Year ended 31 March 2024 | Year ended 31 March 2023 | ||||||
| Adjustments* | Adjustments* | ||||||
| Adjusted* | (note 1) | Total | Adjusted* | (note 1) | Total | ||
| Notes | £m | £m | £m | £m | £m | £m | |
| Continuing operations | |||||||
Revenue | 1 | ||||||
Operating profit | ( | ( | |||||
Share of loss of associate | 14 | ( | ( | ||||
Profit on disposal of operations | 30 | ||||||
Profit before interest and taxation | ( | ( | |||||
Finance income | 4 | ||||||
Finance expense | 5 | ( | ( | ( | ( | ||
Profit before taxation | 6 | ( | ( | ||||
Taxation | 9 | ( | ( | ( | ( | ||
Profit for the year | 1 | ( | ( | ||||
| Attributable to: | |||||||
Owners of the parent | |||||||
Non–controlling interests | ( | ||||||
Earnings per share | 2 | ||||||
| From continuing operations | |||||||
Basic | |||||||
Diluted | |||||||
Dividends in respect of the year | 10 | ||||||
Paid and proposed (£m) | |||||||
Paid and proposed per share |
| Year ended | Year ended | ||
| 31 March | 31 March | ||
| 2024 | 2023 | ||
| Notes | £m | £m | |
Profit for the year | |||
| Items that will not be reclassified subsequently to the Consolidated Income Statement: | |||
Actuarial losses on defined benefit pension plans | 29 | ( | ( |
Tax relating to components of other comprehensive income that will not be reclassified | 9 | ||
Unrealised (losses)/gains in the fair value of equity investments at fair value through other comprehensive income | 14 | ( | |
| Items that may be reclassified subsequently to the Consolidated Income Statement: | |||
Effective portion of (losses)/gains in fair value of cash flow hedges | 27 | ( | |
Deferred tax in respect of cash flow hedges accounted for in the hedging reserve | 9 | ( | |
Exchange (losses)/gains on translation of foreign operations and net investment hedge | ( | ||
Other comprehensive (expense)/income for the year | ( | ||
Total comprehensive income for the year | |||
Attributable to Owners of the parent | |||
Non‑controlling interests | ( |
| 31 March | 31 March | ||
| 2024 | 2023 | ||
| Notes | £m | £m | |
| Non‑current assets | |||
Goodwill | 11 | ||
Other intangible assets | 12 | ||
Property, plant and equipment | 13 | ||
Interest in associates and other investments | 14 | ||
Retirement benefit asset | 29 | ||
Tax receivable | 31 | ||
Deferred tax asset | 22 | ||
| Current assets | |||
Inventories | 15 | ||
Trade and other receivables | 16 | ||
Tax receivable | |||
Cash and bank balances | |||
Derivative financial instruments | 27 | ||
Total assets | |||
| Current liabilities | |||
Trade and other payables | 17 | ||
Borrowings | 19 | ||
Lease liabilities | 28 | ||
Provisions | 20 | ||
Tax liabilities | |||
Derivative financial instruments | 27 | ||
Net current assets | |||
| Non‑current liabilities | |||
Borrowings | 19 | ||
Lease liabilities | 28 | ||
Retirement benefit obligations | 29 | ||
Trade and other payables | 21 | ||
Provisions | 20 | ||
Deferred tax liabilities | 22 | ||
Total liabilities | |||
Net assets | |||
| Equity | |||
Share capital | 23 | ||
Share premium account | |||
Own shares | ( | ( | |
Capital redemption reserve | |||
Hedging reserve | ( | ||
Translation reserve | |||
Other reserves | |||
Retained earnings | |||
Equity attributable to owners of the parent | |||
Non‑controlling interests | |||
Total equity |
| Share | Capital | Non‑ | ||||||||
| Share | premium | Own | redemption | Hedging | Translation | Other | Retained | controlling | ||
| capital | account | shares | reserve | reserve | reserve | reserves | earnings | interest | Total | |
| £m | £m | £m | £m | £m | £m | £m | £m | £m | £m | |
At 1 April 2023 | ( | |||||||||
Profit for the year | ||||||||||
Other comprehensive income and expense | ( | ( | ( | ( | ( | |||||
Total comprehensive income and expense | ( | ( | ( | |||||||
Dividends paid | ( | ( | ||||||||
Share‑based payment charge | ||||||||||
| Deferred tax on share‑based | ||||||||||
payment transactions | ||||||||||
| Excess tax deductions related | ||||||||||
to share‑based payments on vested awards | ( | ( | ||||||||
Purchase of own shares | ( | ( | ( | |||||||
| Performance share plan | ||||||||||
awards vested | ( | ( | ||||||||
| Non‑controlling interest | ||||||||||
disposed | ( | ( | ( | |||||||
At 31 March 2024 | ( | ( |
| Share | Capital | Non‑ | ||||||||
| Share | premium | Own | redemption | Hedging | Translation | Other | Retained | controlling | ||
| capital | account | shares | reserve | reserve | reserve | reserves | earnings | interest | Total | |
| £m | £m | £m | £m | £m | £m | £m | £m | £m | £m | |
At 1 April 2022 | ( | ( | ( | |||||||
Profit for the year | ( | |||||||||
Other comprehensive income and expense | ( | ( | ||||||||
Total comprehensive income and expense | ( | |||||||||
Dividends paid | ( | ( | ||||||||
Share‑based payment charge | ||||||||||
| Deferred tax on share‑based | ||||||||||
payment transactions | ( | ( | ||||||||
| Excess tax deductions related | ||||||||||
to share‑based payments on vested awards | ||||||||||
Purchase of own shares | ( | ( | ||||||||
| Performance share plan awards | ||||||||||
vested | ( | ( | ||||||||
At 31 March 2023 | ( |
| Year ended | Year ended | ||
| 31 March | 31 March | ||
| 2024 | 2023 | ||
| Notes | £m | £m | |
Net cash inflow from operating activities | 26 | ||
| Cash flows from investing activities | |||
Purchase of property, plant and equipment – owned assets | 13 | ( | ( |
Purchase of computer software | 12 | ( | ( |
Purchase of other intangibles | 12 | ( | ( |
Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment and capitalised development costs | |||
Development costs capitalised | 12 | ( | ( |
Interest received | |||
Acquisition of businesses, net of cash acquired | 25 | ( | ( |
Disposal of business, net of cash disposed | 30 | ||
Purchase of equity investments | 14 | ( | ( |
Net cash used in investing activities | ( | ( | |
| Cash flows from financing activities | |||
Dividends paid | ( | ( | |
Purchase of shares for settlement of employee share arrangements | ( | ( | |
Interest paid | ( | ( | |
Loan arrangement fees | ( | ( | |
Proceeds from bank borrowings | 26 | ||
Repayment of bank borrowings | 26 | ( | ( |
Repayment of acquired debt on acquisition | 26 | ( | ( |
Drawdown of loan notes | 26 | ||
Repayment of loan notes | 26 | ( | |
Repayment of lease liabilities, net of interest | ( | ( | |
Net cash (used in)/from financing activities | ( | ||
(Decrease)/increase in cash and cash equivalents | 26 | ( | |
Cash and cash equivalents brought forward | |||
Exchange adjustments | ( | ||
Cash and cash equivalents carried forward | 26 |
Freehold property | 2% |
Leasehold buildings and improvements | Shorter of 2% or period of lease |
Plant, equipment and vehicles | 8% to 33.3% |
| Year ended 31 March 2024 | |||||||
| Revenue by sector and destination (all continuing operations) | |||||||
| Africa, | |||||||
| United States | Mainland | United | Near and | Other | |||
| of America | Europe | Kingdom | Asia Pacific | Middle East | countries | Total | |
| £m | £m | £m | £m | £m | £m | £m | |
Safety | 219.4 | 240.2 | 156.8 | 129.8 | 46.4 | 31.2 | 823.8 |
Environmental & Analysis | 387.8 | 73.1 | 89.7 | 76.0 | 17.5 | 14.3 | 658.4 |
Healthcare | 288.1 | 106.2 | 48.5 | 68.9 | 14.6 | 26.6 | 552.9 |
Inter‑segmental sales | – | – | (1.0) | – | – | – | (1.0) |
Revenue for the year | 895.3 | 419.5 | 294.0 | 274.7 | 78.5 | 72.1 | 2,034.1 |
| Year ended 31 March 2023 | |||||||
| Revenue by sector and destination (all continuing operations) | |||||||
| Africa, | |||||||
| United States | Mainland | United | Near and | Other | |||
| of America | Europe | Kingdom | Asia Pacific | Middle East | countries | Total | |
| £m | £m | £m | £m | £m | £m | £m | |
Safety | 205.1 | 217.1 | 151.4 | 112.7 | 33.2 | 26.1 | 745.6 |
Environmental & Analysis | 277.0 | 67.3 | 79.5 | 96.7 | 15.5 | 16.1 | 552.1 |
Healthcare | 298.8 | 92.0 | 49.2 | 73.0 | 14.9 | 28.5 | 556.4 |
Inter‑segmental sales | (0.1) | – | (1.2) | – | – | – | (1.3) |
Revenue for the year | 780.8 | 376.4 | 278.9 | 282.4 | 63.6 | 70.7 | 1,852.8 |
| Year ended 31 March 2024 | |||
| Revenue | |||
| Revenue | recognised | ||
| recognised | at a point | Total | |
| over time | in time | Revenue | |
| £m | £m | £m | |
Safety | 8.0 | 815.8 | 823.8 |
Environmental & Analysis | 238.0 | 420.4 | 658.4 |
Healthcare | 70.4 | 482.5 | 552.9 |
Inter‑segmental sales | – | (1.0) | (1.0) |
Revenue for the year | 316.4 | 1,717.7 | 2,034.1 |
| Year ended 31 March 2023 | |||
| Revenue | |||
| Revenue | recognised | ||
| recognised | at a point | Total | |
| over time | in time | Revenue | |
| £m | £m | £m | |
Safety | 7.1 | 738.5 | 745.6 |
Environmental & Analysis | 121.5 | 430.6 | 552.1 |
Healthcare | 67.1 | 489.3 | 556.4 |
Inter‑segmental sales | – | (1.3) | (1.3) |
Revenue for the year | 195.7 | 1,657.1 | 1,852.8 |
| Year ended 31 March 2024 | ||||
| Revenue from | Revenue from | |||
| performance | Revenue | performance | ||
| obligations | previously | obligations | ||
| entered into | included as | satisfied in | ||
| and satisfied | contract | previous | Total | |
| in the year | liabilities | periods | Revenue | |
| £m | £m | £m | £m | |
Safety | 817.8 | 6.0 | – | 823.8 |
Environmental & Analysis | 649.9 | 8.5 | – | 658.4 |
Healthcare | 535.5 | 17.3 | 0.1 | 552.9 |
Inter‑segmental sales | (1.0) | – | – | (1.0) |
Revenue for the year | 2,002.2 | 31.8 | 0.1 | 2,034.1 |
| Year ended 31 March 2023 | ||||
| Revenue from | Revenue from | |||
| performance | Revenue | performance | ||
| obligations | previously | obligations | ||
| entered into | included as | satisfied in | ||
| and satisfied | contract | previous | Total | |
| in the year | liabilities | periods | Revenue | |
| £m | £m | £m | £m | |
Safety | 741.7 | 3.9 | – | 745.6 |
Environmental & Analysis | 545.0 | 7.1 | – | 552.1 |
Healthcare | 542.8 | 13.4 | 0.2 | 556.4 |
Inter‑segmental sales | (1.3) | – | – | (1.3) |
Revenue for the year | 1,828.2 | 24.4 | 0.2 | 1,852.8 |
| Aggregate transaction price allocated | ||||
| to unsatisfied performance obligations | ||||
| 31 March | ||||
| 2024 | Recognised | Recognised | Recognised | |
| Total | < 1 year | 1‑2 years | > 2 years | |
| £m | £m | £m | £m | |
Safety | 14.8 | 5.6 | 3.5 | 5.7 |
Environmental & Analysis | 18.1 | 8.6 | 3.4 | 6.1 |
Healthcare | 21.0 | 20.6 | 0.4 | – |
Inter‑segmental sales | – | – | – | – |
Total | 53.9 | 34.8 | 7.3 | 11.8 |
| Aggregate transaction price allocated | ||||
| to unsatisfied performance obligations | ||||
| 31 March | ||||
| 2023 | Recognised | Recognised | Recognised | |
| Total | < 1 year | 1‑2 years | > 2 years | |
| £m | £m | £m | £m | |
Safety | 19.7 | 9.6 | 2.8 | 7.3 |
Environmental & Analysis | 16.9 | 8.5 | 3.5 | 4.9 |
Healthcare | 21.6 | 20.8 | 0.8 | – |
Inter‑segmental sales | – | – | – | – |
Total | 58.2 | 38.9 | 7.1 | 12.2 |
| Year ended | Year ended | |
| 31 March | 31 March | |
| 2024 | 2023 | |
| £m | £m | |
Segment profit before allocation of adjustments * | ||
Safety | 191.6 | 152.5 |
Environmental & Analysis | 147.9 | 134.2 |
Healthcare | 125.6 | 130.1 |
465.1 | 416.8 | |
Segment profit after allocation of adjustments * | ||
Safety | 170.2 | 123.9 |
Environmental & Analysis | 138.0 | 121.5 |
Healthcare | 100.8 | 101.6 |
Segment profit | 409.0 | 347.0 |
Central administration costs | (41.1) | (38.6) |
Group profit before interest and taxation | 367.9 | 308.4 |
Net finance expense | (27.6) | (16.9) |
Group profit before taxation | 340.3 | 291.5 |
Taxation | (71.5) | (57.2) |
Profit for the year | 268.8 | 234.3 |
| Year ended 31 March 2024 | |||||||
| Acquisition items | |||||||
| Total | |||||||
| Amortisation of | Release of | amortisation | Disposal of | ||||
| acquired | Adjustments | fair value | charge and | operations and | |||
| intangible | Transaction | to contingent | adjustments | acquisition | restructuring | ||
| assets | costs | consideration | to inventory | items | (note 30) | Total | |
| £m | £m | £m | £m | £m | £m | £m | |
Safety | (19.5) | (0.9) | – | (1.5) | (21.9) | 0.5 | (21.4) |
Environmental & Analysis | (11.6) | (1.3) | 4.0 | (1.0) | (9.9) | – | (9.9) |
Healthcare | (18.4) | (2.4) | (0.1) | (3.9) | (24.8) | – | (24.8) |
Total Segment & Group | (49.5) | (4.6) | 3.9 | (6.4) | (56.6) | 0.5 | (56.1) |
| Year ended 31 March 2023 | |||||||
| Acquisition items | |||||||
| Total | |||||||
| Amortisation | amortisation | ||||||
| and impairment | Release of | and impairment | Disposal of | ||||
| of acquired | Adjustments | fair value | charge and | operations and | |||
| intangible | Transaction | to contingent | adjustments | acquisition | restructuring | ||
| assets | costs | consideration | to inventory | items | (note 30) | Total | |
| £m | £m | £m | £m | £m | £m | £m | |
Safety | (25.1) | (3.1) | – | (0.4) | (28.6) | – | (28.6) |
Environmental & Analysis | (11.4) | (0.9) | 0.2 | (0.6) | (12.7) | – | (12.7) |
Healthcare | (20.0) | (1.9) | (3.9) | (2.7) | (28.5) | – | (28.5) |
Total Segment & Group | (56.5) | (5.9) | (3.7) | (3.7) | (69.8) | – | (69.8) |
Assets | Liabilities | |||
| 31 March | 31 March | 31 March | 31 March | |
| Before goodwill, interest in associates and other investments and acquired intangible | 2024 | 2023 | 2024 | 2023 |
| assets are allocated to specific segment assets/liabilities | £m | £m | £m | £m |
Safety | 358.7 | 378.1 | 127.4 | 122.8 |
Environmental & Analysis | 279.3 | 225.8 | 105.3 | 85.5 |
Healthcare | 253.4 | 258.6 | 83.0 | 91.1 |
| Total segment assets/liabilities excluding goodwill, interest in associates | ||||
and other investments and acquired intangible assets | 891.4 | 862.5 | 315.7 | 299.4 |
Goodwill | 1,211.0 | 1,120.5 | – | – |
Interest in associate and other investments | 19.8 | 21.0 | – | – |
Acquired intangible assets | 510.4 | 416.1 | – | – |
| Total segment assets/liabilities including goodwill, interest in associates | ||||
and other investments and acquired intangible assets | 2,632.6 | 2,420.1 | 315.7 | 299.4 |
Assets | Liabilities | |||
| 31 March | 31 March | 31 March | 31 March | |
| After goodwill, interest in associates and other investments and acquired intangible | 2024 | 2023 | 2024 | 2023 |
| assets are allocated to specific segment assets/liabilities | £m | £m | £m | £m |
Safety | 940.3 | 971.3 | 127.4 | 122.8 |
Environmental & Analysis | 657.1 | 527.3 | 105.3 | 85.5 |
Healthcare | 1,035.2 | 921.5 | 83.0 | 91.1 |
Total segment assets/liabilities including goodwill, interest in associates and other investments and acquired intangible assets | 2,632.6 | 2,420.1 | 315.7 | 299.4 |
Cash and bank balances/borrowings | 142.7 | 169.5 | 712.2 | 678.3 |
Derivative financial instruments | 0.7 | 1.5 | 2.6 | 0.9 |
Other unallocated assets/liabilities | 223.9 | 197.3 | 232.9 | 210.9 |
Total Group | 2,999.9 | 2,788.4 | 1,263.4 | 1,189.5 |
| Additions to | Depreciation, amortisation | |||
| non‑current assets | and impairment | |||
| 31 March | 31 March | 31 March | 31 March | |
| 2024 | 2023 | 2024 | 2023 | |
| £m | £m | £m | £m | |
Safety | 50.5 | 225.3 | 35.9 | 39.6 |
Environmental & Analysis | 115.0 | 48.1 | 21.6 | 19.3 |
Healthcare | 184.4 | 144.0 | 30.0 | 28.2 |
Total Segment additions/depreciation, amortisation and impairment | 349.9 | 417.4 | 87.5 | 87.1 |
Unallocated | 5.5 | 34.4 | 21.1 | 22.8 |
Total Group | 355.4 | 451.8 | 108.6 | 109.9 |
| Non‑current assets | ||
| 31 March | 31 March | |
| 2024 | 2023 | |
| £m | £m | |
United States of America | 922.8 | 893.5 |
Mainland Europe | 614.5 | 489.1 |
United Kingdom | 320.1 | 290.7 |
Asia Pacific | 133.9 | 119.3 |
Other countries | 45.3 | 44.1 |
2,036.6 | 1,836.7 |
| Per share | ||||
| Year ended | Year ended | Year ended | Year ended | |
| 31 March | 31 March | 31 March | 31 March | |
| 2024 | 2023 | 2024 | 2023 | |
| £m | £m | pence | pence | |
Earnings from continuing operations attributable to owners of the parent | 268.8 | 234.5 | 71.23 | 62.04 |
Amortisation and impairment of acquired intangible assets (after tax) | 37.4 | 42.3 | 9.89 | 11.19 |
Acquisition transaction costs (after tax) | 4.3 | 5.3 | 1.15 | 1.41 |
Adjustments to contingent consideration (after tax) | (3.9) | 3.8 | (1.04) | 1.00 |
Release of fair value adjustments to inventory (after tax) | 4.9 | 2.7 | 1.31 | 0.70 |
Disposal of operations and restructuring (after tax) | (0.5) | – | (0.14) | – |
Adjusted earnings attributable to owners of the parent | 311.0 | 288.6 | 82.40 | 76.34 |
| Weighted average number of shares in issue | ||||
for basic earnings per share, million | 377.3 | 378.0 |
| Per share | ||||
| Year ended | Year ended | Year ended | Year ended | |
| 31 March | 31 March | 31 March | 31 March | |
| 2024 | 2023 | 2024 | 2023 | |
| £m | £m | pence | pence | |
Earnings from continuing operations attributable to owners of the parent | 268.8 | 234.5 | 70.96 | 61.86 |
Weighted average number of shares in issue for basic earnings per share, million | 377.3 | 378.0 | ||
Dilutive potential shares – share awards, million | 1.4 | 1.1 | ||
| Weighted average number of shares in issue | ||||
for diluted earnings per share, million | 378.7 | 379.1 |
| 31 March | 31 March | |
| 2024 | 2023 | |
| £m | £m | |
Profit after tax | 268.8 | 234.3 |
| Adjustments | 42.2 | 54.1 |
| Adjusted profit after tax | 311.0 | 288.4 |
Total equity | 1,736.5 | 1,598.9 |
Less net retirement benefit assets | (30.9) | (37.9) |
Deferred tax liabilities on retirement benefits | 7.9 | 9.6 |
Cumulative fair value adjustments on equity investments through other comprehensive income | (3.2) | (4.4) |
Cumulative amortisation and impairment of acquired intangible assets | 458.2 | 418.1 |
| Historical adjustments to goodwill | 89.5 | 89.5 |
Total Invested Capital | 2,258.0 | 2,073.8 |
| Average Total Invested Capital | 2,165.9 | 1,945.5 |
| Return on Total Invested Capital (ROTIC) | 14.4% | 14.8% |
| 31 March | 31 March | |
| 2024 | 2023 | |
| £m | £m | |
Profit before tax | 340.3 | 291.5 |
| Adjustments | 56.1 | 69.8 |
Net finance costs | 27.6 | 16.9 |
Lease interest | (3.2) | (2.9) |
Adjusted operating profit 1 after share of results of associates and lease interest | 420.8 | 375.3 |
Computer software costs within other intangible assets | 3.3 | 3.2 |
Capitalised development costs within other intangible assets | 51.8 | 49.6 |
Other intangibles within other intangible assets | 3.5 | 3.4 |
Property, plant and equipment | 236.8 | 222.9 |
Inventories | 304.8 | 312.4 |
Trade and other receivables | 460.9 | 410.7 |
Current trade and other payables | (296.5) | (280.7) |
Current lease liabilities | (19.5) | (19.2) |
Current provisions | (35.0) | (21.0) |
Net tax payable | (0.9) | (2.2) |
Non‑current trade and other payables | (23.9) | (21.9) |
Non‑current provisions | (10.7) | (9.7) |
Non‑current lease liabilities | (64.2) | (68.7) |
Add back contingent purchase consideration | 29.2 | 16.4 |
Capital Employed | 639.6 | 595.2 |
| Average Capital Employed | 617.4 | 524.7 |
| Return on Capital Employed (ROCE) | 68.2% | 71.5% |
| Revenue | |||
| Year ended | Year ended | ||
| 31 March | 31 March | ||
| 2024 | 2023 | ||
| £m | £m | % growth | |
Continuing operations | 2,034.1 | 1,852.8 | 9.8% |
Acquired and disposed revenue/profit | (93.0) | (5.0) | |
Organic growth | 1,941.1 | 1,847.8 | 5.1% |
Constant currency adjustment | 52.6 | – | |
Organic growth at constant currency | 1,993.7 | 1,847.8 | 7.9% |
Adjusted * profit before interest and taxation | Adjusted * profit before taxation | |||||
| Year ended | Year ended | Year ended | Year ended | |||
| 31 March | 31 March | 31 March | 31 March | |||
| 2024 | 2023 | 2024 | 2023 | |||
| £m | £m | % growth | £m | £m | % growth | |
Continuing operations | 424.0 | 378.2 | 12.1% | 396.4 | 361.3 | 9.7% |
Acquired and disposed revenue/profit | (28.9) | 0.4 | (16.4) | 0.4 | ||
Organic growth | 395.1 | 378.6 | 4.3% | 380.0 | 361.7 | 5.1% |
Constant currency adjustment | 10.7 | – | 10.6 | – | ||
Organic growth at constant currency | 405.8 | 378.6 | 7.2% | 390.6 | 361.7 | 8.0% |
Revenue | Adjusted * profit before taxation | |||||
| Year ended | Year ended | Year ended | Year ended | |||
| 31 March | 31 March | 31 March | 31 March | |||
| 2024 | 2023 | 2024 | 2023 | |||
| £m | £m | % growth | £m | £m | % growth | |
Continuing operations | 823.8 | 745.6 | 10.5% | 191.6 | 152.5 | 25.6% |
Acquisition and currency adjustments | (33.3) | (1.4) | (14.9) | 0.4 | ||
Organic growth at constant currency | 790.5 | 744.2 | 6.2% | 176.7 | 152.9 | 15.5% |
Revenue | Adjusted * profit before taxation | |||||
| Year ended | Year ended | Year ended | Year ended | |||
| 31 March | 31 March | 31 March | 31 March | |||
| 2024 | 2023 | 2024 | 2023 | |||
| £m | £m | % growth | £m | £m | % growth | |
Continuing operations | 658.4 | 552.1 | 19.3% | 147.9 | 134.2 | 10.2% |
Acquisition and currency adjustments | 4.0 | (3.6) | 1.0 | – | ||
Organic growth at constant currency | 662.4 | 548.5 | 20.8% | 148.9 | 134.2 | 10.9% |
Revenue | Adjusted * profit before taxation | |||||
| Year ended | Year ended | Year ended | Year ended | |||
| 31 March | 31 March | 31 March | 31 March | |||
| 2024 | 2023 | 2024 | 2023 | |||
| £m | £m | % growth | £m | £m | % growth | |
Continuing operations | 552.9 | 556.4 | (0.6%) | 125.6 | 130.1 | (3.5%) |
Acquisition and currency adjustments | (11.1) | – | (4.2) | – | ||
Organic growth at constant currency | 541.8 | 556.4 | (2.6%) | 121.4 | 130.1 | (6.7%) |
| Year ended | Year ended | |
| 31 March | 31 March | |
| 2024 | 2023 | |
| £m | £m | |
Profit before interest and taxation (EBIT) | 367.9 | 308.4 |
| Add back: | ||
Acquisition items (note 1) | 7.1 | 13.3 |
Profit on disposal of operations (note 1) | (0.5) | – |
Amortisation and impairment of acquired intangible assets (note 1) | 49.5 | 56.5 |
Adjusted profit before interest and taxation (Adjusted EBIT) | 424.0 | 378.2 |
Depreciation, impairment and amortisation (excluding acquired intangible assets) | 59.1 | 53.5 |
EBITDA | 483.1 | 431.7 |
| Year ended | Year ended | |
| 31 March | 31 March | |
| 2024 | 2023 | |
| £m | £m | |
Operating profit | 367.7 | 308.4 |
| Add back: | ||
Acquisition items (note 1) | 7.1 | 13.3 |
Amortisation and impairment of acquired intangible assets (note 1) | 49.5 | 56.5 |
Adjusted operating profit | 424.3 | 378.2 |
| Year ended | Year ended | |
| 31 March | 31 March | |
| 2024 | 2023 | |
| £m | £m | |
Net cash from operating activities (note 26) | 385.0 | 258.0 |
| Add: | ||
Net acquisition costs paid | 6.0 | 4.6 |
Taxes paid | 87.2 | 67.2 |
Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment and capitalised development costs | 1.6 | 3.1 |
Share awards vested not settled by own shares (note 24) | 5.4 | 4.5 |
Deferred consideration paid in excess of payable estimated on acquisition | 1.5 | 1.7 |
| Less: | ||
Purchase of property, plant and equipment (excluding Right of use assets) | (32.8) | (29.0) |
Purchase of computer software and other intangibles | (2.4) | (1.1) |
Development costs capitalised | (16.4) | (15.8) |
Adjusted operating cash flow | 435.1 | 293.2 |
Cash conversion % (adjusted operating cash flow/adjusted operating profit) | 103% | 78% |
| Year ended | Year ended | |
| 31 March | 31 March | |
| 2024 | 2023 | |
| £m | £m | |
Interest receivable | 1.2 | 0.7 |
Net interest credit on pension plan assets | 1.9 | 1.1 |
3.1 | 1.8 |
| Year ended | Year ended | |
| 31 March | 31 March | |
| 2024 | 2023 | |
| £m | £m | |
Interest payable on borrowings | 26.1 | 14.5 |
Interest payable on lease obligations | 3.2 | 2.9 |
Amortisation of finance costs | 0.9 | 0.8 |
Other interest payable | 0.3 | 0.1 |
Fair value movement on derivative financial instruments | 0.2 | 0.4 |
30.7 | 18.7 |
| Year ended | Year ended | |
| 31 March | 31 March | |
| 2024 | 2023 | |
| £m | £m | |
Revenue | 2,034.1 | 1,852.8 |
Direct materials/direct labour | (873.5) | (784.3) |
Production overhead | (156.8) | (145.6) |
Selling costs | (187.1) | (174.5) |
Distribution costs | (33.6) | (35.6) |
Administrative expenses | (415.4) | (404.4) |
Operating profit | 367.7 | 308.4 |
Share of loss of associate | (0.3) | – |
Profit on disposal of operations | 0.5 | – |
Profit before interest and taxation | 367.9 | 308.4 |
Net finance expense | (27.6) | (16.9) |
Profit before taxation | 340.3 | 291.5 |
| Year ended | Year ended | ||
| 31 March | 31 March | ||
| 2024 | 2023 | ||
| £m | £m | ||
| Profit before taxation is stated after charging/ (crediting): | |||
Depreciation | 44.2 | 41.4 | |
Amortisation | 61.2 | 60.1 | |
Impairment of other intangible assets | 3.0 | 8.3 | |
Impairment of property, plant and equipment | 0.2 | 0.1 | |
Net impairment loss on trade receivables recognised/(reversed) (note 16) | 0.7 | (0.4) | |
Research costs * | 90.8 | 87.0 | |
Foreign exchange gain | 1.6 | (0.4) | |
Profit on disposal of operations (note 30) | (0.5) | – | |
Profit on sale of property, plant and equipment and computer software | (0.2) | (0.8) | |
Cost of inventories recognised as an expense | 1,030.3 | 929.9 | |
Staff costs (note 7) | 563.0 | 535.5 | |
Auditors’ remuneration | Audit services to the Company | 0.7 | 0.6 |
Audit of the Company’s subsidiaries | 2.4 | 1.9 | |
Total audit fees | 3.1 | 2.5 | |
Audit related fees – interim review | 0.1 | 0.1 | |
| Other services | – | – | |
Total non‑audit fees | 0.1 | 0.1 | |
Total fees | 3.2 | 2.6 |
| Year ended | Year ended | |
| 31 March | 31 March | |
| 2024 | 2023 | |
| Number | Number | |
United States of America | 2,856 | 2,754 |
Mainland Europe | 1,685 | 1,475 |
United Kingdom | 2,564 | 2,478 |
Asia Pacific | 1,288 | 1,281 |
Other countries | 222 | 215 |
8,615 | 8,203 |
| Year ended | Year ended | |
| 31 March | 31 March | |
| 2024 | 2023 | |
| Number | Number | |
United States of America | 2,881 | 2,702 |
Mainland Europe | 1,605 | 1,518 |
United Kingdom | 2,486 | 2,409 |
Asia Pacific | 1,277 | 1,294 |
Other countries | 366 | 280 |
8,615 | 8,203 |
| Year ended | Year ended | |
| 31 March | 31 March | |
| 2024 | 2023 | |
| £m | £m | |
Wages and salaries | 460.0 | 438.5 |
Social security costs | 60.5 | 59.2 |
Pension costs (note 29) | 19.6 | 18.2 |
Share‑based payment charge (note 24) | 22.9 | 19.6 |
563.0 | 535.5 |
| Year ended | Year ended | |
| 31 March | 31 March | |
| 2024 | 2023 | |
| £m | £m | |
Wages, salaries and fees | 7.0 | 5.8 |
Pension costs | – | – |
Share‑based payment charge | 3.1 | 3.8 |
10.1 | 9.6 |
| Year ended | Year ended | |
| 31 March | 31 March | |
| 2024 | 2023 | |
| £m | £m | |
| Current tax | ||
UK corporation tax at 25% (2023: 19%) | 22.8 | 14.8 |
Overseas taxation | 67.3 | 61.9 |
Adjustments in respect of prior years | (0.2) | (3.0) |
Total current tax charge | 89.9 | 73.7 |
| Deferred tax | ||
Origination and reversal of timing differences | (19.2) | (17.5) |
Adjustments in respect of prior years | 0.8 | 1.0 |
Total deferred tax credit | (18.4) | (16.5) |
Total tax charge recognised in the Consolidated Income Statement | 71.5 | 57.2 |
| Reconciliation of the effective tax rate: | ||
Profit before tax | 340.3 | 291.5 |
Tax at the UK corporation tax rate of 25% (2023: 19%) | 85.1 | 55.4 |
Overseas tax rate differences | (6.2) | 9.0 |
Tax incentives, exemptions and credits (including patent box, R&D and High‑Tech status) | (9.6) | (6.8) |
Permanent differences | 1.6 | 1.6 |
Adjustments in respect of prior years | 0.6 | (2.0) |
Total tax charge recognised in the Consolidated Income Statement | 71.5 | 57.2 |
Effective tax rate | 21.0% | 19.6% |
| Year ended | Year ended | |
| 31 March | 31 March | |
| 2024 | 2023 | |
| £m | £m | |
Adjusted * profit before tax | 396.4 | 361.3 |
Total tax charge on adjusted * profit | 85.4 | 72.9 |
Effective tax rate | 21.5% | 20.2% |
| Year ended | Year ended | |
| 31 March | 31 March | |
| 2024 | 2023 | |
| £m | £m | |
| Current tax | ||
Retirement benefit obligations | (0.9) | (1.8) |
| Deferred tax (note 22) | ||
Retirement benefit obligations | (2.1) | 0.6 |
Effective portion of changes in fair value of cash flow hedges | (0.2) | 0.3 |
(3.2) | (0.9) |
| Year ended | Year ended | |
| 31 March | 31 March | |
| 2024 | 2023 | |
| £m | £m | |
| Current tax | ||
Excess tax deductions related to share‑based payments on vested awards | 0.1 | – |
| Deferred tax (note 22) | ||
Change in estimated excess tax deductions related to share‑based payments | (0.6) | 0.7 |
(0.5) | 0.7 |
| Per ordinary share | ||||
| Year ended | Year ended | Year ended | Year ended | |
| 31 March | 31 March | 31 March | 31 March | |
| 2024 | 2023 | 2024 | 2023 | |
| pence | pence | £m | £m | |
| Amounts recognised as distributions to shareholders in the year | ||||
Final dividend for the year ended 31 March 2023 (31 March 2022) | 12.34 | 11.53 | 46.5 | 43.6 |
Interim dividend for the year ended 31 March 2024 (31 March 2023) | 8.41 | 7.86 | 31.7 | 29.7 |
78.2 | 73.3 | |||
| Dividends declared in respect of the year | ||||
Interim dividend for the year ended 31 March 2024 (31 March 2023) | 8.41 | 7.86 | 31.7 | 29.7 |
Proposed final dividend for the year ended 31 March 2024 (31 March 2023) | 13.20 | 12.34 | 49.8 | 46.6 |
| 31 March | 31 March | |
| 2024 | 2023 | |
| £m | £m | |
| Cost | ||
At beginning of year | 1,120.5 | 908.7 |
Additions (note 25) | 115.0 | 180.0 |
Acquisition adjustments to prior years (note 25) | 0.6 | 0.3 |
Disposals (note 30) | (1.6) | – |
Exchange adjustments | (23.5) | 31.5 |
At end of year | 1,211.0 | 1,120.5 |
| Provision for impairment | ||
At beginning and end of year | – | – |
Carrying amounts | 1,211.0 | 1,120.5 |
| 31 March | 31 March | |
| 2024 | 2023 | |
| £m | £m | |
| Safety | ||
Fire | 181.3 | 187.6 |
Doors, Security and Elevators | 105.0 | 107.3 |
Safety Interlocks and Corrosion Monitoring | 103.5 | 95.4 |
Bursting Discs | 9.2 | 9.4 |
399.0 | 399.7 | |
| Environmental & Analysis | ||
Water | 137.6 | 107.6 |
Analysis | 80.4 | 82.1 |
Environmental Monitoring | 33.1 | 14.1 |
Gas Detection | 25.6 | 26.2 |
276.7 | 230.0 | |
| Healthcare | ||
Life Sciences | 39.4 | 41.1 |
Healthcare Assessment | 238.3 | 243.3 |
Therapeutic Solutions | 257.6 | 206.4 |
535.3 | 490.8 | |
Total Group | 1,211.0 | 1,120.5 |
Risk adjusted discount rate | Short‑term growth rates | Long‑term growth rates | ||||
| 31 March | 31 March | 31 March | 31 March | 31 March | 31 March | |
| 2024 | 2023 | 2024 | 2023 | 2024 | 2023 | |
Fire | 15.76% | 13.96% | 12.32% | 11.68% | 2.37% | 3.61% |
Water | 12.33% | 11.32% | 11.47% | 9.20% | 2.11% | 3.29% |
Healthcare Assessment | 14.65% | 13.94% | 8.79% | 8.17% | 2.30% | 3.79% |
Therapeutic Solutions | 13.62% | 12.98% | 8.79% | 8.17% | 1.88% | 3.23% |
| Acquired intangible assets | ||||||||
| Internally | ||||||||
| generated | ||||||||
| Customer | Trademarks, | capitalised | ||||||
| and supplier | Technical | brands and | development | Computer | Other | |||
| relationship | know‑how | patents | Total | costs | software | intangibles | Total | |
| £m | £m | £m | £m | £m | £m | £m | £m | |
| Cost | ||||||||
At 1 April 2022 | 363.4 | 170.9 | 87.1 | 621.4 | 124.0 | 22.7 | 5.9 | 774.0 |
Assets of businesses acquired | 87.6 | 87.3 | 17.3 | 192.2 | – | 0.2 | – | 192.4 |
Additions at cost | – | – | – | – | 15.8 | 0.8 | 0.3 | 16.9 |
Disposals and retirements | – | – | – | – | (2.8) | (1.7) | – | (4.5) |
Transfers | – | – | – | – | – | (0.4) | – | (0.4) |
Exchange adjustments | 14.1 | 3.3 | 3.2 | 20.6 | 3.4 | 0.9 | 0.2 | 25.1 |
At 31 March 2023 | 465.1 | 261.5 | 107.6 | 834.2 | 140.4 | 22.5 | 6.4 | 1,003.5 |
Assets of businesses acquired (note 25) | 78.7 | 55.8 | 20.4 | 154.9 | – | – | 0.4 | 155.3 |
Additions at cost | – | – | – | – | 16.4 | 2.0 | 0.4 | 18.8 |
Assets of business sold | (1.7) | (0.7) | (0.4) | (2.8) | (1.1) | – | – | (3.9) |
Disposals and retirements | – | – | – | – | (1.2) | (1.2) | – | (2.4) |
Exchange adjustments | (9.8) | (5.4) | (2.5) | (17.7) | (2.4) | (0.3) | (0.1) | (20.5) |
At 31 March 2024 | 532.3 | 311.2 | 125.1 | 968.6 | 152.1 | 23.0 | 7.1 | 1,150.8 |
| Accumulated amortisation & impairment | ||||||||
At 1 April 2022 | 228.5 | 65.0 | 52.2 | 345.7 | 82.3 | 18.5 | 2.3 | 448.8 |
Charge for the year | 24.5 | 18.2 | 6.0 | 48.7 | 8.5 | 2.2 | 0.7 | 60.1 |
Impairment | 5.4 | 2.1 | 0.3 | 7.8 | 0.5 | – | – | 8.3 |
Disposals and retirements | – | – | – | – | (2.7) | (1.6) | – | (4.3) |
Transfers | – | – | – | – | – | (0.4) | – | (0.4) |
Exchange adjustments | 10.8 | 2.7 | 2.4 | 15.9 | 2.2 | 0.6 | – | 18.7 |
At 31 March 2023 | 269.2 | 88.0 | 60.9 | 418.1 | 90.8 | 19.3 | 3.0 | 531.2 |
Charge for the year | 23.2 | 20.7 | 5.6 | 49.5 | 9.2 | 1.8 | 0.7 | 61.2 |
Impairment | – | – | – | – | 3.0 | – | – | 3.0 |
| Assets of business sold | (0.5) | (0.2) | (0.1) | (0.8) | – | – | – | (0.8) |
Disposals and retirements | – | – | – | – | (1.2) | (1.1) | – | (2.3) |
Exchange adjustments | (5.3) | (2.0) | (1.3) | (8.6) | (1.5) | (0.3) | (0.1) | (10.5) |
At 31 March 2024 | 286.6 | 106.5 | 65.1 | 458.2 | 100.3 | 19.7 | 3.6 | 581.8 |
| Carrying amounts | ||||||||
At 31 March 2024 | 245.7 | 204.7 | 60.0 | 510.4 | 51.8 | 3.3 | 3.5 | 569.0 |
At 31 March 2023 | 195.9 | 173.5 | 46.7 | 416.1 | 49.6 | 3.2 | 3.4 | 472.3 |
| Owned assets | |||||
| Right‑of‑use | Leasehold | Plant, | |||
| assets | Freehold land | buildings and | equipment | ||
| (Note 28) | and buildings | improvements | and vehicles | Total | |
| £m | £m | £m | £m | £m | |
| Cost | |||||
At 1 April 2022 | 128.3 | 69.3 | 23.6 | 206.9 | 428.1 |
Transfer between category | – | (0.1) | (0.2) | 0.3 | – |
Assets of businesses acquired | 9.3 | 0.9 | 0.1 | 4.1 | 14.4 |
Additions at cost | 18.7 | 1.1 | 3.2 | 24.7 | 47.7 |
Remeasurements | 4.2 | – | – | – | 4.2 |
Disposals and retirements | (3.6) | (1.2) | (1.3) | (14.3) | (20.4) |
Exchange adjustments | 3.8 | 2.3 | 0.7 | 6.2 | 13.0 |
At 31 March 2023 | 160.7 | 72.3 | 26.1 | 227.9 | 487.0 |
Transfer between category | 0.4 | (0.2) | 1.2 | (1.4) | – |
Assets of businesses acquired (note 25) | 3.2 | 8.2 | 0.3 | 5.0 | 16.7 |
Assets of business sold | (0.7) | – | – | (0.2) | (0.9) |
Additions at cost | 15.4 | 1.2 | 5.9 | 25.7 | 48.2 |
Disposals and retirements | (8.3) | – | (0.6) | (18.0) | (26.9) |
Exchange adjustments | (4.5) | (1.0) | (0.6) | (4.9) | (11.0) |
At 31 March 2024 | 166.2 | 80.5 | 32.3 | 234.1 | 513.1 |
| Accumulated depreciation & impairment | |||||
At 1 April 2022 | 61.3 | 17.9 | 14.7 | 140.2 | 234.1 |
Transfer between category | – | (0.1) | (0.2) | 0.3 | – |
Charge for the year | 18.4 | 1.4 | 2.4 | 19.2 | 41.4 |
Impairment | – | – | – | 0.1 | 0.1 |
Disposals and retirements | (3.6) | (0.5) | (1.3) | (12.9) | (18.3) |
Exchange adjustments | 1.6 | 0.6 | 0.6 | 4.0 | 6.8 |
At 31 March 2023 | 77.7 | 19.3 | 16.2 | 150.9 | 264.1 |
Transfer between category | (0.3) | – | 0.6 | (0.3) | – |
Charge for the year | 19.8 | 1.3 | 2.7 | 20.4 | 44.2 |
Impairment | – | – | – | 0.2 | 0.2 |
Assets of business sold | (0.7) | – | – | (0.1) | (0.8) |
Disposals and retirements | (7.6) | – | (0.5) | (16.9) | (25.0) |
Exchange adjustments | (2.1) | (0.3) | (0.3) | (3.7) | (6.4) |
At 31 March 2024 | 86.8 | 20.3 | 18.7 | 150.5 | 276.3 |
| Carrying amounts | |||||
At 31 March 2024 | 79.4 | 60.2 | 13.6 | 83.6 | 236.8 |
At 31 March 2023 | 83.0 | 53.0 | 9.9 | 77.0 | 222.9 |
| 31 March | 31 March | |
| 2024 | 2023 | |
| £m | £m | |
Interest in associate | 1.8 | 2.1 |
| Financial assets at fair value through other comprehensive income | ||
– Equity instruments | 18.0 | 18.9 |
19.8 | 21.0 |
| 31 March | 31 March | |
| 2024 | 2023 | |
| £m | £m | |
At beginning of the year | 2.1 | 1.3 |
Additions in the year | – | 0.8 |
Group’s share of loss of associate | (0.3) | – |
At end of year | 1.8 | 2.1 |
| 31 March | 31 March | |
| 2024 | 2023 | |
| £m | £m | |
| Aggregated amounts relating to associate | ||
Non‑current assets | 2.0 | 1.9 |
Current assets | 0.8 | 2.0 |
Current liabilities | (0.1) | (0.1) |
Net assets | 2.7 | 3.8 |
Group’s share of net assets of associate | 0.8 | 1.2 |
Revenue | 0.3 | 0.2 |
Loss | (1.0) | (0.1) |
Group’s share of loss of associate | (0.3) | – |
| 31 March | 31 March | |
| 2024 | 2023 | |
| £m | £m | |
| Unlisted securities | ||
At beginning of the year | 18.9 | 6.9 |
Additions in the year | 0.3 | 5.9 |
Changes in fair value recognised in other comprehensive income | (1.2) | 6.1 |
At end of year | 18.0 | 18.9 |
| 31 March | 31 March | |
| 2024 | 2023 | |
| £m | £m | |
Raw materials and consumables | 175.5 | 185.8 |
Work in progress | 28.4 | 31.5 |
Finished goods and goods for resale | 100.9 | 95.1 |
304.8 | 312.4 |
| 31 March | 31 March | |
| 2024 | 2023 | |
| £m | £m | |
At beginning of the year | 44.5 | 36.1 |
Write downs of inventories recognised as an expense | 8.7 | 6.0 |
Recognition of provisions for businesses acquired | 5.2 | 5.0 |
Derecognition of provisions for businesses disposed | 0.1 | – |
Utilisation and amounts reversed against inventories previously impaired | (1.9) | (3.5) |
Exchange adjustments | (1.0) | 0.9 |
At end of the year | 55.6 | 44.5 |
| 31 March | 31 March | |
| 2024 | 2023 | |
| £m | £m | |
Trade receivables | 361.0 | 330.2 |
Allowance for doubtful debts | (7.1) | (6.9) |
353.9 | 323.3 | |
Other receivables | 26.5 | 18.7 |
Prepayments | 31.3 | 30.0 |
Contract assets (note 18) | 49.2 | 38.7 |
460.9 | 410.7 |
| 31 March | 31 March | |
| 2024 | 2023 | |
| £m | £m | |
At beginning of the year | 6.9 | 6.6 |
Net impairment loss | 0.7 | (0.4) |
Amounts recovered against trade receivables previously written down/amounts utilised | (0.8) | (0.4) |
Recognition of provisions for businesses acquired | 0.5 | 0.8 |
Exchange adjustments | (0.2) | 0.3 |
At end of the year | 7.1 | 6.9 |
| Gross trade | Trade receivables | |||
| receivables | net of doubtful debts | |||
| 31 March | 31 March | 31 March | 31 March | |
| 2024 | 2023 | 2024 | 2023 | |
| £m | £m | £m | £m | |
Not yet due | 281.2 | 250.8 | 280.8 | 250.3 |
Up to one month overdue | 50.5 | 45.4 | 50.4 | 45.4 |
Between one and two months overdue | 11.5 | 14.3 | 11.4 | 14.2 |
Between two and three months overdue | 4.2 | 5.0 | 3.8 | 4.8 |
Over three months overdue | 13.6 | 14.7 | 7.5 | 8.6 |
361.0 | 330.2 | 353.9 | 323.3 |
| 31 March | 31 March | |
| 2024 | 2023 | |
| £m | £m | |
Trade payables | 117.5 | 116.9 |
Other taxation and social security | 12.9 | 12.7 |
Other payables | 9.7 | 7.7 |
Accruals | 121.5 | 107.3 |
Contract liabilities (note 18) | 34.7 | 35.9 |
Deferred government grant income | 0.2 | 0.2 |
296.5 | 280.7 |
| 31 March | 31 March | |
| 2024 | 2023 | |
| £m | £m | |
Contract costs | 1.6 | 1.8 |
Contract assets (note 16) | 49.2 | 38.7 |
Contract liabilities current (note 17) | (34.7) | (35.9) |
Contract liabilities non‑current (note 21) | (18.8) | (17.1) |
Total contract liabilities | (53.5) | (53.0) |
Contract assets | Contract liabilities | |||
| 31 March | 31 March | 31 March | 31 March | |
| 2024 | 2023 | 2024 | 2023 | |
| £m | £m | £m | £m | |
Amounts included in contract balances at the beginning of the year | 38.7 | 31.4 | (53.0) | (40.1) |
Transfers to receivables during the year | (37.5) | (32.3) | ||
| Performance obligations arising in the current reporting year | ||||
Increases as a result of billing ahead of performance | (30.6) | (36.1) | ||
Decreases as a result of revenue recognised in the year | 31.8 | 24.4 | ||
Increases as a result of performance in advance of billing | 48.8 | 37.9 | ||
Amounts arising through business combinations | – | – | (2.2) | (0.5) |
Exchange movements | (0.8) | 1.7 | 0.5 | (0.7) |
Amounts included in contract balances at the end of the year | 49.2 | 38.7 | (53.5) | (53.0) |
| 31 March | 31 March | |
| 2024 | 2023 | |
| £m | £m | |
Overdrafts | 0.3 | 1.0 |
Total borrowings falling due within one year | 0.3 | 1.0 |
Unsecured loan notes falling due after more than one year | 370.9 | 376.9 |
Unsecured bank loans falling due after more than one year | 341.0 | 300.4 |
Total borrowings falling due after more than one year | 711.9 | 677.3 |
Total borrowings | 712.2 | 678.3 |
| 31 March | 31 March | |
| 2024 | 2023 | |
| £m | £m | |
Current | 35.0 | 21.0 |
Non‑current | 10.7 | 9.7 |
45.7 | 30.7 |
| Contingent | Legal, | ||||
| purchase | Product | contractual | |||
| consideration | Dilapidations | warranty | and other | Total | |
| £m | £m | £m | £m | £m | |
At 31 March 2023 | 16.4 | 3.4 | 7.7 | 3.2 | 30.7 |
Additional provision in the year | 0.2 | 0.2 | 2.8 | 3.2 | 6.4 |
Arising on acquisition (note 25) | 20.1 | 0.1 | 0.2 | – | 20.4 |
Utilised during the year | (2.9) | – | (0.3) | (0.2) | (3.4) |
Released during the year | (3.9) | (0.1) | (2.3) | (1.3) | (7.6) |
Exchange adjustments | (0.7) | – | (0.1) | – | (0.8) |
At 31 March 2024 | 29.2 | 3.6 | 8.0 | 4.9 | 45.7 |
| 31 March | 31 March | |
| 2024 | 2023 | |
| £m | £m | |
Other payables | 3.8 | 3.0 |
Other taxation and social security | – | – |
Accruals | 0.7 | 0.6 |
Contract liabilities (note 18) | 18.8 | 17.1 |
Deferred government grant income | 0.6 | 1.2 |
23.9 | 21.9 |
| Retirement | Acquired | Accelerated | Short‑term | Goodwill | Capitalised | |||
| benefit | intangible | tax | timing | Share‑based | timing | development | ||
| obligations | assets | depreciation | differences | payment | differences | costs | Total | |
| £m | £m | £m | £m | £m | £m | £m | £m | |
At 1 April 2023 | (9.6) | (97.8) | (7.4) | 7.6 | 5.7 | 24.0 | 10.3 | (67.2) |
Credit/(charge) to Consolidated Income | ||||||||
Statement | (0.4) | 11.8 | (1.4) | 5.9 | 2.0 | (9.0) | 9.5 | 18.4 |
Credit/(charge) to Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income and Expense | 2.1 | – | – | 0.2 | – | – | – | 2.3 |
Credit to equity | – | – | – | – | 0.6 | – | – | 0.6 |
| Arising on acquisition | ||||||||
(note 25) | – | (40.1) | – | (0.6) | – | 9.8 | – | (30.9) |
Disposals (note 30) | – | 0.6 | – | (0.1) | – | – | – | 0.5 |
Exchange adjustments | – | 2.1 | 0.2 | 0.2 | – | (0.6) | (0.2) | 1.7 |
At 31 March 2024 | (7.9) | (123.4) | (8.6) | 13.2 | 8.3 | 24.2 | 19.6 | (74.6) |
| Retirement | Acquired | Accelerated | Short‑term | Goodwill | Capitalised | |||
| benefit | intangible | tax | timing | Share‑based | timing | development | ||
| obligations | assets | depreciation | differences | payment | differences | costs | Total | |
| £m | £m | £m | £m | £m | £m | £m | £m | |
At 1 April 2022 | (7.7) | (71.8) | (6.7) | 7.8 | 5.2 | 17.1 | – | (56.1) |
Credit/(charge) to Consolidated Income | ||||||||
Statement | (1.3) | 14.6 | (0.1) | (0.4) | 1.2 | (8.1) | 10.6 | 16.5 |
Credit/(charge) to Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income and Expense | (0.6) | – | – | (0.3) | – | – | – | (0.9) |
Charge to equity | – | – | – | – | (0.7) | – | – | (0.7) |
Arising on acquisition | – | (39.4) | (0.2) | – | – | 15.3 | – | (24.3) |
Exchange adjustments | – | (1.2) | (0.4) | 0.5 | – | (0.3) | (0.3) | (1.7) |
At 31 March 2023 | (9.6) | (97.8) | (7.4) | 7.6 | 5.7 | 24.0 | 10.3 | (67.2) |
| 31 March | 31 March | |
| 2024 | 2023 | |
| £m | £m | |
Deferred tax liability | (79.5) | (70.2) |
Deferred tax asset | 4.9 | 3.0 |
Net deferred tax liability | (74.6) | (67.2) |
| 31 March | 31 March | |
| 2024 | 2023 | |
| £m | £m | |
At beginning of year | (67.2) | (56.1) |
| (Charge)/credit to Consolidated Income Statement: | ||
UK | (0.8) | (2.7) |
Overseas | 19.2 | 19.2 |
Charge to Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income | 2.3 | (0.9) |
Credit/(charge) to equity | 0.6 | (0.7) |
Arising on acquisition (note 25) | (30.9) | (24.3) |
Deferred tax of business sold (note 30) | 0.5 | – |
Exchange adjustments | 1.7 | (1.7) |
At end of year | (74.6) | (67.2) |
| Issued and fully paid | ||
| 31 March | 31 March | |
| 2024 | 2023 | |
| £m | £m | |
Ordinary shares of 10p each | 38.0 | 38.0 |
Year ended 31 March 2024 | Year ended 31 March 2023 | |||||
| Equity‑settled | Cash‑settled | Total | Equity‑settled | Cash‑settled | Total | |
| £m | £m | £m | £m | £m | £m | |
Share incentive plan | 1.2 | – | 1.2 | 1.3 | – | 1.3 |
Executive share plan | 21.7 | – | 21.7 | 18.0 | 0.3 | 18.3 |
22.9 | – | 22.9 | 19.3 | 0.3 | 19.6 |
| 2024 | 2023 | |
| Number | Number | |
| of shares | of shares | |
| awarded | awarded | |
Outstanding at beginning of year | 2,662,100 | 1,722,706 |
Granted during the year | 1,302,974 | 1,554,197 |
Vested during the year (pro–rated for ‘good leavers’) | (569,806) | (487,593) |
Lapsed during the year | (285,887) | (127,210) |
Outstanding at end of year | 3,109,381 | 2,662,100 |
Exercisable at end of year | – | – |
2024 | 2023 | 2022 | |
Expected life (years) | 2 or 3 | 2 or 3 | 2 or 3 |
Share price on date of grant (p) | 2,240.0 | 2,060.0 | 2,732.0 |
Option price (p) | Nil | Nil | Nil |
Fair value per option (%) | 100% | 100% | 100% |
Fair value per option (p) | 2,240.0 | 2,060.0 | 2,732.0 |
| Total | |
| £m | |
| Non‑current assets | |
Intangible assets | 155.3 |
Property, plant and equipment | 16.7 |
Deferred tax | 1.1 |
| Current assets | |
Inventories | 19.6 |
Trade and other receivables | 12.7 |
Cash and cash equivalents | 8.3 |
Total assets | 213.7 |
| Current liabilities | |
Payables | (8.8) |
Borrowings | (17.1) |
Lease liabilities | (0.6) |
Provisions | (0.2) |
Tax liabilities | (1.6) |
| Non‑current liabilities | |
Lease liabilities | (2.6) |
Payables | (0.4) |
Provisions | (0.1) |
Deferred tax liabilities | (32.0) |
Total liabilities | (63.4) |
Net assets of businesses acquired | 150.3 |
Initial cash consideration paid | 247.7 |
Other adjustments to consideration | (2.0) |
Other amounts to be paid | 0.1 |
Contingent purchase consideration including retentions estimated to be paid | 20.1 |
Total consideration | 265.9 |
Total goodwill | 115.6 |
| Year ended | Year ended | |
| 31 March | 31 March | |
| 2024 | 2023 | |
| £m | £m | |
Initial cash consideration paid | 247.7 | 321.0 |
Cash acquired on acquisitions | (8.3) | (10.1) |
Initial cash consideration adjustments (received)/paid on current year acquisitions | (2.0) | 6.3 |
Contingent consideration paid | 2.9 | 4.6 |
Net cash outflow relating to acquisitions | 240.3 | 321.8 |
Included in cash flows from operating activities | 1.5 | 1.7 |
Included in cash flows from investing activities | 238.8 | 320.1 |
| £m | |
| Non‑current assets | |
Intangible assets | 17.6 |
Property, plant and equipment | 0.7 |
Deferred tax | 0.1 |
| Current assets | |
Inventories | 0.5 |
Trade and other receivables | 0.9 |
Cash and cash equivalents | 1.6 |
Total assets | 21.4 |
| Current liabilities | |
Payables | (0.1) |
Tax liabilities | (0.8) |
| Non‑current liabilities | |
Lease liabilities | (0.5) |
Deferred tax liabilities | (3.3) |
Total liabilities | (4.7) |
Net assets of business acquired | 16.7 |
Initial cash consideration paid | 35.7 |
Contingent purchase consideration including retentions estimated to be paid | 4.7 |
Total consideration | 40.4 |
Total goodwill | 23.7 |
| £m | |
| Non‑current assets | |
Intangible assets | 15.0 |
Property, plant and equipment | 0.5 |
Deferred tax | 0.1 |
| Current assets | |
Inventories | 1.1 |
Trade and other receivables | 2.0 |
Cash and cash equivalents | 0.1 |
Total assets | 18.8 |
| Current liabilities | |
Payables | (1.2) |
Borrowings | (2.5) |
Lease liabilities | (0.1) |
| Non‑current liabilities | |
Lease liabilities | (0.2) |
Payables | (0.4) |
Deferred tax liabilities | (4.6) |
Total liabilities | (9.0) |
Net assets of business acquired | 9.8 |
Initial cash consideration paid | 22.3 |
Other adjustments to consideration | (1.9) |
Total consideration | 20.4 |
Total goodwill | 10.6 |
| £m | |
| Non‑current assets | |
Intangible assets | 1.6 |
Property, plant and equipment | 0.8 |
| Current assets | |
Inventories | 1.3 |
Trade and other receivables | 0.4 |
Total assets | 4.1 |
| Current liabilities | |
Payables | (1.6) |
Provisions | (0.1) |
| Non‑current liabilities | |
Lease liabilities | (0.3) |
Deferred tax liabilities | (0.5) |
Total liabilities | (2.5) |
Net assets of business acquired | 1.6 |
Initial cash consideration paid | 2.4 |
Other adjustments | (0.2) |
Contingent purchase consideration including retentions estimated to be paid | 1.6 |
Total consideration | 3.8 |
Total goodwill | 2.2 |
| £m | |
| Non‑current assets | |
Intangible assets | 5.8 |
Property, plant and equipment | 0.2 |
Deferred tax | 0.1 |
| Current assets | |
Inventories | 1.3 |
Trade and other receivables | 0.5 |
Cash and cash equivalents | 0.6 |
Total assets | 8.5 |
| Current liabilities | |
Payables | (0.2) |
Provisions | (0.1) |
| Non‑current liabilities | |
Lease liabilities | (0.1) |
Deferred tax liabilities | (1.3) |
Total liabilities | (1.7) |
Net assets of business acquired | 6.8 |
Initial cash consideration paid | 8.7 |
Other adjustments | 0.6 |
Contingent purchase consideration including retentions estimated to be paid | 1.0 |
Total consideration | 10.3 |
Total goodwill | 3.5 |
| £m | |
| Non‑current assets | |
Intangible assets | 14.9 |
Property, plant and equipment | 0.9 |
Deferred tax | 0.2 |
| Current assets | |
Inventories | 1.7 |
Trade and other receivables | 1.0 |
Cash and cash equivalents | 4.9 |
Total assets | 23.6 |
| Current liabilities | |
Payables | (0.5) |
Lease liabilities | (0.2) |
Tax liabilities | (0.4) |
| Non‑current liabilities | |
Lease liabilities | (0.4) |
Provisions | (0.1) |
Deferred tax liabilities | (3.8) |
Total liabilities | (5.4) |
Net assets of business acquired | 18.2 |
Initial cash consideration paid | 35.1 |
Contingent purchase consideration estimated to be paid | 2.4 |
Total consideration | 37.5 |
Total goodwill | 19.3 |
| £m | |
| Non‑current assets | |
Intangible assets | 34.3 |
Property, plant and equipment | 4.9 |
| Current assets | |
Inventories | 11.5 |
Trade and other receivables | 5.3 |
Cash and cash equivalents | 0.3 |
Total assets | 56.3 |
| Current liabilities | |
Payables | (2.8) |
Borrowings | (7.9) |
Lease liabilities | (0.3) |
| Non‑current liabilities | |
Lease liabilities | (1.1) |
Deferred tax liabilities | (1.1) |
Total liabilities | (13.2) |
Net assets of business acquired | 43.1 |
Initial cash consideration paid | 63.7 |
Contingent purchase consideration including retentions estimated to be paid | 8.9 |
Total consideration | 72.6 |
Total goodwill | 29.5 |
| £m | |
| Non‑current assets | |
Intangible assets | 8.1 |
Property, plant and equipment | 2.0 |
Deferred tax | 0.3 |
| Current assets | |
Inventories | 1.6 |
Trade and other receivables | 1.2 |
Cash and cash equivalents | 0.5 |
Total assets | 13.7 |
| Current liabilities | |
Payables | (0.9) |
Tax liabilities | (0.2) |
| Non‑current liabilities | |
Deferred tax liabilities | (2.3) |
Total liabilities | (3.4) |
Net assets of business acquired | 10.3 |
Initial cash consideration paid | 13.8 |
Other amounts to be paid | 0.1 |
Contingent purchase consideration including retentions estimated to be paid | 0.8 |
Total consideration | 14.7 |
Total goodwill | 4.4 |
| £m | |
| Non‑current assets | |
Intangible assets | 58.5 |
Property, plant and equipment | 6.8 |
Deferred tax | 0.1 |
| Current assets | |
Inventories | 0.4 |
Trade and other receivables | 1.6 |
Cash and cash equivalents | 0.3 |
Total assets | 67.7 |
| Current liabilities | |
Payables | (1.5) |
Borrowings | (6.7) |
| Non‑current liabilities | |
Deferred tax liabilities | (15.1) |
Total liabilities | (23.3) |
Net assets of business acquired | 44.4 |
Initial cash consideration paid | 66.0 |
Other adjustments | (0.5) |
Contingent purchase consideration estimated to be paid | 0.7 |
Total consideration | 66.2 |
Total goodwill | 21.8 |
| £m | |
| Non‑current assets | |
Intangible assets | (0.5) |
Property, plant and equipment | (0.1) |
Deferred tax | 0.2 |
| Current assets | |
Inventories | 0.2 |
Trade and other receivables | (0.2) |
Total assets | (0.4) |
| Current liabilities | |
Tax liabilities | (0.2) |
Total liabilities | (0.2) |
Net adjustment to assets of businesses acquired in prior year | (0.6) |
Adjustment to goodwill | 0.6 |
| Year ended | Year ended | |
| 31 March | 31 March | |
| 2024 | 2023 | |
| £m | £m | |
| Reconciliation of profit from operations to net cash inflow from operating activities: | ||
| Profit on continuing operations before finance income and expense, share of results of associate | ||
and profit on disposal of operations | 367.7 | 308.4 |
Non-cash movement on hedging instruments | 0.4 | 0.1 |
Depreciation and impairment of property, plant and equipment | 44.4 | 41.5 |
Amortisation and impairment of computer software | 1.8 | 2.2 |
Amortisation of capitalised development costs and other intangibles | 9.9 | 9.2 |
Impairment of capitalised development costs | 3.0 | 0.5 |
Amortisation of acquired intangible assets | 49.5 | 48.7 |
Impairment of acquired intangible assets | – | 7.8 |
Share-based payment expense in excess of amounts paid | 16.9 | 12.9 |
Payments to defined benefit pension plans net of service costs | (3.0) | (15.1) |
Profit on sale of property, plant and equipment, capitalised development costs and computer software | (0.2) | (0.8) |
Operating cash flows before movement in working capital | 490.4 | 415.4 |
Decrease/(increase) in inventories | 19.6 | (54.9) |
Increase in receivables | (46.4) | (52.4) |
Increase in payables and provisions | 13.8 | 15.1 |
Revision to estimate and exchange difference on contingent consideration payable less amounts paid in excess of payable estimated on acquisition | (5.2) | 2.0 |
Cash generated from operations | 472.2 | 325.2 |
Taxation paid | (87.2) | (67.2) |
Net cash inflow from operating activities | 385.0 | 258.0 |
| Year ended | Year ended | |
| 31 March | 31 March | |
| 2024 | 2023 | |
| £m | £m | |
| Analysis of cash and cash equivalents | ||
Cash and bank balances | 142.7 | 169.5 |
Overdrafts (included in current borrowings) | (0.3) | (1.0) |
Cash and cash equivalents | 142.4 | 168.5 |
| Net | |||||||
| 31 March | cash/(debt) | Net cash/(debt) | Additions and | Exchange | 31 March | ||
| 2023 | Cash flow | acquired | disposed | reclassifications | adjustments | 2024 | |
| £m | £m | £m | £m | £m | £m | £m | |
| Analysis of net debt | |||||||
Cash and bank balances | 169.5 | (29.8) | 8.3 | (0.1) | – | (5.2) | 142.7 |
Overdrafts | (1.0) | 0.6 | – | – | – | 0.1 | (0.3) |
Cash and cash equivalents | 168.5 | (29.2) | 8.3 | (0.1) | – | (5.1) | 142.4 |
Loan notes falling due after more than one year | (376.9) | – | – | – | – | 6.0 | (370.9) |
Bank loans falling due within one year | – | 17.1 | (17.1) | – | – | – | – |
Bank loans falling due after more than one year | (300.4) | (47.5) | – | – | – | 6.9 | (341.0) |
Lease liabilities | (87.9) | 24.1 | (3.2) | – | (18.3) | 1.6 | (83.7) |
Total net debt | (596.7) | (35.5) | (12.0) | (0.1) | (18.3) | 9.4 | (653.2) |
| Trade | |||||
| and other | |||||
| payables | |||||
| Total liabilities | falling | ||||
| from financing | due within | ||||
Borrowings * | Leases | Overdraft | activities | one year | |
| £m | £m | £m | £m | £m | |
At 1 April 2022 | 359.4 | 72.1 | 0.7 | 432.2 | 242.7 |
Cash flows from financing activities | 256.1 | (20.9) | – | 235.2 | (14.4) |
Acquisition/disposal of subsidiaries | 65.1 | 9.3 | – | 74.4 | 8.7 |
Exchange adjustments | (3.3) | 2.5 | – | (0.8) | 12.7 |
| Other changes | – | 24.9 | 0.3 | 25.2 | 31.0 |
At 31 March 2023 | 677.3 | 87.9 | 1.0 | 766.2 | 280.7 |
Cash flows from financing activities | 30.4 | (24.1) | – | 6.3 | (26.4) |
Acquisition/disposal of subsidiaries | 17.1 | 3.2 | – | 20.3 | 6.9 |
Exchange adjustments | (12.9) | (1.6) | (0.1) | (14.6) | (4.8) |
| Other changes | – | 18.3 | (0.6) | 17.7 | 40.1 |
At 31 March 2024 | 711.9 | 83.7 | 0.3 | 795.9 | 296.5 |
| 31 March | 31 March | |
| 2024 | 2023 | |
| £m | £m | |
| Analysis of interest‑bearing financial liabilities | ||
Sterling denominated bank loans | – | 45.0 |
US Dollar denominated bank loans | 83.9 | 80.8 |
Euro denominated bank loans | 213.2 | 143.6 |
Swiss Franc denominated bank loans | 43.9 | 31.0 |
Total bank loans | 341.0 | 300.4 |
Overdrafts (principally Sterling and US Dollar denominated) | 0.3 | 1.0 |
Sterling denominated loan notes | 120.0 | 120.0 |
US Dollar denominated loan notes | 79.2 | 80.8 |
Euro denominated loan notes | 136.6 | 140.6 |
Swiss Franc denominated loan notes | 35.1 | 35.5 |
Total interest‑bearing financial liabilities | 712.2 | 678.3 |
| Between | After more | Effect of | ||||
| One to | two and | than | Gross | discounting/ | ||
| two years | five years | five years | maturities | financing rates | Total | |
| £m | £m | £m | £m | £m | £m | |
| At 31 March 2024 | ||||||
Accruals | 0.1 | 0.2 | 0.4 | 0.7 | – | 0.7 |
Other payables | 1.8 | 0.2 | 2.1 | 4.1 | – | 4.1 |
Contingent purchase consideration | 3.9 | 0.8 | – | 4.7 | – | 4.7 |
Bank loans | – | 341.0 | – | 341.0 | – | 341.0 |
Loan notes | 45.6 | 163.8 | 205.6 | 415.0 | (44.1) | 370.9 |
Lease liabilities | 19.8 | 41.9 | 21.8 | 83.5 | (19.3) | 64.2 |
71.2 | 547.9 | 229.9 | 849.0 | (63.4) | 785.6 |
| Between | After more | Effect of | ||||
| One to | two and | than | Gross | discounting/ | ||
| two years | five years | five years | maturities | financing rates | Total | |
| £m | £m | £m | £m | £m | £m | |
| At 31 March 2023 | ||||||
Accruals | 0.3 | 0.1 | 0.2 | 0.6 | – | 0.6 |
Other payables | 1.6 | 0.1 | 1.3 | 3.0 | – | 3.0 |
Contingent purchase consideration | 3.2 | – | – | 3.2 | – | 3.2 |
Bank loans | – | 300.4 | – | 300.4 | – | 300.4 |
Loan notes | 10.8 | 158.3 | 263.5 | 432.6 | (55.7) | 376.9 |
Lease liabilities | 18.9 | 38.4 | 21.0 | 78.3 | (9.6) | 68.7 |
34.8 | 497.3 | 286.0 | 818.1 | (65.3) | 752.8 |
| Current | 10 pp shift | |
| expected | in weighting | |
| future | towards upside | |
| cash flow | expectation | |
| £m | £m | |
Sewertronics | – | – |
Alpha Instruments | 0.6 | 0.9 |
Rovers | 0.7 | 0.9 |
VIR | 0.9 | 1.1 |
Average exchange rate/£ | Foreign currency | Contract value | Fair value | |||||
| 31 March | 31 March | 31 March | 31 March | 31 March | 31 March | |||
| 31 March | 31 March | 2024 | 2023 | 2024 | 2023 | 2024 | 2023 | |
| 2024 | 2023 | m | m | £m | £m | £m | £m | |
| Foreign currency forward contracts | ||||||||
| not in a designated cash flow hedge | ||||||||
US Dollars vs GBP | 1.27 | 1.21 | 0.5 | 4.5 | 0.4 | 3.7 | – | (0.1) |
Euros vs GBP | 1.17 | 1.13 | 5.8 | 0.6 | 4.9 | 0.5 | – | – |
Other currencies | – | – | – | – | 18.9 | 6.7 | (0.6) | (0.1) |
| Foreign currency forward contracts | 24.2 | 10.9 | (0.6) | (0.2) | ||||
| in a designated cash flow hedge | ||||||||
US Dollars vs GBP | 1.26 | 1.20 | 15.9 | 17.6 | 12.6 | 13.4 | 0.1 | 0.7 |
Euros vs GBP | 1.15 | 1.13 | 29.6 | 29.0 | 25.3 | 25.5 | 0.2 | – |
Other currencies | – | – | – | – | 9.8 | 6.6 | (0.2) | 0.1 |
| Total foreign currency forward contracts | 47.7 | 45.5 | 0.1 | 0.8 | ||||
US Dollars vs GBP | 1.26 | 1.20 | 16.4 | 22.1 | 13.0 | 17.1 | 0.1 | 0.6 |
Euros vs GBP | 1.15 | 1.13 | 35.4 | 31.2 | 30.2 | 26.0 | 0.2 | – |
Other currencies | – | – | – | – | 28.7 | 13.3 | (0.8) | – |
71.9 | 56.4 | (0.5) | 0.6 | |||||
| Interest rate swap contracts | ||||||||
| in a designated cash flow hedge | ||||||||
Euros | 169.0 | – | 133.8 | – | (1.1) | – | ||
US Dollars | 72.0 | – | 61.5 | – | (0.3) | – | ||
195.3 | – | (1.4) | – | |||||
Total | 267.2 | 56.4 | (1.9) | 0.6 | ||||
Amounts recognised in the Consolidated Income Statement | (0.6) | (0.3) | ||||||
Amounts recognised in the Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income and Expenditure | (1.3) | 0.9 | ||||||
(1.9) | 0.6 |
| 31 March | 31 March | |
| 2024 | 2023 | |
| £m | £m | |
| Analysis of movement in the Hedging reserve | ||
| Amounts removed from Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income and Expenditure and included | ||
in Consolidated Income Statement during the year | (0.8) | 0.4 |
Amounts recognised in the Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income and Expenditure | (1.3) | 0.9 |
Net movement in the Hedging reserve in the year in relation to the effective portion of changes in fair value of cash flow hedges | (2.1) | 1.3 |
Assets | Liabilities | |||
| 31 March | 31 March | 31 March | 31 March | |
| 2024 | 2023 | 2024 | 2023 | |
| £m | £m | £m | £m | |
US Dollar – Total | 1,323.3 | 1,275.4 | 389.3 | 331.5 |
US Dollar – Monetary assets/liabilities | 266.1 | 239.3 | 367.2 | 329.0 |
Euro – Total | 616.0 | 541.5 | 450.6 | 374.6 |
Euro – Monetary assets/liabilities | 89.1 | 95.8 | 449.9 | 374.2 |
US Dollar | Euro | |||
| 31 March | 31 March | 31 March | 31 March | |
| 2024 | 2023 | 2024 | 2023 | |
| £m | £m | £m | £m | |
Profit | 19.7 | 17.8 | 5.2 | 3.7 |
Other equity | 84.9 | 85.8 | 15.0 | 15.2 |
| Plant, | |||
| Land | equipment | ||
| and | and | ||
| buildings | vehicles | Total | |
| £m | £m | £m | |
| Cost, net of accumulated depreciation and accumulated impairment | |||
At 1 April 2023 | 79.3 | 3.7 | 83.0 |
Assets of businesses acquired | 2.8 | 0.4 | 3.2 |
Additions | 11.8 | 3.6 | 15.4 |
Transfer between category | 0.7 | – | 0.7 |
Disposals and retirements | (0.7) | – | (0.7) |
Depreciation charge for the year | (18.4) | (1.4) | (19.8) |
Exchange adjustments | (2.4) | – | (2.4) |
At 31 March 2024 | 73.1 | 6.3 | 79.4 |
| At 31 March 2024 | |||
Cost | 156.9 | 9.3 | 166.2 |
Accumulated depreciation and accumulated impairment | (83.8) | (3.0) | (86.8) |
Net carrying amount | 73.1 | 6.3 | 79.4 |
| Year ended | Year ended | |
| 31 March | 31 March | |
| 2024 | 2023 | |
| £m | £m | |
At 1 April 2023 | 87.9 | 72.1 |
Additions and remeasurements | 15.2 | 22.0 |
Accretion of interest | 3.2 | 2.9 |
Payments | (24.1) | (20.9) |
Liabilities of business acquired (note 25) | 3.2 | 9.3 |
Exchange adjustments | (1.7) | 2.5 |
At 31 March 2024 | 83.7 | 87.9 |
Current | 19.5 | 19.2 |
Non-current | 64.2 | 68.7 |
At 31 March 2024 | 83.7 | 87.9 |
| Year ended | Year ended | |
| 31 March | 31 March | |
| 2024 | 2023 | |
| £m | £m | |
Depreciation expense of right-of-use assets | 19.8 | 18.4 |
Interest expense on lease liabilities | 3.2 | 2.9 |
Expense relating to short-term leases and leases of low-value assets | 0.3 | 0.3 |
Total amount recognised in Consolidated Income Statement | 23.3 | 21.6 |
| 31 March | 31 March | 31 March | |
| 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | |
| Key assumptions used (UK plans): | |||
Discount rate | 4.75% | 4.75% | 2.80% |
Expected return on plan assets | 4.75% | 4.75% | 2.80% |
Pension increases LPI 2.5% | 2.05% | 2.10% | 2.20% |
Pension increases LPI 3.0% | 2.35% | 2.45% | 2.55% |
Inflation – RPI | 3.15% | 3.30% | 3.60% |
Inflation – CPI | 2.40% | 2.50% | 2.85% |
| 31 March | 31 March | 31 March | |
| 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | |
| Years | Years | Years | |
| Retiring today: | |||
Males | 22.1 | 22.3 | 22.4 |
Females | 24.5 | 24.7 | 24.8 |
| Retiring in 25 years: | |||
Males | 23.6 | 23.8 | 23.9 |
Females | 26.0 | 26.2 | 26.2 |
Assumption | Change in assumption | Impact on plan liabilities |
Discount rate | Increase/decrease by 0.5% | Decrease by 6.8%/increase by 6.5% |
Rate of inflation | Increase/decrease by 0.5% | Increase by 4.2%/decrease by 4.1% |
Rate of mortality | Increase by one year | Increase by 2.8% |
31 March 2024 | 31 March 2023 | |||||
| UK defined | Other defined | UK defined | Other defined | |||
| benefit plans | benefit plans | benefit plans | benefit plans | |||
| £m | £m | Total £m | £m | £m | Total £m | |
Current service cost | – | 0.6 | 0.6 | – | 0.5 | 0.5 |
Net interest (credit) on pension plan assets/ liabilities | (1.9) | – | (1.9) | (1.1) | – | (1.1) |
(1.9) | 0.6 | (1.3) | (1.1) | 0.5 | (0.6) |
31 March 2024 | 31 March 2023 | |||||
| UK defined | Other defined | UK defined | Other defined | |||
| benefit plans | benefit plans | benefit plans | benefit plans | |||
| £m | £m | Total £m | £m | £m | Total £m | |
Present value of defined benefit obligations | (233.9) | (13.7) | (247.6) | (237.2) | (9.6) | (246.8) |
Fair value of plan assets | 265.9 | 12.6 | 278.5 | 275.6 | 9.1 | 284.7 |
Net retirement benefit asset/(obligation) | 32.0 | (1.1) | 30.9 | 38.4 | (0.5) | 37.9 |
Plans with net retirement benefit assets | 32.0 | – | 32.0 | 38.4 | – | 38.4 |
Plans with net retirement benefit obligations | – | (1.1) | (1.1) | – | (0.5) | (0.5) |
| Year ended | Year ended | |
| 31 March | 31 March | |
| 2024 | 2023 | |
| £m | £m | |
At beginning of year | (246.8) | (317.1) |
Service cost | (0.6) | (0.5) |
Interest cost | (11.3) | (8.6) |
| Remeasurement gains/(losses): | ||
Actuarial gains arising from changes in financial assumptions | 2.5 | 86.3 |
Actuarial gains arising from changes in demographic assumptions | 2.2 | 0.9 |
Actuarial losses arising from experience adjustments | (0.8) | (16.1) |
Contributions from plan members | (0.4) | (0.4) |
Benefits paid | 7.4 | 9.2 |
Exchange adjustments | 0.2 | (0.5) |
At end of year | (247.6) | (246.8) |
| Year ended | Year ended | |
| 31 March | 31 March | |
| 2024 | 2023 | |
| £m | £m | |
At beginning of year | 284.7 | 347.6 |
Administration cost | (0.6) | – |
Interest income | 13.2 | 9.7 |
Actuarial (losses) excluding interest income | (15.9) | (79.9) |
Contributions from the sponsoring companies | 4.4 | 15.6 |
Contributions from plan members | 0.4 | 0.4 |
Benefits paid | (7.4) | (9.2) |
Exchange adjustments | (0.3) | 0.5 |
At end of year | 278.5 | 284.7 |
| Year ended | Year ended | |
| 31 March | 31 March | |
| 2024 | 2023 | |
| £m | £m | |
Defined benefit obligations | 3.9 | 71.1 |
Fair value of plan assets | (15.9) | (79.9) |
Net actuarial losses | (12.0) | (8.8) |
| 31 March | 31 March | |
| 2024 | 2023 | |
| £m | £m | |
| Equity instruments | ||
Quoted | 6.2 | 10.1 |
| Debt instruments | ||
Quoted | 208.5 | 166.7 |
Unquoted | 24.8 | 38.3 |
| Property/infrastructure | ||
Unquoted | 23.2 | 20.0 |
| Cash and cash equivalent | ||
Quoted | 3.2 | 40.5 |
265.9 | 275.6 |
| Expected rate of return | ||
| 31 March | 31 March | |
| 2024 | 2023 | |
| % | % | |
Equity instruments | 4.75 | 4.75 |
Debt instruments | 4.75 | 4.75 |
Property/infrastructure/cash | 4.75 | 4.75 |
4.75 | 4.75 |
| Between | Between | Between | |||
| Less than | one and | two and | five and | ||
| one year | two years | five years | ten years | Total | |
| £m | £m | £m | £m | £m | |
| At 31 March 2024 | |||||
Halma | 8.2 | 8.4 | 26.7 | 50.1 | 93.4 |
Apollo | 1.9 | 1.9 | 6.1 | 11.4 | 21.3 |
| Total | |
| £m | |
Proceeds of disposal | 3.2 |
Less: net assets on disposal | (1.0) |
Less: allocation of goodwill disposed | (1.6) |
Less: costs of disposal | (0.4) |
Less: non-controlling interest | 0.3 |
Profit on disposal | 0.5 |
| Year ended | Year ended | |
| 31 March | 31 March | |
| 2024 | 2023 | |
| £m | £m | |
| Associated companies | ||
| Transactions with associated companies | ||
Sales to associated companies | – | – |
| Balances with associated companies | ||
Amounts due from associated companies | – | – |
| Other related parties | ||
| Balances with other related parties | ||
Amounts due to other related parties | – | – |
| Year ended | Year ended | |
| 31 March | 31 March | |
| 2024 | 2023 | |
| £m | £m | |
Wages and salaries | 12.5 | 10.8 |
Pension costs | – | – |
Share-based payment charge | 5.0 | 6.7 |
17.5 | 17.5 |