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 | ||
2025 | 2024 | ||
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 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 gains/(losses) 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 on translation of foreign operations and net investment hedge | ( | ( | |
Exchange loss on translation of foreign operations recycled to income statement on disposal | 30 | ( | |
Other comprehensive expense for the year | ( | ( | |
Total comprehensive income for the year | |||
Attributable to: | |||
Owners of the parent | |||
Non‑controlling interests |
31 March | 31 March | ||
2025 | 2024 | ||
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 2024 | ( | ( | ||||||||
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 | ||||||||||
awardsvested | ( | ( | ||||||||
Transfer of loss on disposal of equity investments at fair value through other comprehensive income to retained earnings | ( | |||||||||
At 31 March 2025 | ( |
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 | ||||||||||
awardsvested | ( | ( | ||||||||
Non‑controlling interest | ||||||||||
disposed | ( | ( | ( | |||||||
At 31 March 2024 | ( | ( |
Year ended | Year ended | ||
31 March | 31 March | ||
2025 | 2024 | ||
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 lease liabilities, net of interest | ( | ( | |
Net cash used in financing activities | ( | ( | |
Increase/(decrease) 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 2025 | |||||||
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 | 242.6 | 260.3 | 173.1 | 143.1 | 47.8 | 35.1 | 902.0 |
Environmental & Analysis | 492.1 | 70.6 | 93.6 | 86.2 | 17.1 | 17.0 | 776.6 |
Healthcare | 303.9 | 100.3 | 50.0 | 74.7 | 15.4 | 26.1 | 570.4 |
Inter‑segmental sales | – | – | (0.9) | – | – | – | (0.9) |
Revenue for the year | 1,038.6 | 431.2 | 315.8 | 304.0 | 80.3 | 78.2 | 2,248.1 |
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 2025 | |||
Revenue | |||
Revenue | recognised | ||
recognised | at a point | Total | |
over time | in time | Revenue | |
£m | £m | £m | |
Safety | 10.7 | 891.3 | 902.0 |
Environmental & Analysis | 332.6 | 444.0 | 776.6 |
Healthcare | 80.3 | 490.1 | 570.4 |
Inter‑segmental sales | – | (0.9) | (0.9) |
Revenue for the year | 423.6 | 1,824.5 | 2,248.1 |
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 2025 | ||||
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 | 895.8 | 6.2 | – | 902.0 |
Environmental & Analysis | 768.9 | 7.7 | – | 776.6 |
Healthcare | 552.6 | 17.8 | – | 570.4 |
Inter‑segmental sales | (0.9) | – | – | (0.9) |
Revenue for the year | 2,216.4 | 31.7 | – | 2,248.1 |
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 |
Aggregate transaction price allocated | ||||
to unsatisfied performance obligations | ||||
31 March | ||||
2025 | Recognised | Recognised | Recognised | |
Total | < 1 year | 1‑2 years | > 2 years | |
£m | £m | £m | £m | |
Safety | 18.2 | 10.0 | 3.5 | 4.7 |
Environmental & Analysis | 23.0 | 11.9 | 4.2 | 6.9 |
Healthcare | 28.1 | 27.3 | 0.8 | – |
Inter‑segmental sales | – | – | – | – |
Total | 69.3 | 49.2 | 8.5 | 11.6 |
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 |
Year ended | Year ended | |
31 March | 31 March | |
2025 | 2024 | |
£m | £m | |
Segment profit before allocation of adjustments* | ||
Safety | 217.9 | 191.6 |
Environmental & Analysis | 185.5 | 147.9 |
Healthcare | 130.6 | 125.6 |
534.0 | 465.1 | |
Segment profit after allocation of adjustments* | ||
Safety | 192.1 | 170.2 |
Environmental & Analysis | 174.8 | 138.0 |
Healthcare | 92.0 | 100.8 |
Segment profit | 458.9 | 409.0 |
Central administration costs | (47.7) | (41.1) |
Group profit before interest and taxation | 411.2 | 367.9 |
Net finance expense | (26.9) | (27.6) |
Group profit before taxation | 384.3 | 340.3 |
Taxation | (87.9) | (71.5) |
Profit for the year | 296.4 | 268.8 |
Year ended 31 March 2025 | |||||||
Acquisition items | Total | Disposal of | |||||
Amortisation of | Release of | amortisation | operations and | ||||
acquired | Adjustments | fair value | charge and | impairment | |||
intangible | Transaction | to contingent | adjustments | acquisition | of associate | ||
assets | costs | consideration | to inventory | items | (note 30) | Total | |
£m | £m | £m | £m | £m | £m | £m | |
Safety | (21.7) | (2.2) | – | (1.9) | (25.8) | – | (25.8) |
Environmental & Analysis | (12.9) | (0.5) | 0.8 | (0.1) | (12.7) | 2.0 | (10.7) |
Healthcare | (22.3) | (5.6) | (6.1) | (4.6) | (38.6) | – | (38.6) |
Total Segment & Group | (56.9) | (8.3) | (5.3) | (6.6) | (77.1) | 2.0 | (75.1) |
Year ended 31 March 2024 | |||||||
Acquisition items | Total | ||||||
Amortisation | Release of | amortisation | |||||
and impairment | Adjustments | fair value | charge and | Disposal of | |||
of acquired | Transaction | to contingent | adjustments | acquisition | operations and | ||
intangible assets | costs | consideration | to inventory | items | restructuring | 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) |
Assets | Liabilities | |||
31 March | 31 March | 31 March | 31 March | |
Before goodwill, interest in associates and other investments and acquired intangible assets | 2025 | 2024 | 2025 | 2024 |
are allocated to specific segment assets/liabilities | £m | £m | £m | £m |
Safety | 377.5 | 358.7 | 125.7 | 127.4 |
Environmental & Analysis | 285.4 | 279.3 | 108.3 | 105.3 |
Healthcare | 258.4 | 253.4 | 90.6 | 83.0 |
Total segment assets/liabilities excluding goodwill, interest in associates | ||||
and other investments and acquired intangible assets | 921.3 | 891.4 | 324.6 | 315.7 |
Goodwill | 1,263.3 | 1,211.0 | – | – |
Interest in associate and other investments | 12.5 | 19.8 | – | – |
Acquired intangible assets | 518.4 | 510.4 | – | – |
Total segment assets/liabilities including goodwill, interest in associates | ||||
and other investments and acquired intangible assets | 2,715.5 | 2,632.6 | 324.6 | 315.7 |
Assets | Liabilities | |||
31 March | 31 March | 31 March | 31 March | |
After goodwill, interest in associates and other investments and acquired intangible assets | 2025 | 2024 | 2025 | 2024 |
are allocated to specific segment assets/liabilities | £m | £m | £m | £m |
Safety | 1,005.8 | 940.3 | 125.7 | 127.4 |
Environmental & Analysis | 667.3 | 657.1 | 108.3 | 105.3 |
Healthcare | 1,042.4 | 1,035.2 | 90.6 | 83.0 |
Total segment assets/liabilities including goodwill, interest in associates | ||||
and other investments and acquired intangible assets | 2,715.5 | 2,632.6 | 324.6 | 315.7 |
Cash and bank balances/borrowings | 313.2 | 142.7 | 739.4 | 712.2 |
Derivative financial instruments | 1.1 | 0.7 | 0.8 | 2.6 |
Other unallocated assets/liabilities | 228.8 | 223.9 | 294.4 | 232.9 |
Total Group | 3,258.6 | 2,999.9 | 1,359.2 | 1,263.4 |
Additions to | Depreciation, amortisation | |||
non‑current assets | and impairment | |||
31 March | 31 March | 31 March | 31 March | |
2025 | 2024 | 2025 | 2024 | |
£m | £m | £m | £m | |
Safety | 111.9 | 50.5 | 37.2 | 35.9 |
Environmental & Analysis | 38.5 | 115.0 | 21.8 | 21.6 |
Healthcare | 54.7 | 184.4 | 33.4 | 30.0 |
Total Segment additions/depreciation, amortisation and impairment | 205.1 | 349.9 | 92.4 | 87.5 |
Unallocated | 67.9 | 5.5 | 32.0 | 21.1 |
Total Group | 273.0 | 355.4 | 124.4 | 108.6 |
Non‑current assets | ||
31 March | 31 March | |
2025 | 2024 | |
£m | £m | |
United States of America | 900.5 | 922.8 |
Mainland Europe | 671.0 | 614.5 |
United Kingdom | 377.5 | 320.1 |
Asia Pacific | 124.2 | 133.9 |
Other countries | 61.8 | 45.3 |
2,135.0 | 2,036.6 |
Per share | ||||
Year ended | Year ended | Year ended | Year ended | |
31 March | 31 March | 31 March | 31 March | |
2025 | 2024 | 2025 | 2024 | |
£m | £m | pence | pence | |
Earnings from continuing operations attributable to owners of the parent | 296.4 | 268.8 | 78.49 | 71.23 |
Amortisation and impairment of acquired intangible assets (after tax) | 42.9 | 37.4 | 11.39 | 9.89 |
Acquisition transaction costs (after tax) | 8.2 | 4.3 | 2.16 | 1.15 |
Adjustments to contingent consideration (after tax) | 5.3 | (3.9) | 1.39 | (1.04) |
Release of fair value adjustments to inventory (after tax) | 5.0 | 4.9 | 1.33 | 1.31 |
Impairment of associate | 1.0 | – | 0.26 | – |
Disposal of operations and restructuring (after tax) | (3.0) | (0.5) | (0.79) | (0.14) |
Adjusted earnings attributable to owners of the parent | 355.8 | 311.0 | 94.23 | 82.40 |
Weighted average number of shares in issue for basic earnings | ||||
per share, million | 377.6 | 377.3 |
Per share | ||||
Year ended | Year ended | Year ended | Year ended | |
31 March | 31 March | 31 March | 31 March | |
2025 | 2024 | 2025 | 2024 | |
£m | £m | pence | pence | |
Earnings from continuing operations attributable to owners of the parent | 296.4 | 268.8 | 78.14 | 70.96 |
Weighted average number of shares in issue for basic earnings per share, million | 377.6 | 377.3 | ||
Dilutive potential shares – share awards, million | 1.6 | 1.4 | ||
Weighted average number of shares in issue for diluted earnings | ||||
per share, million | 379.2 | 378.7 |
31 March | 31 March | |
2025 | 2024 | |
£m | £m | |
Profit after tax | 296.4 | 268.8 |
Adjustments 1 | 59.4 | 42.2 |
Adjusted profit after tax 1 | 355.8 | 311.0 |
Total equity | 1,899.4 | 1,736.5 |
Less net retirement benefit assets | (2.0) | (30.9) |
Deferred tax liabilities on retirement benefits | 0.6 | 7.9 |
Cumulative fair value adjustments on equity investments through other comprehensive income | (3.3) | (3.2) |
Cumulative amortisation and impairment of acquired intangible assets | 505.9 | 458.2 |
Historical adjustments to goodwill 2 | 89.5 | 89.5 |
Total Invested Capital | 2,490.1 | 2,258.0 |
Average Total Invested Capital 3 | 2,374.1 | 2,165.9 |
Return on Total Invested Capital (ROTIC) 4 | 15.0% | 14.4% |
31 March | 31 March | |
2025 | 2024 | |
£m | £m | |
Profit before tax | 384.3 | 340.3 |
Adjustments 1 | 75.1 | 56.1 |
Net finance costs | 26.9 | 27.6 |
Lease interest | (4.6) | (3.2) |
Adjusted operating profit 1 after share of results of associates and lease interest | 481.7 | 420.8 |
Computer software costs within other intangible assets | 3.2 | 3.3 |
Capitalised development costs within other intangible assets | 51.4 | 51.8 |
Other intangibles within other intangible assets | 3.0 | 3.5 |
Property, plant and equipment | 283.2 | 236.8 |
Inventories | 300.3 | 304.8 |
Trade and other receivables | 485.9 | 460.9 |
Current trade and other payables | (343.3) | (296.5) |
Current lease liabilities | (23.1) | (19.5) |
Current provisions | (44.5) | (35.0) |
Net tax receivable/(payable) | 4.2 | (0.9) |
Non‑current trade and other payables | (24.5) | (23.9) |
Non‑current provisions | (11.2) | (10.7) |
Non‑current lease liabilities | (86.5) | (64.2) |
Add back contingent purchase consideration | 27.0 | 29.2 |
Capital Employed | 625.1 | 639.6 |
Average Capital Employed 3 | 632.4 | 617.4 |
Return on Capital Employed (ROCE) 4 | 76.2% | 68.2% |
Revenue | |||
Year ended | Year ended | ||
31 March | 31 March | ||
2025 | 2024 | % growth | |
£m | £m | contribution | |
Organic at constant currency (“organic”) | 2,216.2 | 2,026.7 | 9.4% |
Acquired and disposed revenue | 63.6 | 7.4 | 2.7% |
Constant currency adjustment | (31.7) | (1.6)% | |
Continuing operations – reported | 2,248.1 | 2,034.1 | 10.5% |
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 | |||
2025 | 2024 | % growth | 2025 | 2024 | % growth | |
£m | £m | contribution | £m | £m | contribution | |
Organic at constant currency (“organic”) | 477.2 | 423.7 | 12.6% | 460.6 | 396.1 | 16.3% |
Acquired and disposed profit | 17.2 | 0.3 | 4.0% | 6.9 | 0.3 | 1.7% |
Constant currency adjustment | (8.1) | (1.9)% | (8.1) | (2.1)% | ||
Continuing operations – reported | 486.3 | 424.0 | 14.7% | 459.4 | 396.4 | 15.9% |
Revenue | Adjusted * profit before taxation | |||||
Year ended | Year ended | Year ended | Year ended | |||
31 March | 31 March | 31 March | 31 March | |||
2025 | 2024 | % growth | 2025 | 2024 | % growth | |
£m | £m | contribution | £m | £m | contribution | |
Organic at constant currency (“organic”) | 886.3 | 822.6 | 7.7% | 214.5 | 192.1 | 11.6% |
Acquired and disposed revenue/profit | 27.7 | 1.2 | 3.2% | 6.9 | (0.5) | 3.9% |
Constant currency adjustment | (12.0) | (1.4)% | (3.5) | (1.8)% | ||
Continuing operations – reported | 902.0 | 823.8 | 9.5% | 217.9 | 191.6 | 13.7% |
Revenue | Adjusted * profit before taxation | |||||
Year ended | Year ended | Year ended | Year ended | |||
31 March | 31 March | 31 March | 31 March | |||
2025 | 2024 | % growth | 2025 | 2024 | % growth | |
£m | £m | contribution | £m | £m | contribution | |
Organic at constant currency (“organic”) | 776.3 | 652.2 | 19.0% | 184.6 | 147.1 | 25.5% |
Acquired and disposed revenue/profit | 11.1 | 6.2 | 0.6% | 3.5 | 0.8 | 1.7% |
Constant currency adjustment | (10.8) | (1.6)% | (2.6) | (1.8)% | ||
Continuing operations – reported | 776.6 | 658.4 | 18.0% | 185.5 | 147.9 | 25.4% |
Revenue | Adjusted * profit before taxation | |||||
Year ended | Year ended | Year ended | Year ended | |||
31 March | 31 March | 31 March | 31 March | |||
2025 | 2024 | % growth | 2025 | 2024 | % growth | |
£m | £m | contribution | £m | £m | contribution | |
Organic at constant currency (“organic”) | 554.5 | 552.9 | 0.3% | 125.9 | 125.6 | 0.3% |
Acquired and disposed revenue/profit | 24.9 | – | 4.5% | 6.8 | – | 5.4% |
Constant currency adjustment | (9.0) | (1.6)% | (2.1) | (1.7)% | ||
Continuing operations – reported | 570.4 | 552.9 | 3.2% | 130.6 | 125.6 | 4.0% |
Year ended | Year ended | |
31 March | 31 March | |
2025 | 2024 | |
£m | £m | |
Profit before interest and taxation (EBIT) | 411.2 | 367.9 |
Add back: | ||
Acquisition items (note 1) | 20.2 | 7.1 |
Profit on disposal of operations and impairment of associate (note 1) | (2.0) | (0.5) |
Amortisation and impairment of acquired intangible assets (note 1) | 56.9 | 49.5 |
Adjusted profit before interest and taxation (Adjusted EBIT) | 486.3 | 424.0 |
Depreciation, impairment and amortisation (excluding acquired intangible assets) | 66.5 | 59.1 |
EBITDA | 552.8 | 483.1 |
Year ended | Year ended | |
31 March | 31 March | |
2025 | 2024 | |
£m | £m | |
Operating profit | 409.5 | 367.7 |
Add back: | ||
Acquisition items (note 1) | 20.2 | 7.1 |
Amortisation and impairment of acquired intangible assets (note 1) | 56.9 | 49.5 |
Adjusted operating profit | 486.6 | 424.3 |
Year ended | Year ended | |
31 March | 31 March | |
2025 | 2024 | |
£m | £m | |
Net cash from operating activities (note 26) | 492.4 | 385.0 |
Add: | ||
Net acquisition costs paid | 4.9 | 6.0 |
Taxes paid | 103.3 | 87.2 |
Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment and capitalised development costs | 0.9 | 1.6 |
Share awards vested not settled by own shares (note 24) | 3.5 | 5.4 |
Deferred consideration paid in excess of payable estimated on acquisition | 0.1 | 1.5 |
Less: | ||
Purchase of property, plant and equipment (excluding Right of use assets) | (43.8) | (32.8) |
Purchase of computer software and other intangibles | (1.8) | (2.4) |
Development costs capitalised | (13.8) | (16.4) |
Adjusted operating cash flow | 545.7 | 435.1 |
Cash conversion % (adjusted operating cash flow/adjusted operating profit) | 112% | 103% |
Year ended | Year ended | |
31 March | 31 March | |
2025 | 2024 | |
£m | £m | |
Interest receivable | 4.9 | 1.2 |
Net interest credit on pension plan assets | 1.5 | 1.9 |
6.4 | 3.1 |
Year ended | Year ended | |
31 March | 31 March | |
2025 | 2024 | |
£m | £m | |
Interest payable on borrowings | 27.9 | 26.1 |
Interest payable on lease obligations | 4.6 | 3.2 |
Amortisation of finance costs | 0.5 | 0.9 |
Other interest payable | 0.2 | 0.3 |
Fair value movement on derivative financial instruments | 0.1 | 0.2 |
33.3 | 30.7 |
Year ended | Year ended | |
31 March | 31 March | |
2025 | 2024 | |
£m | £m | |
Revenue | 2,248.1 | 2,034.1 |
Direct materials/direct labour | (944.9) | (873.5) |
Production overhead | (169.6) | (156.8) |
Selling costs | (203.3) | (187.1) |
Distribution costs | (35.0) | (33.6) |
Administrative expenses | (485.8) | (415.4) |
Operating profit | 409.5 | 367.7 |
Share of loss and impairment of associate | (1.3) | (0.3) |
Profit on disposal of operations | 3.0 | 0.5 |
Profit before interest and taxation | 411.2 | 367.9 |
Net finance expense | (26.9) | (27.6) |
Profit before taxation | 384.3 | 340.3 |
Year ended | Year ended | ||
31 March | 31 March | ||
2025 | 2024 | ||
£m | £m | ||
Profit before taxation is stated after charging/(crediting): | |||
Depreciation | 50.9 | 44.2 | |
Amortisation | 69.3 | 61.2 | |
Impairment of other intangible assets | 3.1 | 3.0 | |
Impairment of property, plant and equipment | 0.1 | 0.2 | |
Net impairment loss on trade receivables (reversed)/recognised (note 16) | (0.5) | 0.7 | |
Research costs* | 94.6 | 87.4 | |
Foreign exchange loss | 1.1 | 1.6 | |
Profit on disposal of operations (note 30) | (3.0) | (0.5) | |
Profit on sale of property, plant and equipment and computer software | (0.2) | (0.2) | |
Cost of inventories recognised as an expense | 1,100.6 | 1,030.3 | |
Staff costs (note 7) | 600.1 | 563.0 | |
Auditors’ remuneration | Audit services to the Company | 0.7 | 0.7 |
Audit of the Company’s subsidiaries | 2.4 | 2.4 | |
Total audit fees | 3.1 | 3.1 | |
Audit related fees – interim review | 0.1 | 0.1 | |
Other services** | – | – | |
Total non‑audit fees | 0.1 | 0.1 | |
Total fees | 3.2 | 3.2 |
Year ended | Year ended | |
31 March | 31 March | |
2025 | 2024 | |
Number | Number | |
United States of America | 3,025 | 2,856 |
Mainland Europe | 1,786 | 1,685 |
United Kingdom | 2,734 | 2,564 |
Asia Pacific | 1,225 | 1,288 |
Other countries | 268 | 222 |
9,038 | 8,615 |
Year ended | Year ended | |
31 March | 31 March | |
2025 | 2024 | |
Number | Number | |
United States of America | 2,985 | 2,881 |
Mainland Europe | 1,803 | 1,605 |
United Kingdom | 2,652 | 2,486 |
Asia Pacific | 1,320 | 1,277 |
Other countries | 278 | 366 |
9,038 | 8,615 |
Year ended | Year ended | |
31 March | 31 March | |
2025 | 2024 | |
£m | £m | |
Wages and salaries | 488.8 | 460.0 |
Social security costs | 63.9 | 60.5 |
Pension costs (note 29) | 21.1 | 19.6 |
Share‑based payment charge (note 24) | 26.3 | 22.9 |
600.1 | 563.0 |
Year ended | Year ended | |
31 March | 31 March | |
2025 | 2024 | |
£m | £m | |
Wages, salaries and fees | 8.0 | 7.0 |
Pension costs | – | – |
Share‑based payment charge | 4.6 | 3.1 |
12.6 | 10.1 |
Year ended | Year ended | |
31 March | 31 March | |
2025 | 2024 | |
£m | £m | |
Current tax | ||
UK corporation tax at 25% (2024: 25%) | 25.9 | 22.8 |
Overseas taxation | 81.2 | 67.3 |
Adjustments in respect of prior years | (3.7) | (0.2) |
Total current tax charge | 103.4 | 89.9 |
Deferred tax | ||
Origination and reversal of timing differences | (18.3) | (19.2) |
Adjustments in respect of prior years | 2.8 | 0.8 |
Total deferred tax credit | (15.5) | (18.4) |
Total tax charge recognised in the Consolidated Income Statement | 87.9 | 71.5 |
Reconciliation of the effective tax rate: | ||
Profit before tax | 384.3 | 340.3 |
Tax at the UK corporation tax rate of 25% (2024: 25%) | 96.1 | 85.1 |
Overseas tax rate differences | (6.3) | (6.2) |
Tax incentives, exemptions and credits (including patent box, R&D and High‑Tech status) | (9.4) | (9.6) |
Permanent differences | 8.4 | 1.6 |
Adjustments in respect of prior years | (0.9) | 0.6 |
Total tax charge recognised in the Consolidated Income Statement | 87.9 | 71.5 |
Effective tax rate | 22.9% | 21.0% |
Year ended | Year ended | |
31 March | 31 March | |
2025 | 2024 | |
£m | £m | |
Adjusted* profit before tax | 459.4 | 396.4 |
Total tax charge on adjusted* profit | 103.6 | 85.4 |
Effective tax rate | 22.6% | 21.5% |
Year ended | Year ended | |
31 March | 31 March | |
2025 | 2024 | |
£m | £m | |
Current tax | ||
Retirement benefits | – | (0.9) |
Deferred tax (note 22) | ||
Retirement benefits | (7.4) | (2.1) |
Effective portion of changes in fair value of cash flow hedges | 0.1 | (0.2) |
(7.3) | (3.2) |
Year ended | Year ended | |
31 March | 31 March | |
2025 | 2024 | |
£m | £m | |
Current tax | ||
Excess tax deductions related to share‑based payments on vested awards | (0.9) | 0.1 |
Deferred tax (note 22) | ||
Change in estimated excess tax deductions related to share‑based payments | (0.8) | (0.6) |
(1.7) | (0.5) |
Per ordinary share | ||||
Year ended | Year ended | Year ended | Year ended | |
31 March | 31 March | 31 March | 31 March | |
2025 | 2024 | 2025 | 2024 | |
pence | pence | £m | £m | |
Amounts recognised as distributions to shareholders in the year | ||||
Final dividend for the year ended 31 March 2024 (31 March 2023) | 13.20 | 12.34 | 49.8 | 46.5 |
Interim dividend for the year ended 31 March 2025 (31 March 2024) | 9.00 | 8.41 | 34.0 | 31.7 |
83.8 | 78.2 | |||
Dividends declared in respect of the year | ||||
Interim dividend for the year ended 31 March 2025 (31 March 2024) | 9.00 | 8.41 | 34.0 | 31.7 |
Proposed final dividend for the year ended 31 March 2025 (31 March 2024) | 14.12 | 13.20 | 53.3 | 49.8 |
31 March | 31 March | |
2025 | 2024 | |
£m | £m | |
Cost | ||
At beginning of year | 1,211.0 | 1,120.5 |
Additions (note 25) | 72.7 | 115.0 |
Acquisition adjustments to prior years (note 25) | 5.6 | 0.6 |
Disposals (note 30) | (2.0) | (1.6) |
Exchange adjustments | (24.0) | (23.5) |
At end of year | 1,263.3 | 1,211.0 |
Provision for impairment | ||
At beginning and end of year | – | – |
Carrying amounts | 1,263.3 | 1,211.0 |
31 March | 31 March | |
2025 | 2024 | |
£m | £m | |
Safety | ||
Fire | 190.5 | 181.3 |
Doors, Security and Elevators | 108.3 | 105.0 |
Safety Interlocks and Corrosion Monitoring | 124.5 | 103.5 |
Bursting Discs | 9.0 | 9.2 |
432.3 | 399.0 | |
Environmental & Analysis | ||
Water | 146.1 | 137.6 |
Analysis | 78.8 | 80.4 |
Environmental Monitoring | 32.8 | 33.1 |
Gas Detection | 25.2 | 25.6 |
282.9 | 276.7 | |
Healthcare | ||
Life Sciences | 38.6 | 39.4 |
Healthcare Assessment | 233.4 | 238.3 |
Therapeutic Solutions | 276.1 | 257.6 |
548.1 | 535.3 | |
Total Group | 1,263.3 | 1,211.0 |
Risk adjusted discount rate | Short‑term growth rates | Long‑term growth rates | ||||
31 March | 31 March | 31 March | 31 March | 31 March | 31 March | |
2025 | 2024 | 2025 | 2024 | 2025 | 2024 | |
Fire | 15.55% | 15.76% | 10.77% | 12.32% | 2.09% | 2.37% |
Water | 12.26% | 12.33% | 10.32% | 11.47% | 1.94% | 2.11% |
Healthcare Assessment | 14.09% | 14.65% | 8.43% | 8.79% | 2.18% | 2.30% |
Therapeutic Solutions | 13.68% | 13.62% | 8.43% | 8.79% | 2.06% | 1.88% |
Acquired intangible assets | Internally | |||||||
generated | ||||||||
Customer | Trademarks, | capitalised | ||||||
and supplier | Technical | brands and | development | Computer | Other | |||
relationship 1 | know‑how 2 | patents 3 | Total | costs 4 | software | intangibles 5 | Total | |
£m | £m | £m | £m | £m | £m | £m | £m | |
Cost | ||||||||
At 1 April 2023 | 465.1 | 261.5 | 107.6 | 834.2 | 140.4 | 22.5 | 6.4 | 1,003.5 |
Assets of businesses acquired | 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 |
Assets of businesses acquired (note 25) | 39.4 | 29.2 | 6.6 | 75.2 | – | – | – | 75.2 |
Transfer between categories | – | – | – | – | (0.7) | 0.7 | – | – |
Additions at cost | – | – | – | – | 13.8 | 1.1 | 0.7 | 15.6 |
Assets of business sold | (0.1) | (0.1) | (0.1) | (0.3) | – | (0.3) | – | (0.6) |
Disposals and retirements | – | – | – | – | (4.1) | (0.9) | (0.3) | (5.3) |
Exchange adjustments | (9.8) | (6.6) | (2.8) | (19.2) | (2.2) | (0.1) | (0.1) | (21.6) |
At 31 March 2025 | 561.8 | 333.7 | 128.8 | 1,024.3 | 158.9 | 23.5 | 7.4 | 1,214.1 |
Accumulated amortisation & impairment | ||||||||
At 1 April 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 |
Charge for the year | 26.3 | 24.0 | 6.6 | 56.9 | 10.4 | 1.3 | 0.7 | 69.3 |
Transfer between categories | – | – | – | – | (0.7) | 0.7 | – | – |
Impairment | – | – | – | – | 3.1 | – | – | 3.1 |
Assets of business sold | (0.1) | – | – | (0.1) | – | (0.3) | – | (0.4) |
Disposals and retirements | – | – | – | – | (4.1) | (0.8) | – | (4.9) |
Exchange adjustments | (5.3) | (2.5) | (1.3) | (9.1) | (1.5) | (0.3) | 0.1 | (10.8) |
At 31 March 2025 | 307.5 | 128.0 | 70.4 | 505.9 | 107.5 | 20.3 | 4.4 | 638.1 |
Carrying amounts | ||||||||
At 31 March 2025 | 254.3 | 205.7 | 58.4 | 518.4 | 51.4 | 3.2 | 3.0 | 576.0 |
At 31 March 2024 | 245.7 | 204.7 | 60.0 | 510.4 | 51.8 | 3.3 | 3.5 | 569.0 |
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 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 | 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 |
Transfer between category | – | (0.7) | 3.0 | (2.3) | – |
Assets of businesses acquired (note 25) | 3.4 | 2.4 | 1.0 | 4.2 | 11.0 |
Assets of business sold | (1.9) | – | – | (4.8) | (6.7) |
Additions at cost | 49.1 | 5.4 | 6.0 | 32.4 | 92.9 |
Disposals and retirements | (5.8) | (0.1) | (0.7) | (8.1) | (14.7) |
Exchange adjustments | (2.7) | (0.7) | (0.5) | (3.1) | (7.0) |
At 31 March 2025 | 208.3 | 86.8 | 41.1 | 252.4 | 588.6 |
Accumulated depreciation & impairment | |||||
At 1 April 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 |
Transfer between category | – | (0.3) | 1.1 | (0.8) | – |
Charge for the year | 24.9 | 1.5 | 3.5 | 21.0 | 50.9 |
Impairment | – | – | – | 0.1 | 0.1 |
Assets of business sold | (1.2) | – | – | (3.8) | (5.0) |
Disposals and retirements | (4.8) | – | (0.5) | (7.6) | (12.9) |
Exchange adjustments | (1.8) | (0.2) | (0.3) | (1.7) | (4.0) |
At 31 March 2025 | 103.9 | 21.3 | 22.5 | 157.7 | 305.4 |
Carrying amounts | |||||
At 31 March 2025 | 104.4 | 65.5 | 18.6 | 94.7 | 283.2 |
At 31 March 2024 | 79.4 | 60.2 | 13.6 | 83.6 | 236.8 |
31 March | 31 March | |
2025 | 2024 | |
£m | £m | |
Interest in associate | 0.5 | 1.8 |
Financial assets at fair value through other comprehensive income | ||
– Equity instruments | 12.0 | 18.0 |
12.5 | 19.8 |
31 March | 31 March | |
2025 | 2024 | |
£m | £m | |
At beginning of the year | 1.8 | 2.1 |
Impairment of investment | (1.0) | – |
Group’s share of loss of associate | (0.3) | (0.3) |
At end of year | 0.5 | 1.8 |
31 March | 31 March | |
2025 | 2024 | |
£m | £m | |
Aggregated amounts relating to associate | ||
Non‑current assets | 2.0 | 2.0 |
Current assets | 0.7 | 0.8 |
Current liabilities | (0.2) | (0.1) |
Net assets | 2.5 | 2.7 |
Group’s share of net assets of associate | 0.6 | 0.8 |
Revenue | 0.6 | 0.3 |
Loss | (1.5) | (1.0) |
Group’s share of loss of associate | (0.3) | (0.3) |
31 March | 31 March | |
2025 | 2024 | |
£m | £m | |
Unlisted securities | ||
At beginning of the year | 18.0 | 18.9 |
Additions in the year | – | 0.3 |
Changes in fair value recognised in other comprehensive income | (6.0) | (1.2) |
At end of year | 12.0 | 18.0 |
31 March | 31 March | |
2025 | 2024 | |
£m | £m | |
Raw materials and consumables | 188.4 | 175.5 |
Work in progress | 31.9 | 28.4 |
Finished goods and goods for resale | 80.0 | 100.9 |
300.3 | 304.8 |
31 March | 31 March | |
2025 | 2024 | |
£m | £m | |
At beginning of the year | 55.6 | 44.5 |
Write downs of inventories recognised as an expense | 5.3 | 8.7 |
Recognition of provisions for businesses acquired | 1.6 | 5.2 |
Derecognition of provisions for businesses disposed | (0.1) | 0.1 |
Utilisation and amounts reversed against inventories previously impaired | (0.7) | (1.9) |
Exchange adjustments | (0.8) | (1.0) |
At end of the year | 60.9 | 55.6 |
31 March | 31 March | |
2025 | 2024 | |
£m | £m | |
Trade receivables | 376.1 | 361.0 |
Allowance for doubtful debts | (6.3) | (7.1) |
369.8 | 353.9 | |
Other receivables | 29.2 | 26.5 |
Prepayments | 32.7 | 31.3 |
Contract assets (note 18) | 54.2 | 49.2 |
485.9 | 460.9 |
31 March | 31 March | |
2025 | 2024 | |
£m | £m | |
At beginning of the year | 7.1 | 6.9 |
Net impairment (reversal)/loss | (0.5) | 0.7 |
Amounts recovered against trade receivables previously written down/amounts utilised | (0.9) | (0.8) |
Recognition of provisions for businesses acquired | 0.7 | 0.5 |
Exchange adjustments | (0.1) | (0.2) |
At end of the year | 6.3 | 7.1 |
Gross trade | Trade receivables | |||
receivables | net of doubtful debts | |||
31 March | 31 March | 31 March | 31 March | |
2025 | 2024 | 2025 | 2024 | |
£m | £m | £m | £m | |
Not yet due | 293.1 | 281.2 | 292.8 | 280.8 |
Up to one month overdue | 52.5 | 50.5 | 52.4 | 50.4 |
Between one and two months overdue | 10.9 | 11.5 | 10.8 | 11.4 |
Between two and three months overdue | 5.3 | 4.2 | 5.2 | 3.8 |
Over three months overdue | 14.3 | 13.6 | 8.6 | 7.5 |
376.1 | 361.0 | 369.8 | 353.9 |
31 March | 31 March | |
2025 | 2024 | |
£m | £m | |
Trade payables | 131.5 | 117.5 |
Other taxation and social security | 12.2 | 12.9 |
Other payables | 6.7 | 9.7 |
Accruals | 140.0 | 121.5 |
Contract liabilities (note 18) | 50.9 | 34.7 |
Deferred government grant income | 2.0 | 0.2 |
343.3 | 296.5 |
31 March | 31 March | |
2025 | 2024 | |
£m | £m | |
Contract costs | 1.4 | 1.6 |
Contract assets (note 16) | 54.2 | 49.2 |
Contract liabilities current (note 17) | (50.9) | (34.7) |
Contract liabilities non‑current (note 21) | (18.1) | (18.8) |
Total contract liabilities | (69.0) | (53.5) |
Contract assets | Contract liabilities | |||
31 March | ||||
31 March | 31 March | 31 March | 2024 | |
2025 | 2024 | 2025 | Restated* | |
£m | £m | £m | £m | |
Amounts included in contract balances at the beginning of the year | 49.2 | 38.7 | (53.5) | (53.0) |
Transfers to receivables during the year | (46.7) | (37.5) | ||
Performance obligations arising in the current reporting year | ||||
Increases as a result of billing ahead of performance | (96.1) | (59.8) | ||
Decreases as a result of revenue recognised in the year | 80.5 | 61.0 | ||
Increases as a result of performance in advance of billing | 52.7 | 48.8 | ||
Amounts arising through business combinations | – | – | (0.5) | (2.2) |
Exchange movements | (1.0) | (0.8) | 0.6 | 0.5 |
Amounts included in contract balances at the end of the year | 54.2 | 49.2 | (69.0) | (53.5) |
31 March | 31 March | |
2025 | 2024 | |
£m | £m | |
Overdrafts | 0.5 | 0.3 |
Unsecured loan notes falling due within one year | 35.1 | – |
Total borrowings falling due within one year | 35.6 | 0.3 |
Unsecured loan notes falling due after more than one year | 659.9 | 370.9 |
Unsecured bank loans falling due after more than one year | 43.9 | 341.0 |
Total borrowings falling due after more than one year | 703.8 | 711.9 |
Total borrowings | 739.4 | 712.2 |
31 March | 31 March | |
2025 | 2024 | |
£m | £m | |
Current | 44.5 | 35.0 |
Non‑current | 11.2 | 10.7 |
55.7 | 45.7 |
Contingent | Legal, | ||||
purchase | Product | contractual | |||
consideration | Dilapidations | warranty | and other | Total | |
£m | £m | £m | £m | £m | |
At 31 March 2024 | 29.2 | 3.6 | 8.0 | 4.9 | 45.7 |
Additional provision in the year | 6.2 | 0.8 | 5.0 | 15.4 | 27.4 |
Arising on acquisition (note 25) | 3.3 | 0.1 | 0.2 | – | 3.6 |
Liabilities of business sold | – | – | – | (0.2) | (0.2) |
Utilised during the year | (10.4) | – | (1.4) | (5.2) | (17.0) |
Released during the year | (0.9) | (0.3) | (1.2) | (0.6) | (3.0) |
Exchange adjustments | (0.4) | – | (0.2) | (0.2) | (0.8) |
At 31 March 2025 | 27.0 | 4.2 | 10.4 | 14.1 | 55.7 |
31 March | 31 March | |
2025 | 2024 | |
£m | £m | |
Other payables | 1.4 | 3.8 |
Other taxation and social security | – | – |
Accruals | 4.2 | 0.7 |
Contract liabilities (note 18) | 18.1 | 18.8 |
Deferred government grant income | 0.8 | 0.6 |
24.5 | 23.9 |
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 2024 | (7.9) | (123.4) | (8.6) | 13.2 | 8.3 | 24.2 | 19.6 | (74.6) |
Credit/(charge) to Consolidated Income | ||||||||
Statement | (0.1) | 14.8 | (1.4) | 11.7 | 1.3 | (8.3) | (2.5) | 15.5 |
Credit/(charge) to Consolidated Statement | ||||||||
of Comprehensive Income | ||||||||
and Expense | 7.4 | – | – | (0.1) | – | – | – | 7.3 |
Credit to equity | – | – | – | – | 0.8 | – | – | 0.8 |
Arising on acquisition | ||||||||
(note 25) | – | (18.5) | – | (0.5) | – | 0.2 | 0.3 | (18.5) |
Disposal of business | – | 0.1 | – | – | – | – | – | 0.1 |
Exchange adjustments | – | 2.7 | 0.2 | (1.9) | – | (0.5) | (0.1) | 0.4 |
At 31 March 2025 | (0.6) | (124.3) | (9.8) | 22.4 | 10.4 | 15.6 | 17.3 | (69.0) |
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 | – | (40.1) | – | (0.6) | – | 9.8 | – | (30.9) |
Disposal of business | – | 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) |
31 March | 31 March | |
2025 | 2024 | |
£m | £m | |
Deferred tax liability | (73.4) | (79.5) |
Deferred tax asset | 4.4 | 4.9 |
Net deferred tax liability | (69.0) | (74.6) |
31 March | 31 March | |
2025 | 2024 | |
£m | £m | |
At beginning of year | (74.6) | (67.2) |
(Charge)/credit to Consolidated Income Statement: | ||
UK | (2.0) | (0.8) |
Overseas | 17.5 | 19.2 |
Charge to Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income | 7.3 | 2.3 |
Credit to equity | 0.8 | 0.6 |
Arising on acquisition (note 25) | (18.8) | (30.9) |
Deferred tax of business sold | 0.1 | 0.5 |
Exchange adjustments | 0.7 | 1.7 |
At end of year | (69.0) | (74.6) |
Issued and fully paid | ||
31 March | 31 March | |
2025 | 2024 | |
£m | £m | |
Ordinary shares of 10p each | 38.0 | 38.0 |
Year ended 31 March 2025 | Year ended 31 March 2024 | |||||
Equity‑settled | Cash‑settled | Total | Equity‑settled | Cash‑settled | Total | |
£m | £m | £m | £m | £m | £m | |
Share incentive plan | 1.0 | – | 1.0 | 1.2 | – | 1.2 |
Executive share plan | 24.7 | 0.6 | 25.3 | 21.7 | – | 21.7 |
25.7 | 0.6 | 26.3 | 22.9 | – | 22.9 |
2025 | 2024 | |
Number | Number | |
of shares | of shares | |
awarded | awarded | |
Outstanding at beginning of year | 3,109,381 | 2,662,100 |
Granted during the year | 1,183,577 | 1,302,974 |
Vested during the year (pro–rated for ‘good leavers’) | (883,967) | (569,806) |
Lapsed during the year | (201,938) | (285,887) |
Outstanding at end of year | 3,207,053 | 3,109,381 |
Exercisable at end of year | – | – |
2025 | 2024 | 2023 | |
Expected life (years) | 2 or 3 | 2 or 3 | 2 or 3 |
Share price on date of grant (p) | 2,356.0 | 2,240.0 | 2,060.0 |
Option price (p) | Nil | Nil | Nil |
Fair value per option (%) | 100% | 100% | 100% |
Fair value per option (p) | 2,356.0 | 2,240.0 | 2,060.0 |
Total | |
£m | |
Non‑current assets | |
Intangible assets | 75.2 |
Property, plant and equipment | 11.0 |
Deferred tax | 0.1 |
Current assets | |
Inventories | 14.0 |
Trade and other receivables | 13.0 |
Corporation tax asset | 0.3 |
Cash and cash equivalents | 10.5 |
Total assets | 124.1 |
Current liabilities | |
Payables | (12.5) |
Borrowings | (46.7) |
Lease liabilities | (0.5) |
Provisions | (0.2) |
Corporation tax liabilities | (0.4) |
Non‑current liabilities | |
Payables | (0.2) |
Lease liabilities | (2.7) |
Provisions | (0.1) |
Deferred tax liabilities | (18.6) |
Total liabilities | (81.9) |
Net assets of businesses acquired | 42.2 |
Initial cash consideration paid | 115.5 |
Other adjustments to consideration | 1.0 |
Other amounts to be paid | 0.7 |
Contingent purchase consideration including retentions estimated to be paid | 3.3 |
Total consideration | 120.5 |
Total goodwill | 78.3 |
Year ended | Year ended | |
31 March | 31 March | |
2025 | 2024 | |
£m | £m | |
Initial cash consideration paid | 115.5 | 247.7 |
Cash acquired on acquisitions | (10.5) | (8.3) |
Initial cash consideration adjustments paid/(received) on current year acquisitions | 1.0 | (2.0) |
Contingent consideration paid | 10.3 | 2.9 |
Net cash outflow relating to acquisitions | 116.3 | 240.3 |
Included in cash flows from operating activities | 0.1 | 1.5 |
Included in cash flows from investing activities | 116.2 | 238.8 |
£m | |
Non‑current assets | |
Intangible assets | 26.1 |
Property, plant and equipment | 0.8 |
Current assets | |
Inventories | 1.8 |
Trade and other receivables | 5.1 |
Corporation tax asset | 0.3 |
Cash and cash equivalents | 1.7 |
Total assets | 35.8 |
Current liabilities | |
Payables | (5.2) |
Borrowings | (38.0) |
Non‑current liabilities | |
Lease liabilities | (0.5) |
Deferred tax liabilities | (6.5) |
Total liabilities | (50.2) |
Net assets of business acquired | (14.4) |
Initial cash consideration paid | 6.3 |
Other adjustments to consideration | 0.3 |
Other amounts to be paid | 0.3 |
Total consideration | 6.9 |
Total goodwill | 21.3 |
£m | |
Non‑current assets | |
Intangible assets | 13.8 |
Property, plant and equipment | 4.3 |
Current assets | |
Inventories | 6.5 |
Trade and other receivables | 2.9 |
Cash and cash equivalents | 5.5 |
Total assets | 33.0 |
Current liabilities | |
Payables | (2.8) |
Borrowings | (5.2) |
Lease liabilities | (0.1) |
Provisions | (0.1) |
Non‑current liabilities | |
Deferred tax liabilities | (2.7) |
Total liabilities | (10.9) |
Net assets of business acquired | 22.1 |
Initial cash consideration paid | 35.2 |
Other adjustments to consideration | (0.6) |
Other amounts paid | 0.4 |
Contingent purchase consideration including retentions estimated to be paid | 0.5 |
Total consideration | 35.5 |
Total goodwill | 13.4 |
£m | |
Non‑current assets | |
Intangible assets | 14.3 |
Property, plant and equipment | 1.2 |
Current assets | |
Inventories | 0.5 |
Trade and other receivables | 0.7 |
Cash and cash equivalents | 0.8 |
Total assets | 17.5 |
Current liabilities | |
Payables | (0.7) |
Borrowings | (3.4) |
Lease liabilities | (0.2) |
Non‑current liabilities | |
Lease liabilities | (0.6) |
Provisions | (0.1) |
Deferred tax liabilities | (3.8) |
Total liabilities | (8.8) |
Net assets of business acquired | 8.7 |
Initial cash consideration paid | 21.8 |
Other adjustments to consideration | (0.1) |
Total consideration | 21.7 |
Total goodwill | 13.0 |
£m | |
Non‑current assets | |
Intangible assets | 3.2 |
Current assets | |
Inventories | 0.2 |
Trade and other receivables | 0.4 |
Total assets | 3.8 |
Current liabilities | |
Payables | (0.3) |
Provisions | (0.1) |
Non‑current liabilities | |
Deferred tax liabilities | (0.8) |
Total liabilities | (1.2) |
Net assets of business acquired | 2.6 |
Initial cash consideration paid | 5.4 |
Contingent purchase consideration including retentions estimated to be paid | 2.4 |
Total consideration | 7.8 |
Total goodwill | 5.2 |
£m | |
Non‑current assets | |
Intangible assets | 24.7 |
Property, plant and equipment | 4.1 |
Current assets | |
Inventories | 4.1 |
Trade and other receivables | 2.4 |
Cash and cash equivalents | 2.1 |
Total assets | 37.4 |
Current liabilities | |
Payables | (2.8) |
Corporation tax liabilities | (0.3) |
Lease liabilities | (0.2) |
Borrowings | (0.1) |
Non‑current liabilities | |
Payables | (0.2) |
Lease liabilities | (1.5) |
Deferred tax liabilities | (6.5) |
Total liabilities | (11.6) |
Net assets of business acquired | 25.8 |
Initial cash consideration paid | 41.8 |
Other adjustments to consideration | 1.0 |
Total consideration | 42.8 |
Total goodwill | 17.0 |
£m | |
Non‑current assets | |
Intangible assets | 2.0 |
Property, plant and equipment | 0.1 |
Current assets | |
Inventories | 1.2 |
Trade and other receivables | 1.0 |
Cash and cash equivalents | 0.4 |
Total assets | 4.7 |
Current liabilities | |
Payables | (0.9) |
Corporation tax liabilities | (0.1) |
Non‑current liabilities | |
Lease liabilities | (0.1) |
Deferred tax liabilities | (0.6) |
Total liabilities | (1.7) |
Net assets of business acquired | 3.0 |
Initial cash consideration paid | 5.0 |
Other adjustments to consideration | 0.4 |
Contingent purchase consideration including retentions estimated to be paid | 0.4 |
Total consideration | 5.8 |
Total goodwill | 2.8 |
£m | |
Non‑current assets | |
Intangible assets | (8.9) |
Property, plant and equipment | 0.5 |
Deferred tax asset | 0.1 |
Current assets | |
Inventories | (0.3) |
Trade and other receivables | 0.5 |
Total assets | (8.1) |
Current liabilities | |
Payables | 0.2 |
Non‑current liabilities | |
Deferred tax liabilities | 2.3 |
Total liabilities | 2.5 |
Net adjustment to assets of businesses acquired in prior year | (5.6) |
Adjustment to goodwill | 5.6 |
Year ended | Year ended | |
31 March | 31 March | |
2025 | 2024 | |
£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 | 409.5 | 367.7 |
Non‑cash (loss)/gain on hedging instruments | (0.6) | 0.4 |
Depreciation and impairment of property, plant and equipment | 51.0 | 44.4 |
Amortisation and impairment of computer software | 1.3 | 1.8 |
Amortisation of capitalised development costs and other intangibles | 11.1 | 9.9 |
Impairment of capitalised development costs | 3.1 | 3.0 |
Amortisation of acquired intangible assets | 56.9 | 49.5 |
Share‑based payment expense in excess of amounts paid | 21.9 | 16.9 |
Defined benefit pension plans administration cost less contributions from sponsoring companies | 0.4 | (3.0) |
Profit on sale of property, plant and equipment, capitalised development costs and computer software | (0.2) | (0.2) |
Operating cash flows before movement in working capital | 554.4 | 490.4 |
Decrease in inventories | 12.3 | 19.6 |
Increase in receivables | (20.9) | (46.4) |
Increase in payables and provisions | 44.7 | 13.8 |
Increase/(reduction) to estimate and exchange difference on contingent consideration payable | ||
less amounts paid in excess of payable estimated on acquisition | 5.2 | (5.2) |
Cash generated from operations | 595.7 | 472.2 |
Taxation paid | (103.3) | (87.2) |
Net cash inflow from operating activities | 492.4 | 385.0 |
Year ended | Year ended | |
31 March | 31 March | |
2025 | 2024 | |
£m | £m | |
Analysis of cash and cash equivalents | ||
Cash and bank balances | 313.2 | 142.7 |
Overdrafts (included in current borrowings) | (0.5) | (0.3) |
Cash and cash equivalents | 312.7 | 142.4 |
Net | Net | ||||||
31 March | cash/(debt) | cash/(debt) | Additions and | Exchange | 31 March | ||
2024 | Cash flow | acquired | disposed | reclassifications | adjustments | 2025 | |
£m | £m | £m | £m | £m | £m | £m | |
Analysis of net debt | |||||||
Cash and bank balances | 142.7 | 164.3 | 10.5 | (1.2) | – | (3.1) | 313.2 |
Overdrafts | (0.3) | (0.2) | – | – | – | – | (0.5) |
Cash and cash equivalents | 142.4 | 164.1 | 10.5 | (1.2) | – | (3.1) | 312.7 |
Loan notes falling due within one year | – | (35.0) | (0.1) | – | – | – | (35.1) |
Loan notes falling due after more than one year | (370.9) | (300.8) | – | – | – | 11.8 | (659.9) |
Bank loans falling due within one year | – | 46.6 | (46.6) | – | – | – | – |
Bank loans falling due after more than one year | (341.0) | 298.1 | – | – | – | (1.0) | (43.9) |
Lease liabilities | (83.7) | 28.8 | (3.2) | 0.8 | (54.1) | 1.8 | (109.6) |
Total net debt | (653.2) | 201.8 | (39.4) | (0.4) | (54.1) | 9.5 | (535.8) |
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 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 |
Cash flows from financing activities | (8.9) | (28.8) | – | (37.7) | (33.0) |
Acquisition/disposal of subsidiaries | 46.7 | 2.4 | – | 49.1 | 12.0 |
Exchange adjustments | (10.8) | (1.8) | – | (12.6) | (4.2) |
Other changes** | – | 54.1 | 0.2 | 54.3 | 72.0 |
At 31 March 2025 | 738.9 | 109.6 | 0.5 | 849.0 | 343.3 |
Assets | Liabilities | |||
31 March | 31 March | 31 March | 31 March | |
2025 | 2024 | 2025 | 2024 | |
£m | £m | £m | £m | |
US Dollar – Total | 1,325.1 | 1,323.3 | 441.7 | 389.3 |
US Dollar – Monetary assets/liabilities | 299.7 | 266.1 | 407.1 | 367.2 |
Euro – Total | 683.6 | 616.0 | 518.2 | 450.6 |
Euro – Monetary assets/liabilities | 103.3 | 89.1 | 515.5 | 449.9 |
US Dollar | Euro | |||
31 March | 31 March | 31 March | 31 March | |
2025 | 2024 | 2025 | 2024 | |
£m | £m | £m | £m | |
Profit | 25.4 | 19.7 | 6.1 | 5.2 |
Other equity | 80.3 | 84.9 | 15.0 | 15.0 |
31 March | 31 March | |
2025 | 2024 | |
£m | £m | |
Sterling denominated bank loans | – | – |
US Dollar denominated bank loans | – | 83.9 |
Euro denominated bank loans | – | 213.2 |
Swiss Franc denominated bank loans | 43.9 | 43.9 |
Total bank loans | 43.9 | 341.0 |
Overdrafts (principally Sterling and US Dollar denominated) | 0.5 | 0.3 |
Sterling denominated loan notes | 120.0 | 120.0 |
US Dollar denominated loan notes | 162.9 | 79.2 |
Euro denominated loan notes | 377.0 | 136.6 |
Swiss Franc denominated loan notes | 35.1 | 35.1 |
Total overdrafts and loan notes | 695.5 | 371.2 |
Total interest‑bearing financial liabilities | 739.4 | 712.2 |
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 | 2025 | 2024 | 2025 | 2024 | 2025 | 2024 | |
2025 | 2024 | m | m | £m | £m | £m | £m | |
Foreign currency forward contracts | ||||||||
not in a designated cash flow hedge | ||||||||
US Dollars vs GBP | – | 1.27 | – | 0.5 | – | 0.4 | – | – |
Euros vs GBP | 1.20 | 1.17 | 0.3 | 5.8 | 0.3 | 4.9 | – | – |
Other currencies | – | – | – | – | 18.5 | 18.9 | (0.1) | (0.6) |
Foreign currency forward contracts | 18.8 | 24.2 | (0.1) | (0.6) | ||||
in a designated cash flow hedge | ||||||||
US Dollars vs GBP | 1.27 | 1.26 | 14.8 | 15.9 | 11.5 | 12.6 | 0.2 | 0.1 |
Euros vs GBP | 1.17 | 1.15 | 25.3 | 29.6 | 21.2 | 25.3 | 0.2 | 0.2 |
Other currencies | – | – | – | – | 15.9 | 9.8 | 0.2 | (0.2) |
Total foreign currency forward contracts | 48.6 | 47.7 | 0.6 | 0.1 | ||||
US Dollars vs GBP | 1.27 | 1.26 | 14.8 | 16.4 | 11.5 | 13.0 | 0.2 | 0.1 |
Euros vs GBP | 1.17 | 1.15 | 25.6 | 35.4 | 21.4 | 30.2 | 0.2 | 0.2 |
Other currencies | – | – | – | – | 34.5 | 28.7 | 0.1 | (0.8) |
67.4 | 71.9 | 0.5 | (0.5) | |||||
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 | 67.4 | 267.2 | 0.5 | (1.9) | ||||
Amounts recognised in the Consolidated Income Statement | (0.1) | (0.6) | ||||||
Amounts recognised in the Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income and Expenditure | 0.6 | (1.3) | ||||||
0.5 | (1.9) |
31 March | 31 March | |
2025 | 2024 | |
£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 | 1.1 | (0.8) |
Amounts recognised in the Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income and Expenditure | 0.6 | (1.3) |
Net movement in the Hedging reserve in the year in relation to the effective portion of changes | ||
in fair value of cash flow hedges | 1.7 | (2.1) |
Between | After | Effect of | ||||
One to | two and | more than | Gross | discounting/ | ||
two years | five years | five years | maturities | financing rates | Total | |
£m | £m | £m | £m | £m | £m | |
At 31 March 2025 | ||||||
Accruals | 3.0 | – | 1.2 | 4.2 | – | 4.2 |
Other payables | 0.8 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 1.4 | – | 1.4 |
Contingent purchase consideration | 3.9 | – | – | 3.9 | – | 3.9 |
Bank loans | – | 43.9 | – | 43.9 | – | 43.9 |
Loan notes | 69.5 | 253.8 | 467.2 | 790.5 | (130.6) | 659.9 |
Lease liabilities | 28.0 | 63.5 | 28.1 | 119.6 | (33.1) | 86.5 |
105.2 | 361.5 | 496.8 | 963.5 | (163.7) | 799.8 |
Between | After | Effect of | ||||
One to | two and | more 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 |
Current | After 10 pp shift | |
expected | in weighting | |
future | towards upside | |
cash flow | expectation | |
£m | £m | |
VIR | 0.2 | 0.2 |
Safe‑com | 2.2 | 2.3 |
Plant, | |||
Land | equipment | ||
and | and | ||
buildings | vehicles | Total | |
£m | £m | £m | |
Cost, net of accumulated depreciation and accumulated impairment | |||
At 1 April 2024 | 73.1 | 6.3 | 79.4 |
Assets of businesses acquired | 3.3 | 0.1 | 3.4 |
Additions | 44.6 | 4.5 | 49.1 |
Transfer between category | – | – | – |
Disposals and retirements (including disposal of business) | (1.5) | (0.2) | (1.7) |
Depreciation charge for the year | (22.1) | (2.8) | (24.9) |
Exchange adjustments | (0.7) | (0.2) | (0.9) |
At 31 March 2025 | 96.7 | 7.7 | 104.4 |
At 31 March 2025 | |||
Cost | 195.9 | 12.4 | 208.3 |
Accumulated depreciation and accumulated impairment | (99.2) | (4.7) | (103.9) |
Net carrying amount | 96.7 | 7.7 | 104.4 |
Year ended | Year ended | |
31 March | 31 March | |
2025 | 2024 | |
£m | £m | |
At 1 April 2024 | 83.7 | 87.9 |
Additions and remeasurements | 49.5 | 15.2 |
Disposals | (0.8) | – |
Accretion of interest | 4.6 | 3.2 |
Payments | (28.8) | (24.1) |
Liabilities of business acquired (note 25) | 3.2 | 3.2 |
Exchange adjustments | (1.8) | (1.7) |
At 31 March 2025 | 109.6 | 83.7 |
Current | 23.1 | 19.5 |
Non‑current | 86.5 | 64.2 |
At 31 March 2025 | 109.6 | 83.7 |
Year ended | Year ended | |
31 March | 31 March | |
2025 | 2024 | |
£m | £m | |
Depreciation expense of right‑of‑use assets | 24.9 | 19.8 |
Interest expense on lease liabilities | 4.6 | 3.2 |
Expense relating to short‑term leases and leases of low‑value assets | 0.3 | 0.3 |
Total amount recognised in Consolidated Income Statement | 29.8 | 23.3 |
31 March | 31 March | 31 March | |
2025 | 2024 | 2023 | |
Key assumptions used (UK plans): | |||
Discount rate | 5.70% | 4.75% | 4.75% |
Pension increases LPI 2.5% | 2.05% | 2.05% | 2.10% |
Pension increases LPI 3.0% | 2.30% | 2.35% | 2.45% |
Inflation – RPI | 3.05% | 3.15% | 3.30% |
Inflation – CPI | 2.30% | 2.40% | 2.50% |
31 March | 31 March | 31 March | |
2025 | 2024 | 2023 | |
Years | Years | Years | |
Retiring today: | |||
Males | 21.5 | 22.1 | 22.3 |
Females | 23.7 | 24.5 | 24.7 |
Retiring in 25 years: | |||
Males | 22.8 | 23.6 | 23.8 |
Females | 25.1 | 26.0 | 26.2 |
Assumption | Change in assumption | Impact on plan liabilities |
Discount rate | Increase/decrease by 0.5% | Decrease by 6.1%/increase by 5.6% |
Rate of inflation | Increase/decrease by 0.5% | Increase by 2.8%/decrease by 3.1% |
Life expectancy | Increase by one year | Increase by 2.9% |
31 March 2025 | 31 March 2024 | |||||
UK defined | Other defined | UK defined | Other defined | |||
benefit plans | benefit plans | Total | benefit plans | benefit plans | Total | |
£m | £m | £m | £m | £m | £m | |
Current service cost | – | 0.8 | 0.8 | – | 0.6 | 0.6 |
Net interest credit on pension plan assets/liabilities | (1.5) | – | (1.5) | (1.9) | – | (1.9) |
(1.5) | 0.8 | (0.7) | (1.9) | 0.6 | (1.3) |
31 March 2025 | 31 March 2024 | |||||
UK defined | Other defined | UK defined | Other defined | |||
benefit plans | benefit plans | Total | benefit plans | benefit plans | Total | |
£m | £m | £m | £m | £m | £m | |
Present value of defined benefit obligations | (199.9) | (14.6) | (214.5) | (233.9) | (13.7) | (247.6) |
Fair value of plan assets | 203.1 | 13.4 | 216.5 | 265.9 | 12.6 | 278.5 |
Net retirement benefit asset/(obligation) | 3.2 | (1.2) | 2.0 | 32.0 | (1.1) | 30.9 |
Plans with net retirement benefit assets | 4.0 | – | 4.0 | 32.0 | – | 32.0 |
Plans with net retirement benefit obligations | (0.8) | (1.2) | (2.0) | – | (1.1) | (1.1) |
Year ended | Year ended | |
31 March | 31 March | |
2025 | 2024 | |
£m | £m | |
At beginning of year | (247.6) | (246.8) |
Service cost | (0.8) | (0.6) |
Interest cost | (11.1) | (11.3) |
Remeasurement gains/(losses): | ||
Actuarial gains arising from changes in financial assumptions | 25.6 | 2.5 |
Actuarial gains arising from changes in demographic assumptions | 5.4 | 2.2 |
Actuarial losses arising from experience adjustments | 4.0 | (0.8) |
Contributions from plan members | (0.4) | (0.4) |
Benefits paid | 10.4 | 7.4 |
Exchange adjustments | – | 0.2 |
At end of year | (214.5) | (247.6) |
Year ended | Year ended | |
31 March | 31 March | |
2025 | 2024 | |
£m | £m | |
At beginning of year | 278.5 | 284.7 |
Administration cost | (1.0) | (0.6) |
Interest income | 12.6 | 13.2 |
Actuarial losses excluding interest income | (65.0) | (15.9) |
Contributions from the sponsoring companies | 1.4 | 4.4 |
Contributions from plan members | 0.4 | 0.4 |
Benefits paid | (10.4) | (7.4) |
Exchange adjustments | – | (0.3) |
At end of year | 216.5 | 278.5 |
Year ended | Year ended | |
31 March | 31 March | |
2025 | 2024 | |
£m | £m | |
Defined benefit obligations | 35.0 | 3.9 |
Fair value of plan assets | (65.0) | (15.9) |
Net actuarial losses | (30.0) | (12.0) |
31 March | 31 March | |
2025 | 2024 | |
£m | £m | |
Equity instruments | ||
Quoted | – | 6.2 |
Debt instruments | ||
Quoted | – | 208.5 |
Unquoted | – | 24.8 |
Property/infrastructure | ||
Unquoted | – | 23.2 |
Cash and cash equivalent | ||
Unquoted | 5.0 | 3.2 |
Assets held by insurance company | ||
Unquoted | 198.1 | – |
203.1 | 265.9 |
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 2025 | |||||
Halma | 9.5 | 9.4 | 32.3 | 58.1 | 109.3 |
Apollo | 1.5 | 1.9 | 5.6 | 13.6 | 22.6 |
Total | |
£m | |
Proceeds of disposal | 7.5 |
Less: net assets on disposal | (3.2) |
Less: allocation of goodwill disposed | (2.0) |
Less: costs of disposal | (0.4) |
Add: translation reserve recycled to profit and loss | 1.1 |
Profit on disposal | 3.0 |
Year ended | Year ended | |
31 March | 31 March | |
2025 | 2024 | |
£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 | |
2025 | 2024 | |
£m | £m | |
Wages and salaries | 13.7 | 12.5 |
Pension costs | – | – |
Share‑based payment charge | 7.7 | 5.0 |
21.4 | 17.5 |