over the last 
year, as a number of decisions on projects have 
been delayed in part due to macro-economic 
uncertainty over the future outlook for the 
UK economy.

Wincanton plc Annual Report and Accounts 2016WINCANTON8

Chief Executive’s statement
continued

Other markets in which we operate, such as 
defence, fuels and bulk foods, have remained 
stable over the course of the year and are 
forecast to remain resilient. We continue to look 
for opportunities in these markets to leverage 
our strong existing credentials.

Strategic progress in the year 
ended 31 March 2016
In the year ended 31 March 2016, we made 
the following significant progress against our 
strategic aims and objectives:

Strategic update
We have undertaken a wide-ranging review 
of our operations and strategic aims during 
the year. This review has confirmed that 
the primary markets we serve and the 
geographical regions in which we operate 
remain attractive and our strategic focus 
should continue in these areas. Additionally our 
business performance will continue to be 
driven by:

•  Delivering improvements for our customers 
in our existing operations and retaining 
existing contracts
Improving ‘share of wallet’ with our existing 
customers and focusing on cross-selling of 
our services

• 

•  Acquiring new customers through improved 

prospecting process and innovative 
service propositions

•  Driving ongoing cost reductions and 

cash generation

From the review process we have recognised 
that the key to our future success requires a 
stronger emphasis on: 

•  Placing the customer even closer to the 

heart of our organisation 

•  Key major growth markets and 

opportunities in retail, consumer products 
and construction

•  Developing more innovative propositions 
and solutions which harness the creativity 
of Wincanton and its ability to bring 
collaborative benefits to our customers

Delivering improvements for 
our customers in our existing 
operations and retaining 
existing contracts 
The Group delivered another good 
performance in renewing contracts with 
long-standing customers such as HJ Heinz 
and Müller Milk and Ingredients (previously 
Dairy Crest) during the period, built on the 
foundation of operational excellence, reliability 
and dependability over the long term. 
These renewals extended our relationships 
with these valued customers to 24 and 25 years 
respectively. As with any contracting business 
not all business is retained and the wins noted 
above were balanced by certain contracts we 
exited or which were not renewed during the 
year. These included contracts such as the 
onerous Pullman home shopping contracts 
and the Morrisons convenience grocery 
distribution activity following the disposal of 
their convenience stores.

Improving ‘share of wallet’ with our 
existing customers and focusing on 
cross selling of our services
We have focused our teams on building 
strong relationships with customers to 
ensure we understand their needs and the 
opportunities where we can help add value to 
their businesses. New business wins included 
the entire warehousing operations for one of 
the UK’s leading home and DIY retailers, B&Q, 
where not only was our service proposition 
and excellent record of transition key to the 
customer’s decision to award, our commercial 
offer was also innovative and compelling.

Acquiring new customers through 
improved prospecting process and 
innovative service propositions
We were delighted to be awarded the 
transportation services contract with cycling 
and motoring specialist Halfords and have 
created a strong partnership approach with 
them in our first year of operations. As well as 
taking over an existing central operation we 
have also established a network of out bases 
utilising available space in both our own sites 
and those we operate for other customers. 
This type of collaboration brings financial and 
operational efficiencies to both the customers 
involved and ourselves. 

Other notable wins in the year included 
bulk sugar transportation for British Sugar. 
During the year, we demonstrated our 
innovative and flexible approach with the 
delivery of a number of short term but 
significant projects for customers including a 
‘pop up’ seasonal peak operation for Amazon 
which provided a flexible solution to their 
need to meet volume growth by intelligently 
utilising space within our warehouse 
network. This demonstrated Wincanton’s 
skill at achieving fast start-up operations for 
customers and our ability to create a ‘plug and 
play’ solution that delivers robust operating 
performance from day one.

Driving ongoing cost reductions 
and cash generation
We maintained our underlying operating 
margin reporting 4.4% in 2015/16 (2015: 4.5%). 
Our track record in continuous improvement 
helps our customers in terms of lowering their 
cost of operations in open book contracts and 
supports our margins in closed book contracts. 
This continued drive to improve efficiency 
of operations strongly supports our ability to 
retain existing contracts with customers and 
build long term partnerships.

We continued the year over year trend of 
reducing the level of closing net debt to 
£39.5m (2015: £57.6m) and the average level 
of net debt to £108m (2015: £136m), as a result 
of the continued focus on cash generation, 
improved year round working capital 
management plus the impact of the Records 
Management disposal proceeds of £55.7m.

Wincanton plc Annual Report and Accounts 20169

Future focus
We will look to bring greater focus to deliver 
our growth aspirations and will make some 
adjustments to the operational structure of 
the business by integrating the two remaining 
Specialist businesses, Containers and Pullman, 
within Contract logistics. Both of these 
businesses have a high level of customer 
overlap with Contract logistics customers 
and we will ensure that there is a single point 
of customer relationship accountability in 
the future. 

In future we will manage and report the 
business under two segments as follows:

•  Retail & Consumer – Our existing retail 

business will work more closely with our 
consumer products business to ensure 
that we bring the thought-leadership and 
collaboration opportunities to customers 
vertically through the entire supply chain 
from producer to retailer. From a service 
proposition perspective we will seek to build 
on the substantial existing multichannel 
operations that we run for customers and 
will continue to broaden our offering in the 
e-fulfilment arena to meet the change in 
consumer shopping habits.
Industrial & Transport – This segment will 
seek to maximise the opportunity for 
delivering value to our customers from 
an integrated and optimised transport 
operation. The Containers business will form 
part of this integrated transport operation. 
The Pullman business will also sit within 
this segment as a provider of transport and 
fleet services.

• 

Our people
Our people are core to the great operational 
delivery that Wincanton excels at, working 
to make our customers’ business better 
every day. I would like to thank them for their 
dedication and performance during the year. 
In the year we welcomed more than 1,900 
new colleagues, primarily from the new B&Q 
and Halfords operations, who transferred to 
us as part of new business won in the year. 
Our experience and expertise in the transfer 
and induction of large numbers of employees, 
whilst maintaining service delivery and quality 

in the operation, is a key strength of Wincanton 
and we seek to make these new colleagues 
quickly feel part of the Group and engaged 
to deliver a high level of performance for 
our customers.

In partnership with our customer Screwfix, 
the Wincanton team has been awarded the 
accolade of ‘Supply Chain Team of the Year’ at 
the Retail Week’s annual Supply Chain Awards. 
This leading industry award comes as a result 
of both businesses and their people working 
together to increase innovation, sustainability 
and efficiency for Screwfix customers.

The health and safety of our colleagues is of 
the highest importance and the Group has 
continued to reduce the number of reported 
incidents that occurred in operations during 
the last year. We believe we are industry 
leading in our approach and results and this is 
a great credit to the determination of the entire 
Wincanton team to deliver a safe working 
environment for all colleagues.

During the year, we have maintained our focus 
on driver resourcing and the resiliency this 
programme underpins in our business is a 
real strength of the Group as a proposition to 
customers. We source drivers from as wide a 
pool as possible, conduct and support driver 
training and licence acquisition and do all that 
we can to ensure we retain our driving talent by 
recognising their skills through such events as 
the Wincanton Driver of the Year competition. 
This competition is a year long programme 
that culminates with a final day of competition 
of driving skills, last year at Silverstone circuit, 
celebrating the skills and capabilities of our 
driver population. 

Developing our people is a high priority for 
the Group and the Wincanton Academy is 
now an established part of our development 
programmes, allowing high-performing 
colleagues to grow their skills and expertise 
around customer excellence, leadership and 
commercial finance. Our Accelerate and Get 
Ahead schemes for aspiring managers saw 36 
colleagues participate. Developing a pipeline 
of talent is crucial for the maintenance of 
existing activities and driving the delivery of our 
ambitious growth targets. As part of this drive 
we are also focused on ensuring we maximise 
the opportunities for colleagues irrespective 

of background or gender and evidence of this 
success is that almost half of the delegates on 
our talent programmes are female.

As a founding member of the NOVUS Trust 
initiative the business is working with the 
Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport 
to provide a pipeline of future talent and we 
believe this investment will help to ensure 
both the long term prosperity and also future 
sustainability of not only our business but also 
the wider logistics industry. This year we have 
offered places to graduates from the NOVUS 
backed degree programme from Huddersfield 
University to join the Group.

Summary
As a reflection of the progress the business 
has made in recent years we are especially 
pleased that we are reintroducing dividend 
payments with a proposed final dividend for 
the year of 5.5p payable to shareholders in 
August 2016. This is anticipated to be the start 
of a progressive dividend policy with annual 
growth broadly matched to the growth in 
underlying earnings of the business in future 
years. The reinstatement of the dividend marks 
the start of the next phase for Wincanton 
following the completion of the recovery and 
transformation programme over the last five 
years. We believe that the business is now 
on a strong foundation focused on its core 
activity, having reduced debt and onerous 
lease obligations. It now has the capacity to 
make investments for future growth as well 
as to meet the needs of its key stakeholders. 
Furthermore, we believe the Group is well 
positioned, with a strong track record of 
profitable growth to make further progress 
for the benefit of shareholders and all other 
stakeholders including the pension scheme, 
our customers and all colleagues. We look 
forward to the future with confidence. 

Wincanton plc Annual Report and Accounts 2016WINCANTON10

KPIs

How we measure  
our performance

Revenue
£1,147.4m
+3.6%

+4.4% (excluding WRM)

Underlying EBITDA
£65.4m
+2.0%

+5.3% (excluding WRM)

Underlying operating profit
£50.9m
+2.4%

+5.4% (excluding WRM)

2016

2015

20141

1,147.4

1,107.4

1,098.0

2016

2015

2014

65.4

64.1

63.4

2016

2015

2014

Underlying operating
profit margin
4.4%
-10bps

2016

2015

2014

Underlying EPS
23.9p
+13.3%

Net debt
£39.5m
-31.4%

4.4

4.5

4.4

2016

2015

2014

23.9

21.1

16.6

2016

2015

2014

1  Amounts have been restated for the change in accounting for joint ventures.

50.9

49.7

48.0

39.5

57.6

64.9

Key contract wins and renewals

This year featured a number of significant contract wins and renewals, including:

•  B&Q appointed Wincanton to manage its national distribution 

•  Halfords appointed Wincanton as the sole operator of its national 

network, taking over the management of all six of B&Q’s distribution 
centres. In addition, B&Q also awarded a contract extension for all of 
its kitchen, bedroom and tiles (KBT) deliveries across mainland UK. 
Wincanton has supported B&Q’s Midland region for the last three 
years and was awarded the national transport and final mile contract 
delivery for mainland UK. These new and extended partnerships will 
drive cost-efficiency and provide the highest standards of customer 
service across the whole distribution network.

•  British Sugar awarded a new transport contract to Wincanton. We have 
taken responsibility for transporting approximately 275,000 tonnes of 
packed sugar a year to locations across the UK.

transport, managing more than 80 vehicles to distribute the retailer’s 
goods across the UK.

•  Hope Construction Materials have renewed their current bulk transport 

contract along with the inclusion of additional bagged cement 
volumes to support a new site in the South East. This extended 
partnership will put customer service and supply chain efficiency at 
the heart of the operation.

•  Müller Milk and Ingredients (previously Dairy Crest) renewed its 

distribution contract for a further three years, bringing our relationship 
with them to 25 years.

Wincanton plc Annual Report and Accounts 201611

WE MAKE OUR CUSTOMERS’ BUSINESS BETTER.  
EVERY DAY

Companies are increasingly looking for  
efficient logistics to move their goods 
around the country and respond to changes 
in the marketplace. Over the following 
pages we look at some of the key drivers 
and trends and explain what we are doing 
to help our customers, which in turn will 
help us to grow our business.

Wincanton plc Annual Report and Accounts 2016WINCANTON 
12

WE MAKE OUR CUSTOMERS’ BUSINESS BE T TER .   
E VERY DAY BY

FOCUSING ON OUR PEOPLE

When many people think of Wincanton they 
think of the thousands of drivers carrying 
out deliveries up and down the country, 
but behind the scenes are thousands more, 
supporting, innovating and transforming 
supply chains every single day.

Here at Wincanton, we take pride in how we 
work together. After all, if we want to work in 
partnership with our customers we have to 
demonstrate faultless teamwork ourselves. 

It is this approach that we think sets Wincanton 
apart. At the heart of our business are 
our people.

Besides delivering operational excellence, 
our people are constantly identifying and 
implementing improvements and innovations 
for our business and our customers’ businesses. 
In the last year we have successfully managed 
site expansion plans, systems migrations, new 
technology installations along with many 
continuous improvement actions which 
together make a big difference.

To achieve excellence we make sure 
our people are experts in their fields. 
Nurturing talent is vital. Wincanton works 
hard to develop skills across the business, 
encouraging our colleagues to forge ahead 
with their careers. For example, as a part of 
our leadership development programme, 
aspiring general managers will develop and 
present improvement ideas for the business. 
These range from new ways of working to 
efficiency improvements but they consistently 
draw on the skills of our people and their focus 
on our customers. 

Whether it’s apprenticeships, on-the-job 
learning through the Wincanton Academy 
or our partnership with a leading academic 
research body The Novus Trust, with this 
training and education we are constantly 
pushing the boundaries on how best to create 
a leaner, more agile supply chain. 

Central to this is the open and positive working 
culture we embrace at Wincanton. We carry 
out an annual staff engagement survey, which 
is closely scrutinised to develop a series of 
actions to work on the following year. 

Through this we have seen the difference first 
hand that small changes can make. What might 
seem like a minor adjustment to a particular 
process, when amplified across the business 
delivers at a large scale. Similarly five minutes 
out can unlock the knowledge and experience 
within our teams, not just building relationships 
but triggering new ideas for change.

It’s the same for the UK supply chain. We know 
there is a huge opportunity to achieve more 
in terms of sustainability, efficiency and the 
economy. By working together, we can create 
a safe and sustainable environment for all, 
fostering talent and nurturing growth.

Wincanton plc Annual Report and Accounts 2016WE MAKE OUR CUSTOMERS’ BUSINESS BETTER.  EVERY DAY BY13

WE MAKE OUR CUSTOMERS’ BUSINESS BE T TER .   
E VERY DAY BY

DRIVING SUCCESS

Our drivers play a key role in delivering 
excellent service to our customers and to 
end consumers. They are highly-skilled 
professionals, who display focus and 
determination every working day to keep 
our customers’ business moving whatever 
the weather.

We know that our drivers are among the best 
in the business and they are in high demand, 
not least because of the high standards of 
customer service and everyday excellence 
they deliver.

As a whole, however, our industry is in the 
midst of an acute driver shortage. According to 
figures from the Freight Transport Association, 
over the past 10 years the number of LGV 
drivers has decreased by 12.5%, and the 
logistics sector currently needs to recruit 
around 50,000 extra LGV drivers.

The problem is compounded by the fact that 
the majority of drivers across the logistics 
industry are over the age of 45. With a quarter 

of the 600,000 HGV-licensed drivers in the 
UK due to retire in the next decade, this 
becomes an ever more pressing concern. 
Our experienced, older drivers are a key part of 
our make-up, but as they retire the gap needs 
to be filled.

The challenge is one we are meeting head on, 
with a series of initiatives to recruit new drivers. 
Not only are we reaching out to drivers via 
traditional routes but we are increasingly using 
other channels such as social media to attract 
new recruits. We are also working to promote 
driving as a career, offering a career path from 
the warehouse to the ‘cab’ for colleagues keen 
to progress. We are reaching out to schools 
and colleges to showcase the work we do 
and taking the conversation to influential 
stakeholders in government, the media 
and elsewhere.

Driving is a highly-skilled, rewarding profession, 
but suffers from outdated stereotypes. 
To combat this we are spreading the word that 
it’s time to look again at driving as a career. 

Our initiatives have resulted in a 75% increase 
in new drivers during the year. 

Wincanton is also proactive in retaining its 
talent, by ensuring our drivers are happy in 
their work and are given every opportunity 
to continue to develop. Our STAR driver 
training programme is designed to enhance 
drivers’ skill and ability. We use a sophisticated 
risk-based analysis to ensure targeted 
individual development.

Wincanton’s commitment to safety and 
driver training culminates in our annual Driver 
of the Year competition which showcases 
the professionalism and skills of our drivers. 
From over 1,000 applicants, 28 competed in the 
final and three winners were rewarded for their 
skills, dedication and focus.

Through the work Wincanton is doing, many 
are beginning to recognise the vital role 
drivers play not just for us but for the wider 
UK economy.

Wincanton plc Annual Report and Accounts 2016WINCANTONWE MAKE OUR CUSTOMERS’ BUSINESS BETTER.  EVERY DAY BY14

WE MAKE OUR CUSTOMERS’ BUSINESS BE T TER .   
E VERY DAY BY

MANAGING PEAKS IN DEMAND

We know what it takes to deliver safely and 
on time for our customers every single day. 
However, no two days are alike and each of 
the sectors we work in experiences peaks 
in demand at different times, often for 
different reasons. 

Take retail as an example, which is increasingly 
using holidays to entice and excite shoppers, 
both online and in-store. 

The traditional Christmas peak has now 
widened to include Black Friday and Cyber 
Monday bringing orders in earlier but also 
driving these orders over hours rather 
than days. With many goods coming from 
overseas the Christmas peak in our ports and 
warehouses also comes much earlier.

To cope with the rush we re-assign drivers and 
vehicles from our construction operations, 
which experiences lower demand in the run-
up to Christmas, and redeploy them to support 
our retail operations. We also work closely with 
a number of the UK’s best known retailers to 

provide additional staff for their warehouse and 
pop-up operations during this crucial time.

Herein lies our strength, we are adept at 
deploying our skills to meet each peak head on. 

With 90 years’ experience, Wincanton is 
constantly thinking ahead to make the 
best use of the assets we have and ensure 
our customers can make the most of 
every opportunity. 

Retail has other peaks throughout the year. 
Easter is best known for chocolate, but it is 
also the time of year when homeowners up 
and down the country start on their annual 
DIY projects. With spring in the air, this year 
we helped a major paint manufacturer shift 
tens of thousands of tins over the Easter 
period delivering a welcome spot of colour to 
their sales. 

While these events are predictable others are 
far more fickle. Extending the example, all 
retailers need to adapt quickly to the weather; 
a sunny bank holiday forecast will see demand 
for BBQ food and t-shirts soaring within hours.
There are similar peaks, albeit for different 
reasons, in other sectors Wincanton works in 
such as construction and fuels. 

Wincanton plc Annual Report and Accounts 2016WE MAKE OUR CUSTOMERS’ BUSINESS BETTER.  EVERY DAY BY15

WE MAKE OUR CUSTOMERS’ BUSINESS BE T TER .   
E VERY DAY BY

SUPPORTING OUR ECONOMY

can cut fuel costs, speed up delivery times and 
raise the bar on sustainability. As we enter our 
10th decade, Wincanton is uniquely placed to 
enable these relationships to develop.

We continue to innovate and adopt these new 
developments to stay at the forefront of our 
industry and to provide lasting benefits for 
our customers.

From bricks and mortar to bread and milk, from 
toys and bikes to screws and drills Wincanton 
delivers up and down the country, 24 hours a 
day, 7 days a week, 52 weeks a year.

As the largest British logistics business, we are at 
the forefront of an industry that supports every 
facet of the UK economy. We know the supply 
chain is critical to every business’s success, now 
more than ever.

Fortunately we are part of a forward thinking 
industry. According to Deloitte, 70% of 
companies will use developments such as 
predictive analytics and wearable technology 
to support their supply chains by 2020. 

The Queen, in her annual speech, unveiled the 
Government’s plans to introduce legislation 
to reduce red tape around new technology 
that would enable autonomous driving. 
The Modern Transport Bill will put the UK 
at the forefront of safe technologies in the 

autonomous vehicles industry, such as drones, 
cars and lorries, and will be key in ensuring that 
appropriate insurance is available to support 
the use of autonomous and driverless vehicles. 
Whilst this technology is in an early stage it will 
transform the supply chain and Wincanton 
will look to maximise the benefits of these 
new technologies.

More immediate opportunities include 
increased automation, particularly within 
warehouses and e-fulfilment operations. 
Our transformation teams have successfully 
implemented numerous projects this year to 
automate product handling, speed up picking 
times and improve traceability and accuracy. 

While technology has huge potential for 
increased efficiency, the greatest opportunity 
for immediate change lies in closer 
collaboration. By sharing loads and reducing 
empty running even between competitors we 

Wincanton plc Annual Report and Accounts 2016WINCANTONWE MAKE OUR CUSTOMERS’ BUSINESS BETTER.  EVERY DAY BY16

Our marketplace

Rising to  
the challenges

We embrace the challenges of an evolving industry, which continues to be driven  
in part by the recovering economy and strengthening consumer confidence.

Our aim is to continue delivering consistent high standards across our business to provide our 
customers with the edge that they need to be successful, while internally focusing on new ways 
to improve and innovate our services and offerings to remain competitive.

Main drivers for outsourcing
Outsourcing is a proven route to enhanced business performance for many sectors of the economy. For logistics operations, outsourcing increases 
competitiveness and promotes growth because it:

•  Allows companies to focus on their core areas of expertise
•  Delivers efficiencies, better productivity and reduced costs through the use of specialist providers
•  Enables customers to offer newer, faster and improved levels of service
•  Provides access to a wide range of specialist expertise not available in-house

A resilient market

Market growth forecasts

Contract logistics growth continues to show resilience, and is forecast to continue to grow at a stronger rate than overall GDP, proving that there  
is continued appetite for smarter solutions and collaborative relationships between customers and third party logistics providers: 

The logistics market 
has consistently 
grown above the rate 
of growth of Gross 
Domestic Product (GDP) 
demonstrating the 
resilience of the industry. 
Current forecasts predict 
this will continue.

Real UK GDP growth

2.5%
2015

2.2%
2016

2.2%
2017

2.2%
2018

Real UK contract logistics growth

3.0%
2015

2.7%
2016

2.7%
2017

2.7%
2018

Source: Transport Intelligence

UK contract logistics growth has slowed slightly from the previous year, but has remained at a solid 3%. In real terms contract logistics performance 
within the retail environment is proving to be the stronger area, growing at 4.3%, it was industrial production growth that appeared to be weaker 
throughout the period, at just 1%.

The slight slowdown in terms of growth, albeit still positive, has been reflected in the latest UK Logistics Confidence Index (H2 2015), where 26%  
of respondents believed that business conditions were slightly less positive at the end of the year than they were during the first half.

The impact of the forthcoming referendum on Europe may have an effect on some markets.

Wincanton plc Annual Report and Accounts 201617

Confident consumers

UK consumer confidence saw year on year improvement throughout 2015 (compared to 2014 where the measure remained negative for the large 
majority of the year) as the country looked to stabilise following what has been a difficult financial time, almost without exception, right across Europe. 
The fluctuation in these scores highlights that things remain fragile in terms of consumer confidence with regards to ‘making major purchases’, however 
the overall increase in confidence has remained a positive driving force throughout the last year. 

This increase in consumer confidence has given the retail environment a boost, allowing it to have a busy year, with the usual key trading milestones 
now underpinned with the additional promotional days, Black Friday and Cyber Monday. However, customers remain focused on service and price 
leading to a competitive marketplace.

The multichannel and online retail influence on bricks and mortar operations continues to be closely monitored; in general the high street is still 
managing to maintain buoyant trade, but with online retailing going from strength-to-strength it will remain under pressure. Supply chain models are 
now constantly evolving in order to optimise and accommodate the changes in consumer buying behaviour. The growth in multichannel retailing 
remains an exciting challenge.

Consumers have also continued to make larger purchases, something that can be seen in the growth of house sales in the year. This is also positive 
for other sectors that we service including the construction industry, which according to the Construction Trade Survey, was buoyant throughout the 
financial year, with consecutive growth throughout. This was seen across the sector from building product manufacturers upward to large contractors. 

Europe and the UK in particular, has been a hotbed of merger and acquisition activity (with the likes of XPO’s acquisition of Norbert Dentressangle). 
In recent times there have been a considerable number of competitor collaborations, which in itself is accountable for changing the dynamics of the 
industry. As the fragmented logistics marketplace becomes more and more competitive there is a growing emphasis on maintaining and renewing 
existing customer contracts. The outcome of this is a general review of operations, investment in more innovative solutions and stronger focus on 
customer relationships and account management. 

Consumer confidence

Consumer Confidence Index
Personal Finance Situation of Household
Climate for major purchases – is now the right time to buy?

Source: GfK Consumer Confidence Index

18

16

14

12

10

8

6

4

2

0

–2

Apr-15

May-15

Jun-15

Jul-15

Aug-15

Sep-15

Oct-15

Nov-15

Dec-15

Jan-16

Feb-16

Mar-16

Wincanton plc Annual Report and Accounts 2016WINCANTON18

Business model

How we  
create value

As supply chain experts we are focused on improving our customers’ operations whether 
this is service levels, customer satisfaction, cost to serve or by running safe operations. 
In order to do this we draw on all our expertise and resources from across the Group.

THE RESOURCES 
WE NEED

WHAT WE DO

Skilled knowledge and 
expertise of our people 

Our people are at the heart of 
Wincanton and their skills and 
expertise enable customers to 
achieve their goals.

Flexible warehouse 
facilities

Actively managed portfolio 
of Wincanton and customer 
locations from dedicated to 
shared user.

Multimodal 
transport options 

Owned and managed vehicles 
as well as rail to deliver a flexible, 
safe and efficient service.

Proven technology 
and logistics systems 

Integrated systems providing 
our customers with visibility 
and control.

We solve our customers’ problems through  
our people and our innovative ideas.
As experts in our field we work with 
our customers to help them to achieve 
their goals and solve their challenges. 
We can design and evaluate transport 
networks and find the solutions that 
balance costs with service. We can create 
and build high density, automated 
warehouses or high volume pick and 
pack e-commerce operations. 

However it does not stop there. Our IT 
teams can specify and deploy warehouse 
management solutions, manage them 
in-life and migrate them to alternative 
systems. Our HR team can transfer 
employees (in line with TUPE legislation), 
handle large workforces, build effective 
teams and develop employees. 

Open book operations

59%

In open book contracts, we typically 
receive a management fee plus revenues 
equal to our operating costs for providing 
outsourced supply chain activities, with the 
ability to earn additional fees by meeting 
certain operational or financial targets.

We usually operate properties and vehicles 
for customers on their behalf. Alternatively, 

we may take on these properties and 
vehicles, provided there is no risk exposure 
at the end of the contract. In the same way, 
we aim to minimise any employee-related 
liabilities at the contract end. This means 
that while open book contracts provide 
relatively modest margins, they do not 
involve substantial business risk.

Wincanton plc Annual Report and Accounts 201619

THE VALUE  
WE CREATE

Customer 
focused delivery 

Whether delivering to a depot, 
store or end consumer our aim 
is to provide a leading customer 
experience.

More efficient 
supply chains 

Through improving service, 
reducing waste and maximising 
capacity across all aspects of 
the supply chain.

A safer environment 
for all 

By maintaining a solid focus 
on the health and safety of our 
employees, visitors and the 
communities we serve.

Sustainable operations 

Through driving reductions in 
our emissions via investment, 
awareness, training and 
recognition.

Shareholder value 

Rigorous management of our 
business, our costs and our risks.

CO2

Our property team can source warehouses 
across the UK and Ireland, manage leases 
and seek collaborative opportunities to 
maximise space. Our innovation team 
implement leading edge technology 
and drive continuous improvement 
initiatives with over 700 Lean Six Sigma 
trained specialists.

All of this comes together in the solutions 
that we design, implement and run for 
our customers. From the initial concepts 
through to the implementation, our 
project teams are formed to create 
a compelling solution pulling from 
operational experts across Wincanton. 
Our approach ensures that what we 
design will work in practice. 

Closed book operations

41%

Closed book operations see us retaining 
the principal financial opportunity along 
with manageable and controllable risks. 
Customers maintain the risks outside of 
our control (eg fuel costs). We seek to 
make higher margins across our closed 
book operations within the limits of a 
competitive market.

Wincanton plc Annual Report and Accounts 2016WINCANTON20

 Corporate responsibility

Working  
responsibly

Our people
Our people are at the core of our business. 
Whether they are delivering day to day 
operational excellence, driving business 
transformation or working together to deliver 
Group-wide projects; we develop, involve 
and engage our people to ensure they are 
fully informed and motivated. We believe this 
makes a difference in everything they do. 

We are particularly proud that 20% of our 
workforce has over 10 years service, testament 
to an engaging working environment.

Diversity
We employ over 17,500 people across the UK 
and Ireland. We are committed to the creation 
and support of a truly diverse and equal 
working environment with opportunities for 
all. This is reflected clearly within our policies 
and processes. 

In an industry where gender balance is unequal 
we are engaged in a number of activities, such 
as focused recruitment and development, 
to ensure that we address this imbalance 
and promote equal opportunities. We are 
delighted that one of our female warehouse 
team managers was selected as a finalist for the 
FTA Everywoman in Transport and Logistics 
annual awards.

Developing our people
At the heart of our employment strategy is 
the attraction, development and retention 
of talented individuals. We believe this 
is critical to our success. The Wincanton 
Academy, our bespoke approach to learning 
and development, supports capability 
development throughout the Group to create 
high-performing teams and deliver business 
success. The Academy provides tailored, 
business-relevant learning and development 
solutions, to deliver value to individuals, the 
organisation and our customers. Our aim is 
to ensure a robust internal talent pipeline 
which meets the evolving needs of the 
business and provides clear career paths for 
all our colleagues. 

Our training and development incorporates 
blended learning such as work-based projects, 
customer interaction and engagement, and 
experiential learning. Since the inception of 
the Academy in 2012/13, our unique learning 
approaches have delivered cost savings and 
efficiencies in excess of £3.5m and an enviable 
internal promotion rate of approximately 
75%. We are incredibly proud that our talent 
programmes have seen increased gender 
diversity, from 11% female delegates in 2013, 
to 44% in 2016. 

Engaging with our people
Colleague engagement levels, as measured 
by our ‘Your Voice’ survey, remain strong. 
We’re proud to have improved our best in 
class levels of participation, achieving an 80% 
response rate, an improvement of 4% on the 
previous year. The results have enabled the 
development of targeted and robust action 
plans at both Group and local level, with 
colleague participation being central to their 
continued success. This includes our Senior 
Visibility programme with 24 of our senior 
managers visiting multiple sites across the UK 
to improve engagement with our colleagues.

These activities re-enforce our vision, mission 
and values which we launched in early 
2015. The collaborative approach, inclusive 
communications process and subsequent 
follow-up have ensured that our vision, mission 
and values have been brought to life and 
quickly embedded in our culture. Further local 
and Group level activities are constantly 
being developed and implemented which 
has maintained the energy and enthusiasm 
generated by the successful launch.

Our vision, mission and values are now embedded 
into our culture following a successful rollout and 
continued activities

Wincanton plc Annual Report and Accounts 201621

Response rate of our  
engagement survey ‘Your Voice’

Employees promoted internally 
through the Wincanton Academy

80%

75%

Lost Time Incident  
Frequency Rate (LTIFR)

0.71*

umbrella of, and managed by, the Chartered 
Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT). 
NOVUS is working in partnership with 
Huddersfield University to develop and supply 
high calibre, commercially astute graduates 
into the logistics industry, thereby creating 
a pipeline of talent for the future.

Health and Safety
Safety continues to be a top priority within the 
Group. We have built on our performance and 
equalled our best ever result achieving a Lost 
Time Incident Frequency Rate (LTIFR) of 0.71*. 
Our targets are industry leading and focus on 
continuous sustainable improvement.

As we have driven our safety culture forward, 
the engagement from colleagues in the 
business has grown with an increase in hazard 
reporting and colleagues feeling empowered 
to drive safety at site level.

Birds Triangle  
Commonly used safety graphic demonstrating  
the frequency of events until a single conclusion

The focus on drivers has been crucial and the 
development of a driver programme to target 
key areas of improvement has been completed.

Compliance remains high, as are the basic 
safety standards across the Group. Audits are 
completed on a risk basis with the operations 
that need additional focus receiving this 
through the safety team.

We have focused throughout the year 
on improving management information 
to analyse trends to drive performance. 
The primary measure has remained LTIFR with 
a strong emphasis on Total Incident Frequency 
Rate (TIFR) with the ultimate goal being to 
move down the safety triangle and further 
address causes.

*  Number of LTIs per 100,000 hours worked.

Fatalities

Major injuries/ 
RIDDOR

Lost Time Accidents

All accidents

Near miss reporting

Wincanton plc 
Annual Report and Accounts 2016

Valuing our drivers
As a result of the well publicised national 
driver shortage in the UK, we remain acutely 
focused and committed to our driver 
population, as a critical asset of our business. 
This is demonstrated by our activities during 
the year on resourcing, health and well-being, 
and training and development, plus focused 
actions in response to colleague feedback 
from the last ‘Your Voice’ engagement survey. 
The approach that we have taken has seen 
targeted solutions implemented which have 
been tailored for specific requirements and 
have resulted in a 75% increase in our new 
starters over the past 12 months. We have 
embedded long term partnerships with a 
number of external bodies to establish a 
sustained driver resource pipeline and continue 
to support colleague training to deliver 
internal succession.

Offering graduate opportunities
Our talent strategy is clearly focused on 
the attraction of high calibre employees 
into the Group, and offering appropriate 
and challenging career opportunities 
within logistics. 

As part of our wider commitment to the 
attraction of talent into the logistics industry, 
we are one of the founding members of the 
award winning NOVUS Trust initiative, a not 
for profit organisation operating under the 

Wincanton plc Annual Report and Accounts 2016WINCANTON22

Corporate responsibility
continued

Winners of Wincanton’s 
Driver of the Year 2015

Wincanton’s commitment 
to safety and driver training 
techniques culminates 
in its annual Driver of 
Year competition

Emissions from managed
supplies tonnes CO2e

2

Environmental principles
Wincanton uses its environmental principles to guide the Group in identifying and managing 
the impact of its operations on the environment. These principles are set out below:

1 Integrate
We will integrate environmental considerations into key business decisions.

1

2 Develop
We will develop progressive products and services that help our customers improve their 
environmental performance.

1  Transport (Scope 1) 
2  Non-transport (Scope 1, 2) 

78%
22%

CDP disclosure score 
The Group has been submitting fully collated 
data to the CDP (formerly the Carbon Disclosure 
Project) for the past five years. The CDP is 
the leading international index of climate 
change and carbon management maturity for 
companies. Since 2011, our CDP disclosure score 
has risen significantly from 56% to 95% currently. 

CDP disclosure score
95%

2015

2014

2013

2012

2011

95%

83%

75%

70%

56%

3 Management systems
We will ensure operational excellence and legal compliance through the operation of 
environmental management systems and the provision of training for employees.

4 Measure
We will monitor, measure and continuously improve our environmental performance.

5 Communicate
We will communicate our progress to our customers, employees and investors.

6 Carbon emissions
We will minimise the consumption of fossil fuels and the associated emissions of carbon dioxide, 
and other greenhouse gases.

7 Resources
We will minimise our consumption of non-renewable and environmentally sensitive resources.

8 Waste
We will minimise the amount of waste produced through prevention, reuse and recycling.

9 Pollution
We will prevent ground and water pollution and minimise emissions of airborne pollutants.

10 Communication
We will minimise the negative impact of our activities on local communities and engage 
positively with the communities in which we operate.

Wincanton plc Annual Report and Accounts 2016External reporting  
and recognition

Carbon Trust Standard
The Group continues to hold the Carbon Trust 
Standard, against which we have been certified 
since 2010. We expect to re-certify during 
2016/17.

Retail Week Supply Chain Awards
Screwfix, in partnership with the Group, were 
awarded the accolade of ‘Supply Chain Team of 
the Year’ at Retail Week’s annual Supply Chain 
Awards. The award comes as a result of the 
businesses working in partnership to improve 
innovation, sustainability and efficiency for 
Screwfix’s customers.

23

for business travel in Group driven vehicles. 
The Group has also included its consumption 
of refrigerant fluorinated gases as a scope 1 
emission and has not excluded any emissions 
sources on the basis of any Group defined 
materiality threshold.

The Group is a participant in the UK CRC Energy 
Efficiency Scheme and all CRC qualifying 
emissions are included in our scope 1 and 2 
carbon emissions figures.

The Group complied with the UK Energy 
Saving Opportunities Scheme’s (ESOS) original 
deadline of 5 December 2015 and has utilised 
the costed energy saving measures identified 
to inform internal environmental target setting 
for the period to 2020. In this way we have tried 
to derive full value from compliance with the 
ESOS legislation.

Reducing the carbon 
intensity ratio
The Group sets internal targets for carbon 
emissions reduction, which are absolute 
in nature and encourage us to decouple 
emissions performance from business 
performance. Changes in business activity 
do affect emissions however, so we utilise 
a ‘carbon intensity’ measure to optimise 
the carbon efficiency of our operations 
wherever possible.

The Group defines its carbon intensity as 
total scope 1 and 2 carbon emissions from 
managed supplies per unit of revenue.

Wincanton’s carbon intensity ratio for the 
year ended 31 March 2016 was 340 tonnes 
of carbon dioxide equivalent (tCO2e) per £m 
of revenue. This is down from previous year 
because, whilst we have seen revenue growth, 
our carbon emissions are unchanged, thereby 
reducing our overall carbon intensity. 

See the summary results table provided:

2013/14

2014/15

2015/16 

302,805 304,747 293,557

Carbon emissions 
(tCO2e)
Transport  
(scope 1)
Non-transport 
(scope 1 & 2)
94,856
84,938
Total emissions  387,744 387,378 388,413
Carbon intensity 
(tCO2e/£m)

82,631

340

350

355

Environmental strategy
During 2015/16, the Group updated its 
environment strategy to identify an action 
plan designed to deliver the Group’s goal of 
“a safe and sustainable environment for all”. 
Execution of the action plan will continue 
to build our reputation for delivering 
environmentally sustainable logistics through a 
focus on operational excellence and innovative 
product leadership.

For our customers we know that a well 
managed supply chain plays a key role in 
mitigating their impact on the environment. 
The Group therefore has an important part 
to play in helping customers achieve their 
wider environmental goals. The Group 
supports customers by identifying efficiencies, 
promoting collaborative working and 
by offering significant expertise and 
experience in managing environmentally 
sustainable logistics. 

Greenhouse gas (carbon) 
emissions
The Group recognises continuous 
improvement and operational excellence 
is enhanced by robust environmental 
governance and management systems. 

The environmental management system 
we operate is certified to ISO14001 and 
responsibility for our environment programme 
sits with the Group HSE Committee. 
The Committee is chaired by the Group HSE 
Director and attended by members of the 
Executive Management Team.

The Group’s reporting system measures 
performance on a monthly basis for a range 
of indicators. This gives business sectors 
visibility of environmental parameters and 
allows improvement and corrective action 
project planning.

The Group prepares its carbon emissions 
information in line with the guidance provided 
by the Carbon Disclosure Standards Board 
(CDSB) Framework 1.1. Emissions categorisation 
and organisational boundaries are as per 
the GHG Protocol Corporate Standard for 
operational control. Carbon Factors are as per 
Defra/DECC conversion factors for company 
reporting 2015 with both electricity generation 
and distribution emissions being included in 
the scope 2 emissions.

We currently record energy and fuel use 
for managed supplies, which includes all 
supplies that are wholly or partially managed 
at sites operated by Wincanton for itself 
or its customers, irrespective of whether 
the fuel and/or energy is purchased by the 
Group. The sources of emissions include road 
transport fuels; fuels for non-road transport 
uses; energy utilities for buildings and fuel 

Wincanton plc Annual Report and Accounts 2016WINCANTON 
 
 
24

Financial review

A strong operating and  
financial platform

“IN THE LIGHT OF CONTINUED IMPROVEMENT IN REDUCING  
THE GROUP’S NET DEBT FOLLOWING THE DISPOSAL OF WRM 
THE BOARD HAS PROPOSED A DIVIDEND.”

Tim Lawlor 
Chief Financial Officer

Wincanton plc Annual Report and Accounts 201625

2016  
£m 
1,147.4
65.4
50.9
4.4%
(15.6)
35.3
(4.5)
35.0
65.8
61.1
23.9p
5.5p
(39.5)

2015  
£m
1,107.4
64.1
49.7
4.5%
(18.3)
31.4
(6.5)
–
24.9
19.3
21.1p
–
(57.6)

Performance summary

Revenue
Underlying EBITDA
Underlying operating profit
Underlying operating margin (%)
Net financing costs 
Underlying profit before tax
Amortisation of acquired intangibles
Exceptionals
Profit before tax
Profit after tax
Underlying EPS (p)
Dividend per share
Closing net debt

Construction
According to the UK Government the 
number of starts and completions on 
new build homes continued to rise 
to the highest levels since the 2008 
recession. Figures released in November 
2015 showed that the total number of 
new homes in the country rose by 25% 
over 2014 to 2015.

In the year ended 31 March 2016, Wincanton 
reported revenue of £1,147.4m (2015: £1,107.4m), 
which represents a year on year increase of 
3.6% (4.4% excluding WRM from both years). 
A strong performance on new business wins 
and additional volumes in particular with retail 
general merchandise customers plus higher 
volumes in construction were partially offset 
by the impact from contract exits and losses 
and the disposal of the Records Management 
business part way through the year. 

Underlying operating profit grew by 2.4% to 
£50.9m (2015: £49.7m), providing an underlying 
operating margin of 4.4% marginally down 
from 4.5% in the prior year. Excluding the 
profits of the disposed Records Management 
business, underlying operating profit was 
£48.7m, up 5.4% from £46.2m in 2015, with 
margins consistent at 4.3%.

Net financing costs were £15.6m (2015: £18.3m), 
£2.7m lower year on year. Financing charges 
consist of interest payable on loans and finance 
leases of £9.9m (2015: £11.0m) and £5.7m of 
non-cash items (2015: £7.3m) in relation to 
pension financing charges and the unwinding 
of discounts on provisions. 

Amortisation of acquired intangibles of £4.5m 
are £2.0m lower than the prior year as balances 
relating to the acquired containers businesses 
were fully amortised at the end of March 2015.

On 4 November 2015, the Group announced 
the disposal of the Records Management 
business, for an enterprise value of £60m, on 
a cash and debt free basis, and resulting in 
a pre-tax exceptional gain of £32.4m as set 
out below. 

Profit on disposal of Records Management:

Enterprise value
Tax and working capital adjustments

Assets disposed of:
Tangible fixed assets
Stock
Debtors

Transaction and other associated costs
Profit on disposal

£m
60.0
(4.3)
55.7

(16.4)
(0.2)
(0.6)
(17.2)
(6.1)
32.4

The cash proceeds of £55.7m received is 
after the deduction for retained working 
capital of £2.4m and certain tax costs of 
£1.9m. Proceeds have been used primarily to 
reduce the Group’s M&G fixed interest debt. 
In addition, a further deficit recovery payment 
of £7m has been made to the Wincanton 
Pension Scheme. 

In addition to the gain on sale, exceptionals 
include a £2.6m credit arising from a release 
of warranty balances established on the sale 
of the European operations in 2012.

Tax in the year was a charge of £4.7m 
compared with £5.6m in the prior year, a 
reduction due to the fall in the tax rate together 
with the utilisation of brought forward losses. 
Underlying earnings per share of 23.9p 
increased by 13.3% from 21.1p in the prior year 
reflecting the improved operating profit and 
the lower net financing and underlying tax 
charges year over year. Basic earnings per share 
was 50.7p compared with 16.6p in 2014/15, the 
increase also reflecting the exceptionals and 
lower amortisation charges.

Wincanton plc Annual Report and Accounts 2016WINCANTON26

Financial review
continued

Trading

Revenue
Underlying operating profit
Margin (%)

The Group’s internal management structure 
in the year to 31 March 2016 aligned the 
Group under two sectors; Contract logistics, 
which is a provider of supply chain logistics 
solutions and services and Specialist businesses 
consisting of Containers, Wincanton Records 
Management and Pullman. This structure has 
been constant in both years to 31 March 2016 
and hence the segments disclosure remains 
unchanged. Following the disposal of Records 
Management and the resultant reduction in 
the size of the Specialist businesses segment, 
the Group has reviewed its operational 
and reporting structure. With effect from 
1 April 2016, the Group has reorganised its 
operations into two operating segments, 
Retail & Consumer and Industrial & Transport. 
Reporting will be aligned with this structure 
and from 1 April 2016, the segment information 
disclosed will reflect this change.

Contract logistics
The Contract logistics business reported 
revenues of £979.2m in the year, a 5.4% year 
on year increase compared with the £928.8m 
reported in the year to 31 March 2015. 
The contractual split of this segment between 
open and closed book remains relatively 
constant at 69% open book (2015: 67%).

Contract logistics
2015/16

£979.2m

6

5

4

3

1

2

1 Retail general merchandise 
2 Retail grocery 
3 FMCG 
4 Construction 
5 Tankers and bulk 
6 Other 

£261.5m
£229.8m
£188.1m
£153.1m
£80.0m
£66.7m

Contract  
logistics
979.2
48.4
4.9%

Specialist 
businesses
168.2
2.5
1.5%

2016  
£m

Total
1,147.4
50.9
4.4%

Contract  
logistics
928.8
44.8
4.8%

Specialist  
businesses
178.6
4.9
2.7%

2015  
£m

Total
1,107.4
49.7
4.5%

The split of Contract logistics revenue by sub 
sector is as follows:

Construction
FMCG
Retail grocery
Retail general 
merchandise 
Tankers and bulk
Other 

2016  
£m
153.1
188.1
229.8

261.5
80.0
66.7
979.2

2015  
£m
135.2
179.7
237.4

221.2
94.6
60.7
928.8

The revenue increase was driven primarily by 
strong volumes and new business wins in the 
retail general merchandise and construction 
sectors, together with good volume 
performance in the FMCG sector.

The business successfully concluded a number 
of important renewals and extensions of 
services with key customers in the year. 
New business wins in the retail general 
merchandise sector included a five-year 
contract to operate B&Q’s distribution centres, 
a three-year agreement for transport logistics 
with Halfords and the expansion of our services 
for B&Q to include home delivery services for 
their Kitchens, Bedrooms and Tiles products. 
Additionally, in the defence business the 
Group extended the breadth and length of its 
contract with BAE Systems where it manages 
goods inspection, storage and packing, and 
transportation services into their Military Air 
and Information division. 

The Group also successfully renewed business 
with long-standing customers such as HJ Heinz 
and Müller Milk and Ingredients (previously 
Dairy Crest) during the period, taking our 
relationship with these valued customers to 
over 24 and 25 years respectively.

In a contracting business such as Wincanton 
inevitably the new business growth has been 
partially offset by contract losses and exits 
due to changes in customer requirements or 
transfers to alternative providers. During the 
period, these included the cessation of activity 
with Morrisons in the third quarter following 
the announcement of the sale of their 
convenience store network. In both tankers 
and retail grocery revenue has been lower in 
the period due to reduced volumes and the 
in-sourcing of a contract in each sector. 

Underlying operating profit for the year was 
£48.4m, up 8.0% on the £44.8m reported 
last year. 

Specialist businesses
The Specialist businesses segment of the 
Group comprises Wincanton container 
logistics, Wincanton Records Management 
up to the date of its disposal, and the vehicle 
maintenance and repair business, Pullman. 

These Specialist businesses operate almost 
entirely under a closed book model. Whilst the 
three activities are identifiable sub sectors, and 
for information the revenue split is given in 
the table below, these have been managed as 
one segment.

Containers
Pullman
Records 
Management*

2016  
£m
79.7
73.6

14.9
168.2

2015  
£m
81.0
75.2

22.4
178.6

* Disposed of with effect from 8 December 2015.

Revenue for this segment was £168.2m, 
5.8% down on the previous year of £178.6m. 
Underlying operating margin fell to 1.5% 
(2015: 2.7%) and underlying operating profit 
reduced to £2.5m (2015: £4.9m). As previously 
highlighted, the reduction in both margin and 
operating profit in the sector are attributable 
to the disposal of Records Management and 
the losses suffered in the Pullman business, 
primarily due to two loss making contracts 
in its home shopping operation. During the 
year, Pullman continued its recovery plan 
which included the introduction of a 
new management team, successful exit 
from the two loss making contracts and 
commencement of a turnaround of other 
underperforming elements of the Pullman 
business. As a result of the progress, Pullman’s 
trading returned to profitability in the second 
half of the year. Furthermore, the final months 
of operation and exit from the onerous home 
shopping contracts were managed better 
than expected and the losses on these two 
contracts through to closure were lower in the 
second half than anticipated.

Wincanton plc Annual Report and Accounts 2016 
Retail
Throughout December 2015, total online 
sales rose 12.1% year on year as consumer 
purchasing behaviour continues to 
advance, with average weekly online sales 
reaching a record high of £1.1bn. 

(Source: Retail Economics).

27

The Container transport market continues to 
be competitive but it presents a number of 
opportunities for the business, in particular 
in growing with customers serviced in the 
Contract logistics segment.

Records Management produced a strong 
organic growth performance up to the date 
of disposal.

Net financing costs

Bank interest payable 
on loans/leases
Interest receivable
Net interest payable
Discounts unwinding 
re provisions
Pension financing 
item
Net financing costs

2016  
£m

10.1
(0.2)
9.9

1.3

4.4
15.6

2015  
£m

11.2
(0.2)
11.0

2.3

5.0
18.3

Financing costs, related to the Group’s debt, 
of £10.1m reduced by £1.1m compared to the 
prior year charge of £11.2m, principally due 
to the lower average debt in the year which 
was £28m lower at £108m (2015: £136m) and 
following the repayment of £50m of the M&G 
debt in the final quarter of the year. The non-
cash financing items total £5.7m (2015: £7.3m) 
and comprise the discounts unwinding on 
the Group’s long term provisions for onerous 
property leases and insurance claims plus the 
pensions financing charge in respect of the 
defined benefit deficit.

Taxation
The tax charge of £4.7m (2015: £5.6m) reflects 
an effective tax rate on underlying profits of 
18.4% (2015: 22.0%). This reduction is a result 
of the drop in the main UK corporation tax 
rate from 21% to 20% and from 20% to 18% in 
respect of the deferred tax rate, together with 
utilisation of brought forward losses recognised 
in the period. This has resulted in an effective 
tax rate slightly below the standard UK rate for 
the current year, as compared to marginally 
above in the prior year. The factors influencing 
the effective tax rate in 2015/16 are expected 
to remain reasonably constant, resulting in an 
effective tax rate continuing slightly below the 
headline UK rate for the foreseeable future.

The Group paid cash tax in the current year of 
£3.1m, lower by £1.1m compared to the prior 
year payment of £4.2m, primarily as the Group 
received a refund of overpaid tax of £1.8m in 
respect of finalisation of prior year tax returns. 
The cash tax payable continues to trend below 
the underlying charge due to the impact of tax 
relief on the pension deficit recovery payments 
made in the year. This is expected to continue 
going forward. 

The total deferred tax asset carried forward 
at 31 March 2016 has reduced to £22.8m 
(2015: £30.3m), primarily as a result of the 
reduction in the pension deficit and the 
deferred tax asset thereon.

Profit after tax, earnings  
per share and dividend
The profit after tax reported for the Group for 
the year of £61.1m compares to £19.3m in the 
prior year.

These retained earnings translate to a basic 
earnings per share of 50.7p (2015: 16.6p), the 
year on year increase primarily driven by the 
exceptional gain on the disposal of Records 
Management recognised in the year. As set 
out in note 7 the Group reports an alternative, 
underlying earnings per share figure, excluding 
the impact of amortisation of acquired 
intangibles and the exceptional gain, which  
has increased year on year by 13.3% to 23.9p 
from 21.1p.

Dividends
In light of the continued improvement in the 
Group’s net debt position and the Board’s 
confidence in the Group’s strategy, the Board 
has proposed a final dividend of 5.5p. In setting 
the dividend the Board has considered a 
range of factors, including the Group’s strategy 
(including downside sensitivities), the current 
and projected level of distributable reserves 
and projected cash flows.

In future years, the Board expects to show 
progressive dividend growth broadly matched 
with growth in underlying earnings. We expect 
that the interim and final dividend split will be 
broadly one-third / two-thirds.

Wincanton plc Annual Report and Accounts 2016WINCANTONFMCG
The packaged goods industry is driving 
demand for smarter solutions around 
areas such as automation, co-packing, 
and collaboration. There is a shared 
goal to reduce costs whilst maintaining 
optimised service levels, which is driving 
innovation across the sector.

28

Financial review
continued

Financial position
The summary financial position of the Group is 
set out below:

Non-current assets
Net current liabilities 
(ex net debt)
Non-current liabilities 
(ex net debt/pension 
deficit)
Net debt 
Pensions deficit  
(gross of deferred tax)
Net liabilities 

2016  
£m
148.5

2015  
£m
185.4

(150.9)

(203.2)

(36.8)
(39.5)

(105.6)
(184.3)

(42.1)
(57.6)

(144.2)
(261.7)

The movement in the year of £77.4m is 
principally due to retained profit for the year 
of £61.1m following the Records Management 
disposal. In addition, the remeasurement in 
the pension deficit, net of deferred tax, is a 
small gain of £16.0m which is attributable to 
the higher discount rate prevailing at 31 March 
2016, offset by a fall in the market value of 
assets held by the Scheme. 

Financing and covenants
The Group’s committed facilities at the year 
end were £215m and the headroom in these 
committed facilities to reported net debt 
at 31 March 2016 was £176m (2015: £242m). 
The Group also has additional operating 
overdrafts which provide day to day flexibility 
and amount to a further £11m in uncommitted 
facilities. Sterling and Euro pools are operated 
and whenever possible, surplus cash is netted 
against overdrafts.

The Group’s facilities comprise the following: 
the main bank facility of £170m which 
amortises by £10m in June 2016 and each 
year thereafter until it matures in June 
2019; £25m from the Prudential/M&G UK 
Companies Financing Fund LP, which matures 
in January 2022, after four equal repayments 
commencing in January 2019; and the 
balance of the US Private Placement debt of 
£20m which matures in November 2016. It is 
expected that the US Private Placement debt 
will be redeemed from cash generated in the 
year and other existing facilities. 

During the year, the Group fully repaid the 
maturing element of its US Private Placement 
debt of £34m and repaid £50m of the 
Prudential/M&G UK Companies Financing 
Fund LP, the latter using proceeds from the 
disposal of Records Management. 

The Group maintains a mix of hedging 
instruments (swaps) to give an appropriate 
level of protection against changes in interest 
rates. At the year end, £45m of debt was at fixed 
rates and the balance at floating rates.

Wincanton operates comfortably within its 
banking covenants, as summarised in the 
table below:

Covenant 
Adjusted net debt: 
EBITDA
Interest cover
Fixed charge cover

Ratio

At 31 March 
2016

<2.75:1
>3.5:1
>1.4:1

1.07
7.7
2.4

Net debt and cash flows
Group net debt at the year end was £39.5m 
(2015: £57.6m), representing a net cash inflow 
in the year of £18.1m. This inflow reflects cash 
generated from operations offset by the 
settlement of a number of significant onerous 
lease liabilities in the second half. The cash 
proceeds from the Records Management 
disposal of £55.7m, less the pension scheme 
contribution and other payments, have 
reduced the absolute level of debt in the 
second half, although this is partly offset in the 
closing reported debt position by a managed 
reduction in working capital movements at the 
year end, with an associated reduction in trade 
payables of £37.3m from last year. The Group’s 
average level of net debt during the year was 
reduced by £28m from £136m in 2014/15 to 
£108m in 2015/16 from the cash generation 
of the business and, in part, the disposal 
proceeds received in late 2015. Going forward 
our reported year end closing net debt will be 
more aligned to our reported average net debt 
as we lower intra-period volatility of cash and 
working capital and closing net debt will be 
a good proxy for the overall indebtedness of 
the Group.

Wincanton plc Annual Report and Accounts 2016The Group’s cash flows can be summarised in 
the following table:

Underlying operating 
profit
Depreciation and 
amortisation
EBITDA
Net capital 
expenditure
Net financing costs
Pension deficit 
payment
Disposal of WRM
Onerous leases
Working capital 
movement
Tax/other
Total

2016  
£m

50.9

14.5
65.4

(6.0)
(9.1)

(20.9)
55.7
(7.7)

(51.8)
(7.5)
18.1

2015  
£m

49.7

14.4
64.1

(9.7)
(12.6)

(14.4)
–
(12.1)

(1.6)
(6.4)
7.3

Included in the net financing cost outflows last 
year was £2.6m of arrangement fees payable in 
respect of the new refinancing facility agreed 
and the latest tranche of the M&G facility 
fee (£nil for 2015/16). The amount of cash 
interest paid, excluding fees, of £8.5m reduced 
significantly in the year reflecting the lower 
level of average net debt compared to the 
prior year. The average borrowing rate on debt 
including all fees, but excluding the non-cash 
items of discounts unwinding and pension 
financing charges, is 8.3% (7.3% in 2014/15) this 
has increased year on year due to the fixed fee 
element forming a larger proportion of the 
overall financing costs. 

Net capital expenditure totalled £6.0m 
(2015: £9.7m). The year on year reduction 
is driven by the increase in receipts from 
sales of end of contract assets in the year 
of £4.4m (2015: £0.5m). Gross capital spend 
of £10.4m in the year was in line with prior 
years (2015: £10.3m) with key projects 
including £1.3m for specialist vehicles for 
construction, £1.0m for racking and other fit 
out in Records Management sites prior to sale 
and lastly £3.4m on the Group’s information 
systems infrastructure.

29

The cash outflows in respect of the onerous 
lease liabilities in the year ended 31 March 2016 
were £7.7m, a £4.4m reduction compared to 
the prior year of £12.1m. This is in line with the 
previously expressed view that the Group’s 
cash exposure to these onerous leases will fall 
materially over time. During the year the Group 
successfully secured a number of agreements 
to exit from certain properties and to settle 
remaining dilapidations discussions. In the 
coming year to 31 March 2017, and subsequent 
years, the cash outflows in respect of onerous 
property leases are forecast to continue 
to reduce.

The working capital outflow of £(51.8)m 
compared to prior year outflow of £(1.6)m  
reflects the reduced scope of year end working 
capital movements.

The Group also acquired £4.5m of its own 
shares (2015: £nil) in order to satisfy extant 
share awards.

Pensions
The Group operates a number of pension 
arrangements in the UK and Ireland. 

Defined benefit arrangements
The Wincanton plc Pension Scheme (the 
Scheme), which closed its defined benefit 
sections to future accrual on 31 March 2014, 
had an IAS 19 deficit of £105.6m (2015: £144.2m) 
(£86.6m net of deferred tax) at the year end. 
The deficit has reduced due to a reduction 
in liabilities, resulting from an increase in the 
discount rate and contributions received from 
the Group, being partly offset by a fall in the 
market value of the investments. The discount 
rate has increased to 3.5% compared with the 
prior year of 3.25%. Each 0.1% movement in the 
rate impacts the liabilities of the Scheme by 
1.9%, currently some £19.0m.

The triennial valuation as at 31 March 2014 
was finalised with the Trustee in April 2015, 
with a technical provision basis deficit agreed 
of £195m. The additional cash contribution 
made in the current year to fund the deficit 
was £14.5m as agreed in the latest valuation. 
Certain administration costs have been 
paid directly by the Group and in line with 
the agreement with the Trustee, deducted 
from these contributions. Going forward 
the payment profile agreed with the Trustee 
increases the deficit recovery payment by 
RPI each year through the recovery period 
to September 2024. In addition, following 
the disposal of Records Management an 
additional payment of £7.0m of deficit recovery 
contribution was made to the Scheme in 
the year.

The approximate membership data split by key 
categories is as follows: 

Deferred
Pensioners

2016
8,525
7,125
15,650

2015
8,720
7,130
15,850

Over recent years the Trustee has pursued 
a diversification of the investment portfolio 
as part of a de-risking strategy and the 
programme has continued in 2015/16 with 
changes to both the return-seeking and 
matching portfolios. A trigger mechanism 
is being used to reduce the return-seeking 
asset allocation as the funding level improves 
and at 31 March 2016 the target allocation is 
51:49 return-seeking to matching (2015: 51:49). 
During the year both the overall market and 
the funding level have been impacted by the 
continuing low interest rate environment, albeit 
partially offset by investment performance. 
As part of the de-risking strategy the Trustee, 
in conjunction with the Company, has put in 
place liability hedging arrangements in the year 
covering c. 38% (2015: c. 35%) of the interest 
rate and inflation exposure of the Scheme.

Defined contribution 
arrangements
The Group’s defined contribution 
arrangements include the Retirement 
Savings Section, Pension Builder Plan and 
Auto Enrolment section in the UK and a 
separate similar local scheme in Ireland. 
Active membership of these schemes was 
15,437 (2015: 14,317) in the year. The income 
charge incurred for these arrangements totals 
£18.1m (2015: £16.3m).

Wincanton plc Annual Report and Accounts 2016WINCANTON30

Risk

Principal risks and uncertainties

Principal risks and uncertainties
This report, incorporated within the Strategic Report, sets out how the 
Group manages its key principal risks and uncertainties by explaining 
the controls and risk management system. The Group has determined 
its key principal risks as those risks that the Group considers material and 
which could have a significant impact on the Group’s financial position, 
its operations and/or reputation.

Risk responsibility and assessment
Ultimate responsibility for setting the Group’s risk appetite and the 
effective management of risk sits with the Board. Acting within authority 
delegated by the Board, the Audit Committee has oversight responsibility 
for the Group’s risk management and internal control environment. 
The EMT has operational responsibility for the application and 
effectiveness of the risk management processes.

Risk governance
The Group faces a diverse range of risks and uncertainties which could 
have an adverse effect on its success if not managed. To address these 
the Group has designed and embedded a risk management system 
to identify and monitor current and potential risks and uncertainties 
relevant to the Group and the markets it operates within, and then seeks 
to eliminate or reduce these to the lowest extent possible to protect the 
business, its people and customers, and support delivery of its strategy. 

The risk management system is intended to mitigate and reduce risk to 
the lowest extent possible, but cannot eliminate all risks to the Group 
and its businesses. The Group’s risk management system and controls 
can only provide reasonable and not absolute assurance against material 
misstatement or loss.

Operational oversight and application of risk management in the 
Group is the responsibility of the Executive Management Team (EMT). 
Independent oversight and monitoring is undertaken by the Board’s 
Audit Committee, comprised of independent non-executive Directors. 
Both the EMT and Audit Committee have risk as a rolling agenda item at 
their respective meetings to ensure sufficient time and consideration is 
allocated to deliberation of the effectiveness of risk management and the 
swift resolution of any areas that could be further strengthened. 

The internal risk and control environment is subject to Internal Auditor 
review throughout the year, and their findings are reported to the Audit 
Committee. The Audit Committee makes recommendations to the 
Board or determines, within the remit of its authority, remedial actions or 
alterations to the risk management and control environment to ensure it 
remains up-to-date and fit for purpose. 

The Board believes that the risk management system provides it with 
sufficient information and assurance on the key risks and uncertainties 
faced by the Group and facilitates informed decision making on strategic, 
commercial and financial matters.

Full details of the Audit Committee’s remit can be found in the Corporate 
Governance section on pages 41 to 43.

Risk management system
The risk management system comprises three integrated risk 
management components: the Risk Management Committee;  
risk registers; and control risk self-assessment.

1. Risk Management Committee
The Risk Management Committee (RMC) is an internal working 
committee set up to undertake second level assurance. The RMC 
maintains an up-to-date view on the current and prospective risks 
relevant to the Group and its macro environment, monitors the 
effectiveness of the control environment, and makes improvements 
to controls and processes to achieve the Group’s target risk appetite 
and reduce risks to the lowest level of acceptability. 

The Committee makes reports to the EMT and the Audit Committee on 
activities under its remit, provides assurance, and escalates matters or 
makes recommendations, if appropriate. The RMC meets seven times 
per year and comprises senior operational and functional leadership 
to ensure representation of the significant risk areas within the Group; 
to provide collective oversight of the whole Group; and to influence 
and embed risk management behaviours and implement change and 
control enhancements. 

The RMC has oversight responsibility for: risk registers; legal and 
regulatory compliance; risk controls and processes (such as Group policies 
and business procedures); and business continuity throughout the Group, 
including disaster recovery. 

The Head of Internal Audit is invited to attend the meetings and provide 
updates on findings of internal audit reviews to ensure any potential 
concerns or actions required are shared so they can be addressed 
and completed.

Wincanton plc Annual Report and Accounts 201631

Whistleblowing
The Group has in place a Whistleblowing Policy, which all employees 
and other defined individuals are required to adhere to, and is open 
to suppliers and customers to use if they wish to report any concerns. 
The Whistleblowing Policy sets out the ethical standards expected of 
all persons the policy legally applies to and includes the procedure for 
raising concerns in strict confidence. Employees are encouraged to first 
talk to their line manager if they feel able to do so or contact the central 
HR team directly. However, in circumstances when this is not possible or 
appropriate to do so the Group has provided an independent, external 
Whistleblowing hotline, via Expolink, for the reporting of any matters 
of concern on a named or anonymous basis. All reports are treated 
in strict confidence and investigations are overseen by the Company 
Secretary, or, if they are not available, the Head of Internal Audit, to ensure 
a thorough, fair and transparent process is undertaken and any actions 
addressed. The Whistleblowing register is monitored and regularly 
reviewed by the Audit Committee at its meetings.

All persons that follow the correct procedure and raise genuine concerns 
in good faith about actual or suspected wrongdoing have full protection 
from any reprisal, criticism or discrimination.

2. Risk registers
An annual assessment of the key risks of the Group, on an individual 
business unit, support function and Group basis, is undertaken. 

Following comprehensive risk assessment, an appropriate response to 
mitigate each risk is determined. The mitigation response will depend 
upon the impact and likelihood assessment and, for example, may 
include a control action or insurance arrangement. The risk mitigation 
response is intended to materially reduce either the likelihood of the risk 
occurring or the impact on the Group if the risk occurred, or both.

During the year the RMC undertook a thorough and comprehensive 
risk review project and interrogated the risk environment and profile 
of the business and Group from a ‘grass root up’ and ‘top down’ basis. 
The outcome of the review was a refreshment of the approach and 
design of the risk registers, determination of target risk scores, and 
clarification of the Group’s current principal risks and risk appetite 
for each. The refreshed risk registers were endorsed by the EMT and 
then approved by the Audit Committee. The Audit Committee were 
satisfied a comprehensive and thorough refreshment process had 
been undertaken.

3. Control risk self-assessment
The Group operates a control risk self-assessment programme (CRSA) 
which requires, on an annual basis, all business sites to complete 
a self-assessment on the application and effectiveness of controls 
and processes at site level. The completed reviews are submitted to 
Internal Audit who then follow up if any issues of concern have been 
raised by: incorporating areas for further investigation into the scope 
of their Internal Audit assignments; and notifying the RMC of any 
issues or remedial actions that need to be addressed and completed. 
Internal Audit report on the outcome of all submitted CRSAs to each 
Audit Committee meeting throughout the year.

Business continuity planning
The Group has detailed business continuity plans (BCPs) in place for all 
sites to ensure an immediate and appropriate response to a business 
continuity issue or disaster scenario. During the year under review, the 
Group successfully completed its IT disaster recovery migration for certain 
business critical applications and services to a new data centre. A rolling 
review of the quality and testing of all BCPs is undertaken by a central 
team and is monitored by the RMC and through the CRSA process.

Wincanton plc Annual Report and Accounts 2016WINCANTON 
32

Risk
continued

Principal risks of the Group
The Group’s risk register identifies the significant and principal risks that face the Group as a whole, which include,  
but are not limited to, risks that are principally managed directly at Group level. 

Summarised below are the key risks, not in order of significance, that have been identified and which could have  
a material impact on the Group’s reputation, operations or financial performance in the year ended 31 March 2016  
or future years. A number of other risks also encompass social and ethical issues. 

Health, safety and 
environment of our 
people

Risk

Mitigation

The Group’s operations take place in a diverse 
range of operating environments. These operations 
require ongoing monitoring and management 
of health and safety risks in order to ensure a safe 
working environment for our colleagues and others 
we engage with. A failure to manage these risks 
properly could result in injury to colleagues or others 
and therefore could also give rise to significant 
potential impacts to Group reputational relationships, 
operations, and other potential liabilities.

The Group maintains detailed health and safety 
procedures and processes which are managed by 
a team of dedicated health and safety professionals. 
The team focus on developing behaviours which 
identify situations that could lead to accidents 
as well as supporting and advising operational 
management and running a rolling programme of 
site Health, Safety and Environmental reviews and 
audits. Extensive reporting of incidents and ‘near 
misses’ help to identify specific areas for focus.

IS infrastructure, 
solutions and security

The Group is highly dependent on the provision of 
a high quality IS infrastructure and solutions to its 
customers and operations. This is essential to the 
smooth running of the business as well as that of its 
customers where we operate key systems such as 
warehouse management and transport planning.

Strategic market 
position and ongoing 
commercial operations

The Group provides services in competitive, 
challenging and complex markets, with large and 
sophisticated customers. The Group therefore faces 
into challenging commercial pressures in the logistics 
industry to maintain acceptable levels of revenue and 
margin from existing customers, win new business, 
minimise any contract losses, build and maintain 
customer relationships, and maximise the utilisation 
of assets.

Recruitment and 
retention of our people

The inability to recruit and retain management and 
employees, including drivers, that have the skills, 
competencies, values and behaviours needed to 
operate and grow the Group.

The Group completes regular reviews and updates 
the IS strategy to ensure a programme of phased 
refreshment, prioritises areas for development 
and enhancement, and ensures adequate disaster 
recovery processes and procedures are in place. 
The Group maintains an extensive IS team to 
develop solutions and maintain the stability and 
security of the infrastructure. The IS team also 
includes change experts working with appropriate 
project management methodologies.

To manage this area of risk the Group closely 
monitors its operational performance to maintain 
the consistent high level required by customers. 
In addition, the Group employs a high quality 
business development team to work alongside 
the businesses and identify opportunities in the 
third party logistics market, to strengthen and 
communicate Wincanton’s brand, and present 
propositions for new and innovative solutions 
to the market. The business management and 
leadership team manage ongoing customer 
relationships and contract renewal processes 
within the Group’s defined frameworks. 

The Group has a strong human resources capability 
to monitor and maintain a high standard of 
recruitment and regular appraisal process, based 
on key competencies. There is a dedicated team 
to support the business and management in 
developing a talent pool for succession within the 
Group. A targeted driver recruitment and retention 
strategy was developed and embedded during the 
year and has achieved significant results. However, 
this remains an industry challenge and therefore 
the strategy continues to be monitored closely in 
order to maintain driver levels.

Wincanton plc Annual Report and Accounts 2016 
33

Risk

Mitigation

Pension deficit

The level of, and contribution levels required to 
eliminate, the Group’s Pension Scheme deficit 
are subject to external market conditions, the 
performance of the financial markets and the 
regulatory environment. Significant movements in 
those markets or changes to regulations could alter 
the value of the deficit and require materially higher 
cash contributions from the Group, a change to the 
payment period, or industry regulator intervention.

Legal and regulatory 
compliance

The Group acts within jurisdictions, markets and 
sectors which are highly regulated or covered by 
significant legislation.

At 31 March 2014 the Group closed the defined 
benefit pension arrangements to future accrual 
to eliminate the build-up of further risk. The Group 
maintain a strong working relationship with the 
Trustee of the Pension Scheme and the Trustee 
closely monitors and engages with the Company 
on fund performance and the investment strategy. 
Both engage high quality internal and external 
advisers, including fund managers, actuaries, legal 
and audit firms, to support and inform decision 
making. The Pension Scheme has increased the 
level of hedging of its liabilities to mitigate interest 
rate and inflation risk. 

The Group employs internal and external subject 
matter experts, supported by legal counsel, to 
set the highest standards in policies, document 
retention and record keeping and monitor 
application of controls including risk-based testing 
programmes. The Group maintains programmes 
of training to ensure legal compliance, 
operational efficiencies and to minimise mistakes. 
Applicable legislation and regulation relevant to 
the Group are diligently tracked and monitored 
and any changes reflected in policies and controls 
within required timescales. Compliance with 
contractual and commercial arrangements are 
monitored and reported to the EMT on a regular 
basis. IS management processes are used to ensure 
system access controls operate and to monitor use 
and control of systems, property and data.

Viability Statement
In accordance with provision C.2.2 of the UK Corporate Governance 
Code 2014, the Directors have assessed the viability of the Group over 
a three year period to 31 March 2019, taking into account the Group’s 
current position and the potential financial and operational impact 
of the principal risks documented on pages 32 and 33 of the Annual 
Report, in severe but plausible scenarios. In making their assessment, the 
Board carried out a robust assessment of the principal risks facing the 
Group, including those that would threaten its business model, future 
performance, solvency or liquidity. 

The Directors have determined that a three year period to 31 March 2019 
is an appropriate period over which to provide its Viability Statement. 
This is the period reviewed by the Board in our annual planning process, 
and for which forecasting assumptions are used. We believe that this 
presents the Board and readers of the Annual Report and Accounts with 
a reasonable degree of confidence over the longer term outlook. 

Based on this assessment, the Directors have a reasonable expectation 
that the Company and the Group will be able to continue in operation 
and meet liabilities as they fall due over the period to 31 March 2019.

This statement was approved by the Board on 8 June 2016.

Alison Dowling
Company Secretary

Wincanton plc Annual Report and Accounts 2016WINCANTON34

Board of Directors

Steve Marshall
Chairman
Nomination Committee Chairman and member  
of the Remuneration Committee 
Steve was appointed Chairman in December 2011. Steve is also Chairman of Biffa 
Group Holdings Ltd, the waste management group. He is a former Chairman of 
Balfour Beatty plc, Delta plc, Torex Retail plc, and Queens’ Moat Houses plc, and 
was also a non-executive at Halma plc and Southern Water. His executive career 
included Group Chief Executive roles at Thorn plc and at Railtrack Group plc, 
having also served as Group Finance Director at each company. His earlier career 
included a variety of corporate and operational roles at Grand Metropolitan 
plc (now Diageo plc), Burton Group plc and Black & Decker. He is a Fellow of 
the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants and a member of its 
governing Council.

Adrian Colman
Chief Executive Officer
Nomination Committee member
Adrian was appointed Chief Executive Officer on 1 August 2015, having been the 
Group Finance Director from January 2013 to 31 July 2015. Adrian was formerly 
Finance Director with Psion plc, an international technology business, through 
to its acquisition by Motorola Solutions, Inc. in October 2012. Prior to joining 
Psion, Adrian was Chief Financial Officer of London City Airport and before that 
Financial Controller and Head of Investor Relations at QinetiQ Group plc.

Tim Lawlor
Chief Financial Officer
Tim Lawlor joined Wincanton on 28 September 2015 as the Chief Financial 
Officer and an executive Director on the Board. Tim was previously the 
Director of Finance and Strategy with Serco Group plc, the international service 
company, where he also held a number of senior operational and group roles. 
Until December 2015 he was a non-executive Director and Audit Committee 
Chairman of the Institute of Directors. Prior to Serco, Tim was Group Financial 
Controller at Sea Containers Limited. Tim is a chartered accountant.

Stewart Oades
Senior Independent Director
Member of the Audit Committee, Nomination Committee  
and Remuneration Committee
Stewart became a non-executive Director of Wincanton on 1 November 2014 
and was appointed as the Senior Independent Director on 17 July 2015. Stewart is 
currently a non-executive director of Palmer & Harvey and LCV Hire Solutions 
and Chairman of Dalepak Ltd. He was formerly a non-executive director of MW 
Brands until March 2016 and also held the positions of President of the Freight 
Transport Association (FTA) for four years until 2013, and non-executive director 
of Clipper Group plc until 2011. Prior to these he was Chief Executive of Christian 
Salvesen plc and held a number of senior posts at Exel plc.

Wincanton plc Annual Report and Accounts 201635

Paul Dean
Independent non-executive Director 
Audit Committee Chairman and member of the  
Nomination Committee and Remuneration Committee 
Paul became a non-executive Director of Wincanton on 1 February 2015 and was 
appointed Chairman of the Audit Committee on 17 July 2015. He is currently a 
non-executive director and Audit Committee Chairman of Focusrite plc, Porvair 
plc and Polypipe plc, and the Senior Independent Director of Porvair plc and 
Polypipe plc. Paul is a Trustee and director of two charities, Beanstalk and The 
Oxford Trust. Prior to these appointments he held the position of Group Finance 
Director at Ultra Electronics Holdings plc and Foseco plc. Paul is a Chartered 
Management Accountant.

Martin Sawkins
Independent non-executive Director 
Remuneration Committee Chairman and member of the  
Audit Committee and Nomination Committee
Martin became a non-executive Director of Wincanton in July 2012. Martin is also 
a non-executive Director of Scapa Group plc and held the position of Group HR 
Director of Rentokil Initial plc until 31 December 2015. Martin has operated within 
a plc and private equity environment. He was previously Group HR Director at 
HomeServe plc and The AA Limited, and HR Director at Centrica Home and Road 
Services. Prior to these roles Martin held a number of senior positions in HR and 
operations at UEF Limited, Bridon plc, British Aerospace and United Biscuits.

David Radcliffe
Independent non-executive Director 
Member of the Audit Committee, Nomination Committee  
and Remuneration Committee 
David became a non-executive Director of Wincanton in July 2012. He is currently 
Chief Executive of Hogg Robinson Group plc where David has spent most of 
his career.

Wincanton plc Annual Report and Accounts 2016WINCANTON36

Chairman’s introduction to Governance 

The Board considers good corporate governance is 
fundamental to ensure that the Group is run in a successful, 
responsible and sustainable way. All reports in this 
Governance section in respect of the year ended 31 March 
2016 are intended to assist our stakeholders understand our 
approach to governance and how we apply governance in 
everything we do. 

The Governance section includes reports from the Chairmen 
of the Audit and Nomination Committees. The report of 
the Remuneration Committee Chairman is included in the 
Directors’ Remuneration Report.

The UK Corporate Governance Code
As a listed company on the London Stock Exchange, the Company is 
required to comply with the principles and provisions set out in the UK 
Corporate Governance Code (the Code). 

The Board is committed to the principle of full compliance and in this 
report I would like to highlight how the Code’s main principles are 
applied in practice. 

Board effectiveness
At the end of each financial year the Board undertake a performance 
review of the Board, its Committees and I appraise each Director. 

Following these reviews, I am satisfied that the Board and its Committees 
continue to perform efficiently and that the Board changes during 
the financial year have further strengthened the diversity of the Board 
through value adding skills and experience, different but complementary 
personalities, and knowledge and understanding of logistics and supply 
chain solutions and our current and target markets. These elements 
provide a solid foundation to enable the Board to discharge its duties 
and responsibilities effectively and to balance support and constructive 
challenge on Group strategy, business model and performance.

It is intended that an external evaluation process will take place later in 
2016 following an appropriate period after the Board changes in 2015. 
The purpose of the external evaluation will be independent appraisal 
and insight on the effectiveness and performance of the Board, its 
Committees and the Directors. 

Commitment
The non-executive Directors devote a significant amount of time to the 
Group over and above attendance at Board and Committee meetings 
whilst ensuring they all continue to remain independent. During the year, 
the Board has visited business sites and received briefings from members 
of the Group’s management team on the business, its customers and 
market environment to ensure non-executive Directors have sufficient 
operational knowledge of the Group to fully understand the business 
and to provide appropriate challenge and independent oversight of 
management and activities.

The Board remains committed to the success of the Group and will 
continue to require that Wincanton operates to the highest standards of 
corporate governance and ethical conduct in all of our business activities.

Steve Marshall
Chairman 
8 June 2016

Wincanton plc Annual Report and Accounts 201637

Corporate Governance report

Compliance statement
Wincanton plc and its subsidiaries (together the Group) remain 
committed to maintaining the highest standards of corporate 
governance. All reports in the Governance section and the Directors’ 
Remuneration Report have been prepared in accordance with the 2014 
UK Corporate Governance Code (the Code) that applies to accounting 
periods beginning on or after 1 October 2014. 

Throughout the year ended 31 March 2016, the Board considers that it, 
and the Company, have complied with the principles and provisions of 
the 2014 Code. 

The Code is issued by the Financial Reporting Council and can be 
obtained from the Financial Reporting Council’s website, www.frc.org.uk.

Board role and structure
Role
Wincanton plc (the Company) is led and controlled by the Board 
of Directors, who are collectively responsible for the long term 
success of the Company and the endorsement and application of 
corporate governance.

Decision making
The Board has a formal schedule of matters reserved for its decision 
making. These matters include Group strategy and structure, 
governance and regulatory compliance, financial reporting, major 
capital commitments, major contracts and agreements, internal controls, 
significant remuneration changes, stakeholder engagement, and 
material corporate transactions (including acquisitions and disposals). 
The formal schedule sets out matters and limitations delegated to Board 
Committees and a sub-committee of the Board, the Finance Committee. 
The Finance Committee is an ad hoc executive management committee, 
authorised to approve day to day operational matters within limits and 
restrictions determined by the Board. The formal schedule is reviewed 
annually to ensure it remains fit for purpose and sets the parameters for 
management and expectation for internal controls.

Directors’ duties
The powers and duties of the Directors are determined by legislation 
and the Company’s Articles of Association. Directors are required to act in 
good faith in a way that they consider would be most likely to promote 
the success of the Company for the benefit of shareholders as a whole. 
In doing so, the Directors are required to have regard (amongst other 
matters) to:

 • the likely consequences of any decision in the long term;
 • the interest of the Company’s employees;
 • the need to foster business relationships with suppliers, customers 

and others;

 • the impact of the Company’s operations on the community and 

the environment;

 • the desirability of the Company to maintain a reputation for high 

standards of business conduct; and

 • the need to act fairly towards all shareholders of the Company.

In addition to their statutory duties, the Directors must ensure that the 
Board as a whole focus effectively on all of its areas of responsibility. 
The Board considers all of these areas within routine agenda matters at 
each Board meeting.

Roles of Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
The roles of the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer are separate and 
performed by different individuals. A responsibility statement for each 
role has been set out and adopted by the Board. 

The Chairman is primarily responsible for the operation of the Board 
and to ensure that its strategic and supervisory role is achieved. He is 
an independent non-executive Chairman, deemed independent on 
appointment and remains independent in accordance with the Code.

The Chief Executive Officer is responsible for the day to day running of 
the business which includes implementation of the strategy, decisions 
made by the Board and operational management of the Group, 
supported by the EMT. 

Executive Management Team (EMT)
The EMT comprises the senior leadership team that reports directly to 
the Chief Executive Officer and has management responsibility for the 
business operations and support functions. The EMT meets monthly 
and relevant matters are reported to Board meetings by the Chief 
Executive Officer and as appropriate the Chief Financial Officer and other 
EMT members.

Senior Independent Director
The Senior Independent Director is an independent non-executive 
Director of the Board, appointed to act as a sounding board for 
the Chairman and perform an intermediary role to other Directors, 
where necessary. He leads the appraisal and review of the Chairman’s 
performance and makes himself available to shareholders if they have 
any concerns that the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer have failed to 
resolve, or it is inappropriate for them to do so. 

Non-executive Directors
All of the non-executive Directors were deemed independent on 
appointment and continue to be independent in accordance with 
the Code. They were each appointed on the basis of their calibre and 
experience and provide diversity through their skills, background and 
qualifications. Each non-executive Director has worked at director 
level in a variety of disciplines and commercial environments, similar 
sized organisations and regulated environments. This enables them to 
collectively add value and provide independent oversight and challenge 
across all corporate and commercial aspects with their contributions and 
external perspective. More detailed background information on each 
Board Director can be found in their biographies on pages 34 and 35.

Each non-executive Director is appointed for an initial fixed term of three 
years, subject to annual re-election by shareholders. Their appointment 
term may be renewed by mutual agreement. 

Non-executive Directors are expected to: scrutinise, measure, review 
and challenge the performance of the EMT; assist in the development of 
Group strategy; review the Group financial information and performance; 
ensure systems of internal control and risk management are appropriate 
and effective; review the relationship with the External Auditor within 
the Audit Committee; and review the remuneration of, and succession 
planning for, the Board. 

At least twice a year, the Chairman and non-executive Directors meet 
without the Executive Directors being present.

Board committees
There are three Committees of the Board: an Audit Committee, 
a Nomination Committee, and a Remuneration Committee. 
Each Committee has terms of reference set by the Board, which 
are reviewed annually and made available on the Group’s website. 
Membership of each committee is determined by the Board on the 
recommendation of the Nomination Committee and in consultation 
with the appropriate Committee Chairman. The membership, role and 
duties discharged in the year ended 31 March 2016 for each Committee is 
set out in their respective Committee reports that follow.

Wincanton plc Annual Report and Accounts 2016WINCANTON38

Corporate Governance report 
continued

Meetings attendance  
During the year and to the date of this report there has been full 
attendance at all Board and Committee meetings by all Directors 
during their tenure, other than one Nomination Committee meeting 
that Eric Born did not attend. It is acknowledged that there may be 
unforeseen circumstances which prevent a Director from attending. 
In such a case the Director would be expected to review the meeting 
papers and provide comments to the Chairman, Committee Chairman 
or Company Secretary to ensure they are raised at the meeting. 

Board effectiveness and evaluation
The Board, its Committees and each Director participate in an annual 
performance evaluation process. In respect of the year ended 31 March 
2016 the evaluation process was conducted by way of an internal 
questionnaire for the Board and Committees and performance 
discussions between the Chairman and Directors. The Senior 
Independent Director led the Chairman’s annual performance evaluation 
with the other non-executive Directors, and considered input from the 
Executive Directors.

During the 2016 financial year the Board held eight scheduled Board 
meetings and one ad hoc meeting. The table below sets out the 
attendance of the Directors at the scheduled and ad hoc Board and 
Committee meetings during the year under review:

The findings of the evaluation were analysed and presented to the 
Board by the Company Secretary. The evaluations confirmed that the 
composition, interaction and experience of the Board was performed to a 
consistently high standard in all aspects of their responsibility and duties. 

Audit  
Committee 
Attended/
Scheduled

1/1
3/3
3/3
3/3
3/3

Remuneration 
Committee 
Attended/
Scheduled
6/6
4/4
6/6
6/6
6/6
6/6

Nomination 
Committee 
Attended/
Scheduled
3/3
3/3
3/3
3/3
3/3
3/3
2/3

Board  
Meetings 
Attended/
Scheduled
9/9
2/2
9/9
9/9
9/9
9/9
2/2
9/9
6/6

Steve Marshall
Paul Venables1
Stewart Oades
Paul Dean
David Radcliffe
Martin Sawkins
Eric Born2
Adrian Colman
Tim Lawlor3

1  Retired 17 July 2015.
2  Resigned 31 July 2015.
3  Appointed 28 September 2015.

Directors were provided with appropriate documentation approximately 
one week in advance of each Board or Committee meeting during 
the year. For each Board meeting the papers include a trading update, 
and reports on human resources, health and safety, regulatory and 
governance matters, financial performance, and papers where a decision 
or approval is required.

Members of the EMT, and in some cases direct reports of the EMT, 
are invited to attend at least one Board meeting each year to present 
an update on the performance and forward focus of their area(s) 
of responsibility.

Board changes
There were three changes to the Board during the 2016 financial year. 
Paul Venables retired from the Board at the Annual General Meeting 
(AGM) on 17 July 2015, after nearly six years as a non-executive Director 
of the Company. Stewart Oades was appointed as Senior Independent 
Director and Paul Dean as Chairman of the Audit Committee, both with 
effect from 17 July 2015.

Eric Born, former Chief Executive, resigned with effect from 31 July 2015 
and Adrian Colman, the former Group Finance Director, was appointed 
as Chief Executive Officer on 1 August 2015. Tim Lawlor was appointed 
as Group Finance Director (known as the Chief Financial Officer) on 
28 September 2015.

The Board agreed it would be a valuable exercise to seek an independent 
evaluation towards the end of 2016, undertaken by an external 
consultant. The results of the external evaluation will be disclosed in the 
Annual Report next year.

Other directorships
The Board acknowledges that Executive Directors may wish to 
undertake external non-executive director roles outside of the Group. 
It is recognised that such opportunities broaden development and 
commercial experience and benefit the Group. To protect the interests 
of the Group each Executive Director is restricted to one non-executive 
role at any one time. From appointment until December 2015 Tim Lawlor 
held one external directorship as a non-executive director of the Institute 
of Directors. He was not required to pay any remuneration received to 
the Company. 

Conflicts of interest
The Board monitors and reviews potential conflicts of interest on a 
regular basis and considers any situational conflicts at each Board 
meeting. Where any conflict arises the Board considers and authorises 
the reported actual or potential conflict in accordance with the provisions 
contained in the Company’s Articles of Association. 

Directors’ insurance and indemnity
Directors are ultimately responsible for the operation, performance 
and decision making of the Company. In doing so, they are exposed to 
potentially significant personal liability under criminal or civil law and the 
UK Listing, Prospectus, Disclosure and Transparency Rules, which include 
penalties such as private or public censure, fines and/or imprisonment. 

In line with normal market practice, the Company believes it is in the 
Company’s best interests to protect Directors from the consequences of 
innocent error or omissions and maintains, at the Company’s expense, 
a Directors’ and Officers’ liability insurance policy. The policy provides 
indemnity to Group employees that serve as directors or officers of 
any Group company, as recommended by the Code, which includes 
the Board of Directors. This insurance policy would not provide cover 
in the event a director or officer had knowingly acted fraudulently 
or dishonestly. 

Wincanton plc Annual Report and Accounts 201639

Engagement with shareholders  
and major stakeholders
Relations with shareholders
The Company has continued to maintain an effective dialogue with its 
shareholders and major stakeholders during the year to ensure that the 
strategy and business model is understood, and any queries are dealt 
with promptly and constructively. Regular contact with institutional 
shareholders, fund managers and analysts is conducted through 
meetings with the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer. 
Brokers’ reports and analysts’ briefing notes are regularly distributed to all 
Directors. The Board receives updates on feedback raised by institutional 
shareholders, fund managers and analysts, to enable the Directors to 
form a view of the priorities and concerns of stakeholders. In addition, 
the Chairman makes himself available and seeks engagement with major 
institutional shareholders from time to time.

Shareholder communications
The Group’s website contains up to date information for shareholders and 
other stakeholders, such as share price, announcements, circulars, press 
releases, current and historic Annual Report and Accounts, corporate 
governance information and shareholder documentation.

Shareholders can elect how they receive communications from the 
Company. Electronic communications are endorsed by the Board 
as the most efficient method of communication which also helps 
to reduce the Group’s environmental impact and reduce cost to the 
business. Accordingly, all shareholders are encouraged to receive 
electronic communications by contacting the Company’s registrars, 
Computershare. Contact details and telephone numbers can be found 
on both the Wincanton website and Computershare’s website.

Stakeholder communications
Throughout the year, the Directors and senior managers meet with a 
range of external stakeholders to discuss the Group’s position on a range 
of business, policy and public interest issues and to seek stakeholders’ 
views.

Annual General Meeting
The Company’s fifteenth AGM will be held at 11am on Thursday, 21 July 
2016 at the offices of Buchanan, 107 Cheapside, London EC2V 6DN. 
Details of the business to be proposed at the meeting are contained in 
the Notice of AGM.

The AGM provides an opportunity for shareholders to engage with the 
Board and receive an update on the performance and strategy of the 
Company and ask questions during the meeting. Shareholders also have 
the opportunity to meet the Company Secretary, senior managers and 
the External Auditor.

Risk management
The Board is ultimately responsible for the Group’s systems of risk 
management and internal control, and reviews their effectiveness on a 
regular basis throughout the year.

The Group’s systems and controls are designed to ensure that the Group’s 
exposure to significant risk is reduced and mitigated to the extent 
possible, with acknowledgement that not all risk can be eliminated. 
The Group’s principal risk management systems comprise: risk registers 
and reviews; control risk self-assessment; and Risk Management 
Committee oversight. Full details of the Group’s risk management 
systems and processes are set out in the Risk report on pages 30 to 33.

The Group’s Internal Audit function independently review and test the 
effectiveness of the internal controls and risk management through an 
annual internal audit programme. All outcomes of internal audit reviews 
are reported to the Audit Committee, acting on behalf of the Board. 
Full details of the Group’s Internal Audit function and performance are set 
out in the Audit Committee report on pages 42 and 43.

Group employees
Employees are at the heart of Wincanton’s business and the engagement, 
welfare and diversity of the workforce are primary objectives of the 
Group. Wincanton are committed to providing a safe environment and 
development opportunities to all of its employees, to support a high 
performance culture and develop and retain the most talented people in 
the logistics and supply chain industry. To achieve this the Group applies 
the following guiding principles:

 • build and maintain close harmony with its customers;
 • treat every employee with care, respect and integrity;
 • ensure the health and safety of every employee;
 • recruit the best people and to develop them to their full potential;
 • ensure that teamwork thrives; and
 • minimise operational effects upon the community and 

the environment. 

On 31 March 2016, the Group employed approximately 17,500 people 
in the United Kingdom (UK) and Republic of Ireland (ROI), of which 
approximately 14,500 are men and 3,000 are women. The average 
age of the Company’s employees is 42 years. Of all management level 
employees, 235 are men and 61 are women. The Board of Directors is fully 
comprised of men.

As a responsible and ethical business and employer, the Group seek 
to ensure compliance with all regulatory and legislative requirements. 
The Group has communicated its expectations for compliance in 
respect of the workforce to ensure all colleagues are paid correctly and 
in accordance with the new National Living Wage. The Group will make 
disclosures under the new gender pay reporting requirements when 
they become effective next year.

Further details of the Group’s equality, fairness and diversity policy are set 
out in the Corporate Responsibility report on pages 20 to 23.

Community and charitable activities
During the years ended 31 March 2016 and 31 March 2015 the Group did 
not contribute to charitable and community programmes.

Board support and advice
There is an agreed procedure for Directors to take independent 
professional advice, at the Company’s expense, if necessary. 
In addition, all Directors have access to the advice and services of the 
Company Secretary.

Steve Marshall
Chairman 
8 June 2016

Wincanton plc Annual Report and Accounts 2016WINCANTON40

Nomination Committee report

Membership
The Nomination Committee comprises the Chairman as Committee 
Chair, the Chief Executive Officer and the four non-executive Directors. 
Following the change in Chief Executive Officer during the year Eric Born 
left the Committee on 31 July 2015, and Adrian Colman was appointed a 
member on 1 August 2015.

Meetings
Attendance at the Committee’s meetings are set out on page 38 in the 
Corporate Governance report.

Role of the Nomination Committee
The Board has delegated oversight of the leadership needs and 
succession planning for the Board and EMT to the Nomination 
Committee, to ensure the Group has the best talent to perform 
effectively now and in the future. 

Committee responsibilities
The Nomination Committee’s remit, which is set out in its terms of 
reference, includes responsibility for:

 • review of the structure, size and composition of the Board and its 
Committees, and making recommendations to the Board on any 
desired changes;

 • review of the succession plans for the Executive Directors and EMT; 
 • the appointment procedure for new Directors, using 

external consultants;

 • recommendations for appointments of Directors; 
 • preparation of role specifications, including assessment of the time 

commitment expected and the need for availability at short notice for 
non-executive roles;

 • review of the annual performance evaluation outcomes for areas under 

its remit; and

 • review of Directors’ external commitments and time available to 

discharge their responsibilities effectively.

Before a Director is appointed, the Committee evaluates the balance 
of skills, knowledge, experience and diversity of the Board to ensure 
that new appointments complement or address gaps in any of these 
areas. The Committee ensures the selection process is rigorous and 
transparent and appoints a professional external firm. Candidates from a 
wide range of backgrounds that meet the specification are considered 
and all appointments are made entirely on merit, with due regard to the 
benefits of diversity on the Board, which includes but is not limited purely 
to gender. 

Activities in the year ended 31 March 2016
During the year the Committee met three times and undertook the 
following activities: 

 • reviewed financial year reporting matters and disclosures;
 • reviewed the structure, size and composition of the Board and 

Committees in light of the annual evaluation results; 

 • appointed external recruitment firms to support the selection 
processes for the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial 
Officer positions;

 • selected and recommended the appointment of Adrian Colman to the 

Chief Executive Officer position;

 • selected and recommended the appointment of Tim Lawlor to the 

Chief Financial Officer position; 

 • reviewed the time commitment and conflict of interests declarations of 

the Directors; and

 • reviewed and updated the Committee’s terms of reference.

Following a thorough and robust internal and external selection process, 
assisted by Korn Ferry Associates, the Committee recommended to 
the Board that Adrian Colman, an internal candidate, be appointed 
as Chief Executive Officer. The Committee ran a further internal and 
external selection process, assisted by Odgers, and recommended to 
the Board that Tim Lawlor, an external candidate, be appointed the Chief 
Financial Officer. 

As part of the Board evaluation process, the operation and performance 
of the Committee was assessed and the Committee and Board were 
satisfied that the Committee had continued to operate effectively during 
the year.

Composition of the Board
The Committee reviews the composition of the Board and the Board’s 
Committees on an ongoing basis to ensure there is appropriate balance 
and diversity in the skills and experience of the membership and there 
are no gaps.

The Committee and the Board consider the current membership of two 
Executive Directors, a non-executive Chairman and four non-executive 
Directors is the right blend of commercial and governance experience, 
independence and challenge and the diverse range of skills and 
backgrounds of the Directors prevent any undue individual or collective 
influence over the Board’s decision-making.

Board diversity
The Company is committed to diversity on the Board in accordance 
with recommendations from the Davies Review (published in 2011) 
and the Code. The Committee and Board consider and review diversity 
in the fullest sense when making appointments and undertaking 
succession planning, and seek to ensure a range of skills, experience 
and backgrounds are represented. The Committee will continue to 
consider all diversity matters when reviewing future Board and senior 
management appointments, Board composition and the outcome of the 
annual evaluations.

Induction of Directors
On joining the Board, all Directors receive an induction tailored to their 
individual needs. The programme includes meetings with all Directors, 
the EMT, the Company Secretary and heads of functions. Key site visits 
are also scheduled and undertaken to meet business management and 
develop greater commercial awareness of the Group. 

On acceptance of their appointment Directors are provided with a 
comprehensive suite of Group materials, which comprise: Group strategic 
plan, financial information and trading updates, risk registers, governance 
and regulatory guidance and documents, Group policies, Group and 
business structure, statutory documents of the Company, and Board and 
Committee papers, minutes and other reference documents for the prior 
12 month period.

Continuing professional development
As part of the Board evaluation process, the training and development 
needs of individual Directors are reviewed by the Chairman. 
The Company makes the necessary resources available to support 
Director development.

Steve Marshall
Nomination Committee Chairman 
8 June 2016

Wincanton plc Annual Report and Accounts 201641

Audit Committee report

Committee Chairman’s Annual Statement
I am pleased to present the Audit Committee report for the year ended 
31 March 2016. 

I was appointed as the new Audit Committee Chairman in July 2015, 
following the retirement of my Board colleague, Paul Venables, after the 
2015 AGM. Our role as an Audit Committee during the year has been to 
continue to provide robust and thorough review and challenge on the 
financial performance and reporting of the Group, its risk management 
and control environment, and to monitor the effectiveness of the Internal 
Audit function and External Auditor. We have also undertaken additional 
projects following the 2014 Code changes which applied to the Group in 
the year ended 31 March 2016.

The Committee led a number of key activities during the year which I 
would like to highlight in particular. The first was focused on a thorough 
review of the Group’s risk approach, refreshment of Group’s risk registers 
at all levels, and the redefinition of our principal risks. Following the 
application of the new 2014 Code requirements we determined the 
period of assessment for the viability statement and provided oversight, 
review and challenge on a comprehensive and transparent viability 
assessment process undertaken by management. On behalf of the Board 
we reviewed analysis and monitored the impact and completion of the 
remedial actions to address the onerous contract issues in the Pullman 
Fleet Services business in order to mitigate the impact on operational and 
financial performance to the business and the Group. Finally, towards the 
end of the year, after review of the audit effectiveness for the year ended 
31 March 2015 and completion of the half year review to 30 September 
2015, the Committee led a thorough external auditor tender process the 
outcome of which was a recommendation to the Board to reappoint 
KPMG LLP as the Company’s External Auditors until the conclusion of the 
2017 AGM.

Each of the areas I have highlighted are included in greater detail within 
the Committee’s report which follows and in the Risk report on pages 
30 to 33.

I hope that you find this report helpful and the Committee welcomes 
constructive engagement throughout the year on the areas under our 
remit; we can be contacted via the Company Secretary.

Paul Dean
Audit Committee Chairman 
8 June 2016

Audit Committee report
Membership
The Audit Committee comprises the four non-executive Directors. 
Paul Dean was appointed as Audit Committee Chairman on 17 July 2015, 
following the retirement of Paul Venables effective the same date.

Each member of the Audit Committee is independent and membership 
meets the requirements of the Code.

Meetings 
The Chief Financial Officer, Group Financial Controller, Head of Internal 
Audit and the External Auditor attend and report to each Audit 
Committee meeting. The Company Chairman and the Chief Executive 
Officer also regularly attend Committee meetings by invitation. 

Attendance at the Committee’s meetings is set out on page 38 in the 
Corporate Governance Report.

During the year, the Audit Committee met privately and separately with 
the External Auditor and the Head of Internal Audit.

Role and responsibilities 
The Audit Committee assists the Board in the effective review of financial 
performance, internal controls, financial reporting and risk management. 

The Audit Committee’s remit, which is set out in its terms of reference, 
includes responsibilities for:

 • the content and integrity of financial statements and any formal 

announcements relating to financial performance, including review of 
the significant financial reporting judgements contained therein;

 • review of the Company’s internal controls and risk 

management systems;

 • review of the effectiveness of the Internal Audit function;
 • recommendations to the Board in relation to the appointment, 

reappointment and removal of the External Auditor, their remuneration 
and terms of engagement;

 • review and monitor of the External Auditor’s independence and 

objectivity and the effectiveness of the audit process; 

 • review of Group policies, including setting the policy to control 

engagement of the External Auditor to supply non-audit services; 

 • reports to the Board on any matters it considers action or improvement 

is needed, including recommendation of remedial actions; and

 • report to the Board on how the Committee has discharged 

its responsibilities.

The Audit Committee has unrestricted access to Company documents, 
management, the External Auditor and any other advisers, as and 
when required.

Wincanton plc Annual Report and Accounts 2016WINCANTON42

Audit Committee report 
continued

Activities in the year ended 31 March 2016
The Audit Committee met three times during the year and, following the 
year end, met a further two times for scheduled meetings. During those 
meetings the Committee covered the following activities:

Financial reporting and significant financial matters
The principal matters of judgement considered by the Committee in 
relation to the accounts for the year ended 31 March 2016 and how they 
were addressed are set out below:

Financial statements
 • review of the financial statements and narrative financial reporting 

in the 2015 Annual Report and Accounts, and financial statements in 
respect of the half year results to 30 September 2015, with particular 
reference to the reports being fair, balanced and understandable;

 • consideration of reports from the External Auditor in respect of financial 
reporting in the 2015 Annual Report and Accounts and 30 September 
2015 half year results;

 • review of the key judgement and accounting matters in respect of the 

half year to 30 September 2015 and full year to 31 March 2016; and
 • review of the preliminary results and half year results in the stock 

exchange announcements.

Control environment and risk management
 • review of Group policies, such as Whistleblowing, Bribery Gifts and 

Entertainment, Sharedealing and Non-Audit Services;

 • review of the Risk Management Committee’s activities, approval of 
a new risk approach, and a comprehensive risk review process and 
refreshment of Group and business sector risk registers;

 • review of the viability assessment methodology, assessment outcomes 

and the statement of compliance, including determination of the 
assessment period and the robustness of the scenarios tested;

 • review of compliance reports from management and Internal Audit 

reports on completed control risk self-assessments;

 • review and agreement of the Group Internal Audit Plan for the year 

ending 31 March 2017;

 • review and challenge of the Group’s 2016 Internal Audit programme, 

including the results of key audits, significant findings, and 
management’s response and resolution;

 • meetings with the Head of Internal Audit without management; and
 • review of the effectiveness of the Internal Audit function.
External Audit/Auditors
 • meetings with the External Auditor without management to consider 

any potential areas of concern;

 • review and consideration of the External Auditor’s findings and 

recommendations and management’s responses from the audit of 
financial year ended 31 March 2015;

 • approval of the terms of appointment, areas of responsibility, duties and 
scope of the 2016 external audit set out in the engagement letter for 
the year ended 31 March 2016;

 • review and approval of the audit strategy for the year ended 

31 March 2016;

 • review of the External Auditor’s performance, independence and 

objectivity; and

 • conduct of an external auditor tender and recommendation to the 

Board to reappoint KPMG LLP for the year ended 31 March 2017, subject 
to shareholder approval.

The Committee reviewed its own Terms of Reference and, as part of the 
Board evaluation process, the operation of the Committee was evaluated 
and the Committee and Board were satisfied that the Committee 
operates effectively.

Property provisions
The year end balance sheet includes property provisions of £15.3m. 

The Committee reviewed a report by management on a property by 
property basis and considered the size and nature of the provision, the 
utilisation of the provision during the year and the basis of the year end 
provision. The Committee also considered the External Auditor’s testing 
of the assumptions.

The Committee discussed the appropriateness of the assumptions used in 
the year, and after robust consideration, were satisfied the assumptions used, 
and the disclosures in the Annual Report and Accounts, were appropriate.

Goodwill
The year end balance sheet includes goodwill of £77.1m. 

The Committee reviewed the carrying value of goodwill and associated 
calculations contained in a report prepared by management, which 
sets out in detail the values attributable to each cash-generating unit, 
and the expected value in use based on projected cash flows and the 
key economic assumptions related to growth rates and discount rates. 
The Committee also considered the work undertaken by the External 
Auditor in testing the projections. 

After extensive discussion, the Committee was satisfied the assumptions 
used, and the disclosures in the Annual Report and Accounts, 
were appropriate.

Pension scheme deficit
The year end balance sheet includes a pension scheme deficit of £105.6m. 

The Committee considered the accounting basis of the pension scheme 
in the year ended 31 March 2016 and reviewed the pension items, by 
examining a report by management based on work performed by 
the Scheme actuary that sets out the key assumptions underpinning 
the calculation of the deficit and the related income statement items. 
The Committee also considered the work performed by the External 
Auditor in testing the assumptions.

The Committee discussed the appropriateness of the key assumptions 
used in calculating the deficit and, after extensive discussion, were 
satisfied that the assumptions used, and the disclosures in the Annual 
Report and Accounts, were appropriate.

Materiality and misstatements
The External Auditor, following discussion with the Committee, set 
materiality at £1.4m. The Committee agreed with the External Auditor 
that all corrected and uncorrected misstatements identified through 
their audit with a value in excess of £0.1m would be reported to 
the Committee. 

The External Auditor reported to the Committee the misstatements that 
they had found in the course of their work and no material amounts 
remain unadjusted. The Committee confirmed that it was satisfied that 
the External Auditor had fulfilled its responsibilities with diligence and 
professional scepticism.

After reviewing presentations and reports from management and 
consulting, where necessary, with the External Auditor, the Committee 
was satisfied that the financial statements appropriately addressed the 
critical judgements and key estimates (both in respect of the amounts 
reported and the disclosures). The Committee was also satisfied that 
the significant assumptions used for determining the value of assets 
and liabilities had been appropriately scrutinised, challenged and were 
sufficiently robust, and recommended the Annual Report and Accounts 
to the Board for approval on 8 June 2016.

Wincanton plc Annual Report and Accounts 201643

Pullman Fleet Services
During the year the Committee undertook a thorough control review of 
the Pullman Fleet Services business, on behalf of the Board, following the 
emergence of losses on two major contracts. The actions to address the 
onerous contracts were monitored by the Committee throughout the 
year through to completion.

Wincanton Records Management (WRM)
In December 2015 the Group disposed of the WRM business. 
The Committee reviewed the financial impact of the sale on the Group 
and scrutinised the financial reporting of the transaction.

In addition, KPMG confirmed they have in place further independence 
safeguards through professional values, communications, internal 
accountability, risk management and independent reviews. 
KPMG regularly review the composition of the audit team, and rotate/
refresh teams in accordance with the relevant regulations; and consider 
the fees paid by the Company and its related entities for professional 
services provided.

Any significant new engagement undertaken for the Company is 
subject to acceptance procedures, requiring consultation with Andrew 
Campbell-Orde, the current Senior Statutory Auditor. 

Risk management
The Group’s principal risk management systems comprise: risk registers 
and reviews; control risk self-assessment; and Risk Management 
Committee oversight. Further detail of the Group’s risk management 
systems and controls, principal risks and statement following the viability 
assessment are included in the Risk Report on pages 30 to 33. 

Internal Audit Function
The Head of Internal Audit reports to the Chief Financial Officer and 
has direct access to the Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the 
Audit Committee. 

The Internal Audit function provides independent and objective 
review of risks and controls and the Head of Internal Audit reports to 
the Board, Audit Committee and EMT, to ensure the Group complies 
with governance and regulatory responsibilities. The internal audit 
reviews consider the extent to which systems of internal control and risk 
management are designed and operate effectively, adequately manage 
the Company’s key risks, and safeguard assets and limit liabilities.

The role of Internal Audit and scope of its work are regularly reviewed to 
ensure it remains independent, fit for purpose, and addresses business 
changes and regulatory requirements. The formal Internal Audit Charter is 
reviewed by the Committee annually.

During the year, the annual evaluation of the Internal Audit function 
was considered by the Committee. The results of the assessment 
were that the Internal Audit function was adequately resourced and 
operated effectively.

External Auditor 
The Committee evaluates the effectiveness and independence of the 
external audit process and External Auditor annually in respect of their 
performance and conduct.

Auditor performance
The Committee was satisfied the External Auditor had performed 
effectively during the year on their audit for the year ending 31 March 
2015 and their review of the half year to 30 September 2015.

Auditor independence
The Committee requires the External Auditor to give an annual 
confirmation of the actions it has taken to ensure objectivity and 
independence, including where non-audit services are provided.

For the audit of these financial statements the current External Auditor, 
KPMG, confirmed compliance with the firm’s ethics and independence 
policies, partner and staff compliance with their ethics and 
independence manual, and the prohibition on holding Company shares. 
KPMG have given assurance to the Committee that their ethics and 
independence manual is fully consistent with the professional practice 
rules of the APB Ethical Standards, the auditors’ regulator. 

External Audit Tender
Under the Committee’s terms of reference, the Committee is responsible 
for recommending the appointment, reappointment and removal of the 
External Auditor to the Board. 

In the report last year the Committee stated that the External Auditor 
had not been tendered since the Company was listed in 2001, and 
acknowledged changes to the Code, the FRC’s Guidance for Audit 
Committees, and new regulations that will apply in the Company’s year 
end in 2017 regarding the maximum tenure of external audit partners 
and firms, and requirement for audit tenders.

In accordance with the statement last year the Committee has 
undertaken the planned external audit tender during the year, to 
coincide with the end of the current five-year rotation of the Senior 
Statutory Auditor.

The Committee invited KPMG LLP, Deloitte LLP, EY and Grant Thornton 
LLP to tender for the Group’s external audit; and led the process which 
involved a tender submission from each firm followed by a presentation 
and panel interview. The presentations and panel interviews were led 
by the Committee Chairman, with the support and attendance of the 
Chief Financial Officer, Company Secretary, Group Financial Controller 
and representatives from Corporate Reporting and Procurement. 
Following the robust and thorough tender process the Committee 
recommended to the Board that KPMG LLP be reappointed as external 
auditor until the conclusion of the AGM in 2017 and recommended their 
proposed annual audit remuneration fee. The Board considered and 
approved the recommendation to reappoint KPMG LLP as the External 
Auditor, and will recommend their reappointment to shareholders at the 
2016 AGM. 

Non-audit Services
The Company’s Non-Audit Services Policy is intended to put in place 
appropriate controls for the approval and engagement of any non-audit 
assignments according to nature and value of the work, to safeguard 
audit objectivity and independence.

The APB’s Ethical Standard 5 sets out the permissible non-audit services 
that external auditors can perform, and KPMG operates a global system 
to ensure that all requests from the Company, via any KPMG office, 
to provide non-audit services are considered in the context of the 
Company’s policy and KPMG’s ethical standards.

During the year the Committee reviewed and updated the Non-Audit 
Services Policy and monitored the level of non-audit work undertaken by 
the External Auditor. 

Full disclosure of audit and non-audit fees paid in the year ended 
31 March 2016 are set out in Note 3 to the Group financial statements 
on page 77.

Paul Dean
Audit Committee Chairman 
8 June 2016

Wincanton plc Annual Report and Accounts 2016WINCANTON44

Directors’ Remuneration Report

Committee Chairman’s Annual Statement
I am pleased to present the Directors’ Remuneration Report for the year 
ended 31 March 2016.

Our role as the Remuneration Committee is to provide oversight and 
challenge to ensure that how we remunerate our Directors and senior 
management is sufficient to attract and retain the best talent and 
encourage and reward high performance in order to deliver the Group’s 
strategic goals, without encouraging undesirable risk taking behaviour. 

The Committee considers market practice and stakeholder views when 
setting the Group’s performance-related incentives, to ensure they are 
underpinned by challenging and robust performance targets which are 
aligned to the Group’s strategic goals and ultimately drive sustainable 
growth and generate greater shareholder value. We believe this 
motivates and rewards individuals appropriately for their contribution to 
the success of the Group and aligns their rewards with our shareholders’ 
interests. 

The Committee reviews the Directors’ Remuneration Policy on an annual 
basis, against best practice developments and guidance issued by our 
shareholders and bodies that represent shareholders. We are satisfied 
that remuneration has remained in compliance with the Directors’ 
Remuneration Policy approved by our shareholders in the 2014 AGM, 
and we consider the Directors’ Remuneration Policy remains appropriate 
so are not proposing any amendments at the forthcoming AGM. As the 
2017 AGM will be three years since the Directors’ Remuneration Policy 
was approved, over the next year we will undertake a comprehensive 
review in conjunction with our Remuneration Consultant, Kepler, 
and engage with our shareholders and bodies that represent our 
shareholders on any material changes. The 2018 Directors’ remuneration 
policy will then be presented for shareholder approval at the 2017 AGM, 
with the intention it will be effective from 1 April 2018. 

During the year the Committee monitored pay practices of comparative 
companies, broader market practice and views on remuneration 
published by stakeholder bodies. The Committee granted the first 
awards under the Long-Term Incentive Plan (LTIP) in July 2015, which vest 
subject to achievement of stretching relative TSR (40% weighting) and 
EPS growth (60%) performance conditions over three years, and subject 
to malus and clawback provisions. When the Committee reviewed 
salary levels for Directors and senior management, we sought to ensure 
that any changes were in line with the overall Group salary increase 
parameters, rewarded only high performance, and were compliant with 
the Directors’ Remuneration Policy. Furthermore the Committee sought 
to ensure that Group remuneration remained competitive for our size, the 
UK, industry sector, and the market in which we operate. Following the 
review in June 2015 the Committee did not recommend a change to the 
Chairman’s fee and awarded a 1.5% increase to the salary of the Executive 
Directors effective 1 July 2015, in line with the average budgeted salary 
increase across the Group. 

There were three Executive Director changes during the year which I 
referred to briefly in my statement last year. Eric Born stepped down as 
Chief Executive in July 2015 and was replaced by Adrian Colman; and 
we appointed a new director, Tim Lawlor, as the Chief Financial Officer 
in September 2015. The Committee determined the remuneration 
arrangements for each Executive Director, taking into account each 
individual’s experience and responsibilities, total remuneration levels 
in companies of a similar size and complexity, and the Directors’ 
Remuneration Policy. 

The Committee recognised Eric Born’s key role in the improvement of 
the Group’s performance and increase in shareholder value during his 
five year tenure as Chief Executive, and determined that he should retain 
an interest in the 2012 Special Option Plan (SOP) award that vested on 
performance during July 2015, before his last day of employment, and 
that all other unvested SOP awards should lapse and he should not 
be eligible for any bonus for the financial year ended 31 March 2016. 
The Committee determined Adrian Colman’s remuneration package 
from appointment on 1 August 2015 would be in line with the outgoing 
Chief Executive’s remuneration package, to reflect the responsibilities 
of the role and his experience within the business. The Committee 
further determined Tim Lawlor’s remuneration package in line with 
the outgoing Group Finance Director’s package, at a cash salary 
approximately 5% lower than the previous incumbent’s salary. Full details 
of all remuneration packages are provided on page 50 to 52 of the 
Annual Report on Remuneration.

An additional activity the Committee participated in during the year was 
in respect of the sale process of the Wincanton Records Management 
(WRM) business. The Committee sought to ensure appropriate 
remuneration and incentive arrangements to retain key management 
during the sale process, to ensure the stability and continued good 
performance of the WRM business and to recognise the additional work 
to be undertaken. This did not affect the remuneration structure for 
Executive Directors.

Following my statement you will find the Annual Report on 
Remuneration, which will be presented to our shareholders for an 
advisory vote at the forthcoming AGM, after which the Remuneration 
Policy and guidance notes are included for reference purposes.

In closing I would like to remind our shareholders and the bodies 
that represent them that we, as a Committee, continue to welcome 
engagement and constructive dialogue with all of our shareholders 
on remuneration throughout the year and can be contacted via our 
Company Secretary.

Martin Sawkins
Remuneration Committee Chairman
8 June 2016

Wincanton plc Annual Report and Accounts 201645

Annual Report on Remuneration

Introduction
The Annual Report on Remuneration sets out the Company’s 
remuneration of its Directors during the year ended 31 March 
2016 in line with the Company’s shareholder-approved Directors’ 
Remuneration Policy. 

This report is subject to an advisory vote by shareholders at the 
Company’s AGM on 21 July 2016.

Compliance Statement
The Directors’ Remuneration Report, as a whole, has been prepared on 
behalf of the Board by the Remuneration Committee in accordance with 
the Code, the Listing Rules and the Large and Medium-sized Companies 
and Groups (Accounts and Reports) (Amendment) Regulations 2013. 

The Directors’ Remuneration Report comprises the Committee 
Chairman’s Annual Statement, this report and the Remuneration Policy 
and the accompanying notes. The Chairman’s Annual Statement and the 
Remuneration Policy are not subject to audit. Sections of this report are 
subject to audit and are highlighted accordingly.

Role of the Remuneration Committee
The main role of the Committee is to ensure that the remuneration 
of Directors and senior management supports the delivery of the 
strategic goals of the Group without encouraging undesirable risk 
taking behaviour. This objective is achieved by: setting remuneration 
appropriate to the industry and markets in which the Group operates; 
and making a significant proportion of remuneration dependent on 
delivery of demanding but achievable performance targets to reinforce 
development of a high performance culture.

Meetings
Details of Committee Membership and attendance at meetings are 
included in the Corporate Governance report on page 38. There were six 
Committee meetings during the year and one meeting between 1 April 
2016 and the date of this report.

Members of the Committee were all non-executive Directors selected 
to represent a broad range of backgrounds and experience to provide 
balance and diversity. In addition to formal Committee meetings, 
Committee members met outside of the scheduled meetings 
as necessary.

The Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer and HR Director attend 
Committee meetings by invitation to provide advice and assistance on 
specific matters. However, no attendee was present when their own 
remuneration was being discussed.

Committee Terms of Reference
The Terms of Reference of the Committee are reviewed annually to 
ensure they reflect current regulatory and governance requirements and 
duties. The Committee’s Terms of Reference are available on the Group’s 
website at www.wincanton.co.uk/investors/corporate-governance. 

The main responsibilities of the Committee are to:

 • set and determine the Directors’ Remuneration Policy and 

remuneration of the Chairman, taking into account remuneration 
across the Group;

 • monitor the level and structure of remuneration for the EMT;
 • approve the design of, and determine targets for, relevant performance-

related pay schemes operated by the Group;

 • approve the design of performance-related remuneration for Executive 

Directors for approval by the Board and shareholders; 
 • determine whether performance targets have been met;
 • oversee any major changes in employee benefit structures at 

Group level; 

 • select and appoint consultants to provide independent advice to the 

Committee; and

 • ensure compliance and reporting is in line with applicable legislation 

and regulation.

Activities during the year ended 31 March 2016
The Company’s approach to remuneration arrangements for Directors 
has not changed from the prior year and remains compliant with the 
Directors’ Remuneration Policy in force. 

The principal activities of the Committee during the year were 
to consider: 

 • remuneration arrangements on exit of the former Chief Executive;
 • remuneration packages for the new Chief Executive Officer and for the 

new Chief Financial Officer;

 • the Chairman’s and Chief Executive Officer’s recommendations for 
remuneration for Executive Directors and the EMT, respectively;
 • salary and total remuneration benchmarking and review of the 

Executive Directors’ remuneration;

 • HR strategy for the Group and compliance with the 

Remuneration Policy;

 • finalisation of the rules of the Annual Bonus Plan and determination 
of the performance conditions for the 2015 Long Term Incentive Plan 
awards in 2015;

 • review and approval of the Annual Report on Remuneration;
 • review of the Chairman’s fee;
 • determination of final awards under the Executive Bonus Plan 

(EBP) to Executive Directors and senior management for the year 
ended 31 March 2015 after consideration of Group operating profit 
performance and achievement of personal objectives;

 • grants of LTIP awards to Executive Directors and other senior 

management in the Group identified with key skills and/or roles to 
significantly drive Group value and performance improvement;

 • measurement and monitoring of performance for the unvested SOP 

awards; and

 • determination of achievement of performance conditions and vesting 

of SOP awards during the year.

Wincanton plc Annual Report and Accounts 2016WINCANTON46

Annual Report on Remuneration 
continued

The Directors’ Remuneration Policy was developed following consultation 
with the Company’s main shareholders and bodies representing 
shareholders, and overall shareholders were positive on the principles 
of the policy. 

Transition between Remuneration Policies
The previous remuneration policy ended on 31 March 2015. The final 
performance period under the EBP ended on 31 March 2015 in line 
with the previous remuneration policy, however, legacy SOP awards 
will continue until they vest or expire, subject to achieving stretching 
performance conditions. During the year the 2012 SOP award vested in 
July 2015 and the January 2013 SOP award, made to Adrian Colman on his 
appointment, vested in January 2016. The 2013 and 2014 SOP awards for 
Adrian Colman are due to vest subject to performance conditions in July 
2016 and July 2017, respectively. After July 2017 there will be no remaining 
remuneration arrangements from the previous remuneration policy. 
Full details of bonus payments and share awards made during the year, 
and SOP awards due to vest in July 2016, are disclosed in this report on 
pages 50 to 53.

Executive Directors’ service contracts
Details of employment contracts for the Executive Directors are 
summarised in the table below:

Executive 
Director
Adrian  
Colman
Tim  
Lawlor

Date of 
appointment to 
the Board
7 January 
2013
28 September 
2015

Date of 
current 
contract

Notice  
period 
(Company)
5 July 2015 12 months

Notice  
period 
(Director)
6 months

6 July 2015 12 months

6 months

Unexpired 
term
Rolling  
12 months
Rolling  
12 months

Adrian Colman was appointed as Chief Executive Officer of the Company 
on 1 August 2015 and therefore his service contract was refreshed to 
reflect his new role and remuneration. Both Directors’ service contracts 
are compliant in all respects with the Directors’ Remuneration Policy. 

The service contract for each Executive Director is available for inspection 
by shareholders at the Company’s registered office and will be available 
at the 2016 AGM.

Executive Directorship change
On 13 April 2015 the Company announced that Eric Born had resigned 
and would leave the Company on 31 July 2015, and that Adrian Colman 
would be appointed Chief Executive Officer on 1 August 2015. On 8 July 
2015 the Company announced that Tim Lawlor would be appointed as 
the new Chief Financial Officer on 28 September 2015.

The Committee, in accordance with its Remuneration Policy, determined 
Eric Born’s remuneration arrangements on leaving, Adrian Colman’s 
new remuneration package as Chief Executive Officer and Tim Lawlor’s 
remuneration package on appointment as Chief Financial Officer. 
Full details of all three remuneration packages were disclosed to 
shareholders in the stock exchange announcements and are detailed 
later in this report. No buy-out awards were made to Tim Lawlor.

Remuneration consultant
Kepler (a brand of Mercer) is the appointed adviser to the Committee 
regarding remuneration. The Committee annually reviews the 
support and advice provided and are comfortable that Kepler 
provides objective and independent remuneration advice and has no 
conflict of interest with the Group that may impair its independence. 
Other than advice on remuneration, no other services were provided 
by Kepler to the Company. Mercer provides unrelated advice to 
the Trustee of the Pension Scheme in relation to investments. 
Kepler is a founding member and signatory of the Code of Conduct for 
Remuneration Consultants. For more detail please refer to the website, 
www.remunerationconsultantsgroup.com. 

During the year, Kepler attended Committee meetings upon invitation 
to provide advice and support to the Committee in areas such as: current 
market practice; remuneration benchmark data for Directors and the 
EMT; governance developments; performance conditions for long term 
incentives; and relevant comparator groups for pay and performance. 

Fees payable to Kepler amounted to £18,205 in the year (2015: £31,695), 
based on attendance at meetings and advisory materials. Fees were 
lower than in the previous year due to less advice being required as no 
new remuneration benefits were proposed or implemented.

Remuneration Policy in the year ended 31 March 2016
Executive Directors’ remuneration for the year ended 31 March 2016 
consisted of base salary, annual bonus, long term incentives, pension 
provision and taxable benefits. The bonus and long term incentives are 
performance-related and conditional on the achievement of Group 
performance targets and continued service to encourage retention. 
Performance targets are set at the start of each financial year and are 
clear, robust and objective and take into account the wider economic 
environment of the Group. 

The Directors’ Remuneration Policy, which commenced on 1 April 2015, is 
set out on pages 55 to 60. The Policy was designed to provide clarity and 
transparency of remuneration, simplify the remuneration structure and 
align Executive Directors’ interests with both Company performance and 
shareholder interests through generation of greater Company value over 
the long term.

Wincanton plc Annual Report and Accounts 201647

Non-executive Directors’ letters of appointment
The Chairman and non-executive Directors’ terms of appointment are recorded in letters of appointment. All Directors are subject to re-election every 
three years in accordance with the Company’s Articles of Association. However, in line with corporate governance best practice, all Directors currently 
put themselves forward for annual re-election at each AGM. The table below summarises appointment dates and terms for the non-executive Directors 
during the year.

Non-executive Director
Steve Marshall
Paul Dean
Stewart Oades
Martin Sawkins
David Radcliffe
Paul Venables

1  Full months from date of this report.
2  Date of retirement from Board.

Date of appointment
14 December 2011
1 February 2015
1 November 2014
27 July 2012
27 July 2012
2 September 2009

Date of original  
letter of appointment
21 November 2011
21 January 2015
30 October 2014
22 June 2012
22 June 2012
23 July 2009

Effective date of current  
letter of appointment
14 December 2011
21 January 2015
30 October 2014
27 July 2015
27 July 2015
2 September 2012

Unexpired 
term1
17 months
19 months
16 months
25 months
25 months
Expired

Expiry of  
current term
21 November 2017
21 January 2018
30 October 2017
27 July 2018
27 July 2018
17 July 20152

Non-executive Directors’ letters of appointment are available for inspection by shareholders at the Company’s registered office and will be available at 
the 2016 AGM.

Executive Directors’ external appointments
From appointment to December 2015 Tim Lawlor was a non-executive director of the Institute of Directors. Adrian Colman did not hold any external 
directorships during the year and does not hold any at the date of this report.

Performance and pay
Set out below is a line graph that shows the TSR performance over a seven year period for both a holding of the Company’s shares and the FTSE Small 
Cap. The latter was agreed by the Committee to be the most appropriate comparator, as the Company is a constituent of the FTSE Small Cap.

TSR – Value of £100 invested on 31 March 2009 (£)

400

300

200

100

0

Mar
2009

Mar
2010

Wincanton

FTSE All share xIT

Mar
2011
FTSE Small Cap

Mar
2012

Mar
2013

Mar
2014

Mar
2015

Mar
2016

Source: Datastream

The chart above further shows TSR for FTSE All Share excluding investment trusts as this is the comparator group for measuring TSR performance under 
the LTIP approved in 2014.

Below, an additional chart has been included to show the three year performance of the Group. The purpose of this is to provide context to the vesting 
of the Company’s 2012 and 2013 SOP awards and EBP awards of Deferred shares in respect of the financial years ended 2014 and 2015, in light of the 
Company’s strong performance over recent years.

TSR – Value of £100 invested on 31 March 2013 (£)

500

400

300

200

100

0

Mar
2013

Mar
2014

Mar
2015

Wincanton

FTSE All share xIT

FTSE Small Cap

Mar
2016

Source: Datastream

Wincanton plc Annual Report and Accounts 2016WINCANTON48

Annual Report on Remuneration 
continued

The table below sets out the total remuneration and the amount vesting under short term (bonus) and long term incentive plans, as a percentage of 
the maximum that could have been achieved in each year of the same period as set out in the graph above, for the Chief Executive Officer:

Year ended 31 March
2016
2016
2015
2014
2013
2012
2011
2011
2010

Chief Executive Officer
Adrian Colman1
Eric Born1
Eric Born
Eric Born
Eric Born
Eric Born
Eric Born2
Graeme McFaull2
Graeme McFaull

Chief Executive single 
figure of total 
remuneration £’00013
1,653
3,750
2,051
1,264
893
710
249
397
655

Annual bonus payout 
against maximum 
opportunity
61%3
–3
56%4
68%5
69%5
41%5
0%
0%
64%6

Long term incentive 
vesting rates against 
maximum opportunity
100%7
100%8
100%9
100%9
100%9,10
100%10
n/a
0%11
9%12

1  Adrian Colman was appointed 1 August 2015. Eric Born resigned on 31 July 2015. These figures contain pro-rated remuneration in respect of each Director according to the period served. 
2  Eric Born was appointed 14 December 2010. Graeme McFaull resigned on 14 December 2010. These figures contain pro-rated remuneration in respect of each Director according to the 

period served.

3 The Committee deemed that Eric Born should not receive a bonus in respect of the year ended 31 March 2016. For the purposes of this table the percentage of Adrian Colman’s bonus is the pro-

rated element attributable to the period he served as Chief Executive Officer and not his full year bonus for the year ended 31 March 2016 (which is set out on page 51).

4  The maximum opportunity for ‘single figure’ purposes is 200% of salary. The Committee decided the bonus would be paid 100% in cash as the plan ended on 31 March 2015 and no performance 

conditions would be applied, therefore it is not defined as a long term incentive.

5  The maximum opportunity for ‘single figure’ purposes is 200% of salary. 50% of bonus is deferred in shares which vest subject to performance and are therefore defined as a long term incentive.
6  The maximum opportunity for ‘single figure’ purposes is 25% of salary. 75% of bonus was deferred in shares which vested subject to performance and are therefore defined as a long term incentive.
7  Award under the 2013 SOP award vested in full.
8  Awards under the 2012 SOP award vested in full.
9  Awards under the Company’s EBP vested in full.
10 Awards under the Company’s Deferred Annual Bonus Scheme vested in full.
11 Awards under the Company’s Share Match Incentive Scheme and the Performance Share Plan all lapsed due to performance conditions not being met.
12 Awards under the Company’s Share Match Incentive Scheme and the Executive Share Option Scheme vested in full however the awards under the Executive Share Option Scheme were 

‘underwater’ and are excluded from this table.

13 Note that the single figures reported for the years ended 31 March 2013 to 31 March 2016 are re-presented above to better comply with the new reporting regulations. In particular, Deferred 

Executive Bonus Plan outcomes are now captured in the financial year in which the performance period ended; previously, these awards were capture at vesting.

The table below sets out the percentage change in annual cash awarded to the Chief Executive Officer between the year ended 31 March 2015 and the 
year ended 31 March 2016, compared to the change in annual cash awarded to a comparator group of employees, as set out below.

Salary
Taxable benefits
Annual variable

2015/161
£’000
428
26
2625

CEO

2014/152
£’000
421
26
4774

Increase/(decrease)
1.7%
–
(45.0)%

Average change  
for the comparator
group3
1.4%
–
(17)%

1  From 1 April to 31 July 2015 Eric Born served as Chief Executive. Adrian Colman was appointed Chief Executive on 1 August 2015. These figures contain pro-rated remuneration in respect of each 

Director according to the period served for the year ended 31 March 2016.

2  Eric Born served as Chief Executive for the full financial year ended 31 March 2015.
3  The Comparator group is an average cost per person for all management level employees.
4  During the year ended 31 March 2015 the EBP came to an end. This Plan awarded a percentage of the annual bonus award each year in options over Deferred shares, which were weighted to vest in 
increasing percentages over the course of the Plan to retain and align the interests of the EMT with investors and incentivise delivery of the Group’s three year turnaround strategy. Please refer to the 
chart at the bottom of page 47 for an illustration of the Company’s performance over the three year period of the EBP, and the detailed notes that accompany the single total remuneration table on 
page 49 for further details.

5 The Chief Executive Officer’s bonus is the pro-rated element attributable to the period Adrian Colman served as Chief Executive Officer. The Committee deemed that Eric Born should not receive a 

bonus in respect of the year ended 31 March 2016.

The comparator group comprises all management level employees, approximately 300 people. This group was chosen as broadly the same group of 
employees that are entitled to participate in the Group’s management bonus scheme and a similar range of taxable benefits. Furthermore, a significant 
proportion of the Group’s employees are on legacy employment arrangements as a result of having transferred into the business or are entitled to 
remuneration arrangements determined by customers rather than the Group.

Wincanton plc Annual Report and Accounts 2016 
49

Payments made in the year under review
Single total figure of remuneration – Executive Directors (audited)

Fixed pay
Salary and fees
Taxable benefits4
Pension related benefits5
Sub total
Bonus6
Long term incentives7
Sub total
Total8

Eric Born1

At 31  
March  
2016  
£’000

142
9
31
182
–
3,568
3,568
3,750

At 31  
March  
2015  
£’000

421
26
92
539
477
1,035
1,512
2,051

Adrian Colman2

Tim Lawlor3

At 31  
March  
2016  
£’000

389
23
78
490
337
1,024
1,361
1,851

At 31  
March  
2015  
£’000

305
16
45
366
268
317
585
951

At 31  
March  
2016  
£’000

151
9
22
182
112
–
112
294

At 31  
March  
2015  
£’000

–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–

1  From 1 April to 31 July 2015 Eric Born served as Chief Executive. 
2  From 1 April to 31 July 2015 Adrian Colman served as Group Finance Director, and from 1 August 2015 to 31 March 2016 as Chief Executive Officer. The figures for Adrian Colman include 

remuneration for his time as Group Finance Director until 31 July 2015 and remuneration as Chief Executive Officer from 1 August 2015.

3  Tim Lawlor joined the Group from 28 September 2015 as Chief Financial Officer.
4  The taxable benefits comprise the gross value of those benefits provided to the Executive Directors, including company car allowance and healthcare. The value of company car allowance 

provided during the year ending 31 March 2016 was £8,300 for Eric Born, £21,900 for Adrian Colman and £8,000 for Tim Lawlor.

5  The pension related benefits comprise the amounts contributed to the defined contribution section of the Company’s pension scheme or the salary supplement provided in lieu of such 

contributions where the value exceeds the annual allowance set by HMRC.

6  The bonus amount for the year ended 31 March 2015 in respect of the EBP was paid 100% in cash and will be paid 100% in cash to the Executive Directors in respect of the ABP award for the year 

ended 31 March 2016. Further information is detailed on pages 50 and 51.

7  The value of long term incentives for the year ended 31 March 2016 includes awards vesting for performance during the financial year under the legacy 2012 and 2013 SOP, calculated based on the 
embedded gain between the option price and the share price on date of vest. For the July 2012 SOP award the embedded gain was £1.55 per share (based on the share price at date of vesting of 
£1.91) and for the January 2013 SOP award the embedded gain was £0.97 per share (based on the share price on date of vesting of £1.68). Further details can be found on page 51. The value for the 
year ended 31 March 2015 includes those Deferred shares that vested for performance to 31 March 2015 under the previous EBP, at the date of vesting on 11 July 2015. This has been re-presented 
above to better comply with the new reporting regulations, with the Deferred shares now captured in the financial year in which the performance period for vesting was determined (and not in the 
financial year of the date of vesting as previously reported).

8  The total figure excludes the value of Matching Shares awarded under the Company’s Share Incentive Plan (SIP) in the year due to the value being de minimis. Full details of shares held under the 

Company’s SIP can be found on page 52.

Payments to past Directors (audited)
There have been no payments made to past Directors during the year under review.

Payments for loss of office (audited)
There have been no payments for loss of office made during the year under review.

During the year the Committee determined the remuneration arrangements for Eric Born on his exit from Wincanton on 31 July 2015, in line with 
the Directors’ Remuneration Policy and taking account of the Company’s statements on payments on termination. Eric Born did not serve his full 
notice period and did not receive any payment in lieu of notice. Full details of his remuneration arrangements on leaving the Group are set out in the 
Committee Chairman’s Annual Statement on page 44.

Single total figure of remuneration – non-executive Directors (audited)
The table below sets out the fees of the non-executive Directors in the year. During the year, the Chairman received an annual fee of £170,000 and the 
non-executive Directors each received a base fee of £45,000. Additional fees of £8,000 were paid to Committee chairmen (excluding the Nomination 
Committee, which is chaired by the Company Chairman). The fees will remain unchanged in the year ending 31 March 2017.

Steve Marshall
Paul Venables1
Paul Dean2
Stewart Oades3
David Radcliffe
Martin Sawkins

At 31 March 2016

At 31 March 2015

Fees  
£’000s
170
13
45
45
45
45

Committee  
Chair fee  
£’000s
–
2
6
–
–
8

Total  
£’000s
170
15
51
45
45
53

Fees  
£’000s
170
45
8
19
45
45

Committee  
Chair fee  
£’000s
–
8
–
–
–
8

Total  
£’000s
170
53
8
19
45
53

1  Resigned as a non-executive Director and Audit Committee Chairman on 16 July 2015.
2  Appointed 1 February 2015 as a non-executive Director, and appointed as Audit Committee Chairman on 17 July 2015.
3  Appointed 1 November 2014.

Wincanton plc Annual Report and Accounts 2016WINCANTON 
 
 
50

Annual Report on Remuneration 
continued

Executive Directors’ Remuneration
Executive Directors’ salaries
Executive Directors’ salaries are reviewed annually with any change effective from 1 July. 

During the year the Committee awarded a 1.5% increase to the Executive Directors from 1 July 2015, aligned with the average budgeted salary increase 
across the Group. The salaries of the Executive Directors as at 31 March 2016 and with effect from 1 July 2016 are set out in the following table:

Adrian Colman1
Tim Lawlor2

Salary as at  
1 July 2016 
£
436,450
300,000

Salary as at  
31 March 2016 
£
430,000
295,000

Change
1.5%
1.7%

Change
–3
–

Salary as at  
1 July 2015 
£
310,590
–

1  Adrian Colman became Chief Executive on 1 August 2015 and his annual salary effective from that date was £430,000. 
2  Tim Lawlor became Chief Financial Officer on 28 September 2015 and his annual salary from that date was £295,000.
3  The increase in salary is in respect of a promotion to Chief Executive Officer, not performance, and so is not comparable to prior year.

Total pension scheme entitlements (audited)
Adrian Colman and Tim Lawlor are members of a defined contribution section of the Wincanton plc Pension Scheme. During the year the Company 
paid an employers’ pension contribution equivalent to 15% of Adrian Colman’s pensionable salary until he became Chief Executive Officer on 1 August 
2015 at which time it increased to 22% of his pensionable salary. From appointment on 28 September 2015 the Company paid an employers pension 
contribution equivalent to 15% of Tim Lawlor’s pensionable salary. Where the individual’s pension exceeded the HMRC annual allowance in the 2015/16 
tax year, the excess was paid in the form of a taxable cash payment. Executive Director pension arrangements for 2016/17 will be consistent with 
this approach.

Employment benefits
Executive Directors’ employment benefits for the year ended 31 March 2016 were provided on the same basis as for the previous incumbent of the role 
in the prior financial year, and will continue to be provided in the next financial year. 

The Senior Management Annual Bonus Plan for the year ending 31 March 2016 (audited)
The new Senior Management Annual Bonus Plan (ABP), detailed in the Directors’ Remuneration Policy on pages 55 to 60, was adopted by the 
shareholders on 16 July 2014 and came into effect on 1 April 2015. The ABP is normally paid in cash, however if the share ownership guideline is yet to 
be achieved, any bonus earned above 100% of salary must be used by the Executive Director to purchase Wincanton shares until the share ownership 
guideline is achieved. The performance conditions are 60% weighted on Group financial performance (underlying operating profit) for the financial 
year and 40% weighted on performance against personal objectives. Of the personal objective proportion, half is weighted on financial and half 
weighted on non-financial objectives. 

Senior Management Annual Bonus Plan performance for the year ended 31 March 2016 (audited)
The two eligible Directors for the ABP awards for the year ended 31 March 2016 were Adrian Colman and Tim Lawlor. Following his decision to leave the 
Group on 31 July 2015, the Committee determined Eric Born would not be entitled to any bonus or pro-rated bonus for the year ended 31 March 2016. 
The maximum bonus opportunity for the year ended 31 March 2016 for Adrian Colman was 150% of salary and for Tim Lawlor was 120% of salary, pro-
rated for his tenure from 28 September 2015 to 31 March 2016.

The ABP awards for the year ended 31 March 2016 satisfied the performance conditions and were awarded as set out in the tables below based on 
achievement of the financial and personal objectives. 

ABP awarded based on underlying operating profit performance target for the year ended 31 March 2016

Operating profit performance1
Bonus level as percentage of maximum underlying operating profit element

Threshold
48.7
0%

Maximum
53.9
100%

Actual
50.9
42.3%

1  Operating profit targets were adjusted to exclude four months of budgeted operating profit from Wincanton Records Management following its sale (which was approved by the 

Remuneration Committee).

ABP awarded based on achievement of personal objectives for the year ended 31 March 2016
The personal financial objectives for Adrian Colman and Tim Lawlor during the year included targets to reduce average debt below £125m; delivery of 
improved financial performance on revenue, operating profit and underlying EPS; and grow the new business un-factored pipeline. Personal non-
financial objectives for both Executive Directors included delivery of people and organisational improvements; turnaround of the Pullman business; 
customer focus and industry profile targets; operational performance targets in respect of health and safety performance improvement and reduction 
of LTIFR; an IS infrastructure plan; and development of a high performance culture. 

The Committee considered the performance of the Chief Executive Officer and of the Chief Financial Officer since appointment, and reviewed the level 
of achievement against each of their respective objectives. In particular the reduction in average net debt had been significantly below the objective 
set, from £136m at 31 March 2015 to £108m at 31 March 2016, and the Group had delivered a strong operational and financial performance with a 3.6% 
growth in revenue, 2.4% growth in underlying operating profit and 13.3% growth in underlying EPS. There had also been significant achievement 
against each of the Executive Directors non-financial objectives with the turnaround of the Pullman business and continued development of the 

Wincanton plc Annual Report and Accounts 201651

Group’s people strategy. Both Executive Directors had stepped up into their new roles with impact and speed, reviewing the talent pool and succession 
planning from junior management through to the EMT and undertaken refreshment of the Group’s values setting the tone and expectations from 
the top. 

The new business won during the year alongside the focus on service improvement and innovation on the Group’s market propositions and customer 
solutions were acknowledged. The Group also undertook its first customer survey during the year under review, to benchmark strength of customer 
relationships, solutions, service and perceived value. The results of the customer survey validated positive customer recognition of services and value 
provided, and strength in operational performance and delivery. The overall results had benchmarked Wincanton high against other companies that 
had undertaken the same survey. 

Following due consideration of the evidence to support achievement of each of the objectives together with their overall annual performance review, 
the Committee concluded that a high level of achievement had been reached on both financial and non-financial personal objectives and that the 
Executive Directors had delivered strong performance during the year under review. Accordingly, the table below sets out the award of bonus for the 
achievement of personal objectives for the year ended 31 March 2016 determined by the Committee:

Bonus level percentage of personal objective element

Adrian Colman
61.0%

Tim Lawlor
63.2%

Following consideration of the above, the Committee awarded an annual bonus equivalent to £337,159 (91.5% of salary) to Adrian Colman based on his 
average salary and pro-rated bonus opportunities during the year ended 31 March 2016, and £111,837 (75.8% of salary) to Tim Lawlor, pro-rated for his six 
month tenure from 28 September 2015 to 31 March 2016.

Long term incentives – Special Option Plan (audited)
The SOP is the Company’s long term incentive plan put in place under the previous remuneration policy, which ended on 31 March 2015 and no 
awards were made under the SOP during the year. SOP awards were made as market priced options, which meant that the Executive Directors would 
only realise value to the extent that the options vested, following satisfaction of the performance conditions, and if the share price had increased above 
the option price.

Performance targets
Threshold vesting (25% of maximum) under the SOP requires average TSR growth to exceed 10% per annum. Full vesting would be achieved for 
average TSR growth of 22% per annum during the three year period from date of award, with straight-line vesting between points. There is also an EPS 
underpin which requires no reduction to the underlying EPS at any point during the relevant three year period. If EPS reduced at any point during the 
relevant three year period, the relevant awards would lapse in full regardless of TSR growth. These performance conditions apply to all SOP awards.

Awards vesting for performance ending in the year ended 31 March 2016 (audited)
The awards made under the July 2012 SOP awards and the January 2013 SOP awards vested in full during the financial year ended 31 March 2016, as set 
out below:

Eric Born2
Adrian Colman

Date of  
award
12 July 20123

Vest  
date
12 July 2015
29 January 20134 29 January 2016

Option  
exercise 
price1
£0.36
£0.708

No. of  
SOP awards 
 granted
2,305,555
1,059,322

No. of  
SOP awards vesting 
for performance
2,305,555
1,059,322

No. of vested  
SOP awards 
exercised during  
the year
2,305,5555
–

No. of options  
held under vested 
SOP award  
at 31 March  
2016
–
1,059,3225

1  The option price is calculated using the three-day average share price immediately preceding the date of award.
2  Eric Born left the Group on 31 July 2015 and was given a 6 month window from his leave date in which to exercise the vested 2012 SOP award shares after which time they would lapse and cease to 

be exercisable.

3  For the award made on 12 July 2012, average annual TSR growth was 143% (maximum vesting at 22%) and EPS did not reduce over the three year period, therefore the awards vested in full.
4  For the award made on 29 January 2013, average annual TSR growth was 46% (maximum vesting at 22%) and EPS did not reduce over the three year period, therefore the awards vested in full.
5  The value of these awards for the purpose of the single figure is based on embedded gain, calculated as the difference between option price of 36p per share for the 2012 SOP and 71p per share  

for the 2013 SOP and the share price at date of vest. Further details are included on page 49.

Long term incentives for the year ending 31 March 2016 (audited)
From 1 April 2015 the new LTIP, approved by the Company’s shareholders at the AGM on 16 July 2014, came into force, and the first LTIP awards were 
made in accordance with the LTIP rules and the Remuneration Policy on 16 July 2015.

Performance targets
Performance metrics for the 2015 LTIP award are weighted 60% on basic underlying EPS and 40% on TSR relative to the FTSE All-Share Index (excluding 
investment trusts). The threshold (entry point) for 25% vesting of the TSR element requires the Company’s TSR to be equal to the TSR of the Index 
itself and 100% vesting requires the Company’s TSR to be equivalent to the upper quartile of the Index which is calibrated as Index + 10% per annum 
(i.e. 33% outperformance of the Index over the three year term of the award). EPS is measured on a point-to-point basis over the three year period in 
aggregate, with 25% of the EPS element vesting at the threshold (entry point) of 6% growth per annum and 100% vesting for 11% growth per annum. 
There will be straight-line vesting between threshold and maximum. Both performance measures will be measured over three financial years.

Wincanton plc Annual Report and Accounts 2016WINCANTON52

Annual Report on Remuneration 
continued

Awards made in the year ended 31 March 2016 (audited)
LTIP awards to the Executive Directors during the year are set out below. The EPS and TSR performance period for both the 16 July 2015 and 
28 September 2015 awards is 1 April 2015 to 31 March 2018.

Adrian Colman
Tim Lawlor

Date of  
award
16 July 2015

Vest  
date
16 July 2018
28 September 2015 28 September 2018

Option  
exercise 
price1
Nil
Nil

No. of  
nil-cost options granted  
under the LTIP 
228,845
142,512

Face value of award
(£)2
430,000
295,000

1  The LTIP options are awarded on a nil cost basis.
2  The award is calculated with reference to annual salary and the three-day average share price immediately preceding the date of award of £1.88 for the awards granted on 16 July 2015 and of £2.07 

for the awards granted on 28 September 2015.

Operation of the ABP and LTIP for the year ended 31 March 2017
The Group intends to operate each remuneration element in the year ended 31 March 2017, including the ABP and LTIP and their respective 
performance conditions, in the same way as in the year ended 31 March 2016. The Committee considers it commercially sensitive to disclose targets 
prospectively and will provide disclosure of these in the Directors’ Remuneration Report for the year ended 31 March 2017.

Share ownership
Total share interests at 31 March 2016 (audited)

Director
Eric Born1
Adrian Colman
Tim Lawlor
Steve Marshall
Paul Venables2
Martin Sawkins
David Radcliffe
Paul Dean
Stewart Oades

Shares

Nil-cost options

Options

Unvested and 
subject to 
continued 
employment
5,990
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–

Owned/vested
972,273
41,500
–
20,000
35,000
9,532
25,000
10,000
19,367

Vested but 
unexercised
–
205,784
–
–
–
–
–
–
–

Unvested and 
subject to 
performance
–
228,845
142,512
–
–
–
–
–
–

Vested but 
unexercised
–
1,059,322
–
–
–
–
–
–
–

Unvested and 
subject to 
performance
–
1,332,977
–
–
–
–
–
–
–

1  Eric Born resigned on 31 July 2015 and his share interests have not been monitored since that date. 
2  Paul Venables retired after the AGM on 16 July 2015 and his share interests have not been monitored from that date. 

Share ownership policy
Employee share ownership is a key part of the Directors’ Remuneration Policy and is designed to help maintain long term commitment through 
accountability and business understanding, and provide the opportunity to benefit from growth in Group value as shareholders. Adrian Colman is 
required to build and maintain a shareholding level of 300% of salary, which he has met during the year following the vesting of his 2013 SOP award on 
29 January 2016. 

Tim Lawlor joined the Company on 28 September 2015 and has not met the minimum shareholding guideline of 150% of salary that applies to new 
Executive Directors under the Directors’ Remuneration Policy during the year. In accordance with the Directors’ Remuneration Policy effective from 
1 April 2015, Tim Lawlor will be expected to purchase shares with any bonus above 100% of salary until the shareholding guideline is achieved.

Executive Directors’ share interests as at 31 March 2016 (audited)

Eric Born1
Adrian Colman
Tim Lawlor

Partnership Shares held under the SIP

Unrestricted shares held

Total shares held

31 March 2016
–
–
–

31 March 2015
5,990
–
–

31 March 2016
–
41,500
–

31 March 2015
57,388
41,500
–

31 March 2016
–
41,500
–

31 March 2015
63,378
41,500
–

1  Eric Born resigned on 31 July 2015 and his share interests have not been monitored from 31 July 2015. 

There were no changes in the Directors’ personal holdings between 1 April 2016 and the date of this report.

Wincanton plc Annual Report and Accounts 201653

Directors’ Bonus Plan Interests
The table below shows the Deferred shares awarded under the EBP and the number of those shares that vested during the year ended 31 March 2016:

Eric Born
Adrian Colman

Total number  
of Deferred  
shares held at 
31 March 20162
–
205,784

Number of  
Deferred shares 
vested to  
31 March 2016 
–
–

% vested on 
performance to 
31 March 2015
100
100

No. of shares  
vested on 
performance to 
31 March 2015
542,656
166,291

Face value1
£1,035,116
£317,200

Percentage  
of salary at 
31 March 2015
245%
104%

Type
Nil cost option
Nil cost option

1  Based on the share price on the day of vest on 11 July 2015 of £1.91.
2  The awards that make up the total number of Deferred shares are set out in the table below.

Directors’ Long Term Incentives Interests

Date of  
award

No. of shares 
under award as 
at 1 April 2015

Vest  
date

Option  
exercise 
price1

Share price  
at date of
award2

Shares  
awarded  
during  
the year

No. of shares 
lapsed during 
the year

No. of shares 
exercised during 
the year

No. of shares 
under award at 
31 March 2016

Eric Born
SOP
SOP
SOP

Adrian Colman
SOP
SOP
SOP
LTIP

Tim Lawlor
LTIP

12 July 2012
12 July 20137
11 July 20147

12 July 2015
12 July 2016
11 July 2017

29 January 2013 29 January 2016
12 July 2016
11 July 2017
16 July 2018

12 July 2013
11 July 20146
16 July 2015

28 September 2015

16 July 2018

Executive Bonus Plan Deferred shares
Eric Born

12 July 20123

12 July 2013  
– 12 July 2015
12 July 2014  
– 12 July 2015
11 July 2015

12 July 20134

11 July 20146

Adrian Colman

12 July 20134,5

11 July 20146

12 July 2014  
– 12 July 2015
11 July 2015

2,305,555
1,225,997
617,956
4,149,508

1,059,322
886,262
446,715
228,845
2,621,144

142,512
142,512

214,591

536,260

220,879
971,730
78,986

126,798
205,784

£0.36
£0.68
£1.37

£0.71
£0.68
£1.37
Nil

£0.33
£0.66
£1.40

£0.708
£0.66
£1.40
£1.88

–
–
–
228,845

Nil

£2.07

142,512

Nil

Nil

Nil

Nil

Nil

£0.33

£0.66

£1.40

£0.66

£1.40

–

–

–

–

–

1  The option price is calculated using the three day average share price immediately preceding the date of award.
2  The Mid Market Quotation (MMQ) share price on the date of award.
3  The award was made with reference to the 30 calendar day average of the Company’s MMQ ending on 31 March 2012, which was £0.79.
4  The award was made with reference to the 30 calendar day average of the Company’s MMQ ending on 31 March 2013, which was £0.54.
5  Adrian Colman was appointed on 7 January 2013. As a result the bonus award was pro-rated based on his length of service.
6  The award was made with reference to the 30 calendar day average of the Company’s MMQ ending on 31 March 2014, which was £1.28.
7  These awards for Eric Born lapsed on 1 August 2015 after he had left the Group.

–
–
–

–
1,225,997
617,956

2,305,555
–
–

–
–
–
–

–
–
–
–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–
–
–
–

–

1,059,322
886,262
446,715
228,845
2,621,144

142,512
142,512

214,591

536,260

220,879
 971,730
–

–

–

–
–
78,986

–

126,798
205,784

Wincanton plc Annual Report and Accounts 2016WINCANTON 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
54

Annual Report on Remuneration 
continued

Non-executive Directors’ share interests as at 31 March 2016 (audited)

Steve Marshall
Paul Venables1
Paul Dean
Stewart Oades
David Radcliffe
Martin Sawkins

Opening
20,000
35,000
–
–
25,000
9,532

Purchased
–
–
10,000
19,367
–
–

Disposed
–
–
–
–
–
–

Closing
20,000
35,000
10,000
19,367
25,000
9,532

1  Paul Venables retired from the Company on 17 July 2015.

There were no changes in the non-executive Directors’ personal holdings between 1 April 2016 and the date of this report.

Dilution limits
All share/option awards are made under plans that incorporate dilution limits consistent with the guidelines provided by the Investment Association. 
These limits are 10% in any rolling ten year period for all share plans and 5% in any rolling ten year period for executive share plans and are in relation to 
new issue shares. Estimated dilution from existing awards made over the last ten years up to 31 March 2016 is as follows:

All employee share plans
Executive share plans

Actual
4.2%
3.0%

Limit
10%
5%

Wincanton plc Annual Report and Accounts 201655

Directors’ Remuneration Policy

The Committee regularly reviews the Directors’ Remuneration Policy 
to ensure it supports shareholder interests and closely reflects business 
strategy. When setting the Directors’ Remuneration Policy, the 
Committee considered the following:

 • total remuneration levels operating in companies of a similar size and 

complexity such as:
 – revenue and scale of operation;
 – number of employees;
 – market capitalisation and enterprise value;
 – customer base; and
 – geographic reach;

 • the responsibilities of each individual role;

 • individual performance; and
 • each individual’s experience.

No changes are proposed to the Directors’ Remuneration Policy and 
therefore no resolution has been proposed to shareholders at the 2016 
AGM. As the Directors’ Remuneration Policy is now in its third year of 
application it will be thoroughly reviewed and presented for shareholder 
approval at the 2017 AGM, for effect from 1 April 2018.

The following tables set out the Directors’ Remuneration Policy which 
was approved by the Company’s shareholders at the AGM on 16 July 
2014, and came into effect on 1 April 2015. No changes have been 
made since its introduction except the inclusion of malus and clawback 
provisions in the ABP to align with best practice and the LTIP provisions.

Directors’ Remuneration Policy
Executive Directors
Salary
Purpose and link 
to strategy
Operation

Salaries are set at a sufficient level to recruit and retain individuals of the necessary quality to deliver the Group’s strategy.

Base salaries are normally reviewed annually, with changes effective 1 July.

Salaries are typically set after considering:

 • the responsibilities of each individual role;
 • progression within role;
 • individual performance;
 • an individual’s experience; and
 • salary levels in companies of a similar size and complexity.

Salaries may be adjusted and any increase will ordinarily be (in percentage of salary terms) in line with those of the 
wider workforce.

Increases beyond those granted to the wider workforce may be awarded in certain circumstances such as:

 • where there is a change in responsibility;
 • progression in the role;
 • material market misalignment; or
 • a significant increase in the scale of the role and/or size, value and/or complexity of the Group.

Where increases are awarded in excess of the wider employee population, the Committee will provide an explanation in the 
relevant Annual report on remuneration.

The Group provides the appropriate benefits for Executive Directors in a business of this size in order to recruit and retain 
individuals of the necessary quality to deliver the Group’s strategy.
Benefits include but are not limited to:

 • Company car or car allowance;
 • Private medical insurance for the Executive Director and their direct family;
 • Personal accident and travel insurance; and
 • Death in service cover.

In addition, relocation assistance is available on a case by case basis. Assistance may include, but is not limited to, facilitating 
and/or meeting the costs of removal and other relocation costs, children’s education, a limited amount of family travel and tax 
equalisation arrangements and may extend to facilitating and/or meeting the costs of re-establishing them to their previous 
location at the end of the employment or assignment.
Benefits vary by role and individual circumstance and eligibility is reviewed periodically. Benefits are not anticipated to exceed 
10% of salary per annum over the period for which this policy applies. The Committee retains the discretion to approve a 
higher cost in exceptional circumstances (e.g. relocation) or in circumstances where factors outside of the Group’s control 
have materially changed (e.g. costs of medical premiums). If this occurs, the Committee will provide details and rationale in the 
relevant Annual report on remuneration. 

Benefits
Purpose and link 
to strategy
Operation

Opportunity

Wincanton plc Annual Report and Accounts 2016WINCANTON 
 
56

Directors’ Remuneration Policy 
continued

All employee share plans
Purpose and link 
to strategy
Operation of all 
employee share plans

The Company encourages voluntary participation in share ownership throughout the Group where share plans 
are appropriate.
Under the current all employee share plan arrangements, Executive Directors are entitled to participate in the Company’s 
Share Incentive Plan (SIP).

Opportunity

Participants make monthly contributions from their gross salary to buy Partnership Shares. The Company currently awards 
1 Matching Share for every 4 Partnership Shares acquired. In addition, any dividends paid in respect of shares held under the 
SIP are used to buy Dividend Shares.
In line with HMRC limits, the rules of the Company’s SIP set out the following maximum levels, which may be amended from 
time to time so that they are in line with legislation:

Free Shares – The maximum value of Free Shares per tax year is £3,600.

Partnership Shares bought by employees – The maximum pre-tax salary that can be used to buy Partnership Shares is £1,800 
per annum.

Matching Shares – The Company can match employees’ Partnership Share purchases by giving them additional shares. 
The maximum award of Matching Shares is 2 Matching Shares for each Partnership Share bought. The Company currently 
awards 1 Matching Share for every 4 Partnership Shares bought.

Pension
Purpose and link 
to strategy
Operation of 
pension arrangements

Opportunity
Bonus
Purpose and link 
to strategy

Operation

Opportunity

The Group provides the appropriate pension provision for Executive Directors in a business of this size in order to recruit and 
retain individuals of the necessary quality to deliver the Group’s strategy.
Executive Directors are entitled to join the defined contribution section of the Wincanton plc Pension Scheme. In certain 
circumstances, for example where the annual allowance level set by HMRC is exceeded, the pension provision will be in the 
form of a taxable cash supplement.
Up to 22% of pensionable salary.

The aim of the annual bonus is to incentivise and recognise the performance of Executive Directors in respect of their 
annual contribution to the delivery of the Group’s strategy by rewarding performance against stretching financial and 
personal objectives. 
Performance is measured over each financial year. Performance measure weightings and individual objectives are 
reviewed prior to the start of the financial year to ensure they remain appropriate and reinforce the business strategy. 
Performance targets are set annually to ensure they are appropriately stretching and reflect those strategic objectives. At the 
end of the year, the Committee determines the extent to which these targets were achieved.

The bonus is normally settled in cash. However, if the share ownership guideline is yet to be achieved, any bonus earned 
above 100% of salary must be used by the Executive Director to purchase Wincanton shares until the share ownership 
guideline is achieved. All bonus awards are at the discretion of the Committee.
An Executive Director’s annual bonus cannot exceed 150% of salary.

Performance measure

A bonus of up to 25% of maximum is payable for ‘Threshold’ performance, 50% of maximum for ‘Target’ performance and up 
to 100% of the bonus is earned for ‘Maximum’ performance, with straight-line vesting in between.
Annual performance is typically based on achievement of underlying operating profit targets and personal objectives.

Underlying operating profit has a minimum weighting of 60% and a maximum weighting of 80%, and achievement of 
personal objectives has a minimum weighting of 20% and a maximum weighting of 40%.

Personal objectives include an element relating specifically to financial objectives other than underlying operating profit; 
currently 50% of personal objectives and is expected to remain so over the term of this policy.

In exceptional circumstances, the Committee has the ability to exercise discretion to override the formulaic bonus outcome 
within the limits of the plan where it believes the outcome is not truly reflective of performance and to ensure fairness to both 
shareholders and participants.
Clawback and malus provisions exist in respect of misstatements.

Recovery provisions

Wincanton plc Annual Report and Accounts 2016 
 
57

Long term incentives
Purpose and link 
to strategy

Operation

Opportunity

The aim of long term incentives is to incentivise and recognise the performance of Executive Directors in respect of their 
contribution to the delivery of the Group’s strategy over the longer term by rewarding strong financial performance and 
sustained increase in shareholder value. 
Performance is measured over a period of no less than three years. 

The Committee reviews the performance measure weightings ahead of each award to ensure alignment with Wincanton’s 
strategy and has discretion to adjust weightings to ensure alignment to that strategy. Performance targets are reviewed 
ahead of each performance period and the Committee has discretion to adjust targets to ensure they remain appropriate and 
stretching. Targets are set having regard to a number of internal and external reference points.

Awards may be granted as nil-cost options or conditional share awards. Dividends or dividend equivalents may be awarded in 
shares or cash equal to the dividends paid during the period between the date of grant and the date on which the shares vest.
Maximum award levels for Executive Directors are 100% of salary. In exceptional circumstances, for example on recruitment, 
individual awards may be granted up to 250% of salary.

25% of an award vests for ‘Threshold’ performance and 100% of an award vests for ‘Maximum’ performance, with straight-line 
vesting in between.

Performance measures Performance measures are TSR relative to an appropriate comparator group and EPS growth. 

Each measure is subject to a minimum weighting of 25%.

For TSR, ‘Threshold’ performance for Wincanton is median ranking in the comparator group and ‘Maximum’ is upper 
quartile ranking.

In exceptional circumstances, the Committee has the ability to exercise discretion to override the formulaic performance 
outcome downwards to ensure alignment of pay with the underlying performance of the business during the 
performance period.
Clawback and malus provisions exist in respect of vested and unvested awards in circumstances of misstatement 
and misconduct.

Recovery provisions

Shareholding guidelines
Purpose and link 
to strategy
Operation

Shareholding guidelines ensure alignment between Executive Directors and shareholders.

Shareholding guidelines are for any new Executive Director to accrue and then maintain a holding of shares with a value 
of 150% of their salary as assessed by the Committee from time to time. For Executive Directors in place at the start of the 
Remuneration Policy on 1 April 2015, which applies to Adrian Colman, the shareholding guideline remained at 300% of 
salary. Any bonus achieved in excess of 100% of salary will be required to be used to purchase shares until the shareholding 
guideline is met.

Non-executive Directors
Purpose and link 
to strategy
Operation

The Company seeks to attract and retain a high calibre Chairman and non-executive Directors by offering market competitive 
fee levels.
On the appointment of a new Chairman or non-executive Director, the fees will be set taking into account the experience and 
calibre of the individual.

Neither the Chairman nor the non-executive Directors participate in any of the Company’s short or long term incentive 
arrangements, nor do they receive benefits or pension provision. They are however, reimbursed for reasonable costs incurred 
in carrying out their role.

The Chairman receives an annual fee. The non-executive Directors receive an annual base fee and additional fees are paid to 
reflect additional responsibilities, such as chairing a Board Committee.

The Chairman and non-executive Directors receive their annual fee paid in monthly instalments. The fee of the Chairman is 
set by the Committee and the fees of the non-executive Directors are approved by the Board, on the recommendation of the 
Chairman and Chief Executive.
Fee levels are reviewed on a periodic basis, and may be increased taking into account factors such as the time commitment 
of the role and market levels in companies of a similar size and complexity. Fees for the Chairman and non-executive Directors 
will not exceed £500,000 in aggregate, as set out in the Company’s Articles of Association.

Opportunity

Wincanton plc Annual Report and Accounts 2016WINCANTON58

Directors’ Remuneration Policy 
continued

Notes to the Directors’ Remuneration Policy
These notes are intended to provide guidance on the Directors’ 
Remuneration Policy to aid understanding of its practical application 
and are reviewed annually. No change to the explanations represent 
a change to the Directors’ Remuneration Policy. 

Incentives
For the ABP, underlying operating profit performance reflects the basis 
on which the Group is managed: sustained operating profit performance 
improvement should enable the Group to improve its balance 
sheet position. 

For the LTIP, the Committee has selected EPS as one performance 
measure as it provides a good line of sight for Executive Directors. 
Relative TSR is used to align Executive Director remuneration with 
shareholder interests and take into account the impact of external 
environment changes on Company performance. 

When setting performance targets for short and long term incentives, the 
Committee considers a range of internal and external reference points: 
such as the Company’s strategic plan, consensus market forecasts, past 
Company performance and the performance ranges for comparator 
companies. The Committee then set incentive targets that are stretching 
and achievable. 

By measuring the personal performance of an Executive Director, 
the Committee is able to monitor performance against other key 
strategic objectives. 

The Committee has discretionary powers in the ABP and LTIP to adjust 
performance conditions up or down during the performance period 
in exceptional circumstances, provided that any adjustments are not 
tougher or easier to achieve than the intention of the original conditions.

Stakeholder engagement and consultation
The Committee recognises the importance of engaging with 
stakeholders in relation to the design of executive remuneration, 
the creation of a Directors’ Remuneration Policy, compliance with 
remuneration regulations that came into force in 2014 and continued 
best practice development. 

During the year, at the Company’s 2015 AGM on 16 July 2015, the advisory 
resolution for approval of the Annual Report on Remuneration received 
the following votes:

Votes for
81,159,171

%
99.64

Votes  
against
293,878

%

Total  
votes
0.36 81,622,917

% of ISC 
voted1
67.04

Votes 
withheld
169,868

1  The Issued Share Capital (ISC) of the Company as at the date of the Company’s 2015 AGM was 

121,747,293 ordinary shares of 10p each.

At the Company’s 2014 AGM, the binding resolution for approval of the 
Remuneration Policy received the following votes:

Votes for
75,276,577

%

Votes  
against 
96.8 2,456,358

%

Total  
votes
3.2 77,732, 935

% of ISC 
Votes 
voted1
withheld
63.8 1,345,734

1  The Issued Share Capital (ISC) of the Company as at the date of the Company’s 2014 AGM was 

121,747,293 ordinary shares of 10p each.

Relative importance of spend on pay
The following table is intended to assist in understanding the relative 
importance of the remuneration in the context of the Group’s financial 
position more generally.

Item
Remuneration of all employees1
Dividend or share buyback

2016  
£m
526.6
6.7

2015  
£m
480.2
–

Difference  
£m
46.4
6.7

1  This includes all personnel expenses, including Executive Directors, as set out in Note 4 to the 

consolidated financial statements.

Differences between the Remuneration Policy for 
Executive Directors and employees generally
Pay mix – The Directors’ Remuneration Policy is more heavily weighted 
towards variable pay than for other employees, to make a greater part 
of their pay conditional on the delivery of the Company’s strategy 
and performance. 

Bonus – The eligibility to participate and receive a bonus, and the 
level of bonus available, is dependent on the role and level of seniority 
within the business and Group structure. During the year the Company 
operated two bonus schemes, the Annual Bonus Plan (ABP) for executive 
management and a General Management Bonus Scheme. In addition, 
some employees are eligible for a bonus depending on the customer 
contract on which they work and for new business won under a new 
Super Sales Bonus Scheme.

Long term incentives – Up to 30 senior managers in the Group, such 
as the Executive Directors and other senior employees with key skills 
and experience or that perform key roles which significantly drive value 
in the Group, are annually awarded LTIPs. Such awards are intended 
to encourage sustainable long term value generation and align senior 
employees interests with our shareholders.

Pensions – All employees, including the Executive Directors, are eligible 
to become members of one of the defined contribution sections of 
the Wincanton plc Pension Scheme. The level of employers’ pension 
contribution for employees is determined by their level of seniority and/
or age. 

Share Incentive Plan – The Company operates a tax-advantaged SIP 
and actively promotes SIP participation to all employees to align their 
interests to delivery of Group strategy and performance by providing 
the opportunity to become shareholders in order to share in the Group’s 
growth and success. Within the SIP all participants are eligible to receive 
one matched share for every four shares purchased. 

Employment conditions elsewhere in the Group
When making remuneration decisions, to ensure there is a fair and 
consistent approach to remuneration, the Committee considers pay 
and employment conditions across the Group, such as determination of 
salary increases to Executive Directors with reference to the range of base 
pay increases within the Group. The Committee also reviews base salaries, 
pension provision, annual bonuses and LTIP awards for the EMT. 

The Committee does not formally consult with employees on a routine 
basis but do so if any significant changes to Group remuneration 
and employment policies were proposed. The Committee receives 
information on the annual base salary reviews across the Group and 
the annual bonus and LTIP awards made to employees that report into 
the EMT and below. The Committee members, as Directors, receive the 
annual employee consultation results which are presented to the Board. 

Wincanton plc Annual Report and Accounts 201659

Consideration of shareholders’ views
The Committee considers best practice developments and publications 
from institutional investors’ and shareholder bodies as well as any 
shareholder views expressed during dialogue. The Committee is 
committed to maintaining an open and consultative dialogue with 
Company shareholders and shareholder bodies and intends to consult 
extensively when reviewing or making substantive changes to the 
Directors’ Remuneration Policy. 

Remuneration on recruitment of an Executive Director
When making an appointment of a new Director, including by way 
of internal promotion, remuneration packages and fees are set in 
accordance with the Directors’ Remuneration Policy. 

To determine the appropriate remuneration for a new Executive Director, 
the Committee will consider relevant factors such as: the experience 
and calibre of the individual, the quantum / nature of remuneration, 
the jurisdiction from which the candidate was recruited, the role 
requirements, and the market benchmark. Initial salaries may be set 
below market rate and consideration given to phasing any increases over 
two or three years subject to development in the role. Normal variable 
pay will be subject to the maximums set out in the tables within the 
Directors’ Remuneration Policy on pages 55 to 57. 

The Committee may consider it is appropriate to grant one off awards 
to compensate new Executive Directors in respect of incentive 
arrangements forfeited when leaving a former employer. If doing so, 
the Committee would consider relevant factors, including: the structure 
of the awards forfeited; the strength of the performance conditions 
attached to those awards; and the likelihood of those conditions being 
met. Compensation for forfeited awards would only be considered on a 
matching fair value basis. To the extent that it is not possible or practical 
to provide compensation within the terms of the Company’s existing 
incentive plans, a bespoke arrangement could be created in accordance 
with the discretion permitted to the Committee under the Listing Rules. 
When the Company announces an Executive Director appointment, 
if applicable, it will provide an explanation of the reasons for a 
compensation award being granted, and a breakdown of that payment. 

In the case of an internal promotion, any outstanding variable pay 
awarded in relation to the previous role will be continued on the 
original terms.

Executive Directors’ service contracts
All Executive Directors are appointed on the basis of a 12 month rolling 
period in accordance with the Companies Act 2006, subject to election 
and annual re-election by the Company’s shareholders at the AGM.

Under the Executive Directors’ service contracts, the Company is required 
to give 12 months’ notice and the Executive Director 6 months’ notice 
of termination. 

Payments on termination and change of control
If notice is served by either party, the Executive Director can continue 
to receive basic salary, taxable benefits and pension provision for the 
duration of their notice period during which time the Company may 
require the individual to continue to fulfil their current duties or may 
assign a period of ‘garden leave’. The Committee will take account of 
an Executive Director’s duty to mitigate their loss. There are no other 
arrangements in place between the Company and its Directors that 
provide for remuneration for loss of office following a change of control 
of the Company.

In addition to the contractual provisions regarding payment on 
termination, the Group’s incentive plans and share schemes contain 
provisions for termination of employment, based on ‘good leaver’ and 
‘bad leaver’ treatment. Good leavers are typically defined as participants 
who leave early on account of injury, disability or ill health, death, a sale 
of their employer or business in which they were employed, statutory 
redundancy, retirement, or any other reason at the discretion of the 
Committee. Bad leavers are employees that leave for any other reason. 
In circumstances of termination on notice the Committee will determine 
an equitable remuneration package, having regard to the particular 
circumstances of the case. 

For good leavers, payment of an annual bonus is normally tested on full 
financial year performance and the amount payable is then pro-rated 
for the period worked by the Executive Director in the financial year. 
There is no provision for an amount in lieu of bonus to be payable for any 
part of the notice period not worked, with Committee discretion to treat 
otherwise. Bad leavers lose any right to the annual bonus.

A good leaver would not forfeit long term incentive awards on cessation 
of employment. The awards would continue to be held by the good 
leaver until vest, on the normal vesting date or earlier at the discretion of 
the Committee, subject to satisfaction of the performance conditions 
of the award. Awards would be adjusted pro-rata for the amount of 
vesting period worked by the Executive Director, unless the Committee 
determines otherwise. Bad leavers would forfeit all vested and unvested 
long term incentive awards held.

If employment is terminated by the Company, the departing Executive 
Director may have a legal entitlement (under statute or otherwise) to 
additional amounts, which would need to be met for example, in a 
redundancy situation. In addition, the Committee does retain discretion 
to settle any other amounts reasonably due to the Executive Director, 
for example to meet the legal fees incurred by the Executive Director in 
connection with the termination of employment, where the Company 
wishes to enter into a settlement agreement (as provided for below) and 
the individual must seek independent legal advice.

In certain circumstances, the Committee may approve new contractual 
arrangements with departing Executive Directors including, but not 
limited to, settlement, confidentiality, restrictive covenants and/or 
consultancy arrangements. These are intended to be used in exceptional 
circumstances and only would be entered into where the Committee 
believed that it was in the best interests of the Company and its 
shareholders to do so.

In the event of a change of control, all unvested awards under the 
long term incentive arrangements would vest, to the extent that any 
performance conditions attached to the relevant awards have been 
achieved. The awards would, unless the Committee determines 
otherwise, be pro-rated for the amount of time worked by the Executive 
Director prior to the change of control. Alternatively, unvested long 
term incentive arrangements may not vest on a change of control 
and may be replaced by an equivalent new award determined by the 
acquiring Company. 

Letters of appointment for non-executive Directors
The Chairman and non-executive Directors’ terms of appointment are 
set out in their respective letters of appointment. All Directors are subject 
to re-election every three years in accordance with the Company’s 
Articles of Association. In line with corporate governance best practice, all 
Directors currently put themselves forward for annual re-election at each 
AGM. The required notice period is six months written notice from either 
party. Non-executive Directors are not entitled to any remuneration on 
loss of office.

Wincanton plc Annual Report and Accounts 2016WINCANTON60

Directors’ Remuneration Policy 
continued

Chief Executive Officer

Fixed

100%

Target

56%

£555,943

33%

11%

£990,780

Maximum

34%

40%

26%

£1,643,036

Fixed pay 

Annual bonus

LTIP

Chief Financial Officer

Fixed

100%

Target

59%

£360,088

29%

12%

£613,659

Maximum

36%

35%

29%

£1,016,389

Fixed pay 

Annual bonus

LTIP

Executive Directors holding external appointments
Executive Directors are able to perform one non-executive Directorship 
outside the Company with the consent of the Board. Any fees received 
may be retained by the Director.

Illustrations of application of the Remuneration Policy
The charts below set out how much the Chief Executive and Chief 
Financial Officer could earn under the Remuneration Policy in the year 
ending 31 March 2017.

The scenarios in these charts are based on the assumptions that 
performance excludes the impact of any share price appreciation and 
accrual of dividends or dividend equivalents. The charts are not adjusted 
for the change in Chief Executive and Chief Financial Officer during the 
financial year.

Remuneration receivable for different performance scenarios

Fixed pay

Annual 
bonus
LTIP

Fixed 
 • Salary effective from 1 July 2016 as disclosed in the Annual 

Maximum

Target

Report on Remuneration on page 50 

 • Pensions and taxable benefits as provided in the single 
figure table in the Annual Report on Remuneration on  
page 49
Nil payout 

Bonus award at 50% of 
maximum opportunity
Threshold LTIP vesting  
at 25% of opportunity

Payout of 100% 
of award
Full LTIP vesting

Nil payout

Wincanton plc Annual Report and Accounts 201661

Directors’ Report

Wincanton plc is a company incorporated in England and Wales, with 
company number 4178808. 

Directors
The Directors during the year and as at the date of this report are:

Constitution
The Company’s Articles of Association may only be amended by a special 
resolution at a general meeting of shareholders.

Principal activities
Wincanton plc is the ultimate parent company of the Group and trades 
principally through its subsidiary undertakings. The Group is a leading 
provider of supply chain solutions in the UK and Ireland. All subsidiaries of 
the Company are listed in Note 11 on pages 83 and 84.

Review of business and future developments
The Consolidated income statement for the year ended 31 March 2016 is 
set out on page 66.

Directors’ report content
The Strategic Report, Corporate Governance Report and Directors’ 
Remuneration Report are all incorporated by reference into this Report 
and, accordingly, should be read as part of this Report.

Strategic Report
The Company is required to prepare a fair review of the business of the 
Group during the year ended 31 March 2016. 

A review of the Group’s activities and the position of the Group at the end 
of the financial year and its prospects for the future are contained in the 
Chairman’s review on pages 2 and 3. The business and financial reviews 
and description of the principal risks and uncertainties facing the Group 
are contained in the Strategic Report. The purpose of the Strategic Report 
is to enable shareholders to assess how the Directors have performed 
their duty under Section 172 of the Companies Act 2006. 

The information that fulfils the requirements of the Strategic Report can 
be found on pages 2 to 33. Within the Strategic Report, the details of the 
Group’s business goal, strategy and model are set out on pages 4 to 19. 

Corporate governance reporting
Details of the Company’s compliance with the Code and the disclosures 
required under the Code and the UK Listing Rules can be found in the 
Chairman’s Introduction to Governance and the Corporate Governance 
Report on pages 36 to 60. The Compliance statement as required by Rule 
7.2.1 of the Financial Conduct Authority’s Disclosure and Transparency 
Rules is set out on page 37.

Management report
For the purposes of Rule 4.1.5R(2) and Rule 4.18 of the Finance Conduct 
Authority’s Disclosure and Transparency Rules, this Directors’ Report and 
the Strategic Report on pages 2 to 33 comprise the Management report.

Events after the balance sheet date
There were no reportable events after the balance sheet date.

Executive Directors
Adrian Colman, Chief Executive Officer 
Tim Lawlor, Chief Financial Officer (appointed 28 September 2015) 
Eric Born, former Chief Executive Officer (resigned 31 July 2015)

Non-executive Directors
Steve Marshall, Chairman 
Paul Dean 
Stewart Oades 
David Radcliffe 
Martin Sawkins 
Paul Venables (resigned 16 July 2015)

The rules governing the appointment and replacement of Directors are 
set out in the Company’s Articles of Association.

At the 2016 AGM all Directors will retire and offer themselves for re-
election to the Board. Biographical details of all Directors are set out on 
pages 34 and 35. 

Details of the service contracts of the Executive Directors and the letters 
of appointment for the non-executive Directors are set out in the Annual 
Report on Remuneration on pages 46 and 47 respectively. Terms of office 
are set out in the Directors’ Remuneration Policy, and accompanying 
notes, on pages 55 to 60.

Results and dividends
The Group profit attributable to equity shareholders for the financial year 
amounted to £61.1m. The Directors propose a final dividend of 5.5p per 
Ordinary share for the financial year ended 31 March 2016 (2015: nil).

Going concern
After making enquiries, the Directors have a reasonable expectation that 
the Company and the Group have adequate resources to continue in 
business for the foreseeable future. The financial statements are therefore 
prepared on a going concern basis. Further details of the Group’s going 
concern review and liquidity position are provided in Notes 1 and 25, 
respectively to the Group financial statements.

Share capital
The Company’s issued share capital as the date of this report was 
123,747,293 Ordinary shares of 10p each, following the additional listing 
and allotment of 2,000,000 Ordinary shares of 10p each in the Company 
on 4 August 2015 to rank pari passu with the existing Ordinary shares in 
the Company (2015: 121,747,293).

Authority to purchase shares
The Company was authorised at the 2015 AGM to purchase its own 
shares within certain limits. During the year ended 31 March 2016, the 
Company purchased 2,500,000 own shares under this authority. All shares 
purchased were gifted to the Company’s Employee Benefit Trust (EBT) 
to satisfy future exercise of awards under the Company’s employee 
incentive schemes. The Directors will seek renewal of their authority to 
purchase the Company’s shares in the market at the AGM on 21 July 2016.

Wincanton plc Annual Report and Accounts 2016WINCANTON62

Directors’ Report 
continued

Shareholders rights
Each Ordinary share of the Company carries one vote at general meetings 
of the Company. There are no restrictions on the transfer of ordinary 
shares in the capital of the Company other than certain restrictions which 
may from time to time be imposed by law. In accordance with the Listing 
Rules of the Financial Conduct Authority, certain employees are required 
to seek Company approval before dealing in shares.

Greenhouse gas emissions
The disclosures concerning greenhouse gas emissions required by law 
are included in the Corporate Social Responsibility Report, on pages 22 
and 23.

Political donations
No political donations were made during the year (2015: nil).

Employees who participate in the SIP, whose shares remain in the Plan’s 
trust, give directions to the trustee to vote on their behalf by way of a 
Form of Direction.

The Company is not aware of any agreements between shareholders 
that may result in restrictions on the transfer of securities and/or 
voting rights. 

Contracts and transactions
The Company is not aware of any significant agreements to which it 
is party that take effect, alter or terminate upon a change of control of 
the Company following a takeover. The Company is not aware of any 
contractual or other agreement, which is essential to its business that 
ought to be disclosed in this Directors’ Report.

Appointment of External Auditor
Following an external audit tender process, as detailed on page 43, the 
Audit Committee recommended, and the Board approved, the proposal 
that the current auditor KPMG LLP be reappointed as External Auditors of 
the Company at the 2016 AGM. Resolutions to reappoint KPMG LLP as the 
Company’s Auditor to the conclusion of the 2017 AGM, and to authorise 
the Directors to fix their remuneration, will be proposed to shareholders 
at the 2016 AGM.

Directors’ statement on the annual report
Each of the Directors who held office at the date of approval of this 
Directors’ Report confirms that, so far as each Director is aware: there is no 
relevant audit information of which the Company’s auditor is unaware; 
and each Director has taken all the steps that ought to have been taken 
in their duty as a Director to make themselves aware of any relevant 
audit information, and establish that the Company’s auditor is aware of 
that information.

The Directors consider the annual report, taken as a whole, is fair, 
balanced and understandable and provides the information necessary 
for the shareholders to assess the Company’s performance, business 
model and strategy.

On behalf of the Board

Alison Dowling
Company Secretary
8 June 2016

Annual General Meeting 2016
The Company’s fifteenth AGM will be held at 11am on Thursday, 
21 July 2016 at the offices of Buchanan, 107 Cheapside, London EC2V 
6DN. The Notice of Annual General Meeting 2016, which contains full 
explanation of the business to be conducted at the AGM, is set out in 
a separate shareholder circular and can be found on the Company’s 
website (www.wincanton.co.uk/investors).

Substantial shareholdings
At the date of this report, the Company has been notified of the 
following major shareholdings. Both the number of shares held and the 
percentage holding are stated in accordance with the Company’s register 
of members at the report date:

Shareholder
Threadneedle Investments
Schroder Investment 
Management
Aberforth Partners
River & Merchantile Asset 
Management LLP
JPMorgan Asset 
Management
Standard Life Investments

M&G Investment 
Management
Wincanton Share 
Incentive Plan

Type of 
holding
Indirect
Indirect

Indirect
Indirect

Number of  
shares held
17,276,174
13,655,387

13,558,470
7,191,504

Indirect

5,601,000

Direct and 
indirect
Indirect

5,436,218

4,804,098

Indirect

4,180,027

Holding  
(% of issued 
share capital)
13.96
11.03

10.96
5.81

4.53

4.39

3.88

3.38

Accounting policies, financial instruments and risk
Details of the Group’s accounting policies, together with details of 
financial instruments and of financial risk are provided in Notes 1 and 25 
to the Group financial statements.

Wincanton plc Annual Report and Accounts 201663

Statement of Directors’ responsibilities in respect  
of the Annual Report and the Accounts
The Directors are responsible for preparing the Annual Report and Group 
and parent Company financial statements in accordance with applicable 
law and regulations.

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

Under Company law, the Directors must not approve the financial 
statements unless they are satisfied that they give a true and fair view of 
the state of affairs of the Group and parent Company and of their profit or 
loss for that period. In preparing each of the Group and parent Company 
financial statements, the Directors are required to:

 • select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;
 • make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
 • for the Group financial statements, state whether they have been 

prepared in accordance with IFRSs as adopted by the EU;

 • for the parent Company financial statements, state whether applicable 
UK Accounting Standards have been followed, subject to any material 
departures disclosed and explained in the parent Company financial 
statements; and

 • prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is 
inappropriate to presume that the Group and the parent Company will 
continue in business.

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

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

The Directors are responsible for the maintenance and integrity of the 
corporate and financial information included on the Company’s website. 
Legislation in the UK governing the preparation and dissemination of 
financial statements may differ from legislation in other jurisdictions.

The Directors confirm that to the best of their knowledge:
 • the financial statements, prepared in accordance with the applicable 
set of accounting standards, 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 management report required by DTR 4.1.8R (contained in the 

Strategic Report and 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.

The Directors approved the above responsibility statement on 
8 June 2016.

Alison Dowling
Company Secretary

Wincanton plc 
Registered in England and Wales No. 4178808

Statement on the Modern Slavery Act
Wincanton takes its ethical standards and conduct very seriously and 
sets out the Group’s requirements for suppliers in procurement and 
ethics policies. The Group are committed to requiring our supply 
chain understand our standards and expectations on anti-bribery and 
corruption, legal compliance and ethical conduct.

This statement is provide in compliance with the Modern Slavery Act 
2015 and sets the Group’s approach to prohibiting any form of forced 
labour, slavery or human trafficking throughout its supply chain.

Wincanton has reviewed its employment and procurement activities in 
line with the legislative requirements and confirm the following steps 
have, or are in the process of being, undertaken:

1.   A strategy statement and policy have been drafted regarding forced 

labour, modern slavery and human trafficking, and related policies are 
also being updated. These are in the process of being communicated 
to educate and embed responsibility throughout the Group and its 
supply chain.

2.   An assessment of the Group’s current suppliers by size and risk has 

been undertaken and all suppliers have been sent a letter setting out 
Wincanton’s requirement for their compliance with the legislation. 
Our largest suppliers have been requested to provide details on their 
strategy and approach to compliance with the legislation.

3.   Due diligence and information required to satisfy the strategy 

statement and policy have been incorporated into the procurement 
pre-qualification process when tendering and procuring new 
suppliers and renewals, to assess suitability to provide goods and 
services to the Group in respect of their business practices, ethics and 
labour practices.

4.   The impact on Group employment practices and processes, including 
use of agencies, is being assessed in conjunction with external advice. 
Any required changes will be implemented during the financial year 
ending 31 March 2017, and awareness training will be rolled out as part 
of this process. 

Wincanton will continue to regularly review its policies and processes 
to elevate standards and conduct with regard to ethical and social 
responsibility in our supply chain and business, for the benefit of all 
of our stakeholders. Further detail and progress on the steps outlined 
above will be made in the Annual Report next year and published 
online simultaneously.

The Directors approved the above statement on 8 June 2016.

Alison Dowling
Company Secretary

Wincanton plc 
Registered in England and Wales No. 4178808

Wincanton plc Annual Report and Accounts 2016WINCANTON64

Independent auditor’s report to  
the members of Wincanton plc only

Opinions and conclusions arising from our audit
1. Our opinion on the financial statements is unmodified
We have audited the financial statements of Wincanton plc for the year 
ended 31 March 2016 set out on pages 66 to 102. 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 March 2016 and of 
the Group’s profit for the year then ended;

 • the Group financial statements have been properly prepared in 

accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards as adopted 
by the European Union;

 • the parent Company financial statements have been properly prepared 

in accordance with UK Accounting Standards, including FRS 101 
Reduced Disclosure Framework; and

 • the financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the 
requirements of the Companies Act 2006 and, as regards the Group 
financial statements, Article 4 of the IAS Regulation.

2. Our assessment of risks of material misstatement
In arriving at our audit opinion above on the financial statements the 
risks of material misstatement that had the greatest effect on our audit, in 
decreasing order of audit significance, were as follows:

(a) Goodwill £77.1 million (2015: £76.9 million) Risk vs 2015: 
Refer to page 42 (Audit Committee Report), page 72 (accounting policy) 
and pages 81 and 82 (financial disclosures).

 • The risk – Goodwill acquired in a business combination is allocated to 
the Group’s Cash Generating Units (CGUs), which are aligned with its 
operating segments; Contract logistics and Specialist businesses.
The recoverable amounts of the CGUs are determined from value in 
use calculations and where the carrying value of a CGU exceeds its 
recoverable amount an impairment charge is required. This is a key 
judgement area as inaccuracies in assumptions, particularly relating to 
forecast cash flows and discount rates, could result in the recoverable 
amount being calculated incorrectly resulting in potentially material 
impairment charges not being recognised or too great an impairment 
charge being recorded.

In December 2015, the Group disposed of Wincanton Records 
Management (WRM), a significant portion of the Specialist businesses 
CGU (with Goodwill balance £20.2 million). This disposal significantly 
reduced the value in use of the CGU and conversely increased the risk 
of material misstatement over the Goodwill balance, as the disposal of 
the profitable WRM business has increased the sensitivity of the CGU to 
changes in key assumptions.

 • Our response – Our audit procedures included evaluating the Group’s 
budgeting procedures upon which the three year forecast cash flows 
are based by performing an assessment of the historical accuracy of 
budgets. We evaluated the assumptions and methodologies used 
by the Group, by agreeing the budgets and forecasts utilised to 
those approved by the Directors and assessing whether the forecasts 
(including growth rate) were consistent with current business strategies 
in place.
We challenged the Group’s selection of the discount and growth rates 
using external data (including competitor analysis) to determine an 
appropriate range and compared the actual rate used to that range.

We evaluated the Group’s sensitivity analysis, by performing our own 
analysis to assess the sensitivity of the impairment reviews to changes in 
the key assumptions of the discount rate, growth rate and the forecast 
cash flows. In particular, we have performed additional sensitivity 
analysis over the Specialist businesses CGU.

We considered the adequacy of the Group’s disclosures in respect of 
the impairment testing of goodwill and whether disclosures about the 
sensitivity of the outcome of the impairment assessment to changes in 
key assumptions properly reflected the risks inherent in it.

(b) Pension scheme deficit £105.6 million (2015: £144.2 million)  
Risk vs 2015: 
Refer to page 42 (Audit Committee Report), page 73 (accounting policy) 
and pages 89 to 92 (financial disclosures).

 • The risk – In 2014, the defined benefit sections of the Group’s 

pension scheme were closed to future accrual. This closure, combined 
with a Pension Increase Exchange (PIE) project, resulted in a gain of 
£20.2 million.
While the sections remain closed to future accrual, significant estimates 
are still made in valuing the Group’s net pension deficit and small 
changes in either the assumptions or estimates used may have a 
significant effect on the results and financial position of the Group.

 • Our response – With the support of our actuarial specialists, we 

challenged the key assumptions applied in determining the Group’s 
net deficit, being the discount rate, inflation rate and mortality/life 
expectancy, by comparison against externally derived data. We also 
evaluated the accuracy of the membership data used to determine the 
Group’s pension obligation by agreeing to payroll records and other 
source data.
We considered the adequacy of the Group’s disclosures in respect of 
the sensitivity of the deficit to these assumptions.

(c) Property provisions £15.3 million (2015: £21.9 million)  
Risk vs 2015: 
Refer to page 42 (Audit Committee Report), page 73 (accounting policy) 
and page 87 (financial disclosures).

 • The risk – The Group carries an onerous lease provision in relation to 

the empty sites for which the Group is a lessee.
This provision is updated on a bi-annual basis and was initially 
recognised in 2012 as a result of significant unexpected withdrawals by 
customers from sites in response to the external market environment 
and a deterioration in both general economic conditions and the 
overall property market. The calculation of this provision requires the 
Directors to make a number of judgements and estimates and requires 
ongoing trading conditions and market sentiment to be reflected as 
time progresses.

This remains an area of significant judgement in the current year as 
changes in assumptions, particularly relating to the forecasting of cash 
flows and changes in market sentiment could lead to a material impact 
on the profit for the period.

 • Our response – Our audit procedures included the use of our own 

property specialists to assess the Group’s assessment of market 
confidence, in particular to challenge the assumptions relating to the 
length of time currently marketed properties will remain empty prior to 
letting and the rent-free periods which would be required to be offered 
by comparing to industry norms for the particular location.
We challenged the key inputs to the calculation of the provision on a 
property by property basis: the discount rate used, through comparison 
with industry competitors; the forecast cash flows by assessing the 
historical accuracy of forecasting; and the assessment of market 
confidence by performing sensitivity analysis on the key void and rent-
free period assumptions.

We considered the adequacy of the Group’s disclosures in respect of 
the provision.

Wincanton plc Annual Report and Accounts 2016  
  
65

3. Our application of materiality and an overview  
of the scope of our audit
The materiality for the financial statements as a whole was set at 
£1.4 million (2015: £1.5 million) determined with reference to a benchmark 
of Group profit before taxation (normalised to exclude the exceptional 
profit on disposal of Wincanton Records Management in 2016 of 
£32.4 million) of which it represents 4.2%, reflecting industry consensus 
levels (2015: 6.0%).

We report to the Audit Committee any corrected or uncorrected 
identified misstatements exceeding £0.1 million (2015: £0.1 million), in 
addition to other identified misstatements that warranted reporting on 
qualitative grounds.

With the exception of the Guernsey component (Risk Underwriting 
Guernsey Limited), the Group team performed the audit of the Group 
as if it was a single aggregated set of financial information using the 
materiality level set out above.

The audit of the Guernsey component was performed by a component 
auditor and the audit of the rest of the Group by the Group audit team.

The Group audit team instructed the component auditor as to the 
significant areas to be covered, including the relevant risks detailed 
above and the information to be reported back. The Group audit team 
approved the component materiality of £1.0 million (2015: £1.0 million) 
having regard to the mix of size and risk profile of the Group.

Overall, the audit of the Group covered 100% of total Group revenue, 
Group profit before tax, and total Group assets (2015: 100% of total Group 
revenue, Group profit before tax, and total Group assets).

Telephone conference meetings were held with the component auditor. 
At these meetings, the findings reported to the Group audit team were 
discussed in more detail, and any further work required by the Group 
audit team was then performed by the component auditor.

4. Our opinion on other matters prescribed by the 
Companies Act 2006 is unmodified
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.

5. We have nothing to report on the disclosures  
of principal risks
Based on the knowledge we acquired during our audit, we have nothing 
material to add or draw attention to in relation to:

 • the Directors’ statement of Principal risks and uncertainties on pages 

30 to 33, concerning the principal risks, their management, and, based 
on that, the Directors’ assessment and expectations of the Group’s 
continuing in operation over the three years to 31 March 2019; or

 • the disclosures in note 1 of the financial statements concerning the use 

of the going concern basis of accounting.

6. We have nothing to report in respect of the matters on 
which we are required to report by exception
Under ISAs (UK and Ireland) we are required to report to you if, based on 
the knowledge we acquired during our audit, we have identified other 
information in the Annual Report that contains a material inconsistency 
with either that knowledge or the financial statements, a material 
misstatement of fact, or that is otherwise misleading.

In particular, we are required to report to you if:

 • we have identified material inconsistencies between the knowledge 

we acquired during our audit and the Directors’ statement that 
they consider that the Annual Report and financial statements 
taken as a whole is fair, balanced and understandable and provides 
the information necessary for shareholders to assess the Group’s 
performance, business model and strategy; or

 • the Audit Committee Report does not appropriately address matters 

communicated by us to the Audit Committee.

Under the Companies Act 2006 we are required to report to you if, in 
our opinion:

 • 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 and the part of the Directors’ 
Remuneration Report to be audited are not in agreement with the 
accounting records and returns; or

 • certain disclosures of Directors’ remuneration specified by law are not 

made; or

 • we have not received all the information and explanations we require 

for our audit.

Under the Listing Rules we are required to review:

 • the Directors’ statements, set out on pages 61 and 33, in relation to 

going concern and longer-term viability; and

 • the part of the Corporate Governance Report on page 37 relating to 
the Company’s compliance with the eleven provisions of the 2014 UK 
Corporate Governance Code specified for our review.

We have nothing to report in respect of the above responsibilities.

Scope of report and responsibilities
As explained more fully in the Directors’ Responsibilities Statement 
set out on page 63, the Directors are responsible for the preparation 
of the financial statements and for being satisfied that they give a 
true and fair view. A description of the scope of an audit of financial 
statements is provided on the Financial Reporting Council’s website at 
www.frc.org.uk/auditscopeukprivate. This report is made solely to the 
Company’s members as a body and is subject to important explanations 
and disclaimers regarding our responsibilities, published on our website 
at www.kpmg.com/uk/auditscopeukco2014a, which are incorporated 
into this report as if set out in full and should be read to provide 
an understanding of the purpose of this report, the work we have 
undertaken and the basis of our opinions.

Andrew Campbell-Orde (Senior Statutory Auditor) 
for and on behalf of KPMG LLP, Statutory Auditor
Chartered Accountants 
100 Temple Street 
Bristol 
BS1 6AG 
8 June 2016

Wincanton plc Annual Report and Accounts 2016WINCANTON66

Consolidated income statement
For the year ended 31 March 2016

Revenue 
Underlying operating profit 
Amortisation of acquired intangibles
Exceptionals
Operating profit
Financing income
Financing cost
Net financing costs
Profit before tax
Income tax expense
Profit attributable to equity shareholders of Wincanton plc

Earnings per share
– basic
– diluted

Note 
2
2
9
3
3
5
5
5

6

7
7

2016 
£m 
1,147.4
50.9
(4.5)
35.0
81.4
0.2
(15.8)
(15.6)
65.8
(4.7)
61.1

2015
£m
1,107.4
49.7
(6.5)
–
43.2
0.2
(18.5)
(18.3)
24.9
(5.6)
19.3

50.7p
47.4p

16.6p
14.9p

Wincanton plc Annual Report and Accounts 2016 
67

Consolidated statement of comprehensive income
For the year ended 31 March 2016

Profit for the year
Other comprehensive income/(expense)
Items which will not subsequently be reclassified to the income statement
Remeasurements of defined benefit liability
Income tax relating to items that will not be reclassified subsequently to profit or loss

Items which are or may subsequently be reclassified to the income statement
Net foreign exchange gain/(loss) on investment in foreign subsidiaries net of hedged items
Effective portion of changes in fair value of cash flow hedges 
Net change in fair value of cash flow hedges transferred to the income statement

Other comprehensive income/(expense) for the year, net of income tax 
Total comprehensive income/(expense) attributable to equity shareholders of Wincanton plc

Note

6

5

2016 
£m
61.1

23.0
(7.0)
16.0

0.3
(0.4)
1.3
1.2
17.2
78.3

2015
£m
19.3

(40.5)
8.1
(32.4)

(0.8)
(1.3)
1.5
(0.6)
(33.0)
(13.7)

Wincanton plc Annual Report and Accounts 2016WINCANTON68

Consolidated balance sheet
At 31 March 2016

Non-current assets
Goodwill and intangible assets
Property, plant and equipment
Investments, including those equity accounted
Deferred tax assets

Current assets
Inventories
Trade and other receivables
Cash and cash equivalents

Current liabilities
Income tax payable
Borrowings and other financial liabilities
Trade and other payables
Employee benefits
Provisions

Net current liabilities
Total assets less current liabilities
Non-current liabilities
Borrowings and other financial liabilities 
Employee benefits
Provisions
Deferred tax liabilities

Net liabilities

Equity
Issued share capital
Share premium
Merger reserve
Hedging reserve
Translation reserve
Retained earnings
Total equity deficit

Note

2016  
£m

9
10
12
13

14
15
16

17
18
23
19

17
23
19
13

90.0
35.6
0.1
22.8
148.5

4.8
139.4
36.3
180.5

(7.3)
(20.4)
(272.1)
(0.3)
(15.4)
(315.5)
(135.0)
13.5

(55.4)
(105.6)
(36.0)
(0.8)
(197.8)
(184.3)

12.4
12.9
3.5
(0.7)
(0.2)
(212.2)
(184.3)

2015 
£m

96.8
58.2
0.1
30.3
185.4

5.8
135.2
105.8
246.8

(8.7)
(35.3)
(316.6)
(0.2)
(18.7)
(379.5)
(132.7)
52.7

(128.1)
(144.2)
(41.2)
(0.9)
(314.4)
(261.7)

12.2
12.8
3.5
(1.6)
(0.5)
(288.1)
(261.7)

These financial statements were approved by the Board of Directors on 8 June 2016 and were signed on its behalf by:

A Colman 
Chief Executive Officer 

T Lawlor
Chief Financial Officer

Wincanton plc Annual Report and Accounts 201669

Consolidated statement of changes in equity
For the year ended 31 March 2016

Balance at 1 April 2014

Profit for the year
Other comprehensive income
Total comprehensive income
Share based payment transactions
Deferred tax on share based  
  payment transactions
Own shares disposed of on  
  exercise of options
Balance at 31 March 2015

Profit for the year
Other comprehensive income
Total comprehensive income

Share based payment transactions
Current tax on share based  
  payment transactions
Deferred tax on share based  
  payment transactions
Shares issued
Own shares acquired
Own shares disposed of on  
  exercise of options
Balance at 31 March 2016

–
–
–

–

–

–
0.2
–

–
12.4

Retained earnings

Share 
premium 
£m
12.8

Merger 
reserve 
£m
3.5

Hedging 
reserve 
£m
(1.8)

Translation 
reserve 
£m
0.3

Own 
 shares 
£m
(14.9)

Profit and 
loss 
£m
(262.1)

Issued 
 share 
capital 
£m
12.2

–
–
–
–

–

–
12.2

–
12.8

–
–
–
–

–

–
–
–

–

–

–
–
–

–
–
–
–

–

–
3.5

3.5

–
–
–

–

–

–
–
–

–
0.2
0.2
–

–

–
(1.6)

–
(0.8)
(0.8)
–

–

–
(0.5)

–
0.9
0.9

–

–

–
–
–

–
0.3
0.3

–

–

–
–
–

0.1
12.9

–
3.5

–
(0.7)

–
(0.2)

Total 
equity 
deficit 
£m
(250.0)

19.3
(33.0)
(13.7)
1.5

19.3
(32.4)
(13.1)
1.5

–
–
–
–

–

0.5

0.5

0.8
(14.1)

(0.8)
(274.0)

–
(261.7)

–
–
–

–

–

–
(0.2)
(4.5)

15.7
(3.1)

61.1
16.0
77.1

0.9

2.2

0.5
–
–

61.1
17.2
78.3

0.9

2.2

0.5
–
(4.5)

(15.8)
(209.1)

–
(184.3)

Balance at 1 April 2015

12.2

12.8

(1.6)

(0.5)

(14.1)

(274.0)

(261.7)

Wincanton plc Annual Report and Accounts 2016WINCANTON70

Consolidated statement of cash flows
For the year ended 31 March 2016

Operating activities
Profit before tax
Adjustments for
– depreciation and amortisation 
– interest expense
– exceptionals
– share-based payments fair value charges

Increase in trade and other receivables
Decrease in inventories
Decrease in trade and other payables
Decrease in provisions
Increase in employee benefits before pension deficit payment
Income taxes paid
Cash generated before pension deficit payment
Pension deficit payment
Cash flows from operating activities

Investing activities
Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment
Proceeds from Records Management disposal
Interest received
Additions of property, plant and equipment
Additions of computer software costs
Cash flows from investing activities

Financing activities
Own shares acquired
Decrease in borrowings
Payment of finance lease liabilities
Interest paid
Cash flows from financing activities

Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year
Effect of exchange rate fluctuations on cash held
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year

Represented by
– cash at bank and in hand
– restricted cash, being deposits held by the Group’s captive insurer

2016 
£m

65.8

19.0
15.6
(35.0)
0.9
66.3
(4.5)
0.8
(49.0)
(10.0)
0.9
(3.1)
1.4
(20.9)
(19.5)

4.4
55.7
0.2
(10.0)
(0.4)
49.9

(4.5)
(86.2)
–
(9.3)
(100.0)

(69.6)
105.8
0.1
36.3

26.3
10.0
36.3

2015 
£m

24.9

20.9
18.3
–
1.5
65.6
(0.3)
0.6
(4.0)
(15.1)
2.1
(4.2)
44.7
(14.4)
30.3

0.6
–
0.2
(10.0)
(0.3)
(9.5)

–
(33.6)
(0.5)
(12.8)
(46.9)

(26.1)
131.9
–
105.8

93.2
12.6
105.8

Wincanton plc Annual Report and Accounts 201671

Notes to the consolidated financial statements 

The estimates and assumptions are reviewed on an ongoing basis. 
Revisions to accounting estimates are recognised in the period in 
which the estimate is revised and/or in future periods if applicable. 
Judgements made by management in the application of Adopted 
IFRS that have significant effect on the Group financial statements 
and estimates with a significant risk of material adjustment in the 
next year are discussed in the relevant notes to these consolidated 
financial statements.

The accounting policies set out below have been applied consistently to all 
periods presented in these Group financial statements with the exception of 
amendments resulting from Annual Improvements 2010-2012 and 2011-2013 
Cycles. The adoption of these amendments has not had an effect on the 
consolidated results or financial position of the Group.

The Group’s business activities, together with the factors likely to affect its 
future development, performance and position are set out on pages 6 to 10 
and pages 24 to 29, which also contain a review of the financial position 
of the Group, its cash flows, liquidity position and borrowing facilities. 
In addition, note 25 to the financial statements includes the Group’s 
objectives, policies and processes for managing its capital; its financial risk 
management objectives; details of its financial instruments and hedging 
activities; and its exposures to credit risk and liquidity risk.

The Group is reporting net liabilities of £184.3m (2015: £261.7m) primarily 
as a result of a past loss and the pension deficit. The main movement 
since the prior period relates to the profit for the year which includes the 
exceptional gain on disposal of Records Management. During the year 
the Group has repaid the maturing US Private Placement (USPP) debt of 
£33m and repaid £50m of the Prudential/M&G UK Companies Financing 
Fund LP. The syndicated core bank funding facility of £170m amortises by 
£10m in June 2016 and expires in June 2019 and the longer term funding 
loan of £25m amortises from year 7 of the 10 year term and matures in 
2022. In addition, the final tranche of the US Private Placement bond 
(USPP) matures in November 2016.

As part of the year end process the Directors have undertaken a 
going concern review, as required by IAS 1 Presentation of Financial 
Statements, including determining the headroom available when the 
Group’s facilities are compared to the forecast monthly cash flows for 
the forthcoming financial year and sensitising the borrowing covenants 
to give an indication of the headroom therein. Having undertaken this 
review the Directors have a reasonable expectation that the Company 
and the Group overall have adequate resources to continue to meet their 
obligations as they fall due and satisfy their borrowing covenants for the 
foreseeable future. Accordingly these financial statements have been 
prepared on a going concern basis.

1. Accounting policies
Statement of compliance 
Wincanton plc (the Company) is a company incorporated in England and 
Wales. The Group’s consolidated financial statements include those of the 
Company and its subsidiaries (together referred to as the Group) and the 
Group’s jointly controlled entities.

The consolidated financial statements have been prepared and approved 
by the Directors in accordance with International Financial Reporting 
Standards (IFRS) and International Financial Reporting Interpretations 
Committee (IFRIC) interpretations, as adopted by the International 
Accounting Standards Board (IASB) and by the European Union (EU) and 
with those parts of the Companies Act 2006 applicable to companies 
reporting under IFRS (Adopted IFRS).

At the date of authorisation of these financial statements, the following 
Standards and Interpretations which have not been applied in these 
financial statements were in issue but are either not yet effective or 
have not yet been adopted by the EU:

 • IFRS 9 Financial Instruments 
 • IFRS 15 Revenue from Contracts with Customers
 • IFRS 16 Leases
 • Amendments to IFRS 11 Accounting for Acquisitions of Interests in 

Joint Operations

 • Amendments to IAS 16 and IAS 38 Clarification of Acceptable Methods 

of Depreciation and Amortisation

 • Amendments to IAS 1 Disclosure Initiative
 • Amendments to IFRS 10 and IAS 28 Sale or Contribution of Assets 

between an Investor and its Associate or Joint Venture

 • Annual Improvements 2012–2014 Cycle

Adoption of IFRS 16 Leases will result in the recognition on balance 
sheet of assets and liabilities relating to leases which are currently 
being accounted for as operating leases. The Group is yet to assess 
the full impact of IFRS 16 which becomes effective for the year ended 
31 March 2020.

The Group does not currently expect that adoption of the other 
standards and amendments will have a significant effect on the 
consolidated results or financial position of the Group, but will impact 
disclosure requirements.

The Company has elected to prepare its financial statements in 
accordance with Financial Reporting Standard 101 Reduced Disclosure 
Framework (FRS 101); these are presented on pages 98 to 102 and present 
information about the Company as a separate entity and not about 
its group.

Basis of preparation
The Group and Company financial statements are presented in pounds 
sterling, rounded to the nearest hundred thousand. They are prepared on 
the historical cost basis except where assets or liabilities are required to be 
stated at their fair value.

The preparation of Group financial statements under Adopted IFRS 
and parent Company financial statements under FRS 101 requires 
management to make judgements, estimates and assumptions that 
affect the application of policies and the reported amounts of assets 
and liabilities, income and expenses. The estimates and associated 
assumptions are based on historical experience and various other factors 
that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances, the results 
of which form the basis of making the judgements about carrying values 
of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. 
Actual results may differ from these estimates.

Wincanton plc Annual Report and Accounts 2016WINCANTON72

1. Accounting policies (continued)
Basis of consolidation
The consolidated Group financial statements include the financial 
statements of the Company and its subsidiary undertakings made up 
to the balance sheet date. When the Company acquired the Wincanton 
group of companies upon demerger from the former parent in May 
2001, the changes in Group structure were accounted for using the 
principles of merger accounting available under UK GAAP at the time. 
Businesses acquired or disposed of since then have been accounted 
for using acquisition accounting principles from or up to the date that 
control passed.

Subsidiaries are those entities controlled by the Group. Control is achieved 
when the Company has power over the investee; is exposed to, or has 
rights to, variable return from its involvement with the investee; and has 
the ability to use its power to affect its returns. The Company reassesses 
whether or not it controls an investee if facts and circumstances indicate 
that there are changes to one or more of the three elements of control 
listed above. In assessing control, potential voting rights that presently are 
exercisable or convertible are taken into account. The financial statements 
of subsidiaries are included in the consolidated financial statements from 
or up to the date that control passed.

The results, assets and liabilities of jointly controlled entities are 
incorporated in these financial statements using the equity method of 
accounting, in accordance with IFRS 11 Joint Arrangements and IAS 28 
Investments in Associates and Joint Ventures. Under the equity method, 
a jointly controlled entity is initially recognised in the consolidated 
statement of financial position at cost and adjusted thereafter to 
recognise the Group’s share of the profit or loss and other comprehensive 
income of the jointly controlled entity. Intra-group balances, and any 
unrealised gains and losses or income and expenses arising from intra-
group transactions, are eliminated in preparing the consolidated financial 
statements. Unrealised gains arising from transactions with jointly 
controlled entities are eliminated to the extent of the Group’s interest in 
the entity. Unrealised losses are eliminated in the same way as unrealised 
gains, but only to the extent that there is no evidence of impairment.

Intangible assets
Goodwill 
All business combinations are accounted for by applying the purchase 
method. Goodwill represents amounts arising on acquisition of 
subsidiaries and jointly controlled entities. 

Goodwill is stated at cost less any impairment losses. Goodwill is allocated 
to cash-generating units and is tested annually for impairment.

Other intangible assets
Intangible assets arising under a business combination (acquired 
intangible assets) are capitalised at fair value as determined at the date of 
acquisition and are stated at that fair value less accumulated amortisation 
and impairment losses.

Amortisation is charged to the income statement on a straight-line basis 
over the estimated useful lives of acquired intangible assets from the date 
they are acquired as follows:

Customer relationships 
Software rights

6 to 10 years
1 to 5 years

The cost of computer software purchased or developed in-house which 
has the capacity to generate economic benefits for a period in excess 
of one year is capitalised as an intangible asset. Amortisation is charged 
to the income statement on a straight-line basis over the following 
estimated useful lives:

Computer software costs

3 to 5 years

Major software projects, such as the Group back office project, may be 
amortised over lives of up to 10 years.

Property, plant and equipment
Items of property, plant and equipment are stated at cost or deemed 
cost less accumulated depreciation and impairment losses. The cost of 
tangible assets includes directly attributable costs, including appropriate 
commissioning costs. The cost of financing the construction of major 
properties is included in their capitalised cost. The interest rate applied 
represents the actual finance costs incurred on the funds borrowed 
specifically to construct the asset.

Plant and equipment acquired by way of finance lease is stated at 
deemed cost, being an amount equal to the lower of its fair value and the 
present value of the minimum lease payments at inception of the lease, 
less accumulated depreciation and impairment losses. Lease payments 
are accounted for as described in the accounting policy on expenses. 
Finance leases are those under the terms of which the Group assumes 
substantially all the risks and rewards of ownership. 

Subsequent expenditure
The Group recognises in the carrying amount of an item of property, 
plant and equipment the costs incurred in replacing part of such an 
item if it is probable that the future economic benefits will flow to the 
Group and when the cost can be measured reliably. All other such 
costs, including the derecognition of the replaced part of the item, are 
expensed in the income statement as incurred.

Depreciation
Depreciation is charged to the income statement on a straight-line basis 
over the estimated useful life of each part of an item of property, plant 
and equipment. Freehold land is not depreciated. The estimated useful 
lives are as follows:

Freehold and long leasehold buildings
Short leasehold improvements
Plant and equipment, furniture and fittings
Office machinery and computers
Motor vehicles

50 years
life of lease
5 to 25 years
3 to 5 years 
5 to 10 years

The range of useful economic lives given reflects the fact that assets held 
for specific contracts are depreciated over the lives of those contracts.

The residual value of tangible assets, if significant, is reassessed annually.

Notes to the consolidated financial statements continuedWincanton plc Annual Report and Accounts 201673

1. Accounting policies (continued)
Inventories
Inventories are stated at the lower of cost and net realisable value. Cost is 
based on the first-in first-out principle and includes expenditure incurred 
in acquiring the inventories and bringing them to their existing location 
and condition. Net realisable value is the estimated selling price in the 
ordinary course of business, less selling expenses.

Trade and other receivables
Trade and other receivables are stated at their fair value on initial 
recognition (discounted if material) and subsequently at amortised cost, 
i.e. less any impairment losses.

Cash and cash equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents comprise cash balances, restricted cash and 
call deposits. 

Trade and other payables
Trade and other payables are stated at their fair value on initial recognition 
(discounted if material) and subsequently at amortised cost.

Foreign currency
Transactions in foreign currencies are translated at the foreign exchange 
rate ruling at the date of the transaction. Monetary assets and liabilities 
denominated in foreign currencies at the balance sheet date are 
translated into sterling at the foreign exchange rate ruling at that date. 
Foreign exchange differences arising on such translation are recognised 
in the income statement. 

The assets and liabilities of foreign operations, including goodwill and fair 
value adjustments arising on consolidation, are translated into sterling at 
the foreign exchange rates ruling at the balance sheet date. The revenues 
and expenses of foreign operations are translated into sterling at rates 
approximating the foreign exchange rates ruling at the dates of the 
transactions. Foreign exchange differences arising on translation are 
recognised directly in a separate component of other comprehensive 
income. They are released into the income statement upon disposal.

Employee benefits 
The Group operates both defined contribution and defined benefit 
pension arrangements. The assets of these arrangements are held 
in separate Trustee administered funds independent of the Group. 
The investment strategy of the Trustee and Group is to maximise 
investment returns, with a key area for management attention being 
to seek to meet the Group’s funded defined benefit obligations. 
In accordance with this strategy certain investments are designated at 
fair value and are accounted for as set out below. The defined benefit 
arrangements closed to future accrual with effect from 31 March 2014.

Defined contribution arrangements 
Obligations for contributions to defined contribution pension 
arrangements are recognised as an expense in the income statement 
as incurred.

Defined benefit arrangements 
The Group’s net obligation in respect of defined benefit pension 
arrangements is calculated separately for each plan by estimating the 
amount of future benefit that employees have earned in return for 
their service in prior periods; that benefit is discounted to determine 
the present value, and the fair value of any scheme assets is deducted. 
The discount rate is the yield at the balance sheet date on AA credit rated 
bonds that have maturity dates approximating the terms of the Group’s 
obligations. The calculation is performed by a qualified actuary using the 
projected unit method.

Where the calculation results in an asset to the Group, this is limited to 
the present value of any future refunds from the scheme or reductions 
in future contributions to the scheme.

Past service costs arise due to a plan amendment or a curtailment. 
They are recognised in the income statement immediately.

Remeasurement gains and losses that arise in calculating the Group’s 
obligation in respect of a scheme are recognised in full through other 
comprehensive income in the statement of comprehensive income.

Share-based payment transactions
The Group has applied the requirements of IFRS 2 Share-based Payments 
to the grants of options made under the Executive Share Option 
Schemes, Special Option Plan, Executive Bonus Plan and Long Term 
Incentive Plan. 

The Group issues options under equity-settled share-based incentive 
schemes to certain employees which are measured at the date of grant 
as the fair value of the employee services required in exchange for the 
grant. The fair value determined is expensed on a straight-line basis 
over the vesting period, based on the Group’s estimate of shares that 
will eventually vest and adjusted for the effect of non-market based 
vesting conditions.

Fair value is measured by an external valuer using the Binomial, 
Monte-Carlo or scenario-modelling methods as appropriate. 
The expected life assumptions used in the models have been adjusted, 
based on management’s best estimate, for the effects of non-
transferability, exercise restrictions and behavioural considerations.

A number of shares in the Company are held in trust on behalf of 
employees who hold options under the Group’s equity-settled share-
based incentive schemes. Such shares are held by an employee benefit 
trust and are treated as treasury shares and shown in the balance sheet 
as a deduction from equity. 

Other share schemes
Shares awarded on a matching basis to employees participating in 
the Company’s Share Incentive Plan are purchased at the prevailing 
market rate and charged to the income statement each period as 
employees make an eligible contribution. The shares purchased are 
held in a separately administered offshore trust for the benefit of the 
Plan participants.

Provisions
A provision is recognised in the balance sheet when the Group has a 
present legal or constructive obligation as a result of a past event and 
it is probable that an outflow of economic benefits will be required to 
settle the obligation. If the effect is material, provisions are determined 
by discounting the expected future cash flows.

The Group provides for onerous property provisions on a site by site 
basis due to the unique nature and location of each site. Provision is made 
for the best estimate of the expected cost of empty and under-utilised 
properties, including dilapidations where applicable. Dilapidations are 
provided for specific individual properties and properties where the 
outflow of resources is probable and the amount of the obligation can 
be reliably estimated. Where significant, amounts are discounted.

The Group provides for insurance claims on an appropriate discounted 
basis depending on the expected timing of their settlement. Provision is 
made for the estimated costs of claims arising from past events based on 
the advice of the Group’s external insurance advisers. 

Wincanton plc Annual Report and Accounts 2016WINCANTON74

1. Accounting policies (continued)
Impairment
The carrying amounts of the Group’s assets, other than inventories and 
deferred tax assets, are reviewed at each balance sheet date to determine 
whether there is any indication of impairment. An asset is considered 
for impairment testing if objective evidence indicates that one or more 
events had a negative effect on the estimated future cash flows of 
the asset. If any such indication exists the asset’s recoverable amount 
is estimated. The two exceptions are dealt with as per the separate 
applicable accounting policy. For trade receivables specific bad debts 
are provided against unless the Group is satisfied that no recovery of 
the amount owing is possible; at that point the amount considered 
irrecoverable is written off.

An impairment loss is recognised whenever the carrying amount 
of an asset or cash-generating unit exceeds its recoverable amount. 
Impairment losses are recognised in the income statement. 
Impairment losses recognised in respect of cash-generating units 
are allocated first to reduce the amount of goodwill allocated to the 
applicable cash-generating unit and then to reduce the carrying amount 
of the other assets in the unit on a pro-rata basis. A cash-generating unit 
is the smallest identifiable group of assets that generates cash inflows 
that are largely independent of the cash inflows from other assets or 
groups of assets.

Calculation of recoverable amount
The recoverable amount of the Group’s receivables carried at amortised 
cost is calculated as the present value of expected future cash flows, 
discounted at the original effective interest rate inherent in the asset. 
Receivables with a short duration are not discounted.

The recoverable amount of other assets is the greater of their fair value 
less costs to sell and value in use. In assessing value in use, the estimated 
future cash flows are discounted to their present value. For an asset that 
does not generate largely independent cash inflows, the recoverable 
amount is determined for the cash generating unit to which the 
asset belongs.

Reversals of impairment
An impairment loss in respect of goodwill is not reversed. An impairment 
loss in respect of a receivable carried at amortised cost is reversed only 
to the extent that the carrying amount does not exceed the carrying 
amount that would have been determined if no impairment loss had 
been recognised and if the reversal can be related objectively to an event 
occurring after the impairment was recognised.

In respect of other assets, an impairment loss is reversed if there has been 
a change in the estimates used to determine the recoverable amount.

Revenue recognition
Revenue from services rendered is recognised in the income statement 
on the delivery of those services based on the proportion of the total 
delivered that can be reliably measured at the balance sheet date. 
Where payments are received in advance of revenue being recognised 
they are included as deferred income. Where revenue is recognised in 
advance of amounts being invoiced it is reported as accrued income.

Where a contract contains elements of variable consideration, the Group 
will estimate the amount of variable consideration to which it will be 
entitled under the contract. Variable consideration can arise as a result 
of incentives, performance bonuses, penalties or other similar items. 
Variable consideration is recognised only to the extent that it is highly 
probable that the economic benefit will transfer to the Group.

Expenses
Lease payments
Payments made under operating leases are recognised in the 
income statement on a straight-line basis over the term of the lease. 
Lease incentives received are recognised in the income statement as 
an integral part of the total lease expense.

For finance leases the minimum lease payments are apportioned 
between the finance charge and the reduction of the outstanding 
liability. The finance charge is allocated to each period during the 
lease term so as to produce a constant periodic rate of interest on the 
remaining balance of the liability.

Net financing costs
Net financing costs comprise interest payable and other charges less 
interest income.

Interest payable on borrowings is calculated using the effective interest 
rate method. Other charges include bank fees, amortisation of bank and 
USPP arrangement fees, unwinding of discounts, and losses on hedging 
instruments that are recognised in the income statement (see hedge 
accounting policy below). 

Interest income includes interest receivable on funds invested and 
gains on hedging instruments, and these are recognised in the income 
statement as they accrue.

The interest expense component of finance lease payments is 
recognised in the income statement using the constant periodic rate of 
return method.

Net financing costs include the interest on the net defined benefit 
pension liability.

Taxation
Tax on profits or losses for the year comprises current and deferred tax 
and is recognised in the income statement except to the extent that it 
relates to items recognised in other comprehensive income or directly to 
equity, in which case it is recognised in the relevant component.

Current tax is the expected tax payable on the taxable income for 
the year, using tax rates enacted or substantively enacted at the 
balance sheet date, and any adjustment to tax payable in respect of 
previous years.

Deferred tax is provided using the balance sheet liability method, 
providing for temporary differences between the carrying amounts of 
assets and liabilities for financial reporting purposes and the amounts 
used for taxation purposes. The following temporary differences are not 
provided for: the initial recognition of goodwill and the initial recognition 
of assets or liabilities that affect neither accounting nor taxable profit. 
The amount of deferred tax provided is based on the expected manner 
of realisation or settlement of the carrying amount of assets and 
liabilities, using tax rates enacted or substantively enacted at the balance 
sheet date.

A deferred tax asset is recognised only to the extent that it is probable 
that future taxable profits will be available against which the asset can be 
utilised. Deferred tax assets are reduced to the extent that it is no longer 
probable that the related tax benefit will be realised.

Notes to the consolidated financial statements continuedWincanton plc Annual Report and Accounts 2016When a hedging instrument expires or is sold, terminated or exercised, 
or the entity revokes designation of the hedge relationship but the 
hedged forecast transaction is still expected to occur, the cumulative gain 
or loss at that point remains in equity and is recognised in accordance 
with the above policy when the transaction takes place. If the hedged 
transaction is no longer expected to take place, the cumulative gain 
or loss is removed from equity and recognised immediately in the 
income statement.

Hedge of net investment in a foreign operation
Where a foreign currency liability is used to hedge an investment in 
a foreign operation, the portion of the gain or loss on the hedging 
instrument that is determined to be an effective hedge shall be 
recognised in other comprehensive income. The ineffective portion 
shall be recognised in profit or loss. 

Gains or losses on the hedging instrument relating to the effective 
portion of the hedge that have been accumulated in equity are 
reclassified from equity to profit or loss as a reclassification adjustment on 
the disposal or partial disposal of the foreign operation.

Hedge of monetary assets and liabilities
Where a derivative financial instrument is used to economically hedge 
the foreign exchange exposure of a recognised monetary asset or liability, 
no hedge accounting is applied and any gain or loss on the hedging 
instrument is recognised in the income statement.

Interest-bearing borrowings
Interest-bearing borrowings are recognised initially at fair value, 
less attributable transaction costs. Subsequent to initial recognition, 
interest-bearing borrowings are stated at amortised cost with any 
difference between cost and redemption value being recognised 
in the income statement over the period of the borrowings on 
an effective interest basis. Interest-bearing borrowings which are 
designated hedged items in a fair value hedge arrangement are 
carried at fair value (see policy above).

Dividends
Dividends are recognised in the period in which they are declared, 
approved, or paid.

75

1. Accounting policies (continued)
Operating segments 
Operating segments are identified on the basis of information that is 
provided to the Executive Management Team (EMT), which is the Group’s 
chief operating decision-maker, to allocate capital and resources and to 
assess performance.

Derivative financial instruments and hedge accounting
The Group uses derivative financial instruments to hedge its exposure 
to foreign exchange and interest rate risks arising from operational, 
financing and investment activities. In accordance with its treasury policy, 
the Group does not hold or issue derivative financial instruments for 
trading purposes. However, derivatives that do not qualify for hedge 
accounting are accounted for as trading instruments.

Derivative financial instruments which are accounted for as trading 
instruments are recognised initially and subsequently stated at fair 
value. The gain or loss on remeasurement to fair value is recognised 
immediately in the income statement. However, where derivatives qualify 
for hedge accounting, recognition of any resultant gain or loss depends 
on the nature of the item being hedged.

The fair value of interest rate swaps is determined by discounting the 
future cash flows at rates determined by year end yield curves.

The fair value of forward exchange contracts is their quoted market 
price at the balance sheet date, being the present value of the quoted 
forward price.

Upon initial recognition attributable transaction costs are recognised 
in the income statement when incurred. 

Fair value hedges
Where a derivative financial instrument is designated as a hedge of the 
variability in fair value of a recognised asset or liability or an unrecognised 
firm commitment, all changes in the fair value of the derivative are 
recognised immediately in the income statement. The carrying value 
of the hedged item is adjusted by the change in fair value that is 
attributable to the risk being hedged (even if it is normally carried at cost 
or amortised cost) and any gains or losses on remeasurement are also 
recognised immediately in the income statement (even if those gains 
would normally be recognised directly in reserves). Hedge accounting 
is discontinued when the Group revokes the hedging relationship, the 
hedge instrument expires or is sold, terminated, exercised or no longer 
qualifies for hedge accounting. The adjustment to the carrying amount 
of the hedged item arising from the hedged risk is amortised to profit or 
loss from that date.

Cash flow hedges
Where a derivative financial instrument is designated as a hedge of the 
variability in cash flows of a highly probable forecast transaction, the 
effective part of any gain or loss on the derivative financial instrument is 
recognised directly in equity within hedging reserves. The ineffective part 
of any gain or loss is recognised immediately within underlying operating 
profit, or within net financing costs in the case of interest rate swaps 
designated as cash flow hedges. When the forecast transaction that was 
being hedged is realised and affects profit or loss, the cumulative gain 
or loss on the derivative financial instrument is removed from equity 
and recognised in the income statement in the same period. When the 
forecast transaction subsequently results in the recognition of a non-
financial asset or non-financial liability, the associated cumulative gain 
or loss is removed from equity and included in the initial cost or other 
carrying amount of the non-financial asset or non-financial liability.

Wincanton plc Annual Report and Accounts 2016WINCANTON76

2. Operating segments
Wincanton plc provides contract logistics services in the UK and Ireland. In the year to 31 March 2016 the Group managed its operations in two distinct 
operating segments: Contract logistics (the majority of activities including transport and warehousing for various market sectors including retail, 
manufacturing, defence and construction) and Specialist businesses (Pullman, Containers and Wincanton Records Management, up to the date of 
its disposal). 

The results of the operating segments are regularly reviewed by the EMT to allocate resources to these segments and to assess their performance. 
The Group evaluates performance of the operating segments on the basis of revenue and underlying operating profit. Assets and liabilities are 
reviewed at a consolidated level only, therefore segmental information is not provided.

Revenue from external customers1
Depreciation 
Amortisation of software intangibles
Reportable segment underlying operating profit2
Total Group assets3
Additions to reportable segment non-current assets:
– property, plant and equipment
– computer software costs
Total Group liabilities

Contract logistics

Specialist businesses

Consolidated

Note

10
9

10
9

2016 
£m
979.2
(8.6)
(2.9)
48.4

2015 
£m
928.8
(9.5)
(2.1)
44.8

2016 
£m
168.2
(3.0)
–
2.5

2015
£m
178.6
(2.8)
–
4.9

8.3
0.4

8.4
0.3

1.7
–

1.6
–

2016 
£m
1,147.4
(11.6)
(2.9)
50.9
329.0

10.0
0.4
(513.3)

2015
£m
1,107.4
(12.3)
(2.1)
49.7
432.2

10.0
0.3
(693.9)

1  Included in segment revenue is £1,134.7m (2015: £1,083.7m) in respect of customers based in the UK.
2  Underlying operating profit includes the share of results of the joint venture and is stated before amortisation of acquired intangibles and, where applicable, exceptionals.
3  Total Group assets include non-current assets of £148.4m (2015: £180.2m) in the UK. 

Revenue of £162.4m arose from sales to the Group’s largest single customer, being a group of companies under common control, and is reported within 
the Contract logistics segment above. In 2015 no single customer contributed 10% or more of total revenue, therefore no disclosure was required. 
No other single customer or group of customers under common control contributed 10% or more to the Group’s revenue in either the current or 
prior year.

Following the disposal of Records Management and the resultant reduction in the size of the Specialist businesses segment, the Group has reviewed 
its operational and reporting structure. With effect from 1 April 2016, the Group has reorganised its operations into two operating segments, Retail 
& Consumer and Industrial & Transport. Reporting has been aligned with this structure and from 1 April 2016 the segment information disclosed will 
reflect this change.

Notes to the consolidated financial statements continuedWincanton plc Annual Report and Accounts 201677

3. Operating profit

Revenue
Cost of sales
Gross profit
Administrative expenses
Operating profit

2016

Amortisation and
Exceptionals2
£m
–
–
–
30.5
30.5

Underlying1
£m
1,147.4
(1,077.2)
70.2
(19.3)
50.9

Total
£m
1,147.4
(1,077.2)
70.2
11.2
81.4

2015

Amortisation and
Exceptionals2
£m
–
–
–
(6.5)
(6.5)

Underlying1
£m
1,107.4
(1,039.5)
67.9
(18.2)
49.7

Total
£m
1,107.4
(1,039.5)
67.9
(24.7)
43.2

1  Underlying operating profit includes the share of results of the joint venture and is stated before amortisation of acquired intangibles and, where applicable, exceptionals. 
2  Comprises the amortisation of acquired intangibles and, where applicable, exceptionals.

The following items have been charged in arriving at operating profit:
Auditor’s remuneration:
Audit fees for statutory audit services
– subsidiary undertakings
Non-audit fees
– fees paid to the auditor and its associates for assurance services
– fees paid to the auditor and its associates for other services
Depreciation and other amounts written off property, plant and equipment
– owned
Amortisation and other amounts written off software intangibles
Operating lease rentals
– plant and equipment
– land and buildings

Exceptionals

Exceptional income
Disposal of Records Management
Release of warranty balances

Note

2016 
£m

2015 
£m

10
9

0.2

0.1
0.1

11.6
2.9

29.8
28.1

2016 
£m

32.4
2.6
35.0

0.2

0.1
–

12.3
2.1

29.0
31.9

2015 
£m

–
–
–

Costs and incomes are included as exceptionals where they are non-recurring and where not to do so would distort the reported underlying profit 
performance of the Group.

On 8 December 2015 the Group disposed of Records Management for a cash consideration of £55.7m. Property, plant and equipment and working 
capital of £16.4m and £0.8m respectively were disposed of and, after transaction and other costs of £6.1m, an exceptional profit on disposal of £32.4m 
has been recognised.

In addition, exceptionals include a £2.6m credit arising from a release of warranty balances established on the sale of the European operations in 2012.

Wincanton plc Annual Report and Accounts 2016WINCANTON78

4. Personnel expenses, including Directors

Wages and salaries
Share-based payments (including IFRS 2 fair value charges)
Social security contributions
Contributions to defined contribution pension arrangements

Average number of persons employed by the Group (including Directors) during the year

Directors’ emoluments

Salaries
Bonus
Other benefits
Non-executive Directors’ fees
Total emoluments

Note

23

2016 
£m
463.2
1.1
44.2
18.1
526.6

2016
17,070

2016 
£’000
682
449
172
379
1,682

2015 
£m
420.9
2.8
40.2
16.3
480.2

2015
15,340

2015 
£’000
726
745
179
368
2,018

Full details of each individual Director’s emoluments, bonuses deferred in shares, share options and pension entitlements are given in the Annual report 
on remuneration on pages 45 to 54.  

5. Net financing costs
Recognised in the income statement 

Interest income

Interest expense
Finance charges payable in respect of finance leases
Unwinding of discount on provisions
Interest on the net defined benefit pension liability

Net financing costs

The interest income relates primarily to the deposits held by the Group’s captive insurer.

Recognised in other comprehensive income 

Foreign currency translation differences for foreign operations

The above amounts are recognised in the translation reserve.

Note

19
23

2016 
£m
0.2
0.2
(10.1)
–
(1.3)
(4.4)
(15.8)
(15.6)

2016 
£m
0.3
0.3

2015 
£m
0.2
0.2
(10.8)
(0.4)
(2.3)
(5.0)
(18.5)
(18.3)

2015 
£m
(0.8)
(0.8)

Notes to the consolidated financial statements continuedWincanton plc Annual Report and Accounts 201679

6. Income tax expense
Recognised in the income statement 

Current tax expense
Current year
Adjustments for prior years

Deferred tax expense
Current year
Adjustments for prior years

Total income tax expense
Reconciliation of effective tax rate 
Profit before tax
Income tax using the UK corporation tax rate of 20% (2015: 21%)
Effect of tax rates in foreign jurisdictions
Trading losses utilised in the period
Non-deductible expenditure
Exceptionals
Other
Change in UK corporation tax rate
Adjustments for prior years
– current tax
– deferred tax
Total tax expense for the year

Recognised in other comprehensive income 
Remeasurements of defined benefit pension liability
Effect of movement in foreign exchange

Recognised directly in equity
Current tax on share based payments
Deferred tax on share based payments

2016 
£m

6.7
(2.9)
3.8

0.8
0.1
0.9
4.7

65.8
13.2
–
–
1.2
(8.0)
1.2
(0.1)

(2.9)
0.1
4.7

7.0
–
7.0

(2.2)
(0.5)
(2.7)

2015 
£m

5.9
(2.6)
3.3

0.4
1.9
2.3
5.6

24.9
5.2
(0.2)
(0.1)
1.4
–
–
–

(2.6)
1.9
5.6

(8.1)
(0.1)
(8.2)

–
(0.5)
(0.5)

The main UK Corporation tax rate reduced from 21% to 20% with effect from 1 April 2015, will reduce to 19% with effect from 1 April 2017 and 
will further reduce to 18% with effect from 1 April 2020. The closing UK deferred tax provision is calculated based on the rate of 18% which was 
substantively enacted at the balance sheet date.

Wincanton plc Annual Report and Accounts 2016WINCANTON80

7. Earnings per share
Earnings per share calculation is based on the earnings attributable to the equity shareholders of Wincanton plc of £61.1m (2015: £19.3m) and the 
weighted average shares of 120.5m (2015: 116.3m) which have been in issue throughout the year. The diluted earnings per share calculation is based on 
there being 8.5m (2015: 13.5m) additional shares deemed to be issued at £nil consideration under the Company’s share option schemes. The weighted 
average number of ordinary shares for both basic and diluted earnings per share are calculated as follows:

Weighted average number of ordinary shares (basic)
Issued ordinary shares at the beginning of the year
Net effect of shares issued and purchased during the year

Weighted average number of ordinary shares (diluted)
Weighted average number of ordinary shares at the end of the year
Effect of share options on issue

2016 
millions

2015 
millions

116.5
4.0
120.5

120.5
8.5
129.0

116.1
0.2
116.3

116.3
13.5
129.8

An alternative earnings per share number is set out below, being before amortisation of acquired intangibles and, where applicable, exceptionals plus 
related tax, since the Directors consider that this provides further information on the underlying performance of the Group:

Underlying earnings per share
– basic
– diluted

Underlying earnings are determined as follows:

Profit for the year attributable to equity shareholders of Wincanton plc
Exceptionals
Amortisation of acquired intangibles
Tax impact of above items
Underlying earnings

2016 
pence

23.9
22.3

2016 
£m
61.1
(35.0)
4.5
(1.8)
28.8

2015 
pence

21.1
18.9

2015 
£m
19.3
–
6.5
(1.3)
24.5

Note

3
9

Underlying earnings and underlying earnings per share include the results of Records Management, which was sold in December 2015. 
Underlying earnings excluding Records Management results and a proforma reduction in finance charge are £28.4m and earnings per share 23.5p.

8. Dividends 
Under Adopted IFRS dividends are only provided in the financial statements when they become a liability of the Company. No dividends have been 
paid in the current or prior year. 

The Board is proposing a final dividend of 5.5p for the year ended 31 March 2016 (2015: nil) which, if approved by shareholders, will be paid on 5 August 
2016 to shareholders on the register on 8 July 2016, an estimated total of £6.7m. In setting the dividend the Board has considered a range of factors, 
including the Group‘s strategy (including downside sensitivities), the Group’s net debt position, the current and projected level of distributable reserves 
and projected cash flows.

It is anticipated that in future years, the interim and final dividend split will be broadly one-third/two-thirds. The Board’s intention is to adopt a 
progressive dividend policy, with annual dividend growth broadly matched with growth in underlying earnings.

Notes to the consolidated financial statements continuedWincanton plc Annual Report and Accounts 201681

Note

Goodwill 
£m

Acquired 
intangibles 
£m

Computer 
software costs 
£m

2

2, 3

79.8
(0.4)
–
79.4
79.4
0.2
–
79.6

(2.5)
–
(2.5)
(2.5)
–
(2.5)

77.3
76.9
77.1

66.5
–
–
66.5
66.5
–
–
66.5

(51.0)
(6.5)
(57.5)
(57.5)
(4.5)
(62.0)

15.5
9.0
4.5

38.6
–
0.3
38.9
38.9
–
0.4
39.3

(25.9)
(2.1)
(28.0)
(28.0)
(2.9)
(30.9)

12.7
10.9
8.4

Total 
£m

184.9
(0.4)
0.3
184.8
184.8
0.2
0.4
185.4

(79.4)
(8.6)
(88.0)
(88.0)
(7.4)
(95.4)

105.5
96.8
90.0

9. Goodwill and intangible assets

Cost
At 1 April 2014
Effect of movements in foreign exchange
Additions
At 31 March 2015
At 1 April 2015
Effect of movements in foreign exchange
Additions
At 31 March 2016
Amortisation and impairment losses
At 1 April 2014
Charge for year
At 31 March 2015
At 1 April 2015
Charge for year
At 31 March 2016
Carrying value
At 1 April 2014
At 31 March 2015 and 1 April 2015
At 31 March 2016

The carrying value of acquired intangibles relates entirely to customer relationships £4.5m (2015: £9.0m).

The total amortisation charge of £7.4m (2015: £8.6m) is recognised in the income statement with £2.9m (2015: £2.1m) of computer software amortisation 
included within cost of sales and £4.5m (2015: £6.5m) of amortisation of acquired intangibles within administrative expenses.

Impairment tests for goodwill
Goodwill is allocated to the Group’s cash-generating units (CGUs) which are in line with the Group’s reported operating segments, as per the table 
below. At 1 April 2016 CGUs will be restructured in line with the change in the reported operating segments.

Contract logistics
Specialist businesses

2016 
£m
56.9
20.2
77.1

2015 
£m
56.7
20.2
76.9

The recoverable amount of a CGU is determined based on value in use calculations. These calculations are cash flow projections based on the financial 
budgets and forecasts approved by the Board for the forthcoming financial year and 24 months beyond. The financial budgets and forecasts have 
been set on a contract by contract basis, taking account of prior year results and expected developments. Cash flows beyond those 12-month and 
further 24-month periods are extrapolated to perpetuity using the estimated growth rates and underlying inflation rates stated below, which do not 
exceed the long term average growth and inflation rates in the specific geographical area where the CGU operates.

Key assumptions used for value in use calculations:

Estimated growth rate
Underlying inflation rate
Discount rate

Contract 
logistics 
%
1.9
2.1
8.6

Specialist 
businesses 
%
1.9
2.1
8.6

Wincanton plc Annual Report and Accounts 2016WINCANTON82

9. Goodwill and intangible assets (continued)
Management determined the growth rates and underlying inflation rates based on expectations for market development and these are consistent with 
external forecasts and historical trends. The discount rates are pre-tax and reflect the relevant risks. The value in use has been determined in a similar 
manner as in 2015. The key assumptions for 2016 are disclosed in the table above, in 2015 these rates were; estimated growth rate 2.0%; underlying 
inflation rate 2.2%; and discount rate 9.9%.

Sensitivity to changes in assumptions
The estimated recoverable amounts for both the Contract logistics and the Specialist businesses CGUs exceed their respective carrying amounts 
by approximately £614m and £22m (2015: £590m and £145m respectively). The Group has conducted sensitivity analysis on the impairment testing. 
Management believe no significant change in the key assumptions would cause the carrying amount to exceed the recoverable amount for Contract 
logistics. For Specialist businesses an increase in the discount rate to 11.3% or a reduction in cash flows of c. £1.5m pa would result in the carrying value 
of goodwill being equal to its recoverable amount.

10. Property, plant and equipment

Cost
At 1 April 2014
Effect of movements in foreign exchange
Additions
Disposals
At 31 March 2015
At 1 April 2015
Effect of movements in foreign exchange
Additions
Disposals
At 31 March 2016
Depreciation and impairment losses
At 1 April 2014
Effect of movements in foreign exchange
Charge for year
Disposals
At 31 March 2015
At 1 April 2015
Effect of movements in foreign exchange
Charge for year
Disposals
At 31 March 2016
Carrying amount
At 1 April 2014
At 31 March 2015 and 1 April 2015
At 31 March 2016

Included in the total cost of property, plant and equipment is £1.0m (2015: £1.0m) in respect of capitalised finance costs. 

The carrying amount of property comprises: 

Freehold
Short leasehold

Note

Property 
£m

Plant and 
equipment 
£m

2

2, 3

50.0
(0.2)
–
(4.5)
45.3
45.3
0.1
–
(2.8)
42.6

(32.5)
0.2
(1.0)
4.5
(28.8)
(28.8)
(0.1)
(1.3)
1.9
(28.3)

17.5
16.5
14.3

Total 
£m

212.8
(1.5)
10.0
(7.8)
213.5
213.5
(0.1)
10.0
(47.7)
175.7

(151.1)
0.9
(12.3)
7.2
(155.3)
(155.3)
(0.1)
(11.6)
26.9
(140.1)

61.7
58.2
35.6

2015 
£m
10.9
5.6
16.5

162.8
(1.3)
10.0
(3.3)
168.2
168.2
(0.2)
10.0
(44.9)
133.1

(118.6)
0.7
(11.3)
2.7
(126.5)
(126.5)
–
(10.3)
25.0
(111.8)

44.2
41.7
21.3

2016 
£m
10.4
3.9
14.3

Notes to the consolidated financial statements continuedWincanton plc Annual Report and Accounts 201683

11. Investments in subsidiaries
The significant subsidiaries and jointly controlled entity as at 31 March 2016 in the Wincanton group of companies, based on the scale of their activities, 
are as follows:

Wincanton Holdings Limited 
Wincanton Group Limited 
Wincanton UK Limited1
Wincanton Ireland Limited
Risk Underwriting (Guernsey) Limited

UDS Properties Limited
CEL Group Limited
Corstor Limited

1  Direct subsidiary of Wincanton plc.

Principal activity
Contract logistics services
Contract logistics services
Intermediate holding company
Contract logistics services
Captive insurer
Building and letting of 
specialised warehousing facilities
Intermediate holding company
Container storage and repair

Other subsidiaries and jointly controlled entity as at 31 March 2016:

C.E.L. (Engineering) Limited 
CEL Logistics Limited
City Self Storage Limited
Data and Records Management Limited
East Anglia Freight Terminal (Holdings) Limited
East Anglia Freight Terminal Limited 
Glass Glover Group Limited
Glass Glover Management Services Limited
Hanbury Davies Containers Limited
Hanbury Davies Limited
Hanbury Holdings Limited
House of Hill Holdings Limited
House of Hill Limited
Lane Group plc
Minmar (662) Limited
Nair Properties Limited
Product Support (Holdings) Limited
Product Support Limited
Pullman Fleet Services Limited
RDL Distribution Limited
RDL Holdings Limited
R-Log Limited
Roadtanks Limited
Storedco Limited
Swales Haulage Limited
Trans European Holdings Limited
W Carter (Haulage) Limited
W O Bradstreet Limited
Wincanton (No. 1) Limited
Wincanton (No. 2) Limited
Wincanton (No. 3) Limited
Wincanton Air & Ocean Limited
Wincanton High Tech Limited
Wincanton Logistics Limited

Wincanton Pension Scheme Trustees Limited

Principal activity
Dormant
Dormant
Dormant
Dormant
Dormant
Dormant
Dormant
Dormant
Dormant
Dormant
Dormant
Dormant
Dormant
Dormant
Dormant
Dormant
Dormant
Dormant
Dormant
Dormant
Dormant
Dormant
Dormant
Dormant
Dormant
Dormant
Dormant
Dormant
Secure document scanning
Dormant
Dormant
Dormant
Dormant
Dormant
Trustee for the Wincanton plc 
Pension Scheme 

% of equity held
100
100
100
100
100

100
100
50

% of equity held
100
100
100
100
84.5
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
50
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100

Country of incorporation
England and Wales
England and Wales
England and Wales
Republic of Ireland
Guernsey

England and Wales
England and Wales
England and Wales

Country of incorporation
England and Wales
England and Wales
Republic of Ireland
Republic of Ireland
England and Wales
England and Wales
England and Wales
England and Wales
England and Wales
England and Wales
England and Wales
England and Wales
England and Wales
England and Wales
England and Wales
England and Wales
England and Wales
England and Wales
England and Wales
England and Wales
England and Wales
England and Wales
England and Wales
England and Wales
England and Wales
England and Wales
England and Wales
England and Wales
England and Wales
England and Wales
England and Wales
England and Wales
England and Wales
England and Wales

100

England and Wales

Wincanton plc Annual Report and Accounts 2016WINCANTON84

11. Investments in subsidiaries (continued)

Wincanton Records Management (Ireland) 
Limited
Wincanton Trans European (Ireland) Limited
Wincanton Trans European Limited
Wincanton Vehicle Rentals Limited

Principal activity

% of equity held

Country of incorporation

Dormant
Dormant
Dormant
Dormant

100
100
100
100

Republic of Ireland
Republic of Ireland
England and Wales
England and Wales

12. Interests in jointly controlled entities
Included in the consolidated financial statements of the Group are the following amounts in respect of the Group’s share of the assets and liabilities of 
its joint venture: 

Current assets
Aggregate carrying amount of the Group’s interest in its joint venture

13. Deferred tax assets and liabilities
Recognised deferred tax assets and liabilities
Deferred tax assets and liabilities are attributable to the following:

Property, plant and equipment
Equity compensation benefits
Pension provisions
Other deferred tax assets
Other deferred tax liabilities1

Assets

Liabilities

2016 
£m
3.1
1.4
19.0
0.2
(0.9)
22.8

2015 
£m
2.0
1.2
28.7
0.2
(1.8)
30.3

2016 
£m
–
–
–
–
(0.8)
(0.8) 

2015 
£m
(0.2)
–
–
–
(0.7)
(0.9)

1  Other deferred tax liabilities consist primarily of deferred tax on acquired intangibles.

Unrecognised deferred tax assets and liabilities

Deferred tax asset on losses carried forward

2016 
£m
0.1
0.1

Net

2016 
£m
3.1
1.4
19.0
0.2
(1.7)
22.0

2016 
£m
0.1
0.1

2015
£m
0.1
0.1

2015 
£m
1.8
1.2
28.7
0.2
(2.5)
29.4

2015 
£m
2.3
2.3

Deferred tax assets have not been recognised in respect of losses carried forward due to the uncertainty of their utilisation in the relevant companies.

Movement in deferred tax assets and liabilities during the current year

Property, plant and equipment
Equity compensation benefits
Pension provisions
Other deferred tax assets
Other deferred tax liabilities

At
1 April 2015
£m
1.8
1.2
28.7
0.2
(2.5)
29.4

Recognised
in income
£m
1.3
(0.3)
(2.7)
–
0.8
(0.9)

Other
movements
£m
–
0.5
(7.0)
–
–
(6.5)

At
31 March 2016
£m
3.1
1.4
19.0
0.2
(1.7)
22.0

Notes to the consolidated financial statements continuedWincanton plc Annual Report and Accounts 201685

14. Inventories

Raw materials and consumables

15. Trade and other receivables

Trade receivables
Less: provision for doubtful debts
Net trade receivables 
Other receivables
Prepayments and accrued income

2016 
£m
4.8
4.8

2016 
£m
94.0
(0.8)
93.2
1.0
45.2
139.4

2015 
£m
5.8
5.8

2015
£m
87.1
(0.6)
86.5
1.9
46.8
135.2

All receivables are due within one year, except for other receivables of £0.4m (2015: £1.2m) in respect of amounts recoverable from customers and others 
under contracts of more than one year and prepayments and accrued income of £0.5m (2015: £1.5m).

Movement in the provision for doubtful debts

At 1 April
Impairment losses recognised on receivables
Amounts written off as unrecoverable
At 31 March

Ageing of trade receivables and the associated provision for doubtful debts at the balance sheet date

Current
1 month overdue
2 months overdue
3+ months overdue

2016

Gross 
£m
83.2
7.9
1.2
1.7
94.0

Provision 
£m
–
–
–
(0.8)
(0.8)

2016 
£m
0.6
0.3
(0.1)
0.8

2015

Gross 
£m
81.8
2.9
1.3
1.1
87.1

2015 
£m
0.2
0.4
–
0.6

Provision 
£m
–
–
–
(0.6)
(0.6)

The standard period of credit on sales is up to 30 days. Interest is chargeable on overdue amounts. The Group only provides for doubtful debts where, in 
the opinion of management, the amount is no longer recoverable. The amount of the provision is management’s estimate of the irrecoverable amount. 

16. Cash and cash equivalents 

Cash at bank and in hand
Restricted cash deposits held by the Group’s captive insurer
Cash and cash equivalents 

Details of the Group’s treasury policies are set out in note 25.

2016 
£m
26.3
10.0
36.3

2015 
£m
93.2
12.6
105.8

Wincanton plc Annual Report and Accounts 2016WINCANTON86

17. Borrowings and other financial liabilities

Current
Bank loans and overdrafts
Other financial liabilities

Non-current
Bank loans1
Other financial liabilities

2016 
£m

20.1
0.3
20.4

55.0
0.4
55.4

2015 
£m

34.1
1.2
35.3

127.7
0.4
128.1

1  Bank loans include the US$ private placement as swapped into sterling.

The following are the contractual maturities of financial liabilities, excluding interest payments:

At 31 March 2016

Carrying 
amount 
£m

Contractual 
cash flows 
£m

Less than 
1 year 
£m

Between 
1 and 5 years 
£m

Over 
5 years 
£m

Non-derivative financial liabilities
Bank loans and overdrafts
Unsecured bond issues – US$ private placement1
Trade and other payables
Derivative financial liabilities
US$/GBP fixed to floating swap – asset1
US$/GBP fixed to floating swap – liability
Interest rate swaps
Forward foreign exchange contracts

At 31 March 2015

Non-derivative financial liabilities
Bank loans and overdrafts
Unsecured bond issues – US$ private placement1
Trade and other payables
Derivative financial liabilities
US$/GBP fixed to floating swap – asset1
US$/GBP fixed to floating swap – liability
Interest rate swaps

55.0
22.7
272.1

(22.7)
20.1
0.8
(0.1)
347.9

55.0
22.4
272.1

(22.4)
20.1
0.8
(0.1)
347.9

–
22.4
272.1

(22.4)
20.1
0.3
–
292.5

48.8
–
–

–
–
0.5
(0.1)
49.2

Carrying 
amount 
£m

Contractual 
cash flows 
£m

Less than 
1 year 
£m

Between 
1 and 5 years 
£m

107.8
60.7
316.6

(60.2)
53.5
1.6
480.0

107.8
58.5
316.6

(58.5)
53.5
1.6
479.5

0.2
37.0
316.6

(37.0)
33.5
1.2
351.5

6.2
–
–

–
–
–
–
6.2

Over 
5 years 
£m

37.5
–
–

–
–
–
37.5

2015 
£m

84.6
33.7
49.0
149.3
316.6

70.1
21.5
–

(21.5)
20.0
0.4
90.5

2016 
£m

47.3
36.2
48.4
140.2
272.1

1  Contractual cash flows denominated in foreign currencies are translated at the year end exchange rate. Carrying amounts are stated at fair value.

18. Trade and other payables

Current
Trade payables
Other taxes and social security
Other payables
Accruals and deferred income

Notes to the consolidated financial statements continuedWincanton plc Annual Report and Accounts 201687

Note

5

Insurance 
£m
37.4
–
(9.4)
0.5
7.1
35.6

9.2
26.4
35.6

Property 
£m
21.9
0.3
(7.7)
0.8
–
15.3

5.7
9.6
15.3

Other 
provisions 
£m
0.6
–
(0.1)
–
–
0.5

0.5
–
0.5

Total 
£m
59.9
0.3
(17.2)
1.3
7.1
51.4

15.4
36.0
51.4

19. Provisions

At 1 April 2015
Effect of movements in foreign exchange
Provisions used during the year
Unwinding of discount 
Provisions made during the year
At 31 March 2016

Current 
Non-current

The Group owns 100% of the share capital of a captive insurer which insures certain of the risks of the Group. The insurance provisions in the above 
table are held in respect of outstanding insurance claims, the majority of which are expected to be paid within one to seven years. The discount 
unwinding arises primarily on the employers’ liability policy which is discounted over a period of seven years at a rate based on the prevailing base rate. 

The property provisions are determined on a site by site basis, as the best estimate of the expected costs of empty and under-utilised properties, 
including dilapidations. The provisions are utilised over the relevant lease term, with the majority expected to be utilised over the next three years. 
Where significant, amounts have been discounted at a rate based on the Group’s cost of debt.

20. Capital and reserves
Share capital 

Allotted, called up and fully paid
At 1 April
Issued during the year
In issue at 31 March

10p Ordinary shares

2016 
millions
121.7
2.0
123.7

2015 
millions
121.7
–
121.7

The number of shares detailed above differs from those in note 7 as a result of the inclusion, in the above total, of the shares held within an Employee 
Benefit Trust (EBT) and also the effect of weighting for the purpose of the earnings per share calculations.

The holders of ordinary shares are entitled to receive dividends as declared from time to time. At general meetings of shareholders each shareholder 
(or appointed proxy) present in person is entitled to vote; on a show of hands each person has one vote, and on a poll has one vote per share. In respect 
of the Company’s shares that are held by the EBT (see over), all rights are suspended until these shares are reissued.

During the year, 2 million shares were issued at 10p per share and gifted to the EBT (2015: nil).

During the year ended 31 March 2002, the Company established a Capital Redemption Reserve of £49,998 on redemption of redeemable 
preference shares.

Merger reserve
The merger reserve arose from the original acquisition of the then Wincanton group of companies by Wincanton plc, on the demerger from the 
previous parent in May 2001, which was accounted for under merger accounting principles.

Hedging reserve
Where a derivative financial instrument is designated as a hedge of the variability in cash flows of a highly probable forecast transaction, the effective 
part of the gain or loss on the derivative is recognised directly in equity within the hedging reserve. When the forecast transaction that was being 
hedged is realised the cumulative gain or loss on the derivative is recognised in the income statement in the same period.

Translation reserve
The translation reserve comprises all foreign exchange differences arising from the translation of the financial statements of foreign operations as well 
as from any translation of liabilities that hedge the Company’s net investment in foreign subsidiaries. 

Wincanton plc Annual Report and Accounts 2016WINCANTON88

20. Capital and reserves (continued)
Own shares
The own shares reserve comprises the cost of the Company’s shares held by the Employee Benefit Trust (EBT) established in Jersey and managed on 
its behalf by independent trustees. At 31 March 2016, the number of the Company’s shares held by the EBT had decreased to 1,806,521 (2015: 5,256,185). 
Movements during the year comprise: shares issued and gifted 2m; shares purchased 2.5m; and shares sold on the settlement of options approximately 
8.0m. The EBT has waived the right to receive dividends in respect of the shares it holds. The average cost of the shares held is 173p each (2015: 268p) 
and at 31 March 2016, the market value of the shares held was £3.0m (2015: £8.3m).

All of the shares in the EBT are held in respect of the Group’s various equity compensation schemes (see note 24) and at 31 March 2016 there were 
1,806,521 (2015: 1,499,334) shares held in respect of vested options.

21. Capital commitments
Capital commitments for the Group at the end of the financial year for which no provision has been made, are as follows:

Contracted

2016 
£m
1.8
1.8

2015 
£m
3.9
3.9

22. Operating leases
Leases as lessee
The Group leases warehousing facilities, commercial vehicles and other logistics equipment for use in its operations. Typical lease periods for new 
warehouse rental contracts are between three and ten years although older rental contracts are for longer periods with intervening break clauses. 
The average period for vehicles and equipment is five years. The amounts charged to the income statement in the current and prior years are given in 
note 3.

The total future minimum lease payments under non-cancellable operating leases fall due for repayment as follows:

Less than 1 year
Between 1 and 5 years
More than 5 years

2016

2015

Plant and 
 equipment 
£m
20.5
31.8
1.6
53.9

Land and 
 buildings 
£m
19.6
46.6
108.7
174.9

Plant and 
 equipment 
£m
23.9
35.8
0.5
60.2

Land and 
 buildings 
£m
26.3
49.8
119.7
195.8

Wherever possible these commitments are mitigated through contractual commitments from customers for whom the properties are occupied and/or 
vehicles and plant are rented. The degree of mitigation can be banded according to the nature of the contract between the Group and its customers. 
This includes ‘back-to-back’ leases which are fully underwritten by customers throughout the life of the lease and multi-user locations where, although 
there is no specific matching of lease and contract terms, there are varying degrees of contract backing and therefore mitigation is spread across a 
number of customers. 

A summary of leases by customer contract type is shown in the following table:

Element of lease underwritten by customer contract
Element of lease where the period of the lease extends beyond the current  
  maturity of the customer contract
Multi-user locations where mitigation is spread across a number of customers
Leases with limited or no mitigation

Covered by property provision

2016

Plant and 
 equipment 
£m
35.8

6.8
10.0
1.3
53.9
–
53.9

Land and 
 buildings 
£m
34.5

15.1
107.3
8.7
165.6
9.3
174.9

2015

Plant and 
 equipment 
£m
33.2

4.3
21.4
1.3
60.2
–
60.2

Land and 
 buildings 
£m
20.7

4.8
124.9
29.0
179.4
16.4
195.8

Notes to the consolidated financial statements continuedWincanton plc Annual Report and Accounts 201689

23. Employee benefits
The employee benefit liabilities of the Group consist primarily of the post-retirement obligations of the Group’s pension arrangements. In addition 
frozen holiday pay obligations exist in respect of a limited number of employees. These two elements are analysed in the table below and the pension 
arrangements discussed in detail:

Holiday pay
Pension schemes (see below)

These employee benefits are split as follows:
Current
Non-current

2016 
£m
0.3
105.6
105.9

0.3
105.6
105.9

2015 
£m
0.2
144.2
144.4

0.2
144.2
144.4

Pension schemes
Employees of Wincanton participated in funded pension arrangements in the UK and Ireland during the year ended 31 March 2016 details of which are 
given below. 

The principal Wincanton Scheme in the UK (the Scheme) is a funded arrangement which has three defined benefit sections and two defined 
contribution sections, called the Wincanton Retirement Savings Section and the Wincanton Pension Builder Plan. The employees of Wincanton Ireland 
Limited are eligible to participate in a separate funded defined contribution scheme. Assets of these pension arrangements are held in separate Trustee 
administered funds independent of Wincanton. The weighted average duration of the defined benefit obligation is around 18 years.

In previous years, a small number of employees, who were subject to the statutory earnings cap on pensionable earnings prior to 6 April 2006, were 
entitled to participate in an unfunded unapproved arrangement in addition to accruing benefits from the Scheme. There have been no active 
members of this arrangement throughout the years ended 31 March 2015 and 2016.

The defined benefit sections of the Scheme were closed to future accrual on 31 March 2014. This means that no future service benefit will accrue but 
pensions built up to the date of closure have been preserved. 

The latest formal valuation of the Scheme was carried out as at 31 March 2014 by the Scheme actuary, Hymans Robertson. It was agreed between 
the Trustee and the Group in April 2015 and submitted to the Pension Regulator. The Group, in consultation with the Scheme actuary, agreed to leave 
the terms of the additional cash contribution that the Group makes to the Scheme in order to address the past service deficit unchanged from that 
previously agreed and it will continue to increase by RPI each year through to September 2024. In addition, it was agreed that certain administration 
expenses would be paid directly by the Group and deducted from these deficit funding contributions. The expenses which amount to £0.6m 
(2015: £nil) are not included in the contributions below. The deficit funding contribution in the year net of these expenses was £13.9m (2015: £14.4m). 
Following the disposal of Records Management the Group paid an additional £7.0m into the Scheme, giving a total net contribution in the year 
of £20.9m.

In the year commencing 1 April 2016 the Group contributions are expected to be the deficit funding contribution of £14.8m (£14.2m after deduction 
of certain administration expenses as mentioned above) which has been increased by RPI as set out in the triennial valuation as at 31 March 2014. 
In addition, other administration costs of the Scheme will be borne directly by the Group, these are expected to total £0.8m (2015: £0.7m).

The defined benefit sections of the Scheme expose the Group to various risks: longevity risk (members living longer than expected), inflation and 
interest rate risk (higher or lower than expected), and market (investment) risk (lower returns than expected). The Trustee and Group have taken steps to 
mitigate these risks through the use of:

 • hedging instruments within the investment portfolio; and 
 • reducing investment risk when pre-determined funding levels are reached. 

The Group has also taken steps to reduce risk and the build-up of further liabilities and associated risk, as mentioned above, by closing the defined 
benefit section to future benefit accrual and by undertaking a pension increase exchange exercise reducing the Group’s exposure to inflation risk.

The Group is not exposed to any unusual, entity specific or scheme specific risks. 

Wincanton plc Annual Report and Accounts 2016WINCANTON90

23. Employee benefits (continued)
The assets and liabilities of the defined benefit sections of the Group are calculated in accordance with IAS 19 Employee Benefits (Revised) and are set 
out in the tables below.

The calculations under IAS 19 are based on actuarial assumptions which are the best estimates chosen from a range of possible assumptions about the 
long term future which, unless by chance, will not necessarily be borne out in practice. The fair value of the assets, which are not intended to be realised 
in the short term, may be subject to significant change before they are realised, and the present value of the liabilities are derived from cash flow 
projections over long periods and are thus inherently uncertain.

Present value of unfunded defined benefit obligations
Present value of funded defined benefit obligations
Fair value of Scheme assets
Net defined benefit liability

2016 
£m
(1.7)
(1,001.0)
897.1
(105.6)

2015 
£m
(1.8)
(1,067.2)
924.8
(144.2)

The movement in the above net defined benefit liability in the year was primarily the result of an increase in the discount rate and the deficit funding 
contributions made which have been offset by a decrease in the market value of assets. The net defined benefit liability, after taking into account the 
related deferred tax asset, is £86.6m (2015: £115.5m).

Movements in the present value of the net defined benefit liability

31 March 2016
Opening position
Included in Income statement:
  Administration costs 

Interest on the net defined benefit liability

Cash:
  Employer contributions
  Benefits paid
Included in Other comprehensive income:
  Changes in financial assumptions
  Experience 

 Return on assets excluding amounts included in  
net financing costs

Closing defined benefit liability

31 March 2015
Opening position
Included in Income statement:
  Administration costs 

Interest on the net defined benefit liability

Cash:
  Employer contributions
  Benefits paid
Included in Other comprehensive income:
  Changes in financial assumptions
  Changes in demographic assumptions
  Experience 

 Return on assets excluding amounts included in  
net financing costs

Closing defined benefit liability

Obligations
£m
(1,067.2)

Net liability
£m
(142.4)

Unfunded 
arrangements
£m
(1.8)

Total  
net liability
£m
(144.2)

Assets
£m
924.8

(1.5)
29.8

21.5
(32.2)

–
–

–
(34.1)

–
32.2

53.3
14.8

(1.5)
(4.3)

21.5
–

53.3
14.8

–
(0.1)

–
–

0.2
–

–
(1.7)

(45.3)
897.1

–
(1,001.0)

(45.3)
(103.9)

Assets
£m
778.3

(2.9)
34.8

15.1
(29.6)

–
–
–

129.1
924.8

Obligations
£m
(887.8)

Net liability
£m
(109.5)

Unfunded 
arrangements
£m
(1.4)

–
(39.7)

–
29.6

(192.1)
(7.3)
30.1

–
(1,067.2)

(2.9)
(4.9)

15.1
–

(192.1)
(7.3)
30.1

129.1
(142.4)

–
(0.1)

–
–

(0.3)
–
–

–
(1.8)

(1.5)
(4.4)

21.5
–

53.5
14.8

(45.3)
(105.6)

Total  
net liability
£m
(110.9)

(2.9)
(5.0)

15.1
–

(192.4)
(7.3)
30.1

129.1
(144.2)

Notes to the consolidated financial statements continuedWincanton plc Annual Report and Accounts 2016 
 
 
 
91

23. Employee benefits (continued)
The amounts recognised in the income statement comprise administration costs and interest on the net defined benefit liability. These charges are 
included in the following lines in the income statement:

Cost of sales
Administrative expenses
Within underlying operating profit
Financing costs
Recognised in Income statement

The market value of the Scheme assets held at the end of the year were as follows:

Equities and synthetic equities 
Hedge funds
Property and other growth assets
Corporate bonds
Multi asset credits
Senior real estate and private debt
Index-linked gilts (LDI portfolio collateral)
Notional exposure for synthetic equities/LDI hedging arrangements
Other, including cash

All equities, bonds and funds have quoted prices in active markets.

Note

5

2016 
£m
–
1.5
1.5
4.4
5.9

2016 
£m
257.1
83.9
66.7
178.9
71.4
52.3
256.1
(134.9)
65.6
897.1

2015 
£m
–
2.9
2.9
5.0
7.9

2015 
£m
257.3
64.7
88.7
180.4
58.5
14.9
352.9
(122.5)
29.9
924.8

The synthetic equities provide exposure to the UK, North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific and Japan. The LDI portfolio currently hedges c. 38% of the 
defined benefit scheme’s inflation and interest rate risk (relative to pension liabilities measured on a gilts basis) through holding a combination of index-
linked gilts, interest rate and inflation swaps, gilt total return swaps, gilt repos, and cash.

Liability for defined benefit obligations
The principal actuarial assumptions for the Scheme and for the UK unfunded arrangement at the balance sheet date were as follows:

Discount rate
Price inflation rate – RPI
Price inflation rate – CPI
Rate of increase of pensions in deferment
– for service to 31 March 2006
– for service from 1 April 2006

2016 
%
3.50
2.95
1.95

2.90
2.10

The assumptions used for mortality rates for members of these arrangements at the expected retirement age of 65 years are as follows:
2016 
Years
21.4
23.8
23.5
26.5

Male aged 65 today
Male aged 45 today
Female aged 65 today
Female aged 45 today

2015 
%
3.25
3.00
2.00

2.95
2.10

2015 
Years
21.4
23.7
23.4
26.4

Sensitivity table
The sensitivity of the present value of the Scheme obligations to changes in the key actuarial assumptions are set out in the following table. 
The illustrations consider the result of only a single assumption changing with the others assumed unchanged, although in reality it is more likely 
that more than one assumption would change and potentially the results would offset each other. For example, a fall in interest rates will increase the 
Scheme obligations, but may also trigger an offsetting increase in market value of certain Scheme assets. 

Discount rate
Price inflation – RPI
Mortality rate

Change in 
assumption
+0.1%
+0.1%
+ 1 year

Impact on liability 
£m
19.0
(12.8)
(30.0)

Wincanton plc Annual Report and Accounts 2016WINCANTON92

23. Employee benefits (continued)
Defined contribution schemes
The total expense relating to the Group’s defined contribution schemes in the current year was £18.1m (2015: £16.3m).

24. Equity compensation benefits
Employees of the Group participate, subject to seniority and length of service, in the Long Term Incentive Plan (LTIP). The other schemes in existence are 
the Executive Bonus Plan (EBP), Special Option Plan (SOP) and Executive Share Option Scheme, no grants were made in respect of these schemes in the 
year. All of these schemes involve the grant of options or conditional awards of shares in the Company.

Grants of options are accounted for in accordance with IFRS 2 Share-based Payments, which requires the fair value of services received in return for 
share options granted to be recognised in the Income statement over the vesting period. The Group recognised total expenses of £0.9m (2015: £1.5m) 
in respect of the costs of equity-settled share based payment transactions during the year. 

The fair value of these services is measured by reference to the fair value of the share options granted under each scheme.

The number of options outstanding and exercisable in respect of each scheme at 31 March 2016 is as follows:

Outstanding

Exercisable

Option price  
pence/share

Date normally 
exercisable

Long Term Incentive Plan
July 2015
September 2015

Executive Bonus Plan

July 2013

July 2014

Special Option Plans
July 2012
January 2013
July 2013
July 2014
December 2014

Executive Share Option Schemes
December 2006

Total number of share options

804,803
142,512
947,315

78,986

126,798
205,784

1,830,720
1,059,322
3,021,270
1,626,227
250,517
7,788,056

446,352
446,352
9,387,507

–
–
–

78,986

126,798
205,784

1,830,720
1,059,322
–
–
–
2,890,042

446,352
446,352
3,542,178

–
–

–

–

36
71
68
137
161

2018-2025
2018-2025

2014-2023

2015-2024

2015-2022
2016-2023
2016-2023
2017-2024
2017-2024

347

2009-2016

The number and weighted average exercise price of all share options extant under the above schemes are as follows:

Outstanding at beginning of period
Granted during the period
Lapsed during the period
Exercised during the period
Outstanding at the end of the period
Exercisable at the end of the period

2016

2015

Options
22,153,583
1,017,388
(4,329,740)
(9,453,724)
9,387,507
3,542,178

Weighted average 
pence
66
–
91
31
81
84

Options
20,788,568
3,581,745
(1,860,205)
(356,525)
22,153,583
1,499,334

Weighted average  
pence
57
116
79
–
66
162

Notes to the consolidated financial statements continuedWincanton plc Annual Report and Accounts 201693

24. Equity compensation benefits (continued)
The weighted average share price at the date of exercise for share options exercised during the period was 180p (2015: 150p). The options outstanding 
at 31 March 2016 had a range of exercise prices of between nil and 347p and a weighted average remaining contractual life of seven years. 

The number of nil cost options awarded under the terms of the Executive Bonus Plan were calculated with reference to the 30-day average quoted 
market price of the Company’s shares for the year ending 31 March of the financial year immediately preceding the date of award. Awards made under 
the Special Option Plan, Executive Share Option Scheme and Long Term Incentive Plan were granted based on the average quoted market price of 
the Company’s shares for a period of up to three business days immediately prior to the date of grant. Upon exercise, all options granted under these 
schemes are equity-settled.

The terms and conditions of the grants to date under these schemes are as follows:

Long Term Incentive Plan
The Group introduced a Long Term Incentive Plan in 2015, which granted the Executive Directors and certain senior managers long term incentive 
awards in the form of nil cost options.

Grant  
date
July 2015
September 2015

Number of 
 options granted
874,876
142,512

Vesting 
conditions
3 years of service plus performance metrics weighted 60% on basic underlying EPS 
growth and 40% on TSR performance relative to the FTSE All-Share Index (excluding 
investment trusts) (the Index). The threshold entry point of 25% vesting for the EPS 
element requires 6% growth per annum, with 100% vesting at 11% per annum. The 
threshold entry point of 25% vesting for the TSR element requires performance in line 
with the Index, with 100% vesting at outperformance of 10% per annum (equivalent 
to 33% over the term of the option). Vesting will be on a straight line basis between 
the threshold and maximum for both elements.

Contractual 
life years
10

Total

1,017,388

The grant made under this Plan has EPS and TSR growth performance conditions. The EPS requirement is a non-market based performance condition 
and as such is not accounted for in the fair value calculation. The TSR requirement is a market based performance condition and the fair value is 
calculated using a Monte-Carlo pricing model, based on assumptions at the date of the award.

Share price at grant (pence)
Exercise price (pence)
Risk-free rate (%)
Expected volatility of Wincanton plc (%)
Expected volatility of Index (%)
Expected life (years)
Dividend yield (%)
Fair value per award under TSR condition (pence)
Fair value per award under EPS condition (pence)

September 2015 
grant
208.0
–
0.8
38.0
12.9
3
3.5
107.0
187.0

July 2015  
grant
187.0
–
1.0
41.2
11.9
3
3.9
97.0
167.0

Executive Bonus Plan
The Group introduced the Executive Bonus Plan during the year ended 31 March 2012. The award was made part in cash, part in deferred shares and 
for the years ending 31 March 2013 and 31 March 2014 was settled 50% : 50%. For the year ended 31 March 2015 the award was settled 100% in cash. 
The Plan ceased on 31 March 2015 and all awards of deferred shares vested in July 2015. 

The Bonus Plan operated for a fixed four year period. At the end of that period the balance of a participants’ Plan account became payable.

Grant  
date
July 2012
July 2013
July 2014

Number of 
 options granted
591,401
1,263,873
584,677

Total

2,439,951

Vesting 
conditions
The Scheme is subject to a performance requirement based on a percentage of the 
profit target. Where a forfeiture threshold operates the participant will receive no 
contribution into their plan account for that Plan year and 50% of their Plan account 
balance, not yet paid, will be forfeited. Additionally participants must be employed by 
the Company at the point the award vests.

Contractual 
life years
10

The grants made under this scheme have non-market based performance conditions. As the grant is at nil cost, the fair value is equivalent to the option 
value (i.e. the 30 day average price of the Company’s shares for the period ending 31 March of the relevant financial year of award).

Wincanton plc Annual Report and Accounts 2016WINCANTON94

24. Equity compensation benefits (continued) 
Special Option Plan
Under the Special Option Plan, the Executive Directors and certain senior managers were granted long term incentive awards.

Grant  
date
September 2011
July 2012
January 2013
July 2013
September 2013
November 2013
July 2014
December 2014
Total

Number of 
 options granted
6,060,549
13,293,685
1,059,322
5,868,259
128,395
114,993
2,746,551
250,517
29,522,271

Vesting 
conditions
3 years of service plus an EPS underpin, where the Company’s EPS must not reduce 
over the 3-year vesting period, as well as a performance requirement based on 
average absolute TSR growth over 3 years (the option starts to vest at >10% per 
annum with 100% of the option vesting for 22% per annum).

Contractual 
life years
10

The grant made under this Plan has an absolute TSR growth performance condition with an attaching EPS underpin. The EPS requirement is a non-
market based performance condition and as such is not accounted for in the fair value calculation. The TSR requirement is a market based performance 
condition and the fair value is calculated by applying a discount to the option value. The discount is calculated using a Monte-Carlo pricing model and is 
the expected outcome of meeting the performance condition. The fair value is determined on assumptions at the date of the award.

Share price at grant (pence)
Exercise price (pence)
Risk-free rate (%)
Expected volatility (%)
Expected life (years)
Dividend yield (%)
Fair value (pence)

December 2014
grant
155.0
160.7
1.2
42.8
5
4.7
29.0

July 2014
grant
140.0
137.0
2.0
43.1
5
–
41.0

November 2013 
grant
125.3
123.9
1.7
45.5
5
–
39.0

September 2013 
grant
103.3
101.3
1.7
46.3
5
–
33.0

 July 2013 
grant
66.0
67.7
1.3
46.4
5
–
20.0

January 2013 
grant
68.8
70.8
1.1
45.0
5
–
19.9

July 2012 
grant
33.0
36.0
0.7
43.2
5
–
8.6

September 2011 
grant
78.0
90.6
1.5
40.0
5
5.8
9.5

Executive Share Option Schemes

Grant  
date
December 2005
December 2006
Total

Number of 
 options granted
3,184,581
2,925,065
6,109,646

Vesting 
conditions
3 years of service plus average annual growth rate for underlying EPS of RPI + 3% in 
the 3 consecutive years following the grant (starting with the year including the grant).

Contractual 
life years
10

The grants made under these schemes all have non-market based performance conditions which are taken into account in the fair value calculation 
using a Binomial pricing model. The contractual life of the options and the expectation of early exercises are incorporated into the model. 
Expected volatility is based on a three year average of the historic share price volatility.

25. Financial instruments
Financial risk management and treasury policies
The Group, through its activities, is exposed to a range of financial risks. Financial risks are managed through the Group’s centralised treasury function 
which acts within clearly defined policies approved by the Board. These policies are designed to reduce the financial risks faced by the Group relating to 
liquidity risk, market risk (being interest rates, equity prices and currency exchange rate exposure) and credit risk. Transactions of a speculative nature are 
not permitted and the treasury function does not operate as a profit centre.

Liquidity risk
Liquidity risk is the risk that the Group will not be able to meet its financial obligations as they fall due. The Group’s policy on funding capacity is to 
ensure that there is always sufficient long term funding and short term facilities in place to meet foreseeable peak borrowing requirements.

Notes to the consolidated financial statements continuedWincanton plc Annual Report and Accounts 201695

25. Financial instruments (continued)
The Group has £215m (2015: £299m) of core committed funding of which £75m was drawn at 31 March 2016 (2015: £161m), leaving headroom of £140m 
(2015: £138m). The Group also has overdraft and other uncommitted facilities. Within the £215m (2015: £299m) of core committed facilities there is £45m 
(2015: £129m) in the form of bonds and term loans which must be drawn. At certain points in the working capital cycle this results in the Group having 
cash which is held in short term interest-bearing deposits. The Group also holds cash deposits within its captive insurer; these deposits have a mix of 
maturities, none of which is greater than 12 months. The Group’s net debt at the balance sheet date was:

Total borrowings and other financial liabilities
Cash and cash equivalents
Net debt

See note 17 for further analysis of the contractual maturities of the financial liabilities.

Analysis of changes in net debt

Note
17
16

2016 
£m
75.8
(36.3)
39.5

2015 
£m
163.4
(105.8)
57.6

Cash and bank balances
Bank loans & overdrafts
Other financial liabilities
Net debt

1 April 2015
£m
105.8 
(161.8)
(1.6)
(57.6)

Cash flow
£m
(69.6)
86.2
–
16.6

Net movement on 
cash flow hedges
£m
–
–
0.9
0.9

Exchange 
movements
£m
0.1
0.5
–
0.6

31 March 2016 
£m
36.3
(75.1)
(0.7)
(39.5)

Market risk
Market risk is the risk that changes in market prices, such as interest rates and foreign exchange rates will affect the Group’s income or the value of its 
holdings of financial instruments.

Interest rate risk
The Group maintains a policy of using derivatives to achieve an appropriate balance between fixed, capped, and floating interest profiles, so as to limit 
the exposure to the cash cost of servicing its debt.

The majority of the Group’s drawn debt at 31 March 2016 was at floating rates. At 31 March 2016 the Group had in place £45.0m of three and five year 
sterling interest rate swaps (maturing 2016 and 2019) with effective rates of between 0.7% and 2.0% and the net fair value of the financial instruments 
used to manage interest rates at the year end was £(0.7)m (2015: £(1.6)m).

2016

2015

Sterling
Bank loans and overdrafts
Other financial liabilities
Borrowings
Cash
Net debt
Interest rate swap
Net (cash)/debt
Euro 
Bank loans and overdrafts
Cash
Net debt
Total net (cash)/debt

Floating 
rate 
£m

72.9
0.7
73.6
(36.3)
37.3
(45.0)
(7.7)

2.2
–
2.2
(5.5)

Fixed 
rate 
£m

–
–
–
–
–
45.0
45.0

–
–
–
45.0

Total 
£m

72.9
0.7
73.6
(36.3)
37.3
–
37.3

2.2
–
2.2
39.5

Floating 
rate 
£m

161.5
1.6
163.1
(105.7)
57.4
(75.0)
(17.6)

0.3
(0.1)
0.2
(17.4)

Fixed 
rate 
£m

–
–
–
–
–
75.0
75.0

–
–
–
75.0

Total 
£m

161.5
1.6
163.1
(105.7)
57.4
–
57.4

0.3
(0.1)
0.2
57.6

Wincanton plc Annual Report and Accounts 2016WINCANTON96

25. Financial instruments (continued)
Interest rate sensitivity
The following table demonstrates the sensitivity to a change in interest rates of 1% on the Group’s profit before tax and on its equity. The impact has 
been calculated by applying the change in interest rates to the weighted average interest rate during the year, and applying this rate to the average 
borrowings during the year, taking into account the impact of the interest rate swap of £45.0m. A variation of 1% represents management’s view of 
a reasonably possible change in interest rates. Any impact on equity excludes the possible effect which a change in interest rates may have on the 
present value of the Group’s pension obligations, the effects of which are set out in note 23.

Sterling 
1.0% increase in rates
1.0% decrease in rates

2016

Effect 
on profit 
before tax 
£m

(0.6)
0.6

Effect  
on equity 
£m

(0.6)
0.6

2015

Effect 
on profit 
before tax 
£m

(0.6)
0.6

Effect  
on equity 
£m

(0.6)
0.6

The methods and assumptions used to calculate the possible effect of a change in interest rates are consistent with those used in the prior year. 

Currency risk and sensitivity 
The Group is a largely UK based business with a small proportion of the Group’s activities denominated in euro. The only non-sterling activity 
is in Ireland. In order to protect the sterling value of the balance sheet, the Group finances its investment in Ireland by borrowing in euro. 
Transactional exposure is minimal as the vast majority of transactions are denominated in euro, the relevant functional currency of the operation.

The Group’s committed facilities include $32.2m (2015: $87.2m) of US private placements. The principal has been swapped into sterling and all future 
cash flows are fully hedged; the fair value of the US$ principal and the US$/GBP swaps move in line with each other, so there is no resulting adjustment 
to the Group’s income statement.

Operational foreign exchange risk, where purchases or sales are made in non functional currency, is hedged on an ad hoc basis by buying or selling the 
relevant currency on a forward basis if the amounts involved are material.

Credit risk
Credit risk is the risk of financial loss to the Group if a customer or counterparty to a financial instrument fails to meet its contractual obligations, and 
arises principally from the Group’s receivables from customers.

The Group has a credit policy in place and the exposure to credit risk is monitored on an ongoing basis. Deposits are only made with pre-approved 
counterparties. Credit evaluations are performed on all customers requiring credit. The Group does not generally require collateral in respect of financial 
assets. At the balance sheet date there were no significant concentrations of credit risk. The maximum exposure to credit risk is represented by the 
carrying amount of each financial asset, including derivative financial instruments, in the balance sheet of £153.3m (2015: £254.4m). See note 15 for 
further analysis of trade receivables and the associated doubtful debt provisions held.

Capital risk management
The Group’s objectives when managing capital are to safeguard its ability to continue as a going concern, in order to provide optimal returns for 
shareholders, and to maintain an efficient capital structure.

In doing so, the Group’s strategy is to retain appropriate levels of liquidity headroom to ensure financial stability and flexibility. To achieve this strategy 
and maintain this position, the Group regularly monitors key credit metrics such as net debt to EBITDA, interest cover and fixed charge cover. In addition 
the Group ensures a combination of short term liquidity headroom with a diverse long term debt maturity profile. As at the balance sheet date the 
Group’s average debt maturity profile was three years. 

In order to maintain or realign the capital structure, the Group may adjust the amount of dividends paid to shareholders, return capital to shareholders, 
issue new shares, or sell assets to reduce debt.

Notes to the consolidated financial statements continuedWincanton plc Annual Report and Accounts 201697

25. Financial instruments (continued)
Fair values
The fair values of the Group’s financial assets and liabilities, together with the carrying amounts shown in the balance sheet are given in the 
following table: 

Trade receivables
Other receivables
Cash and cash equivalents
US$ fixed to floating swaps
– Assets
– Liabilities
Forward exchange contracts
Interest rate swaps
Bank loans and overdrafts
Unsecured bond issues – US$ private placement
Trade and other payables
Unrecognised losses

2016

2015

Carrying amount 
£m
93.2
1.0
36.3

Fair value 
£m
93.2
1.0
36.3

Carrying amount 
£m
86.5
1.9
105.8

22.7
(20.1)
0.1
(0.8)
(55.0)
(22.7)
(272.1)

22.7
(20.1)
0.1
(0.8)
(55.0)
(22.7)
(272.1)
–

60.2
(53.5)
–
(1.6)
(107.8)
(60.7)
(316.6)

Fair value 
£m
86.5
1.9
105.8

60.2
(53.5)
–
(1.6)
(107.8)
(60.7)
(316.6)
–

Estimation of fair values
The following summarises the major methods and assumptions used in estimating the fair values of financial instruments reflected in the above table. 
Under the disclosure requirements of IFRS 13, all fair value measurements of financial assets and liabilities are considered to be categorised as level 2.

Derivatives
The fair value of forward exchange contracts is calculated as the contractual forward price less the current forward rate. The fair value of interest rates 
swaps was determined by discounting the future cash flows at rates determined by year end yield curves.

Interest-bearing loans and borrowings and unsecured bond issues
Fair value is calculated on discounted expected future principal and interest cash flows at market interest rates.

Finance lease liabilities
The fair value is estimated as the present value of future cash flows discounted at market interest rates for homogenous lease agreements.

26. Related parties
Identity of related parties
The Group has a controlling related party relationship with its parent company Wincanton plc. In addition the Group has related party relationships 
with its Executive and non-executive Directors and with its subsidiaries and jointly controlled entity.

Transactions with Executive and non-executive Directors
The interests of the Executive and non-executive Directors in the share capital of the Company, plus full details of the individual Director’s emoluments, 
bonuses deferred in shares, share options and pension entitlements are given in the Annual report on remuneration on pages 45 to 54.

The total of short term employee remuneration and benefits receivable by the Directors is set out in note 4.

27. Accounting estimates and judgements
Management discusses with the Audit Committee the development, selection and disclosure of the Group’s critical accounting policies and estimates 
and the application of these policies and estimates.

The areas where policy and estimate selection are most critical for the Group are concerned with the accounting for pensions, the determination of 
provisions, and the testing of goodwill and acquired intangibles for impairment. Information about the assumptions and risk factors relating to these 
issues are given in notes 23, 19 and 9 respectively.

Wincanton plc Annual Report and Accounts 2016WINCANTON98

Wincanton plc Company balance sheet 
At 31 March 2016

Fixed assets
Investment in subsidiaries

Current assets
Debtors
Cash at bank and in hand

Creditors: amounts falling due within one year
Net current assets
Total assets less current liabilities
Creditors: amounts falling due after more than one year
Net assets

Capital and reserves
Called up share capital
Share premium account
Hedging reserve
Profit and loss account
Equity shareholders’ funds

1  Restated on transition to FRS 101, see note 8

Note

2

3

4

5

7

2016 
£m

108.9
108.9

58.5
15.7
74.2
(24.8)
49.4
158.3
(55.4)
102.9

12.4
12.9
(0.8)
78.4
102.9

2015
restated1
£m

108.9
108.9

15.2
82.1
97.3
(42.0)
55.3
164.2
(128.1)
36.1

12.2
12.8
(1.7)
12.8
36.1

The financial statements were approved by the Board of Directors and authorised for issue on 8 June 2016 and were signed on its behalf by:

A Colman 
Chief Executive Officer 

T Lawlor
Chief Financial Officer 

Company Registration  
Number: 4178808

Wincanton plc Annual Report and Accounts 201699

Wincanton plc Company statement of changes in equity
For the year ended 31 March 2016

Balance at 1 April 2014

Profit for the year
Other comprehensive income
Total comprehensive income

Share based payment transactions
Deferred tax on share based payment transactions
Own shares disposed of on exercise of options
Dividends received
Balance at 31 March 2015

Profit and loss account

Share  
capital 
£m
12.2

Share  
premium 
£m
12.8

Hedging
reserve
£m
(1.5)

Reserve for 
own shares
£m
(14.9)

Retained 
earnings
restated1
£m
(3.2)

Total 
equity
restated1
£m
5.4

–
–
–

–
–
–
–
12.2

–
–
–

–
–
–
–
12.8

–
(0.2)
(0.2)

–
–
–
–
(1.7)

–
–
–

–
–
0.8
–
(14.1)

11.0
2.6
13.6

1.8
0.5
(0.8)
15.0
26.9

Balance at 1 April 2015

12.2

12.8

(1.7)

(14.1)

26.9

Profit for the year
Other comprehensive income
Total comprehensive income

Share based payment transactions
Current tax on share based payment transactions
Deferred tax on share based payment transactions
Shares issued
Own shares acquired
Own shares disposed of on exercise of options
Dividends received
Balance at 31 March 2016

1  Restated on transition to FRS 101, see note 8

–
–
–

–
–
–
0.2
–
–
–
12.4

–
–
–

–
–
–
–
–
0.1
–
12.9

–
0.9
0.9

–
–
–
–
–
–
–
(0.8)

–
–
–

–
–
–
(0.2)
(4.5)
15.7
–
(3.1)

17.6
(0.8)
16.8

0.9
2.2
0.5
–
–
(15.8)
50.0
81.5

11.0
2.4
13.4

1.8
0.5
–
15.0
36.1

36.1

17.6
0.1
17.7

0.9
2.2
0.5
–
(4.5)
–
50.0
102.9

Wincanton plc Annual Report and Accounts 2016WINCANTONNotes to the Wincanton plc Company financial statements

100

1. Accounting policies
The following accounting policies have been applied consistently in dealing with items which are considered material in relation to the Company’s 
financial statements.

Basis of preparation
The separate financial statements of the Company are presented as required by the Companies Act 2006. The Company meets the definition of a 
qualifying entity under Financial Reporting Standard 100 (FRS 100) issued by the Financial Reporting Council. Accordingly, the financial statements have 
been prepared in accordance with Financial Reporting Standard 101 Reduced Disclosure Framework (FRS 101). The impact of this transition is set out in 
note 8. 

Under Section 408(4) of the Companies Act 2006 the Company is exempt from the requirement to present its own profit and loss account. 
The Company reported a profit for the financial year ended 31 March 2016 of £17.6m (2015: £11.0m).

As permitted by FRS 101, the Company has taken advantage of the disclosure exemptions available under that standard in relation to share based 
payments, financial instruments, capital management, presentation of comparative information in respect of certain assets, presentation of a cash flow 
statement and certain related party transactions. Where required, equivalent disclosures are given in the consolidated financial statements.

The financial statements have been prepared on the historical cost basis except for the remeasurement of certain financial instruments to fair value. 
The principal accounting policies adopted are the same as those set out in note 1 to the consolidated financial statements except as noted below.

Investments
Investments in subsidiaries are stated at cost and reviewed for impairment if there are indications that the carrying values may not be recoverable.

2. Investment in subsidiaries

Shares in Group undertakings
Cost at beginning and end of year

A list of the subsidiaries of Wincanton plc is given in note 11 to the consolidated financial statements. 

3. Debtors

Amounts owed by Group undertakings
Group tax relief receivable
Prepayments and accrued income
Deferred tax

1  Restated on transition to FRS 101, see note 8

All debtors are due within one year, except prepayments and accrued income of £0.5m (2015: £1.5m).

2016 
£m
108.9

2015 
£m
108.9

2016 
£m
54.8
1.5
0.8
1.4
58.5

2015
restated1
£m
8.6
3.6
1.8
1.2
15.2

Wincanton plc Annual Report and Accounts 2016101

4. Creditors: amounts falling due within one year

Bank loans and overdrafts
Other financial liabilities
Accruals and deferred income

Details of bank loans and overdrafts are given in note 17 to the consolidated financial statements.

5. Creditors: amounts falling due after more than one year

Bank loans
Other financial liabilities

Details of bank loans are given in note 17 to the consolidated financial statements.

6. Capital and reserves

Allotted, called up and fully paid
At 1 April
Issued during the year
In issue at 31 March 

2016 
£m
20.1
0.3
4.4
24.8

2016 
£m
55.0
0.4
55.4

10p Ordinary shares

2016 
millions
121.7
2.0
123.7

2015 
£m
33.9
1.2
6.9
42.0

2015 
£m
127.7
0.4
128.1

2015 
millions
121.7
–
121.7

During the year ended 31 March 2016, 2 million shares were issued at 10p per share to satisfy the exercise of share options (2015: nil). 

Details of the Company’s own shares, held within an Employee Benefit Trust, are given in note 20 to the consolidated financial statements. Details of the 
Company’s equity compensation benefits are given in note 24 to the consolidated financial statements.

During the year ended 31 March 2002, the Company established a Capital Redemption Reserve of £49,998 on redemption of redeemable 
preference shares. 

As permitted by Section 408 (4) of the Companies Act 2006, the Company has not presented its own profit and loss account. The Directors’ 
remuneration as disclosed in note 4 to the consolidated financial statements is incurred by Wincanton plc. The Company has taken the exemption not 
to disclose non-audit fees incurred as these are included in note 3 to the consolidated financial statements. 

Wincanton plc Annual Report and Accounts 2016WINCANTON102

Notes to the Wincanton plc Company financial statements 
continued

7. Reconciliation of movement in shareholders’ funds

Retained gain for the financial year
Dividends received
Other recognised gains and losses relating to the year
Current tax on share based payment transactions
Deferred tax on share based payment transactions
Equity granted to employees of the Company and subsidiaries
Own shares acquired
Net increase in shareholders’ funds
Opening shareholders’ funds
Closing shareholders’ funds

1  Restated on transition to FRS 101, see note 8

2016 
£m
16.8
50.0
0.9
2.2
0.5
0.9
(4.5)
66.8
36.1
102.9

2015
restated1
£m
13.6
15.0
(0.2)
–
0.5
1.8
–
30.7
5.4
36.1

8. Transition to FRS 101
As stated in note 1, these are the Company’s first financial statements prepared under FRS 101. The accounting policies set out in note 1 to these 
accounts and in note 1 of the consolidated financial statements have been applied in preparing firstly the financial statements for the year ended 
31 March 2016, secondly the comparative information presented in these financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2015 and lastly an opening 
FRS 101 balance sheet at 1 April 2014 (the Company’s date of transition).

In preparing its opening FRS 101 balance sheet, the Company has adjusted amounts reported previously in financial statements prepared in accordance 
with its old basis of accounts (previous United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice (‘UK GAAP’)).

The impact of applying IAS 12 Income Taxes has been to recognise a deferred tax asset in relation to the share options outstanding at each year end. 
The effect on the financial statements is summarised below:

Balance sheet as at 1 April 2014:
Deferred tax asset

Retained earnings for the year ended 31 March 2015:
Balance at 1 April 2014
Profit for the year
Other comprehensive income
Share based payment transactions
Deferred tax on share based payment transactions 
Own shares disposed of on exercise of options
Dividends received
Balance at 31 March 2015

As reported
£m
–

Effect of transition 
to FRS 101 
£m
0.4

Restated1
£m
0.4

(3.6)
10.7
2.6
1.8
–
(0.8)
15.0
25.7

0.4
0.3
–
–
0.5
–
–
1.2

(3.2)
11.0
2.6
1.8
0.5
(0.8)
15.0
26.9

Wincanton plc Annual Report and Accounts 2016103

Additional information
Group five year record

As reported under Adopted IFRS

Revenue
Underlying operating profit4
Net financing costs 
Underlying profit before tax4
Profit/(loss) before tax
Underlying profit after tax for the year4
Underlying earnings per share4
Dividend per share 
Net debt

2016 
£m
1,147.4
50.9
(15.6)
35.3
65.8
28.8
23.9p
5.5p
(39.5)

2015
£m
1,107.4
49.7
(18.3)
31.4
24.9
24.5
21.1p
–
(57.6)

2014
restated1
£m
1,098.0
48.0
(22.4)
25.6
34.9
19.3
16.6p
–
(64.9)

2013
restated2
£m
1,086.8
45.3
(24.0)
21.3
14.0
15.4
13.3p
–
(107.6)

2012
restated3
£m
1,202.8
43.8
(15.0)
28.8
(47.4)
19.4
16.9p
–
(114.5)

1  Where applicable, amounts have been restated for the change in accounting for joint ventures.
2  Where applicable, amounts have been restated for the adoption of IAS 19 Employee Benefits (Revised).
3  Underlying profit after tax and underlying earnings per share have been restated to exclude the results of Culina Logistics Limited which was sold in March 2012.
4  Operating profit, and hence profit before and after tax is reported on an underlying basis, i.e. including where applicable, share of results of associates but before amortisation of acquired 

intangibles, any impairment of goodwill and acquired intangibles and exceptionals. Underlying earnings per share is calculated on the same basis.

Financial calendar

Annual General Meeting
Half year results
Full year results 
Annual report

To be held on 21 July 2016 at the offices of Buchanan Communications, 107 Cheapside, London EC2V 6DN at 11am
Interim announcement November 2016
Preliminary announcement June 2017
Posted to shareholders at the end of June 2017

Wincanton plc Annual Report and Accounts 2016WINCANTON104

Shareholder information

Annual Report
Copies can be obtained from the Company’s address below.

Share registrar 
The Company’s Registrar is Computershare. If you have any questions 
about your holding or wish to notify any change in your details, 
please contact the Registrar at: Computershare Investor Services plc, 
The Pavilions, Bridgwater Road, Bristol BS99 6ZZ. Telephone: 0870 702 
0000. Whenever you contact the Registrar, please quote the full names 
in which your shares are held. Please advise the Registrar promptly of any 
change of address.

Dividend mandates
The Company encourages its shareholders to have dividends paid 
directly into their bank or building society account. To set this up for 
the shares you hold, you should contact the Registrar for a dividend 
mandate form.

Share dealing service
Wincanton shares may be dealt through the Company’s brokers. 
If you would like further information, you may contact the brokers at: 
Corporate Broking, Numis Securities Ltd, the London Stock Exchange 
Building, 10 Paternoster Square, London, EC4M 7LT. Telephone number 
020 7260 1000. Alternatively please contact your bank, building society 
or stockbroker who will be able to assist you in dealing in your shares.

Share price quotation
The Company’s share price is quoted via the Wincanton website, where 
it is regularly updated through the day.

Shareholders’ enquiries
If you have an enquiry about the Company’s business or about 
something affecting you as a shareholder (other than queries regarding 
shareholdings which are dealt with by Computershare) you are invited to 
contact the Company at the address below.

Unsolicited mail
The Company is obliged to make its Register available to other 
organisations. Shareholders wishing to limit the amount of unsolicited 
mail they may receive as a result should contact the Mailing Preference 
Service at: DMA House, 70 Margaret Street, London W1W 8SS, or online 
at www.mpsonline.org.uk 

Unsolicited investment advice
Shareholders are advised to be wary of unsolicited mail or telephone 
calls offering free advice, to buy shares at a discount or offering free 
company reports.

If you receive any unsolicited investment advice:

 • make sure you get the correct name of the person and organisation;
 • check that they are properly authorised by the FCA before getting 

involved by visiting www.fca.org.uk/firms/systems-reporting/register 
and contacting the firm using the details on the register;

 • report the matter to the FCA either by calling 0800 111 6768 or visiting 

www.fca.org.uk/consumers;

 • report suspected fraud and internet crime to the police through 
Action Fraud, which you can contact on 0300 123 2040 or visiting 
www.actionfraud.police.uk;
 • if the calls persist, hang up; 
 • inform Computershare’s Compliance Department.

If you deal with an unauthorised firm, you will not be eligible to receive 
payments under the Financial Services Compensation Scheme. 

More detailed information on this or similar activity can be found 
on the FCA website www.fca.org.uk/consumers/scams

ShareGift
If you hold only a few shares and feel that it would be uneconomical 
or simply not worthwhile to sell them, you could consider donating 
your shares to charity through ShareGift (registered charity 1052686). 
Donated shares are aggregated and sold by ShareGift, the proceeds 
being passed on to a wide range of UK charities. To find out more 
visit www.sharegift.org or call 020 7930 3737. Alternatively contact the 
Company’s Registrar who can help arrange the transfer of your shares.

Wincanton plc website
The Wincanton website at www.wincanton.co.uk provides news and 
information about the services offered by Wincanton as well as useful 
information for investors.

Forward-looking statements
These Annual Report and Accounts and Wincanton’s website 
may contain certain ‘forward-looking statements’ with respect to 
Wincanton plc and the Group’s financial condition, results of operations 
and business, and certain of Wincanton plc’s and the Group’s plans, 
objectives, goals and expectations with respect to these items.

Forward-looking statements are sometimes, but not always, identified 
by their use of a date in the future or such words as ‘anticipates’, ‘aims’, 
‘due’, ‘could’, ‘may’, ‘should’, ‘expects’, ‘believes’, ‘intends’, ‘plans’, ‘targets’, 
‘goal’ or ‘estimates’. By their very nature forward-looking statements are 
inherently unpredictable, speculative and involve risk and uncertainty 
because they relate to events and depend on circumstances that will 
occur in the future. Many of these assumptions, risks and uncertainties 
relate to factors that are beyond the Group’s ability to control or estimate 
precisely. There are a number of such factors that could cause actual 
results and developments to differ materially from those expressed or 
implied by these forward-looking statements. These factors include, 
but are not limited to, changes in the economies and markets in which 
the Group operates; changes in the legal, regulatory and competition 
frameworks in which the Group operates; changes in the markets from 
which the Group raises finance; the impact of legal or other proceedings 
against or which affect the Group; changes in accounting practices 
and interpretation of accounting standards under IFRS, and changes in 
interest and exchange rates.

Any written or verbal forward-looking statements, made in our Annual 
Report and Accounts or on Wincanton’s website or made subsequently, 
which are attributable to Wincanton plc or any other member of the 
Group or persons acting on their behalf are expressly qualified in their 
entirety by the factors referred to above. Each forward-looking statement 
speaks only as of the date of our Annual Report and Accounts, or on the 
date the forward-looking statement is made. Wincanton plc does not 
intend to update any forward-looking statements.

Secretary and registered office
A Dowling 
Wincanton plc  
Methuen Park 
Chippenham 
Wiltshire 
SN14 0WT

Tel +44 (0)1249 71 00 00

Registered in England & Wales under No. 4178808

Wincanton plc Annual Report and Accounts 2016Design and production
Radley Yeldar www.ry.com

Printing
CPI Colour

This report is printed on material, which is made from a mixture 
of recycled and virgin fibres, sourced from well managed forests 
according to the rules of the Forest Stewardship Council®.

WINCANTON.CO.UK

Wincanton plc
Methuen Park  
Chippenham 
Wiltshire SN14 0WT 
United Kingdom

Registered in England & 
Wales under No. 4178808

Tel +44 (0)1249 71 00 00 
Fax +44 (0)1249 71 00 01