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Report and financial statements
The directors submit their report and the audited financial statements
for the year ended 31 December 2002. For the purposes of this report,
the expression "Company" means Elementis plc and the expression
"Group" means the Company and its subsidiaries.
Issue of redeemable B shares
At the Annual General Meeting held on 28 April 2000, shareholders
conferred authority on the Board to issue redeemable B shares. The
total nominal value of redeemable B shares issued to shareholders
during the year was 2.1 pence per ordinary share. The Board intends
to issue further redeemable B shares to ordinary shareholders on
the register on 28 April 2003, such that they receive redeemable
B shares with a total nominal value of 1.1 pence for each ordinary
share held. This will be coupled with an offer to redeem these new
shares for cash at their nominal value on 2 May 2003. A further
offer will also be made to existing holders of redeemable B shares
to redeem these shares for cash at their nominal value on 2 May
2003.
Results and dividend
The Group loss for the year attributable to shareholders amounted
to £30.8 million (2001: profit of £4.6 million). No ordinary interim
or final dividends have been declared. Holders of redeemable B shares
are entitled to a non-cumulative preferential dividend at a rate
of 75 per cent of six month sterling LIBOR payable six monthly in
arrears; the charge to the profit and loss account in 2002 in respect
of these dividends was £nil (2001: £0.1 million).
Principal activities, business review and
future development
The Chairman's statement and the Chief Executive's report contain
a review and description of the principal activities of the Group
during 2002, references to recent events and likely future developments.
Companies throughout the Group undertake, on a continuing basis,
research and development of new products and improvement of existing
products.
Group turnover and profit is analysed by activity and geographically
in the notes to the financial statements.
Donations and contributions
During the year, the Group donated £17,217 for charitable purposes
in the United Kingdom.
Political donations
Elementis has no affiliation to any political party or group in
any country and makes no political donations.
Directors
The present directors of the Company are Jonathan Fry, Geoff Gaywood,
Brian Taylorson, Philip Brown, Michael Hartnall, Richard McNeel
and Edward Wilson. All served throughout the financial year with
the exception of Brian Taylorson who was appointed on 2 April 2002.
George Fairweather resigned as a director on 31 March 2002.
A statement of the directors' interests in the share capital of
the Company is set out in the Directors' remuneration report.
Employee communications and involvement
It is Group policy to communicate with all employees on major matters
to encourage them to take a wider interest in the affairs of their
employing company and the Group. This is done in a variety of ways
including in-house newspapers, bulletins and briefing sessions.
The Company operates savings related share option schemes allowing
UK and US employees an opportunity to become shareholders.
Employment policies
The Group is committed to the principle of equal opportunity in
employment, regardless of a person's race, creed, colour, nationality,
gender, age, marital status or disability. Employment policies are
fair, equitable and consistent with the skills and abilities of
the employees and the needs of the Group's businesses.
These policies ensure that everyone is accorded equal opportunity
for recruitment, training and promotion. Where an employee becomes
disabled whilst employed by a Group company, every effort is made
to allow that person to continue in employment.
Creditor days
Since the Company has no trade creditors, the disclosure of creditor
days does not apply.
Policy on payment of suppliers
The Group applies a policy of agreeing payment terms with each of
its major suppliers and abides by these terms, subject to satisfactory
performance by the suppliers.
Substantial shareholders
The Company has been advised of the following notifiable interests
in the issued ordinary capital of the Company as at the close of
business on 21 February 2003:
 |
 |
 |
 |
| |
Ordinary
shares
million |
Percentage of
issued ordinary
share capital |
 |
| Silchester International Investors
Limited |
64,388,539 |
14.9% |
 |
| Fidelity International Limited
& FMR Corp |
37,072,587 |
8.6% |
 |
| Legal and General Investment Management
Limited |
13,714,842 |
3.2% |
 |
Auditors
Following the conversion of our auditors PricewaterhouseCoopers
to a limited liability partnership (LLP) from 1 January 2003, PricewaterhouseCoopers
resigned on 23 January 2003 and the directors' appointed its successor,
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as auditors. A resolution to re-appoint
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as auditors of the Company will be proposed
at the forthcoming Annual General Meeting to be held on 24 April
2003.
By order of the Board
Philip Brown
Company Secretary
27 February 2003
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