We believe that effective governance is the foundation of a successful and sustainable organisation and should be based upon an appropriate level of oversight, clear communication and a commitment to transparency.
Our corporate governance is described in our Annual Report and Corporate Governance Report, which are available to download below.
The following text is an extract from our 2018 Annual Report:
The Board is responsible for the oversight, leadership and control of the Group and its long-term success. There is a formal schedule of matters reserved to the Board for decision. This includes approval of Group strategic plans, annual budgets, financial statements, significant contracts and capital expenditure items, major acquisitions and disposals, changes to capital structure, circulars, Board appointments, and the review of the Group’s corporate governance arrangements and system of internal control, and approval of policies including corporate responsibility and health and safety. The Board is also responsible for instilling the appropriate culture, values and behaviour throughout the Group. The Directors acknowledge that they are responsible for the proper stewardship of the Group’s affairs, both on an individual and collective basis. The matters and agenda reserved for Board consideration reflect this responsibility.
The roles of the Chairman and the Group Chief Executive Officer are separate with a clear division of responsibility between them, which is set out in writing and which has been approved by the Board. The Chairman has responsibility for the management of the Board, the performance of Directors and their induction, development and performance evaluation, ensuring there are effective relations with shareholders and for the AGM. The Chief Executive is responsible, within the authority limits delegated by the Board, for business strategy and management, investment and financing, risk management and controls, timely reporting, making recommendations on remuneration policy and on the appointment of executive directors, setting Group HR policies and leading the communications programme with shareholders.
The Board delegates responsibility for the management of the Group through the Group Chief Executive Officer to executive management. The Board also delegates some of its responsibilities to Board Committees, details of which are set out below.
The Chief Executive has full day-to-day operational and profit responsibility for the Group and is accountable to the Board for all authority delegated to executive management. His overall brief is to execute agreed strategy, to co-ordinate and maintain the continued profitability of the Group and to oversee senior management responsible for the day-to-day running of the business.
Non-executive Directors are expected to constructively challenge management proposals and to examine and review management performance in meeting agreed objectives and targets. In addition, they are expected to draw on their own specific experience and knowledge in respect of any challenges facing the Group and in relation to the development of proposals on strategy.
Individual Directors may seek independent professional advice at the Company’s expense where they judge it necessary to discharge their responsibilities as Directors.
The Group has a policy in place which indemnifies the Directors in respect of certain legal actions taken against them.
The primary purpose of the Board is to help create and maintain the conditions which promote the long term success of the business for the benefit of both shareholders and the wider stakeholder base. In order to do so effectively, the Board requires members with a broad range of skills and experience and the ability to both support and challenge the executive management.
The Board believes that the current Directors bring the necessary range of skills, knowledge and experience so as to provide leadership, control and oversight of management while contributing to the development and implementation of the Group’s strategy. The biographical details of the current Directors are set out on pages 64 and 65. The Board regards the number of non-executive Directors currently appointed to the Board as sufficient to ensure effective oversight of the Group’s management and to enable its Committees to operate without undue reliance on individual non-executive Directors.
While the Board’s current composition includes a strong balance of skills and experience, the Board recognises the positive impact new appointments can bring to the Group. As such, the Board is committed to an ongoing programme for Board refreshment and renewal, with a particular focus on diversity and industry experience. In pursuing its programme for Board refreshment, the Nomination Committee is cognisant that finding and recruiting Directors with the skills and experience needed to challenge the breadth of the Group’s business can require a longer lead time.
Over the past two years, consistent with that commitment to Board refreshment, we have appointed three new non-executive Directors – Jim Clerkin and Geoffrey Hemphill during 2017 and Vincent Crowley during 2016 – to the Board with diverse backgrounds and experience. This serves to bring fresh thinking to the Board yet preserves a proportion of the membership with an in-depth understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing the business, all of which provides the platform for fruitful discussions with the management team. The average tenure of the non-executive Directors on the Board is currently five years (based on the date of their first election to the Board).
In line with the UK Code, it is Board policy that at least half the Board, excluding the Chairman, shall consist of independent non-executive Directors. The Board has reviewed its composition and has determined that of the Directors as at the date of this report, Emer Finnan, Richard Holroyd, Geoffrey Hemphill, Stewart Gilliland, Jim Clerkin and Vincent Crowley are independent.
The independence of Board members is considered annually. In determining the independence of non-executive Directors, the Board considered the principles relating to independence contained in the UK Code and the guidance provided by a number of shareholder voting agencies. Those principles and guidance address a number of factors that might appear to affect the independence of Directors, including former service as an executive of the Group, extended service to the Board and cross-directorships. However, they also make clear that a Director may be considered independent notwithstanding the presence of one or more of these factors. This reflects the Board’s view that independence is determined by a Director’s character and judgment. The Board considers that each of the non-executive Directors brings independent judgment to bear.
Given his length of service, the Board conducted a particularly thorough review of the continued independence of Richard Holroyd. Subsequent to that assessment, the Board is satisfied that Richard’s independence has not been compromised by his length of service. As part of this assessment, the Board considered his concurrent tenure with the executive Directors, as well as his continuing performance in scrutinising management decisions. The Board also recognises that his professional experience and long-term perspective on the Group’s business is hugely valuable to the work of the Board.
At the date of the 2018 AGM, Richard will have served on the Board concurrently with the Group’s Chief Executive Officer, the longest serving executive Director, for nine years (since his first election to the Board). The Board recognises the principles of the UK Code and guidelines on tenure but is satisfied that the objectivity, judgment and independence of each of the Directors, and the Board as a whole, is not compromised by any individual’s tenure on the Board. As part of that review, the Board considered – among other factors – the staggered refreshment and orderly succession of the Board, as it serves to ensure diverse and fresh perspectives are brought to the Board while preserving continuity and the knowledge and understanding of the business as a whole.
Sir Brian Stewart has been Chairman of the Group since August 2010. The Chairman is responsible for the efficient and effective working of the Board. He is responsible for ensuring that the Board considers the key strategic issues facing the Group and that the Directors receive accurate, timely, relevant and clear information. He also ensures that there is effective communication with shareholders and that the Board is apprised of the views of the Group’s shareholders. As part of this process, the Chairman partakes annually in a series of meetings, focused solely on corporate governance, with a number of the Group’s largest institutional shareholders.
Richard Holroyd is the Group’s Senior Independent Director. He is available to shareholders who have concerns for which contact through the normal channels of Chairman, Group Chief Executive Officer or Group Chief Financial Officer has failed to resolve or for which such contact is inappropriate. He is also available to meet shareholders on request.
The Audit Committee has determined that Emer Finnan, who also chairs the Committee, is the Audit Committee financial expert. Emer is a qualified chartered accountant and has recent and relevant financial expertise.
The Company’s Articles of Association require that at least one-third of the Directors subject to rotation shall retire by rotation at the Annual General Meeting in every year. Directors appointed by the Board must also submit themselves for election at the first annual general meeting following their appointment. However, in accordance with the recommendations of the UK Code, the Directors have resolved that they will all retire and submit themselves for re-election by the shareholders at the Annual General Meeting this year.
The non-executive Directors are engaged under the terms of letters of appointment, details of which are set out in the Report of the Remuneration Committee on Directors’ Remuneration. Copies of the letters of appointment are available on request from the Company Secretary.
Mark Chilton is the Company Secretary. All Directors have access to the Company Secretary, who is responsible to the Board for ensuring that Board procedures are complied with. The appointment and removal of the Company Secretary is a matter for the Board.
The non-executive Directors are engaged under the terms of letters of appointment, details of which are set out in the Report of the Remuneration Committee on Directors’ Remuneration. Copies of the letters of appointment are available on request from the Company Secretary.
The Company’s Articles of Association require that at least one-third of the Directors subject to rotation shall retire by rotation at the Annual General Meeting in every year. Directors appointed by the Board must also submit themselves for election at the first annual general meeting following their appointment. However, in accordance with the recommendations of the UK Code, the Directors have resolved that they will all retire and submit themselves for re-election by the shareholders at the Annual General Meeting this year.
A comprehensive tailored induction programme is arranged for each new Director. The aim of the programme is to provide the Director with a detailed insight into the Group. The programme involves meeting with the Chairman, Group Chief Executive Officer, Group Chief Financial Officer, Group Chief Operating Officer, Company Secretary and key senior executives. It covers areas such as strategy and development, organisation structure, succession planning, financing, corporate responsibility and compliance, investor relations and risk management. The Board receives regular updates from its external legal and other advisers in relation to regulatory and accounting developments. Throughout the year, Directors meet with key executives and meet with local management teams, and a site visit for all Board Directors to one of the Group’s operations facilities is normally scheduled annually.
Newly-appointed members of the Audit Committee will meet with the key members of the external audit, internal audit and finance teams. New members of the Remuneration Committee will meet with the Committee’s remuneration consultants in the year of their appointment to the Committee.
The Board recognises that there may be clear benefits if executive Directors accept a non-executive directorship with other companies to broaden their skills, knowledge and experience. Joris Brams is currently a non-executive director at Democo NV, a Belgian construction company.
Apart from him, currently none of the executive Directors has such an appointment. The Remuneration Committee determines whether Directors should be permitted to retain any fees paid in respect of such appointments. The Remuneration Committee has determined that Joris Brams is permitted to retain fees from his appointment.
During the period under review there were 8 scheduled meetings of the Board and a further 2 short notice meetings. Details of Directors’ attendance at these meetings are set out in the table on page 80. Several ad hoc meetings were held during the year for administrative matters in accordance with the Board procedures. In addition, the members of the Board met without the executive Directors present to provide an opportunity for non-executive Directors and the Chairman to assess their performance, and a further meeting of the non-executive Directors led by the Senior Independent Director was held without the Chairman being present to assess the Chairman’s performance.
The Chairman sets the agenda for each meeting in consultation with the Group Chief Executive Officer and the Company Secretary. The agenda and Board papers, which provide the Directors with relevant information to enable them to fully consider the agenda items in advance, are circulated prior to each meeting. Directors are encouraged to participate in debate and constructive challenge. While Directors are expected to attend all scheduled meetings, in the event a Director is unable to attend a meeting, his or her view on all agenda items is sought and conveyed to the Chairman in advance of the meeting. In addition, following the meeting, matters discussed and decisions made at the meeting are conveyed to the Director.
The Board recognises the importance of a formal and rigorous evaluation of the performance of the Board and its Committees. The Chairman conducts an annual review of corporate governance and the operation and performance of the Board and its Committees. In the year under review, the Chairman has reviewed the performance of individual Directors and, within the remit of the Nomination Committee, succession planning, identifying in this process the experience and qualities required by the Group for the future implementation of its strategy.
The Chairman conducts one to one discussions each year with each Director to assess his or her individual performance. Performance is assessed against a number of criteria, including his or her contribution to Board and Committee meetings; time commitments; contribution to strategic developments; and relationships with other Directors and management.
The Senior Independent Director and the other non-executive Directors review the Chairman’s performance and the Board’s performance each year, the results being reported back to the Chairman with any recommendations.
In 2015, the Board also engaged an external advisor to complete an independent evaluation of the performance and effectiveness of the Board and each of the Committees. This evaluation is in line with the recommendations of the UK Code which requires an external Board evaluation to be conducted at least once every three years. The company engaged to perform the evaluation has no business connection or relationship with the Group, its directors or senior management. The next independent evaluation is due to be held in 2018. As there have been a number of recent changes to the Board, it was felt that it would be more appropriate to wait until later in 2018 to conduct the external evaluation and it will therefore be held towards the end of the year.
The Board is committed to providing a fair, balanced and understandable assessment of the Company’s position and prospects.
Responsibility for reviewing the Group’s internal financial control, financial risk management systems and risk evaluation procedures and monitoring the integrity of the Group’s financial statements has been delegated by the Board to the Audit Committee. Details of how these responsibilities were discharged is set out in the Audit Committee Report on pages 76 to 79.
The Board receives regular updates from the Chair of the Audit Committee.
Details of remuneration paid to Directors (executive and non-executive) are set out in the Report of the Remuneration Committee on Directors’ Remuneration on pages 84 to 107.
Non-executive Directors are remunerated by way of a Director’s fee. Additional fees are also payable to the Chairman of the Audit Committee, Chairman of the Remuneration Committee and to the Senior Independent Director. Non-executive Directors’ fees and additional fees payable to Committee Chairmen and the Senior Independent Director have not been increased since 2008.
It is Board policy that non-executive Director remuneration does not comprise any performance-related element and, therefore, non-executive Directors are not eligible to participate in the Group’s bonus schemes, option plans or share award schemes. Non-executive Directors’ fees are not pensionable and non-executive Directors are not eligible to join any Group pension plans. Executive Directors’ remuneration is inclusive of any Director’s fee.
The current limit under the Articles on Directors’ ordinary remuneration (i.e. directors’ fees, not including executive remuneration) is €1,000,000, pursuant to a resolution passed at the 2013 Annual General Meeting.
The report of the Remuneration Committee and the Policy on Directors’ Remuneration will be presented to shareholders for the purposes of a non-binding advisory vote at the Annual General Meeting on 5 July 2018. While there is no legal obligation for the Group to put such a resolution to a vote of shareholders at the Annual General Meeting, the Board recognises that such resolutions are now considered good governance practice.
The Company has share ownership guidelines for the executive Directors to ensure the interests of executive Directors are aligned with those of shareholders. In summary, the guidelines are that the current market value of shares in the Company held by the relevant Director should be at least two times salary for the Group Chief Executive Officer and one times salary for other executive Directors. If share ownership guidelines are not met, then individuals must retain up to 50% of vested share awards (net of tax). Further information including details of Directors’ shareholdings is set out on page 103.
The Group has a policy on dealing in shares that applies to all Directors. Under this policy, Directors are required to obtain clearance from the Chairman (or in the case of the Chairman himself, from the Senior Independent Director) before dealing. Directors are prohibited from dealing in the Company’s shares during closed periods and at any other time when the individual is in possession of inside information.
The Board has established three permanent committees to assist in the execution of its responsibilities. These are the Audit Committee, the Nomination Committee and the Remuneration Committee. The current membership of each committee is set out on page 64. Attendance at meetings held is set out in the table on page 80.
Each of the permanent Board Committees has terms of reference under which authority is delegated to them by the Board. These terms of reference are available on the Company’s website www.candcgroupplc.com. Minutes of all Committee meetings are circulated to the entire Board.
The Chairman of each Committee attends the Annual General Meeting and is available to answer questions from shareholders.
The Board has also established a Disclosure Committee comprising the Chairman, the Group Chief Executive Officer, the Group Chief Financial Officer and the Company Secretary. The Head of Investor Relations may also participate where required. The main responsibilities of the Disclosure Committee include:
Ad hoc committees are formed from time to time to deal with other specific matters.
The constitution of the Audit Committee requires that its membership shall consist only of independent, non-executive Directors. The members are Emer Finnan (Chairman), Geoffrey Hemphill and Vincent Crowley. As set out on page 73, the Audit Committee has determined that Emer Finnan, who also chairs the Committee, is the Audit Committee financial expert; and the Board is satisfied that the Committee – as a whole – has relevant sector experience.
The Committee meets a minimum of four times a year. During the period under review it met six times. Attendance at meetings held is set out in the table on page 80.
The Group Chief Financial Officer attends Audit Committee meetings as appropriate, while the internal auditor and the external auditor attend as required and have direct access to the Audit Committee Chairman. The Group Director of Statutory Accounting and Tax is the secretary of the Audit Committee.
The role, responsibilities, authority and duties of the Audit Committee are set out in written terms of reference. The current terms of reference are available under the Board Committees section of the Group’s website at www.candcgroupplc.com.
The Audit Committee’s responsibilities include:
The Committee undertakes, in conjunction with the Chairman of the Board, an annual assessment of its performance and a review of the Committee’s constitution and terms of reference.
The activities undertaken by the Committee in fulfilling its key responsibilities in respect of the year ended 28 February 2018 are set out below.
The Group’s system of internal control and risk management is described below.
The terms of reference of the Audit Committee require it to conduct an annual assessment of internal financial controls and financial risk management systems. The risks facing the Group are reviewed regularly by the Audit Committee with executive management. Specific annual reviews of the risks and fundamental controls of each business unit are undertaken. The results and recommendations are reported to and analysed by the Audit Committee and a programme for action agreed with the business units. In carrying out these responsibilities during the year, the Committee reviewed reports issued by both the internal audit function and the external auditor. The Committee held regular discussions with the Head of Internal Audit and representatives of the external auditor. The Committee also reviewed the outcome of an assessment of the Group’s internal financial controls which had been coordinated by the internal audit function.
The Committee is responsible for monitoring and reviewing the operation and effectiveness of the internal audit function including its focus, plans, activities and resources.
The Group’s internal audit function reports to the Audit Committee and the Audit Committee has approved its terms of reference. The Group’s internal auditor is engaged on a programme of work, which includes, inter alia, maintaining the Group’s risk register and examining the fundamental controls of the Group. During the year, the Committee reviewed and approved the internal audit plan for the year.
The Committee received regular reports from the Head of Internal Audit summarising findings of the team’s work and the responses from management to deal with the findings. The Committee monitors progress on the implementation of the action plans on significant findings to ensure these are completed satisfactorily.
The Committee manages the relationship with the Group’s external auditors on behalf of the Board. The Committee carries out an annual assessment of the external auditor including a review of the external auditor’s internal policies and procedures for maintaining independence and objectivity and consideration of their approach to audit quality. With the appointment of new auditors in FY2018, the audit partner will not be required to be rotated until FY2022.
In order to ensure the independence and objectivity of the external auditor, the prior approval of the Audit Committee is required before any individual is appointed to a senior managerial position in the Group, if such individual has within three years prior to such proposed appointment been employed by the external auditor.
The Group has a policy in place governing the provision of non-audit services by the external auditor in order to ensure that the external auditor’s objectivity and independence is safeguarded.
Under this policy the auditor is prohibited from providing non-audit services if the auditor:
Other than above, the Company does not impose an automatic ban on the external auditor providing non-audit services. However, the external auditor is only permitted to provide non-audit services that are not, or are not perceived to be, in conflict with auditor independence and objectivity, if it has the skill, competence and integrity to carry out the work and it is considered by the Audit Committee to be the most appropriate to undertake such work in the best interests of the Group. The engagement of the external auditor to provide non-audit services must be approved in advance by the Audit Committee or entered into pursuant to pre-approved policies and procedures established by the Audit Committee and approved by the Board.
The nature, extent and scope of non-audit services provided to the Group by the external auditor and the economic importance of the Group to the external auditor are also monitored to ensure that the external auditor’s independence and objectivity is not impaired. The Audit Committee has adopted a policy that, except in exceptional circumstances with the prior approval of the Audit Committee, non-audit fees paid to the Group’s auditor should not exceed 100% of audit fees in any one financial year.
During the year, EY did not provide any non-audit advisory services. Details of the amounts paid to EY during the year for audit and other services are set out in note 2 to the financial statements.
In line with best practice, the Group supports an independent and confidential whistle-blowing service which allows all employees to raise any concerns about business practice in a confidential manner.
The Nomination Committee is chaired by the Group Chairman and its constitution requires it to consist of a majority of independent, non-executive Directors. The members are Sir Brian Stewart (Chairman), Vincent Crowley and Richard Holroyd.
The Committee meets a minimum of twice a year and met five times in the year ended 28 February 2018. Attendance at meetings held is set out in the table on page 80. In addition, several ad hoc meetings were held to progress initiatives.
The Nomination Committee’s current terms of reference are available under the Board Committees section of the Group’s website at www.candcgroupplc.com. The Nomination Committee’s responsibilities include:
The Nomination Committee and the Board recognise the importance of ensuring diversity, including gender, and the key role that a diverse Board plays in ensuring effectiveness. Suitable candidates are selected on the basis of their relevant experience, employment background, skills, knowledge and insight, having due regard for the benefits of diversity to the Board.
The Committee and the Board further realise that diversity extends beyond the Board and in this regard seeks to ensure that all recruitment decisions are fair and non-discriminatory.
The Nomination Committee is empowered to use the services of independent consultants to facilitate the search for suitable candidates for appointment as non-executive Directors.
During FY2018, Spencer Stuart, an independent executive search firm, assisted in the search process for non-executive Director candidates with relevant experience and skills and provided assistance in relation to the appointment of Jim Clerkin and Geoffrey Hemphill. Spencer Stuart has no other connection with the Group.
The Remuneration Committee comprises solely of independent, non-executive Directors. The Chairman is Stewart Gilliland, and the other members are Richard Holroyd and Vincent Crowley.
The Remuneration Committee meets at least twice a year. During the period under review the Remuneration Committee met five times. Attendance at meetings held is set out in the table below.
The Remuneration Committee’s terms of reference, which are available on the C&C website www.candcgroupplc.com, include:
The Group attaches considerable importance to shareholder communications and has an established investor relations programme.
There is regular dialogue with institutional investors with presentations given to investors at the time of the release of the Group’s first half and full year financial results and when other significant announcements are made. Trading updates were issued in July 2017 and in March 2018. The Board is briefed regularly on the views and concerns of institutional shareholders. The Chairman has recently completed a series of meetings, focused solely on corporate governance, with a number of the Group’s largest institutional shareholders.
The Group’s website, www.candcgroupplc.com, provides the full text of the Annual Report and financial statements, the Interim Report and other releases. News releases are also made available immediately after release to the Stock Exchange. Presentations given to investors and at conferences are also made available on the Company’s website.
The Companies Act, 2014 provides for two types of shareholder meetings: the Annual General Meeting (‘AGM’) with all other meetings being called extraordinary general meetings (‘EGM’).
The Company must hold a general meeting in each year as its AGM in addition to any other general meetings held in that year. Not more than 15 months may elapse between the date of one AGM and the next. An AGM was held on 6 July 2017, and this year’s AGM will be held on 5 July 2018. The Directors may at any time call an EGM. EGMs may also be convened on the requisition of members holding not less than five per cent of the voting share capital of the Company.
No business shall be transacted at any general meeting unless a quorum is present at the time when the meeting proceeds to business. Three members present in person or by proxy and entitled to vote shall be a quorum.
Only those shareholders registered on the Company’s register of members at the prescribed record date, being a date not more than 48 hours before the general meeting to which it relates, are entitled to attend and vote at a general meeting.
Resolutions of the general meeting must be passed by the majority of votes cast (ordinary resolution) unless the Companies Act, 2014 or the Company’s Articles of Association provide for 75% majority of votes cast (special resolution). The Company’s Articles of Association provide that the Chairman has a casting vote in the event of a tie.
Any shareholder who is entitled to attend, speak and vote at a general meeting is entitled to appoint a proxy to attend, speak and vote on his or her behalf. A proxy need not be a member of the Company.
At meetings, unless a poll is demanded, all resolutions are determined on a show of hands, with every shareholder who is present in person or by proxy having one vote. On a poll every shareholder who is present in person or by proxy shall have one vote for each share of which he/she is the holder. A shareholder need not cast all votes in the same way. At the meeting, after each resolution has been dealt with, details are given of the level of proxy votes lodged for and against that resolution and also the level of votes withheld on that resolution.
The Company’s AGM gives shareholders the opportunity to question the Directors. The Company must answer any question a member asks relating to the business being dealt with at the meeting unless answering the question would interfere unduly with the preparation for the general meeting or the confidentiality and business interests of the Company, or the answer has already been given on a website in the form of an answer to a question, or it appears to the Chairman of the meeting that it is undesirable in the interests of good order of the meeting that the question be answered.
The business of the Company is managed by the Directors who may exercise all the powers of the Company unless they are required to be exercised by the Company in general meeting. Matters reserved to shareholders in general meeting include the election of Directors; the payment of dividends; the appointment of the external auditor; amendments to the Articles of Association; measures to increase or reduce the share capital; and the authority to issue shares.
The Board has overall responsibility for the Group’s system of internal control, for reviewing its effectiveness and for confirming that there is a process for identifying, evaluating and managing the significant risks affecting the achievement of the Group’s strategic objectives. The process which has been in place for the entire period and up to the date the financial statements were approved accords with the FRC Guidance published in September 2014 and involves the Board considering the following:
The key elements of the internal control system in operation are as follows:
This system of internal control can only provide reasonable, and not absolute, assurance against material misstatement or loss. The terms of reference of the Audit Committee require it to monitor the effectiveness of the Group’s internal financial controls and risk management systems and at least annually carry out a review of the effectiveness of these systems. The risks facing the Group are reviewed regularly by the Audit Committee with the executive management team. Specific annual reviews of the risks and fundamental controls of each business unit are undertaken on an ongoing basis, the results and recommendations of which are reported to and analysed by the Audit Committee with a programme for action agreed by the business units.
The preparation and issue of financial reports, including consolidated annual financial statements is managed by the Group Finance function with oversight from the Audit Committee. The key features of the Group’s internal control procedures with regard to the preparation of consolidated financial statements are as follows:
The Directors confirm that, in addition to the monitoring carried out by the Audit Committee under its terms of reference, they have reviewed the effectiveness of the Group’s risk management and internal control systems up to and including the date of approval of the financial statements. This review had regard to all material controls, including financial, operational and compliance controls that could affect the Group’s business. The Directors considered the outcome of this review and found the systems satisfactory.
The Directors also confirm that they have carried out a robust assessment of the principal risks facing the company, including those that would threaten its business model, future performance, solvency or liquidity.
