20-F 1 c84401_20f.htm

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

 

FORM 20-F

 

(Mark One)

o REGISTRATION STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(b) OR (g) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

OR

 

þ ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 For the fiscal year ended: December 31, 2015

OR

 

o TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 or 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

OR

 

o SHELL COMPANY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 or 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

Date of event requiring this shell company report: _____

 

For the transition period from _____ to _____

 

Commission file number 001-36723

 

AMEC FOSTER WHEELER PLC

(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

 

England and Wales

(Jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)

 

Amec Foster Wheeler plc, Old Change House, 128 Queen Victoria Street

London EC4V 4BJ, United Kingdom

(Address of principal executive offices)

 

Alison Yapp

General Counsel & Company Secretary

Amec Foster Wheeler plc, 4th Floor, Old Change House, 128 Queen Victoria Street

London EC4V 4BJ, United Kingdom

Tel +44 (0) 20 7429 7500

Fax +44 (0) 20 7429 7550

(Name, Telephone, E-mail and/or Facsimilie number and Address of Company Contact Person)

 

Securities registered or to be registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

 

Title of Each Class Name of each exchange on which registered
American Depositary Shares evidenced by American Depositary Receipts,
each American Depositary Share representing one ordinary share of Amec
Foster Wheeler plc
New York Stock Exchange, Inc.
   
Ordinary shares, nominal value £0.50 per share* New York Stock Exchange, Inc.*

 

 

*Not for trading, but only in connection with the listing of the American Depositary Shares on the New York Stock Exchange, Inc.

 

Securities registered or to be registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None

 

Securities for which there is a reporting obligation pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Act: None

 
 

Indicate the number of outstanding shares of each of the issuer’s classes of capital or common stock as of the close of the period covered by the annual report.

Ordinary shares 393,131,813

 

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.

 

þ Yes o No

 

If this report is an annual or transition report, indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act.

 

o Yes  þ No

 

Note – Checking the box above will not relieve any registrant required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 of 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 from their obligations under those Sections.

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.

 

þ Yes o No

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files)

 

þ Yes o No

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, or a non-accelerated filer. See definition of “accelerated filer and large accelerated filer” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (check one):

Large accelerated filer þ Accelerated filer o Non-accelerated filer o

 

Indicate by check mark which basis of accounting the registrant has used to prepare the financial statements included in this filing:

U.S. GAAP        o International Financial Reporting Standards as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board þ Other o

 

If “Other” has been checked in response to the previous question, indicate by check mark which financial statement item the registrant has elected to follow.

 

o Item 17  o Item 18

 

If this is an annual report, indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).

 

o Yes  þ No

 

Amec Foster Wheeler plc

Annual report and accounts 2015

 

Welcome to Amec Foster Wheeler

 

Our vision is to be the most trusted partner for our customers by consistently delivering excellence – bringing together the knowledge, expertise and skills of our people from across our global network.

Strategic report: overview
01 Performance highlights
02 Amec Foster Wheeler at a glance
06 Chairman’s statement
07 Chief Executive’s statement
   
Strategic report: strategic review
12 Our business model
14 Delivering excellence
18 Principal risks and uncertainties
22 Sustainability
23 Global market trends
24 Our markets
   
Strategic report: performance review
28 Financial review
   
Governance
40 Chairman’s governance overview
41 Leadership and effectiveness
41 Our board of directors
44 Amec Foster Wheeler governance structure
45 Board role and responsibilities
46 Board composition
47 The Chairman and Chief Executive
47 Senior Independent Director
48 Non-executive directors
49 Board meetings
50 Conflicts of interest
51 Professional development
52 Evaluation
53 Nominations committee
55 Our Group Leadership Team
56 Management committees
57 Accountability
57 Risk management and internal control systems
58 Audit committee
63 Health, safety, security, environmental and ethics (HSSEE) committee
65 Remuneration
65 Remuneration committee
67 Directors’ remuneration report
81 Engagement
81 Relations with shareholders
82 Directors’ report
85 Responsibility statements of the directors
   
Financials
86 Independent auditor’s report to the members of Amec Foster Wheeler plc
94 Report of independent registered public accounting firm on internal control over financial reporting
95 Report of independent registered public accounting firm
96 Consolidated income statement
97 Consolidated statement of comprehensive income
98 Consolidated balance sheet
99 Consolidated statement of changes in equity
102 Consolidated cash flow statement
104 Notes to the consolidated accounts
157 Company balance sheet
158 Company statement of changes in equity
159 Notes to the company accounts
   
Additional information
166 History and development
167 Risk factors
172 Performance measures
175 Prior year operating results
180 Information for shareholders
181 Other information
192 Cross reference to Form 20-F
194 Related undertakings
202 Five-year record (unaudited)
203 Glossary
204 Forward-looking statements


 

 

Performance highlights

 

 

2015 was a year of contrasting forces.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Key performance indicators

We use a variety of other key performance indicators to track our progress towards our goals. These relate to the elements of our business model and can be found in the strategic report on pages 12 and 13.

 

Adjusted performance measures used by the Group are explained and reconciled to the equivalent IFRS measures in the section entitled Performance measures on pages 172 to 174.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1 Continuing operations.

 

2 Figures for 2012 and 2011 have been restated to reflect the reclassification in 2013 of the UK conventional power business as a discontinued operation and the adoption of IAS 19 (Revised 2011) ‘Employee Benefits’.

 

3 Adjusted profit before tax represents profit before tax before exceptional items, the amortisation and impairment of intangible assets, asbestos-related costs and interest expense (net of insurance recoveries), and the Groups share of tax on the results of joint ventures.

 

4 Adjusted diluted earnings per share represents profit for the year before exceptional items, the amortisation and impairment of intangible assets, asbestos-related costs and interest expense (net of insurance recoveries), and the tax effect of those items, divided by the diluted number of ordinary shares.

 

5 The dividend values disclosed in cents were calculated at the following year end exchange rates:
  31 December 2015 1.4739
  31 December 2014 1.5593
  31 December 2013 1.6563
  31 December 2012 1.6255
  31 December 2011 1.5541
  This represents an estimate and no representation can be made that the dividend could have been converted into US dollars at this rate, and as a result these figures have been included in square brackets in the table above.


 

 


 

Amec Foster Wheeler

Annual report and accounts 2015

01
 

Amec Foster Wheeler at a glance

 

Amec Foster Wheeler operates across the whole of the oil & gas value chain – from production to refining, processing and distribution of derivative products – in mining, clean energy and the environment & infrastructure markets, employing around 40,000 people in more than 55 countries.  

 

  Total revenue 2015  
  £5.5bn  

 

 

 

Employees 2015

40k

 

 

 

02 Amec Foster Wheeler
Annual report and accounts 2015
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Our operations

Our operations are structured into four business units – three with geographic remits and one with a global remit (see overviews below).

 

This structure has been designed to further enable collaboration and promote greater growth opportunities.

 

Americas

The largest of our business units, with around 16,000 employees and approximately 150 offices in 10 countries, across North and South America.

 

The business is balanced across our markets. In oil & gas, we are delivering world scale projects across a portfolio of upstream, midstream and downstream business, with a leadership position in the oil sands of Canada, a strong US position onshore and in the Gulf of Mexico and a growing presence in Mexico. We provide a full-service solution in the mining market from our leading position in consulting, project delivery and remediation. In clean energy, we have a strong renewables business supporting the development of solar and wind projects, a robust nuclear position and a growing development of gas power. Throughout our geographies we are a leading environmental consultancy.

 

Northern Europe & CIS (NECIS)

Northern Europe & the Commonwealth of Independent States has around 12,500 employees operating in more than 120 locations across 20 countries, with its expertise extending into many more.

 

The unit has broad-based customer reach across three of our markets: in environment & infrastructure; clean energy – notably in the nuclear industry, including asset support, decommissioning and new-build programmes; and oil & gas – across the value chain and lifecycle for projects onshore and offshore, from pre-feasibility consulting to late-life management and decommissioning.

 

 

Asia, Middle East, Africa and Southern Europe (AMEASE)

The Asia, Middle East, Africa & Southern Europe (AMEASE) unit has over 8,000 employees, spread across more than 40 locations, with strong capabilities and customer reach across each of our oil & gas, environment & infrastructure and mining markets.

 

In addition to our regional locations, we also have our E&I and clean energy group which works across all markets and is focused on delivering major construction projects and specialty consulting services across key geographies throughout AMEASE and beyond.

 

 

Global Power Group

Operating three manufacturing facilities, two cogeneration plants, 10 engineering and service centres in seven countries and employing around 2,500 employees, this business unit designs, supplies and erects steam generating, auxiliary and air pollution control equipment, as well as a wide range of aftermarket products and services.

 

Delivering projects and services virtually anywhere in the world, we enable utilities, independent power producers and industrial customers to achieve their power, process steam and environmental goals.

 


 

Amec Foster Wheeler
Annual report and accounts 2015
03
 

Amec Foster Wheeler at a glance continued

 

Our customers include    
BP   KOC
ConocoPhilips   Kuwait National Petroleum Co
Duke Energy   Louisville Gas & Electric Co
EDF   Newmont
Enterprise Products Operating LLC   Owens Corning
Equistar Chemicals LP   PEMEX
ExxonMobil   Sempra
Georgia Pacific   Shell
Georgia Power   Talisman Sinopec
K&S Potash Canada   Zadco

 

   
Order book  
£6.6bn  

Our four markets

Our diversified approach with operations across four markets balances risk and maximises opportunity over the long term. We provide similar services across our markets (see pages 24 to 25), winning work through strong customer relationships and our proven ability to deliver projects successfully. Many of the skills and services we provide to our customers are transferable across markets.

 

Oil & Gas

We are involved in every part of the project delivery phase across the oil & gas value chain, but we specifically do not operate in early cycle exploration or drilling.

 

 

Clean Energy

In renewables we provide a full-service engineering, procurement and construction solution on wind, solar, biomass and biofuels projects. We also support the full lifecycle of nuclear energy and are a respected leader in the design and supply of combustion and steam generation equipment.

 

 

Mining

We offer mining consultancy (including ore resource estimation, mine planning and feasibility studies), design, project and construction management services.

 

 

Environment & Infrastructure (E&I)

We are a leading consulting, engineering and project management firm with strong market positions, especially in the water, transportation and infrastructure, government services and industrial sectors.


 

 

 

04 Amec Foster Wheeler
Annual report and accounts 2015
 
Our sectors        
         

Upstream

Full lifecycle for the upstream
oil & gas industry – offshore
and onshore

 

Midstream

Providing transportation
for the midstream oil & gas industry

         

Downstream

Executing downstream

projects in refining, chemicals

and petrochemicals

 

Mining

Expertise and delivery
from concept to closure

         

Nuclear

Expertise spanning the

entire lifecycle of complex

nuclear assets

 

Renewables/Bioprocess
A century of experience
supporting today’s
renewable energy

         

Conventional Power

High-value services,

equipment and technology

for power plants

 

Transmission & Distribution
Innovative and high-value
added solutions

         

Water

Global expertise in every

aspect of water, from

source to ocean

 

Government
Comprehensive
environmental, engineering
services and design

         

Industrial/Pharmaceutical

Offering a whole world of

technical expertise and full

lifecycle services

 

Transportation & Infrastructure
Innovative solutions for
complex transportation needs

 


 

Amec Foster Wheeler

Annual report and accounts 2015

05
 

Chairman’s statement

 

John Connolly

Chairman

 

 

The last year has been one of significant challenge and change in your company.

 

Having completed the acquisition of Foster Wheeler at the end of 2014, the group tackled the task of integrating the two companies to create the new Amec Foster Wheeler. This took place during a year when the significant oil price decline and consequent actions across the oil & gas sector produced extremely turbulent and challenging markets for our business. Whilst we will continue for some time to operate in these harsh markets, your board remains confident that the strategic rationale for the Amec Foster Wheeler combination remains sound.

 

As we announced, Samir Brikho stepped down from the Chief Executive role on 17 January and left the company, with Ian McHoul appointed interim CEO from that date. Samir was Chief Executive for nine years and made a significant contribution to the development of the group during that period and, on behalf of the board, I want to thank him for his commitment and contribution during his tenure. I also want to thank Ian McHoul for stepping into this role to steer the company forward in the period ahead. The board has progressed the search for a new CEO, supported by Korn Ferry, and we anticipate making an announcement on this in due course.

 

In the Chief Executive’s statement on page 7, Ian McHoul reports on progress and our near term priorities. As already announced your board concluded that an appropriate action in these markets is to lower the dividend (see below). A priority was to execute a refinancing and in March 2016 we announced that the new financing for the company’s medium term was in place, with total facilities of £1.7 billion, which gives us substantial headroom and marks another important step towards further strengthening our balance sheet. The executive team continue to execute a clear strategic plan to optimise the group’s performance during these challenging market conditions.

 

Your board

There have been a number changes to your board since the start of 2015:

 

Kent Masters, formerly the Chief Executive Officer at Foster Wheeler AG, was appointed a non-executive director on 13 February 2015 for an initial term of three years, which will end at the 2018 AGM

 

Neil Carson was appointed Senior Independent Director and Chairman of our Remuneration Committee on 14 May 2015 following the previously-announced retirement from the board of Simon Thompson at the close of the annual general meeting, having served two three-year terms as a Director
Roy Franklin, currently Chairman of Keller Group plc, deputy chairman of Statoil ASA and a non-executive director of Santos Ltd, was appointed an independent non-executive director and member of the nominations committee, with effect from 1 January 2016

 

As reported above, Samir Brikho stepped down from his position as Chief Executive on 17 January 2016. Ian McHoul was appointed interim CEO, in addition to his role as Chief Financial Officer with effect from 17 January 2016

 

Full biographical details of your board can be seen on pages 41 to 43.

 

Diversity remains another key area of focus for your board and your company has made great strides in this area – not just the diversity of human capital (individual characteristics, skills and gender) but also, as I have mentioned previously, in thought diversity. Collaboration, teamwork and respect for each other, combined with an assiduous attention to health, safety, security and the environment will ensure that we remain at the top of our game, despite competitive pressures and market conditions. And here again we see further benefits from the merged operating practices following our acquisition of Foster Wheeler where we have created a best of both approach.

 

I also want to comment on health and safety, which remains an absolute priority throughout the organisation. The Chief Executive reports to the board on this at every meeting and our Health, Safety, Security, Environmental & Ethics Committee (see page 63) has an increasingly key role to ensure we protect our people, our customers and everyone associated with our projects. Your company will benefit from our best-in-class approach, which is clearly understood and upheld throughout the group.

 

Your Company’s performance

The tough market conditions will continue for longer than originally expected and these have been reflected in the performances of your company across our four markets – oil & gas, mining & metals, clean energy and environment & infrastructure (more details can be seen on pages 24 to 25). Our 2015 trading profit1 was £374m and our proposed final dividend is 14.2p per share, making a total of 29.0p per share for the year. If approved at your Company’s annual general meeting on 27 April 2016, it will be paid on 4 July 2016 to those shareholders on the register at close of business on 27 May 2016.

 

Conclusion

My fellow directors and I remain strongly convinced of Amec Foster Wheeler’s potential. We believe that your company’s strategy, strength & depth of customer relationships and breadth of skills & capabilities will enable us to optimise our performance in these down markets and position your company to take advantage of better markets when they return.

 

Difficult times call for strong leadership and I would like to thank our leadership team and everyone in Amec Foster Wheeler for their valued contribution to date and their commitment to delivering our future potential.

 

 

 

John Connolly

Chairman

10 March 2016

 

1 Non-IFRS measure (see Performance measures on pages 172 to 174)


 

06

Amec Foster Wheeler

Annual report and accounts 2015

 

Chief Executive’s statement

 

Ian McHoul

Chief Financial Officer and interim CEO

   

Dividend per share for the year

29.0p

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Adjusted diluted EPS for 2015

67.7p

 

 

Following a board meeting on 17 January, the Company announced the departure of Samir Brikho on 18 January 2016, since when I have fulfilled the dual roles of Chief Financial Officer and interim CEO. My finance report can be found on page 28 and I would, for the record, like to wish Samir all the best for the future.

 

2015 was a year of contrasting forces. We successfully launched our new operating model on 1 January, so creating the platform from which to develop and grow our business. However, market conditions and commodity prices continue to dictate the flow of multiple projects on which we have been working.

 

Despite the market downturn and the industry-wide mantra about the conditions being ‘tougher for even longer’, we have achieved notable successes in helping our customers achieve greater efficiencies – and we have continued to win projects and contracts across all of our four business units.

 

In November, in recognition of the harsh environment and future outlook, we announced our intention to reduce our future dividend payments – thereby bringing them back in line with our existing policy of around two times earnings cover.

 

Tough times call for tough actions and we continue to reduce costs – raising our synergy targets, streamlining our business, focusing our offering, creating greater efficiencies through innovation and partnership and being more flexible to even better support the needs of our customers.

 

The Group Leadership Team and I are working on creating the most efficient platform for growth in both the current and hopefully more positive market conditions in the mid- to near term future.

 

2015 results

The challenging backdrop of economic uncertainty continued into 2015 and was exacerbated by the continuing price decline in many of our core commodities. We have delivered a trading profit1 of £374m, on reduced revenues of £5,455m and proposed a final dividend of 14.2p per share – in line with our November 2015 guidance.

 

Our cash conversion rate1 was 104% and adjusted earnings per share1 of 67.7p. As I am also Chief Financial Officer, I will give more depth and insight into our financial performance in the Financial Review on pages 28 to 37.

 

We have continued to win interesting and exciting projects in each of our four key markets and across our four business units, resulting from increased collaboration, skills transfer and knowledge sharing.

 

 

Order book

£6.6bn

 

 

 


 

 

Amec Foster Wheeler

Annual report and accounts 2015

 07
 

 

 

Chief Executive’s statement continued

 

Delivering on promises

We operate throughout the oil & gas value chain, from production and transportation, through processes that go beyond simple separation and dehydration, to refining or processing crude oil into finished fuel products. This remains the major part of our business, accounting for 54% of our revenues and so the low price of crude oil has had a dramatic impact on our business.

 

In 2015 we have concentrated on developing innovative ways of working and providing more cost-efficient solutions for our customers, who are also feeling the pain. Our More4Less initiative, which established more momentum during the year, is just one example of how our lean and scalable engineering processes and integrated delivery approach has been proven to deliver notable savings.

 

During 2015, we won more than 1,000 new projects with a mix of new and existing customers; however, the start dates of a number of these contracts have been delayed by market conditions. Our order book, at £6.6bn, is up on 2014, but does not take into account work won with no confirmed start date.

 

Our employees continue to work on many of the more interesting and ground-breaking work in our chosen markets, as befits the talent and skills we have. More detail can be found on pages 24 to 25.

 

In oil & gas we have strengthened our relationship with BP, winning North Sea contracts, have won work in Texas, US with D’Arcinoff, and been awarded projects with SKS, Orpic and the Government of Timor-Leste in Malaysia, Oman and Timor-Leste respectively.

 

Our clean energy business has seen us win a range of contracts from steam generating and air pollution control to nuclear assessment and solar generation. We have been recognised as a key supplier and strategic player for Mexico’s growing heat recovery steam generator market, with four project wins during 2015; and have won nuclear projects in Canada, France, Japan, UK and USA.

 

We have seen notable innovation in our environment & infrastructure markets, winning further work for the US Air Force with the Contract Augmentation Program IV in the US and for the design and construction of special facilities in Guam.

 

Our mining business has been impacted by commodity prices, but notable wins included providing front-end engineering services for the expansion of the Çöpler Gold Mine in Turkey and an engineering procurement and construction contract with Petra Diamonds for its Cullinan Mill Extension Project in South Africa.

 

Tough environments provide opportunities for diverse thought leaders.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Challenges create a platform from which to showcase our best work.


 

08 Amec Foster Wheeler
Annual report and accounts 2015
 

Developing full potential

We have blended the skills within our organisation to benefit the needs of our customers and created a platform for long-term growth which, while the slings and arrows of commodity prices may temporarily hurt us, is the right approach for our business in the long term.

 

Our company has been delivering ground-breaking, energy-related projects and improving the lives of billions of people since 1848.

 

Operating in over 55 countries, our approach is to forge strong working partnerships with our customers – which include governments, multi-national businesses and communities – to create some of the world’s leading industrial projects.

 

Our 40,000-strong, skilled workforce ranges from archaeologists to zoologists and almost every profession in between.

 

And we are good at what we do – designing, delivering and maintaining strategic and complex assets to time and budget. For example, despite the challenging conditions, our Danjing 4 biomass power plant project in South Korea reached commercial operation two weeks ahead of schedule.

 

We have embedded the concept of using our specifically resourced offices in India as further support for the businesses and we have added greater risk management protocols through our Identify, Acquire, Deliver process.

 

We deliberately maintain our strong and established positions in mining, clean energy, power generation, environment & infrastructure alongside the oil & gas market to develop complementary skills and services as well as to provide revenue diversification and a form of hedging against market trends.

 

Diversity is also evident in our approach to life, in the methodology we apply to solving our customers’ problems and in our business strategy.

 

We have to empower our employees and maintain their career paths and excitement about our future and, as a part of the integration process, we have introduced new systems to further harness our combined potential in living our values and creating a culture of safety, honesty and collaboration – with customer needs at the heart of everything we do.

 

The Academy, which provides our people with development opportunities towards reaching their full potential, also shifted towards delivering more free and accessible solutions globally, supporting the business need for improved efficiency.

 

Doing the right thing

Without ethical or safe behaviour we would be just another company, so we aspire to be the best at both.

 

During the year we introduced our new Code of Business Conduct by which we operate and accompanying online programmes for Code of Business Conduct and anti-bribery and corruption training.

 

Both are mandatory for all staff to ensure that all our employees, and those working on our behalf, are aware of the laws applicable to us and act in accordance with those laws.

 

Safety is at the heart of all that we do and we successfully launched our Beyond Zero initiative – meaning zero harm every minute of every day, whatever we do at work or at home.

 

It includes the tools to enable all our employees to help us achieve a world-class Health, Safety, Security and Environmental performance and includes preparing the ground for a new programme for 2016.

 

Designed to enable our safety leaders to effectively identify hazard and intervene when they consider safety is being compromised, we call it HEART (for Harm Elimination and Recognition Training).

 

HEART will equip our safety leaders at supervisory and management levels of our organisation with the confidence and skills to use the technique.

 

Outlook

Current thinking indicates that low commodity prices will continue to be the largest disruptive factor in our markets for the immediate future – especially in our oil & gas and mining operating units – so we see another tough year ahead in some markets.

 

However, I have taken great heart from the way our people have buckled down to the challenges set across our business, as the ‘tougher for even longer’ mantra continues to have a major impact on customer decision-making, capital expenditure and project implementation.

 

In particular, I believe the benefits of our diverse model are already differentiating us, with good opportunities in down stream oil & gas, renewables, government work and UK T&D.

 

We have almost sixty years’ experience in decommissioning highly complex nuclear assets and the expertise we have can be used to benefit other areas such as retiring UK North Sea oil and gas platforms.

 

We will continue to partner with our customers to deliver the most innovative, efficient and effective results possible and are looking to put our global resources, people and thinking to work even harder to achieve this.

 

Our business platform is in place, our operating model is embedded, we are reviewing underperforming assets, we plan to halve our debt by mid 2017 and we are looking to build our business by doing the right thing, delivering on promises and delivering full potential.

 

 

 

Ian McHoul

Chief Financial Officer and interim CEO

10 March 2016

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1 Non-IFRS measure (see Performance measures on pages 172 to 174)

 


 

Amec Foster Wheeler

Annual report and accounts 2015

 09
 

 

Long-term client relationships help to safeguard the future of our business. Our work with EDF Energy, under a lifetime enterprise agreement, provides technical support and expertise for EDF Energy Generation’s current UK nuclear reactor fleet.

 

EDF Energy operates 15 reactors at eight nuclear power plants across the UK. Amec Foster Wheeler was chosen to provide services because of our unique range of skills and capabilities in nuclear engineering, combined with a long-standing relationship between the two organisations.

 

The services we provide will enable EDF Energy to continue delivering the secure, reliable, low-carbon electricity the UK needs now and into the future.

   

 

 

10

 

  Jo Skelton, Section Lead
– Remote Operations, fits
a cowl in the gap between
fuel guide tubes on Amec
Foster Wheeler’s Hot Box
Dome rig at Birchwood,
Warrington, UK. The Hot
Box Dome project is one
of the projects within EDF’s
fleet-critical programme.

 


 

11

 

Our business model

 

We convert the talents of our people and their customer relationships into a low-risk business.

 

To succeed we need to deliver excellence to our customers.

 

Delivering excellence   What this means
     

People are our principal asset

Read more on page 14

 

Our employees are clever people. Their skills are a scarce resource.

 

Our highly skilled engineers, project managers, consultants and scientists deliver for our customers, creating long-term customer relationships and a strong reputation for excellence.

 

We are investing in our High-Value Execution Centres (HVECs) to increase our capability and capacity to take on work cost effectively.

     

We are customer focused

Read more on page 15

 

We have a wide range of customers around the world.

 

They include some of the largest international oil companies such as ExxonMobil and BP, chemical companies such as Dow, miners such as Rio Tinto, utility companies such as EDF and government bodies such as US DoD.

     

Customers rely on our services and solutions

Read more on page 16

 

We provide high-value services – consulting, engineering, project and construction management, and supply chain management.

 

These skills are critical to the successful development and operation of our customers’ assets – right across their lifecycle.

 

We have a particularly strong reputation for delivering engineering solutions for complex projects.

     

We have a flexible and low-risk business model

Read more on page 17

 

The majority of our contracts reimburse us for our people’s time. We often also get additional payments by achieving pre-agreed performance measures. Many of these are long-term contracts.

 

In selected circumstances we take on fixed-price work.

 

The breadth of our market and customer exposure gives us great growth opportunities, and reduces the impact during lower levels of activity in one market.

 

12

Amec Foster Wheeler

Annual report and accounts 2015

 
  Our values  
   

 

 

 We listen, understand and respond

 

We agree on clear expectations

 

We aspire to consistent excellence

 

 

 

 

 

We invest in our people

 

We embrace diversity and inclusion

 

We connect globally as one team

 

 

 

 

We put safety first

 

We act ethically and with integrity

 

We care about our communities

 

 

 

Managing the challenges   How we measure success
     

Our future success relies on attracting, developing and retaining the best people.

We need to be flexible, using our people as cost effectively and efficiently as possible. We maintain the highest standards of safety and ethics.

 

We are committed to encouraging and providing mechanisms for employees to become shareholders in Amec Foster Wheeler and our SAYE share option schemes (Sharesave) allow employees to participate in Amec Foster Wheeler’s share price growth. Sharesave is open to employees in all major countries of operation who meet a minimum service qualification. Offers to participate are currently being made on a regular basis.

 

 

We look at the utilisation rate of employees, gender diversity and employee-instigated turnover.

 

We measure the engagement of our people and the development activity that has taken place and a number of safety measures.

 

Read more on page 14

 

     

We win business because of our reputation for delivery and the strength of our long-term customer relationships.

 

Our diversified customer base limits our dependence on any one customer.

 

 

We track levels of customer satisfaction and look to improve our win-to-bid ratio.

 

Read more on page 15

 

     

We are adaptable to ensure we offer our customers the right services when and where they need them.

 

We must be able to deliver these services in a cost-effective way.

 

We work across a range of cyclical markets, which can impact demand for our services.

 

 

We track our revenue growth and our margin progression.

 

We also look at the mix of services we provide and where they sit in the lifecycle of our customers’ assets.

 

Read more on page 16

 

     

Our reputation for delivery is very important to our continued success.

 

We take fixed-price work when we know the customer and the project well.

 

We have a good track record predicting earnings from each project and contract.

 

 

Our profit margin and cash conversion reflect the quality of project delivery.

 

We also have a range of non-financial measures, including greenhouse gas emissions and completion of project and peer reviews.

 

Read more on page 17

 

 


 

Amec Foster Wheeler

Annual report and accounts 2015

13
 

Delivering excellence

 

People are our principal asset

 

 

Our success depends upon our people delivering projects successfully for our customers.

 

To foster the right culture in which our people can succeed,our values (see page 13) are entrenched throughout our business.

 

We perpetuate the very highest standards of safety, mutual respect and ethical behaviour that we can and this, combined with caring for the environment in which we operate, underpins our approach to being a sustainable people business (read more about our commitment to sustainability on page 22 and on our dedicated sustainability microsite on amecfw.com).

 

Operating model

On 1 January 2015, we introduced our new operating model.

 

Key principles include global standards for execution of projects, creating centres of excellence and multi-office delivery.

 

Investing in talent

We have developed both technical and leadership training to ensure we maintain a pipeline of skilled talent to meet our growth aspirations.

 

Group-wide training is led by the Academy, our in-house development programme.

 

Adapting to dynamic markets

Delivering a project for our customers requires us to put together teams of people to match the needs of the project and the customer.

 

During 2015 we recruited approximately 12,000 people, the vast majority into project teams. Of these new hires, more than 90% were recruited directly. We have also seen a similar number of people leave as projects finish, or their roles change. Together this means that our utilisation rates remain very high.

Diversity and inclusion

The business case is clear. An organisation that enjoys diversity enjoys a richness of ideas that leads to better solutions for the customer.

 

Gender is just one part of this. Of our directly employed workforce, 23% (or 8,247 people) is made up of women and 77% (or 27,610) is made up of men; of our executive grade employees, 10% (41) are women and 90% (369) are men; of our Group Leadership Team one person (10%) is a woman and nine people (90%) are men; and of our board 25% (two people) are women and 75% (six people) are men.

 

Age, gender and ethnicity are all important and assessed, but diversity of thought, for instance, cannot be measured as accurately. Our approach is to survey our employees, to ask how they feel and feed the findings into the Group Leadership Team.

 

We are committed to providing a safe and secure workplace, where people are free from harassment and where diversity and inclusion are the norm, with equal opportunities for progression and development for all.

 

Our Code of Business Conduct highlights our commitment to human rights and we respect those of any individual, or community, with whom we are involved and we support the elimination of child labour.

 

Participation

We are committed to encouraging and providing mechanisms for employees to become shareholders in Amec Foster Wheeler and our savings-related share option schemes (Sharesave) allow employees to participate in Amec Foster Wheeler share price growth. Sharesave is open to all employees in all major countries of operation who meet a minimum service qualification. Offers to participate are currently being made on a regular basis.

 

Priorities for 2016

As usual, the most important priority remains that our people are safe at work and that we continue to attract, develop and retain skilled employees.

 

 


 

14 Amec Foster Wheeler
Annual report and accounts 2015
 

We are customer focused

 

 

We have a wide range of customers and work for some of the world’s largest corporations and government bodies, designing and maintaining critical assets. Our customers expect us to deliver excellence every day. We are very proud of the high proportion of repeat business we generate.

 

Our customers include some of the largest international oil companies such as ExxonMobil and BP, chemical companies such as Dow, miners such as Rio Tinto, utility companies such as EDF, and government bodies, such as the US Department of Defense.

 

Our top 10 customers accounted for approximately 31% of revenue.

 

 

Strategic customer management

Developing long-term and worldwide relationships with key customers is a priority.

 

With additional service offerings and new customers across a broader geographic footprint, there are much greater opportunities to cross-sell and a strategic approach to managing our customer relationships is no longer a nice-to-have – it is a necessity. We now have three tiers of customer relationship: global, regional and local.

 

Global accounts are managed centrally by the business development team. We expect to expand this over the coming years.

 

By utilising strategic account management and global accounts, we are ‘upping our game’ to expand and deepen our relationships with our most significant customers.

 

Our goal is to get closer to our customers and be their trusted partner. Regional and local account management will remain an important component.

 

Achievements in 2015

Despite the challenging conditions in our end markets, we are pleased that the customer satisfaction scores have remained high.

 

During 2015, work has continued on a number of significant projects for customers such as BP, ExxonMobil, K+S, Sempra, EDF and Honeywell.

 

We have also begun new projects for customers such as:

 

Maersk Oil in the UK North Sea – where our cost-effective approach (More4Less) was key in winning a new contract
   
Yuhuang Chemicals in Louisiana – where we are utilising the breadth of our US-based engineering and construction capabilities, combined with a strong relationship with Air Liquide to win a major contract to build a new methanol plant
   
Petra Diamonds in South Africa – where we have begun work at the Cullinan diamond mine mill extension
   
UK Power Networks – where we have begun a 12-year partnership to upgrade electricity infrastructure in the UK

 

Priorities for 2016

The development of long-term and worldwide customer relationships will continue to be our key priority.

 

Integrating the former AMEC and Foster Wheeler relationships will provide us with significant new opportunities, particularly in the mid- and downstream oil & gas market.

 

For example, we can offer enhanced project delivery to our combined upstream and downstream customers across new-build and brownfield projects. We are now offering environmental services to former Foster Wheeler customers for the first time too.

 

We are also planning to expand the geographic reach of our services, for instance by offering brownfield services in new countries.


 


 

Amec Foster Wheeler
Annual report and accounts 2015
15
 

Delivering excellence continued

 

Customers rely on our services and solutions

 

 

In each market or sector, the range of services provided to our customers is similar.

 

We are experts in designing, delivering and maintaining strategic and complex assets, offering total life of asset support from feasibility planning right through to decommissioning.

 

Our diversified service offering partially offsets the cyclical nature of our customers’ capital expenditure plans, and reduces our dependence on any one part of the energy mix.

 

 

 

Core services

Our core services include: engineering, project management, construction and construction management, hook-up and commissioning, decommissioning, and related consultancy work.

 

We have a reputation for delivering engineering solutions for complex projects and operating in remote and harsh locations.

 

Our clean energy offering also includes Circulating Fluidised Bed (CFB) and heat recovery steam generators, condensers and emission control equipment for improved environmental performance.

 

Working through the lifecycle

We provide high-value services across the lifecycle of our customers’ assets and the range of services we are able to provide is similar in each of our four markets.

 

Many of our services are provided through long-term contracts, giving us the opportunity to provide critical services in partnership with our customers. For instance, we have been supporting the current fleet of UK nuclear reactors for more than 50 years. Some of these contracts have been renewed several times.

Project delivery team

Our operating model has an enhanced project delivery function with responsibility for ensuring the identification and management of project risks, driving the use of common systems and tools, supporting the development and mobilisation of our teams and ultimately helping us to deliver excellence on all our projects.

 

Achievements in 2015

Contract wins announced in 2015 include:

 

Algeria: Consultancy project to de-bottleneck Hassi R’Mei gas field (Sonatrach)
   
Belgium: Detailed engineering for Zeebrugge LNG terminal expansion (Felguera)
   
Canada: Remediation work at Port Granby long-term waste management facility (Canadian Nuclear Laboratories)
   
China: Three-year project management contract at a coal-chemical complex (Shenhua Ningxia Coal)
   
Guam: Design and construction of specialist facilities (U.S. Air Force)
   
Malaysia: Consultancy services to a new refinery and pet-chem complex in Kedah (SKS)
   
Oman: Three-year technical services contract for refinery and polypropylene facilities (Orpic)
   
Philippines: Design and supply two 150MW CFB boilers in Cebu (Hyundai)
   
Poland: Design, supply, construction and commissioning of 220MW CFB boiler in Zabrze (Fortum Zabrze)
   
Turkey: Initial phase reimbursable EPC for the Çöpler Gold Mine (Anagold Madencilik)
   
UAE: Three-year extension to project management consultancy (PMC) services contract on Upper Zakum project (Zadco)
   
UK: Five-year integrated services contract in the UK North Sea (Maersk)
   
UK: Three-year contract to supply regulatory, technical and training services to MoD nuclear safety authority (UK MoD)
   
USA: Engineering and logistics support worldwide AFCAP IV (U.S. Air Force)
   
USA: Early stage EPC for new methanol plant in Louisiana (Yuhuang Chemicals)
   
Vietnam: Front-end engineering design (FEED) for Dun Quat refinery upgrade (Vietnam National Oil and Gas Group)

 

Priorities in 2016

Our main priority is to continue to adapt our services so that customers choose us to deliver and maintain their projects –safely and cost effectively.


 

16 Amec Foster Wheeler
Annual report and accounts 2015
 

We have a flexible and low-risk business model

 

 

We have a flexible and low-risk business model; the majority of our contracts are on a cost-plus basis.

 

When we agree fixed-price work we take the time to get to know the customer and the project first.

 

By using common systems we can deliver work consistently and share work across offices and time zones.

 

We are also able to adapt the type of work we do as our customers’ plans change – offering a mix of engineering, project management and full-scope project delivery packages.

 

As a result, our business is more flexible and sustainable, and our financial performance less volatile than others’.

 

In the majority of our contracts, our customers reimburse us for our people’s time and any materials we consume. We often arrange to get additional payments if we achieve pre-agreed performance measures.

 

In selected circumstances we take on fixed-price work. Typically, we will do this where we know the customer and the project well.

 

Where this is not possible, we may look to partner with others to gain access to projects which would otherwise be unavailable to us.

 

Each year we do work on numerous contracts – some of which are multi-year, this, together with the breadth of our market and customer exposure, reduces the impact of lower levels of activity in any one area of our business.

 

 

Flexibility

The Global Power Group has a different business model to our engineering and project management business.

 

In addition to engineering and project delivery, it includes fabrication in its typical scope of activities.

 

Enhanced risk management

This plays a vital role in ensuring that we win projects with the greatest possible opportunity for success: maximising the value we get for our resources and addressing risks that are part of contracting in our industry.

 

We use a detailed workflow system which addresses the risks associated with tenders (for both lump sum and reimbursable contracts) in areas such as technical challenges, financial and pricing terms, joint venture/partner risks; as well as a full range of governance issues, such as human rights, safety and environmental risks.

 

Achievements in 2015

Our order book finished 2015 at £6.6bn and we have successfully adapted to lower levels of upstream oil & gas work by increasing our exposure to downstream and clean energy projects.

 

In April we announced the completion of Copper Mountain solar 3 project in Nevada, where we provided EPC services for one of the largest photovoltaic (PV) solar plants in the US, ahead of schedule and under budget.

 

In December we entered into a joint venture with Khan Offshore to deliver commissioning services for facilities as they are being constructed in South Korean yards – creating an opportunity to expand the addressable market for commissioning services which has been growing well since we acquired Qedi in 2011.

 

Priorities for 2016

Despite some tough market conditions, we want to win new contracts which will maintain our low-risk and flexible business model.

 

We will continue to increase collaboration across the Group –between teams from different sectors and countries, as well as substantially increasing the share of work carried out through multi-office delivery.


 


 

Amec Foster Wheeler
Annual report and accounts 2015
17
 

Principal risks and uncertainties

 

Amec Foster Wheeler operates in more than 55 countries, serving a broad range of markets and customers. As such, the Group is subject to certain general and industry specific risks. Where practicable, the Group seeks to mitigate exposure to all forms of risk through effective risk management and risk transfer practices.

 

The board has overall responsibility for risk management, for determining the risk appetite in relation to the principal risks, for implementation of the risk management policy and for reviewing the effectiveness of the risk management systems.

 

Risk management process

A global mandatory procedure detailing the risk management process is used at project, operating unit, business unit and group levels to identify the key risks that could have a significant impact on Amec Foster Wheeler’s ability to achieve its objectives. These are recorded in risk registers and evaluated to determine the likely impact and probability of occurring.

 

Control actions are developed to mitigate or eliminate risks that are considered unacceptable. Risk owners are identified and given responsibility for ensuring actions are implemented with appropriate review dates.

 

The risk registers are reviewed and updated at least quarterly with the relevant risk owners.

Reporting and monitoring

The risk committee is chaired by the Chief Executive and meets at least twice each year to:

 

review and advise the board on Amec Foster Wheeler’s risk appetite in relation to the principal strategic risks, taking account of the current and prospective macro-economic, financial, political, business and sector environments
   
review and approve the risk management strategy, policies, procedures and processes
   
review and report to the board on the effectiveness of the risk management systems
   
review the Amec Foster Wheeler plc risk register and make recommendations as appropriate
   
review any new or emerging risks and any potential impact they may have on risk appetite and the ability of Amec Foster Wheeler to manage such risks
   
review any issues raised by other committees of the board that impact on the risk profile of Amec Foster Wheeler
   
review and consider reports on key risk issues such as new business and geographical locations for operations or projects
   
consider any internal or external risk trends and concentrations

 

The terms of reference of the risk committee have been amended to reflect the requirements of the UK Corporate Governance Code 2014.


 

Roles and responsibilities

 

18 Amec Foster Wheeler
Annual report and accounts 2015
 

Principal business and strategic risks

The table below shows Amec Foster Wheeler’s principal business and strategic risks. Each is specific to the Group and could have a material impact on it. Actions have been taken to mitigate these risks and these are also shown.

 

Other financial risks that may impact the Group are shown on pages 136 to 141 – note 19 Capital and financial risk management.

 

Risk   Mitigation

Geopolitical and economic conditions

Amec Foster Wheeler expects to derive the majority of its revenues from Europe, the US and Canada and is therefore particularly affected by political and economic conditions in those markets.

 

Changes in general economic conditions may influence customers’ decisions on capital investment and/or asset maintenance, which could lead to volatility in the development of Amec Foster Wheeler’s order intake. These may also lead to change in the customer base, competition and in the way customers procure the services we provide. An increase in competition for new contracts may lead to different, less favourable contract terms and conditions.

 

Continuing and escalating unrest and insurgency activity in the Middle East may have a negative impact on existing and future opportunities in the region.

 

 

Amec Foster Wheeler seeks to maintain a balanced geographic presence and, through acquisitions and organic growth, will continue to increase its exposure to other attractive regions of the world.

 

The risk associated with economic conditions resulting in a downturn and affecting the demand for Amec Foster Wheeler’s services has been addressed, as far as practicable, by seeking to maintain a balanced business portfolio in terms of geographies, markets, clients and service offering/ business model.

 

In light of continuing global economic uncertainties, steps have been taken to assess and monitor any potential impact on Amec Foster Wheeler’s business opportunities and address potential increased supply chain and, more broadly, counterparty risk.

 

The strategy and business development function is focused on realising the synergies across our customers, markets, geographies, service offerings and relationships.

Changes in commodity prices

A sustained and significant reduction in oil & gas or commodity prices would have an adverse impact on the level of customer spending in Amec Foster Wheeler’s markets and consequently represents a risk to organic growth.

 

The fall in oil prices has had an impact on the investment behaviour of Amec Foster Wheeler customers in this sector, with pressure on capital expenditure leading to a greater focus on smaller projects and operating expenditure and an increase in competition for new contracts.

 

This risk is mitigated by maintaining a balanced business portfolio of geographies, markets, clients and service offerings.

 

Improved efficiencies through increased workflow between offices and the effective use of centres of excellence and HVEC.

Project delivery

Failing to maintain discipline and meet customer expectations on project delivery could result in damage to reputation, loss of repeat business and potentially lead to litigation and/or claims against Amec Foster Wheeler.

 

 

The project delivery function provides assurance, drives project execution and supports the development, training and mobilisation of personnel to enhance execution competencies.

 

In addition the system of globally applied policies and procedures, combined with comprehensive management oversight, the risk management process, project reviews, internal audit, peer reviews and customer feedback, mitigate the risk to successful project delivery.

Lump sum contracts

Lump sum contracts carry different risks than reimbursable contracts, with the contractor agreeing the contract price at the start of the contract and accepting the risk of cost overruns in completing the project.

 

  This risk is mitigated by having skills and competencies fully aligned with the project scope. It is further mitigated by having a clear, delegated authority structure in place, combined with the formal global mandatory procedures relating to contracting principles and the tender review process. In addition, the project delivery function, referred to in the project delivery risk above, performs reviews, provides assurance and drives project execution.

Staff recruitment and retention

An inability to attract and retain sufficient high-calibre employees could become a barrier to the continued success and growth of Amec Foster Wheeler.

 

Senior management departures or prolonged absences could also adversely affect our ability to implement our strategy and manage our operations efficiently.

 

 

This risk is mitigated with a clear HR strategy, which is aligned to the business strategy and focused on attracting, developing and retaining the best people for the Group with succession planning as appropriate. It is underpinned by an employee framework which describes how we manage our people consistently.

 

In addition, there is a continual review of compensation and benefits to ensure sector and geographic competitiveness and there are localised recruitment teams capable of recruiting large numbers into Amec Foster Wheeler.

 

Amec Foster Wheeler Academy delivers development activities to enhance delivery and prepare employees for more advanced roles.


 

Amec Foster Wheeler
Annual report and accounts 2015
19
 

Principal risks and uncertainties continued

 

 

Risk   Mitigation

Health, safety, security and environment

Amec Foster Wheeler is involved in activities and environments that have the potential to cause serious injury to personnel or damage to property or the environment and damage to our reputation.

 

These activities may involve operations such as design, construction, commissioning and decommissioning, which have potential to cause serious environmental damage, pollution and habitat destruction.

 

 

In order to control risk and prevent harm, Amec Foster Wheeler is focused on achieving the highest standards of health, safety and security management. This is achieved through setting of an effective policy and putting in place clear standards which underpin our health, safety, security and environmental management systems.

 

We have put in place processes to assure that our systems work effectively throughout the organisation and health and safety performance is regularly reviewed against agreed targets to facilitate continual improvement.

 

Amec Foster Wheeler employs environmental and engineering specialists to support projects in implementing comprehensive project management planning at all stages of a project. These processes are governed by appropriate quality management systems and are supported by risk identification tools aimed at identifying and managing all aspects of project environmental risk.

Environmental licences

Amec Foster Wheeler’s build/own/operate facilities and fabrication/ manufacturing sites rely on maintaining environmental licences to operate, which includes protecting the environment and achieving legally enforceable operating parameters. Failure to maintain these standards may result in the revocation of all or part of the licence and the suspension of operation, resulting in criminal or civil action and/or financial risk to the business. Failure to maintain assets and/or pollution abatement equipment may result in a failure to meet legally binding objectives and targets for the operation.

 

 

Environmental management systems are in place to monitor and mitigate this risk.

 

Planned preventative maintenance schedules are in place to further mitigate this risk.

Information technology (IT)

Amec Foster Wheeler is exposed to the risk that the IT systems on which it relies fail and/or that sensitive data held by the Group is lost due to ineffective data governance or as a result of unauthorised access to Amec Foster Wheeler systems or malware attacks.

 

  Appropriate controls are in place to mitigate the risk of systems failure and data loss, including systems back-up procedures, data security breach response plan, disaster recovery plans and globally distributed data centres providing a secure and reliable environment for hosting critical applications. There is also appropriate virus protection, malware detection and remediation, network security controls and penetration testing and encryption of mobile devices.

Ethical breach

A substantive ethical breach and/or non-compliance with laws or regulations could potentially lead to damage to Amec Foster Wheeler’s reputation, fines, litigation and claims for compensation.

 

 

Amec Foster Wheeler has a number of measures in place to mitigate the risk of a substantive ethical breach and/or non-compliance with laws or regulations, including:

 

► embedded policies and procedures

 

► Code of Business Conduct

 

► segregation of duties

 

► management oversight

 

► financial and operational controls

 

► independent whistle-blowing mechanism

 

► appointment of ethics and compliance officers

 

► anti-fraud and other internal audits

 

► legal team advice

 

► training programmes supporting the Code of Business Conduct and anti-bribery and corruption

 

► oversight by the ethics committee of the board (now the HSSEE committee – see pages 63 and 64)

Pensions

Amec Foster Wheeler operates a number of defined benefit pension schemes, where careful judgement is required in determining the assumptions for future salary and pension increases, discount rate, inflation, investment returns and member longevity. There is a risk of underestimating this liability.

 

 

This risk to Amec Foster Wheeler’s pension schemes is mitigated by:

 

► maintaining a relatively strong funding position over time

 

► taking advice from independent qualified actuaries and other professional advisers

 

► agreeing appropriate investment policies with the trustees

 

► close monitoring of changes in the funding position, with reparatory action agreed with the trustees in the event that a sustained deficit emerges

 

See note 14 on page 128 for further details on our pension schemes.

 

20 Amec Foster Wheeler
Annual report and accounts 2015
 

 

Risk   Mitigation

Legacy risks

Litigation and business claims from divested and non-core businesses remain a risk to Amec Foster Wheeler.

 

Managing non-core legacy assets until divestment may require skills that are not common to the rest of the Company.

 

Ground contaminants remain at some former Amec Foster Wheeler operational localities where the pollutant may have been as a result of the Company’s operations, or the Company is responsible for its clean-up. There is a risk that pollution may result in a risk to human health or the environment. There is potential for civil and/or criminal action against the Company for such pollutants.

 

The established legacy team manages these claims with internal and external legal advice. The aim is to seek cost-effective management of litigation and promote commercially sensible settlements where appropriate.

 

Amec Foster Wheeler has made provisions for the legacy issues that are believed to be adequate and is not aware of any other current issues relating to disposed businesses which are likely to have a material impact. Specialist teams with the appropriate knowledge are brought in as required.

 

In the case of any known contaminated land, strategies have been developed to minimise the risk posed by such contaminated land, including asset management and land remediation projects and they remain under continuing review.

Asbestos liability

The legacy Foster Wheeler business is exposed to significant numbers of claims relating to alleged exposure to asbestos. The quantum of these claims is actuarially forecast each year and provisions are held against these loss projections. However there is a risk that these loss projections will be exceeded and the provisions could be inadequate to meet the liabilities.

 

 

There is a dedicated in-house finance and legal resource including a team of specialist asbestos lawyers who manage the claims, assisted by National Co-ordinating Counsel (NCC) and local counsel. A claims strategy has been developed with the NCC and regular reviews are undertaken.

 

The team monitors legal developments in these claims and the strategy to deal with them on a regular basis.

 

The quantum of these claims is actuarially forecast each year and provisions are held against the ultimate loss projections.

 

Viability statement

In accordance with provision C.2.2 of The UK Corporate Governance Code (September 2014 revision) the directors have performed a robust assessment of the principal risks detailed on pages 19 to 21 for the next three years and have concluded that they have a reasonable expectation that Amec Foster Wheeler will be able to continue in operation and meet its liabilities as they fall due over this three-year period.

 

The directors have selected a three-year period for this assessment, in line with the three-year business planning process and this also reflects the average duration of the larger customer contracts entered into by the Company.

 

In making this assessment the directors have taken into account the Company’s current trading performance and prospects, the stated strategy concerning the review of underperforming assets and the board’s appetite for risk. The Company refinanced its banking facilities in early March 2016 and the assessment confirms that we are compliant with the covenants and undertakings contained within these new facilities over the three-year period.

 

The approach adopted for this assessment was a detailed review of the principal risks by a senior management team with representatives from finance, commercial, legal, tax and treasury, strategy, internal audit and risk to consider which of these risks might threaten the Group’s viability. The assessment of these risks included modelling them in severe but plausible scenarios taking account of:

 

varying impacts of specific risks across business units or market sectors as appropriate
   
any potential risk interdependencies
   
the risk mitigation measures currently in place
   
The analysis of the principal risks has been weighted towards downside risk and a sensitivity analysis has been used to stress test the risk events most likely to negatively impact the company. Specific scenarios have been tested and include:
 
a further fall in oil prices, increasing pressure on customer spending and impacting prospects for future projects
   
project delivery failure resulting in delayed payments, settlement payments, reputational damage and reduced future work
   
risk of cost overruns on lump sum contracts
   
a substantive ethics breach and/or non-compliance with laws or regulation which could result in reputational damage, fines, litigation and claims for compensation
   
a serious environmental incident causing third party damage and/or injury and reputational damage


 

Amec Foster Wheeler
Annual report and accounts 2015
21
 

Sustainability

 

Sustainable development is shaping our business every day. It is at the heart of our values.

 

Greenhouse gas emissions        
Year ended 31 October 2015
CO2e
emissions in
tonnes
  2014
CO2e
emissions in
tonnes
 
Combustion of fuel and operation of facilities 838,073   24,355  
Electricity, heat, steam and cooling purchased for own use 59,682   35,434  
Per employee 22.83   2.17  
Per £1m revenue* 164.57   15.74 *

 

*Based on AMEC revenue only for 2014.

 

The figures show scope one and two emissions from our global business where we have operational control.

 

The 12-month period to 30 September (the carbon reporting year), rather than the calendar year, has been used. This ensures actual data can be reported, even for those regions where energy/fuel usage is more difficult to access. By reducing reliance on estimation, a more accurate footprint can be provided in a timely manner.

 

We have use accepted methods of calculation based on the Greenhouse Gas Protocol: A Corporate Accounting and Reporting Standard (revised edition). We have used national conversion factor guidelines (eg Environmental Protection Agency, Environment Canada) where appropriate.

 

Our 2015 footprint is markedly different from previous year due to the inclusion of emissions from two power generation facilities which came as part of the Foster Wheeler acquisition. Our 2014 data represents the AMEC business only. The 2015 footprint represents the Amec Foster Wheeler business (with Foster Wheeler data being incorporated into the carbon report from 1 January 2015).

 

Our approach to sustainable business

Our growth aspirations will only be achieved by focusing on our customers and how we deliver our projects safely and sustainably.

 

In 2015 we developed and launched our sustainability strategy for Amec Foster Wheeler – Resilient World, where natural resources are cleaner and more efficient, and we work in partnership with others to respond to changing demands for a stable and secure supply of natural resources. Our strategy focuses on the opportunities to work with others to help solve these challenges, as well as manage our risks, to deliver value to Amec Foster Wheeler and its customers. Our strategy focuses on three key areas:

 

People

Investing for tomorrow by developing a diverse, inclusive and talented workforce which exhibits our values and behaviours to drive sustainability.

Growth in demand drives the competition for skills and expertise within the industry that we need to deliver a resilient world. We will resource for a diverse and inclusive workforce, introducing new people (both experienced and new entrants) to the resource pools in order to create a business with genuine diversity of thought.

 

Innovation

Delivering innovative technologies, solutions and services that add business value for our customers whilst minimising environmental impacts.

 

We will drive long-term growth for Amec Foster Wheeler by developing and encouraging a growing portfolio of innovative environmental technologies, solutions and services which add value to our customers and our business.

 

Delivery

Being a trusted partner by embedding a consistent sustainability standard across our projects.

 

Our customers demand high standards, and sustainability is a fundamental part of this. We will ensure a consistent approach to inherently embedding sustainability into the core of our projects, and implement a value-add sustainability framework to be used for those clients with advanced sustainability objectives.

 

We want to ensure that sustainability is integrated into the very core of our business and within our decision-making processes. We want to be acknowledged as a leader in sustainable business practice, continually validating our social licence to operate by ensuring employees’ behaviours and actions are in line with our values. Further details on our approach and our strategy can be found on our dedicated sustainability site at www.amecfw.com/sustainability

 

Additionally we:

 

developed and launched our Resilient World sustainability strategy
   
launched an online interactive sustainability report on our new sustainability website
   
re-committed to the UN Global Compact principles as Amec Foster Wheeler
   
continue to support SOS Children as our global strategic charity – in 2015 we raised just over £140,000 for them, reaching 5,568 beneficiaries. We also developed a new memorandum of understanding with the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), to support them in designing transitional shelters to be used in disaster situations
   
collated and reported a new carbon footprint baseline for the Amec Foster Wheeler business from which future reduction targets will be set
   
became a partner of 100 Resilient Cities (100RC) – pioneered by the Rockefeller Foundation to give urban centres across the world access to ground-breaking tools allowing them to better plan for potentially destructive weather events
   
convened a working group to address the due diligence and operational processes required to address the Modern Slavery Act


 

22 Amec Foster Wheeler
Annual report and accounts 2015
 

Global market trends

 

With nearly $400bn of projects in the oil & gas industry cancelled in the past 12 months, we are facing an unprecedented upheaval in our largest market.

 

The fundamentals for energy consumption and infrastructure investment remain positive in the long term.

 

In the short term we will need to continue to adapt to customers’ needs.

 

Our asset-light business model and mix of end markets and services has provided us with some protection from commodity market volatility.

 

Short-term challenges

At the time of writing, in early 2016, the oil price has fallen to $40, and has recently been below $30. At this price research shows that more than 10% of current production cannot cover its operating costs.

 

We have also seen hundreds of new projects cancelled or deferred as our clients cut costs and capital commitments.

 

Despite this, the global oil market remains over-supplied and stocks have continued to grow.

 

This situation looks set to continue for a while yet – with forecasts for the market to re-balance in 2017 at the earliest.

 

During 2016 we also expect to see Iran begin exporting more oil as international sanctions are lifted. Estimates vary from 250,000 to 500,000 extra barrels of oil entering the market during the first few months. While this may increase the over-supply of oil in the short term, the opening up of Iran is also an opportunity for us. In September 2015 we joined a British government delegation in Tehran to meet with potential Iranian customers.

 

 

 

Long-term outlook

Despite the current weakness, long-term forecasts for global energy demand and supply have not changed significantly over the past year. The International Energy Agency (IEA) World Energy Outlook 2015 predicts a 37% increase by 2040.

 

Long-term oil demand is expected to increase more than 20% from just over 90 to 110 million barrels of oil per day by 2035.

Changing hydrocarbon production mix

A change from today’s production mix is still expected, with crude oil falling and a greater share being taken by natural gas liquids and unconventional sources.

 

In recent years the rapid increase in tight oil production – mainly from the oil sands in Canada and shale oil in the US – together with huge investments in liquefied natural gas projects has changed the nature of the energy market, and created regional trade imbalances.

 

In 2005 the US imported more than 12 million barrels of oil per day, and it is now forecast to be self-sufficient during the 2030s. Over the same period, China is expected to import more than 13 million barrels per day, and to become the largest importer.

 

Changing energy mix

Concerns around resource depletion, dangerous emissions, stricter regulation and consumer preference are driving renewable forms of energy, including nuclear, to increase their share of total energy production. Amongst fossil fuels, gas is expected to grow its share, with oil and coal reducing.

 

 

 

The nuclear industry remains a fragmented market with a consequence that our opportunities vary significantly. We expect to see new build in the UK, Eastern Europe and in some countries in Asia; reactor life extensions in the UK, Europe and North America; and decommissioning work in the UK, Europe and North America. Overall, the IEA forecasts nuclear will be used to generate around 12% of electricity in 2035, slightly above today’s level.

 

Emissions controls and the need for greater efficiency are also driving change. Today, many renewable technologies benefit from local and regional subsidies, which is currently supporting their growth.

 

World leaders gathered in Paris at the end of 2015 to agree on a pact to cut carbon emissions. We remain well placed to benefit from these developments – with our increased exposure to gas and LNG since the acquisition of Foster Wheeler, and our long-standing market positions in renewable and nuclear energy markets.

 

Strong resource fundamentals remain

More than 1.5bn people in emerging markets are expected to become urbanised in the period to 2035, a key underlying driver of long-term growth for the mining industry.

 

However, lower commodity prices and general economic uncertainty have caused the postponement or cancellation of some projects in the near term.

 

In addition, a number of major mining companies have announced delays to projects and cost reduction programmes.


 


 

Amec Foster Wheeler
Annual report and accounts 2015
23
 

Our markets

 

We operate in more than 55 countries, focusing on four markets:

 

► Oil & Gas

 

► Clean Energy

 

► Mining

 

► Environment & Infrastructure

 

 

We provide similar services in each of our markets.

 

We win work through strong customer relationships and our proven ability to deliver projects successfully.

 

Many of our services are transferable across markets.

 

We have benefited from our ability to operate across many markets – focusing our efforts on retaining a diverse, adaptable and scalable business model.

 

We have also shifted resources between markets – for instance offsetting the weakness in upstream with significant growth in downstream oil & gas.

 

In the UK we have transferred some senior project management staff from the oil & gas market into nuclear – allowing us to expand our role on a nine-year contract with EDF.

 

In the US we have created a combined project delivery team – which can work across the oil and gas and clean energy markets to ensure we execute to the highest standards possible every time.

 

Business review

In November 2015 we announced a review of our market positions. Our aim is to identify a path to improved performance, or to sell businesses if this is not likely. We are making good progress on this plan, and expect to update shareholders later in 2016.

 

Competitive environment

There is no one competitor operating in all the same markets, with the same geographic footprint and with a similar approach to risk as Amec Foster Wheeler.

 

 

 

Oil & Gas

We do not operate in early cycle exploration or drilling, but we are involved in every part of the project delivery phase across the oil & gas value chain.

 

In the upstream market, the majority of our activity is for offshore assets, where we support fixed platforms and floating production units, largely above the waterline.

 

We are a market leader in UK North Sea brownfield services and provide integrated solutions to new entrant operators in the region.

 

We also support onshore oil & gas fields, booster stations, gathering centres, tank farms, gas-oil separation plants and pipelines.

 

 

 

Recent advances in the extraction of gas reserves in onshore locations around the world have made gas monetisation one of the fastest growing sectors in the global oil & gas industry, where we hope to build on our extensive experience.

 

In the downstream market we work on new-builds and major expansions and revamps, including clean fuels projects to meet new legislation and residue upgrading to produce higher-value products.

 

We have more than 60 years of experience in the chemicals industry, encompassing plants producing olefins, aromatics, fertilizers and a wide range of specialty and fine chemicals.

 

In the downstream/petrochemical markets, we provide a full service EPC offering.


 

24 Amec Foster Wheeler
Annual report and accounts 2015
 

 

 

Clean Energy

In renewables, our focus is on delivering projects for our customers, most of which are local utilities. We provide a full service EPC solution on wind, solar, biomass and biofuels projects. This is mostly in North America, however we also plan to expand our positions in the Middle East.

 

Over the past three years we have seen strong growth in the US for solar power, spurred on by subsidies which have recently been extended to at least 2019.

 

Our nuclear capability has been developed over 60 years, positioning us to support the full lifecycle of nuclear energy, from new-build and reactor support (including lifetime extension) to nuclear decommissioning and waste management. We have experience of a wide range of nuclear technology.

 

Our nuclear customers include major utilities, governments, national regulators, reactor suppliers and other significant stakeholders. We have a particularly strong presence in the UK and Canada, a growing business in the US, a good presence in Central and Eastern Europe and South Africa, and nascent propositions in Asia.

 

We also have a long-standing relationship in the UK and a growing presence in Canada with the transmission and distribution system owners.

 

We offer a full range of steam generator equipment, clean air technologies, aftermarket products and services to the power, industrial, and waste-to-energy sectors. In addition to engineering and procurement, we offer fabrication facilities located in Europe and Asia to deliver our products.

 

Our experience comes from designing, servicing and improving fossil generating plants that come from over 200 million hours of successfully and reliably logged operation.

 

 

Mining

We support our customers’ projects in a diverse range of commodities, including potash, iron ore, copper and gold.

 

We offer mining consultancy (including ore resource estimation, mine planning and feasibility studies), design, project and construction management services and have whole-life service capabilities.

 

We are a leading international consultancy, with a leading position in the North and South American EPCM markets.

 

In addition to our established position in Australia, we are growing our African business.

 

Environment & Infrastructure (E&I)

The environmental consulting and engineering market includes services provided to all four of our markets, with skills that are easily transferable across customers.

 

By positioning ourselves as a trusted partner right at the beginning of a project – often the early site development and permitting stage – we can deliver comprehensive solutions across the lifecycle of our customers’ assets.

 

We are currently operating predominantly in the US, Canada and the UK, with an emerging presence in the Middle East, Africa and Australasia.

 

Our E&I market alone consists of four sectors:

 

Water

Our primary areas of focus are water resource management, water policy, coastal management, asset planning and management, and wastewater collection and treatment.

 

Water services are also commonly provided to customers in our other markets, including mining and oil & gas.

 

Transportation/Infrastructure

We provide programme management, planning and design, project and construction management, asset development and long-term asset support. Our customers include government transportation agencies, national and local customers and private developers in Canada and the US. We have over 50 years’ experience in the sector.

 

Government

We provide a broad range of services to various clients, including the US Federal Government, which is the largest procurer of environmental services in the world. Customers also include various branches of the military and state/ provincial agencies. Services range from remediation programmes to design and delivery of infrastructure facilities, including airfield facilities, housing and site improvements at installations globally.

 

Industrial/Pharmaceutical

We provide compliance and due diligence services, ranging from geotechnical and environmental to materials and water resources consulting.


 


 

Amec Foster Wheeler
Annual report and accounts 2015
25
 

 

Florida’s springs and rivers have tremendous ecological value. Our work with the St Johns River Water Management District to investigate and evaluate the health of 14 different spring systems in North and Central Florida, supports the shaping of a safe, sustainable future for the area.

The scientific diving taking place on the project requires high levels of skill, focus and determination. Ensuring we have the right people in place to take on complex projects like these, is key to the success of our business.

 

 

 

 

Our evaluation of the ecosystem will help create data-driven solutions to protect the Florida Springs, through collecting aquatic flora and fauna and measuring water velocity.


 

 

 

Financial review

 

Ian McHoul

Chief Financial Officer and Interim CEO

 

Reported under IFRS            
£m unless stated  2015   2014  Change  
Continuing operations             
Revenue   5,455   3,993  +37%  
(Loss)/profit before net financing expense   (205)  148   
(Loss)/profit before tax   (235)  155   
Cash flow from operations   220   200  +10%  
Diluted earnings per share   (66.1)p  35.1p   
Dividend per share   29.0p1  43.3p  -33%  
   
1 Includes the proposed final dividend for 2015 of 14.2p per ordinary share.

 

Adjusted measures

            Underlying  
£m unless stated  2015  2014  Change  change7  
Continuing operations              
Revenue  5,455  3,993  +37%  -7%  
Trading profit1  374  321     -19%  
Trading margin2  6.9%  8.0%  -110bps     
Adjusted profit before tax3  334  317     +5%  
Trading cash flow4  388  283  +37%     
Cash conversion5  104%  88%        
Adjusted diluted earnings per share6  67.7p  79.5p     -15%  
   
1 Trading profit represents profit before net financing expense before the amortisation and impairment of intangible assets, asbestos-related costs (net of insurance recoveries) and exceptional items, but including the Group’s share of the trading profit of joint ventures.
   
2 Trading margin represents trading profit expressed as a percentage of revenue.
   
3 Adjusted profit before tax represents profit before tax before exceptional items, the amortisation and impairment of intangible assets, asbestos-related costs and interest expense (net of insurance recoveries), and the Group’s share of tax on the results of joint ventures.
   
4 Trading cash flow represents cash generated from operations before cash flows arising from exceptional items, asbestos-related payments (net of insurance recoveries), the difference between retirement benefit contributions and the current service cost, legacy settlements and discontinued operations, and currency translation differences on working capital, but including dividends received from joint ventures.
   
5 Cash conversion represents trading cash flow expressed as a percentage of trading profit.
   
6 Adjusted diluted earnings per share represents profit for the year from continuing operations before exceptional items, the amortisation and impairment of intangible assets, asbestos-related costs and interest expense (net of insurance recoveries), and the tax effect of those items, divided by the diluted number of ordinary shares.
   
7 Underlying change excludes the effect of flow-through procurement, acquisitions and disposals of businesses and currency exchange rate movements.


 

28 Amec Foster Wheeler
Annual report and accounts 2015
 

Basis of preparation

Accounting policies

The Group’s consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2015 have been prepared in accordance with IFRS as adopted for use in the EU and those parts of the Companies Act 2006 that are applicable to companies reporting under IFRS. From the Group’s perspective, there are no differences between IFRS as adopted for use in the EU and IFRS as issued by the IASB.

 

The Group’s principal accounting policies during 2015 were unchanged compared with 2014.

 

Critical accounting estimates and judgements

As outlined in note 1 to the consolidated financial statements, management considers that the most significant areas of judgement and estimation made in preparing the consolidated financial statements arise in relation to the accounting for long-term contracts, business combinations, defined benefit pensions and other retirement benefits, the estimation of liabilities in respect of uncertain tax positions, and provisions (including asbestos-related liabilities), and in assessing the recoverability of goodwill and other intangible assets.

 

Restatement

On 13 November 2014 (the acquisition date), the Group acquired 95.3% of the issued share capital of Foster Wheeler AG. Due to the relatively short period of time between the acquisition date and 31 December 2014, management had not finalised its assessment of the fair values of certain of Foster Wheeler’s assets and liabilities at the time that the 2014 financial statements were completed, and as a result, the 2014 financial statements reflected the provisional assessment of the fair values as at the acquisition date.

 

During 2015, management has completed the fair value assessment and the comparative amounts shown in the Balance Sheet, Statement of Comprehensive Income, Statement of Changes in Equity and Cash Flow Statement have been restated to reflect changes made to the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities recognised on the acquisition of Foster Wheeler, details of which are set out in note 24.

 

As the acquisition of Foster Wheeler AG in November 2014 represented more than 90% of Foster Wheeler’s issued share capital, the acquisition qualifies for merger relief under section 612 of the Companies Act 2006 from crediting the share premium that arose on the new shares issued in consideration for Foster Wheeler to a share premium account. The balance sheet as at 31 December 2014 has been restated to present the excess of the nominal value of the shares issued of £877m as a merger reserve.

 

Adjusted performance measures

We report adjusted performance measures because they provide both management and investors with useful additional information about the underlying trading performance of the business.

 

The adjusted performance measures that we reported excluded the amortisation and impairment of intangible assets and exceptional items and, where relevant, the tax effects of those items.

Adjusted performance measures used by the Group are explained and reconciled to the equivalent IFRS measures in the section entitled Performance measures on pages 172 to 174.

 

Continuing operations

Revenue

Following the acquisition of Foster Wheeler, revenue for the period at £5,455m was 37% higher than last year (2014: £3,993m). Following its acquisition in November 2014, Foster Wheeler contributed £274m to the Group’s revenue in 2014.

 

Revenue increased by £462m in the Americas, by £199m in NECIS and £534m in AMEASE, and in addition there was a full year’s revenue in the Global Power Group of £364m (2014: £53m).

 

On a pro-forma basis and excluding the effect of currency movements and bolt-on acquisitions, underlying revenue decreased by 7%. Underlying revenue from E&I was up 14% underpinned by growth in US government work and clean energy was up 2%, but oil & gas was down 8% with mining and GPG down 24% and 20% respectively.

 

Scope revenue at £5,176m was 6% lower than last year (2014: £5,493m). This includes scope revenue of £2,577m in the Americas, £1,448m for NECIS and £884m for AMEASE.

 

Seasonality

The Group’s revenue is generally higher in the second half of the year, principally because weather conditions in the northern hemisphere are typically more conducive to project activity.

 

Administrative expenses

Administrative expenses were £872m (2014: £354m), including exceptional items, intangibles amortisation and impairment and asbestos-related costs (net of insurance recoveries) of £538m (2014: £135m).

 

Administrative expenses before intangibles amortisation and impairment, exceptional items and asbestos-related items increased by £115m following the Foster Wheeler acquisition, the impact of which was partly offset by the impact of cost savings achieved to date.

 

Corporate costs, which comprise the costs of operating central corporate functions and certain regional overheads, were £23m higher at £54m (2014: £31m) reflecting the enlarged group.

 

(Loss)/profit before net financing expense

There was a loss before net financing expense of £205m (2014: profit of £148m) as the profit generated by Foster Wheeler has been offset by an impairment charge of £308m in the Global Power Group business and higher intangible amortisation resulting from the intangible assets recognised on the acquisitions of Foster Wheeler and Scopus in 2014.


 

 


 

Amec Foster Wheeler
Annual report and accounts 2015
29
 

Financial review continued

 

Amortisation and impairment of intangible assets

Intangible assets principally comprise goodwill and identifiable intangible assets that were recognised in relation to acquired businesses. Goodwill is not amortised but is subject to an annual impairment test.

 

The results of the Global Power Group for 2015 and forecasts for 2016 and beyond are well down on earlier expectations giving rise to an impairment in goodwill of £308m. In addition, there has been a £7m impairment to the order backlog intangible asset arising on the Foster Wheeler acquisition. No impairments were recognised in 2014.

 

Intangibles amortisation was £129m (2014: £49m) reflecting the full-year amortisation of intangible assets recognised on the acquisitions of Foster Wheeler and Scopus completed in 2014.

 

Exceptional and asbestos-related items

Net exceptional and asbestos-related costs totalling £115m (2014: £107m) were recognised in arriving at profit before tax from continuing operations, as follows:

 

costs of £97m relating to the integration of Foster Wheeler and AMEC (including internal staff costs associated with identifying and achieving cost synergies)
   
a £5m loss incurred following an unauthorised payment made from the Australian business and not expected to be recovered
   
£13m amortisation of facility fees associated with the acquisition of Foster Wheeler
   
During the year ended 31 December 2015, the Group recognised net asbestos-related income of £6m (2014: costs of £9m) in profit before net financing expense, which related to the movement in the discount rate applied to the net asbestos-related liabilities assumed on the acquisition of Foster Wheeler of £5m and experiential gains of £9m as the liability is reassessed on an annual basis. In addition, there was an asbestos-related interest expense of £7m related to the unwinding of the discount applied to the liability and costs of £1m associated with managing the liability

Trading profit and trading margin

             Underlying  
£m unless stated  2015   2014  Change  change  
Revenue1   5,455   3,993  +37%  -7%  
(Loss)/profit before                
net financing                
expense   (205)  148        
–  Amortisation and impairment of intangibles   444   49        
–  Net asbestos-related (income)/ costs   (13)  8        
–  Exceptional items   108   94        
–  Share of trading profit of joint ventures   40   22        
Trading profit1   374   321  +17%  -20%  
Trading margin1   6.9%  8.0%  -110bps  -100bps  
   
Order book  £6.6bn  £6.3bn  +5%     
   
1 Non-IFRS measure (see Performance measures on pages 172 to 174).

 

Trading profit increased by 17% to £374m (2014: £321m). Trading margin decreased by 110 basis points to 6.9% (2014: 8.0%).

 

On a proforma basis and excluding the effect of currency movements and bolt on acquisitions, trading profit was £83m lower than 2014 with reductions in the Americas and NECIS were partly offset by growth in AMEASE. Within the Americas, trading profit fell by 36% on an underlying basis, as a result of pricing pressure in the oil & gas market and trading margin was down by 350 basis points compared with 2014, due to an increased proportion of EPC in our scope, particularly in downstream oil & gas and clean energy.

 

Within NECIS, trading profit decreased by 5% but trading margin was 9.0%, up 100 basis points compared with 2014, with less procurement, favourable contract settlements and cost savings initiatives boosting the margin.

 

In AMEASE trading profit rose by 18%, reflecting higher contributions from oil & gas and E&I. Trading margin was 6.5%, up 130 basis points compared with 2014, due to the early benefits of cost saving initiatives and favourable contract settlements.


 

30 Amec Foster Wheeler
Annual report and accounts 2015
 

Net financing expense

The net financing expense was £58m (2014: £5m). Of this, expenses of £20m (2014: £5m) have been presented separately on the income statement relating to £13m amortisation of the facility fees associated with the Foster Wheeler acquisition and £7m (2014: £1m) due to the unwinding of the discount on asbestos-related liabilities (net of insurance recoveries).

 

Of the remaining £38m there was bank interest payable of £31m (2014: £7m), net foreign exchange losses of £1m (2014: £nil), and a net interest expense on pension assets and liabilities of £2m (2014: income of £1m) and other costs classified as financing of £4m (2014: £1m).

 

A net currency exchange loss of £3m (2014: £4m) was recognised in the translation reserve in respect of foreign currency borrowings and derivatives held in designated net investment hedging relationships.

 

Share of results of joint ventures

The Group’s share of joint ventures’ profit for the year was £28m (2014: £12m).

 

(Loss)/profit before tax

Loss before tax was £235m (2014: profit of £155m) after intangibles amortisation and impairment of £444m (2014: £49m), exceptional and asbestos-related items of £115m (2014: £107m) and the Group’s share of joint ventures’ tax expense of £10m (2014: £6m).

 

Adjusted profit before tax was 5% higher at £334m (2014: £317m).

 

Taxation

Our tax policy is to manage our obligations in compliance with all relevant tax laws, disclosure requirements and regulations. We seek to ensure that our approach to tax and the tax payments that we make in all territories in which we have operations are fully consistent with local requirements, taking into account available tax incentives and allowances, and are aligned with the group’s wider business strategy. We seek to develop good, open working relationships with tax authorities and to engage with them proactively, recognising that tax legislation can be complex and may be subject to differing interpretations.

 

The group’s effective tax rate on continuing operations (including its share of joint ventures’ income tax expense but before exceptional items, intangibles amortisation and impairment and asbestos-related items) reduced to 22.0% (2014: 23.0%).

We expect the effective tax rate to remain below 25%.

 

During 2015, there was a tax credit on exceptional items of £18m (2014: tax credit of £6m), and a tax credit of £27m on intangibles amortisation and impairment (2014: £12m).

 

The group’s share of joint ventures’ income tax expense was £10m (2014: £6m).

 

(Loss)/profit for the year from continuing operations

The loss for the year from continuing operations was £253m (2014: profit of £106m) after intangibles amortisation and impairment of £444m (2014: £49m), the net asbestos-related income of £6m (2014: expense of £9m), net exceptional items of £121m (2014: £98m), and an income tax credit on those items of £45m (2014: charge of £18m).

 

Adjusted profit for the year from continuing operations was 7% higher at £261m (2014: £244m).

 

Non-controlling interests

During 2015, there was a loss of £1m attributable to non-controlling interests (2014: loss of £3m).

 

Earnings per share

The diluted loss per share was (67.2)p (2014: EPS 26.5p), comprising a loss per share of (66.1)p (2014: EPS 35.1p) from continuing operations and a loss of (1.1)p (2014: 8.6p) from discontinued operations.

 

Adjusted diluted EPS from continuing operations was 67.7p (2014: 79.5p), the reduction being due to the decline in the profit for the year from continuing operations and the increase in the number of shares in issue as a consequence of the acquisition of Foster Wheeler.

 

Dividend

The Board recommends a final dividend of 14.2p per share, which, together with the interim dividend of 14.8p per share, results in a total dividend of 29.0p per share (2014: 43.3p), a reduction of 33%. Subject to approval by shareholders at the AGM on 27 April 2016, the final dividend will be payable on 4 July 2016 to shareholders on the register at the close of business on 27 May 2016.

 

Dividend cover for 2015 is 2.3 times (2014: 1.8 times) based on adjusted diluted EPS from continuing operations.

 

As announced in November 2015, it is the current intention of the board that ordinary dividends in 2016 will be approximately half that declared in 2014, with approximately one-third paid at the interim, and two-thirds as a final dividend.


 

 


 

Amec Foster Wheeler
Annual report and accounts 2015
31
 

Financial review continued

 

Results by operating segment
(presented on a pro forma basis)

Americas

             Underlying  
£m unless stated  2015   2014  Change  change1  
Revenue   2,646   2,705  -2%  -3%  
Profit before net financing expense   94            
– Intangibles amortisation and impairment   46            
– Exceptional items   22            
– Share of trading profit of joint ventures   (1)           
Trading profit1   161   258  -38%  -36%  
Trading margin1   6.1%  9.6%  -350bps     
   
Order book  £2.0bn  £2.0bn       
   
1 Non-IFRS measure (see Performance measures on pages 172 to 174).

 

Revenue in Americas was £2,646m (2014: £2,705m), a decrease of 2%. Excluding the effect of bolt-on acquisitions and currency movements, underlying revenue was down 3%. Growth in underlying revenue in the downstream oil & gas, clean energy and E&I, was offset by declines in upstream oil & gas and mining.

 

Trading profit fell by 38% to £161m (2014: £258m), as a result of pricing pressure in the oil & gas market. Trading margin was 6.1%, down by 350 basis points compared with 2014, due to an increased proportion of EPC in our scope, particularly in downstream oil & gas and clean energy.

Northern Europe and CIS (NECIS)           
             Underlying  
£m unless stated  2015   2014  Change  change1  
Revenue   1,492   1,705  -12%  -13%  
Profit before net financing expense   60            
– Intangibles amortisation and impairment   41            
– Exceptional items   13            
– Share of trading profit of joint ventures   20            
Trading profit1   134   137  -2%  -5%  
Trading margin1   9.0%  8.0%  +100bps     
 
Order book  £2.4bn  £2.3bn  +4%     

 

1Non-IFRS measure (see Performance measures on pages 172 to 174).

 

Revenue in NECIS fell by 12% to £1,492m (2014: £1,705m), primarily due to a downturn in oil & gas project activity. Excluding the effect of bolt-on acquisitions and currency movements, underlying revenue was also down 13%.

 

Trading profit decreased by 2% to £134m (2014: £137m). Trading margin was 9.0%, up 100 basis points compared with 2014. Less procurement, favourable contract settlements and cost savings initiatives boosting the margin.

 

Asia, Middle East, Africa and Southern Europe (AMEASE)

             Underlying  
£m unless stated  2015   2014  Change  change1  
Revenue   1,050   1,031  +2%  +2%  
Profit before net financing expense   13            
– Intangibles amortisation and impairment   23            
– Exceptional items   28            
– Share of trading profit of joint ventures   4            
Trading profit1   68   53  +27%  +18%  
Trading margin1   6.5%  5.2%  +130bps     
                 
Order book  £1.8bn  £1.6bn  +6%     
   
1 Non-IFRS measure (see Performance measures on pages 172 to 174).

 

Revenue in AMEASE was up 2% year on year at £1,050m (2014: £1,031m), driven by an increase in US government work and reduction in mining work. Excluding the effect of bolt-on acquisitions and currency movements, underlying revenue was up 2%.

 

Trading profit rose by 27% to £68m (2014: £53m), reflecting higher contributions from oil & gas and E&I. Trading margin was 6.5%, up 130 basis points compared with 2014, due to the early benefits of cost saving initiatives and favourable contract settlements.


 

32 Amec Foster Wheeler
Annual report and accounts 2015
 
Global Power Group               
             Underlying  
£m unless stated  2015   2014  Change  change1  
Revenue   364   454  -20%  -20%  
Profit before net financing expense   (302)           
–  Intangibles amortisation and impairment   334            
–  Exceptional items   4            
–  Share of trading profit of joint ventures   15            
Trading profit1   51   69  -26%  -31%  
Trading margin1   14.0%  15.2%  -120bps     
 
Order book  £0.4bn  £0.4bn       

 

1Non-IFRS measure (see Performance measures on pages 172 to 174).

 

Revenues in GPG fell by 20% to £364m (2014: £454m), primarily driven by a decline in project activity. On an underlying basis, revenue was also down 20%.

 

Trading profit fell by 26% to £51m (2014: £69m). Trading margin was 14.0%, down 120 basis points, driven by pricing pressure in weak market conditions and lower resource utilisation, and reflecting the non-recurrence of £20m one-off income from a license settlement in 2014.

 

Investment Services

During the periods under review, Investment Services principally comprised the Incheon Bridge PPP project in Korea and the Lancashire Waste project (which the group exited in 2014), the Group’s insurance captive, the Group’s wind development activities and a range of other non-core activities.

 

Revenue in Investment Services was £15m (2014: £6m). Investment Services made a profit before net financing expense of £10m (2014: loss of £16m), after deducting an exceptional loss on disposal of businesses of £2m (2014: £21m). Trading profit was £14m (2014: £9m) of which £2m (2014: £3m) was derived from joint ventures.

 

Discontinued operations

Discontinued operations represent the residual assets and retained obligations of businesses sold in prior years, together with the UK conventional power business that was classified as a discontinued operation during 2013.

 

Discontinued operations generated a trading loss before tax of £6m (2014: loss of £10m) and after a tax credit of £1m (2014: £2m) generated a loss for the year of £5m (2014: loss of £8m). During 2014, negative revenue of £13m was recognised due to the settlement of final accounts and additional provisions on certain contracts within the UK conventional power business.

Discontinued operations included a profit on disposals of £1m (2014: loss £23m) arising from movements in indemnity provisions and costs associated with businesses sold in prior years. In 2014, the loss on disposals included a provision of £11m in respect of a new claim received in the year related to a contract completed by the built environment business which was sold in 2007.

 

Discontinued operations generated an overall loss for the year of £4m (2014: £27m).

 

Acquisitions

There were no acquisitions during 2015.

 

Acquisition of Foster Wheeler in 2014

On 13 November 2014, the Group acquired a 95.3% interest in Foster Wheeler AG by way of a public tender offer. Consideration payable for the interest acquired totalled £1,915m, of which £979m was settled in cash, £919m was settled by the issue of approximately 85m of the Company’s ordinary shares and £17m was settled by the grant of replacement share options and awards.

 

During 2015, management completed its assessment of the net identifiable assets of Foster Wheeler as at the acquisition date. This resulted in the recognition of goodwill of £1,726m on the acquisition of Foster Wheeler.

 

In January 2015, the Group acquired the remaining 4.7% interest in Foster Wheeler AG by way of a ‘squeeze-out merger’ under Swiss law for consideration of £85m, of which £51m was paid in cash and £34m was settled by the issue of 4.3m of the Company’s ordinary shares and ADSs.

 

Further details of the acquisition of Foster Wheeler are set out in note 24 to the accompanying financial information.

 

Liquidity and capital resources

Trading cash flow

Trading cash flow of £388m was £105m higher than last year (2014: £283m), principally due to the increase in trading profit following the acquisition.

 

Cash conversion was 104% (2014: 88%).

 

Cash generated from operations

Cash generated from operations was £220m (2014: £200m), a increase of £20m which was largely with the £105m increase in trading cash flow partly offset by an increase of £41m in the cash outflow on exceptional items (principally integration-related costs).

 

Purchases of property, plant and equipment

Purchase of property, plant and equipment and intangible assets were £36m (2014: £31m). Additionally, in 2014, purchases of computer software amounting to £33m were financed using deferred payment arrangements.


 

 


 

Amec Foster Wheeler
Annual report and accounts 2015
33
 

Financial review continued

 

Acquisitions and disposals

During 2015 there was a cash outflow of £5m in respect of deferred consideration arrangements on prior year acquisitions. There was a cash outflow of £54m from the acquisition of the non-controlling interests in Foster Wheeler and Kromav, this is presented within financing activities in the cash flow statement.

 

During 2014, consideration paid on the acquisition of businesses was £1,049m, which comprised £982m for Foster Wheeler (including a currency hedging loss of £3m) and £67m for Scopus. The net cash outflow on acquisitions was £781m, after deducting cash and cash equivalents of £268m (2014: £nil) held by the acquired businesses.

 

Movement in net (debt)/cash

The movement in net (debt)/cash may be analysed as follows:

 

   2015   2014 
Year ended 31 December  £m   £m 
Trading cash flow   388    283 
Write off of finance arrangement fees   (12)    
Net asbestos-related payments   (22)   (5)
Excess of retirement benefit contributions over current service cost   (3)   (2)
Cash outflow on exceptional items   (72)   (58)
Legacy settlements and discontinued operations   (36)   (9)
Dividends received from joint ventures   (42)   (14)
Exchange rate movements   19    5 
Cash generated from operations   220    200 
Income taxes paid (net)   (79)   (54)
Interest paid (net)   (35)   (3)
Capital expenditure (net of disposals)   (36)   (31)
Acquisitions and disposals (net)   (51)   (876)
Ordinary dividends   (167)   (124)
Net share movements   10    6 
Dividends received from joint ventures   42    14 
Exchange and other movements   33    (7)
Cash movement in net debt   (63)   (875)
Non-cash movements   (80)   (49)
Movement in net debt   (143)   (924)
Opening net debt   (803)   121 
Closing net debt   (946)   (803)
Net debt comprised:        
   2015   2014 
As at 31 December  £m   £m 
Cash and cash equivalents   307    377 
Cash deposits   33    118 
Cash deposits >3m   23    21 
Financial derivatives   14     
Bank loans (net of facility fees)   (1,264)   (1,258)
Finance lease obligations   (59)   (61)
Net debt   (946)   (803)

 

Cash balances

We manage our cash balances such that there is no significant concentration of risk in any one bank or other financial institution. We monitor closely the credit quality of the institutions that hold the Group’s deposits. Similar consideration is given to the Group’s portfolio of derivative financial instruments.

 

As at 31 December 2015, the Group had cash balances totalling £363m (2014: £516m), of which 63% was held in institutions with a long term credit rating of at least A- (or equivalent) by at least two of Standard & Poor’s, Moody’s or Fitch.

 

Borrowings

Borrowing facilities

We seek to maintain a balanced capital structure comprising a mix of debt and equity, which is determined by considering the Group’s business profile and strategy, financial policies and the availability and cost of funding. We target the Group’s long-term net debt to be no more than two times trading profit.

 

As at 31 December 2015, the Group had committed banking facilities of £1,768m (2013: £1,863m).

 

In February 2014, the Group entered into a US$2,160m credit facility agreement with a syndicate of lenders. In July 2014, the facility agreement was amended to, among other things, increase the financing available under the facility to US$2,260m. As at 31 December 2015, the facilities available under the agreement were as follows:

 

Facility B, a US$830m bridge facility maturing August 2016 (with a six-month extension available at the Group’s option
  
Facility C, a US$830m term loan maturing in equal instalments in 2017, 2018 and 2019
  
Facility D, a US$350m revolving credit facility maturing May 2016


 

34 Amec Foster Wheeler
Annual report and accounts 2015
 

Facilities B and C were for the purpose of financing the acquisition of Foster Wheeler, including the payment of all fees, costs and expenses associated with the acquisition and the repayment of the Group’s £100m 12-month term loan that matured in April 2014. Facility D is available for general corporate purposes but may not be used for the same purposes as Facilities B and C. Facility D is currently utilised only for providing bank guarantees. We also have a five-year £377m multi-currency revolving credit facility that matures in July 2017.

 

On 1 March 2016 the Group entered into a new syndicated facility comprising of three tranches; a three-year £650m term loan, a five-year £650m term loan and a five-year £400m revolving credit facility. This new facility replaces the company’s existing £377m revolving credit facility and the Foster Wheeler acquisition facility of $2,260m.

 

As at 31 December 2015, the Group had committed borrowing headroom of £442m (in addition to cash, cash equivalents and bank deposits of £363m):

 

   Facility   Drawings   Headroom 
   £m   £m   £m 
Credit facility agreement               
– Facility B   563    563    0 
– Facility C   563    563    0 
– Facility D   237    62    175 
Revolving credit facility   377    110    267 
Project debt   26    26     
Other   2    2     
Finance leases   59    59     
Committed facilities   1,827    1,385    442 

 

Interest rate profile

The majority of the Group’s borrowings are denominated in US dollars and bear interest at floating rates.

 

Our policy is to maintain between 30% and 70% of the Group’s borrowings at fixed rates of interest. We achieve this by using interest rate swaps and other interest rate derivatives. As at 31 December 2015, only 28% of the Group’s borrowings were effectively at fixed interest rates due to the ongoing refinancing activity in 2015. This will be reviewed in Q1 2016 following the completion of the refinancing.

 

As at 31 December 2015, the weighted average effective cost of the Group’s outstanding borrowings was 3.4% and the effective interest maturity was 11 months.

 

Borrowing covenants

We are subject to customary covenants, representations and warranties in relation to our borrowing facilities. Our debt financing facility contains certain financial covenants as defined in the facility agreement including:

 

the ratio of consolidated net total borrowings to adjusted consolidated EBITDA must not exceed 3.25 times EBITDA
  
the ratio of consolidated EBITDA to consolidated net finance costs must not be less than 3.0 times

 

We satisfied these financial covenants by a comfortable margin for the year ended 31 December 2015.

Currency profile of debt

We aim to maintain the currency of the Group’s debt in proportion to the currencies in which the net assets of the Group’s businesses are denominated. We achieve the desired currency profile of the Group’s debt by borrowing in the relevant currency and also by entering into currency derivative contracts.

 

As at 31 December 2015, the effect of our hedging activity on the currency profile of the Group’s debt was as follows:

 

   Debt before   Effect of   Debt after 
   hedges   hedges   hedges 
   £m   £m   £m 
Currency:               
– Sterling   137    23    160 
– US dollar   1,160    (448)   712 
– Euro   26    207    233 
– Canadian dollar   0    218    218 
    1,323    0    1,323 

 

Other assets and liabilities

Goodwill and other intangibles

As at 31 December 2015, the carrying amount of goodwill was £2,192m (2014: £2,516m), with the reduction during the year principally an impairment of £308m recognised against the goodwill attributable to the Global Power Group business. See note 12 for further details.

 

As at 31 December 2015, the carrying amount of other intangibles was £833m (2014: £927m), which comprised acquired identifiable intangible assets of £753m (2014: £849m) and computer software of £80m (2014: £78m). There was an impairment charge of £7m recognised against the order back log intangible asset arising as part of the Foster Wheeler acquisition.

 

Amortisation of £129m (2014: £49m) reflects a full year’s amortisation of the intangible assets arising on the Foster Wheeler and Scopus acquisitions, both in 2014.

 

Research and development

Our engineering, project management and consultancy businesses seek to develop advanced engineering solutions for our customers targeted towards the achievement of new or improved functions and performance of their assets. Our businesses are involved in front-end and detailed engineering design and implementation and testing activities across a broad range of markets including the Oil & Gas, Mining, and Clean Energy sectors.

 

GPG also conducts research and development activities in the areas of combustion; solid, fluid and gas dynamics; heat transfer; materials; and solid mechanics. GPG licenses its technology to a limited number of third parties in select countries or markets.

 

In the UK, the US and Canada, the Group claims research and development government credits. Research and development expenditure net of amounts recoverable from customers and government credits claimed is not material to the Group’s operating results.


 

 


 

Amec Foster Wheeler
Annual report and accounts 2015
35
 

Financial review continued

 

Property, plant and equipment

As at 31 December 2015, property, plant and equipment amounted to £127m (2014: £150m), with a reduction of £23m during the year due as the additions of £16m were more than offset by depreciation of £26m and other smaller movements.

 

We hold the majority of the properties through which the Group operates under operating leases which are for varying periods and on differing terms. The Group has a network of over 350 offices worldwide, which range from regional hubs, with a headcount of between 1,000 and 2,500 employees, to smaller offices with more local focus. It is expected that the number of properties that are occupied by the Group will be reduced following the integration of Foster Wheeler’s businesses.

 

Due to the geographical spread of the Group’s operations, there is no individual facility the loss of which would have a material adverse impact on the Group’s operations. Equally, there are no plans to construct, expand or improve facilities that would, on completion or cancellation, significantly affect the group’s operations.

 

Post-retirement benefits

The Group has a number of defined benefit pension plans in a number of countries. There are three principal plans: two in the UK and one in the US. Each of these plans is closed to new entrants and the two legacy Foster Wheeler plans are also closed to future service accruals. Following an employee consultation exercise at the end of 2015, the Company has now confirmed its intention to close its UK Staff and Executive Defined Benefit pension schemes to future accrual from 1 April 2016 and replace them with a new Defined Contribution arrangement. Subject to gaining the necessary Trustee approvals, all legacy Defined Contribution plans in the UK will be merged into the new arrangement by 30 June 2016. As at 31 December 2015, there was a net surplus of £63m on the Group’s defined benefit pension plans (2014: deficit of £86m) principally due to actuarial gains in the defined benefit liability. During 2015, the Group contributed £36m (2014: £32m) to defined benefit pension plans and expects to contribute £36m in 2016, including special contributions of £6m.

 

Further information on the Group’s retirement benefit plans is provided in note 14 to the accompanying financial information.

 

Provisions

Provisions held at 31 December 2015 amounted to £664m (2014: £756m), with the substantial reduction during the year arising principally due to the utilisation of brought forward provisions of £64m. Otherwise, additional provisions of £33m were created and unutilised provisions amounting to £38m were released during 2015. In addition, there was an exchange movement of £22m on the opening balances.

 

Provisions may be summarised as follows:

 

   2015   2014 
As at 31 December  £m   £m 
Asbestos-related litigation   378    400 
Legal claims and actions   154    217 
Obligations relating to disposed
businesses
   78    86 
Property-related provisions   19    19 
Other provisions   35    34 
    664    756 

Asbestos-related obligations

The Group is subject to claims by individuals who allege that they have suffered personal injury from exposure to asbestos primarily in connection with equipment allegedly manufactured by certain of their subsidiaries during the 1970s or earlier.

 

As at 31 December 2015, the Group recognised:

 

an asbestos-related provision of £414m (after the effect of discounting of £74m), which included estimates of indemnity amounts and defence costs for open and yet to be asserted claims expected to be incurred in each year in the period to 2050
  
insurance recoveries of £118m (after discounting of £4m)

 

Management expects that there will be a net cash outflow of £22m during 2016 due to the excess of forecast indemnity payments and defence costs over insurance proceeds.

 

Details of the provisions held by the group are set out in note 21 to the accompanying financial information.

 

Non-controlling interests

As at 31 December 2015, non-controlling interests in equity amounted to £9m (2014: £22m), with the reduction during the year being principally due to the acquisition via a squeeze out merger, of the 4.7% non-controlling interest in Foster Wheeler AG that existed when the Group took control of Foster Wheeler in November 2015 and was subsequently acquired by the Group in January 2016.

 

Distributable reserves

As at 31 December 2015, the Company’s distributable reserves stood at £564m (2014: £726m).

 

   £m 
As at 31 December 2014   726 
Dividends paid during 2015   (167)
Dividends received from subsidiaries   100 
Impairment charges   (14)
Integration costs   (30)
Other costs   (51)
As at 31 December 2015   564 

 

In total there was a write down of £351m against the investments in subsidiary undertakings. Of this, £337m was charged against the merger reserve, and so has no impact on distributable profits, and £14m against the profit and loss account reserve.

 

During 2012, the Company generated a significant profit from a Group restructuring which becomes distributable as qualifying consideration is received by the Company in settlement of the associated loan. There were no repayments of this loan during 2015 or 2014.


 

36 Amec Foster Wheeler
Annual report and accounts 2015
 

Contractual obligations

As at 31 December 2015, the Group’s contractual obligations were as follows:

 

         Earliest period in which payment due  
      Less than  Between one  Between two  After more  
   Total  one year  and two years  and five years  than five years  
   £m  £m  £m  £m  £m  
Bank and other loans                 
– Principal  1,264  679  192  386  7  
– Interest1  47  16  15  16   
Derivative financial instruments1, 2  25  21  1  3   
Finance leases  59  4  18  24  13  
Operating leases  385  86  80  144  75  
Post-retirement benefits3  36  36       
Total4  1,816  842  306  573  95  

 

1Floating rate interest payments and payments on the floating rate legs of interest rate derivatives are estimated based on market interest rates as at 31 December 2015.
  
2Payments on foreign currency derivatives are estimated based on market exchange rates as at 31 December 2015.
  
3Post-employment benefit obligations represent contributions to which the Group is committed and are not subject to potential future adjustment to reflect investment performance and other actuarial factors.
  
4Future payments relating to the Group’s uncertain tax positions are not included because it is not practicable to estimate reliably the timing of these cash outflows.

 

Off-balance sheet arrangements

At 31 December 2015, the Group had no off-balance sheet arrangements that have or are reasonably likely to have a current or future effect on the Group’s financial condition, revenues or expenses, results of operations, liquidity, capital expenditures or capital resources that is material to investors.

 

Details of the Group’s operating lease commitments are set out in note 25 to the consolidated financial statements.

 

Outlook for 2016

2016 is expected to be another year of challenging market conditions across upstream Oil & Gas and Mining. However, our exposure to a number of end markets, including downstream Oil & Gas, renewables and government work means we expect to see only a slight fall in like-for-like revenue, and a reduction in trading margins significantly less than the decline in 2015.

Going concern

Based on internal forecasts and projections that take into account reasonably possible changes in the Group’s trading performance, the directors consider that the Company and the group have adequate financial resources to continue in operation. Accordingly, the directors continue to adopt the going concern basis in preparing the Company’s and the group’s financial statements.

 

We outline on pages 18 to 21 the principal risks and uncertainties that may affect the Group’s results, cash flows and financial position.

 

 

Directors’ approval statement

The strategic report, as set out on pages 1 to 37, has been reviewed and approved by our board of directors.

 

 

Ian McHoul

Chief Financial Officer and interim CEO

10 March 2016


 

 


 

Amec Foster Wheeler
Annual report and accounts 2015
37
 

 

 

The proposed nuclear power
station at Moorside in
Cumbria will supply 3.4GW
of electricity – 7% of the
UK’s requirements – when
it begins operating in 2024.

 

38

 

 Our Analytical Services Laboratories are some of the largest in the UK, carrying out radiochemical analysis for a wide range of clients.  
    
 In 2015 our E&I division announced two separate contracts with Nugeneration Ltd (NuGen) on its Moorside project in West Cumbria.  
    
 E&I has engaged specialist radiological protection support and commissioned radiochemistry work from our clean energy colleagues during the course of the project, collaborating effectively across the business to deliver the best results for the client.  

 

 

Chairman’s governance overview

 

 

Good corporate governance helps to underpin long-term effective company performance. Your board is responsible for the governance structure at Amec Foster Wheeler and is committed to delivering the highest standards for the benefit of all of the Group’s stakeholders.

 

Dear shareholder,

The objective of this report is to set out what we believe to be essential to ensure that our strong governance frameworks are applied throughout your Company. This section of the report specifically examines the details of the work of your board over the past 12 months and the processes we implemented.

 

I mentioned in my letter last year that we support current best practice for boards to engage an external specialist to review their activity every three years. Following the 2014 engagement of Lintstock to assist us in this, I am pleased to report that, during 2015, every director had in-depth assessment interviews with one of their external facilitators.

 

In September 2014, the UK Financial Reporting Council issued a revised version of the UK Corporate Governance Code and we are reporting against this framework for the first time in respect of our 2015 financial year. Designed to strengthen our focus on and enhance the quality of information around long-term health, strategy and sustained value creation, the revised code includes significant changes including the introduction of a viability statement and a requirement for the board to report on the effectiveness of risk management in your Company.

 

2015 is also the first year when your Company needed to be compliant with provisions of the US Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 on management’s assessment of internal control over financial reporting, which we successfully achieved, on target, by 31 December 2015. This process has added additional requirements to your board’s committee activities.

 

In my Chairman’s report on page 6, I outline the board changes which have occurred since the start of 2015. Ian McHoul was appointed interim CEO on 17 January 2016 following Samir Brikho stepping down as Chief Executive. The search for a new CEO, with which Korn Ferry has been appointed to assist us, is progressing well and an announcement will be made in due course once a decision has been reached.

 

Since my last report, Simon Thompson retired from the board and Neil Carson took on the roles of Senior Independent Director and Chairman of the Remuneration Committee. Roy Franklin joined the board on 1 January 2016.

In addition to filing an annual report in the UK, we are required to also file our annual report in the US on Form 20-F, which complies with the reporting requirements of the New York Stock Exchange, US securities laws and the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission applicable to foreign private issuers. We have produced for the second time a combined annual report and annual report on Form 20-F to ensure consistency in the information provided to our UK and US investors.

 

In the UK, the UK Corporate Governance Code* (the Code) is the standard against which we are required to measure our corporate governance practices and provides the framework for our governance report. In the opinion of the directors, your Company has complied with the provisions of the September 2014 edition of the Code in respect of the year ended 31 December 2015. The governance report examines how we have applied these provisions. As required by the SEC, a summary outlining the significant differences between the Company’s corporate governance practices as a UK listed company and those followed by US companies can be found on page 191.

 

In 2016 the board will continue to apply the highest standards of governance to assure your Company achieves optimal performance in these very challenging markets.

 

 

John Connolly

Chairman

10 March 2016

 *Printed copies of the UK Corporate Governance Code can be obtained from www.frcpublications.com


 

40 Amec Foster Wheeler
Annual report and accounts 2015
 

 

Leadership and effectiveness

Our board of directors

 

Our board members are selected to ensure and maintain an effective balance of skills, experience, independence and knowledge of the areas in which Amec Foster Wheeler operates and in the duties and responsibilities associated with being a director of a listed company.

 

 

John Connolly

Chairman of the board, Chairman of the nominations committee and a member of the remuneration committee

A chartered accountant, John spent his career until May 2011 with global professional services firm Deloitte. John joined the firm in 1980, serving in various roles of increasing responsibility. During his time at Deloitte, he held a wide range of senior leadership positions in the United Kingdom and internationally. He was Global Chairman between 2007 and 2011 and Global Managing Director from 2003 to 2007. He was Senior Partner and CEO of the UK Partnership from 1999 until his retirement from the Partnership in 2011.

 

John is chairman of G4S plc and also of a number of private companies.

 

Beyond commercial business roles, John is Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Great Ormond Street Hospital Charity and a member of the CBI President’s Advisory Council.

 

Term of office

John was appointed as non-executive Chairman on 1 June 2011 and was considered to be independent on appointment in accordance with the requirements of the Code.

 

His term of office was extended in March 2015 for a second three-year term to the date of the 2018 AGM.


 

 


 

Amec Foster Wheeler
Annual report and accounts 2015
41
 

Leadership and effectiveness continued

Our board of directors continued

 

     
             

Ian McHoul

 

Linda Adamany

 

Neil Carson

 

Colin Day

Chief Financial Officer and interim CEO

Ian qualified as a Chartered Accountant with KPMG in 1984. His early career was spent in the brewing industry. Between 1985 and 1995 he held various positions with the Foster’s Brewing Group, including General Manager, Strategy. He was Finance & Strategy Director of the Inntrepreneur Pub Company Limited from 1995 to 1998 and then served at Scottish & Newcastle plc from 1998 to 2008, first as Finance Director of Scottish Courage and later as Group Finance Director of Scottish & Newcastle plc. Ian holds a BSc in Mathematics from the University of Bristol.

 

Term of office

Ian was appointed interim CEO on 17 January 2016 and Chief Financial Officer on 8 September 2008 and has no fixed term of office. His service contract is terminable on six and twelve months’ notice by him and the Company respectively.

 

External appointments

Ian has been a non-executive director of Britvic plc since March 2014 and was a non-executive director of Premier Foods plc from July 2004 to April 2013.

 

Non-executive Director, Chairman of the health, safety, security, environmental and ethics (HSSEE) committee and a member of the audit, remuneration and nominations committees

Linda has over 40 years’ business experience, with 27 in the international energy sector. Between 1980 and 2007 Linda held a number of executive positions at BP plc in the UK and US. During that time, she held various executive roles in refining and marketing, exploration and production and petrochemicals, including Chief Executive of BP Shipping and Group Vice President and Commercial Director, BP Refining & Marketing.

 

In March 2013, Linda was appointed a non-executive director of Coeur Mining, Inc., a US-based publicly quoted primary silver producer, where she serves as chairman of the audit committee and is a member of the environmental, health, safety and social responsibility committee. In March 2014, Linda was appointed to the board of directors of Leucadia National Corporation, a US-based, NYSE-listed, diversified holding company engaged through its consolidated subsidiaries in a variety of businesses, where she is a member of the audit and the nominating and corporate governance committees. From 2006 to 2012, prior to joining Amec Foster Wheeler, Linda was a non-executive director of National Grid plc and a member of their audit, nominations and safety, environment and health committees. Linda is a qualified accountant (CPA) with a BSc in Business Administration from John Carroll University, Ohio, and has also undertaken post-graduate, non-degree executive programmes at Harvard, Cambridge and Tsinghua universities.

 

Term of office

Linda was appointed a non-executive director on 1 October 2012. In January 2016, her term of office was extended for a second three-year term to the date of the 2019 AGM.

 

Senior Independent Director, Chairman of the remuneration committee and a member of the audit and health, safety, security, environmental and ethics (HSSEE) committees

Neil was Chief Executive of Johnson Matthey Plc, the FTSE 100 speciality chemical company, from 2004 to June 2014 and stepped down as a member of the board in September 2014. He joined the company in 1980 after completing an engineering degree and held a number of senior management positions in both the UK and US, including Managing Director of Catalysts & Chemicals from 1999 to 2004 and Division Director of Catalytic Systems from 1997 to 1999.

 

In July 2014, Neil became a non-executive director of PayPoint plc, where he also serves as chairman of the remuneration committee and senior independent director. In May 2015, Neil joined the board of TT Electronics plc as Chairman. He is currently Honorary President of the Society for Chemical Industry (SCI) and co-chair of the Chemistry Growth Partnership, which is working with the government to stimulate growth in the industry in the United Kingdom. Neil was previously a founding member of the Prince of Wales’ Corporate Leaders Group on Climate Change. Neil received an engineering degree from Lanchester Polytechnic (now Coventry University) and has been awarded an Honorary Doctor of Business Administration from Anglia Ruskin University.

 

Term of office

Neil was appointed a non-executive director on 31 August 2010. His term of office was extended in February 2014 for a second three-year term to the date of the 2017 AGM.

 

Non-executive Director, Chairman of the audit committee and a member of the remuneration and nominations committees

Colin has more than 25 years of experience of blue chip companies including Aegis Group Plc, ABB Group, De La Rue Group Plc and British Gas. Colin was appointed Chief Executive Officer of Essentra plc (formerly Filtrona plc) on 1 April 2011, prior to which he was Chief Financial Officer of Reckitt Benckiser Group plc from 2000 to 2011. Between 1995 and 2000, he served as Group Finance Director of Aegis Group plc. He spent six years in a number of divisional finance director positions with ABB Group and served as Group Finance Director of ABB Kent Instrumentation and ABB Kent plc from 1988 to 1994. Colin started his career in 1973 as a trainee accountant at Kodak. He is a Fellow of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants and holds an MBA from Cranfield School of Management, UK.

 

Colin has been a director of FM Global since January 2014 and was appointed as a non-executive director and chairman of the audit committee of Meggit plc on 1 October 2015. He was previously a non-executive director of WPP plc from 2005 to June 2015. Colin was appointed to the FRC Audit Advisory Group on 3 July 2014.

 

Term of office

Colin was appointed a non-executive director on 14 October 2010. His term of office was extended in February 2014 for a second three-year term to the date of the 2017 AGM.

 

42 Amec Foster Wheeler
Annual report and accounts 2015
 
       
             

Roy A Franklin

Non-executive Director and member of the nominations committee

Roy has more than 40 years’ experience as an executive in the oil & gas industry. He spent 18 years at BP, latterly as Head of M&A, BP Exploration, after which he was Group MD of Clyde Petroleum and then CEO of Paladin Resources until its acquisition by Talisman Energy in 2005. Since then Roy has served on a number of international energy boards in non-executive roles.

 

Roy is currently chairman of Keller Group plc, deputy chairman of Statoil ASA and a non-executive director of Santos Ltd. He is also currently chairman of privately-owned Cuadrilla Resources Holdings Ltd, and a member of the advisory board of Kerogen Capital LLC.

 

Term of office

Roy was appointed a non-executive director on 1 January 2016 for an initial term of three years, which will end at the 2019 AGM.

 

In accordance with the Company’s articles of association, Roy will retire from office at the forthcoming AGM and offer himself for election.

 

Kent Masters

Non-executive Director and member of the health, safety, security, environmental and ethics committee (HSSEE)

Kent was the Chief Executive Officer of Foster Wheeler AG from 2011 until the completion of the acquisition by AMEC in November 2014. Prior to joining Foster Wheeler, he served as a member of the Executive Board of Linde AG, a world leading gases and engineering company, from 2006 to 2011. At Linde, Kent had responsibility for the Americas, Africa, the South Pacific, the global business unit Healthcare, and the business area Merchant and Packaged Gases. He was employed by BOC Group plc from 1984 until the acquisition of BOC by Linde in 2006. Kent served in roles of increasing responsibility at BOC, including as Chief Executive, Industrial and Special Products, from 2005 to 2006, and as President, Process Gas Solutions-Americas from 2002 to 2005. He also served on the board of directors of BOC from 2005 to 2006.

 

Kent served as the non-executive chairman of African Oxygen Limited from 2005 to 2011. Kent joined the board of Albemarle in January 2015 following its acquisition of Rockwood Holdings, Inc. where he had served as a director since 2007. Kent is a member of the compensation committee at Albemarle and served on the audit and compensation committees at Rockwood.

 

Term of office

Kent was appointed a non-executive director on 13 February 2015 for an initial term of three years, which will end at the 2018 AGM.

 

Stephanie Newby

Non-executive Director, member of the audit and health, safety, security, environmental and ethics (HSSEE) committees

Stephanie is the Chief Executive Officer of Crimson Hexagon, a big data social analytics company. Prior to Crimson Hexagon she founded Golden Seeds in 2004, an investment company that provides investment capital to early-stage, high-growth companies. Previously, she spent 20 years working in the financial services industry in Sydney, London and New York, with the majority of her career spent with J.P. Morgan, where she headed several global businesses serving as Global Head of Futures and Options, Head of International Private Banking, Chief Operating Officer of Global Equities and Head of eCommerce.

 

Appointed in 2004, Stephanie was a member of the Foster Wheeler AG board until the completion of the acquisition by AMEC, serving on the audit and governance and nominating committees. She also previously served as a non-executive director and member of the audit and compensation and HR committees of RiskMetrics Group, Inc.

 

Term of office

Stephanie was appointed a non-executive director on 13 November 2014 for an initial term of three years, which will end at the 2018 AGM.

 

We will continue to seek to build upon and complement the board’s existing skills set, including a focus on increased diversity, whether this is through gender, race, nationality or general background. The review of the effectiveness of the board in 2014 identified the need for additional expertise in oil & gas markets and this led to Roy Franklin’s appointment at the beginning of 2016.

 

Independence of non-executive directors

The board considers that, with the exception of Kent Masters, whose previous employment by Foster Wheeler precludes him from meeting the required independence criteria, the non-executive directors are independent and free from any relationships or circumstances that could affect their independent judgement.

       


 

Amec Foster Wheeler
Annual report and accounts 2015
43
 

Leadership and effectiveness continued

Amec Foster Wheeler governance structure

 

 

 

 

 

44 Amec Foster Wheeler
Annual report and accounts 2015
 

Board role and responsibilities

 

The board is collectively responsible for delivering sustainable long-term shareholder value in line with its obligations to and the expectations of the Group’s stakeholders.

 

The board is responsible for setting the Company’s strategic aims and providing the leadership and resources to achieve its objectives. The board’s role is to be distinguished from overall operational management, which is the responsibility of the Chief Executive who, in turn, delegates authorities to the Chief Financial Officer, business unit and functional leaders. They have in turn further delegated authorities to their teams.

 

In order to ensure it retains appropriate overall control of the Group, a number of key matters are not delegated to management and as such the board maintains a schedule of matters reserved for its approval. These include:

 

annual strategic and short-range plans
  
financial and treasury policies
  
risk identification, risk appetite, risk management and internal control systems
  
high-value potentially high-risk projects
  
major acquisitions and disposals
  
Code of Business Conduct
  
full and half-year accounts
  
dividend policy
  
succession planning for directors and senior executives
  
group-wide policy framework
  
ensuring the effectiveness of governance practices
  
appointment and removal of the Company Secretary

 

This schedule is reviewed for continued acceptability on an annual basis. In March 2015, the schedule was reviewed and a number of changes were made to take account of various matters including the UK Corporate Governance Code and the Company’s new operating model. In July 2015, a further change was made to include a requirement for board approval of high value, potentially high risk projects.

 

High quality corporate governance helps to underpin long-term company performance and the board is responsible for maintaining strong governance practices and regularly reviewing the Company’s governance structure as illustrated on page 44.

During the year, to take account of Amec Foster Wheeler’s new values and expected working behaviours, the board launched new versions of fundamental documents in the Company’s governance framework including a new Code of Business Conduct. The Code of Business Conduct is the cornerstone of the Company’s approach to governance and is applicable to all employees, including the Chief Executive, Chief Financial Officer and other senior financial professionals. The Code of Business Conduct is the responsibility of and is upheld by the board; it acts as a guide for our day-to-day working life, providing a practical application of Amec Foster Wheeler’s values and ensuring all those who work for and under Amec Foster Wheeler’s direction understand the behaviour that is expected of them. The Code of Business Conduct, which is available to employees in 14 different languages, complies with relevant UK and US regulations and is available on the Company’s website at amecfw.com/ethics

 

A global policies document works in conjunction with the Code of Business Conduct providing further detail and elaboration on matters affecting all of Amec Foster Wheeler’s businesses. The global policies document describes the key policies for directing and managing the Group’s businesses consistently in accordance with our vision and values. These global policies are supported by a set of mandatory procedures, which further explain how the policies are to be applied. Together, the global policies and procedures set the framework within which business, functional and local policies and procedures are set. The board approves the group-wide policy framework. On a day-to-day basis, the board has delegated responsibility for implementation of the global policies and ownership of the procedures to the Group Leadership Team. The board considers the global policies to be part of the risk-based approach to corporate governance and the maintenance of sound internal controls.

 

In order to discharge its role, the board is also responsible for maintaining sound risk management and internal control systems. The board has a rigorous and comprehensive risk management approach to protect the Group’s assets and the interests of its stakeholders and create an environment for business success. The board regularly reviews the effectiveness and adequacy of the Group’s financial, operational, compliance and risk management systems.

 

The board is supported in its work by four board committees (nominations, audit, HSSEE and remuneration), chaired by either the board Chairman or another non-executive director, and a number of management committees and groups, chaired by executive directors (or other senior individuals), to which specific responsibilities have been delegated. You can find out more about the membership, duties, responsibilities and work of these committees in the dedicated reports that follow. Full written terms of reference for each board committee can also be found online at amecfw.com/aboutus/corporate-governance

 

The directors believe that the board leads and controls the Group effectively and that all directors act in accordance with what they consider to be the best interests of the Company, consistent with their statutory duties under the Companies Act 2006 and other legislation.


 


 

Amec Foster Wheeler
Annual report and accounts 2015
45
 

Leadership and effectiveness continued

Board composition

 

As at 31 December 2015, the board comprised the non-executive chairman; two executive directors (the Chief Executive and the Chief Financial Officer); and five non-executive directors. Roy Franklin was appointed as a non-executive director on 1 January 2016.

 

The Company announced on 18 January 2016 that Samir Brikho had stepped down as Chief Executive. Upon Mr Brikho’s departure, Ian McHoul was appointed to the role of interim CEO, which he has agreed to fulfil alongside his role as Chief Financial Officer until the search for a new CEO is concluded.

 

 

Details of the directors, including their biographies, other significant commitments and committee memberships can be found on pages 41 to 43. Details of the directors’ service contracts, emoluments and share interests are set out in the remuneration report on pages 67 to 80.

 

The Company’s articles of association require all directors to seek election by shareholders at the AGM following their initial appointment and re-election every three years thereafter. However, in line with the recommendations of the Code, our practice is that all directors submit themselves for re-election on an annual basis. All of the directors wishing to continue serving, and considered eligible by the board, will offer themselves for re-election at the 2016 AGM. Roy Franklin will also seek election at the forthcoming AGM, having been appointed on 1 January 2016.

 

The independence of the non-executive directors is continually monitored and formally assessed as part of the board’s annual evaluation process. The board considers that, with the exception of Kent Masters, whose previous employment by Foster Wheeler precludes him from meeting the required independence criteria, the non-executive directors are independent and free from any relationships or circumstances that could affect their independent judgement.

 

 

The balance of executive and non-executive directors provides continuity on the board while ensuring no one individual, or group of individuals, dominates the decision-making process.

 

 

The varied backgrounds and commercial experience of the non-executive directors, and their independence from management, ensures rigorous debate at meetings and constructive challenge and oversight of the executive directors in relation to the strategic direction and performance of the group.

 

 

As part of the company’s broader diversity initiative, it supports the recommendations of the final report in the Davies Review series. We are pleased to say that two out of our eight directors are female, representing 25% of our board. Candidates for board appointments are evaluated on merit in light of the requirements of the role, having due regard to the group-wide commitment to diversity and inclusion. The board recognises the importance of diversity, including but not limited to gender balance across the group more generally. In 2015, Amec Foster Wheeler’s diversity initiatives have continued to focus on implementing its group-wide commitment to achieving a more diverse workforce and inclusive working environment, including encouraging and enabling greater diversity of thinking. During the year a global mandatory procedure on diversity and inclusion was introduced to drive associated action plans with measurable objectives for monitoring progress. The gender diversity of the Company and its senior management is shown on page 14.


 

46 Amec Foster Wheeler
Annual report and accounts 2015
 

The Chairman and Chief Executive

 

The Company does not combine the roles of Chairman and Chief Executive. There is a clear and well-defined division of accountability and responsibility between the roles of the Chairman and Chief Executive and these are set out in writing and have been agreed by the board. The consequence of this clear division of responsibility at the head of the Company is such that no individual has unrestricted powers of decision. The Chairman and Chief Executive are committed to ensuring the development and maintenance of an effective and trusting relationship with the appropriate balance between challenge and support.

 

The Chairman is primarily responsible for the leadership and effectiveness of the board. He is accountable for promoting effective board relationships and the participation of all board members, so as to encourage a culture of openness and debate and enable the board to fulfil all aspects of its role. The Chairman has undertaken to ensure that the board discharges its duties to promote the success of the Company for the benefit of all stakeholders and to guide Amec Foster Wheeler’s business and conduct in accordance with the highest ethical standards.

 

Each year the Chairman produces a board plan intended to summarise the board’s activities in executing its duties during the year. The plan highlights the priorities the board has identified for the year, and those of the Chief Executive, and can be modified to take account of any unscheduled developments. In chairing and setting the agenda for board meetings, the Chairman ensures sufficient time is available for discussion and meaningful challenge in areas such as strategy, performance, value creation and accountability.

 

Subject to matters reserved to the board, the Chief Executive is responsible for the leadership of Amec Foster Wheeler’s businesses with the primary objective of creating shareholder value. Consistent with this objective, overall operational management is delegated to the Chief Executive who, together with the Group Leadership Team, is responsible for the proposal, development and implementation of the Group’s overall strategy, driving execution, growing markets and customers and developing our people. The building and maintenance of an effective executive management team, and the allocation of responsibility therein, are key components of and essential to the performance of the Chief Executive’s role.

 

The Chief Executive also takes the lead role in the promotion of Amec Foster Wheeler, setting the tone in the realisation of the Company’s vision and values and encouraging the highest standards of health, safety, security, environmental and ethical performance.

Senior Independent Director

 

Neil Carson has acted as the board’s Senior Independent Director since the conclusion of 2015 AGM, following the retirement of Simon Thompson. Neil was selected for the role on account of his significant knowledge of Amec Foster Wheeler and its operations and his experience as a director of international companies. Both the nominations committee and the board considered that Neil Carson best met the criteria required for the role. The Senior Independent Director is responsible for:

 

providing additional support to and acting as a sounding board for the Chairman on board-related matters
  
acting as an additional channel of communication between the Chairman and the other directors where necessary
  
being available to shareholders for concerns they may have that have not been resolved through the normal channels of the Chairman, Chief Executive or other executive directors, or which are not appropriate to raise through these channels
  
acquiring an objective understanding of the issues and concerns of Amec Foster Wheeler’s shareholders through attendance at a sufficient number of meetings with the company’s major shareholders and financial analysts
  
at least annually establishing the views of the non-executive directors as to the performance of the Chairman
  
following completion of the above evaluation exercise, providing feedback to the Chairman on his performance
  
overseeing the search for a new Chairman, as required


 


 

Amec Foster Wheeler
Annual report and accounts 2015
47
 

Leadership and effectiveness continued

Non-executive directors

 

The non-executive directors are crucial in bringing an external perspective and wide range of skills, experience, expertise and diversity of views to the board’s deliberations and the development of strategy. They constructively challenge and scrutinise the performance of management against agreed objectives and provide an invaluable contribution to the work of the board’s committees. In January 2015, the membership of each of the board committees was restructured to ensure the most effective use of each non-executive director’s time and to more appropriately reflect their skills and experience. The board benefits greatly from the contribution and balance they bring. To ensure this continues, the Chairman holds meetings with the non-executive directors, without the executive directors present, immediately following most scheduled board meetings.

 

The board’s policy is that non-executive director appointments are normally for three consecutive three-year terms, subject to assessment by the nominations committee after the end of each term. The committee makes recommendations on reappointments to the board.

 

To ensure independence and constructive challenge, prior to appointment and on any material changes, the external commitments of each non-executive director, including those of the Chairman, are reviewed. During the year, Neil Carson joined the board of TT Electronics plc as chairman and Colin Day was appointed as a non-executive director and chairman of the audit committee of Meggitt plc. In accordance with the board’s policy to ensure that non-executive directors are not conflicted and are able to commit sufficient time to meet their duties and responsibilities to Amec Foster Wheeler, the prospective appointments were disclosed to the board for approval. In neither case was it considered that the external appointment would have a detrimental effect. Each director’s undertaking as to their ongoing commitment to the role, together with an assessment of their continued independence, is reviewed as part of their annual performance evaluation.

 

Amec Foster Wheeler’s non-executive directors are not employed by the Company in any capacity. Kent Masters was the former Chief Executive Officer of Foster Wheeler AG and Stephanie Newby was formerly an independent non-executive director of Foster Wheeler AG.

 

The letters of appointment of the non-executive directors are available for inspection at the Company’s registered office by request to the Company Secretary and will be available for inspection at the company’s forthcoming AGM.

 


 

48 Amec Foster Wheeler
Annual report and accounts 2015
 

Board meetings

 

The board holds a minimum of six regular meetings throughout the year, scheduled in accordance with an annual timetable. Additional board meetings and telephone conference calls are held as required to deal with specific issues. In 2015 there were seven scheduled meetings and six unscheduled meetings.

 

Directors are expected to attend all scheduled board and relevant committee meetings, unless they are prevented from doing so by unavoidable prior business commitments or other valid reasons. All directors are provided with full papers in advance of each meeting. Where a director is unable to attend a meeting, they are encouraged to discuss any issues arising with the Chairman or Chief Executive as appropriate.

 

Number of meetings attended      
   Scheduled  Unscheduled
John Connolly  7/7  6/6
Samir Brikho  7/7  5/6
Ian McHoul  7/7  6/6
Linda Adamany  7/7  5/6
Neil Carson  7/7  3/6
Colin Day  7/7  4/6
Kent Masters (from 13 February 2015)  6/6  5/6
Stephanie Newby  7/7  4/6
Simon Thompson (to 14 May 2015)  3/3  1/1

 

Unscheduled meetings were convened throughout the year to consider such matters as trading updates and director appointments. As these were not scheduled, members were not always able to attend but were provided with full packs of information and were invited to make comments.

 

At least one scheduled meeting each year takes place away from Amec Foster Wheeler’s head office in London. This provides the board with an opportunity to understand more about Amec Foster Wheeler’s business and to meet employees based locally. The July 2015 board meeting took place in our offices in Houston, Texas, US, where the board met with local management and also visited a client project site in the Southern US.

 

The October 2015 board meeting and board strategy discussions took place at our offices in Reading, UK, which were particularly significant given the challenging market conditions facing the sectors in which the Group operates.

In addition to the matters reserved for the board, certain items are considered at every scheduled board meeting. The Chief Executive provides a report on business performance, strategy execution and emerging issues and the Chief Financial Officer updates the board on financial results and progress against the short-range plan. Reports are also received on investor relations and market issues, HR and HSSEE matters. In addition, the Chairman and the General Counsel and Company Secretary provide an update on legislative, regulatory and governance matters and twice yearly the General Counsel and Company Secretary provides updates on material claims and disputes.

 

Business unit management is regularly invited to present at board meetings and, led by the Group Presidents, provides ‘deep dive’ reviews of each business unit. In addition to standing items discussed at each meeting, the board considers a regular schedule of financial and planning matters including the approval of financial results and dividends; special matters including the review and approval of strategy; the determination of major risks and risk appetite and transaction and competitor reviews. The board receives an annual presentation from the Group Human Resources Director on senior management succession planning and management development. In 2015, this took place in July and the board was also provided with updates on leadership development assurance and on performance management. The board has also identified a range of topic reviews that are addressed annually and these include the strategies followed by the Group’s functions eg Tax, Treasury and IT, as well as the board effectiveness and composition reviews.

 

The board also holds a separate additional meeting each year to perform a full strategic review of the Group. On account of the timing of the acquisition of Foster Wheeler, the strategy event originally scheduled for October 2014 was held in April 2015 following completion of the acquisition. The board undertook a further review of strategy in October 2015, which considered amongst other things what improvements could be made to the Group’s activities to better meet client requirements in the current challenging market conditions.

 

The Company Secretary is fundamental in ensuring the efficiency and effectiveness of the board and its committees and is responsible for ensuring that the directors have timely access to full, accurate and relevant information and whatever resources they need to undertake their duties. Agendas and supporting papers for board and committee meetings are circulated approximately one week prior to the meeting date to allow sufficient time for review and enable informed debate and challenge at meetings. Monthly interim reports are prepared, including a report from the Chief Executive and the business unit presidents, and these are circulated to the board if a meeting is not scheduled in the month.


 

 


 

Amec Foster Wheeler
Annual report and accounts 2015
49
 

Leadership and effectiveness continued

Board meetings continued

 

Where the directors, particularly non-executive directors, require further insight on an issue, the Company Secretary will facilitate this from the business or relevant members of the senior management team. Members of senior management are regularly invited to attend board meetings to present on specific projects and issues. The Company Secretary also ensures that the correct board procedures are followed from both a legal and a regulatory perspective.

 

In addition to the advice and services of the Company Secretary, a formal process exists for the directors to obtain independent professional advice, at the Company’s expense, where appropriate and necessary to discharge their responsibilities. The Company Secretary is responsible for the organisation and co-ordination of access to such advice. The Company Secretary ensures that a timely and accurate record of all meetings of the board and its committees is taken and circulated. In addition, the chairman of each board committee reports fully to the board following each meeting and minutes are made available to the board.

 

If a director had a concern about the running of the Company or a proposed action that could not be resolved, this would be recorded in the minutes. In addition, upon resignation, should a director have any such outstanding concerns, they would be invited to provide the Chairman with a written statement for circulation to the board. No such statements were received during 2015.

 

Conflicts of interest

 

The board has procedures in place for the disclosure and review of conflicts of interest. No material conflicts of interest arose in 2015. Prior to appointment, prospective directors provide information on any conflicts of interest, and thereafter any potential conflicts of interest are considered at the start of each board meeting. Accordingly, each director is aware of their responsibility to avoid a situation where they have an actual or potential conflict of interest, the requirement to keep the same under review and inform the Chairman and Company Secretary of any change in their situation. An effective procedure is in place for the board to authorise conflict situations, should they arise, in accordance with the Companies Act 2006 and the Company’s articles of association. In other cases the conflict is managed by excluding the relevant director from the discussion.

 

The Company Secretary is responsible for keeping appropriate records, including the scope of any authorisations granted by the board, and ensures the board undertakes regular reviews of conflict authorisations. Such matters are normally recorded in the minutes of the relevant meetings.

 

Executive directors are not permitted to accept external appointments without the prior approval of the board. The board will review the nature, scope and complexity of any proposed external appointments, to ensure they will not adversely impact a director’s ability to devote such time and energy to their role as is necessary to discharge their responsibilities effectively or create any potential conflicts.


 

50 Amec Foster Wheeler
Annual report and accounts 2015
 

Professional development

 

The Company Secretary assists the Chairman in the co-ordination of director induction upon appointment and ongoing training. A comprehensive induction programme is in place for all new directors which takes into account their previous experience, background and role on the board. The programme is tailored accordingly to:

 

provide an understanding of the duties and responsibilities of a director and their particular role

 

build an understanding of how the board operates within Amec Foster Wheeler’s structure
  
further their knowledge and understanding of Amec Foster Wheeler’s culture, its business and operations and the markets and countries in which it operates

 

establish a link with Amec Foster Wheeler’s management and people

 

establish an understanding of the Company’s main relationships

 

New directors are provided with key board, operational and financial information and relevant legislatory and regulatory guidance. The programme is designed so as to prioritise and vary the delivery of materials to optimise its effectiveness and facilitate completion in a timely manner. The programme involves a combination of documentation, accessible via the portal used by the board to communicate and share documents electronically, meetings with other members of the board, senior management and their extended teams, key external parties including the Company’s advisers and, where appropriate, major shareholders, and site visits where possible. Where a new director is to serve on a board committee, induction material relevant to the committee is also provided. Progress against the induction programme is reviewed with the director midway throughout the process to ensure a smooth transition into director training and ongoing development.

 

Ongoing training, relevant to each director’s individual development needs, continues after appointment. The Chairman endeavours to review the training and development needs of the directors at least annually. The aim is to ensure the further enhancement of their skills and knowledge of the business, so that they continue to fulfil their role effectively on the board and its committees.

Internally facilitated training is arranged by the Company Secretary on topics and issues relevant to the operation of the board and the responsibilities of the directors. The board receives presentations from management on changes and significant developments in the business. Updates on changes in legislation and communications from the Company Secretary’s office on key developments in corporate governance are also provided. In addition, use is made of external auditor and adviser training programmes. During the year the board received presentations from internal and external experts on such matters as health and safety legal requirements and changes to the UK Corporate Governance Code, including risk management, internal control and going concern requirements, the new viability statement, executive remuneration and relations with shareholders. From time to time the directors individually attend seminars and conferences related to their areas of expertise and responsibility.

 

To further develop the directors’ understanding of the Group’s businesses and culture, the board undertakes visits to various places of Amec Foster Wheeler business. As previously mentioned, during the year the board visited the Group’s Houston, US, and Reading, UK, operations.


 

 


 

Amec Foster Wheeler
Annual report and accounts 2015
51
 

Leadership and effectiveness continued
Evaluation

 

In line with the recommendations of the Code, each year a formal performance evaluation review is undertaken of the board, its committees and the directors individually. In 2015, the performance evaluation was externally facilitated by Lintstock, a third-party service provider. Lintstock have been the provider of the Company’s insider list management software since 2011 but other than this, and the performance evaluation, have not undertaken any other work of any kind for the board or the Company.

 

This year, the review process involved both one-to-one interviews and the completion by each director of an in-depth survey designed to establish their perceptions in areas such as the current composition and expertise of the board; board dynamics and the interaction between board members and the board and senior management; the board’s management of time and the scope of board agendas; the quality of both internal and external support to the board including information presented at meetings and updates on major developments between meetings; and the board’s role in setting strategy and strategic oversight. Opinions were also sought on the effectiveness of the April 2015 board strategy event (which both the board and Group Leadership Team attended), the appropriateness of the board’s risk appetite and approach to risk management and internal controls, and succession planning and human resource management.

 

Lintstock’s report on the findings of this survey of board effectiveness was tabled for discussion at the board’s December 2015 meeting. In summary, the results were very positive and engagement and interaction amongst board members continue to be very strong.

 

The size of the board was considered appropriate and, with regard to composition, the appointment of Roy Franklin as a non-executive director was identified as a valuable addition of oil & gas sector experience. The board was seen to have appropriate knowledge of the markets in which the company operates and a good understanding of shareholders’ and stakeholders’ views. There was considered to be good support and challenge provided to management. The frequency and quality of management presentations were highly rated.

The board was seen to use its time effectively although it was suggested that more time might be spent on market dynamics, the structure by which clients are supported, major projects, technology and succession planning considerations.

 

The Company’s strategy was considered to be clear with broad consensus as to the principal strategic issues and the April 2015 strategy review day was highly rated.

 

The risk appetite was considered to be clear and it was felt that risk management was a strength and had improved.

 

A number of areas for improvement were identified and these will continue to be addressed over the coming year as part of the board plan and include continued focus on succession planning, management of human resources, and on the strategic objectives of the Group in the context of the market dynamics and challenges facing the sector.

 

In addition, and as required by the Code, during the year the Senior Independent Director, having taken the views of the non-executive and the executive directors, reviewed the performance of the Chairman. The Senior Independent Director met with the Chairman in December 2015 to review his performance during 2015. The Chief Executive conducts annual performance development reviews with his direct reports.

 

In 2016, the board performance evaluation review will again be externally facilitated by Lintstock.


 

52 Amec Foster Wheeler
Annual report and accounts 2015
 

Nominations committee

 

The nominations committee is primarily focused on evaluating the board of directors and on examining the skills, characteristics and dynamics that are needed to run an effective board.

 

Dear shareholder,

The Group has undergone transformational changes over the past year and, more than ever, the role of the nominations committee is a key one.

 

In 2015, Kent Masters and Roy Franklin were appointed to the board, bringing with them valuable oil & gas experience. Succession and evolutionary change remain our key priorities, taking into account our commitment to diversity and inclusion.

 

You will be aware that Ian McHoul was appointed into the role of interim CEO following Samir Brikho’s departure. The board has mandated Mr McHoul to continue to drive forward the Company’s previously stated priorities and he will continue to fulfil this dual role until a new CEO is appointed. I am leading the succession process on behalf of the nominations committee and we will make an announcement as soon as we have made a decision.

 

You can see from the charts on page 46 that we have a strong blend of skills, experience and length of service amongst your board of directors and I see no reason that this should not be maintained as your company rises to the challenges we will inevitably face in 2016 and beyond.

 

 

John Connolly

Chairman of the nominations committee
10 March 2016

Members

During 2015, the nominations committee comprised the Chairman, Linda Adamany and Colin Day. The quorum for the committee is two members. There were five committee meetings held in the year.

 

Membership and attendance of the nominations committee up to 31 December 2015

 

   Meeting attendance
John Connolly (Chairman)  5/5
Linda Adamany  5/5
Colin Day  4/5

 

Meetings of the committee are usually called at short notice to consider matters as they arise. This means that members may not always be available, but they are always fully apprised of matters to be discussed and their views sought and taken into account. Colin Day was unable to attend one meeting called at short notice due to a prior commitment.

 

At its meeting on 2 December 2015, the board approved minor amendments to the terms of reference for the committee. These are available to review on amecfw.com

 

With effect from 1 January 2016, the membership of the committee now comprises: John Connolly (Chairman), Colin Day, Linda Adamany and Roy Franklin.

 

Key responsibilities

The committee is mindful of the board’s desire to maintain an appropriately diverse and balanced membership, in terms of skills, experience, independence and knowledge of the Group, taking into account the benefits of diversity, so as to ensure the delivery of the Group’s strategy and performance. The committee regularly reviews the board’s structure, size and composition against these criteria and the board selection criteria referred to on page 54.

 

Together with the board, the committee also considers board succession planning in conjunction with reports from the Chief Executive and Group Human Resources Director on senior management succession planning, so as to ensure that an appropriate balance of skills is maintained both within the senior management team and on the board.

 

As part of the externally conducted board effectiveness review undertaken in 2015, the performance of the committee was also evaluated and this was overall rated highly. As an area for further improvement, it was suggested that the committee ought to periodically review the Business Unit Group President succession plans.

 


 

 


 

Amec Foster Wheeler
Annual report and accounts 2015
53
 

Leadership and effectiveness continued
Nominations committee continued

 

Activities of the committee

Prior to Simon Thompson’s retirement in May 2015, the committee considered potential replacements for his role as Senior Independent Director and as Chairman of the remuneration committee. After careful consideration, the committee concluded that Neil Carson best met the required criteria and a recommendation was made to the board accordingly.

 

At the same time, the committee considered the reappointment of the Chairman for a second three-year term of office, as his first three-year term ended at the 2015 AGM. His significant experience and his excellent chairmanship during a period of significant change resulted in a recommendation being made to the board to reappoint him for a second three-year term.

 

The committee also considered and recommended the appointment of Linda Adamany as a new member of the remuneration committee with effect from 30 April 2015.

 

In July 2015, the committee reviewed and recommended the adoption by the board of amended board selection criteria, to be used to identify any gaps in the overall experience and knowledge of the board as a whole and to assist appropriately in the future board selection process.

 

In early 2016, the committee considered the reappointment of Linda Adamany as a non-executive director for a second three-year term of office as her first three-year term will end at the 2016 AGM. On the basis of her significant relevant international experience and her knowledge of the activities of the Group, the committee recommended that she should be reappointed for a second three-year term.

 

During 2015, the committee commenced a search for a new non-executive director to replace Simon Thompson. The committee used the executive search firm, The Zygos Partnership (Zygos), to assist with the process. After due and careful consideration, due to his significant relevant experience, particularly in the oil & gas sector, a recommendation was made to the board to appoint Roy Franklin as a non-executive director with effect from 1 January 2016. Zygos had previously worked with the company to assist with the search for a new Chairman in 2011 and with the process that led to Linda Adamany’s appointment in 2012. Other than this they have not undertaken any other work of any kind for the board or the Company.

Following Samir Brikho’s departure on 17 January 2016, a key focus for the committee will be to find his successor. The Company has appointed the executive search firm, Korn Ferry, to assist the Company in its search for a new CEO, which will consider both internal and external candidates. A role specification has been prepared to assist in distilling a long list of candidates against the role requirements. Both internal and external candidates will be interviewed by the Chairman and Group Human Resources Director and the resulting shortlist of candidates will be interviewed by all board members. Full details of the process will be disclosed in next year’s report. Korn Ferry also assisted the board with an exercise to strengthen the senior executive pipeline in 2014 and have, from time to time, assisted with searches for other senior management roles. Other than this, they have not undertaken any other work of any kind for the board or the Company.

 

 


 

54 Amec Foster Wheeler
Annual report and accounts 2015
 

Our Group Leadership Team

 

Distinct from the executive director (shown on page 42), the Group Leadership Team comprises the following senior operational and functional management:        
         
             

Simon Naylor

Group President, Americas
Simon was appointed Group President, Americas in October 2012. Prior to that Simon had been President Natural Resources, Americas since 2007, where he led the growth and successful development of the Company’s leading positions in the core market sectors of mining, oil & gas and oil sands. In his 23 years with the company, Simon has worked across the project lifecycle, in consulting, engineering and project management. A natural resources professional, his experience includes project development, asset support, strategy, customer relationship management and operations leadership.

 

Simon has an MBA from Cranfield School of Management and a BSc from University College London in Chemical Engineering.

 

 

Gary Nedelka

Group President, Global Power Group (GPG)
Gary was appointed Group President, Global Power Group on 1 January 2015, having served as Chief Executive Officer of Foster Wheeler’s Global Power Group since January 2009. Prior to this, he served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Foster Wheeler North America Corp., an indirect, wholly-owned subsidiary within the Global Power Group. Previously he was President and General Manager of operating companies in China and he held a variety of positions of increasing responsibility in commercial operations and engineering management. He joined Foster Wheeler in 1979 and is a member of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers.

 

Gary holds a BSc in Mechanical Engineering from Clarkson College of Technology.

 

 

Jonathan Nield

Group Project Delivery Director
Jon was appointed Group Project Delivery Director on 13 November 2014, immediately prior to which he served as Vice President, Project Risk Management of Foster Wheeler – a position he held since May 2011. Previously, he was a director of Foster Wheeler Energy Limited and he has served in various executive positions with that company. He was a member of the Foster Wheeler team for more than 25 years.

 

Jon has a BSc in Mechanical Engineering from Newcastle University, an MSc in Project Management from Cranfield School of Management. He currently serves as a director of the Engineering & Construction Risk Institute.

 

 

John Pearson

Group President, Northern Europe & CIS (NECIS)
Before taking the role of Group President, Northern Europe & CIS on 1 January 2015, John was Group President of Europe and, prior to that, he was Managing Director of the oil & gas business in Europe and West Africa. He joined the Company in 1990 and has worked in a variety of roles in engineering and project management. In the past, John has led the Company’s oil & gas projects and asset support business streams globally. Prior to joining the business, John worked for Chevron and has worked around the world, having spent time based in Aberdeen, San Francisco, Baku and London. John is currently contractor co-chair of Oil & Gas UK and sits as a member of MER UK, the Fiscal Forum and the OGA stakeholder board.

 

John holds a BSc Honours Engineering degree from Aberdeen University.

 

Roberto Penno

Group President, Asia, Middle East, Africa and Southern Europe (AMEASE)
Roberto was appointed Group President, AMEASE on 1 January 2015, immediately prior to which he was CEO of Foster Wheeler’s Global E&C Group – a position he held since 2013. Previously he was CEO of the Global E&C Group’s Asia-Pacific Region. A 27-year veteran of Foster Wheeler, he has held a variety of positions with the Company, including managing director of global sales, marketing and strategic planning; director of commercial operations for Foster Wheeler Asia Pacific; and other senior roles in operating unit management, sales and commercial management in Europe, Asia and the US.

 

Roberto has a degree in Mechanical Engineering from University Politecnico Milan.

 

 

Jeff Reilly

Group President, Strategy & Business Development

Jeff has 30 years’ industry experience and was appointed Group President, Strategy & Business Development on 28 April 2014. He started his career with Stone & Webster Engineering Corp. as a Chemical Process Design Engineer and developed his career there and at ABB Lummus Global Inc. becoming company Vice President at both engineering and construction organisations. He joined ConocoPhillips in 2005, led upstream and downstream major project portfolios globally and was ultimately appointed Chief Procurement Officer (CPO). When Phillips 66 was spun off as an independent corporation, he led the company’s global projects organisation as well as being its initial CPO.

 

Jeff has a BS Chemical Engineering from The University of Texas at Austin; an MBA in Finance and International Business from the University of Houston.

 

 

Will Serle

Group Human Resources Director
Will was appointed Group Human Resources Director on 1 May 2011, having previously held the position of Human Resources Operations Director since 2009. Will is also responsible for sustainability at Amec Foster Wheeler. He joined the Company in 2000 as Human Resources Director for the oil & gas business, moving to the Natural Resources role in 2006.

 

Will holds a Master’s degree in Human Resources from The Robert Gordon University and is a Fellow of CIPD.

 

 

Alison Yapp

General Counsel and Company Secretary

Alison was appointed General Counsel and Company Secretary on 1 December 2012. Immediately prior to joining the Company she was Company Secretary and General Legal Counsel of Hays plc, previous to which she was Company Secretary and Group Legal Adviser of Charter plc. She is a solicitor and has more than 20 years’ experience as a senior lawyer in industry. She began her career in private practice at Turner Kenneth Brown, advising corporate and commercial clients in M&A before moving in-house to Johnson Matthey plc where she held various senior legal roles.

 

Alison holds an LLB (Hons) from Bristol University and is a qualified solicitor.

 


 

 

Amec Foster Wheeler
Annual report and accounts 2015
55
 

Leadership and effectiveness continued
Management committees

 

The board has also created a number of management committees and groups that deal generally with more operational matters.

These are chaired by executive directors or other senior individuals and members are drawn from senior management within the Group. The minutes of each of these meetings are circulated to each board meeting. The terms of reference of all these committees have been reviewed and updated following the acquisition of Foster Wheeler.


 

     

Corporate transactions committee

Members1

Chief Executive (chairman); Chief Financial Officer; General Counsel and Company Secretary; Head of Mergers and Acquisitions.

 

Responsibilities

The corporate transactions committee considers mergers, acquisitions and disposals and approves transactions where the consideration or assumption of liabilities, as appropriate, is £5m or less, and above this level it submits recommendations to the board for approval. In addition it determines transaction guidelines that are in line with Group policies and procedures.

 

 

Pensions and retirement benefits committee

Members

Chief Financial Officer (chairman); Group Human Resources Director; Head of Pensions; General Counsel and Company Secretary.

 

Responsibilities

The pensions and retirement benefits committee reviews and recommends the establishment of any new or replacement pension arrangements, any material amendments to existing pension schemes, and the discontinuance, winding up or merger of any existing arrangement.

It also agrees with the trustees of those pension arrangements appropriate funding plans to secure the benefits promised.

 

     

Disclosure committee

Members

Group Financial Controller (chairman); General Counsel and Company Secretary; Head of Risk Management and Insurance; Chief Corporate Compliance Officer; Head of Internal Audit; Director of Tax and Treasury; Group Corporate Affairs Director; Head of Investor Relations.

 

Responsibilities

The disclosure committee assists the audit committee with regard to verifying the information that is required to be disclosed in the company’s material public disclosures and in its periodic reports. This is intended to ensure such disclosures are in compliance with all relevant laws, rules and regulations, including the UK Listing Authority, the London Stock Exchange, the New York Stock Exchange and the US Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

 

Risk committee

Members1

Chief Executive (chairman); Chief Financial Officer; General Counsel and Company Secretary; Group Commercial Director; Head of Risk Management and Insurance; Group Project Delivery Director.

 

Responsibilities

The risk committee performs an integral role in the governance of risk within Amec Foster Wheeler by providing advice and assistance to the board enabling it to fulfil its responsibilities in determining the risk appetite of the Group and the effectiveness of the risk management and internal control systems that support it. It also reviews the Amec Foster Wheeler plc risk register and the potential impact of any issues on the risk appetite and the risk profile of the Group. It reports on key risk issues such as new business and geographical locations and also makes recommendations on the insurance programme for the Group.

 

     

Group project review meetings

Attended by:

Group Leadership Team, Commercial Director.

 

Responsibilities

The group project review meetings evaluate project execution and financial performance on higher risk, higher value projects that could have a material effect on overall group performance.

 

 

Share allotment committee

Members

Any two directors or a director and the General Counsel and Company Secretary or the Deputy Company Secretary (the chairman to be appointed from those directors present).

 

Responsibilities

The share allotment committee approves the allotment of new shares or the issue of existing shares held in treasury following the exercise of options under the Savings-Related Share Option Scheme.

 

     

HSSE review committee

Members

Chief Executive (chairman); Group Human Resources Director; General Counsel and Company Secretary.

 

Responsibilities

The HSSE review committee’s key responsibility is to provide effective oversight of the Company’s performance and management of HSSE issues across the group. This includes the evaluation of the effectiveness of the Group’s policies and management systems in respect of managing health, safety, security and environmental risk in both current and future operations associated with the Company’s growth strategy.

 

 

Tender review committee

Members1

Chief Executive (chairman); Chief Financial Officer; General Counsel and Company Secretary; Head of Risk Management and Insurance; Group Commercial Director; Group Project Delivery Director.

 

Responsibilities

The tender review committee primarily reviews and approves proposed tender submissions for contracts to be undertaken by the business units that are outside the delegated authority of the Group Presidents. Higher risk contracts with an estimated revenue in excess of US$750m also require the approval of the board.

 

     
1 Whilst the search for a new Chief Executive is undertaken, the terms of reference of the committee have been amended to allow Mr McHoul to act as chair in
  his capacity as interim CEO. In addition, the Group Financial Controller has been appointed as a member of the committee in lieu of the Chief Financial Officer.
   
56 Amec Foster Wheeler
Annual report and accounts 2015
 

Accountability

Risk management and internal control systems

 

The board has overall responsibility for setting Amec Foster Wheeler’s risk appetite, and for maintaining sound risk management and internal control systems. Responsibility for risk management activities and practices, and internal control systems, is undertaken on behalf of the board by the audit committee and risk committee, both of which provide reports to the board on their work. Regular reviews of the effectiveness and adequacy of the Group’s financial, operational, compliance and risk management systems are undertaken and considered by the board. These systems can, however, only provide reasonable assurance against material misstatement or loss, as they are designed to manage rather than eliminate the risk of failure to achieve business objectives.

 

The internal control processes are complemented by an annual control self-assessment exercise carried out by the principal businesses. This covers health, safety and environment, legal, commercial and contractual, financial, information technology and human resources. The results are reviewed by the board, through the audit committee, as part of the ongoing internal control monitoring process.

 

Amec Foster Wheeler has interests in a number of joint arrangements where controls may not be reviewed as part of the Group’s formal corporate governance process because of the joint management responsibilities. Responsibility for such reviews rests with the joint venture and joint operations boards and these are reviewed from time to time as part of Amec Foster Wheeler’s normal internal audit process. Details of the company’s related undertakings can be found on pages 194 to 201.

 

The board and its committees have an ongoing process that is reviewed regularly by the board for identifying, evaluating and managing the principal risks faced by Amec Foster Wheeler, including strategy, major projects to be undertaken, significant acquisitions and disposals, as well as entry into and exit from different markets. This process and the associated internal control systems accord with the September 2014 Financial Reporting Council Guidance on Risk Management, Internal Control and Related Financial and Business Reporting.

 

Where appropriate, business decisions are reached following a structured and documented review of potential opportunities and threats, taking steps designed to manage or mitigate any risk exposure.

 

The threats and opportunities associated with tender submissions are reviewed by commercial review boards at various levels in the Group in line with the delegated authorities. Tenders that are outside the delegated authority of the business units are also reviewed by the tender review committee and, in addition, tenders for entering into high-risk contracts with an estimated revenue in excess of $750m are approved by the board. The most significant issues in terms of risk require the approval of the relevant business unit lead and the Group Commercial Director.

 

As a result of its ongoing involvement in and overview of risk management and internal control systems across the Group, the board is satisfied that the systems in place remain effective. Further details of the Group’s risk management process, including reporting and monitoring, and roles and responsibilities, can be found on page 18.

Following the acquisition of Foster Wheeler in 2014, work was undertaken in the year to integrate the control framework and risk and control systems with those of the wider group. Pursuant to section 302 of the US Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (SOX), we have carried out an evaluation of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures (as such term is defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Exchange Act) under the supervision and the participation of the Group Leadership Team, which is responsible for the management of the internal controls, and which includes the CEO and the CFO. There are inherent limitations to the effectiveness of any system of disclosure controls and procedures, including the possibility of human error and the circumvention or overriding of the controls and procedures. Accordingly, even effective disclosure controls and procedures can only provide reasonable assurance of achieving their control objectives. Based upon our evaluation as at 31 December 2015, we have concluded that the disclosure controls and procedures (i) were effective at a reasonable level of assurance as of the end of the period covered by this annual report in ensuring that information required to be recorded, processed, summarised and reported in the reports that are filed or submitted under the Exchange Act, is recorded, processed, summarised and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms and (ii) were effective at a reasonable level of assurance as of the end of the period covered by this annual report in ensuring that information to be disclosed in the reports that are filed or submitted under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to the Group Leadership Team, including the Chief Executive and the Chief Financial Officer, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

 

Pursuant to section 404 of SOX, under the supervision and the participation of the Group Leadership Team, which includes the CEO and CFO, management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting. We have carried out an evaluation of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act) based on the Internal Control – Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organisations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). Based on this evaluation, we have concluded that our internal control over financial reporting was effective as at 31 December 2015.

 

Ernst & Young LLP has audited the consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2015 and has also assessed the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting. Their attestation report can be found on page 95.

 

During the period covered by this annual report, we have not made any changes to our internal control over financial reporting that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.


 

 


 

 

Amec Foster Wheeler
Annual report and accounts 2015
57
 

Accountability continued
Audit committee

 

The main objectives of the audit committee are to provide independent scrutiny of the company’s financial and non-financial performance, the adequacy of the risk management framework and internal controls, and the performance of both the external and internal audit functions. This is of particular importance given the added responsibilities of conforming to the SOX requirements. The wide diversity of experience and knowledge of the committee members helps to achieve these objectives, and constructive challenge and guidance continue to be provided to the leadership team.

 

Dear Shareholder

Your audit committee had another demanding year during which management implemented its integration plans and a new operating model for the combined businesses of AMEC and Foster Wheeler. Bringing two companies together, each with a diverse range of policies, procedures, computer systems and processes, was always going to be challenging, particularly as each had its own operating model that reflected its respective market sector strengths. Fittingly, your committee and the board focused strongly on the quality of the revised policies, procedures, systems and internal controls being implemented by management to successfully manage the new company.

 

The committee also took on additional responsibilities during the year: in particular, overseeing the exacting compliance effort that management had to undertake to implement the requirements of the US Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (SOX). An in-house compliance team, supported comprehensively by external SOX specialists, was established by management. The Chief Compliance Officer reported directly to the committee at each of its meetings, providing detailed status reports on the project and its achievements. As committee chairman, I also met separately on a regular basis with the Chief Compliance Officer and the external SOX specialists, to be briefed on progress. As you might expect, both the internal and external auditors were also involved with the SOX process throughout the year.

 

As management continued throughout 2015 with the integration process, across numerous geographies, the committee continued its vital role of scrutinising the integrity and relevance of the Group’s financial reporting, the appropriateness and quality of the internal control environment and the continued suitability of the Group’s system of risk management. In addition, the committee examined material projects, focusing on the key features, risks and opportunities these present and paid particular attention to contract provisioning and quality of earnings. Your committee has also been engaged with management’s process for meeting the new UK corporate governance requirement of providing a viability statement, which is now a feature of this year’s annual report.

 

As reported to you last year, management detected a fraud in one of its overseas operations during the latter part of 2014. The fraud was not material at the group level, although it was significant at the local entity level. I can now confirm that a criminal case against two former employees is presently before the courts, the outcome of which is yet to be determined.

 

The committee continued to oversee the internal and external audit activities. Given the increased size and complexity of the combined businesses, management and the committee endorsed the recommendation to increase the size of the internal audit team to strengthen the available resources for the future.

 

Our goal continues to be one of being proactive and to provide constructive challenge over the information we receive. Throughout the year the committee has received timely and quality information from management and from the internal and external auditors. Their reports have been relevant, succinct, and clear, which has enabled your committee to discharge its duties effectively.

 

 

Colin Day

Chairman of the audit committee
10 March 2016

 

 

58 Amec Foster Wheeler
Annual report and accounts 2015
 

Members

The committee meets at least three times each year and the quorum for the committee is two members.

 

Membership and attendance of the audit committee up to 31
December 2015

 

  Scheduled   Unscheduled  
Colin Day (Chairman) 3/3   1/1  
Linda Adamany 3/3   0/1  
Neil Carson 3/3   1/1  
Simon Thompson (up to 14 May 2015) 0/1   1/1  
Stephanie Newby 3/3   0/1  

 

There were three scheduled audit committee meetings in 2015 and one unscheduled meeting. The unscheduled meeting was arranged at very short notice and two members had prior commitments.

 

Colin Day has relevant and recent experience in auditing and accounting and the board considers that he has sufficient financial experience and qualifications to satisfy the criteria under US rules for an audit committee financial expert. Biographies of all committee members can be found on pages 41 to 43.

 

The membership of the committee currently comprises Colin Day (Chairman), Linda Adamany, Neil Carson and Stephanie Newby.

 

The Company Chairman, the executive directors, the General Counsel and Company Secretary, the Group Financial Controller, the Head of Internal Audit, the Group Commercial Director, the Chief Compliance Officer and representatives of the external auditor also attended meetings throughout the year.

 

During 2015, the committee met separately with the external auditor, the Head of Internal Audit and the CFO, in each case without others being present.

 

During the year the committee’s terms of reference were reviewed and updated to reflect additional committee requirements relating to the appropriateness of the going concern assumptions, the viability statement, internal controls over financial reporting, the disclosure committee and SOX requirements. These are available to view at amecfw.com

 

Following the acquisition of Foster Wheeler, a disclosure committee was established in November 2014. This is a management committee that reports to the audit committee and assists the committee with regard to verifying the information that is required to be disclosed in the company’s material public disclosures and in its periodic reports. This ensures that such disclosures are in compliance with all relevant laws, rules and regulations, including the UK Listing Authority, the London Stock Exchange, the New York Stock Exchange and the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Key responsibilities

Reviewing the annual and half-yearly financial statements with particular focus on key accounting and audit judgement and making recommendations to the board for their approval.
   
Monitoring the clarity of disclosures, the going concern assumptions, the viability statement and compliance with IFRS.
   
Reviewing and monitoring the internal controls and risk management systems, in particular internal controls over financial reporting.
   
Overseeing the relationship with the external auditor including the approval of the engagement letter, letter of representation and statutory audit fees, with particular focus on independence and rotation in accordance with UK and US rules or requirements.
   
Promoting an effective internal audit function.
   
Overseeing the Company’s compliance with the London and New York stock exchanges, FCA and SEC requirements.
   
Reviewing arrangements whereby staff may raise concerns about any suspected or known improprieties and ensuring that such matters are investigated and appropriate actions taken.
   
Monitoring and reviewing UK corporate governance and US SOX compliance.
   
Receiving the reports of the disclosure committee.

 

Activities of the committee

Training provided to the committee in the year included an update by the Chief Compliance Officer on SOX requirements and information from Ernst & Young LLP (EY) on risk management, internal control, going concern requirements and the viability statement.

 

In 2015, as part of the external review of board effectiveness, respondents were asked about the perceived performance of the audit committee. This was very highly rated overall. One area identified for improvement was in relation to the balance of work undertaken between the Chairman and the committee members, to ensure collective responsibility of the activities of the committee. Other areas identified included a need for greater detail on revenue recognition decisions and continued vigilance on SOX requirements.

 

In preparation for each meeting, the CFO prepares an extensive report covering all material financial, tax and treasury matters. Particular areas of focus in 2015 included:

 

consideration of revenue recognition, which is by necessity based on management estimates and assumptions, particularly with regard to timing and consideration of the Group’s policy for aged work in progress and receivables. In conjunction with the external auditor, these judgements were challenged, especially with regard to end-life forecast estimates
   
with regard to the provisions and estimates (including litigation) within the accounts, the committee, in conjunction with the external auditor, spent time focusing on these areas and on satisfying itself as to their appropriateness, particularly for legacy liabilities.


 

 


 

Amec Foster Wheeler
Annual report and accounts 2015
59
 

Accountability continued

Audit committee continued

 

contract risks and material contracts (those above £10m in contract value) showing a deteriorating position over time, including the monitoring of management’s early warning system to increase visibility of underperforming material contracts
   
the Foster Wheeler allocation of goodwill and impairment testing arising from the acquisition, in respect of which the committee continued to challenge and stress test the assumptions that were being made in the process
   
reviews of the performance of the GPG business and the challenging of the inputs into the impairment testing calculations where the deteriorating performance has resulted in a significant impairment of £308m
   
the classification of exceptional items, where costs, excluding intangible amortisation and impairment, of £114m have been charged in the year, principally due to restructuring and integration costs
   
the Foster Wheeler purchase price allocation exercise, in respect of which the committee undertook a thorough review of the process and challenged the appropriateness and the judgements made on the reduction in the net assets acquired of around US$245m and the corresponding increase in goodwill
   
adequacy of legacy liabilities, including the accounting for asbestos and environmental liabilities
   
accounting for taxation including the recognition of deferred tax and assets relating to research and development government credits and monitoring the outcome of recent EU cases on tax rulings and the assessment of disclosing this as a contingent liability
   
the assessment of the basis of the Group’s going concern assumptions with particular emphasis on the refinancing process and the assessment of the Group’s viability statement in accordance with the change to the UK Corporate Governance Code
   
the ongoing quality and acceptability of the Group’s accounting policies, procedures, systems and internal controls
   
SOX programme oversight and the establishment of risk and control matrices and the identification of key controls to meet the SOX control objectives. This was the first year that attestation has been required on the Group’s internal control environment and the committee was pleased to note that no material weaknesses had been identified
   
a review of the audit procedures required in order to meet the requirements of the SEC and Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB) in the US
   
as part of the CFO’s report, the committee received details of all breaches of treasury policy. This enabled the committee to see how relatively minor issues are identified and addressed to ensure they do not become more significant matters. In the year, minor breaches were identified in relation to bank counterparty limits, but none was considered to be material

In its reviews of the full and half-year results, particular emphasis was placed on contractual issues where the reported financial position was analysed and discussed in the CFO’s report and the findings validated by means of in-depth questioning.

 

At the request of the board, the committee also reviewed and provided advice on whether the annual report and accounts, when taken as a whole, are fair, balanced and understandable, to enable the Company’s shareholders to assess the Company’s performance, business model and strategy.

 

In coming to its view that it was satisfied with the overall fairness, balance and clarity of the document, the committee took into account:

 

its own knowledge of the group, and its strategy and performance in the year
   
the comprehensive guidance provided to all contributors to the annual report and accounts
   
a thorough internal verification of the factual content within the document
   
the comprehensive reviews undertaken at different levels in the group to ensure consistency and overall balance
   
a detailed review by senior management

 

Internal controls and risk management

The committee reviews the processes by which the Company’s control environment is evaluated. A control risk self-assessment is undertaken every year, with comprehensive integrity checks, and the exercise in 2015 again identified no significant areas of concern. The Group’s senior management is formally required to confirm compliance within their businesses with the Group’s Code of Business Conduct, its policies and procedures and any areas of concern need to be fully explained and addressed. A revised Code of Business Conduct was introduced in 2015.

 

The Head of Internal Audit reports to the committee on any alleged or suspected wrongdoings reported through the independently operated helplines or otherwise. All such incidents in the year were investigated and did not reveal any significant internal control failures or have a material financial impact at group level although improvement in oversight and in the application of existing controls have been put in place following a fraud identified in Australia, (see note 5 on page 116).

 

In a few instances, disciplinary action was taken against employees, which led to dismissal where warranted.

 

The committee’s primary responsibilities in relation to risk management are in ensuring that robust processes are in place for managing risk throughout the Group. The acquisition of Foster Wheeler was completed in the fourth quarter of 2014 and the control framework was reviewed and the risk and control systems were integrated with those of the wider group.

 

The group’s principal business and strategic risks are shown in the strategic report on pages 19 to 21 and the approach to managing risk is shown in more detail on pages 18 and 57.


 


 

60 Amec Foster Wheeler
Annual report and accounts 2015
 

Internal audit

In 2015, the committee continued to monitor and review the operation of the internal audit function, receiving a full report at each meeting from the Head of Internal Audit. The Head of Internal Audit formally reports to the committee chairman.

 

The findings of each internal audit review are summarised and the committee focuses its discussions on unsatisfactory findings and on the action plans in place to address them. Particular areas of focus during 2015 included a number of identified frauds, and the application of the agents/sponsors process, particularly within the former Foster Wheeler businesses. Concerns were also raised about an increase in the number of control-related issues and the reasons for this.

 

A review of the staffing levels of the internal audit function was undertaken and a recommendation was made by the committee to increase the number of staff to meet the increased workload requirements. This was endorsed by the board.

 

External audit

During 2015, the committee continued to oversee the relationship with the external auditor, Ernst & Young LLP (EY). The committee reviews both the procedure for the engagement of the external auditor and the procedure for the appointment of the external auditor every year. In 2015 both procedures met both UK and US requirements.

 

Each year the relevant audit risks are assessed and EY’s views are presented to the committee. During the year, the significant risks identified by EY were appropriateness of revenue recognition on contracts, adequacy of contract-related provisions and legacy liabilities (including asbestos and environmental), purchase price allocation adjustments relating to the acquisition of Foster Wheeler, goodwill impairment, impact of tax planning, recognition of deferred tax assets and R&D tax credits and risk of fraud and management override. Other risk areas included appropriate disclosure and treatment of exceptional items,

 

Throughout the year and in conjunction with EY, the committee challenged management and assured itself that the risks were being addressed and that reporting on the matters was balanced. Examples of these challenges included the judgements taken on a waste energy project in Western Europe, the assessment of Mount Polley as a contingent liability, accounting for a UK fuel storage contract and, an oil and gas related project in South America. Other challenges included the judgements taken in the Group’s goodwill testing, issues with impairment (in particular GPG), purchase price allocation including the accounting recorded in respect of a contract in the Southern US and the appropriateness of the accounting for the Group’s asbestos liability of £414m. The committee also discussed and debated the appropriateness of the Group’s effective tax rate and recognition of deferred tax.

The audit differences and quality of earnings schedule for the year ended 2015 was presented by EY at the February 2016 meeting. The value of unadjusted differences and the quality of earnings high-level review of the impact of items that could be considered non-recurring in nature were discussed in detail. The audit differences were not considered to be material and the quality of earnings was considered appropriate overall.

 

On behalf of the committee, the Head of Internal Audit undertakes an annual assessment of the effectiveness of the external auditor. The views of senior members of the finance teams throughout the Group are sought, as well as qualitative feedback. Responses are measured and directly compared with previous surveys, so that progress can be monitored.

 

The external auditor effectiveness review for 2015 will be undertaken after the year-end process has been completed and the results will be presented to the committee in August 2016. The results of the review will be reported in next year’s report.

 

EY were appointed as Amec Foster Wheeler’s external auditor in 2010, following a formal tender process. As the audit partner responsible for the Group audit had been in place for five years, a new audit partner (Colin Brown) was appointed for the 2015 audit. The committee takes account of and endorses the relevant provisions of the UK Corporate Governance Code with regard to the appointment of the external auditor, which means that the external audit contract will be put out to tender at the latest by 2020, subject to any further regulatory change. The committee also considers that the process complies with the provisions of the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) Order for UK audit market published on 26 September 2014.

 

Amec Foster Wheeler has formal procedures relating to its relationship with the external auditor including for the provision of non-audit services, to ensure that such work does not impair the external auditor’s objectivity and independence. This procedure clearly outlines the category of work the external auditor is permitted to carry out and the rules governing what is not permitted. The procedure follows the guidelines and requirements set out by the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales and has been amended to take account of the requirements of SOX and the PCAOB. The committee now delegates authority to the Chairman of the audit committee to pre-approve all non-prohibited services undertaken by the external auditor. In addition, all non-audit services performed by the external auditor will be disclosed to investors in the company’s periodic reports.

 

The process is continually monitored by the Head of Internal Audit and details of all ‘other services’ performed are formally presented to the audit committee twice a year. It is the responsibility of the audit committee to monitor the overall level of non-audit fees relative to audit fees from an independence point of view and to confirm that auditor independence has been safeguarded. If there are any concerns about this, for the avoidance of doubt, the undertaking of such work would not be permitted.


 


 

Amec Foster Wheeler
Annual report and accounts 2015
61
 

Accountability continued

Audit committee continued

 

Fees payable by the Group to the Company’s statutory auditor, EY, and its associates were as follows:

 

  2015   2014  
  £m   £m  
Audit fees:        
Audit of the Company’s accounts 4.1   3.9  
Audit of the accounts of the        
Company’s subsidiaries 1.4   1.5  
  5.5   5.4  
Tax fees:        
Tax compliance services 0.9   0.4  
Tax advisory services    
  0.9   0.4  
All other fees:        
Corporate finance transactions 0.9   6.4  
Other non-audit services 0.2   0.1  
  1.1   6.5  
  7.5   12.3  

 

Fees for the audit of the Company’s accounts relate to the audit of the parent company’s accounts and the consolidated financial statements.

 

All EY’s fees for non-audit work in 2015 were approved in accordance with the Company’s policy covering non-audit services. As a result of the application of this policy and additional discussions with them, the directors do not believe that EY’s independence has been compromised because of this additional work on behalf of the Company.

 

The level of non-audit fee awarded to EY in 2014 was considerably higher than would normally be the case, as shown in the table above as a result of work undertaken on the Foster Wheeler acquisition.

 

During 2014, EY was paid non-audit fees of £2.7m by Foster Wheeler prior to the acquisition date.


 


 

62 Amec Foster Wheeler
Annual report and accounts 2015
 

Health, safety, security, environmental and ethics (HSSEE) committee

 

The core role of the HSSEE committee is to assist the board in upholding the Company’s principal value of doing the right thing,to review the HSSE policy statement and to satisfy itself that all significant health, safety, security, environmental and ethics risks are identified and controlled.

 

Dear shareholder

On 1 January 2015, the board created the HSSEE committee to replace the ethics committee and its terms of reference were extended to include health, safety, security and environmental matters (full details of which can be found on amecfw.com). The purpose of the HSSEE committee is to provide an additional level of governance in respect of Amec Foster Wheeler’s health, safety, security, environmental and ethics activities.

 

Our employees have the right to work in a safe and secure environment, which is particularly important in a group that has over 40,000 people working in more than 55 countries. Over the course of 2016 we will be refreshing our Beyond Zero initiative, which is aims to deliver first-class protection from harm for our people, our assets, our environment and our customers.

 

There is a strong framework in place that has supported Amec Foster Wheeler as it has become a more global business following the Foster Wheeler acquisition. This ensures that our employees, and those who work with and for us, act with integrity wherever they are based. Our employees have access to a third-party reporting system to enable them to report any concerns in complete confidence. All such calls are investigated and actions taken where appropriate.

 

This year the committee has overseen the launch of a new Code of Business Conduct and successful Code of Business Conduct and anti-bribery and corruption training across the Group, with very high completion rates being achieved. Further training programmes are scheduled for roll-out in 2016 to further raise awareness and assure compliance.

 

 

Linda Adamany

Chairman of the Health, Safety, Security, Environmental and Ethics Committee

10 March 2016

Members

The HSSEE committee comprises only independent non-executive directors. The quorum for the committee is two members. In 2015 there were three scheduled committee meetings held, and no unscheduled meetings.

 

The company Chairman, the executive directors, the General Counsel and Company Secretary, the Chief Compliance Officer and the Global Head of HSSE also attend each meeting by invitation.

 

The membership of the committee is detailed below.

 

Membership and attendance of the HSSEE committee during 2015

 

  Meeting attendance  
Linda Adamany (Chairman) 3/3  
Neil Carson 3/3  
Stephanie Newby 3/3  
Kent Masters (from 14 February 2015) 3/3  

 

Key responsibilities of the HSSEE committee

The committee reviews Amec Foster Wheeler’s HSSE policy at least annually to ensure it remains fit for purpose and meets legal and regulatory requirements in all respects. It also examines the processes in place to satisfy itself that all significant health, safety, security and environmental risks are identified and mitigated.

 

The committee oversees the operations and activities of the HSSE review committee which is a management committee, details of which are outlined on page 56.

 

The committee reviews and monitors business ethics within the Group, including compliance with relevant legislation, regulation and current best practice. It also reviews and approves the Group’s Code of Business Conduct at least annually.

 

It considers and reviews the scope and planning of all ethical compliance activity within the Group and reviews the extent and effectiveness of the Group’s internal training and external reporting of compliance and ethics matters.

 

In the event of an actual or suspected material breach of the Code of Business Conduct or any other serious matter, a member of the committee will normally take responsibility for and manage any investigation into the relevant matter with the support of the General Counsel and Company Secretary.


 

 


 

Amec Foster Wheeler
Annual report and accounts 2015
63
 

Accountability continued

Health, safety, security, environmental and ethics (HSSEE) committee continued

 

Activities of the HSSEE committee

The committee reviewed the revised Amec Foster Wheeler Code of Business Conduct in March 2015 and endorsed its content. This document combined the codes of business conduct of the former AMEC and Foster Wheeler businesses into one new code.

 

The separate ethics reporting systems for the AMEC and Foster Wheeler businesses were combined into a single system during the second half of the year. During the year a total of 104 concerns were raised in Amec Foster Wheeler in respect of alleged or suspected ethical breaches, most of which were reported through the independent third-party reporting systems. Each report was taken seriously and investigated. The outcome of these investigations resulted in disciplinary action where appropriate as well as enhancements to the existing control environment where necessary.

 

Over the course of the year, the number of matters reported has increased, which we see as a positive outcome, emanating from the increased publicity and the independent nature of the reporting process.

 

The Global Head of HSSE attends each committee meeting and gives a full report and update on HSSE matters. Areas of focus during the year included risk mitigation and high potential incidents, particularly those that occurred within joint ventures. The committee was pleased to note the deep dive reviews that were undertaken in respect of each incident and that the outcomes and lessons learned were taken on board throughout the business.

 

As part of the externally conducted board effectiveness review undertaken in 2015, the performance of the committee was assessed and was rated highly. Improvements to the safety reporting process for the committee and the board, identified in the review, are being implemented.

 

The committee also reviewed its terms of reference in December 2015 and recommended to the board that the terms of reference continued to be fit for purpose and to meet the requirements of the group.


 


 

64 Amec Foster Wheeler
Annual report and accounts 2015
 

Remuneration

Remuneration committee

 

The remuneration committee’s aim is to design and apply a reward policy that promotes the long-term success of the Company.

 

Dear shareholder

Board changes

On 17 January 2016, Samir Brikho stepped down from the board and his role of Chief Executive. He left the Company on 31 January 2016. In accordance with his contract, Samir received a payment in lieu of 12 months’ base salary, benefits and pension. Further details are provided on page 71.

 

Our CFO, Ian McHoul, has been appointed interim CEO while we recruit a new Chief Executive. Ian will receive an acting up allowance of £20,000 per month for the period he undertakes the acting role. This temporary uplift will also be reflected in his pension allowance for this period but other benefits will be unchanged. His maximum bonus opportunity for 2016 will be at the higher level of 150% of salary (including the acting up allowance) for the period he fulfils the role of interim CEO and revert to 125% thereafter. His LTIP opportunity will remain unchanged. Further details are provided on page 67. The committee considers that is a fair and reasonable package to reflect the additional responsibilities being undertaken.

 

Remuneration for 2015

The committee’s work this year has taken place against the backdrop of the very sharp slowdown in the company’s major markets which has resulted in performance being lower than anticipated going into the year. We have also taken into account the major shift in the net debt position and the decision to rebase the dividend.

 

In the light of this, the committee has also determined that no annual bonus payments will be made to executive directors in respect of 2015 notwithstanding that some of the targets that were set at the start of the year, principally those relating to the successful integration of the two legacy businesses, were achieved. None of the long-term incentive awards made three years ago have vested. Overall remuneration levels for executive directors have accordingly reduced significantly year on year in line with business performance.

Remuneration for 2016

There will be no increase in base salary for the CFO for the third year in a row although he will receive an acting up allowance for the time he undertakes the role of interim CEO, as described above.

 

In order to reflect the changed priorities, we are making several changes to the operation of our incentive arrangements within the flexibility allowed for by our existing policy.

 

In relation to annual bonus, in line with our overall strategy we are giving greater priority to the need to reduce net debt by making 25% of the annual bonus opportunity dependent on cash and debt management. 50% of bonus will remain dependent on delivery of the 2016 planned EBITA target and 25% will be based on other KPIs. In line with our past practice, the actual targets and outcomes will be disclosed at the end of the year.

 

In relation to 2016 LTI awards, we plan to introduce a third performance condition related to the implementation and execution of our strategy. The exact nature of these measures and targets will be finalised following the recruitment of our new CEO. This is to ensure that they have an opportunity to input into the chosen measures so that they are fully aligned with our strategy going forwards. It is likely that such measures will focus on reshaping the portfolio, growing the core activity and driving efficiency. The committee intends to consult with shareholders regarding the chosen measures and details of these measures will be disclosed in next year’s report.

 

This strategic scorecard will apply to 40% of the award with the remainder continuing to be split evenly between relative TSR and EPS performance measures.

 

This year we have expressed the EPS target as a pence per share range for 2018. This reflects both expectations for the macro market environment, particularly for oil & gas, and our internal projections which point to a continuing downturn in 2016 but which incentivise growth thereafter. Further details are provided on page 67.

 

 

Neil Carson

Chairman of the remuneration committee

10 March 2016


 

 


 

Amec Foster Wheeler
Annual report and accounts 2015
65
 

Remuneration continued

Remuneration committee continued

 

Membership and attendance of the remuneration committee up to
31 December 2015

  Scheduled   Unscheduled  
Neil Carson        
(Chairman from 14 May 2015) 3/3   0/0  
Simon Thompson        
(Chairman up to 14 May 2015) 1/1   0/0  
Linda Adamany (from 30 April 2015) 2/2   0/0  
John Connolly 3/3   0/0  
Colin Day 3/3   0/0  

 

The quorum for the committee is two members. There were three scheduled and no unscheduled meetings held in 2015.

 

The Chief Executive, the Group Human Resources Director and other members of management attend meetings by invitation.

 

Simon Thompson retired as a director at the conclusion of the 2015 AGM and was succeeded as committee chairman by Neil Carson and on 30 April, Linda Adamany was appointed to the committee.

 

In considering the matters within its remit, the committee takes account of recommendations from the Chairman in respect of the Chief Executive and from the Chief Executive in respect of the other executive directors and designated executives.

 

The committee is advised independently by Deloitte who took over the role from New Bridge Street (NBS) during the year following a retender process.

 

During the year Deloitte also provided advice to management in relation to the interpretation of the Remuneration Reporting Regulations and below board remuneration. Separate teams within Deloitte provided unrelated advisory services in respect of business model integration, research, development and innovation taxation, treasury taxation, corporate finance and treasury services to the Group during the year.

 

Deloitte is one of the founding members of the Remuneration Consultants Code of Conduct and adheres to this Code in its dealings with the committee. The committee is satisfied that the advice provided by Deloitte is objective and independent. The committee is comfortable that the Deloitte LLP engagement partner and team that provide remuneration advice to the committee do not have connections with the Company that may impair their independence. The committee reviewed the potential for conflicts of interest and judged that there were appropriate safeguards against such conflicts.

 

NBS did not undertake any material additional work for the Company. NBS is wholly owned by Aon plc and while other companies within the Aon group do undertake material work for the Company, this is not in the area of executive remuneration and arrangements were in place within the Aon group to ring-fence NBS from other services provided.

 

Deloitte was paid £11,250 and NBS was paid £23,328 during the year for the advice provided to the committee on the basis of time expended and seniority of individuals providing the advice.

The committee is also supported by the Company’s human resources department who may from time to time use third parties to provide data and technical advice.

 

The committee normally meets three times a year and has an established annual agenda of items that it considers at the various meetings, the major elements of which are summarised below.

 

March Confirmation of short- and long-term incentive outcomes.
     
  Approval of Directors’ remuneration report.
     
  New long-term incentive awards.
August Shareholder feedback/consultation.
     
  Remuneration policy and practice.
     
  Committee processes and appointment of consultants.
December Review of individual base salaries and total remuneration.
     
  Incentive plan targets.

 

In order to fully take account of the impact of the Foster Wheeler acquisition and the changed market outlook, the decisions that would normally have been made at the December 2014 meeting were largely deferred to the meeting in March 2015.


 


 

66 Amec Foster Wheeler
Annual report and accounts 2015
 

Directors’ remuneration report

 

Annual report on remuneration

 

Remuneration policy

There are no changes proposed to remuneration policy for 2016 from that approved by shareholders at the AGM on 14 May 2015. For reference the policy is set out in full on pages 75 to 80.

 

Application of remuneration policy for 2016

Changes to base salaries for executive directors

The base salary of the CFO is not being increased in 2016. His salary last increased on 1 January 2014. In respect of his role of interim CEO, Ian will receive an acting up allowance equivalent to £240,000 per annum pro-rated to reflect the months or part-months he fulfils the interim CEO role giving him an effective annualised salary as shown below.

 

    2016   2015   % change  
Ian McHoul as CFO   £530,000   £530,000   n/c  
Ian McHoul as interim CEO   £770,000   n/a   n/a  
Samir Brikho (up to date of leaving)   £954,000   £954,000   n/c  

 

Annual bonus measures and targets

The following bonus measures and their weightings (maximum opportunity as a percentage of base salary) have been agreed by the committee for 2016. The measures for 2016 have been changed from 2015 to reflect the challenging environment in which we are currently operating and our evolving strategic priorities in this context. The cash/debt measure replaces the previous operating cash measure and has been given a significantly increased weighting to reflect the greater focus that this is being given as part of our strategic priorities for the next 12 months. The largest part of the bonus continues to be based on EBITA reflecting the importance of a continued focus on profitability.

 

For the period he is fulfilling the interim CEO role Ian McHoul’s bonus will be at the higher maximum of 150% of base salary and will be based on his interim CEO salary. Samir Brikho has not been included in the 2016 bonus plan.

 

Measure Acting CEO role   CFO role  
EBITA 75%   62.5%  
Cash/debt 37.5%   31.25%  
Other strategic objectives 37.5%   31.25%  
Totals 150%   125%  

 

The specific targets against these measures are commercially sensitive and may be subject to revision. They will be disclosed retrospectively in next year’s report to the extent that they do not remain commercially sensitive at that time.

 

Long-term incentive awards

Awards with a face value equivalent to 250% of base salary are being made to Ian McHoul in 2016 in line with previous years. For this purpose, base salary will not include the temporary acting up allowance. 30% of the award will be subject to a comparative TSR measure, 30% to an EPS performance measure and 40% to a strategic scorecard measure. For each measure, 25% of that part of the award is paid for threshold achievement and 100% for maximum achievement with straight-line vesting in between.

 

TSR will be measured against a peer group comprising Amec Foster Wheeler and UK and international companies against which Amec Foster Wheeler competes directly. The comparator group is the same as for the 2015 awards as described on page 71 with the exception that Akastor has been removed because its business mix was considered by the committee to be less relevant and has been replaced by Tecnicas Reunidas, a Spanish competitor. Threshold vesting occurs at median ranking and maximum at upper quartile ranking or higher.

 

The EPS target range will be 67.8 pence per share in 2018 for threshold vesting and 73.8 pence per share for maximum vesting. The targets have been set to reflect both expectations for the macro market environment, particularly for oil & gas, and our internal projections which point to a continuing downturn in 2016 but which incentivise growth thereafter. In line with policy, the targets and actual EPS will be adjusted to reflect any corporate transactions and certain other defined items.

 

The strategic scorecard measure will relate to the implementation and execution of our strategy. The exact nature of these measures and targets will be finalised following the recruitment of our new CEO. This is to ensure that they have an opportunity to input into the chosen measures so that they are fully aligned with our strategy going forwards. It is likely that such measures will focus on reshaping the portfolio, growing the core activity and driving efficiency and will be distinct from the short-term targets for annual bonus. The committee intends to consult with shareholders regarding the chosen measures and details of these measures and targets will be disclosed in next year’s report.


 

Amec Foster Wheeler
Annual report and accounts 2015
67
 

Remuneration continued

Directors’ remuneration report continued

 

Annual report on remuneration continued

 

Pensions

Mr McHoul receives a cash allowance of 20% of salary in lieu of pension benefit. For the period when he is interim CEO this will be paid on his higher salary including the acting up allowance. He also has life assurance benefit of four times his normal annual salary.

 

Changes to Chairman’s and non-executive directors’ fees

The fees for the Chairman and non-executive directors are not being increased for 2016.

 

  2016   2015   % change  
Chairman £318,000   £318,000   n/c  
Board fee £60,500   £60,500   n/c  
Audit committee chairman £30,000   £30,000   n/c  
Remuneration committee chairman £13,000   £13,000   n/c  
HSSEE committee chairman £6,000   £6,000   n/c  
Senior Independent Director £5,500   £5,500   n/c  
Non-UK director (additional travel time) £12,100   £12,100   n/c  

 

68 Amec Foster Wheeler
Annual report and accounts 2015
 

Annual report on remuneration continued

 

The information from this point onwards up to and including the statement of directors’ share interests and shareholding on page 72 is subject to audit.

 

Single total figure of remuneration for 2015

The following table shows a single total figure of remuneration in respect of qualifying services for the 2015 financial year for each director, together with comparative figures for 2014.

 

    Salary/fees
£’000
    Taxable benefits
£’000
    Bonus
£’000
    LTIP
£’000
    Sharesave
£’000
    Pension
£’000
    Total
£’000
 
    2015   2014     2015   2014     2015   2014     2015   2014     2015   2014     2015   2014     2015   2014  
Executive                                                                      
Samir Brikho*   954   954     53   43     0   594           3       255   246     1,265   1,837  
Ian McHoul   530   530     18   18     0   268                 106   106     654   922  
Non-executive                                                                      
John Connolly   318   318                                   318   318  
Neil Carson   72   61                                   72   61  
Colin Day   91   79                                   91   79  
Linda Adamany   79   77                                   79   77  
Stephanie Newby*   73   13                                   73   13  
Kent Masters*   61                                     61    
Simon Thompson*   29   76                                   29   76  
Aggregate directors’ emoluments                                                               2,642   3,383  

 

*Samir Brikho stepped down from the Board and his role of Chief Executive on 17 January 2016. Stephanie Newby and Kent Masters joined the board in November 2014 and February 2015 respectively. Simon Thompson left the Board in May 2015. Stephanie Newby’s fees include an amount paid in relation to her ongoing post-acquisition service as a director of Foster Wheeler AG from 13 November 2014 to 19 January 2015.

 

Taxable benefits for the executive directors comprise disability and healthcare insurance, car/travel allowance, working lunches and tax return preparation assistance. Mr Brikho’s 2015 figure includes an amount of £5,000 invoiced during the year but which actually related to assistance provided in respect of 2014.

 

The 2015 Sharesave figure for Samir Brikho is the gain made on exercising an option over 1,335 shares made under the Savings-related Share Option Scheme (Sharesave) at an option price of £6.74. The closing share price on the date of exercise, 9 March 2015, was £9.09, resulting in a gain on exercise of £3,137.

 

Samir Brikho is a member of the advisory board of Stena AB and a non-executive director of Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken AB: he received fees of SEK 644,315 during the year in relation to the first appointment and SEK 803,333 in relation to the second. Ian McHoul is a director of Britvic plc and received fees of £61,181 during the year in relation to this appointment. Such appointments are subject to prior approval of the board. Directors are permitted to retain fees. (These amounts are not subject to audit and are not included in the single total figure table above.)

 

Total pension entitlements

The pension amount shown in the 2015 ’single total figure of remuneration’ above comprises the following:

 

   Accrued DB pension
at 31/12/15
£’000
  Value of
DB benefit
£’000
  Cash
allowance
£’000
  Total pension
benefit
£’000
 
Samir Brikho  48  96  159  255  
Ian McHoul      106  106  

 

Samir Brikho had an historic arrangement that provided for a pension payable from age 60 made up of 4.17% of final pensionable salary in respect of service to 31 December 2007 and one-thirtieth of career averaged revalued earnings in respect of service thereafter. Salary and earnings for pension purposes are subject to a cap, currently £161,000 pa for the tax year 2015/16. Mr Brikho has also received a cash allowance in respect of salary above this cap in lieu of further pension benefit.

 

Mr McHoul received a cash allowance in lieu of pension.

 

The cash allowance in the case of Mr Brikho represented 20% of salary above the pension scheme cap and in the case of Ian McHoul represented 20% of full salary.


 

Amec Foster Wheeler
Annual report and accounts 2015
69
 

Remuneration continued

Directors’ remuneration report continued

 

Annual report on remuneration continued

 

Annual bonus

The bonus targets and outcomes against the various performance elements, together with the proportion of overall bonus opportunity that related to each, were as follows:

 

Measure   Target range   Actual   Weighting  
EBITA*   £422-475m   £374m   60%  
Cash conversion   72 – 85%   >85%   10%  
Cost synergies   £25-40m   >£40m   10%  
Use of High Value Execution Centre (HVEC)   18 – 21%   >21%   10%  
Embedding new company values and behaviours   n/a   n/a   10%  

 

*For bonus purposes EBITA (after exceptional items which may be disallowed for bonus purposes at the committee’s discretion) is normalised for exchange rate movements and cost of share-based payments: the target and actual figures shown above are before any such adjustments.

 

The target for the ‘Use of HVEC’ measure was based on the percentage of addressable man-hours for company as a whole executed through the HVEC.

 

In the light of overall performance, the committee has determined that no annual bonus payments will be made to executive directors in respect of 2015 notwithstanding that some of the targets that were set at the start of the year, principally those relating to the successful integration of the two legacy businesses, were achieved.

 

Performance Share Plan

The LTIP amount shown in the 2015 ’single total figure of remuneration’ is the award made under the Performance Share Plan in 2013. Vesting is due to take place on 28 March 2016 and is subject to two performance conditions each measured over three-year periods: (i) earnings per share (EPS*) growth for 2015 compared to a base of 85.7p (being the adjusted EPS for 2012) and (ii) total shareholder return (TSR) relative to a comparator group based on average share prices in final quarter of 2015 compared to those in the corresponding period in 2012. The two performance conditions operate independently on different parts of the award: half of the basic award is dependent on EPS and the other half on TSR; the matched award depends solely on EPS.

 

*EPS for this measure means the diluted earnings per share expressed to one decimal place of Amec Foster Wheeler plc before goodwill and intangible amortisation, the charge or credits associated with executive share awards and exceptional items. ‘Real’ growth means in excess of the change in the UK Retail Prices Index for December 2015 compared to December 2012.

 

The performance achieved against the EPS target and the TSR outcome are as follows:

 

2011 awards performance measure   Threshold – 25% vesting   Maximum – 100% vesting   Outcome   Percentage of max achieved  
Real annual compound growth in EPS   5%   12%   <5%   0%  
Total shareholder return ranking   Median   Upper quartile   19th out of 25   0%  

 

Accordingly no shares will vest from these awards.

 

Details of share awards during year

Awards over a value of 250% of base salary were made on 22 May 2015 under the new Long-Term Incentive Plan approved at the 2015 AGM. The face value of the awards is based on the share price at the date of award which was £9.38. Awards in the form of nil-cost options may normally be exercised up to 18 months after vesting.

 

    Type of interest awarded   Face value
£’000
  Percentage vesting at
threshold performance
  Number of shares   End of performance period  
Samir Brikho   Nil-cost options   2,385   25%   254,264   31 December 2017  
Ian McHoul   Nil-cost options   1,325   25%   141,257   31 December 2017  

 

The awards granted to Samir Brikho lapsed when he left the Company. The award granted to Mr McHoul will vest in March 2018 subject to the outcome against the performance conditions measured over the three years 2015 to 2017 and will then be subject to a two-year post-vesting holding period in line with policy. Half of the award is subject to a TSR performance condition and the other half is subject to an EPS performance condition.

 

The TSR measure is based on Amec Foster Wheeler’s ranking against the comparator group set out below based on the average share price over the final quarter of 2017 compared to the corresponding period in 2014. The threshold for any vesting to occur is that Amec Foster Wheeler needs to be ranked at median or higher. If upper quartile ranking is achieved, full vesting will occur. Vesting is on a straight-line basis between these threshold and maximum targets.

 

70 Amec Foster Wheeler
Annual report and accounts 2015
 

Annual report on remuneration continued

 

Comparator group in respect of 2015 awards

Aecom Technology   USA
Akastor   Norway
Aker Solutions   Norway
Amec Foster Wheeler   UK
Babcock International   UK
Cameron International   USA
Chicago Bridge & Iron   USA
Fluor   USA
Granite Construction   USA
Halliburton   USA
Jacobs   USA
KBR   USA
McDermott International   USA
Petrofac   UK
Saipem   Italy
Schlumberger   USA
SNC-Lavalin Group   Canada
Technip   France
Tutor Perini   USA
Wood Group (John)   UK
Worley Parsons   Australia
     


 

The committee has discretion to make further adjustments to the list when necessary to take account of mergers, acquisitions or other such events.

 

The EPS measure is based on the compound annual growth (CAGR) to 2017 from an adjusted 2014 base of 76.6p which is the pro forma figure if the Foster Wheeler acquisition had been in place for the full year. EPS for this purpose is defined as the diluted earnings per share expressed to one decimal place of Amec Foster Wheeler plc before goodwill and intangible amortisation, the charge or credits associated with executive share awards and exceptional items (at the committee’s discretion). Threshold (25%) vesting will occur if CAGR is 5% and maximum (100%) vesting will occur if CAGR is 10% or higher with straight-line vesting for a result between these targets.

 

The number of shares vesting as determined by the performance conditions outcomes will be increased to take account of reinvested dividends including the UK tax credit in the period between award and vesting.

 

Details of the specific companies included in the TSR comparator groups for both the 2013 and 2014 awards were included in the directors’ remuneration reports for those years and may be obtained on request from the Company Secretary.

 

Payments to former directors

No payments (including payments for loss of office) were made to former directors during 2015.

 

Leaving arrangements for Samir Brikho

On 17 January 2016, Samir Brikho ceased to be a director of Amec Foster Wheeler plc (the ‘Company’), and on 31 January 2016 Mr Brikho’s employment with the Company terminated. Mr Brikho received the following payments, which are in accordance with his service agreement and/or the Company’s remuneration policy, as set out on pages 75 to 80 of this report:

 

salary, pension and contractual benefits up to 31 January 2016
   
a payment in lieu of notice equal to 12 months’ salary and contractual benefits (£1,253,063), paid as a lump sum and consisting of:
   
  base salary – £954,000
     
  pension entitlements – £254,813
     
  payment in lieu of the value of contractual benefits – £44,250

 

Up to £25,000 (plus VAT) may be paid directly to Mr Brikho’s tax advisers for tax return preparation assistance in 2015/16. This is, in part, a contractual benefit not included in the amount above and in part in respect of advice provided in connection with his termination of employment. Additionally, £19,150 (plus VAT) has been paid directly to Mr Brikho’s solicitors for legal services provided in connection with his termination of employment.

 

As described earlier in this report, no payments in respect of 2015 or 2016 annual bonus will be made. Outstanding awards under the Long-Term Incentive Plan, the Performance Share Plan and the Sharesave Plan lapsed on leaving employment.

 

Mr Brikho did not receive any payments in respect of loss of office as a director.


 

Amec Foster Wheeler
Annual report and accounts 2015
71
 

Remuneration continued

Directors’ remuneration report continued

 

Annual report on remuneration continued

 

Directors’ share interests and shareholding requirements

As at 31 December 2015 (or in the case of Simon Thompson as at the date he ceased to be a director), the beneficial interests in the share capital of the Company of the directors and their connected persons were as follows:

 

    Legally owned shares     Vested but unexercised
share options
  Unvested share options subject
to performance conditions
(LTIP and PSP awards)
  Unvested share options
not subject to performance
conditions (Sharesave)
 
John Connolly   87,380          
Samir Brikho   1,975,674       688,729   2,192  
Ian McHoul   329,432       382,626   2,206  
Neil Carson   5,000          
Colin Day   22,558          
Linda Adamany   3,100          
Stephanie Newby   21,899 *        
Kent Masters   70,000 *              
Simon Thompson   4,744          

 

*Held as ADSs

 

Details of the unvested options for Samir Brikho and Ian McHoul included in the table above were as follows:

 

    Date of award   Type of award   Number of shares   Exercise price   Exercise period  
Samir Brikho   March 2013   PSP   218,630   Nil   March 2016 to September 2017  
    March 2014   PSP   215,835   Nil   March 2017 to September 2018  
    October 2014   Sharesave   1,032   £8.72   January to June 2018  
    May 2015   LTIP   254,264   Nil   March 2018 to September 2019  
    October 2015   Sharesave   1,160   £6.795   January to June 2019  
Ian McHoul   March 2013   PSP   121,461   Nil   March 2016 to September 2017  
    October 2013   Sharesave   1,046   £8.60   January to June 2017  
    March 2014   PSP   119,908   Nil   March 2017 to September 2018  
    May 2015   LTIP   141,257   Nil   March 2018 to September 2019  
    October 2015   Sharesave   1,160   £6.795   January to June 2019  

 

All of Mr Brikho’s unvested options lapsed on 31 January 2016 due to the cessation of his employment. The PSP award made to Mr McHoul in March 2013 will lapse on 28 March 2016 due to the minimum performance requirements not having been met.

 

Details of the options exercised by Samir Brikho and Ian McHoul during the 2015 financial year are as follows:

 

    Date of award   Type of award   Number of options
exercised
  Number of shares
withheld for tax
  Exercise price   Gain on option
exercise
  Date option exercised  
Samir Brikho   October 2011   Sharesave   1,335   0   £6.74   £3,137   9 March 2015  
    April 2012   PSP   37,015   7,404   Nil   £270,950   5 October 2015  
Ian McHoul   April 2012   PSP   20,575   9,671   Nil   £150,609   5 October 2015  
Total                       £424,696      

 

No other directors exercised options during the 2015 financial year.

 

On 5 January 2016 Messrs Connolly and McHoul acquired 2,911 and 57 shares respectively and on 11 January 2016 Mr Day acquired 752 shares; all of these were in lieu of the interim dividend paid on 5 January 2016.

 

There were no other changes in the directors’ interests in the share capital of the Company between 31 December 2015 and 8 March 2016 (or 31 January 2016, in the case of Mr Brikho). As at 8 March 2016, the shareholdings of each of the directors was less than 1% of the total shares outstanding. No director has used any of their shareholdings in hedging arrangements or as collateral for loans.

 

Guidelines are in place requiring executive directors and members of the Group Leadership Team to build up and retain a holding of Amec Foster Wheeler shares received from incentive plans or purchased by them. The level of targeted shareholding is 250% of salary for executive directors and 125% for other senior executives.

 

Based on the average share price and salaries during December 2015, the legally-owned shares shown above represented the following percentages of base salary which were both in excess of the shareholding requirement:

 

Samir Brikho 855%
Ian McHoul 256%

 

There is no shareholding requirement for the Chairman or non-executive directors.

 

72 Amec Foster Wheeler
Annual report and accounts 2015
 

Annual report on remuneration continued

 

Total shareholder return

This graph compares the TSR performance of Amec Foster Wheeler plc, assuming dividends are re-invested, with the TSR performance of the FTSE 100 over the period 31 December 2008 to 31 December 2015.

 

 

Chief Executive’s pay in the last seven years

    2009   2010   2011   2012   2013   2014   2015  
Single total figure of remuneration £’000   4,103   9,295   4,590   3,092   2,370   1,837   1,265  
Bonus awarded as % of maximum   58%   97%   64%   57%   52%   41%   0%  
LTIP vesting as % of maximum   100%   80%   71%   50%   19%   0%   0%  

 

Percentage change in Chief Executive’s remuneration

The table below shows how the percentage change between 2014 and 2015 in the Chief Executive’s salary, benefits and bonus compares with the percentage change in the average of each of those elements of pay for a comparator group of employees. The committee has selected employees in the UK as the comparator group as they have broadly the same structure of remuneration and to eliminate the impact of exchange rate movements if employees in other countries were included.

 

            Salary             Taxable benefits             Bonus  
    2015   2014   % change     2015   2014   % change     2015   2014   % change  
Chief Executive   954   954   0%     48   48   0%     0   594   -100%  
UK staff           +13%             +11%             +4%  

 

The taxable benefit figures for the Chief Executive have been adjusted compared to those shown in the single figure of remuneration table to correct for the period to which payments actually relate. The year-on-year change for UK staff taxable benefits is based on data for tax years ending in 2015 and 2014 averaged over the number of employees in receipt of those benefits. The year-on-year changes for UK staff salary and bonus are based on the aggregate amounts paid in each year divided by the average number of employees in that year. 2014 figures do not include the former Foster Wheeler employees.


 

Amec Foster Wheeler
Annual report and accounts 2015
73
 

Remuneration continued

Directors’ remuneration report continued

 

Annual report on remuneration continued

 

Relative importance of spending on pay

The table and chart below illustrate the relative importance of spending on pay compared to distributions to shareholders (dividends and share buy-back) and other disbursements from profit or cash flow that are considered by the directors to be the most material expenditures in relation to the Company’s strategy.

 

    2015   2014   2013  
    £’000   £’000   £’000  
Staff costs (see page 118)   2,137   1,642   1,639  
Dividends and share buy-backs   167   124   153  
Acquisitions (see pages 150 to 153)   85   1,983   22  

 

 

Shareholder voting on remuneration policy and report at last AGM

At the annual general meeting held on 14 April 2015 votes were cast as follows:

 

Resolution   Shares for (including
discretionary)
  % in favour   Shares against   % against   Shares withheld  
To approve the remuneration report   255,630,210   99.56   1,119,538   0.44   1,801,294  
To approve the remuneration policy   253,956,672   98.90   2,824,184   1.10   1,770,186  
To approve the Long-Term Incentive Plan   230,053,912   89.05   28,275,209   10.95   221,920  

 

The committee do not consider that the votes against any resolution were substantial requiring any specific explanation or action in response.

 

74 Amec Foster Wheeler
Annual report and accounts 2015
 

Remuneration policy

 

Introduction

The following sets out the policy that was approved by shareholders at the 2015 AGM.

 

Remuneration policy table

This table sets out the components of the directors’ remuneration package (except on recruitments or promotions which are described separately). It is also part of this policy that we will honour payments or awards crystallising after the effective date of this policy (14 May 2015) but arising from commitments entered into prior to that date or at a time when the relevant individual was not a director of the Company.

 

Executive directors

Component and how this
supports strategy
  How this operates   Maximum
Salary
Enables the business to attract and retain individuals with the personal attributes, skills and experience required to deliver our strategy. This also applies to the other elements of fixed remuneration below (pension and other benefits).
  Reviewed annually from 1 January. Interim reviews only in case of significant changes of responsibility.   Salary increases for executive directors will not normally exceed the average increase awarded to other employees based in the same country. Increases may be above this level if there is an increase in the scale, scope, complexity or responsibility of the role or to allow the base salary of newly appointed executives to move towards market norms as their experience and contribution increase.
Pension and related benefits  

Normally through a fixed allowance, some or all of which can be paid in the form of a company contribution to a defined contribution pension plan with any balance paid as a cash supplement. Where the plan permits, individuals may also sacrifice on a like-for-like basis part of base salary in return for an enhanced company contribution. Pension plan membership is available on the same basis as for senior employees generally in the country in which the individual is based and there are no special arrangements for directors.

 

Life assurance is also provided.

  To allow for the fluctuating value of defined benefit pension accrual and cost of life assurance, the aggregate value of those arrangements, company contribution to a defined contribution arrangement and cash supplement will not exceed 50% of annual salary.
Other benefits  

Standard benefits typically include disability and healthcare insurance (including cover for eligible dependants), car/travel allowance, working lunches and tax return preparation assistance.

 

Additional benefits may be paid where an individual is required by the Company to relocate. This can include temporary housing prior to full relocation and a one-off payment to cover specific costs of moving home or an allowance of an equivalent amount paid for a fixed number of years.

 

Where individuals are required to work in another country on a temporary basis, housing, travel, tax equalisation and cost of living adjustments may also be paid in line with the Company’s normal policy for employees generally.

 

Other benefits may be provided from time to time where the committee feels it appropriate and in line with market practice to do so in the country in which the director is based.

 

The Company may from time to time operate other arrangements that are open to employees in a particular country (for example relating to savings, discounted purchase, salary sacrifice, holiday buy and sell, service recognition awards) that executive directors may participate in on the same basis as other employees in the country in which they are based.

  The actual value of these benefits will vary from time to time depending, among other things, on the cost of insuring them. The intention is that the aggregate cost would be in line with market practice and will not exceed 100% of annual salary where there is a relocation/ expatriate element and 20% of annual salary otherwise.


 

Amec Foster Wheeler
Annual report and accounts 2015
75
 

Remuneration continued

Directors’ remuneration report continued

 

Remuneration policy continued

 

Component and how this
supports strategy
  How this operates   Maximum
Annual bonus
Rewards the achievement of annual financial and delivery of other strategic business targets.
 

Calculated by reference to a mix of financial and other strategic objectives set by the remuneration committee that vary from year to year and may vary between individuals to reflect the business priorities associated with each role. Profit-based measures will have a weighting of not less than 50%. The committee will determine for each year threshold and target levels of bonus that will be payable for meeting predefined performance levels against the objectives set for the year. Target bonus will not exceed two-thirds of maximum.

 

25% of any bonus earned is paid in the form of Amec Foster Wheeler shares deferred for three years during which it is subject to claw-back in the event that the accounts for the year for which the shares were earned are required to be restated for a correction of a prior period error or, at the committee’s discretion, for personal misconduct.

 

The balance of the bonus is normally paid as a cash allowance following the end of the year to which the payment relates. However, to facilitate higher levels of executive share ownership, the bonus may, at the director’s option and subject to the committee’s agreement, be in the form of nil-cost options over company shares of equivalent value instead of cash payment. The vesting is deferred for three months during which it is forfeit if the individual is a bad leaver. Such options have a six-month exercise window.

 

The committee has discretion to amend performance measures and targets or adjust bonus pay-outs to take account of exceptional items, unbudgeted acquisitions or disposals, and other aspects of performance which have not been specifically identified in the targets.

  The maximum opportunity is 150% of annual salary for the Chief Executive and 125% for other executive directors.
Long-Term Incentive Plan
Incentivises directors to achieve long-term value creation and alignment with long-term returns to shareholders.
 

Annual awards of conditional awards or nil-cost options (with an 18-month exercise period after vesting). Following vesting and, where relevant, exercise all shares (net of tax) will be held in trust for two years from the original vesting date. During this period shares will not normally be able to be transferred and may be subject to claw-back in the event that the accounts for any year over which the shares were earned are required to be restated for correction of a prior period error. There is further provision to reduce leaver awards retrospectively on an individual basis as set out below.

 

Awards are subject to EPS growth and relative TSR measured over a three-year period with equal weighting on each measure and any additional strategic measures that the committee may consider appropriate for any particular set of awards. Additionally, awards are subject to a provision that allows the committee to reduce vesting in the event of a materially adverse misstatement of results for any year of the performance period, to correct errors or for personal misconduct. The number of shares vesting from these awards is increased to take account of reinvested dividends.

 

The committee will determine the applicable EPS range for each set of awards, with 25% of the relevant portion of the awards vesting if the bottom of the range is achieved and 100% if the top is achieved, with straight-line vesting between. EPS is adjusted for certain defined items and calculated on a consistent basis between base and final years.

 

The committee will determine the TSR comparator group for each set of awards with 25% of the relevant portion of the awards vesting if Amec Foster Wheeler’s ranking is at median and 100% if it is at upper quartile, with straight-line vesting between. The committee, at its discretion, may reduce or eliminate the portion of the LTIP determined by reference to relative TSR if it is not satisfied with the underlying financial performance of the business during the performance period.

 

The committee may amend the performance conditions if an event happens which the committee considers to be of a genuine, exceptional nature so that amended performance condition(s) would be a fairer measure of performance and would be materially neither easier nor more difficult to satisfy.

 

In the event of a change of control and in the absence of an exchange of awards being agreed, awards will normally vest to the extent that the performance conditions have been met at that time. The committee has discretion to measure performance based solely against one of the performance conditions.

  Award of shares with a face value at the time of award of up to 250% of annual salary (ignoring dividend equivalents).
Sharesave
Provides alignment with shareholders’ interests.
 

Sharesave is an employee share plan under which discounted options over Amec Foster Wheeler shares are granted linked to a savings arrangement with the options becoming exercisable at the end of the savings period. The exercise price can be up to a 20% discount to the share price at the time of offer and the number of shares is that which can be bought at the exercise price with the expected proceeds of the savings contract. Executive directors are eligible to participate in this plan on the same basis as other employees in the country in which they are located. Invitations to participate may be made annually.

 

Sharesave is not subject to performance conditions as the terms of the plan are subject to tax legislation in the UK and certain other countries including the US that preclude this.

 

Sharesave options become exercisable, to the extent of savings made, in the event of a change of control.

  The maximum monthly savings level under any concurrent Sharesave plans is in line with the limit set by the UK government from time to time for such plans (currently £500 per month or the equivalent in other currencies).

 

76 Amec Foster Wheeler
Annual report and accounts 2015
 

Remuneration policy continued

 

Chairman and non-executive directors

Note: The remuneration of non-executive directors is set by the Chairman and Chief Executive under delegated authority from the board rather than by the remuneration committee.

 

Component and how this
supports strategy
  How this operates   Maximum
Fees
To attract and retain individuals with the personal attributes, skills and experience required to determine strategy and governance, to apply executive oversight and to represent shareholders’ interests.
 

Non-executive directors receive only fees for their services and do not participate in any of the incentive or benefit schemes of the group. Fee structure comprises a base fee and additional fees to reflect time commitment and responsibility of specific roles (for example, SID and committee chair). Additional fees may also be paid to directors not resident in the UK to recognise the additional travelling time in attending meetings.

 

The Chairman, whilst a non-executive director, will not participate in any of the incentive or benefit schemes of the group.

 

Directors (including the Chairman) are reimbursed for expenses relating to performing their duties and any tax thereon.

 

 

Increases in the Chairman’s fee will not normally exceed the average increase awarded to executive directors.

 

The company’s articles currently set an aggregate limit of £600,000 for base fees for non-executive directors. Total fees will not exceed market norms.

 

Selection of performance targets

Financial performance targets under the annual bonus plan are set so that the target level of bonus is paid normally for achieving the Company’s short-range plan. To achieve maximum bonus, higher targets have to be met. In determining targets, the committee takes account of the general business circumstances including the perceived difficulty inherent in the short-range plan and the need to balance stretch against risk. Profit is chosen as the most appropriate measure of the Company’s short-term performance and the cash measures are chosen to reflect the conversion of profit to cash across the year. Strategic targets are set to reflect other key business objectives during the year.

 

EPS targets under the Long-Term Incentive Plan are set to reflect the Company’s longer-term growth objectives at a level where the maximum represents genuine outperformance against expectations. EPS is chosen as the most appropriate measure of absolute growth in line with the Company’s strategy. TSR is chosen to measure relative long-term performance against a peer group comprising UK and international companies against which Amec Foster Wheeler competes directly. Other strategic targets may be set to reflect other key business objectives during the particular three-year cycle.


 

Amec Foster Wheeler
Annual report and accounts 2015
77
 

Remuneration continued

Directors’ remuneration report continued

 

Remuneration policy continued

 

Recruitment pay policy

Item   External hire   Internal promotion to the board
Base salary   Take account of current terms and any premium required to secure high-calibre appointment.   Take account of current terms, relativities with other board members and whether any previous plc board experience. If initial salary is below market benchmark for role, would expect to move progressively to that level over next 24 months based on performance in role.
Pension and related benefits   Existing arrangements may be continued, otherwise in line with standard policy.   Existing arrangements may be continued, otherwise in line with standard policy.
Other benefits   Normally in line with standard policy but may include special transitional arrangements eg overseas hire where dependants remain outside the UK.   Existing arrangements may be continued, otherwise in line with standard policy.
Annual bonus  

Inclusion in annual bonus for year of hire based on pro-rated salary.

 

Maximum opportunity (as a percentage of salary) no greater than that for Chief Executive.

 

 

Where relevant, increase existing bonus opportunity to level applicable to new role and apply pro-rata from date of promotion including any amendment to performance measures.

 

Maximum opportunity (as a percentage of salary) no greater than that for Chief Executive.

Long-Term Incentive plan  

Inclusion in LTIP for year of hire subject to same performance conditions as others but with three-year vesting period running from date of joining.

 

Maximum opportunity in line with standard policy.

  Maximum opportunity in line with standard policy allowing for an additional award to be made in year of appointment to reflect the timing of the appointment and the extent of other enhancements to remuneration terms. Previous awards will continue on their original terms.
Sharesave   Inclusion in next offer subject to meeting any qualifying period of service that applies for new employees generally.   Inclusion in next offer subject to any restrictions as a result of savings limits.
Notice periods   Where it is necessary to secure the services of a particular individual, the remuneration committee has discretion to agree initial notice periods of not more than 24 months reducing to normal policy level over a period not more than 12 months.   Apply standard policy immediately including, if relevant, reducing any more favourable existing terms.
One-off arrangements  

Where individuals forfeit bonus or long-term incentive payments from their former employer as a result of resigning to join Amec Foster Wheeler, then the committee has the discretion to make additional one-off awards in the form of cash and/or shares and subject to performance and/or other conditions, including holding periods, as appropriate. The maximum amounts to be awarded would be based on an estimate of actual loss discounted for any accelerated payment and the extent to which the loss is otherwise compensated for by the new terms overall.

 

Individuals may be compensated for actual expenses, including temporary accommodation, in the event that they are required to relocate to take up the new role. Alternatively a temporary cash allowance may be paid for a limited period of time which equates to the estimated relocation cost that would otherwise have been reimbursed. These amounts will include any grossing-up for tax.

  Individuals may be compensated for actual expenses, including temporary accommodation, in the event that they are required to relocate to take up the new role. Alternatively a temporary cash allowance may be paid for a limited period of time which equates to the estimated relocation cost that would otherwise have been reimbursed. These amounts will include any grossing-up for tax.

 

78 Amec Foster Wheeler
Annual report and accounts 2015
 

Remuneration policy continued

 

Policy on notice and payment for loss of office

Newly appointed executive directors will be employed on contracts that include the following provisions:

 

the individual will be required to give six months’ notice if they wish to leave and the Company will give up to 12 months’ notice of termination other than for gross misconduct or other circumstances where employment may be terminated without notice
   
at the Company’s discretion, the individual may be placed on garden leave for some or all of the period between the giving of notice and termination in which case the Company will continue to pay salary and benefits for the garden leave period but will not make new share or other incentive awards
   
at any time, at the Company’s discretion, employment may be terminated before the end of the required notice period by making a payment in lieu of the balance and subject to mitigation as described more fully in the table below

 

In the event of long-term incapacity, employment would not normally be terminated so long as the executive was entitled to payments under the Company’s group income protection insurance arrangements but the executive would be required to stand down from their role and as a director.

 

Payment for loss of office will be determined according to the following principles set out below and, for the current executive directors, having regard to their existing contractual terms as described following the table.

 

Notice The executive will receive base salary, pension and other benefits for any part of the notice period worked (and any period of garden leave). On termination, the executive will be entitled to payment for any accrued but untaken holiday pay.
  The Company may elect to pay a sum in lieu of notice for all or any part of the notice period, calculated by reference to the value of salary, pension and other contractual benefits (excluding bonus). In determining the payments to be made and the structure of such payments, the Company will have regard to the executive’s ability to mitigate their loss. In respect of any defined benefit pension rights, an augmentation of benefits for the relevant part of the notice period may be made. The committee has discretion to continue to provide certain benefits to the end of the notice period rather than including them in the payment in lieu.
  Where the employment is being terminated by the Company for gross misconduct (or other circumstances entitling the Company to treat the contract as at an immediate end) termination will be immediate and no payment in lieu of notice will be made.
Annual bonus No bonus will be paid in the event of termination for gross misconduct.
  In all other circumstances, the committee will consider whether it is appropriate to make a bonus payment for the year in question taking into account all relevant circumstances, including performance and conduct. Payment will usually be determined and paid in cash at the normal time.
Deferred bonus
from prior years
In the event of termination due to misconduct by the individual, the Remuneration Committee may determine that some or all, at its discretion, of the deferred shares will be forfeit.
  In the case of death the shares will be released in full to the estate as soon as practicable thereafter.
  In other circumstances, they will continue to be subject to the deferral period and only released at the end of it providing no further claw-back applies.
Long-Term
Incentive Plan
All unvested awards will lapse on leaving in the event of termination for gross misconduct or other bad leaver circumstances.
An example of a ‘bad leaver’ would be an individual resigning in order to take up a position with a competitor.

Awards will immediately vest in full in the event of death.

In other cases, unvested awards will be pro-rated for service, which may include any period for which payment was made in lieu.
For pre-2015 awards, provided the associated investment shares remain lodged, matched awards will normally be retained in full unless the committee decide to pro-rate for service. A further reduction may be made at the committee’s discretion to take account of relevant circumstances at the time of leaving. The retained awards will vest in the normal way, taking account of the relevant performance conditions, and at the normal time subject to the committee being satisfied at that time that the individual remains a good leaver.
Other Redundancy pay in line with statutory provisions or those applying to employees generally in the country in which the director is based will be provided in the event of termination due to redundancy.

The cost of legal, tax or other advice incurred by the individual in connection with the termination and/or support with seeking alternative employment may be met up to a maximum of £100,000.

Additional payments may be made where required to settle legal disputes or as consideration for new or amended post-employment
restrictions.

Where an individual is in receipt of relocation or expatriation benefits, the costs of actual expenses incurred in relation to any arrangements that are subject to term contracts may continue to be reimbursed for up to six months or, at the Company’s discretion, a one-off payment made to cover the costs of premature cancellation. The cost of repatriation will also be covered where this was part of the original expatriation terms.

Sharesave options lapse unless the director leaves because of specified good leaver reasons in which case they can be exercised for a limited period, to the extent of savings made to the date of exercise.


 

Amec Foster Wheeler
Annual report and accounts 2015
79
 

Remuneration continued
Directors’ remuneration report continued

 

Remuneration policy continued

 

Samir Brikho and Ian McHoul are both employed under contracts (dated April 2007 and September 2008 respectively) with notice periods of twelve months from the Company and which require them to give six months’ notice of resignation. The contracts permit for payment to be made in lieu of all or part of the required notice period at the Company’s discretion but there is no prescribed methodology for calculating such payment in lieu or applying mitigation. Should circumstances arise where notice is given and the executive is not required to work all or part of the notice period, the terms of the existing contracts would be honoured. The individuals may be placed on garden leave for part of the notice period in which case the committee may determine that it is appropriate to pay an element of bonus for that garden leave period.

 

Existing directors’ service contracts

The notice provisions for Samir Brikho and Ian McHoul are described above. There are no specified change-of-control provisions.

 

The Chairman’s engagement may be terminated on six months’ notice on either side.

 

The contracts of non-executive directors may be terminated by the individual at any time. There are no specific provisions for compensation in the event of early termination by the Company. Our practice is that all directors submit themselves for re-election on an annual basis, in line with the recommendations in the UK Corporate Governance Code.

 

Consideration of conditions elsewhere in company and shareholder views

Our approach to the annual review of base salaries is to take account of personal performance, company performance, and pay levels more broadly within the Company. External benchmarking is also taken into account, particularly for new appointments.

 

Any proposals to change remuneration policy are considered against the ‘best practice’ guidelines produced by shareholder bodies and major shareholders are consulted directly when formulating any proposals for significant changes.

 

The Chairman of the Company and the chairman of the remuneration committee make themselves available at any time and also at each annual general meeting to discuss any issues raised.

 

Differences in policy for directors compared to other employees

The structure of remuneration for executive directors is in line with other senior management. The primary differences compared to other employees are the structure of variable pay, which for senior management is in the form of performance-related incentives and for other employees is largely in the form of overtime and allowances reflecting the different emphases of the roles, and in the level of accrual under defined benefit arrangements.

 

Illustrations of application of policy

The total remuneration for each of the executive directors that could result from the proposed remuneration policy in 2015 under three different performance levels is shown below.

 

 

 

Notes

Fixed pay is base salary for 2015 plus the value of pension and benefits. The value of pension and benefits in kind is taken from the single total figure of remuneration for 2015.
   
On target performance is the level of performance required to deliver 66.67% of the maximum annual bonus and 50% of the full LTIP award.
   
3 Maximum performance would result in the maximum bonus and 100% vesting of LTIP award.
   
LTIP values ignore any change in share price or dividend equivalents.
   
80 Amec Foster Wheeler
Annual report and accounts 2015
 

Engagement
Relations with shareholders

 

The executive directors undertake an extensive programme of meetings with institutional shareholders during each year. Our results presentations and investor education events are recorded and remain available on our website at amecfw.com/ investors for those unable to participate on the day.

 

Each year, the Chairman and Senior Independent Director offer to meet with all major shareholders. Since the publication of the previous annual report, 15 such meetings have taken place.

 

The Chairman attends full-year results presentations.

 

Ad-hoc requests from shareholders for meetings with members of the board are facilitated by the investor relations team.

 

The board also receives unedited feedback reports following shareholder meetings and all material brokers’ research notes, together with a report at each meeting including benchmark data within our peer group.

 

During 2015 we appointed Quantifire, an independent service provider, to update our shareholder contact base and provide us with regular feedback from our investor engagement activities. This information is used to help target potential new shareholders and improve the efficiency and quality of our investor communications.

 

Our 2016 AGM will be held at Painter’s Hall, 9 Little Trinity Lane, London, EC4V 2AD on 27 April 2016 at 11:00am. The notice of meeting, which includes explanatory notes on the business to be transacted at the meeting, accompanies this report and is also available on our website.

 

Separate resolutions will be proposed at the AGM to receive the annual report and accounts; to declare a final dividend; to approve the remuneration report, to re-elect each of the current directors who will retire in accordance with the provisions of the Code; to elect Roy Franklin as a director; to re-elect Ernst & Young LLP as auditor; and to authorise the directors to fix the auditor’s remuneration.

 

Shareholders will also be asked to renew both the general authority of the directors to allot shares in the company and to allot such shares without the application of statutory pre-emption rights. In addition, shareholders will be requested to authorise the company to make market purchases of its own shares within prescribed limits and approve the resolution, to be repeated at each AGM going forward, to authorise the calling of general meetings, other than annual general meetings, on 14 clear days’ notice.

The board views the AGM as an opportunity to directly communicate the group’s progress and engage with shareholders. Where possible, the entire board will attend the AGM and will be available to answer questions from those shareholders present. The board encourages all shareholders to attend and participate where possible.

 

At last year’s AGM a number of interesting questions were raised and all of the proposed resolutions passed by way of a poll vote. The percentage of the company’s share capital voted in favour of each resolution ranged from 88.27% to 99.99%.

 

Find out more online

Visit our website at amecfw.com/investors for further information regarding this year’s AGM.


 


 

Amec Foster Wheeler
Annual report and accounts 2015
81
 

Directors’ report

 

 

Our directors present their annual report and the audited accounts of Amec Foster Wheeler plc (the Company) and its subsidiaries (together referred to as the Group) for the year ended 31 December 2015.

 

Achievements in 2015 and priorities for 2016

Disclosures relating to particulars of important events affecting the Group that have occurred since the last financial year, an indication of likely future developments in the business of the Group and research and development activities can be found in the strategic report on pages 1 to 37.

 

Dividends

The directors are recommending a final ordinary dividend in respect of the year ended 31 December 2015 of 14.2 pence per share. This final dividend will be payable on 4 July 2016 to shareholders on the register at the close of business on 27 May 2016. An interim dividend for the year ended 31 December 2015 of 14.8 pence per share was paid on 4 January 2016. Further information on the payment of dividends to shareholders and the holders of American Depositary Shares (ADSs) can be found on pages 180 to 181.

 

Dividends paid during 2015 comprised an interim dividend of 14.8 pence per share and a final dividend of 28.5 pence per share, both in respect of the year ended 31 December 2014.

 

Changes to the board of directors

Details of the directors of the company as at the date of this report, together with brief biographical details and board committee memberships, are set out on pages 41 to 43.

 

Changes to the board since 1 January 2015:

Samir Brikho   Chief Executive
Officer
  Stepped down
as Chief Executive
17 January 2016
Roy Franklin    Non-executive director   Appointed 1 January 2016
Simon Thompson    Non-executive director   Retired 14 May 2015
Kent Masters    Non-executive director   Appointed 13 February 2015

 

Effective immediately upon Mr Brikho’s departure, Mr McHoul was appointed to the role of interim CEO, which he has agreed to fulfil alongside his role as Chief Financial Officer until the search for a new Chief Executive is concluded.

Directors’ indemnity arrangements

The Company maintains directors’ and officers’ liability insurance cover. In addition, throughout the financial year and at the date of this report, qualifying third-party indemnity provisions within the meaning of Sections 232–234 of the Companies Act 2006 were in place for all of the directors and the Company Secretary.

 

In addition, certain employees serving as directors of certain eligible subsidiaries at the Group’s request have also received direct qualifying third-party indemnity provisions within the meaning of Sections 232-234 of the Companies Act 2006 in relation to such directorships.

 

Directors’ interests

None of the directors is, or was, materially interested in any contract of significance to Amec Foster Wheeler’s businesses during, or at the end of, the financial year. Details of directors’ share interests and of their rights to subscribe for shares are shown in the remuneration report on page 72.

 

Corporate governance statement

The company’s statement on corporate governance is set out on pages 40 to 84 and is incorporated into this report by reference.

 

Share capital

The primary market for Amec Foster Wheeler’s ordinary shares is the London Stock Exchange, where we have a premium listing and our shares are admitted to the main market. Following the acquisition of Foster Wheeler, the company’s shares were also successfully listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and are traded in the form of American Depositary Shares (ADS). Further information on the company’s ADS programme can be found on pages 181 to 182.

 

The issued share capital of the company as at 31 December 2015 comprised a single class of ordinary share. The rights and obligations attaching to the shares are set out in full in the articles of association of the company and are described on pages 184 to 186. In summary, each share carries the right to one vote at general meetings of the company and no right to a fixed income. There are no restrictions on voting rights.

 

Pursuant to the Squeeze-Out Merger initiated on 8 December 2014, 4,255,970 shares were issued to Foster Wheeler shareholders on 19 January 2015, to acquire the remaining issued and to be issued Foster Wheeler voting rights. Details of movements in the company’s issued share capital during the year are set out in note 22 on pages 146 to 148.

 

Authority was granted to the directors at the 2015 AGM to allot shares or grant rights to subscribe for or to convert any security to shares up to a nominal amount of £64,158,715 (Section 551 amount) of which up to £9,721,017 could be allotted for cash other than in connection with a pre-emptive offer (Section 561 amount).


 

82 Amec Foster Wheeler
Annual report and accounts 2015
 

Resolutions will be proposed at the forthcoming AGM to extend this authority to the end of the AGM in 2017 or 1 June 2017, whichever is earlier. The revised Section 551 amount will be £64,345,628 and the revised Section 561 amount will be £19,498,675. The directors have no present intention of issuing any shares other than in respect of the exercise of share options. No issue will be made that will effectively alter the control of the company without the prior approval of shareholders at a General Meeting.

 

Since the completion of the £400m share buy-back programme in February 2013, the company has not made any purchases of its shares in the market. At the 2015 AGM, authority was granted to the directors to make market purchases of up to 38,884,069 of the company’s shares. A resolution will be proposed at the 2016 AGM to extend the authority of the directors to make market purchases of up to 10% of the company’s shares within prescribed limits.

 

For further information on the above resolutions relating to the company’s share capital, please refer to the notice of annual general meeting 2016, which includes explanatory notes on the business to be transacted at the meeting.

 

Major interests in shares

On the basis of notifications received under the Disclosure and Transparency Rules (DTR 5) and other notifications received by Amec Foster Wheeler plc from shareholders, shareholdings of 3% or more of the voting rights of the company as at 31 December 2015 were as follows:

 

  Number %
BlackRock, Inc 21,904,416 5.63
Mondrian Investment Partners Limited 20,253,855 5.28
Franklin Templeton Institutional, LLC 19,712,142 5.05

 

The shareholding percentages reflect the company’s issued share capital at the time of the notification. There were no other notifications received under DTR 5 from the above shareholders between 31 December 2015 and 8 March 2016.

 

There are no shareholdings that carry special rights relating to control of the company.

 

Financial instruments

Disclosures relating to the group’s use of financial instruments can be found in note 19 on pages 136 to 141 and are incorporated into this report by reference.

 

Branches

As a global group, our interests and activities are held or operated through subsidiaries, branches, joint arrangements or associates established in, and subject to the laws and regulations of, numerous different jurisdictions.

 

Details of the company’s related undertakings can be found on pages 194 to 201.

Significant arrangements – change of control

The following significant agreements contain provisions entitling the counterparties to exercise termination or other rights in the event of a change of control of the company:

 

Under the £1,700m three- and five-year term loan and five year multi-currency revolving credit facility agreement dated 1 March 2016 between, amongst others, the company and Bank of America Merrill Lynch International Limited (as facility agent), the company must promptly notify the facility agent if it becomes aware of any change of control.

 

Following such notice the lenders under the relevant agreement are required to negotiate with the company for a period of 30 days with a view to agreeing terms and conditions acceptable to the company and all the relevant lenders for continuing the relevant facilities. If agreement is not reached by the relevant parties before the end of the 30-day period, if a lender so requires, the relevant facility agent must, by notice of not less than 30 days to the company, cancel the commitments of that lender under the relevant agreement and declare the participations of that lender in all outstanding loans under that agreement together with accrued interest and all other amounts accrued under that agreement to be immediately due and payable. If the company is subject to a change of control by one or more persons who are listed as having been the subject of a sanctions designation, then the banks do not need to fund any new debt drawdowns and their commitments can be cancelled within a 14 day period.

 

The service contracts of a small number of senior executives previously employed by Foster Wheeler provide for enhanced severance payments to be made in the event that their employment is terminated involuntarily and not for cause within the first two years of the acquisition . These provisions will cease to apply from November 2016.

 

Depending on the nature of the transaction, entitlements under the company’s share plans may be triggered by a change of control. Further detail can be found in the directors’ remuneration report.

 

In addition, a small number of contracts and agreements entered into by group companies in the ordinary course of business contain provisions under which the approval of the counterparty would be required in respect of a change of control. In the absence of such approval the contracts could be terminated by the counterparties. Such contracts are however not considered to be material with respect to the results of the group as a whole.

 

A change of control occurs if any person or group of persons acting in concert gains control of the company.


 


 

Amec Foster Wheeler
Annual report and accounts 2015
83
 

Directors’ report continued

 

Employees

Our employees embody our knowledge, brand and reputation and it is through their activities, day by day, that we deliver on our business objectives and commitments to shareholders, clients and the wider community. Information on employee development and training; how we engage with our employees to ensure they understand the direction in which the company is going and are committed to Amec Foster Wheeler’s values; the actions taken to share knowledge with our employees and keep them informed of developments; how we assess and act on employee opinion and encourage involvement in the company’s performance; and our commitment to cultural diversity and equal opportunities can be found on page 14 and is incorporated in this report by reference. As can be seen in our Code of Business Conduct, Amec Foster Wheeler is committed to providing a workplace which offers equal opportunity for promotion and advancement. As part of the integration of the two AMEC and Foster Wheeler businesses, a revised Code of Business Conduct was implemented during the year that meets the needs of the wider Group.

 

As part of the company’s equal opportunities policy, procedures are in place that are designed to provide for full and fair consideration and selection of disabled applicants, to ensure they are properly trained to perform safely and effectively and to provide career opportunities that allow them to fulfil their potential. Where an employee becomes disabled in the course of their employment, Amec Foster Wheeler will actively seek to retain them wherever possible by making adjustments to their work content and environment or by retraining them to undertake new roles.

 

Sustainability

Summary details about our commitment to sustainability and its importance to our day-to-day activities are set out specifically on page 22 and in general throughout our strategic report. Further detail is available in our sustainability report and on our website.

 

Greenhouse gas emissions

Disclosures relating to the group’s greenhouse gas emissions, as required to be disclosed under the Companies Act 2006 (strategic report and directors’ report) Regulations 2013, can be found in the strategic report on page 22.

 

Political donations

During 2015, Amec Foster Wheeler made no political donations in the UK or European Union, including donations as defined for the purposes of the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000. Amec Foster Wheeler Americas Limited, a subsidiary of the company in Canada, made contributions to non-EU political parties in Canada totalling C$1,950 (£995).

Going concern

The directors, having made enquiries, consider that the group has adequate resources to operate for the foreseeable future and, therefore, it is appropriate to continue to adopt the going concern basis in preparing the accounts. Further details of this review can be found on page 37.

 

Viability statement

In accordance with the new requirement in the 2014 UK Corporate Governance Code, the directors’ first viability statement and accompanying basis of assessment can be found on page 21.

 

Auditor

A resolution will be proposed at the AGM for the re-appointment of Ernst & Young LLP as auditor of the company.

 

Disclosure of information to auditor

The directors who held office at the date of approval of this directors’ report confirm that, so far as they are each aware, there is no relevant audit information of which the company’s auditor is unaware; and the directors have taken all the steps that they ought to have taken as directors to make themselves aware of any relevant audit information and to establish that the company’s auditor is aware of that information.

 

The above statement is made in accordance with Section 418 of the Companies Act 2006.

 

Responsibility statements

The statement of directors’ responsibilities, including the fair, balanced and understandable statement, in respect of the annual report and accounts can be found on page 85. The statement by the Company’s auditor relating to their reporting responsibilities can be found on pages 92 and 93.

 

On behalf of the board

 

 

Alison Yapp

General Counsel and Company Secretary

10 March 2016


 

84 Amec Foster Wheeler
Annual report and accounts 2015
 

Responsibility statements of the directors

 

Statement of directors’ responsibilities in respect of the annual report and the accounts

The directors are responsible for preparing the annual report and the consolidated and parent company accounts, in accordance with applicable law and regulations.

 

Company law requires the directors to prepare consolidated and parent company accounts for each financial year. Under that law the directors are required to prepare the consolidated accounts in accordance with IFRS as adopted by the EU and applicable law and have elected to prepare the parent company accounts in accordance with UK Accounting Standards and applicable law (UK Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).

 

Under Company law the directors must not approve the consolidated and parent company accounts unless they are satisfied that they give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the group and parent company and of their profit or loss for that period.

 

In preparing each of the consolidated and parent company accounts, the directors are required to:

 

select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently
   
make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent
   
for the consolidated accounts, state whether they have been prepared in accordance with IFRS as adopted by the EU
   
for the parent company accounts, state whether applicable UK Accounting Standards have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the parent company accounts
   
prepare the consolidated and parent company accounts on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the consolidated and the parent company will continue in business

 

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

 

Under applicable law and regulations, the directors are also responsible for preparing a strategic report, directors’ report, directors’ remuneration report and corporate governance statement that comply with that law and those regulations.

 

The directors are responsible for the maintenance and integrity of the corporate and financial information included on the company’s website. Legislation in the UK governing the preparation and dissemination of consolidated and parent company accounts may differ from legislation in other jurisdictions.

Responsibility statement of the directors in respect of the annual financial report

We confirm that to the best of our knowledge:

 

the accounts, prepared in accordance with the applicable set of accounting standards, give a true and fair view of the assets, liabilities, financial position and profit or loss of the company and the undertakings included in the consolidation taken as a whole
   
the strategic report and directors’ report includes a fair review of the development and performance of the business and the position of the issuer and undertakings included in the consolidation taken as a whole, together with a description of the principal risks and uncertainties that they face

 

In addition, we confirm that the annual report and accounts, taken as a whole, is fair, balanced and understandable and provides the information necessary for shareholders to assess the position and performance, strategy and business model of the company.

 

Signed on behalf of the board

 

 

Ian McHoul

Chief Financial Officer and interim CEO

10 March 2016


 


 

Amec Foster Wheeler
Annual report and accounts 2015
85
 

This page intentionally left blank.

 

86 Amec Foster Wheeler
Annual report and accounts 2015
 

This page intentionally left blank.

 


 

Amec Foster Wheeler
Annual report and accounts 2015
87  
 

This page intentionally left blank.

 

88 Amec Foster Wheeler
Annual report and accounts 2015
 

This page intentionally left blank.

 


 

Amec Foster Wheeler
Annual report and accounts 2015
89  
 

This page intentionally left blank.

 

90 Amec Foster Wheeler
Annual report and accounts 2015
 

This page intentionally left blank.

 


 

Amec Foster Wheeler
Annual report and accounts 2015
91  
 

This page intentionally left blank.

 

92 Amec Foster Wheeler
Annual report and accounts 2015
 

This page intentionally left blank.

 


 

Amec Foster Wheeler
Annual report and accounts 2015
93  
 

Report of independent registered public accounting firm
on internal control over financial reporting

 

The Board of Directors and Shareholders of Amec Foster Wheeler plc

We have audited Amec Foster Wheeler plc’s internal control over financial reporting as of 31 December 2015, based on criteria established in Internal Control—Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organisations of the Treadway Commission 2013 framework (the COSO criteria). Amec Foster Wheeler plc’s management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting, and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting included in the accompanying Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our audit.

 

We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. Our audit included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk, and performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

 

A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorisations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorised acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.

 

Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

 

In our opinion, Amec Foster Wheeler plc maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of 31 December 2015, based on the COSO criteria.

 

We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the consolidated balance sheets of Amec Foster Wheeler as of 31 December 2015 and 2014, and the related consolidated income statement, statement of comprehensive income, changes in equity and cash flow statement for each of the three years in the period ended 31 December 2015 of Amec Foster Wheeler plc and our report dated 10 March 2016, expressed an unqualified opinion thereon.

 

/s/ Ernst & Young LLP

London, England

 

10 March 2016

 

94 Amec Foster Wheeler
Annual report and accounts 2015
 

Report of independent registered public accounting firm

 

The Board of Directors and Shareholders of Amec Foster Wheeler plc

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Amec Foster Wheeler plc as of December 31, 2015 and 2014, and the related consolidated income statement, statements of comprehensive income, change in equity and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2015. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits.

 

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial   statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

 

In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the consolidated financial position of Amec Foster Wheeler at December 31, 2015 and 2014, and the consolidated results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2015, in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards as adopted by the European Union and International Financial Reporting Standards as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board.

 

We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), Amec Foster Wheeler plc’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2015, based on criteria established in Internal Control-Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organisations of the Treadway Commission (2013 framework) and our report dated 10 March 2016, expressed an unqualified opinion thereon.

 

/s/ Ernst & Young LLP

London, England

 

10 March 2016

   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

Notes

1 The maintenance and integrity of the Amec Foster Wheeler plc web site is the responsibility of the directors; the work carried out by the auditors does not involve consideration of these matters and, accordingly, the auditors accept no responsibility for any changes that may have occurred to the financial statements since they were initially presented on the web site.
   
2 Legislation in the United Kingdom governing the preparation and dissemination of financial statements may differ from legislation in other jurisdictions.
   

 


 

Amec Foster Wheeler
Annual report and accounts 2015
95  
 

Consolidated income statement
For the year ended 31 December 2015

 

     2015    2014    2013 
  Note  Before
amortisation,
exceptional
items and
asbestos
related items
£m
  Amortisation,
exceptional
items and
asbestos
related items
(note 5)
£m
  Total
£m
  Before
amortisation,
exceptional
items and
asbestos
related items
£m
  Amortisation,
exceptional
items and
asbestos
related items
(note 5)
£m
  Total
£m
  Before
amortisation
and
exceptional
items
£m
  Amortisation
and
exceptional
items
(note 5)
£m
  Total
£m
 
Continuing operations                                        
Revenue  2, 3   5,455      5,455   3,993      3,993   3,974      3,974 
Cost of sales      (4,787)     (4,787)  (3,475)     (3,475)  (3,431)     (3,431)
Gross profit      668      668   518      518   543      543 
Administrative expenses      (334)  (538)  (872)  (219)  (135)  (354)  (228)  (65)  (293)
Loss on business disposals and closures         (1)  (1)     (16)  (16)     (7)  (7)
Profit/(loss) before net financing expense  4   334   (539)  (205)  299   (151)  148   315   (72)  243 
Financial income      16      16   11      11   12      12 
Financial expense      (54)  (20)  (74)  (11)  (5)  (16)  (14)     (14)
Net financing expense  7   (38)  (20)  (58)     (5)  (5)  (2)     (2)
Share of post-tax results of joint ventures  2, 13   28      28   12      12   14      14 
Profit/(loss) before income tax  2   324   (559)  (235)  311   (156)  155   327   (72)  255 
Income tax  8   (63)  45   (18)  (67)  18   (49)  (67)  (2)  (69)
Profit/(loss) for the year from continuing operations      261   (514)  (253)  244   (138)  106   260   (74)  186 
(Loss)/profit for the year from discontinued operations  9   (5)  1   (4)  (8)  (19)  (27)  (8)     (8)
Profit/(loss) for the year      256   (513)  (257)  236   (157)  79   252   (74)  178 
Attributable to:                                        
Equity holders of the parent              (256)          82           179 
Non-controlling interests              (1)          (3)          (1)
               (257)          79           178 
                                         
Basic (loss)/earnings per share  10                                     
Continuing operations      68.1p      (66.1)p  81.8p      36.1p  89.0p      63.8p
Discontinued operations      (1.3)p      (1.1)p  (2.6)p      (8.9)p  (2.7)p      (2.7)p
       66.8p      (67.2)p  79.2p      27.2p  86.3p      61.1p
Diluted (loss)/earnings per share  10                                     
Continuing operations      67.7p      (66.1)p  79.5p      35.1p  87.2p      62.5p
Discontinued operations      (1.3)p      (1.1)p  (2.5)p      (8.6)p  (2.7)p      (2.7)p
       66.4p      (67.2)p  77.0p      26.5p  84.5p      59.8p

 

96   Amec Foster Wheeler
Annual report and accounts 2015
 

Consolidated statement of comprehensive income
For the year ended 31 December 2015

 

 

  Note  2015
£m
  2014
(restated)
£m
  2013
£m
 
(Loss)/profit for the year      (257)  79   178 
Other comprehensive income                
Items that may be reclassified to profit and loss                
Exchange movements:                
– Exchange movements on translation of foreign subsidiaries      (46)  (4)  (70)
– Net (loss)/gain on hedges of net investment in foreign subsidiaries  19   (3)  (4)  (1)
– Tax on exchange movements            1 
Cash flow hedges:                
– Effective portion of changes in fair value      (2)  (1)  3 
– Tax on effective portion of changes in fair value      2      (1)
– Transferred to the income statement            1 
       (49)  (9)  (67)
Items that will not be reclassified to profit and loss                
Actuarial gains/(losses) on defined benefit pension schemes  14   150   (58)  40 
Tax on actuarial gains/(losses)      (25)  11   (20)
       125   (47)  20 
Other comprehensive income      76   (56)  (47)
Total comprehensive income      (181)  23   131 
                 
Attributable to:                
Equity holders of the parent      (181)  26   133 
Non-controlling interests         (3)  (2)
Total comprehensive income      (181)  23   131 


 

Amec Foster Wheeler
Annual report and accounts 2015
97  
 

Consolidated balance sheet
As at 31 December 2015

 

Registered number 1675285

 

 

  Note  2015
£m
  2014
(restated)
£m
 
ASSETS            
Non-current assets            
Property, plant and equipment  11   127   150 
Intangible assets  12   3,025   3,443 
Interests in joint ventures  13   104   122 
Derivative financial instruments  19   18   2 
Retirement benefit assets  14   231   102 
Other receivables  20   145   167 
Deferred tax assets  15   50   56 
Total non-current assets      3,700   4,042 
Current assets            
Inventories  16   13   14 
Trade and other receivables  17   1,455   1,469 
Derivative financial instruments  19   16   12 
Current tax receivable      25   12 
Bank deposits (more than three months)  23   23   21 
Cash and cash equivalents (excluding bank overdrafts)  23   340   495 
Total current assets      1,872   2,023 
Total assets      5,572   6,065 
LIABILITIES            
Current liabilities            
Interest-bearing loans and borrowings  23   (683)  (710)
Trade and other payables  18   (1,459)  (1,438)
Derivative financial instruments  19   (21)  (14)
Current tax payable      (98)  (130)
Total current liabilities      (2,261)  (2,292)
Non-current liabilities            
Interest-bearing loans and borrowings  23   (640)  (609)
Trade and other payables  20   (121)  (111)
Derivative financial instruments  19   (4)  (5)
Retirement benefit liabilities  14   (168)  (188)
Deferred tax liabilities  15   (106)  (108)
Provisions  21   (664)  (756)
Total non-current liabilities      (1,703)  (1,777)
Total liabilities      (3,964)  (4,069)
Net assets      1,608   1,996 
EQUITY            
Share capital  22   197   194 
Share premium account      133   101 
Merger reserve      540   877 
Hedging and translation reserves      (26)  24 
Capital redemption reserve      34   34 
Retained earnings      721   744 
Total equity attributable to equity holders of the parent      1,599   1,974 
Non-controlling interests      9   22 
Total equity      1,608   1,996 

 

The accounts on pages 96 to 156 were approved by the board of directors on 10 March 2016 and were signed on its behalf by:

 

 

Ian McHoul
Chief Financial Officer and interim CEO

 

98 Amec Foster Wheeler
Annual report and accounts 2015
 

Consolidated statement of changes in equity
For the year ended 31 December 2015

 

 

  Share
capital
£m
  Share
premium
£m
  Merger
reserve
£m
  Hedging
reserve
£m
  Translation
reserve
£m
  Capital
redemption
reserve
£m
  Retained
earnings
£m
  Total
£m
  Non-
controlling
interests
£m
  Total
equity
£m
 
As at 1 January 2015 (restated)  194   101   877      24   34   744   1,974   22   1,996 
Loss for the year                    (256)  (256)  (1)  (257)
Exchange movements on translation of foreign subsidiaries              (47)        (47)  1   (46)
Net loss on hedges of net investment in foreign subsidiaries              (3)        (3)     (3)
Effective portion of changes in fair value of cash flow hedges           (2)           (2)     (2)
Tax on effective portion of changes in fair value on cash flow hedges           2            2      2 
Actuarial gains on defined benefit pension schemes                    150   150      150 
Tax on actuarial gains                    (25)  (25)     (25)
Other comprehensive income for the year              (50)     125   75   1   76 
Total comprehensive income for the year              (50)     (131)  (181)     (181)
Dividends                    (167)  (167)     (167)
Dividends to non-controlling interests                          (4)  (4)
Equity-settled share-based payments                    7   7      7 
Acquisition of shares by trustees of the Employee Share Trust                    (5)  (5)     (5)
Utilisation of treasury shares                    15   15      15 
Acquisition of non-controlling interests                    (79)  (79)  (9)  (88)
Shares issued  3   32                  35      35 
Transfer of impairment losses to merger reserve        (337)           337          
As at 31 December 2015  197   133   540      (26)  34   721   1,599   9   1,608 


 

Amec Foster Wheeler
Annual report and accounts 2015
99  
 

Consolidated statement of changes in equity continued
For the year ended 31 December 2014

 

    Share
capital
£m
    Share
premium
£m
    Merger
reserve
£m
    Hedging
reserve
£m
    Translation
reserve
£m
    Capital
redemption
reserve
£m
    Retained
earnings
£m
    Total
£m
    Non-
controlling
interests
£m
    Total
equity
£m
 
As at 1 January 2014   152    101        1    32    34    802    1,122    2    1,124 
Profit for the year                           82    82    (3)   79 
Exchange movements on translation of foreign subsidiaries                   (4)           (4)       (4)
Net loss on hedges of net investment in foreign subsidiaries                   (4)           (4)       (4)
Effective portion of changes in fair value of cash flow hedges               (1)               (1)       (1)
Actuarial losses on defined benefit pension schemes                           (58)   (58)       (58)
Tax on actuarial losses                           11    11        11 
Other comprehensive income for the year               (1)   (8)       (47)   (56)       (56)
Total comprehensive income for the year               (1)   (8)       35    26    (3)   23 
Dividends                           (124)   (124)       (124)
Equity-settled share-based payments                           25    25        25 
Utilisation of treasury shares                           6    6        6 
Arising on business combinations                                   23    23 
Shares issued   42    877                        919        919 
Transfer to merger reserve       (877)   877                             
As at 31 December 2014 (restated)   194    101    877        24    34    744    1,974    22    1,996 

 

100 Amec Foster Wheeler
Annual report and accounts 2015
 

Consolidated statement of changes in equity continued
For the year ended 31 December 2013

 

    Share
capital
£m
    Share
premium
£m
    Hedging
reserve
£m
    Translation
reserve
£m
    Capital
redemption
reserve
£m
    Retained
earnings
£m
    Total
£m
    Non-
controlling
interests
£m
    Total
equity
£m
 
As at 1 January 2013   154    101    (2)   101    32    693    1,079    4    1,083 
Profit for the year                       179    179    (1)   178 
Exchange movements on translation of foreign subsidiaries               (69)           (69)   (1)   (70)
Net loss on hedges of net investment in foreign subsidiaries               (1)           (1)       (1)
Tax on exchange movements               1            1        1 
Effective portion of changes in fair value of cash flow hedges           3                3        3 
Tax on effective portion of changes in fair value of cash flow hedges           (1)               (1)       (1)
Cash flow hedges transferred to the income statement           1                1        1 
Actuarial gains on defined benefit pension schemes                       40    40        40 
Tax on actuarial gains                       (20)   (20)       (20)
Other comprehensive income for the year           3    (69)       20    (46)   (1)   (47)
Total comprehensive income for the year           3    (69)       199    133    (2)   131 
Dividends                       (108)   (108)       (108)
Equity-settled share-based payments                       14    14        14 
Tax on equity-settled share-based payments                       (1)   (1)       (1)
Acquisition of shares by trustees of the Employee Share Trust                       (2)   (2)       (2)
Utilisation of treasury shares                       7    7        7 
Acquisition of shares under the buyback programme   (2)               2                 
As at 31 December 2013   152    101    1    32    34    802    1,122    2    1,124 


 

Amec Foster Wheeler
Annual report and accounts 2015
 101  
 

Consolidated cash flow statement
For the year ended 31 December 2015

 

    Note    2015
£m
    2014
£m
    2013
£m
 
Cash flow from operating activities                    
(Loss)/profit before income tax from continuing operations        (235)   155    255 
Loss before income tax from discontinued operations   9    (5)   (33)   (16)
(Loss)/profit before income tax        (240)   122    239 
Financial income   7    (16)   (11)   (12)
Financial expense   7    74    16    14 
Share of post-tax results of joint ventures   2, 13    (28)   (12)   (14)
Intangible impairment and amortisation   5, 12    444    49    47 
Depreciation   11    26    16    12 
(Profit)/loss on disposal of businesses   5    (1)   44    6 
Difference between contributions to retirement benefit schemes and current service cost14    (3)   (2)    
Profit on disposal of property, plant and equipment        (1)       (1)
Loss on disposal of intangible assets            1     
Equity-settled share-based payments        7    8    14 
         262    231    305 
Decrease in inventories        1        1 
Decrease in trade and other receivables        38    106    66 
Decrease in trade and other payables and provisions        (81)   (137)   (80)
Cash generated from operations        220    200    292 
Tax paid        (79)   (54)   (52)
Net cash flow from operating activities        141    146    240 
Cash flow from investing activities                    
Acquisition of businesses (net of cash acquired)   24    (5)   (781)   (20)
Investment in joint ventures        (1)   (1)   (7)
Purchase of property, plant and equipment        (15)   (14)   (10)
Purchase of intangible assets        (23)   (17)   (13)
Movements in bank deposits (more than three months)        (2)   (3)   (1)
Disposal of businesses (net of cash disposed of)        (2)   (2)   (4)
Disposal of joint ventures        11    (21)    
Disposal of property, plant and equipment        2        1 
Interest received        3    4    9 
Dividends received from joint ventures   13    42    14    8 
Amounts received/(paid) on maturity of net investment hedges        37    (7)   (3)
Net cash flow from investing activities        47    (828)   (40)
Net cash flow before financing activities        188    (682)   200 
Cash flow from financing activities                    
Proceeds from other borrowings        68    1,198    100 
Repayments of other borrowings        (143)   (100)   (130)
Cash flows in respect of facility arrangement fees        (3)   (13)    
Interest paid        (38)   (7)   (11)
Dividends paid        (167)   (124)   (108)
Acquisition of non-controlling interest   24    (54)        
Cash received in respect of debt related cash flow hedges   23    12         
Dividends paid to non-controlling interests        (4)        
Acquisition of shares for cancellation                (45)
Cash flows in respect of treasury shares*        15    6    7 
Acquisition of shares by trustees of the Employee Share Trust        (5)       (2)
Net cash flow from financing activities        (319)   960    (189)
(Decrease)/increase in cash and cash equivalents        (131)   278    11 
Cash and cash equivalents as at the beginning of the year   23    495    223    232 
Exchange losses on cash and cash equivalents   23    (24)   (6)   (20)
Cash and cash equivalents as at the end of the year   23    340    495    223 

 

102 Amec Foster Wheeler
Annual report and accounts 2015
 

Consolidated cash flow statement continued
For the year ended 31 December 2015

 

    Note    2015
£m
    2014
£m
    2013
£m
 
Cash and cash equivalents consist of:                    
Cash at bank and in hand   23    307    377    153 
Bank deposits (less than three months)   23    33    118    79 
Bank overdrafts   23            (9)
Cash and cash equivalents as at the end of the year   23    340    495    223 
Bank deposits (more than three months)   23    23    21    18 
Bank loans   23    (1,264)   (1,267)   (120)
Fees capitalised against bank facilities   23        9     
Derivatives classified as net debt   23    14         
Finance leases   23    (59)   (61)    
Net (debt)/cash as at the end of the year        (946)   (803)   121 

 

*Cash received from SAYE option holders on exercise of options.


Amec Foster Wheeler
Annual report and accounts 2015
 103  
 

Notes to the consolidated accounts

 

1 Significant accounting policies

 

Amec Foster Wheeler plc is a public limited company, which is listed on both the London Stock Exchange and the New York Stock Exchange and incorporated and domiciled in the United Kingdom. The principal activities of the Company and its subsidiaries (the Group) are described in note 2.

 

Statement of compliance

The consolidated accounts include the accounts of Amec Foster Wheeler plc and all of its subsidiaries made up to 31 December each year, and the Group’s share of the profit after interest and tax and net assets of joint ventures based on the equity method of accounting.

 

In accordance with EU law (IAS Regulation EC 1606/2002), the consolidated accounts of the Group have been prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) adopted for use in the EU as at 31 December 2015 (adopted IFRS), International Financial Reporting Interpretations Committee (IFRIC) interpretations and those parts of the Companies Act 2006 applicable to companies reporting under IFRS. The company has elected to prepare its parent company accounts in accordance with Financial Reporting Standard 101 Reduced Disclosure Framework (FRS 101); these are presented on pages 157 to 165.

 

From the Group’s perspective, there are no applicable differences between adopted IFRS and IFRS as issued by the IASB, and therefore the financial statements also comply with IFRS as issued by the IASB.

 

Restatement

On 13 November 2014 (the acquisition date), the Group acquired 95.3 per cent of the issued share capital of Foster Wheeler AG. Due to the relatively short period of time between the acquisition date and 31 December 2014, management had not finalised its assessment of the fair values of certain of Foster Wheeler’s assets and liabilities at the time that the 2014 financial statements were completed and as a result the 2014 financial statements reflected the provisional assessment of the fair values as at the acquisition date. The restatement had no impact on the 2014 income statement.

 

During 2015, management has completed the fair value assessment and the comparative amounts shown in the Balance Sheet, Statement of Comprehensive Income, Statement of Changes in Equity and Cash Flow Statement have been restated to reflect changes made to the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities recognised on the acquisition of Foster Wheeler, details of which are set out in note 24.

 

In addition to the above, the acquisition balance sheet as presented on page 151 has been restated to present liabilities of £65m in respect of onerous leases within trade and other payables. These liabilities had previously been presented within provisions.

 

As the acquisition of Foster Wheeler AG in November 2014 resulted in the Group securing more than 90% of Foster Wheeler’s issued share capital, the acquisition qualifies for merger relief under section 612 of the Companies Act 2006 from crediting the share premium that arose on the new shares issued in consideration for Foster Wheeler to a share premium account. The balance sheet as at 31 December has been restated to present excess of the nominal value of the shares issued of £877m as a merger reserve.

 

Accounting standards adopted in the year

There are no IFRS, IAS amendments or IFRIC interpretations effective for the first time this financial year that have had a material impact on the Group.

 

New standards, amendments and interpretations issued but not effective which have not been early adopted by the Group

IFRS 9 ‘Financial Instruments’ replaces the existing guidance in IAS 39 ‘Financial Instruments: Recognition and Measurement’. IFRS 9 includes revised guidance on the classification and measurement of financial instruments, including the new expected credit loss model for calculating impairment on financial assets and the new general hedge accounting requirements. It also carries forward guidance on recognition and derecognition on financial instruments from IAS 39. IFRS 9 is effective for annual periods beginning on or after 1 January 2018 with early application permitted.

 

IFRS 15 ‘Revenue from Contracts with Customers’ will supersede the current revenue recognition guidance including IAS 18 ‘Revenue’, IAS 11 ‘Construction Contracts’ and the related Interpretations when it becomes effective. Under IFRS 15 an entity recognises revenue when (or as) a performance obligation is satisfied. That is when the control of goods or services underlying the particular performance obligation is transferred to the customer. The standard provides far more prescriptive guidance with regards to specific scenarios and requires extensive disclosures. IFRS 15 is effective for annual periods beginning on or after 1 January 2018 with early application permitted.

 

IFRS 16 ‘Leases’ replaces the existing guidance in IAS 17 ‘Leases’. IFRS 16 eliminates the classification of leases as either operating leases or finance leases. The standard introduces a single lessee accounting model, which requires a lessee to recognise: assets and liabilities for all leases with a term of more than 12 months and depreciation of lease assets separately from interest on lease liabilities in the income statement.

 

The application of IFRS 9, IFRS 15 and IFRS 16 in the future may have a material impact on the amounts reported and disclosures made in the Group’s accounts. However it is not practical to provide a reasonable estimate of the effect of IFRS 9, IFRS 15 and IFRS 16 until the Group performs a detailed review.

 

Other than as described above, there are no other IFRS, IAS amendments or IFRIC interpretations which are not yet effective that would be expected to have a material impact on the Group.

 

104 Amec Foster Wheeler
Annual report and accounts 2015
 

1 Significant accounting policies continued

 

Basis of preparation

The accounts are presented in Sterling, rounded to the nearest million. All calculated numbers, for example earnings per share, are calculated on the underlying numbers to one decimal place precision. They are prepared on the historical cost basis except that derivative financial instruments and retirement benefit assets and liabilities are stated at fair value.

 

The preparation of accounts in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make judgements, estimates and assumptions that affect the application of policies and reported amounts of assets and liabilities, income and expenses. The estimates and associated assumptions are based on historical experience and various other factors that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis of making the judgements about carrying values of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. Actual results may differ from these estimates.

 

The estimates and underlying assumptions are reviewed on an ongoing basis. Revisions to accounting estimates are recognised in the period in which the estimate is revised if the revision affects only that period, or in the period of the revision and future periods if the revision affects both current and future periods.

 

Amec Foster Wheeler believe some of these policies require a high level of judgement, and the most critical accounting policies and significant areas of judgement and estimation arise from:

 

acquisition accounting under IFRS 3 ‘Business Combinations’
  
long-term contracts under IAS 11 ‘Construction Contracts’
  
intangible assets including goodwill under IAS 38 ‘Intangible Assets’ and IAS 36 ‘Impairment of Assets’
  
provisions under IAS 37 ‘Provisions, Contingent Liabilities and Contingent Assets’
  
uncertain tax positions under IAS 12 ‘Income Taxes’
  
defined benefit pension schemes under IAS 19 (revised) ‘Employee Benefits’

 

In addition, judgement has also been applied in the presentation of certain research and development government credits and in presenting the UK conventional power business as a discontinued operation in 2013.

 

IFRS 3 ‘Business Combinations’

During 2014, the Group acquired Foster Wheeler. The acquisition was accounted for as a purchase under IFRS 3. Determining the fair value of the assets and liabilities acquired involved significant judgement and estimates. This involved the use of valuation models to determine the fair value of the intangible assets acquired. Inputs to these models include estimates of the future cash flows of Foster Wheeler; the appropriate discount rate to apply to these future cash flows, estimates of the retention rates for key customers and the likelihood of renewal of significant service contracts. Further information about the assumptions used for calculating provisions and goodwill are documented below.

 

IAS 11 ‘Construction Contracts’

A significant amount of the Group’s activities is undertaken via long-term contracts. These contracts are accounted for in accordance with IAS 11 ‘Construction Contracts’ which requires estimates to be made for contract costs and revenues.

 

Management bases its judgements of contract costs and revenues on the latest available information, which includes detailed contract valuations. In many cases the results reflect the expected outcome of long-term contractual obligations which span more than one reporting period. Contract costs and revenues are affected by a variety of uncertainties that depend on the outcome of future events and often need to be revised as events unfold and uncertainties are resolved. The estimates of contract costs and revenues are updated regularly and significant changes are highlighted through established internal review procedures. In particular, the internal reviews focus on the timing and recognition of incentive payments and the age and recoverability of any unagreed income from variations to the contract scope or claims. The impact of the changes in accounting estimates is then reflected in the ongoing results.

 

Principally, there are two types of long-term contracts being cost reimbursable contracts and fixed price contracts. Due to the nature of these contracts the significant estimates tend to arise on fixed price contracts rather than cost reimbursable contracts.


 

Amec Foster Wheeler
Annual report and accounts 2015
105  
 

Notes to the consolidated accounts continued

 

1 Significant accounting policies continued

 

Basis of preparation continued

IAS 38 ‘Intangible Assets’ and IAS 36 ‘Impairment of Assets’

The Group has a significant amount of intangible assets on its balance sheet. Goodwill arising on acquisitions represents the excess of the fair value of the purchase consideration over the fair value of the assets and liabilities acquired. Goodwill is capitalised and subject to impairment review, both annually and when there are indications that its carrying value may not be recoverable. An impairment loss is recognised to the extent that the carrying value of an asset exceeds its recoverable amount.

 

The determination of carrying value involves significant judgements when allocating goodwill to the cash generating units (‘CGUs’) expected to benefit from the acquisition. The estimation of the recoverable amounts also requires significant judgements and estimates including the future cash flows of the CGU, terminal growth rates and the appropriate rate at which to discount those cash flows. See note 12 for further details of the impairment reviews performed during the year. The carrying amount of the Global Power Group CGU has been reduced to its recoverable amount through recognition of an impairment loss of £308m against goodwill.

 

Intangible assets, other than goodwill, are stated at cost less accumulated amortisation and impairment losses. The cost of an intangible asset acquired in a business combination is the fair value of the asset at the date of acquisition. Amortisation is charged to the income statement over the estimated useful lives of intangible assets.

 

IAS 37 ‘Provisions, Contingent Liabilities and Contingent Assets’

When accounting for provisions for litigation and other items the Group has taken internal and external advice in considering known legal claims and actions made by or against the Group. It carefully assesses the likelihood of success of a claim or action. Appropriate provisions are made for legal claims or actions against the Group on the basis of likely outcome, but no provisions are made for those which, in the view of management, are unlikely to succeed.

 

The Group has a significant asbestos related provision. Some of the Group’s US and UK subsidiaries are defendants in numerous asbestos-related lawsuits and out-of-court informal claims pending in the US and UK. Plaintiffs claim damages for personal injury alleged to have arisen from exposure to or use of asbestos in connection with work allegedly performed by the Group’s subsidiaries during the 1970s and earlier.

 

The provision for asbestos is the Group’s best estimate of its obligation required to settle claims that is expected to continue up until 2050. The provision is discounted back to a net present value using a US Treasury yield curve discount rate.

 

See note 21 for further details of the Group’s provisions.

 

IAS 12 ‘Income Taxes’

Significant judgement is required in determining liabilities related to uncertain tax positions, in particular those in respect of financing structures. There is also significant judgement required in assessing the recoverability of deferred tax assets.

 

IAS 19 (revised) ‘Employee Benefits’

Defined benefit pension schemes are accounted for in accordance with the advice of independent qualified actuaries but significant judgements are required in relation to the assumptions for future salary and pension increases, discount rate, inflation and member life expectancy that underpin their valuations. For Amec Foster Wheeler, these assumptions are important given the relative size of the schemes that remain open for future accrual.

 

See note 14 for further details of the Group’s retirement benefit schemes.

 

IFRS 5 ‘Non-current Assets Held for Sale and Discontinued Operations’

In accordance with IFRS 5 ‘Non-current Assets Held for Sale and Discontinued Operations’, the post-tax results of discontinued operations are disclosed separately in the consolidated income statement.

 

Discontinued operations include the non-core Built Environment businesses, which were sold during 2007, SPIE, which was sold in 2006, and the UK conventional power business that was discontinued in 2013. The judgements applied in presenting the UK conventional power business as discontinued are explained in note 1 to the 2013 financial statements. The cash flows of discontinued operations are fully consolidated within Amec Foster Wheeler up to the date of sale. The results and other disclosures in respect of discontinued operations are shown in note 9.

 

Going concern

As at 31 December 2015, the group had net debt of £946m and committed and available banking facilities of £442m.

 

On 2 March 2016 the Group announced the completion of a refinancing of its main debt facilities by entering into a new facility with a syndicate of 20 banks. The new facility, which has three tranches – a three-year £650 million term loan, a five-year £650 million term loan and a five-year £400 million revolving credit facility – replaces the Company’s existing revolving credit facility and the Foster Wheeler acquisition facility.

 

The Group has assessed it will be able to meet expected mandatory interest and repayment of its banking facilities in place.

 

106 Amec Foster Wheeler
Annual report and accounts 2015
 

1 Significant accounting policies continued

 

Going concern continued

The Group will finance operations and growth from its existing cash resources and its committed banking facilities. The Group’s policy aims to ensure the constant availability of an appropriate amount of funding to meet both current and future forecast requirements consistent with the Group’s budget and strategic plans.

 

The directors consider it appropriate to adopt the going concern basis of accounting in preparing the financial statements.

 

If for any reason the Group is unable to continue as a going concern, it could impact the Group’s ability to realise assets at their recognised values; in particular goodwill and other intangible assets and to extinguish liabilities in the normal course of business at the amounts stated in the consolidated accounts.

 

Accounting policies

The accounting policies set out below have, unless otherwise stated, been applied consistently to all periods presented in these consolidated accounts.

 

Basis of consolidation

The consolidated accounts comprise the accounts of the Group and its subsidiaries as at 31 December 2015. Control is achieved when the Group is exposed, or has rights, to variable returns from its involvement with the investee and has the ability to affect those returns through its power over the investee. Generally there is a presumption that a majority of voting rights result in control.

 

The Group re-assesses whether or not it controls an investee if facts and circumstances indicate there is a change of control. Consolidation of a subsidiary begins when the Group obtains control over the subsidiary and ceases when the Group loses control of the subsidiary. Assets, liabilities, income and expenses of a subsidiary acquired or disposed of during the year are included in the consolidated accounts from the date the Group gains control until the date the Group ceases to control the subsidiary.

 

Profit or loss and each component of comprehensive income is attributed to the equity holders of the parent of the Group and to the non-controlling interests, even if this results in the non-controlling interests having a deficit balance. When necessary, adjustments are made to the financial statements of subsidiaries to bring their accounting policies into line with the Group’s accounting policies. All intra-Group assets and liabilities, equity, income, expenses and cash flows relating to transactions between members of the Group are eliminated in full on consolidation.

 

A change in the ownership interest of a subsidiary, without a loss of control, is accounted for as an equity transaction.

 

If the Group loses control over a subsidiary, it derecognises the related assets (including goodwill), liabilities, non-controlling interest and other components of equity while any resultant gain or loss is recognised in profit or loss. Any investment retained is recognised at fair value.

 

A joint venture is a type of joint arrangement whereby the parties that have joint control of the arrangement have rights to the net assets of the joint venture. Joint control is the contractually agreed sharing of control of an arrangement, which exists only when decisions about the relevant activities require unanimous consent of the parties sharing control.

 

The considerations made in determining joint control are similar to those necessary to determine control over subsidiaries.

 

The Group’s investments in its joint ventures are accounted for using the equity method. Under the equity method, the investment in a joint venture is initially recognised at cost. The carrying amount of the investment is adjusted to recognise changes in the Group’s share of net assets of the joint venture since the acquisition date. The results of the joint ventures are included in the consolidated accounts from the date the joint control commences until the date that it ceases.

 

The aggregate of the Group’s share of profit or loss of a joint venture is shown on the face of the income statement and represents profit or loss after tax and non-controlling interests in the joint venture.

 

Losses of a joint venture are recognised only to the extent of the Group’s interest in the joint venture, unless the Group has incurred legal or constructive obligations or made payments on behalf of the joint venture.

 

A joint operation is a joint arrangement whereby the parties that have joint control of the arrangement have rights to the assets, and obligations for the liabilities, relating to the arrangement.

 

When a Group entity undertakes its activities under joint operations, the Group as a joint operator recognises in relation to its interest in a joint operation:

 

its assets and liabilities, including its share of any assets and liabilities held jointly
  
its revenue from the sale of its share of the output arising from the joint operation
  
its share of the revenue from the sale of the output by joint operation
  
its expenses, including its share of any expenses incurred jointly


 

Amec Foster Wheeler
Annual report and accounts 2015
107  
 

Notes to the consolidated accounts continued

 

1 Significant accounting policies continued

 

Bid costs

Bid costs are expensed as incurred until the Group is appointed as the preferred bidder. Subsequent to appointment as preferred bidder, bid costs are capitalised and held on the balance sheet provided the award of the contract is virtually certain and it is expected to generate sufficient net cash flow to allow recovery of the bid costs. Where bid costs are reimbursed at financial close, the proceeds are applied first against the balance of costs included in the balance sheet, with any additional amounts treated as deferred income and released to profit over the period of the contract.

 

Business combinations and goodwill

The purchase method is used to account for all business combinations.

 

Goodwill represents the excess of the fair value of the purchase consideration over the fair value of the assets, liabilities and contingent liabilities acquired.

 

Goodwill arising on acquisitions since 1 January 2004 is capitalised and subject to an impairment review, both annually and when there are indications that its carrying value may not be recoverable. Goodwill is not amortised.

 

Cash and cash equivalents and short-term investments

Cash comprises cash balances and deposits repayable on demand and available within one working day without penalty.

 

Cash equivalents are other deposits with a maturity period of three months or less from date of acquisition; convertible without an undue period of notice and not subject to a significant risk of changes in value.

 

Bank overdrafts that are repayable on demand and form an integral part of Amec Foster Wheeler’s cash management are included as a component of cash and cash equivalents for the purpose of the statement of cash flows.

 

In the consolidated balance sheet, bank overdrafts are shown within borrowings in current liabilities.

 

Deposits with a maturity period of more than three months at inception are classified as bank deposits (more than three months).

 

Development expenditure

Expenditure that is directly attributable to the development of wind farm projects is recognised as an intangible asset when the Group can demonstrate it is probable that the wind farm development will generate future economic benefits in excess of the amounts capitalised and other relevant criteria for capitalising such costs in accordance with IAS 38 ‘Intangible Assets’ have been met.

 

Following initial recognition of the development expenditure as an asset, the asset is carried at cost less any accumulated amortisation and accumulated impairment losses. Amortisation of the asset begins when the wind farm development is complete and the asset is available for use. It is amortised over the period of expected future benefit. During the period of development, the asset is reviewed for impairment annually.

 

Discontinued operations and assets and liabilities held for sale

A discontinued operation is a separate major line of business or geographic area of operations that has either been disposed of, abandoned or is part of a plan to dispose of a major line of business or geographic area. An operation is classified as a discontinued operation in the year that the above criteria are met.

 

Certain legacy settlements and relevant provision adjustments are allocated to discontinued operations when those settlements and provisions arise from or are directly related to the discontinued operations.

 

Dividend income

Dividend income is recognised when the right to receive payment is established.

 

Employee benefits

Defined contribution plans

Obligations for contributions to defined contribution pension plans are recognised in the income statement as incurred.

 

Defined benefit plans

The Group’s net obligation in respect of defined benefit pension plans is calculated separately for each plan by estimating the amount of future benefit that employees have earned in return for their service in the current and prior periods. That benefit is discounted to determine its present value; and the fair value of any plan assets (at bid price) is deducted. The liability discount rate is the yield at the balance sheet date on AA-rated corporate bonds that have maturity dates approximating to the terms of the Group’s obligations. The calculation is performed by a qualified actuary using the projected unit credit method.

 

A net surplus from a defined benefit plan is recognised on the balance sheet when the asset would be recoverable as a result of an expected future refund after a gradual settlement of plan liabilities.

 

Net interest is calculated by applying the discount rate to the net defined benefit liability or asset.

 

Actuarial gains and losses are recognised in other comprehensive income in the year in which they arise.

 

108 Amec Foster Wheeler
Annual report and accounts 2015
 

1 Significant accounting policies continued

 

Exceptional items

As permitted by IAS 1 ‘Presentation of Financial Statements’, certain items are presented separately as exceptional on the face of the consolidated income statement. In the opinion of the directors, these exceptional items require separate disclosure by virtue of their nature, size or incidence in order to obtain a clear and consistent presentation of the Group’s underlying performance and to provide consistency with internal management reporting. Exceptional items may include, but are not restricted to: impairment charges, acquisition-related costs; restructuring costs; gains and losses on the disposal of fixed assets; and gains and losses on the disposal or closure of businesses. Acquisition-related costs may include transaction costs (including external advisory, legal, valuation and other professional fees and attributable internal costs), the amortisation of acquisition-related facility fees, payments to selling shareholders that are accounted for as remuneration and changes in the fair value of contingent consideration.

 

Financial instruments

Financial instruments are initially recorded at fair value. Subsequent valuation depends on the designation of the instrument.

 

Cash, bank deposits, borrowings and trade receivables and payables are held at amortised cost.

 

Bank loans and similar borrowings are recognised initially at fair value (i.e. proceeds received) net of directly attributable transaction fees. Interest expense, including transaction fees is recognised over the life of the bank loan using the effective interest method.

 

Derivative financial instruments are recognised initially and subsequently at fair value. The gain or loss on re-measurement to fair value is recognised immediately in the income statement. However, where derivatives qualify for hedge accounting, recognition of any resultant gain or loss depends on the nature of the item being hedged. The fair value of derivative financial instruments is determined by reference to market values for similar financial instruments or by discounting the expected future cash flows at prevailing interest rates.

 

The sale and purchase of derivative financial instruments are non-speculative.

 

Cash flow hedges

Where a derivative financial instrument is designated as a hedge against the variability in cash flows of a recognised asset or liability, or a highly probable forecast transaction, any gain or loss on the effective part of the derivative financial instrument is recognised in other comprehensive income and accumulated within the hedging reserve. The gain or loss on any ineffective portion of the hedge is recognised immediately in the income statement.

 

Hedge accounting is discontinued when the hedging instrument no longer meets the criteria for hedge accounting, expires, or is sold, terminated or exercised. The cumulative gain or loss previously recognised in the hedging reserve remains there until the forecast transaction occurs. The cumulative gain or loss in the hedging reserve is transferred to the income statement in the same period that the hedged item affects profit or loss.

 

Net investment hedges

Foreign currency differences arising on the retranslation of financial instruments designated as a hedge of a net investment in a foreign operation are recognised in other comprehensive income, to the extent that the hedge is effective. The gain or loss of any ineffective portion of the hedge is recognised immediately in the income statement. On disposal of the foreign operation, the cumulative value of gains and losses recorded in equity is transferred to the income statement.

 

Foreign currencies

The Group’s consolidated accounts are presented in Sterling, which is also the parent company’s functional currency. Each entity in the Group determines its own functional currency and items included in the accounts of each entity are measured using that functional currency. An entity’s functional currency reflects the underlying transactions, events and conditions that are relevant to it.

 

At an individual entity level, transactions in a currency other than the functional currency of the entity are translated to the functional currency at the exchange rate ruling at the day of the transaction. Entities which have multiple foreign currency transactions apply the average rate for the month as an approximation of the exchange rate on the day of the transaction. Monetary assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies are translated into the functional currency at the rates of exchange ruling at the balance sheet date and any foreign exchange differences arising are recognised in the income statement except those arising on intra-Group balances, settlement of which is neither planned nor probable to occur, which are recognised in other comprehensive income. Non-monetary assets and liabilities are measured in terms of historical cost and are translated using the exchange rate at the date of the transaction.

 

On consolidation, the results of entities with a functional currency other than Sterling are translated into Sterling using a monthly average exchange rate. The net assets of such entities are translated into Sterling at the closing exchange rate.

 

Exchange differences arising on the translation of foreign currency net investments and any foreign currency borrowings, or forward contracts used to hedge those investments, are taken to a translation reserve. They are recycled and recognised as a profit or loss on the disposal or closure of a business. The cumulative translation difference for all foreign operations was deemed to be zero as at 1 January 2004, the date of transition to adopted IFRS.


 

Amec Foster Wheeler
Annual report and accounts 2015
109  
 

Notes to the consolidated accounts continued

 

1 Significant accounting policies continued

 

Impairment

The carrying values of all of the Group’s assets other than inventories, balances on long-term contracts and deferred tax assets are reviewed at each balance sheet date to determine whether there is any indication of impairment. If there are indications of an impairment in the carrying value then the recoverable amount is estimated and compared to the carrying amount.

 

For goodwill and assets not yet available for use, the recoverable amount is estimated at each balance sheet date. An impairment loss is recognised to the extent that the carrying value of an asset exceeds its recoverable amount.

 

Intangible assets other than goodwill

Intangible assets acquired by the Group, which include customer relationships, brands/trademarks, order backlog, patents and software, are stated at cost less accumulated amortisation and impairment losses. The cost of an intangible asset acquired in a business combination is its fair value at date of acquisition.

 

Amortisation is charged to the income statement on a straight line basis over the estimated useful lives of intangible assets, from the date they are available for use.

 

The estimated lives of intangible assets held at 31 December 2015 are as follows:

 

Customer relationships Two to 18 years
   
Brand/trademarks Up to 20 years
   
Order backlog Three to five years
   
Patents 15 years
   
Software Three to seven years
   
Other Up to six years

 

Inventories

Inventories, including land held for and in the course of development, are stated at the lower of cost and net realisable value.

 

Development land and work in progress is included at cost less any losses foreseen in completing and disposing of the development. Cost includes cost of acquisition and development to date, including directly attributable fees and expenses net of rental and other income attributable to the development.

 

Leases

The determination of whether an arrangement is (or contains) a lease is based on the substance of the arrangement at the inception of the lease. The arrangement is, or contains, a lease if fulfilment of the arrangement is dependent on the use of a specific asset or assets and the arrangement conveys a right to use the asset or assets, even if that right is not explicitly specified in an arrangement.

 

A lease is classified at the inception date as a finance lease or an operating lease. A lease that transfers substantially all the risks and rewards incidental to ownership to the Group is classified as a finance lease.

 

Finance leases are capitalised at the commencement of the lease at the inception date fair value of the leased property or, if lower, at the present value of the minimum lease payments. Lease payments are apportioned between finance charges and reduction of the lease liability so as to achieve a constant rate of interest on the remaining balance of the liability. Finance charges are recognised in finance costs in the income statement.

 

A leased asset is depreciated over the useful life of the asset. However, if there is no reasonable certainty that the Group will obtain ownership by the end of the lease term, the asset is depreciated over the shorter of the estimated useful life of the asset and the lease term.

 

Operating lease costs, including incentives received, are charged to the income statement on a straight line basis over the period of the lease.

 

Net financing expense

Net financing expense comprises interest receivable on funds invested, interest payable, pension financing income, the unwinding of discounted balances and foreign exchange gains and losses. Interest income and interest payable are recognised in the income statement as they accrue, using the effective interest method.

 

Directly attributable finance costs are capitalised in the cost of purchased and constructed property, plant and equipment, until the relevant assets are brought into operational use.

 

110 Amec Foster Wheeler
Annual report and accounts 2015
 

1 Significant accounting policies continued

 

Property, plant and equipment

Property, plant and equipment is measured at cost less accumulated depreciation and impairment losses. The cost of property, plant and equipment as at 1 January 2004, the date of transition to adopted IFRS, was determined by reference to its fair value at that date.

 

Depreciation is provided on all property, plant and equipment, with the exception of freehold land, at rates calculated to write off the cost, less estimated residual value, of each asset on a straight line basis over its estimated useful life. Reviews are made annually of the estimated remaining lives and residual values of individual assets.

 

The estimated lives used are:

 

Freehold buildings Up to 50 years
   
Leasehold land and buildings The shorter of the lease term or 50 years
   
Plant and equipment Mainly three to five years

 

Provisions for liabilities and charges

Provisions are recognised when the Group has a present obligation (legal or constructive) as a result of a past event; it is probable that an outflow of resources embodying economic benefits will be required to settle the obligation; and a reliable estimate can be made of the amount of the obligation.

 

The Group has taken internal and external advice in considering known and reasonably likely legal claims and actions made by or against the Group. It carefully assesses the likelihood of success of a claim or action. Appropriate provisions are made for legal claims or actions against the Group on the basis of likely outcome, but no provisions are made for those which, in the view of management, are unlikely to succeed. These possible but not probable liabilities are disclosed in note 26 as contingent liabilities.

 

Research and development government credits

The Group claims research and development government credits in the UK, US and Canada. These are judged to have characteristics more akin to grants than income taxes and are offset against the relevant expenditure caption. Credits are recognised to the extent there is reasonable assurance they will be received which, given the necessary claims processes, can be some time after the original expense is incurred.

 

Revenue recognition and long term contracts

Revenue represents the amount received or receivable for goods and services supplied by the Group to its customers, including the Group’s share of revenue from work carried out by jointly controlled operations. Revenue excludes intra-Group sales and value added tax and other sales taxes.

 

The Group’s revenue is derived principally from service and construction-type contracts. Contract revenue is recognised over the term of the contract by reference to the stage of completion of the contract activity at the end of each reporting period.

 

Revenue from cost reimbursable contracts is based on the services provided, typically represented by man-hours worked, and is measured by reference to agreed charge-out rates or to the estimated total contract revenue. Flow-through costs on cost reimbursable contracts, typically consisting of materials, equipment or subcontractor services, are included as both contract revenue and contract costs.

 

Revenue from fixed price contracts is recognised using the percentage-of-completion method, measured by reference to physical completion or the ratio of costs incurred to total estimated contract costs. If the outcome of a contract cannot be estimated reliably, as may be the case in the initial stages of completion of the contract, revenue is recognised only to the extent of the costs incurred that are expected to be recoverable. If a contract is expected to be loss-making, the expected amount of the loss is recognised immediately in the income statement.

 

A variation is an instruction by the customer for a change in the scope of the work to be performed under the contract. Variations are included in contract revenue when it is probable that the customer will approve the variation and the related adjustment to the contract price can be measured reliably.

 

A claim is an amount that the contractor seeks to collect from the customer as reimbursement for costs whose inclusion in the contract price is disputed, and may arise from, for example, delays caused by the customer, errors in specification or design and disputed variations in contract work. Claims are included in contract revenue when negotiations with the customer have reached an advanced stage such that it is probable that the customer will accept the claim and the amount of the claim can be measured reliably.


 

Amec Foster Wheeler
Annual report and accounts 2015
111  
 

Notes to the consolidated accounts continued

 

1 Significant accounting policies continued

 

Revenue recognition and long term contracts continued

Incentive payments are additional amounts payable to the contractor if specified performance standards are met or exceeded. Incentive payments are recognised when the contract is sufficiently far advanced that it is probable that the required performance standards will be met and the amount of the payment can be measured reliably.

 

Gross amounts due from customers included in trade and other receivables represent the costs incurred plus recognised profits, less provision for recognised losses and progress billings. Progress billings that have not been settled by customers (including retentions related to contracts in progress) are included in trade receivables where they are stated after allowance for any doubtful debts.

 

Trade receivables, which are generally of a short term nature, are recognised and carried at the original invoiced amount less an allowance for estimated irrecoverable amounts. Provision is made when there is objective evidence that the Group will not be able to recover balances in full. Balances are written off when the probability of recovery is assessed as being remote.

 

Gross amounts due to customers included in trade and other payables represent payments on account received from customers in excess of the gross amounts due from customers and advances. Advances are amounts received by the customer before the related work is performed.

 

Share-based payments

There are various share-based payment arrangements which allow Amec Foster Wheeler employees to acquire Amec Foster Wheeler shares; these awards are granted by Amec Foster Wheeler. The fair value of awards granted is recognised as a cost of employment with a corresponding increase in equity. The fair value is measured at grant date and spread over the period during which the employees become unconditionally entitled to the award. The fair value of the award is measured using a valuation model, taking into account the terms and conditions upon which the awards were granted. The amount recognised as an expense is adjusted to reflect the actual number of shares that vest except where non-vesting is due to total shareholder return not achieving the threshold for vesting.

 

Taxation

Income tax expense comprises the sum of the current tax charge and the movement in deferred tax.

 

Current tax payable or recoverable is based on taxable profit for the year using tax rates and laws that have been enacted or substantively enacted by the balance sheet date, and any adjustment to tax payable in respect of previous years. Taxable profit is different from accounting profit due to temporary differences between accounting and tax treatments, and due to items that are never taxable or deductible.

 

Tax is recognised in the income statement except to the extent that it relates to items recognised in other comprehensive income or equity, in which case it is recognised in other comprehensive income or equity as appropriate.

 

A current tax provision is recognised when the Group has a present obligation as a result of a past event, it is probable that the Group will be required to settle that obligation and a reliable estimate can be made of the amount of the obligation. The provision is the best estimate of the consideration required to settle the present obligation at the balance sheet date, taking into account risks and uncertainties surrounding the obligation. Separate provisions for interest and penalties are also recorded if appropriate. Movements in interest and penalty amounts in respect of tax provisions are not included in the tax charge, but are disclosed within profit/(loss) before income tax.

 

Tax provisions are based on management’s interpretation of country specific tax law and the likelihood of settlement. This involves a significant amount of judgement as tax legislation can be complex and open to different interpretation. Management uses in-house tax experts, professional firms and previous experience when assessing tax risks. Where actual tax liabilities differ from the provisions, adjustments are made which can have a material impact on the Group’s profits for the year.

 

Deferred tax is provided on temporary differences between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities in the accounts and the corresponding tax bases used in the computation of taxable profit. Deferred tax liabilities are generally recognised for all taxable temporary differences with deferred tax assets being recognised where it is probable that future taxable profits will be available against which the asset can be utilised. The carrying amount of deferred tax assets is reviewed at each balance sheet date and adjustments made to the extent that it is no longer probable that sufficient profits will be available.

 

Assets and liabilities are not recognised if the temporary differences arise from the initial recognition (other than in a business combination) of assets and liabilities in a transaction that affects neither accounting nor taxable profit.

 

Deferred tax liabilities are recognised for taxable temporary differences arising on investments in subsidiaries and joint ventures, except where the Group is able to control the reversal of the temporary difference and it is probable that the temporary difference will not reverse in the foreseeable future.

 

Deferred tax is calculated using tax rates and laws that have been enacted or substantively enacted to apply when the deferred tax asset is realised or the liability is settled.

 

Deferred tax assets and liabilities are offset when they relate to income taxes levied by the same taxation authority and it is intended that they will be settled on a net basis.

 

112 Amec Foster Wheeler
Annual report and accounts 2015
 

2 Segmental analysis of continuing operations

 

Amec Foster Wheeler designs, delivers and maintains strategic and complex assets for its customers across the global energy and related sectors.

 

Segment information is presented on a consistent basis with the information presented to the Group Leadership Team for the purposes of allocating resources within the Group and assessing the performance of the Group’s businesses.

 

Prior to the acquisition of Foster Wheeler in November 2014, the Group’s continuing operations comprised of four operating segments: Americas, Europe, Growth Regions and Investment Services. For the short period between its acquisition and the end of 2014, Foster Wheeler’s results were presented to the Group Leadership Team analysed by its existing operating segments: E&C Services and Global Power Group.

 

With effect from 1 January 2015, the Group adopted three new geographical operating segments: Americas; Northern Europe & CIS; and Asia, Middle East, Africa & Southern Europe; with Foster Wheeler’s E&C Services segment being merged into these segments. Foster Wheeler’s Global Power Group continues to be reported as a separate operating segment. Investment Services also continues to be reported separately. Details of the services offered by each segment and the end markets in which they operate are given on pages 3 to 5 and 24 to 25.

 

The Group Leadership Team uses trading profit as the measure of the profitability of the Group’s businesses. Trading profit is, therefore, the measure of the segment profit presented in the Group’s segment disclosures. Trading profit represents profit before net financing expense excluding exceptional items; the amortisation and impairment of intangible assets; and asbestos-related costs (net of insurance recoveries). Trading profit includes the Group’s share of the trading profit of joint ventures.

 

Revenue and results

 

    Revenue    Profit/(loss) 
    2015    2014    2013    2015    2014    2013 
    £m    £m    £m    £m    £m    £m 
Americas   2,646    2,184    2,247    161    212    241 
Northern Europe and CIS   1,492    1,293    1,227    134    105    93 
Asia, Middle East, Africa and Southern                              
Europe   1,050    516    536    68    25    33 
Global Power Group   364    53        51    1     
Investment Services   15    8    6    14    9    11 
    5,567    4,054    4,016    428    352    378 
Internal revenue   (112)   (61)   (42)            
External revenue   5,455    3,993    3,974             
Corporate costs1                  (54)   (31)   (35)
Trading profit2                  374    321    343 
Net financing expense3                  (40)   (4)   (11)
Adjusted profit before tax                  334    317    332 
Tax on results of joint ventures4                  (10)   (6)   (5)
                   324    311    327 
Intangible amortisation and impairment5                  (444)   (49)   (47)
Exceptional and asbestos-related items5                  (115)   (107)   (25)
(Loss)/profit before income tax                  (235)   155    255 

 

1Corporate costs comprise the costs of operating central corporate functions and certain regional overheads.
2Trading profit is earnings from continuing operations before net financing expense, tax, intangible amortisation and impairment, pre-tax exceptional items and asbestos related items of £334m (2014: £299m; 2013: £315m), but including joint venture trading profit of £40m (2014: £22m; 2013: £28m).
3Net financing expense excludes exceptional and asbestos-related items, but includes Amec Foster Wheeler’s share of net interest payable of joint ventures.
4The share of post-tax results of joint ventures is further analysed as follows:

 

    2015
£m
    2014
£m
    2013
£m
 
Trading profit   40    22    28 
Net financing expense   (2)   (4)   (9)
Tax   (10)   (6)   (5)
    28    12    14 

 

5 See note 5 for further details.


 

Amec Foster Wheeler
Annual report and accounts 2015
113  
 

Notes to the consolidated accounts continued

 

2 Segmental analysis of continuing operations continued

 

Transactions between reportable segments are conducted on an arm’s length basis. Internal revenue arises in the segments as follows:

 

    2015    2014    2013 
    £m    £m    £m 
Americas   12    13    18 
Northern Europe and CIS   35    23    17 
Asia, Middle East, Africa and Southern Europe   65    24    7 
Global Power Group            
Investment Services       1     
    112    61    42 

 

Other information

 

   Share of post-tax results of joint ventures    Depreciation    Intangible amortisation
and impairment
 
       2015      2014      2013      2015      2014      2013      2015      2014      2013  
    £m    £m    £m    £m    £m    £m    £m    £m    £m 
Americas   (1)   1    2    9    8    7    46    20    18 
Northern Europe and CIS   15    8    7    6    5    3    41    19    17 
Asia, Middle East, Africa and                                             
Southern Europe   3    2    2    4    2    2    23    6    12 
Global Power Group   11    2        4    1        334    4     
Investment Services       (1)   3    3                     
    28    12    14    26    16    12    444    49    47 

 

Geographical origin

 

   Revenue   Non-current assets  
    2015
£m
    2014
£m
    2013
£m
    2015
£m
    2014
(restated)
£m
    2013
£m
 
United Kingdom   1,223    1,067    1,112    647    801    326 
Canada   741    938    1,104    288    297    188 
United States   1,873    1,218    1,070    1,302    1,175    284 
Rest of the world   1,618    770    688    1,019    1,442    225 
    5,455    3,993    3,974    3,256    3,715    1,023 

 

The non-current assets analysed by geography include property, plant and equipment, intangible assets and interests in joint ventures.

 

Revenue to external customers by region is based on the location of the group subsidiary which made the sale.

 

114 Amec Foster Wheeler
Annual report and accounts 2015
 

3 Revenue

 

    2015    2014    2013 
    £m    £m    £m 
Construction contracts   1,045    917    342 
Services   4,410    3,076    3,632 
    5,455    3,993    3,974 

 

The revenue from construction contracts shown above is based on the definition of construction contracts included in IAS 11 and includes revenue from all contracts directly related to the construction of an asset even if Amec Foster Wheeler’s role is as a service provider, for example project management.

 

4 Profit before net financing expense – continuing operations

 

    2015
£m
    2014
£m
    2013
£m
 
Depreciation of property, plant and equipment   26    16    12 
Minimum payments under operating leases   89    87    96 
Research and development government credits   (15)   (23)   (22)
                
There are no material receipts from subleases.               
                
    2015
£m
    2014
£m
    2013
£m
 
Fees paid to the auditor and its associates:               
The auditing of the accounts   4.1    3.9    0.3 
The auditing of accounts of any subsidiaries of the company   1.4    1.5    1.1 
Taxation compliance services   0.9    0.4    0.3 
All taxation advisory services other than compliance           0.1 
All services relating to corporate finance transactions entered into, or proposed to be entered into, by or on behalf of the company or any of its associates   0.9    6.4    1.6 
All other non-audit services   0.2    0.1    0.1 
    7.5    12.3    3.5 


 

Amec Foster Wheeler
Annual report and accounts 2015
 115  
 

Notes to the consolidated accounts continued

 

5 Amortisation, impairment, exceptional and asbestos-related items

 

    2015
£m
    2014
£m
    2013
£m
 
Continuing operations:               
Administrative expenses – exceptional and asbestos-related items   (94)   (86)   (18)
Administrative expenses – intangible amortisation and impairment   (444)   (49)   (47)
    (538)   (135)   (65)
Loss on business disposals and closures   (1)   (16)   (7)
Net financing expense   (20)   (5)    
    (559)   (156)   (72)
Taxation credit/(charge) on exceptional and asbestos-related items of continuing operations   18    6    (6)
Taxation charge on restructuring           (16)
Taxation credit on intangible amortisation and impairment   27    12    20 
    45    18    (2)
Post-tax amortisation, impairment, exceptional and asbestos-related items of continuing operations   (514)   (138)   (74)
Exceptional items of discontinued operations (post–tax)   1    (19)    
Post-tax amortisation, impairment, exceptional and asbestos-related items   (513)   (157)   (74)
Post-tax exceptional and asbestos-related items   (96)   (120)   (47)
Post-tax intangible amortisation and impairment   (417)   (37)   (27)
    (513)   (157)   (74)

 

The charge of £444m in respect of intangible amortisation and impairment comprises amortisation of £129m and impairments of £315m. The goodwill in the Global Power Group business has been written down by £308m and there was a £7m write down on the order backlog intangible asset. See note 12 for further details.

 

Post-tax exceptional and asbestos-related items for 2015 are further analysed as follows:

 

                             2015 
    Profit on
disposals
    Loss in
respect of
business
closures
    Profit/(loss)
on business
disposals and
closures
    Asbestos-
related items
    Other
exceptional
items
    Total 
    £m    £m    £m    £m    £m    £m 
Continuing operations       (1)   (1)   6    (120)   (115)
Discontinued operations   1        1            1 
Profit/(loss) before tax   1    (1)       6    (120)   (114)
Taxation on exceptional items                   18    18 
Profit/(loss) after tax   1    (1)       6    (102)   (96)

 

The pre-tax profit on disposal of £1m relates to costs and movements in indemnity provisions associated with businesses sold in prior years and classified as discontinued.

 

There was a credit of £5m relating to a change in the discount rate applied to the asbestos liability and experiential gains of £9m as the liability is reassessed on an annual basis. These credits were offset by a £7m charge in respect of unwinding the discount and £1m other costs of managing the liability.

 

Other exceptional items of £120m includes £97m relating to the costs of integrating the Amec and Foster Wheeler businesses, £13m amortisation of fees associated with the borrowings taken on to fund the acquisition, a £5m loss incurred following an unauthorised payment made from the Australian business and not expected to be recovered and other exceptional items totalling £5m.

 

Integration costs includes severance (£32m), professional and consultancy fees (£11m), costs of rationalisation of agents (£8m), property and office rationalisation (£27m), and staff costs (£11m) as well as IT, rebranding and Sarbanes-Oxley Act implementation costs totalling £8m.

 

Of the £120m of other exceptional items, £72m was paid in cash during the year.

 

116 Amec Foster Wheeler
Annual report and accounts 2015
 

5 Amortisation, impairment, exceptional items and asbestos-related items continued

 

Post-tax exceptional and asbestos-related items for 2014 are further analysed as follows:

 

                       2014 
                         
   Loss on
disposals
£m
   Profit in
respect of
business
closures
£m
   Loss on
business
disposals and
closures
£m
   Asbestos-
related items
£m
   Other
exceptional
items
£m
   Total
£m
 
Continuing operations  (21)  5   (16)  (9)  (82)  (107)
Discontinued operations  (23)     (23)        (23)
(Loss)/profit before tax  (44)  5   (39)  (9)  (82)  (130)
Taxation on exceptional items  5      5      5   10 
(Loss)/profit after tax  (39)  5   (34)  (9)  (77)  (120)

 

During the year ended 31 December 2014, the Group disposed of its investment in the Lancashire Waste project at a loss of £21m mainly arising from a reverse premium payable on exit. This combined with additional indemnity provisions and costs of £23m associated with businesses sold in prior years (and classified as discontinued) to give a pre-tax loss on disposal of £44m. This includes a provision £11m in respect of a new claim received in the year related to a contract completed by the DPS business which was sold in 2007.

 

There was a credit of £5m from the release of a provision no longer required in respect of a business closed in a prior year (and classified as continuing).

 

Other exceptional items of £82m includes transaction costs of £37m relating to the acquisition of Foster Wheeler AG, £35m costs of integrating the two businesses and £4m of fees associated with the borrowings taken on to fund the acquisition. Integration costs include consultancy and other costs of identifying cost synergies of £18m which includes associated internal labour, plus £17m costs of achieving cost synergies (including £14m redundancy costs). In addition £6m was incurred in completing the previously announced restructuring into geographic business units. There was a charge of £8m relating to a change in the discount rate applied to the asbestos liability and £1m in respect of unwinding the discount. Out of the £82m of other exceptional items £58m was paid in cash during the year.

 

Post-tax exceptional items for 2013 are further analysed as follows:

 

                   2013 
                     
   Loss on
disposals
£m
   Loss in
respect of
business
closures
£m
   Loss on
business
disposals and
closures
£m
   Other
exceptional
items
£m
   Total
£m
 
Continuing operations     (7)  (7)  (18)  (25)
Discontinued operations  (6)     (6)     (6)
Loss before tax  (6)  (7)  (13)  (18)  (31)
Taxation charge on restructuring           (16)  (16)
Taxation on exceptional items  6      6   (6)   
Loss after tax     (7)  (7)  (40)  (47)

 

Additional indemnity provisions of £10m and costs in respect of businesses sold in prior years (and classified as discontinued) were offset by the release of a £5m litigation provision and indemnity provisions no longer required, and give a pre-tax exceptional loss on disposals of £6m.

 

There were additional litigation provisions of £9m offset by releases of £2m in respect of businesses closed in a prior year and classified as continuing.

 

Exceptional costs of £18m in continuing operations includes £14m restructuring costs associated with the management reorganisation into geographic business units and transaction costs of £4m which, in line with IFRS 3, are charged to the income statement.

 

A tax provision of £16m has been established for potential withholding tax following a Group restructuring that resulted in a significant amount of cash being repatriated from foreign subsidiaries.

 


 

Amec Foster Wheeler
Annual report and accounts 2015
117  
 

Notes to the consolidated accounts continued

 

6 Staff costs and employee numbers – continuing operations

 

   2015   2014   2013 
   £m   £m   £m 
Wages and salaries  1,857   1,466   1,459 
Social security costs  193   100   98 
Equity-settled share-based payments (note 22)  7   8   14 
Contributions to defined contribution schemes  42   37   36 
Defined benefit pension scheme expense (note 14)  38   31   32 
   2,137   1,642   1,639 
             
   2015   2014   2013 
   number   number   number 
The average number of people employed was as follows:            
Americas  15,040   12,365   13,046 
Northern Europe and CIS  9,232   7,898   7,216 
Asia, Middle East, Africa and Southern Europe  7,086   3,376   3,070 
Global Power Group  2,332   322    
Investment Services/Centre  323   264   240 
   34,013   24,225   23,572 

 

The average number of people employed in 2014 includes AMEC staff for the full year and Foster Wheeler staff for the period following the acquisition.

 

Details of directors’ remuneration are provided in the Directors’ remuneration report on pages 67 to 80.

 

The average number of employees as stated above excludes agency staff.

 

7 Net financing expense – continuing operations

 

   2015   2014   2013 
   £m   £m   £m 
Financial income            
Interest income on bank deposits  7   3   7 
Other interest and similar income  3   5   3 
Pension financing income     2   1 
Foreign exchange gains  6   1   1 
   16   11   12 
Financial expense            
Interest payable on bank loans and overdrafts  (51)  (10)  (9)
Other interest and similar expense  (7)  (4)  (3)
Pension finance expense  (2)      
Foreign exchange losses  (7)  (1)  (2)
Unwinding of the discount on the asbestos provision  (7)  (1)   
   (74)  (16)  (14)
Net financing expense  (58)  (5)  (2)

 

The unwinding of the discount on the asbestos provision of £7m (2014: £1m) has been presented separately in the income statement and the amortisation of facility fees of £13m (2014: £4m) (included within interest payable on bank loans and overdrafts) has been presented as an exceptional item. There were no exceptional items included in net financing expense in the year ended 31 December 2013.

 

118 Amec Foster Wheeler
Annual report and accounts 2015
 

8 Income tax – continuing operations

 

Income tax arises in respect of the different categories of income and expenses as follows:

 

   2015   2014   2013 
   £m   £m   £m 
Income tax expense on continuing operations before amortisation,            
exceptionals and asbestos related items  63   67   67 
Income tax credit on amortisation  (27)  (12)  (20)
Income tax charge on restructuring        16 
Income tax (credit)/charge in respect of other exceptional items  (18)  (6)  6 
Total income tax expense from continuing operations in the income statement  18   49   69 
             
   2015   2014   2013 
   £m   £m   £m 
Current tax            
Current year  59   72   95 
Adjustments in respect of prior years  (19)  (6)  (26)
   40   66   69 
Deferred tax            
Origination and reversal of temporary differences  (19)  (13)  (2)
Adjustments in respect of prior years  (3)  (4)  2 
   (22)  (17)   
Total income tax expense for continuing operations  18   49   69 

 

During the year, effective from 1 April 2015, the standard rate of corporation tax in the UK changed from 21% to 20%. The rate is reduced to 19% with effect from 1 April 2017, with a further reduction to 18% from 1 April 2020. These changes were all substantively enacted prior to the end of the year.

 

Factors affecting the tax expense for the year are explained as follows:

 

       2014   2013 
   2015   (restated)   (restated) 
   £m   £m   £m 
(Loss)/profit before tax  (235)  155   255 
Less: share of net income from joint ventures  (28)  (12)  (14)
(Loss)/profit before tax from continuing operations (excluding joint ventures)  (263)  143   241 
Expected income tax expense at UK tax rate  (53)  31   56 
Non-deductible expenses – pre-exceptional  7   13   11 
Non-deductible expenses – exceptional  3   11    
Non-deductible impairments  62       
Non-taxable income – pre-exceptional  (2)      
Benefit from finance structures  (12)  (6)  (7)
Closure of HMRC enquiry into intragroup lending  (12)      
Impact of providing deferred tax on pension surplus at 20.0%        (21)
Impact of changes in UK tax rate on deferred tax  (7)      
Overseas income and expenses taxed at rates other than UK rate  5   8   26 
Utilisation of tax assets not previously recognised  (1)     (6)
Recognition of tax assets not previously recognised  (3)  (8)   
Current year tax assets not recognised  15   10   6 
Write-off of previously recognised tax assets  26      28 
Other adjustments in respect of prior years  (10)  (10)  (24)
Total income tax expense for the year for continuing operations  18   49   69 

 

During the year HMRC’s enquiry into the nature of the intercompany debt payable from the legacy Amec US group to the UK was concluded without tax adjustment. Accordingly, £12m of risk provision was released in full during the year.

 

Net income tax liabilities in the Group balance sheet include £105m (2014: £126m) relating to uncertain tax positions.


 

Amec Foster Wheeler
Annual report and accounts 2015
119  
 

Notes to the consolidated accounts continued

 

8 Income tax – continuing operations continued

 

   2015   2014   2013 
   £m   £m   £m 
Tax recognised directly in other comprehensive income            
Current tax         
Deferred tax (note 15)  23   (11)  21 
Tax charge/(credit) recognised directly in other comprehensive income  23   (11)  21 

 

9 (Loss)/profit for the year from discontinued operations

 

Discontinued operations represent the residual assets and retained obligations in respect of businesses sold in prior years, as well as the UK conventional power business, which was discontinued in 2013.

 

In accordance with IFRS 5, the post-tax results of discontinued operations are disclosed separately in the consolidated income statement.

 

The results of the discontinued operations are all attributable to the equity holders of the parent and are as follows:

 

   2015   2014   2013 
   £m   £m   £m 
Revenue     (13)  15 
Cost of sales and net operating expenses  (6)  3   (25)
Loss before exceptional items and income tax  (6)  (10)  (10)
Attributable tax  1   2   2 
   (5)  (8)  (8)
Profit/(loss) on disposal  1   (23)  (6)
Tax on disposals     4   6 
Loss for the year from discontinued operations  (4)  (27)  (8)

 

The loss before exceptional items and income tax in 2015 represents additional provisions on certain contracts within the UK conventional power business.

 

The negative revenue of £13m and loss of £10m before exceptional items and income tax in 2014 related to the settlement of final accounts and additional provisions on the UK conventional power contracts.

 

The loss on disposals of £23m in 2014 relates to additional indemnity provisions and costs associated with businesses sold in prior years.

 

Net cash flows attributable to discontinued operations

The net cash flows attributable to discontinued operations during the year were as follows:

 

   2015   2014   2013 
   £m   £m   £m 
Net cash flow from operating activities  (1)  (3)  (12)
Net cash flow from investing activities  2   3   (2)
   1      (14)

 

120 Amec Foster Wheeler
Annual report and accounts 2015
 

10 Earnings per share

 

Basic and diluted earnings per share are shown on the face of the income statement. The calculation of the average number of shares in issue has been made having deducted the shares held by the trustees of the Employee Share Trust and those held in treasury by the company. As the Group has reported a basic loss per ordinary share from continuing operations, any potential ordinary shares are anti-dilutive and so excluded from the calculation of diluted loss per share.

 

   2015   2014   2013 
     Loss
£m
    Weighted
average
shares
number
million
    Loss
per share
pence
    Earnings
£m
    Weighted
average
shares
number
million
    Earnings
per share
pence
    Earnings
£m
    Weighted
average
shares
number
million
    Earnings
per share
pence
 
Basic (loss)/earnings from continuing operations   (252)   383    (66.1)   109    302    36.1    187    293    63.8 
Share options                   2    (0.2)       2    (0.4)
Employee share and incentive schemes                   7    (0.8)       4    (0.9)
Diluted (loss)/earnings from continuing operations   (252)   383    (66.1)   109    311    35.1    187    299    62.5 
                                              
Basic loss from discontinued operations   (4)   383    (1.1)   (27)   302    (8.9)   (8)   293    (2.7)
Share options                   2    0.1        2     
Employee share and incentive schemes                   7    0.2        4     
Diluted loss from discontinued operations   (4)   383    (1.1)   (27)   311    (8.6)   (8)   299    (2.7)

 

Basic and diluted (loss)/profit from continuing operations is calculated as set out below:

 

    2015    2014    2013 
    £m    £m    £m 
(Loss)/profit for the year from continuing operations   (253)   106    186 
Loss attributable to non-controlling interests   1    3    1 
Basic and diluted (loss)/profit from continuing operations   (252)   109    187 


 

Amec Foster Wheeler
Annual report and accounts 2015
 121  
 

Notes to the consolidated accounts continued

 

10 Earnings per share continued

 

In order to appreciate the effects on the reported performance of intangible amortisation and impairment, exceptional and asbestos related items along with the impact of the potential ordinary shares, additional calculations of earnings per share are presented.

 

   2015   2014   2013 
     (Loss)/
earnings
£m
    Weighted
average
shares
number
million
    Earnings
per share
pence
    Earnings
£m
    Weighted
average
shares
number
million
    
Earnings
per share
pence
    Earnings
£m
    Weighted
average
shares
number
million
    Earnings
per share
pence
 
Basic (loss)/earnings from continuing operations   (252)   383    (66.1)   109    302    36.1    187    293    63.8 
Exceptional and asbestos related items (post-tax)   97        25.3    101        33.4    47        16.0 
Amortisation and impairment (post-tax)   417        108.9    37        12.3    27        9.2 
Basic earnings from continuing operations before impairment, amortisation, exceptional and asbestos related items   262    383    68.1    247    302    81.8    261    293    89.0 
Share options                   2    (0.5)       2    (0.6)
Employee share and incentive schemes       2    (0.4)       7    (1.8)       4    (1.2)
Diluted earnings from continuing operations before impairment, amortisation and exceptional and asbestos related items   262    385    67.7    247    311    79.5    261    299    87.2 
                                              
Basic loss from discontinued operations   (4)   383    (1.1)   (27)   302    (8.9)   (8)   293    (2.7)
Exceptional items (post-tax)   (1)       (0.2)   19        6.3             
Basic loss from discontinued operations before exceptional items   (5)   383    (1.3)   (8)   302    (2.6)   (8)   293    (2.7)
Share options                   2            2     
Employee share and incentive schemes       2            7    0.1        4     
Diluted loss from discontinuing operations before exceptional items   (5)   385    (1.3)   (8)   311    (2.5)   (8)   299    (2.7)

 

122 Amec Foster Wheeler
Annual report and accounts 2015
 

11 Property, plant and equipment

 

    Land and    Plant and      
    buildings    equipment    Total 
    £m    £m    £m 
Cost               
As at 1 January 2015 (restated)   78    172    250 
Exchange and other movements   (3)   (4)   (7)
Reclassifications   (2)   (5)   (7)
Additions   4    12    16 
Disposals   (2)   (4)   (6)
As at 31 December 2015   75    171    246 
Depreciation               
As at 1 January 2015   24    76    100 
Exchange and other movements   (1)   (2)   (3)
Provided during the year   7    19    26 
Disposals   (1)   (3)   (4)
As at 31 December 2015   29    90    119 
Cost               
As at 1 January 2014   30    95    125 
Exchange and other movements   4    (1)   3 
Acquired through business combinations   39    73    112 
Additions   6    8    14 
Disposals   (1)   (3)   (4)
As at 31 December 2014 (restated)   78    172    250 
Depreciation               
As at 1 January 2014   17    69    86 
Exchange and other movements   2        2 
Provided during the year   6    10    16 
Disposals   (1)   (3)   (4)
As at 31 December 2014   24    76    100 
Net book value
As at 31 December 2015
   46    81    127 
As at 31 December 2014   54    96    150 
As at 1 January 2014   13    26    39 
                
                
              31 December 
         31 December    2014 
         2015    (restated) 
         £m    £m 
The net book value of land and buildings comprised:               
Freehold        24    29 
Short leasehold        22    25 
         46    54 

 

The carrying value of land and buildings held under finance lease at 31 December 2015 was £5m (2014: £6m). The amount acquired through business combinations was £nil (2014: £6m). Additions during the year include £nil (2014: £nil) under finance leases.

 

The balance as at 1 January 2015 has been restated following the finalisation of the purchase price allocation of the Foster Wheeler acquisition.


 

Amec Foster Wheeler
Annual report and accounts 2015
123  
 

Notes to the consolidated accounts continued

 

12 Intangible assets

 

         Customer    Brands/    Order                
    Goodwill    relationships    trademarks    backlog    Patents    Software    Total 
    £m    £m    £m    £m    £m    £m    £m 
Cost                                   
As at 1 January 2015 (restated)   2,551    560    186    137    109    123    3,666 
Exchange and other movements   (21)   1    8        8        (4)
Additions   1                    21    22 
Disposals and retirements       (31)               (6)   (37)
Reclassifications                       7    7 
As at 31 December 2015   2,531    530    194    137    117    145    3,654 
Amortisation                                   
As at 1 January 2015 (restated)   35    107    21    14    1    45    223 
Exchange and other movements   (4)           1    1    1    (1)
Impairment loss   308            7            315 
Provided during the year       43    11    43    7    25    129 
Disposals and retirements       (31)               (6)   (37)
As at 31 December 2015   339    119    32    65    9    65    629 
Cost                                   
As at 1 January 2014   792    192    23    9        66    1,082 
Exchange and other movements   (2)   4    1        (1)   2    4 
Acquired through business combinations   1,761    367    162    129    110    5    2,534 
Additions                       51    51 
Disposals and retirements       (3)       (1)       (1)   (5)
As at 31 December 2014 (restated)   2,551    560    186    137    109    123    3,666 
Amortisation                                   
As at 1 January 2014   35    85    19    7        29    175 
Exchange and other movements       2                1    3 
Provided during the year       23    2    8    1    15    49 
Disposals and retirements       (3)       (1)           (4)
As at 31 December 2014 (restated)   35    107    21    14    1    45    223 
Net book value
As at 31 December 2015
   2,192    411    162    72    108    80    3,025 
As at 31 December 2014 (restated)   2,516    453    165    123    108    78    3,443 
As at 1 January 2014   757    107    4    2        37    907 

 

The carrying value of software held under deferred payment arrangements which are similar to finance leases as at 31 December 2015 was £24m (2014: £30m). Additions during the year include £nil (2014: £33m) of software held under deferred payment arrangements.

 

The impairment loss of £315m relates to a £308m impairment of goodwill in relation to the Global Power Group and a £7m impairment of the order backlog intangible asset.

 

124 Amec Foster Wheeler
Annual report and accounts 2015
 

12 Intangible assets continued

 

The Group is required to test its goodwill and intangible assets for impairment at least annually, or more frequently if indicators of impairment exist.

 

The review of goodwill for indications of impairment by management is performed at the operating segment level, being the lowest level of cash-generating units (CGU) monitored for goodwill purposes. With effect from 1 January 2015, the Group adopted three new geographical operating segments: Americas; Northern Europe and CIS; and Asia, Middle East, Africa and Southern Europe; with Foster Wheeler’s E&C Services segment being merged into these segments. Goodwill on the legacy AMEC and Foster Wheeler E&C businesses was allocated between these segments on a relative fair value basis.

 

The table below shows the goodwill allocated to each CGU, post recognition of any impairment losses.

 

 

  Goodwill
31 December
2015
£m
Pre-tax
discount rate
2015
%
Americas 1,054 11
Northern Europe and CIS 654 11
Asia, Middle East, Africa and Southern Europe 266 11
Global Power Group 218 13

 

The recoverable amount of all CGUs has been based on value-in-use calculations. These calculations use cash flow projections included in the financial budgets approved by the Board for 2016 and pre-tax discount rates as set out in the table above. For the purposes of the calculation of the recoverable amount, the cash flow projections beyond the budgeted period include no growth in 2017 for the Americas, Northern Europe and CIS, and Asia, Middle East, Africa and Southern Europe, and 10% growth in the Global Power Group. For all segments, no growth is included in 2018, 5% growth in 2019, 10% growth in 2020 and 3% growth per annum thereafter. The long-term growth rates are in line with long-term average growth rates for the regions in which the CGUs operate.

 

The financial budgets reflect management’s judgement of the future cash flows which includes past experience and expectations of future performance. The most significant assumptions relate to trading profit margin and the conversion of trading profit into cash (cash conversion). Revenue is underpinned by a secure order book for each CGU and the order book remains strong at £6.6 billion as at 31 December 2015 (2014: £6.3 billion). The selection of trading profit margin takes into account the margins being generated on contracts in progress and management’s view of the margin on orders received, and is consistent with Amec Foster Wheeler’s growth strategy. The cash conversion reflects past experience and current contract mix.

 

The value-in-use has been compared to the carrying value for each CGU and no impairment is required nor has been charged in respect of the Americas, Northern Europe and CIS, or Asia, Middle East, Africa and Southern Europe CGUs.

 

The carrying amount of the Global Power Group CGU has been reduced to its recoverable amount through recognition of an impairment loss of £308m against goodwill. This has been included in administrative expenses in the income statement. The recoverable amount of the Global Power Group CGU is £396m. The impairment loss arose due to difficult market conditions and a reduction in forecast future profits of the Global Power Group. Any adverse changes in the key assumptions would increase this impairment loss.

 

A sensitivity analysis has been performed in respect of these CGUs in order to review the impact of changes in key assumptions. The value-in-use calculations referred to above showed headroom of £400m in the Americas CGU and £307m in the Northern Europe and CIS CGU. However, applying zero terminal growth would eliminate the headroom and would result in an impairment to goodwill of £40m in the Americas CGU and £27m in the Northern Europe and CIS CGU. A zero growth rate would not result in an impairment in the Asia, Middle East, Africa and Southern Europe CGU.

 

Consideration was also given to the impact of a 10% decrease in volume, a 1% decrease in margin, or a 1% increase in discount rate, in each case holding other assumptions constant. This did not identify any impairments in these CGUs.


 

Amec Foster Wheeler
Annual report and accounts 2015
125  
 

Notes to the consolidated accounts continued

 

13 Interests in joint ventures

 

Interests in joint ventures

Details in aggregate of the Group’s interests in all joint ventures that are accounted for using the equity method are as follows:

 

 

  £m 
Net book value    
As at 1 January 2015  122 
Exchange and other movements  2 
Disposal of businesses  (9)
Additions  1 
Reclassifications  2 
Total comprehensive income  28 
Dividends received  (42)
As at 31 December 2015  104 
As at 1 January 2014  52 
Acquired through business combinations  73 
Disposal of businesses  (2)
Additions  1 
Total comprehensive income  12 
Dividends received  (14)
As at 31 December 2014  122 

 

Group companies are listed on pages 194 to 201.

 

Details of material joint ventures 

Petropower Energia Limitada 

The Group has an 85% interest in Petropower Energia Limitada, a joint venture alongside the state-owned oil company of the Republic of Chile, which began commercial operation in November 1998. The Group’s interest is accounted for using the equity method in the consolidated financial statements. Summarised financial information of the joint venture, based on its IFRS financial statements are set out below:

 

Summarised Balance Sheet of Petropower Energia Limitada:

 

 

  2015
£m
  2014
£m
 
Non-current assets  47   51 
Current assets, including cash and cash equivalents of £19,583,000 (2014: £14,607,000)  35   41 
Current liabilities  (30)  (29)
Non-current liabilities  (12)  (13)
Equity  40   50 
         
Summarised Income Statement of Petropower Energia Limitada:        
         
         
       2015
£m
 
Revenue      43 
Cost of sales      (20)
Administrative expenses      (2)
Profit before tax      21 
Income tax expense      (5)
Profit for the year      16 

 

Although the Group has an 85% interest in Petropower Energia Limitada, the profits are split according to the joint venture agreement. In the year the profit after tax received by the Group from Petropower Energia Limitada was £11m (2014: £2m), the carrying value of the investment was £53m (2014: £54m).

 

In 2014 the income received from Petropower Energia Limitada was immaterial as the Group only acquired the 85% interest following the acquisition of Foster Wheeler on 13 November 2014.

 

126   Amec Foster Wheeler
Annual report and accounts 2015
 

13 Interests in joint ventures continued

 

Nuclear Management Partners Limited

The Group has a 36% interest in Nuclear Management Partners Limited. The Group’s interest is accounted for using the equity method in the consolidated financial statements. Summarised financial information of the joint venture, based on its IFRS financial statements are set out below:

 

Summarised Balance Sheet of Nuclear Management Partners Limited:

       
   2015
£m
   2014
£m
 
Non-current assets  10   30 
Current assets, including cash and cash equivalents of £4,635,000 (2014: £2,449,000)  8   8 
Current liabilities  (6)  (5)
Non-current liabilities     (3)
Equity  12   30 
Group’s carrying value of investment  4   11 
         
Summarised Income Statement of Nuclear Management Partners Limited:        
         
         
   2015
£m
   2014
£m
 
Revenue  6   6 
Cost of sales  (6)  (6)
Administrative expenses  (2)  (3)
Share of post tax results of associate  40   27 
Profit before tax  38   24 
Income tax expense      
Profit for the year  38   24 
Group’s share of profit for the year  14   9 

 

PPP service concessions 

Details of the PPP service concessions are as follows:

 

    Financial
close
Equity
stake
Concession
period
Net equity
invested
Transport A13 Thames Gateway 2000 25% 30 years
  Incheon Bridge, Korea 2005 23% 30 years £12m
Power Petropower Energía Limitada, Chile 1998 85% 20 years £53m

 

Interests in joint operations 

The Group does not hold any individual material interests in joint operations in either the current or prior year.


 

Amec Foster Wheeler
Annual report and accounts 2015
127  
 

Notes to the consolidated accounts continued

 

14 Retirement benefit assets and liabilities

 

Defined benefit schemes

The Group operates a number of pension schemes for UK and overseas employees.

 

There are three principal defined benefit schemes. In the UK these are the AMEC Staff pension scheme, (which also has an associated Executive top-up scheme) and the Foster Wheeler Pension Plan and in the US, The Foster Wheeler Inc. Salaried Employees Pension Plan. The AMEC Staff and Executive pension schemes are closed to new members but remain open to further accrual. The Foster Wheeler Pension Plan is a hybrid benefit arrangement with distinct defined benefit and defined contribution sections. The defined benefit section is closed to new members and further accrual, but the defined contribution section remains open to further accrual. The Foster Wheeler Inc. Salaried Employees Pension Plan is also closed to new members and further accrual. Contributions by the Group into defined contribution schemes are disclosed in note 6.

 

The AMEC Staff and Executive pension schemes are average salary plans for UK employees. The Foster Wheeler Pension Plan was a final salary pension plan. All three schemes require contributions to be made to a separately administered fund. These schemes are governed by the employment laws of the UK. The level of benefits provided depends on the member’s length of service and salary each year. Once the benefits are in payment, the pension is adjusted each year relative to the UK’s Retail Prices Index for the AMEC Staff and Executive pension schemes. The Foster Wheeler Pension Plan is adjusted each year relative to the UK’s Consumer Price Index. Each scheme is established under trust law and are governed by a Board of Trustees, which consists of employers’ and employees’ representatives. In addition, the AMEC Staff and Executive pension schemes have two independent trustees. The Board of Trustees is responsible for the administration of the plan assets and for the definition of the investment strategy.

 

Every three years, the Board of Trustees is required by legislation to review the level of funding in the pension plans. The Board of Trustees decides the contribution levels in consultation with the employers’ based on the results of this triennial review. In the event that there is a funding deficit, the Trustees and the employer will agree a recovery plan to eliminate that deficit over as short a period as is reasonably affordable.

 

Due to the nature of the liabilities, the pension plans are exposed to inflation, interest rate risk and changes in the life expectancy for pensioners. As the plan assets include significant investments in quoted equities, the Group is also exposed to equity market risk.

 

The valuations used have been based on the final valuations of the AMEC Staff pension scheme and AMEC Executive pension scheme as at 31 March 2014. The Foster Wheeler Pension Plan’s most recent valuation took place as at 1 April 2013. These schemes have been updated by the schemes’ actuaries for the requirement to assess the present value of the liabilities of the schemes as at 31 December 2015. The assets of the schemes are stated at their aggregate market value as at 31 December 2015.

 

The Foster Wheeler Inc. Salaried Employees Pension Plan provides pension benefits to certain full-time employees. Under the pension plan, retirement benefits are primarily a function of both years of service and level of compensation. The pension plan is closed to new members and further accrual.

 

Following an employee consultation exercise at the end of 2015, the Company has now confirmed its intention to close its UK Staff and Executive defined benefit pension schemes to future accrual from 1 April 2016 and replace them with a new defined contribution arrangement. Subject to obtaining the necessary Trustee approval, all legacy defined contribution plans in the UK will be merged into the new arrangement by 30 June 2016.

 

128   Amec Foster Wheeler
Annual report and accounts 2015
 

14 Retirement benefit assets and liabilities continued

 

Defined benefit schemes continued

The principal assumptions made by the actuaries are as follows:

 

  31 December
2015
%
31 December
2014
%
31 December
2013
%
The AMEC Staff pension scheme and the AMEC Executive pension scheme      
Rate of discount 3.9 3.6 4.6
Rate of inflation 3.0 3.0 3.3
Rate of increase in salaries 3.0 3.0 3.3
Rate of increase in pensions in payment (service before/after 1 January 2008) 2.8/1.9 2.9/2.0 3.2/2.2
The Foster Wheeler Pension Plan      
Rate of discount 3.9 3.7
Rate of inflation 3.0 3.0
Rate of increase in salaries 2.0 1.9
Rate of increase in pensions in payment (service before/after 5 April 2005, nil before 6 April 1997) 2.0/1.5 1.1
The Foster Wheeler Inc. Salaried Employees Pension Plan      
Rate of discount 3.9 3.6
Rate of inflation 2.3 2.5
Rate of increase in salaries N/A N/A
Rate of increase in pensions in payment N/A N/A

 

In addition the Group has a number of smaller overseas schemes. During the year the rate of discount ranged from 1.5% to 10.1% (2014: 1.8% to 9.0%; 2013: 4.8% to 4.9%). The rate of increase in salaries ranged from 1.9% to 8.0% (2014: 1.9% to 8.0%; 2013: 2.8%).

 

For the three principal defined benefit schemes, the assumed life expectancy is as follows:

 

  31 December
2015
Male
years
31 December
2015
Female
years
31 December
2014
Male
years
31 December
2014
Female
years
31 December
2013
Male
years
31 December
2013
Female
years
The AMEC Staff pension scheme and            
the AMEC Executive pension scheme            
Member aged 65 (current life expectancy) 22.4 24.6 22.5 24.6 22.9 24.4
Member aged 45 (life expectancy at 65) 24.1 26.5 24.2 26.5 24.7 26.3
The Foster Wheeler Pension Plan            
Member aged 65 (current life expectancy) 23.4 23.2 23.5 23.2 N/A N/A
Member aged 45 (life expectancy at 65) 25.1 25.1 25.3 25.1 N/A N/A
The Foster Wheeler Inc. Salaried            
Employees Pension Plan            
Member aged 65 (current life expectancy) 21.1 23.1 21.6 23.7 N/A N/A
Member aged 45 (life expectancy at 65) 23.2 25.2 23.2 25.4 N/A N/A

 

The assumptions used by the actuaries are the best estimates chosen from a range of possible actuarial assumptions, which, due to the timescale covered, may not necessarily be borne out in practice.


 

Amec Foster Wheeler
Annual report and accounts 2015
129  
 

Notes to the consolidated accounts continued

 

14 Retirement benefit assets and liabilities continued

 

Defined benefit schemes continued

The amounts recognised in the balance sheet are as follows:

 

   31 December
2015
£m
   31 December
2014
£m
   31 December
2013
£m
 
Retirement benefit assets   231    102    102 
Retirement benefit liabilities   (168)   (188)   (62)
Retirement benefit net asset/(liability)   63    (86)   40 

 

The retirement benefit net asset/(liability) is analysed as follows:

 

   31 December
2015
£m
   31 December
2014
£m
   31 December
2013
£m
 
The AMEC Staff and the AMEC Executive pension scheme   184    65    102 
The Foster Wheeler Pension Plan   47    37     
The Foster Wheeler Inc. Salaried Employees Pension Plan   (59)   (57)    
Other smaller pension schemes   (109)   (131)   (62)
    63    (86)   40 

 

The retirement benefit liabilities of £168m (2014: £188m; 2013: £62m) reflect primarily the deficits on the smaller overseas schemes.

 

The major categories of scheme assets as a percentage of total scheme assets are as follows:

 

   31 December
2015
per cent
   31 December
2014
per cent
  

31 December
2013
per cent

 
Equities   34.6    35.4    41.3 
Bonds (including gilts)   51.8    52.6    47.6 
Property   8.7    8.4    8.8 
Other   4.9    3.6    2.3 
    100.0    100.0    100.0 

 

The equities and bonds as listed above are predominantly quoted investments. There is a small investment in privately held pooled fund investments and the property/other investments are unquoted.

 

The amounts recognised in the income statement are as follows:

 

   2015
£m
   2014
£m
   2013
£m
 
Current service cost, past service cost and administrative expenses   36    33    33 
Interest cost   104    84    72 
Interest income   (102)   (86)   (73)
Total amount recognised in the income statement and included within staff costs (note 6)   38    31    32 
Settlement gain   (3)   (3)    
Total amount recognised in the income statement   35    28    32 
The total amount is recognised in the income statement as follows:               
Cost of sales   22    20    19 
Administrative expenses   11    10    14 
Net financing expense/(income)   2    (2)   (1)
Total amount recognised in the income statement   35    28    32 

 

130 Amec Foster Wheeler
Annual report and accounts 2015
 

14 Retirement benefit assets and liabilities continued

 

Defined benefit schemes continued

Changes in the present value of the defined benefit liability are as follows:

 

   2015
£m
   2014
£m
   2013
£m
 
As at 1 January   2,931    1,743    1,652 
Exchange and other movements   (1)   3    (14)
Acquired through business combinations       898     
Current and past service cost   32    29    31 
Interest cost   104    84    72 
Plan participants’ contributions   11    12    12 
Actuarial (gains)/charges arising from changes in financial assumptions and experience adjustments  (177)   278    58 
Actuarial (gains)/charges arising from changes in demographic assumptions   (14)   (19)   7 
Settlements   (31)   (12)   (4)
Benefits paid   (141)   (85)   (71)
Reclassifications   3         
As at 31 December   2,717    2,931    1,743 

 

The defined benefit obligation can be allocated to the plans’ participants as follows:

 

   2015
%
  2014
%
  2013
%
Active plan participants   20.5    22.0    25.2 
Deferred plan participants   28.4    31.3    33.8 
Retirees   51.1    46.7    41.0 
    100.0    100.0    100.0 

 

The weighted average duration of the defined benefit obligation at the end of the reporting period is 16 years.

 

Changes in the fair value of scheme assets are as follows:

 

   2015
£m
   2014
£m
   2013
£m
 
As at 1 January   2,845    1,783    1,645 
Exchange and other movements       3    (8)
Acquired through business combinations       826     
Interest income   102    86    73 
Actuarial (losses)/gains   (41)   201    105 
Employer contributions   36    32    29 
Plan participants’ contributions   11    12    12 
Administrative expenses   (4)   (4)   (2)
Settlements   (28)   (9)    
Benefits paid   (141)   (85)   (71)
As at 31 December   2,780    2,845    1,783 


 

Amec Foster Wheeler
Annual report and accounts 2015
131  
 

Notes to the consolidated accounts continued

 

14 Retirement benefit assets and liabilities continued

 

Defined benefit schemes continued

The movement in the scheme net asset/(liability) during the year is as follows:

 

   2015
£m
   2014
£m
   2013
£m
 
Scheme net (liability)/asset as at 1 January   (86)   40    (7)
Exchange and other movements   1        6 
Acquired through business combinations       (72)    
Total charge as per note 6   (38)   (31)   (32)
Employer contributions   36    32    29 
Settlements   3    3    4 
Actuarial gains/(losses) recognised in other comprehensive income   150    (58)   40 
Reclassifications   (3)        
Scheme net asset/(liability) as at 31 December   63    (86)   40 

 

The impact on the defined benefit obligation of the principal pension schemes of changes in the most significant assumptions as at 31 December 2015 is shown below:

 

   The AMEC Staff
and the
AMEC Executive
pension schemes
£m
   The Foster Wheeler
Pension Plan
£m
   The Foster Wheeler
Inc. Salaried
Employees
Pension Plan
£m
 
Discount rate               
-10 bps   (29)   (9)   (2)
+10 bps   29    9    2 
Inflation               
-10 bps   27    4     
+10 bps   (27)   (4)    
Salary increase               
-10 bps   2    1     
+10 bps   (2)   (1)    
Mortality               
+1 year   (53)   (12)   (9)
- 1 year   53    12    9 

 

The sensitivity analysis above is based on a method that extrapolates the impact on the defined benefit obligation of reasonable changes in key assumptions occurring as at 31 December 2015.

 

The defined benefit obligations of the other benefit schemes are significantly lower than those of the principal defined benefit schemes. Sensitivity analysis of reasonable changes in the key assumptions as at 31 December did not indicate any significant changes to the defined benefit obligations of those schemes.

 

Expected benefit payments from the defined benefit plans in future years are as follows:

 

   £m 
Year 1   139 
Year 2   142 
Year 3   145 
Year 4   147 
Year 5   150 
Next five years   793 
    1,516 

 

The Group expects to contribute £36m to its defined benefit pension schemes in 2016. This includes special contributions of £6m.

 

132 Amec Foster Wheeler
Annual report and accounts 2015
 

15 Deferred tax assets and liabilities

 

Deferred tax assets and liabilities are attributable to the following:

 

Recognised deferred tax assets and liabilities

 

   Assets   Liabilities 
   31 December
2015
£m
   31 December
2014
£m
   31 December
2015
£m
   31 December
2014
£m
 
Property, plant and equipment   17    15    (10)   (9)
Intangible assets   4    14    (226)   (264)
Retirement benefits   43    67    (43)   (38)
Derivative financial instruments   2        (2)   (2)
Provisions   144    130         
Employee share schemes       1         
Other items   12    28    (29)   (37)
Tax losses carried forward   30    42         
Tax credits carried forward   2    1         
Deferred tax assets/(liabilities)   254    298    (310)   (350)
Offset of deferred tax assets and liabilities relating to income tax levied by the same taxation authority   (204)   (242)   204    242 
Net deferred tax assets/(liabilities)   50    56    (106)   (108)

 

   As at
1 January
2015
£m
   Exchange
and other
movements
£m
   Reclassifications
£m
   Recognised
in income
£m
   Recognised
in other
comprehensive
income
£m
   As at
31 December
2015
£m
 
Property, plant and equipment   6            1        7 
Intangible assets   (250)   (6)   (1)   35        (222)
Retirement benefits   29    2        (5)   (26)    
Derivative financial instruments   (2)               2     
Provisions   130    1        12    1    144 
Employee share schemes   1            (1)        
Other items   (9)   1    1    (9)   (1)   (17)
Tax losses carried forward   42    (1)   (1)   (11)   1    30 
Tax credits carried forward   1        1            2 
    (52)   (3)       22    (23)   (56)

 

   As at
1 January
2014
£m
   Exchange
and other
movements
£m
   Acquisitions
£m
  

Recognised
in income
£m

   Recognised
in other
comprehensive
income
£m
   As at
31 December
2014
£m
 
Property, plant and equipment   13        (11)   4        6 
Intangible assets   (33)   (3)   (222)   8        (250)
Retirement benefits   (12)       35    (5)   11    29 
Derivative financial instruments           (2)           (2)
Provisions   46    2    84    (2)       130 
Employee share schemes   3            (2)       1 
Other items   (5)       (6)   2        (9)
Tax losses carried forward   3        28    11        42 
Tax credits carried forward               1        1 
    15    (1)   (94)   17    11    (52)

 

The deferred tax credit of £22m (2014: £17m) recognised in income consists of a credit of £22m (2014: £16m) relating to continuing operations and a £nil credit (2014: £1m) in respect of discontinued operations.


 

Amec Foster Wheeler
Annual report and accounts 2015
133  
 

Notes to the consolidated accounts continued

 

15 Deferred tax assets and liabilities continued

 

Factors affecting the tax charge in future years

There are a number of factors that may affect the Group’s future tax charge including the resolution of open issues with tax authorities, corporate acquisitions and disposals, the use of brought-forward losses and changes in tax legislation and tax rates.

 

Unrecognised deferred tax assets

Deferred tax assets have not been recognised in respect of the following items:

 

   31 December   31 December 
   2015   2014 
   £m   £m 
Deductible temporary differences  322   326 
Tax losses  128   121 
   450   447 

 

During the year the Group withdrew claims made to HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) to offset German tax losses of approximately £79m against UK taxable profits. This follows a further change to HMRC’s view of the conditions that need to be satisfied for a valid claim, based on a ruling in the Court of Justice of the European Union. The point at issue concerns the date on which there is certainty that the losses could not be utilised in the country in which they originated. HMRC’s position was that it would be necessary to litigate in order to pursue the claims. As the net UK tax benefit of the claims was no more than £10m, the decision to withdraw the claim was taken on the basis that there was no longer clear legal precedent on the point at issue and the costs of pursuing the claim would be substantial, with no certainty of success.

 

As at 31 December 2015 the expiry dates of unrecognised deferred tax assets carried forward are as follows:

 

   Tax losses
£m
   Deductible
temporary
differences
£m
   Total
£m
 
Expiring within 5 years  3   37   40 
Expiring within 6-10 years  10   80   90 
Expiring within 11-20 years  46      46 
Unlimited  69   205   274 
   128   322   450 

 

Deferred tax assets have not been recognised in respect of these items because it is not probable that future taxable profits will be available against which the Group can utilise these assets.

 

Unrecognised deferred tax liabilities

No deferred tax liability has been recognised in respect of £1,323m (2014: £1,440m) of unremitted earnings of subsidiaries and joint ventures because the Group is in a position to control the timing of the reversal of the temporary difference and it is not probable that such differences will reverse in the foreseeable future.

 

The amount of unrecognised deferred tax liabilities in respect of these unremitted earnings is estimated to be £28m (2014: £29m).

 

16 Inventories

 

   31 December
2015
£m
   31 December
2014
£m
 
Raw materials  13   14 
   13   14 
         
134 Amec Foster Wheeler
Annual report and accounts 2015
 

17 Current trade and other receivables

 

   31 December
2015
£m
   31 December
2014
(restated)
£m
 
Amounts expected to be recovered within one year        
Gross amounts due from customers  552   542 
Trade receivables  717   758 
Amounts owed by joint ventures  13   10 
Other receivables  63   60 
Prepayments and accrued income  72   76 
Asbestos related insurance recovery debtor (note 21)  14   13 
   1,431   1,459 
Amounts expected to be recovered after more than one year        
Gross amounts due from customers  2    
Trade receivables  7   5 
Amounts owed by joint ventures  1   1 
Other receivables  14   4 
   24   10 
   1,455   1,469 

 

Trade receivables expected to be recovered within one year include retentions of £34m (2014: £47m) relating to contracts in progress. Trade receivables expected to be recovered after more than one year include retentions of £7m (2014: £4m) net of £1m impairment (2014: £nil) relating to contracts in progress.

 

The aggregate amount of costs incurred plus recognised profits (less recognised losses) for all long-term contracts in progress for continuing businesses at the balance sheet date was £6,428m.

 

Trade receivables, amounts owed by joint ventures and other receivables are classified as loans and receivables.

 

18 Current trade and other payables

 

   31 December
2015
£m
   31 December
2014
(restated)
£m
 
Amounts expected to be settled within one year        
Trade payables  584   543 
Gross amounts due to customers  328   361 
Other taxation and social security costs  50   42 
Other payables  225   190 
Accruals  198   235 
   1,385   1,371 
Amounts expected to be settled after more than one year        
Trade payables  1   2 
Gross amounts due to customers  5   5 
Other taxation and social security costs  17   19 
Other payables  47   40 
Accruals  4   1 
   74   67 
   1,459   1,438 

 

Gross amounts due to customers include advances received of £5m (2014: £nil).

 

Trade payables, other payables and accruals are classified as other financial liabilities.

 


 

Amec Foster Wheeler
Annual report and accounts 2015
135  
 

Notes to the consolidated accounts continued

 

19 Capital and financial risk management

 

Capital management

The objective of the Group’s capital management is to ensure that it has a strong financial position from which to grow the business and to maximise shareholder value. The appropriate capital structure for the Group comprises of a mix of debt and equity. The mix is determined by considering business profile and strategy, financial policies and availability and cost of funding.

 

Following the acquisition of Foster Wheeler, the Group is currently in a net debt position. The long-term net debt is targeted to be no more than two times trading profit. The Group may exceed this operating parameter should the business profile require it. However, it is expected that any increases would be temporary given the net operational cash flows of the Group.

 

At 31 December 2015, the Group had committed banking facilities of £1,768m (2014: £1,863m). This consists of a £27m project debt and a £377m multi-currency revolving facility that was taken out on 18 July 2012. The facility is committed for five years and is available for general corporate purposes. The Group has additional facilities totalling $2,010m (£1,363m). This comprises of the following:

 

► $830m (£563m) bridge facility maturing August 2016 with a further six month extension at the Company’s option

 

► $830m (£563m) term loan maturing in equal instalments in 2017, 2018 and 2019

 

► $350m (£237m) revolving credit facility maturing May 2016

 

As at 31 December 2015, £1,264m (2014: £1,267m) of the loans and facilities were utilised by way of debt and £62m (2014: £156m) was utilised by way of Letter of Credit. As at 31 December 2015, the undrawn portion of the Group’s committed facilities was £442m.

 

In November 2014, as part of the acquisition of Foster Wheeler AG, the Group issued 85 million of ordinary shares. This increased share capital by £42m and generated a share premium of £877m, which is recorded on the balance sheet within the merger reserve.

 

On 1 March 2016, the Group entered into a new syndicated facility comprising of three tranches; a three-year £650m term loan, a five-year £650m term loan and a five-year £400m revolving credit facility. This new facility replaces the company’s existing £377m revolving credit facility and the Foster Wheeler acquisition facility of $2.26bn.

 

Financial risk management

The principal financial risks to which the Group is exposed are: foreign currency exchange risk; funding and liquidity risk; counterparty credit risk; and interest rate risk. The board has approved policies for the management of these risks which are reviewed annually.

 

The Group’s treasury department manages funding, liquidity, credit risk and risks arising from movements in interest and foreign currency rates within a framework of policies and guidelines approved by the board, most recently in December 2015. The treasury department does not operate as a profit centre and the undertaking of speculative transactions is not permitted.

 

136 Amec Foster Wheeler
Annual report and accounts 2015
 

19 Capital and financial risk management continued

 

Foreign currency exchange risk

The Group publishes its consolidated accounts in Sterling. The majority of the Group’s trading income is denominated in the local currency of the business operations which provides a natural hedge against the currency of its cost base. Where commercial contracts are undertaken which are denominated in foreign currencies, the Group seeks to mitigate the foreign exchange risk, when the cash flow giving rise to such exposure becomes certain or highly probable. This is achieved through the use of forward currency arrangements, which may include the purchase of currency options. There are currently no material transactional exposures which have been identified and remain unhedged. The Group has no reason to believe that any outstanding forward contract will not be able to be settled from the underlying commercial transactions.

 

A significant portion of the Group’s earnings is generated in non-Sterling currencies. Such overseas profits are translated into Sterling at the average exchange rate prevailing throughout the year. There is currently no hedging in place for profits generated in non-Sterling currencies but the impact on Group profits is monitored on an ongoing basis. In addition, the Group has various assets denominated in foreign currencies, principally US Dollars, Canadian Dollars and Euros. With the introduction of the acquisition facilities detailed above the Group hedges translation exposure, wherever possible, by matching the currency of its borrowing (either directly or via derivatives) to the currency of its net assets and future free cash flow. As a result, the Group has designated a series of derivatives and financial instruments as hedging instruments in net investment hedge relationships. In specific circumstances, for example the planned repatriation of foreign assets, the Group may from time to time enter into additional net investment hedges to manage foreign exchange risks. The Group applies hedge accounting in respect of transactions entered into to manage the cash flow exposures of its borrowings. Forward foreign exchange contracts and cross currency interest rate swap contracts are held to manage the cash flow exposures of a portion of borrowings denominated in foreign currencies and are designated as cash flow hedges.

 

Based on the Group’s net debt as at 31 December 2015, if Sterling were to weaken against all other currencies by 10%, the Group’s net debt would increase by £46m (2014: £44m). This represents a £130m increase in foreign currency borrowings (2014: £134m), a £50m increase in derivative assets designated as cash flow hedges of Group borrowings (2014: £47m) and a £34m increase in foreign currency cash and cash equivalents (2014: £43m).

 

If Sterling were to weaken against all other currencies by 10%, then the fair value of forward foreign exchange contracts and cross currency interest rate swaps, other than those designated as cash flow hedges of foreign currency borrowings, as at 31 December 2015 would decrease by £51m (2014: £57m).

 

Movements in the fair value of forward foreign exchange contracts and cross currency interest rate swaps would be recognised in other comprehensive income and accumulated in the hedging reserve or translation reserve.

 

Hedging of foreign currency exchange risk – cash flow hedges

The Group looks to mitigate the foreign exchange risk arising on foreign currency borrowings and where contracts are awarded in, or involve costs in, non-local currency. Forward foreign exchange contracts and foreign exchange swaps are used for this purpose and are designated as cash flow hedges. The notional contract amount, carrying amount and fair values of forward contracts and swaps designated as cash flow hedges are as follows:

 

   2015
Notional
contract
amount
£m
   2014
Notional
contract
amount
£m
   2015
Carrying
amount and
fair value
£m
   2014
Carrying
amount and
fair value
£m
 
Non current assets – cash flow hedges of foreign currency borrowings  105   105   6    
Total non current assets  105   105   6    
Current assets – cash flow hedges of contracts in foreign currencies  57   15   1    
Current assets – cash flow hedges of foreign currency borrowings  328   318   8   1 
Total current assets  385   333   9   1 
Current liabilities – cash flow hedges of contracts in foreign currencies  191   44   (9)  (1)
Total current liabilities  191   44   (9)  (1)
   681   482   6    


 

Amec Foster Wheeler
Annual report and accounts 2015
137  
 

Notes to the consolidated accounts continued

 

19 Capital and financial risk management continued

 

There was no charge for ineffectiveness recognised in either 2015 or 2014. A net foreign exchange loss for the year of £2m was recognised in the hedging reserve as a result of fair value movements on derivative financial instruments designated as cash flow hedging instruments (£1m) and amounts recycled to the income statement in line with underlying cash flows (£1m).

 

Hedging of foreign currency exchange risk – fair value through income statement

Certain forward foreign exchange contracts and foreign exchange swaps are not designated as cash flow hedges and changes in their fair value are recognised through the income statement. The notional contract amount, carrying amount and fair values of these forward contracts and swaps are as follows:

 

   2015
Notional
contract
amount
£m
   2014
Notional
contract
amount
£m
   2015
Carrying
amount and
fair value
£m
   2014
Carrying
amount and
fair value
£m
 
Derivative financial instruments                
Current assets  241   229   5   2 
Current liabilities  388   422   (5)  (12)
   629   651      (10)

 

Hedging of foreign currency exchange risk – net investment hedges

The Group has forward foreign exchange contracts which have been designated as hedges of the net investments in core subsidiaries in Canada, the US and Europe. The notional contract amount, carrying amount and fair values of swaps designated as net investment hedges are as follows:

 

   2015
Notional
contract
amount
£m
   2014
Notional
contract
amount
£m
   2015
Carrying
amount and
fair value
£m
   2014
Carrying
amount and
fair value
£m
 
Derivative financial instruments                
Non current assets  105   105   12   2 
Current assets  111   318   2   8 
Current liabilities  168      (7)   
   384   423   7   10 

 

A net foreign exchange loss for the year of £3m (2014: £4m) was recognised in the translation reserve in respect of forward foreign exchange contracts, currency interest rate swaps and borrowings designated as net investment hedging instruments.

 

Other financial derivative assets and liabilities

The Group has other financial derivative assets of £nil (2014: £1m) and financial derivative liabilities of £4m (2014: £6m).

 

The following tables indicate the periods in which the cash flows associated with the derivative financial instruments are expected to occur and the periods in which they are expected to impact profit or loss:

 

                   2015 
   Carrying
amount
£m
   Expected
cash flows
£m
   12 months
or less
£m
   1 to 2
years
£m
   2 to 5
years
£m
 
Derivative financial instruments                    
Assets  34   948   726   12   210 
Liabilities  (25)  963   739   16   208 
   9   1,911   1,465   28   418 
                     
                   2014 
   Carrying
amount
£m
   Expected
cash flows
£m
   12 months
or less
£m
   1 to 2
years
£m
   2 to 5
years
£m
 
Derivative financial instruments                    
Assets  14   1,090   877   2   211 
Liabilities  (19)  648   361   102   185 
   (5)  1,738   1,238   104   396 

 

138 Amec Foster Wheeler
Annual report and accounts 2015
 

19 Capital and financial risk management continued

 

Funding and liquidity risk

The Group’s policy aims to ensure the constant availability of an appropriate amount of funding to meet both current and future forecast requirements consistent with the Group’s budget and strategic plans. The Group will finance operations and growth from its existing cash resources and the £442m undrawn portion of the Group’s committed banking facilities as at 31 December 2015. The requirement to enter into additional external facilities has been kept under review during the year. This includes discussions with the Group’s main relationship banks to ensure additional bilateral lending capacity is available.

 

Appropriate facilities will be maintained to meet ongoing requirements for bank guarantees and letters of credit.

 

Counterparty credit risk

The Group is exposed to credit risk to the extent of non-payment by either its customers or the counterparties of its financial instruments. The effective monitoring and controlling of credit risk is a key component of the Group’s risk management activities.

 

The maximum credit risk exposure on derivatives at 31 December 2015 was £35m, being the total net debit fair values per derivative counterparty on forward foreign exchange contracts, currency swaps and interest rate swaps. The Group performs a Credit Value Adjustment (CVA) and Debit Value Adjustment (DVA) analysis to establish the credit risk inherent in the closing derivative portfolio. As at 31 December 2015, the result of this adjustment has no impact on the Group’s income statement. In 2014, a similar analysis of a 60 basis point deterioration in the credit quality of the Group’s derivative counterparties had nil impact on the Group’s income statement. Credit risks arising from treasury activities are managed by a central treasury function in accordance with the board approved treasury policy. The objective of the policy is to diversify and minimise the Group’s exposure to credit risk from its treasury activities by ensuring that surplus funds are placed with a diversified range of 25 to 30 mainstream banks and with each counterparty up to a pre-approved limit. These limits are set at prudent levels by the board and are based primarily on publicly available credit ratings of counterparties. Credit ratings are monitored continually by the Group treasury department.

 

The maximum credit risk exposure on cash and cash equivalents and bank deposits (more than three months) at 31 December 2015 was £363m (2014: £516m). The Group treasury department monitors counterparty exposure on a global basis to avoid an over-concentration of exposure to any one counterparty.

 

The credit risk associated with customers is considered as part of each tender review process and is addressed initially through contract payment terms. Where appropriate, payment security is sought. Credit control practices are applied thereafter during the project execution phase. A right to interest and suspension is normally sought in all contracts.

 

The ageing of trade receivables at the year-end was:

 

    Gross         Gross      
    receivables    Impairment    receivables    Impairment 
    31 December    31 December    31 December    31 December 
    2015    2015    2014    2014 
    £m    £m    £m    £m 
Not past due   357        402     
Past due 0 to 30 days   216        163     
Past due 31 to 120 days   90    (3)   99     
Past due 121 to 365 days   40    (18)   47    (6)
More than one year   88    (86)   100    (93)
    791    (107)   811    (99)

 

The above analysis excludes retentions relating to contracts in progress of £34m (2014: £47m) expected to be recovered within one year and £7m (2014: £4m) net of £1m impairment (2014: £nil) expected to be recovered after one year. Net receivables as at 31 December 2015 include £2m (2014: £7m) in respect of amounts overdue by more than one year.


 

Amec Foster Wheeler
Annual report and accounts 2015
 139  
 

Notes to the consolidated accounts continued

 

19 Capital and financial risk management continued

 

Counterparty credit risk continued

The movement in the allowance for impairment in respect of trade receivables during the year was as follows:

 

    2015    2014 
    £m    £m 
As at 1 January   (99)   (16)
Exchange movements   (1)    
Increase in impairment allowance   (23)   (86)
Decrease in impairment allowance   16    3 
As at 31 December   (107)   (99)

 

Based on past experience, the Group believes that no material impairment allowance is necessary in respect of trade receivables not past due.

 

Trade receivable exposures are typically with large companies and government-backed organisations and the credit ratings of these organisations are monitored. Credit risks are minimised through the use of letters of credit, parent company guarantees, insurance instruments and forward funding where achievable.

 

The Group’s most significant customer in 2015 accounted for around 8% (2014: 8%) of continuing revenues, and around 2% (2014: 4%) of current trade and other receivables. The revenue was generated in both the Americas and AMEASE.

 

Interest rate risk

The £377m multi-currency revolving credit facility is subject to an interest rate of LIBOR plus a margin depending on leverage.

 

The $830m (£563m) bridge facility is subject to an interest rate of LIBOR plus a margin which increases over time.

 

The $830m (£563m) term loan is subject to an interest rate of LIBOR plus a margin depending on leverage.

 

The $350m (£237m) revolving credit facility is subject to an interest rate of LIBOR plus a margin.

 

The €35m (£26m) project debt is subject to an interest rate of EURIBOR plus a margin.

 

The Group is exposed to interest rate risk on cash and borrowings. Cash is viewed as temporary with any longer term surplus used to repay credit facilities.

 

When required the Group uses interest rate swaps and cross currency interest rate swaps to meet its objective of protecting borrowing costs within parameters set by the Board. The Group’s policy is to keep between 30% and 70% of its borrowings at fixed rates of interest. Movements in the fair value of interest rates swaps and cross currency interest rate swaps that are designated as cash flow hedges of the Group’s borrowings resulting from changes in market interest rates are recognised in other comprehensive income and accumulated in the hedging reserve with the fair value recorded in the balance sheet. At 31 December 2015, after taking into account the effect of interest rate swaps and cross currency interest rate swaps, approximately 28% of the Group’s borrowings are at a fixed rate of interest (2014: 23%). The year-end position was below the lower threshold due to the ongoing refinancing activity in 2015. This will be rectified in Q1 2016 following the completion of the refinancing activity.

 

Based on the Group’s gross borrowings as at 31 December 2015, if interest rates were to increase by 100 basis points in all currencies then the annual net interest charge would increase by £9m (2014: £9m). A decrease in interest rates by 100 basis points in all currencies would have an equal but opposite effect.

 

140 Amec Foster Wheeler
Annual report and accounts 2015
 

19 Capital and financial risk management continued

 

Interest rate risk – contractual maturity and effective interest rates 

In respect of interest-earning financial assets and interest-bearing financial liabilities, the following table indicates their effective interest rates at the balance sheet date and the periods in which they mature:

 

                             2015 
    Effective         Less than    1 to 2    2 to 5    Over 
    interest rate    Total    1 year    years    years    5 years 
    per cent    £m    £m    £m    £m    £m 
Bank deposits                              
(more than three months)   0.47    23    14    4    5     
Cash and cash equivalents (excluding bank overdrafts)  3.00    340    340             
Bank loans   3.28    (1,264)   (679)   (192)   (386)   (7)
Finance leases   6.84    (59)   (4)   (18)   (24)   (13)
Derivatives classified as bank loans       14    8        6     
         (946)   (321)   (206)   (399)   (20)
                               
                             2014 
    Effective         Less than    1 to 2    2 to 5    Over 
    interest rate    Total    1 year    years    years    5 years 
    per cent    £m    £m    £m    £m    £m 
Bank deposits                              
(more than three months)   0.80    21    18    2    1     
Cash and cash equivalents (excluding bank overdrafts)  1.24    495    495             
Fees capitalised against bank facilities      9    5    2    2     
Bank loans   1.49    (1,267)   (706)   (5)   (545)   (11)
Finance leases   6.54    (61)   (9)   (9)   (26)   (17)
         (803)   (197)   (10)   (568)   (28)

 

Interest payments of £16m are expected to be paid within one year, £15m between one and two years, £16m between two and five years and £nil over five years.

 

Group borrowing

The Group had no overdrafts as at the end of 2015 or 2014. The bank loans are denominated in Sterling and US Dollars (2014: Sterling and US Dollars).

 

All covenants attached to borrowings have been complied with throughout the current and prior years.

 

Fair values

Fair values are determined using observable market prices (level 2 as defined by IFRS 13 ‘Fair Value Measurement’) as follows:

 

The fair value of forward foreign exchange contracts is estimated by discounting the difference between the contractual forward price and the current forward price for the residual maturity of the contract using a risk-free interest rate
  
The fair value of interest rate swaps and cross currency interest rate swaps are estimated by discounting estimated future cash flows based on the terms and maturity of each contract and using market rates

 

All derivative fair values are verified by comparison to valuations provided by the derivative counterparty banks. There are no material credit valuation adjustments (CVA) or debit valuation adjustments (DVA) required on the derivatives outstanding at 31 December 2015.


 

Amec Foster Wheeler
Annual report and accounts 2015
 141  
 

Notes to the consolidated accounts continued

 

20 Other non-current receivables and payables

 

Other non-current receivables          
           
         2014 
    2015    (restated) 
    £m    £m 
Asbestos related insurance recovery debtor (note 21)   104    108 
Indemnities receivable   16    13 
Insurance receivables   4    4 
Lease incentives   17    28 
Other non-current receivables   4    14 
    145    167 
           
Other non-current payables          
           
         2014 
    2015    (restated) 
    £m    £m 
Deferred consideration on acquisition       2 
Unfavourable leases   84    65 
Lease incentives   8    7 
Other payables   20    26 
Other post employment benefits   9    11 
    121    111 
                               
21 Provisions                              
                               
              Obligations                
    Asbestos-    Project and    relating to    Property           
    related    environmental    disposed    related           
    litigation    litigation    businesses    provisions    Other    Total 
    £m    £m    £m    £m    £m    £m 
As at 1 January 2015 (restated)   400    217    86    19    34    756 
Exchange and other movements   18    6    (1)   1    (2)   22 
Reclassification   1    (3)   2    2    (2)    
Transfer out to trade payables       (47)       (2)   2    (47)
Utilised   (35)   (22)   (2)   (4)   (1)   (64)
Provided   1    10    12    3    7    33 
Released   (9)   (7)   (19)       (3)   (38)
Change in discount rate   (5)                   (5)
Unwinding of discount   7                    7 
As at 31 December 2015   378    154    78    19    35    664 

 

The balance as at 1 January 2015 has been restated following the finalisation of the purchase price allocation of the Foster Wheeler acquisition.

 

142 Amec Foster Wheeler
Annual report and accounts 2015
 

21 Provisions continued

 

Asbestos-related litigation

Certain of the Company’s subsidiaries in the US and the UK are defendants in numerous asbestos-related lawsuits and out-of-court informal claims pending in the US and the UK. Plaintiffs claim damages for personal injury alleged to have arisen from exposure to asbestos primarily in connection with equipment allegedly manufactured by certain of our subsidiaries during the 1970s or earlier. We expect that these subsidiaries will be named as defendants in additional and/or similar suits and that new claims will be filed in the future. Whilst some of these claims have been and are expected to be made in the UK, the overwhelming majority have been and are expected to be made in the US.

 

We assumed the majority of our asbestos-related liabilities when we acquired Foster Wheeler in November 2014. Management worked with independent asbestos valuation experts, to measure the asbestos-related liabilities assumed. Asbestos-related liabilities recognised by the Group include estimates of indemnity amounts and defence costs expected to be incurred in each year in the period to 2050, beyond which time management expects that there will no longer be a significant number of open claims. Management’s estimates were based on the following information and/or assumptions: the number of open claims, the forecasted number of future claims, the estimated average cost per claim by disease type – mesothelioma, lung cancer and non-malignancies, claim filings which result in no monetary payments (the ‘zero pay rate’), as well as other factors.

 

Over the last several years, certain of our subsidiaries have entered into settlement agreements calling for insurers to make lump-sum payments, as well as payments over time, for use by our subsidiaries to fund asbestos-related indemnity and defence costs, and, in certain cases, for reimbursement for portions of out-of-pocket costs incurred. Asbestos-related insurance recoveries under executed settlement agreements are recognised in trade and other receivables together with our best estimate of actual and probable insurance recoveries relating to our liability for pending and estimated future asbestos claims in the period to 2050. Our actual insurance recoveries may be limited by future insolvencies among our insurers. We do not recognise insurance recoveries due from currently insolvent insurers unless they are subject to court-approved settlement in liquidation proceedings.

 

We have discounted the expected future cash flows with respect to the asbestos-related liabilities and the expected insurance recoveries using discount rates determined by reference to appropriate risk-free market interest rates.

 

Asbestos-related liabilities and assets recognised on the Group’s balance sheet were as follows:

 

              2015              2014 
    US    UK    Total    US    UK    Total 
    £m    £m    £m    £m    £m    £m 
Asbestos-related provision                              
Gross provision   432    56    488    454    57    511 
Effect of discounting   (74)       (74)   (76)       (76)
Net provision1   358    56    414    378    57    435 
Insurance recoveries                              
Gross recoveries   (68)   (54)   (122)   (71)   (54)   (125)
Effect of discounting   4        4    4        4 
Net recoveries   (64)   (54)   (118)   (67)   (54)   (121)
Net asbestos-related liabilities   294    2    296    311    3    314 

 

1The net asbestos provision of £414m (2014: £435m) is made up of £378m included in provisions (2014: £400m) and £36m (2014: £35m) in respect of asbestos provisions included in trade and other payables.

 

Estimation of asbestos-related liabilities and insurance recoveries is subject to a number of uncertainties that may result in significant changes in the current estimates. Among these are uncertainties as to the ultimate number and type of claims filed, the amounts of claim costs, the impact of bankruptcies of other companies with asbestos claims, uncertainties surrounding the litigation process from jurisdiction to jurisdiction and from case to case, as well as potential legislative changes.

 

Fluctuations in market interest rates could cause significant changes in the discounted amount of the asbestos-related liabilities and insurance recoveries.

 


 

Amec Foster Wheeler
Annual report and accounts 2015
 143  
 

Notes to the consolidated accounts continued

 

21 Provisions continued

 

Project litigation

As described in note 26, the Group is party to litigation involving clients and sub-contractors arising out of project contracts.

 

Management has taken internal and external legal advice in considering known or reasonably likely legal claims and actions by and against the Group. Where a known or likely claim or action is identified, management carefully assesses the likelihood of success of the claim or action. Generally, a provision is recognised only in respect of those claims or actions that management considers are probable of success. Additionally, however, the Group recognises provisions for known or likely claims against an acquired business if, at the acquisition date, it is possible that the claim or action will be successful and its amount can be reliably estimated.

 

Provision is made for management’s best estimate of the future legal costs to be incurred in defending each claim or action and of the likely settlement costs and/or damages to be awarded for those claims and actions that management considers are likely to be successful. Due to the inherent commercial, legal and technical uncertainties underlying the estimation of our project claims, the amounts ultimately paid or realised by the Group could differ materially from the amounts, if any, that are recognised in the financial statements.

 

As at 31 December 2015, there were two significant ongoing disputes. Both of these disputes involve Foster Wheeler and were ongoing at the acquisition date. Accordingly, in measuring Foster Wheeler’s identifiable assets and liabilities at the acquisition date, management established provisions in respect of these disputes and made appropriate reductions to the carrying amount of the related receivables.

 

Power Plant Arbitration – US

Foster Wheeler has been involved in arbitration arising from its role in the construction of a power plant in West Virginia, US. Foster Wheeler contracted with its client, Longview Power LLC (‘Longview’), the owner of the power plant, to supply the steam generation equipment. Separate contracts existed between Longview and Siemens Energy, Inc. (‘Siemens’) for the supply of the turbine, electricity generator and other plant equipment and with Kvaerner North American Construction Inc. (Kvaerner) for the erection of the plant.

 

Beginning in 2011, various claims and counterclaims were made between Foster Wheeler, Kvaerner, Siemens and Longview. In February 2014, Foster Wheeler reached a partial settlement with Longview. In December 2014, various settlement agreements were entered into involving the parties, leaving the claims between Foster Wheeler and Kvaerner the only claims to be resolved. Kvaerner’s total claims against Foster Wheeler amounted to approximately US$190m in relation to compensation for alleged delays, disruptions, inefficiencies and extra work associated with the construction of the plant allegedly caused by Foster Wheeler’s performance under its steam generation equipment supply contract. Foster Wheeler claimed approximately US$26m from Kvaerner in relation to claims for extra work, delays, scope disputes, and improperly assessed delay liquidated damages, as well as the cost to perform certain ongoing rehabilitation work on the steam generation equipment due to erection failures by Kvaerner. Pursuant to the settlement agreements reached in December 2014, Foster Wheeler and Kvaerner exchanged parent guarantees, securing their respective claims against each other. Foster Wheeler’s parent guarantee was capped at US$58m. The arbitration hearing of the dispute between Foster Wheeler and Kvaerner, conducted by the American Arbitration Association, occurred in early 2015. In October 2015, the three-arbitrator tribunal rejected Foster Wheeler’s claims in their entirety and awarded Kvaerner US$74m, including interest and arbitration costs. Kvaerner commenced an action in New York state court to confirm the award. We opposed the action, seeking an order to vacate the award in whole or in part on various grounds. In early March 2016, the parties settled their dispute. We are to pay Kvaerner US$70m in full and final settlement of the claims. The parties will exchange releases and the court action will be dismissed.

 

Refinery Project Arbitration – India

In November 2012, Foster Wheeler commenced arbitration in India against its client seeking collection of unpaid invoices arising from services performed on a reimbursable basis in connection with the construction of an oil refinery plant in north-eastern India. Our client rejected the claims and has submitted counterclaims totalling approximately 70 billion Indian rupees (approximately £740m) for damages, including claims for revenue loss and loss of tax benefits due to delay in the execution of the project. Our client has also withheld payment of our invoices on account of delay liquidated damages.

 

We strongly dispute our client’s claims. Any liability for delay liquidated damages is capped under the contract at a specified percentage of the contract value, currently equivalent to approximately £12m, an amount already retained by our client. Moreover, the contract also excludes liability for special damages and consequential damages, including lost profits or product, and contains an overall cap on liability for claims in the aggregate of up to a specified percentage of the contract value, currently equivalent to approximately £29m.

 

144 Amec Foster Wheeler
Annual report and accounts 2015
 

21 Provisions continued

 

Refinery Project Arbitration – India continued

An arbitration panel was formed in 2013 and divided the parties’ claims and counterclaims into two tracks. A number of hearings were held on the Track 1 claims during 2014. A first partial award was made to Amec Foster Wheeler in March 2014, but our client has petitioned the Delhi court for its annulment, which petition is still pending. In September 2015, the panel issued a further partial award on the Track 1 claims, awarding Amec Foster Wheeler approximately £54m on its invoice claims and dismissing our client’s counterclaim allocated to the Track 1 proceedings. In February 2016, our client petitioned the Delhi court to set aside this award as well. The petition is pending.

 

The hearing on the Track 2 claims, which include our client’s main counterclaims, was held in February 2015. The panel’s decision on these remaining claims is likewise pending. Limited further proceedings in the arbitration remain pending with respect to continuing invoice claim amounts in the Track 1 proceedings as well as for interest and the costs of arbitration. We will continue to defend strenuously the claims made by our client and pursue the collection of unpaid invoices and enforcement of the awards made in our favour. As the project is nearing completion but still remained in execution as of the end of 2015, the unpaid amount that we are seeking to collect has increased to the equivalent of approximately £56m and may increase further should our client continue to withhold amounts from our invoices. Management have made appropriate allowances against these receivables.

 

Environmental risks

Certain of the jurisdictions in which the Group operates, in particular the US and the EU, have environmental laws under which current and past owners or operators of property may be jointly and severally liable for the costs of removal or remediation of toxic or hazardous substances on or under their property, regardless of whether such materials were released in violation of law and whether the operator or owner knew of, or was responsible for, the presence of such substances. Largely as a consequence of the acquisition of Foster Wheeler, the Group currently owns and operates, or owned and operated, industrial facilities. It is likely that, as a result of the Group’s current or former operations, hazardous substances have affected the property on which those facilities are or were situated. The Group have also received and may continue to receive claims pursuant to indemnity obligations from the present owners of facilities we have transferred, which claims may require us to incur costs for investigation and/or remediation. As at 31 December 2015, the Group held provisions totalling £44m (2014: £33m ) for the estimated future environmental clean-up costs in relation to industrial facilities that it no longer operates. Whilst the timing of the related cash flows is typically uncertain, the Group expects that certain of its remediation obligations may continue for up to 60 years.

 

Indemnities and retained obligations

As described in note 26, the Group agreed to indemnify certain third parties relating to businesses and/or assets that were previously owned by the Group and were sold to them. As at 31 December 2015, we recognised indemnity provisions totalling £78m (2014: £86m). Indemnity provisions principally relate to the indemnification of the purchasers of SPIE in 2006, and the Built Environment and other peripheral businesses that were sold in 2007. During 2015, the Group recognised additional indemnity provisions of £12m in relation to businesses sold in previous years and released provisions of £19m that were no longer required following settlement of the underlying issues.

 

Property-related provisions

Property-related provisions related to dilapidations of leasehold buildings.

 

Other provisions

Other provisions include £7m (2014: £2m) in respect of the Group’s legal and constructive obligations to fund loss-making joint ventures and to meet its share of certain of their obligations, and insurance provisions of £28m (2014: £28m) relating to the potential liabilities in the Group’s captive insurance entity and provisions in relation to risks associated with insurance claims. These potential liabilities and risks relate predominantly to industrial disease of former employees. These are expected to unwind over the next 20 years.


 

Amec Foster Wheeler
Annual report and accounts 2015
 145  
 

Notes to the consolidated accounts continued

 

22 Share capital and reserves

 

Movements in share capital and reserves are shown in the consolidated statement of changes in equity on pages 99 to 101.

 

Share capital

The share capital of the company comprises ordinary shares of 50 pence each. All the ordinary shares rank pari passu in all respects. To the company’s knowledge and belief, there are no restrictions on the transfer of shares in the company or on voting rights between holders of shares.

 

The movement in issued share capital during the year was as follows:

 

   Number   £m 
As at 1 January 2014  303,822,854   152 
Issued during the year  85,052,989   42 
As at 31 December 2014  388,875,843   194 
Issued during the year  4,255,970   3 
As at 31 December 2015  393,131,813   197 

 

Reserves

As at 1 January 2015, there were 5,431,314 shares held in treasury (2014: 6,186,965), during the year 2,273,004 shares were transferred to share scheme participants (2014: 755,651) leaving a balance held in treasury as at 31 December 2015 of 3,158,310 (2014: 5,431,314). £35m (2014: £57m) has been deducted from equity in respect of these shares.

 

The hedging reserve comprises the effective portion of the cumulative net change in the fair value of cash flow hedging instruments related to hedged transactions that have not yet occurred.

 

The translation reserve comprises all foreign exchange differences arising from the translation of the accounts of foreign operations, as well as from the translation of liabilities and the cumulative net change in the fair value of instruments that hedge the company’s net investment in foreign subsidiaries, that have arisen since 1 January 2004, being the date of transition to adopted IFRS.

 

Share-based payments

Offers are made periodically in certain countries under the UK and International Savings-related Share Option Schemes which are open to all employees in those countries who meet minimum service criteria. Grants of share options are made to participating employees that entitle them to buy shares in the company normally after three years at up to 20% discount to the market price of the shares at the time of offer. In the US, to conform with the relevant tax rules, options are granted at a maximum discount of 15% to the share price at the time of grant and are normally exercisable after two years.

 

Under the new Long-Term Incentive Plan, annual awards are made to directors and selected senior employees of nil-cost options or restricted shares. Below board level awards are split between a performance based element (half of which is based on a total shareholder return related performance condition and the other half on an earnings per share related performance condition) and a non-performance element. Awards are made in the form of nil-cost options other than in certain countries where they are made in the form of restricted shares. Awards to Executive Directors are as described in the Directors’ remuneration report on pages 67 to 80.

 

Under the Performance Share Plan, annual awards were made to directors and selected senior employees of restricted shares that are subject to both market and non-market based conditions calculated over a three-year period.

 

Under the Restricted Share Plan, awards were made to selected employees as restricted shares which vest in full after three years provided the employee has remained in continuous employment.

 

Prior to the acquisition, Foster Wheeler’s Compensation and Executive Development Committee administered the Foster Wheeler AG Omnibus Incentive Plan for Foster Wheeler’s employees, non-employee directors and third-party service providers.

 

Under the terms of the Implementation Agreement, equivalent awards of AMEC shares were granted by AMEC in replacement of Foster Wheeler awards and the terms of those replacement awards are equivalent in all material respects to the terms of the Foster Wheeler Omnibus Plan. All employees of Foster Wheeler and its subsidiaries and/or affiliates, its non-employee directors, and certain of its third-party service providers were eligible to participate in the Foster Wheeler Omnibus Plan. As at the date of acquisition, only Foster Wheeler options, Foster Wheeler RSUs and Foster Wheeler PRSUs were outstanding under the Foster Wheeler Omnibus Plan.

 

The share-based payment arrangements operated by the Group are predominantly equity settled and, other than in defined good leaver circumstances, require participants to be still in employment with the Group at the time of vesting.

 

Our current practice is to satisfy awards vesting or options being exercised under the executive plans with market-purchased shares held in the Amec Foster Wheeler Employee Share Trust and to satisfy Sharesave options being exercised by the transfer of shares held in treasury.

 

146 Amec Foster Wheeler
Annual report and accounts 2015
 

22 Share capital and reserves continued

 

Share-based payments continued

The number and weighted average exercise price of share options under the Savings-related Share Option Scheme are as follows:

 

   Weighted
average
exercise price
2015
pence
   Number of
options
2015
   Weighted
average
exercise price
2014
pence
   Number of
options
2014
 
Outstanding on 1 January  819   7,711,995   794   6,691,883 
Lapsed/cancelled  850   (1,920,215)  822   (777,995)
Exercised  675   (2,295,911)  777   (765,267)
Granted  683   4,674,510   874   2,563,374 
Outstanding on 31 December  775   8,170,379   819   7,711,995 
Exercisable on 31 December  863   373,627   902   200,948 

 

Options were exercised on a regular basis during the year and the average share price for the year was 780 pence (2014: 1,102 pence).

 

Options outstanding on 31 December 2015 have weighted average remaining contractual lives as follows:

 

   Weighted
average
remaining
contractual life
2015
years
   Number of
options
2015
   Weighted
average
remaining
contractual life
2014
years
   Number of
options
2014
 
600.00 pence to 699.99 pence  3.0   3,965,570      2,391,513 
700.00 pence to 799.99 pence  2.0   467,796       
800.00 pence to 899.99 pence  1.3   2,710,501   1.1   3,807,935 
Over 900.00 pence     1,026,512   0.2   1,512,547 
       8,170,379       7,711,995 

 

The numbers of shares held under the Performance Share Plan and Restricted Share Plan are as follows:

 

   Number of
shares
2015
   Number of
shares
2014
 
As at 1 January  6,717,237   4,194,248 
Lapsed  (1,361,021)  (1,110,559)
Vested  (1,674,001)  (250,328)
Granted  2,510,707   3,883,876 
As at 31 December  6,192,922   6,717,237 


 

Amec Foster Wheeler
Annual report and accounts 2015
147  
 

Notes to the consolidated accounts continued

 

22 Share capital and reserves continued

 

Share-based payments continued

The fair value of services received in return for share options granted and shares awarded are measured by reference to the fair value of those instruments. For grants in either the current or preceding years, the pricing models used and inputs (on a weighted average basis where appropriate) into those models are as follows:

 

    Savings-related Share Option Scheme
(Black-Scholes model)
  Long-Term
Incentive Plan
(Monte Carlo model)
  Performance Share Plan
(Monte Carlo model)
  Restricted Share Plan
(Monte Carlo model)
  Foster
Wheeler
Omnibus
plan
    2015   2014   2013   2015   2014   2013   2014   2013   2014
Weighted average fair value at measurement date   149p   198p   217p   789p   1,006p   948p   949p   960p   1,027p
Weighted average share price at measurement date   769p   1,014p   1,061p   938p   1,105p   1,060p   1,082p   1,070p   1,081p
Exercise price   683p   874p   866p   n/a   n/a   n/a   n/a   n/a   n/a
Expected share price volatility   28%   27%   27%   27%   26%   28%   n/a   n/a   n/a
Option life   3.3   3.3   3.3   2.7   3.1   2.8   2.7   2.7   n/a
    years   years   years   years   years   years   years   years    
Expected dividend yield   3.6%   3.5%   4.0%   n/a   n/a   n/a   3.5%   3.0%   3.5%
Risk-free interest rate   1.2%   1.0%   1.0%   n/a   n/a   n/a   n/a   n/a   n/a
Comparator share price volatility   n/a   n/a   n/a   32%   32%   33%   n/a   n/a   n/a
Correlation between two companies in comparator group n/a   n/a   n/a   40%   50%   50%   n/a   n/a   n/a

 

The expected share price volatility is based on the historical volatility of the company’s share price.

 

The performance conditions attaching to the new Long-Term Incentive Plan and the Performance Share Plan involve a comparison of the total shareholder return of the company with that of its comparators and achievement of targeted earnings per share growth. The former is a market based test and as such is incorporated into the grant date fair value of the award. There are no performance conditions attached to the Restricted Share Plan.

 

Prior to the acquisition, Foster Wheeler had issued shares awards to employees, non-employee directors and certain third parties under the Foster Wheeler AG Omnibus Incentive Plan. Under the terms of the Implementation Agreement, equivalent awards of Amec Foster Wheeler shares were granted in replacement of these Foster Wheeler awards. On acquisition awards of 2,400,766 Amec Foster Wheeler shares were granted. There are no performance conditions attached to these awards.

 

Dividends

The directors are proposing a final dividend in respect of the financial year ended 31 December 2015 of 14.2 pence per share, which will absorb an estimated £54m of equity. Subject to approval, it will be paid on 4 July 2016 to shareholders on the register of members on 27 May 2016. This dividend has not been provided for and there are no income tax consequences for the company. This final dividend together with the interim dividend of 14.8 pence (2014: 14.8 pence; 2013: 13.5 pence) per share results in a total dividend for the year of 29.0 pence per share (2014: 43.3 pence; 2013: 42.0 pence).

 

Dividend cover for 2015 is 2.3 times (2014: 1.8 times) based on adjusted diluted EPS from continuing operations.

 

As announced in November 2015, it is the current intention of the Board that ordinary dividends in 2016 will be approximately half that declared in 2014, with approximately one-third paid at the interim, and two-thirds as a final dividend.

 

   2015
£m
   2014
£m
   2013
£m
 
Dividends charged to reserves and paid            
Interim dividend in respect of 2014 of 14.8 pence (2014: interim dividend in respect of 2013 of 13.5 pence; 2013: interim dividend in respect of 2012 of 11.7 pence) per share  56   40   36 
Final dividend in respect of 2014 of 28.5 pence (2014: final dividend in respect of 2013 of 28.5 pence; 2013: final dividend in respect of 2013 of 24.8 pence) per share  111   84   72 
   167   124   108 

 

The amount waived by trustees of the Employee Share Trust in respect of the interim and final dividends was £1m (2014: £1m; 2013: £1m).

 

148 Amec Foster Wheeler
Annual report and accounts 2015
 

23 Analysis of net (debt)/cash

 

   As at
1 January
2015
£m
   Cash flow
£m
   Exchange and
other non-cash
movements
£m
   As at
31 December
2015
£m
 
Cash at bank and in hand  377   (46)  (24)  307 
Bank deposits (less than three months)  118   (85)     33 
Cash and cash equivalents (excluding bank overdrafts)  495   (131)  (24)  340 
Bank overdrafts            
Cash and cash equivalents  495   (131)  (24)  340 
Bank deposits (more than three months)  21   2      23 
Bank loans  (1,267)  64   (61)  (1,264)
Fees capitalised against bank facilities  9   3   (12)   
Finance leases  (61)  11   (9)  (59)
Derivatives classified as net debt     (12)  26   14 
Net debt as at the end of the year  (803)  (63)  (80)  (946)

 

   As at
1 January
2014
£m
   Acquisition
£m
   Cash flow
£m
   Exchange and
other non-cash
movements
£m
   As at
31 December
2014
£m
 
Cash at bank and in hand  153   239   (9)  (6)  377 
Bank deposits (less than three months)  79   29   10      118 
Cash and cash equivalents (excluding bank overdrafts)  232   268   1   (6)  495 
Bank overdrafts  (9)     9       
Cash and cash equivalents  223   268   10   (6)  495 
Bank deposits (more than three months)  18      3      21 
Bank loans  (120)  (39)  (1,102)  (6)  (1,267)
Fees capitalised against bank facilities        13   (4)  9 
Finance leases     (32)  4   (33)  (61)
Net cash/(debt) as at the end of the year  121   197   (1,072)  (49)  (803)

 

The fair value of bank loans is £1,264m (2014: £1,268m) compared to a carrying value of £1,264m (2014: £1,267m). The fair value of finance leases is £59m (2014: £66m) compared to a carrying value of £59m (2014: £61m).

 

Cash and cash equivalents as at 31 December 2015 includes £47m (2014: £60m) that is held in countries from which prior approval is required to transfer funds abroad. There are restrictions on the use of £9m (2014: £7m) of cash held on behalf of joint venture arrangements and £17m (2014: £28m) held on behalf of customers and collateral against bank guarantees. In addition, there are restrictions on the use of a further £16m (2014: £16m) of cash and cash equivalents in respect of commitments of the Group’s captive insurance subsidiary to certain insurers.


 

Amec Foster Wheeler
Annual report and accounts 2015
149  
 

Notes to the consolidated accounts continued

 

24 Acquisitions and disposals

 

Acquisitions in 2015

On 5 October 2015, the Group acquired the remaining 49.9% shareholding in KROMAV Engenharia Ltda, a company incorporated in Brazil for a consideration of £3m. As a result of the transaction, the non-controlling interest released was £1m resulting in a charge of £4m recognised in the consolidated statement of changes in equity.

 

Mandatory purchase of minority Foster Wheeler shareholders

On 19 January 2015, Amec Foster Wheeler plc completed the squeeze-out merger under Swiss law (the ‘Squeeze-Out Merger’) of Foster Wheeler AG (‘Foster Wheeler’) through its wholly owned subsidiaries AMEC International Investments BV and A-FW International Investments GmbH.

 

All remaining Foster Wheeler shareholders received, for each Foster Wheeler share held, a combination of $16.00 in cash and either (i) 0.8998 Amec Foster Wheeler shares, if the shareholder’s address on the books and records of Foster Wheeler was outside the United States or (ii) 0.8998 Amec Foster Wheeler American depositary shares (‘ADSs’), if the shareholder’s address on the books and records of Foster Wheeler was in the United States.

 

The cash portion of the consideration was increased by $0.225 for each Amec Foster Wheeler share or Amec Foster Wheeler ADS received, in lieu of the Amec Foster Wheeler dividend of £0.148 (announced on 7 August 2014). This was calculated by converting the dividend amount to US$ (at the European Central Bank’s 5 January 2015 exchange rate of $1.5223 per £1.00).

 

In aggregate, Amec Foster Wheeler paid as consideration in the Squeeze-Out Merger £51m ($77m) in cash and issued 4,255,970 Amec Foster Wheeler shares.

 

The purchase consideration was allocated as follows:

 

   Recognised
value
£m
 
Assets acquired   
Liabilities assumed   
Net identifiable assets and liabilities   
Amount recognised in the consolidated statement of changes in equity  75 
Non-controlling interest acquired  10 
   85 
Consideration    
Shares issued  34 
Cash paid on completion  51 
   85 

 

Acquisitions in 2014
Foster Wheeler
Background

On 6 October 2014, the Group launched a public tender offer to acquire the entire issued share capital of Foster Wheeler AG, the ultimate parent company of Foster Wheeler. Pursuant to the tender offer, which closed on 13 November 2014 (the acquisition date), the Group acquired 95.3 per cent of the issued share capital of Foster Wheeler AG.

 

Consideration payable for the interests in Foster Wheeler acquired by the Group amounted to £1,915m (measured at fair value at the acquisition date), of which £979m was settled in cash, £919m was settled by the issue of ordinary shares and ADSs and £17m was settled by the grant of replacement share options and awards to Foster Wheeler employees.

 

Due to the relatively short period of time that elapsed between the acquisition date and the completion of the 2014 financial statements, management had not finalised its assessment of the fair values at the acquisition date of certain of Foster Wheeler’s property, plant and equipment, equity-accounted investments, and property-related, legal and environmental obligations and a provisional allocation was reported in the 2014 financial statements. The fair value assessment was completed during 2015.

 

150 Amec Foster Wheeler
Annual report and accounts 2015
 

24 Acquisitions and disposals continued

 

Acquisitions in 2014 continued

The purchase consideration has been allocated as follows:

 

   £m 
Identifiable assets acquired    
Property, plant and equipment  111 
Identifiable intangible assets  742 
Interests in joint ventures  73 
Current tax receivable  13 
Deferred tax assets  27 
Inventories  11 
Trade and other receivables  751 
– Gross contractual amounts receivable  818 
– Allowance for doubtful debts  (67)
Derivative financial instruments  (12)
Cash and cash equivalents  265 
Liabilities assumed    
Bank loans  (39)
Finance lease obligations  (32)
Trade and other payables  (856)
Current tax  (65)
Retirement benefit liabilities  (72)
Deferred tax liabilities  (113)
Provisions  (592)
Net identifiable assets acquired  212 
Non-controlling interests  (23)
Goodwill  1,726 
Consideration  1,915 

 

Non-controlling interests in Foster Wheeler were measured at their proportionate share of Foster Wheeler’s identifiable assets and liabilities at the acquisition date.

 

Goodwill of £1,726m has been recognised on the acquisition of Foster Wheeler. Management considers that the goodwill is attributable to the future strategic growth opportunities arising from the acquisition, Foster Wheeler’s highly skilled, customer-oriented and collaborative assembled workforce, the significant cost synergies that are expected to result from the integration of Foster Wheeler with the Group’s existing operations, and the potential for tax synergies. None of the goodwill is expected to be deductible for tax purposes.

 

Acquisition-related costs relating to the acquisition of Foster Wheeler totalling £33m were recognised within administrative expenses during 2014 .

 

In the period from its acquisition to 31 December 2014, Foster Wheeler contributed £274m to the Group’s revenue and £1m to the Group’s trading profit. After amortisation, exceptional items and net asbestos related items, Foster Wheeler generated a loss of £44m in the period from acquisition to 31 December 2014.

 

Management estimated that if Foster Wheeler had been acquired on 1 January 2014, the Group’s revenue for the year would have been £1,814m higher than reported at £5,800m. Management was unable to estimate reliably what the Group’s profit or loss for the year would have been on this basis, principally because it is not practicable to retrospectively apply the significant purchase accounting adjustments that were made to the carrying amounts of the assets and liabilities of Foster Wheeler at its acquisition date and the tax effects of those adjustments.

 

Changes to the provisional fair value allocation

As discussed above, during 2015 management completed its assessment of the fair values of Foster Wheeler’s assets and liabilities as at the acquisition date resulting in the recognition of an additional goodwill of $245m. The most significant updates were as follows:


 

Amec Foster Wheeler
Annual report and accounts 2015
151  
 

Notes to the consolidated accounts continued

 

24 Acquisitions and disposals continued

 

Acquisitions in 2014 continued

Longview

As previously disclosed, during 2015, the arbitration panel awarded Kvaerner approximately $74m (approximately £48m) in respect of the arbitration with Kvaerner North American Construction Inc arising from GPG’s role in the construction of the Longview power plant in West Virginia, US in 2011. As the contract was complete prior to the acquisition, this award has been fully reflected in the purchase price allocation.

 

Refinery project arbitration – India

As disclosed in the 2014 financial statements, Foster Wheeler commenced arbitration in India against its client seeking collection of unpaid invoices in connection with the construction of an oil refinery plant in north-eastern India. Its client rejected the claim and submitted significant counterclaims. The provisional purchase price allocation included an allowance against the outstanding debts but, due to the ongoing risks and the passage of time, a further charge of £16m has been made. This represents full provision against the outstanding receivables.

 

Other project litigation

A provision of £33m has been established against costs expected to be disallowed and a potential alleged breach of warranty claim in respect of design work undertaken on a design, build and construct project based in the Southern US.

 

Management has performed a detailed review of the contracts in the GPG business and made provisions for defect rectification and damages claims totalling £19m across a number of contracts.

 

A number of smaller provisions (totalling £21m) have been established against specific contact risks.

 

Receivables and payables

Provision has been made against receivables and unbilled work in progress on a number of contracts (including £10m on one contract) that were outstanding as at the acquisition date and remained uncollected at the end of the hindsight period.

 

Provision has also been made against an employment tax risk associated with a permanent establishment overseas.

 

Uncertain tax positions

Management has reviewed the ongoing tax positions of Foster Wheeler and increased the provisions for uncertain tax positions in a number of jurisdictions. The most significant increases withholding tax on potential deemed distributions.

 

Property, plant and equipment

The carrying value of property, plant and equipment has been reviewed resulting in a £9m write down of two properties to their expected market value.

 

Deferred tax

Deferred tax liabilities reduced by £23m. This movement includes a potential tax liability on the future unwind of an overseas branch, as well as the deferred tax impact of the additional adjustments to the purchase price offset by the impact of the finalisation of the intangible asset allocation. The recognition of deferred tax on the purchase price allocation is restricted as a result of uncertainty over future profits and capacity constraints.

 

Restatement

In addition to the above, the acquisition balance sheet as presented on page 151 has been restated to present liabilities of £65m in respect of onerous leases within trade and other payables. These liabilities had previously been presented within provisions. As part of the finalisation of the acquisition accounting, the acquired intangible assets have been allocated to the relevant jurisdictions resulting in a foreign exchange movement between the acquisition date and 31 December 2014. This is reflected in the restated consolidated statement of changes in equity for 2014.

 

Scopus

On 15 December 2014, the Group acquired the entire issued share capital of Scopus Group (Holdings) Limited (Scopus) for £68m with £67m paid on completion and £1m deferred for one year. Headquartered in Aberdeen, UK, with bases in international oil and gas hubs, Scopus has around 200 employees who provide specialist engineering services to the global oil and gas, petrochemical and nuclear industries.

 

Due to the relatively short period of time that had elapsed between the acquisition date and completion of the 2014 financial statements, management had not yet finalised its assessment of the fair values at the acquisition date of 15 December 2014 at the time that the 2014 financial statements were completed. The fair value assessment was completed during 2015, with only minor adjustments to the provisional assessment.

 

Goodwill of £35m has been recognised on the acquisition which management considers is principally attributable to its skilled workforce which did not meet the criteria for recognition as an intangible asset at the date of acquisition. This specialist expertise will complement Amec Foster Wheeler’s existing project delivery capability across the lifecycle of a project.

 

152 Amec Foster Wheeler
Annual report and accounts 2015
 

24 Acquisitions and disposals continued

 

Acquisitions in 2014 continued

Summary of financial effect

Purchase consideration was provisionally allocated as follows:

 

    £m 
Intangible assets   31 
Tangible assets   1 
Trade and other receivables   7 
Cash and cash equivalents   3 
Trade and other payables   (3)
Deferred tax liability   (6)
Net identifiable assets and liabilities   33 
Goodwill on acquisition   35 
    68 
Consideration     
Cash – paid on completion   67 
– deferred   1 
    68 

 

Scopus did not make a material contribution to the Group’s results for the year and would not have done so even if it had been acquired on 1 January 2014.

 

Acquisitions in 2013

Automated Engineering Services Corp.

On 15 November 2013, the Group acquired all of the shares in Automated Engineering Services Corp. (AES) for up to US$35m, of which US$29m (£18m) was paid on completion and up to $6m (£4m) will be paid after three years dependent on the achievement of certain performance targets.

 

AES is a professional design engineering nuclear services firm based in Naperville, Illinois, US. It provides plant design/ modification engineering, engineering analysis, safety, licensing and regulatory services, and engineering programme support to existing nuclear utilities, primarily in the US. We acquired AES to build on the Group’s position in the nuclear industry in the US, allowing us to better serve our clients and providing a strong platform from which to achieve further growth in nuclear services. Goodwill of £12m was recognised on the acquisition of AES.

 

Purchase consideration was allocated as follows:

 

    £m 
Intangible assets   6 
Trade and other receivables   6 
Trade and other payables   (2)
Net identifiable assets and liabilities   10 
Goodwill   12 
Consideration   22 


 

Amec Foster Wheeler
Annual report and accounts 2015
 153  
 

Notes to the consolidated accounts continued

 

25 Commitments

 

Operating lease commitments

The total obligations under non-cancellable operating lease rentals for continuing operations are as follows:

 

   31 December
2015
£m
   31 December
2014
£m
 
In one year or less   86    99 
Between one and five years   224    249 
Over five years   75    124 
    385    472 

 

Amec Foster Wheeler enters into the following types of lease: short-term plant hires; leases for motor vehicles and office equipment with lease periods of two to five years; and longer-term property leases. None of the leases include any contingent rentals.

 

Finance lease and hire purchase commitments

The Group has finance leases and hire purchase contracts for various items of property and deferred payment arrangements which are similar to finance leases for software. These leases have terms of renewal, but no purchase options and escalation clauses. Renewals are at the option of the specific entity that holds the lease. Future minimum lease payments under finance leases and hire purchase contracts together with the present value of the net minimum lease payments are, as follows:

 

   2015   2014 
   Minimum
payments
£m
   Present value
of payments
£m
   Minimum
payments
£m
   Present value
of payments
£m
 
In one year or less   6    4    12    9 
Between one and five years   49    42    47    35 
Over five years   15    13    20    17 
Total minimum lease payments   70    59    79    61 
Less amounts representing finance charges   (11)       (18)    
Present value of minimum lease payments   59    59    61    61 

 

26 Contingent liabilities

 

Legal claims and actions

From time to time, the Group is party to litigation involving clients and sub-contractors arising out of project contracts. Such litigation includes claims or actions by and against the Group for cancelled contracts, for additional costs incurred in excess of contract provisions, as well as for back charges for alleged breaches of warranty and other contract commitments. We have recognised provisions for certain known or reasonably likely legal claims or actions against the Group. We do not expect known and reasonably likely legal claims or actions for which a provision has not been established to have a material impact on the Group’s financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

 

Indemnities and retained obligations

We have agreed to indemnify certain third parties relating to businesses and/or assets that were previously owned by the Group and were sold to them. Such indemnifications relate primarily to breach of covenants, breach of representations and warranties, as well as potential exposure for retained liabilities, environmental matters and third party claims for activities conducted by the Group prior to the sale of such businesses and/or asset. We have established provisions for those indemnities in respect of which we consider it probable that there will be a successful claim. We do not expect indemnities or retained obligations for which a provision has not been established to have a material impact on the Group’s financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

 

Guarantees

The Group has guaranteed certain performance obligations in respect of a refinery/electric power generation plant located in Chile in which we hold a non-controlling interest.

 

154 Amec Foster Wheeler
Annual report and accounts 2015
 

26 Contingent liabilities continued

 

Mount Polley

The Mount Polley mine is owned and operated by Mount Polley Mining Corporation, a subsidiary of Imperial Metals Corporation, and is located near the town of Likely, British Columbia, Canada. On 4 August 2014, a tailings pond facility at the mine failed releasing large quantities of water and mine tailings into the local environment. The dam was in the process of being raised at the time of the failure. One of our subsidiaries, along with other parties, had various design and quality assurance responsibilities associated with the expansion of this facility. Our subsidiary was providing engineering services at the time of the breach, but did not perform the original design.

 

An Independent Review Panel issued a report on 30 January 2015 concluding that the cause of failure was shearing along a zone containing a weak soil layer along with other contributory factors. On December 17, 2015, the Chief Inspector of Mines for B.C. issued a report that for the most part agrees with the conclusions of the Independent Review Panel. At this time, litigation has been threatened by the Owner of the Mine and its parent company, Imperial Metals Corporation, but no litigation has yet been commenced against the Group. Management’s opinion is that its employees performed in a professional manner consistent with the standard of care for a competent engineer on a project of this nature. In addition, the contract between our subsidiary and Mount Polley Mining Corporation contains limitations of liability provisions that exclude claims for consequential damages and limit the subsidiary’s liability to the amount of professional fees charged, which were less than CDN$1m.

 

Amec Foster Wheeler is taking external legal advice on this matter. In light of both internal and external advice, and given the early stages of this matter, it is considered possible but not probable that there will be an outflow in respect of this issue.

 

Tax planning

The Group undertakes tax planning which is compliant with current legislation and accepted practice. Recent changes to the tax environment, including the OECD’s project around Base Erosion and Profit Shifting have brought into question the legitimacy of tax planning previously undertaken by multinational entities. There have been several recent high profile tax cases against tax authorities and large groups. The European Commission has opened formal investigations to examine whether decisions by the tax authorities in certain European countries comply with European Union rules. We are monitoring the outcome of these cases in order to understand whether there is any risk to the Group. Based on the Group’s current assessment of such issues, it is too early to speculate on any areas of challenge and potential liabilities, and as a result, it is not currently considered probable that there will be an outflow in respect of these issues.

 

27 Related party transactions

 

During 2015 there were a number of transactions with the senior management group, joint venture entities and subsidiary companies.

 

Transactions with the senior management group

Following the acquisition of Foster Wheeler in late 2014, the senior management group now consists of Amec Foster Wheeler plc board members and the presidents of the Americas, Northern Europe and CIS, Asia Middle East, Africa and Southern Europe, and the Global Power Group.

 

The senior management group and relatives controlled 0.7% of the voting rights of the company as at 31 December 2015.

 

In addition to their salaries, the company also provides non-cash benefits to executive directors and other senior managers and they receive share awards under the Performance Share Plan. The company also contributes to a defined benefit plan on behalf of certain executive directors. Details of their compensation are as follows:

 

   2015
£m
   2014
£m
 
Short-term employee benefits   5    5 
Pension costs        
Equity-settled share-based payments       1 
    5    6 


 

Amec Foster Wheeler
Annual report and accounts 2015
155  
 

Notes to the consolidated accounts continued

 

27 Related party transactions continued

 

Transactions and related balances outstanding with joint ventures

The transactions and related balances outstanding with joint venture entities are as follows:

 

   Value of transactions
in the year
   Outstanding balance
as at 31 December
 
   2015
£m
   2014
(restated)
£m
   2015
£m
   2014
(restated)
£m
 
Services received   1             
Services rendered   28    29    12    12 
Provision of finance       9    17    25 

 

The 2014 restatement reflects changes to classifications of related party transactions.

 

In September 2012, the UK government’s Department for Business, Innovation and Skills announced a change to UK legislation with respect to the requirement for a UK company to be subject to annual audit. An additional audit exemption has been introduced, such that for a subsidiary of a parent established in a European Economic Area state, that subsidiary can be exempt from annual audit if certain conditions are met. The principal conditions are the requirement for the subsidiary’s shareholders to agree to the exemption and a guarantee to be issued to the subsidiary by the parent undertaking, guaranteeing all of the subsidiary’s outstanding liabilities at the year end, until they are satisfied in full.

 

The Group will be exempting the following companies from an audit in 2015 under Section 479A of the Companies Act 2006, all of which are fully consolidated in these accounts:

 

Amec Foster Wheeler Finance Asia Limited (Registered number: 6205760)

 

AMEC Hedge Co 1 Limited (Registered number: 07870120)

 

AMEC Kazakhstan Holdings Limited (Registered number: 4530056)

 

Amec Foster Wheeler Property and Overseas Investments Limited (Registered number: 1580678)

 

AMEC USA Finance Limited (Registered number: 5299446)

 

AMEC USA Holdings Limited (Registered number: 4041261)

 

AMEC USA Limited (Registered number: 4044800)

 

AMEC Wind Developments Limited (Registered number: 8781332)

 

Ard Ghaoth Wind Farm Limited (Registered number: 7625013)

 

Auld Clay Wind Farm Limited (Registered number: 7285550)

 

Castlecary Wind Farm Limited (Registered number: 7611293)

 

Hilton Wind Farm Limited (Registered number: 7767187)

 

PI Energy & Emissions Limited (Registered number: SC209704)

 

Sandiway Solutions (No 3) Limited (Registered number: 5318249)

 

Sigma Financial Facilities Limited (Registered number: 3863449)

 

28 Post balance sheet events

 

Refinancing

On 1 March 2016 the Group completed a refinancing of its main debt facilities by entering into a new facility with a syndicate of 20 banks. The new facility, which has three tranches – a three-year £650m term loan, a five-year £650m term loan and a five-year £400m revolving credit facility – replaces the company’s existing revolving credit facility and the Foster Wheeler acquisition facility.

 

Longview

In early March 2016, the Group settled its dispute with Kvaerner as described in note 24. We have agreed to pay Kvaerner $70m in full and final settlement of the claims.

 

156 Amec Foster Wheeler
Annual report and accounts 2015
 

Company balance sheet
As at 31 December 2015

 

   Note   2015
£m
   2014
£m
 
Fixed assets            
Intangible assets  2   33   31 
Tangible assets  3   1   1 
Investment in subsidiaries  4   4,219   4,480 
       4,253   4,512 
Current assets            
Debtors: including amounts falling due after one year of £1,310 m (2014: £1,102 m)  5   1,378   1,149 
Cash at bank and in hand      41   93 
       1,419   1,242 
Current liabilities            
Creditors: amounts falling due within one year  6   (1,661)  (2,026)
Net current liabilities      (242)  (784)
Total assets less current liabilities      4,011   3,728 
Creditors: amounts falling due after one year  7   (2,091)  (1,324)
Net assets      1,920   2,404 
             
Capital and reserves            
Called up share capital  8, 9   197   194 
Share premium account  9   133   101 
Capital redemption reserve  9   34   34 
Merger reserve  9   540   877 
Profit and loss account  9   1,016   1,198 
Equity shareholders’ funds      1,920   2,404 

 

The accounts on pages 157 to 165 were approved by the board of directors on 10 March 2016 and were signed on its behalf by:

 

 

Ian McHoul

Chief Financial Officer and interim CEO


 

Amec Foster Wheeler
Annual report and accounts 2015
157  
 

Company statement of changes in equity

 

For the year ended 31 December 2015

 

   Share
capital
£m
   Share
premium
£m
   Merger
reserve
£m
   Capital
redemption
reserve
£m
   Profit and loss
account
£m
   Total
£m
 
As at 1 January 2015 (restated)  194   101   877   34   1,198   2,404 
Loss for the year              (368)  (368)
Total comprehensive income for the year              (368)  (368)
Transfer of losses from the retained earnings to the merger reserve        (337)     337    
Dividend              (167)  (167)
Equity-settled share-based payments              1   1 
Utilisation of treasury shares              15   15 
Shares issued  3   32            35 
As at 31 December 2015  197   133   540   34   1,016   1,920 
                         
For the year ended 31 December 2014                        
   Share
capital
£m
   Share
premium
£m
   Merger
reserve
£m
   Capital
redemption
reserve
£m
   Profit and loss
account
£m
   Total
£m
 
As at 1 January 2014  152   101      34   1,294   1,581 
Loss for the year              (3)  (3)
Total comprehensive income for the year              (3)  (3)
Dividend              (124)  (124)
Equity-settled share-based payments              25   25 
Utilisation of treasury shares              6   6 
Shares issued  42   877            919 
Transfer to merger reserve     (877)  877          
As at 31 December 2014 (restated)  194   101   877   34   1,198   2,404 

 

158 Amec Foster Wheeler
Annual report and accounts 2015
 

Notes to the company accounts

 

1 Accounting policies

 

Basis of preparation

The accounts have been prepared in accordance with Financial Reporting Standard 101 Reduced Disclosure Framework (FRS 101) and under the historical cost convention, except that derivative financial instruments are stated at fair value, in accordance with applicable accounting standards and the Companies Act 2006.

 

The company has not presented its own profit and loss account, as permitted by Section 408 of the Companies Act 2006.

 

The results of Amec Foster Wheeler plc are included in the consolidated accounts of Amec Foster Wheeler plc which are available from Booths Park, Chelford Road, Knutsford, Cheshire, WA16 8QZ.

 

The accounts are presented in Sterling, rounded to the nearest million.

 

As the acquisition of Foster Wheeler AG in November 2014 resulted in the Group securing more than 90% of Foster Wheeler’s issued share capital, the acquisition qualifies for merger relief under section 612 of the Companies Act 2006 from crediting the share premium account. As a result the balance sheet at 31 December 2014 has been restated to present the excess of the nominal value of the shares issued of £877m, as a merger reserve.

 

The company has transitioned to FRS 101 from previously issued UK Generally Accepted Accounting Practice for all periods presented. Transition tables showing all material adjustments are disclosed in note 12. The accounting policies which follow set out those policies which apply in preparing the financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2015.

 

The company has taken advantage of the following disclosure exemptions under FRS 101:

     
the requirements of paragraphs 45(b) and 46-52 of IFRS 2 ‘Share-based Payment’ (details of the number and weighted-average exercise prices of share options, and how the fair value of services received was determined)
   
the requirements of IFRS 7 ‘Financial Instruments: Disclosures’
   
the requirements of paragraphs 91-99 of IFRS 13 ‘Fair Value Measurement’
   
the requirement in paragraph 38 of IAS 1 ‘Presentation of Financial Statements’ to present comparative information in respect of:
   
  paragraph 79(a)(iv) of IAS 1
     
  paragraph 73(e) of IAS 16 ‘Property, Plant and Equipment’
     
  paragraph 118(e) of IAS 38 ‘Intangible Assets’
     
the requirements of the following paragraphs of IAS 1 ‘Presentation of Financial Statements’:
   
  10(d) (statement of cashflows)
     
  10(f) (a statement of financial position as at the beginning of the preceding period when an entity applies an accounting policy retrospectively or makes a retrospective statement of items in its financial statements, or when it reclassifies items in its financial statements)
     
  16 (statement of compliance with all IFRSs)
     
  38A (requirement for minimum of two primary statements, including cash flow statements)
     
  38B-D (additional comparative information)
     
  40A-D (requirements for a third statement of financial position)
     
  111 (cash flow statement information)
     
  134-136 (capital management disclosures
     
the requirements of IAS 7 ‘Statement of Cash Flows’
   
the requirements of paragraphs 30 and 31 of IAS 8 ‘Accounting Policies, Changes in Accounting Estimates and Errors’ (requirement for the disclosure of information when an entity has not applied a new IFRS that has been issued but is not yet effective)
   
the requirements of paragraph 17 of IAS 24 ‘Related Party Disclosures’ (key management compensation)
   
the requirements in IAS 24 ‘Related Party Disclosures’ to disclose related party transactions entered into between two or more members of a group, provided that any subsidiary which is a party to the transaction is wholly owned by such a member


 

Amec Foster Wheeler
Annual report and accounts 2015
159  
 

Notes to the company accounts continued

 

1 Accounting policies continued

 

The preparation of accounts in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make judgements, estimates and assumptions that affect the application of policies and reported amounts of assets and liabilities, income and expenses. The estimates and associated assumptions are based on historical experience and various other factors that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis of making judgements about carrying values of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. Actual results may differ from these estimates.

 

The estimates and underlying assumptions are reviewed on an ongoing basis. Revisions to accounting estimates are recognised in the period in which the estimate is revised if the revision affects only that period, or in the period of the revision and future periods if the revision affects both current and future periods.

 

Amec Foster Wheeler believe some of these policies require a high level of judgement, and the most critical accounting policies and significant areas of judgement and estimation arise from:

 

Impairment of investments in subsidiaries.

 

Determining whether the company’s investments in subsidiaries have been impaired requires estimations of the investments’ values in use. The value in use calculations require the entity to estimate the future cash flows expected to arise from the investments and suitable discount rates in order to calculate present values. The carrying amount of investments in subsidiaries at the balance sheet date was £4,219m (2014: £4,480m) with an impairment loss of £351m recognised in 2015 (2014: £nil).

 

Dividend income

Dividend income is recognised when the right to receive payment is established.

 

Financial instruments 

Financial instruments are initially recorded at fair value. Subsequent valuation depends on the designation of the instrument and is as described in note 1 to the consolidated financial statements.

 

Foreign currencies

Transactions in a currency other than Sterling are translated to Sterling at the exchange rate ruling at the date of the transaction. Monetary assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies are translated into Sterling at rates of exchange ruling at the balance sheet date and exchange differences are taken to the profit and loss account in the year. Non-monetary assets and liabilities are measured in terms of historical cost and are translated using the exchange rate at the date of the transaction.

 

Intangible assets

Intangible assets are measured at cost less accumulated amortisation and impairment losses.

 

Amortisation is charged to the income statement on a straight line basis over the estimated useful lives of intangible assets, from the date they are available for use. The estimated useful lives of intangible assets held at 31 December 2015 are as follows:

 

Software Three to seven years

 

Interest

Interest is recognised in profit or loss on an accruals basis using the effective interest method.

 

Investments

Investments are stated at cost less impairment losses. Where equity-settled share-based payments are granted to the employees of subsidiary companies, the fair value of the award is treated as a capital contribution by the company and the investments in subsidiaries are adjusted to reflect this capital contribution.

 

Pensions

The company participates in the Amec Staff and Executive defined benefit pension schemes. The assets of these schemes are held separately from those of the company. As there is no contractual agreement or stated policy for charging the net defined benefit cost to individual Group entities, the company has recognised a cost equal to the contributions payable to the schemes in respect of the accounting period.

 

Details of the defined benefit schemes can be found in note 14 of the consolidated accounts.

 

Contributions to the defined contribution schemes are recognised in profit or loss in the period in which they become payable.

 

Tangible assets

Property, plant and equipment is measured at cost less accumulated depreciation and impairment losses.

 

Depreciation is provided on all property, plant and equipment at rates calculated to write off the cost, less estimated residual value, of each asset on a straight line basis over its estimated useful life. The estimated useful lives as at 31 December 2015 are as follows:

 

Plant and equipment Three to five years

 

160 Amec Foster Wheeler
Annual report and accounts 2015
 

1 Accounting policies continued

 

Remuneration of auditors

The detailed information concerning auditors’ remuneration is shown in note 4 of the consolidated accounts.

 

Share-based payments

There are share-based payment arrangements which allow Amec Foster Wheeler employees to acquire Amec Foster Wheeler shares; these awards are granted by Amec Foster Wheeler. The fair value of awards granted is recognised as a cost of employment with a corresponding increase in equity. The fair value is measured at grant date and spread over the period during which the employees become unconditionally entitled to the award. The fair value of the award is measured using a valuation model, taking into account the terms and conditions upon which the awards were granted. The amount recognised as a cost is adjusted to reflect the actual number of shares that vest except where non-vesting is due to share prices not achieving the threshold for vesting.

 

Taxation

The charge for taxation is based on the results for the year and takes into account taxation deferred because of temporary differences between the treatment of certain items for taxation and accounting purposes.

 

Deferred tax is recognised, without discounting, in respect of all temporary differences between the treatment of certain items for taxation and accounting purposes which have arisen but not reversed by the balance sheet date, except as otherwise required by IAS 12 ‘Income Taxes’.

 

2 Intangible assets

 

    Software 
    £m 
Cost     
As at 1 January 2015   41 
Additions   9 
As at 31 December 2015   50 
Amortisation     
As at 1 January 2015   10 
Provided during the year   7 
As at 31 December 2015   17 
Net book value     
As at 31 December 2015   33 
As at 1 January 2015   31 

 

3 Tangible assets

 

    Plant and 
    equipment 
    £m 
Cost     
As at 1 January 2015   4 
Additions    
As at 31 December 2015   4 
Depreciation     
As at 1 January 2015   3 
Provided during the year    
As at 31 December 2015   3 
Net book value     
As at 31 December 2015   1 
As at 1 January 2015   1 


 

Amec Foster Wheeler
Annual report and accounts 2015
 161  
 

Notes to the company accounts continued

 

4 Investments (non-current)

 

         Amounts    Total 
    Shares in    owed by    investment in 
    subsidiaries    subsidiaries    subsidiaries 
    £m    £m    £m 
Cost               
As at 1 January 2015   4,062    464    4,526 
Additions   90        90 
As at 31 December 2015   4,152    464    4,616 
Provisions               
As at 1 January 2015   46        46 
Additions   351        351 
As at 31 December 2015   397        397 
Net book value               
As at 31 December 2015   3,755    464    4,219 
As at 1 January 2015   4,016    464    4,480 

 

Group companies are listed on pages 194 to 201.

 

5 Debtors

 

    31 December    31 December 
    2015    2014 
    £m    £m 
Debtors: amounts falling due within one year          
Amounts owed by subsidiaries   6    5 
Derivative financial instruments   33    13 
Corporation tax   21    24 
Prepayments and accrued income   8    5 
    68    47 
Debtors: amounts falling due after one year          
Derivative financial instruments   19    2 
Amounts owed by subsidiaries   1,291    1,100 
    1,378    1,149 
           
The deferred tax balance is analysed as follows:          
           
    31 December    31 December 
    2015    2014 
    £m    £m 
Difference between accumulated depreciation and capital allowances   (1)   (1)
Tax losses   1     
Share-based schemes       1 
         

 

In his budget speech on 8 July 2015, the UK Chancellor of the Exchequer announced reductions in the rate of UK corporation tax from 20% to 19% on 1 April 2017 and 18% on 1 April 2020.

 

As at 31 December 2015, the reductions in the rate of corporation tax to 19% and 18% had been substantively enacted.

 

162 Amec Foster Wheeler
Annual report and accounts 2015
 

6 Creditors: amounts falling due within one year

 

    31 December    31 December 
    2015    2014 
    £m    £m 
Bank overdrafts   12    8 
Bank and other loans   673    693 
Trade creditors   42    37 
Derivative financial instruments   33    12 
Amounts owed to subsidiaries   901    1,276 
    1,661    2,026 

 

The company has committed banking facilities of £1,741m (2014: £1,826m). This consists of a £377m multi-currency revolving facility that was taken out on 18 July 2012. The facility is committed for five years and is available for general corporate purposes. In addition on 13 February 2014 the company entered into acquisition facilities totalling $2,260m (£1,449m). This comprises of the following:

 

$830m (£563m) bridge facility which matures 5 August 2016 with a further six month extension at the company’s option
  
$830m (£563m) term loan maturing in equal instalments in 2017, 2018 and 2019
  
$350m (£237m) revolving credit facility maturing May 2016

 

As at 31 December 2015, £1,236m (2014: £1,230m) of the loans and facilities were utilised by way of debt and £62m (2014: £159m) was utilised by way of Letter of Credit.

 

On 1 March 2016, the Company entered into a new syndicated facility comprising of three tranches; a three-year £650m term loan, a five-year £650m term loan and a five-year £400m revolving credit facility. The new facility replaces the Company’s existing £377m revolving credit facility and the Foster Wheeler acquistion facility of $2.26bn.

 

7 Creditors: amounts falling due after one year

 

    31 December    31 December 
    2015    2014 
    £m    £m 
Amounts owed to subsidiaries   1,509    794 
Bank and other loans   563    528 
Derivative financial instruments   19    2 
    2,091    1,324 

 

8 Share capital

 

The share capital of the company comprises ordinary shares of 50 pence each. All the ordinary shares rank pari passu in all respects. To the company’s knowledge and belief, there are no restrictions on the transfer of shares in the company or on voting rights between holders of shares.

 

    31 December    31 December 
    2015    2014 
    £m    £m 
Allotted, called up and fully paid ordinary shares of 50 pence each   197    194 
           
The movement in issued share capital during the year was as follows:          
           
    Number    £m 
As at 1 January 2015   388,875,843    194 
Shares issued   4,255,970    3 
As at 31 December 2015   393,131,813    197 

 

Share-based payment

Details of share-based payment schemes operated by the company are provided in note 22 to the consolidated accounts.


 

Amec Foster Wheeler
Annual report and accounts 2015
 163  
 

Notes to the company accounts continued

 

9 Reserves

 

Movements in reserves are shown in the company statement of changes in equity on page 158.

 

Details of dividends approved by the company and paid during the year are disclosed in note 22 to the consolidated accounts.

 

During 2012 Amec Foster Wheeler plc generated a significant profit from an internal restructuring. This becomes distributable as qualifying consideration is passed to Amec Foster Wheeler plc. As at 31 December 2015, £564m of reserves are considered to be distributable.

 

The company’s loss for the year in 2015 was £368m.

 

10 Contingent liabilities

 

Guarantees and indemnities

Guarantees given by the company in respect of borrowings of subsidiaries amounted to £nil as at 31 December 2015 (2014: £nil).

 

In addition, the company is party to cross-guarantee arrangements relating to overdrafts for certain Group companies. The maximum gross exposure as at 31 December 2015 was £79m (2014: £94m).

 

The company will guarantee the debts and liabilities of the following UK subsidiaries in accordance with Section 479C of the Companies Act 2006:

 

Amec Foster Wheeler Finance Asia Limited (Registered number: 6205760)

 

Amec Foster Wheeler Property And Overseas Investments Limited (Registered number: 1580678)

 

AMEC Hedge Co 1 Limited (Registered number: 07870120)

 

AMEC Kazakhstan Holdings Limited (Registered number: 4530056)

 

AMEC USA Finance Limited (Registered number: 5299446)

 

AMEC USA Holdings Limited (Registered number: 4041261)

 

AMEC USA Limited (Registered number: 4044800)

 

AMEC Wind Developments Limited (Registered number: 8781332)

 

Ard Ghaoth Wind Farm Limited (Registered number: 7625013)

 

Auld Clay Wind Farm Limited (Registered number: 7285550)

 

Castlecary Wind Farm Limited (Registered number: 7611293)

 

Hilton Wind Farm Limited (Registered number: 7767187)

 

PI Energy Emissions Limited (Registered number: SC209704)

 

Sandiway Solutions (No 3) Limited (Registered number: 5318249)

 

Sigma Financial Facilities Limited (Registered number: 3863449)

 

The company has assessed the probability of loss under these guarantees as remote.

 

164 Amec Foster Wheeler
Annual report and accounts 2015
 

11 Related party transactions

 

During the year the only related party transactions for which disclosure is required under IAS 24 ‘Related Party Disclosures’ were with the senior management group. As allowed by IAS 24 transactions with wholly owned subsidiary undertakings are not disclosed.

 

Transactions with the senior management group

The senior management group of the company consists of Amec Foster Wheeler plc board members.

 

The senior management group of the company and their immediate relatives controlled 0.65% of the voting rights of the company as at 31 December 2015.

 

Details of directors’ remuneration are provided in the Directors’ remuneration report on pages 67 to 80.

 

12 Transition to FRS 101

 

For all years up to the year ended 31 December 2014, the company prepared its accounts in accordance with previously issued United Kingdom generally accepted accounting practice (UK GAAP). For the year ended 31 December 2015, the company has transitioned to FRS 101.

 

In preparing these accounts, the company has started from an opening balance sheet as at 1 January 2014, the company’s date of transition to FRS 101, and made those changes in accounting policies and other restatements required for the first-time adoption of FRS 101. This note explains the principal adjustments made by the company in restating its balance sheet as at 1 January 2014 prepared under previously issued UK GAAP and its previously published UK GAAP accounts for the year ended 31 December 2014.

 

On transition to FRS 101, the company has applied the requirements of paragraphs 6-33 of IFRS 1 ‘First time adoption of International Financial Reporting Standards’.

 

Restatements required on transition from UK GAAP to FRS 101

Reclassification of software assets

Previously under UK GAAP, software development costs were capitalised as tangible assets. Under FRS 101, these costs meet the criteria for capitalisation as intangible assets under IAS 38 ‘Intangible Assets’ and as such have been reclassified from tangible assets to intangible assets in the balance sheets as at 1 January 2014 (£26m) and 31 December 2014 (£31m).


 

Amec Foster Wheeler
Annual report and accounts 2015
165  
 

History and development

 

Details of incorporation

Amec Foster Wheeler plc is a public limited company that is incorporated in England and Wales with the registered number 01675285.

 

The Company’s registered office is situated at Booths Park, Chelford Road, Knutsford, Cheshire, WA16 8QZ, UK.

 

The Company operates under English law.

 

The Company’s agent in the US is CT Corporation, whose contact address is 111 Eighth Avenue, New York, New York 10011, US.

 

Origins

Amec Foster Wheeler plc (previously AMEC plc) was formed in 1982, when Fairclough Construction merged with William Press Group. The Matthew Hall Group of Companies was acquired in 1988. As a business, we can trace our history back over 150 years to the origins of these predecessor companies.

 

Subsequent transformation

In recent years, the Group’s activities have been transformed by exiting from civil construction and becoming a consultancy, engineering and project management business. We have achieved this transformation through a combination of organic growth, acquisitions and divestment of non-core activities.

 

In 2000, we acquired AGRA Inc., a North American environmental, engineering and construction services company and Ogden Environmental and Energy Services Co. Inc., a US environmental consulting company.
  
In 2005, we acquired Paragon Engineering Services, Inc., a Houston-based oil and gas engineering services company and NNC Holdings Limited, a UK nuclear consultancy and engineering business.
  
In 2007, we sold our UK-based civil construction businesses.
  
In 2008, we acquired Geomatrix Consultants, Inc., a California-based technical consulting and engineering firm; Rider Hunt International Limited, a project services company to the oil, gas, chemical, energy and process industries; and Bower Damberger Rolseth Engineering Limited.
  
In 2008, we sold our wind developments business.
  
In 2009, we acquired GRD Limited, an engineering and project delivery company based in Perth, Australia, specialising in the design, procurement and construction of mineral projects.
  
In 2010, we acquired Entec Holdings Limited, a UK-based environmental and engineering consultancy company.
  
In 2011, we acquired MACTEC Inc., a US engineering and environmental services company; and QED International Limited, or qedi, an oil and gas completions and commissioning services company.
In 2012, we acquired Energy, Safety and Risk Consultants (UK) Limited, or ESRC, a UK-based nuclear technical services business Unidel Group Pty Limited, or Unidel, a consulting, engineering and technical services company serving Australia’s energy, resources and infrastructure sectors and a 50% stake in Kromav Engenharia Ltda, or KROMAV, a participant in the Brazilian oil and gas market, with an option to acquire the outstanding 50% stake.
  
In 2013, we acquired Automated Engineering Services Corp., a US design engineering nuclear services firm which provides support to existing nuclear utilities.
  
In 2014, we acquired Scopus Group (Holdings) Limited (Scopus). Headquartered in Aberdeen, UK, with bases in international oil and gas hubs, Scopus has around 200 employees who provide specialist engineering services to the global oil and gas, petrochemical and nuclear industries.

 

Between 1997 and 2006, we bought and sold interests in SPIE, which provided electrical engineering, communications services and specialist activities in the energy and rail industries, predominantly in France.

 

In November 2014, the Company acquired control of Foster Wheeler AG, a leading international engineering, construction and project management contractor and power equipment supplier, by way of a public tender offer. Foster Wheeler AG was a Swiss-registered company that was listed on NASDAQ in the US. At 31 December 2014, the Company owned, through a wholly-owned subsidiary, 95.3% of the issued share capital of Foster Wheeler AG. At the time of the acquisition, Foster Wheeler had around 12,000 employees and operated in over 30 countries through two business groups.

 

Developments during 2015

During January 2015, the Company acquired the remaining shares in Foster Wheeler AG by way of a ‘squeeze-out merger’ conducted under Swiss law and Foster Wheeler AG merged with and into one of the Company’s wholly-owned subsidiaries.

 

In October 2015, we exercised our right to acquire the remaining 50% stake in Kromav Engenharia Ltda.

 

In December 2015, we exercised our right to acquire the remaining 40% stake in S2V Consulting Pty Ltd, a company incorporated in Australia and providing specialised consulting services to our oil and gas customers including upstream/ midstream, subsea and pipelines, onshore/offshore and production and processing. During December 2015, we also sold our interest in Project Management Holdings Limited, a company incorporated in Ireland and providing engineering, architecture, and project management and construction services internationally.


 

166 Amec Foster Wheeler
Annual report and accounts 2015
 

Risk factors

 

We describe below those risks and uncertainties that we consider to be significant because their outcome may have a material adverse effect on the Group’s business, financial condition, results of operations or cash flows. We have not listed these risks and uncertainties in any particular order of priority. Other risks and uncertainties that are currently unknown to us, or that are known but not currently considered by us to be significant, could become apparent to us or change and therefore may ultimately have such material adverse effects.

 

Adverse global economic conditions or other macro-economic developments in the geographic regions and markets in which we operate.

We expect to derive the largest share of our revenue from the oil & gas market with a broad exposure from upstream to downstream. Over recent years the oil & gas industry has faced a number of challenges, including continuing pressure on consumer demand, costs and oil & gas prices. As a result of the continuing nature of these challenges, many oil & gas companies have reduced, and may reduce further, their capital expenditure in response to market and investor pressure.

 

In our other markets, such as clean energy, spending by customers will depend on cost developments for new technologies, support for government initiatives and the availability of funding for projects; whilst demand for raw materials from China may have a significant impact on mining projects. We have experienced increased competition for new contracts and some customers have requested different, less favourable contract terms due to these conditions.

 

We expect to derive the majority of our revenue from the combination of Europe, the US and Canada and will be exposed to the impact of global and local economic conditions affecting these regions. We may, therefore, be adversely affected if economic conditions in these regions deteriorate or become more uncertain.

 

Adverse or volatile economic conditions may also impact liquidity and the availability of credit to our customers, as well as the demands of investors for greater returns in these markets, each of which may in turn influence customer spending on capital investment and/or asset maintenance and may result in delays or cancellation of projects.

 

If we are unable to successfully anticipate changing economic and political conditions affecting the jurisdictions and markets in which we operate, we may be unable to effectively plan for or respond to those changes.

Risks associated with operating in emerging markets.

We conduct a portion of our operations in emerging markets. Going forward, we expect that our operations will be more heavily focused in the Middle East, as well as in other emerging markets, such as Latin America and parts of Asia. Our operations in these markets are exposed to risks that may not be encountered in countries with more well-established economic and political systems, which include, to a greater or lesser extent, changes in governmental regulations, trade restrictions and laws, tariffs and other barriers, the potential for nationalisation of enterprises or government policies favouring local production, renegotiation or nullification of existing agreements, fluctuations in interest rates and currency exchange rates, the introduction of exchange controls and other restrictions by foreign governments, timeliness of client payments, differing protections for intellectual property and enforcement thereof and divergent environmental laws and regulations.

 

Continuing political and social unrest in the Middle East has had, and may continue to have, a negative impact on existing and future opportunities in the region.

 

Changes in commodity prices may adversely impact demand for our services.

As a general matter, commodity prices are volatile and are influenced by a number of external factors, including the supply of and demand for commodities, speculative activities by market participants, global political and economic conditions, the levels of production in major commodity-producing countries and the costs of exploring for, developing, producing and delivering the commodities. In particular, fluctuations in commodity prices related to the oil & gas, metals, mining and minerals industries may adversely impact our business since they may adversely affect customer spending on capital investment and asset maintenance and may result in delays or cancellation of projects.

 

The reduction in oil prices has adversely impacted investment in both oil and gas production by driving international oil companies to focus on ways in which they can be more capital efficient and this may continue if oil prices remain low. For example, such companies may choose to reduce overall levels of upstream capital expenditure and look at options to improve the efficiency of operating expenditure. Fluctuations in the price of metals and minerals, such as gold and copper, have also impacted mining customer spending.

 

Such declines in the levels of customer spending as a result of a reduction in commodity prices could negatively impact our operations. Any delay, deferral or size reduction in our customers’ projects may restrict the opportunities available to us for organic growth and the achievement of our targets.



 

Amec Foster Wheeler
Annual report and accounts 2015
167  
 

Risk factors continued

 

Adverse changes in macro-economic, market and other conditions could result in the impairment of goodwill and other intangible assets.

Goodwill is tested for impairment annually, or more often if an event or circumstance indicates that it may be impaired. Other intangible assets are tested for impairment whenever there is an indication of impairment. An impairment test is an assessment of whether the carrying amount of an asset can be supported by the net present value of the future cash flows that are expected to be derived from it, either by use in the business or from sale. An impairment test requires management to make certain critical assumptions including future sales volumes, profit margins and long-term growth rates and to determine an appropriate discount rate to apply to the estimated cash flows. Other factors that may affect revenue and profitability (for example, intensifying competition, pricing pressures, regulatory changes and other industry developments) are also considered. Discount rates are based on current yields on government bonds, the level of which may change substantially from period to period and which may be affected by political and economic developments which are beyond our control.

 

An impairment loss is recognised if the carrying value of the asset is not supported by net present value of the cash flows expected to be derived from it. Whilst an impairment loss does not in itself affect cash flows, it may be an indication that future cash flows will decline. Moreover, any significant impairment in the carrying value of goodwill may indicate an associated impairment in the related investment held by the parent company. No assurance can be given that any such future impairment loss in the parent company would not affect the Company’s distributable reserves and, therefore, our ability to pay dividends to our shareholders.

Failure to meet customer expectations on project delivery could result in damage to our reputation and/or loss of repeat business and potentially lead to litigation.

Many of the contracts which we enter into with our customers are long term and may contain liquidated damages clauses relating to on-time delivery and/or liquidated damages relating to performance and/or liability in respect of unliquidated damages. A number of factors including failure to follow best practice guidelines could mean that projects are not delivered to time, cost, quality or appropriate health, safety and environmental standards and therefore do not meet customer expectations or the expectations of the relevant third party. Any failure to deliver in accordance with customer expectations could subject us to damages and/or reduce our margins on these contracts. Failure to meet customer expectations may also result in disputes or litigation, cancelled contracts, additional costs incurred in excess of current contract provisions, or back-charges for alleged breaches of warranty and other contract commitments.

 

Damage to reputation or loss of repeat business as a result of our failure to meet our customers’ expectations could negatively impact our ability to win new contracts in the future.

 

Long-term contracts may be subject to early termination, variation or non-renewal provisions.

We enter into long-term contracts with customers, which are performed over a period that may exceed two years. Such contracts may be terminated earlier than expected, either within the relevant notice periods or upon default or non-performance by ourselves which may result in additional costs if adequate compensation is not received.

 

Projects included in our order book may be delayed or cancelled.

Changes in project scope or schedule create uncertainty as to the portion of orders that can be performed or the amount of revenue that will be recognised in any given year. Customers may also not be able to secure the necessary financing and approvals for their projects, which could result in a delay or cancellation of the proposed project. Even where a project proceeds as scheduled, it is possible that contracted parties may default and fail to pay amounts owed. Furthermore, fluctuations in currency exchange rates may affect the value of the order book. As a result of these uncertainties, the order book may not be a reliable indicator of our future revenue or profitability.


 

168 Amec Foster Wheeler
Annual report and accounts 2015
 

Lump sum contracts are more subject to unanticipated modifications, technical problems and delays.

Lump sum contracts carry different risks than reimbursable contracts because the selling price of the project is agreed based on estimates at the time the contractor enters into the contract and the contractor assumes a greater proportion of the risks associated with completing the project. In particular, in the EPC contracts in which we engage, the contractor often assumes the risk of variations from original contract projections due to engineering design changes or project modifications that the contractor has to make after submitting its tender. There may also be unanticipated technical problems with the equipment being supplied or developed by the contractor, changes in the costs of components, materials or labour, difficulties in obtaining required governmental permits or approvals, changes in labour conditions and other unexpected delays or costs. We may incur a loss on contracts that are subject to these amendments if we are unable to obtain a variation of the contract, or are not sufficiently reimbursed for the costs incurred as a result of these changes or modifications.

 

We may lose key management or face difficulty in attracting and retaining appropriately skilled personnel.

Our future success is dependent on our ability to attract and retain key management and suitably qualified people to execute our projects. Despite the change in market conditions in some of the markets in which we operate, there is still a scarcity of resources for certain key positions and ongoing competition for suitably qualified and experienced personnel from other companies and organisations.

 

While we may have appropriately qualified and experienced personnel, we may find it difficult to move them between projects and regions and this could impact our ability to meet obligations under our contracts.

 

Senior management departures or prolonged absences, key personnel shortages and difficulties in relocating our personnel could adversely affect our ability to implement our strategy and manage our operations efficiently.

Failure to comply with health, safety and environmental laws may result in losses.

We are subject to numerous laws, regulations and policies concerning the protection of health, safety and the environment, such as those concerning the use and production of waste and by-products considered to be hazardous under the environmental laws and regulations of the jurisdictions in which we operate, including nuclear and other low-level radioactive materials, the remediation of environmental contamination, waste water and waste disposal or that otherwise relate to environmental protection. Failure to comply with such laws, regulations and policies could potentially lead to reputational damage, fines, litigation and claims for compensation, which can be substantial. Such failure may also result in the withdrawal or suspension of licences and permits or we may be forced to undertake extensive remedial clean-up action or to pay for government-ordered remedial clean-up actions, even in cases where such hazards have been caused by third parties.

 

We may be subject to liabilities for environmental contamination as an owner or operator (or former owner or operator) of a facility, or as a generator of hazardous substances, without regard to negligence or fault. Our clean energy business is involved in providing services to operators and utilities in the full lifecycle of nuclear energy, from new build and reactor support to nuclear decommissioning and the management of radioactive and hazardous materials. We could, therefore, be exposed to risks associated with the nuclear industry and the impact of nuclear regulation. As part of any contract involving work or services at or in connection with nuclear facilities, we typically require an indemnity in respect of nuclear liability from our customers. Where an indemnity is not provided, international nuclear conventions, such as the Paris Convention and the Vienna Convention, protect us against liability, provided that our contracting entity is registered in a country which is a signatory of the relevant convention. In cases where our customers are not prepared to provide an indemnity of this nature and no protection is provided by international convention, we may be required to bear the cost of such liabilities in addition to any reputational damage.

 

Changes in environmental laws and regulations, remediation obligations, enforcement actions, stricter interpretations of existing requirements, future discovery of contamination or claims for damages to persons, property, natural resources or the environment could result in unanticipated material costs and liabilities.



 

Amec Foster Wheeler
Annual report and accounts 2015
169  
 

Risk factors continued

 

A major safety incident could lead to reputational damage and increase potential liabilities.

We are involved in activities and environments that can be dangerous and that have the potential to cause serious injury to personnel or damage to property or the environment. Our projects are increasingly complex and place employees and others near large equipment, dangerous processes, highly regulated materials or in remote and challenging environments. We are responsible for the safety and security of our employees travelling on company business and while working at project sites and of third-party personnel while working at project sites under our supervision, and, accordingly, must implement safety procedures.

 

Failure to comply with such procedures may cause us to be subject to losses and liability under client contracts or statutory regulations. Any failure in health and safety performance which results in a major or significant health and safety or environmental incident is likely to result in additional costs in terms of potential liabilities or remediation costs. Such failure could generate significant adverse publicity, resulting in employee turnover and damage to our reputation which may adversely impact our ability to win new business.

 

Failure or security breaches of our IT systems and/or data security may result in losses.

We are dependent on the efficient operation of our IT systems. Such systems may fail and/or sensitive data held by them may be lost. Information and communication systems are, by their nature, susceptible to internal and external security breaches, including computer hacker and cyber terrorist breaches, employee wilful breaches and the risk of employees succumbing to criminal scamming from external sources, and can fail or become unavailable for a significant period of time. A significant performance failure of the Group’s IT systems could lead to loss of control over critical business, project information and/or systems (such as design tools, contract costs, invoicing, payroll management and/or internal reporting), resulting in an adverse impact on the ability to operate effectively or to fulfil contractual obligations. Such failure may, in turn, lead to a loss of customers, revenue and profitability and the incurring of significant remedial costs.

 

Our operations are especially dependent on the use of internal data and customer data. We have incurred, and will continue to incur, expenses to comply with mandatory privacy and security standards and protocols imposed by law, regulation, industry standards or contractual obligations relating to the collection, use and security of personal information data. Failure to comply with such data privacy laws and regulations may result in fines, penalties, claims and reputational damage. Additionally, if data security controls fail, there is a risk that we will unintentionally disclose protected or sensitive data, including important intellectual property, which could lead to the violation of client confidentiality agreements, reputational harm and the loss of critical data.

Failure to comply with anti-corruption laws and regulations, economic sanction programmes or other laws and regulations may result in us becoming subject to fines or penalties and the disruption of our business activities.

Many of the countries in which we operate have anti-corruption laws and regulations that restrict the offer or payment of anything of value to government officials or other persons with the intent of gaining business or favourable government action. We are subject to these laws and regulations, including the US Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977 and the UK Bribery Act 2010. Additionally, economic sanctions programmes, including those administered by the United Nations, the EU and the US Office of Foreign Asset Control, restrict our business dealings with certain sanctioned countries. Many of these regulations and sanctions programmes establish record-keeping obligations.

 

We are exposed to the risk of violating anti-corruption laws and sanctions regulations applicable in those countries where we, our partners or agents operate. Some of the locations in which we currently operate lack a developed legal system, have high levels of corruption and have proven to be susceptible to the occurrence of fraud. Whilst we mandate compliance with relevant policies, laws and regulations (including anti-corruption laws) and have implemented procedures and controls to monitor internal and external compliance, there can be no assurance that our policies and procedures will be followed at all times or will effectively detect and/or prevent violations of the applicable laws or other fraudulent activity by one or more of our employees, consultants, subcontractors, agents or partners.

 

Violations of anti-corruption laws and sanctions regulations are punishable by civil penalties, including fines, denial of export privileges, injunctions, asset seizures, debarment from government contracts (and termination of existing contracts) and revocations or restrictions of licences, as well as criminal fines and imprisonment. In addition, any major violations of policy, law or regulation (including instances of fraud) could have a significant impact on our reputation and consequently on our ability to win future business.


 

170 Amec Foster Wheeler
Annual report and accounts 2015
 

Funding risks in relation to defined benefit pension schemes.

We operate a number of defined benefit pension schemes, where careful judgement is required in determining the assumptions for future salary and pension increases (for those plans that are not frozen), discount rate, inflation, investment return and member longevity. We expect to continue to operate these schemes, although the most significant schemes are now closed. Based on our current assumptions, we expect that we will be able to fund these pension schemes without seeking recourse to additional external financing. Actual outcomes could, however, differ from our assumptions. For example, a prolonged period of lower than expected asset returns and/ or unexpected increases in longevity could create or worsen a funding shortfall on one or more of the schemes, in which circumstances we may agree or be required to make additional cash contributions to the schemes to eliminate the funding shortfall. If significant, such additional contributions may constrain our ability to invest in acquisitions or undertake capital expenditure, thereby adversely impacting our growth and profitability.

 

If the actual number and/or cost to the Group of resolving asbestos-related claims is higher than expected, there may be an adverse effect on our cash flows and our results to the extent that the additional cost is not covered by insurance, or expected insurance recoveries are not, in fact, realised.

Certain of the company’s subsidiaries have been named as defendants in numerous lawsuits and out-of-court administrative claims in which the plaintiffs claim damages for alleged bodily injury or death arising from exposure to asbestos primarily in connection with asbestos placed by others on steam generating units and auxiliary equipment assembled, installed and/or sold, by those subsidiaries. In the US, certain former Foster Wheeler subsidiaries have received claims alleging personal injuries due to contracting work performed by them and more rarely from exposure to asbestos-containing components installed in their steam generating units and auxiliary equipment. We expect that these subsidiaries will be named as defendants in additional and/or similar suits and that new claims will be filed in the future. Whilst some of these claims have been and are expected to be made in the UK, the overwhelming majority have been and are expected to be made in the US.

 

We have provided for the estimated indemnity amounts and defence costs that we expect to incur in relation to open and expected future asbestos-related claims in each year in the period to 2050. We have also recognised the estimated future recoveries under our insurance arrangements against the costs of resolving these claims.

 

It is possible that the actual number of future claims brought against us and the cost of resolving pending and future claims could be substantially higher than expected due to a number of factors, which include:

 

an increase in the rate at which new claims are filed and increases in the number of new claimants
  
adverse changes in the mix of diseases alleged to be suffered by the claimants
adverse changes in the mix of claimants making allegations
  
increases in indemnity payments or defence costs associated with asbestos-related claims
  
decreases in the proportion of claims dismissed with zero indemnity payments
  
indemnity payments being required to be made sooner than expected
  
adverse fluctuations in the discount rate (eg, the 30-year US Treasury rate) used to discount the provision for asbestos-related claims and related insurance recoveries
  
adverse changes to forecasting, estimation or valuation assumptions or methodologies (whether related to potential liabilities, claims and/or associated costs)
  
payment of damages in amounts greater than expected
  
adverse changes in legislative or judicial standards governing the filing, handling or resolution of asbestos-related claims

 

Whilst certain of these claims are covered by insurance, the settlements that we made with our insurers were sometimes for fixed monetary amounts and/or provide cover only for claims made before a specified future date. Accordingly, a future increase in the Group’s asbestos-related liabilities would not result in an equivalent increase in the amount recoverable from those insurers. It is also possible that insurance recoveries may not be realised in full and on time or at all, due to insurer insolvency or for some other reason. To the extent that any defence and/or indemnity costs incurred by us for open and expected future asbestos-related claims are not covered by insurance proceeds, we would be responsible for the payment of those costs, which would adversely affect our cash flows.

 

Obligations and liabilities relating to divested and non-core businesses.

We remain at risk to potential litigation and business claims in relation to divested and non-core businesses where we have provided customary warranties to the purchaser or have continuing obligations such as to carry out environmental remediation. Where appropriate, we have made provision for these obligations but it is possible that the actual costs incurred in settling any claims will materially exceed those provisions.

 

We may face risks arising out of our ongoing portfolio review. In particular, we may be unable to find purchasers for assets or businesses to be disposed, and we may not be able to meet the targets associated with our disposal programme. Activities arising from the ongoing portfolio review and any subsequent disposals will require additional time of key management, as well as additional financial resources. To the extent that we are unable to proceed with the portfolio review and any disposals on the basis or the time frame we expect, or further management or financial resources are required to carry out those activities, it may have a negative impact on the Group.



 

Amec Foster Wheeler
Annual report and accounts 2015
171  
 

Performance measures

 

We assess the financial performance of our businesses using a variety of measures. Certain of these measures are particularly important and we have termed them ‘key performance indicators’. We refer to these measures in the strategic report and use them in presentations to investors. In this section, we explain the relevance to us of each of these measures and show how they are calculated.

 

Some of these measures are non-IFRS measures because they exclude amounts that are included in, or include amounts that are excluded from, the most directly comparable measure calculated and presented in accordance with IFRS, or are calculated using financial measures that are not calculated in accordance with IFRS. We do not regard these non-IFRS measures as a substitute for, or superior to, the equivalent measures calculated and presented in accordance with IFRS and it should be noted that they may not be comparable with similarly titled measures used by other companies.

 

Profitability measures

Management uses three measures of profitability that are not recognised measures under IFRS: trading profit, trading margin and adjusted profit before tax. Each of these measures is based on an IFRS measure of profit but excludes specific items whose inclusion in the IFRS measure hinders the comparison of the trading performance of our businesses from one period to another, with each other or with those of our competitors.

 

Management has identified the following specific items that are excluded in arriving at these non-IFRS measures: exceptional items; the amortisation and impairment of intangible assets; and asbestos-related costs (net of insurance recoveries). Exceptional items are items of income and expense that are material by their size, incidence or nature and may include, but are not restricted to: acquisition-related costs; restructuring costs; gains and losses on the disposal of fixed assets; and gains and losses on the disposal or closure of businesses. Acquisition-related costs may include transaction costs (including external advisory, legal, valuation and other professional fees and attributable internal costs), the amortisation of acquisition-related facility fees, payments to selling shareholders that are accounted for as remuneration and changes in the fair value of contingent consideration. Exceptional items that were recognised in continuing operations are analysed in note 5 to the consolidated financial statements.

 

Trading profit, trading margin and adjusted profit before tax exclude items that can have a significant effect on the Group’s profit or loss and should, therefore, be used in conjunction with, and not as a substitute for, the equivalent IFRS measures. Management compensates for these limitations by separately monitoring the items that are excluded from the equivalent IFRS measures in calculating these non-IFRS measures.

 

Trading profit

Trading profit represents profit before net financing expense excluding exceptional items; the amortisation and impairment of intangible assets; and asbestos-related costs (net of insurance recoveries). Trading profit includes the Group’s share of the trading profit of joint ventures.

 

Trading profit is the measure used by management to assess the trading performance of the Group’s individual businesses and is the measure of segment profit that we present under IFRS. Trading profit is a non-IFRS measure when presented on a consolidated basis.

 

    2015    2014    2013 
    £m    £m    £m 
Continuing operations               
(Loss)/profit before net financing expense   (205)   148    243 
Intangibles amortisation and impairment   444    49    47 
Net asbestos-related (income)/costs   (13)   8     
Exceptional items   108    94    25 
Share of trading profit of joint ventures   40    22    28 
Trading profit   374    321    343 

 

Trading margin

Trading margin represents trading profit expressed as a percentage of revenue.

 

Trading margin is a non-IFRS measure that is used by management to measure the success of our businesses in managing their cost base and improving profitability.

 

£m unless stated otherwise   2015    2014    2013 
Continuing operations               
Revenue   5,455    3,993    3,974 
Trading profit   374    321    343 
Trading margin   6.9%    8.0%    8.6% 
                
172 Amec Foster Wheeler
Annual report and accounts 2015
 

Adjusted profit before tax

Adjusted profit before tax represents profit before tax before exceptional items, the amortisation and impairment of intangible assets, asbestos-related costs and interest expense (net of insurance recoveries), and the Group’s share of tax on the results of joint ventures.

 

Adjusted profit before tax is a non-IFRS measure that is used by management to assess the trend in the Group’s overall profitability.

 

    2015    2014    2013 
    £m    £m    £m 
Continuing operations               
(Loss)/profit before tax   (235)   155    255 
Intangibles amortisation and impairment   444    49    47 
Net asbestos-related expense (income)/costs   (6)   9     
Exceptional items   121    98    25 
Share of income tax of joint ventures   10    6    5 
Adjusted profit before tax   334    317    332 

 

Cash flow measures

Trading cash flow (previously operating cash flow)

Trading cash flow represents cash generated from operations before cash flows arising from exceptional items, asbestos-related payments (net of insurance recoveries), the difference between retirement benefit contributions and the current service cost, legacy settlements and discontinued operations, and currency translation differences on working capital, but including dividends received from joint ventures.

 

Trading cash flow is a non-IFRS measure which is an indicator of the Group’s ability to generate cash from its continuing operations before taking into account exceptional items and the servicing of long-term obligations and the settlement of legacy issues.

 

    2015    2014    2013 
    £m    £m    £m 
Cash generated from operations   220    200    292 
Net asbestos-related payments   22    5     
Excess of pension contributions over current service cost   3    2     
Cash outflow on exceptional items   72    58    21 
Legacy settlements and discontinued operations   36    9    14 
Currency translation differences   (19)   (5)   6 
Amortisation of finance arrangement fees   12         
Dividends received from joint ventures   42    14    8 
Trading cash flow   388    283    341 

 

Cash conversion

Cash conversion represents trading cash flow expressed as a percentage of trading profit. Cash conversion is a non-IFRS measure that we use as a measure of the efficiency of our businesses in converting their trading results into cash.

 

£m unless stated otherwise   2015    2014    2013 
Trading cash flow   388    283    341 
Trading profit   374    321    343 
Cash conversion   104%    88%    99% 


 

Amec Foster Wheeler
Annual report and accounts 2015
173  
 

Performance measures continued

 

Other measures

Underlying change in revenue

Management uses the underlying change in revenue to measure the organic growth of our businesses relative to each other, to our markets and to our competitors.

 

We define the underlying change as the year-on-year change excluding the effect of flow-through procurement, acquisitions and disposals of businesses and currency exchange rate movements.

 

Underlying change – 2015 compared with 2014

 

    2014
pro forma
£m
    Currency
translation
£m
    Acquisitions
£m
    Underlying
change
£m
    2015
£m
    Underlying
change
%
 
Continuing operations                              
Americas   2,705    34        (93)   2,646    -3% 
NECIS   1,705    (2)   16    (227)   1,492    -13% 
AMEASE   1,031    (29)   27    21    1,050    +1% 
GPG   454    2        (92)   364    -20% 
Investment Services   16            (1)   15     
Intercompany eliminations   (111)           (1)   (112)    
    5,800    5    43    (393)   5,455    -7% 

 

Adjusted diluted EPS

Adjusted diluted earnings per share represents profit for the year from continuing operations before exceptional items, the amortisation and impairment of intangible assets, asbestos-related costs and interest expense (net of insurance recoveries), and the tax effect of those items, divided by the diluted number of ordinary shares.

 

Growth in adjusted diluted EPS from continuing operations is an indicator of the underlying trend in the Group’s ability to generate earnings and may be useful to investors in assessing the value of the Company’s ordinary shares (for example, by way of price earnings multiples).

 

Whilst IFRS does not define any adjusted EPS measures, the presentation of such measures is permitted in financial statements prepared in accordance with IFRS. Accordingly, reconciliations of adjusted diluted EPS to diluted EPS from continuing operations for each period presented are included in note 10 to the consolidated financial statements.

 

Dividend cover

Dividend cover is a non-IFRS measure that represents adjusted diluted EPS from continuing operations as a multiple of the dividend per ordinary share.

 

Whilst dividend cover is an indicator of the sustainability of future dividend payments in the context of the Group’s underlying trading performance, we can only pay dividends to the extent of the Company’s accumulated distributable reserves.

 

    2015    2014    2013 
Dividend per ordinary share   29.0p1   43.3p    42.0p 
Adjusted diluted EPS from continuing operations   67.7p    79.5p    87.2p 
Dividend cover   2.3x    1.8x    2.1x 

 

1Includes the proposed final dividend for 2015 of 14.2p per ordinary share.

 

Order book

Our order book represents the total remaining value of secured projects to be executed up to any break point in the relevant contracts. Contracts are included in our order book only when they are signed and we do not include contracts won by joint ventures.

 

Our order book and order intake are significant indicators of our future revenues. As at 31 December 2015, our order book was £6.6bn (2014: £6.3bn). We discuss significant recent contract wins in the strategic report on page 16.

 

174 Amec Foster Wheeler
Annual report and accounts 2015
 

Prior year operating results

 

Reported under IFRS               
£m unless stated   2014    2013    Change 
Continuing operations               
Revenue   3,993    3,974    0%
Profit before net financing expense   148    243    -39%
Profit before tax   155    255    -39%
Cash flow from operations   200    292    -32%
Diluted earnings per share   35.1p    62.5p    -44% 
Dividend per share   43.3p1   42.0p    +3% 
                
1 Includes the proposed final dividend for 2014 of 28.5p per ordinary share.
   
Adjusted measures              
£m unless stated  2014  2013  Change  Underlying
change
8
Continuing operations              
Scope revenue1  3,920  3,854  +2%  +1%  
Trading profit2  321  343  -6%     
Trading margin3  8.2%  8.9%  -70bps     
Adjusted profit before tax4  317  332  -5%     
Trading cash flow5  283  341  -17%     
Cash conversion6  88%  99%  -110ps     
Adjusted diluted earnings per share7  79.5p  87.2p  -9%     
               
1 Scope revenue represents reported revenue less flow-through procurement revenue.
   
2 Trading profit represents profit before net financing expense before the amortisation of intangible assets, asbestos-related costs (net of insurance recoveries) and exceptional items, but including the Group’s share of the trading profit of joint ventures.
   
3 Trading margin represents trading profit expressed as a percentage of scope revenue.
   
4 Adjusted profit before tax represents profit before tax before exceptional items, the amortisation of intangible assets, asbestos-related costs and interest expense (net of insurance recoveries), and the Group’s share of tax on the results of joint ventures.
   
5 Trading cash flow represents cash generated from operations before cash flows arising from exceptional items, asbestos-related payments (net of insurance recoveries), the difference between retirement benefit contributions and the current service cost, legacy settlements and discontinued operations, and currency translation differences on working capital, but including dividends received from joint ventures.
   
6 Cash conversion represents trading cash flow expressed as a percentage of trading profit.
   
7 Adjusted diluted earnings per share represents profit for the year from continuing operations before exceptional items, the amortisation of intangible assets, asbestos-related costs and interest expense (net of insurance recoveries), and the tax effect of those items, divided by the diluted number of ordinary shares.
   
8 Underlying change excludes the effect of flow-through procurement, acquisitions and disposals of businesses and currency exchange rate movements.

Revenue

Revenue for the year was broadly unchanged compared with last year at £3,993m (2013: £3,974m).

 

Revenue declined by £175m in the Americas and by £108m Europe, but increased by £54m in the Growth Regions. Revenue from Oil & Gas was down 13%, Mining was down 14% and E&I down 3%, but revenue from Clean Energy was up 11%. Revenue in all markets was adversely affected by the strength of sterling, particularly against the US dollar. Overall, currency exchange rate movements reduced revenue by £238m in 2014 compared with 2013.

 

Foster Wheeler contributed £274m to the Group’s revenue during the last seven weeks of the year following its acquisition in November 2014.

 

Flow-through procurement decreased by £47m to £73m (2013: £120m).

 

Excluding flow-through procurement, the effect of acquisitions and currency movements, underlying revenue increased by 1%. Underlying revenue from Oil & Gas was down 5% and that from Mining down 6%, but Clean Energy was up 16% and E&I was up 5%.

 

Seasonality

The Group’s revenue is generally higher in the second half of the year, principally because weather conditions in the northern hemisphere are typically more conducive to project activity.

 

Administrative expenses

Administrative expenses were £354m (2013: £293m), including exceptional items, intangibles amortisation and asbestos-related costs (net of insurance recoveries) totalling £135m (2013: £65m).

 

Administrative expenses before intangibles amortisation, exceptional items and net asbestos-related costs declined by 4% to £219m (2013: £228m), principally due to the impact of currency movements and reduced share-based payment charges. Also determined on this basis, Foster Wheeler’s administrative expenses following its acquisition were £26m.

 

Corporate costs, which comprise the costs of operating central corporate functions and certain regional overheads, were £4m lower at £31m (2013: £35m).

 

Profit before net financing expense

Profit before net financing expense was significantly lower at £148m (2013: £243m), largely due to exceptional costs incurred during 2014 in relation to the acquisition of Foster Wheeler.

 


 

Amec Foster Wheeler
Annual report and accounts 2015
175  
 

Prior year operating results continued

 

Amortisation and impairment of intangible assets

Intangible assets principally comprise goodwill and identifiable intangible assets that were recognised in relation to acquired businesses. Goodwill is not amortised but is subject to an annual impairment test. No impairment was recognised in either 2014 or 2013.

 

Intangibles amortisation was £49m (2013: £47m). Whilst an additional amortisation expense of £11m was recognised on the intangible assets acquired with Foster Wheeler and there was the full-year amortisation of intangible assets recognised in acquisitions completed in 2013, the year-on-year change was reduced because the amortisation expense in 2013 included the accelerated amortisation of certain intangible assets. We expect the full-year impact of the amortisation of intangible assets acquired with Foster Wheeler to be approximately £85m.

 

Asbestos-related costs (net of insurance recoveries)

During 2014, the Group recognised net asbestos-related costs of £8m (2013: £nil) in profit before net financing expense, which largely related to the reduction between the acquisition date and the year-end date in the discount rate applied to the net asbestos-related liabilities assumed on the acquisition of Foster Wheeler. In addition, the Group recognised an asbestos-related interest expense of £1m (2013: £nil).

 

Exceptional items

Net exceptional costs totalling £98m (2013: £25m) were recognised in arriving at profit before tax from continuing operations, as follows:

 

costs of £41m in relation to the acquisition of Foster Wheeler (including transaction costs of £37m within administrative expenses and acquisition-related facility fees amortisation of £4m within net financing expense)
  
costs of £35m relating to the integration of AMEC and Foster Wheeler (including internal staff costs associated with identifying and achieving cost synergies)
  
costs of £6m incurred in completing the restructuring of AMEC’s business onto a geographical basis
  
a net loss of £16m on the exit of businesses, comprising a loss of £21m on businesses sold in the year (principally the reverse premium payable on exit from the Group’s investment in the Lancashire Waste project), which was partially offset by a gain of £5m on the release of a provision no longer required in respect of a business closed in a previous year

Trading profit and trading margin

                   Underlying 
£m unless stated   2014    2013    Change    change1 
Revenue   3,993    3,974    0%     
Flow-through procurement   (73)   (120)          
Scope revenue1   3,920    3,854    +2%    +1% 
Profit before net financing expense   148    243           
Intangibles amortisation   49    47           
Net asbestos-related costs   8               
Exceptional items   94    25           
Share of trading profit of joint ventures   22    28           
Trading profit1   321    343    -6%     
Trading margin1   8.2%   8.9%   -70bps     
Order book   £6.3bn   £4.1bn    +55%      

 

1Non-IFRS measure (see Performance measures on pages 172 to 174).

 

Trading profit decreased by 6% to £321m (2013: £343m). Trading margin decreased by 70 basis points to 8.2% (2013: 8.9%).

 

In Americas, trading profit fell due to the impact of currency translation and lower levels of activity in Oil & Gas and Mining, being partially offset by increased work in Clean Energy. Trading margin declined partially due to this change in market mix towards lower margin Clean Energy and because of the timing of large contract close-outs, which were particularly favourable in 2013. In Europe, trading profit and trading margin both increased compared with 2013, largely as a result of the non-recurrence of the losses from the Teesside Gas Processing Plant contract. In the Growth Regions, trading profit fell due to the impact of currency translation and a lower contribution from Clean Energy and E&I. Compared with 2013, Growth Regions trading margin fell due to pricing pressure from customers and investment for growth.

 

Currency exchange rate movements reduced trading profit by £22m in 2014 compared with 2013


 

176 Amec Foster Wheeler
Annual report and accounts 2015
 

Net financing expense

Net financing expense was £5m (2013: £2m), including net bank interest payable of £7m (2013: £2m), net foreign exchange losses of £nil (2013: £1m), and net interest income on pension assets and liabilities of £2m (2013: £1m). In 2014, net financing expense also included a net expense of £1m (2013: £nil) due to the unwinding of the discount on asbestos-related liabilities (net of insurance recoveries).

 

A net currency exchange loss of £4m (2013: loss of £1m) was recognised in the translation reserve in respect of foreign currency borrowings and derivatives held in designated net investment hedging relationships.

 

Share of results of joint ventures

The Group’s share of joint ventures’ profit for the year was £12m (2013: £14m).

 

Profit before tax

Profit before tax was £155m (2013: £255m) after intangibles amortisation of £49m (2013: £47m), net asbestos-related costs and interest expense of £9m (2013: £nil), exceptional items of £98m (2013: £25m) and the Group’s share of joint ventures’ tax expense of £6m (2013: £5m).

 

Adjusted profit before tax was 5% lower at £317m (2013: £332m), reflecting the overall decline in the Group’s trading performance in 2014 compared with 2013.

 

Taxation

Our tax policy is to manage our obligations in compliance with all relevant tax laws, disclosure requirements and regulations. We seek to ensure that our approach to tax and the tax payments that we make in all territories in which we have operations are fully consistent with local requirements, taking into account available tax incentives and allowances, and are aligned with the Group’s wider business strategy. We seek to develop good, open working relationships with tax authorities and to engage with them proactively, recognising that tax legislation can be complex and may be subject to differing interpretations.

 

During 2014, there was a tax credit on exceptional items of £6m (2013: tax charge of £6m), and a tax credit of £12m on intangibles amortisation (2013: £20m). In addition, there was an exceptional tax charge of £16m in 2013.

 

The Group’s share of joint ventures’ income tax expense was £6m (2013: £5m).

 

The Group’s effective tax rate on continuing operations (including its share of joint ventures’ income tax expense but before exceptional items, intangibles amortisation and asbestos-related items) increased to 23.0% (2013: 21.9%). The increase principally reflected reduced prior period credits which result from agreement of historical items with various tax authorities. In addition, 2013 included a credit following a reduction in the tax rate applied to the UK pension surplus which was not repeated in 2014.

Profit for the year from continuing operations

Profit for the year from continuing operations was £106m (2013: £186m) after intangibles amortisation of £49m (2013: £47m), the net asbestos-related expense of £9m (2013: £nil), net exceptional items of £98m (2013: £25m), and an income tax credit on those items of £18m (2013: charge of £2m).

 

Adjusted profit for the year from continuing operations was 6% lower at £244m (2013: £260m).

 

Non-controlling interests

During 2014, there was a loss of £3m attributable to non-controlling interests (2013: loss of £1m).

 

Earnings per share

Diluted EPS was 26.5p (2013: 59.8p), comprising earnings per share of 35.1p (2013: 62.5p) from continuing operations and a loss of 8.6p (2013: 2.7p) from discontinued operations.

 

Adjusted diluted EPS from continuing operations was lower at 79.5p (2013: 87.2p), due to the decline in the profit for the year from continuing operations and the increase in the number of shares in issue as a consequence of the acquisition of Foster Wheeler.

 

Dividend

The board recommends a final dividend of 28.5p per share, which, together with the interim dividend of 14.8p per share, results in a total dividend of 43.3p per share (2013: 42.0p), an increase of 3%. Subject to approval by shareholders at the AGM on 14 May 2015, the final dividend will be payable on 2 July 2015 to shareholders on the register at the close of business on 29 May 2015.

 

Dividend cover for 2014 is 1.8 times (2013: 2.1 times) based on adjusted diluted EPS from continuing operations. Going forward, the board expects to maintain a progressive dividend policy whilst maintaining dividend cover at around two times adjusted diluted EPS from continuing operations.


 

Amec Foster Wheeler
Annual report and accounts 2015
 177  
 

Prior year operating results continued

 

Results by operating segment

Americas

                   Underlying 
£m unless stated   2014    2013    Change    change1 
Revenue   2,072    2,247           
Flow-through procurement   (73)   (120)          
Scope revenue1   1,999    2,127    -6%   +4% 
Profit before net financing expense   195    211           
Intangibles amortisation   17    18           
Exceptional items   (6)   10           
Share of trading profit of joint ventures   1    2           
Trading profit1   207    241    -14%     
Trading margin1   10.2%   11.3%   -110bps     
Order book   £1.2bn   £1.4bn   -14%     

 

1Non-IFRS measure (see Performance measures on pages 172 to 174).

 

Revenue in Americas was £2,072m (2013: £2,247m), a decline of 8%. Excluding flow-through procurement, the effect of acquisitions and currency movements, underlying revenue was up 4%. Growth in underlying revenue in Clean Energy and E&I was partially offset by declines in Oil & Gas and Mining.

 

Trading profit fell by 14% to £207m (2013: £241m), largely as a result of the reduced levels of activities in Oil & Gas and Mining. Trading margin was 10.2%, down by 110 basis points compared with 2013. Trading margin declined principally due to increased weighting of lower-margin Clean Energy in the product mix and due to the timing of large contract close-outs, which were particularly favourable in 2013.

Europe

                   Underlying 
£m unless stated   2014    2013    Change    change1 
Revenue   1,119    1,227    -9%   -8%
Profit before net financing expense   70    63           
Intangibles amortisation   17    17           
Exceptional items   3    1           
Share of trading profit of joint ventures   11    12           
Trading profit1   101    93    +9%      
Trading margin1   9.1%   7.6%   +150bps      
Order book   £1.8bn   £1.7bn   +3%      

 

1Non-IFRS measure (see Performance measures on pages 172 to 174).

 

Revenue in Europe fell by 9% to £1,119m (2013: £1,227m), primarily due to the reduced level of Oil & Gas activity in the North Sea. Underlying revenue declined by 8%.

 

Trading profit increased by 9% to £101m (2013: £93m). Trading margin was 9.1%, up 150 basis points compared with 2013, largely as a result of the non-recurrence of losses from the Teesside Gas Processing Plant.

 

Growth Regions

                   Underlying 
£m unless stated   2014    2013    Change    change1
Revenue   590    536    +10%    +18% 
Profit before net financing expense   20    10           
Intangibles amortisation   4    12           
Exceptional items   2    7           
Share of trading profit of joint ventures   4    4           
Trading profit1   30    33    -9%     
Trading margin1   5.1%   6.2%   -110bps     
Order book  £0.9bn  £0.9bn          

 

1Non-IFRS measure (see Performance measures on pages 172 to 174).

 

Revenue in Growth Regions improved by 10% to £590m (2013: £536m), primarily driven by increased revenue from Oil & Gas activities in the Middle East and a partial recovery in Mining revenue in Australia. Underlying revenue increased by 18%, principally due to the exclusion of adverse currency exchange rate movements.

 

Trading profit fell by 9% to £30m (2013: £33m), reflecting lower contributions from Clean Energy and E&I. Trading margin was 5.1%, down 110 basis points compared with 2013, due to pricing pressure from customers and investment for growth.


 

178 Amec Foster Wheeler
Annual report and accounts 2015
 

E&C Services and Global Power Group

E&C Services and Global Power Group are Foster Wheeler business units and therefore contributed to the Group’s performance only for the final seven weeks of the year following the acquisition of Foster Wheeler in November 2014.

 

E&C Services contributed revenue of £221m and a trading profit of £4m (before intangibles amortisation of £7m). As at 31 December 2014, the value of E&C Services’ order book was £2.0bn.

 

Global Power Group contributed revenue of £53m and a trading profit of £2m (before intangibles amortisation of £4m). As at 31 December 2014, the value of Global Power Group’s order book was £0.4bn.

 

Investment Services

During the periods under review, Investment Services principally comprised the Incheon Bridge PPP project in Korea and the Lancashire Waste project (which the Group exited in 2014), the Group’s insurance captive, the Group’s wind development activities and a range of other non-core activities.

 

Revenue in Investment Services was £6m (2013: £6m). Investment Services incurred a loss before net financing expense of £16m (2013: £3m), after deducting an exceptional loss on disposals of businesses of £21m (2013: £nil). Trading profit was £8m (2013: £11m), of which £3m (2013: £7m) was derived from joint ventures.

 

Discontinued operations

Discontinued operations represent the residual assets and retained obligations of businesses sold in prior years, together with the UK conventional power business that was classified as a discontinued operation during 2013.

 

Discontinued operations generated a trading loss before tax of £10m (2013: loss of £10m) and after a tax credit of £2m (2013: £2m) generated a loss for the year of £8m (2013: loss of £8m). During 2014, negative revenue of £13m was recognised due to the settlement of final accounts and additional provisions on certain contracts within the UK conventional power business.

 

Discontinued operations included a loss on disposals of £23m (2013: loss £6m) arising from additional indemnity provisions and costs associated with businesses sold in prior years. In 2014, the loss on disposals included a provision of £11m in respect of a new claim received in the year related to a contract completed by the Built Environment business which was sold in 2007.

 

Discontinued operations generated an overall loss for the year of £27m (2013: £8m).


 

Amec Foster Wheeler
Annual report and accounts 2015
 179  
 

Information for shareholders

 

Our website

Our website, amecfw.com, is the best source of useful, up-to-date information about Amec Foster Wheeler and its activities, including annual reports, AGM documents and other shareholder communications.

 

All announcements made to the London Stock Exchange can be found on our website and you can arrange to receive email alerts of such announcements.

 

Information made available on our website, or on other websites mentioned in this annual report, is not, and should not be considered as being, part of or incorporated into this annual report or our annual report on Form 20-F.

 

Financial calendar

The Group’s full-year 2014 results and the 2014 annual report were published later than usual as a consequence of the acquisition of Foster Wheeler having completed so close to the Group’s year-end date. As expected we are now moving back towards the Group’s normal financial calendar during 2016 as follows:

 

Annual General Meeting1 27 April 2016  
Payment of final dividend for 20152 4 July 2016  
Half-year 2016 results issued 9 August 2016  
Payment of interim dividend for 2016 January 2017  
Full-year 2016 results issued March 2017  
2016 annual report published3 March 2017  

 

1Information on the Company’s AGM is provided in the governance report on page 81.
  
2Subject to approval by shareholders.
  
3Our annual report will be filed with the SEC on Form 20-F and periodic results announcements will be furnished to the SEC on Form 6-K.

 

Where they have not yet been determined, the exact dates of the above events will be finalised as the year progresses and can be found on our website.

 

Share price

The latest price of the Company’s shares can be found on our website and may also be obtained from the London Stock Exchange’s website, www.londonstockexchange.com (in both cases the live share price is updated with a 15-minute delay).

 

Dividends

We usually announce our interim dividend for the year with our half-year results in August and it is paid in the following January. We propose our final dividend for the year with the full-year results and, subject to shareholder approval at the subsequent AGM, it is paid in the following July.

 

Dividends can be paid directly into your bank or building society account and can also be paid in local currency in certain overseas territories. Shareholders should contact the Company’s registrars to take advantage of these facilities.

 

We have a DRIP to allow shareholders to acquire more of the Company’s shares rather than receive cash dividends. The DRIP is only available to shareholders in certain countries. You can find out more on our website or by contacting the Company’s registrars.

Registrars

The Company’s registrars are Capita Asset Services. They maintain the shareholder register on our behalf and handle all administration related to it. They should be your first port of call if you have any queries relating to your shareholding in Amec Foster Wheeler.

 

For DRIP, electronic communications and general enquiries

Email shareholderenquiries@capita.co.uk
   
Website www.capitaassetservices.com
   
Postal address Capita Asset Services
  The Registry
  34 Beckenham Road
  Beckenham
  Kent BR3 4TU
  United Kingdom
   
Telephone1 UK       0871 664 03002
  Others +44 20 8639 3399

 

Payment of dividends overseas

Telephone1 +44 20 8639 3405
Email ips@capita.co.uk

 

1Lines open 9.00am to 5.30pm UK time, Monday to Friday (excluding public holidays).
  
2Calls cost 12 pence per minute plus your phone company’s access charge. Calls outside the United Kingdom will be charged at the applicable International rate.

 

Electronic shareholder communication

The majority of our shareholders now receive information from us electronically. If you have elected to do so and have provided an email address, you will receive an email from us whenever any new shareholder information is published. If you have not provided an email address, you will be sent a letter that includes details of where the information can be found on our website.

 

You can register for electronic shareholder communication and also manage your personal shareholding online at www.capitashareportal.com. You will need your Investor Code (IVC) which can be found on your proxy card, share certificate or dividend tax voucher.

 

Printed copies of the annual report

Shareholders may receive a printed copy of the Company’s latest annual report on request by writing to our registered office or by contacting us on +1 908 730 4000.

 

Unauthorised brokers (boiler room scams)

Shareholders are advised to be wary if they receive any unsolicited calls or correspondence making claims of highly profitable investment opportunities. Typically these investments turn out to be worthless or simply do not exist. Such approaches are usually made by unauthorised companies and individuals and are commonly known as boiler room scams.

 

If you receive any unsolicited investment advice or offers to buy shares from a source that is unknown to you, we recommend that you obtain the name of the person and organisation that has contacted you and check whether they are properly authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority by visiting its website at www.fca.org.uk/register.

 

If you think that you have been approached by an unauthorised organisation, you are advised to contact the Financial Conduct Authority’s consumer helpline on +44 (0)800 111 6768 or email consumer.enquiries@fca.org.uk.


 

180 Amec Foster Wheeler
Annual report and accounts 2015
 

Other information

 

American Depositary Shares

ADSs and ADRs

The Company’s ordinary shares are traded in the form of American Depositary Shares (ADSs) on the NYSE. Each ADS represents one ordinary share.

 

The ADSs are evidenced by American Depositary Receipts (ADRs) issued by Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas as Depositary under a deposit agreement dated 2 October 2014. The ADRs are issued in respect of ordinary shares deposited with Deutsche Bank AG, as custodian for the Depositary.

 

ADSs may be held directly by having an ADR (a certificate evidencing a specific number of ADSs) registered in your name or by holding ADSs in the Direct Registration System, or indirectly through a broker or other financial institution. If you hold ADSs directly, you are an ADS holder. The Company’s ADSs are issued through the Direct Registration System unless the investor specifically requests to receive certificated ADRs.

 

A registered holder is one whose name appears on the books of the Depositary. The registered holder is considered the owner of record. A beneficial holder is one whose holdings are registered in a name other than their own, such as the name of a broker, bank or nominee.

 

ADS holders are not members of the Company but may instruct the Depositary on the exercise of voting rights relative to the number of ordinary shares represented by their ADSs.

 

Role of the Depositary

The Depositary performs the following roles for ADS holders:

 

distributes company circulars and documents in relation to general meetings of the Company (including the AGM)
  
distributes dividends in US dollars
  
facilitates the voting process and the exercise of voting rights of ADS holders at any general meeting of the Company
  
issues and cancels the Company’s ADSs
  
acts as the stock transfer agent
  
records and maintains the register of ADS holders

 

The Company provides to the Depositary all notices of meetings of the Company’s shareholders and other reports and communications that are made available to the Company’s shareholders. The Depositary makes such notices, reports and communications available for inspection by recorded holders of ADSs and sends voting instruction forms by post to all recorded holders of ADSs.

 

Investors who are not registered with the Depositary because their ADRs are held through a nominee account may need to make arrangements with their nominee if they wish to receive such documents and to be able to exercise their vote through the Depositary at general meetings of the Company.

 

ADS holders may receive a printed copy of the Company’s latest annual report on request by writing to our registered office or by contacting us on +1 908 730 4000.

Dividends

The Depositary will pay to ADS holders cash dividends or other distributions it or the custodian receives on the Company’s shares after deducting its fees and expenses. ADS holders will receive these distributions in proportion to the number of the Company’s shares the ADSs represent at the record date (which will be as close as practicable to the record date for the Company’s ordinary shares) set by the Depositary with respect to the ADSs.

 

The Depositary will usually convert any cash dividend or other cash distribution on the Company’s shares or any net proceeds from the sale of any ordinary shares, rights, securities or other entitlements into US dollars. Before making a distribution to ADS holders, any taxes or other governmental charges that must be paid, together with the fees and expenses of the Depositary, will be deducted.

 

ADS enquiries

All enquiries regarding ADS holder accounts and payment of dividends should be addressed to the Depositary:

 

Deutsche Bank Shareholder Services
American Stock Transfer & Trust Company
Operations Center
6201 15th Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11219, US.

 

Email: db@amstock.com
Toll-free number: (866) 249 2593
  (if calling from within the US)
Direct dial: +1 718 921 8124
  (if calling from outside the US)

 

DB Global Direct

US residents may enrol in DB Global Direct, enabling them to invest directly in the Company’s ADSs with reduced brokerage commissions and service costs. Registered ADS holders may reinvest all or a portion of their dividends in the Company’s ADSs through DB Global Direct.

 

For further information on DB Global Direct, please contact Deutsche Bank (as above) or visit www.adr.db.com.

 

ADS price

The latest price of the Company’s ADSs can be found on our website and may also be obtained from the NYSE’s website, www.nyse.com (in both cases the live ADS price is updated with a 15-minute delay).

 

Fees payable by ADS holders

ADS holders are required to pay certain service fees to the Depositary.

 

The Depositary collects its fees for delivery and surrender of ADSs directly from investors depositing shares or surrendering ADSs for the purpose of withdrawal or from intermediaries acting for them. The Depositary collects fees for making distributions to investors, including payment of dividends by the Company, by deducting those fees from the amounts distributed or by selling a portion of distributable property to pay the fees. The Depositary may collect its annual fee for depositary services by deductions from cash distributions or by directly billing investors or by charging the book-entry system accounts of participants acting from them. The Depositary may generally refuse to provide fee-attracting services until its fees for those services are paid.


 

Amec Foster Wheeler
Annual report and accounts 2015
181  
 

Other information continued

 

Service   Fees
To any person to whom ADSs are issued or to any person to whom a distribution is made in respect of ADSs pursuant to share dividends or other free distributions of shares, bonus distributions, stock splits or other distributions (except where converted to cash)   Up to US$0.05 per ADS issued
Cancellation of ADSs (including in the case of termination of the deposit agreement)   Up to US$0.05 per ADS cancelled
Distribution of cash dividends   Up to US$0.05 per ADS held
Distribution of cash entitlements (other than cash dividends) and/or cash proceeds, including proceeds from the sale of rights, securities and other entitlements   Up to US$0.05 per ADS held
Distribution of ADSs pursuant to exercise of rights   Up to US$0.05 per ADS held
Depositary services   Up to US$0.05 per ADS held on the applicable record date(s) established by the Depositary

 

ADS holders are also responsible for paying certain fees and expenses incurred by the Depositary such as:

 

fees for the transfer and registration of the Company’s shares charged by the registrar and transfer agent for the shares in the UK
  
expenses incurred for converting foreign currency into US dollars
  
expenses for cable, telex, fax and electronic transmission and for delivery of securities

 

Since the Company’s ADSs were first issued in November 2014, a fee of $0.01 per ADS has been levied on the 2014 interim dividend that was paid in January 2015, on the 2014 final dividend that was paid in July 2015, and on the 2015 interim dividend that was paid in January 2016.

 

Fees paid by the Depositary to the Company

The Depositary has agreed to reimburse the Company for a portion of certain expenses the Company incurs that are related to establishment and maintenance of the ADR programme, including, but not limited to, investor relations expenses and expenses associated with being a company listed in the US. There are limits on the amount of expenses for which the Depositary will reimburse the Company. Further, the Depositary has agreed to reimburse the Company with certain fees payable to the Depositary by ADS holders.

 

On 4 December 2015, the Company received US$1.79m (approximately £1.2m) from the Depositary by way of reimbursement of costs incurred during the first year of the ADR programme, which commenced on 2 October 2014.

Share capital

As permitted by English law, the Company has no authorised share capital. The Company’s share capital may be increased, consolidated or sub-divided by ordinary resolution at a general meeting of the Company.

 

As at 8 March 2016, the Company’s issued share capital was £196,565,907 divided into 393,131,813 ordinary shares of 50 pence each. Of this number, 3,158,310 ordinary shares were registered as treasury shares, leaving a balance of 389,973,503 ordinary shares with voting rights.

 

All of the Company’s ordinary shares are fully paid or were issued as fully paid. Accordingly, no further contribution of capital may be required by the Company from the holders of those shares.

 

The Company has neither authorised nor issued any conditional share capital and has not issued convertible or exchangeable bonds, warrants or other securities granting rights to the Company’s shares, other than securities granted to directors, senior management and employees under the Company’s share-based compensation plans. Information on these plans is provided in note 22 to the consolidated financial statements.

 

As at 8 March 2016, there were 7,419,403 share options outstanding under the Company’s UK and International SAYE schemes and 5,091,126 shares reserved for share awards under the Company’s share-based compensation plans (in relation to which 1,245,569 shares were held in the Company’s Employee Share Trust). Under the terms of the Trust Deed discretion is given to the Trustee to vote or abstain from voting shares in the Employee Share Trust as it sees fit.

 

The Articles authorise the Company to purchase its own shares. A resolution passed at the Company’s Annual General Meeting on 14 May 2015 provided the directors with the authority to purchase up 38,884,069 of the Company’s ordinary shares in the market, such authority to expire at the end of the Company’s next AGM or 1 June 2016, whichever is earlier. A resolution will be proposed at the Company’s AGM in April 2016 to extend the authority of the directors to make market purchases of up to 10% of the Company’s ordinary shares within prescribed limits. The Company may repurchase shares only if the shares are fully paid and out of distributable profits or the proceeds of a new issue of shares made for the purpose of the repurchase. The UKLA requires that purchase of 15% or more of any class of the Company’s share capital must be by way of a tender offer to all shareholders of that class.

 

The Company may reduce its share capital, share premium account, capital redemption reserve or any other undistributable reserve only by special resolution of its shareholders and having obtained the consent of the High Court of Justice in England and Wales.

 

Markets

The primary trading market for the Company’s ordinary shares is the London Stock Exchange, on which they have been listed since the Company’s formation in 1982. The Company has a premium listing on the London Stock Exchange and its ordinary shares are admitted to the main market. The Company’s SEDOL number is 0028262 (ISIS Code GB0000282623) and its trading symbol is AMFW.


 

182 Amec Foster Wheeler
Annual report and accounts 2015
 

As at 8 March 2016, the Company’s total market capitalisation was approximately £1.8bn and it was a constituent of The Financial Times Stock Exchange 250 Index (FTSE 250).

 

Since November 2014, the Company’s ordinary shares have been traded in the form of ADSs on the NYSE. The Company’s CUSIP code is 00167X205 (ISIN Code US00167X2053) and its ticker symbol is AMFW.

 

Share price history

For the periods indicated in the tables below, the highest and lowest middle market quotation for the Company’s ordinary shares on the London Stock Exchange and the highest and lowest sales price of its ADSs on the NYSE were as follows:

 

   £ per ordinary share   US$ per ADS 
Year ended 31 December  High   Low   High   Low 
2011   12.51    7.41    n/a    n/a 
2012   11.72    9.23    n/a    n/a 
2013   12.07    9.66    n/a    n/a 
2014   12.62    7.89    16.97    14.47 
2015   10.03    3.80    14.83    5.72 

 

Source: Factset

 

   £ per ordinary share   US$ per ADS 
Quarter  High   Low   High   Low 
2014                    
First quarter   11.24    10.20    n/a    n/a 
Second quarter   12.62    11.65    n/a    n/a 
Third quarter   12.45    10.59    n/a    n/a 
Fourth quarter   11.05    7.89    16.97    12.25 
2015                    
First quarter   10.03    7.75    14.83    11.75 
Second quarter   9.89    8.16    14.75    12.74 
Third quarter   8.60    6.86    13.29    10.49 
Fourth quarter   8.44    3.80    12.75    5.72 
2016                    
First quarter1   5.01    3.32    7.28    4.57 

 

Source: Factset

 

   £ per ordinary share   US$ per ADS 
Month  High   Low   High   Low 
September 2015   8.29    6.86    12.74    10.49 
October 2015   8.44    6.98    12.75    10.64 
November 2015   7.72    4.17    11.73    6.27 
December 2015   4.53    3.80    6.75    5.72 
January 2016   4.51    3.41    6.69    4.92 
February 2016   4.35    3.32    6.26    4.57 
March 20161   5.01    3.79    7.28    5.44 

 

Source: Factset

 

1Up to and including 8 March 2016.

Shareholdings

As at 8 March 2016, 15,417,801 ADSs equivalent to 3.9% of the number of the Company’s ordinary shares in issue were outstanding and were held by 1,281 registered holders.

 

As at 8 March 2016, 136,417 ordinary shares were held by 360 registered holders with a registered address in the US. Since certain of the ordinary shares were registered in the names of nominees, the number of shareholders with a registered address in the US may not be representative of the number of beneficial owners of ordinary shares who are resident in the US.

 

In accordance with the DTRs of the UKLA, major shareholders are considered to be those that have a beneficial interest in 3% or more of the Company’s issued ordinary shares.

 

On the basis of notifications received under the Disclosure and Transparency Rules (DTR 5) and other notifications received by the Company from shareholders, shareholdings of 3% or more of the voting rights in the Company were as follows:

 

   Percentage of voting rights held 
As at 31 December  2015   2014   2013   2012 
Artisan Partners                    
Limited Partnership   n/a    n/a    5.20%   n/a 
Mondrian Investment                    
Partners Limited   5.28%   5.28%   5.15%   n/a 
BlackRock, Inc.   5.63%   5.01%   n/a    9.97%1
Legal & General                    
Assurance   n/a    n/a    n/a    3.98%
Franklin Templeton                    
Institutional, LLC   5.05%   n/a    n/a    n/a 

 

1In response to a disclosure request under Section 793 of the Companies Act 2006, Blackrock, Inc. advised the Company on 19 December 2012 that their holding had reduced to 5.52%.

 

There were no notifications received under DTR 5 from the above shareholders between 31 December 2015 and 8 March 2016. The shareholding percentages reflect the company’s issued share capital at the time of the notifications.

 

Each of the Company’s ordinary shares, including those held by major shareholders, carries equal voting rights. The Company is not, to the best of its knowledge, directly or indirectly controlled.

 

Purchase of ordinary shares

During 2015, the Company did not purchase any of its own shares in the market and no purchases of the Company’s shares were made by trustees of the Company’s employee share schemes.

 

Options and awards made under the Company’s employee share schemes that were exercised or vested during 2015 were satisfied by the transfer to the participants of the shares held by the Company in treasury or by the trustee of the relevant scheme. Details of the Company’s employee share schemes are set out in note 22 to the consolidated financial statements.


 

Amec Foster Wheeler
Annual report and accounts 2015
183  
 

Other information continued

 

Articles of Association

We summarise below certain provisions of the Articles and applicable English law. The summary is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Companies Act 2006 and the Articles. Please refer to documents on display on page 191 for information on where copies of the Articles can be obtained.

 

In the following description, a ‘shareholder’ is the person registered in the Company’s register of members as the holder of a share or shares.

 

Principal objects

The Articles of Association do not restrict the Company’s objects or purposes.

 

Directors

The board

Under the Articles, the board shall consist of not less than three nor more than 15 directors, who shall manage the business and affairs of the Company subject to the requirements of English law, the Articles and any resolutions of shareholders.

 

Appointment, retirement and re-election

Directors may be appointed by the board at any time. Any director appointed since the last AGM holds office only until the conclusion of the next AGM and then shall be eligible for election by shareholders.

 

Under the Articles, all directors retire by rotation and are eligible for re-election every three years. However, in line with the recommendations of the UK Corporate Governance Code, each of the directors who wishes to continue in office, and is considered eligible by the board, actually offers himself or herself for re-election at every AGM.

 

Under the Articles, there are no age limits relating to a person’s qualification to hold office as a director.

 

Restrictions on voting

Under the Articles, a director may not vote in respect of any contract, arrangement, transaction or proposal in which he or she, or any person connected with him or her, has any material interest other than by virtue of that person’s interests in the Company’s ordinary shares or other securities. However, this restriction on voting does not apply to proposals:

 

giving the director or a third party any guarantee, security or indemnity in respect of obligation incurred at the request of or for the benefit of the Company
   
giving any guarantee, security or indemnity to the director or a third party in respect of obligations of the Company for which the director has assumed responsibility under an indemnity or guarantee
   
relating to an offer of securities of the Company in which the director is entitled to participate as a holder of shares or other securities or in the underwriting of such shares or securities
   
concerning any other company in which the director (together with any connected person) is a shareholder or an officer or is otherwise interested, provided that the director (together with any connected person) is not interested in 1% or more of any class of such other company’s equity share capital or the voting rights available to its shareholders
   
relating to the arrangement of any employee benefit in which the director will share equally with other employees
   
relating to any insurance that the Company purchases or renews for its directors or any group of people including directors

 

Compensation awarded to the executive directors is determined by the remuneration committee.

 

A director shall not vote nor be counted in any quorum present at a general meeting of the Company’s shareholders in relation to a resolution on which he or she is not entitled to vote.

 

Borrowing powers

The directors are empowered to exercise all the powers of the Company to borrow money, subject to the limitation that the borrowings of the Company and its subsidiaries may not exceed two times the ‘adjusted capital and reserves’ (as defined in the Articles).

 

Shareholding requirements

Directors are not required under the Articles to hold any shares of the Company as qualification to act as a director.

 

Any director who is not a shareholder is entitled to attend and speak at general meetings of the shareholders.


 

184 Amec Foster Wheeler
Annual report and accounts 2015
 

Rights attaching to ordinary shares

In accordance with English law, the Company’s ordinary shares rank equally in all respects.

 

Dividends

The Company’s ordinary shares carry the right to receive dividends and distributions that have been declared by the Company. Except in relation to dividends that have been declared and rights on a liquidation of the Company, ordinary shareholders have no rights to share in the profits of the Company.

 

English law requires that dividends are paid only out of profits available for distribution, as determined in accordance with UK GAAP and by the Companies Act 2006, and additionally restricts a public company from making a distribution if that would reduce the net assets of the company below the aggregate amount of its called-up share capital and certain undistributable reserves.

 

Dividends are proposed by the directors. Dividends are declared following approval by ordinary resolution of the Company’s shareholders at a general meeting of the Company. Shareholders may not declare a dividend in excess of the amount proposed by the directors. The directors may declare and pay interim dividends if they believe that the Company’s financial position justifies such payments.

 

Any unclaimed dividend may be invested or otherwise applied for the benefit of the Company until the dividend is claimed. Any dividend that remains unclaimed for 12 years after the date on which it was declared, or became due for payment, shall be forfeited and shall revert to the Company.

 

If authorised by ordinary resolution of the shareholders, the directors may offer to shareholders the right to elect to receive a dividend, in whole or in part, by way of an allotment of new ordinary shares credited as fully paid.

 

Voting rights

Holders of the Company’s ordinary shares have the right to receive notice of, and to attend and vote at, all general meetings of the Company.

 

Any shareholder who is entitled to attend and vote at the meeting is entitled to appoint a proxy to exercise all or any of his rights to attend, speak and vote at the meeting.

 

Voting at any general meeting is by a show of hands unless a poll is duly demanded and held. Under English law, shareholders of a public company are not permitted to pass resolutions by written consent.

 

On a show of hands, each shareholder who is present in person at the meeting has one vote regardless of the number of shares held.

On a poll, every shareholder who is present in person or by proxy has one vote for each ordinary share held by him. A poll may be demanded by the following:

 

the chairman of the meeting; or
   
not less than three members present or by proxy entitled to vote; or
   
a member or members present in person or by proxy and representing not less than one-tenth of the total voting rights of all the members having the right to vote at the meeting; or
   
a member or members present in person or by proxy and holding shares in the Company conferring a right to vote at the meeting, being shares on which an aggregate sum has been paid up equal to not less than one-tenth of the total sum paid up on all the shares conferring that right

 

Unless the directors determine otherwise, if any sum remains unpaid in relation to a member’s shareholding, that member is not entitled to vote in relation to that holding.

 

Rights in a winding up

If the Company is liquidated (whether the liquidation is voluntary or court-supervised), the liquidator is obliged to realise the assets of the Company to its creditors and, subject to any special rights attaching to any other class of shares that may be in issue at the time, any surplus would be distributed to the ordinary shareholders according to the amounts paid up on the shares held by them.

 

Pre-emption rights

English law provides for statutory pre-emption rights that apply on an allotment of equity securities (which include the Company’s ordinary shares or securities convertible into the Company’s ordinary shares).

 

Pre-emption rights can be disapplied by a special resolution passed by shareholders at a general meeting. Such a resolution was passed at the Company’s 2015 annual general meeting on 14 May 2015 and provides the directors with the authority to allot equity securities or grant rights to subscribe for or to convert any security to shares up to a nominal amount of £64,158,715, of which up to £9,721,017 could be allotted for cash without offering the shares to existing shareholders, such authority to expire at the end of the Company’s next AGM thereafter or 1 June 2016, if earlier. Resolutions will be proposed at the Company’s forthcoming AGM to extend this authority to the end of the AGM in 2017 or 1 June 2017, whichever is earlier.

 

Variation of rights

Whenever the share capital of the Company is divided into different classes of shares, the rights attached to any class can only be changed either:

 

with the written consent of the holders of three-quarters in nominal value of the issued shares of that class (excluding shares held as treasury shares); or
with the sanction of a special resolution passed at a separate meeting of the holders of the shares of that class

 

The rights attached to any class of shares are not, unless otherwise expressly provided by the terms of issue, deemed to be varied by the creation or issue of further shares ranking equally with them.


 


 

Amec Foster Wheeler
Annual report and accounts 2015
185
 

Other information continued

 

General meetings

An AGM of the Company must be held each calendar year and within a period of six months of the day following the Company’s accounting reference date (which is 31 December).

 

Otherwise, the directors may call a general meeting whenever they think fit or where required to do so by shareholders holding at least 10% of the voting rights of the paid-up capital of the Company carrying voting rights (excluding shares held as treasury shares).

 

General meetings may be held at such place, date and time as may be decided by the directors.

 

An AGM must be convened by giving not less than 21 days’ notice. Other general meetings must also be convened by giving not less than 21 days’ notice unless shareholder approval has been given for such meetings to be convened on giving only 14 days’ notice (such approval has been given by the Company’s shareholders and is effective until the next AGM when it is proposed that it should be renewed).

 

For the purposes of determining which persons are entitled to attend or vote at a meeting, and how many votes such persons may cast, the Company must specify in the notice of the meeting a time, not more than 48 hours before the time fixed for the meeting, by which a person must be entered on the register in order to have the right to attend or vote at the meeting.

 

No business shall be transacted at any general meeting unless a quorum is present at the time when the meeting proceeds to business. Two shareholders present in person or by proxy shall be a quorum.

 

The directors may require attendees to submit to searches or put in place such arrangements or restrictions as they think fit to ensure the safety and security of attendees at a general meeting. Any member, proxy or other person who fails to comply with such arrangements or restrictions may be refused entry to, or removed from, the general meeting.

 

Limitations on voting and shareholding

Neither English law nor the Articles impose any limitation on the rights of non-UK residents or foreign shareholders to own the Company’s ordinary shares or ADSs, including the rights to hold or exercise voting rights on those shares or ADSs.

 

Disclosure of interests in the Company’s ordinary shares

Under the DTRs, a person is required to notify the Company in writing within two days of becoming aware that the voting rights which he holds as a shareholder or through his direct or indirect holding of financial instruments reaches or exceeds 3% of the voting rights in the Company and reaches, exceeds or falls below each 1% threshold thereafter.

 

Under the Companies Act 2006, the Company may send a notice to any person whom it knows or believes to be interested in the Company’s shares requiring such person to confirm whether he has such an interest and, if so, the details of the interest and any other interest in the Company’s shares of which he is aware.

Under the DTRs, ‘persons discharging managerial responsibilities’ (primarily directors and some senior executives) and their connected persons are required to notify the Company in writing of the occurrence of all transactions conducted on their own account in the Company’s shares, or derivatives or any other financial instruments relating to those shares within four business days of the day on which the transaction occurred.

 

Mandatory bids

The Articles contain no provisions that would have an effect of delaying, deferring or preventing a change in control of the Company.

 

However, under the UK City Code on Takeovers & Mergers, if an acquisition of the Company’s shares increases the aggregate holding of an acquirer and its concert parties to shares carrying 30% or more of the voting rights in the Company, the acquirer and, depending on the circumstances, its concert parties, would be required (except with the consent of the Panel on Takeovers & Mergers) to make a cash offer for the remainder of the Company’s shares at a price not less than the highest price paid for the Company’s shares by the acquirer or its concert parties during the previous 12 months. Such an offer would also be triggered by any acquisition of shares by a person holding (together with its concert parties) shares carrying between 30% and 50% of the voting rights in the Company if the effect of such acquisition were to increase that person’s percentage of the voting rights.

 

Amendments

Under English law, the Company’s shareholders may, by special resolution, alter, delete, substitute, amend or add to the Articles.

 

The directors are not authorised to change the Articles.

 

Material contracts

During the last two years, the Group entered into the following material contracts (other than contracts entered into in the ordinary course of business):

 

Acquisition of Foster Wheeler AG

Pursuant to an implementation agreement between AMEC and Foster Wheeler entered into on 13 February 2014 (as amended by the letter agreement dated 28 March 2014, the deed of amendment dated 28 May 2014 and the deed of amendment dated 2 October 2014, together, the Implementation Agreement), AMEC commenced an offer to acquire all outstanding Foster Wheeler AG shares on 6 October 2014 (the Offer). The Offer closed on 13 November 2014 and, upon completion of the Offer, AMEC had acquired 95.3% of the outstanding Foster Wheeler AG shares.

 

Following completion of the Offer, on 8 December 2014, AMEC (through its subsidiaries) and Foster Wheeler entered into a merger agreement, which provided for the squeeze-out merger of Foster Wheeler AG under Swiss law. The squeeze-out merger was subject to the approval of the merger agreement by at least 90% of the outstanding voting rights of Foster Wheeler AG, which was received on 19 January 2015.


 

186 Amec Foster Wheeler
Annual report and accounts 2015
 

Agreements with Amec Foster Wheeler directors

Amec Foster Wheeler entered into a letter of appointment with Roy Franklin regarding his appointment as a non-executive director of Amec Foster Wheeler plc effective 1 January 2016. A modification, in the form of a side letter, has been made to Ian McHoul’s service agreement reflecting the remuneration arrangements that will apply during his appointment as interim CEO.

 

Agreements with Foster Wheeler directors

Pursuant to the Implementation Agreement, AMEC entered into letters of appointment with Kent Masters and Stephanie Newby regarding their appointment as non-executive directors of Amec Foster Wheeler following the completion of the acquisition. Amec Foster Wheeler also entered into a co-ordination and settlement agreement with Kent Masters relating to his termination arrangements as CEO of Foster Wheeler.

 

Credit facility agreement

In February 2014, the Group entered into a US$2,160m credit facility agreement with Bank of America Merrill Lynch International Limited as facility agent and Bank of America Merrill Lynch International Limited, Bank of Tokyo Mitsubishi UFJ, Ltd., Barclays Bank PLC and The Royal Bank of Scotland plc as original lenders. In July 2014, the facility was amended to increase the financing available to US$2,260m. The credit facility comprises three loan facilities totalling US$1,910m and a multi-currency revolving credit facility of US$350m.

 

In March 2016, the Group cancelled the above mentioned $2,260m credit facility agreement (as amended and restated) together with the £377m revolving credit facility (as amended and restated) dated July 2012. These were replaced with a £650m term loan with a 3-year maturity, a £650m loan with a 5-year maturity and a £400m revolving credit facility with a 5-year maturity between, amongst others, the Company and Bank of America Merrill Lynch International Limited as facility agent. Further details of the terms and conditions of the credit facility agreement are set out in note 19 to the consolidated financial statements.

 

Exchange controls and other limitations affecting security holders

There are no UK government laws, decrees or regulations that restrict or affect the export or import of capital or that affect the payment of dividends, interest or other payments to non-UK resident holders of the Company’s securities, except for certain restrictions imposed from time to time by the UK Treasury pursuant to legislation, such as the United Nations Act 1964 and the Emergency Laws Act 1964, against the government or residents of certain countries.

 

There are no limitations, either under the laws of the UK or under the Articles, restricting the right of non-UK residents to hold or to exercise voting rights in respect of the Company’s ordinary shares, except that where any overseas shareholder has not provided a UK address for the service of notices, the Company is under no obligation to send any notice or other document to an overseas address. It is, however, the Company’s current practice to send every notice or other document to all shareholders regardless of the country recorded in the register of members, with the exception of details of the Company’s DRIP, which are not sent to shareholders with recorded addresses in the US or Canada.

Taxation information for US holders

Background

A summary is provided below of the material US federal income tax and UK tax consequences for a US holder (defined below) of owning or disposing of ordinary shares or ADSs of the Company. This section addresses only the tax position of a US holder who holds ordinary shares or ADSs as capital assets.

 

This section does not consider the provisions of the IRC known as the Medicare Contribution tax or the tax consequences for holders subject to other special rules, such as:

 

certain financial institutions
   
insurance companies
   
dealers and traders in securities who use a mark-to-market method of tax accounting
   
persons holding ordinary shares or ADSs as part of a straddle, conversion or other integrated transaction or wash sale or persons entering into a constructive sale with respect to the ordinary shares or ADSs
   
persons whose functional currency for US federal income tax purposes is not the US dollar
   
partnerships or other entities classified as partnerships for US federal income tax purposes
   
persons liable to the alternative minimum tax
   
persons who hold ordinary shares or ADSs in individual retirement accounts or other tax-deferred accounts
   
persons who have ceased to be US citizens or lawful permanent residents of the US
   
tax-exempt organisations
   
persons who acquired the Company’s ordinary shares or ADSs pursuant to the exercise of employee stock options or otherwise in connection with employment; or
   
persons who, directly, indirectly, or by attribution own 10% or more of the Company’s voting stock

 

Except where expressly stated to the contrary, this section does not deal with the position of a US holder who is resident or domiciled in the UK for UK tax purposes or who is subject to UK taxation on income or capital gains by virtue of carrying on a trade, profession or vocation in the UK through a branch, agency or permanent establishment to which ordinary shares or ADSs are attributable, ie those who are referred to below as trading in the UK.


 


 

Amec Foster Wheeler
Annual report and accounts 2015
187
 

Other information continued

 

As used herein, a ‘US Holder’ is a person who, for the purposes of US federal income tax and UK tax, is a beneficial holder of ordinary shares or ADSs and is:

 

a citizen or individual resident of the US
   
a corporation (or other entity taxable as a corporation) created or organised in or under the laws of the US or any political subdivision thereof
   
an estate whose income is subject to US federal income tax regardless of its source
   
a trust, if a US court can exercise primary supervision over the trust’s administration and one or more US persons are authorised to control all substantial decisions of the trust; or
   
a trust that has validly elected to be treated as a domestic trust for US federal income tax purposes

 

This section is based on the IRC, its legislative history, existing and proposed regulations, published rulings and court decisions, and on UK tax laws and the published practice of HMRC, all as at 25 March 2015. These laws, and that practice, are subject to change, possibly on a retroactive basis.

 

This section is further based in part upon the representations of the Depositary and assumes that each obligation in the deposit agreement and any related agreement will be performed in accordance with its terms. For US federal income tax purposes, the owner of ADRs evidencing ADSs will generally be treated as the owner of the underlying shares represented by those ADSs. For UK tax purposes, it is likely that HMRC will also regard holders of ADSs as the beneficial owners of the ordinary shares represented by those ADSs.

 

Generally, exchanges of ordinary shares for ADSs, and ADSs for ordinary shares, will not be subject to US federal income tax or UK taxation on capital gains, although UK stamp duty reserve tax may arise as described below.

 

The US Treasury has expressed concerns that parties to whom ADRs are pre-released may be taking actions that are inconsistent with the claiming of foreign tax credits by US Holders of ADSs. Such actions would also be inconsistent with the claiming of the preferential rates of tax, described below, for qualified dividend income. Accordingly, the availability of preferential rates of tax for qualified dividend income could be affected by actions taken by parties to whom ADRs are pre-released.

 

The following discussion assumes that the Company is not, and will not become, a PFIC. We outline below the consequences for US Holders should the Company become a PFIC in the future.

 

Investors should consult their own tax advisers regarding the US federal, state, and local, the UK and other tax consequences of owning and disposing of ordinary shares or ADSs of the Company in their particular circumstances.

Taxation of dividends

UK taxation

Under current UK tax law, the Company is not required to withhold tax at source from its dividend payments.

 

A US Holder who is not resident in the UK for UK tax purposes and who is not trading in the UK will generally not be liable for UK taxation on dividends received in respect of the Company’s ADSs or ordinary shares.

 

US federal income taxation

A US Holder is subject to US federal income tax on the gross amount of any dividend paid by the Company out of its current or accumulated earnings and profits (as determined for US federal income tax purposes). Distributions in excess of the Company’s current and accumulated earnings and profits will be treated as a return of capital to the extent of the US Holder’s basis in the shares or ADSs and thereafter as a capital gain. Because the Company has not historically maintained, and does not currently maintain, books in accordance with US tax principles, the Company does not expect to be in a position to determine whether any distribution will be in excess of the Company’s current and accumulated earnings and profits as determined for US federal income tax purposes. As a result, the Company expects that the amounts distributed will be reported to the IRS as dividends.

 

Subject to applicable limitations, dividends paid to certain non-corporate US Holders of ordinary shares or ADSs may be taxable at the favourable tax rates applicable to long-term capital gain if the dividends constitute qualified dividend income. A US Holder will be eligible for these rates only if it has held the ordinary shares or ADSs for more than 60 days during the 121-day period beginning 60 days before the ex-dividend date. The Company expects that the dividends paid by the Company with respect to its ordinary shares or ADSs will constitute qualified dividend income. US Holders should consult their own tax advisers to determine whether they are subject to any special rules that limit their ability to be taxed at these favourable rates.

 

Dividends must be included in income when the US Holder, in the case of shares, or the Depositary, in the case of ADSs, actually or constructively receives the dividend, and will not be eligible for the dividends-received deduction generally allowed to US corporations in respect of dividends received from other US corporations. For foreign tax credit limitation purposes, dividends paid by the Company will be income from a source outside the US.

 

The amount of any dividend paid in pounds sterling will be the US dollar value of the sterling payments made, determined at the spot sterling/US dollar exchange rate on the date the dividend is included in income for federal income tax purposes, regardless of whether the payment is in fact converted into US dollars. If the dividend is converted into US dollars on that date, a US Holder should not be required to recognise a foreign currency gain or loss in respect of the dividend income. Generally, any gain or loss resulting from currency fluctuations during the period from the date the dividend payment is included in income to the date the payment is converted into US dollars will be treated as ordinary income or loss from sources within the US.


 

188 Amec Foster Wheeler
Annual report and accounts 2015
 

Taxation of capital gains

UK taxation

A US Holder who is not resident in the UK for UK tax purposes and who is not trading in the UK will not generally be liable for UK taxation on capital gains, or eligible for relief for allowable losses, realised or accrued on the sale or other disposal of the Company’s ordinary shares or ADSs. A US Holder who is an individual and has temporarily ceased to be a resident in the UK or has been temporarily treated as non-resident in the UK for UK tax purposes for a period of not more than five years and who sells or otherwise disposes of ordinary shares or ADSs during that period may, for the year of assessment when the individual becomes resident again in the UK, be liable for UK tax on capital gains (subject to any available exemption or relief), notwithstanding the fact that the individual was not treated as resident in the UK at the time of the sale or other disposal.

 

US federal income taxation

A US Holder who sells or otherwise disposes of ordinary shares or ADSs will recognise a capital gain or loss for US federal income tax purposes equal to the difference, if any, between the amount realised on the sale or other disposal and the adjusted tax basis of the securities. Any capital gain or loss will be a long-term capital gain or loss where the holder has held the securities for more than one year. The capital gain or loss will generally be income or loss from sources within the US for foreign tax credit limitation purposes. The deductibility of capital losses is subject to limitations.

 

PFIC status

Management believes that the Company was not a PFIC for US federal income tax purposes for its taxable year ended 31 December 2015. Management reviews the Company’s PFIC status annually and it is subject to change.

 

If the Company were to be treated as a PFIC, any gain realised on the sale or other disposal of the Company’s ordinary shares or ADSs would, in general, not be treated as capital gain. Instead, any gain would be treated as if the US Holder had realised the gain rateably over the period during which the ordinary shares or ADSs were held. Any gain that is allocated to the taxable year of the disposal, and to any taxable year before the Company became a PFIC, would be taxed as ordinary income. Any gain allocated to each other taxable year would be taxed at the highest tax rate in effect for the taxable year to which the gain was allocated and an interest charge in respect of the tax attributable to each such year would also apply. Similar rules would apply to any ‘excess distribution’ (as determined for US federal income tax purposes) received on the ordinary shares or ADSs. The preferential rates for qualified dividend income received by certain non-corporate US Holders would not apply to dividends received in any year in which the Company was a PFIC or in any year immediately following a year in which the Company was a PFIC.

 

If the Company was to be treated as a PFIC certain elections may be available to US Holders that would result in alternative treatments of the ordinary shares or ADSs. If the Company were to be treated as a PFIC in any taxable year in which a US Holder held ordinary shares or ADSs, the holder may be required to file annual reports with the IRS containing such information as may be required by the US Treasury Department.

Inheritance and estate taxes

UK inheritance tax may apply to a deemed transfer which occurs on death, and to gifts to individuals within the seven years preceding death. For UK inheritance tax purposes, a transfer of shares at less than full market value may be treated as a gift and particular rules apply where the donor reserves or retains some benefit in the shares. Special UK inheritance tax rules also apply to companies and to trustees of settlements.

 

An individual who is neither domiciled nor deemed domiciled in the UK is only chargeable to UK inheritance tax to the extent the individual owns assets situated in the UK. Whilst UK tax law is unclear as to whether the Company’s ADSs are considered to be situated in the UK for inheritance tax purposes, HMRC is likely to take the view that they, as well as the Company’s ordinary shares, are situated in the UK.

 

However, HMRC considers that the US/UK Double Taxation Convention on Estate and Gift Tax applies to inheritance tax. Consequently, a US Holder who is domiciled in the US for the purposes of the US/UK Double Taxation Convention and is not for such purposes a UK national will not be subject to UK inheritance tax on their death or on a lifetime transfer of the Company’s ordinary shares or ADSs, provided that any applicable US federal gift or estate tax is paid, unless the ordinary shares or ADSs are part of the business property of a permanent establishment of an enterprise situated in the UK or pertain to a UK fixed base used for the performance of independent personal services. Where the ordinary shares or ADSs have been placed into trust by a settlor, they may be subject to UK inheritance tax, unless, when the trust was created, the settlor was domiciled in the US and was not a UK national.

 

A UK national who is domiciled in the US will be subject to both UK inheritance tax and US federal estate tax but will be entitled to a credit for US federal estate tax charged in respect of the Company’s ordinary shares or ADSs in computing the liability to UK inheritance tax. Similarly, a US citizen who is domiciled or deemed domiciled in the UK will be entitled to a credit for UK inheritance tax charged in respect of the Company’s ordinary shares or ADSs in computing the liability for US federal estate tax.


 


 

Amec Foster Wheeler
Annual report and accounts 2015
189
 

Other information continued

 

US information reporting and back-up withholding

Payments of dividends and other proceeds to a US Holder with respect to the Company’s ordinary shares or ADSs by a US paying agent or other US intermediary will be reported to the IRS and to the US Holder as may be required under applicable regulations.

 

Unless the US Holder is an exempt recipient, back-up withholding tax may apply to these payments if the US Holder fails to provide an accurate taxpayer identification number or certification of exempt status or fails to comply with applicable certification requirements.

 

Any back-up withholding tax deducted may be credited against the US Holder’s US federal income tax liability, and, where the back-up withholding tax exceeds the actual liability, the US Holder may obtain a refund by timely filing the appropriate refund claim with the IRS.

 

Foreign financial asset reporting

US taxpayers that own certain foreign financial assets, including debt and equity of foreign entities, with an aggregate value in excess of US$50,000 at the end of the taxable year or US$75,000 at any time during the taxable year (or, for certain individuals living outside the US and married individuals filing joint returns, certain higher thresholds) may be required to file an information report with respect to such assets with their US federal income tax returns.

 

The Company’s ADSs or ordinary shares constitute foreign financial assets subject to these requirements unless they are held in an account at a financial institution (in which case the account may still be reportable if maintained by a foreign financial institution).

 

UK stamp duty and SDRT

UK stamp duty is charged on certain documents, including instruments for the transfer of registered ownership of ordinary shares. Transfers of ordinary shares are generally subject to UK stamp duty at the rate of 0.5% of the consideration (rounded up to the nearest £5).

 

SDRT is charged where there is an unconditional agreement to transfer shares in UK companies for consideration in money or money’s worth. SDRT is generally charged at the rate of 0.5% of the agreed consideration (rounded up to the nearest penny). The charge to SDRT will be cancelled, and any SDRT already paid will be refunded, if within six years of the unconditional agreement an instrument of transfer is produced to HMRC and the appropriate stamp duty paid.

 

Neither stamp duty nor SDRT will be payable on any purchase or transfer of the Company’s ADSs, provided that the ADSs and any separate instrument or written agreement to transfer are executed and remain at all times outside the UK.

UK legislation does, however, provide for stamp duty or SDRT to be charged at the rate of 1.5% of the amount or value of the consideration (or, in some circumstances, the value of the shares concerned) on a transfer or issue of ordinary shares to the Depositary or to certain persons providing a clearance service (or their nominees or agents) for the conversion into ADRs. In accordance with the deposit agreement, any tax or duty payable on deposits of ordinary shares by the Depositary or by the custodian of the Depositary will be typically charged to the party to whom ADSs are delivered against such deposits.

 

Following litigation on the subject, HMRC has accepted that it will no longer seek to apply the 1.5% SDRT charge when new shares are issued to a clearance service or depositary receipt system on the basis that the charge is not compatible with EU law. In HMRC’s view, however, the 1.5% SDRT or stamp duty charge will continue to apply to transfers of shares into a clearance service or depositary receipt system unless they are an integral part of the issue of share capital. HMRC’s view is currently being challenged in further litigation.

 

Neither stamp duty nor SDRT will be payable on a transfer of ordinary shares where no beneficial interest passes, including the transfer of underlying ordinary shares from the Depositary to a holder of the Company’s ADSs.

 

Foreign currency translation

For the periods indicated in the tables below, the average exchange rate between sterling and the US dollar, calculated by using the average of the exchange rates at the close of business in London on the last trading day of each month in the period, were as follows:

 

   
Year ended 31 December £1=US$
2011 1.60
2012 1.59
2013 1.57
2014 1.65
2015 1.52

 

For the periods indicated in the table below, the high and low exchange rate between sterling and the US dollar were as follows:

 

     
    £1=US$
Month High Low
September 2015 1.5587 1.5127
October 2015 1.5473 1.5128
November 2015 1.5418 1.5035
December 2015 1.5215 1.4738
January 2016 1.4743 1.4155
February 2016 1.4599 1.3868
March 20161 1.4263 1.3946

 

1 Up to and including 8 March 2016.

 

At the close of business in London on 8 March 2016, the sterling/US dollar exchange rate was £1=US$1.42.


 

190 Amec Foster Wheeler
Annual report and accounts 2015
 

Significant differences between corporate governance practices and NYSE listing standards

Background

Our corporate governance practices are designed to be compliant with the principles and provisions specified by the UK Corporate Governance Code. Our statement of compliance with the principles and provisions of the Code is set out on page 40.

 

We have also adopted the corporate governance requirements of the US Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and related listing standards of the NYSE, to the extent that they are applicable to a foreign private issuer. We disclose below the significant differences between our corporate governance practices and those that are required of US companies that are listed on the NYSE.

 

Corporate governance guidelines

The Code contains a series of principles and provisions. It is not, however, mandatory for companies to follow these principles. Instead, companies must disclose how they have applied them and, if applicable, must disclose and explain the reasons for any areas of non-compliance. By comparison, the NYSE listing standards require US companies to adopt and disclose corporate governance guidelines.

 

Independence

Different tests of independence for directors are applied under the Code and the NYSE listing standards. The board has carried out an assessment based on the independence requirements of the Code and has determined that, in its judgement, each of the non-executive directors except Kent Masters, on account of his previous employment by Foster Wheeler, is independent within the meaning of those requirements. As the Company is a foreign private issuer, the board is not required to take into consideration the definition of independence set out in the NYSE’s listing standards.

 

Committees

NYSE listing standards require US companies to have a nominating/corporate governance committee, an audit committee and a compensation committee, each composed entirely of independent directors. Each of these committees is required to have a written charter which addresses the committee’s purpose and responsibilities and the compensation committee must have sole authority and adequate funding to engage compensation consultants, independent legal counsel and other external advisers.

 

We have terms of reference for our nominations committee, audit committee and remuneration committee, each of which complies with the requirements of the Code and is available for inspection on our website. Whilst these terms of reference are generally consistent with the requirements of the NYSE listing rules, they may not address all aspects of those rules.

NYSE listing standards specify that the nominating/corporate governance committee is responsible for identifying individuals qualified to become members of the board and to recommend to the board a set of corporate governance principles. The Code requires companies to have a nominations committee but does not require a corporate governance committee. Our nominations committee is concerned only with the membership of the board. Corporate governance issues are discussed and decided upon at meetings of the board.

 

NYSE listing standards require the audit committee to comprise at least three independent directors. Whilst our Audit Committee comprises independent non-executive directors (and currently has four members), it should be noted that only two members of the committee need be present for there to be a quorum.

 

Compliance certification

NYSE rules require that the CEO of a US company must certify to the NYSE each year that he or she is not aware of any violation by the Company of any of the NYSE’s corporate governance listing standards. As the Company is a foreign private issuer, the CEO is not required to make this certification. However, the CEO is required to notify the NYSE promptly in writing if any of the Company’s executive officers become aware of any non-compliance with those NYSE corporate governance listing standards that are applicable to the Company.

 

Documents on display

The Company is subject to the information requirements of the US Securities Exchange Act of 1934 applicable to foreign private issuers. In accordance with these requirements, the Company files an annual report on Form 20-F and other related documents with the SEC. Certain other announcements made by the Company are furnished to the SEC on Form 6-K.

 

Information submitted by the Company to the SEC may be inspected at the SEC’s public reference rooms located at 100 F Street NE, Washington, DC, 20549. Information on the operation of the public reference room can be obtained by calling the SEC’s Office of Investor Education and Advocacy on +1 800 732 0330.

 

You may also access information submitted by the Company to the SEC through the SEC’s website, www.sec.gov


 


 

Amec Foster Wheeler
Annual report and accounts 2015
191
 

Cross reference to Form 20-F

 

Item Form 20–F caption Location in this document Page
1 Identity of directors, senior management and advisers Not applicable n/a
2 Offer statistics and expected timetable Not applicable n/a
3 Key information    
  A – Selected financial data Five-year record 202
    Foreign currency translation 190
    Performance highlights 1
  B – Capitalisation and indebtedness Not applicable n/a
  C – Reasons for the Offer and Use of Proceeds Not applicable n/a
  D – Risk Factors Risk factors 167-171
4 Information on the Company    
  A – History and development of the Company History and development 166
    Note 24 – Acquisitions and disposals 150-153
  B – Business overview Amec Foster Wheeler at a glance 2-5
    Chief Executive’s statement 7-9
    Our business model 12-13
    Delivering excellence 14-17
    Global market trends 23
    Our markets 24-25
    Financial review 28-37
  C – Organisational structure Principal subsidiaries and joint ventures 194-201
  D – Property, plant and equipment Financial review – Property, plant and equipment 36
4A Unresolved staff comments None  
5 Operating and financial review and prospects    
  A – Operating results Financial review 28-34
    Prior year operating results 175-179
  B – Liquidity and capital resources Financial review – Liquidity and capital resources 33-34
    Note 19 – Capital and financial risk management 136-141
    Note 23 – Analysis of (net debt)/cash 149
  C – Research and development, patents, licences etc Financial review – Research and development 35
    Note 4 – Profit before net financing expense – continuing operations 115
  D – Trend information Global market trends 23
    Financial review 28-37
    Performance measures – order book 174
  E – Off-balance sheet arrangements Financial review – Off-balance sheet arrangements 37
    Note 25 – Commitments – Operating lease commitments 154
    Note 26 – Contingent liabilities 154-155
  F – Tabular disclosure of contractual obligations Financial review – Contractual obligations 37
  G – Safe harbor Forward-looking statements 204
6 Directors, senior management and employees    
  A – Directors and senior management Conflicts of interest 50
    Our board of directors 41-43
  B – Compensation Directors’ remuneration report 67-80
    Note 27 – Related party transactions 155-156
    Note 14 – Retirement benefit assets and liabilities 128-132
  C – Board practices Our board of directors 41-43
    Directors’ remuneration report 67-80
    Audit committee 58-62
    Remuneration committee 65-66
  D – Employees Note 6 – Staff costs and employee numbers 118
    Directors’ remuneration report 72-78
  E – Share ownership Note 22 – Share capital and reserves – Share-based payments 146-148
    Note 27 – Related party transactions 155-156
7 Major shareholders and related party transactions    
  A – Major shareholders Directors’ report – significant arrangements – change of control 83
    Other information – Shareholdings 183
  B – Related party transactions Note 27 – Related party transactions 155-156
  C – Interests of experts and counsel Not applicable n/a
   
192 Amec Foster Wheeler
Annual report and accounts 2015
 
Item Form 20–F caption Location in this document Page
8 Financial information    
  A – Consolidated financial statements Consolidated financial statements 96-156
  and other financial information Report of independent registered public accounting firm 94
  – Legal proceedings Note 26 – Contingent liabilities 154-155
  – Dividends Financial Review – Dividend 31
  B – Significant changes None n/a
9 The offer and listing    
  A – Offer and listing details Other information – Share price history 183
  B – Plan of distribution Not applicable n/a
  C – Markets Other information – Markets 182-183
  D – Selling shareholders Not applicable n/a
  E – Dilution Not applicable n/a
  F – Expenses of the issue Not applicable n/a
10 Additional information    
  A – Share capital Not applicable n/a
  B – Memorandum and articles of association Other information – Articles of Association 184-186
  C – Material contracts Other information – Material contracts 186-187
  D – Exchange controls Other information – Exchange controls and other 187
    limitations affecting security holders  
  E – Taxation Other information – Taxation information for US 187-190
    Holders  
  F – Dividends and paying agents Not applicable n/a
  G – Statement by experts Not applicable n/a
  H – Documents on display Other information – Documents on display 191
  I   – Subsidiary information Not applicable n/a
11 Quantitative and qualitative disclosures about market risk Note 19 – Capital and financial risk management 136-141
12 Description of securities other than equity securities    
  A – Debt securities Not applicable n/a
  B – Warrants and rights Not applicable n/a
  C – Other securities Not applicable n/a
  D – American depositary shares Other information – American Depositary Shares 181-182
13 Defaults, dividend arrearages and delinquencies None n/a
14 Material modifications to the rights of security holders None n/a
  and use of proceeds    
15 Controls and procedures Accountability – Internal controls 57
16A Audit Committee financial expert Audit committee – Members 59
16B Code of ethics Leadership – Board role and responsibilities 45
16C Principal accountant fees and services Audit committee – External audit 61
16D Exemptions from the listing standards Not applicable n/a
  for audit committees    
16E Purchase of equity securities Other information – Purchase of ordinary shares 183
16F Change in registrant’s certifying accountant Not applicable n/a
16G Corporate governance Other information – Significant differences between corporate governance practices and NYSE listing standards 191
16H Mine safety disclosure Not applicable n/a
17 Financial statements Not applicable n/a
18 Financial statements Consolidated financial statements 96-156
19 Exhibits Filed with the SEC  


 

   
Amec Foster Wheeler
Annual report and accounts 2015
193
 

Related undertakings

As at 31 December 2015

 

We set out below details of all the Company’s subsidiaries, joint ventures and associates. Except where indicated, all subsidiaries listed below are wholly owned, incorporated in England & Wales and carry on their activities principally in their countries of incorporation. Except where marked with an asterisk, the Company’s shareholdings are held indirectly through subsidiaries. All of the active subsidiaries are included in the consolidation. Decisions made in the joint ventures concerning operating and financial policies essential to the activities and performance of the company are made in accordance with the relevant joint venture agreement.

 

Subsidiaries

 

Name   Jurisdiction   % interest   Class of shares
418750 Canada Inc.   Canada   100   Common
4900 Singleton, L.P.   United States   100   Partnership Interest
AFW E&C Holdings Limited   England & Wales   100   Ordinary
AFW Finance 2 Limited   England & Wales   100   Ordinary
AFW Finance 3 Limited   England & Wales   100   Ordinary
AFW Hungary Limited   England & Wales   100   Ordinary
A-FW International Investments GmbH   Switzerland   100   Quotas
AFW Investments 2 Limited   England & Wales   100   Preference, Ordinary
AFW Investments Limited   England & Wales   100   Ordinary
AFW Luxembourg 1 S.a.r.l   Luxembourg   100   Share Capital
AFW Luxembourg 2 S.a.r.l   Luxembourg   100   Share Capital
AGRA Ambiental S.A. de C.V.   Mexico   100   Class of B
AGRA Argentina S.A.   Argentina   100   Ordinary
AGRA Foundations, Inc.   United States   100   Common
AGRA Holdings, Inc.   United States   100   Common
AMEC (AGL) Limited   England & Wales   100   Ordinary
AMEC (BCS) Limited   England & Wales   100   Ordinary
AMEC (Bermuda) Limited   Bermuda   100   Ordinary
AMEC (F.C.G.) Limited   England & Wales   100   Ordinary
AMEC (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd   Malaysia   100   Ordinary
AMEC (MH1992) Limited   England & Wales   100   Ordinary
AMEC (MHL) Limited   England & Wales   100   Ordinary
AMEC (WSL) Limited   England & Wales   100   Ordinary
AMEC Architectural, Inc.   United States   100   Common
AMEC Asia Pacific Limited   Hong Kong   99   Ordinary
AMEC Australia Finance Company Pty Ltd   Australia   100   Redeemable, Ordinary
AMEC Australia Finance No. 2 Pty Ltd   Australia   100   Ordinary
AMEC Australia Treasury Company Pty Ltd   Australia   100   Ordinary
AMEC Australia Treasury LP   Australia   100   Capital
AMEC BDR Limited   Canada   100   Class of B, Class of A
AMEC BKW Limited   England & Wales   100   Ordinary
AMEC Bravo Limited   England & Wales   100   Ordinary
AMEC Building Limited   England & Wales   100   Ordinary
AMEC CADE Ingeniería y Desarrollo De Proyectos Limitada   Chile   100   Normal
AMEC Canada Finance ULC   Canada   100   Common
AMEC Canada Holdings Inc.   Canada   100   Common
AMEC Canada Investments Company Limited   Jersey   100   Ordinary
AMEC Canada Limited   England & Wales   100   Ordinary*
AMEC Capital Projects Limited   England & Wales   100   Ordinary
AMEC Chile Ingeniería y Construcción Limitada   Chile   100   Normal
AMEC Civil Engineering Limited   England & Wales   100   Ordinary
AMEC Civil, Inc.   United States   100   Common
AMEC Construction Limited   England & Wales   100   Ordinary
AMEC Construction Management, Inc.   United States   100   Common
AMEC Construction Scotland Limited   Scotland   100   Ordinary
AMEC Contractors (W/A) Limited   Nigeria   100   Ordinary
AMEC Design and Management Limited   England & Wales   100   Ordinary
AMEC Developments, Inc.   United States   100   Common
AMEC do Brasil Participações Ltda   Brazil   100   Quotas
AMEC E&E Caribe, LLP   Puerto Rico   98   Class of A
AMEC Earth & Environmental Limited   Canada   100   Common, Class of A
AMEC Earth & Environmental LLP   United States   100   Interest
AMEC Engineering and Consulting of United States, Inc.   United States   100   Common
AMEC Engineering Limited   England & Wales   100   Ordinary
AMEC Engineering Limited   Hong Kong   100   Ordinary
AMEC Environment & Infrastructure SRL   Romania   100   Ordinary
AMEC Eurasia Limited   Russian Federation   100   Ordinary
AMEC Europe B.V.   Netherlands   100   Ordinary*
AMEC Executive Pensions Trustee Limited   England & Wales   100   Ordinary
AMEC Facilities Limited   England & Wales   100   Ordinary
AMEC Focus Pensions Trustee Limited   England & Wales   100   Ordinary
Amec Foster Wheeler & BBS Limited   Ghana   80   Ordinary
Amec Foster Wheeler (B) SDN BHD   Brunei Darussalam   99   Ordinary
   
194 Amec Foster Wheeler
Annual report and accounts 2015
 
Name   Jurisdiction   % interest   Class of shares
Amec Foster Wheeler (Perú) S.A.   Peru   100   Ordinary
Amec Foster Wheeler AES, Inc.   United States   100   Common
Amec Foster Wheeler Americas Limited   Canada   100   Class of B, Common, Class of A
Amec Foster Wheeler Arabia Ltd.   United States   100   Common
Amec Foster Wheeler Asia K.K.   Japan   100   Ordinary
Amec Foster Wheeler Asia Pacific Pte. Ltd.   Singapore   100   Ordinary
Amec Foster Wheeler Australia Holding Company Pty Ltd   Australia   100   Ordinary
Amec Foster Wheeler Australia Pty Ltd   Australia   100   Ordinary
Amec Foster Wheeler Bimas Birlesik Insaat ve Muhendislik A.S.   Turkey   100   Common
Amec Foster Wheeler Cameroun SARL   Cameroon   100   Common
Amec Foster Wheeler Canada Ltd.   Canada   100   Class of A
Amec Foster Wheeler Constructors, Inc.   United States   100   Common
Amec Foster Wheeler Consulting Poland Sp. z o.o.   Poland   100   Ordinary
Amec Foster Wheeler E & I GmbH   Germany   100   Common
Amec Foster Wheeler E&C Services, Inc.   United States   100   Common
Amec Foster Wheeler Earth and Environmental (UK) Limited   England & Wales   100   Ordinary
Amec Foster Wheeler Energi Aktiebolag   Sweden   100   Ordinary
Amec Foster Wheeler Energia Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V.   Mexico   100   Class of A
Amec Foster Wheeler Energia Oy   Finland   100   Common
Amec Foster Wheeler Energia Polska Sp. z o.o.   Poland   100   Ordinary
Amec Foster Wheeler Energia, S.L.U.   Spain   100   Common
Amec Foster Wheeler Energie GmbH   Germany   100   Common
Amec Foster Wheeler Energy Fakop Sp. z o.o.   Poland   22.7   Group II
        50   Group III
        63.56   Group I
Amec Foster Wheeler Energy Limited   England & Wales   100   Common
Amec Foster Wheeler Energy Management (Shanghai) Company Limited   China   100   Membership Interest
Amec Foster Wheeler Engineering & Construction Design (Shanghai) Co., Ltd.   China   100   Capital
Amec Foster Wheeler Engineering & Consulting (Shanghai) Co., Ltd   China   100   Capital
Amec Foster Wheeler Engineering Holdings Pty Ltd   Australia   100   Non, Class, Ordinary
Amec Foster Wheeler Engineering Pty Ltd   Australia   100   Ordinary
Amec Foster Wheeler Environment & Infrastructure Pty Ltd   Australia   100   Class of D, Class of Z
Amec Foster Wheeler Environment & Infrastructure UK Limited   England & Wales   100   Ordinary
Amec Foster Wheeler Environment & Infrastructure, Inc.   United States   100   Common, Preference
Amec Foster Wheeler Finance Asia Limited   England & Wales   100   Ordinary
Amec Foster Wheeler Finance Limited   England & Wales   100   Ordinary
Amec Foster Wheeler France S.A.   France   100   Common
Amec Foster Wheeler Global E&C S.r.l.   Italy   100   Capital
Amec Foster Wheeler Group Limited   England & Wales   100   Ordinary
Amec Foster Wheeler Iberia S.L.U.   Spain   100   Common
Amec Foster Wheeler Inc.   Canada   100   Class of B
Amec Foster Wheeler India Private Limited   India   100   Ordinary
Amec Foster Wheeler International Ingenieria y Construcción Limitada   Chile   100   Normal
Amec Foster Wheeler International Trading (Shanghai) Company Limited   China   100   Membership Interest
Amec Foster Wheeler Italiana S.r.l.   Italy   100   Common
Amec Foster Wheeler Kamtech, Inc.   United States   100   Common
Amec Foster Wheeler Martinez, Inc.   United States   100   Common
Amec Foster Wheeler NCL Limited   Canada   100   Common
Amec Foster Wheeler North America Corp.   United States   100   Common
Amec Foster Wheeler Nuclear Czech Republic, a.s.   Czech Republic   100   Ordinary
Amec Foster Wheeler Nuclear France SAS   France   100   Common
Amec Foster Wheeler Nuclear Holdings Limited   England & Wales   100   A Ordinary, B Ordinary, C Ordinary
Amec Foster Wheeler Nuclear International Limited   England & Wales   100   Ordinary
Amec Foster Wheeler Nuclear RO SRL   Romania   100   Ordinary
Amec Foster Wheeler Nuclear Slovakia s.r.o.   Slovakia   100   Ordinary
Amec Foster Wheeler Nuclear UK Limited   England & Wales   100   Ordinary
Amec Foster Wheeler Oil & Gas, Inc.   United States   100   Preference, Class of A
Amec Foster Wheeler OPE Sdn. Bhd.   Malaysia   100   Redeemable Preference, Ordinary
Amec Foster Wheeler Operations Ghana Limited   Ghana   100   Ordinary
Amec Foster Wheeler Power Group Asia Limited   Hong Kong   100   Ordinary
Amec Foster Wheeler Power S.r.l.   Italy   100   Quotas
Amec Foster Wheeler Power Systems, Inc.   United States   100   Common
Amec Foster Wheeler Power Vietnam Limited Liability Company   Viet Nam   100   Membership Interest
Amec Foster Wheeler Properties (Pty) Limited   South Africa   100   Ordinary, B Ordinary
Amec Foster Wheeler Property and Overseas Investments Limited   England & Wales   100   Ordinary
Amec Foster Wheeler s.r.o.   Czech Republic   100   Ordinary
Amec Foster Wheeler Service (Thailand) Limited   Thailand   100   Common
Amec Foster Wheeler South Africa (PTY) Limited   South Africa   70   A Ordinary
Amec Foster Wheeler Talcahuano, Operaciónes y Mantenciones Limitada   Chile   100   Equity Interest
Amec Foster Wheeler USA Corporation   United States   100   Common


 

Amec Foster Wheeler
Annual report and accounts 2015
195
 

Related undertakings continued

As at 31 December 2015

 

Name   Jurisdiction   % interest   Class of shares
Amec Foster Wheeler Ventures, Inc.   Florida   100   Common
Amec Foster Wheeler Zektin Architecture Pty Ltd   Australia   100   Ordinary
Amec Foster Wheeler Zektin Pty Ltd   Australia   100   Ordinary
AMEC Geomatics Limited   Canada   49   Class of A
        100   Class of B
AMEC Global Renewables UK Limited   England & Wales   100   Ordinary
AMEC Global Resources Pte Limited   Singapore   100   A Ordinary, B Ordinary, C Ordinary
AMEC Global Services Pte Ltd   Singapore   100   Ordinary
AMEC GRD SA B.V.   Netherlands   100   Ordinary
AMEC Growth Regions Support FZ LLC   United Arab Emirates   100   Ordinary
AMEC Guatemala Engineering and Consulting, Sociedad Anonima   Guatemala   99.96   Common
AMEC Hedge Co 1 Limited   England & Wales   100   Ordinary
AMEC Holdings (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd   Malaysia   100   Ordinary
AMEC Holdings, Inc.   United States   100   Common
AMEC Holland B.V.   Netherlands   100   Ordinary
AMEC Industrial Programs, LLC   United States   100   Interest
AMEC Infrastructure Limited   Canada   100   Common
AMEC Infrastructure Services Limited   England & Wales   100   Ordinary
AMEC International Investments B.V.   Netherlands   100   Ordinary
AMEC International Limited   England & Wales   100   Ordinary
AMEC Investments B.V.   Netherlands   100   Ordinary
AMEC Investments Europe Limited   England & Wales   100   Ordinary
AMEC Kazakhstan Holdings Limited   England & Wales   100   Ordinary
AMEC King Wilkinson (Nigeria) Limited   Nigeria   100   Ordinary
AMEC Korea Limited   Korea, Republic of   100   Ordinary
AMEC Kuwait Project Management and Contracting Company W.L.L.   Kuwait   49   Ordinary
AMEC Liberia Inc   Liberia   100   Ordinary
AMEC Limited Liability Company   Azerbaijan   100   Ordinary
AMEC Limited Liability Partnership   Kazakhstan   100   Capital
AMEC LLC   Mongolia   100   Common
AMEC Manufacturing and Services Limited   England & Wales   100   Ordinary
AMEC Massachusetts, Inc.   United States   100   Common
AMEC Mechanical and Electrical Services Limited   England & Wales   100   Ordinary
AMEC Michigan, Inc.   United States   100   Common
AMEC Mining Limited   England & Wales   100   Ordinary
AMEC Minproc (Proprietary) Limited   South Africa   100   Ordinary
AMEC Minproc Bulgaria EOOD   Bulgaria   100   Ordinary
AMEC Minproc Projects (New Zealand) Pty Ltd   Australia   100   Ordinary
AMEC Minproc UK Limited   England & Wales   100   Ordinary
AMEC New Zealand Limited   New Zealand   100   Ordinary
AMEC Newco LLC   United States   100   Membership Interest
AMEC Nominees Limited   England & Wales   100   Ordinary
AMEC North Carolina, Inc.   United States   100   Common
AMEC NSS Limited   Canada   100   Common
AMEC Nuclear Consultants International Limited   Jersey   100   Ordinary
AMEC Nuclear M & O Limited   England & Wales   100   Ordinary
AMEC Nuclear Overseas Limited   England & Wales   100   Ordinary
AMEC Nuclear Projects Limited   England & Wales   100   Ordinary
AMEC Offshore (Nigeria) Limited   Nigeria   75   Ordinary
AMEC Offshore Developments Limited   Scotland   100   Ordinary
AMEC Offshore Limited   England & Wales   100   Ordinary
AMEC Offshore Services Limited   England & Wales   100   Ordinary
AMEC Oil & Gas World Services, Inc.   United States   100   Common
AMEC Oil Gas and Process Sdn Bhd   Malaysia   100   Ordinary
AMEC Operations Limited   Guernsey   100   Ordinary
AMEC Operations S.R.L   Romania   100   Ordinary
AMEC Overseas (Cyprus) Limited   Cyprus   100   Ordinary
AMEC Partners Korea Limited   Korea, Republic of   54   Ordinary
AMEC Petroleo e Gas Limitada   Brazil   100   Quotas
AMEC Power (Asia) Limited   Thailand   21.98   Preference
        100   Common
AMEC Process & Energy Sdn Bhd   Malaysia   100   Ordinary
AMEC Process and Energy International Limited   England & Wales   100   Ordinary
AMEC Process and Energy Limited   England & Wales   100   Ordinary
AMEC Programs, Inc.   United States   100   Common
AMEC Project Investments Limited   England & Wales   100   Ordinary
AMEC Projetos e Consultoria Ltda   Brazil   100   Ordinary
AMEC Services Limited   England & Wales   100   Preference, Ordinary
AMEC South America Limited   Canada   100   Class of A
AMEC Spareco (12) Limited   England & Wales   100   Ordinary, Class of E
   
196 Amec Foster Wheeler
Annual report and accounts 2015
 
Name   Jurisdiction   % interest   Class of shares
AMEC Spareco (14) Limited   England & Wales   100   Ordinary
AMEC Staff Pensions Trustee Limited   England & Wales   100   Ordinary
AMEC Trustees Limited   England & Wales   100   Ordinary
AMEC USA Finance Limited   England & Wales   100   Ordinary
AMEC USA HOLDCO LLC   United States   100   Common
AMEC USA Holdings Limited   England & Wales   100   Ordinary
AMEC USA Holdings, Inc.   United States   100   Common
AMEC USA Investments LLC   United States   100   Class of A, Common
AMEC USA Limited   England & Wales   100   Ordinary
AMEC Utilities Limited   England & Wales   100   Ordinary
AMEC Wind Developments Limited   England & Wales   100   Ordinary
AMEC Zektin Group Pty Ltd   Australia   100   Ordinary
Amplemark Limited   England & Wales   100   Ordinary
Applied Environmental Research Centre Limited   England & Wales   100   Ordinary
Aquenta Consulting (NZ) Limited   New Zealand   100   Ordinary
Aquenta Consulting Pty Ltd   Australia   100   Class of Z, Ordinary
Ard Ghaoth Wind Farm Limited   England & Wales   100   Ordinary
Atlantic Services Limited   Bermuda   100   Ordinary
Atlantis Hedge Co 1 Limited   England & Wales   100   Ordinary
Atlantis Hedge Co 2 Limited   England & Wales   100   Ordinary, Redeemable Preference#
Attric International FZ LLE   United Arab Emirates   100   Nominal
Attric Ltd   England & Wales   100   Ordinary
Auld Clay Wind Farm Limited   England & Wales   100   Ordinary
AYMEC de Mexico S.A. de C.V.   Mexico   100   Series I, Series II
Barsotti’s Inc.   United States   100   Common
Bauunternehmung Kittelberger GmbH   Germany   100   Ordinary*
Burman Griffiths Holdings Pty Ltd   Australia   100   Ordinary
Burman Griffiths Pty Ltd   Australia   100   Ordinary
Business Consultancy Group Limited   England & Wales   100   Ordinary
Camden County Energy Recovery Corp.   United States   100   Common
Campro AGRA Limited   Canada   100   Common
Castlecary Wind Farm Limited   England & Wales   100   Ordinary
CK Temple Holdings Ltd.   Canada   100   Class of A, Class of C, Class of E
Conequip, S.A.   Spain   100   Common
Continental Finance Company Ltd.   Bermuda   100   Common
Energia Holdings, LLC   United States   100   Membership Interest
Energy, Safety and Risk Consultants (UK) Limited   England & Wales   100   Ordinary
Entec Holdings Limited   England & Wales   100   A Ordinary, B Ordinary, C Ordinary
Entec Investments Limited   England & Wales   100   Ordinary
Equipment Consultants, Inc.   United States   100   Common
Exergy Engineering Services, S.A. de C.V.   Mexico   100   Min. Fixed Capital
Exergy Engineering, S.A. de C.V.   Mexico   100   Min. Fixed Capital
Fast Reactor Technology Limited   England & Wales   51   Ordinary
Financial Services S.à r.l.   Luxembourg   100   Capital
Foster Wheeler (G.B.) Limited   England & Wales   100   Common
Foster Wheeler (Gibraltar) Holdings Limited   Gibraltar   100   Redeemable Preference, Ordinary
Foster Wheeler (London) Limited   England & Wales   100   Common
Foster Wheeler (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd.   Malaysia   100   Class of A, Class of B
Foster Wheeler (Nigeria) Limited   Nigeria   100   Common
Foster Wheeler (Philippines) Corporation   Philippines   100   Common
Foster Wheeler (Process Plants) Limited   England & Wales   100   Common
Foster Wheeler (QLD) Pty Ltd   Australia   100   Common
Foster Wheeler (Thailand) Limited   Thailand   100   Common
Foster Wheeler (WA) Pty Ltd   Australia   100   Ordinary
Foster Wheeler America Latina, Ltda.   Brazil   100   Quotas
Foster Wheeler Andes, Inc.   United States   100   Common
Foster Wheeler Asia Limited   United States   100   Common
Foster Wheeler Avon, Inc.   United States   100   Common
Foster Wheeler Caribe Corporation, C.A.   Venezuela   100   Common
Foster Wheeler Chile, S.A.   Chile   100   Common
Foster Wheeler Colombia S.A.S.   Colombia   100   Shares
Foster Wheeler Constructors de Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V.   Mexico   100   Ordinary
Foster Wheeler Continental B.V.   Netherlands   100   Common
Foster Wheeler Development Corporation   United States   100   Common
Foster Wheeler E&C (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd.   Malaysia   70   Ordinary
Foster Wheeler E&C Argentina S.A.   Argentina   100   Registered
Foster Wheeler E&C Limited   England & Wales   100   Common
Foster Wheeler Eastern Private Limited   Singapore   100   Common
Foster Wheeler Energy Corporation   United States   100   Common


 

Amec Foster Wheeler
Annual report and accounts 2015
197
 

Related undertakings continued

As at 31 December 2015

 

Name   Jurisdiction   % interest   Class of shares
Foster Wheeler Energy Manufacturing, Inc.   United States   100   Common
Foster Wheeler Engineering A.G.   Switzerland   100   Common
Foster Wheeler Environmental (UK) Limited   England & Wales   100   Common
Foster Wheeler Environmental Company Nigeria Limited   Nigeria   87   Ordinary
Foster Wheeler Environmental Corporation   United States   100   Common
Foster Wheeler Europe   England & Wales   100   Ordinary
Foster Wheeler Europe B.V.   Netherlands   100   Common
Foster Wheeler Finance LLC   United States   100   Membership Interest
Foster Wheeler Hellas Engineering and Construction Societe Anonyme   Greece   100   Common
Foster Wheeler Holdings Ltd.   Bermuda   100   Common
Foster Wheeler Hydrox, Inc.   United States   100   Common
Foster Wheeler Inc.   United States   100   Common
Foster Wheeler Intercontinental Corporation   United States   100   Common
Foster Wheeler International Corporation   United States   100   Common
Foster Wheeler Kazakhstan LLP   Kazakhstan   100   Shares
Foster Wheeler Limited   England & Wales   100   Common
Foster Wheeler LLC   United States   100   Membership Interest
Foster Wheeler Ltd.   Bermuda   100   Common
Foster Wheeler Maintenance, Inc.   United States   100   Common
Foster Wheeler Management AG   Switzerland   100   Ordinary
Foster Wheeler Management Limited   England & Wales   100   Ordinary
Foster Wheeler Middle East Corporation   United States   100   Common
Foster Wheeler Operations, Inc.   United States   100   Common
Foster Wheeler Petroleum Development Limited   England & Wales   100   Common
Foster Wheeler Petroleum Services S.A.E.   Egypt   100   Ordinary
Foster Wheeler Real Estate Development Corp.   United States   100   Common
Foster Wheeler Realty Services, Inc.   United States   100   Common
Foster Wheeler Santiago, Inc.   United States   100   Common
Foster Wheeler Services, Inc.   United States   100   Common
Foster Wheeler Trading Company, Ltd.   Bermuda   100   Common
Foster Wheeler US Power Group Inc.   United States   100   Common
Foster Wheeler Virgin Islands, Inc.   United States   100   Common
Foster Wheeler World Services Limited   England & Wales   100   Common
Foster Wheeler Zack, Inc.   United States   100   Common
FW (Gibraltar) Limited   Gibraltar   100   Ordinary
FW Chile Holdings 2 Limited   England & Wales   100   Ordinary
FW Chile Holdings Ltd.   Cayman Islands   100   Shares
FW Energie B.V.   Netherlands   100   Common
FW Europe B.V.   Netherlands   100   Common
FW Europe Financial Holdings S.à r.l.   Luxembourg   100   Shares
FW European E & C Ltd.   Bermuda   100   Common
FW Financial Holdings GmbH   Switzerland   100   Membership Interest
FW Holdings S.à r.l.   Luxembourg   100   Shares
FW Hungary Licensing Limited Liability Company   Hungary   100   Ownership Interest
FW Investment Holdings S.à r.l.   Luxembourg   100   Class of B, Ordinary
FW Investments Limited   England & Wales   100   Ordinary
FW Management Operations, Ltd.   Bermuda   100   Common
FW Netherlands C.V.   Netherlands   100   Partnership Interest
FW TURNA S.r.l.   Italy   100   Common
FWPS Specialty Products, Inc.   United States   100   Common
Geosafe Australia Pty Ltd   Australia   100   Ordinary
Global Carbon Pty Ltd   Australia   100   Ordinary
Global Mining Projects and Engineering, S.A. de C.V.   Mexico   100   Capital
GRA Technology Pty Ltd   Australia   100   Ordinary
Graf-Wulff US Corp.   United States   100   Common
GRD Asia Holdings Pty Ltd   Australia   100   Ordinary
GRD Asia Pty Ltd   Australia   100   Ordinary
GRD Developments Pty Ltd   Australia   100   Ordinary
GRD ESAP Pty Ltd   Australia   100   Ordinary
GRD Investments Pty Ltd   Australia   100   Ordinary
GRD New Zealand Pty Ltd   Australia   100   Ordinary, Redeemable
GRD Normet Pty Ltd   Australia   100   Ordinary
GRD Oil & Gas Pty Ltd   Australia   100   Class of A
GRD Pty Ltd   Australia   100   Ordinary
GRD Renewables Pty Ltd   Australia   100   Ordinary
GRD Waste Pty Ltd   Australia   100   Ordinary
Hilton Wind Farm Limited   England & Wales   100   Ordinary
Howe AGRA Limited   Canada   100   Common
IDC Property Investments Limited   England & Wales   100   Ordinary
Ingen Holdings Limited   Scotland   100   Ordinary
Ingen-Ideas Limited   Scotland   100   Ordinary
   
198 Amec Foster Wheeler
Annual report and accounts 2015
 
Name   Jurisdiction   % interest   Class of shares
James Scott Engineering Group Limited   Scotland   100   Ordinary, Cumulative Preference,
            2nd Cumulative Preference
James Scott Limited   Scotland   100   Ordinary
KEC International Pty Ltd   Australia   100   Ordinary
KIG Immobilien Beteiligungsgesellschaft mbH (internal: KIG I GmbH)   Germany   100   Ordinary
KIG Immobiliengesellschaft mbH & Co. KG (Internal: KIG I KG)   Germany   100   Ordinary
King Wilkinson, Inc.   United States   100   Common
Kirfield Pty Ltd   Australia   100   Ordinary
Kromav Engenharia S.A.   Brazil   50   Ordinary
Lewis Wind Power Holdings Limited   England & Wales   100   Ordinary
Macraes New Zealand Pty Ltd   Australia   100   Ordinary
MACTEC Architectural Services, Inc.   United States   100   Common
MACTEC Constructors, Inc.   United States   100   Common
MACTEC Consulting, LLC   United States   100   Interest
MACTEC E&C International, Inc.   United States   100   Common
MACTEC E&C, LLC   United States   100   Interest
MACTEC Engineering and Consulting, Sociedad Anonima (Nicaragua)   Nicaragua   98   Common*
MACTEC Environmental Consultants, Inc.   United States   100   Common
MACTEC Mexico S.A. de C.V.   Mexico   100   Common
Martinez Cogen Limited Partnership   United States   99   Partnership Interest
MASA Ventures Limited   Canada   100   Common
MASA Ventures, Inc.   United States   100   Common
McCullough Associates, Inc.   United States   100   Common
MDIC Inc.   United States   100   Common
MDM Africa Holdings (Pty) Ltd   South Africa   100   Ordinary
MDM Engineering (Pty) Ltd   South Africa   100   Ordinary
MDM Engineering Group Limited   British Virgin Islands   100   Shares
MDM Engineering Investments Ltd   Mauritius   100   Shares
MDM Engineering Projects Ltd   Mauritius   100   Shares
MDM Engineering SPRL   Belgium   100   Ordinary
MDM Projects-Tanzania Limited   Tanzania   100   Common
MDM Technical Africa (Pty) Ltd   South Africa   100   Class of A
MDM UK Finance Limited   England & Wales   100   Ordinary
Metal and Pipeline Endurance Limited   England & Wales   100   Ordinary
Minproc Engineers Pty Ltd   Australia   100   Ordinary
Minproc Group Superannuation Pty Ltd   Australia   100   Ordinary
Minproc Overseas Projects Pty Ltd   Australia   100   Ordinary
Minproc Projects (Ghana) Pty Ltd   Australia   100   Ordinary
Minproc Technology Pty Ltd   Australia   100   Ordinary
Monenco Jamaica Limited   Jamaica   100   Ordinary*
Monenco Nigeria Limited   Nigeria   60   Ordinary
Montreal Engineering (Overseas) Limited   Bahamas   100   Ordinary
Mossel Bay Energy IPP (proprietary) Limited (RF)   South Africa   90   Common
National Nuclear Corporation Limited   England & Wales   100   Ordinary
NexDSS, Inc.   United States   100   Common
NorthAm Engineering, S.A. de C.V.   Mexico   100   Class I Series A, Class I Series B,
            Class II Series A1, Class II Series B1
Nuclear Consultants International (Proprietary) Limited   South Africa   84.9   Ordinary
Nucleus Training Limited   England & Wales   100   B Ordinary
Octagon International Properties Pty Ltd   Australia   100   Class of A
OOO Amec Foster Wheeler   Russian Federation   100   Quota
OOO Foster Wheeler Energia   Russian Federation   100   Ordinary
OPE O&G Asia Pacific Pte. Ltd.   Singapore   100   Ordinary
Operations Analysis, Inc.   United States   100   Common
OS Marine Access UK Limited   Scotland   100   Ordinary
P.E. Consultants, Inc.   Mauritius   100   A Ordinary, B Ordinary
Performance Improvements (PI) Group Limited   Scotland   100   Class of A, Class of C
Performance Improvements (PI) Limited   Scotland   100   A Ordinary, C Ordinary
Perryville Corporate Park Condominium Association, Inc.   United States   66.66   Unit Holder Interest
Perryville Service Company Ltd.   Bermuda   100   Common
PI Energy & Emissions Limited   Scotland   100   Class of A, Class of B
PI Gas Turbines Limited   Scotland   100   Ordinary
PI Group B.V.   Netherlands   100   Ordinary
PI TMC B.V.   Netherlands   100   Ordinary
Press Construction Limited   England & Wales   100   Ordinary
Primat Recruitment Limited   England & Wales   100   Ordinary
Process Consultants, Inc.   United States   100   Common
Process Industries Agency Limited   England & Wales   100   Common
Process Plants Suppliers Limited   England & Wales   100   Common
PT AGRA Monenco   Indonesia   100   Ordinary
PT Amec Foster Wheeler Indonesia   Indonesia   84.62   Class of A


 

Amec Foster Wheeler
Annual report and accounts 2015
199
 

Related undertakings continued
As at 31 December 2015

 

Name  Jurisdiction  % interest  Class of shares
PT Foster Wheeler O&G Indonesia  Indonesia  90  Ordinary
PT Simons International Indonesia  Indonesia  100  Ordinary
QED International (Kazakhstan) Limited Liability Partnership  Kazakhstan  100  Capital
QED International (UK) Limited  Scotland  100  Ordinary
QED International FZ LLC  United Arab Emirates  100  Capital
QED International LLC  United States  100  Membership Interest
QED International Ltd  Mauritius  100  Ordinary
QEDI Commissioning and Completions (Canada) Limited  Canada  100  Common
Qedi Completions & Commissioning Pty Ltd  Australia  100  Ordinary
Rider Hunt International (Alberta) Inc.  Canada  100  Common, Preference
Rider Hunt International (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd  Malaysia  100  Ordinary
Rider Hunt International (Singapore) Pte Limited  Singapore  100  Ordinary
Rider Hunt International (USA) Inc.  United States  100  Common
Rider Hunt International (WA) Pty Ltd  Australia  100  Ordinary
Rider Hunt International B.V.  Netherlands  100  Ordinary
Rider Hunt International Limited  England & Wales  100  Ordinary
S2V Consulting Pty Ltd  Australia  100  Ordinary
Sandiway Solutions (No 3) Limited  England & Wales  100  Ordinary
Scopus Engineering Holdings Ltd  Scotland  100  Ordinary
Scopus Engineering Limited  Scotland  100  Ordinary
Scopus Group (Holdings) Limited  Scotland  100  A Ordinary, B Ordinary, C Ordinary
Sehold, Inc.  United States  100  Common
Sellafield Limited  England & Wales  100  Ordinary
SIE Siam Limited  Thailand  100  Common
Sigma 2 AFW Limited  England & Wales  100  Ordinary
Sigma Financial Facilities Limited  England & Wales  100  Ordinary
Simons International Engineering Ltd.  Thailand  100  Common
Simons Pacific Services Pte Ltd.  Singapore  100  Ordinary
Simons-Eastern Consultants, Inc.  United States  100  Common
South Shore Nominees Pty Ltd  Australia  100  Ordinary
Specialist Equipment Solutions Limited  England & Wales  100  Ordinary
Terra Nova Technologies Australia Pty Ltd  Australia  100  Ordinary
Terra Nova Technologies, Inc.  United States  100  Common
The IDC Group Limited  England & Wales  100  Ordinary
Thelco Co.  United States  100  Common
Touchstone General Contracting, Engineering Consultancy and Project Management LLC   Iraq   100   Ordinary
Tray (UK) Limited  England & Wales  100  Preference, Ordinary
Tray Field Services Limited  England & Wales  100  Common
Tray, Inc.  United States  100  Common
William Ellis (Etchingham) Limited  England & Wales  100  Ordinary, Preference
York Jersey Liability Ltd.  Bermuda  100  Common
       
Joint ventures      
   %   
Name  interest  Address
ABV Consultants Ltd.  50  Suite 400, 111 Dunsmuir Street, Vancouver, BC, V6B 5W3, Canada
ACM Health Solutions Limited  33.33  Carillion House, 84 Salop Street, Wolverhampton, WV3 0SR, England
AFWA DUBA Salina Cruz, S. de R.L. de C.V.  50  Carlos Salazar, #2333, Colonia Obrera, Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, Mexico
AMEC - Merrick Joint Venture, LLC  60  Suite 100, 780 Vista Blvd., Sparks, NV, 89434, United States
AMEC - SAI Joint Venture, LLC  50  Suite 180, 751 Arbor Way, Blue Bell, PA, 19422-1951, United States
AMEC BKW Arabia Limited  50  Al Khobar - Saudi Arabia, Saudi Arabia
AMEC Black & McDonald Limited  50  11 Frazee Avenue, Dartmouth, NS, B3B 1Z4, Canada
AMEC Black Cat LLC  49  5th Floor Al Aqaria Tower, Building No. 34, Museum Street, Old Salata Area,
      Street 970, Zone 18, P.O Box No. 24523 Doha, Qatar
Amec Foster Wheeler Energy Ltd and Partners Engineering Company  50  Karawan Towers, South Block, King Faisal Road, Al-Khobar, Saudi Arabia
Amec Foster Wheeler Power Machinery Company Limited  52  East Zone, Jinguzhou, Xinhui District, Phone # 86-750-6390311,
      Fax# 86-750-6391312, Jiangmen City, China
AMEC Larastia Sdn. Bhd.  49  Suite 10.2, Level 10, East Wing, Rohas Perkasa, No.8 Jalan P. Ramlee, 50250
      Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
AMEC Libya Engineering Consultancy JSC  65  MAPEL Compound KM., 27 Ghaser Bengashir, P.O. Box 83306, Tripoli, Libyan
      Arab Jamahiriya
AMEC Samsung Oil & Gas, LLC  49  10777 Clay Road, Houston, TX, 77041-5497, United States
Beca AMEC Limited  50  Ground Floor, Beca House, 21 Pitt Street, Auckland, 1010, New Zealand
Boldt AMEC LLC  40  2525 North Roemer Road, Appleton, WI, 54912, United States
CEJV Ingeniería y Construcción Limitada  50  Av. Isidora Goyenechea 2800, Floor 32, Las Condes, Santiago, 7550647, Chile
Centro Energia Ferrara S.p.A.  41.65  P.le Privato G. Donegani, 12, Ferrara, Tel. 0532-597757, Fax 0532-597766,
      Milan, 44100, Italy
Centro Energia Teverola S.p.A.  41.65  Via Andrea Doria 41/G, Roma, 00192, Italy
Clough AMEC Beca Ltd  33.33  Ground Floor, Beca House, 21 Pitt Street, Auckland, 1010, New Zealand

 

200 Amec Foster Wheeler
Annual report and accounts 2015
 
   %   
Name  interest  Address
Clough AMEC Pty Ltd  50  Level 12, 58 Mounts Bay Road, Perth, 6000, Australia*
Clough AMEC SEA Pte Ltd  50  991E Alexandra Road, #01-25, 119973, Singapore
Consorcio AMEC CADE / PSI Consultores Limitada  50  Av. Jose Domingo, Canas No 2640, Nunoa, Santiago, 7750164, Chile
Consorcio Consultor Systra / Cade Idepe / Geoconsult Limitada  40  Av. Jose Domingo, Canas No 2640, Nunoa, Santiago, 7750164, Chile
Consorcio de Ingeniería Geoconsult Cade Idepe Limitada  50  Av. Jose Domingo, Canas No 2640, Nunoa, Santiago, 7750164, Chile
Consorcio de Ingeniería Systra Cade Idepe Limitada  50  Av. Jose Domingo, Canas No 2640, Nunoa, Santiago, 7750164, Chile
Construcciòn e Ingenierìa Chile FI Limitada  50  Avenida Andrés Bello 2711, Piso 22 - Comuna Las Condens, Santiago, Chile
Construcciòn e Ingenieria FIM Chile,Limitada  33.33  Avenida Santa Maria 2810, Comuna de Providencia, Santiago, Chile
COPEL-AMEC S/C Ltda.  47.5  Rua Carneiro Lobo, No. 468, conjuntos 1301 a 1303, Centro Empresarial
      Champs Elysees, Curitiba, State of Parana, Brazil*
Core Tech - Amec Foster Wheeler, LLC  50  Suite 180, 751 Arbor Way, Blue Bell, PA, 19422-1951, United States
Enutek (Pty) Ltd  50  8 Wolseley Street, Woodmead East, 2157, South Africa
F. & N.E. Limited  50  Croft Road, Crossflatts, Bingley, West Yorkshire, BD16 2UA
F.& N.E. (1990) Limited  50  Croft Road, Crossflatts, Bingley, West Yorkshire, BD16 2UA
FluorAMEC, LLC  49  2711 Centerville Rd., Suite 400, Wilmington, New Castle, DE, 19808,
      United States
FLUOR AMEC II, LLC  45  100 Fluor Daniel Drive, Greenville, SC, 29607-2770, United States
Foster Wheeler (Hebei) Engineering Design Co., Ltd.  49  CEFOC Information Mansion, Zhongshan West Road No. 356, Shijiazhuang,
      China
Foster Wheeler Kentz Energy Services DMCC  50  PO Box 26593, Unit 3601, Tiffany Tower, Cluster W, Jumeirah Lakes Towers,
      Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Incheon Bridge Co. Ltd  23  3, Incheondaegyo Expressway, Jung-gu, Incheon, Republic of Korea
Isgec Foster Wheeler Boilers Private Limited  49  Radaur Road, Yamunanagar 135001, Haryana, India
Isolux Monenco Medio Ambiente S.A.  49  Calle Juan Bravo, 3-C, Madrid, 28006, Spain
King Wilkinson (Saudi Arabia) Limited  50  PO Box 1110, Al Khobar, 31952, Saudi Arabia
Lewis Wind Power Limited  50  EDF Energy, GSO Business Park, East Kilbride, G74 5PG, Scotland
Lomellina Energia S.r.l.  39.2  Vecchia Strada Vicinale per Vigevano, Parona, Pavia, 27020, Italy
MF Waste S.r.l.  49  Via XXV Aprile, 18, Rovato, 25038, Italy
Nan - Amec Foster Wheeler, LLC  50  98-1238 Kaahumanu St., Suite 400, Pearl City, HI, 96782, United States
NorthEast Power Alliance, LLC  47  1979 Lakeside Parkway, Suite 400, Tucker, GA, 30084, United States
Northern Integrated Services Limited  50  Ledingham Chalmers, Johnstone House, 52-54 Rose Street, Aberdeen,
      AB10 1HA, Scotland
Nuclear Management Partners Limited  36  Booths Park, Chelford Road, Knutsford, Cheshire, WA16 8QZ, England
OTEPI Foster Wheeler, S.A.  50  Zona Rental Universidad Metropolitana, Edificio Otepi, Terrazas del Avila,
      Caracas 1070, Edo Miranda, VE
Paragon Angola Engenharia e Serviços, Limitada  60  Largo do Pescador no 8, IIha de Luanda, Luanda, Angola
Petropower Energia Limitada  85  Milaflores Street No. 222, 24th Floor, City and Commune of Santiago, CL
PT AMEC Berca Indonesia LLC  50  JI. Cikini Raya No. 95, CCM Building Floor 4 th, Jakarta Pusat, 10330,
      Indonesia
PWR Power Projects Limited  50  Booths Park, Chelford Road, Knutsford, Cheshire, WA16 8QZ, England
Road Management Services (A13) Holdings Limited  25  Carillion House, 84 Salop Street, Wolverhampton, WV3 0SR, England
Road Management Services (A13) plc  25  Carillion House, 84 Salop Street, Wolverhampton, WV3 0SR, England
Runway Omega B.V.  50  Kosterijland 20, 3981 AJ, Bunnik, Netherlands
Shanghai Zone Petrochemical Engineering Co., Ltd  50  No. 143 Jinyi Road, Jinshan District, Shanghai, 200540, China
Sigma 3 (North Sea) Limited  66.66  C/O CMS Cameron McKenna, 6 Queens Road, Aberdeen, AB15 4ZT,
      United Kingdom
Socar-Foster Wheeler Engineering LLC  35  88A Zardaby Avenue,Baku, Azerbaijan
South Kensington Developments Limited  50  Portland House, Bickenhill Lane, Solihull, Birmingham, B37 7BQ, England,
      United Kingdom
SSBV Consultants Inc.  33.33  Suite 400, 111 Dunsmuir Street, Vancouver, BC, V6B 5W3, Canada
Teshmont Consultants Inc.  50  1190 Waverley Street, Winnipeg, MB, R3T 0P4, Canada
UK Nuclear Restoration Limited  50  Booths Park, Chelford Road, Knutsford, Cheshire, WA16 8QZ, England
Voreas S.r.l.  50  Via S. Caboto 15, Corsico, Milan, 20094, Italy

 

Associates         
Name  Jurisdiction  % interest  Class of shares
AMEC Al Turki LLC  Oman  35  Ordinary
Foster Wheeler Adibi Engineering  Iran (Islamic Republic of)  45  Class of B
Teshmont Consultants LP  Manitoba  30  Partnership Interest
Teshmont GP Inc.  Manitoba  30  Common

 

Directly held by Amec Foster Wheeler plc

 

#Class A, B, C, D, E, F and G Redeemable Preference shares exist

 

*In liquidation


 

Amec Foster Wheeler
Annual report and accounts 2015
201
 

Five-year record (unaudited)

 

Consolidated income statement data                    
               Year ended 31 December 
                   Restated1    Restated1 
£m unless stated   2015    2014    2013    2012    2011 
Continuing operations                         
Revenue   5,455    3,993    3,974    4,088    3,133 
Adjusted profit before tax2   334    317    332    327    316 
Exceptional items   (121)   (98)   (25)   (24)   (6)
Amortisation and impairment of intangible assets   (444)   (49)   (47)   (44)   (39)
Net asbestos-related income/(expense)   6    (9)            
Share of tax of joint ventures   (10)   (6)   (5)   (5)   (7)
Profit before tax   (235)   155    255    254    264 
Income tax   (18)   (49)   (69)   (47)   (53)
Profit from continuing operations   (253)   106    186    207    211 
(Loss)/profit from discontinued operations   (4)   (27)   (8)   2    16 
Profit for the year   (257)   79    178    209    227 
Earnings per ordinary share                         
Continuing operations:                         
– Basic   (66.1)p   36.1p   63.8p   65.2p   64.4p
– Adjusted diluted3   67.7p   79.5p   87.2p   78.6p   71.6p
Total operations:                         
– Basic   (67.2)p   27.2p   61.1p   65.8p   69.2p
– Diluted   (67.2)p   26.5p   59.8p   64.6p   67.8p
Dividends per ordinary share4   29.0p   43.3p   42.0p   36.5p   30.5p
Dividend cover5   2.3x   1.8x   2.1x   2.2x   2.3x
                          
Consolidated balance sheet data                    
                   As at 31 December 
       2014             
£m unless stated  2015   (restated)   2013   2012   2011 
Goodwill and other intangible assets   3,025    3,443    907    969    848 
Other non-current assets   675    599    253    245    203 
Current assets   1,872    2,023    1,224    1,304    1,404 
Total assets   5,572    6,065    2,384    2,518    2,455 
Current liabilities   (2,261)   (2,292)   (1,004)   (1,151)   (828)
Non-current liabilities   (1,703)   (1,777)   (256)   (284)   (253)
Net assets   1,608    1,996    1,124    1,083    1,374 
Share capital   197    194    152    154    169 
Other reserves   1,402    1,780    970    925    1,204 
Equity attributable to holders of the parent   1,599    1,974    1,122    1,079    1,373 
Non-controlling interests   9    22    2    4    1 
Total equity   1,608    1,996    1,124    1,083    1,374 
Number of ordinary shares in issue (millions)   393    389    304    308    338 
Net working capital   167    75    99    54    55 
Net (debt)/cash   (946)   (803)   121    99    521 

 

1 The selected financial data set out above has been extracted from the consolidated financial statements for the relevant year prepared in accordance with IFRS except that the income statement data for 2012 and 2011 has been restated to reflect the reclassification in 2013 of the UK conventional power business as a discontinued operation and the adoption of IAS 19 (Revised 2011) ‘Employee Benefits’. The 2014 balance sheet was restated following the completion of the fair value assessment on the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities recognised on the acquisition of Foster Wheeler.
   
2 Adjusted profit before tax represents profit before tax before exceptional items, the amortisation and impairment of intangible assets, asbestos-related costs and interest expense (net of insurance recoveries), and the Group’s share of tax on the results of joint ventures.
   
3 Adjusted diluted earnings per share represents profit for the year from continuing operations before exceptional items, the amortisation of intangible assets, asbestos-related costs and interest expense (net of insurance recoveries), and the tax effect of those items, divided by the diluted number of ordinary shares.
   
4 The dividend for 2015 includes the proposed final dividend for the year of 14.2p per ordinary share.
   
5 Dividend cover represents the dividend per ordinary share as a multiple of adjusted diluted earnings per share from continuing operations.

 

202 Amec Foster Wheeler
Annual report and accounts 2015
 

Glossary

 

ADSs   American Depositary Shares, evidenced by ADRs, the form in which the Company’s ordinary shares are traded on the NYSE
ADRs   American Depositary Receipts, issued in respect of ordinary shares deposited with State Street Bank & Trust Company, as custodian for the Depositary
AGM   Annual General Meeting of the Company’s shareholders
AMEC   used for convenience to refer to the Company and its subsidiaries prior to the acquisition of Foster Wheeler, unless the context requires otherwise
Amec Foster Wheeler   used for convenience to refer to the Company and its subsidiaries, unless the context requires otherwise
the Articles   the Company’s Articles of Association, which set out the Company’s constitution
Basis point   one hundredth of one percentage point
the board   the collective term for the executive and non-executive directors of the Company
CEO   Chief Executive
CFO   Chief Financial Officer
the Code   the UK Corporate Governance Code issued by the FRC (formerly the Combined Code)
the Companies Act 2006   the Companies Act 2006 of England and Wales, as amended
the Company   Amec Foster Wheeler plc, formerly AMEC plc
the Depositary   Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, the Depositary for the Company’s ADR programme
Downstream   the refining or processing of crude oil
into finished fuel products
the DRIP   the Dividend Re-Investment Plan operated by the Company
the DTRs   the Disclosure & Transparency Rules of the UKLA
E&C   Engineering & Construction
E&I   Environment & Infrastructure
EPC   Engineering, Procurement & Construction (conducted on a fixed price basis)
EPCM   Engineering, Procurement & Construction Management (conducted on a cost-reimbursable basis)
the EU   the European Union
Euro or €   the common currency used in the majority of the member countries of the EU
the FCA   the UK Financial Conduct Authority
Foster Wheeler   used for convenience to refer to Foster Wheeler AG and its subsidiaries, unless the context requires otherwise
the FRC   the UK Financial Reporting Council
GPG   the Global Power Group, one of the Group’s business units
the Group   the Company and its subsidiaries
HMRC   Her Majesty’s Revenue & Customs, the UK taxation authority
HVEC   High Value Execution Centre
the IASB   the International Accounting Standards Board
IFRS   International Financial Reporting Standards, comprising accounting standards issued by the IASB
the IRC   the US Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended
the IRS   the Internal Revenue Service, the US taxation authority
LIBOR   London Interbank Offered Rate, a benchmark interest rate for instruments of the specified currency and maturity
NASDAQ   the National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations
the NYSE   the New York Stock Exchange
a PFIC   a Passive Foreign Investment Company for US federal income tax purposes
Pound sterling, £,
pence or p
 
 
the currency of the UK
 
SDRT   Stamp Duty Reserve Tax
the SEC   the US Securities and Exchange Commission
SOX   the US Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
UK   the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
UK GAAP   accounting practice generally accepted in the UK
UKLA   UK Listing Authority
Upstream   the exploration, production and transportation of oil and gas
US   the United States of America
US dollars, US $,
cents or c
 
 
the currency of the US
 
US GAAP   accounting principles generally accepted in the US


 

 


 

 

Amec Foster Wheeler
Annual report and accounts 2015
203
 

Forward-looking statements

 

This annual report contains a number of ‘forward-looking statements’ with respect to the Group’s financial condition, results of operations and certain of the Group’s plans and objectives.

 

In particular, such forward-looking statements include statements with respect to:

 

our expectations regarding the Group’s financial and operating performance, including statements contained within the strategic report on pages 1 to 39 of this document, including the Outlook statement on page 37, and the performance of joint ventures and newly-acquired businesses
   
intentions and expectations regarding the contracts entered into by the Group or by third parties, including new services, such as the supply of consultancy, engineering and project management services
   
expectations regarding the global economy and the Group’s operating environment, including future market conditions and trends
   
revenue and growth expected from Amec Foster Wheeler’s business and its expectations with respect to long-term shareholder value growth
   
our ability to acquire new contracts, expected growth prospects and growth in our customer base generally
   
expected benefits associated with the acquisition of Foster Wheeler

 

Forward-looking statements are sometimes, but not always, identified by their use of a date in the future or such words as ‘will’, ‘anticipates’, ‘aims’, ‘could’, ‘may’, ‘should’, ‘expects’, ‘believes’, ‘intends’, ‘plans’ or ‘targets’. By their nature, forward-looking statements are inherently predictive, speculative and involve risk and uncertainty because they relate to events and depend on circumstances that will occur in the future. There are a number of factors that could cause actual results and developments to differ materially from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. These factors include, but are not limited to, the following:

 

global economic conditions or other macro-economic developments in the geographic regions and markets in which the Group operates, including fluctuations in exchange rates
   
changes in commodity prices which may impact demand for the Group’s services
   
the Group’s exposure to the risks associated with operating in emerging markets
the failure to meet customer expectations on project delivery, which could result in damage to reputation and/or loss of repeat business and potentially lead to litigation
   
long-term contracts which may be subject to early termination, variation or non-renewal provisions
   
projects included in the Group’s order book which may be delayed or cancelled
   
lump-sum contracts, which are subject to the risks associated with unanticipated modifications, technical problems and delays
   
the loss of senior management or difficulty in attracting and retaining appropriately skilled personnel
   
the failure to comply with health, safety and environmental laws
   
the possibility of major safety incidents that can lead to reputational damage and increase potential liabilities
   
obligations and liabilities relating to the Group’s divested and non-core businesses
   
the failure or security breaches of its information technology systems and/or data security
   
the failure to comply with anti-corruption laws and regulations, economic sanction programmes or other laws and regulations, which may result in the Group becoming subject to fines or penalties and the disruption of its business activities

 

A review of the reasons why actual results and developments may differ materially from the expectations disclosed or implied within forward-looking statements can be found under the heading ‘Risk factors’ on pages 167 to 171 of this document.

 

All subsequent written or oral forward-looking statements attributable to the Company or any persons acting on its behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by the factors referred to above. No assurances can be given that the forward-looking statements in this document will be realised. Subject to compliance with applicable law and regulations, the Company does not intend to update these forward-looking statements and does not undertake any obligation to do so.


 

204 Amec Foster Wheeler
Annual report and accounts 2015
 

 

 

This report is printed using vegetable-based inks by CPI Colour, a carbon neutral registered printing company. CPI Colour is also certified to ISO 9001, ISO 14001, and holds the FSC® (Forest Stewardship Council) Chain of Custody.

 

This report is printed on Olin Smooth Absolute White, a paper produced from 100% ECF (elemental chlorine free) wood pulps from well managed forests certified in accordance with the rules of the FSC®. The producing mill is certified to ISO 14001.

 

Designed and produced by Langsford +44 (0) 20 7378 1457 www.langsford.co.uk

 

Amec Foster Wheeler plc

Annual report and accounts 2015

 

Registered office

Booths Park
Chelford Road
Knutsford
Cheshire
WA16 8QZ

UK

 

Head office

Old Change House
128 Queen Victoria Street
London
EC4V 4BJ

UK

 

Telephone: +44 (0) 20 7429 7500

 

www.amecfw.com

 

 
 
 

ITEM 19: EXHIBITS

 

The following instruments and documents are included as Exhibits to this annual report.

 

No.   Exhibit
1.1   Articles of Association of Amec Foster Wheeler plc (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 1.1 to Amec Foster Wheeler plc Form 20-F (File No. 001-36723) filed on 14 April 2015)
     
2.1   Form of Deposit Agreement among AMEC plc, Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as depositary and the holders and beneficial owners of Amec Foster Wheeler ADSs (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.(A) to the Registration Statement on Form F-6 (File No. 333-198926), filed on 25 September 2014)
     
2.2   Credit Facilities Agreement, dated 13 February 2014, between AMEC plc and Bank of America Merrill Lynch International Limited, as Global Co-ordinator, Bank of America Merrill Lynch International Limited, Barclays Bank plc, The Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ, Ltd. and The Royal Bank of Scotland plc, as Original Mandated Lead Arrangers, and Bank of America Merrill Lynch International Limited, as Facility Agent (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Registration Statement on Form F-4 (File No. 333-199116), filed on 2 October 2014)
     
2.3   Global Transfer and Amendment Agreement, dated 28 March 2014, relating to a US$2,160,000,000 Credit Facilities Agreement, dated 13 February 2014, between AMEC plc and Bank of America Merrill Lynch International Limited, as Global Co-ordinator, Bank of America Merrill Lynch International Limited, Barclays Bank plc, The Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ, Ltd. and The Royal Bank of Scotland plc, as Original Mandated Lead Arrangers, and Bank of America Merrill Lynch International Limited, as Facility
Agent (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Registration Statement on Form F-4 (File No. 333-199116), filed on 2 October 2014)
     
2.4   Amendment and Restatement Agreement, dated 14 July 2014, relating to a US$2,160,000,000 Credit Facilities Agreement, dated 13 February 2014 (as amended on 28 March 2014), between AMEC plc and Bank of America Merrill Lynch International Limited, as Facility Agent (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.19 to the Registration Statement on Form F-4 (File No. 333-199116), filed on 2 October 2014)
     
2.5   Agreement, dated 13 February 2014 (as amended on 28 March 2014 and as amended and restated on 14 July 2014) relating to a US$2,260,000,000 Credit Facilities between AMEC plc and Bank of America Merrill Lynch International Limited as Global Co-ordinator, Bank of America Merrill Lynch International Limited, Barclays Bank plc, The Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ, Ltd. and The Royal Bank of Scotland plc as Original Mandated Lead Arrangers, BNP Paribas, London Branch, as Original Issuing Bank, and Bank of America Merrill Lynch International Limited, as Facility Agent (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.20 to the Registration Statement on Form F-4 (File No. 333-199116), filed on 2 October 2014)
     
2.6   Credit Facilities Agreement, dated 1 March 2016, between Amec Foster Wheeler plc with Bank of China Limited, London Branch, Barclays Bank plc, BNP Paribas, Bank of America Merrill Lynch International Limited, The Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ, Ltd,
 
 
    Crédit Agricole Corporate and Investment Bank, Citigroup Global Markets Limited, Intesa Sanpaolo Banking Group (Represented by Intesa Sanpaolo S.P.A., London Branch and Intesa Sanpaolo Bank Luxembourg S.A.), Lloyds Bank plc and The Royal Bank of Scotland plc, as Original Mandated Lead Arrangers, and Bank of America Merrill Lynch International Limited, as Facility Agent 
     
4.1   Implementation Agreement, dated 13 February 2014, between AMEC plc and Foster Wheeler AG (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.1 to the Registration Statement on Form F-4 (File No. 333-199116), filed on 2 October 2014)
     
4.2   Letter Agreement, dated 28 March 2014, between AMEC plc and Foster Wheeler AG (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.2 to the Registration Statement on Form F-4 (File No. 333-199116), filed on 2 October 2014)
     
4.3   Deed of Amendment, dated 28 May 2014, between AMEC plc and Foster Wheeler AG (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.3 to the Registration Statement on Form F-4 (File No. 333-199116), filed on 2 October 2014)
     
4.4   Second Deed of Amendment, dated 2 October 2014, between AMEC plc and Foster Wheeler AG (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.4 to the Registration Statement on Form F-4 (File No. 333-199116), filed on 2 October 2014)
     
4.5   Merger Agreement between A-FW International Investments GmbH, AMEC International Investments BV and Foster Wheeler AG, dated 8 December 2014 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.29 to the Post-Effective Amendment No. 2 to the Registration Statement on Form F-4 (File No. 333-199116), filed on 19 December 2014)
     
4.6   Rules of the AMEC Performance Share Plan, dated 5 May 2011 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to the Registration Statement on Form F-4 (File No. 333-199116), filed on 2 October 2014)
     
4.7   AMEC Group Management Team Bonus Plan Rules 2013, dated 13 February 2013 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.16 to the Registration Statement on Form F-4 (File No. 333-199116), filed on 2 October 2014)
     
4.8   AMEC Group Management Team Bonus Plan Rules 2014, dated 5 March 2014 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.17 to the Registration Statement on Form F-4 (File No. 333-199116), filed on 2 October 2014)
     
4.9   Foster Wheeler AG Omnibus Incentive Plan, Amended and Restated Effective as of 13 November 2014 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to the Registration Statement on Form S-8 (File No. 333-200169), filed on 13 November 2014)
     
4.10   Form of Indemnification Agreement for directors of AMEC plc (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.9 to the Registration Statement on Form F-4 (File No. 333-199116), filed on 2 October 2014)
     
4.11   Simon Naylor Letter of Indemnity, dated 11 January 2012 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.10 to the Registration Statement on Form F-4 (File No. 333-199116), filed on 2 October 2014)
     
4.12   John Pearson Letter of Indemnity, dated 11 January 2012 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.11 to the Registration Statement on Form F-4 (File No. 333-199116), filed on 2 October 2014)
 
 
4.13   Indemnification Agreement between Foster Wheeler Ltd. and Gary T. Nedelka, dated 6 January 2009 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.13 to Amec Foster Wheeler plc Form 20-F (File No. 001-36723) filed on 14 April 2015)
     
4.14   Employment Agreement between AMEC plc and Samir Brikho, dated 25 April 2007 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.12 to the Registration Statement on Form F-4 (File No. 333-199116), filed on 2 October 2014)
     
4.15   Employment Agreement between AMEC plc and Ian McHoul, dated 2 July 2008 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.13 to the Registration Statement on Form F-4 (File No. 333-199116), filed on 2 October 2014)
     
4.16   Employment Agreement between AMEC plc and Simon Naylor, dated 20 December 2012 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.14 to the Registration Statement on Form F-4 (File No. 333-199116), filed on 2 October 2014)
     
4.17   Employment Agreement between AMEC plc and John Pearson, dated 11 July 2006 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.15 to the Registration Statement on Form F-4 (File No. 333-199116), filed on 2 October 2014)
     
4.18   Employment Agreement between Foster Wheeler Asia Pacific Pte. Ltd. and Roberto Penno, effective as of 1 June 2009 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.18 to Amec Foster Wheeler plc Form 20-F (File No. 001-36723) filed on 14 April 2015)
     
4.19   First Amendment to the Employment Agreement between Foster Wheeler Asia Pacific Pte. Ltd. and Roberto Penno, effective as of 1 January 2011 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.19 to Amec Foster Wheeler plc Form 20-F (File No. 001-36723) filed on 14 April 2015)
     
4.20   Second Amendment to the Employment Agreement between Foster Wheeler Asia Pacific Pte. Ltd. and Roberto Penno, effective as of 11 November 2013 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.20 to Amec Foster Wheeler plc Form 20-F (File No. 001-36723) filed on 14 April 2015)
     
4.21   Employment Agreement between Foster Wheeler North America Corp. and Gary T. Nedelka, dated 6 January 2009 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.21 to Amec Foster Wheeler plc Form 20-F (File No. 001-36723) filed on 14 April 2015)
     
4.22   First Amendment to the Employment Agreement between Foster Wheeler North America Corp. and Gary T. Nedelka, dated 21 December 2009 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.22 to Amec Foster Wheeler plc Form 20-F (File No. 001-36723) filed on 14 April 2015)
     
4.23   Second Amendment to the Employment Agreement between Foster Wheeler North America Corp. and Gary T. Nedelka, dated 30 August 2010 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.23 to Amec Foster Wheeler plc Form 20-F (File No. 001-36723) filed on 14 April 2015)
     
4.24   Third Amendment to the Employment Agreement between Foster Wheeler North America Corp. and Gary T. Nedelka, dated 12 April 2011 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.24 to Amec Foster Wheeler plc Form 20-F (File No. 001-36723) filed on 14 April 2015)
     
4.25   Fourth Amendment to the Employment Agreement between Foster Wheeler North America Corp. and Gary T. Nedelka, effective 1 January 2013 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.25 to Amec Foster Wheeler plc Form 20-F (File No. 001-36723)
 
 
    filed on 14 April 2015)
     
4.26   J. Kent Masters Letter of Appointment, dated 2 October 2014 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.21 to the Registration Statement on Form F-4 (File No. 333-199116), filed on 2 October 2014)
     
4.27   Stephanie Newby Letter of Appointment, dated 2 October 2014 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.22 to the Registration Statement on Form F-4 (File No. 333-199116), filed on 2 October 2014)
     
4.28   Coordination and Settlement Agreement between AMEC plc and J. Kent Masters, dated 2 October 2014 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.23 to the Registration Statement on Form F-4 (File No. 333-199116), filed on 2 October 2014)
     
4.29   Mandate Agreement between AMEC plc and J. Kent Masters, dated 2 October 2014 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.26 to the Registration Statement on Form F-4 (File No. 333-199116), filed on 2 October 2014)
     
4.30   Mandate Agreement between AMEC plc and Stephanie Newby, dated 2 October 2014 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.27 to the Registration Statement on Form F-4 (File No. 333-199116), filed on 2 October 2014)
     
4.31   Roy Franklin Letter of Appointment, dated 25 September 2015
     
4.32   Side Letter, dated 9 February 2016, to Employment Agreement between AMEC plc and Ian McHoul, dated 2 July 2008
     
8.1   Subsidiaries of Amec Foster Wheeler plc (incorporated by reference to the section of Amec Foster Wheeler plc’s Annual Report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended 31 December 2015 titled “Related undertakings”)
     
12.1   Certification of Ian McHoul filed pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
     
13.1   Certification of Ian McHoul furnished pursuant to Rule 13a-14(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (such certifications are not deemed filed for purpose of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and not incorporated by reference to any filing under the Securities Act)
     
15.1   Consent of Ernst & Young LLP, independent registered public accounting firm to Amec Foster Wheeler plc
 
 

SIGNATURE

 

The registrant hereby certifies that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form 20-F and that it has duly caused and authorised the undersigned to sign this annual report on its behalf.

 

  AMEC FOSTER WHEELER PLC  
     
  By: /s/ Alison Yapp  
  Alison Yapp  
  General Counsel & Company Secretary

 

London, England

 

23 March 2016